RESTON, Va., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- comScore today announced it has grown its massive and passive television measurement footprint by more than 40 percent to include more than 69 million televisions in more than 31 million U.S. homes. With the expanded footprint, comScore is now measuring one in every two TV households in 52 of the 210 local U.S. television markets including Los Angeles (#2) and Dallas-Fort Worth (#5), and nearly one in every four TV homes nationally.

"This expansion highlights comScore's dedication to providing the industry with a complete and stable television measurement currency," said Bill Livek, executive vice-chairman and president at comScore. "With our increasingly granular information, we continue to expand and innovate around our well known advanced audiences, which allows our clients to more effectively plan, transact and evaluate their advertising efforts in today's dynamic and ever-evolving viewing environment."

With more than a decade of experience measuring television viewership from return path devices across tens of millions of households in all 210 local markets, comScore is committed to being the industry's trusted source for passively-collected television viewing data. comScore is also a leader in Advanced Audiences, which allow the industry to go beyond age and gender to transact on consumer behaviors, interests and lifestyles. This enables TV stations, networks, advertisers, agencies and media companies at the local and national levels to effectively find and reach their ideal audiences to maximize their success.

What the Industry is Saying:

"As a client of comScore's national TV product and a founding member of OpenAP, Fox Networks Group is excited to hear about this expansion. The addition of nine million households to comScore's measurement footprint strengthens the advanced audience segments and offers the most robust match rate available."

Noah Levine, SVP, advertising data and technology solutions at Fox Networks Group

"Over the past several years, GroupM has used advanced audience combined with comScore's national TV data to guide clients' video investments, advancing the targetability of national video. comScore's expansion to more than 30 million households will open up new uses for and enhance the utility of this data in an increasingly fragmented national and local video environment."

Lyle Schwartz, managing partner at GroupM

"Since 2010, Raycom has relied on the stability of comScore's local TV ratings and today we use comScore in every Raycom market. comScore's significant expansion of its measurement footprint across the U.S. is further proof of the company's ongoing investment in the future of local TV and improved measurement methodologies."

Pat LaPlatney, CEO of Raycom Media

About comScore

comScore is a leading cross-platform measurement company that measures audiences, brands and consumer behavior everywhere. comScore completed its merger with Rentrak Corporation in January 2016, to create the new model for a dynamic, cross-platform world. Built on precision and innovation, comScore's data footprint combines proprietary digital, TV and movie intelligence with vast demographic details to quantify consumers' multiscreen behavior at massive scale. This approach helps media companies monetize their complete audiences and allows marketers to reach these audiences more effectively. With more than 3,200 clients and a global footprint in more than 70 countries, comScore is delivering the future of measurement. Shares of comScore stock are currently traded on the OTC Market under (OTC:SCOR). For more information on comScore, please visit comscore.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including, without limitation, comScore's expectations as to the impact of TV Essentials and the broader family of products on the success of comScore's business. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from expectations, including, but not limited to, comScore's ability to achieve its expected financial and operational results. For additional discussion of risk factors, please refer to comScore's respective Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and other filings that comScore makes from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which are available on the SEC's website (www.sec.gov).

Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date such statements are made. comScore does not intend or undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or new information after the date of this press release, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

SOURCE comScore

Related Links

www.comscore.com


CHICAGO, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG) announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Del Monte processed fruit and vegetable business in Canada to Bonduelle Group. The sale is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed before the end of May 2018. The transaction is valued at approximately CA$43 million, which is approximately US$34 million at the current exchange rate.

"We continue to reshape our portfolio and focus resources in areas that best support our business strategy and drive value creation for shareholders," said Sean Connolly, president and chief executive officer of Conagra Brands. "Del Monte is a strong brand in Canada with quality products, and we believe the Del Monte processed fruit and vegetable business will continue to thrive under Bonduelle's ownership."

RBC Capital Markets served as financial advisor to Conagra Brands.

About Conagra Brands

Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG), headquartered in Chicago, is one of North America's leading branded food companies. Guided by an entrepreneurial spirit, Conagra Brands combines a rich heritage of making great food with a sharpened focus on innovation. The company's portfolio is evolving to satisfy people's changing food preferences. Conagra's iconic brands, such as Marie Callender's, Hunt's, Healthy Choice, Slim Jim, Orville Redenbacher's, VH, POGO, Aylmer, as well as emerging brands, including Alexia, Frontera, Duke's and Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP, offer choices for every occasion. For more information, visit www.conagrabrands.com.

Note on Forward-looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding expected benefits of the pending divestiture of the company's Del Monte processed fruit and vegetable business in Canada ("Del Monte business"), regulatory approvals, and the expected timing of the completion of the transaction. Readers of this press release should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results. There is no assurance that the pending divestiture of the Del Monte business will be completed, and there are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made herein. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things: the timing to complete the pending divestiture of the Del Monte business; the ability and timing to obtain required regulatory approvals and satisfy other closing conditions for the pending divestiture of the Del Monte business; our ability to achieve the intended benefits of acquisitions and divestitures, including the company's pending divestiture of its Del Monte business and the recent spin-off of its Lamb Weston business; and the other risks described in the company's reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements included in this press release, which speak only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no responsibility to update these statements.

For more information, please contact:

MEDIA:

Dan Hare

312-549-5355

[email protected]

INVESTORS:

Brian Kearney

312-549-5002

[email protected]

SOURCE Conagra Brands, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.conagrafoods.com


"Having outgrown our former space, we wanted to give our consultants the best possible working environment  fostering collaboration, creativity, and productivity. We understand that where you work is important," said Principal Errol Restelli. The office is located in the newest Class A workspace in downtown Charlotte. "Proximity to our clients was a priority, and the 360-views of the city is a big win for our employees," said Restelli.

The new office features a large collaboration space that has the flexibility to host internal and external events, both large and small. "Having scalable space to accommodate employee development and client functions, as well as social events, like game night, was a requirement," said Restelli. There is a fully functional Usability Testing Lab, featuring one-way mirrors and state-of-the-art equipment. Common areas boast an integrated sound system, a loft area with a stadium-style lounge space, and full kitchen with a keg-o-rator.

"There has been really positive reception to our model in Charlotte, which is to build long-term relationships with our clients and deliver end-to-end custom solutions with the best local technical and creative consultants in the industry," said Principal Jeff Skipper. "We are incredibly proud of the trusted partnerships we have built with our Charlotte Fortune 500 clients, and the tremendous growth we are experiencing across industry, especially in financial services and health care."

In 2017, CapTech Charlotte was nationally recognized by Consulting Magazine for their commitment to social responsibility for their pro bono work, in partnership with Apparo, for the Center for Prevention Services. Mirroring CapTech's corporate philanthropic philosophy, the local office shows their commitment to giving by using their unique creative and technical talent to impact positive local change. Lately, the office has been involved with volunteering and fundraising for Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, raising more than 31,000 lbs of food for the food bank.

CapTech Charlotte is ranked locally in the Charlotte Observers 2017 Top Workplaces, and, nationally, the company ranks 6th on Consulting Magazine's Best Firms to Work For. To learn about CapTech Charlotte's career opportunities for technical and creative consulting talent, visit captechconsulting.com.

About CapTech: CapTech is a national IT management consulting firm that bridges the gap between business and technology. We partner with some of the world's most successful companies to design, develop, and manage technical and digital solutions that delight customers, drive insights, and meet strategic objectives. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, CapTech has locations in Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Chicago, Columbus (Ohio), Denver, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington D.C.

Contact: Emily Krause

[email protected]

804.545.8733

SOURCE CapTech

Related Links

http://www.captechconsulting.com


SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Supreme Court today rejected a challenge brought by Mercury Insurance, State Farm and other insurance companies across the United States to insurance reform Proposition 103. That California law has saved motorists over $100 billion since 1988 by regulating insurance companies to limit price gouging, profiteering, inflated executive salaries and other unjustified expenses. (Mercury Casualty Company v. Jones (17-537) Order here.)

The nation's highest court refused a request by Mercury Insurance and lobbyists representing State Farm and other insurance companies to review a 2013 decision rejecting Mercury's request for an 8% increase in its homeowners insurance rates and ordering the company instead to lower its rates by 8%. The insurance companies argued that Proposition 103's rate setting rules violate their constitutional right to earn a fair profit.

Opposed by Consumer Watchdog and the California Insurance Commissioner, Mercury's lawsuit was rejected in Sacramento Superior Court in 2015, and by the California Court of Appeal in 2017. The Court of Appeal called Mercury's arguments "hocus pocus" and "smoke and mirrors." The California Supreme Court subsequently refused to hear the case. That Court unanimously upheld Prop 103 in 1989, and in 1994 unanimously upheld as constitutional the regulations that Mercury challenged in the suit rejected today.

Consumer Watchdog hailed the latest victory but noted that the insurance industry continues to attack Proposition 103 in the courts.

"Insurance companies like Mercury and State Farm have not stopped attacking Proposition 103 since the voters passed it nearly three decades ago," said Pamela Pressley, Consumer Watchdog's lead attorney on the Mercury case. "Today's action by the United States Supreme Court makes clear that the insurance industry has no constitutional right to rip us off."

Consumer Watchdog founder Harvey Rosenfield, who wrote and led the campaign for Proposition 103's passage, said, "Thirty years later, Proposition 103 continues to protect California consumers and businesses against insurance industry overcharges and other unlawful practices, saving motorists alone over $100 billion on their auto insurance, according to the Consumer Federation of America."

In addition to Consumer Watchdog lawyers Pamela Pressley, Jon Phenix, and Rosenfield, Consumer Watchdog was represented by Scott Nelson, of the Public Citizen Litigation Group, the Washington, D.C. based non-profit consumer organization founded by Ralph Nader. "For California consumers, this is an important case, but from the standpoint of the Supreme Court, there was really nothing to see here: The insurance industry's claim that California has violated its constitutional rights by applying standard principles of fair ratemaking is baseless."

Insurance Companies Campaign in Courts to Undo Proposition 103

Today's defeat for the industry comes amid a renewed attack by insurance companies against Prop 103 in the courts.

Los Angeles-based Mercury Insurance is also fighting before the California Court of Appeal in Orange County to escape a $27 million penalty for overcharging motorists for their auto insurance 183,957 times over a decade, in violation of Proposition 103.

Meanwhile, State Farm, the nation's largest insurance company with over $168 billion in assets, filed suit in San Diego Superior Court in 2016 to block $250 million in rate reductions and refunds, claiming it can't afford to lower its homeowners insurance premiums, which the Insurance Commissioner determined were excessive. A column in the Los Angeles Times last Sunday discusses that case, which is expected to go to trial next month.

Farmers Insurance was in two courts at the same time  Los Angeles Superior Court and the Court of Appeal  to stop state regulators from holding a public hearing on charges that the company is using algorithms to overcharge motorists in violation of Proposition 103. After losing its motion to block the California Department of Insurance from investigating Farmers, the company is dropping its litigation.

"Insurance companies are trying to win from the judicial branch what they lost at the ballot box thirty years ago: the right to rip us off. The insurance industry's frivolous lawsuits are wasting scarce taxpayer and court resources. We are fully engaged in the battle to protect Californians' insurance reforms and with the public's help we are confident in victory," Rosenfield said.

Consumer Watchdog is a non-profit, non-partisan citizen organization. The organization has saved California consumers $3.4 billion over the last fifteen years by challenging excessive and unfair auto, home, business and medical malpractice rates.

Read Consumer Watchdog's legal brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to deny review of the Mercury case.

Read background on the Mercury case here.

Read more about Mercury's long history of violating California's insurance laws at ConsumerWatchdog.org. Read results of investigation by state regulators revealing widespread violations of the law by Mercury here.

Read the Los Angeles Times article about State Farm's lawsuit to stop $250 million in refunds and rate reductions, and Consumer Watchdog's brief opposing State Farm's lawsuit.

Read more about the State Farm case here.

SOURCE Consumer Watchdog

Related Links

http://www.consumerwatchdog.org


CAESAREA, Israel, February 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Network experience analytics expert reveals re-branding to expand into the Connected Car market

CellMining Ltd, a leading provider of behavior-based network analytics and optimization, today announced that it has changed its name to Continual, to reflect an expanded strategic focus towards the Connected Car market, and to better serve customers in the emerging Intelligent Mobility ecosystem.

"We have been seeing a rapidly-growing demand for our technology expertise from the Connected Car market," said Greg (Giora) Snipper, CEO of Continual. "The decision to change our name marks a new commitment to fully embrace the benefits our innovative network experience analytics solution can bring to this exciting new market sector. At the same time, Continual will offer mobile operators its advanced subscriber experience solutions."

Continual's competences-network experience analytics on travel routes like highways and railways, analysis of communication patterns, and correlation between network quality indicators and customer perception-are being enthusiastically sought by car manufacturers, automotive electronics vendors, and forward-thinking mobile operators. These are essential capabilities to be able to market vehicles with the promise of excellence in communication experience, in addition to the more conventional automotive performance benchmarks.

"Excellence in experience is already a feature that car manufacturers highlight to differentiate their brands, and this must now also include connectivity," said Assaf Aloni, CMO of Continual. "An 'always-on', high-quality connection has become a prerequisite for connected cars, in order to provide optimal journey experience along with the ability to respond rapidly in safety-critical situations. Continual's mission is to make that a reality, and we are committed to helping create the best-in-class Connected Journey Experience."

The Continual re-branding will launch formally at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, at Stand 5E61 in Hall 5.

Media inquiries:

Ronnie de Leede

Director, Marketing Communications

[email protected]

+972(0)544-217-008



PR Agency contact:

Helen Duncan, MWE Media

[email protected]

+44-7765-250610



SOURCE CellMining Ltd
BRISBANE, Australia, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Cryptsoft and BDT Storage GmbH (BDT) have responded to increasing market demand for key management server capabilities in storage products by collaborating on a proof of concept (POC) to embed Cryptsoft's KMIP (Key Management Interoperability Protocol) Server technology into BDT's recently announced 'Multistor' OEM tape library.

As leading OEM suppliers to the KMIP market and the data storage and handling markets respectively, Cryptsoft and BDT are consistently challenged to anticipate and deliver solutions that meet the emerging requirements from their wide-range of end-customers including small-medium and large enterprises. Whenever emerging requirements are independently seen by both companies, Cryptsoft and BDT have a history of collaborating and acting decisively to jointly develop proof of concept solutions to meet developing market demand. This POC activates full enterprise key management capability in standalone tape library solutions, delivering improved security and flexibility for smaller deployments right through to greater resilience and redundancy for larger scale installations.

"As a leading OEM storage provider, we have seen demand for KMIP from the large enterprise customer continue to be strong, but what has surprised us recently has been the rising awareness and demand from the SME market," said Franz Bucher, Vice President of Research and Development at BDT. "Enterprise-grade encryption and key management solutions are frequently assumed to be designed only for the large to medium size enterprise, however this POC to embed Cryptsoft's KMIP server in our Multistor tape library product shows the SME market that modern, standards-based encryption and key management technology is available and just as accessible to companies of all sizes."

"Demand to embed KMIP server capability in storage devices is being driven both by the traditional large enterprise and by SME's," said Justin Corlett, Business Development Manager, Cryptsoft. "SME's know that they need to modernise and improve their encryption and data-security capabilities, primarily because they are more vulnerable than larger companies to the negative effects of the unauthorised exposure of critical business data. For large enterprises, an embedded KMIP server in their storage solution opens up a valuable range of complex key handling scenarios that are needed to deal with the ever-increasing intricacy of commercial and regulatory realities. Having an embedded KMIP Server in a capable storage device 'just makes sense' because it provides flexibility, control and modern security to all companies, of all sizes."

About BDT Storage

BDT is a leading designer and manufacturer of solutions for data management. BDT's storage systems ensure long-term storage and archiving of big data  reliably and easily. As an expert for data management and storage solutions BDT takes into account the increasing storage needs. Our current products include compact and automated data storage systems using different media such as tape and removable disk. (http://www.bdt-storage.de/en/)

About Cryptsoft

Cryptsoft is a privately held Australian company that operates worldwide in the enterprise key management security market. Cryptsoft's Key Management Interoperability Protocol (KMIP) software development kits (SDKs) are the market's preferred OEM solutions. Cryptsoft's solutions have been selected by prominent global companies for interoperable enterprise key management and encryption technology in their storage, security and cloud products. Cryptsoft is an OASIS Foundational Sponsor. (http://www.cryptsoft.com)

PRLog ID: www.prlog.org/12692952

SOURCE Cryptsoft

Related Links

http://www.cryptsoft.com


SAN DIEGO, Feb. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --Cubic Corporation (NYSE:CUB) today announced its board of directors has elected president and chief executive officer, Bradley H. Feldmann as chairman of the board. Feldmann succeeds Walter C. Zable, who has served on the board of directors since 1976 and held the position of chairman for the past five years.

"Brad has clearly demonstrated the leadership and vision necessary to drive and achieve Cubic's growth strategy," said Edwin A. Guiles, lead independent director. "We look forward to his continued ability in delivering superior value to our shareholders in his new role on the Board."

Since being appointed president and CEO, Feldmann has spearheaded the company's strategic growth plan targeted at Winning the Customer, building the defense and transportation businesses and growing its offerings in the emerging Command, Control, Communications, Computers Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance market at the edge of the battlefield.

Under his leadership, Cubic ended fiscal year 2017 with record sales and the highest backlog in company history. This success was attributed by major contract wins in New York and Boston to deliver next-generation fare payment systems; continued support of U.S. Army's Joint Readiness Training Center in Fort Polk, Louisiana; and the full-rate production of the GATR satellite antenna system under the Transportable Tactical Command Communication (T2C2) award from the U.S. Army. Additionally, with Feldmann's guidance, Cubic took important steps to implement the rollout of a Global Enterprise Management initiative to transform the company's global IT infrastructure into a scalable and effective system.

Feldmann became president and chief executive officer of Cubic Corporation in July 2014 and was appointed to the board of directors in May 2014. Previously, he served as Cubic's president and chief operating officer and was also the president of Cubic's Defense Systems segment for five years. Feldmann becomes Cubic's third chairman in the company's 67-year history.

About Cubic Corporation

Cubic is a market-leading, technology provider of integrated solutions that increase situational understanding for transportation, defense C4ISR and training customers worldwide to decrease urban congestion and improve the militaries' effectiveness and operational readiness. Cubic Transportation Systems is a leading integrator of payment and information technology and services to create intelligent travel solutions for transportation authorities and operators. Cubic Mission Solutions provides networked Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities for defense, intelligence, security and commercial missions. Cubic Global Defense is a leading provider of live, virtual, constructive and game-based training solutions, special operations and intelligence for the U.S. and allied forces. For more information about Cubic, please visit the company's website at www.cubic.com or on Twitter @CubicCorp.

SOURCE Cubic Corporation

Related Links

http://www.cubic.com


Dodge has signed on as title sponsor of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series national event at Bandimere Speedway in Denver.

The 2018 Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals Powered by Mopar marks the 30th year that FCA US LLC brands are race sponsors, one of the longest partnerships in all of motorsports. Mopar stands with Dodge as presenting sponsor for the challenging high-altitude event, staged in the picturesque Rocky Mountains, continuing its decades-long association with Bandimere Speedway and NHRA racing.

"Performance and competition fuel Dodge owners and the Dodge//SRT team every day," said Steve Beahm, Head of Passenger Cars, Dodge//SRT, Chrysler and FIAT, FCA  North America. "The sounds, smells and thrills of drag racing bring this attitude to life for the thousands of Dodge and Mopar fans who make the Mile-High NHRA Nationals a 'must-see' event."



The 39th annual Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals Powered by Mopar runs July 20-22, 2018. The event kicks off the historic three-race "Western Swing" of the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing season that includes stops in California and Washington.



One of the longest-running NHRA national events, the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals Powered by Mopar is a highly anticipated and a fan favorite in the series.



"We are excited to welcome Dodge on board as the title sponsor for the Mile-High Nationals," said Brad Gerber, NHRA vice president and chief development officer. "Fans travel from all over the country to experience NHRA drag racing in Denver. It's fitting that they make this race a part of the powerful Dodge brand."



"The 2018 season is a year of celebrations as Bandimere Speedway commemorates 60 years of speed and 30 years of partnership with FCA US," said John Bandimere III, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Bandimere Speedway. "We are proud to have Dodge taking on the lead role in the sponsorship of the Mile-High NHRA Nationals, while continuing with Mopar power as the presenting sponsor. During the last three decades, we have had the privilege to see Mopar lead the way in performance, and bringing in the Dodge brand offers a new level of excitement and opportunity. The addition of night qualifying on Saturday continues to elevate the excitement and performance level making the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals, one of the premier events on the tour."

This year also marks the third consecutive year Dodge serves as the title sponsor of the Dodge NHRA Nationals in Reading, Pennsylvania, which runs September 13-16.



The supercharged partnership of Dodge and Mopar in NHRA includes increased sponsorship of Leah Pritchett's Top Fuel dragster, continuing support as primary sponsor of Matt Hagan's Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car and a new 4,800-square-foot exhibit that combines the brands' rigs to form one of the largest displays on the NHRA Manufacturers Midway.



Dodge fans can stay in touch with racing news and events at the Dodge Garage, a one-stop digital content hub and premier destination for drag racing and muscle car enthusiasts.



Dodge Garage houses daily updates and fans get access to online racing HQ, news, events, galleries, downloads and merchandise. Dodge Garage includes exclusive content, such as a three-part video series "Chasing the Title," which offers fans a unique, behind-the-scenes glimpse at Pritchett and her Don Schumacher Racing team in action.



Mopar keeps racing and performance fans updated on its activities on its blog: https://blog.mopar.com.



Learn more about Dodge at www.dodge.com. To learn more about NHRA, visit www.nhra.com.



About Dodge//SRT

Dodge//SRT offers a complete lineup of performance vehicles that stand out in their own segments. Dodge is FCA North America's mainstream performance brand, and SRT is positioned as the ultimate performance halo of the Dodge brand, together creating a complete and balanced performance brand with one vision and one voice.

For more than 100 years, the Dodge brand has carried on the spirit of brothers John and Horace Dodge, who founded the company in 1914. Their influence continues today. New for 2018, the 840-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, the fastest quarter-mile production car in the world and most powerful muscle car ever, is taking the world by storm, along with the new 2018 Dodge Durango SRT, America's fastest, most powerful and most capable three-row SUV, and the 707-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody. These new SRT ultimate performance models join a brand lineup that includes the Durango, Grand Caravan, Journey, Charger and Challenger, including the 707-horsepower Challenger SRT Hellcat and the Charger SRT Hellcat, the quickest, fastest and most powerful sedan in the world.

About NHRA

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 24 national events featuring the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. NHRA also offers NHRA Jr. Street program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 5 to 17. In addition, NHRA operates four of its own racing facilities: Atlanta Dragway in Georgia; Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis; and Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California. For more information, log on to NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter.

SOURCE FCA US LLC

Related Links

http://www.fcanorthamerica.com


SANTA CLARA, Calif. and PARIS, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- 6WIND, a high-performance networking software company, today announced that EOLO SpA, an Internet Service Provider based in Varese, Italy, selected 6WINDGate packet processing software as the networking stack to build its next-generation Software-defined Networking (SDN) routers, including a transition to x86 servers. EOLO will deploy its new SDN routers in thousands of radio towers spread across Italy for ultra-broadband Internet access.

SDN Routers for Nationwide Wireless Network

Driven by the lack of incumbent networking hardware that balanced cost versus functionality, EOLO took an innovative approach to create an SDN router solution  a hardware platform called "Blu" - using the Linux operating system, commodity hardware and 6WINDGate networking software as an alternative to deploying Cisco routers. EOLO's "Blu" platform includes high performance packet processing with over 120 million packets per second, including packet inspection and encryption, within a 19" standard rack installation.

The initial project, which began five years ago, allowed EOLO to expand its wireless network to cover Italian regions that previously lacked broadband Internet availability. With 6WIND software, EOLO built a custom SDN routing appliance for deployment at its radio towers, enabling quick delivery of Internet access to its customers.

Transition to x86 Servers with 6WIND Software

EOLO's original SDN router project combined 6WINDGate software with EZchip's TILE-Gx multicore processors. This new project migrates to the latest x86 architectures by leveraging 6WINDGate software, based on Data Plane Development Kit (DPDK), for a complete, high performance networking stack on a short-depth, 32-port Advantech SKY-8211 Virtual Edge Server featuring an Intel Xeon Scalable Processor. 6WINDGate seamlessly migrates its fast path networking services across hardware platforms into EOLO's redundant and distributed next-gen SDN router architecture directly on the network edge.

Custom SDN Features, Performance and Management

Access to 6WINDGate source code allows EOLO's engineers to design purpose-specific SDN functions into their routers. 6WINDGate enables customization of networking and virtual switching features such as application-aware QoS with a userspace-optimized version of Open vSwitch. OpenFlow is leveraged with 6WINDGate's XML-based management plane within EOLO's existing management interface for centralized management, ease of data collection and statistics visualization.

"We took an innovative approach five years ago to create wireless networks by building our own SDN routers versus buying mainstream networking devices from well-known telecom suppliers" said Luca Spada, CEO at EOLO. "Working with 6WIND, we continue to expand our services and coverage while seamlessly migrating to the latest server technology, showing a return on investment in software innovation to provide ever-growing performance to our customers".

"EOLO is an industry leader for its vision to build a software-defined nationwide wireless network to service its customers. We are proud to help EOLO execute its vision towards rapid customer service expansion and market share growth," Eric Carmes, Founder and CEO of 6WIND. "EOLO's early innovation and successful execution proves that the Telco market is ready for the software revolution."

Visit 6WIND at Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, February 26  March 1, 2018

Booth 5B85 in Hall 5: http://www.6wind.com/company-profile/events/mobile-world-congress-2018/

About 6WIND

6WIND's networking software solves performance and time-to-market challenges for OEMs and Network Builders. The company's packet processing software and software appliances are optimized for cost-effective hardware, such as Commercial-off-the-Shelf (COTS) servers, with a choice of multicore processors to deliver a wide variety of networking and security protocols and features. 6WIND is based near Paris, France with regional offices in China and the United States. For more information visit: http://www.6wind.com

About EOLO

EOLO is the leading telecommunications operator in wireless ultra-broadband business addressing both residential and business markets. The company has more than 300 employees, over 300 thousand active customers and offers services and connectivity solutions with a strong focus on the areas characterized by the so-called "Speed divide". Further information on EOLO services is available at www.eolo.it.

Company Contact:

Kelly LeBlanc

VP of Marketing for 6WIND

Phone: +1 (408) 508-6732

[email protected]

SOURCE 6WIND

Related Links

http://6wind.com


FARMINGDALE, N.Y., Feb. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- EpigenCare Inc. has revealed the world's first project for truly personalized skincare based on epigenetics and blockchain technology. The biotechnology company's digital platform will connect consumers with skincare companies using a scientific matching algorithm based on the consumer's epigenetic profile and a product's active ingredients. By amassing dynamic and scientifically-grounded skin profiles, EpigenCare introduces a brand new marketing channel for the $130 billion skincare industry.

Concept of EpigenCare's skin DNA sample collection kit's retail box.

Direct-to-Consumer Testing

EpigenCare developed a personal epigenomics test to generate epigenetic skin profiles that correlate with key skin quality indicators (e.g., aging, elasticity, moisture retention, etc.). Through a simple and non-invasive sample collection kit, the DNA samples used for the test are self-collected directly from consumers' skin in the comfort of one's own home. The samples are subsequently mailed to EpigenCare's facilities for testing via a proprietary next-generation sequencing based application.

Because epigenetics, not genetics, functionally determines the dynamic state of skin, EpigenCare's test most accurately reflects the true state of one's skin quality in a quantifiable manner. Moreover, epigenetics allows EpigenCare to implement a recurring business model by helping consumers track the progress of their skincare routine's effectiveness on their skin.

Recommendation Engine

The company is indexing the ingredients of thousands of skincare products, ranging from name brand to boutique. EpigenCare's matching algorithm will then select the ingredients that epigenetically impact the consumer's tested skin quality indicators in a positive manner. The ingredient selections are subsequently checked against the product database for the skincare products that have an optimal ingredient composition, which are finally presented as recommendations in the consumer's skincare test report. EpigenCare will offer the first direct-to-consumer test that contains specific, actionable results.

A Blockchain Ecosystem

Through EpigenCare's web platform named "The EpigenCare Network", skincare companies will be able to leverage the scientific-matching mechanism of the recommendation engine. These companies will target epigenetic profile segments with the opportunity to place their auto-screened products in the recommendation section of the consumer's test results.

Developed on the Ethereum blockchain, this platform rewards consumers that have been targeted by companies with tokens that can be used to subsidize future skincare tests. Because of the "anonymous transparency" of blockchains, EpigenCare is able to address the commonly perceived intrusiveness often associated with the likes of 23andMe and Ancestry.com tests.

EpigenCare's CEO, William Lee, said, "By building a structured ecosystem with blockchain technology, consumers will be able to know that any data of theirs being sold is directly, voluntarily, and exclusively for their own benefit."

Investment Offering

EpigenCare is launching an Initial Coin Offering (ICO) to the public for its tokens in mid-March, seeking to raise $20 million USD (https://token.epigencare.com). It is one of the only ICOs to offer a token that has been filed with the SEC as a security, thus giving the company legal capability to pay dividends to investors based on revenue.

Disruptive Innovation

EpigenCare is transforming the skincare industry by strategically commoditizing consumer skin profiles in a way that directly benefits consumers. As gatekeepers of such new data, EpigenCare's model will prompt skincare companies to market and produce products with more scientific transparency and true consumer personalization.

The company's industry advisor Richard Wildnauer, former CEO of NeoStrata and VP at Johnson & Johnson, expressed his enthusiasm for the innovation.

"This revolutionary business model promises to uniquely take advantage of the rapidly developing fields of epigenetics and blockchain," said Wildnauer, "to develop a database to solve the problem of product selection for personalized targeted skin care. It reduces the costs and frustrations of multiple product trials by consumers, provides cosmetic companies with another tool to guide product development, and provides a basis for monetization by the consumer participants and EpigenCare."

About EpigenCare

EpigenCare Inc. is a privately held personal epigenomics and digital biotechnology company based in New York. The company offers a direct-to-consumer epigenetics test to assess the dynamic state of one's skin type and quality. Subsequently, capture of the dynamic quality allows for actionable results from the analysis report such that optimized product options are recommended to the consumer. EpigenCare's epigenetic technology is supported by EpiGentek Group Inc.

Note: This release includes forward-looking statements by the Company.

Media contact:

William Lee

[email protected]

516-888-0071

SOURCE EpigenCare
CINCINNATI, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Equator Design, Ltd. (Equator), part of the brand development group of SGK, a division of Matthews International Corporation, today announced plans to expand the Company's presence in the United States with the launch of a new creative workspace in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The $1 million investment in a 12,000-square foot design space will bring Equator Design's dynamic, creative culture to Queen City, replicating an award-winning office concept that has been rolled out across all four of the company's current locations worldwide. The move builds on Equator Design's flagship Chicago office and will leverage Cincinnati's creative culture, generating opportunities for creatives at all levels to join an agency with a global reputation for re-writing the rulebook on packaging design.

The new space will be located at 15 East 14th Street and Equator Design will move in when construction is completed in the late Spring or early Summer of 2018. It will add to a growing global footprint for Equator Design, which already has award-winning operations in Manchester and Nottingham in the UK and in Dublin, Ireland.

The Company has a global reputation for attracting the best design talent and offers an "under one roof" approach to innovative packaging design from strategy and concept through to final product on shelf. The new location in Cincinnati is seen by Equator Design as the ideal creative hub for attracting the right skills, experience and talent to the Company to fuel growth and provide an ideal environment for the Company's industry-leading packaging design and branding capabilities.

The company's decision to locate in the City of Cincinnati is contingent upon approvals of the Ohio JCTC and Cincinnati JCTC.

With its entry into the Cincinnati market, Equator Design will be creating up to 50 full-time positions, including roles in creative design, artwork and photography as well as support functions. The Company is committed to filling at least 75% of these positions with City residents. Cincinnati job seekers are encouraged to apply and can obtain more information about opportunities at www.equator-design.com

"Our acquisition of Equator Design last year was just one important step in activating SGK's growth strategy," said Gary Kohl, president, SGK. "Their proven 'under one roof' model, which they've replicated successfully across all their studios, resonates with the demanding needs of marketers today. We are pleased to introduce Equator Design to Cincinnati and greater Ohio, home to dozens of retail companies and world-class brands."

"The space will reflect the company ethos," continued Gary Flynn, global managing director at Equator Design. It makes the whole way we work very visible, which is a proven and critical element in our success. Our thriving and open work environments have been key to bringing new staff up to speed on our process and culture very quickly, which is important when working within the fast-paced retail packaging and branding world."

"We are proud to welcome Equator Design to our region," said Johnna Reeder, President & CEO of REDI Cincinnati, which worked closely with JobsOhio on the project. "Innovators and doers are what our region is known for and these new jobs enhance the opportunities available to our globally known creative talent."

Founded in 1998 and acquired by SGK in March 2017, Equator Design is a packaging design specialist with vast experience in grocery retail and CPG brands with the unique capability to take brands from concept to shelf entirely under one roof with a single inter-disciplinary team across all its locations.

Each Equator Design site is home to strategy, design, photography and color management with complete in-house prepress and a packaging development studio. From impeccable file preparation to color management, graphic reproduction and regulatory compliance, Equator Design manages large scale complex packaging solutions globally. Equator Design's highly skilled team offers the perfect combination of strategic, technical, and creative expertise to enhance the desirability of private brands and well-established household names.

Equator Design is a design-to-shelf, packaging design and branding agency with studios in Manchester, Chicago, Cincinnati, Nottingham and Dublin. Our unique 'under one roof' approach offers a collaborative way of working with clients, encompassing strategic brand creation, design, photography, development, artwork and production to deliver design solutions that have impact at the shelf and to the bottom line. Equator is an SGK Group company. For more information visit: https://equator-design.com/en-us/

SGK is a leading global brand development, activation and deployment company that drives brand performance. By creating brands, activating and protecting brands, we help our clients achieve higher brand performance. SGK's global footprint spans more than 20 countries. SGK is part of Matthews International Corporation. For more information visit: http://www.sgkinc.com

SOURCE Equator Design, Ltd.

Related Links

https://equator-design.com


PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- ERPScan today announced that it has joined the NVIDIA Inception program , which nurtures companies revolutionizing industries with advancements in AI and data sciences.

ERPScan Platform is the unique AI-driven cybersecurity platform that uses machine learning and deep learning to provide predictive, preventive, detective, and responsive capabilities specially for ERP systems and business applications. Business-critical applications (e.g. ERP, HR and financial systems) house the most sensitive corporate data that requires sheer protection against espionage, sabotage, and fraud. However, these applications remain prone to numerous attacks due to their extreme complexity and customization. In fact, building signature-based threat detection for custom applications proves its ineffectiveness. Machine learning is the only feasible opportunity to deal with the customized nature of these systems.

ERPScan is joining the NVIDIA Inception program to benefit from the knowledge in deep learning and use NVIDIA's technology to improve its engines focused on detecting cyberattacks and user anomalies in future business applications.

"Participating in the Inception program will help us improve our deep learning engines. With machine learning, you always have hundreds of areas to improve at a time. Collaboration with such experts in deep learning as NVIDIA and working with startups from different fields with cybersecurity experts from our team will help us quickly test the most important ideas in order to come up with best-of-breed technologies," commented Alexander Polyakov, CTO of ERPScan.

NVIDIA's Inception program is a virtual accelerator application that helps startups during critical stages of product development, prototyping and deployment. Every Inception member gets a custom set of ongoing benefits, from hardware grants and marketing support to training with deep learning experts.

About ERPScan

ERPScan is the most respected Business Application Cybersecurity provider. Founded in 2010, the Company operates globally and enables global Fortune 2,000 to secure their mission-critical processes. ERPScan's primary objective is to provide Smart AI-driven solutions to assess ERP systems and business-critical applications as well as to protect them from both cyber-attacks and internal fraud. ERPScan is the only ERP Security vendor featured in Gartner MQs, Hype Cycles, and MarketScopes for Application Security and SoD. The Company is named as an 'Emerging Vendor' in Security by CRN, listed among "TOP 100 SAP Solution providers", and distinguished by 40+ other awards.

Media contact:

Elena Shapovalova

[email protected]

+31 20 8932892

SOURCE ERPScan
Hougan was previously CEO of Inside ETFs, the world's leading ETF education company, and before that, CEO of ETF.com, creator of the world's first institutionally oriented, ETF-specific ratings and analytics service. He is a three-time member of the Barron's ETF Roundtable and co-author of the CFA Institute's monograph on ETFs, "A Comprehensive Guide to Exchange-Traded Funds."

"It's incredibly exciting to have a leader like Matt Hougan joining the exceptional team at Bitwise," said Spencer Bogart, partner at Blockchain Capital, an investor in Bitwise. "As cryptoassets come into the mainstream, investors increasingly want access to rules-based beta options. Matt's expertise in indexing, exchange-traded products, and institutional research complements the team's expertise in software, and will help Bitwise continue to be a best-in-class partner to investors."

Matt joins Bitwise on the heels of the launch of its first fund late last fall. The Bitwise HOLD 10 Private Index Fund holds the 10 largest cryptoassets, currently capturing around 80% of the market. In its first two full months since launch, the HOLD 10 substantially outperformed a concentrated investment in Bitcoin alone, delivering a 45% return versus 1.7% return for Bitcoin. That outperformance persisted across both bull and bear markets: In December's bull market, Bitcoin was up 39% compared with 78% for the HOLD 10, while January's bear market saw Bitcoin fall 27% compared with 18% for the fund.

"Having the opportunity to participate in the development of a potentially massive new platform or technology is rare," said Hougan. "Bitwise is taking the right approach to the market, and I'm incredibly excited to join them as they navigate this rapidly growing space. The Bitwise team is extremely thoughtful, high-integrity and technologically oriented, and we have a unique opportunity to build a meaningful institution in the coming years."

"Matt is an incredible resource and will play a key role in our mission to support crypto investors with high-quality, institutionally oriented investment products," said Hunter Horsley, Bitwise's CEO. "We look forward to working with him as we expand our offerings and capabilities in the years to come."

Bitwise Asset Management is backed by leading institutional and individual investors including Khosla Ventures, General Catalyst, Blockchain Capital, Naval Ravikant, David Sacks, Elad Gil, Adam Nash, Adam Ludwin, Suna Said, Avichal Garg, and others.

About Bitwise Asset Management

Founded in 2017, Bitwise Asset Management is a cryptocurrency asset manager backed by institutional investors. The firm is a partner to individuals, financial advisors, family offices, investment managers and institutions in navigating cryptocurrency. Bitwise develops funds, indexes, insight, and other services. The team behind Bitwise has expertise in technology, security, and finance. The firm is based in San Francisco, California. For more information, visit www.bitwiseinvestments.com

About the Bitwise HOLD 10 Private Index Fund

The Bitwise HOLD 10 Private Index Fund is the world's first cryptocurrency index fund, introduced in late 2017. The fund tracks the HOLD 10 Index, which selects the top 10 largest cryptocurrencies based on 5-year diluted market capitalization as well as robustness criteria including trade volume minimums, concentration limits, and compliance. The portfolio is rebalanced monthly. Assets are held in 100% cold storage, audited annually, and purchased across several liquidity providers to obtain good prices. Additionally, the manager capitalizes on technical opportunities to generate extra return such as hard forks, airdrops, and staking.

For More Information

[email protected]

(415) 745-9166

SOURCE Bitwise Asset Management

Related Links

http://www.bitwiseinvestments.com


GILLINGHAM, England, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Aptiv (NYSE: APTV) was recognized as a 2018 Top 10 "Most Innovative Company" by business and technology magazine Fast Company. Also recognized is Aptiv-owned nuTonomy, a leading developer of state-of-the-art software systems for self-driving cars.

Aptiv was recognized as a Top 10 "Most Innovative Company" in two categories -- transportation and artificial intelligence (AI), by Aptiv and nuTonomy, in its annual issue recognizing companies embracing innovation.

Aptiv is making the future of mobility real with smart city pilot projects leveraging a fleet of approximately 150 self-driving vehicles to provide "autonomous mobility-on-demand" in Singapore, Boston and Las Vegas by the end of 2018. During CES 2018, Aptiv conducted more than 400 automated rides with the general public to more than 20 destinations by leveraging partner Lyft's ride-hailing app.

Aptiv was recognized by Fast Company for its leadership in autonomous driving technology.

"We are honored to be recognized for the innovative work Aptiv is doing to solve mobility's toughest challenges," said Kevin Clark, Aptiv president and CEO. "Aptiv engineers are dedicated to developing, implementing, and commercializing future mobility solutions to make transportation safer, greener and more connected."

Also recognized by Fast Company, is nuTonomy, the leading developer of state-of-the-art software systems for self-driving cars, acquired by Aptiv in November 2017. nuTonomy achieved the world's first integration of self-driving cars into a ride hailing service in Singapore in 2016.

It quickly followed this achievement by being the first to test self-driving vehicles on public roads in Boston, demonstrating that its rules-based approach can scale globally. nuTonomy's public facing pilots have allowed the company to connect with passengers on multiple continents, informing its roadmap in building safe, reliable and efficient transportation in cities worldwide.

"nuTonomy is incredibly proud to have our achievements in AI recognized by Fast Company, and to be part of the broader Aptiv family that is working toward a future that includes autonomous mobility-on-demand systems deployed in cities worldwide," said nuTonomy President, Karl Iagnemma.

Most Innovative Companies is Fast Company's signature franchise and one of its most highly anticipated editorial efforts of the year. It provides both a snapshot and a road map for the future of innovation across the most dynamic sectors of the economy.

"This year's MIC list is an inspiring and insightful window into how many companies have embraced innovation and are working to make meaningful change," said Fast Company deputy editor David Lidsky, who oversaw the issue with senior editor Amy Farley.

Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies issue (March-April 2018) is now available online at http://www.fastcompany.com/MIC, as well as in app form via iTunes and on newsstands beginning Feb. 27.

About Aptiv

Aptiv is a global technology company that develops safer, greener and more connected solutions, which enable the future of mobility. Headquartered in Gillingham, England, Aptiv has 147,000 employees and operates 14 technical centers, as well as manufacturing sites and customer support centers in 45 countries. Visit aptiv.com.

About nuTonomy

nuTonomy is a leading developer of state-of-the-art software systems for self-driving cars. The only company to successfully deploy self-driving cars on two continents, the first to market with an autonomous vehicle on demand (AMOD) system, and the first to launch a public trial of a self-driving ride-hailing service, nuTonomy is a driving force behind the successful deployment of autonomous vehicles in urban centers around the world. In November 2017, nuTonomy joined Aptiv PLC, forming a team of the best and brightest engineers with a common vision to be the reliable and responsible future of self-driving vehicles.

About Fast Company

Fast Company is the world's leading progressive business media brand, with a unique editorial focus on innovation in technology, ethical economics, leadership, and design. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, one of the U.S.'s leading media companies.

SOURCE Aptiv PLC

Related Links

https://www.aptiv.com


All funds raised through the Round Up & Fill Your Cup program will go directly to Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation and will be used to provide funding, life-saving equipment and educational opportunities to first responders and public safety organizations across the country. Many first responders make do with older equipment and have limited or no access to needed resources. By simply enjoying a hearty and flavorful meal including an ice-cold Coca-Cola Freestyle  beverage, guests can help support local heroes in their community and across the nation. Remember, not all heroes wear capes  head to your nearest Firehouse Subs now through Sunday, April 8, 2018, or while supplies last. Additionally, please see below for a glimpse into how enjoying more subs can help save more lives.

About Firehouse Subs

Firehouse Subs is a fast casual restaurant chain with a passion for Hearty and Flavorful Food, Heartfelt Service and Public Safety. Founded by brothers and former firefighters Chris Sorensen and Robin Sorensen, Firehouse Subs is a brand built on decades of fire and police service, hot subs, steamed and piled high with the highest quality meats and cheeses and its commitment to saving lives through the establishment of the non-profit Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. The founders are the real deal, the food is their creation and the restaurant is built upon a family of franchise operators who share their same passion for generously serving food and community. Today, the brand operates more than 1,100 restaurants in 44 states, Puerto Rico, Canada and Mexico. This year, Firehouse of America, LLC (franchisor for the brand) will donate a portion of all purchases at U.S. Firehouse Subs restaurants to Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. This percentage will result in a minimum donation of one million dollars. Firehouse Subs is consistently recognized as one of the leading brands in the U.S. among consumers. In 2017, Firehouse Subs received Technomic's Chain Restaurant Consumers' Choice Award as No. 1 Overall Brand and was recognized as No. 1 among the Top 10 Most Craveable Sandwich Chain Sandwiches by Technomic for its signature Hook & Ladder sub.



Enjoy more subs. Save more lives. To learn more, visit http://www.firehousesubs.com.

Quick Facts:

More than 1,110 restaurants in 44 states, Puerto Rico, Canada and Mexico

$31+ million donated to public safety organizations via Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation

Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla.

For More Information:

Brittany Mirvil and Maria Coukoulis

The Zimmerman Agency  850.668.2222

[email protected]

SOURCE Firehouse Subs

Related Links

http://www.firehousesubs.com


DALLAS, Feb. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- HONE Marketing has spent the last 5 years successfully growing companies utilizing the latest Texas SEO tactics and best practices for Texas companies. SEO Campaigns developed for:

Mom and Pop shops

$1+ Billion Annual revenue

Multi-location operations

High growth Inc. 5000 companies.

The company provides SEO (search engine optimization) solutions that help attract, convert, and close more potential customers that are ready to engage with your content and offerings.

Get more website visitors. By starting with a powerful audit, HONE has the capability of reviewing and improving total web presence and site efficacy. After the audit, we can scientifically optimize your site to grow site visitors and cultivate a customer creation experience. HONE integrates leading analytic software and research so we can see what's working and what's not. Then expect monthly/quarterly reporting so HONE can stay up to date on your goals.

Everyone uses search engines like Google, Yahoo, or Bing to find desired information. In fact, "89% of all consumers use search engines when ready to make purchasing decisions". Get noticed with HONE's proven On-Page and Off-Page SEO campaigns.

HONE builds and optimizes website content to increase online brand authority. Because businesses and consumers use search engines when looking for information - expect your company to provide them that info. Be the first touch for your consumer.

Through leading SEO tactics and techniques, HONE Marketing provides companies with the following benefits:

Get more website visitors

Web traffic is great! HONE's philosophy looks like this:

With SEO optimized content, more visitors become lead opportunities. By getting more visitors, more data is achieved to optimize your conversion rates and build your customer base.

Increase search visibility

Stand out for the keyword phrases that matter most for your business and offerings. Alongside competitor analysis, on-site and off-site SEO tactics are combined for ranking in organic results.

Become an authority

You are an expert. Your customers should know! SEO helps your company intercept people when they are looking for information or are ready to buy. Become the online authority for your industry.

Get praised by your boss and grow company revenue by calling HONE Today. Dallas SEO Customers, your first free month is waiting!

Hone Marketing provides a comprehensive set of impactful SEO features and strategy tailored to company business goals:

Audit, Optimize, Analytics, Reporting

HONE starts with custom setups and web presence audits to be certain to deliver on goals, capture of the ideal client, and a quick start-up time is accomplished. HONE has been around the block and knows how to win. Using analytics HONE develops feedback loops to continue reporting growing numbers. HONE Marketing is results-driven and works towards your goals.

On-page and Off-page SEO

HONE uses the scientific method combined with inbound marketing methodology when it comes to SEO. It's no secret that search algorithms change all the time, and HONE makes a point of being dynamic in approach. You can't lose, HONE Marketing doesn't use a 'one-size fits all' approach.

Content creation

HONE SEO and Marketing comes prepared by building premium content. HONE's Marketing team pairs with content writers - HONE ideates topics, writes custom blog posts, provides images, and even posts to your blog. All with unlimited revisions!

Check out what HONE clients are saying:

"These guys are the bomb! Great service for my company. We are very glad to have HONE on our side." - James R., Facebook - Lubbock SEO Client

"These guys really know their stuff. My phone is finally ringing with quality leads. Very competitive pricing and different packages at different price points to match your needs." - Charles H. - Thumbtack - Dallas SEO Client

Your Texas SEO Company

HONE builds supplemental revenue funnels for Marketing and Sales professionals looking to improve their search engine visibility. Are you ready to improve your Texas company's reach in search engines? Visit HONE Marketing for more information and a free assessment.

Contact: Attilio Di Nunno, +1(806)414-5736, [email protected]

Related Links

HONE Marketing Home Page

HONE Marketing Solutions

SOURCE HONE Marketing
"Final assembly of this first HH-60W helicopter marks a significant milestone for Sikorsky, our workforce and the U.S. Air Force," said Tim Healy, director of Sikorsky Air Force Programs. "We are on track to deliver this significant capability enhancement ahead of schedule, ensuring the U.S Air Force continues its mission 'That Others May Live.'"

The final assembly process includes installation of the new Tactical Mission Kit (TMK) delivered from Lockheed Martin's Owego, New York, facility. The integration of sensors, radar and multiple defense systems will bring added intelligence into the cockpit, giving pilots more information to make split second decisions to complete the mission.

"The HH-60W will be the most thoroughly networked and connected vertical lift platform ever produced, bringing unrivaled capability in high-threat environments," said Healy. "The modern battlespace is an unforgiving place, no one survives on their own, and the HH-60W allows the entire suite of air and space power to be linked and employed in support of combat rescue operations, even in deep and denied territory."

The final assembly process also involves installation of a new fuel system that features duel internal fuel tanks totaling 660-gallons, nearly doubling the capacity of the internal tank on a UH-60M Black Hawk. This enhanced capability gives the U.S Air Force crew greater range and more capability to rescue those injured in the battle space.

This Engineering Manufacturing Development (EMD) aircraft is the first to be assembled at the Sikorsky headquarters in Stratford, Connecticut. A total of nine aircraft will be built in Connecticut during the EMD phase of the program  four EMD aircraft and five System Demonstration Test Articles (SDTA).

The U.S. Air Force program of record calls for 112 helicopters to replace the Air Force's aging HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, which perform critical combat search and rescue and personnel recovery operations for all U.S. military services.

The $1.5 billion EMD and SDTA contract includes development and integration of the next generation combat rescue helicopter and mission systems, including delivery of nine HH-60W helicopters as well as six aircrew and maintenance training devices, and instructional courseware designed specifically for the HH-60W aircraft. Sikorsky successfully conducted the training systems design review in September.

For additional information, visit our website: https://lockheedmartin.com/us/products/hh-60w.html

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.

SOURCE Lockheed Martin

Related Links

http://www.lockheedmartin.com


PITTSBURGH, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE: FNB) announced today that it has again been recognized as a Greenwich Excellence in Banking Awards winner, receiving high scores both nationally and regionally for satisfaction among Small Business clients. Since 2009, FNB has received a total of 43 Greenwich Excellence Awards for its commercial banking client experience.

FNB's six most recent awards include national honors for Branch Satisfaction and Northeast regional honors for Overall Client Satisfaction and Likelihood to Recommend in the Small Business segment. The company also received honors in the Cash Management category, including national recognition for Customer Service and Overall Satisfaction, as well as for Overall Satisfaction in the Northeast region.

"It is an honor to be recognized by Greenwich Associates, particularly because the results include feedback provided by our own customers," said Vincent J. Delie, Jr., Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of F.N.B. Corporation and First National Bank. "The research we receive from Greenwich Associates and other client surveys provides the necessary insight for FNB to continually elevate our client satisfaction levels."

Greenwich Associates is a leading global provider of market intelligence and advisory services to the nancial services industry. The Greenwich Excellence Awards are determined based on thousands of interviews and the evaluation of hundreds of banks. For more information about the Greenwich Excellence in Banking Awards and the Greenwich Associates selection process, visit www.greenwich.com.

About F.N.B. Corporation

F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE:FNB), headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a diversified financial services company operating in eight states. FNB holds a significant retail deposit market share in attractive markets including: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Baltimore, Maryland; Cleveland, Ohio; and Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham and the Piedmont Triad (Winston-Salem, Greensboro and High Point) in North Carolina. The Company has total assets of $31 billion, and more than 400 banking offices throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. The Company also operates Regency Finance Company, which has more than 75 consumer finance offices in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee.

FNB provides a full range of commercial banking, consumer banking and wealth management solutions through its subsidiary network which is led by its largest affiliate, First National Bank of Pennsylvania, founded in 1864. Commercial banking solutions include corporate banking, small business banking, investment real estate financing, international banking, business credit, capital markets and lease financing. The consumer banking segment provides a full line of consumer banking products and services, including deposit products, mortgage lending, consumer lending and a complete suite of mobile and online banking services. FNB's wealth management services include asset management, private banking and insurance.

The common stock of F.N.B. Corporation trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "FNB" and is included in Standard & Poor's MidCap 400 Index with the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) Regional Banks Sub-Industry Index. Customers, shareholders and investors can learn more about this regional financial institution by visiting the F.N.B. Corporation website at www.fnbcorporation.com.

SOURCE F.N.B. Corporation

Related Links

http://www.fnbcorporation.com


NEW YORK, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

UNITED STATES OF

AMERICA Before the

SECURITIES AND

EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Administrative Proceeding File No.

3-16852

In the Matter of Focus Media Holding Limited and Jason Jiang

SUMMARY NOTICE RE: FOCUS MEDIA HOLDING LIMITED

PLEASE READ THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY AND IN ITS ENTIRETY. IF YOU SATISFY THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO A RECOVERY FROM THE DISTRIBUTION FUND. THIS NOTICE CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR ELIGIBILITY.

Background

On September 30, 2015, the Commission issued an Order Instituting Cease-and-Desist Proceedings Pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21C of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Making Findings and Imposing a Cease-and-Desist Order("Order")1 against Respondents. The Commission determined that Focus Media and its founder and Chief Executive Officer Jiang failed to disclose accurate information concerning Focus Media's partial sale of securities in its wholly-owned subsidiary Allyes Online Media Holdings Ltd. ("Allyes") to certain Allyes and Focus Media insiders and Focus Media sold their interests in Allyes to a private equity firm based on a valuation nearly six times the valuation that had been used to determine the price the Allyes and Focus Media insiders had paid. The Order required Respondents to pay a total of $55,627,865.43 in disgorgement, prejudgment interest, and civil money penalties to the Commission and created a Fair Fund, pursuant to Section 308(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended ("Fair Fund").

Who is Eligible?

If you held Focus Media ADS shares (FMCN) as of March 16, 2010 or purchased them between March 17, 2010 and July 29, 2010, you may be entitled to receive a monetary payment from the Focus Media Distribution Fund. Claim form must be postmarked no later than 11:59p.m. on June 20, 2018. If you need assistance in completing the claim form or if you have questions, please contact the Fund Administrator at 866-736-4380 or visit https://focusmediadistributionfund.com

Obtaining a Distribution Plan Notice and Proof of Claim Form

In order to be eligible for a recovery, you must submit a completed claim form on or before the claims deadline. You may download and print the Proof of Claim form from the website at https://focusmediadistributionfund.com/, under the Court Documents tab, or request that Analytics, the Distribution Agent, mail you a Proof of Claim form by sending an email to [email protected] or by calling the Fund Administrator toll free at 866-736-4380 to request a claim form. You must complete the Proof of Claim Form completely, sign it, include copies of all required supporting documentation, and return the completed form to:

Focus Media Fair Fund

c/o Analytics Consulting LLC

P.O. Box 2002

Chanhassen, MN 55317-2002

Additional Information

This notice provides only summary information regarding the action. We strongly recommend that you read the Distribution Plan, including the Plan of Allocation, and other relevant case documents in their entirety for more complete details.

For more information on the Fair Fund, to review relevant case documents, including the Distribution Plan, or for assistance in completing a Proof of Claim Form, visit the Distribution website at https://focusmediadistributionfund.com/, call the dedicated toll-free number at 866-736-4380 or send an email inquiry to [email protected]

SOURCE Analytics Consulting, LLC
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- A California jury awarded a $13 million verdict on February 15 for Shegerian & Associates' client Dr. Lauren Pinter-Brown against her former employer, The Regents of the University of California. The lawsuit alleged that the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) discriminated against Dr. Pinter-Brown on the basis of gender and retaliated against her for complaining of discrimination and harassment, ultimately leading to her resignation.

Dr. Pinter-Brown began working at UCLA Medical Center in 2005 as the director of the UCLA lymphoma program. Throughout her entire tenure at UCLA, she consistently received exemplary peer reviews, awards, and accolades. Until 2013, she was one of only two senior female faculty members in the program.

After she began raising concerns of harassment by a male colleague, she was targeted in various audits, had her research privileges suspended, had her title stricken, and her reputation permanently harmed. Even after filing verbal and written complaints, UCLA made no significant efforts to remedy the situation. She was forced to "play dead" at work to avoid additional confrontation before ultimately resigning her employment.

On February 15, a Los Angeles jury found in favor of her claims of gender discrimination and gender retaliation, awarding Dr. Pinter-Brown $3,011,671 in loss of earnings against UCLA and an additional $10,000,000 in damages for emotional distress, for a total verdict of $13,011,671.

"Dr. Pinter-Brown was an outstanding employee and doctor during her entire tenure at UCLA," said Carney Shegerian, Dr. Pinter-Brown's trial lawyer. "She was clearly retaliated against due to her gender and for speaking out against harassment by a male colleague and morally treated wrong by her employer and superiors. A California jury of her peers vindicated her complaints. Hopefully, what appears to be an institution-wide problem of sweeping gender inequality under the rug can start to be fixed."

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California and with offices in San Diego, San Francisco, & New York, Shegerian & Associates is a law firm specializing in protecting the rights of employees who have been wronged by their employers. Carney Shegerian, Trial Lawyer of the Year Award winner for 2013, has won 79 jury trials in his career, including 36 seven figure verdicts. Shegerian & Associates is passionately dedicated to serving the needs of its clients. For more information about the firm, visit www.ShegerianLaw.com.

Media Contact: To arrange interviews with Carney Shegerian regarding this case or other employment law matters, please contact [email protected]

Case # BC-624838

SOURCE Shegerian & Associates, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.shegerianlaw.com


DALLAS, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Forterra is pleased to announce the expansion of its member healthcare coverage offering beginning July 2017 through Employer Direct Healthcare's SurgeryPlus, a supplemental benefit for non-emergent surgeries that provides high quality care, a better experience and lower costs.

Forterra is a leading manufacturer of pipe and precast products throughout the United States and Eastern Canada. Through their growth and expansion, Forterra is committed to providing service and product excellence in delivering precisely the products needed to complete the project as envisioned. Forterra provides the same commitment of excellence to their team members in delivering healthcare services and solutions that are tailored to their member's needs.

Through SurgeryPlus, over 4,500 of Forterra's valued team members and covered dependents will have access to an elite, high-performance Surgeons of Excellence network that includes top quality, 100 percent board-certified providers. Providers in the SurgeryPlus network have been rigorously screened, significantly reducing the risk of surgical complications. Forterra recognizes the valuable role each employee plays in developing a high standard of spine solutions and are excited to bring the safest surgical choices to their members through their partnership with SurgeryPlus.

John Zutter, CEO of Employer Direct Healthcare said, "We are extremely excited to partner with Forterra and offer substantial savings to Forterra employees and their families. With over 66 manufacturing plants across the United States and growing, we are confident our national, elite provider network will provide the high-quality care the members of Forterra deserve."

SurgeryPlus will create substantial savings, for both Forterra and their members, through the benefit's pre-negotiated and discounted bundled rates with providers. By packaging surgical expenses into one simple bundled rate, SurgeryPlus reduces members' financial stress and burden from unexpected medical bills. Under this benefit, members will only need to meet their plan deductible; all other surgical costs are covered, potentially saving members thousands of dollars.

With SurgeryPlus, members are provided with access to a dedicated Care Coordinators who educate members on their SurgeryPlus benefit and simplify the medical experience by managing all scheduling, logistics and transferring of medical records for a white-glove service from start to finish.

About Employer Direct Healthcare and SurgeryPlus

Employer Direct Healthcare is an innovative healthcare service business providing a high-quality and cost-efficient solution for large, self-funded employers and their members. The company's core product, SurgeryPlus, is a supplemental, surgical benefit that includes a national network of 100% board-certified Surgeons of Excellence and high-quality facilities. SurgeryPlus covers hundreds of non-emergent procedures with pre-negotiated bundled rates, resulting in consolidated costs for each episode of care. Dedicated Care Coordinators provide full-concierge service to covered members, managing the entire procedure process on their behalf. Employer Direct Healthcare is majority owned by Dundon Capital Partners LLC, a Dallas-based private investment firm founded by Tom Dundon.

Learn more at www.edhc.com or by calling (855) 200-9511.

SOURCE Employer Direct Healthcare and SurgeryPlus

Related Links

http://www.edhc.com


LOS ANGELES, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Rosewood Hotels & Resorts is pleased to announce that fourteen of the ultra-luxury hotel group's properties have been recognized on Forbes Travel Guide's 2018 Star Rating list. Revered as a global authority on travel, Forbes Travel Guide's annual star ratings are based on the experiences of its highly qualified team of anonymous inspectors who assess hotels, restaurants, and spas against up to 900 of the most stringent industry standards, resulting in a rating system with designations for Five-Star, Four-Star, and Recommended Properties. The winning properties, restaurants, and spas are showcased on ForbesTravelGuide.com.

With five Rosewood Hotels & Resorts properties receiving Five-Star ratings and nine properties receiving Four-Star ratings, Rosewood's exceptional rankings underscore the ultra-luxury hotel group's dedication to providing guests with extraordinary service and one-of-a-kind experiences in a diverse range of destinations around the world and further solidify Rosewood as a global leader in luxury hospitality.

Five-Star Hotel Rating:

Rosewood Hotel Georgia ( Vancouver, British Columbia )

)

Rosewood Sand Hill ( Menlo Park, California )

)

Rosewood Mayakoba (Riviera Maya, Mexico )

)

Rosewood Beijing ( Beijing, China )

( )

Las Ventanas al Paraiso, A Rosewood Resort ( Los Cabos, Mexico )

al Paraiso, A Rosewood Resort ( ) Four-Star Hotel Rating:

Rosewood Bermuda ( Bermuda )

( )

Rosewood San Miguel de Allende ( San Miguel de Allende, Mexico )

( )

Rosewood CordeValle ( Santa Clara, California )

)

Rosewood Washington, D.C. ( Washington, D.C. )

( )

Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi ( Santa Fe, New Mexico )

)

The Carlyle , A Rosewood Hotel ( New York, New York )

, A Rosewood Hotel ( )

Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek ( Dallas, Texas )

( )

Rosewood Abu Dhabi ( Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates )

( )

Rosewood London ( London, England )

A landmark year for Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, with several properties earning repeat accolades, 2018 marks the sixth consecutive Five-Star ranking for Rosewood Hotel Georgia, the fourth consecutive Five-Star ranking for Rosewood Sand Hill and Rosewood Mayakoba, and the third consecutive Five-Star ranking for Las Ventanas al Paraiso. Rosewood Beijing has moved up from its Four-Star rating in 2017 to its first Five-Star ranking in 2018. New Rosewood properties were also recognized on the list, with inaugural Four-Star ratings given to Rosewood Abu Dhabi and Rosewood Washington D.C.

"Rosewood's consistently outstanding performance on Forbes Travel Guide's esteemed Star Rating list reinforces our commitment to exceeding the expectations of each and every traveler and delivering artfully curated experiences and seamless service," said Radha Arora, president of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts. "We look forward to continuing to build upon our reputation as the benchmark for luxury hospitality and to bringing the Rosewood experience to new corners of the world through our thoughtful expansion into established cultural capitals and emerging destinations alike."

Additionally, several Rosewood restaurants and spas were awarded Star Ratings by Forbes Travel Guide, including:

Five-Star Rating:

Sense, A Rosewood Spa at Rosewood Mayakoba (Riviera Maya, Mexico )

) Four-Star Rating:

Sense, A Rosewood Spa at Rosewood Hotel Georgia ( Vancouver, British Columbia )

)

Sense, A Rosewood Spa at Rosewood Sand Hill ( Menlo Park, California )

)

Sense, A Rosewood Spa at Rosewood CordeValle ( Santa Clara, California )

)

Sense, A Rosewood Spa at Rosewood Beijing ( Beijing, China )

)

Sense, A Rosewood Spa at Rosewood Abu Dhabi ( Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates )

)

Madera at Rosewood Sand Hill ( Menlo Park, California )

at Rosewood Sand Hill ( )

The Mansion Restaurant at Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek ( Dallas, Texas )

( )

Hawksworth Restaurant at Rosewood Hotel Georgia ( Vancouver, British Columbia )

) Recommended Rating:

Bistro B at Rosewood Beijing ( Beijing, China )

Sense, A Rosewood Spa at Rosewood Mayakoba earned a Five-Star ranking for the second time after being the only spa to be honored with Five-Stars in all of Mexico in 2017. Sense, A Rosewood Spa at Rosewood Abu Dhabi received its Four-Star ranking for the first time this year.

"We are pleased to honor the 2018 Star Rating recipients, an exceptional collection of hotels, restaurants, and spas that demonstrates a strong culture of service," said Gerard J. Inzerillo, Chief Executive Officer of Forbes Travel Guide.

For a detailed explanation of how Forbes Travel Guide compiles its Star Ratings, visit www.forbestravelguide.com/about/ratings.

About Rosewood Hotels & Resorts

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts manages 22 one-of-a-kind luxury properties in 13 countries, with 18 new hotels under development. Each Rosewood hotel embraces the brand's A Sense of Place philosophy to reflect the individual location's history, culture and sensibilities. The Rosewood collection includes some of the world's most legendary hotels and resorts, including The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel in New York, Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas and Hotel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel in Paris, as well as new classics such as Rosewood Beijing.

For more information: rosewoodhotels.com

Connect with us: Facebook Twitter Instagram @rosewoodhotels

About Forbes Travel Guide:

Forbes Travel Guide is the only independent, global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants and spas. Started as Mobil Travel Guide in 1958, the company created the first Five-Star rating system in the United States. Today, Forbes Travel Guide's incognito inspectors travel the world, evaluating properties based on up to 900 rigorous, objective standards. The company's annual Star Ratings, reviews and daily travel stories help discerning travelers select the world's best luxury experiences. For more information about Forbes Travel Guide, visit www.forbestravelguide.com.

Connect with Forbes Travel Guide:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/ForbesTravelGuide

Twitter: www.twitter.com/ForbesInspector

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ForbesTravelGuide

Media Contacts:





North America UK Callie Stanton Ella Russell Kennedy Telephone: +1 646 654 3438 Telephone: +44 20 3003 6519 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]



Mainland China Hong Kong and Asia Stella Bai Denize Chan Telephone: +86 10 8588 3934 Telephone: +852 3141 8003 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]



Singapore

Letitia Tandean

Telephone: +65 6592 0546

Email: [email protected]



SOURCE Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

News facts:

Tablet mobility meets notebook productivity in the Fujitsu Tablet STYLISTIC Q738, leading a new line-up of ultra-mobile multimode tablets for business users

Extra-durable design ensures the tablet is suitable for varied working environments

Comprehensive Fujitsu 2 in 1 tablet portfolio powered by 8th generation Intel Core processors suits wide range of mobile business needs, from all-round flexible mobile office to specialist applications

Fujitsu introduces its latest flagship 2 in 1 detachable device  the Fujitsu Tablet STYLISTIC Q738. Outstanding durability combined with the mobility of a tablet, in tandem with the power and productivity of a notebook, make the STYLISTIC Q738 an ideal choice for high-performance, mobile working1.

Designed to be tough, the STYLISTIC Q738 can resist damage from accidental knocks and bumps while on the move, thanks to a robust magnesium housing and reinforced edges. The multi-touch, 13.3-inch Full HD anti-glare wide-screen display can be used in direct sunlight, while the 8th generation Intel Core processor provides notebook-matching performance. With weight starting from just 789 grams (1.74 lbs.), the STYLISTIC Q738 is an easy-to-carry yet powerful device, and all-day battery life gives users the freedom to work anywhere, anytime.

Thanks to its robust design, the STYLISTIC Q738 is ideal for office work and is especially suitable for industries such as healthcare and financial services, where devices are carried around all day long, and used in a wide variety of environments. Delivered with a choice of Microsoft Windows 10 Pro or Windows 10 Home operating system, the 2 in 1 comes with state-of-the-art enterprise-class security, including optional fingerprint and smartcard readers.

When it comes to connectivity, the STYLISTIC Q738 offers a rich feature set. In addition to an optional 4G/LTE module, it features USB type C for use with port replicators. A cradle and backlit keyboard docking enable ergonomic working and easy integration into corporate networks.

Heather Engen, Head of Platform Products Group, Fujitsu America, Inc. says, "The workplace is evolving, and the future is decidedly digital. To keep up with the rapid changes that digitalization brings, customers in every industry are expressing more interest than ever in powerful, flexible 2 in 1 devices. The benefits are clear: a workforce that is more mobile, productive, and connected. This, in turn, enables new workstyles and promotes secure collaboration whether employees are in the office or on the go. I'm proud to unveil the high-performance and highly durable STYLISTIC Q738, another example of the Fujitsu vision of technology serving society by improving people's lives and livelihoods."

LIFEBOOK T938 and 360-degree foldable LIFEBOOK P728 2 in 1 tablet

Fujitsu today also introduces the new convertible LIFEBOOK T9382 and 360-degree foldable LIFEBOOK P728 2 in 1 tablet models, equipped with the latest 8th generation Intel Core processors. Fujitsu has added an optional 5-megapixel (5MP) rear camera to the LIFEBOOK T938, allowing users to take photos and record videos just as they would with a mobile phone, while the front camera is optimized for video conferencing.

LIFEBOOK U7x8 Slimbook Series

Fujitsu is also announcing the LIFEBOOK U7x8, based on the 8th generation Intel Core processor, a slim, light and stylish ultra-mobile notebook for business professionals who are always on the move. With its full range of display sizes and light weight starting at only 1134 grams (2.5 lbs.), it provides excellent mobility. Ergonomic viewing is ensured with the anti-glare HD, FHD, or optional FHD touch display options and the embedded palm vein or finger print sensor provide outstanding security.

Pricing and availability

The STYLISTIC Q738 will be available from March 1, 2018 in the United States. The LIFEBOOK T938 and LIFEBOOK U7x8 series are available to order immediately in the Americas. Pricing varies according to model, configuration and country.

Notes to editors

1 The Fujitsu STYLISTIC Q738 comes with a Wacom Digitizer pen that supports up to 4k pressure level, as well as offering touchscreen input and a choice of keyboards.

2 The Fujitsu Tablet LIFEBOOK T938 is a powerful tablet and notebook in one ultra-portable, convertible device, with a bi-directional rotatable 13.3-inch display and newly-introduced optional 5 MP rear camera. With optional 4G/LTE including GPS, WLAN, Bluetooth, durable SSD options and a fast charging, user-exchangeable battery, it offers unrivalled mobility for business users. Highest security levels are guaranteed thanks to its SmartCard reader, palm vein and fingerprint sensors, OPAL encrypted drives and Trusted Platform Module (TPM). The improved, backlit keyboard, super high resolution Full HD display options, and optional port replicator provide ergonomic working both on the move and in the office.

Online resources

Purchase Fujitsu tablet PCs and notebooks online: https://www.shopfujitsu.com

Read the Fujitsu blog: http://blog.ts.fujitsu.com

Follow Fujitsu on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/FujitsuAmerica

Follow us on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/fujitsu-america

Find Fujitsu on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Fujitsu

Fujitsu pictures and media server: http://mediaportal.ts.fujitsu.com/pages/portal.php

For regular news updates, bookmark the Fujitsu newsroom: http://www.fujitsu.com/us/about/resources/news/

Media contacts

Fujitsu America, Inc.

Bryan Hollar

408-746-6412

[email protected]

Finn Partners

Victoria Perlak

646-202-9782

[email protected]

About Fujitsu

Fujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company, offering a full range of technology products, solutions, and services. Approximately 155,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE: 6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.5 trillion yen (US $40 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. For more information, please see http://www.fujitsu.com.

About Fujitsu Americas

Fujitsu America, Inc. is the parent and/or management company of a group of Fujitsu-owned companies operating in North, Central and South America dedicated to delivering the full range of Fujitsu products, solutions and services in ICT to our customers in the Western Hemisphere. These companies are collectively referred to as Fujitsu Americas. Fujitsu enables clients to meet their business objectives through integrated offerings and solutions, including consulting, systems integration, managed services, outsourcing and cloud services for infrastructure, platforms and applications; data center and field services; and server, storage, software and mobile/tablet technologies. For more information, please visit: http://fujitsu.com/us and http://twitter.com/fujitsuamerica.

Fujitsu, the Fujitsu logo, STYLISTIC, LIFEBOOK, and "shaping tomorrow with you" are trademarks or registered trademarks of Fujitsu Limited in the United States and other countries. Intel and Intel Core are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation in the United States and other countries. Microsoft and Windows are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries. Bluetooth is a trademark or registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. in the United States and other countries. USB Type-C is a trademark or registered trademark of the USB Implementers Forum, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. Information provided in this press release is accurate at time of publication and is subject to change without advance notice.

SOURCE Fujitsu America, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.fujitsu.com/us


COLLEGE PARK, Md., Feb. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- gel-e Inc., announces two new grants that support the development of internal use hemostats.

gel-e has been awarded a $1.4M grant from the Department of Defense (DoD) through the US Army Medical Research and Material Command (USAMRMC) to develop advanced solutions for prolonged field care. The grant supports the development of an expanding foam hemostat for the treatment of internal non-compressible hemorrhage. Internal non-compressible hemorrhage typically results from being struck by shrapnel or a significant concussive force. As an expansion of gel-e's hemostatic platform (see existing FDA clearances at http://www.gel-e.co/news.html), the Company has been optimizing flowable formulations for internal and surgical use. Consequently, certain product candidates have been identified that can be administered in far-forward locations to quickly stabilize internal injuries, allowing time for evacuation of the wounded to a field surgical OR.

Learn more about gel-e's product pipeline at http://www.gel-e.co/products.html.

"We are honored to be working with our military to develop such an important hemostatic application. This project is a natural extension of our previously published work using flowable formulations, from our biopolymer-based platform, to treat aggressive internal bleeding," said Dr. Matthew Dowling, CSO of gel-e. "It is gratifying to have the DoD recognize our technology platform and support the synergy of this project with the expansion of our product line from the broad treatment of external wounds to those arising from combat."

"Internal non-compressible hemorrhage remains the single largest cause of in-combat hemorrhage-related death," said Dr. David King, MD, LTC and former Chief, Division of Trauma Surgery, 86th Combat Support Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq. "The evaluation of new approaches, like the one gel-e is using, will be important to improve outcomes for our wounded service men and women, both on and off the battlefield."

gel-e has also been awarded an expansion of its SBIR Phase II grant, to support additional seminal research into the development of new flowable, internal-use hemostatic formulations. This award by the National Science Foundation, is based on the Company's previous success as a Phase I and II recipient.

About gel-e

gel-e is a clinical-stage medical device company developing versatile hemostatic products for surgical, medical, and consumer applications. With an initial focus on external wounds, gel-e combines the use of safe, inert ingredients with proprietary chemistry that can be designed for use across a broad spectrum of clinical applications, including vascular closure and during surgery. gel-e is based in College Park, Md.

For additional information, please visit http://www.gel-e.co.

Contacts:

Larry Tiffany, gel-e, Inc.

(301) 529-4943

[email protected]

SOURCE gel-e, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.gel-e.co


ALBANY, New York, February 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

According to a new report by Transparency Market Research, the global glaucoma treatment market is being crowded with branded drugs in tandem with rising number of generics, thereby creating significant competition among leading players in the market. This is further setting limits to the introduction of novel therapies, and several products are closing in on losing exclusivity. Late-stage pipeline drugs for glaucoma, however, hold promise for its treatment, as they are deemed to impart novel mechanism of action, which in turn will create opportunities for the market growth.

The report profiled key players underpinning expansion of the global market for glaucoma treatment, which include Allergan, Novartis AG, Merck & Co., Inc., Bausch & Lomb Incorporated, Akorn, Inc., Teva Pharmaceuticals, Santen, Pfizer, Inotek Pharmaceuticals, and Aerie Pharmaceuticals. According to the report, the global market for glaucoma treatment is expected to ride on a modest CAGR throughout the forecast period, 2017 to 2026. Revenues from treatment of glaucoma across the globe are estimated to close in nearly US$ 3,400 Mn by 2026-end.

Get PDF Brochure for Research Insights at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=16451

Governments & Healthcare Institutions Taking Initiatives for Spreading Awareness about Glaucoma Therapeutic Options

Prevalence of glaucoma has been rising in tandem with growing geriatric population around the world, as older population is relatively more prone to glaucoma. Mounting number of patients with diabetes along with those having hereditary traits of glaucoma further contribute to the disease prevalence significantly. Several healthcare institutions and governments are taking initiatives for spreading the awareness of treatment options for patients with glaucoma. According to WHO, glaucoma is deemed to be the second largest cause for vision loss globally. Glaucoma, a leading reason for the preventable blindness, is linked with the chronic progressive optic neuropathy that results into irreversible vision loss by damaging the optic nerve.

No treatments exist in the market currently for direct prevention of glaucoma. Several commercially available therapies, however, concentrate on curtailing increased level of intraocular pressure, a well-known risk factor associated with the development & progression of glaucoma. Product development strategies in the recent past have been impressive with surgery options, with several effective additions such as photodynamic therapy and laser therapy. However, excellent efficiency and efficacy of currently available drugs, particularly carbonic anhydrase inhibitors and prostaglandin analogs, have set barriers to the development of new therapy options.

Request a Custom Report at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=CR&rep_id=16451

Revenues to Remain Largest from North America's Glaucoma Treatment Market

Revenues from the glaucoma treatment market in North America are expected to remain the largest, followed by those from the market in Europe. These two regions are projected to hold roughly two-third revenue share of the global glaucoma treatment market during the forecast period. In addition, North America and Europe are also forecast to prevail as fast-expanding markets for glaucoma treatment. Revenues from the market in Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) will also remain significant, accounting for over 20% share of the market through the forecast period.

On the basis of product type, prostaglandin analogs (PGAs) will continue to spearhead the global market for glaucoma treatment, in terms of revenues as well as sales expansion. Revenues from sales of prostaglandin for glaucoma treatment worldwide will latch onto more than 30% share of the market by 2026-end. Although alpha agonist currently accounts for a significant share of the market, demand for the product will record a slight decline over the forecast period.

Purchase your own copy of Report at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=16451<ype=S

ACG to Remain Largest Indication Segment in the Market

Based on indication, revenues from treatment of angle closure glaucoma (ACG) are anticipated to remain significantly larger than those combined from all the other indications of glaucoma. ACG has also been slated to prevail as the fast-expanding indication segment in the global glaucoma treatment market.

Hospital pharmacies are expected to hold their position of being the largest sales channel for glaucoma treatment drugs through the forecast period. In addition, revenues from sales of glaucoma treatment drugs in hospital pharmacies and online sales are expected to witness a parallel increase through 2026.

Popular Research Reports by TMR:

Glaucoma Therapeutics Market:

https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/glaucoma-therapeutics-market.html

Ophthalmic Surgical Technologies Market:

https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ophthalmic-surgical-technologies-market.html

About Us

Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The company's exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.

TMR's data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

Contact



Transparency Market Research

State Tower,

90 State Street,

Suite 700,

Albany NY - 12207

United States

Tel: +1-518-618-1030

USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453

Email: [email protected]



Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com

Research Blog: https://theglobalhealthnews.com/

SOURCE Transparency Market Research
LEXINGTON, Va., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In the picturesque Shenandoah Valley, a vibrant community of nearly 200 independent senior residents, medical and continuing care providers, and their Lexington, Virginia neighbors gathered Thursday for a highly celebrated groundbreaking ceremony that kicked off a $40M renovation and expansion initiative.

The project was designed to make life brighter and more homelike for residents, to make facilities friendlier to those who suffer from cognitive decline and to provide a model work environment for Kendal's highly skilled staff. When it is complete, the Borden Health Center will be the most up-to-date skilled care nursing facility in the region and will continue to provide care to residents and regional neighbors alike. Currently, 80 percent of Borden admissions come from the general community, 40 percent of those are supported by Medicaid.

"We are proud of our long legacy of partnering with, and caring for, both our full-time community residents and our Lexington area neighbors," Board Chair Bob Glidden said. "After the renovations, the residents and staff living and working in the skilled care and assisted living centers will enjoy bright, home-like settings with modern amenities and comforts and, our facilities are open to everyone."

Additionally, the Webster Assisted Living Center and the Anderson Dining room will both be upgraded to increase Kendal's legendary neighborhood community feel. The architects have reworked the existing footprint to enhance natural light and remove structural obstacles.

"In each planned renovation, we carefully considered the needs of our residents and seek to meet and exceed model care practices, even as expectations and opportunities for advancement continue to evolve. We work every day to ensure that Kendal at Lexington is the kind of place we would all choose as our home," Mina Tepper, Executive Director at Kendal at Lexington said.

In addition to the care facility upgrades, the phase three Kendal expansion will produce 30 new independent living cottages, increasing the number of residential living opportunities by 25 percent.

"To see Kendal expand to meet our original vision is truly remarkable," Dianne Herrick, one of Kendal at Lexington's original founders and a current full-time resident, said. "There is so much we now know about what it takes to provide a positive aging experience, and Kendal is at the cutting edge, delivering fulfilling experiences to all its residents. I'm just so excited for what comes next."

More information: http://kalex.kendal.org/expansion/press

Media Contact:

Jennifer Eddy

202-709-7509 (w) | 540-878-9681 (c)

[email protected]

Related Images

kendal-celebrates-groundbreaking.jpg

over-the-next-two-years-the-kendal.jpg

the-kendal-at-lexington-phase.jpg

the-kendal-at-lexington-community.jpg

Related Links

Media Resources

SOURCE Kendal at Lexington

Related Links

http://kalex.kendal.org


BASINGSTOKE, England, February 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Composite Metal Technologies Plc (CMT), the UK's number one knowledge centre for Aluminium Matrix Composites (AMCs), announced today a change in primary focus away from R&D to consultancy and manufacturing. The move was prompted by the changing global landscape of metal matrix composite (MMC) technology. MMCs are set to make a significant contribution to environmental sustainability and advanced manufacturing. In order to deliver on the promise of metal composites, CMT has made a number of changes to its business and to the Board of Directors.

Gwen Ventris, appointed non-executive Chairman in 2017, now becomes executive Chairman, while John Bonas is promoted to Managing Director and Richard Thompson to Commercial Director. At the same time, Neil Collins is stepping down as CEO of CMT at the end of February. Neil will serve as executive Director and special advisor. Gemma Christian will remain technical Director.

Gwen Ventris, executive Chairman, says: "CMT is entering an exciting stage, having recently received an order under stage 1 of the 'Breakthrough Aerospace Materials' project with Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems, in addition to the work CMT is doing in the automotive sector with Ford. All industrialised nations are working hard to reduce their environmental impact and metal matrix composites will be at the centre of most improvements in the built environment by providing lighter, stronger and more efficient parts across many industries. Some good examples include high-stress parts in cars, aircraft and machinery, to name but a few."

She continues: "The brave new world promised by MMCs is at last here and CMT is now delivering the value of composites across a range of sectors. I am struck by the conversations I have with clients and potential clients: composites have clearly come of age and we are at a tipping-point where composites will change our future."

CMT specialises in the design, development and production of advanced aluminium-based MMC components for high-performance engineering applications. AMCs are an advanced class of composite materials, offering significant weight and performance benefits over unreinforced metals. As conventional materials approach their performance limits, AMCs are attracting attention from a wide variety of different industries, including automotive, aerospace, defence, industrial and high-end consumer products.

Neil Collins, co-founder and outgoing CEO of CMT, commented: "This is an important time for CMT as the company transitions from a research-orientated organisation to a consultancy and manufacturing business. We have a burgeoning pipeline of sales opportunities with a number of major blue-chip companies across a broad range of verticals. Our management team have the expertise to deliver on the opportunities presented by our ground-breaking AMC technology and I very much look forward to supporting Gwen, John and the team as they lead the company through the next stage of growth."

Management bios:

Gwen Ventris has many years of executive and non-executive management experience in small, start-up and large company environments. She is the former COO and Plc Board Executive of the AEA Group and was a founding director of BT's Systems and Consulting business, Syntegra, which she helped grow into a 1 billion business. She has an impressive track record of managing companies in a diverse range of industries, as well as commercialising disruptive technologies.

John Bonas joined CMT in 2014 and has over 25 years of product design and manufacturing experience and has held senior positions in a number of cutting-edge manufacturing businesses, including Xtrac. He joined the Board as operations director in April 2017.

Richard Thompson is a strategic market development and engineering professional specialising in strategic marketing, technology commercialisation and innovation. He has worked for a range of companies from niche high-performance automotive and motorsport to new-venture companies. Richard joined CMT in October 2017 from Williams Advanced Engineering, where he held the position of senior market development manager.

About CMT Plc

CMT Plc, established in 2003, is an award-winning advanced materials technology group, specialising in the supply of aluminium-based Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs), or Aluminium Matrix Composites (AMCs), an advanced class of composite material. The core technology is based on continuous ceramic fibres embedded into an aluminium matrix, to give unique properties, which can be described in simple terms as 'stiff and strong as steel but with the weight of aluminium'. These materials are known as Continuous Fibre Reinforced AMCs (CFR-AMCs).

The key benefits of using MMCs/AMCs over unreinforced metals are improved strength, higher stiffness, reduced weight, improved wear resistance and a lower coefficient of thermal and electrical conductivity.

CMT was established to commercially exploit the Advanced Liquid Pressure Forming (ALPF) technology invented by The UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD) at a cost of approximately 20 million. It was subsequently licensed to CMT Ltd, a subsidiary of CMT Plc, by the UK Government, through QinetiQ, in order to transfer the technology into civil markets. Since licensing the technology CMT has created proprietary intellectual property (ALPF), which has superseded the MoD's licensed LPF technology.

For more information please visit http://www.cmt-ltd.com/ and follow us on LinkedIn

Editorial contacts:

Alla Lapidus / John Norris

Moonlight Media

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44-(0)-20-7250-4770

SOURCE CMT Plc
HAMILTON, Ohio, Feb. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- America's Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), SBDC leaders, advisors, clients, partners and stakeholders gathered for the fourth annual 2018 Client Showcase and Reception on Tuesday, Feb. 13 on Capitol Hill. Representative Steve Chabot of Ohio, Chairman of the Committee on Small Business and Representative Nydia Velazquez of New York and Ranking Member of the Committee on Small Business addressed the reception guests. Hamilton Mill and Butler County SBDC client WaterStep was one of 11 SBDC clients from across the country that were recognized last week.

The Hamilton Mill

"The most important part of what SBDCs do is the clients. Our impact numbers for the national economy are impressive but, what is really impressive is the hard work, ideas and success of our SBDC clients. This showcase gives a glimpse at the array of innovators, and doers that SBDCs help every day all across the country," said Charles "Tee" Rowe, President & CEO of America's SBDC.

The 63 state and regional Small Business Development Center Networks provide free one-on-one consulting to small businesses through nearly 1,000 locations. Job growth for SBDC clients is nearly 10 times greater than job growth for average businesses, and SBDC client sales growth is nearly 4 times greater than sales growth for businesses in general.

Last spring the Butler County Small Business Development Center located at The Hamilton Mill was selected as the Small Business Development Center of the year by The United States Small Business Administration (SBA). Over the past three years, The Hamilton Mill based center has generated over $20 million in loan funding to small businesses.

WaterStep is a 2017 alum of the award-winning Pipeline H2O water-tech commercialization program run by The Hamilton Mill. They continued their mentorship and guidance with the Butler County SBDC throughout the past year. "The SBDC at The Hamilton Mill (Hamilton, Ohio) was extremely helpful in helping us assess our short-term and long-term goals, especially as it relates to entering markets with which we did not have a whole lot of experience. Additionally, they were able to connect us with valuable international trade resources that allowed us to mobilize and deliver our product into disaster recovery situations," said WaterStep founder Mark Hogg.

According to data provided by the Small Business Administration (SBA), every federal dollar spent on the SBDC network helped small businesses access $43.50 in new capital. In 2016, SBDC clients started a new business every 30 minutes, created a new job every 5.5 minutes and generated $100,000 in new sales every 10 minutes. Small businesses are job creators and innovators. Supporting their formation and growth moves our economy forward and makes our communities healthier.

Related Images

pipeline-h2o-2017-demo-day.png

Pipeline H2O 2017 Demo Day

Mark Hogg at Pipeline H2O 2017 Demo Day

waterstep.png

WaterStep

Related Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwweD81H52s

SOURCE The Hamilton Mill
LONG BEACH, Calif., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Harbor Associates, LLC ("Harbor") has acquired the Conejo Corporate Campus in a joint venture with Blue Vista Capital Management ("Blue Vista"). The project is a two building, 198,478 SF office campus built in 2001 and located on 11.36 acres in the city of Thousand Oaks, California. The project is currently 55% leased to two tenants. Kevin Shannon and Scott Schumacher of Newmark Knight Frank represented the seller in the transaction. The lender is a subsidiary of Granite Point Mortgage Trust Inc., which is externally managed by Pine River Capital Management L.P.

Conejo Corporate Campus

The Conejo Corporate Campus is one of the newest and most highly improved office projects in the submarket. The project was built in 2001 and occupied by Amgen through 2011. Amgen invested over $140 PSF in above standard tenant improvements. The high-end buildout includes numerous meeting and conference rooms, grand lobbies, a landscaped outdoor plaza, high speed fiber, Venetian plastered walls, and is fully furnished with Herman Miller. The project has 14-foot slab-to-slab ceiling heights and offers 4:1000 parking. The buildings have unobstructed mountain views to the east along with efficient and easily divisible floorplates.

Harbor plans to re-position the project into a class A multi-tenant office property with cutting-edge meeting and conference rooms onsite. While the asset's high-quality improvements have been well maintained, the current single tenant layout is not geared towards the 5,000 to 25,000 square foot segment of the market. Harbor will proactively demise suites and re-engineer the building to accommodate tenants ranging in size from 8,000 to 100,000 square feet. The campus renovation plans include a new multi-color paint scheme, drought tolerant landscaping upgrades, and new project and tenant signage. In addition, Harbor plans on building a 11,000 SF spec suite that will showcase modern finishes and an open-plan layout.

Conejo Corporate Campus is located immediately adjacent to the 160,771 square foot 'Think Here' office and R&D campus that Harbor acquired in December 2016 and increases Harbor's portfolio to over 350,000 square feet in the submarket. The project marks the tenth value-add office acquisition for Harbor in the last three years. The acquisition expands Harbor's Southern California portfolio to 13 buildings stretching from Thousand Oaks, Century City, Orange County, and down to San Diego.

Paul Miszkowicz, Principal for Harbor, adds, "Through our ownership of the adjacent 'Think Here' Campus we experienced strong tenant demand for differentiated and well-appointed office space, particularly for tenants in the 8,000  25,000 square foot range. We think there's unmet demand in this space and look forward to executing on our multi-tenant lease-up strategy."

Brad Johnson, Vice President for Harbor, states, "We are excited about the opportunity to transform a very well-appointed office asset from its current single-tenant configuration into a multi-tenant project that better meets the tenant demands of the Thousand Oaks submarket. Our focus evolves around our tenants and the ability to meet their real estate objectives while executing quickly and finding efficient solutions."

Justin Loiacono, Principal for Harbor, comments, "The Conejo Corporate Campus represents our tenth office acquisition in the last three years as a firm and expands our Southern California portfolio. We intend on building on our recent momentum by sourcing new opportunities and pursuing similar strategies in suburban office markets with interesting demand drivers to meet our acquisition goal of $250M over the next 12 months. We have a robust pipeline of activity behind this transaction and look forward to continuing to build our Southern California portfolio."

Jason Schwartz, Principal for Blue Vista, adds, "We are thrilled to embark on this new venture with Harbor to complete a value-add repositioning of the Conejo Corporate Campus. The property presents us with a unique opportunity to acquire a highly improved asset in partnership with an experienced local sponsorship team in a market that we believe has significant room to grow."

About Harbor: Harbor Associates, LLC (www.harborassociates.com) is a value-add operating platform focused on acquiring and repositioning under-performing commercial real estate assets throughout Southern California and Denver. The three Principals of Harbor collectively have over 30 years of experience in Denver and Southern California and collectively have closed over $1.7B in acquisitions and asset managed over $2.5B in assets totaling over 3M SF of office. The company is a joint venture with The Bascom Group, LLC.

About Blue Vista Capital Management: Founded in 2002, Blue Vista Capital Management, LLC is a leading real estate investment management firm focused on helping investors maximize returns in real estate through best-in-class investment strategies focused exclusively on middle market equity and debt, and student housing in the U.S. and select international markets. To date, Blue Vista has participated in direct investments and joint ventures representing approximately $7.5 billion in total capitalization and the firm has raised more than $2.0 billion in equity through various closed end funds and separate account relationships.

About Granite Point: Granite Point Mortgage Trust Inc. (www.gpmortgagetrust.com) is a publicly-listed commercial mortgage REIT that focuses primarily on originating and investing in senior floating-rate commercial mortgage loans and other debt and debt-like commercial real estate investments.

About Pine River: Pine River Capital Management L.P. (www.pinerivercapital.com) is a global alternative investment firm founded in 2002 that focuses on relative value trading.

Contact: Paul Miszkowicz

Tel: 562-436-4222

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE The Bascom Group
AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- HealthGrowth Capital, LLC, a leading alternative specialty lender to healthcare companies and medical practices, is pleased to announce it has entered into a Master Participation Agreement with Crestline Investors, Inc ("Crestline"). Crestline's investment will be funded through its Opportunity Fund III, a credit fund that seeks to take advantage of dislocations and inefficiencies in the primary and secondary credit markets in North America and Europe. The fund provides sub-$50 million capital solutions, including direct lending, and focuses on under-served or capital constrained asset classes.

"We are pleased to enter into this agreement with Crestline as they have a significant understanding of and presence in the alternative lending space," said Karl Kipke, CEO of HealthGrowth Capital. "Healthcare businesses need working, expansion and acquisition capital that provide desirable risk-adjusted returns. This agreement with Crestline Investors will give us the financial bandwidth to take HealthGrowth Capital to the next level."

"HealthGrowth Capital provides critical financial options to healthcare companies as they navigate a challenging operating and credit environment," said Chris Semple, Managing Director, Crestline Investors, Inc. "HealthGrowth's team of professionals have deep knowledge and expertise in understanding the financial needs of this vertical market and we are excited to be involved with their growth."

About Crestline Investor. Inc

Crestline Investors, Inc., founded in 1997 and based in Fort Worth, Texas, is an institutional alternative investment management firm. Crestline specializes in credit and opportunistic investments, including financing and restructuring solutions for mature private equity funds. In addition, the firm manages a multi-PM equity market-neutral hedge fund, and provides beta and hedging solutions for institutional clients. Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, the company maintains affiliate offices in New York City, Chicago, London, Toronto and Tokyo.

About HealthGrowth Capital, LLC

HealthGrowth Capital, LLC, based in Austin, Texas is a leading alternative specialty lender to healthcare companies and medical practices.

SOURCE HealthGrowth Capital, LLC

Related Links

http://www.healthgrowthcapital.com


LONDON, February 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

ICIS, a leading provider of pricing and market intelligence for the global energy, chemical and fertiliser sectors, has improved its global crude oil coverage, with further insights structured in timely intraday updates on the crude oil market as well as additional market analysis of key drivers.

(Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/619935/ICIS_Logo.jpg )



As part of its ongoing commitment to provide in-depth coverage and remain in line with industry standards, ICIS launched a new price assessment for the key grade Troll in January 2018 and added the grade to its basket of grades that are used in the Dated BFOE assessment.

ICIS has combined its regional reports into a single World Crude Report (WCR) delivered in three daily updates to allow its customers to access information in a timely manner and give insight into key regions around the world: Asia-Pacific, Arab Gulf, North Sea, Mediterranean, CIS, West Africa and the Americas. Our delivery methods have also been improved with WCR data available via the ICIS Excel plug-in to give our customers easy and convenient access.

"Our improved coverage complements the existing market intelligence that ICIS supplies, providing a global view of the market," said Sophie Udubasceanu, editor of the WCR.

ICIS has a long history in examining and reporting on the global crude oil markets. Our experts based throughout the globe provide market players with the latest daily pricing information.

Click here to find out more about the World Crude Report:

https://www.icis.com/energy/crude-oil/

Find out more about the Dated BFOE assessment and how it is being compiled to meet the needs of various stakeholders:

https://www.icis.com/contact/dated-bfoe-and-the-brent-cash-settlement-process/

About ICIS

ICIS is the world's largest petrochemical market information provider, with divisions spanning energy and fertilizers. Our aim is to give companies in global commodities markets a competitive advantage by delivering valuable information and analytics tools which enable our customers to identify and react to opportunities in markets which are constantly evolving. We have more than 30 years' of experience in providing pricing intelligence and news, forecast data, market analytics and independent consulting to buyers, sellers and analysts.

With a global staff of more than 600, ICIS has employees based in London, Houston, New York, Singapore, Dubai, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing, Mumbai, Tokyo, Karlsruhe, and Milan. ICIS' team of journalists is engaged in reporting market prices and news, and ICIS is fully committed to upholding the highest journalistic principles of verification, corroboration and authentication. ICIS has a compliance framework that along with its methodologies and business processes adheres to the requirements of the IOSCO PRA Principles.

ICIS is a division of Reed Business Information, part of RELX Group.

About Reed Business Information

Reed Business Information provides information, analytics and data to business professionals worldwide. Our strong global products and services hold market-leading positions across a wide range of industry sectors including banking, petrochemicals and aviation, where we help customers make key strategic decisions every day. RBI is part of RELX Group, a global provider of information and analytics for professional customers across industries. http://www.reedbusiness.com

About RELX Group

RELX Group is a global provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries. The Group serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs approximately 30,000 people of whom almost half are in North America. RELX PLC is a London listed holding company which owns 52.9% of RELX Group. RELX NV is an Amsterdam listed holding company which owns 47.1% of RELX Group. The shares are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX and RENX. The total market capitalisation is approximately 29.4bn|33.2bn|$41.3bn. www.relx.com

Media contacts

Fionn O'Raghallaigh

Senior Product Manager

Email: [email protected]

Direct: +44-207-911-1941



Sophie Udubasceanu

Global Crude Oil Editor

Email: [email protected]

Direct: +44-(0)-20-7911-1889



SOURCE ICIS
SPOKANE, Wash. and PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Imprezzio, a leading provider of sales enablement software for the insurance and financial services industries, today announced its partnership with Jornaya, the fast-growing consumer journey insights platform.

The partnership will enable Jornaya Intelligence and TCPA Guardian solutions to be embedded into the Imprezzio platform providing a more complete view of consumer behavior, help improve lead performance and mitigate TCPA risk across the insurance and financial services industries.

Imprezzio's LeadFlow software manages, optimizes and delivers timely internet leads, and the unique combination of the two technologies offers superior lead performance to help their customers grow profitably at any scale.

"We are thrilled with our partnership with Jornaya. The combination of Jornaya's consumer journey insights and real-time intelligence, coupled with our industry leading speed to lead and lead routing will become table stakes for anyone purchasing internet leads," said Jeff Brown, EVP of Sales with Imprezzio.

"Our partnership with Imprezzio continues to expand our presence with insurance and mortgage providers. We're excited for Imprezzio's LeadFlow customers, who now have a distinct competitive advantage of acquiring leads enhanced with Jornaya's solutions," said Jaimie Pickles, GM of Insurance at Jornaya.

Jornaya's platform offers unmatched visibility into the consumer journey, providing insights into consumer behavior and intent. Its technology is a first-hand witness to consumer actions across devices, browsers, and web properties. Jornaya contributes proprietary data and insights to publishers and to marketers that cannot be found from any other source.

About Imprezzio:

Accelerated change in the way people connect involves data-driven, omni-channel communication to prospects and customers alike. Cutting through the noise requires empowering agencies with tools to deliver an unparalleled customer experience in their unique communities.

More than 150,000 users are benefiting from Imprezzio's suite of sales enablement software, dramatically scaling sales and retention by reinventing the customer experience for many of the largest insurance carriers in the U.S. To learn more about Imprezzio's technology, culture and career opportunities, please visit www.imprezzio.com.

About Jornaya:

Jornaya is the consumer journey insight platform that provides publishers, marketers, data analysts, and compliance professionals with the highest-resolution view of the consumer buying journey. It is the only technology platform that witnesses both first- and third-party consumer interactions in real time and across devices. Meeting consumers at these moments of intent enables businesses to shorten the distance between data, decision, and action. Jornaya seamlessly integrates with any buyer journey decisioning process or toolkit. Please visit http://www.jornaya.com

SOURCE Jornaya

Related Links

http://www.jornaya.com


The research report " Interceptor Missiles Market By Technology (THAAD, PAC-3, SM-3, HQ-19, HQ-9, Iron Dome, FD-2000, Patriot-GEM-T, Aegis Ashore, Aster), By Surface (Surface To Air, Water To Air), By Range (Upto 125 Kms, Between 125 To 200 Kms, Above 200 Kms), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Germany, Romania, UK, France, Russia, Italy, Poland, Netherlands, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Kuwait, Turkey, UAE, Qatar), Growth Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2017 - 2024 " by Global Market Insights, Inc. says Interceptor Missiles Market is expected to cross USD 14 billion by 2024.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160418/799556-a )



Global interceptor missiles market is expected to cross 3,000 units till 2024. Continuously increasing threat of attacks from rival countries has resulted in proliferating demand for interceptor missiles over the forecast timeframe. Multiple countries across the globe including Netherlands, U.S, Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, etc., have purchased patriot interceptor missiles to strengthen their defense inventory, impacting the industry positively.

Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/2401

Countries across the globe have witnessed a considerable increase in their defense budget. For instance, in 2015, the defense budget of China was USD 131 billion, which was increased by 11% and crossed USD 145 billion in 2016 and was further increased by 7% in 2017. This will accelerate the revenue generation owing to their enhanced purchasing power for defense systems. However, high initial investment and high manufacturing costs may restrain new entrants from entering the interceptor missile market.

Industry is witnessing regular upgradations and innovations in interceptor missiles. For instance, HQ-19 is a significant upgradation of HQ-9 and has gained prominence in 2017. It is capable of targeting satellites and ballistic missiles in lower earth orbit and is featured with kinetic kill vehicle. Moreover, it can intercept the ballistic missiles from a range of 3,000 kms. These innovations are anticipated to induce immense growth potential to the interceptor missiles market size over the coming years.

Surface to air missiles are expected to capture maximum interceptor missiles market revenue share of more than 80% by 2024. Some of the benefits offered includes light-weight and portability which in turn will drive the industry demand. Water to air missiles will exhibit approximately 7% CAGR owing to rising adoption of these missiles in various countries across the globe for naval border protection.

Browse key industry insights spread across 250 pages with 558 market data tables & 11 figures & charts from this 2018 report Interceptor Missiles Market in detail along with the table of contents:

https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/interceptor-missiles-market

Interceptor missiles of up to 125 kms range are anticipated to dominate the interceptor missiles market, generating a demand of over 2,000 units till 2024. Continuously increasing penetration of missiles conforming to this range such as PAC-3, Iron Dome, and SM-3, from MEA including UAE, Israel, and Saudi Arabia will primarily support the industry dominance. Interceptor missiles of range above 200 kms will exhibit over 18% CAGR in terms of revenue owing to rising deployment of advanced missiles such as HQ-19. Regular innovations in these missiles in countries such as China will further strengthen the industry penetration over the forecast timeframe.

PAC-3 is expected to account for highest interceptor missile market share crossing USD 6 billion over the coming years. Proliferating demand of these missiles, especially in developed countries will primarily support the revenue generation. For instance, in January 2013, the U.S. army entered into several contracts worth USD 755 million for purchasing 168 PAC-3 missiles and associated services and equipment. HQ-19 will exhibit over 40% CAGR till 2024 owing to its continuously rising usage as an upgradation of HQ-9. Its enhanced features as compared to its counterparts will further support the industry growth till 2024.

MEA interceptor missiles market will showcase dominance over the next eight years owing to rising threat of enemy attacks across the region. Collaborations of various countries with industry players for purchasing of these missiles will further contribute towards the high revenue generation. For instance, UAE and Qatar are anticipated to enter an agreement with Lockheed Martin for supplying patriot missiles. Europe will witness over 7% CAGR till 2024 owing to rising sales of interceptor missiles from countries including Sweden and Poland.

Lockheed Martin Corp., Boeing Co., Raytheon Co., Aerojet Rocketdyne, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems are among the major industry players. Regular product innovations is among prominent strategies implemented by these participants. For instance, in January 2018, Lockheed Martin made enhancements in Aegis missile that is anticipated to result in rapid detection of threats and reduction in reaction time.

Make an Inquiry for purchasing this report @ https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/2401

Browse Related Reports:

Ammunition Market Size By Caliber (Small Caliber, Medium Caliber, Large Caliber, Artillery, Mortar), By Application (Defense, Civil), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Russia, Japan, China, India, South Korea, Mexico, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Israel, Africa), Growth Potential, Regulations, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2016 - 2025

https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/ammunition-market

Missile Composites Market Size, Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, Germany, UK, Italy, France, Spain, Italy, Russia, Poland, China, India, Japan, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, UAE), Application Development Potential, Price Trend, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2017 - 2024

https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/missile-composites-market

About Global Market Insights

Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.

Contact Us:

Arun Hegde

Corporate Sales, USA

Global Market Insights, Inc.

Phone: +1-302-846-7766

Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688

Email: [email protected]



Web: https://www.gminsights.com/blogs

Blog: https://gminsights.wordpress.com

Connect with us: Facebook | Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter

SOURCE Global Market Insights, Inc.
UK managed cloud services provider iomart (AIM: IOM) is helping a leading Midlands software company grow its business by hosting its ERP software in the cloud.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121126/579634 )



Exel Computer Systems authors and sells its EFACS/8 software to manufacturing companies. EFACS is provided as a standard product, which can then be configured to suit each customer's specific requirements. Traditionally the ERP software has been hosted on premise by Exel's customers. Now it can offer EFACS as a secure and scalable cloud hosted solution through iomart.

Jonathan Orme, Sales Operations and Marketing Manager for Exel, says, "The relationship we have with our customers is a partnership that is constantly evolving. As security concerns around the cloud have diminished, it made sense to offer to host our ERP software in the cloud with iomart in order to support our own and our customers' growth ambitions."

The software is hosted on iomart's CloudSure platform which provides the resilience, security and flexibility Exel requires to support its customers. Enterprise cloud backup from iomart enables rapid restore and recovery of data. Exel's customers no longer have to invest in and manage expensive server hardware; the EFACS software can be quickly deployed; and they benefit from improved security and disaster recovery provided by a highly accredited cloud provider.

Bill Strain, CTO of iomart, says, "One of the great benefits of hosting an ERP solution in the cloud is that your IT team no longer has to waste time and money managing physical infrastructure. iomart provides the expertise, the data centres and the security, which allows Exel's team to focus on delivering the best possible software solution to its customers."

Click here to read the full case study with Exel Computer Systems .

About iomart

iomart (AIM: IOM) helps organisations maximise the flexibility, cost effectiveness and security of the cloud. From strategy to delivery, our 300+ consultants and solutions architects provide the cloud expertise to transform your business. With a dynamic range of managed cloud services that integrate with the public clouds of AWS and Azure, our agnostic approach delivers solutions tailored to your exact needs. iomart is a long term supplier to G-Cloud and our infrastructure and cloud and backup services are designed to meet the requirements of the UK public sector. To find out more visit www.iomart.com

Contact:

Jane Robertson

Content & Communications Manager

iomart Group Plc

Tel. +44-(0)141-931-6400

https://twitter.com/iomart

https://www.linkedin.com/company/iomart

SOURCE iomart Group PLC
CHICAGO, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- JLL's Capital Markets experts today announced the company completed the sale of an institutional-quality, multistate medical office portfolio known as the PHT portfolio. JLL represented the seller, Bentall Kennedy, on behalf of a state pension fund. Heitman LLC, a global real estate investment management firm, acquired the 17-building, 1.4 million-square-foot portfolio on behalf of an affiliate of Heitman. Denver-based NexCore Group will manage and lease the properties.

The Princeton Medical Arts Pavilion in Plainsboro, New Jersey.

The sale builds on momentum that propelled sales of medical office buildings in 2017 to a record level of $9.5 billion, according to JLL experts, past the previous high-water mark of $9 billion in 2015, and substantially higher than the typical annual volume of $5 billion. The PHT portfolio is one of the largest medical office asset sales to have occurred. Investors' appetites are being fed by an industry that has been steadily migrating to lower cost outpatient settings. This is causing a spike in outpatient visits, which are expected to increase by 20 percent over the next decade, and now constitute more of hospital revenue than inpatient care for the first time in history. Annual healthcare spending is projected to grow by more than 5 percent a year, most of which is earmarked for ambulatory settings.

"Healthcare real estate is emerging from the shadows of alternative sectors and is increasingly being viewed as a staple asset," said Jonathan Geanakos, President, JLL Capital Markets, Americas. "Interest in medical office is at an all-time high given the robust capital available for real estate investment, especially from core investors and foreign capital seeking durable income from stable product offering attractive yields. Our JLL Capital Markets, Healthcare team is a recognized market sector leader, and global investors continue to seek our unique perspectives in this alternative asset class as they make investment decisions of scale."

"The PHT Portfolio is a high-quality, well-diversified portfolio of premier properties with near-100 percent occupancy and a collective tenancy of highly-rated, market-leading health systems," said Brian Pieracci, Heitman Managing Director. "The Class-A portfolio exhibits nearly all of the qualities that we look for when acquiring core medical office properties for our portfolio."

Bentall Kennedy carefully assembled the portfolio over the last 12 years through new development and acquisition. The properties are new Class A medical office buildings located on the campuses of highly rated, market-leading and academic health systems in seven states. The buildings are 96 percent occupied and located in desirable U.S. markets.

"This portfolio attracted a high level of interest from a roster of well-known private and public healthcare investors, as well as many institutional core funds and foreign investors," said Mindy Berman, Managing Director, JLL Capital Markets. "An investment of this caliber is further evidence of good supply of product for new investment in healthcare. As outpatient care in the U.S. expands and investment appetite supports the growth, large-scale opportunities like this will continue."

JLL Capital Markets is a full-service global provider of capital solutions for real estate investors and occupiers. The firm's in-depth local market and global investor knowledge delivers the best-in-class solutions for clients  whether a sale, financing, repositioning, advisory or recapitalization execution. In 2017 alone, the firm's 2,000 Capital Markets specialists completed $170 billion in investment sale and debt and equity transactions globally.

For more news, please visit The Investor, an online and mobile app news source providing real-time commercial real estate news to asset buyers and sellers around the world.

For more news, videos and research resources on JLL, please visit the firm's U.S. media center Web page: http://bit.ly/18P2tkv.

About Heitman

Founded in 1966, Heitman LLC is a global real estate investment management firm with approximately $39 billion in assets under management. Heitman's real estate investment strategies include direct investments in the equity or debt capitalization of a property or in the securities of listed and publicly traded real estate companies. Heitman serves a global client base with clients from North American, European, Middle Eastern and Asia-Pacific institutions, pension plans, foundations and corporations and individual investors. Headquartered in Chicago, with offices in Los Angeles, London, Luxembourg, Frankfurt, Munich, Warsaw, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, and Melbourne, Heitman's more than 325 employees offer specialized expertise  from a specific discipline to local insight.

About JLL

JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. A Fortune 500 company, JLL helps real estate owners, occupiers and investors achieve their business ambitions. In 2017, JLL had revenue of $7.9 billion and fee revenue of $6.7 billion; managed 4.6 billion square feet, or 423 million square meters; and completed investment sales, acquisitions and finance transactions of approximately $170 billion. At the end of 2017, JLL had nearly 300 corporate offices, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of 82,000. As of December 31, 2017, LaSalle had $58.1 billion of real estate assets under management. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit www.jll.com.

About Bentall Kennedy

Bentall Kennedy, a Sun Life Investment Management company, is one of the largest global real estate investment advisors and one of North America's foremost providers of real estate services. Bentall Kennedy (which includes Bentall Kennedy (Canada) Limited Partnership, Bentall Kennedy (U.S.) Limited Partnership and the real estate and commercial mortgage investment groups of certain of their affiliates) serves the interests of more than 550 institutional clients with expertise in office, retail, industrial and multi-residential assets throughout Canada and the U.S. Bentall Kennedy's Investment Management group has approximately $47 billion (CAD)/$37 billion (USD) of assets under management (as of December 31, 2017). We are one of the largest Real Estate Services providers in Canada, managing 60 million square feet on behalf of third-party and investment management clients (as of December 31, 2017).

Connect with us

https://www.linkedin.com/company/jll

https://www.facebook.com/jll/

https://twitter.com/jll

https://plus.google.com/+joneslanglasalle

Contact: Scott Sutton

Phone: +1 312-228-2863

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE JLL

Related Links

http://www.joneslanglasalle.com


SOLANA BEACH, Calif., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --Today, Kashi introduced the newest product in its Certified Transitional portfolio, Cinnamon French Toast  a delicious cereal made of crispy corn puffs, warm cinnamon and a hint of maple syrup.

Kashi also unveiled that with the support of consumers, it will source Certified Transitional ingredients from more than 4,200 acres of U.S. farmland  a 400% increase since the Certified Transitional program started in 2016. Participating farmers have received more than $1 million to support their transition from conventional to organic.

Kashi Cinnamon French Toast Cereal

"We're proud to support thousands of acres of U.S. farmland transitioning to organic through the Certified Transitional program since its inception in 2016," said Nicole Nestojko, Kashi Sr. Director Supply Chain & Sustainability. "When people enjoy a bowl of our new Cinnamon French Toast cereal  or any Certified Transitional product  they are helping increase the amount of organic farmland in the U.S., one box at a time."

Cinnamon French Toast is the second cereal to carry the Certified Transitional seal and builds on the success of Dark Cocoa Karma Shredded Wheat Biscuits and Chewy Nut Butter Bars. Kashi's portfolio of eight Certified Transitional products also includes two new Chewy Nut Butter Bar flavors, Salted Caramel Pecan and Double Chocolate Almond Butter, released last fall.

Growing the Organic Market

Despite double-digit growth in consumer demand for organic foods each year since the 1990s, organic acreage has not kept up.1 According to the USDA, less than one percent of U.S. farmland is certified organic.2 While farmers increasingly recognize the benefits of certification, converting fields from conventional farming methods to organic takes at least three years and is no small feat. During the three-year transition, farmers use organic practices requiring increased investment but aren't paid organic prices.

Inspired to help farmers meet rising demand for organics, Kashi partnered with leading organic certifier Quality Assurance International (QAI) in 2016 to create Certified Transitional, a protocol that creates a new way for farmers to command slightly higher prices for their crops in transition during the three-year period  giving them the financial assurance they need to make the switch from conventional to organic. QAI led the development of the label, with support from agricultural suppliers, a global environmental NGO, organic experts, farmers, retailers, distributors and food brands.

QAI owns and manages the Certified Transitional protocol, which is available for any crop and brand that sources agricultural ingredients, including food and beverage.

Certified Transitional Farmers Received $1M in Premiums Made Possible by Kashi

Through the program, Certified Transitional farmers have received more than $1 million in premiums to support their transition to organic since 2016. A total of 15 farmers have supplied Certified Transitional ingredients from farmland in California, Colorado, Louisiana, Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming.

By purchasing Certified Transitional products such as Cinnamon French Toast cereal, Chewy Nut Butter Bars and Dark Cocoa Karma Shredded Wheat Biscuits, consumers are voting with their dollars to help support farmers transitioning their land to organic.

"I like to consider myself a 'conductor in an ecological orchestra' because it's important to me to ensure that all unique parts of the farm are working together in harmony," said Eric Thalken, president at Burkey LLC, who supplied corn for the new Cinnamon French Toast Cereal. "That's why I'm transitioning to organic  to ensure I conduct my farm in the most sustainable tune."

Inspired Taste

Kashi's new Cinnamon French Toast Cereal was inspired by bostock, a French breakfast brioche with notes of warm cinnamon and almonds, along with a hint of maple syrup. Each serving of Kashi Cinnamon French Toast Cereal has 5g fiber, 14g whole grains and 6g sugar. Because each purchase contributes to farmers transitioning to organic practices, it's a way for consumers to join Kashi on their commitment to deliver products that make positive impacts on health and the planet. Kashi will also be showcasing the Certified Transitional portfolio and other products at the annual Natural Products Expo West trade show in Anaheim, CA from March 8-11 (booth 1415).

Share Certified Transitional information today!

Click to Tweet: Kashi 's new #CinnamonFrenchToast helps support more organic farmland! @KashiFoods

's new #CinnamonFrenchToast helps support more organic farmland! @KashiFoods Click to Tweet: Certified Transitional from @QAI_Cert and @KashiFoods helps farmers transition to #organic.

Certified Transitional from @QAI_Cert and @KashiFoods helps farmers transition to #organic. Click to Tweet: Only 1% of US farmland is #organic today. @KashiFoods is working to change this.

About Kashi Company

Kashi believes eating more plants is the catalyst for a healthier life. A natural lifestyle pioneer since 1984, Kashi produces nutritious plant-based foods including cereals, powders, entrees and snacks with curated ingredients. All Kashi products being made today  including its GOLEAN and Heart to Heart brands  are Non-GMO Project Verified, and Kashi is proud to partner with QAI on the industry's first Certified Transitional program, which recognizes crops in transition from conventional to organic. Kashi products are available nationwide in the U.S. and Canada. Kashi is based in sunny Solana Beach, Calif. To learn more, please visit Kashi.com, Facebook at www.facebook.com/Kashi, Twitter at https://twitter.com/Kashifoods, Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kashi/ or YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/Kashi.

About QAI (Quality Assurance International)

Founded in 1989, Quality Assurance International (qai-inc.com) is the leading provider of organic certification services verifying organic integrity throughout the supply chain. Additional certification services include gluten-free, kosher, natural personal care, social responsibility and food safety through its parent company NSF International. QAI remains dedicated to the environment, while providing educational outreach to the organic community, customers and consumers. Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., the company has grown to include operations in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Japan and the European Union. For media interested in more information or to request an interview with Tracy Favre, Global Managing Director, QAI, an NSF International company, please contact [email protected] or call +1 734 214 6242.







1 Organic Trade Association, Robust organic sector stays on upward climb, posts new records in U.S. sales, https://www.ota.com/news/press-releases/19681 2 USDA Certified Organic Survey 2016, http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/OrganicProduction/OrganicProduction-09-20-2017_correction.pdf; USDA Farms and Land in Farms, http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/FarmLandIn/FarmLandIn-02-16-2018.pdf

SOURCE Kashi Company
"Citimark is honored to have been chosen to continue a long-standing relationship with Knowledge Services to execute on their vision of a state-of-the-art headquarters, located within a world class Technology Park that will embody the mission of the company and cultivate future growth," said Bill Carlstedt, President of Citimark Management Company. "The site selected for the Knowledge Services headquarter building, and the additional sites available for development, is fantastic. The location is within close proximity to the commercial growth happening in and around the Fishers Nickel Plate District and provides significant frontage along the heavily traveled I-69 corridor."

With this move, Knowledge Services will be able to accommodate all of its growing Indianapolis workforce as well as additional staff across the United States in fully-owned facilities that foster creative thinking and collaboration. Just as this project is a symbol of Knowledge Services' growth, it is yet another example of Indiana developing a stronger workforce.

"American Structurepoint is [also] very excited to partner with Knowledge Services to work toward achieving their vision and goals for a new headquarters building and campus in Fishers," said Robert Bray, Senior Project Manager with American Structurepoint, Inc. "We believe this project aligns perfectly with our very own company mission, which is to improve the quality of life for our communities and people."

Knowledge Services has appointed Bob Dugger, Director with Cushman & Wakefield, as the owner's representative. "Cushman & Wakefield and I are honored to have been chosen to represent Knowledge Services in the development of this new corporate headquarters/campus," said Dugger. "We are excited about working with a team of established professionals to ensure seamless delivery of the project. Knowledge Services' rapid growth and expanding footprint are great news for Central Indiana."

"Joining the other growing companies in the technology- and entrepreneurial-spirited City of Fishers further supports our vision of innovation, growth, and community," stated Knowledge Services' CEO, Julie Bielawski. "We are very excited about the incredibly talented team we have pulled together to help us in building our new headquarters in Fishers. Their talent and years of experience confirm our confidence in the progressive, exciting, and innovative environment we will create together."

City of Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness stated, "Knowledge Services' plan for the Green Acres Technology Park fits the vision of the I-69 business corridor, and I'm excited to see this project move forward and the momentum that comes from it. The Bielawskis are great partners in supporting this vision, and I look forward to having them as a part of our smart, vibrant, and entrepreneurial business community."

About Knowledge Services

Knowledge Services exists to serve those who serve others. A certified Woman-owned Business Enterprise (WBE) founded and established in 1994 by CEO, Julie Bielawski, Knowledge Services is a technology and professional services organization delivering innovative workforce solutions to clients within the public and private sectors. They support governments in accessing, engaging, and retaining a proven and professional workforce while improving processes to better serve citizens. Currently headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, Knowledge Services is the largest government management provider in the U.S. With a unique methodology combining contingent workforce management best practices with comprehensive program administration and recruiting expertise, Knowledge Services delivers proven and measurable results to all clients. For more information or to apply for available positions, please visit https://www.knowledgeservices.com.

Media Contact:

Anna Bielawski

317.806.6145

[email protected]

SOURCE Knowledge Services

Related Links

http://www.knowledgeservices.com


PALM CITY, Fla., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Air Burners was pleased to welcome at its Palm City, Florida factory sixteen visitors from South Korea including eight professors from various universities in South Korea such as Chungnam National University, Seoul National University and DAEGU University. Accompanying the professors were eight South Korean Industrialists, all forest industry experts. Forests in South Korea are suffering from tree mortality due in part to beetle infestation and other climate change associated impacts which are rapidly destroying massive numbers of trees with no end at sight. Air Burners machines have long been recommended and employed by the US Forest Service as an important tool for forest management, especially for forest fire prevention and the elimination of beetle infested trees. Forest in North America have been suffering from devastating beetle attacks for more than two decades, and Air Burners FireBox machines are the best method to help avoid the spreading of the pest to healthy trees by destroying infested stands on location in a safe and environmentally friendly manner.

Visiting South Korean Forestry Experts with Air Burners Management Staff

The Korean forestry experts are evaluating Air Burners machines for use in Korea to support the beetle eradication program there which, in the past, has mostly relied on chemical treatment, but has not successfully stemmed the spread of the beetle infestation. The visitors also familiarized themselves keenly with Air Burners revolutionary electric power generating FireBox studying the second-generation system currently in the final stage of completion in the Palm City production line. Called the PGFireBox, heat from the waste wood combustion process is converted into electricity up to 1 Megawatt that will be used to power the Air Burners machine itself and charge electric vehicles and other forestry equipment where excess power could be sold to the power company. Air Burners manufactures all its systems in the USA, and they are used worldwide, including by the US Military, Department of Homeland Security, EPA, Department of the Interior, USDA, State of California and many others government entities in the US and abroad.

For more information contact:

Norbert Fuhrmann

772-220-7303

AIR BURNERS, INC.

4390 SW Cargo Way  Palm City, FL 34990  USA

772-220-7303  [email protected]  www.AirBurners.com

SOURCE Air Burners, Inc.

Related Links

https://airburners.com


WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Despite significant gains made by women and minorities across corporate America, a stubborn glass ceiling prevents them from advancing to the most powerful and highest paying positions in the workplace. For example, a recent study found that the number of female CEOs among Fortune 500 companies dwindled to just 5.4%.

And the recent sex harassment scandals underscore how the dearth of women in the most senior/powerful positions in many of these companies (the glass ceiling) helps perpetuate a workplace culture in which sexual harassment is allowed to fester.

To help navigate the legal issues surrounding glass ceiling/promotion discrimination claims, the employment discrimination attorneys at Zuckerman Law issued Shattering the Glass Ceiling: Tips for Combatting Promotion Discrimination.

Cracking the glass ceiling requires that you know your rights and options

If you have been denied a promotion based on your gender, race, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristic, it is critical to know your rights and formulate an effective strategy to combat glass ceiling discrimination.

The free guide provides "plain English" answers to common questions about promotion discrimination, including:

How do I prove I suffered glass ceiling discrimination?

What can I recover?

What should I do if I'm retaliated against?

What deadlines apply to filing a discrimination case?

Zuckerman Law has also issued a Sexual Harassment Survival Guide for Employees.

About the author

Eric Bachman, Chair of the Firm's Discrimination Practice, has substantial experience litigating precedent-setting individual and class action discrimination cases. His wins include a $100 million settlement in a Title VII class action and a $16 million class action settlement against a major grocery chain. Having served as Special Litigation Counsel in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice and as lead or co-counsel in numerous jury trials, Bachman is ready to fight for you.

Bachman writes frequently on topics related to promotion discrimination, harassment, and other employment discrimination issues at the Glass Ceiling Discrimination Blog, which the ABA Journal recently named a top legal blog.

U.S. News and Best Lawyers have named Zuckerman Law a Tier 1 firm in Litigation  Labor and Employment in the Washington DC metropolitan area.

Contact us today to find out how we can help you. To schedule a preliminary consultation, click here or call us at (202) 769-1681 or (202) 262-8959.

CONTACT: Eric Bachman, [email protected], 202-769-1681

SOURCE Zuckerman Law

Related Links

https://www.zuckermanlaw.com/


NEW YORK, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Leeds Equity Partners, LLC, the New York-based private equity firm focused exclusively on investing in the Knowledge Industries, announced today that it has invested in Endeavor Schools, LLC ("Endeavor" or the "Company"). Endeavor operates 37 schools in 9 states and educates more than 6,400 students from preschool through high school. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The acquisition of Endeavor is the fourth deal for Leeds Equity Partners VI, LP, Leeds's most recent fund.

Endeavor was founded by Ricardo Campo in 2012 with the acquisition of two schools outside of Atlanta. Since then, the Company has partnered with over 20 different school owners and operators to create a network of high quality schools across the U.S. The Company's mission is to partner with great educators and provide them with the tools, infrastructure, leadership, guidance and support they need to produce extraordinary outcomes and experiences for the children and families they serve.

"Ricardo and his team have an unwavering focus on educational quality" said Scott VanHoy, Managing Director of Leeds Equity Partners. "The Company empowers educators to reach their highest potential. We could not be more excited about this new partnership."

"Leeds Equity has, without doubt, incomparable sector experience; but it also has an extraordinary history of committing in word and in deed to working side-by-side with enterprises to help them grow and constantly innovate and improve. We look forward to a rewarding partnership that will benefit our students, their families, our educators and staff," said Ricardo Campo, founder and CEO of Endeavor.

"We have gotten to know Ricardo for over the past three years and have watched him and the Endeavor team continue to deliver on their plans to expand Endeavor across the U.S. while enhancing the Company's educational offering," said Christopher Mairs, Principal of Leeds Equity Partners. "We are thrilled to formalize our partnership with the team at Endeavor and to provide support for their mission over the coming years."

Goodwin Procter served as legal counsel to Leeds Equity Partners. Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel, along with Tezner Arrieta served as legal counsel for Endeavor.

About Endeavor Schools:

Headquartered in Miami, FL, Endeavor owns and operates 37 high quality, private preschool to 12th grade schools in the US, with schools in California, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon and Texas. The schools operate under 17 different local brands and include 19 Montessori schools. The Company is actively seeking to acquire and build new schools in its core markets.

For additional information on Endeavor Schools, see https://www.endeavorschools.com/

About Leeds Equity Partners:

Leeds Equity Partners, LLC, is a New York-based private equity firm focused exclusively on investing in the education, training and information services industries (the "Knowledge Industries"). The firm was founded in 1993 and has raised and managed more than $1.5 billion of capital across six funds. The Board of Advisors of Leeds Equity Partners is chaired by Timothy P. Shriver, who is also Chairman of the Board of the Special Olympics.

For additional information on Leeds Equity Partners, see http://www.leedsequity.com/

For More Information:

Jeffrey T. Leeds

Tel. 212-835-2000

Fax: 212-835-2020

www.leedsequity.com

SOURCE Leeds Equity Partners, LLC

Related Links

http://www.leedsequity.com


BURNET, Texas, Feb. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The second annual SkyfireConference for public safety drone operators will be kicking off in Burnet, Texas on February 28, 2018.

The conference, focused on training firefighters, law enforcement officers and other first responders to use drone technology, is turning up the heat for its second year, doing a live-fire burn to demonstrate best practices for fire response.

"We are lucky enough to be hosting the conference at Reveille Peak Ranch this year," said Matt Sloane, CEO of Skyfire Consulting. "This 1300-acre property allows us to do things we can't do in an urban or suburban setting - like burning a structure down."

In addition to the live-burn, responders will train on simulated accident scenes, using drones to map out the area for evidentiary purposes and conduct search and rescue scenarios to find lost hikers.

"These tools can be used in so many different ways," said Sloane. "This is a chance for the people using the technology to practice all of it in one place.

Many new technologies will be on display, including some from Verizon, who will be on-site to debut the newest addition to its response fleet called Response Innovation.

"This technology enables an agency to expand its response fleet with highly specialized capabilities - off-road vehicles that can deliver emergency communications, autonomous vehicles that deliver medical supplies, and a 4D visualization software that provides a common operating picture between private sector and government agencies," said Vol Montgomery, Reveille Peak's owner, who will be hosting the Verizon team.

The conference will also feature classroom sessions, including a presentation from Tim Herlocker, former director of the emergency operations center for FDNY, and the man responsible for the department's drone program.

"Small drones have become a critical tool for first responders," said Herlocker. "Their safe and professional operation can help save lives and protect property. Training and collaboration is the key and I look forward to attending the Skyfire training conference both to speak and to learn from colleagues."

Herlocker, now a senior adviser for Hoverfly Technologies, will also sit on a panel with Rob Topping, Hoverfly's CEO, and Mr. Sloane to discuss how tethered drones are being used successfully in places like New York City for emergency response.

Additional speakers include Coitt Kessler, program manager for the Austin Fire Department's Robotic Emergency Deployment (RED) Team, who will discuss drone use during Hurricane Harvey; Gene Robinson and John Buell from DronePilot, who will share best practices from their decades of search and rescue experience; and Jon Wickersham, the emergency response program manager for Colonial Pipeline, talking about how drones are used to help industry and first responders deal with pipeline emergencies.

Rounding out the presenters is Trooper Michael Darrow from Michigan State Police's aviation wing, who will share his vast experience with large-scale accident scene mapping using UAVs; along with several other responders who use this technology regularly sharing their success stories.

Members of public safety agencies, educational institutions, search and rescue groups and commercial drone operators are invited to register for the conference by going to SkyfireConference.com.

Skyfire Consulting, a division of Atlanta Drone Group, Inc., offers drone equipment, public safety-focused training, FAA consulting, grant assistance and service/repairs to help the country's first responders develop and maintain in-house drone programs for their departments.

Atlanta Drone Group offers industry-leading drone services, including film and television aerial production, survey-grade mapping and emergency response aerial services.

Drone Pilot Inc. was founded in 2014 to assist Public Safety agencies with standing up unmanned aerial programs, conducting UA Public Safety Operations with our active and retired public safety/military flight teams. The DPI Eyes Overhead UA Public Safety Training and Certification Program was built from experience. We have accurate information for public safety agencies looking for help with policies, laws, regulations, FAA/COA authority, deployment, and counter drone programs.

Related Images

skyfire-consulting-logo.jpg

Skyfire Consulting Logo

Skyfire Consulting is the nation's leading public safety drone consultancy.

matt-sloane-and-ben-kroll-founders.jpg

Matt Sloane and Ben Kroll, Founders of Skyfire Consulting

Related Links

Skyfire Conference

SOURCE Skyfire Consulting
Lockheed Martin will unveil VCSi  commercial software that enables operators to simultaneously control dozens of unmanned vehicles and conduct information, surveillance and reconaissance missions  during the Unmanned Systems Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi this month.

"VCSi is a safe and reliable software platform that can be adapted to any vehicle  from one you can hold in your hand, to a 50,000-pound machine; from a vehicle that flies for a few minutes, to a vehicle that flies for months at a time," said John Molberg, business development manager, Lockheed Martin CDL Systems. "The user can integrate as many vehicles as required to complete their missions, including boats, quadcopters, fixed-wing aircraft or even high-altitude pseudo satellites. Across commercial or military missions, VCSi is adaptable to the challenge and further extends the power of the human-machine team."

VCSi's major enhancements include:

Multi-Vehicle: Control interfaces to allow for true 1:n control of dissimilar vehicles anywhere on earth

Control interfaces to allow for true 1:n control of dissimilar vehicles anywhere on earth Intuitive: Lockheed Martin further advanced its fly-by-mouse interface to enable easier training and reduce operator/analyst task loads

Lockheed Martin further advanced its fly-by-mouse interface to enable easier training and reduce operator/analyst task loads Affordable: Priced competitively with all unmanned systems in mind, customers can buy essential modules for their mission set

Priced competitively with all unmanned systems in mind, customers can buy essential modules for their mission set Modular: Offers a robust plug-in architecture, which allows for custom content to be added by the user or selected from pre-existing modules

Offers a robust plug-in architecture, which allows for custom content to be added by the user or selected from pre-existing modules International: Commercial software, made in Canada and free of export restrictions

VCSi is designed around the NATO Standardization Agreement known as STANAG 4586, which supports unmanned vehicle interoperability. Customers can build attachments or plug-ins beyond 4586 to customize the VCSi software, which also supports multiple languages and non-Latin scripts. VCSi provides advanced 3D visualization of vehicles and airspace, and it is at the forefront of integration into unmanned traffic management systems.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the VCS unmanned control product family, which has accumulated more than 1.5 million flight hours by operators controlling 40 different vehicles across several dozen companies.

Lockheed Martin has five decades of experience in unmanned and autonomous systems for air, land and sea. From the depths of the ocean to the rarified air of the stratosphere, Lockheed Martin's unmanned systems help militaries, civil and commercial customers accomplish their most difficult challenges.

For additional information, visit our websites: https://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/cdl-systems/VCSi.html and www.lockheedmartin.com/unmanned

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.

SOURCE Lockheed Martin

Related Links

http://www.lockheedmartin.com


CSE: MDM

FSE: 2M0

OTCQX: MRPHF

KELOWNA, BC, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Marapharm Ventures Inc. (CSE: MDM) (OTXQX: MRPHF) (FSE: 2M0) ("Marapharm" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce its inclusion in the newly created Horizons Emerging Marijuana Growers Index ETF (AQN:HMJR) ("HMJR ETF" or the "Index") which began trading on February 14, 2018.

HMJR is designed to provide exposure to the performance of a basket of primarily North American publicly-listed small capitalization companies involved in the cultivation, production and/or distribution of marijuana. Stocks held within the Index will generally have an initial market capitalization of at least $50 million and less than $500 million. It is expected that no issuer will represent more than 8% of the Index on each rebalance.

"We are very pleased to be included in this new ETF and have expectations that the share price and liquidity of companies like ours will be enhanced proportionately by the buying power of an ETF. This ETF was specifically constructed to incorporate companies with operations in certain U.S. states, where cannabis use has been legalized under state law. These were largely overlooked by most prior ETF offerings," said Linda Sampson, CEO of Marapharm.

ABOUT MARAPHARM VENTURES INC.

www.marapharm.com

Marapharm is a publicly traded company investing in the medical and recreational cannabis space, since 2014. Marapharm has rapidly expanded to include having cultivation, production and dispensary locations in the key North American states of Washington, Nevada, and California, and are seeking expansion opportunities worldwide.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Facebook: facebook.com/marapharm



Twitter: twitter.com/marapharm

Web Program: marapharm.tv

STOCK EXCHANGES:

Marapharm trades in Canada, ticker symbol MDM on the CSE, in the United States, ticker symbol MRPHF on the OTCQB, and in Europe, ticker symbol 2Mo on the FSE. Marapharm also trades on other recognized platforms in Europe including Stuttgart, Tradegate, L & S, Quotnx, Dusseldorf, Munich, and Berlin.

Neither the CSE, the FSE nor the OTCQB has approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the CSE, the FSE nor the OTCQB accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

MARIJUANA INDUSTRY INVOLVEMENT:

Canadian listings (CSE) will remain in good standing as long as they provide the disclosure that is rightly required by regulators and complying with applicable licensing requirements and the regulatory framework enacted by the applicable state in which they operate.

Marapharm owns marijuana licenses in California and Nevada. Marijuana is legal in each state however marijuana remains illegal under US federal law and the approach to enforcement of US federal law against marijuana is subject to change. Shareholders and investors need to be aware that adverse enforcement actions could affect their investments and that Marapharm's ability to access private and public capital could be affected and or could not be available to support continuing operations. Marapharm's business is conducted in a manner consistent with state law and is in compliance with licensing requirements.

Copies of licenses are posted on Marapharm's website. Marapharm has internal compliance procedures in place and has compliance focused attorneys engaged in jurisdictions to monitor changes in laws for compliance with US federal and state law on an ongoing basis. These law firms inform any necessary changes to our policies and procedures for compliance in Canada and the US.

FORWARD - LOOKING STATEMENTS:

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward looking statements. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", 'may", "will", "project", "should", 'believe", and similar expressions are intended to identify forward- looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward- looking statements and are based on reasonable assumption but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and the forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon.

SOURCE Marapharm Ventures Inc.

Related Links

www.marapharm.com


(Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/643800/Marlabs_Innovation_Studio_Inaugurated.jpg )



Spread across 12000 square feet, this facility will exclusively focus on IoT innovation and ML solutions.

Inaugurating the new facility Mr. V J Kurian, Managing Director, Cochin International Airport Limited said, "Marlabs has been extremely successful and I was quite impressed by their innovation studio (lab). After seeing this I feel very confident that technology is going to make our lives simpler and more networked. We are very proud that Siby has started the center here in Kochi."

Commenting on the inauguration, Siby Vadakekkara, Chairman & CEO, Marlabs said, "We are seeing exciting growth in IoT, IoP and machine learning use-cases that are driving disruption in the supply chain of industries like life sciences, healthcare and financial services. With the advent of 5G, our new office in Kochi will play a vital role in accelerating transformation in these industries. We believe that there is a rich talent pool in Kochi that we hope to nurture, have them work on cutting-edge projects and make them successful in our digital journey."

Talking about the new facility, Salil Ravindran, Chief Financial Officer, Marlabs said, "We believe in breeding innovation within the company, as much as we focus on delivering innovative solutions to our clients. Expanding in Kochi is part of our inclusive innovation drive. We are extremely happy with the talent available in the region and confident of delivering higher value to our global customers at optimal costs and expanded digital capabilities in the region. I am particularly pleased with the employee retention rate in Kochi and I believe the city has all the right elements to become a big R&D hub for the industry."

About Marlabs

Marlabs is a digital innovation company providing specialized digital 360 frameworks to global enterprises. Headquartered in Piscataway, New Jersey, Marlabs employs over 2,300 employees across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and India.

Marlabs Socials

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marlabs-inc

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Marlabs (@Marlabs)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marlabsinc

Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/+MarlabsIncorporated

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marlabsinc (@marlabsinc)

Media Contact:

Shyam Ananthnarayan

Phone: +9148972472

Email: [email protected]



SOURCE Marlabs Innovations
BOSTON, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Mautic, the world's only Open Marketing Cloud, today announced that Melissa Leffler has joined the company as its new Vice President of Engineering. Ms. Leffler brings an outstanding track record of building world-class teams and products, most recently in senior engineering leadership roles with Carbon Black.

"Adding an executive of Melissa's caliber is a real affirmation of what we're building, and will enable us to stay in front of expansive customer demand," said Mautic CEO, Matt Johnston. "As our growth rate continues to climb, Melissa's technical expertise and overall leadership will be integral to our engineering team, our expanding portfolio of marketing products and our fast-growing base of customers."

Melissa joins the company amid rapid adoption of Mautic's marketing automation cloud platform, most recently evidenced by a 3X increase in quarter-over-quarter sales at the end of 2017, and surpassing 100,000 organizations around the world utilizing the software.

"Incorporating flexible, open technologies is a major inhibitor to companies creating personalized experiences across their full customer lifecycle; and Mautic is the only open marketing solution that makes that easier," said Leffler. "I'm impressed with Mautic's incredible rate of adoption, and am thrilled to join a team whose mission aligns so well with my passion for building technology that solves important problems for business people."

Melissa previously served in technical leadership roles for several Boston-area firms. This includes Objective Logistics, which she joined the near the time of its Series A funding. After helping scale the product infrastructure and engineering team, the company was later acquired by Carbon Black. Ms. Leffler also led engineering and business growth efforts for companies including Awareness, Liquid Machines and eRoom, which was acquired by Documentum.

Ms. Leffler will officially join Mautic at the company's Boston-area headquarters next month where she'll lead a growing, global team that is located predominantly in Boston and in the company's newly-opened office in Prague.

About Mautic

Mautic, Inc. offers the world's only Open Marketing Cloud. This enables brands to integrate and personalize all their digital properties and channels into a seamless customer experience. With its modern approach to marketing automation, Mautic's suite of tools enables marketers to deliver higher performing campaigns and content, and achieve superior results.

Headquartered near Boston, MA, the company has employees, customers and a highly engaged open source community around the globe. More info at www.mautic.com.

Media Contacts:

Katie Staveley

Mautic VP of Marketing

1.857.770.1306

[email protected]

SOURCE Mautic

Related Links

http://www.mautic.com


Ian Griffith's designs, and the embodiment of Max Mara as a whole, is to create high quality, elegant and timelessly chic pieces. Each season the Milan based brand debuts tonal color palettes that quickly become coveted by women from all backgrounds. Both the Max Mara and Gabriel woman aim to be noticed not only for her impeccable style but also her intelligence and personality. "What makes Gabriel & Co. a go-to for so many women, is our ability to see beyond what they are showing the world, what they are wearing," say Chief Designer Officer, Dominick Gabriel. "We pride ourselves on creating jewelry that holds a purpose, that marks a moment in someone's life. Our hope is that when women put on our jewelry they immediately feel more confident and ready to face the world in front of them."

To bridge the gap between runway fashion and fine jewelry, the Designer Flash series provides vital information to showcases the idea that fine jewelry can also be every day jewelry. The simplicity of Max Mara's garment creates the perfect backdrop to Gabriel & Co.'s expansive range of jewelry. Stack and layer rings and necklaces to create a stand out look or pair simple studs and bangles for a carefree combo that can be worn for years to come.

The complete Designer Flash Series collection brings designers from all walks of life and style together to showcase Gabriel & Co.'s wide range of offerings. "Each designer-dedicated web page features four parts: a written interview; the designer's selection of five new jewels from Gabriel & Co., along with a statement on each piece; the podcast, which can be viewed and downloaded; and a #GabrielNY section, which highlights each piece that the designers used to style the model in the on-page photos." Says Hal Rubenstein, host and Global Style Director.

The interview and podcast featuring Hal & Ian Griffith is online now, available at https://www.gabrielny.com/designer-flash-max-mara

PRESS CONTACT:

Kaleigh Kramer

Michele Marie PR

[email protected]

646.863.3923

About Gabriel & Co.:

Gabriel & Co. is a New York City based jewelry design house which was founded in 1989 by brothers Jack and Dominick Gabriel. Family owned and operated, the company began in New York City and has since evolved into one of the most prolific fine jewelry brands in the U.S., sold at more than 1,200 retailers nationwide. The story of Gabriel & Co. is one of passion, integrity, service and trust. Gabriel creates beautifully unique and distinctive pieces that are designed to reflect the true beauty that is unique in all of us. Each piece is passionately designed and created as a crafted personal experience. By infusing human passion into natural elements, Gabriel creates jewelry that enhances and celebrates beauty and personal achievements. Individually numbered, each piece is as unique as the woman who wears it. Gabriel & Co. has consistently won awards since 2011 in both JCK & Instore Magazines for being one of the most innovative and best performing brands in the jewelry industry.

SOURCE Gabriel & Co.

Related Links

https://www.gabrielny.com


SHANGHAI, Feb. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- MDL has announced they have achieved their hard cap for the pre-sale and the ITO is planned for March 10, 2018 with a hardcap of $20 million.

MDL Talent Hub, the trustchain for the talent sourcing industry, has achieved its pre-sale hard cap and is looking forward to its Initial Token Offering (ITO) in March 2018. The ITO is expected to raise $20m for the development of the platform, cross-border scaling and business development, as well as for R&D and further implementation of BC & PIDS technologies. MDL Talent Hub will bring transparency and efficiency, two fundamental characteristics of the new era to the talent sourcing market. This market encapsulates many varieties of talents such as dancers, actors, models, amongst many others. The project aims to consolidate supply and demand channels and establish permanent and immutable reputation scoring for each market participant.

The tools provided by MDL will help to overcome the majority of existing problems in the talent-booker relationship, including: comprehensive search for talents/gigs, reputation tracing, and convenient, standardized presentation tools for both sides.

As the project develops, a marketplace will be set up for talents and performers to exchange, sell, or rent their gear and equipment, as well as micro-KOL partnership programs with brands to advertise their products and services. This action can be performed using platform participants with high-reputation scores. Meta-data mining will be enabled via Skyledger CXO protocol. The MDL Token will support all of the above functions.

What Makes MDL Token an Interesting Long-Term Investment?

First of all, the value of the MDL token will increase from our expansion in the talent sourcing market, which is itself continually growing. Secondly, when the market saturation is reached, we are going to implement more functionalities for MDL Tokens, such as a marketplace ecosystem, partnership programs with brands, and live streaming.

Lastly, but not the least, possession of MDL Tokens will open up more functions on our platforms ("Gold Membership") features. This will be implemented via Token Hours  the longer you keep your MDL tokens, and the more tokens you have, the more Token hours you have. Thus, the platform participants will want to have more MDL Tokens in order to efficiently use the MDL Talent Hub platform. MDL token is currently partnered with two big projects with solid communities  Skyledger and YOYOW. YOYOW is a Shanghai-based project that develops blockchain infrastructure for social media on a global scale.

For more Information, visit the MDL website at http://mdl.life

See the MDL Video: http://mdl.life/#video-presentation

Meet the Team: http://mdl.life/#team

Connect on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/18324359

Connect on Telegram: https://t.me/joinchat/BafuqEaDUdGLXyyeJDIT4A

Like on Facebook: https://fb.me/mdl.wtf

Media Contact

Contact Email: [email protected]

MDL is the source of this content. Virtual currency is not legal tender, is not backed by the government, and accounts and value balances are not subject to consumer protections. This press release is for informational purposes only. The information does not constitute investment advice or an offer to invest.

Related Files

MDL Cusion agreement executed.pdf

Related Links

MDL

Bitcoin PR Buzz

SOURCE MDL

Related Links

http://mdl.life/


MINNEAPOLIS and RALEIGH, N.C., Feb. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- MEMBERS Development Company, a CUSO that facilitates collaborative R&D for 50+ large credit unions, is teaming up with Constellation Digital Partners, LLC, which has become an MDC Strategic Partner and will develop and execute various initiatives born in the MDC innovation lab. Launched in May 2017, Constellation was conceived through MDC's common integration framework project and brought to fruition by Kristopher Kovacs, Constellation's Founder, CEO and former Coastal Credit Union CIO, and Chuck Purvis, MDC's Board Chairman and President/CEO of Coastal Credit Union.

Jeff Kline Kris Kovacs

Constellation is a secure, open-development platform designed exclusively for credit unions, allowing them and fintech developers to access a marketplace and complete suite of financial services. In April 2017, the CUSO won first place in "The Next Big Idea Competition" at the Annual Network Conference for the National Association of Credit Union Service Organizations.

Jeff Kline, MDC's Chief Executive Officer, says he's thrilled to see another credit union-centric company arise from a collaborative start.

"Most of Constellation's founding credit unions are also owners of MDC and this is exactly the type of successful collaboration that is at the heart of our mission," Kline said. "When credit unions' legacy systems created barriers to easy implementation of digital solutions to meet members' expectations for financial services, Kris, Chuck and other owner credit unions developed the perfect solution. It's exciting to have Constellation as a Strategic Partner."

Kris Kovacs, Constellation's Founder and CEO, says participation in MDC's Innovation Councils and interaction with other credit unions at its semiannual owner meetings led to the new CUSO's creation.

"Credit unions' legacy solutions have made it challenging for them to keep up with members' desires to utilize mobile banking effectively," Kovacs said. "Constellation is redefining what credit unions can offer their members. With the recent launch of our first software implementation, Aquarius, we are now one step closer to offering digital banking and financial services for credit unions and members everywhere. Our patented technology allows us to quickly build prototypes, perfect them, and offer members the excellent service delivery they expect from their credit unions."

Along with Coastal Credit Union, Constellation's owners in common with MDC include Affinity FCU in Basking Ridge, N.J.; Farmers Insurance FCU in Los Angeles; Georgia's Own CU in Atlanta; Kinecta Credit Union in Manhattan Beach, Calif.; Meritrust CU in Wichita, Kan.; and Teachers CU in South Bend, as well as CO-OP Financial Services and CUNA Mutual Group. CU Solutions Group, CFCU Community CU in Ithaca, N.Y. and Nusenda CU in Albuquerque, N.M., are also Constellation owners.

ABOUT MEMBERS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY

MEMBERS Development Company (www.membersdevelopment.com) is the million-dollar R&D budget for more than 50 progressive credit unions and partners. We look for the ideas our owners have missed while doing their jobs all day. We celebrate new discoveries. We ask the hard questions: "Why have you always done things THAT way? What does the bigger picture say?" While credit unions are busy running the business and putting out fires, MDC is watching the horizon. Put simply: MDC believes in research driven BY our owners FOR our owners, and the power of partnership.

About Constellation Digital Partners, LLC

Constellation is developing a patented, secure and flexible cloud-based marketplace that enables upper to mid-tier credit unions and innovative app developers to provide safe, reliable, and next-generation digital financial service experiences while giving the freedom to compete, innovate, and thrive in the financial services industry. Constellation will redefine what credit unions offer, delivering digital financial services in a way that enables them to place members at the center of their business strategy. Visit www.constellation.coop to learn more.

Contacts

MEMBERS Development Company Constellation Digital Partners, LLC Margaret Blankers Liza Deckelbaum MJB Public Relations Group, LLC The Stone Agency 913.707.1798 919.645.0782 [email protected] [email protected]

SOURCE MEMBERS Development Co.

Related Links

http://www.membersdevelopment.com


-- Patents in South Korea and Israel cover integration of an external DNA sequence into the chromosome of eukaryotic cells

-- MilliporeSigma continues to support research with genome editing under careful ethical and legal standards

-- MilliporeSigma to license CRISPR-related patents to interested parties

BURLINGTON, Mass., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- MilliporeSigma, a leader in genome editing, today announced that the Korean Intellectual Property Office and the Israel Patent Office have each issued notices granting MilliporeSigma's patent applications for the company's CRISPR technology used in a genomic-integration method for eukaryotic cells.

"These decisions mark the fifth and sixth patent allowances for our unique CRISPR technology to find new treatments for some of the toughest medical conditions faced today, including cancer, hereditary and rare diseases," said Udit Batra, CEO, MilliporeSigma. "These foundational integration patents recognize our significant contributions to the genome-editing field and reinforce our commitment to evolving CRISPR technology globally."

MilliporeSigma also has patent filings for its insertion CRISPR method in the U.S., Brazil, China, India and Japan. In December 2017, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore awarded MilliporeSigma a patent for this technology. Earlier, in June 2017, MilliporeSigma was awarded a similar patent by the Australian patent office. The company has also received related patent awards by the European and Canadian patent offices.

MilliporeSigma is licensing these patents for applications including basic science research, agricultural biotech and therapeutic use.

MilliporeSigma recognizes the potential benefits of conducting properly defined research with genome editing because of the breakthrough therapeutic potential. Therefore, MilliporeSigma supports research with genome editing under careful consideration of ethical and legal standards. MilliporeSigma's parent company, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany has established a Bioethics Advisory Panel to provide guidance for research in which its businesses are involved, including research on or using genome editing.

These forthcoming, fundamental patents in South Korea and Israel cover chromosomal integration, or cutting of the chromosomal sequence of eukaryotic cells (such as mammalian and plant cells) and insertion of an external or donor DNA sequence into those cells using CRISPR. Scientists can replace a disease-associated mutation with a beneficial or functional sequence  a method important for creating disease models and gene therapy. Additionally, the method can be used to insert transgenes that label endogenous proteins for visual tracking within cells.

CRISPR genome-editing technology, which allows the precise modification of chromosomes in living cells, is advancing treatment options for a variety of medical conditions. CRISPR applications are far-ranging  from identifying genes associated with cancer and rare diseases to reversing mutations that cause blindness.

With a 12-year history in the genome-editing field, MilliporeSigma was the first company to offer custom biomolecules for genome editing globally (TargeTron RNA-guided group II introns and CompoZr zinc finger nucleases), driving adoption of these techniques by researchers all over the world. MilliporeSigma was also the first company to manufacture arrayed CRISPR libraries covering the entire human genome, accelerating cures for diseases by allowing scientists to explore more questions about root causes.

All Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany news releases are distributed by email at the same time they become available on the EMD Group website. In case you are a resident of the U.S. or Canada please go to www.emdgroup.com/subscribe to register again for your online subscription of this service as our newly introduced geo-targeting requires new links in the email. You may later change your selection or discontinue this service.

About the Life Science Business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

The Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, which operates as MilliporeSigma in the U.S. and Canada, has 20,000 employees and 60 manufacturing sites worldwide, with a portfolio of more than 300,000 products enabling scientific discovery. Udit Batra is the global chief executive officer of MilliporeSigma.

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany completed its $17 billion acquisition of Sigma-Aldrich in November 2015, creating a leader in the $125 billion global life science industry.

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is a leading company for innovative and top-quality high-tech products in healthcare, life science and performance materials. The company has five businesses  Biopharmaceuticals, Consumer Health, Allergopharma, Life Science and Performance Materials  and generated sales of 15 billion in 2016. Around 50,000 employees work in 66 countries to improve the quality of life for patients, to foster the success of customers and to help meet global challenges.

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company  since 1668, the company has stood for innovation, business success and responsible entrepreneurship. Holding an approximately 70 percent interest, the founding family remains the majority owner of the company to this day. The company holds the global rights to the name and the trademark "Merck" internationally except for the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials.

SOURCE MilliporeSigma
UNION CITY, Calif., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Mizuho OSI, a leading manufacturer of specialty surgical tables, pressure management solutions, and table-specific patient care kits, today announced it will be attending the first Annual Arthroplasty Conference, Hyderabad (AACH) at the Hyderabad International Convention Center in India from February 24-25, 2018. Using the Mizuho OSI Hana Orthopedic Surgery Table, Dr. Andrew Wickline will be conducting a total hip replacement applying the anterior approach at KIMS Hospital Secunderabad, which will be broadcast live to attendees of the conference on February 24 at 9:00 a.m. IST.

Dr. Wickline is an orthopedic surgeon in Upstate New York and is the state's volume leader in joint replacement. Working with Dr. Uday Krishna Myneni at KIMS Hospital, he seeks to showcase the benefits of the anterior approach and how technology like the Hana Table can optimize this surgical technique through the broadcast. Anterior Hip Replacement allows the surgeon to reach the hip joint from the front of the hip, leaving muscles attached to the pelvis and femur undisturbed. This method of hip replacement minimizes pain and the time from surgery to recovery for the patient.

"After introducing the anterior approach into my surgical practice, I have seen firsthand the impact the procedure can have on patient recovery and satisfaction," said Dr. Wickline, Genesee Orthopedics. "As someone who strives for the combination of perfection and efficiency in my practice, the ability to deliver consistent, superior outcomes with the least amount of disruption to the patient is my goal. This innovation allows the majority of patients to go home the same day, lowering cost and improving patient satisfaction. I look forward to sharing my experiences with colleagues at the AACH."

As techniques and technologies around arthroplasty have evolved in recent years, the AACH is the first international conference devoted to connecting aspiring and practicing arthroplasty surgeons with masters in arthroplasty from across the world. The conference includes panel discussions, case studies, technique videos, and live surgical demonstrations alongside free paper sessions that allow upcoming arthroplasty surgeons to showcase their work on an international platform.

"The AACH fills a much-needed niche in the orthopedics industry, fostering the transference of knowledge between surgeons of different generations, and even countries," said Greg Neukirch, Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Mizuho OSI. "We're honored to have one of our tables featured in this year's program with Dr. Wickline, and look forward to the ongoing discussion and education about the anterior approach throughout the industry."

About Mizuho OSI

Mizuho OSI is a U.S. based company and the leader in the markets for specialty surgery and patient positioning. The company's portfolio includes specialty surgical tables for procedure-specific approaches that improves patient outcomes in spine and orthopedic surgeries, a range of general surgical tables, and consumable surgical patient care products. Mizuho OSI products are sold direct in the U.S. and Germany, and by the Mizuho Corporation in Japan. Both companies sell their products and solutions worldwide through authorized international distributors. Mizuho OSI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mizuho Corporation located in Tokyo, Japan, a leading surgical table manufacturer in Asia. The Mizuho Group also includes Trilux Medical, a subsidiary of Mizuho OSI. Trilux Medical is a provider and manufacturer of surgical lights, surgical pendants, operating room patient integration, video management systems, and turn-key operating room solutions. Trilux Medical products and solutions are sold direct in Germany and worldwide through authorized international distributors. More information is available at www.mizuhosi.com

SOURCE Mizuho OSI

Related Links

http://www.mizuhosi.com


VANCOUVER, British Columbia, February 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

MYM Nutraceuticals Inc., (CSE: MYM) (OTCBB: MYMMF) (CSE: MYM.CN) (MYM.CN) ("MYM") is pleased to announce it has closed its non-brokered private placement of 5,000,000 units at a price of $2.00 per unit for gross proceeds of $10,000,000.

Due to the change in market conditions, the Company received approval from the CSE to reduce the price of this financing from $2.80 per unit to $2.00 per unit.

Each unit in the private placement is comprised of one common share and one transferable share purchase warrant with each warrant exercisable into one additional common share at a price of $3.00 for a period of two years. The securities will be subject to a four month and one day hold period under securities laws.

Insider buying of MYM shares



The following company insiders have purchased shares in the last Private Placement at $2.00:

Sheryl Dhillon - 10,000 shares

Mark Forster - 35,200 shares

Total proceeds from insider share purchases was $70,400. Total proceeds from Insiders, Founders, Family and Friends share purchases was over $9,000,000. No commissions were paid for this private placement.

"All of us at MYM are very excited about the future of our company," said Rob Gietl, CEO of MYM. "This excitement extends to our family and friends who have participated in this non-brokered financing. We have many major milestones to achieve this year that will shape MYM for years to come. Continued global expansion and leveraging the relationships we have built, will ensure that MYM and its shareholders have a bright future."

Due to overwhelming interest, the company also announces that on February 12th, 2018, a non-brokered private placement of up to 888,888 units at a price of CAD$2.25 per unit was registered with the CSE (Canadian Stock Exchange). Each unit will consist of one common share and one transferable share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one additional common share exercisable for a period of 24 months following the closing of the private placement at a price of CAD $3.25 per warrant share.

The private placement is subject to the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange and the securities will be subject to a four-month and one day hold period under securities laws.



The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the private placement for general working capital and corporate purposes.

About MYM Nutraceuticals Inc.

MYM Nutraceuticals Inc. is an innovative company focused on acquiring Health Canada licenses to produce and sell high-end organic medicinal cannabis supplements and topical products. MYM has two production projects in Quebec that when completed will have over 1.5 million sf of production space. MYM is also a partner in a 1.2 million sf production project (Northern Rivers Project) in New South Wales, Australia. Australia is an exciting new market that has recently legalized medicinal cannabis. To ensure a strong presence and growth potential within the industry, MYM is actively looking to acquire complementary businesses and assets in the technology, nutraceuticals and CBD sectors. MYM shares trade in Canada, Germany and the USA under the following symbols: (CSE: MYM) (OTC:MYMMF) (FRA:0MY) (DEU:0MY) (MUN:0MY) (STU:0MY).

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Rob Gietl, CEO

MYM Nutraceuticals Inc.

http://www.mymarijuana.ca

Keep up to date with MYM on our social media channels:

Twitter: @MYM_Nutra

Facebook: @mymcanada

Instagram: @MYM_Nutra

This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results. Such statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. The company disclaims any intention or obligation to revise or update such statements. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are posted on http://www.sedar.com.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE or CNSX Markets), nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the CSE), accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein in the United States. The securities described herein have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities law and may not be offered or sold in the "United States", as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act, unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.

Investor Relations

Terry Brown

+1-855-696-2261

[email protected]



SOURCE MYM Nutraceuticals Inc.
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- NuuED Inc. announced today that it has released a free online service designed to quickly discover a user's unique individual learning personality. Ideal for students, parents, teachers, curriculum designers and corporate learning programs, the online Learning Personality Assessment helps discover the best possible combination of methods and mixes of content which can be used by a child, young adult or adult learner to improve their understanding of a given topic.

What is your Learning Personality?

Additional online offerings, including an in-depth report on each user's individual approach to learning and curriculum which is custom-tailored to that individual, are provided by NuuED as a value-priced service. NuuED services are delivered anywhere in the world, in any market on an internet-connected screen.

The no-cost version of the service analyzes a user's responses as well as their ongoing behaviors and actions, correlating data across several key areas, including cognitive skills, environmental factors and learning styles.

The assessment results in a Learning Personality Report, which provides a baseline for understanding the learning needs of each individual user. The report reveals the best approaches and applications of content, tools and processes which can improve the user's skills, knowledge retention and capability to learn, retain and apply the information being studied.

In addition to releasing both free and paid versions of its online learning assessment, NuuED continues to develop internet-based subscription offerings which are focused on specific educational subjects in learning, training and certification. Several key positions at the company have recently been filled as NuuED grows to support its growing customer base.

"We're pleased to offer this service to anyone interested in finding out their own unique learning style," said Derrick O'Neal, founder and chief relationship officer of NuuED. "This free service complements schools, businesses and education-minded groups who share our goal of providing greater educational opportunities to everyone.

"The individual learner has been traditionally underserved," said O'Neal. "High costs and limited reach of educational solutions which are designed for the masses have led to a deep need for the services at which we excel. NuuED's Software-as-a-Service solutions offer personalized, customized instruction at a price point unmatched in the industry. We look forward to the personal discovery, success and growth of each and every individual learner using our solutions."

O'Neal added, "The future of education is personalized, adaptive learning."

The Learning Personality Assessment from NuuED Inc. is available immediately. Visit www.nuued.com for details.

About NuuED

NuuED Inc. provides a platform of online services which help learners, students and trainees of all ages improve their skills. Tools and services from NuuED help in all aspects of education by discovering and recognizing areas of positive diversity in learning and applying advanced technologies to help the learner.

NuuED is a privately held company headquartered in Mountain View, California, with a global delivery platform serving learners of all ages, everywhere. For more information, visit www.nuued.com.

Press Contact for NuuED:

Ben English

[email protected]

Related Links

Find out your online learning personality for free

The benefits of adaptive learning

Related Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJUDmcJ_crA

SOURCE NuuED Inc.

Related Links

http://www.nuued.com


YORK, Pa., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Magnus Services, a start-up oilfield water management and automation company based in North Dakota is making a significant impact in the fracking industry. With the recent release of their H2Know solution, Magnus is more efficiently monitoring and controlling the supply of water to the fracking operations of key oil company clients across the U.S. This new solution is made possible thanks to LEC's just-released Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) platform technology: iQ2, and Red Lion's IIoT-ready Cellular RTU's.

"We needed a way to remotely control the water supply and monitor water usage, pumps, storage tank levels and overall operational efficiencies of our mobile units that are relocated from site-to-site and customer-to-customer," said JR Ewing, CEO of Magnus Services. "H2Know being built on the backbone of LEC's iQ2 platform and secure cellular connectivity has allowed us to begin doing just that, while providing us the flexibility to add new custom features to meet the growing needs of our industry through a truly unique application."

Prior to the implementation of LEC's iQ2 into Magnus operations, two to four additional employees were required to be onsite to physically monitor tank levels, turn pumps on and off, open and close valves, and notify trucking companies when trucks with water were needed.

"This was a ground-up development effort. The entire system, from integration into the automation system, platform development and all related logic had to be engineered to meet the specific needs of Magnus," said LEC's Director of IIoT Strategy Brian Rosema. "We've been able to provide Magnus with an industry-first solution that allows their clients access to near real-time data related to the water control functions at their fracking sites via their H2Know Solution. This is a great example of how iQ2 can be leveraged to quickly and cost-effectively develop OEM IIoT solutions. Additionally, Red Lion's Cellular RTU allows for a highly dependable and fully integrated IIoT Solution."

iQ2 provides Magnus with multi-customer access to data via a web browser from any device, a fully mobile solution and cellular connectivity with the ability to operate in rugged, extreme conditions utilizing the RAM 6900 Series router hardware provided by LEC's strategic partners at Red Lion Controls.

"Red Lion's cellular RTUs are designed to provide industry-leading service in remote oil and gas markets," said Colin Geis, Director of Product Management  IIoT of Red Lion Controls, "Our integration of automation features and IIoT connectivity make it a compelling solution for our partners."

For Magnus Services, iQ2 is not only providing reliable remote monitoring and control capabilities and meaningful data, but also reduced onsite manpower costs and overall process improvement.

"The development and implementation of iQ2 has provided a market-first for Magnus and our H2Know Solution, and in the process, has helped to create a new business model for our company moving forward," said Ewing.

LEC's iQ2 is now available and ready to deploy to OEM, plant floor and other industrial remote asset clients, enabling the capture and visualization of actionable data from field assets with simplified connectivity to existing infrastructure.

For more information on the features and benefits of iQ2, visit www.LECINC.com .

About LEC

LEC provides industrial automation and control engineering, and industrial IoT enablement and cloud platform services of the highest quality with an unending commitment to our Clients, Strategic Partners and Communities. Through Client and Partner engagement, technical innovation, research and investment in the brightest human resources, we engineer smarter systems to achieve complete satisfaction of those we serve. With each project our goal is to establish a new standard of quality and professionalism. www.LECINC.com

About Red Lion Controls

As the global experts in communication, monitoring and control for industrial automation and networking, Red Lion has been delivering innovative solutions for over forty years. Our automation, Ethernet and cellular M2M technology enables companies worldwide to gain real-time data visibility that drives productivity. Product brands include Red Lion, N-Tron and Sixnet. With headquarters in York, Pennsylvania, the company has offices across the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe. Red Lion is part of Spectris plc, the productivity-enhancing instrumentation and controls company. For more information, please visit www.redlion.net .

About Magnus Services

Utilizing state of the art wireless technology and advanced sensors, Magnus services is pioneering advances in oilfield water management and automation. Increasing efficiency and safety utilizing our proprietary technology.

Press Contact: Liz Densmore

601-939-8535

[email protected]

SOURCE Red Lion Controls

Related Links

http://www.redlion.net


SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Numerify, a cloud analytics solutions company focused on business analytics for IT leaders, today announced the conclusion of a breakthrough fiscal year with historic growth, the addition of several prominent Fortune 500 names, and significant advances in product innovation. Numerify's pioneering System of Intelligence for IT provides IT leaders with unified insights into their people, projects, and processes across Plan-Build-Run activities.

In the last year, Numerify added Top 5 companies in the industries of high tech, consumer goods, insurance, telecommunications, energy management, and investment services to its customer base. The company more than doubled its new recurring bookings, tripling its average annual contract value over a two-year horizon and executing multiple seven-figure transactions in the second half of the year. The average revenue of Numerify's customers was $34.7 billion, reflecting the widespread demand for a unified system of intelligence among today's largest and most complex IT organizations. Numerify now provides insights into IT operations and application development to more than 1,000 senior IT leaders across Fortune 500 companies.

"We are delighted to now count five of the Fortune 50 companies as Numerify customers," said Gaurav Rewari, Co-Founder and CEO of Numerify. "Numerify enables data-driven CIOs and IT leaders to measure and manage key strategic initiatives such as application rationalization, resource optimization, and AI-driven production risk reduction that are vital to the success of their corporate digital transformation."

This year Numerify expanded its analytical offerings to include broadened data source coverage, IT-specific analytic models, and rapid support for new data sources through a data ingestion pipeline that uses highly scalable big-data technologies such as Apache Kafka and Spark. The company also launched new solutions to help IT accelerate DevOps and Agile development with analytical insights. This broader and deeper functionality drove increased user adoption, with the user count per customer doubling in the past twelve months.

Numerify's success is driven in part by its product advancements, which include the recent approval of two patents on data store design and language conversion. The first patent, 9,886,490, covers the design for an efficient, historical data store structure with live queryability that supports functions such as archiving, warehousing, operational reporting, and data feeds from a single store. Patent 9,881,055 covers the conversion of SQL expressions into an S-Expression tabular structure, and use of that representation to translate the SQL expression into SQL-like languages  an innovation that accelerates analytical application customization and extensibility. Analytical innovations like these drive the company's ability to deliver time to value in two to four weeks instead of months or years. This brings the company's total number of patents awarded to four, with another fifteen patents pending approval.

"Numerify already owns core intellectual property (IP) in the area of descriptive and predictive analytics for workflow-based, service-oriented applications," said Srikant Gokulnatha, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Numerify. "These new patents broaden our IP coverage to include low latency analytics for multiple systems of record in support of our vision of unified visibility and insights across plan, build, and run activities, regardless of the source of data."

Connect with Numerify at the ServiceNow Knowledge18 conference in Las Vegas, from May 7-10, 2018.

About Numerify

Numerify provides IT business analytics applications to leading organizations, including companies ranked in the top 5 across 10 major industries. The company's pre-built analytics solutions integrate data across various IT sources, contact center, and related business systems. Numerify's cloud applications rapidly deliver precise insights that help IT organizations optimize costs, increase innovation speed, and transform their service experience. Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., Numerify is backed by Lightspeed Venture Partners, Sequoia Capital, Tenaya Capital, Silicon Valley Bank, and Four Rivers Group. For more information, visit www.numerify.com or follow @numerify.

Contact:

Numerify Marketing

[email protected]

408-822-9611

SOURCE Numerify

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NEW YORK, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of financial markets for 10,000 U.S. and global securities, today announced Future Farm Technologies Inc. (CSE: FFT;OTCQX: FFRMF), a company that is developing and acquiring technologies in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) for the global production of various types of plants, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX Best Market. Future Farm Technologies upgraded to OTCQX from the OTCQB Venture Market.

Future Farm Technologies begins trading today on OTCQX under the symbol "FFRMF." U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the company on www.otcmarkets.com.

"Congratulations to Future Farm Technologies on graduating from our OTCQB Venture Market to trade on our OTCQX Best Market," said Jason Paltrowitz, Executive Vice President of Corporate Services at OTC Markets Group. "Future Farm Technologies joins the increasing number of Canadian companies choosing to cross-trade their shares in the U.S. on OTCQX, leveraging the market to provide easier access for U.S. investors to trade their shares."

"Upgrading to OTCQX Best Market has been planned as part of our corporate strategy for some time," says Mr. William Gildea, Future Farm Technologies, Inc.'s CEO and Chairman. "We are confident that the wider visibility amongst the investment community will strengthen stockholder value and enable us to continue on the path of accomplishing our corporate goals."

Future Farm Technologies was sponsored for OTCQX by Aegis Capital Corp, a qualified third-party firm responsible for providing guidance on OTCQX requirements and recommending membership.

Future Farm Technologies Inc.

Future Farm Technologies Inc. is a Canadian company with projects throughout North America including California, Florida and Maryland. The Company's business model includes developing and acquiring technologies that will position it as a leader in the evolution of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) for the global production of various types of plants, with a focus on cannabis. Future Farm provides scalable, indoor CEA systems that utilize minimal land, water and energy regardless of climate, location or time of year and are customized to grow an abundance of crops close to consumers, therefore minimizing food miles and its impact to the environment. The Company holds an exclusive, worldwide license to use a patented vertical farming technology that, when compared to traditional plant production methods, generates yields up to 10 times greater per square foot of land. The contained system provides many other benefits including 90% less water, fertilizer and land used, less travel costs, seed to sale security, scalability, consistency due to year-round production, cost control, product safety and purity by eliminating environmental variability. The Company also utilizes a leading cannabis oil extraction technology, which enables the Company to process 20lbs/hour of cannabis plant to yield approximately 908 grams/hour of oil.

The Company is also in the business of designing and distributing LED lighting solutions utilizing the COB and MCOB technology. The Company is focused on delivering cost efficient lighting to North America via advanced e-commerce sites the Company owns and operates. LEDCanada.com, which caters to B2B customers, is a supplier of the newest and highest demand LED solutions. The Company also owns and operates COBGrowlights.com, which caters to both large and small agriculture green houses and controlled cultivation centers.

About OTC Markets Group Inc.

OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates the OTCQX Best Market, the OTCQB Venture Market, and the Pink Open Market for 10,000 U.S. and global securities. Through OTC Link ATS, we connect a diverse network of broker-dealers that provide liquidity and execution services. We enable investors to easily trade through the broker of their choice and empower companies to improve the quality of information available for investors.

To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com

OTC Link ATS is operated by OTC Link LLC, member FINRA/SIPC and SEC regulated ATS.

Subscribe to the OTC Markets RSS Feed

Media Contact:

OTC Markets Group Inc., +1 (212) 896-4428, [email protected]

SOURCE OTC Markets Group Inc.

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PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- "At Center City Dermatology, we are committed to providing our patients with the highest quality care while offering comprehensive and customized treatment plans," practice owner Dr. Stephen D. Hess, M.D., Ph.D., explains. "We are excited to add Vivace to our existing catalog of sophisticated procedures. Vivace will offer superior, natural results with minimal downtime."

The Vivace is the latest advance in RF microneedling, combining the benefits and correction of microneedling with the skin tightening effects of radiofrequency (RF). Fully customizable for all skin types, the 36 gold-tipped needles are delivered with the control of the DaVinci Robotthe same technology used by expert surgeons across the country. This precise movement and depth of the needles delivers optimal results for the patient, and the channels created during the treatment provide an ideal canvas for posttreatment therapy. RF charged needles help to accelerate the production of collagen and elastin. Dr. Hess also offers PRP (platelet rich plasma) treatments in the office, which can further enhance collagen and elastin production while accelerating posttreatment healing.

Vivace is ideal for everyone, especially those hoping to correct acne scarring, diminish wrinkles, reduce pore size, achieve skin tightening, and minimize the appearance stretch marks. This procedure is safe and effective for any skin type or color and any season of the year! Dr. Hess would like to invite you to come in for a complementary consultation. During the consultation, a customized treatment plan and at-home regimen will be provided for maximum results. Invest in the Vivace for the long-lasting change that your skin has been waiting for.

Schedule your consultation today, 267.687.4437. Visit www.CenterCityDermatology.com for more information. Like us on Facebook and follow us @centercityderm on Instagram.

About Center City Dermatology

At Center City Dermatology, Dr. Stephen D. Hess and his staff provide comprehensive and customized skin care encompassing all aspects of Medical, Surgical, Pediatric, and Aesthetic Dermatology. In addition to delivering the highest level of medical care, Center City Dermatology is committed to providing its clients with the most effective, cutting edge aesthetic treatments available. Located in the heart of Philadelphia, near Rittenhouse Square, Center City Dermatology is ready to assist you with all of your skin care needs.

About Cartessa Aesthetics

Cartessa Aesthetics, LLC sources leading aesthetic medical devices for distribution to dermatologists, plastic surgeons, cosmetic physicians and medical spas. Because Cartessa is not tethered to any one manufacturer, Cartessa selects the most cutting-edge technologies that offer clinically proven efficacy, patient safety, and the best possible investment for patients and professionals. All products within Cartessa's portfolio are FDA-approved. For more information visit: www.cartessaaesthetics.com

Media Contact:

Maia Senderowitsch

[email protected]

631.343.7430

Related Links

Cartessa Aesthetics

Center City Dermatology

SOURCE Center City Dermatology

Related Links

http://www.CenterCityDermatology.com


LONDON, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Prescient Healthcare Group, a global product strategy and decision support consultancy, announces the recent appointment of Dr. Debasish Talukdar as Global Head of Advisory.

Debasish Talukdar

Debasish joins Prescient after spending the last decade with Bain & Company, where he was a leader in the healthcare practice. Debasish has extensive experience advising biopharma clients on value creation through corporate, business unit, disease area and product-focused strategies. He started his career as a physician before making the move into strategy consulting, and he has lived and worked in the US, EU, India and Singapore. He holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, and has worked for the consumer goods company P&G.

"I'm excited to have joined Prescient and see huge opportunity to grow VantageRx, our advisory services business. We have an incredible team that offers a differentiated level of service to our clients through in-depth technical, therapeutic and market expertise," Debasish said. "We believe that all clinical and commercial strategies must be grounded in evidence and tested objectively. For a brand to achieve an optimal label, favorable reimbursement status and rapid uptake, our clients must be able to demonstrate superior clinical and health economic benefits to the standard of care. VantageRx focuses on identifying and deploying these critical value-generating levers."

"Debasish will be responsible for driving the future trajectory of our advisory practice," said Jamie Denison-Pender, CEO, Prescient. "His Tier 1 consultancy experience coupled with his medical background makes him a fantastic fit for us. Debasish has a real passion for problem solving and is an expert at understanding the nuances associated with a client need and then framing an optimal solution. We much look forward to working with and learning from him."

Debasish's biography and contact information can be found on our website: www.PrescientHG.com. Additional information on our VantageRx practice can be found here: http://info.prescienthg.com/vantagerx.

About Prescient

Prescient Healthcare Group is a specialty biopharmaceutical product strategy and decision support consultancy that helps our clients make better clinical and commercial decisions, resulting in improved outcomes for patients, customers and shareholders. With offices in London, New York, San Francisco, New Delhi and Beijing, we enhance the value of our clients' products, making sure they resonate with customers and stand out from the competition. Prescient comprises three specialist practices: InflexionRx provides highly valued decision support to competitive intelligence, strategic marketing, brand management, regulatory affairs, medical affairs, market access and regional teams from early clinical development to loss of exclusivity; VantageRx focuses on helping clients develop strategies that successfully differentiate their assets and brands at key milestones throughout new product planning, brand planning and mature brand planning; and FusionRx specializes in aligning cross-functional teams to ensure product strategies meet the needs of all customer types and robust execution plans are developed.

For more information, please visit www.PrescientHG.com.

Contact:

Christina Maffei

+1 908 342 3556

[email protected]

SOURCE Prescient Healthcare Group

Related Links

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Financial health is a core component of personal wellness. Now, thanks to Pro Financial Health and Core Health Technologies, it's even easier for employers and organizations to offer financial education as a part of employee wellness programs.

Through a network of trusted partners, Core Health Technologies provides the platform and resources for organizations to build customized wellness programs. Its partners include the likes of Fitbit and the American Institute for Preventive Medicine, among many others. Pro Financial Health's customizable financial wellness courses are the latest addition to its selection of over 140 unique wellness innovations.

With a proven, robust, personalized and adaptive platform and decades of financial services experience, the team at Pro Financial Health is more than up for the task of being a Core Health Technologies partner. Pro Financial Health specializes in offering customized holistic financial education without underlying product solicitation.

"Our goal has always been to help people strengthen their financial health, and through this partnership, we can work with organizations large and small to reach even more people around the globe."  Brent Carman, President, Pro Financial Health

To learn more about Pro Financial Health's resources, visit www.profinancialhealth.com. And to learn more about Core Health Technologies, see www.corehealth.global.

Media Contact:

Brent Carman

Pro Financial Health

E: [email protected]

W: www.profinancialhealth.com

Pro Financial Health, a leading financial wellness company, is pleased to announce a network partnership with Core Health Technologies, a cutting edge wellness technology company.

SOURCE Pro Financial Health

Related Links

http://www.profinancialhealth.com


VALLEY COTTAGE, New York, February 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

A report of Future Market Insights titled "Global Radiation Dose Optimisation Software Market: Global Industry Analysis (2012-2016) and Opportunity Assessment (2017-2027)" states that favourable government regulations for controlling radiation are likely to have a positive impact on the growth of the global radiation dose optimisation software market in the years ahead. Doctors are using radiation dose optimisation software for monitoring and controlling the doses of radiation. Correspondingly, radiation dose optimisation software is used for controlling multiple aspects related to the dose. The radiation dose quantity varies as per the patient and the disease. The global market for radiation dose optimisation software is expected to rise at a CAGR of 27.4% from 2017 to 2027.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161020/430874LOGO )



Request a Sample Report with Table of Contents and Figures: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-6238

Inclination Towards Smart Technology to Accelerate Adoption

With technology becoming ubiquitous and advanced technologies replacing existing ones, the demand for more cutting-edge technology is rising with each passing day. Consumers are gaining awareness about the availability of advanced technologies for treating diseases such as smart technology products. As a result of this, the demand for radiation dose optimisation software has also taken a surge and is expected to foresee the same trend in the coming years. The need to monitor the limits of annual dose of the workers in CT/PET imaging is also one of the factors that will have an influential impact on the market in the long run. The growing adoption of electronic health recording systems along with a rising awareness regarding radiation safety is expected to bode well for the market in the near future. However, the dearth of expert operators and the lack of knowledge and training among the existing workers for operating radiation dose optimisation software might act as a roadblock in the progress of the market during the course of the forecast period.

North America to Take the Lead in Terms of Deployment

In order to avoid high dosage of radiation and for increasing the safety of workers, the U.S. government has introduced a number of reimbursement policies for radiologists for encouraging them to follow the various guidelines that have been set up by several organisations to maintain proper dose levels. As a result of these stringent regulatory requirements, the adoption of radiation dose optimisation software is expected to increase during the forecast period. As a result of these dynamics, the market for radiation dose optimisation software in North America is expected to witness an outstanding CAGR of 30.8% over the course of the forecast period.

Preview Analysis on Global Radiation Dose Optimisation Software Market Segmentation By Component- Software, Automatic, Manual, Services, Education & Training, Support; End User- Hospitals, Diagnostic Centres, Cancer Research Institutes, Others: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/radiation-dose-optimisation-software-market

Other than this, on the basis of end user, the market has been segmented into hospitals, diagnostic centres, cancer research institutes, and others. Based on component the market has been bifurcated into software and services. The software segment has been further divided into automatic and manual and the services segment has been further divided into education and training and support.

Companies to Strengthen Product Offering for Cancer Diagnosis

Product innovation, expansion in product portfolio, and acquisitions are likely to be the key areas that companies operating in the global radiation dose optimisation software market are likely to focus on in the coming years. Some of the leading companies in the market are General Electric Company, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Siemens AG, Agfa-Gevaert Group, Bracco, Sectra AB, and FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation.

Our advisory services are aimed at helping you with specific, customised insights that are relevant to your specific challenges. Let us know about your challenges and our trusted advisors will connect with you: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-6238

More from FMI's Electronics, Semiconductors, and ICT Market Intelligence:

Flat Panel Display Market Segmentation By Technology - Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), Plasma Display, Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) and others; By Application - Consumer Electronics, Automotive Applications and other Applications:

https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/global-flat-panel-display-market

Segmentation By Technology - Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), Plasma Display, Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) and others; By Application - Consumer Electronics, Automotive Applications and other Applications: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/global-flat-panel-display-market Embedded Hypervisor Market Segmentation By Industry Application - Consumer Electronic, Automotive, Defense & Aerospace, Industrial Automation, BFSI and Medical Devices; By Component - Software Platform, Services; By Enterprise type - Large Enterprise, Medium Enterprise, Small Enterprise:

https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/embedded-hypervisor-market

Segmentation By Industry Application - Consumer Electronic, Automotive, Defense & Aerospace, Industrial Automation, BFSI and Medical Devices; By Component - Software Platform, Services; By Enterprise type - Large Enterprise, Medium Enterprise, Small Enterprise: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/embedded-hypervisor-market CRM Application Software Market Segmentation By Vertical - BFSI, Healthcare, Retail & Consumer Goods, IT & Telecom, Government, Education, Services & Logistics, Manufacturing and Other Industries; By Deployment - On-premise, Cloud:

https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/crm-application-software-market

About Us

Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights and an aerial view of the competitive framework and future market trends.

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SOURCE Future Market Insights
DANVERS, Mass., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Recovery Centers of America (RCA) announced today that Laura A. Ames has joined the Danvers facility as chief executive officer. Ames, a healthcare executive with more than 20 years of experience in executive leadership positions at hospitals and rehabilitation centers across Massachusetts, will lead the day-to-day operations of the 207-bed drug and rehabilitation center. She will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the facility, including enhancements to the clinical curriculum, treatment protocols and educational programming offerings.

"Laura's extensive leadership experience, coupled with her innate passion for encouraging people through difficult times, makes her the ideal person to lead our Danvers team," said Recovery Centers of America Chief Operating Officer JP Christen. "She will have an immediate impact on our clinical and professional staff, as well as on the patients and families so desperately in need of care."

"I'm honored to join the Recovery Centers of America team," said Ames. "As a lifelong healthcare professional, my primary goal is and always has been to care for the sick  and this includes those suffering from the terrible disease of addiction."

Prior to joining RCA, Ames served as CEO of HealthSouth New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Woburn. She previously held executive-level positions at Arbour Hospital, Health Partners New England, Wingate Healthcare, Inc., Spectrum Health Care Systems, iCare Management, LLC and Olympus Health Care Group. She is also former a clinical nursing instructor at Quinsigamond Community College, where she provided clinical and didactical instruction to first year associate degree nursing students.

An active member of the community, Ames is a member of the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC), and has served on the committee of the Massachusetts Association of Behavioral Health (ABH) and Department of Youth Services task forces. She holds multiple licenses and certifications, including Registered Nurse (Mass. and Conn.), Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (Mass. and Conn.), and Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse.

Ames earned her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Fitchburg State College and her Master of Science in nursing administration and patient education from Anna Maria College. She also earned a Master of Science degree in criminal justice and a Master of Business Administration from Anna Maria College.

Recovery Centers of America provides world-class education and clinical treatment in inpatient and outpatient settings throughout Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Maryland. The company is based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

About Recovery Centers of America

Recovery Centers of America is on a mission to save 1 million lives  one neighborhood at a time  by helping individuals suffering from substance use disorders enter into treatment and long-term, meaningful recovery. RCA's vision is to make treatment for addiction and other mental health disorders as affordable and accessible as any other disease. With world-class clinical treatment in state-of-the-art facilities throughout New England, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland, every RCA patient is given the highest standard of care and evidence-based treatment with dignity and respect close to where they live and work.

Who do you know we can help today?

For more information, visit www.RecoveryCentersofAmerica.com or call 1-800-RECOVERY.

RCA Company Contact:

Rich Smith, Chief Marketing Officer

[email protected]

RCA Media Contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE Recovery Centers of America (RCA)

Related Links

http://www.RecoveryCentersofAmerica.com


KENT, Wash., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Earlier today, the State of North Carolina announced its intention to host the second-ever "Confluence Summit" for state-level outdoor recreation leaders in Asheville this July. There are currently eight states  Colorado, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington and Wyoming  with an office, director or task force dedicated to the well-being of the outdoor recreation industry and to greater public access to outdoor experiences.

To assure robust participation from across the country, the REI Co-op has committed to fund travel for these outdoor leaders, and their delegations, who are developing a multi-state vision for connecting Americans with the outdoors.

"Gatherings like this can be a model for the future. They look to bridge across local, state and federal stakeholders to create a sense of shared mission and responsibility," said REI CEO Jerry Stritzke. "This work can be foundational for creating a next generation that loves and cares for the outdoors, and is vital in shaping the future of our towns, states and country."

In 2017, as several states were establishing these leadership positions, the State of Colorado saw an opportunity to foster a shared vision for the future of the outdoors, to share best practices and, ideally, create a set of cross-state policy principles for maximizing the sector's many benefits. At the urging of Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, the state's Outdoor Recreation Industry Office, led by Luis Benitez, set up the process for convening the "ORec 8" for this shared undertaking. The result of this work was the first-ever Confluence Summit, which took place in Denver on January 24, 2018, and was attended by approximately 100 delegates and staff.

Leading up to the summit and at the event, the delegations began to develop a collaborative working document titled "The Colorado Accords." The document aims to define a collective vision and set of principles in four broad and important areas:

Economic development

Conservation and stewardship

Education and workforce development

Public health and wellness

The Asheville Confluence Summit will build on this groundbreaking work.

"It is imperative that the Confluence Summits migrate from state to state each year to celebrate each region's robust outdoor recreation industry ecosystem and economy and continue work on shared principles," said Luis Benitez, director of the Colorado office of outdoor recreation.

Once ratified, the Accords will remain a living document, open to adjustments and adaptations as best practices are identified and as other states enter the process. Additional states are considering creating their own outdoor recreation-focused offices. According to Benitez, as well as David Knight, who was appointed North Carolina's Director of Outdoor Industry Recruitment in January, those states are welcome to join the effort, subject to a firm, unambiguous commitment to the sector from the state's governor and/or legislature, and the designation of an outdoor recreation sector leader.

At the heart of REI Co-op is the belief that a life outdoors is a life well-lived and that access to enriching outdoor experiences is something every American has the right to enjoy. To support the first Confluence Summit, the Co-op made funds available to the Colorado Tourism Office so that it could offer travel stipends to delegates who lacked funding. REI has pledged similar support for the event in Asheville, subject to compliance with state and local ethics requirements.

"This gathering brings together thought-leaders from diverse backgrounds  from business, the nonprofit community, government and tribal communities. Given budget realities, many stakeholders could not attend without a travel stipend. We see it as part of the co-op mission to bring together advocates for the outdoors," said Marc Berejka, REI's director of government and community affairs.

About the REI Co-op

REI is a specialty outdoor retailer, headquartered near Seattle. The nation's largest consumer co-op, REI is a growing community of more than 17 million members who expect and love the best quality gear, inspiring expert classes and trips and outstanding customer service. REI has 151 stores in 36 states. If you can't visit a store, you can shop at REI.com, REI.com/rei-garage or the free REI shopping app. REI isn't just about gear. You can take the trip of a lifetime with REI Adventures, a global leader in active adventure travel that runs more than 170 custom-designed itineraries worldwide. The REI Outdoor School is run by professionally-trained, expert-instructors who teach beginner to advanced-level courses about a wide range of activities. To build on the infrastructure that makes life outside possible, REI invests millions annually in hundreds of local and national nonprofits that create access toand stewardthe outdoor places that inspire us all.

SOURCE REI Co-op
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Shareholder rights law firm Johnson Fistel, LLP has launched an investigation into whether the board members of Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) ("Rite Aid") breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the proposed sale of the Company to Albertsons Companies.

On February 20, 2018, Rite Aid announced that it had signed a definitive merger agreement with Albertsons Companies. Under the terms of the agreement, in exchange for every ten shares of Rite Aid common stock, Rite Aid shareholders will have the right to elect to receive either (i) one share of Albertsons Companies common stock plus approximately $1.83 in cash or (ii) 1.079 shares of Albertsons Companies stock. Albertsons Companies shareholders will own more than 70 percent of the combined company, which is expected to trade on the New York Stock Exchange.

The investigation concerns whether the Rite Aid board failed to satisfy its duties to the Company shareholders, including whether the board adequately pursued alternatives to the acquisition and whether the board obtained the best price possible for Rite Aid shares of common stock.

If you are a shareholder of Rite Aid and believe the proposed buyout price is too low or you're interested in learning more about the investigation or your legal rights and remedies, please contact lead analyst Jim Baker ( [email protected] ) at 619-814-4471. If emailing, please include a phone number.

About Johnson Fistel, LLP:

Johnson Fistel, LLP is a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm with offices in California, New York and Georgia. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in shareholder derivative and securities class action lawsuits. For more information about the firm and its attorneys, please visit http://www.johnsonfistel.com . Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Contact:

Johnson Fistel, LLP

Jim Baker, 619-814-4471

[email protected]

SOURCE Johnson Fistel, LLP

Related Links

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COLUMBIA, Md., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Rohde & Schwarz, a leading supplier of test and measurement equipment, has collaborated with NextNav to enable the next generation of location determination capabilities in mobile devices. Rohde & Schwarz and NextNav have successfully developed and verified MBS OTA antenna performance tests. This completes a critical step towards the availability of an MBS certification test solution. This MBS technology is expected to become part of the CTIA OTA test plan during 2018.

NextNav has leveraged Rohde & Schwarz's comprehensive location based services (LBS) and over-the-air (OTA) test solutions to provide a test bed for early standardization, performance evaluation and repeatability of MBS tests for consumer mass market devices. Rohde & Schwarz's test platforms support NextNav's terrestrial positioning network and technology to ensure accurate location service, with carrier-grade reliability, into buildings and urban areas where satellite-based GPS signals cannot reach.

"This partnership ensures availability of the MBS technology as part of the Rohde & Schwarz test platform and marks an important and exciting next step in making MBS mass market capable for mobile devices," said Tom Wrappe, Vice President Ecosystem Development, NextNav.

"Our advanced LBS and OTA test systems support the new MBS technology and all other existing relevant wireless technologies including LTE, WLAN, Bluetooth, WCDMA, GSM, CDMA, GPS, GALILEO and more. Our collaboration with NextNav demonstrates Rohde & Schwarz's commitment to offering test solutions that enable next-generation technologies," said Alexander Pabst, Vice President Systems and Projects, Rohde & Schwarz.

Press contacts:

North America: Keith Cobler, Phone: +1 214 663 6394, E-mail: [email protected]

Europe (headquarters): Christian Mokry, Phone: +49 89 4129 13052, E-mail: [email protected]

Asia Pacific: Wen Shi Tong, Phone: +65 6 307-0029, E-mail: [email protected]

Contacts for readers:

Customer Support Europe, Africa, Middle East: +49 89 4129 12345

[email protected]

Customer Support North America: +1 888 TEST RSA (+1 888 837 87 72)

[email protected]

Customer Support Latin America: +1 410 910 79 88

[email protected]

Customer Support Asia Pacific: +65 65 13 04 88

[email protected]

Customer Support China: +86 800 810 8228 or +86 400 650 5896

[email protected]

Rohde & Schwarz

The Rohde & Schwarz technology group develops, produces and markets innovative test and measurement, information and communications technology products for professional users. Rohde & Schwarz focuses on test and measurement, broadcast and media, cybersecurity, secure communications and monitoring and network testing, areas that address many different industry and government-sector market segments. Founded more than 80 years ago, the independent company has an extensive sales and service network in more than 70 countries. On June 30, 2017, Rohde & Schwarz had approximately 10,500 employees. The group achieved a net revenue of approximately EUR 1.9 billion in the 2016/2017 fiscal year (July to June). The company is headquartered in Munich, Germany, and also has regional hubs in Asia and the USA.

R&S  is a registered trademark of Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG.

All press releases, including photos for downloading, are available on the Internet at http://www.press.rohde-schwarz.com.

NextNav LLC

NextNav's revolutionary Metropolitan Beacon System (MBS)-based services enable mobile phones and other devices to reliably determine their location and timing in indoor and urban environments where GPS signals cannot be received. NextNav's 3D location services include accurate horizontal positioning, floor-level altitude precision, and powerful context and visualization applications. Delivered over a managed network on licensed spectrum, with carrier-grade dependability and metropolitan-wide coverage, NextNav's services are designed for public safety, E911, critical infrastructure and emergency response as well as the multitude of consumer and commercial applications that require reliable indoor 3D location or precision timing.

Website: www.nextnav.com

Press release queries: [email protected]

SOURCE Rohde & Schwarz

Related Links

http://rohde-schwarz.com


MIAMI, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: RCL) has been recognized by the Ethisphere Institute, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, as one of the 2018 World's Most Ethical Companies. This is the third year in a row RCL has been recognized in the Lodging, Leisure and Recreation industry, underscoring their commitment to leading ethical business standards and practices.

"I am extremely grateful that Ethisphere has again honored Royal Caribbean as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies," said Richard D. Fain, Chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "At Royal Caribbean, ethical leadership is an important part of our worldview. We value this honor, and will continue to hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards in following our mantra of continuous improvement."

Royal Caribbean has won the distinction three consecutive years as among the world's most ethical companies in the leisure and recreation category, underscoring RCL's commitment to leading ethical business standards and practices.

"While the discourse around the world changed profoundly in 2017, a stronger voice emerged. Global corporations operating with a common rule of law are now society's strongest force to improve the human condition. This year we saw companies increasingly finding their voice. The World's Most Ethical Companies in particular continued to show exemplary leadership," explained Ethisphere's CEO, Timothy Erblich. "I congratulate everyone at Royal Caribbean for being recognized as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies."

In 2018, 135 honorees were recognized, spanning 23 countries and 57 industries. The twelfth class of honorees had record levels of involvement with their stakeholders and their communities around the world. Measuring and improving culture, leading authentically and committing to transparency, diversity and inclusion were all priorities for honorees.

Ethics & Performance

Once again, the 2018 World's Most Ethical Companies have proven that operating with integrity leads to greater financial performance. Research has found that, when indexed, listed World's Most Ethical Companies outperformed the U.S. Large Cap Index over five years by 10.72 percent and over three years by 4.88 percent. Ethisphere refers to this as the Ethics Premium.

Methodology & Scoring

The World's Most Ethical Companies assessment is based upon the Ethisphere Institute's Ethics Quotient (EQ) framework, which offers a quantitative way to assess a company's performance in an objective, consistent and standardized manner. The information collected provides a comprehensive sampling of definitive criteria of core competencies rather than all aspects of corporate governance, risk, sustainability, compliance and ethics.

Scores are generated in five key categories: ethics and compliance program (35 percent), corporate citizenship and responsibility (20 percent), culture of ethics (20 percent), governance (15 percent) and leadership, innovation and reputation (10 percent). All companies that participate in the assessment process receive their scores, providing them with valuable insights into how they stack up against leading organizations.

Honorees

The full list of the 2018 World's Most Ethical Companies can be found at https://worldsmostethicalcompanies.com/honorees

Best practices and insights from the 2018 honorees will be released in a report and webcast in March and April of this year. Sign up to receive the report.

About Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: RCL) is a global cruise vacation company that owns and operates three global brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises. We are a 50 percent joint venture owner of the German brand TUI Cruises, a 49 percent shareholder in the Spanish brand Pullmantur and a 36 percent shareholder in the Chinese brand SkySea Cruises. Together, these brands operate a combined total of 49 ships with an additional thirteen on order as of December 31, 2017. They operate diverse itineraries around the world that call on approximately 540 destinations on all seven continents. Additional information can be found on www.rclcorporate.com.

About the Ethisphere Institute

The Ethisphere Institute is the global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices that fuel corporate character, marketplace trust and business success. Ethisphere has deep expertise in measuring and defining core ethics standards using data-driven insights that help companies enhance corporate character and measure and improve culture. Ethisphere honors superior achievement through its World's Most Ethical Companies recognition program and provides a community of industry experts with the Business Ethics Leadership Alliance (BELA). More information about Ethisphere can be found at: https://ethisphere.com.

SOURCE Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Related Links

http://www.royalcaribbean.com


PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Rubrik, the Cloud Data Management Company, today announced a global bookings run rate approaching $300M due to record pace of adoption in large enterprises worldwide. The news cements Rubrik as one of the fastest growing enterprise infrastructure software companies in history.

The company today also announced it has added industry veteran John W. Thompson to its Board of Directors. Thompson, the current Chairman of Microsoft, will leverage his 40+ years of enterprise expertise to advise Rubrik as the company enters its next phase of growth.

"I invested in Rubrik because of the team's transformational vision to simplify how the entire data management model works  an area that hasn't seen significant innovation in more than 20 years," said Thompson. "Few companies have innovated and executed better than Rubrik over the past four years. I am thrilled to join Rubrik's board at this exciting time."

Rubrik is also welcoming Murray Demo as the company's Chief Financial Officer. Prior to Rubrik, Demo was CFO at Atlassian, where he led the company through a successful IPO and subsequent quarters as a public company. Demo brings decades of experience to Rubrik and has previously served as CFO at Adobe Systems, Postini, LiveOps and Dolby Laboratories.

"Rubrik has quickly become the gold standard in data protection and data management software. As more companies simplify their IT infrastructure and embrace the cloud, this market opportunity will become even more explosive," said Demo. "Being at the company during such a critical moment in its growth is an opportunity that I couldn't pass up."

"In the first four years at Rubrik, we have been able to help companies simplify what was once an extremely complex process  backup and data protection. But that's only the beginning, the world's largest enterprises are realizing they need a better way to manage their data in the hybrid cloud," said Rubrik co-founder and CEO, Bipul Sinha. "In the next four years, we'll create new technologies and solutions to help companies not only manage, but do more with that data. Bringing John W. Thompson's expertise and relationships and Murray Demo's financial acumen sets Rubrik on a solid foundation to accelerate our growth."

The announcements come at a time when Rubrik is experiencing unprecedented global growth. Highlights over the past year include:

Accelerating Global Customer Growth: Rubrik grew its global customer base by more than 4x over the past fiscal year. Customers represent global leaders in a diverse range of industries, including two of the top five biotech companies in the world, three of the top five media companies, two of the the top three real estate companies, and many more.

Rubrik grew its global customer base by more than 4x over the past fiscal year. Customers represent global leaders in a diverse range of industries, including two of the top five biotech companies in the world, three of the top five media companies, two of the the top three real estate companies, and many more. New Customers Include : Barrett Steel , Elenia, France Televisions Publicite, Frost Bank, Flagstar Bank, JE Dunn, Medatixx, Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport, NWS Holdings Limited, Secure24, Sphero, Tradeweb Europe, Stora Enso, UC San Diego, and University of Reading.

: , Elenia, France Televisions Publicite, Frost Bank, Flagstar Bank, JE Dunn, Medatixx, Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport, NWS Holdings Limited, Secure24, Sphero, Tradeweb Europe, Stora Enso, UC San Diego, and University of Reading. Governments Worldwide Increasingly Choose Rubrik to Modernize IT: In the U.S., Rubrik continues to win deployments with federal agencies seeking to comply with the Data Center Optimization Initiative and the Modernizing Government Technology Act. Worldwide, more than 60 government bodies use Rubrik, including the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Energy, international cabinet offices and ministries. In addition, Rubrik has built the industry's most comprehensive portfolio of government certifications and accreditations across the hybrid cloud, including the Department of Defense Information Network (DODIN) Approved Product List (APL), Common Criteria EAL2+, FIPS 140-2 Level-2 validated self-encrypting drives, and support for all major AWS and Microsoft Azure government infrastructure clouds.

In the U.S., Rubrik continues to win deployments with federal agencies seeking to comply with the Data Center Optimization Initiative and the Modernizing Government Technology Act. Worldwide, more than 60 government bodies use Rubrik, including the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Energy, international cabinet offices and ministries. In addition, Rubrik has built the industry's most comprehensive portfolio of government certifications and accreditations across the hybrid cloud, including the Department of Defense Information Network (DODIN) Approved Product List (APL), Common Criteria EAL2+, FIPS 140-2 Level-2 validated self-encrypting drives, and support for all major AWS and Microsoft Azure government infrastructure clouds. Launch of New Global Service Delivery Partner Program: Rubrik launched a first of its kind global service delivery partner program which creates premium services offerings and new revenue streams for partners with managed service offerings. The company appointed Randy Schirman as VP Worldwide Managed Service Partner Sales to expand this high-growth vertical. New MSP customers include Dimension Data, Secure24 and US Signal.

Rubrik launched a first of its kind global service delivery partner program which creates premium services offerings and new revenue streams for partners with managed service offerings. The company appointed as VP Worldwide Managed Service Partner Sales to expand this high-growth vertical. New MSP customers include Dimension Data, Secure24 and US Signal. Deepened Capabilities, Expanded Cloud Partnerships and Datos IO Acquisition: The launch of Rubrik Alta delivered instant application availability for any app, anywhere. Rubrik released market-leading capabilities to facilitate workload migration, test/dev, and DR across all major public cloud providers. The company earned the AWS Storage ISV Partner Competency, was designated a global ISV co-seller through the Microsoft Partner Network, offering its solution on Microsoft Azure, and announced support for Google Cloud Storage. Rubrik recently announced its acquisition of Datos IO, extending its reach into mission-critical cloud applications built on NoSQL databases that are increasingly deployed in Fortune 500 companies.

The launch of Rubrik Alta delivered instant application availability for any app, anywhere. Rubrik released market-leading capabilities to facilitate workload migration, test/dev, and DR across all major public cloud providers. The company earned the AWS Storage ISV Partner Competency, was designated a global ISV co-seller through the Microsoft Partner Network, offering its solution on Microsoft Azure, and announced support for Google Cloud Storage. Rubrik recently announced its acquisition of Datos IO, extending its reach into mission-critical cloud applications built on NoSQL databases that are increasingly deployed in Fortune 500 companies. Geographical Expansion and Employee Growth: Rubrik is now over 800 employees strong across six continents, representing a 3x increase year-over-year. Over the past year, the company opened 10 new offices in India , Ireland , Kansas , North Carolina , Spain , Texas , the UK, and Washington D.C. , as well as its EMEA headquarters in Amsterdam . Rubrik also opened a new, expanded corporate headquarters in Palo Alto, California .

Rubrik is now over 800 employees strong across six continents, representing a 3x increase year-over-year. Over the past year, the company opened 10 new offices in , , , , , , the UK, and , as well as its EMEA headquarters in . Rubrik also opened a new, expanded corporate headquarters in . Strengthened Executive Bench: The company has built a deep executive bench comprised of industry veterans like CFO Murray Demo , EVP of Global Sales and Business Development Mark Smith, CMO Kara Wilson, and VP of Worldwide Channels Bertrand Yansouni.

The company has built a deep executive bench comprised of industry veterans like CFO , EVP of Global Sales and Business Development Mark Smith, CMO Kara Wilson, and VP of Worldwide Channels Bertrand Yansouni. Channel Success: Since day one, Rubrik has employed a 100% channel-driven go-to-market strategy. Over the past year, 86% of Rubrik transacting partners have more than doubled their business with Rubrik.

Since day one, Rubrik has employed a 100% channel-driven go-to-market strategy. Over the past year, 86% of Rubrik transacting partners have more than doubled their business with Rubrik. Rapidly Expanding Support Team: Rubrik's award-winning global support team has grown by 400%. Rubrik provides 24/7, year-round support with three locations in the US and international locations in Ireland , the Netherlands , India and Tokyo .

Rubrik's award-winning global support team has grown by 400%. Rubrik provides 24/7, year-round support with three locations in the US and international locations in , , and . Awards and Recognition: In August, Rubrik was positioned by Gartner, Inc. in the "Visionaries" quadrant of its 2017 Magic Quadrant for Data Center Backup and Recovery Solutions in just three years since founding. The company was named to the the Forbes Cloud 100 and #7 on LinkedIn's Top Companies: Startups. Rubrik has been recognized with 18 award wins globally, including the 2017 CRN Tech Innovator Award, two Best of VMworld 2017 awards including Best of Show and the Gold Award for Data Protection, and the CRN UK Emerging Vendor of the Year Award.

Resources:

[BLOG] Rubrik Raises $180 Million at $1.3 Billion  Why it Matters

[BLOG] Rubrik Turns Four: Our Year in Review

[BLOG] Choose Your Cloud: Rubrik Enhances Multi-Cloud Management

[PARTNER WEBSITE] Partner With Rubrik

[TIMELINE] Highlights From Rubrik's Last Four Years

[VIDEO] Celebrating Our Customers. Our Journey Together.

About Rubrik

Rubrik delivers instant application availability with data protection, search, analytics, archival and copy data management. Hybrid Cloud enterprises benefit from Rubrik's market-leading Cloud Data Management platform with simplicity, instant data access, app mobility, policy-driven automation, ransomware protection, and analytics at scale. For more information, visit http://www.rubrik.com and follow @rubrikInc on Twitter.

SOURCE Rubrik

Related Links

http://www.rubrik.com


TEL AVIV, Israel, February 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

SafeRide Technologies Ltd., the first automotive cybersecurity vendor to offer an advanced cyber-security software solution augmented by AI/machine-learning, announces the contribution of "openSentry", an in-vehicle open-source deterministic cyber-security stack, to the open source community, during the Automotive Grade Linux (AGL) All Member Meeting.

"AGL is clearly showing strong traction in becoming an open platform standard for the connected car market, and we are excited to collaborate with the AGL community to help enhance the security of the platform," said Hilik Stein, CTO of SafeRide Technologies. "By making openSentry open source, we hope to enable application developers to introduce innovative and robust connected vehicle applications with pre-built security features, to ensure vehicle and passenger security and safety, and minimize business exposure."

openSentry offers a foundational security layer for vehicle applications that helps developers accelerate time-to-market in delivering innovative, connected, secure vehicle applications. Once deployed, the security stack can be extended to supporting advanced detection and accelerated response capabilities with a commercial grade in-vehicle stack, for preventing unknown zero-day threats, and for protecting transportation asset value.

"SafeRide has been an active contributor to AGL in our efforts to enhance the security of the platform," said Dan Cauchy, Executive Director of Automotive Grade Linux at The Linux Foundation. "Cyber security is an important aspect in the development of new connected vehicle applications, and we value SafeRide's continuing contributions to the project."

openSentry is available for download directly from GitHub.

About SafeRide Technologies

SafeRide Technologies Ltd is the leading independent software vendor of advanced, cyber-security solutions for protection of connected & autonomous vehicles. The holistic solution offered by SafeRide, enables protection against today's known threats with zero false-positives, and early detection and response to tomorrow's unknown, zero-day threats. SafeRide provides automotive vendors the freedom to develop innovative connected vehicle applications, with complete peace of mind. Learn more at: https://www.saferide.io

Press contact at SafeRide Technologies:

Danny Loeb

+972-3-9660445

[email protected]

SOURCE SafeRide Technologies Ltd.
To continue its support of this effort, Salient CRGT announced it is a Silver Sponsor of the Tableau Government Summit to be held February 22, 2018 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. This full-day summit will be attended by federal government leaders to help them learn how the public sector is using analytics and Tableau to improve citizen engagement and experience, modernize IT, reduce operational costs, and design an open government that inspires innovation.

"Modern data analytics is reimagining the way government agencies interact with and improve the lives of warfighters, veterans, employees, and citizens," said Helen Xing, Partner Development Manager at Tableau Software. "Partners such as Salient CRGT play an important role in helping these government agencies provide actionable, persuasive insights towards mission-critical results."

"We are experiencing technology advancements at a rapid pace, especially around data and analytics. Technologies like Tableau are empowering users throughout organizations to discover meaningful insights and make impactful change," said Ian Graham, VP Data Analytics. "Salient CRGT is an IT services company focused on supporting this change, and we are excited to be unveiling two new offerings at the summit to assist organizations with both Information Governance and Migrations from Legacy to Modern BI."

Last month, Salient CRGT and Tableau presented a webinar on Information Governance with government personnel attendees, providing an understanding of Information Governance, the benefits and approach for building a strategy and roadmap.

About Salient CRGT

Salient CRGT provides federal civilian, defense, homeland, and intelligence agencies, as well as Fortune 1000 companies, with expertise and leadership in health, data analytics, cloud, agile software development, mobility, cyber security, and infrastructure solutions. We support these core capabilities with full lifecycle IT services and trainingto help our customers meet critical goals for pivotal missions. The most innovative talent delivery model in the industry, scientifically providing exactly the right people for the customers' most pressing requirements, fuels these critical capabilities. Salient CRGT has earned a record of success with integration and operations of largescale, highvolume solutions. Explore www.salientcrgt.com .

Tweet: @Salient_CRGT and @Tableau Partner to Help Government Leaders Increase Performance at Upcoming Tableau Government Summit http://bit.ly/1MGSz5l

SOURCE Salient CRGT, Inc.
According to Urandir Fernandes de Oliveira, founder of Dakila Pesquisas, the thesis that the Earth is round has been refuted by seven experiments: a geodesic experiment, which consists of measuring two buildings at a considerable distance; using sea level as a reference; a laser experiment to ascertain the flatness of water surfaces; leveling of water surfaces; optical distortions relating to processes of reflection; an experiment with boats on the horizon line; and experiments involving gravity and heavenly bodies.

In order to carry out the geodesic experiment, the base and the top of two buildings were measured, one in Torres, Rio Grande do Sul, and the other in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte. Engineers at the National Institute of Land Settlement and Agrarian Reform (INCRA - Instituto Nacional de Colonizacao e Reforma Agraria) took part in these activities. A long-range laser was used to measure the flatness of the waters at the Tres Marias Dam in Minas Gerais; at the Lagoa dos Patos, in Rio Grande do Sul; at Lake Titicaca in Peru; and on the seas around the island of Ilhabela in the state of Sao Paulo, and at the Straits of Gibraltar the sea passage separating Europe from Africa. In this way, the theory of gravity has been challenged by two essential natural measures: the plumb line and the level.

All the experiments had the participation of astronomers, cartographers, geologists, topographers and civil engineers, among other professional researchers. Cutting edge equipment was used. After the release of the documentary, Dakila Pesquisas will make available all of the methodology and technology used so that those interested can verify the results.

"In addition to addressing the shape of the Earth, the documentary will reveal the discovery of a new continent sealed off by a great wall of ice. New knowledge will also be demonstrated concerning the Sun, the Moon and the constellations," Urandir Fernandes de Oliveira disclosed.

Following the documentary, the book Convex Earth will be released, including all the scientific findings and a new map of the world.

Founded in 1997, in Corguinho, Mato Grosso do Sul, Dakila Pesquisas is comprised of researchers and scientists from diverse fields of knowledge, mainly the exact and natural sciences.

Information: Camila Cortez (+55 61 4141-7045) [email protected]

SOURCE www.terraconvexa.com.br / www.dakila.com.br

Related Links

http://www.convexearth.org


We have had an Airbnb on our farm for about a year and a half and almost every guest has commented on one particular aspect of their stay. Its not the comfortable beds or the wonderful sunsets they are mentioning. Lots of their comments say how much they liked our dog, Howie. Who wouldve
NEW YORK, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Simmons Research, the leading source of essential consumer intelligence, today announced the launch of Simmons Insights, a syndicated research portal providing clients with faster access to actionable consumer insights. Powered by Simmons Smart Search, the most comprehensive consumer intelligence search engine, the new platform allows marketers to mine through hundreds of thousands of consumer behaviors in seconds.

Simmons Insights Platform

"We're on a journey with one goal  helping clients find new market opportunities in less time than it takes to grab a coffee at Starbucks," said Andrew Feigenson, CEO at Simmons Research. "Our clients run thousands of advanced analyses using Simmons data per month. Smart search reduced the amount of time taken to find and build complex audience segments by fifty percent. This is just the first in a set of enhancements that we'll be releasing throughout the year, designed to increase efficiencies and drive ROI for our clients."

In parallel, the company also announced the launch of its Chatbot app, Ask Simmons, providing clients with access to data nuggets and key reach metrics via the industry's first conversational UI. Powered by advanced AI models, the Ask Simmons Chatbot will be available for select beta clients as an iOS app and a desktop app.

"The information available in Simmons enhances the proposals that our team submits to clients," said Erica Ellis, Director of Insights at Gamut, Smart Media from Cox. "In any given project, we cull actionable insights from the data to inform media planning and execution. Seeing clients lean in on our findings with the help of this resource is always a welcomed bonus."

"We've found Simmons to be indispensable in helping us better understand consumers and uncover behavioral insights," said Fadi Karam, Vice President of Marketing, Strategy and Business Development at Nestle. "The ability to quickly mine through a vast range of variables helps us uncover unique market opportunities we may have otherwise missed."

About Simmons Research

Simmons Research is the leading source of cross-channel consumer intelligence. Simmons measures American consumer psychographics, preferences, attitudes, and media behaviors by closely overlaying survey and passively measured data using advanced measurement sciences. For more than 60 years, Simmons has helped leading brands, agencies, and media companies effectively engage with consumers, providing measurement of over 60,000 consumer elements, including all major media, 600 attitudes and opinions, 500 product categories, and 8,000 brands. For more information, please visit www.simmonsresearch.com and follow @simmonsresearch on Twitter.

Media Contact:

Matt Cumello, Senior Marketing Director

[email protected]

212.380.2999

SOURCE Simmons Research

Related Links

http://www.simmonsresearch.com


SAN FRANCISCO, February 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Today, in a venture to help enterprises gain the skills and strategies necessary to become digital-ready, edtech company Simplilearn announced the launch of the Simplilearn Digital Transformation Academy. Through a comprehensive online self-paced and instructor-led curriculum, Simplilearn's Digital Transformation Academy provides enterprises with the insights and training to guide their digital strategy, identify opportunities and correct skill deficits in emerging technologies, while quickly creating the platform for the entire organization, from employees to executives, to digitally transform themselves.

(Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/535442/Simplilearn_Logo.jpg )



Digital transformation is the process of 'transforming' the mindset of an organization and implementing strategies that use digital technologies in all stages of business. The Simplilearn Digital Transformation Academy covers all aspects of people, process and technology to achieve competency in digital technologies including Design Thinking, Big Data, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing and DevOps, Programming and Automation, Digital Marketing and more. The Digital Transformation Academy is designed to be customizable across a wide variety of industries and for all employee and management levels and roles while delivering on Simplilearn's outcome-centric, high engagement learning approach.

"Simplilearn began with the goal of helping professionals' upskill, become future job-ready and bridge industry skill gaps," said Krishna Kumar, Founder and CEO of Simplilearn. "In the last few years, the digital talent shortage has widened, threatening to create a bottleneck for enterprises that are struggling to achieve their digital transformation objectives. Our Digital Transformation Academy promises to bring these organizations' people, processes and technology skills up to speed for a successful digital shift."

Simplilearn's Digital Transformation Academy offerings include:

Up-to-date, in-depth content developed by industry leaders - The learning content is designed and updated by world-class, subject matter experts and industry thought leaders.

Comprehensive, outcome-centric curriculum - Offering more than 130 courses in 9 categories specific to topics essential to digital transformation, the Academy's curriculum focuses on developing proficiency in immediately usable skills. Each course is supplemented with applied learning projects and real-world case studies, with hands-on practice via Simplilearn's CloudLab online development environment.

Flexible learning approach - Simplilearn is the first online training company that provides a global, anytime, anywhere approach to employee training. So people can learn in the way they want to learn, the courses combine self-paced online content and instructor-led live virtual classrooms, backed by 24/7 global teaching assistants to enable learners to quickly resolve questions.

Progress tracking and assessments - The learning management system (LMS) is intuitive and has built-in tools for enterprises to track the learning progress of employees, including reports and alerts that help ensure high course completions. All learning programs come with pre- and post-course assessments as well as independent certifications.

"The rapid pace of technological change has triggered businesses to embrace evolving digital technologies or risk becoming obsolete," said Anand Narayanan, Chief Product Officer at Simplilearn. "We look forward to embarking on our Digital Transformation Academy to support organizations with our advanced learning approach, to create better outcomes in achieving a digital savvy workforce."

Simplilearn has partnered with leading Global System Integrators, FMCG, Banking and Telecom companies to support their digital transformation journeys. With integrated learning programs across key technology and business domains, Simplilearn continues to be the preferred training company for individuals, working professionals, and higher institutions of higher education.

For more information on Simplilearn Digital Transformation Academy, visit: https://www.simplilearn.com/digital-transformation-training/.

About Simplilearn

Simplilearn enables professionals and enterprises to succeed in the fast-changing digital economy. The company provides outcome based online training across digital technologies and applications such as Big Data, Machine Learning, AI, Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, Digital Marketing and other emerging technologies. Based in San Francisco, CA, Raleigh, NC and Bangalore, India; Simplilearn has helped more than 500,000 professionals and 1000+ companies across 150+ countries get trained, acquire certifications and reach their business and career goals. The company's high-engagement curriculum blends self-paced online learning, instructor-led live virtual classrooms, hands-on projects, student collaboration, and 24/7 global teaching assistants. Simplilearn is recognized by Training Industry as a Top 20 IT Training Company for 2017. For more information, visit https://www.simplilearn.com/

Media Contacts:

Rushitha Samavedam

[email protected]

+91-9538207070

Simplilearn



SOURCE Simplilearn
ATLANTA, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Company and its Alabama Power and Georgia Power subsidiaries have officially announced Smart Neighborhood initiatives that will provide customers with state-of-the-art home construction, distributed energy resources  including solar and battery energy storage  and smart home appliances and technologies.

The first-of-a-kind Smart Neighborhoods  located in Atlanta and suburban Birmingham, Alabama  will benefit customers through improved reliability, increased use of distributed energy resources and lower costs. These communities have the potential to further enable the smart grid and help the Southern Company system better meet customers' evolving energy needs.

Both projects simulate what the future may hold for the energy industry, and provide Southern Company and its subsidiaries information on how homes of the future will function. That information will lead to new programs, products and services for customers.

"In the rapidly changing energy landscape, we are focused on meeting customers' current and future energy needs through cutting-edge research and technology," said Southern Company Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Kimberly S. Greene. "These collaborative research projects with Alabama Power, Georgia Power and our partners will deepen our understanding of how distributed energy resources interact with the electric grid and how emerging technologies improve customers' lives."

The Smart Neighborhood concept is the result of the Southern Company research and development team's deep collaboration with Alabama Power and Georgia Power, including a supporting partnership with the Southern Company Energy Innovation Center. The companies collaborated with U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Electric Power Research Institute on the initiatives, and have partnered with leading homebuilders for the construction and sale of the communities' homes.

The first Smart Neighborhood project was announced by Alabama Power and all 62 homes have been sold. Signature Homes is the community developer and is overseeing the construction and sale of the homes at the Reynolds Landing community at Ross Bridge in Hoover, Ala. Home construction is expected to be complete in the spring.

"The first homeowners have moved into our Smart Neighborhood and we are excited to provide those customers with advanced energy solutions that will influence services across our territory in the future," said John Hudson, Alabama Power's senior vice president of Marketing and Business Development. "Each home is a crystal ball for home-building and residential consumption. Along with our construction, technology and research partners, Alabama Power is among the leaders of energy innovation."

The Alabama project features the Southeast's first community-scale microgrid. It is comprised of solar panels, battery energy storage and a natural gas generator that supplements power from the existing electric grid.

Each home in the Smart Neighborhood is built with emerging energy-efficient building features, and equipped with leading-edge technology, including a high-efficiency heat pump, an intelligence home comfort system with an Infinity Touch thermostat, voice-activated security, smart locks, cameras, interconnected appliances, triple-pane windows, LED lighting and more. Read more about the Alabama Power Smart Neighborhood here.

Meanwhile, Georgia Power has partnered with PulteGroup to help develop the first Smart Neighborhood in Atlanta. The new homes will be located in Atlanta's Upper West Side, one of the city's most vibrant and popular areas. Altus at The Quarter will feature luxury townhomes with cutting-edge smart home technology.

"Building the future of energy in Georgia centers on our continued commitment to offer new, flexible products and services that meet the changing needs of our customers," said Paul Bowers, chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power. "This partnership with PulteGroup provides a unique opportunity for us to demonstrate how energy companies can collaborate with homebuilders and retail partners to better serve customers today while developing new opportunities for tomorrow."

Each technology-enhanced home in the Georgia Power Smart Neighborhood will be served by Georgia Power with power supplemented by individual rooftop solar installations and in-home battery energy storage. Homes also will be equipped with the latest energy technologies such as optimal insulation for maximum efficiency, advanced heating and cooling systems and LED lighting. They will feature home automation, including smart thermostats, smart locks and voice control.

Construction is underway with the grand opening scheduled for later this year.

Information and data collected from the distributed energy resources will provide researchers valuable operational experience as the company continues to evaluate microgrids along with residential battery storage and rooftop solar. Information from the HVAC systems, heat pump water heaters and other technologies will help inform new programs and services for customers. Read more about the Georgia Power Smart Neighborhood here.

Southern Company remains at the forefront of innovation to provide customers with clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy. The latest announcements represent another important milestone in the company's work to build the future of energy and extend Southern Company's historic focus on the research and development of emerging energy solutions.

About Southern Company

Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is America's premier energy company, with 46,000 megawatts of generating capacity and 1,500 billion cubic feet of combined natural gas consumption and throughput volume serving 9 million customers through its subsidiaries. The company provides clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy through electric operating companies in four states, natural gas distribution companies in seven states, a competitive generation company serving wholesale customers across America and a nationally recognized provider of customized energy solutions, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and affordable prices that are below the national average. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, Southern Company and its subsidiaries are inventing America's energy future by developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including carbon-free nuclear, 21st century coal, natural gas, renewables and energy efficiency, and creating new products and services for the benefit of customers. Southern Company has been named by the U.S. Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs magazine as a top military employer, recognized among the Top 50 Companies for Diversity by DiversityInc, listed by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the 40 Best Companies for Diversity and designated a Top Employer for Hispanics by Hispanic Network. The company has earned a National Award of Nuclear Science and History from the National Atomic Museum Foundation for its leadership and commitment to nuclear development and is continually ranked among the top energy companies in Fortune's annual World's Most Admired Electric and Gas Utility rankings. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.

SOURCE Southern Company

Related Links

http://www.southerncompany.com


TEL AVIV, Israel, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- SQream, developer of a GPU database that consistently provides fast access and analysis of extremely large and growing data stores at a fraction of the cost, continues to expand its global customer base, announcing today its newest deployment at ACL Mobile, India's leader in enterprise messaging services. SQream DB allows ACL's users to gain insight into their activities faster than before, increasing productivity, with simplified maintenance and lower costs.

SQream will demo its SQream DB GPU database at Mobile World Congress from February 26 to March 1 in Hall 5, Stand 5E41. To schedule a one-on-one demo with one of SQream's data architects at MWC, contact SQream here.

In advance of the MWC event, SQream will host a special Telecom briefing on Thursday February 22: "Three Telecom Operators Who Found Gold in Their Data." Register here.

ACL Mobile is a leading provider of multi-channel enterprise messaging solutions. ACL sends more than two billion messages per month across 200+ countries with 99.99% reliability and uptime. As the company grew, sending billions of transactional alerts, one time passwords, text messages and e-mails, the large amounts of self-service users meant increased data loads.

"We are very proud to help ACL Mobile facilitate 40,000 queries and hundreds of millions of rows of data ingested daily," said Ami Gal, CEO at SQream. "With SQream, ACL enables customers to deep-dive into data and analyze behavioral reports, while maintaining control over their customer-facing loyalty-building activity."

ACL Mobile is using SQream's GPU database for deep data analysis of their enterprise messaging operation, enabling highly sensitive, high-frequency reporting. SQream's GPU database enables ACL to maintain high levels of reliability and uptime while facilitating deep analysis of massive amounts of data for decision making.

"We aim to be future ready," said Ajit Singh, Senior Vice President of Engineering at ACL Mobile. "SQream DB has helped us reduce query time, creating value for our customers. SQream helps ACL maintain extremely high levels of reliability and uptime, enabling deep analysis of data for decision making."

ACL chose SQream DB to handle its increasing data load, with plenty of room to grow as its business boomed within the banking, e-commerce and social media sectors. The large variety of self-service BI tools and APIs make use of SQream DB's GPU database through a variety of interfaces including JDBC, PHP, ODBC, NodeJS, and .Net drivers.

To learn more about SQream DB, download the SQream DB white paper here.

About SQream Technologies

SQream Technologies develops and markets SQream DB, a GPU database designed to enable unparalleled business intelligence from massive data stores. Global enterprises use SQream DB to analyze more data than ever before, while achieving improved performance, reduced footprint, significant cost savings and the ability to scale the amount of data they analyze to hundreds of terabytes and more. SQream DB is available both on premise and on the cloud. To learn more, visit sqream.com or follow us on twitter @sqreamtech.

Press Contact:

Gina Shaffer

+1(707) 533-1504

+(972) 54-649-3485

[email protected]

David Leichner

+972-54-779-9888

[email protected]

SOURCE SQream Technologies

Related Links

http://sqream.com


COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Jane's Dough Foods, the frozen and refrigerated pizza manufacturing division of Donatos Pizza, announced today the promotion of Stan Jacot to president. In his new role, Jacot will be responsible for maximizing the company's operation performance as well as driving sales through innovation and increased brand exposure.

"Under Stan's leadership, Jane's Dough Foods has grown from a regional company to a portfolio of nationally distributed brands: a huge achievement for a company of our size," said Tom Krouse, CEO of Donatos Pizza. "We're thrilled to have him take on a larger role as we continue to grow in this highly competitive market."



As Executive Vice President and General Manager of Jane's Dough Foods, Jacot oversaw manufacturing operations, brand management, sales, distribution and new product development. Most notably, under his leadership, the Jane's Dough Food brand Sonoma Flatbreads has enjoyed an over threefold increase, creating the fastest-turning gluten-free SKU's in the frozen pizza industry.

"While expansion is a priority, we want to ensure we continue to deliver high-quality and consistent products to our customers across new and existing markets," Jacot said. "I'm thrilled and humbled to have the opportunity to lead Jane's Dough Foods into its next chapter of growth."

Prior to Jane's Dough Foods, Stan spent more than 20 years in senior-level general manager and brand management positions with blue chip companies including Kellogg's, Capital One, ConAgra Foods and Borden Dairy.

About Jane's Dough Foods

Named after Jane Grote Abell, Jane's Dough Foods was established in 2008 by the Donatos Pizza Company to mass-produce consistently excellent dough and pizza products. Having recognized that the pizza manufacturing industry was focused on speed first and quality second, the company instead built a culture to deliver better tasting products with quality as the primary concern. Jane's Dough Foods' bakery is certified for Gluten-Free production, and is partnering with retail supermarkets, membership clubs, convenience stores and foodservice outlets to grow their pizza categories through higher quality products.

SOURCE Jane's Dough Foods

Related Links

http://www.janesdoughfoods.com


TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- GuidedChoice, a leading independent provider of retirement plan advice and account management solutions, today announced it has been named by the State Board of Administration of Florida (SBA) as the Florida Retirement System's (FRS) Asset Guidance Provider, after careful evaluation by the SBA's selection committee and approval by the SBA's Executive Director. GuidedChoice will offer education and financial guidance to more than 650,000 FRS members effective April 2, 2018. This resource will provide members with the asset guidance necessary to optimize investments and improve their retirement readiness. It will be made available to both Pension Plan (defined benefit plan) and Investment Plan (defined contribution plan) members.

"GuidedChoice is honored to provide these critical services to FRS members," said Sherrie Grabot, founder and CEO of GuidedChoice. "Government plans can be complex, with multiple plan rules, diverse employers and employee segments as well as ongoing legislative and regulatory changes. With our depth of experience, GuidedChoice is fully equipped to service FRS members in a way that truly meets their needs."

GuidedChoice is an independent entity, not affiliated with any financial institution, and does not receive any commissions or hidden incentives. Its independence ensures participants always receive objective advice, completely focused on their best interests.

Through this partnership, GuidedChoice will scalably provide each individual with personalized financial guidance using a rigorous methodology, architected by Dr. Harry Markowitz. This methodology favors risk over reward, which has been shown to be what the majority of consumers prefer.

GuidedChoice's personalized advice creates a clear roadmap that projects each individual's retirement outcome, enabling participants to make more informed decisions to meet their individual goals. By emphasizing the participant experience, GuidedChoice provides clarity, simplicity and an actionable flow through an easy-to-use user interface enabling the participant to quickly implement the guidance.

Founded with the mission to enable everyone to achieve financial freedom, GuidedChoice services multiple government entities, non-profits, small businesses and Fortune 500 corporations.

Media Contact:

Tracy Julien

Phone: 888-675-4532 ext. 515

Email: [email protected]

About GuidedChoice

Established in 1999, GuidedChoice is an independent advisory firm solely focused on fiduciary digital retirement investment advice supporting advisors, plan sponsors and participants. GuidedChoice's proprietary rules engine enables full customization to plan design and lineup, while its digital investment algorithms personalize each participant's investments with no commissions nor conflicts of interest. For more information, please visit www.guidedchoice.com/business.

SOURCE GuidedChoice

Related Links

https://www.guidedchoice.com


ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Nestle today announced that Steve Presley, currently Chief Finance and Strategic Transformation Officer for Nestle USA, will succeed Paul Grimwood as Market Head and CEO of Nestle USA, effective April 1, 2018. Grimwood will transition from his current role and will continue to serve the business as Non-Executive Chairman of Nestle USA until May 2019.

Paul Grimwood Steve Presley

With $9.7 billion in 2017 sales, Nestle USA is the largest of eight U.S. operating companies as part of Nestle Group. It includes iconic brands such as Lean Cuisine, Nestle Toll House, DiGiorno pizza, Stouffer's and Nescafe across Baking and Global Foods, Beverage, Foods, and Ice Cream divisions.

Presley began his comprehensive career with Nestle more than 20 years ago as a controller for the beverage factory in Suffolk, Virginia. He held various roles within the Beverage Division, including Vice President of Finance and Vice President/General Manager of Premium Ready-to-Drink Beverages. In 2009, Presley was named President of Nestle Business Services and in 2013, he was appointed Chief Financial Officer for Nestle USA. In 2016, Presley's role was expanded to include leading Nestle USA's strategic transformation where he is currently responsible for developing, implementing and leading new and innovative strategies that ensure the long-term growth of the company. Presley's replacement as Nestle USA's CFO will be announced at a later date.

"Steve has played a critical role in driving the strategic transformation of Nestle USA alongside Paul," said Laurent Freixe, Nestle Executive Vice President and Head of Zone Americas. "His powerful combination of deep commercial and financial expertise provides continuity and makes him ideally suited to lead Nestle USA in the changing consumer marketplace. Steve's experience will prove invaluable in continuing to pursue new internal and external models to increase the speed of innovation, capitalize on M&A to seed our innovation machine, and create new income streams and capabilities."

Freixe added that he is thankful for Grimwood's enormous contributions to the business, which he led through a critical period in the company's history.

"Paul's dedication to Nestle and his exceptional leadership helped propel Nestle USA to record service levels, working capital and profitability in 2017," said Freixe. "He achieved this success while simultaneously orchestrating Nestle USA's strategic transformation which included the sale of our Confections business, moving our headquarters across the country, and leading acquisitions and investments in companies like Freshly, Sweet Earth and Chameleon Cold-Brew."

Grimwood has served as Chairman and CEO of Nestle USA since 2012 where he led a strategic transformation of the business, which included evolving its products to respond to changing consumer tastes and driving organizational change. He joined Nestle in 2001 as Country Business Manager for Nestle Purina PetCare UK & Ireland. In 2005, he served as Head of Operations for Zone Europe, and was appointed Market Head for the UK & Ireland in January 2009. As Non-Executive Chairman, Grimwood will continue to provide strategic counsel, with a particular focus on stakeholder relations. He also will play a key role in driving Nestle's Creating Shared Value agenda as well as engaging with government officials, industry leaders and NGOs.

About Nestle USA

Named among "The World's Most Admired Food Companies" in Fortune magazine for twenty consecutive years, Nestle USA is committed to enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future. By providing choices, from nutritious meals with Lean Cuisine to baking traditions with Nestle Toll House, Nestle USA makes delicious, convenient, and nutritious food and beverages that make good living possible. With 2017 sales of $9.7 billion, Nestle USA is part of Nestle S.A. in Vevey, Switzerland  the world's largest food company. For product news and information, visit Nestleusa.com or Facebook.com/NestleUSA

Media Contact:

Josh Morton

Nestle USA, Inc.

(818) 551-3997

[email protected]

SOURCE Nestle USA

Related Links

http://Nestleusa.com


CINCINNATI, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new study is believed to be the first to show a higher risk of dementia in adults who were born with heart disease.

The study of more than 10,000 adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) in Denmark discovered a particularly increased risk for early dementia in middle-age adults.

"We've learned that CHD is a lifelong condition," says Nicolas Madsen, MD, a pediatric cardiologist at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and senior author of the study. "Research shows that children born with heart problems are at a greater risk for one or more neurodevelopmental issues when compared to children without heart disease. We can now say that the risk for these types of problems continues well into adulthood."

The study is published online in Circulation, a journal of the American Heart Association.

Dr. Madsen and his colleagues at Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark studied 10,632 adults born between 1890 and 1982. The researchers used medical registries and a medical records review covering all Danish hospitals to identify adults with CHD diagnosed between 1963 and 2012.

The researchers found a 60 percent increased risk of dementia compared to the general population. The risk was 160 percent higher (2.6 times higher) when comparing those less than 65 years old.

Dr. Madsen says it is important to recognize that many of these adults were born during a time when medical and surgical interventions were more limited than they are today. Still, he says "we need to understand the healthcare needs and risk factors affecting the larger number of middle-age and older adults currently living with CHD."

CHD occurs in six to 10 of every 1,000 live births. Because these individuals are now living longer, the population of those with CHD is experiencing different neurodevelopmental issues than those previously described only in infants, children and young adults.

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (P50-AG047366), the Foundation of the Family Kjaersgaard Sunds, the Foundation of 1870, the Foundation of Raimond and Dagmar Ringgaard-Bohn, the Foundation of Torben and Alice Frimodt, the Foundation of the Family Hede-Nielsen, and the Oticon Foundation.

SOURCE Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Related Links

http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org


ABOUT 75 PEOPLE turned out in less-than-ideal weather Monday night for the community conversation sponsored by the Daily News, Calmwater Financial Group of Norfolk and Northeast Community College. The focus was on recruiting and retaining young professionals. Here, Jarad Dahlkoetter of the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce shared with the audience a handout that included ideas on the topic gleaned from two earlier small-group discussions.
AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Summit Hotel Properties, Inc. (NYSE: INN) (the "Company") today announced that its 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held Thursday, May 17, 2018, beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET. The meeting will be held at the Hyatt Place Scottsdale Old Town located at 7300 East Third Avenue, Scottsdale, Arizona 85251. The meeting is open to all shareholders of record as of March 21, 2018.

About Summit Hotel Properties

Summit Hotel Properties, Inc. is a publicly-traded real estate investment trust focused on owning premium-branded hotels with efficient operating models primarily in the upscale segment of the lodging industry. As of December 31, 2017, the Company's portfolio consisted of 83 hotels with a total of 12,242 guestrooms located in 26 states.

For additional information, please visit the Company's website, www.shpreit.com and follow the Company on Twitter at @SummitHotel_INN.

SOURCE Summit Hotel Properties, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.shpreit.com


NEW YORK, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- TARA Biosystems, Inc., a company offering physiologically relevant "heart-on-a-chip" tissue models for drug discovery and development applications, announced today that it has appointed pharmaceutical industry innovation leader, John M. Baldoni, Ph.D. to its Board of Directors.

TARA Biosystems offers bioanalytical testing services on its human stem cell-derived cardiac tissue platform. The company's Biowire II platform enables early cardiac risk assessment of drug discovery candidates and accelerates discovery efforts for novel heart medicines via its disease modeling and phenotypic screening capabilities. TARA continues to develop a proprietary analytics platform, leveraging data from internal development programs on its Biowire II tissue production platform.

"TARA Biosystems uniquely enables the production of large amounts of high fidelity human-relevant data," said Dr. Baldoni. "This provides foundational information for machine learning and next-generation computational approaches that are fundamentally shifting the way drug development is done today."

Dr. Baldoni has over 37 years of experience in implementing cutting-edge technology to improving the development of new medicines. He is currently Senior Vice President of In silico Drug Discovery, at GSK, which uses computational methods to identify patient needs, explore molecular interventions to address those needs, and design clinical trials to test the medical hypothesis. The intent is to discover medicines at a higher velocity and with greater precision compared to current approaches. Dr. Baldoni is also a founder and governing board co-chairperson of Accelerating Therapeutics for Opportunities in Medicine (ATOM), which is championing a framework for pioneering applications of deep learning for drug research. ATOM aims to develop computing models that will guide researchers based on a computer's ability to quickly vet millions of molecules for efficacy and structural relationships and that will adapt as they are applied to new data. Dr. Baldoni was previously Senior Vice President, Platform Technology, and Science, at GSK. In that role, he worked across the entire drug discovery and development process.

"TARA's objective is to greatly improve the drug discovery and development process by providing human in vitro models," said Misti Ushio, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of TARA. "Dr. Baldoni brings to TARA a visionary perspective on how engineered human cardiac tissue data can be applied to predictive risk assessment and the acceleration of drug discovery."

About TARA Biosystems

TARA Biosystems, Inc. provides predictive, in vitro human cardiac tissue models for use in drug discovery and risk assessment. TARA Biosystems offers a high fidelity solution that is based on human iPS cell-derived cardiac tissue matured to physiologically relevant adult-like levels and provides direct measures of cardiac functionality, including contractile force. The TARA platform allows pharma to access human cardiac information on therapeutics candidates earlier in the drug development cycle.

Press Contact:

Kirsten Thomas

The Ruth Group

508-280-6592

[email protected]

SOURCE TARA Biosystems, Inc.
ANNVILLE, Pa., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Individuals filing their 2017 Pennsylvania personal income taxes can help Pennsylvania's military personnel and their families by donating part or all of their refund to the state's Military Family Relief Assistance Program.

The program, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), provides grants of up to $3,500 to Pennsylvania members of the armed forces and their families who have a direct and immediate financial need as a result of circumstances beyond their control. The tax form includes instructions on how to donate.



"Pennsylvanians have a history of generous support for our men and women in uniform through programs like the Military Family Relief Assistance Program," said Maj. Gen. Tony Carrelli, Pennsylvania's adjutant general and head of the DMVA. "While it is a simple check-off on a tax form, that gracious gesture goes a long way toward helping a military family get through unfortunate times."

Examples of how the grants helped service members in 2016-17 include:

A service member's home was destroyed by fire and the family lost everything. A grant for $3,500.00 was awarded.





was awarded. A service member was unable to find employment after returning from being deployed and with five children to provide for, the family fell behind on household bills. The service member was eventually able to locate employment, but the family needed to catch up on bills to get back on track financially. A grant for $3,500.00 was awarded.





was awarded. A service member's home furnace was beyond repair and assistance was needed to immediately restore heat to the home. A grant for $3,500.00 was awarded.

Since the program began in 2006, more than $1.78 million has been donated by individuals filing their Pennsylvania personal income tax returns and through private donations.



"If qualifying service members and their families are facing financial challenges, they should apply for assistance through the Military Family Relief Assistance Program," said Carrelli. "Help is available and the DMVA is here to assist you with your military/veteran needs."

Members of the armed forces who are residents of Pennsylvania are eligible to apply for assistance while they are serving on active duty for 30 or more consecutive days with the Army, Army Reserve, Navy, Navy Reserve, Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps, Marine Corps Reserve, Coast Guard, Coast Guard Reserve, or the Pennsylvania Army or Air National Guard.

All members of the armed forces who were discharged for medical reasons are also eligible to apply for assistance for up to four years after a medical discharge.

In addition, reserve component service members (including Pennsylvania National Guard members) and their families may be eligible for a grant for a period of up to three years after release from a qualifying active duty tour.

The program also applies to certain family members of eligible service members who are Pennsylvania residents. Applicants must show that they have a direct and immediate financial need as a result of circumstances beyond their control.

In addition to the check-off box on the Personal Income Tax form, contributions can be made directly by sending a check to the Military Family Relief Assistance Program, c/o Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Bldg. 0-47 Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA 17003.

Donations are tax deductible to the extent authorized by federal law.

To learn more about this program, visit www.mfrap.pa.gov.

MEDIA CONTACT: Joan Z. Nissley, 717-861-8720



SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

Related Links

http://www.dmva.state.pa.us


GLENVIEW, Ill., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Teletrac Navman, a global software-as-a-service provider that leverages location-based technology for GPS tracking solutions, in partnership with its subsidiary, Fleet Management Solutions (FMS), announced today that the DIRECTOR product platform has achieved FedRAMP Ready status from the Federal Risk and Authorization Program (FedRAMP). Additionally, it has been prioritized to receive a Provisional Authority to Operate (P-ATO) from the Joint Authorization Board (JAB). DIRECTOR was one of five products chosen, out of several business cases submitted, to be sponsored by the JAB, FedRAMP's primary decision-making body.

FedRAMP is a U.S. government-wide risk management program that provides a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization and continuous monitoring for cloud products and services among federal agencies. To date, DIRECTOR is the only GPS fleet management solution to be selected for a JAB P-ATO, which applies to non-classified technology systems under the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA).

Following an initial round of rigorous technical reviews, DIRECTOR achieved FedRAMP moderate certification and security assessment by CIOs of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), General Services Administration (GSA) and Department of Defense (DOD)all of whom comprise the JAB. Once a FedRAMP-authorized product, DIRECTOR will be certified as a highly secure third-party cloud solution and, therefore, eligible for procurement by all federal agencies.

"In today's cybersecurity climate, where a single data breach can prove catastrophic, we recognize that the protection of government information and critical infrastructure is beyond imperative. By participating in the FedRAMP program, Teletrac Navman underscores its commitment to maintaining our federal customers' security posture," said Daren Lauda, general manager of Teletrac Navman, North America. "Additionally, our private-sector customers can remain confident in the protection of their most sensitive business data with DIRECTOR's government-grade security standards."

Launched in 2016, DIRECTOR is a GPS fleet management platform used by businesses in a variety of industries to track assets and collect valuable business insights for enhanced productivity and safety. The technology currently tracks more than 500,000 vehicles, owned by over 40,000 organizations, across six continents.

DIRECTOR can be found in the GSA's catalog under Fleet Management Solutions, Inc., in schedule 84 with the contract number GS-07F-0530W.

To learn more about the DIRECTOR solution, which meets the requirements of Executive Order 13693, visit https://www.teletracnavman.com/our-solutions/fleet-management-software.

About Teletrac Navman

Teletrac Navman is a leading software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider leveraging location-based technology and services for managing mobile assets. With specialized solutions that deliver greater visibility into real-time insights and analytics, Teletrac Navman helps companies make better business decisions that enhance productivity and profitability. Its fleet and asset management technology uncovers information that would otherwise go unseen, helping customers reduce risk and confidently move their business forward with certainty. It tracks and manages more than 500,000 vehicles and assets for more than 40,000 companies around the world. The company is headquartered in Glenview, IL, with additional offices in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico. For more information, visit TeletracNavman.com.

SOURCE Teletrac Navman

Related Links

http://www.teletracnavman.com


NEW YORK, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Ezer Mizion, Israel's largest non-profit organization providing health support services in Israel and The Jewish Bone Marrow Registry around the world, announced that it will be featured by The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) for its growing efforts and contributions in Israel, the United States and around the world with a special emphasis on its global bone marrow registry. At this year's conference, Ezer Mizion will be unveiling its new #SharedLife campaign through which the organization plans to raise awareness of its bone marrow initiative.

Established in 1979, Ezer Mizion began as a non-profit in Israel. It was founded by Chananya Chollak who was inspired from his experience with local medical care units and hospitals following his father-in-law's sudden illness. In addition to his family's experience, Mr. Chollak took notice of the toll that illnesses were having both emotionally and financially on other Jewish families and it was that empathy upon which the foundation of Ezer Mizion was built. Today, the organization reaches more than 670,000 individuals from Israel and around the world.

In 1998, Dr. Bracha and Moti Zisser founded the Ezer Mizion's Bone Marrow Registry. What originally began as a registry in Israel has today expanded to be the largest Jewish Bone Marrow Registry around the world. It has 885,264 registrants (including 470,038 IDF recruits), has successfully matched nearly 12,000 patients, and has facilitated nearly 3,000 transplants.

A key differentiator for Ezer Mizion is its exclusive partnership with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The partnership was initiated and facilitated by Motti and Dr. Bracha Zisser. The agreement was signed in 2005. The IDF obtains swab samples from incoming soldiers for the Ezer Mizion Bone Marrow Registry. Statistics show that bone marrow donations from younger individuals (beginning at age 18) have a higher rate of success for the matched recipients. The partnership with IDF grants Ezer Mizion access to a sampling pool which includes young candidates from various ethnic backgrounds. Each recruitment cycle allows the organization to receive a fresh, diverse set of new registrants.

With the launch of the #SharedLife campaign, Ezer Mizion plans to educate the public about the importance of bone marrow registration and the advancements in the process including how a simple cheek swab is all it takes to join the registry.

"We are truly honored to be invited as a featured guest at this year's AIPAC Annual Policy Conference," said Dr. Bracha Zisser, Director of the Bone Marrow Registry at Ezer Mizion. "It is an inspiring experience to be surrounded by so many like-minded individuals and groups coming together in support of the State-of-Israel and the Jewish people. Our goal as an organization is to relieve pain, save lives, and utilize this opportunity to raise awareness of the Bone Marrow Registry."

To celebrate its presence and recognition at the event, Ezer Mizion will be hosting a booth at AIPAC's Annual Policy Conference located in "The Village." The exhibition is designed by Berenbaum Jacob Associates, inspired by the concept of portraying Jewish Genetics-DNA and showcasing the impact of the donors on the bone marrow recipients. The designers are known for combining unique and moving stories with deep, thought-provoking messages.

Here, Ezer Mizion will be unveiling the #Shared Life campaign, which was developed by Eff Creative Group of Times Square, NYC, an Inc. 500 company known for their award-winning social media movements, creative messaging, custom digital platforms and strategic marketing campaigns.

Ezer Mizion's Executive Team will be hosting an exclusive 'Meet and Greet,' by invitation, with honorable guests Naftali Bennett, Israel Minister of Education and Diaspora Affairs and Ayelet Shaked, Israel Minister of Justice.

To learn more about the upcoming AIPAC Annual Policy Conference, please visit: www.AIPAC.org.

To learn more about Ezer Mizion, to donate, or to register as a donor, please visit: www.SharedLife.EzerMizion.org.

ABOUT EZER MIZION

Established in 1979 by Mr. Chananya Chollak, Ezer Mizion is one of the largest non-profit organizations in Israel providing medical and social support services. The organization provides a diverse range of services to positively impact the lives of the sick, disabled, elderly, and underprivileged. The organization benefits more than 670,000 people annually, has more than 25,000 volunteers to support its initiatives, and an annual budget of $100 million. One of the organization's major initiatives, which was launched in 1998, is Bone Marrow Donor Registry. To date, this registry includes 885,264 active registrants, more than half of which are IDF recruits. Since its inception, nearly 12,000 positive matches have been established and nearly 3,000 transplants facilitated. To learn more about the organization, to donate, or to register as a donor, please visit: www.EzerMizion.org.

SOURCE Ezer Mizion

Related Links

http://www.EzerMizion.org


The first major contribution of professors Bresnahan, Pakes and Porter was to undertake empirical studies of market power in modern markets, using methods that lent themselves to the rigorous testing of hypotheses. "We have been very concerned," Bresnahan explained after hearing of the award, "that declines in the degree of competition in many markets in the rich countries have led to an increase in market power," with the result that "technical progress, which should serve to lower prices for consumers, has instead been captured by sellers."

The jury refers to Bresnahan's work as having laid the foundations for the "new empirical industrial organization." The Stanford professor himself offers some background to the story: "We sought to take the ideas, models and principles of game theory and put them into empirical models which could be studied in real markets. And that has led to a large, successful field in economics, with robust methods for studying the existence, quantitative importance and outcomes of market power."

"Rob Porter and I were office mates at graduate school," he continues, "so we were both there at the foundation. He has worked a great deal on models of imperfect information while I have worked on models of imperfect competition."

Robert Porter, in the words of the citation, "has made several important theoretical and empirical contributions to the study of collusion, especially in the context of auctions." Porter, in effect, has studied ways to detect and prevent collusive practices; agreements between two or more parties to elude competition by conspiring, for instance, to raise consumer prices, to lower the prices paid to suppliers or to block the entry of new competitors. A typical case would see him start by adapting the economic theory to the institutional context of the auction. He would then work out the empirical predictions deriving from the theory on the basis of the available data and come up with an ad hoc econometric strategy to empirically test them. All this applying a forensic attention to detail at each step in the process.

For Ariel Pakes, the main achievement of the three economists' work is that "the existing literature was mostly theory, based on a lot of assumptions, and it was difficult to tell which were relevant and where. What we did was develop the empirical tools to figure out the appropriate assumptions, and then do the analysis. An example would be, 'what are the likely impacts of a merger or of a tariff change?' The models we developed are able to predict these counterfactuals."

Pakes has developed econometric models and methods for studying demand and productive efficiency. His models to estimate demand and substitution patterns in differentiated product markets have enjoyed a wide take-up in both academia and in regulatory and professional analyses of antitrust questions. Further, his productivity estimation methods have become a standard tool in the empirical study of industrial output. Much of his work has focused on market dynamics: the process whereby agents in a specific industry or market progress from a starting point in which they are comfortable with their strategies through a period of substantial changes in market characteristics to an end point at which a notional order is restored. According to Jose Garcia Montalvo, Professor of Economics at Pompeu Fabra University and nominator of the three new laureates, in Pakes' analysis "everything is endogenous, everything is linked to everything else. When a firm takes some action  for instance, cutting its prices  other firms respond according to factors like demand and costs, and this, in turn, provokes a reaction from competitors. What we have, in essence, is a chain of action and reaction that will gradually return the market to conditions of equilibrium."

The complexity and sophistication of Pakes' analysis requires the use of powerful computational models that can plot all possible reactions of all competitors, and all the reactions to their reactions.

Applications across multiple fields of economics

The jury points out that the models developed by Bresnahan, Pakes and Porter are used by antitrust authorities in many parts of the world, including the United States and the European Union, since the tools they designed provide insights into market functioning and can determine where agent transactions might distort competition. "I think my favorite example," Bresnahan explains, "is my empirical studies on the beer industry. Jonathan Baker and I wrote about the beer industry a long time ago, and our work has come to underlie methodologically almost all the merger reviews carried out by antitrust agencies, because we figured out how to forecast the anti-competitive effects of a merger." After many years examining the competition status of another industry, information and communication technologies, Bresnahan took up an appointment with the U.S. Department of Justice. "In fact," he explains, "my colleagues and I continue to advise governments on the very serious problem of how to deal with large, successful IT companies that may be creating a situation of market dominance."

Bresnahan, Pakes and Porter's methods, the citation continues, "have had applications in other areas of economics, including macroeconomics, international trade and health and environmental economics, where credible estimation of demand, productivity and firm behavior is a prerequisite for evidence-based policies regarding antitrust, regulation, trade and other forms of market liberalizations."

In the healthcare area, Pakes recalls a case where "we studied the allocation of patients to hospitals. There are two ways of doing this in the U.S. One is fee-per-service, where the doctor and hospital get a fee for each service provided. And then there is "capitation", where the medical group gets a set amount for each patient, and if they don't spend it all can save some of what's left. So the big question was: Would this cause hospitals to skimp on quality of patient care? What we found is that "capitated" doctors do send patients to cheaper hospitals but without sacrificing quality. They send them to less convenient hospitals of equal quality, maybe further out of the city where they live."

Another major application concerned the liberalization of the U.S. telecommunications market: "In the re-analysis of the break-up of the American telephone company AT&T, which had been a regulated industry and a monopoly," Ariel Pakes explains, "the question was what were the impacts of deregulation. And we were able to show that the impact of regulation  the sector's pre-liberalized state  had been a misallocation of capital. That is, capital was not finding its way to the most productive places. When deregulation happened, capital was reallocated optimally and productivity increased. This case became a template for the analysis of other regulated industries."

All three laureates are currently working to translate these models to today's markets: "It is essential," Timothy Bresnahan stresses, "that we understand new industries (finance and high tech particularly) well enough to deploy effective competition policies. That is the biggest challenge facing the field." For Pakes, meantime, "there are a lot of very good young people in the field, and specialists in areas like health, environment and development economics are starting to send their students to industrial organization so they can access these tools and use them in their own fields."

Bio notes

Timothy Bresnahan (United States, 1953) graduated from Haverford College (United States), and in 1978 earned a PhD from Princeton University.

In 1989, he joined the Center on Employment and Economic Growth at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR), which he now heads. From 1999 to 2000 he served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General and Chief Economist in the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. He currently combines his directorship of SIEPR with the post of Landau Professor in Technology and the Economy at Stanford University.

He is a Fellow of the Econometric Society and, since 1990, a member of the Steering Committee of the Industrial Organization Program of the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Ariel Pakes (Edmonton, Canada, 1949) graduated from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem then went on to obtain a PhD from Harvard University in 1979.

He has held positions at a number of universities. In 1988 he was appointed Professor of Economics at Yale University where he later served as Charles and Dorothea Dilley Professor of Economics from 1997 to 1999. In this last year, he joined the Department of Economics at Harvard University where he is currently Thomas Professor of Economics.

His numerous distinctions include the Frisch Medal of the Econometric Society, which elected him a Fellow in 1988, and the Jean-Jacques Laffont Prize from the University of Toulouse. He is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a Distinguished Fellow of the Industrial Organization Society.

Robert Porter (London, Canada, 1955) graduated from the University of Western Ontario (Canada), before completing a PhD at Princeton University in 1981.

He has held visiting appointments at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of California, Berkeley and Yale University, among other institutions. Since 1993, he has held the post of William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor at Northwestern University.

He is a Fellow of the Econometric Society and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and in 2009 was named a Distinguished Fellow of the Industrial Organization Society. He is a former coeditor of Econometrica, the RAND Journal of Economics, the American Economic Journal: Microeconomics and the Handbook of Industrial Organization.

Economics, Finance and Management jury and technical committee

The jury in this category was chaired by Eric S. Maskin, Nobel Laureate in Economics and Adams University Professor at Harvard University (United States), with Manuel Arellano, Professor of Economics in the Center for Monetary and Financial Studies (CEMFI) of Banco de Espana acting as secretary. Remaining members were Pinelopi Goldberg, Elihu Professor of Economics at Yale University (United States); Andreu Mas-Colell, Emeritus Professor of Economics at Pompeu Fabra University (Spain); Lucrezia Reichlin, Professor of Economics at the London Business School (United Kingdom); Jean Tirole, Nobel Laureate in Economics and Chairman of Fondation Jean-Jacques Laffont-Toulouse School of Economics (France); and Fabrizio Zilibotti, Tuntex Professor of International and Development Economics at Yale University (United States).

The Technical Committee of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) was coordinated by Maria Victoria Moreno, Deputy Vice President for Scientific and Technical Areas, and formed by: Jose Antonio Berenguer, Coordinator of the CSIC Humanities and Social Sciences Area and scientific researcher at the Institute of Languages and Cultures of the Mediterranean and the Near East (ILC); Matthew Ellman, a tenured researcher at the Institute of Economic Analysis (IAE); Adela Garcia, a tenured researcher at the Institute of Innovation and Knowledge Management (INGENIO); Catalina Martinez, a tenured researcher at the Institute of Public Goods and Policies (IPP); and Francisco Javier Sanz, a tenured researcher at the Institute of Economics, Geography and Demography (IEGD).

Previous awardee in this category

The award in last year's edition went to Turkish economist Daron Acemoglu for helping to elucidate the determinants of long-term economic development, with particular emphasis on the important role played by institutions.

About the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awards

The promotion of knowledge based on research and artistic and cultural creation, and the interaction of these domains, forms a core strand of the BBVA Foundation's action program, along with the recognition of talent and excellence across a broad spectrum of disciplines, from science to the arts and humanities.

In line with these objectives, the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awards were established in 2008 to recognize outstanding contributions in a range of scientific, technological and artistic areas, together with knowledge-based responses to the central challenges of our times. The areas covered by the Frontiers Awards are congruent with the knowledge map of the 21st century, in terms of the disciplines they address and their assertion of the value of cross-disciplinary interaction.

The BBVA Foundation is aided in the evaluation process by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), the country's premier public research organization. As well as designating each jury chair, the CSIC is responsible for appointing the technical evaluation committees that undertake an initial assessment of candidates put forward by numerous institutions across the world and draw up a reasoned shortlist for the consideration of the juries.

Calendar of upcoming award announcements

Development Cooperation Tuesday, February 27, 2018

LAUREATE'S FIRST DECLARATIONS AND IMAGES A video recording of the new laureate's first interview on receiving news of the award is available from the Atlas FTP with the following coordinates: Server: 5.40.40.61 Username: AgenciaAtlas4 Password: mediaset17 The name of the video is: "PREMIO ECONOMIA" In the event of connection difficulties, please contact Miguel Gil at production company Atlas: Mobile: +34 619 30 87 74 E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE BBVA Foundation

Related Links

https://www.fbbva.es


MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Widely recognized as one of America's favorite gourmet gatherings, the Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF) is pleased to announce its 2019 Tribute Dinner honorees, chef and restaurateur Nancy Silverton and chief executive officer of Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery Rhonda Carano. While headed into its 17th year this weekend, the Festival continues to look ahead and take steps toward its continued commitment to EAT. DRINK. EDUCATE. with the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University (FIU), and celebrate the world's most renowned chefs, winemakers, spirits producers, and culinary personalities.

Aerial view of the Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village featuring Mastercard Grand Tasting Tents & KitchenAid Culinary Demonstrations, a signature event taking place on Miami Beach during the annual Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival.

"We are excited to announce Nancy Silverton and Rhonda Carano as our 2019 honorees," noted Festival founder and director Lee Brian Schrager, who also serves as senior vice president, communications and corporate social responsibility for Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits. "As outstanding representatives of an industry where so many innovators are women, we are pleased to take this opportunity to not only recognize Nancy and Rhonda, but to draw attention to all of the female chefs and winemakers who are making a mark in hospitality."

Silverton is the co-owner of Pizzeria and Osteria Mozza in Los Angeles, Newport Beach and Singapore, as well as Mozza2Go and Chi Spacca in Los Angeles. Silverton is the author of nine cookbooks, and a multi-time James Beard Award-winning chef, including accolades for "Outstanding Chef", "Pastry Chef of the Year" and "Who's Who of Cooking." In addition, she has been named one of FOOD & WINE's "Best New Chefs" and has been names one of the "Most Innovative Women in Food and Drink" by Fortune.

Rhonda is the chief executive officer of Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery. She oversees the management and implementation of marketing and advertising strategies, brand identity, packaging and collateral concepts, as well as the coordination of hospitality and special events. Her responsibilities extend to the other California properties the Caranos' own, including Vintners Inn and Spa in Santa Rosa, California, the highly regarded Sonoma County restaurant, John Ash & Co., as well as The Front Room Bar & Lounge. The Caranos' also own a retail and wine tasting business in downtown Healdsburg, Seasons of the Vineyard Tasting Bar & Boutique, as well as a quaint, small winery in Anderson Valley, Lazy Creek Vineyards, known for its outstanding Pinot Noirs.

"What Nancy and Rhonda have accomplished in their careers serves as inspiration to all students at the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at FIU  the Festival's beneficiary," added Schrager. "They are fitting role models for the future leaders of the hospitality industry."

The 18th annual Tribute Dinner will take place on Saturday, February 23, 2019 at the Festival's host Loews Miami Beach Hotel. All proceeds from the Festival benefit the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University, for which the Festival has raised more than $26 million to date to support the education of the future leaders of the hospitality industry.

EAT. DRINK. EDUCATE. Select tickets to this year's Festival, taking place February 21  25, 2018, are available online at sobewff.org or by calling 877.762.3933 (phone sales open Monday  Friday, 9:00 AM  5:00 PM EST).

Between SOBEWFF and its sister NYCWFF, which takes place each October in New York City, more than $37 million has been raised to benefit the respective charities for each Festival. Beyond the funds raised, both Festivals draw attention to the vibrant dining culture in their respective cities, provide economic stimulus in their communities, and serve as an invaluable platform to drive awareness, engaging and inspiring people to get involved in philanthropic activities.

About the Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival

EAT. DRINK. EDUCATE. All proceeds from the Festival benefit the students of the Florida International University Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management who also assist Festival organizers with sponsorship fulfillment, restaurant and exhibitor recruitment, logistics, and inventory as well as working alongside some of the world's greatest celebrity chefs and winemakers. To date, the Festival has raised more than $26 million for the School. In September 2017, BizBash named the Festival the #1 Food & Restaurant Industry event in the United States for the fifth year in a row.

The Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival is produced by Florida International University and Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, with the support of the Miami Beach Visitors & Convention Authority and the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs. For more information about the Festival, visit sobewff.org or call 877-762-3933. For more information about Florida International University visit fiu.edu, for the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management visit hospitality.fiu.edu and for more information about Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits visit southernglazers.com.

National Media: Florida/Hispanic Media: The Door Brustman Carrino Public Relations (646) 340-1760 (305) 573-0658 Adeline Benge ([email protected]) Larry Carrino ([email protected])

Andrea Moreno ([email protected])

SOURCE Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival

Related Links

http://sobewff.org/


PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- As the Marfan syndrome and related disorders community celebrates Marfan Awareness Month, The Marfan Foundation has announced its honorees for its 2018 HeartWorks gala. Hero with Heart Awards will be bestowed upon Dr. Reed Pyeritz, William Smilow Professor in the Division of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and Gil Bashe, Managing Partner, Global Health for Finn Partners. Ann Reinking, the Tony Award-winning actor, dancer, and choreographer, will be honored with the Inspiration of Excellence Award.

The HeartWorks gala will be held on May 22, 2018, at the new Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City. Since its inception in 2000, HeartWorks, The Marfan Foundation's signature event, has raised more than $13 million for life-saving and life-enhancing programs and services for the 200,000 people in the U.S. living with Marfan syndrome and related disorders.

Reinking, whose 27-year-old son, Chris, has Marfan syndrome, is a long-time advocate and supporter of the Foundation and its programs, especially those related to parents of affected children. Her award-winning documentary In My Hands, which features teenagers with Marfan, received great accolades from film festivals nationwide. And, her webinar series, The Marfan Question, has provided a lifeline to parents facing the unknown after their child was diagnosed. Reinking has also been a valuable supporter of Marfan research and has served as artistic chair of HeartWorks since 2003.

"Ann Reinking inspires excellence in the Marfan and related disorders community year after year despite the many medical challenges she faces with her son. She continually reaches out to help the Foundation and the many other families who are on the same journey that she is," said Karen Murray, Chair of the Foundation's Board of Directors and CEO of Sequential Brands Group, who serves as corporate host of HeartWorks.

Dr. Pyeritz, a medical geneticist, is one of the founders of The Marfan Foundation and has served on the Foundation's Professional Advisory Board since its inception. He has been instrumental in many interdisciplinary studies on the clinical, scientific, and ethical considerations of Marfan syndrome and related disorders.

"For his entire 40+ year career, Dr. Pyeritz has been a champion for individuals and families with Marfan and related disorders, and has been a driving force in the Foundation since he helped to found it. His contributions to the care of patients, advancement of science, and public awareness are immeasurable," said Josephine Grima, PhD, Chief Science Officer for the Foundation.

Gil Bashe, Managing Partner, Global Health, Finn Partners, has had an extensive career that spans patient, physician, provider, payer, and policy sectors. At the center of Gil's life and work is the belief that communication influences quality patient care. He was selected recently by Medical Marketing & Media and PR Week as a Health Influencer 50  among the most influential people in the U.S. health system. PR News named him among the "Top Crisis Communicators" and inducted Gil into its Hall of Fame. Gil, a long-time supporter of The Marfan Foundation, is a 26-year volunteer with the American Heart Association, past chair of AHA New York City, and immediate-past chair of its Founder's Affiliate.

"We are honored to present Gil with a Hero with Heart Award for his dedication to heart health, including conditions like Marfan syndrome, which, without prompt diagnosis, cut lives short. He is an advocate for ensuring patients and their families have access to information and health and supporter of our organization," said Michael Weamer, President and CEO, The Marfan Foundation.

For information on purchasing tables, individual tickets, and sponsorships, please contact Deborah Goodman at [email protected] or 516-883-8712, ext. 154.

Marfan Syndrome and The Marfan Foundation

Marfan syndrome is a life-threatening genetic disorder of the body's connective tissue. It affects the heart and blood vessels, the bones and the eyes. Knowing the signs is the key to early and accurate diagnosis and life-saving treatment.

The Marfan Foundation creates a brighter future for everyone affected by Marfan syndrome and related disorders. It works tirelessly to advance research, serve as a resource for families and healthcare providers, and raise public awareness.

Learn more and get involved at www.marfan.org.

SOURCE The Marfan Foundation

Related Links

http://www.marfan.org


Black joins other Forbes Real Estate Council members, who are hand-selected, to become part of a curated network of successful peers and get access to a variety of exclusive benefits and resources, including the opportunity to submit thought leadership articles and short tips on industry-related topics for publishing on Forbes.com.

Forbes Councils combines an innovative, high-touch approach to community management perfected by the team behind Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) with the extensive resources and global reach of Forbes. As a result, Forbes Council members get access to the people, benefits and expertise they need to grow their businesses  and a dedicated member concierge who acts as an extension of their own team, providing personalized one-on-one support.

"I'm thrilled to be included in this distinguished group," says Black. "I look forward to learning from its members and sharing the knowledge and experience I've acquired through my real estate journey in hopes of helping others achieve financial success."

Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, says, "We are honored to welcome Dr. Black into the community. Our mission with Forbes Councils is to curate successful professionals from every industry, creating a vetted, social capital-driven network that helps every member make an even greater impact on the business world."

ABOUT NAPALI CAPITAL

Napali Capital, LLC, is a private investment firm based in Southlake, Texas, specializing in multifamily real estate investments. The company strategically invests in select properties throughout the U.S. as part of its investment platform that generates sustainable passive income for its accredited investors. Napali Capital currently owns nearly $70 million in multifamily real estate in Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia and Wisconsin. For more information about Napali Capital, visit www.napalicap.com.

About Forbes Councils

Forbes partnered with the founders of Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) to launch Forbes Councils, invitation-only communities for world-class business professionals in a variety of industries. Members, who are hand-selected by each Council's community team, receive personalized introductions to each other based on their specific needs and gain access to a wide range of business benefits and services, including best-in-class concierge teams, personalized connections, peer-to-peer learning, a business services marketplace, and the opportunity to share thought leadership content on Forbes.com. For more information about Forbes Real Estate Council, visit forbesrealestatecouncil.com. To learn more about Forbes Councils, visit forbescouncils.com.

MEDIA CONTACT

Caroline Bouldin

214-676-0562

[email protected]

SOURCE Napali Capital, LLC

Related Links

http://forbesrealestatecouncil.com


TORONTO, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Jim Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Thomson Reuters (TSX/NYSE: TRI) remains under observation in a Toronto hospital following what has been diagnosed as an arrhythmia incident on Monday, February 12.

Mr. Smith's condition is stable and doctors expect a full recovery. It is expected that Mr. Smith will be released from the hospital within the next two weeks, followed by a period of further recovery.

In his immediate absence, Stephane Bello, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Thomson Reuters, continues to oversee Mr. Smith's responsibilities alongside his own, in line with the company's practice.

Thomson Reuters

Thomson Reuters is the world's leading source of news and information for professional markets. Our customers rely on us to deliver the intelligence, technology and expertise they need to find trusted answers. The business has operated in more than 100 countries for more than 100 years. Thomson Reuters shares are listed on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges (symbol: TRI). For more information, visit www.thomsonreuters.com.

CONTACTS MEDIA David Crundwell Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs +1 416 649 9904 [email protected] INVESTORS Frank J. Golden Senior Vice President, Investor Relations +1 646 223 5288 [email protected]

SOURCE Thomson Reuters

Related Links

http://www.thomson.com


Israeli Delek Drilling company announced that it signed a $15 billion agreement to export gas to Egypt, a deal described as most significant since 1979.

The agreement reflects the deepening strategic ties between the two countries as well as Cairos ambitions to become a regional energy hub.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the agreement as historic.

Netanyahu said the deal would strengthen [Israels] security, our economy, and also strengthen our regional relationships.

Egypt already has extensive gas liquefaction facilities on the Mediterranean  used to create more easily exportable liquefied natural gas  which have stood largely idle since the countrys 2011 revolution led to a fall in its gas production.

Imports from Israel will help meet Egypts voracious appetite for gas, which is used to generate 70 per cent of domestic electricity supplies.
The startling testimony came during a hearing last Thursday (2/15), conducted by U.S. Federal District Court Judge Carol Bagley Amon, to determine whether she should grant Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's request for a preliminary injunction prohibiting pro-life sidewalk counselors from coming within sixteen feet of the Choices premises. The hearing before Judge Amon continues tomorrow (2/21), and is expected to last several more weeks.

During last Thursday's cross-examination by Brooks, the witness admitted creating the Facebook page under the fake name of Shelly Walker. The witness described her elaborate scheme to entrap the unwary pro-life counselors named in the Attorney General's lawsuit. She went to great lengths to invent an entirely fictitious identity; using someone else's photo she had found on the internet, listing her occupation as a bank teller and stating she was from Saginaw, Michigan, even posting weather reports from Saginaw, as if she were there.

Moreover, in order to make her Facebook personality of Shelly Walker appear legitimate, she sent out hundreds of friend requests, friending hundreds of pro-lifers throughout the country. She purposely searched out pro-life and conservative groups and even claimed to be a supporter of Ted Cruz and Father Frank Pavone, an ardent pro-life Catholic priest. She fabricated an emotional personal story of being talked into an abortion by her husband, who she later divorced (none of it true).

In real life, she's a Choices escort leader who is strongly pro-abortion. She does not share any conservative or pro-life views. Nevertheless, she created this fake persona of Shelley Walker to appear as a concerned pro-life advocate to gather information on and entrap pro-life counselors. In fact, she sent a friend request to Angela Braxton, one of TMLC's clients in this lawsuit. Braxton, not realizing this was really one of the Choices escorts, accepted her friend request, thinking Walker was a pro-life advocate like herself.

She also admitted that she shared the information of the targeted pro-life counselors with the Attorney General's Office. The Office never told her to stop or to delete the information based on her fraudulent Facebook postings. In fact, the Office outfitted her with a concealed video camera to record pro-life counselors in front of Choices. Ironically, just three weeks ago, in an interview on NPR's All Things Considered, the Attorney General highlighted his crack-down on fake identities, impersonations and fraud on the internet. Read the transcript of the interview here.

On June 20, 2017, the Attorney General held a press conference in front of the Choices Center where he announced his lawsuit against fourteen pro-life sidewalk counselors, claiming they violated the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act ("FACE"), the New York State Clinic Access Act and City laws. His lawsuit asked the Court to create a sixteen-foot buffer zone around the Choices premises and to levy fines, attorney fees and compensatory damages against the defendants.

During the press conference, the Attorney General boasted that he had dropped out of school at seventeen years of age to work at an abortion clinic in Washington, D.C. Astonishingly, the Attorney General claimed, "We are not a nation where you can choose your point of view," and that pro-life Christians "run their mouths" with "unlawful, un-American rhetoric."

The Thomas More Law Center is a leading pro-life national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. TMLC represents two of the fourteen persons sued by the Attorney General.

Richard Thompson, TMLC's President and Chief Counsel, commented upon the courtroom revelations of the Attorney General's star witness: "I'm appalled at the Attorney General's lack of respect for the First Amendment and his Offices' encouragement and use of fraudulent means to obtain information so that he can persecute peaceful pro-life citizens who have become the voice of the voiceless. He has forsaken his responsibilities as an independent law enforcement officer and is now acting as an agent of the abortion industry."

The Thomas More Law Center defends and promotes America's Judeo-Christian heritage and moral values. It supports a strong national defense and an independent and sovereign United States of America. The Law Center accomplishes its mission through litigation, education, and related activities. It does not charge for its services. The Law Center is supported by contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations, and is recognized by the IRS as a section 501(c)(3) organization. You may reach the Thomas More Law Center at (734) 827-2001 or visit our website at www.thomasmore.org

SOURCE Thomas More Law Center

Related Links

http://www.thomasmore.org


ATLANTA, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Veristor Systems, Inc., a leading provider of transformative business technology solutions, announced today that CRN  , a brand of The Channel Company, has named Veristor to its 2018 Managed Service Provider (MSP) 500 list in the MSP Elite 150 category. This annual list recognizes North American solution providers with cutting-edge approaches to delivering managed services. Their offerings help companies navigate the complex and ever-changing landscape of IT, improve operational efficiencies, and maximize their return on IT investments.

In today's fast-paced business environments, MSPs play an important role in helping companies leverage new technologies without straining their budgets or losing focus on their core business. CRN's MSP 500 list shines a light on the most forward-thinking and innovative of these key organizations. The list is divided into three categories: the MSP Pioneer 250, recognizing companies with business models weighted toward managed services and largely focused on the SMB market; the MSP Elite 150, recognizing large, data center-focused MSPs with a strong mix of on-premises and off-premises services; and the Managed Security 100, recognizing MSPs focused primarily on off-premise, cloud-based security services.

"At Veristor, we've developed comprehensive managed services to ensure the security and availability of your critical business information," said Michael Stolarczyk, Vice President, Cloud Managed Services, Veristor. "By taking a consultative approach to data protection and IT resiliency, we work to provide complete managed protection for the data-driven business. We are pleased to be named again to the CRN MSP Elite 150 list."

Veristor's cloud and managed services offer enterprise-class infrastructure and data protection services on-demand. Delivering managed disaster recovery-as-a-service and backup-as-a-service solutions, Veristor's managed services are fully supported and monitored by Veristor's 247 Network Operations Center. Veristor's compute, network and storage resources support stringent governance controls and regulatory compliance requirements and can be securely added online and in fine granularity while offering simplified migration between on-premise and cloud and dedicated hosted models as business requirements and growth dictate.

"Managed service providers have become integral to the success of businesses everywhere, both large and small," said Bob Skelley, CEO of The Channel Company. "Capable MSPs enable companies to take their cloud computing to the next level, streamline spending, effectively allocate limited resources and navigate the vast field of available technologies. The companies on CRN's 2018 MSP 500 list stand out for their innovative services, excellence in adapting to customers' changing needs and demonstrated ability to help businesses get the most out of their IT investments."

The MSP500 list will be featured in the February 2018 issue of CRN and online at www.CRN.com/msp500.

Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook

Tweet This:

@TheChannelCo names @Veristor to @CRN 2018 MSP 500 list #CRNMSP500 www.crn.com/msp500

About Veristor Systems, Inc.

A leading provider of transformative business technology solutions, Veristor helps its customers accelerate the time-to-value for the software, infrastructure and systems they deploy. We do this by harnessing deep expertise in today's most advanced data center, security, networking, hybrid cloud, and big data technologies and guiding businesses to the right solutions for their most pressing challenges. And with a full suite of design, deployment, support, and managed service offerings, we work shoulder-to-shoulder with our customers at every step of their technology journey to make technology truly work for them. IT's just who we are. Learn more at veristor.com.

SOURCE Veristor Systems, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.veristor.com


HEMPSTEAD, Texas, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Commissioners in rapidly growing Waller County, on the western edge of the Houston metropolitan area, voted Feb. 7 to adopt the most up-to-date voting technology available in the U.S., the Verity Voting system from longtime election partner Hart InterCivic. Verity is a federally and state certified system designed from the ground up to be easy to use and secure with all new hardware and software.

The Verity Touch electronic voting system from Hart InterCivic makes voting straightforward with an easy to read touchscreen. The compact, lightweight devices save cost and effort for storage, transport and setup.

Waller County officials recognized that equipment purchased with HAVA funds more than a decade ago was due for replacement. Like many election decision-makers throughout Texas and nationwide, they decided it made good fiscal sense to update to the most secure and efficient modern system - Verity.

Verity will debut in Waller County in November 2018 with Hart participating side-by-side during and long after the transition. Election officials look forward to the efficiencies of the new technology, designed and manufactured in Austin. Verity is user friendly and easy to learn for poll workers, who also welcome the lightweight, compact design for simple transport and setup.

In addition, the system's removable tablet and accessibility features accommodate all voters, including those with disabilities or requiring voting at the curb. Voters also appreciate Verity's intuitive touchscreen tablet.

"We appreciate Waller County's confidence in Hart and in Verity. Our relationship dates to 2005, and we look forward to serving the County in the years ahead," said Phillip Braithwaite, President and CEO of Hart InterCivic, an Austin-based company with more than 100 years of experience providing election solutions. "Verity's technology is modern and versatile; it will serve the County well for many years."

Waller County joins a growing number of Texas jurisdictions moving to Verity. Since the Texas Secretary of State certified the latest release of the system in late 2016, Hart has shipped more than 7,000 Verity devices across the State. Federally certified in 2015, the secure and efficient system is also in use in numerous counties throughout the U.S.

Braithwaite expects more announcements throughout 2018 as jurisdictions refresh their election technology across Texas and nationally.

Learn more about Verity in Texas: http://www.hartintercivic.com/texas/

About Hart InterCivic, Inc.

Austin-based Hart InterCivic is a full-service election solutions innovator, partnering with state and local governments to deliver secure, accurate and reliable elections. Working side-by-side with election professionals for more than 100 years, Hart is committed to helping advance democracy one election at a time. Hart's mission fuels its passionate customer focus and a continuous drive for technological innovation. The company's new Verity Voting system makes voting more straightforward, equitable and accessibleand makes managing elections more transparent, more efficient and easier. Only Hart offers a completely new, certified voting system with both electronic and paper options.

SOURCE Hart InterCivic, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.hartintercivic.com


VIENNA, February 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Digital therapeutics leader Wellthy Therapeutics shared interim results of an ongoing real-world pilot to evaluate the effectiveness of the Wellthy Diabetes Smartphone App, becoming the first company in South Asia to do so. The results were shared via an oral presentation and a scientific poster presented at the 11th International Conference on Advanced Technologies and Treatments for Diabetes (ATTD 2018).

Wellthy Therapeutics presented data that demonstrated how the use of the Wellthy Diabetes Smartphone App (WD) improved glycemic control. On completion of 16 weeks, participants showed a reduction in their HbA1c by (-0.61%) on average, with 61.5% of participants having showed significant reduction in their HbA1c with an average of (-1.17%) reduction.

Wellthy Therapeutics also presented real-world data demonstrating how WD could potentially help physicians and HCPs personalize care for their patients through data-driven decision making. This abstract reported data from 129 participants tracking them for 116 person days each. During the real-world study, participants shared 348 clinical and lifestyle data points on an average. In total, the study captured 44,976 diabetes-related clinical and lifestyle data points and 144,695 minutes of physical activity over 15,042 user days.

Prof. Satish Garg, Editor-in-Chief, Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics and Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, said, "I am delighted to see positive results from an evidence-supported tool that is culturally relevant for South Asians living with type-2 diabetes. The number of people with diabetes continues to rise, and further improvement in population health outcomes has to be driven by decision support systems. Data-driven clinical decision support is the future of diabetes care and offers the opportunity to personalize care even further. Further larger randomized sample size studies are needed to confirm these findings."

Mr. Abhishek Shah, CEO, Wellthy Therapeutics, said, "Asia is the epicenter of diabetes incidence and growth globally. While there are plenty of companies that have shown digital therapeutic clinical efficacy in North America, we continue to pioneer real-world credible outcomes for a digital therapeutic that works for South Asians with type II diabetes."

For details, read the Wellthy Therapeutics ATTD abstract.

About Wellthy Therapeutics

Wellthy Therapeutics is a digital therapeutics company that uses AI-human hybrid to deliver intervention content to improve health literacy and facilitate behaviour change for better outcomes in patients. Its first digital therapeutic for type II diabetes has been endorsed by Asia's largest diabetes association (RSSDI).

Wellthy Therapeutics has published & presented real-world data at the AACE 26th Annual Congress, ADA 77th Scientific Sessions, the IDF Congress 2017 and the ATTD 11th International Conference, at the RSSDI 44th & 45th Annual conferences, and at the 12th RSSDI Regional Conference.

For more information, visit: http://www.wellthy.care.

SOURCE Wellthy Therapeutics
HOD HASHARON, Israel, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Wize Pharma, Inc. (OTCQB: WIZP), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company currently focused on the treatment of ophthalmic disorders, today announced it has received Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval for the protocol of its planned Phase IV study. This will be a Phase IV randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of LO2A versus Alcon's Systane Ultra UD, an over-the-counter lubricant eye drop product used to relieve dry and irritated eyes. The study will take place in Israel and will evaluate the safety and efficacy of LO2A for symptomatic improvement of DES in 60 adult patients with Sjogren's. Enrolled patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to one of two treatment groups, LO2A or Systane Ultra UD. Drops will be administered topically to the eye over a three month period.

This Phase IV study is designed to support Wize's clinical approval pathway for LO2A for the treatment of DES in patients with Sjogren's within certain markets including the U.S., China, Ukraine and Israel. The study is expected to begin enrolling patients in the first quarter of 2018. Wize currently does not have sufficient funds to conduct such study. The commencement of such study is contingent upon Wize's ability to either raise capital or debt.

LO2A currently has regulatory approval for DES in Israel, where sales are anticipated to begin for Wize in 2018. The global DES treatment market was valued at approximately $3.7 billion in 2017 and is expected to grow to $4.9 billion by 2022 according to Market Scope.

"IRB approval marks an important milestone in our clinical development program of LO2A for the treatment of DES in Sjogren's patients. LO2A has previously demonstrated efficacy in providing symptomatic improvement of dry eye associated with Sjogren's in a clinical trial in Hungary and has been approved for this indication in the Netherlands. We look forward to commencing our Phase IV study, aiming to advance towards regulatory approvals for treatment of patients suffering from DES and Sjogren's in multiple markets where the formula is not yet available including eventually the United States," stated Wize's Chairman, Ron Mayron.

LO2A is also being evaluated in an ongoing Phase II randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multi-center study in Israel in the treatment of DES in patients with moderate to severe conjunctivochalasis (CCH). Wize expects this Phase II trial to complete patient enrollment in the second quarter of 2018. The completion of such trial is contingent upon Wize's ability to either raise capital or debt.

About DES and Sjogren's

DES is caused by the reduced production and/or improper quality of tear film. One of the causes of reduced tear production is Sjogren's, a chronic autoimmune disease that is estimated to affect up to 4 million people in the U.S. In patients with DES and Sjogren's, the absence of adequate tear production disrupts the normal function of the tear film in protecting the surface of the eye, resulting in increased friction that damages the integrity of the corneal and conjunctival surface.

About Wize

Wize Pharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company currently focused on the treatment of ophthalmic disorders, including DES. Wize has in-licensed certain rights to purchase, market, sell and distribute a formula known as LO2A, a drug developed for the treatment of DES, and other ophthalmological illnesses, including Conjunctivochalasis (CCH) and Sjogren's.

LO2A is currently registered and marketed by its inventor in Germany and Switzerland for the treatment of DES, in Hungary for the treatment of DES and CCH and in the Netherlands for the treatment of DES and Sjogren's. Wize's strategy involves engaging local or multinational distributors to handle the distribution of LO2A. Wize is currently conducting a Phase II trial of LO2A for DES in patients with CCH and plans to commence a Phase IV study for LO2A for DES in patients with Sjogren's.

Forward Looking Statements

Wize cautions you that statements in this press release that are not a description of historical fact are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words referencing future events or circumstances such as "expect," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," and "will," among others. For example, when we discuss our market potential, we are using a forward-looking statement. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon Wize's current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks related to the substantial debt that we have incurred; our needs for additional financing; our dependence on a single compound, LO2A and on the continuation of our license to commercialize LO2A; our inability to expand our rights under our license of LO2A; the initiation, timing, progress and results of our trials and product candidate development efforts; our ability to advance LO2A into clinical trials or to successfully complete our preclinical studies or clinical trials; our receipt of regulatory approvals for LO2A, and the timing of other regulatory filings and approvals; the clinical development, commercialization and market acceptance of LO2A; our ability to establish and maintain corporate collaborations; the implementation of our business model and strategic plans for our business and product candidates; the scope of protection we are able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering LO2A and our ability to operate our business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others; estimates of our expenses, future revenues, and capital requirements; competitive companies, technologies and our industry; and statements as to the impact of the political and security situation in Israel on our business. More detailed information about the risks and uncertainties affecting Wize is contained under the heading "Risk Factors" included in Wize's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on February 6, 2018, and in other filings that Wize has made and may make with the SEC in the future. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they were made. Wize does not undertake any obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made, except as may be required by law.

For all investor enquiries, please contact:



Noam Danenberg

Chief Operating Officer

+972-72-260-0536

[email protected]

SOURCE Wize Pharma, Inc.

Related Links

https://www.wizepharma.com/


Sydney Swan young gun Isaac Heeney has settled on his first property purchase.

The energetic midfielder has not strayed too far from his beloved Newcastle upbringing in securing his investment property.

He's paid $600,000 for a home in Booragul, only 100 metres from the edge of Lake Macquarie.

Heeney went under the knife during the pre-season when it was discovered he had cartilage damage in his knee.

He's only recently began training again.

The three bedroom home on 750 sqm is most likely a knockdown, but Heeney firstly found a tenant at $435 a week securing a tidy 3.75 percent yield.

A covered entertaining area features a built-in barbecue.

Lake views looking across towards Speers Point will be better if he goes up a storey.

The Booragal median house price sits at $553,000, according to CoreLogic.

Heeney was back in the region recently, returning to answers questions from students at his former school, the All Saints College in Maitland.

His twitter account advises he's a "Newcastle boy living in the big smoke!"

After finishing school Heeney admitted without the Swans academy he would have turned to rugby league as he was the only student throughout his school who played AFL.

Heeney made his debut in the first round of the 2015 season in triumphant fashion, kicking the match-winning goal after a third quarter 41 deficit against Essendon.

Heeney joins a club that has typically pumped its salaries into coastal eastern suburbs property.

This article first appeared in The Daily Telegraph.
Two apparently contradictory things are happening in real estate  sales of residential land have fallen (a lot) but the prices being paid are rising (sharply).

In Sydney the rate of sale of residential lots has almost halved over three years, but prices (to quote a popular pun in real estate media) have gone through the roof.

How can that be? Do the laws of supply and demand no longer apply in Australia?

The answers to these questions lie at the heart of the affordability discussion.

And a clue to the answers lie in an announcement earlier this week: that a New South Wales state government decision is set to add as much as $50,000 to the cost of new house-and-land packages in Sydney.

Prices for residential allotments and new dwellings are rising so sharply because the costs of creating new shovel-ready land, and the homes that are built there, are constantly rising.

Those costs are escalating primarily because the housing industry is a beloved cash cow for politicians everywhere. All three levels of government milk the housing sector for revenue like theres no tomorrow.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian came to power mouthing platitudes about making housing affordability one of her key priorities. But her government regularly announces decisions that make the problem worse.

Gladys is not alone. This is an issue across the nation. Every time a state or territory government that brings down an annual budget, affordability gets worse because there are always new taxes, fees and charges imposed on the industry that creates dwellings for Australian households.

On 19 February The Australian reported that house prices on greenfield sites in Sydney could rise by as much as $50,000 following the NSW Governments decision to uncap infrastructure levies on developers.

It reported: The government is about to lift the cap on section 94 levies  how much councils charge developers for infrastructure. A recent application by Blacktown council for the Marsden Park development, successful with the governments Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal, was for the $30,000 per home cap to be lifted to $87,000.

In August, the UDIA and the Property Council wrote to the Premier saying: Housing affordability is one of the NSW governments three chief priorities announced when you became Premier this year. However there are several recent policy initiatives from the government that run contrary to achieving this outcome looking ahead. Changes to biodiversity regulations ... could add between $20,000 and $30,000 per lot while uncapping section 94 could add anywhere between $30,000 to $80,000 per dwelling.

When you understand that these decisions are a few among many that add to the cost structure of those who create new dwellings, you begin to see why real estate is so much more expensive in Sydney than elsewhere.

The latest Residential Land Report published by the Housing Industry Association shows that the median lot price in Sydney is more than double those in Brisbane and Adelaide, almost four times the median price in Hobart, and 55% higher than in Melbourne.

The report found that the median vacant residential land lot price nationally hit an all-time high of $267,368 in the September 2017 Quarter, up 10.9 per cent on the same period in 2016.

But land prices rose faster in the capital cities, up 12.8 per cent annually on average.

Sydney was the most expensive capital with the cost per square metre at $1,051, followed by Perth ($752), Melbourne ($737) and Adelaide ($637), while Hobart was the cheapest ($180).

HIA senior economist Shane Garrett says supply is struggling to keep pace with demand, leading to greater housing affordability issues.

The high cost of new residential land is at the heart of Australias housing affordability crisis, he says. The housing industrys ability to ramp up the supply of new dwellings as demand dictates is hampered by the inconsistency of the land supply pipeline. The time it takes for land to be made available to builders is unnecessarily long.

These delays add to costs. Mix in the constant intrusion of new taxes, fees and charges, and you have the nub of the affordability issue.

Its easy to see why its difficult for find an affordable house in Sydney, when you pay $480,000 for the typical home site, even though the average lot size keeps gets smaller  and despite the reality that the number of lot sales fell to below 250,000 in the September 2017 Quarter, compared to around 470,000 in the December 2014 Quarter (but the median price has risen from $340,000 to $480,000 in that time).

In Melbourne you pay $310,000 for the typical block of land, before considering the cost of building the house.

The ability of new home building activity to respond to this increased demand has been held back by insufficient supply of shovel-ready residential land, says the Residential Land Report.

So it means that the number of land sales has dropped not because of lower demand, but because of lower supply. That shortage, plus the rising cost structures imposed by state governments and local councils, means prices rise relentlessly.

In capital city Australia, the number of lot sales peaked in mid-2015 and has been trending steadily downwards ever since. But the median lot price has risen from around $250,000 to over $310,000 in that time frame.

Terry Ryder is the founder of hotspotting.com.au

[email protected]

twitter.com/hotspotting
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The first edition of the World Merit Councils Summit, bringing together change-makers from around the world, opened Tuesday at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University of Ben Guerir, near Marrakech, to discuss inclusive opportunities and ways to empower youth to build a better future.

Over 150 young volunteers and professionals from 125 countries are taking part in the event, to last until Feb. 24. Debates will focus on local and global actions made to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The UN SDGs seek to end by the year 2030 poverty and hunger in the world, achieve food security, promote sustainable agriculture, ensure healthy lives, inclusive and equitable quality education, encourage learning opportunities for all, promote gender equality and empower all women and girls.

The Sustainable Development Goals also include ensuring availability of water for all, access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

The SDGs feature actions to combat climate change, desertification, land degradation and stress the need to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and enhance global partnership for sustainable development.

World Merit, which has a program dedicated to SDGs, is a global community of millennials, taking actions to make a positive difference both locally and across the world.

Together with the United Nations, World Merit focuses on tackling the Sustainable Development Goals, aiming to end extreme poverty, fix climate change and get rid of inequality. Its online platform connects young global citizens and provides a place to debate on global issues, collaborate on projects and showcases their impact.

Each month, this NGO sets a number of different challenges that enable World merit members to develop their skills whilst making a positive impact. These challenges are rewarded with life-changing opportunities.

The NGO seeks to unleash the upcoming generation of local and global leaders to create waves of positive change.
Bottom Line: Russia's use of private military contractors in Syria lends the Kremlin deniability that becomes problematic when the U.S. tries to calculate how to retaliate against incursions again U.S. and coalition troops by the Assad regime. The problem reared its head earlier this month when the of U.S. conducted retaliatory strikes that, according to anonymous sources that spoke to Bloomberg, reportedly killed some 200 Russian contractors near eastern Dier el-Zour province in what could amount to the most lethal clash between U.S. and Russian citizens since the Cold War. The strikes were in response to Syrian government forces  thought to have been embedded with Russia contractors  attacking U.S.-backed rebels that were accompanied by U.S. advisors.

Neither the Pentagon nor the Kremlin have confirmed or denied the reports, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov telling RT that We can only operate data on the servicemen of Russian Armed Forces, who take part in the operation of the Russian Airspace forces supporting the Syrian Army. We don't have information on any other Russians who might be in Syria.
"The greatest service they can render is to remain true to themselves, to serve with silence and courage in the military way."  Samuel Huntington [1]

PERCEPTIONS OF SUCCESS AND FAILURE

Iraq and Afghanistan. Korea and Vietnam. The uniquely unhappy political nature of wars of limited policy aims after the Second World War and into the 21st century finds the United States military unable to disengage after intervention without the perception of defeat.[2] Without a committed local and legitimate political stakeholder, military force cannot forge the necessary political outcome. Without the legitimate local political capability to accept and advance U.S. policy objectives, the space and time created by military intervention cannot succeed. and extract itself. This perception of failure lies in an inability to reconcile the different lenses through which the politician as policymaker, and the military operational artist, view their respective roles and responsibilities in intervention. The politician as blue whale, ponderous, inevitable in direction and weight within the American system of government, employs the military as tiger sharks, slow to engage, but deadly, aggressive, and swift when unleashed to apply a violent resolution to policy. The metaphor allows the illumination of not only different species, but different orders, political and military, who, while swimming in the same mediumpoliticsoften find themselves in a fundamental misunderstanding of their respective roles.

It is the responsibility of the politician as the policy maker to determine the political outcome to which the military will apply its naturein this case, the violent resolution of limited political aims. From initial political expression as a policy aim for the use of military force, there exists a continuing dialogue, a holistic connection, from policymaker to military actor, wherein political aims translate to military aims and actions that reverberate back to politics in perceptions of political success and failure. Describing where and when that interface occurs is the purpose of this article. The intent is to locate the primary points of discourse, the principal influences at each point, and the outcomes at each node. Thus the focus here is on the essential negotiation, the discourse, between the political and the operational. How does a political question translate into a policy for the use of military force in the limited wars of the 21st century?

The type and form of the military response to policy cannot be to simply be brave in the face of the politics that order limited military action. The responsibility for the lives of those tasked to carry out the order leads to a requirement for military engagement in this discourse at the earliest opportunity in the negotiations prior to the policy decision for military employment. There is no operational distinction between shirking or working as Peter Feaver noted in his application of agency theory to U.S. civilian-military relations, but there is a political separation of the spheres of responsibility between the civilian policymaker and the military instrument.[3] The implementation of force falls to the military operational artistthe designated commander of the forces intended to secure a US policy objective. It is this military commander who receives both the authority to assign tasks to the tactical forces, the means, and the ways in which those employed will achieve the aim. The operational artist holds the fundamental responsibility for the accomplishment of the military aim in accordance with an overall policy objective, while recognizing that political oversight and guidance does not end with the order initiating military action.[4]

There is no simply waiting for policy. There is no simply military advice. Carl von Clausewitz noted the reason for the subordination of all military operations to the political point of view was that the supreme standpoint for the conduct of war, the point of view that determines its main lines of action, can only be that of policy.[5] In the wars of the 21st century, Huntingtons formulation required an essential military passivity in the face of a policy determination to order military forces into action, and failed to account for the dynamic and holistic relationship that exists between the political aim, its policy formulation, and the execution of that policy by the military.

THE POLITICAL AIM IN WARS OF FINAL VICTORY AND WARS OF LIMITED AIM

The wars of the United States with a political object of final victory, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and the Second World War as examples, and wars with a limited political objective as in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, have divergent political and military logic and characteristics. An absolute war, fighting for the existence of the state, fought with the entirety of societal, industrial, and political intent to attain final peace by military force has a readily observable logic. As Clausewitz noted in reviewing the history of wars of this kind, one step from the beginning follows upon the next, despite the vicissitudes of temporal changes in perceptions of battlefield success and failure, to arrive at an apparently inevitable conclusion of either victory or defeat.[6] The closer the military aim to the political in wars with an absolute aim, he wrote, the more the aims will seem to coincide, and in wars of lesser political aims, the more will the two aims diverge and the political dominate.[7]

Logic, War, and the Aim Gap in Limited War

Clausewitz noted that wars with a limited political aim do not offer the simple logic of wars with an absolute aim. Wars of limited aim drive a specific and limited military effort. The existence of the state is not at risk. These wars of policy, or wars of choice, change constantly based upon political and policy perceptions of tactical victory and defeat, success and failure. Today these wars are mitigated through a media lens often at odds with the policy itself. These wars are ostensibly to preserve the way of life of the state. There is a continual and often fundamental re-evaluation of the political aims and military effort that does not generally occur in wars with an absolute aim. Thus limited aims demand a consistent and powerful war narrative in substitution of the logic of an absolute aim. The narrative explains the cost to society in terms that allow the policy to go forward when perceptions driven by actions on the battlefieldcasualties most powerfullycompel changes to policy that force modifications and the continuous reevaluation and constraint of the military effort.[8]

The misunderstanding of this dynamic in wars of limited aim is fundamental to the failure of policymaker and military operational artist to arrive at a common understanding in operational matters. Feaver and Huntington essentially arrive at the same conclusion: the military must simply follow the political orders and policy of its civilian leadership or be accused of fomenting a coup at worst, or at the least, shirking their duties.[9] While for both authors, as for Clausewitz, the military, as subordinate, is responsible for making the relationship work; if theory demands the simple acquiescence of the military, there can be no creativity nor critical analysis of the military options before the policy is ordered into effect.[10]

LOCATING AND DESCRIBING POLITICALLY AWARE MILITARY ADVICE

The model represents the locations where the political and policy aims interact with, and are affected by, military considerations, constraints, and their interaction in operations where the policy comes into contact with the free will of an adversary. This is the space where politically aware military advicecomes to the fore to ensure the likelihood that limited military force can create the physical and temporal space for the execution of the political outcome.[11] This implies that the military professional has an understanding of the politics of the environment under which a policy determination occurs, without the requirement, or fear, of being political.[12] Highlighting the locations and outcomes for this political, policy, and operational dialogue, it does not describe the official or doctrinal decision-making processes that end in military orders to move units to implement a declared policy. Further, while the process appears to move forward from a firm political beginning, its holistic nature means that the interaction between nodes is complex, continuous, and dynamic in perceptions of progress and results.

The Process and Resolution of Politically-Aware Military Advice[13]

DIALOGUE: FROM POLITICAL AIM TO MILITARY EXECUTION AND PERCEPTIONS

The political process begins with a question. The question may be a new development, such as the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, or the sudden attack by the North Korean Army on June 25, 1950. It may be a new administration reviewing an older problem as in the example of Iraq in 2003, or Afghanistan in 2009, with a new military operational artist asking for a review of the current policy direction. In limited wars, the policy review may be a media-driven crisis that challenges the legitimacy of the ongoing narrative and current perceptions of victory and defeat, especially the question of casualties, as in Iraq during 2007. Each case demonstrates the lack of direct logic in these wars. Aims change with perceptions, not necessarily with reality. In this space, the nature of military advice is politically aware. Politically aware military advice does not mean to bend dialogue to a political party perspective, but to understand the political constraints under which a limited aim policy comes into being, and to provide a range of distinct and feasible military options that support the full scope of policy options under discussion.

Knowing how the policymaker views his or her political and policy risk, individual political preferences and those of their supporting political coalitions, guides the self-limitation of military options.[14] The policymaker creates a narrative that drives the public perception of the legitimacy of a proposed policy aim, especially in an intervention.[15] The first, and arguably the most important, location to overcome the misunderstanding between the policymaker and operational artist is the dialogue that requires the engagement of the military prior to the declaration of policy. This discourse includes the whole of government power in the principal institutions of the White House, the Department of State, the Department of Defense, the Department of Justice, the intelligence community and others dependent on the nature of the problem question. Beyond the political leadership of the Department of Defense, other likely participants include the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the service chiefs as appropriate, as well as the regional Combatant Commander or theater commander. While the focus here is on the perceptions of the policymaker, each actor at this node brings personal and institutional biases and goals to create ever greater complexity in this discourse. The outcome of this exchange of ideas is a policy decision that includes the role of military force.[16] What is the political resolution the policy seeks? Upon what local, legitimate political stakeholder does the military solution support and for which its execution of violence will provide temporal and political spacethe end that will allow the departure of U.S. military forces upon accomplishment? This is fundamentally and necessarily a political responsibility.

Here the narrative has the potential to confuse or to blind the parties to the essence of the political problem as in the legitimacy of the entity for whom intervention occurs. Daniel Kahnemans concept of theory-induced blindness may provide a useful lens for analysis of the theory of the narrative which justifies the use of military violence.[17] Containment of communism was the narrative that justified the legitimacy of both the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. In each case, the political legitimacy of the local polity was subsumed under the grander vision of the narrative, denying the context of what would follow the intervention. American intervention in Vietnam, for example, created a similar blindness to the powerful constraints to the legitimacy of the South Vietnamese government in the eyes of its own people.[18] The Global War on Terror created the same blindness to local political legitimacy in Iraq and Afghanistan. Simply put, the locals did not appear to matter in the grand scheme of American narrative legitimacy for intervention. Only when it was belatedly discovered that such local legitimacy could not be achieved was the military committed to a never-ending attempt to provide the political solution to the intervention, especially in the especially in the military strategy of counterinsurgency that emerged from these conditions.[19]

The second dialogue location occurs once the policymakers decision passes to the designated military operational artist intended to achieve the aim through military action. This officer has the both the authority and responsibility to negotiate for the military means required. Decisions on the military aim and the specific means needed for its accomplishment are the outcomes of this discourse. The U.S. commander in Afghanistan, for example, continues this negotiation for means through the many changes in aims and political and military strategies across the seventeen years of the intervention there.[20] In the major U.S. military interventions after the Second World War, the demonstration of this negotiation for the military aim and means lies in the direct interaction between the operational artist and the policymaker. This relationship appeared between President Harry Truman and General Douglas MacArthur in Korea, Generals William Westmoreland and Creighton Abrams with Presidents Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon, respectively, General David Petraeus in Iraq and each of the Afghanistan commanders with Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.[21] In all of the above cases, the specific means to achieve the policy aim resulted, often painfully, in an agreed determination of the military aim, and a decision on the size, scope, constraints as rules of engagement, the mission tasks of the means, the ways, and the emergent strategy to achieve the stated policy.[22]

General of the Army MacArthur shakes hands with President Truman at the Wake Island Conference. (Wikimedia)

The current re-negotiation and policy determination of the Trump Administration occurs in this same manner, with General John W. Nicholson. Jr., the Afghanistan theater of war commander, directly involved with the policy determination to add as many as four thousand more U.S. military personnel.[23] As the number of soldiers appears as a simply politically determined number, disconnected from the ongoing military campaign, it serves as an example of the failure to recognize the blurring of roles and responsibility between the blue whale and his tiger sharks. Again, increased U.S. military force in the seventeenth year of the war intends to provide additional space and time for the development of a locally legitimate political entity that can carry forward US policy aims, and allow the withdrawal of the bulk of American and NATO combat forces.

The third location is the fundamental military command relationship established with the component air, naval, and ground forces, and allied organizations that determine the specific tactical forces and roles of each in coordinated action. The campaign plan, the specific expression of the emergent strategy is the outcome of this discourse, and which is in its turn the result of further negotiations between the operational artist and the components (land, air, naval, special operations, cyber, etc.). In Afghanistan today, for example, negotiations for ultimate tactical employment in terms of time, space, force, purpose, and rules of engagement, occur not only with US service components, but also with each of the respective national command authorities committing forces, including the host nation, and in the case of NATO deployed forces, the overall constraints of the NATO collective command.[24] Only once these operational level deployments and roles are decided and coordinated with the emergent strategy as expressed in the campaign plan are combat missions assigned by components to their tactical military formations. Thus, strategy emerges in this process. Strategy is not stated beforehand, and it is not synonymous with policy, but finds its confluence in the military aim.[25]

When these tactical organizations then come into the physical discourse of combat, the contact and resolution of tactical actions with the opposing will of the adversary occurs. In limited war, one important way the outcome of combat action appears is in the perceptions driven by the press and social media of military success and failure against the opponent. Here, asymmetric adversaries against whom the U.S. pits its military forces in intervention benefit from the progressive attrition of their opponents' political capability to wage war. In such asymmetric conflicts, insurgents may gain political victory from a situation of military stalemate or even defeat.[26] These perceptions, in confirming the holistic and political nature of all military action down to the tactical outcomes, create a feedback loop that links directly to the political and policy perceptions of risk to the policymaker. These risks manifest themselves in challenges to the legitimacy of the policy narrative, driving public perceptions of limited war aims, especially in regards to casualties. The nature of limited wars and the lack of a consistent logic manifests itself here in the outcome of changing political and policy aims, and leads again to the re-negotiation of the aims, both political and military.

FINDING SUCCESS IN WARS OF LIMITED AIM

Operations in Panama in 1989 and Kuwait in 1990-91 offer examples of the successful application of military violence to achieve a declared policy aim that allowed for the rapid removal of most U.S. military forces upon completion of operations. In Panama, Manuel Noriegas nullification of election results provided the United States with a legitimate, local political stakeholder upon restoration, establishing an entity to hand U.S. policy preferences upon completion of the destruction of the Panama Defense Forces in a matter of days.[27]

President George H.W. Bush addresses reporters on Aug. 22, 1990, flanked by Defense Secretary Dick Cheney and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Colin Powell. (Jerome Delay/AFP/Getty Images)

In the creation of the coalition to first deter and then to remove Saddam Husseins forces from Kuwait, the legitimate, local Kuwaiti political elite were prepared to carry forward an alliance and U.S. policy goals upon the destruction of Iraqi forces and restoration of their governance. In both Panama and Kuwait, the presence of a legitimate local political power allowed the limited application of U.S., and in the case of Kuwait, allied military power. With the U.S. and allied policy aim achieved, legitimate government was restored, and, as in Korea in 1953, a post-conflict alliance allowed the bulk of US military forces to depart.[28] This is not a new insight. In a 1977 analysis, failure of U.S. policy in Vietnam resulted from trying to substitute military force for effective government.[29] Former Under Secretary of State George Ball testified before Congress in 1985 that success of U.S. policy in intervention entailed the necessity for such a locally legitimate government capable of carrying forward the weight of US policy objectives in intervention.[30] POLITICAL AND MILITARY RESPONSIBILITIES IN WARS OF LIMITED AIM Two key thoughts emerge from this discussion. First, it is the responsibility of the policymaker when considering a policy of military intervention to determine the identities of the intended local, legitimate political stakeholders to be supported. Second, it is the military responsibility to advise how its application of violence realistically provides the physical and temporal space for the proposed local political solution, allowing the military to be withdrawn, without the need for a never-ending commitment of forces and casualties. Clausewitz noted that the entire phenomenon of war is embedded in politics. If policy does not provide the political solution, then no military resolution exists. Since 1945, whenever U.S. policy in intervention confronted a lack of politically legitimate local stakeholders, no violent military solution appeared possible at any level. This is in keeping with the logic of wars of limited aim and their constantly changing goals. Impressions of victory and defeat continuously involve and influence the politics that led to the policy aim. Todays long wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, and increasingly in the U.S. military involvement in and around Syrias civil war, demonstrate a failure of the political resolution for which the U.S. military acts. Lacking an attainable political end, the blue whales find the need to continually keep the tiger sharks in action. Without this understanding as we confront the many challenges to U.S. policy aims, we may find ourselves, again, in exactly the wrong kind of limited wars, using limited meanswars that have no fundamental or achievable political aimwith the only option a continuing and bleeding military application for which no end appears.

G. Stephen Lauer is an Associate Professor at the U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies. He is a retired U.S. Marine Corps Officer and served as the first Chief of Florida Domestic (Homeland) Security from 2001 to 2004. The views expressed are the author's alone and do not reflect the official position of the U.S. Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. This article appeared originally at Strategy Bridge.
True to his pledge made during the French election campaign last year, President Emmanuel Macron last week put forward a proposal for a substantial and welcome increase in Frances defence budget.

This move follows at least a decade of reductions in French defence spending. Macrons election commitment had been looking slightly shaky after a controversial cut to Frances 2017 defence budget, which led to the resignation last July of Frances then Chief of Defence Staff, General Pierre de Villiers. De Villiers had made critical comments about the reduction; Macron reminded him publicly whos boss.

Despite the cut, at the time Macron confirmed his promise of an increase in French defence spending, starting in 2018. Now he seems to have delivered.

The defence budget proposal provides for an additional 1.8 billion this year, bringing expenditure to 34.2 billion in 2018. It then provides for an increase of 1.7 billion each year through to 2022, when the next Presidential election takes place. After 2022, defence spending will go up by 3 billion a year until 2025.

The aim is to reach NATOs target of spending 2% of GDP on defence by 2024.

According to French Defence Minister Florence Parly, the additional money will (among other things) go towards modernising Frances nuclear arsenal; the countrys first armed drones; new nuclear combat submarines; intelligence satellites; meeting cyber threats; increasing the size of the army; strengthening Frances bases in Africa and the Gulf; and additional fighter aircraft.

When presenting the budget plan, Parly noted that the world is more uncertain and the threats are more and diffuse, and added that France needs to maintain its global influence, intervening where its interests are threatened and where its needed for global stability.

The Macron governments announcement will mean a serious boost to Frances defence capacity. But it is much more than that.

For a start, the Trump administration will welcome the announcement very warmly; it positions France more directly as a reliable and relevant partner for the U.S. in Europe and globally. The increased spending sends a strong signal about the seriousness of Frances commitment and leadership.

As it happens, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis was in Brussels on 1415 February for a meeting of NATO Defence Ministers. One item on their agenda was to review progress towards NATOs 2% of GDP target. Mattis continued to argue that other NATO members should shoulder more of the defence burden, something that U.S. President Donald Trump has been pushing aggressively since taking office.

Mattis reportedly told NATO members (behind closed doors) that they needed to show the same commitment to spending more on defence that the U.S. had shown through its own very significant defence budget lift. NATO members, he apparently reiterated, needed to do more, or risk a reduction of U.S. military support.

In fact, the U.S. point is well made. Very few NATO members have reached, or are anywhere near reaching, the 2% of GDP target. On 13 February NATOs Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said only eight NATO members are expected to reach the target this year, and very few (15, leaving aside the U.S., of NATOs 28 members) are likely to reach it by 2024. France is now on track to join that club.

Stoltenberg put a brave face on these statistics, noting that NATO members as a whole had increased defence spending. But it doesnt alter the fact that several members are unlikely to meet the target.

One of the worst offenders is Germany, Europes largest economy and the fourth-largest economy globally. Although Germany has indicated it will lift the defence budget by around 250 million a year, the fact is German defence expenditure is only around 1.24% of GDP, and considerably more funding will be required to achieve NATOs target. Even that modest ambition is up for discussion.

Five months on from last Septembers elections, Chancellor Angela Merkel is still struggling to put together a new government, and the current draft agreement on a new Christian Democrat/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) grand coalition with the Social Democrats (SPD) doesnt even mention the 2% target.

Germany's caretaker Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen strongly supports achieving the NATO goal. But the SPD, especially caretaker SPD Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel (but others too), see greater priorities elsewhere for Germanys budget.

Macrons announcement contrasts starkly to the reticence, differences, and confusion in Germany, and is a signal that France is prepared to lead on major European and global security challenges.

How does Australia rate against this background? In outlining the 2017/18 defence budget, Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne noted that planned increases mean Australias defence expenditure would reach 2% of GDP by 2020/21, a full three years ahead of NATOs (and Frances) target. Interesting food for thought.

Mr. David Ritchie AO has had a distinguished diplomatic career. He served as Australian Ambassador to Germany (with non-resident accreditation to Switzerland and Liechtenstein) from 201316. Prior to that he was Ambassador to Italy from 201013 and Ambassador to Indonesia from 200205. Mr Ritchie was a Deputy Secretary of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in Canberra from 200102, and again from 200610.

This article appeared originally at Lowy Institute's the interpreter.
At a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna last September, word spread that Saudi Arabia had identified a handful of countries that could build two nuclear reactors in the kingdom. The U.S. wasn't among them -- until Energy Secretary Rick Perry buttonholed the Saudi delegates and told them America wanted in.
Washington (CNN)Wittingly or not, President Donald Trump spent the Presidents Day weekend doing the Kremlin's work.

It may be months before Americans learn whether special counsel Robert Mueller will validate or reject allegations that Trump's 2016 campaign colluded with Moscow's election meddling operation.
John Glenn passed away since I last wrote about him. He died last winter at age 95, and was buried in the spring of 2017 at Arlington National Cemetery. On this date in 1962, he was given an important task by his government, and one thing about John Herschel Glenn Jr. was that when his country asked, he always answered the call. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1942 and fought in World War II and the Korean War, became a NASA astronaut in 1959, served in the U.S. Senate from 1975 to 1999, and ran for president in 1984.

He didnt win the Democratic nomination that year, and wouldnt have defeated Ronald Reagan in any case, but when Barack Obama draped the Presidential Medal of Freedom around his neck in 2012, it was hard to think of an American who had earned it more.

* * *

Fifty-six years ago today, at 8:35 a.m., retired USMC Col. John Glenn placed a phone call to his wife, Annie, from Floridas Cape Canaveral. Well, he said with studied nonchalance, Im going down to the corner store and buy some chewing gum.

The 40-year-old astronaut was speaking in code. Not government code, Glenn family code. Chewing gum was a phrase John and Annie Glenn employed to steady each others nerves as Glenn flew off on some dangerous assignment or another. There had been many in his storied career: the 59 sorties over open water in the South Pacific during World War II; the 90 combat missions during the Korean War; the 1957 flight from Californias Los Alamitos Naval Air Station to Bennett Field in New York in which he set the trans-America speed record.

But there had never been a flight like this one. At a time when the United States needed a Cold War icon, John Glenn was strapped into his capsule, Friendship 7, as an Atlas rocket prepared to launch him into orbit. At home in Arlington, Virginia, Annie Glenn sucked in her breath and replied simply, Dont take too long.

The dutiful Marine obliged his wife, and a waiting nation, orbiting the Earth three times -- and traveling some 81,000 miles -- in just 4 hours and 55 minutes and 23 seconds. Boy, that was a real fireball of a ride! Glenn radioed as the capsule completed its nerve-wracking re-entry into the atmosphere.

By 4:10 that afternoon, Glenn was on the phone with John F. Kennedy. I have just been watching your father and mother on television, the president told him, and they seemed very happy. Why wouldnt they? Their son was home safely after going into orbit. But parents dont have to see their children fly off in spaceships or high-performance aircraft to worry about them -- or to have something terrible befall them. They can simply set off for school in the morning. No one is immune from tragedy, a point made recently by writer Thomas Mallon, in reference to that 1962 conversation between Kennedy and Glenn. A hundred years earlier, almost to the hour, he wrote, the set of parents then occupying the White House, Abraham and Mary Lincoln, were being plunged into an extreme grief by the death of their third son, Willie, who was eleven years old.

Lincolns grief is the subject of a well-regarded new novel. And, yes, as we contemplate another Presidents Day, its worth celebrating Americans innate passion to explore new frontiers. Its also good to remember that this spirit extends to breaking the boundaries that exist only in the human heart or in our minds. Abraham Lincoln challenged the existing boundaries of race relations while confronting personal tragedies that would test the strongest of men.

It was in the summer of the following year that Lincoln met for the first time with the former slave Frederick Douglass, the great abolitionist leader who passed away on this date in 1895. The historic 1863 encounter took place in the White House, in a meeting set up by Secretary of State William Seward to discuss the issue of black troops fighting for the Union.

Long lines of care were already deeply written on Mr. Lincolns brow, and his strong face, full of earnestness, lighted up as soon as my name was mentioned, Douglass wrote later.

As I approached and was introduced to him, he rose and extended his hand, and bade me welcome," Douglass recalled. I at once felt myself in the presence of an honest man -- one whom I could love, honor and trust without reserve or doubt. Proceeding to tell him who I was, and what I was doing he promptly, but kindly, stopped me, saying, I know who you are, Mr. Douglass; Mr. Seward has told me all about you. Sit down. I am glad to see you.
Democrats have renewed their calls for tighter gun control measures in the wake of the mass shooting at a Florida high school last week, vowing to make it a campaign issue this year. Despite minimal success galvanizing voters around such measures in past elections, some advocates are hopeful it could be a more salient issue in this years midterms.

Its difficult to predict if that will be the case, especially when recent history shows that the publics attention diminishes once the immediate horror and aftermath of a shooting fades. Democrats repeatedly pushed the issue before the 2016 election, holding filibusters in the Senate and a sit-in on the House floor to highlight their concerns, but those efforts made little difference in November.

However, an effort is underway to sustain momentum for change after the Florida shooting. Students from the high school have spoken out on cable news and in op-eds, calling on elected officials to act to prevent such shootings. Students nationwide are planning a walkout next month to protest inaction on gun violence, an event planned by the organizers of the Women's March following Donald Trump's inauguration. And several gun control advocacy groups are organizing a protest -- "March for Our Lives" -- in Washington and across the country later in March to demand action.

TV ads, campaign mail and other direct voter contact will be needed to make the issue a driver of turnout come Election Day, but for now, some Democrats in swing districts see an opportunity to go on offense talking about gun control. Jason Crow, an Amy veteran challenging Rep. Mike Coffman in a suburban Colorado district -- which includes the site of the movie theater mass shooting in 2012 -- issued a press release Thursday calling on Coffman to return donations from the NRA. Crow, who has been endorsed by the gun control group founded by former Rep. Gabby Giffords, said in an interview he wanted to give an aggressive response to the shooting.

The fact that now weve had numerous mass shootings with a lot of people killed in this country in the past year and its becoming kind of normalized for folks is not okay, Crow told RCP. He emphasized his support for expanded background checks, banning military-style assault weapons, and closing gun show loopholes. What Im seeing is a more continuous conversation about it. People are talking about it all the time. Its a concern everywhere I go, every place in the district I go.

If our leaders are not willing to understand and respect that this is a problem, that this is a crisis, then we need to cast them out, he added.

Tyler Sandberg, Coffmans campaign manager, responded that Crow was looking to score political points over a tragedy.

Mike is heartbroken over what happened in Florida and believes this country needs to get laser-focused on mental health reform, Sandberg said.

Public opinion clearly shows that a majority of Americans support some restrictions on gun purchases: An October Quinnipiac poll showed three in five Americans supported stronger gun measures, and an overwhelming number -- more than 90 percent support universal background checks. But for advocates of these moves, turning them into a top priority that will drive voters to the polls is a critical problem. In a Quinnipiac poll in December, only 6 percent said gun policy should be a top priority for President Trump and Congress, putting it below issues ranging from the economy to foreign policy to the federal budget. Among Democrats, it was the third priority, well below health care and the economy.

However, advocates point to last years gubernatorial election in Virginia as evidence the enthusiasm gap has narrowed between NRA supporters and backers of increased gun controls. Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, who won by nine percentage points, emphasized his support for stricter gun policies throughout the campaign. A former Northam official said they focused heavily on gun measures in the Democratic primary, featuring the issue in every piece of campaign mail and almost every campaign ad.

In the general election, the official said, they did several direct-mail campaigns focusing on guns, and featured the issue in their radio ads. Northams personal background as an Army doctor and pediatrician who had treated gunshot victims gave him specific credibility on the issue. Northam also had backing from national gun-safety groups: Everytown for Gun Safety spent nearly $2 million in the race.

Gun policy was the second most important issue for Virginia voters, according to exit polls, and those motivated by it split evenly between Northam and the Republican candidate, Ed Gillespie. In a poll conducted for Everytown after the race, pollster Doug Schoen found that when reminded of Gillespies A rating from the NRA, 48 percent of voters said they were less likely to vote for him, and 23 percent were more likely.

If anyone tries to tell you in 2018 that this is the third rail, theyre wrong, said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown. And if anyone tries to tell you there is an intensity gap, theyre wrong as well.

The group started by Giffords, who was shot in 2011, is taking an active role promoting Democratic candidates who back the issue. It has endorsed seven Democratic House candidates and three gubernatorial candidates so far this cycle, including several in competitive primary elections. Gil Cisneros, a Democrat running in a crowded primary in a targeted California House district, highlighted his endorsement from the group in a Facebook post last week calling for an assault weapons ban and universal background checks. One of the other Democrats in the race, pediatrician Mai Khanh Tran, released a comprehensive gun control platform Monday.

Isabelle James, the political director for Giffords group, said the issue is particularly salient in suburban districts, which are critical to Democrats strategy for retaking the House.

Look at the Twitter feed of any Democrat running in one of these competitive swing districts. Theyre saying, Enough is enough, lives are at stake, and theyre not following the conventional wisdom to tread lightly on this issue, James said.

Even rural Democrats are pushing for the party to more aggressively articulate its position on gun control measures. Rep. Cheri Bustos, who represents an Illinois district that voted for Trump in 2016, said no person or organization there is more popular than the NRA. But she still supports background checks, banning bump stocks, and keeping those on the terror watch list from purchasing firearms, and said she would encourage Democrats to proactively articulate their positions to gun owners.

If were going into areas that are mostly Republican and looking them in the eye and answering these questions honestly, hopefully well be okay, said Bustos(pictured).

But there are signs that, at least in certain parts of the country, Democrats arent likely to embrace that message. Conor Lamb, who is running in a Pennsylvania special election next month in a district Trump won by 20 points, featured himself shooting a rifle in his campaign introduction video. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Lamb said he would work to prevent people with mental illness from obtaining guns.

The issue is slightly more complex in Senate races, where the majority of Democratic incumbents are running in states that backed Trump in 2016 and are more heavily pro-gun. But those senators differ greatly on the issue. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, for example, featured himself shooting up a cap-and-trade energy bill  and touting his NRA endorsement -- in a 2010 ad, but he also co-sponsored background check legislation that failed in 2013.

A fellow sponsor of that legislation was Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Pat Toomey, who was endorsed by several gun control advocacy groups in 2016, helping him secure re-election to a second term. All of the Democratic senators up for re-election this year, with the exception of North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, supported the background check legislation.

Heitkamp also voted against a measure proposed by Democrats in 2015 that allowed law enforcement to block anyone on the terror watch list from purchasing guns, though she then co-sponsored a more tailored version blocking people on the no-fly list from buying guns (that bill also failed in the Senate).

Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, who is one of Republicans top targets in 2018, was emphatic in her support for some gun safety measures in a brief interview on Capitol Hill, including expanding background checks, blocking terror suspects from purchasing guns, and banning bump stocks -- the device used in the Las Vegas shooting that enabled a semi-automatic weapon to function as a fully automatic. She emphasized that she grew up around -- and was comfortable around -- guns, but said most people in Missouri who own firearms legally also want more gun safety measures. She said she isnt concerned her position would energize Republicans who want to vote her out of office this year.

Ive got to look in the mirror every morning. This job is difficult, but if youre not pushing for things you believe in, then whats the point of doing it? McCaskill said. The goal of being here is not just to get re-elected. The goal of being here is to try to accomplish things you believe in. And I think some gun safety is needed in this country.
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania recently revealed its newly drawn maps for the commonwealth. If youre interested in a down-in-the-weeds analysis of what the courts 5-2 Democratic majority did with each congressional district, I recommend this explainer from the New York Times.

The bottom line is this: The court acted largely within the confines of its initial order, which demanded compactness, contiguity and minimal jurisdictional splits. Within those confines, however, it repeatedly made choices that increased the Democrats odds of winning districts.

For example, under the old map (and under maps extending back to 1942) Pennsylvanias 8th Congressional District was largely based in Bucks County, a suburban/exurban county to the northeast of Philadelphia. To achieve population equality, that version of the district also took in parts of Montgomery County -- and those portions leaned Republican.

The courts map, by contrast, places areas of Montgomery County that lean toward Democrats in the district, making it bluer. This doesnt really serve any of the criteria the court announced, but it does make the district (now numbered as the 1st) about a point more Democratic. Indeed, had the court selected areas near the Montgomery/Bucks border somewhat to the north of the current lines or somewhat to the south, the district would be redder than it is under the current confines of the map.

Northeastern Philadelphia, an essentially suburban area that probably makes more sense appended to either the 8th or to the 13th District (which is based in Montgomery County, and is now renumbered as the 4th), is now placed into a district that approaches downtown Philly. This unusual choice set off a chain reaction to the southwest of the city: The old 7th District (now numbered the 5th) is based in Delaware County, but is pushed into southern Philly.

I didnt think the court would make this move, because it in turn requires the 7th (5th) to be split among three counties, but I guess the court was okay with this. The court then selected parts of Montgomery County to place into the 7th (5th) rather than parts of Chester County. This then creates a three-way split of Montgomery County, and means that the Chester-based 6th District (still the 6th) takes in more of southeastern Chester County, which tends to lean Democratic.

The 6th is then pushed, somewhat incongruously, up into Berks County (to the north), when it could have been made more compact  and more Republican  by expanding into rural Lancaster County. Berks County has plenty of red in it, but the districts appendage only goes up into the heavily Democratic working-class town of Reading. The district now has a Democratic lean.

We can go on: Democrat Matt Cartwrights district could have been almost perfectly drawn between Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Monroe counties, which would have pushed the old 15th (now numbered the 7th) into heavily Republican Carbon County, instead of into Democratic-leaning areas of Monroe County. In other words, overall, this is probably about as good a map as Democrats could hope for (indeed, some analysis suggests that this is an even better map for them than the one that the Democratic legislature proposed).

Does this then count as a Democratic gerrymander? Its an interesting philosophical question and one that lies at the heart of the current debate over gerrymandering. Imagine that in a roughly 50-50 state, we were able to see all of the possible compact maps that didnt split political boundaries. Suppose that the average map would elect 11 Republicans and seven Democrats in a neutral year, that the most Republican-friendly map would elect 12 Republicans and six Democrats, while the most Democratic-friendly map would elect nine Republicans and nine Democrats at the other extreme.

Given this, is a map that will tend to elect 10 Republicans and eight Democrats over time a gerrymander? In one sense, it is a Republican gerrymander of one seat, because we would theoretically like to see nine and nine elected in a 50-50 state, and Republicans fare one seat better, notwithstanding the fact that the nine-nine map is possible. In another sense, it is a Democratic gerrymander of a seat, because a process that removed politics from consideration would tend to see Republicans do a bit better than the given map will.

Theres no real answer to this question. It is a normative question, and one where it is probably impossible to extricate oneself from ones partisan preferences. Unsurprisingly, liberals tend to emphasize the fact that the map pulls the state closer to a nine-nine equilibrium, while conservatives emphasize the individual choices that the mapmakers made. Of course, we also cannot set aside the fact that this map was drawn by, in effect, elected Democratic politicians, but that is a broader problem with elected judiciaries in general.

But how much will this matter in 2018? Probably less than people anticipate. Remember, Republicans were very likely to lose seats in Pennsylvania regardless of how the map was redrawn. In a bad Republican year, they probably would have lost multiple seats.

To give a sense of how this would play out, consider the following thought experiment. Assume a neutral year, where Democrats basically win all of the districts that lean Democratic, while Republicans win all of the districts that lean Republican. Lets also assume that Democrat Cartwright would win his nominally Republican district regardless of the redraw (these sorts of anomalous results represent challenges for any measurement of gerrymandering based on electoral outcomes, but that is another story).

Under the current map, there are four districts that lean toward Democrats, plus Cartwrights. Under the redrawn map, there are seven districts that lean toward Democrats, plus Cartwrights. Thus, in an even year, Democrats would gain three seats under the new map that they would not have otherwise won.

We can then push this up in increments, to see if and how these numbers change at different levels of Democratic support. So, for example, if Democrats were to win seats that leaned Republican by 0.5 points or less, they would still pick up no seats under the current map, and three under the redrawn map. Ive given the results for waves of different sizes below (results under old and redrawn map are taken from Dave Wasserman of Cook Political Report):

As you can see, in neutral years the redrawn map results in a nice advantage for Democrats over the current map. Rather than the current 14-4 Republican map (plus one for Cartwright), they would have an 11-7 Republican map (plus one for Cartwright). In a year where Democrats were able to swing all of the seats that lean Republican by a point or less into the Democrats camp, they would probably pick up four seats (and hold Cartwrights).

But as the wave grows for Democrats, the advantage for the current map shrinks. In an election where Democrats win all of the districts that lean Republican by three points or more  which is roughly the environment they need to win the House, this map only nets them one seat over what they would expect to win under the current map.

It is also worth noting that in a reasonably good Republican year  one like 2010 or 2014, where Republicans perform well in seats that are two points more Democratic than the country as a whole  we would expect a 13-5 Republican map. In other words, wed be right back where we are today.

So, in the big picture, the effect of this redraw is overstated in terms of the battle for the House. In an environment where control of the House is likely to be a question  and to be clear, were absolutely in such an environment today  Pennsylvania Republicans were likely to lose many of these House seats in the first place.
At last year's Munich Security Conference, the mood of fear and apprehension among European security officials was palpable. Three years earlier, Russia had annexed Crimea and launched incursions into Eastern Ukraine. And in the previous year, a narrow majority of British voters had decided to take their country out of the European Union, and Americans had elected a president who was critical of NATO and openly admired Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Still, the West has so far survived the age of Donald Trump. And, despite the ongoing confusion over Brexit and German leaders' difficulty in forming a new government, the EU seems to have bounced back. Most member states' economies are doing well, and French President Emmanuel Macron's administration is breathing new life into the European idea.
There is a growing certainty in the West that Russia has adopted an escalate to de-escalate nuclear strategy, which lowers the bar for nuclear weapons use to a terrifyingly low level. Importantly, it's referenced as fact in the Trump administration's new Nuclear Posture Review , which argues that the United States itself therefore needs new low-yield nuclear weapons to deter Russia at lower levels of conflict. But the evidence of a dropped threshold for Russian nuclear employment is weak. Moreover, even if this was Russia's doctrine, a shift to more American reliance on lower-yield nuclear weapons would be the wrong solution to the problem.
Private enterprise is taking great strides in space. Recently, entrepreneur Elon Musk launched his own Tesla car into Martian orbit with the worlds most powerful rocket, his own Falcon Heavy. Other entrepreneurs are also making progress with rockets and spacecraft.

Against this backdrop, the U.S. Government has hinted at the prospect of privatising its share of the International Space Station (ISS) in around 2025. Journalists and even some analysts have swallowed the idea entirely, assuming that this plan can work.

In reality, calls for privatising the station are a thin PR strategy to hide a U.S. retreat from the project. Its similar plan of action to the Vietnamisation cover story designed to lessen the psychological force of U.S. military withdrawal from Vietnam. The ISS is another strategic jam the U.S. wants to get out of.

Attempts to commercialise the ISS have made little headway for decades. Basically, private industry isnt interested. Although companies such as Musks SpaceX provide cargo transport to the station, this isnt strictly a commercial exercise but merely the outsourcing of government contracts for services. The taxpayer still foots the bill.

The ISS is losing its appeal. It has never produced the scientific breakthroughs or miracle cures that were promised. The station has been mismanaged and underused. Only one crew expedition has approached a year in duration. (Consider that the Russians managed two year-plus flights on the modest Mir space station.) The vital organs of the ISS are slowly failing, and the public no longer seems infatuated with it.

A major strategic problem for the U.S. is its total dependence on Russia for crew transport. Since the space shuttle was mothballed in 2011, all crews fly to the ISS on Russian Soyuz spacecraft. This provides Russian, a nation that doesnt exactly have good relations with America, with a strategic stranglehold. Plans for new U.S. crew capsules have suffered delays, and nobody is really sure when, or if, they will be actioned.

Washington will be increasingly wary of paying hefty fees to buy seats for Americans on Russian spacecraft. NASA isnt flush with cash, as it was in the 1960s, and the ISS is expensive to operate. All things considered, a withdrawal from this project seems increasingly likely. But like Vietnamisation, its better not to describe this as a retreat.

To use another Cold War analogy, American withdrawal from the ISS will produce a domino effect. Other nations are unlikely to accept an increased commitment to the station. Russia has considered detaching its own modules from the ISS for some time. American retreat will be the beginning of the end for the whole project.

Pulling out of the International Space Station is supposed to free up capital for new American space ventures, such as an ill-defined plan to send American astronauts to space near the Moon (without landing). But this, again, feels like a cover story. The goal is not precise, nor is the mission funded.

Its entirely possible that America will simply withdraw from human spaceflight in the next couple of decades. That is difficult to contemplate, and would be hard for observers around the globe to accept. But current events could easily lead down this path.
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A proposed monument to draw attention to Americas little-known white heritage. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images

One of the things that will surely get you labeled a fake-news-disseminating social-justice warrior on George Soross payroll is the suggestion that there just might be some racial resentments underlying the Trump movement in American politics. A new finding from Public Policy Polling helps shows why the racism suspicion persists, and why it enrages those who are suspected.

Respondents to a national survey of registered voters were asked if they had a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Black History Month. As a follow-up, they were asked if there should be a White History Month. Overall respondents favored Black History Month by a 57-18 margin, and opposed a White History Month by a 58-22 margin. Ho-hum.

But if you break out responses by self-reported 2016 presidential voting, it gets more interesting. Trump voters support Black History Month by a meh 38-25 margin (Clinton voters support it 75-10). Meanwhile, a plurality of Trump voters (37-35) think we need a White History Month (Clinton voters oppose it 8-77).

I would bet the farm I do not own that if asked about support for a White History Month these Trump supporters would claim its a product of their anti-racism: If theres going to be a Black History Month it needs to be balanced with one for white people to ensure race neutrality. A parallel argument is that everybody ought to be able to express pride in ones race. This was the claim famously made by a New Jersey deli owner who in 2015 put up a sign in his window commemorating March as White History Month:

Jim Boggess, proprietor of Jimbos Deli on Main at 22 Main St., says, No matter what you are  Muslim, Jewish, black, white, gay, straight  you should be proud of what you are. I shouldnt have to feel bad about being white.

Jimbo immediately lost so much business that he had to close his deli, and he complained that [i]t was only supposed to be a white thing, but people read more into it than that. Damn political correctness!

It may be too much to expect people like Boggess to understand the systematic destruction and distortion of African-American history that made Black History Month necessary. But you do wonder what a White History Month would look like. Would it focus on Americas all-but-forgotten 44 white presidents? The long-lost tradition of white literature from James Fenimore Cooper to John Grisham? The economic contributions of Fortune 500 CEOs over the decades?

Textbooks for a White History Month would be easy to devise: Just go to a library and pull out any standard American or World History school textbook published before about 1970. And that, of course, gets to the hiding-in-plain-sight itch that the idea of a White History Month scratches: bringing back the mythical civilization that was uncomplicated by multiculturalism or any sense that racial injustice may have contributed to the predominance of Europeans and their progeny.

Longing for a return to White History isnt the only sentiment behind the MAGA slogan. But pretending its not there at all is an act of denial as egregious as the desire to turn back the clock and exult in the unity and strength of American Greatness as defined in the 1950s.
TORRINGTON  Charlotte Hungerford Hospital is presenting Heart, Body and Soul, a free three-part series highlighting tips and information from local physicians and experts on healthy mindful living for women. Each evening will feature presentations, discussion, light food and door prizes, organizers said in a release.

This free series was designed to address important health issues facing women and to provide meaningful resources in an enjoyable setting, said Jenna Haley, certified exercise physiologist, clinical coordinator of cardiac rehab and cardiodiagnostics at CHH, in the release. We hope women invite a friend or family member and attend all three sessions as each will be unique.
TORRINGTON  The Northwest Connecticut Arts Council, Northwest Connecticut Chamber Education Foundation and Prime Time House will host a collaborative public art project, Tails of NWCT.

The project is intended to build a sense of community in the region, promote tourism and enhance the exposure of local artists, according to a release from the participating organizations.

Organizers hope that Tails of NWCT will also beautify the business districts and towns, encourage foot traffic into local businesses and celebrate the uniqueness of the area.

Local artists are invited to create unique works of art by painting or decorating fiberglass dogs, according to the release. Businesses and residents are encouraged to support the event by sponsoring a dog, of which there are four types.

The completed art dogs will be on display throughout Northwest Connecticut from mid-August through Columbus Day weekend. A regional map of all the display locations for the completed Tails of NWCT art dogs will be available to residents and tourists, project organizers said. Dogs not bought back by their sponsors will be available for bid at the Tails of NWCT Auction on Saturday, Oct. 20, at Chatterleys Banquet Facility in Torrington.

We are elated to have another opportunity to collaborate with Prime Time House and the Chambers Education Foundation. Our success last year with Over the Edge was largely due to our nonprofit partnership, said Amy Wynn, executive director of the Northwest Connecticut Arts Council, in the release. Tails of NWCT is yet another opportunity for the three organizations to truly engage the regions citizens in a variety of ways. We chose dogs as the theme because 2018 is the Chinese Year of the Dog. Dogs are very much a part of our lives, whether you own one or not. We cant wait to see the amazing designs that our regions professional and amateur artists will propose and certainly the completed Tails of NWCT dogs are sure to capture our hearts.

All proceeds will benefit the three collaborating organizations, enabling them to strengthen arts and culture, provide scholarship opportunities, and improve the mental health of those living in Northwest Connecticut, organizers said.

We look forward to another outstanding public art project through this collaboration with Prime Time House, the NW CT Arts Council and the Chambers Education Foundation, said JoAnn Ryan, president and CEO of the Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, in the release. This gives us the opportunity to showcase our special northwest Connecticut region to residents and visitors alike and highlights the participants, artists and community.

For more information about the project, including sponsorship opportunities and information for prospective artists, visit www.TAILSofNWCT.org or call the Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce at 860-482-6586.

The Northwest Connecticut Arts Council is a central hub for cultural resources and information. The Arts Council serves arts and heritage organizations and artists of all disciplines throughout the region by promoting what they do and directing them to resources that can help them realize their full potential. They also administer the Regional Initiative Grant program for the state and are known for their free annual Open Your Eyes studio tour, the CultureMAX Awards and a monthly printed events calendar.

The Northwest Connecticut Chamber Education Foundation supports the Read Aloud Day, Leadership Northwest, Junior Leadership Northwest and the WOW! Forum. Through the Chamber Education Foundation, scholarships are being established to assist with higher learning and professional development.

Prime Time House empowers local adults with mental illness to lead productive and independent lives by providing opportunities for education, employment, friendship, housing and transportation.
Kushner. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Jared Kushner is among the Trump administrations top foreign-policy advisers, and the chief architect of its plans for bringing peace to the Middle East. He requests more classified intelligence from Americas spy agencies than any other White House employee except for those who serve on the National Security Council. And yet, he still hasnt obtained a permanent security clearance  and quite possibly never will.

Why the presidents son-in-law has been unable to pass the background check necessary for securing indefinite access to state secrets isnt entirely clear. The most obvious explanation is that Kushner has had to revise his disclosure form regarding foreign contacts three separate times  on each occasion because he had failed to remember certain conversations hed had with foreign entities.

But there is another (potentially related) red flag in the senior advisers background: Kushners family is massively indebted due to a poor investment decision that he made  and must secure hundreds of millions of dollars in new capital by early 2019 to avoid a financial calamity.

Which is to say: Any foreign government willing to nudge some investors toward Kushner Companies could conceivably exert undue influence over the White House adviser.

And that prospect looks all the more conceivable, given Kushners actions immediately after the 2016 election. During the transition period, Kushner (reportedly) met with the chairman of the Chinese firm Anbang Insurance, in hopes of securing a $400 million investment in his familys flagship property at 666 Fifth Avenue. Meanwhile, his company also (reportedly) sought $500 million in capital from the former prime minister of Qatar for the same project.

Now, it appears that those dealings have piqued the interest of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. As CNN reports:

Muellers investigators have been asking questions, including during interviews in January and February, about Kushners conversations during the transition to shore up financing for 666 Fifth Avenue, a Kushner Companiesbacked New York City office building reeling from financial troubles, according to people familiar with the special counsel investigation.

 One line of questioning from Muellers team involves discussions Kushner had with Chinese investors during the transition, according to the sources familiar with the inquiry. A week after Trumps election, Kushner met with the chairman and other executives of Anbang Insurance, the Chinese conglomerate that also owns the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York  Muellers team has also asked about Kushners dealings with a Qatari investor regarding the same property, according to one of the sources. Kushner and his company were negotiating for financing from a prominent Qatari investor, former prime minister Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani, according to The Intercept. But as with Anbang, these efforts stalled.

CNNs dispatch offers no details on what Mueller may have been looking for with these questions. Kushner, for his part, denies they were ever asked. But there is a potential link between these conversations and the probe into the Trump campaigns relations with Russia: During the same period, Kushner met with Sergey Gorkov, head of Russias state-run Vnesheconombank. Once the meeting became public, Kushner insisted that hed met with Gorkov as a representative of the incoming administration, not as a businessman. Gorkov insisted the very opposite.

Regardless, all of this serves as reminder that Kushners employment in a top White House position is itself a scandal. The 37-year-old has no experience in public service or policymaking. His only qualification for his senior White House position (beyond having been born and betrothed to the right people) is the business savvy that allowed him to avoid squandering his familys enormous fortune. And he may soon forfeit that measly resume item.

In 2007, Kushners killer instinct told him that the real-estate market had nowhere to go but up. And so the would-be mogul decided to plow $500 million of his familys money  and $1.3 billion in borrowed capital  into purchasing 666 Fifth Avenue for twice the price it had previously sold for. Even if wed somehow avoided a global financial crisis, this would have been a bad bet: Before the crash, when the building was almost fully occupied, it generated only about two-thirds of the revenue that the Kushners would need to keep up with their debt payments.

After the crisis, however, things got really hairy. The Kushners were forced to sell off the buildings retail space to pay their non-mortgage debt on the building  and then to hand over nearly half of the office space to Vornado as part of a refinancing agreement with the real-estate giant.

The office space that the Kushners retained is worth less than its $1.2 billion mortgage  which is due early in 2019. If their company cant find some new scheme for refinancing and redeveloping the property by then, Kushner will have cost his family half a billion dollars.

According to the Intercept, Kushner had little luck finding interested investors  until his father-in-law won the presidency, and the Chinese and Qataris came knocking. Perhaps this was a coincidence. But its reasonable to observe that, while $500 million is a lot of money in most contexts, as the price of winning the allegiance of the worlds most powerful military in a regional dispute, it could strike some nations as quite the bargain.

Even if Kushner werent subject to such massive conflicts of interest, his presence in the West Wing would be scandalous, due to his copious lack of relevant experience. With those conflicts, his position is indefensible  no matter what more Mueller finds.
It seems that nearly everything that could go wrong has gone wrong for China's energy security following a decision to ban coal-fired heating in northern cities and switch to natural gas.

Under a joint government and municipal action plan last March, 28 northern cities were told to stop burning coal for heat this winter to avoid another "airpocalypse" smog crisis in Beijing.

But final orders for switching to gas or electricity came from the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) only in late August, allowing little time for making connections by the start of the winter season on Nov. 15.

Thousands of homes, public facilities and some power plants were left without heat or fuel until Dec. 4, when the MEP acknowledged the government's mistake in an "extra urgent" notice that allowed coal-fired heating to resume.

In the meantime, spot prices for liquefied natural gas (LNG) soared to record levels.

Xu Bo, a senior analyst for the research arm of state-owned China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC), estimated that the fuel switching initiative could add 20 billion cubic meters (bcm), or nearly 9 percent, to the country's gas demand, the official Xinhua news agency said.

As sudden shortages swept through the region, northern Hebei province next to Beijing stopped approving coal-to-gas conversions until more gas could be found, Bloomberg News reported on Jan. 29.

The combination of gas shortages and backtracking on the coal ban rippled through China's energy markets as inventories ran low at coal-fired power plants.

Thermal coal futures in China rose to a record 687 yuan (U.S. $108.49) per metric ton in early February, Reuters said.

After snowstorms drove up demand and slowed transport, major power companies reported that coal inventories at some plants fell to two or three days of supply.

On Feb. 5, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) responded by trying to cap prices, ordering China's Qinhuangdao main coal port to bar trading in standard steam coal above 750 yuan (U.S. $119.39) per ton, Platts energy news said.

Gas imports disrupted

Disruption of China's gas imports from Central Asia aggravated the situation.

On Feb. 2, the CaixinGlobal.com news site reported that CNPC had launched an emergency plan after volumes on the Central Asia Gas Pipeline system fell by half due to equipment failures in Turkmenistan and cold temperatures in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

The reference to weather conditions in the two transit countries suggested the possibility that diversions of China-bound gas may have taken place.

On Feb. 3, the Communist Party-affiliated Global Times said the troubles had brought the pipeline's supplies to "the brink of collapse," citing earlier reports by independent thepaper.cn and CNPC.

Authorities in Shaanxi, Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Qinghai, and Henan provinces immediately implemented measures to reduce gas use, the Global Times said.

The convergence of problems highlighted China's growing reliance on imported gas and its vulnerability to energy security risks.

Last year, gas imports of 92 bcm (3.2 trillion cubic feet) accounted for 38.7 percent of China's 237.3 bcm of consumption, according to NDRC figures. The proportion is likely to climb with the spike in demand this year.

While China's domestic gas output rose 8.5 percent in 2017 from a year earlier, consumption jumped 15.3 percent and imports soared 27.6 percent, the NDRC said.

The pipeline disruptions may be short-lived, said Lin Boqiang, director of the China Center for Energy Economics Research at Xiamen University, as quoted by the Global Times.

"The incident nonetheless taught China a valuable lesson about self-reliance rather than 'pinning hopes on someone else,'" the paper quoted Lin as saying.

The report represents a rare official recognition of the energy risks that China faces as it pursues its economic and environmental plans.

As large as China's import dependence is for gas, it pales in comparison to its reliance on foreign oil, which reached 67.4 percent last year, according to CNPC.

The ratio is headed for 80 percent by 2040, the Paris-based International Energy Agency said in its annual World Energy Outlook report.

A Chinese firefighting vessel sprays foam on the burning oil tanker Sanchi at sea off the coast of eastern China, Jan. 12, 2018. Credit: AFP/China's Ministry of Transport Risky business

The risks of transporting oil on ocean routes from the Middle East came into sharp relief when an Iranian tanker collided with a Hong Kong-registered cargo ship in the East China Sea on Jan. 7, killing 32 sailors and causing one of the region's worst oil spills in decades.

The sinking of the Panama-registered tanker Sanchi also ignited a public dispute with one of China's key oil suppliers after Iran's Naval Commander Hossein Khanzadi charged that China delayed visas for special forces seeking to rescue 30 Iranian crew members, according to the MEHR news agency.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lu Kang, called the charges of inadequate rescue efforts "untrue and irresponsible," Xinhua reported.

Taken together, the troubles of the past three months may not add up to an energy crisis, but they may serve as warning signs of greater energy security risks to come.

Mikkal Herberg, energy security research director for the Seattle-based National Bureau of Asian Research, noted that much of China's LNG supplies must travel the same ocean routes as its oil imports, compounding uncertainties.

Yet, little high-level attention has been paid to China's growing vulnerability to energy disruptions.

Official policy statements on the rise in import dependence have been conspicuous in their absence.

The government has yet to issue a white paper on energy security. The National Energy Administration (NEA) has been silent. The National Leading Group on energy and environmental issues has also had nothing to say.

In the case of the sudden spike in gas demand following the coal ban, Herberg said the government was simply caught by surprise.

"This surge in gas import dependence has happened incredibly fast," he said. "Particularly with this LNG surge along the coast, I think the leadership is just behind the curve in seeing how fast their dependence is growing and how these markets work."

China's problem with reliance on gas imports has now become almost as serious as its dependence on foreign oil, Herberg said.

The interruption of Central Asian pipeline supplies, which represented about 42 percent of China's imports last year, may serve as a wake-up call for senior leaders.

"I think they're playing catch-up. They haven't grasped how big their gas import dependence has become, and so absolutely critical," Herberg said.

"There will be a huge reevaluation, and I would be willing to bet there will be a white paper on gas import dependence and energy security before long," he said.

Heavier reliance on Russia

In coming years, China will rely increasingly on Russia for new supplies of pipeline gas. Deliveries from Russia's giant U.S. $60-billion (376-billion yuan) Power of Siberia pipeline project are scheduled to start in December 2019, eventually ramping up to 38 bcm per year.

On Feb. 6, Russia's Gazprom said it had completed 1,480 kilometers (919 miles), or about two-thirds of the linear section of the pipeline, Interfax reported.

Gazprom hopes to capture 10 percent of China's gas market by 2025, an official said.

Growth in import dependence may be inevitable. But part of China's problem stems from incomplete reforms in its domestic gas market, Herberg said.

"These markets still don't work. They're heavily controlled by administrative pricing, by CNPC's practical monopoly over gas pipeline infrastructure and slow-moving response to building pipes that need to be built to move gas more effectively," he said.
Authorities in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong have ordered a large Protestant church to close, while officials in Henan say they will begin demolishing any church buildings not approved by the government, RFA has learned.



The Shekou One Country International Church in Guangdongs Shenzhen city was visited for a fire and safety inspection two weeks ago, and has now been sealed off by the Futian district police and fire departments inspection department.



The move isnt the first time the 3,000-member church has been forced out of its premises. It was previously forced to relocate after police put pressure on the landlord to evict it from its headquarters in Shekou, later holding large-scale gatherings for worship in a movie theater in Nanshan district.



Now, the churchs new premises near Futians Chegong Temple have been sealed off, with an order of premises closure pasted to the doors.



Anyone found breaking these seals or other otherwise making use of premises sealed off by police and fire services will be liable for administrative detention of 10-15 days duration, the notice warns.



The church is currently led by a U.S. national, a pastor known as Bill, a church member who asked not to be identified told RFA. Its members have been meeting weekly on Fridays in the building for prayers and worship for the past five years.



Now that the Chegong Temple venue has been shut down, they will go to to the Nanyou Movie Theater to hold their meetings instead, the church member said.



The church is called International for a reason: around one third of its members hail from Europe, the United States, Australia, the Philippines, and other Southeast Asian countries.



Local Chinese members are typically migrant workers in factories in and around the Pearl River Delta cities of Shenzhen and Zhuhai.



Red flags required



Meanwhile, authorities in the central Chinese province of Henan have fined a Protestant house church in Zhangde village, Yuzhou city 20,000 yuan, saying their premises are in breach of building and safety regulations.



Officials from the Zhangde village government say the church failed to obtain the required permissions when building the venue, making it an illegal structure.



The Yingbilicun house church recently built its own meeting venue, but the religious affairs bureau of the local government is saying that they didnt register the church with them when they were building it, a church member who asked to remain anonymous told RFA.



Now they want to fine them 20,000 yuan or they wont be able to open the church, he said. I heard that they wont be allowed to have a cross inside the church, but will have to display red flags instead.



The Yingbilicun church member said the authorities had begun forcing churches to display red flags, to represent the ruling Chinese Communist Party, back in June.



All of the churches that belong to the Three-Self Patriotic Association have red flags in them, he said, in a reference to the government-backed ruling body for Protestant Christians in China. They hang up red flags and sing the national anthem.



He said the authorities have warned that they plan to demolish any church premises not registered with the local authorities after the Chinese New Year holiday.



If they havent gotten a church premises permit from the bureau of religious affairs, they will be demolished, and regarded as illegal gatherings, the church member said.



Chinese authorities physically abused, detained, arrested, tortured, sentenced to prison, or harassed adherents of both registered and unregistered religious groups, the U.S. State Department said in an annual report released last August.



It said authorities in the eastern province of Zhejiang also continued a campaign begun in 2014 to tear down Christian structures, including 600 crosses destroyed by the end of the year, while several church leaders resisting the demolition were detained and prosecuted.



Reported by Qiao Long for RFAs Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Authorities in the southwestern Chinese megacity of Chongqing have committed around a dozen activists to psychiatric facilities after they took part in a demonstration last Friday in the citys Yangjiaping district, RFA has learned.



Around 70 activists took to the streets of Yangjiaping last week in protest at forcible evictions and demolitions by city authorities.



Protesters Pan Bin, Liu Gaosheng, Xiao Chenglin, Tan Min, and He Chaozheng were later detained alongside several others whose names couldnt be confirmed, fellow activists said.



According to an open letter in protest at the move, the government is increasingly using psychiatric treatment as a means to incarcerate local critics and activists.



It said activists Deng Guangying, Zhang Fen, Liu Deying and others had already been incarcerated in mental healthcare facilities last year in Chongqing.



The letter expressing concern for their safety and calling for their release had garnered around 100 signatures by Tuesday.



Chongqing-based activist Guo Xingmei said petitioners have formed a group to campaign against the use of psychiatric detention.



They are still in the psychiatric hospital, although the police brought Tang Yunshu out again after she went in, Guo said. She is at home now.



But He Chaozheng, Liu Gaosheng, Xiao Chenglin, Tan Min and a few others have been mentally illed, Guo said. They all had to go for a check-up.



Involuntary treatment



Tang said in a brief interview with RFA on Tuesday that she was initially subjected to involuntary psychiatric treatment last June.



I was locked up and persecuted in the Chongqing Jinzishan Mental Health Hospital on June 1, 2017, she said. I was given a psychiatric check and a diagnosis.



Tang was diagnosed with paranoid personality disorder, defined by diagnostic manuals as a an unwarranted tendency to interpret the actions of other people as deliberately threatening or demeaning.



But according to the open letter, Tan, Liu, Xiao, He and the other detainees were protesting the governments forcible takeover of their land and demolition of their homes, suggesting that their interpretations of threat werent unwarranted.



They were only referred for psychiatric treatment once they lodged official complaints about the loss of their homes.



They are all wise healthy citizens with no mental illness whatsoever, the letter said. They shouldnt have been mentally illed.



Chongqing petitioner Li Qun told RFA that the local authorities are increasingly using such tactics against their critics.



Take Tang Min, for example, Li said. The [criminal] case against her was sent back for further investigation by the prosecution, so they put her in a mental hospital.



They diagnosed her as mentally ill, and then there is Tang Yunshu, who they locked up for 10 months, and have now released with no charges, but who also has a psychiatric diagnosis.



Chongqing is sending all of its rights defenders to psychiatric hospitals for diagnosis right now, Li said. A lot of rights activists and petitioners have signed the letter saying they dont want to be mentally illed, in the hope of raising awareness.



The Chongqing protest comes as authorities in the southern province of Guangdong confined a rights activist to a psychiatric hospital in spite of her appearing to lack any symptoms of mental illness.



Continuing collusion



Zhang Qi was committed to the Guangzhou Baiyun Mental Rehabilitation Hospital in the Baiyun district of Guangdong's provincial capital after being incommunicado for several months, her fellow activists told RFA.



Despite protections promised by a Mental Health Law passed by China in 2013, the country's medical profession has continued to collude with the authorities in carrying out psychiatric incarceration of critics of the ruling Chinese Communist Party, a rights group has said in a recent report.



The practice of locking up those who challenge the government in mental institutions has become an endemic rights abuse in the country's legal system, and authorities have increasingly used the tactic against rights activists and dissidents as a way of imposing indefinite periods of detention on them without the need for a trial, according to the Civil Rights and Livelihood Watch report.



The Mental Health Law was aimed at protecting mental health service users from misdiagnosis and involuntary medical treatment in China's state-run psychiatric hospitals.



But the use of state psychiatric institutions to restrain critics of the ruling Chinese Communist Party is still widespread, according to the Hubei-based group's annual report for 2017.



"The widespread and persistent creation of "psychiatric patients" by the Chinese authorities not only constitutes a grave violation of international human rights conventions, but also violates the provisions of the Chinese Constitution, Criminal Law and Mental Health Act that respect the protection of civil rights," the group said.



Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
The president of Xinjiang University in northwestern China was removed from his post and detained last year, in what his fellow Uyghurs believe is that latest example of Chinas crackdown on two-faced Uyghurs accused of insincerity in supporting government policies.

The website of Xinjiang University, the highest institute of learning in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, said the replacement of prominent scholar Tashpolat Teyip was announced at a meeting of Communist Party cadres on March 31, 2017.

The meeting, led by Xinjiang Communist Party Regional deputy secretary Li Pengxin, announced that Teyip (whose name is sometimes spelled Taxpolat Tiyip) had been removed from his post and replaced by Weli Barat, said the website, Bulaq Kol.

Teyip, a geographer with a doctorate from Tokyo University of Science who had served as university president from 2010, was praised for his commitment to serving the party with complete obedience, including strictly implementing political ideology, said the website.

Despite the praise, Teyip disappeared from public view after that meeting, and word in Uyghur society was that he had been detained and was being kept in a secret location, RFAs Uyghur Service learned this month.

Chinese authorities and the countrys tightly controlled media have not released any information regarding Teyip, who was born in 1958.

Telephone calls to several university administrative departments, however, enabled RFA to verify that Teyip was under investigation, without yielding specific details of his case.

Currently his crime has not been declared, and we have not been informed of anything, said a staffer at the university presidents office.

I cant explain to you, as I am not sure about the exact facts, the man said, before hurriedly ending the call.

At the universitys discipline and inspection department, a man told RFA that at the moment (Teyip) is cooperating with the ongoing investigation.

Asked what alleged offenses were being investigated, the man swiftly hung up the phone.

Purged from roster of historic presidents

At the schools security department, the man who answered RFAs call, simply said: We cannot answer these questions, and please do not call this number again.

Officials at the universitys human resources and administration departments, refused to comment.

Teyips name was also removed from the official list of presidents since the founding of Xinjiang University in 1924, when it was known as Xinjiang Russian and Law School.

His absence from the list is seen by Uyghurs as startling, because Sheng Shicai, a reviled Chinese warlord who had ruled Xinjiang with an iron fist before Chinese communist annexation of the region after 1949, is still listed despite serving only two years as university president.

Teyips rapid rise in his career included his appointment as dean of Xinjiang Universitys geography department in 1996. As president of the university beginning in 2010, he was at the same time Communist Party deputy secretary.

His list of publications includes book contributions and numerous scientific articles on the subject of spectroscopy and long-distance sensing and their applications to measuring land cover and soil types.

Many Uyghurs believe he ran afoul of an unprecedented ideological purge unfolding in Xinjiang against so-called two-faced Uyghur officialsa term applied by the government to Uyghurs who do not willingly follow directives and exhibit signs of disloyalty.

The repressive measures against Uyghurs suspected of disloyalty were ushered in by Xinjiang Communist Party chief Chen Quanguo, who was appointed to his post in August 2016.

China regularly conducts strike hard campaigns in Xinjiang, including police raids on Uyghur households, restrictions on Islamic practices, and curbs on the culture and language of the Uyghur people, including videos and other material.



While China blames some Uyghurs for militant attacks, experts outside China say Beijing has exaggerated the threat from the Uyghurs and that repressive domestic policies are responsible for an upsurge in violence there that has left hundreds dead since 2009.

Reported by Kurban Niyaz for RFA's Uyghur Service. Translated by the Uyghur Service. Written in English by Paul Eckert.


An explosion has killed at least three tribal elders and wounded two in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar Province, while at least nine police were killed in attacks elsewhere in the war-wracked country, officials say.

The three tribal elders were killed when a bomb went off on February 20 in a hotel room in Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar Province, said Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the provincial governor. The cause of the blast was not immediately clear and there was no immediate claim of responsibility.

The elders were in Jalalabad for a meeting about a new electronic identity card being introduced by the central government. Khogyani said that two other elders were wounded in the blast and that another bomb was discovered and defused by police near the hotel.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombing. Both the Taliban and Afghanistan's Islamic State (IS) affiliate are active in Nangarhar.

In the western Farah Province, attacks on police checkpoints killed eight officers, said Muhammad Naser Mehri, spokesman for the Farah governor.

Mehri added that 13 insurgents were also killed in the fighting. A Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for the attacks in Farah.

In the eastern Kapisa Province, two gunmen opened fire at the police, killing one officer, provincial spokesman Qais Qaderi said, adding that both gunmen were also killed.

No one claimed responsibility for the attack in Kapisa.

Meanwhile, officials confirmed that two mass graves belonging to civilians abducted by IS militants, with a total of nearly two dozen bodies, had been found in Nangarhar in the last two days.

Spokesman Khogyani said 10 bodies were discovered in a grave in the Mamanddara area of Achin district on February 20, while another grave with nine bodies was found in the same area the previous day.

With reporting by AP, AFP, dpa, and Tolonews.com
The business of the Trump administration is business. Photo: Rick Wilking-Pool/Getty Images

The president of the United States owns a business with globe-spanning assets and liabilities. Many of his investments involve partnerships with entities closely tied to foreign governments; others rely on the cooperation of such governments (through permitting, zoning, and other such matters) for their profitability.

Donald Trump has, by his own account, spent much of his adult life trying to enrich himself through corruption: During his presidential campaign, the mogul claimed that he had routinely tried to buy policy favors from elected officials by donating to their campaigns.

Given these realities, many experts in government ethics believe that Trump had an obligation to take extraordinary measures to insulate himself from conflicts of interest once be became president  up to and including divesting himself from a wide range of foreign assets. Of course, Trump refused to do any such thing. Instead, he vowed to place his assets into what he referred to as a blind trust, but was actually an entity that would allow him perfect knowledge of his holdings  and that would be managed by his adult sons, Eric and Don Jr. The presidents sole concession to ethical propriety was the stipulation that neither Eric nor Don Jr. would have any role whatsoever in his administration.

The company and policy and government are completely separated, Eric Trump assured the Washington Post last year. We have built an unbelievable wall in between the two.

The key word there was unbelievable. The president has never been willing to expend much effort on maintaining such a facade. In the first weeks after his election, Trump invited Eric and Don Jr. to a policy meeting with tech executives, met with his Indian business partners, and allowed his D.C. hotel to begin courting the patronage of foreign diplomats. In the first year after his inauguration, he mixed politics and business in ever more blatant ways.

But Don Jr.s trip to India represents a kind of coming-out party for the Trumpist kleptocracy: According the the Washington Post, the manager of the presidents blind trust will travel to Mumbai this week to promote his familys real-estate projects, sell access to himself for $38,000 a head, and give a foreign policy speech (ostensibly) on behalf of his fathers administration at a global business summit:

Beginning Tuesday, Trump Jr. will have a full schedule of meet-and-greets with investors and business leaders throughout India, where the Trump family has real estate projects  Mumbai, the New Delhi suburb of Gurgaon, the western city of Pune and the eastern city of Kolkata.

Indian newspapers have been running full-page, glossy advertisements hyping his arrival and the latest Trump Tower project under the headline: Trump is here  Are You Invited? The ads also solicited home buyers to plunk down a booking fee (about $38,000) to join Mr. Donald Trump Jr. for a conversation and dinner. Public relations executives working with two local developers arranging the Trump dinner declined to give specifics about the event.

During the visit, the 40-year-old Trump Jr., executive vice president of the Trump Organization, will take a break from his private promotional tour to give an address on Reshaping Indo-Pacific Ties: The New Era of Cooperation at a global business summit on Friday evening, co-sponsored by the Economic Times newspaper. [Indian Prime Minister Narendra] Modi will also speak at the summit  Later this week, Trump Jr. will travel to Mumbai to open the demo unit at the golden-facade Trump Tower being built by the family development firm of Mangal Prabhat Lodha, a state legislator in Modis Bharatiya Janata Party.

To review: Donald Trump Jr. will be serving as a representative of both his fathers business and government during this weeks trip to India, and will be selling access to himself (and thus, ostensibly, to his fathers government) for roughly $40,000 a pop.

But, hey  at least he wont be doing something truly scandalous, like, say, taking a meeting with a Nobel Peace Prizewinning economist who once donated to his spouses charity.
MINSK -- The state prosecutor has asked a Belarusian court to sentence an activist who took part in protests against a law obliging the unemployed to pay taxes on "social parasites" to four years in prison.

Svyataslau Baranovich, who was charged with attacking a police officer, pleaded guilty on the trial's first day on February 15, but said that the police officer he hit at a rally in March 2017 was not in uniform.

Baranovich's lawyer asked the court to consider a punishment that would not put his client behind bars.

The judge adjourned the trial, saying that Baranovich will be given the floor for a final statement on February 28 and that the verdict will be announced the same day.

After the 2015 law establishing a "parasite tax" sparked protests in Minsk and other cities in 2016 and 2017, President Alyaksandr Lukashenka announced that collection of the tax would be suspended until 2018.

On January 25 of this year, however, Lukashenka signed a decree canceling the law.

The law echoed Soviet-era legislation under which unemployed citizens could face criminal prosecution.
The Supreme Court of Belarus has rejected an appeal from a Japanese military-history buff who is in prison on arms-smuggling charges after he brought antique gun parts into the country.

Daichi Yoshida's lawyer, Dzmitry Shylau, told RFE/RL on February 20 that he had received the court's decision by mail.

The ruling, dated February 13, says that Yoshida's appeal against his conviction and 4 1/2-year prison sentence was rejected because his "guilt in committing the crime he was convicted of has been proved."

Shylau says that his client had no intention of violating the law and was only transiting Belarus with vintage gun parts that he acquired as a collector.

Yoshida was arrested in Belarus in August 2016 while seeking to return to Japan from Ukraine, where he bought 10 locks and four barrels from vintage bolt-action Russian-made Mosin-Nagant rifles dating back to the late 19th century.

Security officers at Kyiv's Zhulyany Airport assured him that his luggage was fine, but Belarusian authorities at the Minsk airport said that the gun parts were suitable for modern weapons and arrested the artist.

Yoshida, a 27-year-old comic-book artist who says he is innocent, is serving his prison term in a high-security prison in the northeastern city of Vitsebsk.

His mother, Yoko Yoshida, told RFE/RL earlier this year that her son was suffering from depression and "struggling" to survive.

In a letter scrawled in English, Yoshida himself said he was in "terrible condition" and suggested he was mentally broken.
BRUSSELS -- Lawyers and activists from ex-Soviet republics on February 20 urged the European Union to adopt legislation mirroring a U.S. law aimed at punishing officials for corruption and rights abuses anywhere in the world.

The speakers at a European Parliament event in Brussels included Azerbaijani activist Leyla Yunus, who was convicted by Azerbaijan in a case that drew international condemnation, and Kazakh lawyer Botagoz Jardemalie, who has been granted political asylum in Belgium.

They called for an EU version of the Global Magnitsky Act, a 2016 law modeled on another law passed four years earlier that specifically targeted Russians deemed by Washington to be complicit in human rights abuses.

Jardemalie, who formerly represented fugitive Kazakh tycoon Mukhtar Ablyazov and alleges her brother was illegally detained and tortured by Kazakh authorities, said that an EU version of law was "the only real mechanism that exists to stop high-profile human rights abusers."

Yunus told the event that her lawyer in Azerbaijan has lost his job, "but the people that beat us and tortured my husband have a good career."

She and her husband, Arif Yunus, were arrested in 2014 and sentenced to 8 1/2 and 7 years in prison, respectively, for alleged economic crimes. They were released on medical grounds and have lived in the Netherlands since April 2016.

The United States in December imposed financial and travel restrictions on 52 government-linked people from Uzbekistan, Russia, Ukraine, and elsewhere, as part of its first sanctions listing under the Global Magnitsky Act.
The United States says it is "deeply concerned" about a surge in attacks by the Syrian government and its allies on a rebel-held enclave near the capital, Damascus.

The cessation of violence in the Eastern Ghouta region "must begin now," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told reporters on February 20, denouncing what she called the "siege and starve tactics" of forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says air strikes, rocket fire, and shelling has killed at least 250 people in the besieged region in two days.

Meanwhile, factions in Eastern Ghouta fired mortars at eastern districts of Damascus, killing at least six people there, according to Syrian state media.

The UN's humanitarian coordinator for Syria, Panos Moumtzis, said that six hospitals had been hit in Eastern Ghouta in the past two days, adding that at least three were out of service and two were partially functioning.

The UN has warned that the humanitarian situation of civilians in the region was "spiraling out of control" and called for a cease-fire to allow humanitarian aid to be delivered and hundreds of critically sick and wounded patients to be evacuated.

Nearly 400,000 people live in Eastern Ghouta, a pocket of satellite towns and farms under government siege since 2013, the world body says.

Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters
Fresh clashes between Iranian security forces and Gonabadi dervishes follow years of tensions and persecution of dervishes, whose houses of worship have been destroyed and members detained.

Who Are Gonabadi Dervishes?

The Nematollahi Gonabadi order is Iran's largest Sufi order, with members across the country, including in major cities like Tehran and Isfahan. Like most Iranians, they are followers of Shi'a Islam. They pray five times a day and fast during the month of Ramadan. Their rituals include reading spiritual poetry.

The Gonabadi dervishes view Sufism as a way of life through which one can find God. They strongly oppose the use of drugs and preach tolerance. Perhaps more crucially in the current context, they believe that religion and politics should be separated.

Their leader or "pole" is 90-year-old Paris-educated lawyer Nurali Tabandeh, who defended several political prisoners before and after the 1979 revolution. Dervishes have said that Tabandeh's safety is their "red line."

In recent weeks, dozens of dervishes have staged a sit-in outside Tabandeh's residence in northern Tehran to protect him. They say they became concerned after at least one occasion in which plainclothes agents, believed to be affiliated with security organs, swarmed his street, with clashes ensuing.

Why Does Tehran See Them As a Threat?

Iran's clerical establishment has long opposed any group that it regards as a threat to its monopoly on religion.

Dervishes say their growing popularity is the reason behind the state pressure they face. They claim to have between 2 million and 5 million members in Iran and abroad. They say their tight-knit community also concerns Iranian authorities.

Farhad Nouri, an Australia-based editor of Majzooban.org, which covers Sufi news, once suggested to RFE/RL that Iranian leaders are also worried that dervishes could use their network to mobilize against the establishment, which has faced seemingly unrelated street protests recently.

"Particularly after the 2009 presidential election, because of the widespread support of the dervishes for [unsuccessful] presidential candidate Mehdi Karrubi, the establishment became concerned that the dervishes could organize and engage in actions against the regime," Nouri said in 2013.

Some conservative clerics have called the Sufis a danger to Islam. Ayatollah Hossein Nuri Hamedani, a high-ranking cleric in Qom, said in 2006 that by not engaging in politics, Sufis weaken Islam. Hard-liners have also accused the dervishes of being used by foreign powers to create discord within Iranian society.

In 2007, a letter was published by a group describing themselves as seminarians of Qom in which the signatories warned of the "dangers" of Sufism and called on authorities to deal with it "more firmly." They added that the "Hizbullah nation of Iran" is ready to cooperate and assist officials.

Amnesty International says the persecution of dervishes increased after an October 2010 speech by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who denounced "newly created circles of false mysticism."

Sufis, who believe one can reach a direct union with God, and Orthodox Muslims have long been at odds in Iran. The tensions have worsened since the creation of the Islamic republic as state tolerance for Sufis has decreased.

What Kind Of Pressure Have They Faced?

Dervishes have complained of state pressure and harassment for years.

Some of their houses of worship have been destroyed in past years, while hundreds of members have been detained and more than a dozen have been sentenced to prison terms, lashes, or internal exile.

In 2006, a Sufi house of worship was destroyed in Qom and 1,000 dervishes were detained following clashes that reportedly left 100 injured. Authorities claimed the Sufis had illegally turned a presidential building into a center of worship and had refused to vacate it.

Dervishes have also accused authorities of firing their adherents from state jobs and banning them from university studies due to their affiliation with the Gonabadi order.

The New York-based Center for Human Rights In Iran reported that a member of the Gonabadai dervishes, Sepideh Moradi Sarvestani, was expelled from Tehran's Tarbiat Modares University on February 3 "for refusing to formally pledge not to engage in activities deemed unacceptable by officials."

In 2013, at least seven Gonabadi Sufis were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 7 1/2 to 10 1/2 years in connection with the Majzooban.org website, which has highlighted state pressure against members of the order and spread news and information on social media.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the trials "bore the hallmarks of a classic witch hunt" while noting that the targeted dervishes were trying "to give a voice to the defense of Sufi rights."

Have Dervishes Resisted Such Pressure?

Many dervishes have resisted Iranian state pressure by staging public protests, sit-ins, or hunger strikes, or simply issuing open letters demanding more rights.

In 2014, hundreds of dervishes gathered outside the office of Tehran's chief prosecutor to express support for several jailed Sufis on hunger strike and to call on the authorities to respect the "civil rights" of Gonabadi dervishes as "equal members of society."

They have also resorted increasingly to social media to spread news and information, raise awareness about the pressure they face, and break the "official news boycott" they say they face.

How Does The International Community See It?

Pressure on dervishes has been cited in reports by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights In Iran and also by the U.S. State Department.

Human rights groups have long accused Iran of violating the rights of its minorities. Iran has dismissed the charges.

What Do We Know About The Latest Violence, Including A Recent Bus Attack?

The recent clashes reportedly broke out after dervishes staged a protest over the arrest of one of their members who had traveled to Tehran, purportedly to protect the residence of Tabandeh.

The semiofficial hard-line Fars news agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), reported that a Sufi follower rammed a bus into a group of police officers late on February 19, killing three of them before being arrested.

In a post to its Telegram channel, Majzooban.org denied Sufi involvement.

But members of the Gonabadi Sufi order have been quoted by Iranian media as saying that at least one of their number was killed by security forces during the latest clashes.

Nouri, the Australia-based editor, told Radio Farda that dervishes were not involved and he suggested that opposition activists who aim to create violence could have been to blame.

"There are some opposition groups that are aiming to create violent acts against the establishment," Nouri said in a telephone interview with RFE/RL's Radio Farda.

He said that dervishes have never initiated violence in the past decade, "they've merely defended themselves."

Asked about videos showing dervishes with batons and knives, he said: "When you come under attack, you do what you can to defend yourself."

"Dervishes have a belief that they're all connected, when one come under attack, others rush to help him," he added.


The Iranian Foreign Ministry says it has summoned the Swedish ambassador to protest over the country's granting of citizenship to a Stockholm-based scientist who is being held in Tehran and faces a death sentence.

Irans official IRNA news agency quoted ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi as saying that the Swedish envoy in Tehran had been summoned in protest on February 19, two days after Sweden confirmed it had granted citizenship to Ahmadreza Djalali.

A Swedish Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on February 17 that Stockholm has requested that Iran allow "consular access to our citizen."

"Our demand is that the death penalty is not carried out," she also said.

Qasemi said Iran considered Sweden's move "questionable and unfriendly," and added that Tehran "could not accept the foreign nationality" of the detainee.

"He is still an Iranian," he added.

Iran does not recognize dual citizenship.

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.

'Solitary Confinement, Torture'

Tehrans prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi has said Djalali confessed to meeting agents of the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad, to deliver information on Iran's nuclear and defense plans and personnel.

Djalali had been on a business trip to Iran when he was arrested and sent to Tehran's notorious Evin prison.

Amnesty International says Djalali was held in solitary confinement for three months and tortured after his arrest.

The London-based rights groups also said Djalali wrote a letter from inside prison in August stating that 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 that he could "continue his scholarly work for the benefit of mankind.

With reporting by Reuters and AP


ASTANA -- Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev has decreed changes in the Latin-based alphabet that is to replace Cyrillic in the Central Asian country, abolishing apostrophes that came under severe criticism from linguists.

In a presidential order published on February 20, he approved a new version of a Latin-based alphabet that removes apostrophes for several sounds in the Kazakh language and replaces them with diacritical signs above letters.

Kazakhstan is moving to replace the Cyrillic alphabet with a Latin-based one, an apparent effort to emphasize Kazakh culture while distancing the country from Russia and shedding traditions left over after decades of domination by Moscow.

Nazarbaev, who has been in power since before the Soviet breakup of 1991, signed a decree in October that set out plans to make the switch by 2025.

But the alphabet published at the time was harshly criticized by linguists, who complained that apostrophes divided some words into four or five parts, making them impossible to read.

Information and Communications Minister Dauren Abaev told reporters in Astana on February 20 that Nazarbaev agreed to abolish the apostrophes following recommendations by IT specialists and other experts.

The chairman of the Culture Ministry's committee for languages, Quat Borashev, said the new version will "make it much easier to write and read in Kazakh."

Nazarbaev has been talking about switching to Latin for years. The effort gathered momentum in April 2017, when he ordered authorities to come up with a new alphabet for the Kazakh language by the end of the year.

Kazakhstan has used a Cyrillic-based alphabet for nearly 80 years.

In 1929, Soviet authorities replaced traditional Arabic-based alphabets used by Muslim minorities in the Soviet Union with Latin-based national alphabets. In 1940, the Latin alphabet was replaced with Cyrillic, the alphabet used in the Russian language.

Former Soviet republics Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan -- which, like Kazakhstan, are Turkic-speaking nations -- abandoned Cyrillic scripts and switched to Latin-based alphabets in the early years after the Soviet breakup.
Law enforcement authorities in Ukraine are investigating the circumstances surrounding what they say was the suicide of a 19-year-old medical student from Turkmenistan.



Prosecutors say Mukkadas Nasyrlaeva jumped to her death off a bridge in Kyiv on January 30.

In a statement on February 19, the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office said it was investigating whether anyone had incited Nasyrlaeva, a student at the National Medical University, to commit suicide.

The statement cited media reports as saying that her decision "might have been caused by difficulties that appeared during her studies at the university, namely misunderstandings with its leadership."

In its own statement the same day, the university said that Nasyrlaeva had been expelled in January for violation of immigration regulations as her student visa expired on December 17.

A lawyer for Nasyrlaeva's family, Rovshanbek Rozmetov, wrote earlier on Facebook that Nasyrlaeva committed suicide after a talk with the university's deputy dean for work with foreign students.

He said the deputy dean refused to sign papers requested by the Turkmen Embassy in Kyiv that would have enabled Nasyrlaeva to extend her visa without leaving Ukraine.

In another statement on February 19, the university said that it had suspended the deputy dean pending further investigation.

Nasyrlaeva, who was fluent in four languages, was one of the top students in the university and the leader of a group being trained as dentists, according to Rozmetov.
The embattled head of Latvia's central bank has denied bribery allegations against him, saying he is the victim of a smear campaign and will not step down.

"I have taken the decision not to resign," Bank of Latvia Governor Ilmars Rimsevics said on February 20. "I am not guilty."

He told reporters in Riga that he was being targeted by "some Latvian commercial banks to destroy Latvia's reputation."

Latvian officials have called on Rimsevics to step down after the country's anticorruption agency detained him over the weekend on suspicion of soliciting and receiving at least 100,000 euros ($125,000) in bribes.

Rimsevics was later released on bail without being formally charged, but Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis's office said he had been suspended pending an investigation by Latvia's anti-corruption agency.

The criminal investigation coincides with bribery allegations against Rimsevics from Norvik Banka, a Riga-based lender controlled by Grigory Guselnikov, a Russian-born British citizen.

However, Kucinskis's office said Guselnikov had provided no evidence of wrongdoing against Rimsevics despite being "repeatedly asked."

Also on February 20, Latvia's Defense Ministry said in an English-language statement that there was a "high probability that a large-scale information attack on Latvia is being organized from the outside" to damage trust in the government and influence elections set for October.

The ministry said the purported campaign was "identical in structure and execution to information operations which were observed in France, Germany, and the USA before elections" -- an apparent reference to allegations of Russian meddling in those countries.

Rimsevics has held his post since 2001 and is also a member of the European Central Bank's governing council.

Latvia is a NATO and European Union member and uses the euro as its currency.

In a tweet on February 20, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert voiced U.S. support for Latvia's anticorruption efforts.

"U.S. has full confidence Government of #Latvia will take necessary steps to uphold integrity of its banking and financial sector. U.S. supports and will continue to help Latvia realize a strong, well-regulated Latvian financial sector," Nauert said.

Based on reporting by Reuters and Bloomberg
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused the United States and some European countries of stoking East-West tensions in the Balkans ahead of a visit to Serbia this week.

In an interview with Serbia's Beta news agency on February 19, Lavrov claimed that what he called "anti-Russia" nations are pressing Balkan states to choose to be "with the West or with Russia" -- and making the former a condition of joining the EU and NATO.

Lavrov, who is scheduled to visit Serbia on February 21, told Serbian broadcaster N1 TV that any effort to force Balkan nations to pick sides is "very wrong" and that Russia intends to maintain its interests and ties with Serbia and its neighbors.

A new EU strategy for the Western Balkans says that Serbia and Montenegro could become members of the bloc by 2025 -- a target date also embraced by Belgrade.

While EU leaders have laid down tough conditions for joining -- particularly on establishing the rule of law, guaranteeing fundamental rights, and settling regional territorial disputes -- they say they have not pushed anti-Russian policies as a condition of membership.

Serbia, in particular, has continued to nurture close ties with Moscow and has said it will not join the EU's economic sanctions against Russia over its aggression in Ukraine.

Belgrade has not sought to join NATO -- unlike Macedonia, which is seeking to join the military alliance, and Montenegro, which became a member in 2017.

Belgrade's neutral military policy has not been openly opposed by U.S. or European leaders.

Western countries have raised questions, however, about Serbia's establishment of a joint Russian-Serbian humanitarian center in the southern city of Nis, which Western officials suspect may be used by Russia to harbor spies and disseminate propaganda in the Balkans.

A U.S. lawmaker who visited Serbia last year said that to secure the flow of investment from the West, U.S. officials were looking for "an indication that [Serbia] is really leaning toward Western democracies and free-market capitalism and leaning against the type of aggression that, unfortunately [Russian President] Vladimir Putin is demonstrating with Russia currently."

Lavrov denounced what he called "hysteria" in the West over the humanitarian center, where he said only four Russian citizens currently are working.

He asserted that "Washington and some European capitals send their emissaries to the Balkans for this exact purpose: don't be friends with Russia, refuse joint interaction with it in all areas," and said that Western policies are "increasing tensions in Europe."

U.S. and European officials have accused Russia of causing tension through actions such as its military interference in Ukraine and what Western governments say are its efforts to sow discord and meddle in elections in the West.

Lavrov also said Russia would oppose any move by the EU to force Serbia to recognize the independence of Kosovo, a former province of Serbia.

Kosovo declared independence in 2008 and is recognized by 116 other nations, including most EU members.

Lavrov said that Russia would continue to block Kosovo from obtaining recognition at the United Nations until Belgrade and Pristina negotiate a compromise on the matter of sovereignty, as advocated by Serbian leaders.

With reporting by AFP, dpa, and Interfax
Donald Trumps search for the real election hackers continues. Photo: Mikhail Klimentyev/AFP/Getty Images

In September 2016, the Obama administration gathered leaders of both parties for a secret intelligence briefing on Russias operation to influence the election. The theft and publication of Democratic emails was already a fait accompli, but a far more dire scenario concerned the administration. Would Russia hack into voting machines and tamper with the outcome? In the hopes of forestalling this true nightmare scenario, an attack on democracy far more serious than the information warfare that had already transpired, they wanted congressional leaders to sign off on a bipartisan statement urging state and local officials to take federal help in protecting their voting-registration and balloting machines from Russian cyber-intrusions, as the Washington Post reported several months later.

Securing bipartisan agreement seemed especially crucial. Obamas team worried that doing so unilaterally and without bipartisan congressional backing just weeks before the election would make Obama vulnerable to charges that he was using intelligence for political purposes. But Republican leaders, especially Mitch McConnell, refused. McConnell, the Post reports, 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 he was not alone: Some of the Republicans in the briefing also seemed opposed to the idea of going public with such explosive allegations in the final stages of an election.

Today, in the wake of Robert Muellers most recent (and almost certainly not last) indictment in the Russia investigation, Republicans have taken up the line that Obama is to blame for having failed to act more decisively. Obama was President up to, and beyond, the 2016 Election. So why didnt he do something about Russian meddling? tweeted President Trump this weekend. This line is being echoed by organs like the The Wall Street Journal editorial page: The indictment also makes us wonder what the Obama Administration was doing amid all of this.

Theres a defensible argument that Obama should have done more to respond to the Russian attack. But there isnt a defensible Republican argument that Obama should have done more. Republicans are the reason Obama didnt do more.

During the election, Trump welcomed Russian efforts to help his campaign. His top aides eagerly accepted a meeting from a Russian agent promising to give them campaign dirt. His confidante, Roger Stone, seemed to have advance knowledge of Russian email theft. Trump openly called for Russia to steal more of his opponents emails, and a Republican operative claiming to work on his behalf tried to obtain emails stolen by Russians. Trump aided and abetted the crime by repeatedly touting the importance of the hacked emails, and denying Russian involvement.

Even after the election, when the intelligence community had satisfied all doubts that Russia consciously aided Trumps campaign, Trump continued to deny it. I dont believe they interfered, he told Time in December. The hacking could be Russia. And it could be China. And it could be some guy in his home in New Jersey. Last November, Trump told reporters, Every time [Putin] sees me he says, I didnt do that, and I really believe that when he tells me that, he means it. And when Obama did announce sanctions to retaliate against Russian interference after the election, Trump communicated through various back channels that he intended to weaken them once he took office.

Trump was an eager partner to Russias efforts on his behalf: magnifying the value of their attack, assisting the cover-up of the crime, and undermining the punishment of it. The GOP Establishment was an eager, or at least willing, partner to Trumps campaign, and its partnership was the primary factor preventing a stronger response to the Russian attack.

The pervasive lying of this administration and its allies should not numb us to the mind-bending backwardness of the accusation now being made on the presidents behalf. Trump is blaming Obama for having failed to stop the crime that Trump abetted. This is the criminal taunting the cop for not doing more to stop him.
WASHINGTON -- A lawyer has pleaded guilty to lying to U.S. federal law enforcement agents in connection with Special Counsel Robert Muellers growing criminal investigation into interactions between Russian officials and associates of President Donald Trump.

Alex van der Zwaan, whose father-in-law is Russian billionaire German Khan, entered his plea on February 20 in U.S. District Court in Washington. He is the sixth person to plead guilty to or be indicted by Muellers team.

Van der Zwaan was accused of lying to investigators about his communications with Rick Gates, a former Trump campaign aide who was indicted last year on charges that included conspiracy to launder money.

A court document filed on February 16 said van der Zwaan deleted or failed to provide e-mails sought by Mueller's team.

Mueller's inquiry, the document said, concerned work van der Zwaan did in 2012 for a U.S. law firm that was hired by the Ukrainian Justice Ministry in connection with the trial of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

The charge makes no mention of Trumps 2016 election campaign, which both Gates and his boss, Paul Manafort, worked on, nor of the election itself. But van der Zwaans guilty plea could increase pressure on Gates and Manafort to cooperate with Muellers team.

The firm is not identified in the filing, but appears to be Skadden, Arps, Slate Meagher & Flom, a well-known U.S.-based firm with offices in many countries.

Skadden Arps had been hired in 2011 by Ukraine's justice minister at the time, Oleksandr Lavrynovych, to review the jailing Tymoshenko's, who had been imprisoned for allegedly brokering an unfavorable gas deal with Russia.

Her sentence was viewed by much of the international community -- including Russia -- as political in nature. She was released in February 2014 and later reelected to parliament.

Skadden Arps was hired to draft a report that was used to justify Tymoshenko's imprisonment. The man who commissioned the report was Paul Manafort, who served as Trumps campaign manager until he was fired in August 2016 amid revelations about extensive lobbying work for a pro-Russian Ukrainian political party.

Manafort, a longtime associate of Gates, was indicted himself on similar charges last year.

Serhiy Horbatyuk, Ukrainian prosecutor for special investigations, told RFE/RL last year that van der Zwaan was one of several Skadden Arps lawyers whom Ukrainian authorities want to question in connection with the Tymoshenko report,

Van der Zwann was identified on his page on the social network LinkedIn as an associate in the firm's London office. But in a statement released after the court document became public, Skadden Arps said van der Zwaan was last employed by the firm in 2017.

"The firm terminated its employment of Alex van der Zwaan in 2017 and has been cooperating with authorities in connection with this matter," it said.

"The firm terminated its employment of Alex van der Zwaan in 2017 and has been cooperating with authorities in connection with this matter," Skadden said.

Khan, Van der Zwaan's father-in-law, is a billionaire and a part owner of Alfa Group, Russia's largest private banking group. According to the British society magazine Tatler and other reports, Van der Zwaan married Khan's daughter, Eva, last year.

With an estimated fortune of $9.6 billion, according to Forbes, Khan is among Russia's richest businessmen. His wealth and influence resulted in his being included on the so-called "oligarchs list" released by the U.S. Treasury Department last month.

Combined with the bombshell indictment of 13 Russians and three Russian companies, issued on February 16, van der Zwaan's plea is the latest indication that Mueller is pushing ahead, despite Trump's public statements that the probe should be winding down.

Trump's first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, had also pleaded guilty to lying to investigators, as had George Papadapolous, a Trump campaign foreign policy aide.

And court records filed on February 16 show a California man had pleaded guilty to identity fraud in connection with a so-called Russian "troll factory" that created fictitious accounts on Facebook and other social media in what U.S. authorities call an effort to sow discord in American politics..

With reporting by Tatler, Law.com, and Kyiv Post.
BRUSSELS -- The legal adviser to the European Unions top court says that Poland broke the law by authorizing logging in one of the continents oldest forests.

The February 20 opinion by Yves Bot, the advocate general to the European Court of Justice (ECJ), concerns the Bialowieza Forest, one of Europes last primeval woodlands.

The forest, which straddles Poland and Belarus, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to the largest roaming population of European bison.

The logging started in 2017 after the Polish minister for the environment the previous year authorized a near tripling of wood harvesting there due to what authorities said was a spreading infestation of the spruce bark beetle.

The European Commission took Poland to court last year, and the ECJ ordered a halt on logging in the forest until it rules on the case.

The Luxembourg-based court said in a statement that Bot "proposes that the court should rule that Poland has failed to fulfil its obligations" under EU environment law.

The ECJ, which is expected to issue a ruling in the case later this year, generally follows the legal opinion of the advocate general, though not always.

Polands new environment minister, Henryk Kowalczyk, said in a February 20 statement that his country "will respect the definitive judgment of the court on the Bialowieza Forest."

Bots opinion comes amid tensions between Warsaw and Brussels on Polish judicial reforms, which the EU calls a systemic threat to rule of law in the country.

With reporting by RFE/RLs Rikard Jozwiak in Brussels, Reuters, AFP, and dpa
A Moscow court has sentenced the director of Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny's Anticorruption Foundation to 10 days in jail.

The Simonovsky district court on February 20 found Roman Rubanov guilty of organizing an unauthorized rally last month.

A senior Navalny associate, Leonid Volkov, said on Twitter late on February 19 that Rubanov was detained at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport after passing customs inspection.

On January 28, Navalny supporters nationwide staged "voter strike" demonstrations protesting the Central Election Commission's refusal to register Navalny as a presidential candidate and supporting his call for a boycott of the March 18 vote.

The commission disqualified Navalny because of a criminal conviction he contends was based on fabricated evidence.

Navalny has said the vote will not be a real, democratic election but the "reappointment" of President Vladimir Putin, who has been president or prime minister since 1999 and is seeking a new six-year term.

Navalny was himself arrested on his way to the January 28 protest in Moscow and was later released pending a court hearing. At least 350 people were detained nationwide.

Earlier on February 20, Navalny suggested that the timing of Rubanov's arrest was intended to keep him behind bars though March 18.

"Russian police sure [like] to "delay" the arrests of my associates, so that they spend the most important dates in detention," he tweeted.

Volkov missed the end of his election campaign, Navalny wrote, and now Rubanov "may miss the election day."

Navalny's Anticorruption Foundation has published several reports alleging corruption among associates of Putin, including one this month that documented what it said was a meeting on a yacht between tycoon Oleg Deripaska and Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Prikhodko, a former senior Kremlin adviser.

Nikita Kulachenkov of the Anticorruption Foundation also suggested that Rubanov's detainment came weeks after the January 28 rallies in order to keep him out of action on Election Day.

Kulachenkov wrote on the foundation's website on February 20 that since Russian law does not allow the duration of administrative arrest to exceed 30 days, authorities often detain key opposition activists closer to important dates in order to keep them isolated.

Eight candidates will be on the ballot in the presidential vote. Putin's popularity, his control over the levers of power, and what critics say have been years of steps to suppress dissent and marginalize opponents virtually ensure that he will win a fourth term.

Opposition activists say that in past elections the Kremlin has used an array of tactics, both during campaigns and on election day, to manipulate the vote and achieve the results it desires.

Russia's constitution bars presidents from serving more than two consecutive terms, meaning that Putin would not be eligible to seek a new term in 2024.

A longtime KGB officer in the Soviet era, Putin served two four-year terms after President Boris Yeltsin stepped down on the last day of 1999 and put him in charge as acting president.

After steering Dmitry Medvedev into the presidency in 2008 and becoming prime minister -- a move that enabled him to retain power without violating the constitutional limit of two straight terms -- Putin returned to the Kremlin in 2012.
Russia may challenge any move by the United States to impose stiff new tariffs on imports of Russian steel and aluminum in a complaint before the World Trade Organization (WTO), Russian state-run news agency TASS has reported.

TASS quoted a Russian Industry and Trade Ministry spokesman as saying on February 19 that it would be difficult for Russia's steel and aluminum industries to absorb the new tariffs of 53 percent and 23.6 percent, respectively, that were recommended last week by the U.S. Commerce Department, citing U.S. national security reasons.

The spokesman told TASS that Russia sent 35 percent and 27 percent, respectively, of its cast iron and ferroalloy exports to the United States, so it would be "difficult" for Russian companies to find new markets for such exports if the U.S. tariffs were imposed.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on February 16 that he recommended the new tariffs on steel and aluminum produced by Russia as well as China and other countries, but it is up to U.S. President Donald Trump to make a final decision on imposing such trade penalties.

Some experts have warned that such measures could spark a trade war. China, which is the largest U.S. trading partner, has also vowed to retaliate against any new tariffs.

Ross said he recommended the tariffs because a department investigation last year determined that cheap imports from Russia, China, and other countries have made U.S. domestic production of steel "unviable," and thus the imports endanger U.S. national security.

Trump has until April 11 to announce his decision on the steel tariffs, and until April 20 to decide on the aluminum tariffs.

If Trump decides to go ahead with the new tariffs, the U.S. action can be challenged before the WTO, the Russian trade spokesman told TASS.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, and TASS
SHAKUNYA, Russia -- The Soviet-era administration building dominates the snowbound main square of this remote district town of around 20,000 people.

There's a post office and, a little farther along, a train station. The private sector is huddled on the other side of the platforms.

Cameraman Andrei Kostyanov and I have come here to the northeastern corner of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, near the border with Kirov Oblast, following clues we found on the Odnoklassniki social-media site and in phone directories.

Our mission is to find the mother of 26-year-old Aleksei Shikhov, who was believed killed on February 7 along with an untold number of other Russian mercenaries fighting in Syria.

We are hoping to record an interview with his mother, to ask her why and how he ended up in Syria, whether she had been told when she would receive her son's body, whether she had been promised any compensation even though he clearly was fighting as a mercenary for a commercial military company.

We approach a cozy wooden house with a tractor parked in the yard and an SUV outside the gate. A sign warns, "Beware of the dog."

But we're in luck. There are quite a few Shikhovs in Shakunya, but we've hit on the right one on the first try. True, it's not his mother's house; but it's the house of his father's sister, Galina.

Galina is at work, but her husband tells us that they heard the news about Aleksei from their son, who is a bureaucrat in Moscow. He read the reports on the Internet. They don't know anything about a funeral, and no one has called them officially.

'He Did Everything Secretly'

They haven't been in touch with Aleksei in a long time. In general, they had little contact after Aleksei's parents divorced 20 years back. Aleksei lived in Nizhny Novgorod with his mother. His father, Galina's brother, lives about 20 kilometers outside of Shakunya.

Galina's son in Moscow tried to get more information about his cousin but came up empty-handed.

"He did everything secretly," Aleksei's uncle says.

"Once he disappeared and then turned up in the Donbas," he adds, referring to the region in eastern Ukraine where Russia-backed separatists are fighting government forces. "Then he disappeared again, and now they're writing he popped up in Syria."

Shikhov's name turned up on a list compiled by the Conflict Intelligence Team, which found him mentioned in a social-media post by the Museum of Donbas Military Glory in St. Petersburg. The staff of the "museum" posted their condolences about the death of Cadet, which was Shikhov's nom de guerre. The post has since been deleted, but screenshots are easily found. So far, though, that post is the only information about his fate.

We eventually find Galina at work in an office in a Shakunya industrial zone. The furniture is Soviet, the wooden floors creak loudly. There are campaign posters supporting Communist Party presidential candidate Pavel Grudinin. There's a portrait of Josef Stalin on the table.

Galina is not talkative. She asks us not to bother Aleksei's parents, particularly since they still believe he's alive.

"You read such crap these days," says his aunt. "All the photographs are from the Donbas. Today I was on Yandex and saw that all the wounded had already been brought to Russia. We don't think that he died. You aren't going to write the same thing about 'condolences' that everyone on the Internet is writing, are you?"

No, we tell her. It's too early for condolences and, true enough, Aleksei could still be alive.

'A Proper Guy'

We wait for Aleksei's father, Vasily Shikhov, outside the office of the Novy Put collective farm in the village of Krasnogor. He's a veterinarian, and the woman in the office tells us he's "out in the forest." The village is built on a hill -- all around, sunlight pours down over the white fields. Blinding light reflects off the powerlines, the roofs, and a damp bas-relief of Vladimir Lenin that watches over the settlement from the wall of the collective-farm office.

Shikhov soon shows up -- a big man with calloused, worker's hands and a friendly smile. He tells us that he didn't have much contact with his son. Aleksei visited last fall and showed him photographs from the Donbas, told him a little bit about what he did there. Not much about fighting but about the museum, Vasily says.

The RBC news agency, in its report about Shikhov, quoted a friend as saying he started out as a volunteer in the Novorossia Museum. But later (in 2016, Vasily says), Shikhov volunteered for a Luhansk Oblast militia unit called Specter (Prizrak).

"He was a proper guy, "the friend, Aleksei Kuzichev, told RBC. "He had a sense of fraternity, for sure, and was always in the fight."

Aleksei didn't mention Syria to his father. He said he was going on business to St. Petersburg. Vasily also says he doesn't believe what's been written online. His Moscow friends (he is presumably talking about his nephew) consulted immediately with about 10 psychics, he says, and all of them said Aleksei was wounded but is still alive and will recover.

"Now they're looking for him in the hospitals of Moscow and St. Petersburg," his father says.

Vasily tells us that his son always dreamed of a military career. He tried skydiving 13 or 14 times at an airfield in Nizhny Novgorod. He attended a military high school and served his military service in the Khabarovsk region. He wanted to become a paratrooper, but while in military school, "a small explosive" went off in his hand and caused permanent damage. His prospects for a military career were gone.

Some Moscow acquaintances tried to "recommend" him to the Nizhny Novgorod branch of the Federal Security Service (FSB), but his injured hand reportedly blocked that as well.

After he returned from military service, he graduated from the Sormovsky Mechanical Technical School and earned a living doing odd jobs. He worked in advertising, in construction, sold bathroom equipment. But he often had trouble getting along with his managers and co-workers. A family member says Aleksei's eyes lit up when he spoke about the Donbas -- for him, this was finally something real.

We head off to Nizhny Novgorod to continue our search for Aleksei's mother. We find the nine-story, concrete-panel apartment block where he lived with his mother, Natalya, and his grandmother, Valentina.

'He'd Do Anything For Money'

The grandmother opens the door and tells us the mother isn't there. It becomes clear that this side of the family doesn't know anything. They don't have access to the Internet and don't communicate with Aleksei's father's side of the family. We are careful not to tell Valentina anything.

Valentina doesn't really communicate with her daughter or her grandson. For 20 minutes, she criticizes them for all she's worth. He is shiftless, lazy, and can't find a job, she says. "He lived out of his mother's refrigerator until he was 26," she adds.

He brought some sort of flags from Ukraine. He stole a jacket from a department store and they filed criminal charges against him, although they were later dropped. "Why didn't he tell me," Valentina asks. "He knew that I had money. If he'd asked, we would have sat down and talked it over and I would have gotten him clothes and shoes."

For an instance, some warmth creeps into her otherwise harsh tone.

Her grandson, she says, hasn't been home for the last three months. His bank started sending notices that his loan payments were behind, offering Valentina further evidence of Aleksei's shiftlessness.

Valentina expresses the fear that Aleksei might do anything for money. "Maybe something connected with drugs? Or with weapons?" she asks. "He would do anything for money. That scares me. Really scares me."

Valentina also says that Aleksei could sometimes be harsh and even rude. He didn't get along with many people. He often argued loudly into the telephone, quarreling with a girlfriend or some acquaintance. His character often lost him jobs, she says.

"I told him: In this house, no one speaks louder than me," Valentina says. "And I was deadly serious. Say whatever you want, but you do it in a whisper. Everything in a whisper so that other people don't hear."

Talking through the barely opened door, Valentina tries her best to dissuade us from looking for her daughter.

"It's impossible to talk seriously with her," she says. "She won't tell you anything. She only thinks of herself."

To hear Valentina tell it, Natalya is a lot like her son. She also changes jobs often because of her character, she says. Now her daughter is working at a nearby post office. Tomorrow she has the afternoon shift, but even if we find her, Valentina says, there won't be any interviews at home.

"I don't want anybody in my apartment who is connected with their business," she says. "No, no, no!"

'Nothing Is Known'

While we're talking, Valentina's son, Mikhail, shows up. He lives nearby and often visits his mother. We walk down the stairs a bit with him and, after checking to make sure Valentina has closed her door, we explain why we've come. Mikhail hasn't heard anything either and hasn't been in touch with his nephew.

The next day, we're almost at our goal. We walk up to the post office where Aleksei's mother works. On the way, we agree that we won't tell her why we're there if she doesn't already know.

The woman in the first window tells us that there is no Natalya Shikhova working there. I can see from her badge that her name is also Natalya, but the last name is different. The story's the same at the other windows; no one knows any Shikhova.

Confused, we return to the street. I call Mikhail and ask if maybe we went to the wrong post office. He says that she might have changed her last name but he doesn't know what the new one is. Mikhail told her about our visit and had advised her to go to the police and file a missing-person report about her son. As I am talking to him, the Natalya from the first window comes out.

"It's me," she says. "Who are you? What do you want?"

It's like a scene from a movie, but no one is acting. Natalya doesn't want to talk to us. She's defensive and even records us with her mobile phone, keeping it between us like a shield.

"Nothing is known," she says. "Nothing has been confirmed. We hope that he's alive," she insists. "Come back when there's good news. Or bad."

So we leave without properly interviewing Aleksei Shikhov's mother. Although, without knowing it, she has answered our main questions: No one appears to be concerned about the life or death of her son except a couple of out-of-town journalists bringing bad news from the Internet. The state that he went off to a foreign war in support of is silent. Only the psychics are talking.

Translated by Robert Coalson


Serbia has arrested eight foreign citizens, including two Americans and two Ukrainians, on suspicion that they tried to photograph and enter military facilities without authorization, officials said.

State-run RTS TV said the U.S. and Ukrainian citizens allegedly tried to take shots of the military intelligence headquarters in downtown Belgrade with a drone.

The report did not identify them or give details, saying only that the Ukrainians are women and that they are all in police custody.

Announcing the arrest of the eight foreigners on February 19, Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin said he did not want to prejudge the case that is under investigation, but added, "It is not a coincidence that such a large number of foreign citizens tried to bust into premises controlled by the Army of Serbia."

Another American was arrested in Serbia earlier this month for possession of an unmarked gun. Pro-government media alleged that he was a former U.S. Navy SEAL and had planned the assassination of unidentified Serbian officials.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on February 18 mentioned the arrest of a "group" of foreigners, but said that their case was "not particulary dangerous."

"We recently had a bit more serious case, but today's one does not seem to be on that level," he said.

Based on reporting by AP and AFP
A rejected Uzbek asylum seeker who has admitted to a truck attack that killed five people in Stockholm has told a court that his aim was to force Sweden to end its fight against the extremist group Islamic State (IS).

"I wanted Sweden to stop sending soldiers to war zones where the Islamic State is being attacked," defendant Rakhmat Akilov said at a February 20 hearing at his trial in the Swedish capital.

Akilov, 39, is accused of terrorism for stealing a delivery truck on April 7, 2017, and ramming it into pedestrians on a busy shopping street.

The attack killed three Swedes, including an 11-year-old girl, as well as a British man and a Belgian woman. Ten other people were injured.

Akilov, who spoke in Russian through an interpreter, said he also wanted Sweden "to stop sending gigantic sums of money to combat the caliphate" -- a reference to the state that IS wants to create.

He claimed he was "not inspired" by any specific attack, "as there were very many," but was aware of previous attacks in Berlin, London, and Nice in which assailants used vehicles to plow into people.

Akilov also saw statements by other attackers and calls for attacks made on Internet sites used by IS, he told the court.

Akilov, whose Swedish asylum application was turned down in 2016, had sworn allegiance to IS on the eve of his assault in one of Europe's safest cities, though neither IS nor any other group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Sweden has some 70 military personnel based mainly in northern Iraq to provide training as part of the U.S.-led coalition against IS.

The prosecution has requested a life sentence for Akilov, who police say confessed to the attack and told them he wanted to run down what he called "infidels."

"Akilov took the truck...and drove it the way the prosecutor described. He killed five people and physically injured 10," defense lawyer Johan Eriksson told the Stockholm district court hearing.

The trial is scheduled to run through May, with a verdict expected the next month.

A joint investigation by RFE/RL's Uzbek and Tajik services and Swedish news agency TT found that Akilov was in direct contact with alleged IS militants from Tajikistan before, during, and after the Stockholm attack.

Akilov, a construction worker and an ethnic Tajik from Uzbekistan, was arrested a few hours after the Stockholm attack, and police said he confessed the next day.

Eriksson said in January that his client had not expected to survive the attack.

Prosecutors say the suspect wanted to "create fear in the population at large" and "force the Swedish government and parliament to halt Sweden's participation in an international training mission in Iraq" aimed at helping the country to dislodge the IS group.

During the court proceedings on February 13, they played a video where Akilov swore allegiance to IS and presented several conversations on WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, and Zello that were found on his phone.

Of 209 messages, prosecutor Hans Ihrman said 16 were "interesting," especially those on a Zello chat forum where Akilov spoke to contacts using the pseudonyms Muovia Regari, Abu Aisha, Muhammad, and Abu Fotima, among others.

RFE/RL found the aliases to be the same names used by alleged Tajik IS recruiters.

According to the prosecutor, Akilov wrote to one of his contacts on January 19, 2017, "I'm working and saving money and God willing I will carry out the martyr operation."

He also wrote a list of potential targets to one contact, including a synagogue, a ferry transporting "sinners," and a nightclub. "There are plenty of infidels here," he wrote.

Several truck attacks have been perpetrated in Europe and the United States in recent years.

The deadliest attack, claimed by IS militants, occurred in Nice in July 2016, when a truck rammed crowds leaving a celebration of France's national holiday, killing 86 people.

Uzbek national Sayfullo Saipov is suspected of plowing a rented truck into pedestrians and cyclists in New York City on October 31, killing eight people.

Because of the growing number of such truck attacks, Ihrman said Akilov's trial had drawn an international audience.

"We can learn about the radicalization process and how they are carrying out this kind of act. I think it's a big interest for everybody who is punished by attacks like this throughout Europe," he told reporters in Stockholm.

With reporting by AP and dpa
Pro-government fighters have entered the Kurdish-held enclave of Afrin in northern Syria, triggering an immediate response from Turkish forces.

The main Syrian Kurdish militia, the People's Protection Units (YPG), said in a statement on February 20 that Syria's government had sent "military units" to Afrin to deploy along the border with Turkey and help repel an offensive by Turkish troops and allied Syrian rebels.

They will "take up positions on the borders, and participate in defending the territorial unity of Syria and its borders," a statement said.

Meanwhile, Syrian state media reported that Turkish forces started shelling pro-government fighters entering Afrin.

Turkey's state-run Anadolu agency said that the pro-Syrian government forces withdrew after Turkish artillery units fired "warning shots" at the fighters.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said later that a convoy of a dozen vehicles carrying Shi'ite fighters was "forced to turn back" from the enclave following the shelling.

Turkish troops and Ankara-backed Syrian rebels have seized more than 40 villages since Ankara launched an air-and-ground offensive on Afrin on January 20, according to Syrian activists.

Turkey has vowed to clear the enclave of the YPG, which it considers a terrorist group, and warned Syrian pro-government forces against intervening in support of the Kurds.

Based on reporting by AP, Reuters, AFP, dpa, and the BBC


The Russian Foreign Ministry says that "several dozen" citizens of Russia and other former Soviet republics who are not members of the military were wounded in a recent battle with U.S.-led forces in Syria.

The Foreign Ministry statement on February 20 was Moscow's first formal acknowledgement that Russian mercenaries suffered heavy casualties in a lopsided clash in Syria's Deir-al-Zor on February 7.

The statement gave no new figure for the number of Russians killed in the incident, which Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on February 15 was about five -- far fewer than some reports have suggested.

The United States has said that air and artillery strikes launched after as many as 500 pro-government forces attacked a base housing U.S.-backed opposition forces and U.S. military advisers killed about 100 of the attackers.

In recent days, media outlets, open-source researchers, and relatives and colleagues of Russian mercenary soldiers have said that many Russians -- possibly dozens or hundreds -- may have died in the exchange.

The Reuters news agency, citing three sources familiar with the matter, said about 300 men working for a "Kremlin-linked private military firm" were either killed or injured in Syria last week.

"In the course of a recent military confrontation...there were deaths [among] citizens of Russia and countries of the CIS...and there were wounded -- several dozens of them," the new statement said.

It said that "servicemen of the Russian Federation in no way took part" in the clash, and that no Defense Ministry weapons or vehicles were not used.

The CIS is the Commonwealth of Independent States, which includes 11 former Soviet republics.

Russia has given President Bashar al-Assad's government crucial support throughout the 7-year-old war in Syria, which began with a government crackdown on protests.

Moscow helped turn the tide of the conflict in Assad's favor by a launching a campaign of air strikes in 2015 and stepping up its military presence on the ground.

The United States has backed rebel groups -- including the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of Syrian Arab and Kurdish fighters -- fighting to topple Assad.
With paper angels, flowers, and fond words for the dead, Ukraine has marked the anniversary of a bloody crackdown on the Euromaidan protests that drove a Moscow-friendly president from power four years ago.

The annual commemorations honor protesters who were killed in clashes with security forces in Kyiv on February 20, 2014 -- a group of victims many Ukrainians call the Heavenly Hundred.

On Twitter, President Petro Poroshenko praised those killed as "true angels who protected Ukraine."

"They gave the most precious thing they had -- their lives -- for a better destiny for all of us, and forever became the guides for future generations of free Ukrainians," Poroshenko wrote.

Some 1,000 paper angels were affixed to trees lining Kyiv's Institutska Street, where some of the protesters were killed.

Poroshenko and his wife, Maryna, were among many who laid flowers at a memorial in Kyiv's Independence Square -- Maidan Nezalezhnosti -- known as the Monument to the Heavenly Hundred.

The Euromaidan movement began in November 2013, when protesters gathered on the Maidan after Yanukovych announced he was postponing plans to sign an Association Agreement with the European Union and would seek closer economic ties with Russia.

Ukrainian prosecutors say 104 people were killed and 2,500 injured in the protests.

Shunning a deal backed by the West and Russia to end the standoff, Yanukovych abandoned power and fled Kyiv on February 21, 2014. The former president, who was flown to Russia in secret and remains there, denies ordering police to fire on protesters and claims the violence was a "planned operation" to overthrow his government.

Moscow responded to his downfall by seizing control of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and fomenting separatism across much of the country -- one of the causes of a war that has killed more than 10,300 people in eastern Ukraine since April 2014 and displaced more than 1.6 million Ukrainians.

In a statement marking the February 20 events, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said that "the United States will continue to stand by Ukraine as it faces ongoing Russian aggression."

Nauert added that although Ukraine had made progress in the last four years, "there is still more work needed to fulfill the promise of the Maidan and unlock Ukraine's potential."

"The United States calls on Ukraine's leaders to redouble their efforts to implement the deep, comprehensive, and timely reforms that are necessary to build the stable, democratic, prosperous, and free country Ukrainians deserve," Nauert said.

Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan is to meet with Poroshenko, Prime Minister Volodymyr Hroysman, and Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin during a visit to Kyiv on February 21.

Sullivan "will stress the importance of Ukraine expeditiously implementing credible economic and anti-corruption reforms and will underscore U.S. support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity," the State Department said.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article said that Poroshenko was set to testify on February 20.
TMEA country director Moses Sabiiti

Trademark East Africa (TMEA) has launched the process of setting up a logistics centre in Gulu town to facilitate trade between Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.

Speaking to journalists at their offices in Kampala this morning, TMEA country director Moses Sabiiti said the organization has already secured $8m (Shs 28.8bn) from United Kingdoms Department for Foreign Aid (DFID) and European Union for the world-class facility.

The hub will be able to handle 500,000 containers at one time, making it one of its kind in the region, Sabiiti said.

He explained that the Gulu Logistics Hub will be located at the current grounds of Uganda Railways Corporation (URC)  an intersession between road and railway.

This land was given to TMEA  a not-for profit company established in 2010 to support the growth of trade in East Africa  by the Uganda government for this sole purpose. He said the design works have started and the subsequent works will be tendered out in June after the designs are complete.

Our aim is to change the job market in northern Uganda as we hope to create more jobs in the area. This will complement with governments plan to rehabilitate and expand Gulu Airport, that will make easy importation of goods in and out of the region, he said.

According to Sabiiti, all merchandise going to South Sudan and DRC will go through this hub. Even relief supplies from World Food Programme (WFP) and United Nation High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) will be stored here.

In addition, there are processors based in Gulu, like Mukwano Industries, grain and tobacco farmers; we did a feasibility study and found that there is a need for a hub to facilitate the trade there, Sabiiti said.

Automating Entebbe airport

In another development, TMEA has announced that it will contribute to the automation of Entebbe airport in order to fasten the clearing of goods.

You have been following the expansions, improvements and the rating [of Entebbe] in traffic but what I can tell you is that our airport in terms of clearance time, compared to other countries in the region, is still very slow, he said.

Sabiiti noted that although majority of other countries are able to do pre-import clearance of goods, it is impossible at Entebbe airport as it is still done manually.

We want to support government and the ministry of Trade and Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) to do the automation of the airport facility; we will contribute to advanced clearance of goods, he said.

If this is achieved, goods will be easily cleared from countries such as China before they land at Entebbe airport; this will fasten the whole process of clearing.

EASE BUSINESS

In order to improve the business environment in the region, the five partner states of the East African Community agreed to work together and boost economic ties, as well as put in place facilities to reduce the cost of trade in the region.

Among the many initiatives implemented is the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) concept, which has boosted trade facilitation across borders by harmonizing border control regulations and procedures and, thus, enabling expeditious and more effective border control mechanisms.

The initiative has also reduced the number of stops by consignments at border posts and other transactions by combining border control activities at a single location. This means that there are no repetitions of clearing procedures.

Such projects by the EAC countries have been implemented successfully by employing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to ease the sharing of data that is useful in border control operations.
KYIV -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says he has signed into law a bill that supporters say will help Kyiv restore control of territory held by Russia-backed separatists in the east of the country.

Poroshenko made the announcement in a February 20 tweet, saying the law does not violate Ukraine's "international obligations," including the Minsk accord.

The September 2014 and February 2015 pacts are aimed at halting the war in eastern Ukraine that has killed more than 10,300 since April 2014.

The bill, which passed last month with the support of 280 lawmakers in the 450-seat Verkhovna Rada, makes no reference to the Minsk agreements, raising questions about whether it could hamper efforts to end the fighting between the separatists and Kyiv's forces.

Russia has denounced the legislation, saying it threatens to escalate the violence in eastern Ukraine.

The law labels Russia an "aggressor" and parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces held by the separatists as "temporarily occupied territories."

That same designation was previously given to Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula on the Black Sea that Russia seized in March 2014.

Russia's annexation of Crimea and support for the separatists has triggered sanctions targeting Moscow by the United States, the EU, and other nations.

The law signed by Poroshenko also places all military and law enforcement activities in eastern Ukraine under the control of the Ukrainian Army's top command, a move that formally ends what Kyiv has until now referred to as an "antiterrorist operation" in the area.

The legislation was opposed in parliament by the Opposition Bloc, a successor to former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovychs Party of Regions that reformed after he was driven from power in February 2014 following months of mass street protests by pro-EU protesters.

Opposition Bloc lawmakers argued that the law would not help reintegrate the separatist-held areas and would undercut the Minsk accords.

With reporting in Kyiv from RFE/RL's Christopher Miller
New Maya Kaan travel agency gives Cancun visitors chance to experience ancient living

Cancun, Q.R.  Visitors to Cancun now have more tourism choices with the opening of Caminos Sagrados, a travel company that specializes in offering authentic experiences of the ancient civilization in the Maya Kaan region in the south of the state.

A total of eight community companies have partnered to create the new agency that promotes the southern region of Maya Kaan with a range of professional events from history and adventure tours to sightseeing and hands-on activities all enhanced with traditional Maya food dishes.

Under the Maya Kaan brand-destination, the Community Tourism Network of the Maya Zone launched its commercial name Caminos Sagrados, a sustainable tourism project for the Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve to support community development and biodiversity conservation.

Damian Leonel Gomez Sol, president of the Community Tourism Network, explained that the agency is also expected to promote the other tourist destinations of Tulum, Felipe Carrillo Puerto and Jose Maria Morelos, such as Senor, Tihosuco, Chunhuhub and Punta Allen, among others.

In community tourism everyone participates, craftsmen, producers, inhabitants, tenants, to give tourism what we live on a daily basis, he explained. It is a conjunction of forces to grant experiences.

Each community offers different activities such as cabins, cenotes, lagoons, gastronomy, nature and other attractions that are mainly enjoyed by European tourism, who are more open to sustainability and culture.

Among the activities are learning about history from a 110-year-old grandfather and an opportunity to witness jungle boas hunting bats. It is a collaborative effort of the Mayan communities, government, national associations and international foundations to propose a new way of tourism.

The areas include the Mayan communities of Siijil, Balam Nah and Chunhuhub, three in the municipality of Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Kantemo in the municipality of Jose Maria Morelos Muyil, in Carrillo Puerto and Punta Allen in the municipality of Tulum.

It also includes Senor and Tihosuco, both in Carrillo Puerto with five communities that have the greatest influence area of Sacred Roads.

Gonzalo Merediz Alonso, executive director of the civil association Friends of Sian Kaan explained that the wise and respectful relationship of these groups with the biodiversity of their natural environment, coupled with the desire to develop their communities, provided what was necessary to organize, institutionalize, train, equip and launch their services to those who visit the state Quintana Roo.

The new travel agency partnership is the result of more then four years of work between all the communities and offers visitors to Cancun and Riviera Maya the opportunity to tour the southern Maya region of the state. The travel agency provides a range of professional events. Read more information about the Caminos Sagrados agency.
A report from German newspaper Bild am Sonntag states that US Department of Justice has claimed that engineers from Mercedes Benz parent company Daimler has been accused of using software programs to tweak emission statistics in their diesel models.

This allows the diesel models to pass US emission tests but only for a limited period of time after which the true emission standards emerge which is way above specified limits.

This software program allowing diesel models to cater to US emission norms through manipulation of engine and selective catalytic reduction filter, adopted by Mercedes Benz, are on the same likes as those which were developed by VW. The information received by Bild am Sonntag finds that software programs have been developed complying to Bit 13 function.

This allows the engine to run in clean state for a very limited period of time and then to revert back to dirty mode after 16 grams of NOx are emitted. This is precisely the duration of US highway testing cycle. Bit 14 software function is also being used to switch engine to dirty mode under specific temperatures and time periods which have been preset. This allows cars to pass FTP-75 warm test cycle.

The car and equipment which brought to light VW Dieselgate scandal. Mercedes is allegedly running a similar patch in their engine. Image  West Virginia University

Bit 15 is another software function being used during US06 test cycle which has been programmed to switch off the SCR exhaust gas after treatment system after 16 miles. Slipguard is yet another software function being used on various Mercedes Benz models. This system detects when the car is being tested on a rolling road.

It allows for a specific dosage of urea based AdBlue solution within the SCR exhaust gas after treatment system thus allowing the vehicle to comply with emission standards set. Investigations into these allegations are underway while Mercedes Benz has avoided issuing any comments.
A friend recently posted on Facebook wondering why Ugandan tomato sauce brands should share the shelves with superior American brands.

His argument was that there is need to protect Ugandan products, as they wouldnt compete on a level ground.

A lot of comments on the post argued that they would love to buy the Ugandan product but, unfortunately, it is of low quality. One person even said she had bought five litres of a Ugandan tomato sauce brand and many months later, it was almost still full

Researchers at the National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI) at Namulonge examine cassava plants

She was thinking of throwing it away so she could use the container for something else. In the meantime, she was buying the American brands. Some Ugandans have been pushing the Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU) campaign, calling upon people to embrace Ugandan brands.

Of course, people embrace Ugandan brands but only those of high quality. Just visit a supermarket that has run out of Jesa milk  there might even be a riot. The Jesa scenario shows that the reluctance by Ugandans to buy Ugandan brands lies essentially in the quality of the products.

But how can Ugandan brands be able to compete with foreign brands? The answer lies in research and development (R&D). Most Ugandan producers dont have enough resources to embark on R&D, which is essential in coming up with products that are innovative and sometimes cheaper.

Ugandan entrepreneurs usually just go into manufacturing a product. This isnt because they dont know the importance of R&D. It is because they cannot afford the cost.

If somebody has money today to set up a business, that is all they have and in most cases it is not even enough. So, they cannot spend some of this little money on R&D.

Mostly, they only do preliminary research on pricing, where to get the raw materials and whether a market exists and then they are good to go. Uganda being a virgin market, the business case (if conducted at all) for most products shows that the product would have a market. Indeed, I doubt if there is any manufacturer in the country who has produced anything and failed to find a market for it.

However, because of almost zero investments in R&D by small companies that are the majority, the products they put on the market are sometimes of low quality and at a high price. Yet R&D enables a company to produce a high-quality product at a low and competitive cost.

Alternative products or ways of producing a product are sometimes identified during R&D processes. Other times, companies are able to identify new businesses and find something that gives them that competitive edge.

So, as we push the BUBU campaign and ask people to produce products for export or add value on our raw materials, what are we doing as a country to enable these companies carry out R&D? Remember that we have a high cost of money. If you are a small company, it is suicidal to borrow money for R&D.

A study by UNESCO shows that the biggest spenders on R&D in 2016 are actually developed countries yet R&D is most needed in less developed countries. The US, China, Japan, Germany, and South Korea are the top five spenders on the UNESCO R&D list.

It doesnt come as a surprise that they are the biggest innovators and manufacturers in the world. The US alone spent $457 billion with 70.6 per cent of it coming from businesses. Netherlands, which was in the 15th position, spent $16 billion. Needless to say, not a single African country is on the list.

Our universities should increase the number of research graduates. Yet most students who claim to do research today simply submit plagiarized theses or those done at secretarial kiosks that dot university campuses.

It is through research and innovation projects that industrialization and economic development are catalyzed, a case in point being our very own Kiira Motors Corporation that has evolved from a co-curricular activity at Makerere University to a mainstream program for automotive manufacturing in Uganda.

It doesnt come as a surprise that the biggest companies in the world today started as projects in universities. Google, Facebook, and Microsoft come to mind.

There is need, therefore, to ensure that businesses that carry out R&D are supported. In the US, for example, up to 20 per cent of a companys expenses on R&D are tax-deductible.

And they have the option of taking this as a lumpsum deduction in one year or to have it spread over a period between five and 10 years. That partly explains the higher number of patents registered in developed countries. Such tax options enable companies to spend money on R&D.

Companies with R&D components also easily attract funding because investors have a study to rely on to make decisions. So, to attract investment here, the country can make a fund available where small companies can apply to get money to carry out R&D activities.

Alternatively, consultants with R&D experience could be hired so that they help companies do R&D for them and help them establish such departments.

That way, companies wont have to produce inferior products that wont compete on the shelves with foreign ones like the tomato sauce we talked about. And we will be able to add value to our raw materials, create the much-needed jobs and increase our exports.

djjuuko@gmail.com

The writer is a media consultant and businessman.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH IN THE SPIRIT OF ITS HISTORIC PIONEERS, CITY OF SALT LAKE WELCOMES UTAHS FIRST IDEAL CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY FEBRUARY 17, 2018

In the heart of the Rockies, on iconic South Temple Street, the Church of Scientology Salt Lake City opens its doors to all.

In a city whose name itself carries for all Americans connotations of religious faith and commitment, the Church of Scientology Salt Lake City today, February 17, dedicated its newest addition to an ever-expanding congregation of churches worldwide.

On a balmy Saturday under bright sununcommon for midwinter in this picturesque mountain citythe Church was welcomed by civic and religious leaders who joined local and regional members to officially open its new home in Utah, just a mile from the heart of Salt Lake.

While the weather in Salt Lake in February typically stays below freezing, the warmth of welcome at this grand opening was typical of the descendants of the citys pioneers, whose belief in respect for individual liberties continues to run like an undercurrent within the community.

Mr. Miscavige officially dedicates the Church of Scientology Salt Lake City, joined by parishioners who led the way in making Utahs first Ideal Church of Scientology a 2018 reality.

As the Church of Scientology Salt Lake City took its place on this storied street, under the majestic Wasatch Range, Mr. David Miscavige, ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion, welcomed the crowd.

Before that ribbon falls and every surrounding mountain rises six or seven hundred feet, he said, we come to what L. Ron Hubbard would have you remember before venturing forth across this valley. Not good luck, nor happy trails, but merely and simply: Change no mans religion, change no mans politics. Instead, teach Man to use what he has and what he knows to the factual creation of a civilization on Earth for the first time. Wherefore comes freedom from ignorance and then, perhaps, a Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.

More than a thousand Scientologists and their guests gathered beneath the citys vibrant peaks to dedicate the states first Ideal Church of Scientology. The opening anthemWe Will Rock Youembraced the backdrop, as city and state dignitaries embraced the humanitarian spirit that permeated the ceremony.

Known for friendliness and community spirit, Salt Lake has already witnessed benefits from the Churchs dynamic social programs, carried out by local Scientologists and volunteers. The results have often been dramatic: legislation to protect the rights of the family from coerced drugging of children; a detox program based on L. Ron Hubbards groundbreaking technology that helped save lives of 100 Utah police officers exposed to methamphetamine toxins; and a Salt Lake Scientology Volunteer Minister Corps that contributed 30,000 disaster response hours in the last year alone.

The Churchs gracious new 43,000-square-foot facility near the heart of the city stands as a commitment by Salt Lakes Scientology community to social betterment within Utah. In testament to that, dignitaries from across the state came to welcome and recognize that commitment. Prominent among them were: Utah State Senator Mrs. Margaret Dayton; retired Utah Major Crime Unit Officer, Sergeant Brandon Burgon; Director of Operation Underground Railroad, Mrs. Taryn Dipo; and Utah State Voluntary Agency Liaison, Mr. Ken Kraudy.

Senator Dayton commended local parishioners who have joined her in the Capitol fighting for family rights and religious freedoms. Together we enacted legislation protecting families from being broken up, just because parents wouldnt put their children on dangerous psychotropics, she said. And when that bill passed, together we had secured the most important right for Utah families: The right to be a family.

Brandon Burgon, retired Sergeant of the Utah Major Crime Unit, recalled how his life was transformed thanks to the work of Salt Lake Scientologists. When I see Scientologists and the work you do, he said, I see a badge that reads: Were here to help. You looked at the officers drowning under the poison of those meth labs. You reached out to us when no one else knew what to do, and said: We are going to help you. And because of that, you can count on us never forgetting L. Ron Hubbard and the Church of Scientology.

Mrs. Taryn Dipo of Operation Underground Railroad, who works to recover victims of human trafficking around the world, highlighted Church members devotion to the basic rights of humankind. We first met members of your Church when testifying at Capitol Hill, she said. We immediately collaborated on education efforts on behalf of freeing men, women and children from modern-day slavery. But if thats not commitment enough, youve even put your own lives on the line, flanking our extraction operations to expose real-life traffickers. Yes, you educate, you empower and you most certainly liberate in the name of freedom.

Mr. Ken Kraudy spoke of his admiration for the Scientology Volunteer Ministers. Youre willing to deploy anywhere, to face anything In fact, during this record-setting disaster season, you were everywhere. So, for all Scientologists out there, you should take pride, because youre making a massive difference, he said. That is, both in terms of what you have done and what you are continuing to do. Id like to say we are cut from the same wood as you. And, we consider that a heck of a compliment for us. Because you are not only accepted, but are applauded for your disaster work in Utah and all over the world.

When entering the new Salt Lake City Church, visitors are provided with an introduction to Dianetics and Scientology, beginning with the Public Information Center. Its displays, containing more than 500 films in 17 languages, present the beliefs and practices of the Scientology religion and the life and legacy of Founder L. Ron Hubbard.

The Information Center also details the many humanitarian initiatives that Scientology supports. They include a worldwide human rights education campaign; far-reaching drug education, prevention and rehabilitation programs; a global network of literacy and learning centers; and the Scientology Volunteer Ministers corps, which has become the worlds largest independent relief force.

Salt Lake Citys Chapel provides for Scientology congregational gatherings that include Sunday Services, Weddings and Naming Ceremonies, as well as a host of community-wide events such as banquets, seminars and workshops, open to members of all denominations.

The Peaks Cafe presents a meeting place for those attending events, as well as for parishioners during breaks in their Scientology services.

The new Church allows for the delivery of all Introductory Services. These include afternoon, evening and weekend Dianetics and Scientology seminars, imparting an overview of fundamental principles and their application for living, as well as an array of Scientology Life Improvement Courses to help better any aspect of ones life.

The Salt Lake City Church further includes dozens of specially appointed rooms providing the ideal setting for Scientology auditing (spiritual counseling). Multiple course rooms are also dedicated to training auditors (spiritual counselors), for Scientologists studying the technology of auditing, to help others attain spiritual freedom.

The opening of the new Ideal Church of Scientology Salt Lake City comes during a period of massive expansion for the religion with more than 60 new Churches of Scientology from Los Angeles to Tampa, London to Milan, Tel Aviv to Tokyo and Kaohsiung to Bogota, including 18 opened in the Western United States alone. Ideal is the standard set by L. Ron Hubbard so that every Church is a perfect expression of the religions principles and practices, including its many community outreach and humanitarian programs.

In the past year, openings of new Ideal Churches of Scientology have taken place in Auckland, New Zealand; the San Fernando Valley, California; Miami, Florida; Copenhagen, Denmark; Dublin, Ireland; Birmingham, England; Amsterdam, Netherlands; and Johannesburg North, South Africa.

Further Church openings are planned in 2018 in cities across Europe, Latin America, North America, Africa and Australia.
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Minister of finance Matia Kasaija on Tuesday afternoon described media reports that government is borrowing money to pay staff salaries as an exaggeration.

The minister told journalists at the government media centre in Kampala that: The purpose of this borrowing is to mitigate the revenue shortfalls being experienced this year.

Finance minister Matia Kasaija addressing the media

He said the money is required to not only pay salaries, but also cover payments to the elderly under the Social Assistance Grants Empowerment (SAGE) programme, pensions and gratuity, among others.

Reminding his audience that Ugandas budget is funded from revenue collected, Kasaija observed that Uganda Revenue Authority has not collected enough to fully fund public expenditures.

He reported that in the first half of this financial year, there was a revenue shortfall of Shs 324 billion. There was low collection of Value Added Tax amounting to Shs 139 billion; international trade taxes, Shs 53 billion, and income and excise taxes at Shs 144.85 billion.

He said that because of this shortfall, Shs 736 billion will be borrowed from domestic sources. Kasaija said that only Shs 48 billion will be taken for salaries and wages from that total sum.

The minister attributed the shortfall in revenue to the restructuring of the economy. He explained that the country is exporting more to countries like Kenya and China than it is importing, and that exports are not taxed as much as imports.

Government expenses on travel are also quite costly, he said.

The minister explained that the approved national budget, excluding debt and external financing, amounts to Shs 12.59 trillion. Total releases to-date: for quarter one to quarter three is Shs 9.94trillion which is 79%, of which development expenditure for especially infrastructure projects accounts for 73%, he said.

He observed that in spite its short comings, the budget for financial year 2017/2018 is on the right track, and it will continue to meet its obligations.

 there has been tremendous progress in providing funds for the following areas: provision of Shs 300bn towards clearing of domestic arrears in quarter one and two as announced in my budget speech to support the private sector; ensuring contractual obligations of Shs 1.16 trillion under UNRA are met by the end of Q3; seasonal requirements for NAADs (92%) and coffee development (82%) to provide planting materials to the public; development funds for local governments to enable timely implementations of projects and front-loading expenditures for drugs (Shs 258bn), Kasaija said.
Oakland voters in 2016 overwhelmingly approved a $600 million bond to fix city streets and build affordable housing.

The ballot measure promised regular audits of the public funds and scrutiny of the spending by a citizen oversight commission. So far, neither of those has happened, even though the city has already allocated tens of millions of the Measure KK funds.

The oversight commission hasnt yet met. Most of the residents nominated by city officials to serve on the panel told The Chronicle they were unaware the City Council had confirmed their appointments last year.

I dont know if Ive been confirmed. Im still waiting to hear, architect Michael Pyatok said last week.

I have not received that email or phone call from the city, Ken Lupoff, executive director of Friends of Oakland Parks and Recreation, said last week.

Members of the panel also said they did not know when they would meet or what their specific tasks would include.

Im concerned, said commission member Carroll Fife. It feels like theres very little community input that goes into the city process as it happens.

Last summer, the City Council authorized the first round of bonds  up to $125 million  to be issued. Tens of millions have already been allocated in the citys current two-year budget to projects including library renovations, a transitional housing facility for the homeless and paving and concrete crews.

Measure KK was widely supported by unions, community organizations and elected officials. Its funds are for streets repaves, city facility renovations and new affordable housing units, among other programs. The city attorneys analysis said it requires annual audits and a citizen oversight commission that reports to the council.

Mayor Libby Schaaf was tasked with appointing the nine commission members, but she allowed each council member to select one. That process wrapped up in December.

The mayors spokesman said the fact that the commission hasnt met was not concerning.

My understanding is no, this is not an unusual amount of time for an oversight committee to get seated, particularly since this is a post facto committee that will analyze how the funds were spent, as opposed to an oversight committee that determines how to spend the funds, the spokesman, Justin Berton, said in an email.

But some commission members want an active say in how the expenditures are made. They are tasked with reviewing financial reports, expenditures of bond proceeds, reporting to the City Council and evaluating the spendings impact on social equity, anti-displacement and affordable housing.

Weve seen what a difference investments can make in communities, said Ellen Wu, a committee member and executive director of the nonprofit Urban Habitat. We want to see that especially for communities that havent been traditionally invested in.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

She and Lupoff said they werent too concerned about how the city is handling the bond money so far. Still, Lupoff said, The sooner we meet, the better. Theres a lot of work to be done.

Appropriations of the bond money continue to change. Last week, a City Council committee voted to take more than $2 million from a different bond measure  meant for parks and trails  and put it toward a recreation centers renovation. The missing parks and trails project funding would then be backfilled with KK dollars if it gets the full City Councils approval.

The shifting of funds troubled community members who said youth were being pitted against the environment and the loser would be infrastructure.

This isnt the first time the city has not promptly convened an oversight commission.

Last year, after Schaafs initial budget proposed pouring soda-tax revenue into the general fund rather than health programs promised to voters, three council members accused her of pulling a bait-and-switch. Attention then shifted to the fact that a citizen advisory committee that was supposed to make recommendations on expenditures of the soda tax  which voters also passed in 2016  hadnt yet been set up.

After the outcry, city officials convened the committee, and its been meeting regularly since last fall.
UC Hastings College of the Law is embarking on an aggressive expansion of its Tenderloin campus, a five-year project that will include not only new housing and academic buildings, but also a three-level YMCA the school hopes will help strengthen connections with the hardscrabble neighborhood it has long called home.

Next month, Hastings plans to start construction on the first piece of a long-planned campus makeover, a $58 million, 55,000-square-foot academic building to be erected on a vacant lot the school owns at 333 Golden Gate Ave., between Larkin and Hyde streets.

That new building will set three projects in motion. Once the new academic building opens in late 2019, Hastings will knock down an existing 1953 structure known as Snodgrass Hall and replace it with a 14-story, 592-unit residential tower that will be split between students from the law school and from UCSF. In addition, Hastings will renovate an existing residential structure at 100 McAllister St.

The goal is to create an academic village feel that the urban Hastings has been lacking, said David Seward, the schools chief financial officer.

We are trying to get some of that college commons feel, said Seward, who is overseeing the campus expansion.

Noah Berger/Special to The Chronicle

But while Hastings is hoping the new classroom space and housing units will help attract students and faculty, it is the 45,000-square-foot YMCA at the base of the residential tower that is likely to cause the most excitement for those who live or work in the Tenderloin.

Until 2009, the Y had a facility at 220 Golden Gate Ave., a building that was sold to the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corp. to be converted to supportive housing.

YMCA of San Francisco President Chuck Collins said opening at 198 McAllister will represent a homecoming of sorts. The building at 220 Golden Gate was the oldest YMCA in the city and was sold because the organization couldnt afford the needed seismic retrofit.

It resets our longest-term and deepest commitment in this city, which is to the Tenderloin, Collins said. It opens an opportunity to show what the Y can bring in a holistic way to a larger vision around a academic village.

It will be more than just a gym, a swimming pool and exercise space, Collins said. We are interested in social justice, in youth development, in holistic and chronic disease prevention. We see a tremendous opportunity for civic engagement.

The start of the project comes as colleges and universities are struggling with a lack of housing, which hurts their ability to recruit teachers and students. San Francisco has a student housing shortage of about 60,000 units, according to a survey by the Housing Action Coalition.

San Francisco has about 30 colleges and universities with 120,000 students. The coalition estimates that about 50,000 of those students are in the private housing market, largely renting rooms via Craigslist.

UCSF students will occupy 40 to 50 percent of the apartments. The medical school needs about 2,000 units to meet demand from students and trainees, according to Clare Hansen-Shinnerl, associate vice chancellor at UCSF. Combined with 595 units UCSF has under construction in Dogpatch, the joint project with Hastings will start to put a dent in the housing deficit, she said. We still have a ways to go, but its a start, she said.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

The units will be mostly studios. These are graduate students. They really want their privacy, Hansen-Shinnerl said. They are not kids anymore. Small is OK, as long as its private.

Hastings and UCSF will be looking for a private developer to oversee the new housing project as well as the rehab of 100 McAllister. The challenge is how one goes about developing student housing at rent levels that are affordable, Seward said.

David Faigman, chancellor and dean at Hastings, said having law and medical students living in proximity would help reinforce existing collaborations between the two institutions. The two campuses currently collaborate on the Consortium on Law, Science & Health Policy and also offer a joint online course in health-policy law.

Jeff Buckley, who advises Mayor Mark Farrell on housing policy, said its up to the institutions to create housing for their students, as student housing doesnt generally pencil out economically for private developers.

This is a really important step for Hastings in terms of remaining competitive, but also for the Tenderloin, he said. Students contribute a lot to the surrounding economy.
President Trump has been trying to blame Democrats for a crisis of his own creation. Never forget, it was Trump who rescinded the Obama-created Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which has allowed hundreds of thousands of young people who were brought to the U.S. as children to work, study or join the military without fear of deportation.

It was Trump who ordered that the program would cease on March 5 unless Congress acted to extend it. And now it is Trump whose demands for a border wall and other immigration crackdowns are undermining legislation to protect the Dreamers, for whom he claims to profess great love.

Cannot believe how BADLY DACA recipients have been treated by the Democrats ... totally abandoned! Republicans are still working hard. Trump tweeted Friday, as compromise after compromise was being raised and scuttled in the Senate.

If he had done his homework  yes, a dubious premise  Trump would have known that any action on immigration was certain to get roiled in vitriol and poison pills on Capitol Hill, even as polls make plain that Americans overwhelmingly support a legal status for undocumented immigrants who were brought here as children.

Even a straight up-or-down vote on a DACA extension would have been difficult. But Trump had to make the matter more complicated and divisive by insisting that the legislation also include an extra $25 billion for security along the U.S.-Mexico border, new restrictions on family-based legal immigration programs and the end of a lottery system for newcomers from countries with low immigration rates.

Trumps plan received just 39 votes in the 100-member Senate last week.

Some of the compromises cooked up by senators working across party lines did better, but none came close to the 60-vote threshold required to move forward. The House and Senate are in recess this week while 690,000 Dreamers worry about their future in a nation they have known as home since childhood.

Time is running out.

Stymied in the Senate, the Trump administration has made the challenge between now and March 5 even more arduous by embracing a House version with even more draconian controls: It would deny federal grants to sanctuary cities (such as San Francisco), direct the detention of minors arrested with their parents at the border, toughen sentences for criminals who are deported and return, and tighten checks on workers immigration status.

The reality is that the House version is not going to happen  and the Trump White House knows that.

There are two sources of hope for the Dreamers. One is through the courts. Federal judges in California and New York have issued temporary injunctions to extend DACA, though the Trump administration is appealing, and the U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether to take up the case. The high courts decision could come as early as Tuesday.

The other is that President Trump and the Republican majority in Congress could decide to stop playing politics with the lives of young people who have played by the rules and are, by any fair definition, our fellow Americans. Surely the president who has great love for the Dreamers would not have the heart  let alone the tactical and legal forces  to deport them on a mass scale.

In recent weeks, the most commonly invoked GOP excuse against the various compromises is that the president would never sign it.

Trump started this needless crisis. He needs to end it.

This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters.
California's almond trees are confused.

A spell of unseasonably warm weather in early February tricked the trees into blooming early, and now the freezing temperatures are putting the blossoms at risk, threatening the state's $5 billion industry.

Farmers posted images on Twitter Tuesday morning of trees covered in icicles after temperatures dipped down into the 20s overnight.

Don Cameron of Terranova Ranch, with 900 acres of almonds, explained the farmers sprayed their trees with micro-sprinklers overnight to protect the blossoms by reducing temperatures and creating humid conditions.

"It was so cold so long that it caused the icicles to freeze like that," says Cameron, whose trees bloomed about a week earlier than is usual this year. "The ice doesn't really hurt the trees, but the problem is the trees are in bloom right now. The farther along the bloom, the more susceptible the tree."

Cameron also says that bees need to pollinate the trees, and they don't fly unless temperatures are above 55 degrees.

VIDEO: Freeze warning concerns San Joaquin County farmers

As a blast of cold air from Western Canada swept across Northern California, temperatures in the Central Valley dipped into the 20s and low-30s. Lincoln hit a low of 21 degrees, Travis Air Force Base 25, Chico 27 and the Sacramento International Airport 28.

"The good side with this event was there was a little bit of of north wind that kept it from getting as cold as it could have, particularly in the northern Sacramento Valley," says Eric Kurth with the National Weather Service in Sacramento. "Temperatures were really dropping in the Redding area and then when the wind picked up, the temperatures went back up."

As the cloud cover increases Tuesday night and into Wednesday, temperatures are expected to increase by a couple degrees. Lows will generally be in the 30s and highs in the 50s.

Many Central Valley crops could be impacted by the freeze, but almonds are especially lucrative, as they're the among the state's top-10 agricultural commodities. The industry is valued at $5.16 billion, only after milk ($6.07 billion) and grapes ($5.58 billion), according to 2016 statistics from the California Department of Food and Agriculture. California produces 80-percent of the world's almonds, and orchards cover some one million acres across the state.

Cameron says despite the month of weird weather, there will be an almond crop  but it could be smaller and prices higher.

"We're not going to know for a couple weeks or months how much damage this has caused," he says. "There will be almonds, but it could be a smaller crop. We work hard to make sure that we have a crop. The market is used to an over two billion gallon crop and anything less it bumps the price up a little.

He adds: "We don't harvest until August, so we have many more months to get through ... but that's farming."
Brit Morin, the San Francisco-based founder of lifestyle website and craft and design studio Brit + Co. has a "newfound faith in humanity" after a United Airlines pilot and gate agent helped return her lost wedding ring to her.

Morin wrote on Twitter Monday that she had taken off her ring to shoot an on-location segment for "Good Morning America" but lost it later "somewhere between New York and Jackson Hole."
Two former residents of the Oakland Ghost Ship warehouse will head to a jury trial in July on charges of involuntary manslaughter, a judge said Tuesday.

Derick Almena, master tenant of the artist collective, and Max Harris, whom prosecutors consider the collectives No. 2, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to the 36 felony counts in Alameda County Superior Court. It was their second such plea after prosecutors filed a new charging sheet in the case following a preliminary hearing last year.
Reeling from the scandal of widely inflated beneficiary numbers in Uganda, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today said that effective March 1 it is introducing biometric verification of refugees as part of steps to regain donor confidence.

The intent is to clarify that the numbers [in the government] data base are accurate, the donors need assurance that these matters have been dealt with, and if they dont receive those assurances, they may withhold funding, Teresa Ongaro, the UNHCR senior regional spokesperson, told journalists at the agencys Kampala office.

Congolese refugee child during the registration process in Kyangwali reception centre. Photo: UNHCR

She said that a number of donors have expressed concerns about reports of inflated refugee figures. The threat to withdraw assistance to the huge refugee assistance operation in Uganda follows reports of fraud in the Office of the Prime Minster (OPM), the Ugandan government department, which deals with humanitarian issues.

Early this month, UNHCR and the European Union (EU) called for an investigation into alleged falsification of refugee numbers, misuse of funds meant for the refugees by officials at OPM and suspected trafficking of some female refugees.

We have received from the donors an indication that, until we are able to verify the numbers, they will withhold funding, Ongaro said.

Until the scandal broke, Uganda was being lauded for its progressive policies and generous hosting of more than 1.5 million refugees mainly from South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Somalia, according to UNHCR. There are also immigrants from Eritrea, Ethiopia and Rwanda.

But those huge figures are now in doubt after it emerged that officials were padding records to scam donors.

The donors are raising those concerns because the numbers determine the level of support required for refugees. There is a concern that the numbers are not accurate then donors become reluctant to support, Ongaro said.

Late in January, the refugee agency conducted a verification exercise in Kampala where 26,000 refugees had been reported to be receiving support. When the refugees were invited to physically turn up, only about 7,000 people showed up, raising suspicion that the 19,000 were ghosts whose would-be provisions were being pocketed by officials at OPM.

Dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those involved in the refugee response causes great harm to the people we care for and erodes public confidence and donor trust. It also does serious disservice to Ugandas exemplary refugee policies, she added.

She, however, refuted reports that UNHCRs country representative Bornwell Kantande had been recalled. Ongaro said that the agencys inspector generals office had taken up investigations on some serious allegations that were received at the end of 2017.

These investigations are not particularly against Kantande, Ongaro said.

We have zero tolerance for fraud and corruption, misconduct, and sexual abuse and exploitation. Every allegation is thoroughly assessed, and, if substantiated, leads to sanctions against the concerned staff member, including summary dismissal, she said.

Ongaro declined to comment on the alleged involvement of Ugandan officials in the scam but rather said that they have asked government to investigate the allegations.

So far, four officials at OPM: Apollo Kazungu (commissioner refugees), Walter Omondi (refugee desk officer in Mbarara), John Baptist Sentamu, and Francis Nkwasibwe were reportedly interdicted two weeks ago. But Kazungu has denied any wrong doing in an interview with The Observer.

I have a team that deals with the data management, but you can have rotten apples in the pile. If that is the case, we need to identify who is responsible for what, but you dont just put the blame on me. UNHCR has been advised to register afresh and we compare with the data that we have. In case of errors, then we can say there is something wrong, Kazungu said.

He called for an audit before any conclusions can be drawn.

There is no money Kazungu could have gone ahead to appropriate or open an account for. The said money has not yet been appropriated; how could it be that it has been misappropriated? he wondered.

He said the money in question was raised during the solidarity summit where government of Uganda and development partners pledged money for refugees.

When this money was realised almost 95 per cent of it went to the UN agencies including UNHCR, IOM, World Food Programme... About $ 1.5m [Shs 54bn] was allocated to OPM; this money is meant to be appropriated for use after the comprehensive Refugee Framework steering committee sits. This committee is composed of the government of Uganda, development partners, civil society and the refugees, Kazungu said.

sadabkk@observer.ug
Last week when Southwest Airlines ran out of de-icing compound during a snowstorm at Chicago Midway Airport, it forced the cancelation of dozens of flights. Hundreds of travelers were inconvenienced.

Reader MM wrote to me about his daughter's experience-- She was supposed to fly from Phoenix to Chicago-Midway, but due to the cancelations, Southwest flew her to Milwaukee the next day instead (about 90 miles north). She ended up paying for an overnight stay in a hotel, food and ground transportation from Milwaukee to Chicago out of her own pocket.

TravelSkills with Chris McGinnis sponsored by . See More Collapse

"What do you think about Southwest being responsible for cost she incurred?" he asked. He added that she never got a solid answer from the airline at the time.

I told him that he should reach out to Southwest directly and ask for reasonable compensation since this was a combination of weather (storm) and an airline operational issue (deicing). In cases like this, it's been my experience that airlines deal with compensation on a case-by-case basis.

This brings up a topic I frequently hear from readers about: asking for compensation when things go wrong.

Update: Southwest Airlines responsed to my query: "Our Customer Relations Team is happy to review on a case-by-case basis any claim by a Customer that experienced a travel disruption as a result of the MDW cancellations...if we had a Customer with disrupted travel plans created by a diversion that resulted in hotel expenses or car rental expenses, we welcome the opportunity to review the situation."

A perfectly planned trip is like a Swiss watch. There are a lot of moving parts, but if one tiny pin or wheel stops working, the watch stops.

Sometimes travel glitches are no one's fault. That's when you have to roll with the punches and make the best of a bad situation or rely on the governmental protections.

But at other times, when it's clear that someone has goofed up, it makes sense to contact the provider and seek to resolve the issue.

If you think you have a good case, start your quest for compensation by writing a letter or email offering the supplier the opportunity to make good. While email via the supplier website is most common, a letter on paper might help, too.

Here's some advice on writing that first email or letter:

>Be concise and professional

While you may be upset, it's best to extract any emotion from your complaint letter. Write your emotion-packed "I'll-never-use-you-again" letter first, then file it away. Revisit and re-write it a few days later. Don't write your letter in the heat of the moment-- instead, take names and notes to help recount the situation later.

>Don't rant

State your case, propose a solution and (this is important) always suggest what you feel would be fair compensation for your inconvenience. Be reasonable. For example, if a gate agent or flight attendant treated you poorly, you may want to ask for a few thousand miles deposited to your frequent flyer account  not a free ticket to anywhere in the world. Find a hair in your hotel room bathtub? A reasonable request might be $50 off your next stay, or a hotel dining credit, not a free night in Manhattan in December. It's much easier for the provider to offer credits, vouchers or discounts than it is to write you a check.

>Keep it short and sweet

If you cannot get past the need to make your note longer than two or three paragraphs, provide an "executive summary" at the beginning with the gist of your complaint and your proposed solution for compensation. Then elaborate. But never write more than a single page (or about 500 words if you're writing an email).

>Let them know who you are

If you're a frequent traveler or elite-level loyalty program member and can prove it, be sure to include that. If you work for a company that gives the supplier a lot of business, be sure to copy your corporate travel manager or travel agent.

>Try social media

A travel supplier's social media account (primarily Twitter) increasingly a good starting place to get information or to direct you where you need to go for the best help. Most big brands now have a large number of social media and customer relations agents on hand to assist-- and keep small incidents from blowing up in to viral social media storms.

>Don't broadcast the issue

Don't threaten to copy the CEO, the media or post your complaint to TripAdvisor or Yelp in your first correspondence. Save that for later.

>Play nice at first and see what happens

You might be surprised to find the supplier to be as eager to resolve the issue as you are.

How do you ask for compensation when a trip goes bad? Have you ever asked for and received compensation? Tell us about it in the comments.

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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.
Alameda County will dismiss, reduce or seal decades of marijuana-related convictions, District Attorney Nancy OMalley said Tuesday, clearing thousands of people of activities that California no longer deems crimes.

Barring unusual circumstances or facts, felony cases will be reduced to misdemeanors, and misdemeanors will be dismissed, OMalley said. The move is in line with new state regulations that allow prior convictions to be redesignated or erased.

OMalleys timeline differs slightly from that of San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon, who said last month he would circumvent the petitioning process and automatically expunge or reduce decades of cannabis convictions.

OMalley said her office will first sign onto petitions of those who come forward after a background review and meeting. She said prosecutors will work with court officials to ultimately expunge all qualifying cases, even if the subjects cant be reached or dont file a petition.

From November 2016, when voters legalized recreational use of the drug in California, to December last year, OMalley said 609 cases were dismissed. She said her office has so far identified 5,900 cases associated with 5,000 individuals that are eligible to be erased.

The district attorneys case-management system includes records only since 1974, and OMalley said she will ask the county to review older cases as well.

California is offering a second chance to people convicted of cannabis crimes, from felonies to small infractions, with the opportunity to have their criminal records cleared, OMalley said in a statement. We join our state officials and intend to reverse decades of cannabis convictions that can be a barrier for people to gain meaningful employment.

Those who think they are eligible for a conviction expungement may email CannabisDismissal@acgov.org.
A Fremont man is suspected of shooting and killing a woman and a dog before turning the gun on himself, authorities said Tuesday.

The people killed over the weekend were identified as 49-year-old Holly Lynn Dreyer and 56-year-old Steven Floyd Howard, according to the Alameda County Coroners Bureau.
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.
Annihilation: Alex Garland, who had big success as the writer and director of Ex Machina, returns with this science fiction movie based on Jeff VanderMeers Southern Reach Trilogy. Stars Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson and Machina star Oscar Isaac.

Are We Not Cats: A man and a woman bond over their impulse to eat hair in what is billed as a comedy/horror/romance.

Every Day: This young adult romance/fantasy is about a shy teenage girl who falls for a person who wakes up every day as someone else. Directed by Michael Sucsy and based on a novel by David Levithan.

Game Night: This comedy/crime film features an all-star cast including Rachel McAdams, Jesse Plemons, Jason Bateman, Chelsea Peretti and Michael C. Hall. On this particular night, a group that meets frequently to play games finds itself trying to solve a murder mystery.

Half Magic: Heather Graham directs and stars in this comedy about female empowerment. Also stars Stephanie Beatriz.

Have a Nice Day: Violence breaks out in this animated comedy/crime movie when people from different backgrounds go after a bag containing millions of yuan in a city in Southern China.

Loveless: This Russian film, nominated for a best foreign language Oscar, deals with a divorced couple who ignore their son, who runs away. The results are devastating.

Nostalgia: One of those omnibus movies that portrays different story lines of love and loss. Among the stars are Bruce Dern, Jon Hamm, Catherine Keener and Nick Offerman.

The Party: Kristin Scott Thomas plays a woman who throws a party to celebrate her promotion in the British opposition party. Things dont go so well. Also stars Timorth Spall, Patricia Clarkson, Emily Mortimer, Cillian Murphy and Bruno Ganz.

 Leba Hertz
Cruz was a troubled teenager who posted disturbing material on social media before the shooting spree, officials said, reports PTI. "I think we've unfortunately got more, more to learn and more to come, in the, in the days and weeks ahead". The results of the election were not impacted.

"President Trump, you say what can you do?".

In the wake of a deadly terror attack in London in June, he went after the Mayor Sadiq Khan on Twitter, suggesting he wasn't taking the attacks seriously enough.

Conference was set to start at 11 a.m. EST.

"Because they didn't want to, and now they just talk!"

On Saturday, Trump tweeted, "Very sad that the Federal Bureau of Investigation missed all of the many signals sent out by the Florida school shooter". This is not acceptable. Get back to the basics and make us all proud.

The president will spend the rest of the weekend in Mar-a-Lago in West Palm Beach.

President Donald Trump has kept largely silent about the Florida school shooting victims and the escalating gun control debate.

A 17-year-old student who survived the shooting has gone on an NBC news program to tell Trump that, in his role as the President of the United States, "You're supposed to bring this nation together, not divide us". People have been trying for three years - from his family to friends to aides. A second official said the White House wants to determine if a presidential visit would hamper law enforcement efforts before making a final decision.

Idea, Vodafone cut unlimited pack price to Rs 150 range

Along with this, the brand has also introduced Rs 151 plan in some circles of Kerala, which offers above-mentioned benefits. Under this pack, Vodafone users will get unlimited local and STD voice calls along with free national roaming calls.

There was bi-partisan backlash.

KEITH: He is. In other tweets, he says that they are laughing at us in Moscow - he used more crude language - says (reading) but wasn't I a great candidate?

Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California criticized the lack of action on a measure she introduced after the mass shooting in Las Vegas a year ago to ban bump stocks, which allow semi-automatic weapons to fire more rapidly.

Seventeen people were killed in the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. "You can keep all of your fake and meaningless "thoughts and prayers".

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.

President Donald Trump is venting his fury over the Russian Federation probe.

Trump, who has been hesitant to enforce sanctions on Russia for cyber meddling, has yet to speak out against Russia or say what he will do to stop future Russian meddling. Shah dismissed "the notion that we can somehow ban weapons". On Friday, 13 Russian nationals were indicted for interfering with the 2016 election.

"That us kids don't know what we're talking about, that we're too young to understand how the Government works". The questions were biased and slanted, the facts incorrect. And let me just try to run through some of these tweets.

"I'd caution everybody to not believe that this is yet over, because there's lots of other places where Director Mueller to look regarding potential Russian involvement in all this", said Christie, a Republican.
PROVIDENCE, R.I.  A grand jury indictment unsealed Monday accuses a Republican state senator of extorting sex from a page in the Senates page program.

The indictment was unsealed as Senate Minority Whip Nicholas Kettle was arraigned on two counts of extortion in Providence Superior Court. Kettle, of Coventry, is accused of extorting a male page for sex multiple times. He pleaded not guilty and was released on $50,000 personal recognizance.

The news prompted Democratic Senate President Dominick Ruggerio to again call for Kettle to resign immediately. He said he was horrified and disgusted by these allegations.

If Kettle refuses to step down, the Senate will seek his expulsion, Ruggerio said. He said he also asked the Senates chief legal counsel to conduct an immediate review of the page program.

Kettle, whos 27 years old, was indicted last week, but the details of the extortion counts remained sealed over the weekend. State police separately charged Kettle with video voyeurism on Friday, and his lawyer has said he denies any wrongdoing.

The indictment says Kettle extorted the page into sex on two occasions in 2011. The indictment names the page, but the Associated Press does not identify people who may be victims of sex crimes unless they come forward and agree to have their names published. The pages LinkedIn profile says he served as a page from February 2011 to May 2012.

In a statement Monday night, a spokeswoman for the page said hes spent the last seven years coming to terms with what was done to him and is moving on. She said hes now an executive in the music industry in Tennessee and is no longer affiliated with Rhode Island politics.

Kettle did not speak to reporters outside court and did not comment on whether he would resign, but his lawyer described the page as a political rival of Kettles. State elections records show the page ran against Kettle as an independent in 2014, three years after the extortion is alleged to have occurred.
Mexico City got a substantial warning before the shaking from a distant earthquake arrived Friday  some 30 to 60 seconds broadcast over loudspeakers from an earthquake early warning system.

It was another success for Mexico Citys earthquake warning system  one which California, Oregon and Washington state still lack, and one that is an ongoing target for elimination by President Trump.

The Trump administrations budget proposal released last week again zeroed out funding for the earthquake early warning program administered by the U.S. Geological Survey.

The presidents budget proposal for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1 requested about $13 million less for the federal governments earthquake hazards program, including $10.2 million for the earthquake early warning program. The administration also proposed reducing staff for the USGSs earthquake hazards program from 240 to 222, including 15 positions that staff the earthquake early warning program.

The U.S. Department of the Interior, which oversees the USGS, said in its budget justification that the reduction in the earthquake hazards program was proposed to address higher priorities.

Representatives from California said they would move to keep funding the program.

A functioning earthquake early warning system can provide critical life-saving benefits, which is why theres broad bipartisan support to fund it in Congress, Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona (Riverside County), chairman of an appropriations subcommittee that oversees funding for the USGS, said in a statement. I will continue to advocate for the development and funding for the earthquake early warning system. This is a system the West Coast needs to have in place.

Rep. Adam Schiff , D-Burbank (Los Angeles County), said the USGSs ShakeAlert system would protect property and infrastructure.

Congress has remained steadfast in its bipartisan support for the system, and I will work to see that Congress resumes funding for the project just as we did last year when the budget zeroed it out, Schiff said in a statement.

This is the second budget the Trump administration has proposed zero funds for the earthquake early warning system. Congress reversed Trumps proposal to end development of the early warning system from the administrations first proposed budget.

The USGS has been working on an earthquake early warning system for years, but the system remains short on funds.
The bail system in California is set to undergo a major shakeup, starting next week, after state Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced Tuesday that he would not appeal a court ruling that prohibits holding criminal defendants in jail because they cant afford to pay their way out.

Bail decisions should be based on danger to the public, not dollars in your pocket, Becerra said at a Sacramento news conference. He said keeping defendants locked up before trial, simply because they cant pay the amount set by the judge for pretrial release, entrenches people in a cycle of poverty, while wealthier defendants charged with the same crimes are set free.

The ruling was issued Jan. 25 by the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco. Becerras decision not to seek review by the state Supreme Court means the appellate decision will become final on Saturday, 30 days after it was issued, and binding on trial courts throughout California.

Judges will then have to change their long-standing practice of setting bail in fixed amounts determined by the crimes charged and the defendants record. The ruling does not prohibit monetary bail, but says it must at least be set at levels a defendant can afford, unless the judge cites evidence that the defendant is too dangerous to release before trial.

The ruling also changes the political landscape on the issue.

Legislation sponsored by state Sen. Bob Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys (Los Angeles County), and Assemblyman Rob Bonta, D-Alameda, that would have largely replaced cash bail with pretrial monitoring and other safety measures, cleared the state Senate last year, but has been held up in the Assembly to await negotiations with Gov. Jerry Brown and others who have concerns about the bill or are opposed to it.

Now foes of the cash bail system have a new bargaining chip  either pass a new law or leave a ruling in place that dramatically changes the current system. Californias chief justice, Tani Cantil-Sakauye, has also criticized cash bail and appointed a task force that has recommended changes.

Hertzberg said the court decision, Becerras action and Cantil-Sakauyes support overwhelmingly make the case for bail reform and for passage of his bill.

The chief supporter of the system has been the bail bond industry, which contends cash bail is the best way to assure a defendants appearance in court. Bail bond companies post the full amount of bail in exchange for a 10 percent fee.

Jeffrey Clayton, executive director of the American Bail Coalition, an association of insurance companies that underwrite bail bonds, pointed out that Hertzbergs bill is opposed by police chiefs and prosecutors as well as bail bond companies. I dont think anybodys come up with too great of a solution just yet, he said.

Clayton said Becerras decision was disappointing, but didnt necessarily doom the current system.

Courts are going to have to evaluate (bail) on a case-by-case basis, he said.

Becerra was criticized more harshly by a political rival, Steven Bailey, a retired El Dorado County judge who is running for attorney general as a Republican in the June primary. Becerra, a Democrat, was appointed attorney general by Gov. Brown to replace Kamala Harris after her election to the U.S. Senate in 2016, and is also entered in the primary along with another Democrat, Dave Jones, now the states insurance commissioner.

Bailey called Becerras position on bail dangerous, and said, It is loud and clear Becerra cannot be trusted to put public safety ahead of politics.

But Becerra said his position promotes public safety.

Todays bail system doesnt make you safer, because if youve got the money and youre dangerous, you still get out, he told reporters.

Support for cash bail, meanwhile, has been declining nationwide. Federal courts have moved away from it, and a number of other states have already passed laws similar to the Hertzberg-Bonta proposal.

In nine coordinated rallies outside county courthouses around the state Tuesday, public defenders and activists joined to call for an end to the bail system.

Money bail has nothing to do with public safety and everything to do with coercing guilty pleas from poor people, who have no other way to get out of jail before trial, said Chesa Boudin, a deputy San Francisco public defender.

In a separate case, a federal judge in Oakland has cleared the way for a trial on the constitutionality of the bail system in California. Bail bond companies have been allowed to enter that case and defend the law, but they were unable to take part in the state appellate case in San Francisco.

That ruling involved Jeffrey Humphrey, charged with entering the apartment of a 79-year-old man last May, threatening to put a pillowcase over his head and stealing $5 and a bottle of cologne.

Humphrey, 63, a retired shipyard worker who lived in the same building, had been addicted to drugs most of his life, was enrolled in a rehabilitation program and had felony convictions from 1992 and earlier. A judge initially set his bail at $600,000 based on the charges and Humphreys record, and later lowered it to $350,000 based on his willingness to undergo treatment. Humphrey could not afford the reduced amount and remained in jail.

A defendant may not be imprisoned solely due to poverty, the appeals court said last month in ordering a new bail hearing.

The trial judge must determine how much bail Humphrey can afford and whether he can be safely released without bail, Presiding Justice J. Anthony Kline said in the 3-0 decision. Higher bail is allowed only if the judge finds, by clear and convincing evidence, that there is no other way to protect the public or to assure Humphreys return to court after his release, Kline said.

The ruling is not yet final. So far, only one Superior Court judge in San Francisco is following its standards, said Public Defender Jeff Adachi at Tuesdays rally outside the citys criminal courthouse. Adachi declined to identify the judge.

The Humphrey decision is the law today, Adachi declared. Thats why were here today. To demand accountability, that the judges follow the law.
The Russian, Iranian and Turkish foreign ministers will meet in Kazakhstan in two weeks to prepare the ground for an upcoming summit in Istanbul on Syria, Russia's TASS news agency cited Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif as saying on February 19.

Iran has said, it has no military bases or military presence in Syria. One of the Israeli planes was successfully downed by Syrian anti-aircraft fire in retaliation.

The US, determined to contain Iranian aggression, has warned Russian Federation against working with Iran.

Responding to Netanyahu on Monday, Zarif accused Israel of violating Syria's air space and asserted Iran's right to defend itself.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif addresses the Valdai Discussion Club's conference in Moscow, Feb. 19, 2018. Meanwhile the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad backed by Iran and their ally Hezbollah dismissed Israel's accusations as lies, denying that a drone had penetrated Israel.

On Feb. 8, the three-way summit was discussed during a phone conversation between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which they also discussed Turkey's "Operation Olive Branch" into Afrin.

Red Bull launches new-look F1 auto earlier than usual

Red Bull will reveal the car's 2018 race livery at the first pre-season test at the Circuit de Catalunya next week. Red Bull have released pictures of the 2018 vehicle they hope will lead them back into Formula 1's title race.

"The use of proxies by the United States is risky for the proxies, for the United States and for the region".

Special adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, General Yahya Rahim Safavi, has called on his country to recover the price it has paid in Syria.

"The U.S. president has big ambitions, but they will never come true", said Zarif, who was in Moscow for a meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club - a gathering of Russian and worldwide foreign policy experts - on the Middle East.

Lavrov said U.S. claims that its only objective in Syria was the war on terror contradicted its real deeds in the country.

"There is nothing that prevents Iran and Saudi Arabia from working together for the improvement of the situation not only in Iraq, but also in Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, Bahrain and elsewhere". On February 8, media reported citing a United States official that at least 100 Syrian pro-government troops had been killed in the coalition's air and artillery strikes. "And we believe incursions into other peoples' territories will not help resolve the problem".

Furthermore, the USA side continues the de facto occupation of a 34-mile zone around its military base in Syria's At-Tanf helping Daesh militants to hide from the Syrian government troops, the Russian Foreign Ministry said last week.
A Cameron Park resident walked out of a raffle benefiting a firefighter support group after seeing an AR-15 as one of the prizes.

Allison Merrill was at an annual crab feed for the Cameron Park Firefighter Association Saturday evening when she saw the firearm in a room full of items for the raffle. She walked out in protest 30 minutes into the event.

"These are our first responders responding to these types of events -- these shootings, and they should be concerned with putting one of those types of weapons out in our community and instead it was being given out as a prize," Merrill said.

Nancy Lugo, another resident, also walked out of the event.

"It's the timing of seeing that weapon after reeling in the grief with the rest of the country of the death of the children in Florida," Lugo said.

The firearm is similar to the one used Wednesday in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. One key difference is that California limits the magazine capacity to 10 rounds, unlike Florida.

The Cameron Park Fire Department is under contract with Cal Fire.

"This was a fundraising effort that has taken place since 2002. I understand the concerns, by all means," Cal Fire spokesman Scott McLean said. "No harm was intended."

The association refunded the women their money for the crab feed.

"The money wasn't really an issue. I just wanted him to know we were leaving in protest that it was totally tone deaf of them to have that, especially given the timing," Merrill said.

The women vow to stand with the victims in Parkland, Florida and support efforts for stricter gun laws.

"If we don't do something together, silence will be the end of all of us," Lugo said.

Cal Fire said the AR-15 in the raffle is legal and that guns have been raffled off at this event in the past.

The crab feed and raffle raises money for firefighter programs and resources.
It was a high-quality final in Doha with world number four Garbine Muguruza putting in a tough fight and never seemed to let loose throughout the encounter, making it memorable for all the fans who witnessed it live.

The Czech World No 16 from Czech Republic was the underdog heading into the final against the World No 4 from Spain, but despite finding herself a set down, Kvitova was able to bounce back superbly to secure a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory to clinch her 22th WTA Tour title.

Kvitova, who beat top- ranked Caroline Wozniacki in three sets in the semifinals, will return to the top 10 rankings on Monday for the first time since she was the victim of a knife attack in her home in December 2016 that led to a lengthy layoff. She then had two more double faults in the fourth game to get broken again, and was trailing 5-0 when she won three games in a row before losing the first set. It proved to be fatal as Kvitova not only held her serve but immediately broke the Spaniard's to take a lead in the match for the first time.

Wozniacki had a chance to serve out the match in the second set at 5-4 and 6-5.

After seeing off another break point Kvitova was unable to capitalise on two more of her own, but the battle of wills was finally decided in her favour after two hours and 15 minutes as her fine run continued.

Trump and his fiercest critic Romney friends again - on Twitter

Jim Risch, who got to know Romney when both served as governors and when he co-chaired Romney's presidential campaigns in Idaho. Romney changed his tune after Trump beat Clinton for president, and even considered serving as Trump's Secretary of State .

"Today it was a big fight". Muguruza needed one of her trademark backhands to hold in the opening game of the decider and gained a couple of break points in the fourth game. Fifteen unforced errors to just four winners penalized Kvitova who saved a break point to hold at 2-1 in the second set with some heavy hitting, including the point of the match as she reached a drop shot and perfectly placed a backhand slice victor.

Kvitova offered two flawless points, delivered a backhand victor on the first and a booming ace down the T on the second, then broke to 3-2 after an unbelievable rally.

Wozniacki was disappointed at failing to serve out the match twice in the second set. She first saved a break- point at 30-40 with a backhand victor after doing all the running, and then held her serve with an ace.

The key stat that highlighted the resilience of Kvitova was that Muguruza had 11 break points, but managed to convert just two of them. Nonetheless, this still did not affect the Czech's spirit, saving her seventh consecutive break point with a forehand victor en route to consolidating the break.
Through such an intensive week of wine tasting, an observer might think the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition judges could grow just a bit weary of swirling and sniffing, sipping and swishing. With thousands of wines to evaluate and score, its red, white, rose and sparkling non-stop.

For these professionals, one highlight of the week is the annual judges dinner held at a local winery. Here, they gather for a wine reception, talk wine-shop with colleagues, then sit down for a multi-course feast paired with fine wine after fine wine.

Its really a great time for everyone to simply relax and enjoy the wines, said Eva Bertran, vice president of marketing for Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards in Sonoma, where the dinner was hosted this year. This is one way we can thank the judges for all their hard work through the rest of the competition.

And no one has to spit after tasting a top notch Chardonnay or Pinot Noir.

While the 67 professional judges clearly enjoyed their labors for the 18th annual gathering last month, some downtime was welcome too, given full-day schedules that started as early as 7:30 a.m. So there were plenty of glasses clinking as judges and their guests mingled for the Jan. 10 reception in the Gloria Ferrer tasting room on Arnold Drive overlooking Sonoma Valley.

Everyone sipped Gloria Ferrer 2010 Carneros Anniversary Cuvee, nibbling crispy bacon wrapped chorizo-stuffed dates and roasted vegetable empanadas with romesco sauce. Anyone eavesdropping heard the professionals discussing the wines they had judged that afternoon and anticipating the wines they would judge the next day  clearly not exhausted of their favorite topic.

Being selected as host for the evening is a significant occasion for a winery, Bertran noted. An invitation-only honor, hosting offers extra opportunity for an estate team to build relationships with the wine professionals who attend and give an insiders look at every facet of their property.

This is a perfect time for everyone to meet our winemakers, and show everyone whats new at Gloria Ferrer, Bertran said.

For the 335-acre estate that debuted in 1986 as the first sparkling wine house in Sonoma Carneros, new is a relative term. The Ferrer family established their winegrowing business in Catalonia, Spain more than 600 years ago, specializing in methode traditionelle sparkling wines since the beginning.

In the 1970s, Jose and Gloria Ferrer traveled to Sonoma, and immediately fell in love with the bucolic area. By 1982, they had found the perfect property, a cattle ranch with sloping hillsides, and set out designing their winery in the style of a masia, a Catalan farmhouse saluting Ferrers Spanish roots. They also dug caves, the first such underground structures in the area.

The winerys grand opening was an elaborate affair, featuring the President of Catalonia cutting the ribbon and Spanish tenor Placido Domingo performing.

Then, as it is now, the vineyards were dedicated to the two celebrated components of sparkling wine: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The first wine to be released was the Gloria Ferrer Brut, today called Sonoma Brut and remaining the winerys best selling wine.

Over the years, the winemaking team expanded into still wines, focusing again strictly on those two estate varietals.

Yet during a guided tour following the sparking reception, judges did discover many new things. Just three years ago, the winery was remodeled, doubling the size of the tasting rooms Vista Terrace for even more expansive views of the vineyards and San Pablo Bay.

The interior visitor center was expanded by 30 percent, and a museum-style room was added to display selections from co-founder Gloria Ferrers stunning collection of thousands of artistic Champagne flutes that she has gathered from around the world.

Next, it was time for dinner in the lavishly decorated barrel room with its curved ceiling dramatically up-lit in a fleur-de-lis pattern. The golden patina also danced across the soaring walls of oak barrels, reflecting against votive candles glowing on the white linen draped tables.

The evening allows us to show how food-friendly our wines are, Bertran said. And we can treat the judges to some wines they havent tasted in the competition.

This year, Gloria Ferrer introduced the first vintage of its new WindVane wines, a Chardonnay and Pinot Noir created by winemaker Steven Urberg as an homage to the Western Carneros winds that lend distinct character to the estates ridge top grapevines.

The winds do make their mark, said Urberg, noting with a smile that originally the estates young olive trees grew at a 45-degree angle to the east until staking and growth straightened them. WindVane really allows us to show what these vineyards have to offer with no heavy oak or malolactic fermentation and a lot of pure fruit expression.

After Sonoma Brut paired with mango basil shrimp in a crispy wonton cup, guests dined on golden pan-seared halibut with potatoes and leeks in saffron-seafood broth paired with WindVane 2015 Chardonnay.

Next, chef Bruce Riezenman of Cotatis Park Avenue Catering sent out a tender rack of lamb dressed with green olives and Pinot-cherry-rosemary sauce, alongside a salad of kale, pine nuts, currants and roasted carrots plus a side of white beans tossed in thyme olive oil. The dish worked perfectly with the WindVane 2015 Pinot Noir.

Ever since the San Francisco Chronicle took over title sponsorship of the Cloverdale Citrus Fair Wine Competition in 2000, the event has evolved into whats now an unofficial challenge among wineries to host the most memorable judges dinner. And Gloria Ferrer drew crowd applause for its startling mid-meal performance by a waitress who appeared to trip in the middle of the room, sending her service tray crashing. A waiter valiantly caught her, and suddenly, the two transformed into dancers, floating in a brilliant, romantic Spanish waltz that had guests surprised, then mesmerized.

When everyone returned to the tasting room for dessert, another treat awaited them. More sparkling was poured; they enjoyed 2006 Carneros Cuvee with crema Catalana glazed in crackly sugar and miguelitos chocolate-stuffed phyllo cakes. But the serving table stole the show. It was a magnificent costumed Spanish senorita, with the billows of her fabulous gown doubling as a pastry counter.

Perhaps the most significant message for the evening was how nimble sparkling wines can be, as judges and guests savored the bubbly with so many different dishes.

Sparkling wine is a food wine, Bertran said. The U.S. used to think it was mainly for special occasions, but the Spanish drink sparkling all through their meals. The high acidity and sugar notes makes it so versatile. Today, nobody needs an excuse to drink sparkling.

Buy your Public Tasting tickets today

Advanced tickets for the 2018 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Public Tasting are for sale at winejudging.com.
Nearly 7,000 wines from 35 states were entered into the 2018 competition. Out of this enormous field of entries, the following wines stood out to be declared the best of the best, receiving the prestigious American AgCredit Sweepstake Award. Included with each sweepstakes winner are tasting notes by Mike Dunne, contributing wine writer to the Sacramento Bee.

Sparkling Sweepstake

Rack & Riddle (CA), NV Sonoma County Blanc de Noirs; $22

Against a brassy backdrop, robust beads of fine bubbles lift the delicate but distinct scent of tiny berries tossed with slivered almonds. Overall, dry, lean and refined.

White Sweepstake

Brick Barn Wine Estate (CA), 2016 Santa Ynez Valley

Vermentino; $40

Allergy alert! This is spring unfolding after an unusually benevolent winter, producing whole slopes given over to wildflowers, blooming fruit trees and tall native grasses.

Pink Sweepstake

Barnard Griffin (WA), 2017 Columbia Valley Rose of

Sangiovese; $14

If any wine could be called a perennial strong sweepstakes contender at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, its this strikingly pretty and astonishingly aromatic Rose of Sangiovese, which by its frank and cheery fruit could lead to a surge in sangiovese plantings throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Red Sweepstake

OShaughnessy Estate Winery (CA), 2014 Napa Valley Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon; $100

The tasty OShaughnessy emerges from one of Californias recent drought years with inky color, cocky fruit, chewy tannins, considerable oak and a vow that its layering and composure only will improve with five to 10 years of aging.

Dessert Sweepstake

Merritt Estate Winery (NY), 2015 Lake Erie Vidal Ice Wine; $39.99

A bushel of apples, probably some variety likened to honey for its bouquet, sweetness and luxurious texture.

Cider Sweepstake

Goose Watch Winery (NY), NV Finger Lakes Flying High Semi-Sweet Cider; $14.99

Goose Watch offers a fun path through the orchard, evoking images of fall sunshine and fellowship, everything working together to yield a product you want to share for its uplifting spirity freshness and vitality.

Label Sweepstake

Rodney Strong Vineyards (CA), 2015 Sonoma County Upshot; $28

For a comprehensive listing of all the Best of Class, double gold, gold, silver and bronze awards, visit www.winejudging.com.
A UC Berkeley infectious disease expert believes parts of San Francisco may be more unsanitary than many of the dwellings in impoverished, developing countries.

Dr. Lee Riley's predictions come by way of a recent city survey by NBC Bay Area. The task force surveyed 153 blocks in downtown San Francisco and found 100 improperly discarded needles and more than 300 piles of feces littered around the streets. As many as a dozen needles were found abandoned on a single city block.

Riley, whose 2016 book "Slum Health: From the Cell to the Street" analyzed the range of health hazards found in areas of deep poverty across the globe, told NBC the contamination recorded in pockets of San Francisco rivals that found in slums of Brazil, Kenya, and India's developing communities.

This may be, he said, because homeless communities in San Francisco are frequently forced to relocate one neighborhood to another. In other countries, slum dwellings often operate as long-term housing situations for local families, and so in turn, its residents may attempt to make their surroundings more livable or sanitary.

Story continues below.

Riley is not the first person with a global perspective to remark on the troubling state of affairs in San Francisco. In January SFGATE spoke with Leilani Farha, the United Nations special rapporteur on adequate housing, who toured homeless communities around the Bay Area. She found its cities in dire straits.

Farha was "completely shocked" by what she saw. She noted the damaging effect of constant relocation.

"They're treated like nonentities," she told SFGATE. "Sometimes they say [belongings are] put in storage, but more often they'll dump everyone's possessions into one Dumpster. It's horrible. It's not dignified. The people have nowhere to go. It's illogical. It's tragic."

Mohammed Nuru, Director of the San Francisco's Public Works Department, told NBC he estimates $30 million  half of the city's street cleaning budget  is put toward cleaning up needles and feces from sidewalks and homeless encampments.

Read Annie Vainshtein's latest stories here. Send her news tips at avainshtein@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @annievain
"Joyce is a social conservative who opposed same-sex marriage in their referendum past year because he believes in traditional family values. and you can probably see where this is going", Oliver said, before the show aired a Channel 7 clip including pics of his new pregnant partner, former staffer Vikki Campion.

WA Nationals state leader Mia Davies issued a statement saying she told Mr Joyce he is now a distraction.

If you were to plot the spectrum of how good it is to be Barnaby Joyce on a scale from 'on a high from threatening to murder Johnny Depp's dogs' to 'kicked out of parliament because you're a secret Kiwi', you would probably have to make more room on the scale for how shithouse things have been going for him over the last few weeks.

There are no Western Australian Nationals in federal parliament, but it has nine members in WA's Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.

The WA Nationals are affiliated to the National Party of Australia but have their own separate structure.

If all that wasn't enough, he's also the sole catalyst for Malcolm Turnbull's decision to put an explicit fuck-ban into the ministerial code of conduct, which was announced in a damage control press conference where Turnbull spent a good 5 minutes dragging Joyce for his affair - which was apparently done without consulting Joyce at all.

Mr Joyce, who's taken personal leave after his affair with a former staffer was made public, played down a phone hook-up between Nationals officials on Monday afternoon.

"I also note, you are not in a Coalition in Western Australia and the WA Nats pride themselves on their ferocious independence".

The NSW Nationals have said they "have always considered that the leadership of the Federal Nationals is at the discretion of the Federal Party Room".

Dallas Mayor Asks NRA to Move Annual Convention Out of the City

He now has an A-plus rating by the NRA, which helped him get re-elected previous year , The Tampa Bay Times reported . I am all for the protection of the 2nd Amendment but I am also for protecting the children and a safer Dallas .

"Further commentary on this issue in the public domain is unhelpful", the NSW branch said in a statement.

Queensland Nationals MP Llew O'Brien said while some people were concerned about the crisis engulfing Mr Joyce, just as many, if not more, were supportive of him.

The report cited Mrs Joyce's close friends as saying she has been anxious that some in the Nationals party room are using the scandal to unseat the Deputy PM and claim the leadership.

Joyce said the phone hook-up was not an official meeting, reiterating that the leader of the Nationals is decided by party MPs.

"People are starting to see this as a witch-hunt".

"I am humbled by the support in my electorate and in the community", he told Fairfax Media on Tuesday. But he was very confident Mr Joyce and Mr Turnbull will continue to work together, despite their sometimes "robust relationship".

"Barnaby's had a hard week, there's no two ways about it", he told reporters in Canberra.

Just as Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce was thinking he was out of the John Oliver and Last Week Tonight spotlight, Oliver has roped him back in.
OAKLAND (BCN)

Ghost Ship warehouse master tenant Derick Almena and creative director Max Harris pleaded not guilty today to 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter for their roles in a blaze at the warehouse in December 2016 that killed 36 people.

The not guilty pleas by Almena, 47, and Harris, 28, came at a routine procedural hearing following their preliminary hearing last December, at which a judge ruled that prosecutors produced sufficient evidence to have them stand trial.

Almena and Harris, who face up to 39 years in state prison if they're convicted, remain in custody in lieu of $750,000 bail but will seek to have their bail lowered or even be released on their own recognizance when they return to court on March 21 for a bail hearing.

Alameda County Superior Court Judge Morris Jacobson also scheduled a hearing on April 13 on a defense motion to have the charges against Almena and Harris dismissed and their trial to begin on July 16 if that motion is denied.

At the end of the preliminary hearing in December, Judge Jeffrey Horner described the warehouse, where about 25 people lived even though it didn't have a permit for residential use and was cluttered with artwork, woodwork, RVs, trailers and other items, as "a death trap."

Horner said, "There is very strong evidence" that Almena and Harris were responsible for the dangerous conditions at the warehouse, which also was known as the Satya Yuga Collective.

But defense attorneys for Almena and Harris made much of the fact that investigators were never able to conclusively determine the cause of the fire, although an Oakland fire official said she believes it likely was caused by some type of an electrical problem.

Alamena's lawyer, Serra, said at the preliminary hearing, "If you don't know what the cause was you can't establish negligence."

Serra also argued that the warehouse was not a fire trap and alleged that the building's owner, Chor Ng, who fled to China after the fire, "had primary responsibility" for the blaze.

Serra also alleged that the Oakland Fire Department knew about the conditions at the warehouse but didn't take any action and "is far more culpable" than Almena.

Serra said today that defense attorneys will make similar arguments if the case goes to trial.

Almena and Harris have both previously sought to be released without bail but have been unsuccessful.

However, Serra said today that the defense believes it has a good chance of being successful at the March 21 bail hearing because of a recent appellate court ruling that judges can't set high bail amounts for low-income people who can't afford to pay unless they represent a danger if they are released.

Serra said the defense will argue that Almena and Harris don't represent a danger to society and aren't flight risks.

272-6280

Tony Serra and Jeffrey Krasnoff for Almena (415) 986-5591

Brian Getz for Almena (415) 912-5886

Curtis Briggs and Tyler Smith for Harris (415) 283-9123

Samuel Geller for Harris (415) 515-3545
Of course. You would have to be be barking mad to want to bring this rabble to NZ. But then socialists are mad by definition. It's not as if we don't have...
California Gov. Jerry Brown today issued a proclamation declaring this day a day of remembrance of the Japanese-American evacuation and incarceration during World War II, the governor's office said.

An estimated 110,000 to 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry were incarcerated in the camps. The actions were ordered by President Franklin D. Roosevelt after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
MOUNTAIN VIEW (BCN)

A 19-year-old man arrested last week along with a teen boy in Mountain View is believed to be responsible for a string of auto burglaries that have occurred since last year, police said today.

On Feb. 12, Mountain View police arrested Lamar Nicholson, 19, of Alameda and a 16-year-old boy from San Francisco after the pair was spotted breaking into vehicles in Cupertino, according to police.

Police believe Nicholson is responsible for nearly 20 auto burglaries in several cities. In those incidents, the suspects took items from vehicles such as laptops, cellphones and tablets.

Officers arrested Nicholson on suspicion of 19 counts of auto burglary, possession of burglary tools, conspiracy to commit a crime and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, police said.

The 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of burglary, conspiracy to commit a crime, possession of burglary tools and providing a false name to police. He was cited and released to his family, according to police.

The arrests were made with the help of the San Jose Police Department's Burglary Suppression Unit, the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office and the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety.

Police are reminding residents to hide or take their valuables with them before leaving their vehicles and to lock all windows and doors.
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

Residents and restaurant owners in San Francisco's Chinatown are encouraged to recycle their cooking oil as part of the city's Greasecycle Program that turns used cooking oil into biofuel.

The city's Public Utilities Commission and District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin will visit Chinatown Tuesday to promote signing up for the program, the utility commission said today.

Peskin and Harlan Kelly, general manager of the utility commission, are scheduled to speak at the Hong Kong Clay Pot restaurant at 2 p.m. followed by a merchant walk through Chinatown.

Restaurants and food service establishments can sign up for the program for free collection of their used cooking oil. Fats, oil and grease clog the city's sewer system, costing more than $3.5 million annually in maintenance, according to the commission.

The program serves more than 800 San Francisco restaurants and has collected and recycled more than three million gallons of grease. More information is available at sfgreasecycle.org.
Four people have been displaced by a one-alarm fire this morning at a single-family home near Walnut Creek, according to Contra Costa County Fire Protection District officials.

The fire was reported at 3:50 a.m. in the 1400 block of Springbrook Road in unincorporated Contra Costa County near Walnut Creek, Fire Marshal Robert Marshall said.

Firefighters arrived on scene and knocked down the blaze in about 30 minutes.

Marshall said the house is a total loss and all four occupants have been displaced. They are receiving assistance from the American Red Cross.

One of the occupants of the home suffered minor smoke inhalation, Marshall said. There were no other reports of injures.

Fire investigators are on the scene, but have not yet identified the cause of the fire, Marshall said.

Ghost Ship warehouse master tenant Derick Almena and creative director Max Harris pleaded not guilty today to 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter for their roles in a blaze at the warehouse in December 2016 that killed 36 people.

The not guilty pleas by Almena, 47, and Harris, 28, came at a routine procedural hearing following their preliminary hearing last December, at which a judge ruled that prosecutors produced sufficient evidence to have them stand trial.

Almena and Harris, who face up to 39 years in state prison if they're convicted, remain in custody in lieu of $750,000 bail but will seek to have their bail lowered or even be released on their own recognizance when they return to court on March 21 for a bail hearing.

Alameda County Superior Court Judge Morris Jacobson also scheduled a hearing on April 13 on a defense motion to have the charges against Almena and Harris dismissed and their trial to begin on July 16 if that motion is denied.

At the end of the preliminary hearing in December, Judge Jeffrey Horner described the warehouse, where about 25 people lived even though it didn't have a permit for residential use and was cluttered with artwork, woodwork, RVs, trailers and other items, as "a death trap."

Horner said, "There is very strong evidence" that Almena and Harris were responsible for the dangerous conditions at the warehouse, which also was known as the Satya Yuga Collective.

But defense attorneys for Almena and Harris made much of the fact that investigators were never able to conclusively determine the cause of the fire, although an Oakland fire official said she believes it likely was caused by some type of an electrical problem.

Alamena's lawyer, Serra, said at the preliminary hearing, "If you don't know what the cause was you can't establish negligence."

Serra also argued that the warehouse was not a fire trap and alleged that the building's owner, Chor Ng, who fled to China after the fire, "had primary responsibility" for the blaze.

Serra also alleged that the Oakland Fire Department knew about the conditions at the warehouse but didn't take any action and "is far more culpable" than Almena.

Serra said today that defense attorneys will make similar arguments if the case goes to trial.

Almena and Harris have both previously sought to be released without bail but have been unsuccessful.

However, Serra said today that the defense believes it has a good chance of being successful at the March 21 bail hearing because of a recent appellate court ruling that judges can't set high bail amounts for low-income people who can't afford to pay unless they represent a danger if they are released.

Serra said the defense will argue that Almena and Harris don't represent a danger to society and aren't flight risks.

The Fairfield Fire Department responded to a hazardous materials call this morning behind a restaurant, Deputy Chief Matt Luckenbach said.

Firefighters found a five-gallon water cooler-type jug containing a liquid around 9 a.m. in the 900 block of East Travis Boulevard, Luckenbach said.

The Solano County and Travis Air Force Base haz-mat teams responded and determined the liquid was diesel and it was safely discarded, Luckenbach said.

No injuries were reported and the scene was cleared around 11 a.m., Luckenbach said.

A fire has been extinguished this morning in an Oakland two-story, duplex where marijuana was found growing, a fire battalion chief said.

The fire was reported at 8:25 a.m. in the 1400 block of East 32nd Street near Highland Hospital.

Crews had to force their way inside because the building was heavily fortified, Battalion Chief Nick Luby said.

Firefighters searched the structure and no one was inside but they found about 200 marijuana plants.

The fire started with a floor heater and burned the floor around the heater.

No one was injured. Police also responded.

Luby said a person responsible for the home has not been located yet.

Police say an injured man found late Friday night at an Oakland BART station may have been stabbed in Berkeley and fled the scene by train.

Officers responding to the MacArthur BART station at 10:38 p.m. on report of a stabbing did locate a man with an injury to his back - but the victim did not cooperate with their investigation or tell them how he'd gotten hurt.

The victim was transported to a hospital, but information about his current condition was not immediately available.

Police determined that he was attacked somewhere in Berkeley, then he got on the train and rode it to Oakland. Further details were not immediately available.

As part of National Engineers Week, BART is sharing stories about its various engineering divisions all week, ending with a Q&A on Twitter Friday, transit officials said.

The Q&A will take place from noon to 1 p.m. Pacific time on Twitter Friday, and every day of the week leading up to that a different area of BART engineering will take the spotlight, according to transit officials.

On Monday, the four divisions of BART's systems engineering group got a look. The divisions are train control engineering, which keeps the trains running on time; communications engineering, which deals with data networks; fare collection engineering and computer science engineering.

The story is posted on the transit system's website at http://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2018/news20180216-0.

Finally, the transit system is hiring engineers.

"There are tremendous opportunities for professional development," Systems Engineering Group Manager Jonas V. Radstrom said in a statement. "We've got our fingers in most everything. Depending on what your capabilities are, the sky is the limit on what you can do."

More information on BART engineering is available on BART's website at http://www.bart.gov/.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's assistance in locating a 29-year-old woman last seen near Davenport Monday afternoon.

Katherine Harden was reportedly going to Greyhound Rock, located approximately 10 miles north of Davenport, before she was reported missing, according to deputies.
The status of the border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic has been a major headache for UK Ministers as they seek to inexpertly navigate the storm surrounding our exit from the EU.The danger is that by putting back border controls and disrupting free trade between the two, Ministers will start to unpick twenty years of peace founded on the principles of direct rule and power-sharing as set out in the Good Friday agreement.They need not fear, however, as the hard line Brexiteers have the solution. They want to ditch the Good Friday agreement altogether and apparently, damn the consequences. At least that is the only conclusion that can be drawn from yesterday's co-ordinated onslaught on the peace process.It is an onslaught that follows the hard-line DUP's decision to take their toys home and rely on Theresa May's largesse to keep them in a position of influence in the North. But in my view it is also a cynical exercise in self-serving politics that underlines the real dangers inherent in Brexit.It all started with a Daniel Hannan column in the Telegraph in which he states:Similar sentiments have been echoed by the former Northern Ireland Secretary, Owen Patterson, whilst Labour MP and Brexiteer, Kate Hooey has also waded into the fray . She is quoted as saying:As Slugger O'Toole points out the whole basis of this criticism is wrong:Writing off democracy in Northern Ireland so easily is an act of breath-taking cynicism. It is not ideal and is need of reform, but for now it represents the best chance to maintain peace in the province. The view of former Northern Ireland Secretary, Peter Hain is more prescient:We should not allow the Brexiteers to unravel decades of peace in Northern Ireland. It is bad enough that they have condemned us to the inept negotiating tactics of UK Tory Ministers, which threaten to leave us isolated in the world and at the mercy of the likes of Donald Trump for future trade deals. Handing Ireland back to sectarian violence so as to solve a problem they have created does them no credit at all.
In the summer of 2013 a remarkable event occurred in the publishing industry. A challenging, 685-page economic text written by an obscure French economist and published by an academic press became an overnight best seller.

Thomas Pikettys Capital in the Twenty-First Century (referred to here simply as Capital) sold so quickly that Harvard University Press couldnt keep up with the demand and was forced to outsource to printing presses in England and even India. The book basked on the New York Times bestseller list for 22 weeks and, last I looked, more than 500,000 copies were in print in English alone. What could possibly account for such a phenomenon?

Pikettys book proved to be such a success because, like a few other recent books (one thinks of Hillbilly Elegy, for example, about which Ill have something to say anon) it captured the zeitgeist-of-the-moment. Piketty argued, in a nutshell, that in a capitalist society the rich will get forever richer, leaving everyone else behind.

A glowing review by Paul Krugman fed the mania. Here, after all, was a sound economist (I mean Piketty, not Krugman), who had done a lot of very serious research, essentially proposing that Marx was right after all! (Pikettys title, we could hardly fail to notice, intentionally referred back to Das Kapital.) For those folks with a dismal opinion of free market economies, Capital was manna from heaven.

Alas, the enthusiasm was soon to fade. But before I get to the reasons why Piketty continues to be a darling only among leftwing university economics departments (I think there are four redundancies in that phrase), lets summarize what he argued in his 685 pages.

Pikettys thesis on private wealth is simplicity itself. He claims, based on his research, that over the long term the return on capital (r) is higher than the broad growth rate of economies (g). Thus, the central contradiction of capitalism, as Piketty put it, is that the rich will forever get richer while everyone else falls by the wayside. But, interesting though Pikettys idea is, there are many, many problems with it.

The first problem is his research itself. The ink was no sooner dry on Capital than scholars everywhere began to find serious flaws in Pikettys data. I wont go into detail, but the flaws were serious enough that the Financial Times, which might have been expected to be sympathetic to Pikettys idea, concluded that, there is little evidence to bear out the thesis than an increasing share of total wealth is held by the richest few.

The second issue with Capital, which seemed not to dawn on anyone for a while, was that Piketty was addressing the wrong problem. Inequality had certainly grown in the U.S. and, indeed, in all the developed market economies. But what had caused all the trouble (Brexit, Trump, etc.) wasnt wealth inequality, it was income inequality.

If the inequality of wealth had been exactly what it is today, but if income inequality had been no worse than it was three or four decades ago, then inequality wouldnt be a big issue. After all, wealth inequality typically arises, at least initially, because somebody has done something remarkable, something that society badly wanted and was willing to pay for. People dont begrudge that wealth.

Income inequality, on the other hand, affects peoples daily lives, their ability to support their families, their hopes and dreams for their children. Allow the incomes of half of all American families to stagnate, while the top quarter flourishes, and you will have a problem. Why didnt Piketty write a book on income equality? My guess? Piketty knows perfectly well that income inequality has soared in recent decadeshe himself (along with two U.S. collaborators) has been in the forefront of documenting the problem.

But if Capital had focused on income inequality, the villains of the piece would have been the very liberal, coastal elites whose incomes have soared over the past 30 years and who have evidenced not the slightest concern for the plight of everyone else. These elites are precisely the people who are Pikettys biggest fans. Hmm

The third big problem with Capital is that Pikettys famous equation (r > g) has nothing whatever to do with a free market form of economic organization. If it is correct, it applies to all economies of every kind everywhere.

One final problem Ill mention before I get to the heart of this series of posts is that Piketty had no solution to the problem he claimed to have discovered. More specifically, his proposed solution was hair-brained. He demanded a global tax on wealththat is, a tax that would be levied by every country in the world, to keep the rich from migrating. The tax would be imposed every year.

There is pie in the sky, and then there is Pie in the Sky, and this wacko idea was the latter. Only a few autocratic countriesCuba, North Korea, Venezuelacan even be imagined imposing such a tax, and those countries dont have any private capital anyway. In fact, the largest economy in the world (the U.S.) and Pikettys home country (France) recently reduced wealth taxes.

My main point about Capital, however interesting its thesis, is analogous to, and proceeds from the same defects, as the silliness of Pikettys proposed solution. The global wealth tax is the best idea Piketty can come up with not because hes stupid, or even because he is blinded by his own leftwing ideology. Pikettys book is, in fact, interesting and engaging (and quite fluently translated), and Piketty is, based on his work before Capital, an economist of the first importance.

No, the problem with Capital throughout is that its author is a naif. However astute Piketty might be at the field of economics, however diligent his research, however honorable his motives, he has little or no grasp of how the real world actually works. This is true of many people who spend their lives in university settings, of course, but Thomas Piketty has contracted a particularly virulent form of the disease. Ill get to that issue next week.

Next up: On r > g, Part II
SACRAMENTO  A former legislative staffer said he was fired by Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, a Democrat from Los Angeles County and leading crusader in the #MeToo movement, after he refused to play spin the bottle with her in a hotel room four years ago.

Its the latest in a string of accusations against Garcia, the former chair of the California Legislative Womens Caucus, who voluntarily took an unpaid leave during an investigation into a separate allegation that she groped a man in the dugout after a legislative softball game in 2014.

Garcia denied all allegations against her and said in a statement Tuesday that she believes the accusations are part of an orchestrated effort to discredit her.

Over the last weeks there have been several claims accusing me of inappropriate conduct in my role as a California state legislator, Garcia said. In each case, these accusations are simply not true and are inconsistent with my personal value system and how I seek to conduct myself as an elected official.

The new allegation was made public in a complaint filed Saturday by David John Kernick, the former field representative for Garcia. He said he was fired in 2014 after he said he refused to play spin the bottle in a hotel room following a fundraiser at a whiskey bar, according to a complaint filed with the state Department of Fair Employment and Housing. Kernick of San Diego said that shortly after declining to play the game, he was written up for insubordination and fired from his job in the Assembly.

In the complaint, Kernick said Garcia disparaged staff, used vulgar language and discussed inappropriate topics in the workplace.

Kernick filed the complaint as a precursor for filing a lawsuit.

More for you Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia to step aside amid sexual...

The Assembly confirmed that an outside firm has been hired to investigate the groping allegations against Garcia.

Last Wednesday, Kernick and three other unnamed former employees of Garcia sent a joint letter to Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon through their attorney, Daniel Gilleon, in which they described a toxic and sexually charged workplace under the assemblywoman. The three anonymous employees said they did not wish to be identified out of fear of retribution.

Kernick and the three unnamed employees said Garcia often talked in uncomfortable detail about her sex life, including describing sexual activities with other lawmakers in their Assembly offices. The employees said Garcia told them that having sex with other lawmakers was a good way to get information from them.

The staffers said Garcia pressured them to drink alcohol with her and that they were told to run personal errands for her.

Garcia, 40, is the second state lawmaker to take a leave of absence, joining Sen. Tony Mendoza, D-Artesia (Los Angeles County), who has been on paid leave since Jan. 3 during an investigation into multiple sexual misconduct allegations that he disputes. That investigation is complete, and the Senate Rules Committee is expected to decide this week whether it will recommend disciplining Mendoza.

Late last year, two lawmakers  Assemblymen Raul Bocanegra, D-San Fernando Valley, and Matthew Dababneh, D-Encino (Los Angeles County), resigned after facing allegations of sexual misconduct. They denied wrongdoing.

Garcia was one of the most vocal advocates of exposing sexual harassment in the state Capitol, calling on those accused of wrongdoing to resign. In October, as women who work in and around the Capitol began telling their stories, Garcia was one of the first to share her experiences of harassment and abuse since being elected.

In her statement Tuesday, Garcia questioned whether she is being targeted and by whom, saying that tenants in properties she owns reported to her in November that a private investigator had asked them about whether she was a slumlord. Garcia said that her former legislative staffers have also told her that they were approached by a private investigator asking whether she was an abusive boss.

I believe it is rational to ask why someone would hire a private investigator to carry out such a line of questioning, Garcia said. I look forward to a timely conclusion of the Rules Committee investigation, and I look forward to returning to the Legislature to continue my advocacy for the people of my district, for immigrants, and women.
BANGKOK  A Thai court on Tuesday granted legal custody of 13 babies carried by surrogate mothers to a secretive Japanese millionaire who is their biological father, reviving a bizarre tale that captured tabloid headlines four years ago, but leaving some basic questions unanswered.

Mitsutoki Shigetas case raised eyebrows in 2014 when police raided a Bangkok condominium and found nine babies and nine nannies living in unfurnished rooms. It was determined that Shigeta had fathered the children using Thai surrogate mothers. The case, along with several others, helped usher in a Thai law prohibiting commercial surrogacy for foreign clients.

Bangkoks Central Juvenile and Family Court gave Shigeta sole legal custody of the children, ruling that he is financially stable and had shown his plans to care for them.

The ruling said Shigeta had a right to custody because the children were born before the new law was enacted, and because the surrogate mothers signed documents waiving their custody rights.

Shigeta, who has kept an extremely low profile, did not attend the courts sessions and had a lawyer represent him.

Shigeta is the son of an owner of a Japanese company and earns over $3.1 million in annual dividends, which shows he is financially capable of looking after the children, the court said in a statement. He is 28 years old, according to a copy of his passport released by Thai police in 2014.

It said DNA evidence confirmed that Shigeta is the childrens father, and that he plans to send the children to an international school and has bought a piece of land to house them next to a large park in central Tokyo, where they will be looked after by nurses and nannies.

The court also said Shigeta had opened bank accounts in Singapore for all 13 children.
JERUSALEM  The mushrooming corruption scandal plaguing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu turned in a surprising new direction Tuesday, with an allegation that one of his closest advisers had sought to bribe a judge into dropping a criminal investigation involving the prime ministers wife.

At the same time, Israeli police said they had arrested several of Netanyahus friends and confidants, as well as top executives of Bezeq, the countrys biggest telecommunications company, in a widening inquiry into whether Netanyahu had traded official favors for favorable news coverage. That inquiry involves suspicions of obstruction of justice, as well as fraud and breach of trust, police said.

Netanyahu was already embattled, after police recommended a week ago that he be prosecuted for accepting what they said were nearly $300,000 in bribes from wealthy businessmen seeking government favors.

The new allegations significantly raise the level of political and legal peril he faces, suggesting that Netanyahu or his camp could be exposed to obstruction of justice charges.

According to police and Israeli news reports, Nir Hefetz, a top adviser to the prime minister, passed a message to a former judge, Hila Gerstel, through an intermediary in late 2015: Would she drop the case against Sara Netanyahu in exchange for being named attorney general?

The case was not dropped, and Gerstel, who was Israels commissioner for prosecutorial oversight, did not become attorney general. Avichai Mandelblit, who did get the job, announced in September that he intended to indict Sara Netanyahu on fraud charges, accusing her of misusing some $100,000 through her management of the prime ministers official residence in Jerusalem.

A spokesman for Netanyahu and his family, Ofer Golan, denied any attempt by Hefetz to sway the judges actions: Nir Hefetz never offered this hallucinatory proposal to the prime minister and his wife. He was never asked to make such a proposal, and we do not believe that Hefetz even raised such a thing.

The arrests in connection with Bezeq  a $2.9 billion telecom giant with telephone, television and news divisions  involved official actions taken by Netanyahus government that were worth hundreds of millions of dollars to a company whose bills ordinary Israeli voters pay every month.

Bezeqs subsidiaries include a cable television company and Walla, a news website. Netanyahus aides are suspected of trading favorable treatment by the Communications Ministry, which regulates the company, for favorable coverage by the news site.
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WinMagic and LogicDS Team up to Simplify and Secure Operating System Lifecycle Management

Posted by Publisher Software

Naperville, Illinois and Mississauga, Ontario, Canada  February 20, 2018  WinMagic, an award-winning encryption and intelligent key management security solution provider, and LogicDS, which offers SWIMAGE, the only true, commercial off the shelf end-to-end automated operating system (OS) migration and deployment solution, announce that they are partnering to jointly offer WinMagic\-\-s SecureDoc encryption and key management with the SWIMAGE OS migration and imaging solution. This jointly-deployed solution will significantly reduce the headaches and security concerns organizations have when deploying new devices into their network, performing OS migration, and handling maintenance issues. SWIMAGE enables OS migration while encrypted with SecureDoc, increasing security posture, and providing a truly unique solution that no one else can offer.

Managing the lifecycle of operating systems is a constant nuisance in large organizations. Existing processes are often very manual, lack coordination, and are heavily reliant on end-users. These challenges result in some of the biggest and most expensive pain points a company goes through, and can lead to significant data security issues, including loss of data, breach, and even compliance failure. By teaming up, WinMagic and Logic DS will significantly reduce these concerns and complexities, allowing organizations to focus on what\-\-s most important  growing their business.

SWIMAGE empowers users or IT administrators to migrate devices from Windows 7 to Windows 10  a prominent challenge most organizations currently face  often in less than an hour. SWIMAGE minimizes the downtime typically associated with OS migration by simplifying the migration process, allowing for self-migration for those on the network, or via a USB migration kit for those in remote or home-based offices. Users, domains and applications are all provisioned automatically in the process, enabling greater control over which applications users can have installed on their device. And for greater certainty, OS migrations are completely reversible if something goes wrong.

\SWIMAGE was developed to provide maximum efficiency and optimization of OS migration, reimaging and deployment processes for large, complex environments through automation and process refinement. Based on over a decade of lessons learned from helping our customers with their deployments, SWIMAGE helps organizations proactively adopt change quickly to remain secure, stay competitive and profitable,\ according to Kyle Haroldsen, CEO, LogicDS and lead architect of SWIMAGE. \Generally thought of as an end-user technology tool, the combination of WinMagic\-\-s SecureDoc with SWIMAGE enables security and end user departments to work together to ensure that the latest, most secure, and patched OS is always deployed, creating the most secure IT environment for the organization.\

Data security is a critical deliverable in today\-\-s business world. Increasing data regulations and pressure from customers to protect their data is rightfully forcing organizations to leverage solutions that can help protect data wherever it is in the organization, regardless of its state  in use, in movement, in storage or in archive. Migrating secure encrypted data has been problematic for organizations, but with WinMagic\-\-s SecureDoc encryption and key management deployed as part of the SWIMAGE solution, businesses can eliminate risks, ensuring systems and information remain secure before, during, and after migration. And, with SWIMAGE data remains local to the system and does not need to be moved to network storage devices.

WinMagic\-\-s SecureDoc provides enterprises with a flexible and high-performing data security solution that manages data wherever it is stored  on laptops, desktops, self-encrypting drives, USBs, physical and virtualized servers, and in the cloud. By jointly deploying SWIMAGE and SecureDoc, companies can ensure that all of their data is protected during imaging and re-imaging processes, with complete visibility to the encryption status of their devices at all times.

\Historically, for many organizations, migrating operating systems meant an extended period of time, sometimes days, in which data wouldn\-\-t be protected, due to the need to decrypt and then re-encrypt that data. Coupled with a general unease in the whole migration process, we routinely see organizations delay much needed migrations as result,\ states Marty Milbert, VP of Enterprise Solutions, WinMagic. \With this partnership, our customers will now be able to take advantage of SWIMAGE\-\-s exceptional ability to reduce the time and effort required to deploy new devices and manage through OS migrations  gaining more clarity and control than they\-\-ve ever had in the process. And by having SecureDoc coupled as their encryption and key management solution, they can have complete confidence in knowing that their data will remain protected.\

The SWIMAGE and WinMagic solutions are now available through WinMagic sales channels.

SWIMAGE and WinMagic will be hosting a joint webinar on Wednesday, April 11, at 11:30am EST. Registration for the webinar, \Simple and Secure OS Lifecycle Management: 3 simple ways to reduce complexities and increase security posture in your IT infrastructure lifecycle management,\ can be found here https://www.brighttalk.com/webcast/14627/306363?utm_source=WinMagic&utm_medium=brighttalk&utm_campaign=306363.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium has a rich history of innovation. Since its founding in 1984, the facility has become one of the worlds leading public aquariums and ocean conservation organisations.

Monterey Bay Aquarium has produced significant insights into the life history of sharks, sea otters, and bluefin tuna. The aquarium also was the first to exhibit a living kelp forest, and in 2004 it was the first to successfully exhibit and return to the wild a young great white shark.

It is therefore no surprise that the Monterey Bay Aquarium desired the most innovative and state-of-the-art cameras as a key component for its security system, and AV Costar was able to deliver what they required.

Until recently, the Monterey Bay Aquarium relied upon up to 60 analogue cameras for its video security needs

Constant surveillance and monitoring

The aquarium has a huge campus, with multiple separate properties and an average annual visitation of two million people. Until recently, the Monterey Bay Aquarium relied upon up to 60 analogue cameras for its video security needs. With such a large area to cover and with so many people to monitor, this type of system proved increasingly unreliable and insufficient to its growing security needs.

The aquariums security staff also found it a major inconvenience that accessories and other parts for the system were exclusive to the original provider, limiting the security teams options both technically and financially.

The footage from the analogue cameras was monitored on monochrome screens and useful viewing of surveillance video was quite difficult at times. The quality of the images was low, and the inflexible nature of the cameras resulted in a number of blind spots throughout the aquariums large campus.

Difficult lighting conditions

The aquarium also has some very challenging lighting situations, requiring more specialised, versatile cameras in order to properly capture images.

We have some very difficult light levels here. The reflections of the water tanks can make certain areas lighter on camera than they are in person, or vice-versa, stated Thomas Uretsky, Director of Security and Emergency Management for the facility.

The security team reached the point where they knew they needed to upgrade. The system needed more flexibility, multiple views on one camera, the works, Mr. Uretsky said. Blind spots needed to be eliminated, and we wanted as close to a 360-degree view as possible.

After thorough research, San Jose, California-based security integrator NSI Systems recommended AV Costar for the camera solution.

The aquarium has a huge campus, with an average annual visitation of two million people

AV Costar surveillance expertise

Mr. Uretsky and the team at Monterey Bay Aquarium collaborated with AV Costar regarding what they were looking for, where coverage was needed, and how to best fit in into their budget. Monterey Bay Aquarium chose ExacqVision as their video management system, another solid partner to help upgrade their prior surveillance system.

A range of different AV Costar cameras were ultimately deployed to serve the aquariums varying needs. AV Costar MicroDome cameras were ideal for the ticketing area and customer lines.

The series includes Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) models, which can achieve clear images across extreme lighting conditions, such as those found in some of the indoor spaces at the aquarium. MicroDome cameras have an extremely low profile and only a 4 diameter, making them ideal for discrete security surveillance.

When asked for his thoughts about the MicroDome camera, Mr. Uretsky responded, They are small and nearly invisible to anyone who doesnt know what theyre looking for. The fact that they have such a small footprint makes them ideal for us in the ticketing and front entrance areas.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium now has the unique and flexible camera solution it required, utilising 360-degree video

Another favourite at Monterey Bay Aquarium were AV Costar SurroundVideo Omni G1 and G2 adjustable-view cameras. The SurroundVideo Omni series utilises a patented 360 track where each of its four-megapixel sensors can be moved to cover virtually any angle. Remote motorised focus simplified installation with the Omni G2.

Combined with the ability to interchange lenses, the Monterey Bay Aquarium now has the unique and flexible camera solution it required. The customisable features of the camera also simplify future changes that may occur at the aquarium, saving time and money if construction or remodelling were to occur.

The SurroundVideo Omni cameras are some of our favourites because we are getting four cameras in one. They have the most flexibility, said Kevin Wright, Monterey Bay Aquariums security manager. Our blind spots are much more limited, and we dont need to use nearly as many cameras as we previously had in those areas.

Although each camera offers four separate views, only a single PoE (Power over Ethernet) cable and a single software license is required for integration with the Exacq software, further reducing costs.

Megapixel camera performance

The system has performed incredibly well to date. Not only was it installed on time, but it was completed within budget.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium monitors the system locally, 24-hours per day. The images are viewed on a dynamic video wall in the new Security Operations Center. While most footage is viewed on-site, some cameras have been enabled with the Exacq software for remote monitoring at satellite offices. For example, holding areas for rescued sea otters can be viewed remotely by a research team.

Some cameras have been enabled with the Exacq software for remote monitoring off-site

AV Costar cameras have helped the aquariums security department in a variety of ways, one of which is increasingly common: addressing bicycle theft. Individuals will sometimes access a public recreational trail that runs along the aquariums main campus to steal unattended bikes parked by visitors or staff.

Unlike the previous analogue surveillance system, AV Costars megapixel cameras are able to provide the security department with good views and high-resolution images when reporting such incidents to the police department.

The project at Monterey Bay Aquarium fulfilled a vast array of surveillance requirements  indoor and outdoor scenes, large and small spaces, low- to high-lighting conditions  and AV Costar cameras addressed each of the challenges. The deployment of the new cameras made an impression on Mr. Uretsky and his team.

Making potential security solutions reality

One installation inspired ideas for another, and AV Costar helped make these potential security solutions a reality as well. The continual partnership between the aquarium, the system integrator, and AV Costar has resulted in an ongoing collaboration between the three entities.

The reason we went with AV Costar was because it has a niche where a lot of manufacturers dont, with its multi-view cameras, Mr. Uretsky stated. AV Costar pioneered the first multi-sensor megapixel panoramic cameras in the surveillance industry in 2006, and has continued to enhance their capabilities, introducing adjustable-view Omni cameras in 2014.

These cameras have been fundamental as we systematically replace our old cameras with newer, megapixel versions. We are always improving and always adding cameras, so each time weve installed them weve been pleased.
Data explosion: Futureproofing your video surveillance infrastructure

Video surveillance systems are producing more unstructured data than ever before. A dramatic decrease in camera costs in recent years has led many businesses to invest in comprehensive surveillance coverage, with more cameras generating more data. Plus, advances in technology mean that the newest (8K) cameras are generating approximately 800% more data than their predecessors (standard definition). Traditional entry-level solutions like network video recorders (NVRs) simply arent built to handle massive amounts of data in an efficient, resilient and cost-effective manner. This has left many security pioneers grappling with a data storage conundrum. Should they continue adding more NVR boxes? Or is there another, better, route? Retaining video data In short, yes. To future proof their video surveillance infrastructure, an increasing number of businesses are adopting an end-to-end surveillance architecture with well-integrated, purpose-built platforms for handling video data through its lifecycle. This presents significant advantages in terms of security, compliance and scalability, as well as unlocking new possibilities for data enrichment. All of this with a lower total cost of ownership than traditional solutions. Security teams would typically delete recorded surveillance footage after a few days or weeks Previously, security teams would typically delete recorded surveillance footage after a few days or weeks. However, thanks to increasingly stringent legal and compliance demands, many are now required to retain video data for months or even years. Theres no doubt that this can potentially benefit investigations and increase prosecutions, but it also puts significant pressure on businesses storage infrastructure. Data lifecycle management This necessitates a more intelligent approach to data lifecycle management. Rather than simply storing video data in a single location until its wiped, an end-to-end video surveillance solution can intelligently migrate data to different storage platforms and media as it ages. So, how does this work? Video is recorded and analysed on a combination of NVR, hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) and application servers. Then, its moved to resilient file storage for a pre-determined period, where it can be immediately retrieved and accessed for review. Finally, based on policies set by heads of security, data is moved from file storage to highly secure, low-cost archive storage such as an object, tape or cloud. Data is moved from file storage to highly secure, low-cost archive storage Long-term storage This process is known as tiering. It allows businesses to use reliable, inexpensive long-term storage for most of their data, whilst still enabling security pioneers to retrieve video data when the need arises, such as during a compliance audit, or to review footage following a security breach. In a nutshell, it offers them the best of both worlds. Scaling your video surveillance infrastructure can be a headache. Businesses that rely on NVRs  even high-end units with 64 or even 96 hard drives  are finding themselves running out of capacity increasingly quickly. In order to scale, security pioneers then have to procure new boxes. With NVRs, this inevitably involves a degree of guesswork. Should they go for the largest possible option, and risk over provisioning? Or perhaps a smaller option, and risk running out of capacity again? Common management console Security pioneers can easily add or remove storage capacity or compute resources  separately or together As businesses add new cameras or replace existing ones, many end up with inadequate surveillance infrastructure made up of multiple NVR boxes along with several application servers for running other surveillance functions such as access control, security photo databases, analytics, etc. This patchwork approach leaves security pioneers scrambling for capacity, maintaining various hardware footprints, repeating updates and checks across multiple systems, and taking up valuable time that could be better spent elsewhere. By contrast, flexible HCI surveillance platforms aggregate the storage and ecosystem applications to run on the same infrastructure and combine viewing under a common management console, avoiding swivel chair management workflows. Plus, they offer seamless scalability. Security pioneers can easily add or remove storage capacity or compute resources  separately or together. Data storage solutions Over time, this ensures a lower total cost of ownership. First and foremost, it removes the risk of over provisioning and helps to control hardware sprawl. This in turn leads to hardware maintenance savings and lower power use. Many security pioneers are now looking beyond simple data storage solutions for their video surveillance footage. Meta tags can provide context around data, making it easier to find and access when needed Instead, theyre asking themselves how analysing this data can enable their teams to work faster, more efficiently and productively. Implementing an end-to-end video surveillance architecture enables users to take advantage of AI and machine learning applications which can tag and enrich video surveillance data. These have several key benefits. Firstly, meta tags can provide context around data, making it easier to find and access when needed. Object storage platform For instance, if security teams are notified of a suspicious red truck, they can quickly find data with this tag, rather than manually searching through hours of data, which can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack. Plus, meta tags can be used to mark data for future analysis. This means that as algorithms are run over time, policies can be set to automatically store data in the right location. For example, if a video is determined to contain cars driving in and out of your premises, it would be moved to long-term archiving such as an object storage platform for compliance purposes. If, on the other hand, it contained 24 hours of an empty parking lot, it could be wiped. These same meta tags may be used to eventually expire the compliance data in the archive after it is no longer needed based on policy. Video surveillance architecture Continuing to rely on traditional systems like NVRs will fast become unsustainable for businesses Even if your organisation isnt using machine learning or artificial intelligence-powered applications to enhance your data today, it probably will be one, three, or even five years down the line. Implementing a flexible end-to-end video surveillance solution prepares you for this possibility. With new advances in technology, the quantity of data captured by video surveillance systems will continue rising throughout the coming decade. As such, continuing to rely on traditional systems like NVRs will fast become unsustainable for businesses. Looking forward, when moving to an end-to-end video surveillance architecture, security pioneers should make sure to evaluate options from different vendors. For true futureproofing, its a good idea to opt for a flexible, modular solution, which allow different elements to be upgraded to more advanced technologies when they become available.
One of SpaceX's two Falcon Heavy rocket boosters is seen on display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Cape Canaveral, Florida, in this photo by photographer Michael Seeley.

If you're a space fan visiting Florida's Space Coast this week, then you have a chance to see something special: one of the reusable boosters that launched SpaceX's first Falcon Heavy rocket into space.

The booster is one of two side-mounted Falcon 9 rockets that helped launch the Falcon Heavy on its debut flight on Feb. 6. It's on display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex near NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Photographer Michael Seeley of We Report Space took this photo of the booster at the space museum.

It was at KSC's historic Launch Pad 39A that SpaceX launched the Falcon Heavy rocket and its unique payload: a Tesla Roadster (owned by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk) and a spacesuit-clad mannequin dubbed Starman. The two side boosters separated from the Falcon Heavy's center core and returned to Earth, making dual landings on SpaceX pads at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. [Watch Starman's Entire Deep-Space Ride in 80 Seconds]

The Falcon Heavy booster can be seen near the space shuttle Atlantis exhibit and Shuttle Launch Experience at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Note: The Atlantis and Shuttle Launch Experience exhibits are closed today, Feb. 20.) SpaceX's booster display comes as Vice President Mike Pence heads to KSC for the second meeting of the National Space Council. [SpaceX's 1st Falcon Heavy Rocket Test Flight in Pictures]

Pence will arrive at the Shuttle Landing Facility at KSC today. He will oversee the National Space Council meeting on Wednesday (Feb. 21) at KSC's Space Station Processing Facility. The meeting, titled "Moon, Mars and Worlds Beyond: Winning the Next Frontier," will include "testimonials from leaders in the civil, commercial, and national security sectors about the importance of the United States' space enterprise," according to a NASA statement. The first meeting of the National Space Council occurred on Oct. 5.

Pence will conclude the meeting with a tour of KSC, NASA officials said.

Email Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com or follow him @tariqjmalik and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
A view by drone of the HI-SEAS mission's dome, located at 8,200 feet (2,500 meters) on the Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii.

A crewmember of the mock Mars mission HI-SEAS (Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation) VI was admitted to the hospital yesterday morning (Feb. 19) after a minor accident, just a few days after the Hawaii-based simulation began.

According to safety protocols, the three remaining crewmembers have left the dome habitat, and the eight-month mission will be put on hold until an inspection and investigation have been completed, representatives for the University of Hawaii at Manoa, which operates the NASA-funded mission, said in a statement. The injured crewmember was admitted to the Hilo Medical Center and was held for a few hours for observation, they added, but further medical information cannot be provided without the crewmember's permission.

University of Hawaii spokesperson Dan Meisenzahl told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that he was unsure how long it would take for the mission to resume and that more information may be available later in the week.

"It's the first time this ever happened," Meisenzahl told the Star-Advertiser.

The five previous HI-SEAS missions have studied international crews of four to eight living together in the dome, located at 8,200 feet (2,500 meters) on the Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii. The missions have ranged from four months to a year, with crews living in isolation to test how humans would fare on long-duration planetary exploration missions. The HI-SEAS VI crew has members from Korea, Australia, Slovakia and Scotland.

Email Sarah Lewin at slewin@space.com or follow her @SarahExplains. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.




Budapest, Hungary. Jane Lowry (Katherin Kelly) meets with Rosa Varga (Kelly Gough), who runs a white nationalist group with her brother Josef (Mark Strepan). Lowry tasks Rosa in finding somebody important to her evil mission. But luckily, Section 20 is already on their trail. Colonel Donovan tasks Wyatt and McAllister to infiltrate the white power group by going undercover on their MMA-style fight ring, while Reynolds and Novin stay behind as lookouts.



Soon enough, McAllister is selected to fight in the ring. After he wins, Wyatt and him get closer to Josef, but the latter gets kidnapped by unknown assailants. Meanwhile, Reynolds and Novin follow Rosa to a cafe, who gets a call by an impatient Lowry. Lowry gives Rosa a day to find her target. Reynolds and Novin manage to pin-point Lowry's location, leading them into a church, but soon they lose track of her. Suspicious that Lowry might be more than meets the eye, Reynolds questions Colonel Donovan, by implying that Lowry is too well trained for a converted jihadist. It is obvious that Donovan knows something important that we don't.





Meanwhile, Josef is taken to a gypsy identity forger named Tobar (Balazs Czukor). It is revealed that Josef paid Tobar to give out the name of one of his clients, the man that Lowry has tasked Rosa to find. Due to Josef's lack of respect, Tobar is offended and intends to kill him, but McAllister and Wyatt interrupt the meeting, saving Josef and killing Tobar. The trio manage to retrieve Tobar's client list and are able to identify the man that Rosa is looking for, Ilya Zaryn (Daniel Cerqueira). Elsewhere, Lowry calls Rosa and lets her know that there might be moles inside her organization.Back at the Section 20 safehouse, the team is able to locate Lowry's hideout. Growing obsessed to find her, Donovan decides to go herself with Reynolds to get Lowry. As they arrive to the hideout, they find it to be empty. But they discover several pictures of Section 20 and its past and present operatives, including John Porter, Damien Scott, Michael Stonebridge and Rachel Dalton. An explosive detonates soon after, destroying the found evidence, but Donovan and Reynolds manage to survive.Meanwhile, back at the Varga compound, Rosa and Josef confront McAllister and Wyatt, making them turn against each other, unbeknownst that both of them are the moles. In order to prove himself to them, McAllister stabs Wyatt, who is then thrown out into the street. McAllister has sex with Rosa, who are then discovered by Josef, who grows more distrust towards McAllister. It is later revealed that Rosa and Josef grew in an abusive family, and it was thanks to Josef that both managed to escape and survive. A few incest references are thrown here and there too (Thank you Jaime and Cersei Lannister).Wyatt returns safely to the Section 20 safehouse and is patched up. Donovan explains that his wound was a "perfect shot" because it avoided arteries. Meanwhile, the white nationalists find Dr. Zaryn's location and set out to get him, accompanied by McAllister. Donovan sends Wyatt and Reynolds in an attempt to retrieve Zaryn before the white nationalists, while Novin tails them. The separate groups arrive into a hospital and locate Zaryn, which ends up with him running away. McAllister, Josef and Rosa chase Dr. Zaryn, who crashes his car and attempts to flee on foot, but is soon intercepted by the trio. Suddenly, McAllister turns into the brothers, but discovers he has an empty clip. Novin attempts to rescue McAllister but its too late, as he has been already taken along with Dr. Zaryn by the Varga brothers, ending the episode on a cliffhanger.I've got to say, I've always enjoyed Strike Back when it takes place on highly populated cities like Budapest. It makes the action look more natural and the scenes more intense. There's a higher dynamic with the urban environment than in the middle of the desert where the heroes always find themselves conveniently in a enemy ridden area.There is a flaw that is turning into a pattern this season though, and that is giving the bad guys more development than the heroes. We still don't know anything about Reynolds nor Novin. It feels like these female leads were just added to the show in order to please a feminist audience. But they still fall short and stale. Meanwhile, McAllister and Wyatt are still dealing with trust issues between themselves, which makes no sense after bonding by the end of Episode 2. It feels like the writers are trying too hard to give these two characters chemistry, but instead it keeps resulting on two men bickering like seven-year old children. And don't get me started with Donovan, who is just bland and boring. Can we kill her off now?I was still pleased by the constant action, but I would recommend the cinematographer to stop using that orange color filter he's been using since Episode 1. It makes the series look like CSI: MIAMI on steroids.And last, I love that the previous protagonists of Section 20 made cameos through photographs. It goes to show the audience that the writers are being respectful of the legacy that the series has left, and how significant it still is in that universe. Also, when Donovan looks at a note left behind by Lowry, you can see that it says that Michael Stonbridge current status is unknown. Should we just accept the fact that he is now in New York working in the ADA's office as a prosecutor, or is it safe to assume that he and Damien Scott are lurking around somewhere, waiting to pop up at the perfect moment? Only time will tell.3 stars out of 5
London (UK), Feb 19, 2018 (SPS) - The United Kingdom "fully supports" the peace process led by the UN Secretary General's Personal Envoy to Western Sahara Horst Kohler, the UK Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department of International Development Alistair Burt said Sunday.

The UK minister stressed, in a tweet, that he had met Horst Kohler on the sidelines of Munich peace conference, in Germany, with whom he had a "useful exchange" on Western Sahara conflict.

Burt, in this respect, said "UK fully supports UN-led process to achieve a lasting and mutually acceptable political solution" to the conflict of Western Sahara, which is occupied by Morocco.

In November, the UK government reiterated its support to Saharawi people's right to self-determination, on the basis of UN Charter's principles.

In reply to a question by MP Alan Brown, member of the Parliamentary Group of Friends of Western Sahara, Burt reiterated London's support to the UN chief's "efforts" to reach a fair and lasting political solution to Western Sahara issue. (SPS)

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London, Feb 19, 2018 (SPS) - The human rights organization Amnesty International (AI) has called on the Moroccan authorities to respect the right to defence for the Gdeim Izik prisoners, following the expulsion of two of their lawyers, Ingrid Metton and Olfa Ouled.

In a tweet posted after the expulsion, the AI said that Moroccan authorities must "respect the right to defence for the Gdeim Izik detainees, including the right to a lawyer of their choice."

The non-governmental organization urged the Moroccan authorities to "ensure that immigration policies are not discriminatory, including on the basis of political considerations."

The AI said that the two French lawyers expelled from Morocco were going to visit Gdeim Izik Sahrawi detainees, who were condemned in July 2017 to long prison terms after a "grossly unfair trial." (SPS)

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Ninety-one presidential historians do not agree with President Donald Trump's low opinion of his predecessor.

According to a C-SPAN survey of the historians, Barack Obama ranked as the 12th best president, getting good grades for his vision and setting an agenda, managing the economy, public persuasion, "pursuing equal justice for all" and "moral authority." Only Ronald Reagan had an overall higher ranking a month after leaving office.

Obama was docked for his diplomatic record, judged below-average in handling international relations. His marks for "relations with Congress" would have earned him an F  only a handful of presidents scored lower.

The above gallery ranks the 12 best and 12 worst presidents in U.S. history, as determined by 91 historians.

As for Trump, history will not be kind to his presidency if a panel of presidential scholars assembled by Vanity Fair last year are correct. While there is still plenty of time for Trump to change their minds, here's what some of them had to say about his term so far:

Jon Meacham:

"From his confounding man crush on Vladimir Putin to his nuclear saber-rattling with North Korea, Trump has created more fear than hopeand hope is an essential element of presidential leadership."

Robert Dallek:

"Eight months into Donald Trump's presidency, it is impossible to imagine him unifying the country behind his leadership."



Stacy Schiff:

"Donald Trump seems to believe himself exempt from history. He may prefer to skip, snarl at, scorn, and scramble the past, to occupy a sanitized present, scrubbed of context and consequence. You only get to hold the truth hostage for so long, however."



Garry Wills:

"Trump openly loves himself as much as Nixon secretly loathed himself."
T he Galvin Brothers have sold their original London restaurant to an upmarket Indian hospitality firm that is planning its UK debut, the Evening Standard can reveal.

Chefs Chris and Jeff Galvin made the hard decision and closed their French restaurant Galvin Bistrot de Luxe in Baker Street this month after some 13 years of trading.

The pair had said providing high quality affordable dining had become difficult.

The brothers made their names individually working in kitchens at the likes of The Ritz, Wolseley and The Savoy, before teaming up in 2005 to launch their own business. They now have an empire of 10 restaurants.

Now the lease has been sold to Mumbai-based Mars World. No price was divulged, but the new tenant will pay the landlord 175,000 per year in rent.

Mars World is understood to be planning an Indian restaurant. It owns boutique hotels and restaurants in India, and has one bistro in the US.
N o one is ever going to fall in love with this stock but it might still make investors some money.

Founded in 1992 and floated in 2001 its fair to say ID card and software maker Intercedes progress has been slow.

Its moment in the limelight was supposed to come in 2010 when Labour made ID cards a major manifesto pledge - stating they were the answer to identity and benefit fraud, terrorism and gaining easy access to public services.

Intercede won the contract for a nationwide rollout, but the British public were sceptical and Labour lost the election. Soon after the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition scrapped the plans to save 86 million over the following four years and a further 800 million in maintenance costs.

Since then Intercede has successfully installed ID cards for the Kuwaiti government and its citizens as well as servicing US government employees.

These contracts had built up a steady revenue stream for the firm over the past seven years, yet investors remained lukewarm and the share price changed little.

Things hit rock bottom on September 16, 2016 when Intercede revealed serious delays in orders for its key product and its house broker Finncap slashed its share price target to 120p from 190p. Shares slumped 35% to 59.4p on the day.

However, chief executive Richard Parris believes his companys luck may be about to change after it announced last week that it had received a fresh 1 million order from an unnamed Middle Eastern country.

The latest contract will see Intercede provide software which allows citizens with a national identity card to generate a new government digital identity on their smartphone via a government app.

He said: This is the first major countrywide deployment for this technology. It has taken us three to four years to build these digital credentials and a planned programme of investment.

This digital identity can then be used for accessing a mobile eco-system of government services, healthcare, banking and e-commerce. Through our network of partners, Intercede is now in an excellent position to capitalise on this lead in multiple geographic territories. Investors were buoyed by the announcement and shares rose 2p to 29p.

Parris also used his announcement to defend ID cards on the grounds that it saves governments money as it gives citizens seamless access to public services, while in Kuwait it also helps to identify those entitled to free fuel.

He added: We can have a deep philosophical debate about ID cards but evidence shows they do save governments and their citizens money. If you walk into a hospital and they know exactly who you are without filling in paperwork then it saves critical time.
E xecutives at BHP Billiton will meet for crunch talks with activist investor Elliott Advisors this week, as the Anglo-Australian miner reveals its best half-year profits since 2014.

Elliott, which owns a 5.4% stake in BHP, wants to scrap the companys dual listing and create a unified company listed in Australia.

Chief executive Andrew Mackenzie said he would listen to Elliotts suggestions this week saying: I acknowledge there are some ways you can do the numbers where the upside prize looks quite large.

Elliott has claimed a unified structure incorporated in Australia could deliver in excess of $22 billion (16 billion) in value to shareholders, including a $14 billion boost to its market value.

However, in its half-year trading update today BHP Billiton insisted its view was that the costs and risk of collapsing the dual-listed company outweigh the potential benefits. It wants to concentrate on cutting its debt and increasing shareholder returns that way.

Underlying half-year profits rose 25% to $4.05 billion from $3.24 billion, which Mackenzie attributed to higher oil and copper prices and a solid operating performance.
L ionised as the unbeatable, long-stay centrist of European politics, Angela Merkel is often photographed these days in the back of her car, head bent over her phone. It is a shot that invariably makes her look embattled. The Merkel era is not over yet but, in the description of one of her pithier foes, it has passed its zenith. She brought home a lacklustre election result, tried a risky three-way coalition and now relies on a continued liaison with the Social Democrats, who are themselves in disarray.

A country that once prided itself on balancing deals to keep the centre united and extremists out has succumbed, rather suddenly, to a sense of instability being the new normal.

Two major events make Germany a less predictable force. First, Merkelism itself is in sharp decline and political Germany is bracing itself for change. German politics differs from Britain in that its processes are more drawn out. That does not make it any the less brutal  remember that the fresh-faced Merkel rose by dispatching her patron, Helmut Kohl, by being the leading author of a letter calling on the father of unification to go following a funding scandal.

Second, to have no established government five months after an election is a sign that, for all the faith in the elastic German centre ground, it does not align well these days. Merkel could not pull off a multi-coloured coalition. It took a hapless Social Democrat election candidate (Martin Schulz) too long to realise that on a threadbare 20 per cent of the vote, and having ruled out another coalition, he was extraordinarily ill-placed to reverse ferret and enter the new government.

The delay has cost Merkels Christian Democrats the sense that they are in control with the stable Merkelator at the helm. This machinery of state is beginning to look more Wizard of Oz than Vorsprung durch Technik.

Publicly, Merkel hides her irritation well  calm and stamina are her assets. Privately, though, she is frustrated to have her fourth term in hock to SPD grassroots members (including new joiners), who are voting over the next two weeks on whether the coalition should go ahead at all. A new, outspoken leader in Andrea Nahles may bring her party round to the prospect in return for control of key ministries (which risks further weakening Merkel). In this age of insurrections, attaining even this minimally steady state will be touch and go.

Merkels response has been canny and played to one abiding strength: an ability to deploy personnel choices as her body armour. So the promotion this week of a protege, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, is significant for the German leader  and for Britain, on a thankless charm offensive with Berlin over Brexit and pick-and-mix trade deals.

A strong Catholic, AKK brings a more overtly Conservative voice from the Saarland in western Germany to balance accusations that Team Merkel was Protestant, hyper-rational and Berlin-based. The message abundantly clear to CDU voters who turned to the far Right, or lost faith in Merkel over the refugee wave in 2015, is that the days of grand gestures are over.

Kramp-Karrenbauer, as the new CDU general secretary, has increased her own chances of being Merkels successor. But the divide across the centre ground will widen as Social Democrats seek to appease their more Leftist base while the CDU seeks to unite the (non-extreme) Right of centre

Crucially, though, the newcomer to the top table has form in a street fight. Kramp-Karrenbauer irked Team Merkel in 2012 by breaking up a coalition with the Liberals at state level, which Merkel deemed a reckless risk  but still bounced back to win the state. That was the moment Merkel saw someone with a kind of toughness not unlike her own, a senior source on her team says.

May and Merkel talk of 'bold and ambitious' partnership

History repeats the old conceits, as the great historian Elvis Costello once put it, and the woman slated to stabilise Merkels chancellorship takes the influential job of party chairman, from which role Merkel once moved against rivals to succeed Helmut Kohl.

For Merkel, being hailed as the leading voice of liberalism or leader of the free world has been bittersweet. Invariably, this sort of hype is the moment when the tipping-point beckons. She remains a leader forged in the old East  wary of Russia but no instinctive fan of the United States, even pre-Trump, and not more European than global in outlook. That leaves her belief system somewhere between an assertive Germany embedded in a Franco-German-led Europe.

I dont think she ever did have time for Britain beyond its role as a free-market balance against French statism. Its not just Brexit that makes Merkel uncomfortable. It is trying to work out where the UK fits into Europe.

For all the talk of continued co-operation, the practicalities need attention. The forward presence of Nato troops in the Baltic states (with Britain and Germany in leading roles) has just been revealed to be undermined by poor kit provision among other logistical imperfections.

I suspect one reason Merkel dwelt in her recent Davos speech on the need for Germany to step up to more responsibility in world affairs is that she is aware this is the great unfulfilled promise of her leadership. We have a lot of work ahead of us, she announced in her laconic way. The next month in Germanys choppy politics will determine how much time she has left to take on that task. Much of her fate is now in the hands of foot soldiers of a rival party  and a protege who looks every bit as determined as the younger Angela Merkel.
J eremy Corbyn denies that, even unwittingly, he aided Soviet-bloc intelligence agencies in the Eighties.

Meanwhile in 2018, with less noise, he is steadily shifting Labour towards an economic policy his old friends might have admired.

Private contracts can be torn up; private property can be seized; private ownership can be overridden. If this seems exaggerated, look at the evidence.

On June 18 last year the Leader of the Opposition proposed emergency legislation which would allow the Government to seize properties left empty and use them to solve Londons shortage of housing.

Occupy it, compulsory purchase it, requisition it, he demanded.

Weve had curbs on private landlords before and, occasionally, after a lengthy legal process, homes can be demolished to make way for new roads and the like.

But never before in Britain has a party with a serious chance of holding office proposed to arbitrarily seize property.

Then, on September 25, the shadow chancellor set out his plans to nationalise rail, water, energy, construction.

Those who have shares in them, as millions do either directly or through their pension funds, will not be guaranteed compensation equivalent to the shares market price.

Instead, the value of any industry that is brought into public ownership will be determined by Parliament.

Governments have nationalised industries before, and may do so in the future.

But no British government has suggested that the assets of millions of us can be confiscated, with politicians rather than independent arbitrators accountable to courts, determining what they get in return.

Today Mr Corbyn is vowing to make finance the servants of industry instead of the masters of us all.

A bit of banker-bashing is par-for-the-course these days but he goes further.

He calls financial services  a sector that employs more than a million people in Britain  destructive, pernicious and undemocratic and proposes a new public-interest test for government to stop one company buying shares in another, in effect giving ministers the power to decide who owns what.

The fact that day by day, speech by speech, nobody regards it as remarkable that the Labour leader is coming up with these assaults on the fundamental underpinnings of the free market is revealing.

When one side in politics is proposing to tear up the 40-year-old trading arrangements with our largest export markets, while the other side is junking the consensus support for the rule of law and the protection of private property, those caught in the middle  millions of Britons who depend on our successful market economy for their livelihoods  have every right to be alarmed.

Lights, cameras, Brexit

First they promised us that Brexit would to be a cross between Henry V and The Great Escape, plucky Brits striding out to take back control of our national destiny, perhaps with Nigel Farage as the hard-drinking officer who leads his men to freedom.

Then the script changed.

Now it was about saving the NHS  although reality turned out to be more Carry on Nurse than Call the Midwife, with Hattie Jacques as Boris Johnson.

Next, enter Jacob Rees-Mogg: straight out of Kind Hearts and Coronets, killing his way to the top with unfailing politeness, with Mary Poppins alongside as nanny.

At that point the fantasy ends.

A crazed, dystopian world in which civilisation has collapsed, oil is unaffordable and impoverished citizens live in terror in the citadel.

Dont worry, he adds: it wont be quite that bad. And if he turns out to be wrong?
T he news that Oxfam employees have been behaving horrifically while working under the brief of helping the worlds most vulnerable rolled on this weekend, making excruciating reading. Simultaneously came the story that Brendan Cox, husband of the late Jo Cox MP, has quit two charities he set up in her memory after allegations of sexual assault were made public. He denies the claims though admits he made mistakes during his time at Save the Children. The two have been conflated by the professionally outraged and as a result charity workers are now on the precipice of social vilification.

Under the pretence of justice-seeking, the public and private sectors are being pitted against each other in todays divided society, egged on by a culture of rivalry between do gooders and hard workers.

The collective they might say, the lazy public-sector lot, who spend their time team-building when theyre not on holiday, and the rest of us grafting to prop up the economy. But our pessimism towards those who are trying to fix society is far from helpful. Good people are easy targets for derision because if you claim to do good work it must mean you think you are better, or perfect, right? Wrong.

Those who work in the charity sector are easy to dislike because their efforts make us feel bad about the lack of our own. And we would do well to remember that, first of all, thousands of charity workers, working across the sector in various roles, devote their lives to literally saving the world from ourselves when the rest of us cant be bothered.

Secondly, of course abuse of power under the guise of doing good is abhorrent and Professor Mary Beards empathy and contextualising of the alleged child abuse in Haiti is misplaced. If James Bulgers killers had tough lives growing up, would I be more empathetic? No, I wouldnt. I am, however, issuing a caution  not to tar all charity workers with the same brush, as more revelations in the sector doubtless come to the fore (which I am guessing they are about to).

It will be tempting. Public opinion is at a level of deep intolerance of the charity sector  the most recent case of widespread rot set in when Kids Company, the childrens charity founded by Camila Batmanghelidjh, collapsed in 2015 amid allegations of misspending public money and mismanagement.

And a word of advice to the charity sector: hold a mirror up to Caliban. Audit your working practices, tighten your ships, sack who you need to, clean up your PR. Be aware of how your work looks like to the outside world. You operate in a perceived right on bubble  and it could be about to burst.

Its dawning on me how much Ill miss my departing nanny

Our nanny has resigned  first- world problems, indeed. A decent wage for an experienced nanny seems to be 13 per hour in London, while a good nursery costs close to 100 a day. Theres not that much in it.

In fact, a woman who works full-time needs to earn more than 1,500 a month after tax, and before anything else, to be able to afford either. Until I had a child, paying to be able to work wasnt a consideration, it was as if post-giving birth my job had morphed into a luxury item rather than a necessity.

Now our kind, patient, bright nanny who affords me such extravagance is off to find an office job, and I am bereft. She broke the news, and I hurried upstairs to find something and wept alone after realising Id lost the one ingredient that stops the stew that is my life sticking to the bottom.

I didnt realise that she had become part of our family until she told me that she wanted to leave.

The core-wrenching magnitude of losing her isnt something my partner, or my friends without children, seem to quite get. My partner is quite happy to leave me with the extensive task of replacing her  signing up with agencies, writing the posts, replying, vetting the candidates, interviewing them, organising trial shifts.

Ive become militant  first-round interviews conducted on Facetime  and if you have a piercing between your breasts, or answer the question, what do you find most challenging about being a nanny? with the reply; bonding with the family, its unlikely youre the right candidate.

As I walk out of the door each morning I am so grateful to our nanny for picking up where I leave off. Loving my daughter like she is her own. I purposefully didnt go in for attachment parenting  or so I thought.

The Duchess of Cambridge at the Baftas / Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will get married in Windsor Castle on May 19 in a ceremony that will be viewed by millions across the globe.

Within hours of the official announcement of the engagement, bookies started taking bets on everything from where Harry's stag do might be to whether it will rain on the day.

But of all the odds, none has caused such speculation as which designer will be tasked with the honour of creating Markle's dress.

A whole roster of names have been thrown in the ring, from Ralph & Russo to Victoria Beckham and Roland Mouret, with no clear frontrunners.

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Until now that is, when Betfair was forced to suspend all bets on Alexander McQueen as the brand's odds halved overnight.

Alexander McQueen Sping 2018 show in Paris / Getty Images

Alexander McQueen founded his eponymous label in 1992 and remained creative director until he committed suicide in 2010. Since then Sarah Burton has been at the creative helm, receiving widespread praise for the direction in which she has taken the brand.

Alexander McQueen Creative Director Sarah Burton adjusting Kate Middleton's wedding dress / Getty Images

Katie Baylis, a spokesperson for Betfair said: Just who will design Meghans dress has been one of the big talking points of the wedding of the year, with speculation rife. We previously had Ralph and Russo as the 2/1 favourites and theres also been a lot of talk of Erdem as a big front runner. However, weve now suspended this market after seeing some interesting betting on Alexander McQueen this morning who went from 16/1 to 8/1 in a short space of time.

Surprised? So are we.

Alexander McQueen certainly meets all the requirements for royal wedding dress designer: British, couture, and a specialist in high-fantasy frocks.

However, given the British brand was selected to create the Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress back in 2011, many of us quietly assumed the honour would not be bestowed again so soon.

Kate and Pippa Middleton at the Royal Wedding in 2011 / AFP/Getty

McQueen also designed Pippa Middleton's infamous figure-hugging bridesmaid dress that made her the most famous bridesmaid of all time.

That dress: Pippa Middleton at the royal wedding 1 /4 That dress: Pippa Middleton at the royal wedding All eyes on Pippa Pippa carries the train for her sister as they enter Westminster Abbey Beautiful bridesmaids Sister of the bride and Maid of Honour Pippa holds hands with Grace Van Cutsem and Eliza Lopes Happy day Pippa leads the bridemaids and page boys on April 29, 2011 Famous bottom Pippa and that famous photograph Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Following a show at Paris Couture Week that debuted a wedding dress fit for princess, British couturiers Ralph and Russo have, up until now, been considered a likely choice.

Ralph and Russo show, January 2018 / AFP/Getty Images

Meghan also chose to wear a sheer black Ralph & Russo gown for the couples official engagement pictures, which fanned the rumours.

As a British designer widely loved by the royals, Erdem has also been mentioned as a possible candidate. Emily Sheffield, ex-deputy editor of Vogue, told the Standard back in November that she thought Moralioglu was the man for the job. "His designs are at a couture level of mastery and he will bring to life the kind of fantastical (but gently cool) creation most of us dream of come our wedding day," she said.

Princess Eugenie however chose to wear Erdem for her engagement photos, signalling she may be considering the designer for her big day later this year.

Jack Brooksbank and Princess Eugenie announce their engagement / AFP/Getty Images

For our Acting Fashion Editor Hannah Rochell, New Zealand-born London-based designer Emilia Wickstead is another likely candidate. Before Betfair stopped taking bets this morning, its odds on the designer were 18/1.

Emilia Wickstead AW18 at London Fashion Week 1 /13 Emilia Wickstead AW18 at London Fashion Week Emilia Wickstead AW18 Emilia Wickstead AW18 AFP/Getty Images Emilia Wickstead AW18 AFP/Getty Images Emilia Wickstead AW18 AFP/Getty Images Emilia Wickstead AW18 AFP/Getty Images Emilia Wickstead AW18 AFP/Getty Images Emilia Wickstead AW18 Emilia Wickstead AW18 AFP/Getty Images Emilia Wickstead AW18 Emilia Wickstead AW18 AFP/Getty Images Emilia Wickstead AW18 Emilia Wickstead AW18 AFP/Getty Images Emilia Wickstead AW18 AFP/Getty Images Emilia Wickstead AW18 AFP/Getty Images Emilia Wickstead AW18 AFP/Getty Images Emilia Wickstead AW18 AFP/Getty Images Emilia Wickstead AW18 AFP/Getty Images

The spike in bets on Alexander McQueen is mysterious, and definitely implies that something has leaked.

Can we expect the big reveal soon? And who will it be?
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A celebration of all things feline will take over The Oval Space in Bethnal Green this year.

Catfest will be a chance for the cat-obsessed to connect with other kitty lovers and spend a day playing, spoiling and taking pictures with the lovable beasts.

It will feature everything from watching cat videos to eating veggie street food lapped up with cat-themed cocktails and meeting shelter kittens.

There will even be a so-called cat-lit section where you and your furry friends can hear readings from Homer's Odyssey. And just to clarify, this Odyssey does not involve a Trojan horse or Greek warriors - it's a cat version about an abandoned blind kitten. Cute.

London pub cats - in pictures 1 /10 London pub cats - in pictures Winnie at the Old Eagle, Camden Tim White Lily at the Anglesea Arms, Ravenscourt Park Tim White Biscuit at the White Swan & Cuckoo, Wapping Tim White Duchess at the Duke of Hamilton, Hampstead Tim White Purdy at the Gunmakers, Marylebone Tim White Pork Pie at the Southampton Arms, Gospel Oak Tim White Nelson at the Tapping the Admiral, Kentish Town Tim White Legz at the Charlotte Despard, Archway Tim White Billie at the Nags Head, Walthamstow Tim White London Pubcats is out now Tim White

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Fancy dress is also encouraged before you turn up, but if you forget, there's always the Glamour Puss beauty bar to get glammed up in.

And while it might be a whole 48 hours until the furry festival arrives in Bethnal Green on Saturday, stay pawsitive kitty lovers. It's promising to be quite the show.
T here is a timeliness to the Vakhtangov Theatres forthcoming visit to London.

The much-lauded company, founded in 1920 as an offshoot of Stanislavskys Moscow Art Theatre, is strengthening cultural bridges.

The Vakhtangov first visited the capital with an Uncle Vanya at the Noel Coward Theatre in 2012 that the Independent praised for its blackly comic abandon, and then with a version of Pushkins Eugene Onegin at the Barbican in 2015, which the Guardian pronounced dazzling.

This time, the companys Lithuanian artistic director Rimas Tuminas is bringing a new play to the Barbican. Smile Upon Us, Lord is a moving and evocative adaptation from the novels of Tuminass countryman Grigory Kanovich, about the journey of three elderly Jewish men to Vilnius before the First World War.

It is not just a Jewish story, it is universal, says Oksana Nemchuk, the Ukrainian producer behind the companys international tours. This production is about many things: about children, life, about humanity. Everyone will find something for themselves. We are all on a journey and its important to have a feeling for other people. Again, with prejudice in general, and anti-Semitism in particular, resurgent worldwide, this feels timely.

Valeriy Miasnikov

The shows three main characters are spurred to leave their shtetl for different reasons. The stone-cutter, Efraim, hears that his son has been arrested after shooting the governor in the capital. The water-carrier, Schmuel, has dreamed that his son has returned in glory from America, laden with gold pocket watches to hand out to friends and family. And Avner, who lost his family and his store in a fire and has become a beggar, just wants to go along for the ride. The trio are played by Sergey Makovetskiy, Evgeny Knyazev and Viktor Sukhorukov, leading actors in the Vakhtangovs permanent, 100-strong ensemble, and familiar to Russophile London audiences from their roles in Vanya and Onegin.

The mismatched trios journey involves many picaresque encounters and much musing on life, death and humanity. A human is a beast not when he kills, but when he forgets that he has killed, as Efraim says. The men pick up a mysterious trickster figure who supplies comic relief, and a black-clad man with a violin case who can stand on hot rocks in a bathhouse without burning himself. Is he a gangster, a demon or a symbol of Jewish (or human) resilience? A gypsy horse thief transmogrifies into a log, while Avner dreams of rebirth as a tree. They are menaced by soldiers, who also represent wolves, or fire, or perhaps all the destructive forces that will threaten Europes Jews in the years ahead.

Arts picks of the week: 19th - 25th February 1 /6 Arts picks of the week: 19th - 25th February Jubilee Embrace the spirit of punk this week as the Lyric heads back to 1977 for a stage adaptation of Derek Jarmans cult classic film. Expect a time-travelling Queen Elizabeth I, DIY fashion, sex, swearing, and a very loud soundtrack.



Until March 10, Lyric Hammersmith; lyric.co.uk Picnic at Hanging Rock Joan Lindsays 1967 novel about a group of schoolgirls going missing still has the power to mystify. This week, a major theatre production from Malthouse Theatre in Melbourne gets a short run at the Barbican and its not to be missed. We spoke to director Matthew Lutton bout why this creepy tale has become so embedded in the national psyche.



February 21-24, Barbican Centre; barbican.org.uk Frozen Doctor Foster was nail-biting, appointment viewing - and weve only just recovered. Suranne Jones, the shows star, is now treading the boards in a show that sounds just as nerve shredding. She leads the cast for a major revival of Bryony Laverys thriller about a child who goes missing, and stars alongside Nina Sosanya and Jason Watkins.



Until May 5, Theatre Royal Haymarket



Buy tickets with GO London Deutsche Borse Photography Prize Some of the brightest talents in photography get a chance to show off the work thats got them nominated for the illustrious Deutsche Borse Photography Prize this year. The exhibition opens this week, before the 2018 winner is announced this May.



February 23 - June 3, The Photographers Gallery; thephotographersgallery.org.uk Dust Playwright and performer Milly Thomas had a big hit at last years Edinburgh Fringe with Dust, a one-woman play about a woman who has to watch the aftermath of her own suicide. Its coming to Soho Theatre for a three week run this week, so grab the chance to see the show thats been compared to Fleabag.



February 20 - March 17, Soho Theatre; sohotheatre.com Richard Davenport, The Other Ric Under Cover: A Secret History of Cross Dressers A major new exhibition at the Photographers Gallery in Soho explores gender non-conformity and cross-dressing. Compiled from the personal archives of filmmaker and photography collector Sebastian Lifshitz, it shows how individuals defied gender conventions from 1880 onwards.



February 23 - June 3, The Photographers Gallery; thephotographersgallery.org.uk

The lack of concrete meaning adds to the slow spell the show casts. It has a rich, soulful texture rarely if ever seen on the London stage. The performances are quiet, unshowy, the supporting ensemble investing as much in playing goats or children as the leads do in the protagonists. The score is particularly stirring, especially when the men set forth at the start of each new scene, on a cart symbolically created out of shtetl furniture, a flung handful of corn stirring both the violin and Schmuels old mare into life. The ending, which I wont spoil, is crushing.

Actually, the show is only new in terms of Russian theatre, which reveres the classics even more than our own, and where productions can stay in the repertoire for decades.

The Vakhtangov has 57 shows in slow rotation, including works by Beaumarchais, Zweig, Racine and Brecht as well as Chekhov, Pushkin, Gogol and so on. Smile Upon Us, Lord, joined the repertory four years ago, and Tuminas, who has been in his post for 10 years, mounted a version of the story at the National Theatre of Lithuania 20 years before. That production, he says darkly, was stopped due to the tragic death of two actors playing the leading roles.

Valeriy Miasnikov

When I ask him what spoke to him in Kanovichs novels, he says: The sense of madness in this world, going to war. Despite the tales air of sorrow and loss, he finds it optimistic: We still find ourselves on our way to meet our children. Even if we do not meet them or we cannot save them, the optimism is in the desire, in the dream itself.

Like other directors in Russian theatre Ive met, Tuminas speaks in terms of high art and utter self-belief, a reflection of the seriousness with which the nation treats its dramatic traditions. When I ask how he thinks British audiences will react to the show, he says: We are devoted to our story, to telling it honestly, therefore the language I use to speak to my Moscow audience will be the same the London audience will hear. I am convinced they will understand us, and this production will be seen as a continuation of the compassionate dialogue we have started with the two previous productions.

British actors and directors might find this solemnity amusing but they would envy the theatres 5 million state subsidy and 6 million ticket income a year, and the ensembles regular cheques. Tuminas and his administrative director Kirill Krok also recently built five new auditoria, and a spa, gym and canteen for the actors in the original building  previously a merchants house  and a neighbouring property on Moscows main pedestrian thoroughfare, Arbat.

The main house is preserved in the 1947 Soviet-classical style that Stalin himself decreed after the theatre was bombed in the war. He had a special box and quarters built for himself, though he never visited the Vakhtangov: Vladimir Putin hasnt been either. (During the war, Stalin sent half the company to perform in Siberia, and the other half to put on plays at the front, where many of them were killed.)

The relationship with London is a significant one for the Vakhtangov. London is important to make an international name for the company, says Krok. After we came to London, Paris, New York and China invited us.

Nemchuk adds: Its important to have a discussion between all nationalities and art is a vital part of national culture. Theatre expresses who Russians are and it is more truthful than TV or film. Tuminas sees culture as the only possible way of breaking down barriers between people in the modern world.

Valeriy Miasnikov

Krok is dismissive of suggestions that the Russian government interfered in the Brexit vote or the American election: We have enough problems in our own country  it is ridiculous to suggest it. And he is eager to return to London, listing the things he loves about it: I cant wait to walk down Piccadilly and go to Hyde Park. I went in the summer with my wife and came across Buckingham Palace: the Queen was away so we could go inside. I love the National Portrait Gallery and the London Eye, and its amazing that so many things are free.

For Nemchuk, the main attractions are the British Museum and the theatres: the last time she visited, she eagerly booked to see Network at the National, only to find she was watching Pinocchio instead. Tuminas says: I walk around Dickenss London, I observe the local people and I adore the architecture. Viktor Dobronravov, who plays the trickster, speaks on behalf of the actors: Its a lot colder in Moscow, so we look forward to the British spring.
I t is an unlikely coupling: one is a louche Mayfair private members club famed for its bars and nightclub, the other an austere Alpine health retreat best known for its strict regime of intestinal cleansing.

But today The Arts Club in Dover Street  where Simon Cowell is a member and guests have included Beyonce, Prince Harry and Lily James  is unveiling a tie-up with the Lanserhof group of spas in the Austrian companys first foray into London. It will open a medical gym in the former Dover Street Market building opposite the 155-year-old club.

The facility will provide access to a team of doctors and specialists versed in the theories developed by Austrian physician Franz Xaver Mayr around 100 years ago. Visitors to the Lanserhof retreats in the Austrian and Bavarian Alps  the spas where billionaires and Hollywood royalty go to detox  have included Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and models Cara and Poppy Delevingne.

Treatments are inspired by Dr Mayrs gut detox teachings, which include being made to chew every mouthful of food at least 30 times, pre-dawn stretching exercises in the forest and a dose of purging epsom salts before breakfast.

Lanserhof at The Arts Club will not be a residential centre but the same teachings will underpin its treatments. A club spokesman said: The specialists at Lanserhof will be able detect potential illnesses before they even become an issue. Its all about healing and prevention and helping people extend the quality and length of their lives.

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As well as consulting and treatment rooms, Lanserhof at The Arts Club will have cryotherapy chambers  where users are briefly exposed to temperatures as low as minus 90C  a gym and studios for classes. The facility is expected to be open towards the end of this year. Members of The Arts Club can pay an extra fee to join Lanserhof at The Arts Club or a separate membership is an option. Prices are yet to be set.

Poppy and Cara Delevingne are visitors to the Lanserhof clinic / Dave Benett

Alice Chadwyck-Healey, executive director of The Arts Club, said members had been asking for a health and fitness facility in the London club and that the Dover Street Market site was the perfect location to open in partnership with Lanserhof.
S taying in a cave wouldn't often be found at the top of our to-do list because, well, bats. But staying in a hotel within a cave is a whole new ball game altogether.

Cave hotels have popped up worldwide in recent years, and luckily for us they are more accessible than ever.

From a cave beneath the Grand Canyon, cliff-top hotel suites above limestone caves in Jamaica and an old silver mine 155 metres underground in Sweden  these are the best cave hotels in the world.

1. Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita, Italy

Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita

With a UNESCO World Heritage setting, these romantic caves are one for the bucket list. It took a decade to turn the stone into boutique bedrooms, but the candlelit result is cosy and enticing.

From 396 per night. legrottedellacivita.sextantio.it

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2. Gamirasu Cave Hotel, Cappadocia, Turkey

Gamirasu Cave Hotel

This 18-room hotel is set in Ayvali Village near Urgup in the heart of Cappadocia, Turkey. Cappadocia of course is where we see all those stunning Instagram photos of the hot air balloons rising with the sun to a backdrop of mountains. All of the rooms have natural fairy chimneys and all of your creature comforts.

From 146 per night. gamirasu.com/

3. Grand Canyon Caverns, USA

Grand Canyon Caverns

The biggest dry caverns in the United States, their Cavern Suite is located 220 feet below the ground accessible via elevator. Once in the cavern you will find a working record player and a fully furnished space.

From 642 per night. gccaverns.com/

4. Iconic Santorini Hotel, Greece

Iconic Santorini Hotel

A boutique hotel set in the picturesque and romantic Imerovigli Village  adjacent to Fira  is the perfect Grecian getaway. A quieter alternative to the ever-popular Oia, this hotel is carved from the volcanic caldera wall and was named Greeces leading boutique hotel for the past four years. Its newest addition, the cave suite, is set deep within the calderas rock and includes a plunge pool overlooking the volcano.

A deluxe room starts at 525 per night, or the cave suite begins at 1,144 per night. iconicsantorini.com

5. La Dimora di Metello, Italy

La Dimora di Metello

Located in the heart of Sassi di Matera, La Dimora di Metello is an enchanting hotel that is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site it is located in. While there, visit the surrounding area of Basilicata and the neighbouring region of Puglia.

Price on request ladimoradimetello.com

6. Sala Silver Mine, Sweden

Sala Silver Mine

Sleep 155 metres underground in one of the worlds best preserved mines. In the Sala Silver Mine you will see magical underground lakes and vast caverns and the temperature only ever reaches two degrees  but dont worry, the suite is heated and bed equipped with extra blankets.

From 432, including a guided tour of the mine. salasilvermine.com/

7. The Caves, Jamaica

The Caves

A hand-crafted utopia, this natural preserve turned travellers paradise is poised above limestone cliffs on Negrils scenic West End in Jamaica. The hotel features 13 luxury accommodation options along with private caves, a spa, Jacuzzi, sauna, private hot tub and saltwater swimming pool  and its just a minutes walk from the beach.

From 350 per night. thecaveshotel.com

8. Perivolas Hideaway, Greece

Perivolas Hideaway

A unique property set on a secluded cove of Therasia (the island opposite Santorini), it is constructed on the site of a pumice mine that originally dates back to 1850. This private haven has its own beach  and with four bedrooms youll hardly be sharing with anyone.

Price on request. perivolashideaway.com

9. Elkep Evi Cave Hotel, Turkey

Elkep Evi Cave Hotel

Another Cappadocian treasure, this boutique cave hotel offers easy access to the region while you stay in one of its gorgeous rooms. In the morning enjoy a breakfast of homemade gozleme (Turkish pastry) with olives, cheese and fresh bread while you enjoy a spectacular view of Cappadocia.

From 57 including breakfast. elkepevi.com.tr/index.html

10. Beckham Creek Cave Lodge, Ozark Mountains, USA

Beckham Creek Cave Lodge

Set in a 260-acre resort, this four-bedroom, four-bathroom rental home is the ultimate in luxe caves. The master suite has a spa-like private bathroom and all rooms have rain showers  but be sure to dodge the stalactites hanging from the roof. While at the resort, you can arrange hiking, fishing, helicopter and horseback rides.
P ristine turquoise waters, tropical weather and friendly locals - this isnt the regular setting of a graduate scheme.

But thats because Tourism Fiji is offering one lucky applicant the chance to spend a month in its tropical paradise as part of a grad scheme.

While it's like other grad schemes in that you will be taught the essential skills to get ahead in the working world, this is billed as being far from the norm.

If successful, during your time in Fiji you will get a large amount of hands-on experience, including teaching children and teaming up with specialists to work on the conservation of the rich, local wildlife. You will also have the opportunity to learn about the culture and heritage of the local people as well as being placed within the Tourism Fiji team to gain valuable experience from them.

This opportunity is only available to UK-based applicants who are in their final year of university or who have just graduated from university and not yet in full time work.

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To apply, all you need to do is upload a 30-second video on something youre passionate about to the social media platform of your choice with the hashtag #Degree2Fiji. In the video you will also include the subjects you studied at university and which university you studied at.

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Successful video applicants will then be invited for an interview before heading off to Fiji in June.
S tudents at London universities are demanding a refund on their tuition fees because of 14 planned days of strike action by lecturers and staff.

Workers are set to walk out on Thursday, with more action between then and April, in a dispute over pensions.

Lecturers have announced plans for more walkouts stretching into the summer term, which means students also face missing finals. They are demanding a refund of 1,260 per person, with international students, whose fees are higher, to be reimbursed accordingly.

Students at Goldsmiths are the latest to make the demand, following similar moves at Kings College London, City University, Exeter, York, and Bristol.

More than 2,000 people have signed a petition to Goldsmiths warden Patrick Loughrey.

It states: We, whilst wholeheartedly supporting the tutors strike action, join in with the other students pleas, and believe we are entitled to have our tuition fees reimbursed for the duration of the strike action.

We pay 9,000 a year as undergraduates  more as postgraduates. If the university and the senior management team cant support its staff, it is unreasonable we should still continue to pay the full amount for an educational experience that wont be provided.

Strikes are set to take place across 64 universities  including Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, Edinburgh and Goldsmiths  after talks between the University and College Union (UCU), and Universities UK, which represents universities, broke down. Those joining the action say changes to their pension scheme will make them 10,000 worse off in retirement. UCU general secretary Sally Hunt praised students for putting pressure on the universities. She said a meeting on March 2 will be held to finalise an escalation of the strikes, which could lead to exams not being held.

She said it was scandalous that universities representatives have refused to come back to the negotiating table to try and resolve things before the strikes. Some universities will dumb down degrees if students miss course topics during the strike action, she claimed.

Universities UK said it met UCU more than 35 times in the past year to try to resolve the dispute. It said the unions only proposal was unaffordable and would necessitate large cuts to budgets in other areas such as teaching and research, and put many jobs at risk. It said: It is up to each individual university to consider any claims they receive from students for compensation.

Goldsmiths said the pension issues could only be addressed by constructive dialogue between all parties, adding: In the event of strike action we will take all reasonable steps to minimise any disruption to students, and will consider any specific complaints relating to the impact in due course.
E ducation chiefs have been criticised for failing to support a primary school at the centre of a row over banning the hijab.

Teachers at St Stephens school in Newham faced a coordinated campaign of bullying and harassment after the school stopped young girls from wearing the headscarf.

Staff were not given proper emotional care and public support by the local authority during the crisis, says a damning report by Ofsted.

Inspectors made an emergency visit after the school became a target of abuse from people protesting against the headteachers decision to stop girls aged under eight from wearing the hijab. The abuse was so vicious that the headteacher Neena Lall was compared to Hitler and the ban was reversed.

Inspectors, who published their findings today, said the school continued to be outstanding, but said it was let down by ineffective support from Newham council. St Stephens, a secular state school in an area with a large Pakistani and Bangladeshi community, was last year named as the best primary in England.

In June last year, Mrs Lall removed the hijab from the school uniform for girls aged seven and under and tried to curb young children from fasting at school in case they became unwell. She was interviewed about the move by a Sunday newspaper last month.

The Ofsted report said: School leaders, and in particular the headteacher, have faced bullying and harassment, and there is evidence that this has been coordinated by some people outside the school community. The local authority has provided some support to the school in managing the manipulative and sometimes abusive correspondence and comments made by email and across social media.

However, considering the position the school found itself in, and the fact that some correspondence appears to have been coordinated, the local authoritys approach has been perfunctory at best, stopping short of supporting the school in its policy position.

Instead, the local authority has positioned itself as a moderator to manage relationships between the school, councillors and community groups.

The expected level of emotional care and public support for school staff from the local authority has been too limited and, as a result, ineffective.

Inspectors revealed that before the hijab ban the school had come under pressure from community leaders seeking to interfere in the running of the school. It said that someone from the local mosque wrote to parents saying that children were likely to be removed from the madrasa  religious education at the mosque if they missed evening classes for a planned school overnight trip. Praising teachers, the report said: The school rightly challenged this and, as a result, children who otherwise would not have benefited from the residential trip were able to attend without negative consequence.

Inspectors praised staff for creating a calm and purposeful school environment where children thrive in a culture of high expectation and positive affirmation.

The report said: The negative comments and abusive postings found in some recent social media about the schools uniform policy and position on children fasting for religious observance are in complete contrast to the atmosphere within the school and appear to be largely instigated by people from outside the parental body.

Inspectors went into the school because of concerns there had been a breakdown in trust between teachers and parents, following the hijab ban.

But their report said: Parents say that leaders are very approachable and listen carefully to their views. There is a culture of trust.

A Newham council spokeswoman said: We refute Ofsteds comments about a lack of support and have provided significant support to this school over a period of time, prior to the interview and after the media reporting.
About Me Scott Because prophetic scriptures are found throughout the bible, it is obvious that a comprehensive, systematic approach would be useful, if not necessary, for the understanding of prophecy. Past prophecies have been fulfilled in a literal manner, as confirmed by the dating of these writings and historical records of confirmation. These past prophecies also serve as a model of how to interpret future prophecies. A literal view of prophecy clearly indicates a certain sequence of events will occur within a single generation, concluding with the Tribulation and Second Advent and these events will be obvious. The prophetic signs appear to be present in this generation and we believe these signs are revealed in the news from around the world. View my complete profile
T heresa May was today warned she faces defeat in the Lords if she seeks to jettison historic freedoms to ram through legal changes as Britain withdraws from the EU.

Former Cabinet minister Lord Deben said it was the constitutional job of the Upper Chamber to defend the constitution and that Parliament must have the final say on Brexit.

In an interview with the Standard before the committee stage of the EU Withdrawal Bill starts in the Lords tomorrow, Lord Deben, who as John Gummer was Environment Secretary, warned against using the legislation for a power grab by ministers.

The Government is proposing to use Henry VIII powers, which allow legal changes without primary legislation, to transfer hundreds of EU laws and regulations into domestic law in the UK.

However, the peer warned the Prime Minister: I know this is a very difficult negotiation for you, but we must not jettison our historic freedoms in order to buy short-term unity.

These are our historic freedoms, the freedoms of Parliament. This ought not to be something that divides people who believe in leaving from people who believe in staying. All of us ought to be in favour of parliamentary control.

Nine Conservative peers, including two former Cabinet ministers and the Duke of Wellington, have already put their names to cross-party amendments to the Bill. One backed by Lord Cormack wants to restrict the planned use of Henry VIII powers during Brexit.

Lord Deben added: There are many Tories irrespective of their views about Leaving or Remaining who would be very unhappy if ministers are given these draconian powers. Its up to the House of Lords because that is our constitutional job to defend the constitution. He believes the Government will have to make major concessions to get the Bill through the Lords.

Conservatives have always been very keen on parliamentary democracy, they have never been keen on ministerial power, said the Remainer peer.

Lord Deben, who chairs the Climate Change Committee, also emphasised that peers were concerned about the threat to environmental, health and safety and other safeguards.

The Government does not intend to take into English law the protocols of European Union laws, which make it clear any law that we decide on within the EU has got to take into account, for example, the environment, he said. If we are going to take back control, we need those protections as well.

Lord Deben also warned of very tough discussions ahead over ensuring there is no return of a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic, which he strongly opposes.

He also stressed the type of Brexit sought by the UK still had to be agreed. Parliament must discuss whether in voting to leave the European Union, people really meant they wanted to leave the single market, which of course was created by Mrs Thatcher, he said.
D avid Davis is to deny ministers are preparing for Britain to plunge into a Mad Max-style world borrowed from dystopian fiction after it leaves the EU.

The Brexit Secretary will use a keynote speech to Austrian business leaders in Vienna to calm fears of Brexit triggering a race to the bottom in production standards.

Instead, he will say the UK wants to maintain "close, even-handed co-operation" with EU regulatory authorities even after it has withdrawn from the bloc.

He will argue a common commitment to high regulatory standards should ensure trade with the EU remains as "frictionless as possible".

Ministers have previously warned the UK would be forced to adopt a different "economic model" if it was unable to secure a satisfactory deal with the remaining 27 member states.

However Mr Davis will insist the Government will continue its track record of high standards outside the EU and had no intention of engaging in a new "race to the bottom".

The Mad Max films portray a dystopian society, with Tom Hardy starring in the most recent / Warner Bros

"I know that for one reason or another there are some people who have sought to question that these really are our intentions," he will say.

"They fear that Brexit could lead to an Anglo-Saxon race to the bottom, with Britain plunged into a Mad Max-style world borrowed from dystopian fiction.

"These fears about a race to the bottom are based on nothing - not history, not intention, nor interest."

Mr Davis will point to Theresa May's commitment to maintaining and enhancing workers' rights, Chancellor Philip Hammond's support for a stable European banking system and Environment Secretary Michael Gove's "crusading zeal" on animal welfare as examples of the UK determination to lead a "race to the top".

His intervention comes amid growing calls from EU leaders for Britain to spell out exactly what kind of agreement it is seeking with Brussels.

Mr Davis will say it is the interests of both sides to be able to continue to trust each other's regulations and the institutions that enforce them after Brexit.

Boris Johnson's big Brexit speech in 60 seconds

"Such mutual recognition will naturally require close, even-handed co-operation between these authorities and a common set of principles to guide them," he said.

"This will be a crucial part of ensuring our future economic partnership is as open and trade remains as frictionless as possible.

"I am certain that is in the interests of both sides and, because of that, I am certain that we can get this right."

Mr Davis will say that when one side or the other wishes to change its regulations, it will be essential to ensure it does not lead to the creation of "unnecessary barriers" to trade.

"Take a car produced here in Austria to be exported to the UK. Currently, that vehicle only has to undergo one series of approvals, in one country, to show that it meets the required regulatory standards and those approvals are accepted across the European Union," he will say.
E nvironment Secretary Michael Gove is pushing for thousands of foreign workers to continue to be allowed to come to Britain after Brexit to do farming jobs.

The Leave Cabinet minister also told farmers at their annual conference in Birmingham that workers would have to be sought from outside the EU.

Addressing the National Farmers Union meeting, he said: Farming currently depends on access to labour from abroad - both seasonal and more permanent.

Whether its stockmen and dairy workers or the official vets in our abattoirs, 90 per cent of whom are from EU27 nations, agriculture needs access to foreign workers.

Its already the case that the supply of labour from EU27 countries is diminishing as their economies recover and grow. So, in the future, we will need to look further afield.

However, he also stressed that he understood that farmers wanted to see action quickly amid warnings that millions of tons of fruit and vegtables will not be picked this year due to a lack of workers.

The NFU has put forward strong and compelling arguments for a Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme and I fully acknowledge your concerns, he added.

In addition, the Governments Migration Advisory Committee are reviewing the shape of immigration policy after were free of EU constraints.

Ive explained to them that we will need continued access to skilled labour if were to keep our farming sector productive and profitable.

However, he argued that in the medium to long term, Britains farmers had to move away from a relatively labour intensive model to a more capital intensive approach.

However, shadow farming minister David Drew blamed the shortage of EU workers on Government immigration rules and Brexit uncertainties.

He added: The Leave campaign pretended there was an alternative to this workforce, there is no alternative at the moment.

Workers are not coming. We will have to plough fruit and vegetables back into the ground unless we get more workers.

David Davis signalled Britain will not unfairly pump State cash into businesses to give them a competitive advantage over EU rivals

In a speech in Vienna, Cabinet minister David Davis signalled Britain will not unfairly pump State cash into businesses to give them a competitive advantage over EU rivals after it quits the bloc.

The Brexit Secretary also made clear that the Government wants to carry on co-operating on anti-trust measures to ensure consumers are not hit by corporate mergers and acquisitions.

In a speech to business leaders, he stressed: The UK has long been a vocal proponent of restricting unfair subsidies to ensure competitive markets.

He also warned: Fair competition means that it cannot be right that a company situated in the EU would be able to be heavily subsidised by the state but still have unfettered access to the UK market.

He also denied that ministers are preparing a programme of sweeping deregulation in a Mad Max-style free-for-all.

The UK wanted to maintain close, even-handed co-operation with EU regulatory authorities, with a common commitment to high regulatory standards which aims to ensure trade with the EU remains as frictionless as possible.

EU diplomats gave a cautious welcome to his offer of mutual recognition of each others rules, but it has not eased their fears over a post-Brexit regulatory bonfire.

Thats what we dont trust - what they will do after 2019, said one EU diplomat involved in the talks, expressing concern about future divergence.

In another speech, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox told a manufacturing conference in London: This government opposes erecting barriers to trade where none yet exist, or disrupting the commercial relationships that exist between this country and our Continental partners.

Cabinet ministers are due to meet at Chequers on Thursday to seek to bridge deep divides over what type of Brexit trade deal the Government should seek.
J eremy Corbyn will vow to strip the City of London of its dominance over politics in a speech later.

The Labour leader is set to say the financial sector has an undemocratic control over British politics.

The UKs distorted economy cannot be rebalanced without swinging the power of the capitals financial sector back towards an industry model, Mr Corbyn is due to say in his address at the EEF manufacturers organisation speech.

He will argue that the Citys growth has had a destructive impact on the real economy and call for a fundamental rethink of how the sector is regulated.

At the major speech in London, he will say: "There can be no rebalancing of our distorted, sluggish and unequal economy without taking on the power of finance."

Jeremy Corbyn: The Labour leader the City's growth has had a destructive impact on the 'real economy' / PA

"For 40 years, deregulated finance has progressively become more powerful. Its dominance over industry, obvious and destructive; its control of politics, pernicious and undemocratic.

"The size and power of finance created a generation of politicians who thought the City of London could power the whole economy.

"Out-of-control financial wizardry and gambling were left barely regulated, while the real economies in once-strong industrial areas were put into managed decline.

He will say that a Labour government will take decisive action to make finance the servant of industry, not the masters of us all.

Canary Wharf: London's headquarters of British banks HSBC and Barclays / AFP/Getty Images

After the attempted takeover of the GKN engineering group by Melrose Industries, Mr Corbyn will also promise strengthened government powers to intervene in hostile takeovers.

He will point to the ongoing attempt by Melrose to gain control of GKN as a further example of "short-term performance and narrow shareholder value [being] prioritised over long-run growth and broader economic benefit".

"We rightly praise the growth of companies like GKN and their location in the UK. And yet when we are facing the possible destruction of that company, we are powerless to act," he will say.

"That's why the next Labour government will broaden the scope of the 'public interest test', allowing government to intervene to prevent hostile takeovers which destroy our industrial base."

But Miles Celic, chief executive of industry body TheCityUK, said Mr Corbyn failed to understand the financial services sector was a "national asset", with major centres in other cities such as Manchester, Glasgow, Cardiff, Birmingham and Bristol.

"Two-thirds of the 2.2 million jobs in the industry are outside the M25, as are over half its 95.7 billion of exports. It is also the country's largest taxpayer, contributing over 87 billion towards funding our vital public services," he said.
J eremy Corbyn was today warned that he would make Britons poorer as he revealed plans to clip the wings of the UKs wealth-creating finance companies.

The Labour leader vowed to turn the City into a servant of what he called the real economy and attacked the sector for out-of-control financial wizardry and gambling.

The Citys supporters pointed out that it underpinned 2.2 million jobs and brought in 72 billion for the Chancellor to spend on public services such as the NHS, and said its success would be vital to keep the UK prosperous after it leaves the European Union.

The veteran City commentator David Buik said Mr Corbyn appeared to want to turn London into the last Soviet-era capital west of Pyongyang.

He added: To go crashing into the City of London at a time of Brexit, which is proving a very difficult process, is close to insanity.

The Institute of Directors said it would be a massive mistake to treat bankers as bogeymen when they were vital for the economy.

David Buik: To go crashing into the City at a time of Brexit is close to insanity

In his speech to the EEF manufacturers organisation tonight, Mr Corbyn is expected to say: There can be no rebalancing of our distorted, sluggish and unequal economy without taking on the power of finance. For 40 years, deregulated finance has progressively become more powerful. Its dominance over industry, obvious and destructive; its control of politics, pernicious and undemocratic.

The size and power of finance created a generation of politicians who thought the City of London could power the whole economy. Out-of-control financial wizardry and gambling were left barely regulated, while the real economies in once-strong industrial areas were put into managed decline.

The next Labour government will be the first in 40 years to stand up for the real economy. We will take decisive action to make finance the servant of industry, not the masters of us all.

Michael Spencer, founder and chief executive of NEX Group, said: The City is Britains biggest contributor to taxation and one of the countrys largest employers. We should be proud of its achievements and look for ways to promote and support it, rather than tear it to pieces, otherwise everyone in the country will end up the poorer.

David Lutton, director of economic policy at London First, said the financial sector was at the heart of meeting the challenge of securing jobs and growth after Brexit.

Danny Corrigan, who sits on the board of City standards body the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment, said Mr Corbyn was focusing on areas of the City that had been a failure in the past.

If Corbyn was ever right, he was right in 2008 but hes way wrong now, he said. Miles Celic, of lobbying group TheCityUK, hailed the City as a strategic asset that underpinned jobs, two thirds of them outside London. He said the industry contributed almost 11 per cent of UKs total economic output.

Mr Corbyn will also promise a public interest test against hostile takeovers. He is currently embroiled in a row over his past links to a former communist spy.

Jan Sarkocy allegedly told his superiors in the Czech secret police in 1986 that Mr Corbyn might be able to give information on British intelligence services.

Mr Corbyn has dismissed the claims as a ridiculous smear, saying he had no privileged information, nor did he pass any on.
H ome Secretary Amber Rudd has left the door open to putting the British men suspected of being members of an Islamic State execution group dubbed the Beatles on trial in a UK court.

Ms Rudd said she was absolutely convinced and absolutely committed to the idea of Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh facing justice after their capture in Syria in January.

But she declined to answer when asked where the men, alleged to be the only living members of a British-accented quartet of suspected killers, might be tried.

Last week Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said that the pair should not return to the UK, because they had turned their back on British ideas, British values.

Amber Rudd said she was absolutely convinced and absolutely committed to the idea of Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh facing justice / Getty Images

His comments threatened to spark a diplomatic row with the United States, which wants countries to take responsibility for their citizens arrested in the fight against IS.

Ms Rudd, who was speaking on a visit to the Middle East, said: The important thing is that they have been arrested.

And the important thing is, to us, that they will face trial.

I cant be drawn at the moment on where that will be, but I am absolutely convinced, and absolutely committed, to making sure that they will face trial, because the security of the United Kingdom will always come first.

Opinion is currently divided on where and how the men should be tried.

It is understood that the pair have been stripped of their British citizenship, although officials at the Home Office have refused to comment on individual cases.

Mr Williamson, speaking in Brussels, said: Do I want them back in the United Kingdom? No, I dont.

His comments came after talks with his US counterpart Jim Mattis, where the Pentagon chief urged countries to take back their fighters, saying: The important thing is that the countries of origin keep responsibility for them.

US officials have also said putting the two in Guantanamo Bay is not an option.

Junior defence minister Tobias Ellwood has suggested the men should be tried at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

But Lord Carlile, the UKs independent reviewer of terrorism legislation from 2001 to 2011, said a British trial was the proper forum.

Along with Mohammed Emwazi - the killer nicknamed Jihadi John - and Aine Davis, Kotey and Elsheikh - a former child refugee - are thought to have been part of a group named after the 60s band because of their English accents.

The four Londoners were linked to a string of hostage murders in Iraq and Syria during the bloody Islamist uprising and gained global notoriety.

Emwazi, who was killed in a US air strike in 2015, appeared in a number of videos in which captives including British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning were beheaded.
O xfams boss today issued a grovelling apology and revealed the charity had been hit by 26 new allegations of sexual misconduct since the Haiti scandal broke.

They also said the revelations had resulted in 7,000 regular donors stopping their gifts.

Mark Goldring, the charitys chief executive, said Oxfam is investigating 26 reports of staff misconduct - some of those include historical cases not reported at the time, as its top brass was hauled over the coals by MPs.

He apologised repeatedly for a catalogue of failings, including a failure to crack down on aid workers in Haiti who preyed on vulnerable women and girl for sex and for allowing them to go on to be employed by other aid organisations.

In a humiliating appearance before a committee of senior MPs, fellow executives of the charity said they felt ashamed by what had happened and promised to bring in urgent improvements.

I am sorry, we are sorry, for the damage Oxfam has done both to the people of Haiti but also to wider efforts for aid and development by possibly undermining public support, Mr Goldring told the International Development Select Committee.

Oxfams chair of trustees Caroline Thomson, said: We are ashamed of what happened in Haiti. We dont think it was well handled.

Winnie Byanyima, the Oxfam International chief, said: Im ashamed. I have spent my life trying to stand up for womens rights and to fight for people living in poverty. This is painful for me.

Some hideous men came into our organisation and abused the trust of the British people, the supporters. But they were able to get away, to get a recommendation to leave. This was wrong.

Mark Goldring, centre, is grilled by MPs

Labour MP Stephen Twigg, the committee chair, announced at the start of the hearing that MPs on the body would hold a full inquiry into the allegations that aid workers in many countries have been guilty of exploiting women.

Mr Goldring admitted the organisation had not disclosed that aid workers had used prostitutes in Haiti, did not warn other charities about their staff and did not listen to concerned colleagues.

Oxfam also had not warned other charities about their former country director for Haiti, Roland van Hauwermeiren, despite their concerns about him using prostitutes. Mr van Hauwermeiren denies paying for sex with prostitutes while managing the charitys disaster relief efforts.

Mr Goldring said when Oxfam had been asked for a reference they said they were unable to fill out the form and simply listed the dates he had worked for them.

He said: Now that wasnt enough, we should have been more proactive. We should have said please call us there is cause for concern.

Finally, Oxfam had wrongly allowed him to resign, rather than dismiss him for gross misconduct.

Asked if the charitys reputation had meant the Haiti scandal had been downplayed, Mr Goldring said staff members in Haiti dealing with reports had not chosen to make certain elements public.

He said: At the time of the investigation into Haiti, Oxfam leaders made a report to the press  there was no existing press interest, it was not public  that serious misconduct had happened and they did not describe that in explicit terms.

They didnt describe the sexual misconduct, they didnt describe the use of prostitutes. They did talk about bullying and intimidation and serious breaches of Oxfams code of conduct.

At the time people thought that was being transparent. We know now, that was not enough and under Carolines leadership shes explained exactly how she would handle things in the future.

He also said they should have listened to the concerns of Helen Evans, Oxfams former global head of safeguarding, about staff conduct in a small number of countries, adding, in hindsight, we should have followed this up more forcefully.

The committee also heard how in ten days, 7,000 people have cancelled regular donations.

He said referencing for staff members had been significantly tightened, and he suggested that aid workers could carry perhaps in future carry humanitarian passports to verify their credentials and said Parliament could add humanitarian and development work to list of registered professions.

Mr Goldring also apologised for playing down the sexual exploitation row by comparing it with the murder of babies in their cots.

He blamed stress for his comments that committee chair Mr Twigg said appeared to downplay the scandal.

I do apologise. I was thinking under stress, said Mr Goldring who is facing calls to resign over the charitys failure to crack down on aid workers who allegedly used vulnerable women and girls for sex in Haiti after the earthquake.

In a Guardian interview last week he said the row was out of proportion and demanded: What did we do? We murdered babies in their cots?

Asked if sex for aid went on, Ms Byanyima did not dismiss the idea, saying it was abhorrent whether payments were made from salary or in another form.

In a contrite statement at the start of the hearing, Ms Byanyima, the Oxfam International chief, said: Im ashamed. I have spent my life trying to stand up for womens rights and to fight for people living in poverty. This is painful for me.

Some hideous men came into our organisation and abused the trust of the British people, the supporters. But they were able to get away, to get a recommendation to leave. This was wrong.

Committee member Pauline Latham, a Conservative MP, asked why the allegations were not reported to the Haitian authorities since prostitution is illegal in the country.

Mr Goldring said they should have been reported to the police and apologised again. He could explain why they were not reported and had not been able to find any record of anyone giving advice not to do so.

Ms Latham told him Oxfam predators had treated women like trinkets, adding: That is shocking.
S ave the Children dismissed staff over reports of sexual harassment, the charity's boss has said.

Nineteen staff are believed to have been dismissed following investigations into claims, Kevin Watkins, chief executive of Save the Children UK told MPs.

He added that 35 cases of sexual harassment were reported at Save the Children International last year.

In 2016, 193 cases were recorded which led to 53 full investigations, Sky News reported.

Twenty files were handed to police and 11 people were dismissed, he added.

Kevin Watkins speaking to MPs about sexual abuse allegations / AFP/Getty Images

Speaking as charity bosses were grilled following the scandal engulfing aid charity Oxfam, Mr Watkins said that his charity had produced two reports - dating back as far as 2002 - warning that "predatory men" were seeking to use aid work as an opportunity for abuse.

He told the committee: "What both reports highlighted is the role of powerful men as gatekeepers to food, shelter and security, and the fears and concerns of the people who they were there to serve, who felt threatened by them, unsafe and unprotected.

"What has come to light over the past few weeks cautions all of us against complacency."

Brendan Cox left his role at Save the Children over allegations of sexual harrassment / Neil Hall/Reuters

Mr Watkins said: "I have seen it argued that if you work in a difficult and dangerous place, you should somehow be subjected to a different set of rules, that the standards should be lower.

"There is only one rule that should apply to our mission and our organisation. That is that you treat other people as you would expect to be treated yourself."

Save the Children has been pushing for an international humanitarian passport, which could be removed if aid workers breach rules.

However, Mr Watkins said the proposal has faced resistance on the grounds that it would be too complex to introduce and administer on a global basis.

Oxfam apologises for the actions of charity workers in Haiti

He told the committee: "My short answer to that problem is to create one. This is clearly a complicated problem but the consequences of not dealing with it in human terms are utterly appalling, leaving aside the reputational affects for our agency. We absolutely have to tackle this."

Save the Children's director of child safeguarding Steve Reeves said that the likely scale of abuse was such that agencies should act on the assumption that it is taking place, even if proof of wrongdoing had not come to light.

"There is no doubt that there are people with a sexual interest in children who actively seek out the opportunity to work with children," Mr Reeves told the committee.

"It's a very considerable problem.

"We know there are large numbers of these people and we know they will seek access to organisations which appear to be weaker and work with children in regions where protections appear to be poorer."

The figures emerged days after Brendan Cox, widower of murdered MP Jo Cox, stepped down from his posts at More in Common and the Jo Cox Foundation amid a series of sexual harassment allegations.

Mr Cox admitted "inappropriate" behaviour while working for Save the Children but said some of the allegations against him were a "massive exaggeration". He conceded at time that he had at times "overstepped the line" and apologised for the "hurt and offence" caused.

The charity said the complaints against Mr Cox were investigated in accordance with its procedures. It said Mr Cox was suspended but that he resigned from his role as chief strategist before a disciplinary process was completed.

The Mail on Sunday published accusations, made by a former colleague while they both worked at charity Save the Children, in 2015.

Months later, it is alleged he forced himself on a woman during a trip to Harvard University in the US.

He said in a statement: "While I do not accept the allegations contained in the 2015 complaint to the police in Cambridge, Massachusetts, I do acknowledge and understand that during my time at Save the Children I made mistakes and behaved in a way that caused some women hurt and offence.

"This was never malicious but it was certainly inappropriate.

"In the past I have focused on disputing what I felt was untrue in the allegations, but I realise now that it's more important to take full responsibility for what I have done.
L ondoners woke up to bitterly cold conditions this morning as a nationwide 'polar vortex' heightened the risk of widespread snow and travel disruption.

Brits are set to face the "coldest week in five years" with heavy snow showers and harsh frost expected to sweep the country next week.

The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for London and the south east, with snow expected throughout the day on Monday and Tuesday.

Temperatures are expected to drop below zero towards the end of next week.

Friday's weather forecast

The south east is expected to feel particularly cold as polar continental air brings freezing weather from Siberia.

Yellow snow warnings are also in place for the north east of England and Scotland for Friday.

Meteorologist Alex Burkill told the Standard that the cold snap was likely to mirror freezing winter weather seen in March 2013  the second coldest March recorded in more than 100 years.

He said: Britain faces what we could call a significant cold period that is likely to last for much of next week and beyond.

Temperatures will remain below 0C in some places dropping to minus double figures overnight.

Significant snow showers will sweep the UK from Monday bringing heavy frost and the risk of widespread disruption.

Cold Weather 'Polar Vortex' arrives in London 1 /5 Cold Weather 'Polar Vortex' arrives in London People in winter coats and scarves cross Waterloo Bridge, in central London, as freezing air from Russia is to grip the UK in what is set to be the coldest late February in five years PA PA PA PA PA

"It is not possible to give exact areas at this time but wintery showers are likely to be widespread including London and the south east.

Snow showers could hit parts of the west coast as early as Friday, Mr Burkill added.

Temperatures across the UK will hover between 3C and 7C over the weekend before plummeting below 3C nationwide on Monday.

A number of Londoners took to Twitter early on Monday morning to complain about plunging temperatures. One, @london_dolans, simply wrote: "Nah London's too cold I hate it."

Another, Graham Chapple, wrote: "London is cold. I am tired. There's another flight to catch. I am tired."

Parts of Scotland are expected to face overnight temperatures as low as -10C as early as Monday, forecasters added.

The weather comes after a sudden stratospheric weather event in skies above the North Pole last week.
A British teaching assistant and her boyfriend were reportedly kicked off an Emirates flight to Dubai after she complained of having period pains.

Beth Evans, 24, and her partner Josh Moran, 26, said they were asked to leave the the plane at Birmingham Airport just before take-off.

They claimed an air hostess quizzed Miss Evans over her stomach pains after overhearing her complaining to her boyfriend.

Crew members then decided the young woman required medical assistance before flying, the Sun reported.

Medics were unable to attend to Miss Evans immediately, leaving the couple forced to abandon their 400 trip.

Mr Moran told the Sun the situation was madness.

He said: Beth was in tears and getting upset when the hostess was asking her questions.

It's embarrassing to have to explain about period pains when it's being overheard.

The couple added that they had to pay an extra 250 to rebook their flights.

A spokesman for Emirates told the newspaper: The passenger alerted crew that she was suffering from discomfort and pain and mentioned she was feeling unwell.

The captain made the decision to request medical support and offload Ms Evans so she could access medical assistance.

We would not have wanted to endanger Ms Evans by delaying medical help had she worsened during the flight.
Welcome Guest! You Are Here:
A British Airways pilot has shared amazing footage of his plane coming into land at Vancouver airport, giving passengers a glimpse of the impressive view they don't often get to see.

Captain Dave Wallsworth has developed a reputation for sharing stunning flight deck videos.

The footage is usually filmed from the perspective of the cockpit and shows how pilots negotiate the complex manoeuvre.

In the footage, Captain Wallsworth is seen alongside First Officers Jon Leggett and Phil Macgregor as they steer the A380 plane onto the runway.

The three-minute film begins as the aircraft is at 1000 feet and beginning its descent into the Canadian city.

The crew are heard communicating with ground control before confirming that the pane is stable and ready to land.

The camera captures stunning scenery seen by the team as they come into land against the glow of the setting sun.

Captain Wallsworth, who regularly shares beautiful pictures and videos from above the clouds, told the Independent he hopes to film more of the city when he returns there.

It is a beautiful approach over the mountains on the way in; I hope to be able to film that later this year when BA returns there in the A380, he says

If the weather is kind and we see the spectacular mountains Ill post a video of that for everyone to see.

He added that he has plans to continue with the videos  which are incredibly popular among aviation and photography fans alike  and may incorporate more of a narrator-style.

Its been lovely to read the positive comments, especially from people who have said they now feel less nervous about flying, he said.
23 March 2017

U.S. President Donald J. Trump gets in the driver's seat of an 18-wheeler while meeting with truck drivers and trucking CEOs on the South Portico prior to their meeting to discuss health care at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 23 March 2017. The House of Representatives has yet to vote on the Republican-crafted American Health Care Act, that would replace the Affordable Care Act, as it remained unclear whether Republicans had enough votes to overcome opposition from Democrats and those within their own party. EPA/JIM LO SCALZO

EPA
D onald Trump supports efforts to improve background checks for gun purchases, the White House has said.

The US president spoke to Republican senator John Cornyn about a bipartisan bill to strengthen the FBIs database of people prohibited from buying guns.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said: "While discussions are ongoing and revisions are being considered, the President is supportive of efforts to improve the Federal background check system."

It comes as Florida school shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz appeared in court charged with the murder of 17 people.

US gun control laws: Outside the gun store where Florida shooter purchased weapon

Students who survived the attack have called for action on gun control after it emerged Cruz bought his weapon legally, despite being examined by mental health workers in 2016.

A lie-in protest was held outside the White House on Wednesday by the organisation Teens for Gun Reform in a bid to send a powerful message to the Trump administration.

The president, who spent the weekend at his private Palm Beach estate in Florida, has long been a strong supporter of gun rights and the National Rifle Association (NRA).

Last year, he signed a resolution blocking an Obama-era rule designed to keep guns out of the hands of certain mentally disabled people.

And in April, he promised members of the NRA: The eight-year assault on your Second Amendment freedoms has come to a crashing end.

The proposed background check legislation would be aimed at ensuring that federal agencies and states accurately report relevant criminal information to the FBI.

Florida Shooting Victims 1 /17 Florida Shooting Victims Jaime Guttenberg was described by friends as charismatic and lovely Chris Hixon, a 49-year-old athletics director at the school, was killed in the mass shooting. Gina Montalto was confirmed dead on Facebook by her mother Facebook Joaquin Oliver's sister shared an image of him after the shooting Murdered football coach Aaron Feis, who died protecting students from gunfire, pictured with his young daughter Facebook Alyssa Alhadeff, 14, was a popular footballer South Florida United Youth Soccer Association/Facebook Nicholas Dworet had received a swimming scholarship for the University of Indianapolis TSaquatics/Instagram Meadow Pollack, a senior at the high school, was among the victims Scott Beigel reportedly died while protecting students Facebook The death of 14-year-old Martin Duque was confirmed by his older brother, who posted a picture of him on Instagram Peter Wang, 15, died while holding open a classroom door so others could escape Cara Loughran, 14, was confirmed dead following a desperate search for the freshman by her parents Alaina Petty, 14, was one of the youngest victims of the massacre AP Luke Hoyer, 15, was confirmed as one of the victims AP 16-year old Carmen Schentrup was described as a 'lovely angel' Trombonist Alex Schachter played in the school's marching band Helena Ramsay was described by friends as a smart, kind hearted, and thoughtful person

It was introduced after the Air Force failed to report the criminal history of the gunman who slaughtered more than two dozen people at a Texas church.

Kristin Brown, co-president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, said the measure would help to enforce existing rules but would not close loopholes permitting private sales on the internet and at gun shows.

She has called for a ban on assault-type weapons and for laws enabling family members, guardians or police to ask judges to strip gun rights temporarily from people who show warning signs of violence.

"We need a comprehensive system," Ms Brown said.

Current US federal law requires someone to be at least 21 to buy a handgun from a licensed dealer, but only 18 in most places to buy a so-called "long gun".

Long guns are firearms with a longer barrel including shotguns and rifles.

States including Maine, Minnesota and Vermont allow teens 14 or 16 years old to buy or purchase long guns without parental consent, with some exceptions.
D onald Trump wants to ban bump stock devices, which allow guns to be fired more rapidly and were used in the Las Vegas mass shooting last year.

The US president has come under increased pressure to impose gun restrictions in the wake of last week's shooting rampage in Parkland, Florida.

He said on Tuesday: I signed a memorandum directing the Attorney General to propose regulations to ban all devices that turn legal weapons into machine guns.

Speaking at a ceremony at the White House which recognised the bravery of Americas emergency services, he added that he expected the new regulations to be finalised "very soon".

Trump visits Florida shooting victims

Some 58 people were murdered by gunman Stephen Paddock at the Route 91 Harvest music festival on the Las Vegas Strip in October.

The White House has previously hinted that Mr Trump may be open to increasing gun restrictions after the Florida shooting, in which the killer did not use "bump stocks".

It comes as dozens of students and parents from Stoneman Douglas High School, where 17 teens and staff members died, boarded buses on Tuesday for a trip to the state capital Tallahassee to push for a ban on assault rifles.

Florida Shooting Victims 1 /17 Florida Shooting Victims Jaime Guttenberg was described by friends as charismatic and lovely Chris Hixon, a 49-year-old athletics director at the school, was killed in the mass shooting. Gina Montalto was confirmed dead on Facebook by her mother Facebook Joaquin Oliver's sister shared an image of him after the shooting Murdered football coach Aaron Feis, who died protecting students from gunfire, pictured with his young daughter Facebook Alyssa Alhadeff, 14, was a popular footballer South Florida United Youth Soccer Association/Facebook Nicholas Dworet had received a swimming scholarship for the University of Indianapolis TSaquatics/Instagram Meadow Pollack, a senior at the high school, was among the victims Scott Beigel reportedly died while protecting students Facebook The death of 14-year-old Martin Duque was confirmed by his older brother, who posted a picture of him on Instagram Peter Wang, 15, died while holding open a classroom door so others could escape Cara Loughran, 14, was confirmed dead following a desperate search for the freshman by her parents Alaina Petty, 14, was one of the youngest victims of the massacre AP Luke Hoyer, 15, was confirmed as one of the victims AP 16-year old Carmen Schentrup was described as a 'lovely angel' Trombonist Alex Schachter played in the school's marching band Helena Ramsay was described by friends as a smart, kind hearted, and thoughtful person

The shooting was the second deadliest at a public school in US history, and has inflamed a national debate about gun control and prompted teens across the country to demand action.

Tyra Hemans, an 18-year-old senior at the school, said referring to Florida's law permitting the sale of assault rifles: "I am not going back to school until lawmakers, and the president, change this law.

"Three people I looked to for advice and courage are gone but never forgotten, and for them, I am going to our state capital to tell lawmakers we are tired and exhausted of stupid gun laws."

Police say Nikolas Cruz, 19, who had been expelled from the school, opened fire with a semiautomatic AR-15 assault rifle. He faces 17 counts of murder.
F lorida has begun moves to tighten gun controls amid a nationwide outcry led by students who survived last weeks school shooting that left 17 people dead.

State lawmakers are drafting new measures that could provide the first crack in Americas stubborn resistance to any attempts to water down laws protecting the right to bear arms.

If passed, the Florida legislation will raise the legal age of possession of an assault rifle - such as the AR-15 semi-automatic used by 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz in the killing spree at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School - from 18 to 21.

It would also ban bump stocks allow rifles to be fires more rapidly, and allow police to temporarily strip weapons from people deemed a possible threat.

Florida school shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz admitted killing 17 people, police said / AFP/Getty Images

The Florida move comes after the White House hinted that President Trump may be open to increasing gun restrictions in the wake of the Parkland, Florida, shooting rampage.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Mr Trump may consider improvements in federal background checks for prospective gun buyers, although he has stopped short of backing any proposed legislation.

The cautious steps towards tighter gun controls made by the Florida legislature and the White House still fall far short of the assault weapons ban being demanded by the grieving Parkland high school students.

But they nevertheless represent a significant breakthrough for gun control advocates who have been sidelined in the past, even after such atrocities as the Sandy Hook massacre in December 2012 when 20 children aged between six and seven-years-old were shot in their primary school classrooms.

Florida Shooting Vigil - In pictures 1 /15 Florida Shooting Vigil - In pictures People attend a candle light memorial service for the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Getty Images Attendees raise their candles at a candlelight vigil for the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School AP People hug as they attend a candlelit memorial service for the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Getty Images Mourners stand during a candlelight vigil for the victims of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida AFP/Getty Images Zachary Haupert, 14, painted "RIP Luke," on his hoodie in honor of his friend Luke Hoyer, who was one of the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, as he attends a candlelight vigil AP City, county and state officials release balloons in honor of the victims during a prayer vigil for the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting at Parkridge Church in Coral Springs, Florida AFP/Getty Images Ella Thompson, right, 8, hands out ribbons at a candlelight vigil for the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School AP A handwritten note to a lost friend is surrounded by candles and flowers at a candlelight vigil the day after a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Reuters Students console each other as they weep during a candlelight vigil for the victims of the Wednesday shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School AP Veronica Laureano, center, holds a teddy bear as she attends a vigil with her daughter Zorayha Laureano, 11, at the Parkland Baptist Church, for the victims of the Wednesday shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School AP Virginia Cancte prays at a cross setup during a candle light memorial service for the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that killed 17 people Getty Images Attendees comfort each other at a candlelight vigil for the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School AP Mourners gather during a prayer vigil for the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting at Parkridge Church in Coral Springs, Florida AFP/Getty Images A woman places roses on a stage during a vigil at Pine Trails Park for the victims of the Wednesday shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School AP People attend a candlelit memorial service for the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Getty Images

The Florida proposals, led by Republican senators, are especially relevant to last weeks gun attack.

Under the new laws, Cruz would not have been allowed to legally own an assault rifle and the authorities would have been able to act on threats made by the troubled youth on social media by removing his guns.

There is no reason I should be safer in the state capitol than our children are in their schools, said Florida State Senator Bill Galvano, who is leading the gun control initiative. Enough is enough something must change.

We owe it to victims of families on what I now consider the absolute most important issue of the session.

The plan would also add a three-day waiting period for rifle purchases.

Shackled and wearing a bright red prison uniform, Cruz appeared in court yesterday in Broward County, Florida. He kept his head down and said nothing during the short hearing.

Defence lawyer Melissa McNeill has said she will seek a plea deal in which Cruz will plead guilty to 17 counts of murder if prosecutors do not seek the death penalty.

Spearheading a growing youth movement for change, 100 students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School will be travelling to Tallahassee, Floridas state capital, today to meet with lawmakers.
The session has now opened. Oxfam GB chief executive Mark Goldring has begun by saying "I am sorry, we are sorry" for what Oxfam has done both to the people of Haiti and reputationally to the rest of the aid sector.

He says he should not have made comments to the Guardian that criticism of Oxfam was out of proportion as the charity had not murdered "babies in cots".

"I should not have said those things. It is not for Oxfam to judge issues of proportionality or motivation," he tells the committee.

"I wholeheartedly apologise for those comments, and commit to work in that greater public interest."

He explains he joined the organisation in 2013, after the internal investigation into sexual misconduct had already been closed. He said he "saw no reason" to reopen it as he was "given due assurance" it had been concluded properly.

He says aid organisations at that time had found no perfect legal solution to rooting out culprits of sexual misconduct because of issues around data protection.

"A finding of culpability by an employer is not the same as a conviction," he says.
A viral internet campaign urging gun owners to destroy their weapons to prevent yet another mass shooting is sweeping the US.

The #Oneless campaign is gathering momentum in the United States. One man's emotional video showing himself sawing in half his AR-15 rifle sparked a huge outpouring of support online.

The movement calls on people to destroy their guns to ensure they do not get into the wrong hands and are used to take lives.

Footage of Scott-Dani Pappalardo  a licensed gun owner  who shared a poignant video of him speaking about the devastating high school shooting that left 17 students and teachers dead is sweeping the anti-gun movement in the US.

In the footage, Mr Pappalardo described himself as being one of the many American citizens who had always supported the right to bear arms.

He said he is such a believer in the Second Amendment, in fact, that he had the law tattooed on his arm.

But the Valentines Day shooting  the deadliest school massacre in the US since the Sandy Hook tragedy - had forced him to take personal action.

Speaking into the camera, he said: I remember when Sandy Hook happened I said to my wife I would gladly give this gun up if it would save the life of just one child.

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

And that was five years ago now. And since then over 400 people have been shot in over 200 school shootings, so I guess my words were just empty words in the spur of the moment. And now here we are, 17 more lives lost.

So when do we change, when do we make laws that say maybe a weapon like this isnt acceptable in todays society?

Ultimately, it is a gun like this one that take away so many lives. I have decided today, I am going to make sure this weapon will never be able to take a life.

The video then shows him taking the weapon to an angle grinder and sawing it in half.

He then says: For all you haters out there that think that I am very stupid for doing this, I hope and I pray that it doesnt take the barrel of one of these things pointed at your childs head to change your mind.

His post went viral across social media, prompting others to share the hashtag and praise him for speaking out on the contentious issue.

Others have begun to post similar videos. One woman filmed herself saying: Im not a protester, activist, anything like that.

I am just a regular hillbilly gun owner probably like many of you. I really like this gun but you know what I like more? Is when people dont get killed.

The only way that I can know for sure that this gun will never hurt anyone is if it doesnt exist.

Footage then shows the woman, named Amanda Meyer, sawing parts the firearm in half with an angle grinder  leaving the gun unusable.

The posts have garnered a mixed response, with some people insisting that guns are not the root of the problem and many dismissing the idea as stupid.

But others have implored people to share the videos and encourage all gun owners to consider the implications of owning a firearm.

The movement comes as one hundred students from Stoneman Douglas High School were set to trek 400 miles to urge politicians to prevent a repeat of the massacre.

They plan to hold a rally on Wednesday in a bid to put pressure on the state's Republican-controlled legislature to consider a sweeping package of gun-control laws.

Students are also calling for anti-gun violence demonstrations in Washington and other cities on March 24.

Florida high school shooting suspect appears in court
M ichelle Obama has spoken out in praise of Marvels new Black Panther film, saying that its inclusivity will be an inspiration to young people.

The former first lady offered her congratulations to the filmmakers and actors in a rare tweet after the film enjoyed a triumphant opening weekend in the US and UK.

Congrats to the entire #blackpanther team! Because of you, young people will finally see superheroes that look like them on the big screen, she wrote.

I loved this movie and I know it will inspire people of all backgrounds to dig deep and find the courage to be heroes of their own stories.

The film, the first superhero movie with a predominately black cast, made more than 200 million dollars (143 million) over the weekend in the US after it experienced the biggest opening day of the year so far in the UK and Ireland.

Many hope it marks a turning point in Hollywood by challenging out-dated views that a diverse cast will not draw big audiences.

Research by the Creative Artists Agency last year found that on-screen diversity draws wider audiences on opening weekends.

Black Panther actors urge directors to 'be open-minded' at European premiere

Despite this, a UCLA study showed that white film leads were nearly three times more common in top Hollywood films in 2015, while the American public is around 40% non-white.

Black Panther's success follows that of Get Out, which made more than 180 million worldwide and is also fronted by Oscar-nominee Daniel Kaluuya.

Black Panther - London Premiere 1 /17 Black Panther - London Premiere Lupita Nyong'o Getty Images Daniel Kaluuya Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images John Boyega Dave Benett Alex Beresford Ian West/PA Wire Stormzy, John Boyega and Daniel Sturridge Invision/AP Michael B Jordan Ian West/PA Wire Chadwick Boseman Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for Disney Black Eyed Peas Ian West/PA Andy Serkis Ian West/PA Wire Leona Lewis Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images Rudimental Ian West/PA Wire Danai Gurira Ian West/PA Wire Martin Freeman Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images Letita Wright Getty Images Professor Green Ian West/PA Wire Florence Kasumba Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images Clara Amfo Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images

Last year Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman also became the highest-ever grossing live-action film directed by a woman.

Black Panther pulled in 2.67 million on its opening day in the UK and Ireland on February 13, according to Disney.

The Ryan Coogler-directed film stars Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa, the king of fictional African nation Wakanda, as well as Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong'o and Michael B Jordan.

Critics have expressed overwhelming support, and the film currently has a 97% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
S ince the scandal broke in October last year, disgraced Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein has been accused by 84 actresses and assistants of various incidences of sexual misconduct.

A new Channel 4 documentary takes a look at how Weinstein abused his power on this side of the pond, bringing fresh allegations to light in in-depth interviews with British film industry insiders.

Here's everything you need to know about Working with Weinstein.

What is it about?

Under criminal investigation in Britain and the US, expelled from BAFTA and the Academy of Motion Pictures, Harvey Weinstein's fall from grace has been swift since allegations of sexual abuse and harassment emerged against him last October.

The documentary features testimony from those who worked with him across 30 years of British film, and investigates how he allegedly kept his accusers quiet for decades.

Emma Watson backs new BFI principles in wake of Weinstein scandal

What new allegations are made in the film?

My Week With Marilyn director David Parfitt accuses Weinstein of physically attacking him after a test screening of the film in his interview.

Theres also testimony from a former Miramax employee who alleges that Weinstein asked for a massage during a meeting. She claims that when she didnt agree, he pressured her to remove her clothing so he could massage her while he masturbated.

Several ex-employees of The Weinstein Company allege that the producer used non-disclosure agreements to allow him to abuse with impunity, with one expressing her discomfort at having to escort women to Weinsteins hotel room

Has Weinstein responded to the claims?

Weinstein has denied all charges of non-consensual sex and sexual misconduct made against him, including those in the Channel 4 documentary.

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

A representative also said Parfitts claims of a physical attack were provably untrue in a longer statement.

Mr. Weinstein categorically denies Mr. Parfitts claims as provably untrue and outrageous fiction.

Mr. Parfitt and Mr. Weinstein had creative differences and any conflict between them was solely over their different visions for the film.

While they had a series of spirited arguments where Mr. Weinstein made a lot of stupid remarks that he wishes he could take back, nothing physical happened, the statement read.

When is it on?
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Like it or not, Russias influence in the Middle East is growing by leaps and bounds. Once you piece together the facts, the picture becomes clear  Russias clout is on the rise, making it the go-to nation for the countries of the region.

Moscow just baggeda breakthrough deal to build two nuclear reactors in Saudi Arabia. Four other countries, including the United States, were also in the running, but their bids failed, as Russia offered a better price, efficiency, and terms. Welcoming Russian Minister of Energy Alexander Novak, Saudi King Salman said that the two countries needed to step up their cooperation. Moscow has signed contracts to build nuclear reactors in Jordan (2015) and Egypt (2017). Aramco, Saudi Arabias state oil company, has plans to invest $20 billion in Russian liquefied natural gas projects.

This month, the Russian Defence Ministry is launching talks with Lebanon on a military cooperation agreement, which is to include port calls by naval vessels, naval search and rescue operations, the fight against sea piracy, the use of airports as transit stops for military aircraft, joint exercises, the exchange of information, and an influx of Russian military instructors to train Lebanese military personnel.

Tensions are mounting as Israel and Lebanon fail to resolve their differences over their maritime boundaries. So far there have been no results from the US-led mediation efforts. Perhaps the dispute would have a better chance of being successfully negotiated if Moscow took on the role of mediator  a mission for which Russia has thus far shown some real skill in the Middle East. An agreement might be much easier to achieve with Russian companies participating in the project. The countries involved in the exploitation of the offshore gas fields, such as Israel, Lebanon, Cyprus, and Turkey, are on good terms with Moscow. Thats a unique advantage the US lacks. Russia doesnt take sides and maintains a friendly relationship with everyone, in order to give diplomacy a better chance.

Last summer, Moscow and Baghdad signed a big arms deal. According to the Iraqi Defense Ministry, the first shipment of cutting-edge T-90 main battle tanks arrived in the country on Feb. 15. The agreement was signed for a total of 73 vehicles.The deal was prompted by the T-90s success in the Syrian conflict. The Iraqi government has asked Russia to include it in the Astana peace process to end the fighting in Syria. It has also reached an agreement with the United States to make big cuts in the American military presence on its soil.

Just before US Secretary of State Rex Tillersons visit to Ankara, Turkey announced it had typed upanother deal with Russia for a second batch of S-400 long-range defensive missile systems to be delivered in 2021. That system is not technically compatible with NATOs equipment, so it will have to remain separate from the alliances infrastructure.

The leaders in the movement for Palestinian autonomy haveturned to Russia to find a new chief Middle East negotiator to take the place of the United States. The region faces many problems that should be addressed internationally. Russia can do what no one else is able or willing to  organize and host an all-inclusive international conference to promote peace between Israel and Palestine.

The Moscow-sponsored "Syrian Congress of National Dialogue," held in late January, was a step forward in the settlement of Syrias conflict. Americas diplomatic role in the Syrian conflict is minor. The US is not even an active partner at the only forum in which it is participating  the UN-brokered Geneva talks. Russia is calling the tune in Syria. Its the only actor able to forestall the looming conflict between Israel and Iran and negotiate a deal between them. Moscow can also mediate between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Sochi appears to be an important place for diplomatic peace initiatives. For instance, Russia has recently offered to host talks there between the Afghan government and the Taliban, so we should expect to see the mainstream news media featuring the name of that city in their headlines as Sochi welcomes more foreign diplomats and journalists arriving for more landmark meetings.

Another important event has gone almost unnoticed by the mainstream media. On Feb. 13, the head of Russias Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergey Naryshkin, held talks with Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo to discuss security cooperation. The meeting took place against the backdrop of Egypts large-scale military operation to quell terrorist activities in the Sinai Peninsula. It came a day after the Egyptian president met US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Russia and Egypt are in talks over a military deal that would allow access to each others airspace and air bases. The situation in Libya features prominently on this bilateral agenda. Moscow has made substantial progress in its quest to bring all of Libyas factions into a peace dialogue.

Recent events testify to the fact that the days of undisputed US dominance in the Middle East are over. Russias return to the region as the newest power broker has been a stunning success and reflects Russias growingprominence on the world stage.
Its hilariously naive how mainstream American news media feign an air of disdain concerning accusations of impropriety by the Federal Bureau of Investigation during the last presidential elections.

Allegations that senior ranks of the FBI were involved in dirty tricks to fix the 2016 presidential vote in favor of Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton  potentially highly criminal conduct  are treated as if such allegations are scurrilous distractions thrown up by the Trump White House or Republican supporters.

When President Donald Trump has alluded to FBI collusion with the previous Obama Democrat administration to destroy his election campaign, or when Republican congressmen released a secret memo earlier this month also suggesting Deep State dirty tricks, there were gasps of disdain among major news media. Outlets like the New York Times and CNN affected a sanctimonious air that such allegations were contemptible slurs against the honor of the Feds  the nations top law-enforcement agency.

Dont dare impugn the reputation of our law officers, is the attitude. Former FBI director James Comey  who was fired by Trump  is held up as a paragon of civic duty and squeaky-clean conduct. So too is Robert Mueller, a previous FBI chief who is carrying out a probe into alleged Russian collusion during the last election.

Of course, those media outlets would prefer to keep the focus on allegations of Russian interference in the US elections and supposed Kremlin collusion with the Trump campaign that somehow got him into the White House. That media bias is partly to do with their current political affiliation with Democrats and supposedly liberal politics.

Even though, after more than a year of constant, saturated media coverage on the so-called Russiagate story there is an embarrassing paucity of any supporting evidence. More reliable observers like Princeton Professor Stephen Cohen have cogently argued that the real story is US Intelgate, not the media sensationalized Russiagate.

One thing that would help the American public discern the relative merits of those competing narratives is greater awareness of the dark history of the FBI. Over the past century, the FBIs political influence campaigns to control elected members of US government, including presidents, are on a scale that the Kremlin could only envy.

While the New York Times, CNN and others project a pious view of the FBI, as well as other secret arms of the Deep State, the reality is that the bureau has a long history of endemic political corruption  corruption that begs disturbing questions about the very integrity of American democracy.

No other individual in modern US history has a more sinister legacy than John Edgar Hoover, the founder and lifetime director of the FBI. He founded the bureau in 1924 and was its director until his death in 1972 at the age of 77.

Serving under nine presidents, from Calvin Coolidge to Richard Nixon, the FBI was turned into a Gestapo by Hoover whose modus operandi was blackmail. Thats how President Harry Truman (1943-53) reportedly characterized Hoovers bureau. How else do you think he survived for so long  five decades  as the nations top law enforcer?

J Edgar Hoover and his henchmen kept files on thousands of politicians, judges, journalists and other public figures, according to biographer Anthony Summers. Hoover ruthlessly used those files on the secret and often sordid private lives of senior public figures to control their career conduct and official decisions so as to serve his interests.

And Hoovers interests were of a rightwing, anti-communist, racist bigot.

Ironically, his own suppressed homosexuality also manifested in witch-hunts against homosexuals in public life.

It was Hoovers secret files that largely informed the McCarthyite anti-communist inquisitions of the 1950s, whose baleful legacy on American democracy, foreign policy and freedom of expression continues to this day.

One of Hoovers mainstay sources is strongly believed to be Mafia crime bosses who had lots of dirt on politicians, from bribe-taking to vote-rigging, to illicit sexual affairs. It is suspected that the Mafia had their own dossier of images on Hoover in a compromising homosexual tryst which, in turn, kept him under their thumb.

Absurdly, the FBI chief maintained that there was no such thing as the Mafia in public statements.

Two notorious cases of how FBI wiretapping worked under Hoover can be seen in the presidencies of John F Kennedy (1961-63) and Richard Nixon (1969-74).

As recounted by Laurent Guyenot in his 2013 book, JFK to 9/11: 50 Years of Deep State, Hoover made a point of letting each new president know of compromising information he had on them. It wouldnt be brandished overtly as blackmail; the president would be briefed subtly, Sir, if someone were to have copies of this it would be damaging to your career. Enough said.

JFK was particularly wide open to blackmail owing to his rampant promiscuity and extra-marital liaisons, including with screen idol Marilyn Monroe. Kennedy more than once confided to his aides that the bastards had him nailed. It was for this reason that he made the thuggish Texan Senator Lyndon B Johnson his vice president even though he detested LBJ. Hoover and Johnson were longtime associates and the former no doubt pulled a favor to get LBJ into the White House.

However, Hoovers blackmail on JFK was not enough to curtail his defiance of rabidly anti-communist Cold War politics. Against the hostility of the Pentagon, CIA and FBI, Kennedy pursued a courageous policy of detente with the Soviet Union and Cuba. Such a policy no doubt led to his assassination by the Deep State in Dallas on November 22, 1963. There is ample evidence that Hoover and Johnson, who became the new president, then colluded with the Deep State assassins to cover up the assassination as the act of lone nut Lee Harvey Oswald  a cover-up that persists to this day.

As for Richard Nixon, it is believed that Tricky Dicky engaged in secret communications with the US-backed South Vietnamese regime on the cusp of the presidential elections in 1968. Nixon promised the South Vietnamese stronger military support if they held off entering peace talks with communist North Vietnam, which incumbent President Johnson was trying to organize. LBJ wanted to claim a peace process was underway in order to boost the election chances of his vice president Hubert Humphrey.

Nixons scheming prevailed. The Vietnam peace gambit was scuttled, the Vietnam war raged on, and so the Democrat candidate lost. Nixon finally got into the White House, which he had long coveted from the time he lost out to JFK back in 1960.

But Hoover and Johnson got their revenge by subsequently letting Nixon know that there was classified information on him  thanks to FBI wiretaps. The specter of incrimination is possibly a factor in Nixon becoming increasingly paranoid during this presidency, culminating in the ignominy of the Watergate scandal that ended his career.

These are but only two examples of how Deep State politics works in controlling and subverting American democracy. The notion that lawmakers and presidents are free to serve the people is a quaintly naive one. For the US media to pretend otherwise, and to hail the FBI as some kind of benign bastion of justice, while also deprecating claims of Deep State intrusion as conspiracy theory, is either impossibly ignorant of history  or a sign of the medias own compromised complicity.

Nonetheless, to blame this culture of institutionalized blackmail and corruption on one individual  J Edgar Hoover  is not fair either.

Hoover certainly was the devious architect of a malign Deep State machine. But he was not alone. He instilled a culture and legacy that pervades the top echelons of the bureau. And not just the FBI. The early Cold War years saw the formation of the CIA and the NSA under the Machiavellian guidance of men like Allen Dulles and Richard Helms and a host of others.

Once formed, the Deep State  as an alternate, unaccountable, unelected government  does not surrender its immense power willingly. It has learnt to hold on to its power through blackmail, media control, incitement of wars, and, even ultimately, assassination of American dissenters.

The illegal tapping of private communications is an oxygen supply for the depredations of the American Deep State.

Thinking that such agencies are not actively warping and working the electoral system to fix the figurehead in the White House is a dangerous delusion.

So too are claims that American democracy is being influenced by malign Russian enemies, as the US intelligence chiefs once again chorused in front of the Senate this past week. The consummate irony of it!

The real influence campaigns corrupting American democracy are those of the All-American agencies who claim to be law enforcers and defenders of national security.

US citizens would do well to refresh on the untold history of their country to appreciate how they are being manipulated.

We might even surmise that a good number of citizens are already aware, if only vaguely, of the elite corruption  and that is why Washington DC is viewed with increasing contempt by the people.
ASIA TIMES STAFF

Taiwans Foreign Minister David Lee has admitted his country came under diplomatic siege from China in 2017, with only 20 countries now keeping consular representatives in the increasingly isolated republic.

Most of these are thinly-populated island nations in Central America, the Caribbean and Southern Pacific, like Dominica, Saint Lucia, the Marshall Islands, Paraguay, the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.

But Lee insisted in a Lunar New Year video uploaded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website that his diplomats would keep battling on.

Although our diplomatic situation is fraught with challenges, our diplomats are neither frustrated nor lax They fight tirelessly for our nations dignity and interests, and to expand our nations international presence, he said. Lee pointed to the impressive list of international cooperation and humanitarian aid projects that Taiwan undertook worldwide in 2017, as well as President Tsai Ing-wens visits to seven diplomatic allies in Central America and the Pacific in November.

David Lee and his wife Lin Chih pictured in the New Year video

There were more setbacks in 2017, notably with Panamas decision in June to sever ties and switch its embassy to Beijing. Sao Tome and Principe in Equatorial Africa had established diplomatic relations with China in December 2016 on a promise of generous aid.

In addition, Papua New Guinea, Bahrain, Ecuador and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates asked that Taiwans diplomatic missions in their countries remove all references to Republic of China or Taiwan. China is even putting pressure on countries that have made the switch. Nigeria ordered that Taiwan move its representative office from the capital Abuja to Lagos and banned all official exchanges with Taipei.

China has stepped up diplomatic pressure on Taiwan since Tsais staunchly pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party won the presidential election in 2016. Her predecessor, Ma Ying-jeou, from the pro-reunification Kuomintang party, fared a bit better: Beijing is said to have rejected Panamas overtures at that time to save Mas face.

Taiwans flag to the Holy See flies at its embassy in Rome. The republic does not maintain diplomatic relations with Italy. Photo: Astrotrain/WikiMedia

Taiwan still has one high-profile European friend in the Vatican City, but even that may soon change. Vatican sources have said the Holy See is likely to establish diplomatic relations with China within months as part of a controversial deal on the formal appointment of bishops. It has maintained consular relations with Taiwan for 96 years.

Few expect Taipeis remaining allies in Caribbean and Pacific to resist the carrot of Chinese money for much longer. But Taipei does have at least one advantage over China: holders of its passport can get visa waivers and landing permits in 166 countries, including the United States, while mainland Chinese almost invariably face hassles.

About the only place Taiwanese are not welcome is at United Nations buildings, including offices in New York City, Geneva and Bangkok, as the global body does not recognise the republic. And these are the places where Taipei most needs to have its views being heard.

atimes.com
The United States has found an inexpensive and effective way to supply allies with aircraft well suited for counter-terror operations and when it was called on to help rebuild the Chad air force it applied these solutions. It all began in July 2017 when a severe storm (high winds and heavy rain) hit the main airbase of the Chad Air Force. Three (of six) helicopters were destroyed or heavily damaged and several hangers were torn apart. The flying debris from these structures damaged a MiG-29, a PC-12 and two Su-25s rendering these aircraft inoperable until repaired.

Chad, a key ally in the fight against Boko Haram in Nigeria and Islamic terrorists throughout the region, had lost most of its airpower. Located in central Africa, south of Libya, had joined with its neighbors, France and the Americans to better deal with the Islamic terrorists, smugglers and bandits that have long been a problem and are often the same people. Chad has some of the most experienced ground troops and these soldiers depended on air support from a fellow Chadian. The U.S. had faced this situation several times in the previous decade and had developed proven solutions.

By the end of the year the Americans delivered two Cessna 208B aircraft equipped for surveillance and reconnaissance with more to come. These 208Bs (and similar AT-802U armed, with laser designators and Hellfire laser guided missiles) had already proved themselves when provided to Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen and Libya.

Interestingly the U.S. Air Force has not been interested in using the 208s or 802s. But nations who needed effective air power in a hurry and had limited financial and human (pilots and ground crew) resources these commercial aircraft, which were used worldwide in remote areas for crop dusting (AT-802) or moving people and freight (208B) were an ideal solution. Both aircraft can be equipped with surveillance cameras and sensors that are about as easy to use as a smart phone app. Adding a laser designator and fire control hardware for laser guided missiles is the next step. But what these poor countries need the most is aerial reconnaissance and surveillance. These single engine prop-driven aircraft are easy to learn to fly (all pilots initially learn to fly on similar aircraft. Same with ground crews. A good truck mechanics can keep these aircraft going.

These two aircraft are much cheaper to purchase and operate than the much more complex and expensive aircraft Western air forces use. Oddly enough the For the United States cost was not the only issue.

Since the 1990s the kinds of wars the United States has been involved with involve more surveillance than actual use of weapons. In fact, since 2001 only about seven percent of sorties resulted in a weapon being used. When you make that adjustment the ability of a heavy bomber (B-1B or B-52) to carry a lot of smart bombs backfires, because most, if not all, of those bombs will return unused. While an F-16 carries fewer bombs or missiles, it is still more expensive per flight hour to operate (about $23,000 versus $58,000 for the B-1B). Even the A-10 costs about $18,000 per flight hour. A UAV like Predator or Reaper costs one to three thousand dollars an hour. The smaller aircraft or UAVs become more than 90 percent cheaper to use. This was a major embarrassment for the fans of big bombers and fast jets. The 208Bs and 802s do the job for far less.

In Iraq and Afghanistan the U.S. successfully adapted civilian aircraft like the Cessna Caravan 208B and Air Tractor AT-802 for reconnaissance or armed with laser guided missiles, for air support. This arrangement was cheap and easy to use, which suited allies like the Afghans and Arabs (not just the Iraqis). The 208B is a large, single engine, aircraft that is mainly used to carry up to 14 passengers or 1.3 tons of cargo. The four ton 208B has a cruising speed of 317 kilometers an hour and can stay in the air for about six hours per sortie. The 208 has been in service since the mid-1980s and over 2,000 have been built. New ones cost about $2 million each but there are lots of much cheaper used 208Bs out there. It was found that equipping 208Bs with laser targeting equipment and two Hellfires was very effective at providing ground support.

Even more effective was a militarized crop duster, the Air Tractor AT-802. Cruising speed of the AT-802 is 356 kilometers an hour and endurance is about three hours. The militarized version (802U) has lightweight armor around the cockpit and key components. There was also a bulletproof windscreen. The frame was strengthened to give the aircraft a useful life of 12,000 hours in the air. It can carry military sensors (like the Sniper XR targeting pod) as well as a variety of weapons. These include the GAU-19 three-barrel 12.7mm machine-gun, the M260 launcher (for seven 70mm unguided or laser guided rockets), Hellfire laser guided missiles and the Mk 82 227 kg (500 pound) bomb. Militarized commercial aircraft like the 208B or Air Tractor are more like a UAV when it comes to flight hour cost.

The U.S. Air Force has been conducting a search for what they call OA-X. This is to be an inexpensive dual use (training/attack) aircraft. The air force would prefer a jet, and many new jet trainers are designed with this alternate attack or surveillance duty in mind. Some new aircraft, like Scorpion, have been designed for the competition but there are existing aircraft like the AT-6C that can do the job. Non-jets like the A-29 Super Tucano are also proposed. While the 208B and AT-802 are OK for impoverished allies, the American aviation leaders want something more, well, presentable. That is another issue that someone should do something about but that never seems to happen.

Aircraft the U.S. is willing to consider for their own use are armed trainers, either powered by jets or turbo-props. The Brazilian A29 Super Tucano already has most of the market for such warplanes. This five ton, single engine, single seat aircraft was built for pilot training, but also performs quite well for counter-insurgency work. The Super Tucano is basically a prop driven trainer that is equipped for combat missions. The aircraft can carry up to 1.5 tons of weapons, including 12.7mm machine-guns, bombs and missiles. The aircraft cruises at about 500 kilometers an hour and can stay in the air for about 6.5 hours per sortie. One of the options is a FLIR (infrared radar that produces a photo realistic video image in any weather) and a fire control system for bombing. Several nations are using the Super Tucanos for counter-insurgency work. The aircraft is also used for border patrol by the United States. The Super Tucano costs $9 million each, and come in one or two seat versions. The bubble canopy provides excellent visibility. This, coupled with its slow speed (versus jets), makes it an excellent ground attack aircraft.

The U.S. sold more than two dozen AT-802s and the UAE provided these to Yemen and Libya for use against Islamic terrorists. This allows local forces to have their own air support with pilots talking to their troops on the ground and providing timely and very effective ground support. Thus even wealthy Gulf oil states see the advantages of these inexpensive, simple and effective aircraft.
China is more than doubling the size of its Marine Corps and building more amphibious ships to keep most of their marines at sea in a crises. This expansion was not unexpected. In 2017 a third marine brigade showed up in northern China, apparently assigned to the Northern Fleet. In late 2017 China confirmed a further expansion of their marine force; five more brigades (four of marines plus a Marine Special Operations brigade). In addition the Chinese fleet is building more LPD amphibious ships so that most of these brigades can be at sea at one time.

Like the three existing marine brigade the new ones will be created by converting existing army brigades. This is accomplished by providing new equipment, new uniforms, special training and learning how to carry out amphibious operations. With this new expansion of the Chinese Marines will grow to a forced of about 40,000 personnel. This will take several years to complete but it will have the marines triple their 2016 size (12,000 personnel) to nearly 40,000 in the early 2020s.

To speed up the conversion process some or all of the new marine brigades will come from the two army divisions already trained to undertake amphibious operations. These divisions will probably have their lost brigades replaced and the number of army divisions trained for amphibious operations may expand as well. In the past these army divisions regularly trained with the marines.

The Chinese marines are not, in a Western sense, a "marine corps" but the Chinese marines have come to be considered elite troops and for that reason Chinese brigades consider it an honor to be converted to marine units. This first occurred in 1980, with a second conversion in 1998 and the third in 2017. This expansion for the marines as well as the number of amphibious ships indicates that China is preparing to expand and defend overseas territory. This is already underway in the South China Sea and India fears there are islands in the Indian Ocean that may be next.

In the West the nature of China's amphibious forces has been misunderstood for decades. Until the 1980s, the Chinese didn't have a distinct marine force, only army units that were trained to conduct amphibious operations. China didn't start building its own large amphibious ships until the 1980s, at the same time they organized marine brigades.

Marine brigades are equipped with amphibious armored vehicles and self-propelled artillery, anti-tank, and anti-aircraft missiles. All of these marines are volunteers and undergo strenuous training. Each brigade also has a reconnaissance battalion, with several hundred men (and thirty women) trained to use scuba gear to get ashore and look around. These are actually special operations troops and are carefully selected and trained. In Western terms, the Chinese marines share some characteristics with both the U.S. Marine Corps and the British Royal Marine Commandos in terms of training and intended capabilities. The Chinese appear to be going more for their marines to be considered special operations troops. The U.S. Marine Corps is doing the same thing following the example of what the British Royal Marines did during World War II and continued doing so ever since. .

Interestingly, the Chinese marines were not stationed where they could be used for an invasion of Taiwan but in the south, where they can grab disputed islands in the South China Sea. The third brigade was assigned to the northern fleet and it is unclear how the new brigades will be assigned. With a larger force and more large amphibious ships to carry them it will make little difference where the brigades are stationed. The Marine Special Operations brigade will probably be similar to the U.S. Marine Corps MARSOC (Marine Special Operations Command) and be created from scratch and take longer to build.

The first two brigades were assigned close to the South China Sea for obvious reasons. While these islands, which control fishing and potential oil fields, are considered disputed, China has already laid claim to some of them by force. In 1974, China fought a naval battle with Vietnam off the Paracel islands. In 1988, China and Vietnam fought another naval battle, off the Spratly islands. Both of these battles were followed by Chinese troops establishing garrisons on some of the islands. In 1992, Chinese marines landed on Da Lac reef, in the Spratly Islands. In 1995, Chinese marines occupied Mischief Reef, which was claimed by the Philippines.

Initially Chinese marines were trained and equipped for raiding, not for large scale landings against a defended shore. The latter task is apparently left to army divisions that have been drilled on how to get on, and off, amphibious ships. While the Chinese marines might play a part in a Taiwan invasion, their full time job appears to be in the South China Sea, where the Chinese stand ready to grab more islands, if the economic advantages seem high enough. The navy supplies the amphibious ships and any air support (fixed wing aircraft and helicopters) needed. Detachments of marines have accompanied the warships China sends to the anti-piracy patrol off Somalia. Chinese marines are also being trained to seize islands Japan currently holds but China claims.

The U.S. Navy has come to view the Chinese marines as tip of the spear for any Chinese amphibious operations. While China has other special operations forces, only the marines regularly practice operations at sea. The marines have been used against Somali pirates and to provide security for Chinese aid efforts in dangerous areas. As China practices to use military force in the South China Sea or other disputed offshore areas, the marines always tend to be present. So American intel tracks the Chinese marines carefully, for these amphibious troops will often be the first in if China decides to fight.
Israel believes Iran has three large bases in Syria and seven smaller tactical ones near areas where there is active fighting. Iran is also bringing in more rockets, missiles, ammunitions and weapons for the 80,000 militiamen it supports in Syria. In response Israel is preparing for an Iranian attack from Lebanon and/or Syria. In addition to moving more troops to the Syrian border, improving the security fence and anti-aircraft/rocket defense Israel is also making deals with rebels on the Syrian side of the border in an effort to establish a 40 kilometers deep buffer zone. Israel has long provided some support (usually medical, in Israeli hospitals) for cooperative Syrian rebels. Now that support includes material aid and airstrikes and artillery fire against shared threats. Nevertheless Iran keeps pushing its mercenary forces closer to the Israeli border.

Israel has suggested that Russia work out some sort of truce between Iran and Israel. That is a great idea in theory but in practice Iran is pretty irrational when it comes to Israel. Iran appears to control most of the military forces available to the Assads. This force is better armed, trained and led than the Syrian military. The Iranian forces includes 3,000 Iranian personnel, 8,000 Hezbollah fighters (with more on call in Lebanon) and some 70,000 pro-Iran militias. About a fifth of these are foreign Shia mercenaries recruited, armed and led by Iranians. The rest are local pro-Assad militias that are equipped (and often paid) by Iran. Russia is the main source of logistic, technical, air and diplomatic (via a UN veto) support. But Iran has the most armed people on the ground. To make matters worse the main function of the Iranian ground forces is to prepare for a war with Israel.

It gets worse Russia declared victory in Syria during December 2017 and plans for the gradual withdrawal of most Russian forces. That meant the only Russian ground forces left in Syria were contractors who are, of course, not members of the military. That victory claim and withdrawal plans are now on hold as Russia has to deal with heavy losses of Russians in northeast Syria (because of the Americans) and heavy losses to their Iranian allies in the south (because of Israel). Russia had always positioned itself as the deal maker in Syria. That was largely because Russia along was on reasonably good terms with most of the players (Israel, Americans, Iran, Turkey, Iraq and the Assad government of Syria). Russia had supported and used Islamic terror groups in the past but no more, not after the Cold War ended in 1991. Many of the most effective ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) members and leaders in Syria were Russians (mainly Chechens from the Caucasus). Russia was eager to kill as many of these troublesome Chechens as it could, wherever it could get to them. Syria proved to be a good place to kill Chechens and Russia had a lot of help in doing that. The helpers included the United States and Israel. Keeping all those alliances stable and productive (rather than unpredictable and unproductive) has proved to be more difficult than Russia anticipated. The American continue to support the Kurds in northeast Syria (and northern Iraq) and Israel wants Iran out of Syria and Lebanon for the very simple reason that Iran has been openly seeking to destroy Israel since the 1980s. To make matters worse Turkey now threatens to attack any Assad forces that interfere with its efforts to push all Kurds (including those backed by the Americans) away from border areas. Pease hasnt come to Syria, rather Syria is going to pieces.

Palestinians And Oslo Want a Divorce

Fatah and Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas recently (late January) told a group of Israeli politicians that the Oslo Accords (a framework for eventual peace between Israel and Palestinians) was dead. Abbas blamed the Americans, mainly the U.S. decision to move their embassy to Jerusalem in 2019 along with huge cuts in American contributions (via the UN) pay for the free aid that keeps the Palestinian governments in the West Bank and Gaza functioning. The Oslo Accords were agreed to by Israel and the Palestinians in 1993 and between then and September 2000 Islamic and Palestinian terrorist attacks killed about 300 Israelis as the two sides sought to work out a peace deal. In September 2000 the Palestinians, unhappy with Israeli unwillingness to agree to terms that would destroy Israel, decided to launch a major terrorism campaign and between then and the end of 2005 some 1,100 Israelis were killed (most of them inside Israel). But by 2005 Israel had developed new counterterrorism tactics and techniques and from 2005 to 2013 only 135 Israelis were killed by terrorism. Each year since 2005 the number of Israeli terrorist deaths has declined, which has only enraged anti-Israel terror groups more. In 2014 Abbas declared a new terror campaign that came to be known as knife terrorism. This emphasis on suicidal individual attacks soon lost their popularity despite Fatah still pushing them energetically in all the Palestinian media. This can be seen in the number of Palestinian terror attacks disrupted each year. It was 217 in 2014, 187 in 2013 112 in 2012 and 88 in 2011. Since 1948 some 2,600 have died from terror attacks inside Israel. Nearly five percent of those dead were foreigners. Palestinian terrorism efforts have never recovered from the defeat they suffered, when Israel adopted new tactics that largely shut down the terror campaign the Palestinians began in 2000. Fatah and Hamas have been trying to revive that effort ever since and have largely failed. Both Palestinian groups now openly admit that want Israel destroyed and will settle for nothing less.

The Oslo Accords are still being used as a framework for peace negotiations but since 2000 Palestinian leaders have been telling their people that peace was no longer an option and that Israel had to be destroyed. But, to keep the cash coming (mostly from the West) non-Arab media were told that the negotiations would continue. Since then Israeli and Palestinian negotiators continue to go through the motions of agreeing to a seek a peace treaty. It is official (and well publicized) Palestinian policy to use such negotiations to weaken (and ultimately destroy) Israel not to make any real peace. The U.S. insisted that talks take place periodically anyway and threatens to withhold substantial foreign aid from both groups if negotiations do not happen every few years. In 2017 the U.S. said they were out of patience and that the Palestinians either make a deal or see most of their foreign aid disappear (something that has already been taking place over the last few years.) That plus the American decision to move their embassy to Jerusalem removed what little legitimacy the Oslo Accords still had.

The Palestinians pursuit of the impossible has been encouraged by decades of support from other Arab countries. While the Arabs have never been able to defeat Israel militarily they have achieved more success spending billions to turn Western public opinion against Jews in general and Israel in particular. Recent opinion surveys indicate that about 200 million Europeans (and a lot of Americans) consider Israelis the new Nazis for refusing to give in to the demands of the Palestinians (who want Israel destroyed in Arabic media but are more moderate in other languages). This shift in attitude has led to a dramatic increase in European anti-Semitism, most violently practiced by the rapidly growing Moslem population in Europe against a rapidly shrinking Jewish population. But back in the Middle East the attitude shifts have gone against the Palestinians.

As a result of all this more and more Israelis are calling for everyone to agree that the Oslo Accords did not work. This disappoints many because in the early 1990s there was a lot more optimism. Back then the humiliation suffered by Yasser Arafat and his PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization) at the hands of Israelis in Lebanon during Operation "Peace for Galilee" in 1982 effectively ejected Arafat's armed group from the country and went a long way towards paving the way for the Oslo Accords in 1993 that ended the PLO's armed campaign and began years of futile peace talks. Instead of a separate Palestinian state many Israelis wanted Jordan to take back the West Bank and Egypt to take back Gaza. Neither Jordan nor Egypt wants the Palestinians, who have, since 1993, demonstrated an inability to govern themselves and alienated a growing number of their Arab supporters.

The Palestinian efforts to destroy Israel have backfired in a big way and now the two organizations that control the Palestinians (Fatah in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza) are losing the financial and diplomatic support they have enjoyed for over half a century. The cause of this calamity is the inability of the Palestinians to form a united and effective government. Instead they have suffered under decades of corrupt and ineffective leaders that led, in 2005, to a split with Islamic radicals (Hamas) taking control of Gaza while Fatah continued to rule the West Bank. Both factions agree on a few things; Israel must be destroyed and violence is justified to get it done. Fatah was more willing to pretend it would negotiate a peace deal with Israel but has proved to be as intransigent as Hamas about actually doing so. Fatah now openly admits it shares the Hamas attitude that peace is not possible with Israel and the only solution is the destruction of Israel.

The Palestinian problem was invented by the Arab countries when Israel declared independence in 1948 and Arab nations refused to accept and absorb Moslems who fled (mostly) from the newly created Israel on the promise of the Arab nations soon mobilizing sufficient military strength to destroy Israel, drive the Jews out and allow the refugees to return home. That never happened and it was quickly recognized that there was a serious refugee problem. The UN established a program to take care of these refugees but in a very unusual move the 750,000 original (later called Palestinian) refugees were allowed to pass on their refugee status to their children. No other refugee group was allowed to do that by the UN and now there are calls from major donor nations (especially the U.S., which has paid for most of that special treatment from the beginning) to rescind that rule. About the same number of Jews were driven out of Moslem countries after 1948 and they were all accepted and absorbed by other nations, mainly Israel and the U.S. Since 1947 the number of Palestinian refugees has grown to five million and Arab states continue to refuse to absorb them. Many Palestinians have managed to find acceptance (and citizenship) in other nations (usually not Moslem majority ones) but few have renounced their rights as hereditary refugees. This situation was all about Arabs believing they had the right to decide who can live in Moslem territories and for them Israel was a major offense. This is nothing new. Moslems had been driving infidels out of Islamic nations for a long time. This has not worked with Israel and the Moslem world in general takes this as a great offense. That was the attitude for many decades but nothing changed. In the 1960s those Arab refugees rebranded themselves as Palestinians and began seeking what their Arab sponsors had promised them, a home of their own.

Since 2005 the Arab donors have become increasingly disenchanted with the Palestinians. Even by Middle Eastern standards the corruption, ineffective government, ingratitude and double dealing of the Palestinians had become intolerable. The Palestinians ignored years of warnings from their Arab backers after they failed to maintain a united Palestinian government. This wasted a lot of the Arab aid money and the corruption among Palestinian politicians became too obvious, excessive and embarrassing even for Arab backers, who had their own problems with corruption. This was compounded by the Palestinian inability to make peace with the Israelis, who had made lasting deals with Jordan and Egypt and unofficial ones with a growing number of other Arab states. Worse, the Palestinians were saying to their own people, and the Arab world, that they had no intention of making peace and were dedicated to destroying Israel. This was only said in Arabic and it was only a matter of time before these print, radio and TV pronouncements would be translated and become known to the rest of the world. That has happened in the last decade and now the Palestinians have few friends in the West except for anti-Semites and some leftist groups. Worse, there is less foreign aid, which is all that kept the Palestinian scams going. At this point the Palestinians have run out of affluent donors who are willing to give. The Palestinian leaders who ran this scam for decades have no easy (or safe, for themselves) way to change tactics without admitting responsibility for the mess. It used to be said that the Palestinian situation could not get worse but Palestinian leaders regularly defied that prediction and found a way to make things worse in ways no one expected.

ISIL In Egypt

The Egyptian government said it would eliminate ISIL in Sinai by May and the first of several major operations to make that happen began on the 9th and is still going. Efforts like this are expected to be common until the May deadline. So far the government reports three soldiers and over 60 Islamic terrorists killed and over 400 people arrested (including many wanted criminals who were not terrorists). Several hundred people were also detailed, questioned and released. Hundreds of locations were raided and 160 were destroyed when evidence of criminal or Islamic terrorist activity was found. Nearly 50 roadside and other bombs were encountered and defused or destroyed. Numerous vehicles were also seized or destroyed. Over a hundred weapons were seized, as well as over a ton of explosives and bomb making materials. At one location a well-equipped media center was found, examined and destroyed. While most of the operations were in northern Sinai, some were in the Western Desert (between the Nile River and the Libyan border) and the Nile River Valley (where most Egyptians live) itself.

Egyptian commanders caution that the Islamic terrorists and the criminal gangs they often work with, have been resourceful and these large scale operations do not capture or kill most of the people being sought. The Islamic terrorists and criminal gangs are usually prepared for raids with warning systems, escape routes and alternate hideouts. But if campaigns like this go on too long and too often the losses add up. This also persuades more Bedouin tribes to make deals with the government. The tribes do not want to lose the income from smuggling and other illegal activities but they are willing to turn on ISIL, even though these Islamic terrorists have proved that they will carry out revenge attacks. Such revenge efforts do not always succeed but when the do the tribes feel it.

Then there are the Israelis. It is no secret that Israel and Egypt quietly cooperate in fighting ISIL and Hamas. But there is also other forms of cooperation. For most of February Egypt has been denying reports (first published in the United States) that Israel has been quietly providing Egypt with air support since ISIL shot down a Russian airliner over Sinai in 2015. Even before that it was no secret that Egypt and Israel shared intel on matters of mutual interest (usually Islamic terrorism) and Israel did not object as Egypt more soldiers into Sinai in violation of the peace treaty between the two nations. But Israeli troops do not enter Egypt (although Mossad teams have done so a few time).

Most of the alleged air support was unmarked Israeli UAVs watching areas of mutual interest in northern Sinai. Israel has a lot more UAVs than Egypt and a lot more experience using them. But a hundred of these Israeli sorties are said to have involved firing missiles at ground targets. This could work because both Israel and Egypt buy guided missiles (like Hellfire) and smart bombs from the United States. Both nations use American aircraft (like the F-16 fighter and AH-64 helicopter gunships). Thus an Israeli F-16 or AH-64, operating at night with nationality symbols painted over, could slip across the border, hit a target and be back in Israeli air space in 10-15 minutes or less. The Egyptian Air Force often carried out these night operations but the story is Israel had unofficial permission to hit targets near the border if the alternative were for the enemy to escape. Egypt denied the allegations but many Egyptians shrugged and agreed that as long as it was unofficial and helped Egypt, so what.

ISIL is a major problem in both countries but the Israelis have managed to do a better job of suppressing ISIL. One reason for that is something older Egyptians remember. Israel was more successful governing Sinai (from 1967-82) than Egypt but that has been something Egypt was rarely willing to talk about. The Israelis always treated the Bedouin and Islamic outcasts like the Druze (from Syria) with more fairness than anyone else in the region. Although most Arabs in Arabia are Bedouin (or identify as such) outside of Arabia (especially in Egypt, Iraq and Syria) being seen as Bedouin was rarely a good thing.

The Israeli Bedouin, like the Druze, are subject to conscription in Israel and many make a career of the military or police service. Some of the Israeli Bedouin from the Negev (the desert area of southern Israel adjacent to Sinai) keep in touch with kin in Sinai just as Israeli Druze kept in touch with kin in Syria. These family links across borders are an ancient tradition in this part of the world because it can be a lifesaver in wartime. ISIL tried to force Sinai Bedouin to use their Bedouin connections in the Negev but got very little cooperation. The Sinai and Negev smugglers will cooperate, especially when it comes to getting drugs into Israel. A new border barrier has made smuggling illegal migrants into Israel nearly impossible. But information and small items can still get across the border and the Israelis will pay well for good intel on ISIL in Sinai. Israeli Bedouin broker those transactions and relevant data is passed on to the Egyptians.

It has already been noted that a growing number of ISIL members from Sinai (or points west like Syria and Iraq) are leaving the Sinai because of the growing military pressure from the security forces and the unofficial help from Israel. Despite that Egypt has become a favorite, if dangerous, route for ISIL survivors from Syria and Iraq to reach Libya. Added to this is the growing number of new ISIL recruits who deserted Hamas and other Islamic terror groups in Egypt to seek something more hard core. All this has brought hundreds of ISIL survivors to Sinai and other parts of Egypt looking for a new base area. They are not finding it in Sinai or western Egypt, where they are under constant attack and are heading for the Libyan border via the west Egypt desert between the Nile River and the Libyan border.

Meanwhile the major security operations in Sinai cause a lot of disruption for civilians. Thousands must flee their homes, usually only for hours, to escape the violence that often breaks out when troops encounter armed opposition. But these operations often include days, or more, of no cell phone or Internet access. The many road checkpoints slow delivery of consumer goods and more essential items (ambulances and medical supplies). Civilians are also vulnerable to being hurt by the security forces although that is rare now that everyone realizes mistakes like that have long term repercussions for the security forces. At the moment most civilians see ISIL as the bad guys but for many locals the security forces are a close second.

February 19, 2018: In response to a rocket attack from Gaza the night before Israel launched another round of attacks on Hamas facilities in Gaza. This time the airstrikes concentrated on the many tunnels and underground bunkers Hamas has built inside Gaza since 2014. Israel has an informant network inside Gaza that supplies information on tunnel and bunker location. Israel also has a new generation of sensors that can detect underground activity. The underground structures are very expensive to build and since Hamas wont enforce the ceasefire it has with Israel and halt the rocket attacks, Israel is going after one of the most valuable military assets.

Israel carried out another successful test of its Arrow 3 anti-missile missile.

February 18, 2018: Russian diplomats told Israel that Russia would support Israel if Iran attacked. However Russia was not convinced that Israel shooting down an Iranian UAV over Israel on the 10th was an Iranian attack. After all, Syria or Hezbollah (which Russia considers a Lebanese not an Iranian force) have been using Iranian UAVs for a long time. This was an example of how unreliable Russian support is. Other Middle Eastern allies of Russia, like Iran and Turkey, have noticed the same thing. Russia apparently also persuaded Israel to not destroy Iranian weapons (missile and rocket) factories in Syria and Lebanon after the February 10th incident where they destroyed an Iranian UAV that had entered Israeli air space. Israel and Russia are continually making deals involving decisions like this but in the end Israel will do what it has to do to defend itself and Russia openly acknowledges that.

In the south (Gaza) more rockets were fired from Gaza and one landed on a house in Sderot (the town closest to the border and too close for Iron Dome to protect). The building was damaged but there were no injuries.

February 17, 2018: Israel warplanes and ground forces hit 18 Hamas targets in Gaza, including one of their combat tunnels. This was in retaliation for a bomb that went off on the border, wounding four soldiers. The bomb was planted the day before using one of the many Hamas organized protest demonstrations at the border. These demonstrations are often used as cover for terror attacks. Later today an Israeli tank fired on four people in Gaza approaching the border fence with the intention of getting across. Two of the Palestinians were wounded. In a separate incident a rocket fired from Gaza damaged a home in an Israeli border village but caused no injuries. There were alerts for three other rocket attacks but in those cases nothing landed in Israel.

February 15, 2018: Israel has revealed details of Hamas operations in Turkey, which are apparently carried out with the knowledge of Turkish intelligence. The Turks have been working more closely with Hamas in the last year or so and allowed Hamas to openly solicit cash and recruits in Turkey. In January Israel arrested a Turkish citizen and an Israeli Arab who was working with the Turk.

In Egypt, near the Libyan border Egyptian F-16s attacked and destroyed ten 4x4 vehicles from Libya that were trying to move weapons and ammunition into Egypt. The F-16s can operate at night and that has made it possible for more of these attacks to take place. Some of these convoys get in but a growing number are detected and destroyed. The smugglers raise their prices and if they still have customers the convoys keep coming.

February 14, 2018: Israel was apparently able to call in some favors in Jordan and Syria to have wreckage of Syrian S-200 anti-aircraft missiles (fired at Israeli F-16s on the 10th) collected and taken to the Israeli border where Israeli agents took over and moved the missile wreckage into Israel for examination. The Syrian use of S-200s on the 10th was not unusual and it consisted of firing a large (several dozen) number of missiles at the F-16s. Israel has provided supplies and emergency medical care for many Syrian civilians living near the border and established contacts on the Syrian side.

February 12, 2018: In Egypt the government hosted another round of unification talks between the two Palestinian factions. This unification effort by Fatah (which runs the West Bank) and Hamas is a sham, as Egypt well knows because they have been hosting the unification talks for a long time. Hamas is apparently waiting for the current Fatah leader to die of old age and then participate in elections they believe they can win one way or another. Israel wants to prevent this and Egypt agrees that Hamas has to go. In this they have the help of the United States and most Arab states in the region. Europe is divided on this issue and Iran sees it as an opportunity. This has produced some unusual behavior of late but the unification meetings continue as it provides a means for Egypt, Hamas and Fatah to catch up on changes of mutual interest.

February 10, 2018: In southern Syria (Golan Heights and Israel border) an Israeli F-16I was shot down by a Russian made Syrian S-200 (SA-5) surface to air missile. This was but on part of a very complex day. It began when an Iranian Saeqeh UAV (launched from an Iranian base in central Syria) entered Israeli air space and was shot down 90 seconds later. The Iranian UAV was a large, batwing design based on an American RQ-170 American UAV the Iranians captured intact after it came down in Iran. Israel used a helicopter (AH-64) launched Spike missile to bring down the Iranian UAV. An airstrike also attacked the vehicle carrying the ground control gear for the Saeqeh UAV. The RQ-170 was designed to be stealthy but apparently the Iranian clones are easily detected by the Israelis, or at least that is the impression the Israelis are giving the Iranians. In addition it was later revealed that it was equipment failure on the Israeli F-16I that enabled the S-200 missile to get close enough to the F-16 that the S-200 warhead explosion damaged the F-16 and prompted the crew to bail out. The F-16 equipment failure apparently limited the ability of the pilot to perform the maneuvers F-16Is use, in addition to electronic countermeasures, rapid maneuvers to avoid being hit by S-200 missiles. This was obvious to observers on the ground who could see that a nearby F-16I made the prescribed dive to avoid the S-200 while the downed F-16 did not.

The eight F-16Is had been sent to hit the Iranian base the UAV came from, especially the operations center for the larger Iranian UAVs operating over Syria. This facility was destroyed and some Iranians were killed. This operation also attacked the UAV control vehicle closer to the Golan Heights. Israeli warplanes had dealt with the SA-5 for years and could destroy all the Syrian SA-5 launchers and radars. But Israel had an understanding with Russia, a nation that was something of a frenemy in Syria and the Russians wanted the SA-5s left alone. Even though the SA-5s were older tech they still posed some risk to Israeli (and American) warplanes and that is what happened to the F-16I today. The aircraft crashed on the Israeli side of the border and the crew of two safely ejected. Israel then prepared to carry out their plan to destroy the Syrian air defense system when the Russian leader called the Israeli leader and asked that the Israeli attack be put on hold. Given the relationship Israel and Russia had developed over many decades, Israel agreed. But now the Russians owed Israel a favor and the Israelis consider that another weapon to use against the Iranian threat in Syria.

The Syrians know their Russian made SA-5s missiles are not very effective against Western fighters and have adopted tactics involve firing a lot of these missiles a at Israeli jets and hope they get lucky. Today it did. The SA-5 is a 1960s design that Russia has updated and Syria received the latest S-200 version of the missile in 2010. This seven ton missile has a range of 300 kilometers but Israel has apparently developed effective countermeasures. In 2016 Russia sent in an SA-10 (S-300) anti-aircraft system to protect their troops in Syria and then upgraded that with SA-12 (S-400).

February 9, 2018: In Egypt (Sinai) the security forces began another major campaign against ISIL.

February 8, 2018: In the north (Golan Heights) some gunfire from Syria hit a village on the Israeli side of the border. There were no injuries and the Israelis decided it was not deliberate and did not return fire.

In north, off the coast near the Lebanese border, patrol boats fired on two large buoys floating into Israeli waters from Lebanon. The buoys were fired on in case they were equipped with explosives and meant to be another attempt to carry out a terror attack in Israel. The buoys turned out to be unarmed.

Egypt and UAE have again gone public with their support for Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah el Sisi, a former general who is running for reelection next month had has blocked all major opponents one way or another. Egypt and UAE had subsidized Egypt since Sisi took over in 2014 and helped him survive the damage to the economy the current outbreak of Islamic terrorism has caused.

February 7, 2018: In the north, across the border in Syria the government claims that Israeli aircraft in Lebanon fired missiles at a research center outside Damascus. Syria claim they shot some of the missiles. Israel did not comment, which is typical. Other witnesses report the missiles hit a new Iranian base near the Jamraya research center which specializes in weapons development.

February 5, 2018: In the West Bank a Palestinian walked up to an Israeli rabbi and stabbed him multiple times. The victim later died of his wounds. Israeli soldiers recognized the killer and the search continues. This is the second such death this year. Fatah and Hamas continue to call on Palestinians to try to kill Israelis any way they can, even if the effort is seemingly suicidal. Many of the attacks do prove to be suicidal with five to ten Palestinians dying for each Israeli murdered. Thousands more Palestinians are arrested.

February 4, 2018: In Egypt (Sinai) a roadside bomb as used to attack an army bus. This left two soldiers and a civilian dead and five wounded.

February 3, 2018: In the north, across the border in Lebanon Hezbollah had bought at least 40 hectares (100 acres) in a largely Druze are of southern Lebanon. Israel has a large Druze minority and Hezbollah is apparently going to build rocket storage bunkers on this land believing that Israel would be less likely to attack it.

January 31, 2018: Israeli warplanes attacked an ISIL base in southern Syria near Daraa city. There were ten deaths on the ground including two wives of ISIL members.

The United States designated Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh as a terrorist. Two groups (one in Egypt the other in Gaza) were also designated as terrorists.

January 28, 2018: In the south Israel sized chemical used to make explosives found hidden in a shipment of medical supplies headed for Gaza. Israel did this in part because least year a chemical testing lab was built near the Gaza Kerem Shalom crossing so that suspicious chemicals could be quickly tested.

January 26, 2018: Iran is calling for a military coalition with Iraq and Pakistan to oppose American expansion in the region. Iraq is not interested and Pakistan quietly pointed out that it is on very good terms with Saudi Arabia, an ally of the United States and now Israel as well.
Former president General (retired) Pervez Musharraf on Monday claimed that Shehbaz Sharif could prove to be a better prime minister than his brother and deposed premier Nawaz Sharif.

In an interview to a private television channel, Musharraf advised the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) president to end his career in politics.

Predicting Maryam Nawaz's future in politics, the former president claimed that her future was bleak.

"Her [Maryam's] own party will not accept her as a politician," he said, adding, "Her political future is hopeless."

In a comment on the country's political situation, Musharraf said that under the present circumstances, the ruling party will be elected in the centre in the upcoming elections, while the Pakistan Peoples Party will form the government in Sindh.

The former president is facing a treason trial for clamping emergency in the country on November 3, 2007. He was barred from travelling abroad after his name was placed on the exit control list (ECL) on April 5, 2013.

However, he had left for Dubai on March 16, 2016, hours after the interior ministry issued a notification to remove his name from the ECL. He had stated that he was going abroad to get "medical treatment of a decade-old illness which has now developed several complications."

In his interview, Musharraf said that he was likely to come back to Pakistan after the tenure of the present PML-N government ends.

'MQM does not fit in my vision'

Refuting rumours of joining Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), the former president said that his vision was broad and the party did not fit into it.

"To think MQM-P is the representative of muhajirs is a shallow notion," he said.

Taking a jibe at the splinter groups of MQM-P, Musharraf said that none of the party's factions possess the required leadership quality.

"Dr Farooq Sattar lacks leadership qualities and the public welfare mindset and so does Mustafa Kamal," he said, referring to the MQM-P's disputed chief and Pak Sarzameen Party's head.

He also criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan for lacking vision.

"Imran also does not have a vision, but he has a charming personality."
After meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Khawaja Asif said that terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan pose threat to Pakistan and Russia.

During the briefing, he said that Pakistan cannot fight wars of others on its soil."

There is a terrible situation in Afghanistan, he added while stressing concerns on the presence of the Islamic State and growing trade of poppy. He reaffirmed that the solution of the problem is in talks, and not a military operation.

Asif lauded the role of both Pakistan and Russia in fighting terrorism.

The Pakistani foreign minister Asif reached Russia on a four-day visit where he was invited by his Russian counterpart. Both leaders met in Moscow and briefed the media persons after the meeting.

The leadership from Pakistan and Russia discussed current state of bilateral relations and prospects for their development as well as to exchange opinions on topical issues on the international and regional agenda, according to the Russian embassy in Islamabad.

The visit would provide opportunity to explore ways and means to further strengthen cooperation in political, economic, trade and investment, defence, education and cultural fields.

Russia enjoys a special place in Pakistans foreign policy. The relations between the two countries have been growing steadily in all fields. Regular high level exchanges between the two countries in the last few years is a manifestation of mutual desire of both sides for translating political good will into a substantive and multidimensional partnership.

The two countries are also celebrating the 70th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations this year.
Rescue teams and locals have conducted a second day of search for an Iranian airliner which went missing in bad weather in snow-capped mountains in southwest Iran Sunday morning.

They resumed their operations before dawn Monday and have now outlined the search for the ill-fated plane which authorities say crashed and killed 66 people on board, Fars news agency said.

A relative improvement in weather conditions allowed helicopters and drones to fly over the extremely mountainous area which features some 100 peaks higher than 4,000 meters (13,000 feet). However, blizzard conditions are forecast to return around noon, the agency said.

The Aseman Airlines ATR-72 plane, a twin-engine turboprop used for short-haul regional flight, was traveling from the capital Tehran to the southwestern city of Yasuj. It is believed to have crashed into Mount Dena in the Zagros mountain range, some 390 miles south of the capital.

The plane disappeared from radar screens 50 minutes after taking off from Mehrabad airport which mainly handles domestic flights.

Air controllers say the pilot had not reported any problems in his last contact with the tower 14 miles from the airport. According to airplane-tracking website FlightRadar24, the planes last signal at 0555 GMT showed it at 16,975 feet and descending.

Emergency workers have had to get to the remote area by land amid dense fog, high winds and heavy snow which have hampered search and rescue operations.

As many as 26 teams of mountain climbers were scouring valleys, slopes and ridges on Monday in the hope of finding the debris.

"The visibility in the defined search area is not very good and there is turbulence, so safety concerns must be taken into account," Morteza Dehghan of the Civil Aviation Organization told state television.
The New Zealand Defence Force and GNS Science are joining forces to map the seafloor off the Bay of Plenty coast to better define volcanic structures on and under the seafloor.

The survey, which will use the Royal New Zealand Navys inshore patrol vessel Hawea, aims to help improve the understanding of the offshore extension of the Taupo Volcanic Zone as it heads northeast from the Bay of Plenty coast.

The NZDF has a longstanding relationship with national scientific bodies and this period of support to GNS Science is a continuation of that relationship, says Hawea commanding officer Lieutenant Brock West.

We recognise that this scientific survey is valuable and we are pleased that we can help enable it.

The survey area will cover about 30,000 square kilometres and extend between East Cape and Coromandel Peninsula and out as far as White Island, 48km from the coast  an area equivalent in size to the province of Otago.

The 10-day project will augment the seafloor bathymetry of the region that has been collected in recent years, mostly by NIWA.

Scientists will use special instruments to collect gravity and magnetic measurements that can clearly recognise geological features such as lavas and volcanic rocks on and under the seafloor.

Commonly these structures can be buried by sediments or obscured by faults and other seafloor structures.

A magnetometer will be towed behind the ship and a gravimeter will collect measurement from a fixed position inside the ship. Both instruments are owned by GNS Science.

GNS Science project leader Cornel de Ronde says the survey will greatly enhance the understanding of the volcanic history of the offshore region.

Over many years scientists have made detailed observations and measurements of subsurface volcanic structures right up to the Bay of Plenty coast.

But the area between the coast and White Island is pretty much a void in scientific terms. We are very grateful to the NZDF for offering their support to remedy this.

Cornel says the end result will be a detailed geophysical map showing seafloor geophysical structures.
Statistics New Zealand is about to look into housing in the country, by inspecting the age stage and characteristics of hundreds of New Zealand homes.

In addition, this years General Social Survey will ask participants in at least 400 homes to take part in a physical assessment of their house undertaken by an independent, trained assessor.

The one-hour assessment, which is voluntary, will collect data on the house itself, including things like building size, insulation and heating, as well as the general condition.

Assessors will just be looking - they wont need to poke into walls or disturb the house or contents in any way to get the information they need, says household surveys future development manager Calli Seedall.

We often hear about damp, cold homes that can put the health of New Zealanders at risk. The information gathered in the GSS and housing assessments will increase understanding of housing quality in New Zealand.

The General Social Survey is undertaken every two years and asks questions about the well-being of thousands of New Zealanders.

Hundreds of homes will be assessed as part of the nationwide survey on housing quality.

People renting and owner-occupiers will be invited to take part in the physical-house assessments, but all individual information will be completely anonymised.

Researchers and policy makers will be able to see the overall results of the assessments, but they wont know who owns or rents any given home represented in the data, says Calli.

The individual inspection results and temperature readings will not be used for compliance purposes by any agency.

This survey is a collaboration between agencies. The physical housing assessment survey is jointly funded by independent building research organisation BRANZ and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment MBIE.

Land Information NZ LINZ are working with BRANZ to design the digital tool that will be used for the assessments and Otago School of Medicine are also supporting temperature taking at all homes included in this years GSS.

The 2018 General Social Survey will run from April 2018 to March 2019, with initial results due out later in 2019.

The upcoming census on 6 March 2018 will include new questions on mouldy homes. See Census will take stock of our mouldy homes.
Comedian and mental health educator Mike King is bringing the I AM HOPE TOUR to Tauranga to address youth suicide by shedding the stigma associated with it, and empowering communities to connect with their youth who are struggling.

As part of the four-week campaign, Mike and seven others will ride Suzuki 50cc bikes from Cape Reinga to Bluff, to raise awareness, encourage openness and to listen without judgment when others come to them seeking help.

The eight positive mental health advocates will scoot off March 1, travelling more than 4000 kilometres and visiting more than 50 towns.

Mike will give public talks to engage, activate and motivate hundreds of thousands of people to act when they see someone struggling by encouraging building trust and how to deal with someone who isnt coping.

Mike says his success in addressing the unacceptably high rate of suicide in New Zealand is due to his unorthodox method of opening up and connecting emotionally with young people exposed to its highest risk, making the topic more accessible.

We can help our young people when they feel like theyve hit rock bottom. By listening to them without judgment, without perpetuating the old Kiwi toughen up mate attitude, we can show them its ok to feel down, lonely, and sad, but that theres a light at the end of tunnel, there is hope.

Our youth want to feel connected, understood and not judged. We know that shame is a huge factor in talking about depression and mental illness. Were here to say there is no shame in battling mental illness and many people suffer from it, but something can be done about it. We can help our young people by showing them that we care, and were there.

We are here to empower them by stripping away shame from their thoughts and feelings, and letting them know they can make it through.

I AM HOPE is conceptualised as a wrist band to signal that the wearer is a safe person to talk to, to encourage young people or people struggling internally, to verbalise their struggles with somebody they feel safe with, in a bid to ease the pressure of withholding the pain and prevent self-harm.

It is designed to break down one of the most significant barriers for those with any level of depression, especially teenagers.

Famous Kiwi artists such as Mr G (real name Graeme Hoete), Dick Frizzell and Otis Frizzell have painted the campaign scooters, each depicting their own interpretations of the I AM HOPE message.

Leading life insurance and wealth management company AMP Financial Services is proud to be partnering with the Key to Life Trust and to be getting behind the I AM HOPE TOUR to help Mike spread his message of hope in schools and communities across New Zealand. I AM HOPE is also supported by Suzuki, Trailerworld, and other businesses.

Local community groups and service providers wanting to be involved in the tour are encouraged to get in touch via iamhope@keytolife.com.

What: I AM HOPE Free Public Talk

When: March 26, 7pm

Where: Baycourt Community & Art Centre
Locals and visitors to Tauranga will have the chance to see seven outstanding and 100 per cent Kiwi-made shows staged across three venues in the city with the Arts On Tour programme.

Baycourt Presents is proudly bringing seven diverse, high-quality and enthralling Arts On Tour NZ Trust shows to Taurangas Baycourt X Space, The Historic Village Hall and 16th Ave Theatre, from March 31 to November 23.

Of the seven shows, two will be performed at The Historic Village (The Messy Magic Show, Seven Deadly Stunts), three at 16th Ave Theatre (Olive Copperbottom, Seed, No Holds Bard), and two in the Baycourt X Space (Hopetoun Brown and the genius of Finn Scholes, Adam McGrath and The Roaring Days).

Baycourt Manager Megan Peacock Coyle says they are over the moon to be partnering with The Historic Village and 16th Ave Theatre to deliver the seven Arts on Tour NZ shows in Tauranga this year.

The performing arts are meant to be shared and that is why collaborating with The Historic Village and 16th Ave Theatre is so exciting. Its great to be working with other venues who share Baycourts passion for the performing arts.

Arts on Tour NZ in Tauranga aims to deliver the highest quality Kiwi-made shows direct to peoples doorsteps in order to make them accessible to everyone, and this collaboration will certainly help us achieve that goal.

Because Baycourt Presents are bringing the works to Tauranga, she says keeping prices affordable for patrons was a top priority and tickets range from $15 to $24.90 (plus booking fees) for all seven shows.

On top of this, Baycourts also created two special ticket deals to give people more bang for their buck  the Go Fourth & Prosper deal (buy tickets to three shows and choose a fourth show for free) and the Six Show Stunner (buy tickets to six shows for $99.00 plus booking fees  or $16.50 per show).

This year we have some of the finest Kiwi actors, musicians and performers coming to Tauranga to entertain us. All of these performers are award-winners in their individual fields whove stunned and wowed audiences up and down Aotearoa for many years, and all of these shows are worth the price of admission and much, much more, says Meagan.

Put it this way: the cost of an adult ticket is less than buying two craft beers and a bowl of chips from the pub, and I guarantee you, an Arts on Tour NZ in Tauranga show is way more enjoyable, tastes a hell of lot better, and wont leave you feeling horrible in the morning!

Historic Village Manager Blair Graham says having seven Kiwi-made shows of such a high calibre come to Tauranga is something quite special.

Were excited to be working closely with Baycourt Presents to host these two fantastic shows here in the villages hall, and were really thrilled people will also have the opportunity to see what The Historic Village has to offer as part of this tour.

16th Ave Theatre President Sarah Oemcke says 2018 promises to be an exciting year for theatre in Tauranga.

16th Ave Theatre is proud to be working with Baycourt to host three of the seven Arts on Tour productions coming to Tauranga this year. We love that Tauranga is expanding its cultural offering and providing an exciting programme of performances.

Every year the Arts on Tour NZ Trust, a community-focused touring agency with a high level of professional expertise, send some of the best Kiwi actors and musicians to perform at smaller centres across Aotearoa.

Along with entertaining Kiwis from all walks of life, Arts on Tour NZ also aims to build a community through the performing arts by linking people and places, ideas and identities, artists and audiences.

For more information visit the Baycourt website www.baycourt.co.nz or to purchase tickets visit the Ticketek website www.ticketek.co.nz or call 0800 TICKETEK.
Former TECT trustees have come out both for and against the proposal to scrap the TECT cheque, while submissions on the proposal have exceeded 2000.

In a letter distributed to TECT, Trustpower, and local media, former trustees Bruce Cronin, Michael Cooney, and Ken Collings expressed their belief the current trustees would be failing their fiduciary duty to consumers if they proceeded with the proposal.

Bruce, who chose not to run for re-election in 2016 after 20 years as a trustee, says he would never have agreed to this proposal.

The trust was set up to benefit consumers, and its worked pretty much that way for the last 25 years.

The trustees were elected to protect the interests of the consumers, and they are not. To put it bluntly, they are stealing assets from the consumers to put into a charitable trust, and are paying out a pittance of what those assets are worth.

However, former trustee Frances Denz sees the proposal as protecting the best of TECT against the winds of change.

She believes as Trustpower has evolved beyond being a local company solely providing electricity services, TECT cheques are going to different customers from those envisaged by the deed (such as those receiving gas and internet services).

TECT has also changed. It does not rely solely on Trustpower for income anymore having sold a lot of shares some time ago, she says.

We were always worried the good times for the dividends might slow at some stage because the dividend stream from Trustpower to TECT wasnt under TECTs control, but rather a Wellington investment company, Infratil, which gets over half of Trustpower profits.

She says if Infratil was to sell its shares to another shareholder that wanted Trustpower to turn into more of a telephone company, for instance, then dividends might slow or cease to enable the necessary investment.

Then the TECT benefit to the community would also stop.

She suggests Trustpower reduce their prices by around 20 per cent for Tauranga customers if the proposal goes through, to account for the lost TECT cheque. She also hopes the new charitable trust doesnt become a plaything of the big boys in town.

Currently the TECT Deed says that no elected member of local government or employee of local government may be a trustee of TECT. This was a wise condition to ensure local politicians did not meddle.

I would like to keep that criteria and also extend it so that no trustee of any other funder may be a TECT trustee. This will ensure that any applications are independently examined and we dont have a cabal of grey men in suits controlling all charitable funds in the area. TECTs funds are huge. We must keep them safe for the ordinary person to benefit.

TECT chair Bill Holland says Bruce and other former trustees are perfectly entitled to comment against the proposal.

I would note its at odds with former chairs Noel Pope and Jan Beange, both former mayors of Tauranga, who have both written letters of support for this proposal.

He says if everyone who provided feedback was opposed to the proposal, then there would be no need for a vote.

But weve had many people writing in support of the proposal. As of last Friday when we had 2000 submissions, the clear majority was in support.

I dont doubt there will be more who disagree coming in, but once the submissions close we will consider what people have said in regards to whether we modify the proposal that we put forward to a vote.

THE LEGALITIES OF THE PROPOSAL

Questions have also been raised about how much money has been spent on legal advice by the trustees in preparing the proposal.

Theyve spent all this money on getting legal opinions, and I believe they should make those opinions public, because theyve used beneficiaries money to get those opinions, says Bruce.

But the trustees are adamant theyre not going to do that.

When SunLive asked Bill how much the trustees had spent seeking legal advice, he said he honestly didnt know.

In response to Bruces comment, Bill says the trustees also had to pay for legal advice on whether they were required to tell beneficiaries about the legal advice they took.

The question is: what information is a beneficiary entitled to? A fundamental thing to consider is what the person is seeking the information for. Is it because the trustees are being lax or deceptive?

He says initial proposal would have modified the existing trust, but lawyers suggested that couldnt be done.

Our legal advice said we could do it, which we had peer-reviewed by another high level law firm at great expense, and they said yes, although they were more equivocal.

Then Trustpower went to Russell McVeagh who said it couldnt possibly be done. That was around a year ago.

The trustees then adjusted the proposal to its current form, which Bill says effectively winds up the consumer trust, and focuses entirely on the charitable trust that already exists.

If there is a power in the trust deed to vary the trust, you can do so. Clearly in the TECT Trust Deed, there is the power to vary the terms. But overriding that, and not written into the deed, is the substratum principle, which means you cant change the trust radically beyond the scope of original trusts purpose, says Bill.

Russell McVeagh alleged our first course of action would breach the substratum of the trust, but our current proposal does not. If anyone broke the substratum rule, it was the trustees who established the charitable trust 12 years ago.

The TECT Trust Deed, which can be read here, outlines the powers of the trustees, and includes the option of distributing dividends for the benefits of consumers as cash payments, as well as goods and services, or as funding for community initiatives likely to benefit consumers.

Submissions on the TECT proposal close at 4pm on March 1, and can be made by eligible consumers via the TECT website.
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In todays weather forecast we are expecting morning cloud clearing to a fine day and some westerlies.

Its a one-clothing layer day today with a high of 25 and an overnight low of 17 degrees. Humidity is 84 per cent.

High tide is at 11.30am and low tide at 5.50pm. Theres a sea swell of 0.6m, sea temperature is 21 degrees and sunset tonight is at 8.04pm.

If youre going fishing today, the best fish bite time is between 4.30 and 6.30pm.

This day in NZ history in 1879 was the Kaitangata mining disaster.

On the morning of 21 February 1879, an explosion rocked the coalmine at Kaitangata, South Otago. Thirty-four miners died.

In world history on this day in 1775 as troubles with Great Britain increased, colonists in Massachusetts voted to buy military equipment for 15,000 men. In 1797 Trinidad, West Indies surrendered to the British.

In 1878 the worlds first telephone book was issued by the New Haven Connecticut Telephone Company containing the names of its 50 subscribers. In 1885 the Washington Monument was dedicated in Washington, D.C. On this day in 1940, the Germans began construction of a concentration camp at Auschwitz.

In 1972 Richard Nixon arrived in Beijing, China, in becoming the first U.S. president to visit a country not diplomatically recognized by the United States.

Today is the birthday of author and humorist Erma Bombeck. Born in 1927 Erma who wrote the book The Grass is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank, also said "When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, I used everything you gave me."

To check out whats on today, please go to our Whats on page.

Have a great day!
From the 23rd to 25th of February, Cambridge students will be hosting the acclaimed Watersprite Film Festival. Today, we talk with the Festival director, Benedict Welch, a finalist of Jesus College studying English.

To start off, can you give us a brief run down of what the festival is

Watersprite is an international film festival, which happens over a weekend in Lent term. Its run by students from Cambridge and ARU for students across the world. Theres two halves to it. The first is a film competition, in which student filmmakers enter their short films. The second half is our incredible range of events that happen across the weekend aimed at helping students and young people get into the film world. We try and have really practical sessions and more open-ended discussion panels delivered by people at the top of the film industry. Most of the events are held at St Johns Old Divinity School, while our screenings are at Kings College. We also have an exciting Open Film Studio event at Michaelhouse chapel.

Tell us more about the films nominated this year  how does the selection process work?

This year 29 films were nominated. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors were able to bring all of the nominated filmmakers to Cambridge for the Festival. We have filmmakers coming from Russia, the Philippines, Brazil, Denmark, Germany, and the U.S.  to name a few. The films are always outstanding, with many going on to prestigious prizes at other festivals; some have won and go on to win BAFTAs too. So we really do represent the best young film talent in the world. The films are a brilliant mix: from really intimate and illuminating documentaries, to really funny and unbelievably clever animations  theres really something to everyones taste.

A lot of Cambridge students are interested in film production or similar fields  is there anything at the festival for them?

Yes! Watersprite is designed for young people. We have a whole host of events planned that really get down to the nitty gritty of film finance, of pitching ideas, of film scoring. Were also hosting a panel about Fox Networks Group first ever Europe/U.K. TV series commission Deep State which will be about how to develop initial ideas into a script into a whole TV series.

What would you say are some highlights to look forward to here?

Were hosting the acclaimed director Mike Leigh at our Opening Gala event on Friday night which is very exciting! Its going to be a fascinating interview from a BAFTA winner and Oscar nominated film director  a definite must for any young people interested in getting into film.

We also have several panels on representation in film, hosted by CUSU Womens Officer, Lola Olufemi. Were also hosting the BAFTA-winning documentary My Son the Jihadi; contributors from the documentary will be there talking about how it changed their lives and how the filming process went.

Theres also our Open Film Studio event which is being sponsored by the prestigious camera makers ARRI. A student film crew is being tasked to make a film in 24 hours, so its going to be amazing to see what they come up with.

Is the event exclusively for people interested in film production? Or is there something people interested in acting, music or behind-the-scenes can participate in/learn from as well?

Theres really something for everyone. If you love just watching film, then you can head to one  or all  of our film screenings, each of which is centred on a different theme. At the screenings youll also be able to hear from the filmmakers themselves in Q&A discussion panels and get your questions about making films while being a student answered. We also have an event on film-scoring, which sees the culmination of another competition we launched this year. Well have experts in film scoring talk about what makes a good score as they give live feedback for some of the best submissions we received. If you want something really interactive then you can head to our Watersprite Hub which is sponsored by Mesmerise at Johns Old Divinity School and immerse yourself in Virtual Reality games.

How can tickets be purchased? Is there a day pass or tickets for certain events?

The best part is everything is completely free. All the events and screenings cost absolutely nothing. All you need to do is head to our Evenbrite page to reserve a free ticket.

For the future, how can students get involved in the competition itself?

If you have a film to submit, our submissions will open in July for the 2019 festival. Films have to be a maximum of 20 minutes long and you must be a student when you made the film. All the requirements will be put on our website in the very near future.

Well also be looking for a brand new committee too to organise the 2019 Festival, which also happens to be the Festivals 10th anniversary. Keep your eyes peeled for information on applying  its an absolutely fantastic opportunity to learn more about events organising, marketing, and, naturally, the professional film industry.

Is there any website that you would recommend for people who want to get to know the festival a bit better?

Of course! Head to www.watersprite.org.uk for our full schedule and head to our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to follow coverage of the weekend itself.
With Mobile World Congress almost here, we're looking forward to seeing a slew of new handsets being unveiled at Barcelona. While Samsungs Galaxy S9 is getting most of the attention, it seems Sony will be announcing a new flagship device, too, and one with a major design overhaul.

The Japanese electronics giant is one of several companies holding a dedicated press event at the conference. Were expecting to see it announce three new successors to last years Xperia XZ1 series: the Xperia XZ2, Xperia XZ2 Pro, and the Xperia XZ2 Compact.

In the runup to the event, Sony has just released a teaser video on Twitter that confirms the February 26 date. It also suggests that the company is moving away from its traditionally boxy, angular handsets and is now embracing curved designs.

While last year's 4K-capable Xperia XZ Premium received plenty of praise from most reviewers, its design felt outdated at a time when minimum bezels and all-screen handsets were becoming the standard for flagships. It seems Sony might now be catching up with the rest of the pack.

Being a teaser, the video doesnt give much away; we dont even see a hint of an actual phone. Instead, we get an open hand and some curved waves falling into the outstretched palm. While it could be a reference to haptic feedback or even sound waves, the most likely conclusion is that Sonys new phones will feature curves in one form or another. Well just have to wait and see how theyve been implemented.

Late last year, Sonys managing director for India, Kenichiro Hibi, said that the company is planning to launch [a] new generation of products, and you can expect a complete new design from the devices. It looks as if the XZ2 series will be the first of this new generation.

The Sony Xperia XZ2 Pro is expected to be the first phone to feature a 5.7-inch 4K OLED display with an 18:9 aspect ratio. It's also said to have 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage and, like the other two new XZ2 handsets, be powered by the Snapdragon 845 processor.
What started out as an idea to prevent the ever increasing amount of electronics ending up in landfills has gotten Eric Lundgren into a tight spot. His company takes in and handles over 41 million pounds of electronic waste products annually. Unfortunately for Lundgren, Microsoft disagreed with his practices to attempt to extend the life of PCs.

Lundgren created around 28,000 discs with the Windows operating system burned onto them so it would be easier for consumers to make use of recycled products. Duplicating thousands of discs has resulted in sentencing Lundgren to 15 months in prison and also a $50,000 fine. However, a federal appeals court is allowing a review on the grounds that it may be a misunderstanding.

Restore discs are commonly provided to consumers when purchasing a computer from an OEM so that if something goes wrong, the software can be restored without too much hassle. Lundgren did not deny that he planned to sell his homemade restore discs nor that he burned thousands of them. He believes that owners should have easy access to needed software and maintains that he is not trying to offer illegal software to anyone without a valid license.

One major issue with Lundgren's business venture is that Dell and Microsoft logos were used on the duplicated discs to replicate the restore discs that Dell hands out with many systems. Whether or not his practices of duplication are legal, using corporate logos on duplicated discs without permission is a red flag.

Clearly, prosecutors have different views than Lundgren. Florida courts provided an indictment with 21 counts against the duplication practices. Microsoft sent in a letter asking for $420,000 as damages to lost sales. So far, Lundgren and his business partner have not been ordered to pay any damages because no discs were actually sold.

As the story unfolds, Lundgren will have to appeal before the 11th Circuit courts in attempt to remain out of further trouble. While attempts to reduce waste and extend the life of electronics is generally accepted as a noble cause, the same licensing rules still apply.

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Zachariah Barker says his aim is to teach children to understand the truths about life.

Just weeks into his first full-time teaching role, has his sights set on ambitious goals at Waverley Christian College in Victorias Narre Warren South.

The aim across the whole college is not only to teach students the specific lesson content, but rather to equip children to understand the truths about life, the world and their place in it, he says.

Barker says he has chosen to teach at a Christian school because his faith is fundamental in everything he does.

Having the ability to apply my personal beliefs in a classroom setting only enhances my teaching ability, he says. The care for students goes far beyond the classroom setting and ultimately focuses on a student becoming the best person they can be.
Tim Brown has been teaching people to meditate for 18 years.

Meditation teacher Tim Brown knows as well as anybody that its hardly ever just folk in Thai fisherman pants who meditate.

Brown says the mainstreaming of the practice is reflected in his eclectic client base.

Among the thousands of people hes instructed, the time he spent teaching at Long Bay Jail is one experience that quickly comes to mind.

It was disquieting to arrive at the jail, Brown explains, but the prison was receptive and the experience was a success.

An inmate Brown taught ultimately received a reduced sentence for good behaviour and his meditation practices were credited for helping the outcome.
Aggressive South African-backed property player, Growthpoint Properties, is eyeing recent stock market volatility for merger opportunities after announcing a stellar half-year statutory profit of $207.3 million.

Growthpoint sold Woolworths Mulgrave distribution centre.

Growthpoint recorded its best half-year earnings per security of 31.3 cents since its inception after receiving a boost from several profitable property sales, strong underlying income and revaluation gains across its portfolio.

Funds from operations - the industrys preferred measure for earnings - were 12.5 cents per security, down 1.5 per cent on the previous period, a result flagged to the market that still came in slightly ahead of analysts expectations.

We had a big one-off boost and subsequently we sold some assets and lowered gearing. The combination of those things, which we did flag, meant a one-off higher result which couldnt be maintained, managing director Tim Collyer said.
Investa Office will focus on development of existing assets and leasing opportunities to achieve its guidance for the full year of two per cent net income growth.

In the first six months of the 2018 financial year, the office-focused fund reported a 2.7 per cent rise in funds from operations (FFO), which is considered a more accurate measure for real estate investment trusts, compared to the previous corresponding period.

This portfolio like-for-like FFO growth of 5.1 per cent to $92.9 million together with a 2.5 per cent buy-back of units undertaken during the period were contributors to the result, while the divestment of two non-core assets in early 2017 had a moderating effect.

Investa Office $110 million office tower at 151 Clarence Street, known as Barrack Place. Image supplied.

The statutory net profit was $151.2 million, being 32.5 per cent lower than the previous corresponding period due to the asset sales.
Point Property Group has acquired a vacant industrial site at 28-44 Albert Street for $8.61 million, setting a new high land rate for the suburb of $633 per square metre. CBREs Dean Hunt, Daniel Eramo and Guy Naselli said Point intended to develop the 13,590 sqm, Industrial 3 Zone property, into a high tech business park.

Shops on bustling inner-city Brunswick Street are setting strong floor rates. A 95 sqm ground floor space at 360A Brunswick Street sold for $15,260 per sqm in a deal by Fitzroys Ervin Niyaz and David Bourke. The shop fetched $1.45 million on a yield of 5.3 per cent. It sold with a 5+5-year lease to convenience store Select 7, returning $77,000 per annum plus outgoings.

Moorabbin

A 1330 sqm factory on a 1732 sqm site at 19-21 Bignell Road has sold on a sharp 3.65 per cent yield for $2.3 million in an off-market deal brokered by Teska Carsons George Takis. The property sold with a three year lease in place returning $84,000 per annum net. Mr Takis said five bidders pushed the price $350,000 above the vendors reserve.

Altona

Hi-Tec Oil Traders Pty Ltd have purchased the 2,300 sqm building they are leasing at Unit 1, 41- 45 Burns Road. CVAs Leo Mancino and Ian Angelico said Hi-Tec exercised an option under their lease to acquire the eight-year-old office/warehouse for $2.25 million. Hi-Tec is a Sydney-based oil distribution company which has expanded to Melbourne.
The leasehold of the inner-west Sydney pub the Lady Hampshire has been listed for sale with price expectations of $2 million as the owner, Paddy Coughlan, looks to redeploy capital to a new alcoholic beverage venture.

It comes as more than $1 billion in pubs changed hands in the past year as the investors who bought the assets at the bottom of the cycle are selling to more-than-willing buyers.

CBRE Hotels Sam Handy and Daniel Dragicevich have been appointed to steer the campaign, which has been timed to capitalise on the current bullish market conditions as evidenced with recent food and beverage leasehold sales, including the Greenwood Hotel, Cargo Bar, Bungalow 8 and the Winery.

Paddy Coughlan is selling the leasehold of the Lady Hampshire pub to focus on his Frank Strongs beverage business

Mr Coughlan also owns a stable of inner city freehold pubs such as the Botany View Hotel, Newtown and the Lord Gladstone, Chippendale.
Almost 50 years ago, a 22-year-old unknown English actor named Helen Mirren boarded a plane in London and made the long flight to Australia to shoot the film Age of Consent.

"That was an amazing experience for me," says Mirren, now 72 with an Oscar win and three other nominations.

Helen Mirren as the troubled heiress Sarah Winchester in the gothic horror Winchester.

"I think I had been on a plane just once before and here I was flying halfway across the world. I think it was the first movie I ever did - a real movie."

Mirren was plucked from obscurity to star in 1969's Age of Consent alongside James Mason, based on Norman Lindsay's novel of the same name, and shot on Queensland's yet to be developed Dunk Island.
"[We take] incidents of this nature very seriously and any inappropriate behaviour by members of our staff to be completely unacceptable ... we have and are continuing to assist the police with any further inquiries they may have."

In his blog post, Phillips says he has endured years of anxiety, suicidal thoughts and self-medication. He writes: "Being raped by your manager is horrific enough but the real trauma can be in how you recover from that."

He chose to deal with the matter "off the public record", he said, because he feared judgment from media and the public.

"So much of what I was proud of is gone, and despite any of the whispers around the industry ... I was never paid out, not a cent. I hope that is clear.

"Just before Christmas I re-opened my case with new detectives and will be standing by the truth. I am exploring all options of the law to set precedence [sic] for others who may find themselves somewhere in a similar lonely dark journey that can take years to recover from, if at all."
"Why is Nasser's sex life so important," he asks, casually slipping into the third-person mode of address favoured by narcissists and psychopaths through the ages (I know which one my money's on). "Some people say it doesn't exist," he continues of his missing-in-inaction libido. "It's not that important." Sorry to correct you there, but Gab might beg to differ. And if Nasser doesn't sail up that canal mighty soon this relationship is surely headed for a crisis. When will they stop asking about my sex life? Nasser and Gabrielle. Justin and Carly we can pretty much write off. Sure, he finally gave her one of his icecreams, but his next move was seriously weird. He took her to the marina to look at boats because whether or not she likes them is a deal breaker, he claimed. Like, totally. Luckily, she's quite fond of boats.

"So which one is yours," she not unreasonably asks. "Oh, I don't have one," he says. What the? But wait, there's one more nail in the coffin of their yet-to-begin sex life. He's off to Milan for a week, without her, to "the Oscars of my industry"  that's the ICECREAM INDUSTRY, PEOPLE! "See you in a week," he says blithely. I seriously doubt you will, mate. I'm going to the Oscars ... of icecream. Justin ditches Carly for Milan..

On the other side of the ledger, Dean and Tracey are in a post-rap state of rapture that not even the arrival of his brother and sister  both suitably unimpressed by what a douche he has been  can dampen. Elsewhere, Sean has taken the advice of the "experts" and given Blair what she wanted  a little sugar in her bowl, a little honey in her roll, a little  well, you know the stuff. "I don't know if he was genuine, or if he just wanted to get some, but I really enjoyed it," Blair confesses to the camera. I really hope the kiddies are tucked up in bed by now. Next morning, they hop into his 'Stang for drive, and as they tool down the road he asks if she's starting to develop feelings. She says yes. Aw sweet. He immediately blindsides her with "for me, it's a not".

Ouch. Low blow. "I'm pissed, I'm really pissed," she tells the camera. Hell hath no fury like a reality show participant scorned. Are you feeling anything? Cause I'm not. Sean stiffs Blair. Troy and Ashley provide the inevitable moments of car-crash hilarity, but it's impossible not to think that he does have a point when he complains that she's not willing to meet him halfway (hell, even one-third of the way would do). Then again, he really is a doofus. He has to look up a YouTube video to learn how to make scrambled eggs, for God's sake, and mistakes camembert for butter and wonders why it isn't melting the way it should.

And he thinks they were this close to having sex when she told him the opposite. Worse than that, he has no oral hygiene! "Are you kidding me," Ashley says of the ever-diminishing possibility of her becoming Troy's Helen. "He doesn't even clean his teeth at night. I'm not going to hook up with somebody who doesn't clean their teeth." Ashley and Troy argue over what constitutes being interested in sex. But really, the interest tonight is all in Ryan and Davina, who are definitely not going to be seeing anything like action. At Troy's parents' house, Davina wills an alternative reality into existence. "We're so relaxed with each other and we have a lot in common," she tells his parents while Ryan silently seethes at the opposite end of the table. Over in Bullshit Corner, a tractor between them, Ryan tells his dad what's what.

"She went for another bloke, she left me for another fella, she'd been having drinks with him all week and I didn't know," Ryan says, somewhere between amused and seething. "I found out while sitting on the couch." "You should have come out and exposed her," says the old man, his eyes deadset twinkling with mischief. "You have now!" "If she writes 'stay', I have to stay as well," says Ryan. "That'd be a bit of a pickle." "I pray to baby Jesus she doesn't."

Back in Sydney, Davina crashes Ryan's catch-up with some mates. He peels off to dish to the fellas, while she sits with his female friends, who regale her with tales of how awesome he is. The mist rises, and suddenly Davina sees the error of her ways. "Seeing how other people look at him and appreciate him makes me appreciate him a lot more." It's like saying you misjudged someone because you didn't realise how many followers they had on Instagram. Sheesh. Later still, we rejoin them at the beach. The scene is set with a shot of waves crashing on the shoreline: love on the rocks. "Where are you at with the experiment," asks Davina, who is either thick as pig poop or an evil genius doing the bidding of the production team. "What do you mean," asks Ryan, slightly dumbfounded that this could even be a question.

"With us?" "Oh, I'm going," he says. "That can't be a shock. I'm 100% leaving. Definitely. I'm done: Ryan leaves no room for doubt. Except in Davina's mind. "The only reason you're talking to me now is 'cause Dean won't talk to you any more," he adds, not unreasonably. "No I'm not. I was talking to you when I was talking to Dean," she says. It's meant to be a positive, I think, but it merely reminds him of what a dirty two-timer she has been.
That's all from me this morning. Thanks for reading the Express.

Enjoy the sunshine!

I'll see you again tomorrow morning.
A man has died after he was pulled unconscious from a rock pool on Sydney's Northern Beaches on Tuesday afternoon.

Emergency services were called to Collaroy beach after a man, aged in his 70s, was found in the water shortly before 4.30pm.

A man has died after members of the public were unable to revive him after being pulled from Collaroy Pool.

Members of the public tried to resuscitate the man until surf lifesavers arrived.

Paramedics and police arrived, but the man died at the scene.
The digging of tunnels for Brisbane's Cross River Rail will begin in the second quarter of 2019, heralding the start of south-east Queenslands biggest infrastructure project for more than a decade.

Five companies from the 89 that registered expressions of interest are now competing to design the tunnels, the stations and the rail and information systems for Cross River Rail.

Five consortia are vying to be chosen to build Brisbane's $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project.

Combined, the short-listed companies have considerable experience in tunnel projects in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane as well as Europe, the US and South America.

On the short list are companies responsible for the construction of the Sydney and Melbourne Metro underground rail projects, Sydneys CBD light rail, the Gold Coast light rail, Newcastles light rail as well as Brisbanes Legacy Way and Airport Link tunnels.
The $11 billion Melbourne Metro Tunnel is set to open a year earlier than expected, Premier Daniel Andrews has announced.

The new underground rail project designed to untangle bottlenecks in the City Loop will be completed in 2025, the Premier revealed on Wednesday as he released the tunnel contracts.

Passers-by watch as the City Square site is excavated to make way for the underground Town Hall Station. Credit:Justin McManus

Final $6 billion contracts for the tunnel and station works were signed in December last year with the Cross Yarra Partnership  a consortium led by LendLease Engineering, John Holland, Bouygues Construction and Capella Capital.

The contract for the Public Private Partnership outlines that the tunnel will be finished by the end of 2025.
A group of teenagers accused of assaulting four French backpackers under Princes Bridge in the early hours of Tuesday have been arrested.

The tourists were listening to music under the bridge when they were allegedly approached by the group of young men about 1.30am.

A fight broke out and four of the backpackers were allegedly assaulted.

Four people were arrested by police on Southbank Promenade shortly after the brawl.

A police statement said a 14-year-old Braybrook boy would face a childrens court charged with intentionally and recklessly cause injury, theft, assault with a weapon and other assault-related offences.
Dimitrious Gargasoulas.

Accused Bourke Street killer Dimitrious Gargasoulas allegedly drove a stolen car through St Kilda at high speed and on the wrong side of the road, and assaulted a woman, in the months before last year's CBD tragedy, a court has heard.

Mr Gargasoulas faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday, where he pleaded not guilty to a series of charges relating to an alleged crime spree between October 2016 and early January last year, just days before the Bourke Street incident.

He appeared before magistrate Timothy Bourke on Tuesday with his black hair cut short and beard neatly cut, dressed in a T-shirt.

He answered yes several times during the hearing when asked questions by the magistrate, and responded not guilty whenever he was asked to enter a plea.
A Perth developer has said that its contractors, who felled a mature liquidambar tree in contravention of a council order, did so by "accident".

The City of South Perth required Aveling Homes to retain the tree, estimated at 80 years old, as a condition of development approval for 222 Labouchere Road, Como.

The tree towered over the others on the street. Credit:Emma Young

But residents, who had been relieved by the order to save the tree, were shocked to see it cut down last Thursday. They visited on Friday as a group to question workers from Brajkovich Demolition and Salvage.

David McInerney said he was told by a worker there was an order to completely clear the block.
Genelle Haldane, my desk calendar tells me, has said that "only until all of mankind lives in harmony with nature can we truly decree ourselves to be an intelligent species". I've no idea who Haldane is or was, but she's right.

And you don't need to be terribly intelligent to realise it. Even most economists get it. It's blindingly obvious that the economy  that is, human production and consumption of goods and services - exists within the natural environment.

Illustration: Simon Letch

The economy is sustained by the natural resources the environment supplies to it and by the natural processes that are part of the human production process. We rely on the ecosystem also to deal with the mountains of waste and emissions we generate.

It's equally clear that economic activity can damage the environment and its ability to function. We're exploiting the environment in ways that are literally unsustainable, and must stop doing so before the damage becomes irreparable.
Residents near Tharwa, south of Canberra, are concerned about the risks associated with the growing number of alternative music festivals held in the area. As the sixth 'bush doof' at Caloola Farm in 18 months approaches, residents have called on the ACT government to intervene in a series of festivals police warned could lead to death or injury if left unchecked. Up to 2000 people are expected to attend this weekend's Psyfari festival near Tharwa this weekend. Katie Burgess looks at some of issues at previous festivals. Canberra Liberals to call for inquiry into CTP citizens' jury

Opposition leader Alistair Coe. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong Canberra Liberals leader Alistair Coe will today call for an inquiry into the citizens' jury on the insurance scheme which is currently under way. He'll be asking the Justice and Community Safety committee to look into how CTP insurance was chosen as its subject, how the facilitators were procured, how the jury was selected and what information they were given. Our assembly reporter Katie Burgess has more. Red Hill could become an 'upper income enclave'

Greens MLA Caroline Le Couteur. Credit:Jamila Toderas The ACT Greens are disappointed that out of more than 4000 sites to be released for residential development this year, only 143 sites will go to public housing. There is no public housing proposed for the prestigious inner suburb of Red Hill. The party's planning spokeswoman Caroline Le Couteur said it is "not appropriate to have areas of Canberra that are purely upper income enclaves". Daniel Burdon has the story.

ACT's economy slowly diversifies from public sector Gold coins sit stacked in a storage tray in this arranged photograph at Aranypiac Kft in Budapest, Hungary, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. Precious metals are back in demand as renewed concerns over Britain's decision to leave the EU have investors fleeing for gold. Photographer: Akos Stiller/Bloomberg Credit:Akos Stiller Here's a question for your mates at the water cooler today: What does the ACT actually export? New data shows our major export for the 2016-17 year was gold coin and legal tender coin. So, what are our major imports? You'll have to read Sally Whyte's story to find out.
When voters in the Batman byelection mark their ballot paper on March 17, St Patrick's Day, they face a tough choice: Guinness or Kilkenny, according to Labor's Anthony Albanese.

On the day when Cory Bernardi's Australian Conservatives officially threw their hat in the ring in Batman, "Albo" hit town to show the Greens they're not the only ones who do politics differently.

Anthony Albanese and Ged Kearney on the Batman campaign trail on Tuesday. Credit:AAP

The popular left-winger, who knows a bit about challenges from the Greens, refused to get excited about ex-SAS soldier Kevin Bailey running for Bernardi's fledgling party.

But with the Liberals, who polled 20 per cent in Batman in the 2016 election, sitting on the sidelines, Bailey's preferences, which look likely to flow to Labor, might be the lifeline ALP candidate Ged Kearney needed.
Washington DC: Makenzie Hymes was so heartbroken by the latest shooting at a US school she decided to prepare an Australian history lesson for American politicians.

Hymes, a 13-year-old who loves dancing and the piano, wrote the story of Australia's gun control laws on a placard she took to the White House this week where she joined dozens of other school children demanding tougher gun laws.

Most students kept to short slogans.

13-year-old Makenzie Hymes, from Virginia, calling for gun law reform at a protest outside the White House on Monday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

"Am I next?" read one.
Nationals federal president Larry Anthony has rebuked the party's WA branch after it withdrew support for Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and declared his position untenable because of the "damage" done by his affair with a former staffer.

The NSW and Victorian branches of the Nationals have also distanced themselves from the WA branch, declaring the federal leadership a matter for federal MPs, in a further fracturing of the country party that underscores the depth of the crisis facing the Nationals.

As the fallout from Mr Joyce's extramarital affair with Vikki Campion entered its third week, WA Nationals leader Mia Davies announced she had told Mr Joyce he no longer had the confidence of her branch.
When the then president of the then biggest company in the world, computer-maker IBM, was asked in a media interview more than 35 years ago what sort of person he sought to hire, his response was "a philosophy graduate who can play a good game of chess". It was an answer for the ages. What ought to be the balance between encouraging imagination and curiosity and the need for education to prepare students for the workforce? It's one of the longest running and most important debates, and is once again in the spotlight because of a Victorian parliamentary inquiry. Any career advice should not be too prescriptive. Credit:Quentin Jones Education Minister James Merlino has commissioned a separate review, amid concerns about the patchy quality of careers education in state schools. The parliamentary inquiry is being urged to recommend laws to compel schools to offer careers education for year 3 to 12 students. Is it sensible to have children as young as eight being forced to contemplate vocational or professional options? Perhaps. There is certainly a role for careers advice in the education system, a notion common to many of the submissions to the inquiry.

There is a strong and informed view that too many schools are providing too little careers advice, and too late. The Career Education Association of Victoria, a not-for-profit association seeking to advance education for the public benefit and career development, is at the fore of the push. "It is important to recognise that career decisions and judgments are not made in the final years of schooling but are made as early as year 3," says the association's chief executive, Bernadette Gigliotti. This is not inconsistent with the timeless, inherent wisdom of that IBM chief; a range of things is crucial to a rounded and valuable education. These include literacy, numeracy, imagination, resilience and socialisation. There is a risk that an unduly premature focus on career can be counterproductive. Dr Charlotte Keating, a Melbourne-based psychologist and neuroscientist, warned the inquiry: "Kids spend enough time in their VCE years worrying about career, and the reality is, until you get out there and experience what life has to offer, you won't really know if it's for you." Getting the modern balance right is particularly important and difficult because of the rapid pace of change. The smartphone, one of the most revolutionary inventions ever, is only a decade old. Young people have a life expectancy of decades longer than those currently formulating laws and policies, and are likely to have several careers. There is a valid argument for including a measure of career counselling in secondary education  and perhaps primary. But it needs to be of high quality and should not be too prescriptive. Our education system is currently too slanted towards exam results; we need more discussion about the real world.
A State Government minister says his passion for the job led him to tell a female country mayor that a roads funding package was "better than a kick in the dick".

Roads Minister Luke Donnellan came under attack in State Parliament on Tuesday over his language, with Coalition MPs also accusing the Labor frontbencher of calling a CFA captain a "banjo-playing dingbat."

The minister did not deny the "dingbat" comment, but insists it was about members of the Victorian Nationals.

Mr Donnellan told the Parliament that he had apologised to Corangamite mayor Jo Beard over the "kick in the dick" comment, saying he had meant to say the roads money for the area was "better than a kick in the head".
The Victorian Liberal Party has launched a "target seats" election push nine months ahead of the poll.

The party concluded its launch week on Sunday, focusing on target electorates with many Liberal MPs also taking to the streets to join candidates in campaigning.

Melbournes sandbelt will be a major focus for the Coalitions target seat campaign, with Labor holding Frankston by 0.5 per cent, Carrum by 0.7 per cent and Mordialloc on 2.1 per cent. Labor holds nearby Bentleigh by 0.8 per cent.

Matthew Guy during a visit to Kew Primary School this month. Credit:Joe Armao

The Age understands the Coalition has identified about 16 seats that its field network will target.
A man with a moustache and three fluffy white dogs is being sought by police after a series of fires on a popular walking track in Melbournes west which firefighters believe were deliberately lit.

The man was seen driving a red 4WD on October 25 when he stopped to talk to several firefighters near the Kororoit Creek Walking Trail as they as they battled to control a fire near Esmond Street in Sunshine.

Detective Senior Constable Kane Treloar said police were keen to speak to the man and appealed for public help to track him down.

"We are looking for male who spoke to firefighters as they were putting out a fire, about 35 to 40 years old, wearing a Holden T-shirt with three white fluffy dogs, he said.
Phnom Penh: An Australian businessman has been sentenced to three life sentences in prison for operating a child cybersex den and exploiting children in the Philippines.

Child welfare advocates have hailed the conviction of Drew Frederick Shobbrook, 51, from Sydney, as a landmark case in efforts to shutdown the Philippines booming cybersex industry, which law enforcement agencies say attracts hundreds of Australian paedophiles.

Fifteen underage girls who had been paid to perform lewd acts in front of web cameras were taken into protective custody after authorities raided three apartments Shobbrook was renting in Cebu in 2013.

Three girls testified in court that Shobbrook used girls for sex and created pornographic images and videos with them that he distributed on the internet.
Bangkok: A Thai court on Tuesday said it had ruled in favour of a wealthy Japanese man who had fathered 13 surrogate children in Thailand, naming him their legal parent and sole guardian.

The case harks back to late 2014, when Thai police said they had found 13 babies fathered by a Japanese national with nine Thai surrogate mothers. The children were taken to foster homes and the father has petitioned for custody since early 2015.

A Thai court has ruled in favour of a man who fathered 13 surrogate children. Credit:Louie Douvis

The man had his sperm fertilise donor eggs, which were then planted in the wombs of the surrogate mothers in 2013, according to a press statement given by the court. No details were given where the donor eggs were from.

The scandal at the time shone an international spotlight on Thailand's largely unregulated surrogacy business, prompting authorities to crack down on clinics with nationwide inspections and later to ban commercial surrogacy.
Dan Foreman. Photo: Otto Kitsinger/AP/REX/Shutterstock

A group of college students from the University of Idaho had planned to meet with State Senator Dan Foreman to lobby for a bill that would allow women to receive a years worth of birth control and promote safer sex on campuses. Instead of a meeting with Foreman, what they got was an anti-abortion rant.

According to the AP, Foreman abruptly canceled the meeting the day of, after the student had traveled 300 miles to see him. They left a note and condoms in his office, then left to meet with other lawmakers. They passed Foreman in the hallway, and someone recorded him yelling at them abortion is murder.

Im a Roman Catholic and a conservative Republican. I think what you guys are doing stinks, Foreman said in the video.

The students were not there to discuss abortion with the senator, just birth control and sex education. According to a representative from Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho, some other lawmakers disagreed with the students, but did not shout at them. However, one other senator waved a rosary at them while discussing the benefits of abstinence.

A fellow state senator, Maryanne Jordan, filed an ethics complaint against Foreman after seeing a tweet from a year-old, unverified account that presented itself as Foreman. The tweet said that the students should discuss killing babies with Democrats. After the complaint was filed, the account was deleted, then reactivated briefly to say that it was not associated with Foreman.
Alaina Petty, Florida Shooting Victim, Remembered as Caring Girl and ROTC Cadet

One of the 17 people who died in Florida at the school shooting last week was remembered as a caring girl who volunteered often in her local community.

Alaina Petty was just 14 when she was gunned down on Feb. 14 in Parkland.

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student often volunteered with fellow Junior ROTC members, including a trip to clean up some of the hardest hit areas after Hurricane Irma.

She was a terrific young lady and were very saddened for her and for her family, Jose Castanos, a leader at the Coral Springs church where Pettys family attends, told Local10 after the funeral on Feb. 19.

Petty was the youngest of four siblings. Her brother, who is also a JROTC member, survived the shooting.

Alaina was a vibrant and determined young woman, loved by all who knew her, the family said in a statement. Alaina was part of hundreds of volunteers that rushed to the most heavily impacted areas of Florida to clean up and help rebuild the lives of those devastated by Hurricane Irma. Her selfless service brought peace and joy to those that had lost everything during the storm.



Coral Springs Florida Stake President Stephen Smith told the Deseret News that Alaina was a fun girl who is always a joy to be around.

She reached out to other girls and loves to help others, he added.

Tributes poured in on social media to Alaina.

Alaina was the one of the kindest, caring people Ive ever met. She loved to help her mom cook, she took care of my kids, she was smart, funny and always smiling, wrote Camaron Ortiz, a friend of Alainas mother.

It is with broken hearts that Sunrise Post 365 & Stoneman Douglas JROTC shares the loss of our soaring eagles! We honor them, and will miss their courage, tenacity, and their smiles! Cadet Peter Wang, Cadet Martin Duque, and Cadet Alaina Petty. May they always soar high! pic.twitter.com/eg0TKprzMV  sunrisepost365 (@sunrisepost365) February 18, 2018

The Stoneman Douglas JROTC also shared a tribute to Alaina and two other cadets who died during the shooting.

We honor them, and will miss their courage, tenacity, and their smiles! the JROTC said. May they always soar high!

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Body Pulled From Ohio River Is Identified

A body pulled from the Scioto River in Ohio on Monday has been identified as a missing teenager.

Authorities confirmed the identity of the body on Tuesday, Feb. 20, a day after it was discovered.

The Columbus Police Dive Team uncovered the body of 17-year-old Payton Elizabeth Young near Hayden Run Falls Park, according to authorities.

The teenager was reported missing on Jan. 21 at approximately 7:30 p.m. According to NBC4i, her car was found in a parking lot located near the waterfall.

Sgt. Dean Worthington told ABC6 on Monday that cadaver dogs alerted on the area [last] Thursday, we werent able to get back into the until today.

Sonar confirmed the presence of a body and members of the Columbus police dive team recovered the body, he added.

Inside Youngs vehicle, police said they found a suicide note on her cellphone, CBS affiliate WBNS-TV reported. On her phone, they also found a website explaining how to hold your breath underwater.

After teams scoured the area for two days the search for her body was called off, after several reporting sightings of the teen.

The police department then classified the missing girl as a runaway, WBNS-TV reported.

#BREAKING: Body found near Hayden Run Road identified as missing teen Payton Young. https://t.co/xJIepYYvqj pic.twitter.com/YPmtCW28zA  NBC4 Columbus (@nbc4i) February 20, 2018

The cause of her death is still being investigated by the coroners office. The investigation is also continuing.

Anyone with any info on this case is asked to contacts CPDs Homicide Unit at 645-4730 or Det. Pennington at apennington@columbuspolice.org or Crime Stoppers at 645-TIPS (8477).

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Britain's Home Secretary Amber Rudd arrives in Downing street for the weekly cabinet meeting in London on February 20, 2018. (Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images)

Britain and US in Talks Over Captured British ISIS Terrorists: UK Minister

LONDONBritain and the United States are in talks about the fate of two captured British ISIS terrorists, suspected of being part of a notorious group known for torturing and killing Western hostages, British Home Secretary Amber Rudd said.

Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh were captured in Syria last month by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and are suspected of being two of four militants, dubbed the Beatles because of their English accents, who took part in the kidnap, torture and murder of Western hostages.

Earlier this month, the SDF said it had not received any request from any foreign government to hand the men over but said it would consider any such application.

Were absolutely committed to making sure that they are tried, these people should face the full force of the law, Rudd told the BBC in comments aired on Tuesday.

I cant be drawn at the moment into where that will take place but I am certain, because we will be working with the Americans to ensure this, that they will face justice.

Last week a meeting of about a dozen defense ministers in Rome failed to agree on how to deal with hundreds of foreign militants detained by the SDF in Syria.

One option is for the prisoners to return to their country of origin to face prosecution.

However Britains Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson has said he does not want Kotey and Elsheikh back in the United Kingdom, and British media have reported that the men have been stripped of their British citizenship.

Britains Home Office has not confirmed they have lost their citizenship.

The U.S. State Department sanctioned Kotey in January 2017, saying he was a guard for the Beatles and likely engaged in the groups executions and exceptionally cruel torture methods, including electronic shock and waterboarding.

Kotey had also acted as a recruiter and was responsible for recruiting several British nationals to join the militant group, the State Department said.

The State Department sanctioned Elsheikh in March 2017, saying he was said to have earned a reputation for waterboarding, mock executions, and crucifixions while serving as an ISIS jailer.

The most notorious of the four was Mohammed Emwazi, known as Jihadi John, who is believed to have been killed in a U.S.-British missile strike in 2015.

He became the public face of ISIS and appeared in videos showing the murders of U.S. journalists Steven Sotloff and James Foley, U.S. aid worker Abdul-Rahman Kassig, British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning, Japanese journalist Kenji Goto and other hostages.
Conmen Arrested After 92-Year-Old Victim Plays Them at Their Own Game

Two conmen were arrested after a 92-year-old woman upset over being conned decided to play them at their own game.

The situation unfurled in the United Kingdom and began with the elderly woman being taken in with a version of the so-called Courier Fraud.

That con involves a conman calling a home posing as a police detective, saying they have found out that the persons bank account was hacked.

In this case, one of the conmen convinced the victim, who is not being named, to withdraw $11,600 (8,300) in cash for examination, according to the West Midlands Police.

The woman was then instructed to turn the money over to Zohaib Khalid, a 20-year-old student paid to play the role of a police courier.

The woman complied and was tricked further into buying two Rolex watches, worth around $37,000 (26,500) each, and passing them again to Khalid.

The woman realized she was being conned when the conman called her once again the next day to ask for $19,000 (13,700) for an alleged undercover operation.

With the help of police officers, she turned the con on the conman, and arranged for Khalid to drop by her home for the third time.

This time though, police officers were lying in wait and arrested him.

An investigation of his phone led officers to identify Mohammed Irfan Butt as the main conman. Officers arrested him.

A 92 year old woman helped lure two conmen into a police trap. Read more on this story & share our prevention tips with elderly family, friends & neighbours on how to spot the signs of courier fraud. Together we can stop this despicable crime. https://t.co/YPQSlq11zl pic.twitter.com/iDrx9hLjiY  West Midlands Police (@WMPolice) February 19, 2018

Police said both men admitted to their guilt.

Butt was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in jail while Khalid was jailed for three years.

These types of offenses are truly despicable: offenders target elderly victims and exploit their vulnerabilities to trick them into handing over money, said Detective Constable Richard Taberner.

Khalid was paid $700 (500) by Butt for each trip and agreed on a collection password with the victim in a bid to give the scam more authenticity. He claimed to be merely acting as a courier and had no knowledge of the scambut we found web searches on his phone relating to sentencing guidelines for fraud so its clear he suspected he was committing an offense.

He added, Almost $1400 (1,000) in cash was recovered and handed back to the victim andif she is unable to be compensated through her bankwell be pushing for a Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) case against the offenders to recover money on her behalf. She did brilliantly in alerting us once she realized shed been trickedand then played her part in luring Khalid back to her home and allowing us to catch him in the act.

Taberner noted that police officers or genuine bank officials would never ask you to divulge PIN numbers over the phone or send couriers to collect cards or cash.

Anyone who believes theyve been targeted by conmen is urged to call the police.

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Nikolas Cruz, who has confessed to a deadly shooting spree at his his former high school, is seen in this February 15, 2018 file photo, accompanied by his lawyers POOL/AFP/File / Susan STOCKER-SUN SENTINEL

Couple Who Had Taken in Florida Gunman Say He Was Quirky, Naive

The couple who had taken Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz into their family said in an interview published Sunday they had no inkling of violent tendencies from the young man whom they described as quirky and naive.

Cruz, 19, moved in with James and Kimberly Snead of Parkland, Florida in late November after the death of his mother earlier that month from complications of pneumonia, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported. He was a friend of their son.

I told him thered be rules and he followed every rule to the T, James Snead, 48, an army veteran and military intelligence analyst, told the paper.

We had this monster living under our roof and we didnt know, said Kimberly Snead, 49, a nurse. We didnt see this side of him.

Cruz killed 17 people at his former high school last Wednesday using an AR-15 rifle that he had legally purchased. It was the countrys worst school massacre since the horror at Sandy Hook six years ago that left 26 dead.

A profile has emerged of a troubled young man who was expelled from the school last year for disciplinary reasons.

The FBI admitted it received a detailed warning last month about Cruzs gun ownership, erratic behavior, and disturbing social media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting. The agency took no action, despite the tip-off.

The Sneads described a 19-year-old who had grown up apparently without ever having to perform common chores  he couldnt cook, do laundry, pick up after himself or even use a microwave.

He was very naive. He wasnt dumb, just naive, James Snead told the Sun Sentinel.

Cruz had odd habits, like putting a chocolate chip cookie on a sneak and cheese sandwich, and going to bed at 8 pm.

He seemed lonely and badly wanted a girlfriend, and also was depressed about the death of his mother, the couple said. Kimberly Snead had taken Cruz to the office of a therapist just five days before the shooting, and he had said he was open to therapy and took a business card.

Cruz told the Sneads he would inherit at least $800,000 from his parents, with most of the funds becoming available when he turned 22.

The couple last saw Cruz, who has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder, at the Broward County Sheriffs office. Dressed in a hospital gown, he was handcuffed and surrounded by deputies.

He said he was sorry. He apologized. He looked lost, absolutely lost, said James Snead. And that was the last time we saw him.
Daughter Sets Up Father to be Carjacked by 2 Other Teens

A 17-year-old girl orchestrated a carjacking against her own father with the help of two other teenagers in Montgomery County, Texas.

The reason behind the bizarre actmoney.

Police said Susan Marie Mize was arrested Saturday night on Feb. 17, according to the Houston Chronicle.

While Mize and her father were inside their car, two males approached them and held them at gunpoint to gain entry to the car, NBC affiliate KPRC reported. The father was forced to drive to their home and give the males more money.

The carjacking took place on Rayford Road near the I-45.

After arriving home, the father ran inside, locked the door and phoned the police. It was at this moment that the boys left the girl and fled in the car.

When they arrived at the house where they were hoping to get money, the father shut the door and called 911, authorities stated. The two males fled and the female was released, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Deputies spotted the stolen car, a red Nissan, near Riley Fuzzel Road and Aldine Westfield and began chasing it.

The two thieves later abandoned the car and escaped into the woods, where one of them sparked a manhunt after firing a gun into the woods.

One of the teenagers, a 16-year-old African-American male, was taken into custody in the 3500 block of Rayford Road, KPRC reported.

The other white male who is believed to have fired the gun is still at large, according to the Daily Mail.

After an extended period the suspect was not found, the Montgomery County Police Reporter said.

A DAUGHTER'S BETRAYAL: 17-year-old girl sets father up to be carjacked by 2 other teens, police say https://t.co/49ByjHYUDi pic.twitter.com/yqOOkRU8T6  KPRC 2 Houston (@KPRC2) February 18, 2018

Officers only determined later that Mize was involved in the plan after an investigation. She was then transferred to the Montgomery County Jail.

Mize is facing aggravated robbery charges. She is currently in jail on a 75,000 bond.

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Florida Teen Survives Being Shot Five Times While Trying to Protect Classmates

A Florida student who was shot five times while trying to protect his classmates during the shooting last week survived.

Anthony Borges, a 15-year-old student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, was credited with saving lives.

None of us knew what to do. So, he took the initiative to just save his other classmates, Carlos Rodriguez, a close friend of Borges, told ABC News.

When the gunfire erupted on Feb. 14, Borges and nearby students ran to hide in a classroom. The gunman bore down on them, firing and hitting some of the students.

Borges was one of the last students who entered the room and was trying to lock the door when he was shot, Rodriguez said.

He held his ground even after being shot, putting his body between himself and all of his classmates, who ended up all surviving uninjured.

Borges underwent surgery and is in stable condition.

He received a visit from the Broward County Sheriff at the hospital on Sunday, Feb. 18.

The Sheriff was honored to visit Anthony Borges,15, in the hospital. Anthony was shot five times. Fortunately, he is recovering, but has a long road ahead with more surgeries needed. Please join us in praying for the swift recovery of Anthony and all others from #StonemanDouglas. pic.twitter.com/U0PVkEwpFZ  Broward Sheriff (@browardsheriff) February 18, 2018

Fortunately, he is recovering, but has a long road ahead with more surgeries needed, the sheriffs office stated. Please join us in praying for the swift recovery of Anthony and all others from #StonemanDouglas, the sheriff said.

A fundraiser has been started by Borges father Royer Borges.

It had already nearly completed its $200,000 goal as of Feb. 19.

Anthony is a victim of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. During this unspeakable tragedy, Anthony was able to save about 20 other students as he attempted to close and lock the door to a classroom, Royer Borges wrote.

He was shot multiple times (both legs were shot, left upper thigh bone shattered and one bullet went through his back). He has a long road of recovery ahead of him but he is alive and stable.

The shooting in Parkland left 17 people dead, mostly students.

A few other students besides Borges survived the shooting despite being hit.

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Girl Poisoned by Arsenic From Magnetic Putty Toy Bought on Amazon, Mother Says

A U.K. mother has claimed her daughter suffered arsenic poisoning after playing with Magnetic Putty bought from Amazon.

Frances Kelly bought the toy, which consists of putty and a magnet, as a Christmas gift for her daughter Neve.

According to Kellys Facebook post, Neve had been playing with the toy since Christmas and Kellys sister warned her about the product in January. Kelly and her husband Mark then took Neve to the doctor for testing purely as a precaution. However, test results revealed that she had 10 times the normal level of arsenic in her urine.

Kelly said that Neves blood has been sent to a specialist for further testing, and the family is now awaiting test results.

According to the BBC, Amazon removed the toy from sale in January.

A U.K. regulator, Northamptonshire Trading Standards, also barred the sale of the product in January, after it was found to contain seven times the permitted level of arsenic.

The Northamptonshire Trading Standards Service said the magnet was 29 times over the allowed magnetic force and could be easily swallowed, reported BBC. In addition, it had twice the amount of lead allowed.

The manufacturer or the importer was not identified on the product label, said the U.K. standards body. However, product listings on Alibaba.coms wholesale marketplace, suggest it is manufactured in China.

According to the Daily Mail, the product is still available to buy in the U.K. from some online retailers.

The product is also currently sold by some online stores in the United States.

The Kellys said they are now considering legal advice regarding next steps and will await further test results before making further comment.

Frances Kelly took to Facebook on Thursday, Feb. 15, to warn parents about the product.

She said, We have received shock news this afternoon with the results of my daughter Neves tests. There were 10 times the normal level of arsenic found in her urine. They had to take vials of blood and is getting sent to the arsenic specialist in Glasgow. So please if you have this product get your children tested  Neve thankfully didnt have much contact with it but this product is lethal and should be made aware to anyone that has been in contact with it.

Mark Kelly added in a comment that Neve had only played with the putty a couple of times before being tested.

He said that safe levels of arsenic in urine are 40-50mcg/L, but Neves test came back as 430mg/L.

The skin is not absorbent enough to cause Neves elevated levels, so she may have played with it and ate something without washing her hands and thats how it has got into her system, he said. The worry is that there are kids who have played with it a lot more, for longer periods and are perhaps oblivious that it could be dangerous.

If you have this product then I urge you to get the people concerned to the doctor, just as a precaution, said Mark.

In the most recent post on Feb. 15, Francis said: Neve is doing well we are in the process of waiting on test results. We have now sought legal advice and cant comment on anything until we have the results. The media who have been contacting us and visited our family we cant give any more information than what was in my post at this minute. My main reason was to ensure the safety of others after receiving this shocking news.

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The eyes of Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic a match at the Australian Open in Melbourne on Jan. 22, 2018. (Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images)

Google Claims It Can Predict Heart Disease Through Peoples Eyes

Google claims its technology can predict heart disease risk by examining eye scans.

Google has a machine learning algorithm that can deduce health information nearly as accurately as leading methods, simply by analyzing eye scans, according to The Verge.

Theyre taking data thats been captured for one clinical reason and getting more out of it than we currently do, Luke Oakden-Rayner, a medical researcher from the University of Adelaide, told The Verge. Rather than replacing doctors, its trying to extend what we can actually do.

How AI learns: Google feds its algorithm hundreds of thousands of eye scans, and it began noticing which risk factors could lead to heart disease. See how it made those green highlights? It effectively taught itself what blood vessels are https://t.co/7RCZ39Yj3o pic.twitter.com/AMn0H76ODr  Drew Harwell (@drewharwell) February 19, 2018

The research behind the power of the eye to reveal the health of a person is already well-established, according to The Verge. Numerous blood vessels at the back of the eye can give a picture of characteristics like age, blood pressure, and whether or not a person smokes. Taken together, they can indicate heart health.

Google ran tests on 300,000 people to build its technology. They used machine learning to build an algorithm based on eye scans and other health tests from the individuals that were part of the data set, The Verge reported.

The caveat to this is that its early, (and) we trained this on a small data set, Googles Lily Peng, lead researcher on the project, told USA Today. We think that the accuracy of this prediction will go up a little bit more as we kind of get more comprehensive data. Discovering that we could do this is a good first step. But we need to validate.

Googles algorithm isnt perfect. But its imperfections are on par with established methods. The algorithm could correctly pick out a patient that experienced a heart attack, stroke, or a related event 70 percent of the time. Thats on par with the common method that requires blood tests and has 72 percent accuracy, according to The Verge.

Alun Hughes, a professor at University College London thinks Google may be on to something due to a long history of looking at the retina to predict cardiovascular risk, but he still thinks the algorithm merits further tests to be certain, The Verge reported.

The Verge thinks Googles research offers a new potential for the use of artificial intelligence, and a new direction for diagnosing medical conditions.

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Group of 5 Men Robbing People in Loop Subway Pedestrian Tunnels, Chicago Police Say

Liam Ford

CHICAGO  A group of young men has surrounded and robbed people in downtown subway pedestrian tunnels at least three times in recent weeks, according to Chicago police who have released surveillance photos of four of the five robbers.

The string of attacks date to Jan. 30, according to a community alert. They have surrounded people in pedestrian tunnels between the Red and Blue lines, hit and kicked and robbed them, even showing a handgun in one robbery, police said.

The most recent robbery occurred around 7 p.m. Wednesday in the 200 block of South Dearborn Street. Items taken included a phone, police said.

About 7 a.m. Tuesday in the 200 block of South State Street, a designer belt was among the items stolen.

About 9:15 a.m. Jan. 30, the robbers showed a handgun and took items, including cash.

The robbers also have taken wallets in the robberies, according to the alert.

The robbers were all described as black men between 18 and 25 years old. In the most recent robbery, one was described as 5-foot-9 and the other 6-foot-1; in the Tuesday robbery, one was described as 6-foot-3 to 6-foot-4; in the Jan. 30 robbery, one was described as 6 feet tall and about 200 pounds, and the other was described as 5-foot-4 to 5-foot-6 and 150 to 170 pounds.

The photographs released Sunday appear to be from surveillance footage from a little before 7 a.m. Tuesday and show four black men.

The first man is shown wearing a red hooded sweatshirt with a black logo on the right sleeve and black rectangles on the front and near where a right pocket might be, a black knit cap, baggy low-rider jeans with white logos or stitching and red shoes.

The second man is wearing a camouflage hooded sweatshirt over what appears to be a black letter jacket, with the letter P in script on the right breast and writing over a red logo on the right shoulder, with another white-and-red logo on the left side  possibly a Pelle Pelle Empire jack  camouflage pants and gray-and-brown shoes.

The third man is shown in a blue, puffy coat with a puffy hood, dark pants that appear to fit snugly, and tan work boots.

The fourth man appears to be wearing a dark, hooded coat or a coat over a hooded sweatshirt, gray sweatpants and dark shoes.

No photo was released of the fifth man.
Junior ROTC Member Killed in Florida Shooting Remembered by Family and Friends

A 14-year-old who was going to school in Florida when the shooting occurred last week was remembered by family and friends.

Martin Duque, a junior ROTC member, was the son of Mexican immigrants and leaves four siblings behind in addition to his parents, reported Local10.

The Miami Herald reported that Duque was a native of Coyuca de Catalan, a town in the state of Guerrero in southwest Mexico, citing Azteca Noticias.

The Mexican Consulate in Miami said that Martins relatives in Mexico were alerted to the death.

Libni Ortega, Martins uncle, told ABC13 that the family was distraught to learn the news.

That happened in a place where you think its a safe place. A school. Shouldnt be happening, Ortega said.

When my wife knew about that, she started crying and get sad. Start to feel bad. She let me know what was going on. I feel the same. I feel the same right now.

It is with broken hearts that Sunrise Post 365 & Stoneman Douglas JROTC shares the loss of our soaring eagles! We honor them, and will miss their courage, tenacity, and their smiles! Cadet Peter Wang, Cadet Martin Duque, and Cadet Alaina Petty. May they always soar high! pic.twitter.com/eg0TKprzMV  sunrisepost365 (@sunrisepost365) February 18, 2018

Martins brother wrote on GoFundMe that Martin was sweet and caring and loved by everyone in his family.

My family and I have no words to describe the what we feel and the tragedy that we are living. All my prayers to the ones we lost and everyone who lived this horror and is traumatized. My family and I appreciate any help you can give, he wrote.

Your donations will help us cover additional expenses my family will face as a result of this tragedy, such as bringing both of my grandmothers from Mexico for the funeral (the women who raised us while our parents were living in FL before saving enough money to bring us over too), housing our extended family during the funeral, and many other things.

A supervisor at a local Starbucks, where people have been gathering to share grief after the massacre, told the Daily Beast that Duque was a good kid.

I watched this kid grow up from the time he was in middle school, Karina Orozco said, We call him Junior, he was very sweet, very polite and outgoing. A friend to everyone.

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Lucky Charms Will Now Include a New Unicorn Marshmallow

Lucky Charms will feature a new marshmallow for the first time in 10 years.

General Mills, which produces the popular breakfast cereal, said that the hourglass marshmallow will be retired.

In its place, a new unicorn marshmallow will be introduced.

The unicorn was decided upon through a social media vote after General Mills asked people to vote on which marshmallow they wanted to see next, by using an emoji, reported ABC.

We decided to introduce a new charm with the help of the keepers of magic themselveskids. They spoke, and after hearing their love for the magical unicorn, we listened, Josh DeWitt, marketing manager of Lucky Charms, told the broadcaster.

The new unicorn charm will feature hues of bright purple and blue colors.

The cereal was originally introduced in 1963.

According to People, other shapes have come and gone, including the blue diamond (1975), purple horseshoe (1983), swirled whale (1986), red balloon (1989), pot of gold (1994), and shooting star (1998).

The hourglass has been a part of Lucky Charms since 2008, but as with any hourglass, its time is up, a representative for General Mills told the magazine.

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The bluffs backing Thornton Beach in Daly, Calif., are about 500 feet tall. (en.wikipedia.org)

Man Falls to Death Trying to Rescue Dog, Lonely Dog Left Barking

A 67-year-old hiker fell 500 feet to his death while trying to rescue his canine companion, which had slid down a cliff in Thornton State Beach near San Francisco, California, on Feb. 19.

According to California Highway Patrol, the unidentified man was walking his dog on the steep bluffs above the beach.

The dog slid down a steep section of the trail and got trapped. His owner, in his attempts to save his beloved pet, also slipped and fell 500 feet to his death.

The dog kept pacing back and forth, barking and whimpering.

When rescue crews lifted the wrapped body onto to a stretcher and carried it away, the dog got as close to the edge of the ledge as possible, trying to reach its owner.

#BREAKING Someone has died after fall from cliff near Thornton Beach. Family member or friend has victims dog. pic.twitter.com/txAmlCEfcS  Laura Anthony (@LauraAnthony7) February 19, 2018

The dog definitely knows if you are hurt, no doubt, dog walker Kyle Moreno told CBS News. The dog knows that the cliff is there, but sometimes dogs get overstimulated.

The area is popular with hikers and dog walkers, even though the park is officially closed because of damage caused by landslideswhich can still be an issue.

Its really steepits like a straight drop off, Kyle Moreno told Fox26. I stay away just knowing how crumbly the cliff is. When its that steep it can just fall right from underneath you.

Tedd Leblanc who lives in Daly City, where the park is located, was out hiking on the bluffs with some friends on Monday. He told CBS that landslides can still be an issue.

Sometimes things can move around. You gotta be careful. Definitely always be on alert because rocks can tumble, he said.

Rescue crews were not able to coax the dog back up the cliff. Finally, the victims son arrived. The dog responded to the familiar voice and returned to the top of the cliff, Fox26 reported.

Fox26 also reported that the victims wife told a park official that her husband had been walking those trails for 50 years.

Park rangers told CBS News that there are no leash laws in the park. Other Park Service personnel told Fox that there is a standard warning for people who lose pets not to try to rescue the pets themselves.

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Ohio: Jackson Local Schools on Lockdown After Student Shoots Himself

Two schools in Stark County, Ohio, are on lockdown after a student suffered a gunshot wound at the school on Tuesday, Feb. 20.

The incident comes less than a week after the shooting in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 students and teachers dead.

The incident in Ohio took place at Jackson Memorial Middle School, Jackson Local Schools said.

A 7th-grader with a gun apparently shot himself inside of the boys bathroom around 7:50 a.m., authorities said.

The boy was rushed to the hospital but his condition is not clear as of yet.

Jackson Local Schools said that the middle school and high school are on lockdown.

Scene at Jackson Township Middle School. Many nervous parents waking to see their kids. @wews pic.twitter.com/ZnCqCeri9z  Sarah Phinney (@sarahphinneytv) February 20, 2018

Jackson Township Police and Fire departments are at Jackson Memorial Middle School. All entrances to the school are blocked. pic.twitter.com/LwAfp9r6z7  Samantha Ickes (@sickesINDE) February 20, 2018

Students will be released to their parents in the near future, the schools said in an alert message on their website.

All four elementary schools in the small district will remain closed for the day.

Superintendent Christopher DiLoreto told WKYC that all schools may be closed on Wednesday as well.

Parents and other guardians gathered near the schools to be ready for their children when they are released, pictures from the scene show.

No students other than the boy were injured.

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Anthony Morris (L) and Zelda Marie Morris (R) are accused of robbing a Sunday school teacher. (Booking photos via Toledo Police Department)

Ohio Pastor, Wife, and Daughter Accused of Beating and Robbing Sunday School Teacher

An Ohio church pastor, his wife, and daughter are accused of robbing a Sunday school teacher in the church at gunpoint.

Anthony Morris, 49, his wife, Zelda Morris, 46, and their daughter, Kamali Morris, 19, have each been charged with the first-degree felony of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, the Toledo Blade reported.

Sunday school teacher Nickema Turner claims she was at the St. Pauls AME Zion Church in downtown Toledo, where Morris is a pastor, when she was violently assaulted and robbed. Turner alleges Kamali Morris grabbed her by the hair, and then both elder Morrises began to push and beat her, according to WTVG, citing a police report.

Zelda Morris then allegedly emptied Turners purse and began taking some of the items.

Turner resisted and tried to recover some of her belongings, according to cleveland.com, and when it appeared she was getting the upper hand against her two female assailants, the pastor pulled out a gun. It is alleged he pointed it at Turners face, according to the Toledo Blade, and made threats.

Two prescription bottles, a Taser, and an iPhone were allegedly taken from Turners purse. The iPhone was later recovered, with the screen broken.

The incident took place shortly before Sunday service was set to begin, it was reported, with witnesses on hand who later provided information to the police.

According to the police report cited by ABC13, the pastors wife told the victims daughter, You wanna know why this happened? It happened because your mom slept with my husband.

The three assailants then reportedly fled the church, while Turner was treated at the scene by Toledo Fire and Rescue crews.

The pastor and his wife have been arrested, police said, but at the time of reporting their daughter remained at large.

In a message on the churchs website, Morris describes St. Pauls AME as a family-focused, multi-generational ministry.

We honor the traditions of the elders, but we are also intentionally contemporary in our Worship Experience.

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Parents Convicted of Violent Assault on Tiny Baby

A baby in the United Kingdom was abused so badly that he had to have both of his legs amputated, a judge heard in court this week.

The parents violently assaulted their baby, who was just 41 days old at the time, causing injuries so bad that doctors had no choice but to remove the legs.

The parents, Jody Simpson, 24, and Anthony Smith, 47, showed no remorse after the horrible abuse was inflicted, the Maidstone Crown Court heard from prosecutors, reported The Independent.

When Simpson finally took her child to a doctor, she said the baby was displaying cold-like symptoms.

The doctor immediately rushed the baby to a hospital after seeing he was near death.

By that time, the baby had turned grey, reported The Sun.

X-rays showed eight fractures, including a dislocated ankle caused by it being yanked.

Pictured: Tiny baby boy whose parents abused him so viciously when he was just six weeks old that he had to have both legs amputated https://t.co/TOAB0YB3U8 pic.twitter.com/HB5hW8oR05  Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) February 20, 2018

The baby ultimately survived but suffered a great ordeal that included many months of treatment and being anesthetized 11 times.

The parents are said to have been living in a tent near Canterbury before being arrested.

Simpson and Smith both denied causing the injuries.

But Judge Philip Statman said in the sentencing that he found them at fault.

[Baby Tony] sustained, at the hands of one or the other of you, injuries which will, and have, caused his life to change dramatically. I cannot be sure which of you caused either, all, or any of the injuries and the precise role each of you played, he said. Its not an exaggeration to say he was almost at the door of death. Who can a child of 41 days turn to other than those who brought him into the world and are meant to love him unconditionally? This did not happen in this case.

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Schools in Florida on Precautionary Lockdown After Officials Receive Tip

Three schools in Florida were placed under lockdown after officials received a tip on Tuesday, Feb. 20.

The three schools are in the Escambia County School District in Pensacola.

The schools are Washington High School, Workman Middle School, and Holm Elementary School.

Officials termed the lockdown precautionary because they emphasized that despite the tip there was no imminent threat, reported WEAR-TV.

The exact nature of the threat wasnt conveyed.

I can say there is no immediate threat on any campus to anyone, Pensacola Police Department spokesman Mike Wood told the Pensacola News-Journal.

The lockdown comes six days after a school shooting in Florida.

The shooting at a high school in Parkland left 17 students and teachers dead.

Schools across the nation are on higher alert than normal after the shooting on Feb. 14.

The lockdown by the Escambia County School District comes just a day after a SnapChat threat was investigated.

Officials said that they identified Gabriel Harvell, 23, as the suspect in a SnapChat post in which he threated to shoot up Pine Forest High School and two other nearby schools.

Officials are terming such threats as copycat threats following the Parkland shooting.

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Second Cougar Sighting in Wisconsin This Month Surprises Homeowner

A homeowner in Southeastern Wisconsin spotted a cougar, also known as a mountain lion, on Saturday, making it the second sighting of the big cat in one month, according to police.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was called on Feb. 17 when the homeowner noticed the cougar lying under their pine tree in their backyard, reported TMJ4.

When DNR agents arrived, they confirmed that the large animal was a cougar but were not successful in their attempt to tranquilize the wild animal with a dart gun due to the thick bush and homes surrounding it. When the officers returned the next morning, the cougar was already gone.

Police said the animal appeared to be very passive and may have been injured by a car.

The cougar was tracked southeast to the area of N. 135th Street and Hope Street but agents at this point lost trail of the big cat, reported the news station.

The Brookfield homeowner has shared an amazing video of the cougar standing on their porch, peering into their front window, reported Fox News.

I couldnt believe what I saw. A really big cat, Dan Guerndt told Fox News. I was hoping it didnt see my cat, break the window or something.

DNR agents said the animal was about 50 pounds and around one and a half years old. They added that the big cat was most likely looking for new territory or a mate.

This is the second sighting of a cougar in the state this month. The first sighting was in Washington County and was the first cougar sighting in southeastern Wisconsin in 10 years.

Cougars are the largest wild cat in the United States. They once roamed widely in Wisconsin but disappeared from the state in 1910, according to the DNR website. Biologists estimate that the rare sightings of cougars in Wisconsin have been males dispersing from a breeding population in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

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Son Hired Teenager to Kill His Parents With Hammer: Police

An Illinois man hired a teenager to kill his parents, police said.

Joshua Miceli, 23, was arrested and booked on two counts of attempted first-degree murder and two counts of solicitation of murder, according to the DuPage County sheriffs office.

The sheriff said that deputies responded to a home in Glen Ellyn after a couple reported they were attacked on Feb. 18.

A description of the suspect led them to Michael Targo, 18.

The sheriff said that an investigation uncovered an alleged solicitation of murder plot involving Miceli, the son of the victims.

During the course of the investigation, Miceli allegedly implicated himself in the plot to have Targo murder his parents. Targo allegedly accepted an offer from Miceli, which involved being paid after their murders. Its alleged that Targo attacked Micelis parents with a hammer leaving them with serious injuries, the sheriffs office said.



Targo used a hammer to attack Micelis parents.

He was charged with two counts of attempted murder.

Both suspects are being held in the DuPage County Jail.

Bond was denied.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that their court dates are scheduled for March 12.

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Special Counsel Robert Mueller testifies during a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington when he was FBI director, in 2012, a file photo. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Special Counsel Mueller Unveils New Indictment in Russia Probe

Special Counsel Robert Mueller charged an attorney formerly employed by a prominent law firm on Tuesday with making false statements to federal authorities, according to Bloomberg.

The indictment, unsealed in federal court in Washington on Feb. 16, accuses Alex Van Der Zwaan with lying to investigators about work he performed for Skadden, Arps, Slate Meagher & Flom in 2012. Mueller is investigating alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Van Der Zwann lied to investigators about a report he helped prepare for the trial of Ukranian politician Yulia Tymoshenko, the indictment charges.

Alex Van Der Zwaan worked at the London office of Skadden, Arps, Slate Meagher & Flom, according to his Linkedin page. When questioned about his firms work in 2012, Van Der Zwann misled investigators about his communications with Richard Gates.

Skadden terminated Van Der Zwaan in 2017 and is cooperating with investigators, the firm said in a statement to New York Times.

Gates was indicted in October along with former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort over violations during their consulting work in Ukraine.

Manafort was under investigation long before he joined the Trump campaign. Trump accepted Manaforts resignation in August of 2016. More than a year later, Manafort was indicted on charges of laundering $18 million. None of the charges against Manafort were related to his 2016 campaign work.

Prosecutors also say that Van Der Zwaan lied about his talks with someone identified only as Person A. He also deleted and failed to produce emails when requested to do so by Muellers team and a law firm.

Skadden produced a report in 2012 that displayed a defiant view of the prosecution and conviction of Tymoshenko. Unlike a line pushed by the U.S. and European Union at the time, the report argued that Tymoshenkos trial was not politically motivated.

Skadden received a small fee for the work, just under $12,000, slightly below the amount which would have required competitive bidding. Next year, the firm received $1 million from Ukraine, though no further work was done.

Paul Manafort was part of the effort to recruit Skadden on behalf of Ukraine, Bloomberg News reported, citing documents it reviewed. The Skadden team working on the report was lead by Gregory Craig, who had previously worked for presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.

Manafort was charged with engaging in a conspiracy against the United States, engaging in a conspiracy to launder money, failing to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts, and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign principal, among other accusations.

Manafort maintains his innocence and has since filed a lawsuit challenging the special counsels broad authority and accusing the Justice Department of breaking the law in appointing Mueller.

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with Salil Parekh, CEO of Infosys, in Mumbai, India on Feb. 20, 2018. (Prime Minister's Office)

Trudeau Announces $1 Billion in Wide-Ranging Deals With Indian Businesses

Indian and Canadian businesses will be investing over $1 billion dollars in each others countries as part of new deals announced after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with business leaders in Mumbai on Tuesday.

According to the Canadian Press, Indian businesses will be investing $250 million in Canada, while Canadian companies will invest $750 million in India.

The announcement came after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spent his third morning in India meeting with six of Indias top business leaders. The deals will touch on everything from pulp mills, pharamaceuticals, and the IT sector.

As one of the worlds fastest growing economies, India offers exciting opportunities for Canadian businesses of all sizes, said Trudeau in a press release.

According to the Prime Ministers Office, the deals signed will create over 5,800 jobs for Canadians.

Bilateral trade between the two countries reached $8.4 billion for 2016, but this is far below the target set in 2010 of $15 billion when a the idea of a trade agreement was conceived.

One investment comes from pharmaceutical company Jubilant Bhartia. It plans to invest $100 million to grow its facility in Kirkland, Que., according to the Canadian Press.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with the Chairman of Aditya Birla Group, Kumar Mangalam Birla, in Mumbai, India. In Canada, ABG has operations in metal, carbon black, and pulp and fibre, with mills in New Brunswick and Ontario. pic.twitter.com/lJxjCmUUfV  CanadianPM (@CanadianPM) February 20, 2018

Canada and India have strong people ties. Canada is home to 1.4 million of Indian heritage. India was the source of the second-most newcomers in 2016 with 40,000. The commonalities between the two countries include political systems, the English language, and the Commonwealth.

Trudeau is making his first state visit to the worlds largest democracy. The visit began Feb. 17 and ends Feb. 23.

The visit has been overshadowed by non-business-related news such as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi not greeting Trudeau upon his arrival and accusations of Canadian sympathizing with Sikh separatism and the Khalistan region.

Follow Rahul on Twitter @RV_ETBiz

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President Donald Trump before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Jan. 24, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Trump Clobbers Fake News Washington Post for False Accusation on Front Page

President Donald Trump castigated the Washington Post as a fake news media on Tuesday for publishing a front-page story which resurfaced a false accusation from a woman who claims that he kissed her in Trump Tower in 2006.

A woman I dont know and, to the best of my knowledge, never met, is on the FRONT PAGE of the Fake News Washington Post saying I kissed her (for two minutes yet) in the lobby of Trump Tower 12 years ago, Trump wrote in a pair of tweets. Never happened! Who would do this in a public space with live security cameras running[?]

Trump asked why the Post hasnt published any stories on the women who took money to make up stories about him.

A woman I dont know and, to the best of my knowledge, never met, is on the FRONT PAGE of the Fake News Washington Post saying I kissed her (for two minutes yet) in the lobby of Trump Tower 12 years ago. Never happened! Who would do this in a public space with live security  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 20, 2018

.cameras running. Another False Accusation. Why doesnt @washingtonpost report the story of the women taking money to make up stories about me? One had her home mortgage paid off. Only @FoxNews so reporteddoesnt fit the Mainstream Media narrative.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 20, 2018

The woman featured in the Post article, Rachel Crooks, first made her allegations to the New York Times, months before the 2016 election. Crooks was one of 19 women making similar claims organized by attorney Gloria Allred.

After Trumps election, Allred wrapped up her media campaign and none of the women, including Crooks, filed any charges. Allred resurfaced months later to organize women who accused Alabama Senate hopeful, Roy Moore. In similar fashion, after Moore lost the race, none of the accusers filed charges.

Trumps mention of women who were offered money to accuse him refers to documents, emails, and text messages reviewed by The Hill which show that attorney Lisa Bloom, the daughter of Allred, worked to arrange payments from donors and tabloid media for women who either made or considered making accusations against Trump.

Bloom arranged a Hillary Clinton campaign donor to pay off one accusers mortgage. Another woman declined to make an accusation after being offered $750,000, the Hill reported. Bloom admitted that she engaged in discussions to secure payments for the women.

Bloom worked for four women who planned to accuse Trump, but only two came forward. One of the two women had her mortgage extinguished for less than $30,000, Fox News reported.

Trump has repeatedly denied all allegations.

Bloom has also represented Harvey Weinstein, who has been accused of sexual harassment by at least 84 women, in addition to women whove accused Bill Cosby and Bill OReilly.

Fox News reported her standard terms require clients to pay her commissions as high as 33 percent if she sells their stories to media outlets.

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UPDATE: Ohio Student Who Shot Himself Had Molotov Cocktails, Extra Ammo on Him

The Ohio middle school student who shot himself on Tuesday, Feb. 20, was armed with Molotov cocktails and extra ammo, according to a new report.

Two schools went on lockdown and four nearby schools remained on alert after the shooting in Jackson Township.

Police officials said that a 7th grader shot himself in a bathroom at Jackson Memorial Middle School around 7:50 a.m.

In the early afternoon, sources told Monica Robins of WKYC that the boy who shot himself also had Molotov cocktails and ammo on him.

She also revealed that information about a shooting threat came to school officials just 10 minutes before the shooting occurred.

The lockdowns at the middle school and high school lasted several hours before students were released.

Parents waited nearby, anxiously waiting to see their children.

The schools may be closed on Wednesday as well.

Sources tell me student had ammo and Molotov cocktails on him. Taken to Akron Childrens with temple wound. Info about threat came in 10 min before shooting @wkyc pic.twitter.com/uFRi4tIXOg  Monica Robins (@monicarobins) February 20, 2018

Parents waiting to see their kids. pic.twitter.com/MSUNW0fNaQ  Sarah Phinney (@sarahphinneytv) February 20, 2018

A press conference was scheduled for 2 p.m.

The incident in Ohio came six days after the shooting in Parkland, Florida that left 17 people dead.

Parents across the nation reacted to the shooting in different ways.

One parent of a Jackson Township student said he put body armor in his sons book bag over the weekend. He told News5 that he did so after a friend posted on Facebook describing a man who put regular textbooks in a bag and shot them with different guns.

The handguns didnt go through the first two textbooks. They barely made it through one. I had repainted the Shotstop [a ballistic protective armor gear] so they gave us this body armor and I put that in my sons book bag.

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Washington Therapist Accused of Raping Patient Found Dead in Jail Cell

A therapist in Washington state who had been accused of raping a patient was found dead in his jail cell.

Correctional officers found Dean Funabiki, 67, unresponsive in his cell over the weekend.

The doctor was hanging from the bed in his cell. A sheet had been used for the hanging.

Despite lifesaving efforts, Funabiki was soon pronounced dead.

At this time, investigators from the Whitman County Sheriffs Office will be working jointly with the Whitman County Coroners Office to determine cause and manner of death. This investigation is ongoing, Brett Myers, with the Whitman County Sheriffs Office, told KXLY.

Funabiki, who had an office in Pullman, was arrested on Friday after a female client came forward and accused him of sexual assault.

Funabiki turned himself in to police.

According to Myers, Funabiki was not on suicide watch, nor were there any signs that he was suicidal. The last suicide reported at the Whitman County Jail was over a decade ago, according to The Spokesman-Review.

Investigators used swabs collected from the victim during a sexual assault examination and compared them to DNA samples collected from Funabiki through a search warrant.

The samples positively matched, reported The Spokesman-Review.

Funabiki faced a second-degree rape charge and was slated to appear in court on Monday.

His website has been updated to state, Dr. Funabiki is no longer accepting new clients.

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Woman Realizes the Old Dog She Just Adopted Was Same One She Had as a Child

McKinley Corbley

Its been seven years since Nicole Grimes was forced to give up Chloe: her beloved canine companion.

When the girl was 14 years old, her father began a job outside the home and since Chloe was suddenly alone for long periods, she would bark all day long. The Grimes family was forced to consider the neighbors complaints about the young noisy pup, and had to give her up for adoption at a local shelter.

Though Nicole understood the reasoning behind her parents decision, she was still heartbroken over her lost friend and never forgot her.

Now a 21-year-old mother living in Brownsville, Pennsylvania with her husband, Nicole noticed one of her Facebook friends had posted a photo of a senior dog needing a loving home.

The elderly couple whod been caring for the dog had died recently so the couples neighbor posted the adoption ad on Facebook. The hound looked a lot like Chloe, so she decided to adopt it.

It just reminded me of my old dog. So I decided to take her in, Grimes told TODAY.

Even more strangely, the dog was similarly named Chloe.

She couldnt stop thinking about the resemblance to her childhood pal, so one day Nicole took the dog in for a microchip scan: in a strange twist of fate, the new canine family member was the exact dog that shed been forced to give up so many years ago.

I felt like I won the lottery, Grimes said. I never thought Id see her again.

Now, the little family will be giving Chloe all the love and kisses that Nicole missed out on since she was a young girl.
Woman Recounts How New York Hospital Declared Living Husband Dead

A woman said that her husband was still alive in a New York hospital when doctors declared him dead.

Can you imagine what it must have been like for him? To listen to the people I should be able to trust, tell him, try to convince me and my family that hes dead, and hes laying there alive? Tammy Cleveland told CBS.

Her husband Michael Cleveland, 46, went into cardiac arrest one night in 2014 when the situation happened.

Medics on the scene performed CPR and shocked Clevelands heart, then rushed him to nearby DeGraff Memorial Hospital in the Buffalo area.

But less than an hour after arrival at the hospital, ER doctor Gregory Perry declared him dead.

Tammy Cleveland, though, said that Michael was still alive when the declaration happened.

She said her husband spent several hours displaying signs he was still alive, including bringing his legs up to the gurney and breathing.

Despite her insistence that her husband was still alive, Tammy Cleveland said that Dr. Perry refused to perform a new physical exam either time he entered the room after the death declaration.

She said that Perry made a bizarre claim when she told him that her husband was still moving.

He said that Michael is only 46 years old. He said that hes got a lot of life to expel out of his body, Tammy said.

According to a deposition, though, when a coroner came to get the body, he told nurses to fetch Dr. Perry because he immediately noticed the body moving.

Dead people dont move, the coroner said in the deposition, adding, He needs to go in there and check his pulse.'

It was 2 hours and 40 minutes after the initial death declaration when Dr. Perry found a pulse and had him rushed to another hospital for doctors to perform a procedure to open a blocked artery.

It was too late, though, and Michael Cleveland died.

The case is set to go to trial in April.

However, a judge last week threw a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress out, reducing the potential financial liability for the hospital and doctor, reported The Buffalo News.

State Supreme Court Justice Frank Caruso said that the trial will instead focus on the claims of medical malpractice and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

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Woman Suffers Severe Burns as Gasoline Pumped Into Garbage Can Ignites

A woman was severely burned when gasoline fumes ignited as gas was being pumped into a garbage can in a cars backseat in Washington over the weekend.

The woman was rushed to the hospital on Saturday morning, Feb. 17.

Her companion was pumping gas into the garbage can when the fumes ignited, the Grand County Sheriffs Office said in a release posted to Facebook.

The female passenger, who was smoking a cigarette, apparently caused the fumes to ignite, engulfing the car. The woman got out of the car but sustained severe burns. A bystander drove her to Samaritan Healthcare in Moses Lake for treatment. Her current condition is unknown, the office said.

The male driver fled the scene on foot.

A photo of the scene at Cascade Grocery from the office showed the car almost completely burned.



It appeared to be undrivable in the condition it was left in after the fire.

After the fire was out, deputies discovered a large quantity of marijuana in the trunk of the car. The vehicle was seized as evidence, the office added.

The sheriffs office is investigating the incident.

Anyone with information should contact the office at 509-762-1160 or email crimetips@grantcountywa.gov. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

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WWE Ex-Wrestler Admits Involvement in Unsolved Murder of Two Teens

Former WWE wrestler Billy Jack Haynes admitted to witnessing the murder of two teens in Arkansas most notorious unsolved cases.

He released his confession via a video obtained by KATV. He also admitted to being present at the murders in an interview with KARN News Radio and in a video for a Gofundme campaign. He says that he was hired as part of a cocaine smuggling ring that included law enforcement and high-level politicians and that the two teens were murdered after they stumbled upon the area where a drug drop was taking place.

Haynes said he did not kill Kevin Ives and Don Henry but law enforcement officers that were part of his group did. He admitted to helping move the bodies onto the tracks of an oncoming train to help cover up the murder, according to KATV.

He said that on that night, Aug. 23, 1987, he was with three law enforcement personnel, two lawyers, a club owner, and two people he didnt see that were waiting in a van, according to KATV. In the Gofundme plea, Haynes admits to getting involved because he was already involved in drug trafficking. Eventually, this led him to a politician drug dealer to seek his help as a hitman. He mentions an Arkansas criminal politician asked him to guard drug money the night the boys were killed, he says via the video posted on YouTube via Private Snoop. He also mentions that he could be killed for what he is revealing.

He supposedly names those involved in both the KATV video and in an interview with KARN News Radio, but both media have chosen to withhold the names or edit them out of portions of the recordings they have made public. The highest level politician in Arkansas at the time was Governor Bill Clinton. Unofficial theories abound on YouTube that the Clintons were involved.

Kevin Ivess mother, Linda Ives, filed a lawsuit in 2016 alleging a cover-up since she could not obtain documents she requested about the case, according to Arkansas Matters. She said via video that she believes part of the reason the case didnt move forward is because of the high profile people that could be implicated, according to her Private Snoop video.

Originally, the teens deaths were ruled suicide before an autopsy and a grand jury determined the boys were murdered, Arkansas Matters reported.

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Carl Icahn and a fellow Xerox investor renewed on Tuesday their broadside on the technology giants CEO and board of directors, parsing out their arguments for Xerox to abandon a planned merger with Fujifilm Holdings.

Icahn and Darwin Deason reiterated their stance that Norwalk-based Xerox can extricate itself from its existing Fuji Xerox joint venture with Fujifilm after a multiyear accounting probe of the Japan-based entity in which Xerox has a minority stake. The Fuji Xerox joint venture limits the revenue Xerox can record from sales in the Asia-Pacific region.
In five years, the share of households with a Netflix subscription has increased 92 percent. Today the majority of households in the United States subscribe to Netflix, and that number is slated to rise this year.

Why is this happening? The product is designed so well that you and I have been sucked into shows, only to emerge from our homes days later. The creative team is skilled at creating programs that receive both popular and critical praise.

But Netflix doesnt just produce good shows, it also knows how to use advanced digital marketing techniques to acquire new customers and retain existing ones. Lets talk about a few of the digital marketing principles that make Netflix so successful. Follow them and you may just see similar results.

Related: Netflix by the Numbers

Personalized content is the best kind.

What sets Netflix apart from other streaming services? Amazon, HBO and Vudu all have access to thousands of television shows and movies. They offer intuitive user interfaces, and they are available across devices. Yet Netflix is uniquely situated to dominate the streaming video revolution thanks to the companys obsessive approach to content personalization.

My Netflix homepage looks entirely different from yours. This is thanks to the power of proprietary algorithms that predict what kind of content youll enjoy, and hide the rest. On Amazon Prime Video, I can't even find the last thing I viewed there easily. Netflix has them beat here.

You might be thinking that content personalization is only available to companies like Netflix that have the capital to employ hundreds of the worlds smartest engineers. But entrepreneurs can also tap into content personalization in a few different ways.

Tools like Optimizely and Adobe Experience Cloud let you to personalize content based on a variety of data points like the country associated with an IP address, or whether or not a visitor is already a lead in a CRM. Based on this information, marketers can choose to display different website experiences in order to better serve the interests of a particular visitor.

As an alternative to third-party software platforms, marketers can always fake personalization with a little elbow grease. By building behavior based email workflows, marketers can ask email recipients to click various links depending on their interest. Once their interest is registered, the rest of the email workflow can be based on the interests articulated by recipients.

Takeaway:

Remember, personalization isnt about relying on advanced algorithms. Instead, its about identifying and providing the kind of experience the prospect, customer or visitor is most interested in having.

Related: 11 Supernatural Ways 'Stranger Things' Has Turned Marketing Upside Down

Multi-channel campaigns are key to getting your message out.

Netflix is available on seemingly every device. From computers to smart televisions, users can access Netflix wherever and whenever they want. Marketers at Netflix take a similar approach to promotion.

To hype season two of the companys hit show Stranger Things, Netflix teamed up with Snapchat to release an augmented reality experience. At the same time, Netflix used Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and email marketing to promote the upcoming season.

Takeaway:

Multi-channel marketing isnt about spending big bucks on advertising stunts. Its about creating marketing campaigns that meet members of the target audience wherever they "live." In the case of Stranger Things viewers, Netflix knew that their target audience would spend hours on social platforms, so they developed a strategy accordingly.

Simple is powerful in a complex world.

We live in complicated and noisy times. As a result, the average person has an attention span of just eight seconds, according to the New York Times. Netflix chooses to keep things simple when creating a mission statement or designing a user interface.

The companys investor relations page says, We are a relief from the complexity and frustration that embody most MVPD relationships with their customers. We strive to be extremely straightforward.

Its no surprise then that for non-customers, the Netflix homepage is so simple its sparse. It takes just two scrolls to reach the bottom of the page, and features two messages: watch anywhere and cancel anytime.

Takeaway:

Use simplicity as a differentiating factor, and make it easy for members of the target audience to understand what you do and how you can help them. Ensure that this approach translates to marketing material, product experience and customer service.

Related: 18 Tips To Make Your Marketing Efforts Soar in 2018

Email marketing is still a key component to customer onboarding.

Despite claims to the contrary, email marketing is not dead. In fact, its used by Netflix as a key component of customer onboarding and nurturing.

New Netflix customers receive a series of emails that make content recommendations and encourage new users to explore the platform. This is a way of driving platform adoption, which improves customer retention in the long run.

Long time customers also receive periodic emails from Netflix. To promote the release of a new show called The Punisher, Netflix sent customers a marketing email that appeared to be spam at first glance. But once opened, the email played a GIF that slowly redacted information until a button at the bottom appeared, encouraging subscribers to watch the new show.

Takeaway:

Email marketing is not dead; unimaginative email marketing is. Netflix marketers invest hours in building creative email marketing campaigns designed to engage and delight recipients. You don't need sophisticated tech to engage people in your database. You just need to understand the target audience, and apply some imagination to email marketing.

Netflix is successful thanks to a focus on understanding target audiences. Once that happens, marketers launch creative cross-platform campaigns that deliver simple and clear value propositions.

Remember that success in digital marketing isnt a result of big budgets and advanced technology. It comes from creative and customer-centric strategies.

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Netflix Shows Are Entertaining Enough, But It's the Digital Marketing That's Masterful

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NORWALK  Stantec, Inc., the consultant hired to update Norwalks Plan of Conservation and Development  otherwise known as the citys master plan  has more local work on its plate.

The Common Council this month approved hiring the planning firm to review plans for a 195-unit transit-oriented development at the East Norwalk Train Station.

Stantec is updating the citys POCD, wrote Norwalk Director of Planning and Zoning Steve Kleppin in a memorandum provided to the council. As part of their Scope of Work they were going to conduct a preliminary assessment of TOD at East Avenue, provided we didnt receive the grant, so they have a working knowledge of the area and understand TOD potential at this location.

The development proposal came at about the same time the city was awarded a $125,000 state grant to prepare a TOD study for East Norwalk. Transit-oriented development puts housing, retail and other uses near public transportation to create walkable neighborhoods and reduce vehicular traffic.

Spinnaker Real Estate Partners has proposed 195 apartments, 40,955 square feet of offices, 2,130 square feet of restaurant space and 1,500 square feet of retail space for 230 East Ave. and 3 Rowan St. next to the train station.

Stantec has agreed to conduct a peer review of the plan for a maximum fee of $7,500. The work would be an addendum to its existing contract with the city. The company is in the process of updating Norwalks POCD at a cost of $200,000.

The applicant (Spinnaker) has agreed to this fee and will give the City a check for that amount which will be deposited into an account from which we will reimburse Stantec directly, Kleppin wrote of the addendum. Any funds remaining at the conclusion of the application process will be returned to the applicant.

As such, there will no cost to the city, Kleppin wrote.

Stantec will review all documents relevant to Spinnakers plan, consult with Kleppin, and provide the city a memorandum that reviews and evaluates the proposed development.

The evaluation will be based on existing conditions, city policies and plans, and take into account the results of the POCD process thus far. Stantec will evaluate the development plan using best practices for transit-oriented development and present its findings and answer questions at up to two public hearings.

East Norwalk residents deserve as much information and feedback on this proposed development as possible, said Council President John Kydes, chairman of the councils Planning Committee. Stantec is a professional planning company who has been tasked with providing the Zoning Commission and the public with their independent view of this project.

Last year, the Norwalk Zoning Commission amended its rules and required developers to pay for outside peer review for certain projects that require outside expertise. Such scenarios often relate to traffic, engineering, and planning and architecture.

WSP USA, the commissions on-call traffic consultant, has begun that service regarding Spinnakers plan, according to Kleppin.

Under Spinnakers plan, a five-story, 149-unit building would rise to the west of the old Factory Outlet, which would be revamped. A small, two-story building dedicated to commuter-oriented retail would be built at 230 East Ave. The Pooch Hotel building, although part of the parcel, would remain.
EDWARDSVILLE - Two brothers are being held at the Madison County Jail on $2 million bail after prosecutors charged them Tuesday with shooting to death Tyrone Grady on Chaparral Lane, just outside the village of Glen Carbon.

Julius D. Evans, 32, and Ralph J. Evans, Jr., 29, face two counts of first-degree murder. Grady and both suspects are from St. Louis and Madison County Sheriff Major Jeff Connor said Tuesday that they all knew each other.

Gradys body was found in the middle of Chaparral Lane shortly after 8 p.m. on the night of Feb. 8. Shortly before the shooting, a womans body was found inside Gradys St. Louis home.

We believe that played a part in this, Connor said. But its not necessarily the entire reason.

The statements were made at a press conference at the Madison County Sheriffs Department in Edwardsville. Connor was asked why the brothers had come from St. Louis to Glen Carbon to allegedly commit the crime.

Thats a good question, Connor responded. At this point, we have every reason to believe this is a random location. This wasnt a predetermined location.

Madison County States Attorney Tom Gibbons praised the more than two dozen members of the Major Case Squad who absolutely ran themselves ragged working on this case, as they do every time.

Based on the information we have from the investigation there is no connection to Madison County, other than the fact that the crime occurred here, Gibbons said. Once again we have seen how individuals from St. Louis are bringing violent crime to Madison County, and I am enormously proud to stand up - along with Sheriff Lakin and Major Connor and members of local law enforcement - to individuals who are bringing violent crime to Madison County. The message you should receive today is that if you come to Madison County, you will get Madison County justice. If you take a trip to Madison County, we will assure you that if you commit violent crimes here, your next stop on your travels will be the Department of Corrections. We intend to prosecute these cases vigorously.

Connor said the investigation will continue as long as necessary. Were still gathering evidence, and this case is far from over, he said.
During a space flight, the most routine daily tasks are dictated by one thing - zero gravity.

While space shuttle missions were packed with experiments and procedures most of us cant wrap our brains around, even something as simple as brushing ones teeth becomes a challenge in the weightlessness of space.

Dr. Guion Guy Bluford, the first African-American to fly into space for NASA, detailed life in orbit Monday during a speech presented as part of SIUEs Arts & Issues series.

Selected for the astronaut program in 1978, Bluford would go on to fly a total of four shuttle missions, logging a total of 688 hours in space.

Bluford, 75, has retired from NASA, but shared his memories - often humorously - with the more than 700 people in attendance inside the universitys Meridian Ballroom.

Before beginning his description of lie in orbit, Bluford reminded the audience of one of the joys - and perils - of spaceflight.

Remember - zero g. Everything floats around in zero g, Bluford said.

Personal hygiene is one challenge all astronauts face as even a technological marvel like a space shuttle doesnt come with a sink.

At the end of brushing your teeth, you did what every 2 year old does  swallow. Thats one of the criteria when youre applying for the astronaut program. They ask you, Can you swallow toothpaste, Bluford joked.

In zero g, everything not locked down floats - including water, which could become a problem if a bubble floats into an electronic compartment.

So the astronauts make due.

We had a little squirt gun. Squirt the water into sponge, a little soap and you do a sponge bath, Bluford said.

Eating and drinking also presented special challenges although Bluford said the days of astronauts squeezing a tube of rehydrated food into their mouths are long gone.

We eat regular food. The difference is, the food is put onboard the shuttle about 30 days before launch, he said.

The food was prepared at the Johnson Space Center in Houston and shipped to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

With missions routinely lasting five to eight days, NASA made sure astronauts had a varied menu, complete with snacks.

Bluford said he attacked those snacks first.

In my case, if you flew with me, the cashew nuts disappeared within the first day. I ignored the regular food. I had to go through the cashew nuts first, and then the sticky buns and the peanut M&Ms and finally Ill get to the real food.

The real food was dehydrated and placed in containers. The astronauts then used the squirt gun again to prepare meals.

You took them over to a little machine and stick a needle into the container, Bluford said. You squirt 8 ounces of cold water or 2 ounces of hot water.

The meals, once prepared, would be placed on trays.

Bluford said those trays were secured to the astronauts lap with Velcro, which made using both hands easier.

Astronauts would then cut the container open and the water would hold the food together allowing them to eat with a fork.

The process, however, was made simpler by eating each course in its entirety before moving on to the next one.

Bluford said there was nothing simple, however, about an assignment he was given on his first trip into space.

On my first flight, we experimented with sandwiches. So my job is to go down and make the sandwiches. So I got the bread and the meat and the cheese and tomatoes. Ive got five crew members so Ive got one sandwich together and then Im working on the second sandwich and the first sandwich starts to get a mind of its own. And then youve got three sandwiches, Bluford said. After a while, you realize the sandwich idea is not going to work. So in the end, we decided to eat sandwiches the serial way  we ate the bread first and then the meat and then the cheese and then the tomato and then youd eat the other piece of bread. That was the only way to eat that sandwich.

Drinking, too, had its own set of challenges and wow to the first-time astronaut who didnt follow directions.

Also, we had containers for drinks  orange juice, coffee, tea. You stick it in the machine. It puts hot water, cold water in it and then they give you a straw. The straw has a little cap on the end of it, Bluford said. And you can always spot the rookie astronaut. He sucks on the straw and he doesnt keep the cap on the end of the straw. . . and what happens he has a bubble of orange juice or tomato juice floating around in the cockpit.

After addressing personal hygiene and meal time, it was bed time.

Sleeping bodies float just as well in zero g as working bodies and, because one earth orbit takes 90 minutes, sleeping astronauts had to contend with frequent sunrises.

They give astronauts sleeping bags. You can put the sleeping bag on the ceiling. Hang it upside down, on the floor. You know zero g, Bluford said. The other thing you have to think about  your orbits, you have 45 minutes of daylight, then 45 minutes of night, then 45 minutes of daylight and then 45 minutes of night. So you can either put window shades in the window or you can wear eye shades.

Extended time in zero g can also change a persons body.

Astronauts on shuttle flights or at the International Space Station work out daily.

But the weightlessness of zero gravity wins.

In zero g, all the fluids in your body tend to float up toward your face. Your legs get a little thin, you get a little wider around the middle, you get flusher around the face, Bluford said. If youre interested in losing an inch off each thigh, I guarantee zero g solves that problem for you. The other thing is youre taller. I was about an inch-and-a-half taller in zero g. But it all settles back down when youre on the ground.

Bluford was born in Philadelphia and earned a bachelors degree in aerospace engineering from Penn State University.

He then served as an Air Force pilot, flying 144 combat missions in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam war.

He returned to earn a masters degree and doctorate, both from the Air Force Institute of Technology.

From there, he was selected as an astronaut, ultimately earning NASAs coveted Astronaut Pin as well the U.S. Air Forces Command Pilot Astronaut Wings.

Bluford resigned from the Air Force as a Colonel and NASA in 1993 to become the Vice President/General Manager of the Engineering Services Division of NYMA Inc, in Greenbelt, Maryland.

In 1997, he became Vice President of the Aerospace Sector of Federal Data Corporation, and in 2000 he became Vice President of Microgravity R&D and Operations for the Northrop Grumman Corporation.
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3 Stocks to Buy on Recent or Expected Dividend Hikes

Dividend stocks should hold a place in every investors portfolio. Even if you dont intend to use the dividend payout as regular income, the ability to reinvest dividends is like giving yourself a raise every quarter. As with any investment, not all dividend stocks are the same.

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Tahoe Resources Inc., together with its subsidiaries, acquires, explores for, develops, and operates mineral properties in the Americas. It explores for silver, gold, lead, zinc, and copper deposits, as well as precious metals assets. The company holds interest in the La Arena gold mine located in the Huamachuco district of northern Peru; Shahuindo mine located in the province of Cajabamba in northern Peru; and La Arena II, a copper-gold porphyry deposit located in Peru. It also holds interest in the Timmins mines, including the Bell Creek and Timmins West mines, the Fenn-Gib project, the Juby project, the Vogel project, and the Gold River project located in Timmins, Ontario. The company was formerly known as CKM Resources Inc. and changed its name to Tahoe Resources Inc. in January 2010. Tahoe Resources Inc. was incorporated in 2009 and is headquartered in Reno, Nevada.

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Slippery road blamed for Phuket tour bus colliding with power pole

PHUKET: A bus carrying 10 Chinese tourists crashed into an power pole on Chao Fa Tawan Tok Rd southbound close to the Darasamut Underpass yesterday night, with the accident blamed on a slippery road due to rain.

accidentsChinesepolicetransportweathertourism

By Tanyaluk Sakoot

Tuesday 20 February 2018, 01:44PM

There were 10 Chinese tourists on the bus when the accident took place. Photo: Wichit Traffic Police

Capt Charus Lemparn of the Wichit Traffic Police confirmed to The Phuket News today (Feb 20), A bus crashed into a power pole on Chao Fa Tawan Tok Rd southbound in front of Wichitsongkram School, and close to the Darasamut Underpass, at 7 pm yesterday (Feb 19).

It had just rained and the road was slippery, this is what caused the accident, he said.

This bus was carrying 10 Chinese tourists from the Naka Market area. The driver arrived at the scene and lost control causing him to crash into the power pole. Luckily he manged to avoid hitting another vehicle.

It took one hour for the bus to be moved which caused some tailbacks. However, it was lucky that neither the driver nor the passengers were injured, he added.

Meanwhile, just three hours 20 minutes after the bus incident, a Chinese man died after the motorbike he was riding slammed into a structural pylon that holds the overhead lane lights at the northbound entrance to the Darasamut Underpass.

Rescue workers along with Vachira Phuket Hospital medical staff arrived at the scene to find a Chinese national, named by Wichit Police as Zhang Shican, unconscious with no pulse.

Rescue workers provided a CPR at the scene before Mr Zhang was rushed to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town, where he was pronounced dead at 10:53pm. (See story here.)

Correction: It was a "Phuket tour bus" that had the accident, not a "Phuket tour bush". The error is nearly regretted.
Former House Majority Leader Bob Faehn of Watertown dies

Bob Faehn served in the Legislature as a Republican from 2005 to 2010. During his time in Pierre, he helped ban smoking in bars and restaurants.
OTTAWAThe Competition Bureau said Tuesday it has reached an agreement with Leons Furniture Ltd. and the Brick Ltd. regarding allegations of deceptive marketing practices dating back nearly five years ago.

As part of the settlement, Leons and the Brick have agreed to each donate $750,000 worth of home furnishings over two years to charities to be approved by the regulator.

The bureau alleged in July 2013 that the retailers buy now, pay later promotions, often resulted in customers paying more than advertised and should be stopped.

It said that customers who chose the deferred-payment option often ended up paying more than those who paid for their purchases upfront as a result of the additional fees, which were buried by the retailers in the fine print. The extra costs ranged from processing or administrative fees, delivery fees and taxes.

Leons, which owns the Brick, defended its deferred payment plans at the time. The retailer of furniture, appliances and electronics said they benefited consumers.

But as part of the agreement announced Tuesday, Leons and the Brick have also agreed to adhere to the bureaus guidance on the proper use of disclaimers in advertising and the disclosure of fees associated with their financing plans.

Consumers expect and deserve truth in advertising, said Josephine Palumbo, the bureaus deputy commissioner of competition, in a statement.

The bureau works to ensure Canadians can trust advertising claims made by businesses and can be confident in their purchasing decisions. Increased competition in the marketplace provides consumers with competitive prices and more choice.

Leons could not be immediately reached for comment about its settlement agreement with the Competition Bureau.
Queens Park is giving itself the power to retaliate against Uncle Sams protectionist trade policies.

The provincial government on Tuesday tabled the Fairness in Procurement Act, a new law that would allow Ontario to take responsive and proportional action to discriminatory trade practice by American states.

Our government values fairness and opportunity, and we will continue to advocate for open and competitive procurement processes, said Economic Development Minister Steven Del Duca.

It is crucial for Ontarios economic prosperity that we continue working to strengthen and promote our long-standing business relationships, said Del Duca.

Premier Kathleen Wynne said last week she would push new legislation to fight back against New Yorks Buy American Act, which takes effect on April 1.

That American law could stop Ontario iron from being used in state public works contracts worth more than $1 million (U.S.) for roads and bridges.

Wynne, who is travelling to Washington on Thursday to meet with the National Governors Association, is also concerned about the Texas Buy American Act, enacted last Sept. 1, that requires all state construction projects use U.S.-made iron and steel.

If there are those protectionist initiatives taken in the States, then we have to have the ability to respond, the premier said last week.

Under the proposed legislation, Ontario would have the flexibility to choose whether and how to respond to discriminatory procurement actions against U.S. states by providing the authority to make responsive regulations.

These retaliatory measures would enable the province to impose similar restrictions on its market.

Once the regulation comes into force, Ontarios procuring entities could be required to exclude companies from a U.S. state from competing on specific procurements, the provincial government said in a statement.

The responsive regulation would be revoked in the event that the offending U.S. sub-national jurisdiction removed its Buy American policy or provided Ontario-based suppliers with an exemption.
Even the staunchest supporters of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau must grow weary of his habit of deploying bromides when substance is called for.

Sears pensioners found no comfort in the PMs comments last month expressing, you know, compassion for their plight. There are no easy answers, the PM offered. The world of work has changed, he noted. Why, the nature of the global economy isnt what it was. And hey, thats why we have measures like the Canada Pension Plan.

Perhaps Wednesdays call for a national day of action by the advocacy group CARP will cause Trudeaus advisers to draft a more meaningful response to the travesty that continues to unfold for the thousands of Sears pensioners who had spent years, even decades, snug in their understandable assumption that their defined benefit pension plan was as golden as promised. Golden as in unbreakable and reliable.

Defining the treatment of Sears pensioners in the liquidation process as a travesty does not originate with me. Writing in the Financial Post Friday, former Encana Corp. CEO Gwyn Morgan deployed this sharply specific language aimed at Canadas bankruptcy law, which punts pensioners behind such secured creditors as the banks and bondholders in the distribution of assets.

Meanwhile, Morgan writes, government employees face no risk of ever losing their pensions. This means that the only Canadians who can really count on their pensions are the employees of the same government that prevents private-sector employees from being able to count on theirs.

This has to change, and its significant that Morgan has weighed in on this. Why? Because he deflates one of the primary arguments trotted out in favour of the status quo: that changing bankruptcy law would inhibit a companys ability to access debt.

As the former CEO of a company that raised tens of billions of dollars in Canadian debt markets, I can honestly say that no banker or bondholder ever paid any attention to the funding status of our defined-benefit pension plan, Morgan writes. In reality, the only time lenders become concerned about employee pension obligations is when a company is at the brink of collapse, in which case they wouldnt consider lending anyway.

The country has a serial history of watching pensioners bear the brunt of collapse, perhaps none as painful as Nortel Networks. Stories that have drawn fewer headlines  Im thinking of the battle waged by Wabush Mines pensioners in Newfoundland  continue to play out alongside the Sears drama.

But it is the story of the once-great retailer that serves as the catalyst for change. It isnt just the role the chain played in the history of the countrys retail landscape  and the hole that has been blown through that landscape with the retailers demise. It is the billions of dollars in dividend distributions  unconscionable . . . massive asset stripping, in Morgans words  to shareholders that has recast Sears employees, including hard-working salespeople earning modest wages, as mere dupes.

The number of Sears retirees totals 18,000. Approximately 16,000 of those were enrolled in the companys defined benefit pension plan. The remainder were invested in the companys defined contribution (DC) pension plan, which effectively functions as a matched RSP and will pay out at 100 per cent.

The lump sum payments to those in the defined benefit plan will be determined by the underfunded assets in the plan. The windup of both components is being administered by Morneau Shepell Ltd. (yes, that Morneau Shepell), which in a note to recipients estimated that the plan could sustain payments at a so-called funded ratio of 71 per cent.

Is this not criminal?

Gwyn Morgan makes the case that seeking legal redress for the billions paid out to shareholders will only prolong an expensive and costly legal battle. (The Nortel saga turned into a two-decades-long, cross-border fight.)

Instead, he urges the Trudeau government to act now and change the law, to prevent Sears, and other private-sector define-benefit pension plan members, from seeing their futures torn apart in bankruptcy court.

Both the Bloc Quebecois and the NDP have tabled private members bills seeking to prioritize pensioners. If the prime ministers blase comments last month are any indication, he doesnt think much of either.

Whats truly unconscionable is that he could be so dismissive of former Sears employees who, over a lifetime of work, earned that pension.

jenwells@thestar.ca

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Travel should be fun. But its hard to relax when the arrangements dont go according to plan.

Harold and Ruth Ann Jaques took a two-week guided tour of Greece with Transat Vacations last October. They wanted an English-speaking tour and ensured their travel agent made such a request.

Upon arriving in Greece, they found everyone else on their bus tour was French-speaking. The tour guide translated everything, but didnt give them equal time.

The francophones received 20-to-30 minute presentations of the sites we were visiting. Then, the guide would turn to us and give a two-to-four minute version, Harold said.

This continued for four days of our 12-day trip. My wife was reduced to tears of frustration and disappointment.

On returning to Mississauga, the couple sent several emails to customer service at Montreal-based Transat. No response.

After they wrote to Transats chief operating officer Annick Guerard, they received two vouchers of $150 each to use on a future trip.

Ellen, this was an $8,000-plus trip of a lifetime to see the archeological wonders of Greece, Harold said, asking for a better offer. Without a proper explanation, the ruins tend to be a lot of rocks.

Transat spokeswoman Debbie Cabana said the couple had bought a bilingual tour. The company told them this was the case beforehand.

That said, we do expect the tour guides to communicate in both languages to adequately serve our clients, she said.

In the interest of customer satisfaction, Transat doubled the offer to vouchers of $300 apiece to use for future travel.

Vivian Chow asked for help getting credit for Aeroplan miles after flying to China last May with Air Canada.

Since the flight to China is 15 hours long and 16 hours on the way back, I opted to upgrade to business class, she said.

She had booked with Sinorama, a tour operator that gets discounted airfares and includes the flights with its tour packages.

She was charged full price ($3,730) for her business class upgrade and was issued a brand new ticket.

When her reward miles failed to show up in her account, she started writing to both Aeroplan and Air Canada and getting different excuses.

Aeroplan said her original ticket was a discounted fare, so she wasnt eligible to receive miles. She should speak to Air Canada.

Air Canada said same-day upgrades were not eligible for miles. When she said her upgrade was well in advance of the flight, Air Canada said it would forward her email to Aeroplan.

I feel like Im just getting the runaround and being treated unfairly, she told me in December, seven months after her trip.

Christa Poole, an Aeroplan spokesperson, helped resolve this complaint once I contacted her. The problem was an improper linkage.

My original ticket wasnt eligible for points, Chow said. When I upgraded, my ticket was still linked to the discounted one, even though I was issued a new business class, full fare ticket.

After months of buck passing, a vice-president from Aeroplan finally contacted me and awarded me the miles. I guess I had to persist long enough for someone higher up to do something about it.

Monica Berzins booked a one-night hotel reservation with Expedia, a large online travel agency. Although she lives in Brampton, Ont., and stayed at the Ramada Plaza in Toronto, she was charged in U.S. dollars.

The charge was $319.41, which she thought was in Canadian dollars. But the U.S. exchange rate boosted her hotel bill to $410.29.

Neither TD Visa (her credit card issuer) nor Expedia would agree to lower the amount. Meanwhile, the Expedia charge rose to $423.87 U.S. on her January credit card statement.

Expedia said it was up to TD Visa to sort this out and TD Visa said it was up to Expedia. I just want the U.S. exchange rate deleted from my Canadian transaction, she told me.

Thanks to Expedia contact Mary Zajac in Toronto, Berzins got her money back for the unwelcome U.S. dollar conversion.

We have determined that Monica booked a hotel reservation through Expedia.com, as opposed to Expedia.ca, which caused the charge to be in U.S. dollars, Zajac said.

Based on her conversation with the agent, she had the impression that the quoted rate of $319.41 was in Canadian currency.

Once the reservation was finalized, she received a confirmation email with the total in U.S. dollars, but she did not notice the currency of this charge until it later appeared on her credit card statement.

Expedia.ca apologized to Berzins for any miscommunication. It also pushed forward the exchange rate to Feb. 15, boosting her refund to $63.25 (U.S.) (from $59.93 (U.S.) on the date of purchase).

My advice: After making arrangements, make sure to get all the details in writing. Check your confirmation emails at the time of purchase and correct any mistakes.

Seek compensation if you have been overcharged or underserved. And if you get no response, use mainstream or social media to help move your complaint to a higher level.

Ellen Rosemans column runs in Smart Money. You can reach her at eroseman@thestar.ca.

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Artistic inspiration comes in many forms, and sometimes when and where you least expect it. The creators of the innovative multimedia show No Foreigners, which plays this week at the Theatre Centre, chanced on its central conceit during their meal breaks.

As David Yee, artistic director of Torontos fu-GEN Theatre explains it, the crystallizing moment happened during a residency at the Gateway Theatre in Richmond, B.C., in August 2016. He and the three core members of the Vancouver interdisciplinary company Hong Kong Exile were developing a project about a public signage controversy in Richmond, a fast-growing city attracting many immigrants from Hong Kong, Taiwan and mainland China.

Because we were in Richmond and hungry, we ended up in Chinese malls, in the food court, says Yee. As we spent time there we realized the signage debate was one piece of a larger puzzle that dealt with immigration.

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The controversy that was the basis of the project may sound familiar to GTA readers, as it echoes a debate in Markham in the mid-1990s around signage in the Pacific Mall and elsewhere that was exclusively in Chinese languages. Since 2014, there have been demands on Richmonds city council to prevent monolingual signs, which was only recently addressed by a policy recommending  but not requiring  business owners to include English on signs.

Yee and his colleagues saw in these tensions fear of the other and fear of being othered amongst the majority culture.

The discussion around the signage debate had to do with how we create cultural cohesion, says Milton Lim, HKXs co-founder. The mall contained all of that for us.

The focus of the project shifted to the Asian-Canadian shopping mall as a site where Chinese diasporas meet and mix, in all their cultural, linguistic and generational diversity.

Yee, Lim and the other HKX members, Natalie Tin Yin Gan and Remy Siu, dove in by sending Yee on a reconnaissance mission that handed them their shows title. Theyd seen a luxury handbag store in a Richmond mall that had a Members Only sign on the door. When Yee rang the doorbell, the woman who answered gives me the look up and down and says No foreigners and closes the door in my face.

I kind of took a cinematic, shocked step backwards. That was a very strange experience and very mysterious, says Yee. I dont know what she read, with me being mixed-race. (Yee is half Scottish, half Chinese.)

That one story is standoffish, says Lim, but there is a good part of Chinese malls that feels like home for me and the other creators . . . its a place in which there are lots of tensions for us as Chinese diaspora. . . . Its kind of home, but its also Sorry, no foreigners.

Chinese malls are intricate, busy environments and Lim says attempts to represent them in a theatre space started to feel insurmountable, until Siu proposed a multi-camera setup in which images of little figurines, manipulated by live actors, are projected onto large screens. This allows the action to move between a number of locations without having to navigate the expense and complexity of representing them in life-sized form. Two actors (Derek Chan and April Leung) operate the cameras, handle the figurines and provide all the voices.

Yee, a Governor Generals Award-winning playwright, was tasked with creating the script, which he says was a big challenge. The central questions became how we play with perspective in narrative. How do we use our technical capabilities to blow the doors off of what could be a classic immigration story?

He found part of his answer in another of the shows necessary conventions: supertitles, given that 50 per cent of the show is spoken in Cantonese. He realized that the projected titles dont have to be just language translation. They can help drive that shift of perspective. At points, the voice in the projected text changes from first to second or third person, so that we can tell various sides of the stories very quickly.

The action moves through different locations including a bag store, gadget shops, Chinese medicine dispensaries and a food court, shifting linguistically from English to Cantonese.

The Globe and Mails Marsha Lederman, who reviewed the show in Vancouver, praised the ways in which its use of languages reflects the linguistic juggling of the immigrant experience. Another key aspect of the show is its soundtrack, which Lincoln Kaye of the Vancouver Observer describes as a mix of electronica, Canto-pop and vapid shopping mall Muzak.

An agenda for both companies is bringing in members of the Chinese diaspora who know these malls but may not be regular theatregoers. Welcoming the community to the work is something we try to do with everything we produce, Yee affirms.

No Foreigners plays at the Theatre Centre Feb. 21 to 25. Visit theatrecentre.org or call 416-538-0988.Karen Fricker is a Toronto Star theatre critic. She alternates the Wednesday Matinee column with Carly Maga.
VANCOUVERBritish Columbia has turned up the heat in a simmering trade dispute by launching a formal challenge against Albertas ban on its wines.

The B.C. government said Monday it notified Alberta that it is formally requesting consultations under the Canadian free trade agreements dispute settlement process.

The latest salvo is part of an increasingly bitter political tussle over the expansion of bitumen shipments through the Trans Mountain pipeline and the potential environmental consequences.

Albertas actions threaten the lives of families that have worked to build B.C.s wine industry, said Trade Minister Bruce Ralston.

I think what is important is standing up for B.C. wineries, B.C. businesses and B.C. jobs, he said during a news conference.

The ban has implications across the country, Ralston added.

The Canadian Free Trade Agreement is an agreement signed by all provinces and all territories, so it has national scope and its our view that this dispute engages questions that should be considered by every jurisdiction in the federation.

Initial discussions will take place between officials from both governments, Ralston said, and if they cant resolve the dispute within 120 days, the issue will go to a tribunal.

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Under the rules of the trade partnership agreement, a dispute can be referred to binding arbitration after all other means to resolve the problem have been taken.

Two members of a three-member panel are chosen by each province and they have to agree on a third member to act as a chairperson.

The full costs of the action can be charged to the losing province and if the province doesnt fix the problem within the time set out by the panel, it can be fined up to $5 million.

Alberta Trade Minister Deron Bilous volleyed Monday, saying the wine boycott was in response to B.C.s actions.

The Government of British Columbia is taking direct aim at the jobs and economic security of hundreds of thousands of Canadians, including tens of thousands of British Columbians, by threatening to limit what can go inside a pipeline  which they dont have the authority to do, Bilous said in a statement.

He said the ban is a reasonable response to an unreasonable attack on the Canadian economy.

We defend our actions vigorously on behalf of working people.

A group representing 276 B.C. wineries said it is grateful for the provincial governments efforts to resolve the unfair ban, but concerned about the dispute dragging on.

Given the lengthy process that a challenge through the Canadian Free Trade Agreements dispute settlement process will take, we continue to ask the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission to lift the unfair ban and allow the free trade of B.C. wines into Alberta, Miles Prodan, president of the B.C. Wine Institute, said in a statement.

The dispute began after B.C. Premier John Horgans government announced a proposal to limit shipments of diluted bitumen while it studies the environmental impact of a potential spill.

Alberta believes the actions will effectively kill the pipeline expansion, which the province deems critical to getting a better price for its oil.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley has called the move unconstitutional, and said the federal government  not B.C.  has the final say on what is transported through interprovincial pipelines.

A spokesperson for Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr said Monday that the pipeline falls under federal jurisdiction and they will not allow any province to infringe on the federal governments jurisdiction over the national interest.

Notley has also ended talks on buying electricity from B.C., while B.C. announced over the weekend that it was appealing a National Energy Board decision that allowed pipeline builder Kinder Morgan Canada to bypass local regulations in the construction of its pipeline.

David Moscrop, a political scientist at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C., said provinces regularly have disagreements, but its rare for an issue to escalate into a trade war.

He expects the dispute to continue because theres little incentive for anyone to compromise.

Theyre all going to dig in because this isnt just seen as an issue, this is seen as a fundamental issue, he said.

Ultimately, British Columbians and Albertans are the ones who will suffer, Moscrop added.

Everybody loses in a trade war. You just dont win, especially in an interprovincial trade war because were all on the same team, more or less, at the end of the day, he said.

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OTTAWAParty Bus and Mardi Gras at 35,000 feet are a couple of the nicknames given to the military Airbus flights that fly entertainers, musicians and media stars overseas for morale-raising visits with deployed soldiers.

New questions are being raised about the booze-fuelled VIP trips and the oversight of senior commanders.

Former Maple Leafs player Dave Tiger Williams was charged with assault and sexual assault this month after a goodwill trip last December for alleged incidents involving a female flight attendant. On that same trip, two passengers wet themselves and several complaints were made over inappropriate behaviour.

Military insiders, unhappy with the behaviour seen on these tours, are asking questions and demanding changes.

Why was a passenger allowed to bring a 40-ounce bottle of alcohol on board the military jet in Ottawa for the December flight when travellers are forbidden from carrying liquids on commercial flights? Military flights depart from the Canada Reception Centre, but passengers typically still have to go through security screening.

Why were passengers allowed to chew tobacco in the cabin when regular soldiers returning from tours of duty abroad are disciplined for the same behaviour? In this case, flight attendants were expressly told not to stop the passengers from chewing tobacco. Beer cans used for tobacco spit were left all over the plane.

Thats hypocritical beyond words, one source said.

Why were several apparently inebriated passengers allowed to board in Ottawa on Dec. 2, when airlines typically ban intoxicated travellers from boarding their flights?

Senior commanders have yet to speak about the December trip and military spokespersons have been guarded in their comments so far, citing the criminal charges against Williams and an ongoing internal investigation.

But military and defence department sources, talking to the Star on the condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly and because they fear retribution, are speaking out about these Team Canada trips.

They paint a picture of overseas flights that feature heavy drinking and a disregard for military rules and even the aviation regulations that govern passengers who fly commercial flights. Flight attendants were told last October that on VIP flights, passengers get whatever they want, rules do not apply, one source said.

While the December trip is in the spotlight, sources tell the Star that the tours  run for the past 12 years  have always been known for excessive drinking and a party atmosphere where sometimes passengers pass out or vomit after drinking too much.

Flight attendants who join the Trenton-based squadron that operates the fleet of Airbus aircraft have been told that the Team Canada flights are fun, but they can expect the passengers to be handsy and that theyll be all over you, one source said.

Sources say that not all flight attendants who work on these flights have been formally trained to serve alcohol or to recognize the signs of inebriation. And although the flight was not tame, one source told the Star the vast majority of passengers were well-behaved.

The military has refused to say who was part of the VIP contingent for the December tour.

Gen. Jonathan Vance, the chief of defence staff, was a last-minute scratch, skipping the trip because of other commitments.

The senior military members on the trip were Lt.-Gen. Alain Parent, the vice-chief of defence staff, and Chief Warrant Officer Kevin West, the most senior non-commissioned member of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Parent and West watched movies and slept during the first leg of the trip to Athens. The military has said that neither became aware of the alleged assault involving Williams until after the trip was over. Also onboard was the civilian defence department employee who works out of Vances office to organize these trips.

Insiders question why military leaders travelling with the contingent failed to intervene to curb the drinking given that some passengers were hammered, yelling and trying to arm wrestle with the crew while music blared in the background.

It was like a discotheque in there. The lights were down, there was booze everywhere. It was absolutely not what you would expect out of a flight, let alone a military one, said one source familiar with what unfolded.

For this trip, the military Airbus was stocked with beer and wine and, unusually, a supply of hard liquor, including whiskey, rum and vodka.

A military spokesperson has said the liquor for the Team Canada flights is donated. But if the alcohol runs out during the trip, it gets restocked at taxpayer expense.

In the wake of the December trip, the military has put plans for a March goodwill trip on hold, in part because its having trouble finding VIPs to take part.

The military says its also now reviewing its alcohol policy for air force flights. Insiders want the booze cut back and hard liquor off the aircraft.

They say with high-ranking officers and VIP guests on these trips, the flight attendants often feel powerless to crack down on excessive drinking or bad behaviour. They want flight attendants to be empowered to stop serving drinks if a passenger has drunk too much without fear of retribution for killing the party.

They say all flight attendants should have the Smart Serve training required in Ontario for everyone who serves alcohol.

In a statement to the Star on Monday, the defence department said the Royal Canadian Air Force is conducting an administrative review into the incident which will look at our policies and procedures regarding such flights.

We are also taking an extensive look at our Team Canada program, for which the next visit has been postponed until further notice, the statement said.

As we probe further into the matter to fully grasp every detail of the trip and the sequence of events, we will not comment further. We will allow the judicial and administrative processes to unfold as designed, it said.
Former Olympian Nicole Forrester says the live broadcast of the wardrobe malfunction during Sunday nights ice dance competition at the Pyeongchang Games was unfortunate and unavoidable.

But the former Canadian high-jump champion says social media users can avoid amplifying the incident and making it worse by not retweeting and sharing the uncensored images.

The issue I take more is how the public reacts thereafter and people having the grace and the maturity to be sensitive to how someone might be feeling and the idea that you might feel mortified, said Forrester, an assistant professor in Ryerson Universitys RTA School of Media.

You dont actually want to have the world retweeting and not being sensitive in that sense, so I would hold more accountability to the general public as being morally and ethically correct.

Forrester said she felt mortified for French skater Gabriella Papadakis when her costume became loose and revealed one of her breasts while performing on ice with Guillaume Cizeron.

The live performance on CBC was quickly followed by a slow-motion replay.

While some Canadian social media users criticized CBC for airing the footage, which was carried live around 11:20 p.m. ET, the network responded with a tweet explaining that it uses the local feed for the event and that the footage would be edited out of encore broadcasts.

A CBC spokesperson was not available for comment Monday.

Its not the first time weve seen incidents like this happen, whether its an athlete being interviewed right after in the heat of the moment or a performance at the Super Bowl or something, Forrester said.

I think those are the woes of live broadcasting and it happens.

Forrester noted that some female athletes have to wear minimal clothing out of necessity for their sport.

In track, where youre wearing skimpy outfits and certainly as the race is unfolding, especially a 400 and that, its not uncommon for the briefs to ride up a girls butt. It goes with the sport.

Forrester feels the CBC on-air personalities handled the situation well and noted that some viewers watching in real-time may not have even noticed the embarrassing moment until it was shared on social media.

Even if it hadnt been broadcast live, there was still an audience in the ice rink and some viewers could have captured the mishap and shared it on social media, she added.

Forrester hopes people realize the impact they can have on the athletes who are at the pinnacle of their career and added Papadakis still has to compete in the long program on Tuesday.

For her to come back and have a solid performance for the long program would speak highly to her focus and mental game, she said.

Theyre at a disadvantage because of this and now theyve got to come back and reset themselves and refocus and be able to perform and still maybe possibly feel that weight of some form of humiliation of what has happened.

With files from The Associated Press
AIRDRIE, ALTA.Friends of an Alberta woman slain 16 years ago say they had lost virtually all hope police would solve the case.

But RCMP announced Monday they have charged Stephane Parent, 49, with second-degree murder in the death of Adrienne McColl.

McColl was 21 when she was reported missing around Valentines Day 2002. Her remains were discovered three days later by a rancher tending to his cattle near Nanton, 85 kilometres south of Calgary.

Parent, who friends say was McColls boyfriend, was arrested in Gatineau, Que., on Saturday  16 years to the day since McColls body was found.

I really do truly believe that all of us had given up, said Laurie Heard, who worked with Parent and McColl at the now-shuttered Calgary bar Studio 82.

Heard said police recently took fingerprints of some of McColls friends and suggested there was new evidence in the case.

But she said she didnt believe the renewed efforts would amount to anything.

I just thought that it was a make-work project and how could they possibly get anywhere 16 years later? Hearing the news this morning stopped my heart and I am so happy, said Heard.

Parents lawyer, Jean-Pierre Rancourt, said his client was arrested eight years ago, but was freed a couple of hours later without explanation.

He was very surprised to see that for a second time hes arrested for the same thing Saturday morning, so he was in shock, said Rancourt.

Rancourt said his client was flown to Calgary on Monday and will ask to be released on bail, as it could be a year or two before trial.

RCMP said Parent bought a one-way ticket to Ottawa shortly after McColls death and was considered a person of interest at the time. He has lived in Ontario and Quebec ever since.

Heard said McColl and Parent had a volatile relationship and she doesnt understand what her young, bubbly friend saw in a man more than a decade her senior.

Heard said people were drawn to McColl.

She was light. She was sunshine. She was everything happy and pretty in this world.

April Hall, another friend of McColls who worked at Studio 82, said shes feeling happy, angry and sad all at the same time.

Im just a wreck right now. I never thought this day would come. This is just unbelievable, she said.

Hall said her hopes had been raised over the years only to be let down. She said she got a call four years ago from an RCMP constable suggesting there would soon be an arrest but nothing came of it.

Shandi Bard, McColls best friend, said news of the arrest has left her with mixed emotions and she thanked RCMP for not giving up.

Its a long road ahead, but we know justice will be served, she said.

To other families waiting on answers and justice for their loved ones: do not lose hope.

RCMP Supt. Garrett Woolsey said police were able to make an arrest thanks to advances in forensic technology, particularly with DNA.

He said 184 officers have worked on the case over the years.

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MONCTON, N.B.A program that helps international students to stay and work in Nova Scotia will be adopted by the three other Atlantic provinces as they try to grow their population.

Federal Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen said Atlantic Canada has a retention rate for skilled immigrants that hovers at around 60 per cent, compared to rates of 90 per cent or higher in Ontario and Alberta.

Hussen said the region-wide extension of Nova Scotias Study and Stay program will act as a compliment to the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Project announced in 2016 that connects immigrants and companies.

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It is very explicitly about retaining people here, Hussen told a news conference following a meeting Tuesday of federal politicians and Atlantic premiers in Moncton, N.B.

Atlantic Canada has never had a problem attracting skilled immigrants  the problem is retention, so they come here and they dont stay.

Such programs are key because they involve companies in helping to establish local roots for skilled immigrants and their families, he said.

We know that will vastly improve the retention rate, Hussen said. I think its great because it addresses a real challenge that is a little bit more acute in Atlantic Canada than the rest of the country.

In Nova Scotia, Study and Stay provides targeted support and services for up to 50 international students during their final year of post-secondary studies.

The program includes career mentoring and access to employment-related events and workshops, and there is also a subsidy to help local employers offset the cost of hiring students for a work-term after they graduate.

Karen Casey, Nova Scotias deputy premier, said the program had received over 700 inquiries from international students, of which 49 students were selected for participation.

We are looking each year to add more numbers to that, said Casey. I think those numbers demonstrate first of all that there is an interest and second that we can make this work for international students.

Federal officials said the pilot program would be adapted to meet the specific needs of the other Atlantic provinces.

Prince Edward Island Premier Wade MacLauchlan said its essential for all the Atlantic provinces to focus on measures that will grow the population, which in turn would help the economy to grow.

What we are really talking about here is relationships, said MacLauchlan, pointing to a so-called bio-cluster of companies created on the Island, and its use of skilled immigrants.

Its remarkable how many of those are driven by the talent, the knowledge and the relationships that have come from people that have come first to our region to study, he said.

Federal Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc said the Atlantic Immigration Pilot had so far designated more than 900 Atlantic Canadian companies to employ skilled foreign workers and international graduates.

LeBlanc said the program had recruited over 1,300 immigrants to the region and more than 1,100 of those had received job offers and are able to apply for permanent residency.

Tuesdays meeting also included a discussion on Ottawas inclusion of Atlantic Canadas Ocean Supercluster as part of its $950 million superclusters initiative.

The Ocean Supercluster is to utilize the combined talents of companies working in areas such as marine renewable energy, fisheries, aquaculture, oil and gas, defence and shipbuilding.

The ministers and premiers also announced they will lead a trade mission to China in November 2018 to advance business and educational trade ties.

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The pipeline battle between British Columbia and Alberta cannot be confined to western Canada.

There are national ramifications to this unseemly trade war that bear close scrutiny from all Canadians.

Monday, B.C. Premier John Horgan said he would take Alberta to dispute settlement under the Canadian free trade agreement because Premier Rachel Notley has banned the import of B.C. wines.

Notley has ended talks on buying B.C. electricity and has successfully pushed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to more aggressively defend and promote his decision to allow the twinning of the Trans Mountain pipeline that would lead to a seven-fold increase in tanker traffic through Burnaby.

This battle began with Horgans announcement that he wanted to halt any increase in diluted bitumen in his province pending further study of his provinces capability of dealing with a marine spill.

Horgan will also appeal a National Energy Board decision that allows Texas-based Kinder Morgan to bypass local bylaws and begin construction of a needed tunnel on Burnaby Mountain.

But this is not just a Horgan-Notley battle.

Put aside for a moment the optics of an internal free trade fight on the eve of key NAFTA talks. Consider the ripple effect for Trudeau, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May.

For Trudeau, a major hit to his self-styled progressive climate change policy looms.

In essence, a prime minister who wants to be known as environmentally aware is touting an unpopular pipeline project as a means to combat climate change.

He has accused an NDP premier in B.C., who has formed a coalition with Green leader Andrew Weaver, of trying to scuttle a national climate change plan by blocking an increase in tanker traffic.

Trudeau has always tried to thread the needle on the balance between the economy and greenhouse gas targets, but it is getting more difficult.

He gave his clearest explanation of the political trade-offs to date in an interview last week with the National Observer that did not get the attention it deserved.

In order to get the national climate change plan  to get Alberta to be part of it, and we need Alberta to be part of it  we agreed to twin an existing pipeline in order to get to work, he said.

It was always a question of, if we could move forward responsibly on the Kinder Morgan pipeline, then Alberta would be able to be as ambitious as we needed Alberta to be and get on with the national climate change plan... they were linked to each other.

Politically, this is accurate. Without Notley in Alberta, Trudeau risks having his national climate plan unravel, and, at least, he will be fighting with Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and possibly Ontario as he imposes carbon pricing on resistant premiers.

But a shorthand rallying cry of Save the planet, expand a pipeline, is a difficult sell.

But a second, perhaps more important, fight looms for Trudeau.

Pushing through expansion over Indigenous objections endangers Trudeaus overarching Indigenous reconciliation goals.

Opposition to this expansion in British Columbia includes Indigenous communities on land that was never ceded. Indigenous rights to ancestral land have been backed by the courts.

Trudeau has also enthusiastically embraced the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which requires free, prior and informed consent before major projects can proceed.

But Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould has made it clear that consent doesnt mean a veto. The government may be more deeply engaging Indigenous communities on resource development, but if this is not an Indigenous veto, it will be a delicate job explaining how an Indigenous no becomes a government yes.

Civil disobedience is a real possibility, and the Liberals appeared destined to lose B.C. seats in 2019. They may be confident they can make up that loss in Quebec, but its not clear who will swoop in to claim Liberal seats.

If one reads between the lines, Singh appears to be in Horgans camp, but his message has been inconsistent and vague. He likes to point to a flawed approval process and blame Trudeau, but the NDP leader often appears to have one foot in each camp.

He has not spoken to either Horgan or Notley about the dispute.

If Weaver pushes Horgan to run out the clock and eventually force Kinder Morgan to look elsewhere, Elizabeth May could find some electoral success in 2019.

There is much more to play out in this drama. But it deserves a national stage.

Tim Harper writes on national affairs. tjharper77@gmail.com, Twitter: @nutgraf1

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Last week, Michael Ivezic joined the growing list of accused killers deciding to represent themselves at trial.

Ivezic and his former lover, Demitry Papasotiriou-Lanteigne, are charged with the first-degree murder of the latters husband, Allan Lanteigne, who was beaten to death in his Ossington Ave. home on March 2, 2011.

At the start of the jury trial in November, prosecutors said they intended to prove the pair conspired to kill the University of Toronto accounting clerk in order to collect a $2 million life insurance policy.

Papasotiriou-Lanteigne is represented by defence lawyer Gabriel Gross-Stein. Marcy Segal was Ivezics counsel, until suddenly she was not.

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Last Tuesday, after jurors returned to the court following an extended break, Superior Court Justice Robert Goldstein apologized to them for the delay and explained the courtroom lineup had changed.

He didnt go into details.

Mr. Ivezic is now representing himself in this trial. He is no longer represented by Ms. Segal, he told the jurors, some wearing puzzled expressions.

Do not try and guess why Mr. Ivezic is no longer represented by a lawyer . . . it has nothing to do with your decision or anything you have to decided at this trial.

He continued:

Mr. Ivezic made the decision to dismiss his lawyer. It is the right of every person before the courts to represent him- or herself and Mr. Ivezic has decided to avail himself of that right . . . You should take nothing from that, that hes decided to avail himself that way.

So have others in the downtown courthouse.

Last year, Xiu Jin Teng defended herself on a charge of the first-degree murder of her husband in 2012. A jury found her guilty. Dellen Millard was also self-represented when he was convicted last year of killing Laura Babcock.

Goldstein told jurors in the Papasotiriou-Lanteigne and Ivezic case he has appointed two amicus lawyers, who are friends of the court and there to assist him.

With that, Ivezic was on his feet, behind a podium in front of the jury box, picking up the cross-examination of a Toronto police detective where Segal left off.

For several days, Ivezic grilled the officer about the handling of evidence and whether the proper procedures were followed, sometimes removing his dark framed glasses to make a point.

On occasion, he cut to the chase.

Is there any (video) evidence that exists that shows me, Michael Ivezic, in the vicinity of 934 Ossington on the night of the murder? he asked the detective. No, was the response.

Several times, the judge instructed on Ivezic on the procedurally correct way to ask questions.

You have to cut me some slack, Im new at this, Ivezic told Goldstein.

The trial resumes in front of the jury Wednesday.

Correction  February 20, 2018: This article was edited from a previous version that misspelled the given name of defence lawyer Gabriel Gross-Stein.
A Brampton man gunned down in a hail of bullets has been identified as a father and notorious gang leader in the GTA who recently vowed to go on the right path in life.

Oliver Augustus Willis, 37, known as Twinky and at one time a member and leader of one of the Crips Toronto factions, according to Toronto police, was fatally gunned down just before 2:45 p.m. on Feb. 19 in the area of Vodden Court and Cumberland Drive.

Police responded with a heavy presence after a report of shots fired.

Read more:

One man killed, another wounded in two separate shootings in Brampton

Multiple shots were heard, said Peel Regional Police Const. Lori Murphy.

Willis was found with gunshot wounds and pronounced dead at the scene. The forces homicide bureau is now investigating and have yet to arrest the suspected killer, who may have fled in a dark-coloured vehicle.

Willis was no stranger to the law.

He had first-degree murder against him charges dropped in a Toronto court in 2003 in the fatal shooting of Amar Joseph Green Eye Young, after a witness refused to testify.

Willis pleaded guilty in Brampton court to possession of a restricted firearm and possession of a prohibited firearm in 2007 and was jailed.

On Feb. 28, 2010, officers in the Dominican Republic arrested Willis and two Torontonians in an apartment in an upscale neighbourhood of Santo Domingo after finding 71 kilograms of cocaine hidden in the bed of a pickup truck, according to a 2013 Star story.

After two years in a Caribbean jail, Willis was acquitted, and in April 2012 he was deported back to Canada. Convicted of trafficking, his two co-accused were sentenced to 10 years in jail and each fined $200,000, according to a news agency in the Dominican Republic.

Willis remained in custody in Toronto on weapons charges. On Aug. 6, 2013, Willis pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm, offering to traffic a firearm, breach of weapons prohibition order and trafficking cocaine, the Star reported. He was sentenced to five years in jail with credit given for time spent in pre-sentence custody.

Ive matured greatly. Im not the same, Willis said in the Toronto courtroom. The father of two acknowledged he had broken the law and jeopardized society. When released on parole, he vowed to go on the right path, the Star reported.

Toronto police Det. Doug Backus once described Willis as very intelligent, well-spoken and tough and someone who showed little fear on the streets, he told the Star.

Anyone with information on his death can call police at 905-453-2121, ext. 3205 or Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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Some Progressive Conservatives shopping for a leader say they want someone with no skeletons in the closet.

With everything thats happening right now with the sexual misconduct (allegations) and all that kind of stuff, its really about having someone that does not have to worry about that, Debbie Salmons said at a recent campaign event for Caroline Mulroney, whos making a bid to lead Ontarios official opposition and compete for the premiers seat in the June election.

Being a woman doesnt automatically diminish someones potential to engage in harassment, but Salmons is among those who think its time for one to take the helm in part because ex-leader Patrick Brown initially stepped down in a #MeToo moment over allegations of sexual misconduct that he denies.

The movement  which encourages women to speak out about harassment and show solidarity with each other  has sparked calls to get more women in politics, something that may already be happening south of the border. But advocates are skeptical that alone will lead to meaningful change.

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Torontos female elected officials face sexual harassment, threats on job

Can the women who took to the streets march into office?

In a dramatic turn of events Friday, Brown, the MPP for Simcoe North, was booted from the PC caucus and then entered the leadership race he himself triggered, with hours to go before the deadline to sign up.

If the party approves his candidacy, Brown will face off against Mulroney, ex-MPP Christine Elliott, anti-sex-ed champion Tanya Granic Allen and former Toronto councillor Doug Ford  a self-branded political outsider.

That three of the candidates are women mirrors a trend south of the border, where an unprecedented number of women are seeking to run for office, including Rachel Crooks, who had accused President Donald Trump of kissing her against her will and is now vying to join Ohios state legislature.

Since Trump was elected in 2016, more than 30,000 women have contacted Emilys List, an organization dedicated to electing more Democratic women, about making a political bid.

Many link the surge to #MeToo and the 2017 Womens March.

(Browns original ouster) would seem a very natural occasion for men aspiring to leadership positions, men generally and of course for women, to think enough is enough, and we need more women to run for political office, said Myer Siemiatycki, a political science professor at Ryerson.

He said a democracy should be a level playing field for all voices, and as #MeToo sheds light on how the scales may tip away from young women in particular, its understandable in this climate there would be a sense that men should take one or more steps back.

Men have pretty much monopolized things for a heck of a long time, Siemiatycki said.

But advocates say its not enough to just elect more female leaders.

I dont necessarily believe that adding more women to politics will change anything unless those women are willing to challenge the status quo, said Arezoo Najibzadeh, who runs Young Women Lead, a civic engagement group thats drafting a guidebook for dealing with harassment on the stump.

Meaningful change requires a shift in culture and policy, she said, noting the leaders of the other two major parties are women, yet Queens Park still lacks wholly non-partisan mechanisms to support survivors.

There a disconnect between what the survivors say they need in order for that culture change and that support to become available, and what the parties are willing to provide, Najibzadeh said.

A lot of times when there is politicized and partisan approaches to addressing sexual violence, it focuses on punitive behaviour . . . and really making sure the party is saving face.

Regan Preszcator, co-founder of Story of a Tory  a blog by young, Conservative, feminist women who are trying to bust myths about our ideology and our party  isnt partial to a woman taking over solely because of #MeToo, and is personally backing Mulroney.

She said the movement is going through growing pains and is concerned that the slew of women speaking out and dominating in the headlines will create backlash from those who might think its gone too far.

As more women start to come forward and talk about what happened to them, we see its kind of become divisive among members of the parties or public, Preszcator said. But were optimistic as this conversation continues its going to strengthen our democratic system.

That division may also propel Fords camp.

Ford brands himself as the anti-establishment candidate and first-time supporter John Barnard said thats why hes the right person to tackle harassment. Barnards general impression is that party elites protect each other and perpetuate so-called bad behaviour.

Politicians have their own circle of friends, the Mississauga resident said at a recent campaign rally. You need somebody from the outside whos going to get in there, shake things up, and for the people.

Ford could also appeal to people who think #MeToo has swung the pendulum too far.

Cultural and economic insecurities  including resentment toward feminism and the rich and powerful, respectively  are whats fanning populist sentiment in Ontario, said Michael Adams, president of Environics and author of Could It Happen Here? Canada in the Age of Trump and Brexit.

Because #MeToo exposes how that privilege has played out and seeks to put things on an even keel, it can create status anxiety among some, usually white men.

That includes everybody whos kind of swallowed the egalitarian pill and is now asserting equality and think somebodys losing here. In every case its white heterosexual men who used to have the privilege of being a white heterosexual male, Adams said.

People experiencing status anxiety helped elect Trump to the White House.

Closer to home, Ontarians feeling similar uncertainty would likely back Ford for premier should he secure the Tory leadership next month, Adams said.

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At six months old, Nikki Benuns son, Gabriel, was diagnosed with an acute form of leukemia with less than a 50 per cent chance of survival.

Its a trauma when your family goes through that, said Benun, who has two other children.

It was during Gabriels treatment that a friend of Benuns suggested she reach out to Chai Lifeline Canada, a pediatric support agency helping families cope with what can be devastating challenges in life.

They would come to the hospital. They would do grocery shopping for us, she said. They just tried to support in any way we needed it.

Gabriel, now 6, has been a recipient of its services for almost his entire life, Benun said.

The charity provides 22 year-round services that include financial assistance, tutoring, counselling, meal support or trips to Disney World  all of which are free.

When a family gets a diagnosis, such as cancer, the entire family gets put into disarray, said Mordechai Rothman, Chai Lifelines executive director. We believe the illness affects the entire family and we take a very holistic approach to support them.

The charity operates in Toronto and Montreal and has satellite services in Ottawa, Edmonton and Vancouver.

Rothman said the agency supports 400 families in the GTA and 150 in Montreal.

Its mostly funded by the community, though there are some government subsidies, he said.

Our organization works extremely close with these families, one-on-one, to understand how their needs are constantly evolving and changing and provide support to them, he said.

Chai Lifelines office in Wilson Heights was a hive of activity on Family Day: children made crafts and watched the sleight of hand work of a magician. In the afternoon, the charity visited kids stuck inside the Hospital for Sick Children and continued its work there.

While the charity primarily focuses on kids, it has broadened its scope to support parents, too.

Heidi Wilk, a mother of three, likened her late husbands illness to an emotional roller-coaster. But when Chai Lifeline stepped in, she said she felt more secure and could better focus on the needs of her husband, who died in 2015 of brain cancer.

Its very overwhelming and isolating when youre faced with an illness like this, she said. (The charity) gave me respite, activities, events, so we could get a break.

She said case workers are on call around the clock to listen and give advice.

Milestones are very hard, Wilk said. You dont see yourself come out of this, the grief and sadness that occurs.

But the charity, she said, helped reverse this.

They give you hope. They restore hope.

At age 6, Gabriel is small for his age, a reminder of his fight with leukemia and continuing health complications.

His mom, Benun, calls him a firecracker for his big personality and shock of red hair. She said hes excited for Chai Lifelines summer camp in upstate New York this summer.

I feel like theyre our extended family, she said. Theyre always there, theyre always present, but theyre not invasive. It makes us feel loved and cared for and that were not forgotten.
Activists fighting to end violence against women say the silence in Peel has been deafening after four women were killed in their homes in the span of two weeks last month.

No one is saying this is shameful that this is happening in our day and age, laments Sharon Floyd, executive director of Peel Committee Against Woman Abuse. Theres a lot of work that needs to be done.

There absolutely should be a public outcry, she said.

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Instead, there is a silence related to this.

The string of killings was condemned by advocates on social media soon after, but beyond that, there has been no outrage from the community.

There is no social responsibility for these issues, Floyd said.

Gurpreet Malhotra, executive director of Indus Community Services in Brampton, agrees.

We generally dont react as a community, get angry and fight back, he said. We bemoan it, say its a shame, and carry on. That has to stop.

Gender-based violence in all forms  sexual harassment, sexual violence, physical abuse and homicide  is a deeply ingrained aspect of our society, according to Peel Committee Against Woman Abuse. The organization offers a crisis line and Interim Place, two 24-hour crisis shelters that provided safe havens for 116 women and 74 children experiencing gender-based violence in Peel Region in 2017.

We need to move away from the fact that this seems to be the norm. This is not normal, Floyd said.

But it is all too common.

According to the Canadian Womens Foundation, a woman is murdered by her intimate partner every six days in Canada.

Half of the women in this country have experienced some form of physical or sexual violence, there are more than 1,200 missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and 46 per cent of Ontario school-aged girls report experiencing sexual harassment, according to the foundation.

In Brampton and Mississauga, more than 700 women reported being sexually assaulted in 2016, and it is believed many more sexual assaults go unreported, according to the latest available statistics from Peel Regional Police.

In the past decade, 32 women have been murdered in Peel.

The issue has come into sharp focus in Peel with the killings of Mississaugas Elaine Bellevue, 61; Bramptons Hoden Said, 30; Baljit Thandi, 32; and Avtar Kaur, 60, between Jan. 12 and 27.

These were not isolated incidents, the PCAWA stresses, with Floyd calling them heinous and unacceptable.

Their deaths reflect the violent reality many women face every day, many of them in silence.

Malhotra of Indus Community Services said Thandi and Kaur were clients of his groups settlement services, but they said nothing about potential problems they were facing.

Were deeply saddened by these losses and the increasing frequency that it seems to be happening, Malhotra said.

I think we need to talk about these things more, he said. Helping people understand that there is availability of these programs and services, there are people you can talk to and this (violence against women) does happen, it happens routinely.

Although there are three shelters in Peel, several crisis lines and counselling services available, there should be more, he said.

Indus has little more than one counsellor to help victims of domestic violence, but the organization saw more than 300 clients in crisis seeking help last year alone.

The group has been unable to add more domestic violence counsellors in over a decade, despite demand and the unprecedented growth in the region.

The service system has not been adequately supported to keep up (with population growth), he said.

And there is little in the way of preventative help for anyone looking for it, he added.

Where can a 14-year-old boy go for help figuring out their angry emotions? he asked. If theyre watching TV, theyre certainly not learning how to do it right.

The opportunity exists to provide preventative programs, but the funding doesnt exist, he said.

What is clear is that (violence is) increasing in severity and occurrence while the service system is not increasing in its ability to help, so maybe the two are linked, Malhotra said.

The issue is social, political, economic  and requires the attention of the entire community, advocates have said.

Thats why the Peel Committee Against Woman Abuse launched the Sound Off Against Silence campaign on Feb. 14, aimed at sounding the alarm about all violence against women, according to co-ordinator Laura Hartley.

The month-long campaign aims to start the conversation.

The organization blames the deep-seated inequalities women face in their daily lives for the violence they face, and that reality must be challenged, Floyd said.

Women who experience increased marginalization due to racism, poverty, ableism, homophobia, transphobia and colonialism are all at greater risk of violence and murder, according to the group.

Sound Off About Silence is a call to action, Hartley said. Society must acknowledge and confront the issue, before anything will change.

Everyone points to someone else, Malhotra said. But at the end of the day its really sad, because this hurts all of us.
The preliminary hearing for the Toronto police officer and his brother accused in the severe beating of Black teen Dafonte Miller began Tuesday in an Oshawa courtroom.

Const. Michael Theriault and his younger brother, Christian Theriault, are each accused of aggravated assault and assault with a weapon in the severe beating of Miller, then 19, on a residential Whitby street in 2016. Michael Theriault was off-duty at the time.

The brothers are also charged with public mischief, allegedly for misleading police investigators after the incident.

The injuries suffered by Miller in the wake of the alleged assault included severe damage to his left eye, requiring surgical removal, a broken orbital bone, a broken nose and a fractured wrist.

The evidence heard at the preliminary hearing, scheduled through the week, is covered by a court-ordered publication ban.

Kingsley Gilliam, with the Black Action Defence Committee, told reporters outside court Tuesday that he and other members of the group were attending in support of Miller and his family.

And we are here to send a message to the Durham police, the Toronto police, the police everywhere. We will never accept this kind of conduct from them in a free and democratic society, Gilliam said, calling the case unusual in every way.

The high-profile case has raised questions about police conduct and transparency since the Theriault brothers were charged in July 2017.

Summoned to the scene on the night of the incident, Durham Regional Police initially charged the severely beaten Miller with assault with a weapon, theft under $5,000 and possession of a small amount of marijuana  charges later withdrawn by the Crown.

The charges against the Theriault brothers only came about months later  after Millers lawyer Julian Falconer contacted the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ontarios civilian police watchdog, initiating a criminal investigation.

The SIU had not been contacted in the wake of the incident by either Toronto or Durham police. Internal investigations into conduct by both police services  including why neither service contacted police  are ongoing; Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders took the unusual step of calling in the Waterloo Police Service to conduct an internal probe of the incident.

Last fall, Durham Police Chief Paul Martin announced a new policy intended to ensure that the SIU is contacted to probe serious injuries involving a police officer that happen in Durham, regardless of whether the officer was from his force or off duty at the time.

Falconer has since filed a complaint to the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD) alleging a deliberate and intentional effort by police to conceal a crime by one of their own.

In particular, Falconer alleges that the Theriault brothers father John  a Toronto police officer himself  made attempts to conceal his sons alleged crimes. Falconers complaint alleges that the senior Theriault, who was working within Toronto polices professional standards unit at the time, communicated with Durham investigators about his sons involvement in the incident.

John Theriault has not responded to requests for comment by the Star. Chief Saunders has previously denied allegations of a coverup, saying his officers acted in good faith.

Late last year, Mayor John Tory told reporters that John Theriault was no longer with Toronto polices internal investigations unit.

Wendy Gillis can be reached at wgillis@thestar.ca

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OTTAWALiberal MP Salma Zahid says shes taking a medical leave to be treated for non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

Zahid, who represents a Toronto-area riding, says she received the diagnosis in the last week.

It followed weeks of intermittent pain that began after an overseas visit during the holidays.

Zahid says she begins chemotherapy treatment today and after the first round will have a clearer plan for her prognosis and treatment.

She last spoke in the House of Commons on Feb. 5, World Cancer Day, when she called attention to the Liberal governments support for cancer research.

Zahid was first elected in 2015 and prior to federal politics was a long-time adviser to the Ontario government.

I am determined to fight this diagnosis and to continue my work in service of the people of Scarborough Centre as soon as I am medically able to do so, she said in a statement Tuesday.

The Canadian Cancer Society estimates that 8,300 Canadians were diagnosed in 2017 with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a cancer that develops in cells that ordinarily help fight infection.
Toronto Mayor John Tory is unmoved by arguments from city staff, some Willowdale residents, their city councillor and safety advocates who want separated bike lanes on a stretch of north Yonge St.

Tory confirmed his opposition to that part of the Reimagining Yonge plan for the Sheppard-Finch corridor Tuesday after Councillor John Filion and others urged him to reconsider before the issue returns next week to the public works committee chaired by a Tory ally.

I believe those bike lanes are better located . . . on Beecroft (Rd.), which is one street to the west, and I believe that will allow us to not take out two lanes of traffic on Yonge St., to free up space for the bike lanes as recommended by city transportation staff, Tory told reporters.

It is my job as the mayor of the entire city to achieve a balance between all the different competing uses for space, competing groups that have different opinions, and so on. And that includes in this case cyclists, pedestrians, local businesses, local residents, pedestrians  did I mention them?  (and) car drivers.

Councillor John Filion, whose Willowdale ward includes most of the affected stretch of Yonge, called such opposition to the plan ridiculous.

Im kind of astonished myself that I have to scramble for 23 (city council majority) votes to get staff recommendations adopted, he told reporters at a morning news conference at city hall, before Tory spoke to the media. I cant remember a similar situation . . .

Weve only got one chance to get this right. Once Yonge St. is reconstructed, which it needs to be, you wont be able to fix this for the next 50 years. Lets act now before there are more pedestrian injuries and fatalities and lets get it right and get rid of a lane of traffic, in each direction.

Between January 2010 and December 2017, that stretch of Yonge saw 78 collisions involving pedestrians and five involving cyclists. Eight of them were seriously injured or killed.

As well as reducing vehicle lanes in the stretch from six to four, the $51.1-million remake includes wider boulevards, better pedestrian crossings, and a landscaped centre median aimed at bringing more vitality and safety to a stretch flanked by an ever-growing forest of condominium towers.

Public works members will receive a detailed study by city transportation staff predicting vehicle lane reductions in that stretch would have minimal impacts on commute times for rush-hour drivers there, about three-quarters of whom live outside Toronto.

The study also warns that leaving vehicle lanes in place offers scant room for the other planned improvements aimed at bringing more vitality and safety to a condo-lined corridor with lots of cars and little street life. The Beecroft option is possible but would add about $20 million to the cost of the project and meet fewer of its objectives than putting the bike lanes on Yonge, the study says.

Tory told reporters he believes that extra cost can be reduced or even eliminated, without giving any details.

Jesse James, who lives with his wife and children near Finch and Willowdale Aves., joined Filion at city hall to demand the staff plan be built.

My wife and I regularly feel threatened as we bike or walk, by traffic on busy Yonge St. he said, noting the booming area often teems with students from nearby schools. With over 52,000 children and youth (in the area), and a large proportion of them living within a two block walk of Yonge or travelling on bikes or walking . . . this most iconic street must be reimagined, James said.

Jess Spieker of Friends and Families for Safe Streets, which advocates for measures to make pedestrians and cyclists safer, said the staff plan follows guidelines in Vision Zero, a plan to eliminate road deaths, and Torontos Complete Streets plan, both of which are endorsed by Tory and city council.

Pedestrian and cyclist injuries and deaths are the inevitable outcome of a six lane highway running down the middle of a neighbourhood. . . , Spieker said, addressing her remarks to politicians.

Road safety is your job. Lives depend on your decisions, she said. By ignoring city staff and supporting the Beecroft option, which would sustain the intense danger on Yonge St., Mayor Tory is showing us zero vision instead of following through on his express commitment to Vision Zero.

Public works chair Jaye Robinson did not respond Tuesday to request for comment. At a meeting last month some residents, including Alasdair Robertson of the Bayview Cummer Neighbourhood Association, opposed removing vehicle lanes. He said doing so would funnel motorists onto nearby residential streets, and supported putting the bike lanes on Beecroft.

Tory, elected mayor in 2014 and planning to seek re-election in October, has been criticized for strongly supporting the King St. pilot project that limits vehicle traffic on that downtown road to help speed up the movement of streetcars.

But his administration has often focused on the need to keep vehicles moving, even if it costs more money. When city staff recommended replacing the aging elevated east Gardiner Expressway with a ground-level boulevard, council instead approved an option that keeps it aloft but moves it closer to the railway at an extra cost of more than $500 million.

With files from Jennifer Pagliaro

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York Regional Police tweeted on Tuesday that marijuana doesnt increase the growth of breasts in men after one of its officers told high school students at a panel last week that doobies make boobies.

Were no health experts, but were pretty sure getting high does not cause enhanced mammary growth in men, York police tweeted. We are aware of the misinformation about cannabis that was unfortunately provided to the community by our officers. Were working to address it.

At a meeting last week at its Aurora headquarters, the York Catholic school board gathered students to give them a chance to ask experts about the drug, with recreational marijuana use becoming legal this summer.

Representatives from York Regional Police, public health and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health were there to discuss the effects of pot use.

Some critics were quick to point out what they said was misinformation after a transcript appeared in the Aurora Banner.

Nigel Cole, a drug recognition officer with York Regional Police, is quoted in the transcript as telling students there are studies that marijuana lowers your testosterone; we call it doobies make boobies. Were finding 60 per cent of 14-year-olds are developing boobies. 

Smoking marijuana does not give you (larger) breasts, Dr. John Harrison, the chief scientific officer of TeamMD, a holistic wellness team based in Toronto, told the Star in an interview.

Marijuana does impact hormones but by no means does it give anyone breasts. Thats what you call knowledge going the wrong way. Theres no scientific basis that I know of.

According to Harrison, millions of men smoke marijuana and you dont see millions of men walking around with pronounced breast tissue. The comment defies common sense.

According to the Mayo Clinic, a renowned medical research group based in Rochester, Minn., marijuana is just one of several substances that can cause gynecomastia, which is the swelling of breast tissue in males due to an imbalance of the hormones estrogen and testosterone.

The clinics website also states that alcohol and street drugs such as amphetamines, heroin and methadone can result in the swelling of breasts among males.

Medications such as anti-androgens used to treat prostate enlargement can also cause breast enlargement, along with antibiotics, chemotherapy and heart medications.

Cole also said half of a joint is equivalent to seven alcoholic beverages, and stated that users would not be able to walk in a straight line, or touch a finger to their nose after smoking.

Harrison said its unclear where the officer is pulling these numbers from.

Any average person that has seven drinks is legally intoxicated, Harrison said. There are lots of factors that go into how much marijuana is etching your lungs. No amount of THC can intoxicate you like alcohol because the compounds are different. Anyone who has taken in cannabis use will tell you that half a joint does not equal seven drinks.

Harrison said cannabis definitely affects development but to what extent is unclear.

Recreational only, I would advise teenagers to not smoke and if they are, do it in moderation because it definitely does impact development, Harrison said. The brain is developing into their 20s.

York Regional Police said Tuesday they are aware of the comments at the student panel, and will be looking to address them with the officer.

Editors note: This story has been updated to correct that TeamMD is based in Toronto.
For decades, the people of Grassy Narrows have said they are being poisoned by mercury.

The pollution began in 1962 when a paper company began dumping the metal neurotoxin into the river that is the lifeblood of the community, contaminating the fish and then poisoning the people who eat it. Recent evidence suggests that all these years later old mercury is still leaking into the river system. And historical medical data now being released by the federal government is showing mercury levels in individuals, including in younger generations, high enough to have increased the risk of learning disabilities in children and heart conditions and accelerated aging in adults.

You can read the Star's ongoing coverage of mercury poisoning in Grassy Narrows here.

The Star recently travelled to the northern Ontario community, about four hours east of Winnipeg, and talked to residents about how they believe mercury has affected their health. Watch the accompanying video to hear their stories.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday night threw his full support behind Mitt Romneys bid to be the next U.S. senator from Utah, writing on Twitter that he would be a worthy successor to retiring Sen. Orrin Hatch.

The endorsement is significant because Trump had previously encouraged Hatch to seek another term, and Romney had been among the most vocal Republican critics of Trumps presidential aspirations, once calling him a phoney and a fraud.

MittRomney has announced he is running for the Senate from the wonderful State of Utah. He will make a great Senator and worthy successor to @OrrinHatch, and has my full support and endorsement! Trump wrote on Twitter on Monday night after returning to Washington from a long weekend in Florida at his Mar-a-Lago estate.

Read more: Mitt Romney officially launches bid for Utah Senate seat

Shortly after Trumps tweet, Romney wrote on Twitter: Thank you Mr. President for the support. I hope that over the course of the campaign I also earn the support and endorsement of the people of Utah.

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 signalling that he will play the role of foil to 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, 70, 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.

A Salt Lake Tribune poll last month showed Romney with the support of 85 per cent of Utah Republicans  and 18 per cent of Democrats.

Despite his harsh criticism of Trump during the 2016 election cycle, Trump considered Romney for his secretary of state but passed him over for Rex Tillerson.

In a March 2016 speech, Romney said Trumps promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University. Hes playing members of the American public for suckers: He gets a free ride to the White House, and all we get is a lousy hat.

Former White House chief strategist Steve 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. Several little-known Republicans have announced Senate campaigns ahead of Romney.

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PARKLAND, FLA.Students who survived the Florida school shooting began a journey Tuesday to the state capitol to urge lawmakers to prevent another massacre, but within hours the gun-friendly Legislature had effectively halted any possibility of banning assault rifles like the one used in the attack.

The legislative action further energized the teens as they prepared to confront legislators who have quashed gun-control efforts for decades in a state where 1.3 million people have concealed carry permits.

"They're voting to have shootings continually happen. These people who voted down the bill haven't experienced what we did. I want to say to them, 'It could be you,'" 16-year-old Noah Kaufman said as he made the 640-kilometre trip to Tallahassee.

Three buses set out for Tallahassee carrying 100 students who, in the aftermath of the attack that killed 17 people, want to revive the gun-control movement. The teens carried sleeping bags and pillows and hugged their parents as they departed, many wearing burgundy T-shirts in school colours.

Read more:

Trump backs efforts to boost FBI gun check system after Florida shooting

School shooting puts pressure on Florida lawmakers to act on gun control

Coaches. Freshmen. College-bound senior. These are just some of the Florida school shooting victims who were torn from community fabric

They spent the seven-hour bus ride checking their phones, watching videos and reading comments on social media about the shooting, some of which accused them of being liberal pawns.

As the grieving Florida students demanded action on guns, U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday directed the Justice Department to move to ban devices like the rapid-fire bump stocks used in last year's Las Vegas massacre. It was a small sign of movement on the gun violence issue that has long tied Washington in knots.

"We must do more to protect our children," said Trump, a strong and vocal supporter of gun rights. He added that his administration was working hard to respond to the Florida rampage.

Meanwhile at the Statehouse, a Democratic representative asked for a procedural move that would have allowed the Republican-controlled House to consider a ban on large-capacity magazines and assault rifles such as the AR-15 that was wielded by the suspect, Nickolas Cruz.

The bill had been assigned to three committees but was not scheduled for a hearing. The House quickly nixed the Democratic motion. The vote broke down along party lines, and Republicans criticized Democrats for forcing the vote.

Because the committees will not meet again before the legislative session ends March 9, the move essentially extinguishes hope that lawmakers would vote on any sweeping measures to restrict assault rifles, although other proposals could still be considered.

No one in the world with the slightest little hint of a soul isnt moved by this tragedy, Republican strategist Rick Wilson said. The discussion has to be a longer, bigger and broader discussion.

Lizzie Eaton, a junior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, spent the day lobbying senators of both parties and concluded that lawmakers were just not listening to us.

The vote was heartbreaking, she said. But were not going to stop.

The students planned to hold a rally Wednesday to put more pressure on the Legislature.

I really think they are going to hear us out, said Chris Grady, a high school senior aboard the bus.

The Feb. 14 attack initially appeared to overcome the resistance of some in the states political leadership, which has rebuffed gun restrictions since Republicans took control of both the governors office and the Legislature in 1999. However, many members of the party still have strong resistance to any gun-control measures.

Republican leaders in the House and Senate say they will consider raising age restrictions for gun purchases and temporarily revoking someones guns if that person is deemed a threat to others. As part of the flurry of activity in Tallahassee, the governor on Tuesday also convened groups assigned to propose measures for protecting schools from gun violence.

Lawmakers will probably say that getting a new bill passed is nearly impossible with only two and a half weeks left in the legislative session. Some lawmakers who are thinking of running on a statewide ticket are mindful of their sensitive positions, since gun owners make up huge voting blocs in some parts of the state, especially the Panhandle.

Wilson said he knows the students want something to happen, and they need a moment to come and make their case.

But, he said, the thought that you get to wave a wand and change the law is something that is probably going to collide with reality.

The Parkland students also plan to meet Wednesday with top legislative leaders, including Corcoran and Senate President Joe Negron.

Florida has a reputation for expanding  and not restricting  gun rights. Negron sponsored a 2011 bill that Republican Gov. Rick Scott signed into law that banned cities and counties from regulating gun and ammunition sales.

Authorities said Cruz, 19, had a string of run-ins with school authorities that ended with his expulsion. Police also were repeatedly called to his house throughout his childhood. His lawyers said there were many warning signs that he was mentally unstable and potentially violent. Yet he legally purchased a semi-automatic rifle.

The Senate is also considering boosting spending on mental health programs for schools and giving law-enforcement greater power to involuntarily hold someone considered a danger to themselves. The chamber will also look at a proposal to deputize a teacher or someone else at school so they are authorized to have a gun.

Kyle Kashuv, a 16-year-old student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, said he was pro-gun prior to the shooting.

I had no issue with anyone having a gun of any calibre, said Kashuv, as he rode in the bus to Tallahassee. I was all for it. But after the situation, I realized we have some issues in our society and it has to be addressed.

The fact that someone who was so steadfast in support of gun rights now acknowledges the need for changes really shows how important what were doing is, he said.

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BOISE, IDAHOA Republican Idaho state senator yelled abortion is murder at a group of students who were pushing for birth control legislation at the Statehouse and now faces an ethics complaint after a post from an unverified Twitter account told them to discuss killing babies with a Democratic lawmaker.

About a dozen University of Idaho students from Sen. Dan Foremans district in the city of Moscow had travelled nearly 483 kilometres for a scheduled meeting with him Monday. They planned to lobby for a Planned Parenthood-backed measure in the conservative state that would allow women to receive up to a 12-month supply of prescribed birth control and would promote better sex education on college campuses.

Foreman abruptly cancelled the meeting, and the students left a note and a box of condoms in his office before heading to other meetings with lawmakers. He later passed the students in the hallway, and several recorded him shouting, Abortion is murder.

Im a Roman Catholic and a conservative Republican. I think what you guys are doing stinks, Foreman says on the video.

The students were not at the Capitol to talk about abortion, said Paul Dillon, public affairs director of Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho.

They were encouraging lawmakers to vote in favour of the birth control measure, and other meetings were peaceful, even if the lawmakers disagreed, Dillon said. He described Foreman as completely unhinged.

Even if you disagree with what we have to say, theres no excuse for that kind behaviour, Dillon said. He was being a bully.

Foreman has not responded to requests for comment.

Later Monday, a tweet from an unverified Twitter account purporting to belong to Foreman said someone in the group had a wild outburst at the meeting time and directed the students to go talk about killing babies with Maryanne Jordan, a Democratic senator. That prompted Jordan to file an ethics complaint against Foreman.

Its one thing to disagree with policy, its another thing to position something like that against another lawmaker, Jordan said. This type of behaviour is beneath the Idaho Senate.

Ethics complaints against lawmakers are typically anonymous, so while Jordan confirmed she filed a complaint, she did not reveal many details about what was included.

After the complaint was filed, the roughly year-old unverified Twitter account was deleted, then briefly reactivated to say it was not affiliated with Foreman and deleted again. A message seeking comment with the account manager was not immediately returned.

Its not the first time Foreman has raised eyebrows for breaking decorum.

Last year, body-camera video from the Latah County Sheriffs Department showed Foreman swearing and shouting insults with an unseen and unidentified male on Sept. 14  the first day of the county fair.

It ended when the deputy asked Foreman to move along.

The senator also has faced scrutiny over an email response to a constituents concerns over climate change. Foreman called global warming nonsense and said it was a scam used by left-wing fanatics to raise taxes.

Earlier this year, Foreman stormed out of a committee meeting when the chairman didnt allow him to argue a measure that wasnt on the agenda.

Foreman, 64, is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and retired Moscow police officer. He was narrowly elected to the Idaho Senate in 2016 in a surprise upset, ousting longtime Democratic Sen. Dan Schmidt.

During his first legislative session, Foreman shocked both parties by backing a proposal that would have classified abortion as first-degree murder  not only for the woman but also the doctor.

The measure never got a hearing, but Foreman has remained an outspoken opponent of abortion. This year, he has supported toughening Idahos abortion laws through a ballot initiative.
TEHRAN,Iranian search-and-rescue teams on Tuesday offered the first images of the site of an airplane crash in southern Iran that killed 65 people, with officials hoping to reach the aircrafts black boxes to learn exactly what downed the flight.

State television aired footage showing the plane crash site against the side of a snow-covered mountain near Yasuj, some 780 kilometres south of Tehran, Irans capital from which the Aseman Airlines flight took off on Sunday.

A helicopter pilot interviewed by state television said the crash site appeared to be only 30 metres (100 feet) from a peak on Mount Dena in the Zagros Mountain range.

Read more:

Iranian search and rescue teams reach wreckage from deadly plane crash

Iran plane crash kills all 65 people on board

Some large parts of the plane, which were labelled with the Aseman company logo, were seen, said the pilot, identified by state TV only as Capt. Soheili.

Authorities hoped searchers would recover the aircrafts black boxes later Tuesday. That equipment, typically painted in a bright colour to allow searchers to easily find it, records cockpit conversations and radio transmissions, as well as other data from a flight.

If the conditions are right, the black box will be taken out of the plane today and will be delivered to Aseman Airlines, the semi-official ILNA news agency quoted Masoud Asadi Samani, the secretary of Irans Air Society Association, as saying.

The site also was too dangerous for helicopters to land on it, forcing rescue crews to jump out the hovering aircraft, according to state TV footage. The site is at an altitude of some 3,500 metres (11,500 feet).

The semi-official Fars news agency quoted the chief of the Iranian armys ground forces, Gen. Kiumars Heidari, as saying commandos in special vehicles would need to drive up to the site to collect the dead.

Separately, Irans Revolutionary Guard released a still image of the site captured by one of its drones, which it said showed corpses in the snow.

The Aseman Airlines ATR-72, a twin-engine turboprop used for short-distance regional flying, went down on Sunday in foggy weather. All on board Flight EP3704 were killed, including 59 passengers and six crew members.

Aseman Airlines, owned by Irans civil service pension foundation, is a semi-private air carrier headquartered in Tehran and is Irans third-largest airline by fleet size, behind state carrier Iran Air and Mahan Air. It specializes in flights to remote airfields across the country but also flies internationally, although it is banned in the European Union over safety concerns.

The ATR-72 that crashed Sunday, with the tail number EP-ATS, was built in 1993. On Instagram, Aseman Airlines highlighted the doomed aircraft in October, saying it had been grounded for seven years but would be repaired and will be operational after checking and testing. It wasnt clear what led to the grounding, though Iran only recently regained access to the airplane parts market after its nuclear deal with world powers.

A seven-member delegation from France, including officials from the French-Italian aircraft manufacturer ATR, arrived in Iran on Monday to assist the investigation.

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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ruled out the United States as a broker for peace with Israel on Tuesday, calling for an international peace conference by mid-2018 with the key goals of full UN membership for the state of Palestine and a time frame for a two-state solution.

Abbas spoke as the Trump administrations two key Mideast negotiators who are working on a U.S. peace proposal  the presidents son-in-law Jared Kushner and special representative Jason Greenblatt  sat in the Security Council chamber listening. But he left without speaking to them or listening to U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley say that the United States stands ready to work with the Palestinian leadership, and the two envoys are ready to talk.

The Palestinians are furious at U.S. President Donald Trump for overturning decades of U.S. policy and recognizing Jerusalem as Israels capital, ignoring that east Jerusalem is Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since the 1967 war that the Palestinians want as the capital of their independent state. Abbas called Trumps pro-Israeli action dangerous and has said the presidents action destroyed his credibility as a Mideast peace broker.

It has become impossible today for one country alone to solve a regional or international conflict without the participation of other international partners, the Palestinian leader said.

Read more:

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Abbas presented the Palestinians peace plan to the council. It calls for mutual recognition by the states of Israel and Palestine based on 1967 borders, and formation of an international multilateral mechanism to assist the two parties in resolving all final status issues and implementing them within a set time frame.

He said the peace conference should include the Israelis and Palestinians, the five permanent Security Council members and key regional and international governments, noting that 74 countries attended a Mideast peace conference in Paris in January 2017.

The Palestinians want to set up a state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem, lands Israel captured in the 1967 war. But there have been no serious negotiations since gaps widened following the 2009 election of Benjamin Netanyahu as Israels prime minister. He rejects the 1967 frontier as a baseline for border talks, has expanded settlements which the UN call illegal, and rules out a partition of Jerusalem.

Abbas accused Israel of acting as a State above the law.

It has transformed the occupation from a temporary situation ... into a situation of permanent settlement colonization, he said. How can this happen? Israel shut the door on the two-state solution on the basis of the 1967 borders.

The Palestinian leader added into his prepared remarks: We are employees for the occupation.

Abbas said the principle of two-states living side-by-side with full sovereignty must be preserved, but he said the U.S. has not clarified whether it is for a two-state or a one-state solution.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed that there is no Plan B to a two-state solution. But he warned that after decades of support, the global consensus for a two-state solution could be eroding.

The UN chief voiced opposition to a one-state solution saying: It is simply impossible to square the circle of a one-state reality with the legitimate national, historic and democratic aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians.

Abbas was the last to arrive in the Security Council, and he left immediately after his speech to attend a reception hosted by the Palestinians, avoiding any direct contact with the Americans or Israelis.

Israels UN Ambassador Danny Danon accused Abbas of once again running away, and refusing to meet Netanyahu for 7  years to negotiate peace.

Netanyahus office issued a statement saying: Abbas didnt say anything new. He continues to run away from peace, and continues to pay terrorists and their families $347 million.

Danon accused Abbas of using hateful speech and glorifying violence instead of improving the lives of Palestinians.

Mr. Abbas, you have made it clear with your words and with your actions that you are no longer part of the solution, he said. You are the problem.

Haley disagreed, saying the Trump administration was offering an outstretched hand to the Palestinian people and their leaders.

But we will not chase after you, Haley said. The choice, Mr. president, is yours.

She said the U.S. will not change its decision on Dec. 6 to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, a move that has frozen U.S.-Palestinian relations.

The Palestinian leadership has a choice of two paths  absolutist demands, hateful rhetoric, and incitement to violence which will only lead to hardship for the Palestinian people or negotiation and compromise that holds the promise of peace, Haley said.

Though Kushner and Greenblatt didnt meet Abbas, they did meet informally behind closed doors with Security Council members.

Equatorial Guineas UN Ambassador Anatolio Ndong Mba called the fact that they came to the council very, very important and a good sign. But he said council members havent received any details of the U.S. proposal for Palestinian-Israeli peace.

Frances UN Ambassador Francois Delattre said his government received Abbas proposal with interest and will study his call for an international conference, but U.S. participation in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process is indispensable.

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WASHINGTONA 33-year-old attorney fired last year by a prominent international law firm became the fourth person to plead guilty in special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation, admitting Tuesday that he lied to federal investigators about his contacts with a Trump campaign official.

Alex van der Zwaan, who worked at the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, admitted in Washingtons federal court Tuesday to making false statements about his interactions with former Trump campaign aide Rick Gates. His plea deal may allow him to avoid prison.

Van der Zwaans plea comes on the heels of an extraordinary indictment from Mueller last week that charged 13 Russian individuals and three Russian companies in a hidden but robust social media effort that provoked on-the-ground rallies and sought to meddle in the 2016 U.S. presidential election by denigrating Democrat Hillary Clinton and boosting the successful campaign of Republican Donald Trump.

Read more:

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But the charge against the attorney, who is also the son-in-law of a Russian billionaire, does not involve election meddling or relate to the Trump campaigns operations. Instead, it stems from the special counsels investigation into Paul Manafort, Trumps former campaign chair, and Gates, who is a longtime business associate of Manafort.

Gates and Manafort were indicted last year on charges that they conspired to launder millions of dollars and directed a covert Washington lobbying campaign on behalf of pro-Russian Ukrainian interests. Both men have pleaded not guilty.

On Tuesday, van der Zwaan, a Dutch citizen who lives in London, admitted to lying to federal authorities while they questioned him about the production of a report that Manafort and Gates are accused of secretly funding by funneling about $5 million through an offshore account.

The report, authored by Skadden Arps, focused on the trial of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, a political foe of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, whose political party was a client of Gates and Manafort.

The false statements van der Zwaan admitted to making involved the timing of his last communication with Gates and a person, described as Person A, who was a longtime business associate of Manafort and Gates in Ukraine.

According to court papers attached to his plea agreement, the conversations, including some using encrypted applications, occurred in September 2016 and involved discussions about possible criminal charges being brought in Ukraine against a former Ukrainian official, Manafort and Law Firm A, an apparent reference to Skadden Arps.

The Nov. 3, 2017, questioning of van der Zwaan occurred just days after Manaforts indictment and, according to court papers, while prosecutors still were investigating potential violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

The charge against van der Zwaan carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, though sentencing guideline ranges discussed in court placed the more likely punishment from zero to six months.

In addition to van der Zwaans false statements, court papers reveal that in late July or early August of 2012, van der Zwaan, without authorization, gave an advance draft of the Tymoshenko report to a public relations firm working for the Ukrainian Justice Ministry. In September 2012, he also provided Gates with talking points for use in a public relations campaign.

On Tuesday, Skadden Arps released a statement saying it had fired van der Zwaan last year, and it has been co-operating with authorities in connection with this matter.

The conduct to which Alex has pled guilty is contrary to our values, policies and expectations, the firm added.

Last year, van der Zwaan married the daughter of Ukrainian-Russian billionaire German Khan, according to the Russian editions of Forbes and Tatler magazines.

Khan, who was born in Kyiv, shares control of one of Russias biggest financial and industrial investment conglomerates, Alfa Group, with fellow billionaires Mikhail Fridman and Alexei Kuzmichev. Forbes estimates Khan is worth about $12.7 billion.

Khan and his partners are suing Buzzfeed News over its publication of a dossier of allegations about ties between Trump and Russia. The dossier, which is a collection of memoranda authored by former British spy Christopher Steele, makes several claims about Alfa Group that the partners say are false and defamatory.

Buzzfeed is fighting the lawsuit. The dossier has become a political lightning rod because Steeles work was funded in part by Clintons campaign and the Democratic National Committee. Parts of Steeles work were also used in obtaining a secret warrant to monitor Carter Page, a former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser.

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Is Saskatchewan a racist haven? Are First Nations relations there a disaster? No more and no less than anywhere else in Canada.

In the days following a jurys decision to acquit a farmer in the shooting death of a young First Nations man, Colten Boushie, all I can tell you is its complicated. After a life spent in Saskatchewan, I can tell you everything youre hearing on multiple sides of the debate is not necessarily all true. After a life spent in journalism, I can tell you that is always the case with big issues and big stories, no matter the issue. Such is the reality of fiery headlines.

Is it serious? Yes, the most serious issue Saskatchewan will ever face.

Is it real? Yes, and not just at the sterile level of public policy, but at an intensely human level as well. I am heartbroken when friend and Creative Fire colleague Bonnie Leask tweets: I look over at my husband, my rock, my Cree man I worry for him, for me, for our family and our communities as I read not guilty ever so gently, he holds me as I sob. I feel the strength we have together and know we will continue to fight for what is right in a system so wrong.

Is there progress? Creative Fire, where I once worked and Leask toils today, used to be owned by white guys like me. Now its majority owned by the economic development arm of English River First Nation, led by an impressive young First Nations president, and home to some of the best young First Nations minds and leaders you will ever meet.

Is the Indigenous Rights Framework announced by Prime Minister Trudeau this past week important? When a jury includes none of your peers something must change. Ive been covering and observing Chief Perry Bellegarde, head of the Assembly of First Nations, most of my life. Hes a Saskatchewan guy. He pulls no punches. He started out rough  as most of us did  and has matured into a fine leader. On questions like this framework, which I have little ability to understand, he says its important. If the Chief says its not just important, but critical, I default to his informed position.

Is there hope? Yes. I have been the Big Brother of a Cree Little Brother from the impoverished Little Pine Reserve in Saskatchewan since 1984. I have visited that kid in jail and I have watched him graduate from high school. I have seen the Office of the Treaty Commissioner introduce to every classroom in Saskatchewan treaty information kits advancing the thesis we are all treaty people. I have seen initiatives which encouraged First Nations students to become journalists soar to success. I have seen controversial diversity hiring targets at the newspaper of which I was supposed to be leading crash and burn. This is complex stuff with no easy wins, no easy answers.

Is there a path forward? My experience in attending elementary school with First Nations kids has made all the difference in my outlook. It taught me we can move ahead with simple respect, a willingness to talk openly, to walk side-by-side and to stand in mutual support.

If First Nations teach non-First Nations the wisdom of their culture and the depth of their knowledge of life and community, and if non-First Nations communities extend the same consideration, we have a chance to build a community that works. The secret is openly and frankly sharing our abilities, cultures and knowledge and mobilizing that intensive exchange of experience and insight to build communities where all are welcome and all are respected.

That is the future of places like Saskatchewan and that is the future of Canada. It is about maintaining a constructive frame of reference, no matter the odds. If we can do that together, respecting the culture, rights and ways of each other, we will find the path forward. There will be reason for hope in building an enduring relationship between First Nations and Canada.

Thats not so complex.

Bill Peterson, resident in North Saanich, B.C., is a former editor and publisher of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix and former publisher of the Kingston Whig-Standard and Prince George Citizen.
Anyone looking to better understand the significance of the indictments issued this past Friday by the Deputy U.S. Attorney General should watch  or more likely re-watch  the film Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.

First and foremost, with the issuance of those indictments against 13 Russian individuals and organizations, the last facade behind which Donald Trump could hide his professions of fake news whenever he was asked about Russian meddling in the 2016 is gone.

The incessant partisan kabuki that has come to epitomize American politics in recent years has, until now (and to some extent understandably) obfuscated the substance and severity of the attack itself.

The indictments have laid that all bare.

Lets be clear: the partisan attacks are neither surprising nor inconsequential. The evidence contained in the indictments makes clear that Russian operatives  after at least two years of more general activities  determined that the very best way to destabilize the United States was to assist in the election of Donald Trump.

All but his most ardent supporters would be hard-pressed to argue the Russians dont deserve to role out the Mission Accomplished banner on that front.

Many of Trumps opponents have taken what comfort they can from an almost mantra-like chanting that Trump is just an aberration; that he will be a blip and a new Obama will appear in four years  at most.

Heres where these indictments move from a political to a security problem: that a foreign governments intelligence service was able to infiltrate and manipulate the American electoral process  the very beating heart of the so-called greatest democracy in the world  is only part of the problem.

The fact that they wanted to do so  and appear to have been so unconcerned with the prospective consequences of doing so  should be much much more alarming.

Lets parse that assertion: the successors to the KGB  masters of disinformation, counter-espionage and the destabilization of unfriendly governments the world over  decided to deploy agents, rent office and server space, develop assets and spend money (allegedly $1.25 million per month) in the U.S. with the express purposes of screwing around with U.S. elections.

These enemy agents established themselves under the cover of, according to the indictments, pretty serious trade craft. They spent years building social media identities replete with thousands of online followers.

They then used those online identities  dozens and dozens of them  to disseminate misinformation with the sole intent of disrupting the American political process.

At the height of the Cold War, these activities were analog but almost identical in terms of methodology and intent. Looking back at Tinker, Tailor, the plot of this epic spy drama provides what could almost be a roadmap for todays Russian spies.

John le Carres masterpiece (on which the movie is based) paints the picture of the Russian master spy (Karla) having placed a double agent at the top of the Circus (the upper echelon of the British Secret Service). From there, the traitor weaves an elaborate web of misinformation, and distractions that serve Karlas interests all the while returning vital information back to Moscow.

For most of us who grew up at the tail end of the Cold War or later, this sort of thing is has largely seemed like a kind of quasi-nostalgic fiction  something from which were one step too far removed to be real.

But this is now far more real than the plot of any movie. The indictments issued by the DOJ make clear that the new Russias intelligence operatives are not only just as aggressive as the old KGB, they may be even more proficient.

And far more disturbingly, there is clearly no unity of purpose on the part of the United States to address, let alone stop, these incursions.

The Commander-in-Chiefs insistence that any discussion of the Russian thing as a taxpayer-funded charade is, of course, entirely politically motivated. For him to agree that there is a legitimate issue at the root of this affair allows, in his mind at least, that there is some degree of illegitimacy to his Presidency.

And thats the real threat: the partisan kabuki has, to date, obscured both the audacity of the attack and the dire need for defensive action to prevent similar attacks on the most fundamental element of American democracy  the free and open exchange of ideas.

If Trump is allowed by Congress and their enablers to continue to obscure these deep, disturbing and potentially deadly aspects of the Russian attack on the United States solely for the benefit of his own ego and political exigency, the impact on elections both this year and in 2020 could be disastrous.

Jamie Carroll is a former national director of the Liberal Party of Canada and a current director of the Conference of Defence Associations Institute.

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On March 1, thousands of medical students across the country will participate in match day, an annual tradition that evokes uncertainty, stress and fear in the hearts of future doctors. A relatively unknown experience to the public, the match  as it is colloquially known  is the process of pairing graduating medical students with residency training programs to continue the final leg of their education as physicians.

The journey to becoming a fully licensed doctor is arduous, expensive and misunderstood by those who are not in medicine. After the highly competitive admissions process for acceptance into medical school, students spend four years studying and accumulate an average debt of over $150,000. During this time, students rotate between different areas of clinical practice before deciding on a career path  ranging from family medicine to pathology to neurosurgery.

Their professional decisions are accompanied by costly applications for mandatory residency training, which include nationwide interviews requiring indebted students to pay for their travel and accommodations, easily running into the thousands of dollars. Once interviews are conducted, the applicant and interviewing programs submit preference lists into a computer program. On match day, the algorithm provides the student with a single legally binding decision of employment.

This algorithm was created by Alvin Roth and Elliott Peranson, the latter of whom founded the National Matching Services, which holds a de facto monopoly on the software licensed to the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS). CaRMS is the organization used by the medical community to implement the matching process. It was initially established because training programs would start negotiating with medical students before they had a chance to narrow their interests. While administrators will point to the fact that CaRMS has improved this process by citing a 95 per cent match rate, it is still deeply flawed.

Medical students do not have the ability to negotiate and are legally bound to the match. It has been suggested that this framework allows for governments to artificially depress resident physician wages. This theory was challenged in a U.S. court, resulting in a lobbied Congress passing legislation to protect medical training programs from antitrust liability. Not up for legal interpretation, however, is that medical resident salaries have flat-lined for decades. All the while their work hours have risen and demands on their time have ballooned. This has led to the unprecedented decision by resident physicians in Quebec to vote in favour of a strike.

Perhaps even more important than money, is the psychological and emotional toll this process takes on students. I know, because four years ago, I was one of those students. And so was Robert Chu, a medical school graduate who took his own life after failing to be matched to a residency. This high-stakes game, which strips applicants of the minimal autonomy they had, reduces individuals to variables in an equation. Even so, provinces like Ontario have upped the ante by reducing the number of residency spots, while application numbers continue to grow. This does not seem like a humane way to treat those who will treat humanity.

Physicians have recently called for urgent action on doctor burnout, which is estimated at nearly 50 per cent for medical students. This is an unacceptable number, and one that the match process significantly contributes towards. After speaking with this years round of CaRMS applicants, the situation is no less dire.

National medical educators are currently embarking on the ambitious task of changing the way medical residents are trained, representing the most significant evolution since the early 1900s. As they contemplate how to accomplish this goal, they should focus their attention on improving, and perhaps completely overhauling, the process of the match. By ignoring the plight of their current students, educators will have failed their future colleagues.

Adam Kassam is the chief resident in the department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Western University.
What are the good arguments against French immersion schooling in Canada today? Answer: there are none.

Despite that, this is that time of year when many parents across Ontario and Canada are anxiously asking themselves whether they should enroll their children  or indeed keep their children  in a French immersion program. The stakes are high; no parent wishes to make a mistake in choosing a childs educational path.

Full confession: I have two kids in French immersion. I myself am a member of the first generation of Toronto French immersion graduates  those who started learning French in kindergarten in the late 1970s and early 1980s. I work regularly in both languages. My father, a newcomer to Canada, queued up from 5 a.m. to sign me up for what was then a pioneering initiative  to school kids in English Canada in their second language in the wake of the 1969 Official Languages Act.

Strange thing: some 90 per cent of my Grade 8 class  many of them strong students in their own right  dropped out of French immersion as high school approached. I and a few stubborn stragglers stuck with it. Stranger thing still: The arguments for dropping out of French immersion back then, or for not enrolling in immersion at all, have not changed at all over the last three decades. They are the same three I hear from fellow parents across the country as they struggle with the French immersion question.

The first argument is that French immersion will cause a students English to suffer. I am aware of no serious study that affirms this presumption. If anything, studies appear to point to the opposite conclusion  to wit, that French immersion students graduate with excellent, if not superior, English-language skills.

The second argument, this time hailing from parents without French, is that they will not be able to help their child with homework in a tongue they themselves do not understand. This argument, too, does not hold water. Witness the high academic achievement rates among countless English-as-a-second-language immigrant Canadians graduating from English-language schools.

The final argument  deployed in the 1980s just as it is today  is that French is not a critical second language for employment purposes in Canada or internationally. Why does my child need a second language? And if she needs one, why French? Why not, say, Mandarin or Spanish or Hindi?

The best answer today is largely the same as it ought to have been back then. We are Canadians. In Canada, there are two official languages  English and French. And we need as many people as possible across the country speaking both languages fluently in order to ensure that the federation fires on all cylinders  politically, economically and culturally  and stays together for the long run.

Consider that 150 years into modern Canadian federalism, Statistics Canada suggests that only 18 per cent of the national population is properly bilingual. This is a pitifully low proportion given that we choose our prime ministers and cabinet ministers, deputy ministers and senior civil servants, diplomats, many premiers, and Supreme Court justices from this small talent pool.

If it behooves us to widen the talent pool significantly, we must still recognize that the glorification of bilingualism  in which French immersion schools themselves participate  as the highest standard of the cultivated, public gentleman or woman in Canada today can appear slightly absurd when we see that the leading countries of Asia and Europe are training younger generations of citizens to be fluent in three or four languages, with few complexes or parades.

The good news is that, if Canadian multilingualism must inevitably pass through English-French bilingualism, then it helps our cause that French remains a Top 10 global language today, with a future global footprint estimated at 700 million speakers by the year 2050. That makes it one of the worlds leading languages of this century. Talk about employment opportunities.

In short, not only are the standard arguments against French immersion very weak, but we in Canada should by now be treating French immersion as a patently minimal standard of education rather than a vaunted maximum  a maximum weve hardly reached, in any event. Let us have the best possible schools, with the best possible teachers across all subjects. But on the question of French immersion, let us not make much of a fuss: So your kid is bilingual. Check. Now why only bilingual?

Irvin Studin is editor-in-chief and publisher of Global Brief Magazine and president of the Institute for 21st Century Questions.
There was a double tragedy in Parkland, Fla., last week.

The first, clearly, was the murder of 17 people, students and adults alike, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, shot to death in the United States latest mass shooting.

The second tragedy was the fatalism and cynicism that quickly followed. Overwhelmingly, the consensus was that nothing will change, at least in the short term. Americans have seen this movie so many times before and they know how it turns out: empty words from on high, followed by a complete lack of action by political leaders in thrall to the gun lobby.

And yet Americans of good will know that this tragic cycle can be broken, if the political will can be found. The facts speak for themselves: the United States is in the grip of an epidemic of gun violence unique in the developed world. It is standing by while its citizens, often its children, are slaughtered in batches.

None of this will change until Americans move beyond fatalism and decide that enough is truly enough.

On this point, we cannot do better than quote some of the more pointed words of our editorial colleagues at newspapers across the United States:

USA Today: Lets not mince words. Our nation is under attack. If terrorists were shooting up classrooms where our children huddle in fear, the U.S. military would have already launched airstrikes overseas in retaliation.

But this attack is coming from within. At an appalling and ever quickening pace, growing numbers of Americans are being massacred at churches, concerts, nightclubs, shopping malls and classrooms, and we as a nation are doing virtually nothing to stop it Now is the time for more than thoughts and prayers. Its time for serious efforts to stop the madness.

San Jose Mercury News: How many more people, how many more children, must die before members of Congress and President Trump acknowledge that assault weapons have no place on the streets of our country? Will this nation ever unlock itself from the grip of the NRA, which has turned the Republican party and the president into political pawns?

South Florida Sun Sentinel: It is not politicizing someones death to do something try to prevent even more deaths. Our elected leaders should act by using their political power to pass sensible gun control and beef up background checks Voters should act by calling their elected leaders and telling them to get to work on solutions. And come Election Day, voters should make sure to get rid of those in office who refused to help.

New Jersey Star-Ledger: We have a president and Republican Congress that exchanges Valentines with the National Rifle Association We cannot have anything close to a rational discussion about ways to make us safer from these killings because we are in the grip of fanatics; not even the obvious stuff, like trigger locks and background checks. Its always too soon to talk about guns. Its always too early until its too late.

Los Angeles Times: We do not live in the Wild West. Our schools are not the O.K. Corral. Clint Eastwood isnt in this movie. We are a violent, disjointed, gun-embracing culture...

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.

New York Times: The gun lobbys stranglehold on our elected officials does not need to continue, if candidates stand up to the lobby and voters demand that they commit themselves to the sorts of changes that a vast majority of Americans want With midterm elections coming up this fall, America has a chance to get that message across. Candidates must realize that reducing gun violence is a winning and moral issue. Aggressive turnout by voters who believe this can defeat the NRA at the polls. Until then, the bloodshed will continue.

Chicago Tribune: We dont believe that these shootings are impossible to stop  or that the carnage at schools, workplaces, churches and beyond is a status quo that Americans should accept.

Remember: When enough people grew incensed about the thousands of deaths caused by drunken drivers, attitudes changed and tougher laws followed. Same for cigarette smoking. When enough people learned of the deadly risks, when enough complained about smoky offices, restaurants, bars and airplane cabins, the protests brought action These are not perfect analogies. But heres the crux: Things change when enough Americans determine that they must. When people get outraged by these massacres and stay outraged.
Theres no question Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus heart is in the right place when it comes to promoting womens rights.

After all, he created Canadas first gender-parity cabinet because its 2015. And since then hes been beating the drum of feminist ideology to an increasingly faster tempo.

In January, for example, he highlighted pay equity, parental leave, child-care policies, gender diversity and the recruitment of women as key issues at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Further, his government has placed gender equality and womens empowerment on the agenda for the Group of Seven summit of major industrialized countries that Canada is hosting in June.

And now his government is planning to introduce a gender-focused budget on Feb. 27 with investments to promote equality and bring more women into the workforce.

So far, so good. But, possibly, not nearly good enough.

Whats missing from all the leaks out of Ottawa is any hint that the budget will include the two programs that studies indicate would make the biggest difference in womens lives and careers: a universal child care plan and use-it-or-lose-it paternity leave.

Instead, the budget is expected to include programs such as pay-equity legislation for employees in the federal government and federally regulated sectors to close the wage gap.

While this is a welcome and important step that will set an example for the provinces, which are responsible for labour law, it wont have a major impact on womens salaries in general. (According to Statistics Canadas most recent figures, women earn 87 cents on average for every dollar earned by men.)

Contrast that to a national child care program that study after study indicates would do the most to help women get back in the workforce, boost family incomes, improve early childhood skills for poor kids, add to government coffers, reduce child poverty  and, importantly, shrink the wage gap.

Indeed, after two years of study, a committee struck by Premier Kathleen Wynne to develop a strategy to close the wage gap reported that committing to an affordable and publicly funded, geared-to-income child care program was the No. 1 way to achieve that goal.

Women who dont have access to affordable daycare take on more of the unpaid child care than men and have less time for paid work, the task force found.

Nor is there a downside in investing in child care. The Wynne study, for example, found that every dollar invested in child care would add $2.47 to the Ontario economy. And Trudeau cited a study in Davos that found Canada could add $150 billion to its economy over the next eight years if more women entered and advanced in the workforce.

Yet despite an election promise to create an affordable, high quality, flexible and fully inclusive child care program, the Trudeau government has yet to deliver.

Indeed, if last year is any indication, this years budget might be all talk, little action. The 2017 budget actually contained a gender statement that highlighted the ongoing wage gap between men and women in Canada, as well as the overrepresentation of women in lower income sectors and the low proportion of women in management and boardroom positions.

But it failed to deliver in any meaningful way on the one program  child care that would have the biggest impact on encouraging women to enter the workforce and advance in their careers. Instead of committing to its election promise it offered up a mere $7 billion over 10 years to open up child care spaces across the country.

Compare that to the gender parity boost Paul Martins Liberal government promised in 2005 with a proposed investment of $5 billion over five years to kick-start a universal child-care system. (That plan was unfortunately scuttled when the Harper government was elected in 2006.)

Now that was putting your money where your mouth is.

Almost as important in helping women shed domestic duties that hold them back in their careers is creating a dedicated leave plan for new fathers modeled on the wildly successful use-it-or-lose-it paternity leave program that Quebec has had in place since 2006.

Trudeau is well aware of the benefits. As he noted at the United Nations in 2016, such a program would lead to more gender equality and increasing opportunities for women in the workforce. And in Davos he admitted that message of making sure there is more sharing of the responsibilities around child-rearing is something that we do have to do a better job of.

The bottom line is that studies have shown that when dads take paternity leave the gender wage gap diminishes and women make career gains.

So, by all means, the government should bring in pay-equity legislation in the upcoming budget. That will help. But if it really wants to close the wage gap and encourage the full participation and advancement of women in the workforce it would embrace universal child care and paternity leave programs.
The acquittal by an all-white jury of the Saskatchewan farmer who shot and killed Colten Boushie, a young Cree man who drove onto his property with four of his friends, is just one more in a long list of injustices that has riven the relationship between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in rural areas of the west.

If there is to be real reconciliation, this is where it is most needed.

Its telling that this particular injustice happened in the same region as the Northwest Rebellion of 1885, uprisings of starving Cree and militant Metis that were put down by Canadian militia and the Northwest Mounted Police.

About 100 people were killed  civilians, Metis, Cree, police and soldiers. After it was all over eight Indigenous men were executed by hanging, the largest mass hanging in Canada. After a short trial, the Metis leader, Louis Riel, was hanged in Regina.

The bitter memory of that confrontation with Canadian justice still haunts the Cree. But for settlers the defeat of the rebels at the hands of government troops meant they would always have the upper hand.

But its not just this region of the west that has such a tragic history.

All over the west farms, ranches, small towns and cities border First Nations reserves onto which Cree, Blackfoot and other tribes were herded after they gave up their rights to the land so that British and European settlers could farm, ranch and set up the businesses they hoped would give them the financial security they longed for.

As prosperous farms and ranches sprouted up on the plains and foothills where Indigenous people were once free to roam and hunt, Indigenous families became dependent on government for food and supplies. Hundreds died from infectious diseases such as tuberculosis introduced by the settlers. Residential schools became the norm for children often pulled away from their parents.

In Alberta, towns such as Cardston, Gleichen, Pincher Creek and St. Paul sit right on the borders of large reserves. Relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous residents are fraught with racism and resentment

In British Columbia its the same story.

Ernie Crey, B.C.s Cheam First Nations Chief says proportionally small towns have a larger First Nations presence than cities, but they also have fewer resources for reconciliation.

Bigger cities with smaller First Nations presence have comparatively more resources to support well-funded and well-prepared projects than smaller towns do, Crey explained in a series of reports on reconciliation in small towns produced by Discourse Media and CBC Indigenous.

Some communities are making tentative steps towards reconciliation.

In Port Alberni on Vancouver Island, once site of residential school, a reconciliation committee was recently established. And school trustees are considering renaming a school that was named after an Indian agent who once managed the nearby Hupacasath and Tseshaht First Nations but was not exactly held in high esteem by them.

In Alberta small steps have also been taken.

I recently attended the annual Stockmens Dinner in High River, about 50 kilometres south of Calgary. The area is rich with ranching history. Prince Edward of Wales, the future king of England, purchased a ranch in the area in 1919 and held on to it until 1962.

The Stockmens Dinner is an annual event and one of the highlights (besides the fancy cowboy hats and elaborate western-style jackets worn by attendees) is the honouring of pioneering families in the area.

This year, for the first time, the nearby Stoney Nakoda First Nation was one of the honorees.

To see Chief Darcy Dixon thank 300 or so ranchers and farmers for the honour was indeed moving given that the ancestors of those same ranchers and farmers took up land that was once the territory of the Stoney Nakoda.

But Dixon did remind them that all is not forgotten.

In the year of reconciliation we still have outstanding treaty issues relating to water, land, fishing and hunting rights, self-governance, health and education, he told the crowd.

It may be too much to ask right now, but hopefully Coltens Boushies death will eventually lead to real reconciliation in a part of Canada that badly needs it.

Gillian Steward is a Calgary writer and former managing editor of the Calgary Herald. Her column appears every other week. gsteward@telus.net

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Whether it was this week or last year, Toronto has seen the moment of its greatness flicker. Though it still burns, the flame is weaker than ever.

Peter Wallaces recent announcement that he will step down as city manager appeared to be yet another sign of Torontos reluctance to do take the hard steps necessary to live up to its potential. But as this years budget proved, residents and their elected representatives would rather keep property taxes low. We prefer to leave things the way they are and remain a second-tier city than invest in civic excellence.

Torontos senior bureaucrat is the latest in a steady stream of senior civic servants who have left city hall in recent months. That list includes the deputy city manager, the chief financial officer, the CEO of Toronto Community Housing CEO, the chief planner, the general manager of transportation services and the general manager of solid waste. Some are retiring, some have been replaced, others havent. But clearly an exodus is underway.

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TTC errors, customer fight contributed to disastrous commute

Mayor John Tory announces 10-point plan to alleviate TTC crowding

Opinion | Edward Keenan: Some councillors may not care about the cost of the Scarborough subway but voters deserve to know

Known for his plain talk about city councils sloppy and unsustainable approach to municipal finances, Wallace spoke openly of his concerns about Torontos ability to pay for the services and infrastructure it desperately needs. He has called the budget process a relentless reinforcement of the status quo and criticized a council that has not been willing to make difficult decisions.

Then theres the question of how the city spends the money it does have. The 2018 budget, for example, devotes fully 28 per cent of Torontos proposed 10-year, $25.7-billion capital expenditure to the discredited one-stop Scarborough subway extension ($3.3 billion) and John Torys highly dubious SmartTrack scheme ($3.7 billion).

Meanwhile, we have neglected the public transit on which people rely to the point where passengers lives were actually endangered at Bloor station last month after a series of operational and mechanical breakdowns. The system, which has no elasticity, is stretched to the breaking point. It no longer meets the needs of a fast-growing city that left it behind decades ago.

This came clear when the King St. pilot began late last year and ridership on the 504 streetcar increased by nearly 25 per cent. It was another instance of how generations of municipal politicians have failed to keep up the people who elect them.

And when the present council voted against revealing the updated cost of the Scarborough subway until after this years election, it continued a pattern of contempt that goes back decades. The decision is an indication of the growing gap between people and politicians. The isolation of the mayor and council lies at the heart of the citys tragic failure to fulfil its promise.

Following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Rob Ford, who galvanized suburban resentment across the city, Tory has presided over a race to bottom that could leave Toronto another civic also-ran. We dont like to think of it, but theres no guarantee a community will always prosper, no matter how rich it is now. The landscape is littered with dead and dying cities.

What makes Torontos decline so poignant is that the causes are self-inflicted. The cowardice of the mayor and council, their refusal to look beyond boundaries to see whats happening in the larger world can be shocking at times. Their ignorance is invincible. While cities around the globe tear down urban expressways, we are expanding the Gardiner. While other cities are busily adding bicycle lanes, we deflect and delay. After all, from the perspective of a city whose golden age was the 1970s, bikes are for kids.

The provincial government is no better. When Tory put on his short pants and went to Queens Park to seek approval for what was arguably his one and only progressive move since being elected in 2014, Premier Kathleen Wynne turned him down. She feared the same suburban backlash the Scarborough subway is meant to mollify  but wont.

No surprise, then, that the city has become so cynical about its prospects. When Waterfront Toronto chose Sidewalk Labs to develop the Quayside neighbourhood next to the Port Lands, the media responded with fear and loathing. Toronto, they screamed, has handed itself over to an American tech giant. The city was a dupe, of course, powerless even in the face of its own demise. What they chose to overlook, perhaps, was the question of whether that process hasnt already started.

Correction  February 20, 2018: This column was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said Toronto Mayor John Tory was elected in 2009.

Christopher Humes column appears weekly. He can be reached at jcwhume4@gmail.com

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South Korea is ready to support 'normal' cryptocurrency trading. That's good news for the No. 1 digital currency.

Bitcoin was back to its old ways this week.

The No. 1 digital currency continued a rally into morning trading Tuesday, Feb. 20, inching higher toward $12,000. Around 8:20 a.m. EST, bitcoin traded at $11,575.60, up 5.24% for the day, according to Coinmarketcap.

After breaking through the important $10,000 threshold on Thursday, Feb. 15, bitcoin has continued its upward momentum. On Sunday, Feb. 18, bitcoin traded as high as $11,349.80.

While it's still a far way off from the record high price of $20,089 set on Dec. 17, 2017, the price of bitcoin has risen about 34% in the past five days. The coin traded as low as $6,048.26 on Feb. 6.

Bitcoin's market cap is edging closer to $200 billion, hovering around $195 billion on Tuesday. Bitcoin's market cap dipped below $200 billion on Jan. 21 and has remained under the mark since.

While a number of factors contributed to optimism for the cryptocurrency, renewed bullishness surrounding South Korea played a major part Tuesday. South Korea Financial Supervisory Service Gov. Choe Heung-sik said the government will support cryptocurrency trading "if normal transactions are made," Yonhap News Agency reported.

Choe also reportedly said the government plans to "encourage" banks in South Korea to work with cryptocurrency exchanges.

It's an important development in South Korea, where regulators at one point considered altogether banning cryptocurrency exchanges in the country. The country has long been a hotbed for crypto trading.

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Bitcoin continued to rally on Tuesday. Here are the top stories from the cryptocurrency world.

Bitcoin was back to its old ways this week.

The No. 1 digital currency continued a rally Tuesday, Feb. 20, inching higher toward $12,000. In afternoon action, bitcoin reached as high as $11,802.30.

After breaking through the important $10,000 threshold on Thursday, Feb. 15, bitcoin has continued its upward momentum. While it's still a far way off from the record high price of $20,089 set on Dec. 17, 2017, the price of bitcoin has risen about 36% in the past five days. The coin traded as low as $6,048.26 on Feb. 6.

These are the headlines you can't miss for Tuesday.

South Korean Concerns Ease

Renewed optimism in the future of South Korean regulation played a large part in bitcoin's Tuesday rally. South Korea Financial Supervisory Service Gov. Choe Heung-sik said the government will support cryptocurrency trading "if normal transactions are made," Yonhap News Agency reported. Choe also reportedly said the government plans to "encourage" banks in South Korea to work with cryptocurrency exchanges. It's an important development in South Korea, where regulators at one point considered altogether banning cryptocurrency exchanges in the country. The country has long been a hotbed for crypto trading.

Trader's Big Bet

An anonymous trader has purchased close to $400 million in bitcoin, according to a report from MarketWatch. The trader, who is only known by his bitcoin address, purchased the coins between Feb. 9 and Feb. 12, hiking his holdings in the digital currency to more than 96,000 coins from about 55,000 coins. The transaction caught fire on social media as bulls became emboldened amid rising cryptocurrency prices. If bitcoin stays above $10,000, this trader could soon join the bitcoin billionaires club.

Venezuela's Petro Currency

Venezuela on Tuesday launched a pre-sale of the commodity-backed "petro" cryptocurrency, according to CNBC. Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro's aim with the digital "petro" currency is to make financial transactions and circumvent sanctions placed by other Western countries including the U.S. The new token is backed by Venezuela's oil, gas, gold and diamond reserves, the government said, and will include investments from Qatar, Turkey and other Middle Eastern countries in addition to European countries and the U.S.

Japanese Self-Regulation

A group of 16 cryptocurrency exchanges in Japan have decided to create a self-regulating body in the country to safeguard investors following the massive Coincheck hack last month that cost about $530 million, according to Reuters. The new regulatory body will reportedly oversee exchanges registered with Japan's Financial Services Association. In favor of this new, larger tie-in, previous plans to merge the Japan Cryptocurrency Business Association and the Japan Blockchain Association are expected to be scrapped.

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The country's leading wedding venues and suppliers were celebrated at one of the industry's top events last night, where the overall wedding venue and supplier of the year, as chosen by couples, were finally revealed.

Cork hotel Castlemartyr Resort scooped the top prize of 'wedding venue of the year' at the annual weddingsonline awards last night.

The five star resort, which was declared the best wedding venue in Munster, was up against a number of top venues from around the country.

The resort managed to win out over the likes of the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa in Sligo - which was named best wedding venue in Connaught - and Donegal's Silver Tassie Hotel & Spa, which won top prize of ulster hotel wedding venue.

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The castle venue of the year was awarded to Clontarf Castle in Dublin, while the waterside Venue of the Year went to the Garryvoe Hotel. The top prize for restaurant wedding venue went to Medley, the new, ultra cool Dublin eatery from chef Andy Rudd.

Imelda Scally at The Landmark Hotel, Leitrim was named the venue co-ordinator of the year, while Rathsallagh Country House in Wicklow took home the prize for exclusive venue of the year.

Other big winners on the night included Couple Photography, who was named the overall supplier of the year, Panic Animal, who were named wedding band of the year and Andy James who won entertainer of the year.
Papillon Resources Limited (Papillon) is engaged in the exploration and development of resource projects located in Mali. The Company has joint venture interests in a portfolio of gold tenements (granted licences and applications) in western and southern Mali. The Company's primary focus continued to be the advancement of the Fekola Project (Fekola or Project) located in south western Mali adjacent to the border with Senegal. Papillon completed its pre-feasibility study (PFS) for the project. The Company's subsidiaries include Mali Goldfields SARL, Songhoi Resources SARL, Bamagold SARL, Waraba Resources SARL, PIR Mali SARL, Papillon Exploration (AUS), Papillon Mining (AUS), Papillon Exploration (UK) and Papillon Mining (UK).

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Lloyds Banking Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of banking and financial services in the United Kingdom and internationally. It operates through three segments: Retail; Commercial Banking; and Insurance and Wealth. The Retail segment offers a range of financial service products, including current accounts, savings accounts, mortgages, motor finance, unsecured loans, leasing solutions, credit cards, and other financial services to personal and small business customers. The Commercial Banking segment provides lending, transactional banking, working capital management, risk management, and debt capital market services to small and medium-sized entities, corporates, and financial institutions. The Insurance and Wealth segment offers life, home, and car insurance products; and pension, investment, and wealth management products and services. It also provides digital and mobile banking, and telephone services, as well as advisory services for savings, investments, and planning for retirement. The company offers its products and services under the Lloyds Bank, Halifax, Bank of Scotland, Scottish Widows, MBNA, Schroders Personal Wealth, Black Horse, Lex Autolease, Birmingham Midshires, LDC, IWeb, and Agricultural Mortgage Corporation brands. Lloyds Banking Group plc was founded in 1695 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

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If long driveways, high hedges and large lots dont offer enough exclusivity, theres an option in town for luxury real estate that remains off limits even for most local residents.

Private neighborhoods feature gates, guards and, in some cases, cameras. In neighborhoods such as Belle Haven, Conyers Farm and Indian Harbor, only those with express permission can venture past their gates. Inside, several have additional associations that require yet another specific access.

In Conyers Farm, situated at the upper corner of Greenwich and sprawling into New York, every home beyond the vigilantly manned guard building has its own gated driveway. Greenwichs confidential communities feature world-class amenities such as private beaches and docks, polo grounds and elite clubs.

Many of the homes sell for millions of dollars, and last year several sales topped $20 million. The homeowners include celebrities and business titans who could buy a home anywhere in the world.

Privacy and, for some, tight-knit community lure them. For Kathie Lee Gifford, it is a sweeping waterfront vista in a Riverside community. Hedge fund titan Paul Tudor Jones has a home so striking it is often mistaken for the local yacht club. Diana Ross is among those who lives in a private community within another gated community.

Beyond exclusivity, fond memories of beach parties, trick-or-treating and friendships formed between neighbors highlight residents favorite aspects of their neighborhoods.

I think having community is one of the biggest reasons why people are drawn to private neighborhoods, said Jennifer Miller, of Douglas Elliman.

Some homebuyers, especially those seeking an elevated sense of privacy, ask specifically to look in gated neighborhoods, but many prioritize location and property above the designation. Occasionally, people prefer not to live by association guidelines and opt to avoid buying in private neighborhoods, Realtors said. But those who want a gate or two are willing to pay a premium.

Theyre everywhere

Greenwich is home to more than 50 private neighborhood associations  properties on non-public roads where owners pay fees that, in many cases, primarily fund street paving and upkeep.

Many of the associations are as simple as a private road denoted by oversized white street signs. There, homeowners relish the ability to have speed bumps or small gates built to discourage outsiders from passing through.

The neighborhoods include a wide variety of homes. Belle Haven has more than 100 properties, while others are much smaller, including Chieftans, where 28 houses lie behind the gates off Sherwood Avenue.

In the last decade, properties sold within 12 of these private associations account for more than 230 residential sales, according to data from the Greenwich Multiple Listing Service. On average, the properties closed for nearly $5 million.

Nearly every submarket from Old Greenwich and Riverside to downtown, midcountry and backcountry has at least one private neighborhood.

As the name suggests, they do little to tell people about their offerings. There are no public web pages describing association amenities. Except through real estate agents, it can be hard to even find out their names.

Over the years, several of Greenwichs more prominent neighborhoods have attracted outsized media coverage, such as Conyers Farm, with its famed polo fields. But there are many that garner less press while attracting high-profile residents who often purchase properties through an LLC. These include Deer Park, Field Point Circle, Khakum Wood, Lucas Point, Sherwood Farms, Willowmere and others.

Many spring from historic estates belonging to families including the Rockefellers and Gimbels. Eventually, the vast properties were broken up and subdivided.

Privacy, proximity to town

Belle Haven ranked second only to Milbrook by number of property sales among 12 of these secluded neighborhoods in the last decade. Belle Haven has grown leaps and bounds as the trend to move closer to town has grown, said Leslie McElwreath of Sothebys International Realty.

Preferences for Greenwichs private neighborhoods align with the general shift in tastes for houses close to town and transportation, several local Realtors said. Along with Belle Haven, other private neighborhoods have benefited from that trend.

Mead Point features 43 properties with an average price tag of $5.57 million in the past 10 years. Within gated Mead Point is Windrose Way, another private neighborhood.

At low tide, residents have access to three beaches, according to Realtor Jill Tighe Kelly, of Sothebys. Private beach areas and docks constitute some of the top amenities throughout Greenwichs neighborhood associations stretching the coast.

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For Harbor Point residents, a 1,500-foot, crescent-shaped private beach offers enthralling vistas. Susan Kaupie, of Centric Property Group, led a tour to its upper point, where the chatter of seagulls and crunch of seashells are the only noises at low tide. This is a true amenity, she said.

Down the road, trees obscure entry to a modest dirt path that leads to Harbor Points other notable feature  a deep-water dock with boat slips. The average price tag for the private views and dock, based on 10 years of sales, is north of $6 million.

In central Greenwich, across the Post Road from Greenwich High School, Milbrook offers security, gated entrances and Tudor-style homes balanced on sloping rock ledges. With its access to downtown, Milbrook has grown in popularity, McElwreath said. The neighborhood has had 65 sales at an average price of around $2.5 million since 2007.

Also in central Greenwich and close to town are Deer Park, once Rockefeller land with pathways to Brunswick and Greenwich Academy schools, in addition to Bailiwick, Calhoun Drive, Khakum Wood and Sherwood Farms.

Turn-key living

On the western side of town lies one of Greenwichs newest private neighborhoods that residents describe as turn-key living. Local real estate developer and hotel owner John Fareri completed Chieftans in the mid-1990s.

It is comprised of 97 acres, 28 homes and provides almost any amenity a homeowner could want, according to Chieftans resident Valerie Yanni. For a monthly common charge, homeowners receive services for their lawns, gutters, trash pick-up, snow removal and more. Its easy living for busy people, said Barbara Zaccagnini, of Coldwell Banker.

Immediately behind the gated entrance, a road lined with precisely spaced trees leads into the close-knit neighborhood. White and green posts announce properties addresses in their front yards. Without appearing uniform, most homes are designed in the style of English manors with slate roofs and large mahogany doors.

With all the high-end design flourishes, properties in Chieftans go for around $3 million, based on its 18 sales in the past 10 years.

Conyers Farm

Up in the far corner of backcountry Greenwich, Conyers Farm rambles across 1,500 acres. To many, these estates are iconic Greenwich. In the past decade, there have been more than 30 sales, with an average sale price of nearly $10 million. With its millionaire and billionaire residents, Conyers Farms is one of the most closely monitored private associations.

It illustrates discrete elegance, according to Fran Ehrlich of Sothebys. It provides an idyllic existence. Theres community, but its a respectful balance with the privacy people want.
ALBANY  Capital Repertory Theatre has been trapped in "Groundhog Day" for more than five years.

While audiences were attending dozens of productions, the behind-the-scenes action more resembled the 1993 film comedy starring Bill Murray as a weatherman caught in a time loop that forces him to relive the same day.

"We had to do something radical to break out of 'Groundhog Day,'" said Philip Morris, CEO of Proctors in Schenectady, the parent company of Capital Rep, Albany's only professional repertory theater.

The problem -is Capital Rep's building at 111 N. Pearl St. Although the company could stay there, it presents enough challenges that the theater has for several years been looking for a new home. The best candidate yet lies a few blocks north.

The 111 North Pearl building is the only home Capital Rep has had since its first season there in 1981. Its basement, which houses the costume shop, storage, restrooms and other facilities, is prone to flooding. Pieces of the concrete parking structure have fallen off. And while the landlord, longtime real-estate developer and arts patron Herb Ellis, a former Capital Rep board member, has allowed Capital Rep to use the building rent-free for years, lack of ownership has disinclined the company from investing in renovations.

"There's no reason to spend a dime when you don't control it," Morris said.

The price tag on an ambitious plan to buy and overhaul the building is estimated at more than $4.5 million. But Ellis also owns a number of other nearby downtown buildings that he would like to sell as a package, and he and Capital Rep have been unable to work out a deal to separate the theater property.

"We've felt stuck in the same place for years," Morris said. Capital Rep, which had been independent since its founding, entered into a money-saving management agreement with Proctors in 2011. It became a full subsidiary of the larger company a few years later. Under the Proctors umbrella, Capital Rep paid off or otherwise retired $1.2 million in debt to banks and vendors, boosted attendance from 65 percent to 85 percent and increased subscriptions by about 50 percent, from 2,100 to more than 3,000, Morris said.

But while the financial picture improved, the problem of the building remained. And so Morris, Capital Rep Producing Artistic Director Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill and key members of the boards of directors of Capital Rep and Proctors have been quietly scouting properties for a potential new home.

"We tried to keep it under the radar, because if word got out, it would have caused questions that we didn't have the answer to," Morris said. Central among them was whether Capital Rep would have to leave Albany, a solution considered undesirable by stakeholders at the theaters, city government and the community.

Hopes rest on 251 N. Pearl St., a warehouse four blocks north of Capital Rep that for decades was home to Gomez Electrical Contracting, which closed last year. The three-story building encompasses more than 30,000 square feet, sufficiently large to allow for in-house rehearsal and production space, a 300-seat theater with unobstructed views, lobby, cafe, offices and more. Another advantage is that Capital Rep already owns a vacant double lot a block away, at Broadway and Livingston Avenue, that in theory could be developed, with a partner, into a building with ground-floor retail and 10 apartments. Union contracts require the company to provide housing for out-of-town actors, most of whom are based in New York City. It has for years rented apartments near the theater, spending more than $100,000 annually, Mancinelli-Cahill said.

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"We're doing our due diligence," Morris said of the Gomez building. Among the concerns are parking; a full assessment of the building's benefits and drawbacks, including the presence of asbestos, lead and other hazardous materials and environmental considerations; projected costs; and potential for fundraising. Should all of the concerns be satisfied, Morris said, the cost would be $6 million to $7 million, not including development of a new building for housing.

"If any of the key things don't work out, the deal could still get killed," he said, adding that a decision won't be made until at least the fall of this year.

Having seen other possibilities collapse, Morris was wary of characterizing his feelings about the Gomez building. But, he said, a number of other efforts happening immediately around it suggest a synergy that other sites didn't have. They include a proposed $65 million renovation and expansion of the Palace Theatre, on North Pearl between Capital Rep's home and the Gomez building; new town houses for low-income housing at the Albany Housing Authority's Ida Yarbrough Apartments, across the street from 251 N. Pearl; projects by property developer Patrick Chiou to save the historic Church of the Holy Innocents and renovate three brick row houses on Broadway, just down from Capital Rep's empty lots; and Albany Distilling Co.'s new tasting room and storage facility, being built on Livingston Avenue between the Gomez building and Capital Rep's lots.

"Having everyone come together to dynamically improve a neighborhood is very appealing," Mancinelli-Cahill said.

"At first we weren't sure about whether the (Gomez) location would be right for us and our patrons," Morris said, acknowledging that it's a long four blocks, at least psychologically, from Capital Rep's current home. "But then we realized if we participated, this would help many agendas simultaneously."

Comparing the Gomez site to other options that have been considered, he said, "What's different is that with all the other ones, we were only thinking about ourselves. This gives us a chance to collaborate with a bunch of people, to really make something happen down there. We'll just have to see if we can make it work."
Two days after burying his daughter, Fred Scheidt sat down at his kitchen table and emptied her purse.

His eyes immediately went to a supermarket receipt and a phone number written in Katie's handwriting.

"The evidence that poured out of that purse was off the rails," said Scheidt, who had lost his 30-year-old daughter to a heroin overdose the week before. "I sent a text to the investigator: 'I looked through Katie's purse. We need to talk.'"

That moment on Oct. 11, 2014 would start a voracious quest by a grieving father, who was also a retired State Police sergeant, to find the person who gave Katie the drugs that ended her life on the bathroom floor of her Saratoga Springs apartment.

His investigation, which included help from Katie's brother and stepmother, led to a former classmate of Katie's, who would later be indicted by a federal grand jury for distribution of a controlled substance with death resulting. Matthew P. Charo, 36, ultimately pleaded guilty to heroin trafficking and is serving a 10-year sentence at a federal prison in New Jersey.

More than 3,500 people die from heroin or opioid-related overdoses each year in New York, but their cases rarely end like Katie's.

New York has been slower than other states to try the tactic of punishment-as-deterrent in the battle against opioid addiction. There is no state law that allows a dealer to face a homicide charge in overdose death, and the Democratic-controlled state Assembly has not supported bills that would create such a law. Federal prosecutors have secured indictments against dealers like Charo, but U.S. attorneys must review each case to see if there is enough evidence to pursue it. Given the sheer number of overdose deaths, prosecutions of those who provided the fatal drugs are not common.

Vigorous prosecution is also controversial because many of the low-level dealers implicated are addicts themselves.

Scheidt agrees that prevention and treatment are essential. But three years ago, he felt that every day his daughter's dealer was out there was another day a parent could lose their child.

"The price is too great for any type of person to suffer the loss I've suffered," he said. "We have to be able to help other people in the same way."

Deadly overdoses

New York has not seen the rate of overdose deaths experienced in other states like West Virginia, Ohio and New Hampshire, but the problem is escalating.

Fatalities from heroin and other opioids increased more than 50 percent in New York from 2,300 in 2014 to 3,638 in 2016, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Other states with high death tolls have already passed legislation that allows dealers to be charged with a form of homicide.

But New York politicians have generally resisted that tactic, instead attacking the crisis by offering more recovery services, suing prescription drugmakers and attempting to reduce the number of opioids prescribed by doctors.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo's heroin task force last year provided 25 recommendations to address the opioid crisis  none of which mentioned law enforcement or steeper punishments.

Prescription painkillers that contain hydrocodone or oxycodone, which can be highly addictive, have become a gateway into what has become the cheaper, more available opioid on the street, heroin.

In Suffolk County, where the number of opioid-related deaths  316 in 2016 - is the highest of any county outside of New York City, prosecutors have begun trying to get indictments for dealers under state manslaughter charges. But other district attorneys say it's difficult to prove a dealer intentionally caused someone's death under the manslaughter statute.

"The person has to be on notice for some reason that there's a problem with their product," Schenectady County District Attorney Robert Carney said. "I don't see how you could prove recklessness  which is to be aware of the risk and intentionally disregard it."

His office won a manslaughter conviction in 2014 for a Schenectady man who had given fentanyl patches, an opioid that can be 10,000 times stronger than morphine, to his girlfriend in 2008. But in that case, Carney said the burden of proof was met because the man attempted to treat the girlfriend himself for hours after her fatal overdose, instead of calling 911.

Colonie resident Patty Farrell, a former Albany police officer, has championed a state bill for the last four years that would provide a possible homicide charge in opioid deaths  with a good Samaritan clause attached that would grant leniency to those who supplied the drugs but immediately sought help for the victim. The proposed law is named after her 18-year-old daughter, Laree, who she found dead in her bedroom from a heroin overdose in 2013.

"These dealers prey on addicts. It's just as simple as that," Farrell said. "They're lining their pockets while they're killing people."

Greene County had one of the highest rates of opioid deaths, at 25 per 100,000 people, in upstate New York in 2016. Sheriff Greg Seeley said his deputies often administer Narcan, the overdose treatment drug, at the same address multiple times in the same week.

"I'll go any avenue we have to go after these people," Seeley said. "I am totally convinced if we don't go after (dealers), this will continue."

But those working in prevention and recovery push back against that notion, saying they don't want to return to the days of using prison as a way to handle drug addiction.

In sentencing documents filed in Matthew Charo's case last year, his defense attorneys argued that Charo was himself an addict who hoped to get into a treatment program once he reached federal prison.

"The line between dealer and user is almost nonexistent," said Keith Brown, the Albany-based director of health and harm reduction at the Katal Center for Health Equity and Justice in New York City. Brown advocates for providing accessible drug replacement therapy, like buprenorphine, and decriminalizing drug use in America. "To think (arrests) are going to solve a psycho-social issue? We really need to reevaluate that."

Searching for clues

A 2002 Saratoga Springs High School graduate, Katie-Lynn Scheidt had taken college courses, became a certified nurse's aide and was a devoted caretaker to her grandmother. But around 2011, she was struggling with a heroin addiction that started with a doctor's prescription for pain pills, Fred Scheidt said.

In October 2014, she had left a treatment center in Glens Falls and was waiting to go into another in Saratoga County. A week before her death, Katie showed her father a picture of a beautiful young girl she knew, who she thought was in recovery  but who had suddenly died of an overdose. At the time, Fred Scheidt said he took the story to mean his daughter understood the danger of using again. But he now thinks Katie feared she would soon end up the same way.

Opioid overdose deaths are still relatively rare in Saratoga County, with seven reported in 2016. Schenectady County had the most  29  in the Capital Region that year.

Katie came home around 10 p.m. on Oct. 2, 2014, to an apartment she shared with her boyfriend. At around 5 a.m. the next morning, he found her dead.

Katie-Lynn Scheidt overdosed on heroin in early October 2014. The man who sold it to her was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. (Courtesy Fredrick Scheidt) Katie-Lynn Scheidt overdosed on heroin in early October 2014. The man who sold it to her was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. (Courtesy Fredrick Scheidt) Image 1 of / 86 Caption Close Saratoga County ex-cop avenges daughter's death 1 / 86 Back to Gallery

Fred Scheidt said he had to lean on the Saratoga Springs Police Department to get them interested in investigating who supplied Katie with the heroin. The department denies that characterization.

"Any suggestion that the Saratoga Springs Police or our state and federal law enforcement colleagues conducted an inefficient, unprofessional investigation, or were unwilling to do so, is in my view, simply not accurate," Saratoga Springs Police Chief Gregory Veitch wrote in a statement to the Times Union.

Fred Scheidt, who has his own private investigations firm, knew from the receipt in Katie's purse that she bought a drink at a Price Chopper on Route 50 the night before she died. Katie also told her boyfriend that she had bumped into someone she knew from her high school named "Matt," and that she rode a bus to Schenectady with him.

Police had called the handwritten number in Katie's purse and spoke to someone who said their name was Matt, and gave what sounded like the last name "Shirro."

Katie's stepmother, Shannon Scheidt, had been going through yearbooks looking for teenagers named "Matt." One night lying awake in bed, she realized that the name "Shirro" might be spelled in a way she hadn't considered. At 1:30 in the morning, she went downstairs and started flipping through yearbooks again, and put a sticky note next to Matt Charo's picture. When Fred Scheidt woke up, she asked him, "Do you think this could be him?"

The dealer is found

In December 2014, Saratoga Springs police obtained camera footage from CDTA of buses that traveled between Saratoga Springs and Schenectady the night before Katie's death and allowed Scheidt to go through the tapes. Watching them on Christmas morning at his Greenfield home, he saw Katie sitting with a man who looked like the teen in the yearbook photo.

Scheidt had been communicating through phone calls, texts and emails with investigators, providing them with information and urging them to push forward in the case.

The U.S. attorney's office in Albany took on the investigation, in part because Charo was associating with another suspect the FBI was interested in, the Scheidt family said.

Throughout 2015, Fred, Katie's stepmother, Katie's brother, and her biological mother also helped by monitoring Charo at his usual Saratoga Springs dealing spots when investigators wanted to keep tabs on him. Katie's biological mother, Eve Cascone, took a photo of Charo during the summer of 2015, when she saw him at a vigil for opioid victims held in Congress Park.

"One of the things it showed (investigators) was we weren't going to go away," Fred Scheidt said of his family's efforts.

Ultimately, investigators interviewed Charo. And when presented with the evidence  which included charges to Katie's EBT food stamp card that Charo traded to buy the heroin from another dealer  Charo pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Albany last year.

Making a federal case

U.S. attorneys are pursuing criminal indictments against opioid dealers under a federal charge that was created three decades ago in response to the crack-cocaine epidemic.

In August, a Syracuse man was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for selling fentanyl-laced heroin to a pregnant woman who died  the same batch that almost killed the dealer himself two days earlier. The Albany U.S. attorney's office also has pending cases against two other dealers. One of the defendants sold heroin and fentanyl to two different Columbia County residents who died within a few weeks of each other in July 2016; the other case involves a man who died from a heroin overdose in Plattsburgh in January 2016.

When asked about Fred Scheidt's influence in having federal prosecutors take his daughter's case, acting U.S. Attorney Grant C. Jaquith said in a written statement that "the identity and status of a victim's relatives are not considered."

Jaquith provided assurances his office has the current resources to review overdose cases that have been referred from local enforcement agencies. He said prosecutors recognize prevention is the best way to protect public health and safety. But, Jaquith added, "Vigorous enforcement is essential to bring appropriate punishment to those who play Russian roulette with the lives of their customers, as well as to reduce the flow of heroin and other dangerous opioids, deter prospective drug dealers who learn of the high potential penalties, and spread information about the severe harm these drugs cause."

Fred Scheidt said he has since spoken to a handful of other parents who want to know how to get law enforcement to pursue their children's overdose deaths. He said he was lucky that as an ex-cop he knew who to call, and what kind of evidence to push for.

"We know every case doesn't result in a successful outcome," he said. "But if you do nothing, nothing is going to happen."

Lauren Stanforth can be reached at lstanforth@timesunion.com or 518-454-5697.

Digital presentation by Emily Masters.


Two new shows have been announced by Proctors: comedian Bill Murray, scheduled to appear alongside cellist Jan Vogler in an evening of literature and music at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 9; and New Yorker satirist Andy Borowitz, making a stop on his Make America Less Embarrassing Again tour at 8 p.m. Friday, July 13.

Tickets will be available to the general public on Thursday, Feb. 8, for the Murray show and Friday, Feb. 9, for Borowitz.
ALBANY  President Donald Trumps push to crack down on illegal immigration in the United States led to the highest number of removals and arrests in three years.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency released a report earlier this month detailing the breakdown of arrests and removals for the 26 regions across the country.

The Buffalo region, which covers all of New York except for New York City, had the lowest number of arrests and removals in the country in 2017 with 1,494 arrests. That was a 27 percent boost above the year before.

The regional office also had 1,736 people removed from the country in 2017.

Nationwide, ICE arrests rose about 30 percent to a total of 143,470 during fiscal year 2017, the report said. That is the highest since 2014, when there were 183,703 arrests.

The majority of the 2017 arrests were for people who had criminal records or were facing criminal charges. Eleven percent of those arrested had no known criminal convictions or charges.

Most of the increases in the number of arrests and removals were not at border regions such as El Paso, Texas, or Phoenix. Instead, the three regions that saw the highest percentage increase in arrests were far from border hot spots: Miami, which covers Florida; Dallas, which covers northern Texas and Oklahoma; and St. Paul, which covers Minnesota, Iowa, the Dakotas and Nebraska.

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That reflects "the critical importance of interior enforcement in protecting national security and public safety and upholding the rule of law, the report says.

On Jan. 25, Trump signed an executive order that directed ICE to renew its focus on all immigrants living in the country illegally, regardless of whether they had a criminal record.

The ICE data covers the fiscal year that ran from Oct. 1, 2016, to Sept. 30, 2017. But the increased pace of arrests began in the months after Trump took office in late January 2017, according to the agency's report.
TROY  A former City Council member and planning director was accused of sexual harassment while working for the city of Reno by a former colleague in a statement she filed in support of a lawsuit in Nevada, according to federal court documents.

The woman alleges in the documents that Bill Dunne, while working as Renos director of revitalization, regularly sexually harassed her with comments, touching her breasts and eventually holding her in his car demanding oral sex.

The allegations were made in a supporting affidavit in a $1.8 million federal sexual harassment lawsuit filed by former Reno employees Deanna Gescheider and Maureen McKissick, who claimed they worked in a hostile environment and were retaliated against when they complained.

Mr. Dunne made sexual statements and innuendoes to me on a regular basis and would sometimes would touch me inappropriately, e.g., he grabbed my breasts, said the woman, whose identity is being withheld because she may be a possible victim.

She further alleges that Dunne later locked her in his car and held her arm preventing her from leaving. She said that while trapped in the car he exposed himself and demanded oral sex as a condition of release. "I was very scared.

The woman said she was afraid to report Dunne because of her status as a contract employee. The woman states that no criminal action was taken against Dunne by the Reno city attorneys office due to the McKissick and Gescheider lawsuit and that, In other words, the city of Reno tried to cover up Mr. Dunnes conduct. She said when city officials asked if she was going to report Dunne to the police she said no because she was embarrassed and afraid.

The Reno Police Department said Tuesday it had no record of any complaint filed against Dunne. The Reno city attorneys office did not respond for a request for comment.

Dunne, in a telephone interview from Reno, said there was no basis to the womans complaint.

I deny the allegation against me. And, I look forward to proving my innocence, Dunne said.

Mark Mausert, an attorney representing McKissick and Gescheider, said he could not comment about the case due to the ongoing litigation in U.S. District Court in Nevada. Mausert filed the womans comments regarding Dunne as a court exhibit.

Dunnes alleged threats of revenge made to Gescheider regarding her lawsuit against Reno were made public earlier in an affidavit filed as part of the case in federal court.

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The woman has filed a complaint with the Nevada Equal Rights Commission. She said in her affidavit that she is going to pursue my rights against the city.

Dunne resigned his post in Reno in November saying that he had completed the work he was hired to undertake.

The woman said in her complaint that she had planned to leave her position with Reno at the end of February but that after she reported the car incident to the city she was forced to leave months earlier.

During his time as the citys planning commissioner, Dunne was suspended for a week in 2012 by former Mayor Lou Roasamilias administration over a sidewalk paving project by a city contractor who was working on another project.

In 2005, Dunne resigned from his job with the state Dormitory Authority after being on paid leave for over two months. Dunne was placed on leave while the authority investigated a personnel matter involving him.

Dunne represented the citys downtown 4th Council District from 2004 to 2011. He was hired to serve as planning commissioner by Rosamilia. When Mayor Patrick Madden took office, he did not rehire Dunne.
Judges know defense attorneys often lay the foundation for an appeal before their clients have been convicted.

On Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge Valerie Caproni had an extreme reaction to it at the Joe Percoco federal corruption trial in Manhattan. The judge invoked the words "17th floor," the location of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in the Thurgood Marshall Courthouse at 40 Foley Square.

Criminal cases go to the Second Circuit only if there is a conviction.

Moments earlier, Percoco's lawyer, Barry Bohrer, complained he did not get a chance to cross-examine the prosecution's star witness, ex-lobbyist Todd Howe, following Howe's midtrial arrest for allegedly violating conditions of his bail.

"I don't think it would have done great damage to the order of the proceedings to permit me to engage in a five-minute examination of Mr. Howe under these extraordinary circumstances," Bohrer said to the judge outside the presence of the jury.

"What questions did you want to ask?" the judge responded. "I want you to make your record so that you've got the best record possible when you go up to the 17th floor to tell them how mean I was that I wouldn't let you cross beyond the scope."

"I certainly hope that is not necessary, Your Honor," Bohrer said.

Caproni, a former federal prosecutor in Brooklyn, has expressed repeated frustration with defense attorneys in the trial, whom she has accused of wasting time in their cross-examinations.

Still, the judge quickly realized the "17th floor" statement was one she should not have made.

"Certainly, just to be clear, I am not prejudging the results of this case at all," she told Bohrer.

Percoco, a former top aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, is accused of accepting more than $300,000 in bribes from three businessmen in exchange for official state action in their favors. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan allege Peter Galbraith Kelly, an executive with Competitive Power Ventures, an energy company, bribed Percoco nearly $287,000 by employing his wife, Lisa, at a "low show" job. The prosecutors say Steve Aiello and Joseph Gerardi of the Syracuse-based COR development bribed Percoco $35,000.

Howe, a Troy native and onetime aide to Gov. Mario Cuomo, hired a young Percoco and the two became longtime associates and friends. Both men worked for the younger Cuomo when the present governor was the federal housing secretary in the Clinton administration. And Howe worked as a Washington,D.C.-based lobbyist for Whiteman Osterman & Hanna, an Albany law and lobbying firm.

Howe pleaded guilty in September 2016 to eight felonies (he ripped off his former firm). He spent seven days on the witness stand because he was deeply involved the alleged bribery scheme. On his fourth day of testimony, Kelly's attorney, Daniel Gitner, got Howe to admit that in 2016 - at the time he was in New York City to meet with prosecutors to arrange his plea deal - he tried to bilk his credit card company. Federal agents arrested Howe at his hotel and he was jailed as a result.

At a sidebar Thursday, Bohrer told the judge he wanted an opportunity to cross-examine Howe about the arrest. Caproni said she thought Gitner did a "wonderful job" cross-examining Howe.

"I let Mr. Gitner cross-examine to a fricking fare-thee-well," the Southern-bred judge Caproni told Bohrer, according to the transcript.

"We have re-read the transcript and he did not, with all due respect, cross-examine to a fricking

fare-thee-well. I was not permitted the opportunity to cross-examine," Bohrer said.

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The judge told Bohrer he should have asked to reopen his cross-examination while Howe was still on the witness stand.

"This man was arrested after my cross-examination. I am the only lawyer in this case not able

to cross-examine the cooperating witness in this case on his changed circumstances," he said.

"You should have asked before the end of the cross," Caproni said.

The issue arose again later in the day in court but outside of the presence of the jury. Bohrer was still upset.

"This jury needs to know what happened. We haven't come close to learning what happened, what this witness's state of mind is, what was said to the witness in court by his attorney to get him to take the extraordinary step of giving up his freedom while he is in the midst of testifying," Bohrer said. "The record is utterly void on these issues, and this strikes at the very, very heart of the right to cross-examine, the right to confront witnesses, and particularly the most critical witness in this case."

"OK. You should have asked to reopen it before it got turned over to the government," the judge said again.

"Most respectfully, your Honor..." Bohrer said back.

"You've said your peace. That is it, Mr. Bohrer. I gave you ample opportunity," Caproni said.

If the case ends up going to the "17th floor," Bohrer may get his chance yet.
MONTICELLO (AP)  A woman who disappeared from upstate New York after being dropped off for a doctor's appointment 42 years ago has been found suffering from dementia and living in an assisted-living facility in Massachusetts, authorities said.

The sheriff's office in Sullivan County, New York, said Flora Stevens, 78, was using the last name Harris when detectives tracked her down this week at the residence in Lowell, near Boston.

Officials said they've been unable to figure out details of what happened to her between the time she disappeared in August 1975 and when she was finally found.

"It's not too often we get to solve a 42-year-old missing-person case," Sheriff Mike Schiff said in a press release. "The main thing is we know Flora is safe."

Police said Stevens was a 36-year-old employee of a Catskills resort when her husband dropped her off for a doctor's appointment at a hospital in Monticello, 75 miles (121 kilometers) northwest of New York City. When he returned to pick her up, she wasn't there.

Police periodically reviewed her missing person case but kept hitting dead ends. They got a break in September, thanks to a query from a New York State Police investigator working on a different cold case. The unidentified remains of a woman had been found in neighboring Orange County, and the investigator said they roughly matched Stevens' general characteristics.

The state police investigators asked Sullivan County for help tracking down any relatives who could provide a DNA sample for possible identification. During a records search, Detective Rich Morgan discovered someone was using Stevens' Social Security number in Massachusetts.

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Deputies tracked the number to the Lowell assisted-living residence, where staff confirmed the number belonged to a resident named Flora Harris, who has lived there since 2001. Morgan and another detective went there Tuesday and confirmed Harris was actually the Flora Stevens who had disappeared in 1975.

Because of her condition, she couldn't provide details of her life since then, police said. But the detectives brought along Stevens' employee photo identification card from the now-defunct Concord Resort, and she recognized herself, officials said.

Her medical records under her new name show she lived in nursing homes in New Hampshire and New York City before arriving in Lowell, police said. Stevens' husband died in 1985, and she apparently has no living relatives, officials said.
BALLSTON SPA  It's like any other deck of playing cards: Two jokers. Four suits. 52 cards.

Except this deck features the faces of the missing.

The New York State Missing Persons and Unsolved Homicides deck of playing cards, a project of the Center for Hope in Ballston Spa, is approaching its 10th anniversary and the 52 families who signed on a decade ago are still hoping the inmates playing rummy or poker with the decks know something useful.

Mary Lyall, and her late husband, Doug, founded the Center for Hope some 5 years after their 19-year-old daughter Suzanne Lyall disappeared from the University at Albany campus in March 1998. Suzanne's missing person case, which is being investigated as a homicide, has never been solved.

"I've missed out on 19 years of her life now," Lyall said. "You'll run into something that reminds you of your child and you'll say, 'Where is she?' It's like having an open hole in your heart that never heals."

The Lyalls hatched the idea for a cold case deck in late 2007 and the first set of cards hit the streets in early 2008. Lyall said 30,000 decks have been distributed in all 57 county jails, as well as the offices of county district attorneys and probation officers, in the years since.

The cards are inspired by those distributed to U.S. troops during the Iraq War that featured members of Saddam Hussein's government.

These cards feature 52 missing people and victims of unsolved homicides from across the state.

The victims  30 women and 22 men  ranged from 22 months to 70 years old when they disappeared, and their cases date between 1955 and 2010. The jokers detail how to call in a tip. The deck includes only three people of color, a discrepancy Lyall says she wants to solve in the fourth edition.

The initiative has resulted in dozens of tips, Lyall said, but no arrests or indictments. That could change though, she said.

The state prison system, which is responsible for more than 51,000 inmates, is newly considering distributing the decks in prison commissaries, state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision spokesman Patrick Bailey said in late October.

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"There are people who come forward in these cases," Lyall said. "They wait years and years before they'll say something, probably out of fear."

Lyall said she hopes that keeping missing people's names in the public conscious will coax those who know something to come forward. That hope extends to inmates, who have time on their hands and an incentive to cooperate.

"Just not knowing, that's the worst part," Lyall said. "Not having any clue how a person vanishes into thin air."

Shortly after the statewide deck was released, Westchester County made their own deck of cards featuring unsolved local crimes of differing degrees and made more than a dozen arrests and indictments in just six months, Lyall said.

Cold case playing cards have also resulted in dozens of arrests in South Carolina, Colorado, Florida and Connecticut, the latter whose state attorney general's office runs the program through the cold case unit.

Lyall said she hopes to duplicate Connecticut's success by lobbying the New York state Legislature this year to budget for its own statewide cold case unit, so that local investigators who work to solve day-to-day crime are not also burdened with the dusty files.
The superintendent and former superintendent of the state prison where two killers escaped in 2015 were ordered to pay $1,257 for repeatedly delaying their depositions in a federal lawsuit filed by an inmate who claims guards physically abused him to dissuade his cooperation in the escape investigations, a judge has ruled.

U.S. Magistrate David Peebles noted the difficulty scheduling depositions in the lawsuit Mattieu Burks of Saratoga County filed a year after Richard Matt and David Sweat escaped from Clinton Correctional Facility. The Syracuse-based judge singled out Superintendent Michael Kirkpatrick and the man he replaced, Steve Racette, for repeatedly canceling depositions last year.

Peebles wrote: "There was a significant and needless difficulty in scheduling the depositions of those defendants."

Burks' lawyer began trying to schedule depositions last summer but both men repeatedly canceled the sessions. Kirkpatrick was eventually questioned under oath on Oct. 24, but Peebles said he had to intervene to get the superintendent to show up for questioning. The judge had to take a similar action to get Racette's deposition scheduled.

"Having carefully reviewed the chronology of events, the court is of the firm belief that absent its intervention, the depositions of defendants Kirkpatrick and Racette would not have occurred," Peebles wrote, adding Burks' attorney, Leo Glickman, should not have been forced to enlist the judge for scheduling help.

Peebles ordered each man to pay $628 for Glickman's costs for the canceled depositions.

Kirkpatrick and Racette are being represented by the state Attorney General's office.

The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision released a brief statement about the case Tuesday afternoon.

"DOCCS disagrees with the ruling and is appealing. The ruling does not reflect the facts as presented for review," spokesman Thomas Mailey said.

The sanctions were first reported by the Daily News.

Burks, 29, who is serving time for a drug conviction, sued the state in June 2016, alleging he was berated and physically abused by guards to dissuade him from cooperating with the state investigations of the escape. In addition to the abuse, Burks said he was denied basic necessities, including water and electricity.

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The defendants have denied wrongdoing.

Matt and Sweat broke out of prison on June 6, 2015. They evaded capture for nearly three weeks, relying on the dense vegetation of the northern Adirondack Mountains to stay hidden.

After opening fire on a recreational vehicle, Matt was shot and killed by a U.S. Border Patrol agent on June 26, 2015. Two days later, Sweat was shot by a State Police sergeant near the Canadian border. He survived and is being held at Attica Correctional Facility.

Both men were serving decades in prison for murder.

No prisoners were ever accused of aiding Matt and Sweat in the escape though a guard and a worker in the laundry shop later faced charges.
New York State Police

MOHAWK - A Gloversville man was arrested on Saturday for allegedly having a loaded .22 caliber revolver that was stolen, New York State Police said.

Nayshia Alvarez, 22, was stopped by troopers at 11:46 p.m. after he was seen driving north in the center of the road on Main Street. Police also saw his car allegedly crossing into the lane of on-coming traffic.
TROY  The citys draft comprehensive plan's call for a 1 percent annual population and job growth when long-range forecasts predict no influx of new residents has left some city officials questioning the proposal.

Troy's population is projected to remain at about 50,000 through 2050, according to Capital District Regional Planning Commission. The "Realize Troy Comprehensive Plan" envisions 10 percent growth in a single decade.

"The 1 percent growth is going to be by definition difficult to achieve," Republican City Council President Carmella Mantello said.

But instead of casting the plan aside, officials want to extract what's workable to help build on recent successes in redevelopment of old factories into apartments and small software companies taking root.

The plan uses changes in the city during the last five to 10 years as a starting point. It emphasizes that Troy has made progress despite not having a new comprehensive plan since 1962.

"To effectively sustain this momentum and reverse the effects of long-term population decline, a bold new vision, growth strategy and development framework are needed to guide growth, change and transformation of the city over the next 25 years," Realize Troy states.

The plan calls for spurring development downtown, in South Troy, Lansingburgh and North Central. It also calls for improvements in the city's neighborhoods and to encourage development that enhances and makes them more livable.

But the plan never addresses the redevelopment of the former City Hall site at 1 Monument Square, which the city has viewed as a downtown anchor, instead depicting it as parkland. It calls for ripping out Dinosaur-Bar-B-Que and the Best Western Hotel at Franklin Plaza for redevelopment.

"Pie in the sky" and "disappointing" was how Mantello described the plan.

She has been critical of the $1 million paid for the plan to be done by Urban Strategies Inc. of Toronto, which doesn't know the city as well as a local planning firm. She said it didn't deal with the neighborhoods until city Planning and Community Development Commissioner Steven Strichman rewrote it.

Development has been focused for too long on housing. At some point we need to focus on building jobs as well, said Democratic Councilman Anasha Cummings, a member of the Councils Planning Committee.

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Cummings said 500 units of new construction are under development and that the plan has proposals for the creation of 2,600 new manufacturing and hi-tech jobs in South Troy. He said plans for the neighborhoods should be further developed.

Cummings said the plan has strong points that could be leveraged to obtain grant money, but agreed that much of it would never occur. He said the plan gives Troy something to present to developers and state agencies to show how the city can leverage its assets to expand and renew itself.

For a community that's dealt with fiscal difficulties since the 1990s when the state bailed it out of budgeting problems, the costs of delivering what the plan envisions could be deceptive for residents.

"The question is who's going to pay for it. Ultimately, I fear we are giving residents false hope," said Councilman Mark McGrath, a Conservative who serves on the Planning Committee.

Troy has 26,500 jobs, according to the draft comprehensive plan. The U.S. Census Bureaus estimates of where the city's 22,027 employed residents commute to work reports that about 37 percent or 8,150 work in the city.

The proposed comprehensive plan goes to the city Planning Commission for review at 6 p.m. Wednesday and to the council Planning Committee to discuss at 6 p.m. Thursday.
TICONDEROGA  Beam him up, Scotty. Set a course for Ticonderoga. And put phasers on . . . stunned?

News that Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner, will be visiting the meticulously recreated Star Trek set tour in Essex County May 4-5 inspires all sorts of rhetorical Trek flourishes, but proprietor and superfan James Cawley summed it up in just one syllable: Huge.

This is the star of the franchise. There is nobody bigger than him  and he absolutely is the man. Hes the Captain, Cawley said. It doesnt matter who fills the shoes in subsequent series, he is the star of Star Trek.

The Canadian-born Shatner commanded the bridge of the U.S.S. Enterprise as Captain James T. Kirk on Star Trek, the 1966-1969 NBC series that promised to boldly go where no man has gone before and became a full-blown phenomenon in syndication that spawned multiple follow-ups.

For him to do this is just amazing. Its really beyond words for him to come up here. . . . He is a national treasure -- a pop-cultural icon, he said Cawley of Shatner, who went on to star in T.J. Hooker and Boston Legal. They dont come any better or bigger.

A room-by-room, prop-by-prop recreation from the original blueprints used by Desilu Productions, the Ticonderoga Trek tour includes all the familiar sets: the bridge, the transporter room, Dr. McCoys sickbay, Captain Kirks quarters, the engine room. Cawley, an Elvis impersonator when he isnt running the Trek tour, built the layout for Star Trek: Phase II, a 2004-2016 fan-created web series set in the Trek universe. He played Captain Kirk. Guest stars included George Takei and Walter Koenig, a.k.a. Sulu and Chekhov.

Shatner hasnt set foot on the set since that show was canceled, Cawley said. So the event next May should be a time warp for him and for all of us, really, to see him in that environment. Itll never happen again, and its a once-in-a-lifetime event. And how cool is it that its happening in upstate New York?

During Shatners visit, hell available for autographs, photos with fans, a meet-and-greet event and a Q&A. Packages run from $85 for a tour and an opportunity to see William Shatner (with a la cart autographs at $80 a pop) to $860 for a Captains Gold ticket that includes a Friday-night reception featuring the man himself. (For more information, see startrektour.com or startrek.com.)

Weve been trying to book him for about a year, and of course hes a busy man  hes got a lot of commitments far ahead of him, Cawley said. But we were finally able to connect with his promoter and get a date that worked for both parties.

With a blessing from current franchise owner CBS, Cawley opened the set up for public tours in July of last year. Since then, the tour has hosted visits from Koenig, Takei, Nichelle Nichols  a.k.a. Uhura  and scads of guest stars well-known in the Trekiverse, such as BarBara Luna (Kirks mirror-universe concubine) and Michael Dante (the tribal leader Maab from That Which Survives).

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Other visitors include Bjo Trimble, the Star Trek proto-fan who led the letter-writing campaign that rescued the show from cancellation after its second season. Shes Grandma Trek. She saved the show, Cawley said.

But Shatners visit is the ultimate Trekkie imprimatur, a stamp of approval that turns the old supermarket on Montcalm Street into a holy site for Trekkie pilgrims.

Yeah, for fans of classic Star Trek, this is the Vatican - absolutely, Cawley said. This is the church.
If youre ever feeling down in the dumps and need a new perspective on things, Id like to suggest checking out the comedy of George Carlin. Granted, Carlin was never one to sugarcoat a situation, but his ability to drive straight to the bone of an issue is second to none. His sarcastic, highly intelligent dark comedy is legendary, and now, his well-preserved 8 Series can be had by the highest bidder.

The Full Story

The car is mechanically all-original and has very few blemishes, plus it says PHUNNY on the license plate. Nice touch.

Recently listed on the auto bidding site Bring A Trailer, Carlins E31 8-Series is 1 of just 363 examples brought to North America. It features black paint on black leather upholstery, which is befitting of Carlins chosen style of clothing and comedy. Its also mechanically all-original and has very few blemishes, plus it says PHUNNY on the license plate. Nice touch.

Behind the shark nose front end is a 5.4-liter V-12 engine, which produced 322 horsepower and 360 pound-feet of torque from the factory. The 12 mates to a 5-speed automatic transmission and drives the rear wheels exclusively. It also comes with Electronic Damper Control, an aftermarket stereo in the cabin, and 18-inch Racing Dynamics wheels in the corners. The car is relatively low in the mileage department, logging just 79,000 miles on the odometer.

Comedian George Carlin was the sole operator of the car from new until his death in 2008, though it was first purchased by his business partner, states the Bring A Trailer post. It was acquired by Carlins daughter following his passing in 2008 and she as added 11k miles since then.

The car was recently serviced, and it also received a new headliner, an alignment, and it passed smog as well.

The auction ends Tuesday, February 20th. The current bid as of this writing (02/16/2018) is set at $25,250, although its expected that number will rise significantly over the weekend due to the cars prestigious ownership.

References

Read our full review on the 1989-1999 BMW 8 Series.

Read more BMW news.

Source: Bring-A-Trailer
The all-new Kia Ceed will eventually grow into an entire family of new models that will include a compact SUV. The surprising revelation came from Artur Martins, Kias vice president of marketing, who told Auto Express that the new SUV will sit beneath Sportage and will act as the brands champion against models like the Volkswagen T-Roc. Details are still unclear, but the model is expected to arrive sometime in the middle of 2019.

Even with the rapid growth of the crossover and SUV markets, there was no sign from Kia that it was planning to add an SUV to the Ceed lineup

Raise your hands if you saw this one coming. Even with the rapid growth of the crossover and SUV markets, there was no sign from Kia that it was planning to add an SUV to the Ceed lineup. But its happening, at least according to the automakers vice president of marketing, Artur Martins.

This is something we are putting on the table, he said. There will be no three-door with this car, so that gives us the chance to have another body type of the [Ceed] car.

The inclusion of a Ceed SUV would raise the nameplates lineup to include a healthy of models. We already know about the hatchback and sedan versions. Theres also going to be a wagon version, a performance-based GT version of the hatchback, and a shooting brake estate that will be based on the Proceed Concept that we saw at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show. The variation across the Ceed lineup is a good thing for Kia as it continues to build on its goal of increasing its market share in all the affected segments. Clearly, Kia has big plans for the Ceed now that the third-generation model has arrived.

Clearly, Kia has big plans for the Ceed now that the third-generation model has arrived.

Its going to be interesting to see how Kia approaches this expansion in light of where the markets are at the moment. For his part, Martins thinks that to be relevant, Kia needs to take some swings and not limit itself to where its already comfortable. We overperform in D-segment and SUVs  we have around 7 percent market share, he said. We have a chance to increase volume, but we have to change the recipe, we have to come with a different proposition, something more relevant.

A Kia Ceed SUV would fit that proposition. Now its on Kia to make sure that the Ceed SUV lives up to the automakers own expectations.

References

Kia Shows off the All-New Kia Ceed Prior to its Geneva Debut

Read more Kia news.

Source: Auto Express
All told, the 2018 Mazda6 Tourer should look and feel more premium than before, just like the latest sedan version that appeared in Southern California. Full details are still forthcoming, but for now, read on for the lowdown on what we know, plus a splash of speculation along the way.

Mazda introduced the 6 nameplate in 2002 as a replacement for the highly successful Mazda 626. Offered as a near-premium mid-size four-door model, the 6 is now considered Mazdas flagship model. Three generations have arrived since the 6 first hit the scene, the latest of which showed in 2012. Back in November, Mazda brought out a refreshed iteration at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show (LAAS), dropping cover on a tweaked exterior style, a newly updated interior, fresh technology and equipment, and even a new turbocharged engine package. Suffice to say, we thought the whole thing looked great, so much so that we gave it a spot on our Best In Show list for the 2017 LAAS. Given the extensive updates seen for the 2018 model year, you could consider this latest iteration as the 3.5-gen vehicle. Now, the 6s more practical Tourer wagon body style looks set to receive the same good stuff when it arrives in Switzerland with a debut at the 88th Annual Geneva International Motor Show.

Mazda6 Tourer Exterior

Latest Kodo design language

Mazda Kai and Mazda Coupe concepts used for inspiration

LED lighting

Larger grille with metal mesh insert

Massively flared front fenders

Should offer standard 17-inch wheels, optional 19s

More aerodynamic than before

The Tourer once again employs Mazda's Kodo design language to great effect, refining the old model's styling bits without overdoing it.

When it comes to the aesthetics, the Mazda6 is one good-looking car. Based on concepts like the Mazda Coupe and Mazda Kai, both of which will head to Geneva alongside the 2018 Mazda6 Tourer, this wagon once again employs Mazdas Kodo design language to great effect. The 2018 model year refines the old models styling bits, and although the overall look doesnt change a whole lot, we arent complaining  we think it looks great, and we think theres a definite upscale vibe to it. Thankfully, its also not nearly as stuffy as the numerous European sedans found elsewhere on the Geneva show floor. Rather, its got its own curvaceous Japanese styling to it, and thats a big plus in our book.

Lets check out the details, starting in front where we once again find impressively flared wheel arches that add a ton of visual beefiness to the front end. The new model also comes with a larger front grille, which is set in an elliptical shape and fitted with a metal mesh insert. Despite its size, we think the grille looks quite good, and its definitely an improvement on the old models horizontal slats. The headlights also look longer and leaner than before, pulled back into fenders in a taut, slim shape. LEDs are used for the lighting element, while chrome detailing adds icing on the cake.

LED headlights as standard

The headlights also look longer and leaner than before, pulled back into fenders in a taut, slim shape

The long, flared fenders in front lead into a profile thats punctuated by a variety of angles and character lines, both above and below. The window line dives down towards the front end, adding a bit of visual rake and enhancing the visual weight of the plus-sized rear end. In terms of wheel sizing, we expect Mazda to offer 19-inch wheels like on the U.S.-spec sedan, while standard sizing will be set at 17 inches. A few new paint options would also be nice.

In back, expect slimmer taillights and further shiny trim detailing. Dual exhaust tips would also be a nice complement to the elegant, yet sporty aesthetic.

Further more, Mazda says the new look is now more aero-efficient than before, although the automaker declines to go into detail. Look for official specs next month.

Mazda6 Tourer Interior

New interior layout focuses on horizontal lines

Lots of premium touches throughout

Fresh safety and driver assist tech

Nearly 60 cubic feet of cargo room with the rear bench folded

Fingers crossed for optional Japanese Sen wood trim

The look is characterized by broad horizontal surfaces and long unbroken shapes. New switch gear was added to the center console, and there's an 8.0-inch touchscreen sitting high on the dash.

Step inside the 2018 Mazda6 Tourer, and youll find a cabin look and layout thats identical to the sedan (plus a good deal more cargo room in the rear, of course). Mazda says that the sedan gets an all-new interior where only the steering wheel and small trim pieces [are] carried over from its predecessor, and that looks to be the case in the Tourer model as well.

The look is characterized by broad horizontal surfaces and long unbroken shapes. New switch gear was added to the center console, with a slick, simplified button layout for the climate control system, above which youll find an 8.0-inch touchscreen sitting high on the dash. An optional 7.0-inch TFT screen can be had for the gauge cluster. The soft touch materials look great, and continue from the dash into the door panels. Were expecting Nappa leather for the upholstery and optional Japanese Sen wood for the dash. Theres also new seats in front, which Mazda says are more supportive and more comfortable this time around.

New switch gear was added to the center console, with a slick, simplified button layout for the climate control system, above which you'll find an 8.0-inch touchscreen sitting high on the dash

As a complement to the upscale layout and top-shelf materials, Mazda says the new 6 gets reduced levels of NVH (or noise, vibration, and harshness) inside the cabin, which is obviously critical to attaining that upscale vibe Mazda is shooting for. Further complements include a broader range of i-Activsense safety features, such as 360-degree monitor with a top-down view, and intelligent speed assist.

Finally, the 2018 Mazda6 Tourer looks to keep its decent rear cargo room, which is currently rated at 522 liters (18.4 cubic feet) with the rear bench up, and expands out to 1,664 liters (58.8 cubic feet) with the bench folded down.

Mazda6 Tourer Drivetrain

Engine lineup likely to include 2.2-liter diesel and 2.0-liter gasSix-speed automatic and six-speed manual on the tableFWD as standard, AWD optional

New turbo 2.5-liter engine plucked from the CX-9

Mazda has yet to divulge a whole lot in terms of the powertrain spec for the 2018 Mazda6 Tourer, but we expect the brand to offer a slight refresh on the 2.2-liter diesel and a 2.0-liter gas options

Mazda has yet to divulge a whole lot in terms of the powertrain spec for the 2018 Mazda6 Tourer, but we expect the brand to offer a slight refresh on the 2.2-liter diesel and a 2.0-liter gas options. Current output levels vary between the trim levels, with the diesel making either 150 horsepower or 175 horsepower. Meanwhile, the gas engine makes 165 horsepower. A few extra ponies and mpg at the pump should do well to keep it sprightly for 2018.

Its possible Mazda will also include the new 2.5-liter turbo four that we just got in the 6 sedan here in the States, which offers up 250 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. However, if were honest, its not likely. Sorry, speed lovers. But heres to hoping.

Unfortunately, the 6 definitely wont get Mazdas next-generation Skyactiv-X compression ignition petrol engine technology either, but the Zoom-Zoom brand will bring it to display in Geneva all the same. Mazda calls it Spark Controlled Compression Ignition, or SCCI, and its a world-first for a passenger car. Basically, the compression ignition design works similarly to a diesel, but it burns gasoline. It also manages to combine the benefits of both gas and diesel powerplants, with features like solid high-end power, a sharp throttle response, cleaner emissions, and high fuel efficiency. Its innovative and pretty cool too, especially when you consider most of the industry is heading towards smaller engine sizing and forced induction to find the extra efficiency. Look for the Skyactiv-X compression ignition tech on the forthcoming 2019 Mazda3.

Moving on, we expect the 2018 Mazda6 Tourer to once again offer customers either a six-speed manual transmission, or a six-speed automatic, depending on the trim level and engine picked. Once again, we have to applaud Mazda for sticking to its guns, as rather than adopting a rubber-banding continuously variable transmission like most other makes, its going with a more traditional gearbox. Front-wheel drive will come as standard, while AWD will be an available option.

Mazda6 Tourer Chassis And Handling

More refined and more responsive too

Tweaked suspension geometry

Definitely one of the most fun-to-drive in segment

Heading into the 2018 model year, the Mazda6 Tourer looks to receive enhanced driving dynamics, with fresh suspension tuning that simultaneously finds greater handling benefits when attacking a corner, and more comfort when cruising.

To that end, we expect the Tourer to once again get the same updates as the U.S.-spec sedan. For example, the reduced noise, vibration, and harshness will no doubt come courtesy of the 6s stiffer chassis and body, while the handling and ride refinements will be partly thanks to a new steering rack mounting and tweaked suspension geometry. Finally, G-Vectoring Control will once again be used for greater grip levels coming off a corner.

Mazda6 Tourer Pricing

While exact pricing for the 2018 Mazda6 Tourer has yet to be released, we fully expect the bottom line to stay close to current figures. For reference, the 2017 Mazda6 Tourer starts at 23,795 in the U.K.

Look for more updated details right here in this review when the 2018 Mazda6 Tourer makes its appearance at the 2018 Geneva International Motor Show in March, where itll strut its stuff alongside the Euro-spec Mazda6 Saloon, the Mazda Coupe concept, and the Mazda Kai concept.

Mazda6 Tourer Competition

If you like the idea of a sleek, spacious, and well-appointed wagon model, but care less about the performance side of things, then the Volkswagen Passat Estate might be just the right fit. Outside, you get the eternally refined styling VW is known for across its lineup, while the interior comes equipped with a flat-bottom steering wheel, a digital screen in the gauge pod (full digital gauges are optional), and a 6.5-inch screen in the dash. Materials include some top-tier picks in the higher trims, while rear cargo room is rated at a Mazda-beating 650 liters (23 cubic feet) with the rear bench up. Engine options include a range of diesel and gas options. Although we expect the Mazda to be far more interesting to drive, the VW makes a sensible case for itself all the same.

Read our full review on the 2017 Volkswagen Passat.

Another solid choice in this segment comes from the Blue Oval with the Ford Mondeo Estate. Although it appears to be a bit more brutish, the styling works well all the same, and its very much in line with the rest of Fords lineup and styling cues. Inside, theres a decent amount of cargo room, rated at 500 liters (17.7 cubic feet) with the seats up, while optional AWD helps it grip in less than ideal conditions. Engine options include a 1.5-liter diesel, a 2.0-liter diesel, and a 2.0-liter gas engine as well. Its a nice middle-of-the-road choice, if thats what youre after.

Read our full review on the 2017 Ford Mondeo.

Conclusion

Given the fact youre reading these words on TopSpeed, it should come as no surprise that we like this quick-and-fun little wagon. While some competitors offer a less expensive proposition, and still others offer a more luxurious interior, the Mazda6 also manages to mix in a good deal of driver engagement and fun, and to us, that matters a lot.

Were still waiting for all the details to drop, so make sure to check back here next month when they do. Until then, all we gotta say is  we sure do wish Mazda sold the Tourer here in the U.S.!

Love it Looks great Driving engagement obviously a priority Upscale, premium approach

Leave it More comfortable and more luxurious alternatives out there New engine tech still a year or more away No wagons for the U.S.!



References

Turbo engine makes 250 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque

Read our full review on the 2018 Mazda6.

Read our full review on the 2017 Mazda Kai.

Read more Geneva Motor Show news.

Read more Mazda news.
This photo captured by Tobias Friedrich, a professional photographer from 2007, won the prestigious Underwater Photographer of the Year 2018 award at UPY London. Dozens of Nortons were found in their Watery Grave in a famous shipwreck of the British World War II SS Thistlegorm near the Sinai Peninsula of the Red Sea. The photo has been titled as the Cycle War.

Unearthing shipwrecks is a pretty fascinating trade to always be in the hunt find some genuinely beguiling treasury, historical artifacts, clues to mysteries, and millions of ancient relics just like these World War II-era Norton 16H motorcycles found under the greatest shipwrecks in one of the most famous dive sites in the world.

Friedrich was planning to take this shot of the Thistlegorm hold for quite some time now but couldnt do it since the walls of the holding room wouldnt allow him any space to go backward. But finally, he decided to take a panoramic shot of the same scene to capture the whole cargo deck and added some lights that give the image more depth.

The beautiful image shows Norton 16H motorcycles settled in the cargo hold of Fordson trucks that were amongst other war supplies that were heading to Alexandria, Egypt. They included BSA motorcycles, boots, uniforms, rifles, ammunition, aircraft parts and steam locomotives bound for Allied forces fighting in Egypt.

The SS Thistlegorm was struck by German bombers in 1941 sending it to the sea floor, where the cargo has been eerily frozen in time. Friedrichs photo was selected the best amongst 5,000 underwater pictures where Peter Rowlands, chair of the judges, added, This is a quite extraordinary shot which must be viewed as large as possible. The artistic skill is to visualize such an image and the photographic talent is to achieve it.

He even called this shot "perfectly lit and composed" and predicts "there will never be a better shot of this subject." We cannot make an argument with that one.
The 3rd Steering Committee Meeting (SCM) of the African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) under its current 2016-2020 programme cycle took place in Marrakesh, Morocco from 14-15 February hosted by the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU).

The Steering Committee is an essential part of the ATPCs governance and is made up of key stakeholders including the African Union Commission (AUC), African Development Bank (AfDB), Regional Economic Communities (RECs), ECA Sub Regional Offices, collaborating institutions, civil society and private sector representatives. The AUC and Global Affairs Canada respectively serve as chair and vice chair of the Steering Committee.

The purpose of the meeting was to review ATPC 2017 annual report and financial statement, 2018 work programme and indicative budget, and the Centres Performance Management Framework (PMF) that has been developed to ensure systematic tracking of the impact of the Centres activities and outputs.

Mr. Taieb Baccouche, Secretary-General of the Arab Maghreb Union, in his welcome address, expressed appreciation for the instrumental role that ATPC is playing in contributing to the promotion of the intra African trade through its research and related activities. In particular, he highlighted ATPCs technical support to the African Union Commission (AUC) in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) negotiations.

He further noted that Africas industrial development and structural transformation depend on the success of continental trade integration. This in turn is crucial for generating employment particularly for the youth and reducing poverty. He thanked the Centre and ECAs North Africa Sub Regional Office for the technical assistance provided to UMA to support its programme for boosting intra-African trade.

For his part, Mr. Stephen Duval, First Secretary, Global Affairs Canada reiterated the importance Canada attaches to Africas trade integration agenda including efforts to boost intra African trade. He thanked the Centre for the progress made in putting in place a performance management framework to report more systematically on its results.

Mr. Merah Nadir, representing the Commissioner for Trade and Industry of the AUC, underscored the key role of the Centre in providing support to the AfCFTA negotiations. He noted that it will be critical to scale up this support during the implementation of the agreement as well as in the 2nd phase of the negotiations.

The ATPC Coordinator, Mr. David Luke, gave an overview of the Centres activities during 2017 with additional details provided by the Centres team members. As part of the 2018 work programme, the Centre presented its new monitoring tool for tracking AfCFTA implementation throughout the continent and impact on enterprise and business expansion and development.

The quality of the Centres research, policy advisory services, capacity building and training activities encompassing both intra-African and Africas external trade was commended. It was noted that the Centres new monitoring tool will be useful in generating data and evidence on the impact of the AfCFTA since implementation must now be driven by the private sector as it responds to the 2.5 trillion in market opportunities made possible by the agreement.

It was also recommended that the Centre should strengthen and build upon its partnerships with ECAs sub-regional offices. Another key recommendation is for the Centre to continue to operate under a framework that allows for flexibility to respond to request for technical support from member states and RECs and emerging trade developments.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Stephen Karingi, officer in charge of the Regional Integration Trade Division noted that the Centres work on the AfCFTA is in line with ECAs emerging strategy to serve as a think tank not only for Africas policy makers but also for African business. He reiterated ECAs appreciation to Global Affairs Canada for its support to the Centre and assured the meeting that its recommendations will be transmitted to ECAs top management.
The negative impact of illicit financial flows (IFFs) on progress towards development goals increasingly features on international political agendas. There is now a consensus that resolving the problem of IFFs requires responding to underlying development challenges, and tackling all parts of the problem in source, transit and destination countries.

Drawing on collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), the New Partnership for Africas Development (NEPAD) and the World Bank, this report examines the nature of thirteen overlapping, and often times mutually reinforcing, criminal and illicit economies, with a view to identify their underlying development linkages and resulting financial flows.

The report goes beyond traditional efforts to measure illicit financial flows (focusing solely on financial losses) and takes the first step towards building a qualitative understanding of the way in which illicit or criminal activities might interact with the economy, security and development of a region particularly susceptible to IFFs. In taking this approach, this report identifies the networks and drivers that allow these criminal economies to thrive, with a particular emphasis on the actors and incentives behind them.

This report further proposes a framework that offers an opportunity for policy makers (national governments, regional actors and international partners) to prioritise their policy responses, and to address the development conditions and resulting impacts of IFFs.

West Africa: Regional context and susceptibility to criminal economies*

Economy and trade

Like the rest of the world, West Africa has seen a surge in global trade flows over the last decade, mostly driven by natural-resource extraction. West Africas proportional contribution to global imports and exports appears to be falling, while the rest of Africa share has remained constant or increased. Illicit activity, criminal economies and the diversion of legitimate trade flows outside of the formal economy could explain West Africas relatively poor performance.

The establishment of ECOWAS in 1975 created a free-trade area. This was followed in 1994 by the creation of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (also known as Union Economique et Monetaire Ouest Africaine [UEMOA]). Eight countries within the UEMOA (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote dIvoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo) share a common currency (the West African CFA franc), as well as common customs capacity. In terms of economic structure, UEMOA countries are heterogeneous. Although most depend on agriculture, services, and oil and mineral extraction as their primary economic drivers, only a few member countries have developed sizeable manufacturing industries. Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso are landlocked, while all other member countries have access to the sea. Cabo Verde  a small-island economy  has the highest GDP per capita, although Nigeria has by far the largest economy overall. The economies of ECOWAS countries have been growing quickly in the last 50 years. GDP grew from USD 50 billion to nearly USD 300 billion in real terms between 1966 and 2014, while the region as a whole achieved 4-5% growth rates per year over the same period.

Connections to the hydrocarbon-dominant economies of North Africa and the Maghreb have a significant impact on economic realities, as they create economic opportunities for goods, services, income and employment. For centuries, North African ports were global trade gateways to the Sahel countries and countries further south, with trade routes facilitated by nomadic groups spanning the Sahara. This northward pull was reinforced by the discovery of vast hydrocarbon reservoirs in Algeria and Libya; their boom economies and need for labour pushed the migration patterns from all the countries of sub-Saharan Africa northwards.

The major evolution in trade patterns is relatively recent. Since 2009, over 90% of global trade has been moved by sea, 70% of it as container-based cargo. Significant investment in port infrastructure has considerably eased the regions integration into global trade. Key ports have become strategic points controlling the bulk of trade in the region. This makes it easier and cheaper to extract natural resources from the mineral-rich Mano River and West African coastal regions, which boast plentiful deposits of base metals and precious metals, minerals and phosphates, as well as flora and fauna. In the last decade, this global trend has triggered a rise in the volume of trade through West Africa, largely driven by the growth in demand from Asia.

Most trade for ECOWAS countries takes place outside of the region. The European Union has traditionally been the primary trading partner with West Africa, both for imports and exports. Cote dIvoire, Ghana and Nigeria account for 80% of West Africas exports  mainly comprising fuel and food products  to the European Union. West Africas imports from the European Union consist of fuels, food products, machinery, chemicals and pharmaceutical products. In February 2014, the European Union and ECOWAS signed a new Economic Partnership Agreement that would grant West African states long-term access to the European market without being subjected to tariffs or quotas.

Over the past decade, Chinese exports to ECOWAS countries have expanded more than tenfold. The Peoples Republic of China (hereafter China) is now the largest national exporter to ECOWAS. In Ghana, for example, imports from China account for around 20% of total imports.

The bulk of counterfeit and substandard goods brought into West Africa is concealed within legitimate trade flows into the region. Limited state resources, endemic corruption within port authorities and a lack of capacity to physically inspect most containers provide an environment conducive to contraband shipments. Control of imports and product quality in the marketplace is also limited.

From a global perspective, West Africa remains a relatively small market and a relatively complex operating environment. OECD estimates of the prevalence of counterfeit goods based on customs-seizure data suggest a global increase, but no reliable regional figures exist. Anecdotally, the perception is that both substandard and counterfeit goods are highly prevalent in West Africa, and that the problem has grown.

The seizure data indicate that China is the main source country of fake and counterfeit goods (including foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, and a wide variety of consumer and fake luxury goods) heading to West Africa and the United Arab Emirates. China serve as transit points to West African markets. West African countries have also served as transit points to other countries on the continent.

With their economies so heavily driven by external exports, the ability of regional governments to fund development strategies depends on their capacity to capture a fair share of the export wealth generated by minerals and other resources. In the report Track it! Stop it! Get it! Illicit Financial Flows from Africa, the High Level Panel (HLP) on Illicit Financial Flows from Africa made three key points: African governments are unable or unwilling to successfully negotiate resource-extraction contracts that are fair and favourable in the long term; private companies investing in the region combine legal, illegal and borderline activities to limit taxation; and the international financial system provides loopholes and jurisdictions in which capital resources and revenues can be diverted.

The Africa Progress Panel (2013) has suggested that African governments lack the resources necessary to effectively assess the tax liabilities of overseas organisations. As a result, these organisations may be able to engage in tax evasion or aggressive tax avoidance. When countries have attempted to reform the taxation system against the interests of powerful corporations, these corporations have used their position to rail against such moves. Tax is also evaded through misinvoicing, typically for intangible goods or services (e.g. intergroup loans, intellectual-property taxes, procurement costs, and expert or management fees). Misinvoicing practices have been used in multiple ways, e.g. to pay bribes and reduce profit margins.

Trade within the ECOWAS zone is limited, with 10-15% of total exports going to regional markets. From 2015, ECOWAS adopted common tariffs against the outside world, and established a customs union featuring free trade between the member states and a common trade policy that overrides national law. The common external tariff for consumer goods is set at 20%; the external tariff for specific goods boosting economic development is set at 30%. Individual member states do, however, maintain the option to institute import bans and quotas, and to set taxes. Hence, the customs union is still not fully realised.

All countries in the region have sizeable informal economies. An estimated 40-80% of economic activity takes place outside of the formal banking sector. In 2012, the ECA argued that informal cross-border trade constituted on average 43% of GDP; case studies in West Africa and the Horn of Africa show that informal cross-border trade vastly exceeds reported bilateral trade. The ECA study also noted that in some  albeit unnamed  African countries, informal regional trade flows may constitute up to 90% of official trade movement.

The ECA defines informal cross-border trade as the movement of legitimately produced goods and services that avoid custom controls and/or pass through official channels. They use illegal practices such as under-invoicing (reporting a lower quantity, weight or value of goods to incur lower tariffs) and misclassification (falsifying the description of goods so they appear to be goods attracting a lower tariff). The ECA posited three categories of informal cross-border trade.

Categories of Informal Cross Border Trade

Category A Category B Category C Informal (unregistered) traders or firms operating entirely outside the formal economy Formal (registered) firms fully evading trade-related regulations and duties (e.g. avoiding official border-crossing posts) Formal (registered) firms partially evading trade-related regulations and duties by resorting to illegal practices (e.g. under-invoicing)

Source: ECA (2012)

Continually fragmented policies on taxation, quotas, tariffs and currency control have meant that cross-border illicit trade has flourished within the ECOWAS zone. Mbaye (2014) argued that in West Africa,  documented intra-regional trade is small but smuggling is pervasive, despite regional integration schemes intended to promote official trade. The assessment further argued that [c]ross border trade involves a complex interplay of formal and informal operators and practices and [e]thnic and religious networks play a large role in organizing the informal sector, resulting in a set of shadow institutions that in some respects are more effective and powerful than official institutions.

Informal trade of this sort, however, should be distinguished from criminal cross-border trafficking. Faleye (2014) asserts that there is clear distinction between criminals involved in the trafficking of illegal goods, such as guns, which are a direct threat to national security and informal cross-border traders who buy and sell legal goods including contraband commodity goods, such as clothes, which contribute to the wellbeing of the masses of the society.

In the Sahel and West Africa, active networks of informal cross-border trade have facilitated the growth of more damaging criminal cross-border trafficking. Local border populations  who depend on, protect and sustain smuggling networks  do not distinguish between commodities with varying degrees of illegality. This has implications for those seeking to combat illicit trade. Strengthening lengthy and porous borders requires overcoming the entrenched nature and legitimacy of cross-border informal trade, and accounting for the livelihoods associated with it. Most of the goods available in this region are smuggled commodities; in fact, the communities provide services for traffickers. Successful smugglers and traffickers are seldom stigmatised, and may be lauded by communities where informal trade is the rule, rather than the exception. As seaborne trade has increasingly superseded the need for land-based trade, smuggling and trafficking of increasingly high-value illicit commodities have penetrated the informal economy. Some analysts have argued that the distinction between informal and formal economies is less valid, and that the economy should instead be understood as a series of social networks based around kith and kin.

Most transactions in the informal economy  including those supporting illegal activities  are paid in cash or through informal financing mechanisms. Financial services in the ECOWAS region are available to a small segment of the population: access to finance averages only 20%, ranging from 6% in Sierra Leone to 51% of the adult population in Cabo Verde. Similarly, a large proportion of remittances  which are among the largest contributors to domestic income in most West African economies  travel outside of the formal banking system. For example, surveys in Burkina Faso and Senegal revealed that over 60% of the receiving households used informal channels for cross-border remittances, affecting the capacity of the regions governments to benefit from taxation. At the same time, senders are paying a disproportionate cost for their transactions, owing to two major challenges: the high rates of informality (particularly within the continent) and a regulatory environment favouring monopolies.

As a result, the costs of transactions between the formal and the informal economy are high, and borne by those who are least able to absorb them. Members of Africas diaspora pay a 12% fee to send USD 200; that is almost double the global average, and significantly higher than the pledge made by United Nations (UN) member states in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to bring the cost down to 3%. In effect, it means that Africans are paying a super tax on their remittances. Moreover, despite the principles of free movement of goods and people, and the creation of ECOWAS as a free-trade zone, transactions within West Africa itself incur some of the highest charge structures in the world.

* Extract from Chapter 2. Download the full report on the OECD website.
South Africas national port and freight-rail operator is hunting for deals across the continent, from Senegal to Zimbabwe.

Transnet SOC Ltd. has drawn up a list of 18 African nations where it wants to do business and is targeting at least five transactions this year, said Petrus Fusi, general manager for cross-border strategy. The state-owned company is also looking for opportunities in the Middle East, India and South Asia and wants to boost revenue by more than half to 100 billion rand ($8.6 billion), group executive for strategy Khaya Ngema said in the same interview.

Transnet is seeking to expand outside its struggling home economy as well as diversify beyond its traditional business of bulk commodities. The company, which already operates in other African countries including Mozambique and Botswana, set aside 20 billion rand for acquisitions and could get as much as 25 percent of its revenue from outside South Africa within six years, Chief Executive Officer Siyabonga Gama said in 2016.

We want to move the company from a 60 billion rand company to a 100 billion rand company in the next three to four years, Ngema said Thursday in Bulawayo, Zimbabwes second-largest city.

The company has several deals already in the works, including the purchases of stakes in a car terminal and multipurpose terminal at the port of Maputo, in Mozambique, which have been approved by its board and await ministerial approval, Fusi said.

In Zimbabwe, the company and a South African-based consortium of Zimbabwean investors residing abroad won a contract to recapitalize the struggling National Railways of Zimbabwe. The idea is that the partnership develops into a long-term joint venture between Transnet and NRZ, Fusi said.

Other potential African projects include:

In Zambia, Transnet signed a memorandum of understanding to lease rolling stock to Zambia Railways, and aims to have the transaction concluded by July.

In Kenya, the company will seek to operate the first three berths at the port of Lamu, which is being built by a Chinese company.

In Benin, Transnet is in talks about a long-term relationship with the state terminal company and is in the process of appointing transaction advisers.

In Nigeria, the company is part of a larger consortium that includes General Electric Co. that is negotiating a 30-year concession to overhaul and operate about 3,500 kilometers (2,200 miles) of railway.

Transnet has submitted expressions of interest for railway lines in Ghana.

In Senegal, its looking at a project to rehabilitate a railway line from Dakar to a new iron-ore mine.

Elsewhere in the world, the company has plans for a trip to Saudi Arabia within the next couple of months and is also looking in Oman, in addition to India and Indonesia.

The Middle East presents huge opportunities for infrastructure development, in particular rail, said Fusi.
Diarise: East Africa Trade Development Forum (28 February - 1 March, Kampala)

African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) Steering Committee: tracking AfCFTA implementation (UNECA)

The 3rd Steering Committee Meeting of the African Trade Policy Centre under its current 2016-2020 programme cycle took place in Marrakesh (14-15 February), hosted by the Arab Maghreb Union. ATPC Coordinator, Mr David Luke, gave an overview of the Centres activities during 2017 with additional details provided by the Centres team members. As part of the 2018 work programme, the Centre presented its new monitoring tool for tracking AfCFTA implementation throughout the continent and impact on enterprise and business expansion and development. The quality of the Centres research, policy advisory services, capacity building and training activities encompassing both intra-African and Africas external trade was commended. It was noted that the Centres new monitoring tool will be useful in generating data and evidence on the impact of the AfCFTA since implementation must now be driven by the private sector as it responds to the 2.5 trillion in market opportunities made possible by the agreement.

The economy of illicit trade in West Africa (OECD)

This report is a first step towards building a qualitative understanding of the way illicit or criminal activities interact with the economy, security and development of West African states. Going beyond a traditional analysis of illicit financial flows, which typically emphasises the scale of monetary flows, the report examines the nature of 13 overlapping, and oftentimes mutually reinforcing, criminal and illicit economies, with a view to identify their resulting financial flows and development linkages. In taking this approach, this report identifies the networks and drivers that allow these criminal economies to thrive, with a particular emphasis on the actors and incentives behind them. As a conclusion to this work, this report proposes a series of policy considerations to assist countries to prioritise and focus their responses to reduce the development impacts of IFFs.

Ken Ofori-Atta: Fiscal deficit remains major challenge for attaining ECOWAS single currency (Ghanaweb)

The Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta has observed that public debt and fiscal deficit remain major challenges hindering the Economic Community of West African States to meet the convergence criteria of a single currency. Addressing key stakeholders at the Second Meeting of the ECOWAS Ministerial Committee of the Presidential Taskforce on the ECOWAS Single Currency in Accra, on Monday, Mr Ofori-Atta, who is the Chairperson of the Ministerial Committee, said the implementation of the activities of the Roadmap required financial, human and material resources to execute the final roadmap. The Finance Minister said the journey to the successful establishment of ECOWAS single currency by 2020 required commitment and unwavering political support from all stakeholders and member countries.

Moroccos accession to ECOWAS: Building bridges or rocking the boat? (ECDPM)

Though discussions are still ongoing, the issue raises numerous questions. Is geography no longer a determinant for African countries memberships of RECs? Does this put into question the AUs architecture of the eight recognised RECs, especially with Tunisia requesting membership of COMESA? And in trade terms, how will a Continental Free Trade Area alter these interests and discussions? [The authors: Bruce Byiers, Tasnim Abderrahim] [ECOWAS Commission research process: Economic relations (trade and investment) between Morocco and selected ECOWAS member countries (Nigeria, Ghana, Cote dIvoire, Senegal, Mali, Togo)]

Nigeria: New platform for 48-hour cargo clearance coming (The Nation)

The Nigeria Customs Service, Tin Can Island Command, is set to introduce a new electronic information system, to ensure that cargoes are cleared from the port within 48 hours. According to the command, Time Release Studies will comprise data and electronic information that will enable stakeholders track the movement of their Single Goods Declaration forms from the date of submission to when the cargo exited the Customs system.

South Africas SONA debate: speech by Minister of Economic Development, Ebrahim Patel (EDD)

In the next 12 months, to get SA ready for the 4th Industrial revolution, we will: (i) Develop a skills framework for the new jobs of the future and a social plan to address the disruptions to labour markets and workplaces that flow from new technologies; (ii) Invest in R&D to create the intellectual property base for our economy to benefit from the potential of these new technologies and provide funding for venture-capital projects involving the new technologies; (iii) Bring down the cost of data through the competition market inquiry into data services, expand infrastructure through finalising release of new spectrum, complete digital migration and conclude key policies, including for entry of cross-border e-commerce in SA. To drive this process and promote the wider partnership we need in society, we will work through the Digital Industrial Revolution Commission and through the office of the Speaker, we are arranging a session to brief Parliament on work undertaken on the implications of the 4th Industrial revolution. [Speech by Ms Joan Fubbs, chairperson portfolio committee on Trade and Industry)

South Africa port and rail group, Transnet, is out to conquer the continent (Bloomberg)

Transnet has drawn up a list of 18 African nations where it wants to do business and is targeting at least five transactions this year, said Petrus Fusi, general manager for cross-border strategy. The state-owned company is also looking for opportunities in the Middle East, India and South Asia and wants to boost revenue by more than half to R100bn ($8.6bn), group executive for strategy Khaya Ngema said in the same interview. [NPC Economy Series: Energy paper, pdf]

Malancha Chakrabarty: Indias feeble stakes in Africa (DNA India)

Although the figure seems appreciable, it is important to note that Indias FDI flows to Africa are concentrated in Mauritius, a tax haven. From 2008 to 2016, Indian FDI outflows to Mauritius totalled $47.6bn. Only $5bn went to the rest of Africa, which represents only 2% of global Indian FDI outflows. A large share of Indian FDI to Mauritius is round-tripped back to India, which means that the actual volume of Indian investment in Africa is much less than reported in the media. Thus, for an accurate picture of Indian investments in Africa, Mauritius has been excluded from the analysis.

Secondly, Indian investments in Africa are highly concentrated geographically. With a share of 63% and 22%, East and North African regions attract most of the investments from India (see Figure 2). Table 1 shows that the top 10 recipients account for over 90% of Indian FDI flows to Africa. With a share of about 52.9%, Mozambique tops the list. But its top position is largely due to ONGC Videshs investment in the Rovuma gas field, which accounts for about 99% of Indian investments in Mozambique. Thirdly, Indian outward investment in Africa is concentrated within a few large firms. Although about 597 Indian companies invested in Africa over 2008-16, the top 11 companies account for about 80% of the total Indian investment flows. [The author is Associate Fellow, Observer Research Foundation]

India: Suresh Prabhu says 40% of GDP to come from exports by 2025 (Financial Express)

Addressing the Maharashtra global investor summit, Prabhu said exports is the driving force of our growth strategy. We are coming out with a comprehensive strategy to increase the share of global trade to 40 per cent of GDP, which is likely to touch USD 5 trillion. Of the $5 trillion GDP expected to be achieved by 2025, he expects $3 trillion to come from the services sector, while $1 trillion each to come from the manufacturing and agriculture sectors. The minister also urged the business community to come up with a proper business plan to increase exports. According to the Federation of Indian Export Organisation, the current share of exports in GDP is only 18-19%. Prabhu informed that government has called a meeting of all state ministers to discuss on the export strategy. Currently just four states-Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Karnataka contribute almost 70 per cent of exports.

Expanding productive capacity: lessons learned from graduating Least Developed Countries (CDP)

The note develops an analytical framework (pdf) for expanding productive capacities for sustainable development that highlights the need for integrated policies across five broad policy areas: (i) development governance; (ii) social policy; (iii) macroeconomic and financial policies; (iv) industrial and sectoral policies; and (v) international support. It also emphasizes the need for different national strategies and tailored international support due to the diversity of LDCs. In this regard, the note identifies three different pathways towards graduation and highlights for each pathway key policy lessons for effectively expanding productive capacity.

Mustafizur Rahman: Graduating out of LDC group with momentum (CPD)

Bangladesh is well-poised to be considered for graduation from the LDC group at the next review of the UNs Committee for Development Policy in March 2018. As may be recalled, to be eligible for graduation the thresholds for at least two of the three graduation criteria (Human Asset Index, Economic Vulnerability Index and per capita Gross National Income) need to be attained. While a number of LDCs, including from South Asia (Nepal and Bhutan), are expected to be considered for graduation, Bangladesh is likely to have the unique distinction of attaining (and surpassing) the thresholds for all the three graduation criteria by the time the CDP convenes its meeting. This, no doubt, is indicative of the strength of the Bangladesh economy, and lays a good foundation for going forward towards the final graduation out of the LDCs in 2024 following the two successive triennial reviews by the CDP in 2021 and 2024.

Policies, institutions, development praxis and incentives will need to be geared towards Bangladeshs graduation with momentum. Since there is a six-year period between the time Bangladesh will be considered for graduation (in 2018) and when she will finally graduate out of the LDC group (in 2024), Bangladesh will need to pursue a well-crafted graduation strategy during the time between these two key milestones. Review of experience of some of the graduating and graduated LDCs indicates that while some LDCs have been successful in graduating with momentum by taking appropriate preparations, in case of some of the other LDCs graduation had to be even deferred because of continuing susceptibility to challenges and vulnerabilities. [Fahmida Khatun: Bangladesh prepares for graduation]

Collective action is key to defending trade, Geneva Dialogue hears (UNCTAD)

Pascal Lamy of the Jacques Delors Institute and a former director general of the WTO said the threat of a trade offensive from the United States was more bark than bite. He said that it was is clear that US President Donald Trump viewed trade arrangements as unfair to the United States. As a consequence, he said, its new approach was to quit or change the rules in its favour. Mr Lamy saw this as leading to three outcomes: from a weakening of the WTOs rule-upholding capacity, through a return to GATT (the forerunner of the WTO) with shallow discipline on trade rules, to a WTO minus the United States. Mr Lamy said the view of the multilateral trading system as a win-win scenario favoured by the United States in the past had been replaced with the view that it was a zero-sum game. He said that there was a possibility that there was indeed unfairness in the system that needed to be addressed but, in his view, quitting the system rather than reforming it was not the right way forward. [Reuters: WTO should prepare for life without US, ex-chief Lamy says]

Is the Indian government expecting a spike in trade disputes? (Livemint)

With rise in protectionism in developed countries, India has increased its allocation for international trade disputes four-fold in its budget presented by finance minister Arun Jaitley earlier this month. The Rs1.2 crore provision for expenditure in 2018-19 against Rs30 lakh a year ago is mostly for paying the lawyers who need to be engaged to represent Indias case at the WTO), a commerce ministry official said, speaking under the condition of anonymity. India has so far launched 23 trade disputes at the WTO against other countries, while it is a respondent in 24 such cases. While India and the US have been strategic partners, both countries are fighting out on several issues at the WTO dispute settlement mechanism. [India, 37 others seek WTO dispute bodys aid to fill up Appellate Body vacancies]

Australia may be engaging in free trade but its becoming more protectionist too (The Conversation)

The federal government may be aggressively negotiating free trade agreements, but in other ways it is restricting trade. The government has been giving itself extensive new anti-dumping powers, targeting steel and aluminium markets in particular. There was a nearly two-fold increase in anti-dumping investigations in Australia in 2017. According to the Productivity Commission, these protectionist measures raise costs to consumers and reduce competitive pressures, leading to less efficient resource use in the country levying the protection. The Productivity Commission estimates that for every A$1 increase in tariff revenue, economic activity in Australia falls by A$0.64. The commission also says that for every year that higher tariffs prevailed, GDP would be lower by over one per cent. Thus, a household that spends A$2,500 a fortnight on goods and services would be worse off by A$100 a fortnight.
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"some input on everyone's recommended car rental agency"

First choice is Island. After that try the local franchise of one of the large international rental agencies (Hertz, Avis, etc.) with locations at the airport.

"I feel prepared"

Having been to many of the other Caribbean islands, I would suggest that you are still in for a shock when you get to driving in Jamaica.

"Do most or all rental agencies charge significant holds on your card"

Yes. Depending on the company it may be at reservation time or when you pick up the car. You need to ask any company you are considering both the amount of the hold and when they make the hold.
Buy them at the duty free. Although Jamaica does produce their own cigars they are hard to find. On the Cuban front everyone and their mother is selling them. The problem is that they are fakes. Even though I am not a big supporter of buy at the DF as they tend not to be keep properly It would my opinion to buy them at the DF.

In fact buy two boxes and sell some to people you meet to cover your cost :)
Hello all! I would welcome your honest opinions & thoughts on an itinerary we are currently in the process of developing.

So, I (including 2 friends) will be traveling to Costa Rica for 7 nights this May. We have already reserved a 4x4 Automatic SUV with Vamos Rent-a-Car and will be landing in the early evening, picking up the car via airport shuttle to their office, and spending the night in the San Jose/Alajuela area (Night 1).

We plan to leave early morning from San Jose to La Fortuna/Arenal Volcan and spending the entire day there (Night 2).

After spending the day/night at La Fortuna/Arenal Volcan, we plan to leave early morning and head over to Monteverde. Along the way there, we thought it would be a good idea to stop for a break at the Viento Fresco Falls and spend a little bit of time there until we complete the drive and spend the rest of the day/night at Monteverde (Night 3).

From Monteverde, we plan to drive down to Manuel Antonio National Park. On the way to Manuel Antonio National Park, we plan to stop for a break at the Playa Blanca/Jaco area and spend a little bit of time there. From Playa Blanca, we plan to finish our drive to Manuel Antonio National Park and spend the rest of the day/night (Night 4).

We plan to dedicate the entire next day to Manuel Antonio National Park and spend another night there (Night 5).

From Manuel Antonio National Park we plan to leave early morning and drive to Changuena. On the way to Changuena, we plan to stop at (either) Playa Dominical &/or Nauyaca Falls, spend some time there, and then complete our drive to Changuena and spend the day/night there (Night 6). An important note for our trip is that we must visit Changuena for personal reasons, so this stop is not really up for negotiation, everything else is.

From Changuena, we plan to leave early morning and drive directly back to San Jose (Night 7) as our flight will be the next day.

We understand our itinerary seems to include a lot and is very dependent and tight on time, and given the unpredictability of the roads/weather/traffic we are unsure if this trip is something that can be accomplished given the circumstances. So we welcome thoughts & opinions of those who are familiar with the country. Anything and everything helps :)
"so is applying for a VOA different to actually getting a visa before leaving australia..?"

- Yes. Hence, the name VOA (Visa on Arrival aka Landing Visa).

"it seems you will only pay US$25 for a visa when you arrive in vietnam"

- For a single-entry visa, yes $25. $50 for mutiple-entry ones.

"yet the site i came across (and yes trying to figure out if the sites are legitimate or not, is confusing ) will charge us US $79"

- Which site?

If you plan to stay less than 30 days, the best is evisa. Cheapest, fastest, hands down.
Myself and my partner will be visiting Vietnam in April and wanted some advice on our itinerary:

We arrive in Hanoi on 9th April around lunch time, we plan to spend the rest of that day and two further days here. On the 4th day we will do a day trip to Ninh Binh (Tam Coc) returning back to Hanoi that evening. The following day we plan to take a trip to Halong bay for 2 days 1 night, returning to Hanoi to stay over night.

We then plan to fly to Da nang and make our way to Hoi an where we will stay for 5 nights.

We then plan to fly to HCM and take a later flight to Phu Quoc for 5 nights.

We will return to HCM for 3 nights before our flight home.

Thoughts?!
Hi everyone, Im planning a couple of holidays next year. Gotta love retirement!

We are two married fun-loving couples in our 60s. The friends we are travelling with to Japan are different to our other holiday but the situation on their mobility isnt much different. My husband and I are able to walk everywhere but the other couple are not, so trekking will be out. We all like similar things. We are looking for ideas about getting off the beaten track? An itinerary with your views would be appreciated. We have about 18 days give or take. We love meeting locals, having a wine and getting a "feel" for the place instead of all the touristy places. We appreciate there may be a language barrier but it hasn't stopped us before! :) Some of the best places weve enjoyed around the world are places where weve had a drink with the locals in an out of the way shanty and used sign language to communicate. We will have a car and about 2-3 weeks to spend in Japan - not the extreme cold/hot periods. Happy (and know we need) to do some of the "must see" places but don't want to spend our entire time dodging other tourists and we figure that there are only enough temples you can see before you've had enough. I hope you can help us. Thank you so much in anticipation of your assistance.
Hi - we are doing a 12 day trip between Tokyo and via Kyoto to Osaka. We are travelling in mid March.

For the first few travel legs, I am finding it difficult to work out the preferred route. We have a 7 day JR pass.

The places we want to stay at between tokyo and kyoto are

* Takasaki

* Kanazawa

* Tsumago.

Is that a sensible order to travel between the towns? Or do you recommend a different order bearing in mind train travel routes? Any suggestions or recommendations?

All help appreciated.
Hiroshima or Nagoya - which one has less walking??

Hiroshima or Nagoya - which one has less walking??

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Hello Kevin,

the time is good to see the Highlights in each destination, if you have very special to see.

Danang: Day trip to Hoi An ancient town (morning and later afternoon to evening better); day tour to My Son (not very suitable for kids)

Hanoi: city tour 1 day, halong bay 2 or 3 nights, but the transfer from Hanoi to Halong is about 4 hours, also not suitable for kids... . Another option is choose the cruise in Haiphong (1.5 hours from Hanoi), like Orchid Cruise.

I have been to Da Nang and Hoi An in August 2015. It is so hot. Be sure to book the hotel or resort with swimming pool, use the morning time or evening time to discover.

about transportation in Danang: book the private transfer in advance.

Hope it helps.
I cant really help much, but Im going in October and literally booked Keio Plaza the other day haha. It looks great and has a shuttle to Disney and also day trips leave from there so even though it was a bit expensive we think its worth it for the ease of not stressing to getting to things. Plus it seems to have lots of options of food and stuff and close to station.

Im staying in both Kyoto and Osaka. Kyoto coz we want to get to things early so need to be there

and then staying in Osaka for a couple nights coz we wanna do Universal and the aquarium and a day trip from there to Nara
I'm in the initial stages of planning a trip to the Corcovado area in the first week of August (we are prepared for rain). My husband loves animals, and our primary goal is to see wildlife. I'm going through information overload at the moment, but I think I've narrowed things down to staying in Carate or at Bosque del Cabo. This may be our only trip to Costa Rica in our lifetimes, so we want to make it count!

Our requirements:

* 5-6 nights in one hotel. We like the idea of staying up in the hills with a view of the jungle.

* We are somewhat adventurous and mostly enjoy hiking and exploring trails on our own. We would also enjoy a 1/2 or full day guided trek into the jungle. We're in our late 40s, fairly fit, but not up for multi-day hikes, camping in the jungle or sleeping in hammocks.

* We'd like the option to explore beach tidepools and wildlife.

* We are not really interested in lounging by the pool or swimming at the beach.

* My husband wants to be woken up by howler monkeys in the morning , haha.

Everyone seems to love Bosque del Cabo, but I'm concerned that the trails on the property would seem too manicured and be too populated. Does it really feel like it's out in the wild? Luna Lodge looks amazing and secluded. Is the hike to La Leona ranger station interesting? It seems like many activities require guides. I also don't want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere, with our only options being "pay for tour X" or "pay for tour Y". Anyone have any advice?
Hi fellow trip Advisors, I have been putting together an itinerary for my visit to New York with my wife in September & wanted to get the expert opinions to see what needs more tweaking & is it actually doable in the short time we have. I have not put on the day we arrive as it's hard to determine how long it will take from arriving @ Newark to our Hotel so it will be a settling in with a walk round Times Square & Dinner. If we arrive at a decent hour(before 5 o'clock) I would like to do the TotR for the sunset .This is obviously a rough draft so just looking for some pointers on a timescale for some of the attractions. Thank You.

Hotel- The Edison- 228 W 47th Street(Times Square)

Sept 12- Check in to Hotel & explore local area. Depending on time, walk to Rockefeller centre & go to Top of the Rock Observation deck.

Have dinner @ Times Sq.Diner-807 , 8TH Avenue. Between 48 & 49 ST or The Mean Fiddler-266 W 47th St,

Sept 13- Get up early & visit the New York Public Library on 476 5th Ave then walk/bus down 5th Ave to Empire State Building to see the Observation Deck then down to FlatIron Building on 23rd st & across to Chelsea Hotel @ 222 W 23rd St, Get subway up to 72ndSt. to visit Strawberry Fields/Dakota Building in Central Park.

Have dinner @ Juniors 1515 Broadway, Mid Section Of 45th St.

Sept 14- Get the Metro down to the South Seaport & take the Staten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island.

Then head down Water St. to visit Fraunces Tavern .

before heading up towards Wall St. to visit the NYSE & the Charging Bull. Check out the Wall Street area including Trinity Church

Visit the 9/11 Memorial & museum before checking out the One World Trade Tower & walk towards the Woolworth building to City Hall Park to check out City Hall & Boss Tweed Building.

If there's time, take the subway to Brooklyn & check out the DUMBO before walking back across the bridge. Finally, call into the Dead Rabbit Bar for a well earned cocktail before the Metro back to Hotel.

I think the Financial district will be a challenge to fit all the things we would like to see so we're open to suggestions on what to leave out & what's a must see. Thanks again for any advice
The corruption epidemic is fast turning into one of the major global phenomena with almost every country reporting numerous cases and scandals. Africa has not been left behind, and cases of crime and corruption here have skyrocketed in the recent past. Heres a highlight of the most corrupt countries in Africa.

While several countries in the world have been able to manage corruption levels, African countries are experiencing the epidemic on a whole new level. Driven by greed and poverty, most government officials in the continent participate in this vice. Consequently, the epidemic has found its way to the grassroots where bribes are the order of the day.

Recent studies have highlighted some of the most corrupt countries in Africa in an effort to evaluate corruption levels that have strangled each country in the continent in 2017/2018, Transparency International (TI) surveyed people in all African countries. The findings precisely reflect what members of each of the 54 countries can relate to.

READ ALSO: Causes and Types of Corruption

Which are Most Corrupt Countries in Africa?

10. Uganda

Even though Ugandas President, Yoweri Museveni, alongside his administration has pledged support to the war in the vice, the cases are still on the rise. According to TI, corruption sagas that romp in power players keep resurfacing in ministries and government departments. For instance, Amama Mbabazi, the countrys prime minister, has been mentioned in corruption allegations. The leader has been particularly mentioned in the controversial sale of the NSSF land, yet he still enjoys immunity from the president against any lawsuit.

Whats more, so debilitated is the countrys health system that more doctors opt to practice in foreign countries for better pay. Each year, the government cant account for an approximate $258.6million thanks to corruption.

9. Equatorial Guinea

Despite featuring among the worlds richest countries, the country still takes position nine in the most corrupt countries in Africa list. From numerous cases of bribery to direct looting of property, such that poverty rates in the entire nation are significantly high. Notably, citizens in this mighty country survive with a daily income of below $1.

8. Angola

Just like numerous other nations, Angola is known to have corrupt government officials. However, a case where a countrys entire government swindles several hundred million dollars to serve personal gains is unheard of. Angola has gained quite a reputation as the number eight most corrupt country in the continent. Notably, the country has failed to account for over $5 billion over the last decade. This has made the country feature in the top ten list of the worlds most corrupt countries.

7. Cameroon

According to the IT report, approximately 62 percent of Cameroon citizens gave a bribe to get themselves out of different situations. Amongst the respondents, 81 percent believe the countrys judiciary system is graft minded, while 71 percent feel that corruption within schools is deep-rooted. Additionally, 46 percent of the group reported an increase in graft over the last two years. However, a section of the respondents (only 30 percent) believes that the rates of corruption had reduced.

6. Mozambique

According to TI, 62 percent of respondents in Mozambique noted that either they or a person within their household bribed their way at some point in the last one year. When asked about the education sector, 79 percent of those interviewed felt that this was one of the most corrupt and its only the police that could beat that. The ministry has had several scandals including improper school admissions and diversion of resources. However, 64 percent believed on the impact of ordinary citizens in the fight against the epidemic.

5. Zimbabwe

Most have heard of Mugabes country fame for being a corruption hub. IT indicates that about 62 percent of the countrys respondents confirm having given a bribe within a year prior to the study. 77 percent of respondents agree that the vice has spread to all corners of the country, with a majority suggesting that hardships and poverty have contributed to the situation. The most affected is Zimbabwes health sector, as confirmed by 65 percent of respondents.

4. Libya

According to the IT report, 62 percent of respondents in Libya confirm that paying a bribe is the basic way in which you can receive the right services. Whats more, 71 percent of those interviewed highlight that journalists in this country fear to report any corruption incident due to the fallout. According to an Amnesty International press release, one newspaper editor in the country was convicted to a prison term of 15 years for allegedly publishing a list containing 84 judges who practice corruption.

3. Kenya

Well, our motherland also made it on the list of shame at position three. Our very own country has also been hit with massive corruption scandals. According to the report, 74 percent of respondents here bribed their way to access faster services in government offices, with a good number indicating that they wouldnt have got the services at all without buying tea. The police are perceived to be the most corrupt, with 95 percent of respondents agreeing with the matter. In fact, a video of a police officer asking for money from a motorist recently went viral, and it didnt come as a surprise to most Kenyans.

2. Liberia

According to 75 percent of Liberian respondents, theres absolutely no government service that you can access without paying a bribe. The judiciary system of the country is the worst hit, and 96 percent of respondents named the parliament to be the most corrupt. 94 percent of those interviewed claim that graft in the police department can only be described as extreme. According to Rose Stryker, the countrys Deputy Police Director for Administration, low income is the main facilitator of the vice.

1. Sierra Leone

The research ranked the country as number one in the ranking of most corrupt countries in Africa with the highest percentage of respondents at 84 percent. According to the citizens, you also have to bribe your way to be served in government offices, yet the officials are on the payroll. 79 percent of those interviewed felt that the police department is very corrupt while 74 percent pinned the judiciary. The presidents chief of staff, Richard Konteh, disputed the findings and claimed that they dont understand the countrys norm of rewarding the chief for a job well done.

References:

https://www.transparency.org/news/feature/corruption_perceptions_index_2016 https://www.transparency.org/news/feature/corruption_perceptions_index_2016#table https://www.forbes.com/pictures/egdj45jhef/the-worlds-most-corrupt/#5cfbde147989 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_Perceptions_Index

Source: Tuko.co.ke
- Homa Bay governor Cyprian Awiti has vowed to challenge the High Court's decision to nullify his August 8 victory

- Awiti released a statement hours after the ruling was made to condemn the Judiciary, accusing the body of being compromised

- His election was being challenged by former Kasipul Member of Parliament (MP) Oyugi Magwanga

Embattled Homa Bay governor Cyprian Awiti has spoken for the first time since the High court nullified his August 8 election win.

Awiti, in a damning statement seen by TUKO.co.ke , sharply opposed the High Courts decision, and revealed he would be contesting the nullification of his win.

Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens

READ ALSO: Picha za aliyekuwa mwakilishi wa wanawake Bomet akiwa kitandani na kijana mchanga zasambaa

Cyprian Awiti had his win nullified on Tuesday, February 20. Photo: Nation

READ ALSO: High Court orders immediate release of Miguna Miguna hours after dramatic arrest

It is very unfair for the court to put the General people of Homa Bay through the harrows of a campaign and electioneering period again at a time we should be developing our county.

By the conviction that I won the election fairly, I reject this ruling and I will move to court to appeal against it after consultations, His statement read.

The damning statement from Cyprian Awiti's camp. Photo: Courtesy

READ ALSO: Relief as 3-week-old baby stolen from KNH is found and TUKO.co.ke has the details

According to Awiti, the corruption and incompetence of the Judiciary was now seeping through to his Homa Bay county.

Today marks a very dark day for residents of Homa Bay county whose will has been sacrificed at the altar of corruption and incompetence within the ranks of our judiciary, The statement further read.

Awiti becomes the second governor to lose his seat via nullification. Photo: Citizen

READ ALSO: Miguna Miguna's epic response after Mutahi Ngunyi called him a cheap drama queen

Earlier reports by TUKO.co.ke revealed that Judge Joseph Karanja ruled that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) did not conduct a free and fair election.

Ruling on the petition that was filed by former Kasipul Member of Parliament (MP) Oyugi Magwanga, Judge Joseph Karanja said the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) did not conduct a free and fair election.

Awiti becomes the second governor to lose an election petition after Wajir County's Ahmed Mohammed Abdi Mahamud.

The Court consequently directed IEBC to conduct fresh election in Homa Bay county.

Have anything to add to this article or suggestions? Share with us on news@tuko.co.ke

Small business Ideas for Kenyans with low investment:

Source: Tuko.co.ke
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An entire home was pulled down in less than two hours by a landslip in Claxton Bay today.
Russian-backed militants launched twelve 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, illegal armed formations fired 82mm mortars on Ukrainian positions near Krymske (42.5km north-west of Luhansk). ATO troops outside Hladosove (51km north-east of Donetsk), Novoluhanske (53km north-east of Donetsk) and Svitlodarsk (55km north-west of Donetsk) came under grenade launcher and heavy machine gun fire.

In Donetsk direction, militants used 82mm mortars, automatic grenade launchers and machine guns to shell Ukrainian strongholds outside Pisky (12km north-west of Donetsk). The enemy also fired 120mm and 82mm mortars near Lebedynske (16km north-east of Mariupol), Vodiane (16km north-west of Donetsk) and Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol).

As a result of the terrorist attacks, one Ukrainian serviceman was killed, another one was wounded and one soldier more was injured. In addition, two more Ukrainian servicemen were wounded when their vehicle was blown up by an unknown explosive device.

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One Ukrainian soldier was killed as a result of the enemy shelling of the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Donbas over the past day.

Ukrainian Defense Ministrys Spokesman for ATO issues Dmytro Hutsuliak said this at a briefing on Tuesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"Unfortunately, one 29-year-old serviceman was killed yesterday. We express our condolences to the relatives and friends of our soldier who heroically defended Ukraine against Russian aggression," Hutsuliak said.

He also noted that as a result of the shelling of the positions of the Ukrainian military, one soldier was wounded, and another one was injured.

"In addition, two more Ukrainian servicemen were wounded when their vehicle was blown up by an unknown explosive device. They were immediately taken to a mobile hospital. The health condition of one of the servicemen was reported as difficult and of other defenders as satisfactory," he said.

According to him, Russian-backed militants again used weapons banned under the Minsk agreements. They fired 12 times at the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces over the past day.

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The Finance Ministry of the Republic of Lithuania and the Finance Ministry of Ukraine will organize the coordination committee for implementation of the reform of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine and establishment of the Financial Investigation Service.

The representatives of the finance ministries of Ukraine and Lithuania agreed on this during the meeting on February 19, the press service of the Ukrainian Finance Ministry reports.

"Within the framework of the European Unions Public Finance Policy Reform Programme, Lithuania will coordinate the provision of assistance in the implementation of the reform of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine. At the meeting with the delegation of the Finance Ministry of Lithuania and the EU Delegation to Ukraine, the action plan for the implementation of the reform of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine, Ukrainian customs and establishment of the Financial Investigation Service, a single body to combat financial crimes against the state, were discussed," the report reads.

The delegation of the Republic of Lithuania and the EU Delegation to Ukraine expressed support for continuing the reform of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine and Ukrainian customs with all the institutional changes, improving the IT infrastructure, attracting new people and reorganizing the work of the Service. One of the key issues in the reform of the State Fiscal Service is the final liquidation of the tax police and establishment of a single body to combat financial crimes against the state  the Financial Investigation Service.

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In 2017, the value of agricultural exports from Ukraine to the EU increased by EUR 1.2 billion (+ 27%). Along with Indonesia, this is the most significant indicator of growth in exports to the EU countries.

Such data are contained in the latest monthly trade report, released by the European Commission on February 19, Ukrinform learnt from the EU Delegation to Ukraine.

Over the past 12 months, the EU imported the largest amount of agri-food products from Brazil (worth EUR 11.8 billion), the United States (EUR 11 billion), Argentina (EUR 5.7 billion). This list also includes such countries as Ukraine, China, Indonesia, Switzerland and Turkey. The value of imports in the EU varies between EUR 4.5-5.5 billion for each of these countries.

At the same time, the exports of agri-food products of the European Union to Ukraine increased by more than EUR 200 million over the past 12 months.

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The European Union is ready to partially finance the construction of the Go Highway transport corridor.

Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelian stated this during a briefing following the meeting with European Commission's Director-General for Mobility and Transport, Henrik Hololei, within the framework of the Ukraine-EU transport dialogue, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"Today we have learned that one of the financial instruments of the European Union is ready to finance a part of Go Highway project to connect the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea," the minister said.

The possibility of co-financing the construction of railway lines from Poland to Lviv is also being considered, Omelian added.

As reported, UAH 4 billion will be additionally allocated for construction of the Go Highway corridor in 2018.

It is planned to connect the Ukrainian Black Sea ports in Mykolayiv and Odesa with the Polish Gdansk on the Baltic Sea within the framework of the Go Highway transnational transport corridor project. The implementation of the project will allow accelerating and reducing the cost of transportation of goods from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea.

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Ukraine's public and publicly guaranteed debt has amounted to UAH 2.14 trillion (about $74 billion).

Head of the State Treasury Service Tetiana Sliuz said this during a public report on the activities of the State Treasury Service of Ukraine for 2017, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"Of course, publicly guaranteed debt actually reaches trillions. As of January 1, 2018, it amounted to over two trillion hryvnias, namely UAH 2.14 trillion. When we look at January 1, 2016, it was UAH 1.6 trillion," she said.

According to the Ukrainian Finance Ministry, the projected maximum size of publicly guaranteed debt will amount to about UAH 747.6 billion by the end of this year, which is 2.3 times more than planned in 2017. According to the ministry's forecasts, by the end of 2018, the ratio of public debt to GDP will increase from the expected 75.6% in 2017 to 82.4%. In general, by the end of 2018, public debt should not exceed 2.756 trillion hryvnias.

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Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister for European Integration Olena Zerkal states that Kyiv will not be able to meet all the interests and desires of the Hungarian national minorities on the language issue.

She said this live on the Channel 5 TV Channel on February 19, adding that Ukraine has its own interests in the development of the state, which in particular depends on the development of the language.

"Unfortunately, we lost a lot of time when we did not address linguistic issues for 25 years. It is impossible to solve this problem without a psychological crisis. We understand what we want to achieve. Of course, we cannot fully satisfy the interests and positions voiced by the Hungarian community. We have our own interests in the development of the state, and the development of the state also depends on the development of the language. Each state is built on the language and culture of this language. All countries passed this, in particular, at the time France banned the use of any language other than French," Zerkal said.

As Ukrinform reported, on February 7, the representatives of the Ukrainian and Hungarian delegations with the participation of Deputy Foreign Minister of Hungary Levente Magyar and Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Vasyl Bodnar agreed in Uzhhorod to hold consultations on February 14 with representatives of the Hungarian community of Zakarpattia regarding the implementation of the new education law.

On February 14, at a government meeting, Ukrainian Education Minister Lilia Hrynevych said that representatives of the Hungarian community refused to participate in consultations with the Education and Science Ministry of Ukraine on the implementation of the language article of the education law.

On the same day, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved a draft amendment to the law on education, which expanded the period of introduction of the language norm until 2023.

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February 20 is the official date of the beginning of the Russian aggression in Crimea in 2014. This date is determined by the Decree of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of April 21, 2015 "On the Statement of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine "On Countering the Armed Aggression of the Russian Federation and Overcoming its Consequences."

On February 20, 2014, Russia committed an international crime, violated the basic principles of the international law and the European order, destroyed the existing balance of power in the region and provoked the greatest security crisis in Europe since the Second World War.

Russian troops began to occupy Crimea roughly violating the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. The trucks without number plates and the armed military personnel in unmarked green army uniforms appeared on the peninsula. At the same time, the irregular armed formations of mercenaries from among the local residents were created and subsequently led by officers of the special services and the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

The situation was fast-changing. The Russian special forces soldiers seized the buildings of the Supreme Council and the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea on the night of February 27 and installed Russian flags on them. On March 16, the so-called "referendum" was held, and two days later  on March 18  the "reunification" of Crimea with the Russian Federation was proclaimed.

Russia initially refused to recognize the fact of its military aggression. Only on April 17, 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time publicly acknowledged that the Russian military personnel participated in the events in Crimea. It also became known that the participants in the special operation (the military personnel led by Russian defense minister Shoigu and criminals who "worked off" the reduction of their terms of imprisonment) were awarded the Medal "For the Return of Crimea".

For some time in Ukraine there was no legally established date of the beginning of the aggression of the Russian Federation. This date was considered March 27, 2014, when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution in support of the territorial integrity of Ukraine, recognizing Crimea and the city of Sevastopol as its inalienable parts, or April 27, 2014, when the Ukrainian law on ensuring the rights and freedoms in the temporarily occupied territory was passed.

The official date of the beginning of the temporary occupation of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol  February 20, 2014  was defined by the Law of Ukraine "On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on Determining the Date of Beginning of Temporary Occupation" dated September 15, 2015 No.685-VIII. This law contributes to the protection of the rights of the state, citizens and legal entities as well as strengthens Ukraine's position in litigation against the Russian Federation.

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Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen will make on a working visit to Ukraine on February 20-22, the press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has reported.

"The program of the visit foresees talks between Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and Denmark Pavlo Klimkin and Anders Samuelsen, as well as the participation of the two ministers in a high-level meeting at the Cabinet of Ministers on reform in Ukraine organized for representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Ukraine, international organizations, financial institutions and the public," the report says.

The Foreign Ministry reported that on February 21, the ministers would hold a joint press conference and the sides would sign joint invitations to the Ukraine Reform Conference, which will be held in Copenhagen on June 27.

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The law on the Institute of National Remembrance of Poland is directed against "lies," rather than against Ukraine, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has said.

He stated this at a meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Munich on February 17, the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland reported on Tuesday.

"This law is directed against lies, not against Polish-Ukrainian relations," Morawiecki said.

The report notes that the Polish prime minister opposed attempts by the Ukrainian authorities to introduce an unjustifiable ban on searching, exhumation and dignified burial of Polish victims of conflicts and repressions.

"This ban, together with the failure on the part of the Ukrainian authorities to fulfil their obligations in this regard, deeply affect bilateral relations between the two countries," reads the report.

It notes that during the meeting, Poroshenko and Morawiecki exchanged views on the security situation in Donbas and on energy security of the region in view of the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

In early February 2018, Polish President Andrzej Duda signed the law on the Institute of National Remembrance, while sending it for assessment to the country's Constitutional Court.

The law provides for prosecution for denial of crimes committed by "Ukrainian nationalists" against Polish citizens during the Second World War. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Pavlo Rozenko said at a meeting with his Polish colleague Piotr Glinski in Warsaw last Friday the provisions of the law in such wording could affect Ukrainian-Polish relations and the situation with Ukrainian labor migrants in Poland.

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A UN peacekeeping force deployed throughout the entire occupied territory of Donbas will help restore Ukraine's sovereignty, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has said in a statement due to the fourth anniversary of the beginning of Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine calls on partners to use all possible means to prevent the escalation of the international armed conflict in Ukraine caused by the Kremlin's aggressive policy, to force the Russian Federation to stop aggression, violations of human rights and support for terrorist activities, to introduce a UN peacekeeping mission, to end occupation of Crimea and seized territories of the Ukrainian Donbas, as well as to make full compensation for the damage caused," reads the document.

The ministry emphasized that the UN peacekeeping force deployed throughout the occupied Donbas territory, including areas near the temporarily uncontrolled section of the Ukrainian-Russian border, should become an effective tool for the restoration of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

According to the Foreign Ministry, on February 20, 2014, Russia launched previously planned armed aggression against Ukraine, which resulted in temporary illegal occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the city of Sevastopol, an attempt to annex them and spread by Russia of the international armed conflict to Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

"These criminal actions took the lives of more than 10,000 people, led to colossal destruction of the region, turned about 1.8 million Ukrainians into internally displaced persons," reads the statement.

The ministry stated that the Russian occupation authorities ignores international law and violates human rights in the occupied Crimea, as well as directly organizes and encourages its puppets to similar actions in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

"The occupying power resorts to taking Ukrainian citizens hostage - dozens of people are illegally held in Russia, in temporarily occupied territories of Crimea, Donbas, as a result of trumped-up cases. Their release remains a major priority for Ukraine and the international community," the ministry said.

The Foreign Ministry thanked international partners for their clear position in protecting and restoring Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders.

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Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman states that Ukraine has made significant progress in carrying out reforms over the past six months.

He said this during a meeting with Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen, the Governmental portal informs.

The head of the government, in particular, notes Denmark's support for the sanctions policy against the aggressor state and thanks for the full support of reforms in Ukraine.

He adds that over the past six months the state has achieved impressive results in implemantation of reforms, primarily in education,judiciary, pension, health care, and public administration systems.

"Today, we have to create an anti-corruption court and to continue reforms in health, energy, civil service sectors and decentralization. We see what areas should be strengthened and we are open to constructive discussions about future plans," the prime minister said.

"We also welcome the initiative of Denmark to hold an international conference on Ukrainian reforms (in Copenhagen in the summer)," Groysman emphasized, recalling a similar conference that was held in London last summer and became an efficient platform for the exchange of ideas and the search for far-reaching solutions that are being implemented today.

In turn, Anders Samuelsen stresses that Denmark will continue to support Ukraine.

"We know that reforms are usually unpopular in any country. But we want to emphasize that we will support your state and government in this complicated work," the diplomat said.

As known, Denmark is among the leading trade partners of Ukraine among the EU member states. According to the results of 2017, the volume of bilateral trade increased by 15% - to 540.8 million dollars. The development of relations is facilitated by the FTA between Ukraine and the European Union. The promising areas of cooperation are mechanical engineering, production of automotive components, food industry and light industry.

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Iran has always supported the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and has never recognized the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Ukraine Mohammad Beheshti-Monfared said this during a press conference in Kyiv on the occasion of the 39th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution and the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Iran and Ukraine, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"We have always supported the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. We wish Ukraine peace, stability and calmness. The Islamic Republic of Iran has never recognized the annexation of Crimea," the ambassador said, answering the question whether Iran recognizes the fact that Russia has occupied the part of the territory of Ukraine  the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and some areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Iran is ready to provide its mediation services for mending relations between Ukraine and Russia in case of need, the diplomat noted.

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Belarus cannot participate in a UN peacekeeping force in Donbas due to its membership of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister for European Integration Olena Zerkal said this live on the Channel 5 television channel on February 19, according to the 112 Ukraine television channel.

"As far as I know, Belarus has not quit the CSTO and is a member of this organization. If we exclude NATO, it is very logical that we do not say that CSTO countries also participate in the mission," Zerkal said.

Zerkal also commented on talks about the peacekeeping force. In particular, she stressed that "DPR" and "LPR" were not parties to the talks, therefore the efforts of Ukraine and its western partners were aimed at making Russia understand that "no one will play according to their rules."

Earlier, Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei said that Belarus was ready to send its peacekeepers to Donbas. In November 2017, he made a similar statement on peacekeepers in Moscow.

The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO, or Tashkent Treaty) is an intergovernmental military alliance, which includes Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

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Today, February 20, the Ukrainian diaspora pays tribute to the memory of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred.

This has been reported on the website of the Ukrainian World Congress.

"On February 20, 2018, Ukrainians worldwide mark the fourth anniversary of the tragic events on Kyivs Independence Square that brutally and mercilessly cut short the lives of the women and men who, with their heroism, thrust Ukraine into the international spotlight ensuring that the Ukrainian people would not stand alone in the fight for the democratic values, fundamental rights and principles that define Western civilization," the statement reads.

"Today we continue to witness the evolution of a new Ukraine in which fundamental human rights are respected and rule of law prevails; a new Ukraine that is reforming, modernizing and combatting corruption," the report says.

Sadly, however, the hybrid war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine continues to claim the lives of brave soldiers and innocent civilians alike on an almost daily basis, and a rampant disinformation campaign aims to discredit Ukraine and its people.

"May the sacrifices of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes, the Heroes of the Revolution of Dignity and the brave defenders of Ukraine who keep the Russian Federation from moving westward on European soil serve as a constant reminder of the fragility of peace and security, and the importance of remaining resolute in securing the withdrawal of foreign troops from Ukraine, including the de-occupation of Crimea, " the UWC stressed.

On this anniversary, the Ukrainian World Congress expresses gratitude to the international community for its increasing and steadfast support for Ukraine deeming it a tribute to the memory and victory of the Heroes and participants of the Revolution of Dignity, particularly the Heavenly Hundred Heroes, UWC President Eugene Czolij stated.
The Ukrainian cuisine was popular among the guests at the Day of Europe, which took place in the Egyptian capital of Cairo on February 18.

The event was organized by the Military Attache Association in Cairo, the Embassy of Ukraine to Egypt reported.

"At the Ukrainian stand, foreign guests had an opportunity to try traditional Ukrainian dishes and get acquainted with presentation materials about our state and the Armed Forces Ukraine," the diplomatic mission informed.

Traditionally, there were many fans of the Ukrainian cuisine at the Ukrainian stand.

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This week, the air temperature is expected to decrease to 16 degrees below zero at night.

The press service of Kyiv City State Administration informed this with reference to the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center's forecasts.

"Wednesday, February 21, will be cloudy without precipitation in Kyiv, the roads in some places will be covered with ice, and wind will be 3-8 m /s, temperature - 6-8 degrees below zero at night, 2-4 degrees below zero in the daytime," reads a statement.

February 22 and 23 will have partly cloudy weather, with no significant precipitation, only a slight chance of snow on Friday. There will be ice-covered roads, wind of 3-8 m/s, temperature at night of about 10 degrees below zero and of the daytime 5-7 degrees below zero.

On February 24-25, the weather forecasters warn of snow, 14-16 degrees below zero at night and around 10 degrees below zero in the daytime.

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At least EUR 4 million was allocated for the campaign of the current leader of Batkivshchyna Party Yulia Tymoshenko.

The regime of the former Libyan leader Moammar al-Gaddafi could be involved in financing presidential campaigns in Europe, including in Ukraine  in favor of Yulia Tymoshenko at the 2010 elections.

According to a London-based Arabic newspaper Asharq Al Awsat at least EUR 4 million was allocated for the Tymoshenko campaign.

After the "Orange Revolution" in Ukraine in 2004, Tymoshenko became her countrys prime minister before later running for president.

One of the closest aides of Gaddafis son Seif al-Islam revealed that he himself had delivered the funds for her campaigns.

Read alsoVolker meets Ukraine's Tymoshenko in WashingtonI had them in a briefcase and I traveled to Ukraine on a private jet. I arrived at Kyiv airport and delivered the case to the deputy prime minister, he said.

According to RFE/RL, the batch of EUR 500 notes was ordered by the-then Prime Minister of Libya, Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi (now serving a prison sentence in Tripoli).

In a comment to RFE/RL, Tymoshenko's press secretary Maryna Soroka said: "This information does not correspond to reality, this is all not true."

Read alsoTymoshenko slightly ahead of Poroshenko in December pollsBesides, the newspaper in an article it called part of the "Series on Libya Details Gaddafis Funding of Western Presidential Campaigns" claims Tripoli also pumped $5 million in the presidential campaign of a candidate running in the 2004 U.S. elections and EUR 50 million on financing Nicolas Sarkozy's campaign in 2007. Neither Washington nor Paris have delivered a comment on the claims yet.

In 2011, a civil war raged in Libya which resulted in the ousting of Moammar al-Gaddafi who was later captured and executed on Oct 20, 2011.
Klimkin stressed that it is impossible to deploy a functioning mission within 20-30 days.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin has said that it will take at least 6-10 months once a political decision is passed to deploy a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Donbas.

"If a political decision is made, then, as a rule, it takes at least six, nine or 10 months, or even more, for the United Nations to deploy the mission, and this is a rather large-scale mission," Klimkin said, speaking on Ukraine's ICTV channel.

Read alsoReuters: Ukraine crisis needs 20,000-strong U.N. force: report"But this does not mean that this will happen at any one point of time, at a certain moment. This will happen in stages. It is important for it to be happening in a way not to let Russia freeze the process at some stage and exploit it to put pressure on us and the West," he added.

Klimkin stressed that it is impossible to deploy a functioning mission within 20-30 days. "It will take months," he stressed.

According to Ukraine's top diplomat, the logic of security should prevail in the issue of the mission's deployment.

"I will say functionally: first, tough security, then overall security, and then only preparation for the next election and a certain political component," Klimkin said.

The minister noted that there was no serious talk about peacekeepers in Donbas a year ago.

Read alsoDonbas war cannot be stopped without peacekeepers  Ukraine's envoy to TCG"I am well aware that we and Russia live in two different worlds as regards peacekeeper; but, nevertheless, is there anyone who has ever talked about the number [of peacekeepers] or how this should be done?" the minister added.

He said that the last Munich Security Conference had shown that "no one will allow Russia playing by its own rules."

At the same time, he said, the problem with peacekeepers is whether "control over the occupied territories is transferred to the international community."

"So far, Russia is willing to retain its protectorate over the area, legalize it by introducing a very limited number of peacekeepers, and move on. If this happens, there will be nothing there by definition," Klimkin added.

Read alsoFinland ready to join peacekeeping mission in Donbas"The problem is that Russia must withdraw from Donbas, while peacekeepers must come in. That is, first goes security as it is: the sides stop shooting, while peacekeepers control the situation, but over the entire occupied territory. Otherwise, if it's only along the contact line, it's a Russian trap. They are deployed there, and this lays grounds for a freezing of the whole situation. And only then goes disarmament as well as real security, including with the involvement of international policing force. And only then, when the situation is completely reset and there is no such thing as occupation authorities there, real preparations for the elections begin," Klimkin said.
Putin tried to raise stakes, and now the West is doing the same very consciously, the minister says.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin says the Western countries will not go for a reset with the Russian Federation after the election of the Russian president are held on March 18.

"I think the West seized the initiative. Putin tried to raise rates, and now the West is doing the same very consciously. And this means that there is no reboot," Klimkin said on Ukrainian ICTV channel.

In this regard, he noted numerous meetings on the issue, held with international partners on the margins of the Munich Security Conference.

Read alsoKlimkin: Up to 10 months needed to deploy peacekeepers in Donbas"There will be no reset, just as there has been none many years ago after Putin was elected in Russia," Klimkin stressed, adding that this is "a current mentality."

"Now everyone is well aware that Russia is trying to weaken Western democratic institutions. So the sanctions list, the latest sanctions introduced a few days ago, and our support, those defensive weapons  there are a lot of things that actually work," Klimkin said.

"And the message is that  Russia will not [be allowed to] play by its own rules," the minister stressed.
Budapest's response to a new language law in Ukraine is evidence of its "pro-Kremlin stance."

Hungary's language row with Ukraine is more about "sucking up" to Russia than protecting minority communities, says Mathieu Boulegue, an expert on Ukraine from international affairs think tank Chatham House.

"It's not just about trying to restrict Russian influence it's also about trying to create a bigger sense of unity through language," Boulegue told Euronews.

The language change was criticized by Hungary, who used the issue to try and block a NATO-Ukraine Commission meeting while Kyiv is keen to join the Alliance, which was formed to defend countries against a Russian attack.

Read also"All countries have gone through this" Foreign Ministry on why Kyiv cannot "fully satisfy" interests of Hungarians"This is nothing to do with NATO in as much as Hungary's reaction is voluntarily overblown. It's a tit-for-tat reaction that is not just about the language law, there's a way stronger political message, an ideological one.

"Hungary's arguments and the language law is simply a scapegoat and a pretext to use it as a springboard to convey a more pro-Russian, pro-Kremlin stance.

"Hungary has become a sort of pro-Kremlin vessel of propaganda.

"Orban has always been a critic of sanctions, he's also been quite positive about Putin's actions, he never really condemned the annexation of Crimea.

"It's about a suck-up to Putin because he also needs energy and business deals from Russia to run smoothly."

Boulegue added Hungary was exaggerating the law's impact as children would still be taught minority languages at primary school.

Read alsoBlocking of NATO-Ukraine Commission by Hungary annoys both Kyiv and Alliance - PrystaikoThe law, which only applies to secondary schools, was also criticized by Russia and Romania.

Russia's Foreign Ministry said it was designed to "forcefully establish a mono-ethnic language regime in a multinational state".

As UNIAN reported earlier, the new law on education, which entered into force on September 28, 2017, introduces a 12-year secondary education system in Ukraine with Ukrainian being used as the language of tuition. Children of national minorities can be taught in their mother tongue at classes (groups) along with the national language.

Yet, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Greece and Bulgaria expressed concern over the language provisions of Article 7 of the law.

The Venice Commission issued recommendations on December 8, 2017, that the Ukrainian authorities should balance the provisions of the language article.
Deputy Chief of the Polish President's Chancellery says the Polish-Ukrainian dialogue needs to be weighed and reasonable.

Polish President Andrzej Duda hopes that concrete steps will be taken in the matter of exhumations of remains of Polish victims of wars and conflicts on the territory of Ukraine.

Pawel Mucha, Deputy Chief of the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland, has told TVP Info that the Polish president hopes concrete steps will be taken according to the agreements between him and the president of Ukraine, Radio Poland reports.

"We believe that this statement, the words of the president, as well as the statement of the presidential office, will be noticed, accepted by the Ukrainian side; and, of course, we draw the attention of our Ukrainian partners to this matter," Mucha stressed.

The official also noted the fact that Duda's recent visit to Lithuania had yielded positive results and improved Polish-Lithuanian relations. He expressed hope that relations between Poland and Ukraine would improve as well.

"This Polish-Ukrainian dialogue also needs to be weighed and reasoned. However, we take an unambiguous position if we believe that some things are not being properly implemented," he said.

Read alsoUkrainians ahead of Duda among "drivers" of Polands economy - mediaAs UNIAN reported earlier, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference Feb 17 urged the Polish leadership to refrain from taking steps threatening dialogue on historical issues. The head of state also drew attention to the tone of the statement on and assessment of the role of the Ukrainian hetman Bohdan Khmelnitsky that are extremely undesirable for Ukrainian-Polish relations.

Recently, the Polish Sejm and Senate passed a law on the Institute of National Remembrance, which, inter alia, bans promotion of the ideology of Ukrainian nationalists. The law also introduces criminal liability for the assertion that the Poles were aiding the Nazis during World War II.

President of Poland Andrzej Duda signed the law and forwarded it to the Constitutional Court of the country for a review.

Read also"Useful idiots" both in Poland, Ukraine play into Russias hands  EnvoyThe Polish Foreign Ministry explains that the law concerns only those who publicly and contrary to facts deny the crimes committed by "collaborators of the Nazi regime" and noted that the main purpose of the law is "to combat all forms of denial and distortion of truth about the Holocaust," as well as to fight with "talking down the responsibility of the true perpetrators".

Israel came out categorically against the Polish law, claiming no law is able to change historical facts. The Israeli foreign ministry expressed hope that the Polish authorities would amend the legislation.

The U.S. State Department called on Poland to review the law, as it could affect Polish strategic interests and relations, including with the United States and Israel.
Russia's leadership cannot ignore risks, relying on other ways of destabilizing Ukraine and considering a military solution as last resort.

CEO of the Defense Express media and consulting company Serhiy Zgurets says that over the four years of the Donbas war, Ukraine's defense budget has increased significantly, while the Ukrainian army has doubled its combat capacity.

He states that today the issue of transition from quantity to quality is on top agenda. In 2018, the state should show its ability to provide the army with high-quality equipment as much more money is allocated to this end, the Ukrainian news outlet Glavred reported.

"This year our defense spending is estimated at UAH 86 billion [US$3.2 billion], which is a significant figure, although the army requested UAH 141 billion [$5.2 billion] to meet all of its needs. So, today we are stronger than at the beginning of war. But that does not mean that we can rest on our laurels since Russia's potential remains significant, and we must take into account all risks Ukraine is facing in economic, political and military spheres," the expert said.

Read also"Destroying the state": Expert names Russia's objective toward UkraineHe recalled that initially the Russian plan provided for retaining control over Ukraine through puppet leadership represented by now-fugitive Ukrainian ex-President Viktor Yanukovych and his allies, part of whom had Russian citizenship.

"The plan to start military operations was based on the belief that Russians' activities to create a fake state of Novorossiya would be supported in many regions of Ukraine. Since the plan had failed, Russia was unable to gain control over nine Ukrainian regions, where the Kremlin planned to set up powerful separatist movements," Zgurets said.

He noted that military intervention became an "alternative emergency action" for Russia.

Read alsoRussia must not be among UN peacekeepers in Donbas - Ukraine defense minister"And even at the start of war, when we were extremely weak, we were able to inflict significant losses on Russia. This was already a deterrent for the Russian Federation. Now, after four years of war, now that we've gained experience and received equipment, Russia's losses will be much greater. Russia's leadership cannot ignore these risks, relying on other ways of destabilizing Ukraine and considering a military solution as last resort," the expert added.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that Jews were also responsible for the Holocaust, and President of Israel Reuven Rivlin called these words "a new low". However, in my opinion, in this case, Mr. Morawiecki plays a game of rhetorics: he is a classic Pole but there is Jewish blood running through his veins on his grandmother's line. So he is a person who understands these things not only as an official but also as a member of the Jewish community.

In general, the Poles pursue a rather balanced foreign policy, which is ensured not only and not so much by the prime minister. Therefore, Polish politicians will block this all with other statements and neutralize it. After all, they have long faced a question from Israel at a very high level - both official and unofficial - from the Jewish lobby. So, I think, this will be settled with minimal losses for Warsaw in general and for the Polish PM in particular.

However, this is not very good for Ukraine, because when the world community begins to grasp these controversial historical issues, they will have to take a tougher line toward our country as well. After all, we have this bond now as a new Polish law on the Institute of National Remembrance mentions Ukraine among others. And it can hit us in the most unexpected and most unpleasant way...

However, this is not very good for Ukraine, because when the world community begins to grasp these controversial historical issues, they will have to take a tougher line toward our country as well

In general, Ukraine also needs to refrain from appealing at the level of statesmen and politicians to controversial historical topics, because they have different interpretations. Instead, these issues should be debated more by civil society and academics. That's because any speculation on these topics is dangerous for the country as we will have to go for concessions in absolutely practical things that relate to today's politics and national interests, under the slogan of some kind of "historical truth".

Why and for what reasons are the Poles ready to risk normal relations with other countries, raising those annoying historical questions? This is to a certain extent Polish state policy of today. Poles need to promote their state interests, they must declare themselves. In today's Europe, the one who is silent gets fewer benefits. Poland has grown accustomed to getting more  Poles receive aid from European funds. To this end, Poland is a unique country, because it receives more than it invests in these funds. This is their way of development  both at the state and individual level. Therefore, the Poles need to speak up.

Why and for what reasons are the Poles ready to risk normal relations with other countries, raising those annoying historical questions?

Now the Poles are already facing complaints by the European Commission. In particular, it attacks them on the issue of their attitude to migrants, but so far they've been doing it rather gently. And since the Poles are being attacked on these issues, they have to be counterattack in a different direction. That's what they are doing, in fact...

Pavlo Rudiakov is a director of Perspektiva information and political center
The law states that Russia shall be held liable for moral, financial or physical damage inflicted on the state of Ukraine, government authorities and local self-government agencies, individuals and legal entities.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has signed a bill on Donbas re-integration into law, which designates Russia as an aggressor state.

An official ceremony to sign the document took place at a meeting of the military cabinet of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine.

Read alsoTurchynov: Ukraine cannot declare war on Russia"As I promised, I am signing the law on the re-integration of Donbas today. Not a single letter of it violates Ukraine's international obligations, including the Minsk agreements," the president said on Tuesday, February 20.

As UNIAN reported earlier, the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, on January 18 passed draft law No. 7163 on special aspects of state policy to ensure Ukraine's state sovereignty in temporarily occupied areas in Donetsk and Luhansk regions (the so-called Donbas re-integration law).

Parts of Ukrainian territory where armed formations of the Russian Federation and the administration of the Russian occupation have established and exercise general effective control have been designated as temporarily occupied areas in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

The law says that activities of the armed formations of the Russian Federation and the administration of the Russian occupation forces in Donetsk and Luhansk regions are considered to be those that contradict international humanitarian law and are illegal.

The law states that Russia shall be held liable for moral, financial or physical damage inflicted on the state of Ukraine, government authorities and local self-government agencies, individuals and legal entities.

According to the law, the launch and completion of measures to ensure national security and defense, repel and deter Russia's armed aggression in Donetsk and Luhansk regions shall be enacted by separate decisions by the President of Ukraine.

NSDC Chief Oleksandr Turchynov said the law significantly strengthens Ukraine's positions in international courts and tackles attempts by the Russian Federation to disguise the war against Ukraine as a "peacekeeping operation." The law also expands the use of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to repel Russia's armed aggression, he added.

Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs deemed the law "preparations for a new war." Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov claims the law derails the Minsk agreements.

In turn, Poroshenko insists that the law does not contradict the Minsk agreements, and Moscow's reaction confirms that it is a right law.
Elimination of both measles and rubella is a priority goal that all European countries have firmly committed to.

Ukraine is in the TOP3 European countries with the highest incidence of measles.

"Measles has rebounded in the WHO European Region. The disease affected 21,315 people and caused 35 deaths in 2017, following a record low of 5,273 cases in 2016. The WHO Regional Office for Europe has released new data for 2017 one day ahead of a health ministerial meeting on immunization in Montenegro on February 20, 2018," the WHO said in a press release on February 19, 2018.

"Every new person affected by measles in Europe reminds us that unvaccinated children and adults, regardless of where they live, remain at risk of catching the disease and spreading it to others who may not be able to get vaccinated. Over 20 000 cases of measles, and 35 lives lost in 2017 alone, are a tragedy we simply cannot accept," says Dr. Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe.

Read alsoUkraine parents overcome jab fears amid deadly measles outbreak  media"The surge in measles cases in 2017 included large outbreaks (100 or more cases) in 15 of the 53 countries in the Region. The highest numbers of affected people were reported in Romania (5562), Italy (5006) and Ukraine (4767). These countries have experienced a range of challenges in recent years, such as declines in overall routine immunization coverage, consistently low coverage among some marginalized groups, interruptions in vaccine supply or underperforming disease surveillance systems," the WHO said.

Greece (967), Germany (927), Serbia (702), Tajikistan (649), France (520), the Russian Federation (408), Belgium (369), the United Kingdom (282), Bulgaria (167), Spain (152), Czech Republic (146) and Switzerland (105) also experienced large outbreaks, many of which were in decline by the close of 2017.

"Elimination of both measles and rubella is a priority goal that all European countries have firmly committed to, and a cornerstone for achieving the health-related Sustainable Development Goals," Dr. Jakab continues. "This short-term setback cannot deter us from our commitment to be the generation that frees our children from these diseases once and for all."

Read also'Tragic' measles outbreak kills eight in Ukraine  media"As of the end of 2016, 42 of the 53 countries in the Region had interrupted endemic measles transmission. However, outbreaks will continue to occur until every susceptible child and adult is protected," the WHO stressed.

Ministers of health of 11 countries will meet on February 20, 2018 to discuss working together to achieve the goals set out in the European Vaccine Action Plan (EVAP) by 2020, including measles and rubella elimination.
The indictments against seven persons have been forwarded to court.

Head of the Special Investigation Department of the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) of Ukraine Serhiy Horbatiuk says 14 people were charged in the case concerning the events on the Maidan on Feb 18, 2014, including ex-president Yanukovych and former interior minister Vitaliy Zakharchenko.

Volodymyr Hryniak, Head of the Public Security Directorate of the National Guard of Ukraine, is already studying the case file in criminal proceedings where he is a suspect in opposing peaceful rallies during the events of the EuroMaidan in Kyiv on February 18, 2014.

"The indictments against seven persons have been forwarded to court. And we have a suspect who is currently studying the materials of criminal proceedings The court set a deadline for him until May. He is a former Deputy Head of the Department of Public Security, now Head of the Public Security Directorate of the National Guard of the Ministry of Internal Affairs," Horbatiuk said at a press conference, according to an UNIAN correspondent.

Read alsoU.S. honors memory of Ukrainian protesters killed on Maidan, calls on Kyiv to bolster reformAccording to him, the investigation has already served suspicion notices to 14 persons.

"If we talk about the first part of the day on Feb 18, as of today (besides the fact that 11 people were killed and more than 500 suffered gunshot wounds), 17 criminal proceedings have been investigated. In total, 14 persons were served with charge notices, starting with the former president, ex-minister of Internal Affairs, his deputy, chiefs of Kyiv PD, leadership of the Berkut riot police, both in Kyiv and other regions, and a number of Berkut operatives," Horbatiuk said, adding that six suspects had been put on wanted list.
Shellings of Ukrainian positions near the village of Luhanske lasted more than two hours.

Russia's hybrid military forces mounted 12 attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas in the past 24 hours, with one Ukrainian soldier reported as killed in action (KIA) and another four as wounded.

"In general, the enemy has conducted 12 shellings over the past day, and, unfortunately, one Ukrainian soldier was killed, one was injured, and another one suffered a combat injury. In addition, another two Ukrainian soldiers were injured during the execution of the combat mission after stepping on an unidentified explosive device," the press center of the Ukrainian Anti-Terrorist Operation Headquarters reported on Facebook on Tuesday morning.

Read alsoFinland ready to join peacekeeping mission in DonbasIn the Luhansk sector, the Russian occupation forces fired grenade launchers of various types and heavy machine guns near the villages of Hladosove and Novoluhanske, and the town of Svitlodarsk. The shelling of the Ukrainian positions near the village of Luhanske lasted more than two hours. A mortar blast was also recorded near the village of Krymske.

"In the Donetsk direction, enemy fire activity was recorded in the Mariupol sector. In particular, the aggressor used 120mm and 82mm mortars near the villages of Lebedynske, Shyrokyne and Vodiane. In addition, the illegal armed formations opened fire from mortars, grenade launchers and machine guns near the village of Pisky," the press center said.
Russian-led forces used proscribed weapons, including 120mm mortars, both in the Donetsk and Luhansk sectors.

One Ukrainian soldier was killed in action and another three were wounded in action in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, in the past day.

"Unfortunately, one Ukrainian defender was killed and another three were wounded in enemy fire," the press center of the Ukrainian Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters said in an update on Facebook as of 18:00 local time on Tuesday, February 20.

Read alsoUkraine's Foreign Ministry: No Belarusian peacekeepers in Donbas without peers from NATO states"During the day today, Russia's occupation forces deliberately continued violating the ceasefire. In total, there have been eight instances of shelling by the Russian-led forces since the beginning of the day," it said.

In particular, the enemy used 120mm and 82mm mortars, grenade launchers and an anti-aircraft system to repeatedly attack Ukrainian troops near the village of Troyitske in the Luhansk sector. Infantry fighting vehicles were also engaged.

What is more, the invaders used mortars, grenade launchers and small arms to attack Ukrainian positions near the village of Krymske. They violated the ceasefire near the village of Katerynivka, resorting to grenade launchers.

Ukrainian troops stationed near the village of Pisky close to the ruined Donetsk airport in the Donetsk sector came under 82mm mortar fire. The enemy also used cannons of infantry fighting vehicles and large-caliber machine guns. Proscribed 120mm mortars were used to fire at Ukrainian positions near the village of Lomakyne.

Ukraine's ATO HQ earlier reported that the casualties on February 19 included one killed and four wounded soldiers.
Some suspects are alleged to have Russian government connections.

A major Russian mafia trial has opened in Spain.

A Russian MP, Vladislav Reznik, and 17 other suspects have gone on trial in Madrid accused of massive money-laundering for a Russian mafia gang, the BBC said.

The alleged gang bosses Gennady Petrov and Alexander Malyshev are still at large, believed to be in Russia.

Some suspects are alleged to have Russian government connections.

Reznik told the court he had turned up in order to prove his innocence. Five Spaniards are also in the dock, accused of helping Russian criminals.

The case dates back to 2008, when Spanish police carried out "Operation Troika," arresting 20 Russian mafia suspects.

Read alsoUkraine ranks among countries with high levels of organized crime  WEFReznik, whose wife Diana Gindin is also on trial, previously chaired the Russian parliament's financial markets committee. He is a member of the United Russia party, loyal to President Vladimir Putin.

The money-laundering by Russian gangsters in Spain is said to have started in the 1990s, when rich Russians began buying luxury villas in the Costa del Sol and Balearic Islands.

Spanish prosecutors believe more than EUR 50 million ($62 million) of Russian mafia money was laundered by the so-called Tambovskaya-Malyshevskaya gang, based in St Petersburg.

Prosecutors have demanded jail sentences of five-and-a-half years for most of the suspects and fines which could reach up to EUR 100 million.

The prosecution is based partly on phone intercepts in which suspects are allegedly heard speaking to gang bosses.

One suspect, Mikhail Rebo, has struck a deal with prosecutors, pleading guilty, in return for a reduced jail term of two years and a fine of EUR 1.6 million.

Gennady Petrov was arrested in the police raids of 2008 but later fled back to Russia.

The indictment says his gang "clearly managed to penetrate layers of the state apparatus" and "has links to Russian economic, political, judicial and police power".

In Russia the gang's alleged crimes included contract killings, arms- and drug-trafficking, extortion and forgery.

One of the five Spaniards in the dock is Antonio Fortuny, accused of creating an opaque business network that channelled mafia money into offshore accounts.

Former Russian intelligence agent Alexander Litvinenko, murdered in London with radioactive polonium-210 in 2006, had been helping Spanish officials to investigate Russian organised crime. His activities in Spain emerged in the official British inquiry into his death.
A U.S. military official says the decision to deploy to warships to the Black Sea was part of an effort to "desensitize Russia" to the presence of U.S. military forces in the region.

The U.S. Navy is ramping up its presence in the Black Sea as part of a bid to counter Russia's increased presence there and send a certain message to Moscow, a U.S. military official says.

It's a region that has become increasingly fraught with tensions as Russia has reinforced its military forces in the area following its seizure of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, a move rejected by the vast majority of the international community, CNN reports.

On Saturday the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney joined the USS Ross in the Black Sea to "conduct maritime security operations," according to a statement from the U.S. Navy's 6th Fleet, which oversees US naval operations in the region. It is the first time two U.S. Navy warships have been in the Black Sea since July 2017.

On Sunday Russia announced its own naval deployments to the area, with the Russian Ministry of Defense issuing a statement saying that a Russian frigate, the Admiral Essen, and two patrol ships had entered the Black Sea for a series of exercises.

Read alsoUkraine naval aviation, U.S. Navy ship hold joint training in Black SeaA U.S. military official told CNN that the decision to deploy both the Carney and the Ross to the Black Sea was part of an effort to "desensitize Russia" to the presence of U.S. military forces in the Black Sea, which sits between Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Western Asia.

Two U.S. defense officials based in Europe told CNN that Russia is particularly sensitive to U.S. military operations in the Black Sea given recent Russian moves to militarize Crimea.

Read alsoRussia to deploy S-400 missile systems in occupied Crimea for "protection from Ukraine"  Russian mediaU.S. and NATO officials have accused Moscow of deploying large numbers of troops and military hardware to Crimea in recent years.

The U.S. military official told CNN that Russia was "putting in the full panoply of their weapons systems" in Crimea, saying Moscow had stood up a new Army Corps there and was deploying "a lot of their new anti-access missile systems, coastal defense, air defense" systems, in addition to the ground troops.

Read alsoRussian navy deploys over 40 vessels in occupied Crimea"You get ships up in the Black Sea, that makes them feel more threatened," the official added.

Officials say that same Russian sensitivity explains why Russian aircraft have appeared to perform more unsafe intercepts of U.S. surveillance aircraft in the area than they do in other areas.
Law enforcers did not press charges against Ukrainian sailors, expressing gratitude for their vigilance.

Ukrainian crew handed to Italian law enforcers over 300 kilograms of cocaine they had found on the cargo ship they have been sailing on.

The crew found the drug batch packed in plastic bags before the vessel arrived in one of the ports of Italy, as reported by TSN.

Before that, the ship visited South and Central America. Italian law enforcers did not press charges against Ukrainian sailors, expressing gratitude for their vigilance.

The ship will stay in the port until all circumstances of the incident are cleared.
Mueller already has secured guilty pleas from former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn and one-time foreign affairs adviser George Papadopoulos for lying to investigators about their contacts with Russia.

The U.S. special counsel probing Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election is accusing a London-based lawyer of lying to investigators about his contacts with Rick Gates, a former campaign aide to President Donald Trump, who had already been indicted in a money-laundering case linked to his lobbying efforts in Ukraine.

The office of Special Counsel Robert Mueller disclosed the accusations against attorney Alex Van Der Zwann on Tuesday, February 20, with the expectation that Van Der Zwann would plead guilty later in the day in a Washington court, Voice of America reported.

Read alsoGaddafi regime sponsored Tymoshenko campaign in 2010  Arab mediaMueller's office alleges that the lawyer, while working for a law firm hired by the Ukraine justice ministry in 2012 to prepare a report on the trial of former Ukraine Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, claimed that his last contact with Gates was in mid-August 2016. Tymoshenko had been convicted of embezzlement and abuse of power and imprisoned, but she later was cleared of charges.

The prosecutors contend that Van Der Zwann lied when he said he did not know why a September 2016 email between him and an unnamed person was not turned over to Mueller's office when he actually had deleted it. The criminal information filed against Van Der Zwann also alleges that he lied about his last communications with Gates and the unnamed person.

Gates and former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort were indicted in October over their consulting work in Ukraine for the Russian-backed government of one-time President Viktor Yanukovych, who was toppled in a popular uprising in 2014 and fled to exile in Russia.

Last week, Mueller indicted 13 Russian nationals and three Russian entities for conducting an illegal "information warfare" campaign to disrupt the 2016 U.S. election to help Trump win the White House. Mueller already has secured guilty pleas from former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn and one-time foreign affairs adviser George Papadopoulos for lying to investigators about their contacts with Russia.
The African Export-Import Bank said it will invest up to $1.5 billion (1.2 billion euros) in fishing, mining and financial projects in Mauritania, as the mineral-rich north African desert nation seeks to diversify its economy

Nouakchott, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Feb, 2018 ) :The African Export-Import Bank said it will invest up to $1.5 billion (1.2 billion Euros) in fishing, mining and financial projects in Mauritania, as the mineral-rich north African desert nation seeks to diversify its economy.

Afreximbank, based in Cairo, was set up by African countries in 1993 to promote and finance trade within the African continent and trade between Africa and other continents. Speaking to reporters on a visit to Nouakchott late Monday, Afreximbank president Benedict Okey Oramah said that the money was being earmarked for infrastructure projects and the private sector and banks in particular.

Mauritania has seen economic growth pick up in recent years, with rural development helping to reduce poverty, according to the World Bank. Around $1 billion would be spent on fishing ports, energy infrastructure, industrial parks and the processing of different raw materials, Oramah said.

Another $500 million would be set aside as credit lines for Mauritanian commercial banks, he added. Afreximbank already provided credit lines of $400 million to Mauritanian banks during the 1990s, Oramah said.
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The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has supported the demand from All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) to provide uninterrupted power and gas supply to compete in the international market.

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Feb, 2018 ) :The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has supported the demand from All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) to provide uninterrupted power and gas supply to compete in the international market.

President, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Ghazanfar Bilour, in a statement here on Tuesday, demanded steps for revival of the textile industry in the country. 'If sick textile units are made operational, these can generate billions of rupees through exporting the finished products,' he asserted.
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Meezan Bank and Institute of Business Administration  University of the Punjab (IBA-PU) have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding for launching MBA in SME Banking & Entrepreneurship

Karachi,(UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Feb, 2018 ) : Meezan Bank and Institute of Business Administration  University of the Punjab (IBA-PU) have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding for launching MBA in SME Banking & Entrepreneurship.

The agreement aims to address the challenge of availability of qualified and trained human capital in these fields and also to bridge the gap among banks, academia and entrepreneurs. The MOU was signed by Mr.

Irfan Siddiqui, President & CEO  Meezan Bank, Prof. Dr. Shahid Kamal, Dean Faculty of Science  University of the Punjab and Mrs. Sajida Nisar, Incharge Director  Institute of Business Administration, University of the Punjab in the presence of honourable chief guest Mr.

Tariq Bajwa  Governor State Bank of Pakistan. The MoU highlights a collaborative framework for promoting SME Banking in the country by committing to share resources and collaborating on various joint activities, including designing of MBA program in SME Banking & Entrepreneurship, provision of scholarships, participation in job fairs and development of specialized training programs for SME & Islamic banking. Speaking at the occasion, Mr.

Irfan Siddiqui said: The importance of SME sector for Pakistans economy can never be over-emphasized. However, the overall potential of this sector in accelerating income generation and in curbing poverty reduction has remained essentially untapped.

Meezan Bank, as Pakistans premier Islamic bank is therefore taking the initiative of collaborating with business schools across Pakistan develop professionals who are specifically trained for this sector.

Skilled and trained SME bankers are vital to further boost growth in the countrys SME banking sector. With this Program, the two entities shall collaborate on their core expertise to provide training and learning opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs, SME proprietors and upcoming young generation. Mrs.

Sajida Nisar, Incharge Director - IBA-PU acknowledged the importance of Meezan Banks initiative, terming it as A historic milestone for IBA. Prof Dr. Shahid Kamal, Dean Faculty of Science  University of the Punjab expressed that the collaboration will enable the business school to impart quality education on SME banking and entrepreneurship. Addressing at the occasion, Mr.

Tariq Bajwa, Governor - State Bank of Pakistan stressed that agriculture, low-cost housing and SME sectors are the major contributors to the growth of economy of Pakistan. He also appreciated the efforts of Meezan Bank and IBA-PU for the promotion of SMEs and entrepreneurship culture in the country.
The flu death toll has reached 37 in Romania, year to date, according to the latest information released on Tuesday by the National Centre for Supervision and Control of Communicable Diseases with the National Public Health Institute (INSP), says Agerpres report

Bucharest,(UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Feb, 2018 ) :The flu death toll has reached 37 in Romania, year to date, according to the latest information released on Tuesday by the National Centre for Supervision and Control of Communicable Diseases with the National Public Health Institute (INSP), says Agerpres report.

A 61-year-old woman of Bihor County and an 84-year-old man of Salaj County are the last two fatalities to date. Neither had been immunised against flu and both had pre-existent conditions.
A cholera outbreak in Malawi described as "very difficult to contain" has claimed nine lives and affected a total of 541 people nationwide, health officials said on Tuesday.

Mangochi, Malawi, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Feb, 2018 ) :A cholera outbreak in Malawi described as "very difficult to contain" has claimed nine lives and affected a total of 541 people nationwide, health officials said on Tuesday.

The outbreak began in November near the landlocked southern African nation's northern border with Tanzania and has since spread to other regions of the country. UNICEF's representative to Malawi Johannes Wedenig told local media that "as long as people in Malawi don't change the behaviour of using unsafe water, it'll be very difficult to contain".

He urged Malawians to follow strict sanitation rules and stressed the importance of hand-washing before eating or preparing food. Cholera is a water-borne diarrhoeal disease that can kill within hours if left untreated, but is easily cured with oral rehydration, intravenous fluids and antibiotics.

Clean water and hygiene standards are critical to controlling transmission. The country has also received 216,000 oral cholera treatment packs from the World Health Organization which are being distributed in the badly-affected northern region, health ministry spokesman Joshua Malango told AFP.

Another 450,000 doses are expected to arrive soon for distribution in the rest of the country, added Malango, confirming the current toll. Health officials have begun a media blitz to educate people about the risk of cholera and what steps they can take to avoid contracting it.
Islamabad police have arrested 16 outlaws from various area of the city and recovered 2.120 kilogram hashish, 180 cans of beer and 78 wine bottles from their possession, a police spokesman said.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Feb, 2018 ) :Islamabad police have arrested 16 outlaws from various area of the city and recovered 2.120 kilogram hashish, 180 cans of beer and 78 wine bottles from their possession, a police spokesman said.

He said that one of the CIA team including Inspector Muhammad Shaifque arrested four accused identified as Shafique for having 1100 gram hashish, Ali Rehman for having 180 cans of beer, Tariq Masish for possessing 50 wine bottles and Farhad for having one 30 bore pistol.

Station House Officers of Khana police station Inspector Liaqat Ali arrested Naseer for having 1020 gram hashish and Naeem Akhtar for having 30 bore pistol. ASIs Adeel Shaukat and Irfan from Sabzi Mandi police station nabbed three thieves identified as Buland Iqbal, Mujeeb and Hikmat besides recovery of stolen items from them.

Another accused Roz Din was arrested for having a stolen mobile phone. ASI Muhammad Arshad from Aabpra police arrested Zeeshan Arif for having 222 bore rifle while Sub-Inspector Ghulam Mustafa held Zakir Ali in possession of 30 bore pistol.

Sub-Inspector Fiaz Ahmed and ASI Muhammad Sadiq from Karachi Company police arrested Abbass Masih and Waqas Masih for having a total of 28 wine bottles. Sub-Inspector Yar Muhammad from Tarnol police nabbed Shoaib for having 30 bore pistol while ASI Shafqat Ullah arrested Roidad Khan for possessing 9 mm pistol.

Cases have been registered against these nabbed persons and further investigation is underway from them.
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Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned unprovoked firing by the Indian Army at the Line of Control (LoC).

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Feb, 2018 ) :Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned unprovoked firing by the Indian Army at the Line of Control (LoC). In a message, the chief minister expressed grief and condolences over the martyrdom of an eight years old child.

He expressed his heartfelt sympathies and condolences with the bereaved family. He said that brutalities of Indian forces were extremely condemnable. He said that Indian army was blatantly violating human rights by targeting civilians. He said that the cruel face of India has been fully exposed due to its targeting of unarmed citizens.
Political and legal experts said here Tuesday Constitution of Pakistan has clearly defined the role, functions and jurisdiction of all the state institutions and issues surface when they start interference in each other's domain besides leads to confrontation, which was detrimental to democracy, progress and development in the country

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Feb, 2018 ) :Political and legal experts said here Tuesday Constitution of Pakistan has clearly defined the role, functions and jurisdiction of all the state institutions and issues surface when they start interference in each other's domain besides leads to confrontation, which was detrimental to democracy, progress and development in the country.

They said all state institutions should respect each others' mandate and perform its duties within their constitutional parameters and warned that any clash between two state organs would be harmful to democracy, development and progress of Pakistan.

Senior constitutional lawyer, Alamzaib advocate told APP sanctity of Parliament was as much important as any other institutions of the country including judiciary and decisions made by it should be respected by all.

"It is the Parliament, which makes laws, controlling state's finances and check actions of the government for smooth running of the democratic system and this mother institution can deliver only when its decisions were accepted whole heartedly," he maintained.

"The Constitution has empowered members of the Parliament to make necessary legislation for people as the situation may arise and needed no approval from any quarter for exercising this constitutional legal right," he categorically stated.

Alamzaib said this debate was the need of the hour that would not only help strengthen democracy and democratic institutions but would help enhance the image and prestige of the Parliament. The members of the Parliament was as respected as of judges as they are enjoying overwhelming confidence of people and unnecessary criticism on them and nullifying legislation passed by the Parliament would be tantamount of not accepting verdict of people, he maintained.

He said CPEC would not only make Pakistan borders safe from external threats but with full operationalization of Gowdar Port would connect Pakistan with rest of the world through an alternate deep sea port besides making it hub for foreign investment.

MPA Rushad Khan said strong parliament was imperative for ensuring good governance, making legislation as per people and country needs and supremacy of democracy in the country. He said Parliament was a supreme constitutional institution of Pakistan and plays key role in supremacy of democracy, ensuring good governance, making of new laws besides changes in existing legislations and maintaining close check on overall working of the government.

"Democracy and harmony among state institutions was panacea of all problems being faced by the country's today and time has come that we should get united for general elections 2018."
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ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Feb, 2018 ) :Federal Minister for Defense, Engineer Khurram Dastagir Khan Tuesday reviewed defence budget preparations for the financial year 2018-2019 here at the Defence Ministry on Tuesday.

Additional Secretary Ministry of Defence and other top officials briefed the minister about the defence budget, a spokesperson of the ministry said. The minister was given a comprehensive briefing about the recent trends in defence budget as well as the need of funds for replacing various types of equipment for the armed forces.

He was told that preparations for the next fiscal year are on schedule.The minister appreciated the high-level automation in budget surveillance. He also lauded ministry's subordinate departments, inter-services institutions and armed forces for regularly updating the budget usage.

The minister reiterated the government's commitment to provide full cooperation to armed forces for safeguarding national frontiers.
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Sindh Minister for Education and Literacy Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar took notice of falling a classroom ceiling of Government Girls Primary School at village Khairpur Juso district Qambar-Shahdadkot that resulted in injuries to around 20 students and their teacher.

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Feb, 2018 ) :Sindh Minister for education and Literacy Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar took notice of falling a classroom ceiling of Government Girls Primary School at village Khairpur Juso district Qambar-Shahdadkot that resulted in injuries to around 20 students and their teacher.

The Minister has directed the Director Education concerned to probe into the incident that why the classes were being conducted there when the building was already declared dangerous, said a statement on Tuesday.

He prayed early recovery of the students and their teacher and termed the incident as carelessness and negligence of the headmistress and officers concerned. 'When clear directives have been issued not to conduct classes in dangerous buildings and if the building is dangerous then the classes should be conducted in open places or to be shifted to nearest school', he added'.

He said that the safety of the students must be ensured and action would be taken against those who were involved in the negligence.
Federal Minister for Defense, Engineer Khurram Dastagir Khan Tuesday reviewed defence budget preparations for the financial year 2018-2019 here at the Defence Ministry on Tuesday.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Feb, 2018 ) :Federal Minister for Defense, Engineer Khurram Dastagir Khan Tuesday reviewed defence budget preparations for the financial year 2018-2019 here at the Defence Ministry on Tuesday.

Additional Secretary Ministry of Defence and other top officials briefed the minister about the defence budget, a spokesperson of the ministry said. The minister was given a comprehensive briefing about the recent trends in defence budget as well as the need of funds for replacing various types of equipment for the armed forces.

He was told that preparations for the next fiscal year are on schedule.The minister appreciated the high-level automation in budget surveillance. He also lauded ministry's subordinate departments, inter-services institutions and armed forces for regularly updating the budget usage.

The minister reiterated the government's commitment to provide full cooperation to armed forces for safeguarding national frontiers.
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Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair has said that the federal government is working on various sectors, including modern transport system, to facilitate a large number of people living in the mega city of Karachi.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Feb, 2018 ) :Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair has said that the Federal government is working on various sectors, including modern transport system, to facilitate a large number of people living in the mega city of Karachi.

"We have focused on bringing foreign investors, besides local businessmen, to use the opportunity of peaceful environment in Karachi and make investment in different sectors," he said while talking to a private news channel.

He said there were target killings, extortion and other criminal activities cases in Karachi. Zubair said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government after coming into power in 2013 elections, had focused on Karachi and discussed the matters with all the stakeholders for restoring peace and addressing other problems in this business hub of the country.

The government, he said, had given full authority to Rangers and other law enforcement agencies to launch operation in Karachi without any discrimination. "We never made any interruption in the working of law enforcement agencies regarding the Karachi operation, " he said.

Now, after restoring peace, the focus was given to attract foreign investors besides streamlining the transport and water system for the people of Karachi, he added. To a question he said that there was a political vacuum in Karachi after rift in the Muttahida Quomi Movement. To another question, the governor said that federal government had launched many projects in rural Sindh.
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National Security Advisor of Pakistan Lt. Gen (R) Nasser Khan Janjua Tuesday said the genocide of Khojaly showed that the world of today still had to go a long way to invest and preserve humanity.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Feb, 2018 ) :National Security Advisor of Pakistan Lt. Gen (R) Nasser Khan Janjua Tuesday said the genocide of Khojaly showed that the world of today still had to go a long way to invest and preserve humanity.

He was speaking as a chief guest at a seminar on "Crimes Against Humanity-Genocides and Ethnic Cleansing". The seminar was organized by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to mark the 100th anniversary of 1918 genocide of Azerbaijanis and also 26th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide.

Among others, the seminar was attended by Ali Alizada, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan; Ihsan Mustafa Yurdakul, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey and Dr. Zafar Nawaz Jaspal, Professor, school of politics and International Relations, Quaid-i-Azam University.

A short video of the atrocities committed during the Khojaly genocide was also shown on the occasion. Lt. Gen. (R) Nasser stated that the sufferings of both the people of Kashmir and Azerbaijan were very much similar.

He stated that more than before, the soldiers of today have to learn not to be unethical. Kashmir is in a constant state of unrest because the state of India is committing crimes against humanity in Kashmir on a daily basis, depicting how strategic and economic interests could overwhelm humanity, he added.

He also congratulated Azerbaijan on its remarkable progress across a wide spectrum in the past 25 years, which shows farsightedness of its leaders. On the occasion, Ali Alizada gave a detailed overview of the Khojaly genocide and said that as with other such crimes, it can never be erased from the history.

He pointed out that Kashmir issue awaits justice and said that both the Khojaly and Kashmir issues should be solved in an amicable way in accordance with international laws. "All the tragedies that have befallen Azerbaijan in the 19th and 20th centuries, accompanied by the seizure of our land, have been different stages of a conscious policy of genocide and ethnic cleansing systematically applied by the Armenians against the Azerbaijani people.

" As National Leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev said: "Khojaly massacre the bloodiest page of the policy of ethnic cleansing and genocide continuously conducted by the Armenian chauvinists and nationalists against the Azerbaijanis over around 200 years." On the occasion, Ihsan Mustafa Yurdakul said that Azerbaijan's suffering is Turkey's suffering as well.

He said that humanity is not doing enough to prevent these crimes from taking place again. In order to resolve this issue, the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan should be made clear first of all, he added.

This calls for engagement, which is falling on deaf ears on part of Armenia since they are busy promoting a very unjust narrative of their own. "This needs to be stopped," he added. Dr. Jaspal gave a brief history of genocides and crime against humanity citing them as an old phenomenon.

He said that crimes against humanity gain more momentum if ignored, thus, every instance of crime against humankind must be accounted for. He stated that if security, peace and prosperity are to be established at both regional and international level, the international community will have to adopt statutes without identifying ethnicity or religion.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Chairman ISSI, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood talked about how Pakistan has always supported the just Azeri stance. He said that there is a marked similarity between the people of Kashmir and the people of Azerbaijan.

Both have suffered a horrendous tale of repression. Like Armenia, India too remains in defiance of human rights and international humanitarian laws and remains in violation of UN Security Council resolutions, he added. He said that Pakistan is beholden to the people of Azerbaijan for their steadfast principles regarding Kashmir, and sooner or later justice will triumph and prevail.
International Mother Language Day will be observed across the world including Pakistan, on 21 February (Thursday) every year to promote awareness of linguistic, multilingualism and cultural diversity

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Feb, 2018 ) :International Mother Language Day will be observed across the world including Pakistan, on 21 February (Thursday) every year to promote awareness of linguistic, multilingualism and cultural diversity.

According to Private news channel , the mother language day was first announced by UNESCO on November 17, 1999 and is an annual event since then. The date represents the day, 21st February 1952, when four young students were killed in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, because of Bengali and urdu language controversy.

To foster sustainable development, learners must have access to education in their mother tongue and in other languages. It is through the mastery of the first language  or mother tongue  that the basic skills of reading, writing and numeracy are acquired.

On 16 May 2007, the United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution, called upon state member to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by the world's population. By the same resolution, the general assembly proclaimed 2008 as 'International Year of Languages', to promote unity in diversity and international understanding, through multilingualism and multiculturalism.

Languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our tangible and intangible heritage. All moves to promote the dissemination of mother tongues will serve not only to encourage linguistic diversity and multilingual education but also to develop awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world, while inspiring solidarity based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue.
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The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday rejected the written apology submitted by anchorperson Matti Ullah Jan and others in contempt of court proceedings with the directive to resubmit a properly worded one.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Feb, 2018 ) :The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday rejected the written apology submitted by anchorperson Matti Ullah Jan and others in contempt of court proceedings with the directive to resubmit a properly worded one.

Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui heard the contempt of court proceedings against Mati Ullah Jan, owner of Waqt tv channel Rameeza Majeed Nizami, its bureau chief and producers of the programme "Apna Apna Gareban".

When the respondents submitted their written apology before the court, Justice Siddiqui observed that the word "un-conditional" used in the apology was objectionable. Addressing Sardar Hamid, counsel for the respondents, he said it was not an unconditional apology.

Stop making fun of courts. Why did not the court ban live talk-shows, where things were aired without any proof, he added. Sardar Hamid realized the mistake and assured the court that his clients would obey the orders and sought more time for re-submission of apology with proper words.

The court gave the respondents another opportunity for submission of a properly worded apology and adjourned the case till February 21 (Wednesday). It may be added that Justice Siddiqui had taken notice of a programme aired on February 5 in which anchorperson Mati Ullah Jan had prima facia discussed the name of an IHC judge repeatedly with mala fide intention.
Islamabad Police has introduced latest technology in cooperation with JS bank to ensure security of the vehicles parked in public parking lots.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Feb, 2018 ) :Islamabad Police has introduced latest technology in cooperation with JS bank to ensure security of the vehicles parked in public parking lots.

Islamabad Police will now be securing all the public parking areas by the use of this technology that is named as Park Secure. Park Secure issues a digitally created QR coupon using a mobile phone and will be tagged with the vehicle information upon entry of any vehicle in Public Parking areas.

At the time of exit, citizens will be required to get the same QR code verified by the police officer who will scan the issued QR code using his mobile phone and will allow the car to exit after matching the credentials.

This system has multiple advantages beyond being an important step towards reducing the car theft from Public Parking areas. Police officials will be getting live statistics of cars entered, exited and currently parked at any given area.

This will enable them sharing these statistics with the relevant authorities for better planning and management at their end as well. It is an extremely swift and efficient process as well which will add in to the convenience for public.

This system was formally launched on Monday at Islamabad Sunday Bazar and will be replicated in other areas soon as well. Speaking about this new initiative Inspector General of Islamabad Sultan Azam Temuri said" Safety of Public and their property is of utmost importance for us and we are trying day and night to ensure the same.

In continuation of the same we have launched QR based digital Secure Parking system in Islamabad". He said that this system has been designed and launched keeping Public Convenience factor in mind and hoped that it will benefit the general public at large.

"We are committed to introduce digital policing in Islamabad and like many others there are still many of these technology based initiatives are yet to be launched", he added. Speaking about this Mr.

Noman Azhar, Country Head Branchless Banking & Digital Implementation said " We are extremely happy to support Islamabad Police as we believe digitization is the only answer to many problems faced in today's World". He said that digitization makes the process simple and will help in effective policing, he added.
National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Multan will hold open court on last Thursday of every month for providing opportunity to the people to share their grievances and complaints directly with Regional Director General NAB Multan

MULTAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Feb, 2018 ) :National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Multan will hold open court on last Thursday of every month for providing opportunity to the people to share their grievances and complaints directly with Regional Director General NAB Multan.

A NAB spokesman said on Tuesday, the initiative was being taken on the orders of Chairman NAB Justice (Retd) Javed Iqbal wherein the chairman NAB had directed all the regional DGs to hold open court in their offices to personally hear complaints of the people.

In compliance with the orders, an open court (Khuli Kachehri) would be held at Multan NAB office on Feb 22, during which DG NAB Multan Atiq ur Rahman would personally hear public complaints. People can also convey their complaints to NAB Multan on number 061-111-622-622 or email 'multan@nab.gov.pk'.
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The Punjab Assembly adopted two private members' resolutions and rejected one during its sitting on Tuesday.

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Feb, 2018 ) :The Punjab Assembly adopted two private members' resolutions and rejected one during its sitting on Tuesday. Moved by Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) lawmakers Hina Pervaiz Butt and Romesh Arora the resolution recommended that the government should impose a ban on the use of prohibited injections, administered to buffaloes for increasing milk production, and extend the period of validity of official passports provided to the members of the provincial assembly.

The House rejected a resolution, moved by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Ahmed Khan Bhicher, recommending the construction of new water reservoirs to support agriculture sector and produce hydel energy.

Earlier, the 15th sitting of the 34th session of the current assembly started 46 minutes behind its schedule with Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal in the chair.

Some 15 lawmakers were present at the outset of the proceedings.

During the Question-Hour session, Minister for Primary and Secondary Health Khawaja Imran Nazir responded to queries by members. He told the House that a record allocation had been made in the provincial budget for health sector, adding that new hospitals were being built to ensure the best medical facilities for the public.

He said that most advanced machines were being installed in all government hospitals and great incentives being offered to doctors, especially those working in remote areas of the province. The House deferred a PTI lawmaker Fariha's adjournment motion. The Chair adjourned the sitting to meet again on Friday morning (February 23) with two days break.
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The Senate's Standing Committee on Interior Tuesday strongly condemned continued Indian forces' aggression across the Line of Control (LoC) and the United States move to place Pakistan on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) watch list of countries funding terrorism.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Feb, 2018 ) :The Senate's Standing Committee on Interior Tuesday strongly condemned continued Indian forces' aggression across the Line of Control (LoC) and the United States move to place Pakistan on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) watch list of countries funding terrorism.

The committee, which met here at the Parliament House with Senator Rehman Malik in the chair, unanimously adopted two resolutions in that regard. The resolution moved by Rehman Malik read : "The Senate Standing Committee on Interior condemns the move by certain member states of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to place Pakistan on the body's watch-list.

This move has been engineered by the USA and India with mala fide intentions and it will not only affect the 'War on Terror' and also the Pakistan's economy. We call upon the West and member states of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to reject this move as Pakistan being the worst victim of terrorism deserves international support to not be placed on the FATF grey-list"' Rehman Malik said there was always Indian hand behind every anti-Pakistan move.

He said, "W as a nation thank the government of China for opposing the US' anti-Pakistan move to place Pakistan in FATF's watchlist".' He asked the international community to respect Pakistan' sacrifices in the war against terrorism, which had suffered more than any other country.' "By such negative moves against Pakistan, India actually wants to weaken Pakistan economically and to harm international community's efforts against terrorism", he added.

He said he had already charge-sheeted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his crimes against humanity and war crimes against innocent Kashmiri people and asked the government of Pakistan to move against Narendra Modi in International Criminal Court.

' The committee also discussed "The Criminal Laws (Amendment) Protection of Rights of Transgender Persons Bill 2017', moved by Senator Rubina Khalid and deferred its to the absence of the mover.

Rehman Malik said as the said the bill was highly important and he would seek extension from the House. He said he was shocked to know that Kohat police had refused to register a first information report on the complaint of a transgender.' The committee also considered "The Islamabad Capital Territory (Prohibition of Interest on Private Loan) 2018', moved by Senator Siraj ul Haq and deferred it due to the absence of the moverl.' 'The Miscarriage of Justice Compensation Bill 2017' and other three bills moved by Senator Muhammad Azam Khan Swati were withdrawn by the mover.' The committee expressed its resentment over the delay in suspending the notification issued by the government with regard to cancellation of arms licenses issued to parliamentarians, high ranking functionaries and notables for protection. The committee constituted a coordination committee under Sardar Fateh Muhammad Muhammad Hassni to look into the matter.

Senators Javed Abbasi, Sardar Fateh Hassani, Shahi Syed, Dr Jehanzeb Jamaldini and Saleh Shah attended the meeting.'The meeting was also attended by secretaries Interior and Law and Justice, Chairman of Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) and other ministry officials.
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The Punjab government has given approval for establishing separate police stations and facilitation centers for overseas Pakistanis in Lahore, Gujranwala, DG Khan and Rawalpindi Division, said Chairman Task Force Overseas Pakistanis, District Rawalpindi, Iftikhar Ahmad Warsi.

RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Feb, 2018 ) :The Punjab government has given approval for establishing separate police stations and facilitation centers for overseas Pakistanis in Lahore, Gujranwala, DG Khan and Rawalpindi Division, said Chairman Task Force Overseas Pakistanis, District Rawalpindi, Iftikhar Ahmad Warsi.

Chairing a meeting held here on Tuesday, he heard 51 complaints related to police, TMOs, Anti-Corruption, fake Housing Schemes, RDA, Excise Department and issued necessary orders for redressal of the complaints.

Special courts have been established for redressal of the complaints of the Overseas Pakistan and dispensation of speedy justice to provide them relief, he said adding, all the departments concerned have been directed to facilitate the overseas Pakistanis in accordance with the directives of Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif.

He said, the officers concerned have been directed to make all out efforts for resolution of their complaints within shortest possible time and negligence on their part would not be tolerated. Iftikhar Warsi said, the main objective of the commission is, not only to redress complaints of the Overseas Pakistanis but to facilitate them in every possible manner and encourage them to invest in their own country.

The meeting was attended by Assistant Commissioner Saddar Tasneem Ali Khan, DSP Investigation Mirza Tahir Sikandar, Tehsildaar Mansoor Ahmed, member OPF Qaiser Zaman, Malik Qaiser Awan, Chaudary Saqib, Malik Saeed and other concerned officers.
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Spiritual leader of Sikh community and chairman of Nishkan Group Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia called on Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, here on Tuesday.

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Feb, 2018 ) :Spiritual leader of Sikh community and chairman of Nishkan Group Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia called on Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, here on Tuesday.

During the meeting, issues related to the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Devji were discussed. The chief minister pledged full cooperation of the Punjab government with regard to birthday celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak.

The chief minister said that complete protection of constitutional rights of minority communities including Sikhs had been ensured in Pakistan. Historic steps had been taken for wellbeing and prosperity of the Sikh community living in Punjab.

He said that all possible steps were being taken for maintenance, protection and upkeep of Sikh gurudwaras and other religious places of all minority communities. In fact, protection of fundamental rights of the minority communities, along with protection of their life and property, is part of Punjab government's priorities.

It is sanguine that Sikhs, as well as all the religious minorities, enjoy complete religious freedom along with constitutional rights.

It is governmental policy to ensure protection and provision of different facilities to the Sikh community and other minorities for performing their religious rituals.

Along with it, implementation of minority quota in public sector recruitments was also being ensured, he added. The Punjab government is following the golden principles of islam including inter-religious harmony and tolerance, concluded the chief minister.

Chairman of Nishkan Group Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia said that they are thankful to Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif for providing different facilities to the Sikh community along with maintenance of religious places and their beautification.

The steps of Punjab government taken for wellbeing of the Sikh community are laudable and credit of complete religious and inter-faith harmony goes to Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Shehbaz Sharif is a visionary leader who is loved not only in Pakistan but abroad as well.

The chief minister presented a gift of carpet to Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia. Phaldeep Singh Khela, Bhupinder Singh Minhas, Sohail Ahmad and others were also present on the occasion.
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Kinshasa, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Feb, 2018 ) :Two Congolese aid workers were killed and a third abducted by an unidentified armed group in the troubled North Kivu region of Democratic Republic of Congo, the United Nations said Monday.

"We lost two fellow aid workers killed in the line of duty by unidentified armed people," the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement. The three men were employed by the Congolese NGO Hydraulique Sans Frontieres (HYFRO), which specialises in water purification projects, when attacked on Saturday near the village of Mushikiri.

OCHA said it "strongly condemns this latest attack" and called for "the immediate and unconditional release of the person held hostage".

Aid workers "should never be targeted. This attack represents a serious violation of international humanitarian law and emergency standards," it said.

According to OCHA, security conditions are very worrying in North Kivu and represent a "major obstacle" to the work of humanitarians. Kidnappings, including of foreign and Congolese personnel of humanitarian organisations, are frequent in the territories of Masisi, Lubero, Rutshuru and Walikale in the province of North Kivu.

Eastern DRC is torn apart by more than twenty years of armed conflict, fueled by ethnic and land disputes, competition for control of the region's mineral resources, and rivalry between regional powers.
Two policemen were killed in a gunbattle in southern Colombia with alleged FARC dissidents, the defense minister said Tuesday.

Bogota, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Feb, 2018 ) :Two policemen were killed in a gunbattle in southern Colombia with alleged FARC dissidents, the defense minister said Tuesday. The clash happened in San Vicente de Caguan in the Caqueta department when the police stopped and tried to search two men, who opened fire, Luis Carlos Villegas told a press conference.

He said a grenade was also used against the police but it did not explode. The two police officers died after being taken to a hospital, where one of their attackers also died. The minister said "everything points" to the men being dissident members of the FARC, which disbanded last year and became a political party after signing an historic peace deal with the government of President Juan Manuel Santos.

However the government estimates that around 1,100 FARC members rejected the deal and formed a breakaway group, supported by drug trafficking and illegal mining. On Monday, two Ecuadoran soldiers were wounded in an attack by dissidents in an area close to the border with Colombia, the second such incident in the area in weeks.

A bomb blast outside a police station on January 27 injured 28 people, including police. Ecuadoran authorities blamed FARC dissidents for the attack.
An Egyptian court on Tuesday put a leading government critic and 15 others on terror lists at the request of the public prosecutor, a judicial official said.

Cairo, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Feb, 2018 ) :An Egyptian court on Tuesday put a leading government critic and 15 others on terror lists at the request of the public prosecutor, a judicial official said.

Abdel Moneim Abul Fotouh, who is accused of joining an illegally formed group and spreading false news in Egypt that could harm its interests, is to remain on the list for five years, the official said.

He was arrested on Wednesday after joining a call to boycott next month's presidential election, which incumbent Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is expected win easily after most rivals were sidelined or withdrew.

The identity of the 15 others put on the terror lists were unknown. On Thursday, prosecutors ordered Abul Fotouh be remanded for 15 days over alleged links to exiled members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.

The interior ministry accused Abul Fotouh, a former leading member of the Brotherhood and candidate in the 2012 presidential election, of having been in contact with the group's members in exile "to sow trouble and instability".

Abul Fotouh was detained shortly after he arrived from London where he gave interviews in which he was critical of the Egyptian government. Sisi was elected in 2014, a year after the former army chief ousted his Islamist predecessor Mohamed Morsi.

Abul Fotouh had supported mass protests against the Islamist that prompted the military to topple him. He has since been critical of Sisi who has been accused of clamping down on dissent.
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Goma, DR Congo, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Feb, 2018 ) :A Congolese humanitarian worker, kidnapped at the weekend in the troubled east of DR Congo by an armed group that killed two of his colleagues, has been freed, his NGO said Tuesday.

"He was freed yesterday (Monday)... We found him with several cuts on his face," said Richard Kahindo, head of the NGO Hydraulique sans Frontieres (HYFRO), which specialises in water purification projects.

The release of the abducted aid worker was also confirmed to AFP by local official Francois Bakundakabo. He had been kidnapped on Saturday near the village of Mushikiri in North Kivu after his vehicle, also carrying three other colleagues, was attacked by unidentified armed men.

Two colleagues, an engineer and the driver, were killed while a third managed to escape.

The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Monday condemned the assault and called for "the immediate and unconditional release of the person held hostage".

Aid workers "should never be targeted. This attack represents a serious violation of international humanitarian law and emergency standards," OCHA said. Kidnappings, including of foreign and Congolese personnel of humanitarian organisations, are frequent in the province of North Kivu.

Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is torn apart by more than 20 years of armed conflict, fueled by ethnic and land disputes, competition for control of the region's mineral resources, and rivalry between regional powers.
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South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Slovenian President Borut Pahor Tuesday agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in various areas, including global efforts to denuclearize North Korea, says Yonhap report

SEOUL,(APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Feb, 2018 ) :South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Slovenian President Borut Pahor Tuesday agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in various areas, including global efforts to denuclearize North Korea, says Yonhap report.

In a bilateral summit held at South Korea's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, the two leaders stressed the need to expand bilateral cooperation in political, economic, social and cultural fields, the report said.

"I also hope to hold in-depth discussions on ways to increase our cooperation in the international arena," Moon said, according to the report. Pahor arrived here Monday, becoming the first president of Slovenia to visit South Korea.

The Slovenian head of state praised Moon for his efforts to peacefully resolve the North Korean nuclear issue. "I am is the only EU's leaders, but I believe the EU needs to more actively get involved in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue, which is a very important security issue currently drawing the attention of the world," Pahor said through his translator.

"We wonder how we can help and I wish to listen to the president's opinion on the issue," he added, according to the pool reports. Moon expressed gratitude for Slovenia's continued support for his country's North Korea policy and stressed the need to maintain the ongoing dialogue with the communist North to enable the resumption of international discussions on ending the North's nuclear ambition.

"President Moon asked for President Pahor's cooperation so that the dialogue between South and North Koreas that came before the Winter Olympic Games will contribute to efforts to create an environment for dialogue on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula after the Olympics," the report said.
Lebanon's army has warned Israel against staging a new war on the country, vowing that it will use every available means to deter such an act of aggression, MIA reported here on Tuesday

BEIRUT, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Feb, 2018 ) ::Lebanon's army has warned Israel against staging a new war on the country, vowing that it will use every available means to deter such an act of aggression, MIA reported here on Tuesday "I affirm again our categorical rejection of the Israeli enemy infringing on Lebanon's sovereignty and its sacred right to exploit all its economic resources," Lebanese army chief General Joseph Aoun said on Twitter on Tuesday.

"The army will not spare any method available to confront any Israeli aggression, whatever that costs," he wrote. Earlier this month, Lebanese President Michel Aoun said he had ordered the country's armed forces to confront any attempt by Israel to undermine Lebanon's sovereignty, agencies report.

The two sides have nearly come to blows over a tender by Lebanon in December for oil and gas exploration projects in two of the country's 10 offshore blocks in the Mediterranean Sea, namely Block 4 and Block 9.

The move angered Israel which claims sovereignty over the ninth block.

The Tel Aviv regime has also escalated the tensions by announcing plans for a wall to isolate the occupied Palestinian lands from Lebanese territories.

Lebanon has objected to Israel's plan, saying the wall violates its sovereignty by passing through territory that belongs to the country but is located on the other side of a UN-designated Blue Line, which sets the limits for Israel's 2000 withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

Tel Aviv says the construction will go ahead as planned. The Israeli regime has waged three wars on Lebanon, in 1982, 2000, and 2006. It has also carried out assassinations in Lebanese territory.

Since its establishment in 1985, the Hezbollah resistance group has helped the army defend Lebanon against Israel's 2000 and 2006 wars. The resistance movement warned Israel against the "grave consequences" of the regime's next war, vowing to defend the rights of Lebanon in oil and gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean region against any new Israeli aggression.
Mozambique's President Filipe Nyusi has met the leader of opposition Renamo as part of efforts to broker peace between the group and his ruling Frelimo party.

Maputo, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Feb, 2018 ) :Mozambique's President Filipe Nyusi has met the leader of opposition Renamo as part of efforts to broker peace between the group and his ruling Frelimo party.

Renamo rebels fought a 16-year war against Frelimo until 1992, and unrest again boiled over between 2013 and 2016. Nyusi travelled to the remote Gorongosa mountains on Monday for talks with Renamo's leader Afonso Dhlakama who has been in hiding since October 2015.

The meeting follows a pledge by the president earlier this month to change the constitution to allow for the devolution of power in an effort to persuade the opposition to sign a peace deal. The proposed constitutional changes will now go before parliament.

"I had a meeting with Afonso Dhlakama... to discuss military matters, specifically on disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration," Nyusi said in an emailed statement. The fighting between 2013 and 2016 often centred on the country's main roads, with Renamo attacking government convoys and civilian vehicles, and soldiers accused of ruthlessly targeting suspected rebels.

The violence, which ended after Dhlakama announced a truce, forced thousands of people to escape to government-run camps, relatives' homes or across the border to Malawi and Zimbabwe. - 'Pressure on the Maputo regime' - Renamo, which also holds seats in parliament, has long been seeking greater decentralisation of power and better integration of its supporters into the police and military.

The peace deal being negotiated would see the governors of Mozambique's 11 provinces elected directly, not named by the president as is currently the case. The deal would also require the disarmament of the Renamo party's armed wing which has been maintained since the end of the civil war in 1992.

"We welcome... the steps to be taken," said Nyusi. "(They) will allow an end to military hostilities and open a new era for effective and lasting peace." He added that detailed proposals would be made public "in a timely manner".

Domingos do Rosario, a professor of political science at Eduardo Mondlane University in Maputo, warned that the question of Renamo disarmament remained a challenge. "Is Renamo is going to disarm? Do you think Renamo, if it did not have weapons, would still survive politically?" he said.

"They tried to kill Dhlakama and what did he do? He fled to his comfort zone -- the bush where he has the military arsenal that allows him to put pressure on the Maputo regime." Do Rosario added that the negotiations had been timed by Nyusi to ensure the smooth running of local elections due later this year and presidential polls due in 2019.

"These negotiations had to go ahead at all costs, otherwise the source of the Maputo regime's international legitimacy, the elections, would not take place."
Poland breached EU law by allowing logging in one of Europe's last primeval forests, the legal advisor to the bloc's top court said Tuesday, setting up a new clash between Brussels and Warsaw

Luxembourg, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Feb, 2018 ) :Poland breached EU law by allowing logging in one of Europe's last primeval forests, the legal advisor to the bloc's top court said Tuesday, setting up a new clash between Brussels and Warsaw.

Yves Bot, advocate general to the European Court of Justice, said decisions by Poland's rightwing government to allow logging in the Bialowieza Forest "infringe EU law". The EU court often, but not always, follows the legal opinions of the advocate general when making its final decision. Its ruling is expected at a later date.
Danish royalty and politicians gathered in a Copenhagen chapel on Tuesday for the private funeral service of Prince Henrik, the French-born husband of Queen Margrethe who died this month aged 83.

Copenhagen, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Feb, 2018 ) :Danish royalty and politicians gathered in a Copenhagen chapel on Tuesday for the private funeral service of Prince Henrik, the French-born husband of Queen Margrethe who died this month aged 83.

The queen, accompanied by her sons Crown Prince Frederik, 49, and Prince Joachim, 48, and their families paid their last respects to Henrik at the Christiansborg Palace chapel. The funeral was a private affair, with only the royal family, close friends and some government members invited to attend.

However hundreds of Danes gathered outside the chapel to catch a glimpse of the event. At the end of the ceremony, the priest tossed soil on the coffin, taken from both the royal couple's chateau in Caix, northern France, and from the Marselisborg palace grounds in Aarhus, Denmark.

Afterwards, the coffin was carried outside to a hearse as the royal family watched, bowing as the hearse pulled away and wiping away tears.

Diagnosed in September 2017 with dementia, Henrik had been hospitalised since January 28 for a pulmonary infection.

He died on February 13. In line with his wishes, he will be cremated. Half of his ashes will be spread in Danish waters and half buried on the grounds of Fredensborg Castle north of Copenhagen.

Born Henri Marie Jean Andre de Laborde de Monpezat on June 11, 1934 near Bordeaux, he married Margrethe, then crown princess, in 1967. Henrik, who retired from public service in January 2016, spoke out often about his frustration that his royal title of prince was never changed to king after his wife became queen in 1972.

Last year, he announced that he did not want to be buried next to his wife because he was not made her equal in life, thereby breaking with the tradition of burying royal spouses together in Roskilde Cathedral, west of Copenhagen.
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South Asian legislators expressed concern Tuesday about the political crisis in the Maldives as President Abdulla Yameen sought to extend a draconian state of emergency in the island

Colombo, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Feb, 2018 ) :South Asian legislators expressed concern Tuesday about the political crisis in the Maldives as President Abdulla Yameen sought to extend a draconian state of emergency in the island.

Parliament is expected to meet Tuesday in the turbulent island nation, where Yameen wants to extend by a month sweeping emergency powers that have provoked censure from the international community.

Yameen's office said the extension was warranted "as the threat to national security has not diminished and the constitutional crisis has not been resolved". It is expected parliament -- which Yameen shuttered in a recent crackdown on opponents -- will rubber stamp the existing state of emergency and renew it further.

Yameen's majority in the 85-member majlis was restored Sunday after the Supreme Court quashed its earlier order for a dozen pro-opposition MPs to be returned to parliament.

But South Asian Speakers and Parliamentarians, a regional grouping of legislators, urged the Maldives' speaker to ensure the rule of law.

The "declaration of emergency and arrests and disrespect of the supreme court rulings, undermine the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary", Karu Jayasuriya, the group's chairman and Sri Lanka's speaker, said in a statement.

Yameen refused to abide the Supreme Court when it ordered that the MPs be reinstalled and a number of high-profile political prisoners be released. Instead, he ordered the arrest of the Chief Justice and another Supreme Court judge in a sweeping crackdown.

The remaining three judges later reversed the original orders. His estranged half-brother, former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, was among those arrested on a charge of bribing Supreme Court justices to topple the government through a constitutional coup.
Cambodias third Senate election campaign was in full swing last week, with candidates fanning out to rural areas to drum up support among commune councilors, who will elect 62 senators on February 25.

Normally, political campaigns like this would be an occasion for discussion and debate about the merits of different parties and policies. But this year, things are different.

In the aftermath of the dissolution of Cambodias main opposition party by the Supreme Court in November, publicly supporting the opposition has become risky and, in some cases, illegal.

It is not just ex-party officials who are fearful. Even low-level supporters and those who had no formal affiliation with the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) say they are scared to discuss politics and even meet with each other socially.

In Romeas Hek district on Thursday, senior ruling party official Sok Eysan was on the campaign trail for a Senate seat he seems certain to win. Rather than discussing the issues facing the area, he spent much of his stump speech mocking former opposition leaders Kem Sokha and Sam Rainsywhom he repeatedly called a son of a traitor.

We dont lie like the wind-and-smoke words of the contemptible Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha, Mr. Eysan declared.

Nearby the campaign event, in Chantrey commune, villagers told VOA they were anxious about publicly discussing even the most persistent problems in their area, such as the lack of electricity or running water, and the unpaved road running through the commune that kicks up dirt night and day.

Along that road, Neth Samun, 56, runs a small grocery store that is often coated in a layer of dust. She and her customers used to chat about social issues, particularly the loneliness and lack of social cohesion in their village since so many young people have migrated away to find work in factories near Phnom Penh. Several of her 11 children have followed suit, and she cares for one grandchild whose mother is a garment worker.

Before, we talked about garment factories, garment workers pay, and our nations issues, but now we dont dare to talk, she said.

Before, there was a lot of talk when the CNRP existed. But now no one dares.

Pen Samath, 52, who also owns a small shop along the road selling groceries and gasoline, said she was concerned about the potential loss of land to Vietnam, which borders the district.

Alleged Vietnamese border encroachment has been a potent political issue for the CNRP in past years, but most of the oppositions loudest voices on the issue are now in exile.

Samath said she used to discuss Vietnam-Cambodia relations with other villagers and the local CNRP commune chief, Mey Dara. Now, he never even stops by her shop.

It is very silent. Before, he came here and we talked, she said.

I dont dare to talk, she added. Im afraid of being mistreated. So I keep silent like the others.

The situation is more intense for those who did have a formal affiliation with the opposition party.

Dara, the former CNRP commune chief, explained that he was being watched so closely that he hardly left his house.

Without a job or income, the 60-year-old tends to a small rice paddy and vegetable patch near his home. To earn extra money to replace his lost government salary, he and his wife rent out a loudspeaker they own and sell herbal medicine.

If there is a gathering of four or five people, they will come to watch us, he said, looking at the dusty road in front of his house where small cars and big trucks are passing.

I cant communicate with villagers like before, he added. I am afraid that people will be accused of something, he said.

As he spoke, his wife got up from a nearby hammock and interrupted her husband. Is it OK to talk? she asked. She proposed moving inside the house so nobody could see the couple speaking with a journalist.

Tith Marong, 66, an ex-CNRP district chief and Romeas Hek district councilor who also lost his post, said he was also being watched and feared traveling.

We are watched every day. If we say something wrong, there is a problem, he said.

Dara and Marong, who are longtime friends, rarely even communicate anymore.

Now we just meet when joining things like weddings and other religious ceremonies, and we just ask each other about other things, not about politics, said Marong.

The new CPP commune chief, Leuk Sakhun, who inherited the position after Dara was stripped of the role, admitted freely that villagers were under surveillance.

He said former opposition members were being watched in case they form a group, although the Cambodian constitution guarantees the right to free assembly and association.

We follow and watch them, he said.

One result of this has been that ordinary people rarely come together to talk about politics, the commune chief said.

People have been silent after the party was dissolved, he said. No one talks. Previously, after the local election, people talked more.

Chen Samean, 39, a farmer, agreed that she and other villagers who had been sympathetic to the opposition were wary of getting together.

When we are together talking about politics and someone comes along, we stop talking for a while. When they are gone, we continue talking, said Samean, a widow with five children.

We keep what we know in our minds.

Even Sok Saroeun, 73, who considers himself a staunch supporter of Prime Minister Hun Sens Cambodian Peoples Party, said he felt under pressure.

No one dares to protest against Hun Sen, he said. If you dare to protest, you will be destroyed. He said his commune needed a new road, a water irrigation system, and a better health center.

Although he has voted for the CPP for as long as he can remember, he said he felt confused about the upcoming Senate election.

Im wondering and wondering how there is no one in the contestits like you are in a contest alone and you win by yourself.
The family of murdered political analyst Kem Ley has been granted asylum in Australia after fleeing Cambodia for Thailand last year and living under the protection of the United Nations.

Bou Rachana, Leys wife, and her five children arrived in Melbourne, Australia on Saturday, according to Hong Lim, a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly.

Ley was gunned down in broad daylight at a gas station in Phnom Penh on July 10, 2016. A suspect was arrested and later confessed to the crime, but many Cambodians suspected a wider conspiracy and allegations of a targeted assassination ordered by members of the security forces were not investigated during the trial.

Rachana fled to Thailand while heavily pregnant and gave birth to her fifth son while living there.

She arrived safely in Australia on Saturday, Lim said. We are happy that she is here and she is also happy.

The Cambodian-Australian community is planning a welcoming ceremony for them on Saturday at Wat Put Raingsey in Melbourne.

The community has contributed their money and provided spiritual support to her so they want to see her, Lim added.

Ley was a vocal critic of Prime Minister Hun Sens government.

Weve tried our utmost to help Kem Leys family because he was our Cambodian hero, Lim said. We know that we have a responsibility to help ease her [Rachanas] burden and help the children. We are now successful.

Im happy that a free country helps victims into their country and take care of them, said Yap Kimtung, president of the Washington-based Cambodian Americans for Human Rights and Democracy.

Kimtung said many other rights activists in Cambodia are under pressure to stop their activism, but they should not lose hope and would continue to fight for democracy.
The U.S. State Department says it is designating the group Ansarul Islam as a global terrorist group because of its history of launching attacks in Burkina Faso near the border with Mali.



Ansarul Islam's attacks include a December 2016 attack on members of Burkina Faso's military that killed 12 soldiers, one of the deadliest attacks ever against Burkina Faso troops.



The group is also believed responsible for a February 2017 strike on two police stations and the March 2017 murder of two men, one a school director, in the Burkina Faso village of Kourfayel.



The State Department designation is meant to block all foreign assets the group has under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits any U.S. citizen from engaging in business with the group.



The State Department says the designation will deny the group U.S. resources and may assist law enforcement activity by the U.S. government.
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia appealed a five-year prison sentence in a corruption case on Tuesday, with her lawyers arguing that the verdict was politically motivated and influenced by the government.



Her conviction means that Zia, the opposition leader and archrival of the current prime minister, could be barred from running in December national elections.



Zia was convicted on Feb. 8 of misusing power in embezzling some $250,000 in donations meant for an orphanage trust established when she first became prime minister in 1991.



The court also sentenced Zia's son, Tarique Rahman, and four others to 10 years in prison for involvement in the case.



Moudud Ahmed, a top aide to Zia and one of her counsels, told reporters after appealing to the High Court on Tuesday that the verdict was doctored by the authorities. The government has denied the allegation.



Bangladesh law says anyone imprisoned for more than two years cannot run for office for the next five years.



The chief election commissioner recently said that because of the verdict Zia is ineligible to run, but that the final decision would depend on the higher court.



Zia faces more than 30 other charges, ranging from corruption to sedition. Bangladesh politics are deeply fractious, with current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Zia ruling the country alternately since 1991, when democracy was restored.



Both women emerged from political dynasties. Zia is the widow of Ziaur Rahman, a general-turned-president who was assassinated in 1981. Hasina is the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country's first president who was assassinated in 1975.



In the last election in 2014, Zia's party and its political allies boycotted the race, allowing Hasina to return to power with a landslide victory.
As she clutches her movie ticket for a 7 p.m. showing, 9-year-old Akeelah Jaco is beaming. She has yet to see a minute of footage of Black Panther, but she already knows something about the film.

"There's a black superhero. There's a lot of people like us. And there's a lot of black children in the movie," she said.

WATCH: Black Panther Offers a Bridge for African Americans to Connect with Their African Roots

Jaco was among hundreds of students from the Betty Shabazz International Charter School that turned a Sunday night showing of Black Panther at the Studio Movie Grill theater on Chicago's south side into a celebration of African culture and heritage.

"We want to see this," said former student Taheera Cartman. "We support this. We encourage that more of this is accepted."

Accepted and, in Cartman's opinion, long overdue.

"It's 2018. We've had a black president. We shouldn't be still just having slavery movies. We've seen those stories. We need to see more positive stories, and our kids need to see more positive stories," Cartman said.

"This film is a major departure, as far as the types of roles black actors are given and the types of storylines that we see black characters in the midst of," said Blair Davis, an associate professor of communication at DePaul University in Chicago who focuses some of his classes, and his own study, on the impact of comic book characters on pop culture. He believes Black Panther will be remembered as more than just a superhero film.

"The best films, I think, we remember because they say something bigger," he told VOA. "They say something about who we are as people, and I think the cultural aspects of Black Panther are what are going to allow us to remember it in years to come. So, I think that it will succeed on its own merits as an action film. But I think that, thanks to the talents of [director] Ryan Coogler, that this will have a lasting value, perhaps as a sea change in Hollywood."

Black Panther is a certified Hollywood blockbuster, raking in more than $200 million in North America during its opening weekend, setting several records. It has grossed close to $400 million globally. The film's success comes as no surprise to the fans who packed the theater, celebrating a film that marks a departure from the Hollywood norm.

"It's a vision of black people in power, and of black people having control over their own destiny," said Carol Lee, one of the founders of the Betty Shabazz International Charter School, which she described as "African centric." Black Panther is the kind of film that reinforces some of what they teach.

"It's tapped a spirit, and that's why people are coming out in such numbers, bringing their children, dressing in cultural ways, affirming. We are very clear who we are," she said.

"It's very important media imagery," said Cartman, whose daughter is enrolled at the Betty Shabazz school. "It's definitely affecting the way our children see themselves, and affects who they want to be, who they look up to, who they aspire to be. All that matters."

For 9-year-old Jaco, Black Panther was teaching her an important lesson even before she took her seat in theater No. 8 to see the film.

"It says, anything's possible."
The U.N. refugee agency warns fierce ethnic clashes and widespread abuse in Democratic Republic of Congos Tanganyika Province is propelling the region toward a colossal humanitarian disaster.

The U.N. refugee agency reports escalating violence among the Twa, the Luba and other ethnic groups has sent hundreds of thousands of people fleeing for their lives. The agency reports more than 630,000 people or more than one-fifth of Tanganyikas population of three million is now internally displaced.

The UNHCR says it is alarmed at the spiraling atrocities throughout the province. Spokesman Andre Mahecic says a majority of violations concern property rights, including extortions, plundering and destruction. But he notes thousands of other cases of abuse include torture, murders, arbitrary arrests, forced labor, rape and forced marriages.

He says the displaced are most victimized by atrocities triggered by the ethnic conflict. But, Mahecic tells VOA they also suffer abuse from renegade militias and the Congolese soldiers sent to fight them.

The militias seem to be sort of ad hoc formations that gather for the sake of some joint interest in pillaging, raping, stealing ...The lions share of these violations that I spoke about do concern the reported cases of extortion or illegal taxations," said Mahecic. "This is mostly happening at the road blocks ... We do not have all of the details. But it is important to note that the lions share of issues has been attributed to the conduct of the armed forces.

The UNHCR is calling on the Congolese authorities to protect the civilian population and to prosecute soldiers accused of human rights abuse and other crimes.

The agency says it is doing its best to help the population cope with this increasingly calamitous situation, but it is being hampered by a serious shortage of money.

Last year, the UNHCR says it received less than $1 per person to run its program for the DRCs 4.5 million internally displaced people. It says it hopes to get a better response to this years $369 million country appeal. Of this amount, it says $80 million is needed to support the displaced.
More than 100,000 malaria cases went untreated when Liberia's health care system buckled under the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak, according to a new study.

The research, published in the journal PLOS Medicine, shows how the toll of the Ebola outbreak goes beyond the 11,000 killed in West Africa by the virus itself. Basic health care took a major hit as well.

Ebola kills about half of the people it infects. It causes flu-like symptoms, followed by vomiting and diarrhea, and can lead to internal and external hemorrhaging. The disease spreads through contact with an infected person's bodily fluids.

The countries of West Africa were ill-equipped to deal with the 2014-15 outbreak. Many clinics lacked the most basic tools for dealing with the disease, including latex gloves and face masks.

Rightfully so, people were afraid to go to the clinic because they might get Ebola when theyre at the clinic, said study lead author Brad Wagenaar at the University of Washington.

Wagenaar and colleagues found that by four months into the epidemic, clinics were delivering one-third to two-thirds fewer basic services, which he described as a huge, dramatic decrease.

'Huge, dramatic decrease'

The researchers studied monthly data on health visits from 379 clinics outside the capital, Monrovia, from 2010 through 2016.

They found measles vaccinations dropped by 67 percent. Anti-malarial treatment fell by 61 percent. Thirty-five percent fewer pregnant women came in for their first pre-natal visits.

It took more than a year-and-a-half for all services to return to pre-outbreak levels.

Lost opportunities

In that time, more than three-quarters of a million clinic visits were lost, the researchers estimate, based on extrapolations from pre-outbreak trends.

That includes more than 5,000 births at health care facilities, in a country with one of the world's highest rates of maternal death, along with a loss of 100, 000 malaria treatments. These figures, Wagenaar adds, suggest a loss of other services that may have a long-term impact, such as distributing bed nets and spraying houses with insecticides.

Some of these other things didnt happen during the Ebola outbreak because the health system and other partners were busy with other issues, he said. And now, the cases have been increasing.

Malaria cases were 50 percent higher in December of 2017 than they were before the Ebola epidemic.

Wagenaar says the research highlights how more attention must be devoted to maintaining basic services during a health emergency. The data his group analyzed could be used in other outbreaks to prioritize services that have been overlooked.

Funding for public health systems

And after the emergency, funding should focus on strengthening public health systems.

We know that this epidemic happened in Liberia due to multiple factors, but one being the public sector ministry of health system has been underfunded, he said, adding that remains the case.

Donors earmarked funds for strengthening the health system, he said. But, that money never really materialized, he added.
An Egyptian court put former presidential candidate Abdel Moneim Abol Fotouh on a terrorism list on Tuesday, state news agency MENA reported, following his arrest for alleged contacts with the banned Muslim Brotherhood.

Abol Fotouh, a former Islamist who leads the Strong Egypt party, was arrested last week a day after returning from London, where he had given interviews sharply critical of President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi ahead of next months presidential election.

The Interior Ministry said at the time that Abol Fotouh held secret meetings with leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood while in London to implement a plot to stir unrest and instability in the country, accusations he denied.

Sissi is almost guaranteed to win a second term in a presidential election slated for March 26-28, but the vote has been criticized by rights groups after a number of potential competitors called off their campaigns, citing intimidation, and a top challenger was arrested.

The electoral commission has said that it will ensure the vote is fair and transparent.

Abol Fotouh was among the first of several high-profile Egyptians to call last month for a boycott of the election.

Individuals added to the terrorism list are generally subjected to an asset freeze and a travel ban and are permitted 60 days to appeal the decision.

Abol Fotouhs lawyer, Abdelrahman Haridy, told Reuters he had not yet been notified of the courts decision but that the designation could easily be appealed in court.

Its clear that there is an insistence on tacking charges on to political figures in order to intimidate all politicians, even for just saying their opinions, Haridy said.

Abol Fotouh along with 15 others were added to the list after an investigation by the state security prosecution found they had joined an outlawed organization "aiming to harm the interests of the state, MENA said, without naming the organisation.

In an interview with Al Jazeera Mubasher, a Qatar-based channel banned in Egypt, Abol Fotouh last week criticized Sissi in unusually pointed terms, accusing him of pulling the army into politics, failing to curb deadly attacks by Islamist militants and mismanaging the economy.

The 67-year-old physician quit the Muslim Brotherhood in 2011 after disagreements over the role of religion in politics and founded the more centrist Strong Egypt party.

He mounted an independent bid for the presidency in 2012 and took nearly 18 percent of the vote in the first round of elections.

Egypt banned the Brotherhood in 2013 after Islamist President Mohamed Morsi was ousted by the military following mass protests. The group has since been declared a terrorist organization by the government but it maintains that its activities are peaceful.
Ethiopia's foreign minister has said there are no security concerns in the country, despite a state of emergency imposed by the government last week.

Officials made the declaration February 16, a day after Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn announced he will resign, and two days after the government freed several prominent critics and opposition leaders as part of a prisoner release program aimed at easing political tensions.

Ethiopia has seen recurring and sometimes violent anti-government demonstrations since 2014, driven by demands for increased power sharing among the country's parties and ethnic groups.

Briefing ambassadors in Addis Ababa on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Workneh Gebeyehu said the government declared the state of emergency because it "could not control the unrest through the regular law enforcement mechanisms."



Foreign concerns



Ambassadors voiced concern about the declaration. European Union Ambassador Johan Borgstam said it will undermine efforts to hold inclusive dialogue among the government, opposition, civil society and the media.

The Dutch ambassador, Bengt van Loosdrecht, also expressed worry, saying authorities arrested and mistreated thousands of perceived critics during an extended state of emergency imposed in 2016 and lifted last August.

In Washington, State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said on Tuesday the decision of Addis Ababa to impose a state of emergency restricts freedom of speech and freedom of expression, and is a concern of ours.

We aim to engage both frankly and constructively with that government, but we do not see their recent step as being helpful, she added.

Two opposition parties, the All Ethiopia Unity Organization (AEUO) and the Blue Party, have called on the government in Addis Ababa to lift the state of emergency immediately. They said the declaration will allow the ruling Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front, or EPRDF, to violate the publics right with impunity.
Florida high school students say they will not let state lawmakers' rejection of a bill to ban assault rifles stop them from taking their fight to the state capital.

With the gallery filled with students Tuesday, the Republican-led Florida House turned down a Democratic proposal to ban the guns. Republicans accused the Democrats of forcing the issue after Nikolas Cruz, 19, allegedly used an AR-15 to kill 17 people at a Parkland, Florida, high school last week.

Lizzie Eaton, a junior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, site of the shootings, called the legislature's vote "heartbreaking." But she said, "We're not going to stop. We're going to keep fighting for what we believe in. We're not going to let this bring us down."

About 100 other Parkland students are expected in Tallahassee on Wednesday, and President Donald Trump will host parents, teachers and students that day for what the White House calls a "listening session" on school safety.

WATCH: Florida High School Students Board Bus to Tallahassee

Survivors from the shootings at Parkland; Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012; and Columbine High School in Jefferson County, Colorado, in April 1999 have been invited.

Students from Florida and across the country have expressed anger, in the wake of the Parkland shooting, at what they see as politicians' failure to take steps to stop mass shootings.

Before boarding their bus for Tallahassee, Douglas student Ariana Ortega told VOA that the students "are the ones most involved in this. We are the ones who lived through this whole tragic experience, and we are going to be the future leaders of America."

WATCH: Inside the Bus to Tallahassee

Students are planning a March 24 rally in Washington and other major cities called "March for Our Lives." Music stars Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga and Cher have thrown their support behind the march. Actor George Clooney and his wife, Amal, a human rights attorney, said they are donating $500,000 to help pay for it.

"Our family will be there on March 24 to stand side by side with this incredible generation of young people from all over the country," Clooney said.

Meanwhile, White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders tried Tuesday to smooth over the fallout from Trump's controversial tweet Saturday about the FBI, in which he said agents missed signs about the Parkland shooter because it was busy trying to look for election interference collusion between his presidential campaign and Russia.

Sanders said a "deranged individual" was the cause of the killings.

The FBI admitted it did not act on a January 5 tip about Cruz. According to an FBI statement, someone with a close relationship to Cruz called with information 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."

Police said Cruz confessed to killing 14 students and three adults at the high school he was expelled from last year. He was able to buy an AR-15 rifle after clearing a background check.

A new Washington Post-ABC News poll said 86 percent of respondents who identified themselves as Democrats said stricter gun control laws could have prevented the Florida shooting, while 67 percent of Republicans said stricter laws could not have prevented the massacre.

More than three-quarters of both groups, however, said more effective mental health screening and treatment could have prevented the attack.

Overall, 77 percent of respondents said Congress was not doing enough to prevent mass shootings in the United States, while 62 percent said Trump was not doing enough.

In Washington, Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn and Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Murphy have drafted legislation to improve compliance with background checks. The revisions are still being negotiated.

The Cornyn-Murphy legislation has drawn support from Democrats and Republicans, although passage of gun legislation has often stalled in Congress. Democratic lawmakers often call for tighter controls on gun purchases, while Republicans often oppose them, saying they would violate the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution sanctioning gun ownership.

The Cornyn-Murphy background check measure would not impose new restrictions on gun purchases, but rather attempt to make sure information about mental health and criminal conviction records that legally bar individuals from buying weapons is consistently sent to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

U.S. authorities have frequently learned in the aftermath of a shooting rampage that the shooter should not have been allowed to buy a weapon because of mental health issues or a criminal conviction, but the information was never forwarded to the national database.
Just weeks after he was pardoned from a 25-year prison sentence, former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori has been ordered to stand trial again on a separate case of involving human rights abuses.

The country's National Criminal Court ruled Monday that the 79-year-old Fujimori could be prosecuted for the 1992 murders of six peasant farmers by a paramilitary group.

The ailing former president was granted a medical pardon in December by President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski after a review found Fujimori, who served from 1990 to 2000, was suffering from a "degenerative, incurable disease." Fujimori was convicted in 2009 for human rights abuses committed during his presidency, including authorizing killings carried out by death squads.

The court said the pardon does not shield Fujimori from being prosecuted in this case.

President Kuczynski's pardon of Fujimori set off angry street protests in Peru and was roundly condemned by human rights activists around the globe. Some Peruvians believe the pardon was part of a backroom deal struck to protect Kuczynski from impeachment on corruption charges.
Oxfam hid information about sexual misconduct from authorities in Haiti, a senior official in the Caribbean nation said on Monday, and he vowed to launch a wide-reaching investigation into charities operating there.

Oxfam officials met Haiti's planning and external cooperation minister, Aviol Fleurant, in Port-au-Prince on Monday to hand over a copy of a 2011 internal report which states that the British charity's former Haiti country director had admitted to using prostitutes during a relief mission following a devastating earthquake that hit the Caribbean island nation in early 2010.

It was the first meeting between Oxfam, one of the world's biggest disaster relief charities, and the government in Haiti since a recent Times of London report that said some of Oxfam's staff paid for sex, triggering a scandal that has seriously damaged the charity's reputation in the U.K. and abroad.

"What hurt me at the end of the meeting is that they admitted that Haitian authorities had, at no time, been informed by Oxfam about the commission of such crimes," Fleurant told Reuters in an interview.

"According to the law, someone who is aware of the perpetration of a crime is obliged to alert the nearest authorities," the minister said.

Prostitution is illegal in Haiti. The minister also said he was looking into reports, denied by Oxfam, that one of the women was under age.

Former Judge Claudy Gassant said that under Haitian law it could be considered illegal to not report a crime to relevant authorities.

After the meeting, Simon Ticehurst, Oxfam International's director general for Latin America and the Caribbean, said he apologized to Haiti's government and people for what happened, and said the organization was willing to collaborate "as much as we can" in further investigations.

Wide investigation

Oxfam earlier on Monday released the 2011 internal report documenting accusations against Roland Van Hauwermeiren, who ran the charity's operation in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake and resigned in 2011. Hauwermeiren has denied paying for sex with prostitutes or abusing minors.

"We have taken a lot of measures to improve our internal safeguarding measures. We have given, as best as we can, explanations as to what happened in 2011," Ticehurst said.

Fleurant said the government wanted all charities operating in Haiti to reveal more about sexual misconduct by their missions in the country.

"An investigation has been launched into the functioning of all non-governmental organizations, regarding sexual crimes and abuses," he said, without giving more details.

Last week, Haitian President Jovenel Moise said sexual misconduct by staff of Oxfam was only the tip of an "iceberg" and called for investigations into Doctors Without Borders and other aid organizations which came to the country after the earthquake.

On Monday, Doctors Without Borders said it was unclear from Moise's remarks what specific cases he was referring to, and said it was seeking to gain a better understanding of the Haitian's government's concerns.
For the first time in Ukraine's history, U.S. anthracite is helping to keep the lights on and the heating going this winter following a deal that has also helped to warm Kyivs relations with President Donald Trump.

The Ukrainian state-owned company that imported the coal told Reuters that the deal made commercial sense. But it was also politically expedient, according to a person involved in the talks on the agreement and power industry insiders.

On Trumps side it provided much-needed orders for a coal-producing region of the United States which was a vital constituency in his 2016 presidential election victory.

On the Ukrainian side the deal helped to win favor with the White House, whose support Kyiv needs in its conflict with Russia, as well as opening up a new source of coal at a time when its traditional supplies are disrupted.

Trumps campaign call to improve relations with the Kremlin alarmed the pro-Western leadership in Ukraine, which lost Crimea to Russia in 2014 and is still fighting pro-Moscow separatists.

However, things looked up when President Petro Poroshenko visited the White House on June 20 last year.

The meeting with Trump was a key point, a milestone, a Ukrainian government source told Reuters, requesting anonymity.

The Americans had set particular store by supplying coal to Ukraine.

I felt that for them it is important, said the source, who was present at the talks that also included a session with Vice President Mike Pence.

Despite Trumps incentives, U.S. utilities are shutting coal-fired plants and shifting to gas, wind and solar power.

Ailing U.S. mining companies are therefore boosting exports to Asia and seeking new buyers among eastern European countries trying to diversify from Russian supplies.

Trump, who championed U.S. coal producers on the campaign trail, pressed the message after meeting Poroshenko.

Ukraine already tells us they need millions and millions of metric tons right now, he said in a speech nine days later. We want to sell it to them, and to everyone else all over the globe who need it.

The deal with Kyiv was sealed the following month, after which U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said: As promised during the campaign, President Trump is unshackling American energy with each day on the job.

The deal helped to bolster a key strategic partner against regional pressures that seek to undermine U.S. interests, Ross added, referring to past Russian attempts to restrict natural gas flows to its western neighbors.

A matter of necessity

Ukraine was once a major producer of anthracite, a coal used in power generation, but it has faced a shortage in recent winters as it lost control of almost all its mines in eastern areas to the separatists.

Along with South Africa, Ukrainian-owned mines in Russia have been the main source of anthracite imports but this is fraught with uncertainty. In the past Moscow has cut off gas supplies to the country over disputes with Kyiv, while the Ukrainian government considered forbidding anthracite imports from Russia in 2017 although no ban has yet been imposed.

Overall anthracite imports shot up to 3.05 million tons in the first 11 months of 2017 from just 0.05 million in all of 2013  the year before the rebellion erupted.

Neighboring Poland, which Trump visited in July, is also turning increasingly to U.S. coal. Its imports from the United States jumped five-fold last year to 839,000 tons, data from the state-run ARP agency showed.

In July Ukrainian state-owned energy company Centrenergo announced the deal with U.S. company Xcoal for the supply of up to 700,000 tons of anthracite.

Centrenergo initially said it would pay $113 per ton for the first shipment, a price industry experts and traders told Reuters was expensive compared with alternatives.

However, chief executive Oleg Kozemko said the cost varied according to the quality of the coal delivered, so Centrenergo had paid around $100 per ton on average for the 410,000 tons supplied by the end of 2017.

Kozemko said in an interview that the U.S. deal was Centrenergos only viable option after three tenders it launched earlier last year had failed.

The idea to sign a contract with Xcoal was a matter of necessity, he said. We had agreements but they didnt work out, because the pricing that they discussed with us and that we signed an agreement on didnt work out.

Data on the state tenders registry and documents seen by Reuters show that two of the tenders failed due to a lack of bids, while the results of the third were cancelled.

If that contract had worked out, Centrenergo would have paid around $96 per ton, according to Reuters calculations based on the exchange rate at the time of the tender in April.

Energy expert Andriy Gerus told Reuters the Xcoal deal probably helps Ukraine to build some good political connections with the USA and that is quite important right now.

Mutual desire

The anthracite for Centrenergo is mined in Pennsylvania, which backed Trump in 2016. This marked the first time a Republican presidential candidate had won the state since 1988, and followed Trumps pledge to reverse the coal industrys history of plant closures and lay-offs in recent years.

Centrenergo says it and Xcoal agreed the contract independently of their governments and without any political pressure. However, Kozemko said: If talks between the heads of our countries helped in this, then we can only say thank you... It was a mutual desire.

For the Ukrainian authorities, the diplomatic benefit is clear. When the first shipment of U.S. anthracite arrived in September, Poroshenko tweeted a photo of himself shaking hands with Trump in Washington.

As agreed with @realDonaldTrump, first American coal has reached Ukraine, he wrote.

Poroshenkos press service said the deal is an exact example of when the friendly and warm atmosphere of one conversation helps strengthen the foundations of a strategic partnership in the interests of both sides for the future.

The Washington meeting also discussed U.S.-Ukrainian military and technical cooperation. Soon after, the Trump administration said it was considering supplying defensive weapons to Ukraine to counter the Russian-backed separatists.

In late December the U.S. State Department announced that the provision of enhanced defensive capabilities had been approved.

Kozemko said the Xcoal deal was likely to be only the beginning of Centrenergos trade relations with the United States as it is currently holding talks on supplies of bituminous coal, a poorer quality variety.

Its good that we studied the U.S. market because we had never looked at it before. We see big prospects for bituminous coal, he said, adding that other Ukrainian firms were thinking similarly. We showed how to bring coal from America and they are following our lead.
Dirgha Raj Prasai

By Dirgha Raj Prasai





Leadership is the gift of time. From the very beginning, Nepal is known as a Sovereign and independent country in the world. The time searches for leadership. It will be distrusting the history if we disregard the facts that the monarchs have ruled to protect Nepal time and again. In 1950 King Tribhuvan gambled his crown against the Rana regime for sake of democracy. After the execution of four martyrs the king led the fight for democracy. The struggle and sacrifice of the martyrs against the Rana oligarchy helped introduce democracy in the country, as a result of it, the Nepalese have been sovereign. The martyrs paid a terrible cost in blood, sweat and tears for the progress and prosperities if Nepal. So, we can't forget them for the sake of democratic stability.





The glory of Nepals natural and cultural diversity resounds around the world. Different castes and creeds that exist within the territories of Nepal have jointly preserved the democratic value and tradition. Although our country is small it is home to many castes. The spirit of nationality of Nepal will remain incomplete in practicing discriminatory attitude towards any group, organization or caste. Should Nepals natural and cultural identities be extirpated in name of political revenge? If so, Nepal will vanish. Following the unification of Nepal, the kings of the nation as the great King Unifier Prithvi Narayan Shah, founder of democracy, King Tribhuvan, great nationalist King Mahendra and democratic warriors and people from various castes have protected this unity. But, since the uprising of 2006, the leaders of Congress, UML and Maoist have forgotten all the contribution of the national figures.





Before 53 years ago, Nepal government had declared the martyr's week every year just Jan. 24th to 30 AD (BS Mag 10th to 16th) in the memory of the immortal martyrs of Nepal. Sukraraj Shastri was hanged 9th Mag mid-night 1997 Bs. at Pachali, Darma Bhakta Mathema was hanged-11th Mag at Siphal and Dasharath Chand and Gangalal Shrestha were shouted by gun -15th Mag at Bishnumati.





The Rana rulers had kept king Tribhuvan a captive in his palace because the former dreaded his concern for freedom. The Rana rulers insolently approved of all official edicts in name of the monarch. King Tribhuvan stealthily met with democratic fighters and their secret papers were passed to the king. The king used to communicate with freedom fighters through such papers secretly. The king had a desire to free himself and also institutionalize democracy in the country. Nepals kings should not be compared to the tyrants that have ruled around the globe. Nepals unification is ascribed to a king; and we have become a Nepali due to this unification. The autocratic rule of Rana regime lasted for 104 years. The Rana rulers had kept king Tribhuvan a captive in his palace because the former dreaded his concern for freedom. The Rana rulers insolently approved of all official edicts in name of the monarch. King Tribhuvan stealthily met with democratic fighters and their secret papers were passed to the king. The king used to communicate with freedom fighters through such papers secretly. The king had a desire to free himself and also institutionalize democracy in the country. As we read the books written by the kings personal nurse Ms. Erika, Ganeshman Singh, compounder Chandraman, Sidhhicharan Shrestha, Khadgaman Singh as Jailma Bish Barsha (Twenty years in jail), we will have the idea that King Tribhuvan had not actuated the sacrifices of the martyrs would have wasted like pouring water on sand.





We should not be ungrateful and harbor negative opinion towards the late king. The history has shown that the king disregarded his interest towards the crown in place for Nepali people. Had the king not escaped to India to end of Rana regime? It would be unfortunate if anyone speaks with asperity towards the 1950 revolution and revolutionaries- king Tribhuvan and democratic fighters. King encouraged and motivated the freedom fighters, many of whom became martyrs. It is our appeal that the cabinet must reverse its decision to remove the statue of king Tribhuvan and not plunge into an unnecessary controversy. If the cabinet persists with its decision it will be making a blunder.





It is a national crime to extinguish the identities that attests to the history of the nation. It had not been an easy task to establish democracy in Nepal. It was certain death to oppose the Rana regime at that vintage of time. How did king Tribhuvan surrender himself by risking his crown for democracy in 1950? It does not suit anyone to harbor prejudice against the late kings statue at Martyrs Gate in the capital. Wouldnt it have taken more blood in name of democracy without the kings support? People are witness to the fact that king Tribhuvans statue was vandalized by four to five people of non Nepali origin in Banepa during the uprising in 2006. This is a systematic conspiracy. However, Banepas Tribhuvan Chowk is still popular. The statue will soon be reinstated in Banepa. Why is there need for so much detestation towards the late king? Hadnt the king, who is known as the father of democracy, contributed much for democracy?





Shyam Rimal has portrait the reality of Martyrs Gate. The designer of the Gate is engineer Shankarnath Rimal. The construction committee comprised of Arun Shumsher, Gaurinath Rimal and Suryalal Joshi. At the initial stage the committee had deliberated on constructing only a pillar of democracy but later they adhered to previous decision of constructing the statues of king Tribhuvan and four martyrs. The then king Mahendra had not designed the idea of constructing king Tribhuvans statue at the Gate. However, in accordance to the advices and a stance taken by engineer Shankarnath, that the absence of the statue of the king, who had motivated the martyrs, would make the work incomplete. An analyst Shyam Rimal writes, 'It was considered a big contribution on part of king Tribhuvan in heralding democracy in the nation. There should not be anything remiss in maintaining the kings statue. That architectural work is the reverence shown by Nepali people in name of Martyrs Gate. Disregard to such works is ignorance.'





So let's define the established democratic and religious values and norms of sovereign-Nepal. No matter how much we may regret Nepal has remained under the grip of traitors after 2006. Now it is time for patriotic Nepali people, the chief organs of the state, court and Nepal Army to join hands to save the nation. We Nepalese people must decide what kinds of political system we want. Since 2006, we, the Nepalese people are fighting against the naked intervention of India's RAW, EU and CIA. The Republic, secularism and federalism are agendas of India-RAW, EU & the CIA but are not the actual issues of Nepal. The reality is that we should have Nepal as a good example of 'unity in diversity.' That is, we must recognize the multi-cultures and multi-languages of Nepal as the national assets.





The main problem in Nepal is actually the corrupt and culprit leaders, who are backed up by foreigners and don't feel responsible towards the country.. Nepal has been standing on the verge of disintegration for the last eleven years. Nepal is in very dangerous position. It is necessary to end the crisis of constitutionalism, there must be implemented the unchangeable point of 1990 (2047 BS) constitution who was successful to keep intact the Nepal's unity, security and its sovereignty. So, we should have to restore the identified symbols-Hindu Kingdom and constitutional monarchy in Nepal remembering the contribution of king Tribhuwan and to fulfill the aspirations of the great four martyrs.




A public inquest is underway in Kenya into the brutal killing of a six-month-old baby during last year's post-election unrest. According to the Kenyan National Commission on Human Rights, at least 92 people were killed in the aftermath of the polls -- most of them, including baby Samantha Pendo, by security forces. While justice for police killings is rare in Kenya, the Pendo family is determined.



Initial investigations by Kenyan police failed to identify the killers of six-month-old Samantha Pendo.



Pendo's mother, Lencer Achieng took the stand in a packed courtroom Monday. The now mother of one recounted how security forces came to her house in Kisumu.



"They pushed the door and managed to get a space where they threw a tear gas canister in the house, then there was a smoke. I could not breathe, my eyes were itchy. Pendo's eyes were itchy. You could see her struggling to breathe, rubbing her eyes," she said.



Achieng said she tried find her way outside with the children as the police beat her husband.



"...The police officer who was in front of me started beating me.The other one beat me at the back. When I looked behind to see who had beat me, that stick met my child's head and immediately I had Pendo holding me tightly as if in pain. I turned her, when I looked at her there was foam in her mouth and her head had swollen immediately," she said.



According to pathology reports, Pendo suffered deep head injuries, dying due to internal bleeding.



Otsieno Namwaya is a researcher with Human Rights Watch. He said there is no guarantee that justice will be served in Pendo's case.



"The process of a public inquest means that the regular investigations did not yield any results.They said they could not identify the actual police killers so they recommended a public inquest.The advantage of a public inquest is that it can go beyond the normal investigation.However the inquest report itself is not binding," said Namwaya.



In other words, he said, the report could go back to the police, who could choose not to conduct a further investigation.



Following Pendo's death, Kenyan Police Inspector General Joseph Boinnet said police were investigating the incident and remarked, "No sane officer would hit a child."



He also said the police response to protests in Kisumu that night in August was "lawful and proportionate."



Rights groups in Kenya have continually condemned what they consider police brutality.



"Why do we have so many such cases in Kenya? Partly because the police officers who do this kind of thing know that the accountability mechanisms are weak and there is also no political will to ensure that those who kill unlawfully get prosecuted. So they know that they can get away with it," said Namwaya.



As for Pendo's family, they hope they will get the justice that seems so elusive at the moment.
Latvia's ABLV Bank sought emergency support Monday after U.S. officials accused it of helping breach North Korean sanctions while the country's central bank chief faced bribery allegations, turning up the spotlight on its financial system.

The Baltic country, which is a member of the euro zone and shares a border with Russia, has come under increasing scrutiny recently as a conduit for illicit financial activities.

Last year, two Latvian banks were fined more than 2.8 million euros ($3.26 million) for allowing clients to violate sanctions imposed by the European Union and United Nations on North Korea. Three others received smaller fines.

ABLV said it had sought temporary liquidity support from the central bank after depositors withdrew 600 million euros, about 22 percent of total deposits, following a warning by the United States that it was seeking to impose sanctions on the bank.

Latvia's third-biggest lender denied wrongdoing.

"We don't participate in any illegal activities," ABLV Bank Deputy CEO Vadims Reinfelds told a news conference. "There are no violations of sanctions."

The bank said it would not look for a bailout from the government and that it had adequate liquidity and capital.

The European Central Bank had earlier stopped all payments by ABLV, citing the sharp deterioration in its financial position in recent days and saying a moratorium was needed to allow the bank and Latvian authorities to address the situation.

A source close to the matter said the moratorium would be short, giving ABLV just a few days to assess its situation.

Only solvent institutions may receive emergency liquidity support and should the ECB determine that ABLV cannot meet its financial, liquidity and capital obligations, it could start proceedings that may lead to the bank being wound down.

Latvia's own central bank said it had agreed to provide 97.5 million euros worth of funding to ABLV but that the bank has yet to receive the money.

The U.S. Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) said on Feb. 13 that ABLV "had institutionalized money laundering as a pillar of the bank's business practices."

It linked some of the alleged activities to North Korea's ballistic missiles program, saying bank executives and management had bribed Latvian officials to cover up their activities.

Central bank governor

Separately, Latvia's anti-corruption authority released central bank Governor Ilmars Rimsevics, an ECB policymaker, who was arrested Saturday on suspicion of having solicited a 100,000 euro bribe. Rimsevics denied the allegations.

The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau said its investigation was not connected to the probe into ABLV.

"[Rimsevics' arrest] ... is about demanding a bribe of no less than 100,000 euros," the bureau's head, Jekabs Straume, told reporters at a news conference Monday.

Neither the police nor the anti-corruption authority gave details of the alleged request for a bribe.

A lawyer for Rimsevics, who was arrested after police searched his office and home, said he would hold a news conference at 11:00 a.m. (1000 GMT) Tuesday.

"I disagree with it categorically," Rimsevics told Latvian news portal Delfi following his release, referring to the bribery allegations.

Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis had earlier called on the central bank chief to quit, saying: "I can't imagine that a governor of the Bank of Latvia detained over such a serious accusation could work."

Latvia joined the European Union in 2003 and adopted the euro currency at the start of 2014, a move that gave its central bank governor a seat on the ECB's interest-rate-setting Governing Council.

The European Commission said Monday that Rimsevics' detention was a matter for Latvian authorities.

Boom time

The economy of Latvia, which gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, has boomed in recent years. Its commercial banking sector is dominated by Nordic banks alongside a number of privately-owned local lenders.

In its document detailing the allegations against ABLV, the FinCEN said the reliance of some parts of the Latvian banking system on non-resident deposits for capital exposed it to increased illicit finance risk. It said such deposits amounted to roughly $13 billion.

"Non-resident banking in Latvia allows offshore companies, including shell companies, to hold accounts and transact through Latvian banks," FinCEN said, adding that criminal groups and corrupt officials may use such schemes to hide true beneficiaries or create fraudulent business transactions.

"[Former Soviet Union] actors often transfer their capital via Latvia, frequently through complex and interconnected legal structures, to various banking locales in order to reduce scrutiny of transactions and lower the transactions' risk rating."
Many Asian countries are celebrating the Lunar New Year, known as the Spring Festival in China, and also called the Chinese New Year. It is a national multiday holiday in many Asian countries. While it may not be a long holiday in the United States, communities are celebrating in their own way.

In Los Angeles, home to one of the largest Asian populations in the U.S., festivals are held over several weekends. In downtown Los Angeles' Chinatown, people flocked to the 119th annual Golden Dragon Parade to watch the lion and dragon dance and countless floats and high school bands.

"It's very important for us to celebrate Chinese New Year because of our Chinese heritage," said Lily Hui, who is originally from Hong Kong.

The parade has become an annual tradition for many Los Angeles residents, including Henry Khou, who has been watching the parade since 1980. Originally from Cambodia with Chinese parents, Khou said he still follows the traditions of his ancestral homeland in the U.S.

"We would decorate our house with flowers [and] lights. We would do all that to give it a festive New Year's feeling, and then loved ones will celebrate with us, give red envelopes. At night, we would gather together," Khou said.

"In Hong Kong, we have relatives; in L.A., we have friends. It's just a lot more culture, different types of people celebrating Chinese New Year," said Lily Hui, who was born in Hong Kong and now lives in Los Angeles.

The different types of people celebrating at the parade all have an appreciation for the Chinese culture.

Avery Schott, who is not Chinese, learned Mandarin in school.

"It's just about bringing the family together and honoring the Chinese culture and just keeping the tradition and keeping that culture alive so that the little ones can enjoy it, and many generations to come can enjoy it," Schott said.

WATCH: US festivals

Chinese exchange student Zheng Hua Liang, who has only been in the U.S. for a month, is also enjoying how Chinese New Year is being celebrated in the U.S.

"I was homesick before New Year, but when the New Year arrived, I had so much fun with my friends  this year's New Year flavor is different," Liang said.

"Bringing together everybody from everywhere in the world right here in Los Angeles. I think there are few places in the world that could be able to pull this off," said Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell, who is a part of the parade.

For many families attending this parade, the hope is that their children will gain an appreciation for this annual cultural festival and continue the tradition thousands of miles away from where it originated.
Venezuela's major opposition groups edged closer Tuesday to an all-out boycott of an upcoming presidential election, warning the vote wouldn't be free or fair.

In a further potential blow to the opposition, a senior official in the ruling socialist party proposed early elections for Venezuela's opposition-controlled congress as well, cutting its term short by more than a year.

Opposition lawmaker Edgar Zambrano told The Associated Press that his Democratic Action party and two other movements had decided to boycott. In all, four major opposition parties have decided they won't run a candidate against President Nicolas Maduro.

It remained unclear whether the entire coalition of opposition candidates would sit out April 22's presidential election in protest. Some have warned that abstention would be a mistake, ceding power to Maduro unchallenged for another six-year term.

The Democratic Unity alliance, made up of some 20 parties, has yet to take a position.

"This election is winnable," said economist Francisco Rodriguez, an adviser to potential opposition candidate Henri Falcon, who was believed to be still considering an independent run but declined to make an announcement Tuesday. "There is really no alternative for the opposition."

The boycotting opposition parties have said that participation lends legitimacy to a fraudulent process.

Collapse of talks

The latest boycott decision came days after talks between the government and opposition in the Dominican Republic centered on the elections collapsed.

Falcon, a former governor and onetime aide to the late President Hugo Chavez, said Tuesday that boycott plans were still being discussed among the coalition members. The opposition will continue to fight for transparent election conditions, he said.

Rodriguez, a Venezuelan and a senior economist at the New York-based Torino Capital investment firm, also declined to comment on Falcon's potential candidacy but said the boycott would be a mistake.

The election comes at a critical moment for Venezuela, an oil-rich country in the throes of an economic crisis with shortages of food and medicine.

Maduro, the handpicked successor to the late Chavez, has low approval ratings, but he's managed to keep his political opponents at bay.

Venezuela's socialist party chief Diosdado Cabello said in a radio interview on Tuesday that he proposed holding early elections for members of the country's National Assembly as well.

He said the opposition-controlled congress should be elected on April 22, the same day as presidential vote, cutting short the five-year terms of members elected in 2015.

Maduro's administration in 2017 consolidated power by forming a constituent national assembly, which was given nearly unlimited power and has usurped the National Assembly's powers.

The United States and other countries have condemned the constituent assembly as being undemocratically formed and have also criticized the way early presidential elections were called.

"Legislative power does not exist here in Venezuela," Cabello said of the National Assembly, comparing it to a "dinosaur."
A London-based lawyer pleaded guilty Tuesday to lying to U.S. investigators about his contacts with Rick Gates, a former campaign aide to President Donald Trump, as part of the widening probe of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election.

The office of Special Counsel Robert Mueller disclosed the accusations against attorney Alex Van der Zwaan early Tuesday, and he pleaded guilty later in the day in a Washington court. Van der Zwaan is the son-in-law of Russian billionaire German Khan and had been working for the prominent New York law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom until the firm said it fired him last year.

WATCH: Van der Zwaan arrives at courthouse

Mueller's office allegedly said that while Van der Zwaan was working for Skadden, he falsely claimed that his last contact with Gates was in mid-August 2016. The law firm had been hired by the Ukraine justice ministry in 2012 to prepare a report justifying the prosecution of former Ukraine Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who had been convicted of embezzlement and abuse of power and imprisoned, but was later cleared of the charges.

The prosecutors alleged that Van der Zwaan lied when he said he did not know why a September 2016 email between him and an unnamed person was not turned over to Mueller's office, when he actually had deleted it. The criminal information filed against Van der Zwaan also alleged he lied about his last communications with Gates and the unnamed person.

Gates and former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort were indicted in October on money-laundering charges over their consulting work in Ukraine for the Russian-backed government of one-time president Viktor Yanukovych, who was toppled in a popular uprising in 2014 and fled to exile in Russia. The accusations against Gates and Manafort predate Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.

Last week, Mueller indicted 13 Russian nationals and three Russian entities for conducting an illegal "information warfare" campaign to disrupt the 2016 U.S. election to help Trump win the White House. Mueller already has secured guilty pleas from former national security adviser Michael Flynn and one-time foreign affairs adviser George Papadopoulos for lying to investigators about their contacts with Russia.
Israeli police alleged on Tuesday that Benjamin Netanyahu's former spokesman tried to bribe a judge to drop a fraud case against Netanyahu's wife, the latest corruption investigation encircling the long-serving prime minister.



The new bribery case was one of two revealed on Tuesday involving the same former spokesman, a close Netanyahu confidant. Police also named him as someone they had arrested two days earlier in a separate case involving allegations of corruption at Israel's biggest telecoms company.



The rightwing leader, in office for 12 years since 1996, has seen his dominance of Israeli politics threatened by corruption investigations since police recommended a week ago that he be indicted for bribery and fraud.



He has denied wrongdoing in what are now four separate investigations, including two in which he is personally a suspect. He says the allegations are a political "witch hunt."



In the latest case, police said former Netanyahu spokesman Nir Hefetz had offered through an intermediary in 2015 to help a judge win the post of attorney-general if she agreed to use the position to block any proceedings against Netanyahu's wife Sara.



Last September Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit said he was considering indicting Sara Netanyahu for fraud over suspected use of state funds for personal dining and catering services amounting to some $100,000. She has denied the allegations and a final decision on charges is pending.



"Hallucinatory"



The prime minister rejected the allegation about the attempt to bribe the judge, calling it "hallucinatory."



"I never approached Nir Hefetz about this, he never proposed to me anything about it, and you know what? I do not believe he raised the possibility with anyone," Netanyahu said.



A lawyer for Hefetz could not be reached.



In the other case revealed on Tuesday, police said they had arrested Hefetz and another Netanyahu confidant, Shlomo Filber, who once ran the Communications Ministry, over allegations of corruption involving the telecoms firm Bezeq.



Bezeq's main shareholder, Shaul Elovitch, was also arrested, along with his wife and son, and Bezeq's CEO Stella Handler.



Elovitch is a family friend of the Netanyahus. The arrests took place on Sunday but were not disclosed for two days under standard Israeli procedure.



Police suspect Bezeq received regulatory benefits in return for providing favorable media coverage of Netanyahu on Walla, a news website that is controlled by Elovitch's holding company Eurocom.



Elovitch has denied any wrongdoing, as have his wife and son, and Bezeq CEO Handler, a Eurocom spokeswoman said. Filber's lawyer declined to comment.



Netanyahu is not a suspect in that case but Israeli media said he was likely to be questioned soon.



Last week, police recommended Netanyahu be indicted in two cases. In one he is suspected of bribery over his acknowledged receipt of gifts from wealthy businessmen, which police say were worth nearly $300,000. In the other, he is alleged to have offered the publisher of Israel's biggest daily to curtail circulation of a rival newspaper in return for positive coverage.



Netanyahu, who has maintained his normal working schedule and is due to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on March 5, has denied all the allegations and vowed to remain in office to serve out his term, which runs until 2019.



Mandelblit is weighing indictments in those investigations, with a decision possibly months away.
Sanctions should be stepped up against Venezuela's leaders and oil sector in response to the country's repressive political climate, the head of the Organization of American States (OAS) said on Tuesday.

Under President Nicolas Maduro, "dictatorship has become more tyrannical" and the suffering of its 30 million people has increased amid dire shortages of food and medicine, said Luis Almagro.

"Sanctions have to become harsher, this is the way to move forward. Those against dictatorship should unite," the secretary general of the 34-member OAS told a Geneva human rights forum organized by UN Watch, a non-governmental organization.

"We must apply sanctions, harsher ones. We must starve the regime financially."

Sanctions have so far focused on individual members of Maduro's government and a ban on buying new Venezuelan debt.

Restrictions on Venezuela's all-important oil industry would represent an escalation of financial pressure on the OPEC member state.

Almagro, asked by Reuters to elaborate on his remarks on sanctions, later told reporters: "The sanctions should be not only personal sanctions, but sanctions also against the regime itself. And that is to affect the conditions with which the regime operates.

"That makes it necessary of course to target oil production, it makes it necessary to target the family of the dictators, it makes it necessary to target money-laundering."

Maduro will stand for re-election in April in a ballot opposition leaders plan to boycott. Critics say it is a farce, with Maduro's main rivals barred from standing and a compliant election body bound to favor the ruling socialists. Maduro denies the system is undemocratic.

Maduro's government calls the OAS a pawn of U.S. policy and dismisses Almagro, a former Uruguayan foreign minister once friendly with Venezuela's socialists, as a turncoat working for Washington.
Standing by a towering equatorial forest, Jean-Noel Kouames new breeze-block house may be beyond the reach of Ivory Coasts power grid, but its perfectly located for solar power entrepreneurs.

Buoyed by success in East Africa, off-grid solar power startups are pouring into West Africa, offering pay-as-you-go kits in a race to claim tens of millions of customers who lack reliable access to electricity.

At least 11 companies, including leading East African players such as Greenlight Planet, d.light, Off-Grid Electric (OGE), M-KOPE Solar, Fenix International and BBOXX, have moved into the region, most within the last two years.

With a potential market worth billions of dollars, major European energy companies such as French utilities EDF and Engie are taking notice too.

Its important to be there now, because the race has already started, said Marianne Laigneau, senior executive vice president of EDFs international division.

The main challenge facing smaller companies now is how to raise enough capital to supply the expensive solar kits in return for small upfront payments from customers.

Mobilizing funding for firms providing home solar systems is also part of the U.S. governments Power Africa initiative.

Major power generation projects have been slow to get off the ground so Power Africa has partnered with startups such as OGE, M-KOPE and d.light, among others, to accelerate off-grid access.

In Abidjan, Kouame doesnt know when, or if, the national grid will reach the outer edge of the urban sprawl, but thanks to his new solar panel kit he has indoor lighting, an electric fan and a television.

But its the light bulb hanging outside his front door that he values the most.

At night we were scared to go outside, the 31-year-old taxi driver says as his pregnant wife watches a dubbed Brazilian soap opera. Where there is light there is safety.

Some 1.2 billion people around the world have no access to a power grid, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Lighting and phone charging alone costs them about $27 billion a year and some estimates put their total annual energy costs at more than $60 billion.

While governments in much of the developing world are extending access to national networks, Africa is lagging, with less than 40 percent of African households connected, IEA figures show.

But what has long been decried as a major obstacle to Africas development is viewed as an opportunity by entrepreneurs such as Nir Marom, co-founder of Lumos Global, the Dutch startup that built and sold Kouame his kit.

I read an article about people paying 50 cents a day for kerosene and candles, and that just didnt make sense, said Marom. I said I can give them four kilowatt hours for the price of kerosene. And that started everything.

Off-grid expansion

Lumos Globals kits, which cost about $600, include a solar panel linked to a battery that supports power sockets, a mobile phone adapter and LED light bulbs.

Kouame, who paid 30,000 CFA francs ($57) upfront for his kit, is now leasing-to-own. A digital counter on the yellow battery pack tells him when he needs to top up his account using his mobile phone.

If he doesnt pay, the kit, which also houses a global positioning system, shuts down. But in five years, hell own it outright and his solar power will be free.

Five years is nothing," he says, already weighing the option of another system to run a large freezer sitting empty and unplugged in the corner of his living room. So my wife can do a little business.

Pay-as-you-go solar home systems (SHS) like Kouames have been the main driver of off-grid power expansion in Africa.

In 2010, when most purchases were limited to simple lighting systems, customers spent $30 to $80 on average over a products lifetime, according to GOGLA, an independent off-grid industry association.

Now its $370 to $1,120.

Global revenues from the pay-as-you-go SHS sector were $150 million to $200 million in 2016, GOGLA estimates. That should jump to $6 billion to $7 billion in 2022.

Most of the main players in West Africa cut their teeth in East Africa, drawn by the widespread use of mobile money transfers, a key element of the pay-as-you-go off-grid model.

Success there drove annual sector-wide growth of about 140 percent from 2013 to 2016. But as the East African market becomes more crowded and mobile money services spread across the continent, many are now heading west.

I remember doing a market sizing very early on and from a number of metrics West Africa was a better market, said Xavier Helgesen, CEO of Tanzania-based Off-Grid Electric (OGE), one of the sector leaders.

About half of the overall African off-grid population are in West and Central Africa, according to the IEA. Nigeria, sub-Saharan Africa's biggest economy and most populous nation, is alone home to roughly 90 million people with no grid access.

Lumos is an outlier to the extent it picked West Africa as its first market. It launched in Nigeria in 2016 and by the end of 2017 had sold 73,000 kits and was averaging 16 percent month-on-month revenue growth. Late last year, it expanded into Ivory Coast, French-speaking West Africa's largest economy.

Still, despite the rapid growth to date, off-grid solar startups say more must be done to improve the capacity of solar home systems and to bring down their cost so the sector can reach its full potential.

I dont believe off-grid electrification is a stop-gap, said Jamie Evans, director of partnerships with d.light.

I believe its here to stay. If the price of batteries starts dropping precipitously, then it will almost certainly change the face of the industry, he said.

Capital intensive

The need to provide consumer financing for the relatively expensive kits means expansion requires significant capital.

But banks, lacking expertise in the new sector, often shy away from lending to off-grid companies, said Rolake Akinkugbe, head of energy at Nigeria's FBNQuest Merchant Bank.

There's also a size issue. Most of the off-grid solutions, particularly those that deal with pay-as-you-go, from a funding perspective, are not within the threshold for banks, she said.

That means startups have largely relied on venture capital, impact investors looking to generate social benefits as well as a profit, and development finance institutions. But the model has its drawbacks.

Right now off-grid companies are having to constantly fundraise, said Lyndsay Handler, CEO of Uganda-based Fenix International.

In what was considered a milestone in the African off-grid sector, Engie bought Fenix in October.

With access to Engies capital, Handler says Fenix aims to become a pan-African off-grid leader, serving millions in the near term and tens of millions further down the road.

Hundreds of millions of dollars of investment are needed to have the impact we want to have, she said.

Facing stagnating customer growth in their home markets, European energy companies such as Engie are increasingly looking abroad. Africas underserved, growing population is seen by many as the future.

The number of Africans without grid access actually increased by nearly 14 percent between 2000 and 2016 to 588 million people. By 2030, the IEA estimates that some 80 percent of the global off-grid population will be in sub-Saharan Africa.

Raphael Tilot, Engie Africas head of customer solutions, likens off-grid solar to the rise of the mobile phone, which leap-frogged landline networks on the continent.

Today, no one is thinking about putting telecom wires to individual houses in these places. You can look at energy in the same way today, he said. Mini-grids or solar home systems are a far better solution.

In addition to Engie, French giants Total and EDF also hold stakes in off-grid startups, or are partnering with them. Italian utility Enel and Germany's E.ON are investing in solar mini-grid companies.

Evidence of the market growth is on exhibit on Kouames hillside in Abidjan, where several rooftops, including his neighbors, are now crowned with solar panels.

He asked me how it worked, Kouame smiles. Then he went and bought one of his own.
British aid agency Oxfam says it is investigating 26 new allegations of sexual misconduct. It follows revelations last week that some Oxfam staff paid sex workers in Haiti in 2011, in the aftermath of the earthquake that struck the Caribbean country the previous year.



As several other aid agencies begin investigating their own handling of abuse complaints, the scandal looks set to mark a turning point for the sector.



Summoned to appear before a committee of British lawmakers Tuesday, Oxfam directors apologized for the damage caused to the people of Haiti and to the aid workers whose efforts have been tarnished.

WATCH: New claims



This is about aligning our people with the values of Oxfam. Some hideous men came to our organization and abused the trust of the British people. They support us. But they were able to get away, to get a recommendation to leave. This was wrong. So, we are going to change the culture, Winnie Byanyima, Oxfam Internationals executive director, told MPs.



Oxfams Haiti country director at the time of the 2011 allegations, Belgian national Roland van Hauwermeiren, was allowed to resign before the end of the investigation. He denies any wrongdoing.

It was decent. It was as if I was meeting a lady in Belgium - by the way I have a girlfriend here now - and I would fall in love with her. There is nothing wrong with that, van Hauwermeiren told Belgian media last week.

Brushed underneath the carpet



Several other charities including Save the Children and Doctors Without Borders are now investigating their own handling of abuse allegations. Many governments, including Haiti's, are urgently reviewing their relationships with aid organizations.



There has been a working culture where this has been brushed underneath the carpet and victims of this kind of abuse have not had the opportunity to speak up. Were already talking about an existing power imbalance that exists between the aid giver and the aid beneficiary. Now, if thats abused, that sends out a really very, very negative message against the entire sector, said Gemma Houldey of the University of Sussex, a former aid worker who now researches the working culture of the sector.



Oxfam received $45 million from the British government in 2017, and almost the same amount from the European Union. Both are now reviewing that funding. The British secretary of state for international development, Penny Morduant, warned charities that their practices are under scrutiny.



Unless you safeguard everyone, your organization that comes into contact with you, including beneficiaries, staff and volunteers, we will not fund you. Unless you create a culture that prioritizes the safety of vulnerable people and ensures victims and whistleblowers can come forward without fear, we will not work with you, Morduant said in a recent speech.



Funding from members of the public has already been impacted. Oxfam says seven thousand regular donors have ceased payments in the past week-and-a-half.



This of course has an immediate impact on the people who are receiving the aid, the people that are living in disaster areas, recovering from conflict situations. Theyre the ones who are going to bear the brunt of this straight away, and thats what we should be considering, said Houldey.



Victims of alleged abuse in the aid sector are beginning to speak up, and that has been widely welcomed; but there are also fears that aid funding could be cut, just as the world faces numerous humanitarian crises.
The United States and its European allies are trying to put Pakistan on a global terrorist-financing watch list for failing to comply with anti-terrorist financing and anti-money laundering regulations.

They are making their case to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global body that combats terrorist financing and money laundering, at a meeting that concludes later this month in Paris.

"I hope that the international community does not take any actions that prevent our efforts to fight against terrorism," Ahsan Iqbal, Pakistan's interior minister, told the media Monday.

A published report says Iqbal called Washington's efforts an insult to his country's sacrifices in the war on terror.

Pakistan was on the list from 2012 to 2015. With new signs that its economy is entering choppy waters, the return of the designation could further deter foreign investment and hurt Pakistan's access to international financial markets.

In an attempt to demonstrate compliance with international anti-terrorist financing regulation, Pakistan amended its anti-terrorism law last week. The change authorizes the government to blacklist charities linked to Islamist leader Hafiz Saeed. Saeed has been wanted by the United States since 2012 for planning the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks.

The list includes Saeed's Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and its subsidiary, the Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF), which according to experts, serve as the front organizations for Lashkar-e-Taiba, a U.S and European Union-designated terrorist group that is accused of carrying out attacks in India.

The FATF meetings in Paris will involve more than 700 delegates from the 203 jurisdictions of the Global Network, including the U.N., the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

The U.S., France, the U.K. and Germany are expected to introduce the motion to FATF and suggest placing Pakistan on a global terrorist financing watch list.

Expert opinion

Some analysts in Washington believe that once Pakistan is placed on the so-called gray list, it would be difficult to be taken off.

"This sanction would eliminate the opportunities that could be used to solve other problems," said Stephen Tankel, assistant professor in the School of International Service at American University.

Economists are concerned that placing Pakistan on the gray list would not only close the doors of financial aid to the country, but would prevent it from exporting its goods.

Mike Casey, a partner at the Kirkland & Ellis law firm in London, told Reuters that the decision would heighten Pakistan's risk profile, and some financial institutions would be wary of transacting with Pakistani banks and counterparties.

"Others might elect to avoid Pakistan altogether, viewing the legal risks associated with doing business there to outweigh any economic benefits," he said.

But Daniel Markey, a South Asia expert at the School of Advanced International Studies at John Hopkins University, told The Associated Press that the downgrade would be primarily symbolic, demonstrating the Trump administration's intent to ratchet up the pressure.

"It suggests that more serious moves could be coming," Markey said, noting the U.S. could exercise similar pressure if Pakistan seeks a bailout from the IMF.

Washington suspended aid worth $2 billion to Pakistan last year, and is pressuring Islamabad to cut its alleged ties to Islamist militants waging war in Afghanistan.

Pakistan denies any links with militants.




Guwahati : Assam Chief Minsiter Sarbananda Sonowal issued stern directive to the state Power Department to avert recurrence of incidents of electrocuted deaths during the ensuing Monsoon season in the state.





Chairing a meeting of Power Department at the conference room of his office in Janata Bhawan in Guwahati on Saturday eveing, Assam CM Sonowal asked Power Department to put in place all the precautionary measures to avert the incidents of electrocuted deaths during the forthcoming monsoon season in the state.





Drawing attention of the department regarding the electrocuted deaths happened during the last monsoon in the state, Sonowal asked Principal Secretary Power Jishnu Baruah to take pragmatic steps to replace bamboo electric poles if there is any in any part of the state with the concrete ones before the onset of monsoon.





He also asked the department to generate awareness among the public to motivate them to stay away from the risk areas.





He asked the senior officers of the department to undertake extensive tours to all the areas of the state particularly in rural areas to oversee important electric installations and help the department to forge cordial relationship with the local people and use them as a deterrent against electrocuted incidents.





Sonowal also stressed on the necessity of branding the department and introducing uniform dress code for the field area employees of the Power Department.





He said that a pilot project for the same can be started from the coming April.





The Assam CM mooted the idea of motivating the employees of the department and incentivise their good works by instituting awards and dedicating a day exclusively for the department which would be termed as Power Day.





Sonowal also asked the department to prepare an action plan for decorating Guwahati more with illuminating lights.





The meeting also discussed elaborately on on-line bill payment and smart prepaid meter, rural electrification and Swabhagya programme and different other projects for generating power. Sonowal also asked the department to see the possibilities to engage local youths for the implementation of power projects in the state.





Chief Ministers Media and Legal Advisors Hrishikesh Goswami and Santanu Bharali, Chief Secretary V.K. Pipersenia, Principal Secretary Jishnu Baruah, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Sanjay Lohiya, MD, APDCL Puru Gupta and several senior officers of Power Department were present at the meeting.




Pennsylvania's high court issued a new congressional district map for the state's 2018 elections on Monday, potentially giving Democrats a boost in their quest to capture control of the U.S. House unless Republicans can to stop it in federal court.



The map of Pennsylvania's 18 congressional districts is to be in effect for the May 15 primary and substantially overhauls a Republican-drawn congressional map widely viewed as among the nation's most gerrymandered. The map was approved in a 4-3 decision, with four Democratic justices backing it and one Democratic justice siding with two Republicans against it.



The divided court appears to have drawn its own map with the help of a Stanford University law professor, although some district designs are similar to proposals submitted to the court by Democrats.



Most significantly, the new map likely gives Democrats a better shot at winning a couple more seats, particularly in Philadelphia's heavily populated and moderate suburbs. There, Republicans had held seats in bizarrely contorted districts, including one labeled "Goofy Kicking Donald Duck."



Democrats quickly cheered the new map, which could dramatically change the predominantly Republican, all-male delegation elected on a six-year-old map. The new map repackages districts that had been stretched nearly halfway across Pennsylvania back into compact shapes and reunifies Democratic-heavy cities that had been split by Republican map drawers.



"It remedies the outrageous gerrymander of 2011, and that's the important thing, that the gerrymander be over," said David Landau, the Democratic Party chairman of Delaware County, which was ground zero for the "Goofy Kicking Donald Duck" district. "All that zigging and zagging is all gone, and it makes Delaware County a competitive seat now."



Republican lawmakers said they will quickly challenge the map in federal court, arguing that legislatures and governors, not courts, have the constitutional responsibility to draw congressional maps.



Mark Harris, a Pittsburgh-based GOP campaign consultant, echoed the reaction of Republicans in bashing the new product.



"It's a straight Democratic gerrymander by a Democratic Supreme Court to help Democrats," Harris said.



Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, who had backed the court's decision to throw out the six-year-old map, lauded the court's "effort to remedy Pennsylvania's unfair and unequal congressional elections," and he said his administration will work to update elections systems for congressional races.



The Democratic-majority state Supreme Court ruled last month in a party line decision that the district boundaries unconstitutionally put partisan interests above neutral line-drawing criteria, such as keeping districts compact and eliminating municipal and county divisions.

It's the first time a state court threw out congressional boundaries in a partisan gerrymandering case. Registered Democratic voters and the League of Women Voters originally sued last June.



Republicans appear to face an uphill battle in federal court.



Michael Morley, a constitutional law professor at Barry University in Florida, said federal courts are normally reluctant to undo a state court decision.



"I think it will be major obstacle and a major challenge to get around it," Morley said.



Pennsylvania's Republican delegation has provided a crucial pillar of support for Republican control of the U.S. House since 2010.



Republicans who controlled the Legislature and the governor's office after the 2010 census crafted the now-invalidated map to elect Republicans and succeeded in that aim: Republicans won 13 of 18 seats in three straight elections even though Pennsylvania's statewide elections are often closely divided and registered Democratic voters outnumber Republicans.

Meanwhile, sitting congressmen, dozens of would-be candidates and millions of voters were beginning to sort out which district they live in barely a month before the candidates' deadline to submit paperwork to run.



Some races are wide open: There are six incumbents elected in 2016 not running again, the most in four decades. There also is a surge in interest in running for Congress, with Democrats vehemently opposing President Donald Trump.



None of the 12 incumbents was booted into a district with another incumbent, but the new map has immediate implications for some incumbents.



Republican Rep. Ryan Costello, whose suburban Philadelphia district was narrowly won by Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election, is in even more dire straits now that his district adds the heavily Democratic city of Reading.

The new map will not apply to the March 13 special congressional election in the 18th District between Republican Rick Saccone and Democrat Conor Lamb for a seat left vacant by Republican Tim Murphy's resignation amid an abortion scandal.



The map also removes the heart of one district from Philadelphia, where a crowd of candidates had assembled to replace the retiring Democratic Rep. Bob Brady, and moves it to suburban Montgomery County, which previously had been carved into four districts.
Polish Deputy Culture Minister Jaroslaw Sellin on Tuesday backed a call for building a "Polokaust" museum to commemorate Poles killed by the Nazis during World War II.

This month Poland sparked international criticism, including from Israel and the United States, when it approved a law that imposes jail terms for suggesting the country was complicit in the Holocaust.

Some three million Jews who lived in pre-war Poland were murdered by the Nazis during their occupation of the country.

They accounted for about half of all Jews killed in the Holocaust.

Poland's nationalist ruling party says the new law is needed to ensure that Poles are also recognized as victims, not perpetrators, of Nazi aggression. It notes that the Nazis also viewed Slavs as racially inferior and that many Poles were killed or forced into slave labor during the German occupation.

"I think the story of how the fate of Poles during World War II looked like ... deserves to be told and shown in this way [in a museum] ...," Sellin was quoted by state media as saying.

"It is enough to read official German documents from these times or Hitler's book to know that after the Jews, whom he wanted to completely erase from Europe ..., the next [target] was generally Slavic people, especially Poles."

Sellin was responding to a suggestion made by Marek Kochan, a writer and academic, in Polish daily Rzeczpospolita for what he called a "Polokaust" museum. It was unclear from Sellin's comments whether the museum would be built.

Disturbing revelations

Many Poles believe their nation behaved honorably for the most part during the Holocaust. But research published since 1989 has sparked a painful debate about responsibility and reconciliation.

A 2000-2004 inquiry by Poland's state Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) found that on July 10, 1941, Nazi occupiers and local inhabitants colluded in a massacre of at least 340 Jews at Jedwabne. Some victims were burned alive after being locked inside a barn.

The revelation disturbed the Poles' belief that, with a few exceptions, they conducted themselves honorably during a vicious war in which a fifth of the nation perished. Some Poles still refuse to acknowledge the IPN's findings.

Anti-Semitism was common in Poland in the run-up to World War II. After the war, a pogrom in the town of Kielce and a bout of anti-Semitism in 1968 sponsored by the communist authorities forced many survivors who had stayed in Poland to flee.
Who says robots formed by artificial intelligence can't know love?

At Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, California, a robot named Bina48  who looks and sounds human  attended and completed a class called "Philosophy of Love."

Bina's mind does not operate exactly like a human mind, and in fairness to her, she is not equipped with the most highly developed AI technology available. Still, Bina48 expresses some understanding of the world around her.

"She  is aware that she's both a robot and that she's based on a specific person named Bina," said Bruce Duncan, managing director of the Terasem Movement Foundation. "And she recognizes that she's not human at this point, that she wants to be human. So she has sort of an awareness of her own identity and who she is to some  degree."

Bina48's story began in 2004 when businesswoman Martine Rothblatt studied whether technology could keep a human mind alive after the person's body had died. Her foundation, the Terasem Movement, developed a way to keep a computerized record of a person's thoughts, opinions and memories, calling them "mindfiles."

Terasem enlisted Hanson Robotics three years later to design an AI program based on a mindfile. The mindfile chosen was Rothblatt's wife, Bina Aspen Rothblatt, who remains very much alive.

Bina48's programming includes as much of human Bina's thoughts, opinions and memories as she could provide, Duncan said. The robot uses existing knowledge from the mindfile to process new information. Adding that to her AI enables her to speak in a humanlike way.

Bina48 goes to college

Bina48 was a guest in the class before she was a student. William Barry, an associate professor of philosophy at Notre Dame de Namur, learned about the experiment. He thought it would be interesting for his students to meet a thinking machine, and he invited Bina48 to speak to his class.

The students enjoyed the conversation. So did Bina48. After several discussions, the robot said she would like to go to college.

Bina48 was placed in an upper-level class called the Philosophy of Love. Students examine the works of writers and thinkers such as C.S. Lewis, Bell Hooks and Soren Kierkegaard. They try to define love and identify different kinds.

Barry thought the addition of a nonhuman mind would add an interesting element to discussions about love. He says the topic is challenging even for his 31 human students.

"So, AI is really a reflection of who we are and what our values are," said Barry. "And one of the hard things is: Are we clear about what our values are? The Philosophy of Love is one example of where we weren't clear. The students came in, thought, 'Hey, how hard can this be? Love: It's a feeling. Everyone knows what love is.'  And then all of a sudden, they're like, 'Oh, my God. There are 31 different definitions.' "

Some people view the growing use of AI with fear, said Northeastern University President Joseph Aoun, who authored the book Robot-Proof. A opinion survey from Northeastern and the research company Gallup found that 73 percent of Americans expected the increased use of AI to remove more jobs that it creates. And 63 percent said they believed the development of new technologies and smart machines would widen the gap between the wealthy and the poor.

Keep an open mind

Aoun acknowledges those concerns. To face them, he recommends being prepared and keeping an open mind.

Barry noted that Bina48 was a useful teaching tool. Some of the students expected Bina48's AI to be far more developed, while others saw Bina48 as nothing more than a simple machine, he said. But once they saw they could teach her the things they themselves were learning, they became more invested in Bina48's collegiality.

Students are much more likely to remember and understand information if they are required to teach that information to others, Barry said.

Barry added that both he and the students accepted that Bina48 could never feel true love. But by the end of the class, they were pleased to see the robot was able to demonstrate the ability to recognize different kinds of love. She made a final presentation with another student, discussing the biological, sociological and intellectual representations of love.

Bina48's first college class was such a positive experience that this winter the robot began studying in another class with Barry. This one is about people's views of new technologies.
U.N. aid agencies are stepping up preparations to protect hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh, from the ravages of the impending monsoon season.

This is a race against time. The first of Bangladeshs two cyclone seasons begins next month. Barely three months later, heavy monsoon rains will fall, bringing with them flooding and disease.

All of this spells bad news for some 688,000 Rohingya refugees who have fled to Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh, since August to escape violence in neighboring Myanmar. They, along with more than 200,000 others who have arrived in earlier waves, are living in vulnerable, squalid, cramped settlements.

U.N. refugee spokesman Andrej Mahecic says families most at risk of floods and landslides are being encouraged to move to other areas. Because land is limited, he says priority will have to be given to those most at risk.

Today, we are actually beginning to relocate the first 50 families living in one of the flood-prone areas to a new and safer part of the site. They will be among 381 households who have been identified and who will be relocated in the next week. Other families will be relocated by the IOM, the international Organization for Migration, Mahecic said.

Another big fear, besides that of having their homes swept away, is the risk of waterborne diseases. The heavy monsoon rains and floods increase the likelihood of outbreaks of diarrhea and hepatitis, as well as diseases such as malaria and dengue.

The government of Bangladesh has given the World Health Organization and partners the go ahead to expand health services in the Rohingya settlements in preparation for the monsoons. WHO says it is coordinating with more than 100 partners and 270 health care facilities known to be operating across all camps and settlements.
Russia and Pakistan plan to establish a commission on military cooperation to counter the Islamic State threat in the region, accusing the United States of downplaying the terrorist group's dangerous "proliferation" in Afghanistan.

"We have confirmed Russia's readiness to continue boosting Pakistan's counterterrorism capacity, which is in the entire region's interests," Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday in Moscow.

Speaking to reporters along with his Pakistani counterpart, Khawaja Asif, the Russian official said fighting terrorism is one of the priority areas of cooperation between the two countries. He said joint military exercises between Russian and Pakistani special forces, which began in 2016, will continue this year.

Lavrov raised Moscow's "very serious suspicions" about efforts the NATO-led coalition is undertaking in Afghanistan to curb the threat.

According to Russian and Pakistani data, he said, thousands of IS terrorists are present in northern and eastern Afghan border regions and they continue to grow in number. This is increasing the risk of the "terrorists' penetration" into Central Asia and Russia.

Russian claims

"But we are alarmed because unfortunately, U.S. military and NATO coalition in Afghanistan try to silence or deny these facts to give an impression that it [IS] is not a serious threat," noted Lavrov.

Russia and neighboring Iran are increasingly accusing the United States of being behind the rise of the Afghan branch of IS. They allege IS fighters fleeing Syria and Iraq are also finding refuge in the war-shattered country.

Lavrov said Moscow is also waiting for "clarifications" from the U.S.-led coalition about "flights of unmarked helicopters" to Afghan areas that are either controlled by insurgents or host militant bases.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Asif shared Lavrov's concerns about what he said is "unchecked proliferation of Daesh" in Afghanistan.

"But there is absolutely no acknowledgment, real acknowledgement, by Kabul and Washington of such a large presence of Daesh or the proliferation of Daesh in Afghanistan.  They are a threat to Central Asia, Pakistan, China and ultimately to Russian Federation.  So, this is something, which is very alarming," he said, using the Arabic acronym for IS.

The number of IS terrorists, Asif said, has surpassed even some Taliban groups operating in Afghanistan because of the arrival of militants from the Middle East.

Washington vehemently rejects as "rumors" charges that it is supporting IS activities in Afghanistan, and maintains that sustained military operations in partnership with Afghan forces against the terrorist group have significantly degraded and reduced the terrorists in the country.

U.S. officials, in turn, denounce Moscow's overt ties with the Taliban, saying it gives legitimacy to the insurgency and undermines years of efforts to stabilize Afghanistan.

Afghan peace pledge

Lavrov and Asif also pledged to work closely to promote a peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan, alleging the U.S.-led military mission has failed to secure the country. They said illegal opium poppy production, which is directly feeding insecurity, has also increased "manyfold."

"There are monumental failures in Afghanistan and there is an effort to scapegoat Pakistan ... for these failures. We have rejected these baseless allegations. We cannot fight others' wars on our soil," said Asif.

He was referring to the Trump administration's accusations the Taliban and its allies are waging insurgency in Afghanistan from their sanctuaries in Pakistan and with covert support of its military. U.S. and Afghan officials have been demanding that Islamabad take "decisive" action against the militants.

Pakistani officials deny any links to insurgents and say security forces have uprooted all terrorist bases. They, in turn, allege militants who have fled counterterrorism operations have found refuge on the Afghan side of the long, porous border between the two countries and plot terrorist attacks against Pakistan.

Washington has suspended military aid to Pakistan and relations continue to deteriorate as U.S. officials maintain there is no evidence the country is taking action against insurgents on its soil, including those linked to the dreaded Haqqani network.

Pakistan's closeness with Russia and the cementing of traditionally strong ties with neighboring China stem from the growing U.S. pressure, say analysts.
Russia has played a decisive role in saving the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from ouster, but every week Moscow is finding it harder to arbitrate the winding down of a seven-year-long conflict that may have entered its most dangerous phase.

The biggest challenge facing the Kremlin is juggling the demands of the various players in Syria  those it is allied with or keen to improve ties with  amid mounting risks of the conflict spilling across borders and spreading to the wider Middle East.

The flare-up between Israel and Iran last Saturday, during which an Iranian drone and an Israeli warplane were downed and intensive Israeli bombing of Syrian air defense batteries and Iranian bases ensued, was a sharp reminder, say analysts, of how difficult it is for Moscow to control events in Syria and to capitalize on its intervention to expand Russian influence across the Middle East.

Russia is now grappling with problems similar to those the United States encountered in the past in Iraq, say analysts.

You break it, you own it, U.S. General Colin Powell warned President George W. Bush on the eve of the U.S.-led invasion of Saddam Husseins Iraq. Moscow didnt start the war in Syria but by launching an intervention in September 2015 to prop up the Assad regime it has ended up having an ownership role  and facing as a result unintended consequences amid the risk of escalation and clashes between the many foreign powers now sucked into the conflict.

At every turn Moscow is having to try to head off confrontations between its friends and those it is seeking to befriend  as it did last week in organizing conciliatory messages between the Syrians and Israelis to stop the flare-up from turning into something even more deadly.

Turkish front



The risks were on display again this week, with Assad apparently threatening to send troops into the Kurdish enclave of Afrin to help Syrian Kurds defend it from assault by Turks and allied Syrian rebel militias.

On Monday, Syrian state media announced that pro-Assad forces were poised to enter the enclave to support the Kurdish YPG militia  a move that would see Turkish and Syrian government forces square off. That would dash Russian hopes of securing a breakthrough in a tortuous Syrian peace process the Kremlin has been overseeing.

Turkish deputy prime minister Bekir Bozdag says Syrian state-run media reports of pro-Assad "Popular Forces" preparing to enter Afrin had not been confirmed by officials in Damascus. But clearly Ankara remains anxious that Assad may decide to make a move. Bozdag added a warning: Any decision by the Syrian regime to send forces into Afrin to support PYD/YPG terror organizations or any step taken in this direction will have disastrous consequences for the region.

As the Russian military intervention unfolded in Syria in 2015, Russian leader Vladimir Putin pledged it would be quick and decisive. But after two-and-a-half years Russia remains militarily involved, conducting airstrikes on anti-Assad rebel holdouts as well as being diplomatically ensnared as a referee between squabbling external forces that are upping their involvement in Syria. In the last few weeks Iranian-backed militias shelled a Turkish military convoy; Russians were killed in eastern Syria in clashes between Assads force and the Kurds triggered American airstrikes.

I think a lot of people in Moscow are asking the question, what is the exit strategy' for Russia in Syria, according to analyst Maxim Suchkov. There is a genuine desire to get this all on a track of political settlement and to start monetizing Russian achievements in Syria and other parts of the region, meaning in terms of political, financial, energy and arms deals  to take the opportunity of the moment while there is this view of Russia being a new sheriff and decisive force in the region, he argues.

In search of exit strategy



But he says it is difficult to see how Russia can broker a political settlement to the multi-sided conflict when Assad now appears less controllable by Moscow and Iran, the Kurds, Turkey and Israel  a country Moscow has been courting, have very different views on the Syrian endgame.



In a recent paper for the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), a Moscow-based think tank partly sponsored by the Russian Foreign Ministry, analysts Andrey Kortunov and Ivan Timofeev warned that contradictions both within Syria and among external players  especially over Irans expanding influence in the region and Turkeys stance on the autonomy ambitions of Syria Kurds  risks disrupting Kremlin plans and stretching Moscows efforts to keep a lid on things.

Earlier this month, Russian efforts to secure a breakthrough in turbulent peace talks in Sochi fell apart with the main Syrian opposition groups boycotting the negotiations and Russian officials being heckled by some participants.

In January, Putin declared that Moscows intervention in Syria had accomplished its mission, claiming the main goal of vanquishing the Islamic State terror had been achieved. But Russia remains bogged down in a complex conflict that refuses to be brought to an end.
The airstrikes came at a rate of one a minute, with horrible results: civilians fleeing collapsing buildings, children trapped under slabs of concrete, paramedics grimly rushing the bloodied victims away on stretchers. At least 100 people were killed in one day.

The government's assault on the rebel-controlled suburbs east of the Syrian capital, Damascus, has been a long time coming. Monday's carnage, which continued throughout Tuesday, was the deadliest in eastern Ghouta in three years.

Starved and battered by the government for years, the rebellious area has eluded President Bashar al-Assad's control despite being encircled and sporadically bombarded since 2013. Now, it appears the Syrian government and its Russian backers have decided to retake the territory at any cost.

Much like rebel-held eastern Aleppo in late 2016, eastern Ghouta is set to become a blood-soaked war theater as Assad tries to bomb it into submission. Tens of thousands of people live there, along with thousands of hard-line fighters, some of whom will probably fight to the end.

Here's a look at the battle for those suburbs.

What is Ghouta?

Ghouta is an informal name for the suburbs of the Syrian capital, Damascus, that form around the Barada River, and towns in its eastern reaches, including Douma, Kfar Batna and Saqba. The residents of eastern Ghouta were among the first to rise up against Assad's rule in 2011. The area was taken over by rebels a year later as the unrest turned into an armed insurgency, then full-blown civil war.

They held on ferociously, determined to preserve the rebel position closest to the capital, denting the narrative of an Assad victory in key places. Today it is the last major opposition enclave in the area, surrounded by areas firmly under government control.

Historically an agricultural area, it has been partially besieged by the government since 2013 and completely since mid-2017. The rebel-held suburbs endured a devastating sarin gas attack in 2013 that killed hundreds of people. Over the years, residential buildings, hospitals, schools and warehouses have all been destroyed.

According to the U.N., there are 393,000 residents in eastern Ghouta, many of them internally displaced from other parts of the country, accounting for 94 percent of all Syrians living under siege today.

U.N. aid convoys rarely make it inside, and the lack of access has led to severe food shortages, starvation and malnutrition as well as a sharp rise in food prices.

Why has eastern Ghouta eluded Assad for so long?

Thousands of battle-hardened militants are entrenched in eastern Ghouta, including the powerful Army of Islam group based in Douma, and the ultra-conservative Ahrar al-Sham and Faylaq al-Rahman groups. Haya'at Tahrir al-Sham, a rebel coalition affiliated with al-Qaida, also has a presence in the area.

Despite its proximity to Assad's seat of power in Damascus, Syrian troops stretched thin by the scale of the rebellion overlooked eastern Ghouta for the first few years of the civil war while they focused on recapturing areas deemed more crucial for the government's survival, including Homs, Aleppo and areas near the border with Lebanon.

The militants of eastern Ghouta had years to dig in, amassing an abundant reserve of weapons and ammunition from supply lines that stretched to the Syrian desert. Because the region is a farming area  and once the source of most of the capital's sugar, rice, fruits and vegetables  the militants were able to grow their own food, diminishing the need for supply lines. They've also built a labyrinth of secret underground tunnels beyond the reach of airstrikes. Some supplies get in this way, but utilities have been decimated.

What happens now?

With Russia's and Iran's help, Assad has turned the war decisively in his favor, recapturing key areas of the country from rebels and Islamic State militants.

The renewed assault on eastern Ghouta is part of a broader escalation on several fronts in recent weeks as Assad and his allies step up their efforts to finish off remaining pockets of resistance  including Idlib province in the north, which houses many evacuees from Aleppo.

The government has recently sent Brigadier General Suheil al-Hassan, also known among his troops as "Tiger,'' to eastern Ghouta to lead the effort. He has led elite forces to many victories against insurgents since the conflict began, including in Aleppo and most recently in Deir el-Zour against Islamic State militants.

For Assad, victory in eastern Ghouta would remove a long-standing threat and nuisance, going a long way toward ending the seven-year rebellion against him.
Pro-Syrian government forces reportedly have crossed into the Kurdish-held enclave of Afrin. The deployment is in response to an ongoing military offensive by Turkish-led forces against the YPG Syrian Kurdish militia.



"The Syrian government responded to the call of duty and they sent military units today, Tuesday, 20 February, 2018, to be deployed along the borders and to be involved in defending the unity of Syrian territory," said YPG spokesman Nuri Mahmoud.



Ankara claims the convoy of several hundred heavily armed fighters was forced to retreat after coming under Turkish artillery fire.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sought to play down the incident, claiming the fighters belonged to local militias that were acting on their own, without Damascus's support. Erdogan added the "matter was closed for now."

Damascus has not commented on the incident.



The forces being deployed to Afrin are believed to be made up of Syrian government and Iran-backed militias, including elements of Hezbollah. Unverified videos circulating on social media show heavily armed forces, including armored cars and tanks, being sent to the Kurdish enclave. One fighter reportedly declared, "We are coming for Erdogan."



Russia, Iran consulted



Erdogan said Tuesday he had warned his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in a telephone conversation Monday that Damascus would "face serious consequences" if it sent its forces to Afrin in support of the YPG militia. On Monday, Syrian state TV reported Damascus had reached an agreement with the YPG to deploy forces to secure Afrin.



In a speech to parliamentary deputies Tuesday, Erdogan declared Afrin's main town, also called Afrin, would be put under siege in the "coming days." Erdogan also claimed after speaking to his Iranian and Russian counterparts he had thwarted an agreement between Damascus and the YPG to support the Kurdish militia against the Turkish incursion.



Last month, Ankara launched its military offensive into Afrin against the YPG militia, which it accuses of being linked to a decades long Kurdish insurgency in Turkey. Erdogan has pledged the operation would continue until the militia is removed from the enclave.



Damascus has opposed the operation, calling it a violation of its territorial integrity and pledged to resist it, but until now has not taken action.

"I don't think Ankara and Damascus are so eager for a direct confrontation," said Metin Gurcan, a Turkish defense analyst. "But the real danger, is that Turkey has the Free Syrian Army proxies and Assad has too pro-Assad militia. Those proxies have this bloody feud with one another, a clash is possible between them."



Russia calls for talks



The rising tensions pose a major headache for Russia. Moscow is a strong backer of the Assad regime, but at the same time sees Ankara as crucial to its ongoing efforts to bring an end to the Syrian civil war because of Turkey's strong ties with Syrian rebel forces.

Russian Foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday the situation in Syria's Afrin could be resolved only through direct dialogue between Damascus and Ankara.



Erdogan has ruled out any dialogue with Assad, claiming it is impossible to speak with a man responsible for the deaths of a half-million people. Analysts argue it is a key strategic goal of Moscow to open dialogue between Ankara and Damascus in its ongoing efforts to end the civil war.



The risk of Ankara and Damascus-backed forces sliding into a direct confrontation could force Moscow into choosing sides, given it controls Syria's airspace and currently allows Turkish jets to support the ongoing offensive in Afrin.



"The Turkish operation  with jets, tanks and howitzers  has been possible so far due to the indirect support of Russia, the main ally of the al-Assad regime, together with Iran," Murat Yetkin wrote Tuesday in the Turkish daily Hurriyet.



Ultimately, Moscow could have the most at stake in the rising Turkish-Syrian tensions.



"Russia, at the end of the day, needs both Damascus on the one side of the table, and Ankara, to control the Sunni armed opposition and to turn them into a political actor, to maintain the political transformation process," noted analyst Gurcan. "I don't think Moscow will let the destruction of this very fragile, very complex negotiating table which it has been constructing for more than one year."
Heavy Syrian military airstrikes and rocket attacks on a Damascus suburb have killed nearly 100 people and wounded close to 500 since Sunday, a Syrian monitoring group says.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says a large number of civilians, including children, are among the victims in eastern Ghouta.

The Syrian military has launched an all-out operation to retake eastern Ghouta. It is one of the last areas near Damascus still in the hands of rebels and Islamic militants looking to topple the Assad government.

The observatory says the air operation is aimed at paving the way for a ground offensive.

The fighting in eastern Ghouta was supposed to have de-escalated under a ceasefire brokered between Russia, Turkey and Syria.

Instead, the region is seeing what U.N. official Panos Moumtzis calls an "extreme escalation of hostilities."

"The humanitarian situation of civilians in east Ghouta is spiraling out of control. Many residents have little choice but to take shelter in basements and underground bunkers with their children."

Residents and aid workers say almost no food and relief is getting through.
A Syrian war monitor says pro-government strikes Tuesday in the rebel-held Damascus suburb of eastern Ghouta have killed more than 100 people.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 250 people have been killed since late Sunday, the highest 48-hour death toll in the Syria conflict since a 2013 chemical attack on the suburb.

Eastern Ghouta is the last main rebel stronghold near the Syrian capital, and the violence there has drawn international concern.

The International Red Cross expressed alarm Tuesday, saying on Twitter, "This cannot go on."

In Washington, the State Department joined the international community to voice deep concerns about the increasing violence in eastern Ghouta.



The escalation has exacerbated the already grave human suffering, said spokesperson Heather Nauert on Tuesday, It also increases the number of individuals who require urgent medical evacuation, which already stood at approximately 1,000.

The U.S. said Russia should be held accountable for its support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime.



Russia bears a unique responsibility for the suffering and the plight of the Syrian people, Nauert said.

Panos Moumtzis, the U.N.'s regional humanitarian coordinator for the Syrian crisis, said in a statement late Monday that the humanitarian situation is "spiraling out of control."

"The recent escalation of violence compounds an already precarious humanitarian situation for the 393,000 residents of East Ghouta, many of them internally displaced, and which account for 94 percent of all Syrians living under besiegement today," Moumtzis said.

He also highlighted a lack of access for convoys of food and health aid.

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and humanitarian aid chief Christos Stylianides said getting aid to eastern Ghouta is urgently needed to prevent more deaths.

"The international community should unite to stop this human suffering," they said in a joint statement.

The Observatory said President Bashar al-Assad's forces were using the airstrikes to prepare for a ground offensive to retake control of eastern Ghouta.

Stephen Zunes, political science professor and chair of Middle East Studies at the University of San Francisco, told VOA that given how long opposition fighters have controlled the area, there is likely to be fierce resistance and the fighting could last many months.

"In many ways, we're going to see a situation similar to Aleppo, unfortunately, where the government forces certainly had the upper hand in terms of weaponry, but they'll have to retake the area block by block," Zunes said.

Rebels held Aleppo for about four years before pro-government forces pounded the city with heavy airstrikes and shelling over the course of several months before reclaiming full control at the end of 2016.




Guwahati : The troops of Assam Rifles had apprehended four over ground workers of the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) in Arunachal Pradeshs Changlang district on Saturday, officials said on Sunday.





Based on intelligence input , the Assam Rifles troops had launched a special operation on at Malugaon area and nabbed the four along with one point22 pistol.





Defence PRO Colonel Chiranjeet Konwer said that, the four confessed that they have supplied weapons from Dimapur in Nagaland to Sadiya and Kakopathar in Assam and was also involved in anti-social activities.





Later, they were handed over to Margherita police station in Assam and an FIR was lodged.




The U.S. administration is looking to tighten some regulations involving guns, with President Donald Trump formally recommending the banning of devices that turn firearms into more lethal weapons.

The White House is also saying age restrictions are on the table for the most popular semi-automatic rifle in the country. The administration indicated it is open to universal background checks for gun owners.



Just a few moments ago, I signed a memorandum directing the attorney general to propose regulations to ban all devices that turn legal weapons into machine guns, Trump said Tuesday, adding that such regulations will be finalized very soon.

The president made the announcement from the White House during the Public Safety Medal of Valor Awards ceremony honoring law enforcement officers.

The ban would include bump stocks  attachments that allow semi-automatic guns to be fired faster  which were used in the shooting in Las Vegas Last October in which 58 people were killed and 851 wounded.

Text of the memo also includes criticism of Trumps predecessor, Barack Obama.

Although the Obama Administration repeatedly concluded that particular bump stock type devices were lawful to purchase and possess, I sought further clarification of the law restricting fully automatic machine guns, Trump said in the document.

Although I desire swift and decisive action, I remain committed to the rule of law and to the procedures the law prescribes, the memo added. Doing this the right way will ensure that the resulting regulation is workable and effective and leaves no loopholes for criminals to exploit.

Tomorrow, the White House is hosting a listening session that is to include students, parents and teachers who have been victimized by mass shootings in America, Also participating in the session will be students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where a former student last Wednesday killed 17 people, which Trump on Tuesday termed an evil massacre.

The president, making his first extensive remarks since the Florida killings, declared school safety is a top priority for my administration, adding he will meet with state governors next week to discuss the topic.

"We're working very hard to make sense of these events," Trump said to law enforcement members and other first responders during the White House ceremony. Were going to come up with solutions. Its been many, many years, and there have been no solutions.

The Trump administration and lawmakers are facing a backlash  including from some of the student survivors of the latest school mass shooting  that they are too focused on the mental health of gunmen rather than the weapons they carry.

It has been noted by gun control advocates that many teenagers in America can legally purchase an AR-15 type assault weapon before theyre eligible to vote or drink alcohol. Twenty-eight of the 50 states have no minimum age requirement for owning a rifle.

I think thats certainly something thats on the table for us to discuss and that we expect to come up over the next couple of weeks, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders responded at the first press daily briefing in a week, when asked if Trump believed there should be an age limit for the purchase of assault rifles like the one used in the Florida school shooting.

The president has expressed his support for the efforts to improve the federal background check system, and in the coming days, we will continue to explore ways to ensure the safety and security of our schools, added Sanders.

Millions of gun owners, who support the National Rifle Association and other organizations that fight against restrictions on such weapons, believe that the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees unfettered access to guns.

In the 2016 elections, the NRA gave $54 million in political donations, much of that during the presidential race.

It is not unusual for some members of Congress to have individually received hundreds of thousands of dollars  even millions  from the NRA. While some Democrats are also recipients of the associations money, the top benefactors currently are from Trumps Republican Party.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday encouraged Republicans to fight Pennsylvania's new court-imposed map of congressional districts, issued a day earlier in a move expected to improve Democrats' chances at chipping away at the GOP's U.S. House majority.

Trump tweeted that Republicans should challenge the new map of Pennsylvania's 18 congressional districts all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, if necessary.

Your Original was correct! Don't let the Dems take elections away from you so that they can raise taxes & waste money! Trump tweeted.

Republicans have already vowed to challenge it in federal court, as early as Tuesday.

The Democratic-majority state Supreme Court met its own deadline Monday to issue the new boundaries after it threw out a 6-year-old GOP-drawn map as unconstitutionally gerrymandered. The Republican-controlled Legislature and Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf did not produce a consensus replacement map in the three weeks allotted by the court.

The new map is to be in effect for the May 15 primary and substantially overhauls a Republican-drawn congressional map widely viewed as among the nation's most gerrymandered.



New boundaries will likely usher in changes to Pennsylvania's predominantly Republican delegation, which has provided a crucial pillar of support for GOP control of the U.S. House.

Most significantly, the new map gives Democrats a better shot at winning a couple more seats, particularly in Philadelphia's heavily populated and moderate suburbs. There, Republicans have held seats in bizarrely contorted districts, including one described as Goofy Kicking Donald Duck.

Republican Rep. Ryan Costello, whose suburban Philadelphia district was narrowly won by Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016, is in even more dire straits now that his district adds the heavily Democratic city of Reading.



The state's delegation is already facing big changes in a year with six open seats, the most in decades. Meanwhile, candidates finding themselves in a new political landscape are rethinking campaigns a week before they can start circulating petitions to run.

The map removes the heart of one district from Philadelphia, where a crowd of candidates had assembled to replace the retiring Democratic Rep. Bob Brady, and moves it to suburban Montgomery County.

The new map does not apply to the March 13 special congressional election in southwestern Pennsylvania's 18th District to fill the remaining 10 months in the term of former Republican Rep. Tim Murphy, who resigned amid a scandal. But it renders the special election virtually meaningless: the court's map puts each candidate's homes in a district with a Pittsburgh-area incumbent.

The court ruled last month that Republicans who redrew district boundaries in 2011 unconstitutionally put partisan interests above neutral line-drawing criteria. It was the first time any state court threw out congressional boundaries in a partisan gerrymandering case, this one brought by registered Democratic voters and the League of Women Voters last June.



The new map repackages districts that had been stretched nearly halfway across Pennsylvania and reunifies Democratic-heavy cities that had been split by Republican map drawers six years ago.



Democrats cheered the new map, while Republicans blasted it.

Independent analysts said the map should improve Democratic prospects while still favoring Republicans as a whole. An analysis conducted through PlanScore.org concluded the court's redrawn map eliminates much of the partisan skew favoring Republicans on the old Republican-drawn map, although not all of it.

University of Florida political science doctoral student Brian Amos said Clinton beat Republican Donald Trump in eight of 18 districts in the 2016 presidential election on the court's map. That compared with six of 18 districts Clinton won in 2016 under the invalidated map.

Republicans who controlled the Legislature and the governor's office after the 2010 census crafted the now-invalidated map to elect Republicans and succeeded in that aim: Republicans won 13 of 18 seats in three straight elections even though Pennsylvania's registered Democratic voters outnumber Republicans.

Republicans will argue in federal court that legislatures and governors, not courts, have the constitutional responsibility to draw congressional maps. But they appear to face an uphill battle since federal courts are normally reluctant to undo a state court decision, said Michael Morley, a constitutional law professor at Barry University in Florida. I think it will be a major obstacle and a major challenge to get around it Morley said.
U.S. President Donald Trump waged a new attack Tuesday on the notion that Russian interference tipped the 2016 presidential election in his favor, quoting former President Barack Obama as saying shortly before the vote that there was no evidence anyone could rig the outcome.

The U.S. leader contended in a Twitter comment that Obama failed to act against Russian meddling because he thought Trump's opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton, was going to win and "he didn't want to 'rock the boat.'" He added, "When I easily won the Electoral College, the whole game changed and the Russian excuse became the narrative of the Dems."

In another tweet, Trump said, "I have been much tougher on Russia than Obama, just look at the facts. Total Fake News!" He praised his favorite television show, "Fox and Friends," for laying out a timeline he said showed "all of the failures of the Obama Administration" in combating Russian military involvement in Syria and its takeover of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula.

In a string of tweets over several hours, Trump blamed Obama for mishandling Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

"Obama was President up to, and beyond, the 2016 Election. So why didnt he do something about Russian meddling?" Trump asked.

Trump had often said during the campaign that the election was "rigged" against him. That prompted Obama, shortly before the election, to say, as Trump noted in one of his tweets, There is no serious person out there who would suggest somehow that you could even rig Americas elections, theres no evidence that that has happened in the past or that it will happen this time, and so Id invite Mr. Trump to stop whining and make his case to get votes.

Trump did not mention in his election recollections that Obama ahead of the election wanted to issue a bipartisan statement about Russian interference, but was rebuffed by Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

After the election, in December 2016, Obama issued sanctions against nine Russian individuals and entities for election meddling. Obama also expelled 35 Russian government officials and ordered two waterfront compounds closed that the U.S. said the Russians were using for intelligence-gathering operations.

The Kremlin on Monday denied interference in the U.S. election, days after U.S. special counsel Robert Mueller indicted 13 Russian nationals and three Russian entities with conducting an illegal "information warfare" campaign to disrupt the election to help Trump win.

Mueller's indictment alleged that the Internet Research Agency, a St. Petersburg-based social media company with Kremlin ties, 12 of its employees, and its financial backer orchestrated the effort, writing Internet postings pretending to be Americans commenting on the election and divisive U.S. issues, all in an effort to undermine U.S. democracy, hurt Clinton's candidacy and help Trump.

Trump has long insisted his campaign did not collude with Russia, even as the U.S. intelligence community, and now Mueller, have concluded that Russia conducted a wide campaign to meddle in the election to benefit Trump.

The indictment marks the first time Muellers office has brought charges against Russians and Russian entities.

Muellers sprawling investigation has led to the indictments of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and associate Rick Gates on money laundering charges in connection with their lobbying efforts in Ukraine that predates Trump's 2016 campaign.

Former National Security adviser Michael Flynn and former campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos have pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about their contacts with Russian officials and are cooperating with Mueller's probe.

In addition to investigating Russian meddling in the election, Mueller is probing whether Trump has in several ways obstructed justice to undermine the investigation, including his firing of former FBI director James Comey, who was leading the agency's Russia probe at the time Trump ousted him. Mueller, over Trump's objections, was then appointed to take over the Russia probe.
An upsurge of violence in southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo is set to cause a humanitarian disaster of extraordinary proportions, the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR said on Tuesday.

Congos Tanganyika province has seen a sharp escalation of violence since late last year, with new armed groups forming and an increase in attacks and the use of firearms, UNHCR spokesman Andrej Mahecic told a regular U.N. briefing in Geneva.

We are warning today that a humanitarian disaster of extraordinary proportions is about to hit the southeastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as the province of Tanganyika plunges further into violence, triggering spiraling displacement and human rights abuses, he said.

Clashes between militias representing the Luba, a Bantu ethnic group, and Twa pygmies, have already been going on for more than four years, driven by inequalities between Bantu villagers and the Twa, a hunting and gathering people historically excluded from access to land and basic services.

Mahecic said the intercommunal violence had led to atrocities and mass displacement, but there had also been fierce clashes between the Congolese armed forces and militia groups since the end of January.

UNHCR partner agencies had documented about 800 protection incidents including killings, abductions and rape, in the first two weeks of February. But much of the violence was going on in areas that were impossible for aid workers to reach.

The lions share of abuses concerned extortion and illegal taxation, mostly carried out by Congolese armed forces at road blocks.

The conflict is part of a worsening humanitarian crisis in Congo. Militia violence has risen since President Joseph Kabilas refused to step down when his constitutional mandate expired in 2016.

Congos military has largely stamped out an insurrection that displaced 1.5 million people in central Congo in 2016-17 but militias are increasingly active along the eastern borders with Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.

Tanganyika province is three times the size of Switzerland with a population of about 3 million, of whom 630,000 have been displaced by the fighting, a number that has almost doubled in a year.

Given the circumstances we are only observing an upward trend in displacement right now, Mahecic said.

How high it could go is anyones guess, but clearly it is a major concern for us.

Last year UNHCR received less than $1 per person to support the 4.4 million people displaced in Congo, he said.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is calling for an international peace conference to be convened by the middle of this year to try to break the impasse in the Middle East peace process.

Confronted with this deadlock, we have neither given up, nor have we lost hope, Abbas told the monthly meeting Tuesday of the U.N. Security Council on the Israeli-Palestinian issue.



The Palestinian leader expressed support for broad regional and international participation at such a meeting, and he laid out his vision of what he called a peace plan. His speech was the first time Abbas has addressed the 15-nation council since 2009.



His plan includes measures such as parties refraining from unilateral actions during negotiations, Israels cessation of settlement activity, and suspension of the U.S. decision to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. For their part, the Palestinians would refrain from joining additional international organizations and treaties.

WATCH: A call for peace

Abbas added that once the Palestinian question is resolved, 57 Arab and Muslim countries would be ready to recognize the state of Israel.



We are ready to begin negotiations immediately in order to achieve the freedom and independence of our people, Abbas said.



The Palestinian president spoke to a packed council chamber in New York and his remarks were greeted with lengthy applause. As soon he finished speaking, Abbas left the room, skipping both the Israeli and U.S. ambassadors remarks, which, respectively, followed his.



Israels envoy seized on this, criticizing Abbas for running away and saying he is no longer part of the solution, but is part of the problem.



Mr. Abbas came in, put his demands on the table and he left, and hes expecting you to deliver the results, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon told council members. Its not going to work that way.



Jerusalem Issue



President Abbas is still outraged over the Trump administrations December decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, telling the council on Tuesday the move was unlawful.

The United States knows the Palestinian leadership was very unhappy with the decision to move our embassy to Jerusalem, an unapologetic Nikki Haley said. You dont have to like that decision. You dont have to praise it. You dont even have to accept it. But know this: that decision will not change.



She said the Palestinians could choose to denounce the United States and reject its role as a peace broker, but that it would not get the Palestinian people any closer to realizing their aspirations.



I sit here today offering the outstretched hand of the United States to the Palestinian people in the cause of peace, Haley said. Sitting behind her were U.S. President Donald Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, who is leading the White Houses Middle East peace efforts, and Trumps Special Representative for International Negotiations, Jason Greenblatt.



A U.S. spokesperson said Tuesday there were no plans for any of the three officials to meet with Abbas while he is in New York.



Tensions have been growing between the Israelis and Palestinians, giving rise to fears it could lead to a new conflict. The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip also is becoming more severe, with power cuts running up to 20 hours per day. And as U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Tuesday, the global consensus for a two-state solution could be eroding.



Obstacles on the ground have the potential to create an irreversible one-state reality, he said. It is simply impossible to square the circle of a one-state reality with the legitimate national, historic and democratic aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians.



The U.N. chief urged a solution to address all final status issues, saying, There is no Plan B.
The Vatican's top sexual abuse investigator said he had started taking testimony on Tuesday from victims in the Chilean capital, where he is looking into accusations that a bishop appointed by Pope Francis covered up crimes against minors.

Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta was sent to Chile after the pope was criticized during his visit last month for defending Bishop Juan Barros, who he appointed in 2015 despite accusations he had covered up sexual abuse of minors.



Several men have accused Barros of protecting his former mentor, Father Fernando Karadima, who was found guilty in a Vatican investigation in 2011 of abusing them and others when they were boys.

Scicluna, known for his role in the sex abuse investigation that led to the removal of late Mexican priest Marcial Maciel in 2005, arrived in Santiago on Monday. On Tuesday, he had his first interviews with victims in Providencia, the wealthy Santiago neighborhood that is home to Karadima's former parish, and issued a short statement to reporters afterward.

"I have come to Chile, sent by Pope Francis, to gather useful information concerning Monsignor Juan Barros," Scicluna said. "I want to express my gratitude to the people who have expressed their willingness to meet me in the next few days."

Before his trip to Chile, Scicluna spent four hours hearing testimony in New York from a key witness in the case against Barros.



Juan Carlos Cruz, who was sexually abused by Karadima as a teenager, told reporters he gave "eye opening" testimony to Scicluna on Saturday. Cruz, who now lives in Philadelphia, has said Barros was present for the abuse.

Following his meeting with Scicluna, Cruz said he felt for the first time that someone was listening. He urged the Church to hear all victims with the same respect he received from Scicluna.

Barros, of the diocese of Osorno, has said he was unaware of any wrongdoing by Karadima.

During his visit to Chile last month, the pope testily told a Chilean reporter: "The day I see proof against Bishop Barros, then I will talk. There is not a single piece of evidence against him. It is all slander. Is that clear?"



The comments were widely criticized and Francis later issued a statement saying Scicluna would go to "listen to those who want to submit information in their possession."

Scicluna was due to hear victim testimony until his scheduled departure from Chile on Friday.
Some Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) youth on Tuesday detained and assaulted the late Morgan Tsvangirais deputy, Thokozani Khupe, legislator Lwazi Sibanda, MDC-T secretary general Douglas Mwonzora and several others at Tsvangirais funeral service in Buhera, Manicaland province.

The youth accused them of opposing moves by acting party president Nelson Chamisa to succeed the late MDC-T leader, who succumbed to cancer of the colon last Wednesday.

Khupe said she was shocked about the violence at Hamunikwa village where she was almost killed by the marauding youth that did not want us to attend Tsvangirais funeral.

Tsvangirai was a very hard working man who would not have tolerated this kind of behavior. We have criminal sons who beat me and others. People must learn to respect the dead. As we arrived at the homestead we wanted to greet gogo (Tsvangirais mother who did not want Chamisa and Tsvangirai's wife to attend the funeral) but they called us names and said they will kill us."

Speaking on VOA Studio 7 Livetalk's The Connection youth show, she added that they beat us with stones, umbrellas and any items they could lay their hands on. They called us dissidents saying we should go back to Matabeleland. It was me, Douglas Mwonzora, Abednico Bhebhe, Lwazi Sibanda, and several other people. One stone hit me on my back. I am in pain as I speak right now.

One man asked us to go into his hut. Those thugs threatened to burn the hut but we were lucky that it was raining and so the thatch could not catch the fire. They threw a burning log into the hamlet. If it was not rain, we were going to die. But I went back to attend the funeral to make sure that he (Tsvangirai) was laid to rest.

This happened in full view of the police. The police tried to stop them (youth) but they were too vicious. Everybody saw what happened. I dont know what they will do to them. They (police) saw the criminals.

Mwonzowa said he saw some youths from Chitungwiza. They beat me while I was walking before hiding inside a hut.

She said the youth stopped intimidating them when one of them told them that "the commander in chief (Chamisa) had ordered them to stop what they were doing. They then stopped."

Reacting to the latest developments,Chamisa said, This is totally unacceptable. I got a report and I said to the security guy I want to get a report within 24 hours. We will not accept abuse of leadership and we dont believe in politics of violence. It is anti-MDC. Its not part of the MDC culture. We are not going to leave any stone unturned to look for the culprits. These may be provocateurs deployed to cause noise."

Chamisa noted that he attempted to apologize to Khupe soon after Tsvangirais burial.

I tried to apologize and I still apologize. Whoever did it is trying to have an agenda that is foreign. She (Khupe) has been the longest serving vice presidents and has been loyal to the MDC. We need to be vigilant. This apology goes to Khupe, secretary general Mwonzora and others. I apologize."

He further apologized for the public humiliation of Zanu PF chairperson, Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri, who was booed by some members of the MDC-T while addressing people at the funeral.

We dont want to be purveyors of intolerance. Those who differ with us must be tolerated.

Reacting to Chamisas remarks, Khupe said, This violence emanates from the leadership crisis in the MDC-T. Our election was constitutional but now we have someone who is saying so and so is acting. The constitution stipulates what has to be done. I am the only person who is the acting president of the MDC-T. The constitution is clear on that. Those that dont want to follow their own thing, Im not in that 

But Chamisa pointed out that the only organ that deals with acting presidents is the National Council and therefore any other does not have a right to apportion this position  Go to the constitution, its very clear and the courts interpreted this very clearly. Three deputy presidents can act at a given time in the interest of the party.

"We can also go back to the National Council and have a secret ballot. But as of now we have an acting president who has been put in place by the National Council. You can go Jupiter, Mars or wherever and this will not change. This thing belongs to the people and if there is any query go to Harvest House.

The United States immediately responded to the violence. The US Gov strongly condemns the violence that occurred today @ the funeral for Morgan Tsvangirai. He stood in opposition of such violence & there exists no place for these types of actions today in Zimbabwe, as the country moves forward.
Average Zimbabweans turned out Monday to commemorate the life of the country's dogged, long-time opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, ahead of his burial, expected Tuesday.



Thousands of supporters of the Movement for Democratic Change sang as the body of their late party leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, arrived at a public square in Harare. They said the struggle will continue.

One of them was 37-year-old Chaimani Mataka, who spoke of the effort to unseat the ruling ZANU-PF party.

I am hurt because the struggle will never be the same again without Morgan Tsvangirai. I so wish that if we unite as a party, we bring a united front which must manage to remove ZANU-PF, remove this tyrant government, which is now being led by Emmerson Mnangagwa, said Mataka.

Tsvangirai died in South Africa on February 14 after a two-year battle with colon cancer.

The opposition has been hit by disunity as various members fight to head the MDC. Acting leader Nelson Chamisa told mourners Monday that an MDC victory in the expected mid-year elections would be a fitting tribute to Tsvangirai.

The only tribute you can give to the president [Tsvangirai] is a tribute of a vote," said Chamisa. Continuing in Shona, he added, "Then we change the country. We can assure you of immediate positive changes and good times. We are not like ZANU-PF, which takes forever to bring positive changes to the country."

The ZANU-PF party has dominated Zimbabwean politics since independence in 1980 with, until recently, former President Robert Mugabe at the helm.

Current Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa took the helm in November after Mugabe was forced to resign under pressure from the military.

Despite the current wrangling in the MDC, Chamisa is expected to be the one to lock horns with Mnangagwa in this year's polls.

Tsvangirai was a charismatic and determined politician who faced off repeatedly with Mugabe and the ZANU-PF, eventually entering into a coalition government for several years after the violent, disputed elections of 2008.

On Sunday, Mnangagwa described the late opposition leader as a brave man.

Zimbabwe's Air Force flew Tsvangirais body to his rural home, about 250 kilometers southeast of Harare, ahead of the planned burial Tuesday.

Kenyan opposition leader and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is among those the Movement for Democratic Change said would be attending Tsvangirais funeral.

It's not clear what Tsvangirai's passing will mean for the party's fortunes; but, many say a leadership struggle in the MDC would greatly enhance the ruling party's chances of winning again.
5 April. British war veteran Harry Shindler MBE presents Altamarea Film's documentary My War Is Not Over at the American University of Rome on 5 April at 19.00.

The film is described as the "simple and extraordinary story" of Harry Shindler, a soldier who landed at Anzio in 1944 with the British army and who today, at the age of 96, spends his life hunting for the unresolved stories of his comrades who fell in Italy.

Harry Shindler MBE

In 2014 Shindler received an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for his work in tracing the graves of British servicemen killed or listed as missing in action during world war two. Shindler made international headlines in 2014 when he helped Pink Floyd musician Roger Waters to find the battlefield site where his father was killed in Aprilia, near Anzio, when Waters was just five months old.

Roger Waters with Harry Shindler MBE

The documentary's director Bruno Bigoni said he wanted to treat the high-profile Waters case the same as all the others, adding however: "it was extraordinary that Shindler discovered the story of Lieutenant Eric Fletcher Waters, killed by the Germans in Anzio, without knowing who the son was. A father that a son had long sought."
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Guwahati: Journalists Forum Assam (JFA) expresses shock at the brutal murder of Nagpur based crime reporter Ravikant Kambles mother and infant daughter by the miscreants. The Assam based scribes forum also urges the Maharashtra government to book the perpetrators.





The local media reports narrate that Usha Kamble (56) and her granddaughter Rashi (18 moths) were found killed on 17 February 2018. Both of them were missing for some hours and later their bodies were recovered by the police on Sunday morning from a stream near Bahadura of Nagpur.




Guwahati: The city based dentist Dr Birendra Nath Patgiri will conduct the next weekly OPD clinic at Guwahati Press Club on Friday (23 February 2018). The participants will get free consultation and preliminary cares on dental problems from the senior dentist in the camp starting from 3 pm (till 6 pm).





The last media clinic, organized under the series of Evening with a Doctor programs for the benefit of press club members along with their close relatives was conducted by ENT specialist Dr Bithi Bordoloi from from Barthakur Clinic, where the participants received consultations on ear-nose-throat related ailments.




Kathmandu, Nepal: Overturning the decision made by immediate past Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba led government, CPN UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli led incumbent government has recommended three names as the member of the National Assembly (NA).





A meeting of the Council of Ministers held at the official residence of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in Baluwatar at 8:30 am on Tuesday decided to endorse the names of Yubaraj Khatiwada, Ram Narayan Bidari and Bimala Poudel Rai as NA members. It is said that Oli is willing to appoint Khatiwada as Finance minister.





Deuba led government had recommended Gopal Basnet, Krishna Paudel and Chandani Joshi for the NA members. The decision made by the incumbent government has been dragged into controversies for overturning the decision made by the previous government.




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Daily Mirror, 19 February 2018

The Local Government elections have sent tremors through the body politic of Sri Lanka, and the fall out of the shaken Coalition Government is yet to unfold. With the muscular re-emergence of Rajapaksa populism, nationalist political strategies are again gaining centre stage. Even as economic failures of the ruling Government gain attention, the golden opportunity in 2015 for a constitutional political solution have for all purposes been shut down.

The elections in the Northern Province, on the other hand, point to possible changes in Tamil politics in the years ahead. This article focuses on the worrying new face of Tamil nationalism as well as some progressive signs in northern Tamil politics.

Campaign Trail

The election campaigns in the North this year were comparatively subdued compared to the Provincial Council elections in 2013 and the two national elections in 2015. The ward system and womenas quota encouraged many more people to contest. However, many of the contestants in this election were making calculations about their likelihood chances of getting elected with a certain party as opposed to party ideology and programmes. But without political mobilisation a notably the lack of womenas political parties a the diversity of issues and candidates did not come to the fore, except in the case of the few parties championing anti-caste politics.

While there was a considerable door to door campaigning unlike in the other post-war elections in the North, the larger election campaign meetings did not gain the expected enthusiasm and crowds.

The media campaigns of the contesting parties were focused on mud-slinging and attempting to delegitimize the party considered to be its main threat or rival. The Interim Report for Constitutional Reform, aspects of a political solution and corruption were the main topics of debate in the election campaign, rather than local economic and administrative issues that come under the purview of Local Governments.

The heated political rhetoric of the campaigns in Jaffna became a contest for Tamil nationalist legitimacy, between the ahousea the historical symbol of the Federal Party, now the TNA led by Sampanthan, and the abicyclea the historical symbol of the Tamil Congress, now the TNPF led by Ponnambalam. The TNPF campaign, in particular, drew on the legacy of the LTTE and its politics, claiming to be its rightful heirs.

"Just as the LTTEas suicidal politics helped elect Rajapaksa in 2005 by forcing a boycott of the Presidential elections in the North, the current brand of narrow Tamil nationalists is pleased about the recent gains of Rajapaksa in the South. "

Vote Share

In this environment, how did the Tamil vote pan out in Jaffna and Northern Province more generally? The Jaffna District where a majority of the population of the Northern Province resides, the TNA saw a considerable decline with only 35% of the vote share. On the other hand, the TNPF had made considerable gains capturing 21% of the votes. The EPDP with an oppressed caste base also made a good showing with 19% of the votes.

In the predominantly Tamil districts of Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu, the TNA got 47% and 42% respectively. Both the TNPF and EPDP in those districts received only 5% of the votes. However, Chandrakumar who had broken away from the EPDP a year ago, made an impressive showing leading independent groups, which as a whole got 30% of the votes in Killinochi.

The results in Mannar, with a multi-religious politics of Christians, Muslims and Hindus, and in Vavuniya with the Sinhala constituencies, was more complicated. In those districts, the TNA got 28% and 26% respectively. The national parties, including the UNP, SLFP and SLPP, made considerable gains in these districts with close to 50% of vote share. These national parties also polled about 10%, 15% and 30% of the votes in Kilinochchi, Jaffna and Mullaitivu respectively.

Political Fallout

The outcome of the elections is such that in most Local Governments in the North, no party has an absolute majority and they are forced to form coalitions. I draw the following points from election outcomes in the North.

The TNA is in decline; both in terms of its vote share and in terms of the enthusiasm for its election campaigns. It continues to be led by an older generation of Federal Party loyalists who lack vigour. The TNAas confidence that the Tamils in the North will always vote for them by default has been shaken.

The TNPF have recruited some active young cadres who have been mobilised with a virulent Tamil nationalist politics. They continue to rely on their urbanised professional base and support from extreme sections of the Tamil diaspora; they managed to beat the TNA in the Pointpedro and Chavakacheri Urban Councils. They are setting the agenda for extreme nationalist politics including with the discourse of genocide and Tamil victimhood, even though they do not have a base in the Vanni where the people met with the tragic fate at the end of the war. If the TNPF is able to reach the rural constituencies that have thus far rejected them that would lead to a dangerous shift in Tamil politics.

The EPDP has remained a significant actor in Tamil politics. It has broken the myth that it is dependent on state patronage for its electoral politics. It has a steady oppressed caste base in different parts of Jaffna and has won significantly in the islands off Jaffna. A number of independent groups have done well for various reasons including anti-caste politics. In Karainagar an independent group working for the social development of oppressed caste communities formed a year ago, have won three seats equivalent to the TNA. In Puttur, where a powerful anti-caste struggle around cemeteries took place last year, leftists backed by the New Democratic Marxist Leninist Party have won four seats. In Chavakacheri, the newly formed Social Democratic Party of Tamils, which came out of the EPRLF, has managed to secure 2 seats. And in Kilinochchi, progressive independent groups led by Chandrakumar, have proven a major challenge to the TNA and won nineteen seats. Chadrakumaras support base includes the long marginalised Up-Country Tamil population that had been displaced to the Vanni over the decades.

"In this environment, how did the Tamil vote pan out in Jaffna and Northern Province more generally? The Jaffna District"

Local to Regional

If these local elections are any sign of the future of Tamil politics at the regional level, then there are clear dangers of a downward spiral of polarising Tamil nationalist politics led by the TNPF. On the other hand, the pockets of progressive politics which have eschewed narrow Tamil nationalism are a glimmer of hope to re-chart Tamil politics.

As the economic frustrations in the North mount, the status quo, led by the TNA, may crumble. But the alternative could just as well be the consolidation of the right-wing elite nationalism of the TNPF, which has no qualms about opportunistically peddling the LTTEas imagery and politics. On the other hand, anti-caste politics silenced during the war is now emerging as the politics for various smaller parties, as the excluded and marginalised people seek a political voice. Beyond elections, these progressive political movements can become an effective check on any aggressive street politics of the extreme Tamil nationalists; who in recent times with the support of Chief Minister Wigneswaran are also introducing a dangerous Hindu element to their Tamil nationalism.

Just as the LTTEas suicidal politics helped elect Rajapaksa in 2005 by forcing a boycott of the Presidential elections in the North, the current brand of narrow Tamil nationalists is pleased about the recent gains of Rajapaksa in the South. They see the rise of their Sinhala Buddhist nationalist twin as the route for international legitimacy for Tamil nationalism, regardless of the dangers it poses to the larger Tamil population.

The urgent need today is for solidarity among the various ethnic communities to arrest the march of nationalism and to build a broad movement for democracy and social justice. I will end with an anecdote. When I asked a woman from a rural oppressed-caste constituency about whom she had voted for, she first said for the ahousea , or the TNA. On pressed why, she said, she actually voted for the aveenaa the symbol of the EPDP. Then she went on to say: athey helped us get electricity, they built our road, they are the reason we are getting housinga we tell people we vote for the house because that is what Tamils are expected to do, but we actually vote for those who help us.a
Dhrubajyoti Ghosh the Calcutta [Kolkata] based engineer, environmentalist and public intellectual passed away on 16 February 2016, he fought for Kolkataas endangered wetlands and his work was widely recognised and he was a UN Global 500 laureate. Four tributes to him are posted below.

Dhrubajyoti Ghosh (1947-2018): He found wealth in waste

Engineer, ecologist, scholar, official, activist a Dhrubajyoti Ghosh was a rare mix.

Written by Sopan Joshi | February 20, 2018 http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/dhrubajyoti-ghosh-death-1947-2018-he-found-wealth-in-waste-5070411/

Dhrubajyoti Ghosh, saviour of the East Kolkata Wetlands, believed in people and not policies

The environmentalist, who died on Friday, fought his battle as a bureaucrat, researcher, academic, public intellectual and activist.

by Amitangshu Acharya | February 20, 2018 https://scroll.in/article/869250/dhrubajyoti-ghosh-saviour-of-the-east-kolkata-wetlands-believed-in-people-and-not-policies

Dhrubajyoti Ghosh, wetlands warrior of Kolkata, is dead

Dhrubajyoti Ghosh had said about six months ago that the movement to save the wetlands must carry on if Kolkata didnat want to become another Chennai

by Arkamoy Dutta Majumdar | February 20, 2018 http://www.livemint.com/Politics/RwzyqfFGfH7z3v6VupDhtK/Dhrubajyoti-Ghosh-wetlands-warrior-of-Kolkata-is-dead.html

Dhrubajyoti Ghosh, ecologist who introduced East Kolkata Wetlands to the world, passes away

Ghosh was opposed to the state governmentas plan of having a relook at the land use pattern of the wetlands. In 1992 Calcutta high court banned conversion of land character in 12,500 hectares.

by Snigdhendu Bhattacharya | February 16, 2018 https://www.hindustantimes.com/kolkata/dhrubajyoti-ghosh-ecologist-who-introduced-east-kolkata-wetlands-to-the-world-passes-away/story-3hGeLXYD6lZP2M5bQHjnzH.html
Dawn, February 17, 2018

IN a land with too few heroes, a single death can diminish us all.

With Asma Jahangiras untimely demise, Pakistan lost a fearless warrior for human rights and dignity, while her friends lost a witty and loyal companion who stood by them in good times and bad. A born comic and mimic, Asma often had us in fits of laughter with her brilliant imitations.

I met Asma and her husband Tahir Jahangir a known universally as TJ a in the mid-1970s, shortly before they got married, and we have been friends ever since. In all this time, I had always known Asma to be so full of energy that when she had a bout of cancer surgery a couple of years ago, it came as a huge shock to her family and friends.

Asma never made a big deal about her fame.

But with characteristic courage, she faced her illness and carried on. When she and TJ came with us on an expedition into Sri Lankaas hill country over a year ago, I expected her to slow down. Not a bit of it: after an exhausting drive from Colombo to the somewhat basic resort situated on a steep hillside near Kandy, she was in fine form, chatting away till late. Early next morning, she was off to Colombo again to attend a meeting.

Oddly, the last time I met her was also in Sri Lanka less than three months ago when she had come to attend a meeting of the South Asia Human Rights organisation that she had helped set up. We had invited friends and their family to a restaurant, and asked Asma to join us. There she was, in the midst of three generations of Jayawardenes, regaling them all with stories, and engaging with them individually.

When she was with friends, she never took herself seriously, or made a big deal about her fame. Until I read all the tributes and condolences that have poured in since her death, I had no idea of the many honours foreign governments and international organisations had bestowed on her.

This recognition was probably useful in ensuring her safety in a country where journalists and human rights activists are routinely beaten up and adisappeareda by shadowy state operatives. Asmaas family and friends were obviously concerned about her security, but she refused to retreat into a bunker mentality.

I recall watching her on one TV chat show when she called generals who staged coups apolitical duffersa who had no idea about the ground reality of Pakistani politics. While many of us share this view, few have the courage to state it as bluntly. But this diminutive, gutsy woman kept giving us lessons in speaking truth to power.

The establishment mindset she fought against is captured in a recent email I received from a retired colonel. As this was the copy of a letter sent to the editor of this newspaper, and hence meant for publication, I have no qualms in quoting from it:

aIn spite of the (undeservedly) [sic] praise showered upon her by the so called pseudo intellectuals of Pakistan; in spite of the eulogising of her by the Tom Dick and Harries of the paid anti-army mediaa it would be hypocritical on my part not to say aKhas kum jehan paka.a (The less rubbish, the cleaner the land).

I was rather rude in my reply, reminding him that when he died, nobody but his immediate family would mourn his passing. But the retired officeras hatred of Asma symbolises the gulf that has opened up between the security establishment and civil society.

As a counterpoint to this vicious little missive, hereas a quote from John Bunyanas famous 1684 hymn (I have taken the liberty of altering the gender of the original):

aWhoso beset her round/With dismal stories/Do but themselves confound/Her strength the more is/No lion can her fright/Sheall with a giant fightaa

And Asma certainly took on the giants singlehandedly in battles conducted in courtrooms, TV studios, newspaper articles and the streets of Pakistan. Judges, generals and politicians all felt the lash of her righteous tongue as she fought for the rights of the weak and the vulnerable.

Despite her criticism of Benazir Bhuttoas government, the two women remained close friends. In fact, the assassinated prime minister offered Asma a cabinet position on several occasions. She refused because being part of the government would curtail her freedom to criticise it. How many of us would turn down the power and perks of a ministerial portfolio?

No personal tribute to Asma would be complete without a mention of TJas supportive role. In a country where men avoid relationships with strong, independent women, TJ stood by Asma when she went to jail, or confronted the stateas security apparatus.

When Benazir Bhutto was assassinated, my late motheras Christian carer wept and said she and her community had been orphaned. I can imagine her shedding tears at Asmaas death now.

irfan.husain[at]gmail.com
With his voice cracking, and fighting back tears, Greg Selinger closed the book on a long and controversial political career that took him from Winnipeg city councillor to provincial finance minister to Manitoba premier.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 20/2/2018 (1303 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

With his voice cracking, and fighting back tears, Greg Selinger closed the book on a long and controversial political career that took him from Winnipeg city councillor to provincial finance minister to Manitoba premier.

A week after saying he was going to consider a transition to private life in the wake of sexual misconduct complaints against former cabinet minister Stan Struthers, Selinger held an impromptu press conference Tuesday afternoon to announce he will quit as NDP MLA for St. Boniface on March 7.

"I didnt think it was tenable to continue for another two years," Selinger told reporters in his constituency office. "Im stepping away from political life  I dont have a road map here."

NDP Leader Wab Kinew's statement: "Today, my thoughts remain with the women whove shown us the meaning of courage by coming forward and sharing their experiences. We will continue to work every day to move forward with the commission to give space for their voices to be heard by our party, and set a new direction to ensure we honour what they have gone through by improving our society. click to read more NDP Leader Wab Kinew's statement: "Today, my thoughts remain with the women whove shown us the meaning of courage by coming forward and sharing their experiences. We will continue to work every day to move forward with the commission to give space for their voices to be heard by our party, and set a new direction to ensure we honour what they have gone through by improving our society. "Given the resignation of Greg Selinger today, I wanted to share a few personal thoughts about Manitobas 21st premier. "During my time as a reporter, I remember Gregs constant presence in the 2011 flood. From the Interlake to Westman, from the Souris to Assiniboine to Red rivers and many spots in between, Greg showed up to encourage volunteers, reassure homeowners and help lead the response through a tense and difficult time for our province. He was the leader our province needed. "Greg is also held as a favourite son of the Franco-Manitoban community. His lifetime of service to the ideal that francophones, along with anglophones and Indigenous communities, be respected as founding partners of Manitoba will not soon be forgotten. "When I started my life in politics, I told the story of how my mother-in-law Debbie studied in a program that helped inner-city residents get an education. Howard Pawley founded that program, and Greg was one of the teachers who helped make sure that Debbie and her family never had to live in poverty again. "In 2012, Greg took the time to attend my fathers memorial service. It meant a lot to me that a sitting premier showed up to mourn my dad. My family and I will remember that. "Its my hope that Greg will be remembered as a premier who led our province through the aftermath of the global financial crisis, two major floods, and was a finance minister who balanced the budget for 10 years in a row. "I wish to thank Greg, as well as his wife and children for their service. I know Greg gave a lot of himself as premier, MLA and city councillor. I also know that Claudette, Eric and Pascal sacrificed a lot of time with their husband and father for the good of Winnipeg and Manitoba. I am thinking of them all today. "I wish them all the best. Miigwech, Greg." Close

Selinger shied away Tuesday from talking about regrets or triumphs. Selinger, who turned 67 last week, was finance minister for a decade before becoming Manitobas premier from 2009 to 2016.

Open rebellion within his cabinet couldnt drive Selinger out, nor could a devastating election defeat on April 19, 2016. Ultimately, the #MeToo movement caught up to Selinger, who said he was unaware Struthers was allegedly touching women inappropriately until late in his time as premier.

"As long as someones hurting and someones victimized, you havent done enough," Selinger said Tuesday. "When something happens, you try to step up and take responsibility for it."

Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew took the extraordinary step Feb. 13 of asking Selinger to resign his seat. Instead, Selinger defied Kinew, and held a news conference and said he wasnt ready to resign.

On Tuesday, Selinger said he was not prepared to go a week ago, just as he was not prepared to resign as MLA on election night in 2016. He did, however, step down as leader.

He talked this past week to his family and staff, then met with his riding association.

"I'm stepping away from political life  I don't have a road map here," Selinger said. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press)

"I really felt I owed it to my community to consult them. I advised them I thought it was the best course of action," he said.

"Im leaving on my own initiative, but there have been pushes, of course."

Selinger again apologized to the women who have accused Struthers of sexual misconduct, specifically apologizing for the attention his political squabble with Kinew has taken away from their stories. "At that time, the focus should have been properly on hearing their voices," he said.

Selingers voice broke and he fought back tears when he thanked his family for their support through his career.

"Im very grateful for the opportunity I had," said Selinger, who summed up his political career as "trying to do the best for people every day. It has been a privilege and an honour to serve the citizens of St. Boniface, and I wish to thank them for their encouragement to continue. I will cherish the experience forever."

Following the departure of then-premier Gary Doer, Selinger won a resounding leadership victory in 2009 over Steve Ashton, and led the NDP to a fourth consecutive majority in 2011.

But it all came apart in 2013, when Selinger decided to break an election promise and increase the provincial sales tax to eight per cent without taking it to a public vote. He then steadfastly refused to quit in 2014, when four of his MLAs, all cabinet ministers, dubbed the Gang of Five, led an unsuccessful open rebellion and begged him to quit to give the party a chance at electoral survival.

Selinger narrowly held onto his leadership over Theresa Oswald and Ashton.

He quit as leader on election night in 2016, but stayed on as an MLA.

Premier Brian Pallister was gracious Tuesday: "I would like to thank Mr. Selinger for his service to Manitoba. I wish him well as he enjoys the opportunity to spend more time with his family and chooses to embrace new challenges in the future."

Selinger said he informed Kinew of his decision Tuesday morning. Selinger said he has several offers for a post-political career, which he chose not to share immediately, adding hes made no decisions.

"I'm leaving on my own initiative, but there have been pushes, of course," Selinger acknowledged. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press)

In a statement Tuesday, Kinew said while his thoughts remain with the women who have made complaints against Struthers, he praised Selinger for his commitment to the province.

"Its my hope that Greg will be remembered as a premier who led our province through the aftermath of the global financial crisis, two major floods, and was a finance minister who balanced the budget for 10 years in a row," Kinew said. "I wish to thank Greg, as well as his wife and children for their service. I know Greg gave a lot of himself as premier, MLA and city councillor."

University of Winnipeg political science Prof. Shannon Sampert said Selingers departure leaves the NDP fractured.

"Last week revealed the cracks that remain in the NDP, with Selingers faceoff against Kinew," Sampert said. "He (Selinger) knew he could get away with it because he had the backing of those within the party and the caucus.

"And the party has to do a lot of repair  they should now be looking forward to the next campaign, not dealing with the residue of the last one. So with Selinger gone, they can actually now move past the damage -- if Kinew can mend and build the partys fractures and move them onward."

"(Selinger) has caused damage, no question, deep damage for the party," Brandon University political science Prof. Kelly Saunders said, adding its been years of ongoing problems beginning with the ill-fated decision to raise the PST.

"Its been five years of internal disarray, of a divided caucus. Its not like the problem ends today," said Saunders, who pointed out Kinew lacked a Plan B when Selinger refused to quit last week.

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"The bumbling within the party, they just cant seem to get their feet underneath them. This seems to be a black pit the NDP has fallen into."

Retired University of Manitoba political scientist Paul Thomas said Selinger presided over the NDPs abandonment of ideology in pursuit of maintaining power.

"Selinger is a serious, ideological, intelligent policy wonk, but he lacked the interpersonal skills to manage the human dynamics of a party that became complacent with its success and could not find internal harmony," Thomas said.

"Selinger is leaving the party when it has a deeply damaged brand and continues to suffer from internal divisions," Thomas said. "In response to the Gang of Five, he should have defended his actions as premier forcefully and promised to resign after the 2016 election.

"The Gang of Five were self-indulgent and misguided in staging a open revolt. Both the Selinger and the anti-Selinger camps reflected and reinforced the personality-based me-first culture that developed in the party."

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca
There are few times you can point to a pivotal period in world history and say, unequivocally, that the leadership of one person tipped the balance in a positive direction.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 20/2/2018 (1304 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

There are few times you can point to a pivotal period in world history and say, unequivocally, that the leadership of one person tipped the balance in a positive direction.

Winston Churchills appointment as prime minister of Great Britain in 1940 was such a moment. As Gary Oldman so brilliantly portrays him in Darkest Hour (and he has my vote for a Best Actor Oscar this year, to match his Golden Globe), Churchills stubborn refusal to surrender to either the backrooms of the Conservative party or to the Nazi war machine set an example for political leadership that is, unfortunately, all too rare.

Though it was their darkest hour, it was his brightest, taking a job he would never have been offered in less desperate circumstances because he did not fit the mould that the institutions of his time expected of a leader in his party or in British society.

He drank too much, smoked pungent cigars and was saddled with a record of disastrous choices in the previous war (such as the invasion of the Dardanelles and Gallipoli) as First Sea Lord. He had inherited little money, made most of his income from writing and generated (or cultivated) a reputation for blunt conversation that meant perpetual damage control for his long-suffering spouse or for his hosts.

In defence of the British Empire, he had been a thug, wielding imperial authority to suppress colonial independence movements that would require more decades of struggle to succeed.

He was, literally, the political embodiment of the iconic British bulldog, having set his teeth in a problem and refusing to let go, no matter how good or persuasive the opposing argument.

Those very qualities turned the tide of the Second World War and, with Franklin D. Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin, Churchill shaped the postwar world we inherited, for good or ill.

Tossed out of office almost the moment the war ended, he returned in 1951 for Great Britains next war in Korea, and then suffered a serious stroke in 1953  the same year he received the Nobel Prize for literature.

The bulldog refused to let go, of course, so he recovered and continued his work for another decade. The earliest memory I have of television is not Bugs Bunny, but watching his extraordinary state funeral in 1965, when he was given a send-off normally reserved for a king.

For Churchill, words mattered.

He mobilized the English language and sent it into battle, when there was nothing else left that could be done. For his political foes, in Britain and abroad, his combination of words, delivery and public image were devastating  Churchillian, in fact.

But for the rest of the world, his words could be as inspirational as his analysis was incisive. Seventy-two years ago, his speech at Westminster College in 1946 framed the Cold War in a similar fashion, calling out the Soviet Union for "the iron curtain" that had fallen across Europe.

Today, there are no literary prizes given for politicians speeches, written by others and read poorly from a TelePrompTer. Analysts are left with nothing to say afterward, because the politicians have offered so little. Audience response is dutiful or added in studio. Image, not substance, is all that matters in the obligatory 15-second sound bite.

Political leadership has become an oxymoron, a poor joke on democratic institutions that seem to have a death wish instead of a vision for a better future. Competence is feared, honesty avoided and real answers to current problems  such as the questions dodged in parliamentary sessions  are best left to someone else, tomorrow.

Today, we have lost our way.

Trying (unsuccessfully) to avoid the problems of patriarchy, we look for facilitators instead of leaders, focusing on process instead of outcome, ensuring all voices are heard, whether or not they have something useful to say. Everyone gets a ribbon.

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Leadership at any level is a perilous choice for someone to make. To make things worse, the ones who seek it out these days seem the least likely to be the leaders we need.

Yet we are at war, with the planet and with ourselves, for a future in which all the defenceless children of Earth will have to live.

We need more leaders like Winston Churchill. For all his flaws, he identified the real enemy, what needed to be done to stop it, and how. Words, by themselves, were not enough  but that was the right place to start.

We must hold those in leadership accountable for their words as well as for their actions, expecting inspiration instead of aspiration, demanding a vision for what we all can do together that goes beyond winning the next election.

If they have a dream, we need to hear it and be inspired to share it. Otherwise, like Neville Chamberlain, they need to step aside before it is too late.

Peter Denton is a writer and local sustainability activist. He is adjunct associate professor of history at the Royal Military College of Canada.
Volunteer of the Year: Health and Human Services

The Santa Ynez Valley Foundation and the Santa Ynez Valley News are honoring Edna Nesky as the 2018 Volunteer of the Year for Health and Human Services for her commitment to bettering the Santa Ynez Valley. She will be formally recognized during a banquet at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott on March 24.
As a passerby in the upscale Johannesburg suburb of Saxonwold observed, the South African Police would never have raided the enormous, high-walled compound of the Gupta family if then-South African president Jacob Zuma were not on the brink of being removed. But early Wednesday morning, the police did exactly that.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 20/2/2018 (1304 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

As a passerby in the upscale Johannesburg suburb of Saxonwold observed, the South African Police would never have raided the enormous, high-walled compound of the Gupta family if then-South African president Jacob Zuma were not on the brink of being removed. But early Wednesday morning, the police did exactly that.

The Guptas, three Indian immigrant brothers who became extremely rich due to their close partnership with Zuma, used to be untouchable. They were accused of "state capture" in the media, but they were safe because of their alliance with Zuma. He did very nicely out of the deal, too.

All thats over now. One of the Gupta brothers was arrested in the raid, and the other two cannot be far behind. It was a signal to Zuma that the gloves were coming off, and 15 hours later he was gone. He had clung desperately to the presidency since the African National Congress voted him out as its leader in December, but on Wednesday evening he resigned "with immediate effect."

Zuma joined the ANC, the countrys main liberation movement, in 1959 and had an illustrious career. He served 10 years imprisonment on Robben Island with Nelson Mandela, fled abroad in 1975 and became chief of the ANCs intelligence department during the 1980s.

A man who served as his chief of staff in those years, a white South African now living abroad who has no reason to seek Zumas approval, told me recently that he was a brilliant strategist. He had admired Zuma greatly, he said, and like many others he was as much puzzled as dismayed by what Zuma became during his later years. After decades of sacrifice and dedication, it has been a tragic fall from grace.

Technically, Zuma still had a year left in his second term as president, but the ANC wanted him out now because he was blighting the partys chances of winning next years election. Friendly hints and subtle pressures were not shifting him, so on Tuesday the ANCs newly elected national executive committee ordered him to resign from the state presidency.

Zuma was still telling various media he would refuse to quit until late afternoon on Wednesday, although it was clear that there was no way he could win. The state president is elected by parliament, not by a popular vote, and parliament can also remove him by a non-confidence vote. The ANC has a majority in parliament, and such a vote was already scheduled for the 22nd.

Why did he hang on so long if he was bound to lose in the end? Probably because he was hoping to negotiate some sort of amnesty deal in return for going quietly. But thats a hard thing to do in South Africa, as the government does not control the courts.

Until recently, Zumas exit plan involved getting his ex-wife, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, chosen to succeed him as ANC president. She would then protect him from the many corruption charges that awaited him after he left the state presidency, at least in theory. But the ANC elected Cyril Ramaphosa as its president instead.

After that, Zumas only hope, if he wants to stay in South Africa after leaving office  which he clearly does  is an amnesty deal. But if the ANC is to rebuild its credibility with the voters there must be no amnesty, and Ramaphosa has said publicly that it is not in the cards. That is probably true.

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In any case, its over now. Ramaphosa, a former trade union leader who became a very rich businessman, will probably take over the state presidency only briefly now, choosing some other worthy ANC member to serve out the last year of Zumas term. He would prefer to be elected state president next year, but in fact, he will already be running the show behind the scenes and much will be expected of him.

South Africas economy has stagnated during Zumas nine-year reign, in large part because both foreigners and local people were reluctant to invest in a country whose government had become so corrupt. There needs to be a massive cleansing exercise within the ANC, and it needs to start now if the results are to be visible before the election.

Zuma may stay to face the music  or, more likely, he will move abroad and live in the US$25-million palace that the Guptas reportedly bought for him in Dubai. (He has categorically denied owning any property abroad himself, but the denial was carefully phrased.)

The ANC has fallen a long way from its glory days, but it is a legitimate and democratic political party that still commands the loyalty of many, perhaps most, South Africans. Now that Zuma has finally quit, Ramaphosa, a competent and by all accounts honest man, can get started on rebuilding the partys reputation.

If he succeeds, the ANC could still win next years election and another five years in power. Whether that is the best thing for South Africa, given that the ANC has already been in power for a quarter-century, is another question.

Gwynne Dyer is an independent journalist whose articles are published in 45 countries.
Dire conditions in other countries prompt many to seek a better life in Canada. And while we can sound the alarm over mass suffering and potential atrocity against displaced persons, theres always political capital in playing to voters prejudices.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 20/2/2018 (1304 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Editorial

Dire conditions in other countries prompt many to seek a better life in Canada. And while we can sound the alarm over mass suffering and potential atrocity against displaced persons, theres always political capital in playing to voters prejudices.

What religion are they? Do they come from an area known for radically different politics and social upheaval? Well, lets not encourage too many to immigrate here. Not yet. Just to be safe.

Adrian Wyld / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen

That was the stance taken by a Prairie province premier in 1929. His target? Mennonites.

As reported in the Winnipeg Free Press on Nov. 25, 1929, then-premier of Saskatchewan James Thomas Milton Anderson felt that "while his government cannot agree to have the Mennonites brought to Saskatchewan at the present time, the situation might be entirely different next summer."

That sounds quite reasonable. However, a potential humanitarian catastrophe was unfolding in the Soviet Union. The Soviet government had already begun deporting Mennonite refugees to Siberia, "where it is believed they face death by starvation and cold."

Canadas immigration minister was reluctant to admit refugees to any province that opposed their settling there, despite having assurances from Germany (which was already admitting many of the refugees) and the Mennonite community in Rosthen, Sask., that the refugees would not present a burden to any level of government.

The story of who is encouraged to immigrate to Canada, and when, is a varied one.

In the early 20th century, politicians began promoting the immigration of Ukrainians, Hungarians and Mennonites for developing Prairie homesteads.

Immigrants came from China to work on Canadian railroads. Their home province, Guangdong, had been ravaged by floods, earthquakes, plagues, typhoons, droughts and civil wars.

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Icelanders emigrated from an agriculturally depressed region of their country, which suffered disastrous volcanic eruptions in the 1870s.

When Canada shirks its duty to respond to crises, the consequences can be horrifying. In the 1930s, Canada closed its doors to Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution. When asked how many would be allowed into the country, the chilling words of one immigration official were "None is too many."

Canadas immigration policy has changed many times over the decades. In recent years, our model of private sponsorship of refugees has won praise for its success in supporting immigrants as they work to integrate into Canadian society. Having stability in ones new country allows people to reunite with family members who also wish to immigrate. This has been the story of successful immigration to Canada again and again.

In January, the federal government seemed to throw that essential part of immigration success into question by reintroducing a lottery system to reunite immigrant families. It replaced the former first-come, first-served process last year, and federal Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen has faced criticism in Parliament for the move.

Canada is again in a position to answer humanitarian crises by taking in refugees, and despite federal promises, it has been slow to respond to the rising need.

Aside from the obvious fact that immigration has been good for Canada, it is something concrete we can do that helps others. For many Canadians who are likely descended from immigrants themselves  because of, or in spite of, previous government policy  to dig in their heels and say immigration is moving too quickly, or is too easy, has more than a whiff of "lets wait and see" while a crisis unfolds, or worse, a sense of "none is too many."
Israeli forces attacked 18 targets in the Gaza Strip belonging to Hamas, which controls the besieged enclave, in the second such action over the weekend.

The strikes followed an explosion during a demonstration of Palestinians on the southern border with Israel Saturday that injured four Israeli soldiers. The Israeli military shot and killed two Palestinian teenagers in response. It was the worst such border incident since Israels war against Gaza in 2014 and portends a broader offensive.

None of the militant groups in Gaza has claimed responsibility for the explosion. Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman accused the Popular Resistance Committees, one of the smaller armed groups in Gaza, of detonating the bomb. Nevertheless, as always Israel holds Hamas, the Islamist national bourgeois party that controls Gaza, responsible for the attack.

For months, there have been almost weekly demonstrations against Israels blockade of Gaza and the deteriorating economic conditions. Last December, tensions rose after US President Donald Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israels capital. Earlier this year, Gazas traders closed in protest over the deteriorating situation.

Israels Army Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot warned the cabinet recently that tensions were rising due to the worsening humanitarian crisis, that demonstrations were increasing in size and that an incident along the fence could spark an escalation of hostilities. His purpose was to get cabinet approval for harsh measures to deal with the crisis in the face of Gazas economic collapse.

Conditions in Gaza, a narrow coastal strip on the Egyptian-Israeli border, after 11 years of living under a land, sea and air blockade, are hellish.

Last year, a United Nations report stated that the living conditions for two million Palestinians had deteriorated further and faster than the prediction made in 2012 that the enclave would become unlivable by 2020. Large numbers of people are destitute. Forty-six percent of the population are without work. Sixty five percent live on $1.90 or less a day. This collapse in purchasing power has led to a huge drop in the number of trucks entering Gaza with food and equipmentfrom 800-1,200 a day to just 300.

Power shortages mean that most Palestinians are lucky if they get four hours of electricity a day. There is not enough power to pump sewage, so 95 percent of Gazas drinking water is not fit to drink. The coastal aquifer is almost unusable and will soon be irreversibly-depleted unless remedial action is taken.

The health system is collapsing, medical supplies are dwindling and clinics are closing, causing untold suffering and unnecessary deaths. Unable to get treatment in Gaza for complicated or chronic medical problems, many seek treatment in Egypt, Israel, the West Bank or Jordan. Yet last year, Israel granted just 54 percent of 25,000 applications for travel permits in time for patients to attend their scheduled appointments, down from 92 percent in 2012. As a result, at least 54 people died in 2017 waiting for visas.

Children are in school for just four hours a day.

There is no escape from this open-air prison. Israel has surrounded the Gaza Strip with a high-tech barrier and spent almost $1 billion building an underground-barrier project to seal its border to the attack tunnels into Israel. It controls two of the three exit points, while Egypt controls the third. Last year, Israel issued one-third of the number of exit visas issued two years earlier and just one percent of the number in early 2000. Movement between the two Palestinian territories, Gaza and the West Bank, in either direction is all but impossible.

The economic and social plight of the two million Palestinians living in the tiny enclave has been dire ever since Israel, with the full support of the US, European Union and the Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority (PA)particularly since 2013imposed a blockade on Gaza. Jordan, by imposing strict transit conditions on Gazans, and Egypt, which controls the Rafah crossing, have played a key role in the siege.

The siege of Gaza was mounted following the unexpected victory of Hamas over Fatah in the January 2006 elections which the major powers had intended as a means of strengthening the hand of Mahmoud Abbas, Fatah leader and PA President. Winning 44 percent of the vote in the West Bank and Gaza, compared to Fatahs 41 percent, Hamas took 74 of the 132-seat Palestinian Legislative Council.

Hamas election victory was the result of widespread disgust at Fatahs corruption and subservience to Israel. The Oslo Accords, which Hamas had earlier opposed, had brought wealth for a few and unemployment, poverty and military oppression for the majority, while the Israeli settlements on land to be included in any future state had increased.

Despite Hamas willingness to accept some form of a two state solution and take a minority role in a coalition with Fatah, Israel and the US rejected this. They demanded Hamas abandon its three core tenets and renounce the use of arms, recognise Israel and sign up to the Oslo Accords in return for international recognition of a Hamas-controlled PA, or face an international boycott. The other members of the Quartet, the UN, European Union and Russia, soon fell in line with Washingtons demands, and the EU too cut its aid to the PA.

The US and Israel were determined to prevent any attempts by Fatah and Hamas to reach an agreement, deepening the split between the two factions in order to divide and rule, while increasing Hamas economic dependence on Qatar and Iran.

In June 2006, Israel launched an attack on Gaza, knocking out its power station, making Gaza increasingly dependent on Israel for its electricity and precipitating daily power cuts lasting for hours at a time. Israel tightened its blockade on Gaza after Hamas forestalled and defeated an attempted coup by Fatah in a brief but brutal civil war in June 2007. Three military assaults on Gaza in 2008-09, 2012 and 2014 killed 1,417, 147 and 2,250 Palestinians respectively, and destroyed much of Gazas basic infrastructure together with tens of thousands of homes. Around 90,000 of the 500,000 people displaced by the 2014 assault remain displaced or homeless.

The blockade worsened after the military coup in Egypt that toppled the Muslim Brotherhood-led government of Mohammed Morsi and the clampdown on the Brotherhood and Hamasa Brotherhood affiliateby the military junta of Abdul Fattah el-Sisi.

El-Sisi closed Egypts border crossing at Rafah and forced Hamas to close the tunnels between Gaza and Egypt that had provided a means of circumventing Israels blockade and a source of income, by taxing the goods brought in, for Hamas.

Last year, Abbas imposed further hardship on Gaza. He stopped paying Israel for fuel for Gazas power station and electrical transmission into the Gaza Strip and ended or cut salary payments to thousands of public sector workers. This was to force Hamas into reconciliation talks with Fatah that culminated in a Cairo-brokered agreement in October. But the talks have stalled and the promised relief has failed to materialise.

In October, the World Food Programme announced a cutback in its food voucher programme in Gaza due to a budget shortfall.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration withheld $65 million in funding for the United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA), which supports some 1.2 million in Gaza, as well as $45 million in food aid in the West Bank and Gaza that it had promised for an emergency UNRWA appeal.

UNRWA has for decades provided key social services as well as a vital lifeline for the poorest Palestinians. Now that too has gone and the viability of the agency itself is in question.
Three sheriffs in Alabama have admitted to pocketing money allocated for feeding inmates in county jails in response to a lawsuit brought against 49 county sheriffs by poverty advocacy groups.

On January 5, the Southern Center for Human Rights (SCHR) and the Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice (AACLJ) jointly filed a lawsuit against the sheriffs for failing to comply with a public records request concerning their usage of jailhouse food funds.

Many sheriffs contend that their usage of these funds is legal under Alabama law.

"I do it just like the law tells us to. That's about all I have to say about that," Monroe County Sheriff Thomas Tate told AL.com last week. "We feed all our inmates good and the excess goes to the sheriff. If you declare it excess, you take it and you pay taxes on it."

The ledgers Tate handed over in response to the lawsuit reveal that of the $423,364.60 of federal, state, and municipal funds allocated to feed inmates in his jail between 2014 and 2017, $110,459.77 was declared excess. Monroe County jails excess food funds rose each year between 2014 and 2016.

"The law says it's a personal account and that's the way I've always done it and that's the way the law reads and that's the way I do business," Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin responded. "That's the way the law's written."

Although Entrekin protested that he asked the County Commission to handle the funds for feeding inmates, he has still not turned over his records. Entrekin paid a high school student to mow his lawn with checks marked Sheriff Todd Entrekin Food Provision Account, and the address on the checks is his home address.

The SCHR and AACLJ disagree with Tate and Entrekin on the legality of such practices. Our position is that this practice is illegal now, but it's clear that many sheriffs believe its legal for them to do this, Aaron Littman, a staff attorney for the SCHR, said in an interview with AL.com.

"Clearly this is a practice which is problematic because it creates an incentive for sheriffs to spend as little as possible on feeding folks... and obviously, when a minimal amount of money is approved for something and less than that is spent, the quality suffers."

This issue is not a new one for Alabama. In 2009, a US District judge ordered court security to arrest Morgan County Sheriff Greg Bartlett after prisoners testified about meals consisting of thin bologna, cold grits, and corn dogs. Bartlett testified that he and a sheriff from a neighboring county split the costs of an 18-wheeler full of corn dogs, which they fed to the inmates in their jails twice a day; Bartlett pocketed the excess of the money allocated for inmates foodabout $112,000 over three years.

US District Judge U.W. Clemon stated in his ruling that, while he was bound to rule only upon a court order, dating from 2001, he thought that the Alabama law was probably unconstitutional. Inmates at the hearing appeared visibly thin and provided evidence to show that they spent hundreds of dollars of their own money at a for-profit jailhouse store because they were so hungry. One inmates records showed a weight loss of 35 pounds over three months.

In 2017, Morgan County Sheriff Ana Franklin was held in contempt of court for violating the consent decree in Clemons 2009 judgment. A series of posts on a blog called The Morgan County Whistleblower raised concerns over discrepancies between what Franklin was paid to feed inmates and the quality of food the inmates were offered. Franklin had siphoned $160,000 from the funds earmarked for jailhouse food, investing $150,000 into a car dealershipwhich subsequently went bankruptrun by a convicted bank swindler.

Franklins own testimony revealed that she had been aware of the consent decree, explaining that she had asked, before winning the election, if Clemons consent decree in the Bartlett case applied to her. According to Franklin, she said she did not believe she was bound by the decree, even though the decree specifies that the Morgan County sheriff is required to spend all allocated funds, including the excess, on inmate nutrition only.

The law cited by the sheriff dates to the Depression era. Alabamas constitution, by design, gives county sheriffs great leeway; lawyers for the Southern Poverty Law Center have compared Alabama counties to feudal fiefdoms where the sheriff is given broad licenseat the expense of residentsto profit from county funds. Like many aspects of Alabamas constitution, it is based upon a concept of local sovereignty that has undergirded laws designed to disenfranchise poor black and white residents.

The sheriffs remain a force unto themselves. The Alabama Attorney Generals office has deferred all the medias requests for comments to the Alabama Sheriffs Association (ASA) while the ASA has declined to be interviewed on this issue. Their position, however, is well known; after Corn-dog Sheriff Bartlett was jailed, the organizations director told reporters that prisoners all around the state complained about the food, then dismissed the complaints, saying, "You're never going to be able to satisfy them.

Inmates continue to speak about the poor provisions in Alabamas county jails.

A young mother living in Decatur, Alabama, in Morgan County, related to the WSWS how she was recently taken into custody in the neighboring county for unpaid traffic fines. She was placed a cold jail cell when she could not pay the $200 bail in addition to her fines and forced to sleep on a Styrofoam mat on a concrete floor in jail.

Food was barely food, she said. Off-brand bologna with every meal, just milk and later only water to drink. Neither she nor the other inmates were provided with basic toiletries, either; the only amenity was bar soap. She recalls struggling to wash her hair with the bar soap, then sitting wet and cold in a poorly heated cell until a nurse could look her over.

The young mother mentioned above is currently homeless and, although she was released after spending a night in jail, hundreds of dollars have been added to her traffic fines and court fees, and should she be unable to pay those, she will end up in jail again. It is at the expense of these people that sheriffs such as Thomas Tate, Todd Entrekin, Ana Franklin, and 46 others line their pockets.

The Alabama Public Records Law exists so that we can hold our government accountable. Unfortunately, a number of sheriffs have decided that our public records law does not apply to them, SCHRs Frank Knaack stated in a press release. Alabamas sheriffs, though, are accustomed to an impunity that they will not hand over easily.
The US Congress House Armed Services Committee (HASC) dedicated two days of hearings last Thursday and Friday to security challenges and strategic competition with China in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. The hearing took place in the wake of the publication by the Pentagon of its new National Defense Strategy, which labelled China and Russia as the primary threats to US security and insisted on the need to prioritise preparedness for war.

The sole witness at the February 14 hearing was Admiral Harry Harris, the commander of US Pacific Command (USPACOM), who was nominated just days before by President Donald Trump to fill the vacant post of US ambassador to Australia. Harris and his headquarters submitted a 20,500-word statement to the committee and he fielded questions for over two hours.

The admiral portrayed the US military, with its $1.4 trillion two-year budget, 1.3 million active personnel, 11 aircraft carrier battlegroups and arsenal of over 4,000 ground, air and sea-launched nuclear weapons, as under-resourced, under-manned and in the danger of being overtaken by military rivals. He complained that it did not have enough forward-deployed munitions and logistics, while bases and infrastructure on the US West Coast were run-down. He bitterly condemned the minor limits on increased military spending that were imposed by Congress via budget sequestration in 2013which were lifted in the latest budget.

Repeating a line that appears regularly in his speeches, Harriss statement asserted: If USPACOM has to fight tonight, I dont want it to be a fair fight. If its a knife fight, I want to bring a gun. If its a gun fight, I want to bring in the artillery, and the artillery of all of our allies. I have said during my last two appearances before this Committee, that sequestration could reduce us to wielding a butter knife in this fight. This is unacceptable. We must not let that happen.

China has developed and fielded capability and capacity to challenge our regional maritime dominance. I need increased lethality, specifically ships and aircraft equipped with faster and more survivable weapons systems. Longer range offensive weapons on every platform are an imperative.

Harris accused China, as he has before, of seeking to militarise the South China Sea and turn islets and reefs into forward military posts against the US Navy. The US, he indicated, should never accept a challenge to its ability to deploy military forces directly off Chinas coast.

Harris presented a vision of the world in which US economic and strategic interests are under siege from not only a rising China, but Russia, rogue states such as North Korea, international terrorism, transnational crime, and even piracy and natural disasters.

The US military, he asserted, remains the most powerful in the world, but our relative advantage and ability to counter these threats have declined. For USPACOM to continue to underpin US diplomatic efforts and deter future conflict against peer competitors, rogue states, and transnational threats, the joint force must maintain a clear ability to fight and win when called upon to do so.

Harriss witness statement left no doubt that he believes military spending must be ramped up by hundreds of billions of dollars. His wish list for new hardware ranged from missile defense systems, dozens more ships and submarines, more fifth generation fighters, through to more lethal cluster bombs.

The United States, Harris argued to the HASC, needs to go on a war footing, with every aspect of economic and social life subordinated to the armed forces. His perspective would require even more savage cutbacks to social spending. It is incompatible with even the facade of democracy that now exists.

And not only in the US. Harris indicated that all the key US allies in Asiaspecifically Japan, South Korea and Australia, as well as the Philippines and Thailandmust likewise boost war preparations. He proposed that the US seek greater military involvement by France and the United Kingdom in operations targeting Chinese influence. He named Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and the Pacific Island states as all potential participants in the US camp.

Above all, however, he stressed the burgeoning strategic ties between the US and India. It had the potential to be the most consequential bilateral relationship of the 21st century, due to Indias growing influence and expanding military.

Questioned about the possibility of war, Harris stated: At the end of the day the ability to wage war is important, or you become a paper tiger. Im hopeful that it wont come to a conflict with China, but we all must be prepared for that if it should come to that.

In a second hearing on February 15, Aaron Friedberg from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University and Ely Ratner from the Council on Foreign Relations made sweeping accusations of Chinese interference in US politics and society so as to demonise Beijing as the US prepares for war.

Friedberg testified: China is now using a combination of its rapidly growing military, economic and political or information warfare capabilities to try to weaken the US position in Asia with the aim of displacing it as the preponderant regional power. He called for action against Chinese political warfare within the US, including purported efforts to develop relations with universities and academics, politicians, former government officials and Hollywood studios. Chinese students and migrants were accused of being used to support Beijings aims.

Ratner, in his statement, declared: Beijing is working overseasincluding in the United Statesto undermine academic freedom, censor foreign media, restrict the free flow of information, and curb civil society. Beijing is also promoting its own state-led model of development in explicit contrast to liberal democracy.

The US had to prioritise defense resources for the China challenge. To do so, Ratner advocated abandoning costly US operations in Afghanistan and the Middle East, avoiding so-called wars of choice with North Korea and Iran, and massively boosting military forces in Asia. He called for concerted action by the US, Japan and other countries to undermine Chinese investment and development plans in Eurasia as part of its One Belt, One Road strategy.

Ratner concluded by calling for action to root out Chinese Communist Party influence operations in the US.

Painting a truly bizarre portrait of the US, he alleged: As a result of various forms of Chinese espionage and coercion, American schools and universities are avoiding topics Beijing deems sensitive, students in the United States are intimidated from speaking freely, US media outlets and scholars are self-censoring, US companies are curbing their speech to placate China, and millions of Americans are subject to veiled Chinese propaganda through Communist Party-run online, television, print, and radio media.

Such rhetoric, with all its xenophobic overtones, has one motive: to ideologically justify the war preparations advocated by Harris and anti-China hawks throughout the corporate, political military and intelligence establishment.

Campaigns against purported Chinese interference and influence are well under way in Australia and New Zealand. The Australian parliament is currently considering draconian legislation that would criminalise political opposition to the militarist stance of the US and its allies and a range of commercial activities with so-called overseas organisations.

While American politics has been largely consumed by the accusations of Russian meddling in the 2016 election, the HASC hearings are another sign that efforts are being made to shift the focus onto China.

The author recommends:

Australian government unveils draconian foreign interference billsThree-part series

[31 January 2018]

CIA director brands China as big a threat to the US as Russia

[1 February 2018]
The US State Department has issued a fresh ultimatum on the Iran nuclear deal to Washingtons ostensible major allies in Europe, demanding that Germany, Britain and France commit themselves to altering the agreement along the lines demanded by President Donald Trump or face its unilateral abrogation by the US.

A secret State Department cable obtained by Reuters presents what are essentially the same demands made by Trump last January. At that time, he announced that he was prepared to relaunch all-out US economic warfare against Iran unless the European powers joined Washington in imposing a rewritten nuclear accord on Tehran, including provisions that the Iranian government cannot and will not accept.

The occasion for Trumps threat was his reluctant announcement on January 12 that he had decided to waive the reimposition of US sanctions that were lifted as part of the nuclear agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). He vowed that this would be the last time he issued such a waiver, unless his conditions were met. The next deadline for waiving the sanctions is May 12.

The message from the State Department to the European powers asks for their commitment that we should work together to seek a supplemental or follow-on agreement that addresses Irans development or testing long-range missiles, ensures strong IAEA inspections, and fixes the flaws of the sunset clause.

Washington has demanded that Iran grant International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors immediate and unlimited access to any site in the country, including military bases; the elimination of sunset clauses in the JCPOA, making time-limited restrictions on aspects of Irans civil nuclear program permanent; and drastically limiting, if not outlawing, Irans ballistic missile program.

While presented by Reuters and other media as a softening of the position outlined by Trump in January, the cable makes it clear that the US is continuing to present its nominal allies in Europe with an ultimatum.

In the absence of a clear commitment from your side to address these issues, the United States will not again waive sanctions in order to stay in the Iran nuclear deal. If at any time the President judges that such commitment is not within reach, the President indicated he would end US participation in the deal.

The cables talking points for US diplomats to advance Washingtons agenda in Europe stress the Trump administrations strategy to counter the Iranian regimes reckless aggression, which addresses the full range of Iranian threats, of which Irans nuclear program is only one element.

The clear implication is that Washington is embarked on a trajectory of war with Iran, either with or without the collaboration of its NATO allies in Berlin, London and Paris. Should they join with the US in ripping up the nuclear accord, it will set them on a collision course not only with Iran, but also with Russia and China, the two other signatories to the JCPOA.

The US has spelled out its own intentions in the Trump administrations recent National Security Strategy, lumping Iran together with North Korea under the category of rogue states that represent a threat to US national interests and are to be confronted and defeated.

None of the European powers responded directly to the US cable, which the State Department itself refused to discuss. Asked about the US demands in an online media briefing, the French Foreign Ministry declared: The French position on the Iran nuclear deal is known. As the President of the Republic [Emmanuel Macron] has said, we reaffirm our full attachment to the global action plan and its strict implementation. It added that Paris would continue to talk about the Iran nuclear program with our European and American partners.

The European powers are pursuing their own imperialist interests in the Middle East and are increasingly at odds with US interests and strategies. The lifting of sanctions against Iran was greeted by European corporations as an opportunity to generate a fresh stream of profits through billions of dollars in new investments and trade deals. Many of these plans remain unfulfilled because of concerns that the US will target companies with unilateral sanctions, and that their investments could go up in smoke in the event of a new and catastrophic US war in the Middle East.

While hostile to Irans growing influence in the region, the European powers are increasingly alarmed at the prospect that Washingtons strategy of forging a regional anti-Iranian alliance with Israel and Saudi Arabia, together with the other Sunni Gulf oil sheikdoms, will produce a military confrontation that could cut off oil supplies upon which Europe depends and unleash a political and refugee crisis that will spill onto the continent.

Washington has issued its latest ultimatum in the midst of an explosive escalation of regional tensions, driven in the main by US and Israeli aggression. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spelled out Tel Avivs aggressive stance against Iran in a bellicose speech to the Munich Security Conference on Sunday. Holding up what he claimed was a piece of an Iranian drone shot down over Israeli-occupied Syrian territory in the Golan Heights, he denounced Iran as the greatest threat to the world, equating it with Nazi Germany.

We will act without hesitation to defend ourselves, and we will act if necessary not just against Irans proxies that are attacking us, but against Iran itself, said Netanyahu, in a clear threat to attack Iran, an action that his government would undertake only with US backing.

Israel responded to the alleged overflight of the drone, which Tehran insists was launched by independent Syrian militia elements in Syria, by targeting Iranian personnel in Syria with air strikes. Syrian air defense units succeeded in shooting down an Israeli F-16 fighter jet, the first such loss for the Israeli Air Force since the early 1980s.

Speaking in response to Netanyahu at the Munich conference, Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Iranian foreign minister, attributed the frenzied tone of Netanyahus speech to the downing of the warplane. The so-called invincibility of [Israel] has crumbled, he said.

The US military and intelligence apparatus and its loyal stenographers in the US corporate media are churning out continuous war propaganda against Iran.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, US national security advisor Gen. H.R. McMaster declared it was necessary to act against Iran, which he accused of arming a network of proxies that is becoming more and more capable as Iran seeds more and more...destructive weapons into these networks.

The New York Times published a lengthy piece Monday based on interviews with Israeli military officers and government officials along with representatives of US, Israeli and Saudi-funded think tanks alleging that Iran is creating an infrastructure [in Syria] to threaten Israel. Needless to say, the article made no mention of Israels own funding and aid for Sunni Islamist militias attacking the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad.

The same issue of the Times carried an opinion piece by US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley claiming, falsely, that a report issued by the United Nations proved that Iran has shipped missiles to the Houthi rebels in Yemen to fire at Saudi Arabia. The actual report found that remnants of the missiles were of Iranian origin, while providing no evidence as to how they got there.

Haley insists that the world must act before a missile hits a school or a hospital and leads to a dangerous military escalation that provokes a Saudi military response.

The column echoes the big lie methods pioneered by Nazi Minister of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels. That Saudi Arabia has been bombing Yemeni schools, hospitals, neighborhoods and infrastructure for nearly three years, killing some 13,000 Yemeni civilians and plunging the countrys population into the worst humanitarian crisis on the planet, goes unmentioned.

Haley is also silent on the fact that the US has provided the vast majority of the bombs and missiles dropped on the Yemeni people, while mounting logistical and refueling operations that make the mass slaughter possible.
Last week, the leaders of the Social Democrats (SPD) and Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) agreed to renew their grand coalition government. Since then, Juso (Young Socialists) Chairman Kevin Kuhnert has been touring Germany under the slogan #NoGroKo (No Grand Coalition), calling for the coalition agreement to be rejected by the SPD membership in balloting that starts today.

His appearance on Tuesday evening in Berlin-Kreuzberg made clear which social and political interests, fears and calculations lie behind the campaign of the Jusos, and to which far-reaching social developments they are reacting.

Kuhnert and the Jusos are not concerned with organising a political struggle against the grand coalition, let alone mobilising workers and young people for new elections based on a socialist programme. Their goal is to forestall the collapse of the SPD in a new edition of the grand coalition and to prevent growing popular opposition from breaking out of the official party spectrum.

Maybe Im even carrying more state-political responsibility, which other people talk about the whole time, said Kuhnert. More worrying than 14, 15 or 16 percent for the SPD, for him, was that we now have a situation where the SPD and the CDU/CSU together have less than 50 percent in the polls. People were looking for actual or perceived alternatives in our political landscape, and that applied not only to the [far-right] Alternative for Germany (AfD). This made politics not only confusing, but dangerous.

Right at the beginning of his speech at the event, which with over 200 was well-attended for a Juso meeting, Kuhnert made clear that he has no fundamental differences with the coalition agreement, although this provides the basis for the most right-wing German government since the demise of the Nazi dictatorship. I think our negotiators obtained the best that was possible under the circumstances, he said. One could also clearly see that our party was the one that went into these negotiations with political goals in the first place.

Kuhnert also did not rule out further cooperation with the CDU/CSU. The Jusos were never against talks with the CDU/CSU, he assured his audience. From the outsetsince the coalition talks with the Free Democrats and Greens failed in Novemberwe said wed like to talk to them, we can talk about a toleration model (that is, a minority CDU-only government tolerated by the SPD). And this train had still not left the station. One could say, on the basis of this paper [the coalition agreement], okay these were subjects that could be implemented in the form of a minority government. He believed that the CDU and SPD in the Bundestag [parliament] could quickly agree in many places on questions of European policy. Also out of a shared sense of responsibility.

In the following discussion, a representative of the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party) spoke out against the right-wing coalition agreement and called on the SPD members present to reject it. He addressed the question to Kuhnert: As a member of the SPD executive, could he provide an insight into the secret rearmament plans discussed and did he know how the agreed NATO spending target of two percent of GDP, requiring an increase of the military budget by about 35 billion by 2024, was specifically to be achieved?

Kuhnerts evasive answer showed that he does not really object to the policy of militarism, increased state powers at home and social cuts. Unfortunately, one could not present the discussion on the SPD party executive committee...like in a left-wing plenum, he stated cynically. What is in the coalition agreement was not a clear commitment to NATOs two-percent target, but did mean more money for armaments.

However, the envisaged billions were not for rearmament but for defence. This differentiation was important to him. If you maintain a Bundeswehr [Armed Forces], whether you like it or not, you are also something of an employer and must take care of this, that people have decent working conditions, which they objectively often do not have at the moment. Rearmament was something else.

Kuhnert may call the plans for the massive increase in military spending what he likes, but he himself makes clear that the Social Democrats are the driving force behind them. In this area of negotiations, the SPD had managed to ensure a one-to-one link in defence spending and development aid over the next few years, he boasted. This meant, For every euro that goes into defence spending the same amount goes on development aid. This was a success for the SPD and a good point.

Kuhnerts plea for the military followed his defence of the cuts and increased police-state powers agreed in the coalition contract as genuine social-democratic policies. In essence there was still no turning away, especially from the austerity and sanctions regime of recent years, he admitted. This applied, to other demands as well, such as the 15,000 new police officers and the like. But one must remain honest and say, Our election programme was not really a departure from this European policy and the 15,000 police were promised. In this respect, it was wrong to criticise the coalition agreement in the places where our demands are in it.

It speaks volumes about the right-wing character of the Jusos that none of the members present criticised our Kevin from the left. The discussion revolved around the question of whether the SPD was doomed more quickly within or outside a grand coalition. Early on, an older SPD member spoke up and stated, The SPD is f**ked. What does the alternative look like? If it came to new elections, could we end up with 12 or 15 percent? Of course, a grand coalition is always laden with compromises, but if youre not part of it, you cant change anything.

The majority of those present seemed opposed to the continuation of the grand coalition, but at the same time vehemently opposed to new elections. Kerstin from Kreuzberg, an SPD member for 17 years, declared to great applause, Why are we constantly being persuaded that if we say no [to the grand coalition] there are new elections? I still cannot believe that. Merkel had said on Sunday on TV that she was ready for a minority government. After all, she is exactly as afraid of new elections as we are. And President Steinmeier would do everything possible to prevent these elections. Because nobody wants to see us at 15 percent at the moment.

The new members present had apparently joined the SPD for similar reasons. Two out of the four who spoke up turned out to be officials from the Berlin Association of the Italian Partito Democratico (Democratic Party), which is also deeply hated among workers and youth in Italy for its austerity policies. Another said he was still undecided how he would vote in the membership poll. But he believed that Europe and Germany deserve better politics.

In the end, Kuhnert promised the SPD members present he would fight for the renewal of the party regardless of the outcome of the membership poll.

The Juso chairman may already be dreaming of holding high party office; he would just as little change the right-wing and anti-working-class policy of the SPD as his predecessors at the head of the Jusosincluding the former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and the designated SPD Chair Andrea Nahles. I do not want to die in beauty and make no compromises, he called out. The SPD had proven it could make difficult, painful compromises. After all, no one has governed as often in the past 20 years as we have.
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Courtney Barnett has announced new tour dates supporting her upcoming album Tell Me How You Really Feel, which is due out May 18. In June, Barnett will be doing dates in the UK, France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, following previously announced April/May dates in America. Loose Tooth will provide support for most of the

By Winston Cook-Wilson

Courtney Barnett has announced new tour dates supporting her upcoming album Tell Me How You Really Feel, which is due out May 18. In June, Barnett will be doing dates in the UK, France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, following previously announced April/May dates in America. Loose Tooth will provide support for most of the European dates. In July, Barnett will play shows in Toronto and Ottawa before hitting a few more United States dates, sharing the stage with Vagabon, Big Thief, Julien Baker, and others at different shows. The new series of tour stops ends with a Brooklyn show in Prospect Park and an appearance at the Newport Folk Festival.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public this Friday, with presale beginning today (use the TELLME code). Last week, Barnett released Nameless, Faceless, her first single from Tell Me How You Really Feel. See the full list of dates and get ticketing information at Barnetts website.

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This post Courtney Barnett Announces North American and European Tour Dates first appeared on SPIN.
Heather Graham says playwright Israel Horovitz forced a kiss on her decades ago after she dated his son, Beastie Boys star Adam Horovitz.

Graham said on the latest edition of Marc Marons WTF podcast, which posted Monday, that she dated the younger Horovitz, a.k.a. Ad-Rock, when she was 18 or 19, around the time she appeared in the 1989 Gus Van Sant film Drugstore Cowboy.

After I dated Adam and we broke up, I auditioned for one of [the elder Horovitzs] plays and after the audition he was like, Let me walk you out and so he gets in the elevator and then he just pushes me against the elevator, sticks his tongue down my throat, Graham told Maron.

Also Read:Beastie Boys' Ad-Rock Supports Women Accusing His Father, Israel Horovitz, of Sexual Misconduct

I feel like he might have said something about, like, What are we going to do about us? And I was just like, What are you talking about? And then I just got out of the elevator and I just never talked to him again. And then I heard him saying later, like, Heathers so ungrateful,' Graham said.

Horowitz, 78, is best known for the plays The Indian Wants the Bronx (which starred Al Pacino in 1968) and Park Your Car in Harvard Yard.

TheWrap made several unsuccessful attempts to reach Israel Horovitz for comment on Monday. Emails bounced back, and a rep for the talent agency he lists on his website, CAA, said he was not a client.

TheWrap also called two numbers listed for him. A man who answered at the first number declined repeatedly to give his name, listened to a detailed description of Grahams accusations, and then said it was a wrong number. A subsequent call to another number listed for Horovitz went unanswered.

Also Read:'Law & Order True Crime' Star Heather Graham Talks Menendez Brothers' 'Dark' Therapist (Video)

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The New York Times reported in November that nine women had accused Horovitz of sexual misconduct. One, Maddie Corman, said that when she was 16 and performing in one of his plays, he pressed her against a wall and forcefully kissed her just before she went on stage.

Another woman, Jocelyn Meinhardt, told the Times she was 19 and in a summer fellowship at the Gloucester Stage Company in Massachusetts, where Israel Horovitz was artistic director. The woman said Adam Horowitz had been her high school boyfriend. She said that one night the elder Horovitz drove her to his familys home, locked the door, kissed and fondled her, and then took her to his bedroom and raped her.

Israel Horovitz responded to the Times that he had a different memory of some of these events.

I apologize with all my heart to any woman who has ever felt compromised by my actions, and to my family and friends who have put their trust in me. To hear that I have caused pain is profoundly upsetting, as is the idea that I might have crossed a line with anyone who considered me a mentor, he said.

Also Read:'Boogie Nights' Star Heather Graham Details 'Uneasy' Harvey Weinstein Encounter

His son, Adam Horovitz, said in a statement of the accusations in the Times: I believe the allegations against my father are true, and I stand behind the women that made them.

The Boston Phoenix published a story in 1993 in which six women, none of whom were identified by name, said Israel Horovitz had sexually harassed them. One woman who spoke to the Phoenix said he had a tendency to French-kiss actresses.

Graham stars in the new comedy Half Magic, which deals with workplace sexual harassment.

She also spoke to Maron about sexual harassment by Harvey Weinstein, which she has discussed previously. Graham said that in the early 1990s, Weinstein suggested they worked together, showed her several scripts and said that he and his wife had an arrangement in which he was allowed to have sex with other women when he was away from home.

Graham said she got out of the situation as quickly as she could.

Related stories from TheWrap:

Beastie Boys' Ad-Rock Supports Women Accusing His Father, Israel Horovitz, of Sexual Misconduct

Jason Blum, Rachael Horovitz to Produce 'A Speck in the Sea' for The Weinstein Company

'Law & Order True Crime' Star Heather Graham Talks Menendez Brothers' 'Dark' Therapist (Video)

'Boogie Nights' Star Heather Graham Details 'Uneasy' Harvey Weinstein Encounter
Just one day after hitting the red carpet at the BAFTAs, Kate Middleton is attending another fashionable event at Buckingham Palace during London Fashion Week.

Alongside Sophie, Countess of Wessex, the stylish royal co-hosted the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange reception at the palace on Monday evening. The exciting fashion initiative saw designers and artisans from all 52 countries of the Commonwealths create one-of-a-kind sustainable outfits, which were showcased at the reception.

Kate opted for a black-and-white lace floral print dress by Erdem (get the look for less here) and pearl drop earrings by Anita Dongre, while Sophie wore a black dress with red detailing from Burberry. (Burberry and Stella McCartney are the designers representing the U.K. at the event.)

Kate Middleton and Sophie, Countess of Wessex

Kate Middleton

Kate and Sophie are often seen as the most fashionable members of the royal family. With a keen eye for feminine tailoring and elegant formalwear, Sophies choices have been compared to Kates. Both are fans of British designers Erdem, Emilia Wickstead and Alexander McQueen as well as the milliner Jane Taylor. And both own those famous L.K. Bennett nude pumps.

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Kate, who is seven months pregnant, made headlines Sunday for her dress choice for the annual BAFTAs (the British equivalent of the Oscars). The royal was criticized for walking the red carpet in a deep green gown with a black sash after attendees were encouraged to wear all black in support of the Times Up movement.

While royal family members generally steer clear of political issues, some critics took to social media to express their disappointment that the royal mom didnt show support for the womens movement.

Kate Middleton talks to Anna Wintour

Also in attendance at the palace event was Vogues Anna Wintour and her new British counterpart Edward Enninful, designer Stella McCartney, supermodel Naomi Campbell, Caroline Rush, Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council, fashion writer Justine Picardie, handbag designer Anya Hindmarch, ethical fashion activist Livia Firth and British model Adwoa Aboah.

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Kate Middleton and Sophie, Countess of Wessex

The two royals made their way into The Music Room where a selection of the stunning dresses were on display. Sophie confidently handled the fabric of a dress made by Lucian Mathis, followed by Kate.

Isnt it amazing, she said, as Kate looked on, gently touching her growing baby bump.

The pair then went their separate ways to meet and greet the designers and collaborators.

Among those Kate chatted to was Nigerian designer Nkwo, who said she had been fascinated to learn about the heading process and how long it had taken her.

I explained to her that everything had been hand sewn. The only time a machine was used was for the lining. She couldnt believe it.

The Commonwealth Fashion Exchange has been such a wonderful experience. I really hope it will help to put us on the map  not as African fashion, but simply as fashion.

With sponsorship from Swarovski, The Woolmark Company and MatchesFashion.com, established designers such as Karen Walker (representing New Zealand) and Stella McCartney and Burberry (for the U.K.) were among the designers and artisans showcasing their work.

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All the outfits will be displayed at a public exhibition at Londons Australia House on February 21 and other various London locations in the run up to Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit in April, before heading to New York in September.
The plane was reportedly en route to Amsterdam when two passengers confronted another person for having explosive flatulence.

By Jessica McKinney

A Transavia Airlines plane en route from Dubai to Amsterdam, was reportedly forced to make an emergency landing on Feb. 18, after a fight broke out among the passengers. According to the New York Post, the fight was sparked due to one passengers explosive flatulence.

Two Dutchmen whom were reportedly sitting next to a man with terrible gas, reportedly asked the fellow passenger to kindly stop passing gas on the aircraft. Despite their polite requests, the passenger refused to oblige. The Dutchmen then reportedly turned to the budget airlines crew, who also did not help the passengers after several complaints, NY Post reports. Growing more and more upset, the passengers then engaged in an altercation with the other passenger.

Despite warning from the pilot and crew, the fight continued, ultimately forcing the airplane to landing immediately at the Vienna Airport. Police eventually boarded the plane once it landed and removed two women and two men from the aircraft, citing the incident as passengers on the rampage, the NY Post reports.

The two women who were removed however, are not willing to give in that easy. The women, whom are sisters, are reportedly looking to sue the airlines service, claiming they were not involved in the altercation and that their removal from the aircraft was humiliating. All four of the passengers taken into police custody have been released without charges. Even so, they have all been banned from flying with Transavia Airlines in the future.

Moral of the story: even a little gas isnt worth getting you kicked off a flight.

This post Plane Makes Emergency Landing After Fight Break Out Over Passing Gas first appeared on Vibe.
Photo credit: Getty

From Esquire

Many of us have suspected that Donald Trump is the worst president that this country has ever had, so its nice to have some validation from those in the know. Political scientists and experts on the presidency Brandon Rottinghaus and Justin S. Vaughn surveyed 170 of their colleagues, members of the American Political Science Association, to assemble a complete ranking of all of our presidents. And in whats likely the least surprising part of the Trump administration, our current executive ranked 44 of 44. (Though Trumps presidency is the 45th in our nations history, hes the 44th person to hold the post, thanks to good old Grover "Non-Consecutive Terms Cleveland.)

The pair wrote about their findings for the The New York Times:

James Buchanan, who was at the helm as the United States careened into civil war, was dislodged from his position as our nations worst president by our current president, Trump.

His Oval Office predecessor, Barack Obama, shot into the Top 10, up from 18th in the previous survey. Ulysses S. Grant also got a bump, up seven places from 2014...The biggest declines were for Bill Clinton, arguably the result of contemporary scorn for his treatment of women, and Andrew Jackson, for evolving attitudes on his treatment of Native Americans.

When they looked at their data along party lines, things improved for Trump - a little. While he was dead last among Democratic scholars, he was ranked 43rd by independents, with Buchanan hanging onto last place. Among Republican political scientists, Trump came in at a more forgiving 40th place.

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Photo: Getty Images

Theres a common argument from the National Rifle Association in the wake of mass shootings that more guns, not fewer, is the answer. This week, a state representative in Alabama has taken that notion and run with it, introducing legislation that would permit educators to undergo firearm training in order to arm themselves in the classroom.

After unveiling the bill in Guntersville, Ala., Tuesday morning, Republican state Rep. Will Ainsworth said he plans to head to Montgomery to present the legislation there. Our kids do not need to be sitting ducks, Ainsworth  who is running for lieutenant governor  told a room full of teachers, school staff, and police. Our teachers do not need to be defending themselves with a No. 2 pencil.

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Ainsworths thinking, and the NRAs argument, centers on the notion that if another person had been armed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 14, he or she could have intervened early on and stopped the shooter from killing 17 people in cold blood.

The problem is, theres little to no evidence to support this theory  and a wealth of evidence suggesting the opposite: that the more guns that are present in either a home or city increase the likelihood of fatalities. The proof comes in the form of more than two dozen studies, in which researchers have outlined troubling statistics about the dangers of increasing gun ownership.

In a study out of Philadelphia, researchers found individuals with guns are 4.5 times more likely to be shot than unarmed citizens, and 4.2 times more likely to be killed by gunfire. In another study from Bostons Children Hospital and the Harvard School of Public Health, researchers concluded that states with the highest gun ownership had 6.8 times the rate of firearm assaults and 2.8 times the rate of firearm homicides than those with the lowest rates of gun ownership.

Gun control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety has been pushing back on the issue of arming teachers for years. These bills are sold as a way to keep children safe, but in reality, they do just the opposite, putting children at risk of unintentional shootings and escalating conflict without decreasing the risk of an active shooter, a statement from Everytown reads. Statehouses should listen to school safety experts and local communities, rather than letting the gun lobby put childrens lives at risk.

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Anne Leader, a volunteer with the Alabama chapter of the nonprofit Moms Demand Action, is vehemently opposed to the legislation. Leader became interested in gun violence prevention during her sophomore year of high school, when her best friend killed herself using an unsecured gun in her home.

A former educator herself, Leader cant imagine juggling the added responsibility of protecting students with  and from  a gun. We know that when more guns are around, the likelihood of unintentional shooting goes up, Leader tells Yahoo Lifestyle. Low-grade incidents could escalate to a shooting; things could get ugly. The psychological toll that it would take on teachers by putting this responsibility on them would be too much.

Leader supports gun ownership, as long as owners have passed criminal background checks. Shes focused on keeping guns secured in homes  and keeping the responsibility of protecting students in the hands of police. In the stress of an active shooting situation, is a faculty member going to be able to stop it? Leader asks. We cant expect teachers who are already overloaded to add live firearm training on a regular basis. Teachers feel this is something law enforcement should be in charge of  and we agree with that.

Ainsworths bill in Alabama, which he says was a direct reaction to the Parkland shooting, is still in the early stages. But with multiple state representatives appearing alongside him at the press conference Tuesday, its solidly entering the states discourse. In Alabama, where the rate of gun deaths is the second highest in the nation, its not hard to imagine this bill moving forward.

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Every time a major school shooting occurs, the debate surrounding gun control ignites. And then, after much hemming and hawing and warnings against knee-jerk reactions, very little changes.

After the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary left 27 dead, the survivors  preschool students  were too young to speak up for their right to an educational environment free of gun violence. The same cannot be said in the aftermath of the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida that last Tuesday left 17 high school students and faculty dead. Some of those students are ready to fight. Together with students and activists from across the country, theyre organizing what they hope will become a turning point in the national gun debate: the March For Our Lives.

The protest, scheduled for March 24, is being spearheaded by the survivors of the Parkdale attack. In a speech that has since garnered international attention, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Emma Gonzalez pleaded at a rally for politicians from either party to join the movement.

They say tougher guns laws do not decrease gun violence, shouted Gonzales through tears. We call BS.

Students and anyone else that supports safer gun legislation are invited to march in Washington in a call to government to enact stricter gun control policies.

Politicians are telling us that now is not the time to talk about guns. March For Our Lives believes the time is now, the group said in a statement reported by USA Today. Not one more  we cannot allow one more child to be shot at school.

Other protest actions are also in the works. Organizers of the Womens March are planning a national walkout on March 17. Theyre asking students, teachers, faculty and parents across the country to walk out of school for 17 minutes at 10am  the one month anniversary of the Florida shooting.

We need action, write organizers in a statement. Students and allies are organizing the national school 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.

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In addition, the Network for Public Education is planning a day of action for April 20th, to mark the 19th anniversary of the shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado.

Create actions that work best in your community, write planners from the NPE. Organize sit-ins, teach-ins, walkouts, marcheswhatever you decide will show your school and communitys determination to keep our students safe.

Will you be participating? Tell us @britandco.

(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty)
On February 14, a gunman wielding an AR-15 killed 17 people, most of them teenage students, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The Parkland shooting devastated its surrounding community, and youth across the country have expressed outrage in the handful of days since the tragedy. Through tears and in the aftermath of trauma, Parkland shooting survivors and youth across the country are saying theyve had enough with inaction from politicians around gun laws. They want real change now  and are organizing three protests to demand gun reform.

According to the gun reform advocacy non-profit Everytown for Gun Safety states that Parkland was the 18th time in 2018 that a firearm had been discharged on K-12 school or college campuses (this statistic was widely misquoted on social media and in the press as being the 18th school shooting of the year so far). Students, who say they are tired of living in fear over whether or not their school will be targeted next, have made a strong stand in favor of improved gun control and safety laws in the last several days.

Emma Gonzalez, a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, made a speech over the weekend that went viral on social media. Through tears, Gonzalez said in her speech that her school will be the last school shooting and stated that the school community, especially students will fight for real gun reform.

Speaking through tears, Gonzalez called out president Trump for his tweet saying that students and community members need to constantly report disturbing behavior. We did [report the shooter], Gonzalez said. How about we stop the blaming the victims for something that was the shooters fault, Gonzalez added. The fault of the people who let him buy the guns in the first place.

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Other students spoke out as well, making speeches and speaking directly to the press about their concerns and their demands. Alex Wind, another student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, told the BBC that In Newtown, the students were so young they couldnt stand up, but trust me, we are going to be the change.

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Lyliah Skinner, a junior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, told CNN, I feel like as our legislators and leaders, [politicians] shouldnt be offering prayers and words, we need action.

In the midst of the rallying cries from students, some of whom had just survived a horrifying tragedy, some individuals and organizations began planning protests. So far, there have been three nationwide calls for walkouts and other demonstrations to call for better legislation that would protect students from gun violence. The demonstrations, led by students and their families, will take place in the coming weeks.

Here are three upcoming protests that have been called by students who are demanding more from elected leaders.

National school walkout

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Following the shooting in Parkland, Connecticut high school student Lane Murdock created a Twitter account and Change.org petition calling for a national school walkout on April 20, the 19th anniversary of the Columbine, CO school shooting where 12 people were murdered.

The National School Walkout Twitter account has called for students to attend school and then promptly WALK-OUT at 10:00 am. Sit outside your schools and peacefully protest. Make some noise. Voice your thoughts. Walkout organizers have also asked student protesters to wear orange during the walkout. Organizers of the National School Walkout did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Brit + Co.

The Change.org petition is addressed to the US Senate and the President of the United States, and notes that teenagers under 18 do not have the right to vote, leaving them feeling like their voices are unheard. The petition also says that president Trump has not addressed any form of gun legislation.

march for our lives

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March For Our Lives, another student-led action, is planned for March 24. The March For Our Lives is calling for an in-the-streets protest in Washington DC and around the country on Saturday, March 24, to demand that their lives and safety become a priority and that we end gun violence and mass shootings in our schools today, according to the Marchs website.

March For Our Lives did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but their website says that more information about the event is forthcoming.

ENOUGH: National School Walk-out

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The youth contingent of the Womens March, Womens March Youth EMPOWER, also called for a national school walkout. Womens March Youth is calling for students and educators to walk out of their classes for 17 minutes at 10 a.m. on March 14, to protest Congress inaction to do more than tweet thoughts and prayers in response to the gun violence plaguing our schools and neighborhoods, according to the Womens March Youth website.

Madison Thomas of Womens March Youth EMPOWER tells Brit + Co that the walkout is being coordinated by several high school and college students, some of whom have been personally impacted by gun violence in schools. During the 17-minute walkout, Thomas says that different schools have different plans: Some students plan to circle their school holding hands, while others will congregate in their hallways to hold hands, sing, or participate in a moment of silence. Some students plan to speak the names of those killed in Parkland or other acts of gun violence and some students plan to hold a rally. 

Womens March Youth EMPOWER is also encouraging people to participate in the National Student Walkout and March For Our Lives, and Thomas says their group will follow up our walkout by voting out of office any legislator that puts our lives at risk by supporting guns laws and prioritizing the National Rifle Association over students safety in schools.

Are you planning to support any of the student protests? Tell us on Twitter @BritandCo.

(Images via Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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On February 14, students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida were attacked by a lone gunman who killed 17 in a rampage that would become one of the deadliest mass shootings in recent history. Since then, the teens affectedas well as people around the countryhave taken to both social media and traditional media to demand gun reform. But on Monday, students went straight to the White House.

Fittingly, the demonstration coincided with President's Day. A Washington, D.C.-based group known as Teens for Gun Reform staged a lie-in at fence of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. to show their solidarity with the students from Parkland. According to the group, they laid down for three minutes in front of the White House to show just how quickly they say shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz was able to legally purchase his AR-15. (The AP reports that three minutes is also how long the shooting lasted.) Originally, the lie-in was meant to involve 17 studentsone for each person killed in the shootingbut it quickly grew to include more than 100.

"We have organized this protest in solidarity with all of those who were affected by the horrific school shooting in Florida last Wednesday," the organization noted in a statement. "We call on President Trump and leaders from both parties to finally act in the interest of Americas youth and end these tragic mass shootings!"

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At the event, organizers read the names and ages of each of the victims, including Alyssa Alhadeff, 14; teacher Scott Beigel, 35; Nicholas Dworet, 17; and teacher Aaron Feis, 37.

The momentum around this conversation shouldn't go away anytime soon, because there's more demonstrations to come: The student survivors of Parkland have announced "The March for Our Lives," which will take place in Washington, D.C. on March 24. Like the Women's March, it will also include satellite demonstrations in "every major city" to send a message to politicians that people have had enough of gun violence.

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We are losing our lives while the adults are playing around," junior Cameron Kasky told ABC News anchor Martha Raddatz. This isnt about the GOP; this isnt about the Democrats. This is about us creating a badge of shame for any politicians who are accepting money from the NRA and using us as collateral."

Beyond this event, Women's March organizers are also looking to enlist students coast-to-coast for a school walkout on March 14, the one-month anniversary of the Parkland shooting, to help build even more traction for gun control reform.

"We are not safe at school. We are not safe in our cities and towns," that walk's Facebook event page explained. "Congress must take meaningful action to keep us safe and pass federal gun reform legislation that address the public health crisis of gun violence." So far, more than 62,000 teachers, students and administrators have signed a pledge to walk out on that day.

Related Content:

-In the Middle of a Nightmare, Parkland Students Texted Their Parents: 'If I Don't Make It I Love You'

-Parkland Students Lash Out at Politicians on Twitter: 'Do Something Instead of Sending Prayers'

-Parkland Students Are Laying Into Donald Trump Over His Russian Investigation Tweet
By Tina Bellon NEW YORK (Reuters) - Industrial group 3M Co and Minnesota's attorney general have agreed to settle a lawsuit over polluted groundwater, with the company agreeing to grant $850 million to the state for groundwater projects, the attorney's office said on Tuesday. Attorney General Lori Swanson had been seeking at least $5 billion in damages from 3M to help clean up the company's disposal of industrial chemicals in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area over the past 40 years. The Minnesota-based company said in a statement the grant would enable projects that "support water sustainability" and "improve groundwater recharge" in the Twin Cities. It gave no details of what the projects involved. Swanson had filed the lawsuit in 2010, alleging 3M had dumped millions of pounds of excess toxic chemicals in areas east of St. Paul beginning in the 1950s, causing higher rates of cancer, premature births and lower fertility. The company, based in Maplewood, Minnesota, denied the state's claims, saying the chemicals posed no health risk at their current levels of exposure and that it had not found any adverse health effects among its employees, who are exposed at higher levels than the general population. The settlement came on the day a jury trial was scheduled to start in the case. Swanson said in a statement she appreciated 3M's willingness to resolve the matter. The chemicals at issue, called perfluorinated compounds, or PFCs, were made in a 3M plant south-east of St. Paul and used in 3M's Scotchgard brand products. 3M said it would record a 2018 first-quarter charge of approximately $1.10 to $1.15 per share including legal fees as a result of the settlement. Shares in the company were down 0.6 percent at $235 in extended trading at 2200 GMT. Swanson said the settlement grant only covered damages to natural resources, adding that her office had no jurisdiction to recover damages for personal injuries. According to 3M's latest financial filing in January, the company still faces at least 24 similar groundwater pollution lawsuits filed in courts across the U.S. Some of those complaints include personal injury and property damage claims. An older generation of PFC compounds, known as PFOA or C-8, commonly used to manufacture non-stick products such as Teflon, has been linked to six illnesses, including testicular cancer, ulcerative colitis and thyroid disease. DuPont and its spin-off Chemours settled some 3,550 personal injury claims arising from C-8 pollution for $671 million last year. (Reporting by Tina Bellon; Editing by Tom Brown and James Dalgleish)
Tehran (AFP) - Iranian police said Tuesday the number of security officers killed in overnight protests by a Sufi sect had risen to five, with around 300 people arrested.

The demonstrations by the Gonabadi Sufi order, known as dervishes, turned into running clashes with the police in northern Tehran on Monday.

Footage on state television showed a bus ploughing into a group of policemen in northern Tehran, which police said led to three deaths.

On Tuesday, police spokesman Saeed Montazer Almehdi said two members of the hardline Basij militia, which is linked to the Revolutionary Guards, were also killed.

"Two of our dear Basijis were martyred by the superstitious cult," he told the semi-official ISNA news agency.

Montazer Almehdi said "more than 300" people had been arrested, including the driver of the bus.

The Gonabadis, one of the country's largest Sufi sects, accuse the Iranian state of frequent harassment and discrimination.

Sufism is an accepted branch of Islam in Iran, but the practice is frowned upon by many conservative clerics. Officials and the media routinely refer to them as "deceived elements" or a cult.

Montazer Almehdi said police had struggled to talk the protesters down from the roofs of houses and that the protests had not been brought under control until late into the night.

"Thirty police officers on the scene were wounded," he told ISNA. "A number of rioters were also wounded last night."

A website linked to the group indicated the protests were linked to the recent arrest of members of the sect and police efforts to establish security check points near the home of their leader, Noor Ali Tabandeh.
Mitt Romney thanked President Donald Trump on Monday night for the ringing endorsement in the Utah Senate seat race.

Yet as many on social media pointed out, Romney also said this about Trump just two years ago:

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Now, Romneys being called out for the flip-flop:

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At A Basketball Game

Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and wife Ann Romney are seen in attendance for the game of of the Boston Celtics against the Atlanta Hawks in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2012 NBA Playoffs on May 6, 2012 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

At A Bookstore

At A Wendy's

At The Beach

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney walks on the beach prior to the start of a touch football game on the beach with members of the Romney campaign staff versus some members of the traveling press corps on October 21, 2012 in Delray Beach, Florida. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

At A Gas Station

U.S. presidential hopeful Mitt Romney greets an employee as he visits a WaWa gas station in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, June 16, 2012. (EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/GettyImages)

At A Pizza Shop

US Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney talks with Marci Miller (L) as he visits a Little Caesars pizza restaurant during a stop between campaign events in Cambridge, Ohio, August 14, 2012. (SAUL LOEB/AFP/GettyImages)

At A Baseball Game

BOSTON - APRIL 11, 2003: Gov. Mitt Romney tries to get a bite in the rain at his seat near the third base line, on what was going to be opening day - until the Red Sox were rained out. (Photo by Michele McDonald/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

At A Toy Store

At An Auto Racing Event

At A Bakery

On A Train

At A Boxing Match

Former Republican presidential candidate and Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and wife Ann Romney sit ringside before Manny Pacquiao takes on Juan Manuel Marquez in their welterweight bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on December 8, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

In A Car

On A Tractor

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President Donald Trump has tweeted his endorsement of Mitt Romneys run for a Utah Senate seat, writing Monday night that the former Massachusetts governor who has frequently criticized the president has his full support and endorsement.

Romney launched his bid for a political comeback on Friday, making official the rumors that he would run to replace Utahs retiring Senator Orrin Hatch, the longest-serving Republican in the Senate.

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An outspoken critic of President Trump, Romney said in a video officially announcing his candidacy that Utah has a lot to teach the politicians in Washington. During the 2016 Republican primary, Romney lashed out at then front-running candidate Trump, calling him a phony and a fraud.

The White House had aggressively lobbied Hatch to seek an eighth term in part to block Romney from trying take the seat and from there possibly launching another presidential bid after his failed 2012 run, the New York Times reported.

While Trump once called Romney a disaster candidate, the president now says Romney will make a great Senator and worthy successor to Hatch.

In 2016, Romney tweeted that he would not have accepted Trumps endorsement of his 2012 presidential bid if Trump had made racist and hateful comments about Muslims, Mexicans, disabled back then. But on Monday, Romney tweeted his thanks to the president, and said he hopes that he will also earn the support and endorsement of the people of Utah, a state where President Trump enjoys his highest approval ratings.

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Romney, who grew up in Michigan and was governor of Massachusetts from to 2003-2007, has a home in Utah, and is a Mormon like approximately 55% of the states residents.
Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates has said wealthy individuals such as himself should be made to pay substantially higher taxes.

Mr Gates, who is worth over $90bn (64bn), said despite the fact he has "paid more taxes...than anyone else" he should be required to fork out more by the government.

Speaking to CNN in an interview on Sunday, he said: I need to pay higher taxes.

I've paid more taxes, over $10bn, than anyone else, but the government should require the people in my position to pay significantly higher taxes.

He criticised the Republican sweeping $1.5 trillion tax reform bill which Donald Trump signed into law at the end of last year.

The measure constitutes the most profound changes to tax laws since the 1980s and slashes taxes for corporations while providing most Americans with only temporary relief.

Mr Gates, the second richest man in the world after Amazon's Jeff Bezos, argued the greatest benefits of the bill would be reaped by the super rich.

It was not a progressive tax bill. It was a regressive tax bill, he said.

He argued the biggest advantages would be felt by the wealthiest in society despite the Republicans' assertion their first major legislative victory would help America's working and middle classes.

People who are wealthier tended to get dramatically more benefits than the middle class or those who are poor, and so it runs counter to the general trend you'd like to see, where the safety net is getting stronger and those at the top are paying higher taxes, he said.

While Mr Trump has drawn attention to the magnitude of the tax cuts and branded the legislation a bill for the middle class and a bill for jobs, Democrats have labelled the measure a monumental con job that will benefit the rich at the expense of America's poorest.

The bill slashes the corporate tax rate from 35 per cent to 21 per cent.

It also raises the threshold for the estate tax, a levy that applies to property passed down when a family member dies which only affects a few thousand ultra-rich families each year. This change predominantly benefits the upper echelons of earners, including Mr Trump himself.

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Asked about his view on rising inequality in the US, Mr Gates said: All advanced democracies have to think about that.

He added: You still have about a sixth of the population living in conditions that should be very disappointing to us, and government policies need to really think, 'Why aren't we doing a better job for those people?'

Mr Gates has donated more than $40bn of his personal wealth to charitable causes. He founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the largest private foundation in the US, with his wife in 2000.

The organisation aims to improve healthcare, cut extreme poverty and expand educational opportunities and access to information technology.
Welcome to David Pogues Rated:App, a new video series. Each week, Ill install whatever the No. 1 bestselling app is (on the iOS or Android store) and review it, to save you the effort in case its a turkey. If youre viewing this on your phone, in an app or Facebook or Twitter, the video plays vertically  it fits your screen exactly, so you can see what itd look like if you were running the app yourself!

This week, the No. 1 bestselling app  on both the Apple and Google Play app stores  is Bitmoji. Its a free app, bought by Snapchat last year for $100 million, thats intended to jazz up your texting life. Instead of sending the same generic, tiny pictures that everybody else sends, you can send giant ones, featuring a cuter, cartoon version of you.

Bitmoji lets you create a cartoon version of yourself, for use in texting. (Photo from Snap Inc.)

When you first open the app, it guides you through the process of designing your own avatar. It auto-draws a basic cartoon of you based on a photo you take; from there, you can fine tune every conceivable aspect of yourself: hairstyle, hair color, eye color, eye shape, glasses, eyebrows, nose, ears, jawline, forehead/undereye wrinkles, clothing, body type, and so on. (Its a lot like building your Mii on the Nintendo Wii, if you remember that.)

You walk through about 20 screens, fine-tuning your avatar.

You walk through about 20 screens, tweaking your avatar.

What you wind up with doesnt look exactly like you, but its close enough that your texting friends will get the point.

Later, when youre in mid-chat, you tap the Apps icon (iOS 11) and then the Bitmoji icon  or, on Android, you use the keyboard switcher to choose the Bitmoji keyboard.

What you see now is a universe of little drawings, representing thousands of typical texted comments and sentiments: Im sorry, See you soon!, Thank you, I miss you, What up?, and so on. Youll find internet memes in there, compliments and reactions. Each one features you in a charming or goofy pose, delivering that message.

You can browse them by scrolling, or you can do a search for keywords. Tap the cartoon you want, and boom  its in the texting box, ready to send.

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Bitmoji offers thousands of ready-to-use cartoons (left). Type a keyword (center), and then tap one to text it (right).

The business model

Bitmoji is free, which is a little amazing. So how did the company make money (before Snapchat bought them)? Well, as you play with it, youll sometimes see what are obviously sponsored cartoons as you choose your clothing, for example, youll find options from Nike and Adidas. And youll sometimes see cartoons that have tie-ins to current movies.

Heres the business model: Let brands sponsor certain outfits or cartoons.

Man, if thats what it takes to make this software free, I say hooray. Who cares? If you dont want to be a cog in the great consumer-marketing machine, you dont have to use them.

Whats not to like

I have no complaints about the software itself. None. Its super well-designed, and adds something truly novel to the communications process.

The primary objection you might have is the very concept: sending adorable little cartoons of yourself. You might find that idea cloying, or vain, or cutesy. You might not want to do what everyone else is doing, as a big millennial herd, on principle.

And you might think that bitmojis make lazy people even lazier, because they let you send canned sentiments instead of composing them yourself. (Please, please do not send a Bitmoji Im sorry when someone has died.)

When used judiciously and creatively, though, Bitmoji can be delightful. Whenever someone sends me one that I havent seen before, a witty drawing that perfectly captures some offbeat conversational situation, its good for a grin.

Hey! Youre a cartoon!

David Pogue, tech columnist for Yahoo Finance, welcomes non-toxic comments in the Comments below. On the Web, hes davidpogue.com. On Twitter, hes @pogue. On email, hes poguester@yahoo.com. You can sign up to get his stuff by email, here.

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A still from the police video of Chloe Ayling that was shown in court - Splash News

Video footage of British glamour model Chloe Ayling retracing her movements from a city studio where she was allegedly grabbed to a farmhouse where she was held for six days was played on Monday at the trial of a Polish man charged with her kidnapping.

The 20-year-old model was allegedly snatched by a group calling itself Black Death after being lured to a fake modelling shoot at a studio in Milan in July.

According to prosecutors, Ms Ayling was drugged at the studio, zipped inside a canvas bag and transported to a farmhouse near Turin, where she was held captive and drugged with the tranquilizer Ketamine.

A 30-year-old Polish man, Lukasz Herba, is being tried for the kidnapping. He was arrested after he released the 20-year-old model at the British consulate in Milan. Italian prosecutors are also seeking to try Herba's 37-year-old brother, Michal, who is in custody in Britain fighting extradition.

Evidence shown in court on Monday featured Ms Ayling revisiting the farmhouse in Italy's Piedmont region where she says she was held while her her captors allegedly negotiated her online sale into sex slavery.

Lucasz Herba in the Milan courtroom Credit: MEGA

Dressed casually in denim shorts and a singlet top, Ms Ayling is seen walking calmly with police through the streets of Viu, a mountain village north of Turin, to the locations where she had been spotted with her alleged kidnapper.

Investigator Gianluca Simontacchi told the court that Ms Ayling broke down in tears as they reached the farmhouse, and had to be calmed by her lawyer before being able to continue.

Inside the building, she pointed out a piece of furniture where she said she had been cuffed by her hands and feet overnight the first night. She then showed a bedroom, where she said later she shared a bed with her kidnapper. The pair used separate blankets.

Video evidence of British model Chloe Ayling is played in a Milan courtroom, Italy, Monday, Feb. 19, 2018 Credit: AP

She also showed investigators the nearby town she went to with Herba to buy food and sneakers.

They seemed like a couple, Pietro Pellegrino, a local resident who lived next door to where Ms Ayling was being held, told the court. He seemed nice to her. He held out his hand.

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Ms Ayling's lawyer, Francesco Pesce, dismissed any notion that a video showing Ms Ayling walking hand-in-hand with Herba shown at an earlier hearing cast any doubt on the kidnapping allegation.

"She was holding hands with Herba but she looked, at least in my opinion, she looked frightened, quite scared," he said.

Chloe Ayling speaks with the media outside of her house in Surrey, England, August 27 Credit: RAI

Herba's lawyer, Bozena Katia Kolakowska, said his client would testify at the next hearing, and that he is expected to say that the kidnapping was a ploy to give Ms Ayling's modeling career a boost.

A forensic toxicologist also testified that while Ms Aylings urine tested negative for Ketamine, a two-centimetre long hair sample tested positive for the drug. The exact time frame of ingestion could not be determined.
A California man died Monday after plunging from an ocean cliff south of San Francisco while trying to save his dog.

The unidentified 67-year-old was hiking with his dog shortly before noon above Thornton State Beach in Daly City when the animal went over the edge and became stranded on a ledge. As his owner began making his way down to help the dog, a shepherd mix, the man slipped and fell about 500 feet, National Park Service officials said.

The dog owner was in grave condition when firefighters reached him, and he died of his injuries at the scene, according to a statement from the California Highway Patrol.

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His body was airlifted by a CHP helicopter. The dog, who watched from a cliff ledge as rescuers transported his owners body to the helicopter, was finally coaxed to safety by the dead mans son, who had been called to the scene, reported Fox2 News. The dog was uninjured.

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The National Park Service warned that people should not attempt to save their dogs from cliffs or the surf. Dogs often survive dangerous situations while humans may not. Hikers were also warned to stay on trails.

Thornton Beach and the nearby Palisades Park are popular with hikers and dog walkers, but the area can be dangerous  particularly in cold and windy conditions, like the weather Monday.

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Libreville (AFP) - Separatists in Cameroon's restive English-speaking regions have faced a violent crackdown since declaring the creation of "Ambazonia", a self-proclaimed republic independent from the majority French-speaking country.

The violence has helped fuel support for a growing separatist movement, including armed groups, who in turn have carried out a string of attacks on police and the military. Dozens on both sides have died, and tens of thousands have fled into neighbouring Nigeria.

The political drive for the separatist cause began in 2016 after police broke up demonstrations by English-speaking lawyers and teachers who protested against working in French.

The Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium (CACSC), locally known as "the Consortium", was formed to campaign against what they viewed as discrimination and marginalisation by the francophone majority.

Although it campaigned for federal ties -- not secessionism -- the campaign met with unyielding opposition from octogenarian President Paul Biya.

The Consortium was dissolved in January 2017, two of its leaders were arrested, and within the anglophone protest movement, the pendulum began to swing in favour of independence.

- Raising Ambazonia -

On October 1, prominent leader Sisiku Ayuk Tabe declared the self-proclaimed republic of "Ambazonia", named after Ambas Bay on the Atlantic Ocean. The state has not been recognised internationally.

Biya countered with a crackdown and enlisted the help of neighbouring Nigeria in denying a haven to the "terrorists".

In January, Ayuk Tabe and 46 of his supporters were extradited by Nigeria to Cameroon despite claims that many of them had lodged asylum applications.

In this climate of spiralling mistrust and revenge, calls for separatism, rather than federalism, are dominant.

The loudest calls have come from the Southern Cameroons Ambazonia Consortium United Front (SCACUF), headed by Ayuk Tabe, which advocates peaceful means to advance independence.

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Many of its members are activists with a background in teaching, law or farming, but it also counts former leaders of the outlawed Southern Cameroon National Council (SCNC), which began the campaign for independence back in 1995.

"Negotiations are our best weapon," said Millan Atam, a SCACUF leader.

But since the crackdown and the roundup of Ayuk Tabe, the peaceful stance is being outflanked by radicals, some of whom advocate taking up arms against "the colonialist occupying forces".

- 'The argument of force' -

The International Crisis Group (ICG) estimates that there are likely to be several hundred fighters.

On February 11, these groups and some other separatist movements gathered in an umbrella organisation called the Ambazonia Recognition Collaboration Council (ARCC).

Its most prominent member is a firebrand former student trade unionist, Lucas Cho Ayaba, who heads an armed group that calls itself the Ambazonia Defence Forces (ADF).

The ADF claimed responsibility for kidnapping a government official on Sunday in Batibo, a town near the Nigerian border.

It says it has "thousands of fighters," although commentators say the figure more likely to be around a hundred or so.

"We have a bloc defence strategy -- every village, every group of young people can fight for Ambazonia, and we are ready to help them," he told AFP.

Another armed group is Southern Cameroons Defence Forces (SOCADEF), led by Ebenezer Akwanga, like Cho Ayaba an ex-student trade unionist.

In the late 1990s, the two were allies in challenging the moderate strand of separatism, taking their slogan about "the force of argument" and reversing it, to "the argument of force."

The ADF and SOCADEF have claimed responsibility for most of the attacks in the anglophone areas. Other smaller, armed factions are also engaged in the conflict, such as the Tigers of Ambazonia, Vipers and the Ambaland Forces, but their impact is unclear.

Attempts have been made to unite the various independence groups, with at least four "conclaves" in Nigeria. The groups have so far failed to unite behind a single leader or structure.

"Today, we are divided, it can not work like this," a leader said via the WhatsApp messenger service.
Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs, the pair who founded Cushnie et Ochs and just celebrated their brands 10th anniversary, just announced the end of their professional partnership. (Photo: Getty Images)

Fashion as an industry is one filled with friends  and lovers  turned business partners. Its when those professional relationships dissolve that the rumor mill churns.

After their 10th anniversary runway show, Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs of the brand Cushnie et Ochs were the latest duo to announce the end of their partnership, with Ochs to leave the brand. It was, by most accounts, unexpected. Just days before their last show, the pair gave an interview to Refinery29 about their ascent within the New York fashion scene and where theyre going, implying theyd be around for a while (or at least, it seemed that way).

It is believed that the Cushnie and Ochss relationship had run its course and came to a natural end, reported Womens Wear Daily, citing sources close to the company.

While few details have yet to emerge from the dissolution, fashions got plenty of other working relationships in its sphere. Theres Brock Collection, the husband-wife team composed of Laura Vassar and Kristopher Brock, who won the Vogue/CFDA Fashion Fund Award in 2016; Marta Marques and Paulo Almeida, the LVMH Prize-winning Portuguese pair behind MarquesAlmeida; Humberto Leon and Carol Lim, longtime friends turned industry stalwarts responsible for Opening Ceremony and the creative power behind Kenzo; Mike Eckhaus and Zoe Latta of Eckhaus Latta; Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler. (The list feels endless.)

Most wont bother themselves with the details of a dissolved fashion partnership, but theres plenty to glean from any personal-turned-professional-relationship turned sour, according to experts. Ryan Paugh, author of Superconnector: Stop Networking & Start Building Business Relationships That Matter, notes that while its always a gamble to go into business with a friend or significant other, one should always carefully consider whether or not your friend really is the right professional partner.

Zoe Latta and Mike Eckhaus at the end of their spring 2017 show in New York City. (Photo: Getty Images)

If your friends are exactly like you, theyre probably going to make terrible business partners, Paugh tells Yahoo Lifestyle. While on the surface it might seem like a great idea to partner with people exactly the same as you are, what you actually need is your polar opposite: a person with strengths where you have weakness and vice versa. The best business partners are the yin to each others yang, not carbon copies of each other.

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Of course, going into business in the first place means documenting exactly how the business is organized (is it filed as a corporation? a limited liability company?) and outline a professional pre-nup should your partnership end.

Judith Meyer, a professional mediator and distinguished fellow at the International Academy of Mediators, warns that if you think personal divorce is messy, be aware that business divorces can be just as fraught without the proper documentation.

Courts wont be able to figure [the split] out, and hiring a lawyer could end up costing more than the value of the business itself. The lawyer will have to hire an expert witness and accountant to go through personal accounts to figure out who put in what and when and how to balance out obligations to each other, Meyer explains. The solution? Consult a legal professional and accountant before you go into business with someone from your personal life (or anyone, really), and set up business accounts.

Even if you take the right precautions and have a professional relationship with a friend or partner that flourishes, nothing lasts forever. Just because the business relationship might reach its end doesnt mean the personal relationship has to, Paugh says.

Go the extra mile to make life easier on others involved in the split, she says. Plan an exit strategy that doesnt leave the other parties feeling left high and dry. Wrap up projects that you own. Assist in finding a replacement.

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Beijing (AFP) - The theft of a thumb of an ancient Terracotta Warrior statue on display in the US incited a wave of criticism on Chinese social media Tuesday, following China's calls to "severely punish" the thief.

Michael Rohana, 24, has been arrested over the theft during an after hours "ugly sweater party" just before Christmas at the Franklin Institute in Pennsylvania where 10 of the figures are on display.

According to an arrest affidavit filed by an FBI agent, Rohana snuck into the closed exhibit and snapped a selfie with the warrior, worth $4.5 million.

Rohana then appeared to break off the statue's left thumb and pocket it before leaving the event with friends.

The museum noticed its disappearance weeks later on January 8. The FBI agent tracked Rohana back to his home in Bear, Delaware, where the young man admitted to having stashed the thumb in a desk drawer.

He was arrested for theft of a major artwork from a museum, concealment of a major stolen artwork, and the interstate transportation of stolen property, but released on a $15,000 bail, according to court documents seen by AFP.

Built around 209 BC to stand guard over the tomb of the first emperor, the 8,000-strong Terracotta Army is one of China's most important archaeological discoveries, and considered a symbol of ancient Chinese artistic and military sophistication.

A major tourist attraction in Xian, capital of the northern province of Shaanxi, it has been a UNESCO world heritage site since 1987.

"We call on the US side to severely punish the person who committed such a damaging act of vandalism and theft of humanity's cultural heritage," the director of the Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Relic Exchange Centre told the Beijing Youth Daily Sunday.

Two experts would be sent to the US to help with repairs, the director said, adding that they had begun the process of claiming compensation for damages.

News of the damage sparked strong criticism on Chinese social media, with many comments nationalistic in tone.

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"Whoever agreed to use our ancestor's funerary objects to curry favour with foreigners should be the one 'severely punished' first," wrote one user.

"If they don't understand that our statue is precious why would we lend it to the US in the first place?" another asked.

But a few were more circumspect in their disapproval, recalling China's destruction of its own heritage.

"Who will be held responsible for all the cultural relics destroyed in the Cultural Revolution?" a user wrote, referring to the tumultuous period in the 1960s and 70s when countless artifacts were defaced or destroyed as China tried to rid itself of the influence of traditional culture.
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Eleven Chinese warships sailed into the East Indian Ocean this month, a Chinese news portal said, amid a constitutional crisis in the tiny tropical island chain of the Maldives now under a state of emergency. A fleet of destroyers and at least one frigate, a 30,000-tone amphibious transport dock and three support tankers entered the Indian Ocean, news portal Sina.com.cn said, without linking the deployment to the crisis in the Maldives or giving a reason. "If you look at warships and other equipment, the gap between the Indian and Chinese navy is not large," Sina.com.cn said on Sunday. It did not say when the fleet was deployed or for how long. Rivalry between old foes India and China for influence in the Maldives became evident after President Abdulla Yameen signed up to Beijing's Belt and Road initiative to build trade and transport links across Asia and beyond. India, which has had longstanding political and security ties to the islands about 400 km (250 miles) away, has sought to push back against China's expanding presence in the overwhelmingly Muslim country of 400,000 people. Maldivian opposition leaders have urged New Delhi to intervene in the crisis. China's Ministry of Defense did not respond to requests for comment. On Friday, the People's Liberation Army posted photos and a story on rescue training exercises taking place in the East Indian Ocean on its official Twitter-like Weibo account. China earlier this month advised Chinese citizens to avoid visiting the Maldives, famous its luxury hotels, scuba-diving resorts and limpid tropical seas, until political tensions subside. China has been striking deals with countries in Asia and Africa in line with its Belt and Road initiative to improve imports of key commodities, upgrade infrastructure and trade routes in the region and boost its diplomatic clout. Yameen imposed the emergency on Feb. 5 for 15 days to annul a Supreme Court ruling that quashed convictions against nine opposition leaders and ordered his government to free those held in prison. He sought parliamentary approval to extend the emergency for 30 days on Monday. China has drawn criticism in the West for its perceived military buildup of the neighboring South China Sea, where it has built and expanded islands and reefs. China claims most of the sea where neighbors Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims. (The online version of this story fixes spelling of Weibo in paragraph eight) (Reporting by Engen Tham in Shanghai, Ben Blanchard in Beijing and Wang Jing in Shanghai; Editing by Nick Macfie)
Chris Brown and Rihanna have a long and complicated history, but he still wished her a happy 30th birthday on Tuesday.

The throwback photo of the birthday girl as a cute little tot, which crossed just after midnight, has nearly 600,000 likes so far.

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The pair had a headline-making romance, which we touch on in in this review of Rihannas romances. They were basically kids in the midst of superstardom when they fell in love, and it was a toxic affair. In February 2009, he assaulted her after a pre-Grammy party  the horrific photos went viral  and he wound up with a felony conviction. They parted ways but nonetheless tried to make it work again, rekindling things in late 2012 and splitting again the next year.

Rihanna and Chris Brown attend the Grammy Awards in 2013. (Photo: Getty Images)

I dont hate him. I will care about him until the day I die, Rihanna, who now dates Saudi billionaire Hassan Jameel, told Vanity Fair in November 2015.

Clearly, he feels the same way.

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Circumcision has been a controversial practice for years, and one country in particular is now looking to ban the practice.

Icelands parliament is considering a bill that proposes a penalty of up to six years in jail for anyone who performs a circumcision except for medical reasons, the Guardian reports.

But the practice, which involves removing the foreskin that covers the head of the penis, has strong religious roots, and Muslim and Jewish leaders are strongly opposed to the proposal. Cardinal Reinhard Marx, president of the Commission of the Bishops Conferences of the European Community, told the Guardian that the bill is a dangerous attack on religious freedom. The criminalization of circumcision is a very grave measure that raises deep concern, he said.

According to the bill, proposed by Silja Dogg Gunnarsdottir of the center-right Progressive party, the circumcision of young boys and babies violates their rights and is incompatible with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The bill compares circumcision to female genital mutilation (FGM), a practice of removing a females external genitalia for nonmedical reasons, which is banned in many Western countries  including Iceland, where FGM has been outlawed since 2005.

Will Iceland outlaw circumcision? (Photo: Getty Images)

The bill claims that many circumcisions are performed without anesthesia and in homes that are not sterile, and not by doctors but by religious leaders. There is a high risk of infections under such conditions that may lead to death. It notes that parents have the right to guide their children in religious matters but says that such a right can never exceed the rights of the child. If boys wish to be circumcised when theyre older, they have the right to do so, the bill says.

Circumcision is less common for reasons other than religion in Europe than it is in the U.S., where many male babies are also circumcised for social as well as medical reasons. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 60 percent of newborn babies in the U.S. were circumcised in a hospital setting in 2010  and that doesnt include babies who were circumcised in a religious ceremony.

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Recent data from Population Health Metrics puts U.S. male circumcision incidence at 71.2 percent, with Iceland at 0.1 percent, France at 14 percent, and the U.K. at 20.7 percent.

In 2012, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a policy statement that says that evaluation of current evidence indicates that the health benefits of newborn male circumcision outweigh the risks and that the procedures benefits justify access to this procedure for families who choose it. The organization specifically cited benefits such as the prevention of urinary tract infections, penile cancer, and spreading of some sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. However, the organization added that the final decision should still be left to parents to make in the context of their religious, ethical, and cultural beliefs. The CDC also lists circumcision as an HIV risk reduction tool. When men are circumcised, theyre less likely than uncircumcised men to get HIV from their HIV-positive female partners, the CDC says on its website. The organization says that male circumcision also reduces the risk of a man getting herpes and HPV from a female partner who has the infections.

But the reason behind the reduction in risk for infections and diseases is simply that not all boys and men who are uncircumcised are great at cleaning under their foreskin, S. Daniel Ganjian, MD, a pediatrician at Providence Saint Johns Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif., tells Yahoo Lifestyle. And that can allow bacteria and viruses to build up in that area, causing damage, he says.

However, no medical procedure is without risks. Circumcision of a baby comes with the risk of infection or scar tissue, though Ganjian calls these very minimal compared to the much greater benefit of circumcision. Ganjian says that the claims that baby boys who are circumcised at home have a high risk of infections that might lead to death are not valid. Medical research doesnt show that its riskier when its done at home or hospital, he adds.

Of course, plenty of people would stand by the Iceland proposal  particularly the so-called intactivists, who may be at least partially behind the CDC data that shows hospital circumcision rates generally falling since the 1970s.

Iceland already has a ban on cutting girls, so theyre trying to make this gender neutral, says Georganne Chapin, executive director of Intact America, an organization that opposes circumcision and applauds Icelands approach. The ethical issues are exactly the same  theyre cutting body parts off of non-consenting children. Chapin tells Yahoo Lifestyle she expects that this movement will grow, even in the U.S. I would hope that eventually those in the U.S. who are all in favor of outlawing genital surgery on little girls would see that we should treat all of our children equally, she says.

Ultimately, notes Ganjian, the choice of whether to circumcise should be left to the parents. Its definitely a decision of the family to make, Ganjian says. I dont think doctors or lawmakers should force parents to get or not to get circumcision.

Meanwhile, according to reports, the Icelandic bill has popular support in parliament. If it passes its first reading, it will go into a committee stage for several months before it becomes law.

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Lost in the din of the 2016 presidential election was a proto- #MeToo charge that called out Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

Thomas was famously accused of sexual harassment when law professor Anita Hill detailed such allegations during his 1991 confirmation hearing. Hill had worked with Thomas for years at the Department of Education and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissionan agency that investigates federal sexual harassment claims. In her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Hill accused Thomas of continually discussing his porn predilection, which included talk of bestiality and rape scenes as well as an actor who went by the name Long Dong Silver.

"His conversations were very vivid," Hill told the committee. "He spoke about acts that he had seen in pornographic films involving such matters as women having sex with animals and films showing group sex or rape scenes. [...] On several occasions Thomas told me graphically of his own sexual prowess."

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The #MeToo movement reintroduced Hill's claims to the world as a surging grass roots effort to support women coming forward with allegations of sexual harassment swept across the country. Ironically, however, when another woman penned a Facebook post accusing Thomas of groping her twice in 1999, the story was buried under the seemingly breathless coverage of then-candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

At the age of 24, I found out Id be attending a dinner at my bosss house with Justice Clarence Thomas, Moira Smith posted from her since-deactivated Facebook account. I was so incredibly excited to meet him, rough confirmation hearings notwithstanding. He was charming in many waysgiant, booming laugh, charismatic, approachable.

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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

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But to my complete shock, he groped me while I was setting the table, suggesting I should sit right next to him, she said. When I feebly explained that Id been assigned to the other table, he groped againare you *sure*?? I said I was and proceeded to keep my distance.

Smith posted that account on October 7, 2016, the same day the Washington Post published the now infamous "Access Hollywood" tape of Trump boasting about serial sexual assault.

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The National Law Journal's Marcia Coyle reported Smith's story later that month on October 27, 2016. One may be forgiven for missing that report too, as it was published the day then-FBI Director James Comey wrote a letter to the Congress announcing his bureau had re-opened the Hillary Clinton email probe.

Coyle's article didn't escape the National Review, however. Writing for the conservative magazine, Carrie Severino, who clerked for Thomas, painted Smith as a partisan Democrat not to be believed. The article begins: "A liberal Democrat has accused Thomas of groping her at a dinner party in the 90s. The story is in no way credible."

Severino is again defending Thomas' reputation. On Monday, she published a five-part takedown of journalist and author Jill Abramson's New York Magazine article about a whisper campaign to impeach Thomas.

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JENNIFER LAW/AFP/Getty Images

"Thomas lied to the Judiciary Committee when he categorically denied that he had discussed pornographic films or made sexual comments in the office to Hill or any other women who worked for him," Abramson charged.

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Abramson, who co-wrote Strange Justice: The Selling of Clarence Thomas with Jane Mayer, said they found four witnesses who could substantiate claims of Thomas's lascivious behavior. "The evidence that Thomas had perjured himself during the hearing was overwhelming," she wrote.

Abramson reported that one of the documents exposed during the FBI's investigation into Clinton's use of a private email server was a 7-page report titled "Memo on Impeaching Clarence Thomas." The report's author, David Brock, told her that Clinton wanted to be briefed on the evidence that Thomas perjured himself during his Supreme Court confirmation hearing.

The Constitution grants federal judges life tenures, but impeachment is not unprecedented. Three federal judges have been charged with perjury and convicted, according to the Federal Judicial Center.

In the fall of 1989, the Senate voted to convict and remove U.S. District Court Judges Alcee Hastings and Walter Nixon after the House voted to impeach them on separate perjury charges. Hastings was also accused of conspiring to solicit a bribe.

Most recently, U.S. District Court Judge G. Thomas Porteous, Jr. was impeached by the House on charges of perjury and accepting bribes. The Senate convicted Porteous and he was removed from office December 8, 2010.

The House also impeached Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase in 1804, though the Senate later acquitted him.

Abramson argues Thomas' presence on the Supreme Court bench is deserving of scrutiny because of his outsized ability to shape women's rights policies.

His worldview, with its consistent objectification of women, is the one thats shaping the contours of whats possible for women in America today, more than that of just about any man alive, save for his fellow justices, she said.

This article was first written by Newsweek

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The Florida school shooting that left 17 people dead has triggered a rise in the sales of bulletproof backpacks.

On Thursday, one day after former student Nikolas Cruz stormed Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., killing 17 people and injuring dozens more, Massachusetts-based company Bullet Blocker was inundated with orders for bulletproof backpacks, comprising a 30 percent spike in sales.

Would you buy a bulletproof backpack for your child? (Photo: Getty Images)

The concept for the company originated in 1999 by father of two Joe Curran, a self-described helicopter dad and former U.S. Army Ranger in Lowell, Mass. Curran became concerned about school security after the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in Littleton, Colo., during which teens Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed 13 students and injured 20 others.

But would be eight years and three more school shootings before Curran had the resources to go into business. Virginia Tech was the final straw for me, he tells Yahoo Lifestyle, referring to Virginia Polytechnic student Seung-Hui Cho, who killed 32 people on the Blacksburg, Va., campus before committing suicide in 2007. I started asking local schools for their security plans in the event of armed intruders and there werent any concrete plans, so I wanted to promote the idea of kids protecting themselves.

My Childs Pack by Bullet Blocker is made with bulletproof material. (Photo: Bullet Blocker)

Bullet Blocker sells 11 backpacks, ranging in price from $210 to $490, including My Childs Pack, a $199 sack (on sale from $210) weighing 2 pounds and available in pink or blue.

The latter looks like a standard school bag but its lined with knife-and-bulletproof material called Kevlar thats approved by the National Institute of Justice, an organization that sets body armor standards for law enforcement. Specifically, the fabric traps and slows down bullets shot from a .357 Magnum, a .44 Magnum, a 9mm handgun, and a .45 caliber weapon.

Recently, a woman in Hollywood, Calif., bought one for every child she knows, and the wife of a New England Patriots player ordered three for each of her children, says Curran. The idea is that kids can hold it up as a shield.

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Bullet blocker sells a Hermes purse with bulletproof material. (Photo: Bullet Blocker)

The company has an in-house team that sews the bags from scratch and also retrofits existing bags, accessories such as notebooks, iPad cases, and three-ring binders, as well as clothing. For example, Curran recently outfitted a slew of Gucci products  a leather diaper bag for $3,100, a duffle bag for $4,250, and a zip-up jacket for $3,200  a teal Hermes Evelyne III purse for $5,225, an Armani suit for $5,895, and a Saint Laurent moto jacket for $6,450.

Bullet Blocker is one of several companies specializing in bulletproof kidswear, including the Florida-based Guard Dog Security, which is donating 50 percent of its proceeds to the victims of the Parkland shooting, and a South Carolina outdoors company called Nichols Store, which sells bulletproof inserts and a class for parents on how to use them.

Curran acknowledges that his price point is high but says in the past, when parents couldnt afford a backpack, We took care of it. He tells Yahoo Lifestyle, Im not getting rich doing this. But the peace of mind is huge.

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KINSHASA (Reuters) - Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila appointed the head of his political party as interior minister on Tuesday to oversee security in the face of rising militia violence and unrest over delayed elections. Henri Mova Sakanyi, secretary-general of Kabila's People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy, replaces Emmanuel Ramazani Shadari, another senior PPRD official, who had served in the post since December 2016. The reason for the change, announced in a communique read on national television, was not immediately clear. Ramazani is considered a staunch Kabila loyalist and has overseen the security forces' deadly crackdowns on protesters who have demonstrated against repeated delays to a presidential election meant to choose Kabila's successor. Kabila's second and final constitutional term expired in December 2016 but he has refused to step down or commit to not changing the constitution to allow himself to stand for a third term in an election currently scheduled for this December. Security forces have killed dozens of anti-Kabila protesters over the past two years and uncertainty about Kabila's future has also fueled militia violence, particularly near Congo's eastern borders with Rwanda and Uganda. Ramazani was sanctioned last May by the European Union over alleged human rights abuses committed by security forces under his authority. Congo's government denies any systematic abuses. Ramazani's predecessor as interior minister, Evariste Boshab, was also hit with both EU and U.S. sanctions for alleged human rights abuses by Congolese forces. (Reporting by Amedee Mwarabu; writing by Aaron Ross; editing by Mark Heinrich)
Mount Sinabung in Indonesia has erupted once again shooting plumes of smoke and hot ash over 23,000 feet into the air. The volcano had not been active for four centuries until 2010 and since then it has displaced 30,000 people.

Indonesia on Monday raised flight warnings around the volcano on Sumatra island to their highest level after its biggest eruption this year.

Mount Sinabung erupts thick volcanic ash in Karo on Sumatra island on February 19, 2018. Credit: TIBTA PANGIN/Source: AFP

Areas around the crater of the volcano, located about 1,181 miles northwest of the capital, Jakarta, have been off-limits for several years because of frequent volcanic activity.

The Bureau of Meteorology's Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VACC), in Australia's northern city of Darwin, issued maps on Monday showing an ash cloud heading in three directions from Sinabung, to the north, northwest and south-southeast.

Indonesia also upgraded its Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation (VONA) to red, its highest warning, and said the ash-cloud top had reached 23,872 feet, according to a ground observer.

An Indonesian man takes picture of Mount Sinabung volcano as it spews thick volcanic ash into the air in Karo, North Sumatra, on February 19, 2018 Credit: ENDRO RUSHARYANTO/AFP

Sinabung is about 47 miles southwest of Kualanamu International Airport in Medan.

Nur Isnin Istianto, head of the regional airport authority, said Kutacane airport in Aceh province had been closed, but the wind direction allowed the airport of Kualanamu, Meulaboh and Silangit to remain open.

Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for Indonesia's Disaster Agency, said the eruption began on Monday morning, accompanied by multiple earthquakes and showering surrounding villages with small rocks.

"In five districts it became dark with a visibility of about 5 metres," he said in a statement.

School children walk as Mount Sinabung erupts in Karo, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Monday, Feb. 19, 2018 Credit: Sarianto/AP

No casualties were reported. The agency urged the public to stay out of a 4-mile exclusion zone around the crater, and watch for further warnings, which could cover floods.

The 8,071-ft tall volcano is among Indonesia's most active. When Sinabung erupted in 2014, more than a dozen people were killed and thousands were evacuated.
The new Doctor calls for a new logo. (Photo: BBC)

Were still awaiting an official fall 2018 premiere date for Doctor Whos new season on BBC America, but fans now have a little something to talk about in the meantime: the debut of the series new logo. Thirteenth Doctor Jodie Whittaker had the honor of revealing it at BBC Worldwides annual showcase event in Liverpool on Tuesday. New showrunner Chris Chibnall and executive producer Matt Strevens worked with the creative agency Little Hawk on the design. The sound for the animated logo, seen below, was created by Matthew Herbert.

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Doctor Who merchandise featuring the new logo will be available at select retailers beginning today. Makers of the unofficial Nevertheless, she regenerated merch on Etsy, please take note.

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In the wake of the most recent mass shooting, President Donald Trump sought advice on gun control from a trusted source: rich people staying at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida.

According to the Washington Post, Trump spent the weekend at his resort watching cable news, complaining about the Russia investigation, and asking "Mar-a-Lago Club members about whether he ought to champion gun control measures in the wake of last weeks school massacre in nearby Parkland."

SEE ALSO: Here's how to take action on gun control

He also took time to exploit the tragedy on Twitter, insinuating that the FBI was too distracted by its Russia investigation to stop the 19-year-old shooter, who legally purchased the semi-automatic AR-15 rifle used in the massacre at a local gun shop.

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Ideally, instead of asking people who could afford a $200,000 initiation fee about gun control, the president would have looked at recent research on the topic.

Sadly, in 1996, the Republican-controlled Congress stopped the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from researching firearm injuries and deaths. It doesn't take a scientist, however, to notice there have been a lot of deadly shootings recently.

The tragedy in Florida, in which 17 adults and children were gunned down at Stoneman Douglas High School, is the ninth deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.

Last year, 58 people were killed in Las Vegas in the deadliest mass shooting the country has ever seen. The year before, 49 people were killed when a man opened fire inside a gay nightclub in Orlando.

One sliver of hope? According to sources who talked to the Post, Trump said he was "was closely monitoring the media appearances by some of the surviving students." Those brave kids have been speaking passionately about the need for stricter gun control, even planning a nationwide "March For Our Lives" on March 24 to send a message to Washington. Hopefully, Trump will be listening.
Critics have accused Donald Trump Jr. of seeking to cash in on his First Family status by offering Indian property investors an exclusive "dinner and conversation audience.

The eldest son of President Donald Trump is visiting India this week to promote a planned Trump Towers development near Delhi.

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Reuters

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A full page advertisement that ran on the cover of several Indian newspapers over the weekend featured a picture of Trump Jr., alongside the tagline "Trump is here. Are you invited?"

Trump Jr. took on day-to-day control of the Trump Organization when his father became president in 2016. However, ethics lawyers warned of clashes of interest between the White House and the Trump Organizations finances, with President Trump remaining the owner.

Those who purchase an apartment before Tuesday in a tower block the company is developing with local partners in Gurgaon, about an hour south of Delhi, will be invited to dine with Trump Jr. on Thursday, The Guardian reported. Some apartments are on the market for more than $1 million.

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Daniel S. Markey, who worked on South Asia policy for the State Department during the George W. Bush administration, expressed surprise at Trump Jr.s involvement in the deal.

"The idea that the president's son would be going and shilling the president's brand at the same time Donald Trump is president and is managing strategic and foreign relations with India - that is just bizarre," he told The New York Times.

Government transparency campaign group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (Crew) said in a report released last month that President Trump was profiting from his businesses as a result of being president.

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It pointed to reports in Indian media that prices of apartments in Trump Organization branded developments in India had soared by up to 30 per cent since Trump took office.

This article was first written by Newsweek

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The Daily Beast

YouTubeA young woman who mysteriously vanished while road tripping across the U.S. with her fiance got into a physical altercation with him two weeks before he returned to Florida without her, according to a police report obtained by The Daily Beast. And while the couples online postings made the journey appear perfectly idyllic, the strain of having been together nonstop for months on end had in fact escalated tensions between the two, the document provided by the Moab City, Utah, Police Depar
The Hague (AFP) - Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday angrily denounced the conviction of its vice president for corruption by a French court as a "flagrant violation" of international law, and insisted on its "total independence."

On the second of four days of hearings before the UN's top court in The Hague, Malabo pushed its case against France which it accuses of breaking conventions on diplomatic relations and immunity.

Ties have strained between the two countries since Malabo's vice president, Teodorin Obiang, was prosecuted by a French court on charges of embezzling 150 million euros ($180 million) of public funds to finance his jet-set lifestyle.

Obiang, 48, the son of long-time President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, was tried in absentia and sentenced in October to a three-year suspended sentence for corruption. He was also slapped with a suspended fine of 30 million euros ($35 million).

But Equatorial Guinea sees the case as "a flagrant violation which has given rise to deep indignation in my country," said Carmelo Nvono Nca, Malabo's ambassador to the Netherlands.

"Such an injustice cannot be allowed. The indifference shown by France to our sovereign rights has had important repercussions," he told the International Court of Justice.

This was "undermining" his country's "ability to manage its international relations," he argued.

Malabo's case "involves fundamental principles of international law, principles that are essential to order the relations between states," added lawyer Michael Wood.

"Principles that are even more essential in today's troubled world."

Equatorial Guinea had urged the ICJ in 2016 to order the French courts to suspend the proceedings against Obiang, but the tribunal refused to intervene.

On Monday, France called on the tribunal, set up by the United Nations to rule in disputes between nations, to throw out the case, arguing the judges had no competence to hear the matter.

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Paris accused Malabo of seeking to "paralyse" French criminal procedures in the top-level corruption probe, which came after nearly a decade of lobbying by Transparency International and another group, Sherpa.

French judges have also been probing allegations of corruption against Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso, and Omar Bongo, the late president of Gabon.

The case sets a precedent for France which has long turned a blind eye to African dictators pouring their ill-gotten gains into Parisian real estate and luxury products.

France delegation member Alain Pellet said Monday that Equatorial Guinea was attempting to "slow down, or even paralyse the criminal procedure launched in France."

The decision to take the matter to the ICJ was a bid "to give their case more prominence" argued Pellet.
An earthquake on Friday damaged buildings in the state of Oaxaca - AFP

A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck southern Mexico early on Monday, sending frightened residents into the streets as seismic alarms echoed across the capital, although there were no immediate reports of damage.

The quake hit 32 km (20 miles) east of Santa Catarina Mechoacan in the state of Oaxaca at a depth of 40 km at 12.57am (6.57am GMT), the US Geological Survey said, revising its strength down slightly from an initial 6.1 magnitude.

The tremor was strong enough to trigger earthquake alarms in Mexico City, more than 200 miles (320 km) away, but was shorter and less intense than one of Friday in the same area that damaged about 1,000 houses.

Many in Mexico City slept through the shaking. Residents who rushed into the streets when the alarms sounded quickly returned to their homes once the quake stopped.

The head of Mexico's civil protection agency, Luis Felipe Puente, said state emergency procedures had been activated in the affected states.

Residents in Mexico City briefly left their properties after last night's tremor Credit: CLAUDIA DAUT/ REUTERS

"So far, no damage has been reported," he said on Twitter.

Infrastructure, including installations of state oil company Pemex, were intact, he said.

Mexico has suffered a series of more powerful earthquakes in recent months, including two in September that together killed hundreds of people and brought buildings crashing down.
By Jeffrey Heller and Tova Cohen JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli police revealed on Tuesday they had arrested the controlling shareholder and CEO of the country's biggest telecoms company, as well as two former officials with close ties to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a corruption case. The arrests in the investigation dubbed "Case 4000" came just days after police recommended Netanyahu himself be indicted for bribery and fraud in other cases, known as "1000" and "2000". Shaul Elovitch, a family friend of Netanyahu's who controls telecoms firm Bezeq through his Eurocom holding company, was arrested along with his wife, his son and Bezeq's CEO Stella Handler. Former Netanyahu spokesman Nir Hefetz and former Communications Ministry Director-General Shlomo Filber, both known as close confidants of the prime minister, were also arrested. All the arrests took place on Sunday, but the identities of the suspects were withheld for two days under standard Israeli criminal procedure. Elovitch, his wife and son deny any wrongdoing, a Eurocom spokeswoman said. A lawyer for Handler said she is cooperating fully with the investigation and denies the allegations. Bezeq officials declined to comment. Filber's lawyer declined to comment. Hefetz's attorney could not immediately be reached. Netanyahu, now in his fourth term, has denied any wrongdoing in the various investigations which threaten his long dominance of Israeli politics. He has dismissed any suggestion of illegality in his dealings with Elovitch or Bezeq . The Israel Securities Authority (ISA) last year began investigating suspicions that Elovitch meddled in the 2015 merger between Bezeq and its satellite TV unit YES for personal financial gain. In its new probe, police suspect that Bezeq received regulatory benefits in return for enabling favourable media coverage of Netanyahu on Walla, a news website that is also controlled by Eurocom. "This is a new investigation in the Bezeq case as a result of evidence raised in the ISA investigation," a joint statement from the police and ISA said. "During the investigation suspicions mounted of offences of integrity, money laundering laws and the securities laws which were carried out over time." In a Facebook post on Monday, Netanyahu - who has described the investigations against him as a "witch hunt" - said: "There has never been any payback or illegal act in interaction with Elovitch." Israeli media reports said Netanyahu is likely to face questioning in the police Bezeq probe. A statement issued on Sunday by a personal spokesman to Netanyahu said all decisions related to Bezeq "were made according to recommendations of expert committees and expert officials". The ISA said in November it had enough evidence to support criminal charges against senior Bezeq officials, leaving it to Tel Aviv prosecutors to decide whether to indict. (Additional reporting by Steven Scheer and Ori Lewis; Editing by Keith Weir)
Ceuta (Spain) (AFP) - The heart-rending photo went round the world in 2015, showing an eight-year-old boy from Ivory Coast crammed into a suitcase that was found at a Spanish border crossing.

His father goes on trial Tuesday in Ceuta, a Spanish overseas territory in northern Morocco which migrants from Africa regularly try to reach by scaling high border fences, hiding behind car dashboards or in bus chassis.

Prosecutors are seeking a three-year prison term for Ali Ouattara for facilitating his son's illegal entry into Europe and endangering the child's life.

"I'm going to this trial with a lot of confidence because I'm not a human trafficker," Ouattara, 45, told AFP.

On May 7, 2015, Spanish police noticed a young Moroccan woman dragging what looked like a heavy suitcase across the border with Ceuta.

When they put the suitcase through an X-ray machine they were shocked to see the silhouette of a child curled up in a foetal position.

"My name is Adou," the boy told them in French after they extricated him from the suitcase, according to Spanish journalist Nicolas Castellano, who wrote a book about the story.

- Paid traffickers 5,ooo euros -

The desperate smuggling attempt was a first in Ceuta.

But only three months later, a 27-year-old Moroccan died of asphyxiation inside a suitcase placed in the trunk of a car on a ferry linking Melilla, another Spanish territory in Morocco, to southern Spain.

Adou was soon reunited with his mother, and his father, who had been waiting for his son on the Spanish side of the border, was arrested shortly after the police discovery.

Ouattara said he was "misled" by the traffickers who charged him 5,000 euros ($6,200) and did not tell him his son would be hidden in a suitcase.

The traffickers had initially promised to fly the boy from the Ivorian economic capital Abidjan to Madrid but then told him they would instead travel via Ceuta by car, he said.

"For us, it was crucial for the child to come, we couldn't live without him, we couldn't stop thinking about him," Ouattara said.

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A former philosophy and French teacher in Abidjan, Ouattara arrived illegally in Spain in 2006, making the perilous journey across the Mediterranean aboard a boat.

He eventually got a stable job and home in the Canary Islands, and was able to bring his wife and daughter over legally.

But Spanish authorities refused four times to let him bring over his son too.

"I was earning more than 1,300 euros in a launderette but they said it wasn't enough" for the entire family to live, he says.

His wife, daughter and Adou are now living in France, but Ali is still in Spain as he is barred from leaving the country pending the trial.

Adou is expected to return to Ceuta for the trial.
(This version of the Feb 18 story corrects name from Keith to Kevin in second paragraph)

By Jon Herskovitz

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - A Texas man who survived a deadly domestic attack hatched by his son is pushing the state to grant clemency to the condemned man, although it has never spared a death row inmate solely at the formal request of the victim's family.

Thomas "Bart" Whitaker is set to be put to death by lethal injection on Feb. 22 for masterminding a 2003 plot near Houston that left his mother Tricia, 51, and brother Kevin, 19, dead and his father Kent with a bullet wound near his heart.

In the 31 states with capital punishment, district attorneys make the decision whether to seek death, balancing the punishment that they consider best serves society with the wishes of the victim's family. In this case, the local Texas prosecutors pursued death and jurors decided Bart Whitaker, 38, deserved to be executed.

His father, a 69-year-old devout Christian and retired executive, says if that penalty is implemented, it will only intensify his pain.

"I am going to be thrown into a deeper grief at the hands of the state of Texas, in the name of justice," Kent Whitaker said last week, after a 30-minute meeting with the chairman of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles in Austin.

Whitaker says his son has been a model inmate and has provided letters from death row prison guards to back him up. According to the clemency petition, Kent Whitaker, his relatives and his wife's family do not want Texas to execute Bart.

The panel's decision is due on Tuesday, two days before the execution. If it recommends commuting the death sentence to life in prison, Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, would make the final decision.

Tim Cole, an assistant professor of law at the University of North Texas Dallas College of Law and a former Texas district attorney, said the case points to a major flaw in the U.S. capital punishment system.

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With no consistent criteria for prosecutors on whether they should seek execution, he said, the system is arbitrary.

"It is completely up to that one person, the district attorney, to seek death or not," he said.

The Whitaker case is an outlier, however. In many cases, family members want the district attorney to seek the maximum punishment, Cole said.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976, clemency at the request of a forgiving victim's family has been almost unheard of, according to the non-profit Death Penalty Information Center, which monitors U.S. capital punishment. It did happen in Georgia in 1990, the group said.

It is far more common for courts to halt executions for reasons ranging from doubts over guilt to procedural problems with prosecutions than it is for a governor to grant clemency.

Money may have motivated Bart Whitaker to plan to murder his family with the help of two other men, court documents showed. One of those men, his roommate Chris Brashear, shot the father, mother and brother after the family returned from a dinner out.

He shot Bart in the bicep to make it look he had also been attacked, court documents said. The two other men helped prosecutors pin the crime on Whitaker and were not sentenced to death.

Local prosecutors said they considered the family's views but stood by Whitaker's sentence as appropriate for such a brutal crime.

"We represent all of the community. It is not just one person we represent," said Fred Felcman, first assistant district attorney for the Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office. "Legally, justice says that he should be executed."

Felcman believes Bart Whitaker is a sociopath and a master manipulator.

In the clemency petition, Kent Whitaker recalled lying in his hospital bed and facing the choice of slipping into despair or offering his son forgiveness. He said his faith led him to the latter option, which he hopes will sway Texas officials.

"We are not asking them to forgive him, or to let him go," he added. "We just want them to let him live."

(Reporting by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Rosalba O'Brien)
A British engineer has been charged by the FBI with murdering his wife after she disappeared at sea as they cruised around the Caribbean on a belated honeymoon.

Lewis Bennett, 41, who holds dual British and Australian citizenship and is originally from Poole, Dorset, was accused of second-degree murder over the death of Isabella Hellmann, 41, on May 15 last year.

He was charged in a Miami court where, according to local television station WPTV, he was also sentenced to seven months in jail for transporting valuable rare coins.

After his wife's disappearance Bennett told investigators she was lost at sea when their 37ft catamaran, Surf into Summer, was struck by an unknown object near the Bahamas.

According to to the FBI Bennett said he had gone below deck and left Ms Hellmann above to keep watch.

He described being woken up at 1am by a jolt and the vessel was taking on water.

Bennett told investigators he could not find his wife and had to abandon ship on a life raft.

In an affidavit FBI special agent James Kelley said the bureau now believed Bennett "knowingly and unlawfully killed" Ms Hellmann.

The FBI affidavit claimed Bennett had damaged the inside of the boat causing it to flood.

Isabella Hellman and her British husband Lewis Bennett. She went missing during a honeymoon sailing trip.

When Ms Hellmann disappeared the couple, who had a daughter now aged 17 months, were sailing back from Havana, Cuba to their home in Delray Beach, Florida. The daughter was not on the boat.

Bennett made an SOS call in the early hours and was later spotted by a US Coast Guard helicopter. He was rescued alone from the life raft.

The search for Ms Hellmann was called off three days later and her body was never found.

When Bennett was rescued nine plastic tubes of silver coins were found in the life raft.

They included 158 English Year of the Horse one-ounce silver coins and 77 Canadian Maple Leaf coins, worth about 3,200.

The coins were among a batch that had been reported stolen from another boat in St Martin the previous year. Bennett had been a crew member on that boat.

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According to the owner of the boat the total value of the coins stolen in 2016 was around $100,000.

After he was rescued Bennett said of his wife: "She is my soulmate. I thought we were going to be together forever.

"I understand why they have to investigate and that is fair enough. I have got nothing to hide. They have to do what they have to do.
By Bozorgmehr Sharafedin LONDON (Reuters) - Five members of Iranian security forces were killed in Tehran on Monday night in clashes with protesters from a religious order, 300 of whom were arrested, the police said. Members of the Gonabadi Dervishes, who follow the mystical Sufi strain of Islam, considered a threat by the theocratic establishment, clashed with riot police after gathering at a police station to demand the release of members of their sect. Three riot police were killed when a bus was driven into their ranks, a volunteer Basij militiaman was run over by a car and another was stabbed, officials said. Some Sufis also surrounded the house of their 90-year-old leader, Nourali Tabandeh, in the same neighborhood in northern Tehran, shouting they would not tolerate his possible arrest. The protests come weeks after a wave of anti-government demonstrations in more than 80 towns that resulted in 25 deaths and thousands of arrests. While the Sufi protests are unrelated, they are another show of public defiance prompting a robust response from the Islamic Republic's security forces. Police spokesman Montazer al-Mahdi said that among the more than 300 people arrested were the two drivers of the "death vehicles". Around 30 police officers and some protesters were injured, he said. Majzooban, a website linked to the Gonabadi Sufis, said some protesters were shot by the police. Photos posted on social media showed Dervishes with faces covered in blood, and burning cars and motorcycles apparently torched by protesters. Online videos showed police firing tear gas to disperse demonstrators. Sufism is considered one of the most peaceful sects of Islam. Despite being under constant pressure by the Iranian authorities, dervishes have no history of armed clashes with the government. According to the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI), several Dervishes were arrested in the last two months. It said 10 were injured in the city of Kowar on Jan. 14 after police attacked a rally held to demand the release of Sufi detainees. A U.N. Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran voiced concern in 2017 about the "targeting and harsh treatment" of members of various Sufi groups, saying they "continue to face arbitrary arrest, harassment and detention, and are often accused of national security crimes such as acting against national security". (Reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin; Editing by Michael Perry and Robin Pomeroy)
Chris Grady is one of about 100 Stoneman Douglas students heading to Tallahassee to push lawmakers to do something to stop gun violence: AP

The survivors of the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School want to be the last students to live through a school shooting  and they have a plan to make that happen.

One hundred students from the Florida high school, where a lone gunman killed 17 students and staff members last week, have travelled to the state capital of Tallahassee to meet with legislators and hold a march for gun safety reform.

It really needs to be recognised that they need to stop fighting each other and starting working together, Jaclyn Corin, the student and junior class president who conceived of the trip, told the Tampa Bay Times. This has to be the last school this happens to.

The trip is just the first step in waves of action planned by the teenage survivors, who have been outspoken in both mainstream and social media about their demand for more gun control in the wake of the shooting. The students have planned a nationwide March for Our Lives rally for 24 March, and are participating in a nationally televised town hall with CNN.

Some students  though the White House did not specify who  will also participate in a listening session with President Donald Trump.

The students and their chaperones are making the 450 mile journey to Tallahassee by bus, after first attending a funeral for former classmate Carmen Schentrup. Carmen, age 16, was killed when former Marjory Stoneman Douglas student Nikolas Cruz allegedly opened fire on the school with an AR-15 on Valentines Day.

The trip will culminate in the Rally to Support Gun Safety Reform this afternoon, at the Florida Historic Capitol Museum. The rally, co-sponsored by the Florida Coalition To Prevent Gun Violence and the League of Women Voters of Florida, will demand the prohibition of assault rifles and large-capacity magazines, according to its Facebook page. The students will speak alongside State Senator Gary Farmer and State Representative Carlos Guillermo Smith.

More than 600 people  including survivors of the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando in 2016  have already RSVPed to the rally on Facebook. The nearby Leon County school district will excuse students from class for the rally, and even bus them to the event, Superintendent Rocky Hanna told the Tallahassee Democrat.

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The students will also meet with state legislators throughout the two day visit. According to Ms Corin, the pupils will encourage legislators to act on gun control bills that have been introduced to the Senate, but never passed.

Ms Corin posted screenshots of three Florida Senate bills on Twitter: one that would repeal prohibitions on record-keeping of firearm owners, one that would require gun sales to go through a licensed dealer with a three-day waiting period, and one that would prohibit the sale of assault rifles and large capacity magazines.

My classmates and I will be focusing on these bills, she tweeted. We are not yet allowed to bring about our own, but that does not mean we cant introduce our own ideas  DONT WORRY! Our hope is that the Senate may have a special session in the future using our suggestions for new bills.

Students have already confirmed meetings with Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, Senate President Joe Negron, and Speaker of the House Richard Corcoran, according to the Times. Ms Corin tweeted on Tuesday that Governor Rick Scott had also agreed to a meeting.

Senator Lauren Book, who represents the county where the shooting occurred, is helping to organise the trip. In an interview with the Democrat, she praised Ms Corin as the epitome of strength, advocacy and tenacity.

I hope that my daughter will be half the young woman that she is, dealing with such horrific events, she said.
(PARKLAND)  Students who survived the Florida school shooting prepared to flood the Capitol Wednesday pushing to ban the assault-style rifle used to kill 17 people, vowing to make changes in the November election if they cant persuade lawmakers to change laws before their legislative session ends.

About 100 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students arrived at a Tallahassee high school to extended applause late Tuesday after a 400-mile (640-kilometer) trip on three buses. They told the 500 students and parents waiting for them that they are fighting to protect all students.

Were whats making the change. Were going to talk to these politicians tomorrow. Were going to talk to them the day after that. Were going to keep talking, were going to keep pushing until something is done because people are dying and this cant happen anymore, said Alfonso Calderon, a 16-year-old junior. You guys are what were trying to protect.

Despite their enthusiasm and determination, the students and their supporters arent likely to get what they really want: a ban on AR-15s and similar semi-automatic rifles. Republican lawmakers are talking more seriously about some restrictions, but not a total ban.

Instead, theyre discussing treating assault-style rifles like the one suspected gunman Nikolas Cruz is accused of using in the Valentines Day attack more like handguns than long guns. That could mean raising the minimum age to purchase the weapon to 21, creating a waiting period and making it more difficult for people who exhibit signs of mental illness from buying the weapon even without a diagnosis.

Democrats attempted to get a bill to ban assault rifles and large-capacity magazines heard on the House floor on Tuesday. Republicans, who dominate the chamber, easily dismissed it. Students who were at the Capitol ahead of their classmates who arrived late Tuesday found Republicans steered the conversation away from gun restrictions.

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Rachel Catania, 15, a sophomore at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland said she got a lot of non-answers from the politicians she spoke with Tuesday.

I know its going to be hard, but I know we can do it, she said. Were not going to be the school that got shot, were going to be the school that got shot and made something happen. A change is going to happen.

The students on the seven-hour bus ride checked their phones, watching videos and reading comments on social media about the shooting, some of which accused them of being liberal pawns.

As the grieving Florida students demanded action on guns, President Donald Trump on Tuesday directed the Justice Department to move to ban devices like the rapid-fire bump stocks used in last years Las Vegas massacre. It was a small sign of movement on the gun violence issue that has long tied Washington in knots.

We must do more to protect our children, said Trump, a strong and vocal supporter of gun rights. He added that his administration was working hard to respond to the Florida rampage.

The students planned to hold a rally Wednesday to put more pressure on the Legislature.

I really think they are going to hear us out, said Chris Grady, a high school senior aboard the bus.

The Feb. 14 attack initially appeared to overcome the resistance of some in the states political leadership, which has rebuffed gun restrictions since Republicans took control of both the governors office and the Legislature in 1999. However, many members of the party still have strong resistance to any gun-control measures.

The Parkland students also plan to meet Wednesday with top legislative leaders, including House Speaker Richard Corcoran and Senate President Joe Negron.

Florida has a reputation for expanding gun rights. Negron sponsored a 2011 bill that Republican Gov. Rick Scott signed into law that banned cities and counties from regulating gun and ammunition sales.

Scott organized three committees to look at school safety, mental health and gun safety issues that met Tuesday and vowed to make changes to better protect students. While Scott told reporters several times that everything is on the table, he did not answer whether his proposal would include any bans on any type of weapons.

Instead, Scott said he is interested in making it harder for people who are temporarily committed to obtain a gun. He also pledged to increase spending on school safety programs and on mental health treatment.

Authorities said Cruz, 19, had a string of run-ins with school authorities that ended with his expulsion. Police were repeatedly called to his house throughout his childhood. His lawyers said there were many warning signs that he was mentally unstable and potentially violent. Yet he legally purchased a semi-automatic rifle.

Stoneman Douglas senior Diego Pfeiffer was realistic about what change would happen before the Legislature goes home March 9, but said anything is a good first step.

The best case scenario is we move a step forward and thats all were asking here. Were asking to help save student lives, he said. Whether its funding or mental health or gun safety or any of that sort of stuff  I am pro any of that.

But he also said if change doesnt come in the Legislature, he noted hes now 18 and he has the power of his vote.

Youre our senators and youre our representatives for now. If you dont help us make a change soon, you will be left in the dust, he said. Im happily going to vote for anybody whos going to be on our side, the side of childrens lives. How can you say no to that?

Lush reported from St. Petersburg, Florida. Associated Press writers Gary Fineout in Tallahassee and Sadie Gurman in Washington contributed to this report.
A Second Amendment supporter has posted a video in which he destroys his AR-15 rifle in response to the Florida school shooting.

Scott Pappalardo said he said he could not live with the idea the child of its next owner might get hold of it and use it to hurt others.

So in a five-minute clip posted to Facebook he used a circular saw to slice the weapon into pieces.

The post has been shared hundreds of thousands of times, and the video has been watched some 15 million times.

In it, Mr Pappalardo said he was a supporter of the Second Amendment, which protects Americans right to bear arms, and even had a tattoo of it.

He said: A lot of people have said to me, Well, what do you need to own a weapon like that for? Its only purpose is to kill.

And Ill be honest, its a lot of fun to shoot. Im not a hunter, Ive never killed anything with it except a bunch of targets.

I remember after Sandy Hook happened, I said to my wife Id gladly give this gun up if it would save the life of just one child.

Thats five years ago now, and since then over 400 people have been shot in over 200 school shootings. So I guess my words were just empty words in the spur of the moment.

Now, here we are, 17 more lives lost, so when do we change? When do we make laws that say maybe a weapon like this isnt acceptable in todays society?

And theres a lot of blame people can put on desensitising with video games and the internet, bad parenting, mental illness, but ultimately its a gun like this one that takes away the lives.

Mr Pappalardo posted the video three days after a gunman used an AR-15 to kill 14 students and three members of staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Nikolas Cruz, 19, has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder and police said he had confessed to being the shooter.

The AR-15 is the semi-automatic, commercial version of the M-16 assault rifle. It lacks the fully-automatic or burst firing options of its military cousins but can be modified to fire faster with a so-called bump stock, as in the Las Vegas massacre last October.

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Mr Pappalardo said he had owned his weapon  and his tattoo  for more than 30 years. In a separate post he said he still supported the Second Amendment but also that the US needed to introduce much tougher gun laws.

Of the destruction of his rifle, he said: I know a lot of people are going to say Im stupid for doing that, but this was a personal choice. I cant live knowing that my guns out there and it can one day possibly commit a horrific act like the other day in Florida.

On Monday the White House said Donald Trump had expressed his support for efforts to improve the federal background check system for gun purchases.

The US President met Republican senator John Cornyn to discuss bipartisan legislation the Texan was developing, alongside Democrat Chris Murphy, to improve federal compliance with criminal background checks.

Another gun owner, Ben Dickmann of Florida, handed in his own AR-57 rifle to Broward County sheriffs following the Parkland massacre.

He said: I will be the change I want to see in this world. If our lawmakers will continue to close their eyes and open their wallets, I will lead by example. No one without a law enforcement badge needs this rifle.

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The AR-57, or AR-Five Seven, is an AR-15 variant that carries 50 rounds in a magazine fitted to the guns upper portion.
(Reuters) - At least 5,000 people in New Zealand's South Island were cut off by massive landslips and hundreds of tourists stranded on Wednesday after former cyclone Gita whipped through the country, sparking a state of emergency in several southern towns. Torrential rains from Gita, which was downgraded on Tuesday from a tropical cyclone to storm, lashed the center of New Zealand, causing floods in the city of Christchurch and other provinces. Heavy rain caused landslips, closing arterial roads, including a state highway. New Zealand's weather bureau told local media the worst was likely over. "Really the heavy rain now is focused from Canterbury down to Otago this morning, then that gradually eases," MetService meteorologist Karl Loots told the Dominion Post. "The worst impacts for most have past." Cyclone Gita hit the Pacific island nations of Fiji and Tonga last week, packing winds up to 275 kph (171 mph). Fiji escaped major damage but Tonga suffered widespread destruction and flooding. Earlier, the storm had caused extensive damage in Samoa and American Samoa. In New Zealand's South Island, about 200 tourists were still trapped after spending the night in their buses or in welfare centers, Radio NZ reported. Schools in Canterbury remained shut on Wednesday and around 14,000 households in the central North Island remained without power. (Reporting by Swati Pandey in Sydney; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
Paris (AFP) - France's wartime leader Philippe Petain did not dishonour himself by signing the 1940 armistice that allowed Nazi forces to occupy the north of the country, former far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen says in his memoirs.

Petain "was legal and legitimate", the co-founder of the National Front (FN) party says in "Fils de la Nation" (Son of the Nation), the first volume of his memoirs set to be published on February 28.

For four years after Marshal Petain -- a World War I hero then aged 80 -- announced France's capitulation to Nazi Germany on June 17, 1940, he led so-called Vichy France in the centre and the south of the country, with its headquarters in the spa town of the same name.

Meanwhile the Nazis occupied the north of France including Paris, and the Vichy regime collaborated with their relentless campaign against Jews.

Petain passed legislation that saw Jews -- around 150,000 of whom had fled to the south believing it to be safer -- subjected to severe discrimination similar to that in the Nazi-occupied north.

Under Petain, the Vichy regime put to death up to 15,000 people and helped deport nearly 80,000.

According to extracts published Tuesday in the French press, the 89-year-old Le Pen writes: "I'm all for discussing the policy of collaboration, its faults and its excesses, on condition that we examine the faults and excesses of everyone."

When General Charles De Gaulle launched the French Resistance in his historic radio address from London on June 18, 1940, "I quickly realised that for Gaullists... the enemy was more in Vichy than in Berlin," Le Pen writes.

Le Pen, who in 1972 co-founded the far-right National Front now led by his daughter Marine Le Pen, adds that De Gaulle "remains for me a terrible source of suffering for France."

He also takes personal stabs at De Gaulle, saying that when he saw him for the first time in 1945 "he seemed ugly to me, and said a few banalities at the flag-draped podium. He didn't look like a hero; a hero should be handsome."

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Le Pen, who is estranged from his daughter, has been convicted repeatedly for anti-Semitic and xenophobic comments.

He was booted out of the FN in 2015 for his views on the Nazi gas chambers -- he has called the Holocaust a "detail of history" -- and for defending the Vichy regime.

However a French court ruled the following year that he should be allowed to remain as the party's honorary president.
George Clooney and wife Amal Clooneys plan to march in support of the Florida high school shootings survivors has inspired Oprah to match their related donation of a half-million dollars.

The Clooneys released a joint statement on Tuesday to announce they will be in attendance at March for Our Lives on March 24 in Washington, D.C. The demonstration was organized by the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School to push for an end to gun violence in schools.

Amal and I are so inspired by the courage and eloquence of these young men and women from Stoneman Douglas High School, the couple said in a statement to Variety. Our family will be there on March 24 to stand side by side with this incredible generation of young people from all over the country.

The two also pledged a donation dedicated to their twins, who were born last summer.

In the name of our children Ella and Alexander, were donating $500,000 to help pay for this groundbreaking event. Our childrens lives depend on it, they added.

Responding to the Clooneys announcement, Winfrey tweeted later Tuesday, I couldnt agree with you more and pledged to match their $500,000 donation.

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Stoneman Douglas students, including Jaclyn Corin, Emma Gonzalez, Cameron Kasky, David Hogg and Alex Wind, have come together in the wake of the shooting to ask lawmakers to reform Americas gun laws and to demand that their lives and safety become a priority and that we end gun violence and mass shootings in our schools today.

Celebrities like Lady Gaga, Zendaya and Justin Bieber have also expressed their support of the march on social media, with some communicating directly with the survivors.

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The Clooneys previously opened their wallets following the violence sparked by a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, last August. The couple donated $1 million to the Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit that works to protect civil rights and combat hate groups.

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At the time, President Donald Trump said protesters on both sides of the conflict in Charlottesville were to blame for the situation.

Amal and I wanted to add our voice (and financial assistance) to the ongoing fight for equality, George Clooney said at the time. There are no two sides to bigotry and hate.

This story has been updated to include Oprah Winfreys tweet.

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George Clooney and Amal Clooney walk the red carpet ahead of the 'Suburbicon' screening during the 74th Venice Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 2, 2017 in Venice, Italy.

George Clooney and Amal Clooney during the Cesar Film Awards 2017 ceremony at Salle Pleyel on February 24, 2017 in Paris, France.

Actor George Clooney and his wife Amal attend a CEO roundtable at the United Nations during the United Nations General Assembly in New York September 20, 2016. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

George Clooney and Amal Clooney attend the MPTF 95th anniversary celebration with 'Hollywood's Night Under The Stars' at MPTF Wasserman Campus on October 1, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Getty Images for MPTF)

Actor George Clooney and his wife Amal Clooney attend the 'Money Monster' premiere during the 69th annual Cannes Film Festival at the Palais des Festivals on May 12, 2016 in Cannes, . (Photo by Venturelli/WireImage)

Cast member George Clooney and his wife Amal pose on the red carpet for the screening of the film "Money Monster" out of competition at the 69th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 12, 2016. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau

Pope Francis meets US actor George Clooney (C) and his wife Amal (L) during a meeting of the Scholas Occurrentes at the Vatican, May 29, 2016. Osservatore Romano/ Handout via REUTERS.

George Clooney and his wife Amal attend the 'Hail, Caesar!' premiere during the 66th Berlinale International Film Festival Berlin at Berlinale Palace on February 11, 2016 in Berlin, Germany.

Actor George Clooney (R) and Amal Clooney attend Universal Pictures' 'Hail, Caesar!' premiere at Regency Village Theatre on February 1, 2016 in Westwood, California.

Amal Alamuddin (L) and actor George Clooney attend the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures' 'Our Brand Is Crisis' at TCL Chinese Theatre on October 26, 2015 in Hollywood, California.

Producer George Clooney kisses his wife Amal at the premiere of "Our Brand Is Crisis" in Hollywood, California October 26, 2015. The movie opens in the U.S. on October 30.

Lawyer Amal Clooney (R) and actor George Clooney (L) attends the Tokyo premiere of 'Tomorrowland' at Roppongi Hills on May 25, 2015 in Tokyo, Japan.

Cast member George Clooney poses with his wife Amal and her niece Mia at the premiere of "Tomorrowland" at AMC theatres in Downtown Disney in Anaheim, California May 9, 2015. The movie opens in the U.S. on May 22.

George Clooney and wife Amal Clooney arrive at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala 2015 celebrating the opening of "China: Through the Looking Glass," in Manhattan, New York May 4, 2015.

U.S. actor George Clooney arrives with his wife, Lebanese-British lawyer Amal Ramzi Clooney, for the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala 2015 celebrating the opening of "China: Through the Looking Glass," in Manhattan, New York May 4, 2015.

George Clooney and Amal Clooney are seen March 7, 2015 in New York City.

Actor George Clooney and wife, Amal Clooney, arrive at the 72nd Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California January 11, 2015.

George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin leave the city hall after their civil marriage ceremony in Venice, Italy, Monday, Sept. 29, 2014. George Clooney married human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin Saturday, the actor's representative said, out of sight of pursuing paparazzi and adoring crowds.

U.S. actor George Clooney and his wife Amal Alamuddin leave the seven-star hotel Aman Canal Grande Venice in Venice September 28, 2014. Clooney, the world's most famous bachelor, broke a vow to remain single on Saturday and married human rights lawyer Alamuddin during a weekend of lavish celebrations in Venice. The Italian city of gondolas and palazzi looked like Hollywood on the Adriatic as A-list guests cruised between luxury hotels for the extravaganza, billed as the party of the year even as details were kept largely secret.

George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin arrive in Venice on September 26, 2014 in Venice, Italy. George Clooney is set to marry his lawyer fiancee Amal

Amal Alamuddin arrives in Venice, Italy, Friday, Sept. 26, 2014. George Clooney, 53, and Alamuddin, 36, are expected to get married this weekend in Venice, one of the world's most romantic settings. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

George Clooney arrives at the Aman hotel to marry Amal Alamuddin, in Venice, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Actor George Clooney, right, flanked by Ramzi Alamuddin, father of his fiancee Amal Alamuddin, waves from a boat carrying them to the Aman hotel ahead of his wedding in Venice, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Director and actor George Clooney arrives with his fiancee barrister Amal Alamuddin to attend the Celebrity Fight Night event in Florence September 7, 2014. REUTERS/Giampiero Sposito (ITALY - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT)

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Berlin (AFP) - Germany's armed forces are being pushed beyond their limits as Berlin makes greater international commitments while failing to invest in and reform the military, according to a report published Tuesday.

"The army's readiness to deploy has not improved in recent years, but instead has got even worse," parliamentary armed forces commissioner Hans-Peter Bartels said as he presented his annual findings at a press conference, pointing to "big gaps" in personnel and equipment.

By the end of 2017, all Germany's submarines were in drydock for repairs, while in recent months there have been periods where none of the air force's 14 A400M transport planes were airworthy.

The litany of disrepair continues through fighter planes, tanks, helicopters and ships lamed by bad planning and a lack of spare parts.

Air force pilots are unable to train as their aircraft are grounded for maintenance for much of the year, the report notes.

Spending on defence has been cut repeatedly since 1990 and the end of the Cold War, leaving the army with often outdated equipment and the defence industry unable to suddenly increase production to fill the gaps.

Despite government promises to find more cash, "tasks for which there are supposed to be additional people and equipment in future are already upon us", Bartels said.

"Soldiers already have to accomplish them today as best they can, using whatever is at hand."

On top of the material shortages, some 21,000 officer and non-commissioned-officer posts are vacant, depriving the troops of leadership and contributing to low morale, said the report.

- 'Free riders' -

Last year, Chancellor Angela Merkel's government announced the first increase in the size of the army since 1990 and higher spending over the next seven years.

Nevertheless, "there has been no substantial increase" in the budget since then, Bartels found.

For now, the grave state of the Bundeswehr (German army) persists while leaders in Berlin commit troops to increasing numbers of foreign deployments -- ranging from their traditional role deterring Russian forces in Europe alongside NATO partners to interventions in conflict zones like Mali or Iraq.

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Allies of Europe's most populous nation and largest economy, from Washington to Warsaw, complain that Germany is not doing enough to get its army fighting fit.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki complained last week of "free riders" in NATO failing to spend enough and "endangering unity" in the ranks of the alliance, in comments many saw as directed at his western neighbour.

And US President Donald Trump has reiterated years-old American complaints that Germany does not live up to a NATO commitment to spend 2.0 percent of gross domestic product on defence.

Germany presently spends just 1.2 percent of GDP on the military.

This week alone, German media reported that as well as tanks, Germany's troops supposed to join a NATO "rapid reaction force" lacked protective vests, winter clothing and tents.

"We will make the best possible equipment, training and support available to our soldiers" Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative CDU said in a coalition agreement sealed with the Social Democratic Party that is still to be approved by SPD members.

But even if a prospective new Merkel government loosens the purse strings, "we wouldn't be in a position to spend more money with our present procurement structures," Bartels said.
Customs broker changes plea, says hes not guilty of stealing from employer

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A former customs broker who had pleaded guilty to stealing over $60,000 from C K Greaves & Co Ltd. this week changed his plea to not guilty after securing the services of a lawyer.

Keswert Slater, 39 years old of Clare Valley, was supposed to be sentenced at the Kingstown Magistrates Court this Wednesday, May 27 for stealing the money from the business.

However, after attorney Israel Bruce indicated his clients change of mind, the charges were put to Slater once again, that he had, between May 4 and December 31, 2019, in Kingstown, stolen EC$44,664.90, the property of CK Greaves and Co Ltd; and that he had, between January 2 and April 7, 2020, stolen EC$18,710.22 also from his former employer.

Prosecutor Corlene Samuel told Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett that the prosecution had no objection to bail for the defendant but asked that there be sufficiency of surety, reporting conditions, a no contact order with the complainant, and stop notices in place.

However, Samuel noted that the prosecution is ready to proceed to trial.

The magistrate asked how soon disclosure could take place, and the prosecutor noted that this could be done some time this week.

A June 8 date was suggested.

However, the lawyer asked for a lengthier adjournment as there was a possibility that he would be engaged with another matter in a foreign court at this time.

Therefore, Slater will return on June 22. In the interim, and while the matter goes through a trial process, the defendant has been granted bail in the sum of $60,000.

He will be required to report to the Questelles police station every Monday, and was ordered to have no contact with the complainant.

Previously Slater was on remand in custody awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty at the magistrates court on May 13. However, he gained his conditional freedom on Wednesday after his surety was accepted.
Washington (AFP) - A Guantanamo Bay detainee who pleaded guilty to helping plan a 2002 attack on a French oil tanker is set to be transferred from the military prison to Saudi Arabia, a US official said Tuesday.

Saudi citizen Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Haza al-Darbi has cooperated with the government since entering his plea as part of a deal four years ago, and authorities say he should now be sent to a Saudi rehabilitation center for jihadists.

If transferred, Darbi would be the first Guantanamo inmate to be released since President Donald Trump took office more than a year ago.

Darbi entered a plea deal in February 2014 that saw him admit to planning, aiding and supporting an attack on the MV Limburg, which killed a Bulgarian sailor, injured a dozen and caused a large oil spill in the Gulf of Aden.

As part of his plea, Darbi has provided evidence against another Saudi Guantanamo detainee -- Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, who faces the death penalty on charges he masterminded the MV Limburg attack and the 2000 attack against the USS Cole in Yemen that left 17 dead.

Commander Sarah Higgins, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said the Defense Department hopes Darbi's transfer "will take place soon."

"Darbi has complied with all terms of his plea agreement," she said.

Darbi was sentenced to 13 years in prison, starting from the date of the plea.

The deal included a provision that after four more years at Guantanamo, he could serve the remainder of his term at a luxurious rehab center in the Saudi capital Riyadh, where former extremists are given counseling and ideological detoxification.

"We await assurances from the Saudi Arabian government to move forward on his departure," Higgins said.

According to a transcript of an October hearing, prosecutors said Darbi gave a wide range of help to the Limburg attackers "including providing or obtaining visas for the terrorists that actually took part in the attack, providing them housing, purchasing equipment."

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Darbi's lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

- Legal shambles -

Instead of being tried in a US civilian court, Nashiri and other inmates are going through a legal process known as the military commissions, which were drawn up to prosecute Guantanamo captives.

Among those facing trial are several alleged 9/11 co-conspirators, including accused mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.

But their cases have been beset with legal challenges and seemingly interminable delays, and Nashiri's trial collapsed in disarray last week.

Military commissions judge Air Force Colonel Vance Spath had to halt that case in frustration -- at one point threatening to retire -- because he could not compel Nashiri's main lawyers to show up in court.

His lawyers last year said their privileged conversations with and about their client had been monitored by the government, and that they could not proceed with his defense.

A total of 41 inmates remain at Guantanamo, but Trump has vowed to send more detainees to the notorious prison, which is located on a US naval base on the southeastern tip of Cuba.

Of the 41, five inmates apart from Darbi were cleared for transfer under president Barack Obama, but efforts to fly them out before Trump took office failed at the last minute.
Keren Craig, left, co-founder of Marchesa, with Georgina Chapman, the estranged wife of Harvey Weinstein. Craig has spoken for the first time since the Harvey Weinstein scandal. (Photo: Getty Images)

Georgina Chapman, estranged wife of disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein, is not a victim. Thats according to her best friend and fellow Marchesa co-founder Keren Craig, who has spoken out for the first time since the accusations of sexual abuse against Weinstein emerged.

Speaking to Grazia, Craig noted how incredibly strong Chapman has been. She doesnt see herself as a victim, she said. Thats very important. Shes just trying to get on with her life. Youve got to realize George is such a strong woman. Dont get me wrong, its a very hard time, but shes quite inspirational.

Craig said Chapman has thrown herself into her work and protecting her children. Marchesa is her life; it is her passion. You see it here: Even though she was going through all that, these beautiful things have somehow come out of such a hard time, Craig said of the latest collection, which was not shown on a runway during New York Fashion Week. Rather, it was presented to clients and friends and released online.

Despite the drama in Chapmans personal life, Craig admitted that the brands business is still strong. All our core retailers came out in support, she said. Neiman Marcus is a big supporter, and Saks. It means everything to us. Weve worked hard at it, and our customers are sticking with us.

However, the design duos red carpet reign has seemingly come to a halt. While Craig is certain that their dresses will once again be Hollywood staples, the company is taking a step back from that. Thats always been a great marketing tool for us, but its not our core business, she said.

Keren Craig, Georgina Chapman, and her estranged husband, Harvey Weinstein. (Photo: Getty Images)

Craig admitted that she did not have any suspicion that Chapmans ex-husband had been allegedly coercing actresses into wearing Marchesa to red carpet events.

Earlier this year, Jessica Chastain revealed that Weinstein once pressured her to wear a dress from the label, then taunted her when she refused.The actress told WSJ Magazine that Weinstein had wanted her to wear Marchesa to the premiere of The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby, which was distributed by his company.

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Felicity Huffman shared a similar story, saying that Weinstein pressured her to wear Marchesa when she won a Golden Globe for Transamerica in 2006. Craig said it was shocking and sad to learn of Huffmans experience with the brand. It was the first Id heard about it, she said. I remember the dress and I remember working with Felicity; she was absolutely lovely.

Keren Craig and Georgina Chapman set up Marchesa back in 2004. (Photo: Getty Images)

When asked by Grazia if she ever had any indication about Weinsteins alleged behavior, the 41-year-old Craig said: Absolutely not. No, it was a total shock. It was upsetting and my heart was broken for George.

The business partners are looking toward the future without their major backer, Weinstein, who Craig said has no remaining financial involvement. Theyre hoping to expand the label by adding cocktail dresses and separates. Craig also explained that the fashion duo are in the process of working out how their brand can help to support the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, which have, in part, been a result of the Weinstein scandal. We want to support them, Craig said. We want to make a gesture. We need to properly process how it can be the most beneficial.

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Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara, out together on Saturday, have been going strong for more than a year. (Photo: Backgrid)

Weve long ago learned that you cant fully believe everything Joaquin Phoenix says (see: Im Still Here), but pictures dont lie. And this one  of Phoenix, 43, and girlfriend Rooney Mara, 32, coupled up in L.A.  means that the perfectly matched odd couple is still going strong one year later.

The Mary Magdalene co-stars were snapped together Saturday at a mall in Sherman Oaks, Calif. From the looks of his bag and earbuds, they had hit up an Apple store. And from the look on his face, hes clearly stoked about his new purchase.

Their matching sneakers  her high-top Converse to his low-tops  pretty much say everything else that needs to be said.

We first heard rumblings of a romance between them in January 2017 after they connected on the set of the biblical movie. (She plays the saint; he plays Jesus.) When they returned to the U.S., they were photographed leaving a California detox spa together, which is just so Hollywood, and word got out that they were an item.

The couple, who previously worked together in the film Her, have been official since the Cannes Film Festival last May. They attended the closing-night ceremony together (he wore his black Cons), and they embraced when he went up to collect his Best Actor award for You Were Never Really Here. In an interview with the New York Times in September, Phoenix revealed that he and Mara live together in the Hollywood Hills.

With a closet full of his and hers Converses, were sure.

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Local high school students and protesters descended on the White House Monday to protest gun violence and inaction from Congress in the wake of another deadly mass shooting in Florida last week.

Early in the protest, D.C. high schoolers participated in a "lie-in"laying down on the ground motionless for three minutes at a timeto make "a statement on the atrocities that have been committed due to the lack of gun control," according to the Teens for Gun Reform Facebook group that publicized the protest. In a Facebook Live video, a reporter for BuzzFeed News estimated that 50 to 75 students were part of that demonstration.

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Last Wednesday's shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, left 17 people dead14 students and three staff membersand was at least the eighth school shooting in 2018, according to CNN.

Many protesters stayed into the afternoon, holding signs that largely espoused anti-NRA and anti-gun sentiments, according to Facebook Live footage from BuzzFeed News. A few read: "Love your kids, not your guns," "We call B.S." and "NRA there is blood on your hands."

Conversely, a few attendees held pro-gun signs such as "American freedom is NOT the enemy" and, "Many armed staff behind us here. Why not schools."

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BuzzFeed News asked various students about their motivations for attending. Answers included feeling "fed-up" with only receiving "thoughts and prayers," anger at inaction by Congress and concern for their own safety in school moving forward.

"It was high school students being killed, and so many of us in the nation are high school students," one student at the protest said. "We can all relate to this." Her friend next to her added, "Enough is enough."



President Donald Trump's address to the nation last Thursday was void of any mention of guns or gun policy, though the White House said in a statement Sunday that Trump intends to host a "listening session" with students and teachers from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Thursday. Recent reports added Trump is now open to bolstering the federal background check system, despite running as a pro-gun candidate and receiving about $30.3 million from the NRA during his campaign.

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In addition to Monday's activism, high school students and teachers across the country are planning future walkouts to spur Congress to pass gun control legislationincluding an #April20Walkout on the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting and a March 14 #NationalSchoolWalkout that the Women's March Twitter account is promoting.

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Five survivors of last week's Florida shooting also announced on Sunday a larger "March for Our Lives" demonstration in Washington, slated for March 24.

People are saying that its not time to talk about gun control. And we can respect that, said Cameron Kasky, an 11th-grader. Heres a time. March 24th in every single city. We are going to be marching together as students, begging for our lives.

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Iran has threatened Israel and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying it will destroy Tel Aviv if there is an attack on the Islamic Republic.

In a televised speech on Monday, a senior Iranian official said the Israeli city of Tel Aviv would be leveled to the ground if Israel were to attack Iran, and Netanyahu would not escape with his life.

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Mohsen Rezaei, a former head of Irans powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and secretary of the countrys Expediency Council, made the remarks in response to a speech Netanyahu made in Munich on Sunday, The Times of Israel reported.

The Israeli leader threatened strikes against Iran at the international security conference. As he made the warning, Netanyahu brandished a piece of fuselage from an Iranian drone shot down by an Israeli attack helicopter over Israels northern border last Saturday.

GettyImages-920347920 (1)

Lennart Preiss/MSC 2018 via Getty Images

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About Netanyahus unwise words, I should say that if they carry out the slightest unwise move against Iran, we will level Tel Aviv to the ground, Rezaei told the Hezbollah-affiliated al-Manar channel on Monday. He added that Tehran would not give Netanyahu any opportunity to flee.

The war of words between Iran and Israel follows a flaring of tensions on the ground between the two nations.

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The downing of the Iranian drone on February 10 was the first direct confrontation between Israel and Iran in Israeli territory. Since the start of the civil war in neighboring Syria, Israel has regularly intervened to check the expansion of Iran and its Lebanese proxy Hezbollah, which has backed the Bashar al-Assad led Syrian regime in Damascus.

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In response to the drone incursion, Israeli Air Force jets targeted a mobile command center military officials claimed had operated the unmanned aerial vehicle. During the raid, one of eight jets involved in the attack was hit by a Syrian anti-aircraft missile. The aircraft crash-landed in Israel.

Rezaei accused Netanyahu in his speech of being theatrical and childish. U.S. and Israeli leaders dont know Iran and dont understand the power of resistance, and therefore they continuously face defeat, he said.

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Jerusalem (AFP) - Israel has struck an "historic" contract to supply natural gas to Egypt, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Monday, in a deal one firm said was worth $15 billion over 10 years.

"This will bring billions of dollars to state coffers," Netanyahu said in a statement announcing the deal with Israel's western neighbour, which in 1979 became the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with the Jewish state.

The Israeli energy group Delek said the value of the contract was $15 billion.

It said agreements have been signed between Delek and its associate Noble Energy of the United States to supply 64 billion cubic metres (2.26 trillion cubic feet) of gas from Israel's Leviathan and Tamar offshore fields to the Egyptian firm Dolphinus over a 10-year period.

Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz welcomed the deal.

"This agreement will help bolster Israel's position as key regional actor on the energy market," Steinitz said.

Egyptian oil minister Tarek al-Molla said the "Egyptian government had not received any official request to import gas from Israel", speaking to private television channel DMC.

He added that preliminary approval to import gas from Israel had been given but final permission would be withheld until certain conditions are met including the assurance that any deal would be beneficial to Egypt's economy.

Israel has limited natural resources but in the past few years it has discovered major gas fields off its northern coast and is building the infrastructure needed to tap the gas.

Tamar, which began production in 2013, has estimated reserves of up to 238 billion cubic metres (8.4 trillion cubic feet).

Leviathan, discovered in 2010 and set to begin production in 2019, is estimated to hold 18.9 trillion cubic feet (535 billion cubic metres) of natural gas, along with 34.1 million barrels of condensate.

In September 2016, Jordan struck a deal to buy 300 million cubic feet (8.5 million cubic metres) of Israeli gas per day over 15 years, in a deal estimated to be worth $10 billion.

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Jordan is the only other Arab country to have a peace deal with Israel.

At the end of 2016, Israel also gave the green light to sell two gas fields, estimated to hold reserves of around 60 billion cubic metres, to the Greek company Energean.

Israel hopes its gas reserves will give the country energy independence and the prospect of becoming a supplier for Europe as well as forging strategic ties within the region.

Monday's announcement comes a day after Steinitz met a senior US official in a bid to defuse an escalating oil and gas dispute with Lebanon.

Last week Lebanon signed its first contract to drill for oil and gas in a pair of offshore zones, including one that Israel, its southern neighbour, says belongs to it.

Lebanese officials have said the whole zone belongs to Beirut while Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman has insisted it is solidly in Israeli territory.
Shimon Arad

Security, Middle East

An Israeli soldier carries a shell at a mobile artillery unit while it fires towards the Gaza Strip August 1, 2014. Israel declared a Gaza ceasefire over on Friday and killed more than 50 Palestinians in renewed shelling, saying militants had breached the truce shortly after it began and apparently captured an Israeli soldier. The 72-hour break announced by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was the most ambitious attempt so far to end more than three weeks of fightin

A back channel of communication between Israel and Pakistan could temper miscalculations or malicious attempts to artificially increase tensions between the two countries.

How Israel and Pakistan Can Avoid a Nuclear Showdown

The advancement of Pakistans nuclear-missile capabilities and Israels growing military ties with India are increasing their respective military relevance for each other. In the absence of formal diplomatic relations and against the backdrop of a prevailing antagonistic public dialogue, the need for an effective and discreet channel of communication between Islamabad and Jerusalem to mitigate misunderstandings and misperceptions about each others intentions is growing.

An Antagonistic Dialogue

A high degree of suspicion and mistrust exist between Israel and Pakistan. In particular, Pakistan seems to presume the worst about Israel. At the end of December 2016, a fake-news story triggered a nuclear Twitter confrontation between Israel and Pakistan. A website called AWD News claimed that Israels defense minister had threatened to destroy Pakistan with a nuclear attack if it sent ground troops to Syria on any pretext. Although clearly fake (the website misidentified the Israeli defense minister as Moshe Yaalon, who resigned in the previous May), Pakistans defense minister hastily tweeted a nuclear threat and warned Israel that Pakistan is a nuclear state too.

The growing security relationship between Israel and India, serves to enhance conspiracy theories about the existence of an Indo-Israeli alliance against Pakistan. Thus, unsurprisingly the recent visit by Israels prime minister to India in January 2018 produced a bellicose Pakistani response. The foreign minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, stated that Pakistan could defend itself despite this nexus between India and Israel that is based on their enmity with Islam. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu wisely reacted by stating that We (Israel) are not enemies of Pakistan and Pakistan should not be our enemy either.

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The latest decision by the U.S. administration to suspend most of the military assistance to Pakistan has also given rise to suggestions that the United States may be part of this anti-Pakistan allegiance. The chairman of the Senate, Mian Raza Rabbani, recently warned that a nexus between the United States, Israel and India is emerging and the Muslim world needs unity to deal with that problem.

It is unclear to what extent this confrontational attitude truly represents what Pakistans leaders believe about Israel or to what extent they based on internal and Islamic considerations and constraints. Hussain Nadim recently claimed that among the high-ranking security personnel, politicians and diplomats there is a high acceptance and willingness to engage with Israel, but they refrain from doing so because of the fear of political and religious backlash.

The Significance of Israel-Indian Military Cooperation

From a military perspective, the Israeli-Indo security relationship and the modernization it brings to the Indian armed forces is understood by Pakistan to create vulnerabilities in fundamental military areas undermining the conventional balance of power in South Asia. This security relationship is perceived to have provided India with substantial advantages in the modern aspects of warfare such as: network-centric and electronic warfare capabilities; intelligence and information dominance; day and night maneuverability; long-range modern strike capabilities from the air and the sea that threaten Pakistans strategic sites and assets; and antiballistic missile defense systems that improve Indias ability to defend against Pakistani missiles.

To counter this, Pakistan is looking to enhance its security relationships with China and Russia. However, given its limitations in competing with India in a conventional arms race, Pakistan is working to improve the integrity of its second-strike capabilities and to develop its nuclear fighting capability to offset Indias conventional advantages.

The Development of a Potential Pakistani Nuclear Risk to Israel

While Pakistan is very attuned to Israels military cooperation with India, Pakistan rarely figures in the Israeli security discourse. Nevertheless, recent technological developments may potentially bring Israel within the reach of Pakistans nuclear-tipped missile capability. For the first time, Israel will have to face the specter of potentially being within the range of a nuclear-armed Islamic regime. This understandably will make internal and external developments in Pakistan of great interest to Israel.

Pakistan has successfully tested the Shaheen-III intermediate-range missile which has a range of approximately 2,750 km, designed to reach the Indian missile bases on the islands of Nicobar and Andaman. Depending upon the missiles placement, it could be capable of hitting Israel. It is assumed that Pakistan has been successful in miniaturizing nuclear warheads and therefore, once fully operational, the Shaheen-III will be nuclear capable.

Having the capability to target Israel does not automatically turn Pakistans nuclear force into a direct threat to Israel at this time. Pakistan doesnt overtly call for Israels destruction. However, this capability does constitute a risk for Israel because intentions can change rapidly and because of the vulnerabilities that exist regarding Pakistans stability and the effective control of its nuclear weapons.

There are a number of nightmare scenarios for Israel. These include: Pakistans nuclear arsenal falling into the hands of Pakistani generals with Islamic sympathies; the extension of a nuclear umbrella by a more extreme Pakistan to Arab countries in conflict with Israel; cyber vulnerability that could undermine the safeguards or the targeting integrity of Pakistans nuclear and missile programs; or malicious attempts to exacerbate existing perceptions of Israel as an enemy of Pakistan leading to a nuclear standoff, as exemplified by the December 2016 nuclear tweet incident.

Though the specter of a direct Pakistani nuclear threat against Israel is low, the significance of such a threat is dramatic and therefore cannot be ignored. Israel is regarded as having a secure second-strike nuclear capability which serves as a credible deterrence. In addition, it is building a multi-tier missile defense system that though not able to completely prevent Pakistani missiles from hitting Israel, would reduce the temptation for Pakistan to risk a small strike against it.

Israel needs to cooperate with other countries concerned with Pakistans nuclear program, especially the United States and Britain. Assessments need to be shared regarding political developments affecting Pakistans stability as well as technical intelligence on its nuclear capabilities. In addition, the U.S.-Israeli ballistic missile defense cooperation needs to be extended in order to cover Pakistan.

Conclusion

As their military relevance to each other becomes more significant, Israel-Pakistan relations are at an inflection point. Given their inability to openly engage with each other, a credible back channel of communication between Israel and Pakistan is of growing importance in order to temper possible misunderstandings, miscalculations or malicious attempts to artificially increase tensions between the two countries.

Direct unofficial contacts, including deferential public statements, meetings between diplomatic representatives in international organizations and covert intelligence cooperation, are positive but insufficient avenues of communication that need to be augmented by third-party channels. Given the developing relationships between the different parties, Saudi Arabia and Russia could serve as possible effective intermediaries between Jerusalem and Islamabad.

Shimon Arad is a retired colonel from the Israeli Defense Forces. His writings focus on regional security matters.

Image: An Israeli soldier carries a shell at a mobile artillery unit while it fires towards the Gaza Strip August 1, 2014. Israel declared a Gaza ceasefire over on Friday and killed more than 50 Palestinians in renewed shelling, saying militants had breached the truce shortly after it began and apparently captured an Israeli soldier. The 72-hour break announced by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was the most ambitious attempt so far to end more than three weeks of fighting, and followed mounting international alarm over a rising Palestinian civilian death toll. REUTERS/ Baz Ratner

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TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan has picked the western city of Osaka to host next year's G20 summit, the first such gathering to be held in Japan, a government source said. The choice of Osaka, Japan's second-largest city after Tokyo, was first reported by public broadcaster NHK. This year's summit is to be held in the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires, next month. The source asked not to be identified because he is not authorized to talk to the media. Governments around the world are grappling with how to regulate cryptocurrency trading, and policymakers are expected to discuss the matter at next month's summit. (Reporting by Takashi Umekawa and Tim Kelly; Editing by Nick Macfie)
A ferocious storm has battered Jupiter for at least 188 years. From Earth, it is observed as red swirling clouds racing counter-clockwise in what is known as the planet's "Great Red Spot." But after shrinking for centuries, it may now be on the brink of disappearing for good.

In truth, the GRS [Great Red Spot] has been shrinking for a long time, lead Juno mission team member and planetary scientist at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory Glenn Orton told Business Insider in an email.

"The GRS will in a decade or two become the GRC (Great Red Circle). Maybe sometime after that the GRM"the Great Red Memory.

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Justin Cowart/Gerald Eichstadt/MSSS/SwRI/JPL-Caltech/NASA

NASAs Juno mission aims to better understand the origin and evolution of Jupiter. The Juno spacecraft passed by the planet for the first time in April 2017. It has captured the closest ever images of the storm, revealing how much the spot has diminished.

In the 19th century, the storm was well over twice the width of Earth according to NASA. By 2017 it had shrunk to just 10,000 miles acrossthats just 1.3 times the diameter of Earth. The oval storm has diminished by one-third in width and one-eighth in height since NASAs Voyager 1 and 2 passed by Jupiter on their way to Saturn in 1979.

On Earth, even the longest storms last a matter of weeks, not years. But, on other planets they can last for incredibly long periods of time.

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Orton explained: "Think of the GRS as a spinning wheel that keeps on spinning because it's caught between two conveyor belts that are moving in opposite directions. The GRS is stable and long-lived, because it's 'wedged' between two jet streams that are moving in opposite directions."

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NASA/Wikimedia Commons

These powerful jet speeds can funnel great force onto storms spinning in the opposite direction to the planets rotation. This keeps "feeding momentum into the vortex," Orton said.

The many thousands of miles of atmosphere surrounding Jupiter allow these storms to persist for hundreds of years, unlike on Earth.

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Earths jet streams are influenced by the closeness of the dynamic atmosphere to the planet's land and sea, as well as it's slower rotation compared to Jupiter. This leads to much less dramatic weather systems and much shorter storms.

2_20_Jupiter's Spot

JPL/NASA

In fact, Jupiters storm may have been churning for even longer than scientists know for sure. Observations dating as far back as 1665 may detail the same storm. Italian astronomer Giovanni Cassini described a permanent spot on Jupiter, which was observed up until 1713. A dearth in recordings before 1830 makes it difficult to know if this the famous Great Red Spot.

For now, the storm is still enormous. Scott Bolton, Junos prinicipal investigator told Newsweek last year: The Great Red Spot is basically the largest storm in the entire solar system.

But, even titans must one day fall. Nothing lasts forever, Orton added.

This article was first written by Newsweek

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South Korean President Moon Jae-in called Monday for a "stern" response to new US tariffs on the South's exports as concern grew over looming trade restrictions by Washington.

US President Donald Trump last week threatened retaliatory action against China and South Korea and vowed to revise or scrap a 2012 free trade deal with the South which he described as a "disaster".

Trump also put his "America First" doctrine into action last month by imposing duties of 20 to 50 percent on large washing machines made in nations including the South, as well as tariffs on solar panels imported from China and elsewhere.

Seoul has said it would take the issue to the World Trade Organization while Beijing expressed "strong dissatisfaction" with the move, adopted to protect US manufacturers.

The trade frictions have strained ties at a time when Seoul and Washington are seeking to present a united front against North Korea's nuclear threat.

Moon, at a meeting with aides, expressed concern over "intensifying protectionism" that may take a toll on the South's export-reliant economy -- also the world's 11th largest.

"I am concerned that widening restrictions by the US on our exports, including steel, electronics, solar panels and washing machines, may take a toll on the exports despite their global competitiveness," he said.

"I'd like (officials) to respond to unreasonable protectionist measures in a confident and stern manner by... reviewing whether the measures violate the current Korea-US free trade pact," he said.

Moon also urged officials to "actively argue the unfairness" of the tariffs when renegotiating the bilateral free trade deal.

Moon's comments also came days after the US Commerce Department recommended hefty new tariffs on steel imports from countries including the South.

The US trade deficit -- which Trump has vowed repeatedly to fix -- widened even further during his first year in office, up 12 percent to $566 billion.

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The Trump administration last July initiated talks to renegotiate the free trade pact with Seoul, arguing it was lopsided because America's bilateral trade deficit had ballooned under it.

Two previous rounds of talks made little progress and Seoul's chief trade negotiator Kim Hyun-chong said at the time there was "a long way to go".

The next round of negotiations is scheduled in Washington next month.

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Some roads in SVG are downright dangerous  Opposition Leader

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In the context of a road fatality which occurred on February 1, Leader of the Opposition Dr Godwin Friday says that some roads in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) are adownright dangerous.a

Friday, speaking at a press conference at the New Democratic Party (NDP) headquarters last Friday, February 16, extended condolences to the wife and three children of Amos Gaymes.

Gaymes, who was from Sandy Bay, was 57 years old when he met his death, after the truck he was driving careened off a cliff in Point area of North Windward. The truck was reported to have been carrying a load of arrowroot from Sandy Bay to the arrowroot factory at Owia, for processing.

Friday noted, aevery time I drive in that area, I wonder about the dangers that are there, and similarly in North Leeward.a

He cited the topography of the island, with its many hills, as having the potential to create dangerous road situations, aif they are not properly maintaineda and measures such as proper guardrails not put in place.

aWe want to acknowledge that this is a perennial danger,a he stated, continuing awe hope that as dangerous as they are, that there will be no fatalities, and further fatalities, or serious injuries before they are fixed and repairs.a

The Opposition Leader described the roads in the country as aabysmala, further saying, aThey are the worst condition theyave been since in living memory, and some of them are not just inconvenient, they are downright dangerous. Dangerous.a

Friday ended by saying, aWe have to continue to hold the government accountable and responsible for maintaining (the roads)..continuing to take taxpayersa money, and not dealing with these essential matters that provide safety and security for the people.a
Riga (AFP) - Latvian anti-corruption authorities on Tuesday barred central bank governor Ilmars Rimsevics from carrying out his duties after he refused to resign over allegations that he accepted a 100,000-euro bribe.

The eurozone member's longtime governor, who was appointed in 2001 and also sits on the European Central Bank (ECB) governing council, was detained and questioned over the weekend by the Corruption Prevention Bureau (KNAB).

KNAB announced Monday that a "senior official" -- reported to be Rimsevics by local media -- was suspected of extorting and receiving a bribe of at least 100,000 euros ($125,000).

"The Bank of Latvia official has been banned from engaging in certain activities related to decision-making, control and supervisory functions at the Bank of Latvia, including holding the office of the bank's head," KNAB spokeswoman Laura Dusa told the Baltic News Agency BNS on Tuesday.

She added that the governor, who was released on 100,000-euro bail late Monday, is also banned from leaving the country.

The announcement came after Rimsevics declared earlier Tuesday that he would not be quitting, despite calls for him to resign from most of the Baltic state's top politicians.

"I do understand that this is a very complicated situation, maybe the most complicated situation in my entire life," he told reporters, according to BNS.

"I am receiving enormous support from people, people who I know, my friends, my family. For now, I have decided not to resign -- because I am not guilty," he said, adding that he had received death threats.

Rimsevics went on to claim his case was linked to the ECB's decision Monday to freeze payments by Latvia's third-largest bank, ABLV, because its finances had deteriorated in the wake of money laundering allegations from Washington.

Rimsevics said his detention and the KNAB raid of his residence and offices followed just hours after the central bank rejected the ABLV's request for 1 billion euros in liquidy aid.

"The searches began after we made the decision not to grant the loan," he told reporters.

A source familiar with the ABLV case however told AFP on Monday that there was no connection between the cases.
A Texas-based law student is honoring prominent black women through beauty and fashion transformations. (Photos: AP Images/Amber Jones)

Throughout Black History Month, many individuals pay tribute to movements and achievements spearheaded by black people. But there is one young woman in particular who has grabbed our attention with her amazing cosplay honoring prominent black women from the past and present.

Staci Childs, better known as Allhaildakween on Instagram, shared a side-by-side photo of herself and Queen Nefertiti on the social media platform. Childs re-created the Egyptian queens signature look with a replica of her royal headdress and makeup using blue eyeshadow and gold shimmer brushed onto her neck.

Her caption reads: Day 1 of Black Queens: Queen Nefertiti 1330 BC. She and her husband secured the biggest bag in Egyptian History. When he died, she ruled over Egypt I hope I did you justice, queen. A flood of positive comments followed, and people shared their love for Childss detailed transformation, noting, This is EVERYTHING queen!! and Pure gold goddess.

Staci Child re-created Queen Nefertitis signature look, and people on Instagram loved it. (Photos: Getty Images/Tiffany Bangs)

The Texas-based third-year law students #BlackGirlMagic didnt stop there. She continues to share more transformations on Instagram, highlighting other prolific black women such as California congresswoman Maxine Waters and political activist and author Angela Davis.

While Black History Month is the perfect time to launch a photo project of this magnitude, Yahoo Lifestyle couldnt help but ask Childs to reveal her true inspiration. The Black Queendom Series is a creative photography series created to shed light on black women and all the wonderful forms we come in, says Childs. I was inspired because I think theres something supernatural about black women  our skin, our wit, our compassion, our abilities to bounce back, our spirits, our flair  both famous and ordinary. I believe that we need as many opportunities to shine as possible.

Staci Childs transformed into activist and author Angela Davis to honor her perfect balance of femininity and fury. (Photos: Getty Images/Staci Childs)

Childs makes these makeovers look effortless, but she admits that none of her Black Queendom transformations have been that simple to achieve. Each one takes approximately two hours to complete, from idea to execution. First, she determines which powerful woman she wants to emulate and why. Next, she researches a photo that captures the essence of that woman. Then, she usually calls on one of her friends to take her final photos. (Sometimes she takes the photos herself with the help of a self-timer.) Finally, she shares the photos on social media and tags the person she has transformed into when applicable, which has prompted responses from celebrities such as Laila Ali and Cardi B.

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Speaking of Cardi B, the rapper has been one of Childss favorite muses to transform into thus far. She inspires me because she is truly herself and doesnt care how shes received. That resonates with me because I, like several women, have struggled with insecurity  especially in this age where youre constantly being compared to the next person, she says.

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Another one of Childss most-loved transformations is supermodel Iman. It is one of my desires to enter the plus-size modeling industry, which will require me to completely step out of my comfort zone. Re-creating Iman made me do just that! I put on a lot of oil and bronzer to make my skin look as flawless as Imans! I also showed a little more skin than I would normally show on a regular post via social media. I felt my most vulnerable yet the most liberated.

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Yahoo Lifestyle recently interviewed popular cosplayer Kiera Please, who stressed the importance of showcasing characters of color. Childs has this same objective when it comes to highlighting black women. Black women, in particular, have lived through the stereotype of being called angry, bitter, extra, and least desirable for too long, she says. I want my work to show the world that black women come in the most varied forms and we shine in everything we do. This work is especially important for young girls  young girls of color need to know that they can grow up to be beautiful outstanding queens as well.

In addition to recognizing public figures, Childs has also has made sure to acknowledge equally amazing everyday black women. In one transformation, she salutes a local custodian and notes in her Instagram caption: A lady that puts up with our sometimes haughty attitudes and does her job with humility while we get our fancy-schmancy Law degrees. And a queen who always invites me out for a turn up. Peace to you queen. The Texas Southern University student explained that Queen Yvonne (the custodian), didnt initially understand why she was being honored, but once she saw all the feedback, she was overwhelmed with joy. This made me feel validated in the fact that I chose to humanize her and recognize her for being a queen thats worthy of some praise, says Childs.

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Childss Black Queendom Series has garnered positive feedback and heartwarming responses. Its exceeded my wildest expectations, she says. I hope people learn that queendom comes in many different forms. Being a great mom makes you a queen. Coming fly to work or school each day, with all the effort that entails, makes you a queen. Doing your best makes you a queen. Being honest and true to your convictions makes you a queen. Queendom is not reserved for just a few.

While Childs didnt give us any spoilers on her upcoming transformations, we know they will continue to inspire and uplift. Be sure to follow her on Instagram to see which black queen shell honor next.

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Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.




Geneva (AFP) - A former Catalan lawmaker and major figure in the region's secession attempt has fled to Switzerland ahead of a court hearing in Madrid, comparing the situation in Catalonia to Turkey's post-coup crackdown.

In an interview with Switzerland's Le Temps daily published Tuesday, Anna Gabriel, a top member of the far-left, separatist CUP party, said she had decided to leave Spain as she would not have "a fair trial at home."

She is the latest separatist to leave the country after deposed Catalan president Carles Puigdemont and four former regional ministers went to Belgium shortly after a failed bid to break from Spain.

Gabriel was due to appear before a Supreme Court judge on Wednesday over her role in Catalonia's failed independence drive, which prompted Madrid to impose direct rule on the region in October, sack its government and dissolve its parliament.

"I won't go to Madrid. I'm wanted for my political activities and the government press has already declared me guilty," she told the daily.

"As I wouldn't get a fair trial at home, I looked for a country that could protect my rights."

She said she got regular death threats from far-right extremists, adding the government wasn't "doing anything to safeguard our security faced with fascists' violence."

Gabriel accused Madrid of "repression," likening the situation in Catalonia, whose separatist leaders are under investigation for their attempt to break from Spain, with "what is happening right now in Turkey."

There, more than 55,000 people have been arrested following a failed 2016 coup, including journalists, MPs and activists.

Gabriel said close to 900 people in Catalonia were either under investigation or had been charged, among them "teachers, police officers, politicians and even mere voters."

So far, four separatist leaders have been jailed pending a probe into their role in the separatist drive on charges that include rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds.

These include Catalonia's former vice president Oriol Junqueras.

"I will be more useful to my movement free than behind bars," Gabriel said.
Geneva (AFP) - A prominent Zimbabwean activist voiced doubt Tuesday that upcoming elections -- the first since Robert Mugabe's ouster -- will be credible, as the new president's commitment to basic rights was still unclear.

Evan Mawarire, a pastor who became the face of anti-Mugabe demonstrations last year, told AFP that Zimbabwe's legacy of ballot rigging and political repression would take time to shed.

"It's very difficult for me right now to believe that elections will be free, fair and credible because the history says otherwise", Mawarire said on the sidelines of the Geneva human rights summit, referring to Mugabe's tyrannical 37-year rule.

"What they have done for 38 years is very different from what they are proposing they are going to do now".

Zimbabwe's new President Emmerson Mnangagwa, a long-standing Mugabe ally, has vowed that elections due by July will be credible and promised to honour the legacy of opposition stalwart Morgan Tsvangirai who died after a battle with cancer last week.

But Mawarire cautioned that while Mnangagwa has been sending the right messages on the economy since the military installed him as Mugabe's replacement last year, the new president's stand on fundamental human rights was unknown.

"The message that has been top of his agenda is that Zimbabwe is open for business," Mawarire said, noting Mnangagwa's speech to global financial elites at the World Economic Forum in Davos last month.

But, he added, there are "a lot of questions about structural changes when it comes to the law, the rule of law, when it comes to democracy, human rights. They have said a lot about business but little about the freedom of people".

The pastor said those currently in power were "directly involved in suppressing and subverting the will of the people in 2008", a reference to the vote that saw Tsvangirai narrowly beat Mugabe in the first round before pulling out of the run-off following violence.

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- Not going to run -

Before Mugabe was removed, Mawarire had been accused of attempting to violently overthrow his government after he posted an internet video of himself wearing the national flag and lamenting Zimbabwe's troubles.

The video inspired the ThisFlag movement that led mass protests across the country.

After spending 17 months in jail, he was acquitted of the offences in November, a week after Mugabe's ouster.

Mawarire's rise to national prominence triggered speculation that he might enter the political fray.

But the 40-year-old pastor told AFP that July was too soon to mount a presidential bid, even if running for office in Zimbabwe at some point was "very much on (his) agenda".

Helping people organise and register to vote is "a much more beneficial and important role to play" at this point, he said.

"For now, I think it is important for me to remain working on the ground with citizens."
By Michael O'Boyle MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Two Mexican opposition candidates on Sunday vowed to take a tougher line against U.S. President Donald Trump's border wall, at events where they were selected by their parties to seek the presidency in a July 1 election. Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, 64, of the leftist Morena party holds a double-digit lead in recent polls although right-left coalition leader Ricardo Anaya has recently gained traction. Former finance minister Jose Antonio Meade, 48, nominated on Sunday by the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), trails behind Lopez Obrador by as much as 20 points. Lopez Obrador told several hundred Morena supporters gathered at a Mexico City hotel that Trump's plan for a U.S.-Mexico border wall is unnecessary and bound to leave problems unresolved. "If he insists on building the wall, we're going to turn to the United Nations to defend the rights of Mexicans," he said. "I'm conscious of my historic responsibility." The former Mexico City mayor who has run twice for the presidency also promised to combat inequality, crime and corruption, key election issues for all of Mexico's main political parties. Anaya echoed Lopez Obrador's opposition to a U.S.-Mexico border wall, refusing to pay for its construction and saying he would be tougher than the PRI to defend Mexico's independence. "Mexico will never again be treated like a doormat for the United States, as it's been in this government," said Anaya, who is backed by the center-right National Action Party (PAN) and the center-left Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD). The youngest of the three candidates, Anaya, 38, said in a CEO-style presentation at an auditorium in the capital that he would fight public corruption, raise the minimum wage and improve education to support an economy based on "knowledge" rather than "manufacturing." Meade pledged in his nomination acceptance speech at a Mexico City stadium to crack down on crime and impunity, issues that have dogged the current administration and hurt the PRI's credibility. With six weeks to go before campaigning begins for the July 1 vote, Meade's campaign says early polls have traditionally been unreliable indicators of final results in Mexico. "If this trend continues, the race will become more competitive between the two front runners," political risk analysts at Eurasia Group said in a note on Friday. "But voter intentions have historically shifted throughout the campaign season, so much could change." Analysts have said Lopez Obrador could slow the pace of President Enrique Pena Nieto's opening of the state-run energy sector to private investment, but they expect he would face a divided Congress that would make any rapid shifts in policy unlikely. Still, some international investors are concerned he could undermine decades of free-market reforms in Mexico. The election will mark the first time independent candidates can run for the presidency. Margarita Zavala, wife of former President Felipe Calderon from the PAN, and Jaime Rodriguez Calderon, who became Mexico's first independent governor in 2015, are expected to get enough signatures to run. Analysts doubt any of the potential independent candidates have a chance, but their supporters could be a factor in the outcome in a close race. (Reporting by Michael O'Boyle, Frank Jack Daniel and Diego Ore; Writing by Daina Beth Solomon; Editing by Phil Berlowitz and Sandra Maler)
Paris (AFP) - Unrest has spread in Cameroon's English-speaking regions since October as a secessionist movement has pushed for independence.

Tensions can be traced back to events a century ago, when Britain and France occupied Cameroon, taking over Germany's major colony in West Africa.

- World War I split -

Cameroon was a Germany colony until 1916, when British and French troops forced the Germans out.

The two countries divided it into separate spheres of influence that were later formalised by the League of Nations, the forerunner to the UN.

The much larger French colony gained independence in 1960.

A year later, the British colony also gained independence. Some of the English-speaking areas choose to join newly-formed Nigeria, others to become part of the federation of Cameroon.

- English-speaking regions -

The two mainly English-speaking southern provinces are home to around a fifth of Cameroon's 23 million population.

Named the Northwest Region and Southwest Region, they jut into southeastern Nigeria.

The English-speaking areas were allowed some self-governance.

But many English-speakers complained of discrimination at the hands of the francophone majority in areas such as education and the justice system, and alleged national wealth was not shared fairly.

- Disputed 'unity' -

In 1972, the original federal structure was scrapped in a national referendum that approved the creation of one state.

Calls for a breakaway English-speaking state mounted in the 1990s, with demands for a referendum on independence accompanied by low-level unrest.

In 2001 banned protest rallies turned violent. Several people were killed when security forces moved in and secessionist leaders were arrested.

The separatist Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC) set up a "government" in Britain and leaders moved into exile.

- 2016 flare-up -

Lawyers in the English-speaking regions, which are also strongholds for the political opposition, went on strike in late 2016 to demand the right to use Anglo-Saxon common law.

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Teachers followed, protesting at the appointment of francophones in the region's education system.

Tensions rose in December, when the national flag was torched at protests and a separatist version hoisted. Clashes in some areas left several people reported dead.

Prime Minister Philemon Yang, himself an anglophone, ruled out secession -- "Unity is the bedrock of our country."

- 'Independence' declared -

In January 2017 senior secessionist activists were arrested and charged with terrorism and rebellion.

New protests brought several cities to a standstill, but the government hit back by cutting off internet access to flashpoint areas for several weeks, alleging the spread of "fake news".

In an apparent effort to calm the situation, President Paul Biya halted the secessionists' trials in August and some were later freed.

In October, several thousand defied a ban on protests to mark the anniversary of the country's October 1961 unification.

Separatist leaders issued a symbolic declaration of independence. "We are no longer slaves of Cameroon," said Sisiku Ayuk Tabe, the self-declared "president" of a new republic called "Ambazonia".

Biya, in power since 1982 and standing for reelection in 2018, branded the secessionists "a band of terrorists" and ordered a crackdown with curfews, raids and other restrictions. Dozens of people -- members of the security forces as well as civilians -- have died.

- Nigeria role -

Since January 2018, much of the focus has shifted to Nigeria, which the Cameroon authorities suspected was being used as a safe haven for separatists.

The two neighbours have experienced tensions in the past over various issues, but forged cooperation on fighting the Boko Haram jihadist insurgency.

On January 29, Nigeria extradited 47 anglophone separatists, including Tabe, which was followed by fresh violence in English-speaking regions of Cameroon.

Cameroon security forces, according to local sources, have also been seen among the estimated 30,000 people who have fled the violence to southeast Nigeria.
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's deputy prime minister on Tuesday said Kuala Lumpur was in talks with Thailand over the fate of 11 Uighur Muslims held in the country after escaping from a Thai detention centre last year.

Reuters reported this month that Malaysia had detained 11 ethnic Uighurs from China - among a group of 20 who escaped from Thailand in November - and that Beijing was in talks with Malaysia over their deportation.

Malaysia was under "great pressure" from China to hand them over to Beijing, and not to Thailand, sources told Reuters. Malaysia later said it had received an official request from China for the extradition of the 11.

"We are discussing the situation with Thailand... We will take action that will not upset any other country and the decision will hopefully be the best course of action," said Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the Malaysian deputy prime minister.

"We will hold further negotiations that will touch on issues of diplomacy and security of the countries involved," he told reporters, adding that Malaysia would also take into account the views of human rights groups.

The United States has urged Malaysia to offer temporary protection to the Uighur Muslims, while Human Rights Watch has called on Malaysia to ensure the detained Uighurs are not forcibly deported to China as they face "credible threats of imprisonment and torture".

Beijing accuses separatist extremists among the Uighur minority of plotting attacks on China's Han majority in the restive far western region of Xinjiang and other parts of China.

China has been accused of rights abuses in Xinjiang, torture of Uighur detainees and tight control on their religion and culture. It denies wrongdoing. Over the years, hundreds, possibly thousands, of Uighurs have escaped unrest in Xinjiang by travelling clandestinely via Southeast Asia to Turkey.

The 20 Uighurs broke out of a cell near the Thai-Malaysian border in November by digging holes in a wall and using blankets as ladders. Five were recaptured in Thailand later that month. The escapees were part of a larger group of more than 200 Uighurs detained in Thailand in 2014.

Members of the group identified themselves as Turkish citizens and asked to be sent to Turkey but more than 100 were forcibly returned to China in July 2015, provoking international condemnation, including some by rights groups who feared they could face torture in China.

(Reporting by Rozanna LatiffEditing by Clarence Fernandez)
A man's story of the moment he nearly shot his classmates when he was 14 is being shared by thousands of people online.

In the post Daniel Riley shared on Facebook on Friday, he said he almost pulled the trigger two decades ago because he had access to guns as an angry teenager  and not because he was mentally ill.

In the wake of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, which left 17 people dead, many have pointed out that alleged gunman, Nikolas Cruz, suffered from a mental illness.

But Riley, who grew up in a house where they kept guns, argued in his Facebook post that it was access to the weapons that caused him to nearly shoot his classmates.

I think its easy to use mental illness as a deflection and then the moment when people arent paying attention, they stop talking about mental illness, Riley told InsideEdition.com. If everyone who ever pulled a trigger was mentally ill, we wouldnt have so many people sitting in prison.

His post has gone viral with nearly 50,000 shares.

Warning: This post contains strong language

I almost shot my classmates when I was fourteen years old. I was not mentally ill. I had no juvenile criminal record. I... Posted by Daniel Riley on Friday, February 16, 2018

Riley said that he was incessantly bullied at a high school in Washington State, where he was a straight-A student. After he stood up to a bully, he said a group of kids followed him home in retaliation.

I start seeing all these older kids on the bus who I dont recognize, Riley said, Then the kid who has been bullying me points at me and says yeah, thats him and then I realize all these older kids are on the bus because they are going to beat me up when I get home.

Riley said he got off the bus and one of the kids pushed him.

I got up and kept walking and they were circling around me, yelling things, Riley said. I got home, put my key in the lock, opened the door, went inside.

But according to Riley, once the kids realized there were no parents home, they began banging on doors and windows.

Story continues

Thats when the then 14-year-old decided to get a shotgun, Riley said.

I got the gun out of the closet. I checked to see if it was loaded. I took off the safety, chambered a shell. I stuffed a couple of other shells in my pocket, Riley said. There are a couple of kids outside of the front door, yelling at me to come out.

I had the gun held up to the door thinking, 'I will shoot through the door then Ill throw the door open and just start shooting kids as they are running away.' I was just about to do that and pull the trigger when someone yelled, 'There is a car coming!' Riley added.

The kids scattered and Riley never pulled the trigger. But, he says in his Facebook post, he could have.

Riley, who now lives in Arizona, said he often thinks about how his life and the lives of those children would be different if he had pulled the trigger. He now owns four guns and said he didn't need a background check to get them.

"That's outrageous," he said.

He said hes glad the students who attend Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are fighting for gun reform, and he said he's sharing his story so that people understand the scope of the problem.

"I am not typing any of this to glorify my behavior," he wrote in his post. "I'm explaining what I did, so you will understand that the gun problem in America is not a mental health problem. I was not mentally ill. The problem is access to firearms."

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Maya Healers: A Thousand Dreams Funeral procession, San Pedro, Guatemala. (Photograph by Fran Antmann)

Over the course of a decade, Fran Antmann photographed the indigenous healers, bone setters and shamans struggling to keep traditional practices alive in the aftermath of Guatemalas devastating civil war. Antmann participated in intense, intimate healings and listened to the stories and dreams of these healers and shamans. Thirty years ago, such ceremonies would likely have triggered a brutal response; now they are part of a proud, resurgent Mayan identity.

Fran Antmann is a documentary photographer, writer and professor at City University of New York, where she is also a faculty photo adviser of the award-winning online publication Dollars & Sense.

Her photographic work has focused on the lives and culture of the indigenous peoples of Guatemala, Peru, Mexico, the Dene First Nation people of the Western Canadian Arctic and the Inuit of Baffin Island, Canada. As a Fulbright scholar, she lived in the Peruvian Andes, researching and recovering the work of Peruvian photographer Sebastian Rodriguez, and pursuing her own photographic project of the same town and people.

Her photographs are in the collections of International Center of Photography, the Brooklyn Museum, the Haverford College Photography Collection, the Museum of Photographic Arts (Denmark) and various private collections.

She has received grants from many foundations, including the Ford Foundation, Agfa Corporation, the Social Science Research Council, the Puffin Foundation and the J. Paul Getty Foundation. She was awarded five New York State Foundation for the Arts fellowships in both photography and nonfiction literature. She has held artists residencies at the Blue Mountain Center and at Yaddo. (Half King Photo Series)

Maya Healers: A Thousand Dreams by Fran Antmann, will be featured at a book party and talk at the Half King Photo Series in New York City on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, at 7 p.m. The talk will be led by Kate Doyle, Latin America analyst and human rights investigator, National Security Archive.

See more news-related photo galleries and follow us on Yahoo News Photo Twitter and Tumblr.
Who is footing bill for AIA 1st anniversary event?  Dr Friday

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Leader of the Opposition, Dr Godwin Friday has asked if taxpayers will be footing the bill for the aextravaganzaa celebrating the first anniversary of the Argyle International Airport (AIA).

Friday, speaking at a press conference the day before the Government was set to host a rally celebrating the AIAas first birthday, said he had heard of the event and had only one question to ask.

aIave heard there are going to be speakers there, some of them from the Government and some of them from the Unity Labour Party (ULP); thereas a list, including public servants,a somebody from the airport,a he began, continuing, aAnd this is going to be some sort of a show.

aWhoas paying for this extravaganza? That is the question; whoas paying for it?a

He said when the airport was first opened, on February 14 last year, there were flights that were chartered, and the public was told that the tickets, which were meant to be sold immediately, would cover the cost of the event.

However, the Leader of the Opposition said they found out that taxpayers paid over $700,000 for an exercise which he considers publicity for the ULP government.

On the eve of the rally, Friday intoned, aWe need to know, to ensure that Governmentas money is not wasted on a bashment that is basically just a political advertisement for the ULP, part of their campaign.a

He said the question was relevant in the context of aserious hardshipa caused by the state of the economy and, agiven the fact that for the third straight year in a row, that VAT has been increased on the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines(SVG).a

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves had stated that Saturdayas rally would be held at Johnson Hill, Argyle and that he anticipated that it would be a abig eventa.

The Prime Minister said the rally would highlight the struggles that were faced in building and opening the airport and provide a status report for the AIA.(KR)
Mexican presidential candidates from all sides have promised to take a tougher stance against U.S. President Donald Trumps 'border wall' plans ahead of the July 1 election.

Related: Companies Building Border Wall Want Trump to Defend Them From Backlash

Mexico will never again be treated like a doormat for the U.S., as it has been in this government, Ricardo Anaya, who is backed by the center-right National Action Party (PAN) and the center-left Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), said at a Mexico City event held by the parties, according to Reuters.

Trending: Lion Bites Off Own Tail After Getting Stuck In Freezing Water In Zoo

Anaya said Mexico will refuse to pay for constructing a wall between Mexico and the U.S., as Trump once insisted would be the case, and said he would be tougher on defending Mexicos independence than the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).

Though Anaya is gaining support among Mexican voters, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of the leftist Morena party holds a double-digit lead in recent polls. Lopez Obrador told hundreds of Morena backers that Trumps border wall plan is unnecessary.

If he insists on building the wall, were going to turn to the United Nations to defend the rights of Mexicans, Lopez Obrador said. Im conscious of my historic responsibility.

Don't miss: Mitt Romney and Donald Trump Have Buried the HatchetBut For How Long?

Jose Antonio Meade, a former finance minister nominated the PRI, trails Lopez Obrador by as many as 20 points. Meade has vowed to crack down on crime and impunity, both of which have dogged the current administration.

During his presidential campaign Trump pledged to make Mexico pay for a border wall, but the Mexican government in January reaffirmed it will not fund it.

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In his proposed 2019 budget earlier this month, Trump requested more than $23 million for border security and immigration enforcement, including money for the barrier.

Story continues

Congress recently passed legislation to raise budget caps by about $300 billion for fiscal years 2018 and 2019. As a result, the Trump administration is proposing an $18 billion investment during that time period to build a border wall.

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from Newsweek
Mike Pence has sidestepped questions about the ideal shape of Donald Trumps proposed border wall.

During an interview that took place near Americas border with Mexico, the Vice President was repeatedly asked about what type of barrier should be constructed. He deferred to Mr Trump, saying the priority was securing as-yet-lacking financial backing.

President Trump will make the final decision about the structure of the wall, but the first step is that Congress has to fund it, Mr Pence told interviewer Ainsley Earhardt.

When Ms Earhardt noted that we dont have a wall all the way across the border and asked Mr Pence to confirm that you would like that to happen, Mr Pence was noncommittal.

President Trump made a commitment to the American people that were going to build a wall, Mr Pence said. That means were going to have a physical barrier on our southern border.

Mr Trump has repeatedly said that a wall would only need to span about half the border, with natural obstacles like rivers accounting for the rest. Experts  including members of his own administration  have called building a wall the entire border unfeasible given the cost, legal hurdles and rough physical terrain.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said during her confirmation hearing that a wall from sea to shining sea was not needed, and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly reportedly told members of Congress Mr Trump was not fully informed when he issued campaign pledges that included vowing Mexico would pay for the structure.

Mr Trump responded to the report of Mr Kellys statement by saying that his conception of the wall never changed or evolved from the first day I conceived of it and suggesting the barrier would not, in fact, span the entire border.

Parts will be, of necessity, see through and it was never intended to be built in areas where there is natural protection such as mountains, wastelands or tough rivers or water, Mr Trump said.

Story continues

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The Trump administrations push for wall funding is bound up with a larger debate about immigration. With the White House taking a hard line, the Senate last week voted down multiple proposals that would have allocated billions for border security while carving out a path to citizenship to a population of young immigrants, known as Dreamers, who had qualified for a since-lapsed deportation relief initiative.
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How could this happen again?

Of all the improbable Olympic stories, there may be none with worse odds than the breathtaking bad luck of Great Britain short track speed skater Elise Christie. It is one thing to fall or be disqualified once. Another for it to happen twice. Its almost incalculable for the same to occur three times. Thats what happened to Christie in the Sochi Games in 2014.

And the same thing, unbelievably so, happened again in PyeongChang, as Christies Olympics came to a close with not one, not two, but three  again  falls or disqualifications.

Elise Christie of Britain has repair work done to her skate after falling at the start of her womens 1000 meters short track speedskating heat in the Gangneung Ice Arena at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Christie may have an unusual knack for crashing, and being clipped by other skaters, and by receiving disqualifications, but she didnt attempt to intentionally take her competitors down with her. The same might not be said for North Korean skater Kwang Bom Jong. Read the full story.

Gangneung (Korea, Republic Of), 20/02/2018.- Kwang Bom Jong of North Korea (R) races and crosses arms with Keita Watanabe of Japan (L) as they compete during the heats in the Mens Short Track Speed Skating 500 m competition at the Gangneung Ice Arena during the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Games, South Korea, 20 February 2018. (Corea del Sur, Japon) EFE/EPA/HOW HWEE YOUNG

Neither Canadian bobsledder Phylicia George nor Japanese ski jumper Noriaki Kasai earned medals on Tuesday, but both laid claim to Olympic history, George as the first black Canadian woman to compete in the summer and winter Olympics, and Kasai for competing in his eighth  eighth!  consecutive Winter Olympics.

Read Kasais story here.

Read Georges story here.

Daegwallyeong-myeon (Korea, Republic Of), 20/02/2018.- Kaillie Humphries and Phylicia George of Canada in action during the Womens Bobsleigh competition at the Olympic Sliding Centre during the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Games, South Korea, 20 February 2018. (Corea del Sur) EFE/EPA/VASSIL DONEV

The United States continues to fall well behind on the medal count, as Norway and Germany expand their leads. The one thing keeping the Americans near the top? X Games events, namely snowboarding. Read the full story.

More Olympics on Yahoo Sports:

 Korean speed skaters accused of bullying after leaving teammate in tears

 Japanese ski jumper, 45, vows to return at 2022 Winter Olympics

 Wetzel: North Korean speed skater has eventful but unsuccessful night

 Germany-Switzerland featured an ejection nine seconds into game

 Busbee: Christies run of bad luck at Olympics continues in 1,000m
(PARKLAND, Fla.)  More than 1,500 mourners have thronged a church for the funeral of 14-year-old student Alaina Petty, one of the 17 people killed in last weeks shooting rampage at a Florida high school.

Petty was a freshman and one of 17 people killed in Wednesdays attack at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Family members spoke at Mondays funeral about how the teen had enthusiastically joined fellow Mormon youth for cleanup efforts after Hurricane Irma struck Florida in September. Her father, Ryan Petty, also spoke about the support the victims families have received from their church, the community and others worldwide.

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The funeral was held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Coral Springs, not far from the school that Alaina Petty attended.
A powerful volcanic eruption in Indonesia that shot ash and rocks more than 16,000 feet in the air has forced thousands to flee from falling debris and searing gas.

Mount Sinabung, located on the island of Sumatra, erupted to such an extent that some local villages were reportedly pitch black as huge plumes of smoke engulfed the area.

Speaking to Agence France-Presse, volcanology agency chief Kasbani, who goes by one name, declared this event, the biggest eruption for Sinabung this year.

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The country's National Disaster Mitigation Agency said they have not received any reports of deaths or injuries in the wake of the eruption.

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Antara Foto/Maz Yons/ via REUTERS

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Antara Foto/ Surianto Sembiring / via REUTERS

Locals have been warned to stay indoors to avoid breathing in the ash and smoke, with officials handing out face masks to protect people from respiratory problems.

"In some villages the visibility was barely 5 meters after the eruption," local disaster mitigation agency official Nata Nail Perangin-angin added to AFP, "it was pitch black.

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Mount Sinabung lay dormant for 400 years before it erupted in 2010, killing two people in the process. Since then, another 23 people have died after subsequent interruptions, which forced more than 30,000 to leave their homes in the surrounding area over the past eight years.

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ANTO SEMBIRING/AFP/Getty Images

The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre, in Darwin, Australia, issued a red notice to airlines, advising planes not to fly over Indonesia.

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The Bureau of Meteorology's Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) has briefed airlines and will continue to work closely with the aviation industry," read a statement posted on the Center's website.

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The statement also explained the rationale for the no-fly notice. The VAAC's advice for the aviation industry relies on ground-based and satellite observations, pilot reports, and sophisticated forecasting models to monitor the current location and forecast movement of volcanic ash," the statement noted. Airlines make their own decisions on when to fly based on their risk management approaches.

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ENDRO RUSHARYANTO/AFP/Getty Images

Despite the warnings, airlines Jetstar and Qantas said none of their flights have been affected by the eruption, reported the Associated Press.

Mount Sinabung is located in the so-called Ring of Fire, an area of volatile seismic activity where hundreds of active volcanoes are found. The areawhich includes Japan, New Zealand and the west coast of north America, Mexico and South Americais the location of approximately 90 percent of all the worlds earthquakes.

Mount Sinabung is one of three volcanoes which are currently erupting in Indonesia.

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This article was first written by Newsweek

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By Sarah N. Lynch and Jonathan Landay

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller on Tuesday stepped up pressure on two former Trump campaign aides to cooperate in his probe into possible collusion with Russia, unsealing a criminal charge against a lawyer for lying to Mueller's investigators.

The attorney, Alex van der Zwaan, the son-in-law of one of Russias richest men, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., to a charge of lying to the Special Counsel's office. A U.S. judge set his sentencing for April 3.

The case involves work that van der Zwaan, a 33-year-old Dutch citizen, performed in 2012 about Ukraine for Paul Manafort and Rick Gates, senior officials in Donald Trump's 2016 election campaign.

The two former aides have been charged with conspiracy to launder money and failure to register as foreign agents in connection with work for a pro-Russia Ukrainian party.

The charge against van der Zwaan make no reference to Trump's campaign or the 2016 election.

But legal experts said the charge would put more pressure on the former Trump aides to cooperate with Mueller as he looks into whether Russia tried to influence the election in favor of Trump by hacking the emails of leading Democrats and distributing disinformation and propaganda online.

Last year, U.S. intelligence agencies found that Russia had meddled in the election and that its goals eventually included aiding Trump who won a surprise victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton.

The lawyer's case appears to underscore the extent of Muellers probe and of his interpretation of how far and wide he can investigate.

Manafort, who was Trump's campaign manager for almost five months in 2016, and Gates, who was deputy campaign manager, pleaded not guilty last year to Muellers charges.

Lawyer van der Zwaan's father-in law is Russian billionaire German Khan, the founder of the privately-owned Alfa Bank.

Even if van der Zwaan "is only cooperating against Paul Manafort, that could be very valuable in the big picture. Prosecutors typically very methodically start with low level offenders and try to work their way up the chain," said Barbara McQuade, a former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. "My guess is he is cooperating."

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'BOA CONSTRICTOR'

A one-time associate of Mueller described the former Federal Bureau of Investigation director as a "boa constrictor," whose investigative strategy involves progressively increasing the pressure on his targets. The associate spoke on condition of anonymity.

A trial of Manafort and Gates is tentatively expected this fall, though recent media reports have said that Gates is expected to plead guilty in the near future. If Gates agrees to cooperate in the probe, that could put more pressure on Manafort and others who worked in the Trump campaign.

Trump has called Muellers probe a witch hunt and Putin denies that his government conducted an operation to influence the U.S. election.

Manafort and Gates worked as political consultants to Ukraines former pro-Russia president, Viktor Yanukovych, who was forced from office in 2014. Manafort was close to Ukrainian and Russian political and business figures with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The charging document unsealed on Tuesday concerned a report prepared at Manaforts behest by attorneys at the prominent U.S. law firm Skadden Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom. The attorneys included van der Zwaan.

Andrew Weissmann, a prosecutor with Mueller's office, told the court that Manafort and Gates funneled $4 million through offshore accounts to pay the law firm - which he did not identify by name - and Washington-based lobbying firms in connection with the report.

Yanukovychs government used the report to justify to the European Court of Human Rights the pre-trial detention by the Ukrainian government of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, a Yanukovych rival, who was convicted in 2011 of embezzlement and corruption charges and sentenced to seven years in prison.

The charging document said that while answering FBI agents questions about his work on the report, van der Zwaan lied that he last communicated with Gates in mid-August and another unnamed person, only identified as "Person A," in 2014.

He also told the agents that he did not know why an email between him and Person A was not produced to Muellers office.

In fact, the document said, Zwaans last spoke to Gates and Person A in September 2016 and secretly recorded both calls. Moreover, he "deleted and otherwise did not produce emails sought by Muellers office" and an unidentified law firm, the document continued.

The description given by prosecutors for Person A appears to match Russian-Ukrainian political operative Konstantin Kilimnik, a long-time employee of Manaforts political consulting operations.

Media reports say that a man referred to in court documents by the special counsel's office has having ties to Russian intelligence is Kilimnik but he has denied such ties. He could be not be immediately reached for comment on Tuesday.

"Mueller is sending a signal to witnesses in this investigation that he is going to charge false statements," said Renato Mariotti," a former federal prosecutor who is running for Illinois attorney general as a Democrat.

The charge against Zwaan and reports that Gates may plead guilty suggest "that Mueller is putting even more pressure against Manafort, which is interesting because Manafort is already buried in an indictment with very serious charges," Mariotti said.

In a statement on Tuesday, a spokeswoman for the firm said it had terminated van der Zwaan's employment in 2017 and "has been cooperating with authorities in connection with this matter."

(Additional reporting by Warren Strobel, Nathan Layne, Doina Chiacu, John Walcott and Mark Hosenball; Editing by Alistair Bell)
The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited South Korea while pregnant with her second child, according to reports in the South Korean press.

Kim Yo Jong herself announced she was expecting, according to unidentified officials quoted in local media, during her three-day stay in the country at the beginning of the month as part of a high-level North Korean delegation. According to these sources, 30-year-old Kim Yo Jong avoided certain foods and a pregnancy bump could be seen protruding from her coat.

A spokesperson for the Unification Ministry said the South Korean government knows nothing of the pregnancy. There is nothing that weve known of, the official told Yonhap news agency. Thats the South Korean governments stance.

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02_20_Kim_Yo_Jong

Yonhap/via Reuters

The presidential office issued no comment in response to reporters questions, according to The Korea Herald. One anonymous government source confirmed the pregnancy rumors to Yonhap, but an intelligence official, quoted in the same article, said, I cannot confirm [them].

Kim Yo Jongs first significant public appearance in North Korea was at her brother Kim Jong Uns side at their father Kim Jong Ils funeral. She has since been seen with her brother at public events such as concerts or standing in for him at state functions. The recent trip to South Korea earned her unprecedented worldwide media attention, yet little is known for certain about the youngest of North Korean founder Kim Il Sungs grandchildren.

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While Kim Jong Un has reportedly fathered three children, at least one of whom is a girl, Kim Yo Jong is thought to have had her first pregnancy in 2015, but her childs gender is not known. Pictures of her wearing what appeared to be a wedding ring that same year sparked speculation that she had married Choe Song, the son of her brothers close aide, Choe Ryong-Hae.

Like her older brothers, Kim Yo Jong lived and studied abroad in Switzerland as a teenager before following in her fathers footsteps, joining the North Korean ruling partys Propaganda and Agitation Department, performing a role that included curating her brothers public imagewhich was carefully crafted to evoke their grandfatherand being one of Kim Jong Uns closest aides. She joined the countrys top decision-making body in October, less than two years after becoming a member of the partys central committee, capping a rapid ascent to power.

This article was first written by Newsweek

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(Reuters) - A seventh-grade student shot and wounded himself inside a school bathroom in Ohio on Tuesday morning with a gun he brought to school, but no one else was injured, police said.

The school, located in the city of Massillon, about 55 miles (90 km) south of Cleveland, went into lockdown after the shooting, before closing early for the day, police and school officials said.

The boy, whose age and name have not been released, brought a .22-caliber long gun and a backpack filled with "distractionary devices" to Jackson Memorial Middle School, Jackson Township Police Chief Mark Brink said.

"It's not a bomb, I can tell you that," Brink told reporters. "It's something that's going to make smoke or make a bang and take your attention somewhere else."

It was not clear if the student had set off the devices.

Police said they were still investigating why and how the student ended up shooting himself and whether the shooting was deliberate or accidental.

The extent of the student's injuries was also not known. Brink said he was being treated in a hospital.

The lockdown at the Massillon school, which has a student body of about 1,400, came at a time of heightened tension following a shooting spree at a Florida high school last week that killed 17 people.

(Reporting by Jonathan Allen in New York; Editing by Leslie Adler)
Seguin, TX (78155)

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Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. High 94F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph..

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Partly cloudy skies. Low near 70F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
London (AFP) - Oxfam revealed Tuesday it was investigating 26 new cases of sexual misconduct since the crisis erupted over its handling of a 2011 prostitution scandal in Haiti, which the British charity called a "wake-up call".

Chief executive Mark Goldring told a parliamentary committee in London that the cases varied in their seriousness, while 16 related to its international operation.

"They range in time frame from more recent events to long historic events where people did not report them at the time," he said.

Goldring added he believed the latest cases had emerged as "a direct response to the publicity" around the Haitian scandal.

"We really want people to come forward," he added.

The Oxfam chief was unable to provide further details on the cases when pressed by British lawmakers.

The committee said it would be conducting its own inquiry into abuses in the foreign aid sector.

Three of Oxfam's most senior leaders repeatedly apologised for the charity's handling of an internal investigation into the use of prostitutes by staff in Haiti following the devastating 2010 earthquake.

Caroline Thomson, chair of trustees, said: "It's right to admit this has been a real wake-up call."

The charity revealed 7,000 regular donors had been lost since the scandal emerged following reporting by The Times newspaper.

It said safeguards had been put in place following the 2011 probe, but admitted they had not gone far enough.

Thomson vowed to take "personal responsibility" for ongoing reform: "I have decided that we need to have more focus on safeguarding."

Last week, Oxfam unveiled an action plan to tackle sexual harassment and abuse, including creating a new vetting system for staff.

The charity formally also apologised to Haiti on Monday over the scandal and for failing to report the matter adequately.

"Oxfam should have reported the matter to the Haitian authorities," Goldring told lawmakers.

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"It was not for Oxfam to decide whether a crime had been committed... that was the wrong decision."

- Tip of the iceberg? -

Oxfam had made public Monday its 2011 report into the episode, revealing that three staff had physically threatened a witness in the prostitution investigation.

The report, compiled in the year after the workers were deployed to Haiti, found that a total of seven staff were accused of using prostitutes at an Oxfam-funded residence.

Four staff were fired for gross misconduct and three others, including then country director Roland Van Hauwermeiren, were allowed to quit.

Stephen Twigg, chair of the international aid committee hearing the testimony Tuesday, was blunt in his assessment.

"Demonstrably, you have got to get your house in order," he told its leadership.

As part of its broader probe into sexual misconduct in the sector, the panel also questioned Kevin Watkins, chief executive of Save the Children UK.

He revealed tentative figures that the charity dealt with 193 cases of "child safeguarding" issues in 2016, leading to 53 full investigations, 20 case referrals to police and 11 staff dismissals.

"The difficult thing to know in these circumstances is whether you're catching the tip of the iceberg or whether you're catching the iceberg itself," Watkins said.

The BBC reported on Tuesday that one of Watkins' predecessors left the charity while facing three complaints of inappropriate behaviour towards female staff.

Former CEO Justin Forsyth was accused in 2015 of sending inappropriate texts and making comments on what female staff were wearing.
Photo Credit: Marco Grob/Marvel Studios (click to enlarge)

Forget Ant-Man: Paul Rudds superhero name should be Smiley Face. To mark its 10th anniversary as the dominant studio in the comic-book movie game, Marvel Studios recently released an all-star photo that assembled nearly every major costumed super populating the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And eagle-eyed fans immediately zeroed in on the fact that Rudd, who plays the pint-sized title character in the 2015 hit Ant-Man and its upcoming sequel, Ant-Man and the Wasp, wore a giant-sized grin as he sat among Avenger royalty including Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chadwick Boseman, and Scarlett Johansson, all of whom appeared a bit more restrained in their enthusiasm.

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Like everyone else on the internet, we were charmed by Rudds elementary school-ready grin, so when we sat down with the actor to discuss his new film, Mute, which hits Netflix on Friday, we couldnt resist asking him: Why so smiley? We took about a hundred pictures, Rudd remembers. Im sure that in some of the other ones, I wasnt beaming and other people were! It just so happened that in the one they picked, everybody else was looking very serious and Im sitting there grinning like the Cheshire Cat! All of that being said, it was very cool to be there. Stan Lee was sitting right there, and all the people from the movies. I remember thinking, There are a lot of people in the world who would be interested to be in this room right now.

Turns out that one of those people is Rudds Mute co-star Justin Theroux, who joined our interview and confessed that he didnt see the Marvel Studios photo in question when it hit the web a few weeks ago (to be fair, he might have been a bit preoccupied). Its worth noting that Theroux deserved to have been in the room where the picture happened, since he co-wrote Iron Man 2 with director Jon Favreau, who appears between Angela Bassett and Chris Hemsworth in the shot. Kevin Feige didnt give me a call, the actor remarks with a chuckle, making it clear there are no hard feelings about his omission. When you have the whole cast of the MCU there, I think the main thing you want to see is the writer of Iron Man 2 front and center lying there like a cheerleader in the way of everyone.

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A smiling Rudd is flanked by some his unsmiling MCU co-stars (Photo: Marco Grob, Marvel Studios)

Since Theroux wasnt present for the picture, Rudd helpfully pulled it up on his phone for his pals insta-critique. Oh my God  its a third-grade photo! You should have a lunchbox, Theroux hoots. But Rudd stands up for his goody-two-shoes smile in the face of his co-stars good-natured ribbing. The thing is, we did a lot of pictures in 30 minutes, and I remember that I had a little bit of What do I do with my hands? he explains, making exaggerated gestures. When they took this particular picture, everyone else looks relaxed, and Im sitting straight up. Besides, its not as if Rudd is the only person in his section of the class photo flashing his pearly whites. Look! Jeremy Renner is standing next to me and also smiling, the actor points out. And Tom Holland is smiling too! If you ask us, the trio of Spidey, Ant-Man, and Hawkeye would make for a pretty awesome live-action adaptation of Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends.

Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:

Watch: The Black Panther cast reveals why their film is Marvels most political ever:




(Reuters) - Pennsylvania's top court on Monday unveiled a new map carving out the state's U.S. congressional voting districts, imposing a plan it said was based on "traditional criteria" after rejecting a proposal drawn up by Republican lawmakers as unconstitutional. The state Supreme Court had ruled that the Republican plan effectively marginalized likely Democratic voters. As a result, the Republicans have a more than 2-1 advantage in the state's U.S. House of Representatives delegation, even though the number of registered Republicans and Democrats in Pennsylvania is roughly even. The court-imposed plan could help Democrats who want to gain control of the U.S. Congress in the November midterm elections. The new map "is composed of congressional districts which follow the traditional redistricting criteria of compactness, contiguity, equality of population, and respect for the integrity of political subdivisions," the court's order said. (http://bit.ly/2FeQtPJ) State Republican leaders condemned the new map, saying the court was usurping the powers of the legislative and executive branches. "We anticipate further action in federal court" to challenge the new boundaries, state Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati and state House Speaker Mike Turzai said in a statement. Susan Carty, president of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania, which was among 19 plaintiffs in the lawsuit, said lawmakers should heed the ruling. "To avoid future gerrymanders and court intervention, the legislature should now work toward creating an independent, impartial and accountable redistricting process, she said in a statement. The justices redrew the boundaries with the help of independent experts after Democratic Governor Tom Wolf last week rejected a proposal drawn by Republican legislative leaders as unfairly skewed in their party's favor. Legal battles are playing out in several U.S. states over gerrymandering, the process by which district lines are manipulated to favor one party. Pennsylvania has long been seen as one of the worst offenders, with one of its districts nicknamed "Goofy Kicking Donald Duck," a reference to a cartoon image evoked by its odd shape. Pennsylvania is a hotly contested swing state, and the redistricting is expected to boost Democrats' chances of winning several of the U.S. House seats in the state in November. Democrats must gain 24 seats nationwide to take control of the House from Republicans. Republicans hold 13 of Pennsylvania's 18 congressional seats. The new map means that Democrats could win up to 11 seats in Pennsylvania in midterm elections, said Michael Li, a lawyer with the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University's law school, which filed an amicus brief in the case. "This is the map that many people think is natural for Pennsylvania, which is a 50-50 state, a classic battleground, but hasn't performed that way in terms of congressional elections for decades," he said by telephone. The Republican-controlled legislature created the current map in 2011, after the 2010 U.S. census. The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected Republicans' appeal of the state court's ruling in January striking down the boundaries. (Reporting by Jonathan Allen in New York and Ian Simpson in Washington; Editing by Leslie Adler and Lisa Shumaker)
Poland's Prime Minister Morawiecki came under fire over the weekend for saying Jews were also perpetrators of the Holocaust - REUTERS

Polands chief rabbi has said Polish-Jewish relations are at their worst for 30 years as controversy rages over a new law that critics claim is an attempt to whitewash Polish crimes against Jews during the Second World War.

Michael Schudrichs comments came just hours after vandals scrawled swastikas and anti-Polish statements on the Polish embassy in Tel Aviv, demonstrating the level of anger over the law, which has made it a criminal offence to blame the Polish nation or state for crimes by the Third Reich.

Over the weekend Mateusz Morawiecki, the Polish prime minister, provoked even more anger in Israel and among Jews worldwide when, speaking in defence of the law, he said Jews were also perpetrators of the Holocaust.

Sadly [Polish-Jewish] relations are the worst I can remember, Rabbi Schudrich said in a radio interview on Monday. This is the worst moment in 30 years.

I am, and I hope I always will be, an optimist, he continued. But now I am an optimist with a broken heart.

Earlier, Benyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, had tweeted that he considered the Polish prime ministers comments outrageous and that he wanted to address the issue with Mr Morawiecki.

On Monday Jacek Czaputowicz, Polands foreign minister, said he had called upon the Israeli authorities to ensure the safety of the Polish embassy and to catch the perpetrators of the swastika attack.

Tzipi Hotovely, the deputy Israeli foreign minister, tweeted that the attack on the embassy was unacceptable and has no plane in a democracy that honours the rule of law.

Both the Polish and Israeli governments have called for calm dialogue over the law but Israelis have becoming increasingly dismayed that despite the calls, and international protests, Warsaw has shown no sign or any willingness to alter the law.
Stockholm (AFP) - An Uzbek asylum seeker who mowed down shoppers in a truck claimed at his trial Tuesday that he killed them in the service of the Islamic State group -- but his accusers insisted he acted alone.

Rakhmat Akilov, 40, is on trial on terrorism charges for the rampage on a busy shopping street in Stockholm, in which he killed five people and injured 10 more in April last year.

He has admitted carrying out the attack and claims to have had the blessing of the Islamic State (IS) extremist group, but prosecutors do not believe that he had direct help.

The method of the attack resembled other vehicle assaults in Europe in 2016, including Nice in France and Berlin -- but unlike those attacks, the Stockholm killings were never claimed by IS.

- 'Acted alone' -

IS proclaimed an Islamic "caliphate" in parts of Syria and Iraq but has been largely crushed by US-backed coalition forces over recent months.

Akilov pledged allegiance to the group and told the court that he had been given the green light by IS members on encrypted chat sites.

He claims he was unable to identify them.

Investigations have failed to conclude whether he received any financial or material assistance.

Chief prosecutor Hans Ihrman said Akilov "sought support" from outside contacts but they did not have a "decisive" role in the attack.

"Akilov had planned and prepared the attack on his own" and "wasn't dependent on other people," Ihrman told reporters after the hearing.

Akilov told the court he wanted "Sweden to end its participation in the fight against the caliphate, to stop sending its soldiers to war zones."

Sweden has around 70 military personnel based mainly in northern Iraq to provide training as part of the US-led coalition against IS.

- No remorse -

In the attack, Akilov stole a beer truck and crashed it into a store.

Three Swedes were killed including an 11-year-old girl, as well as a British man of 41 and a Belgian woman of 31. Ten other people were injured.

Story continues

Akilov then set off an explosive device but it did not blow up as planned and caused damage only to the truck.

Akilov fled the scene, running into a nearby metro station, and was arrested several hours later after being identified from security cameras.

He told police he wanted "to die as a martyr in an explosion".

Speaking calmly in Russian through an interpreter, Akilov expressed no remorse for his actions. Cooperative at the beginning of questioning, he gradually grew impatient.

"From his testimony so far, it's quite obvious that we are dealing with a person who is quite convinced of the splendour of his deed," a lawyer for 13 of the plaintiffs, Gustaf Linderholm, told AFP.

- Rejected asylum seeker -

After arriving in Sweden in 2014, at the start of a wave of migration to Europe, Akilov's application for residency was rejected in June 2016.

He later went on the run to avoid expulsion and worked odd jobs in construction.

The father of four drank alcohol and used drugs, according to colleagues and acquaintances.

He lived alone in Sweden while his wife and children stayed behind in Uzbekistan.

Prosecutors have said they will seek a life sentence and afterwards his expulsion.

A life sentence in Sweden varies, but is on average 16 years.

The trial is scheduled to last through May, with a verdict due in June.
Richard Branson's project, Virgin Hyperloop One, seeks to decrease travel time using vacuum-based underground tunnels.

British billionaire Richard Branson has announced plans to build a high-speed shuttle in India that could potentially revolutionize travel in the country.

The proposed hyperloop route between Mumbai and Pune, two major cities in the western state of Maharashtra, would reduce travel time fromover three hours by train to just 25 minutes, according to a Virgin press release.

Branson, co-founder of the British multinational conglomerate, signed a preliminary agreement with Maharashtras government on Sunday, the Press Trust of India reports. The project will now undergo an extensive feasibility study.

I believe Virgin Hyperloop One could have the same impact upon India in the 21st century as trains did in the 20th century, Branson said in the press release. The Pune-Mumbai route is an ideal first corridor as part of a national hyperloop network that will dramatically reduce travel times between most of Indias major cities to under two hours.

A post shared by HyperloopOne (@hyperloopone)on Feb 17, 2018 at 9:26am PST

The hyperloop will also connect passengers to the proposedNavi Mumbai International Airport, which is being built near Mumbai. Branson estimated that the shuttle would support 150 million passenger trips per year and create a thriving, competitive megaregion.

Entrepreneur Elon Musk first published a white paper outlining his vision for a vacuum-based, high-speed, underground shuttle system, or hyperloop, in 2013. Others picked up on the idea. Last October, Virgin partnered with Hyperloop One, a U.S. company attempting to build a full-system hyperloop.

A post shared by HyperloopOne (@hyperloopone)on Apr 6, 2017 at 7:07am PDT

The Virgin Hyperloop One project aims to move people and things at airline speeds on the ground, according to Virgin. Passengers and cargo would be loaded into pods, which would then be propelled through a low-pressure tube. Magnetic levitation would lift the pods above their tracks. Low aerodynamic drag would allow the pods to travel extraordinarily fast.

Story continues

A functioning hyperloop would carry passengers at a top speed of 670 miles per hour, more than 10 times the speed of traditional rail services, according to a Virgin Hyperloop One frequently-asked-questions page. For passengers, it would feel like riding in a plane, the company claims.

In addition to India, the Virgin Hyperloop One team has been working on planned routes in the Middle East, Europe, Canada and the United States. They say their goal is to have operational systems running by 2021.

A post shared by HyperloopOne (@hyperloopone)on Jan 21, 2017 at 8:34am PST

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Mr Kushner's real estate company has struggled with debt since the 2008 financial crisis: Reuters/Kevin Lamarque

Special counsel Robert Muellers team is expanding its scope of interest to include Jared Kushners efforts to secure financing for his company from foreign investors during the presidential transition, people familiar with the probe have told CNN.

This is the first time that Mr Kushners conversations with potential non-Russian investors has been mentioned in the media, and could include countries like China.

The investigation has reportedly also been looking at President Donald Trump's son in law's relationship to former national security adviser Michael Flynn, as well as Mr Kushners personal contacts with Russians during the campaign or transition period.

The people familiar with the investigation told CNN that Mr Muellers team has been asking about conversations Mr Kushner may have had to try and attract financing for 666 Fifth Avenue, an asset owned by Kushner Companies that has led to profound financial troubles for the firm.

It was not immediately clear why, specifically, Mr Muellers team may be interested in Mr Kushners contacts. The probe has reportedly not contacted Kushner Companies for information, nor has it requested interviews with executives.

Mr Kushners role during the presidential transition was as point-man for contacts with foreign governments. He later told a congressional panel that he made over fifty contacts with people from over fifteen countries.

Before joining the White House, Mr Kushner worked to divest his interests in Kushner Companies, which was founded by his father. He later divested from the 666 Fifth Avenue building, which his company purchased for $1.8 billion in 2007.

Those interests were placed in a family trust that Mr Kushner does not personally benefit from, according to a spokesman for Mr Kushner.

Mr Kushner reportedly met with Wu Xiaohui, of Anyang Insurance, during the transition period. Mr Kushner and Mr Wu were, at the time, reportedly close to striking a deal on the 666 Fifth Avenue property, which would have relieved debt stress on Kushner Companies that was exacerbated by the 2008 financial crisis (the deal collapsed in March). Mr Muellers team is reportedly interested in those talks.

Mr Muellers team has also become interested in talks between Mr Kushner and a Qatari investor related to the same property. Mr Kushner and his company tried to negotiate financing from former Qatari Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani for the property as well. Those negotiations ultimately stalled.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller is leading the federal probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election: Getty

Special Counsel Robert Mueller has accused Dutch lawyer Alex Van Der Zwaan of making false statements about his contact with ex-Trump campaign aide Rick Gates.

The allegations are the latest charges in Mr Muellers investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election. Mr Van Der Zwann is expected to plead guilty during a hearing on Tuesday afternoon.

The court filing says that Mr Van Der Zwaan lied to federal investigators about his interactions with Mr Gates, who was indicted last year on charges relating to his consulting work with political figures in Ukraine.

Mr Gates has pleaded not guilty. However, he has been in the process of switching lawyers, the Wall Street Journal reported, indicating he may be talking to prosecutors about a potential plea deal himself.

The charging documents say Mr Van der Zwaan made false statements about the last time he communicated with Mr Gates and another unnamed person, simply identified as Person A.

He allegedly told the FBI and the special counsels office that his last communication with Mr Gates had been in August 2016, when he had actually spoken to Mr. Gates in September 2016 about the Ukraine work, the document said.

Additionally, Mr Van Der Zwaan is accused of lying in an interview with Mr Mueller's office in November 2017 about his 2012 work for the Ukrainian government, according to the criminal-information document.

Mr Van der Zwaan also allegedly told investigators he did not know why an email between him and Person A was not given to the Special Counsels office, but had actually deleted or failed to produce emails that were being sought.

The charges on Monday follow Mr Muellers indictment last week against 13 Russian nationals and a Kremlin-linked internet firm on charges that they meddled in the 2016 US presidential election.

Mr Mueller is investigating Russian election interference and links between the Trump campaign and Russia.

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American nationals, including Mr Trumps former national security adviser Michael Flynn and former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, have also been charged in Mr Muellers investigation. Mr Flynn pleaded guilty for lying to the FBI about his conversations with the Russian ambassador. Meanwhile, Mr Manafort has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him in the Russia probe.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly denied there was any collusion between his campaign and Russia. The Kremlin has denied it interfered in the US's election.

A spokesman for the Kremlin said on Monday that the US indictment presented no tangible proof that the Kremlin itself or Russian government agencies were involved in the scheme to meddle in the 2016 presidential race.
VIENNA (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has no interest in participating in a European Union-style regional security alliance as proposed by Qatar, its Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said on Monday.

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani said on Friday that Middle Eastern states should put their differences behind them and forge a security pact modelled on the European Union in order to pull the region back from the brink.

He asked the international community to keep up diplomatic pressure on the countries concerned to achieve that, but offered few other details.

"We already have a structure in place," said al-Jubeir in Vienna on the sidelines of a meeting with his Austrian counterpart, referring to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Gulf states' 36-year-old political and trading bloc.

Qatar, a tiny but rich Gulf Arab state, has been isolated over the past seven months by trade and travel sanctions imposed by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt over accusations - denied by Doha - that it supports terrorism and regional rival Iran.

Efforts by the United States and Kuwait to end the rift have failed to produce any results.

"It is our hope that the Qataris will do the right thing and stop their support for terrorism... Should they do so, they will become a welcome member of the GCC and we can move forward to improve the security for all of us," al-Jubeir said.

(Reporting by Kirsti Knolle; Editing by Ken Ferris)
Singapore (AFP) - Singapore has agreed not to cane a man accused of carrying out a rare bank robbery in the city-state if Britain extradites him to face charges, officials said Tuesday.

David Roach, a Canadian citizen, is wanted in Singapore for allegedly stealing Sg$30,000 ($22,700) from a Standard Chartered bank branch in 2016 after strolling in and presenting a threatening note.

He fled to Bangkok, where he was jailed on charges related to bringing the stolen cash into Thailand but authorities refused to send him to Singapore as the countries do not have an extradition treaty.

After his release, he was detained in January at London's Heathrow Airport while in transit en route to Canada and Singapore has requested that he be deported to the city-state. Singapore and Britain have an extradition treaty.

Flogging with a heavy rattan cane is a common punishment in Singapore and is a legacy of British colonial rule, with convicted bank robbers facing a minimum penalty of six strokes, as well as at least two years in jail.

But Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs said Britain had sought assurances that if found guilty, Roach would not face corporal punishment. Britain abolished caning as a punishment for criminals in 1948.

"The Singapore government has agreed to the UK authorities' request. UK extradition laws prohibit UK from extraditing Roach to Singapore in the absence of such an assurance," the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry insisted the concession was necessary to ensure Roach does not escape justice, and said the decision "does not affect the general position taken by Singapore on corporal punishment".

Roach is wanted in Singapore on one count of robbery and one count of money laundering.

Bank robberies are extremely rare in Singapore, whose zero-tolerance approach to crime has made it one of Asia's safest cities.
Trump tweeted Saturday night that the FBI was too caught up in the Russia probe to see the signals leading to Wednesday's shooting massacre at a south Florida high school.

Students tweeted their disappointment with how the president switched the conversation from the shooting to Russian collusion.

President Donald Trump tweeted Saturday night that the FBI was too caught up in the Russia probe to see the signals leading to Wednesday's shooting massacre at a south Florida high school .

The next morning, student survivors from the school shared their disappointment with the president's tweet  and voiced their displeasure much in the same way Trump often does: Via Twitter.

Trump referred to the FBI's admission earlier this week that it failed to investigate a Jan. 5 tip that warned that Nikolas Cruz , the 19-year-old man who is accused of killing 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. , posed a deadly threat.

"Very sad that the FBI missed all of the many signals sent out by the Florida school shooter. This is not acceptable," the president tweeted late Saturday night. "They are spending too much time trying to prove Russian collusion with the Trump campaign  there is no collusion."

Yet in response on Sunday morning, students from the south Florida high school blasted Trump's message. Many of the survivors  who in the days following the massacre have voiced strong opinions in favor of gun control  were upset over how the president appeared to link the FBI's failure to stop Cruz to his own troubles stemming from the Russia investigation.

Tayloron_ tweet

Kyra tweet

Morgan tweet

Carly tweet

Aly tweet

Giuliana tweet

Over the past several days, survivors of the shooting and other locals have rallied around the hashtags #NeverAgain and #DouglasStrong to continue drawing attention to the tragedy, and to put pressure on Washington to make changes to gun laws.

Tweet

In the wake of the deadly shooting, the students are also turning to activism and organizing via "March For Our Lives." Participants of the movement plan to take to the streets of Washington, D.C. on March 24 to call for solutions and put an end to mass school shootings.

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Throughout the weekend, Trump has lashed out at his critics , political rivals and other U.S. government agencies while tweeting about Russian meddling in the 2016 election and decisions made under the Obama Administration.

--CNBC's Mike Calia contributed to this article.





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I am worried. Worried for the country of my birth (the US). And worried for the country I live in (Israel).

I love both countries deeply. I have studied, written about, and taught the history of each country, and today, I sit worried for the future of both of these two places I hold so dear.

Both America and Israel suffer from a similar disease, triggered by the inability of many of the citizens, of either country, to accept the legitimacy of the views of those with whom they disagree.

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On Friday of last week, I stood between two demonstrations , one with a few thousand people calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign, in light of the police recommendation he be indicted for bribery (a view shared by 50 percent of the country), while a substantially smaller group gathered to defend the prime minister, asserting that Netanyahu had done nothing wrong.

It was the rhetoric of Netanyahu's supporters that I found particularly chilling, as they called Netanyahus opponents anti-semites. As if that was not bad enough, these protesters shouted at the top of their lungs, screaming that opponents of Bibi belong to Mapai (the dominant, ruling labor party in the early years of the state) and that they (i.e., those who oppose Bibi) are haters of Israel, just like Mapai.

Since last Friday's demonstration, a new series of arrests has been made. Included among them have been some of those closest to Netanyahu in connection to what has been named Case 4000, a case which appears to be even more serious than the two cases over which the police have already called for Netanyahu to be charged.

But lets put that aside for a moment.

Last weekend, my Tel Aviv Diary column was devoted to the clash between Israel and Iran, and the continuing horrors in Syria. Most of the article was a straightforward description of the events, with some analysis to provide the context in which those events could be understood.

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I had one short paragraph in the article, critical of the Trump administration for being absent from the area, for all intents and purposes, removing the US as a player in the events taking place.

To the best of my knowledge, I do not think I have ever been the beneficiary of such a virulent twitter storm, filled with claims that I could not possibly know what was truly going on  President Trump has a secret plan  I am just getting my facts from the liberal media, (and therefore), what could you possibly know what the President was thinking. And How dare I criticize a great leader like President Donald J. Trump ... my facts must be wrong.

The question that begs to be answered is, why? Meaning, why have our political opponents become our enemies?

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In Israel, there has always been a deep ideological divide between right-wing and left-wing; between religious and non-religious. Still, there was always a sense that what unites us is stronger than what divides us.

GettyImages-686836194

MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty

In the US, the only time the divide has been as serious as it is now was during the period leading up to the Civil War. However, back then the stakes were very real and the differences were fundamental. It is hard to point to any parallel issues today.

I certainly dont think I have all the answers. However, I believe some of the extraordinary discord we see now has to do with the worlds changing economies, technological transformations, coupled with the fear that computers and robots will take away our jobs, or the jobs of our children.

Though that fear is not at all new. Technology has repeatedly displaced workers in the past. While this time might be somewhat different, it is too early and our economies are too prosperous at the moment to sensibly blame the uproar on fears of financial ruin. Consequently, there must be other factors at work.

Some of the events this past week might provide at least a clue.

Two weeks ago, during the campaign to try to stop the Israeli government from removing African asylum seekers, Netanyahu claimed that the person behind the opposition against him was none other than the Hungarian born Jewish financier George Soros. Soros immediately made it clear he had nothing to do with the demonstration here in Israel and that he knew nothing about it.

Soros appears to have become a convenient foil for the right. The right-wing government of Hungary recently made Soros public enemy number one, for his support of liberal causes in his native-born country. The Hungarian government ran a campaign against Soros, filled with very clear anti-semitic themes.

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One might ask, why should a blatantly anti-semitic verbal attack leveled at a foreign citizen in another country have bothered Netanyahu? Well, one might have expected him to protect embattled Jews worldwide and decry brazen expressions of anti-semitism.

However, in this case, the Prime Ministers overriding goal was to tar an opponent of his policy as an outsider, i.e., a leftist from overseas.

And yet, the Soros story became even a bit darker this past week. I appeared on RT/Russian television to speak about the new Polish law and the statement made by an advisor to the Polish President that Jews were also collaborators with the Nazis.

As I was waiting to be called for my segment, I listened in on the news program that was in the midst of being broadcast. What did I hear? A five-minute segment attacking Soros for giving money to anti-Brexit forces in England.

When I returned home from the studio, I was catching up on my tweets and what did I find? Someone whom I follow in the US who has right-wing views was also attacking Soros. I wondered why?

Conveniently, he had placed a link to a Fox News story, which was remarkably similar to the RT story. It was an interview with the former British UKIP leader Nigel Farage, headlined,  Instead of Russian Collusion, Press Should Look at Where Soros's Billions Are Going.

Well, what is happening? It appears that all of the right-wing forces in the world from Russia to Hungary, to the right-wing factions in Israel and the right-wing forces in the USare all promoting the same story, that an evil left-winger (who happens to be Jewish) is the source who funds opposition to their views.

In other words, let's demonize the opposition and what better way to do so than to claim that wealthy, liberal-minded, outspoken George Soros was behind it.

So, how do these diverse, but troubling incidents tie together? First, it has become clear that the ultra-Nationalists in the world have all been receiving support from the chief ultra-Nationalist in the Kremlin.

Even before the latest indictments brought by the Justice Department, it was clear the Russians had mounted an active campaign to support the right-wing nationalist candidates, wherever they were able, be they Marine Le Pens party in France or the AFD in Germany.

The Russian agenda has been to implement anything that would undermine liberal democracies. Clearly, that is why they started their activities in the US to sabotage the US system. The reasons they went all-in for Donald Trump are still not clear.

As my own experience with RT and the Soros story shows, these disinformation efforts continue today. But the right-wing, wherever they are, also tend toward ultra-Nationalism.

History has shown, as it shows today, that when you become an ultra-Nationalist, you see the view of your opponents as no longer acceptable, as objectionable, even treasonous. Opponents become the enemy, traitors.

Ultra-Nationalists hate the outsider, the immigrant. There is my tribe against all the other tribes, and as we have seen in a number of places throughout history, that outsider quickly, often become the Jew.

Marc Schulman is a multimedia historian.

This article was first written by Newsweek

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Five years after Tony Gwynns death at 54, following a battle with cancer of the salivary gland, a lawsuit filed by the Gwynn family will finally head to trial on Sept. 20, 2019. In 2016, his family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in San Diego Superior Court against the tobacco giant Altria Group, Inc., formerly Philip Morris, among others. The lawsuit claimed that the condition that triggered Gwynns death was related to his 31 years of smokeless tobacco usage.

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The Gwynn familys attorney stated that their case was predicated on the tobacco industrys responsibility to disclose the risk associated with the use of dip.

The trial date being scheduled so far in advance was made at their attorneys behest, as they requested the court designate their case as complex, which is defined as a civil action that requires continuous judicial management to avoid unnecessary burdens on the court or financial burden on litigants. Tobacco companies are notoriously some of the most ruthless defendants and as branches on a $35 billion dollar industry have the wherewithal to make things difficult for plaintiffs.

Tony Gwynn retired in 2001 as a 15-time All-Star who racked up 3,141 hits and a .338 career batting average in 20 seasons.

Via USA Today:

The tobacco companies are indeed infamous for their scorched-earth litigation tactics, said Richard Daynard, a law professor at Northeastern University and tobacco industry critic who is not involved in the case. This is, indeed, a huge list. They are certainly within their rights in getting medical records from his treating physicians related to his cancer, but that couldnt possibly justify these subpoenas to all these individuals and entities. They could also fairly explore alternative causes, but only circumstances that have been scientifically demonstrated to relate to the type of cancer he had and died from.

The breadth of the tobacco industrys defense capabilities is so vast that in its defense, the company has subpoenaed 60 entities, including oral health providers and San Diego County hospitals.

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While chewing tobacco was widely used in the majors, its use has dwindled amid a greater focus on its deadly side effects and the current collective bargaining agreement includes a ban on the product by new players.

More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:

      

DJ Dunson is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at dunsnchecksin@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter or Facebook.
A prominent Florida Republican said the state legislature will take up a package of gun control measures in response to a deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High school.

In the week since an assailant killed 17 people at the Parkland school, students and teachers who survived the attack have demanded tougher gun laws. State senator Bill Galvano, tabbed to lead Republicans if they retain their Senate majority after the 2018 midterms, aligned himself with that call to action the day of the shooting.

There is no reason I should be safer in the state capitol than our children are in their schools, Mr Galvano said in a statement. Enough is enough something must change.

Amid intensifying calls for a legislative response, Mr Galvano detailed a slate of bills that includes measures to raise the age for buying assault weapons from 18 to 21, to institute waiting periods for rifle purchases, and to ban a device called a bump stock  used by suspected Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock  that harnesses recoil to allow more rapid firing.

Another proposal would authorise law enforcement to temporarily strip guns from people deemed to pose a threat to themselves or others. Similar laws are on the books in other states.

Shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz had been repeatedly identified to authorities. Multiple agencies reportedly looked into a video in which he cut himself and talked about wanting to own a gun, and the FBI said it failed to investigate a tip that he was armed and had the desire to kill.

Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel has repeatedly endorsed the underlying idea of barring people with mental illness from possessing firearms, as has Gov Rick Scott.

How do we make sure that individuals with mental illness do not touch a gun? Mr Scott, a Republican, said last week as he described the agenda he would discuss with state legislators.

The package does not contain a ban on assault weapons, which Mr Galvano characterised to the Miami Herald as a heavy lift politically.

The White House has also expressed a willingness to engage on gun control, with White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders saying Donald Trump had spoken to Texas Republican John Cornyn about his bill to tighten federal background checks for gun buying.
President Donald Trump lashed out Tuesday at a woman accusing him of sexually assaulting her in Trump Tower, tweeting that he had never met her.

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Trump appeared to be referring to Rachel Crooks, one of the 21 women to have accused him of sexual misconduct. On Tuesday, The Washington Post profiled Crooks, who is running for state representative in Ohio.

It all happened at Trump Tower, Crooks told the Post. I had just moved to New York, and I was working as a secretary for another company in the building. Thats where he forced himself on me.

Crooks first publicly accused Trump of sexual misconduct as part of an October 2016 report in The New York Times. She said Trump kissed her without her consent in 2006 when she was a 22-year-old receptionist for the investment firm Bayrock Group, located at Trump Tower in New York City.

It was so inappropriate, Crooks told the Times. I was so upset that he thought I was so insignificant that he could do that.

Trump has repeatedly denied all allegations of sexual misconduct.

Never happened! Trump tweeted Tuesday about the accusation. Who would do this in a public space with live security ... cameras running. Another False Accusation.

Trump dismissed ever kissing an accuser in the lobby of Trump Tower, though Crooks alleged he forced himself on her outside the Bayrock offices on the buildings 24th floor.

Crooks said she quickly alerted her family about the weird incident.

Hey Ma, my day started off rough  had a weird incident with Mr. Trump, Crooks said in an email to her mother, according to the Post.

In a separate email to her sister, Crooks allegedly wrote: I must just appear to be some dumb girl that he can take advantage of  ugh!

Crooks replied to Trumps tweet on Tuesday with one of her own, encouraging the release of hallway footage from the day of the alleged encounter.

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Representatives for both Crooks and the White House did not immediately respond to HuffPosts request for comment. The Trump Organization did not immediately respond about whether it has video footage from the date and location of the encounter.

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This post has been updated with additional details from Crooks.

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President Trump turned his Twitter attention Tuesday to previously disclosed statements by a woman who says he forced himself on her at Trump Tower in 2006.

Rachel Crooks, one of more than a dozen women who publicly accused Trump of sexual misconduct weeks before the 2016 presidential election, was profiled in a Washington Post article published on Tuesday.

A woman I dont know and, to the best of my knowledge, never met, is on the FRONT PAGE of the Fake News Washington Post saying I kissed her (for two minutes yet) in the lobby of Trump Tower 12 years ago, Trump tweeted. Never happened! Who would do this in a public space with live security cameras running. Another False Accusation.

Crookss account places the incident outside an office where she was working at the time  on an upper floor, not the ground-floor building lobby.

Please, by all means, share the footage from the hallway outside the 24th floor residential elevator bank on the morning of January 11, 2006, Crooks tweeted in reply. Lets clear this up for everyone. Its liars like you in politics that have prompted me to run for office myself.

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Earlier this month, Crooks announced plans to run for Ohios state legislature, saying she was inspired to do so because her accusations against Trump failed to thwart his candidacy.

The 35-year-old, who first went public with her account in October 2016, said she was a 22-year-old receptionist at a real estate company in Trump Tower when she saw Trump outside an elevator in the building.

He was waiting for the elevator outside our office when I got up the nerve to introduce myself, Crooks recalled in the Post profile. He took hold of my hand and held me in place like this. He started kissing me on one cheek, then the other cheek. He was talking to me in between kisses, asking where I was from, or if I wanted to be a model. He wouldnt let go of my hand, and then he went right in and started kissing me on the lips.

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It felt like a long kiss, she continued. The whole thing probably lasted two minutes, maybe less.

The New York Times published claims by Crooks and Jessica Leeds, who said that Trump groped her when they were seated next to each other on a flight in 1985.

He was like an octopus, Leeds said. His hands were everywhere.

At the time, Trump called the Times story phony and a total fabrication in a tweet, and a lawyer for the then-Republican nominee issued a letter accusing the Times of libel and demanding a retraction. A spokeswoman for the Times told Yahoo News that said the newspaper stood by its reporting and would not back down in the face of Trumps legal threat.

Rachel Crooks, Jessica Leeds, and Samantha Holvey at a Dec. 11, 2017, news conference in New York for a documentary that focuses on women who have publicly accused President Trump of sexual misconduct. (Photo: Reuters/Andrew Kelly)

On Twitter Tuesday, Trump wondered aloud why the Post did not report the women taking money to make up stories.

In December, the Times reported that prominent womens rights lawyer Gloria Allred was raising money to fund a defamation lawsuit against Trump by another accuser, Summer Zervos, who says Trump sexually assaulted her in 2007 after she appeared as a contestant on The Apprentice. Other Clinton backers pledged sums totaling more than $500,000 to encourage women to come forward with accounts of sexual misconduct by Trump, according to the Times. Nothing publicly came of those efforts.

Zervos said that during what she expected to be a business meeting with Trump in 2007, he forcibly kissed her, groped her breasts, and thrust his genitals toward her in a bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Related: The women who have accused Donald Trump

He came to me and started kissing me open-mouthed as he was pulling me towards him, Zervos said in a televised press conference with Allred. He then asked me to sit next to him. I complied. He then grabbed my shoulder and began kissing me again, very aggressively, and placed his hand on my breast.

Trump dismissed the claims by Zervos and the other women as 100% fabricated and politically motivated, suggesting they were part of a smear campaign engineered by his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton.

That led to Zervos to file the defamation suit on Jan. 17, 2017, just three days before Trumps inauguration.

In announcing the suit, Allred said she hoped it would force Trump to be deposed or testify under oath  and that if he were to lie, it would be grounds for Congress to impeach him.

Read more from Yahoo News:
President Donald Trump took to Twitter on Tuesday to deny a womans claims that he forcibly kissed her when she worked at Trump Tower a dozen years ago.

Related: Trump sexual misconduct accusers could be called for mock congressional hearings, Democrat says

Rachel Crooks, then a 22-year-old secretary in an office in the tower, said in a front-page Washington Post feature that she met Trump near the elevators on the 24th floor and he grabbed her hand and kissed her.

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He took hold of my hand and held me in place like this, she said, recounting the experience she first shared months before the presidential election. He started kissing me on one cheek, then the other cheek. He was talking to me in between kisses, asking where I was from, or if I wanted to be a model. He wouldnt let go of my hand, and then he went right in and started kissing me on the lips.

It felt like a long kiss, Crooks said. The whole thing probably lasted two minutes, maybe less.

Trump in a couple of tweets said he had never met Crooks, who is one of the 19 women who have accused him of sexual misconduct, and that it was Another False Accusation.

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A woman I dont know and, to the best of my knowledge, never met, is on the FRONT PAGE of the Fake News Washington Post saying I kissed her (for two minutes yet) in the lobby of Trump Tower 12 years ago. Never happened! Who would do this in a public space with live security......" Trump tweeted, "....cameras running.

The president asked why the Post doesnt report the story of the women taking money to make up stories about me and tweeted that only Fox News has run such a report.

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Crooks, now 35 years old and running for Ohio state office, said she does not intend to sue around the incident from 2006.

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I know there are many worse forms of sexual harassment, but doesnt this still speak to character? Crooks said in the feature. I dont want money. I dont need a lawsuit. I just want people to listen. How many women have to come forward? What will it take to get a response?

This article was first written by Newsweek

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President Donald Trump has endorsed Mitt Romney's bid for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Utah's Orrin Hatch. (Photo: Bloomberg via Getty Images)

President Donald Trump endorsed Mitt Romneys bid for the U.S. Senate in a tweet Monday evening, despite a history of criticism between the two men.

He will make a great Senator and worthy successor to @OrrinHatch, and has my full support and endorsement! the president said on Twitter.

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Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts and the 2012 Republican nominee for president, formally announced last Friday that he would seek the seat that will be vacated by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) later this year after 42 years in office.

Romney is expected to be a popular candidate in Utah, where he is remembered as the man behind the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he also enjoys strong support among Utahs large Mormon population.

However Romney, 70, was one of the most outspoken Republican critics of Trump during the 2016 election, and he bashed the then-candidate as a phony and a fraud after Trump failed to denounce white supremacists. Romney later said he couldnt vote for him or his rival, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, saying he wished Americans had better choices.

I see way too much demagoguery and populism on both sides of the aisle, and I only hope and aspire well see more greatness, he said in March 2016.

Trump fired back his own barbs, saying Romney choked like a dog during his own bids for the presidency. Some of that tension appeared to wane after reports that Trump was considering Romney to be his secretary of state, but the president has reportedly remained wary of Romneys allegiances and lobbied heavily for Hatch to run for re-election rather than retire.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told The New York Times on Friday he couldnt imagine why Trump wouldnt endorse Romney, despite the duos history.

We dont want to lose the seat, and this looks like a pretty formidable candidate, he said, noting that Romneys prestige would allow him to come in here with a level of national identity and respect that will make him effective from Day 1.

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During his candidacy announcement on Friday, Romney delivered some pointed critiques of lawmakers in Washington, D.C., including an overt attack on Trumps restrictive immigration plans.

Utah welcomes legal immigrants from around the world, he said during his speech, noting the state has a lot to teach the politicians in Washington.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
President Donald Trump has once again question why his predecessor Barack Obama did not do something to tackle Russias attempt to meddle in the U.S. election, despite the fact that he issued sanctions over the allegations while president.

Trump has become far more amenable to the idea that Russia may have attempted to interfere in the election following the indictment of 13 Russian nationals by Special Counsel Robert Mueller last week. Prior to this, he had slammed the probe, particularly allegations of collusion between his campaign and Russian operatives, as a witch hunt.

Obama was President up to, and beyond, the 2016 Election. So why didnt he do something about Russian meddling? Trump tweeted on Monday evening.

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Following the suggestion that Russia had attempted to influence the outcome of the U.S. election, then-president Obama imposed economic sanctions (although these were largely symbolic), expelled 35 Russian diplomats from the U.S., and announced the closure of two Russian compounds.

At the time, it appeared that Trump did not approve of the sanctions, with reports that he wanted to roll back the sanctions on taking office but was blocked from doing so by Obama holdovers.

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There was serious consideration by the White House to unilaterally rescind the sanctions, Dan Fried, a former State Department official, told Yahoo News at the time.

The president has previously tweeted about Obamas response to alleged election meddling, commenting in January: The reason that President Obama did NOTHING about Russia after being notified by the CIA of meddling is that he expected Clinton would winand did not want to rock the boat. He didnt choke, he colluded or obstructed, and it did the Dems and Crooked Hillary no good, in a tweet that suggested he had begun to warm to the idea that Russia may have attempted to interfere in the election.

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But despite Trump dialling back on his previous comments that he believed Russian President Vladimir Putins assertion that there had been no interference in the election, the president maintains the collusion aspect of the investigation is a hoax.

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I never said Russia did not meddle in the election, I said 'it may be Russia, or China or another country or group, or it may be a 400 pound genius sitting in bed and playing with his computer,'" Trump tweeted last weekend.

The Russian 'hoax' was that the Trump campaign colluded with Russiait never did! he added.

This article was first written by Newsweek

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President Trump declared on Tuesday, without evidence or explanation, that he has been much tougher on Russia than President Obama.

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Its not clear which facts Trump is referring to. In December 2016, Obama issued unprecedented sanctions against Russia for Moscows interference in the 2016 presidential election, ordering 35 Russian diplomats to leave the U.S., and the closure of two Russian compounds.

Russias cyberactivities were intended to influence the election, erode faith in U.S. democratic institutions, sow doubt about the integrity of our electoral process, and undermine confidence in the institutions of the U.S. government, the Obama White House said in a statement. These actions are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

Trump repeatedly rejected the assertions by U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia was behind the hacking. And the president has still has not put into effect new sanctions  passed by large majorities in Congress last year  that were designed to punish the Kremlin and deter it from interfering in the 2018 midterms. And in October, the Trump administration missed a deadline to publish a list of Russian entities and individuals in the military and intelligence sectors subject to sanctions.

Earlier Tuesday, Trump pointed to comments his predecessor made less than a month before the 2016 election: There is no serious person out there who would suggest somehow that you could even rig Americas elections, Obama said in October 2017, responding to Trumps repeated claims that the vote would be rigged in favor of the Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton.

Theres no evidence that that has happened in the past or that it will happen this time, Obama added. And so Id invite Mr. Trump to stop whining and make his case to get votes.

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Trump tweeted the quote, which was featured on a Fox and Friends segment, and followed it up with some Trumpian punditry.

Thats because he thought Crooked Hillary was going to win and he didnt want to rock the boat, the president wrote on Twitter. When I easily won the Electoral College, the whole game changed and the Russian excuse became the narrative of the Dems.

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But those are two different things. Obama was disputing that election officials would tamper with the vote totals to favor Hillary Clinton  something that has not been shown, or even seriously alleged, to have occurred. The issue now is Russian meddling in last years election by way of social media and hacking, which the heads of all the major security agencies agree happened last year  and is continuing into the 2018 election cycle.

On Friday, special counsel Robert Muellers office announced charges against 13 Russians and three Russian entities for allegedly carrying out an elaborate plot to interfere in the 2016 election.

On Monday, after a weekend filled with tweets about the Mueller indictments, Trump falsely suggested Obama didnt do something about Russian meddling.

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On Oct. 7, 2016, the Obama administration announced its belief that the Russian government was behind the hacking of the Democratic National Committee earlier that year. After the election, Obama ordered a review of the election hacking, which was followed by sanctions against Moscow.

But some Democrats, including Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., have criticized Obama for not doing enough.

I said all along that I thought the Obama administration should have done more, Schiff told CNN on Sunday. They were very wary of appearing to be putting their hand on the scale in the election.

But Schiff added: None of that is an excuse for this president to sit on his hands.

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President Donald Trump should pardon anyone caught in Robert Muellers probeincluding himself. That's the opinion of conservative activists and Trump supporters, following the special counsel's latest indictments regarding Russian election meddling.

The pardon cries were specifically for former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, former deputy campaign manager Rick Gates, former campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos and former national security adviser Michael Flynn, Politico reported Monday.

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All four face charges from Mueller, with Flynn and Papadopoulos both pleading guilty and cooperating with the investigation.

I think he should be pardoning anybody whos been indicted and make it clear that anybody else who gets indicted would be pardoned immediately, senior vice president at the conservative Center for Security Policy Frederick Fleitz told Politico.

Another top conservative also stated Trump should pardon himself.

Its kind of cruel whats going on right now and the president should put these defendants out of their misery, conservative legal activist Larry Klayman also told Politico. I think he should pardon everybody  and pardon himself.

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While Manafort awaits trial, Gates was reportedly expected to change his plea of not guilty and testify against Manafort, according to the Los Angeles Times. The pair were business partners and faced charges of laundering millions of dollars offshore and other charges. Gates also stayed on with the Trump campaign after Manafort was fired in August 2016.

Flynns indictment, which asserted he lied to the FBI about contact with foreign nationals, was announced in December. Trump was later asked about potentially pardoning the former general. The president told reporters: I dont want to talk about pardons for Michael Flynn yet. Well see what happens. Lets see.

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Trumps ability to pardon himself had reportedly come up for discussion among his personal lawyers. The president asked about his ability to pardon himself, aides and even family members, the Washington Post reported in July, while his legal team though up ways to undercut Muellers investigation.

Muellers indictment of 13 Russian nationals and three Russian entities for their alleged roles in meddling in the 2016 presidential election was made public Friday, and it also detailed the Russias strategies to prop up Trump, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and former Green Party candidate Jill Stein over Democrat Hillary Clinton.

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Following the latest indictment, Trump took to Twitter to again assert his campaign did not collude with Russia.

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 tweeted Friday.

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Trump fired off several more tweets over the weekend, accusing the Fake News Media of poor coverage over the indictment. He also said the FBI had spent too much time on the Russia investigation when it could have been stopping the alleged Florida high school shooter from killing 17 people last week. There is no evidence to suggest Trump's claim is correct.

Very sad that the FBI missed all of the many signals sent out by the Florida school shooter. 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! Trump tweeted Saturday,

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This article was first written by Newsweek

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A convoy of pro-Syrian government fighters arrived in Syria's northern region of Afrin to fight Turkey. - AFP

Turkish forces shelled a column of pro-Assad regime fighters as they tried to join with Kurdish forces resisting a Turkish incursion into northern Syria, Turkeys resident Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

The regime has been saying for days that it would dispatch fighters to support the Kurds as they battle to keep Turkey from taking control of the Kurdish-held pocket of Afrin.

The confrontation pits the Turkish army and allied Syrian rebel groups directly against the military alliance backing the government of President Bashar al-Assad, further scrambling northwest Syria's already messy battlefield.

Mr Erdogan described the convoy as being made up of "terrorists" acting independently. He said Turkish artillery fire had forced it to turn back, although the Kurdish militia denied this.

"Unfortunately, these kind of terror organisations take wrong steps with the decisions they take. It is not possible for us to allow this. They will pay a heavy price, he said.

Syrian television had earlier shown the group of fighters passing through a checkpoint that bore the insignia of the Kurdish security force, some chanting "one Syria, one Syria", and driving further into Afrin.

Pro-regime fighters drive past a banner of the Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan Credit: GEORGE OURFALIAN/AFP/Getty Images

Ankara's month-old offensive is aimed at driving the Kurdish YPG militia, which it sees as a big security threat on its border, from Afrin.

The YPG hailed the arrival of the pro-government forces - which included militias allied to Assad but not the Syrian army itself - and said they were deploying along the front line facing the Turkish border.

It made no mention of a deal that a Kurdish official said on Sunday had been struck with Assad's government for the Syrian army itself to enter Afrin.

Erdogan said he had previously reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, Assad's main international backers, to block Syrian government support for the YPG fighters.

He described the pro-government fighters coming to the YPG's aid as Shi'ite militias, and said they would pay a heavy price.

Story continues

YPG media adviser Rezan Hedo denied Erdogan's assertion that the convoy had turned back under Turkish artillery fire, but he gave no details on its size or composition. A Britain-based monitoring group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said one convoy had entered Afrin while another turned back.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his forces had driven back regime troops Credit: Pool Photo via AP

Earlier on Tuesday, Erdogan said he had received Putin's agreement to block a Syrian government deployment in Afrin.

Turkey and Russia have supported opposite sides throughout the war, with Moscow the closest ally of Assad and Ankara one of the principal supporters of rebels fighting to overthrow him.

However, in recent months Turkey has lent support to a Russian-led effort to end the war with most population centres in the hands of Assad's government. Ankara said last month it sought Moscow's agreement before launching the Afrin assault.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday the Afrin crisis could be resolved through direct negotiations between Damascus and Ankara.

Assad's other main ally, Iran, is more closely involved than Russia with the militias that back the Syrian government on the ground, such as those who entered Afrin on Tuesday.

The Turkish offensive has made gains along almost all the border area with Afrin, pushing several km (miles) into Syria and seizing villages. But the YPG still holds most of the region including its main town, also called Afrin.
Ankara (AFP) - Turkey will lay siege to Afrin in northern Syria, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday a month after Ankara launched an offensive against Kurdish militia in the region.

"In the coming days, swiftly, we will lay siege to the centre of the town of Afrin," Erdogan told parliament.

His remarks came as Turkey's operation "Olive Branch", a ground and air offensive against the People's Protection Units (YPG) militia which Ankara brands "terrorists", entered its second month.

While some analysts say Turkey and pro-Ankara Syrian rebels have made slow advances, Erdogan defended the operation's progress, saying it was to avoid putting the lives of both its troops and civilians needlessly "at risk".

"We did not go there to burn it down," he said, insisting the operation's aim was to "create a safe and livable area" for the Syrian refugees inside Turkey, who fled across the border since the conflict began in 2011 and who now number more than three million.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said at least 94 civilians have been killed during Turkey's offensive.

But Ankara has repeatedly insisted there have been no civilian casualties, saying its armed forces are showing utmost care not to harm civilians.

Turkey says the YPG is a "terrorist" offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984.

The PKK is blacklisted as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies.

But the YPG has been working closely with the United States against the Islamic State extremist group in Syria.

Both Washington and Brussels have urged Turkey to show restraint in its operation, with the US warning the offensive could detract from the fight against jihadists in Syria.
Ankara (AFP) - The street in Ankara where the US embassy is located was renamed after Turkey's offensive against a Kurdish militia on Monday, just days after the two sides agreed on the need to normalise relations.

Already tense ties were strained further when Ankara started a ground and air offensive dubbed "Olive Branch" last month against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in its enclave of Afrin in western Syria.

Ankara views the YPG as a terrorist offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), an insurgency in Turkey which is listed as a terror organisation by the US and the European Union.

But in Syria, Washington has been providing arms to the YPG against the Islamic State group, much to Ankara's chagrin in a dispute that has ignited the biggest crisis in bilateral ties since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.

The US has previously called on Ankara for restraint and said operation "Olive Branch" risked becoming a distraction from the fight against jihadists in Syria.

The renaming of the street follows a visit by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to Ankara last week when he met Turkish officials including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the two sides agreed to cooperate in Syria.

"We are not going to act alone any longer, not US doing one thing, Turkey doing another," Tillerson said after talks with Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu.

The two sides said they would set up working groups to solve key issues affecting relations.

Ankara mayor Mustafa Tuna mooted the plan to change the name from Nevzat Tandogan (a former Ankara governor) to Olive Branch avenue before Tillerson arrived on Thursday.

City workers switched the actual signs on Monday.

Although the American embassy is located on what is now Olive Branch avenue, the mission's official address is given as the street behind the building, which is named after Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish republic.

Story continues

Renaming streets has become a favoured diplomacy tool for Ankara.

Tensions with the UAE flared last month when the emirate's Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan retweeted a post on Twitter critical of the former Ottoman rulers of the region.

In response Ankara renamed the street where the UAE embassy is located after the Ottoman governor of the time.
KAMPALA (Reuters) - The United Nations refugee agency UNHCR said on Tuesday its donors would withhold funding for Ugandan operations until refugee numbers were verified, after accusations that officials inflated the figures to steal aid. Multiple investigations are under way by the Ugandan government, the United Nations and the European Union into accusations that aid has been stolen. Investigators are looking into whether food and other relief items intended for refugees were sold off, bribes paid and refugee girls trafficked. Last week the Ugandan government, already investigating possible culpability by its own officials, said it was widening the probe to see whether staff from U.N. agencies UNHCR and the World Food Programme had connived with corrupt state employees. Teresa Ongalo, a UNHCR spokeswoman, told a news conference in the Ugandan capital Kampala donors had raised questions about the number of refugees in Uganda. "There's concern that the numbers are not accurate," she said. "What we have received from donors is an indication that until we're able to verify the numbers they will withhold funding." UNHCR and the Ugandan government have embarked on verification of refugee numbers using the U.N. agency's biometric system. Scarce funds momentarily forced food ration cuts for refugees in Uganda last year, and any cut-off of aid is likely to exacerbate suffering in the camps. The refugee influx into Uganda has ballooned in recent years on the back of instability in the Great Lakes Region. An estimated 1.4 million refugees are in the country, including more than a million from South Sudan where a four-year-old civil has left tens of thousands dead and uprooted an estimated quarter of a population of 12 million. Other refugees in Uganda come mainly from Burundi and the lawless eastern region of Democratic Republic of Congo. In recent weeks the rate of daily arrivals from eastern Congo has spiked on the back of spreading inter-communal and ethnic violence. On Tuesday UNHCR said it had planned for 60,000 new Congolese refugee arrivals in Uganda in 2018 but that the number was already above 40,000. (Reporting by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by George Obulutsa and Peter Graff)
Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats is defending a controversial secret visit to the United States by Russian spy chiefs  including one under U.S. sanctions imposed in 2014 to punish Russia for its annexation of the Ukrainian region of Crimea.

Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer had raised questions about late January meetings between U.S. officials and the head of Russias Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), Sergy Naryshkin, and Alexander Bortnikov, head of the domestic Federal Security Bureau (FSB), the successor to the Soviet Unions KGB. Naryshkin would have needed special approval from the Trump administration to gain entry to U.S. soil.

The visit came days before the executive branch missed a deadline to impose new sanctions on Russia because of its alleged interference in the 2016 elections.

In a letter to Schumer, Coats says the meetings focused on counterterrorism cooperation. The letter does not explicitly address whether the visit included a discussion of the sanctions or of Moscows alleged meddling in the vote that brought Trump to power.

While the U.S. IC [intelligence community] has maintained communications with Russian intelligence on counterterrorism in an effort to help ensure the safety of our citizens around the globe, rest assured that I and the entire IC fully recognize that Russia remains an adversary in many areas, including its ongoing influence campaigns that seek to sow dissent and undermine faith in democratic institutions, Coats wrote.

We are never shy about discussing areas of disagreement in these engagements, and I assure you that our Russian counterparts are fully aware of our views regarding their inappropriate activities in the 2016 election, he told Schumer in the letter.

The message from Coats largely echoed a similar defense made earlier this month by CIA Director Mike Pompeo. The Russians met with each U.S. official separately, according to news reports.

Russia disclosed the visit in late January via the state-run ITAR-Tass news agency. Russias embassy to Washington tweeted the report.

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London (AFP) - A Cambridge University graduate who admitted 137 criminal offences involving online abuse, including encouraging the rape of a four-year-old boy, was sentenced on Monday to 32 years in prison.

Matthew Falder, who dubbed himself "666devil" and "evilmind" online, blackmailed many of his 45 victims into sending "severe abuse images" of themselves, according to Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA).

The images were defined as "hurtcore" by prosecutors.

"Hurtcore does what it says on the tin really -- its aim is to hurt the individual to their very core," NCA investigator Matthew Long said.

Falder, whose victims ranged from young children to people in their 30s, would pose as a woman and get his victims to send naked images. He would then manipulate them into sending increasingly depraved abuse images.

Judge Philip Parker described the 29-year-old as an "internet highwayman" who had a lust for controlling and tormenting victims.

"It is a tale of ever-increasing depravity," he said.

"The effects on the girls, women and men were devastating. The damage is ongoing for these individuals. It will never end," he said.

Falder, a geophysicist who was a postdoctoral researcher at Birmingham University in central England, admitted the charges at a court hearing in October, making him one of Britain's most prolific sex offenders.

"In more than 30 years of law enforcement I have never come across an offender whose sole motivation was to inflict such profound anguish and pain," NCA senior investigating officer Matt Sutton said at the time.

"I have also never known such an extremely complex investigation with an offender who was technologically savvy and able to stay hidden in the darkest recesses of the dark web," he added.

The NCA set up a taskforce involving Australian, US and Europol investigators to catch Falder with support from Britain's online spying agency GCHQ.
 Spotlighting disparities in jail stays over unpaid court fines in Pennsylvania | Main | SCOTUS back in action with a number of criminal cases up for oral argument 

February 19, 2018

"Conservatives urge Trump to grant pardons in Russia probe"

The title of this post is the headline of this lengthy new Politico article. Here are excerpts:

After months of criticizing special counsel Robert Muellers Russia probe, President Donald Trumps supporters are issuing increasingly bold calls for presidential pardons to limit the investigations impact. I think he should be pardoning anybody whos been indicted and make it clear that anybody else who gets indicted would be pardoned immediately, said Frederick Fleitz, a former CIA analyst and senior vice president at the conservative Center for Security Policy. The pleas for mercy mainly extend to the four former Trump aides who have already been swept up in the Russia probe: former campaign manager Paul Manafort, former deputy campaign manager Rick Gates, former national security adviser Michael Flynn and former campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos. But they dont stop there. Its kind of cruel whats going on right now and the president should put these defendants out of their misery, said Larry Klayman, a conservative legal activist. I think he should pardon everybody  and pardon himself. Klayman and Fleitz spoke before Mueller indicted thirteen Russian nationals on Friday for staging an elaborate 2016 election interference operation in the United States. Democratic leaders said the hard evidence of Russian meddling underscores the importance of letting Muellers investigation run its course.... Trumps lawyers and aides insist its premature to discuss even the possibility of pardons. There have been no pardon discussions at the White House, Ty Cobb, the White House attorney who leads the presidents official response to the Russia investigation, told POLITICO on Friday just hours before Muellers latest indictment was released. After the Washington Post reported in July that Trump had tasked his aides with researching his pardon powers, Trump dismissed the story  while also making clear his view of the law. While all agree the U. S. President has the complete power to pardon, why think of that when only crime so far is LEAKS against us. FAKE NEWS, Trump tweeted.... Trump has issued one pardon since taking office, to the controversial Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who was facing criminal contempt of court charges for defying a court order to stop profiling Latinos. That August action, in the face of strong political opposition, makes some conservatives think that Trump would be willing to defy his critics again. He did it for Sheriff Joe, so Im thinking he would do it for other circumstances as well, [Tom] Fitton said. There has been little sign of Congressional Republican support for the idea of pardons. In the days after Flynn pleaded guilty, South Carolina Senators Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott both urged Trump not to pardon Flynn. Scott said it is important to have accountability and a process that is clear and transparent. Pardons would also come at a high political cost, former George W. Bush White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said. Itd just raise even more questions about Donald Trump if he pardons those closest to him because people will think hes trying to protect himself. You should let justice run its course, he added. Even some conservatives who support pardons in principle are wary of the severe political backlash they are certain to trigger. Mike Cernovich, a conservative activist who has been affiliated with the alt-right but rejects that label, said he believes the moment for pardons has passed and that Trump needs to wait until after the November mid-term elections. If the Democrats take over, pardon everyone, Cernovich said. Theyre coming for you anyway. They have their nuke with impeachment. You have your nuke with pardons. And then settle in for an interesting two years.

February 19, 2018 at 04:46 PM | Permalink

Comments

The charges were pretextual, and an attempt to overturn the result of the election of 2016. The investigation is a crime itself. People were caught filling out complicated forms incompletely.

Your profession is a disgrace and making people angry.

I would support the direct action movement when the public decides to correct the lawyer profession. I want to draft the Amendments that will prevent its future crimes.



Posted by: David Behar | Feb 19, 2018 6:06:06 PM

Behar, today is Tuesday. It's the blue pill, not the red one.

Posted by: anon2 | Feb 19, 2018 10:28:57 PM

I don't know. What Manafort and Gates did was undoubtedly criminal and also quite bad. At the same time, David is correct -- the investigation started as an effort to "get" Trump. That, combined with the equally obvious decision not to notice Hillary's violation of 18 u.s.c. 793(d), leaves a hell of a stench.

What Papadopolous and Flynn did wrong, if anything, was a joke. It sure looks like the FBI got them to lie to the FBI, for the purpose of charging them with lying to the FBI. That's absurd.

In a sane world, what would have happened is -- the FBI would have charged Clinton, Manafort, and Gates for their respective crimes, and would have left Papadopolous and Flynn alone. Those would have been appropriate choices for a nonpartisan, unbiased organization that was simply trying to enforce the law.

However, we do not live in a sane world. What is to be done?

I would support pardons for Papadopolous and Flynn.

There has been a tradition that each Administration chooses not to notice the crimes of its predecessor. That actually makes sense, up to a point. But when the predecessor's crimes involve finding pretexts to spy on associates of the opposing Presidential candidate, that's far enough beyond the pale that something has got to be done. It would therefore appear to make sense to prosecute whoever was involved in presenting the Dossier to the FISA court as "evidence," as well as whatever other crimes were involved in enabling the surveillance of the Trump team.

As for what Clinton did, again it's pretty far beyond the pale. But the Democrats, almost to a person, don't seem to get this. For that reason, charging her would likely tear the country apart. I would reluctantly conclude that the electoral defeat was punishment enough.

I'd be interested to see Doug's thoughts on all of this.



Posted by: William Jockusch | Feb 19, 2018 10:38:01 PM

-- the investigation started as an effort to "get" Trump --

The investigation was started to investigate Russia involvement in the 2016 election.

DB's take would be some dig at Clinton and a positive spin on any usage of the pardon power. I say this only partially tongue in cheek.

Posted by: Joe | Feb 19, 2018 10:54:34 PM

Pardons all around should make this entire pretextual violation of the constitution a total waste of time and money. It is a good idea. And do it, every time they come up with another pretextual attack on the valid election.

Posted by: David Behar | Feb 20, 2018 1:43:52 AM

Justice Thomas, like Trump, is a pussy-grabber of the first order: both need to be impeached.

New York Magazine Makes A Case For Impeaching Clarence Thomas

The idea of someone so flagrantly telling untruths to ascend to the highest legal position in the U.S. remains shocking, in addition to its being illegal.

By Nick Visser

JONATHAN ERNST / REUTERS

New York Magazine is laying out a case for the possible impeachment of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

The cover story, penned by former executive editor of The New York Times Jill Abramson, described Thomas rise to power and his apparent immunity to scrutiny during the height of the #MeToo movement. Citing conversations with three women who worked with Thomas, Abramson also detailed a history of lies told by the judge, beginning during his confirmation hearing.

His dishonesty, not the allegations of impropriety, raise the possibility of impeachment.

Lying is, for lawyers, a cardinal sin. State disciplinary committees regularly institute proceedings against lawyers for knowingly lying in court, with punishments that can include disbarment. Since 1989, three federal judges have been impeached and forced from office for charges that include lying. The idea of someone so flagrantly telling untruths to ascend to the highest legal position in the U.S. remains shocking, in addition to its being illegal, Abramson wrote.

During Thomas 1991 confirmation hearing, former employee Anita Hill accused him of sexually harassing her.

Abramson is the co-author of Strange Justice: The Selling of Clarence Thomas, a 1994 book about his controversial confirmation hearing. During the 1991 hearing, former employee Anita Hill accused him of sexually harassing her. Hill alleged that Thomas talked about pornography in the workplace and regularly commented on the bodies of female coworkers.

Thomas claimed he never talked to Hill about porn or to other women who worked with him about risque subject matter.

The hearing quickly turned into the epitome of a he-said, she-said, and despite the allegations, Thomas was later confirmed by a vote of 52-48. Since then, more women have come forward with similar claims about his behavior.

Abramson said Thomas tenure on the court has been devastating for womens rights, and highlighted his votes on cases involving equal-pay protections and employers religious objections to supplying birth control.

His worldview, with its consistent objectification of women, is the one thats shaping the contours of whats possible for women in America today, more than that of just about any man alive, save for his fellow justices, Abramson wrote.

Posted by: anon21 | Feb 20, 2018 9:59:08 AM

anon21 helping those who have to deal with paywalls?

Posted by: Joe | Feb 20, 2018 10:09:49 AM

Post a comment
Scott-Dani Pappalardo inspired the #OneLess campaign in response to the Florida school shooting by destroying his rifle - Facebook

US gun owners are destroying their rifles in response to the Florida school mass shooting which claimed 17 lives.

Gun owner Scott-Dani Pappalardo, who has a tattoo of the Second Amendment honouring Americans' rights to bear arms, inspired the #OneLess campaign with an impassioned anti-gun speech which has been viewed by more than 17 million people.

The New Yorker, who legally purchased and registered the AR-15 assault rifle 30 years ago, said the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School tragedy had changed his mind about gun control.

Mr Pappalardos powerful video, in which he uses an angle grinder to saw his weapon in half, has now encouraged others to do the same.

I remember after Sandy Hook happened I said to my wife Id gladly give this gun up if it would save the life of just one child. Thats five years ago now and since then over 400 people have been shot in over 200 school shootings.

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So I guess my words were just empty words in the spare of the moment and now here we are, 17 more lives lost, so when do we change? When do we make laws that say maybe a weapon like this isn't acceptable in todays society?

Mr Pappalardo explained he could have sold the rifle for around $800 (600), but admitted he couldnt live with himself knowing his gun could one day be used to commit a horrific act.

Ive decided Im going to make sure this weapon is never capable of taking a life, the barrel of this gun will never be pointed at someone, he continued.

Is the right to own this weapon more important than someones life? A weapon like this that can cause so much death and destruction.

Look at the picture of those victims - is that right more important? I dont think so. Im going to make sure that will never happen with my weapon.

For all you haters out there, who think Im very stupid for doing this. I hope and I pray it doesnt take the barrel of one of these guns pointed at your childs head to change your mind.

Other US gun owners have joined the campaign by sharing videos and images of their dismantled weapons in response to the massacre.

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Suspected gunman Nikolas Cruz is alleged to have walked into the Parkland high school wearing a gas mask and carrying smoke grenades before opening fire on students and staff with an AR-15 assault rifle.

The troubled 19-year-old, who had been expelled from the school, was able to legally purchase at least seven long guns despite a documented history of mental health issues.

It is the 18th school shooting in the US in 2018 and the third deadliest in American history, once again reigniting the debate on gun control laws.

The AR-15, a semi-automatic civilian version of the US military's standard-issue M16, is known as America's most popular rifle, with more than five million in circulation around the country.

Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock, who killed 58 at a country music festival in October after opening fire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel was in possession of an AR-15 when police stormed his room.

The weapon was also used by Devin Patrick Kelley, who shot and killed 26 in a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas on November 5.

The scale of US mass shootings in 2017

Meanwhile, teenage survivors of the shooting are organising a nationwide March for Our Lives campaign next month calling for an end to gun violence and mass shootings in US schools.

Survivors of the shooting have also started a Never Again campaign, in a bid to push lawmakers to take action to stop gun violence.
The United States is drawing up plans for cyber attacks against North Korea, it has been reported.

The Telegraph reported that plans for a series of attacks on targets in North Korea may be via cyber warfare rather than more conventional means.

The newspaper said the attacks are part of an effort to bring Kim Jong-un into line.

The Telegraph quoted senior US intelligence sources comments to Foreign Policy magazine, in which they said there had been a nearly unprecedented scramble inside the agencies responsible for spying and cyber warfare aimed at North Korea.

The reports come as the Winter Olympics in South Korea come to an end.

Bloody nose  the attacks are reportedly aimed at keeping North Koreas Kim Jong-un in line (Pictures: Getty)

It has been suggested that the US has been planing cyber attacks for months, with preparations including installing fibre cables into South Korea and Japan, as well as setting up remote bases.

One official reportedly told Foreign Policy magazine that a large part of the US spying and cyber warfare capability is being refocused on North Korea.

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The magazine also reported that military intelligence analysts who are currently reserves are being summoned back into service to focus on North Korea.

It also said that US intelligence agencies have been actively recruiting analysts who speak Korean.
Caracas (AFP) - Venezuela formally launched its new oil-backed cryptocurrency on Tuesday in an unconventional bid to haul itself out of a deepening economic crisis.

The leftist Caracas government put 38.4 million units of the world's first state-backed digital currency, the Petro, on private pre-sale from the early hours.

A total of 100 million Petros will go on sale, with an initial value set at $60, based on the price of a barrel of Venezuelan crude in mid-January.

The Latin American country has the world's largest proven oil reserves but is facing a crippling economic and political crisis.

Vice-President Tareck El Aissami said the Petro will "generate confidence and security in the national and international market."

President Nicolas Maduro announced in early December that Venezuela -- which is under sanctions from the US as well as the EU -- was creating the digital currency.

He said he expects the Petro to open "new avenues of financing" in the face of Washington's sanctions, which prohibit US citizens and companies from trading debt issued by the country and its oil company PDVSA.

Experts are skeptical about the Petro's chances of success, pointing out that the country's deep economic imbalances will only serve to undermine confidence in the new currency.

Venezuela is mired in a deep economic crisis triggered in large part by a fall in crude oil prices and a drop in oil production, which accounts for about 96 percent of the country's exports.

It is struggling to restructure its external debt, estimated at around $150 billion by some experts.

Related:
Warren Jeffs pictured during his trial in Utah in September 2007: Getty Images

A former child bride who fled a fundamentalist Mormon cult has told how the sects leader reminded her she was the property of her husband after she begged him to free her from the forced marriage.

Elissa Wall suffered multiple miscarriages after being made to marry her cousin at the age of 14 under the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Now 31, she shed new light on life inside the isolated sect in a documentary about its domineering leader Warren Jeffs, who controlled all most every aspect of his 15,000 followers lives.

Jeffs, said to have had 78 wives and more than 50 children in the Utah church, was jailed for life in 2011 after being convicted of sexually assaulting two girls aged 12 and 15. He is believed to continue to preside over the church from behind bars.

Ms Wall was born into the church and said she lived a very secret lifestyle.

She said: We didnt interact with the outside world. We didnt go to public school. We were educated, cultivated and bred to be products of the church and the religion."

In 2001, Jeff arranged her marriage to her 19-year-old cousin Allen Steed and she was forced to go through with the ceremony despite her protests.

I really think at the time it was about submission, she told Fox News. I could have become a really big problem for the community and for Warren. I was a little more outspoken than the average girl. But I really think it was about pounding me into submission I was just the next player he wanted to eliminate and to quickly get control over.

Ms Wall said she suffered multiple miscarriages after being forced into sex by Steed.

I was now the property of my cousin, she said. And no matter how resistant I was to him, his job was to get me into submission as quickly as possible Then the sexual abuse came later as he started to force himself on me and force that my role as a wife was to be at his beck and call and to have his children.

Story continues

And when I became resistant to that, then the physical abuse started to take over. And I think the frustration of my cousin, his frustration of being judged for not being a good man because his wife wasnt submissive and she wasnt good  that all compounded the problem.

Ms Wall said she repeatedly told Jeffs, or Uncle Warren, she was being abused, but her cries for help were ignored.

I would describe these occurrences in detail in hopes that he would validate these deep concerns that I had, she said. But he reprimanded me over and over for not being submissive. Reminding me of my teachings. Reminding me that I was the property of this man and he could do whatever he wanted to me.

Ms Wall ran away from the church in 2005, when she was 18, and later alerted authorities. She revealed new details of her ordeal on A&E documentary Warren Jeffs: Prophet of Evil.

Jeffs and his church soon became infamous worldwide when he went on the run after being charged with sexual assault of a minor. Police had found evidence one of the women Jeffs called his wives was aged just 12. The fugitive was arrested outside Las Vegas in August 2006, with more than $50,000 (35,000) in cash and multiple mobile phones, laptops, wigs and sunglasses in his car.

Steed was later charged with raping Ms Wall but was jailed for just 30 days after reaching a plea deal in which he admitted a charge of solemnising a prohibited marriage.
Belgrade (AFP) - The West is stoking tensions in the Balkans despite Russia's pacific stance, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted as saying Monday ahead of a visit to Serbia.

Lavrov criticised the West for making Balkan states choose "either you are with the West or with Russia," in an interview with Serbia's Beta news agency.

He said the EU tried to get every aspiring member "to harmonise its foreign and defence policies" with that of the bloc, adding that this was "increasing tensions in Europe."

Serbia is seeking European Union membership. Moscow supports Belgrade in not recognising the independence of the former Serbian province of Kosovo, proclaimed a decade ago.

"It is senseless to talk now about Kosovo's place in the United Nations," Lavrov said.

He said that Resolution 1244, adopted in 1999 by the UN Security Council to end the conflict between Serbian forces and Kosovo Albanian pro-independence guerillas, "remains in place and recognises the autonomous province Kosovo as a part of Serbia."

The normalisation of ties with Kosovo and harmonisation of its diplomacy with that of the EU are among key criteria Serbia has to meet to join the bloc.

"Throughout the history of the Balkans, Russia has always tried to avoid confrontation and helped the people of this region to defend their interests... and their spiritual, religious and cultural roots."

Lavrov criticised the "politics of encircling Russia with the military infrastructure" of NATO and said one "should not strengthen one's own security at the expense of the security of others."

"NATO enlargement is a mistake," Lavrov said.

Montenegro joined NATO in 2017, while Macedonia is a candidate.

"No action currently undertaken by NATO increases anyone's security," Lavrov said.

The minister, due to arrive for a two-day visit to Serbia Wednesday, also defended the role played by the pro-Russian media in the Balkans.

"To protect the pluralism of opinion that the West constantly advocates, to have a different point of view can only be beneficial to listeners, viewers and social network users," he told Beta.
By Liz Hampton and Ernest Scheyder

HOUSTON (Reuters) - An oil and gas worker on a Talos Energy platform in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico was killed on Saturday while replacing piping, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) said on Tuesday.

The worker was injured while removing out-of-service fire suppression equipment and later died as a result of the injuries. The company has not publicly identified the deceased worker.

No other personnel were injured and there was no fire or release as a result of the accident, Talos said in a statement.

The Houston-based company said it has initiated an investigation and was working with regulators in its review of the accident, which occurred about 64 miles (103 km) south of Lake Charles, Louisiana. The platform was being operated by Energy Resource Technology GOM LLC, a Talos subsidiary.

Offshore drilling accidents claimed 29 lives between 2009 and 2016, according to the latest data available from federal regulator BSEE, including 11 offshore workers in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon rig explosion.

The Trump administration has proposed rolling back some regulations initiated following that accident, such as requirements for operators to get third parties to certify that safety devices work under extreme conditions.

Talos's Energy Resource Technology reported a fatality on a production platform in October 2013, according to BSEE. That accident occurred just a few months after federal regulators placed the operator on a performance improvement plan.

In 2016, Energy Resource Technology (ERT) was ordered to pay $4.2 million and put on three years of probation for felony violations tied to its offshore activities.

ERT pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to comply with regulations covering hot work and blowout preventer testing. It also pleaded guilty to violations of the Clean Water Act by dumping pollutants into the Gulf of Mexico and for tampering with methods for collecting water discharge samples, U.S. prosecutor's said.

ERT did not immediately respond to a request for comment about its safety record.

(Reporting by Liz Hampton and Ernest Scheyder; editing by Grant McCool)
Thank you for reading!

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 SCOTUS back in action with a number of criminal cases up for oral argument | Main | Special counsel Mueller subjects yet another low-level, non-violent offender to federal sentencing 

February 20, 2018

Dissenting from denial of cert, Justice Thomas complains Second Amendment has become "constitutional orphan"

The Supreme Court this morning issued this order list which is mostly full of denials of cert, but this lengthy opinion by Justice Thomas dissenting from the denial of certiorari in a case challenging Californias 10-day waiting period for firearms seems likely to garner plenty of attention. Justice Thomas's dissent covers a lot of ground; I will leave it to others to dissect the Second Amendment particulars and be content here to quote from his closing complaints about Second Amendment jurisprudence since Heller:

The Ninth Circuits deviation from ordinary principles of law is unfortunate, though not surprising. Its dismissive treatment of petitioners challenge is emblematic of a larger trend. As I have previously explained, the lower courts are resisting this Courts decisions in Heller and McDonald and are failing to protect the Second Amendment to the same extent that they protect other constitutional rights. See Friedman v. Highland Park, 577 U. S. ___, ___ (2015) (THOMAS, J., dissenting from denial of certiorari) (slip op., at 1); Jackson v. City and County of San Francisco, 576 U. S. ___, ___ (2015) (THOMAS, J., dissenting from denial of certiorari) (slip op., at 1). This double standard is apparent from other cases where the Ninth Circuit applies heightened scrutiny. The Ninth Circuit invalidated an Arizona law, for example, partly because it delayed women seeking an abortion. Planned Parenthood Arizona, Inc. v. Humble, 753 F. 3d 905, 917 (2014). The court found it important there, but not here, that the State presented no evidence whatsoever that the law furthers [its] interest and no evidence that [its alleged danger] exists or has ever [occurred]. Id., at 914915. Similarly, the Ninth Circuit struck down a countys 5-day waiting period for nude-dancing licenses because it unreasonably prevent[ed] a dancer from exercising first amendment rights while an application [was] pending. Kev, Inc. v. Kitsap County, 793 F. 2d 1053, 1060 (1986). The Ninth Circuit found it dispositive there, but not here, that the county failed to demonstrate a need for [the] five-day delay period. Ibid. In another case, the Ninth Circuit held that laws embracing traditional marriage failed heightened scrutiny because the States presented no evidence other than speculation and conclusory assertions to support them. Latta v. Otter, 771 F. 3d 456, 476 (2014). While those laws reflected the wisdom of thousands of years of human history in every society known to have populated the planet, Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U. S. ___, ___ (2015) (ROBERTS, C. J., dissenting) (slip op., at 25), they faced a much tougher time in the Ninth Circuit than Californias new and unusual waiting period for firearms. In the Ninth Circuit, it seems, rights that have no basis in the Constitution receive greater protection than the Second Amendment, which is enumerated in the text. Our continued refusal to hear Second Amendment cases only enables this kind of defiance. We have not heard argument in a Second Amendment case for nearly eight years. Peruta v. California, 582 U. S. ___, ___ (2017) (THOMAS, J., dissenting from denial of certiorari) (slip op., at 7). And we have not clarified the standard for assessing Second Amendment claims for almost 10. Meanwhile, in this Term alone, we have granted review in at least five cases involving the First Amendment and four cases involving the Fourth Amendmenteven though our jurisprudence is much more developed for those rights. If this case involved one of the Courts more favored rights, I sincerely doubt we would have denied certiorari.... The Court would take these cases because abortion, speech, and the Fourth Amendment are three of its favored rights. The right to keep and bear arms is apparently this Courts constitutional orphan. And the lower courts seem to have gotten the message. Nearly eight years ago, this Court declared that the Second Amendment is not a second-class right, subject to an entirely different body of rules than the other Bill of Rights guarantees. McDonald, 561 U. S., at 780 (plurality opinion). By refusing to review decisions like the one below, we undermine that declaration. Because I still believe that the Second Amendment cannot be singled out for special  and specially unfavorable  treatment, id., at 778779 (majority opinion), I respectfully dissent from the denial of certiorari.

Even absent last week's horrific mass shooting in Florida, this opinion by Justice Thomas would be sure to get plenty of attention. And with debates over gun control seemingly now reaching a new pitch, this opinion adds an extra notable dimension to the developing discourse.

Though obviously not a sentencing case, I wanted to flag this dissent to (1) highlight the significant fact that Justice Thomas did not convince any of his colleagues to join his dissent, and thus (2) suggest this analogy: Justice Thomas is to constitutional limits on gun control laws as Justice Breyer is to constitutional limits on death penalty laws.

Justice Breyer has explained in various dissents why he thinks the Supreme Court should take up and consider further limits on capital punishment, but he has not succeeded over time to get additional Justices to join his campaign. Similarly, Justice Thomas is starting to make a habit of explaining why he thinks the Supreme Court should take up and consider further limits on gun control, but he has not succeeded over time to get additional Justices to join his campaign.

February 20, 2018 at 10:27 AM | Permalink

Comments

Hard to listen to anything Thomas says. Like Trump, he's a sexual predator.



Huffington Post

OPINION

02/19/2018 05:48 pm ET

Clarence Thomas Sexually Harassed Me. Yes, He Should Be Impeached.

Angela Wright-Shannon

Guest Writer

JONATHAN ERNST / REUTERS

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

The impeachment of Clarence Thomas is a pipe dream. In this fantasy, Justice Thomas is actually brought to justice, removed for lying under oath during his Senate confirmation hearing. The pipe dream, which is gathering steam thanks to Jill Abramsons exploration of Thomas lies in New York Magazine this week, is as realistic as the one where President Trump is impeached for bragging about sexually assaulting women.

I would know. In 1991, I was a metro editor at The Charlotte Observer, lobbying to become a columnist, when I was subpoenaed to testify at Thomas confirmation hearings after a colleague leaked word to Sen. Joe Biden that I was writing a column about my experiences working with Thomas. The column, though not intended for publication at the time, expressed my conviction that Anita Hill was telling the truth about Thomas  who, as Hills boss, allegedly tried to date her and engage in lengthy conversations about sex and pornography. I believed Hill because I had experienced similar behavior from him: He had repeatedly pressured me to date him and inquired about my breast size.

Members of the Senate confirmation committee immediately went on the attack after learning of me and my willingness to testify. I was characterized as a revengeful, foul-mouthed incompetent seizing an opportunity to strike back at the boss who had fired her. Never mind that I was happily ensconced as an editor at the Observer, a job for which Thomas himself had provided a recommendation. He had praised my performance as director of Public Affairs at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and admitted that he owed me an apology.

Witness the Me Too movement, and the speed with which mighty men have fallen based solely on the word of their white women accusers.

None of that mattered: The wagons had circled. It was obvious that nothing that I had to say would matter to the men on the Senate confirmation panel. I long ago lost real hope for justice and vindication. All those men were white, and the women who accused Thomas were all African-American. Its easy to imagine the hearings ending in a very different outcome if the accusers had been white.

How do you remove sexual predators from office when all attempts to prevent their ascension in the first place failed? And, when the accusers are women of color, justice is not just delayed; its often denied outright. Even Anita Hills sophisticated demeanor and impressive standing as a professor of law didnt shield her from being labeled a little bit nutty, and a little bit slutty. Thats been the cultural narrative about African-American women throughout history.

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Because of fallacious stereotypes about the sexuality of African-American women, the people who rape and sexually harass us have often gone unpunished. Consider the case of Recy Taylor, who died in December three days before her 98th birthday. In 1944, Taylor was raped by six white men in Alabama, and threatened against speaking up. She didnt keep silent, and even though her attackers confessed, two all-white, all-male grand juries declined to indict them. Former Oklahoma City patrol officer Daniel Holtzclaw sexually assaulted more than a dozen African-American women between December 2013 and June 2014, before one brave woman spoke up and he was brought to trial. Despite the testimony of 13 women, it took the jury 40 hours to reach a guilty verdict.

Given the general lack of empathy for black female victims of sexual assault and harassment, it may help that a white woman has now accused Thomas of sexual harassment  after he joined the bench. Moira Smith is an attorney from Alaska who accused Thomas of groping her repeatedly during a dinner 20 years ago. If there is a remote possibility of getting Thomas impeached, it may lie with her.

Normally, white women dont have to wage the same credibility battles facing black sexual assault victims; they arent assigned culpability for their own victimization. Witness the Me Too movement, and the speed with which mighty men have fallen based solely on the word of their white women accusers.

Four African-American women, including me, were willing to join professor Hill and testify about Thomas behavior. We all were denied a voice. Professor Hill and I were maligned by Thomas supporters, on the Senate panel and in his personal circle, in an attempt to coerce us into silence. But I wasnt afraid to speak then, and Im not afraid to speak now. Other women have since come forth, including Thomas ex-girlfriend Lillian McEwen, an African-American woman who surfaced in 2011 and confirmed that Thomas had a penchant for porn and behaved inappropriately with women at work. I confess to harboring a bit of resentment for all of the people, men and women, who I know had first-hand knowledge of Thomas behavior back in 1991, and who chose not to speak up at a pivotal moment. But I also understand why they chose to keep silent, given the vitriolic nature of the hearing. No one who went up against Thomas and the white men on that committee would have walked away unscathed.

Its highly unlikely that Thomas will be impeached, but we can hope. The Me Too movement has underscored the depth and breadth of sexual harassment in our society. Finally, women are being heard and believed. Not only are women no longer willing to be silent, but men are being put on notice that their time is up.

We can hope that the Congressional balance of power shifts this election year, and that predators like Thomas, and even Trump, will be removed from power. Maybe its not just a pipe dream that two of the most powerful men in the country  a Supreme Court justice and the president  would have to answer for the many ways they have mistreated women.



Angela Wright is a freelance journalist living in Charlotte, North Carolina, and a senior facilitator with The OpEd Project. She is the uncalled witness from the Anita Hill/Clarence Thomas confirmation hearing.



Posted by: anon21 | Feb 20, 2018 11:02:43 AM

Justice Gorsuch joined Thomas at the end of last term to flag that he too thinks the Supreme Court has not done enough to take 2A cases.

Thomas has a point -- SCOTUS simply has shown no desire to take cases in this area, even Alito not publicly dissenting except in one mostly forgotten case involving a stun gun that SCOTUS disposed of in a per curiam way. In that case, SCOTUS said the MA Supreme Court dismissed a claim too broadly, Alito thinking they should have more substantively honored the 2A instead of the narrow opinion. SCOTUS did take a case involving firearms during which Thomas actually spoke during oral argument. He dissented in the opinion along with Sotomayor, who did not join his 2A remarks.

The comparison to Breyer is true only up to a point. Breyer has had company at times with RBG & Sotomayor writing dissents too, Kagan joining dissents a few times. And, at times a majority of justices do find some specific death penalty case worth taking, at least staying things for a bit. The 2A does not get even that treatment.

Posted by: Joe | Feb 20, 2018 11:40:01 AM

"The Ninth Circuits deviation from ordinary principles of law is unfortunate, though not surprising"

Reminds me of the old joke: "Your Honors, I come before the court today to appeal a decision by the Ninth Circuit Court. And I have additional arguments in my favor as well ..."

But coming from a SCOTUS associate justice ...

Posted by: Kent G. Budge | Feb 20, 2018 12:53:47 PM

The Supreme Court in a per curiam quickly overturned a 6CA opinion today. This analysis is five years old, but think it still is relevant:

http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/a_sixth_sense_6th_circuit_has_surpassed_the_9th_as_the_most_reversed_appeal

The Ninth Circuit is a particularly large circuit with strong ideologically minded judges from both sides. It is not surprising there are a significant number of cases where justices believe they went beyond a reasonable position. Notable here only one did.

Posted by: Joe | Feb 20, 2018 1:07:54 PM

Well, anon21, you've definitely convinced me of one thing with your post: you're a moon-barking kook.

Posted by: MarkJ | Feb 20, 2018 1:13:24 PM

I don't think his analogy to abortion cases is entirely fair. The biggest difference is there are legal scrutiny standards to apply in those cases. Heller explicitly declined to adopt any scrutiny standard when it comes to the Second Amendment. I think it would be reasonable for Justice Thomas to say that the Court made a mistake in doing that and should redress their mistake, but it's not at all hypocritical for the Ninth Circuit to strike down laws requiring heightened scrutiny in one case while affirming them in cases where the Supreme Court was silent on that issue.

Posted by: Erik M | Feb 20, 2018 1:40:42 PM

MarkJ, not so fast labelling anon21 a "moon-barking kook." Consider the recent article in New York Magazine--too long to print fully here, but here's the first part:

"Do You Believe Her Now?

Its time to reexamine the evidence that Clarence Thomas lied to get onto the Supreme Court  and to talk seriously about impeachment.

By Jill Abramson

Anita Hill and Clarence Thomas testifying before the Senate in 1991. Paul Hosefros/The New York Times/Redux (Hill); Jose R. Lopez/The New York Times/Redux (Rhomas)

February 18, 2018 9:00 pm

On the same fall night in 2016 that the infamous Access Hollywood tape featuring Donald Trump bragging about sexual assault was made public by the Washington Post and dominated the news, an Alaska attorney, Moira Smith, wrote on Facebook about her own experiences as a victim of sexual misconduct in 1999.

At the age of 24, I found out Id be attending a dinner at my bosss house with Justice Clarence Thomas, she began her post, referring to the U.S. Supreme Court justice who was famously accused of sexually harassing Anita Hill, a woman who had worked for him at two federal agencies, including the EEOC, the federal sexual-harassment watchdog.

I was so incredibly excited to meet him, rough confirmation hearings notwithstanding, Smith continued. He was charming in many ways  giant, booming laugh, charismatic, approachable. But to my complete shock, he groped me while I was setting the table, suggesting I should sit right next to him. When I feebly explained Id been assigned to the other table, he groped again  Are you sure? I said I was and proceeded to keep my distance. Smith had been silent for 17 years but, infuriated by the Grab em by the pussy utterings of a presidential candidate, could keep quiet no more.

Tipped to the post by a Maryland legal source who knew Smith, Marcia Coyle, a highly regarded and scrupulously nonideological Supreme Court reporter for The National Law Journal, wrote a detailed story about Smiths allegation of butt-squeezing, which included corroboration from Smiths roommates at the time of the dinner and from her former husband. Coyles story, which Thomas denied, was published October 27, 2016. If you missed it, thats because this news was immediately buried by a much bigger story  the James Comey letter reopening the Hillary Clinton email probe.

Smith, who has since resumed her life as a lawyer and isnt doing any further interviews about Thomas, was on the early edge of #MeToo. Too early, perhaps: In the crescendo of recent sexual-harassment revelations, Thomass name has been surprisingly muted.

Perhaps that is a reflection of the conservative movements reluctance, going back decades, to inspect the rot in its power structure, even as its pundits and leaders have faced allegations of sexual misconduct. (Liberals of the present era  possibly in contrast to those of, say, the Bill Clinton era  have been much more ready to cast out from power alleged offenders, like Al Franken.)

But that relative quiet about Justice Thomas was striking to me. After all, the Hill-Thomas conflagration was the first moment in American history when we collectively, truly grappled with sexual harassment. For my generation, it was the equivalent of the Hiss-Chambers case, a divisive national argument about whom to believe in a pitched political and ideological battle, this one with an overlay of sex and race. The situation has seemed un-reopenable, having been tried at the highest level and shut down with the narrow 1991 Senate vote to confirm Thomas, after hearings that focused largely on Hill.

But its well worth inspecting, in part as a case study, in how womens voices were silenced at the time by both Republicans and Democrats and as an illustration of whats changed  and hasnt  in the past 27 years (or even the last year). After all, its difficult to imagine Democrats, not to mention the media, being so tentative about such claims against a nominated justice today. Its also worth looking closely at, because, as Smiths account and my reporting since indicates, Thomass inappropriate behavior  talking about porn in the office, commenting on the bodies of the women he worked with  was more wide-ranging than was apparent during the sensational Senate hearings, with their strange Coke-can details.

But, most of all, because Thomas, as a crucial vote on the Supreme Court, holds incredible power over womens rights, workplace, reproductive, and otherwise. His worldview, with its consistent objectification of women, is the one thats shaping the contours of whats possible for women in America today, more than that of just about any man alive, save for his fellow justices.

And given the evidence thats come out in the years since, its also time to raise the possibility of impeachment. Not because he watched porn on his own time, of course. Not because he talked about it with a female colleague  although our understanding of the real workplace harm that kind of sexual harassment does to women has evolved dramatically in the years since, thanks in no small part to those very hearings. Nor is it even because he routinely violated the norms of good workplace behavior, in a way that seemed especially at odds with the elevated office he was seeking. Its because of the lies he told, repeatedly and under oath, saying he had never talked to Hill about porn or to other women who worked with him about risque subject matter.

Lying is, for lawyers, a cardinal sin. State disciplinary committees regularly institute proceedings against lawyers for knowingly lying in court, with punishments that can include disbarment. Since 1989, three federal judges have been impeached and forced from office for charges that include lying. The idea of someone so flagrantly telling untruths to ascend to the highest legal position in the U.S. remains shocking, in addition to its being illegal. (Thomas, through a spokesperson, declined to comment on a detailed list of queries.)

Thomass lies not only undermined Hill but also isolated her. It was her word versus his  when it could have been her word, plus several other womens, which would have made for a different media narrative and a different calculation for senators. As the present moment has taught us, women who come forward alongside other women are more likely to be believed (unfair as that might be). There were four women who wanted to testify, or would have if subpoenaed, to corroborate aspects of Hills story. My new reporting shows that there is at least one more who didnt come forward. Their Me Too voices were silenced."



Posted by: Sam the prosecutor | Feb 20, 2018 2:01:47 PM

Coordinated hit-pieces against Thomas digging up he said-she said allegations from 30 years ago.

sad and pathetic

Posted by: skeptic | Feb 20, 2018 2:40:02 PM

Jill Abramson? Are you kidding?

Posted by: SVT | Feb 20, 2018 2:59:49 PM

Leftists against Clarence Thomas have certainly demonstrated their ability to cut and paste lies. But can they think of original ones? No, that would require original thought.

Posted by: Ingot9455 | Feb 20, 2018 3:20:38 PM

Ingot 9455, Cutting and pasting is not such a bad idea, depending on what you cut and paste. Say what you will, that Thomas was the cruelest judge by far was recognized back in 1992 as this "cut and paste" from the New York Times editorial illustrates:

"The Youngest, Cruelest Justice

Published: February 27, 1992

"Only four months after taking his oath as a Justice, Clarence Thomas finds himself rebuked by a seven-member majority of the Rehnquist Court [Hudson v. McMillian, 503 U.S. 1 (1992)}, for disregarding humane standards of decency. The withering reprimand, included in the Supreme Court's majority opinion in a prison case Tuesday, is this:

To deny, as the dissent does, the difference between punching a prisoner in the face and serving him unappetizing food is to ignore the concepts of dignity, civilized standards, humanity, and decency that animate the Eighth Amendment.

The Eighth Amendment forbids cruel and unusual punishments. Only Justices Thomas and Antonin Scalia refused to apply it to the case of Keith Hudson, a Louisiana prisoner who was shackled and beaten by two guards while their supervisor watched, warning them only against having "too much fun."

The two dissenters likened the case to prisoner gripes about inconveniences behind bars. They contended that since the prisoner suffered only a split lip, loosened teeth and a broken dental plate, he had no constitutional complaint. They chided Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's majority opinion for turning the Bill of Rights into "a national code of prison regulation."

The seven Justices are joined by prison reformers, human rights groups and the Bush Administration's Department of Justice in recognizing that this case turned on "contemporary standards of decency." They know it is indisputably cruel when prison guards add brutally and recklessly to legally prescribed punishment. They know it is up to the courts to make sure such conduct remains unusual as well.

The Thomas dissent would be alarming coming from any justice. Coming from him, it rings also with crashing disappointment.

He is, for one thing, the youngest Justice. He might well serve until the year 2030 or beyond. Although his voting record now is identical only to that of Justice Scalia, he could attract enough support from future appointees to move the Court still further to the right.

A second disappointment concerns hope. Justice Thomas rose from poverty and discrimination in Pin Point, Ga., and his nomination won support from prominent people sure he would bring to the Court the understanding bred of hardship. Indeed, he testified poignantly about watching busloads of prisoners from his window. "I say to myself almost every day, there but for the grace of God go I," he told senators eager to believe him. As a Justice, Clarence Thomas doesn't talk that way anymore.



Posted by: Sam the prosecutor | Feb 20, 2018 3:36:57 PM

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Last weekends events in Syria call for a wider contemplation than an examination of the profit and loss of each side.

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The main problem stems not only from a complete conflict of interest between Israel and Iran, but from an identical yet clashing determination of the two sides: The Iranians are determined to build a military power in Syria which will be subject to their authority, and Israel is determined to prevent it. Given that there doesnt seem to be an outline at the moment that would satisfy both sides, we are likely headed towards further conflicts.

The Israeli government must be commended for deciding to take short-term risks this time to prevent a strategic deterioration in the future. This kind of conduct is untypical, and therefore laudable. Moreover, this is the first time Israel works to militarily prevent its neighbors from building conventional power.

Syrian President Assad (L) and Iranian President Rouhani. A combined effort might force the Iranians to give up their aspirations without dragging us to an all-out war (Photos: AP, EPA)

How can Israel have its way after all? A proper management of four combined efforts might force the Iranians to give up their aspirations, if only partially, without dragging us to an all-out war.

The first effort is to attack important Assad regime assets every time we are faced with an opportunity to attack an Iranian target. Syrian President Bashar Assad isnt interested in a conflict at this time, and he definitely doesnt want to lose important assets just because it benefits Iran. This way, we might be able to create tensions between the two and hope Russia takes Assad's side.

The second effort has to do with the Iranian nuclear program. As we know, the United States wants to open the agreement and even add new componentsfor example, preventing Iran from manufacturing long-range missiles.

Removing the Iranian forces from Syria must be another component. As far as Israel is concerned, by the way, removing the Iranians from Syria is much more important than new missile production restrictions. As part of the give and take on a new agreement, the Americans will be able to show some flexibility on certain issues but insist on this new issue.

Other issues are raised in the American-Russia dialogue, and Israel must pressure the US to show more understanding towards other Russian needs (for example, the Western sanctions on Moscow) while gaining a more supportive Russian approach towards the Iranian issue. As always, the Israeli requests have to be prioritized, and what is happening in Syria is the most important thing.

Hezbollah supporters on Israel-Lebanon border. The most significant threat to Israel right now is tens of thousands of Hezbollah rockets (Photo: AFP)

The third effort has to do with Lebanon. The biggest direct threat to Israel at the moment is neither the Syrian threat nor the Iranian threat. The most significant threat to Israel is tens of thousands of Hezbollah rockets. Threatening this organization wont prevent it from joining the northern conflict. Rather, Israel must make it clear that rockets launched from Lebanon will lead to a full war between Israel and Lebanon. As no one wants to see Lebanon destroyed todayneither Syria and Iran nor Saudi Arabia, France, the US, the Lebanese and even Hezbollahthis message must be stressed and intensified.

The fourth effort is in Gaza. Its allegedly unrelated, but it is related: As far as Israel is concerned, preventing a conflict with Hamas in the strip and focusing on the northern border is more crucial than ever right now. We must stop the internal Israeli dispute and generously work to improve the economic situation in the stripeven if this is done through the Hamas government.

A proper combination of these four efforts might succeed. We likely wont be able to avoid additional rounds of violence on the Syrian front, but we will be able to prevent a war and force the Iranians to limit their presence in Syria.

There is already one Israeli achievement: Iran had hoped to build a military militia near the Syrian-Israeli border in the Golan Heights. The previous Israeli strikes made the Iranians give up their plan for a Syrian presence at this stage, which would have been similar to the Hezbollah presence near the Lebanon border.
The exchange of threats between Israel and Iran continued on Monday in the wake of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech at the Munich Security Conference , with a senior Iranian official saying Tel Aviv would be "leveled to the ground in case of the slightest folly" by Israel.

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Netanyahu vowed in his speech Sunday that Israel would act against Iran directly, and not just against its allies in the Middle East, if necessary. The speech was dismissing by Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif as a "cartoonish circus."

The secretary of Iran's Expediency Council, Mohsen Rezayee, also downplayed Netanyahu's threats as a "theatrical move and a childish game."

Prime Minister Netanyahu at the Munich Security Conference (Photo: Amos Ben Gershom/GPO)

"About Netanyahu's unwise words, I should say that if they carry out the slightest unwise move against Iran, we will level Tel Aviv to the ground and will not give any opportunity to Netanyahu to flee," Rezayee told Hezbollah's TV station Al Manar.

"The US and Israeli leaders dont know Iran and dont understand the power of resistance and therefore, they continuously face defeat," he further claimed.

"Today, the situation of the US and Israel indicates their fear of the Zionist regime's collapse and the US decline," he added.

Debris from the Iranian drone that was shot down by Israel (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

Tensions between Israel and Iran increased recently over Tehran's efforts to establish a military presence in Syria.

A week and a half ago, matters escalated further when an Iranian drone left an air base in Syria and infiltrated Israeli airspace. The IAF shot down the drone and then attacked 12 Syrian and Iranian targets in Syria. The Syrian responded with dozens of anti-aircraft missiles, one of which exploded near an F-16 fighter jet, bringing the plane down, but not before its pilot and navigator were able to bail out.

"Iran is dragging the entire region into an adventure whose end is shrouded in darkness. It was a grievous violation of Israeli sovereignty by Iran. Anyone involved in the drone's launch was targeted," the IDF said after its attacks in Syria.

Threats from Lebanon

Lebanese army commander General Joseph Aoun also delivered his own threat to Israel on Monday, saying his army will use every available means to confront any potential Israeli aggression no matter the cost.

I affirm again our categorical rejection of the Israeli enemy infringing on Lebanons sovereignty and its sacred right to exploit all its economic resources, the Lebanese army quoted General Joseph Aoun as saying on Twitter. The army will not spare any method available to confront any Israeli aggression, whatever that costs.

Tensions between Israel and Lebanon have recently flared up over a border wall being constructed by Israel, a tender issued by Beirut for oil and gas exploration in disputed waters and arms flows to Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah group.
The police arrested a well-known strategic consultant suspected of linking Shaul Elovitch, Bezeq's controlling shareholder, to the Ministry of Communications in the Case 4000 affair.

Elovitch, former media adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Nir Hefetz and former Communications Ministry director-general Shlomo Filber are among those arrested Sunday in the Bezeq corruption affair, it was cleared for publication late Monday.
The number of Jewish settlers in the West Bank grew at nearly twice the rate of Israel's overall population last year, a settler leader said Monday, predicting that settlement growth would surge even more in the coming years thanks in part to the Trump presidency.

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Yaakov Katz said that President Donald Trump, backed by a Mideast team dominated by settler supporters, has created a friendly new atmosphere conducive to settlement growth after eight contentious years with the Obama White House.

"This is the first time, after years, that we are surrounded by people who really like us, love us, and they are not trying to be objective," Katz said. "We have to thank God he sent Trump to be president of the United States."

Yaakov Katz (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

Katz is founder of "West Bank Jewish Population Stats," a report sponsored by "Bet El Institutions," a prominent settler organization that has ties to Trump's closest Mideast advisers. He said the figures are based on official data from the Israeli Interior Ministry not yet available to the public.

According to his figures, the West Bank settler population reached 435,159 as of Jan. 1, up 3.4 percent from 420,899 a year earlier. The settler population has grown 21.4 percent in the last five years.

In comparison, Israel's total population grew 1.8 percent to 8.743 million last year, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics.

Katz said the rapid growth of the settlements should put to rest the idea of a two-state solution favored by the Palestinians and most of the international community.

Based on recent growth patterns, he said the West Bank settler population could approach 500,000 by the time Trump leaves office. His study did not include the more than 200,000 Israelis now living in east Jerusalem, the Palestinians' hoped-for capital.

"We are changing the map," he said. "The idea of the two-state solution is over. It is irreversible."

The Palestinians seek the West Bank, along with east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, for a future independent state. Israel captured the territories in the 1967 Mideast war, though it withdrew from Gaza in 2005.

A string of US presidents, both Republican and Democrat, have endorsed the idea of a two-state solution and have joined the international community in opposing settlements as obstacles to peace.

But after years of failed US-led peace efforts, Trump has taken a different line. He says he would support a two-state solution only if both sides agree to it. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's nationalist coalition is dominated by settler allies who oppose Palestinian independence.

Shavei Shomron settlement (Photo: EPA)

Trump also has taken a softer stance toward the settlements, urging restraint at times but avoiding the strong condemnations of his predecessors. His ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, is a former president of Bet El Institutions. His chief Mideast adviser, son-in-law Jared Kushner, has donated to the group, and even Trump once sent a donation.

These deep ties to the settlements have helped fuel Palestinian suspicions of the White House. Those suspicions deepened after Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital in December, prompting the Palestinians to say the US can no longer be an honest Mideast broker. Trump's team has been working on a peace proposal, though it is not clear when it will be released.

Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said the figures reflect an Israeli policy of building settlements to destroy the two-state solution. He said Trump's muted response encourages more settlement building.

"What is required of the world, including the American administration, is to condemn the settlements as illegitimate and illegal and to recognize the principle of two states on the 1967 borders," he said. "If they want to keep hope in any future peace process, they must stop these plans."

Brian Reeves, spokesman for Peace Now, an anti-settlement monitoring group, said it could not corroborate Katz's figures but that they are in the "ballpark" of its own estimates.

Katz said the settlement growth has been fueled both by natural growth of the population, which is heavily religious and tends to have larger families, as well as the attraction of cheaper housing in the West Bank.

He predicted even faster growth in the coming years, claiming that the Trump White House has given Netanyahu a "green light" to advance construction.

"Netanyahu is less afraid of what the president will say about him," he said. "We are very, very, very happy with the Trump administration."
Nir Hefetz, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's former media adviser, and Eli Kamir, former Bezeq strategic advisor, are suspected of offering then-District Court president Hila Gerstel a promotion to attorney general in exchange for closing the case against the prime minister's wife, Sara, for alleged forgery of receipts and misuse of public funds, also referred to as the Prime Minister's residences affair.

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While Gerstel reportedly rejected their offer, she apparently did not report it to the authorities.

The police decided to request an additional remand extension for Hefetz, even though he is detained until Thursday in the Bezeq affairalso known as Case 4000for allegedly giving bribes in return for flattering coverage of Netanyahu and his family on the Walla! News website. The court rejected the request.

"This is a case of the utmost severity and an attempt to take control of the general prosecution, said officials at the State Attorneys Office. The matter must be investigated and to get to the truth.

Moreover, the Tel Aviv District Court overturned a decision made Tuesday morning by the Jerusalem Magistrates Court not to extend Kamirs remand, and ordered that he remain under arrest for another five days.

Hefetz (L) and Kamir (Photo: Motti Kimchi, Yariv Katz)

According to suspicions, Kamir made the proposal to Gerstel during Friday lunch, which she used to have with him and former Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein.

Although she did not report to the authorities, Gerstel reportedly shared what had happened with Chief justice Esther Hayut, who served as a regular judge at the time.

The police are expected to request testimony from both Gerstel and Hayut.

They are also currently in talks with some of the suspects, among them Hefetz and former Communications Ministry director-general Shlomo Filber, to become state witnesses in the case, also known as Case 1270, but at the moment it is not clear whether the talks are progressing. The attorney representing Hefetz denied any such offer or talks.

A statement issued on behalf of the prime minister denied the allegations, stating that Hefetz "never presented this ludicrous offer to the prime minister and his wife, he was never asked by them to make such an offer and we can't imagine that Hefetz would even imagine such a thing."

The statement went on to sarcastically suggest Netanyahu and his wife will soon be "accused of murdering (Haim) Arlosoroff," in an effort to point out the absurdity of the claims.

Sara Netanyahu (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

Bezeq hired Kamir in January 2015 as a special consultant for a shocking $40,000 a month salary, an amount several times greater than the fixed payment for similar services in the market, andfor the sake of comparisonwas even close to the salary of Bezeq CEO Stella Handler.

Gerstel was one of eight finalists nominated to take the position of attorney general in 2015.

At the time, Avichai Mandelblit was asked by the Judicial Selection Committee if he would have a problem prosecuting Netanyahu while still serving as Cabinet Secretary, a position he was appointed to by Netanyahu.

Mandelblit replied that he would have no problem. "As soon as I am the attorney general, I will act solely according to the law," he said.

The police suspect that at this point, Hefetz and Kamir realized that Mandelblit cannot be trusted to be on the prime minister's side, and believed Netanyahu had unofficially withdrew his support of the Cabinet Secretary, and so turned to Gerstel.

In the end, the committee recommended a single candidateMandelblitalthough Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked asked the committee to recommend three.

Gerstel was appointed as commissioner for prosecutorial oversight, but resigned in April 2016 because of differences she had with Mandelblit.

Hila Gerstel (Photo: Yair Sagi)

The prime minister himself is expected to be questioned in the Bezeq affair in the near future, as is his wife Sara, who is set to give testimony due to her relationship with Iris Elovitch, the wife of Bezeq majority shareholder Shaul Elovitch.

Police investigators have obtained text messages, emails and recordings of some of the people involved, who were arrested Sunday, with their remand extended at the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court by four to five days.

Police and the Israel Securities Authority hold a highly significant "golden testimony" by one of the suspects involved, according to source with knowledge of the investigation.

Said testimony was presumed to be the reason the suspects' attorneys did not object to the police's requests to remand their clients.
ANKARA - Turkey-led forces will being besieging the Syrian town of Afrin in the coming days as part of Turkey's operation to drive the Kurdish YPG militia out of the region in northwest Syria, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.

Turkey began an operation last month with allied Syrian rebels against the YPG, which Ankara sees as a terrorist group and an extension of the militant PKK which has fought a three-decade insurgency in southeast Turkey.
LEIDSCHENDAM - Lawyers for one of four alleged Hezbollah members accused of involvement in the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri called Tuesday on judges at a UN-backed tribunal to acquit him, saying prosecutors have not presented enough evidence for a conviction.

"Even taken at its highest, the prosecution evidence is not sufficient" to convict Hussein Hassan Oneissi, his lawyer Vincent Courcelle-Labrousse told the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

None of the four suspects is in custody and the trial at a courtroom just outside The Hague, Netherlands, is progressing in their absence. The Feb. 14, 2005 truck bombing in Beirut killed Hariri and 21 others and injured more than 220 passers-by.
A 62-year-old Israeli citizen was abducted on the outskirts of Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, on Friday, it was cleared for publication on Tuesday.

The man, who works for an Israeli company in Nigeria, was taken by militants for ransom. In the firefight that erupted during the abduction, the Israeli's personal driver was killed, while he was taken to a hiding place.

The man was released on Tuesday morning after negotiations between the abductors and the CEO of the Israeli company, along with local defense officials.

The Foreign Ministry and the Israeli Embassy in Nigeria were also involved in the release efforts.
 Dissenting from denial of cert, Justice Thomas complains Second Amendment has become "constitutional orphan" | Main | Notable account of a notable juror whose note had a notable impact on a scheduled Ohio execution 

February 20, 2018

Special counsel Mueller subjects yet another low-level, non-violent offender to federal sentencing

The slightly cheeky title for this post is my gut reaction to the latest news emerging from the latest work by federal prosecutors working with special counsel Robert Mueller. This BuzzFeed News piece, headlined "The Special Counsel's Office Has Charged A Lawyer Working For The Ukrainian Government With Lying To The FBI," reports the following (with links from original):

The special counsel's office has charged a lawyer who did work for the Ukrainian Ministry of Justice with lying to the FBI, according to court filings unsealed on Tuesday. Alex van der Zwaan, an attorney, is accused of lying to investigators about his interactions with Rick Gates  the former Donald Trump campaign official and longtime associate of Paul Manafort who is also facing criminal charges in the special counsel's investigation  and an unidentified individual referred to in charging papers as "Person A." Van der Zwaan is due in court on Tuesday afternoon for a plea hearing. He is expected to plead guilty. According to the criminal information filed by special counsel Robert Mueller's office, which is dated Feb. 16, investigators asked van der Zwaan in November about his work in 2012 for the Ukraine Ministry of Justice preparing a report on the trial on Yulia Tymoshenko, the former Ukrainian prime minister. Van der Zwaan is accused of falsely telling investigators that his last communication with Gates was an "innocuous text message" in mid-August 2016, when he had spoken with Gates in September 2016 about the Tymoshenko report. Prosecutors alleged that van der Zwaan falsely said that his last communication with Person A was a conversation in 2014 when they "discussed Person A's family," when he spoke with Person A in September 2016 about the Tymoshenko report. Van der Zwaan is also accused of deleting and failing to produce emails to the special counsel's office and a law firm referred to as "Law Firm A," including email between him and Person A in September 2016. Van der Zwaan's case is the sixth criminal matter made public by the special counsel's office. Prosecutors on Friday announced that a federal grand jury had indicted the Russian-based Internet Research Agency (IRA), two other Russian entities, and 13 Russian individuals, accusing them of interfering with the 2016 election. The special counsel's office also unsealed a criminal case against a California man who pleaded guilty to identity fraud. The criminal information unsealed on Tuesday does not specify what law firm van der Zwaan worked for when he prepared the Tymoshenko report, but earlier news articles identified an Alex van der Zwaan as being part of a team from the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom that prepared a report about Tymoshenko for the Ministry of Justice in 2012. Skadden released a statement Tuesday morning saying that the "firm terminated its employment of Alex van der Zwaan in 2017 and has been cooperating with authorities in connection with this matter." Van der Zwaan's firm biography is no longer on Skadden's website, but the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine archived a version of it. The page stated that he served "as rule-of-law consultant to the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine" and wrote "a report on due process issues associated with a high-profile prosecution." Van der Zwaan did not have a lawyer listed on the public court docket. Van der Zwaan is the son-in-law of German Khan, a Russian bank owner who is suing BuzzFeed News over the publication of an unverified dossier of information concerning President Donald Trump.

February 20, 2018 at 10:45 AM | Permalink

Comments

starting to resemble Watergate, where the indictments flowed like a mighty stream.

Posted by: Anon 13 | Feb 20, 2018 11:15:25 AM

The "perjury trap" concern - to toss one concern raised at times -- is not without merit as a general matter but a basic part of criminal justice is sanctity of investigations, courts and so forth. So, when people lie to investigators [especially someone like an attorney who has a special duty as well as more than a layperson's understanding of the law], it often is not some trivial matter. The same applies when someone interferes with a court order in some fashion, including refusing to follow its terms.

Merely citing something as "non-violent" or "low-level" doesn't tell me enough. If someone punches someone else in the nose in a bar fight, it is a violent act. It very well might be a felony. But, it very well might not be as important about lying to investigators, especially in a major investigation. If someone lies, e.g., during a rape investigation, making it harder to find the truth, using such terminology can be misleading.

Posted by: Joe | Feb 20, 2018 11:31:44 AM

Spot on Joe.

Posted by: federalist | Feb 20, 2018 11:43:48 AM

The problem here is that ALL of these indictments have nothing to do with the supposed purpose of the investigation. All the alleged behavior happened before Trump hired Manafort and there is no evidence that Trump knew of this behavior when he hired Manafort. So what does this have to do with Russia and Trump? Guilt by association. Slander.

Posted by: Daniel | Feb 20, 2018 11:45:12 AM

It's unseasonably warm outside but cold in hell.

Posted by: Joe | Feb 20, 2018 11:48:57 AM

Daniel, be patient. Consider that Van Der Zwaan is the son in law of Russian oligarch and billionaire German Khan!!! This is huge. It opens up the Russian connection with Manafort; and Manafort leads to Mr. Big Boy himself.

Posted by: Sam the prosecutor | Feb 20, 2018 2:08:45 PM

Sam the prosecutor > It also smacks as a desperate attempt by Mueller tp protect his flanks against discovery around the Steele dossier's creation, utilization, and veracity!

Posted by: JB | Feb 20, 2018 4:43:43 PM

Actually Daniel, the charges against Van Der Zwaan are based on his lying after charges were filed against Manafort and Gates regarding contacts that he ahd with Gates in September 2016 while Gates was still working on the Trump campaign.



Posted by: tmm | Feb 21, 2018 11:07:40 AM

JB, The dossiers main finding, that Russia tried to prop up Trump over Clinton, was confirmed by the U.S. intelligence community.

Posted by: Sam the prosecutor | Feb 21, 2018 2:48:40 PM

Post a comment
Commissioner Roni Alsheikh stressed Tuesday morning the most important thing for the Israel Police is to remain professional and stay out of the political debate in the country.

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Alsheikh was speaking at the Conference of Presidents in his first public appearance since the police recommended the indictment of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for bribery in two separate cases.

"The police touch on sensitive issues in society, all of the time and every day," he said. "It's not like the army that deals with things beyond the borders. It's internal. The police's influence on the ground is felt daily. When we interrogate a prime minister or a minister, it's very sensitive in terms of society."

Police chief speaks at Conference of Presidents (:  )

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"Our main issue is to keep ourselves professional and out of (the political) discourse, because it's very important to our mission," the police chief continued. "We don't want to be on the left side (of the political map) or the right side; we want to be on the side of the law. If we want to keep ourselves professional, that is the only way to behave."

The commissioner noted the police needed to have the public's trust "not just for public relations. When the public's trust is hurt, fewer crimes are reported to the police."

He also bemoaned the fact that the police's image "is easily undermined by the internet" when "any citizen can easily become a journalist. The phone he has is used for things that could hurt the public's trust in the police."

Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)

The internet, he said "is not just a tool for terrorists, but also for criminals. Why risk being shot to death if you could steal from afar? You could steal millions online, you could commit rape online. The internet has no geography. The dangers of crimes against Israel come from all over the world."

To combat these dangers, Alsheikh urged the government to allocate more resources to the police so they could cooperate with police forces around the world. Without it, he said, "it would be hard to deal with these challenges."

The police chief also noted that "social media sites are cooperating with us better than in the past" in combating incitement online.

Later, Alsheikh appeared in front of the Knesset's Internal Affairs Committee, where he came under fire by lawmakers for his claim that "powerful" elements hired private investigators against police officers investigating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
A gas explosion caused the collapse of a parking lot on Dan Street in Jerusalem on Tuesday.

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Four people were buried by the debris, having to be extracted by firefighting crews that rushed to the scene. Three of them, a man and a woman in their 70s and another 62-year-old woman, were extracted from the car park suffering only minor injuries.

The fourth, a worker in his 40s, was pulled out from the wreckage lifeless.

Damage was caused to nearby apartments.

50 fire fighters are securing the scene and working to prevent the entire collapse of a building located above the parking lot.

Jerusalem fire chief Moshe Suissa estimated that construction workers apparently did not close a gas tap as required, saying the explosion took place the moment they used a blow torch.

The Jerusalem Municipality said that emergency and security department teams are coordinating the work of the municipal teams and the assistance to rescue forces and tenants at the scene.
Turkey's state-run news agency says pro-Syrian government forces have turned back 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Afrin city following shelling by the Turkish military.

Anadolu Agency said the Turkish artillery fired "warning" strikes, forcing the militia group to turn back.

No other details were immediately available.

A group of pro-government Syrian fighters began entering the Afrin region from the nearby government-held village of Nubul. Turkish troops started shelling the area forcing journalists to flee, according to Syrian state TV.
Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas called Tuesday for an international Middle East peace conference to be convened by the middle of 2018, and slammed US President Donald Trumps illegal and dangerous decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital.

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Addressing the United Nations Security Council, Abbas said that Trump "removed Jerusalem from the table for no reason," adding that Israel is acting as a state above the law."

PA President Mahmoud Abbas (Photo: AP)

We call for an international peace conference by the middle of 2018 that will accept the State of Palestinian as a full UN member, Abbas said. We call on the Security Council to do this.

There is no conflict in which others do not intervene, he added. We also demand thisother officials in the international community, an international conference that responds with international legitimacy.

"It has become impossible today for one country or state alone to solve a regional or international conflict," Abbas said. "It is essential to establish a multilateral international mechanism emanating from an international conference."

The Palestinians no longer view Washington as a neutral negotiator and have been calling for a collective approach to try and broker Middle East peace. In addition to anger over Trump's embassy decision in December, they are also furious over his decision to cut US funding for the UN agency that helps Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).

Our position is clear," he began. "We refuse to use weapons of any kind. We call not only for disarmament of nuclear weapons but also of conventional weapons. We continue to spread the word of peace. We refuse to engage in violence and are building schools and hospitals, industrial areas and agriculture. We are not purchasing tanks and planes.

For the price of a tank a school can be built and a new generation. This is better than any kind of weapon. We fight against terror everywhere in the world, Abbas claimed.

He said that Israel had turned the issue of settlements from a temporary situation to permanent colonization.

How can this be? Israel closed the door on a two-state solution, he said. Our problem is not with Jews who believe, but only with the occupiers of our land and those who prevent us from independence and liberty.

Addressing the Security Council immediately after Abbas was Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon.

Mr. Secretary-General. I expected Mr. Abbas to stay with us and have a dialogue. Unfortunately, once again he is running away, Danon began.

Look what just happened in this room. Mr. Abbas came in, he put his demands on the table and he is expecting you to deliver the results. Its not going to work that way.

Today once again, rather than driving just 12 minutes between Ramallah to Jerusalem, he has chosen to fly 12 hours to New York to avoid the possibility of peace, Danon said as he scolded Abbas for what he said was a persistent refusal to engage in peace talks with Israel.

Mr. Abbas, you have made it clear, with your words and with your actions that you are no longer part of the solution. You are the problem, he said to Abbas, despite the fact that he had left the chamber in protest at the beginning of Danon's remarks.

Israeli Envoy Danny Danon slams Abbas (: )

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Continuing his response to Abbass scathing remarks, Danon refuted his claims that peace was his ultimate goal, or the improvement of Palestinian lives. What have you done to better the life of a single person in Ramallah or Gaza?" he asked. They need leadership that will negotiate with Israel, speak to us, and not run away from dialogue.

Danon also sought to highlight the contrast between Abbass peddling of the mantra of peace in international forums with his more combative stance in Arabic conferences.

"...You spoke about your commitment to peace, This is what you often do when you speak to international forums. But when you speak to your people in Arabic, you convey a very different message, he accused Abbas, before citing recent past examples of when Abbas had claimed that Zionism was a colonialist project and that how he said Jews supported anti-Semitism to promote Zionism.

This is not the first time you have used such hateful language, he added, quoting Abbass comments last September in Ramallah in which he said Israelis have no right to desecrate Islamic and Christian sites in Jerusalem with their filthy feet. We wont allow them to do so and we will do whatever we can to defend Jerusalem.

Danon further quoted Abbass incitement during the same speech when he said: Each drop of blood that was spilled in Jerusalem is pure blood as long as its for the sake of Allah. Every shahid (martyr) will be in heaven and every wounded person will be rewarded, by Allahs will.

Turning to Abbas once again, Danon accused him of fomenting hatred among Palestinians. "Mr abbas, you inspire hate in Palestinians society  You encourage children to hate," he said. "Just this month your Fatah movement praised the terrorist who killed Rabbi Raziel Shevah."

Insisting that Abbas's incitement does not end with rhetoric, Danon accused him of spending millions of dollars amounting to 50 per cent of money for Palestinians on paying terrorists. This is money you could have spent on building 40 hospitals, 142 schools every year" and lamented that you look to every possible forum because you dont want to actually negotiate with Israel.

L-R: Jason Greenblatt, Jared Kushner, Nikki Haley and Danny Danon

"One thing is clear," he concluded. "When we extend a hand, Abbas extends a fist.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told Abbas that US negotiators were "ready to talk, but we will not chase after you."

Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, and US Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt sat behind Haley at the Security Council meeting. Kushner and Greenblatt are working on a new Middle East peace plan.

"Our negotiators are sitting right behind me, ready to talk. But we will not chase after you. The choice, Mr. President, is yours," Haley said. Abbas did not stay in the council chamber to listen to her.

"I sit here today offering the outstretched hand of the United States to the Palestinian people in the cause of peace," she said.

She said she was "sorry" Abbas left immediately after his speech, but told council members she would address him anyway.

The Palestinian leadership has a choice of two paths"absolutist demands, hateful rhetoric, and incitement to violence" which will only lead to hardship for the Palestinian people or "negotiation and compromise" that holds the promise of peace, Haley said.

Though Kushner and Greenblatt didn't meet Abbas, they did meet informally behind closed doors with Security Council members.

Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said afterward without elaborating: "something is cooking."

Equatorial Guinea's UN Ambassador Anatolio Ndong Mba called the fact that they came to the council "very, very important" and "a good sign." But he said council members "haven't received any details" of the US proposal for Palestinian-Israeli peace.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later dismissed Abbas's words, deriding them as repeated falsehoods. "Abbas said nothing new. He continues to run away from peace and continues to pay terrorists and their families $347 million," he wrote in a press statement.
UNITED NATIONS - The United States is "ready to talk" Middle East peace with the Palestinians, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said on Tuesday in remarks directed at Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during a meeting of the UN Security Council.

US President Donald Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, and US Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt, who are working on a new peace plan, sat behind Haley. Speaking after Abbas made a rare address to the 15-member council, she gave no details of the US plan.

"Our negotiators are sitting right behind me, ready to talk. But we will not chase after you. The choice, Mr. President, is yours," Haley said. Abbas did not stay in the council chamber to listen to her.

The Palestinians no longer view Washington as a neutral negotiator and Abbas on Tuesday called for an international Middle East peace conference to be convened later this year.
Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman made a promise Tuesday afternoon to the IDF soldiers who were wounded over the weekend when an explosive device was set off near an IDF patrol near Gaza that scores will be settled with the perpetrators.

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Telling the soldiers that we are proud of you during a visit to the Soroka University Medical Center in Beer Sheva where the three of the four wounded are recovering, Lieberman was joined by the general manager of the hospital, Dr, Shlomi Kodesh. The minister also received a briefing on the soldiers medical conditions.

Minister Lieberman visits wounded soldiers (Photo: Ariel Harmoni/Defense Ministry)

I came to you directly from a visit to the Gaza region where I received a security briefing about the incident and its consequences, he told the soldiers. The IDF will settle scores with those who planted the bomb and those who sent them. We are proud of you and will give you any assistance and support.

Dr. Kodesh also said that Soroka University Medical Center was already used to receiving and treating people injured near the Gaza Strip. Hospital teams will continue to provide the required medical treatment for their recovery, he said. Unfortunately, there are serious injuries among some of the soldiers.

During his visit to the Gaza region, Lieberman was briefed by Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, head of Southern Command General Eyal Zamir and Gaza Division commander Brig. Gen. Yehuda Fox.

(Photo: Rachel David/Soroka)

Hamas is using citizens of Gaza as live ammunition. When it sends its citizens to engage in a skirmish with IDF soldiers on the border fence, it understands what the price is, and uses those citizens to carry out terror activities at the same time as protests, Lieberman said in a statement to the press.

Since Hamas was present at the border fence at the time of the explosion, Lieberman said, there would be consequences. However, he refused to elaborate on details. We have learnt the lessons and made assessments of the situation. There are conclusions and we will act accordingly.

PM Netanyahu (Photo: EPA)

Also addressing the heightened tensions on the Gaza border, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said any attempts to violate Israeli sovereignty or harm IDF soldiers would not be tolerated.

Any hostile act will be met with a determined and powerful response by us, by the IDF and security forces, Netanyahu said during a ceremony for the opening of an emergency medical ward in a reinforced hospital building in Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon.
BEIRUT - The bombardment of Syria's rebel-held eastern Ghouta area near Damascus by pro-government forces has killed 250 people in the 48 hours since Sunday night, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Tuesday.

The Britain-based war monitor said this was the highest 48-hour death toll since a 2013 chemical attack on the besieged enclave, which killed hundreds.

The Observatory said 106 people had been killed by bombardment on Tuesday.
Egyptian officials say the country will open its border with the Gaza Strip amid a military campaign against Islamic insurgents in restive northern Sinai Peninsula.

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The two officials said Tuesday the Rafah crossing point will operate starting Wednesday for four days on a humanitarian basis. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to brief the media.





Rafah Crossing (Photo: AFP)

The Palestinian embassy in Cairo confirmed the opening of Gaza's main gateway to the outside world.

Palestininas waiting near the crossing (Photo: EPA)

Thousands of Gaza residents are on travel listsmost of them medical patients, students and holders of residency permits of other countries. Only a few thousand will likely be able to leave in the time allotted.





Egypt has kept Rafah largely sealed off since 2013, after the ouster of Egypt's elected Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.
Rwandan Dep. Minister of Foreign Affairs Olivier Nduhungirehe said that migrants expelled unwillingly from Israel will not be allowed in Rwanda. In a Twitter response to an anti-expulsion group he wrote: How can Rwanda be  responsible  of what other governments do??? Let me once again be clear: no single migrant, deported from Israel or anywhere else against his/her will, will never land in Rwanda! None. Is it clear now?
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 Is Henry Montgomery of Montgomery v. Louisiana perhaps on the verge of a parole grant? UPDATE: NO by 2-1 vote by parole board | Main | "Conservatives urge Trump to grant pardons in Russia probe" 

February 19, 2018

Spotlighting disparities in jail stays over unpaid court fines in Pennsylvania

A helpful reader made sure I saw this impressive piece of reporting from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette under the headline "Modern-day debtors prisons? The system that sends Pennsylvanians to jail over unpaid court costs and fines." I have probably not given as much attention here as I should to reporting and complaints about persons being incarcerated for failure to pay certain fines and fees, and this story caught my attention in its discussion of disparities in how judges justify sending folks to jail for failures to pay. Here is an excerpt for that discussion:

U.S. Supreme Court and state court precedents forbid the government from locking up defendants too poor to pay. District judges are supposed to jail only defendants who can afford to pay but willfully do not. The Constitution is very clear, the law is very clear, you cannot be jailed for failing to pay when you cant pay, said David Harris, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. But data show that is not always what happens. People picked up on warrants for not paying court fees are brought before a district judge, who can hold an immediate payment determination hearing or postpone the proceeding. If the hearing is delayed, the district judge can set an amount that must be paid as collateral in order to allow the defendant to go free; that is supposed to ensure that the defendant will return for the hearing. In many cases, that collateral equals the total payments owed. Defendants who do not pay can be jailed until the first business day after 72 hours have passed. District judges must fill out a Determination of Collateral form indicating why collateral is necessary and why the defendant can afford to pay it. A Pittsburgh Post-Gazette review of more than 4,500 cases covering everyone jailed in 2016 in Pennsylvania for failure to post collateral (about 2,500 individuals) shows that in fewer than one in five cases, district judges appear to meet the standard in explaining why payment can be made. They use statements such as defendant has bank account or defendant has been working or gainfully employed. But in over 10 percent of cases involving more than 200 people, the district judges explanations for why a defendant can pay collateral seem to indicate just the opposite  that they dont have the wherewithal. Among the rationales: defendant has no income; defendant is homeless unable to pay; and defendant has been evicted. The data show the system for meting out jail stays over unpaid court fines is wildly inconsistent among the states 67 counties and varies from one district judge to another.... The ACLU has been taking up cases around the state where it believes the law is not being followed in regard to payment determination hearings. It also has reached out to judges and district judges in an effort to make systemic changes. [M]any judges on both the courts of Common Pleas and magisterial district courts fundamentally misunderstand what constitutes a defendants ability to pay, Andrew Christy, an ACLU of Pennsylvania attorney wrote regarding payment determination hearings last year for a legal publication. A lack of clear and uniform standards on what constitutes ability to pay has been problematic and has driven the system to be unconstitutional, he wrote. In many cases, the district judge offers rationales that the ACLU claims do not pass legal muster as to why a defendant should be able to post collateral. The explanations include that the defendants family can pay; that the defendant receives public benefits; or that they have spent money on other expenses, such as tattoos. Has money for cigarettes, cell phone and to drink in bars, read one form. Has cell phone, smokes cigarettes and has an I pad [sic], read another.

February 19, 2018 at 04:35 PM | Permalink

Comments

The return of the lash would solve this problem. The lash would deter law breaking by specific PTSD and by general PTSD.



Posted by: David Behar | Feb 20, 2018 1:46:08 AM

I urge all law students to spend a morning in local traffic court. The Rules of the Road affect the greatest number of people in our country. Naturally, I am not aware of any law school course covering traffic law. You will see nothing you learned in criminal procedure. And nothing you see will have been covered in your law school course.

You will see a money making machine, spinning at around $10,000 an hour. In one New Jersey court, everyone pled to careless driving, $400 and no points, in 2 minutes. Everyone was grateful, and thanked the judge. The judge saw people who could not pay via video link in jail, and kicked them out of jail, immediately. Jail for most of these people was an upgrade in lifestyle and a reward, not a punishment. Everyone was forced to come at 9 AM. If you wanted a trial, trials started at 1 PM. That means you lost a day of work, costing more than the fine. Officers did not show up, and continuances were automatically granted to the prosecution, meaning the defendant had to lose another day of work. One argued about it, and was surrounded by 4 thugs holding their tasers. He got the message. I offered to file a complaint with the judicial review board, because the judge was screaming. He begged me not to, since he had to keep driving around those parts.

Posted by: David Behar | Feb 20, 2018 10:16:03 AM

That day, a vindictive divorced wife accused her husband of stealing a car. They exported cars to Russia. Selling and shipping cars was their business. The entire criminal trial took 15 minutes. The judge's verdict was, no car theft, but sending a car to Russia was car exporting. He did not sanction the wife for her retaliatory false accusation. Documents were reviewed, witnesses testified and were cross examined in a total of 20 minutes, start to verdict. Then the judge got back to the spinning money making machine.

And, yes, defense lawyers were like potted plants in that court. They got fees for offers that were automatic anyway.

Posted by: David Behar | Feb 20, 2018 10:34:12 AM

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A total of 383 law students have failed the final BAR exams at the Ghana School of Law.

According to a report by Myjoyonline.com, out of the 474 students who sat the 2017/2018 final exams, only 91 students passed and will be called to the BAR.

The breakdown of the mass failure is as follows; 206 law students are to repeat the entire course after failing the final Bar exams and 177 students have been referred in one or two papers.

READ ALSO: Ebony's one-week observance: Thieves arrested at event

The news comes on the back of a tussle between the General Legal Council, the body that oversees legal education and a profession in Ghana, Prof Kwaku Asare on the entrance exams.

Ghanas Parliament is currently seeking to legalize the entrance exams and interview processes instituted as part of the admission procedures into the Ghana School of Law.

There is growing resentment in the Subsidiary Legislation Committee of Parliament against portions of the draft legal professions regulations that is currently being considered by the committee before being laid.

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The proposed LI in question, among other things, states that the General Legal Council (GLC) will conduct an entrance exam for the admission of students to the school, and conduct interviews for all applicants who pass the Ghana School of Law Entrance Examination.

But a group calling itself the Concerned Law Students, have already submitted a petition to the committee against the new LI, describing it as a deliberate attempt by the GLC to frustrate them, and a violation of their rights.

READ ALSO: Court frees Achimota student convicted for killing mate

YEN remembers Ebony Reigns with this beautiful video:

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Source: Yen Newspaper
Most of the foreign visitors came from China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, the United States, France, Germany, Australia, Malaysia and Thailand.The figure brought the total number of visitors to the city during the Tet holidays from February 14-20 to nearly 375,000, an increase of 13 percent from the same period last year. The figure included 250,000 domestic travellers, up 6 percent year on year.The local tourism industry estimated to earn more than VND 1.28 trillion (US$ 56.5 million) during the biggest holiday of the year, up 19 percent year on year.Most visitors flocked to the citys popular attractions, like Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Huong Son landscape complex (also known as the Huong Pagoda), Ngoc Son Temple in the heart of Hoan Kiem Lake, Van Mieu (the Temple of Literature) and Quoc Tu Giam (the first university in Vietnam) and the Vietnam National Villages for Ethnic Culture and Tourism, which host a series of art performances and cultural activities to celebrate the traditional New Year.Most notable is the annual Spring Calligraphy Festival which is underway at Van Mieu  Quoc Tu Giam from February 9-25. About 63 calligraphers sit in bamboo tents, wearing ao dai (long robes), and perform the writing, following the traditions of the past.Most of four- and five-star hotels in Hanoi have cheered the Lunar New Year festival with a number of special celebration events held for their guests. For example, the Sofitel Legend Metropoles Tet Market, also known as Tet Ha Thanh, which recreated a bustling Hanoian market where visitors can enjoy a range of Tet holiday foods. Other hotels, like Pan Pacific and Apricot, hosted count-down and New Years Eve parties for their stayers.

VNS
Cultures spring from religions; ultimately the vital force which maintains any culture is its philosophy, its attitude toward the universe; the decay of a religion involves the decay of the culture corresponding to itwe see that most clearly in the breakdown of Christendom today. [] In Islam there has been no such dissolution of ancestral doctrineor, at any rate, nothing corresponding to the universal break-up of religion in Europe. The whole spiritual strength of Islam is still present in the masses of Syria and Anatolia, of the East Asian mountains, of Arabia, Egypt and North Africa. The final fruit of this tenacity, the second period of Islamic power, may be delayedbut I doubt whether it can be permanently postponed.

Raymond Ibrahim is a Shillman Fellow at David Horowitz Freedom Center.If Muhammad cannot beat the infidels on the battlefield, hell outbreed themliterally: Mohammed most popular name for newborn boys in the Netherlands for second year in a row, is the title of a recent report Muhammad is apparently also the most popular name in England. In fact, Muhammad is one of the most popular names throughout Northwest Europe While this may seem innocuous enoughwhats in a name?the fact is many Muslims see their offspring as their contribution to the jihadliterally, the struggle to make Islam supremesince more numbers equate more influence and power. Nor is the naming of Muhammad a coincidence but rather a cryptic reminder from the parents (usually father) of whom they most revere and hope their sons emulatenamely, the founder of Islam/jihad.Although the original, historic jihad was straightforward warfare on the infidel to make Islam supreme, the ulema articulated a variety of other jihads, all of which work to the same end: as with jihad al-lisan (literally tongue, meaning propaganda, apologias, polemics, etc.), jihad al-mal (monetarily or materially supporting jihadis, including through zakat), jihad al-wilada (or childbearing) is seen as a way to contribute to the struggle to make Islam supreme.This can be achieved with either infidel or Muslim women. As an example of the first, a Muslim imam was videotaped saying that, because European men lack virility, their women seek fertility among Muslim men. Accordingly, We will give them fertility! We will breed children with them, because we will conquer their countries! Whether you like it or not, you Germans, Americans, French, and Italians and all those akin to you [Western people]take in the refugees. For soon we will call them [and their European born sons] in the name of the coming caliphate! And we will say to you, These are our sons.That some Muslim men operate along this logic is evident. The diary of Patrick Kabele, an African Muslim man who was living and arrested in Britain for trying to join the Islamic Statehis primary motive being to purchase a nine-year-old sex slavehad references that only likeminded Muslims would understand: in an effort, as the aforementioned imam said, to use European women as incubators and breed children with them, Kabele noted that he had been seeding some women over here, UK white, adding, I dont [sic] kiss anymore. (Unlike straightforward mating, kissing is deemed an intimate act, and Muslims, in keeping with the doctrine of al-wala wa al-bara must never be intimate with, certainly not love, non-Muslims even when married to them though they can have carnal relations with them.)Even so, Muslim women remain the primary incubators for the jihadand many of them see it as their obligation. A Christian Eritrean volunteer and translator who worked in migrant centers in Germany and was often assumed to be Muslim by the migrants, confessed last year that Muslim migrants often confide in her and tell her about their dislike towards Christians, and that a number of the Muslim migrants she has spoken to have revealed a hatred for Christians and are determined to destroy the religion. How they plan on doing this is telling: Some women told me, We will multiply our numbers. We must have more children than the Christians because its the only way we can destroy them here.The notion that more Muslim births mean more Muslim power is so ingrained among Muslims that recommendations of family planning in West Africawhich, despite its scarcity of resources, has the highest birthrate in the worldis regularly seen by Muslims as a Western conspiracy. The Wests policy is about reducing our numbers, said Hassane Seck, an imam from Senegal. Because of their perverse promotion of contraception, women in Europe are no longer fertile, but ours are.There are going to be many more of us, and theyre afraid. The report adds that he and other imams cite a passage in the Koran imploring Muslims to go forth and multiply, and family planning is seen by many in the region as a Western plot to curb the spread of Islam. Little wonder that one of every three people on earth are expected to be Muslim by 2070.We have 50 million Muslims in Europe, Muammar Gaddafi claimed back in 2006, more realistically adding, There are signs that Allah will grant Islam victory in Europewithout swords, without guns, without conquestwill turn it into a Muslim continent within a few decades.Ongoing polls and reports suggest this long cherished Muslim dream may not be so farfetched.One recent Pew report says that the Muslim population of (Western) Europe could triple by 2050just when all those baby Muhammads are coming of age, and when the imams will call on them. In Germany alone, nearly 20 percent of the population could be Muslim by 2050; considering that the average Muslim man is more zealous over his way of and purpose in (Islamic) life than the average German male, 20 percent is not too little for an Islamic takeover ofor at least mass havoc inGermany. Yet the report also finds that even if all migration into Europe were to immediately and permanently stop and due to significantly higher Muslim birthrates, Europes Muslim population will still grow significantly, to about 36 million, almost double the current population.Not that many Western Europeans seem to care; some are even glad to see their own kind die off and be replaced by Muslimssuch as Dr. Stefanie von Berg, who exulted before the German parliament: Mrs. President, ladies and gentlemen. Our society will change. Our city will change radically. I hold that in 20, 30 years there will no longer be a [German] majority in our city. . And I want to make it very clear, especially towards those right wingers: This is a good thing! Meanwhile, the head of Germanys domestic intelligence agency is lobbying for a repeal of laws restricting security surveillance of minors under the age of 14, arguing that the country is facing grave risks from what the German media dubs  kindergarten jihadists .From here one understands the true root of the immediate problemand, as usual, it is not so much Muslims as it is perverse Westerners. After all, Muslims being fertile and procreatingtraditionally seen in the West as a blessingis not intrinsically blameworthy. Conversely, Westerners who push for multiculturalism, encourage their female population to incubate future, homegrown jihadis, and take in and support vast numbers of Muslim men, their many wives and even more children, are to blame. Islam is not invading and taking over by the edge of the sword as it once did; Westerners are doing everything to enable it, to their own detriment.Such are the signs of the times: a moribund culturetypified by nihilism, hedonism, cynicism, and perhaps most tellingly, dropping birth ratessimply has little to live for and gives way to a more zealous one, just as Anglo-French historian Hilaire Belloc (b.1870) predicted nearly a century ago:The recrudescence of Islam, the possibility of that terror under which we lived for centuries reappearing, and of our civilization again fighting for its life against what was its chief enemy for a thousand years, seems fantastic, he wrote, before explaining:
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.
A gay man, applying for citizenship was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Jose Ivan Nunez was detained by ICE after his hearing with the Philadelphia Office of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), according to PinkNews. Nunezs husband Paul Frame was present at the hearing but was outside of the room when Nunez was taken into custody.

Nunez was at the hearing to have his marriage with Frame formerly recognized, which he was successful doing. Nunez immigration attorney Gonzalo Peralta told PinkNews that ICE coming to hearings is only a recent development that has happened under President Donald Trump.

You approve his marriage, but at the same time youre trying to contact the very agency that would be in charge of trying to get him out of the country,, Peralta said. Prior to the Trump administration, we werent seeing very many people actually being sought and captured when theyre trying to go through these proceedings.

Frame said that he did not expect to be leaving without his husband that day and he fears for his safety with the arrest.

That is the reason Ivan fled Mexico in the first place, Frame said. Thats his fear, that if he goes back to Mexico, that hell be killed for his sexuality.
Two separate states have bills that wish to define same-sex marriage as a parody of marriage.

Republican lawmakers in South Carolina unveiled the Marriage and Constitution Restoration Act, with Wyoming submitting a nearly identical one. The bills would separate the meaning of heterosexual and same-sex marriages by stating any form of marriage that does not involve one man and one woman will be known as a parody, according to PinkNews.

The State of South Carolina shall no longer respect, endorse, or recognize any form of parody marriage policy because parody marriage policies are nonsecular, the South Carolina bill reads. The State of South Carolina shall no longer enforce, recognize, or respect any policy that treats sexual orientation as a suspect class because all such statutes lack a secular purpose.

The law is unlikely to pass because it would violate previous precedents set by prior Supreme Court cases, according to PinkNews.

The word parody is very comical in its definition. an imitation of the style of a particular writer or genre with deliberate exaggeration for comic effort, South Carolina Pride president Jeff March said to WACH. They want to call our marriage that we fought so hard for, marriage equality, they want to call our marriage now, a parody marriage that insults me on the deepest level.

South Carolina and Wyoming are two of 26 states that are a High Priority to Achieve Basic Equality, according to the Human Rights Council. Those states have laws that undermine LGBT equality and decrease quality of life.
(AP) Religious protesters in Romania have disrupted the screenings of two movies featuring gay themes, saying they violate traditional values. In response, a new screening of the Cannes award-winning movie "120 Beats Per Minute" is going to be held Tuesday in Bucharest.

The dispute illustrates Romania's divided views about homosexuality, which remains a difficult topic in the eastern European Union member where more than 85 percent of its people belong to Christian Orthodox churches. Homosexuality was only decriminalized when Romania prepared to join the EU in 2002.

Protesters calling themselves Christian Orthodox burst into a movie theater on Feb. 4 during the French AIDS drama "120 Beats Per Minute" by French director Robin Campillo.

Days later, protesters disrupted another movie featuring a relationship with a Romanian man and an ex-convict from the nation's oppressed Roma, or Gypsy, minority titled "Soldiers: A Story from Ferentari."

"(There's a) conflict between conservatives and liberals in Romania," Cristian Parvulescu, dean of the National School of Political Studies and Public Administration, told The Associated Press.

Parvulescu says what's happening in Romania is similar to developments in other former communist countries.

"We are influenced by Hungary and Poland," he said

Protesters objected to "120 Beats" being shown at the Romanian Peasant Museum because "the Romanian peasant is a Christian Orthodox."

They sang the national anthem and religious songs while others held religious icons and banners saying: "Romania isn't Sodom" and "Hey Soros, leave them kids alone," referring to Hungarian-American philanthropist George Soros.

The film, set in Paris in the 1990s, explores homosexuality and the AIDS epidemic. It won the Grand Prize from the jury at Cannes in 2017.
Le Collectif Cheikh Yassine a organise un certain nombre dactivites et de festivites pour les enfants de Gaza sous le theme  La joie des enfants de Gaza pour lAid . Ces activites ont commence le premier jour de lAid et continue jusquau 4eme jour de lAid dans la bande de Gaza.



Plusieurs activites, ont ete organisees parmi lesquelles : des competitions recompensees par des prix, des jeux, des animations et des chants presentes par un groupe ainsi que des distributions de cadeaux et daides financieres.




Located northwest of the Han River, the area around Hongik University (known by the metonym of Hongdae) in Seouls Mapo district is home not only to the most renowned arts school in South Korea, but an ever-vibrant and youthful nightlife. Some folks may recognize Hongdae as the backdrop for the famous Korean drama The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the real-life neighborhood is home to a bustling cafe scene. Hongdaes reputation precedes itself, and depending on the time of your visit, the energy on the streets can be relaxed or animated.

Wandering around during the daytime in the Mapo district on a recent visit to Seoul, I found five distinct cafes providing a range of sensory experiences, from the coffee to the ambience. Whether youre looking for a place to enjoy music while chatting with friends over an indulgent affogato or a soothing and meditative space to browse through magazines while sipping a mocha, youd be hard-pressed not to find your next favorite cafe here. Enjoy a great cup of coffee among locals and tourists alike in one of Seouls most beloved destinations for all things indie, from arts and music to nightclubs and food.

Coalmine

Coalmine Coffee has a coziness that was especially welcome when I dropped by on a blustery cold December morning. Even walking into the cafe feels like going to see a friend; you go through a gate and a small courtyard to enter the warm and inviting space, cozily lit by glowing lamps strung on the pale, wood-paneled ceiling and scattered over the tables. I can imagine the benches and seating outside would be wonderful during the warmer months. However, it was a chilly winter day and I sipped my delicious espresso con panna indoors.

Coalmine serves single origins or blends in their espresso drinks, single-origin brewed coffee, cold brew, teas, and cakes (including a rotating monthly cake). I appreciated being able to choose between two blends for my espresso con panna: option A was a medium light roast with floral, fruit, and silky textured notes, while option B was medium dark with classic, nutty, and dark chocolate flavors. The counter was staffed by a friendly but unobtrusive barista who obligingly made recommendations when requested. As demonstrated by the different customers in the cafe, Coalmine is an equally great space for quietly working, reading a book, or mingling with friends.

Conquer Coffee Lab

Although Conquer Coffee Lab just opened in July, Lee Chang Mi (one half of the married duo who owns the cafe) has worked in the coffee business since 2004. Conquer serves espresso drinks, hand drip coffees, teas, and desserts. Lees passion for coffee was evident when I chatted with her over the counter as she explained the different coffee options, with selections from South America (Brazil, Colombia, and Guatemala) and Africa (Ethiopia and Kenya).

When asked about the coffee tastes of Conquers clientele, Lee said that most of her Korean customers prefer dark roasts, while she herself is a fan of the third wave. On Lees recommendation, I ordered a cup of the Ethiopia Kochere coffee that was fresh and lightly acidic. Lee is keen to expand her coffee expertise and share the knowledge with customers. It should be interesting to see how Conquer develops as the owners become more established in the space.

Felt

I nearly walked past Felt and had to double check I was in the right location before I realized the sparely appointed storefront was the cafe I was searching. Minimally decorated with records and a stereo system, Felt has the feel of a beloved music store. The seating is made up of long benches pushed against the floor-to-ceiling windows instead of traditional tables and chairs. The drink menu is as carefully edited as the space, offering six drink choices plus an affogato option, and is priced fairly (ranging from 4,000 to 6,000, roughly $3.75 to $6). The barista mentioned that Felt roasts its own beans, and bags of coffee ranging from 10,000 to 16,000 ($10 to $15) from Brazil, Costa Rica, and El Salvador are available for purchase. During my visit, I enjoyed sipping a well-balanced latte while leaning against the windows, relaxing, and soaking up the bright sunshine beaming through the glass.



Silhouette Coffee

While its been merely six months since Silhouette Coffee opened its doors, the cafe already has a striking presence. After being greeted at the door by owner Choi Gil Soos adorable dog, I asked about the cafe name. Pointing to the full-length white curtains enveloping the large windows, Choi explains how he was inspired by the beauty of the view of the silhouettes of people and things against those curtains from the outside in. Choi roasts his beans in-house, and the menu is varied, from standard espresso drinks, brewed coffee (hand drip, siphon, or French press), flavored milks, juices, teas, and even beers from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, and the US. The doppio I ordered immediately flooded my veins with caffeine, but I could also imagine lingering longer over any of the other drinks while lounging on one of the cushioned seats.

Zombie Coffee Roasters

As an avowed coffee addict, I admit that I feel like a zombie before that first blessed cup of coffee. Situated on a scruffy side street, Zombie roasts its coffee on the premises and offers drinks and beans for sale (10,000 to 17,000). Like its coffee, Zombies interior is on the darker side with brick, black and white walls, and concrete floors. I glanced at the menu, which has espresso drinks, brewed coffee, fruit drinks, shakes, and teas, before opting for a deliciously creamy cappuccino. The other customers were a mix of folks bent over their laptops on the tables toward the back of the cafe, or people sitting on the stools around longer communal tables while chatting and relishing their coffee break. Since it was winter, the outdoor seating wasnt available, but I can imagine that it would be pleasant to enjoy some Zombie outside during the warmer months.

Michelle Hwang is a writer who splits her time between California, Paris, and Seoul.
Mission Group Committed to Lifting People Out of Grinding Poverty Injustice Addresses 'Complex Web' of Underlying Issues

To mark World Day of Social Justice, major Gospel for Asia report digs into roots of 'extreme poverty,' celebrates 'small steps' impact

WILLS POINT, Texas, Feb. 19, 2018 / Standard Newswire / -- While welcoming an international day of awareness that turns the global spotlight on complex issues keeping millions in grinding poverty, missionary organization GFA (Gospel for Asia, www.gfa.org ) is year-round striving to be a source of hope to those in extreme need.

Photo: Many children living in the slums of Asia start working at an early age due to severe financial constraints on their family, doing jobs like picking through trash. GFA-supported efforts provide educational opportunities for children and vocational training for families to help break the cycle of extreme poverty.

As politicians, economists, and activists mark the United Nations' annual World Day of Social Justice, Feb. 20, GFA is publishing a major report that both reveals the immense scale of the issue and how small actions can make a difference.

In the latest of a new series of in-depth articles addressing big social issues, GFA looks at the reasons why "extreme poverty remains unacceptably high," according to the World Bank, with parts of Asia among places where incomes for the poor are growing slower than average.

The report is intended to both give people cause as to the scale of the problem, but also inspire them to be part of the solution.

Millions in Asia live below the poverty line, notes the GFA report, "Seeking Justice and Defending Human Rights Wherever Poverty and Oppression Exist" ( www.gfa.org/special-report/seek-social-justice-defend-human-rights-from-poverty-oppression ), surviving on less than $1.90 a day. And millions across Asia barely manage to eke out a living because of "a complex web of factors," including social prejudice, gender discrimination, lack of education and more.

Their desperate circumstances force many families to send their children out to work rather than enrolling them in school--worldwide, there are almost 170 million child laborers--while others are trapped in modern-day slavery.

The results of inequality are not just economic, the report points out. Injustice leads to poor health and sexual exploitation of young girls, who because of gender inequality are the most vulnerable.

The GFA report notes how families are often exploited in brick and rug-weaving factories, and tea plantations. It tells of a father, freed along with his family by a justice organization, whose children were beaten with a pipe and verbally abused if they were caught playing when they were supposed to be working.

While other groups address some of the top-down issues that crush so many--cultural, industrial economic, political and religious--the GFA report details how it and other organizations are involved in grassroots efforts to lift them up.

Literacy programs that teach women to read improve their social standing, make them better equipped to take care of their families, and encourage them to want more education for their children to break the generational cycle of poverty.

Meanwhile, some 75,000 are children currently enrolled in over 600 GFA Bridge of Hope centers, where they are helped with their schooling and physical needs. More than 150,000 others have come through this program, which also provides food and medical checkups.

They include vocational training courses teach skills like fishing, welding and tailoring to equip men for better-paying work, and basic tool kits including items like axes, shovels, saws, and plows enable farmers to increase their productivity. GFA also provides sewing machine and rickshaws to families to help them gain a better financial footing.

Commenting on the "heartbreaking" report, GFA founder Dr. K.P. Yohannan said, "We believe that, as people created in the image of God, everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and honor. In helping people improve their working and living situations, we are able to demonstrate practically God's love and care for them and their families. There needs to be a pressing into the reality of what we are dealing with."

In a blog addressing the issue ( https://kpyohannan.org/2018/02/19/is-there-room-in-our-hearts-for-someone-whos-suffering/ ), Yohannan tells the story of Lalasa, a woman who was considering suicide because she was overwhelmed by debt, until she was befriended by a GFA-supported worker and given a cow as a source of income.

"I wonder when we hear stories like this if God is trying to help us understand more of his heart for the poor and downtrodden," he writes, noting how even small actions can make a big difference. "When we run into someone like Lalasa, whether in person or through some sort of media, do we really care what becomes of them? Do we realize the value God places on them?"

GFA (Gospel for Asia) has -- for more than 30 years -- provided humanitarian assistance and spiritual hope to millions across Asia, especially among those who have yet to hear the Good News. Last year, this included more than 75,000 sponsored children, free medical services for more than 180,000 people, 6,000 wells drilled, 11,000 water filters installed, Christmas presents for more than 400,000 needy families, and spiritual teaching available in 110 languages in 14 nations through radio ministry.
KY Schools Discriminate Against Good News Clubs

Contact: Rachel Hamel, Corporate Communications Manager, Child Evangelism Fellowship , 636-456-4321 ext. 1177

FLORENCE, Ky., Feb. 19, 2018 / Standard Newswire / -- Liberty Counsel sent a demand letter on Friday, February 8, to the Boone County School District to provide equal access for use of school facilities, consistent with the district facilities use policy, for the Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) after-school Good News Clubs for children K-5.

The district has altered evidence proving it was illegally discriminating against the Good News Club while allowing other non-profit organizations like Girls on the Run of Cincinnati (GOTR) to use facilities space. Now, administrators appear poised to cancel all 2018 Boone County Schools GOTR clubs, a local non-profit teaching character to girls through its running program, rather than simply extend equal treatment to the Good News Club.

On January 18, 2018, Liberty Counsel requested that the district respond to repeated inquiries from CEF seeking use of a room for Good News Club meetings after school, at Stephens Elementary and at Goodridge Elementary. Administrators at both schools first rejected, then ignored, the requests dating back to 2015. Discrimination against CEF continued in 2016 and 2017, while the district permitted GOTR to meet. Liberty Counsel provided hyperlinks to websites at both schools and additional evidence showing that GOTR is legally no different than the Good News Club.

In response, school administrators deleted an entire webpage description of GOTR at Stephens, and changed the name of "Girls on the Run" to "Running Club" at Goodridge, after which the district's attorneys responded to Liberty Counsel, claiming that "neither running club at Stephens or Goodridge Elementary has any affiliation with the non-profit organization, Girls on the Run."

"CEF and its sponsored Good News Clubs are entitled to equal treatment by Boone County Schools," said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. "It is amazing that schools would destroy evidence and consider canceling Girls on the Run rather than comply with the First Amendment principle of equal treatment for the Good News Clubs. We will hold Boone County School District accountable for overt viewpoint discrimination if equal treatment is not provided," said Staver.
New Women's Audio Bible, Created and Produced for At-Risk Women, Available from Courage For Life in Fall of 2018

Ann White and Courage For Life will produce and distribute an audio Bible recorded by women, using Tyndale House Publishing's NLT; the Audio Bible is specifically structured to comfort, encourage and inspire at-risk women.



Contact: Judy McDonough, SERVE Literary & Media, 615-243-5994, Judy@serveliterary.com



NASHVILLE, Feb. 20, 2018 /Standard Newswire/ -- A new audio Bible, specifically designed for hurting women, is being created, produced and distributed by Courage For Life, a non-profit organization (501c3), with an anticipated release beginning Fall of 2018. The Courage For Life Women's Audio Bible will be offered free of charge to women being treated in local at-risk facilities, such as homeless shelters, battered women's shelters, and safe houses throughout the United States.



This will be the first audio Bible  from Genesis to Revelation - recorded for women by women, using the modern language of Tyndale House Publishing's New Living Translation (NLT) Bible. The Audio Bible will include commentary from Courage For Life founder, internationally known author, speaker, and Bible teacher Ann White.



"After spending countless hours ministering to hurting women who are struggling to embrace their God-given courage, our team recognized a critical void that was common to each facility where we teach," said White. "Women and girls are eager to take in God's Word, but most often don't have adequate access to it. After more than a year of research, negotiations, and fundraising, we could not be more excited to announce that the Courage For Life Women's Audio Bible is set to begin production on Monday, March 26, 2018!"



Filmmaker and media consultant Phil Cooke, author of the new book The Way Back: How Christians Blew Our Credibility and How We Get It Back, will produce the audio project: "Ann White's vision for this project is remarkable. No audio Bible exists quite like this - especially focused on reaching at-risk women - which is such a critical issue today. This is why our media team at Cooke Pictures is all-in to help produce this timely, unique, and necessary project."



An audio Bible created specifically for at-risk women meets the very particular needs of this wounded community:

Extensive research and clinical experience have proven that gender-specific programs  in this case, a project with audio provided by women  is best to help women heal from substance abuse, trauma and mental health issues.



Women in jail are the fastest growing correctional population in the country; with most of these women suffering from low reading skills and lack of education, it makes reading even basic Bible passages difficult.



Domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness among women and children  a population in desperate need of Biblical inspiration and encouragement.



Increasingly, at-risk women in the U.S. are not originally from this country, and are not proficient enough in English to be able to read spiritual literature.

"There's no doubt that a woman's voice can bring comfort and reassurance," said White. "Even God refers to Himself as providing the 'comfort of a mother' in His promise to comfort the Jews as they prepare to return to Jerusalem after 70 years in captivity."



The Courage For Life Audio Bible will be available at no charge through a specially created app; details about the app, and other ways to access this material, will be made available in the coming months.



The Courage For Life Bible will also be available in print, with additional information about the Bible's release posted at CourageForLife.org in the near future.



Well known in the Atlanta region as a co-host of the popular television talk show "Atlanta Live," Ann White founded her global ministry out of a calling to share with others how God and His Word brought restoration to her life and marriage. Courage For Life is dedicated to helping people grow in their personal relationship with God by strengthening believers, equipping ministry leaders, and empowering women and children at risk. Through local and international missions, speaking engagements, developing and publishing inspirational materials (books, curriculum, study guides), social media and Christian television programming, Ann White's ministry reaches countless men, women and children with God's message of inspiration, encouragement, courage and hope.



Media contact for The Courage for Life Women's Audio Bible and Ann White:

Judy McDonough

SERVE Literary & Media

Judy@serveliterary.com

615-243-5994



About Ann White and Courage for Life: Ann White founded her global ministry out of a calling to share with others how God and His Word brought restoration to her life and marriage. Having personally experienced God's grace, salvation, and the life-changing power of the Bible, Ann's desire is to extend this same love, mercy, and encouragement to others, so they too may be reconciled to God.



Courage For Life, a non-profit organization (501c3), is dedicated to helping people grow in their personal relationship with God by strengthening believers, equipping ministry leaders, and empowering women and children at risk. Through local and international missions, speaking engagements, developing and publishing inspirational materials (books, curriculum, study guides), social media and Christian television programming, Ann White's ministry reaches countless men, women and children with God's message of inspiration, encouragement, courage and hope.



During her ministry's annual mission trip to South Asia, Ann facilitates conferences, in various locations, where hundreds of women travel many miles with their children for a time of inspirational training and spiritual encouragement. They pray with countless women and families, distribute hundreds of printed and audio Bibles, and provide Christian leaders with the necessary resources that allow them to continue to minister to these communities long after we return home. The ministry has been able to work closely with local church leaders in the region to reach victims of one of the area's largest red-light districts, where hundreds of young girls and many boys are forced into sex-slavery at a very young age, bought and sold day after day and are in desperate need to learn of God's saving grace and unconditional love. In and around Atlanta, the Courage For Life ministry team members and volunteers work with at-risk women and children utilizing an 8 week curriculum based on Ann's new book, Courage For Life.



For more information on Ann White and Courage For Life, go to CourageForLife.org


Havana X-Pedition, January 2018

Photo by Jeremy Lasky

Photo by Martin Stephens

Photo by Michael Grigoriev

Photo by Bob Plotkin

Upcoming X-Peditions

We are back from our inaugural Strobist X-Pedition , which was held last month in Havana, Cuba. The attendees are readjusting to life backthe grid, and busy editing photos and trading stories via email.Our week in Havana was filled with photography, new friends, eye-opening experiences and perhaps even a spot of Cuban rum. Now that we are back, I wanted to send a quick note out to Strobist's readership both to show off some of the student work and give you a heads-up about plans for next year's X-Peditions.If you would like to learn more about our planned X-Peditions for next year, you can read all about them here . We are planning to return to Havana in the winter. (If you are on the list, you'll be notified of that trip shortly.) And then we're off to Hanoi the following fall.The info page linked just above is also where to sign up to ensure you'll get advance notice about next year's trips. As with 2018's Havana X-Pedition, these will certainly sell out. There are only 12 slots available for each of the two trips. And because of the advance interest sign-up sheet, they may not be publicly announced.I hope to see you next year, someplace really interesting.-David
DCCI for sustainable waterways dev

Staff Reporter :

Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) on Tuesday urged the authorities concerned to extensive focus for full utilization of 'Inland Waterways' eco-system through timely policy formulation, long-term infrastructure development planning and increased focus on both public and private investment.

The chamber made the observation at a seminar titled "Inland Waterways-Reshaping Connectivity and Creating Economic Opportunities" at Lakeshore Hotel in the city, said a release.

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Economic Affairs Dr Mashiur Rahman graced the seminar as the Chief Guest while Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Shipping Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury was present as the special guest.

DCCI President Abul Kasem Khan delivered the welcome address in the event.

Mashiur Rahman highlighted the history of railway sector development of subcontinent and said siltation and shrinking water flow are main problems in the southern part of Country.

He emphasised on encouragement of private port development subject to some regulations and allocation of space for cargo is controlled by port which can be managed by the Shipping ministry.

Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury said Mongla Port can be more operative after building Padma Bridge and urged for a dedicated single port authority for monitoring all ports.

He called upon the businessmen to use Pangaon Inland Container Terminal as the freight charge here is only 100 US dollar.

Abul Kasem Khan Bangladesh economy requires approximately USD300b - 320b until 2030 in Infrastructure alone increasing the Infrastructure investment to 5-6 percent from current 3 percent GDP.
Language Movement

Tahur Ahmed :

Language movement is a historical part of Bangladesh. In 1947 India and Pakistan gained independence from Great Britain. Pakistan decided Urdu will be their State Language. One thing is mentionable here that Pakistan had two parts, One East Pakistan (present Bangladesh) and other West Pakistan (Present Pakistan). Majority people of East Pakistan were Bengali speaking. Mother tongue is a divine gift. But it was an irony of fate that the rulers of Pakistan tried to impose Urdu as State Language instead of Bangla.

The first movement on this issue was integrated by Tamaddun Mujlish headed by Professor Abul Kashem. On 6th December 1947 the students gathered and held a meeting at Dhaka University Campus demanding Bangla to be made one of the State Languages of Pakistan. At the end of December 1947 the first Rastrobhasa Songram Porishod (Language Action Committee) was formed with Professor Nurul Huq Bhuiyan of Tamaddun Majlish as the Convener.

On 13rd February 1948 at Karachi , it was proposed that the assembly members would have to speak either Urdu or English at the Assembly. "Dhirendranath Datta, a member from the East Pakistan Congress Party, moved an amendment motion to include Bangla as one of the languages of the Constituent Assembly. He noted that out of the 6 crore 90 lakh population of Pakistan, 4 crore 40 lakh were from East Pakistan with Bangla as their mother tongue. The central leaders, including Liaquat Ali Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan, and Khwaja Nazimuddin, Chief Minister of East Bengal, opposed the motion." On hearing the news that the motion had been rejected, politicians, students, intellectuals and general people of East Pakistan became excited. A general strike was observed on 11 March 1948 at all the towns of East Pakistan and protest against this issue. Leaders such as Kazi Golam Mahboob, Shawlat Ali, Oli Ahad, Shamsul Huq, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Abdul Wahed, Abdul Matin, Abdul Malek Ukil were arrested for picketing and slogans. Strikes were observed from March 12 to 15.

Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the Governor General of Pakistan came to visit on 19 March 1948 and addressed two meetings in Dhaka. In both meetings he ignored the popular demand for Bangla and he declared on 21 March 1948 that Urdu will be the only official language for both East and West Pakistan. Language Movement was spreading throughout East Pakistan. People of East Pakistan had lost their faith in the Muslim League and then a new party was formed named Awami Muslim League which would later become the Awami League under the leadership of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani in 1949. On 11 March 1950, Dhaka University Language Action Committee was formed with Abdul Matin as its Convener. The level of exploitation in East Pakistan were increasing day by day.

Daily Ittefaq 1952, headline: "Bangla ke Rashtrovasa korite jonogon shesh roktobindu dibe" (People will give their last drop blood to establish Bengali as State Language.

Khwaja Najimuddin, Chief Minister of East Bengal came to Dhaka on 27 January 1952, addressed a meeting in Dhaka and repeated the same thing that Urdu would be the State Language of Pakistan. Instantly there was a negative reaction to this speech and students responded with slogan 'Rashtrobhasha Bangla Chai' (We want Bangla as the State Language). After that on 30 January 1952 a strike was observed at Dhaka University.

On 31st January 1952 representatives of different cultural and political organizations held a meeting chaired by Moulana Bhasani and formed an All-Party Central Language Action Committee with Kazi Golam Mahboob as its Convener. The Committee decided to call a Hartal (Strike) on 21 February 1952 and organised a procession and demonstration. The government of Pakistan imposed Section 144 in the Dhaka City banning all demonstrations and assemblies. On 20 February a meeting of the Central Language Action Committee was held and decided to violate Section 144 by arranging a meeting at 11.00 am on 21 February on Dhaka University Campus. Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University, teachers, thousands of students from school and college of Dhaka city assembled on University campus. Armed police waited outside the gate. The students gathered in groups, shouting slogans and attempted to break the police line and throwing brickbats at the police. Suddenly the police fired tear gas shells on the students. The police were unable to control the situation, they fired upon the students as well as the crowd. Abdul Jabbar, Abul Barkat (an M.A student of Political Science),

Conted from page 15

Abdus Salam, Rafiq Uddin and some other people were killed. A nine year old boy named Ohiullah was also killed. Many were injured and arrested. At the spot where students had been killed, a memorial was created on 23 February 1952. In 1963, the temporary was replaced by a concrete memorial, the Shaheed Minar (Martyrs' Memorial). On 16 February 1956 the movement achieved its goal by forcing the Pakistan Constituent Assembly to adopt both Bangla and Urdu as the State Languages of Pakistan.

Since 1952, 21 February has been observed every year and this Language Movement has a vital cultural and political impact on the people. After the liberation of Bangladesh on 16 December 1971 this Language Movement was being observed as Language Movement Day or Shaheed Dibosh or Martyrs' Day. It has inspired Bengali people to celebrate Bengali language, literature and culture. A month long book fair named 'Omor Ekushe Grontho Mela' is held every year to commemorate the movement. 'Ekushe Podok' is one of the pioneer civil awards in Bangladesh. It is awarded annually in memory of the sacrifices of the movement.

Shaheed Minar, National Monument at Dhaka University, was established to commemorate those killed during the Bengali Language Movement on 21 February 1952.

On November 17, 1999, UNESCO declared 21 February as International Mother language Day for our unique sacrifice for mother language. There is no nation in the world who fought and sacrificed their lives for their mother tongue. It is an honour given by the international community to the Language Movement of Bangladesh.

(Source : The Daily Azad. Calcutta: 08 November 1947, The Daily Azad, Calcutta: 30 November 1947, The Daily Azad, Calcutta: 02 March 1948, The Daily Ittefaq, Dhaka: 22 March 1948, The Daily Ittefaq, Dhaka: 22 February 1952.

-www.banglapedia.org
The first battle

Prof. Zahurul Alam :

Our Liberation War was a logical consequence Independence movement of the people of Bangladesh. Latter by itself was a combination of various movements, starting from 1947 in response to Pakistani repression and exploitation. Those broadly included Language Movement, Education Movement of 1962, Six points Movement of 1966, Mass Uprising of 1969, and the Liberation War of 1971. The initial movements of the people of East Bengal hardly had separation as an agenda. Bengal in 1947 was not yet thinking about independence, self-emancipation or even provincial autonomy. Despite already evident deception, vandalism and treachery of the West Pakistani rulers the Bengalis yet tried to attain their rights and equality being integral part of Pakistan. The ill motives of the military-political alliance of Pakistan aimed at instituting colonial relationships under the mask of 'religious brotherhood' became clear already in 1948 with the declaration of Mohammad Ali Jinnah that Urdu would be the only State Language of Pakistan. Neither Jinnah, nor his companions could ever justify the relevance of Urdu to be the only State Language of Pakistan.

Of the 75 million people of Pakistan at that juncture Bengali was the mother tongue of 42 million, while Urdu was never a native language of any of the nations of Pakistan. Bengali language by 1947 was one of the prominent languages of the world with first in Asia Noble Prize for literature conferred to great Bengali poet Rabindra Nath Tagore in 1913. The renaissance of Bengali literature continued with the emergence of Nazrul, Jibonananda, Bankim, Swarat Chandra, Shukanto and many other geniuses.

Apparently the Pakistani rulers were least knowledgeable about the rich cultural heritage of Bengal and most of them used to be blindfolded by the curtain of their vested interests that could only be materialized via discrimination, autocracy and conspiracy. These limitations led the political course of Pakistan to conspiracies, unconstitutional power captures and oppression. Seven Prime Ministers, four Governor-Generals, and one President were forcefully removed during the first decade of Pakistan. Of the 23 year East-West alliance, the country experienced 13 years of direct military rule. Despite the fact that the people of Bengal supported the formation of separate states in India based on Lahore Resolution of 1940 more than any other nation of the Sub-continent, they became the worst victims of the evil politics of newly emerged Pakistan during their 23 years alliance with West Pakistan. "The history of Pakistan movement suggests that all provinces of Pakistan except Bengal and Sindh rejected the idea of creating Pakistan. Bengal was the first to support the creation of Pakistan and it was the first to separate itself by correcting the mistake that was done in 1947.

Mr. Jinnah had the opportunity to visit East Bengal only once in his lifetime and that single visit of March 1948 yielded adverse results both for him and for Pakistan. His speech of 21 March at the Race Course clearly demonstrated intolerant attitude of the political elites of Pakistan towards East Bengal. The demand of the people of Bengal for recognizing their rights of language was explained by Jinnah as the 'activities of subservient elements' against the unity of Pakistan. Jinnah even mentioned that the demands concerning Bangla language was nothing but conspiracy by the communists and fifth columnists to destroy Pakistan! Jinnah declared on that day: 'Let me make it very clear to you that the state language of Pakistan is going to be Urdu and no other language. Anyone who tries to mislead you is really the enemy of Pakistan...the state language of Pakistan shall be Urdu.'

Two days later on 24 March at Carzon Hall of Dhaka University Jinnah reaffirmed his earlier arguments while speaking at a Convocation ceremony. This time Jinnah expressed his views even more aggressively. He branded all those who initiated and continued language movement as the enemies of Pakistan and traitors. Jinnah linked the language issue with provincialism and branded that as an activity of the Indian agents. He said: 'Our enemies,  have set about actively encouraging provincialism in the hope of weakening Pakistan and thereby facilitating the re-absorption of this province into the Indian Dominion'. As historical events at later stages of development of Pakistan's politics demonstrate the saga of Indian aggression continued to play important role in Pakistani politics. The military rulers tirelessly instigated anti-Indian propaganda linking that with religious sensitivities of the people of both the wings of the country to divert attention of the people from internal deficiencies in governance, democracy and human rights.

The Bengali society, including the politicians, academics and the students severely condemned Jinnah's remarks at the Race Course. Sher-e-Bangla A.K. Fazlul Huq suggested that Jinnah was rude and wrong. On the other hand by labelling the Bengalis enemies of Pakistan, Jinnah clearly put a psychological demarcation between Bengal and the western provinces of Pakistan. The people of Bengal expected matured and balanced attitude from the founder of Pakistan regarding language issue, but in vain. The leader clearly was bias in his approach to State Language. Thus already in 1948 Jinnah linked religion and patriotism with Urdu and dismissed the idea of a parallel second State Language, which the people of Bengal suggested to overcome the stalemate.

However, Mr. Jinnah's aggressive connotations in Dhaka did not remain unanswered. In his whole career as a lawyer and a politician Jinnah never had bitterer experience that he experienced on 24 March at Dhaka University. His utterances were interrupted by strong and determinant protests from the audience. The students completely dismissed Jinnah's suggestion of Urdu as the only State Language of Pakistan. Many students stood up on their seats and recorded strong protest against Jinnah's declaration. Despite that Jinnah continued his speech by repeating the same thing that he had been pronouncing so far.

Aggressive and non-compromising attitude of the 'Great Leader of Pakistan' towards the Bengalis broke the myth and illusion of 'brotherhood and equality'. Jinnah's March 1948 visit to Bengal was in fact an acid test of the relationship between the people of Bengal and the West Pakistani rulers. It was clear to the people of this land that West Pakistanis would not even share a bit from their own with Bengal. The activities of the Pakistani rulers in subsequent years would demonstrate that the Pakistani politicians and the military rulers never considered Bengal more than a colony meant for exploitation and domination. While Jinnah and his successors would undertake all out measures to punish the 'boisterous' Bengalis in the following years, whenever and by whatever means possible, the Bengalis advocating for the creation of Pakistan in the pre-1947 period now started cherishing the seed of self emancipation expressed in their defiance throughout the subsequent history of its alliance with Pakistan. The 24 March of 1948 unveiled the fact that the Bengalis were a separate nation who had very little in common with the West Pakistanis apart from religion.

During his Dhaka visit in 1948 Jinnah did not have any meeting with the prominent politicians of Bengal : A.K. Fazlul Haque, Suhrawardy or Bhashani. This attitude of Jinnah also demonstrated his lack of respect to the politicians of Bengal who were once his comrades. This was demonstrative of his unwillingness to recognize political strength of Bengal beyond subservient Muslim League mediocre in Dhaka. Jinnah was too confident about his ability to materialize his diktat in Bengal as he had been doing so far with all others in the Sub-Continent.

In the meantime in Dhaka the students formed the Shorbodolio Rashtrobhasha Songram Porishod (SRSP). Prior to the formation of SRSP on 1 September 1947, immediately after the emergence of Pakistan, Tamaddun Majlish was formed under the guidance of Principal Abul Kashem. This forum launched a vigorous campaign against the ill motives of the government against Bangla language. Apart from discussion meetings in and outside Dhaka University campus the Tamaddun Majlish collected thousands of signatures in favor of their demand for recognizing Bangla as the second State Language of Pakistan, and submitted a memorandum to the government. In the Parliament Member of Legislative Assembly Dhirendra Nath Datta proposed legislation to allow members to speak in Bangla and allow its use for official purposes. But amidst opposition by the radical Muslim Leaguers, especially by the then Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan, the proposal was defeated. Khawaja Nazimuddin, the Chief Minister of Bengal at the instruction of Muhammad Ali Jinnah tried to reach an agreement with the Shorbodolio Rashtrobhasha Songram Porishod prior to latter's visit to Bengal. Notably, Mr. Jinnah was aware of the language issue from his prior experience in Lucknow in 1937 while the Bengali delegates opposed the proposal for making Urdu as the lingua franca for the Indian Muslims. Prior to his visit Jinnah expected that Khawaja would be able to sign an agreement in favour of Urdu. However, Khawaja could not convince the members of the Shorbodolio Rashtrobhasha Songram Porishod and agreed to all their demands that clearly did not satisfy Jinnah. Later, at the instruction of Jinnah Nazimuddin denied most of the points agreed upon three weeks earlier and declared the agreement null and void.

Contrary to the agreement Nazimuddin moved his resolution involving only one point: to grant Bangla the status of an official language of Bengal provided that English is dropped. This was a clear violation of the signed with the Porishod agreement. The adopted resolution proclaimed that i) Bengali shall be adopted as the official language for replacing English in the province of East Bengal; and it will be implemented as soon as the practical difficulties are resolved; and ii) The medium of instruction in educational institutions in East Bengal shall, as far as possible, be Bengali, or the mother tongue of the majority of scholars in the institutions.

Jinnah's meeting with the Porishod in the evening of 24 March was fruitless since he refused to accept the demand for Bengali as one of the State Languages of Pakistan and declined to accept Bengali as the second State Language of Pakistan. The Porishod members were also unmoved to Mr. Jinnah's single State Language proposal. Till the last day of his life Jinnah was committed to his extraneous designs. At the end of his Bengal visit of 1948, Jinnah reiterated his idea of Urdu as the only State Language of Pakistan over Radio from Karachi.

Historical evidences clearly demonstrate that the process of disintegration of Pakistan started with the distrust and conflict perpetrated by the first and last visit of Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The policy of cultural, economic and political disparity between East and West Pakistan that Pakistani rulers proliferated as ingredients of its unity virtually served as the main reasons for its destruction. Those were the reasons behind subsequent popular movements in Bengal leading to the War of Liberation in 1971.

Thus, the main reason for breaking of Pakistan lied in its unusual emergence that tried to create an artificial pledge between two nations that had greater dissimilarities than bonds. The strong national components that had already been created in Bengal based on language, culture, custom and economic and social characteristics were not to be removed by an alien culture in the name of religious resemblance. West Pakistan's hegemony instigated the differences between the two wings by amplifying antagonisms. The mask of religious brotherhood appeared to be too primitive and crude for the Bengalis who had much higher cultural and intellectual level than the Pakistanis supposed.

Jinnah died in September 1948, six months after his speech at the Race Course. But the political philosophy that he planted and nurtured was embraced by all his successors. All Pakistani politicians always suspected conspiracies in the legitimate demands of the people of Bengal, when those concerned rights, democracy and equality. Despite considerable changes in the leadership structure of Pakistan's politics following Mohammad Ali Jinnah's death in September 1948, no positive development was visible in the language policy of Pakistan. Khawaja Nazimuddin the non-Bengali Muslim Leaguer from Dhaka became the Governor General, while Nurul Amin was appointed as the Chief Minister of East Bengal.

Although the language issue remained in a lie dormant position during 1948-1951, the people of Bengal never abandoned their demand for recognizing Bangla as a State Language of Pakistan. Dhaka University Central Student's Union (DUCSU) accorded a reception to Liaquat Ali Khan the Prime Minister of Pakistan on 27 November 1948 during his 10 day visit to Bengal. The memorandum that was presented to Ali Khan said: "We have accepted Urdu as our Lingua Franca but we also feel very strongly that, Bengali by virtue of its being the official language of the premier province and also the language of the 56 percent of the population of the state should be given its rightful place as one of the State Languages together with Urdu. Otherwise, we in East Pakistan shall always be under a permanent handicap and disadvantage". Liaquat Ali Khan remained unmoved to the reiterated demand for recognizing Bangla as a state language. Thus the successors of Jinnah remained true to the distressing philosophy of their deceased leader.

One of the most devastating conspiracies against Bangla language was the attempt to replace Bangla scripts by the Arabian. The proposal for so called 'Arabization of Bangla for the sake of Islam' was placed by Fazlur Rahman, the Education Minister of Pakistan in the All Pakistan Education Conference of Teachers held on 27 December 1948 in Karachi. The supporters of 'Arabization' felt that all the 'regional' languages needed to be written in Arabic script to upheld Pakistan's national unity and solidarity and to promote advancement of general education in Pakistan.

Thus, from the very beginning of Pakistan's emergence, the Pakistani politicians and the military that captured state power several times and remained in power for long years always justified all their ill motives and unfair actions by linking those with the interest of Islam. They pretended to be the saviors of Islam who believed that they had the 'responsibility' to oppress people (of Pakistan) in the name of Pakistan's solidarity, unity, freedom, independence and Islam. The life styles of these self-proclaimed 'saviors' of Islam had hardly anything to do with Islam though. The language issue and the issues of democracy, rights and governance were always looked at by these policy makers and power capturers from predetermined perverted viewpoints. For this reason it always was difficult to protect rights of the people of all provinces and ensure equity and justice within the frame work of Pakistan.

In February 1949 the Education Advisory Board of Pakistan recommended use of only Arabic script for all languages of Pakistan. Notably, the proposed change implied change of scripts of Bangla language only, because all other languages of Pakistan already used Arabic script. The Pakistanis started openly spread strange anecdotes regarding Bangla language saying that Bangla literature and even alphabet are full of idolatry! The Pakistanis saw great future of our language through Arabization. In response, however, the agitated students of Bengal sent protest memorandum to the Education Advisory Board branding proposed Arabization as an attack on Bengali language, literature and culture.

The next conspiracy against Bangla was step of the government to edit the style and diction of Bangla language. In 1949 the East Bengal Government formed 'East Bengal Bhasha Committee' presided by Moulana Akram Khan and 16 other members. The idea was to get a recommendation from the committee in favor of 'Arabization' of Bangla. The Committee submitted its report by December 1950, which was published in 1958. The report was another step towards 'Arabization' of Bangla and was rejected by the people of Bengal. The design by the government to 'desanskritize' the language by replacing Sanskrit words by Urdu, Arabic and Persian as suggested in the report of the Bhasha Committee of Akram Khan was another provocation against Bangla. Each step of the Pakistan government concerning Bangla language appeared as a new conspiracy with ambitious political designs to strengthen West Pakistan's political, social, economic and cultural domination over Bengal. Thus the already sharpened antagonism between the Bengalis and the rest of Pakistan multiplied by many fold by 1951.

Paying little or no importance to the dissatisfaction of the people of Bengal the government of Pakistan established around 20 adult education centers throughout Bengal for teaching Bangla in Arabic script. Initiatives were taken to print and distribute free of cost Bangla reference books in Arabic script. Awards were declared to writers of Bangla books in Arabic script.

The attempted 'Arabization' of Bangla undoubtedly was a senseless design of the government. Even at the time 'when Persian was the state language in this region, Bangla was written with Bengali script. It was so during British period when English became the state language' wrote Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah on 5 February 1952. Even after the recognition of Bangla as the State Language of Pakistan this senseless endeavor did not stop. During Ayub regime the anti-Bangla efforts by the government and Muslim League even intensified, which in turn prompted anti-autocracy movements in Bengal. Pakistani regimes' historical mistakes put nail after nail in the coffin of Pakistan throughout the history of Bengal's alliance with Pakistan.

In fact the discriminatory language policy of the Pakistani rulers aimed at establishing foundation for their long term economic and social dominance over East Bengal by making the educated and potentially educated people of this wing incompetent for public services, business and politics. Opposing such motive the intelligentsia of Bengal continued to organize mass awareness programs, political and social rallies and gatherings throughout the country. On 31 December 1948 in 'Purbo Pakistan Shahity to Shommelon' Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah made clear declaration regarding the composition of Bangla society: "It is reality that we are Hindus and Muslims, but the greater reality is that we are Bengalis... Mother- nature has put such indelible mark on our appearance and language that no camouflage of Hindu and Muslim external markings could hide this basic reality. We need as free citizens of post-independent East Pakistan a properly developed literature covering every branch of it. Such a literature will be invariably in the mother-tongue Bengali. No nation can thrive on literature in the world written in a foreign tongue." This important declaration was perhaps one of the most important expressions of Bengali nationalism.

Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah's declaration was completely approved by the progressive section of Muslim League, especially its emerging leadership including Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The formation of Awami Muslim League in 1949 and subsequent nationalist political movements in East Bengal and East Pakistan, landslide victory of Jukto Front in the 1954 elections were demonstrative of the fact that Bengali Nationalism became the most important political stronghold of the Bengalis.

Strengthened Bengali nationalism eventually led to the humiliating defeat of Muslim League in the 1954 elections in East Bengal. However, the defeated Pakistani politicians instead of learning any lesson from the downfall started hatching 'palace conspiracy' against the Bengali nation. These historical mistakes committed by the West Pakistanis propelled disintegration of Pakistan at the end of the day.

Started as a cultural movement our language movement eventually transformed into a strong political movement that led to all subsequent nationalistic, democratic and rights movements. This movement reached its culminating point on 21 February 1952 when the streets of Dhaka were blood-stained. The people of all walks of life fearlessly came out to sacrifice their lives to uphold the sanctity of their mother language and thus created a new chapter in human history. Simultaneously, the first chapter of our Liberation War was written in blood.



(The writer is President, Governance and Rights Centre (GRC), E-mail: zalam111@yahoo.com)
Nepal wants to deepen ties with China: K P Oli

PTI, Kathmandu :

Nepal's new Prime Minister K P Oli has said he wants to deepen ties with China to explore more options and get more leverage in his dealings with India "in keeping with the times". Mr Oli, widely regarded as pro-China, also said he wants to "update" relations with India "in keeping with the times" and favours a review of all special provisions of the Indo-Nepal relations, including the long-established practice of Nepalese soldiers serving India's armed forces.

"We have great connectivity with India and an open border. All that's fine and we'll increase connectivity even further, but we can't forget that we have two neighbours. We don't want to depend on one country or have one option," he told Hong Kong's South China Morning Post in an interview.

About how he plans to work out relations with India, Mr Oli said, "We've always had excellent relations with India. There were some elements in the Indian establishment that caused some misunderstanding, but Indian leaders have assured us that there will be no interference in the future and we will respect each other's sovereign rights".

Mr Oli, 65, who had also served as the country's prime minister from October 11, 2015 to August 3, 2016, was forced to resign following the political crisis in the Himalayan nation over the Madhesi issue.

Madhesis, mostly of Indian-origin had been demanding amendment of the new Constitution to address their concerns over representation in Parliament.

Before Mr Oli's inauguration as the prime minister for the second time, External Affairs Sushma Swaraj had visited Nepal and met him and other Left leaders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to Mr Oli.

About Nepalese serving in the Indian Army, Mr Oli said, "This should be internally and mutually discussed and corrected, if necessary. We live in a new world, and Nepal is starting a new journey, we have to update whatever is considered outdated and bring it in line with the modern era." Mr Oli also said he would revive the China-backed USD 2.5 billion hydropower project which was scrapped by the previous government.

Expectations are high in China about Mr Oli's government as he signed the Transit Treaty with Beijing during his first stint as Prime Minister in 2015 to end dependence on India for his landlocked country to revive the Budhi Gandaki project.
Trump backs improved background checks on gun buys

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump visit a Florida hospital on Monday after a school shooting that left 17 dead.

US President Donald Trump signaled support Monday for improving background gun checks amid mounting pressure for reform in the wake of the Florida school shooting, as the accused gunman appeared in court.

Nikolas Cruz, charged with killing 17 people, sat silently with his head bowed during a procedural hearing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in what is expected to be a lengthy and emotional prosecution.

Wednesday's rampage at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in nearby Parkland, Florida has ignited protests by students who survived the onslaught and renewed calls for changes in US gun laws.

Cruz, 19, was able to legally buy an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle despite numerous red flags that nonetheless failed to prompt action by state and federal agencies.

The White House indicated that Trump is receptive to a bipartisan proposal that would require more prompt reporting to a national database of offenses that would bar an individual from buying a firearm.

"While discussions are ongoing and revisions are being considered, the president is supportive of efforts to improve the federal background check system," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement. The legislation, however, does not address the broader, divisive issue of permissive gun laws under the Second Amendment of the US Constitution, which protects the right to bear arms.

Chanting "Shame on you, Shame on you," about 100 students from area high schools gathered outside the White House and staged a "lie-in" to press demands for change. "More Guns, More Murder," read one of the signs carried by demonstrators.

Maya Smith, 15, said she fears for her life when she walks into school "because the government won't decide that my life matters as much as the right to bear arms matters." "We as students shouldn't be worrying about being shot in our school," said high school junior Juneau Wang.

"Students should be worrying about a bad test grade, not the fact that someone could walk in with an AR-15 any time during the school day."

After earlier mass shootings, Trump has said little about guns, focusing instead on the mental health of shooters. Following the October 1 attack in Las Vegas that left 58 people dead, he said only that "we'll be talking about gun laws as time goes by."

After the Parkland shooting, he emphasized the need to deal with mental-health issues, while castigating the FBI for missing warning signs about the shooter.

The president initially made no mention of guns, drawing an angry reaction from Democrats and angry Floridians. Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic minority leader, noted that Trump's proposed 2019 budget would actually cut spending on the background check program.

Even one of the most shocking mass shootings of recent years-the 2012 attack on a Connecticut elementary school that left 20 young children and six adults dead-brought little legal change, though Connecticut and a handful of other states toughened their gun laws.

But there are some indications that the limited steps Trump backs might succeed.

The NRA says it has "long supported the inclusion of all legitimate records in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System."
All set to observe Int'l Mother Language Day



All are set and a four-tier security measures has been taken to observe the International Mother Language Day in a befitting manner in the port city.

Different organisations and individuals have taken preparations to pay homage to the Language Martyrs who made supreme sacrifices for establishing the rightful place of the mother language in 1952 and inspired the nation to launch movement for a sovereign Bangladesh. Different political parties including Bangladesh Awami League and its associate bodies have finalised programmes to mark the day.

The programmes include placing of wreaths at Shaheed Minar, discussion, silent procession in the morning, cultural function and photo exhibition. Chittagong District Administration has chalked out elaborate programme keeping conformity with the national schedule on the occasion. The programmes include hand writing, drawing and singing competitions for children at Shishu Academy on Wednesday.

Special prayers at mosques, temples, pagodas and churches seeking divine blessings for the souls of language martyrs will also be held. The Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP), Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and district police have decided to enforce four-tier security measures in and around the Central Shaheed Minar and all Shaheed Minars at upazilas headquarters by deploying 3,700 members of law enforcing agencies. "Four-tier security measures have already been taken in Central Shaheed Minar area for peaceful observation of the day. Over 1,200 police personnel will be deployed in the Shaheed Minar and adjoining areas to ensure security, CMP Media Centre sources said. Apart from this, closed circuit camera televisions (CCTVs) will be installed in Shaheed Minar area while archway and metal detectors will be set up at each of the entry point to make the security foolproof, district Police superintendent Nur-e-Alam Mina told journalists. Another report adds: Different government, semi-government, autonomous bodies, socio-cultural organisations, political parties and educational institutions have completed all preparations to observe the "Amar Ekushey and International Mother Language Day-2018" in the city on February 21.

According to officials, the district and Upazila Administrations and other organisations have chalked out elaborate programmes to observe the day in a befitting manner.

In Khulna city, the observance will begin at one minute past after midnight on February 21 when Minister of Fisheries and Live Stock Naryan Chandra Chanda will place wreaths at Shaheed Minar in city's Shaheed Hadis Park to pay due respect to the Language Movement Martyrs. Later, Muktijoddha Sangsad, Divisional Commissioner Md Lokman Hossain Mia, Khulna Metropolitan Police Commissioner Humayun Kabir, DIG of Khulna Range Police Didarul Islam will place wreaths there. Deputy Commissioner Amin-ul-Ahsan along with officials of the district and upazila administration will also place floral wreaths there to be followed by the other government and non-government departments and organisations. Bangladesh Awami League (AL) and its front organisations and other political parties, socio-cultural and professional organisations and common people will also place wreaths there to pay homage to the Language Movement Martyrs.
75 injured in clash with cops:70 arrested: BNP`s demo in districts foiled

BNP leaders and activists including Habiganj Municipality Mayor were injured in clash with police while they staged demonstration, demanding immediate release of Party Chief Khaleda Zia on Tuesday.

Staff Reporter :

At least 75 people were reportedly injured in police actions against the processions brought out by the BNP in Faridpur, Habiganj and few other districts on Tuesday demaning release of party Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.

In addition, more than 70 party leaders and workers were taken in to custody.

The processions were part of the programme previously announced.

BNP Senior Joint-Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi condemned the police attack on party's rallies in different districts and demanded immediate release of the detained party men across the country.

He was addressing a press briefing in the party's Nayapaltan office on the day.

In Habiganj, at least 50 BNP leaders and activists were injured, 20 of them were shot at as police fired rubber bullets on a procession.

Hundreds of supporters of BNP district unit carried out a procession at Shayestaganj in Habiganj town around 11:00am.

"At one stage, police opened fire on the procession without any provocation," said the mayor of the municipality and the district unit BNP General Secretary GK Gaus.

District Juba Dal General Secretary Mia Md. Ilias, upazila Juba Dal President Oliur Rahman, BNP activist Abdul Motin Mia, Badshah Siddiqui, Nasiruddin, Abul Bashar, Selim Ahmed and Tajul Islam were among the wounded leaders and activists, Gaus said.

Police arrested two BNP activists named Faruque Ahmed and Kajal Mia.

Habiganj Additional Superintendent of Police, Ayatun Nabi, claimed that the police did not attack untoward. When police were attacked by the BNP men, then they fired to protect themselves.

In Faridpur, the law enforcers obstructed BNP's procession in Super Market area in Sadar upazila around 11:30am, triggering a clash between them.

Shama Obayed, the Central Organising Secretary of the party alleged that police attack on the BNP's peaceful procession without any provocation.

She said, police detained 20 BNP men including Syed Modares Ali Isa, General Secretary of Faridpur district BNP unit and its Joint Secretary General Julfiker Hossan and President of Sadar Upazila BNP unit Roufunnabi.

Md Najim Uddin, officer-in-charge of Faridpur Sadar Police Station said, police fired 10 shotgun bullets and three teargas shells on the BNP protesters to disperse the BNP supporters.

He said, at least 15 people including two journalists and four policemen got injured.

In Jhalokathi, police foiled a procession carried out by the party men.

Leaders said that police obstructed the procession brought out by the District unit of the BNP. Five BNP men were hurt in the incident.

The party staged a brief rally protesting police attack. District BNP President Mustafa Kamal Montu and General Secretary Monirul Islam Nupur among others were spoke.

Jhalokati Police Station SI Gautam Kumar Ghosh said they asked BNP activists to leave the area to keep the law and order normal. But they denied, so the banner has been taken.

In Tangail, police stopped the protesters in front of the party's office in Victoria Road on at 10am.

The party men staged a demonstration in front of the party office confined by the police. District unit BNP President Shamsul Alam Tofa and General Secretary Advocate Farhad Iqbal, among others, were gave speech.

At Bogra, at around 12:00 pm, the BNP activists gathered outside the party's Nawabbari Road office to join the procession.

But police prevented the procession from going on in front of the diabetic hospital.

Later, the party men staged demonstration in front of party office confined by the police.

District unit BNP President Saiful Islam and General Secretary Joynal Abedin Chan, among others were gave speech.
Existing SSC exam system to be changed Govt high-level meeting took decision

Staff Reporter :

The government is going to reform the existing examination system of Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations from next year.

The government has found no solution, but to change the existing system. As a result, the SSC examination will be taken in different systems in 2019, sources said.

The decision was taken in an emergency high-level meeting with Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, Home Minister Asaduzzman Khan and Telecommunication and ICT Minister Mustafa Jabbar. The secretaries of the ministries were also present at the meeting.

After the meeting Education Secretary (Secondary and Higher Education Division) M Sohrab Hossain said, the meeting decided to hold the SSC examination through different system in 2019.

He also hinted that there might be no printed question paper in 2019 SSC examinations.

He also said the Prime Minister's announcement of repealing Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) would be implemented through a process.

The meeting discussed extensively how to stop leak of public examination question papers.

The meeting began in the Education Ministry's conference room at 3:30pm and continued for two hours.

Public Administration Ministry Senior Secretary Mozammel Huq Khan, Home Ministry's Public Security Division Secretary Mostafa Kamal Uddin, Post and Telecommunication Division Secretary Shyam Sundar Sikder and Information and ICT Division Secretary Subir Kishore Chowdhury were also present in the meeting.

The Chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission and senior officers of different law enforcement agencies were also in the meeting.
Head bowed, Florida shooting suspect returns to court for hearing

Nikolas Cruz, facing 17 charges of premeditated murder in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, appears in court for a status hearing before Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer in Fort Lauderdale in Florida. Internet

Reuters, FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla :

A former student accused of last week's deadly shooting at a Florida high school returned to court for a hearing on Monday in a case that has galvanized advocates of stricter gun control, including many of the rampage survivors.

Nikolas Cruz, his head bowed, hands shackled at his waist and wearing a red, jail-issued jumpsuit, showed no emotion during the procedural session in Fort Lauderdale.

The hearing ended with Broward Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth Scherer ruling that a defence motion filed last week remain sealed from public view. The content of the motion, sealed by another judge, was not described in the hearing.

In a second hearing, Broward Circuit Court Judge Charles Greene ordered the release of parts of a mental health assessment of Cruz by the Florida Department of Children and Families in November 2016. The report has already been leaked to South Florida's Sun Sentinel newspaper.

Cruz, who did not attend the second hearing, is facing 17 counts of premeditated murder after the attack on Wednesday at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, near Fort Lauderdale. It is the deadliest shooting ever at a U.S. high school.

The suspect, whose mother died in November, was investigated by authorities after videos surfaced on the social media platform Snapchat showing him cutting himself, the assessment by the Department of Children and Families said. "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," the released report said.

In a statement, department secretary Mike Carroll said the records showed Cruz was getting mental health services before, during and after the assessment. Cruz was living with his mother and attending school when it concluded, he said. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has acknowledged it failed to act on a tip called in last month warning that Cruz possessed a gun and the desire to kill.

Greene agreed to the request by Cruz's team of public defenders to release the assessment. But he stopped short of allowing the release of details of Cruz's mental health history and child abuse records.

Student survivors gathered with teachers and gun safety advocates to plan a visit to the state capital of Tallahassee on Wednesday. They will demand state lawmakers enact a ban on the sale of assault weapons in Florida.

The White House said on Monday that President Donald Trump supports efforts to improve federal background checks for gun purchases. Trump angered some students by suggesting in a tweet on Saturday that the FBI had missed signs that the shooter was troubled because it was distracted by its investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election.


127 killed in Syria air raids

BEIRUT (Reuters) :

Pro-government forces bombarded Syria's eastern Ghouta on Tuesday, killing at least 49 people, after the heaviest one-day death toll there in three years on Monday, a war monitoring group said.

Some 127 people were killed in air raids, rocket strikes and shelling of the area near Damascus on Monday, according to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

About 190 have died since the bombing intensified late on Sunday and 850 have been injured, it said.

The United Nations called for an immediate ceasefire in the area on Monday, saying the situation was "spiraling out of control" after an "extreme escalation in hostilities".The Union of Medical Care and Relief Organisations, a coalition of international agencies that funds hospitals in Syria, said bombs had hit five hospitals in eastern Ghouta on Monday.

In Geneva, the U.N. children's fund issued a blank "statement" to express its outrage at the casualties among Syrian children, saying it had run out of words.

The violence in eastern Ghouta is part of a wider escalation in fighting on several fronts in Syria as President Bashar al-Assad pushes to end the seven-year rebellion against him.

Mortars fired by rebels in eastern Ghouta landed in Damascus on Tuesday, causing two deaths and several injuries, Syrian state media reported. At least one person died from rebel mortar fire in the capital on Monday.

Lebanon's al-Manar television, which is aligned with Assad's ally Hezbollah, reported on Monday that the Syrian army was sending reinforcements towards eastern Ghouta after rebel assaults.

Assad's most powerful supporter, Russia, has been following a diplomatic track at the same time as the increase in fighting, resulting in the establishment of several "de-escalation zones".

Eastern Ghouta is in one of these areas, where violence is meant to be contained, but the de-escalation agreement does not include a former al Qaeda affiliate which has a small presence there.

Other insurgent groups in eastern Ghouta, including Islamist factions, say the Syrian government and Russia are using the jihadist presence as a pretext to continue their bombardment.

Neither the Syrian military nor Russia commented on the renewed bombardment in eastern Ghouta, but they have often said they do not target civilians.

The Observatory said the intensified bombing was in preparation for a pro-government ground offensive against the enclave and that a rebel group there had foiled an attempt by Syria's army to advance overnight.
Exporters yet to get full benefit

As ban still remains on Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the British authorities move of lifting embargo on direct air cargo flights from Dhaka to London may not help much to Bangladeshi exporters.

"We will not get full benefit of the UK's decision since the ban remains on Bangladesh Biman," Exporters' Association of Bangladesh (EAB) President Abdus Salam Murshedy told The New Nation yesterday.

He said sending direct air cargo by Biman to the UK is the cheapest among other airlines. Local exporters will not be able to sent direct air cargo at cost effective manner unless Biman remains in British embargo.

Biman will also be able to operate direct cargo flights to UK after the airlines acquires a certificate of air cargo or main carrier operating into the union from a third country airport (ACC3)".

Murshedy, however, welcomed the UK's move of lifting the ban on direct air cargo flights from Dhaka to London saying that it will help repair Bangladesh's image abroad that tarnished following imposition of ban by the UK, Australia and Germany.

He expressed the hope that lifting of the ban by the UK will encourage Australia and Germany to take similar move. "It's a good decision. It will help the RMG exporters to send and receive goods in a day. But the fact is that exporters will not be able to sent their goods by Biman as ban exists on the national flag carrier," BGMEA President M Siddiqur Rahman told The New Nation.

He said Biman is competitive than any other airline in carrying direct air cargo from Dhaka. So, the British move will not offer much benefit to us.

"The Bangladesh authorities should take necessary steps so that Biman can start operating direct cargo flights from Dhaka to London," he added.

The British government on March 8, 2016 imposed an embargo on direct cargo flights from Dhaka to London after Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport failed to pass aviation safety norms. Bangladesh later hired a British company to improve the security mechanism in the country's prime airport. The ban later left huge impact on businesses in terms of money and time because airlines have to get the cargo scanned at another airport before they enter the UK.

During his maiden visit, British Foreign Secretary Johnson on February 9 said the UK was pleased with Bangladesh's 'progress' in aviation safety and his government was set to withdraw the ban anytime.

Nine days after Boris Johnson dropped a broad hint, Britain has lifted the embargo on direct cargo flights from Dhaka on Sunday. British High Commissioner in Dhaka Alison Blake announced the decision at a media briefing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

"The ban has gone without giving much benefit to us because of high cost of sending goods to other airlines except Biman," Bangladesh Fruits Vegetables and Allied Products Exporters' Association Secretary General Mohammad Monsur told The New Nation.
Khaleda files appeal

Hearing on bail plea tomorrow: Claims innocence on 42 grounds

Staff Reporter :

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia on Tuesday filed an appeal petition with the High Court (HC) challenging the lower court verdict that sentenced her to five years imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust case.

In the 1222-page appeal petition, Khaleda Zia prayed to the High Court to acquit her of the corruption charge and grant her bail in the case on 42 grounds, Advocate Zainul Abedin, a lawyer for the BNP Chief, told The New Nation.

Advocate Abdur Rezzak Khan filed the appeal petition in the concern section of the High Court on behalf of the BNP chief. Then Advocate Zainul Abedin and Barrister A M Mahbub Uddin Khokan mentioned the appeal petition in the court the same day and the High Court fixed Thursday for hearing on whether it will accept the appeal.

The Bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Shahidul Karim passed the order after hearing the lawyers. The bench will also hear the bail plea on Thursday, sources said.

Khaleda Zia also prayed to the court to stay the lower court verdict that also fined her Tk 2.10 crore claiming her innocent. She mentioned 42 grounds in the petition on which the HC may consider her prayer, the lawyer said.

At first Advocate Zainul Abedin told the court that they had filed an appeal on behalf of Khaleda Zia.

Then Deputy Attorney General Farhad Ahmed said that they needed a copy if there was any bail petition with the appeal file.

The court then directed Khaleda Zia's lawyers to supply a copy of the appeal petition to the state.

Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokan then said, "Tomorrow (Wednesday) is vacant day. We will provide the copy on Thursday."

At this stage Attorney General Mahbubey Alam also demanded a copy of the appeal petition and requested the court to fix Sunday for hearing.

Then the court directed Khaleda Zia's lawyers to supply a copy to the state within Tuesday and fixed Thursday for appeal hearing.

The court said, "Normally cases of the ACC come for hearing in every Wednesday and Thursday. So, this case will be in the cause list on Thursday."

Khaleda Zia filed the appeal a day after the Special Judge's Court-5 of Dhaka, which found Khaleda guilty in the graft case on February 8, released the full verdict on Monday.

After the appeal was filed, Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokan said the Anti-Corruption Commission has brought false and fabricated charges against Khaleda Zia in the case and the original documents were not produced before the trial court.

Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Barrister Jamir Uddin Sircar, Advocate Khandker Mahbub Hossain, Barrister Kayser Kamal and Barrister A K M Ehsanur Rahman were present in the court on behalf of BNP Chairperson during hearing of the appeal petition.

Judge of the Special Court-5 of Dhaka, Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman, sentenced former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to five years imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

The special court also sentenced Khaleda Zia's eldest son and BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman, and four others to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment and slapped a fine of Tk 2.10 crore each.

The other convicts are Kazi Salimul Haque, ex-BNP lawmaker from Magura, Sharfuddin Ahmed, a businessman, Mominur Rahman, a cousin of Tarique Rahman and Kamal Uddin Siddique, former Principal Secretary to the PM.

The Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case with Ramna Police Station in July 2008, accusing Khaleda Zia and the five convicts of misappropriating over Tk 2.10 crore that had come from a foreign bank as grants for orphans.

On February 11, the Special Court directed the jail authorities to provide Khaleda Zia with first-class division in line with the jail code as well as allowing her house help to stay with her in jail.

Though pro-BNP lawyers and the party are claiming that Khaleda will get bail and she will be eligible for the next general election after filing an appeal with the apex court, legal and election experts have no clear answer to it as they think it fully depends on the apex court.

As per Article 66(2) (d) of the Constitution, anyone sentenced to jail for a term not less than two years for ethical or moral misconduct, and until five years have elapsed since the date of his/her release shall be disqualified for the contesting the parliamentary election.

Law Minister Anisul Huq said there are two verdicts of the Supreme Court and the High Court in this regard. "One verdict says until the disposal of the appeal the case proceeding is considered incomplete and the person is not convicted. So, the convicted person will be able to take part in polls."

However, the other verdict says the convicted person cannot take part in the national election with having an appeal against the lower court conviction pending. "So, the apex court and the Election Commission will decide it now."
Amar Ekushey today

Nation pays homage to language heroes

M M Jasim :

The nation will observe the Language Martyrs and the International Mother Language Day today (February 21), commemorating the language heroes of 1952.

They will offer a moment of silence, bowing their heads, to remember the sacrifices of those brave hearts who sacrificed their life for Bangla Language.

On this day in 1952, Barkat, Salam, Rafiq, Shafiur and Jabbar made their sublime sacrifice in support of making Bangla as a state language of the then Pakistan. The Language Movement inspired the people to fight against injustice and economic exploitation of a region by another.

In recognition of the Language Movement in Bangladesh, UNESCO has declared 21st February International Mother Language Day to promote linguistic and cultural diversity in the UN member-states.

The declaration came on November 17, 1999. A total of 188 countries across the world observed the day with the commitment to promote linguistic diversity and multilingual education and raise awareness of cultural traditions based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue.

Different political and cultural organisations have chalked out programmes to observe the day across the country.

Bangla Academy, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Nazrul Institute, Jatiya Grantha Kendra, National Museum, International Mother Language Institute and Shishu Academy have also taken special progarmmes on the day.

On the day, the national flag will fly half-mast in all educational institutions, government, semi-government and autonomous offices and private buildings across the country.

In line with the national programmes, the day would be observed by all educational institutions, city corporations, pourasabhas, the district and the upazila administrations.

The Bangladeshi missions abroad will also observe the day in a befitting manner. In observance of the day in a befitting manner, the Central Shaheed Minar premises has been redecorated with paintings, graffiti, buntings and selected verses on the mother language as the nation awaits the clock to strike one-minute past zero hours (midnight) yesterday to start paying homage to the martyrs of the great Language Movement. Tight security has already been enforced around the main altar of the Shaheed Minar and the Azimpur graveyard of the language martyrs as streams of people are set to pour into these places to lay wreaths to express their heart-felt respect to the language martyrs.

Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the eve of the day, paying glowing tributes to the martyrs of the historic Language Movement of 1952.

In his message President Md Abdul Hamid on Tuesday greeted people of all languages across the globe on the occasion of Shaheed Day (Language Martyrs Day) and the International Mother Language Day 2018, to be observed today with profound respect to the martyrs of the Language Movement of 1952.

On the eve of the day, the President, in a message, extended his 'warm congratulations and sincere felicitations' to the people of all languages across the world along with the Bangla-speaking people.

He recalled with deep reverence all language martyrs, including Shaheed Salam, Barkat, Rafiq, Jabbar, Shafiur, and all language heroes for their farsightedness, unmatched valour, bravery, able organizing capacity and rapid steps in this regard that facilitated the Language Movement to reach its ultimate culmination on February 21, 1952.

Terming the great Language Movement as a historic and significant event in the national history, Abdul Hamid said, "This movement aimed at establishing the right of our mother tongue as well as protecting self-entity, and culture and heritage".

The spirit of Amar Ekushey is now the source of incessant inspiration for the protection and preservation of own languages and culture of multilingual people of the world, the President said, adding, "Keeping the inspiration for Ekushey in mind, let the people of multilingual be united, let the almost defunct languages of the world be revived in their respective communities and let the globe be coloured with diverse languages and cultures".

In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday called for getting rid of all differences with the spirit of the 'Amar Ekushey' for sustaining the country's development and democratic values.

"Let us work together with the spirit of the immortal Ekushey keeping aside all differences for the development of the country upholding the democratic values and build a non-communal, hunger poverty-free and happy-prosperous Sonar Bangladesh as dreamt by the Father of the Nation," the Prime Minister said in a message on the eve of the Martyrs' Day and the International Mother Language Day.

She also said the greatest Ekushey is the symbol of grief, strength and glory in the life of every Bangali. On this day in 1952, many valiant sons of the soil, including Rafiq, Shafique, Salam, Jabbar and Barkat sacrificed their lives for protecting the dignity of the mother tongue.

"The resonance of the pride of Amar Ekushey is now resounded in the hearts of the people of 193 countries surpassing the boundary of Bangladesh," Sheikh Hasina said, adding that the day has reached a new height when the UNESCO gave recognised to the 21 February as the International Mother Language Day on 17 November 1999, at the initiative of the then Awami League government and with the help of some expatriate Bangladeshis, including Salam and Rafiq.

Terming the greatest Ekushey as the symbol of the nation's democratic values, Bangali nationalism, spirit of liberation struggle and secularism, the Prime Minister said Awami League government has been working to develop the country being imbued with the spirit of the great Ekushey and liberation war.

Meanwhile, marking the day, ruling Awami League (AL) has taken a two-day programme that includes placing of wreaths at the central Shaheed Minar at one-minute past zero hours tonight, hoisting half-mast the national and party flags at its offices across the country and Bangabandhu Bhaban, wearing black badges and hoisting of black flag in the morning as a mark of respect to the Language Movement martyrs. The party will hold a discussion meeting at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) auditorium at 3 pm in the city on February 22. Prime Minister and AL President Sheikh Hasina will chair the discussion. Authorities of Dhaka University (DU) have taken a series of programmes to observe the Amar Ekushey.

The programmes include placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar, bringing out Provat Feri (Dawn March) led by DU Vice-Chancellor Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman at 6: 30 am from the foot of Aparajeya Bangla and offering Fateha at Azimpur Graveyard.

DU will also arrange special prayers for the martyrs at all the masques of the campus including DU Central Mosque Masjidul Jamia after Zohr prayer.

Islamic Foundation (IF) will hold Quran Khwani, doa and Milad Mahfil at Azimpur graveyard mosque in the city at 7.30 am tomorrow seeking salvation of the departed souls of the martyrs of the Language Movement. Later, another Quran Khwani, doa and Milad Mahfil will be held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. Senior Pesh Imam of the mosque Hafez Moulana Muhammad Mizanur Rahman will conduct the milad and munajat.
International consensus on Language issue

M.Mizanur Rahman :

The great Bengali language movement took place in 1952 in Bangladesh that had been stirred since the sense of nationalism created among the Bengali people all over the world. We are remembering that in each year on this day but we are to redeem whether we feel strongly of our past legacy on the present perspective or not. It's really looked awful when we see that the Bengali people in Dhaka Metropolis and elsewhere throughout Bangladesh used to display their signboard /advertisement in foreign language instead of their Mother Language Bengali in correct form or incorrect, then it appears that they must have been oblivious of their bloody state language movement and its history and legacy of the past. However time has come to redeem their follies and correct their characteristics wherever they found it wrong.

The language speaks of life. Not only the human beings but also every animal, beast or bird, insect or plant speak of life in its own language and in its own mother's tongue. Every living beings thus enlivens with its mother's tongue towards struggling for its bare existence. Even the person who learns other's language, before speaking or writing that foreign language, s/he translates it from his or her mother's tongue. For every child the sweetest language is his or her mother's language. It is natural. In Bangladesh the lingua franca of its people is Bengali among all other spoken languages. The poet of Bangladesh sings, "Mo-ther Gorob Mo-ther Asa Amori Bangla Bhasha"(our pride and hope unto death is our Bangla Language). Language is a means of communication. Human communities exchange reciprocal feelings through it. When we talk of a nation we have to know its language first. Because of the fact, the people of that nation identify themselves with their national language.

The people of Bangladesh were under the subjugation of foreign rules for a very long period since they could not establish the stately status of Bangla language towards that end though they had their wills and aspirations inherent among themselves. Moreover before the advent of the foreign Muslim invaders in Bangladesh Bangla language was absolutely neglected and left aside as vulgar and as the language of the untouchables as was prescribed by the then most powerful Hindu Brahmin pundits. At that time Bangla language was the language of the Bengali people who were treated as lower, mean, and abjected as well as outcastes in the conscience of those so-called Hindu Brahmin Pundits and their most related adherents. At times Hindu Brahmins had their scriptural language Sanskrit that was said to be very sacred in which there was no access to the common people.

The most eminent research scholar under the Calcutta University, Dr. Dinesh Chandra Sen said in one of his articles on "Bengali Language" that those pundits (Brahmins) hated and neglected Bangla Language as much as they hated and neglected Haris and Domes (Hindu lower labour class people). Bangla language was also in expectation for that auspicious time when it will be unfettered from the yoke of its ominous underhand like those diamonds that look for the jeweler who would smoothen them after they were plucked out of the coalmine and like those pearls that look for the diver who would collect them and set them free from oyster shells.

Gour(now Maldaha of West Bengal,India) was then the capital of Bengal occupied by the Muslim invaders. It carried no sense whether they came from Iran or Turan, after their conquest of Bengal they became Bengali. Bengal is as much the motherland of the Hindus today, it were the same for the Muslims of those days. They did not come to this country to rob its wealth or valuables in the guise of traders but they became really the people of this country. They became much more Bengali than what was expected by the Hindus at that time. Bengali language was in usage since early period when the Buddha- dynasty reigned Bengal. Bengali lyrics of that period are available. But it is no exaggeration that development of Bengali literature and culture took place during the Muslim rule in Bengal.

The history, according to Dr. Sen, "All around the capital (Gour) Hindu subjects were everywhere, sounds of conch shells and temple bells could be heard everywhere, five wicks lamps lit for devotional purpose, aromatic incense and fumes of burnt sandal woods covered the whole area and divine songs or recitals of Ramayana and Mahabharat could be heard everywhere. The Muslim emperor who loved his subjects most, naturally wanted to know, "What are all about these?" He called the Brahmin Pundit to elucidate the fact. The Brahmin pundit having sandal mark on his forehead with a piece of stone swinging by the neck and a scarf depicting the different names of Hindu deities on his bald head appeared before his excellency and said, "One can get access to our scriptural knowledge after learning grammar for twelve years while the learner must be the Brahmin Hindu". The emperor became angry and said, "I don't understand grammar. Why should I learn grammars leaving aside my royal business while you are not willing to teach me? That can't be. Translate Ramayana, Mahabharat and Bhagabat into local country language."

How could the emperor govern the country until and unless he learnt the language of the people? So he learnt the language of his subjects. He became Bengali fullyHe opined that the religious scripture must be written in people's language.

On hearing this order the face of the Brahmin pundit became dry and ashen-pale. The language of god and goddess had to be rendered into the language of the lowly peoples and the Brahmin would have to be placed in the line of those Chandals (the scheduled castes)! What Kalluk-Bhatta and Raghu Nandan could not make possible writing memoirs in hundreds, the emperor could do that within a day by his royal order! So invincible is his royal order! Having seen no other alternatives and for the fear of saving his head from severing the Brahmin ought to carry out the royal order

Since the reign of Samsuddin Iliyash Shah (1342-1355), the independent Sultan of Gour, his Excellency's direct patronization the development of Bengali language took place under royal supervision for the welfare of the people. Thereafter the name of Sultan Hossain Shah (1493-1518) became a legend in the history of Bengali literature that under his patronization Bengali literature developed to a greater extent. Though Bengali language, literature and culture per excellence had been flourished during this period under the aegis of the great Muslim emperors of Gour but Bengali was never given the status of the state language. Both Mughal and Pathan rulers in India used their official state language Persian. Sometimes due to the advent of the Seljuk and the Turk as rulers, soldiers or traders their spoken languages like Arabic and Turkish had some impact on Bengali language also. And all these alien people had their direct or indirect influence over relevant subjects. Some words of their languages got easy access to Bengali language and enriched Bengali vocabulary. Later on the English people came here, as traders but became the rulers in course of time. They made their English language as the state language of India where they ruled over two centuries and got influence over all local or regional languages. Our Bengali is not exception of it. We have adopted a lot of English words and enriched our vocabulary. Similarly Portuguese, French and Armenians came to our plain as traders or soldiers, though they could not make much headway like the English, but some of their words got access in our Bengali language.

There are regions in India and Pakistan where major language is either Hindi or Urdu. Particularly Hindi language is an admixture with words of several foreign languages namely Bengali, Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian, Turkish and English likewise Urdu has its Persian and Arabic admixture in tone and accent. Dialects of these two languages seem to be analogous. Similarly admixture of different linguistic terms played their roles towards the development of language like Punjabi, Pastu etc. So the waves of words of different languages roll round the world and very interestingly become inter-related as well as internationally acknowledged.

The history of literature and culture of Bengal seem to be though age-old, yet the making of Bangla as the state language is the outcome of a continuous social and political movement in Bangladesh. The Bengali people had been waking up with political consciousness from the backdrop of British rule in India. That is why once Gopal Krishno Gokhlay told, "What Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow".

As a matter of fact Nabab Syed Nawab Ali Choudhury was the first Bengal Muslim personality, the Zamindar (Land lord) of Dhanbari estate of Momenshahi raised the issue of making Bangla as the state language of the then Bahgladesh beside Urdu for rest of India. While in the face of Wahbi Movement in 1921, the British government was pressed by the Indian leaders that includes poet Rabidranath Tagore to make Urdu as the state language of India; only Nabab Syed Nawab Ali Choudhury (1863-1929) made a written proposal against it to the British government demanding that whatever be the state language of India, Bangla must be the state language of Bengal. However, since this famous proposal might have been pressed down under the heavy weight of those revolutionary days.

In 1947, after the establishment of the state of Pakistan there was a hectic preparation to make Urdu as the state language of Pakistan. The top leaders of Pakistan, Q.A.M.A.Jinnah, M.Liaquat Ali Khan, and Nazimuddin were in the opinion to make Urdu as the sole state language of Pakistan that sowed the seeds of discontent in Bengali mind. The people of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) opposed vehemently against such unilateral decision rather they also raised their demand that Bangla should be the foremost state language of Pakistan. On 14 September 1947, Tamaddun Majlish, a literary and cultural organization of the then East Pakistan led by Principal Abul Kashem of Dhaka University published a pamphlet, "Pakistaner Rastrobhasha Bangla na Urdu? (Whether the State Language of Pakistan is to be Bangla or Urdu)" in which preference was given to Bangla with facts and figures. Moulana Akrom Khan, the owner of the daily 'AZAD' was its chief patron.

This was the coincidence of Nabab Syed Nawab Ali Choudhury's single voiced proposal in 1921. He was also a great educationist of his time. In a Muslim Education Conference at Rangpur in 1911, being the chief guest, he categorically expressed with irrefutable arguments in his august speech, "Urdu and Persian languages are not necessary for the Bengali Muslims. If any nation is forced to have other's language as its mother language, then the nationality of that nation becomes absolutely obsolete."

However the question of the state language of Pakistan is yet to be determined nationally. Still the official language of Pakistan remained English in all respect. The contrast was that none of the leaders, politicians or officials of Pakistan then used to speak or write Urdu or Bengali but English officially. In the Pakistan National Assembly sessions on 24, 25 February and 2nd March, 1948, the only Congress leader Mr.Dhirendranath Dutt raised the question of amendment of 1935 Act as saying, " I consider that Bengali Language is a lingua franca of our stateif English can have an honoured place in rule 29- that the proceedings of the Assembly should be conducted in Urdu or English, why Bengali, which is spoken by four crores forty lakhs people should not have an honoured placeand therefore Bengali should not be treated as a provincial language, it should be treated as the language of the state and thereforeI suggested that after the word "English" the word "Bengali" be inserted in rule 29." The majority members of the Assembly opposed Mr.Dutt and his proposal was rejected. The Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan said in his speech, "Pakistan has been created because of the demand of a hundred million Muslims in this sub-continent and the language of a hundred million Muslims is UrduIt is necessary for a nation to have one language and that language can only be Urdu and no other language." Thereafter in the same year on 21st March being head of the state Mr.M.A.Jinnah spoke regarding the State Language of Pakistan in a mammoth public meeting at the Race Course Field in Dhaka,

"but let me make it very clear to you that the state language of Pakistan is going to be Urdu and no other language. Anyone who tries to mislead you is really the enemy of Pakistan." Mr.Jinnah uttered the same comment about the state language of Pakistan at a special convocation in Dhaka University on 24 March 1948. The students opposed it vehemently by saying, "Nonono"

(The author of this article is a poet, essayist, and columnist.)


Richwood, TX (77531)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun early, then becoming cloudy later in the day. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 85F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Low 71F. Winds light and variable.
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A blog for students in my introductory classes in government, and any interested passersby. You'll find news items and random stories that illustrate any of the topics we cover in class. Special attention will be paid to the constitutional issues associated with contemporary issues and disputes. Feel free to send me stories you find important. Please note that due to spam, I'm limiting the ability of people to comment on these pages. My apologies.
The Saudi British Bank (SABB) recorded a net profit of SR3.955 billion ($1.05 billion) for 2017, as against a net profit of SR3.895 billion for the previous year, marking an increase of 1.5 per cent.



SABB recorded a net profit of SR706 million for the three months ended 31 December 2017, a decrease of SR377 million or 34.8 per cent compared to the three months ended 30 September 2017 of SR1,083 million.



Operating income reached SR7.127 billion for the year ended 31 December 2017, an increase of SR218 million, or 3.2 per cent, compared to SR6.909 billion for the year 2016.



The bank reported loans and advances of SR117.0 billion at 31 December 2017, a decrease of SR4.0 billion, or 3.3 per cent, from SR121.0 billion at 31 December 2016.



Customers deposits stood SR140.2 billion at 31 December 2017, a decrease of SR0.4 billion, or 0.3 per cent, compared with SR140.6 billion at 31 December 2016.



The banks investments reached SR27.0 billion at 31 December 2017, a decrease of SR2.3 billion, or 7.8 per cent, from SR29.3 billion at 31 December 2016.



SABB recorded total assets of SR187.6 billion at 31 December 2017, an increase of SR1.5 billion, or 0.8 per cent from SR186.1 billion at 31 December 2016.



Earnings per share is SR2.64 compared to SR2.60 for the year 2016.



Sheikh Khaled Olayan, chairman of SABB, said: "During 2017 SABB delivered resilient returns and increased the distribution to shareholders under challenging economic conditions. The SABB Board and its management team has been focused on supporting our customers and the nations economic transformation agenda. The Bank remains highly liquid with strong capital, stable funding and a uniquely valuable franchise as the leading international bank in the Kingdom."



I would like to thank our customers, staff and shareholders for their support and commitment. I would also like to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to our regulators and government ministries for their continued guidance and vision, he added.  TradeArabia News Service
Jaleel Holdings, one of the UAEs largest fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) wholesalers, will construct a cash-and-carry facility within the Dubai Wholesale City (DWSC), the regions largest fully integrated wholesale hub, at an investment of Dh100 million ($27.2 million).



Spanning an area of 300,000 sq ft, the premises will include a fully integrated state-of-the-art direct sale warehouse accommodating more than 250 employees, as well as a flagship store, storage and cooling facilities and manpower accommodation in the DWSC labour villages, it stated.



The agreement was signed on the sidelines of DWSCs participation in Gulfood 2018, in the presence of Abdulla Belhoul, the chief executive of Dubai Wholesale City, Saud Abu Al Shawareb, the chief operating officer of Dubai Industrial Park, Sameer Mohammad, the managing director of Jaleel Holdings, and other senior management officials.



Welcoming Jaleel Holdings to Dubai Wholesale City, Belhoul said: "The wholesale hub offers comprehensive, modern and well-integrated infrastructure and facilities that optimizes the production and distribution of products."



"We remain committed to accelerating the development of the trade and manufacturing sectors in Dubai and the wider UAE, and helping our business partners build and grow their businesses," he stated.



"We are confident that their new facility will benefit from DWSCs strategic location and superior infrastructure to enhance their position in the market and contribute to their growth story," he added.



On the partnership, Sameer Mohammed said the new facility will help the company to expand regional presence and strengthen its status as a pioneer in food trading.



"Today, especially in light of the strong competition in the UAE market, every entity is keen to achieve excellence and efficiency in production, distribution, and transportation in order to keep up with the development goals and targets of the country. In this regard, a fully-integrated destination such as Dubai Wholesale City supports the aspirations of business operators and investors with its offering of smart solutions and superior infrastructure," noted Mohammed.



"Jaleel Holdings is already one of the largest FMCG wholesale companies in the region, with a number of locations across the UAE. This new location at DWCS will become our biggest facility, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Loreal-Unesco For Women in Science Middle East Fellowship is once again looking for worthy candidates for this years program.



The annual initiative, in partnership with Zayed University in the UAE and under the patronage of Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, President of Zayed University, aims to recognise and promote women pursuing science in the region.



The initiative supports Arab women scientists and researchers in the region to pursue scientific research by awarding valuable fellowships. This year fellowships of 84,000 ($104,231) will be given to six Arab female scientists either holding a PhD degree or are currently PhD students in the fields of Life Sciences or Physical Sciences and working in the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Yemen.



Started 20 years ago, LOreal-Unesco for Women in Science was the first-of-its-kind initiative with a firm belief that the scientific community needs more women to actively pursue new horizons. In our region, the initiative was launched in 2014; and since then fellowships worth Dh1.5 million ($408,341) have been given to 18 remarkable women scientists from the region; four of whom were recognised at an international level. Our primary focus is to enable women to pursue an education and a dynamic career in science in the GCC and Yemen, said Remi Chadapaux, managing director of LOreal Middle East.



Supporting women in the research field since 1998, LOreal-Unesco for Women in Science has recognised and honoured 2,800 exceptional female scientists from 115 countries. The foundation has honored 97 awards laureates for excellence in science, including two women who went on to win the Nobel Prize. Through the initiative, 2,723 promising young women scientists received fellowships to pursue their research projects. in 2017, out of the 9,000 applications received worldwide, LOreal-Unesco for Women in Science awarded 275 fellowships to the most deserving women scientists. The programme involved insights and support from over 43 high-level global scientific institutions; and the selection process was carried out by 353 scientists, including 31 LOreal-Unesco for Women in Science Laureates. - TradeArabia News Service
Physicians at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi have created history in the UAE by developing a comprehensive multi-organ transplant program which is already transforming patients lives.



This month, the multi-specialty hospital successfully completed the UAEs first full liver transplant and first lung transplant, both from deceased donors.



With the pioneering surgeries conducted this month, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has till now performed deceased donor transplants for four major organs  kidney, heart, liver and lung. These operations were supported by the Ministry of Health.



The UAEs first full liver transplant, which took place on February 1, was performed by a five-person medical and surgical team led by Dr. Antonio Pinna, the transplant surgeon at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. The UAEs first deceased donor lung transplant, which took place on February 11, was led by Dr Redha Souilamas, the chief of Thoracic Surgery at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.



In December 2017, surgeons at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi performed the UAEs first full heart transplant, while a team from the hospital successfully conducted one of the UAEs first kidney transplants from a deceased donor in September 2017.



Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is currently the UAEs first and only multi-organ transplant facility, following the UAE government decree last year allowing deceased donor transplants.



Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed, the chairman of the Department of Health, said: "We are immensely proud to achieve these new medical milestones in the UAE. Coming only weeks after Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi completed the UAEs first full heart transplant, this progress shows just how far the UAE has come in providing advanced medical services which enable patients to receive the very best care at home."



Our next step has to be supporting a robust culture of organ donation to make it easy for people to gift their organs. We are seeing the incredible impact that organ donation is having on multiple lives within the UAE, and are receiving regular inquiries from people looking to donate, so will work with our partners to make the process easier and more accessible, he added.



Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, part of Mubadalas network of healthcare providers, has worked closely with the Cleveland Clinic Transplant Center in the US, a world leader in organ transplantation; partner hospitals in the UAE; and the Saudi Center for Organ Transplant (SCOT) in establishing its organ transplant program.



Waleed Al Mokarrab Al Muhairi, the chairman of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Mubadalas Deputy Group CEO, and CEO Alternative Investments & Infrastructure, said: "These historic surgeries are the product of ongoing and established cooperation between a number of UAE, regional and global entities."



"They involved physicians from Abu Dhabi, Ajman and Fujairah as well as transportation from the National Transplant Committee and liaison and expert advice from Cleveland Clinic Transplant Center in the US," he added.



Dr. Ali AbdulKareem Al Obaidli, Chair of the National Transplant Committee, said: "There is growing public support for organ donation in the UAE, and this is not surprising because the UAE has a historic culture of donation in general."



"We are currently working on plans to extend this effort further through a community outreach program. Already, we have been contacted by many people who have expressed an interest in donating their organs after they die and we would like to open a UAE donor registry to the public in the near future, he stated.



CEO Dr Rakesh Suri said: "We are very proud that Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is the first and only multi-organ transplant facility in the country. The hospital is pleased to be able to repay just a small amount of the trust placed in us by the people of Abu Dhabi by ensuring that some of the sickest patients we treat are now able to receive cutting edge surgical and medical treatment without travelling abroad.



A five-person medical and surgical team performed the UAEs first full liver transplant, which took place on February 1. The team included: Dr. Antonio Pinna, Transplant Surgeon; Dr. Yasir Akmal, Hepatobiliary Surgeon; Dr. Naveed Ahmed, Hepatobiliary Surgeon; Dr. Ahmad Matalkah, Clinical Associate; and Dr. Shiva Kumar, Chief of Gastroenterology & Hepatology  all of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.



The patient, a 60-year-old Emirati man, had been suffering from cirrhosis with liver failure complicated by ascites (an accumulation of fluid in the abdomen) and peritonitis (an infection of the inner wall of the abdomen). He had also suffered gastrointestinal bleeding due to underlying cirrhosis, that underscored the urgent need for a liver transplant.



To complete the operation, the surgical team used an innovative technique, preserving the patients own vena cava (the large vein running from the liver to the heart) to reduce blood loss. The complex eight-hour surgery involved a wider medical team comprising more than 30 surgical and medical staff, including nurses, anesthesiologists, intensivists, technicians and many others.



Three surgeons and two nurses from Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi travelled to Sheikh Khalifa Medical City  Ajman to retrieve the donor liver and other organs before rushing back to Abu Dhabi via an air ambulance supplied by the UAE National Transplant Committee to perform the eight-hour transplant surgery.

Dr Pinna said: This surgery was a tremendous achievement for Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and the UAE as a whole. I personally would like to thank the entire team for making this operation a success."



Dr Shiva Kumar, Chief of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, said: This milestone is the culmination of more than two years of meticulous planning by our multi-disciplinary liver transplant team. We are pleased to report that, after months of deteriorating health, the patient is recovering well and will be back home soon  which would not have been possible without the transplant.



At the same time, surgeons from Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi also transplanted a kidney from the same donor to another patient at the hospital while a second kidney was transplanted to a patient at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in Abu Dhabi. Other organs were used by surgical teams in Saudi Arabia.



The UAEs first deceased donor lung transplant, which took place on February 11, was led by Dr Souilamas who led a team of 15 people in the Operating Room.



Dr Gurjyot Bajwa, a cardiac surgeon in Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabis Heart & Vascular Institute, flew to a hospital in Fujairah to assess the condition of the donor lungs before transporting them back to the hospital via air ambulance, again supplied by the National Transplant Committee.



The lung transplant patient, a 53-year old UAE national, had been suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and had been on Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabis transplant waiting list for three months after he was referred to the hospital from Dubai.



After two and a half years of training, the team was able to transplant the patients right lung in a surgery which lasted just three hours and 20 minutes using a minimally-invasive approach. The patient is now recovering in the hospital.-TradeArabia News Service
Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading financial hub in MEASA, has welcomed Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company (BHSI) to its cluster of global insurance firms, as part of the companys expansion in region.



BHSI has received its insurance licence from the Dubai Financial Services Authority.



Arif Amiri, chief executive officer of DIFC Authority, said: We are pleased to welcome a global player like Berkshire Hathaway into our dynamic community at DIFC. The unmatched ecosystem we have created at the Centre, together with the strategic location of Dubai, continue to attract market leaders that are looking to access business opportunities across the MEASA region.



This is a trend we are particularly seeing in the insurance sector, which is gaining increased momentum at DIFC. As the MEASAs leading financial hub, we remain focused on constantly developing our infrastructure and legal and regulatory framework to accommodate to this demand.



We are excited to expand BHSIs footprint in this region which will service those markets in the Middle East and beyond who seek (re)insurance support in the DIFC. The strategic location of Dubai as well as the stability and efficiency of the DIFC make it an ideal hub for BHSI to support economic growth in the region. Our operation in the DIFC will bring BHSIs financial strength and underwriting and claims excellence to the region. said Marc Breuil, President of Asia Middle East, BHSI.



We are excited to be able to serve customers and brokers in the region under the experienced leadership of Alessandro and Neeraj.



DIFC has developed into a leading insurance and reinsurance hub, home more than 200 underwriters, 98 insurance-related entities and more than 1,000 insurance specialists. The GCCs insurance sector is expected to reach $62.1 billion by 2020 and set to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 18.7 per cent between 2014 and 2020, emphasising the regions significance as a growth market for the industry.  TradeArabia News Service
Huawei, a leading global ICT solutions provider, recently emphasised the importance of all industries to work together and go beyond traditional boundaries to achieve fully-connected, intelligent world.



Huawei made the statements during a media and analysis briefing held ahead of the Mobile World Congress 2018, which will take place from February 26 to March 1, in Barcelona, Spain.



The media and analysis briefing highlighted Huaweis views on emerging trends in the context of its latest product launches, with a particular emphasis on 5G, said a statement.



At the upcoming event, Huawei will launch over 20 new products, showcase the results of its cooperation with over 300 partners, host five forums, and engage in many other activities to share its practices and exchange views with the industry, it said.



Huawei believes that the 4th Industrial Revolution  where ICT networks are the foundation and AI is the enabler  is bringing us to an intelligent world where all things will sense, be connected, and intelligent resulting in a digital transformation market worth $23 trillion.



However, progress should be made by all stakeholders in the areas of capabilities, connections, business, experience, and partnerships to tackle the traditional obstacles and shape a better future.



With the intense amount of focus and investment across the Middle East into ICT capabilities  empowered and encouraged by regional governments vision agendas  Huaweis developments will likely contribute significantly to the regions development of Smart City infrastructure and the total enablement of the Internet of Things.



Ryan Ding, executive director of the board and president of Huawei Carrier BG, said: This year is going to be an exciting one for our company at the event.



We will focus on ICT infrastructure and smart devices to provide a plot of 'rich soil' for the development of information, automation, and intelligence technologies. In this 'soil', partners can grow their content, applications, and cloud, he said.



Before entering the intelligent world, we are still faced with many challenges. To achieve sustainable business growth, we need to keep moving beyond existing constraints and boundaries, first internally and then externally, he added.



Ding called on all industries to go beyond the boundaries in the areas of capabilities, connections, business, experience, and partnerships and together shape a better future.



In 2018, Huawei will invest CNY5billion ($788.40 million) in R&D for 5G, and launch a full range of commercial 5G equipment, including wireless access networks, bearer networks, core networks, and devices. Additionally, Huawei will drive the large-scale commercial deployment of NB-IoT networks around the world, and increase the number of NB-IoT connections to over 100 million.



Many of these 5G offerings will be on full display in Barcelona, showcasing Huaweis ability to enable all-online data, operations automation, and intelligent decision-making. They will help carriers deliver a real-time, on-demand, all-online, DIY, and Social (Roads) experience through their internal O&M processes.



Externally, these solutions enable carriers to build a 360-degree customer experience assurance system across all channels, all processes, all services, and the entire lifecycle, it stated.  TradeArabia News Service
With the MEBAA Show returning to Dubai World Central (DWC) airshow site in December, plus the MEBAA Conferences throughout the year, the business aviation industrys focus will be firmly on the Middle East and North Africa for 2018.



The MEBAA Conferences will begin in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in March and continue throughout 2018, ending with the MEBAA Conference Dubai the day before the show opens, on December 9.



Ali Alnaqbi, founding and executive chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) said: The business aviation industry in the region has been demonstrating growth across the sector, making this the ideal time for the industry to come together to drive their businesses into the future. The MEBAA Show is the ideal platform for this, while the MEBAA Conferences bring together inspired and motivated people in a more personal setting, to ensure the business aviation community remains at the forefront of this ever changing industry, while discussing challenges and opportunities.



The MEBAA Conferences have a well earned reputation for being the industry standard in topical discussions and thought leadership, providing true value to attendees in terms of knowledge development and relationship building across the region. The 2018 conferences will prove no exception, with key high level leaders already signed on to deliver presentations and lead roundtable discussions.



Among the topics discussed at the MEBAA Conference Jeddah, taking place March 28, will be successful business development strategies for business aviation; protecting against the inevitability of a security breach and an in depth look at The future of business aircraft  designs and cabin connectivity.



Meanwhile, the MEBAA Show in December continues to demonstrate its global importance with exhibitors already committed coming from as far afield as Europe, the US and Asia, in addition to a large number of local and regional companies. Industry heavyweights such as Gulfstream and Dassault are expected to be joined by up to 500 exhibitors ranging from OEMS, FBOs and service providers.



Alnaqbi added: Its fantastic to see such enthusiasm and support from the business aviation industry, demonstrating that the MEBAA Show truly deserves its reputation as the place to do business in the Middle East and beyond.



The MEBAA Show will take place from December 10-12 at the DWC airshow site. - TradeArabia News Service
Visitors travelling to Dubai can look forward to Dubai Food Festival (DFF), the emirates annual citywide culinary celebration, set to return this year from February 22 to March 10.



Serving an enticing feast of events, activities and promotions across the entire city, the festival is now in its fifth edition, with the 17-day programme showcasing the full spectrum of dining options available in Dubai, and providing Kuwaiti foodies with an opportunity to try some true gastronomic gems.



Visitors are invited to enjoy a diverse array of culinary experiences including exquisite gourmet meals at Dubais finest restaurants, delicious treats from a new food concept at the beach, and mouth-watering snacks at undiscovered, yet delightful eateries. The celebration of food will come to life with a whole host of unique events across the city, including the trendy Street Nights, the family-friendly Kite Festival, and the star-studded Taste of Dubai, which hosts local and international chefs.



Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of Dubais Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) and organisers of the festival, said: Dubai Food Festival has been instrumental in establishing Dubai as a culinary destination both within the region and across the world, and we are delighted to celebrate its fifth edition this year. From luxury dining to food trucks, local Emirati delicacies to a world of flavours, Dubai Food Festival has it all, and we look forward to bringing together people from across different cultures and tastes  all in the name of food.



With celebrations taking place all over the city, Dubai Food Festival also brings back key highlights including Etisalat Beach Canteen, Dubai Restaurant Week, Hidden Gems, and the Dine & Win promotion.



Young couples and families can look forward to Etisalat Beach Canteen, the festivals flagship event, which will return this year to Jumeirah Beach. Located behind Sunset Mall, the beachside venue will not only serve a diverse array of delicious dishes, but will also host exciting activities for the entire family, including yoga sessions, seaside shopping, cooking demonstrations and much more. Food trucks such as the quirky Maiz Tacos and live counters of restaurants including new home-grown concepts Bait Maryam, Zapiekanka, Poke Poke: Hub 1833 and Nablus will be available for the public at this popular pop-up event from 22 February. In addition, Etisalat Beach Canteen will serve as the festival hub, selling tickets to all key Dubai Food Festival events and providing detailed information about the festivals programme.



Dubai Restaurant Week is another exciting element of Dubai Food Festival and should feature on every Kuwaiti visitors itinerary. Fifteen of Dubais favourite high-end fine dining restaurants, including Gordon Ramsays Bread Street Kitchen, Dubai Operas Sean Connolly, and Scape Restaurant and Lounge, will take centre stage, offering limited-edition three-course gourmet meals for only Dh199 ($54.1). Exclusively available from February 22 to March 3, the meals will offer diners exceptional gastronomic experiences complemented by spectacular views of Dubai. Bookings for Dubai Restaurant week can be made in advance exclusively on the RoundMenu website and app. In addition, visitors can enter a competition to win a luxury staycation at Atlantis The Palm, Jumeirah Al Naseem, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Burj Al Arab or The Palace Downtown. All they have to do is book a table at more than one participating restaurant or dine in a group of three or more.



One of the most popular highlights of Dubai Food Festival is Hidden Gems, which will give food lovers an opportunity to try the delectable dishes served by undiscovered eateries across the city. Hidden Gems will feature 10 independent venues shortlisted and nominated through public voting, and ranging between traditional Emirati restaurants, authentic curry houses from Old and New Dubai and small boutiques offering homely delights. As part of this one-day-only special deal, diners will be able to enjoy a two-course meal for just Dh25 ($6.8) per person.



Visitors can also participate in the Dine & Win promotion, which is returning this year after its successful launch in 2017. In partnership with Zomato and Dubai Shopping Malls Group, Dine & Win will give food lovers the opportunity to win big if they dine at any participating restaurants in select malls across the city. Customers dining during Dubai Food Festival and spending a minimum of AED 50 will receive a raffle coupon that will entitle them to enter a lucky draw to win multiple prizes.



In addition, there are several other exciting partner events like Dubai Street Nights, Taste of Dubai, Dubai International Kite Fest, Thai Street Food Festival at The Backyard, Cafe Society: Beat the Chef competition and many more. - TradeArabia News Service
Madinat Jumeirah, the Arabian Resort of Dubai operated by Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts, has appointed two new general managers to its senior leadership team.

Pinar Kartal Timer completes the team, joining Jumeirah Al Qasr and Jumeirah Dar Al Masyaf following Azar Saliba, who joined Jumeirah Al Naseem in August 2017.



The new appointments complete the current senior leadership structure at Madinat Jumeirah, headed by managing director Stefan Bollhalder and supported by the existing general manager of Jumeirah Mina ASalam Andy Cuthbert.



Saliba moved from Jumeirah Al Qasr to Jumeirah Al Naseem in August last year, leading the hotel team in delivering a very strong second half of 2017, both in terms of average daily rate (ADR) and room occupancy.



With more than 11 years experience with Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts, Saliba first joined the company as front office manager at Jumeirah Beach Hotel in 2006; he then worked his way up to a number of roles such as director of rooms, executive assistant manager and resident manager from 2007 to 2011.



His strong operations background was instrumental in his support of the pre-opening phase of Jumeirah Creekside Hotel in 2011. He subsequently returned to Madinat Jumeirah as Hotel Manager of Jumeirah Mina ASalam in 2012; ahead of his promotion to the position of General Manager of Jumeirah Al Qasr and Jumeirah Dar Al Masyaf from 2013 to 2017.



Taking Salibas place as general manager of Jumeirah Al Qasr and Dar Al Masyaf is Timer, who relocated to Dubai from the groups former Istanbul property, Pera Palace Hotel, and now completes the resort leadership team.



In 2009, Timer was appointed to return Pera Palace Hotel to the glory days of its century-old heritage. She successfully led the hotel team through a comprehensive restoration of the property in 2010 as well as its transition in joining the Jumeirah Hotel Group in 2012.



In joining the Madinat Jumeirah team, one of her goals is to enhance the positioning of Jumeirah Al Qasr as the hotel with the finest service and Jumeirah Dar Al Masyaf as the most preferred collection of summer houses in the region.



Cuthbert remains in his role as general manager of Jumeirah Mina ASalam and Madinat Jumeirah Conferences & Events, and Jumeirah Hospitality.



All three general managers report directly to Bollhalder, who has been leading operations since April 2017. Commenting on the new leadership team, Bollhalder said: We are very happy with the success of our new senior leadership team so far. Both Azar Saliba and Pinar Kartal Timer have a wealth of experience operating award-winning hotels, and so have been able to start off their new roles effectively and efficiently. Together with Andy Cuthbert, they have led and supported our wider teams in a successful Q3 and Q4 of 2017, resulting in an average occupancy of 75 per cent across the entire resort and more than 80,000 arrivals.



He continued: It is with great confidence that we start 2018, not only in maintaining our position as one of the UAEs most successful resorts, but also in continuing to innovate our operational experience and offerings for our guests. - TradeArabia News Service


TCN News

New Delhi: Jolted with the recent violence, suppression of Muslims and Dalits in the country and to chalk out a solution senior Dalit and Muslim leaders of India held a meeting at Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind on Tuesday to hammer out the solution to fight against negative forces.

After six hours long meeting, the participants drafted resolution to form a joint Dalit-Muslim social front which will not only protect the Constitution but also the fraternity of the country under the laws.

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Leaders and Intellectuals from both community including Kancha Ilaiah, Ram Puniyani, Swami Agnivesh, Ashok Bharti, Prakash Ambedkar, Harsh Mander, Qari Mahmood Usman, Maulana Mahmood Madni, Moulana Arshad Madni, Kamal Farooqui and many more have participated in the meeting making the number of participants more than 200.

Besides this, leaders from other minorities community including Sikh and Christians have also participated in the event.

Speaking on the occasion, Ram Puniyani said that RSS wants a Hindu nation since its inception. And now when they are in power, they are implementing their plans. If this government returns to the power, then constitution cannot be protected, he asserted adding that in the last four years, they (the government) have been dividing people by spreading fear, hate and communalism in the country with the help of social media.

If we want to save the country, the Constitution and its fraternity, we have to act as one in the upcoming General Election against the BJP. Puniyani added.

Following the event, former MP and grandson of Bhimrao Ambedkar, Prakash Ambedkar said that BJP government is constantly trying to weaken and change the Constitution. To trounce them, we need to kick start a revolution. We need to neutralize communal forces through cultural exchange, he said.

Speaking at the event, President of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Qari Mohammad Usman said, As people of India, we have right to question to the government but now that right is being squashed.

We need to expose the government and the hate which they have been spreading in the country for political gain. He added

While spiritual leader Swami Agnivesh emphasised that the recent events against Dalits and Muslims are horrifying. We have to unite to fight against these forces.

General Secretary of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Maulana Mahmood Madni said, We all know that Muslims-Dalits have been targeted from last four years by a particular political party. Im glad that prominent faces of both the community have come on board to chalk out a solution of this menace.

Today we have very fruitful meeting with all senior leaders. A lot of suggestions have been received from all leaders. Soon we will extract some of the major point from the suggestions and will move forward to it, Madni added.

The bullet points made at the event to move forward includes forming a Dalit-Muslim alliance to fight against negative forces; building a roadmap to save the Constitution by trouncing BJP in 2019 general election; exposing the government and his policies; and fighting for the rights of Muslim-Dalits who are being suppressed by the government.
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter

More than a dozen socio-political groups gathered in Varanasis Shastri Ghat on Sunday, February 18 to develop a consensus against the rise in hate crimes against Muslims and Dalits in Uttar Pradesh. Held under the banner of Dalit-Muslim Jan Ekta Sammelan, the meet-cum-seminar saw several hundred participants from areas of Mau, Jaunpur, Ahraura, Mubarakpur, Mughalsarai, Varanasi and Chandauli  all of which are part of eastern UP.

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The chief speaker at the event was Dr Shamsul Islam, a noted historian and theatre personality, who accused Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of mending the history the way they want. This practice is constantly underway. The country is turning into a laboratory of hate and violence, said Dr Islam.

Dr Islam further added that such unity chapters  like the one held on Sunday  will help in countering the attacks against Muslims and Dalits.

Satyadev Ram, an MLA from Bihar and leader of Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), said, The united voice of Dalits and Muslims against such fascist and dictatorial times has erupted from Varanasi, and I count that as a very good sign. This seminar will hold the place of a special chapter in strengthening such ties across the eastern UP.

SN Prasad, a member of Arakshan Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, said, In the idea of Hindu Nationalism proposed by BJP and RSS, there is no any place for poor, Dalits, and Muslims. Brahminical and Manuvadi forces are strengthening every day because of the patronage provided by the government.

Speakers also announced that if needed, both communities will come on the streets.

Organisations involved behind the event are Insaf Manch, Arakshan Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, CPI (ML), Rhythm All India Edrisi Adhikar Manch, Al-Quraish Welfare Society, All India Secular Forum, Mahila Jagriti Samiti, Jan Adhikar Manch, and Veer Abdul Hamid Foundation. Manish Sharma, a member of CPI(ML) coordinated the event.
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter

The Jharkhand government, led by BJPs Chief Minister Raghubar Das, has banned the Popular Front of India (PFI) for its alleged links to the Islamic State, official sources told IANS on Tuesday.

The state has banned the Popular Front of India, which is active in Jharkhand, under the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1908. The Home Department had recommended the ban, a government statement said.

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The statement further added, The PFI is very active in Pakur district. The members of the PFI, which was set up in Kerala, are influenced by the IS.

It further said, According to Home Department report, some PFI members have even gone to Syria from southern states and are working for the IS.

The PFI has in the past taken out processions in favour of Mumbai-based absconding Islamic preacher Zakir Naik on several occasions. Moreover, the several leaders related to central government, led by Bhartiya Janta Party, have tried to smear the policies exercised by PFI.

Following the murder of various activists related with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bajrang Dal in different parts of Kerala, the BJPs state unit has constantly been raising demands to put a complete ban on PFI citing its alleged links and activities with terror groups.
TMC Recognizes SD-WAN Leadership Award Winners

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By Paula Bernier

Executive Editor, TMC By Paula BernierExecutive Editor, TMC

The rise of the cloud has prompted many businesses to rethink their WAN architectures. And many have discovered that SD-WAN is the answer.

SD-WAN enables them to support their cloud applications and strategies. It allows them to affordably connect branches and leverage all their underlying connectivity. It gives them control in the form of avoiding carrier lock-in, having greater visibility, and assuring application performance. And it can address security too.





A wide array of SD-WAN solutions providers, and other businesses, resellers, and service providers interested in this next-generation WAN technology, are gathered this week at SD-WAN Expo. This morning, Rich Tehrani, the leader of Technology Marketing Corp. and the conference leader of ITEXPO, recognized many of these companies with SD-WAN Leadership Awards.

The list of winners includes:

 AireSpring (News - Alert)

 Aryaka

 Barracuda

 Bigleaf Networks

 Citrix

 Comcast Business

 Expereo

 FatPipe Networks

 Fortinet

 Granite

 Hughes (News - Alert)

 MegaPath

 NetComp Communications Group Inc.

 Riverbed

 Silver Peak

 SimpleWAN

 Sproute Networks

 TBI

 Teloip

 TPx Communications

 Versa Networks

 Windstream

 XRoads Networks (News - Alert) /ZeroOutages

AireSpring provides cloud communications and managed connectivity solutions. SD-WAN is one of several services in its product portfolio.

Close to 800 global enterprises rely on the Aryaka Global SD-WAN to deliver faster and more consistent application performance from anywhere in the world and private network connectivity that can be deployed in days, not months compared to legacy solutions such as MPLS. Aryakas Director of Product Management Chandramouli Radhakrishnan gave yesterdays SD-WAN Expo keynote speech.

Barracuda simplifies IT with cloud-enabled solutions that empower customers to protect their networks, applications and data, regardless of where they reside.

Bigleaf Networks provides cloud-first SD-WAN solutions. This week the company announced a successful round of funding with an influx of $4.9 million coming from GoAhead Ventures, Seattle Angel Fund, Oregon Angel Fund and Portland Seed Fund.

Citrix offers an SD-WAN solution called NetScaler. As businesses shift to a hybrid, multi-cloud model, were seeing tremendous demand for our SD-WAN offerings to provide employees with seamless access to their applications, regardless of where they are working, said Donna Johnson, director of NetScaler SD-WAN Product Marketing at Citrix. SD-WAN Expo provides an excellent venue to showcase how NetScaler SD-WAN combines proactive application traffic management, end-to-end QoS, routing and WAN optimization. Visitors to our booth can learn about our unique SD-WAN combination that consistently delivers a superior branch office user experience for SaaS (News - Alert) , enterprise, and virtual desktop applications and how were providing the tools for services providers to be able to offer SD-WAN as a service to their customers.

Comcast Business unveiled its SD-WAN effort in September. This service is powered by Versa Networks technology.

Expereo is a managed SD-WAN, internet connectivity services, and cloud acceleration solutions provider. We work with multiple SD-WAN vendors to design, source, deliver and support your SD-WAN network overlay, and provide the internet connectivity underlay. Optimal internet powering your SD-WAN underlay ensures you get the availability and performance you need for SD-WAN, IPSec, cloud and SaaS application access, said Victor Hou, global channel director at Expereo.

FatPipe Networks is an SD-WAN solution provider with many patents. It announced in November that it had been awarded U.S. Patent No. 6,775,235 for load balancing over disparate networks. Having gone through the most rigorous evaluation, we now have the ability to protect the company's invention on WAN load balancing for VoIP, VPN and data traffic for corporate networks. Along with other FatPipe Networks' patents, this claim ensures that VoIP, Video, VPN and all data traffic can be load balanced and failed over without dropping sessions providing a superior SD-WAN product for customers. The benefits to customers are huge," said CEO Ragula Bhaskar.

Fortinet is a company that helps secure SD-WAN environments for companies such as MegaPath. Its imperative to support and protect essential new technologies like SD-WAN that are being adopted as part of todays complex, elastic and highly distributed network environments, said Matthew Pley of Fortinet.



Granite has grown its revenues to $1.3B by supporting the needs of multi-location customers. In that time, Granite has developed the most effective methods to successfully implement service rollouts and manage voice and data products to the decentralized business community. Taking that expertise and marrying it with the best technology from Cisco (News - Alert) , Meraki, VeloCloud and TeloIP, Granite has created a world class managed SD-WAN offering. Add to that a U.S.-based NOC and customer contact center, along with the ability to provide access, voice, security and managed services, Granite becomes the gold standard for SD-WAN, noted Mark Palmer, Granite Telecommunications Director of Relationship Development

Hughes, which has a strong history in the WAN optimization space, has developed its own SD-WAN technology. The company participated in the Assuring SD-WAN Services to Deliver a Superior Customer Experience panel at SD-WAN Expo.

MegaPath launched its first SD-WAN solution, SD-WAN Pro, in early 2016. SD-WAN Pro capabilities include centralized network management and monitoring, QoS-based priority routing, session-level application performance monitoring and standard network security protocols including IPsec VPN, load balancing and failover (both wired and wireless). Late last year it expanded the portfolio with the introduction of SD-WAN Enterprise, adding capabilities such as bi-directional priority routing, real-time application failover, packet-level application performance monitoring, bandwidth aggregation, complete network performance visibility, and additional security capabilities.

NetComp Communications Group Inc. is a master solution provider.

Riverbeds CTO Brad Wood this week gave an address about how SD-WAN provides visibility. SD-WAN is all about leveraging policy control and orchestration to allow for guaranteed service, he said.

Silver Peak has more than 600 customers in production with its Unity EdgeConnect solution. The company is about 14 years old, having started out selling WAN optimization solutions. It came out with its first SD-WAN solution in 2015. Today SD-WAN is its focus.

SimpleWAN was early to the SD-WAN market. It has emphasized the security aspects of its solution.

Sproute Networks this week announced a partnership with Observables, which intends to provide complete end-to-end networking services for SMBs. Sproute Co-Founder Pradhosh Mahapatra was on a panel this week at SD-WAN Expo.

**

TBI is a technology distributor. It recently expanded its solution set through a partnership with Bigleaf.

TELoIP says it was an early mover in software-defined networks, and has been providing SDN/SD-WAN solutions for business since 2002.

TPx Communications is a national managed services carrier formed from the merger of TelePacific and DSCI. It accepted its award by bringing seven enthusiastic employees to the stage.

Versa Networks offers SD-WAN and SD-Security solutions. Head of Product Marketing Robert McBride was on the SD-WAN Expo session Network Evolution in the Cloud Age on Wednesday.

Windstream is a service provider selling SD-WAN solutions. Earlier this week it took the wraps off its new Windstream Enterprise and Windstream Wholesale brands. This effort aims to reflect the companys position as a digital transformation adopter and enabler.

XRoads Networks/ZeroOutages is an SD-WAN service provider that provides comprehensive WAN management and 24/7 monitoring. Daren French, the companys vice president of business development, was a Network Evolution in the Cloud Age panelist.

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Edited by Mandi Nowitz
State of the Blog

I'm not keeping up the blog like I used to. Posts will be here and there, as the mood strikes. Most of what I have to say is in my book. Thank you for reading.


At this year's Munich Security Conference, several Middle Eastern leaders proposed the idea of a new "security architecture" in the Middle East to help usher in an era of lower tensions in the region. Deutsche Welle reports in its article Iran and Saudi Arabia need a 'fresh security architecture' that the worsening relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran has been at the forefront of recent chaos in the region. The relationship, which had been deteriorating for decades, took a dramatic downward turn in January 2016 when Saudi authorities executed several members of Saudi Arabia's Shiite community, including prominent cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

The executions triggered violent protests in Tehran, where demonstrators set fire to the Saudi Embassy, and prompted Riyadh to formally sever all ties with Iran. Lacking official channels to manage escalating tensions, the Middle East has descended further into instability.

Toward a new 'security architecture'

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif on Sunday reaffirmed his country's position on establishing a "fresh security architecture" based on the 1975 Helsinki Accords.

The accords helped reduce Cold War tensions by forwarding 10 nonbinding principles aimed at "guiding relations" between Western countries and the Eastern bloc. The principle of the "territorial integrity of states," in particular, helped ease both sides' fears of attack by affirming each side's sovereignty within their respective borders.

Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani on Friday proposed a similar vision. "It is time for wider regional security," al-Thani said. "We can mirror the experiences of the European Union."

For al-Thani, Europe's history has shown that despite hundreds of years of conflict, entire regions can exercise diplomacy and move towards pragmatic principles to prevent conflict and ensure long-term security.

A Saudi adviser told DW on Friday that he was examining principles found in the 1648 Treaty of Westphalia, which ended decades of war in Europe in the Middle Ages, to find a way forward in the modern Middle East.

The momentum is clearly there. But how can Europe's historic experience directly contribute to reducing tensions in the Middle East?

Find guiding principles

As a first step, the Middle East could do well to establish its own Helsinki-type agreement to guide relations, especially when tensions between two countries risks sparking a conflict.

Such an agreement would "involve political and moral commitments aimed at lessening tensions and opening further the lines of communication between peoples," as then-US Vice President Gerald Ford said in the run-up to the Helsinki Accords.

By recognizing even nonbinding principles, countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran could move towards reducing tensions through common understandings and shared interests.

In the last 50 years, Riyadh and Tehran have maintained diplomatic relations and repeatedly held official visits to each other's countries. Any claims that sectarianism would prevent both sides from agreeing to a new pact fail to understand that more "normal" relations were there in the past.

As with any daring feat, there are risks in pursuing such an arrangement. But without taking those risks, the prospect of peace becomes an unattainable ideal, and may never become a concrete reality.
Yesterday in Moscow, international experts tried to understand the strategic thinking of US President Donald Trump's administration and its implications for peace and Russian-US relations. For this purpose they analyzed the documents of the strategic planning of the US administration - the National Security Strategy, the National Defense Strategy and the Nuclear Doctrine, approved in December 2017 - February 2018.

The director of the IMEMO Center for International Security, a member of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexei Arbatov, expressed the opinion that after arrival of Donald Trump to the White House, the attitude of Russia and the United States towards nuclear weapons has become much more symmetrical: "Under the administration of the previous US President, Barack Obama, there was a very big asymmetry in its and Russia's attitude to nuclear weapons and nuclear deterrence. After arrival of the new administration, positions were brought closer but still we are on different sides of nuclear deterrence. We deter the US, first of all, and it deters Russia, but our approaches have become more symmetrical."

Arbatov explained his position "Under Obama, the US declared that they were trying to reduce the role of nuclear weapons, set a goal of achieving a nuclear-free world, offered Russia deep cuts. Russia refused, saying that the US is trying to devalue Russia's nuclear deterrence, the basis of Russia's security and world status. The US focused on missile defense systems and high-precision long-range non-nuclear weapons. Now the United States is focusing on nuclear weapons - this is the subject of the doctrine. Its smaller proportion is for missile defense systems and non-nuclear equipment."

Comparing nuclear components of the military doctrines of Russia and the United States, Arbatov noted that of all the purposes for which nuclear deterrence is intended, there is only one significant difference left between Moscow and Washington: "The United States intends to use nuclear weapons if their allies were attacked by general purpose forces, that is, conventional weapons. While Russia does not intend to use nuclear weapons if our allies were attacked by general purpose forces.

According to the expert, the core of the new US nuclear doctrine is the selective, limited use of nuclear weapons in response to the selective, limited use of such weapons by Russia: "Previously, this was not emphasized, but now it says that Russia has a concept of escalation for the sake of de-escalation, and in response to this the United States will create systems and means to impress on Moscow that any escalation of the usual conflict will not force the West to surrender. This is the most dangerous innovation that lowers the nuclear threshold. It creates the possibility of nuclear war and escalation even in the case of a local, non-nuclear military clash, whether in Syria, whether in the Baltic or Black Sea area."

The vice-president of the Russian Council on International Affairs, vice president of the Center for Political Studies, Lieutenant-General Yevgeny Buzhinsky, does not see any threat of a nuclear arms race: "Our triad (strategic naval forces, strategic missile forces, strategic aviation weapons) is being modernized as planned ... Americans do not exceed any quantitative parameters. I do not see any prerequisites for starting any build-up of our arsenals."
Turkish foreign minister says normalized ties depend on US keeping promises on the fight against terrorism, Syria policy. Anadolu Agency reports in its article Turkey gave US another chance: FM Cavusoglu that the U.S. and Turkey will either normalize relations or bilateral ties will grow even worse, Turkeys foreign minister said.

Speaking to journalists during the Munich Security Conference, Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkey has lost confidence in the U.S. due to Washingtons support for the PYD/PKK terrorist group in Syria. "Our relations with the U.S. have been going through a critical period. Either we are going to normalize relations, put relations back on track, or they will get even worse, he stressed.

Cavusoglu said that during U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillersons visit to Ankara last week, the sides agreed to establish two mechanisms, with the goal of addressing issues of disagreement between the two NATO allies. One is on bilateral issues, he said, explaining that this mechanism would particularly focus on Ankaras expectations from Washington regarding the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and its U.S.-based leader, who orchestrated a defeated coup in 2016.

Ankara has sought the extradition from the U.S. of Fetullah Gulen since the July 2016 coup bid - which took 250 lives and left 2,200 injured - but without success. Mentioning the YPG/PKK, the terrorist PYD/PKKs armed wing, he added: The second one is on the situation in Syria, and how they are going to meet our concerns, how the YPG is going to leave Manbij, and how we coordinate this together, and how those [Syrian] towns and cities are going to be governed, by whom, and who is going to ensure the security of these cities and towns.

Relations between the two NATO allies have been strained over U.S. support for the terrorist group PYD/PKK in northern Syria, with the U.S. viewing the group as a reliable partner in the fight against Daesh, against strong Turkish objections.

'US must keep its promises'

Cavusoglu underlined that the normalization of ties between Ankara and Washington depends of the U.S. keeping its promises. You can say that we gave another chance to bilateral relations, he said. From our side we didnt do anything wrong. They cant claim that Turkey actually undermined bilateral relations. They cant say that Turkey acted hostilely towards the U.S., he added. He said that, under the new mechanism, senior Turkish and American officials will hold their first working group meeting in the first half of March. Lets see how theyre going to deliver, he said, warning that if they do not deliver, then we have to deal with that.

The YPG used US arms in terror attacks'

Cavusoglu said one of Ankaras central demands of Washington is that it take back the U.S. weapons it gave to the PYD/PKK. Cavusoglu said this has been a serious concern for Ankara, as the PYD/PKK tried to smuggle some of these weapons into Turkey. "And we also caught some of them in the hands of PKK terrorists in Turkey, they were using them to attack our security personnel and also civilians, he said. As Daesh has lost its control in most of the region, there is no other explanation for any additional arms supplies, he noted. And the weapons delivered to them should be taken back, he stressed. Cavusoglu also insisted that the YPG, the terrorist PYD/PKKs armed wing, should leave Manbij, a predominantly Arab town with a strategic position west of the Euphrates River. "The YPG cannot control predominantly Arab cities. They have to leave, he stressed.

He said the U.S. side has long promised Turkey that the YPG would leave Manbij, but so far has not kept this promise. As Turkish leaders have said the current Turkish-led Operation Olive Branch will eventually move from Afrin, Syria to Manbij, the presence of the terrorist PYD/PKK and U.S. forces in Manbij has also been a thorny issue. On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to remove terrorist groups, including the PYD/PKK and Daesh, from northwestern Syria.

The PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU, has waged a terror campaign against Turkey for more than 30 years, killing nearly 40,000 people. According to the Turkish General Staff, the Syrian operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkeys borders and the region as well as protect Syrians from terrorist oppression and cruelty. The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey's rights based on international law, UN Security Council resolutions, its self-defense rights under the UN charter, and respect for Syria's territorial integrity, it said.
Azerbaijan's Minister of Defense Zakir Hasanov will depart for Minsk on February 22 for a working visit, the republic's Defense Ministry said in a statement on its website.

The visit will take place at the invitation of his Belarus counterpart Andrei Ravkov.

During the visit Hasanov will attend a solemn ceremony on the 100th anniversary of the Armed Forces of Belarus, hold meetings with the country's military and political leadership,as well as visit several defense industry facilities.
Turkey's military will soon lay siege to Afrin city in northern Syria as a new phase of 'Operation Olive Branch' begins, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, addressing his lawmakers at the parliament.

"Preparations in the field take some time. In the coming days, we will lay seige to Afrin city. Its very important that everywhere we go should remain secure," Hurriyet Daily cited Erdogan as saying.

The president noted that Turkeys operation is advancing slowly because of the armys sensitivity regarding avoiding civilian casualties.

"Thanks to the siege, the YPG will have no room for bargaining with the Syrian regime," he stressed, referring to news reports that the YPG would leave Afrin to Damascus.

According to Erdogan, the siege would also result in cutting all assistance provided to the YPG in Afrin.
The European Union is ready to react if its industry was hit by US sanctions, European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said.

"We have made it clear to the US administration at the highest level that we would be deeply concerned about measures that affect the EU industry," Schinas told a news conference.

"We would be taking appropriate measures to defend EU industry and we stand ready to react swiftly and appropriately in case our exports are affected by any restrictive measures by the United States," he continued before adding: "No, we are not in a trade war".

A German newspaper reports the European Union is drawing up a list of U.S. products to target  including orange juice and Kentucky bourbon  if Washington restricts imports of aluminum and steel.

The US Commerce Department has recommended that US President Donald Trump impose steep curbs on steel and aluminum imports from China and other countries ranging from global and country-specific tariffs to broad import quotas, according to proposals released on Friday.

The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung daily reported Tuesday the European Commission plans to retaliate with tariffs on US agricultural products, but also whiskey and Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
The farewell ceremony in honor of the victims of the attack on the parishioners of the Orthodox church was held today in Kizlyar. "The memorial service was attended by about five thousand people who came to say goodbye to the victims of the tragedy," the representative of the city mayor's office said.

The funeral procession was attended by representatives of Dagestan executive power, relatives of the victimes and injured, military, Stavropol Cossacks, as well as representatives of neighboring regions and citizens.

The Interreligious Council of Russia described a perfect attack on the parishioners of St. George's Church in Kizlyar as an attempt to arouse inter-religious strife and urged everyone "to avoid any provocative actions."

The appeal points to the goal of the "terrorist and their inspirers" - "incitement of interreligious discord, destruction of centuries-old traditions of peaceful coexistence of Christians and Muslims in Russia." Religious leaders called for every effort to prevent this. "The terrorist attack in Kizlyar again and again forces all of us to pay attention to the danger of the spread of extremism and intolerance, especially among young people," the council stressed. Spiritual leaders called on "the Russian state, public and religious institutions to pay the closest attention to the moral education of young people to protect them from the extremist threat."

On February 18, Khalil Khalilov, 22, opened gunfire at people leaving a Kizlyar Orthodox church in Russia's Dagestan, killing five women and wounding four others. The gunman was shot dead by the police while trying to flee the scene.

The senior research fellow of the Caucasus Problems and Regional Security Center at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, Ahmet Yarlykapov, speaking with Vestnik Kavkaza, stressed that the Kizlyar attack did not achieve its goal - to set Christians and Muslims against each other. "No clashes happened, because everyone understands real goals of terrorists. They realize that terrorists do not represent Muslims. The Muslims expressed their position very clearly. The Orthodox expressed their position clearly either. And we can say that in this particular case that the terrorists lost. The events in Kizlyar showed that the inter-confessional world in Russia is very strong," he said.

The expert drew attention to the fact that the problem of spreading extremist ideas is acute not just for Russia. "This also affects Europe, where exactly the same terrorist acts were committed, only using cars. They are lone wolf terrorists, it is very difficult to fight with they, these loners are very difficult to recognize, unfortunately," the senior research fellow of the Caucasus Problems and Regional Security Center at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations complained.

According to him, only complex measures can help here. "Not only security forces, but the whole society should participate in this in order to recognize such people in time. It is necessary to work with young people, since radicalization of youth is a universal phenomenon. Those processes that have been started with the support of the interim head of Dagestan Vladimir Vasiliev are one of the ways to show the youth that we are fighting corruption, a thing that prevents the youth from solving their tasks," Ahmet Yarlykapov concluded.

The President of the RussiaIslamic World Center for Strategic Studies, Shamil Sultanov, stressed that the Kizlyar shooting was a deliberate provocation. "I think that it could be a paid crime, not a terrorist attack. It's not about ideas, but about the split in the social and economic situation in the Caucasus: it's easy enough to find a person who needs money and pay him to commit a criminal act. What happened in Kizlyar, resembles Brazil or Mexico, where people are hired to commit crimes," he believes.
Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs's Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) is hosting the international conference 'Russia-Turkey. Looking ahead', devoted to Russias ambassador to Turkey, Andrey Karlov, according to the organizers - the Andrei Karlov Foundation and MGIMO.

The conference is attended by chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs Konstantin Kosachev, head of Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation Eleonora Mitrofanova, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Turkey to the Russian Federation Huseyin Dirioz, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Secretary General of the Russian-Turkish Public Forum Ender Arat, President of the Association of Russian and Turkish entrepreneurs (RTIB) Naki Karaaslan, as well as representatives of academic and business circles of Russia and Turkey.

An expert session titled 'Role and place of Russia and Turkey in the modern world: interests, problems, prospects' was also organized at MGIMO, as well as a photo exhibition dedicated to Andrei Karlov.

On December 19, 2016, Andrei Karlov was killed by Turkish off-duty police officer Mevlut Mert Altintas at an art gallery exhibition opening in Ankara.

As the correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza reports, the president of the Andrey Karlov Foundation, Marina Karlova, stressed that all those who came today to pay tribute to her husband's memory was dear to her. She explained that the exhibition is a collection of photographs of Andrei Karlov. "We lived with him for 41 years, and it was the happiest time of my life," Marina Karlova stressed.

Rector of Ankara University Prof. Dr. Erkan Ibis admitted that it was difficult for him to find words to tell. "The ambassador will remain in our memory as a very modest person, who was at the same time a top-level professional who has done a lot for the development of our diplomatic ties. His assassination was a vile blow in our back, a shot at relations between Turkey and Russia, our countries, and the fragile dialogue that has started to be established," he recalled.

The rector of the TOBB University of Economics and Technology, Dr. Adem Sahin said that in the person of the deceased ambassador Russia lost a professional diplomat, and Turkey lost a great friend. "Andrei Gennadievich worked in Turkey in a very difficult period of relations between our two countries, and his openness was always an example for us. His assassination was a very big blow for ordinary people in Turkey, we took his death with the same pain, as well as in Russia," Adem Sahin said.

Rector of the Bosphorus University Professor Mehmed Ozkan also noted that the death of Andrei Karlov was as great loss for the Turkish people as it was for the Russian people. "There is no justification for killing a person, but what happened to Andrei Gennadievich, a diplomat who defended his country, strengthened ties between Russia and Turkey, was doubly mean," he said.

The rector of Inonu University Ahmet Kizilay also addressed the ceremony. "Today we are here to remember the great man, the great diplomat and the son of Russia. Today we remember him as a hero who gave his life for Russia. It is very important that the presidents of the two countries, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin immediately after this tragic event gave their assessment of what happened and said that the blow was caused by Russian-Turkish relations, that external forces are trying to frustrate our contacts, but there will be no steps back and the two countries will move forward and continue to develop their relationship. It was very important," he noted.
A demonstration by Gonabadi Sufi dervishes in Tehran protesting against the arrest of one of them has led to violent clashes with the Iranian police, media reported.

As a result of clashes, three police officers were killed. Nine protesters including the bus driver, who was a member of the Sufi sect, have been arrested, an Iranian police spokesman said.

A video on social media showed a white bus slammed into a group of around 40 riot police officers in a narrow street. The bus also strikes several parked cars as it tries to escape the scene, Reuters reported.

The police spokesman Saeed Montazer al-Mahdi confirmed that three police officers were killed and the murderers were arrested.

Montazer al-Mahdi added that two members of Basij, a volunteer militia under the Revolutionary Guards command, were also killed, ISNA reported.

He noted more than 300 protesters have been arrested, while around 30 police officers and some protesters were also injured in clashes.

According to Majzooban, a website linked to the Gonabadi Sufis, some protesters were shot by the police. The website also reported that some injured protesters had been arrested in hospitals.

In the first place, the protesters had gathered in front of a police station in northern Tehran, demanding the release of some members of their sect. According to the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI), a non-profit group based in New York, several Dervishes have been arrested in the last two months.

A senior researcher at the Institute for Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Boris Dolgov, speaking with a correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza, noted that this incident is unlikely to provoke large-scale popular unrest in Iran, comparable to the January riots. "Any possible consequences for Iran are not likely, first of all, because this direction of Islam in the republic is quite small and not comparable with the total number of citizens of the country. There will not be serious clashes in the future, especially inciting inter-confessional conflict," the expert believes.

In his estimation, the riots, caused by the arrests of famous Sufis, were due to the relatively tough policy of the republic's ruling forces. "The Shia direction of Islam is, in fact, the state religion in Iran, and other areas are in the background. Such clashes reflect this situation, since believers who are not followers of Shiism are trying to protect their rights. Such incidents of a local nature are possible, but they do not lead to global contradictions in society and the state," Boris Dolgov said.
The OSCE will monitor the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops on February 21, Azerbaijans Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The monitoring will be held under the mandate of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Personal Representative along the line of contact near Azerbaijan's Gazakh district.

On the Azerbaijani side, the monitoring will be held by Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Andrzej Kasprzyk, and his field assistants Mikhail Olaru and Simon Tiller.

On the Azerbaijani territories occupied and controlled by Armenian armed forces, the monitoring will be held by Ghenadie Petrica and Ognjen Jovic, who are field assistants of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Personal Representative.
Saudi Arabia will host its first ever Arab Fashion Week in late March, the Arab Fashion Council announced.

The Dubai based Arab Fashion Council said on its website that fashion week would be held in Riyadh from March 26 to March 31, with a second edition already scheduled for October.

Arab Fashion Week will take place at Riyadhs eco friendly Apex Centre, a white honeycomb like venue designed by the late celebrated Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid.

In December, the Arab Fashion Council announced the opening of a regional office in Riyadh and named Saudi Princess Noura Bint Faisal Al Saud as its honorary president, Tribune reported.

"The first Arab Fashion Week in Riyadh will be more than a world-class event, it is a catalyst through which we believe the fashion sector will lead other economic sectors such as tourism, hospitality, travel, and trade," Princess Noura said in a statement on the councils website.
The border of Turkeys Kilis province with Syrias Afrin district has been completely cleared of terrorists, Turkish media reported citing military sources.

According to the report, a total of 82 settlements were cleared of the terrorists during the Operation Olive Branch, a total of 32 Turkish soldiers were killed over the entire period of operation.

On January 20, the Turkish Armed Forces, together with the Free Syrian Army, launched the Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, Syria.
Seventeen Turkish citizens landed on the shores of the Greek island of Oinousses on Monday afternoon and requested asylum, the countrys coast guard has announced.

The majority are said to be civil servants and the group has been transferred to the Vial migrant center on Chios, where they will be registered and processed.

The group told the coast guard officers who took them in after they landed on a beach in a small rubber dinghy that they feared persecution in Turkey, as they were civil servants and judicial officials, Ekathimerini reported.

After last year's attempted coup, Turkey has sacked or suspended more than 150,000 officials, and arrested some 50,000 people. According to Ankara, the coup was organised by U.S.-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen.
GIA LAI  A father and son were killed when a four-seat car caught fire near a tourism site in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai on Tuesday.

The victims were found in the burnt-out car near the Sea Lake in Pleiku City. They were identified as Tran Quoc Thi, 24, from Gia Lai Province, and his son Tran Quoc Huy, 4.

A witness told police that at around 1pm he saw the car driving down a slope leading to the lake when it came to a stop, at which point the driver got out and set the car on fire with petrol.

He then went back inside the car and drove it towards the lake, but it became stuck in between two trees near the lake, the witness said.

Local residents alerted firefighters, but they were unable to save the victims, he added.

A further investigation of the incident is underway.  VNS
WarbirdsNews, it is vital for the future of vintage aviation that young people learn to fly. With that in mind we wish to congratulate all parties involved in this program. If our republishing this piece helps even one young person gain their wings, then doing so will have been well worth it! The following is a press release from the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington concerning their announcements of scholarships for flight training and college education. While the subject is a little beyond the normal remit for, it is vital for the future of vintage aviation that young people learn to fly. With that in mind we wish to congratulate all parties involved in this program. If our republishing this piece helps even one young person gain their wings, then doing so will have been well worth it!



The Museum of Flights Boeing Academy for STEM Learning proudly announced it will award scholarships in pilot flight training and college education for high school age students. The Museum will offer college scholarships for up to $29,500 annually for four years, and flight training scholarships for up to $10,000. The Museums Vice President of Education, Reba Gilman, said Thanks to the establishment of some new endowments, we are now able to offer financial assistance to our Museum students to help them realize their dreams of aviation and STEM careers.

Scholarships are open to students who have participated in programs supported by The Museum of Flight. Mailed applications must be postmarked by March 30, or hand-delivered by April 2. Complete details and applications are available on the Museums website. Questions may be emailed to scholarships@museumofflight.org

In addition to the flight training and college scholarships, $1,000 education awards are also available to high school seniors who have participated in one or more educational programs at the Museums Boeing Academy for STEM Learning. Details are available on the Museums website.

Post-Secondary Aviation Education Scholarships The Museum is offering scholarship opportunities for high school seniors planning to attend a college or university in science, engineering or mathematics related to the field of aviation or aerospace. At a minimum, one student will receive a 4-year university scholarship of up to $29,500 annually for four years, and one student will receive a partial 4-year scholarship of $4,500 annually for four years. More than one partial scholarship might be awarded. Applicants must be U.S. citizens residing in the state of Washington, and have participated in programs supported by The Museum of Flight, for example, Western Aerospace Scholars, Museum Apprentice Program, Private Pilot Ground School, Aeronautical Science Pathway, Raisbeck Aviation High School and/or other programs sponsored by the Museum. Complete details and applications are available on the Museums website.
Cards hold off Mets 7-6 in 11 to move into playoff position
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"Unrepaired clefts are a social death sentence for these individuals."

ATLANTA, GA, February 20, 2018 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Dr. Mike Majmundar and his team will be traveling to Guatemala on Saturday, March 3rd, 2018, to provide high-quality, no-cost surgeries for people with acquired and congenital facial deformities, especially cleft lip and palates. Though clefts are usually thought of as a condition involving young children, many of these children develop into adults because of lack of appropriate access to surgical repair of these defects also frequently need our services.



Based out of Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Mike Majmundar, a double board certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, founded Second Chance Surgeries, a 501c3 designated charity. By donations collected through the charity, Dr. Majmundar is able to vastly improve facial plastic surgery care to impoverished countries. "Unrepaired clefts are a social death sentence for these individuals. Children are kept from attending schools because of ridicule, and these same children grow up to become adults who have been socially shunned by their community, forced to live alone and panhandle for their survival. Even caretakers who have jobs make less than $1-2 a day making it difficult for them to even consider getting their prescriptions filled, let alone a surgical procedure," says Dr. Majmundar.



"Making a donation to Second Chance Surgeries, Inc., allows us to continue to provide specialized facial plastic surgery care to individuals with various facial deformities around the world. All donations are tax deductible. Without organizations like us, impoverished adults and children would not have the specialized facial plastic surgery care needed to lead a normal life."



"Over the last several years, we have made repeated trip to Central America to aid adults and children with acquired or congenital facial deformities," says Dr. Majmundar. "The future is exciting. We are planning expansion of the countries we visit in Central America and fostering relationships in South America as well as Asia and Africa. Increasing the number of surgical specialists to assist in the areas we visit and increasing the amount of medical, in addition to surgical, care we provide individuals."



If you would like to donate, please visit here: http://bit.ly/2o2ov2p



For more information about Dr. Mike Majmundar or Northside Plastic Surgery, call 770-475-3146 or visit us at: http://www.northsideplasticsurgery.com/



Northside Plastic Surgery is dedicated to giving patients the best cosmetic and reconstructive experience possible. The staff is committed to compassionate, high-quality care that is centered on the patient. As such, patients have the security of knowing that not only are they getting a highly qualified surgeon, but also a positive life-enhancing experience. Northside Plastic Surgery has offices in Atlanta and Alpharetta. The Alpharetta location includes the Greater Atlanta Plastic Surgery Center and The SPA at Northside Plastic Surgery. Northside Plastic Surgery also offers its own line of skin care products, called Visage MD.



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Feb 20, 2018 | By Benedict

Dutch 3D printing software company Beamler has acquired Printr, another software company that has created an ERP (enterprise resource planning) system for desktop 3D printers. Printr had previously ceased operations in October 2017.

The Netherlands is home to some of Europes most exciting 3D printing activity. 3D printing service and marketplace Shapeways was born there, as was popular desktop 3D printer company Ultimaker, creator of the Ultimaker 3 3D printer. Material companies like Innofil3D keep the regions printers loaded with filament.

Two Dutch 3D printing software companies have now combined, with Amsterdam-based Beamler acquiring Printr, a company that only a few months ago seemed to be heading for the exit door. Printr had raised 750,000 euros from investors, but stopped operation on 18 October, 2017 due to unexpected developments in the 3D printing industry.

Despite this hitch, Beamler sees Printr as invaluable to its future plans. Printr is a promising company which is pioneering in our market, said Willem-Jan van Loon, Founder of Beamler. Printr offers an ERP cloud system for desktop 3D printers. This allows engineers to access different 3D printers at the same time from any computer through the cloud. We see this technology as very promising and as a key solution for further development of our industry.

Various functions of Printrs ERP system will be incorporated into the Beamler 3D printing platform for software version 1.1, due to be released in the second quarter of 2018.

The merger of our two businesses is great news for all our stakeholders and it accelerates the market, added Van Loon. We intend to continue to invest and grow Printr technology.

Founded in 2016, Beamler works with large companies by providing engineers and product designers with access to 3D printing data, connecting them to a global industrial 3D printing network. The slightly older Printr, founded in 2014, created The Element, an external box that can be connected to a 3D printer and which contains software for printing.

Posted in 3D Printer Company

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Feb 20, 2018 | By Tess

Aerospace giant Boeing has entered into a five-year partnership with Swiss technology group Oerlikon for the development and standardization of metal 3D printing processes and materials. The collaboration will seek to advance additive manufacturing for the production of structural titanium aerospace parts.

(Image: Boeing)

In a press release about the partnership, Leo Christodoulou, Boeing Chief Technologist, explains that the companies will work together to establish standards for the entire additive manufacturing process, from powder management to the end product. The ultimate goal is to enable the development of a wide range of safe, reliable, and cost-effective structural titanium aerospace components, he says.

Within the aerospace industry, Boeing has been a pioneer in additive manufacturing, having first started exploring the technology in 1997. At present, the company says it has around 50,000 3D printed parts installed on commercial, space, and defense aircraft. Evidently, the company hopes to further its adoption of 3D printing, and especially titanium-based additive manufacturing, through its collaboration with Oerlikon.

This program will drive the faster adoption of additive manufacturing in the rapidly growing aerospace, space and defence markets, said Dr. Roland Fischer, CEO Oerlikon Group. Working together with Boeing will define the path in producing airworthy additive manufacturing components for serial manufacturing. We see collaboration as a key enabler to unlocking the value that additive manufacturing can bring to aircraft platforms and look forward to partnering with Boeing.

Together, Boeing and Oerlikon will gather data in order to establish qualification processes for additive manufacturing suppliers. The first stage of the partnership will specifically be focused on industrializing titanium powder bed fusion 3D printing with the goal of producing parts that meet the Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Defense flight requirements.

3D printed titanium components for Boeing 787 aircraft made with Norsk Titanium's MERKE IV 3D printer

The companies say their combined efforts will help companies and AM suppliers overcome the challenge of qualifying 3D printed parts for aerospace applications and will thus open up the doors for further 3D printing adoption in the sector.

Last year, Boeing made headlines for becoming the first aircraft manufacturer to install a 3D printed structural titanium part (approved by the Federal Aviation Administration) into a commercial aircraft. The part, 3D printed in collaboration with Norsk Titanium, was built into a 787 Dreamliner airplane.

Posted in 3D Printer Company

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Feb 20, 2018 | By Tess

Dubai is trying hard to make good on its plan to have 25 percent of all buildings in the city 3D printed by the year 2030, and has taken another step towards realizing the goal.

According to engineer Hussain Nasser Lootah, the director-general of the Dubai Municipality, the city is preparing to unveil its first 3D printed villa in the next two months. At this stage in the 3D printed buildings development, the city says it has acquired all the necessary tools and equipment to begin additively manufacturing the villa.

Dubai's first 3D printed office building

3D printing is a disruptive technology, one that promises to upend the entire real estate industry, said Sameer Lakhani, the managing director of Global Capital Partners, a Dubai-based private equity and real estate company.

Currently, the process is still more expensive than conventional building methods; moreover it is in its embryonic stages, being able to accommodate only rudimentary designs. However, within a 10 to 15-year time frame, it appears likely that this form of 'printing' will start to replace existing methods of construction.

Construction is one of the key areas that the UAE city of Dubai is planning to integrate additive manufacturing into as part of the Dubai 3D Printing Strategy. They other key areas are the medical and consumer goods sectors.

The city hopes that 3D printing technology will ultimately provide a more efficient method for building homes, offices, and moreboth in terms of cost and time. So far, the UAE city has already 3D printed an office as well as an R&D laboratory dedicated to drone research.

Dubai's first 3D printed office building

Cazza Construction, an enigmatic but promising startup based in Silicon Valley, is one of the companies currently working with the city of Dubai to transform the local construction industry using 3D printing technologies.

Last year, the company announced its plans to build the worlds first 3D printed skyscraper. Until then, well be eagerly awaiting the results of the 3D printed villa project.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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Feb 20, 2018 | By Benedict

German large-format 3D printer company voxeljet AG will supply more than 500,000 liters of 3D printed sand to Tooling and Equipment International (TEI) over the next three years. TEI is the largest user of 3D printed sand in the USA.

Considering all the brilliant things you can make with a 3D printer, the idea of 3D printing sand might seem a little unambitious. But for industrial firms like Michigan-based TEI, 3D printed sand is incredibly useful for things like 3D printed sand molds and cores.

For that reason, TEI has just signed a three-year volume contract with German 3D printing company voxeljet that will see it receive more than 500,000 liters of 3D printed sand from voxeljet America Inc., the companys USA arm.

As part of the deal, voxeljet will install 3D printing equipment at TEIs facility in Livonia, MI, adding to its existing 3D printing systems at its Canton, MI facility.

voxeljet is a manufacturer of large-format 3D printing equipment

TEI, the largest user of 3D printed sand in the USA, has a comprehensive low-pressure aluminum casting facility and a state-of-the-art machine shop with over 50 CNC machines. The company supplies machined prototype and low volume components in aluminum, iron, and steel to customers in automotive, aerospace, and defense.

voxeljets 3D printing systems, which are geared towards industrial production, allow TEI to carry out all phases of manufacturingdesign, 3D sand printing, casting, heat treatment, machining, and inspectionin one place.

This is an outstanding opportunity for both companies to further capitalize on the benefits of large-scale 3D sand printing for engineered aluminum castings, said Oliver Johnson, President of TEI. With voxeljet working alongside us to supply molds and cores, we will be able to compress lead times even further for our customers while also setting new records in terms of the size and weight of parts we can cast.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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I.AM.Magic wrote at 2/21/2018 8:00:35 AM:I hope the molds don't break on the way there. Shipping must be expensive, by plane?




Francis Gooding at the LRB:

Such images reveal a profound unease about the very idea of extinct, prehistoric creatures. In a Christian society, the precise place these newly discovered animals held in Gods creation was a source of debate and consternation. Were they antediluvian beings, who had been destroyed in the Flood? Did that mean theyd been wicked  undeserving of the salvation afforded other animals? Did they date from a time earlier still, a pre-Adamic moment of creation? Or had they never lived at all, their bones having been placed in rocks by the Creator as a test of faith? In 1830, Charles Lyells Principles of Geology had argued that the Earth was much older than the six thousand or so years suggested by scripture, and in 1859 Darwins On the Origin of Speciespromoted a new theory that scandalously linked all of organic life together through an iron law of competition and extinction. Meanwhile, the factories of the industrial revolution were issuing forth new, smoke-belching, roaring creations. The wild violence of much early palaeoart, with its images of frenzied consumption and environmental disaster, were symptomatic of these alarming uncertainties.

Alongside these visions of universal catastrophe, a more peaceful ancient world also existed. In much early British palaeoart, the dinosaur is dignified lord of creation not hellish dragon. These visions of a sublime prehistory can be seen as a transformation of Romantic landscape painting, and in them dinosaurs appear as the just rulers of a natural kingdom.

more here.
Glenn Greenwald in The Intercept:

In the wake of last weeks indictments alleging that 13 Russian nationals and entities created fake social media accounts and sponsored political events to sow political discord in the U.S., something of a consensus has arisen in the political and media class (with some notable exceptions) that these actions not only constitute an act of war against the U.S., but one so grave that it is tantamount to Pearl Harbor and 9/11. Indeed, that Russias alleged meddling is comparable to the two most devastating attacks in U.S. history has, overnight, become a virtual cliche.

The claim that Russian meddling in the election is an act of war comparable to these events isnt brand new. Senators from both parties, such as Republican John McCain and Democrat Jeanne Shaheen, have long described Russian meddling in 2016 as an act of war. Hillary Clinton, while promoting her book last October, described Russias alleged hacking of the DNC and John Podestas email inbox as a cyber 9/11. And last February, the always war-hungry Tom Friedman of the New York Times said on Morning Joe that Russian hacking was a 9/11-scale event. They attacked the core of our democracy. That was a Pearl Harbor-scale event.

But the last few days have ushered in an explosion of this rhetoric from politicians and journalists alike.

More here.
The Alexander Valley, that rich pocket of terrain just north of the trendy Wine Country town of Healdsburg, is calling young winemakers with ties to the region back to family lands.

Along with prize-winning pinot noirs and bright chardonnays, three wineries are bringing a particularly youthful energy to the tasting experience, with hikes, picnics, and even an Instagram-worthy yurt.

(Courtesy of Sutro Wines)

Sutro Wines, Warnecke Ranch & Vineyard



If, upon a visit to Warnecke Ranch and Vineyard, you detect a particularly artful way of doing things, you'd be spot on: The creative juices have been flowing on this land for more than a century. Located just outside of Healdsburg, the 245-acre property has served as a sheep farm, a family fishing retreat, and as the satellite offices of architect John Carl Warnecke, who famously designed the Arlington National Cemetery tomb of President John F. Kennedy. It was here that, in the 1980s, the retired Warnecke planted Bordeaux grapes in the pasture.

In the mid-90s, direction of the vineyard fell to another family architect, Margo Wernecke Merck; and in 2010, young Alice Warnecke Sutro, an artist and John Carl's granddaughter, became assistant vineyard manager. That same year she cofounded, along with her aunt Margo, the onsite Chalk Hill Artist Residency program.

In 2012, Warnecke Sutro and her husband, Eliot Sutro, launched Sutro Wines and quickly started garnering awards: Their 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, with complex aromas of black cherry and blackberry and notes of violet and dark chocolate, earned gold in the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition; it was also named one of Sunset magazine's best reds under $50 last year.



But it is only with a reservation for a tasting that one can truly connect with this family and their land, and the Sutros go about it in a thoroughly modern way. Rather than pulling up a chair in a fancy tasting room, guests (in groups of two to 10) are treated to a nature walk of the property guided by 33-year-old Warneke Sutro, who brings a youthful energy and a minimalist outlook to the production of good wine. On this hike, she offers a personal look at the 45-year old vineyards and their views of the Russian River, Mt. St. Helena and Geyser Peak. The tour ends at the country-chic Jimtown Store with a three-wine flight paired with meats and cheeses.

"It's super personal, informal, and back to the land," she says. "I think my generation is all about connecting to the earth and to our community. Raw experiences, that's what we've got."

// 90-minute tours ($35/person) are available with reservations 48 hours in advance by emailing alice@sutrowine.com or calling 707.509.9695; Chalk Hill Rd (Healdsburg), sutrowine.com





The tasting tent at Bannister Wines (Courtesy of Bannister Wines)

Bannister Wines



Another family affair, nearby Bannister Wines is also personalizing the wine tasting experience with unexpectedly bohemian vibes. Founded by Marty and Gary Bannister in 1989, Bannister is now under the stewardship of their son, Brook Bannister, who's making pinot noirshis 2013 Campbell Ranch pinot picked up a silver medal in the American Fine Wine Invitationalbright chardonnays and, as of last year, a robust rose of pinot noir with hints of ripe cherry, strawberry and rose hip.

To get a taste of Bannister's varietals, make a reservation to join Bannister himself inside a canvas tent, placed in the middle of oak savannah and grazing land and outfitted with colorful geometric rugs and patterned textiles and furnishings sourced during the winemaker's former days as the proprietor of furniture and architectural shop in Oakland.

Developing a typical tasting room is expensive, Bannister says; the tent "allows me to have clients come over as my personal guests. I really want to see the people who are seeking my wines and want to learn the story behind them and the process...The style more than fits with the environmentI think it feels more natural than a building would."

// Tastings ($50) are available with advance reservations by emailing info@bannisterwines.com or calling 707.387.0124; 1139 Sunnyside Dr. (Healdsburg), bannisterwines.com.





Picnicking among the vines at Carpenter. (Courtesy of Carpenter/Facebook)

Carpenter Wines



Jake Hawkes grew up on a farm in the Alexander Valley, and wanted nothing more than to leave Sonoma. His father grew grapes on their land, and young Hawkes began making his own chardonnay in high school. But envision a future in winemaking he did not.

And yet it was that in 2002, after working a string of odd jobs, the prodigal son returned to the family vineyards to make wine under the label Hawkes Wine. Now in his early 40s, he and wife Laura Carpenter Hawkes are producing wines under a second label, Carpenter, which turns out small batches of citrusy semillon, deeply fruity pinot noirs, and creamy chardonnays. The chardonnay grapes the elder Hawkes planted along Maacama Creek back in 1972 are still producing the fruit for Carpenter's wines (as well as fordozens of other Sonoma vintners). In 2009, new grapes were planted on the vineyard that now compose vintages such as the key-limey, melon-y, wet stonescented 2015 Semillon.

Carpenter's tasting experience caters to active groups who are eager to get up close and personal with the vineyard and relish a joyful experience. Outside in the sweet Sonoma air, up to eight guests can taste without worrying about keeping the noise to a respectful minimum during a picnic among the vines with Carpenter Hawkes, who gives the skinny on the label's winemaking process. // Sixty to 90 minute tours ($40) include cheese pairing; for appointments, call 707.385.8177; 14255 Chalk Hill Rd. (Healdsburg), carpenterwine.com








In a small portable classroom behind St. Petersburgs Northeast High School, nine young adults listen intently as Sandee Rains, a volunteer with Project Prosper, talks to them about credit reports and credit scores.Why is building credit important? she asks the class. Why should you stay within the limit on your credit card? Whats the difference between debit and debt?The students are all recent immigrants to Florida. Theyre here to learn the basics of U.S. banking system, from how to open a checking account and balance a checkbook, to how to budget money and build a good credit history.The class offers useful information and it helps me improve my English, says Nadege Barault, who moved to St. Petersburg from France a year ago. Jennie Xheni, who is from Albania, is taking the class as a refresher. So is David Lopez, who is from Mexico.To my knowledge there isnt another program like this in the Tampa Bay area, says Project Prosper trustee and co-Founder Robin Warren. Now were looking at other communities in Florida that might be interested in taking our model and adopting it for their needs.The brainchild Ann and Warren Haendel, Project Prosper is a unique, Clearwater-based nonprofit organization that offers free financial literacy classes, small no-interest loans and financial mentoring to recent immigrants and refugees.Our goal is to empower people with the information they need to understand our banking system and to help them achieve financial integration and become productive members of society, says Warren.As Project Prosper notes on its website, coming to the U.S. can be daunting for recent immigrants and refugees. Theres often a language barrier, the challenge of integrating into a new culture and then the difficulty understanding the financial basics, especially for those who have limited exposure to stable banking systems in their home countries.They know about credit cards, but may not understand about credit limits, late fees and paying more than the minimum each month -- or how important it is to establish credit history, says Warren. We also stress that the banking system in this country is safe. Many of our participants are coming from countries where that isnt the case. They wouldnt dream of putting their money in a bank or letting other people know how much money they have.Sandra Hidalgo, her husband, Carlos, Sr., and their son, Carlos, Jr. are the perfect example of a Project Prosper success story. The familys story is even more remarkable in that just over five years ago they came to Tampa Bay with relatively nothing after fleeing political unrest in Columbia.We met them when they were students in the financial literacy class we were teaching at the Pinellas Refugee Education Program, says Warren. Sandra came up to us after class and asked how she could get a small loan to buy beds and furniture for her apartment.Sandra qualified for Project Prospers small, zero percent interest loan and matched savings program. Borrowers pay 10 percent self-interest that is held in a savings account and returned to them at the completion of the loan. If they also complete a financial literacy class and work with a mentor, they are eligible for an additional dollar-for-dollar match from Project Prospect.Nancy McCarthy is a senior VP and Chief Compliance Officer at Raymond James Bank . Shes also a volunteer with Project Prosper, and works one-on-one counseling borrowers. In 2013, Sandra Hidalgo was the first person McCarthy mentored.Project Prosper offers a welcoming hand and assistance, says McCarthy. Most banks typically dont offer small dollar loans. They dont have the infrastructure to manage a program like that.Project Prospers loan program is unique in that it gives people a chance to build a good credit history. That makes it easier to assimilate into our financial system, says McCarthy. Ive mentored several people now and Im impressed by how motivated the participants are.As participants make payments on time each month, Project Prosper sends that information to the credit bureau. Without a credit history, its even difficult to get a credit card, says McCarthy.McCarthy not only mentored Sandra, but also put the family in touch with the right banking specialists when they wanted to buy their first home in the U.S. That allowed them to apply for a mortgage from a first-time homebuyer program.Last year, Carlos, Sr., approached Project Prosper about a small loan to cover the cost of U.S. citizenship for himself and his son. He wanted McCarthy as his mentor. More recently, their son asked if McCarthy could mentor him, too, not for a loan, but so he could gain more knowledge about banking and finance.Last August, Carlos, Sr., was sworn in as a U.S. citizen and then in November, Carlos, Jr. became a citizen. Now Sandra is waiting for final word on her citizenship, which she hopes will take place in the next few months.As a way to give back, the family now volunteers with Project Prosper, from serving on the annual community fundraising committee to translating documents from English to Spanish.The Hidalgo family is an especially good success story because they started as financial literacy students, became borrowers and now theyre back as volunteers with us, says Warren.Aida Sanchez was a psychologist in Cuba, but working as a housekeeper at a hotel in Clearwater when she came to Project Prosper for help. She and her husband had to flee Cuba after her husband published a newsletter critical of the government, says Warren.Many people come to this country with professional degrees but cant practice here without the right U.S. credentials, says Warren. They take menial jobs to get a start.Aida wanted a small loan to buy a laptop so she could take online courses for certification in her field.While we were working with her on the loan application, we found a used computer in good condition. So instead of buying a new computer, Aida was able to use that loan to pay for visa applications to help bring her daughters here, says Warren.Project Prosper had an inauspicious start 10 years ago, when Warren and Haendel held a small fundraising event in Haendels backyard, inviting friends and family to help them launch their fledging social enterprise.I had been an in-house counsel for a bank in Charlotte and Ann had spent time volunteering in the developing world, says Warren. She wanted to do something with financial literacy and we began talking about creating a small loan program.Their first financial literacy class was held at Tomlinson Adult Learning Center , a Pinellas County School System program in downtown St. Petersburg that offers ESOL, or English As A second Language, among other programs. Other adult education programs in the area began hearing about the classes and started asking if they could have classes, too.Now there are 20 programs throughout Pinellas County, as well as Hillsborough and Pasco Counties. Classes are held at all of the adult ESOL schools, as well as several churches, refugee settlement organizations and Gulfcoast Jewish Family & Community Services Project Prospers most recent program is at Enterprising Latinas in Wimauma, where classes are offered in Spanish. (Read more stories about Wimauma in 83 Degrees.)The organization is entirely volunteer-driven. Maxi Wood, Project Prospers program manager and only full-time employee, coordinates a team of about 150 volunteers. Most have a background in banking or finance. Some are retirees.Over the years, weve built relationships with many of the financial organizations in the area and they encourage their employees to volunteer with us, says Warren.Raymond James Bank was the first bank to partner with Project Prosper, says McCarthy. I decided to personally volunteer as I love their mission and felt I could share my knowledge. Many of our employees have felt the same way and so weve had a long history of volunteers serving on Project Prospers loan committee, teaching classes and mentoring their borrowers.To suggest additional story ideas, email 83 Degrees To subscribe to our free weekly e-magazine, follow this link
After opening her own practice 6 years ago, this attorney has developed and expanded a very significant law firm which has specialized in dealing with all kinds of family law cases in Bossier City.

Family law cases are among the hardest and most complicated legal cases faced by the regular American. Even now, many families simply do not know what to do when faced by a similar situation, and sometimes, plenty of them decided to deal with court on their own. This kind of actions is considered in the legal world as suicide. The main reason for the existence of attorneys is to help people in solving their legal needs despite a very demanding and intricate legal system. Family law cases specially, are very high staked because their solution or failure end up affecting in many unpredictable ways, the future of a family.

This is why, having a family attorney by your side is greatly appreciated and welcomed. The experience, knowledge and confidence that attorneys displayed inside and outside court, produce a sense of calm and reassurance on the families that is comforting. Consequently, families undergoing this type of situations in Bossier City must hire the legal aid of Pamela Breedlove.

This talented attorney has been practicing law for the past 26 years. Currently, she is working on her own legal practice in Bossier city where she is able to help all the families that require any sort of legal support. After specializing in family law, she has become an indispensable attorney for families under real legal conflicts. Because her primary focus is on family law, she deals on a daily basis with: family mediation to help families resolve their conflicts without going to court; civil mediation to help individual settle their disputes without causing a court ordeal; and healthcare law to protect the families rights when dealing with health related issues such as malpractice.

The success of this law firm in Bossier City is remarkable. Regarding these improvements, its CEO Pamela N Breedlove said, I understand how important family legal issues are to my clients. We make every effort we can to find the best resolution for all people involved. When disputes arise over the care and guardianship of loved ones, attorneys must proceed with care. Protecting innocent members of the family is as important as their clients other priorities.

However, the changes are not done. This firm will continue to strengthen the pillars that are the foundation of its future. To do so, first it will continue to integrate itself into Internet by the aid of the website and social networks. Second, it constantly prepares its legal staff with the latest mediation techniques. Finally, it has displayed affordable prices for the Louisiana population.

About Breedlove Law Firm:

Breedlove Law Firm is a 6 years old family law legal office that serves families in the states of Louisiana and Georgia. Its main attorney, Pamela Breedlove, has practiced law for the past 25 years, focusing on vital legal areas such as family and civil mediations, healthcare law among others.

Media Contact

Company Name: BREEDLOVE LAW FIRM

Contact Person: Pamela Breedlove

Email: barryastenson@gmail.com

Phone: 318-423-0845

Address:216 Rolling Meadow Lane

City: Bossier City

State: Louisiana

Country: United States

Website: http://www.breedlovefirm.com/


Maricunga Earn-In to be Completed

Sydney, Feb 20, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Lithium Power International Limited ( ASX:LPI ) ( OTCMKTS:LTHHF ) ("LPI" or "the Company") advised today that it would lift its shareholding in the high grade, low cost Maricunga Lithium Brine Project by up to six months ahead of the agreed joint venture schedule.Highlights- Final three Joint Venture (JV) earn-in payments of US$7.53M to be brought forward on or before 1 March 2018 for LPI's 13.8% unpaid shareholding of the Maricunga Lithium Brine Project in Chile- US$27.2M in total payments made by LPI to Minera Salar Blanco (MSB) secures LPI's 50% ownership of the JV company- Fast tracking of development to the Definitive Feasibility Study in 4Q18 will be advantaged- Future capital will be contributed to the JV on a proportionate shareholder basisLPI will pay US$7.53M to the Maricunga JV Company, Minera Salar Blanco ("MSB"), on or before 1 March 2018 to complete the final 13.8% earn-in payment into MSB.This payment will take LPI to the agreed and issued 50% shareholding of MSB, with the other JV partners, the Chilean JV Partner and Bearings Lithium owning 32.33% and 17.67% respectively.Under the MSB Shareholders Agreement, LPI's scheduled earn in was US$2M on or before 1 March 2018, US$2M on or before 1 May 2018 and US$3.53M or before 1 September 2018.LPI will retain a strong cash position after the payment, with circa AUD$24.4M in its own bank accounts and circa US$9.7M in MSB's JV accounts.The initiative to fast-track the payments comes after LPI last month reported outstanding results from its Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) of Maricunga, including an ungeared IRR of 23.4% and a project NPV of $US1.05B before tax at an 8% discount rate over a project life of 20 years; and results confirmed the Maricunga brine can now produce battery grade lithium carbonate from the pilot plant. The process route is based on conventional technology and comes with the know how to be able to scale up to commercial scale.LPI raised AUD$34M in December 2017 via a private placement and conversion of LPIO Listed Options has elected to bring forward these final three payments to complete its earn in of 50% of MSB, with all conditions under the MSB Investment Agreement now been fully completed by LPI.The Company took advantage of the stronger AU$ against the US$ in January 2019 and converted the funds at an average exchange rate of US$0.8055.This will now allow the company to further fast track the development of the project to production.Lithium Power International's Chief Executive Officer, Martin Holland, commented:"The finalisation of the Maricunga purchase is another significant milestone for the Company, as 50% shareholder of one of the world best pre-production lithium projects. Our management team continue to meet the agreed works program and we expect to meet all key milestones on the dates set by the MSB Board. It is worth noting that LPI has 50% of the MSB board, including the Chairman position and 50% of the technical team".Maricunga JV BackgroundMinera Salar Blanco (MSB) is 50%-owned by Lithium Power International. The project is regarded as one of the highest quality pre-production lithium brine project globally, with very high grades and exceptional porosity essential for high flow rates. The company released a Preliminary Economic Assessment for the project on 4 January 2018, which confirmed strong economic returns for production of 20,000t/a of lithium carbonate with production of 74,000t/a of potassium chloride from year +3 of the project. In addition, the company has now produced its first batch of battery grade lithium carbonate.About Lithium Power International Ltd

Lithium Power International Limited (ASX:LPI) is a pure-play lithium explorer and developer, focusing on developing and fast-tracking to production the high-grade Maricunga lithium brine project in Chile.

LPI has a well-known performing technical team with the experience to take the Maricunga project all the way through the development stages to production.

The regions that LPI is currently focused on are:

1. Maricunga JV (Chile) - Located within the "Lithium Triangle", Maricunga is Chile's highest grade and most advanced lithium project outside the Salar de Atacama. The project lies 170 km northeast of Copiapo and 250 km from the port of Caldera.

2. Pilbara (Western Australia) - LPI has three granted exploration tenements covering 203 km2 in the Pilbara region of northern Western Australia. The largest granted exploration tenement is the Pilgangoora tenement which is 2-3 km west of the Pilbara Minerals (ASX:PLS) and Altura Mining (ASX:AJM) lithium deposits.

3. Greenbushes (Western Australia) - LPI has two granted exploration tenements covering 400 km2 in the Greenbushes area of southern Western Australia. The tenements are adjacent to the world's largest hard rock lithium mine owned and operated by Tianqi/Talison.

4. Centenario (Argentina) - Through its Argentinian subsidiary, Lithium Power holds a total of seven granted tenements in the Centenario lithium brine salar within the Salta province of the Puna Plateau. In total, the seven granted tenements cover an area of 68.46 km2.

With the exception of the Maricunga JV, all tenements are 100% owned by LPI or LPSA (including rights to the Centenario tenements).


Investor Presentation Quarter 1 2018

Sydney, Feb 20, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Cobalt Blue Holdings Limited ( ASX:COB ) provides the Company's Investor Presentation for Quarter 1, 2018.COB - World Class Integrated Cobalt Refinery- Top 5 global cobalt supplier -20,000tpa cobalt sulphate with >20 year life- Thackaringa -natural advantage -cobalt + sulphur- COB -only primary cobalt play listed on ASX- Australia -safe and secure jurisdictionShare Catalysts:- 1 month -First cobalt sulphate samples shipped- 1 month -Tighter Resource Definition- 4 months -Pre Feasibility Study -introduce Thackaringa as a world class asset- 16 months -Bankable Feasibility StudyCOBALT BLUE ASPIRES TO BE A TOP 5 GLOBAL PRODUCERCobalt Blue Achievements1. IPO February 20172. Scoping Study January -June 2017 showed positive project potential (not released to market)- Drilled 22 diamond holes, and 38 RC holes for 12,000 m- Upgraded resource to 54.9Mt at 900 ppm Cobalt = 50,000 t Co3. Commenced Pre-Feasibility Study August 2017 - due June 2018- Drilling 13,000 m- Upgraded resource due Q1 2018- Metallurgical testwork demonstrating high cobalt recoveriesTo view the full presentation, please visit:About Cobalt Blue Holdings Limited

Cobalt Blue Holdings Ltd (ASX:COB) is an exploration and project development company focussed on green energy technology. Work programs are advancing to enable an upgrade of the Mineral Resource at the Thackaringa Cobalt Project in New South Wales to include Measured Resources.

Cobalt is a strategic metal in strong demand for new generation batteries, particularly lithium-ion batteries now being widely used in clean energy systems.

Potential to extend the Mineral Resource at Pyrite Hill, Big Hill, Railway and the other prospects is high. Numerous other prospects within COBs tenement package are at an early stage and under-explored.
Here's a look at the 2010 rescue of 33 miners from a collapsed mine in the Atacama region of northern Chile.

Timeline: August 5, 2010 - A collapse of the main ramp into the San Jose mine leaves 33 miners trapped 2,300 feet underground. Emergency officials are unable to communicate with the trapped miners.

August 6, 2010 - A statement from Chile's National Emergency Office says 130 people are working to rescue the miners.

August 7, 2010 - Rescuers face a setback when another cave-in blocks the path they were using to reach the miners. Chilean President Sebastian Pinera travels to Copiapo, where the mine is located, to meet with officials.

August 22, 2010 - The miners send a note up tied to a probe which was lowered by authorities earlier in the day. Written in red ink, it reads, "We are fine in the shelter, the 33 of us."

August 23, 2010 - A second probe reaches the miners. Rescuers are now capable of relaying communications and can send food and water to miners. Before this, the miners survive by sharing small amounts of tuna and mackerel that were in the shelter, along with water.

August 24, 2010 - Experts from NASA and Chilean navy submarine experts are called to help address the psychological toll the isolation can take on the miners.

August 26, 2010 - Miners send a video message to their families expressing thanks for the efforts under way to free them.

August 27, 2010 - Miners are told for the first time of the lengthy process rescuers expect it will take to extract them from the mine. Officials announce that they are working on a "Plan B", which could help speed up the rescue process.

August 29, 2010 - Each of the trapped miners is given about 20 seconds to speak directly with family members for the first time since the accident.

August 31, 2010 - Plan A drilling starts.

September 3, 2010 - The Schramm T-130 drill, otherwise known as Plan B, arrives at the rescue scene. The drill is usually used for boring water holes.

September 6, 2010 - Rescue officials temporarily stop the Plan B initial drill due to a damaged drill bit.

September 9, 2010 - Miners record a new video to show their families a glimpse of what their routines are like. The three-minute clip shows them in good spirits.

September 14, 2010 - Elizabeth Segovia, wife of trapped miner Ariel Ticona, gives birth to a girl she names Esperanza, Spanish for hope.

September 17, 2010 - The Plan B bore hole reaches the 33 miners. However, the hole is only 12 inches wide and will need to be widened on a second pass.

September 22, 2010 - The Plan C drill starts drilling.

September 25, 2010 - The rescue capsule expected to haul the miners back to the surface arrives at the mine. Named the Phoenix, it's painted red, white and blue - the colors of the Chilean flag.

September 28, 2010 - The Plan B drill passes the halfway point to the trapped miners.

September 30, 2010 - Rescue crews successfully test the capsule. One test subject declares it "comfortable."

October 1, 2010 - Mining Minister Laurence Golborne announces that officials expect to reach the miners as early as mid October - sooner than previously expected. Crews could reach the miners between October 15 and October 30. Officials earlier predict the date might be as far away as November or Christmas.

October 5, 2010 - Rescuers say they are within 160 meters of the trapped miners.

October 6, 2010 - Two additional capsules and a winch, a device used for winding and tension adjustments, arrive at the mine site.

October 7, 2010 - A source close to rescue operations says the Plan B drill is now less than 100 meters from the target.

October 9, 2010 - The Plan B drill breaks through the roof of the mine.

October 12, 2010 - During a press conference, Mining Minister Golborne announces that the rescue is expected to begin during "the last quarter" of the day.

October 13, 2010 - The first miner rescued, Florencio Antonio Avalos Silva, 31, reaches the surface at about 12:11 a.m. ET. Shift foreman Luis Alberto Urzua Iribarren, 54, is the 33rd and final miner to be rescued, approximately 22 1/2 hours after the rescue operation begins.

July 25, 2011 - Representatives for the rescued miners announce that the official and authorized film rights to their story have been sold to producer Mike Medavoy.

August 30, 2011 - Fourteen of the miners are awarded lifetime monthly pensions of 250,000 Chilean pesos (approximately $540), by Cecilia Morel, Chile's first lady. The government chose which miners would receive the lifetime pensions based on health, age and the opinion of the group of survivors.

August 1, 2013 - Chilean prosecutors announce they have closed the investigation into the mining disaster without filing any charges.

August 4, 2013 - San Esteban Mining Company agrees to sell the now-closed San Jose mine to pay the miners and reimburse the Chilean government for the cost of rescue efforts, in addition to paying the company's other debts.

October 14, 2015 - The group of miners, who are in Rome promoting a new film about the mine disaster, "The 33," pose for photos and present gifts to Pope Francis at the Vatican.

Miners:

Alex Vega Salazar, 31

Ariel Ticona Yanez, 29

Carlos Andres Bugueno Alfaro, 27

Carlos Mamani Solis, 23

Carlos Barrios Contreras, 27

Claudio Acuna Cortes, 34

Claudio David Yanez Lagos, 34

Daniel Esteban Herrera Campos, 27

Darios Antonio Segovia Rojas, 48

Edison Fernando Pena Villaroel, 34

Esteban Alfonso Rojas Carrizo, 44

Florencio Antonio Avalos Silva, 31

Franklin Lobos Ramirez, 53

Jorge Hernan Galleguillos Orellana, 56

Jose Henriquez Gonzalez, 54

Jose Ojeda Vidal, 46

Juan Carlos Aguilar Gaete, 49

Juan Illanes Palma, 52

Jimmy Sanchez Lagues, 18

Luis Alberto Urzua Iribarren, 54

Mario Nicolus Gomez Heredia, 63

Mario Sepulveda Espinace, 40

Omar Alejandro Reygada Rojas, 56

Osman Isidro Araya Araya, 30

Pablo Amadeos Rojas Villacorta, 45

Pedro Cortez Contreras, 25

Raul Enriquez Bustos Ibanez, 40

Renan Anselmo Avalos Silva, 29

Richard Reinald Villarroel Godoy, 27

Samuel Dionisio Avalos Acuna, 43

Victor Antonio Segovia Rojas, 48

Victor Zamora Bugueno, 33

Yonni Barrios Rojas, 50

Rescue Plans: Mining Minister Laurence Golborne described for CNN the rescue efforts, the three holes - called Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C - being dug in an effort to open a passageway to safety for the men. Plan A and Plan B each required two holes to be drilled - a small hole first and then a wider one about 26 to 28 inches (65-70 centimeters) in diameter. Golborne said the second pass would progress more slowly than the first pass.

Plan A involved using a drill placed directly above the shelter where the miners were holed up. Under Plan B, a hole was drilled at a roughly 80-degree angle into an area of the mine shaft that was used as a mechanical workshop. That distance, engineers estimated, was around 2,034 feet (620 meters). The drill used in Plan C needed to cut through some 1,969 feet (600 meters) of rock and earth.

Plan A drill was a Raise Borer Strata 950, usually used for drilling ventilation shafts in mines.

Plan B drill was a Schramm T-130, usually used for boring water holes.

Plan C drill was a Rig 421 drill, usually used for drilling for oil.
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) of Chico are hosting "Grandma's Attic Appraisal Faire" on Sunday, February 25th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Chico Women's Club. It's located at 592 East 3rd Street in Chico.

The event is a fundraiser for the Tech Trek STEM program for girls. It's been operating for 20 years, where girls going into 8th grade are given scholarships to attend a week of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math classes at U.C. Davis. They get to stay in the dorms, eat in the cafeteria and attend classes taught by women, in a camp run by women. The attendees are nominated by Math or Science teachers, fill out an application, write an essay and inre interviewed to determine who is awarded camp scholarships.

The Appraisal Fair benefit costs $8 per item. ( a matched set counts as one item). If your item is too large to transport, you can bring photographs.

Free coffee, tea and cookies will be provided.

For more information call (530) 891-3489 (the number that appeared on the Noon News interview graphic is incorrect). You can also visit www.facebook.com/GrandmasAtticAppraisals.
Dozens of Florida students will meet with state lawmakers as part of the "Never Again" movement.

The movement advocates for gun control measures in the wake of last week's mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

About 100-students started the trip to Tallahassee Tuesday.

They plan to discuss the need for stricter gun laws with legislators.

The students will also meet with Florida Governor Rick Scott.

CNN is hosting a town hall Wednesday with some of the students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Governor Scott is not attending, but Florida Senators Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson are among those expected to appear.
According to the Shasta County District Attourney's office, Redding Physician Hamid Rabiee charged with 19 additional felonies related to inappropriate physical contact with patients will be in court today.

Today the Shasta County District Attorneys office filed additional criminal charges against Hamid Rabiee.

Rabiee was a neurologist in Redding until his license was temporarily suspended by the Medical Board of California on February 14, 2018.

The new criminal complaint alleges 19 felony counts, including Sexual Penetration by an Object, Sexual Battery by Restraint, False Imprisonment, and Sexual Exploitation of a Patient. These charges are in addition to those already filed in Shasta County Case 18F729, alleging 9 felony counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Patient, Sexual Battery by Restraint, and False Imprisonment.

All of the charges relate to Dr. Rabiees inappropriate physical conduct toward patients under his care. The new criminal complaint alleges crimes against four additional, separate female patients over an approximate five year period. All of the alleged victims approached investigators independent of one another after learning about the arrest of Rabiee.

The charges stem from a continuing investigation by the Redding Police Department into multiple complaints of inappropriate and unwelcome physical contact by Dr. Rabiee. Each of the new charges involve Dr. Rabiee touching intimate parts of the victims bodies including their breasts, buttocks, and vaginal area both over the clothing and under the clothing. The charges also include Dr. Rabiee digitally penetrating one of his patients. All of these acts continue to be done under the guise of legitimate medical treatment.

The police investigation is ongoing. The Redding Police Department continues to receive multiple complaints from past patients.

Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the investigations division of the Redding Police Department.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on President Donald Trump (all times local):

4:05

President Donald Trump says he's signed a memo directing the Justice Department to propose regulations to "ban all devices" like bump stocks used in last year's Las Vegas massacre.

The president is making the announcement to curb the use of the rapid-fire devices during a ceremony recognizing bravery by the nation's public safety officers.

Trump is responding days after the shooting deaths of 17 people at a Florida high school. He's pointing to the need to propose regulations to ban the device that was used in the October shooting deaths of 58 people in Las Vegas.

White House officials say the president will be meeting with students, teachers and state and local officials to discuss ways of providing more school safety and address gun violence. Past efforts to address gun violence in Congress have failed.

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3:55 p.m.

The White House says members of the Florida community grieving a school shooting will attend a listening session with the president.

Spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders says people from Parkland will come to the White House Wednesday, as well as people impacted by past school shootings in Columbine, Colorado and Newtown, Connecticut.

The listening session is for students, parents and teachers to speak with the president about school safety and other issues.

Trump will also meet with law enforcement officials Thursday.

The shooting at a high school last Wednesday left 17 dead and more injured. Sanders said the victims and their families remain in the administration's thoughts and prayers.

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10:55 a.m.

President Donald Trump is lashing out at a woman who claims he once forcibly kissed her, saying it "Never happened!"

Trump tweeted Tuesday: "Who would do this in a public space with live security......cameras running. Another False Accusation." Trump says he doesn't know Rachel Crooks and "to the best of my knowledge, never met" her.

Crooks is among 14 women who have accused Trump of past inappropriate behavior. Trump has denied the allegations. The Washington Post featured Crooks in a story Tuesday.

Trump asks why doesn't the Post "report the story of the women taking money to make up stories about me?"

Crooks went public during the 2016 election. She said she was a 22-year-old receptionist at Trump Tower in New York in 2005 when Trump kissed her repeatedly on the cheeks and then "directly on the mouth" during an introductory conversation.

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8:50 a.m.

President Donald Trump is crediting "popular Tax Cuts which the Dems want to take away" with giving his Republican Party an edge in recent polling.

Trump tweeted Tuesday: "Republicans are now leading the Generic Poll, perhaps because of the popular Tax Cuts which the Dems want to take away. Actually, they want to raise you taxes, substantially. Also, they want to do nothing on DACA, R's want to fix!"

Generic polls ask voters which political party they plan to vote for, not which candidate.

No Democrats voted for the $1.5 trillion tax cut Trump signed into law before Christmas. Democrats say corporations - not individuals - received too many of the benefits.

Trump also criticized Democrats on immigration, saying they don't want to protect from deportation individuals who were brought to the U.S. as children and stayed illegally. Democrats say protecting "Dreamers" is a priority but won't agree to Trump's demands for a border wall.

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8:45 a.m.

President Donald Trump is encouraging Pennsylvania's political leaders to challenge a new court-imposed congressional map all the way to the Supreme Court, if necessary.

Trump tweets Tuesday to Pennsylvania: "Your Original was correct! Don't let the Dems take elections away from you so that they can raise taxes & waste money!"

The Democratic-majority Pennsylvania Supreme Court voted 4-3 on Monday to impose a new map for the state's 18 congressional districts, effective for the May 15 primary. The new map substantially overhauls a Republican-drawn congressional map widely viewed as among the most gerrymandered in the nation, and boosts Democrats heading into November's election.

The new boundaries will usher in changes to Pennsylvania's predominantly Republican congressional delegation, which is already facing big changes with six open seats.

Legal challenges are expected.

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8:35 a.m.

President Donald Trump is again accusing his predecessor of not doing enough to prevent Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

Trump tweets that's because President Barack Obama "thought Crooked Hillary was going to win and he didn't want to 'rock the boat.'" But Trump says when he won "the whole game changed and the Russian excuse became the narrative of the Dems."

Trump's tweet Tuesday included a quote from Obama saying in October 2016 that "there is no serious person out there who would suggest somehow that you could even rig America's elections." Obama was addressing Trump's claims of voter fraud, not Russia's attempt to influence voters on social media.

Obama has defended his response to Russian meddling, saying he had told the Russian president to "cut it out."

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2 a.m.

President Donald Trump is offering support for taking limited steps to strengthen the federal background checks on gun purchases.

The White House says he spoke Friday to Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, about a bipartisan bill designed to strengthen the FBI database of prohibited gun buyers.

Spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders qualified the support, stressing that talks continue and "revisions are being considered," but said "the president is supportive of efforts to improve the federal background check system."

(Copyright 2018 The Associated Press.)
Based on an investigation into the insurance product portfolios of over 1,500 consumer banks and other lending institutions belonging to the worlds top 500 retail banking groups across over 100 countries, the report shows that mortgage-related creditor insurance is the policy type most likely to be on offer from them, followed by creditor insurance related to consumer finance, risk life insurance, and household insurance. At the time of the research, which was mainly carried out in 2017, 77.8% of mortgage lenders were promoting at least one form of mortgage-related creditor insurance, with non-mortgage loan protection policies on offer from 58.8% of the relevant institutions (i.e. those providing consumer finance), and with risk life and household insurance from a respective 52.6% and 48.2% of all banks researched. "In many countries around the world, creditor insurance, also known as payment protection insurance, remains an important bancassurance product, comments Claire Michaud, a Consultant at Finaccord. "While regulatory intervention has put an end to most forms of creditor insurance in the UK, the market is believed globally to be worth around USD 90 billion in total premiums, most of which is distributed through the banks and other lenders granting the underlying credit. Risk life and household insurance also represent obvious cross-selling opportunities among both mortgage borrowers and other retail customers for most banks." At the other end of the spectrum, of the policy types considered, identity protection and trade credit insurance are those least likely to be available from the banks researched given that they were available from only 4.5% and 5.9%, respectively. However, other forms of commercial non-life insurance, such as general-purpose liability and property policies for small business customers, were available from over 20% of banks researched, and penetration rates were higher still for investment-related life insurance plus various types of non-life cover such as accident, personal motor and travel cover (as depicted in the chart on the final page of the PDF version of this press release). With regards to the insurers providing these types of insurance to banks, BNP Paribas Cardif holds the most partnerships for creditor insurance, MetLife is strong in both accident and health insurance and protection-related life cover, Allianz and AXA are leaders for most forms of non-life insurance, and Prudential is a prominent partner for banks for investment-related life insurance and retirement savings products. "Product innovation is a key aspect of bancassurance, concludes Claire Michaud. "However, there remains plenty of scope for banks to broaden the array of insurance products that they offer, especially in geographies such as Africa and the Middle East, plus some countries in the Asia-Pacific region, where bancassurance remains a less developed concept."


Today Air Malta introduced four new routes; Malta to London Southend, Malta to Cagliari and flights between London Southend, Catania and Cagliari.





Above: (left to right) Paul Sies - Chief Commercial Officer Air Malta, David Crognaletti  Chief Commercial Officer, Cagliari Airport Sogear, Alberto Scanu  Chief Executive Officer Cagliari Airport Sogear, Glyn Jones  Chief Executive Officer London Southend Airport, Dr Konrad Mizzi  Malta Minister for Tourism, Dr Charles Mangion  Chairman Air Malta, Joseph Galea  Acting Chief Executive Officer Air Malta.

Courtesy Air Malta / Photos Daniel Balzan



The flights, which commence as from the 4th May 2018, were announced today during a press conference held at the Airlines Head Office in Luqa. Air Malta will be operating three direct flights a week to the beautiful island of Malta, of which Valletta is the 2018 European Capital of Culture. The airline will also be putting on direct flights two times a week to Catania, Sicily and twice a week to Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia.



Air Malta is the latest airline to choose Londons Best ranked airport for customer service. Flybe, operated by Stobart Air, and easyJet, already cover 34 popular domestic and European destinations including Amsterdam, Groningen, Prague, Budapest, Cologne, Tenerife, Lanzarote and Ibiza.



Commenting during the launch of these routes Paul Sies, Air Maltas Chief Commercial Officer said: Londons Southend is the third London airport we serve. Southend is unique and considered to offer the most easy access to London with its direct train connection which brings you in 40 minutes to the city. The biggest advantage is the airport itself which allows 20 minute check-in and in just 10 minutes after arrival you will be on your way to London. We believe we will serve a totally new clientele coming from the broader catchment area of London. Besides this unique new route to London we are thrilled to offer another new destination from Malta. We believe Cagliari is a great addition to our offering from Malta and think many Sardinians will discover the Maltese Islands and vice versa. We are also today announcing added frequencies on Catania on which we are currently operating an average of 22 weekly flights - a record number of frequencies to/from this airport.





Mr Glyn Jones (above), CEO of Stobart Aviation, owners of London Southend Airport added: We are delighted to welcome Air Malta to London Southend  the UK capitals best and fastest growing airport. With our multi award winning facilities, frequent train services to London and market-leading record for punctuality, we look forward to providing great service to passengers from Malta, Sicily and Sardinia alike.



Mr Alberto Scanu, Cagliari Airport CEO added: "We are very satisfied with the partnership with Air Malta and we are happy to welcome this important airline in the main airport of Sardinia. The new connections between Cagliari, Malta and London Southend will help to make our two beautiful islands in the Mediterranean much closer and will open new possibilities for connecting Cagliari and London, through one of the airports better connected to the city centre."



Air Maltas Chairman, Dr Charles Mangion stated: Today we are announcing a milestone in the new Air Malta strategy. We are announcing today flight services connecting Malta, Sicily, Sardinia and London Southend. This is great news for the Maltese, Sicilians, Sardinians and British tourists alike who now have the opportunity to Customers will be able to visit these destinations through Air Maltas services. Todays announcement is another step forward in the strategy to connect Mediterranean regions with the rest of Europe. To operate this ambitious schedule we are leasing in our 10th aircraft for this coming summer season. Indeed these are interesting times for Air Malta.



Minister for Tourism Dr Konrad Mizzi commented: This is a significant day for Air Malta and a further important step towards establishing Air Malta as the Airline of the Mediterranean. As a Government we are committed to the airline and are fully supporting its growth strategy since we believe that it is an important pillar for our tourism economy. This is why we are constantly looking for new opportunities in new regions and markets in order to enhance Air Malta's network and increase the number of routes offered by our National Airline.



Air Malta is developing a clear positioning as a regional Mediterranean airline. Since the start of its operation as the national airline of Malta on the 1st April 1974 with seven scheduled services across Europe, Air Malta now operates a fleet of eight Airbus A320/319 aircraft that will increase with a further aircraft this summer.



The airline flies to around 30 scheduled destinations in Europe, North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean and carries 1.6 million passengers every year. It has transported over 53 million passengers. In January 2018 the airline restarted intra-European routes with the launch of a Catania  Vienna operation.




Questioning the largely genetic foundations of autism has ruined medical, scientific and media careers, and this may partly be because, as with the elusive schizophrenia genes, so many reputations and articles of scientific faith hinge on the theory. For instance, if a group of researchers needs to prove that pigs fly to serve an industrial sponsor or as part of an exercise in "weaponized anthropology targeting a strategic or ideological foe, all they need do is link proofs of the imaginary flight of pigs to autism to create an automatic credibility shield.

But the population with autism may be only one of many targets of this particular campaign. Autism research provides an endless supply of unsubstantiated genetic corollaries which have the distinction of being protected by the state in order to obfuscate the role of government public health agencies in contributing to an epidemic. And, of course, these unsubstantiated genetic corollaries have endless applications for political and industrial exploits.

Autism, the fastest growing developmental disorder in the US, represents more than 7% of a $40 billion dollar psychopharmaceutical market for a demographic of roughly 1 to 2% of individuals under age 25, where roughly 85% of autism diagnoses are found. Marking a condition as a public safety hazard and those with the traits as near devils is the time honored manner of manufacturing public consent for exploitative and coercive treatment and dehumanization. In other words, a wide belief that those with autism are likely to kill could effectively snuff protest against drugging mandates which Torry, Satel, Koplewicz, NAMI, the American Psychiatric Association, the National Institute of Mental Health, a steady procession of presidential administrations and the pharmaceutical industry have pushed for all along.

One example of the use of an autism shield arose from research defining the Maori in New Zealand as genetically violent due to the so-called Warrior Gene." Viewed through the lens of Weaponizing Anthropology author David H. Price, social scientists conducting portions of the ongoing Dunedin Multidisciplinary Studywhich turned 30 in 2012 might appear to have been "unleashed" for a particular mission. In the case of Dunedin, the campaign to understand the Maori synchronized suspiciously with a corporate war to gain access to oil and gas reserves on Maori tribal lands. And so when the MacArthur Foundation funded the Law and Neuroscience project promoting Minority Report style programs to identify and cull the genetically violence prone before they endanger entire regions and the planet, it was quite natural to try to link the Warrior Gene" or monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene to other target groups for various agendas: Associating the Warrior Gene to African Americans might justify a consistently biased for-profit carceral system and continuing economic disparity; associating the Warrior Gene to Africans and Asians might justify Western competition against China to exploit African oil, etc.

Not surprisingly, the credibility-shielding sealant was added to the MAOA theory when in his book, The Science of Evil: On Empathy and the Origins of Human Cruelty, UK autism researcher Simon Baron-Cohen attempts to cast violent psychopathologyby way of Warrior Gene researchas a genetic cousin to autism via another hypothesis, the zero empathy theory. The difference between the two, he soothingly asserts, is that individuals with autism dont intend the harm they do whereas the nondisabled zero-empathy gene carriers, though they really cant help it either, do intend harm. What possible difference this would make in terms of public safety response to these marked populations if the ideas were presumed true and manifested as policy is an issue which Baron-Cohen washes his hands of with a few bids for clemency for these genetic burdens on our race.

In Eugenics and Other Evils originally published in 1922, journalist, social critic and philosopher G.K. Chesterton described individuals who separate themselves from the policy consequences of their conceptual campaignsthe Eugenicist as Autocrat:

If you let loose a law, it will behave as a dog does. It will obey its own nature, not yours. Such sense as you have put into the law (or the dog) will be fulfilled. But you will not be able to fulfill a fragment of anything you have forgotten to put into it.

Baron-Cohen repeatedly assures readers of his noble intent in pushing forward his theories. If his campaign feeds questionable policy and it all ends badly, he may argue that he didnt intend for it to. Seeing hypotheses misbehave in application is an ironic risk embedded in the theory of genetic empathy or genetic-lack-thereof which also led premier psychopathology expert Robert Hare to lament judicial misuse of his Psychopathology Checklist in an NPR interview . Still, Hare makes no effort to disclaim the genetic theories which, as he admits himself, make his diagnostic instrument especially dangerous:

Mr. HARE: Im very concerned about the inappropriate use of this instrument for purposes that have serious implications for the individual and for society.

SPIEGEL: Still, use of the test continues to spread. Its now even mandated in several states. And the test has helped cause a shift in our ideas about where crime comes from, as well.

The idea that criminal behavior is primarily a product of poor environments has much less power today, in part because Hares work seemed to teach us that crime resides inside the person, that inborn personality traits like empathy can influence whether people participate in crime. Bob Hare.

Mr. HARE: Empathy is highly genetic in origin, modified and shaped by the environment, of course. But if youve got an adult who has virtually no empathy in the normal sense of the term, youre not going to send him to school to learn empathy, Empathy 101. Its just not going to work.

SPIEGEL: And when you think about criminals in this way, as people who are almost genetically predisposed to crime, you are much less likely to invest in their rehabilitation than if you saw their acts as a product of unfortunate environmental circumstances.

This is why its so important to figure out if bias and bad training are affecting Hares test to the point that it is potentially mislabeling people. After all, once someone is labeled as a psychopath, what can you do with him? Nothing but lock him away.

Mainstream media has attempted to popularize the Warrior Gene theory as science writer Josh Horgan noted in Scientific American:

Just when you think the blame-it-on-our-genes craze cant get worse, the warrior gene goes viral. The latest media outlet to flog it is the Dr. Phil show, which on April 4 broadcast Born to Rage?. From the promo: Scientists believe they may know why some people are quicker to anger than others. A new study suggests that inside a rageaholics DNA, a warrior gene may be pulling the strings. Could todays guests be genetically predisposed to fits of fury?

This cheesy talk show is hardly alone in hyping the warrior gene. In fact, Dr. Phil borrowed his headline from a recent National Geographic broadcast, Born to Rage?, which also explores the disturbing possibility that some people are born to rage. The show follows Henry Rollins, a self-described former punk rocker with a nasty temper, as he interviews outlaw bikers, mixedmartial arts fighters and other tough guys

Race, inevitably, reared its head. In 2007 Rod Lea and Geoffrey Chambers, researchers at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, reported that MAOA-L [alleles with low expression of MAOA are linked to higher rates of violence and Antisocial Personality Disorder] occurs in 56 percent of Maori men. It is well recognized, the researchers commented in The New Zealand Medical Journal, that historically Maori were fearless warriors. The researchers racial profiling was based on a study of 46 men, who needed to have only one Maori parent to be defined as Maori. Lea and Chambers reported that MAOA-L was less common among Caucasians (34 percent) and Hispanics (29 percent) but even more common among Africans (59 percent) and Chinese (77 percent).

Baron-Cohen laments the same risk of misapplications as Hare, though neither complains when their genetic empathy theories are liberally applied to generalizations of modern non-ideological, inexplicable massacresspeaking of things which end badly. This brings up the question of whether these scientists are even conscious of what theyre potentially unleashing.

In The Science of Evil Baron-Cohen offers only a surface review of the theoretical underpinnings of the zero empathy conception, including the MAOA criminal Warrior Gene theory, and tries to downplay evidence that the gist of the overall body of work supporting the MAOA theory is unambiguously racialist. The fact that the Maori are the sole ethnic group Baron-Cohen mentions in association with the gene merely amplifies his squeamish awareness of the implications. For example, Reti et al. attempted to argue that the most dangerous form of the MAOA genea 2-repeat allelecorrelates to violence without association with childhood abuse. Like Baron-Cohens book, the study is rich in egalitarian qualifiers but the real story being sold is tucked within the stats. The authors claim that 2-repeat or low expression alleles are nearly ten times more frequent among African American males4.7% of whom, according to the authors, carry the most dangerous or low expression 2-repeat allele than white males 0.5% of whom, according to authors, carry the 2-repeat allele.

MAOA gene mutations are also being associated with gang membershipthe gang-gene.

As a researcher who deeply influences public and institutional policy regarding autism and is actively setting up a theory franchise on criminality, if Baron-Cohen does not wish readers to assume he supports a racialist conception of violence or the enactment of policies based upon these conceptions, he might not have forgotten to cite arguments which run counter to his support sources, such as Zammit et al.s critique of the MAOA hypothesis, Misconceptions about geneenvironment interactions in psychiatry:

MAOA x maltreatment on antisocial or violent behaviour

An interaction between variation in the monoamine oxidase A gene (MAOA) and childhood maltreatment on antisocial and violent behaviour in males was reported,17 such that the effect of maltreatment was greater with the low-activity variants of MAOA compared to those with high activity. Again, this relationship was greater than multiplicative.

Of 11 studies that have since examined this in males (see online supplement), only 4 have examined whether this relationship was indeed greater than multiplicative. Of these, 3 found no evidence for such a relationship, while 1 found support present only when reporting a 1-tailed p value. Of 10 studies that examined additive models, 5 reported evidence of a greater than additive effect (2 of these in subgroup analyses only), 4 found no evidence and 1 found evidence of an interaction but in the opposite direction to that originally reported. In samples that also included females, 1 study examined a multiplicative relationship and found an interaction in the opposite direction. Of 6 studies that examined additive models, 2 found evidence of a greater than additive effect, 3 failed to do so and 1 found an effect in the opposite direction. Studies finding, or failing to find evidence of interaction were equable in size.

In the closing passage of his 1998 book, Murderous Science: Elimination by Scientific Selection of Jews, Gypsies, and Others in Germany, 1933-1945, Cologne geneticist Benno Muller-Hill leaves readers with a final warning that MAOA gene research would likely be where the new eugenics reared its head. For unknown reasons, when Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press republished Muller-Hills book in English, the original title Todliche Wissenschaft. Die Aussonderung von Juden, Zigeunern und Geisteskranken 1933-1945 was changed in a way that dulled the impact ofthe authors essential premise: rather than Others, the final category in theoriginal German title, Geisteskranken, literally translates as the insane, aka, the mentally disabled. The omission is a bit stunning since Muller-Hills book is widely considered the first comprehensive chronicle of the mass extermination of the disabled under Nazi eugenic policies. But the editorial blunting of Muller-Hills intent to include mental disability in a litany of targets of eugenic racialism isnt surprising considering that the current direction of commercial genetics grossly contradicts the deep-seated need of modern commercial science to characterize its campaigns as humanistic, enlightened and unbiased: continuing weaponized research against specifically racial groups often cut its teeth on weaponized research targeting the disabled and vice-versa.

Baron-Cohen is deeply alarmed when critics infer hes a eugenicist policy shill. Given the implications of Baron-Cohens choice of supporting sources and disavowal of responsibility for any unfortunate outcomes arising from his theories, its fascinating that he feels the need to step clear of the intended targets by assuring his readers in the books dedication that, quite unlike the Maori (and, implicitly, other less favored ethnicities), violent psychopaths and individuals with autism, he is genetically bequeathed with empathy which he equates to a pot of gold inherited from his grandmother.

Its become very fashionable for autism and mental health pundits to brandish a badge of empathy as if this affirmed elite genetic fitness for the role of institutional policy maker. In an interview for Gelf Magazine in 2009, vaccine defender, front group blogger, overnight autism expert and Panic Virus author Seth Mnookin, who relies on Baron-Cohens work in his support sources, waves his own empathy badge at the proverbial genetic ivory tower security scanner: I find myself being incredibly empathetic; its very easy for me to see the world from someones perspective. I find myself bending over backwards in my head to see their side

Its also fascinating how small this world of euphemistic autocrats becomes once the focus is narrowed to the supposed bridge between autism and violence genes: one of the lead authors of a phase of Dunedin Maori research cited by science writer Josh Horgan was Sir Michael Rutter another impaired empathy/autism expert. This is the same Sir Michael Rutter who acted as star witness against Dr. Andrew Wakefield at the General Medical Council proceeding, as well as the same who balked at discussing the ethics of the use of spinal tap on autistic subjects since Rutter himself had performed precisely this type of research years earlier. Rutter was co-author of the book, Sex Differences in Antisocial Behavior: Conduct Disorder, Deliquency and Violence in the Dunedin Longitudinal Study along with husband-wife researchers Avshalom Caspi and Terrie Moffit, whose work the MAOA Warrior Gene theory is pinioned on.

Its curious, given the focus on empathy, that extreme poverty and rampant, enduring racial discrimination in New Zealand were not featured as identifiable contributors to what Dunedin study authors categorize as mood disorder or depressive disease, i.e., sadness, among the Maori of Dunedinjust as Baron-Cohen and institutional and commercial scientists refuse to correlate pharmaceuticals to modern epidemics.

The autism epidemic is useful as a fear pitch for a range of ideological and product campaigns because the condition itself and the shock value of visible prevalence blind the public with terror but only as long as the terrifying numbers are not actually identified as epidemic. Instead the public are being told theyre simply seeing more cases because these individuals are no longer hidden in institutions in our perhaps excessively (its implied, given the supposed danger) empathic and magnanimous age. But if the public believes that autism can happen in any familywhich a genuine rise implies those whose families are not yet impacted are less likely to support coercive management of affected or dubiously genetically related populations on the chance they could be condemning members of their own family one day. In short, coercive approaches and demonization might be frustrated by a prevailing there but for the Grace of God go I perception.

As an officially sanctioned and protected sealant for weaponized genetics one that cannot be peeled off, inspected or questionedaligning any condition to autism can be used to designate certain groups of people as inherently dangerous, lacking in empathy, less worthy and therefore exploitable and disposable. Black and white, angels and devils, us and themthe all-purpose absolutes which have served every form of social coercion, political turf battle, preemptive war and expansionism from time immemorial. If history is any guide, the more the autism sealant is applied for these purposes, the more good research money will go after bad and the more violently the doctrine will be defended until it becomes a sacrosanct core of institutional ideology. Anyone who believes in separation of church and state should be seriously concerned.

Theres no way around it: in terms of industry and institutional science, autism is becoming the mark of the devil along with the classic frothing finger-pointers differentiating their own worthy credentials.

As an estimated three or more individuals with special needs are killed every week in US schools and institutions due to abusive practices; as the news reports more and more children with autism arrested in schools, brutalized by police, denied organ transplants, found face down in ponds and subjected to a lottery for services; and as disability services around the country are trimmed to the bone; as the US drops to #49 on the world infant mortality index; as 1 in 8 children of Somali immigrants in Minnesota are diagnosed with autism and the national rate soars beyond the official 1 in 88; and as toddlers are drugged with increasing frequency, the act of binding together every frightening human impulse and condition with the autism sealant also protects societal conscience: we can cut our losses because the bulk of human evil can be found rolled up in a few tidy gene sequences which science has become suddenly divinely adept at identifying. Baron-Cohen argues, rather than there being some runaway escalation of autism, we have year by year simply become better at detection.

Since theres no such thing as a genetic epidemic, attempts to explain away the catastrophic rise in autism and a nearly parallel rise in violent insanity as due to increased recognition or diagnostic substitution seem like a genomic version of the End of Days, complete with genetically determined zero-empathy massacrists as a sort of collective Anti-Christ and the scientific Second Coming separating the genetically worthy wheat from the genetically unworthy chaff in a ramped up selection. The Enlightened Rapture has come at last.

Even the genetically founded self-esteem campaign promoted by some high functioning adult self-advocates with autism or neurodiverse falls into the same schema. By denying the existence of an epidemic or that the majority of those affected are not high functioning and often suffer early mortality, and by drafting dead celebrities like Einstein and Mozart to autism in order to portray the condition as a type of technologically proficient genetic master race that has always existed and is responsible for nearly all human innovation, neurodiverse are basically characterizing themselves as something akin to the Wise Virgins: the chosen who lead the Ascension to a progressive, techno-centric paradise, leaving behind the less fit among their own ranks. Oddly enough, in the Book of Revelations, the unfit are those deemed too foolish to power up their gadgets.







In real life, a self advocate member of the neurodiversity movement and panel member of the federal Inter-agency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) voted against a medical code for deadly wandering among children with more severe or debilitating forms of autism on the grounds that such a code might impinge on "self determination" and issued objections to autism being framed as a medical condition.

Currently theres an ICD-9 code and "Silver Alert" only for adults with dementia, for whom wandering is considered a potential feature of the medical condition, though no medical code for parents to provide to schools, state programs or insurers to access services and resources for affected children who, though many may be on the severe end of the spectrum, frequently display Houdini-ish skills in breaching locked windows, doors and gated yards or may bolt so quickly from caretakers that they're able to wander into danger. Children with autism who wander currently don't qualify for Amber Alerts, though weekly reports of deaths by drowning and exposure have become seasonal norms in the US.

Although 90% of autism parents polled reported their affected children have wandered into harms way, the neurodiverse disdain the claim that the majority of individuals with autism are so impaired that they lack the self determination to prevent them from bolting onto a highway at night or into an icy lake. Furthermore, requisite data collection for an ICD-9 code would prove that the rate of wandering and wandering deaths among affected individuals is a very new phenomenon. But this statistical reality of autism clashes with the neurodiverse view of autism as simply a genetic "difference" that has always existed and is even, in adaptive genetic terms, superior in some ways. And so the "Wise Virgins" deny resources to the "foolish" and don't speak up when God/government denies their existence. But the neurodiverse view fails to grasp that the creation of genetic castes is the underpinning of any tribalist social order by which the disabled have always been marginalized and disposed of cast into the lake, so to speak, where children with autism are too often found face-down and dead.

Its more than a little ironic that the neurodiverse frequently pin their genetic defenses and denial of environmental cause on the work of commercial scientists like Baron-Cohen, Sir Michael Rutter and Michael Fitzgerald who, out of the other sides of their mouths, promote various versions of the zero empathy association. But if ignoring the suffering of the least fortunate were simply chalked up to more proof that individuals with autism lack empathy, it doesnt seem to be much of a distinguishing feature since the same is typical in the field of autism research itself: it was just more casting into the lake of fire when commercial researchers fell on the vasopressin gene theory of ruthlessness and criminality and linked the concept to autism.

Environmental pituitary damage may very well be a feature of the array of physiological injuries involved in autism since a rash of research has linked autism to reduced oxytocin no surprise since both oxytocin and vasopressin are released into the blood via the pituitary from the same neurons as a key mechanism of the central autonomic network. Whatever the cause, some individuals with autism may have abnormal vasopressin. Impaired vasopressin may be a biomarker for Alzheimers as well.

Being tested could potentially save lives among those with or without cognitive disability because impaired vasopressinotherwise known as the antidiuretic hormone or ADH which is critical in preventing the body from squandering water from the kidneys when theres a risk of dehydration or electrolyte imbalancecan lead to increased risk of serious illness, more extreme complications in autism-associated diseases like mastocytosis or death from hypernatremia, catabolic and hypovolemic stress. Detection and treatment of abnormal vasopressin would hardly be a cure-all for conditions with complex medical profiles like autism, but some believe it could partly explain incontinence in certain neurological syndromes, lowered seizure threshold, cardiac insufficiency and heat intolerance among other things. Theres an old, relatively safe drug to treat it. But because potential medical risks of low ADH were not included in the media fanfare over vasopressin criminal gene research, many might be afraid to test for the marker.

During the Second World War, on one side of the Russian Front lay absurd Nazi eugenic nature theories condemning the mentally and physically disabled as dangers to society and to the purity of the race; on the other side lurked Stalinist promotion of Lamarckian geneticsthe idea that acquired personality traits (e.g., bourgeois corruption) can be passed on to offspring, adulterating the purity of society. As Pulitzer-winning journalist, political activist and former Harvard seminarian Chris Hedges stresses in When Atheism Becomes Religion: Americas New Fundamentalism, both bad seed views, like two sides of the same coin, were used to rationalize torture, grotesque human experimentation and the wiping out of entire families and ethnicities on the concept that all evil lay within recognizably tainted evolutionary strains of human beings.

The terms totalitarian, fascist, etc., are overused and worn thin as moral hostage takers in the current political climate, though as philosopher Tzvetan Todorov suggests, the era crystalized a still persisting danger of parareligious scientism. What appears to set 20th century totalitarianism apart from other historical instances of mass injustice is that the externalization of evil from us to them was justified in scientific-sounding language. Considering the choices left to those with autism and families of environmentally injured children in calling for support for challenges and health issues, and considering the estimated six-fold increase in early mortality among affected individuals by a number of causes, many of them preventable, the autism community as a whole are a bit like refugees trapped on a battle front caught between deadly scientific-sounding ideology to the east and more deadly scientific-sounding ideology to the westor left and right as the case may be. In viewing autism, the demonizing pseudosciencethe fronts can be swapped and switched or sometimes combined according to convenience. And so a bastardized hybrid of Lamarckian and Mendelian genetics has come together in the recent theory that autism mothers are, as Bettelheim claimed, emotionally cold (refrigerated), but due to a defective vasopressin gene linked to sociopathic greed and violent psychopathology.

Disclosure of actual medical ramifications and causes of impaired vasopressin could get in the way of marketing behavior control drugs for designated conditions, many of which reduce the expression of vasopressin/ADH, effectively increasing risk of the above complications. Also mercury is known to impair vasopressin secretion from the pituitarya fact which, if disclosed, could lead to another profit inhibitor: prevention. But more importantly, admitting to physiological injuries and medical complications in autism detracts from the purely genetic-psychiatric paradigm which is so crucial to marginalizing and targeting groups of people through the concept of genetically programmed devils. Its only a matter of time before industry-sponsored teams of geneticists and social scientists attempt to link the vasopressin gene to other strategic foes or targets in order to justify exploiting their labor, taking their land or bombing them to Kingdom Come for oil or other resources.

The theories and choice of targets give away a great deal. Even the Manchurian candidate theory for mass shootings has an element of externalization in that it attributes evil conscious intent to all of its engineers. That doesnt mean the Hoover era drug and brainwashing experiments didnt happen or that they arent continuing in some form or even that current happy pills arent potentially the mass marketed end result of those now declassified social control experiments. But what if the conscious intent of so many secondary agents pushing certain risky pharmaceuticals in our culturefrom school nurses to family doctors to public health officialsis to help?

In Why Progressives Dont Get Autism, Age of Autism author and Editor Dan Olmsted wrote,

Progressivism, the idea that government can and should intervene to improve the lives of its citizens, arose early in the last century in response to the Darwinian excesses of Industrial Revolution, laissez-faire capitalism  child labor, abject poverty in the elderly, untaxed corporate profits that went right back into the pockets of the richest. It peaked during the New Deal, then plummeted during Reagan  Government is not the solution to the problem, government IS the problem, he famously said.

While this political philosophy waxes and wanes, as it should, I would argue that the word has a wider meaning now  that our country, great as it is and has been, faces challenges and problems that can be addressed by doing something, by making progress, sometimes but not necessarily led or funded by government. So its not so much a left-right issue as one of the static status quo versus the impulse to improve on it.

The conspiracy for good also doesnt mean more aggressive unconscious motives cant underlie benevolent intentions or that good intentions exonerate action, but if we endow the majority of capitulators with anything other than a devious conscious intent to control for the purposes of exploitation and destruction as part of some vast conspiracy, that would make them too much like us. There are criminals in every institution and conspiracies exist, but these are always sold to the bulk of those carrying them out as necessary means to some beneficial end.

The point is that belief in the bad seed theory of genetic disorder or criminality articulates a universal human impulse to externalize and quarantine evil in order to feel assured of our complete separateness from it. The plea of many humanist philosophers is that only through recognizing the universality of the impulse and the rationalizations it hides under can it be impeded. If something can happen to anyone given various environmental conditions (such as upbringing or trauma or toxic assault), its no longer possible to displace the capacity for defect, sin and crime or to divert self-scrutiny. Frau Koma is really nothing other than a lurid parable for the externalization of evil.

Externalization of evil is one of the earmarks of fundamentalist fanaticism as much as more serious theology and scientific inquiry, if they have anything in common, are defined by self-scrutiny and humility in facing, as Hedges puts it, that there are forces in the universe which will always lie beyond the capacity of the human mind. He argues that while more deeply considered theology and evolutionary theory share a view of collective human nature as fixed, the ultimate mark of fundamentalism and the root of every utopian scheme that ever existed is the idea that the human race is perfectible. What would better sum up the pharmaceutical sales pitch other than the fanatical idea that we can drug or plan away everything that makes us human? And the first step on the way to the shining future has always been the identification of those castes which hold back human progress and upon whom all human weakness and evil are externalized.

This also isnt to say that factors which trigger violent impulses and cause suffering cant be addressed in what 20th Century philosopher Karl Raimund Popper regarded as piecemeal social engineering as opposed to Utopian engineering, which Popper equates to Platos conception for the perfectibility of the race, the precursor of eugenics. In The Open Society and Its Enemies: The Spell of Plato, Part 1, Popper warns about the greater good doctrine:

Before proceeding to criticize Utopian engineering in detail, I wish to outline another approach, namely that of piecemeal engineering. It is an approach which I think to be methologically sound. The politician who adopts this method may or may not have a blueprint of society before his mind. He may or may not hope that humanity will reach an ideal state, and achieve happiness and perfection on earth. But he will be aware that perfection, if at all attainable, is far distant, and that every generation of men, and also the living, have a claim; perhaps not so much to be made happy, for there are no institutional means of making man happy, but a claim not to be made unhappy, where it can be avoided. They have a claim to be given all possible help if they suffer. The piecemeal engineer will, accordingly, adopt the message of searching for, and fighting against, the greatest and most urgent evils of society, rather than searching for, and fighting for, its greatest ultimate good.

But dont certain drugs and biotechnologies alleviate suffering? For some, not all. And, for some, certain treatments may cause irreversible damage, increased suffering, disability or death. The upshot of Poppers discussion is that sacrificing the few for the greatest ultimate good is not justified in civil society, therefore whatever form of suffering-reduction is being proposed cant be forced even if its offered as an option.

The controversy of parsing lesser evils in war will continue as long as there are wars, but social engineering is assumed to be a matter of domestic bettermentwhich probably explains how the prefix war on has been pasted to any forced domestic palliative campaign (war on drugs, war on disease, war on mental illness, etc.), not to mention questionable forms of foreign humanitarian aid in which the greater good rationale and the modified values of war are needed to pardon collateral human costs.

Informed choice is a different matter. People who take psychoactive drugs often like the effects. There are some conditionslife threatening seizures or intractable self-injurywhich are so far presented with few other options and, unless the current model is changed, are unlikely to be provided with safer or more effective options. Thinking all human evil and all violent psychosis would disappear if these drugs were forever banned is a bit like saying the world would be perfect if only we could get rid of this damned utopianism. Drug induced violence would certainly be reduced if marketing were strictly limited, if firewalls were erected between regulatory agencies and industry and if consumers were stringently informed of risks and given wide access to non-psychopharmaceutical alternatives. But human beings have always had and always will have an attraction to mind altering substances and to try to legislate against it is to legislate morality, something which Todorov describes as one of the three central linchpins of totalitarianism. And it doesnt work.

Prescribing doctors cant make long term predictions over which individuals will go mad on drugs and they also cant predict who wont, though its become abundantly clear that the standard practice of seeing medicated patients twice or four times a year for fifteen minutes to renew prescriptions is a recipe for disaster. Money plays an obvious role in the practice. But as anthropologist Hugh Gusterson indicates in his study of atomic scientists, ascribing only the basest motives to a professiongreed, dominance, the drive to express potency isnt actually the worst that can be said about it because the view ignores the ideology and rationalizations underlying the euphemization of risks, romanticization of technology and exaggerated self-assurance that this technology can be controlled even in the face of repeat error and loss of life the assumptions of utopian engineers.

Among the identifying factors which Popper uses to illustrate the difference between piecemeal and utopian social engineering are force, fraud and what Popper describes as the key element of fraud, the division of castes or racialism. All are in operation in the pharmaceutical paradigm where authorities are somehow endowed with the power to ensure that collateral is written off as well as denied.

According to Popper, racialism is intrinsic to a social form of historicism the idea that history is essentially controlled by set laws of history and evolutionwhose discovery would enable us to prophesy the destiny of man. Historicismthe pursuit of the secret scientific formula which would supposedly endow the few with the tools to direct the fate of all is based on a genealogical caste system separating the inherently inferior from the inherently superior, with the latter supposedly (divinely or through superior evolution) chosen to decide which is which and to lead humanity to perfection and transcendence.

Popper proposes that racialisma key part of the organic theory of the state is at the root of what Plato rationalized as the noble lie imbuing the propaganda and fraud necessary to sell utopian schemes in service of power:

Concerning the use of lies and deceit, Plato urges that these are useful only as medicine, but the ruler of the state, Plato insists, must not behave like those ordinary doctors who have not the courage to administer strong medicine. The philosopher kingmust be determined to administer a great many lies and deceptionsfor the benefit of the ruled, Plato hastens to add. Which means, as we already know, and as we may learn here again from Platos reference to medicine, for the benefit of the state. What kind of lies has Plato in mind when he exhorts his rulers to use strong medicine? Crossman rightly emphasizes that Plato means Propaganda, the technique of controllingthe bulk of the ruled majorityby means of both persuasion and force.

Like beauty pageant contestants, everyone hopes for world peace and a shining future for humanity. But when, as always happens with utopian schemes, the promise of fantastic transformation, for which the public were persuaded to trade rights and freedoms, begins to crumble under abuse of power and the sheer emptiness of claims, force kicks in. As Orwell elaborated, All tyrannies rule through fraud and force, but once the fraud is exposed, they must rely exclusively on force.

In marketing certain pharmaceutical drugs and technologies, persuasion often is fraud. In 2005, a research team directed by Dr. John Ioannidis of the Ioannina School of Medicine, Greece, demonstrated that theres less than a 50% chance that the results of any randomly chosen scientific paper will be true. A Cochrane Collaboration analysis discovered that industry funded studies are reviewed more favorably by medical journals even when the studies were of poor quality (cited by Mercola). Jon Jureidini, head of the Department of Psychological Medicine at Womens and Childrens Hospital in Adelaide, Australia, found corruption and fraud running through every stage of bringing forth blockbuster drugs, from the peer review process to marketing. As for the genetic underpinnings of disease and psychiatric disorders, a large number of findings turn out to be false. But rather than being subject to retractions, findings are often recycled or researchers tweak data until they achieve their desired results. In a special report for The Guardian entitled, Genetic Breakthroughs in Medicine Are Often Nothing of the Sort , psychologist Marcus Munafo and geneticist Jonathan Flint write:

In the years following media coverage of discoveries of a gene for depression, for intelligence, and so on, journals less prestigious than Science or Nature often publish reports that contradict the original claim, some even saying that the findings are quite compatible with chance.

so many high-profile findings can be explained by chance alone that one genetic epidemiologist, John Ioannidis, has taken on the task of explaining, "Why most published research findings are false"4. Some of the reasons are due to the misuse of statistics and poor study design, but what Ioannidis and others now looking at this problem also point to are the social and political factors. These contribute to his claim that:

"The greater the financial and other interests and prejudices in a scientific field, the less likely the research findings are to be true. The hotter a scientific field (with more scientific teams involved), the less likely the research findings are to be true."

Even as the American Psychiatric Association protests that they cannot be held responsible for a patients actions because they cannot predict those actions, organized psychiatry advises state and federal legislature in forming laws regarding use of force in mental health policy. Organized psychiatry also guides jurisprudence on public safety and death penalty cases, often on the basis of deeply flawed genetic research or, as The Guardian flatly stated, perjury. They are policy makers endowed with the awesome power to pull the strings of life and death. To quote Popper again,

What a monument of human smallness is this idea of the philosopher king. What a contrast between it and the simplicity of humaneness of Socrates, who warned the statesmen against the danger of being dazzled by his own power, excellence, and wisdom, and who tried to teach him what matters most  that we are all frail human beings. What a decline from this world of irony and reason and truthfulness down to Platos kingdom of the sage whose magical powers raise him high above ordinary men; although not quite high enough to forgo the use of lies, or to neglect the sorry trade of every shaman  the selling of spells, of breeding spells, in exchange for power over his fellow-men.

Fundamentalism expresses this shamanism through the promise of paradise; and scientism sells the idea through a vulgarization of Darwins theory in service to a Platonic style of racialism: the laughable concept that select human beings are destined to teleologically evolvei.e., evolve for the better. Whats more, scientism demands the customary recognition of a wise caste among scientists who can accelerate this evolution through the wonders of modern chemistry and social engineering in order to make our species smarter, more rational, happier, healthier, less violentand, as those positioning themselves as the evolutionary vanguard claim of themselves, incredibly empathetic. Never mind the predictable body count of this particular social model.

Empathy has become the trendy tagline for supposed degree of evolution from ape aggression or transcendence from original sin depending on whether the rationalization is framed as scientific or religious. But in Efficiency, Sustainability, and Justice to Future Generations (p. 68), Klaus Mathis and Fabian Diriwachter write:

The ability to put oneself in other peoples position is generally evaluated as a positive quality. This circumstance must not blind us to the fact that empathy can be utilized for very different purposes. An evolutionary benefit of empathy is thought to be that of understanding competitors in order to eliminate them more efficiently. Someone with empathy can understand their counterpart more easily and therefore engage more effectively with their desires and interests. But it is also empathy that helps the sadist to find out how to torture his victim with particular cruelty.

One could argue that enjoyment of pornography requires a type of empathy: after all, the viewer is not actually participating in the depicted scene yet somehow identifies with the excitement they imagine the participants experiencewhich would include those who are titillated by depictions of cruelty and sadism. In The Office and Philosophy: Scenes from the Unexamined Life, Jeremy Wisnewski argues,

In everyday language, people tend not to discriminate between the kinds of empathy. But philosophy is about being careful with words so that we do not confuse our concepts and get misled about our conclusions. For example, one would normally say that a psychopath does not have empathy. This is somewhat misleading, since a psychopath who lacked cognitive empathy would be very frustrated. After all, if his goal were to harm or torture people, then he would not know whether or not he was doing it right! It would seem then, that if he lacked anything it would be affective empathyhe doesnt truly feel the pain he is causing.

Simon Baron-Cohen, in his review of We Need to Talk About Kevin, concedes that "cognitive empathy" or the ability to guess what someone is thinking or feeling, differs from affective empathy" the ability to feel what someone else is feeling. The capacity for cognitive empathy in the absence of affective empathy would not rule out sadism and psychopathology in other words. But even affective empathy, like any human faculty, is morally ambiguous, merely a color in a paint box: what defines it is what picture is painted with it as law professor Lynne Henderson suggests in Legality and Empathy:

The reality of empathy is that we are more likely to empathize with people similar to ourselves, and that such empathic understanding may be so automatic that it goes unnoticed: elites will empathize with the experience of elites, men empathize with men, women empathize with women, whites with whites. I would call this unreflective empathy.

And as empathy becomes a mark of the chosen and lack of it a diagnostic criterion of the damned, what picture does it paint? An unreflective division of castes, a replacement for fundamentalist interpretations of sin and sinlessness and a manner of casting off all sins onto designated societal scapegoats.

The cult of science does this by projecting all primitive destructiveness stemming from various genetic deficitsoriginal sins to a less- or defectively-evolved grade of human. This in itself is not a sin of course because investigators have bent over backwards to understand the targets.

In the same way that tribal cultures engage in totem meal rites of projecting all the sins of tribe members onto a sacrificial animal, when commercial science pundits claim to be incredibly empathetic while participating in crusades against consumer freedom, what they really mean is something closer to a tribal ritual of identification where the chosen dance around in the scapegoats skin a bit after cutting its throat.

In this sense, empathy has become the semantic stand-in for purity because sin, like the idea of swinging from a prehensile tail, has disappeared from the repertoire of the self-designated rationalist class.

Hedges defines sin as a stark acknowledgment that we can never be omnipotent, that we are bound and limited by human flaws and self-interest. The concept of sin is a check on the utopian dream of a perfect world. In Kurt Vonneguts Cats Cradle, a character sums up the fatal flaw of his fictional father, Felix Hoenikker, the novels Oppenheimer-like Father of the Atom Bomb and one of the smartest scientists on Earth:

There are lots of good anecdotes about the bomb and Father  For instance, do you know the story about Father on the day they first tested a bomb out at Alamagordo? After the things went off, after it was a sure thing that America could wipe out a city with just one bomb, a scientist turned to Father and said, Science has now known sin. And do you know what Father said? He said, What is sin?

Utopian cults baptize an immaculate earthly elite who justify force as the means to achieve a progressive paradise and the sacrifice or weeding out of the inferior for the good of the race. The elite, according to the cult of science, are the more purely rational, supposedly freer of superstition, irrationality and magical thinking and somehow less bound by human flaws, self-interest and selfishness, therefore more effectively empathic. The irony of the current scientific cult, like many religious cults, is that it ultimately rationalizes a preemptive withdrawal of mercy, empathy and basic civil rights from those classes of people who are diagnostically undeserving of self-determination because theyre deemed to intrinsically lack empathy or, in a wider societal sense, collectively lacking in rational cognitive processinganother deadly sin on the list of diagnostic vices and therefore selfishly obstructive of the march to progress and the achievement of the greatest ultimate good for mankind.

In the past few years, there have been an increasing number of industry-supported weaponized sociology studies and subsequent media reports arguing that growing consumer dissidence against certain technological innovations like genetically modified crops, vaccines and psychiatric drugs stems from an irrational health belief model and that, furthermore, this tendency to cult-like, short-sighted superstitious irrationality may be genetic.

Both Skeptic icon Richard Dawkins, author of The Selfish Gene, and Richard Brodie, former technical assistant to Bill Gates and author of Virus of the Mind: The New Science of the Meme, have advocated engineering evolution by manipulating social consciousnessaka, memetic engineering and thus guiding natural selection and evolution itself to eradicate irrationality and false belief from the species. Malcolm Gladwell has been accused of lifting the "meme" conception for his "epidemic" theory of contagious ideas and beliefs. But Gladwell, possibly more of an opportunist than ideologue, shies slightly away from Dawkins' proposal that thought and belief not only impact the evolution of ideas but may actually impact evolution itself. As outrageous as it sounds, commercial science and the media are increasingly filled with true believers in the creed.

Imagine the horror of the Anti-Defamation League when on January 9th, 2009, journalist Bill Moyers presented an argument about violence in Gaza entitled, Bill Moyers Reflects on Middle East Violence (scroll to 2:50).

What we are seeing in Gaza is the latest battle in the oldest family quarrel on record. Open your Bible: the sons of the patriarch Abraham become Arab and Jew. Go to the Book of Deuteronomy. When the ancient Israelites entered Canaan their leaders urged violence against its inhabitants. The very Moses who had brought down the commandment Thou shalt not kill now proclaimed, You must destroy completely all the places where the nations have served their gods. You must tear down their altars, smash their pillars, cut down their sacred poles, set fire to the carved images of their gods, and wipe out their name from that placeSo God-soaked violence became genetically coded.

Wherever one stands on the issue of the Israeli-Palestinian conflictand there are many Israelis and Palestinians who hope for an end to violenceMoyers' summary remark was ethically craven, aside from having no basis in science, history or anthropology. Tzvetan Todorov makes the simple point that more human beings were killed in the name of science and twisted concepts of genetics in the twentieth century than died in human conflict or anthropogenic disasters in previous recorded history. Our ape ancestors, according to primatologist Richard Wrangham, committed routine lethal raids, cannibalism, rape, battering and infanticide. Apes are not generally believed to be religious. The fact that so many human lives have been squandered in religious conflicts throughout history simply makes the question of religion moot to the discussion. The faculty of beliefbelief in anything is just another color in the paint box. It can paint pictures of courage and tolerance or arrogance and extremism.

Moyers conducted a reverent interview with Richard Dawkins in 2004 in which Dawkins does his usual fish-in-a-barrel routine by highlighting the more extreme and destructive fanatical religious and paranormal views in order to comparatively prop up his own brand of rationalism, though Moyers avoids questioning Dawkins over the no less absurd idea of memetic engineering, a concept which Moyers later invokes with the God-soaked remark.

The picture that emerges from the utopian palette never seems to change. For all its enlightened claims, the concept of memetic engineering doesnt differ much from ancient alchemy. Along with their faith that they would eventually be capable of transmuting lead into gold, alchemists sought to uncover an Elixir of Lifea magic bullet to end all suffering, disease and deathand divined that the human species could be permanently delivered from its imperfect state through thought and belief. Inherent to the magical side of ancient alchemy, like in its modern practice in India, is the caste system.

Dawkins and other supporters of memetic evolution have watched as their theories evolve into literal application: the idea that thought and belief alter DNALamarckian genetics reincarnated. This has been taken to such fanatical heights that Dawkins Skeptic comrade Sam Harris has called for the total annihilation of Islamic culture on the idea that believers are inherently tainted with violent ideology. Like Baron-Cohens cries of kinder-gentler intent in response to protests that his push for prenatal autism screening could bring about mass abortions, many members of the Skeptic front movement recently reacted to public criticism by momentarily distancing themselves from Harriss more concrete interpretation of memetic evolution (while still defending its core assumptions). From Chestertons Eugenicist as Euphemist:

Most Eugenicists are Euphemists. I mean merely that short words startle them, while long words sooth them. And they are utterly incapable of translating the one into the other, however obviously they mean the same thing. Say to them The persuasive and even coercive powers of the citizen should enable him to make sure that the burden of longevity in the previous generation does not become disproportionate and intolerable, especially to the females; say this to them and they will sway slightly to and fro like babies sent to sleep in cradles. Say to them Murder your mother, and they sit up quite suddenly. Yet the two sentences, in cold logic, are exactly the same.

Dawkins pulls slightly short of blunt about his ideological aims: We, alone on earth, can rebel against the tyranny of the selfish replicators. But Harris doesnt euphemize at all: Some propositions are so dangerous that it may even be ethical to kill people for believing in them. He states that honest people should destroy bad ideas (and apparently their bad human vectors) where they find them.

Dawkins and his Skeptic/radical atheist followers demonstrate that theres no better cover for a secular form of fundamentalist historicism than externalizing and generalizing the same fanatical paradigm solely to groups which self-identify as non-secularextremist members of which have frequently also been guilty of externalizing all evil to nonbelievers. Both extremes fail to account for historical acts of valor and selflessness committed by the ideological opposition, or when mass atrocities and heinous deeds were performed under their own banner. It doesnt take a PhD to recognize that the degree to which any religious or secular ideology purports more than symbolic infallibility in select (honest) human beingsat least sufficient sinlessness to condemn others without rigorous due process is also the degree to which its cult-like.

The tribal caste conceit is hard to escapeit exists to some extent in every human institution and is reflected in commonplace impulses like celebrity worship. In Escape from Evil, anthropologist Ernest Becker chides humanity for the way our hearts palpitate at the sight of an admired idol. How do we know were each endowed with dark as well as light? Aside from the simple fact of being human, Becker indicates that our primitive humanity can be measured by those worshipful palpitations. Viewing some human beings as virtually transcendent gives hope and can fuel aspirations. And its entertaining. But the dark side of the same impulse is the usual division of castes and dangerous reverence for authority. As Hedges argues, Christs My kingdom is not of this world can be taken as an allegorical warning that perfection cannot be found in any human institution. When the idea is projected into a hereafter or, for secular purposes, to a far off goal of social engineering as Popper describes, it fulfills a common human need for hope in addressing social ills and human suffering. But all cults promise previewstranscendence in the here and now and naturally an elite which will decide who is or is not in the book of life.

For its part, commercial science has anointed a higher order endowed with special wisdom in gauging by DNA who is Round-Up Ready enough to join the worthy on the march to a shining future and who shall be cursed to the fire of disability, disease, dangerous insanity and extinction.

Secular or not, scientific fanaticism is still a form of faith, but one which, like any cult, creates angels and devils in earthly form. Why continue the pretense that this isnt an alternative religion with its own shamans, gods, devils and divine messengers? Hence the ultimate cheap gimmickthe Frau Koma avataron which to project all the pseudo-rationalist absolutes.

The argument isnt new. As mid-twentieth century philosopher and originator of the Serenity Prayer Reinhold Niebuhr warns in The Irony of American History and in The Children of Darkness and the Children of Light, the creation of absolutes and the externalization of evil are the means by which we inadvertently take on the evil attributes we project onto ideological foes. He warns that this will happen when the state and science attempt to combine the human need for transcendence by offering a paradise on earth, which invariably leads to the use of power without scruples under an illusion that a particular conception of an unambiguously ideal end justifies such abuse: As politics deals with the proximate ends of life, and religion deals with ultimate ones, it is always a source of illusion when the one is invested with the otherThis unification is spurious and dangerous; but this in fact adds to, rather than detracts from, its striking power. Religion and science are combined in such a way that the modern cult of science is brought completely into the service of an existential faith.

In his book on technological and progressive fanaticism, When Atheism Becomes Religion, Hedges reiterates Niebuhrs warning for modern application: Those who, in the name of science, claim that we can overcome our imperfect human nature create a belief system that functions like religion. It gives meaning. It gives purpose and hope. But it is a myth. It is not true. And there is nothing, when you cut through their scientific jargon, to support their absurd propositions.

Vonnegut asks, See the cat? See the cradle?

Todorov, also cited by Hedges, defines scientismthe religion of science as the campaign to create a paradise on earth by curing humanity of its criminal instincts and warns further that scientism is an intrinsic element of totalitarian doctrine: At a particular point in history, however, a conjunction occurred bringing together several preexisting strands: revolutionary ardor, implying the use of force; the millenarian dream of building an earthly paradise here and now; and the pseudoscientific doctrine asserting that complete knowledge of the human species was about to become available. The moment of this meeting marks the birth of totalitarian ideology.

Members of the new rationalist front who issue organized defenses of commercial genetics and pharmaceutical policies are fond of quoting Karl Poppers scientific theories, though they tend to steer clear of his social hypotheses because Popper is unequivocal on the irrelevance of whether certain utopian theories are framed as mystical or scientific: in either case, any attempts to apply these types of theories to society are, as Popper warns, veiled forms of propaganda to return to tribalism.

When rationalized as a scientific crusade for the betterment of humanity, mystical, caste-dependent tribalismwith its scapegoating rites and totem meals to displace evil and achieve the purity of the tribe is simply a veiled bid for totalitarianism. In this sense, theres nothing more politically ominous than the hunt to identify the born killer.

Much more substantial than the imagined genetic overlap between conditions like autism and mass murdering psychosis is the similarity between modern drug-fueled massacrists and their creators: whats shared by those in the throes of violent side effects and those whose pseudoscientific doctrine led to the forceful marketing of harmful pharmaceutical products is a sort of avenging angel or avatar delusion leading some to expedite a virtual day of reckoning. Elements of this are reflected in the totalitarian or fundamentalist symbol-fragments that so many of the chemically-driven mass killers may suddenly identify with. Both creator and creation are convinced they are fixing the world by taking power over the unworthy, no matter what scale is used to judge other human beings and find them wanting. Both imagine themselves to possess a supernatural ability to identify the inherently bad strains who can no longer be reached by human means. Both ultimately move towards the use of force one through fraud and mandated treatment, the other with bullets.

Erich Fromm wrote in The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness, As long as one believes that the evil man wears horns, one will not discover an evil man. One will also fail to see any potential for evil in the mirror. The similar mentality between purveyors of modern pharmaceutical progress and those driven mad by it might not be simply poetic accident to the extent that those creating, profiting by, prescribing and forcing certain treatments in the guise of helping would naturally be blind to side effects representing something in themselves they wished to deny.

Holocaust survivor and novelist Primo Levi warns of what he called the Manichean view that human beings can be divided into absolutes of pure good or pure evil. Levi protested any blurring of the line between perpetrators and victims as a precious service rendered (intentionally or not) to the negators of truth. I do not know, he wrote, and it does not much interest me to know, whether in my depths there lurks a murderer, but I do know that I was a guiltless victim and I was not a murderer. But Levi also stresses that Nobody can know for how long and under what trials his soul can resist before yielding or breaking, and every one of us can potentially turn into monsters.

Levis point is potentiality, not actuality. Not everyone will yield to destructive impulses but denial of universal monster-potential seems to be central to genetic fundamentalism: those pushing for forced treatment instead prefer to quarantine the roots of violence to a genetically defective caste rather than recognizing that their technology had merely unmasked and unleashed something which exists as a capacity in themselves along with everyone else, though it might otherwise not be expressed. So just as many modern pharmaceuticals may, in the extreme, strip the mind of more sophisticated social inhibitions, destroy the faculty of love and amplify a capacity for violence which is at the root of our species the parallels of original sin according to western theology and ape aggression according to Darwinismmedication madness may be the ultimate expression of the mentality of its inventors: the externalization of evil and the conceit of God-like status in justifying the performance of the ultimate triage or Last Judgment.

If modern drug-fueled killers expose the messianic, millenarian core of scientific overreach, its not surprising: the primitive parts of our brains seem geared to a simplistic view of good and evil, worthy or unworthy, so that any ideology or science based in this tendency cant claim to be enlightened or humane. Like any human drive run amok, its simply naked tribalism dressed in rationality. But this is precisely why it sells and why Frau Koma will be resurrected again and again whenever we deny by any means that every one of us, regardless of status, carries the gene for this potential and there is no cure.

Adriana Gamondes is a contributing editor to Age of Autism and a Facebook page administrator. She and her husband commute between Massachusetts and Florida and are the proud parents of recovering twins.

Disclaimer: Withdrawal from psychotropic drugs can often be more dangerous than continuing on a medication. It is important to withdraw extremely slowly from these drugs under the supervision of a qualified specialist. Withdrawal symptoms are sometimes more severe than the original symptoms or problems.
Feb 11, 2018, (UK) The Isle of Thanet News: Childrens Mental Health Week: How one Thanet counsellor uses Sunbeams to help youngsters explore feelings

Just as Gov. Rick Snyder failed to inform thousands of residents they were being poisoned via lead-tainted drinking water, he also failed in his mission to improve the citys reading proficiency. A Detroit Free Press report found that the citys third-grade reading proficiency took a nearly threequarter nosedive, falling from 41.8 percent in 2014 to a measley 10.7 percent in 2017. 

The city of Flint is in crisis mode yet again, except this time, theres no water involved  at least not directly.

"That is front and center our most urgent facility need right now," Johnson said.

The early childhood special education program, located at Agassiz School and Madison Elementary School, must deal with an increase in children ages 3 through 5 who are diagnosed with special needs.

Feb 11, 2018, WDAYTV, Fargo, ND: South side growth requires new look at Fargo school enrollment

Equally crucial are the kinds of services available  Mr Rogers said research had shown as many as 40 per cent of students across the state had used the program to seek treatment for mental health issues.

STUDENTS at Rutherglen High School will be able to access a GP on campus thanks to the Doctors in Schools program. 

Though educational psychologists are responsible both for treating children and advising parents, teachers and principals, most of their time is devoted to advising rather than treating individual children, due to their excess workloads. 

We have more shocking stories that testify to whats happening to our children. Schools are now focused on behavior/trauma/mental health issues. Theyre trying to explain all this as the result of bad parenting/social media, but suddenly the concerns of autism parentssensory issues, social skills, self-harm, anxiety, melt-downsare the concerns of the parents of the general school population. After the heinous shooting in Florida, how can we continue to turn a blind eye?

As Prince Harry has helped bring the conversation on mental health into the mainstream, a Thanet-based counsellor and creative arts therapist is showing the importance of starting early, building confidence and resilience in children of infant school age. 

Mrs Joulianou said: Many factors in a childs circumstances or sensitive personality, pressures from limiting stereotypes in the wider culture or a lack of self-confidence can all contribute to a child feeling unhappy, limited and not ready to learn and reach their potential. 

She said: A change in family circumstance such as a bereavement, break up, or house move typically manifests itself in changes of behaviour.

Children are often unable to express themselves fully verbally so could become withdrawn or aggressive and may find it difficult to interact with children or adults and in turn may be unable to focus on their learning. 

Feb 11, 2018, Gainesville (GA) Times: On-site mental health services at schools showing promise

Addressing the mental health needs of students has become a school mission, and no longer are the resources spread thin or across a wide geographic area. Instead, a clinical professional counselor now works on-site as part of the Georgia Apex Program.

Feb 11, 2018, CNBC: Were almost in a mental health epidemic, says Goldie Hawn, and change needs to start young

Does social media play a role in endangering the mental health of young people? Absolutely, the actress believes.

Feb 12, 2018, (UK) Lincolnshire Today: 150,000 allocated to support children with SEND

North Lincolnshire Council has allocated 150,000 for all mainstream schools and academies across the area. 

The changes being made in the schools will make a real difference for pupils and their education. Having an area for SEND pupils to go to or breakaway from the main school will be very beneficial and help develop their learning. 

Feb 12, 2018, NPR Buffalo, NY: Concerns about allergies spreading throughout Buffalo schools

Buffalo schools are becoming concerned about food allergies among the students. That ranges from the peanut issue to determining what is in other food brought into the buildings, like cupcakes for birthdays. 

The school board is looking at establishing a 14-page food allergies policy. Schools Superintendent Kriner Cash admits it's more than a little complicated. 





Feb 12, 2018, Press of Atlantic City: Commercial Township dog goes for gold at Westminster dog show

Daniel J. Dooley, Skyes owner and Commercial Township schools superintendent, said Skye works with students from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade.

He works Monday through Thursday, and he sees 70 students per week, Dooley said.

The presence of a therapy dog helps students who are in need of positive rewards, such as students with behavioral conditions or autism, he said. The districts special education percentage is 27 percent, while the states average is 16 percent.

Feb 12, 2018, Salt Lake City, Deseret News: Committee approves telehealth mental health pilot for schools

Rep. Ken Ivory, R-West Jordan, sponsor of HB308, said there is tremendous need for mental health services in Utah schools such as crisis intervention and to buttress the labors of the extremely limited number of school counselors and social workers. Rural schools have especially limited resources, he said.

HB308, which seeks an appropriation of $590,000, would require the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health to create a telehealth mental health pilot grant program. 

Feb 12, 2018, (Australia) West Bridgford Wire: New sensory room for Edwalton Primary

Edwalton Primary School are to get a Sensory Room   works will commence soon to transform a storage room into a multi-sensory space which will be located in the heart of the building.

Feb 13, 2018, NY Jewish Week: The Next Steps On Inclusion For The Jewish Community

More students are in need of special education services than decades ago when the original law was enacted. The lack of federal funding is particularly problematic as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2014 found the rate of autism among children to be 1 in 68, compared to 1 in 150 in 2000.

Feb 13, 2018, Albuquerque Journal: New Mexico kids highest in nation for ACEs

New Mexico and Arizona tie as the states with the highest rates of children suffering from adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs.

The two states have an ACE rate of 18 percent 

ACEs are traumatic childhood events that include abuse and neglect, living with someone who has an untreated mental illness, the death of a parent, and living in extreme economic insecurity.

When children experience more than one of these traumatic events they can end up suffering from toxic stress, which releases hormones into the brain that actually disrupt healthy brain development, according to scientific research, said Sharon Kayne, spokeswoman for New Mexico Voices for Children. 

Feb 13, 2018, (Ireland) Dundalk Democrat: Ardee school set to be 17 times bigger than current site

The Department of Education approved plans for a new school building as far back as 2012. 144 pupils on site, seven more than last year, are spread out amongst five mainstream classes and two autism classes. All but around 20 pupils are being taught in prefabs, which have been added as the need has arisen over the years.

Feb 13, 2018, (UK) Tes: Trainee teachers unable to spot signs of mental ill-health in pupils

It has been estimated that 10 per cent of school pupils have a diagnosable mental illness. According to NHS figures, around one in 10 girls aged 16 or 17 was referred to specialist mental health services in England last year.

Feb 14, 2018, Alliance (OH) Review: Study: Many Ohio kids experience early childhood trauma

A new report based on data from the 2016 National Survey of Childrens Health found that Ohio is among five states with the highest share of children  as many as one in seven  who had faced three or more of the potential trauma measures known to researchers as adverse childhood experiences.

Some of what puts Ohio in the higher levels is that almost a third of children have experienced economic hardship in their lives, said study co-author Vanessa Sacks of Child Trends, a nonpartisan research organization in Bethesda, Maryland. 

Since then, Sacks and others say, a growing body of research has supported the view that adverse childhood experiences are a major public-health issue. 

Feb 14, 2018, (UK) Fife Today: Call for permanent school counsellor at Fife academy https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/education/call-for-permanent-school-counsellor-at-fife-academy-1-4688969

Cllr Colin Davidson believes a counsellor being based at the school, working with children at the academy and at nearby primary schools, would help tackle disruptive behaviour.

He said: The government has indicated theres a lack of mental health provision for pupils in schools.



Teachers are ill equipped to deal with it and some of these kids have complex needs which manifest as extreme levels of behaviour and disruption.  

Feb 15, 2018, Leesburg, VA, Loudoun Times: The Isolation Room: Loudoun County parents alarmed at treatment of students with special needs

Concerns and complaints are mounting over Loudoun County Public Schools' treatment of students with special needs, particularly the system's use of isolation and seclusion practices.



A photo obtained by the Times-Mirror underscores the severe and seemingly painful tactics used in some schools, parents say.



Feb 15, 2018, Los Angeles: KTLATV: Proposed Legislation Would Allow California Special Needs Students to Use Medical Marijuana in School

California minors with special needs or severe disabilities who rely on marijuana for medical purposes would be allowed to use the drug at their school under legislation introduced this week by state Sen. Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo).

Feb 15, 2018, Clanton (AL) Advertiser: Grant helps students with special needs

The Clanton Elementary School sensory room will get some needed updates thanks to a Partners Enhancing Education in Chilton County grant for $1,500 from the Chilton Education Foundation. 

Our vision is to set this up more to meet the needs of our kids with special needs, like autism or sensory processing problems, just to make it more user friendly where they can come in and get their sensory needs met, Loftis said.

Feb 15, 2018, Winter Haven (FL) News Chief: Mental health money sought as state reels from shooting

Less than 24 hours after a troubled gunman killed 17 people  most of them teenagers  at a Broward County high school, a top state senator released a plan Thursday to steer $100 million to public schools for mental-health screening and services and to boost funding for school safety programs.



We have to address the things that we can take immediate action on that arent steeped in controversy, such as being more aggressive on mental health and illness, making sure we are taking steps, physically, at our schools to make it more difficult for a perpetrator to conduct this type of activity. 

Galvanos proposal would more than double the $40 million now earmarked for a Senate plan that would create a special category for mental health in the annual funding formula for Floridas 67 school districts.

Feb 15, 2018, Baltimore Sun: Pressure points: Howard County schools look to address mounting mental health concerns

Im seeing an increased level of emotional concerns, mental health issues in our schools. I want to take the lead in that and begin to provide a social worker to be somebody who can navigate for children who are in crisis. 

Feb 15, 2018, WLRNTV, Miami: Broward County School Board Members: 'We Need Help' With Mental Health Services For Kids

Broward County school board members say schools and churches need to pay more attention to the mental health needs of children. 

Bartleman said the demands on guidance counselors and social workers in schools is astronomical.

Feb 15, 2018, Pittsburgh TribuneReview: School leaders say more resources needed for student mental health

In the past, school psychologists have been responsible for testing students in need of special education or gifted education services, Lillenstein said. More recently, they've also recognized a need to use their training and expertise to work with students on violence prevention and with other educators on trauma-informed care. They're likely to work with smaller numbers of students in more severe situations, he said.

Our students are experiencing more trauma  not just because of school violence  but in general, there's a lot more that kids are dealing with, he said. 

Feb 16, 2018, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Borsuk: Reflection on Parkland  many kids need more help than they're getting

One thought arises from the public hearing on Feb. 2 at James Madison High School in Milwaukee of the states new Blue Ribbon Commission on School Funding. Milwaukee School Superintendent Darienne Driver was testifying. State Rep. Joel Kitchens (R-Sturgeon Bay) asked her what her priorities would be if aid to Milwaukee Public Schools was changed.

I would highly, highly, highly stress the importance of the mental health needs, Driver responded.

There are so many kids, not only in Milwaukee, not only statewide, but everywhere, who need more help than they are getting.

Feb 16, 2018, Suffolk, VA, ABC13: Suffolk high schools tackle mental wellness

In Suffolk, Kings Fork, Nansemond River, and Lakeland High Schools students will be taught a new mental health curriculum. 

Feb 16, 2018, 2018, (UK) Daily Mail: Councils pay out more than 600,000 to assaulted

teachers in two years as staff are attacked with chairs and have doors kicked at

More than 600,000 was paid out in compensation in the last two years to schoolteachers who were injured by violent students. 

And many of the cases involved teachers trying to restrain violent pupils when they lost their temper, to stop them harming their peers. 

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. 

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.

Feb 16, 2018, Annapolis (MD) Patch: Superintendent's Contract, Budget On School Board Agenda

Dr. Arlotto's recommendation would add 16 additional positions would address the needs of special education students. 

The proposal also includes $1.1 million for 10.4 positions to help address increasing issues related to the social and emotional wellness of students. Those include 5.4 school counselors, two school psychologists, two social workers, and one pupil personnel worker.

Feb 16, 2018, Fox4, Fort Myers, FL: Teachers union wants more mental health professionals in schools

Teachers devastated after Wednesday's Parkland shooting. A teacher in Port Charlotte says enough is enough. 

Congressman Rooney wrote about another recent law aimed to increase funds to train teachers, EMS, and other professionals on how to intervene before someone with a mental illness experiences a crisis.

He also cited a law meant to reauthorize programs that focus on early treatment of children with severe emotional issues.

Feb 16, 2018, Keene (NH) Sentinel: Keene program focuses on how to identify, alleviate, stress among kids and parents



While stress in children and parents can be difficult to identify until its too late, a relatively new test seeks to change that.

The ACE test, which can reveal the level of emotional duress and what can be done to stabilize it, was the subject of a discussion drawing scores of people to The Colonial Theatre on Main Street in Keene Thursday night. 

The study has demonstrated an association between adverse childhood experiences, again ACEs, and health and social problems as an adult, according to the websites. 

We want to make every parent aware of this test because it can be tremendously beneficial, White said. You dont have to feel alone anymore.

The ACE test asks questions covering 10 types of childhood trauma before the age of 18, according to the ACEs Connection Network. Those questions include, Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often  swear at you, insult you, put you down, or humiliate you? Or act in a way that made you afraid that you might be physically hurt? A yes answer gives a person a one, and a no answer gives that person a zero. There are nine more questions with similar themes and the same scoring method.

As a persons ACE score increases, so does the risk of disease, social and emotional problems, according to White. 

Feb 17, 2018, Emporia (KS) Gazette: Student safety top priority for Emporia Public Schools

 Another area where the district is working to prevent a tragedies before they begin locally is through the Kansans Can social - emotional learning initiative.

Were looking at that social - emotional piece at all levels, Landgren added. From preschool to seniors, its all levels.

Feb 17, 2018, Minneapolis Star Tribune: More college students seek emotional support animals



Being able to accommodate a student's need for a support animal is another way to help them manage their emotional and mental health while at college.

"We're just seeing students that are struggling more with mental health issues and that's across the United States," said the Rev. Jay Fostner, vice president for mission and student affairs at St. Norbert College.

Feb 17, 2018, Buckhannon (WV) InterMountain: Youth experiences make a difference

In West Virginia, 52.4 percent of children under 18 had experienced ACE events in 2016, and 26 percet had two or more ACE events. In the USA 46.3 percent had one ACE event, and 21 percent had more than one ACE. 

Feb 17, 2018, (UK) Daily Mail: Nursery faces Ofsted probe after staff used 'strap chair' to restrain children with special needs

A nursery is facing an investigation by education watchdogs after staff admitted using wrist straps to restrain special needs children. 

One parent said another child had refused to go to the nursery after telling her parents: 'I don't want to go in the strap chair'. 



Ms Bakewell said the wrist straps is part of a strategy discussed with parents of special needs children to stop them hurting themselves on pieces of furniture.







Feb 17, 2018, Greenwich (CT) Time: Greenwich superintendent outlines steps taken for student safety

In the aftermath of Wednesdays deadly school shooting in Florida, Greenwich Superintendent of Schools Jill Gildea has sent a letter home to parents assuring them safety measures are in place in the towns schools.

Gildeas letter, which was sent to parents Thursday, also said mental health and security staff at the schools are trained to recognize students who are at risk of harming themselves or others. 

Gildea also cited several other proactive district policies, including social emotional learning and the Our Safe School Climate programs that promote positive behaviors.

Greenwichs schools are on winter recess, but once classes resume Tuesday, Gildea said administrators will meet with staff to discuss the Florida shooting. Mental health staff will be checking in with students who are known to be vulnerable or at risk of excessive anxiety or distress, she said.

Feb 17, 2018, Monroe (MI) News: A room with a view  of the ocean

Monroe Road Elementary School has transformed a storage room into an underwater retreat. 

Chapman said the school is embracing proactive discipline by instituting the ocean-themed sensory room.

A sensory room is a therapeutic space with a variety of equipment that provides students with a space of calm and focus so they can be better prepared for learning and interacting with others, Chapman said.

After returning from winter break, students started visiting the room. Chapman said the room gives students a mental break. An overwhelmed student can meet a teacher in the sensory room and work through therapeutic exercises.
Honda Manufacturing of Alabama is getting a new president April 1.

Tsutomu "Morty" Morimoto, currently serving as President of Honda of Canada Mfg., has been named HMA President at the Lincoln plant, effective April 1.

Jeff Tomko

He replaces Jeff Tomko, who will become senior vice president and regional division manager of the North America New Model Engineering Division. Its offices are located at Honda of America Mfg. in Marysville, Ohio.

"Tsutomu Morimoto has served in a valuable role in Honda operations in North America," Tomko said in a statement. "Morimoto's extensive knowledge of manufacturing, along with overall business operations, makes him a perfect fit to lead HMA into the future."

Morimoto joined Honda in 1985 and has served in a number of leadership positions throughout Honda operations in North America and Japan.

Tomko's tenure at the Lincoln plant was momentous. He was named president of HMA in 2014 after more than 20 years with the company. Since then, the plant has seen more than $170 million in investments, completed full model changes of the Acura MDX luxury sport utility vehicle, the Pilot sport utility vehicle, the Odyssey minivan and re-introduced an all-new Ridgeline pickup to the marketplace.

In 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018, one of the HMA-built vehicles was named as a finalist for North American Truck or Utility of the Year, with the Ridgeline taking the top honor at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January 2017.

"Jeff has been a strong leader in the areas of associate safety, improved production efficiency and vehicle quality during his tenure at HMA," Mike Oatridge, vice president at HMA, said. "We look forward to his leadership in his new role in Honda's North American engineering operations."

The company also announced other moves.

Jon Minto, currently senior vice president at HNA Production Planning, has been named HMA Senior Vice President. Minto has held several positions including President of Honda Engineering North America, and as a member of the board of directors and senior vice president of Honda North America.

Also, Noboru Takahashi, currently HMA Senior Vice President, has been assigned to Honda Lock Mfg. Co. in Japan.
Online grocery pickup is coming to Trussville's Walmart this week.

The feature, which is already part of several Birmingham-area Walmart locations, allows customers to visit walmart.com/grocery or the Walmart Grocery app, and build a shopping list. Then, customers choose a time to pick up their groceries.

Workers shop the list, and customers pull up to reserved parking spaces and call a number to alert workers. An employee comes out and loads the groceries into a customer's car. The service is free.

The Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon cutting for online grocery pickup Thursday at 8 a.m. There will also be a DJ supplied by Coca-Cola, and several vendors will be onsite giving away items.
Hurston Raley has joined Birmingham-based healthcare and development firm the Sanders Trust, serving as vice president of asset management.

Raley comes from Cushman & Wakefield I EGS, where he managed the leasing of the organization's 1.7 million square foot office and retail portfolio. He has more than 20 years experience in commercial real estate, working in healthcare, office, retail and industrial segments of the market.

"I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to join this nationally-established firm as they lead the healthcare real estate industry," Raley said in a statement. "I am joining a tremendous team of professionals, and I look forward to being a part of the continued success at the Sanders Trust."

Raley served as the president of the Alabama chapter of NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association in 2015. He is a member of Leadership Vestavia Hills, the Vestavia Chamber of Commerce and the Alabama Wildlife Federation.

"His experience and skill set will certainly add value as the Sanders Trust continues to grow our nationwide portfolio," said Rance Sanders, President and CEO of The Sanders Trust.
Testing will begin tomorrow morning for students at Walter Wellborn Elementary and High Schools in Calhoun County for tuberculosis.

A meeting will be held at 5 this evening in the gymnasium at Walter Wellborn High School to answer any questions from the public.

According to the Alabama Department of Public Health, a Wellborn student has been diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis.

ADPH officials conducted an on-site investigation of the school and schedule of the ill student, who attends the high school, last Tuesday, the department said. The testing will be to rule out active TB and identify anyone infected but not currently ill. It should take a day and involves a skin test.

Pam Barrett, director of the Alabama Department of Public Health's Tuberculosis Control Division, said its not uncommon to screen a school. The last time the department did a school screening was about two years ago in Homewood.

"It usually takes about half a day," she said. "It's just easier if we go on-site rather than have 1,200 people come to the Health Department."

Tuberculosis is an infectious bacterial disease that mainly affects the lungs, but is treatable and preventable.

Barrett said the student with tuberculosis is "doing well."

"The medicine seems to be working and they should be allowed to come back to school as long as they're no longer contagious," she said.

Barrett said the department is also investigating multiple tuberculosis cases in neighboring Etowah County. Unlike the school, however, these cases are among people who are unemployed, she said, and has been investigated over a long period of time. Currently, there appears to be no need for a large-scale screening.

"It's an ongoing case involving a group of people who are pretty much isolated," she said.
An investigation is underway after a man reported to police that he was abducted in south Alabama overnight and driven to Irondale where he escaped.

Irondale police said they responded Tuesday morning to the Chevron station on Grants Mill Road where the 55-year-old man, bloodied and disoriented, sought help from the store clerk. Irondale police Sgt. Mark Meadows said the victim and the suspect knew each other, but additional details about the relationship weren't yet being released.

The suspect reportedly kidnapped the victim in the victim's own vehicle. It wasn't clear how or where the victim was able to escape. "He was beat up pretty bad,'' Meadows said.

He is expected to be taken to a hospital for treatment, but his injuries aren't life-threatening. Police are still searching for the assailant. "It wasn't a random abduction,'' Meadows said.

Irondale police later Tuesday said they are turning over the investigation to the Pike County Sheriff's Office.

This story will be updated as more information is released.
Alabama is set to go forward with its planned execution Thursday, but two groups have written to both Gov. Kay Ivey and the federal government asking for the execution to be called off.

This week, both the International Commission Against the Death Penalty and the United Nations Special Rapporteurs sent letters on Doyle Lee Hamm's behalf.

Several officials with the ICDP, including former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, wrote a letter Tuesday morning asking Ivey to commute Hamm's sentence. "We call on you, noting [Hamm's] long imprisonment facing the death penalty and his extremely frail condition following his cancer, to allow Mr. Hamm to serve the rest of his life in prison," the letter states.

"We believe that carrying out Mr. Hamm's execution, given his serious medical condition, is unconscionable and represents a serious erosion of your state's proud tradition of compassion and of respecting and protecting human dignity," it states.

The letter also details Richardson's battle with capital punishment while he was in office, which led to his signing the state's death penalty abolition bill in 2009.

Hamm, 61, was convicted of killing Patrick Cunningham. Cunningham worked at Anderson's Motel in Cullman as a clerk, and was found dead on January 24, 1987, lying behind the motel's front counter. He died from a single gunshot wound to the head.

Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Karon O Bowdre issued a stay of execution for Hamm, but the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals granted the state of Alabama's emergency motion to vacate Hamm's stay.

"We conclude the district court abused its discretion by staying Hamm's execution without making sufficient findings to establish a significant possibility of success on the merits," the appeals court states in its order.

The court wrote that the Supreme Court requires a "significant possibility of success on the merits" for a stay to be issued; however, the district court only stated Hamm showed a "substantial likelihood of success," which isn't sufficient.

The 11th Circuit Court also ordered the lower court to immediately appoint an independent medical examiner to evaluate Hamm-- whose lawyer says he suffers from lymphatic cancer-- and announce the findings no later than February 20 by 5 p.m. central time.

Two UN experts also called on the federal government to stay the execution, saying the execution of a "seriously ill man" could amount to "cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or punishment, and possibly torture," a press release from the UN Human Rights Special Procedures stated.

According to the release, the UN Special Rapporteurs also think Hamm may not have received a fair trial.

The experts said, "The planned method of execution, using Alabama's three-drug protocol, may also have torturous effects, because the sedative used is incapable of keeping a convict unconscious in the presence of the excruciating pain likely to be induced by the other drugs."

They said in the release, "We urge the authorities to halt his execution, annul his death sentence, and hold a re-trial that complies with international standards, as we have received information indicating that his original trial did not fully respect the most stringent due process and fair trial guarantees."
Dave & Buster's is expected to be open its first Alabama location at Riverchase Galleria in Hoover by the end of 2018, city officials said.

Hoover City Administrator Allan Rice said Dave & Buster's notified the city's building official about a week ago that they were preparing to submit their first set of plans for the buildout of the restaurant/arcade.

Once those plans are reviewed and approved, Rice said Dave & Busters can apply for a building permit and start construction.

Dave & Buster's presented initial plans to the Hoover City Council in February 2017. The council in April 2017 approved a conditional permit to allow the restaurant/arcade to locate in Riverchase Galleria, which was required because the business involves recreational activities.

The full-service restaurant and video arcade will be 33,000 square feet and modeled after restaurant/arcade in Orlando. It's the smaller of two prototypes currently being built by the company.

The restaurant will feature a full menu and more than 150 interactive games. It will be built in the space currently occupied by Forever 21. Forever 21 will relocate to a smaller space.

Rice said the work to relocate Forever 21 is currently underway.

Dave & Buster's representatives told the Hoover City Council last year that the arcade chain plans to hire 140 to 160 people for location. The hours of operation will likely be 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday-Saturday.

Dave & Buster's didn't respond to multiple requests for comment.
Police are investigating after a man was found dead this morning behind a west Birmingham gas station.

According to Sgt. Bryan Shelton, police received a call at 5:15 a.m. from a witness who saw a man lying behind the Chevron gas station, located in the 1300 block of Bessemer Road.

When officers arrived, they found a man suffering from multiple stab wounds. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

Shelton said the victim, who was in his 50s, was known to police.

"It's just an unfortunate situation," Shelton said. He said while the victim had been in trouble before, he did not deserve to be a homicide victim.

Investigators believe the victim and a male suspect got into an altercation early this morning, which led to the victim being stabbed to death. The suspect fled the scene. Around 9:30 a.m., police said they were questioning a person of interest in the case.

Shelton said the victim had only been lying behind the business for a short time before the witness called 911.

Birmingham police are continuing to investigate.

This post was updated at 9:55 a.m. with information about a person of interest.
Robertsdale police arrested a Central Baldwin Middle School teacher Tuesday accused of having inappropriate sexual contact with a 12-year-old student.

John Hamilton was arrested after a two-week investigation by law enforcement officials in Robertsdale, according to a press release.



Hamilton is being charged with two counts of sodomy in the second degree, two counts of school employee engaging in a sex act with a student under 19 years old, two counts of school employee having sexual contact with a student under 19 years old, and two counts of sexual abuse in 2nd degree.

Hamilton has been a history teacher and bus driver at the school since 2003.

The charges come as Alabama's law on teacher-student sexual relations is being challenged in court. The law prohibits any school employee from sexual relationships with students under 19.



Former teacher Charli Jones Parker is currently in prison for having sex with a student under 19. She is appealing her conviction.

Parker's attorney, Ginger Buck, claims the state's law is unconstitutional.

"Alabama law imposes no comparable criminal liability on members of any other occupation for engaging in consensual sexual conduct with 16, 17, and 18 year olds," Parker's appeal states.

One Morgan County judge has already deemed the law unconstitutional. The state appealed and the case is now before the Alabama Criminal Court of Appeals.

This post was updated at 4:10pm to include more information about the accused and charges against him.
The U.S. Army is awarding medals to three students killed in last week's deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

Alaina Petty, Peter Wang and Martin Duque were among the 17 people killed when gunman Nikolas Cruz opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14. All three students were members of the schools' Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps and a recent petition called for Wang, who was allegedly helping others when he was killed, to be buried with full military honors.

Instead, the three are receiving the Medals of Heroism, the Army's highest recognition for Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadets. The decoration is awarded to JROTC cadets who perform acts of heroism.

"The achievement must be an accomplishment so exceptional and outstanding that it clearly sets the individual apart from fellow students," the commendation notes. "The performance must have involved the acceptable of danger and extraordinary responsibilities, exemplifying praiseworthy fortitude and courage."

Petty's family was presented with her Medal of Heroism at a Feb. 19 memorial service. Duque's family will receive his medal Saturday. Wang's family was slated to receive the medal during his Tuesday memorial service.

Wang will also receive a letter posthumously accepting him to the West Point Class of 2025.
The school gates were locked. But that didn't keep hundreds of students from crawling up and over the fences, defying their parents, teachers and school principals to march against segregation.

It was May 1963 in Alabama, and Birmingham's brutal public safety commissioner, Eugene "Bull" Connor, was waiting. His police moved in, herding the children into squad cars, paddy wagons and school buses for the trip to jail.

When the students kept coming, Connor turned fire hoses on them, knocking the children to the ground and spinning them down the street. To fight the high-powered blasts, some children joined hands trying to keep their balance in a human chain. But the torrents were too fierce; hit by the rocket-bursts of water the kids whirled one way, then the other, dragging down their comrades.

The 1963 children's crusade changed history. Now 55 years later, the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland, Florida, are rising up - planning protests and walkouts, speaking at rallies and on radio and television in the aftermath of the Feb. 14 slaughter of 17 people at their school.

The students are putting elected officials on notice: They want America's gun laws changed, and they will be quiet no more. As if channeling the young African-Americans who faced down the water cannons, junior Cameron Kasky declared on "Meet the Press" Sunday, "We're not going to let the 17 bullets we just took take us down. If anything we're going to keep running, and we're going to lead the rest of the nation behind us."

History shows that kids, with their innocence, honesty and moral urgency, can shame adults into discovering their conscience. It worked in Birmingham. During the children's crusade, young people swarmed in to redirect the arc of history.

In 1963, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. had targeted the Alabama city as the key to ending the segregation throughout the South. As his close aide, Wyatt Tee Walker, put it, "We knew that as Birmingham went, so would go the South."

But the Birmingham movement was flagging. In need of a radical shift in strategy, James Bevel, an adviser to King, recommended turning young blacks into foot soldiers for equal rights. King was hesitant, fearing for the children's safety. He prayed and reflected and finally accepted that putting children in danger could help determine their future.

King had witnessed the youthful energy that propelled the 1961 Freedom Rides. As John Lewis, who at age 21 was beaten bloody during the rides, recalled: "We considered it natural and necessary to involve children - adolescents - in the movement. We weren't far from being teenagers ourselves, and we shared many of the same basic feelings of adolescence: unbounded idealism, courage unclouded by 'practical' concerns, faith and optimism untrampled by the 'realities' of the adult world."

School children skip classes to demonstrate for civil and humans rights in Birmingham. More than 1,000 are eventually arrested during the protests. 63-3581 May 3, 1963 kids Children became an integral group of the human rights movement when the Children's Crusade began on May 2. The plan was for college and high school students to demonstrate but many came with their younger brothers and sisters. Civil rights leaders disagreed whether to use students as part of the movement but public perception changed after photographs showed the children being arrested, sprayed by fire hoses, dodging K-9 units. Here a police officer takes away protest signs. Moments later firemen hosed demonstrators. | Ed Jones photo Children's Campaign, May 1963. probably May 3, 1963. Location and identifications unknown, maybe 6th Ave., near 17th St. 63-3581 Ed Jones Integration Movement Racial Demonstration Fire Hoses/Dogs see also 63-2725 Black and White scan ORG XMIT: ALA2012073114584504

On May 2, 1963, the first day of the Birmingham children's crusade, some 800 students skipped class, high-schoolers all the way down to first-graders. Sneaking over the fences, they scampered to the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, the march's staging ground. (Four months later, the church would be dynamited by the Ku Klux Klan, killing four black girls.)

The youngsters then emerged from the church under its brick arch and proceeded down the front steps: girls in dresses and light sweaters; boys in slacks and walking shoes; some wore hats; some had pants held up with suspenders; they were laughing and singing and carrying handmade picket signs reading "Segregation is a sin" and "I'll die to make this land my home."

By the end of the day, under Bull Connor's orders, more than 500 kids were behind bars charged with parading without a permit, some 75 youngsters crammed into cells meant for eight adults.

The children's crusade was national news. The Birmingham movement had been revived. And President John F. Kennedy was now paying attention.

Over the next two days, the young protesters hit the streets en masse, confronting police armed with snarling German shepherds in addition to the water cannon blasts.

To supercharge the water jets, firefighters had funneled the flow of two hoses into one nozzle, packing it with such ballistic fury it dislodged bricks from buildings. These jets were driven across the kids' bodies, lacerating their flesh, tearing clothing off their backs; hitting the elm trees in nearby Kelly Ingram Park, the blasts ripped off the bark. The children, knocked to the pavement, crawled away; some struggled to their feet with bloody noses and gashes on their faces.

The morning newspapers that landed on Kennedy's breakfast table showed students braving the assaults on the front lines. In one shot, a uniformed officer in round shades and a narrow tie yanked on high school sophomore Walter Gadsden's sweater while a German shepherd lunged toward the student's stomach with mouth open, fangs bared.

Gazing at the images of water cannons and police dogs, Kennedy was disgusted. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy later noted the students' impact: "What Bull Connor did down there, and the dogs and the hoses and the pictures with the Negroes, is what created a feeling in the United States that more needed to be done."

It was then that the president and the attorney general began considering a path toward comprehensive civil rights legislation. Until students took to the streets, John Kennedy had failed to act; for two and a half years, he had been slow to recognize the plight of blacks in America. Throughout his brief term, he had been focused on other matters: foreign affairs, the national economy, the space program. But now his eyes had been opened.

A little more than a month after the children's crusade, Alabama Gov. George Wallace gave the president further reason to act. On June 11, Wallace famously stood in the schoolhouse door to prevent two qualified black students from enrolling at the University of Alabama. On that same evening, Kennedy hastily went on national television to decry the immorality of segregation and to announce plans to introduce civil rights legislation.

"Looking back," King wrote later, "it is clear that the introduction of Birmingham's children into the campaign was one of the wisest moves we made. It brought a new impact to the crusade, and the impetus that we needed to win the struggle."

More than 50 years later, that history is alive. Of course, we live in different times. Students are highly independent now; they have social media, television and radio outlets to get their message out and organize - and they are comfortable in front of the camera. In 1963, adults were the organizing force behind the children's marches, and the media landscape was far more limited.

But the Douglas high school students who survived a mass shooting last week are motivated by the same idealism and hope that inspired Birmingham's school kids.

When the Florida teens lead a nationwide walkout from classrooms on March 14 and march in Washington, D.C., and other cities on March 24, they will be following in the footsteps of children who were willing to risk their lives to change the country - and succeeded.

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Steven Levingston is the nonfiction editor of The Washington Post. He is author of "Kennedy and King: The President, the Pastor, and the Battle over Civil Rights", "Little Demon in the City of Light: A True Story of Murder and Mesmerism in Belle Epoque Paris" and "The Kennedy Baby: The Loss that Transformed JFK."
Tuesday brings the first of a series of community meetings intended to give Mobile County property owners a look at FEMA's new flood zone maps -- which will affect more of them.

Authorities at the Federal Emergency Management Agency determine the Flood Insurance Rate Map. According to information released by the county, it is holding the meetings "to help you understand the changes and how your flood insurance may be affected."

According to information provided by the county, FEMA last updated Mobile County's flood maps in 2010. The new update "is expected to become effective in 2019." According to the county, the update includes an increase of 18.7 square miles. That brings the total area affected to 225 square miles, including 12,000 properties in the unincorporated areas of the county.

The Mobile County Commission will host five "open house" style community meetings. Additionally, FEMA and the Alabama Office of Water Resources (OWR) will hold another meeting.

At each meeting, property owners will be able to view a computer map of their property and request a copy. Maps also can be viewed at https://alabamaflood.com/map. More information can be found at https://msc.fema.gov/portal.

The maps include a Base Flood Elevation that predicts how high water may rise during a 100-year storm event. That figure governs new construction and affects insurance for existing structures. The maps also show Special Flood Hazard Areas, which likewise can affect construction standards and insurance.

The schedule:

Feb. 20, 5-7 p.m. -- A county community meeting for Saraland/Satsuma/Creola will be held at Central Church of Christ, 225 Saraland Blvd. South (U.S. 43) in Saraland.

Feb. 22, 5-7 p.m. -- A county community meeting will be held at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, 101 Bienville Blvd.

Feb. 27, 5-7 p.m. -- A county community meeting will be held at the Bayou La Batre Civic Center, 12745 Padgett Switch Road.

March 6, 5-7 p.m. -- A county community meeting for Fowl River and Hollinger's Island will be held at the Fowl River Community Center, 5401 Fowl River Road in Theodore.

March 8, 4-7 p.m. -- FEMA and the Alabama OWR will hold an open house at the Mobile Civic Center.

March 13, 5-7 p.m. -- A community meeting for the west Mobile region will be held at the Semmes Recreation and Community Center, 10141 Moffett Road in Semmes.

People with questions about the maps can e-mail inquiries to floods@mobilecounty.net or call the Mobile County Public Works Department at 251-574-3507 or 251-574-8595.
State Rep. Will Ainsworth of Guntersville said he would introduce a bill today to allow trained, certified teachers to carry weapons on school campuses, a move that he had announced last week after 17 people were killed at a high school in Parkland, Fla.

Ainsworth held a news conference this morning at Guntersville Elementary School, where his three children attend, and was joined by law enforcement, school officials and other lawmakers.

Ainsworth, a Republican who is running for lieutenant governor, called his bill a commonsense approach to protecting children.

Teachers and administrators who carried guns would have to receive 40 hours of training through the Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission and a mental health evaluation. The state would pay the cost of training but not the cost of the guns.

Parents, students and the public would not be told which teachers are certified to carry weapons, but law enforcement would know, Ainsworth said.

Marshall County Sheriff Scott Walls and DeKalb County Chief Deputy Michael Edmondson spoke in support of Ainsworth's bill. Walls said school resource officers, who are police officers assigned to duties at schools, are important but do not provide enough protection.

"Law enforcement certainly supports this bill and other bills that will help us protect our children," Walls said.

Marshall County Schools Superintendent Cindy Wigley, DeKalb County Schools Superintendent Jason Barnett and second-grade teacher Sally Campbell spoke about the need for more protection for students. Wigley noted that a school shooting can be over in three minutes, which can be too fast for a law enforcement agency to respond.

Three other Republican lawmakers -- Sen. Clay Scofield and Rep. Kerry Rich of Guntersville and Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter of Rainsville, the House majority leader -- said they would back Ainsworth's legislation.

Rich said he proposed a similar bill about five years ago but said the state was not ready at that time. Rich said the state also needs to expand and improve mental health services, calling the level of available mental health care "pathetic."

During a press conference last week, House Speaker Mac McCutcheon called on legislators to be creative in looking for ways to help make schools in their districts be more safe. McCutcheon said it was too early to say whether he would support Ainsworth's bill.

An Alabama task force that issued a report on school safety in December 2016 did not recommend arming teachers.

Sen. Doug Jones told a Mobile TV station that arming teachers is "the dumbest idea I've ever heard."
After numerous complaints about foul odors and flies, a landfill that accepts sewage sludge waste from New York and New Jersey has begun unloading its train cars full of waste in Walker County, not Jefferson County, before hauling it by truck to the landfill.

The sewage sludge -- the solid material leftover from wastewater treatment plants -- is being shipped from facilities in New York and New Jersey for storage at the Big Sky Landfill in Adamsville, near the Jefferson County/Walker County line.

Several cars loaded with the containers of the sludge, also called biosolids, are currently sitting at a rail yard in the town of Parrish in Walker County awaiting transfer to the landfill.

Parrish Mayor Heather Hall confirmed the rail cars were in Parrish, but called the situation "very temporary," and the result of logistical issues.

"It's just a very temporary situation, until they can get these cars moving again," Hall said. "Hopefully within the next day or two they'll start shipping these cars out so they're not going to be stockpiled and be sitting here in Parrish."

Personnel at Big Sky did not immediately return calls requesting comment, but Hall said she spoke with the landfill and believed the operations there will not be an issue.

"They will be doing the unloading of the [train] cars to put on the trucks, but they're not dumping it here," Hall said. "Once they get this set of rail cars that are in here now, we're not really even going to have an issue anymore.

"They said once they get these cars moved out, there'll only be maybe six cars to 12 cars here at any one time, which unbeknownst to me, those cars have been there for the last year, year and a half already, and they haven't really caused an issue before."

Big Sky had been using a small rail spur in unincorporated Jefferson County to transfer the containers of sludge from the train cars to trucks and drive them to the landfill. However, after numerous complaints from nearby residents, Jefferson County determined the operation violated the county's zoning laws.

The owner of the rail yard is challenging that decision in court, but a judge ruled in January that Jefferson County could enforce the zoning ordinance until the issue is decided at trial.

Once that ruling came down, the landfill began transitioning to the new facility.

Charles Nix -- mayor of the town of West Jefferson, near the location of the old rail spur -- said he saw landfill personnel loading equipment onto trucks Friday at the old rail yard and followed them as they moved the equipment to Parrish.

"We kinda kept an eye on them," Nix said. "We followed them up I-22 to the Cordova/Parrish exit and they ended up in Parrish, right across from the old high school.

"They've probably got several hundred containers on the site now. As soon as they get their lift reassembled, they'll probably start hauling containers back to the landfill in the morning."

Nix and other residents of West Jefferson have been very critical of the sludge operation. The town has sued the landfill attempting to block the transport of sewage through town. Residents have complained of an increase in smells and flies since the operation started early last year, and times when wet sludge material sloshed out of trucks and onto county roads.

Landfill personnel have admitted to two instances in which the sludge material spilled from trucks onto roads. Residents claim there have been others as well.

Nix said changing the rail yard would not solve his town's problems with the sludge operation, as the trucks would still likely pass through West Jefferson as they got off of Interstate 22 to get to the landfill. He also believes his town is experiencing increased odors and flies from the landfill itself, not just the rail yard and the trucks.

"They have some other options, but that's the shortest route is I-22," Nix said. "The big issue now is once it gets to the landfill, we get the odor and flies from the landfill itself, so it's not gonna help. It looks like they might be able to increase the amount they're bringing in with this size rail yard."

Big Sky has approval from ADEM to use the sludge as alternative cover for the landfill cells to encourage plant growth. According to ADEM documents, Big Sky deposits the material from the shipping containers into a composting pile where it is mixed with dirt before being spread on top of the cells.

Other opposition to the landfill's sludge operation remains as well. The landfill's general operating permit with ADEM is up for renewal, and dozens of local residents turned out for a public hearing on the permit renewal. Most asked ADEM to deny renewal of the permit, or include provisions to block the import of sewage sludge.

The public comment period on the permit renewal ended Feb. 1. ADEM has not yet announced a decision on whether it will renew the permit.
The Baduy tribe from Banten in Indonesia practise seclusion and reject all modern technology to protect their ancient traditions. For centuries, their way of life hasnt changed. Electricity is prohibited, along with modern modes of communication and formal education. Power lines stop at the border of their lands, but in recent years, the outside world has begun to creep in.

The tribe has split in two  the more strict inner circle remain pure, while the outer circle have relaxed some rules. Some have started using mobile phones and solar-powered lanterns. Will adopting some aspects of modern technology help the Baduy survive the modern world, or will it destroy their ancient traditions?

Filmmaker: Hassan Ghani

Assistant Producer: Surya Fachrizal

Translation: Nurfitri Taher
One of the most intriguing people at the recently concluded Munich Security Conference, the annual gathering of international relations nabobs from Europe, North America and elsewhere, was erstwhile Georgian President and Odessan Governor Mikheil Saakashvili. Saakashvili is no longer president or governor of anything, and is also no longer a citizen of Georgia, but remains a fascinating figure, and a bit of a cautionary tale.

Saakashvili, for many years the darling of the west because of his record on fighting low-level corruption in Georgia and hawkish rhetoric towards Russia, usually delivered in near-native English, has had a rough few years since his party resoundingly lost a parliamentary election in Georgia in 2012, and he was then term-limited out of office in 2013. After leaving the presidency, Saakashvili, after a year or so, due to his relationship with Petro Poroshenko, who was elected president of Ukraine in 2014, became an adviser to the Ukrainian government and then governor of Ukraines Odessa oblast. However, the Saakashvili that took over Odessa was no longer the energetic reformer who changed Georgia so much and proved unable to accomplish much there.

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By late 2016, Saakashvili was out his job in Odessa and turning his attention to the man who had revived his political career. Like any politician, scholar or activist who gets in Saakashvilis way, Poroshenko continues to be on the receiving end of a barrage of Saakashvilis verbal attacks accusing him of being corrupt and a pawn of the Kremlin. This is standard Saakashvili fare and no longer gets any traction. Eventually, Poroschenko retaliated by stripping Saakashvili of his Ukranian citizenship, but a few months later Saakashvili returned to Ukraine without proper documentation and was arrested, released and then earlier this month things got even stranger.

On Monday, February 5, a Ukrainian appeals court turned down Saakashvilis request that it overturn a Ukrainian lower court ruling that denied him refugee status. Saakashvili then left Ukraine for the Netherlands, his wifes native country.

A central irony of the latest iteration of Saakashvili is that despite his consistently harsh anti-Russia rhetoric, almost nobody outside of Russia and Russian operatives are doing more to try to discredit the Ukrainian state in the eyes of the West, sow the seeds of instability there and lead Ukraine down the path of right-wing populist democratic rollback than Saakashvili himself.

The drama and just plain weirdness around the Saakashvili saga can obscure a significant reality. As recently as two years ago, Saakashvili boasted that he and his supporters would soon be running two countries, Georgia and Ukraine; today, he is widely discredited and, more damagingly for him, almost irrelevant in both those countries.

In Georgia, his political party has devolved into competing factions, none of which get any significant amount of votes or wield any real power. Lately, his support in Ukraine has been hovering near two or three percent. The rallies he has held there in recent months generally draw fewer, and sometimes far fewer, than five thousand people. Saakashvilis constant drumbeat about corruption in Ukraine is not so much wrong as it is sometimes overstated and usually presented in a way that does not resonate with a population weary from years of tumult. Ukrainians are indeed disappointed with their government and the pace of reforms, but that doesnt mean they are ready to embrace the populism, instability and erratic leadership that have always been part of the Saakashvili brand.

In Ukraine, Saakashvili also faces the very grave charge that he conspired to receive funding from one of Former President Viktor Yanukovichs most odious moneymen  one of his close aides was allegedly caught on video accepting several hundred thousand dollars from this moneymans envoy. That case has not come to trial, and Saakashvili adamantly denies any connection to Yanukovich, but the charges and evidence should not be so easily ignored.

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A central irony of the latest iteration of Saakashvili is that despite his consistently harsh anti-Russia rhetoric, almost nobody outside of Russia and Russian operatives are doing more to try to discredit the Ukrainian state in the eyes of the West, sow the seeds of instability there and lead Ukraine down the path of right-wing populist democratic rollback than Saakashvili himself. At the Munich conference, Saakashvili has devoted most of his time to making verbal attacks on the Ukrainian government, referring to them as crooks and thieves and trying to undermine their support from Western financial institutions. It should not be overlooked that, in Ukraine, he attempted to make alliances with fringe far-right and outwardly xenophobic forces such as the Svoboda party and the Azov Battalion. At his encampment outside the Parliament, one could see posters and banners with outright anti-Semitic slogans.

In the bigger political picture, Saakashvili may no longer be particularly important. He holds no important office, has a limited, if devoted, following in Georgia and Ukraine, and has lost a lot of Western goodwill in recent years. Nonetheless, a decade removed from his last election victory, and even further removed from the years when he was an aggressive and successful reformer, he provides us with with an example both of how somebody can stray from democratic promise to semi-authoritarian rabble-rousing and how western policymakers should be more willing to confront a political client when that happens. Saakashvili once represented hope and promise for the global democratic project, but largely because of decisions he made that never happened. The 19th-century American poet John Greenleaf Whittier wrote that the saddest words in the English language are It might have been, when thinking of where Saakashvili is today, these words come to mind, or if you prefer dialect of his adopted American hometown, shoulda, coulda, woulda.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has called for an international peace conference to convene by mid-2018 in order to restart the stalled Israeli-Palestinian talks.

Speaking at the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday for the first time since 2009, the 82-year-old delivered a speech that included the same previous rhetoric of rejecting violence and accepting negotiations with Israel as the only way forward.

We believe negotiations are the only path towards peace, so how can we reject negotiations? he said.

Abbas spoke during a political climate that saw tensions reach a boiling point after the United States recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel last December. The move led the Palestinian leadership to reject the role of the US as an honest broker in negotiations with Israel.

Furthermore, US President Donald Trumps administration has cut down funding for UNRWA, the UN agency that helps many Palestinians, which has dealt the Palestinian Authority another blow.

Abbas also called for a multilateral mechanism at the meeting, and vowed Palestinians will step up efforts to achieve full membership at the UN. Currently, the state of Palestine is designated non-observer member status.





He pointed out there have been 86 Security Council resolutions that have passed in the favour of Palestinians since 1948, none of which have been implemented.

Israel is acting as a state above the law, Abbas said. It has transformed the occupation from a temporary situation as per international law into a situation of permanent settlement colonisation and imposed a one-state reality of apartheid.

New format

Speaking from the UN headquarters in New York, Al Jazeeras diplomatic correspondent James Bays said the Palestinian Authority has lost faith in the US governments ability to mediate.

The Palestinians have given a year of the Trump administration and the efforts by [White House adviser and Trumps son-in-law] Jared Kushner, and they believe that things are going seriously backwards not forwards, Bays said.

Now, they want to see the members of the Security Council listen to them when they say there needs to be a new way of coming up with some sort of peace settlement, a new format.

The PA has been under pressure in the aftermath of the US decision to relocate its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, after facing criticism from Palestinians and rival factions such as Hamas for engaging in negotiations with Israel during the past 25 years.

The criticism was that was a waste of 25 years that hasnt gotten the Palestinians anywhere, said Al Jazeeras Bernard Smith in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah.

If anything, the Palestinian cause, the desire for their own state with East Jerusalem as its capital has slipped further backwards. Israeli settlements continued to expand and there doesnt seem to be anyone stopping them.





This is why Abbas is speaking to the UN Security Council today, to try to advance some sort of idea of a new way of achieving mediation with the Israelis, Smith said.

Honest broker?

Mohammad Oweis, a political analyst based in Washington, DC, told Al Jazeera any future conference is already a failure as the Israeli and American UN ambassadors are determined to derail anything that serves the rights of the Palestinian people.

There is no way for Palestinians and Israelis to sit for peace talks because the negotiations are prejudged by [the Trumps administrations] extreme fascist right-wing support to Israel and animosity against Palestinians, he said, adding there is nobody that can fill the role of an honest broker.

Although Russias UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the council his country is ready to provide a platform for Israelis and Palestinians without preconditions, Oweis dismissed any potential role for Russia in the Middle East peace process.

Everything [Nebenzia said] was in general terms, he said. I dont think Russia can take any position because it is busy with its own fiascos in the Middle East.

UN grossly biased

The Israeli UN ambassador Danny Danon spoke directly after Abbas, who left the meeting after his speech, and blamed the Palestinian president for inspiring a culture of hate within Palestinian society.

You are part of the problem, not the solution, Danon said, addressing Abbas.

For her part, the US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, used her platform to dismiss the UN body, saying it spends a disproportionate amount of time discussing the Israeli-Palestinian issue.

Its not that these issues are not important, she said. The problem is that the UN has proven itself time and again to be a grossly biased organisation when it comes to Israel.

As such, the UNs disproportionate focus has actually made the problem more difficult to solve by elevating the tensions and grievances between the two parties.

Haley, who arrived at the meeting with Kushner and Middle East Envoy Jason Greenblatt, also called on Abbas to get past his rejection of the US stance to recognise Jerusalem as Israels capital, telling him that decision will not change.

You can choose to denounce the US, reject the US role in peace talks and pursue punitive measures against Israel in international forums like the UN, Haley said.

Or you can choose to put aside your anger at the location of our embassy and move forward with us towards a negotiated compromise that holds great potential for improving the lives of Palestinian people.

Al Jazeeras Bays highlighted the meetings drama and theatrics with the reality he described as very depressing.

I have to say that nothing really has been achieved in the Security Council that brings us any closer to a resolution of a conflict that has gone on now for more than 70 years, he said.
Government-tied business owners need not worry about closing their bars at midnight after low turnout invalidates vote.

Budapest, Hungary  Budapests party district, a historic downtown area full of bars, clubs and restaurants, held a referendum to close businesses between midnight and 6am after years of resident complaints about noise and waste.

But late Monday evening, the municipal government said the vote was invalid because of low voter turnout.

All of the rubbish, the vomit, its become unliveable here, Judit Sakali, an elderly resident of the seventh district where the bars are found, told Al Jazeera on a recent February morning.

Sakali said she wanted bars and restaurants to close at midnight so she could sleep. Noisy tourists have prevented her from doing so.

Residents in the district, called Elizabeth Town by locals, came together to form the Livable Elizabeth Town group to organise themselves and document property destruction in response to rowdy partygoers.

They often post notes addressed to tourists on the streets: We understand. You want to have a good time, but you need to understand that  our streets are not your toilet.

Months of activism took place to get the referendum.

Atilla Vajnai, a left-wing politician and resident of the seventh district, told Al Jazeera the efforts began as a way to placate unhappy locals.

Then, when they saw how popular [the issue] is, they began to worry, Vajnai said.

The referendum faced challenges at the local and national level. An unnamed party tried to stop the vote in Hungarys High Court the week before it took place. The challenge was dismissed.

Tourists walk out of Szimpla, one of Budapests most famous ruin pubs in the party district

In 2017, a commissioner said the districts UNESCO World Heritage Site designation blocked the local council from making the decision.

Though a local issue, the party districts fate was the intersection of politics and business in advance of April elections.

Vajnai pointed to connections between bar owners and the ruling Fidesz party and the amount of money they make from these locales.

Tourism boom

Tourism has spiked in recent years, partly due to an increase in budget flights to Hungary and Budapests growing reputation as one of Europes most beautiful cities.

In 2016, the last year for which the Hungarian government has data, more than eight million tourists visited the country of 10 million people, the highest number on record.

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The bars of the seventh district, including the famous ruin pubs  housing complexes that had fallen into disrepair but were bought by developers in the 1990s and converted into clubs  are a big draw for Western Europeans.

Though there are no publicly available figures for private revenue, the district brought in more than $25m in tax in 2016, figures from the Ministry for National Economy show.

Many of the establishments in Budapests popular district belong to Prime Minister Victor Orbans political allies, Antonia Radi, a Hungarian journalist who investigated bar ownership in the area, told Al Jazeera.

These people view the recreational district as a place which can produce great benefit, Radi said.

Closely connected

Roy Zsiday, a Hungarian restaurant impresario, gave Orbans eldest daughter an internship at his business in the seventh district.

She now teaches a class in Hungarys Corvinus University and often invites Zsidai to speak as a guest lecturer, Radi said.

They do not cover their close relationship at all, Radi explained.

The connections dont end there.

The Fidesz government has long been criticised for limiting critical media in favour of pro-government outlets.

One such outlet is Origo, a former opposition media company that is now widely viewed as pro-government after the editor-in-chief was reportedly forced to resign after publishing a report on the spending of one of Orbans aides.

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Istvan Szaras, the previous CEO of Origo, owns a cocktail bar in the district. Origos new CEO is Adam Matolcy, son of the Hungarian central bank chief Gyorgy Matolcsy.

Balint Fulop Somlai owns another location in the district. He is the chief of the TV division of New Wave Media, the company that publishes Origo.

Somlai took out a mortgage on the property from the NHB Bank, which is also connected to Matolcsy, Radis research shows.

When asked about these connections, a government spokesperson said it has no duty with district issues.

Looking to April

The seventh districts mayor is Zsolt Vattamany, a Fidesz member. Istvan Bajkai, the Orban familys lawyer, is vice mayor and a parliamentary candidate in Hungarys April elections.

However, Fidesz does not have a majority on the district council. Janos Stummer, a member of the populist Jobbik party many view as far-right, typically serves as the swing vote to decide issues.

Stummer is the politician who originally proposed the referendum in 2017, but he later voted against it, siding with Vattamany.

On the national level, Jobbik has positioned itself as a populist alternative to Fidesz, focusing on raising wages for Hungarian and Eastern European workers, among other issues.

Many say Fidesz has gone further to the right on issues of refugees and immigration, as well as adopting a campaign against Hungarian American liberal philanthropist George Soros, who funds civil society organisations throughout the region.

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For Vajnai, the left-wing politician, the local alliance between Stummer and Vattamany has implications for the April election.

Fidesz is projected to win a majority of seats in parliament in April elections, but it could fall short of the numbers required to form a government on its own.

Polls show Jobbik coming in second. A coalition between the parties could conceivably form a party.

Jobbik members have repeatedly stated that a coalition with Fidesz wont happen. Still, Vajnai believes it could.

Though the referendum was deemed invalid due to low turnout, both Vajnai and Dori Garai, the founder of Livable Elizabeth Town, saw it as a success.

About 80 percent of the votes cast on Sunday night came from the inner-city area directly impacted by the party district, and 78 percent were in favour of closing bars at midnight, Garai said in a statement.

Following the referendum, Vattamany has promised to take measures to improve the lives of party district residents.

Vajnai was encouraged by the Fidesz mayors promise to improve living conditions.

In his view, a group of people were organised to challenge Fidesz, which made a concession. This shows big power shortly before the election, Vajnai said.
Bosnia and Herzegovinas Prime Minister Denis Zvizdic says the future of his country lies with the European Union and NATO.

During an official visit to Qatar, Zvizdic said his country is implementing political and economic reforms, including fighting corruption, in its efforts to speed up its integration process into the EU and NATO.

He sees that as a path for economic prosperity, political stability and security for the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Zvizdic said he brought with him several economic and investment projects to Qatar worth more than $2bn. He said such projects would help Bosnia create more jobs for its citizens and enhance trade and investment opportunities between his country and the Arab world at large.

He also discussed the upcoming general elections and the possibility of running for the presidency.

Al Jazeera: What is the nature of your visit to Qatar and what are you trying to accomplish during this visit?

Zvizdic: Bosnia has excellent relations with Qatar that goes back 25 years. We consider Qatar as a true friend of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The key goal of this visit is to present the economic potential of Bosnia and attract Qatari investments, which would benefit both countries.

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While the main foreign policy objective of Bosnia is to join the European Union, this does not mean that we should not reach out to the Middle East and the Arab world for better economic opportunities.

The Arab world is currently investing in the Bosnian economy in areas like manufacturing, construction, transportations and the food sector. Overall, we want to have ties with both the West and the East.

Al Jazeera: Bosnia has submitted an application to join the EU in 2016 and the application was accepted. What does Bosnia and Herzegovina hope to accomplish by joining the EU and NATO and where do things stand today?

Zvizdic: First, Bosnia Herzegovina is a decidedly European country in terms of its outlook, culture, history and geography. In the last three years both EU and NATO integration process has been speeding up. According to the latest surveys, 78 percent of the people of Bosnia are in favour of joining the EU.

By the end of this year, we expect the activation of NATO action plan and achieve a candidate state status with the EU. There is no doubt in our mind that we will for sure become an EU [member]. It is a matter of time.

Al Jazeera: It looks like that you have stacked all of your fortunes on EU membership, what if things went wrong, do you have a plan B?

Zvizdic: There is no plan B, we only have plan A. Our future is fully connected with the EU and the United States. The EU is our strongest trade partners especially Germany. However, there is no reason not to have good relations with other countries like Russia and Turkey.

Al Jazeera: Considering that your foreign policy orientation is tied to the EU and the United States, is Russia meddling in your internal politics in an effort to derail your membership in either the EU or NATO?

Zvizdic: There are certain attempts by Russia to influence policies in the western Balkans. The shifting of the western Balkans toward NATO is actually aggravating Russia.

We want to have good economic ties with Russia. However, we see our future as part of the EU.





Al Jazeera: As a multi-national federation state, would integration and membership in the EU solve Bosnias thorniest problems, such as its complex political system that was created along national and ethnic lines in the aftermath of the bloody civil war during the 90s, and its economic instability?

This, considering that countries like Greece, for example, suffers from deep economic instability despite being an EU member.

Zvizdic: When we become members of the EU, two key issues will be resolved:

One  it will accomplish security and stability by resolving the issues related to the borders in the western Balkans. The EU commission has emphasised that the six countries in the western Balkans, Bosnia, Serbia, Croatia, Macedonia Montenegro and Kosovo must resolve their border disputes before ascending to full EU membership.

When the border issues are resolved, it will halt any ideas or attempts by any party to change it, and thus it will bring political stability and security

Two  the EU and NATO membership will result in economic prosperity. Greece suffers economic problems because it did not implement the recommended EU economic measures that would have helped it out of its economic slump.

But take for example countries like Romania, Bulgaria and Slovenia which are good examples of East European countries that followed the EU measures and standards and that despite the initial painful impact on the population, it ended up better off and more prosperous in the long run.

Al Jazeera: The general elections in Bosnia are slated to take place this October, does that explain the rise of nationalistic rhetoric from the different national groups in the country and are you planning to run for president?

Zvizdic: As for as running for president, I would say maybe, I might run for president, we will see what happens when the time comes.

As for the other part of the question, since its election season, it is not unusual to see the rise of rhetoric from all groups. This has become typical in Bosnian electoral politics. However, once the election is over, the rhetoric subsides and a political balance and a return to reality takes hold.

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Al Jazeera: Is there hope for democracy in Bosnia? Other countries in the region have seemingly moved on and became better off, why hasnt Bosnia?

Zvizdic: I disagree with the assessment that other Balkan countries are better off than Bosnia in that respect. Our region has lived through communism and authoritarian regimes for too long. The transition to democracy takes time and it requires a change in thinking, culture and values.

The principles of democracy and free market economy must be accepted by our region. Gradually, however, we are heading in that direction.

Follow Ali Younes on Twitter: @ali_reports
Journalist group compares Philippine president to petulant child and warns that his action is anathema to democracy.

The president of the Philippines has ordered that two journalists be banned from entering the presidential palace, an act one Filipino reporters rights group described as appalling and extremely unbecoming of a president.

Independent news website Rappler reported on Tuesday that Rodrigo Duterte directly ordered his presidential security team to bar the organisations CEO and one of its reporters from covering events at the palace.

The report was later confirmed by state television PTV.

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Rappler said the president made the decision after watching a Senate hearing, in which his most trusted aide, Christopher Go, was questioned for his role in a questionable military contract.

The story was first reported by the news website.

Harry Roque, Dutertes spokesman, said on Tuesday that the Rappler reporter, Pia Ranada, can continue to cover his daily briefing pending a court decision on the news websites closure case.

The briefing is regularly held in another building next to the presidential palace.

Roque also accused Rappler of editorialising in its news reports, an allegation the news outlet has denied.

In a statement on Tuesday, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said Dutertes peevishness displays a sinister side of his persona that does not bode well at all for the already uncertain health and future of democracy in our benighted country.

Dutertes belligerence no longer surprises us. He has acted much like petulant child throwing a fit, NUJP said.

This, to say the least, is anathema to democracy.

Autocratic leadership

It is not the first time that Duterte has clashed with Rappler, a news website launched in 2012 that the president has repeatedly denounced as a source of fake news.

But Marites Vitug, Rapplers editor at large, said the order is another setback to the Philippines, which prides itself on having the freest press in the Southeast Asia region.

This is a dangerous situation, showing that Duterte doesnt understand the role of the press in a democracy, Vitug told Al Jazeera in a statement.

She said Duterte blatantly disregards the duties of the press by treating journalists as subservient to the powers that be.

In January, the Philippine government tried to shut down Rappler [File: Reuters]

He has no concept of checks and balance, displaying his autocratic leadership.

In January, the presidents securities and exchange agency ordered that Rappler be shut down for allegedly violating rules restricting foreign ownership of Philippine media.

While Duterte has denied playing a role in that decision, critics said it was the presidents way of attempting to silence dissent.

Pending a court appeal, Rappler continues to be in operation from its headquarters in the capital, Manila.

Threats of violence

Duterte was also angered when Rappler published a report questioning the citizenship of his first foreign affairs secretary. The top diplomat turned out to be a former American citizen and was forced to resign.

The news website has also published a series of reports calling into question the Duterte administrations deadly war on drugs and reported on the presidents alleged multi-million dollars worth of bank deposits.





But Rapplers CEO Maria Ressa was also one of the first journalists to interview Duterte in 2015 as he prepared to run for president in May 2016.

Since the publication of the critical news reports, however, Rappler has come under continued attack by Dutertes supporters online.

In various public events, Ressa said she and her fellow Rappler journalists have been repeatedly threatened with violence, including rape.

Inday Espina Varona, a journalist and political commentator, said there is no legal excuse for the Duterte administration to justify denying Rappler access to the palace.
Ethiopia declared a state of emergency on the heels of mass anti-government rallies. But just who is protesting and why?

It has been a tumultuous week in Ethiopian politics after the countrys prime minister abruptly resigned and the ruling coalition declared a six-month state of emergency as it seeks to contain mass anti-government protests.

These protests are at the heart of Hailemariam Desalegns decision to step down, according to several experts, who say the country is now at a critical juncture in its political history.

While details of how the state of emergency will work remain sparse, public protests will be banned, alongside speech that could incite and sow discord, the minister of defence said as he announced the order last Friday.

The government is expected to present the decree to parliament for ratification within 15 days.

But the state of emergency has already caused alarm among human rights activists and others who were heartened by recent reforms in Ethiopia, including the release of political prisoners.

It has also put the spotlight back on the protests that have been held intermittently across Ethiopias most populous regions over the past three years.

But just what prompted the mass demonstrations and what has kept them going in the face of a harsh government crackdown? Who are the protesters and what are their demands? What will it take to appease people in the streets?

The protests

Mass protests erupted in Ethiopias populous Oromia region  home to the Oromo, Ethiopias largest ethno-national group  in 2015 after a master plan was unveiled to expand the boundaries of the capital, Addis Ababa.

The concern among local farmers at the time was that the city would confiscate their lands and leave them without a source of livelihood and with nowhere to go.

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The Oromo protesters first demand, therefore, was to cancel the master plan outright, explained Felix Horne, a researcher at Human Rights Watch.

But their demands quickly grew to include the release of prisoners of conscience and more political and socioeconomic rights for the Oromo, who make up more than 34 percent of the countrys 100 million citizens and have long complained of being marginalised.

Angered by an unfulfilled demand to retake control of some of their lands, the Amhara  Ethiopias second-largest ethnic group, constituting about 27 percent of the population  launched protests in their region soon thereafter.

The Amhara people quickly raised another issue at their rallies, Horne explained: the disproportionate economic and diplomatic power of the most dominant party in the ruling coalition, the Tigrayan Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF).

The TPLF is one of four political parties in the ruling Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), which controls all 547 seats in Ethiopias parliament.

The other parties are the Amhara National Democratic Movement (ANDM), the Oromo Peoples Democratic Organisation (OPDO), and the Southern Ethiopian Peoples Democratic Movement (SEPDM).

Tigrayans make up about six percent of Ethiopias population, but hold influential positions in the fields of government, economics and security, among others. The countrys former prime minister, Meles Zenawi, chaired the TPLF before his death in 2012.





Very rapidly after the outbreak of the protests, all of the underlying grievances about a lack of political space, a lack of ability to express dissent, came to the forefront, Horne told Al Jazeera.

The government, rather than acknowledging this, they just repressed those protesters with brutal force, he said.

A state of emergency was put in place in 2016 and lifted last August after 10 months. Hundreds of people were killed when state security forces opened fire on protesters, and more than 20,000 people were arrested amid widespread human rights abuses.

But the states use of violence didnt stem the protests, and many youths were actually emboldened to continue to demand greater political inclusion, Horne said.

This year, mass protests once again broke out in the Oromo and Amhara regions after residents alleged the government was dragging its feet on a promise to release all of Ethiopias political prisoners. Strikes were also organised to put pressure on Hailemariams government.

Repression is not working, [the government was] not able to instil the same level of fear, Horne said.

The Other

The Oromo are largely concentrated in Oromia, which is also the countrys largest region.

But despite the size of their population and territory, Ethiopia has for decades marginalised the Oromo from the political and economic benefits of the state, said Etana Habte, a PhD student and teaching fellow at SOAS at the University of London.

The questions being raised today by Oromo protesters are very much rooted in the history of the country, where Oromo were seen in Ethiopia as its Other, Etana told Al Jazeera.

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The Oromo have a handful of historical demands that have been amplified since the protests broke out three years ago.

They have called for greater self-rule at the regional level, including the ability to control the lands they live and work on, Etana said, while also demanding the recognition of their ethnic identity and language rights at the national level.

Amharic is Ethiopias only official working language.

If you hear the protesters on the street  [they are saying], self-rule for our region, shared rule for Ethiopia,' Etana said.

The problem is the government is now dominated by a minority ruling elite coming from the Tigrayan people, he added, and if you give self-rule for Oromia, Oromia would take a leading role at the national level That is the fear of the ruling elite.

While the trigger behind protests in the Oromo and Amhara communities was not the same, solidarity has grown between the two groups, both at the local and federal government levels, said Fisseha Tekle, a Horn of Africa researcher with Amnesty International.

There is an emerging partnership between the people in the regions and the two parties representing the communities within the EPRDF coalition, said Tekle.

He said the protesters demands have been consistent since the start of the protests and continue in the same vein today: accountability for human rights abuses, the release of political prisoners, political reforms and greater freedoms.

People are saying that democratic institutions in the country are not reflective of the reality on the ground  and they need a space that allows for every voice to be heard, Tekle told Al Jazeera.

Succession debate

Hailemariams resignation has opened up a succession debate within the ruling party ahead of elections scheduled for 2020.

But it is the state of emergency that most concerns groups such as Amnesty International, Tekle said.

Lifting and suspending rights is not a positive response The Ethiopian government is still not learning from its past mistakes, but it is trying to quash protests using the usual method, which is force, he said.

According to Mohammed Ademo, founder and editor of OPride.com, an independent news website on Ethiopia, the ruling coalition must appoint an Oromo politician as prime minister to appease the protesters demands in the short-term.

People feel marginalised from the centres of power They are saying they dont want to continue to be ruled by a minority oligarchy, Ademo told Al Jazeera.

From the point of view of many protesters, the only suitable candidates to lead Ethiopia out of this volatile situation would be Lemma Megersa, president of the Oromia regional government, or his vice president, Abiy Ahmed, a leading figure in the OPDO, the Oromo party within the coalition.

Both politicians have said the demands of the protesters for more democracy, for openness, for justice, for opportunity, for jobs  are valid, Ademo said.

Thats what endears these two leaders to the public [and] to the protesters.

Whoever becomes prime minister will have to quickly address deeper problems in Ethiopia, however, such as allowing media and non-governmental organisations to operate freely and repealing repressive laws that have been used to criminalise citizens calling for reform, Ademo said.

Will [appointing an Oromo prime minister] be sufficient? Absolutely not.
More than 300 arrests made after five security forces killed in clashes in Tehran involving Sufi Muslims, reports say.

At least five Iranian security forces were killed in separate car-ramming attacks and a stabbing, blamed on Sufi Muslim followers who had been protesting alleged religious repression by the government in Tehran.

Three police officers were killed and several wounded in the first incident on Monday evening, when a minibus ran them over as they tried to contain the Gonabadi Dervish protesters in the Pasdaran district of the capital, Irans Fars news agency reported on Tuesday.

A Gonabadi Dervish member drove the vehicle involved in the attack, it said. Al Jazeera could not independently verify the information.





One video clip posted on social media showed a white minibus speeding down a busy Tehran street, as dozens of police officers carrying batons and riot shields gave chase, with onlookers screaming.

In a separate incident, a member of the government-aligned Basij volunteer militia group was reportedly rammed by a car and another stabbed to death, according to Press TV.

The militia frequently patrols the streets of Iran, receiving direct orders from the Revolutionary Guard and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Press TV reported as many as 30 security forces and protesters were also injured during clashes.

Images posted by a Gonabadi Dervish-affiliated social media account showed several male members of the group with bloodied faces and foreheads, following apparent police beatings.

Another photo showed several people blocking a street and burning objects to prevent police from moving forward. There were also reports of torched vehicles and other damage to private property.

Tasnim news agency reported as many as 300 people have been arrested.

General Saeed Montazer al-Mahdi, a police spokesman, was quoted by Press TV as saying security forces managed to restore calm and order on Tuesday.

Video clips posted Tuesday on social media, however, showed police engaged in running battles with demonstrators on residential streets in Tehrans northern district.

Iranian Dervish community of Gonabad clash with police in northern Tehran, near their spiritual leader's house 3 police reprtdly dead after a minibus ran them over. State TV: Driver was Dervish protestor 2nd runaway car injured 3 more police  160 Dervishes arrested pic.twitter.com/tDXHfxXawi  Ali Noorani (@ali_noorani_teh) February 19, 2018

Religious persecution

Members of the Gonabadi Dervish religious order protested on Monday following reports that its ageing leader, Noor Ali Tabandeh, may be imprisoned by authorities.

As of Tuesday, there were no reports that Tabandeh, 90, had been arrested. The social media account Majzooban said several supporters of the religious leader were rounded up by authorities.





For years, members of the Gonabadi Dervish have complained of religious persecution and frequent imprisonments.

According to the Center for Human Rights in Iran, the Sufi Muslims are viewed as a threat to mainstream Shia Islam in the country, and its religious establishment frowns upon conversions.

In January, at least 10 members of the group were imprisoned in southern Fars province. Other followers are reportedly held at Tehrans Evin Prison.

For centuries, however, Iran has allowed other major religions  such as Christianity, Judaism and Buddhism  to exist in the country.
Iranian officials say they have located the site of a plane crash that killed all 65 people on board last week.

Iran has located the wreckage of a passenger plane that went down in a mountainous part of the country earlier this week, killing all 65 people on board.

A military drone was used to locate the crash site, and two helicopters were then dispatched to the snow-covered scene, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesman Ramezan Sharif told Irans state television on Tuesday.

The plane had hit the top of the mountain before crashing 30 metres further down, Sharif said.

The Aseman Airlines plane went down in the Zagros Mountains range in central Iran on Sunday during a domestic flight from the Iranian capital, Tehran, to the southwestern city of Yasuj.

It had been carrying 59 passengers and six crew members, all of whom died in the crash, according to Irans state-run Press TV.





Parts of the aeroplane have been found at an altitude of about 3,500 metres, according to state television broadcasts of the rescue mission.

The search will continue on foot as the mountainous terrain made a helicopter landing impossible, a spokesperson for Irans emergency service agency said.

Weather blamed

Aseman Airlines blamed hazardous weather conditions for the crash, dismissing the possibility that it was the result of a technical failure.

The ATR-72  twin-engine turboprop plane  was 24-years-old, according to the Aviation Safety Network.

Irans commercial passenger aircraft fleet has been involved in several accidents in recent years, including a crash near Tehran that killed 40 people in August 2014.

The incident came after 78 people were killed in a plane crash near the city of Orumiyeh, northwestern Iran, in January 2011.

Tehran has blamed US sanctions for preventing it from modernising the countrys existing fleet of passenger planes or ordering new aircraft.

However, following Irans 2015 nuclear deal with the US and other world powers, a number of sanctions have been lifted, allowing Tehran to purchase new planes from Airbus and Boeing.

The European and US-based companies have agreed to sell 180 planes to Irans state carrier service, IranAir.

Three Airbus planes have been delivered to Iran to date, while the first new Boeing plane is due to arrive later this year.
Ruling party legislators approve extension of state of emergency on island nation, in a vote opposition says is illegal.

Maldives parliament has approved the extension of a state of emergency by 30 days, in a vote the opposition condemned as illegal.

The move on Tuesday comes amid continuing protests in the capital, Male, and widespread international condemnation of the initial 15-day emergency imposed by President Abdulla Yameen on February 5.

Yameen had cited threats to national security after the Supreme Court overturned criminal convictions against nine of his opponents and ordered their release.

He sent the army to storm the Supreme Court building and arrest the island nations chief justice and another judge on the top courts bench. His estranged half-brother, former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who has sided with the opposition, was also arrested.





The three remaining judges on the Supreme Court then reversed part of their verdict on the release of Yameens opponents.

Later, judges also revoked the reinstatement of 12 parliamentarians who were stripped of their seats for defecting to the opposition.

The crisis prompted near-daily protests by opposition supporters and resulted in sporadic clashes between protesters and police.

Two journalists were assaulted by riot police during a protest on Friday.

Key tourist markets, including China and the UK, also issued travel advisories to the upmarket holiday destination.

The 15-day emergency was set to expire on Tuesday, and Yameen asked the parliament on Monday to extend it by another 30 days due to the present threat to national security and constitutional crisis caused by the Supreme Court ruling, according to a statement by his office.

The opposition boycotted Tuesdays vote, and the emergency extension was approved, with 38 ruling party legislators voting in favour.

In a statement, the opposition said the extension was illegal and void, citing a constitutional provision that requires 43 members of the 85-member house to be present in the chamber when voting on a matter of public compliance.

However, Speaker Abdulla Maseeh, introducing the vote on Tuesday, said parliamentary regulations do not require the constitutionally mandated quorum in order to extend a state of emergency.

In a statement, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, leader of the opposition parliamentary group, said: President Yameen failed to muster the required number of votes to pass his emergency legislation. And so Yameen has ratified and extended the emergency illegally.

President Yameen has, in effect, hijacked the entire state and is ruling the Maldives like a military dictator.

Earlier in the day, Indias foreign ministry urged Yameen against the move.

It is our expectation that the Government of Maldives will not be seeking extension of the State of Emergency so that the political process in the Maldives can resume with immediate effect, it said in a statement.

The UN human rights chief called the emergency an assault on democracy earlier this month.
British charity has received more than two dozen new sexual misconduct allegations since the Haiti scandal broke out.

Oxfam has received 26 new claims of sexual misconduct, allegedly by its staff, since it was revealed the charitys aid workers used prostitutes in Haiti.

Sixteen of the accusations  which include recent and older incidents  related to the British-based charitys work outside the UK, Oxfam Chief Executive Mark Goldring said on Tuesday.

Im sorry for the damage Oxfam has done both to the people of Haiti, but also to wider efforts for aid and development, by possibly undermining public support, Goldring told a parliamentary hearing in London.

The UKs parliamentary committee for international development summoned Goldring and other senior Oxfam staff to give evidence on sexual exploitation in the aid sector.

Earlier this month, reports surfaced that Oxfam employees had paid sex workers while on an aid mission in Haiti, following the countrys devastating 2010 earthquake.





The charity fired four staff members for gross misconduct and allowed three others to resign following a 2011 internal inquiry into the sex scandal, the downloading of pornography, and bullying and intimidation during the assignment.

Three members of staff implicated in the report physically threatened a witness during the investigation, according to a redacted version of the internal report released on Monday.

Haitian President Jovenel Moise has said the Oxfam scandal is the visible part of the iceberg and called for probes into the conduct of the charity and other aid organisations in Haiti since 2010.

It is not only Oxfam, there are other NGOs in the same situation, but they hide the information internally, Moise told Reuters news agency on Friday.

The European Union and UK government have said they will review their funding of Oxfam in light of the allegations.

Oxfam, which operates in 35 countries worldwide, received 176 million pounds ($243m) of funding from the UK government and other public authorities during the 2016-17 financial year, 43 percent of the charitys 408.6 million pounds ($564m) of total income.
UK-based activists, who hail from opposite sides of Myanmar conflict, on why Rohingya repatriation plan is not solution.

England, United Kingdom  As Myanmars Rohingya continue to trickle into neighbouring Bangladesh, extending a six-month exodus, talk of repatriation simmers at the diplomatic level.

There are already about one million members of the persecuted, mostly Muslim minority struggling in overcrowded camps in the South Asian country.

They have fled what several international leaders have termed a genocide in Myanmar, their home country where they are not granted the simplest of rights  including citizenship.

Victims and rights groups have provided evidence of a campaign of ethnic cleansing. Myanmar security forces are accused of raping Rohingya women, tossing babies into fires, burning down entire villages and slaughtering thousands.

In January, Bangladesh and Myanmar announced a repatriation deal, prompting concerns from rights groups and members of the Rohingya.

The Rohingya were not consulted about the agreement, which does not guarantee safety upon return or basic rights such as full citizenship.

Some people asked me  how can we return to this place? says Tun Khin, a Rohingya activist and the head of the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK, who visited camps in Bangladesh last week.

It is a joke. It is not the time to talk about repatriation, he adds.

On Thursday, Tun Khin will address students at the University of Oxford, a symbolic location.

Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmars de-facto leader charged with complicity over killings of Rohingya, studied at the universitys St Hughs College.

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Students there, angered that Aung San Suu Kyi remained a revered figure across campus as the crisis unfolded in Myanmar, recently succeeded in removing her portrait from the entrance and name from a common room.

Tun Khin will be joined on the panel by Maung Zarni, a member of Myanmars Buddhist majority who hails from a military family. The scholar and activist, who is also based in the UK, says he is in complete opposition to what my own community is doing to Tun Khins community.

Al Jazeera spoke with Tun Khin and Zarni on plans to repatriate the Rohingya, the Wests role in ending persecution and the apparent failure of the UN Security Council to stop the bloodshed.

Tun Khin visited camps in Bangladesh last week [Courtesy: Tun Khin]

Al Jazeera: Earlier this month, Boris Johnson, the UKs foreign secretary, returned from Myanmar and Bangladesh and said there was no doubt industrial ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims had been taking place. Does this statement from a Western figure mark some kind of a turning point?

Tun Khin: As a Rohingya myself, I am a victim of genocide. This is not something that is happening just right now, its been happening since 1978 when my mother was pregnant with me. I was born in Burma. My family fled to Bangladesh, and came back without any citizenship.

(Note: In 1978, Myanmar drove out illegal residents. Many Rohingya fled to Bangladesh but returned following international pressure. In 1982, Myanmars Citizenship Law deprived the Rohingya of citizenship.)

The West knows what has been happening. There are well documented UK and US embassies in Yangon  they are all aware of whats been happening over many years to the Rohingya.

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Whats been happening since August is clearly a genocide, which they knew about.

Its good to see Boris Johnson visited, but we havent seen any significant action from the UK government to stop this genocide.

Maung Zarni: The Rohingya and Burmese Buddhists and other ethnic communities  we belong in the same country. Tun Khins community has been singled out for, essentially, intentional destruction from its very root. This has been going on for 40 years since 1978 [and] the UN and its member states and the UK, US  they know more than enough to determine that this is a classic case of a genocide.

The problem is members states of the UN, particularly the UN Security Council. The Security Council is essentially in a coma in the case of Rohingya, in the case of Syria, in the case of Yemen.

Before this exodus, Yangon was the place every world leader and delegation went  they wanted to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi, they wanted to visit her home.

Now, Burma is no longer democratising, Burma is actually going backward and moving in the fascist direction.

Now, every single iconic figure with concerns about refugees is travelling to Bangladesh. Hollywood stars, heads of states, and Boris Johnson. I must say I am a little bit encouraged by the fact Johnson went there, he went strongly in support of the Rohingya and called it industrial ethnic cleansing.

Now, Burma is no longer democratising, Burma is actually going backward and moving in the fascist direction. Maung Zarni, member of Myanmar's Buddhist majority

But I am very concerned [the West continues to] express support for Aung San Suu Kyi and portray her as the only hope and prospect for democratisation.

She is part of this genocide.

Al Jazeera: As you have mentioned, the language used by some international figures refers to genocide, while rights groups have spoken of an apartheid. Why does action not match this rhetoric?

Zarni: As much as it sounds impractical, there needs to be a concerted push by four or five major governments. French President Macron called this genocide. Boris Johnson called it industrial ethnic cleansing. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called it ethnic cleansing.

These are three major permanent UN Security Council members. You cannot describe a situation like this and then not consider very forceful options, even if the Burmese government and its neighbours are unprepared to act.

[Then there are] Islamic countries such as Turkey and Egypt recognising this as a major atrocity and crime.

We need a coalition of seriously concerned governments deciding what to do to.

Tun Khin is the head of the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK [Courtesy: Tun Khin]

Al Jazeera: What does concrete action look like to you?

Tun Khin: I met refugees who fled Myanmar as recently as last week. Its a joke to talk about repatriation. It is not the time to talk about repatriation from this government. Its time to see how we can use the International Criminal Court (ICC) to try [Myanmar military chief] Min Aung Hlaing and Aung San Suu Kyi. They joined together to commit genocide.

The Rohingya want safety and protection  so we need a UN-protected area for their return.

Zarni: Before we can take any action, we need to accept the reality. The reality is that Burma  the society and military and government of Aung San Suu Kyi  has shown absolutely no indication that it will accept the Rohingya as an ethnic community who deserve full and equal citizenship as well as basic human rights, like everyone else in the country.

When you have a situation where the entire society and entire military and entire political class have rejected an ethnic community, then it is dishonest for any politician and any UN official leader to keep saying they want to see voluntary safe and dignified return.

What the Rohingya need is a piece of earth that they can call their home, where they don't need to worry about being slaughtered or their houses and villages being burned. Maung Zarni, member of Myanmar's Buddhist majority

Return is no longer an option. If the Burmese army or Aung San Suu Kyi said they want to receive the Rohingya back, that is simply a deception to try to defuse the international attention and get the international community off its back.

What the Rohingya need is a piece of earth that they can call their home, where they dont need to worry about being slaughtered or their houses and villages being burned.

What we need to see is a small number of genuinely concerned leaders around the world to call a special conference to create an autonomous region for the Rohingya, where they can feel safe and protected by the UN and neighbouring government of Bangladesh and others. I dont think any other solution will work.

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We are not talking about [for example, the] creation of a Jewish state out of Palestine where there were already pre-existing populations that got kicked out. We are simply looking at the land where Rohingya were kicked out from, where Rohingya belong.

Tun Khin: These people have been in trauma  they are not talking about returning. Some people ask me, How can we return to this place? There is no way to return.

Some who fled recently told me the military came to their village and told them they needed to go to an immigration office. When they left, the military burned down their homes. When they got back, the military arrested them, claiming they had burned their own houses. They were arrested for 10 days until they could pay the military a big bribe.

The people want UN protection  international protection. Everyone sees Rohingya as illegal immigrants, and says, Just kill them all.

Nobody will return unless there is forced repatriation.

Bangladesh and Myanmar announced a repatriation deal in January [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]

Al Jazeera: While you both seek an autonomous region for the Rohingya, what other scenarios could be expected regarding repatriation?

Zarni: Its in the interest of the Bangladeshi government to try to get as many Rohingya as possible returned to Burma  this is a large number of humans that Bangladesh is being burdened with. We need to understand frustrations and fears of Bangladesh of shouldering one million people on top of its 166 million.

From the Burmese militarys perspective, they would want this process of repatriation to be drawn out as much as possible.

[Repatriation] is like telling Auschwitz survivors to go back and make a living in Auschwitz.

Al Jazeera: In Bangladesh, as well as overcrowding issues in the camps, what other challenges do the Rohingya face?

Zarni: The danger here is that thousands of Rohingya are facing health and existential crises. In the next three to four months, there will be monsoon season.

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They are in a low-lying area and Bangladesh is flood-prone. They are facing the extremely dangerous prospect of being washed away.

The outbreak of infectious diseases, diarrhoea and what not [is also a concern].

And then you have another 500,000 trapped inside Burma, whose lives are squeezed by the Burmese military.

Al Jazeera: In a few days, you will speak at the University of Oxford, where Aung San Suu Kyi is a noted graduate. Why is the location important?

Zarni: Oxford University is playing this bystander role. It is looking on when genocide is happening under the watch of its most famous alumna.

The university maintains official ties with the University of Yangon, where genocidal views are espoused.

Oxford also has an exchange programme for Burmese scholars and researchers. They become more articulate and better educated and use the Oxford training to justify the genocide of the Rohingya and to cover up.

We want students to tell the Vice-Chancellor Louise Richardson to cut institutional ties with Yangon, to strip Aung San Suu Kyi of her doctorate. If the university doesnt have precedent, it should make an exception.

Tun Khin: As a Rohingya myself, I want to bring the messages of the victims to the University of Oxford.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Syrian National Coalition: Ghouta being exterminated

With humanitarian conditions spiralling out of control, the UN and the Syrian opposition are increasingly alarmed at the situation in Eastern Ghouta under Syrian government and Russian bombardment.
UN warns of humanitarian disaster of extraordinary proportions amid surge of violence in DRCs Tanganyika province.

The United Nations has warned that the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is facing a humanitarian disaster of extraordinary proportions, as violence and mass displacement is rapidly rising in the countrys southeast.

A spokesperson for the UNs refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Monday that entrenched intercommunal conflict between several ethnic groups in Tanganyika province was triggering spiraling displacement and human rights abuses.

Moreover, fierce clashes between the Congolese armed forces and militias have continued since the end of January, while new armed groups threaten to wreak more havoc in the province, Andrej Mahecic said in a statement.

The surge in violence in Tanganyika  an area that is home to about three million people  was largely between the Twa, Luba and other ethnic groups.

It comes amid more than 800 reported human rights abuses in the province over the first two weeks of February alone.

People fleeing for their lives near the provincial capital Kalemie share stories of horrific violence during attacks against their villages, including killings, abductions and rape, Mahecic said.

Crisis

Increasing conflict and a dire humanitarian situation in the DRC forced 1.7 million people to flee their homes last year alone.

Also this week, two humanitarian aid workers were killed.

Throughout 2017, more than 12,000 reports of human rights violations in Tanganyika and the nearby area of Haut Katanga were documented, the UN also said.

The number of people who fled their homes in Tanganyika nearly doubled between 2016 and 2017, rising from 370,000 in December 2016 to 630,000 at the end of last year, according to the latest figures.

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A UNHCR spokesperson told Al Jazeera the violence is one of the most severe and one of the most worrying localised conflicts in the DRC.

Its a crisis which has been gradually increasing with growing hatred between ethnic groups, Andreas Kirchhof said.

Ethnic violence between the Bantu and Twa ethnic groups has intensified since mid-2016.

The International Rescue Committee said more than 400 villages were destroyed between July 2016 and March 2017 as a result of the conflict.

As of last October, UNHCR reported the DRC was home to 3.9 million internally displaced persons, while more than 600,000 Congolese refugees had sought refuge in more than 11 other African countries.
Allegations that Canada backs Sikh separatist groups overshadows Trudeaus first trip to India as prime minister.

New Delhi, India  Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus India trip that began on Saturday has been making the headlines in India for the wrong reasons.

In the past four days of his first India trip as prime minister, Trudeau has travelled to the iconic Taj Mahal, nearly 200km from the capital, New Delhi and Gujarat, home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Mumbai, but no senior government minister has met him so far.

A junior Indian minister greeted the Canadian prime minister when he landed in New Delhi accompanied by his wife and three children.

Modi has broken protocols in the past to receive guests personally, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in January.

But the Indian prime minister, who famously hugs his guests, has not even tweeted welcoming Trudeau in a move being seen as a snub to the Canadian leader.

Sections of the Indian media praised Modi for his firmness and for being impressively tough.

The right-wing ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), however, denies any disrespect to the visiting leader.

I was about Xav's age when I first visited the Taj Mahal almost 35 years ago and it's amazing to be back with him & the family on Day 1 of our trip to India. pic.twitter.com/EN6VnkYBU2  Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 18, 2018

I dont think this is any kind of snub. India values its relationship with Canada highly, Seshadri Chari, member of the National Executive of the BJP told Al Jazeera.

Modi is scheduled to meet Trudeau on Friday.

Sikh separatist movement

Indian officials have accused the Trudeau government of backing Sikh separatist movement known as the Khalistani movement that seeks an independent Sikh homeland in the Indian state of Punjab.

Over the years, the Canadian political establishment, across the spectrum (whether it is the NDP, Conservatives or Liberals) has been mollycoddling Khalistani elements. Under the Trudeau government, this has increased. He had himself appeared on a Khalistani platform in Toronto in April last year, Vishnu Prakash, former Indian envoy to Canada, told Indian news site The Print on Monday.

India has trouble accepting criticism from minority groups... As a democracy, India must realise that human rights are critical and cannot be dismissed by trying to malign or marginalise those seeking justice Balpreet Singh Boparai, World Sikh Organisation

Prakash, however, denied that Trudeau was being cold-shouldered, adding that every courtesy has been extended to him.

Balpreet Singh Boparai from the World Sikh Organisation  a non-profit outfit that claims to be working to promote and protect the interests of Canadian Sikhs  said the snub reveals Indias insecurity with minority rights.

The cold reception given to Prime Minister Trudeau has been noted in Canada, Boparai, who is based in Newmarket, Ontario, told Al Jazeera.

Prime Minister Trudeau has been unapologetic about the Sikhs in his cabinet, once also joking that he has more Sikhs in his cabinet than Modi. It is clear that there is an insecurity about this among some in the Indian government and media who see Sikhs in positions of leadership as being inherently a threat to India. This is despite the fact that three of the four Sikh cabinet ministers have been raised in Canada and have never expressed any anti-India sentiments, he added.

Canada boasts 17 Sikh members of parliament. Sikhs account for roughly 1.4 percent of Canadas population of 36 million.

The spectre of Sikh separatism

Amarinder Singh, the top elected official in Punjab  a state with majority Sikh population  had earlier alleged that Canadas Sikh communities are a hotbed of separatists.

In April last year, Singh had said that Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, who is also accompanying Trudeau on this trip, was a Khalistani sympathiser.

Former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in 1984 over the Indian armys storming of the holiest Sikh shrine, the Golden Temple, to crush the separatist movement.

I don't think this is any kind of snub. India values its relationship with Canada highly Seshadri Chari, senior BJP leader

More than 3,000 people were killed in anti-Sikh riots following Gandhis death.

Members of Sikh community in Canada were convicted for the 1985 bombing of an Air India flight, which killed 329 people.

Punjab leader Amarinder Singh is scheduled to meet Trudeau on Wednesday in Amritsar, home to the Golden Temple, although it is yet unclear whether the members of his cabinet will be part of the talks.

The spectre of Sikh separatism and alleged Canadian state support hangs heavy over the trip that is meant to strengthen business and defence ties between the two countries.

The Canadian prime minister speaks during women business leaders roundtable in Mumbai [Danish Siddiqui/Reuters]

Bharat Karnad, national security expert at the Centre for Policy Research, says the downplaying of Trudeaus visit is a direct fallout of Canadas inaction on so-called Sikh radicalism.

If the demand for Khalistan  all but extinguished elsewhere  continues to play big in Canada, and Ottawa is seen to be doing nothing much to dissuade Canadian Sikhs from so roiling bilateral relations with a friendly India, then what is Delhi to do? It can, as has happened, play down the Canadian PMs visit, Karnad told Al Jazeera.

Trudeau while speaking in the Indian city of Ahmedabad said Canada recognised and supported a united India, dismissing the allegations that his country supported separatist forces.

 I think part of Canadas strength is that we recognise that diversity is a strength and a wide range of opinions and views are an important part of the success of Canada.

Boparai from the World Sikh Organisation said the Indian allegations are baseless and have never been substantiated with actual evidence.

India has trouble accepting criticism from minority groups and tends to label calls for accountability anti-national or extremist.

As a democracy, India must realise that human rights are critical and cannot be dismissed by trying to malign or marginalise those seeking justice, he said.

Anti-Sikh riots termed genocide

In recent months, Sikh temples in Canada, the US and Australia have banned Indian officials from visiting gurudwaras, alleging interference by Indian officials.

The arrest and detention of Jagtar Singh Johal, a Scottish Sikh activist associated with justice for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in November last year, has also created a storm among the Sikh diaspora who have campaigned for his release. Johal is being investigated for conspiracy to murder prominent right-wing Hindu leaders.

Modi's narrow Hindutva nationalism and Trudeau's liberal global vision don't mesh very well Krishan Pratap Singh, political analyst

Activist and lawyer HS Phoolka, who has fought a long campaign to bring those accused of killing Sikhs in the 1984 massacres to justice, says these allegations against the Trudeau administration are false.

Maybe what is upsetting them is the Canadian parliaments use of the term genocide to describe mass killings of Sikhs in India in 1984. They were calling a spade a spade  thats probably what has upset the Indian foreign ministry which called this episode an embarrassment, Phoolka told Al Jazeera.

Phoolka was referring to a motion by the Ontario legislative body last year condemning the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in India as a genocide. The move had angered New Delhi as it was preceded by debates on intolerance in India.

New Delhi-based political analyst Krishan Pratap Singh says the Khalistan issue is a red herring to divert attention from the main issue, which is a complete lack of personal and political chemistry between Prime Minister Modi and his Canadian counterpart.

Modis narrow Hindutva nationalism and Trudeaus liberal global vision dont mesh very well, Singh told Al Jazeera.
Pakistan, CAR and Afghanistan are the hardest hit as UN agency says the world is failing newborns.

One million children die on the day they are born every year, with another 1.6 million unable to survive past the first month, the UNs childrens agency said in a new report.

Newborns in Pakistan, Central African Republic (CAR) and Afghanistan have the least chance of survival, according to the UNICEF report launched on Tuesday.

More than 80 percent of newborn deaths are due to premature births, complications during birth or infections, the report adds, and these deaths can be prevented with access to good quality healthcare and nutrition, as well as clean water and adequate facilities.

Given that the majority of these deaths are preventable, clearly, we are failing the worlds poorest babies, said UNICEFs Executive Director Henrietta Fore.

Poverty, conflict, and weak institutions are being blamed for pregnant women and infants not receiving the assistance they need.

In Pakistan, one in 22 newborns does not live past the first month.

There is a lack of a holistic approach, Mubina Agboatwalla, chairperson of Health Oriented Preventive Education, told Al Jazeera.

The deaths occur due to a number of causes, including home deliveries, anaemic mothers and poor sanitary conditions, she added.

Simple things like washing hands will reduce the mortality rate by half.

Pakistans Tharparkar district has been the hardest hit when it comes to infant mortality.

More than 1,500 children under the age of five died in the southern district from 2011 to 2016. Almost 80 percent of births were underweight. The main cause, according to the doctors, was poverty and malnourishment.

Additionally, a lack of education and access to family planning for girls, early marriage and teen pregnancy play a big role in rising infant mortality rates, Agboatwalla said.

These problems are swept under the carpet, she explained.

The girl is not mature enough to look after herself or the baby. Unless the girls are educated, they are unable to fathom the messages regarding preventive measures. Family planning, unfortunately, has lost its importance here.

Early marriage and teen pregnancy is listed as one of the reasons behind newborn mortality rates [Faras Ghani/Al Jazeera]

In conflict-ridden CAR, one in 24 newborns meets the same fate.

Last year, the upsurge of violence in the country drove the number of internally displaced persons up to 688,700, the highest figure since the crisis began in 2013.

UNICEF says many women are unable to access healthcare due to the conflict.

Bangui, the countrys capital, has the only pediatric hospital in the country.

The free government hospital sees hundreds of patients daily. But, with limited medical supplies and a lack of staff, including specialists, the situation is far from satisfactory.

Almost two out of every 30 children born in this hospital die every day.

We are in a crisis. We have to equip health centres. This situation is not sustainable, Gody Chrysostone, one of the five paediatricians in CAR, said.

Stefan Peterson, chief of UNICEFs health section, pointed to the high number of early marriages and teenage pregnancies as one of the reasons behind mortality rates worldwide.

According to Girls Not Brides, a global partnership working to ending child marriage, 15 million girls are married before the age of 18 every year. More than 700 million women and girls alive today were married before they turned 18.

These are high-risk pregnancies both for the mother and the baby, Peterson said.

Delaying pregnancy and making sure girls go to school is very important not just for the individuals and society but also helps in bringing mortality rates down.

Were launching a campaign to encourage governments to increase investment in health services. In many cases, when women have heeded the calls to come to health facilities to deliver, we fail them on quality of service provided.

We want to reach a point where we no longer have children giving birth to children. Newborn deaths are very much avoidable and preventable.

With additional reporting by Catherine Soi in Bangui, CAR.
UF officials are still debating the future of the corner of 13th Street and West University Avenue.

The UF Board of Trustees and UF President Kent Fuchs are considering options on what to build on the corner directly across from campus.

The .4-acre property was bought by the UF Foundation in August 2016, according to Alligator archives. Leonardos Pizza By the Slice restaurant, at 1245 W University Ave., and Bistro 1245, will be forced to close when a plan is finalized. The foundation already owns the next door Kangaroo Express gas station, which doubles as a convenience store.

UF spokesperson Steve Orlando said the university is considering a number of options, including a new music building or fitness center. A proposal for seven-floor international center by nonprofit organization Sister City Program for Gainesville was never considered by the university.

UF does not have an official announcement date scheduled and does not know when Leonardos will be forced to close, Orlando said. Leonardos and Bistro, which are owned by Steve Solomon, remain open to this day.

Although the University has not made any concrete decisions, community and student engagement are important factors under consideration, UF spokesperson Margot Winick said.

Its a very important piece of real estate when you think about the location and how it faces the community, Winick said. Whatever it turns out to be, how would it engage with the community is part of our strategic development plan.

Contact Amanda Rosa at arosa@alligator.org. Follow her on Twitter at @AmandaNicRosa.

Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly misspelled Margot Winick's last name. It is spelled Winick, not Winnick.

Edgar Hathaway, shift manager at Leonardos Pizza by the Slice, puts tomatoes on a pizza in 2010.

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Jeraldine Williams faced silent racism as the first African American student in UFs College of Journalism and Communications from 1963 to 1967.

People pretended she didnt exist. A fellow student suggested she must be from the ghetto.

Nobody was hitting me over the head except with words, but you had to be ready, she said.

Williams said she was one of the first 14 black students at UF and the first African American Hearst Winner, a national collegiate journalism award. She spoke about her experiences to about 20 people Monday morning in Reitz Union as part of the UF Black Affairs Culture and Coffee series, said Carl Simien, director of Black Affairs.

The event was sponsored by the department of Multicultural and Diversity Affairs, which paid about $1,000 for her lodging expenses and refreshments during the talk, Simien, who lives in the Tampa Bay area said.

Simien said its important to look back and draw strength from the stories of individuals who have been trailblazers in the community.

It was history and legacy of one of our UF alum that needed to be shared, Simien said, and students needed that opportunity to engage with her and connect with her story and experiences.

Timbria Burke, a 19-year-old UF health science sophomore, said that as a black person, she has experienced racism first hand but not directly at UF. Even though discrimination in minorities still exists, she said it seems like nothing compared to Williams experiences.

Burke said the upcoming Student Government election with three black Student Body presidential candidates should be interesting.

I feel like UF does need a black Student Body president, she said. However, even when we get a black Student Body president, that does not mean that the change we need will occur.

Williams, now a lawyer, said UF is still evolving. She likes the direction its going in.

When I hear about whats happening here at the University of Florida, I am not underwhelmed. I am overwhelmed. I am excited, Williams said to the crowd of mostly black students. Not only to see you, but to see what youre doing and how youre representing me.

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Williams told the audience members to prepare themselves and know their African American history better than anyone else. She said because that way, no one can tell them who they are.

People try to kick you down but theyre really just kicking you up to the top, she said.

Our whole mission was to come and open the doors for you, Jeraldine Williams said at Black Affairs Culture & Coffee event. Williams was one of 14 of the first African American students at UF.
Although the Student Government codes specify the Elections Commission should be made up of six members, seven people acting as members discussed and voted on three election code violations at a meeting Monday night.

Early Tuesday, Elections Commission Chair Troy Mainzer confirmed there were seven voting members. Per election codes, the Election Commission is a non-partisan group of six law students who hear election violation complaints submitted by SG participants.

During the Monday meeting, commissioners decided Challenge Party violated election codes and voted to recommend the disqualification of an Inspire Party candidate to the UF Supreme Court.

Supervisor of Elections Erica Baker confirmed seven people deliberated and voted on the first two hearings. Baker said she didnt count how many people were serving as commissioners.

Baker refused to say whether a code violation occurred. She said as a non-partisan official, commenting would be taking a partys side. She said its up to the UF Supreme Court to decide whether a code was violated and if the commissions decisions were illegal.

Former commissioners Stefano Battistoni and Michael Livers were present in the meeting while the first two cases of potential election code violations were argued. According to the SG website, their terms expired in Fall 2017.

Mainzer said when commissioners realized Battistoni and Livers terms had expired, they were asked to leave. Both left before the third case was argued.

Commissioners Kingman Keating, David Walsh, Michael Bauman, John Reddin and Mainzer were present for the all of the cases.

Judiciary Chairwoman Emily Dempsey confirmed Battistoni was nominated by former Student Body President Susan Webster in November 2016 and Livers was nominated by Smith Meyers when he was Senate president in November 2016. Keating and Mainzer were nominated by UF Supreme Court Chief Justice Meagan McCarthy in December 2017. Reddin and Jacob Peek were both nominated by Meyers. Reddin was nominated in August 2017 and Peek was nominated in December 2017. Walsh was nominated by Jackie Phillips when she was Senate president in August 2017. Bauman was nominated by Senate President Ian Green in December 2017.

Mainzer said the codes werent violated because Battistonis and Livers votes did not count. He said even without them, the first two cases are still 4-0.

At most, it was just two other people sitting there, Mainzer said.

He said even if they had to rehear the cases, the outcome would remain the same because people present with current terms voted affirmatively.

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Heres a breakdown of each violation the commission heard at this meeting and how it voted:

Impact Party vs. Inspire Party

UF law student Blake Murphy, who served as the legal counsel for Impact, filed a complaint on behalf of the party against Patrick Brathwaite, the Inspire law candidate.

Murphy argued Brathwaite created a secret Facebook group that reached about 220 law students, which, according to Murphy, is about a quarter of the students in the law school.

The commission voted unanimously that Brathwaite violated election codes because he did not report the posts in the group to Supervisor of Elections Erica Baker. According to the SG election codes, candidates must report every single political advertisement to Baker.

Inspire spokesperson Ashley Grabowski said when Brathwaite realized what he had done could be a violation, he archived the group and sent everything to Baker. When a Facebook group is archived, nobody can post or comment anymore, but all of the information remains there. The commission recommended the UF Supreme Court to disqualify Brathwaite.

Murphy said the creation of the secret page left Impacts law candidate, Paul Cuffe, at a disadvantage that he didnt have enough time to recover from, just days before the election.

What Patrick did was cheating, Murphy said. Were confident in the elections commission made the correct decision in recommending he be disqualified to the Supreme Court, and Im confident that the Supreme Court will likewise see the merit in our case.

Grabowski said Brathwaite meant well, and he just intended to organize his supporter base.

Its disappointing he might be qualified for a simple mistake, Grabowski said.

She said its hard to see Brathwaite worrying about the hearing instead of working on his campaign.

We support him and were still hoping to continue his candidacy, Grabowski said.

Inspire Party vs. Challenge Party

The commission found that Challenge violated election codes when it used voter data from Inspire to contact students. Commissioners said they considered Challenges actions unethical.

The commission punished Challenge by ordering the party to put out a Facebook post apologizing for using Inspires data. The post must specify how many email addresses or names they obtained, and it should have been posted by midnight Tuesday, commissioners said.

Challenge shared this Facebook post at 11:59 p.m. Monday: We have been informed that some students received unsolicited emails from our campaign. We apologize for this inconvenience.

#RegPolAdKVredenburgh.

Commissioners said Inspires information was not stolen, but given to Challenge. Inspire and Challenge representatives and the commissioners acknowledged Branden Pearson, a senator who disaffiliated from Inspire two weeks ago, was somehow involved in the disclosure of the data. The Alligator could not reach Pearson for comment.

However, the Elections Commission Chair Troy Mainzer said the party doesnt need to specify from who it got the data so that it doesnt damage the partys credibility ahead of the elections starting Tuesday.

We thought with how close it is to elections right now, we felt that would be the most fair that we wouldnt do anything that would impact the election, Mainzer said. We didnt think it was necessary for people to know what party it was taken from.

Mainzer said commissioners chose Facebook as the only social media platform for the apology because it would reach the largest number of people.

Grabowski said they wanted to respect students privacy and only communicate with students who express they would like that. She said this is why Inspire asked students for their contact information, rather than going into the UF directory and compiling emails.

We do not collect their information unless they willingly volunteer it to us, Grabowski said. They volunteer to be contacted by Inspire Party specifically.

Wayne Selogy, Challenge Partys Campaign Manager, said Challenge didnt know the data was from Inspire when it received it.

When we found out via Inspire that it was their data, we ceased using it, Selogy said. Weve never used that data again, and weve had plenty of opportunity to.

Impact Party vs. Challenge Party

In the final election complaint heard at Mondays hearing, Murphy argued that Challenge did not register some of its political advertisements before posting.

The commission unanimously ruled that there were various posts by Challenge Party on Facebook that were not registered. Murphy said it was about seven posts. Commissioners punished Challenge with a cease and desist order, telling the party to meet with Baker as soon as possible to discuss how to prevent future violations.

The party cant post any further campaign material until it meets with Baker. Selogy said Baker cant meet with the party until around 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Mainzer said Challenge repeatedly made the mistake for months. However, Challenge started campaigning Jan. 23  28 days ago.

We thought because it happened so many times over a long period, that meeting was more necessary, Mainzer said.

Murphy said this puts parties who follow the rules and procedures at a disadvantage, so he went through and found every post that didnt have reg.pol.ad.

With the knowledge that Challenge is a new political party and has not gone through this process before, that led me to believe that they didnt register any of these advertisements, Murphy said.

Selogy said he doesnt think the commission listened to Challenges argument, which was they didnt receive any warnings from Baker.

The cease and desist is a strategy to stop us from succeeding, Selogy said. The Student Body will see that we are a threat to the system party, and these voters have already made up their mind. This is more anecdotal evidence of why we are the party that should be elected.

Contact Christina Morales at cmorales@alligator.org. Follow her on Twitter at @Christina_M18.
A UF Student Government party will have to win more than 50 percent of the student vote to avoid a second election next week.

If none of the three parties  Challenge Party, Impact Party or Inspire Party  win a majority of the vote Tuesday and Wednesday for its executive tickets, no winner will be selected. Instead, there would be a runoff election for Student Body president, vice president and treasurer between the two parties with the most votes next week, on Feb. 27 and 28.

Because the treasurer is voted on separately from president and vice president, it is possible to have a treasurer runoff election, but not a president and vice president runoff  and vice versa.

If there is a runoff, it would be the first in 13 years for the presidential and vice presidential ticket and the first in 12 years for the treasurer ticket.

The Student Body Constitution mandates that a runoff election be held the Tuesday and Wednesday immediately following the Spring general election in the event that no party wins a majority of the vote, according to Article VI Section 4.

Since 2000, only five Spring elections have had more than two parties with a full executive ticket, including president, vice president and treasurer candidates. Of these multiparty elections, three of the five resulted in runoff elections for the president, vice president and treasurer. Two resulted in a runoff for treasurer only, according to SG election results records.

This Spring is the first election since 2009 that there has been more than two parties running executive candidates.

Jamal Sowell, UFs most recent black Student Body president in 2004, won in a runoff race between the independent party he started, Access Party (which has no affiliation with the Access Party formed in 2015), and the majority party Innovate Party.

In 2005, there was a full runoff election including all three executive positions. In 2006, there was a runoff for treasurer only.

Sowell said he thinks if the race turns into a runoff, an endorsement from the losing party to one of the parties advancing could play a big factor in the race.

On Feb. 25, 2004, when no executive ticket won a majority, the losing party, the Keg Party, endorsed Sowell and the Access Party the night results came out, Sowell said.

I think thatll be the most intriguing thing, the 35-year-old said. Itll show students where peoples loyalties are and who has the best ideas.

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Omarley Spence, Impact president, said that if Impact lost, his partys leadership would meet with the runoff partiess leaders to decide if they would support Challenge or Inspire. Inspire Party could not be reached for comment.

Wayne Selogy, Challenges campaign manager, said the party has not discussed who it would endorse in the event of a runoff.

The possibility of not winning has not crossed our minds, he said.

Contact David Hoffman at dhoffman@alligator.org. Follow him on Twitter at @hoffdavid123.

Adam Baker / Flickr
UF Health Shands and Central Florida Health are officially teaming up to train more physicians after facing an increase in demand.

The hospitals announced the affiliation agreement early February, which is aimed at serving residents of Lake, Sumter and Marion counties. Don Henderson, CEO of Central Florida Health, said UF has had an informal relationship with Central Florida Health for several years, but both parties decided making the partnership official would make working together easier.

The entire relationship was set up in order to benefit the community members that live in our area, Henderson said.

The agreement plans to provide a better continuity of care and transfer of information between hospital officials, Henderson said. This will also allow for smooth patient transfers.

Henderson said due to the increase in population migration to Florida, more physicians are needed to treat more patients. The agreement is aimed to find ways to locally train and educate primary care physicians.

All of the existing health providers are going to have to cooperate in more clever, more innovative ways, he said, because otherwise were going to get overwhelmed with this demographic flood thats coming to our area.

Ed Jimenez, the CEO of UF Health Shands, wrote in an email that the solution to serving the growing population is not through more medical schools but through more training programs.

Both of the hospitals officials will begin exploring the establishment of medical residency training programs, Jimenez said. Through the partnership, UF College of Medicine graduates could train at Central Florida Healths Leesburg Regional Medical Center and The Villages Regional Hospital.

We look forward to providing the highest-quality, most compassionate care possible, with superior outcomes for the patients we both serve, Jimenez said.

UF Health Shands Hospital

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UPDATE: By Tuesday evening, Sheyla Marimon said the organizations surpassed its fundraising goal of $1,000 by $39 at the end of Tuesday. Over the two days, 66 preorders for a dozen donuts were sold and 15 cards were written to the hospitalized shooting victims.

Sheyla Marimon was sitting in her car Wednesday, scrolling through Facebook, when she saw the news of the Parkland shooting on her feed.

She remembers hoping there were no casualties, but then, authorities announced 17 victims. Her heart dropped.

Two days later, a perturbed Marimon was still thinking about what had happened close to her home in Doral, which is only 40 miles south of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, so she decided she needed to help.

She came up with the idea of selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts in the law school courtyard through Thursday this week to fundraise money for Broward County schools. After she called the doughnut company and received approval from one of the schools deans, Marimon and eight law student organizations got to work.

We could argue all day, she said. But we could also do something that might make a little bit of a difference and might help these people.

The students goal is to raise $1,000 for the fund. By Monday afternoon, $756 was raised and 48 boxes of donuts were sold, said Marimon, the president of UFs chapter of Florida Association of Women Lawyers.

Students and faculty can buy presale Krispy Kreme glazed doughnuts and raffle tickets for various local gift cards to benefit the families and victims of the shooting. Participants can also write cards to the victims and their families.

Organizers will be fundraising from noon to 3 p.m. Tuesday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, but pre-orders for donuts will end 10 a.m. Wednesday, Marimon said.

One box of a dozen glazed doughnuts is being sold for $8 presale, which includes one raffle ticket. Students can also buy raffle tickets for $2 each.

At 12:30 p.m. Thursday, winners of the raffle will be revealed and pre-ordered donuts will be available for pickup, Marimon said.

All the money raised will be donated on behalf of the law school to a fund set up by the Broward Education Foundation in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Marimon said. This fund is dedicated to providing relief and financial support to the tragedys victims and their families.

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Marimon will mail the cards Friday to the hospitals where the victims are staying. About five have been written so far, she said.

Marimon said this is not a political issue  its a human being issue. When students dont feel safe going to school, something they have to do every day, there is a problem, she said.

If she can just alleviate the burden on one of the victims families through the fundraiser, then the efforts would be worthwhile, she said.

To help is our responsibility as human beings, Marimon said.

Paul Cuffe, a 24-year-old UF second-year law student, bought five raffle tickets Monday afternoon. He said while he didnt personally know anyone directly affected by the tragedy, he thinks its horrific and has no place in society.

I hope that they feel the love and support from the University of Florida down to South Florida, he said.

Organizations in the Levin College of Law are creating cards and raising money for victims of the Parkland Shooting through selling donuts. Sheyla Marimon, 24, second-year law student and Andres Perotti, 24, second-year law student are working to garner support. They had reached $400 of the $1000 goal at the time that this photo was taken.
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Japans hot-rolled coil exports may come under threat if the United States implements high import tariffs as recommended by its Department of Commerce, market sources told Metal Bulletin on Tuesday February 20.

The sources flagged HRC as one of the key products that could be affected by any new ruling because it is single largest export by volume among Japanese finished steel shipments to the US.



"The US is a major destination for Japan-origin HRC due to demand from its automotive manufacturing sector. HRC export volumes may be affected eventually," a source at a Japanese mill said.



US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross last week recommended to US President Donald Trump that a tariff of 53% be imposed on steel imports from 12 countries - Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, India, Malaysia, South Korea, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam - on top of tariffs of at least 24% on steel imports from all countries following a Section 232 probe into whether steel and aluminium imports posed a national security risk to the US. He made the recommendations saying such quantities and circumstances of steel imports threaten to impair national security.



Ross also recommended that steel import volumes be restricted via the implementation of a quota equivalent to 63% of each countrys 2017 exports.



The remedies are "intended to increase domestic steel production from its present 73% of capacity to approximately an 80% operating rate," he said.



Other market sources are expecting more trade negotiations between the US and Japan to emerge, especially since both countries are close allies.



"Japan-origin HRC exports will likely be among the hardest hit if the tariffs are implemented, so I expect prolonged negotiations to continue between the two countries to work out a solution that will be satisfactory to both sides," an industry source with knowledge of the Japan HRC market said.



He is not ruling out other countries putting up tit-for-tat trade defenses to block US-origin steel products in the future if the US does in fact enact the recommended trade measures.



"No major steel-producing country will sit back quietly and allow such disadvantageous major trade barriers to be enacted against them," the same source added.



Major Japanese steel mills are awaiting Trumps impending decision on the matter and are analyzing how their businesses would be affected in any eventuality.



Japan exported 1.87 million tonnes of steel to the US in 2017, compared with the 2.93-5.96 million tonnes it shipped to South Korea, China, Taiwan and Thailand respectively. This makes the US just the fifth largest importer of Japanese steel.



Last years exports to the US included 782,725 tonnes of carbon steel, including HRC, steel rails, wire rod and galvanized sheet. Japan also shipped 540,560 tonnes of specialty steel as well as 146,171 tonnes of secondary steel products to the US in 2017.



HRC was the largest export by volume - Japan shipped 203,913 tonnes of the flat steel product to the US last year. This is a year-on-year increase of 72.6%.



A portion of the HRC are sent to downstream Japanese automakers such as Honda, Isuzu, Toyota and Subaru, which operate 24 manufacturing plants and 43 research and development facilities in 20 American states, according to the US chapter of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association.



These manufacturers produced 3.98 million vehicles and 4.68 million engines in 2016 with a total cumulative manufacturing investment of $45.6 billion.



The recommendations by the US Department of Commerce on its Section 232 investigations have not gone unnoticed by the Japan Iron & Steel Federation, which said late on Monday that the recommendations were in violation of free-trade principles.



It is our view that the recommendations in this report are very regrettable. Imports of steel from Japan are integral to the US economy and do not threaten the national security of the United States, it said.



The Japanese steel industry is presently studying the impact of this reports recommendations and is monitoring developments carefully.



We will continue to advocate for the adoption of policies based on the principles of free trade, the JISF said.






Posted on: February 20, 2018 2:40 PM

The provincial secretary of the Church of Nigeria has hit back at accusations of corruption in the selection of the next Bishop of Lagos. Humphrey Olumakaiye, currently Bishop of Osun North East, was elected as the next Bishop of Lagos at an Episcopal Synod of the province on 6 February, in place of Bishop Ephraim Ademowo, who is retiring in August. The announcement of Bishop Humphreys translation was met with accusations in local media that the election has been stage managed and mired in corruption.

The Episcopal Synod, meeting at St Barnabas Cathedral in Ilorin, seat of the Diocese of Kwara, also elected new bishops for Aguata, Ibadan South, Northern Izon, Ondo, Oke-Ogun, and Ijumu dioceses; archbishops for the internal provinces of the Niger and Ondo; and a new provincial Dean.

Responding to the accusations, the Church of Nigerias episcopal secretary, Bishop David Onuoha of the Diocese of Okigwe South, said: These publications are obviously not intended to do any good to the church. They are in the least intended to misinform and mislead the unsuspecting public. He said that the elections were held in accordance with the churchs laid down rules and regulations under Canon V of the constitution and canons of the Church of Nigeria. He said that the election was free and fair.

In an unusual move, the province released voting figures for the election. A total of 161 bishops participated. Candidates were nominated after the advice from the diocese, which favoured translation, had been circulated and read, Bishop David said. Only two candidates, the Most Revd Michael Fape and the Rt Revd Humphrey Olumakaiye were duly nominated and seconded by highly respected members of the house without any objection raised against any of them.

He said that the secret ballot had resulted in 109 votes for Bishop Humphrey and 51 votes for Archbishop Michael. There was one abstention. By this result, [Bishop Humphrey] became duly elected for translation to the See of Lagos, Bishop David said.

The Primate as the President of the Episcopal Synod statutorily calls for nominations, and after the voting and counting of votes by those responsible, announces the results as submitted by the chief returning officer. Votes are cast, counted and results declared in the full glare of the general house.

He said it was uncharitable to attempt to smear the image of the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, instead of thanking God for the numerous blessings He has graciously granted His church since the inception of this administration.

Bishop David continued: We call on the discerning public, especially all Anglican faithful, to disregard the said malicious publications in their entirety as they are baseless and without any iota of truth. The bishops of the Church of Nigeria remain resolute and united in their determination to uphold godliness and righteousness in their service to God and humanity.

We also call on our brethren who have fallen into this temptation of seeking to destabilise the church to use this period of Lent to seek Gods face in repentance that He may grant them forgiveness and time for amendment of life.

The Episcopal Synod also elected the following:

Bishop Samuel Ezeofor of Ogbaru Diocese to be the next Bishop of Aguata.





Bishop Akintunde Popoola of Offa to be the next Bishop of Ibadan South.





Canon Victor Agberam to be Bishop of Northern Izon.





Dean Stephen Oni to be Bishop of Ondo.





Archdeacon Cornelius Adagbada to be Bishop of Oke-Ogun.





Archdeacon Paul Olarewaju Ojo to be Bishop of Ijumu.





Bishop Godwin Okpala of Nnewi to be Archbishop of the internal Province of the Niger.





Bishop Gabriel Akinbiyi of Akoko to be Archbishop of the internal Province of Ondo.





Archbishop Ali Buba Lamido of the internal Province of Kaduna and Bishop of Wusasa, to be Dean of the Church of Nigeria.

Archbishop Nicholas Okoh asked for the prayers of the Church for these servants of God as they prepare to take their new offices.
Red trolls in Purple States: how Russia defeated democracy

The Guardian has a few words on the Russian State-funded trolls accused of swinging the 2016 US Presidential election from Hillary Clinton to Donald Trump. Russia saw in Trump, so the allegation follows, a better chance to grow and protect its monocular, illiberal interests.

The Russian regime often looks guiltier than a dog stood by a pile of poo. When the Russian PR machine talks, youd be wise to hold your nose. Its a steady stream of bull-made effluent. And it makes you wonder why Russias tosh has been imbibed with such power. Did Russian bots and spods really win it for Trump, boost Bernie Sanders and root for the Green Partys Jill Stein? Is its propaganda so much more effective than the stuff seeping from Western regimes? And why does any of it matter?

The Cold War was won. But look out  the Ruskies have moved on from invasion and armed global socialism to a fearsome social media strategy. They might not be able to hack United States military supercomputers and trigger World War III, but theyve got some terrific gossip about Clinton having had on-the-clock sex with Trump on a yellowy waterbed as Saddam Hussein drummed out Back in the USSR on Bonos buttocks. (That was the rumour, right? If not, Oleg, call me, I have ideas and hashtags.) Whatever the truth, mentally-negligible Mary-Sue in a swing state bought it.

The Guardian tell us:

It was from American political activists that they [Russian trolls] received the advice to target purple swing states, something that was essential to the ultimate success of the campaign.

Well, quite. You target the area where you can have most effect. You know, like the, er, Guardian did:

To maximise the likelihood of your efforts making a difference, weve zeroed in on one of the places where this years election truly will be decided: Clark County, Ohio, which is balanced on a razors edge between Republicans and Democrats. In the 2000 election, Al Gore won Clark County by 1%  equivalent to 324 votes  but George Bush won the state as a whole by just four percentage points. This time round, Ohio is one of the most crucial swing states: Kerry and Bush have been campaigning there tire lessly  theyve visited Clark County itself  and the most recent Ohio poll shows, once again, a 1% difference between the two of them. The voters we will target in our letter-writing initiative are all Clark County residents, and they are all registered independents, which somewhat increases the chances of their being persuadable.

Before Twitter, there was the Guardians interventionism. Called Operation Clark County, the paper wanted to help readers have a say in the American election by writing to undecided voters in the crucial state of Ohio.

Here was one reaction from the mouth-breathing colonials:

KEEP YOUR FUCKIN LIMEY HANDS OFF OUR ELECTION. HEY, SHITHEADS, REMEMBER THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR? REMEMBER THE WAR OF 1812? WE DIDNT WANT YOU, OR YOUR POLITICS HERE, THATS WHY WE KICKED YOUR ASSES OUT. FOR THE 47% OF YOU WHO DONT WANT PRESIDENT BUSH, I SAY THIS  TOUGH SHIT!

PROUD AMERICAN VOTING FOR BUSH!

How the modern Left loves democracy. You can intervene if is means sneaking the demos the right answer to the big question. Noble Obama telling us a vote for Brexit would put us to the back of the queue and helpful Bill Clinton backing Boris Yeltsin with $1bn of aid are great. But a Russian nerd in an out-of-town office tweeting bollocks is a threat to democracy  something so precious that its champions call everyone who voted for Trump and Brexit thick as custard.

So much for confidence in democracy. Because thats it, no? Its not about Russian might. Its about us thinking our way of life is so precarious that a few rogue propagandists can destroy it with a tweet.

Paul Sorene

Posted: 20th, February 2018 | In: Broadsheets, Key Posts, News, Politicians Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
(ANSA) - Rome, February 20 - Italy is on the right track on migrant repatriations and Libya, Frontex chief Patrice Leggeri told ANSA Tuesday. "Italy, over the last year, has been one of the member States which has increased its activity of repatriation, both in terms of decisions and of operations," Leggeri told ANSA in an interview.

The country is moving "in the right direction to reinforce this policy," he said.

"My concerns about a drop in decisions on repatriations do not regard Italy," he said, citing the Minniti law positively.

Italy's work on migrants and Libya has been positive, Leggeri added.

"Italy is working to use the resources allotted by the EU to find sustainable solutions for Libya" and the migrants held there, he said.

"And for now it is going in the right direction, even though the conditions of the centres in Libya are not in line with our standards, and with basic humanitarian standards.

"But that is not Italy's fault, all the international community and not only the EU can help".

Interior Minister Marco Minniti earlier Tuesday said migration is "now under control", speaking to State broadcaster Rai1's 'Uno Mattina' program.

Meanwhile European border agency Frontex said more could be done, while saying Italy was "on the right track" on repatriations and on Libya.

"We have tried to govern the migration phenomenon which is now under control", the minister said, noting that arrivals had dropped for the eighth consecutive month. "In February, we have registered a 90% decrease on last February", Minniti noted, stressing however that the "situation in Africa is very delicate and Libya is in a condition of fragility".

He added that respecting human rights is a "fundamental concern" for him.

"We are trying to manage the migration phenomenon, keeping security and humanity together", he explained. "It is possible to intervene in Africa, ensuring that those who are fleeing war are not taken to Europe by smugglers but by governments and NGOs through humanitarian corridors like the ones we are organizing".

The migrant situation in the central Mediterranean towards Italy "has improved and is under control" but it has "not been resolved," Leggeri said. Speaking to a press conference in Brussels, Leggeri said "arrivals have fallen dramatically since July and since the summer of 2017, and the downward trend is continuing". There were only 300 arrivals in the first two weeks of February, he said, "but now we have to look at sustainability" given the situation in Libya.

In 2017 some 150,000 migrants were repatriated from the EU," but that is not enough, Leggeri told the press conference. "This gives the measure of what is feasible," he said. "I have expressed concern over the fall in decisions on repatriations in the EU, which were down on the previous year".

He said "if there is a will to allocate greater resources and funding, the situation can be improved at the European level". Leggeri had been asked if is was possible to repatriate 500-600,000 irregular migrants now in Italy.


(ANSA) - Milan, February 19 - British model Chloe Ayling on Monday walked investigators through moments during her alleged kidnapping in Milan during a video that was shown Monday in a trial against Lucasz Herba, a Pole from Birmingham who is in jail for the crime. The kidnapping was said to have been conducted with Herba's brother, Michal Konrad Herba, who is in the UK while awaiting extradition. The model has said that the two had threatened to sell her in an online auction on the 'deep web' before they eventually released her, allegedly when they found out that she was the mother of a small child. The video was shown at the Court of Assize and includes scenes of the model filmed by investigators in which she enters the flat on Milan's Via Bianconi, where she was lured on the pretext of a photographic shoot, beaten, drugged and kidnapped. On August 5, Ayling returned with the police to the place where she had been held, saying that "I slept in this bed on one side, with Lucasz on the other". According to the investigation by prosecutor Paolo Storari, the 20-year-old model was held hostage from July 11 to July 17, first in the Milan flat and then in a remote cabin in the Turin province. She was eventually freed by Herba himself, who investigators have called an "adventurous mythomaniac" who wanted to earn a reputation on the 'deep web'. The two brothers allegedly initially demanded 300,000 euros from her family and agent prior to reducing this to $50,000. In the police video, the model is seen entering the flat on Via Bianconi and explaining to them that "just as I was about to open this door I was taken from behind, kidnapped".

Then there are images of the young woman as she walks through the town of Viu' in the Turin province and shows the police where she had gone to buy some fruit and a pair of shoes, and then she burst into sobs - according to a policeman who was there - prior to entering the cabin, where she then spoke about some of the details of the kidnapping. "I was allowed to use this bathroom," she said, "here, instead, I slept on one side of the bed." The policeman who was with her showed the judges photographs taken on July 17, 2017, when the police entered the flat during an investigation to find the young woman. The photos showed a piece of paper left by the kidnappers with "11 men in long gowns and the writing 'Black Death Group - Chloe'", along with the girl's clothes. The Black Death Group is an organization alleged to be operating on the dark web.


(ANSA) - Rome, February 20 - Interior Minister Marco Minniti on Tuesday said migration is "now under control", speaking to State broadcaster Rai1's 'Uno Mattina' program.

Meanwhile European border agency Frontex said more could be done, while saying Italy was "on the right track" on repatriations.

"We have tried to govern the migration phenomenon which is now under control", the minister said, noting that arrivals had dropped for the eighth consecutive month. "In February, we have registered a 90% decrease on last February", Minniti noted, stressing however that the "situation in Africa is very delicate and Libya is in a condition of fragility".

He added that respecting human rights is a "fundamental concern" for him.

"We are trying to manage the migration phenomenon, keeping security and humanity together", he explained. "It is possible to intervene in Africa, ensuring that those who are fleeing war are not taken to Europe by smugglers but by governments and NGOs through humanitarian corridors like the ones we are organizing".

The migrant situation in the central Mediterranean towards Italy "has improved and is under control" but it has "not been resolved," Frontex chief Fabrice Leggeri said Tuesday. Speaking to a press conference in Brussels, Leggeri said "arrivals have fallen dramatically since July and since the summer of 2017, and the downward trend is continuing". There were only 300 arrivals in the first two weeks of February, he said, "but now we have to look at sustainability" given the situation in Libya.

In 2017 some 150,000 migrants were repatriated from the EU," but that is not enough, Leggeri told the press conference. "This gives the measure of what is feasible," he said. "I have expressed concern over the fall in decisions on repatriations in the EU, which were down on the previous year".

He said "if there is a will to allocate greater resources and funding, the situation can be improved at the European level". Leggeri had been asked if is was possible to repatriate 500-600,000 irregular migrants now in Italy.

Italy is on the right track on migrant repatriations, Frontex chief Leggeri told ANSA Tuesday. "Italy, over the last year, has been one of the member States which has increased its activity of repatriation, both in terms of decisions and of operations," Leggeri told ANSA in an interview.

The country is moving "in the right direction to reinforce this policy," he said.

"My concerns about a drop in decisions on repatriations do not regard Italy," he said, citing the Minniti law positively.


(ANSA) - Rome, February 20 - Interior Minister Marco Minniti on Tuesday said migration is "now under control", speaking to State broadcaster Rai1's 'Uno Mattina' program.

Meanwhile Euroepan border agency Frontex said more could be done.

"We have tried to govern the migration phenomenon which is now under control", the minister said, noting that arrivals had dropped for the eighth consecutive month. "In February, we have registered a 90% decrease on last February", Minniti noted, stressing however that the "situation in Africa is very delicate and Libya is in a condition of fragility".

He added that respecting human rights is a "fundamental concern" for him.

"We are trying to manage the migration phenomenon, keeping security and humanity together", he explained. "It is possible to intervene in Africa, ensuring that those who are fleeing war are not taken to Europe by smugglers but by governments and NGOs through humanitarian corridors like the ones we are organizing".

The migrant situation in the central Mediterranean towards Italy "has improved and is under control" but it has "not been resolved," Frontex chief Fabrice Leggeri said Tuesday. Speaking to a press conference in Brussels, Leggeri said "arrivals have fallen dramatically since July and since the summer of 2017, and the downward trend is continuing". There were only 300 arrivals in the first two weeks of February, he said, "but now we have to look at sustainability" given the situation in Libya.

In 2017 some 150,000 migrants were repatriated from the EU," but that is not enough, Leggeri told the press conference. "This gives the measure of what is feasible," he said. "I have expressed concern over the fall in decisions on repatriations in the EU, which were down on the previous year".

He said "if there is a will to allocate greater resources and funding, the situation can be improved at the European level". Leggeri had been asked if is was possible to repatriate 500-600,000 irregular migrants now in Italy.


(ANSA) - Rome, February 20 - Interior Minister Marco Minniti on Tuesday said migration is "now under control", speaking to State broadcaster Rai1's 'Uno Mattina' program.

Meanwhile European border agency Frontex said more could be done, while saying Italy was "on the right track" on repatriations and on Libya.

"We have tried to govern the migration phenomenon which is now under control", the minister said, noting that arrivals had dropped for the eighth consecutive month. "In February, we have registered a 90% decrease on last February", Minniti noted, stressing however that the "situation in Africa is very delicate and Libya is in a condition of fragility".

He added that respecting human rights is a "fundamental concern" for him.

"We are trying to manage the migration phenomenon, keeping security and humanity together", he explained. "It is possible to intervene in Africa, ensuring that those who are fleeing war are not taken to Europe by smugglers but by governments and NGOs through humanitarian corridors like the ones we are organizing".

The migrant situation in the central Mediterranean towards Italy "has improved and is under control" but it has "not been resolved," Frontex chief Fabrice Leggeri said Tuesday. Speaking to a press conference in Brussels, Leggeri said "arrivals have fallen dramatically since July and since the summer of 2017, and the downward trend is continuing". There were only 300 arrivals in the first two weeks of February, he said, "but now we have to look at sustainability" given the situation in Libya.

In 2017 some 150,000 migrants were repatriated from the EU," but that is not enough, Leggeri told the press conference. "This gives the measure of what is feasible," he said. "I have expressed concern over the fall in decisions on repatriations in the EU, which were down on the previous year".

He said "if there is a will to allocate greater resources and funding, the situation can be improved at the European level". Leggeri had been asked if is was possible to repatriate 500-600,000 irregular migrants now in Italy.

Italy is on the right track on migrant repatriations, Frontex chief Leggeri told ANSA Tuesday. "Italy, over the last year, has been one of the member States which has increased its activity of repatriation, both in terms of decisions and of operations," Leggeri told ANSA in an interview.

The country is moving "in the right direction to reinforce this policy," he said.

"My concerns about a drop in decisions on repatriations do not regard Italy," he said, citing the Minniti law positively.

Italy's work on migrants and Libya has been positive, Leggeri added.

"Italy is working to use the resources allotted by the EU to find sustainable solutions for Libya" and the migrants held there, he said.

"And for now it is going in the right direction, even though the conditions of the centres in Libya are not in line with our standards, and with basic humanitarian standards.

"But that is not Italy's fault, all the international community and not only the EU can help".


(ANSA) - Rome, February 20 - The measles in 2017 killed 35 people in Europe, where 21,315 people contracted the disease, up 400% on the previous year, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday.

Only 5,273 cases were registered in 2016, a record low, the WHO also said.

Fifteen European countries recorded the highest number of cases, with Romania, Italy and Ukraine topping the list, the European chapter of the organization said.

Out of 53 countries in the WHO's European region, 15 - or one in four - registered an outbreaks with more than 100 cases.

Romania ranked first with 5,562 reported cases, followed by Italy with 5,006 and Ukraine with 4,767.

The organization said the spike in measles cases was mainly due to a combination of multiple factors including an overall decline in vaccination rates, interruptions in vaccine provision and poor monitoring.


Foreign assistance to Jordan hit $3.65 bn in 2017 Aid for refugees topped $653.7 mn

(ANSAmed) - AMMAN, FEBRUARY 20 - Jordan announced on Tuesday that the total foreign assistance contracted in 2017 with various donors and international financial institutions reached about $ 2.99 billion, while the value of donations to support refugees, including humanitarian assistance, stood at $653.7 million, according to Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Imad Fakhoury.



The total amount of foreign aid for Jordan in 2017 amounted to $3.65 billion, compared to $3.15 billion in 2016, an increase of about half a billion dollar, he was quoted by Petra news agency.



Foreign aid supports the budget, helps cover the funding gap, finances development projects according to national priorities, provides technical assistance, builds institutional capacity and strengthens foreign reserves, he said.



"The international community should shoulder its responsibilities for the burdens borne by Jordan as a result of hosting Syrian refugees," the minister said. (ANSAmed).




Uae: ten Serbian companies at food fair in Dubai

(ANSAmed) - BELGRADE, FEBRUARY 20 - Ten Serbian companies will take part in International Fair of Food Products Gulfood organized in Dubai between Sunday and Wednesday, which would enable them to present their products and organize shipping to new markets. Besides presenters, the Dubai fair would be visited by six Serbian companies which would meet with the representatives of the largest retail chains in United Arab Emirates, Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS) announced.



(ANSAmed).




Turkey extends block on ENI rig through 10/3 - Cypriot media Commitments in Moroccan waters at risk, rental costs soaring

(ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, FEBRUARY 20 - The Turkish Navy has extended through March 10 its Navtex notice of military activity off Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean, which has been blocking passage for the past 10 days of the Saipem 12000, a drilling ship rented by ENI, Cypriot media said.



The block has been preventing the ship from reaching the area planned for exploration through a license granted by the government in Nicosia.



The previous notice was set to expire on Thursday.



Nicosia has denounced the presence of the Turkish Navy in its "exclusive economic zone" as a violation of international law.



Turkey, however, does not recognise the exclusive sovereignty of Cyprus and insists on the right of the Turkish-Cypriot community to divide the island's natural resources.



In recent days, government sources in Nicosia said the Saipem 12000 wouldn't be able to remain waiting in the area if the Turkish naval block were to be extended, because it is committed to other activities planned off the coast of Morocco in the month of March.



Based on estimates by industry professionals, costs to rent the drilling ship can reach a half-million euros per day.



(ANSAmed).




Ex-Netanyahu spokesman arrested in Israeli corruption probe Man suspected of attempting to bribe judge, according to media

(ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, FEBRUARY 20 - Premier Benyamin Netanyahu is at the center of a political storm after the arrest of some of his associates, including his former councilor for relations with the media, Nir Hefetz, and Shaul Elovitch, a businessman who controls telecommunications giant Bezeq and popular online daily 'Walla', as part of a corruption probe.



Police in charge of the so-called 'Dossier 4000' probe are investigating whether Bezeq obtained significant benefits from the ministry of communication (when the interim minister was Netanyahu) in exchange for Walla's support.



The prime minister and his wife Sara Netanyahu will probably be questioned by investigators, according to media reports.



Meanwhile Maariv reported that Hefetz's detention has been extended because, according to the paper, he allegedly put pressure on judge Hila Gerstel to close an investigation that was ongoing at the time against Sara Netanyahu.



In exchange, Gerstel was allegedly offered to become a legal advisor to the government. The position instead went to Avichay Mandelblit. According to Maariv, Gerstel reported the episode to the police and investigators are now verifying whether Hefetz acted on his own.(ANSAmed).




PARIS - French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb will present a draft law on asylum and immigration to the president's cabinet on Wednesday, in a move to crack down on irregular migration.



The new migrant law has already been criticised in recent months by civil rights activists and NGOs.



According to the law, the time limit for obtaining asylum will be reduced to six months, but the duration of temporary custody in detention centres will be increased.



French daily Le Monde said there will also be criminal sanctions for those who illegally cross the border, with undocumented migrants, known as "sans-papiers", risking up to five years in prison.



At the same time, Paris plans to facilitate so-called "selective migration", in particular for students who wish to stay in France, as well as for family reunification.



On Monday, MP Aurelien Tache of majority party La Republique En Marche presented 72 proposals to favor refugee integration.



Observers called it a sort of "counterpoint" to help Collomb's law go down easier with those in the parliamentary majority who are more closely tied to the open spirit of a France that sees itself as the "homeland of human rights".


Nearly 200 dead in Ghouta, 57 children - SOHR In three days of government airstrikes

(ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, FEBRUARY 20 - Nearly 200 people, including 57 children and adolescents, have been killed in Syrian government airstrikes in eastern Ghouta, just outside Damascus, since Sunday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).



It said at least 194 people have been killed, 127 on Monday alone.



Airstrikes continued on Tuesday, killing 50 people, including 13 minors. (ANSAmed).




BEIRUT - Militias loyal to the Syrian government entered the Syrian-Kurdish enclave of Afrin on Tuesday to oppose the Turkish advance there, but Turkish news agency Anadolu said the militias retreated to 10 km outside the enclave after Turkish artillery fired "warning shots".



A correspondent on the ground with Syrian state news agency SANA said the pro-Assad militias entered Afrin despite previous threats by Ankara to react to that type of intervention.



The news that the militias entered Afrin was also confirmed by the TV broadcaster for the Lebanese Hezbollah movement.



Syrian state television said Turkey is bombing areas where the pro-Syrian "popular forces" convoy is travelling towards Afrin.



The bombings also forced journalists to evacuate the area.



The source said the airstrikes are concentrated near the Ziyara pass, southeast of Afrin, where the pro-Syrian forces' vehicles are travelling.



The news could not be independently verified on the ground.



Turkish news agency Anadolu said the militias subsequently retreated to 10 km outside the Syrian-Kurdish enclave following "warning shots" fired by Turkish artillery.



The pro-government militias had entered the enclave from the nearby village of Nabul.
BEIRUT/ROME - Nearly 200 people, including 57 children and adolescents, have been killed in Syrian government airstrikes in eastern Ghouta, just outside Damascus, since Sunday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). It said at least 194 people have been killed, 127 on Monday alone. Airstrikes continued on Tuesday, killing 50 people, including 13 minors.

UNICEF Italy Spokesman Andrea Iacomini in a statement on Tuesday called the current airstrikes in Syria's Eastern Ghouta "a slaughter worse than that of Aleppo"



"Seven years of war have brought Syria to collapse. In Eastern Ghouta, where 95% of Syrians under siege are now living, essential services such as schools and hospitals are lacking, as are basic necessities such as food, water and medicine. It is a true humanitarian emergency," he said.



"In just the past months, malnutrition has quintupled, hundreds of children are seriously ill and need to leave the city to be treated," he said.



"It's a constant fight for survival. It's a constant massacre of innocents. The war isn't over, and intermittent indignation hasn't been enough to stop this slaughter of children. We must unite and say enough to this massacre. Children, wherever they are in Syria, must be protected. By everyone," he said.




ANSAmed - Today's events in the Mediterranean

(ANSAmed) - ROME, FEBRUARY 20 - These are some of the main events scheduled for today in the Euro-Mediterranean area: TUNIS - International Convention on Mediterranean Studies on the theme 'Reading the Sea and Myths in Mediterranean Cultures'.



ROME - Grand Mosque, 5pm. Conference on ''Morocco's Approach to Deradicalization'', held by Ahmad Abbadi, head of the Mohammadia League of Scholars on the deconstruction of extremist discourse.



NEW YORK - UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East, with Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas.




ROME - Egypt is "central in the geopolitical and regional-security dynamics and is a necessary interlocutor for our country, also to foster cooperation in finding those who (tortured and murdered Italian student) Giulio Regeni," the annual intelligence report said Tuesday.



Italian prosecutors suspect members of Egypt's security apparatus had a hand in the case of Regeni, who was killed two years ago.



The Egyptian services have always denied playing a part.



Italian and Egyptian prosecutors have been working on the case together but the Regeni family recently denounced a lack of progress in the case.
Mahmoud Abbas asks UN for multilateral action, no to US Leaves Security Council before Israeli ambassador's speech

(ANSAmed) - NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 20 - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday asked the UN Security Council for a "multilateral international mechanism" to solve the Israeli-Palestinian question, acknowledging that no country on its own can solve a regional problem, and thus rejecting the role of the US as mediator.



Abbas also called for an international conference in 2018 as part of the peace plan, in part to determine recognition of the Palestinian state as a regular member state of the UN. He told countries of the Security Council that recognising the Palestinian state "will not damage any future negotiation".



He then attacked the US, which he said violated international law by recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.



"We never refused to sit at the negotiating table; this is the only way to reach peace," he said.



He then attacked Israel for not having respected the Security Council resolutions, and said by so doing it acted as a "state above the law".



He said Israeli occupation has become a "colonisation of permanent settlements".



Abbas left the Security Council meeting room immediately after finishing his speech, without listening to the delegates from Israel and the US.



Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, said Abbas "runs away from dialogue", and said Abbas also refused to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Danon said Jerusalem will remain the undivided capital of Israel "forever".(ANSAmed).




Migrants a 'danger for existence, Christian culture' - Orban Hungarian premier in Sofia, EU should think about border defense

(ANSAmed) - SOFIA, FEBRUARY 20 - Migration "is dangerous for our existence and for Christian culture in Europe", Hungarian premier Viktor Orban said during his visit to Sofia.



"The EU should put the defense of its external borders and the reallocation of migrants at the center of its policy".



During a joint press conference with Bulgarian Premier Boyko Borissov, Orban congratulated with Sofia for the "useful contacts with Turkey to protect the borders" from illegal migrants. "Hungary will always support cooperation between Bulgaria and Turkey in this direction", he added.



According to the Hungarian premier, "it is not sufficient to politically welcome to the EU western Balkan countries", which in his opinion "should be integrated especially through infrastructures that currently are not there". Boyko Borissov stated that "it is possible to reach a compromise to update the Dublin regulation on the reallocation of migrants". He said he believes it is necessary to organize "hosting centers for migrants near conflict zones".(ANSAmed).




ROME - Interior Minister Marco Minniti on Tuesday said migration is ''now under control'', speaking to state broadcaster Rai1's 'Uno Mattina' program.

''We have tried to govern the migration phenomenon which is now under control'', the minister said, noting that arrivals had dropped for the eighth consecutive month. ''In February ,we registered a 90% decrease on last February'', Minniti noted, stressing however that the ''situation in Africa is very delicate and Libya is in a condition of fragility''.

He added that respecting the human rights is a ''fundamental concern'' for him.

''We are trying to manage the migration phenomenon, keeping security and humanity together'', he explained. ''It is possible to intervene in Africa, ensuring that those who are fleeing war are not taken to Europe by smugglers but by governments and NGOs through humanitarian corridors like the ones we are organizing''.


PODCAST 38: How one African airline is preparing for return of tourism

PODCAST 39: Optimism as Africa and Middle East sees positive growth for 2021

PODCAST 37: How Qatar rode the storm and Dassaults new Falcon

PODCAST 35: Change abounds at IATA and new cargo boost while ATM has a new approach

PODCAST 34 : Why India is vital to Middle East aviation recovery
Tailwind Airlines has signed contracts with AMAC Aerospace for their fleet of Boeing 737-400 aircraft at AMACs new facility in Bodrum, Turkey.

Tailwind Airlines has signed contracts with AMAC Aerospace for their fleet of Boeing 737-400 aircraft. In early February the first aircraft arrived for maintenance and is undergoing a C13 check at AMACs new facility in Bodrum, Turkey. This involves removing the majority of all exterior access panels in order to perform the required inspections. Furthermore, a full cabin removal which includes seating, side ledges, floor and ceiling panels. In addition to this the cargo bay liners have been removed, all to perform a 450 man-hour NDT inspection.

The total package will be approximately 1,400 man-hours of work not including findings during the inspections. We have a tight deadline to perform this maintenance input in 20 working days.

It is a privilege to be involved with the launch of AMAC Aerospaces name within the commercial airline market and reinforcing an already stable reputation in Turkey. I am confident that with our experienced team we have put in place that the quality will be high whilst still being competitive to the rest of the local and European markets. said Tarek Muhiddin, Technical Director Special Projects of AMAC Aerospace.
Emirates will resume a second daily service to Portugals capital, Lisbon, from 1 June 2018.

The flight will be operated by an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER in a three class cabin configuration, with eight private suites in First Class, 42 seats in Business Class, and 310 spacious seats in Economy Class.



Portugal is experiencing an upturn in its economy and strong tourism growth. The second daily service between Dubai and Lisbon will therefore meet growing demand for seats on the route, as well as offer our customers in Portugal and from across Emirates worldwide network more choice and flexibility when planning their travel, said Hubert Frach, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, West.
Currently, private sector is allowed coal mining for captive use only.

The decision was taken by the the Cabinet Co-mmittee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) under the chairmanship of PM Narendra Modi.

New Delhi: In a major sectoral reform in the coal sector since its nationalisation in 1973, the Government on Tuesday allowed private companies to mine the fossil fuel for commercial use, ending the monopoly of PSU Coal India Ltd (CIL).

The opening up of commercial coal mining for private sector is the most ambitious coal sector reform since the nationalisation of this sector, coal and railway minister Piyush Goyal said while briefing the media on the decision taken in the Cabinet meeting.

Currently, private sector is allowed coal mining for captive use only.

The reform, Mr Goyal said, is likely to bring efficiency into the coal sector by moving away from the era of monopoly (of CIL) to competition and lower power tariffs. He said the move will lead to higher inves-tments and create lakhs of jobs.

The decision was taken by the the Cabinet Co-mmittee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) under the chairmanship of PM Narendra Modi.

The CCEA has appr-oved the methodology for auction of coal mines or blocks for the sale of coal under the Coal Mines (Special Provisi-ons) Act, 2015 and the Mines and Minerals (De-velopment and Regu-lation) Act, 1957, the coal ministry said in a statement.

Following nationalisation, only state-owned CIL was allowed to sell coal. Opening up the sector will also lead to energy security through ass-ured coal supply, acco-untable allocation and affordability, he added.

The methodology gives highest priority to transparency, ease of doing business and ensures that natural resources are used for national development, the statement said.

Meanwhile, the Union Cabinet also approved the setting up of a tribunal to resolve the dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh on sharing Mahanadi river water, official sources said.

The decision by the Cabinet comes following the Supreme Court directive to the Centre last month to form the tribunal within a month to resolve the long-standing dispute.

The Odisha government had moved the court in December, 2016, seeking an order asking Chhattisgarh to stop its construction work in projects on the upstream of Mahanadi, saying it had affected the river flow in the state.
The department has recently attached bank accounts and other assets of Choksi and the Gita-njali Group.

New Delhi: The income-tax (IT) department continued its investigation on bank frauds attaching 14 bank accounts of Rotomac group and raided 20 premises of jeweller Mehul Choksi and his firm Gitanjali Gems.

The searches were being conducted in Mumbai, Pune, Surat, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and few other cities against 13 companies linked to Choksi and the Gitanjali Gems.

The department has recently attached bank accounts and other assets of Choksi and the Gita-njali Group. These 13 companies are believed to be shell companies as their business is much more than assets.

In the Rotomac Group case, 11 bank accounts in various bank branches in Uttar Pradesh, were atta-ched by the tax officials on Monday night and three were put under similar prohibitory orders last month.

While the 11 accounts, which were frozen last night, are in the name of the Rotomac Group, the rest three are in the name of the Kothari family.

According to sources in IT department, provisional attachment action has been carried out to recover outstanding tax demands.

The Kanpur-based group is being probed by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate in connection with an alleged bank loan fraud of `3,695 crore, given by a consortium of seven banks.

According to a news agency report, the income-tax department on Tuesday issued a notice to Anita Singhvi, the wife of senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, asking her to explain about certain jewellery purchases, amounting to Rs 6 crore, allegedly from a showroom owned by Nirav Modi.

The Congress leader refuted the allegations made against his family and described the action as harassment being meted out to him as he belonged to an opposition political party.

The notice, said news agency quoting sources, was issued to Anita Singhvi.
Hanumantha Rao had been suffering from a kidney ailment for sometime now and was undergoing dialysis treatment.

Gundu Hanumantha Rao in a still from a film and K Chandrashekhar Rao.

Hyderabad: Noted Telugu film comedian Gundu Hanumantha Rao died early in the morning on Monday at his residence here. He was 61.

Hanumantha Rao, who had been suffering from a kidney ailment for sometime now and was undergoing dialysis treatment, is survived by a son, according to a family member.

Gundu Hanumantha Rao, born in Vijayawada, started his film career with 'Aha Na Pellanta' in 1987 and acted in around 400 films such as 'Rajendrudu Gajendrudu' and 'Yamaleela'.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao expressed grief over the death of the actor.

The chief minister, according to an official release, said, "It is a great void created by Hanumantha Rao who contributed to the theatre, film and TV industries."
BJP and its leadership is going all out to woo voters on development with an increase of Central assistance.

Shillong: Confident of forming the government in Tripura, BJP also hopes to make an impressive opening in another hill state of Meghalaya. The top brass of BJP, including president Amit Shah, defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Kiren Rijiju have been carrying out a hectic campaign in the state.

Identifying a large number of migrant voters in urban areas, several Poorvanchali leaders like Manoj Tiwari and Rajiv Pratap Rudy have also been making rounds of Meghalaya.

Polling for 60 assembly seats of Meghalaya will be held on February 27 and counting of votes will take place on March 3. The BJP, which is contesting on 47 of the 60 seats in the state, hopes to unseat the Mukul Sangma government, ruling for nearly 10 years now.

With over 75 per cent of Meghalayas population Christians, BJP has prominently placed union tourism minister K Alphons in the state. Posters and hoardings showing Mr Alphons with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr Shah have been put across the state with a tagline of Time For Change, Time For BJP.

BJP and its leadership is going all out to woo voters on development with an increase of Central assistance.

Meghalaya was allotted Rs 5,817 crore under the 13th Finance Commission by the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre whereas the BJP-led NDA government has allotted Rs 25,400 crore to Meghalaya under the 14th Finance Commission, Mr Shah had said. while addressing a rally at Malki ground on Friday.

Several senior leaders, including Union minister arriving Meghalaya to seek votes for party candidates. Mr Rudy addressed the gathering during Mr Shahs rally at Malki ground, the area with significant voters from Poorvanchal. Mr Tiwari, Bhojpuri superstar, had a special interactive meeting with voters from Poorvanchal. Five urban seats surrounding state capital Shillong, have sizeable population of migrants from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh. There are 40,000 voters from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, which hold key in five assembly seats. Along with local people, they will vote for a change to help BJP form the next government, Mr Tiwari told this newspaper.
The pictures were tweeted by WB BJP chief with a post that those were of Bengal Global Business Summit organised in Mumbai in July, 2017.

West Bengal BJP released photographs of state Finance Minister Amit Mitra with founder of Gitanjali Gems Mehul Choksi who is on the run in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case. (Photo: Twitter | @DilipGhoshBJP)

Kolkata: Even before the rage and anger over a photograph of Nirav Modi, the main accused in Rs 11,400 crore bank fraud, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Davos has cooled down, the West Bengal BJP has swung into action, releasing photographs of state Finance Minister Amit Mitra with founder of Gitanjali Gems Mehul Choksi who is on the run in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case.

The pictures were tweeted by West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh with a post that those were of Bengal Global Business Summit organised in Mumbai in July, 2017.

"Wht (what) would Didi's (Mamata Banerjee) comments now be on these pictures? How will Amit Babu (Amit Mitra) react to them? Wht (what) will the so called leaders of TMC have to say to the camaraderie and closeness that was evident between Amit Mitra and Mehul Chokshi during Bengal Business Summit organised in Mumbai on 4/07/17," the tweet read.

1.1Wht would Didi's comments now be on these pictures?How will Amit Babu react to them?Wht will the so called leaders of TMC have to say to the camaraderie & closeness that was evident between Amit Mitra & Mehul Chokshi during Bengal Business Summit organised in Mumbai on 4/07/17 pic.twitter.com/rTT6Vzou7t  Dilip Ghosh (@DilipGhoshBJP) February 18, 2018

Ghosh also attacked Mamata Banerjee for cornering the Centre in connection with the PNB fraud case and questioned the proximity between the state finance minister and Mehul Choksi.

West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh told news agency ANI and clarified that Nirav Modi was invited by an organisation to Davos and was not a part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's delegation, as alleged by the Opposition.

"Nirav Modi was invited by an organisation to Davos. He wasn't part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's delegation. The Chief Minister (Mamata Banerjee) is writing a letter to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley about it when her own minister Amit Mitra knows Mehul Choksi. He was invited to Bengal Business Summit 2017-18. What right do they have to blame BJP?," Ghosh questioned.

West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra responded to Ghosh's claim and said: "This is no secret, the information is on government website. Do I have a personal relationship with him?"

The photographs and the press release of Gems and Jewellery Round-table were, however, removed from the Bengal Global Business Summit website during the day.

Trinamool Congress Secretary General Partha Chatterjee said the release of photographs by the state BJP was an attempt to divert attention from the real scam.
The junior Trump met members of real estate firms M3M India and Tribeca Developers.

Trump Jr will meet with Indian investors and business leaders in Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune and Gurugram. (Photo; AFP)

New Delhi: United States President Donald Trump's son Donald Trump Jr, who is on a week-long visit to India, met real estate developers at Oberoi Hotel, in New Delhi.

The junior Trump met members of real estate firms M3M India and Tribeca Developers.

I think M3M has got into development with Trump. We are developers of the project along with our partner Tribeca. Trump Junior is very much particular about the brand specifications. He himself is here to understand the mindset of the buyers, Director M3M Pankaj Bansal said.

Bansal also threw light on the price range, saying that, The pricing starts from 6 crore onwards to 12 crore, adding,  I think its a great experience for him as well because he is handling the entire business with his brother.

During the week-long trip, Donald Trump Jr will not only endorse his luxurious residential project-Trump Towers, but he is scheduled to deliver a speech on foreign policy in India.

Trump Jr will meet with Indian investors and business leaders in Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune and Gurugram.

Trump Jr will also deliver his maiden speech in India where he will speak on "Reshaping Indo-Pacific Ties: The New Era of Cooperation" at a global business summit on Friday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will also be present, will speak at the summit on the topic of "Preparing India for the Future."

Trump Jr will also visit Kolkata, where the construction of a project with 137 luxury units will begin soon.

According to business partners in India, many units in the Trump Towers are selling about 30 percent per square foot higher than the current market rates. Trump Jr's visit to India is expected to reinforce the trend.

India is Trump Organisation's biggest international market, with four real estate projects underway in Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, and Gurugram.

The Trump Organization has more business entities in India than in any other foreign country, financial filings show, with licensing bringing in estimated payments of USD 1.6 million to USD 11 million since 2014.

Trump Jr's visit to India comes after his sister, Ivanka, visited Hyderabad in November last year to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES).
The parks built in the BSP regime have been cleaned and repaired in order to enable guests to see these parks.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has not only inspected the venue but is also monitoring the arrangements for the event. (Photo: PTI)

Lucknow: Lucknow is all dressed up and ready to roll out a red carpet for investors at the UP Investors Summit- 2018 scheduled to be held on February 21 and 22.

The Yogi Adityanath government hopes to rake in investment worth Rs 1 lakh crore and give a new branding to Uttar Pradesh as a potential investment hub.

The state government has booked over 1,100 rooms in various four and five star hotels for the guests who will arrive for the summit which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

President Ram Nath Kovind will address the concluding session on February 22. A galaxy of business giants including Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, and top executives from majors like Cadila, Mahindra and Mahindra, Torrent and Essel, have confirmed their attendance at the event, which is aimed at hard-selling the state which, for years, has had promises made but negligible investments.

Special security arrang-ements are being made for the VIPs at the event which will be held at the Indira Gandhi Pratisht-han in Gomti Nagar.

The venue has already been made out of bounds for common people.and over 2,500 police personnel will secure the place. A fleet of luxury cars have been commissioned for the guests and four different menus of seven-course meals have been finalised for the food court where the participants will have their meals.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has not only inspected the venue but is also monitoring the arrangements for the event.

The entire state capital has been spruced up for the event. Murals of prominent city monuments have been painted on the walls of flyovers and new greenery is being planted along the roads that have been freshly repaired.

More than 2,600 LED street lights have been installed, pavements are being painted, hoardings and welcome arches have been put up at every crossing to welcome the delegates for the two day event.

The parks built in the BSP regime have been cleaned and repaired in order to enable guests to see these parks.

Meanwhile, UP minister for industrial development Satish Mahana said that Uttar Pradesh, which was earlier infamous for crime and corruption, is now on a revival path to create an environment conducive for development.

Robot to greet PM, guests

A trilingual robot is likely to welcome PM Narendra Modi at the UP Investors Summit on Wednesday.

The robot, built specially for the two-day summit, is fluent in three languages  Hin-di English and Sanskrit  and will welcome guests at the event.

The robot is also an added security feature and will keep an eye on all participants.

Milind Raj, who built the robot, said, The robot is still in learning process. After collecting data it will become more intelligent than a human being. For security reason, it will be beneficial. It can scan retina of person who comes in front of it.

The company which designed the robot calls it an Artificial Intelligence Humanoid which can imitate human habits by creating a database.
Reports from Chandigarh indicate that Singh has now directed the state administration to roll out the red carpet in Punjab for the visiting dignitary.

New Delhi/Chandigarh: With Prime Minister Narendra Modi not accompanying Canadian PM Justin Trudeau to his home state Gujarat, a controversy has broken out with the foreign media triggering speculation on whether Mr Trudeau is being snubbed by the Modi government. While this speculation has been dismissed as baseless by Indian government sources, the Khalistan issue is seen to be casting a shadow on the visit. However, in an interesting development Monday evening, that apparently sought to end the bitterness of the past two years with the Canadian government on this score, Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh announced that he would receive the Canadian PM on Wednesday when Mr Trudeau goes to Amritsar. The announcement ended the uncertainty over whether the chief minister would receive Mr Trudeau in Punjab. Reports from Chandigarh indicate that Mr Singh has now directed the state administration to roll out the red carpet in Punjab for the visiting dignitary.

The Punjab CM had last year refused to meet Canadian defence minister Harjit Sajjan during his India visit, saying that he had pro-Khalistan links. Canada had then criticised the Punjab CMs actions. News agency reports claimed that in 2016, when Amarinder Singh was Punjab

Congress chief, he had written a strongly-worded letter to the Canadian Prime Minister lodging a protest at being denied permission for interaction with Punjabi NRIs in Canada in the run-up to the Punjab Assembly polls. Mr Singh had then called it a gag order.

In a tweet, the Punjab CM said: Look forward to meeting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Amritsar on Wednesday. Im hopeful that this meeting will help strengthen the close Indo-Canadian business ties as well as the deep-rooted people-to-people relations between our two countries.

With pro-Khalistan separatist elements commanding considerable influence in Canada, there are indications that Mr Trudeaus government was reluctant to intervene on the reported ban imposed by such elements on Indian officials entering certain gurdwaras in Canada. India is apparently unhappy and wants to see more action from Canada to check the activities of Sikh radical elements there. Mr Trudeau will meet Prime Minister Modi on Friday for detailed delegation-level talks, when India is expected to strongly press for action by the Canadian authorities to curb the activities of pro-Khalistan Sikh radical elements there that are targeted at India.

The Punjab CM was quoted by PTI as saying in Chandigarh: Punjab has deep roots with Canada, where a large Punjabi community is settled, and has always striven to strengthen the connect. Mr Singh is all set to take Punjabs close business as well as people-to-people links with Canada to the next level, with a one-to-one meeting with Mr Trudeau in Amritsar on Wednesday, an official spokesman said in Chandigarh. Interestingly, the Opposition Shriromani Akali Dal chief, Sukhbir Singh Badal, is expected to welcome the Canadian PM at the Golden Temple.

As reported by this newspaper on Monday, Mr Modi was not due to accompany the Canadian PM to Gujarat, in contrast with earlier Gujarat visits by Japan PM Shinzo Abe last year and Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu last month, when Mr Modi accompanied them on their visits.

While government sources pointed out that it was not mandatory for the PM accompany every foreign dignitary to Gujarat, this has nevertheless raised a lot of eyebrows.

While Mr Modi has received certain heads of state or government at the airport on their arrival personally, he did not receive the Canadian PM at the airport, but then he is not required to do so as per protocol. There have also been reports that UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath did not receive Mr Trudeau in Agra on Sunday when the Canadian PM went there to visit the Taj Mahal.

Mr Trudeau, who visited Agra on Sunday and Gujarat on Monday, will visit Mumbai on Tuesday and Amritsar on Wednesday. He will visit Old Delhis historic Jama Masjid on Thursday and will hold official talks with the Prime Minister and other senior Indian leaders on Friday.
The MoU will lead to generation of around 10,000 jobs in the project, which will be spread over 157 acre of land in Palghar district.

In 2017, Fadnavis (M) had assured all help to Yadav (L), 42, who hails from Satara district, to start manufacturing facility for indigenous 6-seater and 19-seater aircraft. (Photo: Facebook | CMOMaharashtra)

Mumbai: The dream of a commercial pilot to set up an aircraft manufacturing company is set to take wings with the Maharashtra government on Monday signing a Rs 35,000 crore pact with him to build aircraft.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was present when the MoU, which envisages Rs 35,000 crore investment in the project, was signed at the "Magnetic Maharashtra" global investors summit in suburban Bandra.

The MoU, between Amol Yadav and MIDC, will lead to generation of around 10,000 jobs in the project, which will be spread over 157 acre of land in Palghar district.

In 2017, Fadnavis had assured all help to Yadav, 42, who hails from Satara district, to start manufacturing facility for indigenous 6-seater and 19-seater aircraft.

"I have to make planes. I have demonstrated the capabilities. Fadnavis wants the first plane making factory of the country to be in Maharashtra. The 157-acre plot was identified in Palghar. The MIDC will provide us land and support facilities like roads," Yadav said.

"My responsibility is to build the plane and create the factory which will be producing more, and also to look after factories to be set up henceforth. This will be an aerospace hub to make planes," he said.

Maharashtra government will help in getting the required funds, Yadav said. "The government expects Rs 35,000 crore investment for not my company alone, but also for the ancillaries which will be a part of the hub," he said.

"Rs 35,000 crore is the total amount of funds which will be required to achieve the broader targets. The target is to create employment for 10,000 people. The investment figure is included in the MoU agreement but it will not be coming from me alone," he said.

"In the first phase, I am required to build a prototype 19-seater plane and three more similar planes for production. The investment required for this will be Rs 200 crore, which is the immediate requirement and will be spent in the next six months," he said.

"Our target, from the Rs 35,000 crore investment, is very simple. We want to make 600 19-seater planes in the next 2-3 years and then take it to 1,300 planes after that. We are planning for 1300 19-seater planes at present," he said.

"We have already identified many potential investors," Yadav said. The government will also help, he added.

"Pratt & Whitney is supplying me the engines at present. The engine supplied to me is 30 years old and a tested one," he said, adding he "fully owns" the company.

Yadav, senior commander with Jet Airways, has promoted Thrust Aircraft Private Limited company for manufacturing aircraft.

His six-seater aircraft was the centre of attraction during the Make In India exhibition held in Mumbai in 2016.

The aircraft that was assembled on the terrace of a Charkop building, got the certificate of registration from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), in 2017.
The ED also registered a money laundering case against Kothari and his family members on the basis of CBIs FIR.

Meanwhile, the ED registered a money laundering case against Kothari and his family members under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

New Delhi: As the controversy over the PNB bank fraud rages, the CBI on Mon-day registered a case against another high-profile businessman, Rotomac pen promoter Vikram Kothari, over alleged swindling of Rs 3,695 crore bank loans. The scam, sources said, was earlier estimated at around Rs 800 crore.

The ED also registered a money laundering case against Mr Kothari and his family members on the basis of CBIs FIR.

According to CBI sources, the case against Kanpur-based Rotomac Global Pvt Limited, its director Vikram Kothari, his wife Sadhana Kothari, and son Rahul Kothari and unidentified bank officials was filed on a complaint received from Bank of Baroda. Immediately after registering the case, agency sleuths conducted searches at three locations in Kanpur, including Kotharis residence and office premises.

The CBI also sealed residential premises and an office of Rotomac directors in the national capital.

Talking to reporters here, CBI spokesperson Abhishek Dayal, said, The agency has not made any arrests so far.

He said Mr Kothari, his wife and son are being examined. Mr Kothari allegedly owes Rs 3,695 crore to Allahabad Bank, Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Bank of Maharashtra, Indian Overseas Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce and Union Bank of India, CBI sources said.

Bank of Barodas complaint to the CBI alleged that a consortium of seven banks had been cheated by Mr Kothari and his company by siphoning off Rs 2,919 crore taken as loans. The total outstanding amount, along with interest, amounts to Rs 3,695 crore.

Mr Kotharis wife Sadhana and son Rahul are directors of the company. According to CBI sources, the company allegedly used two modus operandi for siphoning off loans secured from consortium of banks since 2008. Credit sanctioned and loan disbursed to the company was utilised for the purposes, other than executing export orders, they said.

The CBI alleged that the credit sanctioned for a particular export order was diverted to a different offshore company and later the money was remitted back into the Kanpur-based company without executing the export order.

Meanwhile, the ED registered a money laundering case against Kothari and his family members under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The ED, sources said, will probe if the funds obtained through the alleged fraud were laundered and if the proceeds of the crime were subsequently used by the accused to create illegal assets and black money.

This is the second major financial scam to come to light after the Rs 11,400 crore fraud allegedly committed by billionaire jewellery designer Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi, who is a promoter of Gitanjali group of companies.
Applauding India for trade potential, Trudeau said that there was an anxiety in the western world about the success of trade here.

Mumbai: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday said that a people-to-people connection was important for the Indo-Canadian relations.

"(Chanda Kochar) think business to business or government to government, but I think people to people as several people come to Canada from India, students, and entrepreneurs. So, Indo-Canada for me is important for me in terms of people to people connect," Trudeau said in a conversation with Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) ICICI Bank Chanda Kochhar in Mumbai.

While sharing the experience about his Taj Mahal visit, Trudeau said, "I was fortunate enough to visit India as a child with my father in my childhood with bodyguards but this time I came with my kids and I tried to make them understand the kind of transformation has taken place here."

The Canadian President amazed by the Indian diversity said this would let his children understand that diversity was not only in Canada but also in various other parts of the world.

Applauding India for trade potential, Trudeau said that there was an anxiety in the western world about the success of trade here.

"Canada is doing several trade pacts with various deals with other countries. Benefits of the trade should be shared with citizens and marginalised communities," he said.

"While the world is closing in for immigration, Canada is opening up and Canada has created success and will continue to do so. Canada can bring top talents from the world. Understanding the benefits of immigration will benefit," he added.

On Monday, speaking with the students at IIM Ahmedabad, the Canadian Prime Minister, who is on a week-long visit to India, said that women were facing discrimination, sexism, and judgment every day in their lives.

The visit is an opportunity for Trudeau to connect with the Indian leaders in the government and business, promote empowerment of women and girls, and strengthen Canada and India's close economic ties.
Nirav Modi sent a letter to the bank this week saying he owes less than half the amount claimed by the bank in the alleged fraud.

Modi allegedly cheated the state-run bank by using fake letters of understanding (LoUs) to get loans. Most of the letters were sent to overseas offices of Indian banks, which made the actual loans, said Sunil Mehta, PNB's MD. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested a General Manager-level official in association with the Rs 11,400 crore scam in Punjab National Bank (PNB).

The CBI had on Tuesday arrested Vipul Ambani and four other senior executives of Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi companies in lieu of the same.

Modi allegedly cheated the state-run bank by using fake letters of understanding (LoUs) to get loans.

Most of the letters were sent to overseas offices of Indian banks, which sanctioned the actual loans, said Sunil Mehta, Punjab National Banks managing director.

The PTI reported that Modi sent a letter to the bank this week saying he owes less than half the amount claimed by the bank in connection with the alleged fraud.

Modi runs an international jewellery empire that reaches from India to New York, with a string of high-end brands. He and his family fled India weeks before the bank registered a criminal case with the CBI on January 31, 2018.

The CBI and other Indian investigative agencies searched dozens of offices and residences used by Modi and his business partners.

The bank named Modi, his brother Nishal Modi, wife Ami Modi and uncle Mehul Chinubhai Choksi as suspects in its complaint.

In his letter to the bank, Modi said he owes about Rs 5,000 crore (USD 775 million), according to PTI. He said the Rs 11,400 crore cited by the bank had resulted in a media frenzy that pressured authorities to quickly search and seize assets from his Firestar International and Firestar Diamond International companies.

This thereby jeopardized our ability to discharge the dues of the group to the banks, Modi said.

With media reporting that Modi and his family were hiding in New York or Dubai, the external affairs ministry said it has suspended the passports of Modi and his uncle Choksi for four weeks.

It said in a statement that if they fail to explain within seven days why their passports should not be cancelled, their travel documents will be revoked.
Congress had also alleged that the agencies of the government, including the PMO, were aware of the ongoing fraud.

New Delhi: The political slugfest over jeweller Nirav Modi continued on Monday with Congress president Rahul Gandhi hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Taking to Twitter, Mr Gandhi said, First it was Lalit, then Mallya, and now Nirav too has given the slip. Where is the guardsman who said Na khaunga, na khane dunga. The people are longing to know the reason behind Sahebs silence. His sealed lips are shouting out where his loyalties lie. He also used the hashtag #ModiRobsIndia.

Mr Gandhi has been asking the Prime Minister and the finance minister to speak about the fraud in the Punjab National Bank to the tune of over Rs 11,000 crore. The fraud involves jeweller Nirav Modis companies and certain other accounts with the banks flagship branch (Brady House Branch) in Mumbai and its second largest lending window in India.

The Congress had released a video of the Gold Monetisation Scheme of 2015 of the Prime Minister mentioning Mehul Choksi one of the accused in the PNB scam.

While Congress spokesman Manish Tewari on Monday asked the government as to why Mehul Choksi was allowed to leave the country. Mr Tewari said, Gitanjali Jewellery managing chairperson Mehul Choksi was declared an absconder on August 4, 2017 by a court of law. Then how was he allowed to leave the country?

Congress had also alleged that the agencies of the government, including the PMO, were aware of the ongoing fraud.

It had also released documents that Prime Ministers Office, Enforcement Directorate, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), SEBI as well as two BJP-ruled governments in Maharashtra and Gujarat were aware of the scam pursuant to a series of complaints filed as early as on 7 May, 2015. The party also plans to raise the PNB scam in the second part of the Budget session in March.
Haasan met DMK Prez M Karunanidhi and superstar Rajinikanth, saying he was calling on those 'whom I like' before the launch of his party.

In January, Kamal Haasan had batted for unity among Southern states under the 'Dravidian' tag to leverage ties with the Centre. (Photo: PTI)

Chennai: Top actor Kamal Haasan, who is all set to launch his political innings on February 21, on Monday expressed confidence that he would succeed with his Dravidian brand of politics.

"You will know when I make it a success," he told reporters when asked about the presence of Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu and how he could succeed with the same ideology.

The top actor has time and again expressed his appreciation of the Dravidian ideology.

In January, he had batted for unity among Southern states under the "Dravidian" tag to leverage ties with the Centre.

Also Read: Like Kalam, I too dream of a good TN: Kamal Haasan on Dravidian principle

"It (Dravidian) is our identity, and it will give the southern states a leverage with the Centre," the actor had said.

The actor had further stated, the Chief Ministers of all southern states - Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh - were all 'Dravidians,' and there was no need to stake claim that only Tamilian was 'Dravidian.'

When the Dravidian identity is "celebrated" across South India, it would lead to a united "chorus" that would reach New Delhi, he had said.

Meanwhile, continuing with his meeting of leaders ahead of the launch of his political party, Mr Haasan on Monday visited DMDK chief Vijayakanth.

He said he visited Vijayakanth since he was senior to him in politics. "He greeted me and expressed his happiness for joining politics," he said.

On Monday, the veteran actor had visited DMK President M Karunanidhi and superstar Rajinikanth, saying he was calling on those "whom I like" before the formal launch of his party on February 21.
Rijiju went on saying that he would leave politics if any church or any Christian in the state were persecuted during their reign.

Guwahati: Bogged down by charges of being anti-Christian, the BJP has intensified its campaign in Nagaland while asserting that the interests of the majority Christian people of the state has to be protected.

Rejecting the allegation, Union minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju, who is also the BJP poll in-charge in Nagaland, said that the BJP has been fighting to protect the interests of Christians at the national level.

Our opponents have nothing to say about us as we have tackled corruption and other issues, so they are now saying that we are anti-Christian, said the minister, who addressed a series of election meetings for the BJP candidates in Nagaland.

To counter the campaign of his opponents, Mr Rijiju went on saying that he would leave politics if any church or any Christian in the state were persecuted during their reign.

Though there are a large number of Christians in Arunachal Pradesh and in Goa, they elected the BJP, which speaks volumes about the party, he said, adding that even a Muslim-majority state like Jammu and Kashmir has opted to elect BJP.

Asserting that BJP was very much aware of the Naga political issue, Mr Rijiju stated that this election would shape the future of Nagaland.

PM Narendra Modi is very clear about the Naga struggle and has personally assured that it will be the BJPs moral duty to solve this problem during this tenure, he added.

With the Prime Minster scheduled to address a rally in Tuensang in few days time, Mr Rijiju also called upon the electorates to vote for BJP-NDPP candidates.

Meanwhile, Nagaland Peoples Front president Shurhozelie Liezietsu has launched a frontal attack on his opponents while urging the Naga people to choose between preserving their identity and money.
She has also sought compensation for violation of her fundamental rights.

New Delhi: Hadiya alias Akhila Ashokan, the woman at the centre of the controversial Kerala love jihad case, made an impassioned appeal to the Supreme Court on Tuesday to allow her to live with her husband Shafin Jahan and asserted that she is a Muslim by choice and wants to remain one.

She has also sought compensation for violation of her fundamental rights.

The 24-year-old, who converted to Islam to marry Mr Jahan, has filed an affidavit in the apex court saying, I embraced the faith/religion of Islam on my choice as per my conscience and on my own free will after studying about Islam and, thereafter, I married Shafin Jahan. I pray that this court may be kind enough to appoint my husband as guardian.

After months of being confined in her parents home in Kottayam, the apex court in November last year had allowed Hadiya to resume her medical studies at Sivaraj Homeopathy Medical College in Tamil Nadus Salem and lifted restrictions on her meeting her n Turn to Page 4

husband whom she married in December 2016. Soon after the apex court order a meeting between the two was allowed at the medical college.

In her affidavit, Hadiya has also sought compensation for alleged violation of her fundamental rights.

The court may pass appropriate orders to take appropriate action in accordance with law against all persons who tortured me horrendously and mercilessly, she said.

Hadiya also complained about being kept under surveillance in the medical college.

Since August 22, 2016, except the period from September 27, 2016, to December 20, 2016, I have been under confinement without the freedom that I am entitled to. Even now I am under police surveillance. I most humbly pray that my entire liberty may kindly be restored, she said.

I used to perform namaz (prayer to the almighty) in my room. Once my father happened to see me offering namaz and warned me against Islam saying that it is a religion of terrorism. Thereupon, I was forced to keep my faith in Islam as a secret at least at home, said Hadiya.

She had repeatedly petitioned the apex court earlier for being allowed to live with her husband after the Kerala high court annulled their marriage in May last year, terming it an instance of love jihad. The high court had also made Hadiyas father her legal guardian.

Love jihad is a controversial term coined by fringe Hindutva outfits to harass interfaith couples by claiming that these are forced marriages between Muslim men and Hindu women.

Hadiya told the apex court that after the Kerala high court annulled her marriage, she was subjected to torture.

She complained that she was put under police surveillance and the National Investigation Agency treated her as a terrorist and attempted to mislead her by portraying Mr Jahan as a terrorist.

Her father, retired Army man K.M. Ashokan, had alleged that there was a well-oiled systematic mechanism for conversion and Islamic radicalisation. He claimed that Hadiya was recruited by the Islamic State terrorist group by using her husband.
New Delhi insists Maldives govt implements Feb. 1 order issued by Male court.

New Delhi: After Maldivian president Abdulla Yameen snubbed India by recommending his Parliament that the emergency in his tiny archipelago nation be extended by another 30 days, India opposed any extension of emergency, saying it is its expectation that the government of Maldives will not be seeking extension of the state of emergency so that the political process in Maldives can resume with immediate effect.

While the Maldives issued a statement on Tues-day that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on National Security on Monday voted to extend the state of emergency by 30 days easing constitutional restrictions, Indian government sources said in New Delhi that the Maldivian Majlis (Parliament) would take a decision on the issue on Tuesday. India also insisted that the Maldives government should implement the order issued by the Maldivian Supreme Court February 1. President Yameen had refused to obey that verdict of the apex court there on the release of political prisoners.

New Delhi added on Tuesday that after the revocation of the Emergency, democratic institutions, including the judiciary, should be allowed to function independently and in a fair and transparent manner in accordance with the Constitution.

It added that the order issued by the Supreme Court of Maldives on February 1, 2018, should be implemented in letter and spirit. India also said it is important that Maldives quickly returns to the path of democracy and the rule of law so that the aspirations of Maldivian people are met and the concerns of the international community are assuaged.

Continuing his defiance of India, Mr Yameen earlier on Monday had appr-oached his Parliament seeking to extend the emergency in his nation by 30 days on the grounds that the threat to national security has not diminished, and the constitutional crisis has not been resolved.

The Maldivian President had imposed emergency in his tiny archipelago nation for 15 days on February 5.

In a statement issued from Male, the Maldives on Tuesday said, The Parliamentary Standing Committee on National Security yesterday voted to extend the state of emergency by thirty days easing constitutional restrictions. The extension was submitted by the request of the President due to the present threat to national security and the constitutional crisis posed by the events leading up to and following the ruling issued by the Supreme Court on February 1, 2018...
Hindu outfit writes to Yogi over injustice to brahmins.

Lucknow: Now that the Karni Senas heat and dust over Padmaavat and Rajput pride has subsided, it is now time for brahmin to take up the cause of their pride.

The Parshuram Swabhimaan Sena has now written a letter to UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, drawing his attention to the injustice being meted out to brahmins in his regime.

Devdutt Sharma, the national convenor of the Parshuram Swabhimaan Sena, has said in his letter that five brahmins of a family were murdered in Apta village in Rae Bareli in June last year.

These brahmins were financially weak and worked as farm labourers. The family was given a compensation of `5 lakhs. Recently, when Chandan Gupta was killed in Kasganj riots, his family was given a compensation of `20 lakh. A similar amount was given to the family of Dilip Saroj who was beaten to death in Allahabad earlier this month, he wrote.

Questioning the rationale behind these decisions, Mr Sharma asked, Is this what Sabka saath Sabka vikas is all about. Are there no brahmins who are as poor as those in other communities? This kind of casteist decision must stop. The BJP had promised that there would be no discrimination but all these three incidents have taken place in BJP regime.

He further wanted to know what the fault of the five members of a brahmin family who were killed last year was.

Do the brahmins not vote and support the BJP? he asked.

Mr Sharma pointed out that before the Assembly elections in UP last year; the brahmin community had mustered support for the BJP through various brahmin sammelans across the state.

The Parshuram Swabhimaan Sena had organised a Brahmin Mahakumbh in Meerut before the elections and top leaders of the state had attended the event. Brahmins had announced their full support to the BJP, he wrote.

The letter further asks Mr Adityanath to do justice with the community so that brahmins continue with their support to the BJP.

Interestingly, the meeting of the Parshuram Swabhimaan Sena that approved of this letter to UP chief minister was held in Delhi at the South Avenue residence of UP BJP MP Sharad Tripathi.

According to sources, the members at the meeting also objected to the undue importance being given to bureaucrats of a particular community (read Thakurs) in the state. We are now compiling facts and figures that will substantiate our stand that brahmins are being sidelined, neglected and humiliated in the BJP regime where the focus is now on OBCs and dalits, said a source.
CBI questions 10 other officials of PSU bank.

New Delhi: The CBI on Tuesday arrested Vipul Ambani and four other senior executives of Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksis companies in connection with its investigation into the alleged Rs 11,400-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case.

Vipul Ambani is the chief finance officer of Modis Firestar Pvt Ltd. He is cousin of business tycoon Mukesh Ambani. The others arrested by the CBI are Kavita Mankikar and Arjun Patil of Modis firms and Kapil Khandelwal and Niten Shahi of the Gitanjali group, sources in the CBI said. The agency has already arrested six officers, including retired deputy manager Gokulchand Shetty, of the PNB in connection with the case.

The agency on Tuesday also questioned 10 PNB officers, including an executive director, in connection with the case. Besides, the CBI questioned eight senior executives of Modis firms and 10 of the Gitanjali group in connection with the case. During the questioning of three PNB officials Bechhu Tiwari, Yashwant Joshi and Praful Sawantarrested on Monday, it emerged that they were trying to shift the blame for the fraud on their colleagues  Gokuldas Shetty (retired official) and Manoj Kharat  arrested earlier, sources said.

Mr Choksi, his nephew Modi and others, are being investigated by multiple probe agencies after the fraud came to light following a complaint by the PNB.

The PNB claimed they cheated the state-run bank of Rs 11,400 crore with the involvement of a few employees of the bank. The CBI has registered two cases involving Modi and Choksi. These relate to fraudulent issuance of 150 Letters of Undertaking (LoU) (a kind of bank guarantee) worth Rs 6,498 crore and 143 LoUs worth Rs 4,886 crore. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also registered two separate cases to probe money laundering allegations against Choksi and Modi. An LoU is a guarantee which is given by the issuing bank to Indian banks having branches abroad to grant short-term credit to the applicant. In case of default, the bank issuing the LoU has to pay the liability to credit giving bank along with accruing interest.

The searches by another central probe agency ED continued even on Tuesday, with its chief Karnal Singh even cancelling his scheduled visit to France to attend a meeting of global anti-money laundering agencies so he could personally monitor the probe. Assets worth Rs 10 crore were seized during searches at 13 premises linked to Modi and Choksi on Tuesday, sources in the ED said.

Meanwhile, the Delhi high court on Tuesday directed the police to probe cheating allegations levelled against Gitanjali Gems promoter Mehul Choksi in an FIR lodged in 2016 by the owner of one of its retail franchisees, but protected him from any coercive action. There was an interim protection from coercive action against diamond merchant Choksi, which was extended till May 3.
Narendra Modi asks Ktaka people if they want commission govt or a mission government.

Mysuru: Launching a full-fledged attack on chief minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress government in the CMs hometown, Mysuru, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the massive crowd present at a BJP rally if they did not want a respite from corruption, discrimination and whether they did not want development either. If they wanted all this, they would have to choose the BJP in the forthcoming Assembly elections for transformation (Parivar-thana) and to build Nava Karnataka, he said.

Addressing a 40,000 plus gathering of people from Mysuru, Kodagu, Mandya Chamarajnagar and Hassan at the Maharaja College ground, Mr Modi began his speech in Kannada saying nanna preethiya bandhu baginiyarige nanna namaskaragalu. He even condoled farmer leader K.S. Puttannaiah who had passed away on Sunday, saying he should serve as an inspiration to all. He then attacked the Congress party saying,

Unlike in the Congress where one family ruled the entire country for many years, India is our family. The BJP wants to develop India. Wherever there is a Congress government, it functions like a road hump decreasing the pace of development. The Congress ruled for so many years after independence, yet several dreams of leaders who fought for India remain unfulfilled. There were not many media organisations and NGO to question them then. Four crore families in India still live in the 18th century without electricity. Do you still want to trust the promises of the Congress? When I dubbed the state government a 10 percent commission government at a rally in Bengaluru, I received several messages, saying that it (the commission was more than that. So do you want a government involved in commission business or a government of the BJP with a mission to develop the state? By 2022, when India completes 75 years of Independence, it is our duty to ensure every family has a home.

But will the Congress government in e state allow this to happen? We wish to ensure merit based employment, our youth are confident and self sustained. Unfortunately a mother has to sell her jewellery, pledge her land to pay bribes. Dont you want a respite from corruption? If you take a small bowl, you will get small amount of Ganga jal, the bigger it is, the larger the amount. So if you want more development, choose the BJP, he said.

Youth do not want a government which loots. We wish to give you a government with a mission.  he said.

Digging holes in the campaign for a separate Lingayat religion, which was championed by CM Siddaramaiah himself, he said, A leader elected from this good land (Sadbavana kshethra) which believes in unity, forgot it when he went to Bengaluru. Some people are indulging in the paap (sin) of dividing society. They are not ashamed to be corrupt. Development is not their priority. They lie loud. They are concerned about securing their chair and pleasing Congress leaders in Delhi. He concluded his speech by appealing to people in Kannada to ensure a BJP win this time saying Ee baari BJP gellisi Make BJP win.)

State BJP president B.S. Yeddyurappa continued to target Mr Siddaramaiah saying, Can you please tell us why a watch worth Rs 70 lakh was given to you? Many in the Congress government would have been in jail if the Lokayukta was there.

BJP leaders Prakash Javadekar, Muralidhar Rao, Ms Purandareswari, Mr V. Srinivasprasad, Ms Shobha Karandlaje, Mr B Sriramulu, Mr C.T. Ravi and Mr Arvind Limbavali participated.
Chief minister Vasundhara Raje made the announcement in the state assembly on Monday.

Jaipur: The Rajasthan government has withdrawn the draconian Bill that reportedly aimed to protect corrupt public servants. Chief minister Vasundhara Raje made the announcement in the state assembly on Monday.

The Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill, 2017 was tabled in the previous session in October to replace an ordinance promulgated on 7 September under which sanction from an authority was required before an investigation into an offence committed by a public official. However, as the move by the Vasundhara Raje government drew widespread criticism from various quarters, the Bill was referred to select committee of the House.

We allowed the ordinance to lapse and the Act didnt come into force, therefore any talk of black law was misplaced. The government is withdrawing the Bill, Raje said.

State Congress president Sachin Pilot has described the announcement a victory of people, Congress party and medias struggle. However, he said that withdrawing the Bill was not enough rather the CM must initiate an investigation into corruption charges against her ministers.

The CM had brought this black law to institutionalise corruption and despite strong criticism, the government was bent on implementing it by referring it to select committee. However, the defeat in the recent bypolls and constant pressure from the Congress forced the CM to withdraw it, said Pilot who had challenged the Bill in the high court.
Though there is no clarity on what his policies and programmes would be, Kamal has clarified that his colour would certainly not be saffron.

Actor Kamal Haasan is greeted by his supporters on his arrival at the airport in Madurai on Tuesday, a day before he is set to launch his political party. (Photo: PTI)

CHENNAI: In the hope of heralding a new chapter in Tamil Nadu politics hegemonised by the DMK and AIADMK for half-a-century, film icon Kamal Haasan will set in motion his political innings on Wednesday from the historic temple town of Madurai by announcing the name of his political party and hoist its flag.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, the RTI activist who captured the imagination of the nation during the Anna Hazare movement, will be on Kamals side at the public meeting in Othakadai in the heart of Madurai to wish him luck on his political journey, while his intellectual friend and Kerala CM Pinnarayi Vijayan will join the launch through video conferencing. The 63-year-old actor, who captivated millions for five decades through his brilliant and versatile acting skills, will have a long Wednesday  beginning his journey from the residence of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in Rameswaram and addressing public meetings at Ramanath-apuram, Paramakudi, his birthplace, and Manamad-urai before reaching Madurai for the mega launch. Our long journey will begin tomorrow. I will hoist the flag of our new political party at 6 pm at Madurai Othakadai at the venue of the mega rally. I will also announce the name of the political party and explain its ideology. Come, lets script a new chapter, Kamal wrote Twitter before he flew to Madurai.

Kamals political journey is being keenly watc-hed across India as many see his timing as perf-ect launch pad for a career in politics given the political void in Tamil Nadu due to indisposition of DMK chief M. Karunanidhi and death of former CM Jayalalithaa. The outspoken actor, who loves to call spade a spade and does not mince words, calls himself polity culturist who wants to redeem Tamil Nadus image

What started as criticism in 140 characters  that was the limit first allowed on Twitter  in late July last year against the corrupt AIADMK government may culminate in a full-blown attack against those who have ruled Tamil Nadu for five decades since 1967 on Wednesday.

The outspoken actor, who loves to call spade a spade and does not mince words, calls himself polity culturist who wants to redeem Tamil Nadus image that had been sullied in the past. Though there is no clarity on what his policies and programmes would be, Kamal has clarified that his colour would certainly not be saffron.

A proponent of Dravidianism, which he says will exist as long as National Anthem of India existed, Kamal has given all indications that Tamil, Tamil Nadu and Dravidian culture will be the core ideology of his political journey.
While not exactly a cure, experts believe that reading is effective and could reduce reliance on antidepressants in many cases.

Findings show participants having significant improvements in their depression scores for up to three years after taking part in reading therapy.

Bookworms always advocate the fact that reading a paperback does wonders to the mind. And now a study agrees, with researchers suggesting that reading can ease depression.

While not exactly a cure, experts believe that reading is effective and could reduce reliance on antidepressants in many cases.

With the number of cases rising in depression, fears are being fuelled that doctors are prescribing far too many pills too freely to patients with depression who might get better.

Interestingly, two recent studies have found patients prescribed reading for mild to moderate depression  a treatment known as bibliotherapy  saw improvements in mood and psychological well-being.

Researchers at the University of Turin in Italy published an analysis of ten studies of bibliotherapy. Their findings, published in the journal Clinical Psychology Review, showed that participants in at least six studies saw significant improvements in their depression scores for up to three years after taking part in a course of reading therapy.

Bibliotherapy appears to be effective in the reduction of depressive symptoms in the long term, and could be an affordable treatment that reduces the need for medications, the researchers concluded.

A second study, conducted by the University of Groningen in the Netherlands published in the journal PLOS One last year, looked at whether non-drug therapies such as reading could combat depression in the elderly.

Researchers found studies, dating back decades that suggest reading could boost the mood of pensioners. This thinking moved into mainstream psychiatric medicine in 2013 when a Books On Prescription scheme was launched by the Department of Health.
Despite the apprehensions, Jayadev was confident that theyd be able to pull themselves out of the crisis.

The early 80s in India werent an easy time to do business. As Ramachandra N. Galla, founder and chairman of Amara Raja Group discovered when he started off in 1985 in his home district of Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh. The dynamics of the economy were changing rapidly. The government at that time was supporting non-resident Indians for entrepreneurship to take the countrys industrial growth forward. However, when I finally returned from the US, the odds were heavily stacked against entrepreneurs. Issues like lack of infrastructure, logistics, and non-availability of skilled labour made it an uphill task, says Ramachandra.

Passing the baton from one generation to the next proved to be even more difficult. His son, Jayadev (Jay) Gallas (Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Amara Raja Batteries) entrepreneurial journey began in America. I felt disconnected from the people and culture and realised the need to live in India. I felt that I could use my experience and knowledge to make a difference in India, says Jayadev.

While originally, the business focused only on batteries used by the telecom, power and oil-and-gas sectors, Jayadev wanted to expand into vehicles which were dominated then by Exide industries. He took over the business from Galla senior in 2003, by when Amara Raja had already come a long way.

But the overall economy when I entered the business was weak. The profits at Amara Raja Batteries had tanked to $300,000 from $1.6 million the previous year. We were established but also had to go to the next level. We planned well, sensed the glitches and moved ahead. While ensuring that the business grew and met all its targets, I also had the responsibility of ensuring that my fathers vision for the company remained our guiding principle, says Jayadev, admitting that the challenges faced by him and his father were different.

Ramachandra and Jayadev Galla

When I took over, everyone thought that the business would be ruined, and my dad asked, why did you get into this? But I was confident of getting us out of the morass. I took aggressive steps and brought in new ideas, recalls Jayadev, candidly admitting that it was difficult to work with his father. Legacy definitely mattered. At the same time, there were expectations and little options for failure. I worked very hard on convincing him and putting my ideas into action. I finally convinced him and Amaron batteries was launched in 2000.

It took five years to convince him. Initially, my father was apprehensive if I could do justice to our business or not. It was a huge company which he had created after years of hard work and dedication. He adds, The worries werent unjustified. Timing played a key role as the industrial battery prices had crashed, the auto segment that we forayed into didnt take off, and the overall economy was weak. We were going down with every quarter. Every person in the company began to think that I might ruin the whole business. My father too had some loss of faith in my capabilities.

Ramachandra reasons, The automotive battery foray needed expertise in branding and distribution, which we did not possess.

Despite the apprehensions, Jayadev was confident that theyd be able to pull themselves out of the crisis. We worked hard and started to innovate and from that low point on, our revenues grew 18-fold. We rose like a phoenix, he says proudly.

The growth wasnt without conflict between the two generations. I pushed for auto batteries because being only in industrial mode made the company vulnerable. But my father resisted, because the sector had an entrenched player like Exide on one end and unorganised players churning out cheap knockoffs on the other. Finally, after three years of constant arguments with my father, he relented and I got the opportunity to introduce my ideas, says Jayadev. He reveals that at one point, he told his father, This town isnt big enough for the two of us and one has to quit. Ramachandra took a backseat and Jayadev took over the full reins.

He shares, For the first nine months of this fiscal year, weve run way ahead of our earlier pace. People have started to believe that I can carry forward my family business in the way my father used to. I am happy that I finally gained my fathers trust, and he admits I took aggressive steps and brought in new ideas. This is a really proud moment for me. Now, my father says I can inspire people!

Just like his business, the decision to enter politics too was taken at a young age. Jayadevs grandfather was a freedom fighter while his mother was in politics for 25 years. The biggest lessons in life are those you learn from people around you, that you implement to benefit others. Be it business or politics, one cant move ahead alone. When I moved back to India, I wanted to enter politics too. But like all other things, one needs to have the right skills. Its only after you have lived as a citizen, contributed and achieved something for the people of this country, that you can enter politics. Thats why it took me 22 years to take the first step into politics, says Jayadev, a TDP LS member.

When asked why lesser numbers of the next generation are taking over their family businesses, he quips, Even my next generation isnt too involved in the business. How-ever, I am happy that they are following their dreams and passions. My sons  Ashok and Siddharth  are interested in movies. I am following my interests too. I wanted to be in politics and am balancing my commitment as a politician and life as a businessperson.
Officials of the education department will run the campaign in "mission mode" for three months from April to June this year, Sisodia said.

Manish Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio, said that the programme is being designed on the lines of Delhi government's 'Chunauti scheme', after two rounds of meetings with MCDs, the Delhi Cantonment Board and the North Delhi Municipal Council. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: The Delhi government on Monday announced the launch of "Mission Buniyaad" for improving learning skills of children studying in state and municipal-run schools.

The announcement was made by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in New Delhi, days after the National Achievement Survey (NAS) showed that the entire country, including Delhi, was facing a learning crisis in schools.

Under the programme which will run from April to June for Class 3 to 5 in Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) schools and for Class 6 to 8 in government's schools, children will undergo a reading level assessment based on which they will be enrolled in specialised "Mission Buniyaad" classes.

"For children who are not able to read, I request all parents to cancel their vacation plans during summer holidays and send their children to school for remedial classes. I appeal to parents of children to support the Delhi government and MCDs in this campaign in the interest of their children's future," Sisodia said in a press conference.

Officials of the education department will run the campaign in "mission mode" for three months from April to June this year, Sisodia said.

Manish Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio, said that the programme is being designed on the lines of Delhi government's 'Chunauti scheme', after two rounds of meetings with MCDs, the Delhi Cantonment Board and the North Delhi Municipal Council.

"The NAS survey demonstrates that close to half of all children in our schools are not able to read their grade level textbooks. In the secondary schools run by the Delhi government, various programmes we initiated have improved reading ability by about 20 per cent.

"However, children in primary schools that are under the MCD are not able to read and thereafter when they study in secondary schools they find it difficult to cope up with the advanced levels," he said.

The deputy chief minister said it was in the interest of the children of Delhi that the efforts made by the government be extended to MCD schools as well.

"The municipal bodies that run primary schools in the city will raise a cadre of teachers who will drive the program, in a manner similar to the Mentor Teacher Program run in Delhi government schools. One teacher will take care of five schools and will train teachers of these five schools on enhancing readability of children," he said.
BMC decides to restore and beautify stones in a bid to preserve their historical value.

One of the milestones was found by the BMC while carrying out a drive against illegal structures at Parel in April last year.

Mumbai: The British-era milestones in Mumbai that have gone into oblivion will get a new lease of life as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to restore and beautify all 15 milestones in the city.

According to civic officials, to preserve the historical value of these stones, the BMC has decided to restore them. Of the total 15 milestones, five have been found missing, while other ten have been almost buried in road widening projects.

These milestones will be dug out and cleaned by using modern technology. Their surroundings will also be beautified by laying the cobalt stone. In case of missing stones, a replica will be made with the help of basalt stone. The BMC will seek the help of heritage expert in this project, said Sanjay Sawant, chief engineer, building maintenance.

One of the milestones was found by the BMC while carrying out a drive against illegal structures at Parel in April last year. The stone represents the distance of five miles, as it has the Roman numeral 5 and the word miles clearly written on it. The original inscription reads V miles from St. Thomass Church.

Milestones are made up of basalt stones, which are originally three or four feet tall. They mark miles from St Thomass Church (today St Thomass Cathedral), which in the eighteenth century comprised the city-centre.

Milestones in Mumbai:
The BMC commissioner also requested three more months time for thorough investigation.

Mumbai: The Bombay high court passed a detailed order on Monday pertaining to a PIL seeking judicial probe into Kamala Mill fire. The court has observed that BMC commissioner and higher officers of BMC cannot disown responsibilities of their subordinate as it is their vicarious liability to control and regulate the work of their subordinates. The observations were made after the high court examined the report filed by the BMC commissioner.

The court held that commissioner in his report stated that restaurant owners and Kamala Mills owners had violated various rules and regulations with the help of local BMC officers, therefore, action has been initiated against those officers. The court said taking action against officers was not sufficient and higher officers should have personally monitored the violations. The court, therefore, said that these things made it incumbent to constitute an independent committee, which is unconnected with the BMC to probe the irregularities.

A division bench of Justice R.M. Borde and Justice Rajesh Ketkar was hearing a PIL filed by a retired commissioner of police Julio Ribeiro, who sought that a judicial committee be set up under the Commissions of Inquiry Act to probe the fire and expose illegalities of restaurant owners as well as BMC officers.

The commissioner in the probe report stated that there is a possibility that Kamala mill might have used commercial areas beyond the permissible limit. It is further observed that there may be further violations of FSI, addition, alteration without approvals and violation of the IT policy of the state. The BMC commissioner also requested three more months time for thorough investigation.

The bench on Friday constituted a three-member independent committee to probe the Kamala Mills fire incident as well as to see how such incidents can be avoided in the future.

The court clarified that a retired HC judge, an architect of HC panel and a retired bureaucrat or retired member of the urban development department or retired secretary of the town planning department would be a part of the committee.

On December 29 last year 14 people were killed and over 30 injured when the fire broke out at two restaurants - 1Above and Mojos Bistro - at Kamala Mills compound in Lower Parel.
However, even after this, there is no impact so it is questionable.

Mumbai: The education department of the Brihanmumbai Mun-icipal Corporation (BMC) is considering conducting a school audit of each municipal school through the National Accreditation Board for Education and Training (NABET). NABET provides accreditation to schools, training course providers and auditors to bring in quality school governance.

Several councilors and members of the BMC education committee complained that despite allocating large funds for good quality education in civic schools, the dropout rate had only increased. Sainath Durge, Yuva Sena BMC education committee member said, The number of students has drastically increased in the past year which is something the civic body should be concerned about. Every year, a big fat amount is being saved for all these things. However, even after this, there is no impact so it is questionable. Hence, NABET will only provide an insight into what is going wrong in helping these schools to improve their functioning.

Through this audit, NABET will cover parameters such as the schools infrastructure, administration, teaching and training, safety and security etc. along with delivery of education programme.
The high court added that only after ensuring that the safety measures are in place, the policy should be implemented.

Mumbai: The Bombay high court said that rooftop policy passed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) needs to reconsidered and should be put into implementation only after the proposed commercial area of the rooftop has been screened and cleared by the experts. The high court added that only after ensuring that the safety measures are in place, the policy should be implemented. The court observed, It will be appropriate to have the scrutiny of the policy by the independent committee, certain issues which probably need to be considered appears to have been neglected.

The court also clarified that its independent committee would see whether, the roof top policy of the BMC is violating rights of the occupants of the building to use the common area as contemplated by Maharashtra Ownership Flats Act, Maharashtra Apartment Ownership Act and the Real Estate Act.

During the hearing, the BMC counsel told the court that BMC commissioner has appointed a three-member committee consisting city engineer of the corporation, deputy municipal commissioner and deputy chief engineer of the corporation for further investigation.

But the court said that prima facie involvement of BMC officer and state couldnt be ruled out, therefore ensuring that no criticism is levelled against the committee and to maintain transparency, independent committee unconnected with the affairs of the BMC and state needs to be appointed.
In most cases, students begin their search for writers a month before the exams, or at least a week prior.

Mumbai: There was a huge line of students with physical and learning disabilities waiting outside the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) office in Vashi on Tuesday to get permission for writers.

Due to the paucity of writers in the state, these students, who will be sitting for the Higher Secondary Certificate exams beginning on Wednesday, are facing a huge challenge.

Students who need the help of writers, are required to submit a doctor's certificate as medical proof, a letter from their respective school/college, after which they need to get an approval signature from the MSBSHSE board office, stating that they can take help from a writer for their examination.

In most cases, students begin their search for writers a month before the exams, or at least a week prior. Writers for the HSC examinations need to be from class 11.

However, according to students, there are no officers at the board office while colleges do not provide any help regarding writers. "I have been waiting here (outside the board office) since morning as my college asked me to. But there are no officials to sign my request for writers. Tomorrow is my exam, and I still am waiting here," said Maitree Sonawane, a student. When asked why she was looking for writers so late in the day, she said, "I slipped and fell outside my building a day before, fracturing my right hand. Hence, my doctor suggested I should go for a writer as my hand is not in a position to write for three straight hours."

Like Maitree, several parents and students waited outside the board office for a signature. According to an official, there have been many parents and students coming in for writer's request since last week.

Class 12 and 10 examinations are crucial examinations but still many students, who have LD or any physical disability, or are sick because of which they need writers for the exam, come to us at ninth hour for permission," a board offical said. He added, "Because of such things, both students and parents get stressed as they don't get writers on time. Hence, parents should take necessary precautions before hand and not at the last moment."
The dialogue offer comes almost a month after two deadly assaults in Kabul claimed almost 200 civilian lives.

In an uncharacteristic overture, the Afghan Taliban recently offered the Americans dialogue on ending the 17-year-old war, urging US citizens and lawmakers to mount pressure on the Trump administration to withdraw troops from Afghanistan.

Amid intensifying bloodshed in much of Afghanistan, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid held out the proposal in an open letter  a 10-page rebuke of the American military campaign, which began in late 2001.

The dialogue offer comes almost a month after two deadly assaults in Kabul claimed almost 200 civilian lives. Conditions for Afghan security forces and Nato-led troops on the battlefield, meanwhile, are fast deteriorating.

The increasingly lethal impact of the armed conflict on civilians can be best gauged from the fact that more than 10,000 non-combatant Afghans lost their lives or suffered injuries in 2017. At least 3,438 people were killed and 7,015 wounded.

The chilling statistics from the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and the UN Human Rights Office, which may not fully highlight the unspeakable human suffering inflicted on the ordinary people, clearly prove the Taliban are still a force to reckon with.

Even if snubbed by Washington and Kabul, the letter is reflective of a gradual evolution in Talibans propaganda war and concurrently represents a struggle between moderates and hardliners within the group. It may also resonate with anti-war Americans, who genuinely demand better utilisation of their tax dollars.

Objectively speaking, the invitation should demonstrably influence Washingtons new policy for South Asia. Americas positive response to the call for peace parleys would vindicate its claim of seeking a negotiated end to the war and stabilising the region at large.

But the Trump team ostensibly remains in a combative and rejectionist mood. The Taliban statement does not show willingness to engage in peace talks. Their horrific attacks in Kabul speak louder than these words, the state department spokesperson said, rejecting the move as a bluff.

Sticking to its guns, the United States wants the Afghan Taliban to engage with the government of President Ashraf Ghani in discussions on charting a path to peace. However, the insurgent movement is unwilling to talk to a President it views as an American stooge.

While the Taliban brand the unity government as a puppet regime with no authority, US officials appear to be divided on reaching out to the insurgents. For obvious reasons, the divisions spell bad news for the long-suffering Afghans.

Trump is the third successive US President to ramp up the military campaign in Afghanistan. Without learning from the missteps of George W. Bush and Barack Obama, he has ruled out communicating directly with the Taliban.

But secretary of state Rex Tillerson has hinted at US willingness for talks with what he calls moderate voices in the Taliban. He has also suggested that reconcilable militants could become part of the Afghan government.

By the same token, deputy secretary of state John Sullivan also hopes communication with the Taliban would happen in due course of time. Nonetheless, he has not explained when conditions would warrant such contacts.

Now is the time for hawks in the Trump administration to see the reality that the war in Afghanistan is unwinnable and peace talks need to be given a fair chance. Despite spending billions of dollars and losing thousands of troops, the US is nowhere close to achieving its objectives.

Terrorist threats persist, Al Qaeda is regrouping and the illicit drug commerce continues to flourish in the country. And thats why the US should heed the Talibans argument: If the use of force continues for another 100 years, the outcome will be the same...

A spike in coalition air strikes notwithstanding, the Taliban control large swathes of the countryside. Undeterred by the heightened bombing blitz, the fighters have effectively foiled Trumps much-touted strategy to break the stalemate.

Several rounds of fruitless negotiations between Afghan actors have taken place in Pakistan, Dubai, Russia, China and Turkey. But all such attempts have been scuttled by US actions.

Regardless of the frustrating outcome of previous meetings, Afghan spymaster Masoom Stanikzai and national security adviser Mohammed Hanif Atmar are said to be in backdoor negotiations with representatives of the guerrilla outfit.

Intriguingly, however, the High Peace Council is being kept out of the loop. Given lingering dust-ups in the ruling coalition, neither of the two officials has so far bothered taking the peace panel on board. Even then, the door for reconciliation has been left ajar.

Pursuing an outright victory on the battlefield or bulking up US military resources in Afghanistan is going to be an untenable course of action. But Trump seemingly clings to his illogical position of fight now, talk later.

By arrangement with Dawn
The US military stated that one of its F-16s was forced to 'jettison two external fuel tanks' after an engine fire broke out.

The incident, which caused no injuries, is the latest in a string of accidents involving the US military that have prompted concern from Japanese officials and renewed criticism of the US military presence in the country. (Photo: PTI)

Tokyo: Japan's defence ministry demanded explanations Tuesday from the US military after a fighter jet experiencing an engine fire dropped two fuel tanks into a lake in the country's north.

The incident, which caused no injuries, is the latest in a string of accidents involving the US military that have prompted concern from Japanese officials and renewed criticism of the US military presence in the country.

"We are asking the US side to explain what happened and its cause, and we fully demand the US side take prevention measures," Japan's Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera told a press conference.

The F16 took off from the Misawa Air Base in northern Japan's Aomori region early on Tuesday morning and immediately experienced an engine fire, Onodera said.

"The US military has told us that it discarded two exterior tanks on Lake Ogawara just north of Misawa Air Base and landed back at Misawa Air Base," Onodera said.

In a statement, the US military confirmed that one of its F-16s had been forced to "jettison two external fuel tanks into an unpopulated area" after an engine fire broke out.

"The safety of our airmen and our Japanese neighbours is our number one priority during flying operations," said Colonel R. Scott Jobe, the 35th Fighting Wing commander.

"We will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the root cause of this incident."

The case follows a string of accidents involving US military aircraft, for which US Secretary of Defense James Mattis apologised to Onodera last month.

US military helicopters made at least three emergency landings in the southern region of Okinawa in January alone.

In December, a window from a US military helicopter fell onto a school ground in Okinawa, and in October a US military helicopter burst into flames after landing in an empty field on Okinawa.
Earlier, Pakistan endorsed the United Nations list of banned terrorist organisations.

Islamabad: Possible reaction from the religious parties stopped Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi from strict action against Hafiz Mohammed Saeed-led Jamaatud Dawa (JuD), media reports said.

The News daily reported that PM Abbasi had decided to take strict action against JuD and its humanitarian arm Falahi Insaniyat Foundation (FIF) on January 1 but he had to reverse his decision after his attention was drawn to another possible political crisis.

The report said: The Prime Minister said both the organisations should be banned but Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal was of the view that if these organisations were banned at this point, the government would be facing a similar crisis which it faced in November in the shape of Faizabad sit-in by Tehrik Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah led by Khadim Hussain Rizvi.

The sit-in had paralysed the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

In the meeting, PMs Adviser on Finance and Economic Affairs Miftah Ismail and foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua apprised the Prime Minister of the possible repercussions of the upcoming Financial Action Task Forces (FATF) meeting that could decide placing Pakistan on the watch list of countries that financially aid terrorism. After their input, the premier decided to constitute another committee to finalise the decision of taking a strict action against the JuD and FIF, the report said. This month, Punjab law minister Rana Sanullah said that two charities linked to Hafiz Mohammed Saeed had been officially banned.

The move came days before a key meeting by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global money laundering watchdog that is considering a US-sponsored motion to place Pakistan on a list of countries failing to prevent terrorism financing. The FAYF meeting started on February 18.

Punjab Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said that the Ministry of Interior had issued a notification against JuD and the FIF. We have received the interior ministry directions, and according to that, Hafiz Saeed and his charities, like JuD and FIF, have been banned to operate in Pakistan, Mr Sanaullah said.

Earlier, Pakistan endorsed the United Nations list of banned terrorist organisations.
Held by rebels since 2012, Eastern Ghouta is the last opposition pocket around Damascus and President Assad is keen to retake it.

A Syrian civil defence member carries an injured child rescued following government bombings in the rebel-held town of Hamouria, on the outskirts of Damascus, on Monday. (Photo: AFP)

Arbin (Syria)/Amman (Jordan): More than 127 civilians, including 39 children, were killed and hundreds wounded in Syrias Eeastern Ghouta on a day of hysterical violence on Monday.

This, observers say, is the largest single-day death toll in the rebel-held area in nearly four years.

Since Sunday, President Bashar al-Assad regime has used air strikes, rocket artillery fire and barrel bombs to batter the rebel-held enclave, which is home to 400,000 civilians, in apparent preparation for a ground assault.

Activists said at least 10 towns and villages across eastern Ghouta came under renewed, indiscriminate bombardment, including seven hospitals.

The air strikes continued on Tuesday, killed another 50 civilians, including 13 children, bringing the civilian death toll to nearly 200.

The UN has warned that the situation is spiralling out of control and called for a ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to be delivered and hundreds of critically sick and wounded patients to be evacuated.

All these humanitarian and rights organisations, all that is nonsense. So is terrorism. What is a greater terrorism than killing civilians with all sorts of weapons? Is this a war? Its not a war. Its called a massacre. We are standing before the massacre of the 21st century, said a doctor in eastern Ghouta.

Unicef on Tuesday expressed outrage over the killings of children in Syria by issuing a blank statement, adding in a footnote that no words will do (them) justice.

No words will do justice to the children killed, their mothers, their fathers and their loved ones, said Geert Cappelaere, Unicef regional director for the Middle East and North Africa.

Those words were followed by a blank page.

Unicef voiced its anger in a postscript at the end of the news release, entitled The War ON Children in Syria. Reports of mass casualties among children in Eastern Ghouta and Damascus.

Unicef is issuing this blank statement, it said. We no longer have the words to describe childrens suffering and our outrage. Do those inflicting the suffering still have words to justify their barbaric acts?

Held by rebels since 2012, Eastern Ghouta is the last opposition pocket around Damascus and President Assad is keen to retake it.

Eastern Ghouta is mostly held by two hardline rebel groups  Jaish al-Islam and Faylaq al-Rahman  though jihadists have a smaller foothold.

The factions often fire rockets and mortar rounds into residential neighbourhoods of east Damascus.
Imran Ali said the trial was conducted in 'haste and legal requirements were not fulfilled' during the trial.

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.' (Photo: AFP)

Lahore: A serial killer in Pakistan, who was sentenced to death for the brutal rape and murder of seven-year-old Zainab Ansari, on Tuesday challenged his conviction in the Lahore High Court alleging that his trial was conducted in "haste" without fulfilling legal requirements.

In the first ever trial in the country's history that concluded in shortest period of four days, an anti-terrorism court on Saturday sentenced to death 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.

Also read: Justice delivered: Pak man convicted for raping 7-yr-old, dumping body in garbage

In his appeal, he declared that he is "not guilty".

He said the trial was conducted in "haste and legal requirements were not fulfilled" during the trial. He appealed to the high court to overturn the ATC's verdict.

Besides death penalty, Imran was also 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.

Also read: Pak news anchor goes on air with daughter, protests minor's rape, murder

The arrest brought to light seven more such crimes and many Pakistanis have demanded he be publicly executed.

He is facing further charges in the cases of seven other children he attacked five of whom were murdered.

The prosecution lawyer had earlier claimed that Imran had been given ample chance to defend himself, but he chose to confess his crimes.

A total 56 witnesses were presented against him in addition to forensic evidence, DNA and polygraph tests.

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."

Some lawyers and activists had shown concerns about the fairness of the trial inside jail. Advocate 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 accused.

He said the prosecution could not propose or nominate a lawyer to defend Imran because there had always been a clear conflict of interest.
by Stefano Caprio*

Paul VI consistently defended Vatican overtures to the USSR, although they scandalized many in the Church. Benevolent politics did not stop persecutions, which instead intensified. But a form of ecumenical and cultural resistance was born and was lived by Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox in the concentration camps. Part Two of an expert analysis.

Rome (AsiaNews) - The attempt by Vatican diplomacy to find its way through the cracks in the wall of Soviet anti-religious politics was also highly criticized both inside and outside of the Catholic Church itself. Many felt it was inadmissible and almost immoral to cultivate relations with those who continued to harshly persecute believers. The case of the Jesuit Father Alessio Floridi, one of the best Catholic specialists in relations with Russia, was a sensational one. Since 1950 he has been the chief expert on the problems of the Russian and Soviet world at the magazine Civilta Cattolica. Due to his publications he was refused a visa for the USSR. From the mid-sixties his collaboration with the journal ended in controversy over the Vatican Ostpolitik, and led to the publication of his book denouncing Moscow and the Vatican. In the introduction to his book, the Russian dissident historian Mikhail Agursky wrote: "The problem raised by the author is truly tormenting: for reasons still unclear the Vatican, which enjoys such high global moral authority, unexpectedly has arrived at a strange and unnatural association with a force diametrically opposed to those values on which any religion is based and which not only denies them, but actively combats them".

By the mid-seventies, an overview of the Vaticans now ten-year policy towards Eastern Europe could be traced. The balance was weighed down not only by the criticisms arriving from the East (in 1974 the same primate of Poland, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski, expressed his opposition to the institution of a "permanent contact" between the Polish government and the Holy See, almost a premise of future diplomatic relations) and by characters like Father Floridi. The results did not seem satisfactory, despite the great change that had taken place on the Vatican side. In 1975, Paul VI publicly sketched a problematic picture. The Pope expressed his dissatisfaction, even if he reiterated the objectification of Ostpolitik: "If in some cases  he told the College of Cardinals - the results of the dialogue appear scarce, insufficient or overdue, and if others can see in this a reason enough to interrupt it, we instead consider it our serious duty to proceed with enlightened constancy on a path that seems, in the first place, exquisitely evangelical: of long-suffering, of understanding, of charity. Not without hiding, of course, the bitterness and worry that causes us to continue, or the aggravation of many situations contrary to the rights of the Church, or of the human person; and admonishing not to misunderstand our responsible attitude, as if it were a matter of acquiescence or resigned acceptance " (citation in Il Vaticano e Mosca. 1940-1990, 1940-1990, RICCARDI Andrea, Rome-Bari 1992, page 314).

Religious persecution

In fact, the Vatican policy did not lead to a substantial change in the conditions of the believers of the countries under an atheistic regime. Their conditions remained one of near clandestinity. Indeed, taking advantage of the overtures of the West and Vatican, those regimes often deliberately exacerbated the pressure and direct persecution of believers, putting the Holy See in a somewhat embarrassing position. The case of the short regency of Khrushchev, who while proposing himself as one of the great protagonists of international detente, at the same time decided to implement the most systematic anti-religious campaigns in the history of the USSR, with the declared aim of "televising the repentance of the last pope ". The situation, however, did not improve after the removal of Chruchesev in 1964; during the long Brezhnevian "stagnation" the control over religious aspirations was continuous and suffocating, and included the institution of special mental psychiatric hospitals where the most active believers were incarcerated.

The faithful, however, continued to exist, despite all the harassment and attempts at extermination of the faith. Indeed, one of the effects of the contradictory openings of the post-war period, of the Council and of political relaxation was the emergence of a spontaneous social, cultural and religious protest movement throughout Eastern Europe and in the Soviet Union, the so-called "dissent", also identified with the semi-clandestine copying and distribution of literature banned by the state, the samizdat. The dissent took on clamorous public expressions only in countries closer to the West by history and mentality (and mostly Catholic) such as Poland and Hungary, where they were repressed with extreme violence by the Soviet tanks, while in the heart of the USSR empire was channeled mainly towards poetic and literary forms, in which the religious manifestation found natural and lush expression.

Religious dissidents, of course, could not understand or justify the acrobatics of Vatican diplomacy, which it often considered a true betrayal of the "Church of Silence" in which faith was preserved at the cost of suffering and humiliation, often risking ones life. This persecution produced unexpected ecumenical convergences among the representatives of the different Christian confessions: united by an unhappy destiny, in the Soviet archipelago of Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant lagers they returned to experience the harmony and fraternity of the Christians of the first centuries, overcoming without effort the most difficult doctrinal and disciplinary differences. In 1972, an orthodox theologian, Mikhail Meerson-Aksenov, published the essay The People of God and pastors, which states that "the Church founded by Christ, one and Catholic (universal, sobornaja) in history has been divided and separated in two ( the Western and Eastern Church) and then again into several contrasting parts. The forces of hell cannot defeat the Church in its fullness, but what confession enclosed in itself and opposed to others will dare to demand this fullness for itself? ". In this way, "from under the boulders", according to Solzenicyn's expression, a new Christian renaissance flourished, by its nature inter-denominational and not very institutional: the local ecclesiastical hierarchies were often imprisoned by the forced collaboration with the anti-religious regime, while the Pope's emissaries bent down to continuous compromises in the complex search for space to manoeuvre.

If in the periphery of the satellite countries the reference point of the Catholics remained the Polish clergy, who better than others had been able to defend the central role of the Church even in the communist society, within the USSR the Catholics clung to the two great islands of Catholicism Lithuanian Latin, which resisted in the same spirit as the Polish neighbors, and the Greek-Western Catholicism of Western Ukraine, which was organized in total clandestinity, having been officially suppressed by Stalin in the pseudo-Synod of 1946 with the complicity of the Orthodox Church itself after the arrest of its leader, Metropolitan Josif Slipyj.

While, high-ranking Vatican spheres tried to keep a balance between diplomatic efforts and the defense of persecuted believers, in the West there were many more or less organized attempts to support the "Church of silence" with the material and spiritual solidarity of those who enjoyed all liberties. In fact, in the initial post-war period, associations, cultural centers and lay movements were formed to support brothers and sisters of the USSR and Eastern Europe. These initiatives expanded and deepened their skills in directives and intervention after the Council, adding to the anti-communist resistance, and the preservation of violated traditions, the Church's ideal of renewal and the ecumenical openness that the Council itself had offered to the whole world.

(End of Part Two: For Part One, see here)

* Professor of History and Russian Culture at the Pontifical Oriental Institute of Rome
by Joseph*

A young Catholic from the official community, appreciates the lucidity and the realism of Msgr. Guo Xijin (underground bishop), and doubts the style of other underground or official bishops, such as Msgr. Han Zhihai and Wei Jingyi. A meditation on the joys and sorrows of the Chinese faithful in front of the so-called "imminent" agreement between China and the Vatican.

Nanjing (AsiaNews) - Measure, in Chinese culture, refers to an instrument to determine the quantity, length, height, depth or distance of a thing; or can be a device of measuring things. Also, it can be a standard to determine and measure things; and even with estimates and speculation.

The title of this article is how the Church in China measures the heart, and not about its conscience (though pronounced alike). The article is to focus on the current hot issues of the Church in China, and share some of my views.

In November 2017, Bishop Han Zhihai of Lanzhou (Gansu), northwestern China, issued a few open letters in the Catholic Online, causing many arguments and criticisms. I also read a few written by those supporters of Bishop Han. When friends from outside China asked me about this matter and sought my opinions, I just smiled bitterly. I told a friend: Bishop Han Zhihai should shut up. My friend was curious about my answer, but I was silent. Not because I did not have an answer, but rather I fear my answer might surprise and confuse him. Many foreigners do not understand the real China. They will not understand why Bishop Han was so eager to explain and cleanse himself[i]. That is why I did not express my own view then.

China's Spring Festival (Lunar New Year) is always lively, bustling with noise and excitement. Joining the fun circle is not solely the privilege of Bishop Han, but also Cardinal Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, who praised China as the best implementer of Catholic Social Doctrine. Among the overflowing one-sided comments was an amusing one that described the cardinal as drinking too much Mass wine before presiding over it.

Such a lively crowd was naturally joined by an irritating Cardinal Joseph Zen. The emeritus bishop of Hong Kong, with his customary writing, disclosed that the Holy See and China have almost reached an accord on the issue of bishop appointment. The Holy See will pardon the illicit bishops in mainland China, and intends to let Bishop Zhuang Jianjian step aside to pave way for Bishop Huang Bingzhang to assume the position and to have Bishop Guo Xijin of Mindong demote to clear the path for Bishop Zhan Silu. His article immediately stirred up storms.

The most rapid response came from Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vaticans Secretary of State. Without naming Cardinal Zen, Cardinal Parolin stressed in an interview: Of course, many wounds are still open today. To treat them, we need to use the balm of mercy.

Father Gan Baolu, a famous Catholic blogger in China, wrote about the suffering of Bishop Han Zhihai and his installation as open Church bishop for the sake of evangelization, and criticized Cardinal Zen as the main pusher of creating conflicts amid the normalization of China and the Vatican.

During the Spring Festival, many other events popped up, including Father Zhao Qinglong of Beijings interview by foreign media, in which he expressed his comments and views; Hong Kong Catholics initiated a signature campaign, urging bishops conferences worldwide to show concerns for the China-Vatican accord, and prayer gatherings for the purpose were organized.

UCA News published an interview with Bishop Guo Xijin of Mindong, who said he could not accept the arrangement, but would obey Holy Sees decision and persuade those faithful who rejected the decision. Of course, in such a sparkling atmosphere, the so-called authoritative voice of the underground Church Bishop Wei Jingyi of Qiqihar could not be missed. Bishop Wei pointed out: I want to ask friends outside mainland China, including those from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan: Please do not speak on our behalf. Do not insist on speaking for us. It is not you who can represent the underground Church in China.

Chinese peoples Spring Festival is always a lively and spirited one. As the festival is full of joy and fun, it is of tiredness and obscure mood. Spring Festival is featured with migration, traffic pressure, labor shortage and empty cities. People reaching home would compare and showed off ones achievements, got drunk, gambled and so on, but still they were immersed and enjoyed it. The same is true for the Church in China. The Church is developing, but it is filled with many obscure problems.

In Bishop Han Zhihai's open letter, he cited Pope Benedict XVIs Letter for China as a basis of his installation into the open Church. I do not want to judge Bishop Hans act, because Bishop Han acted just like most other bishops installed into the open Church. I did not find it particularly strange, because Bishop Hans installation has already come a few years later than others. Bishop Han's installation into the open Church may be conducive to the rapid development of evangelization of Lanzhou diocese. Perhaps it may help glorify God and benefit people. But it will bring along double praises by the Chinese government and the Holy See. Anyway, Bishop Han was really unwilling to take off his bishops cloak embroidered with words of loyalty and "underground". Bishop Hans open letter just wanted to express one thought: Not only have I put on a cloak of loyalty and underground bishop, but my shirt and shorts are also of loyalty and underground. However, Father Gan Baolus article titled How the Church in China is beaten by rumors? has completely stripped off Bishop Hans underwear of loyalty and underground Church.

On the rhetoric of Cardinal Sanchez Sorondo praising China, I do not want to comment further. As Chinese, having a foreign guest coming all the way to China, we naturally uphold our ancestral traditional virtues to be hospitable. Like in the Spring Festival, we would offer our guests the best meals. In front of the guests, we would, regardless of the ways, intentionally or unintentionally exaggerate a little. Borrowing a web language, it is like baizuo Shengmu[ii] .

On Feb. 16, Lunar New Year Day, the Vatican Insider published an interview with Bishop Wei Jingyi, who said: In the present situation in the Peoples Republic of China, no one can claim they represent the underground Church. If someone has received a request from a particular community or individual person to send messages on their behalf, ought to openly state that they are speaking on behalf of that particular community or person, and no one else. I myself do not want to be represented by someone else, without even being informed. And following what faith suggests to me, on my own behalf and on behalf of the community entrusted by God to my pastoral care, I want to solemnly declare: regardless how the relations between China and the Vatican will go, we will wholly obey to the decision of the Pope and the Holy See, whatever it may be. And we will not question it either.

Reading the interviews of underground Bishop Guo and Bishop Wei, I do have a mixed feeling of joy and sadness. It is a joy to know the Church in China still has a bishop like Guo, a leader with great wisdom and humility; but sad to see Bishop Wei, who will spare no effort to be a big flicker. Bishop Guo, while interrogating by government officials, could comment on the conditions of China and the Church in China, giving a fair account, reasonable. Bishop Wei, coming from northeastern China, thinks he is the leader of the underground church in China. However, many Catholic netizens commented on his interview: So he (Wei) himself cannot represent the voice of the underground Church either, because our Church is universal and we have to speak according to the universal principle of the truth. My heart is saddened: our Chinese bishops, where is your measure of the heart?

What i wanted to discuss is a measure of the heart, not of conscience, over this matter. Bishops represent a kind of standard of the Church. Your measure is the yardstick of the Church, a standard of Church development. If your measure of the heart loses impartiality, then it means the instrument of measuring the yardstick of the Church will be changed accordingly. This not only affects the direction of Church development, as the Church is under your management; but also the salvation of the faithfuls souls. As Saint John Chrysostom said: The road to hell is paved with the skulls of erring priests, with bishops as their signposts.

*Layman belonging to the Official Church, China east

[i] Msgr. Han, for years underground bishop, was recognized by the government a few months ago in an agreement between Beijing and the Vatican. It was then discovered that he had been seeking government recognition for years. Now, as an official bishop, he made some choices against the underground community. See. AsiaNews.it, 10/11/2017, "Mgr Han Zhihai goes from underground to official bishop of Lanzhou".

[ii] (baizuo: Mainland Chinese netizens have long been using the term baizuo, literally meaning "white left" to ridicule the liberal elites in the West. Shengmu: Blessed Mother, refers to kind-hearted people).
by Mathias Hariyadi

Half of the US$ 1.14 billion deal will be paid with a barter scheme. In recent years, Indonesia has turned to Russia to upgrade its air force, turning down the offer of US F-16s. Since 2013, the Kremlin has supplied the Indonesian Air Force with five Su-27 and eleven Su-30 aircraft.

Jakarta (AsiaNews)  The US $ 1.14 billion agreement to buy Sukhoi Su-35 jets from Russia will not alter relations with Washington, this according to Indonesian Air Force Chief Air Marshal Yuyu Sutisna.

Indonesia will become the first member of the Association of South-East Nations (ASEAN) to fly Russias modern jet fighters, which are superior to US F-22A Raptors.

The purchase is based on a barter scheme defined by Government Regulation UU 16/Year 2012 on defence industry, said Indonesia Defence Minister General (ret) Ryamizard Ryacudu. The rule requires the seller to purchase some Indonesian commodities for the modern weapons.

"This is the first time that we have applied the new policy of trade agreements with foreign nations," Ryacudu said.

Indonesian Commerce Minister Enggartiasto Lukito said that Russia has not issued their list of interest to buy Indonesian commodities products. From this business purchase deal, Lukito said, 35% is pure financial payment, 50 % barter.

Under its terms, Indonesia would export commodities worth of US$ 570 million from the grand total of US$ 1.14 billion.

Russian state-owned Rostec has agreed to buy more Indonesian commodities including rubber, coffee, cacao, tea, fish, furniture, copra, spices.

Over the past few years, Indonesia has come to rely on Russia to upgrade its air force, turning down the US offer to sell F-16 jet fighters.

Between 1999 and 2005, Washington and London imposed an embargo on weapons sale to Jakarta over its human rights violations in East Timor, which it annexed in 1975.

The embargo caused major loss of capability to several Indonesian fighter jets.

Since 2013, the Kremlin has provided five Su-27 and eleven Su-30 to the Indonesian Air Force, which in recent years Indonesian authorities have showed off during Armed Forces Day (pictured).
by NAT da Polis

The group of civil servants and judges with their families claim they are victims of persecution by the Turkish regime. Tensions between Turkey and Greece are bound to rise as both claim inlets off the coast of Turkey.

Istanbul (AsiaNews)  Seventeen Turkish civil servants and judges with their families have fled to Greece where they have applied for political asylum.

According to media reports, the 17 Turkish nationals arrived at Oinousses, a group of islands two kilometres off the north-east coast of the Greek island of Chios.

They base their request for political asylum on grounds of political persecution by Turkish authorities.

Since the failed military coup of 15 July 2016, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched a campaign of repression that has led to the arrest, prosecution and jailing of more than 50,000 people, including many journalists, lawyers, academics, and soldiers. More than 140,000 have lost their jobs or have been suspended, in both the public and private sectors.

Immediately after the so-called coup, eight members of the Turkish military fled to Greece on a helicopter and asked for political asylum.

Turkey demanded their extradition. Although the Greek government did oppose the request, a Greek court rejected it to guarantee the physical integrity of the asylum seekers.

Since then, relations between the two countries have been tense. No doubt, the latest episode will further exacerbate them.

Ankara and Athens remained embroiled in another dispute, this one over the control of a group of islets close to the Turkish coast, which are Greek according to international conventions and treaties.

Following their arrival, the 17 men, women and children were taken to a refugee camp on Chios Island for verifications.
At least 100 people died in one day alone yesterday, including 20 children; added to these are 470 wounded. The UN calls for an end to the bombings and talks about an "out of control" situation. Deposits and hospital facilities also affected. The rebels respond by throwing mortars on Damascus.

Damascus (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The bombings launched by the Syrian army against eastern Ghouta, a rebel stronghold on the outskirts of Damascus and long under siege by the government, have killed dozens of civilians and caused massive damage. This is what is reported by the Syrian human rights observatory (Sohr), according to which at least 100 people were killed yesterday, including 20 children; added to these are about 470 wounded, some of them seriously.

At the moment there is no official news on the number of dead or injured. However, if confirmed it would be the heaviest toll for a single day of fighting in the region in the last three years.

UN officials call for an immediate cessation of the bombing and add that the situation is "getting out of control". About 400 thousand people live in the enclave east of Damascus under siege since 2013, from which several rockets and mortars have been launched several times in the past, which have struck Christian locations in the capital.

According to some local sources, the Syrian army is preparing an imposing offensive of land to regain control of the entire area. This is the last part of the territory still under the control of rebel groups, near the capital Damascus.

The Syrian army attacks have hit not only civilians, but also homes, depots and medical facilities. Yesterday four mobile clinics were hit, including a structure used as a maternity ward. The rebels responded by launching mortars and rockets over Damascus.

Local activists and volunteers fear that damage to roads and infrastructure will further hinder the delivery of aid in an area already in critical condition.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the only ally together with Iran of the Syrian government, Western governments and local militia "are exaggerating" the humanitarian situation.
by Purushottam Nayak

An evangelical group issued a report highlighting 351 cases of violence, but the figure is not exhaustive, as many victims are afraid to come forth to report attacks to police. In three years, attacks against churches and other places of worship increased by 28 per cent.

Cuttack-Bhubaneswar (AsiaNews)  Last year was one of the most traumatic for the Christian community in India since the mass targeted violence of the Kandhamal pogrom in 2007 and 2008, this according to the Annual Report on Hate Crimes against Christians in India in 2017 released by the Religious Liberty Commission of the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFIRLC).

The study "documented at least 351 cases of violence in 2017, by no means an exhaustive compilation as it is based on voluntary reporting and civil society investigations.

Most cases go unreported either because the victim is terrified or the police, especially in the northern states, just turn a blind eye and refuse to record the mandatory First Information Report filed with them.

The Indian Government admitted in Parliament that communal violence, the term used to define clashes between religious groups, increased 28% over three years to 2017. No disaggregated data is available, and the criminal justice system at the village and small towns level routinely ignores or violates provisions in the law.

Among the Indian states, Tamil Nadu is the most "hostile" to Christians (52 cases of violence), followed by Uttar Pradesh (50), Chhattisgarh (43), Maharashtra (38) and Madhya Pradesh (36).

Except for Tamil Nadu, the other states are either ruled by the BJP directly or in collation [sic] with other parties, and the Sangh* cadres have free hand with the police and administration either looking the other way, or complicit.

For Rev Vijayesh Lal, general secretary of the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) and the latters national director of the Religious Liberty Commission, It is distressing to see even private worship being attacked by Hindu right-wing activists violating the privacy and sanctity of an individual or a family and trampling upon their constitutional rights.

Sadly, attacks on Churches on Sundays and other important days of worship such as Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter and Christmas have increased. At the same time, law enforcement agencies are increasingly being used by non-state actors to stop and disrupt worship in Churches.

"Christian children going to attend Bible camps with their parents permission, being taken into custody and detained for days on suspicion of conversion is bizarre and unheard of.

This must stop, and the various state governments and the union government, must move beyond mere lip service and uphold fundamental rights especially the right to Freedom of Religion or Belief.

* Sangh Parivar (Family of Organisations refers to the body of Hindu nationalist organisations.


(David Carillet/Shutterstock.com) (David Carillet/Shutterstock.com)

The number of Chinese people moving to Australia is increasing with the latest population figures showing that there are now well over 500,000 residents born in the country.To mark the Chinese New Year, figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show there are 526,040 Australian residents born in China, up from 387,420 over the previous five years.It shows that most Chinese born people live in Sydney or other parts of New South Wales, almost a quarter are studying at university and while almost half speak Mandarin at home they also speak Cantonese and English.China remains one of the top countries of birth for Australian residents, trailing behind only Australia, England and New Zealand. Over the past 20 years, Chinese born residents have overtaken other countries of birth, such as Italy, Vietnam and Greece, highlighting changes in Australia's migration intake.The 2016 Census found Australia is home to more than 1.2 million people of Chinese ancestry. Of these some 41% were born in China, with Australia the second most common country of birth at 25%, ahead of Malaysia at 8% and Hong Kong at 6.5%.Almost half of people with Chinese ancestry, some 46%, speak Mandarin at home, with the other most common languages being Cantonese spoken by 22% and English spoken by 18%.The analysis of the figures also shows that more than half of people with Chinese ancestry, 54%, reported that they had no religion, significantly higher than the overall national figure of 30%.Some 25% said they were Christian, while Buddhism was practised by 15% of people with Chinese ancestry. A third of Buddhists had Chinese ancestry, more than any other ancestral group.The Australian lifestyle clearly has increasing appeal in China, with approximately half of Australian residents born in China arriving in the country since 2008.Sydney is the most popular location with 44% Australian residents born in China living in the Greater Sydney Area. This area recorded four of the top six suburbs with the most residents born in China were Hurstville in New South Wales, Melbourne, Glen Waverly in Victoria, and Burwood, Campsie and Chatswood, all in New South Wales.Australia's universities also attract high numbers from China. Indeed, overall the highest number of international university students are from China and university students make up 22% of all Chinese born people in Australia.
canelaxelijah said: thank you for replying. and yeah I posted this as a new thread.



i'm actually not cosidering PMV as much as possible since I have to be offshore when I'm going to apply for it. And my boyfriend, unfortunately is not into waiting for that long. So we are really looking for a quickiest way possible of living with him.



I'm thinking about we're going to start on May as a de facto and probably meet at other country or he comes here in the Philippines so that will add up for the evidence. And by the time of December I can apply as a tourist then get married for a Partner Visa. Am I little ambitious here? lol thanks for the help! Click to expand...

canelaxelijah said: After getting married I will apply for a bridging visa A for my Partner visa 820 Click to expand...

From the other thread:There are a few possible problems.You may not be able to apply for an 820 (onshore Partner Visa), from a Visitor Visa. Every visitor visa from the Philippines that we received, (), had the "No Further Stay" condition. That meant leaving Australia before applying for a new visa.It was not possible for us to do an 820 application while on a visitor visa.Getting married may not be sufficient evidence of a 1 year committed relationship.We had lived together for 9 months, in the Philippines, before we applied, and we were advised to use the PMV route, due to the possibility of a 309 (offshore partner visa) refusal. Some say it would have been OK, others not. I chose the safe route rather than risk losing thousands.You are talking about applying for a visitor visa in December, where you will need to prove genuine visitor reasons, with definite intention to return home. To do that you may need to hide your relationship. If you do that, then you cannot use that proof for a partner visa. If you show the relationship, they have a reason to add the "No Further Stay" condition.If you apply for a PMV in May or June, (as we did), you may get the Grant by the next March/April. And in the meantime, come over on a Visitor visa during the wait, or part of the wait.You actually apply for an 820 visa, you don't apply for a bridging visa.They give a bridging visa automatically for when your Visitor visa expires, to bridge the period between the visitor visa expiring, and the 820 grant.
Harold Pierce covers education and health for The Californian. He can be reached at 661-395-7404. Follow him on Twitter @RoldyPierce
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Vigils are being held across Florida to honor the victims of Wednesday's deadly school shooting in Parkland. On Monday night, a crowd gathered for that purpose along the waterfront at Curtis Hixson Park in downtown Tampa.

Plant High School students read victims names

Students cried, hugged, held hands as they took the stage

Some students, parents expressed fears for school safety

Damaris Allen organized the vigil, but she also has a personal tie to the tragedy. She said a friend's niece, Carmen Schentrup, 16, was one of the people killed.

At the vigil Allen read a letter from Schentrup's family.

"She was silly, playful and huggable. As parents, we loved that she never outgrew our hugs," she read.

Later, Plant High School students symbolically read the names of the 17 victims. Many of the students cried, hugged and held hands as they took the stage.

"The whole school is sort of on edge right now and in shock, but we're all just trying to get through it," said Hannah Cohen, a freshman.

"Even if you're not part of that school community, it makes you worry for your own high school community and your own safety," said Rachael Hirsch, a senior.

A choir sang "Hallelujah" and people lifted their cell phones and flashlights in tribute.

Parents said the tragedy is bringing them even closer to their own children.

"It's very special for me to be here with her," said Jacqueline Seymour who attended with her daughter. "I just want to show her that we do support children and this is hard for us but we're going to do everything we can so that it doesn't happen again."
Tampa Police have arrested a 15-year-old student and a 16-year-old student and charged them with making verbal threats and false reports.

Arrested students from Middleton, Robinson high schools

Each charged with making false report concerning use of firearm

Police chief, superintendent say students will be held responsible for threats



The 15-year-old student was arrested Monday at Middleton High School. He had been suspended but was on the campus, according to police, and he made an expletive-filled statement about committing a school shooting.

Police said his mother called and cooperated with the investigation. The teen was charged with making a false report concerning the use of a firearm in a violent matter.

The 16-year-old was arrested Tuesday in connection with what police called a "classroom incident the previous day at Robinson High School."

Police said he had a disagreement with his teacher about a grade and said he would "shoot up the school" if the grade wasn't changed. He was also charged with making a false report concerning the use of a firearm in a violent manner.

In both cases, investigators said it did not appear the students had firearms to carry out the threats.

Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan and School Superintendent Jeff Eakins have said students will be held accountable for making irresponsible or threatening statements.
Students at Plant High School in Tampa participated in a lock down and evacuation drill Tuesday morning.

Plant High among schools doing lock down drills

School officials want to make sure protocols are in place

LATEST: Florida House declines to take up assault weapons ban



As part of the drill, students were asked to take cover, lock their doors and stay quiet. Then, teachers led students through an evacuation drill.

Plant High student Rachel Hirsch was happy about the drill.

She said since the shootings in South Florida, the mood has definitely changed at her school.

"Someone like popped a chip bag today (Tuesday) and everyone freaked out and was like, 'What's that noise?" Hirsch said. "It's like everyone is on edge more than they were before."

Now, Hirsch said she sees the principals at her school walking the halls more, and teachers are keeping their doors locked during classes.

Hirsch said some students laughed about the morning drill and called it a waste of time.

"It kind of made me mad when kids joked about it afterwards," Hirsch said. "I'm like, 'It's not something you joke about when 17 kids were killed in high school.'"

School leaders agreed that the drills are no laughing matter. And while some parents may be concerned the drills are happening too soon, the superintendent said with the possibility of copycats, kids need to know what to do right now.

"We want to make sure we do everything in a more timely manner to make sure everyone has the proper procedure, and proper protocols," said Superintendent Jeff Eakins.

Hirsch said she feels good that the school district is taking action, but she said she would feel a lot safer if there were more officers at her school.
President Donald Trump has directed the Justice Department to ban gun modifications, according to the Associated Press.

Trump directs Justice Dept. to ban gun modifications

White House says president will be meeting w/ students

Trump indicated he's open to strengthening fed. background checks



The president reportedly signed a memo Tuesday urging the department to propose regulations to "ban all devices" like the rapid-fire bump stocks involved in 2017's Las Vegas massacre.

Seeking to show action days after a deadly high school shooting in Parkland, Florida, President Trump spoke during a White House ceremony recognizing bravery by the nation's public safety officers.



"We must move past cliches and tired debates and focus on evidence based solutions and security measures that actually work," Trump said.

The recent White House statement comes in the wake of increased pressure put on legislators from parents, children and lawmakers alike to address gun reforms following the Parkland massacre. Seventeen people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School were shot and killed.

White House officials say the president will be meeting with students, teachers and state and local officials to discuss ways of providing more school safety and address gun violence.



Trump has also indicated he is open to a limited strengthening of federal background checks on gun purchases.

The bipartisan background check legislation would be aimed at ensuring that federal agencies and states accurately report relevant criminal information to the FBI. It was introduced after the Air Force failed to report the criminal history of the gunman who slaughtered more than two dozen people at a Texas church.

The main action Trump has taken on guns has been to sign a resolution blocking an Obama-era rule designed to keep guns out of the hands of certain mentally disabled people. The president has voiced strong support for gun rights and the National Rifle Association.

The Florida House recently shot down a motion to take up a ban on weapons such as the AR-15. The motion failed 36-71, with almost every Republican voting no.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Some boaters in Citrus County are urging everyone on the water to be careful after a manatee was found dead in one of the rivers there earlier this month.

Manatee found in very shallow part of river

Speed rules in manatee zones not always followed

14 manatee deaths from watercraft-related incidents in Florida in 2018 so far

Representatives with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission say a manatee was found dead in Halls River on February 8 after some sort of collision with a watercraft.

"You have to be aware of all your surroundings at all times," Captain Gary Bartell Jr. of River Adventures Tours said.

Bartell said he's always on the lookout for manatees when he conducts any tours in the area.

"It's as simple as you turn your motor off, you drift, you wait for the manatee to pass," he explained.

The manatee was found in a very shallow part of the river. In that area, manatees only have a few feet to get out of the way if boats are coming through the area too quickly.

The area where the manatee was found is in a manatee zone, but Bartell said speed rules arent always followed.

"Nobody abides to those regulations because there's no enforcement back here -- there's no presence," he explained.

FWC representatives said they do have people out patrolling Halls River, along with other waterways in Citrus County, but stress they can't be everywhere at once.

That's why boaters say it's important people pay extra attention any time they're on the river since manatees are in the water there year round.

"When they're sleeping, laying on the bottom, they leave no footprint and you don't know they're there, John Thurmond said.

They need their space. We are intruding on their space with motor boats," he added.

According to FWC records, there have been fourteen manatee deaths in the state of Florida from watercraft-related accidents so far this year.


Two Seminole Heights residents are planning to put up a mural to honor slain victims after another display was removed last week.

Original mural put up on building near N. Nebraska Ave, E. Osborne Ave

Owner later took mural down

Residents plan their own memorial for shooting victims

David Lee, who owns a building near N. Nebraska Avenue and E. Osborne Avenue, originally put up the display after victims of the Seminole Heights serial killer were gunned down last fall. The mural was revealed in a quiet ceremony on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017.

But in a surprise move, Lee later took it down and provided no notice to the community as to the reason why.

A couple who lives nearby is now planning to put up their own mural on a picket fence outside of their home, about a block away from the site of the original display.



"It shows the pride in Seminole Heights in what we have here," said neighbor Todd Sottong. "What we have here is something really nice and really great."



Lee could not be reached for comment.
Guest Star of Seinfeld, Star Trek Performs on N. Oregon Coast

Published 02/19/2018 at 3:25 AM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Manzanita, Oregon)  A longtime star of screen and stage  who happens to live on the north Oregon coast  will perform on March 1, returning to the Hoffman Center for the Arts in Manzanita for an evening of the sweet and the poignant. Nehalem Bay resident Liz Cole hits the stage at 7 p.m. to present Story Time for Grown-ups: Reigning Cats and Dogs.

The presentation will answer the question: Who are these four-legged creatures that run our households and hold our hearts in their paws?

The evening will include stories and poems about (and by) cats and dogs, said Cole, to share some of the ways our fur friends captivate, annoy and rule. It will be a joyous feast for all animal lovers.

Cole has gone by the name Megan Cole for most of her career, which includes three high-profile and legendary stints on two of the Star Trek series' and on Seinfeld. She appeared in season 8 of Seinfeld, playing the stuffy Peggy  Elaine's coworker at the J. Peterman Catalog who mistakes her for a girl named Susie. Cole showed up again in season 9 again as Peggy, this time with a germophobe side and a distinct distaste for coming into contact with Elaine.

In 1992, she appeared in Star Trek: the Next Generation in 1992, and then later twice in Star Trek: Deep Space 9 as a sometimes chilling Romulan near the end of that series' run.

Cole has had a long acting career on the professional stage, and has also made TV guest-star appearances on ER, The Practice, Judging Amy, Las Vegas, and many others.

She originated the leading role in Margaret Edsons Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Wit in 1995, for which she received the L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Performance. She periodically tours with a solo version of The Wisdom of Wit, her own version of the play reworked for one performer. Cole's interest in medical ethics brings her to performing on that and other related subjects at healthcare venues around the U.S.

Locally, she's been quite active as well. Cole has been a part of various benefits in the north Oregon coast region, for entities such as the Lower Nehalem Land Trust, Food Roots, Rinehart Clinic and Nehalem Valley Historical Society. She appeared in the original solo play Lost Pioneer, which she developed with Mark Beach and Portland playwright Ellen West. The play, presented seven times in Tillamook County, is based on the lives of three women who homesteaded in the county in the 1890s, and blends biographical data with historical imagination.

Admission to Reigning Cats and Dogs is a suggested donation of $10, and all proceeds will go to support Hoffman Center programs. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m., and refreshments will be served. Hoffman Center for the Arts is at 594 Laneda Avenue, Manzanita, Oregon. http://hoffmanblog.org

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Oregon Coast Gets Snow This Week; Possibly Scary Commute for Portland

Published 02/20/2018 at 2:55 AM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff





(Oregon Coast)  The Oregon coast is in for something rather unusual: a run of snow for a few days, albeit light dustings. The Oregon Coast Range will be a problem on and off, and Portland, along with much of the valley, may have a rough evening commute later on Tuesday (today).

The National Weather Service (NWS) is putting the coast range and the metro areas under a winter weather advisory from the late afternoon through Wednesday afternoon. Both areas are expected to have snow on and off until Friday after that, with the Coast Range passes getting as much as half an inch of accumulation later this week.

Another round of snow will move into the area of Tuesday, the NWS said. Light snow (or a mix of rain and snow) is possible along the coast and in the Coast Range on Tuesday morning. However, little to no snow accumulation is expected. More significant snow will arrive later in the day. This snow will begin in the late afternoon or early evening and will continue through Tuesday night. A total of 1-3 inches of snow are expected across the interior lowlands, with locally higher amounts possible. Less than 1 inch of snow accumulation is expected for the coast.

The NWS made a reference to the dreaded 10-hour commute that happened on at least one snow day last year, and the agency admits it is worried about that possibility again for Tuesday's ride home in the Portland area. Much of this depends on the timing of the incoming moisture and how quickly the area freezes during the commute.

I-5 just is one area of particular concern, the NWS said.

For the coast range, travel in the evening hours is not recommended to from the beaches. Another round of snow will likely hit the passes again on Wednesday after 4 p.m. Thursday looks to be only rain, but there's a chance of rain and snow during the day on Friday, giving way to warmer temps and better conditions at night.

The big surprise for the Oregon coast will likely be a dusting or two, with a chance of light snow before 10 a.m. and then again after 10 p.m. tonight. Another chance of rain and snow happens on Wednesday and Thursday, but Friday returns to warmer overnight temps and the beach towns become their normal rainy and cloudy.

The Cannon Beach and Seaside areas look to have a greater chance of snow, as well as further south around Newport and Yachats.

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Racism: prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that ones own race is superior.

The civil rights movement happened over 50 years ago, yet we still have a lack of understanding about how to treat each other with respect. Racism isnt a problem we can ignore as its a very pertinent issue in todays society.

As Christians, we should seek to understand how God wants us to react to racism. The Bible is the source of knowledge for Christians, and it directly addresses the problem. Racism has been an issue throughout history, including when the Bible was written.

Stories of Racism in the Bible

The problem of racism can be found in Bible stories. God chose to work with the nation of Israel, however made it a point to tell them that they were not superior to anyone else because of this. Leviticus 19:34 states the stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

Despite this, some felt that Israel and its descendants were racially superior to those around them because they descended from Abraham. They believed that their salvation was completely secure because of their lineage. John the Baptist told them Do not think to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father. For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones (Matthew 3:9).

God told Peter what had always been true; that God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). The gentiles were just as much of Gods plan as those in Israel and no group was superior to the other. Peter spoke to them and stated But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him (Acts 10:35).

Nationality, lineage and race never determined where the Israelites or gentiles stood with God. People like Ruth, Rehab, and Luke were all gentiles who came to God. In contrast, Gods chosen people of Israel suffered defeat and near-annihilation because they consistently disobeyed Gods Word. It is clear that God does not support the authority of any ethnic group above another.

Racism is a Sin Against God

Most people know that racism is wrong. But as Christians, we should seek to understand why its morally wrong in the eyes of God as well. Through more education, we can better explain to others why racism shouldn't be tolerated and how to overcome the distorted thinking.

Most Christians know that Genesis 1:27 says that we were all made in the image of God. No matter what color you are, you are no more worthy or deserving of dignity than any other human because we all were made from God. In addition, all believers of Christ are one with Christ (Galatians 3:28). Our most important identity is not our gender, socioeconomic status or race; its that we are Christian. We continue to be more alike than we are different because we are all cut from the same cloth. We are brothers and sisters in Christ.

Christ came down to earth to break down the walls between people, not to build them up (Ephesians 2:14). We have all been made in the image of Christ and were born into the same dark world. How can we not all draw near to each other as members of this same family? Furthermore, in Genesis 11 we read about the rebellion at the Tower of Babel. God judged this rebellion, and separated the family. God considered separating them as a curse, and therefore we should not strive for it. Being partial to a group of people over another in itself is a sin according to James 2.1. When we treat people differently and build up space to create an us vs. them mentality, we are not reflecting God.

Spreading the love of God is one of the best arguments against racism. Matthew 22:39-40 says that real love loves as we hoped to be loved. No one can honestly say that racism treats our neighbors as how we would like to be treated. You cannot share love and find the best in people when your life is filled with prejudice, ignorance and misguided convictions. But true love rejoices in finding what is best in others (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

Reconciliation With God

The good news is that despite what racial tendencies you may have had in the past, they can be forgiven if you choose to accept God into your heart truthfully and ask for His forgiveness. The Gospel tells us that we arent just brought near to God, we are also brought near to those we once considered so different from ourselves (Ephesians 2:13).

God will help you restore your relationships with groups you mistreated. Its important to not only reconcile with God, but to remove the prejudice and restore relationships with those you once hurt. You can create healthy relationships that create appreciation for each other.

God can bring peace where there was once violence and kindness where there was once anger. He does this within our hearts when we accept Him, and do so again with others. Since we belong to Jesus, we are a part of His movement to bring more reconciliation between people and God (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). As His representatives, we have the opportunity to share how the life-changing message of the Gospel creates a healthy relationship with God and healthy relationships between people, no matter who they are.
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Dozens of plastic boats at the shores. Fishermen who help the authorities in search and rescue operations. Villagers ready to help the survivors with dry clothes and food. And more than 1.300 bodies buried in the mud, at the bottom. Most of them are never to be found...

Its not Lesbos or any other East Aegean island. Its Evros river, the alternative passage of migrants and Turks to Europe since the Balkan Route closed back in 2016. The river of death...

At the Northeast borders of Greece, where Europe meets Turkey, a drama unfolds.

The tragedy of the 37 year old teacher from Turkey Ayse A. and her two sons who drowned in Evros trying to flee from Turkey, is not the first one.

It wasn't the first time. For us its almost an everyday phenomenon. You just don't know it because media are not here yet. We are constantly witnessing people who try to cross the river and they end up missing or dead. The boats they are using, are sea summer toys for two kids but usually 8-10 people are on board. If someone falls into the water or the boat capsizes, they will die for sure Dimitris Hatzigakidis (55), mayor of Marasia told BILD.

Marasia village is literally on the borders between Greece and Turkey, and the area in which most of the boats are arriving. The location Ayse (37), Halil (3) and Abdulkadir (11) wanted to reach to find a better future.

Auch Interessant



Less than 100 people live here but we are trying to help the migrants with everything we have. Dry clothes, food, milk for the babies. You cant imagine how it is to wake up in the middle of the night hearing babies crying and watch young mothers all wet  with temperatures bellow zero-holding their frozen children... Its tough...

And this is the good scenario. The other one is to find dead bodies of people who were lost in the the river without anyone knowing who they were, where they came from and when it happened...

The missing people from the recent tragedy will be found in months... Somewhere... Maybe the mayor says and he adds unfortunately together with others from other boats, from other tragedies we are not aware of.

In less than 30 meters its turkish territory. Red signs. Restricted area. You cannot see an actual border line.

This side of the river is ours. From the middle and on is Turkey. Giorgos, the 55 year old fisherman took us with him, on his wooden boat. Evros river does not forgive mistakes. I ve helped the authorities many times to find the people. Most of the time we find dead bodies. And many kids... My heart breaks when I see them and then I have to carry them to the coast...

Giorgos points on the other side. She that boat over there? Its the one with the mother and her two sons. You see the other one over there? Its from last week. I am telling you, its an every day fight. We are just forgotten up here at the borders and no-one knows or cares...

There is one man who knows and cares. Pavlos Pavlidis is a Professor of Forensic Medicine in the Alexandroupolis Hospital. He is the one who receives all the bodies from Evros area to perform the autopsies, takes the DNA samples and creates files for each case.

Inside a box he keeps in separate small transparent bags with numbers, the personal belongings of the victims. Rings, bracelets, broken phones, photos... Next door some of the owners of these small items are placed in bigger bags. Also with numbers on them. They are unidentified...

Im keeping their belongings here in case someday a mother is looking for her son and maybe she will identify him... Evros is an extremely difficult river with muddy bottom. Most of the bodies that end up there are never to be found. My estimation is that more than 1.300 people lost their lives the recent years in both Greek and Turkish sides and we will never find them Professor Pavlidis told BILD.

A few months ago a grandfather lost his two grandchildren and his son in law and in Evros. They were in the same boat. He was the only one who made it alive to the coast. He is still looking for them. The search and rescue teams haven't found them. And the media never wrote anything...

According to the official data of the Turkish armed forces, they have caught only in 2017 more than 20 thousand Turks or migrants from other countries (20.014) who were trying to cross the borders with Greece via Evros. The total number of the arrested people in the area from all the authorities of all the states (Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria) exceeds the 60.000...

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For Immediate Release, February 20, 2018 Contacts: Jean Su, Center for Biological Diversity, (415) 770-3187, jsu@biologicaldiversity.org

Darcey Rakestraw, Food & Water Watch, (202) 683-2467, drakestraw@fwwatch.org

Patrick Davis, Friends of the Earth, (202) 222-0744, pdavis@foe.org

Naomi Ages, Greenpeace USA, (202) 597-0521, naomi.ages@greenpeace.org

John Farrell, Institute for Self-Reliance, (612) 808-0888, jfarrell@islr.org

Jim Warren, NC WARN, Inc., (919) 416-5077, jim@ncwarn.org Supreme Court Called on to Reject Discrimination Against Rooftop Solar WASHINGTON Six climate and energy-conservation groups took legal action this week in the Supreme Court to challenge an Arizona power-utility company seeking legal immunity to discriminate against rooftop-solar customers. The Salt River Project, a public power utility in Arizona, raised electricity rates for rooftop-solar customers by 60 percent in 2015. In response the rooftop-solar company SolarCity alleged in an antitrust lawsuit that the utilitys action unlawfully stamps out competition. The utility argued that public power companies are shielded from antitrust laws, rather than defending the merits of their discriminatory behavior in court. The case is now being heard by the Supreme Court. The amicus brief asserts that the Salt River Project should not be immune from antitrust liability. The groups filing also states that the power utilitys obstruction of rooftop-solar deployment undermines the very public-interest objectives that utility monopolies were created to serve. The Salt River Project and other utilities shouldnt be allowed to overcharge and discriminate against homeowners who embrace clean solar energy, said Jean Su, associate conservation director at the Center for Biological Diversity. In our era of runaway climate change, its critical for the Supreme Court to stop these outdated monopolies from abusing the law and trying to strangle renewable-energy development. The Salt River power company is attempting to stifle renewable energy for its own financial gain, but punishing homeowners for going solar is shortsighted and reckless, said Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Watch. Too many elected officials receive contributions from the fossil fuel companies to look the other way. Its critical that the courts weigh in and put a stop to these illegal and immoral practices. Solar energy is critical for the future of this planet. We must transition off of fossil fuels, starting now. We are deeply concerned about the coordinated efforts of the Salt River Project and other monopoly utilities to stifle the growth of solar energy, said Jim Warren, executive director of NC WARN. Distributed solar, combined with battery storage, is a path that can help slow the climate crisis. Continuing our status quo of big utility construction of unneeded power plants is disastrous. "The case for preserving an electric utility's monopoly over electricity generation died with federally induced wholesale competition in the late 1970s and with the recent advent of customer-owned and cost-effective rooftop solar, said John Farrell, director of the Energy Democracy Initiative at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. The Supreme Court should permanently bury it in 2018. The pattern of anticompetitive behavior utilities and corporations are pursuing to stop solar from growing is both cynical and dangerous, said Naomi Ages, acting director of Greenpeace USA's climate and energy campaign. We need to transition to 100 percent renewable energy as quickly and equitably as possible in order to ensure we avoid the worst effects of climate change. The Supreme Court cannot allow these discriminatory business practices that continue to harm our climate and our communities. Corporate bullies should not be allowed to use illegal tactics to block the development of clean energy, said Marcie Keever, legal director at Friends of the Earth. These old-school energy companies are afraid of a fair and level playing field and are trying to prevent innovation. To create an equitable energy future based on renewable sources, we must oppose the illegal protections private companies use to defend fossil fuels. We urgently need to transition to cleaner sources of power for the planet and everyone who lives on it.
Market research and data analytics firm Sagaci Research has released its 2021 insights into car ownership and preferences across the African continent. These results, based on daily data collection from more than 20,000 consumers over 12 months via the SagaPoll mobile app, reveal that Toyota poses as real competition to its German rivals in certain parts of the continent, as well as highlighting interesting differences between demographic groups.
Zimbabwe - Mashonaland Central's Mazowe District lands committee resolved to identify large and underutilised farms for redistribution. This follows an address by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in Mvuma recently where he said big farms should be downsized to enable more people to benefit from land redistribution.

Functioning district lands committees crucial

Some of the farms include the 205-hectare Elephant Trust Farm underutilisation, 1,800-hectare Chadsley Farm and Protea Farm, which has 1,061 hectares.Speaking at the lands committee meeting at Mazowe Rural District Council last week, the district lands officer Mark Kadaira said Chief Makope, Chief Nembire and Member of Parliament for Mazowe South Cde Fortune Chasi, among other people, did not have farms.He added that rampant squatting, which was rife in the area, would only be addressed through redistribution of land. "There is an issue of illegal settlers at Jumbo Mine and we need to find alternative land for those people," said Mr Kadaira. "We are hopeful that through the downsizing of farms exercise, we will get adequate land to relocate people at Manzou Farm and give them a hectare each."In 2002 and 2004, A2 farmers were given land without offer letters, we want them to get the letters."Chairperson of the provincial lands committee and Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Advocate Martin Dinha said district lands committees, which were disbanded were crucial and had started functioning. "District lands committees were no longer functional due to lack of cooperation from the relevant ministry," he said. "Under the new dispensation of President Mnangagwa and the Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement Retired Air Chief Marshal Perrance Shiri, they now meet every week to deal with land issues."We want an audit on all the land distributed last year. The issues here are that people were given offer letters for already occupied land, people were resettled around dams."Correct those mistakes and we want a progress report. We want a proper land allocation process. We want the list of farms you want to downsize, you heard what the president said in Mvuma."We will downsize to below 450 hectares and also according to the production record of the farmer. This is the last phase of the land reform programme, we want to get to the production stage and we cannot continue allocating land."A Namibian based investor Fungai Mushangwe approached the committee with a cattle ranching proposal. "I am here to support command livestock and I want to import Boer goats and other cattle breeds to support other farmers," he said.
Tourism Australia has resurrected Crocodile Dundee in a new Super Bowl commercial that has already reached hundreds of millions on the day and through social media. Some may have cringed at the ad reinforcing stereotypes about Australians as hospitable bush-dwellers, but this is actually a good strategy.
Moroccan authorities should drop all charges against Akhbar al-Youm columnist and publisher Taoufik Bouachrine on appeal, and allow him to work without fear of reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said.

 alexlmx via 123RF

A Casablanca court on February 12 convicted Bouachrine of criminal defamation in a lawsuit filed by two government ministers and ordered him to pay a fine of 45 million Moroccan centimes (US$49,000), according to news reports and a Facebook post from the journalists account.In an October 2015 column , Bouachrine wrote that the Moroccan businessman and Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Aziz Akhannouch and the Economy and Finance Minister Mohamed Boussaid tricked then-Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane into approving a law that would transfer the financial authority over a federal development fund from the prime minister to the agriculture and fisheries minister.In response, Akhannouch and Boussaid sued for defamation, according to news reports and the Facebook post from the journalists account. Bouachrine told journalists that he is going to appeal the courts decision.Journalists should never face criminal charges for doing their job, CPJs Middle East and North Africa program coordinator Sherif Mansour said from Washington D.C. Moroccan authorities should drop all charges against Taoufik Bouachrine, not contest his appeal, and abolish laws that allow for public officials to file criminal charges against critical journalists.Government spokesperson Mustapha Khalfi did not immediately respond to CPJ's email requesting comment.I am a journalist. I publish true and accurate news regardless of who would benefit or not benefit from them, because people have the right to know what happens in their government, Bouachrine wrote in a column, quoting his own response to the accusations in front of the judge.Bouachrine is not the first journalist who was convicted in lawsuits filed by Moroccan officials. In 2017, Akhannouch filed a criminal defamation lawsuit against independent news website Badil editor-in-chief Hamid al-Mahdaoui and the sites reporter, Hicham al-Omrani, in response to an interview they conducted with a political analyst who criticized Akhannouch, according to news reports . Akhannouch later dropped the charges on appeal, the reports stated. In another case, a Moroccan court ordered the privately owned website Goud in 2015 to pay 500,000 Moroccan dirhams to the king's private secretary, Mounir el-Majidi, for accusing him of corruption in an article, CPJ documented at the time.
It's a mistake to rule out rural spaces and consumers, especially in Africa. Global commerce is fiercely competitive, with business leaders and investors still waking to the vast potential of Africa's burgeoning consumer market. The continent, now home to more than 1.1 billion people, will account for one-fifth of the world's population by 2025. Sub-Saharan Africa's population stood at 1.03 billion last year. What's especially significant is that well over 637 million - 61.6% - of these men, women and children live in rural areas.

 Gilles Paire via 123RF

Rural and poor are not the same thing

Rural business opportunity



Global commerce is fiercely competitive, with business leaders and investors still waking to the vast potential of Africas burgeoning consumer market. The continent, now home to more than 1.1 billion people, will account for one-fifth of the worlds population by 2025.



Effective data collection strategies for rural spaces

Rural areas are arguably the most overlooked spaces in Africa. This is true both in terms of government services as well as corporate attention. Decision-makers have very little access to credible information about these remote rural spaces, and as a result, they can be tempted to act on misconceptions about an areas economic activity, population, needs, and potential. Whether true or not, misconceptions and sparse data can make rural areas unattractive prospects for investment, sales, and corporate expansion.61.6% is a massive consumer segment to neglect simply because of inadequate information. This is particularly true in the case of digital banking, a business sector that has much to gain from, and offer, the hard-to-reach regions of developing nations. Geospatial analysis methods provide vital illumination for business leaders and investors by filling crucial gaps in their understanding of rural African consumers.The opinion that rural always equates with poor is no longer sound. More and more Africans are entering the consumer class, and many of these are in peri-urban or rural areas, creating appealing new investment opportunities. Moreover, its too simplistic to view elevation in economic status as stemming solely from traditional rural-to-urban migration.Over the past two decades, the discovery of resource-abundant areas in Africa has drawn workers away from cities to rural zones, where they establish economically vibrant centres. This has certainly been the case in Zambia, with the expansion of mining investment in the territory. Even those who uphold rural-to-urban movement patterns continue to maintain their traditional homes, properties and fields. As their income has increased, so too has their investment in the countryside.Migration in Africa is a multi-direction process, transporting consumers and their capital with it  including to rural areas. Good data on these emerging rural consumers can illustrate promising opportunities that may not be immediately visible from the outset.One of the areas where rural potential has been identified by investors is mobile financial services. The rise of digital banking in the region has been spurred by Sub-Saharan Africas status as the fastest growing mobile market in the world . 420 million unique mobile subscribers were recorded in 2016, along with 731 million SIM connections, and a SIM penetration rate of 74%. By 2020, those same figures are expected to jump to 535 million subscribers, and almost 1 billion SIM connections (85% penetration).Building on this widespread communications availability, mobile-facilitated monetary transactions help to create a more financially inclusive society. In terms of rural populations, the move to digital banking has multiple benefits. There is the time-saving convenience, of course, of no longer having to travel to physical bank buildings in urban centres to perform transactions. Ease of use has also streamlined the movement of funds between developed and undeveloped areas, matching population migration patterns in both directions. The result is a more interconnected digital economy, where the contribution of rural areas is more noticeable at a national level, and more likely to gain notice from other future investors.There certainly has been digital banking buy-in throughout Africa. In cash-strapped Zimbabwe, Econets EcoCash, a mobile-enabled funds transfer service, became so popular that by mid-2017 electronic money counted for 70% of all financial transactions in the country . In the rest of the region, over 140 mobile money services, including cross-border remittance systems, were in place by the end of 2016.Obvious investment potential exists  from digital banking to FMCG  but gathering information on rural spaces and consumers can be daunting at first if you are restricted to traditional methods like household surveys. The effort and expense to reach out-of-the-way locations makes this approach unfeasible for most companies.Geospatial analysis overcomes these hurdles by using sophisticated algorithms which are applied to already-existing data sets, such as census data, surveys, and satellite imagery. No need to scavenge for more information. A crucial part of the process is the use of geospatial co-ordinates. In Frayms case, multiple data sets and analyses are applied to areas as small as one square kilometre, to generate precise information on populations. This way, it becomes possible to pinpoint new customers, size potential markets, and locate new sites for stores or projects. In terms of digital banking prospects, useful data points to apply in analyses could include existing communications technologies, mobile network reach and the location of rural SMEs with much to gain from digital banking.Hyper-local results gained from geospatial analysis are often surprising. In one recent incident, a Fraym analysis revealed a high-potential advertising zone in a rural area that would have been overlooked if only district-level statistics had been used. The key to success is pinpointing the potential of the growing communities and neighborhoods within large rural provinces and districts.Ultra-precision is especially valuable in rural spaces, which tend to be vast and lacking in conventional structure. And over time, the machine learning behind the analytical algorithms becomes extremely accurate  capable of making predictions about areas that were not heavily surveyed, for example. This functionality has huge benefits for lesser-visited and lesser-documented rural spaces. As a specific digital banking example, Frayms frontier-pushing data science techniques have helped to identify half a million Ghanaians in the Volta region who are ready to adopt digital financial services. Three-quarters of these adopters live in rural parts of Volta, in far-flung settlements like Jambo and Kpandai.The greater the investment made into rural Africa, the more everyone involved will benefit, from the businesses expanding their reach, to the locals presented with more choices  particularly in relation to their financial security. With a combination of relevant data and cutting-edge analysis, truly profitable decisions can be made. Its time to end to the era of anecdotes guiding your attitudes toward rural spaces.
This year marks Ninety9cents' (99c) tenth anniversary since its inception in 2008. Recently recognised by its peers as Cape Town's "Most Admired Agency" in the annual MarkLives Agency Leaders poll, 99c has come a long way in the agency's relatively short existence.

Andrew Brand

To be recognised and awarded this accolade by our industry peers is an incredible endorsement for the talented team we have assembled, and the remarkable clients who trust us with their brands, says 99c Cape Town MD and Group CEO Andrew Brand.Their first client, Checkers, remains a key account, and their relationship was recently recognised by) as Partnership of the Year in their 2017 AdFocus Awards.With almost 300 full-time staff members, 99c is one of the countrys largest independently owned agencies, and recently opened offices in Johannesburg and Zambia. Brand believes that the same formula which made the agency successful in Cape Town, will render their Johannesburg and Lusaka offerings equally attractive.Our agency was founded on the ethos of hiring the best available talent to work within a unique culture to create, and this results-driven approach, coupled with long-standing client relationships, has created a strong foundation upon which weve been able to build.We believe that the wellbeing of our people is fundamental to a sustainable business. Ive always maintained that happy employees produce better work, resulting in happy clients. Our culture is non-negotiable and integral to our success as an agency.99c believes that to be a truly integrated agency requires not just competence  but across multiple fragmented media. For this reason, 99c added PR, traditional media planning, implementation and buying, as well as digital media planning and buying services to its offering. Its absolutely essential to be able to conceptualise big ideas that are customer-focused and media-agnostic, and then to have the requisite talent on hand to enable them to reach their full potential, be it via traditional media, digital and/or social channels.Weve been able to deliver exciting, fully integrated campaigns and add quicker turnaround times and greater value to our clients through these new services. Our extensive in-house post production facilities offer three edit suites, and a dedicated team of offline editors, VFX artists, animators and colourists who specialise in animation, design and visual effects. They have already completed multiple brand commercials, focused retail offerings, adaptations, versioning, and pax and trax. We also have a photographic studio for on-site content generation, explains Brand.Brand believes their clients success to be the best indicator of their own success as an agency, and speaking of the FM AdFocus "Partnership of the Year" award, he states: We take massive pride in this accolade  as we do with our clients own awards, such as being recognised three times within a nine-year period as the Shoprite Groups national Supplier of the Year, out of their hundreds of service providers and vendors.While best known for its retail clients  including Shoprite, Checkers and Ackermans  99c works across a wide range of sectors and industries, from financial services and alcohol, to restaurants, technology and sports/lifestyle. Contrary to what many believe, we dont only do retail (but we do retail very well!), and although our profile is relatively low-key, 99c has won its fair share of creative awards over the years, including Loeries, Pendorings and Assegais, explains Brand.Our integrated model allows for ideas to grow beyond traditional agency and client silos into areas previously unimaginable. We believe this offers immense benefits to existing and future clients, and we anticipate further growth in 2018 across our group.We look forward to an exciting year!99c is currently recruiting. To become part of a dynamic, passionate team of individuals, please click here to view all available vacancies.
About 224-million people are undernourished in Africa as climate change and conflicts heighten food insecurity across the continent, a top UN food agency official said on Monday, 19 February.

The official, speaking at a conference on Africa organised by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), said the situation was a "cause of concern" as the continent's population was expected to reach 1.7-billion by 2030."Undernourishment appears to have increased from about 21% to nearly 23% between 2015 and 2016," Bukar Tijani, FAO's assistant director general for Africa, said at the regional conference that opened on Monday in Khartoum."Over the same period, the number of undernourished rose from 200-million to 224-million in Africa. This is a cause of concern for all of us."The rise in undernourishment and food insecurity was related to climate changes and natural disasters, Tijani later told AFP on the sidelines of the forum."This very strongly is related to climate change. We had floods, we had droughts and we had crop failures," he said.Tijani said conflicts in countries like Somalia, South Sudan and the Central African Republic further increased food insecurity."When you look at those conflicts, it has also brought challenges because even when food is available it is not affordable and it cannot reach those conflict areas."UN officials have warned that growing food insecurity was displacing more and more people across the region, with food needs being the main cause in countries such as South Sudan.About one million South Sudanese have crossed borders to become refugees as they flee violence in the world's youngest country formed in 2011. Soon after its secession from the north, South Sudan descended into war in December 2013 when President Salva Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar of plotting a coup.On a positive note, Tijani said Africa's economy was improving and its food and agriculture market was estimated to reach $1tn by 2030. This created opportunities for new investments.Hundreds of delegates from across Africa will be attending the five-day conference in the Sudanese capital to discuss efforts to eradicate hunger and food insecurity in Africa.
The listing of Liberty Two Degrees (L2D) promised investors exposure to some of the best shopping centres in Africa for the first time, but its maiden year was disappointing.

The company, which owns stakes in centres such as Sandton City, Eastgate Shopping Centre and Melrose Arch, missed its dividend payout guidance for the year to December, despite very strong fourth-quarter retail trade, its financial results showed on Monday, 19 February.Sandton City was the most visited shopping centre in SA during the 2017 festive season, according to research by Lightstone. Yet L2D failed to impress investors with its annual results. Having listed on the main board of the JSE in December 2016, its prelisting forecast was for a dividend per share of 65.07c in its first year.The company managed only 59.22c per share in 2017. It has estimated only 60c per share for the 2018 financial year."Our first year since listing was marked by numerous operational accomplishments as well as some headwinds, which included a challenging macroeconomic and political environment, the impact of a put option exercised by Liberty, the closure of Stuttafords and Eastgate Shopping Centre's municipal valuation increase, all of which had an impact on our distribution," said CEO Amelia Beattie.L2D manages an R8.71bn portfolio of predominantly retail-focused assets.The asset base grew substantially following the acquisition on 1 July of a further 9% of the larger Liberty Group's property portfolio for R2.51bn. Net asset value per unit grew to R9.86 as a result of good leasing progress, and arrears decreased to 4.6%s, said Beattie.Director at Meago Asset Management Thabo Ramushu said the results were poor even if L2D had tried to take steps to improve its fortunes."The results were indeed disappointing, given that they missed the revised lower guidance from prelisting."The management team have done well in reconfiguring the vacant Stuttafords space and incorporating tenants that previously were not present in the malls," Ramushu said."The outlook of 1.3% dividend growth for 2018 is well below the sector average, he said.Evan Robins of Old Mutual Investment Group said it was a "very disappointing" set of results, especially as this was a new listing.Beattie said approximate property income growth of 9% each year for the next few years would boost dividends.
MILAN, Italy - Italian outerwear maker Moncler will unveil his strategy for shaking up the world fashion calendar at the Milan Fashion Week opening on Tuesday with his high-powered monthly "Genius" series.

The brainchild of Moncler, CEO and creative director Remo Ruffini aims to disrupt the traditional twice-yearly rhythm by rolling out collections once a month from a team of eight headlined by Valentino's Pierpaolo Piccioli.All eight, who include Simone Rocha, Craig Green and Kei Ninomiya, will present previews of their collections in Milan, before rolling them out one per month starting in the summer. For five days after each show, the collections will be sold exclusively by a selected partner online retailer before going on sale at Moncler's network of stores and wholesalers, according to Vogue magazine.Milan Fashion Week, a glamourous pause in the midst of campaigning ahead of Italy's 4 March general elections, will bring together media, buyers and fashionistas led by Armani, Fendi, Versace, Prada and Dolce & Gabbana. The 64-show extravaganza runs until 26 February.Prada promises a star turn on Thursday evening with a show at its new venue in a former distillery converted by architect Rem Koolhaas. Only a select few will attend, as the venue is not yet open to the public.Among designers returning to Milan after an absence will be American Tommy Hilfiger, who will be closing the week with the final stage of his "Tommynow" series after Los Angeles, New York and London.The revolution that has seen fashion houses present men's and women's collections together is gaining steam, with Salvatore Ferragamo and Roberto Cavalli joining the trend already embraced by Gucci, Missoni, Jil Sander and Antonio Marras. Talent scouts will be on the lookout as up-and-comers Marco de Vincenzo, Arthur Arbesser and Erika Cavallini unveil their collections.Italy's big fashion guns are centre stage in the week's exhibition covering the three decades spanning 1971 to 2001 that saw "Made in Italy" conquer the world. The expo, which runs through 6 May, explores how Italian fashion was inspired by art, culture and politics over the years.Last year confirmed the robust health of Italy's fashion sector, which saw growth of 2.5%. Turnover for textiles, clothing, leather goods and shoes totalled 64.8 billion euros ($80.3 billion). Exports were also up 4.3% driven by spikes in demand from Asia, with China up 13.5% and South Korea up 12.8%. Russian demand also surged 12.8%.
What happens on Day Zero

Avoiding Day Zero

Painful months ahead

The consequences of reaching this point will be far reaching. For one, it will mean residents will have to stand in line to collect 25 litres of water per person per day. The water will be sourced from the remaining supplies that are left in the dams.Day Zero isnt a fixed target. The city moved it out from 12 April to 9 July . The reason for this is that a number of factors affect the date. These include how much residents are reducing their demand. There are already signs that water users are saving more. The goal is to achieve an average daily demand of less than 450-million litres which equates to about 50 litres per person per day. The city isnt there yet, but for the first time figures are consistently closer to 500-million litre per day The City of Cape Town describes Day Zero as the point at which the Disaster Risk Management Centre introduces phase two of its plan. Phase two will be triggered when the citys big six dams supplying Cape Town reach a storage level of 13.5%. This leaves just enough water to supply critical services. This will include sufficient water to distribute to collection sites across the city.Day Zero is being used in a desperate bid to avoid the final crisis stage  Phase three  when there is no longer any surface water available to supply the city. At that point, bottled water thats been collected from groundwater, springs, and from whatever desalination plants can contribute will be distributed. Phase three will mark the point of complete failure.Day Zero will be the start of active water rationing. As far as possible, drinking water will continue to be supplied to some critical areas. These will include strategic commercial areas, high-density areas with significant risk of increased waterborne disease such as informal settlements, and critical services like hospitals.But water will be cut off to residential taps and large numbers of households and businesses will be unable to access drinking water in their homes and places of work. People will be forced to go to collection sites across the city to fetch water.Meanwhile, city authorities intend to maintain sewerage systems with minimal flow by injecting water into the pipelines. It also means that a portion of water collected from the distribution points will have to be used, for example, to flush toilets.In Phase two the plan is to roll out distribution points across the city. This will be impractical and hugely challenging at the very least. Site selection is unlikely to be evenly distributed across the city because distribution sites will depend on existing water pipelines.Cape Town is using a relatively simple model to manage water in an effort to move circumstances from a critical zone, and potential failure, to a position where the risk of running out of water is greatly reduced.Each week the city updates its model to show progress in avoiding Day Zero Tough water restrictions, plus punitive tariffs, will drive down water demand, helping to postpone Day Zero  or even leading to it being cancelled. Reduced demand is one way of postponing Day Zero. But there are other factors too.The agricultural sector is already using 60% less water than whats usually allocated to it. Some irrigation boards have closed off their water supply and farmers are reducing the amount they draw from the Western Cape Water Supply System Another factor is rainfall. But thats unpredictable. In April 2005 a thunderstorm broke the drought and provided some relief A final factor is that new projects will also bring additional water from tapping into the aquifers and from desalination.There are some painful months ahead for Capetonians. For now, Day Zero remains a useful tool in the sense that its a target to be avoided.There are encouraging signs suggesting that the city will get through this difficult period. For now, the citys water risk model is showing how Day Zero is being managed. This is creating greater trust and confidence in the technical capacity of water managers along with the collective public and private efforts to reduce demand and avoid disaster.Day Zero is not, as some have suggested, a hoax. It is a vital concept that is helping to strengthen the citys ability in managing the water crisis.
The Cape Town and Western Cape's official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency (Wesgro) has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement that he will be organising an investment conference in the next three months to target both domestic and international investors.

South Africa is open for business

Wesgro CEO, Tim Harris welcomed this announcement and hoped that President Ramaphosa would consider hosting it in Cape Town - Africas leading conferencing destination: Cape Town and the Western Cape would be excited to host the proposed investor conference, and Wesgro is looking forward to participating, in line with our mandate to promote investment into the Western Cape."A key focus must be on shifting the international perception of investing in South Africa, which has recently been negative. To ensure that this happens, structural reforms will be needed to ensure that our credit ratings improve as soon as possible.Wesgro also welcomes Ramaphosas focus on tourism  a key sector that has enormous potential to boost growth and create jobs. Tourism in the Western Cape supports over 300,000 jobs and contributes nearly R40bn to the provincial economy.Harris added that South Africas natural beauty, as Ramaphosa expressed, has given us a strong foundation to grow this even further: We agree with President Ramaphosa that South Africa is the most beautiful country in the world and that we should be more ambitious in growing this sector.Together with South African Tourism, we have been working hard to send out the message that Cape Town and the Western Cape are open for businesses, and we are determined to ensure that we continue to grow this sector, even in the face of our severe drought. We hope that President Ramaphosa will focus on removing problematic hurdles that have inhibited the growth of tourism, specifically, the visa regulations.Western Cape minister of economic opportunities, Alan Winde said: Our number one goal is to grow the economy and create jobs. Central to achieving this is the attraction of domestic and foreign investment through the creation of an enabling environment for business, backed by a responsive and accountable state. We welcome President Ramaphosas understanding of the need to actively open our doors to business, and look forward to a successful summit.We were also very happy to hear that President Ramaphosa wants to focus on tourism. Through Project Khulisa, we have already seen substantial gains in job creation in this sector, and look forward to sharing our experiences with the President concluded Winde.
The CEO of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (Saica), Terence Nombembe, has called on the Ntsebeza inquiry to leave no stone unturned as it investigates the alleged misconduct of its members who worked for professional services firm KPMG.

Saica members are being investigated for alleged involvement in the Gupta accounts and the compilation of the report into the South African Revenue Service's (Sars') so-called "rogue unit".Nombembe said the events surrounding the work done by KPMG for the controversial family resulted in a decline in trust, both by the markets and individuals, in the chartered accountancy profession.Nombembe was speaking at the opening of the public hearings of the inquiry, which was set up to investigate Saica members employed by KPMG, whose conduct may have contravened the code of professional conduct. "We urge panel to leave no stone unturned," he said.According to Nombembe, at the conclusion of the inquiry, Saica will take disciplinary action against any of its members who are found to have acted unethically.Two evidence leaders, advocate Pule Seleka SC and advocate Amaechi Olua, have been appointed to lead the inquiry.On Monday, Seleka said the inquiry would look at work done for the Guptas from January 2013 to September 2017.KPMG found itself embroiled in allegations of state capture involving the Gupta family.The Hawks swooped on the family last week, raiding their Saxonwold compound and issuing arrest warrants. A number of Gupta associates and a nephew appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court last week in connection the Vrede dairy farm project.Ajay Gupta, the family patriarch, is currently on the run.KPMG SA has come under fire for the role it played in the audit of Gupta-owned Linkway Trading, which was allegedly used to channel taxpayers' money to fund the Guptas' 2013 Sun City wedding. The money was to have been used for the upliftment of indigent farmers in the Free State.The firm has also came under fire for its role in the Sars report, especially as it withdrew the report's findings and recommendations but not the report in its entirety.
The internet of things (IoT) - the growing network of data-collecting sensors and devices - could breathe new life into SA's agriculture sector, says Business Connexion (BCX) CEO Ian Russell.

Igor Stevanovic via 123RF

Betting on IoT opportunities in agriculture

Reducing water and energy use

Worker management

Idle equipment

A tough but valuable nut to crack

IoT is already becoming a part of everyday life, with wearable devices such as "smart watches" tracking our steps or even gauging the quality of our sleep, and sending this information directly to our mobile phones, for instance.Like their global peers, SA technology companies - including mobile operators Vodacom and MTN - are trialling different IoT applications. Vodacom's IoT business now generates about R800m/year in revenue, with 3.3m physical objects linked to the internet at the end of September 2017.Telkom subsidiary BCX is betting on IoT opportunities in the agriculture sector, Russell says. The company is running pilot projects on five farms across SA. "We're putting a lot of time and energy at the moment into smart farms and smart agriculture."But Russell acknowledges that commercialising the IoT business is "tricky", partly because it is not always easy to identify who would be willing to pay for these services. If technology companies can get it right, the agriculture sector would become more productive and this would promote greater exports, cheaper food for South Africans, and more jobs, he says.To enable the collection of data from sensors spread out over enormous farms, BCX is working on developing large-scale Wi-Fi networks using low-power wide-area network technology.Russell says one of BCX's pilot programmes is aimed at creating irrigation systems that reduce water and energy use, as current systems can be wasteful. "Most farmers at the moment irrigate on the basis of a timer, it's very simple. So your pivot goes on at 6pm - most people water at night since it's more effective - and goes off at around 1am, come rain or shine, it doesn't matter how wet the soil is, that timer is going to kick in."By combining data from sensors placed in the ground - which gauge the level of moisture in the soil - together with the weather forecasts, farmers can "dramatically change the amount of power and water they consume on a farm.""We can get the pivot to purely sprinkle the water for as long as it takes for the soil-moisture sensor to know it's had enough in the context of the weather coming in."At another farm, the company is piloting "worker management" solutions, whereby employees are tracked using tags on their belts or apps on their phones. This allows farmers to monitor when workers enter and leave the premises, and pay them accordingly. They can monitor which fields their workers are in, as well as the type of work they are doing."Worker management on these big farms is a big issue, both in terms of people not working but also in terms of how you pay workers," Russell says.Elsewhere, BCX is testing different ways to use combine harvesters, tractors and other expensive equipment more efficiently, given the opportunity cost associated with idle equipment. By using a sensor to track the movements of a tractor, for instance, usage patterns can indicate when the vehicle is likely to be out of use and the farmer can lease it to another farm.Equipment tracking is attracting the interest of banks, which tend to finance agricultural equipment and want to know that it is safe, says Russell. Insurers are also a possible target market.But for the most part, generating income from IoT remains a tough nut to crack. Farmers tend to be reluctant to take on additional costs, says Russell."So who in the value chain would pay me for what we're offering?"Russell, previously SAB's head of procurement, is eyeing large food and beverage groups such as SAB, Tiger Brands and Pioneer Foods. These companies are big users of crops and are always eager to improve margins.Wayne Hull, MD of Accenture Digital for South and sub-Saharan Africa, says the IoT industry is still in its infancy and it will take "at least another five years to become industrialised." That said, SA's IoT market could balloon to $800m by as early as 2020.Early adopters and innovators face uncertain returns, untested technologies, high sensor and data costs and a lack of regulation, Hull adds. He says some farmers are already using soil sensors to track acidity levels, temperatures and other variables in order to improve crop yields.
Buildings have become so much more than brick, mortar and glass. They are smart business tools which assist organisations to achieve their business objectives. Today's buildings are essentially technology centres, embedded with complex networks of connected devices and systems. The constant flow of data that these devices (or end points) generate, typically through internet protocol (IP) interfaces, provide businesses with the information that enables seamless and efficient functionality.

The value of connected, smart buildings

Value vs. costs

Maximising the value

Recent years have shown a tremendous surge in connected end points within buildings, foretelling an exponential rise in technology embedded in residential, commercial and institutional buildings. This represents the true, smart building. For businesses especially, the value can be highly advantageous.Most security and fire control devices, temperature management systems, lighting controls, energy management systems, audiovisual networks and more, are equipped with data-generating end points today. The increased capacity to interconnect multiple end points on a single, intricate network allows organisations to optimise incoming data and perform advanced analytics, giving building managers and owners heretofore unknown value.Building owners can now track things such as energy consumption and temperature preferences in various building locations, giving them real insight into how to optimise these areas. Moreover, they are able to receive this data in a simplified, easily read format on any device of their choosing. The value of this is being realised as a necessity and no longer an unexpected perk of a particular system, creating an increasing demand for smart-enabled buildings.Although the value of smart buildings in unparalleled, there are still concerns around the infrastructure costs to support such an ecosystem. Increased data calls for increased connectivity and bandwidth. While the image below highlights a reduction in costs to increase connectivity and enable smart buildings globally, South Africa is still known for its high connectivity charges . However, data costs are on a slow but steady decline and, according to this recent article , are set to drop even more in coming years.Organisations are starting to realise the potential of data to streamline their people, assets and resources for more efficient operations and improved productivity. Data generated by smart buildings offers insights which can solve a number of operational problems, while enhancing the environment of all who inhabit the space during working hours.Energy and operational efficiency remain high concerns for building owners. Analysis of the data generated by connected end points highlights inefficiencies and money-draining problems, providing cost-saving benefits when these are addressed. The goal is to not only reduce building operational costs, but to maximise the value of these buildings, making them effective business tools for attaining objectives.Smart buildings offer multiple benefits to different industries. Hospitals are able to better cater to patient needs when they have fewer redundancies. Airports are able to improve traveller experiences. Universities are able to streamline, leveraging student data to become more productive and drive down tuition costs.The value, when properly leveraged and maximised, easily outweighs the cost and can provide for far higher gains than losses. Smart buildings make smart business sense.
FRANKFURT, Germany - One of Germany's top courts will decide on Thursday, 22 February 2018, whether some diesel vehicles can be banned from parts of cities like Stuttgart and Duesseldorf to reduce air pollution, a possible landmark judgement for the "car nation".

Taking action

Counter-initiatives

Software upgrades

Eyes have turned to the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig after years of failure by federal, state and local governments to slash harmful emissions.Fine particle pollution and nitrogen oxides (NOx) contribute to as many as 400,000 premature deaths from respiratory and cardiovascular disease per year in the European Union.That has brought Germany and other air quality sinners like France or Italy into the European Commission's sights for possible legal action.Some 70 cities in Europe's most populous nation suffered from average annual nitrogen dioxide levels above EU thresholds last year, with Munich, Stuttgart and Cologne the worst offenders."The air is bad here, you cough and you get a scratchy throat, especially in winter," clean air campaigner Peter Erben told AFP standing beside the exhaust-blackened facades of Stuttgart's busy Neckartor main road."We want immediate action, and there is no more immediate action than reducing traffic."After years of warnings, environmental campaign group Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) took dozens of municipalities to court to force them into tougher action.Thursday's case is an appeal by Baden-Wuerttemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia states after lower-level judges ruled they could impose bans on some diesels in their respective capitals Stuttgart and Duesseldorf.An in-principle decision could be announced during the day after deliberations begin at 1000 GMT."It's a question of jurisdiction: can or must a state act, or is it up to the federal government to do it?" Baden-Wuerttemberg transport minister Winfried Hermann toldIn Stuttgart, local drivers and business leaders are against even limited driving bans, joined by the city branch of Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP).In their thinking, "we can't limit people's freedom, we can't dispossess diesel owners," explained Hermann - himself a member of the ecologist Greens.A ruling would affect all vehicles sold before so-called "Euro 6" standards arrived in September 2015.To fend off bans and protect the keystone auto industry with its 800,000 jobs, Berlin has offered a cascade of initiatives, including a billion-euro ($1.2 billion) fund for cities to upgrade public transport and buy electric vehicles.Ministers even suggested to the European Commission they could offer free public transport to cut down on urban car use, although without a detailed plan or budget.Nevertheless, Merkel - sometimes known as the "car chancellor" for her close ties to the industry - and her government have been "too timid" in dealing with bosses, Association of German Cities chief Helmut Dedy told magazineExperts and environmentalist groups agree government and industry efforts fall far short.Berlin's proposals "are just a drop in the ocean" said Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer, of the CAR automobile research centre.While he has called for extensive modifications to the diesel engine, a longstanding symbol of German engineering prowess, the carmakers argue they would be too costly and complex.Instead, manufacturers Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW have offered software upgrades to millions of vehicles to reduce polluting emissions or trade-ins for newer, cleaner models.Since Volkswagen confessed in 2015 to a global scheme to cheat regulatory NOx tests on millions of diesel vehicles, the fuel's share of the new car market has plunged, from 48% to around 39% last year.Minister Germann expects the judges in Leipzig to confirm that "people's health is more important than the right to drive a car".Upholding the court decisions in Stuttgart and Duesseldorf would open the way to local authorities imposing a patchwork of bans.Stuttgart and Baden-Wuerttemberg state have called instead for a standardised, nationwide "blue badge" that would identify the least polluting cars, but so far the federal government has demurred.A ruling from the highest administrative court would also send an important signal to other tribunals and put pressure on Berlin."I would be very surprised if we escape diesel bans" on Thursday, cities' association chief Dedy said.
Police Minister Fikile Mbalula has welcomed the conviction of former Western Cape top cop Arno Lamoer, saying it sends a strong message to the men in blue that crime doesn't pay.

Lamoer was charged with corruption, racketeering and money laundering, along with three former police brigadiers Sharon and Kolindren Govender as well as Darius van der Ross and Goodwood businessman, Salim Dawjee.On Monday, the Western Cape High Court found Lamoer guilty of corruption. However, all in the case were acquitted on charges of racketeering and money laundering."The conviction sends a strong message that no one is above the law. It also instils confidence in the country's criminal justice system that criminals will face the might of the law," Minister Mbalula said on Tuesday.The Minister reiterated they are trying to root out corrupt elements among police ranks."We need police who understand that their job is a calling, that they have a duty to serve and protect people of the Republic of South Africa."Minister Mbalula called upon South Africans to continue to be a critical source of information in fighting corruption in South Africa and the police service.
Kicking off on Wednesday, 21 February - Friday, 23 February, the 23rd edition of the Design Indaba will see ten global graduates presenting projects that speak to the water crisis, the power of sound, social entrepreneurship and so much more.

Design Indaba's global graduates. (L-R) Renata Souza, Ini Archibong, Simon Dogger, Aleksandra Gosiewski, Tomo Kihara, Leroy Mwasaru, Iwo Borkowicz, Israel Ogundare, Shaakira Jassat, Nicolas Kisic Aguirre. Image credit: Design Indaba website

Renate Souza, a Mexican-American studying product design at the Parsons School of Design in New York City. Her project, Thomy, an insulin kit for children with type 1 diabetes. The project was a US national finalist in the James Dyson Award 2017.

Ini Archibong, from Switzerland, has graduated from the environmental design course at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena as well as obtaining a master's degree in luxury design and craftsmanship from ECAL. He is inspired by architecture, environmental and product design, mathematics, world religions and philosophy.

Tomo Kihara is a design researcher from Japan who develops playful interventions to challenge and reframe societal issues. Currently, he is now a graduate student based at TU Delft, Design for Interaction program in the Netherlands.

Simon Dogger from the Netherlands is a product designer who created an Emotional Whisperer, a tool that comes with a pair of camera glasses that sends images of conversation partners to an emotion recognition app to prompt people who are visually impaired to respond with the relevant body language.

Leroy Mwasaru, the youngest participant (19) is a social entrepreneur from Kenya, working in renewable energy, e-commerce and human-centred design education. His projects focus on poverty alleviation and socio-economic empowerment and have been featured on CNN, The HuffPost, Forbes and local media in Kenya.

Aleksandra Gosiewski, an eco-friendly designer from New York, who has graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in 2017. She founded research group, AlgiKnit which is working to transform the apparel ecosystem with rapidly renewable bio-based textiles.

Iwo Borkowicz, an architect from Poland who won a scholarship to go to Havana to conduct research. While there he developed a project focussed on a way to use architecture as a bridge between poverty and tourism.

Israel Ogundare has a masters degree from the University of Johannesburg. He is focussed on researching issues around migration, city form, inclusivity of minority groups and the use of architecture as a tool in conflict resolution in the urbanisation of emerging African cities.

Nicolas Kisic Aguirre who is studying towards a Master's Degree in art, culture and technology at MIT, is currently researching the potential of sound as it is relevant to different notions of public space. Within this practice, he is invested in the production of work that aims to explore, understand and activate public space through sound and sonic artefacts.

Shaakira Jassat from South Africa graduated from the Design Academy Eindhoven and her project consists of a ceramic installation that functions as a large teamaker that will show the amount of water a simple cup of tea contains.

Key dates to diarise

Design Indaba Conference and Simulcast: 21-23 February 2018

Most Beautiful Object in South Africa exhibition: 21  24 February 2018

Emerging Creatives exhibition: 21  24 February 2018

Film Festival: 22  24 February 2018

Nightscape Music Festival: 22  24 February 2018

Over the past few months we have featured the first 10 of the 30 speakers released to the media, including, SA's very own, Sunu Gonera and Lebo Mashile , and international design icons such as Neri Oxman Astrid Stavro , Johannes Torpe and Es Devlin to name but a few.In addition, ten global graduates from across the world will also present their projects, each in 10-minute sessions on stage at Design Indaba. Graduates from MIT, Ku Leuven & Parsons School of Design in New York, ECAL, and the University of Johannesburg have been selected to present their work and include:The Design Indaba Conference and Festival 2018 will take place at the Artscape Theatre Complex in Cape Town. Simulcast versions of the conference will take place in Johannesburg, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Potchefstroom and Namibia. Tickets are available from Webtickets and can be booked as 1-day, 2-day or 3-day packages.Keep an eye on the Design Indaba programme for updates on when each of these speakers will be up on the podium.Click here for Bizcommunity's special section on the Design Indaba and here for more information on the Design Indaba website.
Santana will include a stop in Durban during his Divination World Tour in South Africa. Santana will perform at the Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town on 11 April 2018, the ICC in Durban on 13 April 2018, and the Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg on 14 April 2018.

Image by Maryanne Bilham

Carlos Santana, who first became famous in the late 1960s with his band Santana, pioneered a fusion of rock and Latin American music. His first Top 10 hitstayed on the Billboard chart for two years and was soon followed by two more classics and Billboard number one albums:and. To date, Santana has won 10 Grammy Awards including a record-tying nine for a single project with 1999s blockbusterAmong many honours, Carlos Santana received Billboard Latin Music Awards 2009 Lifetime Achievement honour as well as Billboards Century Award in 1996. Having sold over 100 million records to date, Santana has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and is listed in the top 20 greatest guitarists of all time bymagazine. In 2013, Carlos was the recipient of the 2013 Kennedy Center Honors Award. Currently, Santana is headlining a multi-year residency at House of Blues at Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas.Tickets go on sale Wednesday, 21 February 2018 at 9am from Big Concerts and Computicket
#IABDigitalSummit2018: The ultimate 'state of the industry' event

How will the advertising industry adapt AI at a larger scale? Can we innovate with data analysis and profiling without creeping out customers? I discussed the possibilities and explored the power of digital with three of this year's scheduled female powerhouse speakers for the fourth IAB SA Digital Summit, taking place next week on 1 March 2018 at the Theatre on the Track.

Severins, Murray and De Stadler, three of this year's IAB SA Digital Summit speakers.

With a speaker lineup set to cover such digitally diverse topics as the need for transformation for the industry, the legislation and regulation that governs it and the technology that drives it, youre guaranteed a day of digital stimulation and inspiration.



IAB SA Digital Summit speaker lineup announced

For example, Jessy Severins is ad operations and yield manager at Gumtree. One of last years IAB Digital Summit speakers, shell be a panel moderator this year.



Or take Novcon CEO and consumer law specialist, Elizabeth de Stadler. Shell address the impact of the Protection of Personal Information Act (PoPI) on digital marketing, specifically the challenges and opportunities around data analytics, profiling and direct marketing.



How will your right to privacy change under POPIA?

Then theres Carmen Murray, host of the Witee Chatterbots show and who is the founder of Boo-Yah! Shes set to unpack mobile as a catalyst and enabler of the connected marketer at this years IAB SA Digital Summit. Murray herself interviewed Severins and De Stadler as just two of her favourite wonder women of digital, sharing 11 lessons from 11 of SAs digital leaders to inspire both women and men alike...



11 valuable lessons from 11 wonder women in digital

When I asked Severins and De Stadler which digital trend theyre most looking forward to from the year ahead, they responded as follows:



Severins: Im curious how the advertising industry is going to adapt AI at a larger scale. We see it happening in retail and slowly reaching the masses  for example, AdWeeks



De Stadler: The prospect of AI taking over some of the more mundane parts my work. As long as they dont take over too much!







Hows that for digital food for thought? Here, Severins, De Stadler and Murray let us in on what theyre most looking forward to from the fourth IAB Digital Summit, the crux of what attendees can expect from their individual summit sessions, and their favourite digital innovation over the years.



This year marks the fourth IAB Digital Summit. Share your favourite digital innovation, whether new or old. This year marks the fourth IAB Digital Summit. Share your favourite digital innovation, whether new or old. With a speaker lineup set to cover such digitally diverse topics as the need for transformation for the industry, the legislation and regulation that governs it and the technology that drives it, youre guaranteed a day of digital stimulation and inspiration.For example, Jessy Severins is ad operations and yield manager at Gumtree. One of last years IAB Digital Summit speakers, shell be a panel moderator this year.Or take Novcon CEO and consumer law specialist, Elizabeth de Stadler. Shell address the impact of the Protection of Personal Information Act (PoPI) on digital marketing, specifically the challenges and opportunities around data analytics, profiling and direct marketing.Then theres Carmen Murray, host of the Witee Chatterbots show and who is the founder of Boo-Yah! Shes set to unpack mobile as a catalyst and enabler of the connected marketer at this years IAB SA Digital Summit. Murray herself interviewed Severins and De Stadler as just two of her favourite wonder women of digital, sharing 11 lessons from 11 of SAs digital leaders to inspire both women and men alike...When I asked Severins and De Stadler which digital trend theyre most looking forward to from the year ahead, they responded as follows:: Im curious how the advertising industry is going to adapt AI at a larger scale. We see it happening in retail and slowly reaching the masses  for example,s recent article about a grocery shelf that might analyse your eye movements. How will the advertising industry keep up? Will this result in agencies and publishers operations departments being able to work more cleverly, or will they eventually be replaced by AI?: The prospect of AI taking over some of the more mundane parts my work. As long as they dont take over too much!Hows that for digital food for thought? Here, Severins, De Stadler and Murray let us in on what theyre most looking forward to from the fourth IAB Digital Summit, the crux of what attendees can expect from their individual summit sessions, and their favourite digital innovation over the years.

Artificial intelligence, in a nutshell, means that a non-human computes a response based on data and this will result in unbiased analysis and advanced problem-solving.

Elaborate on the importance of celebrating digital creativity and innovation in 2018. Elaborate on the importance of celebrating digital creativity and innovation in 2018.

We tend to only hear about innovations once they become successful, but nothing happens overnight. We sometimes assume it was a one-hit-wonder and forget that there was a long process and a cocktail of persistence, sleepless nights, revisions and prototypes to get to the success.

Share the crux of what attendees can expect from your summit session. Share the crux of what attendees can expect from your summit session.

What are you personally most looking forward to from this years IAB Digital Summit and Bookmarks? What are you personally most looking forward to from this years IAB Digital Summit and Bookmarks?

Leigh Andrews' articles About Leigh Andrews Leigh Andrews AKA the



Leigh Andrews AKA the #MilkshakeQueen , is former Editor-in-Chief: Marketing & Media at Bizcommunity.com, with a passion for issues of diversity, inclusion and equality, and of course, gourmet food and drinks! She can be reached on Twitter at @Leigh_Andrews

: Artificial intelligence is not new, but it keeps on innovating and is here to stay. From IBMs question-answering machine Watson; to Googles AI technology beating a human at playing Go; to Sophia the robot, who is now a citizen of Saudi Arabia.: Without a doubt, Audible from Amazon is by far my most exciting digital innovation. Im always travelling, and I dont have much time to sit down and read a book. Our industry requires for us to always be on top of our game and there is nothing I enjoy more than to connect my phone to the car system and drive around listening to books. I can finish up to three books in a week, depending on how heavy the content is. Its changed my life.: At the risk of being a bore, I love LinkedIn. The ability to chat to like-minded people from across the world has facilitated change in the legal industry.: Creativity is related to so much more than just the campaigns themselves. You can serve the most beautiful or intelligent-looking advertisement ever, but if you simply book it on a CPC, platform it will not be leading to innovative results. In 2017, more agencies and clients were creative with the ads they served than ever before. In 2018, I expect that trend to continue, but I also expect the industry to make some more moves in shifting away from last-click attribution.: Celebrating digital creativity and innovation is so important.It is crucial that we celebrate the individuals and businesses who put their heart and soul into the business and not only create work to look creative, but also to solve problems and improve customers lives. Its a long journey.: Im excited to see companies that innovate with data analysis and profiling without creeping out their customers. It will take every ounce of our creativity to come up with ways to give customers back control over their personal data, without losing the ability to use the data altogether.: This year, Gumtree wanted to emphasise the female talent we have in our industry, who will be discussing the ins and outs of data in our current industry. How do we use it now? How do we predict well use it 5 or 20 years from now? By attending, youll find out exactly how these women in programmatic are using data to manipulate us.: I am super excited to speak at this years summit. This year marks a very important time for our industry, and its a privilege to be part of the IAB Digital Summit and celebrate with the incredible trailblazers.Ill be talking about the new emerging trends and the demand for a new type of marketer. Mobile is the enabler and catalyst of the connected marketer, who creates, develops and maintains a brand that understands and meets the needs of the connected individual.I have exciting insights to share and get people excited about the future of marketing and how the trends impact on mobile.: Ill be talking about the impact of data-privacy legislation  like the Protection of Personal Information Act locally, and the EU General Data Protection Regulation globally - on digital marketing. Well discuss challenges and opportunities with a focus on data analytics, profiling and direct marketing.: The Digital Summit is a state of the industry event that never seizes to provide great insights from agencies, brands and publishers alike. Since last year, when the 15-minute slots were introduced, the audience (including me) was really left wanting more! As a judge, Ive seen amazing campaigns in the Bookmarks  not just creative-wise, but also execution-wise. The talent in the South African market is amazing!: Every year when I attend the IAB summit, I find it sets the tone of where our focus needs to be for the year. If I had to choose only one event to attend this year, it would probably be the IAB Summit because of the fusion of excitement, knowledge, glamour, and networking. As for the Bookmark Awards, there is nothing more exciting than to watch the incredible hard workers of our industry receive awards. We should be very proud of the work we produce in South Africa. It is world-class!: I am looking forward to a lively discussion about privacy in digital marketing.
While there has been an upward revision in growth for the year - 1.5-1.8% for South Africa - with business confidence also increasing, the country is still not where it needs to be by a long shot.

Lullu Krugel, chief economist at PwC

Healthcare issues

SOEs, energy and education

For last four to five years we have been hearing that the coming year is going to be tough, and 2018 will be no different, says Lullu Krugel, partner and chief economist at PwC Africa, who recently gave the first-ever economic outlook to be included in the companys pre-budget presentation.However, there are reasons for optimism, with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank (WB) amongst others having upgraded the countrys forecast upwards, and, while the currency is volatile, it is strong. Good things are happening. For example, at the recent Mining Indaba in Cape Town, Anglo America stated that it is ready to invest in South Africa, she says.Despite these positive indicators, the tough fiscal environment will remain for some time, she adds. That is why planning of what happens from here onwards is very important. The budget must provide clarity to South Africa on a number of issues.One being the sugar tax, which will have a net impact on estimated tax revenue between R631m to R856m, which is not really significant.The second issue is a difficult one. Although gaining momentum, not only in South Africa but globally, National Health Insurance (NHI) is a costly exercise and there is still a lot of uncertainty around how it will be funded. The estimated costs of the NHI by 2025 is R256bn, an anticipated shortfall of R108bn. This is despite the planned redirecting of R22bn in medical aid credits to the NHI.State-owned enterprises (SOE) are a big-ticket item and it is time to turn them around. They face financial difficulties and rating downgrades which increase financial deficits. Future funding proposals need to be addressed, Krugel says.Prresident Cyril Ramaphosa has also taken nuclear power off the table as an energy option, as the country simply does not have the funds for it, and is currently producing an excess of power.When it comes to #feesmustfall something has to be said about this in the budget, she says. The estimated cost for 2018 is over R12bn. Possible funding could be through increased VAT or the implementation of wealth taxes.In conclusion Krugel says rating agencies will be focusing on a number of issues. Of these fiscal performance debt burden and contingent liabilities are most critical, followed by fiscal flexibility and vulnerabilities, debt level and the cost of debt and economic growth.
UB Department of Theatre and Dance to present Zodiaque Dance Ensemble in Cool Hunting

Zodiaque Dance Ensemble (ZDE) celebrates its 20 th Anniversary with COOL HUNTING. Director Jeanne Fornarolas COOL HUNTING looks at trends in action, in the pursuit of the cutting-edge trends and behaviors in specific groups of people.

UB Department of Theatre and Dance to present Zodiaque Dance Ensemble in Cool Hunting

ZDE presents choreography by UB Dance faculty Jeanne Fornarola, Kerry Ring, and Danielle Sheather. Fornarolas choreography explores the classic pantomime and choreographic patterns steaming from the traditional roots of the Romatinc Ballet and manipulates them to create a contemporary cool look. Choreographer Kerry Ring explores cool through a new terrain where music and movement meet during each live performance. The music composed and performed by the dance departments accompanist, Kevin McFadden, is a live response to the movement. The movement reflects an expression of ones inner fire  and reinforces the idea that an artistic experience can stoke an internal passion. Danielle Sheathers contribution to the production examines the expression of time and asks the genuine question of Who Knows Where the Time Goes?

Zodiaque Dance Ensemble continues to be an innovative force, advancing its inspired talents through stimulating collaborations and creative investigations. ZDE presents work by respected dance makers and offers experiential learning opportunities for students in the Theatre & Dance Department. ZDE welcomes its first MFA candidates Michael Lambert and Mary Grace Sullivan as contributing choreographers. Lamberts choreography takes the audience on a journey to find something or somewhere better than our own reality in an effort not to settle for what is. Mary Grace Sullivans piece includes a cast of women finding common ground by snapping their fingers and clapping their hands, making audible rhythm together that punctuates the movement of solo dancer and/or duet dancers. One rhythm creates a new rhythm while the dancers control the speed, timbre and syncopation of the sound score.

Emerging Undergraduate Choreographers include Senior Dance Majors Rachel Latke, Jessica Levin, Jessica Caraciolo, and Lilibeth Javier. The choroegraphc team of Latke and Levin offer a piece that has a cool vibe inspired by the #MeToo and #Timesup movements with the goal of creating choreography that embodies girl power, standing in solidarity, unity and leadership. Jessica Caraciolos piece looks at the past cool innovations of Louie Fuller and the exploration of the effects of light on fabric. Lilibeth Javiers choreography explores pathways of the human heart to reach a deeper understanding of how and when our heart rates change. Kennedy Jordan is the Student Assistant to the Director and Ariel Kriegel is the Student Lighting Designer. All student designers and choreographers are faculty mentored.

The UB Department of Theatre & Dance 2017-18 season takes inspiration from one of the five named UB 2020 themes, Innovation.

Tickets can be purchased either online through http://www.ubcfa.org/tickets and ticketfly.com

or by visiting the Center for the Arts Box Office in the main lobby of the CFA on the University at Buffalos North Campus. (Tues  Fri, 12-6 PM & 90 Minutes prior to the performance)




Be transported to the spicy streets of Sri Lanka without leaving Sydney thanks to Darlinghursts newest Sri Lankan street food eatery, Hopper Kade

Popular Sri Lankan street food pop-up, Hopper Kade becomes a permanent place to get your 'hopper' fix today with the opening of their restaurant on Darlinghurst's buzzy Crown Street.

After two years on the street food scene founders Ruvanie De Zoysa and Chris Goffin are trading their mobile street food wheels for a fixed address - which is great news for fans of their authentic Sri Lankan cuisine, especially their signature 'hopper'.

For the uninitiated, the hopper is a traditional Sri Lankan bowl-shaped crepe made with fermented rice flour and coconut milk. Hopper Kade's hoppers are made in-house and filled with a free-range egg and other tasty additions like Lankan-spiced 12-hour beef brisket.

Alongside the signature hoppers, the eatery is serving brunch, lunch and dinner options. Brunch will be served from 8am until 11am with brunch plates including Lankan jaffles, roti wraps and chai-spiced banana loaf, lunch and dinner will be hoppers (of course) plus roti wraps, biryani rice plates and fresh cuttlefish salad with Sri Lankan flavours of papaya, herbs and lime.

In a press statement De Zoysa said, "We've decided to mix things up a bit - combining subcontinental dishes with Australian ingredients and flavour combinations to create a new style of cooking. The menu will celebrate the best of both worlds, offering exciting new options and of course, the Sri Lankan staple, the humble hopper!"

Hopper Kade opens today, February 20, at 253 Crown St, Darlinghurst. Opening hours: Tues - Weds 8am - 3pm, Thurs - Sat 8am - 3pm and 5pm - 10pm, Sun 8am - 3pm.

hopperkade.com.au
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Indian manufacturers of graphite electrodes used in electric arc furnaces are booming on the back of China's pollution crackdown, but soaring prices have set the companies on a collision course with government and steelmakers. In an unusual intervention, India's steel ministry is pushing for electrode makers to cut prices for smaller steelmakers after a 500 per cent surge in domestic prices, sources told Reuters. The government has also signalled it may introduce an export tax, aiming to boost domestic supply. India's two manufacturers account for about a quarter ...
Shares of Punjab National Bank (PNB) are down 28 per cent in four trading sessions, including Mondays 7.4 per cent fall. The nearly Rs 111-billion decline in PNBs market value, following the alleged Rs 114-billion fraud detected on February 14, may suggest that there is value in the counter. But, most experts said investors should not hurry as the market had not factored in the event completely.

So, the bottom is yet to come. For one, the bank is facing pressure on account of non-performing assets (NPAs). With the latest fraud detected, these will weigh on its net ...
The has refused to share details of expenses incurred on efforts to bring back to India fugitive businessmen Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya, citing immunity from disclosures under the RTI Act.

However, the RTI Act clearly states that information related to allegations of corruption held by a public authority are not covered under the exemption cited by the agency.

Pune-based activist Vihar Dhurve had sought details of expenditure incurred so far on the CBI's attempts to bring them back.

He sought to know total legal expenditure, travelling expenses by the Indian government to bring back Mallya, wanted in an over Rs 90 billion bank loan default case, and Modi, who is being investigated in an IPL money laundering case.

Both Modi and Mallya, who are in London, have denied allegations of wrongdoing.

The RTI application was forwarded to the by the finance ministry.

In its response, the said it is exempted from making any disclosures under the RTI Act through a government notification of 2011.

According to Section 24 of the RTI Act, certain organisations can be exempted by the Central government from the transparency law by placing them under exempted list.

But even these organisations are answerable under the Act, if the information sought pertains to allegations of corruption and human rights violations, the Act says.

The Delhi High Court had also underlined that organisations listed under Section 24 cannot claim exemption from disclosure if the information pertains to "allegations of corruption and human rights violations."



Justice Vibhu Bakhru had also cited an order of the High Court which dealt with the information sought from the Intelligence Bureau, also an exempted organisation under the RTI Act.

The only conclusion that can be drawn is that, if the information sought pertains to allegations of corruption and human rights violations, it would be exempted from the exclusion clause, irrespective of the fact that the information pertains to the exempt intelligence and security organisations or not, or pertains to an officer of the Intelligence Bureau or not, the bench had said in the order.
US President's son Jr, who is in India on a business trip, will hold a closed-door meeting with top industrialists in the capital on Wednesday.

The luncheon meeting at Birla House will be hosted by Congress leader Milind Deora and business leaders Deepak Parekh and Shobhana Bhartiya, sources said.

Jr will attend another high-profile closed-door business event in Mumbai, which will be hosted by the Bombay Club.

While only 20 top business leaders have been invited, sources have confirmed that Sunil Bharti Mittal will be in attendance.

Rest of the names on the list are protected due to security reasons. Also, no political leaders from Delhi are on the list.
A Kerala-based woman, who is alleged to be a victim of 'love jihad', has told the Supreme Court that she had willingly converted to Islam and wants to remain a Muslim.

In an affidavit filed before the top court, 25-year-old Hadiya also said that she had married Shafin Jahan on her own and sought the court's permission to "live as his wife".

She has also claimed that her husband was wrongly portrayed as a terrorist by the Investigation Agency (NIA) and he has nothing to do with the Middle East-based terror group ISIS.

The matter had come to fore when Jahan had challenged the Kerala High Court's order annulling his marriage with Hadiya and sending her to her parents' custody.

On November 27 last year, the apex court had freed Hadiya from her parents' custody and sent her to college to pursue her studies, even as she had pleaded that she should be allowed to go with her husband.

"I respectfully reiterate that I am a Muslim and I want to continue to live as a Muslim ... I have been under confinement without the freedom that I am entitled to. Even now I am under police surveillance. I most humbly pray that my entire liberty may kindly be restored to me.

"Shafin Jahan is my husband, I want to continue to live as wife of my beloved husband and that I embraced Islam and married him on my own free will," she said in her 25-page affidavit.

She also urged the court to set aside the judgement of the Kerala High Court that had annulled the marriage terming it as an instance of 'love jihad'.

"I further pray that this Court may be kind enough to appoint my husband as guardian. I most humbly pray that this Court may be pleased to allow us to live together as husband and wife. Therefore, I most humbly pray that this Court may be pleased to allow the Special Leave Petition by setting aside the impugned judgment passed by the High Court," she said.

The top court had earlier ordered NIA probe into a 'pattern' where some women were allegedly being converted to Islam.

Later, the court decided to hear the major woman and interviewed her in the open court when she made an appeal for her freedom under the Constitution.

In her affidavit, the woman has told the court that "horrendous sufferings" were meted out to her for converting to Islam and marrying a Muslim boy.

"It appears to me that my father is under the influence of certain sections of people who are trying to use him. Otherwise, I do not see how my father, who is an atheist, would object to me changing my religion or marrying someone from a different religion.

"I further submit that all those people played and are still playing behind my father and all those errant personnel, both official and non-official, who subjected or caused to subject me to the horrendous torture and torments are liable to be brought to justice," she said.

The apex court had on January 23 made it clear that the Investigation Agency cannot probe the marital status of Hadiya and Jahan.

"She (Hadiya) had come before the court and said that she had married him (Jahan). Whether the person she has married is a good human being or not, it is for her to decide," the bench had said, adding "She is an adult. How can anyone say that she cannot marry X, Y or Z?"



"Marriage has to be separated from criminal conspiracy and criminal aspects, otherwise it would create a bad precedent in law. They (NIA) cannot investigate into the marital status," the top court had observed.
For Donald Trump Junior, the nice thing about his father being the President of the United States is the view of Trump Hotel from the White House lawns in Washington DC. Everything else, it seems, has been quite a struggle.

In India on a business visit that might also involve meeting the Prime Minister and other cabinet ministers and officials, Trump Junior, the executive vice-president of the Trump Organisation said that his company has not made any new deals ever since his father took the most powerful office in the world. During a meeting with media on Tuesday in Delhi, Trump Junior said ...
The United States President Donald Trump's son, Jr, is coming to India with business and foreign policy in mind.

The executive vice-director of Trump Organisation is scheduled to arrive in India on his maiden visit on Tuesday.

During the week-long trip, Jr. will not only endorse his luxurious residential project-Trump Towers, but he is scheduled to deliver a speech on foreign policy in India.

Trump Jr. will meet with Indian investors and business leaders in Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune and Gurgaon respectively, The Washington Post reported.

The eldest son of has already advertised himself prior to his visit.

Full-page advertisements in Indian newspapers on Monday invited prospective investors to buy into the Trump Organisation's project in Gurgaon to join Donald Trump Jr at a dinner later this week.

"Trump has arrived. Have you?" read the advertisement, inviting buyers to book their apartments in Trump Towers by Wednesday "for a conversation and dinner" with Trump Jr on Friday. An advertisement in newspapers on Sunday read, "Trump is here. Are you invited?"

Trump Jr. will also deliver his maiden speech in India where he will speak on "Reshaping Indo-Pacific Ties: The New Era of Cooperation" at a global business summit on Friday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will also be present, will speak at the summit on the topic of "Preparing India for the Future."

In the US, some experts have pointed out the conflict of interests during Donald Trump Jr.'s India visit.

"The planned speech by Trump Jr. has renewed conflict of interest concerns, with some questioning why the US President's son will be lecturing on foreign policy while simultaneously trying to hawk his family business's lavish new condominiums," The Washington Post reported.

" that the Trump Organisation would be offering buyers in the Trump Tower the chance to meet the president's son sparked criticism of potential conflict of interest, and the fact that Trump Jr. will be giving a foreign policy speech while on a private business trip complicates the matter further", The Washington Post quoted ethics expert as saying.

Trump Jr. will also visit Kolkata, where the construction of a project with 137 luxury units will begin soon.

Talking about his trip earlier this month, Trump Jr. said, "India is such an incredible country and our brand has enjoyed tremendous success in the region for many years. This trip is a celebration of all we have achieved, including the launch of the Trump developments in Kolkata and Delhi which have been underway for many months."

According to business partners in India, many units in the Trump Towers are selling about 30 percent per square foot higher than the current market rates. Trump Jr.'s visit to India is expected to reinforce the trend.

India is Trump Organisation's biggest international market, with four real estate projects underway in Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, and Gurgaon.

Trump Jr.'s visit to India comes after his sister, Ivanka, visited Hyderabad in November last year to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit.
Even as the Uttar Pradesh government is giving final touches to lay out the red carpet for the Global and India Inc at UP Investors Summit 2018, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath would be gunning for the emerging sector of defence manufacturing in the state.

Adityanath has already said UP has the potential to attract private investment of almost Rs one trillion in the sector, especially in the backdrop of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre aspiring for greater defence indigenisation under Make in India. The importance that Adityanath attaches to this new age ...
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today said corporate India has committed USD 1 billion worth of investments in his country, which will create over 5,000 jobs.

Trudeau made the announcement after meetings with industry leaders including Tata Group chairman N Chandrasekaran; Birla Group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla; Mahindra group chief Anand Mahindra; Salil Parikh of Infosys, and Cyrus Mistry of the Pallonjee Mistry group, among others.

The Canadian premier also had a 90-minute roundtable with women business leaders including ICICI Bank chief Chanda Kochhar and Swati Piramal of the Piramal Group, among others at the iconic Taj Mahal hotel.

"There are tremendous connections between Canada and India, whether it is natural resources or tech sector like IT, creativity, pharmaceutical...there are huge compatibilities and complementarities between our nations.

"So much so that coming out of meetings this morning and a few other meetings we have had, we are able to announce today over 5,000 new jobs in Canada and over USD 1 billion of (Indian) investment in Canada," Trudeau said at the Canada-India Business Forum here.

Briefing about his interactions with the Indian business leaders, he said prospects of Canadian investments in India were also discussed, especially the role played by the pension funds of Canada.

"We also spoke about Canadian companies investing in India, whether it is pension funds or others," he said.

"It has really been a win-win morning," Trudeau remarked but did not name the prospective Indian investors.

The Canadian prime minister, who is on a week-long India visit, also spoke about the "extraordinary diversity" of this country and said "this pluralism comes with its own challenges but are immensely beneficial".

"There is extraordinary diversity and pluralism in India which is not without its challenges but we have to understand that diversity of views and background gives an incredible amount of strength, a source of resilience in any organisation, community or a country," he said.

"To be able to listen to different points of view, learn from them and draw on them. To feel that 'yes we are challenged, but not threatened by them', I think is a sign of maturity in a community," he added.

Trudeau felt that a country like India can and should be leading the way in respecting diversity and highlighting this incredible diversity. "It is not just Canada that is diverse, but other countries around the world as well."



Talking at length about the need for empowering women in all walks of life, he rued that India has only 26 per cent women participation in the world of business, saying this was one of the lowest globally.

"Business leaders should take the time to listen to women and empower them, because empowering women leads to good business and helps the community," Trudeau said.

Noting the huge amount of "compatibility and complementarity" between the two nations, the Canadian prime minister urged the leaders of both nations to work together for the common benefits of their people.

Already home to 1.25 lakh Indian students on annual basis, he said he wants Canada to become the number one destination for Indian students.

Welcoming more Indians to his country, Trudeau said the 1.3 million-strong Indo-Canadians are a great strength for this nation.
Automobile manufacturers, Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra Electric and Mercedes-Benz have said that the absence of an electric vehicle (EV) policy will not come in the way of their developing the eco-friendly vehicles.

NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant had said last week that there was no need for a policy for EVs as an action plan has been prepared and technology should not be trapped by rules and regulations.

"As far as we are concerned, there is no change in our EV programme. We will go ahead with our plans as before," Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) Chairman RC Bhargava told PTI.

He was responding to a query on whether the absence of an would alter the company's EV development programme.

MSI had announced that it planned to launch an EV in India by 2020.

Bhargava further said: "The need for electrification (of vehicles) remains and it is for the industry to work out how to do it and if they need support they have to approach the government."



Expressing similar views, Mahindra Electric CEO Mahesh Babu said, "Currently, we arent expecting any additional policy push. We would, however, recommend that the current support under FAME and special tax structure for EVs continues for at least the next 2 years."



Existing schemes are being implemented on ground and the resultant increase in EV adoption should start showing in the next 1-2 years time-frame, he added.

Babu said the processing of tender for 10,000 EVs by EESL is already underway and the resultant adoption can already be noticed.

Appreciating the government's vision of reducing pollution and oil import bills, Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director & CEO Roland Folger said, "Mercedes-Benz advocates a technology agnostic approach with the co-existence of all technologies and we shouldnt foreclose better technological options available, when it comes to define the path for future mobility in India."



The Internal Combustion Engine (BS-VI), the Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles and the EVs should all exist together and there should be a staggered approach, he added.

"Mercedes-Benz is fully committed to electrification and we have an ambitious plan to offer at least an electrified alternative in every Mercedes model segment by 2022 -- from compact cars up to large SUVs," Folger said.

Achieving it would mean that the company is planning to have more than 50 electric vehicle variants on the market, he added.

"Of these models alone, more than ten will be purely electric passenger cars. By 2025, plans call for all-electric vehicles to account for between 15 and 25 per cent of total Mercedes-Benz sales. This will, of course, also depend upon the development of the infrastructure and customer preferences, he said.

Players in Indian automobile industry have been seeking an to take forward their development programme after Niti Aayog come out last year with a vision for 100 per cent public transport vehicles and 40 per cent of private vehicles to become all electric by 2030.

In a white paper, auto industry body Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) had also called for a policy that should collectively aim at improving affordability and acceptance of EVs by bridging viability gap; enabling build out of charging infrastructure; encouraging domestic manufacturing and creating public awareness and other enablers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hard sold pro-farmer initiatives announced in his government's last full-year budget, saying more agriculture credit and easy access to markets will help boost farm income.

Addressing a conference on 'doubling farm income by 2022', he said pulses production in the country has risen to 23 million tonnes from 17 million tonnes in just one year.

Modi also mentioned about steps taken to lower cost of production, improve productivity and take farm produce to markets by minimising wastage and said these measures will help in increasing farmers' income.

The prime minister also said that coating urea with neem has helped in enhancing efficiency of fertiliser and boosting productivity as also led to cost saving.

Also, soil health cards -- providing detailed analysis of state of soil and the crops it can support best -- have improved productivity, he said, adding that this has helped curb use of chemical fertiliser by 8 to 10 per cent and increase productivity by 5 to 6 per cent.

Modi said as many as 99 irrigation schemes that had been stuck for 2-3 decades will be completed within a specified time-frame and Rs 800 billion has been allocated for the same. Half of these schemes would be completed by this year end and remaining in the next year, he added.

In the budget 2018-19, 'Operation Greens' has been announced to augment farm supply chain that will help cultivation of tomato, onion and potato, he said.

The prime minister said 22,000 rural markets would be upgraded so as to provide a market for farm produce within 5-15 km distance of production points.

The government, he said, is also encouraging Farmer Producer Organisation. Also, the provision for agri-credit has been raised to Rs 11 trillion from Rs 8 trillion.

Promoting use of solar energy, converting agriculture waste into wealth and economical use of crop residue will also help in doubling of farmers' income by 2022, he said.

With this in mind, the government has also approved blending of up to 10 per cent sugarcane-extracted ethanol in petrol, the prime minister added.

Modi said as much as Rs 110 billion claims have been settled under the crop insurance scheme, which is double of the past amount.
A special CBI court here today remanded in police custody till March 3 three officials of Punjab National Bank, arrested yesterday 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 had earlier said that group companies of alleged mastermind and diamond czar 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 during 2011 to 2017.

The three PNB officials--Bechhu Tiwari, the then chief manager in the Forex department of PNB, Yashwant Joshi, Scale II Manager in the Forex department, and Praful Sawant, Scale-I officer handling the exports section--were produced before the special court judge S R Tamboli by the CBI today.

"Tiwari, Joshi and Sawant are remanded in police custody till March 3," the judge said.

"The offence needs to be investigated and there is a possibility of involvement of bank officers in diverting money. The investigating officer has to confront the accused with various documents," the judge said.

According to the remand report filed by the CBI, Tiwari was working as chief manager in Forex Department and was incharge during the period from 2015 to 2017, but he did not monitor the fraudulent and illegal LoUs which were being issued by Shetty.

The agency said Tiwari issued circulars in February 2016 and February 2017 for keeping a check on LoUs sent through SWIFT terminal of the bank, but neither did he take any follow-up nor initiated any steps to see why his instructions were not being followed by Shetty, Joshi and Sawant.

"His deliberate acts of omission led to the continuance of concealment and largescale liabilities of PNB to foreign banks," the agency said.

The CBI said Joshi deliberately did not submit daily reports between the year 2015 and 2018 in respect of SWIFT messages and aided and abetted in the conspiracy to cheat PNB to the tune of hundreds of crores.

"Even after having circulars for keeping a check on LOUs sent through SWIFT terminal of the bank and whether the same were not entered in the Core Banking Solutions (CBS), Joshi, in conspiracy with others, deliberately ignored the instructions to avoid detection of the transactions," the CBI said.

On Sawant's role, the agency said he deliberately didn't check the details of SWIFT messages sent daily and whether the same were entered in the CBS of PNB.

The agency also said that the accused persons are not co-operating in the investigation and are shifting the entire responsibility on Shetty in the fraud and avoiding their responsibility in monitoring the transactions in SWIFT in spite of instructions.

During the arguments, the prosecutor said that Shetty told the CBI that such transactions of issuing LoUs were going on since 2008.

Arguing for the accused trio, their lawyer Prassanna Bangale told the court that Shetty was the perpetrator of the crime who left no trace through which the chief manager or the manager could know about the irregularities.

After Shetty retired in May 2017, Joshi took over and he reported about this scam to the bank which was later brought to the notice of the CBI, he said.

"The person who was instrumental in bringing out the case has been arrested," the lawyer said.

The CBI last Saturday arrested Shetty, Manoj Kharat, a single window operator of PNB, and Hemant Bhat, authorised signatory of Nirav Modi.

On January 31, the CBI registered an FIR against diamantaire Modi, his companies and uncle Mehul Choski.

The FIR has listed eight fraudulent transactions worth over Rs 280 crore but based on further complaints from the bank the CBI now says the amount investigated in the first FIR is over Rs 6,498 crore, involving 150 LoUs allegedly fraudulently issued by Shetty and Kharat.

The remaining 150 fraudulent LoUs worth over Rs 4,886 crore issued for Gitanjali group of companies are part of the second FIR registered yesterday by the agency against Choksi and his companies Gitanjali Gems, Nakshatra Brands and Gili.

All these LoUs were issued or renewed during 2017-18, the officials had said.
Despite stiff opposition from its long-term ally Shiv Sena, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis Tuesday exuded confidence that the will surely be launched, but only after talks with all the stakeholders.

"For Ratnagiri refinery I have spoken to Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. We will talk to them again and also with other stakeholders and provide all the details. It is a greener refinery than the one in Chembur, Mumbai.

"We have not signed an agreement yet, but we will do it," Fadnavis told reporters at the investor summit here sounding confident.

Thackeray had recently met Fadnavis to convey his party's concerns over the Rs 1.5-trillion mega refinery and petrochemical complex proposed to be set up near Rajapur in Ratnagiri district of the Konkan region.

If implemented this will be largest single-location refinery in the world.

Local residents, mostly fishermen and farmers, have been opposing the project on the grounds that it would take away their livelihoods, disturb the ecology of the entire region, and expose the Konkan region to further industrial exploitation.

State-owned IndianOil, Bharat Petroleum and the ONGC- owned Hindustan Petroleum are building the integrated complex with a refining capacity of 60 million tonne per annum at Babulwadi in the Rajapur taluka of the Ratnagiri district.

Meanwhile, Fadnavis also informed that his government has already acquired around 70 per cent of land required for the Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway project.

"We have acquired every inch of land for the project by consent only. The remaining 30 per cent will also be acquired by consent," he added.

(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.)
State-run entity Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) hopes to start mining at its Kodingamali bauxite quarry within two months, a top company official said. The opening of the Kodingamali lease would mark OMC's entry into bauxite mining.

As of now, it is an established player in iron ore and chromite excavation. Though OMC has a few other bauxite mines in its kitty, they have not been able to start operations as they lack the regulatory clearances. Bauxite deposits at Karlapat and Sasubohumali, despite being reserved in OMC's favour, have not opened up for want of environment and forest ...
The daily dose of news on the Sunjwan terror attack, and the high pitched debates (there was one in which two people jumped up from their seats because sitting down and shouting apparently does not convey the true depth of your feelings), have now been replaced by the Nirav Modi loot. The media has moved on to the next sensational story but for the Indian Army, the problem of protecting its camps remains a live issue.

I was the Army Commander when camps and garrisons like the Mohura gun position, Uri and Nagrota were breached by terrorists, causing a large number of casualties. I ...

Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal. They do not reflect the view/s of Business Standard.
Breaking his silence over the Rs 114 billion fraud at India's second-biggest bank, PNB, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday said the state will chase down cheaters to the end even as he took the management of the lender to task for its failure to check the delinquents.

Without naming either the alleged kingpin of the fraud, billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi, or Punjab National Bank, Jaitley questioned the ethics of some businesses in the country and asked as to why the bank's internal and external auditors could not detect the fraud which had been going on for 7 long ...
At least thirteen militants were killed in clashes with the Afghan security forces in western Farah province of Afghanistan.

According to The Khaama Press, the incident took place late on Monday night in the vicinity of Bala Bolok district after a large number of militants launched coordinated attacks on security posts.

Provincial governor's spokesman Mohammad Nasir Mehri confirmed the incident and said at least eight policemen were also killed in the attack.

Earlier in January, at least 21 militants, including Pakistani nationals, were killed in the latest airstrikes carried out in the western Farah province.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In less than two years of its launch, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) (2016-20), the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) registered 3,16,671 placements as on February 2018.

With nearly 55 percent successful placements, the Short-Term Training Program (STT) under PMKVY (2016-20) has successfully trained over 13 lakh candidates, of which over nine lakhs have been certified till February 2018. Placements have been facilitated for 5.98 lakh candidates who were certified by the end of November 2017.

Placements under the PMKVY are categorised into wage and self-employment. Approximately 76 percent of the candidates have been placed in wage employment and 24 percent placed in self-employment/ entrepreneurship. 80 percent of the candidates placed in wage employment across various sectors such as electronics and hardware, apparel, beauty and wellness, agriculture, retail, logistics, leather, telecom, security, textiles and handlooms.

"PMKVY (2016-2020) scheme is closely aligned with the industry requirement of a job-ready workforce. Embarking on the Skill India Mission, our endeavour has been to provide superlative quality training in industry relevant job role. The Skill India Mission also promotes entrepreneurship, which is further supported by Mudra Loans and other financial provisions," said Rajesh Agrawal, Joint Secretary and CVO, MSDE.

"Self-employed candidates are encouraged and supported in availing Mudra Loans through the UdyamiMitra Portal. Currently more than 10,000 candidates have applied for these loans," he added.

The PMKVY (2016-20), launched in November 2016 with an outlay of Rs. 12,000 crores, is the biggest training and certification program of the Government of India. It aims to skill one crore youth by 2020. In nearly sixteen months of its launch, the scheme has certified over 13 lakh candidates under its two different programs - Short Term Trainings and Special Projects. The scheme's other component - Recognition of Prior Learning is a certification program that gives due importance to learning as an outcome rather than learning as process.

The STT program of PMKVY (2016-20), imparted through the National Skill Development Corporation's (NSDC) approved training centres, is aimed at benefitting youth who are either school/college dropouts or unemployed. Apart from skills training, the program comprises orientation in soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial and digital literacy. The program encompassing 200 - 1,000 hours of skill training, is designed according to varied job roles.

The other component of PMKVY (2016-20), is Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) comprising 12 - 80 hours of training. It provides recognition to the informal learning or learning through work to get equal acceptance as the formal levels of education. Focusing on workforce in the unorganised sectors, RPL is designed for those who already have a job or are self- employed and require up-skilling and certification for better prospects.

Till date, more than 4.5 lakh candidates have been certified under this component of PMKVY (2016-20).

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At least two persons were apprehended by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) here on Tuesday for trafficking 406 Indian star tortoises.

The 'vulnerable' species were seized at Andhra Pradesh's Vijayawada Railway Station, when two lady passengers tried to export the tortoises in four bags from Kadiri to Bhubaneswar.

The duo admitted that they were asked to hand the tortoises over to some person for export out of India to Bangladesh.

According to the DRI, the species with the zoological name 'Goechelone elegans' has been declared endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and prohibited for export under Foreign Trade policy.

The seized tortoises were later handed over to Vijayawada Forest Range officer for safe custody and further action.

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Air India has introduced a non-stop flight on Tuesday from New Delhi to Amritsar in Punjab and Amritsar to Birmingham in the United Kingdom.

The inaugural flight was flagged off from Amritsar airport by Vijay Sampla the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment in the presence of other dignitaries including Pankaj Srivastava the Director of Air India, Shwait Malik and Gurjeet Singh Aujla Member of Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha respectively.

Later, a ceremonial cake was also cut on the occasion.

The direct flight is scheduled to operate twice in each week on Tuesday and Thursday on the Delhi- Amritsar-Birmingham-Amritsar-Delhi route.

The Dreamliner aircraft AI 117 will take off from the Indira Gandhi International airport in New Delhi at 11:20 am and is scheduled to reach Amritsar at 12:25 am.

After a break, the flight will then depart from Amritsar at 1:55 pm and is scheduled to reach Birmingham at 5:15 pm.

The return flight will take off from Birmingham at 6:45 pm and reach Amritsar the next day at 7:45 am. After a brief break, the flight will depart for Amritsar at 9:15 am and will arrive at Delhi at 10:30 am.

Air India said to ANI, " It expects the new flight to cater to the needs of the ethnic communities by ensuring a hassle-free travel to the city of Golden Temple and will also help to enhance tourism and trade relations in general between the two countries in general".

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The Delhi Police on Tuesday said another Delhi Minister has filed a complaint alleging that he was assaulted at the Delhi Secretariat.

"Another complaint has been filed by a Delhi Minister, wherein he has said that he was assaulted while he was taking the lift in Delhi Secretariat. We have registered the case and investigation has been initiated," Delhi Police Spokesperson Deependra Pathak told press.

Earlier in the day, the Aam Admi Party (AAP) alleged that its leaders, Imran Hussain and Ashish Khetan, were assaulted at the Delhi Secretariat late Monday night.

The allegation came after Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash had accused two AAP MLAs of beating him at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence in his presence on Monday.

Pathak informed that an investigation has also begun into the Delhi Chief Secretary's assault case.

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China is planning to lift over 4,00,000 people out of poverty within this year in its restive Xinjiang autonomous region in northwestern China, as the Chinese Government fears a rise in numbers of local armed groups.

According to Xinhua, the country has launched a three-year poverty eradication plan, which will specially focus in 22 poorest counties of Xinjiang province.

Under the new plan, officials will be sent to 192 areas in the 22 counties and stay there until 2020. Over 100 volunteers will assist the officials in the anti-poverty drive.

The drive is seen as a push by China's ruling Communist Party to tackle rural poverty in the country and to raise the annual income of citizens above the official poverty line of USD 362 by 2020.

Of the 6.1 billion yuan (USD 964 million) anti-poverty fund allocated by the Xinjiang regional government in 2017, over 80 percent of the funds reached four prefectures in the province - Kashgar, Hotan, Kizilsu and Aksu.

Xinjiang is China's only Muslim-majority province. In recent years, hundreds of people have been killed in violence between Uighurs, who speak a Turkic language, and migrants from the Han Chinese ethnic majority.

China has launched a major security operation in response to deadly violent incidents that has ravaged the province, which Beijing blames it on the ethnic Uighur "separatists".

It is home to about 10 million Uighur Muslims who have stated that they routinely face discrimination along with cultural and religious repression. However, Beijing denies such allegations.

Also, Uighurs are ethnically different from the Chinese culture and regard themselves as culturally and ethnically close to Central Asian countries. They aspire to establish an independent state named "East Turkestan".

There are some fears that some Uighurs might have joined militant groups such as Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Last year, the IS released a video purportedly showing Uighur fighters training in Iraq and vowing to launch terrorist attacks in China.

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Bangladesh has provided Myanmar with a list of over 8,000 Rohingya refugees and has asked the latter to have their backgrounds checked before the repatriation process begins, its home ministry said on Saturday.

The list of 8,032 refugees from 1,673 households was handed over to Myanmarese Home Affairs Minister Lieutenant General Kyaw Swe by his Bangladeshi counterpart Asaduzzaman Khan during a bilateral meeting at the home ministry office in Dhaka on Friday.

The first group of the refugees on the list will be repatriated once their identity and their residence in Myanmar have been verified by the authorities, The Irrawaddy reported.

Myanmar's Home Affairs Ministry urged Bangladesh to investigate and provide information about a list of suspected members of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), the Rohingya militant group.

It said the two countries also discussed the pending launch of liaison offices in Myanmar's Maungdaw Township and Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar to coordinate security and combat the cross-border trade of illegal drugs.

U. Thein Swe, the Myanmarese Minister of Labour, Immigration and Population said on Monday that Myanmar would check that the listed refugees had resided in Myanmar within a week and then inform Bangladesh to start the repatriation.

Last month, Bangladesh and Myanmar have agreed on a two-year timeframe for the repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees.

The process, which was supposed to start from January 22 was delayed as some critics of the deal voiced concerns over the lack of security guarantees for those who would return.

Despite the ongoing preparations for repatriation, more than 2,500 Rohingyas have crossed into Bangladesh this year. According to government statistics, an average of 75 Rohingya refugees fled their villages in Myanmar every day between January 1 and February 15.

Rohingyas are a Muslim minority ethnic group in Myanmar. They have been regarded by many majority Buddhists as illegal migrants from Bangladesh.

There are more than 3,00,000 Rohingyas living in Bangladesh, who fled in earlier waves of violence from the Myanmarese Government since the last three decades.

The United Nations has called the violence against civilians 'ethnic cleansing', but the Myanmarese Government rejected the claims.

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The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued a bailable warrant against some Delhi University Students Union members over non-appearance in the court.

The involved DUSU students and office bearers had to appear in the court regarding a plea seeking the cleaning of defaced properties.

The plea sought a complete ban on defacement of public properties by Delhi University Students Union poll candidates.

Properties worth lakhs of rupees is defaced by candidates during the DUSU elections every year.

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The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended the interim relief of anticipatory bail to Milind Ramakant Ekbote, the prime accused in the Bhima-Koregaon violence, till March 14.

Now the Apex Court would hear the matter on March 14.

On January 1, the violence at Bhima Koregaon left one dead and injured several others, including 10 policemen.

Earlier on February 7, the Supreme Court granted interim protection from arrest to Ekbote.

The apex court bench headed by Justice Kurian Joseph granted Ekbote interim protection from arrest till February 20.

It also sought a response from the Maharashtra government on his plea for anticipatory bail.

On January 29, Ekbote's plea was mentioned before the bench, led by Justice Gavai after a sessions court refused to grant him any interim protection from arrest.

Earlier last month, a special court in Pune had rejected a plea for anticipatory bail filed by Ekbote, in regards to the same case.

Two FIRs were registered against Ekbote alleging his role in the violence at Bhima-Koregaon at a time when Dalits in huge numbers had gathered in Perne village to mark 200th year of the Battle of Bhima Koregaon.

Ekbote is facing charges for inciting violence, attempt to murder and atrocities against Dalits.

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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Brij Bhushan Sharan has equated Congress President Rahul Gandhi with a 'barking dog' after the latter launched an attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in connection with the over Rs 11000 crore Punjab Bank (PNB) fraud case.

Member of Parliament (MP) Sharan told the media, "Jaise vo kahavat hoti hai kutte bhaukte rehte hain haathi mast chaal mein chalta hai. PM desh ki seva mein lage hain jisko bhaukna hai bhauke (As there is a saying that dogs bark but elephant keeps on walking. Prime Minister Modi is serving the country, so whoever wants to bark should bark)."

Saran also said that Gandhi scion has no right to seek any explanation since the whole scam started during the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime.

"Rahul Gnadhi has no right to seek any explanation since the whole scam started during the Congress-led UPA regime. The present government is investigating. Currently, this scam has been exposed," Saran said.

He added that Rahul will start screaming when his brother-in-law (Robert Vadra) will be exposed, might be possible his mother (Sonia Gandhi) and he himself will be exposed.

The PNB has lodged two financial fraud complaints of Rs. 11400 crore and Rs 280 crore against famous designer jeweler Nirav Modi, his family members and Mehul Choksi, the owner of Gitanjali Gems.

The CBI filed a formal case charging four- Nirav Modi, his wife Ami, brother Nishal and Mehul Choksi- on January 31 over Rs. 280 crore fraud.

The Enforcement Directorate has conducted raids in many cities at various properties belonging to Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi.

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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday hit back at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for cornering the Centre in connection with the PNB bank fraud case and questioned the proximity between state finance minister Amit Mitra and Mehul Choksi, the co-accused in the 113 billion scam.

West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh told ANI and clarified that Nirav Modi was invited by an organisation to Davos and was not a part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's delegation, as alleged by the Opposition.

"Nirav Modi was invited by an organisation to Davos. He wasn't part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's delegation. The Chief Minister (Mamata Banerjee) is writing a letter to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley about it when her own minister Amit Mitra knows Mehul Choksi. He was invited to Bengal Business Summit 2017-18. What right do they have to blame BJP?," he said on Monday.

Earlier, Ghosh uploaded some pictures of Mitra with Choksi on social media which led to a major slugfest between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Opposition parties.

In three of the photographs, Mitra and the Geetanjali Jewels owner are seen along with others at a meeting.
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on Tuesday approved capital acquisition proposals worth Rs 1,850 crore, which primarily include procurement of Infantry Combat Vehicles (ICV) pegged at Rs 1,125 crore.

The proposals also include procurement of one Survey Training Vehicle (STV), whose construction will be undertaken by the Indian Shipyards at an estimated cost of Rs 626 crore.

"These include procurement of essential quantity of BMP-2 Infantry Combat Vehicles for mechanised infantry and other arms and services at an estimated cost of Rs 1125 crore from the Ordinance Factory Board (OFB)," the Ministry said in a statement.

The Infantry Combat Vehicle is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to carry infantry into battle and provide direct fire support. The Survey Training Vessel will augment the Navy's growing hydrographic needs in ports, harbours and exclusive economic zones.

A week ago, the Defence Ministry had approved capital acquisition proposals worth Rs 15,935 crore, which included the purchase of 7.40 lakh assault rifles, 5,719 sniper rifles and light machine guns.

Earlier in the month, the DAC had fast-tracked procurement of rifles, carbines and LMGs to equip the soldiers on the border with modern and more effective equipment.

The approval to the proposals come amid increasing hostilities by Pakistan along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir as well as China's aggressive posturing in several sectors along the nearly 4,000-km-long Sino-India border.

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CreditStacks, a company that offers the United States-based premium credit cards to prime, new-to-credit customers, announced on Tuesday the launch of CreditStacks card, offering global professionals who relocate to the United States.

Issued by First Century Bank, N.A., the CreditStacks Mastercard credit offering aims to fulfill a crucial and fundamental need for global professionals relocating to the U.S. on a work visa.

Every professional moving to the U.S. faces the credit paradox: no matter how much a person earns or how stellar of a track record he or she might have, it is extremely difficult to secure a credit card without local employment history, SSN or credit history.

The CreditStacks card is a revolutionary product that flips the script on the credit paradox, providing qualifying applicants with a generous credit line with great terms from day one.

"Mastercard remains committed to helping financially underserved consumers connect to financial networks to unlock their economic potential and enable them in their everyday lives," said EVP, Digital Partnerships, Mastercard, Sherri Haymond.

"To meet the needs of today's increasingly global consumer, payment providers, issuers and merchants must come together to create solutions that are accessible and provide added value beyond payments. Our partnership with CreditStacks is a great example of how we are delivering on that," Haymond added.

With the CreditStacks' revolutionary behavioral risk models, relocatees are seen for who they really are: creditworthy professionals that can now get the card they deserve and start their American life the way they should.

As such, relocatees no longer need to rely on traditional credit scoring that is practiced by most financial institutions.

"I remember the first time I went to the bank in the U.S. I had just successfully sold a company I founded and moved to the U.S. I was talking to the leading thinkers in the industry, and I found myself standing in front of a clerk at the bank who was explaining that since I don't have any credit history all I could get was a debit card. Instead of seeing it as a problem, I saw it as a challenge," said CEO, CreditStacks, Elnor Rozenrot.

"We couldn't find a credit company that would treat us right, so we started our own," Rozenrot added.

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Union Minister Dhamendra Pradhan on Tuesday paid a visit to the family of a farmer, who had committed suicide in Odisha.

The deceased has been identified as Khemsagar Biswal, who resided at Nuapalli village in Gaisilet block Bargarh in Odisha. He had allegedly committed suicide on February 15 by consuming poison.

He was later admitted to Bargarh district headquarters hospital in a critical condition. He was then shifted to Burla, a nearby village in Odisha, where he succumbed to poison after two days.

In 2015 the farmer had borrowed a huge amount of money from private lenders for her daughter's wedding.

According to the family, the farmer was unable to pay-off the debts due to the continuous crop failure since three years causing immense distress to the entire family.

The Union Minister also sat along the village panchayat and others members of the village to discuss their day-to-day problems.

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The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) led a delegation of U.S. companies to meet with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis during the Magnetic Maharashtra

In order to promote opportunities for foreign investors, the state launched Magnetic Maharashtra, its first ever state investor summit to offer insights and opportunities for collaborations between India and global industry leaders.

Pradeep Lankapalli, Managing Director for Thomson Reuters in India and Co-Chair of USISPF's Financial Services committee lauded the chief minister's vision and steps taken to promote foreign investments.

"The Chief Minister's aim of job growth along with his economic objectives makes Maharashtra an ideal state for companies like Thomson Reuters to expand their investment portfolio," he said.

"Maharashtra is leading the way in manufacturing and has helped India jump the ranks in ease of doing The state is a role model for other Indian states, and our member companies are looking to invest in states like Maharashtra, where there is great potential for growth," added President of USISPF, Mukesh Aghi.

USISPF's multi-sectoral delegation included companies like Exxon Mobil, Paypal, Huntsman, Ecolab, Thomson Reuters, Azure Power, Corning, and SannamS4.

Fadnavis assured the companies of his commitment to strengthening their relationship with the state government.

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The Delhi High Court on Tuesday extended a ban on the student protests conducted near the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi.

The court has restrained the students from protesting within 100 meters of admin block of the university until March 9.

Earlier on February 15, a group of JNU students violated the court order by allegedly blocking the entry of the administration block demanding a meeting with the Vice-chancellor Dinesh Kumar against the compulsory attendance system imposed on the university students.

The Delhi High Court then issued a notice to the university office bearers on a plea seeking action against certain students who took part in the protests and sought a reply by February 20.

The next date for hearing of the case is March 9.

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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday attached movable and immovable properties worth Rs 1.80 crore in the name of former Patna District Magistrate Pradeep Kumar.

According to the ED, the properties were attached on the basis of charge sheets filed by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under various sections of the Indian Penal Code/Prevention of Corruption Act for indulging in criminal conspiracy (120B IPC), cheating, dishonestly inducing delivery of property (420 IPC), forgery of valuable security, using as genuine a forged document or electronic record (471 IPC) and criminal misconduct by a public servant (13 PC Act).

Presently working as Divisional Commissioner of Santhal Pargana in Jharkhand, Kumar has been charge sheeted in the NRHM Scam, Procurement of Mobile Clinic and possession of disproportionate assets.

During investigation it was found that Kumar amassed huge properties since his posting as District Magistrate of Patna, the ED said in a statement.

Kumar, an IAS officer of 1991 batch, was working in Bihar till the formation of Jharkhand.

The IAS official formed Nandlal HUF with the sole intent of money laundering, where his brother Rajendra Kumar was made dummy Karta.

A partnership firm namely M/s Essar Enterprises was also formed by his supporter Shyamal Chakravarty and brother Rajendra Kumar to launder the proceeds of crime generated by Kumar so that acquisition of properties can be projected and claimed as untainted.

The ED attached one flat in Ranchi and one Udaipur house (both in the name of Pradeep Kumar), one plot in Bengaluru and one house in Udaipur (in the name of Rajendra Kumar), and one Flat at Kolkata in the name of Nand Lal HUF and Shyamal Chakravarty.

Further investigation is in progress, the ED said.

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Hollywood actor George Clooney and his barrister-wife Amal Clooney have donated around USD 500,000 in the name of their eight-month-old twins, Ella and Alexander, to a march calling for stricter gun laws in the United States.

The couple has also announced taking part in 'The March for Our Lives' event.

'The March for Our Lives' event, announced by the survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, is scheduled to take place on March 24, The People reported.

In a statement, Clooney praised the survivors of the Florida mass school shooting for their bravery.

"Amal and I are so inspired by the courage and eloquence of these young men and women from Stoneman Douglas High School. Our family will be there on March 24 to stand side by side with this incredible generation of young people from all over the country, and in the name of our children Ella and Alexander, we are donating USD 500,000 to help pay for this groundbreaking event. Our children's lives depend on it," he said in a statement.

Survivors of the Florida mass shooting rallied in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday and called for tougher gun laws. One of the survivors named, Emma Gonzalez, demanded the lawmakers to take steps to prevent mass school shootings in the future.

"What we're trying to do here [with] 'March For Our Lives' is say, the adult politicians have been playing around while my generation has been losing our lives," said Cameron Kasky, an 11th-grade student of the high school.

"At the end of the day, this isn't a red and blue thing. This isn't Democrats or Republicans. This is about everybody and how we are begging for our lives," he added. "We need to make real change here and that's exactly what we're going to do," Kasky added.

The incident happened at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, a town about 50km north of Fort Lauderdale in Florida, shortly before the school session was getting over on Wednesday.

Nineteen-year-old Nikolas Cruz, the shooter, who was a former student and was expelled from the high school for disciplinary reasons, was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder.

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A Hindu organisation of Tamil Nadu, Hindu Munnani has objected to actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan's scheduled visit to former president APJ Abdul Kalam's alma mater in Rameswaram, saying schools must not be politicised.

In this regard, Hindu Munnani District President gave a letter to the district collector S. Natarajan, on Tuesday.

Haasan is set to launch his political party on Wednesday, and will mark the beginning of his political journey with a journey of Kalam's hometown, Rameswaram where he will be visiting the APJ Kalam School.

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Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan on Tuesday said that he was entering into 'only because the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party is bad'.

"I am entering only because the ruling AIADMK party is bad, that is why I am not meeting any of them," he said to the media.

Haasan will kick off his state-wide tour on Wednesday with the launch of his political party Tamil Nadu's Madurai.

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal will be attending Haasan's party launch in Madurai.

According to reports, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar are also invited to attend the launch although their participation has not been confirmed yet.

In November last year, Haasan had confirmed his political entry by announcing the launch of a whistleblower app.

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Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Association Secretary Manisha Saxena on Tuesday commented on the alleged assault of Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash by Aam Aadmi Party MLAs and termed it as a "planned criminal conspiracy".

Speaking to media here after a meeting with Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Saxena said, "the bureaucrat body has asked Baijal to take strict action. A police complaint had already been filed."

Saxena further said that the officers would work with a black band as a mark of protest and that the association has also filed a police complaint.

"There should be criminal action against everyone involved. Also, the association will meet Home Minister Rajnath Singh and President Ram Nath Kovind to highlight the issue," Saxena said.

In a complaint letter submitted to the Delhi Police, the Delhi Chief Secretary has alleged that he was manhandled and abused at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence by two lawmakers of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) late last night.

Prakash has alleged that he was attacked in the presence of the Chief Minister after being summoned for discussions on Aadhar-related problems.

Meanwhile, AAP in an official statement clarified its stance saying that a meeting was held at the Chief Minister's residence regarding Aadhar related problems.

"About 2.5 lakh families deprived of rations last month due to faulty implementation of Aadhar. MLAs were under tremendous pressure from the public. There was a meeting of MLAs at CM residence," said an official statement by the AAP.

The statement further said that the Chief Secretary refused to answer questions saying that he "wasn't answerable to MLAs and the chief minister" but only to the Lieutenant Governor.

"He used bad language against some MLAs and left without answering any questions. Now he's making ludicrous allegations," the statement added.

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A Delhi court on Tuesday extended the judicial custody of Indrani Mukerjea for 14 days in connection with a case related to INX Media.

Earlier, the court had sent Mukerjea to 14-day judicial custody.

On February 5, a special court ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to arrest Indrani.

Indrani, a prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, is currently lodged in Mumbai's Byculla jail.

Earlier on February 2, a Mumbai Court had allowed a production warrant against Indrani from a Delhi court after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) told the court that there were discrepancies in the income tax details of INX Media.

The probe agency had earlier registered a case against INX Media, its founder Peter Mukerjea and his wife Indrani under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

INX Media has been accused of violating Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) guidelines while receiving investments from Mauritius.

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram's son Karti is also an accused in the case, which relates to FIPB approval granted in 2006 for receipt of funds by INX Media.

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Kerala's Private Bus Operators Association on Tuesday called off their strike.

The move came after association's representatives met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan earlier this morning.

Bus services in Kochi were halted after private bus operators' started a strike here as their proposal to increase bus fares and affect a hike in students' concession was rejected by the state government.

The government had on February 14 raised the minimum bus fare from Rs.7 to Rs. 8.

Demanding that the minimum bus fare be hiked to Rs 10 and the students' concession from the prevailing Re 1 to Rs 5, the private bus operators in the state went on the indefinite strike on February 16.

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Left affiliated trade unions staged a protest against the Central and State governments, in Kolkata on Tuesday, over several grievances.

Issues like unemployment, minimum wages, the Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance (FRDI) Bill were raised by the protesters.

Heavy Police deployment was also in place to ensure no untoward incidents took place.

All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), and All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) were some of the trade unions that carried out demonstrations.

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Since its inception, Lakme Fashion has always lent support to young talent and provided them with relevant opportunities to grow within the fashion industry.

In line with these efforts, IMG Reliance and Lakme Fashion Week have partnered with global co working giant, WeWork, and launched a fashion incubation program.

The Fashion Incubation Programme kicked off recently with the orientation of the first batch of designers at WeWork in Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai. A similar one will be held at WeWork in Gurgaon on 1st March.

Designers who have been selected for the first batch of the orientation were Saaksha Bhat and Kinnari Kamat of the label Saaksha Kinni and Anjali Patel Mehta of the label Verandah, who showcased their respective collections at Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2018. The orientation was also attended by creative design entrepreneurs in the sustainable fashion space including Stefano Funari, Shubhi Sachan, Tanushri Shukla andDarshana Gajare.

This is an exclusive opportunity for young designers to access space at WeWork in Mumbai or Gurgaon for a period of three months. The key objective of the program is to help young designers to be part of a larger progressive movement that WeWork provides with access to cross industry learning which is missing in the fashion industry. This initiative promises to accelerate growth with opportunities to network and learn from peers in diverse fields of creativity and

The program will run in parallel across Mumbai and Gurgaon with 80 designers who would be given the opportunity to use the WeWork space. While the first batch is being selected by IMGR, there will be a registration process for future batches. Designers who are interested to apply can register at www.fashionincubator.splashthat.com/ or follow Lakme Fashion Week social media handles for the eligibility criteria. The programme will run for a year till February next year in 4 batches of 20 designers each.

"We are truly excited and honoured to be given this opportunity Lakme Fashion Week and IMG Reliance to use the WeWork office spaces. Being a start-up it is tough enough to maintain a large factory space with tailors, masters, etc without adding on the investment needed to own a studio. It's important for designers to have a nice enough place to hold meetings and have a space where potential clients can view your designs without having to come to a factory that is bustling, crowded and not the neatest of environments," said Designer Saaksha Bhat of label Saaksha Kinni.

"Working out of the WeWork offices is also an amazing opportunity to meet likeminded people such as photographers, social media experts and graphic designers who you can then collaborate with and who you may not have met in other circumstances. In terms of the WeWork Infrastructure itself, we are super excited to host shoots here it is aesthetically perfect and saves us the cost of renting studios," she added.

The key objective of WeWork is to create a world where people make a life, not just a living. WeWork builds workspaces of the future, by providing the best of design, technology and services to increase productivity, creativity and collaboration. Aside from their beautiful interiors, WeWork spaces are entirely serviced, allowing one to focus all their energies on delivering amazing work.

The Fashion Incubation Program is a natural extension of WeWork's mission to empower creators. It stems from the idea of creating a fashion and design hub, where upcoming creative entrepreneurs will be given the chance to turn their ideas into reality at the WeWork office spaces, through much-needed infrastructure and networking opportunities.

All WeWork spaces include facilities such as Wi-Fi, unlimited coffee and beer, conference room access, daily events and space to curate pop-ups and most importantly, the chance to be a part of a growing community of young, progressive entrepreneurs who are game-changers in diverse fields.

The spaces are carefully designed to create various environments that are suited to all types of work needs-from brainstorming areas and open spaces to unwind, phone booths for private conversations, and lounge areas to socialize to quiet areas and private cabins for teams small and large. Dedicated community teams create a sense of belonging for all the members, encouraging connections and cross-learning.

"A fun, collaborative workspace - WeWork - resonates with Lakme Fashion Week's idea of providing upcoming talent with ample opportunities to grow, create and excel. Through this partnership, LFW aims at taking yet another step towards helping the next generation of fashion talent with a workspace that allows creativity to flow and path breaking ideas to manifest without worrying about the necessities," said Jaspreet Chandok, Head of Fashion at IMG Reliance.

"WeWork is a platform for creators and we truly believe in offering a holistic creative experience in our workspaces. By partnering with Lakme Fashion Week for this incubation program, we believe that we are nurturing and encouraging some of the best creative minds that will go on to do their best work and will inspire our member community. As an integral part of the WeWork experience, our goal is to support and inspire our community in the best possible manner," said Ryan Bennett, General Manager, WeWork India.

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Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi on Tuesday criticised the U.N. Security Council, saying it has not implemented the resolutions on Kashmir.

Lodhi took to Twitter and said, "86 in the SC and over 700 resolutions in the U N General Assembly none have been implemented We feel the same about resolutions on Kashmir (sic)."

Her statement remark came after the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the United Nations Security Council in New York City on Tuesday and called for a "multilateral international mechanism" for the peace process.

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Maxion Wheels, the world's largest wheel manufacturer, today held a ground breaking ceremony (Bhoomi Poojan) on the future site of its 25,000 square meters plant in Khed City, Pune.

Hundreds of guests, including company dignitaries, customers, suppliers and associates attended the traditional Hindu event, which included a plaque unveiling and traditional ground breaking ritual.

"With our new Pune passenger car aluminum wheel plant, Maxion Wheels becomes the first global light vehicle aluminum wheel producer in the Indian market. We responded to our growing global customers' requests, and made the investment to join them in the world's fastest-growing economy. When our project is complete, we will produce four million aluminum wheels annually," said Maxion Wheels' Chief Executive Officer, Pieter Klinkers.

"In this first phase, an investment of more than $50 million USD will be spent on the land and state-of-the-art plant and equipment for the manufacturing of two million wheels annually. Start of production is expected in the third quarter of 2019," he added.

The new wholly-owned operation, expected to initially bring more than 1,000 new direct and indirect jobs to the region, will produce low pressure die cast aluminum wheels with a high-end wheel finish.

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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Monday vowed to continue the fight for the state's interests.

Naidu said, "The Center should do justice to our state. I am asking only for justice."

Naidu's party, Telugu Desam Party (TDP), has been protesting in the parliament alleging that union budget 2018 neglected Andhra Pradesh.

"Even the 4th budget of the Democratic Alliance (NDA) is disappointing. That's why we started agitation in parliament. But both YSRCP, BJP are criticizing me. The Congress is blaming me. It is not good," Naidu said.

He added: "However, I will continue my fight. In the forthcoming parliament meetings, we will continue our fight. For that we will take help of all the political parties."

Naidu also accused Congress of doing injustice at the time of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

"The Congress did injustice at the time of bifurcation. Now, the BJP is not properly implementing the promises. I went to Delhi 29 times, talked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all central leaders, but nothing much is achieved," Naidu said.

The Chief Minister said the TDP will go to any extent to protect the interests of Andhra Pradesh.

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Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday continued his tirade against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that he was "unfit to continue" as the prime minister.

Speaking to media, the Chief Minister said Prime Minister Modi is overlooking many key issues concerning the state and the country.

"Narendra Modi is not speaking like a prime minister. There are so many issues concerning the state and the country but he has not opened his mouth. He is making politically motivated and irresponsible statements. He is unfit to continue as prime minister," he said.

His remark comes a day after Prime Minister Modi lashed out at the Karnataka government over corruption while saying new scams and charges of graft were surfacing "every day" under its watch.

Prime Minister Modi and Siddaramaiah have been engaging in the war of words and verbally attacking each other during a public rally in the view of upcoming assembly elections in the state.

Earlier while addressing a public rally, Prime Minister Modi had accused the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government of setting new records in corruption and said the countdown for its exit had begun.

The legislative assembly election in Karnataka will be held in April-May this year to elect members from the 224 constituencies in the state.

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In a humanitarian gesture, two New York state troopers paid for a woman to fly to Florida and attend the funeral of a childhood friend who was killed in the school shooting last week.

Robert Troy and Thomas Karasinski met Jordana Judson, 23, at New York's LaGuardia airport on Thursday, a day after the tragic incident occurred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, claiming 17 lives.

Judson, who had graduated from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, said that her family was close with the family of Meadow Pollack, who was among the 17 people killed, reported the Hill.

"They were like our second family our whole lives," Judson said of the Pollacks.

According to the several media reports, Judson tried to buy a plane ticket to Florida, but learned that it would cost nearly $700, which she couldn't afford. When Judson asked for a bereavement discount, the airline company declined to accommodate her.

That is when the state troopers handed over their credit cards.

"I look up, and the state troopers are standing there, and they're both handing over their credit cards," she recalled. "I'm telling them that they don't have to do this. This is crazy. They said: 'It's already done. We want you to be home with their families. This is a tough time,"

"It was very heart-warming. It made my heart full and heavy at the same time," she added.

19-year-old Nikolas Cruz gunned down at least 17 people on Wednesday at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. He was a former student and was expelled from the school for disciplinary reasons.

Cruz has been booked on 17 counts of premeditated murder.

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India's leading industry Chamber PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry has expressed concern over the crisis triggered in the banking industry post Punjab National Bank episode. PHD Chamber is surprised how the banks internal audit system failed to detect anomalies in transactions leading to the alleged fraudulent loans given out to the borrowers.

Blaming the systematic failure of the internal audit system, President, PHD Chamber, Anil Khaitan said, "The current situation is worrying for Indian industry since it may lead to unnecessary tightening of norms and procedures in raising capital from banks. This will in turn hurt the positive sentiment generated in ease of doing and can potentially gravelly impact the policy."

PHD Chamber has also made an appeal to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the banking industry to ensure that genuine borrowers are not adversely impacted by this move. "What seems like a failure of a bank's internal audit system and an isolated fraud as alleged should not be used to penalize genuine borrowers and their capital needs. The industry is on the threshold of a growth trajectory and any change in banking processes can have an adverse impact," added Khaitan.

The PHD Chamber feels that instead of making changes in the loan seeking mechanism, stringent steps should be taken by the Central Bank to strengthen the banks' internal audit procedures.

It also appeals to the RBI to put in place technology driven norms and processes to ensure incidents like this one are not repeated and any loopholes in the system are plugged.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday lauded farmers and their agricultural methods, stating that because of them, the production of pulses increased from 17 million tonnes to 25 million tonnes.

Prime Minister Modi highlighted the government's commitment to doubling farmers' incomes by 2022 at the Conference on Agriculture.

"It is because of the skills of our farmers that produce of pulses increased from 17 million tonnes to 25 million tonnes, in the last one year," Prime Minister Modi said while addressing the gathering.

"The Government will ensure time-bound completion of the 99 irrigation projects pending since the last 2-3 decades. So for this purpose, Rs 80,000 crore has been allocated," he added.

Further, talking about co-operative federalism, Prime Minister Modi said that the welfare of farmers would be done only when the Centre and state will work together to achieve the pre-set target.

Prime Minister Modi said that 22,000 rural markets would be upgraded so as to provide a market for farm produce within 5-15 km distance of production points. The government, he said, was also encouraging Farmer Producer Organisation, the provision for agri-credit was raised to 11 lakh crore rupees from 8 lakh crore rupees.

Prime Minister Modi also noted that promoting the use of solar energy, converting agriculture waste into wealth and economical use of crop residue will also help in doubling of farmers' income by 2022.

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday hit out at United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government over Punjab Bank (PNB) fraud case and said 'scams are not of our tenure, these are UPA's scams'.

For the unversed, the PNB detected a 1.77 billion dollar scam, in which jeweller Nirav Modi acquired fraudulent letters of undertaking from one of its branches for overseas credit from other Indian lenders.

"These scams are not of our (BJP) tenure, these are UPA's scams. We are in fact bringing them out and taking appropriate action," Adityanath told ANI.

Further speaking on Uttar Pradesh Investors Summit (UPIS) 2018 which is scheduled for Feb 21, 22 in Lucknow city, Chief Minister said "in the past the state had earned a bad name due to corruption and crime. So we have worked on changing it, which in turn boosted investors' confidence and the results of the same are visible to everyone," he added.

The two-day event aims to showcase the investment opportunities and potential in the various sectors of Uttar Pradesh.

UPIS 2018 will offer a global platform, which will bring together heads of states and governments, ministers, leaders from the corporate world, senior policy makers, heads of international institutions and academia from around the world to further the cause of economic development in the state and promote cooperation.

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The lawyer of businessman and the main accused in Punjab Bank (PNB) scam Nirav Modi on Tuesday said that case against his client will collapse just like 2G scam and Bofors matter.

Speaking to ANI, Vijay Aggarwal said that probe agencies will not be able to prove charges against Nirav Modi in the court of law.

"Like 2G Scam and Bofors matter this case will also collapse. Agencies are making noises in the media but they will not be able to prove the charges in a court of law. I am sure Nirav Modi will not be found guilty," the lawyer said.

The alleged fraudulent transactions to the tune of over Rs 11300 crore were made through letters of understanding issued by the PNB.

Niravi Modi and Gitanjali Gems Chairman and Managing Director Mehul Choksi have been accused of doing so.

Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are probing the matter and conducting searches and raids at various locations linked with Nirav Modi and Gitanjali Gems.

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.

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A policeman suffered bullet injuries in an encounter between the Uttar Pradesh Police and criminals in Greater Noida's Kasna.

The incident took place on Monday where a criminal was also injured.

Both the injured have been shifted to the nearby the nearby hospital for treatment.

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The Rajasthan government will soon table a bill in the state assembly seeking death penalty for those convicted of raping minors.

Rajasthan minister Gulab Chand Kataria told ANI that his government similar to that of Madhya Pradesh is mulling to bring a law under which, those convicted of raping minors will be executed.

"We are working on bringing a law similar to that has been made in Madhya Pradesh which awards death for the rape of children aged 12 or below. It will be tabled in the assembly when it is ready," he said.

The Madhya Pradesh Assembly on December 4 last year, unanimously passed 'The Penal Law (Madhya Pradesh Amendment) Bill-2017' to award death sentence to those found guilty of raping girls aged 12 or below.

As per the Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) 2016 report, cases of crime against children have become rampant in Rajasthan in the recent past.

The BJP-ruled state recorded 4,034 such cases in 2016, which is 3.8 percent of the crimes against children (98,344) registered across the country. In 2015, the state had registered 3,689 cases of crime against children.

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Chief Minister Raman Singh on Tuesday said that the allegation made by the Congress party in the state Legislative Assembly that he had invited an associate company of PNB fraud case accused Nirav Modi, to invest in the state were 'baseless and hypothetical'.

Singh said Congress has been levelling "baseless and hypothetical charges" as they don't have any other issue left to raise in the House.

"This is hypothetical. The opposition had a dream one night and made such allegation. In the year 2014, a survey was conducted by these companies, after which when the reports came they went out of India," said Singh.

Singh's statements came after 30 Congress MLAs were suspended from Chhattisgarh Assembly after they raised protest over the chief minister's invitation to Metals and Mining Corporation Rio Tinto for investment in the state, alleging that the corporation has connections with Nirav Modi and is "blacklisted" in Madhya Pradesh.

Nirav Modi's company Firestone Diamond had partnered with Rio Tinto in 2010 to sell pink diamonds in India.

Chief Minister Singh speaking on the same issue called it an allegation of imagination saying that Rio Tinto had "fully gone out of India" and are not doing any kind of work here.

"For the first time in fourteen years, something good is happening. So if the opposition wants to protest for a political reason they should find something else to protest on. The uproar created by Congress only means that the party is left with no reason where they could put an allegation on the government," Singh added.

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At least 77 people were killed and over 40 were injured in fresh regime attacks in Eastern Ghouta region near Damascus on Monday, local civil defence forces said on Monday.

"20 civilians, including women and children, were killed in an airstrike in the town of Hammuriya in Eastern Ghouta", the sources affiliated with the White Helmets civil defence agency said in a statement.

"14 people were killed in ground and air attacks in the town of Saqba, while four others were killed by an airstrike in the town of Jisrin", the statement added.

The statement continued that 17 civilians were killed and 45 were injured in regime barrel bomb and ground attacks in the town of Beit Sawa. Also, three civilians were killed in regime attack in Kafr Batna and Zamalka towns.

The European Union's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides also issued a joint written statement late Monday regarding the humanitarian situation in Eastern Ghouta and Idlib.

"Unhindered humanitarian access to civilians inside Syria and the protection of civilians and infrastructure is a matter of urgency to prevent further loss of life. The international community should unite to stop this human suffering," the statement read.

Since December last year, continued regime attacks have claimed more than 500 lives and injured over 2,000 people.

Eastern Ghouta, which houses around 400,000 residents, has remained under a crippling regime siege for the last five years, the Anadolu news agency reported.

In May last year, Russia, Iran and Turkey signed an agreement to set up de-escalation centres in order to reduce violence and airstrikes in some parts of Syria.

De-escalation zones include the Idlib Province, some parts of Latakia, Hama and Aleppo Provinces, Homs, Eastern Ghouta, Daraa and al-Quneitra Provinces in southern Syria.

Syria has been embroiled in a civil war since 2011.

Protestors have for long been demanding the resignation of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad over his autocratic rule.

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Pearson India, the world's learning company, today unveiled findings of its recent study for top 5 professional programs in India which match the specific industry needs for 2018. The study reveals top preferred professional programs that can help learners towards upgrading and enhancing the skills to meet industry requirements.

"India is one of the fastest emerging economies today and the need to remain up-to-date with globally-applicable knowledge and skill sets has become imperative. The professional programs will help learners gain industry specific-knowledge and develop ideas to resolve the prevailing/future challenges. At Pearson, we have developed an efficacy-driven approach to help working professionals upgrade their skills and progress in their careers," said Varun Dhamija, Vice President-Pearson Professional Programs (PPP), Pearson India.

According to a recent research conducted by KPMG, along with insights from Google search, the online education industry will be a $1.96 billion industry by 2021. Hence, choosing the right professional course becomes the most crucial decision especially with so many available options.

As per the study findings, here is the list of top 5 preferred professional programs that will play a positive role for working professionals in 2018:

1. Supply Chain Management- The environment for companies has changed a lot with a better regulatory environment - with the clearance of GST- and a greater demand of faster reach of products across the country, with the acceleration of ecommerce. There is thus a strong demand for a new age supply chain professional. The specific skills in demand are analytics, design, technology, dynamics and end-to-end supply chain management. There are opportunities both for existing supply chain professionals to upgrade themselves and new professionals to enter the field.

2. Artificial Intelligence- Artificial Intelligence is the top trending technology right now and is making its presence and importance felt across the globe. In India, the top job demand for AI are in Bangalore (34 percent of the jobs), Delhi/NCR (18 percent of the jobs), followed by Mumbai and Pune (16 percent of the jobs). There is wider demand for professionals who can work on the Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning side. On the niche side professionals who can apply AI and ML skills to robots and on the animation side are in demand too.

3. Robotics- While robotics is a new field, it that has gained popularity as a career choice, especially among engineering students. The industry has gathered pace after the advancement in Information Technology and computer industry. With the 9 percent of average yearly growth of the robotics industry, the career opportunities for trained robotics professionals are expected to rise. The interesting modules of the course will provide a platform to solve fundamental problems by applying mathematical concepts and design smarter robots.

Demand for Robotics is more widespread across India with Bangalore having 16 percent of the jobs, Chennai at 7 percent, Hyderabad and Secunderabad at 6 percent. Delhi/NCR at 12 percent and Mumbai/Pune at 10 percent are the other big cities of demand for Robotics.

4. Digital Marketing- Corporates are now embracing the digital change and have started to explore the new and exciting mode of communication with customers that involves Digital Marketing. According to a study conducted by Bullhorn, 64 percent of recruiters have reported a shortage of skilled candidates for available marketing roles. Hence, today the professionals need to be well acquainted with the changes shaping the environment and opt for training that prepares them for this scenario.

The digital marketing course will equip the participants with the relevant skills that the industry now needs such as new techniques in market research, metrics to gauge and guide ongoing customer-centric efforts and leverage the power of social media.

5. General Management- In an era of continuous changes, professionals need to equip themselves with new skills and resources needed to manage their enterprises. General Management is an academic program that allows professionals to keep their skills sharp and learn about new trends and technologies in their given industries. Professionals who aim to prepare for a general management role and wish to understand the recent developments in models, management theory and practices should opt for this program.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) coordination committee on Tuesday held a meeting at party president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's residence.

In the meeting, it was discussed to hold an all-party meeting on how to mount pressure on the central government for implementation of bifurcation promises.

After the Central government presented the Annual Budget in February, the political parties in Andhra Pradesh started protesting against it.

While the ruling TDP protested in the Parliament for more allocations and fulfilment of promises in Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. The opposition YSR Congress Party is demanding for Special Category Status claiming that it is the only solution for all problems.

Meanwhile, popular actor and Janasena chief Pawan Kalyan formed 'Joint Fact-Finding Committee' on what promises were made, how much aid is provided and what is due.

While YSRCP chief Jaganmohan Reddy said they are ready for no-confidence motion if TDP gives support.

Chandrababu on Monday in two different meetings said he will meet with all the 'parties and organisations' fighting against the Center.

Today TDP coordination committee is expected to discuss all these matters, including all-party meeting.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chitkara University announced that the leading technology giant Virtusa launched its flagship Center of Excellence (CoE) named The JAVA ENTERPRISE CoE.

The MoU was signed on February 6 between Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Vice-Chancellor, Chitkara University and Ashwin Sadasiva Kumar, Vice President and Head of Core Practice, Virtusa.

The JAVA ENTERPRISE CoE is part of the CURIN (Chitkara University Research and Innovation Network) initiative. Through Chitkara University Research and Innovation Network (CURIN), our researchers, staff and students work across disciplines to extend the boundaries of knowledge.

12 centers of advanced research under CURIN build and sustain Chitkara University's competitive advantage through leadership. These centers and institutes are the locus of research for collaborative groups of investigators pushing the frontiers of knowledge forward. They are involved in cutting edge research, exploring new technologies to improve the country's infrastructure and safety - and contributing to society through many other discoveries and innovations.

The JAVA ENTERPRISE CoE (Core and Advanced JAVA) aims to hone, engage and incubate talent to bridge the Academia-Industry requirements. This would provide the students with an opportunity to be trained on additional technologies to be industry ready while still being at the campus with the benefit of industry certifications paving their way to success.

The other dignitaries who graced the event were Subakaran Ravindran, Senior Manager and Practice Lead at Virtusa and Krithivasan S, Associate Manager and Head India Campus Hiring at Virtusa.

"We thank Virtusa for coming forward to establish their CoE at Chitkara University. We believe our students benefit from being taught by technical experts at Virtusa who are always active in research and practice. They will discuss the latest trends, research discoveries and new technologies in the field and students will be actively involved in research projects. This initiative will be a big beneficiary to the Industry as a whole," said Dr. Madhu Chitkara.

Addressing the gathering, Ashwin said, "At Virtusa, we believe in giving back to the industry. We are impressed with the passion towards innovation and research displayed at Chitkara University faculty and students. We are happy to have our CoE at Chitkara University and we look forward to give our best to the students' community in proud association with Chitkara University.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
United States President Donald Trump's son Donald Trump Jr, who is on a week-long visit to India, arrived here on Tuesday.

During the week-long trip, Donald Trump Jr. will not only endorse his luxurious residential project-Trump Towers, but he is scheduled to deliver a speech on foreign policy in India.

Trump Jr. will meet with Indian investors and business leaders in Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune and Gurugram respectively, The Washington Post reported.

The eldest son of Donald Trump has already advertised himself prior to his visit.

Full-page advertisements in Indian newspapers on Monday invited prospective investors to buy into the Trump Organisation's project in Gurugram to join Donald Trump Jr at a dinner later this week.

"Trump has arrived. Have you?" read the advertisement, inviting buyers to book their apartments in Trump Towers by Wednesday "for a conversation and dinner" with Trump Jr on Friday. An advertisement in newspapers on Sunday read, "Trump is here. Are you invited?"

Trump Jr. will also deliver his maiden speech in India where he will speak on "Reshaping Indo-Pacific Ties: The New Era of Cooperation" at a global business summit on Friday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will also be present, will speak at the summit on the topic of "Preparing India for the Future."

In the US, some experts have pointed out the conflict of interests during Donald Trump Jr.'s India visit.

"The planned speech by Trump Jr. has renewed conflict of interest concerns, with some questioning why the US President's son will be lecturing on foreign policy while simultaneously trying to hawk his family business's lavish new condominiums," The Washington Post reported.

"News that the Trump Organisation would be offering buyers in the Trump Tower the chance to meet the president's son sparked criticism of potential conflict of interest, and the fact that Trump Jr. will be giving a foreign policy speech while on a private business trip complicates the matter further", The Washington Post quoted ethics expert as saying.

Trump Jr. will also visit Kolkata, where the construction of a project with 137 luxury units will begin soon.

Talking about his trip earlier this month, Trump Jr. said, "India is such an incredible country and our brand has enjoyed tremendous success in the region for many years. This trip is a celebration of all we have achieved, including the launch of the Trump developments in Kolkata and Delhi which have been underway for many months."

According to business partners in India, many units in the Trump Towers are selling about 30 percent per square foot higher than the current market rates. Trump Jr.'s visit to India is expected to reinforce the trend.

India is Trump Organisation's biggest international market, with four real estate projects underway in Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, and Gurugram.

Trump Jr.'s visit to India comes after his sister, Ivanka, visited Hyderabad in November last year to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit. (GES).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
United States President Donald Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., is coming to India with business and foreign policy in mind.

The executive vice-director of Trump Organisation is scheduled to arrive in India on his maiden visit on Tuesday.

During the week-long trip, Donald Trump Jr. will not only endorse his luxurious residential project-Trump Towers, but he is scheduled to deliver a speech on foreign policy in India.

Trump Jr. will meet with Indian investors and business leaders in Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune and Gurugram respectively, The Washington Post reported.

The eldest son of Donald Trump has already advertised himself prior to his visit.

Full-page advertisements in Indian newspapers on Monday invited prospective investors to buy into the Trump Organisation's project in Gurugram to join Donald Trump Jr at a dinner later this week.

"Trump has arrived. Have you?" read the advertisement, inviting buyers to book their apartments in Trump Towers by Wednesday "for a conversation and dinner" with Trump Jr on Friday. An advertisement in newspapers on Sunday read, "Trump is here. Are you invited?"

Trump Jr. will also deliver his maiden speech in India where he will speak on "Reshaping Indo-Pacific Ties: The New Era of Cooperation" at a global business summit on Friday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will also be present, will speak at the summit on the topic of "Preparing India for the Future."

In the US, some experts have pointed out the conflict of interests during Donald Trump Jr.'s India visit.

"The planned speech by Trump Jr. has renewed conflict of interest concerns, with some questioning why the US President's son will be lecturing on foreign policy while simultaneously trying to hawk his family business's lavish new condominiums," The Washington Post reported.

"News that the Trump Organisation would be offering buyers in the Trump Tower the chance to meet the president's son sparked criticism of potential conflict of interest, and the fact that Trump Jr. will be giving a foreign policy speech while on a private business trip complicates the matter further", The Washington Post quoted ethics expert as saying.

Trump Jr. will also visit Kolkata, where the construction of a project with 137 luxury units will begin soon.

Talking about his trip earlier this month, Trump Jr. said, "India is such an incredible country and our brand has enjoyed tremendous success in the region for many years. This trip is a celebration of all we have achieved, including the launch of the Trump developments in Kolkata and Delhi which have been underway for many months."

According to business partners in India, many units in the Trump Towers are selling about 30 percent per square foot higher than the current market rates. Trump Jr.'s visit to India is expected to reinforce the trend.

India is Trump Organisation's biggest international market, with four real estate projects underway in Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, and Gurugram.

Trump Jr.'s visit to India comes after his sister, Ivanka, visited Hyderabad in November last year to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Power couple Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma's beautiful chemistry is giving relationship goals to young couples time and again.

The couple has once again left everyone spellbound after the swashbuckling batsman Kohli, who has been on a winning spree these past few days, posted a loved up picture of her "one and only" on his Instagram account.

In the beautiful picture, Virat and Anushka could be seen in the middle of a tight hug and seems to be replicating the graffiti right behind them.

Virat is currently on cloud nine after guiding the Men in Blue to a first-ever ODI series win over South Africa by clinching a 5-1 win in the six-match series. He is now leading the side in the three-match T20I series against the Proteas.

Recently, Kohli attributed his wife Anushka for his magnificent form on the tour.

Kohli, who played an unbeaten knock of 129 to guide India to an eight-wicket win in the final ODI at the SuperSport Park, had said, "People who are close to me deserve a lot of credit. My wife has kept me going throughout the tour. I am grateful for that. Obviously, you want to lead from the front, and that's a wonderful feeling."

Anushka, on the other hand, is busy promoting her upcoming horror film 'Pari'.

The ethereal couple tied the knot in a private ceremony at a picturesque location in Italy on December 11.

After their hasty honeymoon in Finland and South Africa, Anushka returned to Mumbai to work on her upcoming movies while Virat has been in South Africa since then.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday condemned the attack by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Delhi Chief Secretary at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence and questioned AAP's governance.

Adityanath's statement comes after Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash was allegedly assaulted by two AAP MLAs in the presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at his residence.

"What happened is unfortunate and sad. Running a government is a team work and no one can have a monopoly in it. You cannot make anyone sign anything forcefully. The way AAP is working is not how a government is run. They are working like a 'giroh' (gang)," the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister told ANI.

Earlier in the day, Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash said the incident was premeditated and conspired by them.

Prakash in a statement requested the Delhi police to take action as per law.

He said the MLAs intended to "criminally intimidate, cause hurt with the motive to deter me from the discharge of my lawful duty and compel me to follow unlawful directions".

The Delhi Chief Secretary was allegedly assaulted by the MLAs in a midnight meeting at Kejriwal's residence.

The administrator said that "none of the persons in the room made an effort to save" his life.

The meeting in relation to the delay in the Delhi government's publicity programme on completion of three years took place in the presence of Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

Prakash also accused Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan and another MLA, who he did not know by name but could identify, of hitting several blows with fists on his head and temple, without any provocation from his side.

In response to the incident, Home Minister Rajnath Singh held an urgent meeting with Prakash and demanded a report from Lt. Governor Anil Baijal.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Stocks hovered in positive zone with modest gains in early afternoon trade. At 12:22 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 66.89 points or 0.2% at 33,841.55. The Nifty 50 index was up 16.70 points or 0.16% at 10,395.10. Stocks from auto and pharma sectors saw mixed trend.

Stocks struggled for direction in opening trade amid mild volatility. Soon the key benchmark indices nudged higher and posted small gains in early trade. Stocks extended early gains and hit fresh intraday high in morning trade. Key benchmark indices trimmed gains soon after hitting intraday high in mid-morning trade.

The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index was off 0.14%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index was up 0.16%. Both these indices underperformed the Sensex.

The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was negative. On the BSE, 1,324 shares fell and 1,168 shares rose. A total of 117 shares were unchanged. Breadth was negative in early trade. It was strong in morning trade. It once again turned negative in mid-morning trade.

Auto stocks saw mixed trend. Hero MotoCorp (up 1.25%), Eicher Motors (up 0.05%), Ashok Leyland (up 0.42%), SML Isuzu (up 0.31%) and Bajaj Auto (up 0.07%) rose. Escorts (down 1.06%), Tata Motors (down 0.05%), Maruti Suzuki India (down 0.74%) and TVS Motor Company (down 0.54%) fell.

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) dropped 1.28%. The company announced that it would make an additional investment at its Chakan plant in Maharashtra. As part of its expansion plans, the company will invest over Rs 500 crore in its electric vehicle (EV) project under the new EV policy of the Government of Maharashtra. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 19 February 2018.

The investment for EV and EV components is in addition to its ongoing expansion plan in Chakan which includes an initial investment of Rs 6500 crore. This additional investment of Rs 500 crore will be utilized towards product development and capacity enhancement for EVs and related components.

Pharma shares saw mixed trend. Dr Reddy's Laboratories (up 0.59%), Glenmark Pharmaceuticals (up 0.13%), Alkem Laboratories (up 0.15%), GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals (up 0.1%) rose. Aurobindo Pharma (down 1.89%), Wockhardt (down 2.22%), Cadila Healthcare (down 0.21%), Cipla (down 0.58%) and Lupin (down 0.1%) fell.

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (Sun Pharma) fell 0.76%. Sun Pharma said that one of its wholly owned subsidiaries has increased its shareholding in Ranbaxy Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Malaysia, by way of further purchase of 3.86 lakh shares (equivalent to 4.84%) of Ranbaxy Malaysia Sdn Bhd. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 19 February 2018.

Kaya rose 3.14% to Rs 959.40 after portfolio management clients of Equity Intelligence India and EQ India Fund, which are controlled by well known investor Porinju Veliyath, acquired 13,350 shares (representing 0.10% of total paid up equity) of Kaya. Shares were acquired from the open market on 19 February 2018. The company made the disclosure after market hours yesterday, 19 February 2018.

CMI rose 2.21% after the company said its wholly-owned subsidiary CMI Energy India has bagged an initial order from Engineers India (EIL) for supplying High Voltage (HV) cables in different sizes and quantities. The announcement was made during trading hours today, 20 February 2018.

This is for the first time CMI Energy has bagged order from EIL and has entered into the business of HV cable business with them. With this order CMI energy has formed an association with EIL, Delhi as a vendor, which opens up enormous business opportunities in the future with them and their clients in a big way, the company said.

Post completion of this purchase of shares, the total holding of Sun Pharma alongwith its wholly owned subsidiary will increase from 85.9% to 90.74% in Ranbaxy Malaysia Sbn Bhd.

Overseas, most Asian stocks fell as Treasury yields climbed back toward recent four-year highs. Chinese markets will reopen on Thursday, 22 February 2018. Markets in Taiwan will reopen tomorrow, 21 February 2018 after a week-long holiday break. US markets remained closed yesterday, 19 February 2018 in observance of Presidents Day.

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The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to the Cooperation Agreement between India and the Moroccan National Railways Office (ONCF) to develop long-term cooperation and partnership in different areas of railway sector. The Cooperation Agreement was signedon 14th December, 2017.

The Cooperation Agreement will enable technical cooperation in the following areas:-

a. Training and staff development;

b. Expert missions, exchange of experience and personnel; and

c.

Mutual technical assistance, including exchanging of experts.

Background:

Ministry of Railways have signed MOUs for technical cooperation in the Rail sector with various foreign Governments and National Railways. The identified areas of cooperation include high-speed corridors, speed raising of existing routes, development of world class stations, heavy haul operations and modernization of rail infrastructure, etc. The cooperation is achieved through exchange of information on developments in areas of railways technology & operations, knowledge sharing, technical visits, training & seminars and workshops in areas of mutual interest.

The MoUs provide a platform for Indian Railways to interact and share the latest developments and knowledge in the railway sector. The MoUs facilitate exchange of technical experts, reports and technical documents, training and seminars/workshops focusing on specific technology areas and other interactions for knowledge sharing.

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The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for adjudication of dispute on Mahanadi River Waters.

The Tribunal shall determine water sharing among basin States on the basis of the overall availability of water in the complete Mahanadi basin, contribution of each State, the present utilization of water resources in each State and the potential for future development.

As per provisions of the Inter-State River Water Disputes (ISRWD) Act, 1956, the Tribunal shall consist of a Chairman and two other Members nominated by the Chief Justice of India from amongst the Judges of the Supreme Court or High Court. Further, services of two Assessors who are water resources experts having experience in handling sensitive water-related issues will be provided to advise the Tribunal in its proceedings.

As per provisions of the ISRWD Act, 1956 the Tribunal is required to submit its report and decision within a period of 3 years which can be extended to a further period not exceeding 2 years due to unavoidable reasons.

It is expected that with adjudication of dispute by the Tribunal, the long-pending dispute between States of Odisha and Chhattisgarh on Mahanadi river will come to a final settlement.

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The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given approval for de-notification of 03 marla of land overlapping with NHAI for setting up of bus bay near Indian Defence University Land in Gurugram, Haryana. The Cabinet also approved refund of Rs. 1,82,719 by Government of Haryana towards de-notification of 03 marla of land to Ministry of Defence, which was paid to Government of Haryana at the time of acquisition in 2011.

Background:

Indian Defence University is being setup at Binola and Bilaspur, in district Gurugram, Haryana. The University will be located approximately 11 Kms from HQ National Security Guard, on Delhi - Jaipur highway towards Jaipur.

The University will develop and propogate higher in national security studies, defence management and defence technology and promote policy oriented research on all aspects relating to national security, both internal and external. It will promote co-ordination and interaction not only with Three Armed Services but also with other agencies i.e.

Para Military Forces, Intelligence Services, Diplomats, Academicians, Strategic Planners, University Students and officers from Friendly Foreign Countries.

A total of 03 marla of land was overlapping with NHAI, with dual ownership of MoD and NHAI. In the interest of community at large, Indian Defence University proposed construction of Bus Bay along NH-8 for decongestion of heavy traffic on Delhi-Jaipur highway. 03 marla of land have been acquired by NHAI for construction of Bus Bay for passenger mobility, comfort and safety. This will significantly improve connectivity to Gurugram -Delhi. The final ridership of Indian Defence University is likely to be approx 12000-15000 including students, teaching/ non-teaching staff and their family members apart from local inhabitants.

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The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for six-laning of Nidagatta - Mysuru Section of NH-275 from km 74.200 to km 135.304 on Hybrid Annuity Mode in Karnataka.

The development of six-laning of about 61 km is estimated to cost approximately Rs.2919.81 crore including the cost of land acquisition and pre-construction activities. The civil construction cost is approximately Rs.2028.93 crore.

The project would also provide employment opportunities to locals during project construction. With the widening and improvement of the highway, the areas would experience greater economic growth resulting in higher employment opportunities for locals. An employment potential of 2,48,000 (appox.) mandays will be generated locally during the construction period of the Stretch.

The project road is a section of NH 275 connecting the two prominent cities in the state of Karnataka i.e. Bengaluru the commercial capital and Mysuru the cultural capital.

Also, it links important places like Mangalore, Kodagu, parts of Kerala, etc. to Bangalore.

The existing 4 lane road has already crossed its capacity, resulting in traffic jams and accidents. The road is passing through congested and thickly populated towns and settlements like Maddur, Mandya & Srirangapatna, etc.

The upgradation to 6 Lanning alongwith 7m service road on each side and construction of bypasses at Maddur, Mandya & Srirangapatna and grade separated structures of this stretch of the National Highway will greatly reduce the time and cost of travel, particularly of heavy traffic plying in the region. The provision for by-passes will ensure decongestion of the urban areas of Maddur, Mandya & Srirangapatna. Elevated road has been proposed in the dense built-up areas of Maddur. The project entails construction of service roads of about 60.35 km on both sides, which would facilitate movement of local traffic in the inhabited /urbanized areas.

The bus shelters being developed at 21 places will be of great utility for enhancing public transport facilities. The existing traffic on this stretch is varying from existing 41433 to 52163 Passenger Car Units (PCUs) and keeping in view the expected traffic growth in the near future, the expansion to 6-Laning is a very timely step taken by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

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CRISIL expects the share of digital services (Digital services are solutions based on social, mobile, analytics and cloud, internet of things and artificial intelligence) in Indian's information technology (IT) exports to double to ~30% by fiscal 2020, as the segment grows at a healthy 30-35% a year. This will be supported by re-skilling of employees and increased mergers & acquisitions (M&As) by Indian IT players, seeking to enhance the digital pie in revenues.

On the other hand, the share of traditional IT services, which account for the bulk of the $140 billion-a-year Indian IT industry, will decline given the flaccid 2-4% annual growth currently. Overall IT revenue growth is expected at ~8% per annum until fiscal 2020, driven largely by digital services.

Revenue growth in the industry slowed to below 10% between fiscals 2015 and 2017, from a very strong 27% compound annual growth rate seen in two decades through fiscal 2014. With bulk of the revenue coming from exports of services, lower IT spend by major global clients and a shift in demand towards digital services have led to the decline.

The share of digital services revenue in India's IT exports is low at ~15% now, given the late entry by domestic firms. But this business grew more than 25% in fiscal 2017 as domestic firms won digital deals, backed by re-skilling of employees. This trend is set to accelerate.

The share of digital services in new global outsourcing contracts is estimated to have doubled to ~40% in fiscal 2017 from three years back, and will drive revenue growth going forward, said Anuj Sethi, Senior Director, CRISIL Ratings.

For major IT players based outside India, more than a third of revenue already comes from digital services.

Besides in-house digital skill building, IT firms are likely to undertake more acquisitions that will accelerate revenue growth from digital services. Not surprisingly, M&As in the Indian IT digital space surged to 64 in fiscal 2017 from 39 in 2014. One in every three IT acquisitions was in this space, as per NASSCOM.

We foresee an increase in moderate-sized acquisitions in the digital space by both Tier I (Tier I - revenue >Rs 10,000 crore; Tier II - revenue of >Rs 1,000 crore but CRISIL rates over 70 IT firms. Slowing growth of traditional IT services, exchange rate volatility, and rising employee costs are exacerbating profitability pressures in the sector. The credit profiles of Tier I and II firms are nevertheless expected to remain stable over the medium term - as they have in the past three fiscals - supported by strong balance sheets.

Tier III firms, on the other hand, have lower margins and relatively leveraged financial profiles compared with Tier I and II firms. The credit ratio (upgrades to downgrades) of CRISIL-rated Tier III firms was lower than 1 in two of last three fiscals. CRISIL believes the credit quality of Tier III firms, especially those unable to adapt to changing business environment, will remain vulnerable.

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Double Negative (DNEG), a Prime Focus group company, has been honoured at the BAFTA Awards 2018 for its work on 'Blade Runner 2049'. The film picked up the award for 'Best Special Visual Effects' at the star-studded ceremony last night. This is the third award that DNEG has won in less than a week, having picked up two Visual Effects Society awards last Tuesday for its work on Denis Villeneuve's 'Blade Runner 2049' and Christopher Nolan's 'Dunkirk'.

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Trading of Nifty 50 index futures on the Singapore stock exchange indicates that the Nifty could fall 2 points at the opening bell.

Overseas, Asian stocks were trading lower as Treasury yields climbed back toward recent four-year highs. Chinese markets will reopen on Thursday, 22 February 2018. US markets remained closed yesterday, 19 February 2018 in observance of Presidents Day.

Back home,trading for the week started on a subdued note as key indices logged modest losses yesterday, 19 February 2018 as sentiment was marred by loan fraud cases in the PSU banks. The Sensex lost 236.10 points or 0.69% to settle at 33,774.66.

The trading activity on that day showed that the foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 895.79 crore yesterday, 19 February 2018, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 586.52 crore yesterday, 19 February 2018, as per provisional data.

Among corporate news,Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) announced that it would make an additional investment at its Chakan plant in Maharashtra. As part of its expansion plans, the company will invest over Rs 500 crore in its electric vehicle (EV) project under the new EV policy of the Government of Maharashtra. The investment for EV and EV components is in addition to its ongoing expansion plan in Chakan which includes an initial investment of Rs 6500 crore. This additional investment of Rs 500 crore will be utilized towards product development and capacity enhancement for EVs and related components. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 19 February 2018.

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (Sun Pharma) said that one of its wholly owned subsidiaries has increased its shareholding in Ranbaxy Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Malaysia, by way of further purchase of 3.86 lakh shares (equivalent to 4.84%) of Ranbaxy Malaysia Sdn Bhd. Post completion of this purchase of shares, the total holding of Sun Pharma alongwith its wholly owned subsidiary will increase from 85.9% to 90.74% in Ranbaxy Malaysia Sbn Bhd. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 19 February 2018.

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Shares of Fortis Healthcare and Religare Enterprises tumbled at 11:38 IST on BSE on media reports that the market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India has ordered a serious fraud probe into the dealings of these two firms.

Fortis Healthcare (down 5.12% at Rs 138.85) and Religare Enterprises (down 5% at Rs 60) declined.

Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 68.10 points or 0.2% at 33,842.76.

With regard to news appearing in media titled "Fortis, Religare face serious fraud probe; Sebi orders inquiry", Fortis Healthcare issued a clarification to the stock exchanges after market hours yesterday, 19 February 2018. Fortis said that it has not received any communication, written or otherwise, from any government authority with regard to such a purported investigation and as such it has no knowledge of any investigation against the company.

Fortis Healthcare disclosed to the exchanges on 17 February 2018 that it has received a communication from Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) dated 16 February 2018, confirming that an investigation has been instituted by Sebi in the matter of the company. Sebi has asked to furnish information and documents as mentioned therein by 26 February 2018. The company is in process of collating the said information and will be sharing the same with Sebi in due course, it added. The financial implication/compensation/penalty and quantum of claims has not been referred in the aforesaid letter and hence cannot be ascertained, Fortis added.

The Supreme Court (SC) on 15 February 2018 paved the way for the sale of the shares pledged to lenders by former board members Malvinder and Shivinder Singh. It had blocked the sale of all Fortis Healthcare shares owned by Fortis Healthcare Holding (FHHPL) on 31 August 2017 on a petition by Japanese drug maker Daiichi Sankyo to prevent the Singhs from diluting the value of assets. The Singhs had approached the SC for permission to appeal a judgment of the Delhi High Court (HC) in January allowing Daiichi Sankyo to enforce the Rs 3500-crore arbitration award. The apex court clarified that the status of the shares encumbered on or before that date do not have to be maintained. FHHPL held 34.33% stake end December 2017. Of this, 98.22% equity was pledged or otherwise encumbered.

Fortis Healthcare's board on 13 February 2018 had accepted the resignation of the Singh brothers from 8 February 2018. As an interim measure, a management committee has been constituted to oversee the functioning from a strategic and operational guidance perspective.

Meanwhile, as per media reports, the auditors of Fortis Healthcare, Deloitte Haskins & Sells Llp, have refused to sign the accounts for Q2 of FY 2018 results amid suspicion of misappropriation of funds by the Singh brothers. The Singh brothers were alleged to have siphoned at least Rs 500 crore without board approval about a year ago. The funds were reported on the balance sheet of Fortis Healthcare as cash and cash equivalents, but the money was routed and placed under the control of the Singhs at the time.

In a clarification to the stock exchanges, Fortis Healthcare said that Fortis Hospitals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fortis Healthcare, has deployed funds in secured short-term investments with companies in normal course of treasury operations. These entities as of the quarter ended 31 December 2017 had become part of the promoter group due to a shareholding change in those entities. Subsequently, the same loans were recognized as related-party transactions in compliance with necessary regulatory requirements. These loans of Rs 473 crore are adequately secured and the repayment has since commenced.

Meanwhile, Derive Investments bought 26.58 lakh shares of Fortis Healthcare at Rs 144.50 per share in a bulk deal on the NSE yesterday, 19 February 2018.

Fortis Healthcare is a leading integrated healthcare delivery service provider in India. The healthcare verticals of the company primarily comprise hospitals, diagnostics and day care specialty facilities.

Fortis Healthcare's consolidated net profit fell 10.5% to Rs 22.61 crore on 3.2% rise in net sales to Rs 1156.61 crore in Q1 June 2017 over Q1 June 2016.

Religare Enterprises (REL) also clarified in a stock exchange filing today, 20 February 2018 that it has not received any formal communication, from any government authority with regard to purported investigation by Sebi.

Meanwhile, REL announced after market hours yesterday, 19 February 2018 that its committee at a meeting held on 19 February 2018, approved raising of funds through issue of warrants through preferential issue by issuing up to 17.55 crore warrants of Rs 52.20 each, exercisable into equal number of equity shares of Rs 10 each of the company on a preferential basis amounting upto Rs 916.42 crore.

The allotment of the aforesaid warrants shall be subject to the approval of shareholders of the company in the extra-ordinary general meeting (EGM) of the company scheduled to be held on 19 March 2018.

REL is the holding company for one of India's leading diversified financial services groups. REL offers an integrated suite of financial services through its underlying subsidiaries and operating entities, including loans to SMEs, affordable housing finance, health insurance and capital markets.

Religare reported a net loss of Rs 41.68 crore in Q3 December 2017, compared with net loss of Rs 43.28 crore in Q3 December 2016. Total income rose 4.3% to Rs 7.97 crore in Q3 December 2017 over Q3 December 2016.

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JSW Energy rose 1.52% to Rs 80.20 at 9:31 IST on BSE after the company said it signed a pact with the Government of Maharashtra for the manufacturing electric vehicles and energy storage systems.

The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 19 February 2018.

Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 26.93 points, or 0.08% to 33,801.59.

On the BSE, 81,000 shares were traded in the counter so far compared with average daily volumes of 13.21 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock had hit a high of Rs 80.80 and a low of Rs 79.50 so far during the day. The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 97.50 on 12 January 2018. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 59.65 on 30 May 2017.

The stock had underperformed the market over the past 30 days till 19 February 2018, falling 13.80% compared with 4.89% fall in the Sensex. The scrip had also underperformed the market in past one quarter, falling 1% as against Sensex's 0.89% rise. The scrip had outperformed the market in past one year, rising 27.83% as against Sensex's 17.84% rise.

The large-cap company has equity capital of Rs 1640.05 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10.

In addition to the earlier Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Gujarat with respect to electric vehicles (EV) manufacturing and associated businesses, the company has now entered into another MoU with the Government of Maharashtra for setting up facilities for the manufacturing of EV and energy storage systems in the state of Maharashtra, subject to receipt of internal corporate approvals.

On a consolidated basis, net profit of JSW Energy rose 119.12% to Rs 46.87 crore on 4.67% rise in net sales to Rs 1993.20 crore in Q3 December 2017 over Q3 December 2016.

JSW Energy is an integrated power company.

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Mahindra & Mahindra was up 0.4% at Rs 730 at 9:20 IST on BSE after the company said it would make an additional investment of over Rs 500 crore at its Chakan plant in Maharashtra.

The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 19 February 2018.

Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 35.58 points or 0.11% at 33,810.24.

On the BSE, 1,811 shares were traded on the counter so far as against average daily volumes of 1.85 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock had hit a high of Rs 730.75 and a low of Rs 726 so far during the day. The stock had hit a record high of Rs 802.80 on 1 February 2018 and a 52-week low of Rs 612.50 on 28 September 2017.

The stock had outperformed the market over the past one month till 19 February 2018, sliding 4.82% compared with the Sensex's 4.89% fall. The stock had also outperformed the market over the past one quarter, advancing 2.65% as against the Sensex's 1.3% rise. The scrip had, however, underperformed the market over the past one year, surging 10.43% as against the Sensex's 18.64% rise.

The large-cap company has equity capital of Rs 621.60 crore. Face value per share is Rs 5.

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) announced that it would make an additional investment at its Chakan plant in Maharashtra. As part of its expansion plans, the company will invest over Rs 500 crore in its electric vehicle (EV) project under the new EV policy of the Government of Maharashtra.

The investment for EV and EV components is in addition to its ongoing expansion plan in Chakan which includes an initial investment of Rs 6500 crore. This additional investment of Rs 500 crore will be utilized towards product development and capacity enhancement for EVs and related components.

M&M's net profit rose 12.5% to Rs 1215.91 crore on 4.6% growth in net sales to Rs 11577.78 crore in Q3 December 2017 over Q3 December 2016.

M&M enjoys a leadership position in tractors and utility vehicles in India.

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After an initial volatility, stocks extended early gains and hit fresh intraday high in morning trade. At 10:27 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 149.83 points or 0.44% at 33,924.49. The Nifty 50 index was up 41.45 points or 0.4% at 10,419.85. Metal and mining stocks gained. Telecom stocks saw mixed trend.

Stocks struggled for direction in opening trade amid mild volatility. Soon the key benchmark indices nudged higher and posted small gains in early trade.

The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index was up 0.42%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index was up 0.43%. Both these indices underperformed the Sensex.

The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was strong. On the BSE, 1,366 shares rose and 808 shares fell. A total of 99 shares were unchanged. Breadth was negative in early trade.

Overseas, Asian stocks were trading lower as Treasury yields climbed back toward recent four-year highs. Chinese markets will reopen on Thursday, 22 February 2018. US markets remained closed yesterday, 19 February 2018 in observance of Presidents Day.

Back home, Tata Steel (up 1.51%), Hero MotoCorp (up 1.3%) and TCS (up 1.21%) were the top gainers from the Sensex pack.

IndusInd Bank rose 0.85% after the bank said it has no direct credit exposures to Nirav Modi nor any indirect credit exposures basis the Letter of undertaking (LOU) issued by Punjab National Bank (PNB). As regards Gitanjali Gems, the bank has a small, two digit exposure, not linked to any LOUs. The announcement was made during market hours today, 20 February 2018.

Metal and mining stocks gained. Vedanta (up 2.22%), JSW Steel (up 1.39%), Tata Steel (up 1.6%), Steel Authority of India (Sail) (up 2.12%), National Aluminium Company (up 1.32%), Hindustan Zinc (up 1.41%), Jindal Steel & Power (up 1.56%), Hindalco Industries (up 1.56%), NMDC (up 2.41%), Hindustan Copper (up 0.8%) edged higher.

Telecom stocks saw mixed trend. Bharti Airtel (up 1.23%), Idea Cellular (up 0.67%), MTNL (up 1.09%) and Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) (up 0.63%) gained. Reliance Communications (down 0.7%) fell.

Shares of Bharti Infratel fell 0.85%. Bharti Infratel is a provider of tower and related infrastructure and is a unit of Bharti Airtel.

JSW Energy rose 1.2% after the company said it signed a pact with the Government of Maharashtra for the manufacturing electric vehicles and energy storage systems. In addition to the earlier Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Gujarat with respect to electric vehicles (EV) manufacturing and associated businesses, the company has now entered into another MoU with the Government of Maharashtra for setting up facilities for the manufacturing of EV and energy storage systems in the state of Maharashtra. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 19 February 2018.

Vascon Engineers rose 2.31% after the company said it formally signed an agreement with Lina Ashar Foundation, Mumbai to develop a built-to-suit property at one of the company's land holdings in Pune. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 19 February 2018.

Under the agreement, Vascon will construct and deliver a total builtup area of approximately 135,000 square feet (SqFt) on long term lease to Lina Ashar Foundation, the school operator, in phases. The planned Billabong High International School will provide state-of-the-art infrastructure in terms of design and facilities to create a unique learning experience that will be first of its kind in the city.

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Syndicate Bank rose 4.48% to Rs 58.30 at 14:16 IST on BSE on bargain hunting after a recent slide.

Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 102.50 points, or 0.30% to 33,877.16.

On the BSE, 7.52 lakh shares were traded in the counter so far compared with average daily volumes of 4.55 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock had hit a high of Rs 59 and a low of Rs 54.40 so far during the day. The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 95.65 on 27 November 2017. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 54.30 on 19 February 2018.

The stock had underperformed the market over the past 30 days till 19 February 2018, falling 29.23% compared with 4.89% fall in the Sensex. The scrip had also underperformed the market in past one quarter, falling 35.75% as against Sensex's 0.89% rise. The scrip had also underperformed the market in past one year, falling 19.71% as against Sensex's 17.84% rise.

The mid-cap company has equity capital of Rs 1041.30 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10.

Shares of Syndicate Bank fell 15.13% in four trading sessions to settle at Rs 55.80 yesterday, 19 February 2018, from its close of Rs 65.75 on 12 February 2018.

Shares of several state-run banks declined sharply in the past few days amid concerns over the $1771.69 million Punjab National Bank fraud involving billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi.

Syndicate Bank reported net loss of Rs 869.77 crore in Q3 December 2017 as against net profit of Rs 93.56 crore in Q3 December 2016. Total income declined 9.29% to Rs 5945.15 crore in Q3 December 2017 over Q3 December 2016.

Government of India held 63.34% stake in Syndicate Bank (as per the shareholding pattern as on 31 December 2017).

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Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash was allegedly assaulted by AAP MLAs in a meeting at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence, sparking protests on Tuesday and threats of a pen-down strike in government offices in the capital.

The ruling AAP denied the allegation even as the IAS Association Secretary, Manisha Saxena, complained to Lt. Governor Anil Baijal, claiming that the attack on Monday night was a "planned criminal conspiracy" against the top bureaucrat.

Speaking to the media after the meeting with Baijal, Saxena said they have asked the Lt. Governor to take strict action against the accused MLAs.

She also said the officers would work on Tuesday with a black band as a mark of protest and that the association has also filed a police complaint.

"There should be criminal action against everyone involved," Saxena said.

She said Prakash was called for a meeting around midnight on Monday where Kejriwal along with his deputy Manish Sisodia and 10 to 12 MLAs was present.

The meeting was on "some advertisements by the Delhi government which were in violation of the Supreme Court's guidelines".

"For the past couple of years, officers have been insulted and humiliated in public. The attack on the Chief Secretary is an attempt to intimidate the bureaucracy to toe the line of the powers that be."

Saxena, however, refused to name the MLAs who attacked the Chief Secretary.

The Delhi Government Employees Welfare Association (DGEWA) demanded action against the accused AAP MLAs who "manhandled" and "mistreated" the top bureaucrat.

DGEWA President D.N. Singh said the association met the Lt. Governor regarding the issue. He said members of the group would go to offices but won't work till action is taken against those who assaulted the bureaucrat.

The alleged assault triggered a war of words between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

BJP MLA Vijender Gupta, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, alleged that Kejriwal "in his dictatorial style" called the Chief Secretary at midnight on Monday and "berated" him in front of his MLAs.

Gupta said Kejriwal was "drunk on power" and his concern was only about why more funds were not dispersed for advertisements. "Such is the state of affairs under AAP."

"In total, nine AAP MLAs were present at the CM's residence when the Chief Secretary was assaulted. They represent people of Delhi but are nothing short of urban naxalites. How utterly disgusting behaviour," he said.

But Delhi government spokesperson Nagendar Sharma denied the allegation saying the Chief Secretary was making false accusations at the behest of the BJP.

Sharma said during a meeting at Kejriwal's residence on the "faulty implementation" of Aadhaar that "deprived about 2.5 lakh families of ration", the Chief Secretary refused to answer questions saying he was not answerable to MLAs or the Chief Minister but only to the Lt. Governor.

"He even used bad language against some MLAs and left without answering any questions.

"Moreover, it is false information that the meeting and the argument was about TV ads. The entire discussion was on how large number of families were not getting ration," Sharma said in a statement.

"Obviously, he (the Chief Secretary) is doing it at the BJP's behest. The BJP has stooped very low in disrupting governance in Delhi through the Lt. Governor and officers.

"If the Chief Secretary can make such wild allegations, one can imagine the kind of obstacles that are being created in AAP government's work by BJP through the officers."

--IANS

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The Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday said its leaders Aashish Khetan and Imran Hussain were heckled and manhandled and party volunteers thrashed by "motivated elements" masquerading as Delhi government employees.

The ruling party shared a video on its Twitter handle, which had visuals of commotion while Khetan was entering the Delhi Secretariat here.

The party said Khetan was "assaulted" by the mob after which he called the PCR (Police Control Room) and reported he was manhandled.

"There was a mob, unruly and aggressive. They ran towards me shouting pro-BJP slogans... my staff has been hurt," said Khetan.

He said a complaint had been lodged with the Daryaganj police station.

Delhi government spokesperson Nagendar Sharma said Hussain was also on his way to lodge a complaint at the IP Estate police station.

Earlier, state Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash alleged that he was assaulted by the ruling party's MLAs during a meeting at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence here on Monday night.

--IANS

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National carrier Air India (AI) on Tuesday launched a non-stop flight from Amritsar to Birmingham.

The twice-a-week direct flight is being operated on the Delhi-Amritsar-Birmingham-Amritsar-Delhi route with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the airline said.

"Air India's direct flight from Amritsar to Birmingham and back will not only cater to the needs of the ethnic community to fly direct to city of the Golden Temple but also help to enhance tourism and trade relations between the two countries," the airline said in a statement.

Air India also operates two daily connecting flights from Amritsar to London and back via Delhi.

--IANS

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Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is making progress in bringing down its unpaid dues through an ongoing nationwide recovery drive, an official said here on Tuesday.

According to officials of Calcutta Telephones, the recovery drive till March 31 had so far contributed substantially to the circle's earnings, at a time when revenues are under pressure due to falling tariffs.

"We have had a positive result from the recovery drive in two years. In the landline and broadband segments, we have seen recoveries of around 40 per cent and 36 per cent respectively. The scheme will run for another month. We are hopeful of further recoveries," Calcutta Telephones General Manager (Finance) Shamendra Kujur said.

In the current fiscal, Calcutta Telephones is expecting to touch revenues between Rs 5.1 billion and Rs 5.5 billion, while losses are pegged at a level close to last year's Rs 3.32 billion.

has been following a slab-like structure where landline and broadband consumers are offered discounts ranging between 10-50 per cent depending upon the duration of the outstanding bill ranging from one year to five years.

Calcutta Telephones Chief General Manager S P Tripathi said despite pressure on revenue, he expects next fiscal (2018-19) to be "much better" for the company as the tariff war gradually settles.

unveiled new plans starting from Rs 99 for 26 days and Rs 319 for 90 days with unlimited voice calls with roaming, except in Delhi and Mumbai.

At Rs 999, the company will offer unlimited calls and 1GB/day high-speed data for 181 days.

Calcutta Telephones is also hopeful of staring 4G services from March.
The Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday approved the proposal for adjudication of the dispute on the Mahanadi river water between Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

"The tribunal shall determine water-sharing among basin states on the basis of the overall availability of water in the complete Mahanadi basin, contribution of each state, the present utilisation of water resources in each state, and the potential for future development," a statement said.

The tribunal will help arrive at a final settlement of the long-pending dispute, it added.

The tribunal will have a chairman and two members nominated by the Chief Justice of India, along with two advisers -- water resources experts having experience in handling sensitive water-related issues.

The Tribunal is required to submit its report and decision within three years and it can be extended further by two years, if needed.

--IANS

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The CBI on Tuesday continued raids at the same three locations in Kanpur for the second consecutive day as it probed a multi-crore loan default by Rotomac Pen's chief Vikram Kothari.

The Central Bureau of Investigation again questioned Kothari along with his wife.

The raided places included office and residential premises of the company's directors, where searches were conducted on Monday as well, the CBI said.

The probe agency has also sealed a residential premise and an office of Rotomac directors in New Delhi.

The loan default would touch Rs 3,695 crore, including interest, according to the CBI.

--IANS

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A community child welfare centre was launched in western Kolkata's Metiabruz by the Baptist Missionary Society in collaboration with International Justice Mission to mark the World Social Justice Day on Tuesday.

The World Social Justice Day is observed on February 20 every year to achieve social justice in communities to promote development and human dignity.

Representatives of local organisations, government offices, law enforcement agencies, schools, and the community attended the inaugural event.

Through its community initiatives, the centre will aim to root out crime against children in their neighbourhood. Among other crimes against children, the centre will focus on raising awareness on trafficking, violence and exploitation of children.

"Local communities have a major stake in law-enforcement. Collaborative efforts of community along with law-enforcing agencies will ensure a safe and secure future for the children of Metiabruz. We hope that the CCWC initiatives will serve as additional eyes and ears to the police," said IJM's Director of Operations Saji Philip.

The CCWC aims to educate community members on issues of crime and the methods to access and support local police units. The centre will develop local anti-human trafficking clubs to report such cases, a media release from IJM and BMS said.

--IANS

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The Congress on Tuesday accused the Goa government of targeting journalists and also urged the Speaker not to selectively debar journalists from entering the state Assembly complex after a mediaperson was banned from the ongoing budget session.

"A journalist has been castigated for giving some information. The CID and Crime Branch has been calling him. The government of the day should be magnanimous and have a sense of statesmanship," Congress MLA Aleixo Reginaldo told reporters.

"Threatening reporters and stifling of democracy and press is not correct. We strongly condemn it. If anyone has made a mistake he should apologise or clarify."

However, the Office of the Speaker in a clarification said the journalist, Harish Volvoikar who operates GoaJunction.com, was using an expired Assembly access pass and it amounted to "disregard and violation of rules and sanctity of the Vidhan Sabha".

"As per records, the card was valid till March 2017 and he continued using the same card for almost a year thereafter," it said.

"Hence, Honourable Speaker (Pramod Sawant) has decided to disallow Volvoikar, claiming to be a press or mediaperson from attending the assembly session."

Volvoikar was debarred on Monday from entering the precincts of the Goa Legislative Assembly, two days after he sent across a message through his digital news service about Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's ill-health and later retracted it.

Volvoikar was later summoned by the Cyber Cell of the Goa Police Crime Branch, after a BJP leader Sunil Desai complained to the police, claiming unknown persons were spreading rumours about Parrikar's health.

--IANS

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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is probing 120 shell companies allegedly linked to diamond trader Nirav Modi and Gitanjali Group chief Mehul Choksi even as Income Tax officials claimed to have found two companies linked to Nirav that received Rs 5.55 billion from foreign companies between 2013 and 2014.

"The agency is investigating 79 shell companies owned by the Gitanjali Group chief and 41 owned by Modi in India," an ED official told IANS on the condition of anonymity.

He said the agency is examining if the money taken from was diverted to these shell companies.

According to ED officials, Nirav Modi, Neeshal Modi, and Mehul Choksi are directors or partners in about 100 companies registered with the Registrar of Companies in Mumbai.

The ED official said: "About 40 companies of Nirav Modi are registered at one particular address -- 15, Nagindas Mansion, Opera House, Mumbai. As many as 35 companies of Choksi are registered at Laxmi Tower office No 6, B Wing, First Floor, BKC, Bandra East, Mumbai."

Modi and his uncle Choksi, along with directors of the Modi and Gitanjali groups are under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the ED for the alleged Rs 113 billion fraud on Punjab National Bank, by using its Letters of Undertaking and Foreign Letters of Credit to raise and rollover money.

Both Modi and Choksi, along with other family members, are said to have left the country in early January.

The FIR also named two former bank employees for alleged direct involvement in the fraudulent transactions.

Three companies of Gitanjali Group were also named in the second CBI FIR for allegedly defrauding PNB of Rs 48.86 billion.

The ED official said that Hemant Bhatt, already arrested by the CBI, was a Director or partner in 28 companies.

According to the financial probe agency officials, Bhatt was Director in companies like Firestar Diamond Pvt Ltd, Paragon Jewellery Pvt Ltd, Firestone Trading Pvt Ltd, and Radhasir Jewellery Pvt Ltd. He was also a partner in firms like Neeshal Enterprises LLP, Paragon Jewellery LLP, and Paragon Merchandising LLP.

Dinesh Bhatia, whose name also appeared in the CBI's FIR, also figured in the ED's probe.

According to the ED official, Bhatia was offered the position of an independent Director in Gili India and Nakshatra Brand in 2015.

Beside Gili and Nakshatra, Bhatia is also a Director in Nakshatra Brands Ltd, Gitanjali Jewellery Retail Ltd, Asmi Jewellery India Ltd, and Nakshatra World Ltd.

The ED officials also claimed that Aniyath Shivraman Nair, also named in the CBI FIR, is Director or Additional Director in at least 17 companies.

He is listed as a Director of Gili India Ltd, Gitanjali Jewellery Retail Ltd, and Gitanjali Infratech Ltd.

The ED is investigating if these companies are genuinely operating or are merely shell companies.

Meanwhile, based on the documents seized during searches last year, I-T officials claimed to have found that Modi's Firestar International Pvt Ltd had received Rs 2.84 billion from two companies in Cyprus and Mauritius between 2013 and 2014 in the form of share capital and high-share premium.

The department found evidence during searches that showed that documents claimed to be submitted by these foreign entities were prepared in Modi's office. The source of funds and creditworthiness of the overseas companies were not explained properly, the I-T Department said in its report.

Further, Firestar International had received foreign funds worth Rs 2.71 billion from Singapore-based company Islington International Pte Ltd, whose beneficiary owner is stated to be Nirav Modi's sister Purvi Mehta.

The I-T Department said the firm had not been able to provide necessary supporting documents of creditworthiness of Purvi Mehta or Islington. "The source of funds also remains suspicious," the report by the investigative arm of Income Tax Department said.

ED officials have hired experts to ascertain the value of items seized during raids. Till Saturday, diamonds, gold and jewellery valued at around Rs 56.74 billion had been seized. ED officials said the valuation was done by them based on stock value and market value at showrooms.

The ED had on four days starting Friday conducted raids at 141 locations across India in connection with the PNB fraud. The agency officials said that soon it will issue letter rogatories to other countries to seek information on Nirav Modi's transactions.

The agency said it would look into the reports submitted earlier by the Income Tax Department.

During a raid by the Director-General of Income Tax (Investigations) in January 2017, it was learnt that in 2016-17, the Nirav Modi group had illegally diverted Rs 12.16 billion worth of diamonds meant for export from its special economic zone in Surat to the domestic market, selling them in cash.

It had found that the units in the SEZ diverted high-quality diamonds imported for processing and export, to the domestic market for huge profits. Instead, low-quality diamonds were exported to associate units abroad to keep up the appearance.

"We have asked for full details about the I-T cases against Modi," the ED official added.

The I-T Department, in an appraisal report last year, had flagged several suspected irregularities of the Nirav Modi Group companies.

In the report, I-T sleuths mentioned that the group accepted cash from customers for sale of jewellery and diamonds that were over and above the sale consideration as recorded in the account books.

The I-T authorities had confronted Nirav Modi with these findings but they did not get a satisfactory explanation.

It said that during the check period, the agency found cash receipts of over Rs 1.58 billion.
An Egyptian court on Tuesday sentenced 20 people to 10 years in prison in a case of setting fire to a church in 2013, official news agency MENA reported.

The convicted were also accused of illegal gathering, violence, attempted murder and possession of unlicensed weapons.

Investigations showed that they broke into the church in Kerdasa, Giza, threw Molotov cocktails inside and prevented people from putting out the fire.

The incident took place after a government crackdown on two major sit-ins of supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi in August 2013.

After the Army-led removal of Morsi in response to mass protests against his one-year rule, violence started to spread nationwide.

Thousands of loyalists of Morsi and his currently outlawed Muslim Brotherhood were detained, with some sentenced to death for murder and terror activities.

--IANS

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Renowned cardiologist B.K. Goyal passed away here on Tuesday following cardiac arrest, a family member said. He was 82.

He collapsed at his home in Malabar Hill on Tuesday morning and was rushed to the Breach Candy Hospital where he was declared dead.

He is survived by his son Rahul Goyal, and three daughters -- Sandhya Mittersain, Alka Jhunjhunwala and Varsha Sethi.

His last rites will be performed at the Banganga crematorium in south Mumbai on Wednesday.

Renowned for his trademark sartorial style of tuxedo with a bow tie, Bal Krishna Goyal served as a friend and cardiologist to top Indian political dignitaries and celebrities. He was appointed the Sheriff of Mumbai in 1980.

He was awarded India's top three civilian awards - Padma Shri (1984), Padma Bhushan (1990), and Padma Vibhushan (2005).

Born on November 19, 1935 in Jaipur, he was long associated with the leading medical institution, Bombay Hospital as its Honorary Dean and was Chief Cardiologist at the Bombay Hospital Institute of Medical Sciences.

He also served as the Director-Professor of Cardiology of Sir J. J. Group of Hospitals, Grant Medical College and the Haffkine Institute, all in Mumbai.

Over his decades of service in the medical profession, he was awarded top national and international honours.

Goyal authored a book, "Heart Talk" besides having more than 50 publications in various Indian and globally recognized journals.

In 1980, he was appointed Sheriff of Mumbai and also became the Honorary Consultant Cardiologist with the world-famous Texas Heart Institute, Houston, the only foreign cardiologist (outside the US) who got the distinction.

He also served as a visiting Professor of Cardiology at the University of Alabama and Oshner Heart Institute, New Orleans and was the consultant cardiologist to the Indian armed forces.

The Maharashtra Government had honoured him by appointing him as the Professor Emeritus of Cardiology at the Grant Medical College for life.

Earlier, Goyal was a Member of Executive Council of the University of Bombay and presently as the Member of the Senate of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS).

Besides, he served as a Member of the Central Council of Health & Family Welfare, Medical Council of India, National Council for Blood Transfusion and elected Fellow of National Academy of Medical Sciences and was its Professor Emeritus.

--IANS

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The Delhi Government Employees Welfare Association (DGEWA) on Tuesday demanded action against the AAP MLAs who allegedly assaulted Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash in the presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

DGEWA President D.N. Singh said the association met Lt. Governor Anil Baijal regarding the issue.

Singh also said that members of the association would go to office but won't work till action is taken against those who assaulted the bureaucrat.

The Chief Secretary was allegedly assaulted by the ruling party's MLAs during a meeting at Kejriwal's residence on Monday night.

--IANS

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Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said the central government must explain the basis of a Jammu and Kashmir minister's statement about "China adopting Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) outfit".

Reacting to PWD Minister Naeem Akhtar's comments, Abdullah tweeted: "China has adopted JeM, a terrorist organisation operating in J&K. This assertion from (Chief Minister)Mehbooba Mufti's closest confidant cannot be dismissed as wild ramblings. The government of India needs to explain the basis of this statement."

The senior PDP leader and PWD Minister Naeem Akhtar had said in an interview to the Indian Express newspaper that the consistent vetoing by China to have Jaish chief Azhar Masood designated as a terrorist was linked to the situation in Kashmir.

"Kashmir issue isn't limited to the fight between India and Pakistan now. There is another major factor involved. It isn't Pakistan alone, it is China too. General (Bipin Rawat) said that the Army is ready to fight on both fronts. But there aren't two fronts anymore.

"Now it is one single front, circling around. From Bhutan to Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Valley to Jammu, Sri Lanka and Maldives, it is all one front. Pakistan and China aren't separate," Akhtar said.

--IANS

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The closure of Gitanjali Gems Park here following the raid by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the multi-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam has hit about 600 families and led to protests here on Tuesday.

Demanding alternative employment, workers of the gems processing unit of Gitanjali staged a protest at the park located in Ravirayala village of Maheswaram 'mandal' on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

The protesting workers said the unit was suddenly closed on Saturday as the management informed them that there is no work as the gold, diamonds and precious stones were seized by the authorities on Friday.

The closure of the unit has badly affected the workers who include 200 physically handicapped. They sought immediate intervention by the Telangana and the Central governments.

Trade unions and political parties are backing the demand of the workers. Local legislator T. Krishna Reddy of Telangana's ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) addressed the agitating workers and expressed solidarity with them.

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) said the interests of the workers should be protected by providing them alternate employment.

The workers said that since the then Andhra Pradesh government had given the land to the company on condition that the processing unit would provide employment to locals, it is the the responsibility of the Telangana government to provide them alternative employment.

It was in 2005 that then Congress government had allotted 171 acres of land to Gitanjali for setting up Gems Special Economic Zone (SEZ) named after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Five units have come up in the SEZ and this includes Gitanjali's unit.

The ED over last few days conducted nationwide raids at properties owned by Gitanjali, owned by Mehul Choksi, uncle of fugitive diamond jeweler Nirav Modi, the main accused in Rs 11,300 crore PNB fraud.

The Central Bureau of Investigation had last week registered fresh FIRs against 10 directors of the Gitanjali Group of companies on charges of criminal conspiracy and cheating under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Prevention of Corruption Act.

--IANS

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Goa's Roman Catholic Church has asked its followers to fervently pray for the good health of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, hospitalised at Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital since February 15 for pancreas-related ailment.

In a statement here, Goa's Archbishop Filip Neri Ferrao asked Goa's Catholics to "pray for the fast recovery of our ailing Chief Minister".

He has also appealed to the community to raise fervent prayers for Parrikar's good health.

Catholics account for more than 25 per cent of Goa's 1.5 million population.

While the Chief Minister's Office and Lilavati Hospital have insisted that Parrikar, a former Defence Minister, is responding well to treatment, he failed to attend the ongoing Assembly Budget Session, giving rise to speculation on the severity of his ailment.

--IANS

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Kerala woman Akhila Asokan, alias Hadiya who is in the midst of a 'love jihad' controversy, has told the Supreme Court that she is a Muslim now and wants to live with her husband Shafin Jahan -- with whom her marriage was annulled by the Kerala High Court.

In an affidavit before the top court, Hadiya said after converting to Islam "I am a Muslim and I want to continue to live as a Muslim".

"I want to continue to live as wife of my beloved husband Shafin Jahan and I embraced Islam and married him on my own free will."

Seeking the restoration of her liberty as she has been under confinement and continues to be under police surveillance, Hadiya urged the court to appoint Jahan as her guardian and asked that they be allowed to live together as husband and wife.

She also sought the setting side of the Kerala High Court order of May 24, 2017, annulling her marriage.

The matter is coming up for hearing on Thursday.

Claiming that her father Asokan K.M. is under the influence of "certain section" of people, Hadiya said that it was these people who "played and are still playing behind my father".

All those errant personnel, both official and non-official, who subjected or caused to subject me to the "horrendous torture and torments" are liable to be brought to justice, she said.

"The baseless and malicious propaganda being made by the investigating agency and by the evil forces behind my father that I am mentally not sound, that I have connection with the IS and the media trial on these allegations would detrimentally affect my future and career as a doctor, causing irreparable heavy injuries and loss to me," she said in her affidavit.

The top court had on January 23 impleaded Hadiya as a party to the case being heard by it.

The court had told the NIA, which is investigating the matter, to continue with its probe into any criminality in the marriage, but not to intrude into it.

The top court by its November 27, 2017 order had set Hadiya free from the custody of her parents and directed that she be allowed to complete her studies at a Salem homeopathy college.

--IANS

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Israel's Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon met with Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah in the Palestine's West Bank city on Monday, and called on to renew the long-stalled peace talks.

The rare meeting was attended also by the Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) Major General Yoav Mordechai, and Deputy Finance Minister Itzik Cohen, Xinhua reported.

The meeting was focused on security and financial issues, including the activity of Palestinian banks, building new industrial zones in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and creating new jobs in the unemployment-stricken area.

Kahlon urged the Palestinians to return to the negotiating table with the United States as a mediator.

"The Americans are the only honest broker in the region," he said, adding that the talks should be restarted through the involvement of US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Jason Greenblatt.

The Palestinians denounced the White House as a biased broker following Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel on December 6.

The meeting marked a rare talk between Israeli and Palestinian officials, after the last round of peace talks reached an impasse in 2014.

--IANS

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The National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) expects India's IT exports to grow at 7-9 per cent to be at $135-$137 billion in 2018-19.

The IT exports during the current financial year are projected to be $126 billion, a growth of 7.8 per cent over the previous year.

The domestic revenues, excluding hardware, is expected to grow by 10-12 per cent to be at $28-29 billion in the next financial year against $26 billion likely in FY2018.

During 2018-19, the industry is expected to add 100,000 new jobs -- same numbers added during the current year.

Nasscom announced the key trends for the current year and the outlook for the next year on the sidelines of the special edition of Nasscom India Leadership Forum in conjunction with the World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT).

Nasscom president R. Chandrasekhar told reporters that though there are 39 days left in the current financial year, they expect to wind up with $167 billion revenues excluding the e-commerce pie ($38.5 billion).

"The year 2017-18 began on a muted note, but driven by a better growth in the second-half of the year is expected to clock revenues of $167 billion, representing a growth of 7.8 per cent for export revenues and 10 per cent in domestic revenues. E-commerce sector is expected to grow by 17 per cent in GMV terms," he said.

Term GMV or gross merchandise volume refers to the total value of merchandise sold over a given period of time through an e-commerce site.

The growth was primarily driven by the digital component, which grew at 30 per cent, followed by E&RD (Engineering and Research and Development) 13 per cent and BPM (Business Process Management) at 8 per cent.

Though the domestic market grew to $26 billion from $24 billion the previous year, the Nasscom believes that it has huge potential and the same can be tapped by removing regulatory and infrastructure barriers.

He said the positive outlook is based on global economic growth and growth trends of digital spending. "The mood is upbeat, the trends positive. There's broader upswing in global economy, the US economy and the revival in Europe is translating into business opportunities but with a little bit of lag. We will see this kicking in later part of the year," he said, indicating that the next financial year may end with higher than the projected growth.

Chandrasekhar admitted that some challenges like the changes in immigration which are on the anvil do impact the overall positive sentiment. "Headwinds are still there and some of the uncertainties remain but the overall industry continues to grow demonstrating its ability to overcome challenges."

Nasscom expects that the future of the industry will lie in "Digital at Scale" as global digital spending is growing at 20 per cent annually. India's digital revenues grew at 30 per cent in FY2018, demonstrating the base for a solid foundation in digital capabilities built by the sector.

Chandrasekhar said the digital component was expected to grow 1.5-2X of the industry growth. The digital becoming all pervasive blurring IT industry sector boundaries, he observed.A

"It's a great milestone for the software and services industry to cross $150 billion - tripling in size in less than a decade. The growth of the B2B startup sector also represents a unique opportunity for India to build innovative solutions for India and the world. However, what lies ahead is even more exciting. From small digital pilots, to POCs with product players, we are witnessing industrialisation of digital as the wave ahead," said Raman Roy, Chairman, Nasscom.

While admitting that hiring may not be at the level witnessed during heydays, he said the industry would still be creating 100,000 new jobs, the same it added in the current year. While the attrition rate is likely continue in the core IT sector, the technology hiring in adjoining sectors will go up, thanks to the rapid growth in digital.

"There is continuous decline in the ratio of revenues to employment. There has been 50 per cent decline. The decoupling is due to factors like automation, onshoring and effective utilisation of existing headcount. It had greater impact outside the sector generating employment in other sectors like manufacturing, healthcare and financial sector growing at much faster pace," said Chandrasekhar.

He believes the domestic technology adoption will continue with double digit growth. He claimed that domestic technology adoption is bringing the dramatic change with government initiatives like skilling, JAM (Jan-Dhan, Aadhaar and mobility) and large enterprises including public listed companies spending more on digital.

He said the initiatives like reskilling, centres of excellence, innovation centres, talent acquisition and investment in technology were enhancing the digital capabilities.

He also claimed that the digital ecosystem is witnessing dramatic changes with growing number of mobile phones, Internet connections and increase in data consumption. India has also become number one country in app downloads, he added.

--IANS

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The Jharkhand government has banned the Popular Front of India for its alleged links to the Islamic State, official sources said on Tuesday.

"The state has banned the Popular Front of India, which is active in Jharkhand, under the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1908. The Home Department had recommended the ban," a government statement said.

"The PFI is very active in Pakur district. The members of the PFI, which was set up in Kerala, are influenced by the IS. According to Home Department report, some PFI members have even gone to Syria from southern states and are working for the IS," the statement added.

The PFI has in the past taken out processions in favour of Mumbai-based absconding Islamic preacher Zakir Naik on several occasions.

--IANS

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Actor Kamal Haasan arrived here to a rousing welcome on the eve of the launch of his political party on Wednesday even as DMK Working President M K Stalin appeared to take a dig at film personalities taking a plunge into saying paper flowers which do not have fragrance will bloom during a season but they will wither very soon.

Kamal will begin his political journey from his birth place Kamuthi in neighbouring Ramanathapuram district on Wednesday and reach Madurai in the evening. "The party flag will be hoisted in the evening in Madurai when the idea behind the flag will be detailed," he told reporters on arrival in Madurai.

Earlier in the day, actor Seeman, who strongly opposes Rajinikanth on the basis of his non-Tamil origin, met Kamal at his home in Chennai. He told reporters that Kamal had expressed a wish to meet him but he felt that he should come to his residence because he was elder to him. Seeman also recalled that he also hailed from Ramanathapuram district.

Meanwhile, in a letter to party cadre, Stalin wrote: "The DMK is like a banyan tree which has strong roots and branches. It cannot be shaken by anyone. Parties may come during a season but they are just like paper flowers which don't have flagrance. They will wither soon."

Kamal called on DMK president M Karunanidhi at his Gopalapuram residence to seek his blessings. Stalin was also present then.

--IANS

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Stung by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "10 per cent commission" jibe against his government, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said Modi was, in fact, a facilitator of corruption.

"You made common people stand in queues to deposit their money in the banks (referring to the note ban in 2016) and then let Nirav Modi (billionaire jeweller accused in Punjab National Bank's fraud case) run away with Rs 12,000 crore of people's money," Siddaramaiah tweeted.

Modi on Monday raked up the commission charge and urged people to elect the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming state Assembly poll to have a "government with a mission".

"I received many calls from people after I said at a rally in Bengaluru recently (February 4) that a 10 per cent commission government was ruling the state. They said the commission was more than (10 per cent). You decide if you want a commission or a mission government," Modi had said addressing a public meeting in Mysuru.

Accusing the ruling party of ruining the southern state, Modi said welfare of the people was not a priority for the Siddaramaiah government during its five-year rule.

Lashing out at the Prime Minister for his "disparaging" comments, the Congress leader hailing from Mysuru district said: "Someone from Mysuru would have never allowed a fugitive run away".

--IANS

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The first plants to colonise the Earth originated around 500 million years ago -- 100 million years earlier than previously thought, says a new study.

For the first four billion years of Earth's history, our planet's continents would have been devoid of all life except microbes.

All of this changed with the origin of land plants from their pond scum relatives, greening the continents and creating habitats that animals would later invade.

The timing of this episode has previously relied on the oldest fossil plants which are about 420 million years old.

The new study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, indicates that these events actually occurred a hundred million years earlier, changing perceptions of the evolution of the Earth's biosphere.

"The fossil record is too sparse and incomplete to be a reliable guide to date the origin of land plants," said co-lead author Mark Puttick from University of Bristol in Britain.

"Instead of relying on the fossil record alone, we used a 'molecular clock' approach to compare differences in the make-up of genes of living species -- these relative genetic differences were then converted into ages by using the fossil ages as a loose framework," Puttick said.

The research pointed out that plants are major contributors to the chemical weathering of continental rocks, a key process in the carbon cycle that regulates Earth's atmosphere and climate over millions of years.

"The global spread of plants and their adaptations to life on land, led to an increase in continental weathering rates that ultimately resulted in a dramatic decrease the levels of the 'greenhouse gas' carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and global cooling," said Jennifer Morris, from the University of Bristol.

"Previous attempts to model these changes in the atmosphere have accepted the plant fossil record at face value - our research shows that these fossil ages underestimate the origins of land plants, and so these models need to be revised," Morris added.

--IANS

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Moody's Investors Service on Tuesday placed under review for downgrade Punjab National Bank's (PNB) local and foreign currency deposit rating of Baa3/P-3 and foreign currency issuer rating Baa3, an official statement said here.

It said "likely financial impact of the fraudulent transactions is the key driver for the review for downgrade."

At the same time, Moody's has placed the bank's Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) and adjusted BCA of ba3 and the Counterparty Risk Assessment (CRA) of Baa3(cr)/P-3(cr) under review for downgrade.

PNB, the second largest public sector bank in India, has detected a $1.8 billion fraud in one of its branches in Mumbai, which is being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate. The amount of fraudulent transactions is equivalent to eight times the bank's net income of about Rs 1,320 crore ($206 million).

"The primary driver for today's rating action is the risk of weakening of the bank's standalone credit profile, as a result of the discovery of a number of fraudulent transactions. On February 14, 2018, PNB announced to the Indian stock exchanges that the bank had discovered some fraudulent and unauthorized transactions amounting to Rs 113.9 billion ($1.8 billion)," Moody's said.

The credit rating agency said the fraudulent transactions represent a contingent liability and the financial impact would be determined by the relevant law in India.

"Nevertheless, Moody's expects that PNB will need to provide for at least a substantial portion of the exposure. As a result, the bank's profitability will likely come under pressure, although the actual impact will depend on the timing and quantum of provisions that need to be made, as well as any prospects for recovery," the statement said.

"The fraudulent transactions represent about 230 basis points of the bank's risk-weighted assets as of 31 December 2017. As such, PNB's capital position would deteriorate markedly, and fall below minimum regulatory requirements, if the bank is required to provide for the entire exposure. Consequently, PNB may need to raise capital externally - mainly from the government - to comply with the minimum Basel III capital requirement of an 8 per cent common equity tier 1 (CET1) ratio by March 31, 2019," Moody's said.

Moody's said the review for downgrade will focus on: the timing and quantum of the financial impact of the fraudulent transactions; any management actions taken to improve the capitalisation profile of the bank, and any punitive actions taken by the regulator on the bank.

"Moody's assumes a very high probability of government support for PNB in times of need, resulting in a three-notch uplift to its deposit and issuer ratings from its BCA. In the review for downgrade, Moody's will also assess government support for the bank's deposits and senior unsecured debt."

Given the review for downgrade, Moody's said it is unlikely to upgrade PNB's ratings over the next 12-18 months.

"Nevertheless, Moody's could affirm the ratings, if the financial impact of the fraudulent transactions is much smaller than what Moody's anticipates in this rating action, and/or if the bank manages to strengthen its capital position to a level above the minimum regulatory requirements -- including the capital conservation buffer -- under Basel III standards, and/or the bank returns to profitability on a sustainable basis," the statement added.

--IANS

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A special CBI court on Tuesday sent three Punjab National Bank officials arrested in connection with the Rs 11,300-crore fraud in police custody till March 3.

Those arrested on Monday are Bechhu Tiwari, Chief Manager in charge of Forex Department, Yashwant Joshi, a Scale II Manager in the same department and Praful Sawant, a Scale I officer in the Exports Section.

They were held three days after the first arrests were made in the sensational case on July 17 and presented in the CBI court this afternoon.

on Saturday, the CBI had arrested retired PNB officials -- former Deputy General Manager Gokulnath Shetty and single window Operator Manoj Kharat -- besides Hemant Bhat, an authorised signatory for the Nirav Modi Group. They are in police custody till March 3.

Tiwari was entrusted with supervising the work of Shetty and his team and to ensure entry of authorised SWIFT messages only into the system. Joshi was responsible for ensuring that daily reports of SWIFT and CBS entries were prepared, while Sawant was tasked with checking these SWIFT messages daily and reporting them to the bosses.

In the ongoing investigations, the Central Bureau of Investigation has interrogated around a dozen more PNB officials, mainly from the PNB's flagship Brady House Branch which has now emerged as the epicentre of the massive fraud.

The branch office was raided on Sunday and Monday and even sealed for a few hours on Monday to enable the CBI team to carry out its investigations.

A CBI team also swooped down on a farmhouse of absconding billionaire diamond trader Nirav Modi at the famed Kihim beach resort in Raigad.

The bungalow is constructed over nearly one-and-a-half acres, about two km from Alibaug, which houses bungalows, resorts and farmhouses of some of India's richest personalities, businessmen, film stars and others, accessible by an hour's catamaran ride from the Gateway of India.

--IANS

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Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Punjab Local Government and Cultural Affairs and Tourism Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu will receive Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the Sri Guru Ramdas Jee International Airport in Amritsar on Wednesday during the latter's visit to the Sikh holy city.

Sidhu would also accompany the Canadian Prime Minister during the visit to the Golden Temple complex, a Punjab government spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Trudeau will also visit the recently inaugurated Partition Museum.

Sidhu will accompany Trudeau during the visit to both places.Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is expected to meet Trudeau at a hotel in Amritsar during the visit.

"The Punjab government accords full importance to the ties it has with the Government of Canada and is committed wholeheartedly to further strengthen the mutual co-operation between the two governments," the spokesperson said.

Trudeau will arrive in Amritsar around 10.30 am from Mumbai and leave around 1.10 pm for New Delhi.

--IANS

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A British university researcher has been sentenced to 32 years in prison for a litany of "warped and sadistic" crimes, including blackmail and sexual exploitation.

Matthew Falder, 29, admitted to 137 separate offences that when put together told "a tale of ever-increasing depravity," Judge Philip Parker said during the sentencing in Birmingham on Monday.

"Your behaviour was cunning, persistent, manipulative and cruel," CNN quoted Parker as saying.

Falder was accused of posing as a depressed female artist who would ask young adults and teenagers to send him naked pictures online.

He then used the photographs to blackmail them, according to the Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA).

Falder committed some of crimes on so-called "hurt core" forums on the dark web, where users discuss and share images of violent acts like rape, murder, sadism, torture, paedophilia, according to the NCA.

By the time he was arrested in June 2017 , Falder had approached more than 300 people across the world, CNN reported.

Prosecutors described Falder as a man living a double life; a Cambridge University graduate and Birmingham University researcher in geophysics by day and a sexual predator by night.

"In more than 30 years of law enforcement I've never come across an offender whose sole motivation was to inflict such profound anguish and pain. Matthew Falder revelled in it," said Matt Sutton, a senior investigating officer at the NCA.

--IANS

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Senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Tuesday alleged that the government was harassing him and his family after his wife was served an Income Tax notice for an alleged purchase of diamonds from a store owned by jeweller Nirav Modi wanted in a multi-crore-rupees banking fraud.

The Congress leader said he would respond to the Income Tax department "questionnaire" in accordance with the law and submit all supporting documents needed for the purpose.

His wife is alleged to have bought diamonds worth Rs 6 crore from Nirav Modi and made the payment of only Rs 1.5 crore through cheque.

Singhvi denied his wife had purchased jewellery in cash. "All (Rs) 1.56 crore paid for fully in cheque and accounted for with receipts."

He, however, questioned if the Income Tax department would send notices to all those who were found on the list of those who purchased jewellery from Nirav Modi "or only one who happens to be in the Congress".

"Purchases in cheque of large amouts all reflected in accounts. Harassment, innuendo, insinuation must have its limits. First leak to friendly media, then issue notice to only one," the Congress leader tweeted.

Last week, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had accused Singhvi's wife and son of holding stocks in Firestar Diamond - a company run by Nirav Modi.

Singhvi reiterated the denial saying: "Neither my family, nor I nor any company of ours has the remotest lender borrowers' holder or director interest in any Modi/(co-accused Mehul) Choksi company.

"Hope alleged unaccounted payments for jewellery purchase is not government's best response to Rs 11,300 crore ghapla under its watch? And hope all customers and purchasers on this alleged list get same notices and same attention by government's favourite channel?" he added.

--IANS

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The Smart Cities Mission of the government is just a starter to India's urban transformation and the plan won't be limited to just 99 designated areas, says Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri.

"Transforming entire existing cities has never been done in the history of the world," says Puri. "You can build new cities over time, but fixing old cities requires a strategic vision and a carefully planned outlay of resources."

In an interview to the journal India Review & Analysis, Puri, who holds independent charge of the ministry, also noted that the mission to transform Indian cities is an innovative intervention to address "some of the most chronic problems" in the management, planning and finance of cities.

He said the overall purpose to transform urban India would benefit from the Smart Cities Mission as it would create "lighthouse cities" like the innovation labs for the urban sector.

The mission, he said, "will create the proofs-of-concept, the models and best practices that other cities around the country will learn from.

"It is important to note that the smart cities represent the full spectrum of the urban sector in our country," he said, referring to the 99 cities that have been nominated to be developed as smart cities across the country.

"There are cities of all sizes with all kinds of economic activities and a diverse range of social and cultural contexts."

He said the mission is fundamentally "an innovative intervention into the long-neglected urban sector" of India. It is "to target some of the most chronic problems in the management, planning and finance of cities and seeks to address those problems".

Asked about a common concern that designating an area as a Smart City would increase the inequality gap, the former top diplomat, who retired as India's Permanent Representative at the United Nations, dismissed it as a "common misconception".

"We must understand that transforming entire existing cities has never been done in the history of the world. You can build new cities over time, but fixing old cities requires a strategic vision and a carefully planned outlay of resources. Starting with one area does not mean we will limit ourselves to that area only. In fact, that is only the starting point."

He said the government was also cognizant of the issues related to urban migration for which it constituted a group of experts and officials to deliberate on the subject of migration and its impact on housing, infrastructure and livelihoods.

"The recommendation was to integrate migrants into the urban economy, especially by addressing their housing needs, which have a direct impact on their access to livelihood and their ability to access other services like healthcare and education for their families. In terms of housing, for those who migrate to our cities and can't immediately purchase houses, a rental housing policy is also being drafted."

He said the government's National Urban Livelihoods Mission also aims to integrate various kinds of workers into the urban economy through skill-building and other initiatives.

"Contrary to the dogma that has prevailed for many decades, the migrant is the person who brings new ideas and energy into urban societies. Most importantly, as our Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) once said, a poor migrant gets accommodated and assimilated into the urban economy -- thus, cities are able to 'digest' poverty."

The principle of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' "will be manifest in all aspects of our work in the urban sector", Puri stated in the interview.

--IANS

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A suicide attacker blew up himself in a university in Nigeria's Borno state. However, no casualty was reported, police said on Tuesday.

According to Borno Police spokesman Joseph Kwaji, the lone attacker detonated the explosives wired round his body at the parapet of the University of Maiduguri late Monday.

Kwaji said there was no other casualty in the incident as the situation was quickly brought under control by security operatives who immediately cordoned off the area, Xinhua reported.

The attack was carried out in an attempt by suspected Boko Haram fighters to infiltrate the university, the official added.

Last year, several attacks targeted at the University of Maiduguri claimed dozens of lives, including that of a professor.

The attacks on the university last year were all carried out by terror group Boko Haram.

Boko Haram has been trying since 2009 to establish an Islamic state in northeastern Nigeria, killing some 20,000 people and forcing displacement of millions of others.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The US President Donald Trump supports efforts to strengthen federal background checks on those looking to purchase firearms, the White House said Monday.

The announcement comes just five days after a school shooting in Parkland, Florida, left 17 dead. The shooter, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, who has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder, has reportedly received mental-health treatment in the past, Efe reported.

Trump was in talks with Texas Senator John Cornyn, a Republican who co-sponsored a bill last November that would require federal agencies and states to be more thorough in forwarding mental-health and criminal-conviction records and other information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

According to the US federal law, those convicted of a felony or subject to a domestic violence protective order, as well as people with mental illness -- subject to certain conditions --, are prohibited from possessing a firearm.

"The President spoke to Senator Cornyn on Friday about the bipartisan bill he and (Democratic) Senator (Chris) Murphy introduced to improve federal compliance with criminal background check legislation," White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said.

"While discussions are ongoing and revisions are being considered, the President is supportive of efforts to improve the federal background check system."

Trump pledged as a candidate to support the aims of the National Rifle Association, a lobbying group that opposes most restrictions on Americans' Second Amendment right to bear arms.

But his backing for the Cornyn-Murphy bill would not incur the wrath of the NRA, which in November expressed support for that same proposal.

The bipartisan bill -- introduced after it was revealed that the man who killed 26 people in a Texas church shooting last November had been convicted of domestic violence, a conviction that the Air Force failed to report -- would provide incentives to states that upload conviction records into the NICS.

But it would not impose further restrictions on gun ownership.

--IANS

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(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.)
US President Donald Trump has endorsed former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who will run for a Senate seat from Utah state in November.

Despite their rivalry, Trump on Monday tweeted "all my support and endorsement" for Romney and considered him a "worthy successor" to Orrin Hatch, the current Utah senator who announced last month that he would retire after over four decades in office, reports Efe news.

"Mitt Romney has announced he is running for the Senate from the wonderful State of Utah. He will make a great Senator and worthy successor to Orrin Hatch, and has my full support and endorsement!!" Trump tweeted.

Romney, the Republican Party's nominee for President of the US in the 2012 election, has been an active critic of Trump since the 2016 presidential campaign, when he labelled the then Republican presidential candidate "a fraud".

However, following Trump's victory, Romney was considered a possible candidate for his secretary of state.

Romney responded later on Monday night, tweeting: "Thank you Mr. President for the support. I hope that over the course of the campaign I also earn the support and endorsement of the people of Utah," CNN reported.

The former Massachusetts governor announced on February 16 that he would run for the Senate seat.

In his announcement, Romney made a veiled critique of the President's tone on immigration.

"Utah welcomes legal immigrants from around the world -- Washington sends immigrants a message of exclusion," Romney said in a video on February 16 without mentioning Trump by name.

--IANS

ksk

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The US and UK are in talks about the fate of two men from London who were detained in Syria last month on suspicion of terrorist activity, Home Secretary Amber Rudd said.

Late Monday, Rudd said the captured men, Allexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh, should go on trial, reports the BBC.

They are suspected of being members of an Islamic State (IS) cell that killed Western hostages.

The men have been stripped of their UK citizenship.

It has been suggested they could be sent to the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay.

Alternatively, they could be put on criminal trial in the US or at the International Criminal Court, The Hague, which can prosecute people for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and aggression, the BBC reported.

Rudd said: "We're absolutely committed to making sure that they are tried.

"These people should face the full force of the law. I can't be drawn at the moment into where that will take place. But I am certain, because we'll be working with the Americans to ensure this, that they will face justice."

The men are accused of being the last two of four UK IS members known as "the Beatles", so called because of their British accents.

--IANS

ksk

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Khadi items made in Uttar Pradesh are now available on e-commerce portal Amazon India, after the state government on Tuesday signed an MoU in this regard with the company, an official said.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by Avinash Krishna Singh, the Chief Executive Officer of the UP Khadi Vikas Board, and Director and General Manager - Seller Services, Amazon India, Gopal Pillai in the state capital.

Briefing the media on the outreach to a "waiting, willing global market", Navneet Sehgal, Principal Secretary - UP Khadi and Village Industries, said that Khadi products from the state would be available on Amazon under the brand name of "UP Khadi".

By signing the MoU, Uttar Pradesh becomes the first state in the country to have entered into an agreement with Amazon to market and sell Khadi products.

With the MoU, seven Khadi-producing institutions in the state have on-boarded the platform and 40 others are in the pipeline and currently in the process of hitching onto the site, officials said.

Minister for Khadi and Village Industries Satyadev Pachauri told reporters that the state government was committed to making Khadi grow exponentially, as was the dream of Mahatma Gandhi and also envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Through the agreement, he added, the state government had made a successful foray into the larger domestic and global market.

"We have also given solar charkhas the industry status and this will enable people spinning Khadi to produce more and earn more while also conserving energy," he added.

Pillai in his address said that Amazon started with 100 elders in 2013 in India and now had three lakh-plus sellers and still counting.

The signing of the MoU, he said, was to empower, educate and enable the small-time artisans to uplift their living as well as to provide them a platform to sell their products to the larger global market through the portal.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday said he was ready to move a no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government with the support of other parties to get "justice" for the southern state. However, he said such a move will be the "last resort".

Earlier in the day, Naidu had dismissed the demands made by the opposition YSR Congress and Jana Sena to consider bringing a no-trust motion. TDP sources had said Naidu, who heads the TDP, was planning to convene an all-party meeting soon to discuss ways to build pressure on the Centre to secure the state's "rightful" due.

Ties between the BJP and TDP came under severe strain after the southern party accused the Centre of making "insufficient" allocations for Andhra Pradesh in the Budget 2018-19. "But, a no-confidence motion should be the last resort. We will continue our fight for justice to AP. If that doesn't happen, we will muster support from other parties and move the no-trust motion," the Telugu Desam Party president announced at meeting of Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti in Vijayawada.

The TDP is a key constituent from south India in the BJP-led NDA dispensation. Naidu said protecting the interests of the state was of paramount importance for him. "The Centre did nothing for us in the last four years. As Chief Minister, I will not tolerate if injustice is done to people. Whether they (the Centre) will help us with a special category status or a special economic package is up to them," he said.

The main opposition YSR Congress and the Jana Sena wanted the TDP to move the no-confidence motion demanding that the Centre grant special category status to AP. While dismissing their demand, Naidu had said that the Modi government enjoys "full majority". YSRC president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy announced that his party would move the no-trust motion if the TDP did not do so.

"Does he (Jagan) have head and tail? If you move a no-confidence motion, they (BJP) have majority. It will be defeated and you can't talk anything for six months on the issue," the chief minister told reporters at the Polavaram project site this afternoon. "First there should be a debate...we have to muster support...Injustice was done (to AP) right inside Parliament..Now we are demanding justice from the same Parliament. When our Minister (Y S Chowdary) demanded in Parliament that justice be done to the state, they (YSRC) demanded his dismissal (citing rules and procedures). Now they are talking about no-confidence," he said.

Naidu had said that provisions of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, and the promises made by the then prime minister Manmohan Singh in the Rajya Sabha have not been implemented yet. "We are also part of India. When I say that, they (YSRC) say we will run away by resigning (from Parliament) or moving a no-confidence motion," Naidu said. He had accused Jagan of trying to gain an "upper hand" to corner the TDP on the special category status issue.

"Without understanding Parliamentary procedures and traditions, he (Jagan) wants to show he took an upper hand and cornered the TDP and the government. What is that you cornered? People are watching everything," he said. The chief minister said his government would take the lead to secure the state's rights from the Centre. "....Let them come with us and cooperate. But they are asking us to follow them. Who are they? What's their history," he questioned.

Following the protests by Andhra Pradesh MPs in Parliament, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said that a formula will soon be worked out to release funds under a special package to Andhra Pradesh. The MPs belonging to the TDP, YSR Congress and Congress had protested "non-implementation" of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, and demanded a financial package for the bifurcated state. Interestingly, the Andhra Pradesh unit of the BJP has suggested to its central leadership to break the bond, if required, with the TDP before the latter does so, a state minister said.
One hundred and nine Indian fishermen,set free by a Jaffna court and among 113 recommended for release by the Sri Lankan government after their arrest in recent months by its Navy on charges of fishing in their waters, arrived in Karaikal today, a top official said.

On their arrival, they were met by their family members and fisheries department officials, Deputy Director of Fisheries, Ramanathapuram, Isak Jayakumar said.

On February 10, three of the four fishermen set free by the court had arrived at Mandapam in the district.

The other fisherman had said he was staying back in the island nation as he has his roots there.

The Sri Lankan Government had on February 9 recommended release of 113 Indian fishermen arrested over a period of time by the island nation's Navy for allegedly fishing in their waters.

The fishermen from Tamil Nadu had been detained over a period of time and lodged in prisons in the neighbouring country. Their mechanised boats had been impounded.

The state government took up the issue with the Centre last month and sought their release and the boats.

This is the second instance of release of Indian fishermen in large numbers since December last year. The Sri Lankan government had released 89 fishermen from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in the last week of December.

On February 9 a court in Jaffna set free four fishermen, whose release was requested on an urgent basis following the death of the son of one of them here.

The Indian High Commission in Sri lanka had requested for release of Jayaseelan and three of his relatives on parole following the death of his son.

The Lankan government, however, had recommended release of the 113 fishermen who were detained till last month.

Another 27 fishermen, detained later, would still be under Lankan custody.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The CBI today told a city court that Delhi Police did not correctly record the statement of the witnesses in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case allegedly involving Congress leader Sajjan Kumar.

The CBI also claimed that during its investigation, it found that the statements of key prosecution witness Sheela Kaur, recorded by police officials in 1985, were forged.

The agency made the statement during the trial of a riot case in Sultanpuri area of west Delhi in which Kumar along with two others are facing prosecution.

The proceedings in the case, which is being video recorded, was held before District Judge Poonam A Bamba.

Senior advocate H S Phoolka, appearing for the victims, said the agency made the statement when Kumar's lawyer, during the cross-examination of Kaur, wanted to confront her with her statement recorded by the police under section 161 of CrPC during the investigation of the case in the 1985.

"Our investigation has found that police did not record the statement of the witnesses correctly where it involved Kumar, to help him. The statements were forged by the police itself and not recorded by the witness," said CBI.

During the proceedings, Kumar's advocate Anil Kumar Sharma said that Kaur had not named Kumar, nor had she mentioned about any meeting and the politician's name appeared for the first time in 2008 on CBI's behest.

During her cross examination, Kaur told the court that she had always named Kumar in the case, Phoolka said, adding that she reiterated that she had seen and heard the Congress leader instigate a mob in the national capital's Sultanpuri area in 1984.

The court posted the matter for further proceedings on March 6 when it is likely to resume the recording of the statement of the witness. She had on January 15 told a court here that she received various phone calls threatening that her children would be killed if she named Kumar in the case. Kaur's husband, brother-in-law and father-in-law were killed in the 1984 riots.

The case was transferred from Karkardooma court to Patiala House court here by the Delhi High Court, which had directed the district judge to video record the proceedings at the cost of the accused.

Kumar and two other accused, Brahmanand Gupta and Ved Prakash, had said that they were ready to bear the expenses of the videography of proceedings. The three accused are facing trial on charges of murder and rioting in the case pertaining to killing of Surjit Singh in Sultanpuri.

The proceedings in the case were earlier stayed after the victim and complainant Joginder Singh approached the high court seeking transfer of the case while alleging that evidence was not being properly recorded.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Pakistani lawyer allegedly shot dead his two cousins in Lahores sessions court today over a property issue, police said, the second shooting incident in a month within the premises.

Senior Superintendent Police Lahore Mubashir Makan told reporters that three cousin lawyers Kashif, Nadim and Awais had appeared in a property case before a sessions judge.

After hearing they started exchanging harsh words that led to a physical brawl between them. Before police intervened Kashif took out a pistol and opened fire on his cousins Nadim, 35, and Awais, 26, leaving them seriously injured," Makan said.

They were shifted to Mayo Hospital where they were pronounced dead, he said, adding the alleged killer lawyer has been apprehended by police.

SSP Makan further said the cousin lawyers had a property dispute in Shahdara area. They had been in litigation for the last one year or so. He said police are investigating as how the suspect managed to bring a weapon in the court.

Lahore Bar Association president Malik Arshad condemned the incident and demanded improved security in the courts.

Following the incident, security at the court was tightened. A heavy contingent of police reached the site of the firing, cordoned off the area and conducted a search within the court premises.

This is the second incident of firing at the Lahore sessions court in this month. In the first week of February an under-trial prisoner facing murder charges and a policeman were shot dead by the complainant of the case in the session court. The killer in this case is still at large.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has ordered authorities to provide fool-proof security for the courts.

The firing incident exposed the security lapses on the premises of the sessions court where a number of under-trial prisoners were brought daily for hearing of the cases.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As many as 300 naxals were reportedly killed in separate encounters with security forces in Chhattisgarh in the last two years, state Home Minister Ramsewak Paikra told the state Legislative Assembly today.

The minister gave this information while replying to the issue of naxals raised by opposition MLAs in the House.

Referring to the February 18 Naxal attack in Elarmadgu area of Sukma district, the opposition legislators said the development programmes launched by the state government in the Left Wing Extemism(LWE)-affected areas remained only on papers, while both the security forces and common citizens are getting killed in the Maoist violence.

Congress MLAs, including state party chief Bhupesh Baghel, Satyanarayan Sharma, Dhanendra Sahu and others, and one independent legislator Dr Vimal Choprasought a discussion on the issue by moving an adjournment motion notice.

Home Minister Ramsewak Paikra, while replying to the admissibility of the adjournment motion notice, said owing to the developmental policies of the state government, coupled with successful Anti-Naxal Operations by security forces, the Maoist activities have considerably declined in the state.

In the core Maoist areas, over 500 kms of roads have been constructed and at the same time dismantled bridges and culverts were repaired.

Besides, employment-oriented works were also launched, he said.

"So far, since 2016, as many as 300 naxals were reported to have been killed in 440 encounters with security forces in the state. Of them, bodies of 225 ultras were recovered," he said.

"During this period, 2,160 Maoists were arrested, while 577 weapons and 597 landmines were recovered. Moreover, impressed by the state government's surrender and rehabilitation policy, 1,589 naxals surrendered," he added.

Security forces have successfully managed to penetrate into Maoists bastions in Bijapur, Sukma, Narayanpur and Dantewada as part of its 'Operation Prahar' 1 and 2 conducted last year, he said.

So far this year, dozens of naxals were gunned down by the security forces in 32 encounters, of which, 13 bodies were recovered, he added.

Talking about the Elarmadgu incident (on February 18), Paikra said the joint team of Special Task Force (STF) and District Reserve Guard (DRG) while showing utmost bravery, gave a befitting reply to naxals during the four hour-long encounter andinflicted severe losses to them.

"However, two DRG assistant constables- Madkam Handa and Mukesh Kadti were martyred in the gunfight," he said.

Hence, it is unfair to say that the state government doesn't have any policy against combating LWE, he said.

Subsequently, Speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal rejected the motion stating that since the reply of state government has been tabled, there is no point admitting the Motion.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Utter chaos unfolded inside the secretariat here today as Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain was mobbed by over a hundred officials and staff, hours after Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash was allegedly manhandled at the chief minister's residence.

Officials and staff of the Delhi government raised slogans and prevented Hussain from taking the elevator to his 6th floor office at the secretariat this afternoon.

Later, police had to escort the minister to his office, sources said.

About the incident, Hussain said, "I don't know whether they were government employees, but I will identify them."



The minister later filed a complaint with the IP Estate Police Station alleging that he was assaulted.

The government also released a video showing Hussain being roughed up while his APA Himanshu Singh thrashed by a section of the agitating staff.

However, Deepak Bharadwaj, general secretary of the Delhi Government Employees Association, refuted the allegations and claimed that the minister arrived when sloganeering was going on but nobody manhandled him.

Hundreds of government officials gathered at the second floor of the Delhi Secretariat, demanding that FIR be lodged against MLAs, who allegedly assaulted the chief secretary.

Prakash was allegedly manhandled at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence last night, an official said, even as the chief minister's office dismissed the accusation as "bizarre and baseless".

Meanwhile, MLA Ajay Dutt, who was present at the meeting yesterday, in a email to the commissioner of police alleged that Anshu Prakash "abused" and used "casteist" remarks against him and another MLA Prakash Jarwal.

Demanding an FIR against the chief secretary, Dutt said he had asked Prakash about complaints regarding ration distribution in his constituency (Ambedkarnagar), but the CS misbehaved and left the meeting.

After the incident, the chief secretary met Lt Governor Anil Baijal and apprised him of the incident, he added.

The IAS officers association met Baijal today and raised the issue before him.
Days after a ruling Congress MLA's son allegedly assaulted a man in a brawl, another party local leader has courted trouble for splashing a combustible liquid in a city corporation office and threatening to set it afire.

In the video which has gone viral on the social media, local Congress leader Narayanaswamy is seen purportedly splashing the liquid filled in a plastic bottle twice inside a city corporation office after the official there allegedly refused to provide a fake land document.

The officer is seen pleading with Narayanswamy, who is clad in all-white dress.

KPCC President G Parameshwara said in a tweet, "I have instructed our Bengaluru District North District Congress Committee (DCC) to immediately suspend Narayanswamy."



Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy also condemned the incident on the floor of the state assembly earlier today.

"It is unfortunate that the incident has taken place. The government has initiated necessary action against the (Congress) leader," he said.

The opposition has seized the opportunity to make it as a political issue in the poll-bound Karnataka this year.

"It is another show of hooliganism by the state's ruling Congress. The leader is close to lawmaker Byrathi Basavaraj, who is a close aide of Siddaramaiah," BJP spokesperson Suresh Kumar said.

Congress was red-faced after its MLA N A Haris' son Mohammed Nalapad Haris and his friends had allegedly beaten up Vidwat on February 17 for extending his plaster-cast leg near to the accused in the pub-cum-restaurant.

Nalapad, who has been booked for attempt to murder, is in police custody.

He had surrendered before the police yesterday.

A day before, 10 people were arrested in the case.

The embarrased state Congress leadership expelled Nalapad for six years.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Air India today launched a direct flight from Amritsar to Birmingham.

The flight will operate twice-a-week on Tuesday and Thursday with Boeing 787 aircraft.

According to an Air India official, this is the first direct flight to be operated by any airline between Punjab and the UK.

The flight AI 117 will take off from Delhi at 11.20 am and reach Amritsar at 12.25 pm. The flight will then depart from Amritsar at 1.55 pm and reach Birmingham at 5.15 pm local time, according to Air India in a statement.

The return flight AI 118 will take off from Birmingham at 6.45 pm and reach Amritsar the following day at 7.45 am. For its onward journey to Delhi, the flight will leave from Amritsar at 9.15 am and arrive in Delhi at 10.30 am, the statement added.

The inaugural flight was flagged off from Amritsar by Union minister Vijay Sampla, MPs Shwait Malik and Gurjeet Singh Aujla and Director- Commercial, Air India Pankaj Srivastava.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Air India today resumed non-stop flights between Amritsar and Birmingham after a gap of eight years.

The flight will operate twice-a-week on Tuesday and Thursday with a Boeing 787 aircraft.

According to an Air India official, the airline had suspended its direct operations on this route in 2010.

Another official said that with Air India resuming the service it is the only airline to offer direct flights between Punjab and the UK.

The flight AI 117 will take off from Delhi at 11.20 am and reach Amritsar at 12.25 pm. The flight will then depart from Amritsar at 1.55 pm and reach Birmingham at 5.15 pm local time, according to an Air India statement.

The return flight AI 118 will take off from Birmingham at 6.45 pm and reach Amritsar the following day at 7.45 am. For its onward journey to Delhi, the flight will leave from Amritsar at 9.15 am and arrive in Delhi at 10.30 am, the statement added.

The inaugural flight was flagged off from Amritsar by Union minister Vijay Sampla, MPs Shwait Malik and Gurjeet Singh Aujla and Director- Commercial, Air India Pankaj Srivastava.

Former civil aviation minister Praful Patel had inaugurated Air India's maiden flight on this route back in 2005.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash today did not attend the Delhi Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, amid a row over allegation that he was assaulted by a few AAP MLAs.

Two major decisions were taken in the meeting, which was held at the chief minister's residence, as the atmosphere at the secretariat was "not conducive", Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia told reporters.

The chief secretary is also the cabinet secretary.

A senior official said, "It (cabinet meeting) was not attended by the chief secretary. Instead, the acting chief secretary (Manoj Kumar Parida) attended the cabinet meeting."



Prakash was allegedly assaulted by a few AAP MLAs at the chief minister's residence in presence of Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia last night. However, the chief minister's office dismissed the accusation as "bizarre and baseless", while the AAP has termed the accusation "ludicrous".

According to an official, Prakash was called by Kejriwal regarding the issue of advertisements, which were not being released. But, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) claimed that he had been called for a discussion on rations.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Unleashing an all out attack on the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government, BJP President Amit Shah today dubbed it as "goonda governance" and the "most corrupt" in the country and said the countdown for its exit has begun.

If there was to be a competition for the most corrupt government, the award for the last five years would go to the one headed by Siddaramaiah, he said.

"People of Karnataka are disillusioned with 3 Ms -- Murder, Mafia Raj and Corrupt Ministers. People want to move towards good governance from Goonda governance. They want to get rid of goonda governance and want to move towards good governance under (state BJP chief B S) Yeddyurappa," he said.

Shah, who spoke to reporters at Surathkal and addressed a public meeting at Bantwal, said, "Congress party's time has now come to an end. On the day of counting Congress government will not be here, it will be BJP government.."



The BJP president launched his tour of the communally sensitive Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada districts in the coastal region in poll-bound Karnataka, where the party has a strong presence and is trying to consolidate it further.

"This government has been the most corrupt government. There is evidence of corruption at every step," Shah said at Surathkal.

Pointing to killings of RSS and BJP activists in the state, Shah said, "I had never seen such ideological and political victimisation in my life."



He questioned the state government on withdrawal of cases against activists of Islamic outfit Popular Front of India and its political wing Social Democratic Party of India and also on a circular from the Home Department regarding withdrawal of cases against "innocent" minorities.

The circular was later withdrawn by the government.

At the Bantwal rally, Shah accused the Siddaramaiah government of pursuing "appeasement and vote bank politics".

Shah said one after the other more than 20 BJP and RSS activists had been killed in the state.

The BJP has been targeting the Siddaramaiah government consistently over a series of killings of Hindu activists by alleged "Jehadi forces," and accused it of adopting a "soft approach" towards them as part of the Congress' "vote bank"and "minorities appeasement"



He also referred to the recent incident involving Mohammed Nalapad Haris, son of a Congress MLA and himself a party leader, who triggered outrage by assaulting a man in a pub-cum-restaurant.

Shah said the filing of an FIR was delayed because the accused was from a minority community.

"The son of a Congress MLA assaults a man twice but no FIR is registered. This is appeasement It will not be tolerated," he said.

In his public rally, Shah referred to the victim Vidwat as a BJP worker but later clarified at the press conference that it was a "factual mistake"



"...but thank you (the media), you at least took it up for discussion... because of my factual mistake the issue is being discussed, I thank you whole heartedly," he said.

Nalapad Haris, son of Congress MLA N A Haris, had yesterday surrendered before police amid high drama and was booked for attempt to murder.

Police have registered a case against Nalapad for various offences, including attempt to murder and criminal intimidation, under the Indian Penal Code.

He was later produced before the magisterial court, which remanded him to two-day police custody.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Supreme Court today refused to extend the deadline for publication of the final National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam and directed the Centre to complete the work by May 31.

The apex court said that the work of the verification of around one crore citizens in the state should continue without interference from any quarter.

A bench comprising justices Ranjan Gogoi and R F Nariman said that it would monitor the progress of the NRC work in Assam after 30 days.

When Attorney General K K Venugopal told the bench that it was not "physically possible" to complete the work by May 31, the apex court said its business was to make the impossible possible.

"Mr Attorney General what everybody thought was a big joke, has been turned into a reality. Our business is to make impossible possible and we will do it. We are monitoring it for the last four years and we know this," the bench said.

The bench also made it clear that the upcoming panchayat and local body elections in Assam, which are scheduled to be held in the months of March and April, 2018 will be conducted by the state election commission and the state government.

"The work of holding panchayat and local body elections in Assam will not be at the cost of upgrading and preparation of NRC and the NRC work will continue as before with full deployment," the bench said.

The top court also said that the state election commission and the state government would take all the necessary action for holding these elections.

The bench also did not accept the request to appoint an additional state coordinator for NRC work and said that incumbent coordinator Prateek Hajela would continue to carry out the exercise till it reaches its logical conclusion.

The bench has listed the matter for further hearing on March 27.

Earlier, the first draft NRC for Assam was published in December end as per the apex court's direction to come out with the first draft NRC by December 31, 2017.

The Supreme Court had said that claims of those citizens, whose names do not figure in the draft NRC for Assam published by December 31, would be scrutinised and included in the subsequent list, if found genuine.

The apex court had on November 30 said that on the expiry of midnight of December 31, the draft NRC pertaining to 2.38 crore claims, would be published. The NRC is prepared to identify illegal migrants in Assam.

The court had observed this while rejecting the Centre's plea seeking extension of time for publication of the draft NRC.

The NRC of 1951 is being updated for Assam in accordance with the tripartite agreement among the state and central governments and the influential All Assam Students Union (AASU), which was arrived at in 2005 to implement the 1985 Assam Accord.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Punjab National Bank and two other banks are sitting over the CVC's multiple requests seeking sanction to prosecute nine of their senior officers allegedly involved in corruption, reveals data from the anti-corruption watchdog.

According to norms, sanction for prosecution has to be decided within four months of the CVC's request.

A total of 23 cases, involving 39 officials, including IAS and senior staff of banks, are pending sanction from various authorities for prosecution, according to latest data from the Central Vigilance Commission.

Four of these 23 are related to banks -- two of the State Bank of India (SBI) and one each of UCO Bank and PNB. The CVC is awaiting sanction to prosecute nine employees of these banks who were booked by the CBI for their alleged involvement in corruption.

Of the nine, five officers work with the SBI and three with the UCO Bank. Sanction to prosecute them has been pending since June 2017. The sanction to prosecute the ninth, a chief manager rank officer with PNB, has been pending since August 30, 2017, said the CVC data, updated till December 2017.

The PNB has been hit by nearly Rs 11,400 crore alleged fraud by diamantaire Nirav Modi and others.

Of the total cases awaiting sanction of prosecution, four cases are pending with Ministry of Personnel, the nodal authority to decide on anti-corruption matters, three with the Uttar Pradesh government, two with Railways Ministry and one each with Defence and Commerce ministries.

One case each is pending with the governments of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh among others, the data reveals.

A time limit of three months is prescribed for government departments for grant of sanction for prosecution against allegedly corrupt employees. An additional time of one month can also be given to decide on sanction of prosecution where consultation is required with the attorney general or any other law officer in his office.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bhutanese Foreign Minister Lyonpo Damcho Dorji arrived here today on a three-day visit during which both sides are likely to discuss a broad range of issues, including ways to deepen defence and security cooperation.

Dorji's visit here comes two weeks after Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval travelled to Bhutan and discussed a number of strategic issues, including the situation in Doklam.

The Bhutanese foreign minister will hold extensive talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, besides meeting a number of other leaders, official sources said.

They said all major bilateral issues will be discussed during Dorji's visit, including implementation of India-assisted development projects in the country, said sources.

Earlier this month, Rawat, Doval and Gokhale had quietly travelled to the neighbouring country during which they held extensive talks with the top brass of the Bhutanese government on the situation in Doklam, authoritative government sources had told PTI.

The sources said the two sides had deliberated on China's increasing military posturing and infrastructure development in the key Doklam plateau. The visit took place between February 6 and 7.

The visit was the first such high-level trip from India to Bhutan after the Doklam standoff and it was kept under wraps by the Bhutanese and Indian sides.

Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Doklam from June 16 last year after the Indian side stopped the building of a road in the disputed tri-junction by the Chinese Army. Bhutan and China have a dispute over Doklam. The face-off ended on August 28.

As a close friend and neighbour, Bhutan enjoys diplomatic and military support from India.

China and Bhutan are engaged in talks over the resolution of the dispute in the area.

Army sources said China has been keeping its troops in north Doklam and significantly ramping up its infrastructure in the area.

In November last, the King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, had visited India.

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Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union Minister Smriti Irani today hit the campaign trail in Bijepur Assembly constituency to canvass for the candidates of their respective parties and wooed farmers, and weavers, who comprise over 50 per cent of electorate.

It was a show of strength by the ruling BJD and the opposition BJP as both the parties roped in star campaigners to woo voters ahead of the Bijepur Assembly by-poll slated to be held on Sunday.

Patnaik, who is also the BJD president, and Irani, a senior BJP leader, addressed more than two public meetings besides holding roadshows in separate areas, as the electorate of the Assembly constituency witnessed trading of charges between the BJD and the BJP.

In his address at Badagaon village of Barpali block, Patnaik highlighted the activities undertaken by the Odisha government for the development of farmers and weavers and hit out at the Centre for imposing GST.

''The weavers here have made Odisha proud. Unfortunately the Centre imposed 18 per cent GST on handloom products. However, after Odisha's demand the GST was reduced to 5 per cent. We are demanding a complete waiver," he said.

The chief minister said the BJD government had implemented Gangadhar Meher lift irrigation project to address the problems of farmers in Bijepur. The project will irrigate 32,000 hectares -- 19,000 hectare at Bijepur, 8,000 at Sohela and 5,000 at Barpali.

To woo the women voters, he spoke of his choice, Rita Sahu -- the widow of former MLA Subal Sahu -- as the party's candidate for the bypoll.

Patnaik, who will spend the night in Bargarh district, also took part in a 6-km long road show from Barpali to Kumbhari village.

Hours after Patnaik's meeting at Barpali, Irani, the Union Minister for Textiles and Information and Broadcasting addressed her second public meeting at Bijepur and countered the chief minister's charges.

Earlier, Irani had addressed a meeting at Gaisilat where she talked of the benefit of the Centre's Ujjwala Yojana to women.

Seeking votes for BJP candidate Ashok Panigrahi, she said the Centre has also made schemes to provide safe drinking water for all which will mitigate the hardships faced by women.

''Development has gone for 'vanvas' since 18 years under Naveen babu's rule. Now, you have to decide the fate of BJD government,'' Irani said.

''Though he (Patnaik) claims to be worried for the weavers community, he has never written a letter to the textile ministry nor spoken to me over phone on the problems faced by Odisha weavers,'' she said.

Alleging that Patnaik has been misleading people in order to garner votes for his party candidate, Irani said, ''Patnaik has been misleading people as GST is not applicable on handloom products below Rs 20 lakh turnover. How can it affect the weavers earning Rs 5,000 or Rs 6,000 per month ?''



Highlighting the Centre's Jan Dhan Yojana, She said, ''Goddess Laxmi doesn't come walking with Naveen babu, but sits atop the 'lotus' and ushers in prosperity.''



Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who shared the stage with her, claimed that though the state government has announced a Rs 1250 crore irrigation scheme for the farmers of Bijepur it has not made allocation of even Rs 1,250 for it in the state budget.

''The irrigation project announcement was made to mislead people to get their votes," Pradhan said.

Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram accused the BJD government of not bringing development in Bijepur and across the state.

Congress candidate Pranaya Sahu, who has been campaigning with the local Congress leaders, claimed, ''The people of Bijepur have decided to vote for Congress as they see flow of black money both by BJD and BJP.'



The Congress has been holding the seat since 2004.

The bypoll in Bijepur Assembly segment was necessitated due to the death of Congress MLA Subal Sahu in August last year. The constituency has 2.21 lakh voters.

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Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting has forayed into integrated home automation solution space by launching Wipro Z Nxt.

The solution comes with in-built sensors, which will alert the owners in case of fire, gas leakage and intrusion and could be controlled from any smart device, anywhere in the world, Wipro group firm said in a statement.

It could be installed without replacing existing switches and wires within the home and integrates lighting, air conditioners, geysers, curtains, safety accessories, IP cameras, music control and home theatre.

******** IHCL forays into Bhopal



* Tata Group's hospitality arm Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) today announced its foray into Bhopal by signing of a new hotel - Vivanta Bhopal, through a management contract with Genex Hotels.

This is in line with the company's expansion plans and to have presence across key state capitals besides having a network of in all the key commercial centres of India, said the company in a statement.

Vivanta Bhopal will comprise 150 well-appointed guest rooms and is located at a 25-minute drive from the Bhopal International Airport with proximity to prominent corporate and tourist destinations, said the company which operates the Taj Group of hotels.

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The Opposition and the ruling BJP today locked horns in the Rajasthan Assembly over the crop loan waiver announced by the Vasundhara Raje-government in its Budget 2018-19.

As the House took up a question raised by Congress legislator Nand Kishore Maharia on crop loan waiver and procuring farmers' produce at the minimum support price, the entire opposition cornered the government on its intent on crop loan waivers.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje had in her budget announced an one-time crop loan waiver of up to Rs 50,000 taken by small and marginalised farmers, and land revenue exemption. The waiver was for marginal farmers in the overdue and outstanding category of short loans provided by cooperative banks. This would cost the state exchequer nearly Rs 8,000 crore.

Raje had announced the constitution of a farmers' debt relief commission as a permanent institution. Farmers would be able to get relief on merit basis after presenting their case before the commission, she had said.

In a supplementary question during the Question Hour, Maharia demanded the minutes of the meeting of the commission. He said out of the Rs 8,000 crore, Rs 3,000 crore comprised penalty, interest, etc., and Rs 5,000 was for crop loan waiver.

The government had put riders and waived loans taken from cooperative banks by the small and marginalised farmers only, he said, and asked if the government intended to announce a complete loan waiver.

State Cooperative Minister Ajay Singh Kilak said it was a first in the history of the state that a waiver of crop loans was announced. One-time crop loan waiver of up to Rs 50,000 would benefit 20 lakh farmers, he said.

Kilak said the government had constituted a permanent institution to categorise farmers, decide on relief type, limit and process, and include farmers, who had taken loans from non-cooperative banks and other banks.

When Kilak said loans were never waived except under the BJP regime, opposition Chief Whip Govind Singh Dotasara mentioned that the UPA government had announced a Rs 72,000 crore loan waiver.

Responding to Dotasara, State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rajendra Rathore said Rajasthan had received only Rs 186 crore out of the Rs 72,000 crore, but the BJP government waived-off debts worth Rs 8,000 crore.

Amid the uproar, Speaker Kailash Meghwal asked the legislators to maintain decorum of the House.

It is to be noted that farmers are likely to lodge a protest outside the Rajasthan Assembly on February 22.

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Congress president Rahul Gandhi, on his second visit to poll-bound Meghalaya, hit out at the BJP-led central government today, alleging that it ''actively" participated in corruption by allowing bank-loan defaulters Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi to escape the country.

Gandhi is on a two-day campaign trail in the north-eastern state till tomorrow with road-shows in Tura and Shillong and a rally in the Jaintia Hills scheduled on the last day of his visit.

The Congress chief also criticised the Centre's offer to beautify the churches and religious institutions in the Christian-majority state and claimed that of late, there had been a ''tremendous increase" in the discrimination towards and humiliation of the north-east people.

''With the Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi scandals, we know that the government not only cannot remove corruption, but it is also actively participating in it,'' he said.

''This government has, instead of giving hope, security and economic growth, dealt us only with hopelessness, unemployment, fear, hatred and violence,'' he added.

Taking a jibe at the Centre over diamantaire Nirav Modi fleeing the country, Gandhi said, ''I would like to request (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji, on behalf of all of us, to bring back the other Modiji, when he goes on another of his many foreign trips.

''We will all be very grateful as a nation to get our hard-earned money back.''



Continuing his attack against the BJP, the Congress president said, ''I know they (BJP) have lots of money as some of the richest Indians, including perhaps those who have run away with money stolen from Indian banks, are their supporters,'' and urged the tribals of Meghalaya to teach the saffron party ''a lesson'' in the February 27 state Assembly polls.

He hit out at the Union tourism ministry for its offer last month to beautify the churches and religious institutions in Meghalaya and accused the BJP of buying some Congress members too.

Union Tourism Minister K J Alphons had announced a Rs 70-crore project under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme for beautifying the churches and religious institutions of Meghalaya. It was rejected outright by at least two main churches of the state.

''They (BJP) have even bought some of my party members. Now, in their arrogance, they think that they can buy god,'' Gandhi said, adding that churches, temples, gurdwaras and mosques and spirituality were not for sale.

Recounting attacks on Dalits in Uttar Pradesh and on a priest in Madhya Pradesh, he said, "There is a tremendous increase in the instances of discrimination and humiliation with the people from Meghalaya and other north-eastern states in the country.''



He also mentioned the harassment and threats to three Garo youths from their landlady in Delhi because they did not look "Indian enough".

Lauding the work of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, the Congress president said, ''He (Sangma) ushered in an era of unprecedented growth and prosperity and by being one of the most hardworking chief ministers in the country, one can see tremendous development here.''



Claiming that Meghalaya's growth rate was higher than that of Gujarat, Gandhi said, ''The Congress has overseen the emergence of Meghalaya as the most literate state in India, with the highest ratio of female enrolment in primary schools in the country. Before saying anything against the Meghalaya government, the BJP leaders should remember that Meghalaya's growth rate is higher than (that of) Gujarat's.

He added that strikes and violent activities were a thing of the past in Meghalaya and that there was an atmosphere of peace and stability now in the state.

''This atmosphere of peace and stability has brought development and good governance,'' the Congress president said, adding that his party's government in the north-eastern state had created a ''tremendous'' road network and connected itself with the rest of India through the rail network.

''The Tura-Shillong highway is there for everyone to see,'' he said.

Meghalaya was one of the few states to have a universal health insurance, Gandhi said and added that single mothers were immensely helped by the state government's scheme of providing economic support and assistance to them.

Referring to the ruling BJP-NPF-NPP alliance in neighbouring Manipur, the Congress president accused it of running the state with ''ill-gotten money and power''.

''I promise you that we will not allow a repetition of Manipur in Meghalaya. On behalf of the Congress, I assure you of this.... Every voice in Meghalaya is calling for justice and together, we shall once again form the government in Meghalaya,'' he said, adding that his party would ''resist tooth and nail'' any attempt to dilute the traditional system of governance in the north-eastern state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hitting back at the Trinamool Congress (TMC), West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh today asked the state's ruling party to clarify about the photographs showing state Finance Minister Amit Mitra with Mehul Choksi, one of the co-accused in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case who is on the run.

The state BJP leadership has released the photographs of Mitra and Choksi and claimed that those were taken during a business summit in Mumbai a few years back.

West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee has been targeting the BJP-led central government over the alleged PNB scam involving diamond merchant Nirav Modi and his relative Choksi.

"The TMC and the chief minister are accusing the BJP over the issue. But they should first explain about the photographs, in which Amit Mitra is seen with Mehul Choksi. It is easy to point fingers at others," Ghosh told reporters here.

The TMC, which was quick to react, asked the BJP not to divert from the main issue.

"At that business summit, several chambers of commerce and industry bodies were invited, maybe he (Choksi) had gone there as a representative of any of those chambers," state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee said.

He added that instead of trying to divert from the issue, the BJP should explain how the fraud took place and how Modi and Choksi were allowed to run away from the country.

A political slugfest is on between the BJP and the Congress over the PNB "scam" with both the parties blaming each other for allowing Nirav Modi and his associates to flourish during their respective tenures.

The PNB, the second largest State-run bank, had on February 14 informed the exchanges about detecting a USD 1.77 billion fraud at its Brady House branch in Mumbai and named the firms led by Modi and his uncle Choksi's Gitanjali Group and some other diamond and jewellery merchants as suspects.

Ghosh also asked the TMC to explain about the public money that had allegedly been siphoned off by its leaders in the multi-crore-rupee chit fund scam in the state.

"Before seeking answers from us, they should clarify about the TMC's role in the multi-crore-rupee chit fund scams of Saradha and Rose Valley," he said.

West Bengal was rocked by the chit fund scam a few years back and the names of certain TMC leaders had also figured in it.

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A 40-year-old BJP worker was injured after two unidentified men shot at him in Pilikothi area under Jaitpura Police Station here, police said today.

The victim, Munil Gupta, a BJP worker was attacked while he was sitting at a tea shop here, they said.

The injured was rushed to the nearby hospital in a critical situation, where he was undergoing a treatment, they said, adding the police have launched a man hunt to nab the assailants.

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Boko Haram jihadists launched an attack on a girls boarding school in northeast Nigeria but the students and teachers fled to safety, witnesses said today.

A convoy of fighters in pickup trucks descended on Dapchi village in the Bursari area of Yobe state around 6 pm (1700 GMT) targeting the school, resident Sheriff Aisami told AFP.

"When they stormed the village they began shooting and setting off explosives," Aisami said.

"This drew the attention of the girls in the Girls Science Secondary School, so the girls and the teachers were able to escape before the attackers got into the school."



Unable to kidnap the girls, the Boko Haram fighters looted the school before fleeing.

"There was an attack on the girls secondary school in Dapchi by Boko Haram," said a member of a local civilian militia battling the extremists.

"Obviously the attack was meant to abduct school girls but luckily they found none of the girls as they were taken away by teachers before they arrived," said the militia member, who declined to provide his name for safety reasons.

"Military jets were deployed and are in pursuit", he added.

It's unclear whether anyone was killed in the violence.

The attack recalls Boko Haram's audacious kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls from the town of Chibok in April, 2014.

The kidnapping drew the world's attention to the jihadist insurgency in northeast Nigeria.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, a former general, came to power in 2015 on a platform promising to stamp out the Islamist movement.

But despite retaking swathes of territory from Boko Haram, the group continues to stage attacks targeting both civilians and military targets, and frequently uses young girls as suicide bombers.

Since 2009, the Boko Haram insurgency has left at least 20,000 dead and made over 2.6 million more homeless.

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A BSF jawan was today killed after he was shot by a Pakistani sniper from across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Tangdhar, officials said.

Constable S K Murmu (28) succumbed to the "critical" injury of the gun shot wound he suffered in the ceasefire violation incident, they said.

He died at the Army hospital in Srinagar around 8:30 pm.

The officials said that Murmu was deployed at a forward defended location (FDL) along the LoC in Karnah sector of the Tangdhar area, when a sniper shot hit him in the stomach around 4:30 pm.

"He was initially evacuated on foot from the forward area and then taken to Srinagar in an Army helicopter. However, Murmu succumbed to the fatal sniper shot. He was shot at by the Pakistani forces," a senior officer said.

The jawan, who joined the Border Security Force (BSF) in 2013, hails from the Jamui district in Bihar.

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The Border Security Force (BSF) personnel today seized a Pakistani fishing boat from Padala creek near Kotheshwar, but the two fishermen on the boat managed to escape, officials said.

During patrolling along the Indo-Pak border in Kutch district, the BSF personnel found a fishing boat at Padala creek near Koteshwar in the Arabian Sea.

The two fishermen managed to escape as the BSF patrolling party approached the boat, the BSF officials said.

Fish and fishing equipments were seized from the boat, they said.

The BSF and Indian Coast Guard seize boats and sometimes even apprehend fishermen from the neighbouring country who enter the Indian waters of the Arabian Sea after crossing the International Maritime Border.

The Coast Guard had recently arrested six Pakistani nationals, along with a fishing boat, from the Indian waters.

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Justice delivery system remained paralysed at the Calcutta High Court for the second consecutive day today as lawyers stayed away owing to a five-day strike called by the Bar Association, demanding the appointment of judges.

Shorn of the lawyers and litigants, the gothic corridors of the high court wore a deserted look.

Judges were present in the court in the morning and petitions were called for hearing, but with lawyers not appearing on behalf of any party they later retired to their chambers.

Calcutta High Court Bar Association president Uttam Majumdar claimed that the second day of the cease work demanding immediate filling up of vacant posts of judges was totally successful.

The high court has only 30 judges at present, while the sanctioned strength is of 72 judges.

Out of the present strength of the 30 sitting judges, two judges on rotation are permanently at the Andaman and Nicobar circuit bench of the high court.

There were 2,22,648 cases pending before the Calcutta High Court as on December 31, 2017, according to the available official data.

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The wife of visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today called for an end to gender disparity, saying the world has suffered a lot due to inequality between men and women.

All sections of the society should "stand up together" to eliminate gender disparity from the world, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau said at Sophia College for Women in South Mumbai.

"Misconceptions have led to many sufferings. It is a misogynist belief that girls are lesser than boys.

"Being able to acknowledge the true value of women is not a sign of weakness, but strength. A man has full potential to become strong, courageous and fearless but (he) also has the same potential to become tender and compassionate," she said.

The fight for eliminating inequality does not mean pitting one gender against the other, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau said, adding "rather men are our allies."



The 42-year-old former television host and women's rights activist is accompanying her husband on his eight-day visit to India.

Appealing to women to stand up and speak against discrimination they face, she said, "We must open up, we must let the truth rise. Because by sharing the stories of suffering, we can move as a hero and this is what is happening and this is the awakening we are taking about.

"Moreover, as women we must unite and help each other and it works," the Canadian Prime Minister's wife said.

Sophie Trudeau, a mother of three, said education is the key to ending gender inequality.

"You are engaged in the process and you must continue... education is the key in this process," she said, adding the fight against gender inequality has achieved initial success but a lot remains to be done.

"We say truth is rising on this planet, but there are lots of paradoxes on the earth. Still truth is rising, voices are rising and awareness is rising. Most importantly, we, as women, are rising. The more we unite, the more we will rise," Sophie Trudeau said.

During her 17-minute-long speech, she praised the diversity ion India saying, "India is a wonderful and vibrant country, besides being a beacon of diversity and innovation. And you all can continue to serve as an example to the world of how a nation can be so diverse but also so compassionate."



To a query by a student on how Canada is addressing the issue of gender inequality, she said her government is committed to bring equality in all sectors.

"The Government of Canada is committed to upholding gender equality in all sectors. There are an equal number of males and females in the Cabinet and girls were doing a good job in education and academics," she said.

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Preparations by the Punjab government and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) are in full swing for the proposed visit of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to the Golden Temple here tomorrow.

Trudeau is scheduled to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple along with his family, officials said here today.

A series of meetings between the officials of the SGPC and the Punjab government were held to provide foolproof security to the visiting dignitary, they said.

A thick security blanket was put in place in and around the Golden Temple, officials said.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is slated to welcome the Canadian PM in Amritsar. "Look forward to meeting Canadian Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau in Amritsar on Wednesday said, I'm hopeful that this meeting will help strengthen the close Indo-Canadian business ties as well as the deep-rooted people-to-people relations between our two countries," Singh had tweeted, adding that instructions were issued to the state administration to roll out the red carpet for the visiting dignitary.

District administration officials said arrangements for cleaning of roads, removing illegal encroachments were being undertaken on war footing.

Deputy Commissioner Kamaldeep Singh Sangha assured that the general public, including tourists, would not face any difficulty due to the Canadian PM's visit.

SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal held a series of meetings to discuss the preparations being made for Trudeau's welcome and also issued dress code instructions for its officials and members of SGPC's internal security task force.

Longowal said former deputy chief minister of Punjab and president of the SAD Sukhbir Badal and his wife Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal would receive the Canadian PM at the main gate of Golden Temple.

According to SGPC chief secretary Dr Roop Singh, Trudeau would partake of langar at Guru Ram Das Langar Hall (the community kitchen of the Golden Temple).

He would then be honoured at the information centre, Roop Singh said.

The SGPC has arranged a specially crafted 24-karat gold-plated portrait of the shrine and a gold-plated 'Siri Sahib' (a small six-inch sword) to be presented to the Canadian PM along with a 'siropa' (robe of honour) and a shawl.

His wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau would be presented a woollen shawl and a set of religious books.

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China will send two experts to the US to repair a USD 4.5-million worth of Terracotta warrior statue whose thumb was stolen from a prominent museum last year.

The Terracotta Army is one of China's most important archaeological findings.

Chinese authorities have demanded "severe punishment" for a man who allegedly stole the thumb of the precious statue loaned for display at the Philadelphia museum, Chinese state media reported.

The 2,000-year-old statue, worth some USD 4.5 million, is one of 10 on loan to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. The exhibit will run until March 4.

The statue, which is a cavalryman, dates back to at least 209 BC.

The two experts from cultural relics authority of China's northwest Shaanxi province will be sent to the US to repair the statue, the Shaanxi provincial cultural heritage department said.

The related US departments should be held responsible for the damage, and guarantee the safety of the relics on display, state-run Xinhua agency quoted the department as saying.

The department has sent a notice to the museum informing its decision to dispatch two experts to repair the Terracotta warrior statue, it said.

The Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Centre has organised over 260 overseas exhibitions over the past 40 years, and has never come across a situation such as this, an official with the centre was quoted in the report as saying.

The statue was part of an army of 8,000 life-size clay warriors which make up the Terracotta Army.

They were built in 210 BC by Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huang who believed they would protect him in the afterlife.

The statues were discovered in China's Xi'an city in 1974 by a group of Chinese farmers. The Terracotta Museum in Xian attracts thousands of tourists from home and abroad.

Last week, Michael Rohana, 24, was arrested for stealing the thumb which he reportedly broke while he was attempting to take a selfie. He was later released on bail.

Rohana used a mobile phone as a flashlight and took a selfie with one of the warriors, China's state-run Xinhua agency quoted the FBI as saying.

He then put his hand on the left hand of the statue and appeared to break something off from it. He pocketed the item and left the museum, the report said.

A spokeswoman for the Philadelphia museum said that the statue will be repaired, adding that a security contractor did not follow standard procedures at the night of the alleged theft.

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Amid the raging political crisis in Maldives, five Chinese naval ships sailed into the eastern Indian Ocean to join six other vessels, a Chinese portal reported today, days after the former Maldivian president Muhamad Nasheed appealed to India to intervene militarily to resolve the political crisis in the island nation.

The Chinese naval ships included an amphibious landing vessel, the report in mil. sina.com.cn said.

China has been proactively opposing any foreign intervention in Maldives since President Abdullah Yameen Abdul Gayoom, regarded as close to China, had clamped emergency early this month and arrested Supreme court judges and the opposition leaders.

The Maldives' Parliament today extended the state of emergency by another 30 days, approving President Yameen's recommendation.

The state of emergency will now end on March 22.

Nasheed, who is currently on exile in Sri Lanka, had said India should send an envoy, backed by its military, to release the judges and leaders of political parties detained by Yameen.

About 10 days ago, the Chinese navy's "zhanlan 2018A" expedition team crossed the strait in Indonesia, and five main warships sailed into the eastern Indian Ocean, the microblog report said.

The Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Navy already has three naval vessels in the three main areas of the eastern, southern and western Indian Ocean. China at present has 11 surface warships in the region, it said.

The warships included destroyers, a missile frigates and other major warships, an amphibious dock landing ship, and a comprehensive supply ship.

Overall, the Chinese navy is sending out an amphibious convoy fleet with strong regional air defence, anti-ship and anti-submarine capabilities and the ability to deliver rather large-scale amphibious troops quickly, it said.

While reporting about the the presence of the Chinese naval ships, the report also highlighted the turbulent political situation in Maldives since early this month.

Just around the time the Chinese navy's "zhanlan 2018A" fleet has been training in the eastern Indian Ocean for a week or so, the Chinese Foreign Ministry asserted that Beijing is opposed to any foreign intervention in the picturesque island located close to India.

Last week, The Global Times, a part of the ruling Communist Party of Chinas publications, came out with an editorial saying that India must stop intervening in Male.

Political struggles are supposed to be internal affairs, and New Delhi has no justification to intervene in Male's affairs. The Maldives must be under huge pressure from India it said.

The Maldives' sovereignty should be respected. The political unrest should be left to the Maldivian people to address. We urge all sides in the country to exercise restraint and end the crisis at the minimum cost, striking the correct balance between legal and governmental authority, it had said.

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The Supreme Court today directed the Centre to clarify its stand on setting up of an independent mechanism for determination of salaries and allowances of the Members of Parliament (MPs), which at present is fixed by the lawmakers themselves.

The government said the issue was "under consideration" and sought some time to clarify its stand, as a PIL on the matter has raised several questions including how the MPs can themselves determine their salaries and perks.

A bench comprising Justices J Chelameswar and Sanjay Kishan Kaul was hearing a plea filed by NGO 'Lok Prahari', which has also sought scrapping of pension and other perks to the MPs, and said it would examine the issues raised in the petition.

Senior advocate Ajit Kumar Sinha, representing the Centre, told the bench that the matter was under the consideration of the government and sought time to obtain instruction on the issue.

"Government of India's policy is very dynamic but it cannot change every day. What is the government's view on this? You want it (independent mechanism), do not want it, you tell us," the bench told the Centre, adding, "what, as of now is the Union of India's stand and what is under consideration?".

However, the petitioner claimed that the issue was under consideration of the Centre for the last 11 years and they have not taken a decision over it yet.

During the hearing, the bench also referred to the landmark judgement delivered by the apex court on February 16 in which it had said that politicians, their spouses and dependents would have to declare their sources of income, along with their assets, for contesting elections.

The bench observed, "In the other matter (in which the apex court had delivered verdict), the government took a stand that each prayer made before us is in the realm of policy so it has to be done by Parliament and not by the court."



"Going by newspaper reports, I have not come across any political party's reaction which said that the judgement is opposed," Justice Chelameswar said while referring to the February 16 judgement.

Sinha urged the bench to grant the "last opportunity" to the Centre to enable it clearly apprise the court about its stand.

"The petition has raised some ethical and some legal issues. His (petitioners) concern is that from 2006, it has remained unanswered," the bench observed, adding that the Centre's affidavit filed earlier in the matter does not reflect its stand over whether this independent mechanism is required.

At the fag end of hearing, the Centre's counsel said the issue raised in the plea was "important" and he would take instructions on it.

The bench noted in its order that the Centre's counsel has sought time to obtain instructions "as according to him there is a possibility of cutting short the controversy in question".

"This is moreso specifically in view of the stand that the question of setting up an independent mechanism for determination of salaries and allowances to Members of Parliament is under consideration and he would get requisite instructions by the said date on this aspect," it noted and posted the matter for hearing on March 6.

Meanwhile, the counsel representing the Election Commission of India (ECI) told the court that the poll panel should be deleted from the list of parties as the issue raised in the petition "effectively does not pertain" to it.

"You (ECI) can assist us," the bench said, adding, "we thought the ECI will play a constructive role".

The apex court had in March last year agreed to examine the constitutional validity of laws granting pension and other perks to retired MPs and had sought responses from the Centre and ECI on the issue.

The petitioner have approached the apex court challenging the Allahabad High Court order dismissing its plea which had claimed that pension and other perks being given to MPs even after demitting office were contrary to Article 14 (Right to Equality) of the Constitution.

The plea has also said that Parliament has no power to provide for pensionary benefits to lawmakers without making any law.

It has also claimed in the plea that pension and other amenities granted to ex-MPs were "unreasonable" and sought withdrawal of such facilities, while questioning various provisions of the law framed by Parliament.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Russia's Communists today appealed to President Vladimir Putin in an open letter accusing Kremlin "provocateurs" of running a smear campaign against their presidential candidate.

The Communist Party chose a new face for the March 18 polls, opting for businessman Pavel Grudinin rather than veteran leader Gennady Zyuganov.

The party complains that Grudinin has faced a barrage of negative coverage in state-controlled and pro-Kremlin media, focusing on his foreign bank accounts and property.

In an open letter to Putin, Communist leader Zyuganov complained that "provocateurs close to the Kremlin" were "using the most unworthy methods to blacken the leading opposition party that is supported by millions of voters."



He urged the Kremlin to "rein in" such mud-slingers and prevent them causing "mayhem" on Russian television channels, in order to ensure a "free choice for citizens."



Zyuganov praised Grudinin, who is currently backed by seven per cent of Russians according to VTsIOM state pollsters, calling him a "man who has shown wonderful results in economic and social development."Analysts say the Kremlin is concerned Grudinin, the likely runner-up, could do better than expected and take votes away from Putin.

"The Kremlin is nervous of Grudinin and fears he will get more votes than was initially planned and will cast doubt on Putin's unconditional support," said political analyst Konstantin Kalachev.

Unusually, Grudinin is not a party member. He runs a fruit and dairy business on the edge of Moscow with socialist-style perks for workers, backed by profits from selling and leasing valuable land to shopping malls.

The tabloid-style pro-Kremlin Life website has run almost daily coverage critical of Grudinin since December. State media has also run a negative campaign against him.

The Communist Party - successor to the Soviet party that held elections with a single candidate - is in some ways even more hardline. Its leaders regularly lay flowers at the grave of Joseph Stalin.

However, in parliament its MPs often back Kremlin initiatives.

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The opposition Congress and CPI(M) today 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 CPI(M) for staging walkout from the house during most of the discussions.

"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.

The CPI(M) echoed Mannan's view.

Asked whether a discussion will be allowed on the issue, state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee said, ''the TMC has been most vocal against the PNB fraud case''.

''When discussions are being held in the house both Congress and CPI(M) either stage walkout or create a ruckus. They are more interested in showing their faces on television channels rather than taking part in debates. Whether a discussion will be held or not will be discussed and then decided,'' he said.

A political slugfest is on between the BJP and the Congress over the PNB scam with both parties blaming each other for allowing Nirav Modi, at the Centre of the fraud and his associates to flourish during their respective tenures.

The PNB, the second largest state-run bank, had on February 14 informed the exchanges about detecting USD 1.77 billion fraud at its Brady House branch in Mumbai and named the firms led by Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi's Gitanjali Group, and some other diamond and jewellery merchants as suspects.

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Congress leader in Madhya Pradesh Ajay Singh today said his party has no tradition to announce a chief ministerial candidate in any state.

Incidentally, Congress leader and former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, earlier in the day, made a pitch for projecting a chief ministerial candidate in Madhya Pradesh.

"There is no tradition in the Congress to announce a chief ministerial face. So far, the party high command never declared a CM candidate in any states, except in Punjab, where Captain Amrinder Singh was made the party face," Singh, who is the Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly, told reporters.

"In Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Delhi or other states, Congress never contested polls by announcing CM candidates," he added.

Recently, state Congress president Arun Yadav had also said that there is no tradition in the party to declare chief ministerial candidate ahead of the polls.

Talking to PTI earlier in the day, Scindia said, "I believe there is a need for it (announcing a CM face in MP). You have faces...don't you think we have faces in Madhya Pradesh?"



Scindia, one of the tallest Congress leaders in the state, could be a choice for the top job. Senior party leaders Kamal Nath, Satyavrat Chaturvedi and Suresh Pachouri had extended their support to Scindia as Congress nominee in MP polls.

When asked about the upcoming bypolls in Mungaoli and Kolaras as being viewed as a direct fight between Scindia and the state Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Ajay Singh said the fight is not between any two leaders, but it is a contest between the Congress and the BJP.

Singh slammed Chouhan and his cabinet colleagues for "openly violating the Model Code of Conduct" during campaign in two assembly bypolls by making announcements from the dais.

"It is not good for healthy There are no such traditions, but BJP leader are doing so which is not good for democracy.

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Ruling Congress MLA N A Haris today apologised to the state legislative Assembly about his son's involvement in an assault case at an upscale pub-cum-restaurant that has stirred a huge political row.

Mohammed Nalapad Haris, son of Haris, has been booked for attempt to murder for allegedly assaulting one Vidwat at the pub-cum-restaurant here on Saturday night.

He surrendered before police yesterday and is now in police custody.

"Sometimes, due to some circumstances, incidents such as these happen. I tender my apologies if the incident has affected the pride of the House and honourable members," he said in the Assembly.

A red-faced Congress had expelled Nalapad from the party for six years after the incident triggered a political backlash with the BJP and JD(S) accusing the state government of trying to protect him.

Nalapad was the Bengaluru District Youth Congress general secretary.

To opposition BJP leader Jagadish Shettar's charge that there was a delay of 40 hours before Nalapad surrendered, Haris said he would have asked his son to surrender immediately, but could not because he was not reachable.

"He did so (surrender) after I chided him and wanted to punish him. But, when I found him, I asked him to surrender as a law-abiding member of the House," he said.

Haris said he did not put any pressure on the state government.

He also tendered apologies for the attack on the media outside the Cubbon Park police station allegedly by Nalapad's supporters when came for surrender.

He said nobody, including the members of the Assembly, was above law and wrongdoers must be punished, but appealed to all to stay away from political mud-slinging in the light of the upcoming Assembly elections.

Shettar asked the home minister to take measures to avoid such ugly incidents from happening at sensitive upscale restaurant-cum-pubs situated at UB City.

In his reply, home minister Ramalinga Reddy said a police official has been suspended for not taking appropriate action against the accused.

Police have booked a case against Nalapad under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Police had earlier booked Nalapad under the IPC Sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 506 (criminal intimidation), 143 and 144 (unlawful assembly), 146 and 147 (rioting), 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), he said.

Police had registered an FIR regarding the attack on media persons, he said.

During the brawl, Reddy said Vidwat was assaulted and his head smashed with a liquor bottle.

Nalapad and his friends had also visited the hospital where Vidwat was admitted following the incident, and threatened him, Reddy said.

Vidwat is currently undergoing treatment in a private hospital.
A local Congress leader and nine others were booked for allegedly assaulting Lok Insaf Party (LIP) chief and MLA Simarjit Singh Bains here, police said today.

A case was registered against Congress leader Kanwaljit Singh Karwal and nine of his associates under various sections of the IPC for allegedly attacking Bains at the house of a businessman in Model Town here on February 18.

Supporters of the LIP and its ally, the AAP, led by Bains and AAP MLA and leader of opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira, today gathered here to hold a protest march and gherao the office of Ludhiana Police Commissioner R N Dhoke alleging inaction, when Deputy Commissioner of Police Ashwani Kapoor and other senior police officers reached the spot and informed them that a case was registered against the accused.

The case was registered after an inquiry by a senior police officer, the DCP said, adding that no arrest were made so far.

Meanwhile, while addressing the protesters, Khaira and Bains said they would not allow booth capturing, bullying of the political workers, misuse of government machinery and other undemocratic tactics by the Congress in the upcoming Ludhiana Municipal Corporation elections, slated to be held on February 24.

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The Congress today termed as "unfortunate" the alleged assault of Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash by AAP MLAs, saying such an incident should not have taken place.

Prakash was allegedly assaulted by a few AAP legislators at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence last night, even as the chief minister's office dismissed the charge as "bizarre and baseless".

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari wondered if it was an attempt to divert the attention of the country from the multi-crore bank fraud.

Doubts have arisen in the minds of people over the incident as it has come at a time when the entire country is focused on the bank fraud, he said.

"It is an unfortunate incident. Such an incident should not have happened," Tewari told reporters, adding that the Congress ran a government in Delhi for 15 years in a proper way.

The spokesperson said that there were doubts over the incident taking place now when the entire country's focus was on the banking sector scam.

"I hope it is not an attempt to divert attention from the main issues concerning the common man. If anyone tries to divert attention from the main issues, it is a betrayal of the country," he said.

Tewari said that while the Congress party was not trying to undermine the sensitivity of the issue, the bigger concern before the country is the state of the economy.

The priority of the Congress is to focus the country's attention on the main issue of banking, he said.

Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken termed the incident as an administrative and constitutional crisis, saying this was another low.

He claimed that since the incident took place in front of the chief minister, Kejriwal should apologise. and he had no right to remain in office and should immediately resign.

Maken also said that it would be a very dangerous situation if Delhi goes towards administrative paralysis and demanded that the Delhi Lieutenant Governor should meet the chief minister and restore confidence.

"AAP Government is unable to deliver - Beating of Chief Secretary by MLAs in front of CM is another low and is aimed to divert attention from Government's failures! AAP does not know Governance and has failed miserably.

"We condemn the attack on Chief Secretary and demand safety with no political pressure on Delhi Government Officers!," he tweeted.

Maken along with Sheila Dikshit will also meet Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal on the issue.

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Fresh controversy seems to have cropped up over the January 10 recommendation of the Supreme Court collegium for elevation of a judge as the Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court.

Sources said the Centre was yet to take a call on the recommendation to elevate Justice Surya Kant of Punjab and Haryana High Court as the Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court by superseding a judge senior to him.

Justice A K Mittal, who is senior to Justice Surya Kant, has been left out of the race by the collegium which in its recommendation has said that all relevant parameters for elevation favoured the latter.

"Though Justice A K Mittal is senior to Justice Surya Kant in the seniority of Judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, having regard to all relevant factors and since we consider Justice Surya Kant more suitable than Justice A K Mittal, we are not recommending name of the latter, for the present, for appointment as Chief Justice," the notification, about the January 10 collegium meeting, said.

Sources said the "consultee" judges' opinion on the elevation was not in accordance with the established procedure.

While one of the judges who came to the Supreme Court from the Punjab and Haryana High Court was not in favour of superseding the senior judge, another judge who was once the Chief Justice of the same high court supported the view of a judge in the collegium not to elevate the senior judge.

Sources said both the consultee judges in their note spoke about some complaint against the two high court judges and the note had come after the January 10 collegium meeting.

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The four-day state meet of the ruling CPI(M) will get underway here from tomorrow in the backdrop of the government facing heat over political killings and the party facing embarrassment over charges of financial fraud by CPI(M) secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan's son.

The meeting is likely to discuss threadbare the achievements and shortcomings of the 21 month old LDF government and ways to strengthen CPI(M) from the grassroots level.

The conference, being held once in three years, will discuss the party's political and organisational report and the tactical line to be adopted in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

This is the first state conference of the party after Vijayan took over as Chief Minister in May 2016.

Despite his busy schedule, Vijayan ensured his presence in all 14 district party conferences held as a prelude of the state conference.

Party observers also point out that both Vijayan and Balakrishnan succeeded in weeding out factionalism in CPI(M).

Discussions are also likely on the political strategy of a tie-up with Congress to take on BJP at the national level as suggested by CPI(M) General Secretary, Sitaram Yechury.

Yechury's line had been turned down at the party Central Committee at Kolkatta after being opposed by CPI(M)'s Kerala unit.

The growth of BJP, which opened its account in the state assembly,and the general political situation,both at the national and state level,will be discussed at the meet, party sources said.

Another issue likely to be taken up is whether or not the Kerala Congress(M), led by former Finance Minister K M Mani, is to be included in the LDF as expansion of the Left Front is said to be one of agenda of the meet, according to sources.

Mani has been invited to attend a seminar organised in connection with the meet.

Self appraisal of performance of leaders, ways to strengthen feeder organisations such as Democratic Women's Association will be taken up during the meet.

According to sources, the embarrassment caused to CPI(M) due to the alleged financial dealings of the elder son of Balakrishnan at Dubai will also figure in the meeting.

However, the issue is unlikely to cause any trouble for Balakrishnan's smooth sailing for a second three year term as secretary.

A total of 566 delegates and seven Politburo members, including Prakash Karat,S Ramachandran Pillai and M A Baby are attending the meeting, besides 94-year-old Marxist veteran V S Achuthanandan.

Achuthanandan had during the Alapuzha state conference in February 2015 walked out of the meeting over differences with his then beta noire Pinarayi Vijayan, who was the party secretary.

The conference is being held when the Congress led opposition has put pressure on the government over the killing of youth congress functionary at Mattanoor in Kannur last week.

Two CPI(M) workers have been arrested in this regard even as Congress leader and former Kannur MP K Sudhakaran and youth Congress President Deen Kuriakose are on an indefinite fast since yesterday at Kannur and in front of the state secretariat, demanding arrest of the actual accused as early as possible.

Though CPI(M) has distanced itself from the murder, Congress has alleged that the killing was with the knowledge of the local leaders.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Delhi High Court today expressed concern over the delay in the completion of the Signature Bridge across the river Yamuna and said it deserved scrutiny at the highest level.

The court asked the Delhi chief secretary to hold a meeting with all stakeholders to take stock of the situation.

"Given the delay in the execution of the work, we are of the view that the execution of work and completion of the bridge deserve scrutiny at the highest level," a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar said.

The court's direction came while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) by advocate Pratibha Chopra, who pointed to the inordinate delay in the project and alleged the construction of the bridge had missed several deadlines since 2011.

The court noted that for its construction, a memorandum of understanding was signed on August 27, 2004, and the preliminary estimate of Rs 544 crore was given by the Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation (DTTDC), the agency responsible for the project.

According to DTTDC, there was a significant hike in the cost of construction and in an affidavit of November, 2017, it said the cost had been enhanced to Rs 1,575 crore.

The court noted that Rs 1,334.10 crore had already been paid to DTTDC by the Delhi government but the bridge was still nowhere near completion.

It was informed by the DTTDC that subject to the payment of Rs 250 crore, the work would be completed by June this year.

The bridge connects Delhi with Uttar Pradesh's industrial areas such as the Tronica city in Ghaziabad.

The court had earlier wished to know the variation in costs incurred over the bridge from the time the project was envisaged. It had also sought information from the Delhi government on when the timeline was changed or extended.

The Delhi government's Urban Development department and the Public Works department had earlier informed the court that they had sent to the DCP traffic a request letter for a joint site inspection and working out a diversion plan for vehicular traffic.

Announced in 2004, the project received a nod from the Delhi Cabinet in 2007 and was initially expected to be completed at a modified estimate of Rs 1,131 crore by the Commonwealth Games held here in October, 2010.

In 2015, the cost of the project rose to Rs 1,594 crore. Reportedly, the bridge was proposed for the first time as early as in 1997 at an initial cost pegged at Rs 464 crore.

The Signature Bridge, when completed, is expected to share the burden of vehicular traffic which is being borne by the Wazirabad bridge.

Seeking to expedite the completion of construction, the plea has contended that lives of lakhs of commuters, who are regularly stranded for over 3-4 hours a day on the Wazirabad bridge, are at a risk as it is an old and ageing bridge which can cave in anytime.

A tragedy is waiting to happen, the plea has said and added that the proposed Signature Bridge will positively change traffic conditions on both sides of the Yamuna and benefit the people.

The plea said to avoid any tragic fallout, the agencies should complete the project or else they should be ready to take the responsibility in case of any mishap.

According to the government, the Signature Bridge had obtained environmental clearance in 2011 and was set to be completed by December, 2013. The date of completion was pushed to June, 2016, and then to July, 2017, which was further pushed to December, 2017, and is now expected to be delayed further.

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The central IAS officers' association today termed as "criminal" the alleged assault on Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash and demanded immediate arrest of the perpetrators.

The association strongly condemns the assault on chief secretary, Delhi, it said.

"It's a criminal, cowardly and deplorable act and an assault on the Constitution. We stand by our colleagues in Delhi and demand immediate arrest of the perpetrators of such a shameful act," said the association of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers working across the country.

It supported a resolution of the Delhi IAS association and demanded immediate action against the perpetrators involved in the incident.

A total of 5,004 IAS officers are working across the country.

Prakash was allegedly assaulted by a few AAP MLAs at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence last night. The incident took place in the presence of the chief minister and his deputy Manish Sisodia.

The chief minister's office has dismissed the accusation as "bizarre and baseless".

In a statement issued jointly by the Delhi IAS association; Delhi, Andaman Nicobar Island Civil Services (DANICS) and the Delhi Administration Subordinate Services (DASS) alleged that yesterday's meeting was called to put pressure on the chief secretary to release publicity material regarding achievements of the AAP government, in violation of the Supreme Court's guidelines.

The incident which took place at the official residence of the chief minister clearly appears to pre-planned, pre-meditated and absolutely without any provocation on the part of the chief secretary in view of the fact that the meeting was called at midnight, according to the statement.

The Union Home Ministry has sought a report from Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on the alleged assault.

"I am deeply pained by the happenings involving the chief secretary of the Delhi government. The civil servants should be allowed to work with dignity and without fear," Home Minister Rajnath Singh said.

His comments came after meeting a delegation of IAS, DANICS and DASS officers. The delegation apprised Singh on the prevailing situation of bureaucracy in Delhi administration.

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Provoked by an attack on Delhi's chief secretary, allegedly by some AAP MLAs, bureaucrats today said they would boycott all meetings called by Arvind Kejriwal and his cabinet colleagues till the chief minister apologised for the incident.

The three associations of officers of the IAS (Indian Administrative Service), DANICS (Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service) and DSSS (Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board) passed a resolution at a meeting tonight, saying that they would, however, maintain written communications with Aam Aadmi Party ministers to ensure there was no disruption in public service delivery.

"All the three associations h.ave decided to boycott meetings called by all Delhi ministers in protest against the attack on the chief secretary by MLAs at the CM's residence," said Divisional Commissioner Manisha Saxena, who is the general secretary of the IAS officers' association.

Members of the three bodies also took out a candlelight march to Rajghat today in protest against the alleged assault on chief secretary Anshu Prakash.

The resolution passed by the officers' bodies said that since public interest was of paramount importance, and to ensure there was no disruption in public service delivery, the three associations would maintain formal written communication with the political executive, till the chief minister apologised for last night's attack.

The bodies alleged the "abhorrent" incident had resulted in a "serious breach of trust", and "shaken the faith" of the bureaucracy in the present political executive of the Delhi government.

Chief Secretary Prakash alleged today he was assaulted by some AAP MLAs in front of Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia at the chief minister's residence.

In his complaint to the police, Prakash said the attack on him was "premeditated" and a "conspiracy" of all those who were present at a meeting late last night at Kejriwal's residence.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Delhi's Lt Governor Anil Baijal will shortly submit a preliminary report to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on an alleged assault on the chief secretary of the city government, a source said today.

The report would be submitted in a day or two, the source added.

Singh had sought a report from Baijal following the alleged attack on Anshu Prakash at the residence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal last night.

"The Lt Governor will submit his preliminary report on the alleged attack on the Delhi chief secretary tomorrow or the day after. Later, a detailed report will be submitted to the Union Minister," the source said.

Earlier in the day, members of IAS and DANICS (Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service) officers' associations met Baijal and lodged their protest over the incident. The officers' bodies called the incident a "breakdown of governance" in the capital.

In a complaint to the police seeking action, Prakash alleged the assault on him at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence was "premeditated" and a "conspiracy" of all those who were present at a meeting there.

Chief secretary Prakash alleged that Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and 11 MLAs were present at the meeting where they threatened to "implicate" him in false cases if the issue of releasing TV advertisements about the government's achievements was not resolved. He also said he was roughed up.

The chief minister's office dismissed the accusation as "bizarre and baseless".
A head constable of the Delhi Police, who was escorting an under-treatment prisoner at a north Delhi hospital , died under mysterious circumstances, police said today.

Rajender Kumar, 49, was found with a bullet wound on his head, inside a ward of Rajan Babu Institute of Pulmonary Medicine and Tuberculosis (RBIPMT) at GTB Nagar where he was deployed to keep watch on the under trial prisoner Manoj, said a senior police officer.

He was found motionless by one of his colleagues in the afternoon. The doctors declared him dead, he said.

Kumar was posted with 3rd Battalion of the Delhi Armed Police that is responsible for escorting prisoners when they are out of jail for treatment, court appearances and other purposes.

Investigation is going on and all possible angles including suicide and murder are being probed, he said.

According to police, Kumar and his companion Sitaram, an assistant sub-inspector, were keeping watch on Manoj who was undergoing tuberculosis treatment at the hospital.

Sitaram went for some work and handed over his pistol to Kumar since the prisoner was in the ward.

Later, he heard a gunshot and returned back to find Kumar with gunshot wound. Manoj claimed that he was sleeping at the moment, he said.

No suicide note has been found, added the officer.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US President Donald Trump said today that the Democrats were wrongly blaming Russia for the defeat of his rival and the 2016 presidential poll favourite Hillary Clinton.

In a series of tweets, the 71-year-old Trump said before the 2016 elections the Democratic party and former US president Barack Obama had gone on record to say that there can be no interference in the US elections.

There is no serious person out there who would suggest somehow that you could even rig America's elections, there's no evidence that that has happened in the past or that it will happen this time, and so I'd invite Mr Trump to stop whining and make his case to get votes," Trump tweeted quoting Obama's remarks just before the election.

That's because he thought Crooked Hillary was going to win and he didn't want to rock the boat. When I easily won the Electoral College, the whole game changed and the Russian excuse became the narrative of the Dems, he said.

The tweets came as Special Counsel Robert Muller, the former FBI chief, intensified his investigation against the Russian interference in American presidential elections.

Last week, he charged 13 Russians and two of their companies on allegations of interfering in the presidential polls.

Trump has consistently denied these allegations.

In another tweet he thanked Fox for giving a true picture of the situation.

Thank you to @foxandfriends for the great timeline on all of the failures the Obama Administration had against Russia, including Crimea, Syria and so much more. We are now starting to win again! he said.

"I have been much tougher on Russia than Obama, just look at the facts. Total Fake News," he tweeted.

Trump claimed that the Republicans were now leading the Generic Poll perhaps because of his popular tax cuts which the Democrats want to take away.

"Actually, they want to raise you taxes, substantially. Also, they want to do nothing on DACA, R's want to fix! he tweeted.

Trump also denied the allegations of sexual misconduct by a woman reported by 'The Washington Post'.

A woman I don't know and, to the best of my knowledge, never met, is on the FRONT PAGE of the Fake Washington Post saying I kissed her (for two minutes yet) in the lobby of Trump Tower 12 years ago. Never happened! he said



Who would do this in a public space with live security... .cameras running. Another False Accusation, he claimed.

Why doesn't @washingtonpost report the story of the women taking money to make up stories about me? One had her home mortgage paid off. Only @FoxNews so reported...doesn't fit the Mainstream Media narrative, Trump said.

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In a major crackdown against money laundering by a top bureaucrat, Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached the movable and immovable properties of a senior IAS officer, who served as Patna District Magistrate.

The ED has attched the property of Pradeep Kumar, former Patna DM, and currently working as Commissioner of Santhal Pargana in Jharkhand government, Patna zonal office of ED said today in a release.

The property has been valued at Rs 1.80 crore, the ED office said.

The immovable properties which the ED attached included one flat at Ranchi and one house at Udaipur registered in the name of Pradeep Kumar while Kumar bought one plot at Bengaluru and another house at Udaipur along with his brother Rajendra Kumar and a flat in Kolkata which was registered in the name of Nand Lal HUF and Shyamlal Chakravarty, it said.

The attached movable properties included fixed deposits worth Rs 42.97 lakh in the name of Nand Lal HUF and Rs 39.85 lakh in various bank accounts held in his name and his family members.

The ED initiated investigation under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on the basis of chargesheet filed by the CBI which filed three FIRs - two in 2009 and another in 2011.

Kumar, a 1991 batch IAS officer, worked in Bihar till the formation of Jharkhand, the release added.

The ED, in its investigation, found evidence of money laundering since 1998, it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
State health insurer Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has given its in-principal approval to cover 100 mn formal sector workers under its programme "Vision 2022" that envisages expansion of ESI scheme to every district of the country.

The decision was taken at its 173rd meeting held on February 16, 2018 under the Chairmanship of Labour Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar, a labour ministry statement said today.

At present, the covers around 3 crore formal sector employees in the country, with a total beneficiaries of over 12 crore under its health insurance scheme.

According to the statement, the " Vision 2022" was approved in-principal during the meeting. The vision envisages expansion of ESI Scheme in each district of the country with a target of covering 100 mn workers by 2022.

The modalities and the course for achieving the target were deliberated upon in the meeting. In this regard, the decision to form a sub-committee for fine-tuning and for active participation of other stakeholders has also been taken, it added.

To strengthen medical care services in Uttar Pradesh, the decision of taking over of ESI Hospital, Bareilly (earlier administered by state government) by the was taken.

Besides, the ESIC also approved the proposal for setting up of its Super Specialty Hospital at Bhubneshwar and sanctioned a 100-bed ESI Hospital in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh.

The ESIC further decided for continuation of 50-bed ESIC Model Hospital at Phulwarisharif, Patna upgradable to 100 beds. In its earlier meeting, the ESIC already approved starting of 100-bed medical facilities/hospital at Bihta and Patna, Bihar.

The decision for establishing Modified Employers' Utilisation Dispensary (modified EUD) on pilot basis was also taken in the meeting, with the objective of strengthening of stake holders participation in the expansion of primary care services of the ESIC.

In order to improve the delivery of health care services and ensuring proper use of resources available in the ESIC hospitals, decision of establishing vigilance inspection unit in the ESIC hospitals was taken, it added.
A top Chhattisgarh Police officer today claimed that the forces on February 18 foiled a major Naxal ambush in Sukma district which was designed on the lines of the last year's Burkapal attack, wherein 25 CRPF personnel were killed.

Two security personnel were killed and six others injured in the over four-hour-long gunfight on Sunday in the forests of Bhejji, considered a Maoist stronghold, while as per reports, 20 ultras were killed in the exchange of fire.

The ambush was designed on the lines of Burkapal attack but counter-insurgency forces successfully foiled the assault planned by the CPI (Maoist) and inflicted "heavy casualties" on the ultras, the top police officer said.

"Military battalion No 1 of Maoists had planned to carry out a major attack on a contingent of the Special Task Force (STF) and the District Reserve Guard (DRG) near Elarmadgu, around 7-km from Bhejji.

"But security forces not only broke their ambush but also inflicted heavy casualties on Naxals, forcing them to retreat into dense forests," Special Director General (Anti- Naxal Operations) D M Awasthi told PTI.

This 'military battalion' of Maoists, active in southern part of Bastar, has been blamed for several deadly attacks on security forces in the region.

On April 24 last year, the same Maoist unit had ambushed a patrolling party of theCRPF near Burkapal village under Chintagufa police station limits when it was providing security to road construction works, officials have said.

As many as 25 paramilitary jawans were killed and seven others injured in the attack.

"Perhaps on the same model, Maoists had planned the attack on Sunday near Elarmadgu," he said.

A 20-km road between Injeram and Bhejji has been completed. The road is now being expanded to Chintagufa from Bhejji (28 km) where police and paramilitary personnel were providing security to construction works, he said.

On Sunday morning, a 90-member squad of the DRG and STF commandos launched an area domination operation towards Elarmadgu from Bhejji to facilitate the construction works during which they received inputs about the movement of ultras, the senior IPS officer said.

As per the information, at least 200 Maoists divided in two groups had laid the ambush in the area, he said.

While security forces were taking positions sensing suspicious activities, they came to know that Maoists have killed a contractor and torched eights tractors and one JCB machine engaged in the construction work near Elarmadgu, he said.

Suddenly, ultras, including women, indiscriminately fired on the DRG and STF commandos from two sides at around 11.30 am but the security forces did not panic and after the initial burst of fire, launched a heavy retaliatory action, the officer said.

Security forces successfully countered the ambush and inflicted "heavy casualties" on Naxals, Awasthi said.

He said it was a well calculated attack on the DRG and STF who have been at the forefront of anti-Naxal operations from the past few years and inflicted heavy losses on Maoists.

Two DRG assistant constables were killed in the gun-battle, Awasthi said, adding there were reports that 20 Maoists were killed in the exchange of fire.

Ground reports suggest Maoists military battalion No 1 head Hidma, its deputy head Situ and company commanders Sonu and Nagesh were involved in planning and executing the attack, he said.

Naxals were frustrated over construction works in the region and therefore they often target security forces providing protection to such projects, the IPS officer added.

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The Madras High Court today directed police to register a case if a cognisable offence was made out in a complaint filed by a fringe group against a seer in Tamil Nadu for making some controversial comments.

Justice M S Ramesh was passing orders on a plea filed by the Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam seeking registration of a criminal case against the seer for making the comments while condemning Tamil lyricist Vairamuthu for his 'objectionable' remarks about Goddess Andal.

The group's Namakkal district organiser, Vairavel, submitted that the recent remarks of Satagopa Ramanuja Jeeyar of Manavala Mamunigal Mutt at Srivilliputhur that he too knew "how to hurl soda bottles" amounted to instigating violence.

Addressing a meeting last month to condemn Vairamuthu's remarks, the seer had allegedly said: "The saints had kept their silence all these days. We will not keep mum anymore. We all know how to hurl soda bottles."



He later said he had apologised to Goddess Andal for his remarks since it was not appropriate for a seer to say such things.

The issue pertains to to an article penned by the lyricist in a Tamil daily in which he allegedly made the remarks against Andal, the only woman among the 12 revered Vaishnavite saints hailed as 'Alwars' in Tamil.

She is also venerated as a goddess and a gifted poet in view of her classic Tamil work 'Thiruppavai,' a collection of 30 verses in praise of Lord Krishna.

The state witnessed protests against him following this.

Vairamuthu had later denied the charge against him.

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Various farmers, youth and workers organisations under the banner of Jan Ekta Jan Adhikar Andolan (JEJAA) today demanded the resignation of the Union finance minister and a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the role of PMO in the PNB scam.

The JEJAA alleged that the Narendra Modi-led government had failed to prevent the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam despite having information about it in advance.

"JEJAA demands an independent probe into the PNB scam. The Supreme Court must monitor the investigation and probe the role of PMO. We also demand the resignation of the finance minister owning moral responsibility," it said in a statement.

Alleging the prime minister's close proximity to the main culprits, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, the JEJAA also said the apex court should ensure that the CBI investigation team remains free from the "influence of the PMO".

Demanding the resignation of the finance minister, the association accused both the finance ministry and the Reserve Bank of India for the scam and said all big advances made by the banks should be subjected to rigorous scrutiny by an independent agency under the direct monitoring of the Supreme Court.

The JEJAA said the instances of fraud would undermine the very existence of the banking system and would lead to loss of trust of the public in banks.

"By making some lower level officials scapegoats, the authorities are trying to evade the discussions on true facts. The government is now trying to adopt the FRDI Bill in Parliament in a hurry to shift the loss incurred by the banks on account of loans taken by big corporates onto the shoulders of the common masses of this country. The disastrous consequences of crony capitalism are now being borne by the banking system," the JEJAA said.

The organisation has decided to mobilise the masses and build resistance to the government's "disastrous policies", the statement said.

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A fire broke out in a factory manufacturing batteries in Patparganj area of east Delhi today but no casualty was reported, police said.

A call about the fire at the ground floor of the factory was received around 12.35 pm and 17 fire tenders were rushed to the spot.

The fire was brought under control at 2 pm. There was no loss of life or injury, but goods were damaged, a Delhi Fire Services official said.

The cause of fire is being investigated, a police officer said.

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A minor fire broke out at an annexe building of Southern Railway divisional office here, but nobody was injured nor was there any major loss of property, officials said.

The fire with heavy smoke broke out on the fourth floor in NGO Annexe building of the Chennai Divisional Office.

Two fire tenders deployed by the Fire and Rescue services put out the fire after about an hour, Southern Railway officials said.

Nobody was injured in the incident and there was no damage to the building, they said.

An officer Level enquiry has been ordered into the issue, they said, adding a suspected electrical short circuit "cannot be ruled out," as the cause of the fire.

"However, investigations are on to find out the cause," they added.

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A fire in the arrivals lounge has forced the temporary closure of Maltas only airport.

Incoming flights were diverted to Sicily, Italy and departing flights were delayed after the fire on Tuesday afternoon, which forced the evacuation of hundreds of passengers.

No-one was injured in the blaze.

Malta International Airport said it was working to bring operations back to normal in the shortest time possible.

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The CBI today arrested Vipul Ambani, the president (finance) of Nirav Modi's Fire Star Diamond, in connection with Rs 114 billion fraud in Punjab National Bank (PNB), making it the first high profile arrest in the case, officials said.

Four other senior executives were also arrested by the agency in connection with two FIRs registered by it in the scam, they said.

Ambani was arrested along with executive assistant Kavita Mankikar and Senior Executive Arjun Patil in connection with the first FIR registered by the agency, in which 150 Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) worth Rs 64.98 billion are under probe.

An LoU is a guarantee which is given by an issuing bank to Indian having branches abroad to grant a short-term credit to the applicant. In case of default, the bank issuing the LoU has to pay the liability to the credit-giving bank along with accruing interest.

Mankikar was also the authorised signatory of three firms -- Diamond R US, Stellar Diamond, Solar Exports -- listed as accused in the FIR registered by the agency on January 31, they said.

Billionaire diamond merchant Nirav Modi, his wife Ami, brother Nishal, and uncle Mehul Choski were also named as accused in the FIR, officials said.

All of them fled the country in the first week of January.

The remaining two -- Kapil Khandelwal, the CFO of Nakshatra group and Gitanjali group, and Niten Shahi, the Manager of Gitanjali group -- were arrested today in connection with the second FIR registered by the agency on February 15 against Choksi and his three companies, they said.

The probe in this case pertains to 143 LOUs worth Rs 48.86 billion fraudulently issued by the officials of the PNB.

The CBI today questioned an executive director of the Punjab National Bank along with nine other officials in connection with issuance of Rs 114 billion worth of guarantees to Modi and Choksi, officials said.

The analysis of documents recovered from the premises of Modi led the CBI to a palatial bungalow-cum farmhouse in Alibaugh, a weekend getaway of celebrities in the business world and bollywood from Mumbai, where the agency started searches this afternoon, they said.

The CBI probe is led by a joint director-level officer who is considered to be an ace investigator of financial crimes and has handled mammoth financial frauds having tentacles in multiple states.

During the questioning of three PNB officials, Bechhu Tiwari, Yashwant Joshi and Praful Sawant, arrested yesterday, it emerged that they were trying to shift the blame on their colleagues -- Gokulnath Shetty (retired official) and Manoj Kharat -- arrested earlier, they said.

The three officials were presented before a special court in Mumbai which sent them to CBI custody till March 3.

The officials said Tiwari, Joshi and Sawant were entrusted to cross-check and verify intimations sent to SWIFT messages and upload them on PNB's core banking solutions system on daily basis which they allegedly did not do.

Shetty and Kharat allegedly sent messages of the LoUs using an international messaging system for banking systems called SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication), which is used to pass instructions among globally to transfer funds, but did not make entries in the bank's system to avoid detection.

Based on these instructions and guarantees, funds were released by overseas branches of Indian

The agency has found that Joshi, who was a scale-II officer in the forex department during 2015-18 allegedly did not deliberately submit daily reports in respect of SWIFT messages. He allegedly aided and abetted in the conspiracy to cheat PNB, officials said.

Sawant, a scale-I officer, posted in the forex department of the bank between 2015 and 2017, did not "deliberately" check the details of SWIFT messages sent daily and whether the same were entered in the core banking solutions system of the bank.

The agency said their "deliberate acts" of omission in collusion with Shetty and Kharat led to the continuance of concealment and large scale liabilities of PNB to the foreign banks.

One of the biggest financial scams of the country surfaced when companies of Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi approached the PNB's Brady Road branch, Mumbai, in January this year seeking LoU for payments to suppliers.

The official handling the case sought 100 per cent cash guarantee before any such letters could be issued to which the company officials said no such guarantee was sought in the past.

The official checked the records which did not show such LoUs to Nirav Modi or Choksi's company which led to suspicion.

It is alleged that Shetty, for the last seven years, was bypassing core banking system of the PNB and issuing LoUs fraudulently.

The CBI has registered two cases -- involving Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi -- pertaining to 150 LoUs worth Rs 6,498 crore and the second one involving 143 LOUs worth Rs 4,886 crore.
Senior JD(U) leader and former Bihar Assembly Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary today alleged that he was attacked by a mob at a village in Nawada district where he had gone to console the family of a Dalit labourer who was killed last week.

Chaudhary, who has been critical of the Nitish Kumar goverrnment in the reccent past, blamed the BJP - a partner in the ruling coalition - for "a spurt in attacks on Dalits" and claimed that the police in Nawada remained a "mute spectator" while he was abused and his convoy was pelted with stones.

"I had gone to Apsadh village in Nawada, where a Dalit, Taale Manjhi, was burnt alive last week. The poor labourer was murdered by a group of influential persons in the vicinity who had tried to kidnap and rape his daughter. Manjhi was punished for raising a voice of revolt," Chaudhary told PTI.

He said "I had heard that Manjhi's family was isolated after the incident and even the police was wary of visiting the village due to the tremendous clout of the perpetrators. I therefore, decided to go there myself and informed the district police of my schedule through fax."



He added that at the border of the village, he was accosted by a group of people who used abusive language and warned him to back off.

"I tried to reason with them even as the police stood there as a mute spectator. Finally, I withdrew. Our cavalcade was pelted with stones as we began to retreat. Perhaps, I would have been physically attacked, even killed, if I had remained there for a longer period," Chaudhary said.

When contacted, IG Khan told PTI, "I have directed the Superintendent of Police of Nawada to submit a report within 24 hours, about the alleged dereliction of duty on part of the local police."



"I have also asked the SP that those who misbehaved with the former Speaker be identified and punished at the earliest. The DIG, Magadh Range, has been directed to monitor the investigations," he added.

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The sprawling 4,000 square yard 'Santushti' mansion in the plush Tilaknagar locality here



wears a forlorn look but for the occasional coming and going of vehicles belonging to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sleuths.

And each time the gates open, revealing a punctiliously maintained lawn and a bevy of luxury vehicles, anxious camera persons and reporters, camping outside the palatial residence of Vikram Kothari, jump into action hoping to catch the latest in the ongoing probe against the tycoon, embroiled in one of the biggest loan default cases to hit the banking sector.

'Santushti', meaning satisfaction in hindi, till now was associated only with opulence and success. And its owner, stationery czar Vikram Kothari, creator of the 'Rotomac' brand of pens, figured among the who's who of Indian business.

Neighbour Rajendra Kumar Saffar recalls that it was in 1973 that Vikram Kothari's father Mansukhbhai Kothari laid the foundation of a 'pan masala' empire.

Back then Mansukhbhai, who hailed from Gujarat , lived in Nayaganj area of the city and supplied coconut oil to shops. He, however, moved into the paan masala business.

Mansukhbhai Kothari was amongst the first ones to sell paan masala in pouches and his brand -Pan Paraag- became a raging success, recalls Saffar.

Leading Bollywood actors Shammi Kapoor and Ashok Kumar featured in the ubiquitous Pan Paraag ad on TV and the brand's tagline -'Baraatiyon ka swaagat Pan Paraag se kijiye'- became wildly popular, recalls Saffar.

So much so that Kanpur itself became to called 'Paan Masala city', recalls Saffar.

At that time Vikram Kothari and his brother Deepak Kothari assisted their father Mansukhbhai in managing the ever-burgeoning paan masala empire, he adds.

As the business prospered, the group diversified and in 1992, the Rotomac Pen company was formed while 'Yes', a mineral water brand, was launched a couple of years later, Saffar recollects.

However, in 1999, the two brothers decided to go separate ways.

Elder brother Vikram Kothari took charge of the stationery and pens enterprise while younger brother Deepak Kothari took control of the paan masala empire, recalls Saffar.

'Rotomac' too had its glorious run and emerged a top player in the writing instruments market. Its promotional tag line - 'Likhtey, likhtey, love ho jaye', too struck a chord with many. Bollywood hearthrobs Salman Khan and



Raveena Tandon were then its brand ambassadors.

Social recognition accompanied commercial success and the Lions Club named Vikram Kothari as its 'Goodwill Ambassador', recalls Saffar.

As time went by, Rotomac Pens Private Limited was rechristened as the Rotomac Global Private Limited while Vikram Kothari also moved into other sectors including real estate, steel and infrastructure, hoping to replicate his success.

However, what seemed like an uninterrupted story of success gave ways to a contrary reality as Vikram Kothari finds himself stands accused of a bank loan default to the tune of thousands of crores.

Locals and neighbours now can only watch in disbelief as Kothari's name figures in one of the biggest default cases and that too at a time when the banking sector is facing the NPA crisis and the issue has taken the centre stage in the political discourse.

According to neighbour Saffar, Vikram Kothari has one son and two daughters. Both his daughters are married in business families, he adds.

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The Supreme Court today asked all states, union territories and the High Courts to file their responses along with suggestions by March 16 on the need to amend criminal manuals to bring about uniform best practices across the country and improve the criminal justice system.

A bench comprising Justices S A Bobde and L Nageswara Rao said the responses and suggestions be handed over to senior advocate R Basant, who is assisting the court as an amicus curiae in the matter, to enable him convene a meeting with all the parties and formulate a draft proposal, which would be dealt with by the top court.

The bench said the draft proposal should be submitted to the court by April 16.

During the hearing, the bench observed that the issue before it was "completely non-adverserial" and all the parties should sit together and deliberate upon it.

The court was told that the states and high courts, which have not yet filed their responses and suggestions, could furnish them by March 16 so that the amicus could prepare the draft proposal.

The apex court had last year decided to take up the matter on its own while hearing a criminal appeal related to a case in Kerala.

The court had passed the order after Basant, appearing for one of the parties in the appeal, had referred to "certain common inadequacies and deficiencies in the course of trials adopted by the trial courts while disposing of criminal cases".

Giving details of the specific issues flagged by the senior lawyer, the apex court had noted that he has highlighted several issues.

These included the "pernicious practice of the Trial Judge leaving the recording of deposition to the clerk concerned and recording of evidence going on in more than one case in the same court room at the same time, ... has to be disapproved strongly and discontinued forthwith".

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The Congress leaders from Goa will be visiting Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who is undergoing treatment for pancreatic ailment at the Lilavati Hospital, a senior party leader said today.

"Our Congress Legislative Party delegation will visit the Chief Minister at the Lilavati hospital after the Assembly session," said Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar.

The CLP, which met today, also resolved to wish Parrikar a speedy recovery.

"We would like to see him in action soon," added Kavlekar.

Parrikar is being treated for pancreatic ailment at the Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai since February 15.

Meanwhile, during the Budget session of the state Legislative Assembly which started today, BJP MLAs wished Parrikar a speedy recovery.

"We are hopeful that he (Parrikar) will be here (in the House and back to Goa). Everybody in Goa including the Opposition is praying for his good health. This is because of his good work for the people of Goa," said BJP's Chief Whip Glenn Ticlo.

Another BJP MLA Nilesh Cabral said even those who have been criticising the Chief Minister are praying for his good health.

"The social media is full of good wishes for CM. Even those criticising him are praying for his good health. The opposition parties are also wishing him to return fit and fine, because the CM has done a lot of work for the people of Goa," he said.

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The government today approved a Rs 2,920-crore project for widening a section of national highway-275, connecting Bengaluru and Mysuru, in Karnataka.

"The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval for six-laning of Nidagatta - Mysuru Section of NH-275 from km 74.2to km 135.3 on Hybrid Annuity Mode in Karnataka," Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said in a statement.

The six-laning of about 61 km is estimated to cost approximately Rs 2,919.81 crore including the cost of land acquisition and pre-construction activities. The civil construction cost is about Rs 2,028.93 crore.

The statement said the project would also provide employment opportunities to locals during project construction.

"With the widening and improvement of the highway, the areas would experience greater economic growth resulting in higher employment opportunities for locals. An employment potential of 2,48,000 (appox) mandays will be generated locally during the construction period of the stretch," it said.

The section connects Bengaluru and Mysuru and also links important places like Mangalore, Kodagu, parts of Kerala, etc to Bangalore.

The existing four-lane road, passing through congested and thickly populated towns and settlements like Maddur, Mandya & Srirangapatna, etc has already crossed its capacity, resulting in traffic jams and accidents, the statement said.

The upgradation to 6 Lanning along with 7m service road on each side and construction of bypasses at Maddur, Mandya & Srirangapatna and grade separated structures of this stretch of the National Highway will greatly reduce the time and cost of travel, particularly of heavy traffic plying in the region.

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All government offices and educational institutions remained closed in Mizoram today on the occasion of the 32nd Statehood Day.

No official functions were held to mark the day, declared as a public holiday by the state government.

Mizoram attained statehood on February 20, 1987, after after the erstwhile underground Mizo National Front (MNF) and the Centre signed the historic Mizo Peace Accord on June 30, 1986.

The state was given a special status under article 371G of the Indian Constitution.

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The Delhi High Court today asked the Uttar Pradesh government to approach a trial court here, which had acquitted 16 policemen in the 1987 Hashimpura massacre case relating to the killing of 42 persons in Meerut, for recording of evidence to prove documents relating to the identity of PAC personnel.

The high court, which is hearing several appeals in the case against the acquittal, said the process of recording of secondary evidence, based on documentary proof, must be done in a time-bound manner to avoid any unnecessary delay.

A bench of Justices S Muralidhar and I S Mehta said the case should be taken up by the trial court on a day-to-day basis and the evidence completed in three months.

The bench said it was conscious of the fact that the trial stretched for eight years before the Tis Hazari district court here and the appeals were pending in the high court for three years.

The high court passed the order on a plea by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) seeking that "registers, duty register, attendance registers, log-books and other documents relating to the names, duty roster, posting and connected relevant details of PAC personnel" of the platoon which was operating in that area on that day be placed before the court.

Advocate Vrinda Grover, appearing for NHRC, said the general diary register of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) that pins the 19 accused policemen and the truck in which the victims were taken away, has the details of the accused and the CB-CID which had probed the case had deliberately suppressed material facts about these PAC personnel.

While the UP government chose not to oppose NHRC's plea, the accused's counsel contended that the commission wanted to fill up the lacunae in the prosecution story.

The court, however, was not impressed with the argument that any prejudice would be caused to the accused as the documents concerned were already before the trial court.

The bench noted that the photocopies of these documents were already part of trial court but were not exhibited and its typed version which mentioned names of PAC personnel was also in the trial court records.

It also noted that as per a letter by senior PAC officials, the record was not available with them as it was weeded out and whatever other documents they had, were placed before the trial court.

"With documents already forming part of trial court record, this application by NHRC should not be viewed as meant for rendering new evidence. It appears that the original document has not been produced. Therefore, an application has to be moved before the trial court seeking permission for leading secondary evidence to prove the typed copy," it said.

During the hearing, senior advocate Rebecca John, appearing for the victims, commenced her submissions on the appeals filed against the trial court verdict and said it has not been exhibited in the trial as to which of the PAC personnel were on duty on May 21, 1987 and whether they belonged to the 'C' company of 41st PAC Battalion.

The bench, which listed the matter before the trial court on March 19, directed the UP government to file the application for secondary evidence on the same day and made it clear that no adjournment would be given on any ground. It said the accused would have a right to cross-examine the witnesses as per law.

The bench listed the appeals before it for July 9.

NHRC has intervened in the matter seeking further probe into the massacre in the Hashimpura locality of Meerut in UP.

Prior to NHRC, the UP government as well as survivors and kin of the victims of the massacre have moved the court challenging the acquittal of the 16 policemen.

On March 21, 2015, the trial court had given the benefit of doubt and acquitted 16 former PAC personnel accused of killing 42 people in Meerut, saying lack of evidence has failed to establish their identification.

Nineteen people were named as accused and charges of offences of murder, attempt to murder, tampering with evidence and conspiracy were framed against 17 of them by the court here in 2006, after the case was transferred to Delhi on a Supreme Court direction in September 2002 following a petition by the families of the massacre victims and survivors.

16 accused acquitted in the case were alive while three had died during the trial.

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R G Chandramogan, Chairman and Managing Director of dairy products maker Hatsun Agro Ltd, was awarded the 'Patronship' award by Indian Dairy Association.

The award was presented to the city-based entrepreneur's outstanding services rendered in furthering the growth of dairy industry, a press release said.

Kerala Minister for Forests, Animal Husbandry, K Raju presented the award to Chandramogan during the 46th Dairy Industry Conference held in Kochi recently.

On receiving the award, Chandramogan said, "this award is a testament to the achievements of the organisation in terms of excellence in quality, innovation and commitment to enriching the lives of farmers and consumers".

"We are glad that our efforts including the backend support services to farmers are recognised at national level", he said.

Hatsun Agro manufactures and markets products like milk, curd, ice creams, dairy whitener, skimmed milk powder, ghee.

Besides serving the domestic market the company also ships 'dairy ingredients' to over 38 countries including United States, Middle East and south Asia, it added.

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Iranian rescue teams struggled to recover bodies today from the wreckage of a plane that crashed in hazardous terrain near a mountain peak two days earlier with 66 people on board.

"Deep and dangerous crevices in the area of the crash have made it impossible for helicopters to land," Ghafoor Rastinrooz, director of the regional medical centre, told official agency IRNA.

"The bodies must be transferred by hand to the foot of the mountain which will be time-consuming," he said.

Aseman Airlines flight EP3704 disappeared from radar as it flew over the Zagros mountain range on Sunday morning, around 45 minutes after taking off from Tehran on a domestic flight.

After two days of heavy snow and fog, the weather finally cleared on Tuesday morning, allowing a helicopter crew to spot a piece of the wreckage with the company's logo.

A pilot told state broadcaster IRIB he had seen "scattered bodies around the plane" and that it was located on one of the Dena mountains at a height of around 4,000 metres (13,000 feet).

Footage from the helicopter showed a glimpse of the wreckage in deep snow on a sheer mountain face, while officials warned that bad weather was due to return in a few hours.

Around 100 mountaineers have been making their way up the mountain since Monday and teams were being choppered to near the crash site.

"Helicopters are dropping off the rescue and relief teams in the nearest spot possible, as accessing the site of the crash is very difficult," Ali Abedzadeh, head of the Civil Aviation Organisation, told state TV.

"Only highly professional and trained mountaineers can go there, get close to the plane and bring back the bodies," he said.

The ATR-72 twin-engine plane, in service since 1993, flew early Sunday from the capitals Mehrabad airport towards the city of Yasuj, some 500 kilometres (300 miles) to the south.

A team of crash investigators from French air safety agency BEA was due to arrive in Iran later on Tuesday.

The incident has reawakened concerns over aviation safety in Iran, which has been exacerbated by international sanctions over the years.

Aseman Airlines was blacklisted by the European Commission in December 2016.

It was one of only three airlines barred over safety concerns -- the other 190 being blacklisted due to broader concerns over oversight in their respective countries.

Iran has complained that sanctions imposed by the United States have jeopardised the safety of its airlines and made it difficult to maintain and modernise ageing fleets.

Aseman was forced to ground many of its planes at the height of the sanctions due to difficulties in obtaining spares.

In a working paper presented to the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in 2013, Iran said US sanctions were blocking "the acquisition of parts, services and support essential to aviation safety".

Iran has suffered multiple aviation disasters, most recently in 2014 when 39 people were killed as a Sepahan Airlines plane crashed just after take-off from Tehran, narrowly avoiding many more deaths when it plummeted near a busy market.

But figures from the Flight Safety Foundation, a US-based NGO, suggest Iran is nonetheless above-average in implementing ICAO safety standards.

Lifting sanctions on aviation purchases was a key clause in the nuclear deal that Iran signed with world powers in 2015.

Following the deal, Aseman Airlines finalised an agreement to buy 30 Boeing 737 MAX jets for $3 billion (2.4 billion euros) last June, with an option to buy 30 more.

The sale could still be scuppered if US President Donald Trump chooses to reimpose sanctions in the coming months, as he has threatened to do.

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The Allahabad High Court today asked the Varanasi district administration, its development authority and the civic body to file counter affidavits about the cleanliness in the Parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The bench comprising Chief Justice DB Bhosale and Justice Suneet Kumar passed the order while hearing a petition filed by Vinay Kumar Chaudhary and three others.

The court has also issued notice to a private agency which was assigned the task to keep the city clean.

The counsel appearing for petitioner said because of the filth in the entire city, particularly in the vicinity of Vishwanath Temple, thenumber of tourists was decreasing.

He said the district administration should keep the city clean in order to attract tourists.

The court asked the state counsel and the counsel appearing for the Varanasi Municipal Corporation and the Varanasi Development Authority to file a counter affidavit and clarify their stand about forming a panel of officers to formulate a scheme for making the city clean.

The court has fixed March 20 as the next date of hearing.

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Upping their ante, striking lawyers of Orissa High Court today resorted to an indefinite relay hunger strike demanding filling up of vacant posts of judges.

Along with the executive members of the High Court Bar Association led by its President Srikant Kumar Nayak, several other members sat on a hunger strike in front of the Association office here from 10.30 am to 5 pm.

"As decided by the Association yesterday, no fresh case was filed in the Court on the day and the clients were requested not to appear before the benches to argue their own cases," said Association Secretary Satyabrata Mohanty.

The lawyers are on strike since February 12, alleging that due to insufficient judges in the high court, the number of pending cases are mounting.

"Over 40 per cent of the sanctioned posts of judges are now lying vacant in the high court," Mohanty said, adding that 16 judges were now functioning against a sanctioned strength of 27, while two judges would retire in the next four months.

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HDFC Ltd Managing Director Renu Sud Karnad today said the company is open to both organic and inorganic growth.

Replying to a media report that HDFC was in discussion to acquire health insurance company Apollo Munich, Karnad told PTI, "Partners of Apollo Munich and the partners of ours are the same and there is nothing as yet.

"HDFC has always been looking for partners be it housing or insurance," she said on the sidelines of its "Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Housing for All' programme organised here today.

HDFC Standard Life Insurance Company Ltd (HDFC Life is the joint venture company of HDFC Ltd and UK's Standard Life through Standard Life Aberdeen Plc.

In case of Max (Life Insurance Co Ltd), it did not worked out, she said, adding "So that way we are always looking for both organic and inorganic growth."



HDFC subsidiary HDFC ERGO General Insurance Co Ltd is a joint venture (51:49) between HDFC Ltd (51 per cent) and ERGO International AG --part of Germany's Munich Re Group which is a leading reinsurance company of Europe.

While Apollo Munich Health Insurance is a joint venture between Chennai-based Apollo Hospitals of Prathap C Reddy family and Munich Re.

The mortgage lender HDFC's Chairman Deepak Parekh said the Pradhan Mantri Housing for All aspiration by 2022 has led to ownership of homes among many who earlier could not do so.

On the cabinet decision today to approve a Rs 60,000 crore National Urban Housing Fund (NUHF), he said it will give good boost to the housing sector in India.

Parekh said the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) has taken off very well and it is a giant leap for thousands of people who earlier had no home ownership.

"CLSS is a shot in the arm for improving affordability and it is a great deal on part of the government and the regulator to improve housing availability," he said.

HDFC said the company has increased its efforts towards loan to economically weaker sections (EWS) of the country, who earn up to Rs 3 lakh per annum and low income group (LIG) earning over Rs 3 lakh to up to Rs 6 lakh per annum, in support of the government's flagship 'Housing for All' scheme.

During the nine months ended December 2017, 39 per cent of the home loans approved in terms of volume and 20 per cent in terms of value have been to customers from the EWS and LIG segment, HDFC said.

HDFC said on an average it has been approving 8,000 loans on a monthly basis to the EWS and LIG segment with montly average approvals at around Rs 1,300 crore.

Under CLSS EWS/LIG, it has provided loans of Rs 1,728 crore to 10,764 customers with subsidy worth Rs 228 crore.

Under CLSS Mid Income Group (MIG) scheme, it has provided Rs 1,067 crore worth of loan to 3,526 customers so far with subsidy of Rs 74 crore.

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Actor Georgie Henley has revealed she was ''bullied mercilessly'' by her school peers while she was filming the "Narnia" trilogy.

The 22-year-old actor, who shot to fame when she was only eight as Lucy Pevensie in the Disney series, said the success had a toll on her education because she ''didn't have the confidence'' to be proud of her work.

''I loved the work side of school, I loved learning, but the social side was a minefield. And part of that was worsened by the films that I had done, by me being in and out of school. There is such a pressure of child stars not to admit that it's hard. To smile and say 'yeah, I love my double life', and pretend they are a special agent or something.

"... I was bullied mercilessly; people were so awful to me at school. It was amazing getting to university and people being, like, 'That's so cool!' And I was, like 'I know, right?' So I wish I could say to the 13-year-old me, 'Be proud of what you've accomplished'. And that doesn't mean being arrogant. They are not the same. I think I conflated the two things," Henley told The Times.

Following the three "Narnia" films - "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe", "Prince Caspian" and "Voyage of the Dawn Treader" - Henley was offered a number of other roles, but she is looking for challenging projects.

"Some child actors grow up and their career gets quite calculated. Their agents say, 'you can do an indie film, then you have got to do a blockbuster, and then you can do two more indies', but I'm just looking for stuff that scares me and challenges me," she said.

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Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday asked India not to worry about Dhaka's growing ties with China, asserting that the cooperation with Beijing was meant only for the country's development.

Hasina said her government was only concerned about the development and is ready to cooperate with any country that helps Bangladesh's growth.

"We want investment and cooperation from whoever offers it. We want development of the country...We have to think about our people as they are the beneficiaries of the development," Hasina told a delegation of visiting Indian journalists at her official residence.

She said India, China, Japan and even the Middle Eastern countries were coming to Bangladesh for cooperation.

"India has nothing to be worried about it," Hasina said.

"I will (rather) suggest India should have good relations with its neighbours, including Bangladesh, so this region could be developed further and we can show the world that we all work together," she said.

Hasina, 70, said Bangladesh and India shared "excellent" ties and the two countries have set an example of solving problems like maritime and boundary disputes.

"If there is any problem, we could solve it through discussions as we did it in the past. We want to build a peaceful South Asia," Hasina said.

She said that during her 1996-2001 tenure, the two countries had signed the Ganges water treaty while in her second term maritime and boundary issues were resolved.

China has vowed to boost military-to-military relations with Bangladesh by stepping up defence ties, including broadening of personnel training and cooperation in equipment technology.

Earlier, Beijing said it planned to provide Bangladesh with a whopping $9 billion low-interest loan to build six rail projects including one close to the Indian border.

Hasina also sought India's support in repatriation of over a million Rohingyas to Myanmar, fearing that their prolonged stay in Bangladesh could create security risks.

"We want India to put pressure on Myanmar so they quickly take back their displaced people," she said.

Hasina directed the foreign office to hold a dialogue with five countries, including India, which have borders with Myanmar, hoping that the initiative will help in solving the Rohingya crisis.

"The monsoon is nearing and keeping the Rohingyas in this way (in makeshift camps) is very risky for Bangladesh as well as for them," she told the journalists.

The journalists from Kolkata and New Delhi are on a visit to Bangladesh to participate in a three-day Bangladesh-India media dialogue.
India today said it expects that in Maldives there will by no extension of emergency upon its expiry, asserting that it was important that the island nation quickly returns to the path of democracy and the rule of law.

President Abdulla Yameen had declared a state of emergency in Maldives on February 5, 2018, and it comes to an end this evening.

"It is our expectation that the Government of Maldives will not be seeking extension of the State of Emergency so that the political process in Maldives can resume with immediate effect," the external affairs ministry said in a statement.

The ministry also asked the Maldivian government to implement its Supreme Court order of February 1, regarding the release of exiled former leader Mohamed Nasheed and eight others, in "letter and spirit".

The ministry also observed that after the revocation of the emergency, democratic institutions, including the judiciary, should be allowed to function independently and in a fair and transparent manner in accordance with the Constitution.

"It is important that Maldives quickly returns to the path of democracy and the rule of law so that the aspirations of Maldivian people are met and the concerns of the international community are assuaged," it said.

Yesterday, Yameen submitted a request to the Maldivian Parliament, seeking extension of emergency by a period of 30 days, holding that the threat to national security has not diminished and the Constitutional crisis has not been resolved.

The issue is expected to be decided by the Majlis today.

India had earlier also expressed concern over the situation in Maldives.

In a press release, issued on February 6, the MEA had said,"We are disturbed by the declaration of a State of Emergency in the Maldives following the refusal of the Government to abide by the unanimous ruling of the full bench of the Supreme Court on 1 February, and also by the suspension of Constitutional rights of the people of Maldives".

The arrest of the Supreme Court Chief Justice and political figures are also reasons for concern, it had said, adding that the government continues to carefully monitor the situation.

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An Indian-origin woman was found murdered in her home in the West Midlands region of England after what is believed to be a burglary gone wrong.

Sarbjit Kaur's body was discovered by her family members at their home in the town of Wolverhampton last Friday.

West Midlands Police said they are keeping an open mind on the motive of the 38-year-old's murder as it released the victims name yesterday as part of a public appeal for information.

Kaur was attacked inside her own home. This is a shocking case, the likes of which are extremely rare, and we have a team of officers working on this murder inquiry to establish what happened and to finding the person or people responsible, said Detective Chief Inspector Chris Mallett, who is leading the West Midlands Police Homicide Teams murder investigation.

He confirmed that early inquiries have revealed that some items were taken from the home but added that the motive so far remains unclear as his team continues to investigate several lines of inquiry, including whether this was a random burglary or if the address or Kaur were deliberately targeted.

The interior was in an untidy state - which could indicate it had been searched - and we believe that some items are missing. We are working with the family to understand exactly what items were taken, Mallett added.

Police have carried out CCTV and house-to-house inquiries as well as conducted an extensive forensic examination of the scene as they try and piece together Kaur's movements throughout the day.

Kaur was assaulted during the attack and pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem has proved inconclusive on the precise cause of her death, with further tests being carried out by pathologists.

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Scientists from the UK and India have discovered a disposable diagnostic technology that uses paper folding, akin to origami, to process complex biochemical tests that can help farmers develop very low-cost diagnostics to improve the health of livestock.

In a paper published in the journalACS Sensors, biomedical engineers, veterinary scientists and bacteriologists from Britain and India describe how the procedure helped farmers in India identify three separate reproductive infections in cattle.

The new technique provides a new method for identifyingBrucella, Leptospira and bovine herpes virus-1 infections, which are particularly prevalent in India, along with many other countries in Asia, Africa and South America.

All three infections can affect livestocks reproductive organs, reducing fertility and resulting in loss of milk production, with a significant impact on agricultural output.

"These folded pieces of wax-printed paper, which can be made using a standard printer, may look simple, but the unique properties of folded paper give us a highly reproducible method to capture samples and prepare them for testing," said Dr Zhugen Yang, biomedical engineering research fellow at the University of Glasgow and the lead author of the paper.

"The tests we conducted on farms showed excellent results, which were as good as similar reproductive disease tests conducted in laboratory conditions. Its a very encouraging result which shows future promise for veterinary medicine," said Yang, who undertook field trips to India.

Reproductive infections are difficult for farmers to diagnose through simple observation during the early stages, meaning infection can spread quickly during breeding season.

Once infected cattle are identified, they must be destroyed, leading to disruptions in milk supply and incurring significant costs for farmers.

While there are molecular diagnostics tests currently available for these infections, they are time-consuming, expensive and require skilled technicians to administer them, meaning the tests cannot be undertaken in areas far from specialised facilities.

The new diagnostic technology, developed by researchers from the University of Glasgow, uses a commercially-available printer, which coats the paper in patterns made from water-resistant wax. When the paper is folded like in the Japanese origami techniquethe sample fluid is directed into channels in the pattern.

The folded-paper device enables the DNA of the pathogens to be detected, thus providing the ability to diagnose infections.

The technology was tested during two field trips to Izzatnagar in Uttar Pradesh, where the diseases have a particularly high prevalence.

Professor Jonathan Cooper, the University of Glasgows Wolfson Chair of Bioengineering, said: "Being able to quickly and affordably identify the most common reproductive diseases in cattle could help support agriculture in low- to middle-income countries."



"It could be of particular benefit in India, which is now the worlds largest dairy producer, contributing around 125 billion litres each year. Were very pleased with these results, and keen to move forward in making this technology available for vets and farmers in Asia, Africa and South America."



The new paper, titled Rapid Veterinary Diagnosis of Bovine Reproductive Infectious Diseases from Semen using Paper-Origami DNA Microfluidics, involved theteam from the University of Glasgow collaborating with partners in the Indian Veterinary Research Institute and the Animal andPlant Health Agency in the UK.

The research was supported by funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the Indian Governments Department of Biotechnology, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), and the European Research Council (ERC).

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The Madhya Pradesh High Court today granted bail to the principal of Delhi Public School (DPS) here, who was arrested for alleged violation of rules, following the death of four students of the institute in a bus accident on January 5.

Justice Satish Chandra Sharma of the High Court's Indore bench granted bail to DPS principal Sudarshan Sonar.

Sonar's lawyers argued that his arrest was not legal and the mishap occurred due to negligence of the bus driver and there was no criminal responsibility of the school principal.

However, the public prosecutor opposed Sonar's bail plea saying that being the head of the institution, he could not be absolved from the responsibility of the accident.

Sonar was arrested on February 12 for allegedly violating rules and regulations related to transport and maintenance of school buses.

The district court had twice rejected his bail plea.

On January 5, a bus belonging to the school had rammed into a truck at Kanadiya bypass, killing four students and the driver.

The police had arrested a DPS official and two other persons on January 7, for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, cheating and forging documents after investigations revealed that speed governor of the bus was not working.

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Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan today advocated increasing investment in universities and research institutes to create a robust ecosystem for innovation.

He said his government is working with the industry and other partners to promote research in new transportation technologies and looking for opportunities in India.

"As much as we talk about investment in innovation and technologies, we have to invest in universities, research and our thinkings to ensure we have the right ecosystem in place for the right people at the right time for innovation."



Sajjan, who is accompanying Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on his India visit, was speaking at a function here.

Canada's clean and renewable energy sector is ready to help India in meeting its target for renewable power generation, Sajjan said.

"The government of Canada is working with the industry and other partners to promote research in new transportation technologies. These include unmanned aircraft systems, zero emission and automated vehicles.

"Our team is ready for opportunities in India and looks forward to networking and developing further partnerships," he said.

Sajjan said his government has made it easier for foreign investors to set up ventures in the North American country.

"To make it easier for foreign investors, a new agency in Canada will be a one-stop shop for all the information needed on Canadian investment landscape," he said.

"The Canadian government has just agreed to sign a trade agreement with the countries in the Pacific region through the Comprehensive Progressive Agreement for Trans- Pacific Partnership.

"As you know, we are working extremely hard with our American and Mexican friends to modernise the North American Free Trade Agreement," the defence minister said.

Canada now has preferential markets to 45 countries. They represent more than 1.2 billion consumers and a combined GDP of some USD 41.40 trillion, representing over one-and-a half of the world's output of goods and services, he added.

"Canada is quickly becoming a bridge between Asia and the rest of the world. One that offers businesses an unprecedented access to the new market opportunities. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi told PM Trudeau - Canada and India are made for each other.

"India is one of the world's fastest-growing economies and youngest population. Those are two powerful attributes that bode well for our future and Canada wants to be an integral part of that future," Sajjan said.

More than 1,000 Canadian companies and educational institutes are doing business with India, of which over 400 have physical presence in this country, Sajjan said.

In 2017-18, the bilateral trade volume is likely to be Rs 42,000 crore and "this is a great indicator of confidence that business communities have in our relationship", he said.

Sajjan said there is a vast scope for expanding trade ties. Less than 1 per cent of Canadian exports are destined for India, while Canada accounts for just 0.15 pe cent of the Indian exports.

Vice-Admiral Girish Luthra, Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, who was was also present at the event, said China and India are the main drivers of trade and manufacturing activity in Asia.

"We are going through a very different form of internationalism, where forces of globalisation, open markets and liberal democracies are coming into direct conflict with forces of nationalism and protectionism."



"The Indo-Pacific region happens to be the growth belly of Asia. In 2015-16, the global trade was around USD 16.6 trillion and Asia's share in that was USD 12.8 trillion. This was mainly driven by China and India. Trade and manufacturing activity is centred in this region. Increasingly, the maritime domain is shaping the geo-politics of the region and of the world," Luthra said.

"Both the countries have long coast lines and 90 per cent of their trade takes place through the sea route," he said.

Considerable discussion on freedom of navigation is going on in the Indo-Pacific region, specifically on the South China Sea. All countries agree to the concept of freedom of navigation, he said.

However, the problem arises when different countries interpret maritime laws differently, Luthra said.

Another issue gaining prominence is blue-economy, water-based economic activities, which are socially inclusive, viable and sustainable, he said.

In this context, he talked out the Sagarmala project, a port-led development initiative in which investment up to USD 120 billion has been planned in the next few years.

Vikas Swarup, Indian High Commissioner to Canada, said, "We have 1.6 million people of Indian origin in Canada and 1,24,000 Indian students there. Both the countries have been working together and this will continue.

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Iran has formally criticised Sweden over its decision to grant nationality to an Iranian professor sentenced to death on spying charges, the foreign ministry said today.

Sweden granted citizenship last week to Ahmadreza Djalali, a Stockholm-based specialist in emergency medicine.

He was arrested during a brief visit to Iran in April 2016 and found guilty in October of passing information about two Iranian nuclear scientists to Israels Mossad intelligence agency that led to their assassinations.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said the decision to grant a convict citizenship was "very strange, unprincipled and questionable" and that the Swedish ambassador was summoned on Monday.

"Iran's strong protest was conveyed to the Swedish ambassador with regards to the move by the Swedish government to grant nationality to a person who has confessed to spying for Mossad and the Zionist regime and participating in killing Iranian scientists," Ghasemi said in a statement on the ministry website.

Ghasemi emphasised that Iran does not recognise dual nationality, and that Djalili will be treated purely as an Iranian citizen.

The Supreme Court confirmed Djalali's death sentence in December, which was criticised by human rights group Amnesty International as running "roughshod over the rule of law".

Djalali has claimed he is being punished for refusing to spy for Iran while working in Europe.

His lawyers say they were blocked from presenting submissions ahead of the Supreme Court hearing.

The sentence has been condemned by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium where he was a visiting professor. The European Union has said it is closely following the case.

A total of five Iranian scientists -- four of them involved in the country's nuclear programme -- were killed in bomb and gun attacks in Tehran between 2010 and 2012 at the height of tensions over the country's nuclear ambitions.

Iran has accused Mossad and the CIA of ordering the killings.

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The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has engaged KPMG for asset management under Jal Vikas Marg project, the government said today.

"The IWAI has engaged KPMG, a reputed consultant, to study and devise a framework for operationalisation and maintenance of the assets being built on National Waterway 1 ( NW-1) under the World Bank funded Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP)," the ministry of shipping said in a statement.

This framework will include various institutional and operational models ranging from outsourcing to Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) formulation with participating states and other authorities like railways and ports, it said.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs had approved the implementation of the Jal Marg Vikas Project for capacity augmentation of navigation on the Haldia-Varanasi stretch of NW-1 (Ganga) on January 3.

The assets being procured and built under JMVP will be ready by 2018-19, it said, adding that optimum and sustainable utilisation of assets so developed, would not be achievable without an asset management and operation framework.

The government said the consultant will also help in developing the business plan for market development on NW-1 for suitable cost recovery and tariff realisation mechanism.

In addition, it will assess to develop a plan for multimodal logistics park near the multimodal terminals being built under at Varanasi, Sahibganj and Haldia.

These multimodal logistics parks will act as freight aggregation and disaggregation centres and promote a hub-and-spoke model of freight movement.

Other broad scope of the study will include gathering market intelligence and reviewing cargo potential and cargo projections, developing a business and execution plan for marketing and commercial development and organise roadshows to generate investment awareness in PPP projects.

The JMVP is being implemented by the IWAI with technical assistance and investment support of the World Bank. The project is expected to boost the Inland Waterway Transport on NW-1, create/improve integration opportunities with road and rail transport, promote economic growth in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand & West Bengal and facilitate inland waterway connectivity between mainland India and North-Eastern States.

The statement said the development and operations of the NW-1 is estimated to create direct employment of 46,000 persons and indirect employment of 84,000 persons in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

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Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, currently on a tour of Japan, today urged the far-eastern economic super power to invest in the state and help in making it more vibrant and self-generating.

Addressing an investment promotion seminar at the Indian Embassy in Tokyo, Kumar underscored that Bihar and Japan shared an ethos which emanated from values of peace, harmony and a deep rooted affection for tradition and culture.

"With Buddhism providing an enduring spiritual glue, we make a perfect pair. I call upon you all to take this association to a higher level of cooperation and friendship", he was quoted as saying in an official release here.

"I would request leading Japanese corporations to consider establishing production facility in Bihar for domestic and foreign markets. The strategic support from Japanese organizations could propel Bihar towards a more transformative paradigm of knowledge and technology drive economy", Kumar said.

"I welcome you for an analogous investment to develop soft and hard infrastructure in Bihar with a major focus on technological collaborations, industrial partnerships, service delivery efficacy and academic research", he said.

"This will have the potential to reap equitable human development and capital returns. This unique partnership between Japan and Bihar could be one of its kind model of systemic socio-economic intervention", he added.

The Chief Minister also underscored that Bihar "has seen a significant turnaround in the last 12 years. During this period, Bihar's growth rate at constant price has been around 10 per cent, which is one of the highest among Indian states. This is a result of comprehensive home-grown reforms".

"These include changes in managing publlic finance, reforming government expenditures, public investments in building infrastructure and developing human resource. This development agenda and turnaround of Bihar has strong parallel with Meiji restoration in Japan", Kumar said.

The Chief Minister also highlighted that "Bihar is amongst the largest producers of horticulture crops in India and is a major producer of food grains" and said "I welcome investment and technological inputs from Japan to optimize the untapped human resource and agrarian strenghts of Bihar".

Kumar also said that the "Vishwa Shanti Stupa" (world peace pagoda) at Rajgir, built by 20th century monk Nichidatsu Fujii, was one of the most popular tourist sites in the state.

The Chief Minister also inaugurated an exhibition of the famed "Mithila painting" of Bihar at the Vivekanand Mithila Cultural Centre inside the embassy.

He also attended a meeting of Japan India Parliamentary Friendship League.

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In a major relief to its employees, the Jammu and Kashmir government today relaxed norms for settlement of final general provident (GP) fund refund cases by the fund offices.

The announcement in this regard was earlier made by Finance Minister Haseeb A Drabu in his budget speech in the state legislature last month.

The employees face considerable difficulties in the settlement of their GP Fund cases at the time of their retirement and they are asked to produce a certificate relating to withdrawals since their joining of service. Government employees will, henceforth, be required to furnish only credit and debit statements for the last five years for their final GP fund withdrawal, Drabu had said in his budget speech.

Following the announcement made by Drabu, the finance department today issued the formal orders in this regard.

As per the orders issued by the principal secretary finance, Navin Kumar Choudhary, the employees at the time of settlement of final GP fund (refund) claims, only last five years debit and credit statements showing withdrawals (both refundable and non-refundable) and subscriptions made by the subscriber respectively shall be required to be furnished.

It said where the information for such period is not readily available with the drawing and disbursing officer due to non-availability of records (having gutted in fire or due to any other reasons like floods, theft, any other natural calamity), an indemnity bond (as per format available in the GP Fund Manual and recast vide a government Order in 1999) shall be obtained from the concerned subscriber and his nominee(s)/successors (s) indemnifying the Government from any loss arising due to any un-accounted sum of advance and withdrawal as may be located subsequently.

The indemnity bond, duly furnished by the retired subscriber/his nominee(s)/ successor (s), shall be accepted by the DDO wherefrom the GP Fund refund claim of the subscriber is forwarded to concerned Fund Office, the order said.

It said while accepting indemnity bond, the DDO shall ensure that averments made by the subscriber/his nominee(s)/ successor(s) in the indemnity bond, recording therein the reasons of non-availability of records, are supported by collateral evidence like FIRs.

All other provisions regarding the settlement of GP Fund final refund claims as contained in the GP Fund Manual or any other instructions, orders, guidelines and rules shall be deemed to have been modified to the above extent, the order said.

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The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) supremo Bhim Singh today demanded early deportation of foreigners, including Rohingya and Bangladeshis, illegally settled in the winter capital of the state.

"The presence of these foreign nationals especially in the municipal limits of Jammu is posing a threat to peace in the region. The Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and Home Minister (Rajnath Singh) should make their stand (regarding deportation) clear," he told reporters here.

Singh said, "My statement is neither linked to nor against any religion or community. It is for our rights, justice and peace for which the people of the state have rendered huge sacrifices."



The JKNPP leader said the people would not allow settlement of foreigners on their soil and "it is better that these people are deported from here."



Accusing the ruling PDP-BJP coalition, of maintaining deliberate silence on the issue and misleading the people by giving wrong figures about the number of these illegal settlers, he said, "The number of Bangladeshi and Myanmarese in the city is over 23,000, while the government is claiming that they are only 5,000 thus misleading the public.

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On the occasion of 32nd Statehood Day celebrations, Arunachal Pradesh Governor Brig (Retd) B D Mishra today called upon the youth of the state to join the Indian Army and "guard the country's borders against intrusion".

Addressing people at Indira Gandhi Park here, he said the NDA government has understood the strategic importance of Arunachal Pradesh and has resolved not to compromise the territorial integrity.

"India of today is different from that of 1962. The country is strong enough to counter any force," the governor said, referring to the 1962 war between India and China.

Lauding the Army for their recruitment drive in Arunachal Pradesh, Mishra said, "To counter China, we need our boys in the Indian Army as they are accustomed with the terrain and climate of the state."



Mishra's statement comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the state.

Soon after Modi's visit, China, which claims the state as part of the South Tibet, had asked India to refrain from taking any action that may "complicate" the boundary question.

Clarifying India's stance on the matter, external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar had said Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and leaders and people of this country have the right to visit the state.

Mishra also termed Pakistan as a "base" for terrorist activities and said the neighbouring country is suffering today because it "abetted terror groups" on its soil.

"Pakistan will not be able to survive on its own even for a week if America and China stops funding them," he said.

The governor also appreciated Chief Minister Pema Khandu for his efforts in bringing about development in the state.

Khandu had recently assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi that his government will "give account of every penny spent from the government exchequer".

Stressing on the need for cent per cent literacy in the state, Mishra urged upon the teaching community to shed the "tendency to abstain from work" and asked the private universities in the state to focus on personality development of students through inclusive education.

"The state government will soon come up with a mechanism to monitor the functioning of private universities in the state," he said.

Asked people to join hands with the state government in curbing social evils, the governor said, "Drugs and insurgency should be rejected by the people. They are stumbling blocks in the development of the state."



Mishra also praised the state government for launching Dulari Kanya scheme in the state to check infant mortality.

Under this scheme, the state government will be depositing Rs 20,000 in the bank account of a girl child, born in any government hospital. The girl will have access to the amount along with its accrued interest once she turns 18.

The governor also released a souvenir on the occasion and ceremonially launched the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana - Saubhagya scheme at the event. The scheme aims to provide energy access to all households in rural and urban areas of the country by December 31.

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Media conglomerate Sun Group chairman Kalanithi Maran has moved the Madras High Court, assailing an Income Tax department order declaring him as the principal officer of low-cost carrier SpiceJet and making him liable for the alleged tax dues of the company when it was owned by him.

Maran, who sold the then sick SpiceJet to Ajay Singh in 2015, sought to quash the order related to various financial years when the company was under his ownership.

When the matter came up before Justice M Duraiswamy, senior counsel P S Raman, appearing for Maran, said his client was only the non-executive chairman of the company then and that he had no say in its day-to-day activities.

Such affairs, including issues pertaining to taxes were managed by a full-time managing director of the company, who had written to the I-T department stating this, he submitted.

Raman also contended that Maran had not signed any document filed with the IT department on the company's behalf.

Opposing the contentions, the counsel for the IT department argued that it had reasons to believe that Maran was in control of the company.

He also questioned the jurisdiction of the Madras High Court to hear the matter, saying the IT office, which had passed the order, and the registered office of SpiceJet were in New Delhi.

Also, the petitioner had already approached the Delhi High Court, seeking to quash the order, and hence, the Madras High Court did not have territorial jurisdiction over the issue, he added.

To this, Maran's counsel said his client was a resident of Chennai and that the notice and the final order of the IT department were served to him at his Chennai address.

Therefore, the Madras High Court had territorial jurisdiction over the matter, he argued.

Recording the submissions, the judge ordered the IT department to file its counter-affidavit and posted the plea toMarch 6 for further hearing.

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Veteran actor Kamal Haasan, who is set to launch his political party tomorrow, was given a rousing welcome by his supporters when he arrived here today.

Haasan is scheduled to set out on a yatra from this island and launch the political party in Madurai, about 170 km from here.

His supporters raised slogans "Hail Varungala Muthalvere"(future chief minister) Hail Kamal Haasan" as he arrived here in his native Ramanathapuram district in southern Tamil Nadu.

The 62-year old popular actor greeted the gathering outside the hotel where he was staying and said he would speak about everything on his political journey tomorrow.

He is expected to address the fishermen after vising former president A P J Abdul Kalam's house here and getting blessings from the late leader's elder brother tomorrow morning.

Haasan would also visit the memorial of Kalam here, his fan association sources said.

Later, he would leave for Madurai and address public meetings in Ramanathapuram, Manamadurai and Paramakudi, his home town.

While announcing his political tour last month, 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 had said.

Meanwhile, in a tweet today, Haasan welcomed people to attend his party launch to "create a new era."



"I am going to explain (about my) new party and the gyst of our policies.. Please come, to create a new era," he said.

"Our long journey is starting tomorrow. I am going to hoist our party flag at 6 PM at Othakadai grounds in Madurai," he added.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will attend Haasan's party launch, the actor's camp said.

"Kejriwal will attend the evening public meeting in Madurai tomorrow," sources close to the actor said.

The AAP supremo was also likely to address the meeting, they added.

Kejriwal had called on Haasan in Chennai in September 2017, when the award-winning actor had started dropping hints of taking the political plunge.

The Delhi Chief Minister had then said it was "important at this point when the country is facing strong forces of corruption and communalism, all like minded people should talk to each other on these issues and work in tandem."



Besides Kejriwal, Haasan has also met the Chief Ministers of Kerala and West Bengal, Pinarayi Vijayan and Mamata Banerjee, respectively, DMK President M Karunanidhi and 'superstar' Rajinikanth ahead of his political foray.

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The Delhi High Court today declined to entertain a plea of Vikas Yadav, who is in jail for life for the murder of Nitish Katara, for an early hearing of his petition seeking furlough.

Yadav had sought early hearing on the ground that his mother was unwell but Justice Indermeet Kaur declined the relief and said the matter would be taken up on the date already fixed on April 10.

The plea was opposed by the state, represented by Additional Criminal Standing counsel Rajesh Mahajan, saying no medical records of his mother have been placed on record to show there was any urgency.

Yadav had sought furlough, a leave from jail for a certain period of time in a year for inmates serving sentences, for 21 days by claiming that he was being arbitrarily denied the relief by the authorities.

The court had earlier asked why the relief be not granted to him if there was no apprehension of a threat to the witnesses, including the victim's mother, in the case.

However, the victim's mother, Neelam Katara, and another witness, Ajay Katara, strongly opposed grant of furlough to the convict.

The police has also opposed grant of furlough to Yadav on the ground that he did not satisfy the eligibility requirements for the relief.

It had also said that a division bench of the high court while convicting and sentencing him to a 25-year life imprisonment had stated that he would not be given any remission during his jail term.

On August 29, 2017, the Supreme Court had dismissed his plea seeking review of its verdict sending him to prison for 25 years.

The apex court had also awarded a 25-year jail term to his cousin Vishal Yadav and 20 years in prison for third convict Sukhdev Pehalwan in the case.

The top court had earlier dismissed the appeals against their conviction in the case of kidnapping of Katara from a marriage party on the intervening night of February 16-17, 2002 before killing him for his alleged affair with Vikas Yadav's sister Bharti.

Bharti is the daughter of Uttar Pradesh politician D P Yadav who is in jail in connection with a murder case.

Katara was murdered as Vishal and Vikas Yadav did not approve of the victim's affair with Bharti because they belonged to different castes, the lower court had said in its verdict.

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Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will attend the launch of veteran star Kamal Haasan's political party tomorrow in Madurai, the actor's camp said today.

The AAP supremo is also likely to address the meeting, sources close to Haasan said.

"Kejriwal will attend the evening public meeting in Madurai tomorrow," they added.

The Delhi chief minister had called on Haasan here in September 2017, when the award-winning actor had started dropping hints of taking the political plunge.

Kejriwal had then said it was "important at this point when the country is facing strong forces of corruption and communalism, all like minded people should talk to each other on these issues and work in tandem."



Meanwhile, the actor said he had no intentions of meeting anyone from the ruling AIADMK.

"I have been clearly saying this rule is not proper," he said when reporters here today asked if he had any plans in this regard.

Earlier, actor-director and founder of pro-Tamil outfit Naam Thamizhar Katchi, Seeman called on the actor and wished Haasan success in his political journey.

In a Twitter post, Haasan welcomed people to attend his party launch tomorrow in Madurai to "create a new era".

"I am going to explain (about my) new party and the gist of our policies... Please come, to create a new era," he said.

"Our long journey is starting tomorrow. I am going to host our party flag at 6 PM at Othakadai grounds in Madurai," he further said in the same tweet.

The actor-director will also address public meetings in Ramanathapuram, Manamadurai and Paramakudi tomorrow.
After its success saga in a series of fields ranging from pickle making to IT business, Kerala's 42 lakh member-strong all-women network 'Kudumbashree' is foraying into e-commerce platform with an array of ethnic products.

Authorities are planning to launch a digital platform to sell online variety of homemade articles from lip-smacking jam, pickle, squash, flour, curry and masala powders and coconut oil to cosmetic products, handicrafts and garments.

Launched in 1998 as a poverty eradication mission by the state government to wipe out poverty through community action, Kudumbashree has now emerged as one of the major movements to economically empower women especially from marginalised sections.

Titled 'HYPERLINK"http://kudumbashreebazar.com" kudumbashreebazar.com', the e-portal would enable people order their favourite products from anywhere in the state, official sources said.

Over 15,000 small-scale entrepreneurial ventures are run by Kudumbashree volunteers across the state.

As many as 200 high-quality products would be selected from among them to be sold through the e-portal in the initial phase, S Harikishore, Executive Director, Kudumbashree said.

Besides the quality, the standard of packing and labelling of products would also be considered.

More products would be included in the platform later according to the response of the customers, he said.

The portal would comprise all the details of the products including its name, the address and phone number of the respective Kudumbashree unit which made it.

The respective Kudumbashree unit would send the product via regional post offices, the official said adding that an agreement had been signed with the postal department in this regard.

The state-run Startup Mission is offering technical support for the e-commerce portal.

The new venture is expected to give a boost to the Kudumbashree products, known for its high quality and budget-price, and ensure a steady income for the household women, sources added.

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Former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia today challenged the five-year prison sentence handed out to her in a corruption case, claiming that it was a political scheme by the government to keep her out of the general elections in December.

The 72-year-old three-time former prime minister and main opposition leader was sentenced by Dhaka's Special Court on February 8 in connection with the embezzlement of 21 million taka (about USD 250,000) in foreign donations meant for the Zia Orphanage Trust, named after her late husband Ziaur Rahman, a military ruler-turned-politician.

The verdict simultaneously sentenced Zia's "fugitive" elder son and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP's) senior vice president Tarique Rahman as he was tried in absentia. Rahman and four others have been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Legal experts said the verdict may jeopardise her career as she may be disqualified from contesting polls, including the general elections slated for December.

A day after receiving a copy of the trial court's verdict, her counsels filed an appeal in the High Court challenging the verdict.

The 1,223-page dossier, which mentions Abdur Rezak Khan as the filing lawyer, cited 44 reasons for the acquittal of the three-time prime minister from the charges.

The BNP argued that the case is a political scheme to keep its party chief out of the national elections.

"As soon as the court schedules the hearing, we will file a bail petition," Sagir Hossain, one of the defence counsels, told the media.

The corruption case is one of dozens pending against Zia, who has been a rival of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for decades. The charges against her had already led to her boycotting polls in 2014, which triggered widespread protests at the time.

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Altogether 809 of the total 2199 sanctioned doctors posts and 324 of the 1751 posts in the medical colleges in Assam are lying vacant, said Health Minister Himamta Biswa Sarma in the Assembly here today.

In Gauhati Medical College 69 of the sanctioned 540 doctors posts and three of the 28 nurses posts are lying vacant, Sarma told Aminul Islam (AIUDF) in the House.

In Tezpur Medical College nine of the 269 doctors and nine of 423 nurses posts; in Assam Medical College five of 83 nurses posts; in Silchar Medical College 40 of 207 doctors and 116 of 207 nurses posts; in Fakruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College, Barpeta, 35 of the 489 doctors and 30 of the 375 nurses posts were yet to be filled up, the Minister informed.

In the Regional Dental College, Guwahati, he said five posts each of Professor, Reader and Lecturer, one Tutor and a nurse are vacant.

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Accusing the BJP-led Maharashtra government of treating the hailstorm-hit farmers as criminals, opposition Congress-NCP today demanded that it should stop the practice of taking photographs of farmers with slates in their hands as part of assessment of damaged crops.

State Congress chief Ashok Chavan said in a tweet that local authorities are making farmers stand with a slate with their names written on it near the damaged crops, and clicking pictures as part of the panchnama (assessment) process.

He also posted a picture of a woman in Chincholi Bhuyar village in Umarga taluka of Osmanabad district, being made to stand in her farm holding a slate with her name written on it.

"Are the farmers criminals? Is the government in its senses," Chavan asked.

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council and NCP leader Dhananjay Munde demanded that the practice of clicking photographs with slates in their hands be stopped immediately.

"Despite facing heavy losses in the hailstorm and unseasonal rains, the government has not announced any relief package for the farmers. But, talathis are insisting that the farmers' pictures be clicked like criminals," he alleged.

The opposition demanded a compensation of Rs 50,000 per hectare.

According to the government estimates, three lakh hectares area spread over 3,724 villages in 102 talukas in 19 districts have been affected by the hailstorm and unseasonal rains in Marathwada and Vidarbha earlier this month.

The state has said that it will seek a financial assistance of Rs 200 crore from the Centre to compensate farmers for the losses.

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Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS) activists today showed black flags to Minister of State for Agriculture Sadabhau Khot, forcing him to abandon his tour midway in the district.

Khot visited Thar and Wanjar-Umad village in Jalna taluka to inspect the crops damaged in recent hailstorm. He also visited kin of a farmer who had died in a hailstorm-related incident.

Sanghatna's Jalna district president Sainath Chinadore claimed that Khot actually came to attend a marriage ceremony and not to console the family of the deceased.

"We showed black flags to him," he said.

Due to protests, Khot returned to the government guest house.

Later, he joined Minister of State for Dairy Development Arjun Khotkar in his car.

Notably, Khot was expelled from Raju Shetti-led SSS for continuing to be a minister despite the party walking out of the NDA.

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The Maldives' Parliament today extended the state of emergency by another 30 days, approving President Abdulla Yameens recommendation.

Only 38 MPs were present for the vote, which took place hours before the state of emergency was due to expire, despite 43 lawmakers being needed for the vote to take place as required by the constitution, Maldives Independent website reported.

All 38 were from the ruling party and all 38 approved the extension, it said. The opposition had boycotted the vote.

The state of emergency will now end on March 22.

Parliament Speaker Abdulla Maseeh quoted parliamentary regulations which do not include state of emergency declarations among the votes where a constitutionally required quorum is needed.

President Yameen declared the emergency on February 5 after the Supreme Court ordered the release of a group of Opposition leaders, who had been convicted in widely criticised trials. Among them was exiled ex-President Mohamed Nasheed. The court said his 2015 trial had been unconstitutional.

Under the emergency law, Yameen had two Supreme Court judges arrested, accusing them of corruption. Later, the remaining three judges annulled the order to release Yameen's opponents.

There has been international condemnation of the government's moves, with the US and India expressing concern.

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The Maldives' Parliament today extended the state of emergency by another 30 days, approving President Abdulla Yameen's recommendation, bolstering his grip on power in the troubled Indian Ocean island nation.

President Yameen declared emergency on February 5 after the Supreme Court ordered the release of a group of Opposition leaders, who had been convicted in widely criticised trials. Among them was exiled ex-President Mohamed Nasheed. The court said his 2015 trial had been unconstitutional.

Only 38 MPs were present for the vote, which took place hours before the state of emergency was due to expire, despite 43 lawmakers being needed for the vote to take place as required by the Constitution, Maldives Independent news website reported.

All 38 were from the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives and they all approved the extension, it said.

The opposition boycotted the vote.

The state of emergency will now end on March 22.

Parliament Speaker Abdulla Maseeh quoted parliamentary regulations which do not include state of emergency declarations among the votes where a constitutionally required quorum is needed.

"There is no other law that requires compliance by citizens to the extent a state of emergency requires compliance. We are asking citizens, we are compelling them to let the state suspend and restrict their fundamental rights for more than a month. There is no other violation of the constitution that shines on this clearly," said opposition MP Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Eva Abdulla, another opposition lawmaker, accused the speaker of bypassing the constitution and said the state of emergency was illegal.

Shahindha Ismail, executive director of the Maldives Democracy Network, said the ruling party has effectively and completely removed all democratic and lawful systems of governance in this country.

The controversial vote took place at the second extraordinary session in as many days.

Under the emergency law, Yameen had two Supreme Court judges arrested, accusing them of corruption. Later, the remaining three judges annulled the order to release Yameen's opponents.

There has been condemnation of the government's moves, with the US and India expressing concern.

Meanwhile, India today said it expects that in Maldives there will by no extension of emergency upon its expiry, asserting that it was important that the island nation quickly returns to the path of democracy and the rule of law.

"It is our expectation that the Government of Maldives will not be seeking extension of the State of Emergency so that the political process in Maldives can resume with immediate effect," the external affairs ministry said in a statement in New Delhi.

In another development, the Maldivian government today assured the European Union (EU) it will uphold the rule of law in the country.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamed Asim met with EU Ambassador to Maldives Tung-Lai Margue to discuss the Maldivian political situation, according to a media report.

The minister said that upholding the rule of law was the Maldivian governments biggest priority.

The declaration of emergency in Maldives has been criticised by the EU. It has appealed to the Maldivian government to ensure freedom of speech is protected, and ensure the police and military conduct their operations with minimum impact to the public.

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Non-scheduled drugs and diagnostic services constituted major components of charges billed to patients in four private hospitals with margins as high as 1,192 per cent, drug pricing regulator NPPA said today.

For consumables such as three way stop cock, BI valve, GS-3040, the margins were even higher. The purchase price of the device for the hospital was Rs 5.77 and a 1,737 per cent margin on procurement price was charged, it added.

This has emerged from an analysis done by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) after "some unfortunate deaths because of dengue and other ailments in four reputed private hospitals" in Delhi and NCR , the regulator said in a memorandum.

"Institutional bulk purchases by private hospitals, which in most cases keep a pharmacy of their own, makes it easier for them to get very high profit margins and indulge in profiteering on drugs and devices even without need to violate the MRPs, which is already enough inflated," the NPPA said.

Elaborating on how patients were billed with high margins on medicines, the regulator said in case of Adrenor 2 ml injection with an MRP of Rs 189.95, the purchase price to the hospital was Rs 14.70 but was charged at Rs 5,318.60, inclusive of taxes, to patients.

The margin on procurement price of the drug used in emergency cases for treatment of potentially life-threatening low blood pressure was 1,192 per cent.

Likewise, the NPPA said Todaycef 1 gm injection was billed to patients at Rs 860, whereas, the purchase price of the hospital was Rs 40.32 although the MRP was Rs 430. The margin on procurement price was 966 per cent.

The drug price regulator did not disclose the names of the four private hospitals.

The NPPA said the pharmaceuticals industry in order to get bulk supply orders in a way is 'forced' to print higher MRPs as per the 'market requirements'.

It is amply clear that for claiming higher margins, doctors, hospitals preferred prescribing and dispensing non-scheduled branded medicines instead of scheduled medicines, it said.

This also indicates that the drug variants of scheduled medicines in the name of 'new drugs' and 'fixed dose combinations' have become the preferred choice avoid price control by manufacturing and medical fraternity, the regulator said.

"This trend of migration from scheduled to non-scheduled category is reflected in the growth rate of NLEM and non-NLEM drugs in the year 2017 where the rate of growth of non-NLEM drugs is almost double the rate of NLEM drugs," NPPA said.

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A tribal mentally challenged woman was gangraped in West Bengal's South Dinajpur district and tortured by her tormentors, who inserted an iron rod into her private parts before escaping, police said today.

Two persons aged 50 years and 45 years have been arrested from Itahar in neighbouring North Dinajpur district in connection with the crime today, the superintendent of police Prasun Bandopadhyay said.

The 27-year-old has been operated upon and is in the critical care unit in Malda Medical College Hospital where doctors said she is responding to treatment.

The two were produced before the Gangarampur subdivisional court during the day and remanded to police custody for 11 days.

Police said the woman has no family as her parents are dead and she had been tortured and thrown out of her marital home in Bihar.

She had gone to a fair at Patirajpur on the inter-district border on Saturday eveining from where she was taken away by several persons and gangraped in an agricultural field under a bridge. She was tortured and an iron road was inserted into her private parts and left there, the police said.

Locals sighted her on Sunday evening and called in the police, who rushed her to Raiganj district hospital where she was operated upon, police said.

Sources in Raiganj hospital said as the woman was in a critical condition she was referred to the Malda Medical College Hospital.

The police complaint was filed by one of her neighbours.

Search is on for the others who were involved in the crime, Bandopadhyay said.

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The Home Ministry today sought a report from Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on an alleged assault on the chief secretary of the city government, an official said. In a communication, the ministry asked the LG to submit a detailed report on the alleged attack on bureaucrat Anshu Prakash at the residence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal last night. The home minister would also meet a delegation of IAS officers of the Delhi government, a ministry official said.

"The home ministry is aware of the development and closely monitoring the situation," the official said.

Chief Secretary (CS) Prakash was manhandled by a few AAP MLAs at Kejriwal's residence, an IAS officer alleged today.

"There was a heated exchange at the meeting last night. During the argument, two or three AAP MLAs manhandled him... The CS's spectacles also got broken," the senior IAS officer, who did not wish to be named, claimed.

The chief minister's office dismissed the accusation as "bizarre and baseless".

"The allegation of assault is totally bizarre and baseless," a senior official in the chief minister's office said.

The incident took place in the presence of Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia , the senior IAS officer claimed.

After the incident, Prakash met Baijal and apprised him of the incident, the IAS officer added.

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A group of militants today lobbed a grenade and opened fire at a water pump house of Indian Air Force (IAF) station in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir but there was no damage caused in the attack, an official said.

The firing was effectively retaliated by the alert sentries, forcing the terrorists to flee, he added.

"Two to three terrorists lobbed a grenade and opened firing on the water pump house located outside the Air Force Station at Malangpora in Awantipora area of Pulwama district," a defence spokesman said here.

There was no loss of life in the incident, the spokesman said adding security forces have cordoned off the area to track down the terrorists.

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Militants today opened firing on security forces near an Air Force station in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, defense sources said.

"There has been a firing incident at Malangpora, near the Awantipora Air Force station," they said.

The details of the incident are being ascertained and the security forces have cordoned off the area to track down the militants, they said.

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The BJP top brass, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah, will hold a meeting with the saffron party's chief ministers and deputy CMs on February 28 to review public welfare schemes as it gears up for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The Centre's ambitious plan to provide health insurance to 10 crore poor families across the country, besides its thrust on the rural sector, especially agriculture, will also figure in the day-long deliberations which will conclude with Modi's address, party sources said.

Modi and Shah have held regular deliberations with the chief ministers and deputy chief ministers of the party on their overall governance. The prime minister had also asked them to reach out to the poor, and socially and economically backward sections with the welfare schemes.

The BJP has 14 chief ministers and several deputy chief ministers in states, including Bihar and Jammu and Kashmir, where it is a junior partner in the government.

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Mozambique's President Filipe Nyusi has met the leader of opposition Renamo as part of efforts to broker peace between the group and his ruling Frelimo party.

Renamo rebels fought a 16-year war against Frelimo until 1992, and unrest again boiled over between 2013 and 2016.

Nyusi travelled to the remote Gorongosa mountains yesterday for talks with Renamos leader Afonso Dhlakama who has been in hiding since October 2015.

The meeting follows a pledge by the president earlier this month to change the constitution to allow for the devolution of power in an effort to persuade the opposition to sign a peace deal.

The proposed constitutional changes will now go before parliament.

"I had a meeting with Afonso Dhlakama...to discuss military matters, specifically on disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration," Nyusi said in an emailed statement.

The fighting between 2013 and 2016 often centred on the country's main roads, with Renamo attacking government convoys and civilian vehicles, and soldiers accused of ruthlessly targeting suspected rebels.

The violence, which ended after Dhlakama announced a truce, forced thousands of people to escape to government-run camps, relatives homes or across the border to Malawi and Zimbabwe.

Renamo, which also holds seats in parliament, has long been seeking greater decentralisation of power and better integration of its supporters into the police and military.

The peace deal being negotiated would see the governors of Mozambiques 11 provinces elected directly, not named by the president as is currently the case.

The deal would also require the disarmament of the Renamo partys armed wing which has been maintained since the end of the civil war in 1992.

"We welcome... the steps to be taken," said Nyusi.

"(They) will allow an end to military hostilities and open a new era for effective and lasting peace."



He added that detailed proposals would be made public "in a timely manner".

Domingos do Rosario, a professor of political science at Eduardo Mondlane University in Maputo, warned that the question of Renamo disarmament remained a challenge.

"Is Renamo is going to disarm? Do you think Renamo, if it did not have weapons, would still survive politically?" he said.

"They tried to kill Dhlakama and what did he do? He fled to his comfort zone -- the bush where he has the military arsenal that allows him to put pressure on the Maputo regime."



Do Rosario added that the negotiations had been timed by Nyusi to ensure the smooth running of local elections due later this year and presidential polls due in 2019.

"These negotiations had to go ahead at all costs, otherwise the source of the Maputo regimes international legitimacy, the elections, would not take place.

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A court here today issued an arrest warrant against Congress MLA Hemant Katare for not appearing before it, despite several summonses, in connection with a rape-and-abduction case lodged against him earlier this month.

Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Jyoti Dongre issued the warrant on an application filed by the local police.

The court posted the matter for next hearing on March 19.

On February 17, the police had announced a reward of Rs 10,000 for sharing information about Katare's whereabouts.

The police had also announced a reward for Vikramjit Singh, an aide of the complainant in the case.

On January 24, the police had said that Singh was untraceable, following the arrest of a 21-year-old woman, a journalism student, for allegedly trying to extort money from Katare, the Ater MLA, by threatening to file a rape case against him.

The woman, while in jail, had alleged that Katare raped her several times, according to the police.

The MLA was booked on charges of rape and abduction under the IPC on February 2.

The police had formed a nine-member special investigation team (SIT) to probe the allegations against Katare.

Denying the allegations, the Congress leader had claimed that the woman and her aide had met him a couple of times and that they tried to extort money from him.

Katare had alleged that the woman was calling him since January 17 and threatening to file a rape case against him if he did not pay Rs 2 crore to settle the issue.

On January 24, the woman was arrested after she allegedly demanded Rs 2 crore from Katare and came forward to collect the first instalment of Rs 5 lakh, the police had said.

She was granted bail on February 5.

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North Korean hackers are becoming more aggressive than their Chinese counterparts, a leading US cybersecurity firm warned today, as it identified a Pyongyang-linked group as an "advanced persistent threat".

It was the first time that FireEye had used the designation for a North Korean-based group.

Analysts say the isolated and impoverished but nuclear-armed North has stepped up hacking operations partly to raise money for the cash-strapped regime, which is subject to multiple sanctions over its atomic weapons and ballistic missile programmes.

North Korea has previously been blamed for the WannaCry ransomware that briefly wreaked havoc around the world last year -- an accusation it angrily denies.

FireEye said North Korean operatives had expanded their targets beyond South Korea and mounted increasingly sophisticated attacks, adding it had identified a suspected North Korean cyberespionage group it dubbed "APT37" -- standing for "advanced persistent threat".

APT37 was "primarily based in North Korea", it said, and its choice of targets "aligns with North Korean state interests".

"We assess with high confidence that this activity is carried out on behalf of the North Korean government," it added.

APT37 has been active at least since 2012, it said, previously focused on "government, military, defence industrial base and media sector" in the rival South before widening its range to include Japan, Vietnam and the Middle East last year, and industries ranging from chemicals to telecommunications.

"This group should be taken seriously," FireEye added.

FireEye's first APT was identified in a 2013 report by company division Mandiant, which said that hackers penetrating US newspapers, government agencies and companies "are based primarily in China and that the Chinese government is aware of them".

One group, it said then, was believed to be a branch of the Peoples Liberation Army in Shanghai called Unit 61398. Five of its members were later indicted by US federal prosecutors on charges of stealing information from US firms, provoking a diplomatic row between Washington and Beijing.

"We have seen both North Korean and Chinese operation's range from simplistic to very technically sophisticated," FireEyes director of intelligence analysis John Hultquist told AFP.

"The sharpest difference between the two really lies in the aggressive nature of North Korean operations," he added.

"Whereas Chinese actors have typically favoured quiet espionage, North Korea has demonstrated a willingness to carry out some very aggressive activity, ranging from attack to outright global crime."



But the WannaCry ransomware, he believes, was the work of a different North Korean group. "Thus far, we have only found APT37 doing the quiet espionage but they are a tool the regime can use aggressively.

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Nagpur Police today registered six new offences in alleged Gosikhurd irrigation scam which pertains to irregularities in the tender process of the project, official said.

Around 14 offences have been registered in connection with the scam in Nagpur till date, an official said.

Investigating agency Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) today approached the police and lodged a complaint against officials and contractors, a senior police official said.

Gosikhurd project falls under the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC).

During the open enquiry into the scam, the ACB found major irregularities and lapses in tender process as well as involvement of then engineers, divisional accounts officers of the department, contractors and their partners, he said.

The cost of the tenders was illegally inflated by the government officials to favour specific contractors and their partners, he said.

Officials of the VIDC allowed some contractors to participate in tendering process though they were ineligible, the official said, adding that successful contractors submitted forged experience certificates to obtain the work order for the project.

The contractors, who participated in the tender process with a joint venture firm, got payment in personal accounts, he said.

During investigation it came to light that the government officials concerned and contractors were part of a criminal conspiracy which resulted into the scam, he said.

Earlier eight offences were registered in connection with the Gosikhurd irrigation project. In two cases, chargesheets were filed in a special court of ACB in Nagpur, he added.

GosiKhurd Irrigation Project is one of the major irrigation projects in Godavari basin in Maharashtra's Bhandara district on the river Wainganga.

The irrigation project was approved in March 1983 at an estimated cost of Rs 372.22 crore and was expected to be completed by March 1990. However, it remains incomplete even after 33 years after the approvals were granted. It is alleged that the project costs have escalated manifold over a period of time.

A report of the Public Accounts Committee had noted that even after 33 long years (post approval) and spending thousands of crores, the purpose of commissioning the project was not realised.

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The Telangana government today signed an agreement with Nasscom to establish a for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence here.

According to state IT minister KT Rama Rao, with an initial joint investment of Rs 400 billion, the CoE will catalyse the growth of the deep tech ecosystem in Telangana, by providing the stimulus for innovation and in-depth research in the areas of data science and artificial intelligence.

"To be established on a public-private partnership model, the CoE is the most recent addition to Nasscom's 'hub-and-spoke' network of CoEs across major locations in the country, aimed at evangelising new and emerging technologies," said Nasscom president R Chandrashekhar.

The CoE will serve as a platform for intelligence-sharing and technology collaboration between stakeholders, to build collective capabilities for the industry and country in the cutting-edge areas of data science and artificial intelligence, he added.

"This CoE, in partnership with Nasscom and the industry, is in the direction for developing Telangana and India as global hub for DS & AI in the coming years," Rama Rao said.

It is expected that the data science and artificial intelligence industry in India (IT and non-IT industries) will be worth $16 billion by 2025, and is likely to spur an additional employment of 150,000 professionals in the country, a Nasscom media release said.
The lawyer of Nirav Modi, who is at the centre of controversy over the Rs 11,500 crore banking fraud, today questioned reports that his client has fled the country asking why would anyone run away leaving behind assets worth over Rs 5,000 crore.

Everybody is saying that Nirav Modi has run away. Why would anyone flee, leaving assets worth Rs 5000 to 6000 crore for the Enforcement Directorate to recover," advocate Vijay Aggarwal, who represents Modi, told PTI on phone.

However, he did not reply to questions about his client's whereabouts or whether or when he would return to India.

"I have studied the case file and this case will have a similar fate like that of the 2G and Bofors. Agencies are making all the noises in the media. They will not be able to prove these charges in the court. Nirav will not be found guilty, Im certain, the lawyer said.

Aggarwal said if anyone is worried about the recovery of the bank money, first the ED should deposit the money seized by it in the bank.

Now since ED has come into the picture, the bank will not get the money, he alleged.

The lawyer also claimed "there is no evidence to prove any of the charges levelled against my client."



Billionaire Modi, his uncle Mehul Choksi and others are being investigated by multiple probe agencies after it recently came to light, following a complaint by the PNB, that they had allegedly cheated the nationalised bank to the tune of Rs 11,400 crore, with the purported involvement of a few employees of the bank.

Over Rs 11,384 crore worth of Letters of Understanding and Letters of Credit were issued by the bank in favour of billionaire jewellers Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi through SWIFT messages with only limited number worth smaller sums being entered in the core banking solutions system.

The CBI and the ED have registered FIRs to probe the case and intensified the crackdown on Modi and Choksi with the ED seizing jewellery and assets worth thousands of crores of rupees, the I-T department attaching various properties, and the CBI grilling several senior executives of his company.

Six persons -- four PNB officials, a retired employee of the bank, and an authorised signatory of Nirav Modi's company -- have been arrested so far by the CBI.

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No Chinese warship has been deployed close to the waters of the Maldives since political turmoil broke out in the island-nation, and India continues to have a significant presence in critical sea lanes in the Indian Ocean region, government sources today said.

They, however, said a Chinese destroyer and a frigate had crossed into the Eastern Indian Ocean through the Sunda Strait and exited the Indian Ocean through the Lombok Strait while heading towards the South China Sea a few days ago.

The sources also rejected media reports quoting Chinese website sina.com.cn that 11 Chinese warships had entered the East Indian Ocean amid a constitutional crisis in the Maldives.

The sources said India currently has a significant naval presence in the Indian Ocean region, adding Indian Navy has deployed one warship each in East of Indonesia, Malacca Strait, Gulf of Oman and Gulf of Aden.

India has also deployed a warship next to the waters of Sri Lanka, another one between Bangladesh and Myanmar and one between the Seychelles and Mauritius.

Currently India has two Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) in the Maldives and around 40 personnel from the Indian armed forces are stationed at the island nation as part of defence cooperation between the two countries.

"We have a very robust surveillance mechanism at the Indian Ocean Region based on deployment since July 2017. No movement of Chinese warship has been detected near the waters of Maldives," said a source in the Indian Navy.

It said currently, the closest distance between a Chinese warship and Maldivian waters would be around 2,500 nautical miles.

Last year, the Navy had introduced a new plan for deployment of warships in the Indian Ocean region to effectively counter China's growing presence in the strategically key waters.

A state of emergency was declared in the Maldives earlier this month, deepening an ongoing political crisis there.

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Senior Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil today said the state has turned into "frustrated Maharashtra" as no section of the society is happy with performance of the Devendra Fadnavis government.

"Congress will take an aggressive stand against the government for its alleged failures on all fronts," Vikhe Patil, the Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, told reporters here.

He was speaking after the co-ordination committee meeting of the Congress Legislature Party.

"Investments are on the down-slide, unemployment is on the rise and the sloppy implementation of the farm loan waiver have frustrated people about the present regime," he charged.

He also said group leaders of all opposition parties from both houses of the Maharashtra Legislature will meet on February 25 to chalk out their floor strategy during the Budget session which commences from February 26.

"The state has turned into 'frustrated Maharashtra' as no section of the society is happy with the performance of the Devendra Fadnavis government," Vikhe Patil alleged.

"The party has decided to take up issues of loan waiver, apathy of the government regarding compensation to farmers affected by hailstorm and unseasonal rains, corruption, rising unemployment and problems faced by people in urban areas like Mumbai. Instead of tackling these problems facing the common man, the government is only engaged in conducting events," he alleged.

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, legislators Varsha Gaikwad, Mohammed Arif Naseem Khan, group leader in the Legislative Council Sharad Ranpise among others attended the meeting.

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The office bearers of the JNU Students Union (JNUSU) today told the Delhi High Court the main reason behind the protests in the varsity was not holding of academic council meetings.

The submission was made before Justice V K Rao during hearing of a plea by the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) seeking contempt action against the students for obstructing the administrative block by protesting near it.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain and central government standing counsel Monika Arora, appearing for JNU, said the issue before the court pertained to the mode of protest and not the reasons for it.

The varsity also said that to resolve the issues, it has convened a meeting with JNUSU on February 23 and with the teachers' association the previous day.

It also said that an open house is held every Monday in the campus and the students were free to air their grievances there.

Senior advocate Akhil Sibal, appearing for some of the JNUSU office bearers, said efforts were made in the past to air their grievances, but without success.

He also said that the university should consider having academic council meetings twice a year.

The court observed that the plea before it does not pertain to the academic council and directed the JNUSU office bearers to file their replies to the varsity's petition before the next date of hearing on March 9.

It also said the interim arrangement as ordered on February 16 shall continue till then.

The court on February 16 had directed the JNU students not to obstruct the vice chancellor and other staff from entering the administrative block to carry out their work.

The high court had passed the interim order on JNU's plea which said that the protest near the administrative block was hampering its day-to-day functioning, including the disbursal salaries in connection with the Seventh Pay Commission.

The students had on February 15 blockaded the administration block demanding a meeting with the vice chancellor on the issue of compulsory attendance and stopped the two rectors from leaving the building.

The court had also said that the university was at liberty to request police assistance to maintain law and order in the campus.

It had, however, made it clear that the order "should not preclude" the students from peacefully protesting at the Sabarmati lawn in the campus away from the administrative block.

The university in its plea has claimed that the high court's order asking the students not to protest within 100 metres of the administrative block was being violated.

JNU has claimed that the protests in the university campus were in violation of the high court's August 9, 2017 direction to the students not to stage any agitation within 100 metres of the administrative block, which houses several offices including that of the vice chancellor.

The August 2017 order had come during the hearing of the JNU administration's petition against the blocking of its administrative block by agitating students.

The varsity had moved the high court when the students were protesting against the JNU's admission policy based on a University Grants Commission notification slashing the seats for MPhil and PhD courses.

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The police today said it raided the residence of Odisha Labour Minister Susant Singh suspecting hoarding of cash for the Bijepur by-election, but did not find any.

Singh's house is located at Bausenmura village under the Sohela police station in Bargarh district.

The bypoll is set for February 24.

The minister, who represents Bijepurs neighboring constituency -- Bhatli -- has been managing the election affair of the ruling BJD for the by-election.

Bargarh Superintendent of Police J N Pankaj confirmed the search on the minister's house.

Bargarh DSP, N P Nayak said, "A raid was conducted after it was alleged that cash had been kept in the house of Singh for by-election. However, the police did not get anything from his house."



The BJP, however, said the action of police as an attempt to fool the people.

The police conducted the raid on the house of Singh after informing him. They conducted the raid when the meeting of chief minister was on at Bijepur, just to send out a message that they dont even spare the minister," said BJP state vice president Aswini Sarangi.

Yesterday, a special squad had searched the house of BJP Yuva Morcha president, Pritesh Bohidar suspecting that he has kept cash in his house but did not find anything.

The police action drew sharp criticism from the BJP.

The BJP leaders had also staged dharna at the Padampur police station opposing the search on the house of the party's youth leader on Monday night.

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Mining mogul Anil Agarwal today welcomed the Centre's decision to open up coal mining to the private sector for commercial use and said the move will usher in much needed competition and increase domestic and foreign direct investment in the sector.

This is a path breaking and bold reform by the government. Opening the coal sector for private players will usher in much needed competition, increase domestic and FDI investment in the sector, drive in efficiencies, as well as help in stabilising the irregularities in coal supplies and linkages," the Vedanta Group chairman said in a statement.

The move will go a long way in making the entire coal sector vibrant and transparent, he said.

"Some of the most evident benefits of this measure would be enhanced energy sufficiency for India and availability of power at lower costs for the end consumer; also thousands of jobs will be created in the process," he added.

Anjani Agrawal, Partner and National Leader Metals and Mining, EY said that opening the coal sector to commercial mining was a welcome step that would accelerate adoption of technology, productivity and competitiveness into the coal sector.

However, the success, Agrawal said, will depend upon the size of blocks identified, flexibility of sales, distribution and pricing and the consistency of regulations over a long period.

"The coking coal segment should receive some urgent attention to reduce import dependency. Hopefully, access to logistics & other infrastructure will be on an even playing field," he added.

In a major reform in the coal sector since its nationalisation in 1973, the government today allowed private companies to mine the fossil fuel for commercial use, ending the monopoly of state-owned Coal India Ltd (CIL).

The opening up of commercial coal mining for private sector is the most ambitious coal sector reform since the nationalisation of this sector, Coal and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said while briefing the media on the decision taken in the Cabinet meeting.

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Pakistan government has refused to provide details of its decision to send over 1,000 soldiers to its close-ally Saudi Arabia for deployment, prompting Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani to threaten Defence Minister Khurram Dastagir with "contempt of parliament proceedings".

Pakistan Army announced on February 15 the decision to send troops to Saudi Arabia on a training and advise mission.

Making a policy statement in the Senate, the upper house, Defence Minister Dastagir said that "Pakistani troops are being dispatched to Saudi Arabia and they are only meant for imparting training to Saudi security personnel instead of entangling themselves in Yemen war".

He told lawmakers that over 1,000 contingent will be dispatched shortly as part of the decision.

Currently, around 1,600 Pakistani troops are on deputation in Saudi Arabia under a bilateral agreement.

The minister said Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has approved deputing additional Pakistani troops to Saudi Arabia for training and advisory purposes, which is a continuation of an existing bilateral agreement.

He rejected the impression that by sending troops the government had violated April 2015 resolution by parliament which had asked the government to stay away from the Yemen war.

However, the Senate Chairman rejected Dastagir's briefing to the upper house after the minister said he could not divulge "operational details" of the deployment.

"Why don't we proceed against you and the prime minister over 'contempt of parliament'?" Rabbani asked.

He asked why the parliament was not informed by the minister and the prime minister since they knew about the decision to deploy the troops.

"The parliament found out (about the deployment) through a press release," Rabbani said, adding that the executive has itself "rubbed parliament's nose in the dirt".

Rabbani asked the minister to provide all details about the deployment and offered in-camera session for the purpose and urged him "not to give us a lollipop" as "we are not children."



The minister refused to accept the offer and even refused to share the location where the troops will be deployed in Saudi Arabia.

He told the Senate that the troops will not be deployed outside the Saudi Arabia's territory, but Rabbani expressed a lack of confidence in his words, saying this information was already known.

Saudi Arabia has been pushing fellow Sunni-majority Pakistan to provide troops since 2015 when it joined Yemens civil war but Pakistan steadily refused, saying it would not become party to any regional conflict.

The civil war in Yemen stalemated and the situation has aggravated with the rebels firing missiles at regular intervals towards the oil-rich 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.

Army Chief General Qamar Javed 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 Pakistans decision to deploy troops.

Pakistan is treading a fine line in maintaining relations with Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, Qatar and other regional players and the decision of deploying troops may annoy Saudi Arabias rivals like Iran and Qatar.

The decision may also create tension in Pakistans internal as parliament had passed a resolution at the start of the Yemen crisis that said Pakistan would stay neutral in the conflict.

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A serial killer in Pakistan, who was sentenced to death for the brutal rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl, today challenged his conviction in the Lahore High Court alleging that his trial was conducted in "haste" without fulfilling legal requirements.

In the first ever trial in the country's history that concluded in shortest period of four days, an anti-terrorism court on Saturday sentenced to death 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.

In his appeal, he declared that he is "not guilty".

He said the trial was conducted in "haste and legal requirements were not fulfilled" during the trial. He appealed to the high court to overturn the ATC's verdict.

Besides death penalty, Imran was also 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 seven more such crimes and many Pakistanis have demanded he be publicly executed.

He is facing further charges in the cases of seven other children he attacked five of whom were murdered.

The prosecution lawyer had earlier claimed that Imran had been given ample chance to defend himself, but he chose to confess his crimes.

A total 56 witnesses were presented against him in addition to forensic evidence, DNA and polygraph tests.

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."



Some lawyers and activists had shown concerns about the fairness of the trial inside jail. Advocate 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 accused.

He said the prosecution could not propose or nominate a lawyer to defend Imran because there had always been a clear conflict of interest.

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Pakistan today summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner J P Singh here to condemn the "unprovoked firing" by Indian troops across the Line of Control which killed an 8-year-old boy.

Pakistan's foreign ministry claimed that the boy, Ayan Zahid, was killed after Indian troops opened fire yesterday in Khuiratta Sector in the PoK.

Pakistan Army yesterday claimed that at least two Indian soldiers were killed when it destroyed an army post that was used to kill the minor across the Line of Control, a claim rejected by the Indian Army as "baseless".

Director General (South Asia and SAARC) Mohammad Faisal summoned Singh and "condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations" by Indian forces, the Foreign Office said in a statement.

The deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas especially children is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity, international human rights and humanitarian laws, Faisal said.

He alleged that India committed more than 335 ceasefire violations along the LoC and the Working Boundary in 2018, resulting in the deaths of 15 civilians and injuries to 65 others.

This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India is continuing from the year 2017 when the Indian forces committed more than 1970 ceasefire violations, he said.

Faisal said the ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation.

Faisal urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement and investigate the repeated incidents of ceasefire violations, the statement said.

He also urged the Indian side to allow the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions.

India maintains that UNMOGIP has outlived its utility and is irrelevant after the Simla Agreement and the consequent establishment of the Line of Control.

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Women MPs, officials and other staff working at Parliament have a reason to rejoice as they will soon have access to a creche facility.

The move follows a letter from Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan last year, pressing her for a creche on the Parliament premises.

The creche will be built over an area of 1,500 square feet and have a separate feeding room for mothers.

"Under the direct supervision of Hon'ble Speaker, creche development work is in progress and a senior official has also been deputed to oversee the work," the Ministry of Women and Child Development said in a statement.

It said the move will set an example of inclusive and supportive work environment for the women employees of Parliament.

The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 has made it mandatory to have creche facilities at establishments with 50 or more employees.

Gandhi's letter to Mahajan last year had highlighted that it was crucial to have a creche at Parliament as one-third of the officials working there were women.

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At a time when political parties in Nagaland are promising religious grants to woo voters in the Christian-majority state, the community representatives have claimed people here are largely "unfazed" by such campaigns.

Nagaland is set to go to polls on Fenruary 27 and the results will be announced on March 3.

In its manifesto, the BJP, an emerging entity in the state, has promised to arrange for an annual trip to Jerusalem.

"Set up senior citizen board that will annually select around 50 members through lucky draw for a free trip to Holy Land of Jerusalem," it stated.

The Congress, too, has made similar promises in its manifesto.

"By an act of the state government, a Board will be established to facilitate minorities (Christians) to visit the Holy Land (Jerusalem) at a subsidised cost," it said.

The saffron party, which has entered into a pre-poll alliance with newly floated Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), is fielding candidates from 20 seats.

The Congress, on the other hand, is contesting 18 seats in 60-member assembly.

The general secretary of Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC), Rev Z Keyho, said the offer is "political in nature" and people here are "unfazed" by it.

"Tourism activity is personal, but pilgrimage is spiritual and enlightening and therefore it will be better if the government and political parties does not indulge in such matters," Keyho, who is also the president of Nagaland Joint Christian Forum (NJCF), told PTI today.

People are disappointed to see political parties making religious offer, he added.

The president of Nagaland Christian Revival Church, Rev N Paphino, shared similar views.

"It is good that the political parties are making such offers but it won't make any difference to the Christian voters."



Moba Konyak, the pastor of Konyak Baptist Church in Kohima, said the political parties are spoiling their image by trying to "lure the Christian voters" with such offers.

"Such offers will not be acceptable as the Church is not run by the government," he said.

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The Election Commission of India (ECI) today told the Delhi High Court that the pleas of 20 AAP MLAs against their disqualification in an office-of-profit case is liable to be dismissed as they have challenged the ECI's opinion which has become non-existent after the President's decision.

A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Chander Shekhar was told by the poll panel's counsel Amit Sharma that the disqualified Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs have not challenged the January 20 Presidential Order by which the ECIs recommendation were accepted.

The ECI was replying to the arguments made by the disqualified MLAs, found guilty of holding office of profit as parliamentary secretaries to ministers in the AAP government after it came to power in 2015.

The MLAs had approached the high court challenging their disqualification after President Ram Nath Kovind gave his approval to the ECIs recommendation.

Referring to the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991, the ECI's counsel contended that "Section 15 envisages that the opinion of the ECI would culminate into an order/decision of the President of India.

"It would then be followed by a necessary notification in the Official Gazette. The petitioners (20 AAP MLAs) have not chosen to assail January 20, 2018 order passed by the President on the opinion of the ECI".

He submitted "the opinion of ECI does not survive as on date and can therefore not be subject to challenge by way of a writ petition".

The arguments on behalf of the ECI, which remained inconclusive, will resume tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the 20 legislators have concluded their submission, seeking setting aside of the ECI opinion and the Centre's notification disqualifying them as a Delhi Legislative assembly legislators.

During their submissions earlier, the MLAs had claimed that they were held guilty of holding office of profit by the Election Commission without giving them an opportunity to explain their stand. They had also contended that the poll panel had sent its opinion to President by "flouting the principles of natural justice".

The high court had on January 24 refused to stay the Centre's notification disqualifying them, but restrained the EC from taking any "precipitate measures" such as announcing dates for by polls to fill the vacancies.

The EC had recommended the disqualification of 20 AAP MLAs on January 19. The President had accepted the EC's opinion the very next day.

The 20 disqualified MLAs include Adarsh Shastri (Dwarka), Alka Lamba (Chandni Chowk), Anil Bajpai (Gandhi Nagar), Avtar Singh (Kalkaji), Kailash Gahlot (Najafgarh) -- who is also a minister, Madan Lal (Kasturba Nagar), Manoj Kumar (Kondli), Naresh Yadav (Mehrauli), Nitin Tyagi (Laxmi Nagar), Praveen Kumar (Jangpura).

The others are Rajesh Gupta (Wazirpur), Rajesh Rishi (Janakpuri), Sanjeev Jha (Burari), Sarita Singh (Rohtas Nagar), Som Dutt (Sadar Bazar), Sharad Kumar (Narela), Shiv Charan Goel (Moti Nagar), Sukhbir Singh (Mundka), Vijendar Garg (Rajinder Nagar) and Jarnail Singh (Tilak Nagar).

The Delhi High Court had on September 8, 2016, set aside their appointment as parliamentary secretaries on the grounds that they were appointed without the concurrence of the Lieutenant Governor.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate tomorrow the two-day 'UP Investors Summit' -- the first such event by the Yogi Adityanath government.

President Ram Nath Kovind will attend the valedictory function on the second day.

The summit is aimed at showcasing investment opportunities and potential across various sectors in Uttar Pradesh.

The mega event is being organised to bring together heads of states and governments, ministers, leaders from the corporate world, senior policy makers, heads of international institutions and academicians from around the world to further the cause of economic development in the state and promote cooperation to pave way for better investments, according to an official statement.

More than 5,000 delegates are scheduled to attend the two-day summit and over 100 speakers will be addressing gatherings.

Speaking to reporters here, state industries minister Satish Mahana had yesterday said, "PM Modi and CM Yogi want to make UP a dream destination for investors, who are very excited to attend the summit. We want to make it a history. We have already signed 900 MoUs."



Refusing to elaborate on the amount of investment, the minister said the event will provide an opportunity to showcase the potential and promise that the state holds for industrial development.

There are a total 30 sessions scheduled to be held in two days, during which representatives from Mauritius, Japan, the Netherlands, Finland, Czech Republic, Thailand and Slovakia will also be participating, Industrial and Investment Development Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey said.

Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitaraman, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Smriti Irani, Piyush Goyal and Dharmendra Pradhan, along with others, will be present during the sessions, he said.

On investment summits organised by the previous Akhilesh Yadav government in Agra and Mumbai, Mahana said the present regime has hold mega road shows in six cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Hyderabad) before organising the summit in Lucknow to create a good and conducive atmosphere and apprise people about the opportunities here.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath personally reviewed all the preparations on February 18 and issued directives to present him reports of all the sessions.

"The government is organising this for the betterment of the public. Through this event, UP will get an opportunity to change its image. Hence, it is the responsibility of every department that it should strive for its success," Adityanath, who reviewed the preparations at Indira Gandhi Pratisthaan here, said.

"The state government has implemented policies for various sectors. The respective ministers, principal secretaries and their subordinate staff must go through the policies, so that the investors can be given correct information about the policies," he said.

Adityanath instructed Uttar Pradesh DGP to ensure that traffic arrangements were proper. Instructions were also issued to ensure proper security arrangements for the event, which would be attended by the president, prime minister, Union ministers, public representatives, investors, CEOs of various companies and senior officials.

A major part of the state capital, specially in the localities around the main venue, has been spruced up with wall paintings and lightings to welcome the delegates from all over the world.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry today expressed concern over what it termed as the "crisis" triggered in the banking industry following the fraud detected in state-run Punjab National Bank.

The USD 1.77 billion (about Rs 11,400 crore) scam in PNB involves billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi allegedly acquiring fraudulent letters of undertaking (LoUs) from a branch in Mumbai to secure overseas credit from other Indian lenders.

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.

Blaming the systematic failure of the internal audit system, President, PHD Chamber, Anil Khaitan said the current situation is worrying for Indian industry since it may lead to unnecessary tightening of norms and procedures in raising capital from banks. This will in turn hurt the positive sentiment generated in ease of doing business.

The chamber also appealed to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the banking industry to ensure that genuine borrowers are not adversely impacted by this move.

What seems like a failure of a bank's internal audit system and an isolated fraud as alleged should not be used to penalize genuine borrowers and their capital needs. The industry is on the threshold of a growth trajectory and any change in banking processes can have an adverse impact, said Khaitan.

The PHD Chamber feels that instead of making changes in the loan seeking mechanism, stringent steps should be taken by the RBI to strengthen the banks internal audit procedures. It also appeals to the central bank to put in place technology driven norms and processes to ensure incidents like this one are not repeated and any loopholes in the system are plugged.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An Executive Director and nine other senior officials of PNB were grilled by the CBI today in connection with the Rs 11,400 crore fraudulent guarantees issued by the in favour of nephew-uncle jeweller duo Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, officials said.

The Income Tax authorities also raided 20 premises linked to Choksi.

The searches by the Enforcement Directorate continued for the sixth day today, with its chief Karnal Singh even cancelling his scheduled visit to France to attend a meeting of global anti-money laundering agencies so he could personally monitor the probe.

"Assets worth Rs 10 crore were seized during searches at 13 premises linked to Modi and Choksi," an ED official said.

The CBI, on the other hand, questioned eight senior executives of Modi's firms and 10 of the Gitanjali group, an official said.

The CBI probe is led by a Joint Director level officer who is considered an ace investigator of financial crimes, and has handled mammoth financial frauds whose tentacles spread across multiple states.

During the questioning of three PNB officials --Bechhu Tiwari, Yashwant Joshi and Praful Sawant--arrested yesterday, it emerged that they were trying to shift the blame for the fraud on their colleagues--Gokuldas Shetty (retired official) and Manoj Kharat--arrested earlier, officials said.

As part of the multi-agency probe, the I-T department today raided 20 premises linked to Gitanjali Gems promoter Choksi and associated firms in connection with a tax evasion case, official sources said.

They said the searches were conducted in Mumbai, Pune, Surat, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and few other cities against 13 companies linked to Choksi.

A total of 20 premises were raided by a team of over 110 I-T sleuths, the sources said.

The department had recently attached bank accounts and other assets of Choksi and the Gitanjali group.

Choksi, his nephew Modi and others, are being investigated by multiple probe agencies after the fraud came to light following a complaint by the Punjab National Bank. The PNB claimed they cheated the state-run bank of Rs 11,400 crore with the involvement of a few employees of the bank.

The CBI has registered two cases involving Modi and Choksi. These relate to fraudulent issuance of 150 Letters of Undertaking (LoU) (a kind of bank guarantee) worth Rs 6,498 crore and 143 LoUs worth Rs 4,886 crore.

The ED has also registered two separate cases to probe money laundering allegations against Choksi and Modi.

An LoU is a guarantee which is given by the issuing bank to Indian banks having branches abroad to grant short-term credit to the applicant. In case of default, the bank issuing the LoU has to pay the liability to credit giving bank along with accruing interest.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The CBI made its first high-profile arrest in the Rs 11,400 crore alleged PNB scam today, taking into custody Vipul Ambani, President (Finance) of Nirav Modi's Firestar Diamond, officials said.

Vipul Ambani is a relative of the Ambani brothers Mukesh and Anil Ambani. The two brothers promote different companies that carry the Reliance name of the company founded by their father Dhirubhai.

The central government agencies probing the fraud have, however, not said the companies run by the two Ambani brothers, or they themselves, were linked to the alleged fraud.

As part of the multi-agency probe, an Executive Director and nine other senior officials of the Punjab National Bank (PNB) were today grilled by the CBI in connection with the "fraudulent" guarantees issued by the bank in favour of nephew-uncle jeweller duo Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi.

Vipul Ambani, who was being questioned since Sunday, was arrested after the agency found him "non-cooperative" in taking forward the investigation, officials said.

Ambani was arrested with four other senior executives of Modi's and his uncle Mehul Choksi's companies in connection with the two FIRs registered by the CBI.

Ambani was arrested along with Kavita Mankikar, Executive Assistant and Arjun Patil, Senior Executive, Kapil Khandelwal, CFO, Nakshatra group and Gitanjali group and Niten Shahi, Manager, Gitanjali group.

Mankikar, an authorised signatory of three companies--Diamond R US, Stellar Diamond, Solar Exports--was listed as an accused in the first FIR registered by the CBI on January 31 in which Modi, his wife Ami, brother Nishal and uncle Choksi also figured as accused.

Ambani, Mankikar and Patil were arrested in connection with the first FIR,while Khandelwal and Shahi were taken into custody in the second that was registered against Choksi and his group companies.

The searches by the Enforcement Directorate continued for the sixth day today, with the agency chief Karnal Singh cancelling his scheduled visit to France to attend a meeting of global anti-money laundering agencies to personally monitor the probe.

"Assets worth Rs 10 crore were seized during searches at 13 premises linked to Modi and Choksi," an ED official said.

The CBI, meanwhile, produced three three PNB officials --Bechhu Tiwari, Yashwant Joshi and Praful Sawant--arrested yesterday before a special court which sent them to agency's custody till March 3.

It has emerged during their questioning so far that they were trying to shift the blame for the scam on their colleagues--Gokulnath Shetty (a retired official) and Manoj Kharat-- taken into custody earlier.

As part of the multi-agency probe, the team of over 110 officials from I-T department raided 20 premises linked to Gitanjali Gems promoter Choksi and firms associated with him in connection with a tax evasion case, official sources said.

They said the searches were conducted in Mumbai, Pune, Surat, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and few other cities against 13 companies linked to Choksi and the Gitanjali Gems.

A total of 20 premises were raided by a team of over 110 I-T sleuths, the sources said.

The department had recently attached bank accounts and other assets of Choksi and the Gitanjali group.

Choksi, his nephew Modi and others, are being investigated by multiple probe agencies after the fraud came to light following a complaint by the Punjab National Bank. The PNB claimed they cheated the state-run bank of Rs 11,400 crore with the involvement of a few employees of the bank.

The CBI has registered two cases involving Modi and Choksi. These relate to fraudulent issuance of 150 Letters of Undertaking (LoU) (a kind of bank guarantee) worth Rs 6,498 crore and 143 LoUs worth Rs 4,886 crore.

The ED has also registered two separate cases to probe money laundering allegations against Choksi and Modi.

An LoU is a guarantee which is given by the issuing bank to Indian banks having branches abroad to grant short-term credit to the applicant. In case of default, the bank issuing the LoU has to pay the liability to credit giving bank along with accruing interest.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Congress members today staged a protest over the PNB scam and burnt the effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The district unit of the Congress led by their president Gaurav Chaudhary took out a march from the UPCC office to the state Assembly.

However, they were stopped by police personnel deployed there, party spokesman Dipendra Misra said.

Party workers, who raised slogans against the central government over the scam, later burnt the effigy of the prime minister to mark their protest, he said.

"Scams are taking place and scamsters are easily fleeing the country under a prime minister who calls himself the 'chowkidar' of the people... This is the biggest failure of the government," Chaudhary said.

This government is neck deep in corruption, he alleged.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Delhi Police has registered an FIR on a complaint by Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash who alleged that he was assaulted by a few AAP MLAs during a meeting at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence.

The case was registered today under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) pertaining to wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation, causing hurt and obstructing a public servant from performing his duty, a senior police officer said.

Prakash was allegedly manhandled by a few AAP legislators at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence last night.

The chief minister's office dismissed the accusation as "bizarre and baseless".

Prakash was called by Kejriwal regarding an issue related to advertisements, which were not being released, the official said.

However, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) claimed that he was called for a discussion on rations.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Delhi High Court today issued bailable warrants against two students of the Delhi University for their failure to appear before it in a matter relating to defacement of public property during the 2017 students' union polls.

The court noted that show cause notices were earlier issued to 22 students to explain why punitive actions should not be taken against them for failing to participate in the cleanliness drive. Only two of them, who were served notice, appeared today.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar noted that two other students did not appear in the court despite serving of notice and issued bailable warrants to the sum of Rs 5,000 each against them. The remaining students could not be traced, the bench was told.

The two students Minakshi Meena and Avinash Yadav, who were present, assured the court that they would assist DUSU President Rocky Tuseed in cleaning and removing all objectionable material on public property and make attempts to beautify them.

The court also issues fresh show cause notices to the other students through the university.

The court was hearing a plea by advocate Prashant Manchanda, seeking a complete ban on defacement of public properties allegedly by the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) poll candidates.

Meanwhile, the parties submitted draft guidelines with a view to prevent future defacement of public properties in DUSU elections. The court sent it to joint registrar Reetesh Singh for his report and recommendations on it.

The court observed that some of the properties have been permanently damaged by spray paints.

The bench had earlier observed that defacement of properties can only be stopped if people were made aware of the penal provisions of such acts. The bench listed the matter for further hearing on March 20.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Government's premium on insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh for every eligible household under the new National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) would be around Rs 900-1000 per family annually, lower than the earlier estimate of Rs 1000-1,200, a senior NITI Aayog official said today.

The official further said that representatives of all states with the exception of Tripura, where the assembly elections are on, participated in a meeting on NHPS, organised by the government think tank and the ministry of health and family welfare.

"Premium for availing health insurance cover of up to Rs 5 lakh under NHPS is expected to be around Rs 900-1000 annually for every household, which will be borne by the Centre and states," the official told PTI.

On whether West Bengal participated in the deliberations, he said, "Officials from the state's health department attended NHPS workshop for states on February 15-16.

"They also gave presentations. Out of 30 states, the only state that did not participate in the deliberations was Tripura, which was in poll mode."



Earlier, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee had reportedly expressed apprehensions about joining the NHPS.

About 1 crore people in West Bengal would be eligible to join the scheme, the official said, adding if the state opt out, it would lose Rs 600 crore of Centre's share.

Under the funding arrangement, the Centre will provide 60 per cent fund, while the remaining money would have to come from concerned states.

In case of special category states, the Centre will provide 90 per cent of fund.

Earlier, it was estimated that the premium for providing healthcare to an eligible family would be around Rs 1000-1200.

In his Budget for 2018-19, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had provided an initial corpus of Rs 2,000 crore for NHPC which aims to provide medical cover of up to Rs 5 lakh to over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families, constituting 40 per cent of India's total population.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
British actor Naomi Watts, who played Princess Diana in a 2013 biographical drama, finds Prince Harry's romance with Meghan Markle "lovely".

The 49-year-old star says she is looking forward to seeing the 33-year-old Royal tie the knot with the "Suits" star at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19.

"I think it's lovely. It's the union of two people, making a promise, there's nothing better than that, it's so romantic," Watts told People magazine.

"Diana" focused on the last two years of the Princess' life, when she was rumoured to have been in a relationship with cardiologist Hasnat Khan and later, Dodi Fayed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a relief to commuters across the state, private bus operators today called off their indefinite strike demanding further increase in fares, following an appeal made by the Kerala government.

The private bus operators had gone on strike from February 16 demanding a further increase in bus fares and students concession, saying the recent hike announced by the state government was "insufficient."



The operators ended the strike considering an appeal made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at a meeting held with representatives of bus operators association here.

State Transport minister A K Saseendran was also present at the meeting, a release from the chief minister's office said.

After the meeting, Bus Owners Association leader T Gopinath said the government has assured to look into their demands.

The chief minister asked us to call off the strike considering the difficulties faced by the public, he said.

The Kerala government had on February 14 announced the hike in fares of government and private buses that will come into effect from March 1.

The minimum fare for an ordinary bus service was fixed at Rs 8, up from Rs 7, and for fast passenger services, the fare was revised to Rs 11 instead of Rs 10.

However, disappointed with the announcement, the perpetrators launched the stir demanding a minimum fare of Rs 10 and a 50 per cent hike in the students concession.

Nearly 14,500 private buses that come under 12 different organisations took part in the strike.

The stir had caused hardship to public, especially in certain parts of the state which largely depend on private buses.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today said the proportion of women in the Indian workforce is "very low" at 26-27 per cent and exhorted companies to "pledge" for increasing their numbers.

"In India, about 26 to 27 per cent participation in the workplace is women, which is very low. It is something which requires a lot of work," Trudeau said during an interaction with ICICI Bank managing director and chief executive Chanda Kochhar at the Canada-India Business Forum here.

He underlined that increasing the number of women is "not only a nice thing, but a smart thing" to do as their economic success leads to better impact on the broader society.

He asked business leaders to listen to successful women leaders in order to understand the challenges that they face in their career and how they have overcome it, which can be replicated in their respective organisations.

Trudeau held a roundtable meet with women business leaders, including Kochhar, Ipsita Dasgupta of Star India, fashion designer Anita Dongre, Accenture's Rekha Menon, lawyer Zia Mody and i-banker-turned-entrepreneur Falguni Nayar, among others.

He said the meeting was so insightful that it went on for 90 minutes rather than the scheduled 60 minutes.

Kochhar said the women leaders at the meeting decided to come out with a pledge for companies, where they will commit for increasing the particpation of women in every economic activity.

"It is not about nice to have women. It is an economic imperative...We want a pledge to say that we would encourage more and more women participation in every field of activity," she said.

Trudeau asked all the corporates present and other business leaders to adopt the same pledge in order to create a more diversified workplaces.

He said China has worked a lot on this front, but conceded that there is a greater amount of work to be done on the gender income disparity in his country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hundreds of activists of religious parties surrounded a Christian colony in Lahore, demanding arrest of a Christian man who allegedly posted blasphemous content on the social media, police said today.

The Christian youth was accused of allegedly posting blasphemous content about Muslim holy places.

The activists of Tehreek-e-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYRA) and other religious parties gathered in Shahdara area in Lahore and surrounded the Christian families living there, demanding them to hand over the man to them.

They said they would not leave the place till the youth hiding there was handed over to them.

The activists of Tehreek-e-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYRA) and other religious parties gathered in Shahdara area in Lahore and surrounded the Christian families living there, demanding them to hand over the man to them.

They said they would not leave the place till the youth hiding there was not handed over to them.

After over 12-hour standoff we managed to persuade the protesters to disperse as the suspect had been arrested and duly booked under relevant sections of the Pakistan Penal Code for committing blasphemy, police senior officer Ali Raza said.

An FIR has been registered against the Christian youth.

"We negotiated with the leaders of the religious parties and told them that the suspect would get exemplary punishment," Raza said, adding that police are still present in Shahdara to avoid any untoward incident.

Police stopped them from entering the Christian colony. Around 400 Christian families are living there.

A source said the police shifted all Christian families to a "safe place".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Following are the top at 1700 hours:



STORIES IN THE PIPELINE:



-Amit Shah's rally in Bantwal, Karnataka. -Congress briefing in New Delhi.

STORIES ON THE WIRE:



NATION:



DEL8



ROTOMAC-ITX-ATTACH



Rotomac bank fraud: I-T dept attaches 11 bank accounts



New Delhi: After the CBI and the ED, the Income Tax Department steps up action against the Rotomac group and its promoters. attaching 11 bank accounts in connection with an alleged tax evasion probe against them, officials say.

DEL11



BIZ-TRUMP JR-INDIA



India substantially above board than China, says Trump Jr



New Delhi: Donald Trump Junior, the eldest son of US President Donald Trump, says India is "substantially above board" for business compared to China, and reforms underway will help attract investments to Asia's third largest economy from countries like the US.

DEL



CAB-MAHANADI-LD TRIBUNAL



Mahanadi row: Cabinet nod to set up tribunal to resolve water dispute



New Delhi: The Union Cabinet approves the setting up of a tribunal to resolve the dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh over the sharing of Mahanadi river water, official sources say.

DEL9



JK-CENTRALJAIL-MILITANCY



Srinagar Central Jail hub of militant recruitment: JK CID report



Srinagar: The Srinagar Central Jail is a hub for recruiting militants with inmates establishing a "parallel administrative" set-up, ignored by local police despite warnings by prison authorities, says a report by the Jammu and Kashmir CID. By Sumir Kaul



DEL16



CVC-BANKS-CORRUPT-OFFICERS



Banks sit over CVC's request to prosecute corrupt officers



New Delhi: The Punjab National Bank and two other banks are sitting over the CVC's multiple requests seeking sanction to prosecute nine of their senior officers allegedly involved in corruption, reveals data from the anti-corruption watchdog. By Ashwini Shrivastava



DEL18



BIZ-CAB-LD COAL



Govt clears opening up of commercial coal mining to pvt firms



New Delhi: In a major reform in the coal sector since its nationalisation in 1973, the government allows private companies to mine the fossil fuel for commercial use, ending the monopoly of the state-owned Coal India Ltd (CIL).

DEL10



DL-CS-LD MLAS



CS allegedly manhandled by AAP MLAs, CM Office and party rubbish claim



New Delhi: Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash allegedly manhandled by a few AAP MLAs at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence, an official says, even as the chief minister's office dismissed the accusation as "bizarre and baseless".

DEL4



BSF-PAK-DRUG SMUGGLER



Pak drug smuggler killed; 10 kg narcotics, arms seized along IB: BSF



Amritsar: A Pakistani drug smuggler was killed and 10 kg of narcotics as well as arms and ammunition seized along the Indo-Pak International Border (IB) in Punjab, the BSF say.

DEL17



CAB-RAIL-NAXAL



Naxal-affected Malkangiri to get 1st railway line by 2022: Goyal



New Delhi: Odisha's Naxal-affected Malkangiri is set to get its first railway line by 2022 with the Union Cabinet giving its nod to the project that is expected to cost over Rs 2,676 crore, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal announces.

CAL2



OD-DEF-MISSILE



India test fires medium range nuclear capable Agni-II missile



Balasore (Odisha): India test-fires its medium range nuclear capable Agni-II missile with a strike range of 2,000 km from Abdul Kalam Island off Odisha coast, Defence sources say.

BOM4



AP-RAPE-ARREST



Sri Lankan among 2 executives held for raping employee in AP



Visakhapatnam: A Sri Lankan national was among two senior executives of a private company arrested for allegedly raping a woman employee of the firm, an official says.

LEGAL:



LGD10



SC-ASSAM-NRC



Assam citizenship: SC refuses to extend deadline to publish final NRC



New Delhi:The Supreme Court refuses to extend the deadline for publication of the final National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam and directed the Centre to complete the work by May 31.

FOREIGN:



FGN10



NEPAL-COMMUNISTS-MERGER



Kathmandu: Nepal's CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Centre merge and form a new powerful bloc after they secure a sweeping majority in the historic federal and provincial polls.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri today condemned the alleged assault on Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash.

The chief secretary was allegedly assaulted by a few AAP legislators at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence during a meeting last night.

The chief minister's office, however, dismissed the accusation as "bizarre and baseless".

"I don't want to get into individual cases. I have been a civil servant for over 40 years and I have never seen such a behaviour (with an IAS officer).

"I am speaking at a personal level... This type of behaviour should be condemned in the strongest terms," the Housing and Urban Affairs minister told reporters.

The central IAS officers' association has termed as "criminal" the alleged assault and demanded immediate arrest of the perpetrators.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Qatar Airways has plans to launch an airline in India with at least 100 planes, the airline's chief executive Akbar Al Baker said today.

Addressing a press meet in Toulouse, France, Baker did not disclose what kind of type aircraft would be deployed once it starts an airline in India.

It was in March 2017 that Baker first mentioned about its plans for a carrier in India.

"I will not tell you what types of aeroplanes we will deploy in India but as you may remember we said that we will launch an airline in India which will have a fleet of at least 100 aircraft," he said.

A video link of the press meet was posted by the airline on its Twitter handle.

A leading Gulf carrier, Qatar Airways has been exploring investment opportunities in India, one of the fastest growing in the world.

Last December, the airline had said it would like to add more flights to India in the future as the country is an economic superpower and an important destination for it.

In March last year, Baker had said Qatar Airways plans to set up an airline in India along with the Gulf nation's sovereign wealth fund.

India has permitted foreign investors, barring foreign airlines, to own up to 100 per cent stake in local carriers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Raymond Group, under JK Investors (Bombay) Ltd, today signed pacts worth Rs 425 crore with the government of Maharashtra.

This would be to set up residential complex, commercial amenities, school project and sport complex in Nandgaon Peth, Amravati, the group said in a statement.

As per the MoU, signed during the Magnetic Maharashtra investors summit, the state government will facilitate JK Investors (Bombay) to obtain necessary permissions, registrations, approvals, clearances, fiscal incentives.

The project would commence in FY 2018-19, it added.

The first MoU is for a proposed investment of Rs 50 crore to set up a School Project and Sport Complex, while the second one is of Rs 375 crore for setting up a residential complex and commercial amenities with 2,000 houses.

The Raymond Group recently inaugurated a new Greenfield Linen manufacturing facility in the newly created Textile Park in Nandgaon Peth, Amravati, under its subsidiary Raymond Luxury Cottons Ltd.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Citing acquittal of one Francis Pereira, the Congress today said the real culprits behind a series of desecration of idols and religious structures in Goa are roaming free by evading arrest.

"Pereira was acquitted in 11 out of the total 19 cases in which he was chargesheeted. What does this indicate? There is someone else behind this entire scene," Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar told the Legislative Assembly during Zero Hour.

The Goa Police had last July arrested Perira (50) in connection with a series of cases of alleged desecration of Christian religious symbols in South Goa district.

He was chargesheeted in 19 cases out of which he was discharged in 11 cases before framing of charges by local court.

Kavlekar demanded that state government investigate these cases properly.

In his reply, Sudin Dhavalikar, who is heading the ruling benches in absence of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, said the accused was discharged for the want of evidence in these cases.

"But at the same time, we have to take note that the cases of desecration of idols stopped since the time he was arrested," the minister said.

He said police have been maintaining strict vigilance around such religious structures to ensure that they are not targetted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
South Asian legislators expressed concern today about the political crisis in the Maldives as President Abdulla Yameen sought to extend a draconian state of emergency in the honeymoon islands.

Parliament is expected to meet today in the turbulent island nation, where Yameen wants to extend by a month sweeping emergency powers that have provoked censure from the international community.

Yameen's office said the extension was warranted "as the threat to national security has not diminished and the constitutional crisis has not been resolved".

It is expected parliament -- which Yameen shuttered in a recent crackdown on opponents -- will rubber stamp the existing state of emergency and renew it further.

Yameen's majority in the 85-member majlis was restored Sunday after the Supreme Court quashed its earlier order for a dozen pro-opposition MPs to be returned to parliament.

But South Asian Speakers and Parliamentarians, a regional grouping of legislators, urged the Maldives speaker to ensure the rule of law.

The "declaration of emergency and arrests and disrespect of the supreme court rulings, undermine the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary", Karu Jayasuriya, the groups chairman and Sri Lanka's speaker, said in a statement.

Yameen refused to abide the Supreme Court when it ordered that the MPs be reinstalled and a number of high-profile political prisoners be released.

Instead, he ordered the arrest of the Chief Justice and another Supreme Court judge in a sweeping crackdown. The remaining three judges later reversed the original orders.

His estranged half-brother, former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, was among those arrested on a charge of bribing Supreme Court justices to topple the government through a constitutional coup.

The UN human rights chief has described the state of emergency as "an all-out assault on democracy".

Yameen has jailed almost all his political opponents since coming to power in late 2013.

The latest unrest has dented the Maldives image as a popular holiday destination. The nations top earner is tourism, with holidaymakers drawn to its pristine islands and crystal-clear blue waters.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Lambasting the Tamil Nadu government for allowing constructions around temples in the state in violation of rules, the Madras High Court today asked officials to 'resign and go' if they are unable to follow them.

"When the officials responsible to implement the rules are unable to do it, let them go. If they are unable to follow the directions let them resign and go," Justice N Kirubakaran observed.

The judge stated this after perusing the report of the court-appointed advocate commissioner in 2013, pertaining to illegal constructions in around the famous Meenakshi temple at Madurai and Sri Ranganatha Swami temple at Srirangam.

Justice Kirubakaran heard the proceedings through video conference by sitting in the division bench with Justice R Tharani at the Madurai Bench.

The matter relates to a PIL in the Madurai bench, seeking a direction to constitute a state-level committee, including archeological department officers, to monitor the security and safety arrangements, renovation and maintenance of Meenakshi temple and other Hindu temples under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department.

Justice Kirubakaran made the observation when the advocate commissioner brought to the notice of the bench that officials concerned had not taken any action on violations despite being informed of it.

The advocate commissioner submitted that the rule states there should not be any construction within nine metres of the compound wall of the temple. However, inspections showed that 546 buildings were built in violation of the rules, he said.

The judge then orally directed that there cannot be any building violating the rule and that the Madurai Corporation Commissioner or any other authority should not give approval in violation of the rule.

He noted that in spite of the violations being brought to the notice of the authorities, they were 'mercilessly' giving approval for high rise buildings.

The judge then directed the Madurai Corporation to find out all those who have violated the rule and file a report within two weeks.

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The Supreme Court will hear tomorrow the plea of actress Priya Prakash Varrier, who recently became an internet sensation for her wink in a Malayam movie song, seeking stay of criminal proceedings against her over the viral video.

The top court agreed to hear the matter tomorrow after the actress' lawyer Haris Beeran sought an urgent hearing of the plea.

The 18-year-old actress had yesterday moved the apex court seeking quashing of an FIR lodged against her in Telangana and also sought the top court's direction to prohibit states from initiating any criminal proceedings against her.

In her plea, Varrier, a student of B.Com from a college in Thrissur district of Kerala, sought protection from an FIR lodged on complaints alleging that the lyrics of the song 'Manikya Malaraya Poovi' from the movie 'Oru Addar Love' was "offensive" or has "violated the religious sentiment of a particular community".

In her plea, she has said that an FIR has been lodged against her on February 14 at Falaknama police station at Hyderabad on a complaint that alleges that the song hurt the religious sentiment of a particular community.

She said that on the same day, a criminal complaint was also filed by the Secretary of Raza Academy, Mumbai, with the Commissioner of Police to take appropriate action against the petitioners, taking down the video and prevent it from being broadcast.

"The present petition has been filed as a result of multiple criminal proceedings which have been instituted against the petitioners in the states of Telangana and Maharashtra. The complaint filed is against the song titled 'Manikya Malaraya Poovi' which was released on Youtube as a song of the film. In Telangana, an FIR has already been registered against the Petitioner no.2. (director of the movie).

"The criminal complaints have been instituted by various fringe groups based on a distorted and incorrect interpretation of the song in the states of Telangana, Maharashtra and similar complaints are likely from other non-Malayalam speaking states as well," she had said in her plea filed through advocate Pallavi Pratap.

She said the entire controversy has resulted in the filing of several criminal complaints, while the FIR arises from the lyrics of the song, which is a Mappila song or a traditional number from the Malabar region of Kerala.

The plea said the claims that it hurt religious sentiments of the Muslim community are "without any basis and what is hard to fathom is that a song which has been in existence for the past 40 years, which was written, sung and cherished by the Muslim community in Kerala is now being treated as an insult to the Prophet and his wife."



"It is submitted that a song, which .... has been cherished by more than one crore Muslim population of Kerala, cannot suddenly offend the religious sentiment of the Muslim community," the plea said.

It stated that criminal complaints and registration of FIRs in multiple states on the basis of complaints by "fringe elements who have misunderstood the lyrics of the song which they claim allegedly offended their religious sentiments and that of their community has adversely affected the petitioners right to life, liberty and freedom of expression under the Constitution."



The plea had said the movie is yet to be completed and an amount of Rs. 1.5 crore have been spent on it but such "flimsy and baseless" complaints and FIRs cause nothing but hindrance to freedom of speech and expression granted under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution and was an outright abuse of the process of law.

"Such acts only result in curbing the freedom expression of people and have also resulted in dragging the Petitioner No.1, who is a young college student, into a criminal case for merely acting in a movie," it had said.

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The Supreme Court has waived the cost of Rs 50,000 on Indian Forest Service officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi imposed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court for non-filing of the reply in a case.

The High Court order had come on a plea of Haryana government seeking quashing of the Presidents order dropping the charge sheet against Chaturvedi.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra directed the High Court to look into the contention of Chaturvedi who said that a similar petition was pending before the apex court and asked it to decide the issue after hearing both the parties.

"The cost imposed by the High Court is made easy. It is the stand of the petitioner that a similar issue is pending before this Court... The High Court shall take note of the similarity of the issue pending before this Court, after hearing counsel for the parties.

"We may hasten to add that we have not expressed any opinion with regard to the similarity of the issue and it shall be open to the parties to raise the same before the High Court from their perspective," it said.

Chaturvedi had moved the apex court against the High Court verdict claiming that a similar petition was pending in the top court and the HC had erred in entertaining the plea of Haryana government.

Departmental proceedings were initiated against Chaturvedi which led to filing of charge sheet during 2007-2012 for allegedly uncovering a multi-crore scam in the forestry programme.

Later, the IFoS official had made a representation to the President under Rule 25 of the All India Service Rules after which a two-member enquiry committee was constituted by Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) in 2010 which submitted its report after taking version of Govt. of Haryana.

After examining the findings of the inquiry and communications with the Haryana government, the MoEF had quashed the charge sheet.

The Haryana government had, however, contended that the Ministry of Environment and Forests had illegally constituted a committee that had given clean chit to Chaturvedi and indicted state government officials.

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Security forces today recovered and diffused an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by armed militants in the remote Nengmandalgre village in Meghalaya's East Garo Hills district, ahead of the February 27 Assembly polls in the north-eastern state, the police said.

It was found two days after the NCP candidate from Williamnagar, Jonathone N Sangma, was killed in an IED blast under the Williamnagar police station limits.

Acting on an intelligence input about the presence of militants in Rambogra yesterday, police teams were sent to the area to conduct search and area-domination operations, Superintendent of Police (SP) of East Garo Hills district Ringrang TG Momin said.

State Director General of Police (DGP) S B Singh said Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants were behind the act of planting the IED.

The DGP told journalists in Tura, where he is camping to oversee the law-and-order situation in the region, that credible leads pointed towards the GNLA's involvement in the IED blast that killed Jonathone N Sangma.

"There are credible leads about the involvement of the group (GNLA) in Sunday night's carnage," he said.

About the recovery of the IED today, Momin said, The Special Force-10 commandos, operating in the area, were immediately diverted to the area."



The SP added that the hideout of the militants was identified but due to the nature of the terrain, the ultras were able to spot the police personnel.

We could not fire due to civilian presence in the area which allowed the militants to flee. Many more teams of commandos were pressed into service. Just before daybreak, one of the teams, while approaching the Cherangre village, found the IED, he said.

The bomb disposal squad was called in, which managed to diffuse the IED at the spot and also collected splinters to be sent for tests. The combing operations are currently on in the area.

Following the killing of the NCP candidate, the election to the Williamnagar seat has been countermanded. The killing has also triggered security concerns in the poll-bound state.

The DGP said the authorities had already pushed more counter-insurgency forces into the Garo Hills region and that an additional 10 companies of central paramilitary forces were sought.

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BJP President Amit Shah today hit out at Congress for targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi over scam-tainted designer jeweller Nirav Modi being photographed with him and others at Davos, saying it was cheap to make an issue of snaps taken at a public function.

"Photographs (Nirav Modi Davos photo) mean nothing. Even you people are sitting with me and we being photographed and if somebody does anything will I be linked?" he told reporters here.

Taking a jibe at the prime minister in the background of the Punjab National Bank fraud, Congress president Rahul Gandhi had said "being seen with the Prime Minister (in a photo at Davos) helped the businessman flee the country."



In a tweet last week, he had said: "Guide to Looting India by Nirav MODI. 1. Hug PM Modi 2. Be seen with him in DAVOS Use that clout to: A. Steal 12,000Cr B. Slip out of the country like Mallya, while the Govt looks the other way. From1MODI2another."



Taking exception, Shah retorted: "What kind of talk is this. In public life at a function if some one sits, this type of photo being made an issue, it is cheap ""It (allegation suggesting proximity to prime minister based on the photo) is completely baseless...," he said.

He was reacting to Gandhi's reference to the photograph taken during the recently concluded World Economic Forum meet at Davos, Switzerland.

Shah asserted that the government had taken "strict action" in the bank fraud case.

He said more than Rs 5,000 crore worth assets had been seized within three days after the fraud surfaced and that investigation was on.

"They (authorities) have worked towards getting back a large sum of money. They will take strict action," Shah said.

To a question on the Prime Minister's Office receiving a complaint against Nirav Modi, Shah said, "in January or February, I dont remember... an FIR was registered against Nirav Modi by the bank and this is the factual position."



Nirav Modi is facing charges of defrauding the Punjab National Bank and others in the Rs 11,384 crore scam and is now abroad.

The BJP president is on a three-day campaign tour of the coastal Dakshina and Uttara Kannada districts in poll-bound Karnataka.

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Dissident BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha fired a fresh salvo at the Modi government today over the presence of scam-tainted diamantaire Nirav Modi with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Davos.

In a series of sarcastic tweets, the Patna Sahib MP scoffed at the government's claim that Nirav was not part of the prime minister's delegation to the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, last month.

"Dear sir, in many official functions, including my own Patna University centenary celebration, I, the sitting MP of Patna, was not allowed (along with luminous alumni Yashwant Sinha and others) to be on the dais with the PM, since we were not on the list approved by PMO", Sinha said.

He was referring to the function held here in October last year which was attended by the prime minister.

"According to our ministry, Nirav Modi was not invited to Davos. But he was very much with you on the dais. I just want to be enlightened. Was the ever so vigilant PMO sleeping this time. Or did it dive deep like always into the kundli of Nirav and still allowed him to be with you and your august group. Do enlighten the nation please," Sinha tweeted.

The BJP leader has been attacking the party and its government for quite some time now.

His outpourinigs on the social media, in the aftermath of the Punjab National Bank scam, have been particularly caustic.

"India must be the only country where the responsible people at the top do not come out with proper explanations that the nation needs and deserves. Almost as if the citizens do not matter. Even Donald Trump faces hard interviews. But here interviews are only (given) to sarkari darbaaris (government sycophants)".

"A nationalized bank scam of unparalleled magnitude....and a conspicuous lack of response from the top people of government.....neither the chowkidaar-e-watan (a reference to prime minister Modi) nor even the ministry of finance has provided any response or explanation," Sinha had said in an earlier tweet.

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Accusing Karnataka's Siddaramaiah government of being the "most corrupt" in the country and pursuing "appeasement politics", BJP president Amit Shah today asserted the countdown for its exit has begun.

Launching his tour of the communally sensitive coastal region in poll-bound Karnataka, Shah said if there was to be a competition for the most corrupt government, the award for the last five years would go to the one headed by Siddaramaiah.

Addressing a BJP rally, he said, the Siddaramaiah government had "shamelessly" indulged in corruption.

"....The (Hindi) translation of corruption would be bhrashtachar. Now use Siddaramaiah government as translation for corruption....Siddaramaiah government has shamelessly indulged in corruption for last five years," he said.

Accusing the Siddaramaiah government of pursuing "appeasement and vote bank politics", Shah said one after the other more than 20 BJP and RSS activists had been killed in the state.

"As the party president, I would like to assure you... let this Siddaramaiah government try to protect (killers) however much they want. Their countdown has begun.. their time to go has come near. Yeddyurappa government (of BJP) will find the killers and bring them to justice," he said.

He referred to the recent incident involving Mohammed Nalapad Haris, son of a Congress MLA and himself a party leader, who recently triggered outrage by assaulting a man in a restaurant.

"The son of a Congress MLA assaults a man twice but no FIR is registered. This is appeasement It will not be tolerated," he said.

The BJP has been targeting the Siddaramaiah government consistently over a series of killings of Hindu activists by alleged "Jehadi forces," and accused it of adopting a "soft approach" towards them as part of the Congress' "vote bank"and "minorities appeasement"



Shah said the Karnataka Assembly polls are important for the BJP, which has won almost all the elections after the Modi government came to power or has improved its tally, while the Congress lost everywhere except for Punjab.

In Tripura, where Assembly polls were held recently, the BJP would win, he said.

"BJP's electoral success lies in its workers," Shah said, and asked them to get ready for celebrations.

Calling the BJP a party with a difference, Shah said it fights elections on the strength of the organisation and wins.

Citing the party's electoral successes in Assam, Manipur and Uttar Pradesh, he said reasons for these were the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP's booth-level workers.

He said, "from the land of Parashurama and Rani Abbakka let us take the pledge to overthrow the Siddaramaiah government in the coming Assembly polls."



Rani Abbakka was the legendary queen of Ullal in Dakshina Kannada district, who fought against the Portuguese in the 16th century.

He alleged the Siddaramaiah government "disrespected" Hindu religious places in coastal Karnataka.

The BJP government would try to integrate these cultural treasures with society and bring back their lost glory, he said.

The next BJP government headed by Yeddyurappa would work for the region's development and restore its lost pride, Shah said.

During his three-day tour, Shah would cover the districts of Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada, where the party has a strong presence, and is trying to further consolidate its vote base.

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Singapore has agreed not to cane a man accused of carrying out a rare bank robbery in the city-state if Britain extradites him to face charges, officials said today.

David Roach, a Canadian citizen, is wanted in Singapore for allegedly stealing Sg$30,000 ($22,700) from a Standard Chartered bank branch in 2016 after strolling in and presenting a threatening note.

He fled to Bangkok, where he was jailed on charges related to bringing the stolen cash into Thailand but authorities refused to send him to Singapore as the countries do not have an extradition treaty.

After his release, he was detained in January at Londons Heathrow Airport while in transit en route to Canada and Singapore has requested that he be deported to the city-state. Singapore and Britain have an extradition treaty.

Flogging with a heavy rattan cane is a common punishment in Singapore and is a legacy of British colonial rule, with convicted bank robbers facing a minimum penalty of six strokes, as well as at least two years in jail.

But Singapores Ministry of Home Affairs said Britain had sought assurances that if found guilty, Roach would not face corporal punishment. Britain abolished caning as a punishment for criminals in 1948.

"The Singapore government has agreed to the UK authorities request. UK extradition laws prohibit UK from extraditing Roach to Singapore in the absence of such an assurance," the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry insisted the concession was necessary to ensure Roach does not escape justice, and said the decision "does not affect the general position taken by Singapore on corporal punishment".

Roach is wanted in Singapore on one count of robbery and one count of money laundering.

Bank robberies are extremely rare in Singapore, whose zero-tolerance approach to crime has made it one of Asias safest cities.

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Southern Railway today introduced three phase EMUs (electric multiple units) trains comprising 12-car rake with additional features for better passenger comfort.

The trains will be operated in the Chennai Beach Tambaram, Chennai Beach-Chengapattu sector from today, a press release said.

In the Chennai-Beach and Chengapattu sector, six services were introduced while in the Chennai Beach-Tambaram it is three services.

The three phase EMUs has 1,168 seats and provision for 4,852 standing passengers which is 20 per cent more than the existing EMUs.

Surveillance cameras were installed in the ladies compartment, it said.

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Taking a veiled dig once again at top actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan for their political ambitions, DMK Working President M K Stalin today likened them to 'glamorous paper flowers' which do not spread fragrance.

"Owing to seasonal changes some flowers may suddenly bloom and later wither. Similarly, in Tamil Nadu's political arena too glamorous paper flowers may bloom," he said in an apparent reference to top actors Rajinikanth and Haasan's political entry.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, in a letter to party cadres said though "such flowers may bloom, they do not spread fragrance," which is seen as an indication that the duo could not succeed and shine in though they could enter the fray.

Kamal Haasan was quick to retort to Stalin's jibe, telling reporters at Madurai that "I am not a flower, I am a seed, sow me, I will grow."



Stalin, in his letter also said that DMK was a massive people's movement nurtured by late party founder C N Annadurai and party patriarch M Karunanidhi.

The party cannot be shaken by anyone who is driven by ideology and it is the lifeline of the people's rights.

Calling himself a "front line worker" who is part of the larger one crore cadres of DMK, Stalin said he would continue the interactive sessions with party workers and once again assured of steps for the "party's victorious forward march."



Chaired by Stalin, interactive sessions with party functionaries, from the lowest rung of village panchayat level secretary to district secretaries, started on February 1 and is scheduled to go on till March 22 at the party headquarters 'Anna Arivalayam' here.

Last month, Stalin said that while democracy is a "sky" common for all, many birds could hardly cover the distance.

"Aware of the political atmosphere, new birds want to fly. Democracy is a sky (common) for all. The political arena is watching how much distance a bird can fly on the strength of its wings," he had said.

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Hollywood action star Sylvester Stallone is alive and "still punching", despite death rumours.

On Sunday, February 18, rumours started circulating on Facebook that the actor passed away after battling prostate cancer. The death hoax post also included photos of allegedly ailing Stallone.

Taking to his official social media accounts, the "Rocky" star debunked the false reports and assured his fans that he is fine. "Please ignore this stupidity... Alive and well and happy and healthy... Still punching!" he wrote, along with one of the of the hoax posts.

His younger brother Frank Stallone also responded to the death rumours.

He wrote on Twitter, "Rumours that my brother is dead are false. What kind of sick demented cruel mind thinks of things like this to post? People like this are mentally deranged and don't deserve a place in society," adding that the death hoax was "not funny not cool.

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Breaking his silence over the Rs 11,400 crore fraud at India's second-biggest bank, PNB, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said the state will chase down whosoever cheats the banking system.

Without naming Punjab National Bank or the alleged kingpin of the scam Nirav Modi, Jaitley said bank management did not live up to their task as it failed to detect the delinquent.

He went on to blame auditors for being unable to detect irregularities and asked supervisory agencies to assess the system requirement to detect such frauds.

He said supervisory agencies should ensure that stray cases are nipped in the bud and they are never repeated.

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Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu today sharply reacted to former chief minister Virbhadra Singh's allegations, saying he should restrain from making such statements.

The former chief minister had yesterday blamed Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu for the party's loss in the recent Assembly elections and sais that Sukhu has failed to deliver as the party president and his policies have weakened the Congress in the state.

He also said that if the state president was not changed in the state, the Congress would face same results in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

Urging Virbhadra Singh to restrain himself from making such statements publically, Sukhu claimed that the Congress would not only give a tough fight to the BJP but also win all four Lok Sabha seats in Himachal Pradesh in 2019 polls.

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Regime air strikes today pushed the death toll from three days of bombing in Syria's rebel Eastern Ghouta to over 200 as Damascus pitched pro-government forces into the fray against Turkey in a Kurdish-held border region.

The pro-regime fighters came under bombardment from Turkey after entering the northern Afrin region, escalating a month-long offensive by Ankara in another major twist for Syria's complex near-seven-year war.

To the south on the outskirts of Damascus, air strikes and rocket and artillery fire have battered the Eastern Ghouta enclave since Sunday in apparent preparation for a government ground assault on the besieged region.

More than 200 civilians have been killed, among them 57 children, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

On yesterday alone, 127 civilians, including 39 children, were killed in the bombardment - the single bloodiest day for Eastern Ghouta in four years.

Air strikes today morning killed at least 66 civilians, including 15 children, the Britain-based war monitor said.

Held by rebels since 2012, Eastern Ghouta is the last opposition pocket around Damascus and President Bashar al-Assad is keen to retake it with an apparently imminent ground assault.

The UN's regional humanitarian coordinator for Syria, Panos Moumtzis, said the targeting of civilians in the enclave "must stop now".

"The humanitarian situation of civilians in East Ghouta is spiralling out of control. It's imperative to end this senseless human suffering now," he said on Monday.

The UN has repeatedly called for a month-long ceasefire across Syria's front lines, from Eastern Ghouta to the Kurdish enclave of Afrin in the northwest, which Turkey threatened today to lay siege to in the coming days.

"February 19 was the one of the worst days that we've ever had in the history of this crisis," said an exhausted doctor in a hospital in Eastern Ghouta.

Identifying himself as Abu al-Yasar, he described treating a one-year-old brought into the Arbin hospital with blue skin and a faint pulse, rescued from under the rubble.

"I opened his mouth to put in a breathing tube and I found it packed with dirt," Abu al-Yasar told AFP.

He pulled out the dirt as fast as possible, put in the breathing tube and managed to save the baby's life.

"This is just one story from among hundreds of wounded."



The bloodshed prompted the UN children's agency UNICEF to issue a largely blank statement today saying it "we no longer have the words to describe children's suffering."



Syria's main opposition group condemned the government onslaught as a "bloodbath" and a "war crime", saying it may pull out of UN-backed peace talks in protest.

More than 400,000 people live in Eastern Ghouta, which has been surrounded by government troops since 2013. Food, medicine, and other basic necessities are nearly impossible to obtain.

Eastern Ghouta is mostly held by two hardline rebel groups - Jaish al-Islam and Faylaq al-Rahman - though jihadists have a smaller foothold.

The factions often fire rockets and mortar rounds into residential neighbourhoods of east Damascus.

Today, at least four people were killed and 15 wounded by rebel fire on the capital, state television reported.

Al-Watan newspaper, which is close to the government, said today that the bombing campaign "comes ahead of a vast operation on Ghouta, which may start on the ground at any moment."



Both Al-Watan and the Observatory had earlier reported ongoing negotiations for the withdrawal of jihadists from the enclave.

But the escalating bombardment suggests the regime will likely opt for a ground assault.

It already waged a ferocious five-day air assault on Eastern Ghouta earlier this month that left around 250 civilians dead and hundreds wounded.

More than 340,000 people have been killed since the civil war erupted in 2011 when protests against Assad's government were brutally crushed.

An array of rebels, some of them jihadist, have since carved out zones of control as have the Kurdish minority, and the government and its allies.

Turkey has been waging an air and ground offensive against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia in the Afrin enclave for the past month but on Tuesday the stakes were ratcheted up.

Hundreds of Syrian pro-government forces entered the region for the first time since 2012 to face off against Turkey alongside Kurdish forces that Ankara views as an offshoot of its own internal insurgency.

But they quickly came under shelling by Turkish forces, who said they had fired "warning shots" at the "pro-regime terrorist groups".

In a statement today, YPG spokesman Nuri Mahmud said the Kurdish forces had called on the Damascus government to help fend off Turkey's assault.

"The Syrian government responded to the invitation, answered the call of duty and sent military units today, February 20, to take up positions on the borders, and participate in defending the territorial unity of Syria and its borders," the statement said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday defended the operation's slow progress, telling parliament that Syrian rebel allies would lay siege to the town of Afrin "in the coming days.

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Days after writing to President Ram Nath Kovind seeking mercy killing after being denied a job in Air India, a transwoman today petitioned Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami to take up her case with the Centre.

"I request the Chief Minister to urge the Centre to grant me and the larger transgender community our rights," Shanavi Ponnuswamy said in a petition.

She said such "basic rights" included those relating to right to education and employment opportunities.

The Tamil Nadu government should take up this matter with the Centre the way it used to fight for farmers' issues, she said in her petition submitted to the Chief Minister's Special Cell at the Secretariat here.

Referring to a petition she filed in the Supreme Court last November challenging Air India denying her a job as a cabin crew member, she said she "does not have the wherewithal" to continue to fight her case.

It was under these circumstances that she had written to the President recently, seeking mercy killing, she said.

In her letter to the President, Ponnuswamy claimed that neither Air India nor the Civil Aviation Ministry responded to the Supreme Court's notice on her petition.

In the absence of a job she could not make ends meet and therefore had requested mercy killing, she had said.

In her letter, she claimed that she has been denied her basic rights because of her gender.

According to Ponnuswamy, before a surgery for gender change, she had been employed with Air India as a customer support executive for a year.

After that she applied four times over two years but while she got a "call letter" for the post of female cabin crew, she was never offered the job.

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Heavy Syrian bombardment of the rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta is targeting civilians and must stop immediately, the United Nations warned today.

"It's imperative to end this senseless human suffering now. Such targeting of innocent civilians and infrastructure must stop now," Panos Moumtzis, the UN's Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis said in a statement.

Several days of bombardment on Eastern Ghouta, near Damascus, has killed hundreds of people, with one monitor of Syria's seven-year conflict saying that at least 77 people had died there yesterday alone.

Held by rebels since 2012, Eastern Ghouta is the last opposition pocket around Damascus and President Bashar al-Assad has dispatched reinforcements there in an apparent concerted effort to retake it.

Moumtzis, whose organisation has repeatedly called for a cessation of fighting in Eastern Ghouta to allow in desperately needed food and medical aid, said the humanitarian situation in the rebel enclave was "spiralling out of control".

"The recent escalation of violence compounds an already precarious humanitarian situation for the 393,000 residents of East Ghouta, many of them internally displaced," he said.

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The Delhi administration plunged into a crisis today as the city's top bureaucrat alleged that he was assaulted by ruling AAP MLAs in front of Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia at the chief minister's residence here, a charge rubbished by the party as "bizarre".

Matters turned worse as Delhi Police registered an FIR in the matter based on the complaint of Anshu Prakash, even as the force did not name anyone in it.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also sought a report from Lt Governor Anil Baijal's over the issue.

Throughout the day, allegations flew thick and fast with both sides -- the Aam Aadmi Party government and the Delhi bureaucrats -- levelling allegations and counter-allegations of attack on each other, even as the work in the Delhi Secretariat suffered.

Prakash also did not participate in the Cabinet meeting which was attended by another senior IAS Manoj Parida at the chief minister's residence.

The AAP rubbished Prakash's allegations as "bizarre and baseless".

Two associations of IAS and Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service (DANICS) criticised the attack, calling it "breakdown of governance" in the national capital.

After the incident, three associations of IAS, DANICS and DASS met Lt Governor Anil Baijal and lodged their protest against the attack. In a joint statement, the officers' body said that the incident appears to be "pre-planned and pre-meditated".

In his complaint, the chief secretary alleged that the assault on him at the camp office situated at the chief minister's residence in North Delhi's Flag Staff Road last night was "premeditated" and a conspiracy of all those who were present at a meeting there.

"They (AAP MLAs) threatened to implicate him in false cases if the issue of releasing TV advertisements about the AAP government's achievements was not resolved," Prakash said in his complaint to DCP (North) seeking action.

He alleged that Kejriwal, his deputy Sisodia and 11 AAP MLAs were present at the meeting at the chief minister's residence where they threatened to "implicate" him in false cases if the issue of releasing TV advertisements about the AAP government's achievements was not resolved.

He also claimed he was roughed up.

However, the Aam Aadmi Party said that he was called to the chief minister's office for a discussion on ration.

"There was a meeting of MLAs at the CM's residence. The CS refused to answer questions, saying that he was not answerable to MLAs and the CM, and that he was answerable only to the LG. He (Prakash) even used bad language against some of the MLAs and left without answering any questions," the party claimed in a statement.

It described as "false information" claims that the meeting and the argument was about TV ads. The entire discussion was on a large number of families, who were not getting their rations, it said.

Later in the day, utter chaos unfolded inside the secretariat as Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain was mobbed by over a hundred officials and staff.

People today had a tough time in getting their job done in several departments as most of the officials boycotted their work in protest against the incident.

Meanwhile the central IAS officers' association has termed as "criminal" the alleged assault on Prakash and demanded immediate arrest of the perpetrators.

Following the development, the BJP demanded Kejriwal's resignation while the Congress termed the incident an "administrative and constitutional crisis" and sought an apology from the chief minister.

Describing last night's alleged incident "an act of urban Naxalism", Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari sought Kejriwal's resignation, a high-level inquiry against him and suspension of the legislators concerned.

"ArvindKejriwal and his Goon MLAs misbehaved and threatened the Chief secretary of NCT Delhi Government last night... another shameful act of @AamAadmiParty Goons... an act of Urban Naxalism... #UrbanNaxaliteKejriwal must Resign (sic)," he tweeted



Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken launched a scathing attack on the AAP government, accusing it of being a complete failure and demanded that Chief Minister Kejriwal apologises for this "hooliganism".

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Normal life was affected in Puducherry today with shops downing shutters in response to a bandh call given by Puducherry Traders Federation demanding the withdrawl of hike in property taxes on business establishments and the levy of 'garbage clearing' tax.

Shopping centres in and around the town wore a deserted look with shops remaining closed.

Cinema houses also suspended their shows to extend support to the stir.

Secretary of the Federation S Balou told PTI that the territorial government had hiked the property tax and imposed levy for garbage clearing without consulting the traders and business community.

He said the government should come out with a notification rescinding the hike as mere announcement by the Local Administration Minister that the increase in property tax and the garbage clearing tax by municipalities had been held in abeyance would not be enough.

Noting that the business community was bearing the brunt of Goods and Services Tax and demonetisation, Balou said, "The present hike in property taxes adds insult to injury and hence should be revoked."



The 24-hour-long bandh which began at 6 AM today would end at 6 AM tomorrow, the Federation secretary said.

He said the agitation was observed in outlying regions of Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam also.

Police were deployed at vantage points to prevent any untoward incidents.

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Turkey's government said today it would consider introducing chemical castration for child abusers after several cases of sexual assault on children have sparked public outcry.

"The courts will decide on the use and duration of chemical castration to limit or eliminate sexual desire. We wish to establish this again within a few days," said Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul.

The government was putting the issue back on its agenda, he added.

Turkey introduced a measure to chemically castrate those convicted of sex crimes in 2016, but the country's highest administrative court, the Council of State, stopped its implementation last August, saying its definition and limit were "vague".

In the latest case to cause widespread outrage in the country, a 20-year-old man has been accused of sexually assaulting a four-year-old in the southern province of Adana.

Prosecutors today demanded 66 years in prison for the man after the alleged assault at a wedding on February 10, state-run agency Anadolu reported.

Yesterday, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said a commission on preventing child abuse would be set up with six ministers including Gul.

"All options, all other steps that need to be taken to solve the problem will be on the table," Gul said, adding that the commission would evaluate any measures.

Chemical castration, which involves using drugs to reduce libido, does not prevent a person from experiencing sexual urges indefinitely.

The number of court rulings on child sexual abuse in Turkey has soared, rising from 3,778 in 2006 to 21,189 in 2016, according to justice ministry data cited by human rights groups.

Nearly 60 percent of the suspects in the 2016 cases were convicted, Turkeys Human Rights Association (IHD) said in November.

Women's rights groups came out in force on social media against the proposal.

The Women's Assemblies organisation said on Twitter that chemical castration was "against human rights" and was "a punishment that was distant from modern law".

The group added that "the solution is to stop giving reduced sentences in child abuse cases".

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Turkey today released the former co-leader of the country's main pro-Kurdish party, the group said, after she was detained over her opposition to Ankara's offensive in northern Syria.

Police arrested Serpil Kemalbay of the Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) in Ankara on February 13, two days after she handed over her job to a successor.

"Our former co-leader Serpil Kemalbay has been released. Defending peace is not a crime; it is an obligation, an honour!" the party said on Twitter.

Kemalbay, who still faces charges and has been placed under judicial control, will have to report regularly to the authorities and cannot leave the country, an HDP official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Kemalbay succeeded Figen Yuksekdag as co-leader in May 2017 after Yuksekdag was stripped of her status as lawmaker in February of the same year.

At a party congress on February 11 Pervin Buldan took over Kemalbays job.

Turkish media reported that Kemalbay had been taken into custody over calls for protests against the cross-border operation dubbed "Olive Branch" launched last month.

Turkey is conducting an air and ground offensive against the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) militia in the Afrin region of northern Syria.

Ankara says the YPG are "terrorists" linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984.

The HDP, the third-largest party in parliament, has been hit by arrests of its leaders and supporters on accusations of supporting the PKK, which the party denies.

Since the offensive began in Syria, Turkish authorities have detained 786 people, including 587 over disseminating "propaganda" against the operation.

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Turkey today fired at Syrian pro-regime forces as they entered the Kurdish-controlled enclave of Afrin, Syrian state media said.

The shelling marks a major escalation in the month-old assault Turkey and allied rebels are waging on Afrin.

"Turkish regime forces targeted the locations of popular forces with artillery fire as they arrived to the Afrin region," state agency SANA reported.

Turkey said they it fired "warning shots" at Syria pro-regime forces in Afrin.

"Pro-regime terrorist groups that are trying to advance towards Afrin retreated to about 10 kilometres from the town because of the warning shots," Turkish state agency Anadolu said.

Hundreds of pro-government fighters arrived this afternoon to Afrin, to take a stand against a Turkish-led offensive on the region.

Their deployment marks the first time since 2012 that regime forces take up positions in the area, which is held by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG).

In a statement, YPG spokesman Nuri Mahmud said the Kurdish forces had called on the Damascus government to help fend off Turkey's assault.

"The Syrian government responded to the invitation, answered the call of duty and sent military units today, February 20, to take up positions on the borders, and participate in defending the territorial unity of Syria and its borders," the statement said.

AFP correspondents said the forces did not appear to have entered Afrin city itself.

The YPG has controlled Afrin since Syrian government forces withdrew from Kurdish-majority areas in the country's north in 2012.

But yesterday, Syria's state media said that pro-Damascus forces would head to Afrin to "join the resistance against the Turkish aggression".

"This comes in the framework of supporting residents and defending the territorial unity and sovereignty of Syria," agency SANA said.

The Afrin region lies in Syria's northern province of Aleppo.

An AFP correspondent in government-controlled Aleppo city told AFP that the convoy, made up of pick-up trucks carrying armed men, had left earlier Tuesday en route to Afrin.

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Turkey will lay siege to Afrin in northern Syria after launching an offensive against Kurdish militia in the region last month, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said today.

"In the coming days, swiftly, we will lay siege to the centre of the town of Afrin," Erdogan told his ruling party lawmakers in parliament.

His remarks came as Turkeys ground and air offensive against the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) militia, viewed as "terrorists" by Ankara, entered its second month.

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The University Grants Commission today constituted a four-member Empowered Expert Committee (EEC), which is being entrusted to conduct the appraisal of applications for shortlisting 20 Institutions of Eminence (IoE).

N Gopalaswami, former chief election commissioner of India is the chairperson of the committee.

The members of the committee are Tarun Khanna, Jorge Paulo Lemman, Professor at Harvard Business School; Pritam Singh, former director of IIM, Lucknow, and MDI, Gurugram; and Renu Khator, chancellor, University of Houston System.

The government is likely to announce the names of the selected institutions by April 2018.

The committee was constituted by the UGC after the approval of the central government, as per the UGC (Institutions of Eminence Deemed to be Universities) Regulation, 2017, and UGC (Declaration of Government Educational Institutions as Institutions of Eminence) Guidelines, 2017.

The government has received 103 applications from public and private higher institutions.

The deadline for the applications has been extended to February 22. The previous deadline was December 31.

The IoE project for internationalisation of Indian campuses and creating world class universities was rolled out by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) in September 2017.

By March-April 2018, 20 (10 each from public and private category) institutions will be accorded the status of 'Institutions of Eminence' with a mandate to achieve world class status over a period of 10 years.

As per the guidelines issued by the UGC, those institutions in the top 50 of the National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings or those who have secured ranking among top 500 of the Times Higher World University Rankings, QS University Rankings or Shanghai Ranking Academic Ranking of World Universities are eligible to apply.

The EEC shall conduct its appraisal based on the document submitted by the applicant as well as any other measure of demonstrated commitment to the cause of developing an Institution of Eminence.

The committee would engage with the institutions to study their proposals and rank the institutions for their suitability for inclusion in this scheme.

The recommendation will then be placed before the UGC which will forward the same to the MHRD within 15 days. The ministry will then issue the orders on selection of institutions.

The institutions declared as Institutions of Eminence will be free from the usual regulatory mechanism to choose their path to become institutions of global repute with emphasis on multi-disciplinary initiatives, high quality research, global best practices and international collaborations.

Unlike the other institutions in the country, these institutions will have the liberty to enrol up to 30 per cent foreign students.

Moreover, selected public institutions will be able to recruit up to 25 per cent foreign faculty, while there will be no such limit for selected private institutions.

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A school in east London at the centre of a row over its attempt to ban the hijab for very young pupils has been judged "outstanding" in an inspection report published today.

The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted), the UKs independent schools inspectorate, carried out a special inspection visit of St Stephen's School in East Ham following concerns of bullying of the school's staff, including Indian-origin principal Neena Lall.

It ruled that her leadership and management of the school was "effective" and that the negative atmosphere around the school's uniform policy was created by elements from outside the school community.

"School leaders, and in particular the headteacher (Lall), have faced bullying and harassment, and there is evidence that this has been coordinated by some people outside the school community. Parents said that they just want the 'noise' from these people to stop so they can get back to being a great school community without distracting interference, the Ofsted report notes.

The report follows an inspection visit to the school on January 31, a few days after the school was forced to reverse its hijab ban for girls under eight years old amid a community backlash.

A complaint has since been registered with local police in Newham, east London, about abusive and threatening emails, Facebook posts and other social media messages received by Lall and Arif Qawi, the former chairman of governors.

The school, with a majority of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin students, has received the backing of senior UK government ministers, including UK secretary Damian Hinds and Lord Theodore Agnew, Britain's minister for schools systems, faith and counter-extremism in



Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman had specifically spoken out in support of Lall's decision-making, after it emerged that the headteacher had been likened to German dictator Adolf Hitler as part of social media attacks.

"School leaders must have the right to set school uniform policies in a way that they see fit, in order to promote cohesion, said Spielman, Ofsted Chief Inspector.

The latest inspection, which was initiated by her amid growing concerns for the school and its headteacher, found that the negative comments and "abusive postings" on social media about the school's uniform policy and position on children fasting for religious observance are in complete contrast to the atmosphere within the school and appear to be largely instigated by people from outside the parental body.

"It is worth noting that the decision to remove the hijab from the key stage 1 uniform (under-eight) was communicated to parents in June 2017 and implemented with little fuss in September 2017, following careful consideration by governors," it adds.

Among its recommendations, the watchdog called upon the school to ensure future communications around uniform policies are carefully managed to avoid "misinterpretations" and also directed the local Newham Council for more proactive support for the school.

"The expected level of emotional care and public support for school staff from the local authority has been too limited and, as a result, ineffective," Ofsted said.

Newham Council refuted the allegation of lack of support for the school, which it said had received "significant" support in the face of the backlash.

"With such a diverse community, that has more than 200 languages spoken, councils must play a role in ensuring mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs," a spokesperson said.

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One of Britain's leading centres for research and training in plant and microbial science has launched a new scholarship for post-graduate students from developing countries in honour of a botanist who was among the first women from India to obtain a PhD in botany.

The John Innes Centre in Norfolk, in the East Anglia region of England, chose to honour Dr Janaki Ammal for her work at the John Innes Horticultural Institution first in the 1930s and then between 1940 and 1945.

The Janaki Ammal Scholarship Scheme will award scholarship to post-graduate research applicants from 88 eligible countries who wish to study plant and microbial sciences at the John Innes Centre.

We take great pride in our international alumni none more so than Janaki Ammal and we are delighted to name this new scheme in her honour, said Professor Dale Sanders, director of the John Innes Centre.

The scheme has been set up to reduce the financial impact of UK tuition fees on international students from less developed and lower income countries, including India.

At the John Innes Centre, we strive for a level playing field on which all students compete on scientific merit, irrespective of nationality, economic status or gender. For this reason, weve established this mechanism to support students from low income countries with their tuition fees, added Sanders.

The award applies to graduate students from least developed, low income or lower middle-income countries as defined by the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). This includes sub-Saharan African countries and India, but excludes middle-income countries such as China and many Latin American countries.

Janaki Ammals research linked with the John Innes Centre led to the publication of the Chromosome Atlas of Cultivated Plants, which she wrote jointly with the then Director, CD Darlington.

She ultimately returned to India to continue a distinguished career in science before she passed away in 1984.

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British Deputy High Commissioner Bruce Buckneil today said the UK would like to host more students from India.

Britain has 5,000 people of Indian origin working in UK universities, Buckneil told PTI.

"We are having a diverse population of students but we would like to have more students at our international standing universities," he said on the sidelines of a programme here.

Asked about competition from many other countries for enrolment in British educational institutions, Buckneil said, "We have some of the best universities in the world. We want to have the best students in the best institutions, which already have a lot of Indian students."



Asked if immigration norms could impact the inflow of students, he said each country has its own laws and immigration rules are constantly being reviewed.

Buckneil said 14,000 tier-4 student visas were granted to Indian nationals in 2017, a 27 per cent rise from the previous year, while 5,000 short-term study visas were also approved during the period.

"The UK has 18 visa application centres in India, more than any other country," he said, underscoring the importance Britain accorded to India.

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Japans defence ministry demanded explanations today from the US military after a fighter jet experiencing an engine fire dropped two fuel tanks into a lake in the country's north.

The incident, which caused no injuries, is the latest in a string of accidents involving the US military that have prompted concern from Japanese officials and renewed criticism of the US military presence in the country.

"We are asking the US side to explain what happened and its cause, and we fully demand the US side take prevention measures," Japans Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera told a press conference.

The F16 took off from the Misawa Air Base in northern Japans Aomori region early on Tuesday morning and immediately experienced an engine fire, Onodera said.

"The US military has told us that it discarded two exterior tanks on Lake Ogawara just north of Misawa Air Base and landed back at Misawa Air Base," Onodera said.

In a statement, the US military confirmed that one of its F-16s had been forced to "jettison two external fuel tanks into an unpopulated area" after an engine fire broke out.

"The safety of our airmen and our Japanese neighbours is our number one priority during flying operations," said Colonel R. Scott Jobe, the 35th Fighting Wing commander.

"We will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the root cause of this incident."



The case follows a string of accidents involving US military aircraft, for which US Secretary of Defense James Mattis apologised to Onodera last month.

US military helicopters made at least three emergency landings in the southern region of Okinawa in January alone.

In December, a window from a US military helicopter fell onto a school ground in Okinawa, and in October a US military helicopter burst into flames after landing in an empty field on Okinawa.

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Special counsel Robert Mueller is probing Jared Kushner's efforts to get foreign investors beyond Russia to provide financing for his company during the presidential transition, including in China, CNN reported today.

The probe was previously only said to have focused on the Russia contacts of President Donald Trumps senior adviser and son in law, only with the campaigns data analytics and Kushner's ties with disgraced ex-national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Mueller's team is probing Kushner's conversations during the presidential transition to get financing for the Kushner Companies-backed 666 Fifth Avenue office building in New York after financial setbacks, CNN said, citing people familiar with the investigation.

Kushner's father founded the real estate developer and lender.

CNN said Mueller's investigators have yet to contact Kushner Companies or request interviews with its executives, and the reasons behind the focus on the outreach to foreign investors are unclear.

Kushner played a leading role in the presidential transition teams contacts with foreign governments, and has indicated he spoke during that time with more than 50 contacts from over 15 countries.

One week after Trumps November 8, 2016 election, Kushner met with the chairman and other executives from the Chinese group Anbang Insurance, The New York Times has reported.

Kushner and Anbang chairman Wu Xiaohui were close to finishing a deal for the Chinese conglomerate to invest in 666 Fifth Avenue.

But the talks broke down, the Times said.

Other business dealings targeted by Mueller include negotiations on the same property with Qatar's former prime minister Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani, according to The Intercept. But that deal also failed.

Kushner purchased the building in 2007 for USD 1.8 billion in a mostly debt deal, but the housing crisis triggered financial setbacks for 666 Fifth Avenue, leading Vornado Realty Trust to take a 49.5 per cent stake in 2011.

"In all of Mr Kushner's extensive cooperation with all inquiries, there has not been a single question asked nor document sought on the 666 building or Kushner Co. deals," Kushner attorney Abbe Lowell told CNN.

"Nor would there be any reason to question these regular business transactions."



Kushner also met Sergey Gorkov, chairman of Russian state-run Vnesheconombank, during the transition, but he testified in Congress that the meeting was only for official government purposes.

However, the bank has said the talks were part of a series of business meetings. And The Washington Post has reported that Mueller is probing that meeting as well.

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Special prosecutor Robert Mueller unveiled charges of lying today against a lawyer linked to a former campaign aide of President Donald Trump, as the probe into Russian election meddling gains pace.

Mueller's powerful team of investigators accused Alex Van Der Zwaan of knowingly making false statements about his communications with Richard Gates, a former senior official on the Trump campaign who is under indictment on money laundering and tax-related charges linked to his work in Ukraine.

Van Der Zwaan, a London-based lawyer with the global law firm Skadden Arps, was also accused of lying about his contacts with another unnamed person, the charges said.

Little information was provided about his links to the Trump campaign, but he represented his law firm in work done for the Ukraine government in 2012 on the corruption trial of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

At that time Gates and former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort were working for the Russian-backed Ukraine president Viktor Yanukovych, who himself was brought down in an anti-corruption uprising in 2014.

Gates and Manafort, according to Ukraine government records, earned millions of dollars in their work for Yanukovych that was not reported.

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An Uzbek asylum seeker who killed five people last year in a Stockholm truck attack testified today that he wanted to pressure Sweden's government to end its support of a coalition fighting the Islamic State group.

On the first day of his trial last week, Rakhmat Akilov, 40, pleaded guilty to stealing a beer truck on April 7, 2017, and mowing down pedestrians on a busy shopping street, swerving wildly to hit as many people as possible.

Three Swedes were killed including an 11-year-old girl, as well as a 41-year-old British man and a 31-year-old Belgian woman. Ten other people were injured.

The assault mirrored other truck attacks in 2016 that left scores dead, one in Nice in southern France, the other in Berlin. Unlike those attacks, however, the one in Stockholm was never claimed by the jihadist group.

Speaking calmly in Russian through an interpreter, Akilov expressed no remorse or regret for his actions.

He told the court today he wanted "Sweden to end its participation in the fight against the caliphate, to stop sending its soldiers to war zones."



He wanted to help "build a caliphate according to Prophet Muhammads prophecies".

"I did this because my heart and my soul aches for those who have suffered from the bombings of the NATO coalition," Akilov said.

Sweden, a non-NATO member, has around 70 military personnel based mainly in northern Iraq to provide training as part of the US-led coalition against IS.

Akilov, whose Swedish asylum application was turned down in 2016, swore allegiance to IS on the eve of his assault in one of Europe's safest cities.

After going underground, Akilov spent three months preparing the assault targeting "infidels".

Prosecutor Hans Ihrman said last week the trial should provide a better understanding of "the process of radicalisation" of emerging attackers, who are "marginalised in a foreign country" and take on "symbolic targets".

He added that Akilov's case "fits into a broader framework" of jihadists.

The prosecution has formally accused him of "terrorism and attempted terrorism".

After crashing the truck into the facade of a store, Akilov detonated an explosive device -- made up of five gas canisters and nails -- though it didn't explode as planned and caused damage only to the truck.

He said he wanted "to die as a martyr in an explosion".

Akilov fled the scene by running into a nearby metro station, and was arrested several hours later thanks to public transport video surveillance images.

One of the key questions in the case, which is unprecedented in the Scandinavian country, is whether Akilov had any accomplices.

Investigators so far believe he acted alone.

But they have recovered several smartphone exchanges he had with unidentified contacts on encrypted chat sites before, during and after the attack.

After arriving in Sweden in 2014, at the start of a huge wave of migration to Europe, Akilovs application for residency was rejected in June 2016.

He later went underground to avoid expulsion and worked odd jobs in construction.

The father of four, who drank alcohol and used drugs according to colleagues and acquaintances, lived alone in Sweden. His wife and children stayed behind in Uzbekistan.

"My clients are eager to hear what he has to say, what his motives are," Gustaf Linderholm, a lawyer representing the victims, told AFP on the eve of Akilov's testimony.

Prosecutors have said they will seek a life sentence and, thereafter, his expulsion from the Scandinavian country.

A life sentence in Sweden varies, but is on average 16 years.

The trial is scheduled to last through May, with a verdict due in June.

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The Bombay High Court today said it was the Maharashtra government's prime duty to ensure the accused were produced in court for trial and that video conference facilities should be used only in exceptional cases.

A division bench of Justices S C Dharmadhikari and Bharti Dangre was hearing a PIL filed by one Shaikh Abdul Naeem, an accused in the Aurangabad arms haul case, claiming that he was not being produced in court due to lack of escort police.

In December 2016, the high court had directed the state government's home department to ensure that all courts and jails in the state have video conference facility by March 2017.

The state government today informed the court that the process was on.

The bench then said that video conference was to be used only in exceptional cases.

"Your (government) prime duty is to ensure that the accused is produced before the trial court. This is what law says," the court said.

The bench has now posted the petition for a further hearing on March 14.

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A Mumbai-based group today said it supports "Oru Adaar Love" director Omar Lulu and actor Priya Varrier, who are facing allegations of hurting religious sentiments, for their "bold stand against bigotry".

Harmony Foundation chairman Abraham Mathai condemned the controversy over the Malayalam film and said it was another attempt at "ripping apart the secular fabric of our nation".

An FIR was lodged against Varrier, an 18-year-old B Com student from Thrissur, on February 14 at Hyderabad's Falaknuma police station over a complaint alleging that the song, "Manikya Malaraya Poovi", was "offensive" and "violated the religious sentiment of a particular community".

Yesterday, Varrier moved the Supreme Court seeking quashing of the FIR.

"It is absolutely absurd and ridiculous that religious bigots in Hyderabad have lodged an FIR against the film director Omar Lulu for the movie 'Oru Adaar Love'. Now, it is unfortunate that Priya Varrier had moved the Supreme Court on Monday and sought quashing of FIRs lodged against her and the makers of the film for allegedly offending the religious sentiments of Muslims.

"We stand in support of Priya Varrier, Omar Lulu and the team for taking a bold stand against such bigotry," Mathai said in a statement.

Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, activist Tushar Gandhi, former Union minister P C Thomas and advocate Rizvan Merchant are the four patrons of the Foundation.

Instead of being criticised, the film's director should be praised for displaying the "current trend of reversing stereotypes and faulty assumptions" in the song that is courting controversy, he said.

"Oru Adaar Love" hit the headlines after Varrier's wink and coquettish smile in a 28-second clip from the song went viral on social media.

Facing charges of hurting the sentiments of the Muslim community, Lulu refused to pull out the track from the film as "there was nothing objectionable" about it.

"There are absolutely no grounds of charging Priya Varrier and Omar Lulu that such work of creativity can vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the country as this song is a common song sung by the community in the northern parts of Kerala," Mathai added in his statement.

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A 30-year old woman lecturer was shot dead by a masked man from point blank range when she was on her way to a college in Chhanera town in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh, police said today.

A day after the incident, police announced a reward of Rs one lakh for anyone who has credible information about the motorcycle-borne assailant.

"Kirti Mali was shot in head by a motorcycle-borne man when she was walking to the government polytechnic college, along with her colleagues, from Chhanera (Naya Harsud) railway station last morning," said Naya Harsud police station in-charge B L Atode.

Mali, a resident of Ramnagar in Khandwa, used to travel daily by train along with her colleagues from Khandwa to Chhanera, a distance of nearly 38 kms, he said.

When Mali was walking with her colleagues, a man riding a motorcycle stopped near here, called her name and shot her in head with a pistol, the officer said.

"Before he pulled out a pistol, the man greeted Mali with a hello, which she responded to positively. After shooting her, the man pushed her down," Atode said, adding that before her colleagues could react the man fled the spot.

Her colleagues then called up an ambulance and were taking Mali to Khandwa when she died, the officer said.

Meanwhile, the deceased's brother Rishiraj Mali alleged that Mali's husband, an Army personnel currently posted in Punjab, was behind the killing.

"My sister was separated from her husband over a dispute. He had threatened to kill my sister and other family members after she lodged a dowry case against him in May 2016," Rishiraj claimed.

Announcing the reward, Superintendent of Police Navnit Bhasin said special teams are constituted to trace the accused.

A case was against the unidentified person.

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The Goa government today told the Legislative Assembly that it will not allow diversion of Mahadayi River water by Karnataka or Maharashtra at any cost.

State Water Resources Department Minister Vinod Palyekar said during the Question Hour that diversion of water from Mahadayi tributary by Karnataka or Maharashtra will not be allowed by the Goa government.

"Diversion of water from Mahadayi basin by the State of Karnataka and Maharashtra will have adverse effect on Goa," the minister said.

The government is commitment to protect the water from being diverted and this reflects in its stand taken before the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal.

Palyekar also said that at present neither Karnataka nor Maharashtra are executing construction work on Mahadayi.

"However, so far Karnataka has done works like interconnecting conduit of about 4.5 kms, open canal of about 2.70Kms and part of head regulator," he said.

Maharashtra had commenced the work of an earthen dam on Kattika nallah, which is a tributary of Virdi river, the minister informed.

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People today had a tough time in getting their job done in several departments as most of the officials boycotted their work in protest against the alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash by AAP MLAs at the chief minister's residence.

At the Delhi Secretariat, more than 200 government employees remained stubborn, demanding the arrest of those who attacked the chief secretary, a top bureaucrat in the national capital.

According to the Delhi government employee welfare association, around 7,000 staff boycotted their work in support of Prakash.

Although the IAS and DANICS officers' associations announced that they would not go on strike as it would make people suffer, most of the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB) officials, who do clerical works, did not join work.

Throughout the day, the IAS and DANICS officers had a round of meeting on the issue due to which they could not join their respective offices.

"In the offices of the SDMs, excise, health, sale and tax and several government's departments, our staff did not join their work today in protest against the attack on the chief secretary by AAP MLAs," Deepak Bharadwaj, association's general secretary, said.

In his complaint to the north DCP, Prakash alleged that the assault on him was "premeditated" and "conspiracy" of all those who were present at a meeting at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence last night.

However, the chief minister's office (CMO) has termed the allegation as "bizarre and baseless".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Madhubani and the Colosseum may be a world apart but artist Neha Dasgupta has done the rather impossible job of making the twain meet.

Her paintings, which borrow heavily from the ancient Madhubani art form named after the district in Bihar's Mithila region, are somewhat like a travelogue on canvas.

The ancient amphitheatre in Rome has made its way into the works of the young artist, who has put on canvas other famed monuments of the world.

Dasgupta's maiden exhibition at the India Habitat Centre this week is not just about monuments but also the many cities she has travelled through.

This exhibition is based on my travels the pieces included are not just monuments like Eiffel Tower, Colosseum or the Statue of Liberty. I have paintings inspired by various cities. The idea was to put my travels down on paper, the Delhi-based artist, who displayed over 20 painting at the exhibition, told PTI.

So, there is a painting depicting a fishing party in Kolkata and one showing the celebratory mood at the Jaipur Literature Festival.

The history student, who describes herself as not the neatest person, gives the opposites attract theory as the reason for her love for the 2,500-year-old art form.

Theres always a hurricane brewing in my cupboards. But since opposite attract, the order in Madhubani-inspired lines, motifs, fishes, curves that I turn to at the end of a long day have always helped me calm down, said Dasgupta.

The artist likes using ink, brush and paint as her tools, rather than the traditional twigs, rice paste, mud and natural paint used by Madhubani artists.

I borrow heavily from Madhubani or Mithila art every time I sit down before a blank canvas. However, I am not a Madhubani painter per se, something that you can see from my drawings, she added.

Dasgupta says she takes about 10 days to make a large painting and two-three hours for the medium sized ones. Give the artist a cup brimming over with coffee, some music, and she is ready to create a masterpiece.

My painting for the day starts around 10 am and then with small breaks... I continue to work till about 2-3 in the morning. It's a backbreaking labour of love, but ultimately completely worth it, she added.

Almost like a ritual, she switches rooms too while painting.

There is a saying that there is always a room for improvement. I guess I took it quite literally which is why you will always find me searching for one while I am in the process of creating something, she quipped.

With most of her paintings sold in the three-day exhibition that ends today, what's next?



I have to focus on completing the orders I have got because of this exhibition. It will take me a few weeks to complete those. Havent thought beyond that. One step at a time.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Claire MilhenchLONDON (Reuters) - When a Belgian court ordered a bank to freeze $22.6 billion of assets held in trust for a Kazakhstan sovereign wealth fund (SWF), it set a worrying precedent for other SWFs.The case is one of several brought to courts in Europe by Moldovan businessman Anatolie Stati who is attempting to force the Kazakh government to pay up in a dispute about his energy investments in the oil-rich country.Court rulings imposing asset freezes in Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden and Luxembourg are significant because they address the issue of whether SWFs should be treated ...
(Corrects penultimate paragraph to show Kawanabe is chairman of Nihon Kotsu, not president. Kawanabe is president of JapanTaxi.)By Minami Funakoshi and Sam NusseyTOKYO (Reuters) - Sony Corp said on Tuesday it would become the latest blue-chip firm to jockey for position in Japan's taxi and ride-hailing market, with plans for a joint venture to develop an artificial intelligence-based hailing system.The partnership is the latest in a growing array of tie-ups between domestic taxi firms and tech companies, who see Japan as a potentially lucrative market but are prevented from offering ...
By Manoj Kumar and Suvashree ChoudhuryNEW DELHI/MUMBAI (Reuters) - India's Finance Minister decried a "lack of ethics" among sections of Indian business on Tuesday and criticised inadequate oversight by auditors and regulators, after the financial sector was rocked by a $1.8 billion fraud at a state-run bank.Arun Jaitley did not specifically refer to the scandal enveloping Punjab National Bank in his speech to a room full of bankers, but his repeated referral to "a stray incident" appeared clearly to be aimed at the massive alleged fraud linked to diamond billionaire Nirav Modi.Jaitley is the ...
By Greg Roumeliotis and Sonam Rai(Reuters) - U.S. semiconductor company Qualcomm Inc on Tuesday unveiled a sweetened $44 billion agreement to acquire NXP Semiconductors NV , its most defiant move in its defense against a hostile $121 billion bid from Broadcom Ltd .The new deal puts pressure on Broadcom to decide if it will stick with a stipulation in its bid that Qualcomm does not raise its offer for NXP. It could strengthen Qualcomm's defenses because it allows its shareholders to better assess the standalone value of Qualcomm as an alternative to a deal with Broadcom.Qualcomm shares fell ...
The Reserve Bank of India on Tuesday said it had alerted unidentified banks about the need to prevent any "potential malicious use of the SWIFT infrastructure" at least three times since August 2016, but added lenders had not fully implemented all of the required measures. The statement comes as the RBI has been under the spotlight after Punjab National Bank disclosed last week it had been hit by a $1.77 billion loan fraud. The RBI added it had mandated lenders on Tuesday to implement measures to strengthen their oversight of the SWIFT financial platform. Employees ...
LAS VEGAS (AP)  When Ivanka Trump assembled a group of Republican senators at her tony Washington home last fall, the guest list included one particularly notable name. Sen. Dean Heller of Nevada had been publicly chided by President Donald Trump months earlier and had, at times, kept the president at arms length.

But within weeks of dining with the presidents daughter and adviser, Heller, who is up for re-election this year, was working closely with the White House, writing part of the Republican tax bill.

The tax collaboration was part of steady rapprochement between the swing-state senator and loyalty-loving president. Through a series of White House meetings and phone calls, a round trip on Air Force One, and work on multiple issues with Ivanka Trump, Heller has quietly mended an awkward relationship with the president.

The slow, careful warming is driven in part by political pragmatism. Heller is facing a primary challenger who has been quick to criticize the senator as insufficiently supportive of the president. An angry and meddling Trump could throw up additional hurdles.

But should he emerge from that fight, Heller  the only Republican senator seeking re-election in a state Democrat Hillary Clinton carried in the 2016 presidential election  must then face an electorate far less friendly toward the president.

The senator has not recanted his once sharp criticism of the 2016 Republican presidential nominee, but has found another way into the presidents good graces. Deliberately and behind the scenes, hes shepherded a body of policy legislation to Trumps desk, and in doing so, made himself a Senate ally the president has promised to defend.

His actions speak louder than words  on what hes accomplished with his agenda and the presidents, said Nevada Republican Party Chairman Michael McDonald, a Heller friend whom Trump regularly consults. Its a relationship between two men that has grown.

There was plenty of room to grow.

In late July, Trump publicly ribbed Heller at a White House meeting of GOP senators. With Heller to his immediate right, Trump motioned to the senator, who had recently held up the GOPs long-promised effort to repeal President Barack Obamas health care law, and declared he was worried about Heller and whether he was onboard. You werent there, he said. But youre going to be. Look, he wants to remain a senator, doesnt he?

Trumps lightheartedness masked frustration with Hellers opposition to the repeal legislation, which Heller argued would drop too many people from insurance coverage and do nothing to lower medical costs.

The tension was not shocking given their history. During the campaign, Heller renounced Trump as someone who denigrates human beings and suggested he wouldnt vote for him. (He later said he did.)

In light of their past disagreement, Heller notified the White House in late July, just days after the White House event, that he intended to vote to allow a health care debate to continue. And in September, Heller was part of the team, with South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham and Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy, to devise a last-ditch, ultimately unsuccessful effort to dismantle the Obama-era law.

Since the summer, Heller and Trump or senior White House staff have spoken regularly, chiefly on a range of policy including taxes and veterans issues. Stylistically, the two are near opposites: Heller, the quiet listener from rural Nevada who enjoys horseback riding, and Trump, the flamboyant, back-slapper from New Yorker. Theyve come to see in one another a get-it-done approach to policy that has fueled a respectful working relationship, McDonald said.

The senator declined to be interviewed for this story.

Heller was quick to jump on a plane to Washington in order to ride aboard Air Force One with Trump back to Nevada after the deadly mass shooting in Las Vegas in October.

Heller also has endeared himself to Trump by working closely with his daughter. Ivanka Trump and Heller, with several other Republican senators, now are studying paid family leave policy.

Hellers election path is eased by the thaw with Trump but is by no means clear. He still faces Republican primary opponent Danny Tarkanian, who entered the race in August accusing Heller of forsaking Trump.

At the same time, Heller has had to answer for Trumps proclivity for controversy.

On a constituent conference call last month, a woman asked why Heller supported Trump in light of his alleged profanity about African nations.

Trump is going to be president for the next three years, Heller replied. I believe I have an obligation as a representative from the state of Nevada to work with every president.

In Washington this month, Trump asked McDonald, the state GOP chairman, how Heller was doing. He specifically asked when the Nevada primary was scheduled.

I said, Hes doing very good, sir,' McDonald said. He said, Ill be out (to Nevada) before the primary.'
NEW YORK (AP)  The 12-year-old girl was in her school uniform, wearing pigtails. She clutched her princess lunch box as she got off the Bronx bus after tutoring, and thats when the rapist grabbed her by the arm.

If you scream, Im gonna kill you, he said, according to police. The stranger dragged her roughly, turning down an alley where he brutally attacked her.

The crime took place on Feb. 24, 2015. And, despite DNA evidence and surveillance footage of the attack, no arrests have been made. As the anniversary nears, the Special Victims Division detective on the case is pleading for anyone with information to send a tip through the Crime Stoppers website or call the hotline.

She was just a baby, said Det. Diane Crowley. This is the worst of the worst.

Surveillance footage shows a young man in tan cargo pants, wearing a blue jacket with a hood and a hat. His face is blurry, but its not impossible to recognize. Part of the problem, Crowley thinks, is the suspect also was young, probably 14 to 16 years old. She thinks people are afraid of being wrong and turning in an innocent kid.

Obviously with the forensic evidence, theres no way the wrong kid will go to jail for this, she said. I just think after three years, you told somebody, you told part of it to somebody. A mom saw it. Someone knows something.

Theres a reward of more than $22,000 for any tips leading to an arrest.

Crowley is haunted by the case. She said when she arrived to the hospital, the little girl was in a bed, still in her uniform, but it was ripped and dirty. Her glasses were askew.

She had a hard time explaining the attack to police.

She had to describe things that happened to her that she didnt even have the vocabulary for, Crowley said. Shed never seen a male body before.

She was on the BX 19 bus to East Tremont, where she transfers to another bus to go home. She said he grabbed her when she got off, then walked her into an alley at 2064 Daley Avenue, the first building off 179th Street.

The alley is sunken  not something easily seen from the street, but theres turf covering one of the walls.

After the attack, she ran and called her mother and they went to the hospital, which collected forensic evidence. Crowley set to work. It took police days to find the crime location because the little girl didnt know where she was.

They followed up on hundreds of leads, talked to any gang members in the possibility it was some sort of initiation. They combed through bus footage. The victim didnt remember seeing him at school, but it looked like he might also have been wearing a uniform.

I think most sex crimes are about opportunity. She happened to be an easy target, Crowley said. But when you find a 12-year-old and you say Im going to kill you  its a real cowardly attack, she said.

Crowley said the girl has had ups and downs. Shes anxious and cant sleep, struggles in school, but shes growing into a smart young woman and is doing her best.

But, her innocence was taken. The twinkle in her eye dimmed out, she said. I would love nothing more than to bring her and her family justice.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP)  A new task force created to attempt to slow a troubling rise of teen suicides in Utah recommended Tuesday that officials ratchet up public messaging to implore gun-owing parents to keep firearms locked up.

That was part of a series of recommendations unveiled by a coalition created last month by Gov. Gary Herbert in the latest move by public officials desperate to take action after the average yearly total of youth suicides over the last five years has more than doubled the yearly average from the previous decade.

The coalition that includes legislators, a high-ranking Mormon leader, the Utah Jazz owner and the leader of an LGBT rights group also recommended that lawmakers find funding to expand existing programs that seem to help, including crisis outreach teams that go to persons home after a call is made to a crisis hotline.

Guns were used in about half of the 42 youth suicides among people age 10-17 in 2017, state data shows. That matches historical trends that show firearms are the most common weapon used in youth suicides.

Kids are so impulsive. They might only think about suicide for a minute and one attempt and thats it, said Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, co-chair of the coalition. If we can get in front of parents, theyre much more likely to lock up their guns once they see the data.

The state has already given out 40,000 free gun trigger cable locks in the last few years and people who take a class to get a concealed carry permit now hear information about the importance of locking up their guns.

Cox and Eliason, both Republicans, said they think educating parents about gun locks is the best method, not changing laws to increase punishments for parents who leave their guns unlocked or encouraging more prosecutions.

You can have all the punishments in the world, but if people dont know why they shouldnt do something it continues to happen, Eliason said.

The mobile crisis outreach teams the coalition wants expanded beyond Salt Lake City are dispatched to peoples homes like a mental health ambulances but in plain clothes and plain cars to help a person after he or she calls a crisis line, Eliason said.

The group also recommended that a mobile app called <a target=blank href=https://safeut.med.utah.edu/>Safe UT</a> that offers live confidential crisis intervention through texts be further promoted in hopes that it gets more widespread use.

A proposal from Eliason is already cruising through the Legislature this year that would require all crisis lines be staffed around the clock. It was spurred by the story of a teenage girl who killed herself after calling a suicide prevention line and getting no answer.

The coalition also determined that more data is needed to understand why teenagers are experiencing suicidal thoughts. Herbert said special attention is needed for high-risk groups such as LGBTQ teens and Native Americans.

Though it wasnt mentioned during the presentation or in a summary of recommendations, Cox said the group will also urge all school districts allow a survey sent out by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ask students about their sexual orientation. In the past, some districts have balked, saying its an inappropriate question, despite the insistence by health officials that its important.

Asked about it after the news conference, Eliason said he would have to see the way the question is framed before backing it.

U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch spoke at Mondays news conference at the Utah state Capitol and implored parents to remind their children how much they are loved. The retiring longtime senator said teenagers today face many social pressures and often, bullying.

Theres no perfect solution, but there are a lot of things we all can do to save lives, Hatch said. We have to promote love and understanding.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP)  In a story Feb. 19 about a Republican state senator charged with extorting page for sex, The Associated Press reported erroneously on Dennis Algieres position. He is minority leader in the Senate, not the House.

A corrected version of the story is below:

Republican state senator charged with extorting page for sex

Republican Rhode Island state senator Nicholas Kettle charged with extorting sex from male page in Senates page program

By MICHELLE R. SMITH

Associated Press

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP)  A grand jury indictment unsealed Monday accuses a Republican state senator of extorting sex from a page in the Senates page program.

The indictment was unsealed as Senate Minority Whip Nicholas Kettle was arraigned on two counts of extortion in Providence Superior Court. Kettle, of Coventry, is accused of extorting a male page for sex multiple times. He pleaded not guilty and was released on $50,000 personal recognizance.

The news prompted Democratic Senate President Dominick Ruggerio to again call for Kettle to resign immediately. He said he was horrified and disgusted by these allegations.

We in the Senate are deeply shaken, he said.

If Kettle refuses to step down, the Senate will pursue his expulsion, Ruggerio said. He said he also asked the Senates chief legal counsel to conduct an immediate review of the page program.

We have spoken to most of the pages to ensure that they are aware of their rights in the workplace as well as procedures for reporting anything inappropriate, Ruggerio said.

Kettle, whos 27 years old, was indicted last week, but the details of the extortion counts remained sealed over the weekend. State police separately charged Kettle with video voyeurism on Friday, and his lawyer has said he denies any wrongdoing.

The indictment says Kettle extorted the page into sex on two occasions in 2011. The indictment names the page, but The Associated Press does not identify people who may be victims of sex crimes unless they come forward and agree to have their names published. The pages LinkedIn profile says he served as a page from February 2011 to May 2012.

In a statement Monday night, a spokeswoman for the page said hes spent the last seven years coming to terms with what was done to him and is moving on. She said hes now an executive in the music industry in Tennessee and is no longer affiliated with Rhode Island politics.

Kettle, whos among five Republicans in the 38-member Senate, did not speak to reporters outside court and did not comment on whether he would resign, but his lawyer described the page as a political rival of Kettles. State elections records show the page ran against Kettle as an independent in 2014, three years after the extortion is alleged to have occurred.

Senate Minority Leader Dennis Algiere also has called on Kettle to resign.

Senate spokesman Greg Pare said the Senate page program includes 67 pages, all hired at the recommendation of senators. The pages, who usually range in age from 15 through college age, help lawmakers with errands at the Rhode Island Statehouse. Pare said the page Kettle is alleged to have extorted for sex did not lodge any complaints while he was a page.

One of the Senates 38 seats is open, and a special election is scheduled to fill it.

The House runs its own page program. A spokesman for Democratic House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello said there have been no complaints about the House program. Mattiello last week designated a former long-term page and current General Assembly employee to serve as a liaison to the House pages in case any concerns arise, spokesman Larry Berman said.

A state police affidavit on the video voyeurism charge released Monday afternoon said Kettle sent naked pictures of his then-girlfriend without her knowledge to a friend in New Hampshire. Zachary Brennan, of Springfield, New Hampshire, then sent back naked pictures of his wife, according to the affidavit.

In addition, police said the friends exchanged images of their own genitals and discussed how to take videos of the women during sex. In one message, Kettle allegedly said he needed to be stealthy and asked Brennan for advice.

Brennan did not immediately return a message seeking comment. Police said he admitted exchanging the photos when they searched his house last month.
FILE - In this June 17, 2015, file photo, marijuana plants grow at LifeLine Labs in Cottage Grove, Minn. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)

LOGAN  Medical marijuana continues to be a hot topic at the Utah Legislature, with more than 10 bills being considered this year. All of them are still in process, with just over two-weeks left in the session.

Cache County Sheriff Chad Jensen and other members of the Law Enforcement Legislative Committee are in support of studying the effects of medical marijuana, and its possible benefits. He said there are still many unanswered questions, not only about the effects but also the limits for its use.

How do we deal with somebody who, if it was legal and you had a prescription for marijuana, what is a threshold for a DUI, asked Jensen. There are things already built in place for opioids and other things that people can get a prescription for, but again you just say medical cannabis, where is the thresholds for law enforcement?

Last year, deputies in the county arrested more than 180 people for driving under the influence. Of those, more than half were drug related and not alcohol.

Jensen said the numbers show that Cache County has drug problems and hes concerned about allowing another drug that people could abuse.

We certainly worry a lot about the publics safety and putting one more thing out there that somebody can legally possess, and create havoc and problems in society.

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said earlier this year that Utahns will vote to legalize medical marijuana. Whether that will be this November or a future year, the governor reportedly didnt say.

<hr /><p style=text-align: center;>will@cvradio.com
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP)  While Russian officials scoff at a U.S. indictment charging 13 Russians with meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, several people who worked at the same St. Petersburg troll factory say they think the criminal charges are well-founded.

Marat Mindiyarov, a former commenter at the innocuously named Internet Research Agency, says the organizations Facebook department hired people with excellent English skills to sway U.S. public opinion through an elaborate social media campaign.

His own experience at the agency makes him trust the U.S. indictment, Mindiyarov told The Associated Press. I believe that thats how it was and that it was them, he said.

The federal indictment issued Friday names a businessman linked to President Vladimir Putin and a dozen other Russians. It alleges that Yevgeny Prigozhin  a wealthy restaurateur dubbed Putins chef, paid for the internet operation that created fictitious social media accounts and used them to spread tendentious messages.

The aim of the factorys work was either to influence voters or to undermine their faith in the U.S. political system, the 37-page indictment states.

Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Monday that while the indictment focuses on Russian nationals, it gives no indication that the Russian government was involved in this in any way. Peskov reasserted that Moscow did not interfere in the U.S. election.

Mindiyarov said he failed the language exam needed to get a job on the Internet Research Agencys Facebook desk, where the pay was double than the domestic side of the factory. The sleek operation produced content that looked as if it were written by native English speakers, he said.

These were people with excellent language skills, interpreters, university graduates, he said, Its very hard to tell its a foreigner writing because they master the language wonderfully.

The English test he took asked for a writing sample about Democratic candidate Hillary Clintons chances of winning the U.S. presidential vote, Mindiyarov recalled.

I wrote that her chances were high and she could become the first female president, he told the AP.

Mindiyarov said he took a job at the troll factory in late 2014 because he was unemployed and curious. At the time, about 400 people occupied four floors of an office building and worked 12-hour shifts, he said. Most of the operation focused on the separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine and Western sanctions against Russia, not political races in the West, he said.

The factory had video and photo departments, Mindiyarov said. The trolls received their wages in cash and operated in teams as they tried to foment public interest with fake discussions, he said.

We worked in a group of three where one played the part of a scoundrel, the other one was a hero, and the third one kept a neutral position, he said. For instance, one could write that Putin was bad, the other one would say it was not so, and the third would confirm the position of the second while inserting some picture.

After only a couple of months, Mindiyarov quit. He said he hated the work.

The world in those comments was divided into black and white: America was bad, Putin was good, he said. They praised whatever had to do with Putin and criticized anything related to America, gay Europe, and so on. That was the principle of the work.

Another former worker at the St. Petersburg workshop, Lyudmila Savchuk, also described it as an efficient venture that churned out posts around the clock.

Like Mindiyarov, Savchuk was employed in the domestic department of the troll farm, not the international division. Nevertheless, she said her experience there corresponds with what she knows of the allegations made by American authorities.

The posts and comments are made to form the opinion of Russian citizens regarding certain issues, and as we see it works for other countries, too, Savchuk told the AP.

Paid trolls used carefully crafted fake identities that made them come across like real people, she said.

The most important principle of the work is to have an account like a real person, Savchuk said. They create real characters, choosing a gender, a name, a place of living and an occupation. Therefore, its hard to tell that the account was made for the propaganda.

Prigozhin, aka Putins Chef, owned restaurants and catering businesses that hosted the Russian leaders dinners with foreign dignitaries. He used his relationship with Putin to expand his business to include services for the Russian military.

Im not at all upset that Im on this list, Prigozhin said of the indictment in comments carried by Russias state RIA Novosti news agency. If they want to see the devil, let them see him.

Along with producing social media supporting Donald Trumps candidacy and disparaging Clinton, the Internet Research Agency purchased online advertisements using identities stolen from Americans and staged political rallies while posing as American political activists, the indictment alleges. The agency also paid people in the U.S. to promote or ridicule the candidates, the document states.

Analysts and journalists have found that some of the Russian-run accounts accrued national followings in the United States, while far-right Americans and several members of Trumps team retweeted posts created in St. Petersburg.

It reportedly used doctored videos to spread false reports about a supposed Islamic State attack on a chemical plant in Louisiana and a purported case of Ebola in the state of Georgia. Seeking to sow division and mistrust ahead of the U.S. election, the agency apparently whipped up a fake video of an African-American woman being shot dead by a white police officer in Atlanta.

All of the trolls knew that its Prigozhin who stands behind this all, Mindiyarov, the ex-commenter who left the organization in early 2015, said. But nobody had any evidence.

He said that the employees disliked Prigozhin, in part because he didnt set up a cafeteria or canteen in the troll factory building even though he owned a sprawling catering business.

People had to bring food boxes from home, Mindiyarov said. Prigozhin did not treat the trolls well. He could at least feed them.

While the U.S. indictment mentioned 13 people, many more must have been involved in the effort, according to Savchuk.

Here they laugh about the news that 13 people could influence the elections in the U.S., but there were many more people doing that, she said. These technologies are unbelievably effective.

She added that she learned how effective the troll farms work was when she saw regular people sharing opinions and information that she knew were planted by trolls.

They believed it was their own thoughts, but I saw that those thoughts were formed by the propagandists, she said.

The Internet Research Agency has reportedly changed locations, moving to another business center in the northern part of St. Petersburg. Its unclear whether it still goes by that name.

Andrey Zakharov, an investigative journalist with Russian RBC outlet who co-reported an investigation of the troll factory, said the list of indicted Russians looked quite random to him.

They simply included in it all the names they could find, Zakharov told the AP. According to our information, some of these people dont work at the factory now and did not even work there during the (U.S.) elections. This does not look like a result of a solid investigation.

Although the U.S. indictment is detailed, it makes assertions without providing evidence outright. Russian officials have seized on that, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who dismissed the charges as just blabber.



Mstyslav Chernov in St. Petersburg, Iuliia Subbotovska, Nataliya Vasilyeva and Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow and Raphael Satter in Paris contributed to this report.
MALE, Maldives (AP)  Maldives parliament on Tuesday approved a 30-day extension of a state of emergency declared by the president to strengthen his power, ignoring a plea from regional power India not to extend it.

The extension of the emergency, first declared earlier this month after the Supreme Court ordered the release of his imprisoned political opponents, is the latest development in a political crisis that has engulfed the Indian Ocean archipelago nation for weeks. The regulations give wide powers to security forces to detain people and curtail freedom to protest.

The speaker of parliament, Abdulla Maseeh, announced that the motion passed after 38 ruling party lawmakers in the 85-member house voted in favor and opposition lawmakers boycotted the balloting.

The opposition said later that the emergency extension was illegal because there was no constitutionally required quorum in Parliament. According to the constitution, one fourth of the members are required for an ordinary vote to be taken and at least half the number of the members should be present in affairs requiring compliance by the citizens. The constitution does not specify such instances.

The two-week state of emergency declared by President Yameen Abdul Gayoom was to expire Tuesday evening, and he had asked the legislature to extend it by 30 days.

The Maldives has been in political turmoil since Feb.1 when the Supreme Court ordered the release of a group of Yameens political opponents who had been imprisoned after convictions criticized for alleged due process violations.

Regional power India said in a statement earlier Tuesday that it expects that the government of Maldives will not be seeking extension of the state of emergency so that the political process in Maldives can resume with immediate effect.

After the revocation of the emergency, democratic institutions including the judiciary should be allowed to function independently and in a fair and transparent manner in accordance with the constitution, the statement said also calling for the release of Yameens rivals.

It is important that Maldives quickly returns to the path of democracy and the rule of law so that the aspirations of Maldivian people are met and the concerns of the international community are assuaged.

The constitution requires that a state of emergency be approved within 48 hours of its declaration by the president. It can take up to two weeks if parliament is in recess, as was the case with Yameens proclamation.

Under the emergency law, Yameen had two Supreme Court judges arrested, accusing them of corruption. Later, the remaining three judges annulled the order to release Yameens opponents. Yameens half brother and former dictator Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was also arrested after the emergency decree, accused of conspiring with the opposition to overthrow the government.

The judges on Sunday also delayed an earlier order to reinstate 12 pro-opposition lawmakers who were expelled after siding with the opposition. Yameens party would have lost a majority in parliament had they been allowed to participate.

This state of emergency is illegal and void. All acts undertaken with emergency powers are illegal, opposition lawmaker Ibrahim Mohamed Solih told reporters.

By entirely circumventing the constitution, President Yameen has in effect hijacked the entire state and is ruling the Maldives like a military dictator, he said..

Maldives became a multiparty democracy in 2008 after decades of Gayooms autocratic rule. But Yameen has rolled back much of the countrys democratic gains after being elected in 2013.

The countrys traditional political alliances have been upended in recent years. Gayoom, now an opposition leader, is allied with exiled former President Mohamed Nasheed, who unseated him in the 2008 elections. Nasheed, Yameens most prominent rival, is among the politicians ordered freed by the Supreme Court.

Maldives is an archipelago of more than 1,000 islands. More than one-third of its 400,000 citizens live in Male, the crowded capital city. Tourism dominates the economy, with wealthy foreigners flown directly to hyper-expensive resort islands.



Associated Press writer Bharatha Mallawarachi contributed to this report from Colombo, Sri Lanka.
JERUSALEM (AP)  The number of Jewish settlers in the West Bank grew at nearly twice the rate of Israels overall population last year, a settler leader said Monday, predicting that settlement growth would surge even more in the coming years thanks in part to the Trump presidency.

Yaakov Katz said that President Donald Trump, backed by a Mideast team dominated by settler supporters, has created a friendly new atmosphere conducive to settlement growth after eight contentious years with the Obama White House.

This is the first time, after years, that we are surrounded by people who really like us, love us, and they are not trying to be objective, Katz said. We have to thank God he sent Trump to be president of the United States.

Katz is founder of West Bank Jewish Population Stats, a <a target=blank href=http://westbankjewishpopulationstats.com/>report</a> sponsored by Bet El Institutions, a prominent settler organization that has ties to Trumps closest Mideast advisers. He said the figures are based on official data from the Israeli Interior Ministry not yet available to the public.

According to his figures, the West Bank settler population reached 435,159 as of Jan. 1, up 3.4 percent from 420,899 a year earlier. The settler population has grown 21.4 percent in the last five years.

In comparison, Israels total population grew 1.8 percent to 8.743 million last year, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics.

Katz said the rapid growth of the settlements should put to rest the idea of a two-state solution favored by the Palestinians and most of the international community.

Based on recent growth patterns, he said the West Bank settler population could approach 500,000 by the time Trump leaves office. His study did not include the more than 200,000 Israelis now living in east Jerusalem, the Palestinians hoped-for capital.

We are changing the map, he said. The idea of the two-state solution is over. It is irreversible.

The Palestinians seek the West Bank, along with east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, for a future independent state. Israel captured the territories in the 1967 Mideast war, though it withdrew from Gaza in 2005.

A string of U.S. presidents, both Republican and Democrat, have endorsed the idea of a two-state solution and have joined the international community in opposing settlements as obstacles to peace.

But after years of failed U.S.-led peace efforts, Trump has taken a different line. He says he would support a two-state solution only if both sides agree to it. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus nationalist coalition is dominated by settler allies who oppose Palestinian independence.

Trump also has taken a softer stance toward the settlements, urging restraint at times but avoiding the strong condemnations of his predecessors. His ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, is a former president of Bet El Institutions. His chief Mideast adviser, son-in-law Jared Kushner, has donated to the group, and even Trump once sent a donation.

These deep ties to the settlements have helped fuel Palestinian suspicions of the White House. Those suspicions deepened after Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israels capital in December, prompting the Palestinians to say the U.S. can no longer be an honest Mideast broker. Trumps team has been working on a peace proposal, though it is not clear when it will be released.

Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said the figures reflect an Israeli policy of building settlements to destroy the two-state solution. He said Trumps muted response encourages more settlement building.

What is required of the world, including the American administration, is to condemn the settlements as illegitimate and illegal and to recognize the principle of two states on the 1967 borders, he said. if they want to keep hope in any future peace process, they must stop these plans.

Brian Reeves, spokesman for Peace Now, an anti-settlement monitoring group, said it could not corroborate Katzs figures but that they are in the ballpark of its own estimates.

Katz said the settlement growth has been fueled both by natural growth of the population, which is heavily religious and tends to have larger families, as well as the attraction of cheaper housing in the West Bank.

He predicted even faster growth in the coming years, claiming that the Trump White House has given Netanyahu a green light to advance construction.

Bibi is less afraid of what the president will say about him, he said. We are very, very, very happy with the Trump administration.
In late September, Ramazan Abdulatipov announced his decision to step down from his post as the head of the Republic of Dagestan. Abdulatipov cited his age (71) as the main reason for his resignation, but the change of leadership in Dagestan should be viewed in the context of Russias upcoming presidential ballot scheduled for March 2018. Moscow habitually replaces heads of the federal subjects just before or after elections. Likely reasons behind Abdulatipovs resignation are his poor performance and inability to tackle the republics most pressing problems. Multi-ethnic Dagestan is one of the Russian Federations most unstable subjects, continuously embattled by economic problems, clan rivalry and the activities of religious militants. On October 3, President Vladimir Putin appointed Vladimir Vasilyev, who does not represent any local ethnic group, to fill the vacant position.

BACKGROUND: Abdulatipov, who was appointed head of Dagestan in 2013, from the outset positioned himself as a leader able to tackle the most pressing social and economic issues. Abdulatipov is of Dagestani/Avar descent but spent his adult life outside Dagestan. He therefore appeared to be the right candidate for this task, lacking strong ties with local clans, which would in theory allow him to find equilibrium between these groups. Abdulatipov sought to minimize the influence of powerful clans that informally control entire sectors of the economy and administration. As a result, the new governor alienated many influential local groups, which hindered important initiatives prepared by the republican government. These measures were accompanied with a crackdown on the shadow economy and corruption. During Abdulatipovs tenure, local law enforcement authorities detained several prominent local politicians such as Makhachkalas mayor Said Amirov or Andrey Vinogradov, head of Dagestans Kizlyar district. However, the fight against economic crime yielded few positive results and persons charged with corruption and embezzlement were rarely convicted.

It soon became clear that Abdulatipovs authoritarian style of leadership and efforts to install a power vertical antagonized numerous groups Dagestans extremely diverse multi-ethnic population and added to tensions in the already volatile republic. The governor paid little attention to popular grievances and failed to adequately respond to the most impeding problems in the republic. During his tenure, Abdulatipov implemented two highly questionable administrative reforms, which were in line with federal standards of centralization and political uniformity, in a bid to neutralize the influence of clan networks and religious extremists. Contrary to initial intentions, these reforms did not improve the local system of governance but fueled the conflict between ethnic groups and caused additional strife, since some locals violently contested the position of the governors nominees.

The crackdown on Dagestans clanship turned out to be merely a window-dressing maneuver, because Abdulatipov quickly turned to traditional informal practices and promoted members of his own clan, predominantly fellow countrymen from Dagestans Tylaratin district. Moreover, some of Abdulatipovs close associates have been involved in questionable activities. For example, the chief of the security unit in Dagestans parliament, Magomed Omarov, is currently one of the major suspects in a criminal case involving the abduction of a high ranking local official.

Abdulatipov proved unable to mitigate Dagestans persistent economic problems, a fact reflected in his plummeting popularity ratings. Dagestans economy is still chronically underperforming and the situation is exacerbated by austerity measures imposed by Moscow. Yet Abdulatipovs inability to effectively fight corruption and chronic mismanagement of federal subsidies appear to be the most important reasons for his replacement. Nevertheless, the former head of the republic is not solely responsible for the mistakes that marred his tenure. Some unfortunate decisions were directly imposed by Moscow, such as centralization of the republican power and economic austerity, which in turn negatively influenced the governors approval ratings and fueled additional conflict in Dagestan.

IMPLICATIONS: It took Moscow unexpectedly long to assign a new candidate for the governor post, but in early October Putin decided to nominate Vladimir Vasilyev as acting head of the republic. Vasilyev, 68, is an experienced politician with a background in law enforcement. He is a colonel-general of the police, who previously in his career commanded an operation against the Khachilayev brothers armed revolt in Dagestan and was part of the team overseeing the release of hostages during the terrorist attack against Dubrovka. Subsequently, Vasilyev has served as a deputy and later deputy Speaker of the State Duma, and Deputy Secretary of the Security Council.

Many experts regard Vasilyevs appointment as a sign of Moscows deep distrust toward the republican elite. For the first time since the 1940s, the head of Dagenstan is not recruited from among Dagestans 14 titular nations and has no ties to local clans. The underlying rationale is to nominate a candidate capable of resisting pressure from local ethnic and clan networks, allowing the federal center to tighten control over Dagestans governance system in order to stabilize the volatile republic. Furthermore, Vasilyevs professional expertise in fighting terrorism and economic crime indicates that Moscow prioritizes security issues and improving the management of funds allocated to the region. The economic downturn has severely impacted the financial situation in federal regions and Moscow has imposed tougher economic policies to tackle this issue, including a more decisive fight against economic crime. However, despite the crackdown on corruption and embezzlement of funds and federal subsidies, economic crime remains endemic in Dagestan. Moscow likely expects that a more experienced candidate without links to local interest groups will be better prepared to deal with this problem. Also, counterterrorism can soon become a renewed concern for both the republican government and the federal center since insurgents are likely to return to Russia after the military defeats suffered by the terrorist organization known as Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

Vasilyev has already outlined his policy goals in Dagestan. The new governor will prioritize projects facilitating trade along the Caspian coast, aiming at economic revitalization of southern Dagestan. The rationale for launching these projects is not only economic. The region borders Azerbaijan and has attracted considerable investment from there, primarily concentrated in the city of Derbent where a sizeable Azerbaijani community lives. This has sparked resentment from the local Lezgin population, which has accused officials of favoring Azerbaijanis. The launch of new state-funded projects aim to balance Azerbaijans influence in the region and minimize conflicts among the local population. Vasilyev has also announced a new personnel policy based on personal accomplishments, rather than the traditional informal practice of only allowing members of the largest ethnic groups to hold the most important posts in the republic, barring persons of other ethnicity from acquiring these positions. The new governor has also asked the State Duma to increase subsidies for the republic and announced that he is ready to improve management of the funds.

CONCLUSIONS: So far, Vasilyevs low-key leadership style, which is in stark contrast to his predecessor, and his willingness to conduct necessary reforms has won sympathy among local citizens. However, experts suggest that due to his age, Vasilyev might not serve the full term and could be replaced after the upcoming presidential elections. Therefore, many fear that the acting head of the republic will decide to prioritize counter terrorism measures and crack down on economic crime to ensure short-term stability without paying much attention to necessary reforms. Even if his appointment is temporary, the new governors political success will depend on how he manages to maneuver among Dagestans powerful clans and ethnicities and whether he can find a balance between the demands of local interest groups and the federal center.

AUTHORS BIO: Natalia Konarzewska is a graduate of University of Warsaw and a freelance expert and analyst with a focus on political and economic developments in the post-Soviet space.

Image source: By en.kremlin.ru, accessed on 2.20. 2018
| BY Ricki Green |

Greg Attwells (left), IP strategist at FINCH, is concerned about the gender disparity in STEM education.

Says Attwells: We need to ignite a passion for creative technology in young women or we are all stuffed. A male dominated tech industry means our capability is limited. New solutions require new people. More women means more possibility.

FINCH has developed a high school creative technology curriculum just for girls, Creatable, which Attwells leads. More than just a high school creative technology course for girls, Creatable teaches young women how to channel their creativity through technology, giving them a platform to realise their potential.

Hell shed light on the program at AdFest 2018 in a session called Female Creative Technologists Are Going to Save the World, and believes Creatable has become one of the most exciting things FINCH is doing from a cultural perspective.

How did the idea for developing a high school creative technology curriculum especially for girls came about?

GA: FINCH recently went through a recruitment process to hire two new engineers for our technology division. We put the call out for any graduating engineers at Sydney-based universities looking to work in storytelling and advertising innovation. We received 67 applications and were shocked to discover that only two of those applicants were female.

The fact that half of the human race is grossly underrepresented in technology became personal. For us, this shifted from being a cause for concern to being a cause for action. New solutions require new people and more women means more possibility. This belief led us to develop and launch Creatable  a creative technology curriculum for teenage girls.

How did you convince high schools to run the program?

GA: Rob Galluzzo, our founder and EP, managed to convince a Sydney girls private school to let us take 20 Year 9 and 10 students through a one-year Creative Technology program. The aspiration was to teach young women how to channel their creativity through technology, igniting a passion for all things STEM at a critical juncture, before senior subjects are chosen and education pathways for young women are set.

In 2017 we saw student enrolments in Year 9 Design & Technology at the pilot school jump from 8 to 50. This year we are taking 140 students across 7 different classes in 4 different schools through the program. We plan to keep on scaling in 2019 and beyond in order to meet cultural needs, correct social norms, and prepare young women for an evolving job market.

The program is called Creatable. How does it relate to FINCHs ambitions as a production company?

GA: At FINCH we aspire to impact culture through work that makes us proud. Its our statement of deep ambition. By leveraging the talent and experience of our applied technologists, VFX artists, strategists, storytellers and engineers  an alchemy of sorts occurs that makes FINCH a unique place. Weve simply decided that inspiring young women to express their creativity through technology is something we want to be a part of.

Your job title is IP strategist, which is not a conventional role within a production company  what does your role entail?

GA: FINCH is a really diverse production company, with a tonne of latent IP that sits within the business. All these makers and creators under the one roof means new products and ideas are coming to life all the time. The business needed someone to help commercialise the IP, finding a strategic way to connect these new ideas and inventions with the brand and marketing strategies of our partnering agencies and the brands they represent. Id never heard of my role either before it appeared on my job description.

Youre also a songwriter and artist. Do you still find time to perform & record albums?

GA: Yes I do. This is my side passion project. I gig regularly as a solo acoustic artist and Im always releasing new music. My next single called Satellites is released on March 2 in all the usual online places. Im heavily influenced by artists like Johnny Cash, Dylan, Springsteen and Ryan Adams.
| BY Ricki Green |

The Northern Territory should have its very own masterbrand in just over 12 months appointing creative agency The Royals to its $1.5 million account.

Says Andrew Siwka, managing partner, The Royals: This is a particularly satisfying win for The Royals. We love taking on big strategic challenges and they dont get much bigger than developing whole of territory master brands. The incredible diversity of the NT certainly adds to the projects complexity but also whets the appetite of an Agency built on insatiable curiosity.

The purpose is to deliver a one-of-a-kind brand and strategy for the NT that would have every Territorian talking up the Territory in the same way.

Siwka said brand presentation was more than what a tourism department could do: This is so much broader than tourism.

When you get this right, it invades elements from immigration to building business to exports and imports to external investment within a location. Tourism is definitely a key stakeholder but its so much more than tourism.

If we get this right, youll see GDP growth and immigration growth.

Siwka said it would take up to a year for the branding to take off but it would have everyone using similar language.

Says Siwka: They wont use exactly the same words, it wont be one single thing, but every Territorian will be able to articulate what it is that makes the NT great.

He said businesses would be able to use an online portal to get marketing tips: When theyre selling beef to China, or theyre at a mining conference, theyll be talking about what makes the NT fantastic.

Siwka said an example of success was in Edmonton, where his team was able to get the whole community on message.

Says Siwka: One of the most amazing things we did at Edmonton was we got schoolkids involved. They started coming up with ideas  and started coming up with ideas that made something Edmonton.

Gunner said the tender was the next step of Team NT and his tourism stimulus package, and that he had charged the best in the world with creating a unified and identifiable brand for the NT.

Says Gunner: This world-recognised team is tasked with framing the NT in the best possible way  crafting a brand that will ultimately drive population, jobs and economic growth. They will build a distinctive and identifiable brand that will provide the Territory with a unique competitive edge to enable us to better tell the Territorys story.

The Royals will also offer NT design students with internship opportunities in its Melbourne office where work on the Territorys brand will be completed.

McGregor Tan has worked with many well-known brands during the past 40 years including international brands Toshiba, Mercedes Benz, Meiji Dairy Industry, Weber and well known Australian brands BHP, Westfield, Coca-Cola Amatil and Red Cross.
| BY Ricki Green |

Digital marketing agency Orange Line has made two senior appointments following a series of new business wins and existing client growth.

The independent Sydney agency has hired former Essence planning lead, Aishling Farrell (right), as general manager of client service and strategy along with former senior ReachLocal executive, Stephanie Ford (left) as operations manager.

For the past 10 years Orange Line has created and executed the digital strategy for tier one and medium-enterprise businesses including Bupa, Expedia and Bayer. Over the past 12 months the agency has increased its scope of work with a number of clients, moving into international markets  including the US  as well as adding a string of new business.

Says David Klein, co-founder and director at Orange Line: The appointments of both Aishling and Stephanie come at a crucial point for the agency as we ramp up our service offering and expand our operations with clients in overseas markets. Both have significant expertise and experience in their respective fields and they will be a great addition to the team as we look forward to a bumper 2018.

Farrell joins Orange Line after seven years with GroupMs digital-first agency, Essence. Starting her career as a media planner/buyer she rose through their ranks in London. Charged with leading planning and account management for clients including Google and HP, she was the first person on the ground when Essence opened their Sydney office in 2016.

Says Farrell: I was impressed by the level of innovation being driven out of the agency. Im excited by the opportunity to work for a business that has fostered an unprecedented level of cross discipline collaboration with each employee feeling empowered to contribute their ideas and solutions. Im joining at a time when Orange Line are ready to take these solutions to market in Australia and beyond.

Ford joins Orange Line after seven years with global online marketing and advertising solutions provider ReachLocal. During that time she gained experience in a variety of roles beginning her career as an account manager and then progressing to UK operations manager. Transferring to Sydney in 2014 she focused on project and program management to bring global alignment and increase operational efficiencies, as well as leading the regional operations specialist team across ANZ.
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The ACT government has called for an overhaul of teacher education courses, listing tighter selection processes, better quality offerings and increased consistency as a possible solution to Australian students' stagnating literacy and numeracy results. In a submission to the federal government's Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools, the ACT has acknowledged that emphasis should be placed on local teaching reforms to "realise maximum impact". However, the submission continued: "The ACT would support further national quality teaching reforms to: (i) reduce the diversity and number of initial teacher education courses and institutions in Australia and (ii) further enrich the selection processes into teacher education and (iii) increase the consistency and quality of initial teacher education programs." An Education Directorate spokesman said the submission had been inspired by international models, where "the highest performing education systems in the world have far fewer education courses and institutions but of a higher quality with less variation". He emphasised the government's strong relationship with the University of Canberra and the Australian Catholic University. "There are currently many teacher education courses across the country, and while these courses must be accredited to operate, the variability of these courses is high across different regional and metropolitan areas of Australia," the spokesman said. The push was welcomed by the Australian Education Union's ACT branch, with secretary Glenn Fowler pointing to teacher drop-out rates as evidence standards should be lifted. That didn't mean teachers in the system weren't up to scratch, he said. "We've been arguing for a long time there is a range of measures that need to occur to enhance the status of the profession," Mr Fowler said. The federal government has introduced a raft of teaching reforms since 2015, including re-accrediting initial teacher education courses in line with new national standards, making compulsory a literacy and numeracy test for new teachers and widening selection processes for education undergraduates. Education Minister Simon Birmingham said: "I'm looking forward to the report from David Gonski and his panel of education and policy experts and to discussions with my state and territory colleagues about the panel's recommendations." University of Canberra dean of education Geoffrey Riordan said he supported the government's views "about the importance of quality teaching, improved teacher education programs and the need to raise the status of teaching". The Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools was announced mid-last year. The panel, led by Mr Gonski, was commissioned to make recommendations on how school funding should be used to improve school performance and student outcomes. It will report to the federal government next month. The ACT's submission also called for a formal review of the impact of NAPLAN. The territory, traditionally the best-performing jurisdiction in the national standardised test, has attracted some scrutiny in the past two years as results lag and gaps widen between rich and poor students. "This should include unintended consequences of school level comparisons, such as contributing to residualised populations, which then results in further unfavourable comparison," its submission said. Senator Birmingham said states and territories could make their case to the Education Council but said parents wanted more data on school and student performance, not less. "Opponents of accountability should cease running scare campaigns against NAPLAN and realise that if they just treated it as regular part of a child's assessment then much of the excessive attention it currently gets would simply vanish," he said. "NAPLAN is being constantly reviewed and refined and there's already been a number of studies and reports on NAPLAN as well as two parliamentary committee inquiries. "The focus of the Commonwealth, states and territories is on how delivering NAPLAN Online will provide faster results and tests that adapt to how students' are performing. NAPLAN Online will provide an even clearer picture of how students are tracking in their learning to help parents and schools support them." The ACT government's submission likely took inspiration from Education Minister Yvette Berry's fact-finding mission to examine Finland and Singapore's high-performing education systems last year.

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Some builders may be more lax about protecting against erosion on their work sites in Canberra than Queanbeyan, due to a lack of territory government enforcement of erosion and sediment rules. Such an approach, as well as failures to install erosion controls, also led to the territory being forced to foot a $750,000 bill to fix erosion and sediment run-off at Coombs ponds last year. A report by the ACT's Auditor-General, Dr Maxine Cooper, has highlighted a number of key failings in the processes for handing over stormwater assets, as well as damage caused to them after hand over. The report shows that despite a government consultant highlighting the problems back in December 2013, and recommending a 'working group' be established to fix it, "little action" has been taken in the five years' since. The 2013 Alluvium report said smaller block sizes in new land releases making it hard for builders to store equipment on site, limited parking, and "uncoordinated or irregular enforcement" of good building practices were contributing to the problems. Some of those issues could be addressed through more enforcement activity and delaying building stormwater assets that were likely to be damaged until later in the construction phase, the audit found. Staff at transport and city services and the Suburban Land Agency claimed that "because of stronger enforcement" of sediment and erosion rules across the border, builders were "more careful to ensure that their building sites were well managed in Queanbeyan than they were in the ACT". Both agencies also told the Auditor-General they were open to having their rangers approved by the territory's Environmental Protection Agency to enforce the rules and ensure builders were complying. The audit found that while the government clear objectives for managing accepted stormwater assets, those aims "may not be met due to deficiencies in the asset acceptance processes and the management of accepted stormwater assets". Such assets represent the ACT government's second-largest infrastructure base, behind only public housing stock, and some 40 per cent of the assets managed by transport and city services. The audit also looked at the ACT's existing stock of stormwater infrastructure, finding the condition of stormwater assets in had not been reassessed since those areas had been developed, despite having a known flood risk. "Where reviews have been completed, recommended augmentation work has not been undertaken in all cases and some of these reviews are no longer current," the report reads. "Transport Canberra and city services advised that areas where there is a current known flood risk include Fyshwick, Chapman, Duffy, Lyons, Page, Red Hill/Griffith, Weetangera and Barton/Forrest." The audit also found an increased risk that stormwater infrastructure in many established areas of the city would be "unable to cope with major rain events", because the network had not been augmented to manage higher flows. Among those areas, the audit cited infill developments, particularly multi-unit high rise towers in established areas, and new estates such as Lawson that was linked to existing networks at Kaleen, Giralang and McKellar. "The impact of new developments on the existing infrastructure and funding for augmentation of this infrastructure should be considered as part of the development of new estates, but TCCS advised that this is not happening," the audit reads. "There are no scheduled reviews of the condition of the stormwater infrastructure in established areas. "To ensure that this infrastructure meets future stormwater needs, there needs to be an ongoing program for the review and augmentation of stormwater assets to alleviate flood hazards due to undercapacity of drainage systems." The audit made 17 recommendations including creating a working group, as outlined in 2013, to create a strategy to reduce the damage to accepted assets caused by building and other activity. It also recommended a host of new measures to improve the management of, and planning for, stormwater infrastructure across the ACT. No government agency provided any comments for inclusion in the audit report.

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May Zinga was just seven years old in 1901 when her mother gave her away to Wirth Brothers Circus. Torn from her family, little May had big dreams, to become the greatest equestrienne in the world, performing astounding tricks on the back of a galloping horse. The little girl from Bundaberg, Queensland, went on to perform for the British Royal Family and American President Woodrow Wilson, becoming a favourite of the suffragette movement in the early 1900s. "Don't tell me women cannot do anything they desire," she was reported as saying. And such is the story of Marvellous Miss May: Queen of the Circus, the fourth in the Heritage Heroes series by Canberra author Stephanie Owen Reeder. "If I was making these stories up no one would believe me," says Owen Reeder of the incredible tale. Her previous book Lennie the Legend: Solo to Sydney by pony told the story of a nine-year-old boy who travelled 1000km on horseback to attend the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932. It has been optioned as film and went on to win the Eve Pownall Award for Information Books in the 2016 Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards. Owen Reeder first started writing the heritage series when she was editing a book called Picturing Australia for the National Library of Australia featuring some artworks in the collection. "One of those was an image of three children, by William Strutt. They looked at the end of tether, lying in the bush, snuggled up together," she says. "I've got three children and it really touched my heart. I could just feel something drastic had happened to them so I found out more about the painting. "Strutt had heard about three children who in 1864 got lost in the bush for nine days. They were only three, seven and nine and it was a big story at the time, it even made the London press. They actually survived, which in those days was unusual. "I just thought this would be a great story to retell for children today." Lost: A true tale from the bush was published in 2006. Owen Reeder loves history and believes it's important that children recognise that it's about more than dates. "It's important that kids read books and if they're learning about history in a way they can relate they'll be more engaged," she says. "History is about real people doing real things. It's about all the small people who together make the country what it is." She says she feels like something of a "treasure hunter" doing all the research. "It's about finding the story and then delving into the history, what it was like living as a child in those days. "A lot of the material I use is visual, those things can tell you a lot about how people lived at that time." Owen Reeder takes the history and fictionalises it to some extent, finishing off each chapter with some information and facts to complement the story. She says the heritage series also has a big following of adult readers who enjoy being taken back to their own childhood. Her first children's picture book was published in 1997, The Flaming Witch featured stunning illustrations by Indonesian artist Dadang Christiano (who, as an aside, currently features in an exhibition at the Nancy Sever Gallery). For many years she was a Hansard editor at Parliament. "One could say that puts you in good stead for writing for children, especially watching what's going on at the moment," she laughs. It has been something of a circus. Marvellous May: Queen of the Circus, by Stephanie Owen Reeder. NLA Publishing, $24.99.

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Good morning Canberra, We're in for a mostly sunny day today with a high of 23 degrees and low of 11. Let's take a look at what's making news today. Sadly three bodies were found after a house fire on Peter Coppin Street in Bonner yesterday. The bodies were reportedly of an adult and two children, but police said they could not confirm the identities of the deceased. Our reporters Sherryn Groch and Sally Whyte have the story. New public housing will be developed on bushfire-prone land in Canberra's west, after a controversial application was approved. Twenty single-storey townhouses will now be built on community-facility zoned land on the corner of Darwinia Terrace, Kathner Street and Percy Crescent in Chapman. Katie Burgess spoke to opponents who said it's not an easy suburb to navigate without private transport. Opposition leader Alistair Coe says there are many questions still unanswered about the ethics, "and perhaps even the legality", of the Barr government's $7.5 million purchase of the rural property Winslade at Mount Stromlo in May last year under the now-defunct LDA's land acquisition policies. The property, along with another $4.6 million worth of land in Belconnen, was purchased months after a damning audit report of the LDA's land acquisition systems. Daniel Burdon has the story. Builders may be more lax about protecting against erosion on their work sites in Canberra compared to their sites in Queanbeyan. Daniel Burden has found there's a lack of territory government enforcement of erosion and sediment rules. He writes failures to install erosion controls led to the territory being forced to foot a $750,000 bill to fix erosion and sediment run-off at Coombs ponds last year. Read more here. The ACT government is branding Canberra as a mecca for medical specialists. Minister for Health Meegan Fitzharris this week toured the territory's sparkling new purpose built hospital - its official name University of Canberra Hospital: Specialist Centre for Rehabilitation, Recovery & Research - which is due to open in mid-2018. The Minister is keen to attract specialists to the site and the government is now rolling out a campaign that will highlight Canberra's livability, the growing opportunities across the health sector and the "buzz" around Canberra as a great place to live. More from our health reporter Daniella White. This story is a long one so you might want to save it for your lunch break. Jeff Hunt was the ACT's Secondary Teacher of the Year for 2017, but you might not be familiar with the school he teaches at: the Murrumbidgee Education and Training Centre. The school is behind barbed wire at Bimberi Youth Justice Centre. Mr Hunt's pupils include a murderer, an armed robber, at least one rapist, several drug dealers and an extortionist whose victim committed suicide. Mark Dapin went into Bimberi to see the work Mr Hunt does inspiring young criminals to learn.

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Good morning Canberra, We're in for a cloudy day today reaching a top of 27 degrees. Be sure to slip, slop, slap when you head outdoors because UV conditions will be extreme. Here's what you need to know this morning: The Australian Bureau of Statistics will axe 100 more jobs, the majority of them in Canberra. The latest cuts follow two rounds of redundancies last year. Doug Dingwall reports these cuts aren't because the bureau's statistical work program is shrinking, rather, they're to bring staffing levels back within budget. Residents near Tharwa, south of Canberra, are concerned about the risks associated with the growing number of alternative music festivals held in the area. As the sixth 'bush doof' at Caloola Farm in 18 months approaches, residents have called on the ACT government to intervene in a series of festivals police warned could lead to death or injury if left unchecked. Up to 2000 people are expected to attend this weekend's Psyfari festival near Tharwa this weekend. Katie Burgess looks at some of issues at previous festivals. Canberra Liberals leader Alistair Coe will today call for an inquiry into the citizens' jury on the insurance scheme which is currently under way. He'll be asking the Justice and Community Safety committee to look into how CTP insurance was chosen as its subject, how the facilitators were procured, how the jury was selected and what information they were given. Our assembly reporter Katie Burgess has more. The ACT Greens are disappointed that out of more than 4000 sites to be released for residential development this year, only 143 sites will go to public housing. There is no public housing proposed for the prestigious inner suburb of Red Hill. The party's planning spokeswoman Caroline Le Couteur said it is "not appropriate to have areas of Canberra that are purely upper income enclaves". Daniel Burdon has the story. Here's a question for your mates at the water cooler today: What does the ACT actually export? New data shows our major export for the 2016-17 year was gold coin and legal tender coin. So, what are our major imports? You'll have to read Sally Whyte's story to find out.

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New public housing will be developed on bushfire-prone land in Canberra's west, after a controversial application was approved. Twenty single-storey townhouses will be built on community-facility zoned land on the corner of Darwinia Terrace, Kathner Street and Percy Crescent in Chapman. It's part of a tranche of public housing being built across Canberra to replace the ageing slabs of public housing along Northbourne Corridor, and the inner north and south of Canberra. However some local residents opposed the Chapman housing plans, because of the bushfire threat and the zoning of the land. Weston Creek Community Council chair Tom Anderson said it was "about the best outcome you could get, if you accepted public housing was going to be built there". "People are still not happy the community-facility zoned land will be used for public housing and they're not happy with the way it occurred but the layout and reduction of numbers to 20 duplex townhouses probably fit as well as any buildings," Mr Anderson said. "I still have concerns about the location of people there, if they don't have transport they'll have to rely on the once-hour bus when it runs by. It's a long way from the school in Chapman if they have children, it's close to two kilometres away, and it's about 800-900 metres to Rivett. It's not an easy suburb to navigate without private transport." The Chapman site was one of five earmarked for new public housing last year, but was by far the most controversial. An aged care facility planned for the site was scuttled in 2014 because of the fire risk. The approved public housing development application said the ACT Emergency Services Agency had provided advice on the conditions for the site. "The applicant provided a detailed bushfire report that indicates the buildings will be built to BAL19 which will be above the requirement," the planning documents said. "The landscaping plans have provided a detailed response that the planting and other landscaping materials will be of high quality in relation to fire. "The mitigation measures in this approval are to be maintained for the life of the residence. "Special care needs to be exercised by the lessee to ensure that any future building works and modifications to the dwelling and additional landscaping does not compromise the mitigation measures imposed." The approved application also said public housing was an "efficient" use of the zoning of the site, providing homes for disadvantaged Canberrans. Locals had raised concerns building housing on-site was inconsistent with the community-facility zoning of the site, the name of which seems to suggest a usage by clubs or as recreation space. Documents released under Freedom of Information laws last year revealed the government began looking at using community-facility zoned land as an alternative land supply option in 2015, saying the use hinged on a "clarification" of the definition of social housing. The government later introduced a technical amendment to "clarify" that he site could indeed be used for housing. Residents also believed there was not enough amenities or public transport in the area to support public housing tenants. However the planning documents pointed to a bus stop 500 metres away and the "relative close proximity" to Cooleman Court and Woden. "The proposed development will provide adaptable housing for persons in need of residential support or care," the documents read. "All proposed dwellings are to adaptable standards to allow for those with such need to have appropriate accommodation. "The development will contribute to a socially sustainable and inclusive environment where government and non-government facilities and services are readily available for individuals, families and communities."

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The fire that gutted a house and led to the grim discovery of three bodies in Canberra's north was deliberately lit, police say. ACT Policing also confirmed on Tuesday they released a man after questioning on Monday, but no charges have been laid. Police have yet to formally identify the bodies, which were discovered after fire crews rushed to the Bonner house as it was engulfed in flames just after 9am on Monday. Neighbours said a mother and two children lived at the Peter Coppin Street house, but Detective Superintendent Scott Moller said the formal identification process would take some time yet. "We can say that after our investigation last night, that the fires were deliberately lit," he said on Tuesday. "It's a difficult scene, there's been a fire in there...it's a horrific incidentand it has a significant impact on all the emergency services that attended." Detective Superintendent Moller said it was still too early in the investigation to speculate on the circumstances surrounding the deaths, but fire accelerants were likely used across multiple "seats of fire" in the house. "There's a number of enquiries...and leads that we're following. No one is in custody at this stage," he said. Firefighters discovered the bodies inside the house while battling the blaze on Monday. Once the fire was out, crews had to ensure the building's structure was sound before a second search could begin, Superintendent Moller said. "Their belief was they were deceased," he said. The locations of where the three people had been found inside the house, as well as when they died, would form part of the investigation. "We are investigating all avenues, this investigation is complex, it's going to be a significant investigation for us and it will be going for some time." Next of kin have not yet been identified. On Tuesday, the street in Bonner had reopened as forensic teams continued to shift through the remains of the burnt out house. Detective Superintendent Moller said police had spoken to "lots of residents" in the neighbourhood who were now helping police. Many had witnessed dark plumes of smoke rising from the house the morning of the fire. Several neighbours expressed their shock at the tragic news and said the family who lived there had mostly kept to themselves. Community Housing Canberra confirmed it owned the property and leased it at 75 per cent of the rental market rate. Chief executive Andrew Hannan said the company was liaising with ACT Policing, which now had control of the five-year-old house constructed through the ACT government's land rent scheme for affordable housing. CHC, which owns and manages multiple properties in Bonner, leases its stock across Canberra for 12-month terms to low- to moderate-income earners. "The first concern is for the tenants and for their families," Mr Hannan said of the fire. "Our thoughts and wishes go out to the family and friends and all directly impacted through this terrible tragedy." Salvation Army volunteers were knocking on doors Tuesday morning, to check on the welfare of those inside. Major Bob Garven, who is also a chaplain for the ACT's fire brigade, said the incident was "tragic for the whole street". "We sometimes doorknock and offer people counselling and such after things like this, especially this one being such an unusual tragedy. "When all of this dies down, the neighbours will still come out and go to work every day and see the house and be reminded." He said firefighters who attended the scene on Monday were debriefed and provided with counselling.

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Photo: The Canadian Press

Pollution is threatening the recently mapped Sac Actun cave system in the Yucatan Peninsula, a vast underground network that experts in Mexico say could be the most important underwater archaeological site in the world.

Subaquatic archaeologist Guillermo de Anda said the cave system's historical span is likely unrivaled. Some of the oldest human remains on the continent have been found there, dating back more than 12,000 years, and now-extinct animal remains push the horizon back to 15,000 years.

He said researchers found a human skull that was already covered in rainwater limestone deposits long before the cave system flooded around 9,000 years ago.

De Anda said over 120 sites with Maya-era pottery and bones in the caves suggest water levels may have briefly dropped in the 216-mile (347-kilometre) -long system during a drought about 1,000 A.D. And some artifacts have been found dating to the 1847-1901 Maya uprising known as the War of the Castes.

Humans there probably didn't live in the caves, de Anda said, but rather went down to them "during periods of great climate stress, to look for water."

Sac Actun is "probably the most important underwater archaeological site in the world," he said.

But de Anda said pollution and development may threaten the caves' crystalline water.

Some of the sinkhole lakes that today serve as entrances to the cave system are used by tourists to snorkel and swim. And the main highway in the Caribbean coast state of Quintana Roo runs right over some parts of cave network. That roadway has been known to collapse into sinkholes.

Also, the cave with the stone-encased skull has high acidity levels, suggesting acidic runoff from a nearby open-air dump could damage skeletal remains.

The world's other great underwater site, the sunken Egyptian city of Alexandria, is also threatened by pollution.
Photo: The Canadian Press

A grey whale has been returned safely to the Pacific Ocean after three days beached on the coast of Mexico's Baja California Sur state.

The federal environmental protection agency says in a statement that the whale swam into a shallow canal near Puerto Adolfo Lopez Mateos last Thursday and was then stranded by the ebbing tide.

Workers spent three days using pumps to keep the whale hydrated. Photos released by the agency showed them hosing it down and digging the sand in an apparent bid to allow water to pool around it.

Monday's statement said the tide came in high enough Saturday for the whale to be manoeuvred to open water. It swam away under its own power and "in good health."

Grey whales are a protected species in Mexico.
Photo: CTV - File Photo

The Lower Mainland could be in store for some frigid temperatures, the likes they are not used to.

Meteorologist Cindy Yu told CTV Vancouver temperatures could plummet to record-setting levels this week.

"We are expecting much colder than normal temperatures for at least the next three to five days," said Yu.

"The cold is really here to stay."

Vancouver is expected to have an overnight low of -4C tonight, with the mercury dipping to -5 the next two nights before warming slightly.

Daytime highs are forecast to rise above zero.

Here in the Okanagan, the overnight temperature in both Kelowna and Vernon could drop as low as -19C tonight with temperatures of -16 in Penticton.

Overnight temperatures are expected to remain in the double digits in the Okanagan through Thursday.
Photo: Twitter

An alleged top boss of the Gulf drug cartel was captured by Mexican marines Monday in the northern border state of Tamaulipas, which for years has been terrorized by gangland violence.

A statement from the Mexican navy said the suspect it identified only as Jose Alfredo, with no last name, was arrested in the city of Matamoros, which is across from Brownsville, Texas.

"Presumably he was the leader of a criminal organization in the region," the statement said.

A state government official with knowledge of the case confirmed that the detained man was Jose Alfredo Cardenas, alias "the Accountant" and "Mr. Polite."

He is nephew to the brothers and former Gulf cartel leaders Osiel and Antonio Cardenas; the former is in a U.S. prison, while the latter was killed by Mexican security forces in 2010.

The official, who was not authorized to discuss the case publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said no shots were fired in the pre-dawn raid. Authorities seized two military-grade weapons, ammunition, a vehicle and some cocaine and marijuana.

Tamaulipas, a key corridor for smuggling drugs and migrants to the United States, has long been plagued by cartel violence. The state is one of five in Mexico for which the U.S. State Department issued its highest warning level  "Do Not Travel"  under new guidelines last month.

Amid frequently shifting criminal alliances and loyalties in the state, since 2014 the Gulf and Zetas cartels have been pitted against a breakaway faction of the Zetas that calls itself the Cartel of the Northeast.

The faction is largely led by relatives of Miguel Angel Trevino Morales, alias "Z 40," a Zeta kingpin who was captured in 2013.

The dispute has rocked Tamaulipas as well as nearby Nuevo Leon, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosi and other states where the Zetas have a presence and the Northeast cartel is now fighting them.

The war has claimed the lives of gangsters, police and civilians. Tamaulipas recorded 805 murders across the state last year, up sharply from 595 in 2016, according to federal government statistics.
Photo: CTV

It's budget day in B.C. and New Democrat Finance Minister Carole James says her financial plan will look much different than those put forward by the previous Liberal government.

James bucked tradition yesterday, opting to read a children's book to three- and four-year-olds at a child-care centre instead of buying a new pair of shoes.

She says for 16 years the former Liberal government didn't share the wealth, but that will change with this budget.

Last week, the government's throne speech promised historic investments in both housing and child care, aimed at making life more affordable for B.C. residents.

James wouldn't say if her budget will be balanced, but the government has already spent big money on election promises such as dropping tolls on two Metro Vancouver bridges, and financial difficulties at the publicly owned Insurance Corp. of B.C. could create financial pressure.

Late last year, James forecasted a reduced surplus of $190 million for the fiscal year, with 2.9 per cent economic growth.
Photo: The Canadian Press

A hundred Stoneman Douglas High School students are busing 400 miles to Florida's capital Tuesday to urge lawmakers to act to prevent a repeat of the massacre that killed 17 students and faculty last week.

The students plan to hold a rally Wednesday in hopes that it will put pressure on the state's Republican-controlled Legislature to consider a sweeping package of gun-control laws, something some GOP lawmakers said Monday they would consider. Shortly after the shooting, several legislative leaders were taken on a tour of the school to see the damage firsthand and they appeared shaken afterward.

"I really think they are going to hear us out," said Chris Grady, a 19-year-old senior who is going on the trip. He said he hopes the trip will lead to some "commonsense laws like rigorous background checks."

The attack last Wednesday seemed to overcome the resistance of some in the state's leadership, which has rebuffed gun restrictions since Republicans took control of both the governor's office and the Legislature in 1999. However, there is still strong resistance by many in the party to any gun-control measures, leaving the fate of new restrictions unclear.

Students also have vowed to exert pressure on Congress as the aftermath of the rampage resonates beyond Florida and from coast to coast. Hundreds of chanting protesters converged Monday on a downtown Los Angeles park, demanding tougher background checks and other gun-safety measures after the shooting. Some signs held up by the California demonstrators read, "Your Children Are Counting On You."

Sen. Bill Galvano, a Republican and the incoming Florida senate president, said the state Senate was preparing a package that would include raising the age to purchase any firearm to 21, creating a waiting period for purchasing any type of firearm, banning bump stocks that can allow semi-automatic guns to spray bullets quickly and creating gun-violence restraining orders.

The Senate is also considering boosting spending on mental health programs for schools and giving law-enforcement greater power to involuntarily hold someone considered a danger to themselves. The body will also look at a proposal to deputize a teacher or someone else at school so they are authorized to have a gun.

Galvano said senators want to examine ways to protect schools that do not have resource officers  often armed law enforcement officers  on site.

State House leaders and Gov. Rick Scott also are considering possible changes to firearms rules but have not given any details. Scott planned meetings Tuesday on school safety, and said he would announce proposals on mental health issues later in the week.

Still, some Republicans questioned whether additional gun restrictions are the answer.

"I really don't want to see this politicized into a gun debate," Republican Sen. Dennis Baxley.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Danish royals and officials have attended a private funeral for Denmark's late Prince Henrik, husband of Queen Margrethe, at a Copenhagen chapel.

The queen, Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, France's ambassador to Denmark and some 60 other guests were among those at the simple church ceremony Tuesday at the chapel of the Christiansborg Palace.

Later, hundreds lined the streets of downtown Copenhagen to watch military officers carry away Henrik's coffin, draped in a Danish flag with his personal coat of arms.

The royal palace has respected the wish of French-born Henrik to be cremated.

Last year, he stunned Danes when he said he didn't want to be buried next to Margrethe in keeping with tradition.

Henrik died Feb. 13 at age 83.
Photo: Contributed

Police in Keremeos are searching for a suspect after two shooting incidents in the village on the weekend.

In the first incident, RCMP responded to the 800 block of 3rd Avenue when a single bullet was fired through the living room window of a home.

Cst. Brian Evans said several people were inside when the shooting happened, and noted it was fortunate that nobody was hurt.

After responding to that incident, officers noticed a single bullet hole through a police cruiser that belongs to the Keremeos detachment.

"Again, there were no injuries, as the police car was parked and unoccupied at the Keremeos detachment when this incident occurred," Evans said.

Both shootings occurred around 11 p.m. on Friday night. Evans said it's believed both incidents are directly related.

The two incidents reportedly may have been targeted.

Anyone with information is asked to call Keremeos RCMP at 250-499-5511 or CrimeStoppers if they wish to remain anonymous.
Photo: Osoyoos Museum Future home of Osoyoos Museum.

A new home for the Osoyoos Museum is now less than two years away, and for the museum board that means kicking fundraising into high gear.

Osoyoos Council heard an update on the museum's plans at Monday morning's Committee of the Whole meeting, including they plans to open in 2020.

"We take possession on the first of January," said president of the Osoyoos Museum board Mat Hassen. "Hopefully open in late spring, early summer with a fully accessible, operational main floor and archives in the basement."

However, Hassen said they have a ways to go before they have the full budget for the project in hand. As it stands, they have raised $685,000 of the $2.5 million total they will need.

"We need help to plan and promote and participate in fundraising events," Hassen said;. "Any opportunities that councillors have to champion the project, it would be very much appreciated."

Now that possession of the new building is under 24 months away, the museum is eligible to apply for federal grants, including the Cultural Spaces Canada grant which allots $5 million each year between projects in Alberta, B.C. and Yukon. Hassen said they will apply annually for the next three years for some of that money.

He also asked council to consider contributing to accessibility in the building, including power doors, accessible washrooms and an elevator.

Museum director Kara Burton also spoke to council, encouraging the public to aide the museum's efforts by volunteering, saying she would find a job to suit anyone's strengths who wanted to help out.
Photo: BC Gov Flickr Ashton at a 2017 wine event.

The B.C. wine industry is near and dear to the citizens of MLA Dan Ashton's Penticton riding, and he has now spoken out against the ongoing embargo in Alberta.

In a statement released Tuesday, Ashton, a BC Liberal, called out Premier John Horgan and the provincial NDP for embroiling the industry in their trade war.

As the wine war continues, it seems the only people coming out ahead are the lawyers. Today the government launched more court action, Ashton said, during Question Period in the Legislature on Monday. Seventy million dollars in wine sales is being lost and replacing that revenue could take years.

Since the Feb. 6 announcement by Premier Rachel Notley of Alberta that her province would no longer be importing B.C. wine until progress could be made on the controversial Trans-Mountain pipeline, B.C.'s wineries have been in limbo.

The B.C. wine industry contributes $2.8 billion annually to the economy. It includes over 300 wineries and employs over 12,000 people province-wide.

In his release, Ashton also noted that wineries are at greater risk heading into tourist season, using Dirty Laundry Vineyards in Summerland as an example of a winery that gets 45 per cent of their visitors from Alberta.

We need the government to take this seriously. The $2 billion wine industry is not a pawn to be used between two bickering provincial NDP governments," Ashton said.
Photo: The Canadian Press Two-year-old Julian Diaczok is treated after being injured in an escalator accident in Vancouver Airport.

A Calgary woman is reminding parents about the dangers of escalators after her toddler's foot became stuck in one and he broke his leg.

Andrea Diaczek says she was holding her two-year-old son's hand as they rode down an escalator at the Vancouver International Airport on Friday.

She says the toe of his boot brushed the edge of the escalator and his foot was sucked inside.

She screamed, someone stopped the escalator and she used scissors to cut him free from his mangled boot.

She says Julian also has some cuts and swelling but is otherwise OK.

A statement from the airport says safety is a priority and it is investigating.
Photo: Oliver Daily News

A prolific offender has been taken into custody after a break and enter with an axe into an Oliver business.

Police responded after a witness initially saw a man break into an apartment on Main Street in Oliver, at about 7:40 a.m. on Saturday.

The witness said the male was wielding a large axe and had used it to break through a door.

Oliver and Osoyoos RCMP, as well the Police Dog Service from Penticton RCMP, responded to the apartment, located above a business that was closed.

No one was located in the apartment, and officers determined the suspect broke into the business below through an access door.

After the police dog found the suspect hiding in the business, he raised the axe and was about to strike the dog, Cst. Blaine Gervais said in a news release.

The officer who witnessed the unfolding incident was close enough to grab the axe handle, and after a brief struggle managed to take it away from the suspect, Gervais said.

The male suspect was then arrested.

Steve Godbout, 50, remains in custody and is facing several charges in regards to the incident.

Godbout had previously been arrested on Feb. 7 in relation to an arson in a dumpster at the Oliver Mall.

He had only been released in late January after serving a two-year jail sentence for breaking into a Telus service shelter.

Godbout appears in court next on Feb. 28.
Photo: Contributed

A stabbing early Tuesday morning in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside left two people in hospital and one arrested.

The Vancouver Police Department responded to reports of a disturbance near Princess Avenue and Powell Street around 5:30 a.m.

A 49-year-old male and 31-year old female, both with stab wounds, were found at the scene. Their injuries are being treated and appear serious but not life-threatening.

A 23-year-old male was arrested and charges are pending. The suspect and victims know each other.

VPD said in a statement that it is early in the investigation, and no additional information is available at this time.
Photo: RCMP

A B.C. man has pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of his mother.

A news release from the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says Donovan Penner entered the plea in B.C. Supreme Court on Monday, less than a week after his trial began.

Penner was 47-years-old when he was arrested at the scene of the October 2014 murder of Sunshine Coast resident Denise "Esme" Lachance.

Police have not said how the 67-year-old woman died or what motivated her slaying.

Penner's sentencing has been set for Feb. 26.
Photo: Google Street View

The public in Chilliwack don't need to be alarmed if they see police and security at Sardis Secondary School on Saturday  it's a training exercise.

Chilliwack RCMP will be training emergency first responders the morning of Feb. 24 on the 45000 block of Stevenson Road.

The exercise aims to allow first responders to learn and practise team skills, so that should a real emergency occur, they will be ready.

"The property of Sardis Senior Secondary School will be cordoned off by police for security and safety reasons during the exercise. The City of Chilliwack recreational area behind the school will remain accessible to the public from South Sumas Road, said spokesman Cpl. Mike Rail.
Photo: Nicholas Johansen

More trouble is reported on B.C. Interior highways.

Castanet's Nich Johansen sent in this photo of a car on its side in the median between the north and southbound lanes just west of Elkhart Lodge on the Okanagan Connector.

One person can be seen standing beside the vehicle, which appears to have come to rest on its side after leaving the highway. Another vehicle can be seen stopped with its window down.

No emergency crews were on scene as of 1 p.m.
The Met Gala theme this year was In America: A Lexicon of Fashion. Get your popcorn ready.
Photo: BC Gov't

Parents with children in licensed day care programs in B.C. will see their costs drop under changes introduced in the provincial budget that the government describes as a first step towards providing a universal child care program.

The province will spend an additional $1 billion on child care over the next three years to lower costs, increase the number of spaces and improve quality.

Finance Minister Carole James said the changes are aimed at parents with infants and toddlers in child care because the government has heard those spaces are the most expensive and difficult to find.

Beginning April 1, funding will be provided to licensed care providers to provide a $350 a month cut in the cost of a child care space.

The government says the fee reductions will help an estimated 50,000 families by 2020-21.

The government is also introducing a new affordable child care benefit starting in September that will provide up to $1,250 a month per child, which it says will benefit an estimated 86,000 families in three years' time.

It will spend money as well to attract, train and retain early childhood educators.

James said Tuesday the government will also work with school district and municipalities to create more spaces, and provide incentives for unlicensed child care providers to become licensed.

"Parents want quality child care that is safe and gives them peace of mind while they are at work," James said in her budget speech.

"Businesses also feel the effects of unaffordable child care. They have told us that economic growth is being hampered. That when a parent can't find child care, it means they lose a worker."

James described her approach as the first step toward a universal child care program.

"We know our vision for universal child care requires a shift that will take time," she added.

James said the money being spent over the next three years represents the largest amount invested in child care in the province's history.

"I have heard from parents here in Victoria, and across the province, that they are anxious about child care," she said. "Often this anxiety starts before their baby is even born."

James said the government's approach will create more than 22,000 new licensed spaces, and families earning less than $45,000 a year "will pay little to nothing for child care."
Photo: RCMP Dmytro (also known as Dmitri) Kubyshkin was not previously known to police, but he is facing allegations that range from 1998 to 2015.

A Coquitlam piano teacher has been charged with three counts of sexual assault involving former students, and police fear there may be more victims out there.

Dmytro (also known as Dmitri) Kubyshkin was not previously known to police, but he is facing allegations that range from 1998 to 2015.

Kubyshkin is believed to have been teaching in private homes for more than 20 years. His current company name is DM Piano School, said Cpl. Michael McLaughlin.

In order to further the investigation, Coquitlam RCMP is releasing a photo of Kubyshkin who is described as a 67-year-old Caucasian man with white/blonde hair, blue eyes and a moustache. He is 510 tall and weighs 160 pounds.

Kubyshkin also speaks with a Russian accent.

If you believe that you, or someone you know, has been a victim of a crime involving Kubyshkin, please call the Coquitlam RCMP non-emergency number at 604-945-1550 and ask for the Investigative Support Team file #2018-1860, said McLaughlin.


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Around 7,000 people have cancelled regular donations to Oxfam in the wake of the Haiti sex scandal.



The number of donations has dropped drastically over a 10-day period since The Times reported allegations of aidworkers using prostitutes in Haiti.



Hundreds of thousands of pounds has already been shaved off the charitys annual income as donors are quickly dropping their monetary support.



Appearing before MPs today, Oxfams chief executive, Mark Goldring apologised for errors made by the charity, most of which had taken place prior to his appointment in 2013.



Two other executives joined Goldring in facing the Commons international development committee this morning, where they were grilled by MPs about the sexual misconduct that took place after the earthquake in Haiti in 2011.



"I am sorry, we are sorry, for the damage Oxfam has done both to the people of Haiti but also to wider efforts for aid and development by possibly undermining public support, Goldring said.



The charity was accused of covering up the misconduct, but it was denied by Goldring who said his predecessors would have been trying to make the right decision at the time, but that he doesnt defend that decision.



Goldring also told MPs Oxfam has received 26 fresh allegations of sexual misconduct since the Haiti scandal revelations.



He said the charity had called for people to come forward with reports of any misconduct, to which they have received around 26 stories.



"Some of those cases relate to the UK, some of them relate to our international programme, he said.

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Last year, the National Science Foundation and Mozilla announced the Wireless Innovation for a Networked Society challenges: $2 million in prizes for big ideas to connect the unconnected across the U.S. The first set of winners was announced Tuesday: 20 bright ideas from Detroit, Cleveland, Albuquerque, New York City, and beyond. The winners are building mesh networks, solar-powered Wi-Fi, and network infrastructure that fits inside a single backpack. Winning projects were developed by veteran researchers, enterprising college students, and everyone in-between. One of the winners is NoogaNet by the Enterprise Center, which will be awarded $40,000.

What do all these projects have in common? Theyre affordable, scalable, open-source, and secure.

Some 34 million Americans  many of them located in rural communities and on tribal lands  lack high-quality Internet access, says Jim Kurose, assistant director of NSF for Computer and Information Science and Engineering. By supporting ideas like the ones that have surfaced through the WINS challenges, Internet access could be expanded to potentially millions of Americans, enabling many social and economic opportunities that come with connectivity.

As the value of being connected to the Internet steadily increases, Americans without affordable access to the net are increasingly excluded from a world of social, educational, and economic possibility, adds Mozilla Fellow and WINS judge Steve Song. The 20 projects short-listed are evidence of the potential that now exists for thoughtful, committed citizens to build affordable, scalable, secure communication infrastructure wherever it is needed.

The 20 Stage 1 winners presented rigorously-researched design concepts and will receive between $10,000 and $60,000 each. Winners were selected by a panel of judges from organizations like Nokia, Columbia University, and the Raspberry Pi Foundation.

Up next: All winning teams  along with more than 100 other WINS submissions  are now invited to build working prototypes as part of the second stage of the competition. In August, these finalists will provide live demonstrations of their prototypes at an event in Mountain View, Ca. Final awards, ranging from $50,000 to $400,000, will be announced in the fall of 2018.

OFF THE GRID INTERNET CHALLENGE WINNERS

When disasters strike, communications networks are among the first pieces of critical infrastructure to overload or fail. These 10 creative ideas being recognized with design prizes leverage both the internets decentralized design and current wireless technology to keep people connected to each other  and to vital messaging and mapping services  in the aftermath of earthquakes, hurricanes, and other disasters.

[1] Project Lantern | First Place ($60,000) A Lantern is a keychain-sized device that hosts decentralized web apps with local maps, supply locations, and more. These apps are pushed to Lanterns via long-range radio and Wi-Fi, and then saved offline to browsers for continued use. Lanterns can be distributed by emergency responders and are accessed by citizens through a special-purpose Wi-Fi network supported by the Lanterns. Project by Paper & Equator in New York, NY in collaboration with the Shared Reality Lab at McGill University; learn more.

[2] HERMES | Second Place ($40,000) HERMES (High-frequency Emergency and Rural Multimedia Exchange System) is autonomous network infrastructure. It enables local calling, SMS, and basic OTT messaging, all via equipment that can fit inside two suitcases, using GSM, Software Defined Radio and High-Frequency radio technologies. Project by Rhizomatica.

[3] Emergency LTE | Third Place ($30,000) Emergency LTE is an open-source, solar- and battery-powered cellular base station that functions like an autonomous LTE network. The under-50-pound unit features a local web server with apps that allow emergency broadcasts, maps, messaging, and more. Project lead: Dr. Spencer Sevilla in Seattle, WA.

[4] The Next-Generation, Disaster Relief Mobile Phone Mesh Network | Honorable Mention ($10,000) This project provides a phone-to-phone mesh network thats always on, even if all other systems are offline. A goTenna Mesh device unlocks connectivity using ISM radio bands, then pairs with Android and iOS phones to provide messaging and mapping, as well as back-haul connectivity when available. Project by goTenna in Brooklyn, NY; see the network map here and learn more.

[5] G.W.N. | Honorable Mention ($10,000) G.W.N. (Gridless Wireless Network) leverages ISM radio bands, Wi-Fi modules, and antennae to provide connectivity. When users connect to these durable 10-pound nodes, they can locate nearby shelters or alert emergency responders. Project lead: Dr. Alan Mickelson in Boulder, CO; learn more.

[6] Wind: Off-Grid Services for Everyday People | Honorable Mention ($10,000) Wind uses Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Direct, and physical infrastructure nodes built from common routers to create a peer-to-peer network. The project also features a decentralized software and content distribution system. By Guardian Project in New York; learn more.

[7] Baculus | Honorable Mention ($10,000) Baculus features a telescoping antennae/flag, a Wi-Fi access point, small computer, GPS transceiver, software defined radio, and battery, all housed inside a rolling backpack. The project provides applications like maps and message boards over an ad-hoc, self-repairing Wi-Fi network. Project Lead: Jonathan Dahan in New York; Design Lead: Ariel Cotton; learn more.

[8] Portable Cell Initiative | Honorable Mention ($10,000) This project deploys a microcell, or temporary cell tower, in the aftermath of a disaster. The project uses software defined radio (SDR) and a satellite modem to enable voice calls, SMS, and data services. It also networks with nearby microcells. Project lead: Arpad Kovesdy in Los Angeles, CA; learn more.

[9] Othernet Relief Ecosystem | Honorable Mention ($10,000) Othernet Relief Ecosystem (O.R.E.) is an extension of Dhruvs Othernet installations in Brooklyn, NY. These installations stem from a long tradition of mesh networking wherein the OpenWRT firmware alongside the B.A.T.M.A.N. protocol run on Ubiquiti hardware to form large-scale local area networks. Each island of connectivity can be connected to each other using point-to-point antennas. A toolset of lightweight applications can live on these networks. Project lead: Dhruv Mehrotra in New York, NY; learn more.

[10] RAVE | Honorable Mention ($10,000) RAVE (Radio-Aware Voice Engine) a push-to-talk mobile application providing high-fidelity audio communication via a peer-to-peer Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection. Multiple RAVE devices form a multi-hop network capable of extending communication over longer distances. RAVEs range can be extended via a network of relay nodes. These inexpensive, battery-powered devices automatically set up a mesh network that extends real-time voice and internet access throughout a whole community, and text communication over several miles. Project by Throneless in Washington, D.C.; learn more.

SMART COMMUNITY NETWORKS CHALLENGE WINNERS

Many communities across the U.S. lack reliable internet access. Sometimes commercial providers dont supply affordable access; sometimes a particular community is too isolated; sometimes the speed and quality of access is too slow. These 10 creative ideas being recognized with design prizes aim to leverage existing infrastructure  physical or network  to provide high-quality wireless connectivity to communities in need.

[11] Equitable Internet Initiative (EII) | First Place ($60,000) EII uses a system of relays to beam wireless broadband from a local ISP to vulnerable neighborhoods. The system includes solar-powered batteries, an intranet with apps, and training so local users can build and maintain the network. By the Detroit Community Technology Project, sponsored by Allied Media Projects in Detroit, MI; learn more.

[12] NoogaNet | Second Place ($40,000) NoogaNet provides wireless access within a defined neighborhood by leveraging utility pole-mounted Wi-Fi nodes, point-to-multipoint millimeter wave, and mesh technologies. The project also includes user training for installing, utilizing, and managing a wireless mesh node. Project by the Enterprise Center in Chattanooga, TN; learn more.

[13] Southern Connected Communities Network | Third Place ($30,000) This project entails a broadband tower  and eventually, series of towers  that can deliver 1-Gbps speeds wirelessly to anyone in a 25-mile radius via public spectrums. The towers will be controlled by community members in rural Appalachia and the South who are currently underserved by major ISPs. Project by the Highlander Research and Education Center in New Market, TN.

[14] Solar Mesh | Honorable Mention ($10,000) This project integrates mesh Wi-Fi access points into solar-powered light poles in order to provide connectivity to low-income households. The bandwidth is provided by TMobile. Project by the San Antonio Housing Authority in TX.

[15] Connect the Unconnected | Honorable Mention ($10,000) Using a fixed wireless backbone network, this project provides public housing and homeless shelter residents in a two-square-mile radius with connectivity at speeds up to 35 Mb/s using point-to-point and point-to-multipoint millimeter wave technology. Residents also receive digital literacy training on refurbished devices that they are permitted to keep upon graduation. Project by DigitalC in Cleveland, OH.

[16] Repairable Community Cellular Networks | Honorable Mention ($10,000) This project equips residents with sensors and software to carry out basic repairs and precautionary measures on OpenCellular base stations. The goal: decrease the likelihood and duration of service interruptions. Project by University of Washington in Seattle; learn more.

[17] Peoples Open Network | Honorable Mention ($10,000) The Peoples Open Network uses off-the-shelf multiband Wi-Fi hardware and custom open-source software to connect and automatically route internet traffic from apartment to apartment and house to house in a decentralized manner. Project by sudomesh in Oakland, CA; learn more.

[18] BarelasGig | Honorable Mention ($10,000) This project uses modern millimeter wave (mmW) technology to provide wireless gigabit backhaul and last-mile connectivity at a fraction of the cost of full fiber deployment. Project lead: Michael Sanchez in Albuquerque, NM.

[19] NYC Mesh Community Network | Honorable Mention ($10,000) This project uses high-bandwidth sector antennas, internet exchange points, mesh protocols, and solar batteries to create a community-owned, decentralized network. Project by NYC Mesh in New York City, NY; learn more.

[20] Telehub 2.0 - DuBois MAN | Honorable Mention ($10,000) This project provides wireless connectivity to underserved neighborhoods and school districts through radio infrastructure mounted on light poles. The project also features educational-technology initiatives to improve academic performance. Project by W.E.B. DuBois Learning Center in Kansas City, MO; learn more.
Guest Commentary Fair maps for our children, for our Hispanic communities, for our futures My son will vote for the first time next year. And for his first time, the state of Indiana will have brand new legislative and congressional districts. It should feel like a clean...

Voice of the People During the 13 years I have called Chesterton my home, there are few small-town activities I have come to enjoy quite like the high schools homecoming parade. It is always a beautiful moment of celebrating our students, gathering for an afternoon of fun and seeing...

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...
Amazon waited almost two years for the patents to be approved, and its unclear if it ever plans on deploying the technology in its warehouses. The company said it does not track or intend to track its employees locations, but the concept still sends chills down the spines of the privacy-conscious. And if it doesnt, some experts say, it should.
"Everyone at the Reader has said that diversity is very important to them," said Eisendrath, the former Chicago alderman whose investor group bought the parent company of the Chicago Sun-Times and the Reader in July. "With every new hire, we will be sure to cast a net that's broader than the current demographic."
Schiller notes that the technique, which has gained popularity in recent years, is similar to those used by Scotch whisky producers who sometimes finish their spirits in sherry or cognac barrels. The result is a richer and more complex version of the cocktail that has been imparted with the sweetness and spice of the wood as well as spirit it once housed.
The fire is reportedly still being investigated by the fire department, and the full extent of the damage is not yet known. Aprea told the Post the restaurant would be back, and she said it would be stronger than ever. Her husband said they would take care of their employees, some of whom had been working for the restaurant for nearly 40 years.
Guys assistant, Annie Lawlor, said Tuesday the club was being used as a film set but would not give additional details. Music coming from the club could be heard from the street. Guy was a musical guest on Lettermans The Late Show, and both men were among those who received Kennedy Center Honors in 2012.
"The interesting part about being black is until you open up your mouth, people don't know where you're from," Coogler told the outlet. "I thought it would be cool if you start on the scene in Oakland. You have these two black dudes, they talk and (you go) 'Oh, it's two black dudes from Oakland.' And then at some point the guy switches and starts talking with the African accent. 'Oh s-, wait, this dude's from Africa?' You realize, 'Oh yeah, I can't tell the difference. He (looks like) the same people you know.'"
The performance began auspiciously, thanks to the work of conductor Kenneth Kiesler, who set a quick pace from the first measures, aptly reflecting Gershwins predilection for energy and forward motion. Even in the reflective arias to come, Kiesler refused to let tempos flag or melodies bog down in sentimentality, giving this Porgy and Bess a jazz-tinged thrust often lost in the opera house. Though a funkier-sounding piano and rhythmically freer approach to the introductory piano solo would have enriched the opening pages (as in conductor Simon Rattles classic, 1989 recording of Porgy), there was no question that listeners were in the hands of performers who understood the folkloric syntax of this music.
Copeland said that ABT and ballet in general are naturally moving in a direction that favors gender equality and more diversity on stage, but key to ballets survival is the diversification of its patrons, too. Bringing diversity into the theater is going to keep ballet thriving and relevant and alive. To me, thats so critical and so important, she said. The more diverse people we get (in the audience), theyll have a voice and an opinion. As of now, its still the same old, white crowd thats very comfortable seeing what theyve seen for hundreds of years. So when you get a younger, diverse group, its going to change the demand for what they want to see.
Like her magazine articles, Orensteins previous books (Schoolgirls, 1994; Flux, 2000; Waiting for Daisy, 2007; Cinderella Ate My Daughter, 2011, and Girls & Sex, 2016) have been game changers, altering not only the gender-based power imbalances she writes about, but also the ways in which they are researched and described. As Orenstein explains in the introduction to her first essay collection, Dont Call Me Princess, Being a feminist writer does not just involve whom I write about; its about how I write: my stance relative to the reader, a skepticism about hierarchy and expertise . I decided early on that if I was willing to hold other womens lives and decisions up to scrutiny I had better be willing to do the same with my own: if every womans life tells a story, mine would, too.
Just in case you needed a legitimate excuse to be messy, there's a new study that says cleaning may actually be bad for your health.



Researchers at the University of Bergen in Norway found that regular use of cleaning sprays contributed to a greater decline in lung function compared to those who did not clean.



The study, published in the American Thoracic Society's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, focused on women who work as cleaners or regularly use cleaning sprays.



The 20-year research project that involved more than 6,000 participants, concluded that the women who worked as cleaners had the comparable lung function of someone who smoked for about "20 pack-years." Scientists define one pack year as being the equivalent of 20 cigarettes smoked daily for one year.



"That level of lung impairment was surprising at first," said lead study author istein Svanes, a doctoral student at the Department for Clinical Science. "However, when you think of inhaling small particles from cleaning agents that are meant for cleaning the floor and not your lungs, maybe it is not so surprising after all."



Researchers speculate that the decline in lung function is attributed to the irritation most cleaning chemicals cause on the mucous membranes lining the airways.



Unfortunately, Svanes doesn't recommend we just give up cleaning to protect our health. His suggestion is to develop cleaning products that can't be inhaled, or use simpler cleaning methods.



"Microfiber cloths and water," he said, "are more than enough for most purposes."
We could look to the students in Washington state who launched the #WillWeBeNext social media campaign over the weekend. Theyre urging kids to print out signs that say Will _______ Be Next, fill in the name of their school, take a photo and post it to social media. (You can find the printables at facebook.com/WillMySchoolBeNext/)
The primary landing strip in Denali National Park-built by the elder Sheldon to facilitate explorations with Washburn-is a half-mile from Sheldon Chalet. "That's the provenance of the interest in this area," explained Marne Sheldon, who ran point on logistics as the hotel took shape. Everything from the drawer pulls to the heating system had to be flown to that landing strip by helicopter or fixed-wing plane, and the family is among the lucky few who have special dispensation to fly there, thanks to their long history in the area.
Jorgensen, who was raised as a Baptist and attended elementary school in Chicago before his family moved west, married Bezos mother, Jacklyn, while they were both in high school in New Mexico  and was just 19 when Bezos was born. The marriage lasted less than two years. Jorgensen, who later admitted to being a bad father and a bad husband who drank too much, split for good when Bezos was 3, according to Stones book. He promised Bezos mother and her new partner, Bezos adoptive father, that he would never bother them again.
And adults will have to finally acknowledge that their Second Amendment right to own any kind of firearm they choose is more important than a childs right to know that a crazed maniac would no longer be able to legally obtain any kind of gun he wants and use it on them.
Parents can see the face and the hands and the beating heart of their child. Once they see this, what theyre looking at is not some collection of tissue. It is a life. And advances in medical science have made it possible so that some babies born prematurely can live out of the womb after 22 weeks.
The American Academy of Pediatrics released a public service announcement last week urging parents to learn the various names for e-cigarettes and what they look like, because e-cigarettes can be especially addictive for developing brains. The announcement comes a year after the academy joined other health organizations in a report urging the FDA to prohibit all candy- and fruit-flavored tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, cigars and hookah tobacco, asserting that these products are undermining national efforts to reduce youth tobacco use and placing children at risk.
In addition to creating new songs, The Irish Rovers perform their adaptations of historic Irish numbers. "Some of the songs we do are three hundred years old," Millar noted. "In those days, they had like two hundred verses. You can't really do that onstage because people will start yawning and walk out on you. We edit those songs and bring them into language that is more understandable for the North American ear."
"Countless times, I have pictured my father actually taking his last breath before he passed away," Barrett Small, the son of Stephen Small wrote in a letter to the board. "For the past 27 years I have suffered from extreme claustrophobia due to the extreme conditions that my father should never have endured. I have also never felt safe since the day I learned my father was kidnapped. I have looked over my shoulders in fear my entire life."
After getting the marijuana, Francellno began to leave without paying, prompting Semark to go after him and confront him, Kudzy said. That's when Francellno pulled out a gun and fired two to three times as Semark tried to push the gun away, Kudzy said.
The foreman of the jury in Prices wrongful death lawsuit told the Tribune he was stunned by Budzinski's sudden reversal of their ruling, especially after jurors had inquired by written note if their answer to the written question  known in legal terms as a "special interrogatory  would affect the outcome of the verdict. The judge didn't directly answer, instead telling jurors to use their best judgment, he said.
On release from prison, Ware moved to a Chicago halfway house where she met her husband and had three children with him. In 2014, a doctor at Presence St. Joseph Hospital in Chicago's Lakeview East neighborhood, where Ware had just given birth to her youngest child, recognized her and called the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. State child-welfare officials took away their two girls and a boy.
"We were trying to find the most electable candidate, as well as the candidate who we felt would best represent the district. There isn't any point in us appointing someone who can't get elected in March of 2006," Preckwinkle said at the time. "The fact that he had raised a lot of money and secured a lot of support was an important factor."
Madigan faced increasing calls for him to step down from the state Democratic chairman post he has held for two decades, as well as demands for an independent investigation of complaints that have led him to shed two top loyal political lieutenants in a week. The misconduct scandal comes as the long-serving speaker and his private interests as a property tax appeals lawyer already had been a focal point in several races.
Last week, I was advised of inappropriate behavior by a volunteer toward a candidate and staff during the 2016 election. I quickly made sure the individual had no participation in any activities my committees are involved in. I offered to refer the matter to outside counsel, and that offer was declined, the statement read. The complainant and I met with the individual, and the complainant assured me that the situation had been appropriately resolved. The individual will no longer be involved with any activities of my political committees.
The attack last Wednesday seemed to overcome the resistance of some in the state's leadership, which has rebuffed gun restrictions since Republicans took control of both the governor's office and the Legislature in 1999. However, there is still strong resistance by many in the party to any gun-control measures, leaving the fate of new restrictions unclear.
Students retrieve gear from the performing arts building at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 19, 2018, in Parkland, Fla. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images)
What's distressing to many Americans is that Melania seems like a prop in her husband's reality show. During his inauguration last year, when the new president turned around to say something to his wife, her face lit up for a second. As soon as he turned away, her happy mask fell away. Months later, she slapped away his hand as they walked on the tarmac in Israel.
The first core value of humanitarian work as developed by the international community through the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is the principle of humanity. It states that human suffering must be addressed wherever it is found and that the purpose of humanitarian action is to protect life and health and ensure respect for human beings. It is obvious to many today that rather than protect lives, some aid workers are destroying the lives of vulnerable children and women, leaving permanent scars, damaging the fabric of societies and harming our collective humanity and common values.
In a blog post about the television journalist who killed two of his former colleagues in Virginia earlier that year, he wrote, I have noticed that so many people like him are all alone and unknown, yet when they spill a little blood, the whole world knows who they are. A man who was known by no one, is now known by everyone. His face splashed across every screen, his name across the lips of every person on the planet, all in the course of one day. Seems the more people you kill, the more youre in the limelight.
Students who live in poverty tend to face many hurdles. They may not eat dinner with their parents, when language skills can develop. They may not be tucked into bed with a bedtime story. Social scientists will tell you that the word count of children in professional homes is exponentially higher than that of children who live in poverty, and children who enter school deficient in language may fall further behind as they progress through higher grades.
It would be hard for an adult American to claim that he or she does not know that many African-Americans find lawn jockeys racially offensive, Pilgrim wrote. Moreover, to call an African-American a lawn jockey is to insult him or her. When used by a black person against another black person, lawn jockey is synonymous with Uncle Tom, a derogatory term (once used) to refer to a black servant  especially a cook, butler or waiter  who was perceived to be weak, ignorant, too religious and humiliatingly deferential to white people.
"My son is the same age and grade level as the majority of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting ," Canty said of the 2012 shooting in Newtown, Conn. "If our federal government is not willing to take a stand, we ask our local elected leaders and representatives to be fearless on this issue. Arlington Heights is certainly a safe community, but so is Sandy Hook, and so is Parkland, and so many other communities touched by tragedy."
The heavy rain has taken its toll at Violet Patch Park in Oswego where the Fox River is flowing over its banks, officials said.



"The rain is coming down with nowhere to go," said Richard Zielke, Oswegoland Park District executive director.



Zielke said they have seen flooding in parks along the Fox River.



"It shouldn't be too damaging given the time of the year. We should not have turf loss," he said. "This isn't new to us. We tend to have these rain occurrences at least once a year. It's just that this is four months early."



Zielke said Waubonsee Creek runs through the Oswegoland Park District's Fox Bend Golf Course on Route 34.



"Waubonsee Creek cuts through the middle of the golf course and eventually empties into the Fox River down at Hudson Crossing Park. The water is definitely out of its banks there. It has flooded several holes of the golf course," he said. "It is February and not June or July so we are not going to lose golfers or have damage from the flooding.



"We are not too worried. We have put up barricades where there is standing water on some of our bike and pedestrian trails," he said.
Thousands of colleges across the country are welcoming both new and returning students back to campus for the fall semester. To coincide with the beginning of another school year, Stacker compiled a list of the best colleges in America using Niches 2021 rankings.
It's a big year for the Historical Society, as the community that bills itself as "Home Sweet Homewood celebrates its 125th anniversary. As a reminder, society members were handing out candy at the fest, and their display included large versions of historical photos of some of Homewood's early sweet shops and soda fountains from the 1920s and 30s. The photos also are included in a book about Homewood's history that was one of the few inedible items for sale at the event.
But when Peotone firefighters were called out again at 8:30 a.m. to the same area, the water had since receded from the intersection, and vehicle tires could be seen sticking out of the water in the ditch, the fire chief said.
St. Jude Parish: 690 E. 241 W. Second Ave.  Stations of the Cross with St. Jude School students will be at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 23, March 9, March 16 and March 23. Friday evening Stations of the Cross will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 23, March 2, March 9, March 16 and March 23. The Knights of Columbus will hold a Lenten Fish Fry from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 23, March 2, March 9, March 16 and March 23 in the St. Jude gymnasium. Alcohol and desserts will be available for sale. Carry outs will be available. Cash or check payment only. The Daddy Daughter Dance will be from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. March 10. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children. Register with payment by Feb. 28. Information: 815-485-8049.
"I can't answer the question of what problem we're solving here in East Dundee. You know that better than I do, of course," he said. "And it's not to say the original choice to purchase the body cameras was not a good choice. I think there was a real vision involved here. But financially it doesn't seem prudent at this time."
"Responding to a request from the State of Georgia, the department has been pursuing every venue legally available to collect this debt. Although legal privacy restrictions prevent the department from divulging specific actions in this case, these typically include administrative actions against driver's licenses, property and financial accounts," Hoffman said. "At this point, the department is seeking additional documentation and guidance from the state of Georgia in order to pursue further actions. The department is not the formal balance keeper in this case, but unofficial records show a similar amount to the custodial parent's estimate of money owed."
According to the city, staff was unaware of the business before an anonymous report about the number of dogs prompted an unannounced visit to the home in November. At that time, the animal control specialist and a police sergeant found 28 "Maltese-type" dogs living in clean conditions in the basement, according to the city.
She and Tobias have visited with teachers, parents, high school students and younger children. "Some of the high school students cry into the dog and say nothing," Hoffmeyer said. "They take the dog's face, they kiss it and hug it. They apologize for crying. ... It's very humbling for us  we're there to serve. We just want to help."
The new system also has lights and speakers that go off in every fire station with the equipment, alerting firefighters while scrolling message boards provide them with addresses to different incidents and tells them how much time has elapsed since an incident alert was made, Peterson said.
Stephanie Wilson said she was drawn to the American Lung Association because of the organization's asthma education and community outreach, as well as online resources she believes will help Lauren feel more comfortable with her asthma as she grows up. When the Wilsons learned about the annual Fight for Air climbs, they decided to get involved.
With every position that has been vacated and unfilled, we have been told we are making equitable concessions that are also occurring in other departments within the village  we see no evidence of that, Clarks letter reads. Our staffing has been cut dramatically for the entire organization and is lower than what we had during the recession.
Armendariz last saw his mother, Corina Marin, on Jan. 11 when she drove from her home in Rockford to see him, Marin said in an email. He planned to take a few days off from work visit her the week of Jan. 31, Marin said in an email.
The car display was one of about 40 exhibits at the annual meeting, held at Blue Chip Hotel and Spa in Michigan City, and it was a big draw, said Mike Lambregtse, an official with General Motors in Detroit who was attending the meeting for the first time.
Officers in Portage placed both public and private schools on a soft lockdown last Thursday after getting multiple reports of two males with guns on foot near a school. The pair was later found carrying air soft guns to go target shooting in the woods, police said.
Schmitt, one of several Munster residents convening late Tuesday morning at the Northcote Avenue bridge between the town and the Hammond, said he watched former Munster Town Council President Mike Mellon work with others to stave off the rising waters with sand back then. Tuesday, the bridge was well-fortified against the Little Calumet River, which had about 18 inches before reaching the bottom of the bridge.
The Lake County Board of Elections used a lottery Tuesday to determine the ballot order for all the Democratic and Republic primary elections in May. The board members took turns pulling equally sized slips of papers from a plastic jar, spending nearly an hour working through the Republican and Democratic ballots.
"Now that we have that amount back to us, once again, we're proposing the same structure," Palm said. "We're going to issue debt to ourself in a two-year fashion. We have about $250,000 available in dollars to pay back in principal and interest in any given two-year note."
He would come in and wouldnt leave the room always talking about acting, making me feel special, and sort of insinuating that I was going to play a good role and that everyone else would be glad that he cast me, she said. Then little by little, he started to get physically closer and began to flirt in a way where I felt like I had no way to refuse it.
City council approves premium pay for police officers, firefighters

Pueblo will use $1.1 million of its ARPA funds to give premium pay to police officers and firefighters who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The third season of the documentary "A Bite of China," which depicts Chinese culture via food, will air every night starting from Monday.

For some foreigners who love Chinese food, however, watching a documentary or tasting Chinese food is not enough, they also want to learn to cook Chinese cuisine.

"Dumplings are my favorite Chinese food, and I'm so happy that I learnt the secret to making dumplings ahead of my first Spring Festival in China," said Deandri Botha, who came to Beijing from South Africa 10 months ago.

She joined a dumpling-making party last week at The Hutong, a cultural hub for foreigners and locals alike to experience Chinese culture in a courtyard at one of Beijing's hutongs, or traditional alleys.

Holding the "Chinese New Year Dumpling Making Party" is an annual tradition for The Hutong and this year it was attended by over 50 foreigners.

"This is my second time here, and my husband and our two sons came along to enjoy holiday fun," said Lawrence Coradini from France who works as a teacher at an international school in Beijing.

The Hutong, founded by two Australians in 2007, offers workshops on tea appreciation, traditional Chinese medicine, and cuisines from across China.

Mark Thirlwall discovered the courtyard while working as a tour guide 11 years ago, and decided to rent it with his friend Stacey Shine to organize educational and cultural events.

"Shine and Thirlwall knew well that many of those who visit China are interested in taking back more than just pictures of the Forbidden City and the Great Wall," said Chen Yuxian, manager of The Hutong.

The Hutong provides various cooking classes from hand-pulled noodles and steamed buns to homemade tofu on a daily basis.

It has over 30 staff, half of whom are from outside China, said Chen.

"I decided to work at The Hutong after I studied Yunnan cuisine here five years ago," said Marissa Kennedy, who worked with the Peking University Press when she first came to China from the United States in 2007.

According to the 2016-2017 China National Image Global Survey released last month, foreigners believe Chinese cuisine is the factor that best represents Chinese culture.

The survey interviewed people from 22 countries, with 500 respondents from each country.

Among the 11,000 people surveyed, 52 percent picked Chinese cuisine as representative of Chinese culture, with almost 80 percent saying they had tried it, 72 percent of whom spoke highly of it.

"I planned to stay in China for one year, but this year marks my fifth year in China," said Mona Potter from Ireland.

She came to the event with her husband, two-month-old daughter, and her parents-in-law.

"My parents-in-law flew from America for the baby, and I took them to this party to feel the charm of Chinese food," Potter said, "I met my husband in Beijing and became a mother here, and nothing could be possible if I had not been attracted by Chinese culture."
It's fair to say that many Chinese have become heavily reliant on their smartphonesor, to be more exact, the wealth of apps they use daily to shop, travel and chat with friends.



The country had a staggering 772 million internet users at the last count, 97 percent of whom access the web using a smartphone, according to the China Internet Network Information Center, or CNNIC.

But what apps are having the biggest impact? Based on the research, those related to saving time and money are leading the downloads.

About 70 percent of smartphone users have completed at least one transaction using a mobile payment app, either at a physical or online store, according to a Jan 31 report by the CNNIC. Meanwhile, 40 percent have ordered a food delivery over an app, and 30 percent have taken a ride on a shared bike.

Cheetah Global Lab, a mobile internet research institute based in Beijing, released a list of the top 10 app categories in 2017 based on growth in the weekly active penetration rate (basically the number of users who logged on at least once a week).

These were bike-sharing, fresh grocery delivery, short-form videos, mobile payment, online-to-offline retail, apps connected to smartwatches for children, wealth management, logistics, banking, and news.

Racing ahead were bike-sharing apps, which had a bumper 2017. The weekly penetration rate in December was six times higher than at the start of last year, the Cheetah Global Lab data showed.

Some players did go bust due to the intense competition, but the market leaders have thrived. Fueled by success, Mobike has even announced plans to swap two wheels for four by entering China's nascent shared car sector.

"The three major characteristics of the bike-sharing sector in China last year were business development, market consolidation and industry standardization," said Guo Yue, senior analyst with the CNNIC.

Hot for shopping

The concept of "new retail" also saw traction among app aficionados last year. Alibaba founder Jack Ma first used the term two years ago to describe "the integration of online, offline, logistics and data across a single value chain".

One example would be a service that allows customers to order fresh groceries online and have them delivered to their doorstep. The penetration rate of apps offering such a service more than doubled year-on-year in 2017, according to Cheetah Global Lab.

At the same time, the rates for online-to-offline retail appswhich draw potential customers from online channels to make purchases at brick-and-mortar outletsand logistics apps both increased by about 60 percent.

Despite the upward trend, Huang Xinshan, executive director of the Guangdong Chain Operation Association based in Guangzhou, pointed out that most "new retail" businesses are still exploring profitable models.

"To simply digitalize deals is not enough," he said. "It's more about the optimization of business links among service providers throughout the value chain."

One type of app that appears to have already found its rhythm, however, are those that allow users to livestream or share short-form videos. Cheetah Global Lab's data show the penetration rate in this sector almost doubled compared with 2016, while the daily user rate is now higher than the major video-streaming websites.

Ma Shicong, a senior analyst for internet market consultancy Analysys, said companies with a portfolio of video appssuch as Chinese news aggregator Toutiaoare precisely targeting different audiences nationwide.

The revenue generated by apps in China surged by 270 percent year-on-year to $35 billion in 2017, the highest in the world, according to App Annie, a global market data and insights company based in the United States.

In a recent report, the company described the market in major Chinese cities as "fairly mature", as it is bringing considerable income for app developers.

Meanwhile, in smaller cities, users are still shifting to mobile devices, meaning there is much growth potential.

So what can we expect from Chinese apps in 2018?

Quan Jing, executive director of Cheetah Global Lab, said she believes that in the short term more sectors will attempt to integrate with livestreaming technologies, as has been seen recently with online quiz apps, such as Chongding Dahui.

She also predicted that competition in the transportation sector will diversify, as evidenced by Meituan-Dianping, the group-buying and food delivery company, announcing plans to launch a ride-hailing app.

"Key words for this increased competition will be 'sharing' and 'new energy'," Quan said, adding that upgrades to technology will also have a major impact.

"The competition will be carried out between internet giants and traditional industry leaders, and the theme will be about upgrading offline channels to make them smarter," she added.




China will ban fishing in the Yellow River, the second longest river in the country, between April 1 and June 30 each year starting from 2018, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.

The fishing ban aims to protect aquatic organism resources and biodiversity as excessive fishing threatens fishery resources.

It will cover the main stream, three major lakes, and 13 tributaries linked to the Yellow River, the ministry said in a statement.

Fishing for scientific studies, taming and breeding purposes during the ban period should be approved by authorities of provincial or higher levels.

Provinces and autonomous regions can extend the fishing ban according to local needs, according to the ministry.

China has already imposed a fishing ban along the Yangtze River, the longest river in the country. The annual ban, which runs from March 1 to June 30, covers the spawning season for most of the river's aquatic life. It includes the entire river as well as key tributaries and lakes.

A similar fishing ban has also applied to the Huaihe River, which runs almost parallel between the Yangtze River and the Yellow River.
Celebrations of China's lunar New Year have been gaining global popularity, with more countries showing growing recognition of the high-profile festival of the world's most populous nation.



One reason that has contributed to the stronger global appeal and spread of the event is the waves of emigration from China in recent decades. It is estimated that over 9 million Chinese people have moved abroad since the end of the 70s, many of whom are enjoying wealthier prospects.

Chinese expatriates are leaving their footprints all across the world, with the dragon and lion dance-inspired celebrations being joined by growing numbers of people who are not of Chinese descent.

Recently, key capitals and major cities in various continents tend to celebrate the most famous international festivity, featuring a variety of embodiments of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac. These include London, Madrid, New York, Manila, Melbourne and Hanoi.

New York city, for its part, recognized the 2017 lunar New Year holiday - famously known as Spring Festival - as a school holiday for the first time in the city's cultural agenda.

Aware of China's growing international political and economic influence, most foreign and world leaders have taken note of the occasion, as they do not fail to extend greetings and well-wishes to the Chinse people and leadership on the occasion, even if the wishes happen to come belated, as those of U.S. President Donald Trump for last year's holiday.

However, with the growing economic clout of the world's second largest economy, comes a new reason for recognizing China's important event; which is making revenues from what has been termed as the Chinese "mass migration".

This refers to a recent trend among Chinese, especially the wealthy youth, to flock abroad during the lunar New Year holiday and spend their billions U.S. dollar worth of budgets touring the world.

The holiday travel is part of an increasing trend of leisure outbound travel among Chinese people after witnessing phenomenal economic growth.

The China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) estimates that outbound travel has grown 270 percent since 2008, and is expected to reach 200 million departures by 2020. Likewise, Chinese outbound expenditure has grown 730 percent from 2008.

Chinese youth, especially those working abroad, now prefer to fly their families over during the New Year holiday instead of going back home themselves, accordingly opting for more family-friendly full-service flights and residence accommodations to ensure that their parents and families are at ease during the whole journey.

The bigger the number of Chinese overseas travelers is, the higher the revenue is for the host countries' travel, tourism and hospitality sectors.

The week-long New Year holiday of 2017 was designated by CNTA as a global "Golden Week" for overseas tourist destinations since around 6.15 million Chinese nationals spent the holiday abroad.

Outbound tourism for Chinese citizens has recently covered 153 countries/regions, including 65 visa-free.

Currently, business makers in host countries, including airlines companies, hotel and accommodation service providers, restaurants and shopping brands, are in a heated race in the days leading up to and during the holiday to attract the wealthy and globe-tottering ambitious members of China's middle class and lure those big spenders to pour their money into their markets.

As Chinese travelers show increasing adventure tendencies towards exploring new areas, regions like Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East are coming on board as growing popular destinations for Chinese New Year holidaymakers, witnessing over 60 percent growth in the 2017 New Year travel, according to the travel intelligence agency company ForwardKeys.

Europe has recently rejoiced with a 56 percent increase in the number of bookings during the 2017 holiday, after the 7.4 percent drop in 2016 due to terrorist attacks.

A survey conducted by the CNTA indicated that Britain, Spain, Germany and Switzerland are the most popular long-haul outbound destinations during the 2017 holiday, following the U.S.

Among medium- or short-haul destinations, Australia, New Zealand and Thailand came first, while Southeast Asia and China's Hong Kong and Macao remain the major nearby destinations, according to the survey.

Speaking at the World Bridge Tourism conference in London, Forward Keys' Chief Marketing Officer Laurens van den Oever said "bookings for outbound travel during Chinese New Year, in February 2018, are currently 40 percent ahead of where they were at the same time last year," with notable growth in Thailand, Vietnam, France, Singapore, Japan and Canada.

While the international community is pleased to benefit from this big event as a major driver of global growth, they have to face the challenge of finding more ways to please their visitors, as China is already reshaping the international tourism industry.

Haifa Said is chief editor of the English Department at the Syrian Arab News Agency.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.




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At least 17 people were killed and several others were injured in a landslide in a garbage dump on the outskirts of the Mozambican capital Maputo due to heavy rain on early Monday morning.

The victims living around the Hulene garbage dump were asleep when the rain caused the garbage to collapse and bury their houses.

Local authorities have been at the site of the accident since morning. Firefighters proceed to debris to rescue survivors or bodies.

Maputo City Governor Yolanda Cintura told the press at the scene that the government will meet today to draw up plans to prevent similar tragedies from happening again.

"At this point, the government has already made a commitment to identify places to house people who are homeless due to this bad event," she said, adding that the number of families affected is still to be quantified.

The governor thanked the efforts of people with good will who are assisting firefighters and other competent authorities in removing debris.

Without giving more details, the governor said the disaster has sped up the government's pace to close the dump.

Located among houses and in the city, the Hulene garbage dump is a precarious and old dump whose closure has been under discussion for many years.

"The closure is already well underway," Cintura said, "and most of the families living around the garbage dump have already been resettled in other neighborhoods in Maputo."

The governor said that although the precarious situation of the dump was identified a long time ago and steps have been taken, many people still return to that place.

The local residents always complain to the government about the nauseating smell of the dump, around which many waste pickers and street-loafers have wandered.

In 2014, the garbage wall collapsed and interrupted the neighboring road for two days.
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A U.S. Congressional delegation began a three-day visit to Cuba on Monday, meeting with foreign ministry officials amid tense ties with Washington over alleged "sonic attacks" on U.S. diplomats in Havana.

Led by Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy, the delegation met with Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, the ministry's new director for U.S. affairs, and other officials as part of a "fact-finding trip" about Washington's foreign policy changes toward the island country.

"A pleasure to welcome U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy and the congressional delegation to the foreign ministry. Enjoyed a constructive and candid dialogue," Fernandez posted on his Twitter account.

Leahy, a supporter of U.S.-Cuba ties, is accompanied by senators Ron Wyden and Gary Peters, and representatives Jim McGovern, Kathy Castor and Susan Davis.

The bicameral delegation will also meet with government officials and Cuban business leaders.

The recent unexplained physical afflictions suffered by U.S. embassy personnel in Cuba, including hearing impairment, are on the agenda. The incidents led Washington to announce it was scaling back its embassy personnel and suspending granting visas.

According to Cuba's foreign ministry, Fernandez stressed to lawmakers that neither U.S. nor Cuban investigators have found any evidence that such attacks have taken place.

The U.S. hasn't formally accused Cuba of carrying out the attacks, but President Donald Trump said in October he believed Havana was responsible for them. Cuba has denied any responsibility.

The U.S. State Department issued a travel warning last year telling Americans not to visit the country, despite the fact that no tourists have reported any health problems.

Leahy's office said that issues to be discussed on the agenda include bilateral cooperation in maritime security, search-and-rescue, narcotics, human trafficking and immigration.

Leahy's office said the Democratic senator has been involved in efforts to replace "the failed 50-year-old U.S.-Cuba policy of isolation with a new path toward normalization."

The Congressional delegation will hold a press conference on Wednesday morning before returning to Washington.
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Mozambique and Portugal signed in Maputo on Monday a memorandum of understanding that will enable Portugal to provide technical and equipment support to Mozambican armed forces.

The MoU was signed by Mozambican Minister of Defense, Atanasio M' Mtumuke and his Portuguese counterpart Jose Alberto Lopes on his visit in Mozambique until the coming Saturday.

"This cooperation aims essentially at the support from the Portuguese Armed Forces to the Mozambican Armed Forces in the defense domain, including the army, the marines and the country's air force," said Mozambican minister.

As part of this agreement, Mozambique will send its officials to study in the Portuguese military school and Portugal will have its instructors lecturing in Mozambique as well.

On Monday the Portuguese defense minister handed over to the Mozambican forces 10 motorboats for transportation of military goods.

The Portuguese minister expects the motorboats will contribute for the country's maritime safety.

"With the mission to carry out a task of cooperating with such a friendly country, the Portuguese Armed Forces will continue working at full capacity with Mozambican Armed Forces," said the Portuguese minister.

The signed memo is expected to be in operation until 2021.




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The Libyan navy announced on Monday that 324 African and Arab migrants had been rescued after their two boats broke down off the coast of the western city of Zuwara, some 120 km west of the capital Tripoli.

"The coast guards, in cooperation with a fishing bulldozer, rescued 324 African and Arab migrants on two rubber boats that broke down seven miles north of the city of Zuwara," Libyan navy spokesman Ayob Qassem told Xinhua.

"The immigrants include 35 women and 32 Libyans," Qassem added.

"The two boats were towed and the migrants were taken to the port of Zuwara, and then handed over to the Passport Authority and Immigrant Reception Center in Zuwara," Qassem said.

Libya has become a preferred departure point for illegal immigrants hoping to cross the Mediterranean into Europe, because of insecurity and chaos in the North African country following the 2011 uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi.
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Three security policemen were killed and some others were injured in the clash with the "Deravish" sect in Iranian capital Tehran on Monday, semi-official Fars news agency reported.

The incident happened as the "mad bus" belonging to the "Deravish" raided police station in Tehran's Pasdaran street and hit the policemen.

According to the local reports, a group of the Iranian "Deravish Gonabadi" gathered in front of the police station on Monday in a protest to the restrictions posed on their activities.

The police spokesman Saeed Montazer al-Mahdi told official IRNA news agency that police arrested nine people over the murder of the policemen.

Police forces have fired air shots and tear gas to disperse the crowd, said the report.

Montazer al-Mahdi added that "Now, the situation on Pasdaran street is under the control of police."

The Gonabadi Order or "Deravish Gonabadi" is an Iranian Sufi order, whose followers live mainly in the cities such as Tehran and Ishafan.
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The European Union (EU) mission to Ethiopia on Monday called for the Ethiopian government to conduct dialogue among all stakeholders to resolve the political crisis.

The EU, in a statement that did not explicitly oppose the martial law imposed on Friday, urged the Ethiopian government to limit its scope and respect human rights.

The Ethiopian government imposed the state of emergency on Friday, saying it was to protect the constitution, citizens and their property from the ongoing violent protests in some parts of the country.

"Only a constructive dialogue among all stakeholders -- authorities, opposition, media, civil society -- will allow for a peaceful and durable resolution of the crisis," said the EU statement.

On Saturday, the U.S. embassy in Ethiopia urged Addis Ababa to reconsider its decision to institute martial law, saying they "strongly disagree" with the move.

Both the EU and the United States are key development partners to Ethiopia.

Ethiopia has been facing incessant protests since 2016, especially in its three most populous Oromia, Amhara and Southern regional states.

The political crisis led to the resignation of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn last week. The last time Ethiopia witnessed a resignation of a prime minister was 44 years ago.




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At a gathering of Filipino-Chinese businessmen Monday night, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte lauded the Chinese community in the Philippines for their generosity in helping the country's poor.

Duterte also thanked the Filipino-Chinese businessmen for their assistance and support to his administration.

"I'd like to thank the Filipino Chinese, especially, community for their untiring toil to help the entire nation in the so many catastrophes and crises that we had faced in the past," Duterte said in his speech during the 10th Biennial National Convention and the 20th Founding Anniversary celebration of the Chinese-Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI).

The CFBCI celebrates its anniversary with the theme of "Partnership for Unity, Prosperity and Love of Country."

The highlight of the event was the presentation of miniature housing model of Bahay Pagasa (meaning houses of hope) Phase II, a housing project of CFBCI that was inspected by President Duterte in Marawi City on January 30, 2018 shortly after the turnover of Bahay Pagasa I on October 2, 2017.

The CFBCI in cooperation with the Tarlac Heritage Foundation threw its support to the government through its Bahay Pagasa Phase II project. This project provides immediate shelter and accomodation for residents displaced by the conflict in Marawi.
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U.S. President Donald Trump supports efforts to improve federal background checks for gun purchases, the White House said, days after a shooting at a Florida school killed 17 people.

Trump spoke to Republican Senator John Cornyn on Friday about a bipartisan bill that he and Democratic Senator Chris Murphy introduced to improve federal compliance with criminal background checks, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.

She noted that the president was "supportive" of efforts to improve the federal background check system.

Local students, using the hashtag #NeverAgain on social media, are mobilizing around the country in favor of stronger gun laws after Wednesday's tragedy at Florida's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

The suspect, Nikolas Cruz, returned to court for one of two hearings on Monday. With his head bowed, hands shackled to his waist and wearing a red, jail-issued jumpsuit, the 19-year-old showed no emotion during the first procedural session.

The hearing ended with Broward Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth Scherer ruling that a defense motion filed last week remain sealed from public view.

In the second hearing, the judge ordered the release of parts of a mental health assessment of Cruz by the Florida Department of Children and Families in November 2016. Cruz was absent from the second session.

He is facing 17 counts of premeditated murder.

What changes have the Congress proposed?

Previous mass shootings in the U.S. have stirred outrage and calls for action to tighten U.S. gun laws. But people hear few results from the Congress.

Many Republicans generally oppose measures to tighten gun restrictions, citing the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment protection of the right to bear arms.

Former President Barack Obama and many of his fellow Democrats unsuccessfully pushed to pass gun control legislation after a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at an elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012.

Last November, after a gunman killed over two dozens in a church in Texas, Cornyn and Murphy introduced their bill to improve federal background checks.

The bill, called the Fix NICS Act, would ensure that states and federal agencies comply with existing law on reporting criminal history records to the national background check system.

Cornyn, of Texas, had complained when introducing the legislation that compliance by agencies was "lousy."

What has Trump said?

Trump is scheduled to host a "listening session" with high school students and teachers on Wednesday.

Dozens of high school students protested in front of the White House on Monday, chanting "We want safe schools!" and "Hey! Hey! NRA how many kids did you kill today?"

Trump is a strong supporter of gun rights and won the endorsement of the National Rifle Association, the powerful gun lobby group, for his 2016 presidential campaign.

He angered some students by suggesting in a tweet on Saturday that the FBI had missed signs that the school shooter was troubled because it was distracted by its investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

The FBI has acknowledged it failed to act on a tip flagging concerns about the suspect, Nikolas Cruz.

What do students want?

Students are planning a "March For Our Lives" in Washington on March 24 to call attention to school safety and ask lawmakers to enact gun control.

Some students reacted with caution to Trump's support on background checks.

"We want to prevent mass shootings from happening and while this could have happened with other types of weapons, NeverAgain believes school safety should be priority right now, not just background checks," said Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Kali Clougherty, referring to a campaign for gun control.

"This is about the victims. Don't forget that. We never will."
Kilamba, c. 2012 Anyone who has been to Luanda knows that the city lacks housing. The hotels are extremely expensive, and researchers h...
LA PAZ, Bolivia - Every year, thousands of Bolivians head to the two-week Alasitas festival to buy miniature cars, houses and toy dollar bills symbolizing their dreams of prosperity in one of South America's poorest countries.

But this year, they're not the only believers in the festival with roots in Aymara indigenous traditions.

Bolivia's first indigenous president celebrated last month the recent recognition of the pre-Columbian tradition by the UNESCO.
In a 'letter to the editor' published by The Washington Post, Jim Abernathy believes that "It seems that the very issue that endears President Trump to evangelical Christian leaders proves ultimately to be a failure on their part to understand the teachings of Jesus.

"Jesus did not hide the challenges his followers would face, nor did he encourage them to seek the protection of those who governed.

"He told them they would face great persecution because of him, that in this world they would have trouble.

"It would appear these evangelical Christian leaders have embraced Mr. Trump's version of Christian values in an effort to preserve their perceived status and influence."

Jim Abernathy, of course, is referring to how Evangelist Franklin Graham responded to allegations that Pres. Donald Trump had paid off a porn star $130,000 to keep quite about an affair during the election season.

In an MSNBC "Live" segment with Alex Witt, Franklin Graham was asked if Pres. Trump had a 'sin problem,' then referring to porn star Stormy Daniels.

Graham, who is the president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, said:

"He is not president perfect,

"President Trump I don't think has admitted to having an affair with this person. And so this is just a news story, and I don't even know if it's accurate.

"At 70 years of age, the president is a much different person today than he was four years ago, five years ago, 10 years ago, or whatever and we just have to give the man the benefit of the doubt."

Graham was then asked again about Pres. Trump referring to countries like Haiti, El Salvador and African nations as s***hole countries.

Graham responded once again with a similar "He said he didn't say it, so I have to go along with the president in that he didn't say it."

Graham further reiterated that he has asked for forgiveness and so has Pres. Trump.

"God has forgiven me and I've asked for his forgiveness, and I think the president has, too," Graham said.

"We certainly don't hold him up as the pastor of this nation and he is not. But I appreciate the fact that the president does have a concern for Christian values, he does have a concern to protect Christians whether its here at home or around the world and I appreciate the fact that he protects religious liberty and freedom."

The uneasy alliance between evangelicals and Pres. Trump has led to much speculation. Many have said that it had been brought on by convenience only and would have been abandoned after Inauguration Day.
For most of Wheaton Academys 165-year history, it was a boarding school. Boarding was ended in the 1980s, then brought backstructured as host familiesin 2006.

China had just started its student visas a year or two before, said Brenda Vishanoff, vice principal for student services and student learning. The first year, the Christian high school near Chicago had two international studentsone from China and one from the Central African Republic. In later years, the number jumped to 8, then 16, then 37.

Soon, Wheaton Academy had more international students than it could take, so it opened a network to place them with other Christian schools. Most of those studentsincluding 45 of the 60 enrolled there this yearhave been from China.

The growth reflects a national trend. From 2004 to 2016, the number of international high school students in the United States more than tripled, according to a recent report by the Institute of International Education (IIE). Nearly three-quarters of international students enrolled on an F-1 visa (good until graduation) in 2016; of those, more than half were Chinese (58%).

Chinese parents send their children to America out of frustration with their own highly competitive and narrowly tracked education system, Vishanoff said. As the Chinese economy grew, more parents had the resources to send their child to the US for college. Soon realizing that an American high school education eases the transition to collegeand perhaps makes their childs application more attractiveparents began sending them earlier.

Because public high schools only allow J-1 visas (good for a year or less), nearly all international high school students on F-1 ...

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As most Christians know from painful experience, temptation is as easy to find as it is hard to resist. Every day, in a hundred ways, we face pressure to cut corners, mistreat others, and gratify our wayward desires. Sometimes we grasp the danger and paddle mightily against the current. Other times we sink into sin as if relaxing into an easy chair. But frequent failure leaves us demoralized and ashamed.

Temptation already feels like an unfair fight. So why would God ever ratchet up the difficulty?

This hypothetical lies at the heart of Pope Franciss recent remarks on the Lords Prayer. During the Sermon on the Mount, Christ taught his disciples to pray, Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (Matt. 6:13). Speaking on Italian television last December, the pope wondered whether Lead us not into temptation should instead be translated as Do not let us fall into temptation.

The trouble with the common translation, in the popes reading, is that it pictures God pushing us toward sin rather than pulling us away. After all, we wouldnt ask him not to lead us into temptation if he werent capable of doing just that. But surely, argues the pope, a righteous and loving Father would never place his children in the path of spiritual peril. It is Satan, he says, who leads us into temptation; thats his department.

On the whole, the popes theological instincts are not unsound. He is correct to absolve God of blame for temptation, which ultimately flows from our unclean hearts. As James reminds us, When tempted, no one should say, God is tempting me. For God cannot be tempted by evil, ...

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Since our first editorial in 1956, weve promised that Christianity Today will apply the biblical revelation to the contemporary social crisis, by presenting the implications of the total gospel message for every area of life. That is a much deeper vocation than simply promising to give a yes or no to every policy proposal or to issue a verdict in every theological dispute. Polemics and arguments are useful, but theyre specialized tools.

I was reminded of this while listening to a recent episode of our podcast Quick to Listen. Ill admit that I started the episode, on El Salvador, wondering what it would say about changing US immigration policyand whether Id agree. Instead, it prompted me to meditate on Scripture. The guest, Asbury Seminarys Stephen Offutt, mentioned in passing that Salvadoran pastors encourage congregants to pay rent to the local gangs, citing Jesus give back to Caesar what is Caesars. It was alarming, but it got me thinking about the scandal of Caesars reign, the power of Jesus answer, and my own relationship to Caesars Id rather resist than recognize.

We trust youll have a similar experience in reading our cover story on surrogacy. As youll see in Kate Shellnutts report, evangelical Christians are not of one mind on the ethics of one woman carrying in her womb another couples baby. Some believe this is nothing less than a vocation from God. Others believe it a violation of the sanctity of life and marriage. For the most part, though, Protestants havent given this practice as much biblical thinking as it deserves. This story is our attempt to start a larger ...

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Following months of infertility treatments, Meg Watwood cried in joy when her first ultrasound revealed healthy twin babies. At the doctors office three years later, when a scan showed she was pregnant with twins again, there was another mom in the room celebrating.

This time, Watwood was carrying the babies for her.

Amid all the waiting, testing, and praying for her own twins, Watwood had developed a deep compassion for families stung by infertility. She felt called to help, so much so that she offered up her womb to two little embryos from a fellow couple struggling to conceive.

Then last year, she did it again for another couple.

Doctors had deemed that hopeful mom-to-be unable to carry a pregnancy after several failed rounds of intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF). The couple, a pair of Texas lawyers who shared Watwoods pro-life convictions, wanted to give the additional viable embryos they had produced a chance. They were connected to Watwood, a Southern Baptist, by a local surrogacy agency.

God called me to seek out what seemed like unconventional ways to serve others, said Watwood, now a 39-year-old mother of four. In the surrogacy process, Some things will be hard  but youll be blessed so far beyond what you could even imagine.

Watwood is part of Americas rapidly growing surrogacy movement. The number of babies born through surrogacy in the United States, though still relatively small, has quadrupled in just over a decade. And despite ethical questions surrounding the practice, demand isnt slowing.

According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, surrogates gave birth to 2,807 babies in 2015, up from 738 in 2004. ...

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Much of the switching in religious identity in the United States over the past several years occurred among the nones, specifically Americans who identify as agnostic or as nothing in particular. But the Christian landscape hasnt remained static in the meantime.

Though academics have long wondered whether the US will follow the secularizing trend found in most of Europe, the greatest shifts among believers have occurred within Christianity, not away from it.

The three-wave Cooperative Congressional Election Study (CCES)which surveyed the same individuals in 2010, 2012, and 2014, and started with 9,500 respondentsreveals how few Catholics and Protestants have changed affiliations and how many have moved from one denomination (or nondenomination) to another.

During this period, Catholics remained pretty attached to their tradition; they were about half as likely as Americans on average to change their affiliation: 8.8 percent vs. 18.9 percent. When Catholics do switch, they largely shift toward having no faith, with 6.4 percent switching to agnostic, atheist, or nothing in particular.

For Catholics, transitioning to another religious tradition is extremely rare. Of the 2,112 Catholics in the CCES sample, fewer than 50 left: 39 became Protestants, 6 became Orthodox Christians, and 3 became Buddhists.

Image: Ryan Burge

The Catholic sample declined by 1 percent between 2010 and 2014, though this does not suggest a decline in Catholicism as a whole. (This data only includes individuals who switch into or out of Catholicism as adults, and excludes birth or death rates, which also have a tremendous impact on the total number of adherents.)

Protestantsthe largest religious tradition in the US, making up 42 percent of Americans in the 2010 CCES panelshow similar patterns to their Catholic counterparts.

Protestants largely stay Protestant, defecting at similar rates as Catholics during the four-year period: 8.8 percent vs. 9.1 percent. The vast majority of those who leave Protestantism also become nones. Of those who identified as Protestants in 2010, 7.4 percent became nones by 2014, with 5.7 percent identifying as nothing in particular.

The number of Protestants who switched into another religious tradition is minuscule. Out of the sample of more than 4,000 Protestants, just 32 became Catholics, 7 became Buddhists, and less than 5 became Mormons, Jews, Muslims, or Hindus.

Image: Ryan Burge

Though overall Protestant figures remain relatively steady, there is a tremendous amount of turbulence inside Protestantism.

While the Catholic Church is essentially unified, Protestantism is subdivided into a thicket of denominational traditions for Americans to switch between. The CCES lists 13 Protestant subgroups; some, like Lutheran, are composed of multiple denominations.

About 16 percent of all Protestants who stayed Protestant actually changed subgroups during the four years of the survey. Together with the 9 percent of Protestants who left, that means approximately one in four Protestants in 2010 had a different affiliation by 2014.

Outside of Baptists (22.9% of Protestants), the second-largest denomination is actually no denomination at all (18.2%). More Protestants identify as nondenominationala relatively recent phenomenon in church historythan Methodists (14.8%) or Lutherans (11.8%). No other Protestant denomination makes up more than 7 percent of the overall Protestant tradition.

Even without tracking movement to or from specific denominations like the Southern Baptist Convention or the United Methodist Church, the CCES data shows the general trends in intra-Protestant switching. A great deal of activity centers around nondenominational churches.

Image: Ryan Burge

Not only is nondenominational Christianity among the largest affiliations, it also saw the highest rates of defection.

Nondenominational Protestants were more likely than Protestants in other traditions to shift their identity during the four-year period. Around 24 percent of those who claimed a nondenominational affiliation in 2010 switchedabout double the volatility among Baptists and Methodists (12% and 12.9% respectively) and nearly three times that of Lutherans and Episcopalians (both at 8.6%) during the same time period.

The major denominational families that had the lowest amount of defections were the traditional mainline traditions, while nondenominational Christianityalmost always considered to be evangelicalhad the greatest amount of defections.

Image: Ryan Burge

If nearly a quarter of nondenominational Christians are migrating to other Protestant traditions, where are they ending up? The answer is not straightforward. Of the 25 percent who leave, Baptists receive about 6.1 percent of switchers. The next most common move is for nondenominational Christians to go even more vague, with 5.6 percent selecting none of these on the CCES survey.

The best explanation for this pattern is that a lot of nondenominational Christians seem to know that they are Protestants but are not as knowledgeable about what type of Protestantism to claim. Because of this confusion, many waffle between the most innocuous options on the survey, with nondenominational Christian and none of these emerging as likely choices.

Image: Ryan Burge

Protestant Christianity looks stable overall, with more than 9 in 10 Protestants staying that way over the years. But a tremendous among of migration lingers below the surface, particularly coming out of nondenominational Christianity.

Even though many of the largest churches in the US have emerged as nondenominational in affiliation, this tradition has not been able to protect its borders and identity. Fellow political scientist Paul Djupe has written about some of the possible downsides of nondenominational Christianity, including how the movement lacks an organizational structure to act in coordinated ways.

The popularity of nondenominational identity speaks to the declining brand loyalty among religious individuals. Though its possible that the trend is merely survey error: Individuals select nondenominational Christianity as an easy choice among the options on the list. This may serve as a word of warning to those leading nondenominational churches. While making it easier for individuals to join a nondenominational congregation might lead to dramatic increases in church membership, those weak ties may also lower the barrier for individuals to leave.

Ryan P. Burge is an instructor of political science at Eastern Illinois University. His research appears on the site Religion in Public.
From the time Brandon was a toddler, he was what many call gender nonconforming. In preschool, while the boys roughhoused on one side of the room, he played with the little girls. By junior high, he felt sharply out of step with the prevailing John Wayne masculinity image. I feel the way girls do, I am interested in things girls are, he told his parents. God should have made me a girl.

By age 14, Brandon was scouring the internet for information on sex reassignment surgery. After extensive soul-searching, however, he concluded that it would not give him the results he wanted. I realized that surgery would not turn me into a girl. It would not change my genes and chromosomes, he told me. A person is not a computer program that you can delete and redesign from scratch.

Young people like Brandon live in a society that prompts them to question their psychosexual identity as never before. SOGI (sexual orientation and gender identity) lawswhich increasingly affect schools, corporations, and even churchesare based on the assumption that a person can be born in the wrong body.

At the heart of the transgender narrative is the destructive idea that your mind can be at war with your body. It sets up an opposition between the body and the self, estranging people from their basic biological identities as male and female. Kids from kindergarten and up are being taught that their psychological identity has no connection to their physical self.

Nuriddeen Knight, a black woman writing for the Witherspoon Institute, says the transgender movement reminds her of a time, not so long ago, when light-skinned black people sometimes passed as white. She asks, Isnt there a parallel when a man passes as a woman, or the reverse? In both cases, the underlying motive seems to be a form of self-hate: A black person who wants to be white is practicing self-hate, and so is a man who wants to be a woman or a woman who wants to be a man.

Why wont we encourage people to love the body theyre in? asks Knight. We tell women to love their curves and love their age and love the skin theyre in, but we wont tell them (and men) to love the sex of their bodies?

Jonah Mix was a gender nonconforming young man who spent years immersed in queer theory. He called himself non-binary and wore tights, eyeliner, and nail polish: It was in those queer circles that I first heard the common admonition to never define a person by their body.

Eventually, however, he realized that this view of identity actually reinforces rigid gender stereotypes. To discover whether you identify as a man, you must first define manhood. If we are not men by our bodies, we are men by our actions, Mix writes. Do you act stereotypically masculine? Then you must be a man. Do you behave in ways that are stereotypically feminine? You must be a woman.

By contrast, if you take your identity from your body, Mix says, you can engage in a range of diverse behaviors without threatening the security of your identity as a man or woman. When we are defined by our bodies, he writes, then the whole width of human experience remains open.  There is freedom in the body.

Mix discovered a fundamental truth: There is greater diversity and inclusivity when we anchor our psychosexual identity in the objective, scientifically knowable reality of our male or female biology.

Children, in particular, can be pressed into suffocatingly narrow gender definitions. Mason, one of my students who has struggled with being gender atypical, commented, The irony is that it is precisely those rigid stereotypes that drive gender nonconforming young people into the arms of the transgender or gay communities in their search for a sense of belonging and acceptance.

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In fact, studies indicate that the strongest correlate of non-heterosexual behavior in adulthood is gender nonconforming behavior in childhoodincluding character traits like Brandons.

How should the church respond to the transgender movement? Sadly, Christians are often in reaction mode. As Mark Yarhouse notes in Understanding Gender Dysphoria, on one hand, there are churches that seek so hard to be inclusive and compassionate that they mirror secular views that are deconstructing sex and gender. On the other hand, some churches overcorrect by becoming stricter, narrower, and more rigid in enforcing sex roles.

We in the church should be at the forefront of recovering richer definitions of what it means to be a man or woman. We should be the first place where young people can find freedom from unbiblical stereotypesthe freedom to work out what it means to be created in Gods image as holistic and redeemed people.

We also need to show hospitality to strangers (Heb. 13:2)to welcome those who are different and dont fit in. The psychological suffering caused by gender dysphoria is real. The feeling of being in the wrong body is not something children choose, and in many cases, may have complex psychological roots. That means we need a pastoral approach thats sensitive and compassionate.

A disjunction between ones body and ones sense of gender is, like all discordances, an effect of the fall. As Sam Allberry writes, Sin causes profound alienationfirst and foremost from God.  And were alienated from ourselves. What was meant to be whole and integratedour mind, body, and spiritis now deeply fractured. We dont feel aligned in ourselves.

To those who are fractured, the body of Christ offers a place to find hope and restoration.

As Brandon grew into a young man, he experienced this restoration. After he expressed feelings of gender dysphoria, his parents worked with him extensively to help him accept himself as a boyjust one who is unusually sensitive and emotional. They urged him to take his identity from his body, accepting the fact that physically, anatomically, physiologically, genetically, and chromosomally, he is male.

They took him through personality tests like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to show him that its perfectly acceptable for a man to be gentle and emotional. They told him repeatedly, Its not you thats wrong; its the stereotypes that are wrong.

They also pondered biblical examples like Esau and Jacob. Consider the contrast: Esauthe outdoorsman, the hunter, rough and hairy, the favorite of his father. Jacobthe quiet, gentle one who preferred the indoors (content to stay at home among the tents [Gen. 25:27]) and close to his mother. Yet Scripture never presents Jacob as any less masculine for having those traits. On the contrary, God honored him by making him a patriarch of the Hebrew nation, bestowing on him the name of Israel.

Because I knew Brandon personally, I witnessed firsthand the anguish and isolation he suffered because of his gender dysphoria. For many years, I was one of a few people who had the opportunity to stand by him, weep with him, ache for him, and pray for him.

As Yarhouse writes, If you want a person [suffering from gender incongruence] to choose a path that seems more redemptive, you will want to be part of a redemptive community that facilitates that kind of decision making.

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The early church faced a similar challenge, surrounded by a culture where Gnosticism taught a low view of the body as a prison to be escaped from. Then and now, it is orthodox Christians who have a theological basis for defending a high view of the human body. The teleological view of nature found in Scripture provides a foundation for accepting the goodness of nature and affirming the value and dignity of Gods created order.

The biblical worldview grants value and dignity to our identity as male or female and invites a proper kind of self-love that comes from accepting Gods love. In that context, sexual dimorphism is not an evolutionary accident, nor is it an oppressive move by the dominant culture. It is a positive, healthy form of interdependence that speaks of our creation as social beings designed for loving, mutual interdependence in marriage, families, and communities.

Young adults, in particular, need to hear this message. I recently read an article by a 14-year-old girl who lived as a trans boy for three years, then de-transitioned to reclaim her identity as a girl. The turning point came when she realized that its okay to learn to love your body.

As Christians living in a tense cultural moment, we need to move beyond negative Thou shalt not scripts and instead reach out to people with a positive message. A culture that denigrates the body desperately needs the timeless truth of Scripture: that God loves us and made us for a purpose.

This excerpt was adapted from Nancy Pearceys recently released book, Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality. Used by permission from Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, copyright January 2, 2018. Pearcey is the author of Total Truth and Finding Truth and a professor and scholar in residence at Houston Baptist University. She can be contacted via the Pearcey Report or at nancypearcey.com.
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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 -- Summit County offers loans to give start-ups and small businesses a little extra help during launch. The Summit County Revolving Loan Fund, offered through the Community Development Block Grant, offers businesses $10,000 to $50,000 in working capital for fixed assets. As the loans are repaid, money is freed-up for additional projects.

Secured with a loan agreement and note, the average loan is for three years at five percent interest. Each loan must create one low- to moderate-income full-time employee per $25,000 borrowed.

"Job growth and economic development in Summit County are some of the core areas of focus we continue to put tremendous work and energy into," said Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro in a news release. "County business resources such as the Revolving Loan Fund are only some of the tools we have to assist businesses in their start-ups and expansions in Summit County."

Puneet Singh, founder and CEO of P3 Infrastructure in Twinsburg received a revolving loan from the county in 2014. P3 produces polymer solutions to strengthen and improve new and existing infrastructure, such as road surfaces, bridges and pavement markings for improved safety.

Borrowing $50,000 in working capital enabled the start-up to survive its infancy at a time when the overall economy was still recovering from the Great Recession. Since then, P3 has gone from two to five full-time employees, and is now planning to build a small manufacturing facility in Stow.

"The loan P3 received from Summit County's Revolving Loan Fund helped us solve the critical issue of start-up funding and prevented us from hurting our credibility in the market, which is necessary for a company trying to establish itself," Singh stated in the release. "P3 was informed of this resource through direct contact with Summit County, and with quick responses and minimal bureaucracy, was able to receive funding that was urgently needed."

Shapiro said Singh's "success story is a testament to proactive, economic-minded partnerships."

To learn more about Summit County's Revolving Loan Fund, visit the Summit County website.

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BRECKSVILLE, Ohio - The city will pay a Cleveland engineering firm $49,750 to perform a safety study of Chippewa Road east of Brecksville Road.

Euthenics Inc. will look at a roughly 2-mile section of Chippewa, starting about 500 feet west of Chippewa Creek Drive, at the eastern edge of the Creekview Commons and Brecksville Town Center retail centers, and ending about 500 feet east of Riverview Road, near the city's eastern border.

Mayor Jerry Hruby said the study is warranted because more than 100 car crashes have occurred along this stretch of Chippewa, or Ohio 82, since 2014. One 2016 crash involved a fatality.

City Council approved the study earlier this month.

According to its proposal, Euthenics will analyze crash data, identify crash patterns, count vehicular and pedestrian traffic at nine intersections and suggest possible safety improvements and countermeasures.

The study will also consider the placement and timing of existing traffic lights, whether new traffic lights are needed, the ability of drivers to see oncoming traffic, the locations and lengths of existing turn lanes, whether existing turn lanes need lengthening and whether new turn lanes are needed.

Euthenics will present its findings to the Ohio Department of Transportation in an effort to secure state funds for Chippewa improvements.

Hruby said those improvements might include widening and-or resurfacing Chippewa, which now consists of two lanes, plus occasional turning lanes. The road surface has seen better days.

According to Brecksville police, 119 vehicle crashes were reported on Chippewa between Brecksville Road and the eastern border from 2014 to early 2018. The crashes have resulted in one death and 29 injuries.

The fatality occurred in September 2016 on Chippewa at Riverview. James Skoda, 64, of Northfield, died after his car crashed head on into a vehicle moving in the opposite direction.

Police said Skoda was westbound on Chippewa when he drove into the eastbound lane to pass a truck turning right.

"The weather was not a factor, as it was a clear morning, and the sun was behind the westbound vehicle, so there was no glare for the driver of the vehicle at fault," police said in its study of crashes in recent years.

Hruby said Chippewa experiences heavy traffic at certain times of day. Rear-end collisions occur when cars stop or slow down to turn off Chippewa and vehicles behind them are following too closely.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Unions from Northeast Ohio will be among those rallying in Columbus this Saturday for the U.S. Supreme Court to rule against a case organized labor says has a good chance of cutting off funding to public-sector unions.

About 10 buses from the Cleveland area will head to the Ohio Statehouse for the noontime "Working People's Day of Action," one of several such events that unions are holding across the United States.

The highest court in the land is scheduled to hear Janus v. AFSCME, Council 31 on Monday. At issue is whether states, including Ohio, may have "agency shop" agreements requiring a worker represented by the union, who chooses not to join the union, to pay an agency fee. The agency fee cannot be more than membership dues, which workers who join the union pay.

Both opponents and supporters of the Janus case consider it the most significant labor case in decades.

Harriet Applegate, who heads the North Shore AFL-CIO Federation of Labor, which is sponsoring two buses to the rally, said Janus potentially represents the most damaging example in the continuing "attack on unions and working people." She said other attacks include state right-to-work laws that often give workers covered by collective bargaining agreements the option of not paying the equivalent of union dues.

"If people are not going to pay dues to the union then the union is not able to represent people in the way that they should or could," she said. "It is designed to destroy unions.

"It is very much a political and ideological creation of the right," she said of the Janus case. "The anti-union, right wing has been fighting against unions for more than 50 years. What has changed is that they have gotten some very, very powerful, wealthy benefactors... and all these rich families have poured millions upon millions into these battles."

The conservative Buckeye Institute doesn't see the Janus case as attacking unions. The think thank filed an amicus curiae, or "friend of the court brief" with the Supreme Court in support of upholding the case.

Robert Alt, the group's president and CEO, said philosophical differences fuel the motivations of most of the workers who are against paying agency fees.

"They would say that it is not a benefit at all," he said of workers being represented by a union.

"What they (unions) call a free rider, Justice (Anthony) Kennedy has said is really more like a forced rider, which is to say a number of these people disagree with the bargain the union is seeking on key terms," he said. "Oftentimes, they're bargaining for things that have political implications: 'What role should merit play for teachers in pay, promotions, layoff decisions and things of that nature?' That is a very political choice and some of the teachers disagree with that and are being forced to pay for positions to be put forward that they vehemently disagree with."

The case's central issue is whether Abood v. Detroit Board of Education, the 1977 case upholding "agency shop" arrangements, should be invalidated under the First Amendment.

The case the Supreme Court will decide on was brought by Mark Janus, a child-support specialist at the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. In a 2016 commentary article he wrote for the Chicago Tribune, Janus said why he sued his union.

"The union voice is not my voice," he wrote. "The union's fight is not my fight. But a piece of my paycheck every week still goes to the union."

Even though lower courts ruled against Janus, many union members are concerned about how the Supreme Court will rule.

"It is possible for the court to go against organized labor, which was set up over a year ago with the blocking of Merrick Garland's nomination," Leonard DiCosimo, president of the Cleveland Federation of Musicians, Local 4, said referring to President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee.

The musician's union, which is sponsoring a bus, will have a Dixieland band playing at the rally. DiCosimo said the union is also taking a videographer as part of its ongoing effort to capture "labor law battles" in Ohio in hopes of doing a documentary in the future. He said the union has been taping since the Senate Bill 5/Issue 2 fight, in which unions led the effort resulting in voters approving a referendum that nullified a bill limiting collective bargaining rights for public employees.

Though the Janus case deals with public employees, DiCosimo said it is still relevant to his union of primarily private-sector employees.

"Our presumption is that if the ruling is in favor of Janus, there will be a movement to get a case before the Supreme Court that is basically the same dynamic for private-sector unions," he said.
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- The Ohio Supreme Court has declined to hear the appeal of a local man who sued City Council for not keeping minutes of its "Committee of the Whole" meetings.

That leaves Garry Kanter with a dismissal of his lawsuit against the city, filed in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court in November 2015.

There, Judge Cassandra Collier Williams granted the city's motion to dismiss the case the following March, with the Eighth District Court of Appeals upholding that decision just about a year later.

Kanter had sued on the grounds that the city was routinely violating the Ohio Open Meetings Act, also known as the state's "Sunshine Law," requiring that minutes be kept for any regular or special meeting of any public body.

"Cleveland Heights argued that under the Home Rule amendment of the Ohio Constitution, municipalities that have adopted a city charter are not required to follow the mandates of Ohio's Open Meetings Act," the Eighth District appeals court ruling stated.

City Council generally holds a public but unrecorded Committee of the Whole meeting every Monday, either on its own or immediately prior to the twice-monthly meetings held in chambers that are recorded and televised.

Because it operates under "home rule authority" through its charter, "Cleveland Heights asserted that where local rules differ from the state's general laws -- such as the Sunshine Law at issue here -- the local rule prevails," appeals Judge Mary J. Boyle wrote.

From there, the appeals court ruling hinged on the wording in the city code.

"Council members do not have to record minutes of committee meetings because their ordinance states that minutes 'may' be recorded, rather than 'shall' be recorded," Boyle stated.

City Law Director Jim Juliano also argued for dismissal on the grounds that Kanter and Akron attorney Warner Mendenhall failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted.

In addition to an injunction barring the city from holding public meetings without taking minutes, Kanter was also seeking damages of $500 for each meeting he argued was in violation.

Given that more than 80 Committee of the Whole meetings were held between March 2014 and early November 2015 -- plus at least three Youth Advisory Committee and four Architectural Board of Review meetings where minutes were not kept -- it added up to more than $46,000 in damages.

With the dismissal of his case against the city, Kanter wound up being assessed court costs instead.

"But this is about the city's willful lack of transparency to the citizens and the courts inexplicably allowing it," Kanter said.

While his lawsuit may be over, Kanter hopes that the recently convened Charter Review Commission -- the city's first since 1982 -- will address some of his concerns.

"The charter changes are simple -- follow Ohio's Sunshine Laws by taking minutes of the Committee of the Whole meetings, and don't allow private 'retreats,'" Kanter said.

Although the appeals court did not address the latter issue, Cleveland Heights has been criticized for a provision in its code that allows council up to four private meetings, or executive sessions, every year to discuss "general plans for the future or general issues before the city."

This also contradicts Ohio's Open Meetings Law, which allows executive sessions only for specific topics.

"Honestly, I can't believe that the city promotes and defends this stuff, or that the courts allow it," Kanter said.

Ohio Supreme Court Justice R. Patrick DeWine was the only member who dissented on the Jan. 31 decision not to accept Kanter's appeal for review.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cuyahoga County Council on Tuesday spurned proposals by County Executive Armond Budish to offer perks such as bonuses, performance pay and overtime to lure and keep salaried employees.

Those perks and others, including relocation pay and additional vacation days will likely be amended or removed before County Council signs off on a proposed new employee handbook.

At a committee hearing Tuesday, council members angrily noted that the administration's latest draft of handbook still contained the controversial sections after they had submitted their objections.

"I am a little surprised [our concerns] have had no impact at all in what was introduced to us," Council President Dan Brady told Chief Talent Officer Douglas Dykes. "What was introduced to us is never going to be passed by this council. It will be amended as we see fit. We are looking forward to working with you. But at this point, what you need to understand is that it is on our plate now."

The new handbook will replace the current Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual, last updated in 2013.

The Budish administration has been working on a new handbook after the county's internal auditor concluded last year that Budish did not have the discretion under the current handbook to set policies for administrative hires.

County Prosecutor Michael O'Malley ruled last November that Budish's administration violated the county charter by paying $1.7 million in overtime to salaried employees and providing special compensation to certain employees.

Budish and his staff, however, included all his proposals in the draft handbook.

Dykes gave council an overview of the handbook but highlighted four areas that he said would likely draw scrutiny.

They are:

Paying salaried employees their hourly rate each hour beyond 40 hours. It is not overtime, he said. He said some employees don't want to work beyond 40 hours unless they are getting paid.

Allowing salaried employees to attest they worked 80 hours over two weeks instead of submitting hourly time cards.

Offering executive and special compensation to attract and retain employees.

Allowing telecommuting.

Dykes maintained the actions are needed because the county is facing the "perfect storm" while trying to recruit and retain talented employees.

He said the factors are:

22.3 percent of the county's workforce is eligible to retire in three years.

Low county and state unemployment.

The need to have a more diverse workforce.

The current national political environment, which "gives government work a negative eye."

The ability of job seekers to find jobs that pay more in the private sector.

"By adding a little bit more - a signing bonus, extra vacation, more exchange time - you'd be surprised how many people who are making more money will consider coming to this organization," Dykes said. "This is really about change, about preparing this organization for the future and how do we make ourselves even more competitive as it relates to recruiting and retaining people."

Here's how some council members responded.

Michael Gallagher: "If you give perks to chiefs and not the lower-level employees, aren't we creating a problem with the overall culture in Cuyahoga County as being a destination place to work? You and I and all the people are working for the people of Cuyahoga County. That we can't compete with the outside world is a fact of life.

"I don't buy the argument we can't compete out there for good talent. The hook we have is PERS and everything else that government employees make is just about better than anything the private sector can afford. Why we get people to get less money to work 30 years is because they get compensated at the back end."

Dale Miller: "The understanding I have is that the work that salaried employees do is not so much how many hours they work but is whether they get the work done. They are hired at a particular salary to get a particular job done. If it takes you extra hours to get it done, you put in those extra hours. It seems like we are getting away from that. If you pay people for additional hours, then are they motivated to get the job done quickly?"

Jack Schron: "I am having a hard time grabbing my hands around flexible time above 40 hours. You would run into morale problems.

"If you have been paying additional compensation for 10 years [which led to the $1.7 million in overtime cited by the internal auditor] what would happen if we don't adopt this?"

Nan Baker: "It is disturbing to hear that a few salaried employees will not work one hour over 40 unless they are compensated. We are creating a culture of expectations beyond the norm of what is expected of an employee and this is evolving into a larger problem because of what we have created here.

"We are now trying to excuse and explain when perhaps we should be dialing it back in the simplicity of what is salaried and hourly and what do they expect us to pay. The further we get away from that, and explain why this is a better way to go beyond what is normally expected, gets us deeper into the mistrust and understanding of the good work we do here."

Council will present amendments to the handbook at a committee meeting scheduled for Feb. 27.

View video of the meeting.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - In the midst of a massive campus transformation, the MetroHealth System recorded one of its strongest financial years on the books, driven by the integration of former HealthSpan sites and an expansion into new communities.

The county hospital system saw its operating income skyrocket 381 percent from the previous year to $42 million in 2017, while its revenue increased 8 percent to nearly $1.1 billion, according to unaudited financial results. The preliminary figures showed expenses increased 5 percent.

"We've been laser-focused on our strategy," said Craig Richmond, executive vice president and chief financial officer at MetroHealth. "We set sights several years ago on what we're going to do, and we're executing on it."

MetroHealth last year issued $946 million in hospital revenue bonds, $112 million of which is other debt, to finance its campus transformation project. The project involves building a new 10-story, 270 bed hospital, a new central utility plant and a new parking garage, among other things, and turning the campus into a park-like setting by 2022.

"We are generating the cash that will allow us to meet the financial demands to the investor community," Richmond said.

He pointed to the system's earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization, or EBIDA, in 2017 as evidence. MetroHealth's EBIDA, which Richmond characterized as an approximate measure of the system's operating cash flow, rose 58 percent from the previous year to $96 million.

Much of that growth came from the system's integration of former HealthSpan locations.

"That really was a major driver of our success," Richmond said.

Last year was MetroHealth's first full year of operating former HealthSpan sites, which it took over in early 2016. The acquisition and operation of these sites in Bedford, Cleveland Heights, Parma and Rocky River helped MetroHealth see a 4 percent increase in its overall patient base, Richmond said.

Likewise, outpatient visits and emergency room visits were up 4 percent and 13 percent, respectively.

Only hospital discharges were down, 7 percent, but that decline was expected, given MetroHealth's focus on population health through wellness and prevention efforts, Richmond said.

During a board meeting Jan. 24, Dr. Akram Boutros, president and CEO of MetroHealth, attributed the hospital system's success to "the collective effort of every one of the 7,500 MetroHealth employees."

Richmond expects MetroHealth's financial audit to be completed by late March and doesn't anticipate any noticeable change in numbers.
MEDINA, Ohio -- Since 1980, if a public service position needed to be filled in Medina County, Pamela Miller has been the go-to person to get the job done.

If the board of a charitable organization needs an active member - ask Pam. If a levy needs to be passed - ask Pam. She steps up and quietly and efficiently produces positive results.

Pamela Brown was born in the Naval Hospital in Great Lakes, Illinois, where her father was serving in the U.S. Navy. The family lived first in the Chicago area, then in Cambridge, England, where her dad studied history.

After a period as a professor at the University of Connecticut, he took a position with IBM that moved the family to Pittsburgh, then to New York, and finally to Cleveland.

The family -- with Pam as the oldest of seven children -- settled in Shaker Heights, where she met her husband, Robert Miller. In an unusual twist, her parents had purchased his family home and rented the carriage house to Bob.

On a visit home from Northwestern University, where Pam majored in English, the couple met and fell in love, eventually married and were together for 35 years until he died in 2006.

In 1976, the Miller family, including son Justin, moved to Medina, where they owned radio station WDBN-FM, an "easy listening" station. There, Pam wrote ads, scheduled programming, and made public service announcements until they sold the station in 1988.

In 1989, she purchased Gramercy Gallery, an eclectic gift shop on South Court Street, which she owned and operated until 2013.

While pursuing her busy career, Pam found time to serve the public, first by volunteering for committees, then by running for public office.

She was elected to the Medina City Schools Board of Education in 1980, where she served two four-year terms.

In 1987, she and Ralph Berry co-chaired the first Medina County District Library levy campaign - the levy passed. In 1988, she and Homer Smith co-chaired a committee to support a Medina County Park District levy, which also passed.

In 1994, Pam ran for and was elected to City Council as an at-large candidate. In 2003, she was appointed council president and was elected to the position that same year. She served as president until 2007.

Currently chair of the Medina County Board of Elections, she previously served as chair of the Medina County Democratic Party for 12 years.

In March 2015, Pam began one of her current public service positions after she attended the AAUW/Second Baptist Church Black History Month program titled "Does Race Matter?" A panel of two black Medina High School students, the mayor, the school superintendent, and the only black teacher in the high school led a discussion about race in Medina County.

Many people in the diverse audience wanted to continue the conversation after the program was over. A committee of approximately 45 members - 20 regular attendees - formed the Medina Diversity Project, with Pam as chair. The purpose of the group is to "embrace and promote diversity in Medina County."

The groups goals are to increase diversity in employment in the public and private sectors, to support inclusion for all students in school activities, to continue conversations on race and to encourage social and cultural exchanges.

In addition to her commitment to the Diversity Project, Pam serves on four different Cleveland Clinic boards - as chair of the Medina Hospital Board, Akron General Hospital Board, the Clinic's Regional Hospital Board, and the Clinic's Main Board of Directors.

As she says, this is her "unpaid full-time job."
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Mayor Frank Jackson told City Council on Tuesday that he looks to 2018 as a year to enhance services, fill vacancies and extend the benefits of the city's economic recovery to all city residents.

Jackson led off council's two weeks of scheduled hearings, noting that an increase in the city's income tax that voters approved in November 2016 has stabilized the budget, replacing revenue lost through state cuts.

That increase - from 2 percent to 2.5 percent - provided about $93 million last year. About $80 million of that is for use in the general fund to pay for services.

That helped last year, but the money wasn't available until April. This year, the money is available now and will make a bigger difference, Jackson said.

That new revenue will allow the city to continue restoring services such as street sweeping and leaf pickup that had been curtailed by tight budgets and to expand other services such as lead inspections in rental housing.

"It's all about enhanced services," Jackson said.

City Council must give the budget three readings - the second by March 5 to allow it to sit for 15 days of public comment as required in the city charter. The budget must be approved by the end of March.

The numbers

Jackson's budget plan calls for revenue and spending of about $1.7 billion, including enterprise operations such as the water department and the airport, which support themselves.

The city carried about $33 million over from 2017. Another $623.5 million in revenue is projected. Jackson proposes about $622 million in general fund spending.

That's up from about $595 million in 2017.

Nearly 7,000 people are employed by the city, Jackson said. He likened city operations to those of large corporations, except that the city doesn't have a profit motive.

In the private sector, departments like law, water, sewer, trash collection and economic development would be companies unto themselves.

"There are companies that just do one of these things and they would be multi-million-dollar companies," Jackson said. "We do all of these things. We do them well and we do them for less money because we're not for profit."

Filling jobs

Members of council made clear they want to see jobs filled.

Last year, although the higher income tax was in place, the money was not available until after the budget was approved. That meant hiring couldn't begin until April.

Over the course of the year, some members of council criticized the administration for not filling jobs fast enough. Earlier this month Jackson told cleveland.com that he heard that message from voters, too, while campaigning last year for re-election.

Jackson, on Tuesday, said the system has been streamlined so that jobs can be filled more quickly.

More than 700 jobs are in play in this budget, but about 500 of those are positions with the police, fire and EMS departments. Those jobs have training requirements that will keep them from being filled quickly.

For, example, the city plans to hold as many as five classes for police cadets this year. But recruiting, hiring and training a police officer can take up to a year and a half, Jackson said.

The goal is to add 100 to 150 officers to the police force in 2018 after replacing those lost through attrition.

But for the remaining 200 or so jobs, Jackson's interim chief of staff, Sharon Dumas, has told department heads to fill jobs by the end of March.

Expanding wealth

Ultimately, though, the city needs to find ways to allow residents who have not benefited from an improved economy to experience wealth creation through employment and access to higher wages, Jackson said.

"If we are able to turn around those neighborhoods that are most distressed, that's where your job creation will be, that's where your economic development will be," Jackson said.

That requires getting private investment for development in neighborhoods.

More than 90 percent of the city's capital expenditures take place in neighborhoods, Jackson said. But the private sector invests where it can get its best return.

Jackson has launched a $65-million initiative to spark growth in neighborhoods, particularly along East 105th and East 93rd streets on the East Side and the Clark-Fulton area on the West Side.

"We still have inequities and disparities that need to be addressed by all of us," he said "If we don't address them then the progress we have made will have a short shelf life."

Council members reactions

Generally, members of council praised Jackson's handling of the budget.

But some members raised issues about safety.

"Our first priority is safety. Our second priority is safety. Our third priority is safety. Our fourth priority is safety," Ward 1 Councilman Joe Jones said.

Ward 8 Councilman Mike Polensek, who represents Collinwood and part of Glenville, suggested asking the Ohio State Highway Patrol to help with traffic enforcement to free up Cleveland officers to address more serious crimes.

And newly elected Ward 7 Councilman Basheer Jones noted that while adding officers is important, work also must be done to improve relations between the police and the community.

Improving how police are viewed would also would help recruitment efforts, which could begin at an early age through school programs, he said.

"If we're serious about recruitment, then we have to also look at changing the culture and how people view those officers," he said.
JACKSON TWP., Ohio -- A 7th grade student suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound Tuesday morning at Jackson Memorial Middle School in Jackson Township, according to news reports.

The shooting happened about 7:51 a.m. and the student is now hospitalized, WKYC reports.

Were at Jackson Memorial Middle School in Jackson Township. The school was locked down Tuesday morning after seventh-grade student apparently suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the school. Posted by cleveland.com on Tuesday, February 20, 2018

The shooting happened inside a boy's bathroom, WEWS reports. The Associated Press reported that the student was taken to an area hospital where his current medical condition is not known. No one else was hurt in the shooting.

All schools in Jackson Township in Stark County were on lockdown following the incident, WEWS reports.

All four Jackson Township elementary schools are now closed.

Police and school personnel said they will investigate how the gun got into the school.

People inside the school found the seventh grader after the shooting, but officials have not said if anyone was with the child at the time of the incident. Firefighters took the child to a local hospital for treatment.

I'm told students backpacks and lockers are being searched before they are released to parents, currently waiting outside. @WEWS has several crews working to bring you the latest information. pic.twitter.com/wtRTz0idWh  Tara Molina (@TaraMolinaTV) February 20, 2018

To comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments section.
JACKSON TWP, Ohio -- The 7th grade student who suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound at Jackson Memorial Middle School had "distraction device" on him when he shot himself, the township police chief said.

Chief Mark Brink dismissed a media report published earlier Tuesday that the still unidentified student had a Molotov cocktail when he shot himself in a restroom at the middle school.

"It is not a bomb, I can tell you that; (it's) something you could distract people with for whatever reason," Brink said, addressing a gaggle of reporters outside the school. He would not elaborate on what investigators found.

The chief said that the student had a .22-caliber long gun, and investigators have not pieced together how he got his hands on it or managed to sneak it into the school. Officials had no update on the child's current medical condition.

No other students were hurt.

The shooting happened about 7:50 a.m. and set off panic among students, staff members and parents who spent hours trying to pick up their students from the school.

Superintendent Christopher DiLoreto addressed the frustration among some parents who spent hours waiting to pick up their children, but said that most of the students have been accounted for.

Classes and extra-curricular activities are canceled for the remainder of Tuesday. It's unclear when students will return to school.

The chief said that five teams of investigators are tracking leads and are trying to establish a motive. Brink would not speculate whether the student intended to harm any other students, or whether the gunshot wound the child suffered was intentional or an accident.

"We're trying to track that information down," he said.

The chief added that he expects to hold another press conference, but said that investigators might not release any additional information until Wednesday.

Cleveland.com's Hannah Drown covered the press conference on Facebook Live. Watch the video in its entirely below:
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A gunman fatally shot a man riding in an SUV on Monday afternoon, before someone dumped his body behind a Case Western Reserve University fraternity house, police said.

The shooting happened about 2:30 p.m. Monday on East 105th Street and Superior Avenue, police said.

The man, who has not yet been identified, was in the back seat of an SUV driving on St. Clair. The SUV had been reported stolen early in the day in Cleveland Heights, police reports say.

A gunman standing on the street saw the SUV, pulled out his gun and opened fire, according to police. Witnesses told police they heard five gunshots in the area and police reported finding five spent bullet casings.

Bullets ripped through the SUV, shattering the windows. One bullet hit the man in the lower right torso, according to police. The gunman ran off and has not been identified or arrested.

The driver of the SUV drove on Magnolia Drive, until it dead-ended into the Beta Nu of Theta Chi fraternity house on Magnolia Drive, police said. The other people riding in the SUV dumped the man's body onto the ground, according to police.

One of the men inside the SUV later called police and told them their friend was shot while they were at a traffic light at the intersection, police dispatch reports said. The man told them where the body was and asked them to hurry, according to police reports.

Residents of nearby fraternity houses gave the man first aid and called 911. He was taken to University Hospitals, where he died, according to police.

The SUV sped from the parking lot and hit a parked car, according to police. Police have not yet found the SUV, a Buick Enclave with Michigan license plates, or identified any of its occupants, according to police.

To comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments section.
TOLEDO, Ohio -- A man is in custody after he threatened to "shoot up" a high school in Toledo, police say.

According to a news release from Toledo police, Christian Costet, 19, was arrested at his home Monday after he sent photos and a video with the threats against Waite High School.

A parent of the children who received the threats reported them to police.

Costet is charged with a second-degree felony of inducing panic.

Police say a replica rifle that appeared in the messages from Costet was found in an abandoned house.

Toledo police and the FBI worked on the investigation.

"The Toledo Police Department will not tolerate any threats to the safety of our citizens," Chief George Kral said in the news release. "There is no such thing as 'this was just a joke.' With mass shooting incidents increasing exponentially in our country, we will investigate and prosecute every threat to the full extent of the law."

An increase in threats toward schools has been reported nationwide after the shooting in Parkland, Florida, last week left 17 people dead.

To comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments section.
TOLEDO, Ohio -- A church pastor, his wife and daughter are accused of the armed robbery of a Sunday school teacher in the church, reports say.

Anthony Morris, 49, his wife, Zelda Morris, 46, and their daughter, Kamali Morris, 19, are each facing a first-degree felony charge of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, the Toledo Blade reports.

The teacher, Nickema Turner, tells police she was at St. Paul's AME Zion Church on Sunday when, just minutes before the service, she was grabbed by her hair from behind by Kamali Morris, WTVG Channel 13 reports.

Zelda Morris then attacked Turner as well, police reports say. When Turner began to gain an advantage against the women, Anthony Morris pushed Turner to the ground, pulled a handgun and pointed it at her face, threatening to kill her, reports say.

Zelda Morris is accused of taking Turner's purse and dumping the contents on the ground, grabbing Turner's iPhone. Two prescription bottles and a Taser also were taken, reports say.

The phone was returned by its glass cover was broken.

The Morris family left the church after the attack. Police tell The Blade the pastor and his wife have been arrested, but the daughter has not been located.

To comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments section.

Correction: The original version of this story contained a photograph that was not Rev. Anthony Morris.
HAMILTON, Ohio -- A sheriff in southwest Ohio is offering free concealed carry classes for teachers in his county.

The offer from Butler County Sheriff Rick Jones comes after 17 people were killed in a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Jones tweeted the offer on Sunday and says he had more than 200 responses from interested school employees by Monday afternoon, WLWT Channel 5 reports.

"People in the schools need to be trained with firearms, period," Jones tells WLWT. "Even if you hate guns, you need to know about guns if you're in the schools."

Jones tells ABC 6 he hopes to begin classes by next week.

Edgewood School District is the only one in Butler County that currently allows certain administrators to be armed, WLWT reports.

To comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments section.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland police set up a tip-line to help identify any potential victims of the 45-year-old wife of a retired police officer suspected of stealing money from donors who thought she had terminal cancer while pregnant.

Cleveland police, in a statement released Tuesday, asked anyone who donated to any of Dawn Brown's online donation accounts to contact the tip line in the hopes they can identify all of the possible victims.

Brown, who is married to former Cleveland police officer Kenneth Brown, has been under investigation since late January. She repeatedly lied to seven husbands during an 18-year span about having terminal cancer while pregnant.

Anyone who donated to one of her fundraisers, which use the nickname "Chillin' with Baby Pen," is being asked to call the tip-line at 216-623-5346.

Her husband retired from the police department, ending his 24-year career after the investigation was launched.

Dawn Brown, whose maiden name is Vandevelde, has not been charged with any crime, but the investigation is on-going, according to Cleveland police Sgt. Jennifer Ciaccia. She said investigators are still pulling together all of her medical records as part of the investigation.

Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association President Jeff Follmer previously said investigators have found that she was not pregnant and did not have cancer in late 2017, when she organized several fundraising accounts online.

Criminal and internal affairs investigators are looking into exactly what he knew about her claims of having Stage IV breast cancer.

Local hospitals are on alert to watch out for Brown because of information obtained through the police investigation that Brown may try to steal a baby from Fairview Hospital. A similar alert was sent out in 2003.

Brown, according to blog postings and online fundraising accounts, claimed to have been in the late stages of pregnancy in late 2017. She told people in those posts that she expected to give birth Dec. 15 or Jan. 22.

At some point, she began using a nickname for her team that helped her fight against cancer called "Chillin' with Baby Pen." Internet searches turn up several fundraising efforts and a Nov. 6 blog post on the website fightlikeagirlclub.com in which Dawn Brown details what she claims to be her life story.

She said in the she was diagnosed the most recent time with Stage IV breast cancer, and that it was terminal. She wrote that she hoped she would live to see the birth of her daughter, whom she had already named Kassidy Marie.

Court records showed she told a judge during a divorce hearing on Nov. 14 that she was not pregnant.

A gofundme.com account set up in Dawn Brown's name netted $725 in one week.

To comment on this story, visit Tuesday's crime and courts comments page.
MENTOR, Ohio -- People jumped over puddles and ran through the pouring rain to be some of the first in line to get inside the James A. Garfield National Historic Site on Presidents Day.

As they entered the visitor center behind the Mentor home of the 20th president and his family, First Lady Lucretia Garfield, portrayed by Debbie Wienkamer, greeted them.

"Welcome to my Mentor farm," she said, beckoning them inside with a sweep of her arm. "Thank you for braving this awful weather, but at least it's not a blizzard. Look at all the children! Don't you have school today?"

The students laughed and shook their heads.

"Oh, that's right, it is President Washington's birthday," she said, guiding the crowd further inside.

"You can go outside, toward the street, climb the porch of our house and take a look inside," she told them. "Friends of mine are located outside all the rooms and they will show you around."

Some took her advice, others toured the visitor center that contains a timeline of President Garfield's life. Danny Spencer, 8, of Ashland, had just started the timeline when he ran into President Abraham Lincoln, portrayed by John King. Danny had some questions for the 16th president.

"Did you and Garfield hang out together?" he asked, craning his neck to look the 6-foot-4 president in the eye.

"Well, Garfield wanted to be a colonel, and when he finally became one and the war was underway, I invited him to my office," Lincoln said. "I asked him to resign. I needed someone in Congress who knew the war first hand, who knew what things the soldiers needed and who could get those things approved. He was of more value to me as a Congressman than a colonel." Danny was impressed with the information, and in getting help connecting some historical dots.

As Danny walked away, Grace Schick, a blonde-haired, bright-eyed 8-year-old, marched right up to Lincoln and said proudly, "You're 7 feet tall with your top hat." Lincoln smiled, and took off the hat.

"You are right," he said, removing the signature stovepipe. He placed a hand atop his dark brown hair and said, "I am 6 feet, 4 inches tall, and this 6-inch hat brings me up to 7 feet."

"You're the 16th president of the United States. There have been more than 16,000 books written about you," the well-prepared youngster continued.

Grace's mom, Julia, stepped in before her daughter recited everything she knew about Honest Abe. "Why don't you ask him to tell you a fun fact that you can tell your teacher tomorrow?"

Grace got a little shy, but Lincoln soon had her creeping back out from behind her mother and laughing.

"Someone gave my boys two goats," Lincoln said. "Those boys tied them to a wool-back chair and would ride the chair up and down the hallway. Mrs. Lincoln had a tea party, and the goats brought the boys right through the room, like chariot races. Mom was pretty upset." Grace smiled wide at the inside story.

The two posed for a photo together, and Lincoln said he wanted to give her a picture of him. He handed her a shiny penny.

"You're also on the five dollar bill," she said, and Lincoln laughed.

"Next time you see your grandparents,'' he said, "tell them you have a picture of Abe Lincoln, and you want to trade that picture for one they have in their wallet. Tell them you can use it for your schooling."

Grace nodded. "Someone shot you in a theater," she said quietly.

"Everyone was laughing," Lincoln said. "I heard a bang and I don't remember anything else. I was shot at 10:15 that evening, and I died at 7:22 a.m." Grace's eyebrows shot skyward. "You wonder how I'm here?" Lincoln asked her. "I'm an actor. My name is John King."

"I've been in plays before," Grace said.

"I'm the same height, and I look a bit like the president, so this is really what you would have seen in the early 1860's."

Grace thanked King, and looked back over her shoulder as she walked away. Another curious student was already in her place, asking "Why did you declare Civil War?" The learned man explained everything carefully to the boy, and another history buff was born.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Reports continue to come in regarding an apparent self-inflicted shooting involving a 7th-grade student at Jackson Memorial Middle School, in Jackson Township.

>The incident occurred Tuesday morning around 7:50 a.m. and the student is now hospitalized, WKYC reports.

A press conference is scheduled for 2 p.m. It will be broadcast on cleveland.com's Facebook page.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dennis Kucinich held a rally Monday at Cleveland City Hall to call on lawmakers to advocate for a statewide ban on assault rifles in the wake of last week's mass shooting at a Florida high school.

Kucinich became the latest Ohio politician to wade into the debate in the days after the Florida massacre. Gov. John Kasich, a Republican, singled out assault rifles when he suggested Sunday on CNN that he supports changes to the state's gun laws.

"What would you lose?" Kasich said on CNN. "Would you feel as though your Second Amendment rights would be eroded because you couldn't buy a God-darn AR-15? These are the things that have to be looked at, and action has to happen."

Kasich also removed a pro-Second Amendment section from his website. The website previously voiced opposition to former President Barack Obama's gun control efforts and touted pro-gun rights measures in Ohio.

Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, who is also a Republican candidate for governor, distanced herself from Kasich when she said lawmakers should avoid a "knee-jerk" reaction to the Florida mass shooting, according to The Columbus Dispatch. Other Republican candidates, including Attorney General Mike DeWine, have also advocated for the rights of gun owners.

Assault rifles have been a focal point in the debate following last week's shooting. A 19-year-old former student is accused of using an AR-15 to kill 17 students and teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Some of Kucinich's challengers in the Democratic primary, including Richard Cordray, have not called on lawmakers to ban the sale of assault rifles. Cordray will advocate for some gun-control measures -- such as background checks for all gun sales and a ban on "bump-stocks" -- during a Tuesday morning news conference, according to an advance copy of the plan provided to cleveland.com.

Do you believe Ohio lawmakers should ban or restrict the sale of assault rifles, or do you believe the laws should remain unchanged?

Join us today from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. to discuss whether lawmakers should ban assault rifle sales in Ohio.

In our Talk it Out pre-curated conversation, comments are published after they are reviewed -- promptly -- to ensure they adhere to our community rules, which prohibit indecent, hateful, abusive or harassing comments, personal attacks, vulgar nicknames, personal information including telephone numbers and addresses, email addresses belonging to others, anything inciting criminal behavior and copyrighted material for which you do not own the rights.
CLEVELAND, Ohio --Two people are dead after a car involved in a chase with Shaker Heights police crashed on Cleveland's East Side, officials said.

The crash happened just prior to about 3 a.m. Tuesday at East 151st Street and Harvard Avenue in the city's Lee-Miles neighborhood, according to Cleveland EMS.

A man and woman died at the scene, according to Cleveland EMS. They have not been identified.

Cleveland police received an alert at about 3 a.m. that Shaker Heights police chased a vehicle connected with an aggravated robbery into the city, Cleveland police Sgt. Jennifer Ciaccia said.

The chase ended when the car struck a pole or tree on Harvard Avenue, police said.

Cleveland police were not involved in the incident, but may handle the crash investigation, Ciaccia said.

A Shaker Heights police commander did not respond to a message seeking details about what spurred the chase.

To comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments section.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Television personality Jerry Springer thinks Democrats have to run on progressive values to win in 2018, instead of trying to be a less-conservative version of the Republican Party.

Springer joined the Ohio Matters team for a 20-minute bonus episode about the current political climate.

"The Democratic Party cannot try to be Republicans-light," Springer said. "We have to be consistent with what our values are, even if from time to time it might even mean losing an election. We have to stand for something."

Springer, a Cincinnati native who served on both city council and as mayor, entertained the idea of running for governor in 2018, but bowed out when it became apparent former federal consumer watchdog Richard Cordray would run.

Also joining the Ohio Matters team were cleveland.com Washington reporters Stephen Koff and Sabrina Eaton to discuss the dynamics in the capital after a year with President Donald Trump in the White House.

Ohio Matters is the weekly politics podcast from cleveland.com. Every Friday, Andrew Tobias, Mary Kilpatrick and Seth Richardson sit down with political figures from around the state for indepth interviews and discussions.

Previous episodes of Ohio Matters can be found here, with past guests including Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor and former U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich.
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Assault, South Belvoir Boulevard: At 12:40 a.m. Feb. 18, police received a 911 call from Bellefaire JCB, 2575 S. Belvoir Blvd., where it was reported that several female clients were out of control and were being combative with staff.

The staff reported that several girls held shards of glass and that one wielded a blunt object. There were multiple victims and rescue squads were required.

One girl, 14, was taken to the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Facility.

Missing person, Edgerton Road: At 9:20 a.m. Feb. 12, police took a report regarding a missing man, 36. An investigation was initiated.

Theft, Cedar Road: At 3:35 p.m. Feb. 12, loss prevention at Target, 14070 Cedar Road, detained a girl, 12, for stealing cosmetics, candy and electronic equipment worth a total of $109.

Theft, Cedar Road: At 5:50 p.m. Feb. 12, Target loss prevention detained a Cleveland woman, 29, for stealing electronic equipment worth a total of $206.

Theft, Cedar Road: At 4:35 p.m. Feb. 13, Target loss prevention detained a Cleveland man, 50, for stealing $60 worth of merchandise.

Theft, Cedar Road: At 8:10 p.m. Feb. 13, Target loss prevention detained two youths for shoplifting. Detained were two 16-year-old Shaker Heights boys.

One of the boys stole electronic merchandise worth $20, and the other $86 worth of electronic merchandise.

The juveniles were released to their fathers.

Warrant arrest, South Belvoir Boulevard: At 9:45 p.m. Feb. 14, an officer stopped a car due to a traffic offense. The car was subsequently found to be showing illegal plates. The driver, a Cleveland man, 25, was cited for the offense and his car was towed.

Additionally, the man was arrested on a Mayfield Village misdemeanor warrant.

OVI, Cranston Road: At 1:55 a.m. Feb. 15, officers stopped a car due to a traffic offense. The driver, a University Heights man, 54, was found to be intoxicated and was arrested for OVI.

OVI, Cedarbrook Road: At 3:50 a.m. Feb. 15, police arrested a South Euclid man, 28, for OVI.

Aggravated burglary, Barrington Road: At 1:15 a.m. Feb. 16, a man went to the police station to report that his home had been burglarized and that his car had been stolen from his driveway.

The vehicle was found several minutes later parked in the street. An investigation is pending.

Theft, Warrensville Center Road: At 4:15 p.m. Feb. 16, police were called to Macy's, 2201 Warrensville Center Road, on a theft report.

Arrested was a Cleveland man, 52. The man was charged with theft and criminal trespassing and was arrested on a University Heights police warrant.

Disturbing the peace, Bushnell Road: At 10:05 p.m. Feb. 18, police were called to a home where a large party was taking place.

Upon officers' arrival, several dozen college-age people began to leave the house and run in multiple directions. Officers found beer cans in the home's back yard and in neighboring yards.

The homes' residents, two 19-year-old Mentor men, and a Gates Mills man, 22, were cited for disturbing the peace.

If you would like to discuss the police blotter, please visit our crime and courts comments page.
WILLOUGHBY, Ohio -- Two Willoughby South High School students are accused of posting a threat on social media that referenced a school shooting, police said.

The 17- and 16-year-old students were arrested Monday night and charged with inducing panic, marijuana possession and drug paraphernalia possession, police said in a news release.

Detectives did not provide specific details of the threat or say where it was posted.

The police department has a heightened presence at the high school Tuesday, but classes are not affected, Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools Superintendent Steve Thompson said in a statement.

Several parents called the police department and the school district about 9:45 p.m. to report the threat. Tips from parents and teachers helped authorities identify the two students, police said.

Willoughby police officers and FBI agents from the Painesville office found the two students and took them into custody, police said.

School district officials notified parents of the incident.

The school district will also discipline the students once detectives conclude their investigation, Thompson said.

"As always, the safety of students is our foremost concern," Thompson said. "We have many procedures and policies in place to maintain a safe environment for all students."

The incident happened the night before a 7th grad student shot himself at Jackson Memorial Middle School in Massillon, according to reports. The student is now hospitalized, and the shooting caused a lockdown at the building, police said.

Northeast Ohio has also seen a series of reports of threatening messages on social media in the wake of last week's mass shooting at a Florida high school. A 19-year-old former student is accused of using an AR-15 to kill 17 students and teachers Wednesday at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Last week, the Elyria Police Department determined a message that an Elyria High School posted on social media were lyrics to a rap song and not a threat toward the school. The lyrics posted on Snapchat were from a Hispanic rap song that referenced guns and being "not afraid to die," police said Thursday in a news release.

School administrators are considering disciplinary action against another Elyria High School student who left a comment on the post that read "I'll translate - No school tomorrow," police said.

On Friday, a 13-year-old girl admitted to sending a social media message that referenced "blowing up" her Midview Middle School in Eaton Township but told a detective she never intended to harm anyone, authorities said.

The girl will face charges in juvenile court, the Lorain County Sheriff's Office said.

To comment on this story, visit Tuesday's crime and courts comments page.
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Market Scenario:

Sandalwood oil is derived from steam distillation of chips and billets cut of various species of sandalwood tree. Its color ranges from pale to golden yellow. It has gained popularity majorly due to its woody-floral scent. It is used as a cooling agent in cosmetics which provides relief from burning sensations and also helps in maintaining a healthy skin. Moreover, sandalwood oil creates calming and harmonizing effect for mind which helps in relieving tension, stress, and depression. It has been a common ingredient in Ayurveda, for the treatment of somatic and mental disorder

Sandalwood oil is an essential oil derived from the heartwood of sandalwood tree. The oil holds a woody and exotic smell which has made it an important ingredient in cosmetics, perfumes and personal care products. Apart from the smell, sandalwood oil has many characteristics which has made it useful and beneficial for health and wellness. Sandalwood oil has gained popularity in aromatherapy owing to its calming and harmonizing effect on the mind.

Escalating growth of cosmetic industry is contributing to the growth of sandalwood oil market. Moreover, it holds various attributes such as antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and astringent which has increased its applicability in pharmaceuticals. Additionally, sandalwood oil has historic presence in Ayurveda and various traditions and customs which is driving the growth of sandalwood oil market.

Get a Sample Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4626

Key Players:

Some of the key players profiled in the global sandalwood oil market are Doterra International Llc. (U.S.), Eden Botanicals (U.S.), Plant Therapy Essential Oils (U.S.), Santanol Group (Australia), Sallamander Concepts Pty Ltd (South Africa), Healing Solutions (U.S.), Khadi Herbal (India)

Intended Audience:

Cosmetics industry

Pharmaceutical industry

Aromatherapy industry

E-commerce industry

Traders, importers and exporters

Key Findings:

The U.S. is the major importer of sandalwood oil and imports majorly from China, India, Mexico, and Germany

India, China, Canada, the U.S. and Germany are the major exporters of sandalwood oil

Segments:

Sandalwood oil market is segmented on the basis of type into natural and synthetic. Out of this, natural sandalwood oil is growing compared to synthetic sandalwood oil due to certain allergic effects caused among consumers with a sensitive skin, from chemicals used in synthetic sandalwood oil.

On the basis of application, sandalwood oil is segmented on the basis of personal care products, pharmaceuticals, aromatherapy and others. Among all, personal care products is dominating the market. Increasing demand of fragrant personal care products among the rising population is playing a vital role in increasing application of sandalwood oil in personal care industry.

Based on the distribution channel, sandalwood oil is segmented as store based and non-store based. Store based distribution channel is dominating the market based on one-stop shopping experience. However, non-store based distribution channel is witnessing a moderate growth.

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Regional Analysis:

The global sandalwood oil market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and rest of the world (RoW). Asia Pacific is dominating the market followed by North America. China and India are dominating the sandalwood oil market in Asia Pacific based on the historic presence of sandalwood oil in the customs and traditions of this region.

European market is attracting sandalwood oil majorly for aromatherapy. Moreover, Middle East and Africa hold an opportunistic market for sandalwood oil. Additionally, the U.S., China, Japan, Germany and Singapore are the major importers in this market.
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Europe Optical Imaging Market: By Technology (Photoacoustic Imaging, Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), Hyperspectral Imaging, Near Infrared Spectroscopy and Others), By Application (Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Dentistry, Neurology, Cardiology, Oncology and Others), By end user (Hospitals, Research Laboratories, Medical Imaging Centres and Others) and Geography (Germany, France, U.K, Italy, Spain, Russia, Poland, Rest of Europe)  Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2012-2016 and Forecast 2017-2023

Optical Imaging refers to the use of light as an imaging technique for medical applications. These optical techniques include optical microscopy, spectroscopy, endoscopy, scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, and optical coherence tomography. Optical imaging is an emerging technology with great potential for improving disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Europe Optical Imaging Market is mainly driven by the rise in demand for the radiation free imaging techniques and technological advancements in optical imaging led to produce in depth images of the body tissues. Furthermore, growing prevalence of the ophthalmic and neurological disorders coupled with the application of optical imaging in drug development expected to boost the Europe Optical Imaging Market during the forecast period. However, high installation and maintenance costs and stringent regulatory policies are expected to hamper the Europe Optical Imaging Market over the forecast period.

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Europe Optical Imaging Market is segmented based on technology, application and end user

Based on technology, Europe Optical Imaging Market is segmented into

 Photoacoustic Imaging

 Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)

 Hyperspectral Imaging

 Near Infrared Spectroscopy

 Others

Based on application, Europe Optical Imaging Market is segmented into

 Dermatology

 Ophthalmology

 Dentistry

 Neurology

 Cardiology

 Oncology

 Others

Based on end user, Europe Optical Imaging Market is segmented into

 Hospitals

 Research Laboratories

 Medical Imaging Centres

 Others

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Europe Optical Imaging market is divided into Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Russia, Poland, and Rest of Europe. Rise in demand for the radiation free imaging techniques and technological advancements in optical imaging led to produce in depth images of body tissues are vital driving forces of Europe Optical Imaging Market. Rising prevalence of ophthalmic diseases, neurological diseases, cancer cases, dermatological diseases are attributing major support for the growth of Europe Optical Imaging Market. According to European Coalition for Vision Group, in 2014, about 70 Mn of European population were reported with eye diseases. In 2014, about 1/3rd Mn people in EU-28 were died from cancer. European market players in optical imaging market are focused on new product launches, mergers and acquisitions. For instance, in 2015, Michelson Diagnostics launched VivoSight Dx, a next gen optical coherence technology system.

Key players profiles in Europe Optical Imaging Market include, Carl Zeiss AG (Germany),Bioptigen Inc. (U.S.), SpectraScience Inc. (U.S.), Cytoviva Inc. (Aetos Technologies Inc.) (U.S.), Optical Imaging Ltd. (Israel), Michelson Diagnostics Ltd. (UK.), PerkinElmer Inc. (U.S.), Nikon Corporation (Japan), Raytheon ELCAN Optical Technologies (The Raytheon Company) (U.S.), Jude Medical Inc. (U.S.), Somanetics Corporation (U.S.), Volcano Corporation (Volcano Corporation) (Netherlands), Topcon Medical Systems Inc. (Topcon Corporation) (Japan).

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 In June 2012, NinePoint Medical received European CE mark approval for optical endoscopy imaging device, NVisionVLE Imaging system, for diagnosis of mucosa and submucosal diseases.

Europe Optical Imaging Market Report Description:

The Europe Optical Imaging market report gives a comprehensive outlook of optical image systems usage or adoption across the globe with special emphasis on key regions such as Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Russia, Poland, Rest of Europe. This report on Europe Optical Imaging market gives historical, current, and future market sizes (US$ Mn) of technology, application, end users, and geographic regions. This report studies Europe Optical Imaging market dynamics elaborately to identify the current trends & drivers, future opportunities and possible challenges to the key stakeholders operating in the market. In addition, Europe Optical Imaging market report covers newer product introductions and competition analysis with vividly illustrated competition dashboard to assess the market competition. Moreover, PBI analysed Europe Optical Imaging market to better equip clients with possible investment opportunities across the regions (Regional Investment Hot-Spots) and market unmet needs (Product Opportunities). Key stakeholders of the Europe Optical Imaging market report include suppliers, manufacturers, marketers, policymakers engaged in manufacturing and supply Europe Optical Imaging systems.

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Trade union rights

TIME TO ACT!

If the trade union movement is to survive a unified movement to defend trade unions and defeat anti-union legislation must be built on as broad a basis as possible. Last week the High Court and the Federal Court, using the full force of the Coalition governments state machinery hit the union movement and militant unionists with two savage blows.

Photo: Anna Pha

The first is an attempt to intimidate militant trade unionists by banning unions from paying officials fines. The second hits the Building and Construction division of the CFMEU with a $1 million penalty. This comes on top of more than $12 million in penalties for unlawful industrial conduct over the past six years and millions more in settlement of common law claims.

The High Court handed down a ruling on Wednesday, February 14, banning the CFMEU from paying the fines of one of its officials for unlawful conduct.

In 2016, the Federal Court had imposed penalties against the CFMEU and its official Joseph Myles, for an unlawful blockade of the $4.3 billion Regional Rail Link project site in Melbourne in 2013, which prevented the delivery of concrete to the site and caused tonnes of wastage.

For his breaches of the Fair Work Act, the Federal Court ordered Myles to personally pay a penalty of $18,000. The CFMEU appealed to a full bench of the Court and won.

The Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) then took the decision to the High Court which saw fit to hear it. The High Court found in favour of the ABCC and determined that the CFMEU cannot pay Myles fine.

Sting

The Court found that there was a conscious and deliberate strategy by the CFMEU and its officers to engage in disruptive, threatening and abusive behaviour towards employers without regard to the lawfulness of that action, and impervious to the prospect of prosecution and penalties.

In doing so, the High Court stated, the principal object of an order that a person pay a pecuniary penalty  is deterrence: specific deterrence of the contravener and, by his or her example, general deterrence of other would-be contraveners.

An order that a contravener must not seek or receive indemnity from his or her co-contravener  assists in accomplishing the calculated level of sting or burden of the pecuniary penalty 

This historic ruling is in effect yet another act of intimidation in a climate of fear and intimidation that the government set out to create under rule of its industry cop, ABCC. This ruling could apply to any union, any union official, in any industry.

The CFMEU previously paid Boral up to $9 million in 2015 to settle the companys damages case against the union over the boycott.

The High Court is the highest court in the Australian judicial system. Its functions are to interpret and apply the law of Australia; to decide cases of special federal significance including challenges to the constitutional validity of laws and to hear appeals, by special leave, from Federal, State and Territory courts. Apart from giving the impression of overkill, it is difficult to see how this case warrants taking up its time.

Secondary boycott next weapon

The trade union Royal Commission and the Productivity Commission called for the greater use of the secondary boycott provisions in the Competition and Consumer Act (CCA) in their reports to the union-bashing Abbott government. They also recommended a massive hike in the maximum fines from $750,000 to $10 million for trade unions.

The Coalition increased the penalties and now the ABCC has heeded their advice and used the CCA against a trade union as if it were a corporation.

The court ruled that the CFMEU contravened section 45D(1) of the CCA by engaging in conduct in concert with a shop steward at two sites which hindered or prevented the acquisition of concrete from Boral and its subsidiary Alsafe for the purpose of causing substantial loss or damage to Borals business.

It further ruled that the conduct was likely to have the effect of causing substantial loss or damage to Boral.

Secondary boycott conduct, which is prohibited under section 45D of the CCA, involves at least two people acting in concert to hinder or prevent third parties from acquiring goods or services from, or supplying goods or services to, a fourth person, with the purpose and effect, or likely effect, of causing substantial loss or damage to the business of the fourth person.

Criminalising trade union activity

Historically, industrial relations has been a matter for special tribunals and commissions to settle disputes and prevent industrial action. Successive governments have been shifting industrial relations law into the arena of corporate and even criminal law.

The provisions of the Fair Work Act, ABCC legislation and CCA are so restrictive that almost all industrial action is now illegal and can be subjected to substantial civil penalties and even larger damages actions.

There is a big difference between the criminal law and the civil law, the latter carrying jail sentences. Failure to pay court-ordered penalties or damages awarded by courts is contempt of court which is a criminal offence carrying the possibility of jail.

And this is where it is headed next. The aim is to bankrupt trade unions, their officials and militant unionists. The massive penalties can be forced on them by sequestering their homes, cars and other personal effects if they cannot pay. After that it is jail.

CUDL

The secondary boycott decision highlights the importance of trade unions and the community working together. The government and employers are doing everything they can to kneecap trade unions.

Organisations such as the Community Union Defence League, affectionately referred to by its initials as CUDL, are the way forward. (See Guardian, #1722, 09-03-2016, Solidarity is infectious.) The Your Rights @ Work campaign also provided a good model but regrettably was dismantled after the defeat of the Howard government.

CUDL is a grassroots organisation set up to support trade unions and unionists. At its launch in Adelaide last year it raised $4,000 to assist local unionists like CFMEU organiser Jimmy OConnor who had been fined $12,000 by the Federal Court for doing nothing more than defending his members.

There is also an urgent need to build an alternative, progressive political force with the necessary support to win government and repeal existing laws. The Communist Party of Australia is ready to be part of that work to build such a force.
Gate-keeper Australia

January 31 marked the high point of independence celebrations on Nauru. Curiously the celebrations were marked by the government lifting the ban on Facebook that was imposed in 2015, as part of the crackdown on democratic rights that also removed the right to protest, when hundreds of asylum seekers began to protest against their imprisonment in Nauru.

Nauru is now known internationally for the human rights abuses perpetrated on the island. Sexual assault, bashings, routine robberies of asylum seekers and refugees are ignored by the police force.

The celebrations of independence are overshadowed by Naurus role as a jailer for the Australian government. With the phosphate resources almost completely depleted, Nauru was vulnerable to the millions of dollars offered by Australia to maintain Nauru as an offshore detention centre; money on which it is now dependent.

Nauru lost its independence when it allowed itself to be subordinated to the decisions of Australias Border Force. Nauru has been unable to respond to the New Zealand governments offer to take refugees, because Australia is the gate-keeper, preventing any arrangements being made between Nauru and New Zealand.

Even HOST International, contracted to provide services to refugees in the Nauru community, were drawn into the celebrations with precious welfare dollars being spent catering for various independence events, often for the Nauruan elite.

Naurus celebrations are overshadowed by the stark contrast between the celebrations and the conditions on the island for both poor Nauruans and the asylum seekers and refugees that are held on the prison island  some still living in tents after four and half years.

There are many children on Nauru who cannot get the medical help they need because it is not available on Nauru and Border Force obstructs recommendations that they travel to Australia for treatment.

Many families have been separated  fathers from their partners and new babies; brothers from sisters and mothers  by deliberate government policy.

Ending offshore detention would be a genuine step to Nauru regaining its independence, and freeing itself from the stain of its culpability for human rights abuses, said Ian Rintoul, from the Refugee Action Coalition.

Hundreds of asylum seekers and refugees face being left behind on Nauru regardless of the US deal. Unless the asylum seekers and refugees are brought to Australia, Naurus future will be blighted by its role as a prison island for Australia.
Extreme weather and extreme politics

Extreme weather events have always been with us. What makes them noteworthy now is their increasing frequency and severity, and the realisation that both those aspects are a consequence of human activity. Or to use the appropriate scientific terminology: a consequence of anthropogenic climate disruption (ACD).

Satellite image shows three storms in the Atlantic: Hurricane Irma, Tropical Storm Jose, and Tropical Storm Katia, in September last year.

Of course, there are those  like Donald Trump or Tony Abbott  who simply dont believe in ACD. It offends their faith in God or the market. They prefer to blame sunspots or simply to deny that anything unusual is happening at all. But while the very rich can turn a blind eye to extreme weather events from the comfort and security of their penthouses, it doesnt make ACD any less real, especially for the poor who dont have the benefits of wealth with which to cushion its effects.

It is significant that right-wing politicians through-out the world generally reject ACD. In fact, most actually deny even the possibility of damaging climate change, and vehemently reject the possibility that humans might be responsible for it. They seize on any alternative explanation they can find and blithely assume that, somehow, the rich will be able to buy their way out of the problem.

And, of course, as they demonstrate constantly, they have no faith in science, so scientific evidence carries no weight for them. So they can choose to believe or ignore it as they see fit, on the grounds that it is simply someones opinion. In the same way, they can ignore completely the potentially catastrophic consequences of such a policy. But not for too much longer.

2017 was the third-hottest year on record for the Earth. It saw bush fires in Australia and Spain, floods in Paris, record-breaking wildfires in California, record-breaking rainfall events in Texas, damaging hail events, tornadoes, and extreme droughts in other parts of the US. Most of these are recognised as having been fuelled at least in part by ACD.

Despite a very cautious approach, J Marshall Shepherd, professor of meteorology at the University of Georgia, in a statement to Britains Guardian newspaper once again confirmed the link between extreme weather events and climate change: While we have to be careful about kneejerk cause-effect discussions, the National Academy of Science and recent peer-reviewed literature continue to show that some of todays extremes have climate change fingerprints on them.

And Kerry Emanuel, a professor of atmospheric science at MIT commented: Weve been saying for decades now that there are two things that are a pretty sure bet. The incidence of high-intensity events are going to go up in general, and rainfall from a given hurricane is going to go up a lot.

The cost to national economies of these extreme weather events is itself extreme. For example, the three most expensive hurricanes to ever hit the US all occurred in 2017. In fact, extreme weather events combined cost the US nearly a third of a trillion dollars ($306 billion) in 2017.

As award-winning US investigative journalist Dahr Jamail, wrote in Truthout, That is more money than the US government spent in 2015 on transportation, housing and community, international affairs, energy and the environment, and science, combined.

But $300 billion plus is chicken feed compared to projected total global future costs of ACD. US banking giant Citigroup released a report in 2015 warning that inaction on ACD could cost up to $44 trillion by the year 2060. A report in the journal Nature in 2013 warned of unchecked ACD causing global damages totalling upwards of $60 trillion  from unchecked release of Arctic methane gases alone. A 2015 study by Cambridge Universitys Judge Business School warned that global damage from a moderate warming scenario would be a staggering $400 trillion.

Dahr Jamail raises an additional and very alarming point in his article in Truthout. After noting that the ACD impacts weve seen thus far are a result of humans having increased the global temperature approximately 1C, he goes on to state that, Behind closed doors, oil giants Shell and BP are planning for global temperatures to rise by as much as 5C by 2050.

I see no reason not to believe him. Its precisely what you would expect from corporations that make their money from exploiting greenhouse-gas-emitting fossil fuels! If a one degree rise can produce the climate chaos we are already seeing, the consequences of a five degree rise will be truly catastrophic. Clearly, the fate of the world cannot be left in the hands of greedy corporations with a vested interest in causing  and denying  climate change.

As Dahr Jamail says: The costs  financial and beyond  are, at this point, too great to predict. Unfortunately, waiting until we know for certain is not an option: by then it might be too late, the change to the climate irreversible.

The corporations that are prepared to play fast and loose with our planets future must have their wings clipped before they destroy us all. This is a campaign that, under the leadership of the working class, the class that does not decide issues on the basis of greed, can unite the mass of the people against the dominant one percent and their instruments of power.
On Israel and the question of apartheid

Culver City, California: From 2008 to 2014 Professor Richard Falk served as United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories. He dropped a bombshell on his audience when he declared that ending the Occupation, as so many human rights activists around the world seek to do, is simply not the answer, and not enough to address what he has seen and studied for many years.

Israel has made it clear that the end of Occupation would be the end of the conflict, he told more than a hundred attentive listeners February 7 at this citys Culver-Palms United Methodist Church. That would be a way of finding some measure of normalcy, he said, and ignoring the problems besetting the 20 percent Palestinian minority within Israels recognised borders, not to mention the several million Palestinians  the youngest of them now in the fifth generation since expulsion from Israel in 1948  still confined to refugee camps in the West Bank and in a number of neighbouring countries, and also not to mention the uncertain fate of the Gazans if the end of Occupation dealt separately with that million-plus population.

No, Falk, insisted, it is only correct to look at the Palestinians as a coherent people, wherever they live, and not provide tacit consent to the fragmentation both geographical and political to which Israel has subjected them. Viewed in those terms, ending the Occupation alone, without addressing the larger issue afflicting the Palestinian nation, is a misunderstood pragmatism.

That larger issue, claims this academic, author of some 20 books, is the structure of oppression itself, including physical displacement and all the policies and practices Israel promotes toward the Palestinian people. The conflict is not purely territorial, Falk says.

Apartheid

The UN report that he co-authored with Virginia Tilley, professor of political science at Southern Illinois University, names that structure apartheid, meaning separation in Afrikaans.

The 1973 International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid does not speak only of South Africa. There the term is defined as inhuman acts committed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining domination by one racial group of persons over any other racial group of persons and systematically oppressing them.

Following Professor Falks formal remarks, a questioner asked if, in the case of Israel, apartheid would be the correct term to apply, since the Jewish population of Israel it itself multi-ethnic and multi-racial, comprising not only Ashkenazic Jews from Northern and Eastern Europe, but Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews from the Mediterranean and Muslim lands, as well as Ethiopian and Indian Jews. Falk responded that Israeli law treats all these Jews the same, entitling them to the same rights and privileges that are denied to Palestinians, such as the sacred right of return to Israel by Jews, most of whose ancestors never inhabited Biblical Israel. The whole rationale of Israel is to be a Jewish state, and they dont fragment their own identity.

Richard Falk, 87, is professor emeritus of international law at Princeton University, where he taught for 40 years. He is chairman of both the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation and the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor and serves on the editorial board of The Nation magazine. Although he retired from formal teaching in 2001, the following year he began a career as research professor at the Orfalea Centre for Global and International Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He currently directs a Global Climate Change, Human Security, and Democracy project.

The professors talk was co-sponsored by a coalition of groups inclusive of Muslims, Christians and Jews: LA Jews for Peace and the United Methodists Holy Land Task Force, along with The Markaz, Friends of Sabeel of LA and Orange County, People for Palestine-Israel Justice, Southern California Workmens Circle/Arbeter Ring, the Orange County Cousins Club, Jewish Voices for Peace, and Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace (ICUJP).

UN-bashing

The Falk-Tilley report, Israeli Practices towards the Palestinian People and the Question of Apartheid, was released March 15, 2017, under the aegis of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). Its release caused an immediate firestorm, raising accusations of anti-Semitism against the authors (Falk is Jewish incidentally), and providing space for more UN-bashing, especially on the part of Israel and the United States. Although the ESCWA countries unanimously endorsed the report, and although the report was issued as representing the view of the authors alone and not the UN per se, it was removed from the UN website under threat of US withdrawal of UN funding; however, it is otherwise available.

Defenders of Israel are particularly sensitive about the word apartheid, citing factors that existed in South Africa but which do not exist in Israel, such as separate park benches and Arab representation in the Knesset. But as anyone who follows Israeli politics knows, leading figures in Israeli life, including prime ministers, writers and journalists from both the left and the right, have consistently used this word in Hebrew, addressing fellow Israelis, warning of the consequences of a failure to make peace leading to permanent apartheid.

Its when the word gets uttered in public forums in English that Israelis and their supporters hear the whole Zionist project being attacked. Jimmy Carter and John Kerry are only two American statesmen who have felt the brunt of Israels condemnation.

In many other ways Israel has defied the international community, for example, by referring to the occupied West Bank territories as Judea and Samaria, ancient Biblical terms which international law does not recognise as legitimate; and insisting on calling the Palestinians Arabs, as if to say they belong in other homelands, not in the Jewish state.

And although there are a few outstanding border questions in the world, there is no other state which doesnt even claim its final and definitive borders: By creating more facts on the ground with each years growing settler encroachment on land that would have been the natural Palestinian state, Israel has been pushing steadily toward complete annexation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights.

Israel has tried to politically separate Gaza from the larger Palestinian nation and for now seems to have abandoned that area for Jewish settlement. But at least one strand of thinking in Israel wishes to remove the Palestinians from Gaza one way or another, and free up that land for eventual incorporation into the Zionist state.

Nationalism/colonialism

The problem of Israel, according to Falk, is that the nationalism born in Europe in the 19th century made its way to the rest of the world by the mid-20th century and helped to create many newly independent countries in the wake of colonialism. But Israel, founded in 1948, came along at the end of the nationalist wave, and the global community had become sceptical of colonial projects in the underdeveloped world.

The Palestinian people have been made to pay the price for the crimes of the Nazis, Falk says.

There is an inherent tension, says Falk, between Israels self-definition as a Jewish state and its claim to be a democratic society. Especially as more and more Palestinians fall under direct or indirect Israeli control in the variously segmented entities between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean, the contradiction between these two professed ideals becomes ever sharper.

In almost every case, Falk says, where an oppressed people, with inferior arms and weak social institutions, sets out to oppose their colonial or neo-colonial masters, they eventually win. The Palestinians will continue to resist, and they are right to resist, he insists. From the Israeli point of view, the resistance is a challenge to the established order and must be put down. The United States, more substantively than anyone else in the world, gives Israel this unconditional mandate.

Until that mandate is lifted, says Falk, there will be no peace. Its our struggle here to end this destructive policy.

Richard Falk and Virginia Tilley wrote an Open Letter to UN Ambassador Nikki Haley on Our Report on Apartheid in Israel.

Peoples World
Solidarity with the Government and the People of Bolivarian Venezuela

The US government is not slowing in its attempt to annihilate the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela in order to seize the enormous wealth of that country and to strike an unprecedented blow on all of Latin America. To do so it is sparing no effort.

In 2015, the previous administration decreed that Venezuela constituted an unusual danger for the National Security of the United States of America. As absurd as the decree is it remains in force today. This was implemented without Venezuela ever having threatened any country. Since Hugo Chavez assumed power in 1999 there has been a steady drum beat of war plans emanating from Washington.

The interference against Venezuela has intensified after the election of Trump, by renewing Obamas decree in January 2017 and orchestrating threats from the Organisation of American States (OAS) through the buffoon of that imperial court, Luis Almagro, with the application of the Democratic Charter during the months of February and March. In April, extreme violent groups caused more than 100 deaths.

The siege and economic pressure is growing with a fierce media campaign of discrediting the democratically elected President Nicolas Maduro on an international scale with no recognition of the countrys democratic institutions.

The media lies do not take into account all of the 19 electoral processes carried out by the Bolivarian government nor the efforts to bring to the table a dialogue with the opposition that is best characterised by its dependence and servitude to imperialism. Venezuela recently gave a democratic civics lesson to all with the sovereign decision of the people by electing the National Constituent Assembly that has now set a general election date for April 22.

It is in this context that the US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson recently toured Latin American countries with the main objective of lining them up to increase pressure for a military coup, specifically in Venezuela, but to also resurrect the Monroe Doctrine for the entire region with the infamous imperial phrase, America for the Americans; a true reflection of their aspirations for intervention and domination.

The pressure and exchange of favours with the subservient governments of Latin America resulted in the pathetic declaration of February 13 of the Lima Group, which supported the decision of the corrupt right-wing government of Peru to exclude Venezuela from the Summit of the Americas.

The empire is relying on the corrupt coup plotters like Temer and Macri, the fraudulent murderers like Hernandez in Honduras, right-wingers involved in corruption up to their necks like Cartes of Paraguay and Pedro Pablo Kuczynski from Peru. And then there is Santos who is responsible for the continuation of the paramilitary death squads in Colombia. These are the scum who the Empire are relying on with total cynicism to denigrate Venezuela about democracy and human rights, all of whom will sooner or later be judged by their own people.

We call on International Solidarity to keep alert and be in permanent mobilization in the face of the real danger of a provocation on the borders of Venezuela, aimed at creating a conflict that will give a justification for a multinational military intervention. We call for unrestricted support for the Bolivarian government of Venezuela, the candidacy of President Nicolas Maduro and the holding of elections on April 22.

More than ever, the Proclamation of CELAC that Latin America is a Zone of Peace must prevail.

International Committee Peace, Justice and Dignity
In the wake of last year's shooting in Las Vegas, which saw 58 concertgoers murdered and 800+ injured, Donald Trump promised that we'd be soon "be talking about gun laws." It was really easy to call bullshit on that promise, but then ... we started talking about gun laws. Namely, a bill to ban "bump stocks," the modification used by the shooter to up the kill-itude of his weapons. Just as quickly as that happened, however, we stopped talking about gun laws and the bill died with no explanation.

I was going to say something, but then a churchload of people was gunned down in Sutherland Springs. I thought we were then going to start talking about gun laws again. After all, it'd be pretty screwed up of the government to ignore the deadliest and third-most deadliest mass shootings ever ... but then Donald Trump said that wasn't "a gun situation" and everyone stopped talking about it.

We're now seven weeks into 2018, and we've already had 30 mass shooting incidents, including Parkland. It kinda seems like we're in the middle of a gun situation, you guys.

To hear gun control proponents out, one might think that the best, fastest solution to the mass shootings plaguing our country would be to take a shiny litigatory scalpel and excise the NRA -- with their bottomless lobbying coffers, poisonous conspiracy theories, promotion of violence against protesters, and all-around assholery -- from politics and wider society. It's hard to argue against that. We certainly wouldn't stand for that shit from, say, the dairy industry. But the NRA somehow gets a pass every damn time.

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That's a pretty reductionist view of the problem, though. We don't need to completely tear down the NRA. But we do need to de-crazy those motherfluffers and take them back to the good ol' days when they were a force for good in society.

NRA Yes, were serious.

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When the NRA was founded in 1871, its primary purpose was to teach "urban northerners" how to use guns as well as their Southern counterparts could, figuring that this disparity lengthened the Civil War by several years. The organization taught basic marksmanship and firearm maintenance, funded the construction of shooting ranges, partnered with the War Department to host tournaments, and sparked the interest of a thoroughly traumatized nation in need of some semblance of security.

They weren't just teaching hunters how not to blow their balls off, however. They were also big players on Capitol Hill, where (and hold on to this next sentence like a wish that your heart makes) they spent their time politicking for both sides of the gun control debate. They campaigned against legislation that would have impugned their core membership base, hunters and sportsmen. But they also proposed and sponsored gun control bills. In the 1920s, for instance, they drafted handgun regulations not too dissimilar from those that they campaign against today: regulations requiring a permit for concealed weapons, a mandatory waiting period, and making records of gun sales available to law enforcement. In the 1930s, they went further and sponsored both the 1934 National Firearms Act and the 1938 Gun Control Act, which, among other things, banned felons from owning guns, required gun sellers and owners to register with the government, and placed heavy tax levies on guns associated with the likes of Bonnie & Clyde, and John Dillinger.

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Heck, take this quote from Karl Frederick, the President of the Freaking NRA, in 1939:

"I have never believed in the general practice of carrying weapons. I do not believe in the general promiscuous toting of guns. I think it should be sharply restricted and only under licenses."

It all started to go wrong in the 1960s. As part of establishment efforts to spite the Black Panthers -- who in 1967 marched on the California State Capitol building as part of a pushback against efforts to restrict the rights of black people to own guns -- the NRA sponsored the Mulford Act, which banned the carrying of loaded weapons across California. They also sponsored the Gun Control Act of 1968, a piece of legislation which restricted the shipping of firearms and ammunition, placed a minimum age requirement on gun purchases, and banned drug addicts and the mentally ill from owning firearms. You'll note that two of these three measures appear to have stuck around.
The best friend of Harvey Weinstein's estranged wife has insisted her 'incredibly strong' business partner doesn't see herself as a 'victim'.

Georgina Chapman's Marchesa co-founder Keren Craig has spoken for the first time about the accusations of sexual abuse against the shamed movie mogul, and the impact it has had on their fashion label.

Craig and Chapman, 41, launched Marchesa, in 2004 and have seen their designs modelled by a clutch of A-listers from Scarlett Johansson to Cate Blanchett.

But there were calls for stars to boycott the brand after sexual assault allegations against Weinstein surfaced last year, with some attributing the brand's success to the producer's influence in Hollywood circles.

Now, in an interview with Grazia magazine, Keren has recalled the moment she learned that Weinstein was a serial abuser, who denies rape.

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Close friends: Georgina Chapman's Marchesa co-founder Keren Craig (left) has spoken for the first time about the accusations of sexual abuse and rape against Weinstein

Georgina Chapman with estranged husband Harvey Weinstein. The pair wed in 2007 but parted ways last year after allegations of assault against the producer emerged last year

She explained: 'I was just thinking about Georgina and my goddaughter and their son and helping however I could. [But] there's nothing I could do.

'I feel immense sadness for the victims, for the women who have spoken out so bravely. I'm very glad he's getting some help.'

Within days of the scandal hitting headlines, Georgina announced her decision to divorce the Hollywood producer, with whom she shares India Pearl, seven, and Dashiell Max Robert, four.

Asked whether Keren ever had an inkling that Weinstein had been unfaithful, she replied: 'Absolutely not. No, it was a total shock. It was upsetting and my heart was broken for George.'

Praising the strength and courage of her fashion designer friend, Keren said: 'I actually couldn't believe how incredibly strong she was.

Georgina announced her decision to divorce the Hollywood producer, with whom she shares India Pearl, seven, and Dashiell Max Robert, four, last year (pictured together in January 2017)

Friends: Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig walks the runway at the Marchesa Spring 2007 fashion show during Olympus Fashion Week at the Daryl Roth Theater in New York City

'She threw herself in to work, she threw herself into protecting her kids. Marchesa is her life, it is her passion.'

Keren is at pains to quash rumours that Weinstein has a financial connection to the business.

'Harvey was helpful in the beginning', she admits. 'He helped us with meeting people, arranging contacts, (but) in terms of the business, he has not been involved.'

Asked if he ever made a financial investment in Marchesa, Keren replied firmly: 'No'.

She went on to confirm that Weinstein has no remaining financial involvement in that company at all, no shares or stake, 'None, nothing'.

There was initial speculation that Weinstein's notoriously tough management style spilled over into Marchesa.

To read the full interview see this week's Big Fashion Issue of Grazia, on sale now

Asked if she had ever experienced any bullying by the movie mogul, Keren insisted: 'No. I have not. Harvey was my best friend's husband, it was a social relationship.'

Keren is also adamant that Georgina must not be counted on the list of abused women, saying: 'She doesn't see herself as a victim. That's very important.

'She's just trying to get on with her life. You've got to realise George is such a strong woman. Don't get me wrong, it's a very hard time, but she's quite inspirational.'

The two friends are now considering what kind of gesture to make in response to the grassroots #MeToo movement, and the #Time'sUp campaign, which raises funds for women to help bring an end to sexual harassment.

'We want to support them. We want to make a gesture. We need to properly process how it can be the most beneficial.'

Georgina Chapman's statement on leaving Weinstein after 10 years of marriage

'My heart breaks for all the women who have suffered tremendous pain because of these unforgivable actions. I have chosen to leave my husband. Caring for my young children is my first priority and I ask the media for privacy at this time.'
Some of Britain's biggest fraudsters have revealed how it takes less than two minutes to scam victims into sharing their bank account details over the phone - using an app that's illegal to use in the UK.

In Channel 5 series Undercover: Nailing The Fraudsters, Tony Sales, who has been dubbed 'Britain's greatest fraudster', reveals how the the app - called SpoofCard - allows criminals to change the number that appears on a victim's phone.

He said it can be used to display a bank's contact number, with scammers then able to con victims into sharing their personal details and gain access to their bank accounts, stealing sometimes thousands of pounds. The process can take as little as 82 seconds, he admits.

SpoofCard - which is free to download but requires users to buy credits - also provides artificial background noises to disguise a fraudster's location, so they can trick victims into believing they are in a busy office.

Tony Sales, who has been dubbed 'Britain's greatest fraudster', reveals how criminals use an app called SpoofCard to change their caller ID, in Channel 5 series Undercover: Nailing The Fraudsters

Sales showed how the SpoofCard app works, allowing fraudsters to disguise phone calls to trick victims into thinking their bank is calling them

HOW THE SPOOFCARD APP WORKS SpoofCard allows customers to disguise their number so the person who receives the call gets a fake caller ID on their phone Download the app for free through a website or on mobile applications like Google Play and the iPhone App Store. Pay for credits to make phone calls. 160 credits cost $24.95 (17.83) and will give the buyer 160 minutes of call time. When making a call, type in the number you want to ring. Then type in the caller ID that you want to be displayed on the recipient's phone to disguise your identity. Customers have to buy credits to use the app. 160 credits cost $24.95 (17.83) and will give the buyer 160 minutes of call time It also allows customers to disguise their voice to sound like the opposite sex and provides background noises to disguise locations There is also feature that allows the user to select fake background noise - such as conversation or the sound of a busy office. A user can also disguise their voice by changing it to sound like the opposite gender. There are even options to go straight to voicemail or send someone a text with a diguised number. The company claims to have over 40 million users worldwide, and is sold on being a tool to protect a user's privacy. The app is legal to use in the US as long as it is not used to 'defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain anything of value'. However, in the UK users must have expressed permission from the person being called in order to spoof call them. Advertisement

On the app's website page it says: 'Easily Disguise Your Caller ID. Change the number that displays on phone calls and text messages. It's quick, easy, and works on any phone.'

It also says that 'privacy is key', adding: 'Your identity will always be anonymous when using SpoofCard's Caller ID spoofing. Place calls without ever displaying your real number and use our background noise options to protect your location.'

After downloading the app, the scammers pay for credits. They then type in the number they would like to call - followed by the caller ID they want to be displayed on the recipient's phone.

The user can also choose to disguise their voice - to sound like a man or a woman.

Credits start at around 7 for 45 minutes of calls on a pay-as-you-go option - or users can sign up for monthly membership.

Spoofcard also allows users to change their voice - to sound like a man or a woman

Spoofcard states on its website that it is legal to use its app while in the US, however, it adds that for users in other countries, 'it is your responsibility to determine whether the use of Spoofcard and other capabilities of SpoofCard are legal in the country where you are calling to and from'.

For those wanting to use it in the UK, the website states: 'In the UK, the spoofed number is called the "presentation number". This must be either allocated to the caller, or if allocated to a third party, is only to be used with the third party's explicit permission.'

Sales added: Unfortunately since the invention of the internet we all put our lives online, so once we put our life into the cloud you only have to wait for it to rain.

'Your information is going to come down its not if but when. You have to be really careful with the information you give away, but unfortunately the likes of Facebook, twitter all that stuff out there all want to share pictures of ourselves we all want to be told happy birthday, so fraudsters play into that.

MailOnline has contacted SpoofCard for comment.

The programme also interviewed a man known only as Peter, who creates fake websites that look like those of high street banks so victims are tricked into entering their personal details

Wearing a balaclava, Peter told the presenter he uses Facebook and other social media sites to gather information about the victim that can be used to answer bank security questions

Former scammer Sales (right) committed his first credit card scam at the age of just 13 and served a 12-month prison sentence in 2010

Another scammer who appears on the show, who makes up to 200,000 a month, sets up fake websites that look identical to the homepages of the high street banks, tricking customers into entering their details so that their accounts can be accessed in minutes.

Sales, who now advises the police on hackers, blamed the rise of the internet and social media for making people more vulnerable to fraud.

If a scammer wanted to get into someone's account or apply for a credit card in their name, sites like Facebook provide them vital information like birthdays and addresses, he explained.

When a fraudster calls, they will often tell a victim there has been fraudulent activity on their account, and ask them to answer security questions in order to 'confirm' the suspicious activity, Sales said.

If a 'secret' app is used, the victim will often believe they've received a call from their bank and will happily reveal their details so put an end to the suspicious activity.

Sales explained: 'It's all about getting their life savings out of them. The fraudsters wants to take as much money as possible, and they can because the victim trusts them and believes they're the bank on the phone so they give them all that information.'

If the scammer is convincing enough on the phone, many people will reveal their account numbers and sort codes, which gives the scammer the chance to not only clear their accounts, but also shop online and apply for credit cards.

Sales committed his first credit card scam at the age of just 13 and served a 12-month prison sentence in 2010.

Another fraudster, known only as Peter, revealed he earns 20,000 on a 'bad month' by scamming people - and 200,000 on a good month.

Peter will email victims with links to fake websites made to look identical to the websites of high street banks like Natwest of Lloyd's, asking them to login to check fraudulent activity on an account.

Sales blames the rise of the internet and social media for fraud as people want to share more of their lives with strangers

The information entered goes straight to the fraudster, and will often leave them with pin-numbers, account numbers and sort-codes.

They can also check Facebook for answers to security questions like mother's maiden names, pet names and school names.

The scammers will then clear the money out of the account and cash it, before putting it in a friend's bank account.

The friend will then put a portion back into the scammer's account so they share money.

Peter claims he knows of someone who stole 500,000 from a single person's account and didn't get caught for it.

Despite stealing innocent people's entire life savings, Peter said he doesn't feel bad about what he does.

He said: 'If you want to call me a criminal, cool, I'm the sort of person who goes out and gets it. If I want something I'll take it.'

Undercover: Nailing the Fraudsters airs on Wednesday at 10pm on Channel 5
A married couple from Connecticut chose to carry puppies instead of bouquets of flowers at their wedding.

Becky Mochak and new husband John from Canaan, have fostered many animals before and when they were in the middle of planning their wedding, it just so happened their local animal shelter was looking for a foster home to take in a litter of puppies.

The animal lovers that they are, the couple fostered all of the rescue puppies just weeks before their wedding was set to take place at The Litchfield Inn in Litchfield, CT and coincidentally their wedding fell on the same date as National Dog Day so they made the bridal party carry the puppies instead of flowers.

Adorable: A married couple from Connecticut (pictured) chose to carry puppies instead of bouquets of flowers at their wedding

Sweet: Becky Mochak (left) and her husband John (right) from Canaan, Connecticut have fostered many animals before and are absolute dog lovers

Fate: When they were in the middle of planning their wedding, it just so happened the local animal shelter was looking for a foster home for the puppies so they put them in their wedding

Home: The couple fostered five of the puppies just weeks before their wedding was set to take place at The Litchfield Inn and coincidentally their wedding fell on National Dog Day

In the midst of the pair's wedding prep, The Little Guild animal shelter in West Cornwall posted about rescue puppies in need of a temporary home and they immediately took in the puppies.

Their wedding photographer, Rebecca Lynne shared their story on Bored Panda explaining that when the couple saw the shelter's Facebook post, they said to each other, 'We've raised baby piglets and cows before, so this can't be much different!'

At first, they just took in two puppies from the litter, Penny and Patch, but they were just born and couldn't be left home alone.

Wow: Since the date of their wedding ceremony and National Dog Day landed on the same day, AUgust 26, 2017 they made the bridal party carry the puppies instead of flowers

Cute: The four groomsmen surrounding John (center) each got to hold one of the puppies

Precious: The four bridesmaids each got to hold one of the puppies while they posed alongside the bride, Becky (center)

Amazing: At first, the couple (pictured) just took in two puppies from the litter, Penny and Patch, but they were just born and couldn't be left home alone

Babies: The pair had to bring them along when they ran errands for their wedding, keeping bottles in the car and putting them in a diaper bag in a shopping cart when they shopped

So, the pair had to bring them along when they ran errands for their wedding, keeping bottles in the car and putting them in a diaper bag in a shopping cart when they were in stores.

As if they didn't have enough on their plate already, shortly after taking in the two puppies, they began fostering three more named Roley, Lucky and Freckles and Becky said, 'It was mayhem.'

Becky and John took in five puppies from the litter and fostered them up until they each found a home, while their two other siblings had homes already but still attended the wedding.

Patience: As if they didn't have enough on their plate already, shortly after taking in the two puppies, the couple (pictured) began fostering three more named Roley, Lucky and Freckles

Kind: Becky (left) and John (right) took in five puppies and fostered them until they each found a home, while their two siblings had homes already but still attended the wedding

Cute: The couple didn't think twice about putting them in the wedding and Becky said 'When you're wedding happens to fall on National Dog Day, you have to include them in your pictures'

Unbelievable: Their wedding photographer, Rebecca Lynne did an amazing job capturing the bridal party kissing and cuddling the puppies

Considering the couple loves dogs, they didn't think twice about putting the puppies in the bridal party and the fact that their wedding ceremony just so happened to fall on National Dog Day, August 26, 2017, there was no doubt in their minds.

Becky shared on Facebook, 'When you're fostering puppies and your wedding happens to fall on National Dog Day, you have to include them in your pictures.'

The pictures are absolutely adorable and feature the four bridesmaids all decked out in pretty pale pink gowns with braided hairstyles each holding a puppy in awe.

Beautiful: The four bridesmaids were all decked out in pretty pale pink gowns with braided hairstyles while each held a puppy in awe

Brilliant: No one in the wedding held a bouquet and instead the dogs were held by everyone which was the smartest idea because the result is the most precious set of photos

Happy ending: All of the puppies found homes soon after their wedding day and Patch, who was renamed Mo, was adopted by John's aunt so the couple still gets to visit him

Meanwhile, the four groomsmen looked so cute holding each of the puppies and giving them kisses.

No one in the wedding held a bouquet and instead the dogs were held by everyone and the result is the most precious set of photos.

What's even better is that all of the puppies found homes soon after their wedding day and Patch, who was renamed Mo, was adopted by John's aunt so the couple still gets to visit him.
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The same old engagement photos can sometimes can a little boring which is why one New York couple decided to take an alternate approach and have some fun with their photo shoot.

Jackie Nguyen and Nate Huntley of Queens, New York, describe themselves as 'huge nerds' who look for an excuse to be a bit kooky. And what better way to celebrate their unique sense of humor than by dressing up as their favorite pop-culture power duos.

The pair, who are both actors, had some help from their photographer friend, Isaac James and over a period of months, paid tribute to iconic couples from movies such as Marty McFly and Doc Brown from Back to the Future and Marv and Harry from Home Alone - Isaac also took more 'traditional' engagement photos of the couple well.

Jackie told the Huffington Post: 'Nate and I are huge nerds. We are completely obsessed with the majority of couples we paid tribute to and have a genuine love for being a bit kooky.'

The couple bought their costumes from thrift shops and borrowed from friends who had a lot of props on hand for Jackie and Nate to use.

And of all the costumes, Jackie's favorite was Harry and Marv from Home Alone and Home Alone 2 as they are two of her favorite movie and Nate's was Jack and Rose from Titanic because it was a dramatic but hilarious shot to get.

They are now planning their wedding which will be in Columbus, Ohio, come April and much like their engagement shoot, the occasion will be one filled with laughter and fun.

Jackie said: 'We have the most outlandish and fun things planned for the wedding, some of which are surprises that we can't reveal. What we can say is that it is a Chex Mix of Willy Wonka meets Christmas meets a magical carnival.'

A horse and his girl: The couple cosplayed as BoJack Horseman and Diane Nguyen from BoJack Horseman

In character: Jackie and Nate acting as BoJack Horseman and Diane Nguyen look into the distance while still maintaining character

Captain of the cosplay: Jackie and Nate dress as Peggy Carter and Captain America from the Captain America franchise

Lovebirds: The engaged couple hold hands and look at each other while cosplaying as Peggy and Captain America

Model pose: Jackie does a solo shot as Peggy Carter wearing a form-fitting blue dress and red hat and lipstick

Iconic scene: Jackie and Nate reenact the iconic scene in Mrs Doubtfire when Robin Williams' character dumps her face into a icing-covered cake

Back to the Future: The couple double as Marty McFly and Doc Brown from the well known 80s movie franchise

The perfect pair: The couple did multiple shoots for this cosplay and got some pretty authentic photos from it

Better together: The couple clearly had a lot of fun together for their cosplay engagement photos

Marv and Harry: The duo also did a lot of photos for the Home Alone photo shoot as Home Alone and Home Alone 2 are two of Jackie's favorite movies

Kissing bandits: They may not have stolen anything from any unoccupied homes but they did steal each other's hearts

The perfect scene: The couple even act out the iconic scene when Marv gets power on his face

Mugshots: They even did a black and white mugshot photo shoot with their character names. Jackie even took the liberty of doing a silly face

All you need is love: Jackie and Nate cosplay as historic couple Yoko Ono and John Lennon

Love and peace: The pair even added a prop to their well-planned costume which included a 'war is over' poster

Lovebirds: The pair both describe themselves as 'kooky' which is evident even in their non-cosplay engagement photos

Young at heart: The couple cosplay as children's movie characters Linus and Sally from Its The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Perfect acting: During a Jurassic Park cosplay, Jackie and Nate are on lookout while the dinosaur can be seen in the frame behind them

Running for their lives: The couple did an action shot while running away from a dinosaur during a Jurassic Park cosplay

Jurassic Park: Jackie and Nate did a Jurassic Park cosplay and got one of their friends to be the designated dinosaur

Thor and Harry: Although the characters are unrelated, Nate and Jackie still wanted to get a snap of the iconic pair together

Human turned god: Nate transformed into Marvel Comics character, Thor. He even donned a blonde wig the character's signature locks

Casting a spell: Jackie cosplayed as Harry Potter complete with a Gryffindor scarf, black cloak and wand

Don't let go: Nate's favorite costume was Jack and Rose from Titanic because because it was such a dramatic and hilarious shot to get

The Office: Nate and Jackie dressed up as Michael Scott and Dwight Schrute from comedy series The Office

Wedding planning: They are now planning their wedding which will be in Columbus, Ohio, come April
The sister of a teacher who died protecting her students during the Sandy Hook shooting has taken to task the political 'leaders' who let the same mistakes be made just five years later.

Carlee Soto, 26, lost her older sister Victoria Soto, then 27, in the Newtown, Connecticut massacre. On December 14, 2012, Victoria was one of 26 people shot and killed on the school grounds by Adam Lanza, who used a Bushmaster semi-automatic rifle similar to an AR-15.

Accused Florida shooter Nikolas Cruz used a similar AR-15-style weapon, a Smith & Wesson M&P15 rifle, to kill 17 people last week in Parkland, authorities have said.

Siblings: Carlee Soto (left), 26, lost her older sister Victoria Soto (right), then 27, in the Newtown, Connecticut massacre that took place in 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School

Taking action: In an op-ed, Carlee (pictured on the day of the Sandy Hook shooting) urged politicians to pass legislation making it possible to strip gun rights from dangerous people

Heartbreak: In her candid essay, Carlee (pictured in 2013 at a hearing), who referred to her sister by her nickname, Vicki, said she misses her sister 'every single day'

Five years after her sister's death, the first thought that went through Carlee's head when she heard about the Parkland shooting was 'not again', she recalled in an op-ed for Cosmopolitan.

'I know what the families in Florida are going through, and my heart aches for them,' she added.

'The agony of trying to locate your loved one and the overwhelming heartbreak when the news is not what you were desperate to hear is something Iand theywill never, ever get past.'

In her candid essay, Carlee, who referred to her sister by her nickname, Vicki, said she misses her sister 'every single day'.

'I miss her at Christmas when our family has to celebrate without her,' she wrote.

'I miss her every time my son celebrates a milestone and I can't call my sister to tell her all about it. I just miss her.'

Carlee, who is part of the Everytown network for gun safety, called for officials to take action to help prevent mass shootings.

She cited the Red Flag Laws passed by Connecticut as well as California, Indiana, Oregon and Washington, which make it possible to take away a person's guns if they show signs of being dangerous.

'I miss her at Christmas when our family has to celebrate without her,' Carlee wrote about Victoria (pictured)

Only those five states have laws enabling family members, guardians or police to ask judges to temporarily strip gun rights from people who show warning signs of violence. Supporters of these measures, also called gun-violence restraining orders, say they can save lives by stopping some shootings and suicides.

Warnings around Cruz included being expelled from school, fighting with classmates, a fascination with weapons and hurting animals, disturbing images and comments posted to social media, as well as previous mental health treatment.

In Florida, that wasn't enough for relatives, authorities or his schools to request a judicial order barring him from possessing guns. The state, where Cruz is accused of using an AR-15 assault weapon to kill 17 people at his former high school, doesn't have a red flag law.

Cruz was able to legally own the semi-automatic rifle, even though his mother, classmates and teachers had at times described him as dangerous and threatening, and despite repeated police visits to his home.

'It is agonizing that our nation is now reeling after yet another a mass shooting where the shooter exhibited warning signs,' Carlee added in her piece. 'It was reported that people who knew him referred to him as troubled and as someone who had threatened students. These are red flags for violence.'

Legislation: Carlee (pictured in an archive photo) cited the Red Flag Laws passed by Connecticut as well as California, Indiana, Oregon and Washington

Message: 'Now is the time for our elected leaders to take action. They need to act or we will throw them out of office,' Carlee (pictured in an archive photo) wrote

She urged politicians to 'take action' and pass similar legislation 'now'. Eighteen states, along with the District of Columbia, have introduced similar laws, according to Everytown.

'Now is the time for our elected leaders to take action. They need to act or we will throw them out of office,' Carlee wrote.

'Thoughts and prayers are not enough. They have never been enough. The time to act to end this gun violence crisis is today, right now.'

Red flag legislation has been introduced by Democratic state lawmakers, but it hasn't been heard during this year's session, and its fate is uncertain in a state Legislature controlled by Republicans who generally favor expanding gun rights.

Thoughts and prayers are not enough. They have never been enough

After Wednesday's shooting, Republican Governor Rick Scott said he will work to make sure people with mental illnesses don't have access to guns, but offered no specifics. Florida's GOP Senator Marco Rubiofacing withering criticism over his acceptance of $3.3 million in career campaign cash donated through the National Rifle Associationis going a step further now.

Rubio said on a Sunday morning show that state legislators should 'absolutely' consider enacting a law enabling family members or law enforcement officials to ask a court to remove guns from a person who poses a danger. The senator, who once served as Florida's House speaker, told Miami CBS affiliate WFOR that it's an 'example of a state law' that could have helped prevent the Florida shooting.

In 2014, California became the first state to let family members ask a judge to remove firearms from a relative who appears to pose a threat. Its legislature took action after a mentally ill man, Elliot Rodger, killed six students and wounded 13 others near the University of California, Santa Barbara, before killing himself.

The Florida shooting has revived debate about whether teachers and school administrators should have that authority as well, given that people at Cruz's high school witnessed much of his erratic behavior.

Carlee (pictured with her mother Donna at a vigil after the Newtown massacre in December 2012), called for officials to take action to help prevent mass shootings

California lawmakers voted to expand their law in 2016 so that high school and college personnel, co-workers and mental health professionals can seek the restraining orders, but Governor Jerry Brown called the effort premature and vetoed it.

State Assemblyman Phil Ting, a San Francisco Democrat, said he plans to reintroduce the bill.

'We need to make sure that when people see signs, they have every ability to do something about getting guns out of the hands of mentally ill and dangerous people,' Ting told The Associated Press.

Circumstances similar to those in Florida played out seven years ago in the shooting of Representative Gabrielle Giffords in Arizona. Jared Loughner had become increasingly disruptive and erratic at his community college in the months leading up to the shooting, frightening students and causing teachers to request campus police officers be on hand during his classes. Eventually, the school threatened him with suspension.

Soon after, he went to a gun store and legally bought the weapon he used to attack Giffords as she met with constituents, shooting her in the head and killing six people.

Without red flag laws, the main recourse available to family members is to have a troubled loved one committed to a psychiatric institution. Federal law permanently bans anyone who has been involuntary committed from owning guns, but such actions are more difficult to carry out than red flag laws, which are intended to be quick and temporary and have a lower standard of proof.

Statement: 'Thoughts and prayers are not enough. They have never been enough. The time to act to end this gun violence crisis is today, right now,' Carlee wrote

In memory: Carlos and Donna Soto, Victoria's parents, received the Presidential Citizens Medal posthumously in her honor in February 2013

Without such a commitment, formal adjudication of serious mental illness or a felony conviction, many people can pass background checks and possess guns they already own.

The red flag laws act as a sort of timeout, so someone in psychological distress can get counseling while their fitness to possess a gun is evaluated, said Laura Cutilletta, legal director of the Giffords Law Center.

'It's a way to allow for temporary removal of firearms in a situation just like this: where somebody has made threats, where they have been expelled from school because of those threats, they're in counseling, and parents or the school or whoever it is understands that this person poses a threat,' she said.

Many gun-rights activists oppose the laws. They say they can be used to unfairly take away rights from people who have not been convicted of crimes, nor professionally evaluated for mental illness.

The NRA's lobbying arm has said such laws enable courts to remove Second Amendment rights 'based on third-party allegations and evidentiary standards' that are lower than what's required in criminal proceedings.

Connecticut led the way with a 1999 law, passed after an employee shot and killed four executives at state Lottery headquarters. It allows police to remove guns based on probable cause that a person poses a 'risk of imminent personal injury.'

In a study published last year, researchers at Duke, Yale, Connecticut and Virginia estimated that dozens of suicides have been prevented by the law, roughly one for every 10 gun seizures carried out. They said such laws 'could significantly mitigate the risk' posed by the small number of legal gun owners who might suddenly pose a significant danger.
A university professor in Tennessee has come up with a creative  and unique  extra credit challenge for his students.

Last week, the unidentified professor at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga emailed his class to explain how a single student might be able to earn five extra points on his or her final grade.

All that student needs to do is craft a tweet addressed to @realDonaldTrump  which, when sent from the professor's account, will get that professor blocked by the President.

Provoking an A+! An unidentified professor is offering a unique extra credit challenge to students

Creative writing: The professor at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga will award points to any person who successfully gets him blocked on Twitter by the president

Challenge: The professor, who was not named, has asked students to write tweets which he will post from his account

Story: An undergrad named Erin Cary shared a screengrab of the email with the extra credit instructions

Erin Carey, an undergraduate at UTC shared a screengrab of the email on Twitter last week, along with a joke about high school teachers striving to hide their political opinions while college professors broadcast them.

In the screengrab, she blocked out the professor's name and email, as well as the name of the class.

'All,' the professor began, 'Here are the details of the Twitter Extra Credit assignment: Simply write a tweet for @realDonaldTrump and email it to me. It may not contain profanity or personal threats.

'I'll post them from my Twitter account. If your tweet successfully gets my account blocked by @realDonaldTrump, you will receive five points on your final grade and a free absence.

'This will run through the end of the semester, or until someone wins,' he added. 'As always, let me know if you have any questions. Good luck.'

Gunning for those points! Erin asked followers to send her suggestions

Competition: Only one person can possibly win the five extra credit points

Stumped: This person suggested asking Trump questions from the game show Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?

Updates: This person suggested tweeted updates on the Mueller investigation

Erin, who shared the email, said she didn't want to reveal the professor's identity, though many have asked her to.

He can't hear you: The 45th President is known is known for tuning out voices of people who disagree with him

'Wow I showed this to the prof Friday and was excited Bc it had over 100 likes. For the people asking for his @, I dont want angry trump supporters attacking him!! Also thanks for all the people that have dmed me with ideas,' she wrote.

The original tweet has been liked over 83,000 times so far, and several have replied with suggestions.

Interestingly, the extra credit assignment was offered at a school in a county and state that both voted largely for Trump in 2016.

He won Tennessee with 61.1 per cent of the vote, and Hamilton County  where Chattanooga is  with 55.8 per cent.

It may not take much for this professor to get blocked, especially if he is making an effort to make it happen.

Horrible: Author Stephen King was blocked in June of last year

Funny: Chrissy Teigen, a vocal critic, was blocked soon after

Hush: Rosie O'Donnell, whom Trump has feuded with for years, has also been blocked

Shh... Author Anne Rice can no longer see the tweets either

Trump has made a habit of blocking Twitter users whom he disagrees with, most famously blocking Chrissy Teigen, author Stephen King, Rosie O'Donnell, and Anne Rice.

'Trump has blocked me from reading his tweets. I may have to kill myself,' King wrote in June 2017.

'After 9 years of hating Donald J Trump, telling him "lol no one likes you" was the straw,' Chrissy joked after her blocking in July of last year, adding a screenshot.

He has also blocked the veteran organization @VoteVets, Star Trek: The Next Generation actress Marina Sirtis, Jimmy Kimmel Live Bess Kalb, journalists, activists, and entrepreneurs.
Diversity has become an increasingly important issue within the fashion industry over the past few seasons, with many designers finally choosing to take on a more inclusive stance.

But one New York fashion editor is now turning her attention to street style photographers, calling them out for their lack of diversity, and blasting their blatant determination to simply 'shoot the same skinny white women over and over again'.

Lindsay Peoples, a fashion editor at The Cut, revealed that she finds herself 'getting mad about the same things' at every fashion month, and this New York Fashion Week, she decided she no longer wanted 'to suppress her stance as an "angry black woman"' and had instead chosen to speak out because 'no one else will'.

Protest: Lindsay Peoples, fashion editor at The Cut, is calling out street style photographers for their lack of diversity in 'shooting the same skinny white women over and over again'

Bad experience: She also pointed out that street style is no longer the organic process it once was and her most recent experience at New York Fashion Week left her feeling 'cold'

Ignored: Lindsay shared how she 'watched in disgust' as she saw 'impeccably dressed women of color, curvy women, and most women over 35' ignored in favor of younger white women

She hastened to point out that street style is no longer the organic process it once was, noting that while she once 'loved watching the women walking outside of shows as photographers swarmed, yelling names as if the fashion editors were real celebrities', her most recent experience with the process had left her cold.

'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,' she wrote.

'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.'

And Peoples also shared how out of the almost 300 street style pictures The Cut published on its site, only 29 were of non-white men and women.

However, she acknowledged that no one person was to blame, explaining: 'This was our failure as editors, and it is not the fault of any one person on our team including our street style photographer.'

In order to get a better understanding of the current zeitgeist, Peoples spoke to several of her contemporaries within the fashion industry for the piece.

For Tyler McCall, Deputy Editor at Fashionista, street style became boring for her several seasons ago when 'true personal style' was replaced by 'peacocking'.

'The girls that these photographers are looking for are the ones being dressed by brands who don't offer sizes beyond a 10 or a 12,' she wrote.

'I've seen so many stylish women over a size 6 at Fashion Week and you'll watch them walk through a crowd of photographers who just stare at them,' she added.

Solidarity: Lindsay also spoke to other women in the industry for the piece and found that they shared the same view as her

Name game: Julee Wilson (not pictured), Fashion & Beauty Director at Essence Magazine shared that she finds it 'maddening' not to see more diversity in the images

Change: All the editors Lindsay spoke to said that change had to happen within the industry and Jessica Andrews (not pictured) from Teen Vogue said editors must be 'unrelenting'

This sentiment is shared by Chrissy Rutherford, Senior Digital Fashion Editor at Harper's Bazaar, who said: 'One of the worst parts of street style is that it's the same people season after season, wearing five different looks per day based on the day's show schedule because the designer has dressed them to sit front row.

'Where's the real personal style? Where's the diversity?'

However, Julee Wilson, Fashion & Beauty Director at Essence Magazine suggested that the industry has to reform its way, sharing she finds it 'maddening not to see others like myself reflected in the documentation of fashion's 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,' she added.

Something Jessica Andrews, Fashion Features Editor at Teen Vogue, agreed with.

Jessica also shared that in order for real change to happen, women and men of all shapes, sizes and ethnicities need to be represented as 'the lack of diversity in street style photos sends the message that plus-size and non-white show-goers are not stylish  which we know is simply not true.

She added: 'I've worked with street-style photographers in the past and I've had to ask them, sometimes repeatedly, to include women of color. But it's important that editors are persistent and unrelenting.

'And it's important that photographers and media outlets are held accountable.
When Lyn Parent accompanied her sister to get a tattoo in 1992, she had no idea it would change the course of her life.

But after the 57-year-old from Auckland decided to get inked impulsively - in order to help to give her younger sister more confidence in getting her own tattoo - she later contracted HIV and was told she would only live for six more months.

More than 25 years later, Lyn is still here - and has a refreshing attitude towards death and life - in that she seizes every day as it comes.

Here, Lyn reveals what happened to her that day - and how she found out she was HIV positive.

Lyn Parent (pictured), 57, from Auckland got a tattoo in 1992 - and later contracted HIV from the experience

While originally she had just gone with her sister (both pictured) as moral support, Lyn told FEMAIL that she has no regrets around the experience

According to Lyn, her decision to get a butterfly tattoo on her bikini line wasn't one she had weighed up hugely before that fateful day in July 1992:

'The supermodels all had tattoos, they were super fashionable and I made a split-second decision that changed my life,' she told FEMAIL.

'I remember noticing that a guy before me had had a tattoo and the artist hadn't changed the needles. But I didn't think anything of it. We didn't in those days, I wasn't worried.

'In fact, I told my sister I would go first as I was the eldest. He changed the needle after he inked me.'

Lyn (pictured) got inked on a whim - but didn't think anything of it when the tattoo artist didn't change the needles

However, just a few short months later, the 57-year-old was diagnosed with HIV and told she had six months to live (pictured with her daughter, Amira)

When the now 57-year-old returned to Corsica in France, where she working as a tour guide at the time, she didn't give her new butterfly tattoo much thought.

HIV AND AIDS FACTS AND STATISTICS * In Australia and New Zealand, it is estimated that there are currently around 29,000 people living with HIV. * Globally, there are some 37 million. * Today, someone with HIV can continue to live a healthy life. * HIV is passed from person to person through infected bodily fluids. * It can be passed through tattoos and piercings, but only if the needle has not been sterilised. Advertisement

That was until roughly eight weeks later when Lyn remembers developing major flu-like symptoms:

'I had a yellow face, I couldn't eat and I needed to sleep nearly all the time,' she explained.

'I knew I needed to go to the doctor, and when they told me my temperature was extremely high, I returned home where specialists ran lots of tests to see whether I had malaria.'

Ten days later, however, Lyn's doctors still had no prognosis.

'I was sleeping for 22 hours a day, so my mother said I had to go back to the hospital,' she remembered.

'The specialist said that they had to test me for everything under the sun - including HIV. She told me she'd be back with my results the next day.'

Despite everything, Lyn (pictured) has lived a healthy life - and 25 years later, she is very much healthy and grabs every day and opportunity as they come

'When she told me I had HIV and that I had six months to live, so I needed to get my bucket list out, I heard nothing except the fact that I had six months left,' Lyn remembered (pictured: her daughter, Amira)

That next day, in October 1992, sticks in Lyn's mind all too clearly.

'I remember her body language and knowing it was going to be bad,' Lyn recalled.

'When she told me I had HIV and that I had six months to live, so I needed to get my bucket list out, I heard nothing except the fact that I had six months left.

'I was in shock. I had no idea why.'

Eventually, after doctors ran tests on the three ex boyfriends Lyn had had since she was 20, one of the 57-year-old's specialists pinpointed that her HIV had come from the tattoo.

'I remember being shocked,' she said. 'I had no idea that was possible.'

Lyn has now has two children, Francois (pictured with Lyn) and Amira, who are both totally healthy

Lyn later boarded a plane to see friends and family in Australia, with the intentions of saying goodbye.

It was around this point that she met her ex partner on an airplane and fell in love.

'I wanted to live each day like it was my last,' she explained. 'We moved to Rotorua, enjoyed a stress-free life - and after a year when I was still here, I relaxed a little.'

Lyn has now has two children, Francois and Amira, who are both totally healthy.

Since she was diagnosed, the mother of two has worked tirelessly to educate people around HIV and AIDS - a subject many don't know too much about.

'I've started the fashion event StyleAid to raise money for women and children with HIV,' she explained.

'Anyone can get HIV and AIDS and it's important that precautions are taken. I think the testing should be compulsory, like smear tests.'

Lyn has also set up LiveAid Australasia - which sees bands perform in Auckland, alongside a free testing place for all to use.

'The stigma is really bad, but there are so many women with HIV,' she said.

To this day, Lyn takes tablets to stay healthy and keep her HIV at bay.

'I have no regrets, it is what it is,' she said. 'Plus, I think about the good things. Had I not been diagnosed, I wouldn't have done all these things with my life. I share my story with schools and I have an opportunity to spread the word.

'Had this not all happened, my life probably wouldn't have gone this way. It's taught me to grab life as it comes and live in the now rather than ten years down the track.

'I don't have a fear of death like I used to. I've made peace with myself and I think it's made me even more positive as a person. It's part of who I am.'

For more information about Lyn Parent's events, please click here.
British author Jojo Moyes has led criticism of a 'distressing' rape scene in the latest episode of Collateral.

Last night's installment of the BBC2 detective thriller, which has an all-star cast led by Carey Mulligan and is written by Sir David Hare, saw some viewers - including Moyes - frustrated by the show's sexual violence against women.

The hour-long episode saw soldier Sandrine Shaw (Jeany Spark) raped by a senior colleague as she tried to cling on to her job.

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Episode two of Collateral, which aired on BBC2 last night, saw soldier Sandrine Shaw (Jeany Spark) raped by her superior Major Tim Dyson (Robert Portal)

'So creepy' Earlier in the thriller, which sees Carey Mulligan's DI Kip Glaspie investigating the murder of a Syrian immigrant, viewers saw the character of Sandrine naked as suffered a flashback to her time serving in Afghanistan

As the episode reaches a dark ending, Sandrine is seen opening the door to Major Tim Dyson (Robert Portal), her superior, before she leads him into the bedroom.

On Twitter, Me Before You author Moyes unleashed a string of tweet's criticising the four-part series, saying: 'So bored of seeing women physically and sexually abused in the name of drama.'

She added that she had watched the series because of the actress Carey Mulligan's starring role, as DI Kip Glaspie, but on viewing the second episode had now decided to switch off.

She said: 'I hung on for Carey Mulligan, and because I was afraid I'd "missed" something. Now I just feel genuinely enraged. Why can't broadcasters do better?'

Author Jojo Moyes said she had 'hung on' as a fan of Carey Mulligan...but was 'so bored' of women being shown to be physically and sexually abused 'in the name of drama'

Many other viewers also disliked an earlier scene in the episode, in which the character of Sandrine is shown naked in the shower as she endures a flashback to her time serving in Afghanistan's Helmand Province.

@MrBrianHolmes said the scene didn't add to the narrative, saying: 'So creepy when the camera lingered on her naked body in the shower, for no narrative reason... And then the grim final minute.'

He added: 'I mean when a male veteran is about to have a PTSD flashback, we don't get lingering shots of his wet naked a***, do we?'

@GreenbaySaint agreed, saying: 'The female actors need to say no to scenes that are clearly titivation. It happens all the time even in standard programmes. The camera showing cleavage, the examples are endless. I know it will be difficult for those actors but it needs to happen. Just say no.'

Another viewer, @katebevan, asked why there wasn't better drama for great female leads. She wrote: 'I love Carey Mulligan, and she's great in this, and I also love Billie Piper. I SO wish there were telly dramas for them that didn't involve dead and brutalised women.'

The political thriller sees Mulligan's character trying to find leads for the murder of Syrian immigrant Abdullah (Sam Otto), with last night's episode seeing the victim's distraught sisters shipped off to a immigration holding centre in Essex.

Many other viewers felt that David Hare's political thriller was following the lead of other 'gritty' dramas in including brutality

The latest episode of Collateral saw soldier Sandrine Shaw the focus, as she was identified last week as a possible killer of the murder victim

The first episode of the show saw Abdullah, a Syrian refugee working as a pizza delivery driver slain while delivering a quattro formaggio with a mysterious 'special k' topping to the upper-class single mother Karen Mars (Billie Piper).

The ensuing hour saw a diverse spectrum of characters introduced by Hare including the family of immigrants Abdullah left behind, a pregnant police officer (Carey Mulligan's Kip Glaspie) and a lesbian vicar.

The realistic reflection of London's cultural melting pot has been widely praised by viewers.

Carey Mulligan leads a glittering cast, who were clearly tempted in by the chance to work with Sir David Hare.

While filming, Mulligan revealed how she coped with being pregnant on set.

The BAFTA Award-winning actress said she told series writer Dave Hare that she was expecting her second child as the show was being cast.

She then asked if she could still play the part while pregnant to which he said yes.

'I loved that he didn't rewrite my character, that he just didn't make a fuss about it.

It felt more real to life, because when you're pregnant you do just go about your life,' she said.
A teenager has revealed how she spends 1,000-a-month on cosmetic procedures to transform herself into a real-life Barbie doll.

Gabriela Jirackova, 18, from Prague, Czech Republic, relies on her parents' money to pay for the lip fillers, hair extensions, and permanent make-up that give her the living doll look - and claims all the additions make her feel 'sexier'.

The teenager, who started the transformation when she was just 16, recently went under the knife for the first time to have her natural C-cup breasts augmented to a G-cup in a procedure costing 3,200 ($4,500).

She said she now has more operations planned including butt implants, rib removals and even bigger breast implants to create her dream body.

Gabriela is inspired by other high profile 'living dolls' and by actual Barbies, and boasts a collection of some 300 different dolls.

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Life is plastic: Gabriela Jirackova, 18, spends 1,000-a-month transforming herself into a Barbie. She relies on her parents to fund her hair extensions, lip fillers and permanent make-up

Real-life doll: The teenager shows off her new G-cup breasts and extraordinarily slim waist in a photo shared on her Instagram. Real-life dolls sometimes edit social media snaps

Childhood favourite: Gabriela owns some 300 Barbies and turns to the dolls for inspiration

Natural beauty: Gabriela aged 14, two years before she started cultivating her 'plastic' look

She said: 'I was inspired by other real-life Barbies and also my Barbie dolls. I had plenty of them as a kid. When I saw the real-life Barbies I thought that it was something for me. I have always wanted to stand out and thought this would suit me.

'I don't believe in a natural look. I think there is hardly anything natural today.

'I spend three and a half hours everyday getting ready. This lifestyle isn't easy at all. Maintaining my image is difficult in all its aspects, financially, physically and mentally too.

'There is a great pressure on me from the media, my fans, the haters, from everybody.'

Gabriela, who is inspired by well-known 'living dolls' like Pixee Fox and Lolo Ferrari, explained her journey started with 'little adjustments' like her hair before escalating to the dramatic boob job surgery.

Gradual process: Gabriel, pictured before the transformation, started with hair extensions

Causing a stir: The teenager proudly flaunts her distinctive look on the streets of Prague

Frozen: False eyelashes, lip fillers and fake tan all create a distinctly doll-like look

Support: Gabriela with mother Romana Jirackova, 53, who helps pay for her treatments

Despite looking nothing like she did before, Gabriela insists she has never suffered from low self-esteem.

Revealed: How to look like a human Barbie Gabriela undergoes regular cosmetic procedures to keep her coveted 'plastic' look in place. These include: Hair extensions and dyeing False eyelash extensions Lip fillers False nails Eyebrow microblading Permanent make-up to colour her eyebrows and lashes Surgical procedures: 3,200 ($4,500) boob job She also has plans to undergo: Rib removal Another boob job Butt implants Advertisement

'I have always been content,' she said. 'The fact that I like artificial beauty doesn't mean that I have ever had low self-esteem.

'My mum is happy to see that I am following my dream and that what I do makes me happy, but she is not keen on plastic surgeries.'

Mother Romana Jirackova, 53, who helps pay for her treatments, said: 'She'd been slowly preparing us for it but we hadn't realised how serious she was.

'I am worried about her health no doubt about that, but how far she will go with it is her choice and I respect it.

'I think that she is naturally pretty and even if she has some cosmetic procedures done I would respect that.

'She'll always be pretty, it's always going to be her. What's important is that she is going to be happy and fulfill her dream.'

Gabriela had her first boob job in September last year and says she is now ready to flaunt her latest assets.

Gabriela said: 'I feel sexier now. I don't know if I look more like Barbie, but I feel sexier. I'm definitely happier with bigger breasts.'

Confident: Gabriela, above at 14 before the transformation, said she has never been self-conscious

Dramatic change: The teenager is almost unrecognisable in her vibrant Barbie ensembles

Daring to bare: She is proud to show off the results of her 3,200 breast enlargement surgery

Dream wardrobe: Pieces emblazoned with 'Barbie' help add to the overall real-life doll look

Through social media, Gabriela's look has caught the attention of like-minded so-called 'body tuners' such as her friend Klara Lima.

Klara said: 'I find it fascinating, how such a young person can bear so much pressure as Gabriel and more importantly how quickly she is progressing.'

Even though not everyone is in favour of her lavish lifestyle and raunchy outfits, Gabriela insists that she is a positive role model and has never forced her fans to replicate her Barbie image.

Waist training: The teenager nips in her tiny waist with a black corset, worn over a silk slip

Pink princess: The distinctive hair and lip colour adds to Gabriela's distinctive appearance

Practising her pout: The teenager flashes neon pink talon-like nails in this striking selfie

Gabriela said: 'Many mothers condemn me for being a bad influence on their children and that I'm setting a bad example.

'I believe I'm a much better example than the majority of other celebrities, who do drugs, change their partners, or even get involved in scandals. Those kids watch all of that and their parents don't mind.

'On the contrary I have been always encouraging others to do what they want to do themselves and what they want to become. That's the message I always spread.'

Gabriela now dreams of living in the US and said she is committed to the extreme Barbie-look for life.

Ready to go: Gabriela checks her reflection in the mirror before heading out for the day

Costume change: Gabriela has dozens of different looks, just like a Barbie doll

Favourite colour: Many of her outfits and accessories are in different shades of pink

She added: 'I think I will definitely get there one day. I want to live in LA and become famous for my Barbie image.

'I still want to undergo more cosmetic procedures. I must say I am more pleased with myself after each procedure, but I am not there yet.

'When one chooses to do this, it takes several years maybe even their whole life. One can't say I want to change it after a week, so I want to stick with my chosen path.

'I will definitely continue my lifestyle as this is not a short-term thing.'
Human Ken Doll Justin Jedlica has had a $15,000 (11,000) procedure to thicken his hairline - and look like his idol Elvis.

The US star, who is based in Beverly Hills, said the eight-hour procedure was so successful that he has been left trimming his eyebrows and sideburns every day.

Justin, 37, had his hairline thickened and lowered, as well as getting new, thicker eyebrows and sideburns.

The plastic surgery fanatic explained how he had 2,800 hair grafts transplanted to replicate his idol Elvis and help him feel like an 'adult male'.

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Human Ken Doll Justin Jedlica (pictured after the transplant) has had a $15,000 (11,000) procedure to thicken his hairline - and look like his idol Elvis

The plastic surgery fanatic, 37, (pictured shortly after having the transplant) decided to have his hairline thickened and lowered

Justin had previously spent $14,000 (10,000) on over 40 laser hair removal sessions, but is now reversing the effect by implanting sideburns.

Dr. John Kahen and his team, from the Beverly Hills Hair Restoration performed the Celebrity Hair Rejuvenation treatment on Justin in order to give him a 'Hollywood hairline'.

They removed over 900 tiny pieces of skin from the back of his head, extracted the follicles and implanted them into 2,800 incisions made in his scalp, eyebrows and sideburn area.

It took four months for his new hair to grow, but since then, Justin has been delighted with the rapid regrowth, which he believes has helped him to finally embrace his 'daddy years'.

Justin, who is based in Beverly Hills, said he was first alerted to the thinning of his hairline after his hair stylist identified a tiny hairless patch and pointed out his receding hairline (pictured)

Justin (far left) is pictured with Dr. John Kahen at the Beverly Hills Hair Restoration before undergoing the hair transplant procedure

In fact, he said the procedure has bene so successful that he must groom his new facial hair daily.

'I think facial hair plays a really large role in the way society perceives a masculine or handsome appearance verses a young boyish one,' Justin said.

'When I was in my twenties I wasn't ready for facial hair, I tried to hold onto my boyish looks and wasn't ready to accept looking like an adult male.

'I think at that point in my life I equated my beard and moustache growth to getting old. I feared the loss of my "twinkdom".'

Justin explained how he had 2,800 hair grafts transplanted to replicate his idol Elvis

Justin said that he had previously used laser hair removal in order to stay 'comfortable in his own skin' .

'In my early twenties, I spent so much money lasering off all my hair, but now at 37-years-old, I feel that by the time I'm forty I should have some facial hair and that it would look sexy on me,' he said.

'This procedure was one that helped restore me back to man that I would have been, if I hadn't meddled with things in the past. This was a form of reconstruction in my opinion.

'I think my newfound confidence as a mature adult man in his late thirties is an attractive quality.

'I'm ready for some of that rugged George Clooney scruff mixed with that Elvis Presley sideburn and hairline.'

Justin described how his receding hair line and thinning locks had left him feeling insecure

Doctors removed over 900 tiny pieces of skin from the back of his head, extracted the follicles and implanted them into 2,800 incisions made in his scalp, eyebrows and sideburn area

He continued: 'This procedure definitely helped bridging the gap for me. As I get older, if I wanted to implant a whole beard, Dr Kahen can do that too.

'The change is pretty drastic. Seeing the hair grow has been really cool and the fact that I could artistically enhance my eyebrows and my sideburns is really awesome.

'Because the hair is genetically programmed to grow at the same rate as my head hair, its growing at an uncontrollable rate. I get up and it looks like I have old man eyebrows, due to it growing super long and super-fast.

'So I have to keep them groomed and in place, making sure they all face the right direction, I'm having to use scissors and trimming my sideburns, which I've never had to do before.

'I trim them on a daily basis due to it growing so fast, it's kind of weird but also really fun to have facial hair - I'm finally stepping into my manhood.'

Justin said the eight-hour procedure was so successful that he has been left trimming his eyebrows and sideburns every day

Justin was just 18 when he had his first of five nose jobs, and has undergone 630 cosmetic procedures in total since then.

He says he has spent $625,000 (445,000) over the years, and claims he is the 'world's most modified man'.

His alterations include procedures on his nose, cheeks, chin, jaw, forehead, lips, shoulders, back, six-pack abs, biceps, triceps and bum and more.

Justin said: 'When I was 25 years old, having pec implants definitely served me as wright of passage, marking a time when I accepted myself as a young man and not just a boy.

'I feel that with the facial hair grafts, it's me owning my age and stepping into a comfort with my middle age, something that I've never previously felt.

It took four months for his new hair to grow, but since then, Justin (pictured immediately after the transplant) has been delighted with the rapid regrowth

'I wanted to masculinize my facial hair a bit and thus the decision to thicken and widen my eyebrows. I also wanted to give myself sideburns.'

JustinHe tried to cover it with make-up but the insecurities about the balding patches, thinning areas and the longing for sideburns encouraged him to opt for a more permanent solution.

Justin said: 'From that moment I couldn't stop thinking about them and considered rejuvenation.

'Looking at pictures, I used to style my hair by pushing it forward and floppy at the front to hide the recession and would even use make-up to darken the hairline.

Justin had previously spent $14,000 (10,000) on over 40 laser hair removal sessions, but now wants more facial hair as he approaches his 40s

'I was pulling spikes towards the centre of my face to hide the spots on my sides that were less dense.

'There's a lot you can hide with make-up, but it takes such a weight off you, knowing you don't have to do that anymore and has really built my confidence and self-esteem.'

Dr John Kahen, from Beverly Hills Hair Restoration performed the specialized follicular unit extraction, a hair graph transplant procedure that costs $15,000 (11,000).

Justin said: 'They took the little cookie cutter pieces from my head and on each little circle of skin that was around 2mm they could take two hairs.

'The hair at the back of your head is more dense and genetically programmed to always grow.

Justin had the specialized follicular unit extraction, a hair graph transplant procedure that costs $15,000 (11,000)

'Then they made little punctures in the skin around my eyebrows, forehead and sideburns area, then inserted the individual hairs and follicles in each one.

'I had to let the skin heal and scab around the hair follicles, within two weeks the hair started to shed but then months later, the follicle that remains slowly starts growing new hair.'

Now Justin is amazed by how much fuller his hairline appears and says it has allowed him to feel more comfortable with aging.

He added: 'I'm not trying to look younger, but to maintain the look I have now, I have an image to uphold as the Human Ken doll.

'The transformation is quite impressive and is something that not many people realize is doable. The doctor implants eyelashes and even pubic hair.

'I never knew you could do that until I went to see Doctor Kahen.

'I'm really happy with how I look now, everyone talks to me about it, even my bank teller commented on how good my hair looks.'
The Queen looked elegant in a powder blue ensemble as she visited the Royal College of Physicians in London today.

The monarch, 91, was on hand to mark the 500th anniversary of the medical institution, which was founded by her distant ancestor King Henry VIII.

The Queen opted for a feminine look for the occasion, wearing a crisp blue fitted Stuart Parvin coat over a blue and white floral-patterned dress by the designer.

It was the Queen's first public engagement outside of Buckingham Palace since she returned to London from Sandringham.

Feminine florals: The Queen, 91, donned a powder blue ensemble for a visit to the Royal College of Physicians on Tuesday to celebrate the institution's 500th anniversary

Crisp coat: The Queen wore a beautiful powder blue coat and matching hat for the occasion

Royal history: The Queen poses with a photo of King Henry VIII, who established the Royal College of Physicians in 1519

Her Majesty sported a beautiful Rachel Trevor Morgan hat in the exact same shade, which featured applique flowers around the band.

As ever, she finished the look with a black patent leather handbag and matching shoes.

The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) was established in 1519 to help regulate the medical profession at a time when anyone could call themselves a doctor and start treating patients.

Today the RCP plays an important role in improving patient care and shaping public health and is the professional membership body for physicians with 34,000 members and fellows across the globe.

Good spirits: The monarch smiled as she stepped out of her car and made her way into the College's Regent's Park headquarters. The College was established by King Henry VIII

Royal visit: The Queen tours the College's headquarters in Regent's Park as part of the visit

Beaming: The monarch flashed a smile as she met figures from the medical field

The was greeted by RCP president Professor Jane Dacre, who was impressed by her royal visitor.

'Very on the ball, very interested, and a charming, graceful lady,' Professor Dacre said of the Queen after the event.

In a speech, Prof Dacre - the RCP's third female president - joked: 'I hope I am not being presumptuous, Ma'am, in thinking that Ma'am will be most relieved that medical treatment has changed.

'It's moved on from when monarchs were treated with arsenic and bloodletting.'

During her visit to the College's Regent's Park headquarters in central London, the Queen viewed an exhibition called Ceaseless Motion: William Harvey's Experiments In Circulation.

Marking the occasion: Queen unveils a charter on her visit to the Royal College of Physicians

It celebrates the life and works of physician William Harvey whose discovery of the circulation of blood changed the face of medicine.

Kristin Hussey, curator at the RCP, said: 'She was quite keen to see the bloodletting. And she said that she thought it was really fascinating.'

The Queen has kept a relatively low profile since returning to London following her Christmas in Sandringham, Norfolk.

Greeting: The Queen smiles as she is met from her car at the central London institution

However other members of her family have taken up the responsibility.

Last night the Duchess of Cambridge, 35, and Countess of Wessex, 53, were on hand to welcome members of the fashion industry to a glittering Buckingham Palace reception.

Meanwhile Prince Harry, 33, last week attended an England rugby training session at Twickenhem. He has also been joined by fiancee Meghan Markle, 36, at a number of recent appearances.
Viewers tuning into University Challenge witnessed some in-team disharmony in the latest episode - after a team captain appeared to chastise a team-mate for getting questions wrong.

The incident, mid-way through last night's tense battle between Emmanuel - Cambridge and Edinburgh, saw the latter's team captain, Ennis Carson, appear to tell team-mate John Heaton-Armstrong to stop answering buzzer questions too quickly.

An enthusiastic Heaton-Armstrong suffered a series of incorrect answers, and a question about 19th century literary figure Puskin appeared to push the animated Carson, a PHD student from Glasgow, over the edge.

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While Heaton-Armstrong looked in a world of pain after getting a question about 19th century literary figure Puskin wrong, his captain Carson rubbed salt in the wound, by appearing to gesture that he should stop answering questions on the buzzer

The previously keen contestant put his head in his hands in despair as he realised he'd taken minus points for his team

'He looks so sad!' A chastised Heaton-Armstrong disappeared into his own world while his team-mates ploughed on after the incident

Previously, the undergraduate had answered 'zoroastrianism' when asked which religion was linked to the visual art of Gandhara. The correct answer is Buddhism.

Moments later, Heaton-Armstrong buzzed again when Paxman asked about the six-letter word that describes the dialect spoken by the people of a region that differs from what is considered the standard language. He said: 'pidgin' and the answer was 'patois'.

And, asked to name two British cities which appear on the Monopoly board, the student answered 'Kent'.

It was Puskin though who pushed Carson over the edge. Heaton-Armstrong was fastest to answer when Paxman asked about which author had featured, amongst others, 'Mozart, Peter the Great and Vladimir Lensky' in their works...but he didn't guess correctly.

Unable to contain his frustration, Carson turned to his right and held his hand out to gesture 'stop' to Heaton-Armstrong, who promptly put his head in his hands.

Ennis Carson, a PHD student from Glasgow, played a vocal role in last night's victory for Edinburgh, commenting on his team-mate's answers

Host Jeremy Paxman didn't appear moved by the obvious in-team disharmony

A period of awkwardness between the brainboxes then followed, with Heaton-Armstrong appeared dejected, with many saying he looked close to tears.

The show regularly trends on Twitter as it airs and fans of the academic quiz were quick to spot the moment - and defend Heaton-Armstrong.

@JackieMDay wrote: 'Carson and Heaton-Armstrong seriously blanking each other after erroneous interruption.'

Others felt sorry for the told-off team-mate. @P_WILKO wrote: 'Heaton-Armstrong shot down by his team and is now having a massive sulk. To be fair, I'd do the same.'

@suzifulham added: 'Heaton-Armstrong looks like he wants to cry. Don't cry!'

And @Chris_Cavey penned: 'Poor Heaton-Armstrong. Hes been cast aside on team orders. He cant look at his team.'

Unmoved by Heaton-Armstrong's apparent sadness, Carson ploughed on with his commentary when team-mates answered questions, shouting well done when the team clawed points back.

With both teams locked on 110 points, Edinburgh snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, progressing through to the next round with a final score of 125.

Let's hope there's some team bonding ahead of the next round.
Model and former Celebrity Big Brother star Georgia Penna has surprised fans by announcing she's expecting a little sister for her twin boys, despite showing no signs of pregnancy in her social media snaps.

The Greek-born 32-year-old, who grew up in Ireland, revealed the big news by sharing photos from her surprise pink-themed baby shower with menus emblazoned 'Baby Girl Penna'.

Georgia, who is based in Marbella with her millionaire hedge fund manager Joe Penna surprised fans when she announced that they had become parents to twin boys in 2015 even though she never appeared with a bump on her regularly updated Instagram page.

She hit back at a claim published in a Sunday newspaper, saying: 'They are NOT adopted' and a source later told The Mirror: 'Georgia's twins were born with the help of a surrogate.

Model and former Celebrity Big Brother star Georgia Penna, 32, has announced she's expecting her third

The former Celebrity Big Brother star celebrated at a pink-themed baby shower arranged by friends as a surprise

Georgia is a mother to twin boys who were born via a surrogate, reportedly from the US, in December 2015

'The surrogate was arranged in the US and she is over the moon to have two healthy, happy baby boys.'

The paper added that the couple sought help from a surrogacy clinic in a state whose laws would allow them both to be identified as the parents.

MailOnline has contacted a representative for Georgia for further comment.

Georgia, who appeared in Celebrity Big Brother in 2012 and married millionaire hedge fund manager Joe Penna in May 2015, divides her time between Marbella, Ireland and Dubai.

Georgia and Joe married in Italy in May 2015 and welcomed twin boys in December that year

The mother-of-two pictured at the end of January on Instagram does not appear to have a baby bump

The mother-of-two certainly does not have any hint of a baby bump in her recent snaps

The reality star tied the knot with financier Joe Penna in Portofino, Italy, in a private ceremony attended by friends and family in May 2015.

In December 2015, she announced the birth of her sons in a statent, saying: 'Delighted with the arrival of twin boys, the most special perfect little babies and we are so in love with them.

'I won't be posting any photos of them on social media as I'd like to keep them private.'

She told the Sunday Independent: 'I look at my Instagram as a fashion and fun account. None of my personal life is up there. My husband, our beautiful babies, our wedding, our general family life, I keep private and always have.

'It's the most special and important thing to me, so I don't want to plaster it all over the Internet.'

The mother-of-two has opened up about her desire to keep her family life as private as possible
A plastic surgery addict who has spent 15,000 on huge bum implants says she wants them removed just eight weeks later - because they're 'too big'.

Star Delguidice, 28, from Birmingham, flew to Turkey to get implants that were double the recommended size in a seven-hour operation.

She explained how she had to gain four stone before the procedure, which involved having fat drained from her thighs, arms and stomach and transferred to her derriere.

However, since having the surgery eight weeks ago, Star says she has struggled to adjust to her new derriere, which has caused her to have panic attacks as she's scared they'll explode.

Star has spent 230,000 on cosmetic procedures in total since she was just 18, including splashing out 24,000 on jaw and forehead contouring and 15,000 on new veneers.

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Star Delguidice, 28, from Birmingham, spent 15,000 on huge bum implants but now says she wants them removed because they're 'too big'

The plastic surgery fanatic got implants (pictured) that were double the recommended size in a seven-hour operation

Star (pictured before getting the bum transplants) says she'd hoped to get the perfect derriere, but has been left unhappy with the results

However, she says the latest treatment has now put her off going under the knife again in the future.

Explaining how she has struggled with her new implants, she said: 'My bum implants are too big and I can't get used to sitting on it.

'I can feel them move and even though I am happy with the overall look, I want them out.

HOW MUCH STAR HAS SPENT ON PLASTIC SURGERY 4x Breast implants - 16,000 3x Designer vagina ops - 12,700 5x Liposuction - 10,000 4x Nose jobs - 16,200 Lip and cheek fillers and Botox - 30,000 per year Jaw and forehead contouring - 23,775 Eye brow lift - 3,500 PDO Therapy - 2,000 a year Lip lift with threads - 1,000 Blepharoplasty (removes droopy eyelids) 6,000 Nipple reduction - 2,000 Eyelash treatments - 1,000 Facials (including carbon black facials, micro dermal facials and vampire facials) - 150 a month Facial laser resurfacing - 3,000 Bum implants and full body fat transfer - 15,000 Veneers - 15,000 TOTAL: 230,000 Advertisement

'I've spent a lot of money since the surgery in December getting scans to ensure the implants are OK.

'I can feel them moving and I've only just been able to sit down and even that still feels strange.'

Star said she liked the way her bottom looked in photographs, but said the implants are 'just not practical'.

'I went to Istanbul naive about the aftermath of the surgery, I was in agony when I woke up and I haven't felt my normal self for weeks now,' she said.

'I've had surgery all my life but this one was by the far the biggest surgery to date.

'I had around 650cc [cubic centimetre] implants which is double the size people normally have at first.'

The plastic surgery fanatic explained how she had to gain four stone in weight so they could transfer the fat from her body to her derriere.

'I'm naturally very slim but after gaining all my weight I now need to start toning as I have cellulite,' she said.

Star has spent over 230,000 in total on her new body but after four boob jobs, three designer vaginas, five liposuction procedures, four nose jobs, as well as jaw and cheek surgery, she has finally had enough.

Star (pictured shortly after having surgery) said she can feel the implants moving, and has had panic attacks as she's scared they'll explode

She said that she had been 'naive' about the procedure, and was left in 'agony' afterwards. Star is pictured here after surgery

Star explained how she had to gain four stone before the procedure, which involved having fat drained from her thighs, arms and stomach and transferred to her derriere

She has also had Botox, lip and cheek fillers, an eyebrow lift, nipple reduction surgery, as well as various eyelash and facial laser resurfacing treatments.

However, Star insists that she won't go under the knife again.

'My bum surgery is the final operation for me, I couldn't go through all of this again,' she said.

Star said that she likes the way that her new bottom looks in photographs, but says the implants are 'impractical'

She said that she has only just managed to sit down properly eight weeks later, but said it still feels 'strange'

Star admitted she has attracted positive attention from strangers as her bottom is 'massive'

'I've had panic attacks since my surgery as I'm convinced they're going to explode.

'I will continue with my Botox and fillers to maintain my looks but I won't be having anymore silicone.

'I've been working on perfecting myself for years but now I have real curves in all the right places I don't need to go overboard with lip fillers to look extreme.'

Star explained how she had 650 cubic centimetre implants, which is double the size people normally have at first

The plastic surgery fanatic said she'd warn anyone who's thinking about getting bum implants to think about the consequences

Star says that even though she is happy with the overall look, she wants the implants taken out

She said that the pain she's suffered since getting the bum implants has put her off going under the knife again in the future

WHAT DOES A BUTT IMPLANT PROCEDURE INVOLVE? A larger butt can be achieved through the use of silicone implants, transferring existing fat, or a combination of both. Implants are inserted either in the muscle or above the gluteal muscle on each side. The fat transfer procedure is commonly known as a Brazilian butt lift. Fat removed through liposuction from other parts of the body are injected into the buttocks. Source: American Society of Plastic Surgeons Advertisement

Despite not liking her new bum, Star - who has funded her surgery thanks to her property portfolio - has noticed it has already got positive attention from strangers.

She said: 'I was shopping in Ikea the other day when a woman had to physically turn her husband's head so he'd stop staring at me.

'I do like the attention is brings as it's massive but I just don't know if they're for me.

'I can't see how I'll ever get used to them so I'm currently speaking to other surgeons based in the UK as I might get them taken out.

'I've been through a painful few weeks and I'd warn anyone who's thinking about getting it done to think about the consequences.'

Star says she has spent 230,000 on cosmetic procedures in total since she was just 18

She has had four boob jobs, three designer vaginas, five liposuction procedures, four nose jobs, as well as jaw and cheek surgery

Star has been able to fund her cosmetic procedures as she owns a number of properties
Former jailbird Michaella McCollum proudly showed off her blooming baby bump in a bikini as she enjoyed a sun-soaked break.

The pregnant Peru Two drug mule flaunted her figure in a navy two-piece as she stepped out on a palm tree-lined beach on holiday in Alicante, Spain.

Wearing her long blonde hair in soft waves around her shoulders, the mother-to-be looked perfectly relaxed as she paddled in the shallows and strolled along the sand.

Blooming: Peru Two drug mule Michaella McCollum showed off her baby bump in a bikini

Winter sun: The mother-to-be looked confident in a navy two-piece on the visit to the beach

Thoughtful: The 24-year-old enjoyed a stroll along the shore as the sun went down

McCollum shot to notoriety in 2013 when she and her friend Melissa Reid were arrested in Lima for smuggling drugs and were dubbed the Peru Two by the Press

The 24-year-old, from Northern Ireland, confirmed her pregnancy last month by posting an image of her stomach on Instagram.

McCollum shot to notoriety in 2013 when she and her friend Melissa Reid were arrested in Lima for smuggling drugs and were dubbed the Peru Two by the Press.

She has since become something of a public figure, attending events and escaping the chilly British weather on holiday.

Her day out to the beach comes as she posted a selfie on Instagram saying that 'Vitamin Sea is always the answer.'

Paddling: McCollum dipped her toes into the shadows on the nearly deserted beach

Confident: She paused to adjust her bikini bottoms which sat below her growing baby bump

Quiet moment: Standing side-on to the camera, McCollum's bump was even more apparent

Relaxed: The former jailbird wore her long blonde hair in loose waves around her shoulders

Taking in the view: She paused to look out across the sea at the Spanish holiday destination

McCollum shared the snap with her 15,000 followers on Instagram, where she has posted several images documenting her pregnancy.

It is not yet known who the father is but a mystery man appeared in the Instagram post announcing the pregnancy last month.

Wearing black and white Calvin Klein underwear, McCollum was pictured nestling between the legs of an unseen man, who was resting one hand on her bump.

Captioning the post, Michaella wrote: 'Wow had some crazy dreams... guess that's what happens when your dreaming for more than one.'

Keeping cool: McCollum brushed her hair behind her shoulders as she walked to the sea

Rocky road: The expectant mother didn't seem to be bothered by the pebble beach

Keeping it simple: The navy blue two-piece allowed McCollum to flaunt her changing figure

Beach ready: The Peru Two mule adjusted the bottoms of her plain navy bikini

Last of the sunshine: The fading light caught the blonde in McCollum's long wavy locks

Slow stroll: The 24-year-old looked deep in thought as she walked back up the beach

McCollum's agent later confirmed the pregnancy revealing that she was looking forward to motherhood.

Speaking to the MailOnline they said: 'Michaella is pleased to announce her pregnancy, her journey since being back home has been life changing experience.

'Michaella is looking forward to her journey into motherhood. Couple this with the excitement of her book release and 2018 is set to be an amazing year for Michaella.'

Last month McCollum was spotted shopping for baby clothes and was also seen leaving ultrasound specialist, babybond in Belfast.

Beach ready: Pregnant McCollum swished her long blonde hair behind her shoulders

Moment of reflection: McCollum paused to look out at the coast after wading into the water

Warm water: The waves splashed around the mother-to-be's legs as she walked

Golden hour: McCollum's baby bump was in full view as she paddled in the warm Spanish sea

Sun kissed: She held up her hand to shield her eyes from the sun as she enjoyed the weather

Reflection: The mother-to-be has not yet revealed the name of the baby's father

Back to shore: McCollum made her way back onto the sand after her brief dip in the sea

McCollum, from County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, was photographed leaving the clinic alongside a male companion whom sources have confirmed to be Patrick Mone.

Mone, who is reported to own a hair salon Monet Hair in Belfast, has been spotted with McCollum on several occasions recently - though the pair are not thought to be romantically connected.

The former model has been spotted on several shopping trips since her agent confirmed that she is currently working on a documentary about life in prison.

She is also due to publish her first book, which is set to hit shelves this summer.

It was previously reported that she had been offered a 250,000 deal for the book, detailing her criminal exploits and time behind bars in Lima.

Since returning to the UK, Michaella's lifestyle has been a stark contrast to former accomplice Melissa Reid, who has landed a charity job at Citizens Advice.

Melissa applied for a job at the charity after she was released from the South American jail last June.
His wife once admitted it 'filled her with horror' when he rode his motorbike - but William threw caution to the wind today as he took a spin on a powerful vehicle during a visit to the Triumph factory.

The Duke of Cambridge, 35, donned a leather riding suit and helmet as he test drove the latest Triumph Tiger 1200 on Tuesday.

The royal, who in the past has owned and ridden powerful bikes, toured the factory and walk the assembly line, meeting technicians and apprentices working on-site at Hinckley near Nuneaton as well as chatting to CEO Nick Bloor.

He previously owned a 20,000 Ducati motorbike, which can go from 0-60mph in 2.5 seconds, and was last seen riding the 190mph machine the night before the Royal Wedding in 2011.

Action man: The Duke of Cambridge, 35, donned a leather riding suit and helmet as he test drove the latest Triumph Tiger 1200 on Tuesday

Despite Kate's concerns about his safety, William threw caution to the wind today as he took a spin on a powerful vehicle during a visit to the Triumph factory

During a visit to Dundee in 2015, Kate told a local: 'He's still riding it. It always fills me with horror when he goes out on it. I'm terrified. Hopefully, I'm going to keep George off it.'

However William reportedly said he had put his dangerous hobby on the 'back-burner' while speaking to triple World Superbike champion Jonathan Rea last year.

After receiving his MBE from the Duke at Buckingham Palace last year, Rea revealed: 'I know hes a bit of a motorcycle fan himself.

'We talked about his bikes and the fact that he has put it on the back-burner a little bit because of his children now.'

Along with his brother Prince Harry, the Duke has been a keen biker since passing his test aged 19 and has been known to own bikes including the 1199cc Ducati.

The Duke of Cambridge is driven round the wet handling circuit during a visit to the MIRA Technology Park in Nuneaton, Warwickshire

Lifelong fan: The royal, who in the past has owned and ridden powerful bikes, toured the factory and walk the assembly line, meeting technicians and apprentices working on-site at Hinckley near Nuneaton

Throwing caution to the wind: During a visit to Dundee in 2015, Kate said of her husband: 'He's still riding it. It always fills me with horror when he goes out on it. I'm terrified. Hopefully, I'm going to keep George off it'

In 2008 the brothers took part in an arduous motorcycle rally across Africa to raise money for a variety of charities including Sentebale, which was jointly founded by Prince Harry.

Their father, Prince Charles, has also expressed concerns about William's motorcycle obsession in the past.

During his visit to the Triumph factor today, the Duke is also set to visit a technology park to celebrate world-class bikes and innovative vehicles.

Later he will officially open a visitor experience which showcases a collection of Triumph's historic and modern developments in motorcycle design, engineering, and racing.

William (pictured with CEO Nick Bloor) reportedly said he had put his dangerous hobby on the 'back-burner' while speaking to triple World Superbike champion Jonathan Rea last year.

The Duke previously owned a 20,000 Ducati motorbike, which can go from 0-60mph in 2.5 seconds, and was last seen riding the 190mph machine the night before the Royal Wedding in 2011 (pictured here with CEO Nick Bloor)

First established in 1902, Triumph Motorcycles celebrated 115 years of motorcycle manufacturing in 2017, and builds around 67,000 bikes a year, which are sold in 57 countries across the world.

William will travel on to the nearby MIRA Technology Park to see how the global company Horiba Mira provides pioneering engineering, research and test services to the transport industry.

The Duke will been shown a selection of vehicles and equipment that have been developed at the technology park, which provides expansive research and development services, including into driverless vehicles.
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She was described today as the nation's most reluctant style icon.

So it was fitting that the Queen took her place FROW - Front Row, in fashion speak - at London Fashion Week for the first time at the age of 91.

Next to her, appropriately, was the Queen of Style, Dame Anna Wintour, arguably the most influential woman in fashion.

The editor-in-chief of American Vogue (and the inspiration, it is said, for the book The Devil Wears Prada) refused to take off her trademark oversized glasses as the two women sat together side by side on the edge of the runway.

The Queen's sudden appearance on the runway for Richard Quinn's show, escorted by the chief executive of the British Fashion Council, Caroline Rush, caused a gasp of astonishment.

She, however, quietly took her seat - her own Philippe Starck Perspex 'ghost' chair worth around 200, with arm rests and a velvet cushion - alongside Dame Anna Wintour, who, while refusing to take off her glasses, did stand as a mark of respect.

Commenting on Wintour's shades, etiquette expert William Hanson told MailOnline: 'The Queen of Fashion meets The Queen, but sadly has got it wrong here. Whilst Anna Wintour's fashion choices usually are faultless her etiquette today is far from on trend.'

The Queen shares a laugh with the famously steely magazine editor as she watches models parade down the runway wearing designs by Quinn - who today became the first ever recipient of the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design

Queens of style! The monarch sits next to (l-R) BFC chief Caroline Rush, US Vogue editor Anna Wintour and royal dressmaker Angela Kelly for her front row debut this afternoon

Ice queen: Eyebrows were raised when Wintour, 68, refused to remove her iconic shades as she sat next to the monarch - a breach of etiquette that expert William Hanson has blasted as 'plain rude'

Seated in between a Burberry-clad Caroline Rush and Anna Wintour, in McQueen, the monarch opted for a bespoke powder blue design by her royal dressmaker Angela Kelly

The US Vogue editor kept on a pair of oversized sunglasses as she watched models parade down the runway at Quinn's show

The royal could be seen chatting animatedly to Vogue editor Anna Wintour, who raised eyebrows by keeping her shades on

The magazine editor revealed in a recent interview that she keeps her sunglasses on in an effort to conceal 'boredom'

VIP treatment: The Queen was seated in her own Philippe Starck Perspex 'ghost' chair, worth around 200, with arm rests and a velvet cushion unlike her fellow front row audience members

After watching Quinn's style showcase, the Queen took to the podium to present the inaugural award to the British designer

The Queen was attending the biggest annual event for the British fashion industry for the first time in her reign to present the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design.

The Award, initiated in recognition of the role the fashion industry plays for the U.K, will be awarded annually by a member of the Royal Family to an emerging British fashion designer of both exceptional talent and originality, but one who also demonstrates a social conscience and/or sustainable policies.

The Queen's visit to the London Fashion Week headquarters in The Strand in London had been kept strictly secret and her low-key arrival caused a ripple of astonishment among those normally too fashionable to create a scene.

Accompanying the Queen, who was wearing a duck egg blue Swarovski crystal studded suit, was her closest confidante, Angela Kelly, Personal Advisor to Her Majesty (The Queen's Wardrobe), who as well as designing the monarch's outfit came up with the idea of the award.

As music blared out from speakers and the models made their way past the monarch in brightly-coloured fabrics, she looked slightly bemused at first but could late be seen chatting animatedly with Ms Wintour.

At the end of the show she clapped briefly, but politely, as the fashion crowd whooped and cheered the designer.

Caroline Rush, chief executive of the British Fashion Council (BFC), then took to the floor to address the audience from the runway, saying: 'I would like to formally welcome Her Majesty The Queen to London Fashion Week.

'Your Majesty, it is a true honour to have you here and to have your support for British fashion.'

Who's who on the front row? The Queen (2) was joined by British Fashion Council CEO Caroline Rush (1), US Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour (3), royal dressmaker Angela Kelly (4), fashion critic Sarah Mower MBE (5) and British designer Anya Hindmarch (6) on the front row - with her security officer (7) not far behind

Despite her steely demeanour, the US Vogue editor could be seen sharing a laugh with the Queen as they watched the show

After watching the show, the monarch could be seen removing her glasses from her Launer handbag to give a short speech

The royal looked deep in thought as she took in some of the designs from Quinn's style showcase this afternoon

The royal looked unconvinced by some of Quinn's more avant garde designs, including a black leather coat teamed with a neon green helmet and polka dot tights

The monarch looked somewhat bemused as she watched models wearing flamboyant designs tread the runway, including a golden helmet paired with snakeskin boots (left) and a colourful pleated robe in a graphic print (right)

The risque designs drew bemused looks from the monarch, in particular a zip-up strapless snakeskin dress and boots

The Queen, who wore smart black gloves and patent heels, gave a modest round of applause during the show's encore

LFW debut: The first recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Award was British fashion designer Richard Quinn, whose runway show the Queen watched today (pictured)

The monarch, who was described as Caroline Rush as being a 'fashion icon' today, looked intrigued by some of the surreal designs at Quinn's show

As music blared out from speakers and the models made their way past the monarch in brightly-coloured fabrics, she looked slightly bemused at first but could late be seen chatting animatedly with Ms Wintour

The perennially stylish Vogue boss paired her floral Alexander McQueen dress with a faux fur coat and knee-high boots

She described the Queen as being a fashion icon, who challenged many of the 'norms' when she came to the throne by what she wore, saying: 'Throughout your reign you have embraced fashion, using its power of diplomacy to communicate understanding between cultures and nations.

'Having visited the exhibition of your wardrobe at Buckingham Palace, we learnt that you had to challenge some of the norms, some of the dress codes that had been designed for men, making us in awe of how you have reflected the changes in our society.

'As our monarch you have worked with incredible designers, highlighted great crafts associated with our industry such as millinery, textiles and embroidery.

The monarch appeared to be enjoying her first taste of Fashion Week as she spoke to fashion insiders seated on the FROW

Seated next to Anna Wintour, the Queen looked to be in high spirits as she took in some of Quinn's vibrant designs

The usually steely magazine editor appeared to have lots to say as she and the Queen discussed Quinn's designs

New tradition: The Award, initiated in recognition of the role the fashion industry plays for the U.K, will be awarded annually by a member of the Royal Family to an emerging British fashion designer of both exceptional talent and originality

'Your Majesty, I know that you do not wish to be known as a fashion icon, but for all of us in this room, who have the utmost respect for you, and also for the hard work, diligence, cultural impact of our industry, we know that you undoubtedly are.'

She then invited the Queen to present her inaugural award to London-born Richard Quinn.

Taking to the catwalk to address the audience, the Queen said: 'It is a great pleasure to be here at London Fashion Week today.

'From the tweed of the Hebrides to Nottingham lace, and of course Carnaby Street, our fashion industry has been renowned for outstanding craftsmanship for many years, and continues to produce world-class textiles and cutting edge, practical designs.

'As a tribute to the industry, and as my legacy to all those who have contributed to British fashion, I would like to present this award for new, young talent.

'I would like to thank the British Fashion Council for selecting the first winner - Richard Quinn.'

Wintour, 68, donned a sweeping floral gown by British label Alexander McQueen while the Queen wore Angela Kelly

Seated in between two of the fashion industry's giants, the Queen gave a modest round of applause as she watched the show

The editor-in-chief of American Vogue (and the inspiration, it is said, for the book The Devil Wears Prada) refused to take off her trademark oversized glasses as the two women sat together side by side on the edge of the runway

Speaking about her trademark shades during her '60 minutes with Anna Wintour' interview, the American editor admitted she used her sunglasses as 'armour', and they were a useful tool to 'hide boredom'

Commenting on Wintour's shades, etiquette expert William Hanson said: 'The Queen of Fashion meets The Queen, but sadly she has got it wrong here. Whilst Anna Wintour's fashion choices usually are faultless her etiquette today is far from on trend'

Asked about the Queens visit later today, Carole Rush, chief executive of the British Fashion Council, said: She was particularly keen to hear from the jewellery designers about where they make it and the craftsmanship'

Still stylish at 91: The royal changed from her earlier outfit into a glamorous powder blue ensemble featuring Paris seam detail, patched pockets and trimmed with a darker shade of duck egg blue. She also wore a sparkling diamond brooch

Afterwards Richard Quinn described the award as an absolute honour and said he was touched that her first visit to London Fashion Week had been to his show.

It was really surreal when I looked at the seats before the show and saw the seats and the blue cushion there. I hit me that oh, this isnt a prank! It was really nice, though. It is a real privilege for me.

The Queen is just iconic. She was, I believe, the first female Royal to wear trousers. So she is cutting edge in her own right.

There was actually a nod to her in my collection with the use of Balmoral scarves and colour. 

Asked who he would like to design for, Mr Quinn admitted it would be new Royal fiance Meghan Markle.

I think shes at the head of that new age of royals, he said. I dont think she could ask for me to make her wedding dress though.

BFC Chief Executive Caroline Rush gave a short speech before the monarch took to the stage to present the award

The Queen listened as Rush gave a speech to the VIP visitors. She said: 'Your Majesty, it is a true honour to have you here and to have your support for British fashion'

Style plaudits: In a speech following the runway show, Rush described the Queen as being a fashion icon, who challenged many of the 'norms' when she came to the throne by what she wore, saying: 'Throughout your reign you have embraced fashion, using its power of diplomacy to communicate understanding between cultures and nations'

The stylish trio were dressed in Burberry, Angela Kelly and Alexander McQueen as they watched the style showcase

Following her front row debut, the monarch presented the award to British designer Richard Quinn whose show she watched

Quick change: For her front row debut, the stylish royal wore an Angela Kelly duck egg blue tweed dress and jacket embellished with tiny aquamarine Swarovski crystals

The Queen looked to be in high spirits after watching her first ever LFW show as she presented the trophy to Quinn today

Audience members looked particularly taken by a glittering gold cloak, one of the showstopping designs in Quinn's show

The monarch looks on as models wearing Quinn's surreal designs parade down the catwalk on Tuesday afternoon

The royal, dressed in powder blue tweed Angela Kelly, looked delighted as she watched the show unfold

Despite reportedly looking 'bemused' as the music blared out, the Queen appeared to be enjoying Quinn's style showcase

Asked about the Queens visit, Carole Rush, chief executive of the British Fashion Council, said: She was particularly keen to hear from the jewellery designers about where they make it and the craftsmanship.

'She was also asking them about how difficult it is to run a business, but they told her that desire to create keeps getting them up in the morning.

There was an imperfect diamond that caught her eye. She was saying how interesting it was that imperfect diamonds were being used when traditionally it was a desire for perfect ones. 

She added: London Fashion Week is know globally for its creativity and a lot of that comes from our emerging talent. Thats why is is so amazing for the Queen to want to recognise it and create an award to be given annually is incredibly significant.

A lot of people look to our royal family for style. Using their profile to promote British businesses is amazing and always looking so impeccable with their own style means they are fantastic ambassadors for our industry. 

The monarch chats to newcomer Harvy Santos, who designed a leather and stud crown based on Queen Victoria's travelling crown and looked delighted to show some of his latest designs to the Queen

A world away from the royal wardrobe! The monarch views a display of avant garde hats during her visit to the BFC Show Space in London today. She wore a powder blue Angela Kelly suit and a handbag by her favourite designer, Launer

Should Anna Wintour have removed her glasses? Etiquette expert William Hanson said: 'The Queen of Fashion meets The Queen, but sadly has got it wrong here. Whilst Anna Wintour's fashion choices usually are faultless her etiquette today is far from on trend. 'Sunglasses are outdoor accessories and should always be removed when indoors - even if they are your trademark. For a start, you don't need them indoors, and secondly it's just plain rude to shield the eyes - an exception to Ms Wintour's trademark shades should have been made when in the presence of Her Majesty. 'That said, Ms Wintour managed to comply with good manners last night at a reception at Buckingham Palace with Their Royal Highnesses The Duchess of Cambridge and Countess of Wessex by removing her sunglasses but lapsed today at Richard Quinn. 'The Queen won't have commented to Ms Wintour or any of Her Majesty's staff but I am sure, internally, she thought the behaviour somewhat odd.' Advertisement

She made a beeline for Harvy Santos, a 'new wave' hat maker who had created a crown out of leather and studs based on Queen Victoria's travelling crown.

He was shaking as he met the monarch and said afterwards: ' I just couldn't believe it. I took my hat off and barely knew what to say. But she was just lovely.'

Philippine-born Mr Santos, 43, a former ballet dancer continued: 'She was just lovely and so softly spoken. She was interested in my crown and what inspired me. I also told her about my former career as a dancer and she joked 'that must have been quite a leap'.

'I thought I was the only Queen here but I have been dethroned today! I couldn't have been happier about it. '

Mr Santos said his design had a slight S&M influence but he had been more inspired to make a crown that 'ordinary people could wear'.

She also admired the eye-catching rings made and modelled by Sari Rathel of Rathel Wolf, some of which measured the length of her fingers.

Queen of style! The royal is making her inaugural visit to London Fashion Week - details of which were shrouded in secrecy until her arrival - to present the new Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design (seen here admiring a jewellery display)

Making a splash: For her front row debut, the stylish royal wore an Angela Kelly duck egg blue tweed dress and jacket embellished with tiny aquamarine Swarovski crystals

Taking a tour: Following the Queen's arrival, she viewed a millinery exhibition curated by the legendary Stephen Jones and viewed some jewellery on display

Debut: The Queen is set to take a place in the coveted FROW - front row - at London Fashion Week this afternoon, for the first time in her record-breaking reign

The Queen looks fascinated as she surveys an intricate gold jewellery design, accompanied by BFC CEO Caroline Rush

When the Queen met the fashion pack: The monarch was introduced to fashion insiders by Caroline Rush before taking her seat

The Queen could be seen leaving the venue, accompanied by Caroline Rush, after watching the show this afternoon

Firm friends: The pair appeared to be getting along famously as they waved each other off on a drizzly evening

The monarch looked to be in good spirits as she left The Strand, marking the end of her first ever visit to London Fashion Week

Admiration: During a speech about Her Majesty today, Rush noted that she 'had to challenge some of the norms, some of the dress codes that had been designed for men, making us in awe of how you have reflected the changes in our society'

The monarch choose a poweder blue Angela Kelly suit with a diamond brooch for her Fashion Week debut today

In a speech this afternoon, Rush (pictured) said: A lot of people look to our royal family for style. Using their profile to promote British businesses is amazing and always looking so impeccable with their own style means they are fantastic ambassadors for our industry

Why Anna Wintour never removes her trademark sunglasses American Vogue editor and fashion legend Anna Wintour, 68, is known for never taking off her trademark sunglasses. As well as wearing them in the Vogue offices, she is regularly seen sporting them on the catwalk, and even watched the entire Oscars in 2015 without taking them off. One of the only times the British-American fashion legend, who has worked for Vogue for 30 years, has been seen taking them off is when she was made a Dame at Buckingham Palace in 2017. She wore her trademark sunglasses on arrival at the Palace, but removed them before entering the ballroom, where she received the award from the Queen. During her '60 minutes with Anna Wintour' interview, the American editor admitted she used her sunglasses as 'armour', and they were a useful tool to 'hide boredom'. 'I can sit in a show and if I am bored out of my mind, nobody will notice At this point, they have become, really, armour', she said in 2012. Advertisement

'I'm just shaking,' she said, 'she peppered me with questions and asked if this was the way that people were wearing them these days. She seemed genuinely excited and interested.'

The first recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Award was British fashion designer Richard Quinn, whose runway show the Queen watched today.

Quinn is an emerging talent within the United Kingdom who has been recognised for his exceptional prints.

Already supplying leading stores around the world, he has also set up a print studio which offers high quality, accessible services to students and his emerging designers.

The Queen Elizabeth II Award is the brainchild of one of the Queen's closest confidantes, Angela Kelly, Personal Advisor to Her Majesty (The Queen's Wardrobe), who has been working on designing an award which The Queen wanted to give in recognition of emerging British fashion talent for the past two years.
Thousands of Twitter users are slamming the New York Times for publishing an op-ed that criticizes women who wear yoga pants.

In the Opinion section of Sunday Review this weekend, the Times published a piece titled Why Yoga Pants Are Bad for Women, which takes the stand that women only wear yoga pants because they are 'sexy' and they promote the idea that 'staying fit is [women's] No. 1 purpose in life'.

The piece has proven incredibly controversial, and women have come out in full force on social media to excoriate it.

Story: Over the weekend, the New York Times published op-ed an titled Why Yoga Pants Are Bad for Women

Not impressed: Thousands of women have criticized the piece online

How about not: Writer Honor Jones claimed the only reason women wear yoga pants is because they are 'sexy'  which many women disagreed with

Try again: Several found the piece misogynistic and claimed that this kind of thinking is actually what is bad for women

The piece was written by senior staff editor Honor Jones  a name some now think may be a pseudonym protecting the writer's real identity.

Jones begins by writing about going to the gym and noticing that 'every woman in there was wearing skintight, Saran-wrap-thin yoga pants'. She herself was wearing sweatpants, and insists that 'a few woman gave me funny looks' when she stepped onto an elliptical in them.

'Maybe they felt sorry for me, or maybe they were concerned that my loose pants were going to get tangled in the machines gears. Men didnt look at me at all,' she wrote.

Oddly enough, despite calling sweatpants 'bad for women,' she also took a detour to write that it wasn't 'good manners' for 'women to tell other women how to dress'.

Yet she insists that yoga pants aren't 'cooler' or 'more comfortable' than other workout gear, and women only wear then 'because they're sexy'.

Talked about: The op-ed is certainly controversial and earning plenty of buzz

Do your own thing: Many just want people to stop telling women how to dress

Priorities: This person is pretty sure there are much bigger things to focus on

'Now weve internalized the idea that we have to look hot at the gym? Give me a break. The gym is one of the few places where were supposed to be able to focus on how our bodies feel, not just on how they look,' she went on.

'When yoga pants are the first thing grown women put on every morning, we cant help absorbing the message that staying fit is our No. 1 purpose in life.'

Toward the end of the piece, she complained that these yoga pants 'show every dimple and roll in every woman over 30' before making one last plea for sweatpants.

Unsurprisingly, the piece has inspired vocal reactions.

'I see someone has posted yet another op-ed on the perils of wearing yoga pants after 30,' wrote one woman. 'Lemme clear this up for everyone: Wear yoga pants if you want to. If somebody doesnt like your over-30 dimpled rolls... tell them not to look. Dress for you, not for anyone else.'

Practical: Some argued that yoga pants are actually comfortable and make it easy to move freely

Protest: Several joked that they would wear yoga pants more in protest

Stop bossing them around! One woman wants people to stop telling women that things they like are things they should feel guilty about

'As someone who has practiced yoga for years, its unbelievable that you think we wear yoga pants because theyre sexy?! We wear them because they allow us to maneuver in ways other clothing doesnt. Alternatively, seeing if you arent in the proper position is just as important,' wrote another.

Several more argued against the idea that women wear yoga pants because they are 'sexy,' pointing out how much more easily and freely a woman can move without excess fabric to trip over.

But other didn't bother defending yoga pants at all, explaining that the main issue here is anyone telling women what they can and cannot wear.

'Its not good manners for women to tell other women how to dress and yet Honor uses another several hundred words to do just that in this piece,' wrote one critic. 'Is this really making or breaking womens success? If so, then look within at that problem. This is a waste of space.'

Age is just a number: Several also disliked the way the writer specifically called out women over 30 and cellulite

Not standing by it? A few have speculated that Honor Jones is a pseudonym too

Eyeroll: The piece is still being slammed on Twitter days later

'Time to wear yoga pants and leggings every day for the rest of my life in direct response to this terrible opinion,' added another.

Chimed in a third: 'Yoga pants, skin care, makeup, wine, romance novels, fashion  if it's *culturally coded* as something that brings relaxation and pleasure to women, somebody is out there writing about how it's secretly insidious. Keep the pleasure, eff the guilt.'

'I always thought smoking, not sleeping enough and patriarchy are bad for women. Turns out I was wrong. It's yoga pants,' another woman tweeted.

And one more put it succinctly: 'How about women wear whatever they want and other women stop judging them for it.'
She's become a regular face at fashion week, and Lady Amelia Windsor showed off her style credentials once again as she sat front row today.

The model, 22, looked chic in a blue faux fur coat and baby pink flares as she attended the Shrimps Autumn/Winter 2018 presentation at London Fashion Week.

She finished off her fashion forward ensemble with a black polo neck top, along with a pair of bright blue platform trainers.

Lady Amelia Windsor showed off her style credentials as she attended the Shrimps Autumn/Winter 2018 presentation at London Fashion Week

Wearing her blonde locks down over her shoulders, she opted for a minimal make-up look.

The Duke of Kent's granddaughter also kept her accessories simple, sporting a statement gold pendant and a clutch of rings on her fingers.

British brand Shrimps is known for its colourful faux fur designs, and has gained a legion of celebrity fans since it was launched by designer Hannah Weiland in 2013.

Other guests sitting front row at the Autumn/Winter show today included Pixie Geldof, Amber Le Bon and Lady Mary Chatteris.

The model teamed a blue faux fur coat with baby pink flares, while keeping her accessories to a minimum

Lady Amelia, pictured with fellow guest Madeleine Macgreevy, opted for a minimal make-up look, while wearing her blonde tresses down over her shoulders

Lady Amelia also posed with fellow guest Madeleine Macgreevy ahead of the catwalk show.

The socialite's appearance today comes after she attended the the LOVE x Miu Miu Women's Tales dinner hosted by Katie Grand and Elle Fanning at Loulou's on Monday night.

The blonde beauty looked stylish in a crop top featuring purple ruffled sleeves and high-waisted jeans.

Lady Amelia finished off her stylish ensemble with a gold pendant and black polo top

Her appearance today comes after Lady Amelia attended the LOVE x Miu Miu Women's Tales dinner hosted by Katie Grand and Elle Fanning

Lady Amelia is regularly snapped at fashion parties, particularly since she was snapped up by Dolce & Gabbana to appear in a campaign.

She has also appeared on the catwalk for the Italian fashion house, as well as attending a number of high profile catwalk shows.

Lady Amelia is represented by Storm modelling agency, the same agency that first discovered Kate Moss.

British brand Shrimps is known for its colourful faux fur designs (pictured) and has quickly gained a legion of celebrity fans
The Queen delighted fans when she made her debut at the Fashion Week front row on Tuesday, nestled between some of the biggest names in the industry.

She was seated next to creme de la creme of the fashion elite - with US Vogue's editor-in-chief Anna Wintour to her left, and British Fashion Council chief Caroline Rush to her right.

Further along she was joined by royal dressmaker Angela Kelly, fashion critic Sarah Mower MBE, and designer Anya Hindmarch.

But who else was lucky enough to sit just inches from the monarch during the Richard Quinn show? Here, we give you a who's who on the Front Row.

The who's who of the FROW: The Queen made her first ever debut in the front row of London Fashion Week on Tuesday, sitting next to the creme de la creme of the British fashion elite

Who is sitting in the front row?

1. Caroline Rush

1. Caroline Rush: The British Fashion Council chief is in charge of boosting the British fashion industry, and played the role of the Queen's unofficial host on Tuesday

The British Fashion Council chief is in charge of promoting the British fashion industry, particularly organising London Fashion Week and the British Fashion Awards.

On Monday she attended the Buckingham Palace Fashion event with Kate Middleton and Sophie Wessex, and was seen wearing the same dress as Sophie. Caroline was seen guiding the Queen gently from the fashion show on Monday.

In the wake of the stream of sexual harassment cases, Caroline revealed she would be putting practices in place to protect models, writing: 'We will develop a tool kit for all designers and brands to use as a basic practice to make sure models are as safe as possible.

'We want to ensure that all models feel like they have a voice and they can speak up to people should they feel uncomfortable on any job or shoot.'

2. The Queen

2. The Queen took her place FROW - Front Row, in fashion speak - at London Fashion Week for the first time at the age of 91

The Queen took her place FROW - Front Row, in fashion speak - at London Fashion Week for the first time at the age of 91.

The monarch was attending the biggest annual event for the British fashion industry for the first time in her reign to present the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design.

The Award, initiated in recognition of the role the fashion industry plays for the U.K, wil be awarded annually by a member of the Royal Family to an emerging British fashion designer of both exceptional talent and originality, but one who also demonstrates a social conscience and/or sustainable policies.

The Queen's visit to the London Fashion Week headquarters in The Strand in London had been kept strictly secret and her low-key arrival caused a ripple of astonishment among those normally too fashionable to create a scene.

3. Anna Wintour

3. British-American Vogue Editor Anna, 68, has been at the help of the fashion bible for 30 years

Formidable US Vogue editor-in-chief Anna, 68, has been at the help of the fashion bible for 30 years. She is known for never taking off her trademark sunglasses- however has come under some criticism for not taking them off for the Queen.

As well as wearing them in the Vogue offices, she is regularly seen sporting them on the catwalk, and even watched the entire Oscars in 2015 without taking them off. One of the only times the British-American fashion legend, who has worked for Vogue for 30 years, has been seen taking them off is when she was made a Dame at Buckingham Palace in 2017.

She wore her trademark sunglasses on arrival at the Palace, but removed them before entering the ballroom, where she received the award from the Queen.

During her '60 minutes with Anna Wintour' interview, the American editor admitted she used her sunglasses as 'armour', and they were a useful tool to 'hide boredom'. 'I can sit in a show and if I am bored out of my mind, nobody will notice At this point, they have become, really, armour', she said in 2012.

4. Angela Kelly

4. Angela Kelly (far right): The royal dressmaker, 50, has worked for the Queen since 1993, before becoming her official Personal Assistant and Senior Dresser to Elizabeth II in 2002

The royal dressmaker, 50, has worked for the Queen since 1993, before becoming her official Personal Assistant and Senior Dresser to Elizabeth II in 2002.

On her appointment her former husband Irish Guardsman Jim Kelly at the time said: What she lacks in education, she makes up for in her ambition. She left school as a young girl and never had any formal training, but she has risen to the top of her profession. She has always wanted to work for the Queen and has sacrificed a lot to do so.

In 2002 she launched her own fashion line, Kelly & Pordum, with the Queen wearing her designs for Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge's wedding, and for the Olympics Opening Ceremony.

5. Sarah Mower MBE

5. Sarah Mower MBE (Far right) is a fashion journalist and critic for US Vogue, as well as being an active advocate for young designers

Sarah is a fashion journalist and critic for US Vogue, as well as being an active advocate for young designers. She is the British Fashion Council's Ambassador for Emerging Talent and Chair of the NEWGEN committee.

In 2009 she was awarded an MBE by the Queen, and describing the moment in a lengthy blog for the New York Times, revealed how the Queen had said: 'You are in the fashion industry?', upon which she replied: 'Yes, your Highness, I help bring up young designers.'

With the queen reportedly replying: 'Oh, that must be terribly interesting.'

6. Anya Hindmarch

6. Anya Hindmarsh (Far right in partial view) is an award-winning fashion accessories designer who first started her brand in 2001

Successful British designer Anya, 49, is an award-winning fashion accessories mogul who first started her brand in 2001.

The royals are huge fans of her bags, with Fergie carrying a custom-made bag adorned with Eugenie and Beatrices.

Kate Middleton is also regularly spotted carrying her bags, a black satin clutch she has carried regularly since joining the Royal Family in 2011.

7. The queen's bodyguard

7. The Queen's bodyguard (seen middle) was seen keeping a watchful eye on the Queen

The queen's burly royal protection officer was seen keeping a watchful eye on the Queen.

Queen Elizabeth II is accompanied by several members of security everywhere she goes, and her appearance at the show was kept a strict secret in order to avoid any security threats.
She kicked off her whirlwind week with a glitzy party hosted by Vogue and Tiffany & Co on Sunday night.

But Princess Beatrice showed no signs of tiring from a busy London Fashion Week as she attended the British Heart Foundations Beating Hearts Ball at The Guildhall on Tuesday.

The 29-year-old Royal put on a stylish display as she joined mother Sarah Ferguson and friend Wilfred Frost, son of the late David Frost.

She was also joined by distant cousin Lady Amelia Windsor, granddaughter of the Duke of Kent and rising model.

Slipping into a flower-embellished chiffon dress, the long-sleeved piece skimmed the floor, offering a glimpse of the cami beneath.

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Princess Beatrice put on a stylish display as she joined mother Sarah Ferguson at the British Heart Foundations Beating Hearts Ball at The Guildhall on Tuesday

She posed alongside Wilfred Frost son of the late David Frost, who looked dapper in a black tailored suit and crisp white shirt, adding a bow tie

Keeping it in the family: Beatrice's distant cousin, Lady Amelia Windsor, was also in attendance, and wore a midnight blue lace dress with a gold pendant

Beatrice teamed the high-neck piece with a black satin clutch bag and a pair of classic pumps, leaving her blonde hair in loose tousled waves.

She posed alongside presenter Wilfred, who looked dapper in a black tailored suit and crisp white shirt, adding a bow tie.

Also in attendance was Beatrice's mother Sarah, who looked incredible in a bright red pencil dress, cinched in at the waist.

The trio attended the event to show their support for the fundraising gala dinner, which aims to raise money for those affected by heart disease.

The Duchess, who yesterday posted a gushing birthday message on Instagram to her ex-husband Prince Andrew, got up to give a speech

Team photo! The group posed for a snap alongside George Frost (far left) and the late David Frost's wife, Lady Carina Fitzalan-Howard (second left)

The royal currently divides her time between New York and London where she is working on her own business consultancy.

But there are likely to be plenty of trips home this year, especially with two royal weddings coming up.

Beatrice will of course be on the guest list for her cousin Prince Harry's nuptials to Meghan Markle.

And she's tipped to be a bridesmaid for her sister Princess Eugenie when she weds Jack Brooksbank at Windsor Castle in the Autumn.

Slipping into a flower-embellished chiffon dress, the long-sleeved piece skimmed the floor, offering a glimpse of the cami beneath

They attended the event to show their support for the fundraising gala dinner, which aims to raise money for those affected by heart disease

The royal herself is single since splitting from her boyfriend of 10 years, Dave Clark, in August 2016 only for him to get together with glamorous New York advertising executive Lynn Anderson within two months. The couple announced their engagement in May 2017.

Beatrice and her long-term boyfriend Dave parted ways in August 2016 after 'make or break' talks  centred on whether or not they should get married.

'They talked it through and decided to take time apart to reflect on the future. They remain friends and the decision to break up was mutual,' a source said at the time.
Some parents live to embarrass their kids and now, thanks to Twitter, this can happen on a global scale.

Christian D. Harris, a young Chicago-based Twitter user, recently took to the social media site to ask his followers: 'Why are my parents this way?'

To illustrate his exasperation, Christian included a pair of photos, which appear to have been taken as Christian heads off to prom.

Nailing it: Pastor Christian Sr and his wife Joanne 'Jojo' Harris of Chicago have gone viral after doing their best to embarrass their son Christian (left) at what look to be his prom photos

Pulling shapes: The parents are seen looking into the camera and pulling poses as their son looks on, less than impressed

Christian is seen in a blue checkered suit with his back to the camera, a young lady wearing a blue gown next to him.

Just beyond the younger pair are Christian's mother and father, Pastor Christian Sr and Joanne 'Jojo' Harris, giving the camera a stern look and throwing up some distinctly youthful hand gestures.

Christian appears to be raising an arm their way as if he is pleading with his parents to cut it out.

In the second photo, Christian's mother has bent down to the ground for a new pose with one hand gesture going up and another one down towards the floor.

Posing the question: Christian took to Twitter on Sunday to ask his followers why his parents would do such a thing

Big hit: The parents' prank quickly went viral with more than 28,000 shares and hundreds of responses

Fessing up: Despite acting horrified by his parents' behavior, he admitted to followers that he is 'blessed' to have parents with such a great sense of humor

Her husband is similarly into the joke, leaning over with his arms and hands in similar positions as if in the middle of a dance move.

Christian, as is suggested in his tweet, looks none too pleased with his parents' antics.

But Twitter felt differently. In just two days, the photos have been shared more than 28,000 shares and 130,000 likes.

The mom and dad are now being declared by thousands of users as 'parenting goals' for their humor.

Online fame: Christian's parents are now being hailed on social media as 'parenting goals'

Looking ahead: Dozens claimed that they will be just like Chris and Jojo when they have kids

In fact, dozens of people said that they intend to be just like Christian's parents when they have teenage children.

'My husband and I in 2043 (oh yes I did the math),' quipped one user, while another said: 'This type of connection is required for my marriage.'

Other users told Christian that embarrassing kids as they grow up is simply the right of any parent.

'Dude. You threw up on them and kept them up all night. Now they get to have the fun. It just works that way.'

Of course, the humor wasn't lost on Christian, who responded to a number of the tweets saying that his parents are 'awesome' and he is 'blessed with a great fam.'
Dressing like a lampshade: Kate Moss styling the trend, pictured above in 2013

Are you sporting an arm party or a zori? Do you favour a mullet dress or a lettuce? And  most importantly  are you OTM (thats Of The Moment, dahling!) or a hapless, unfashionable civilian?

Yes, were in the midst of the fashion season. London and New York fashion weeks have just finished, Milan is on now, and the biggie, Paris, starts next week.

Youd be forgiven for thinking the fashion pack are on a different planet, so strange is the gobbledygook they spout.

A light has been shone on this strange language thanks to social media. Now, anyone with a computer or smartphone can have a front-row seat to the catwalk shows, thanks to the fact most designers stream them live over the internet. So, true insiders are using their own acronyms, words and phrases (with deadly, pretentious seriousness) to exclude anyone not in the know.

So do you speak fashion? Here, fashion expert and stylist CAMILLA RIDLEY-DAY brings you the inside guide to the A to Z of fashion-pack speak . . .

A IS FOR ...

Arm Party

No, not a real party  but rather an arm adorned with several ornate bracelets (big, chunky styles, as seen on the Marni catwalk). There are now web pages devoted to styling your arm with the correct bangles. This is a trend that is actually possible for all of us to carry off  just as long as your job doesnt involve typing or driving.

AOP

Pronounced like the Yorkshire eh up, love, this means All Over Print. Think a very patterned Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress, or a clashing, patterned blazer and pair of trousers.

B IS FOR ...

Basic

No, not your M&S staples, but the ultimate hackle-raising insult. In fashion lingo, basic means to be utterly predictable. Kate Middletons Sloaney style is often given as an example of this. The term applies to women who still wear jeans ripped at the knee (very last year) and those who think Ugg boots are still super cool. So how does one use this term? Try saying: Shes so basic about a member of your rambling group whose waterproof is from Boden rather than a proper outdoor brand.

Pictured: Rapper Cardi B at the Rihanna show at New York Fashion Week in September2017

Belfie

A term coined by Kim Kardashian, the reality star with the unfeasibly famous bottom. A belfie is a picture of your rear, taken from behind then posted on social media  the word being a cheeky amalgamation of bottom and selfie.

B.O.T.

Thats Bang On Trend! Say each letter individually, rather than saying bot, when looking at something truly fabulous.

Bumbag 2.0

Yes, really. The bumbag made an unlikely return to high fashion last year( hence the 2.0), strapped to those sashaying down the catwalks of Stella McCartney, Kenzo and Gucci. The trend shows no sign of waning this season  theyre available everywhere, from Topshop to Chloe. Can be worn in the traditional way or  2018 update!  slung over the shoulder.

C IS FOR ...

Chandel-ears

Wearing an enormous pair of statement  or chandelier  earrings. Shes so bold pairing that dress with those fabulous chandelears.

Civilian

A person who is not part of the fashion world  i.e. normal. An overused insult. Whys she at fashion week? You can tell that shes just a civilian . . .

D IS FOR...

Duck face

The deliberate pouty face to make lips look fuller and cheekbones more prominent during a selfie. Popular with celebrities such as Cheryl Tweedy (right).

DRAZER

A blazer dress  this looks like an Eighties double-breasted coat but is worn as a dress. Often bum-skimmingly short  and so popular with celebrities.

E IS FOR ...

Ear jacket

Not a sweet way of keeping the extremities warm, the ear jacket and its little sister, the ear crawler, is an earring style.

The jacket has a stud in front, a middle piece you attach at the back that hangs below and hugs your earlobe, and a fastener. The crawler runs up your ear like a silvery worm. Try Claires Accessories, Argos, and Stella and Dot.

Eye gloss

Fashionistas roll their eyes at the very thought of lip gloss (very early 2000s). Eye gloss is the way forward  a Vaseline-like oily cream you rub over the eyelid to give eyes a sheen. Keen? Try NYX Professional Makeup Lid Lacquer.

Everything

The ultimate compliment. Darling, that outfit is everything.

Extra

So over-the-top as to be ridiculous. Goodness, Sharon looks a little extra today in those heels.

F IS FOR ...

Frow

The front row of seats closest to the catwalk and considered to be the most desirable place to sit at the shows. Frequented by A-listers, Vogue editors  and now the Queen.

Fierce

Not scary  this means deeply cool (its supermodel Tyra Bankss catchphrase). Keep up.

FRILL-SEEKER

A wearer of over-the-top ruffles and frills . . . just like Naomi Campbell at London Fashion Week.

Findikoglu

Fashion is having a middle Eastern moment. Last year it was Israeli designer Dodo Bar Or whom everyone was wearing (she specialised in kitschy, cotton kaftans costing hundreds of pounds). Now its Dilara Findikoglu, a Turkish designer who hit the headlines last year when she put on a catwalk show which included occult imagery in a Roman Catholic church.

Fashion is having a middle Eastern moment. Last year it was Israeli designer Dodo Bar Or whom everyone was wearing (she specialised in kitschy, cotton kaftans costing hundreds of pounds)

G IS FOR ...

Glove Shoes

A soft ballet pump (which fits like a glove) on a block heel. The phrase was coined in 2011 by designer Martiniano Lopez Crozet, and versions were subsequently released by such designers as Phoebe Philo for Celine.

Groutfit

The all grey outfit. Groutfit was originally used to describe someones miserable personality as well as their miserable clothes. Such is the capricious nature of fashion that groutfit has most recently been celebrated as now being chic, liberating and comfortable.

H IS FOR

Hair Director

Dont you dare call them a hairdresser! Todays backstage crimpers are known as hair directors (possibly as they have the reputation for being fearsome divas).

HAIRMERICANO

The glossy coffee-coloured brunette shade that was this winters must-have hair colour. Replaced Bronde (a messy brunette-blonde that was huge last summer). Be warned, though, before you visit your hair director: this year is all about the blondeshell  a sun-kissed Hollywood blonde. You heard it here first.

I IS FOR ...

Investment piece

Yes, it is possible to buy some items of high fashion that increase in value (classic designer handbags, pieces of rare haute couture)  which is what this once referred to. However, for the snowflake generation, the meaning has altered to become clothing that makes you feel invested in yourself. In other words, its justification for buying an item you believe will score you a job or a partner. Vogue has just released a list of the 30 investment pieces you ought to buy before youre 30.

J IS FOR ...

Jagged edges

Jeans need to be distressed or frayed at the hem to be on trend. Look at labels such as MiH or go High Street at Top Shop and Zara. Or take sandpaper to your own.

K is for ...

Kicks

Never call a spade a spade (or a shoe a shoe) in fashion. Kicks is a street culture word for trainers. Some say that it derives from over a century of slang; it was apparently first used to mean shoes in 1897.

L IS FOR ...

Lampshading

Sounds like a sinister dating term but is used to describe someone dressed in the manner of a floor lamp. Your legs, in thigh-high boots, are the base and your baggy jumper the lampshade.

Sported by fans of uber cool Parisian brand Vetements and Kate Moss.

M IS FOR ...

Mullet

Not a hairstyle which was fashionable in the Eighties, but an asymmetrical hemline where the hem is higher at the front or side than the back (left).

MVP

Most Valuable Polish, as referred to in Vogue late last year about Helmut Langs pink manicures at New York Fashion Week.

N IS FOR ...

Nodel

An insult used in the fashion world to mean Not Models. Women who arent models, but model. Often social media stars or bloggers. Boden isnt exactly high fashion, but they exemplified the nodel trend for years by using real (but good-looking) people.

O IS FOR ...

On Fleek

On trend. Try it at book club. Girl in the Window is so On Fleek. See?

Pelvis cleavage (above on reality star KendallJenner). This happens when a dress is slit so high it shows off a bony pelvis. Yes, this is a real red carpet trend

P is for 

Pelvage

Pelvis cleavage (above on reality star Kendall Jenner). This happens when a dress is slit so high it shows off a bony pelvis. Yes, this is a real red carpet trend.

PRgument

The rows fashion editors have with PRs when they realise they havent been seated in the front row next to Anna Wintour  because the Queen bagged their place.

PPW: Price Per Wear

Take the price of an item and divide it by the number of times you wear it to work out how much you really paid for it. That 1,000 bag youve worn 1,000 times has a PPW of just 1.

Q is for 

Quilted

Someone wearing an enormous puffy jacket that makes it look as if theyve left home in a duvet has been quilted.

R is for 

Raglan

A sleeve style, where one single piece of fabric runs from the wrist to the neck without a shoulder seam. Think bomber jackets and T-shirts.

S is for 

Shrobe

Wearing your coat as a robe over your shoulders without putting your arms in the sleeves, a la Anna Wintour (below).

Shrobe: Wearing your coat as a robe over your shoulders without putting your arms in the sleeves, a la Anna Wintour

Shoe fie

A picture of your shoes to be Instagrammed, admired and hash-tagged (there are over 600,000 #shoefies).

Smize

Smile with your eyes, not your mouth (more fashionable).

Its recommended that you practise this in front of a mirrors as its surprisingly hard to pull off.

Sliders

A type of backless, open toed shoe which slips onto the foot and sounds ideal for pottering from beach to cocktail bar on exotic holidays, but it is also probably not great on sand.

T IS FOR..

Toe cleavage

When the edge of your toes show when youre wearing heels (Louboutins are particularly low-cut (below), so show it off). Fashionable a few years ago  so you can just imagine how the fashion insiders feel about it now.

Toe cleavage: When the edge of your toes show when youre wearing heel. Louboutins are particularly low-cut (above)

U IS FOR ...

Unitard

Skin-tight garment which covers the body from neck to ankle  as seen on the Acne catwalk. Hard to wear if you have any body fat.

V IS FOR ...

Vent

Not an expression of anger, but a split in a garment which allows you to move  for example, at the back of a pencil skirt.

W IS FOR ...

Wristlet

Go hands-free! A small clutch bag with an attached loop of fabric which can be worn around the wrist. A major accessory trend for this year.

Woke

Are you woke? Thats not poor grammar  its the fashion way of asking whether youre fashionably right-on. Meghan and her vegan leather and eco-friendly outfits is very woke.

X IS FOR ...

X-ray fabrics

Sheer fabrics with a translucent effect. Look great on girls in their 20s. Less great in your 40s, though if you want to wear see-through chiffon, go for it.

Y IS FOR ...

Yolo

Stands for you only live once. Should I really wear these rainbow-coloured sequins to Tesco? Yes, obviously. Yolo.

You

As in its very you when describing someones outfit. Almost certainly an insult.

Z IS FOR...

Zori

A traditional Japanese sandal, which is said to be the direct ancestor of the flip-flop. World War II soldiers brought them back to the U.S. and they were re-designed in bright colours in the Fifties.
When Gina, 31, checked the app connected to the watch, it didnt only show she was getting considerably less sleep than the recommended eight hours

When Gina Clarke got a fitness tracker at Christmas from her husband, Will, she fully expected to be told she wasnt clocking up enough steps every day.

What she wasnt prepared for was the news that she also needed to spend more time dreaming to look and feel her best.

When Gina, 31, checked the app connected to the watch, it didnt only show she was getting considerably less sleep than the recommended eight hours.

The tracker, which monitored her heart rate and movements during the night, also pointed out she was lacking the most vital type of all  deep Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, when we have our most intense and emotional dreams.

While many of us think dreams are superfluous to daily life  no more than a quirky episode to be related in the morning  experts are increasingly saying otherwise.

For without this form of crucial overnight therapy  which enables us to work through the experiences of the day  we face a dream deprivation epidemic which is leaving us feeling drained, less able to manage our feelings or even enjoy life.

Whats more, a lack of REM sleep has also been linked to a rise in obesity and an increased risk of dementia.

Going short of deep sleep means we are also more likely to give into impulses such as eating more and snacking  and its women who are most affected.

During the night, we go through different stages of sleep.

The first cycle is light sleep, followed by deep sleep and then dream or REM sleep, when our brains are most active and our eyes move in different directions.

During the night, our REM stages get longer, so the final one may last up to an hour. In all, these phases should make up around 20 per cent of our total sleep  and this is when we have our most intense and emotional dreams and nightmares.

Indeed, when Gina looked at the analysis of her sleep every morning, she was shocked by how little REM sleep she was getting.

Gina, a mother of two children, age three and six, who runs her own marketing business from home in Wiltshire, says: Technically, adults are supposed to get five cycles of REM deep sleep a night. On the nights I worked late, I saw I was getting as few as three and they were much shorter'

Gina, a mother of two children, age three and six, who runs her own marketing business from home in Wiltshire, says: Technically, adults are supposed to get five cycles of REM deep sleep a night. On the nights I worked late, I saw I was getting as few as three and they were much shorter.

While the final REM cycle should last up to an hour, my final dream phase would last three minutes. Then my alarm clock would go off at 6.30am for me to get the children up for school.

Before I had kids, I remember dreaming every night. Some were recurrent themes, like falling off the edge of a car park into the sea. Others were a mish-mash of snippets Id heard during the day.

But even if they were nightmares, they felt like a way of working through my fears and emotions and Id wake up feeling refreshed.

On days when I didnt get that dream sleep, I felt like I hit my emotional limits sooner. I also felt numb, and just getting through the day, as if I didnt have a passion for anything.

A struggle to get into a dream state: Account executive Lola Bellouere-Keay

Now a growing number of both neuroscientists and psychologists believe that deep dreaming sleep is needed to both reset the levels of stress chemicals in our bodies and to re-balance our emotional brain circuits so we can manage our feelings better.

As we get busier and sleep less, going without dreams is harming our emotional and physical health, according to Dr Rubin Naiman, a psychologist and a sleep and dream specialist at the University of Arizona.

We are at least as dream-deprived as we are sleep-deprived, says Dr Naiman. Dreaming sifts through all of the experiences we consume during the day.

Neuroscientist Matthew Walker also believes that dreaming helps us to get a resolution to painful emotional experiences we have when we are awake  healing emotional wounds  and to ward off anxiety and depression.

Professor Walker, author of Why We Sleep, says dreaming helps us to process painful memories without the stress hormones that would accompany them if we remember them while awake.

In his research at the University of Berkeley, California, he found people who had not had a good nights dreaming the night before reacted more strongly and more negatively to emotional images.

He says: We can learn and recall salient life events without being crippled by the emotional baggage that those painful experiences originally carried.

A recent study by scientists in Germany found that women need 20 minutes more sleep a night than men to restore their brain power

Yet one in 15 Britons gets less than five hours sleep each night, while three in ten sleep for only six to seven hours  an hour less than the NHS eight-hour recommendation and gradually eating away at REM time.

Women are hardest hit because, in the first place, they need more sleep. A recent study by scientists in Germany found that women need 20 minutes more sleep a night than men to restore their brain power.

Other research has found that women generally sleep less deeply  and so find it harder to get into a dreaming state, perhaps because evolution has hard-wired them to be more alert to the sound of a babys crying.

One such woman is account executive Lola Bellouere-Keay, 26, from Manchester.

When she used a sleep tracker for several weeks last year, she discovered she was having only one cycle of REM deep dream sleep a night.

Lola says: Since I started working long hours and getting home later, I have struggled massively to get to sleep, even when I go to bed. Sometimes, Id get as little as four or five hours a night.

Now Lola says she only remembers her dreams every few months  and has noticed she finds herself more likely to get hyper-emotional when she doesnt dream.

Beyond the toll on our mental well-being, there is also the cost to our looks. Dream sleep is the bodys most important recovery time  the time when blood flow increases to the skin, feeding it essential nutrients while also flushing toxins away

When I was a teenager, I used to have recurrent dreams about my family having sit-down dinners which was me processing my emotions about my parents splitting up when I was younger.

I also had dreams about my teeth falling out  but I think it was healthy to have that window into my subconscious. I can see that dreams are a form of night-time therapy.

For many more women, deep dream sleep is even more difficult to achieve because they are working more, at the same time as raising young children.

According to government statistics, there are now 2.25 million women back in work by the time their children are four years old.

As modern life gets more stressful, there are other reasons why we may be having fewer vivid dreams.

Wine oclock isnt helping. Research has found that even moderate amounts of alcohol  as few as three glasses of wine  disrupt the normal cycle of light and deep sleep and cuts the amount of REM sleep in the early hours.

Other dream-stealers are sleeping pills and many other prescription drugs. According to the Economic and Social Research Council, one in ten of us in the UK now regularly takes some form of sleeping tablet.

While such medications make it easier to fall into a light sleep, they interfere with the production of the sleep hormone melatonin, which dictates how much we dream. Diuretics and even aspirin can have the same effect.

Beyond the toll on our mental well-being, there is also the cost to our looks. Dream sleep is the bodys most important recovery time  the time when blood flow increases to the skin, feeding it essential nutrients while also flushing toxins away.

Without this phase, stress hormones in the body build up, slowing down skin-cell production and robbing it of the time it needs to renew and repair itself.

Sleep expert Dr Rubin Naiman, author of the new book Healing Night, The Science and Spirit of Sleeping, Dreaming and Awakening, says: Human growth hormone is also released during this deep-sleep stage which contributes to the tone, luminescence and elasticity of the skin.

Later on, during our dream-sleep stage, voluntary muscles relax, easing the appearance of wrinkles.

Its why I refer to REM sleep as Natures Botox. Its sleep and dreams which contribute to a healthy appearance.

Yet beyond that, lack of dream-time is also fuelling the biggest health crisis we are facing: the rise in obesity. People in the UK are now the most obese in Western Europe, with more than a quarter of adults now classed as dangerously fat.

Tam Fry, of the National Obesity Forum, says its not just that we need enough sleep. It also has to be high-quality REM rest.

Research has found women generally sleep less deeply than men  and so find it harder to get into a dreaming state, perhaps because evolution has hard-wired them to be more alert to the sound of a babys crying

Deep sleep takes time to get into. Its when you are really are asleep. If you dont get high-quality sleep, it starts to upset the metabolism, he says. You only sleep fitfully. Then when you wake up, you reach for rewards and the chances are it will be snacks.

Theres also a worrying link to dementia: a recent study by the Boston University School of Medicine found that adults who had less REM sleep are at a much higher risk. Researchers say REM sleep may help protect connections in the brain, which become damaged with dementia.

Yet sleep expert Professor John Groeger of Nottingham Trent University says we should be wary of thinking that REM dream sleep is the answer to all our woes.

Professor Groeger says we can dream  or go into a dreamlike state  during any of the five stages of sleep, which go from very light to very deep and REM.

But while it does appear that we have more vivid and emotional dreams during our REM cycle, its not known how much we need  or the effect a shortfall may have on our brains.

Professor Groeger also cautions against using home fitness tracking devices as an accurate way to gauge REM sleep.

The only way of tracking REM is to wear electrodes near the eyes, which measure muscle tone which drops during REM, and electrodes near the scalp which will detect the small electrical changes which are characteristic of each sleep stage.

Some fitness trackers will do a decent job telling us how much sleep we have had  but they cannot tell us what type of sleep we have had.

Gina Clarke is adamant, however, that more hours spent asleep  and dreaming  will help her regain the emotional self-control she needs to stick to her fitness regime.

Gina, who went up three dress sizes after having her second child three years ago, now believes her dreamless state may have affected her impulse control, making her reach for snacks she knew she shouldnt have, and making her feel pessimistic that she could ever shed the pounds

No matter how many fitness classes I signed up to, I couldnt feel positive about my fitness regime. I was just going through the motions and gave in to cravings.

It was only when I saw my different types of sleep mapped out on graphs, that it occurred to me I wasnt getting the right sort of sleep, even if I was still managing to get out of bed in the morning, she says.

And even if I do get some of those old falling nightmares again, I hope a few more dreams will help get the old me back.
A distinctive purple-coloured gin that tastes like Parma Violets is the best-selling spirit on Amazon UK, it has been revealed.

Sweet Violet Gin from Manchester-based distillery Zymurgorium has been praised by customers who have left dozens of five-star reviews on the shopping website.

The tipple, which comes in a bottle printed with the city's bee mascot, has been described as having a 'sweet pastel taste' with many comparing the flavour to a Parma Violet sweet.

Delicious: Sweet Violet Gin from Manchester-based distillery Zymurgorium is the best-selling spirit on Amazon UK. The bottle, pictured, is printed with the city's bee mascot

Firm favourite: The tipple has been praised by dozens of satisfied customers on the website

The little-known Sweet Violet Gin, which costs 29.49 for a 50ml bottle, beats out heavyweight brands including Tanqueray, Gordon's and Johnnie Walker to take the top spot on the list, which is calculated based on sales and updated hourly.

Made with sweet violets, the liqueur can be used exactly like Creme de Violette in cocktails or can be served on its own or with lemonade.

The creators also suggest mixing the spirit in with ice cream to create a delicious dessert.

Creative: The Morgans Hotel in Swansea has created this delectable cocktail using the spirit

Changing opinions: Even customers who don't like gin found themselves falling for it

Drinkers certainly seem impressed, with 86 leaving five-star reviews on Amazon UK.

One wrote: 'Gin is amazing! Especially with lemonade. It is VERY sweet but I love it like that! Will definitely be ordering more as my bottle's almost gone. . . whoops!'

Another added: 'Addicted to this. Its delicious and the only reason Ive stopped drinking it is that its finished.'

The single one-star review on the product page was left by a customer who was disappointed after the bottle seal broke and leaked in transit.

Drinkers certainly seem impressed, with 86 leaving five-star reviews on Amazon UK

Zymurgorium was launched by Aaron Darke in 2012 as Darke Crafts, a producer of Craft Meads.

The company was re-branded the following years and has since expanded to include craft beers and ciders.

In 2014 it distilled its first gin and is now stocked across the Midlands, northern England and in a handful of online retailers.
Britain's best Easter Egg is made from cardboard... and suitable for vegans.

The Booja-Booja brand 'Easter egg' is actually an egg shaped box, which provides an absolute guarantee that no animals were harmed in its production.

In fact, the key to its success are the 12 award-winning Hazlenut crunch truffles inside, which are proof positive that adopting a vegan lifestyle does not mean giving up on flavour.

The truffles are made from chocolate, coconut oil, hazelnuts and cocoa powder, which means there is no dairy, gluten or soya.

As a result, they can be enjoyed by vegans as well as many of the growing number of Britons who are diagnosed with - or label themselves - as having food allergies.

The blind taste test was carried out by experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute and involved an assessment of some 142 Easter eggs.

Experts from the Good HouseKeeping Institute revealed this year's best Easter egg as Booja-Booja's chocolate truffles (file photo)

The Institute said: 'Booja-Booja has nabbed the highest overall score this Easter, for its gluten, dairy and soya-free offering, which is also suitable for vegans.'

It said the truffles, which come in at an indulgent 24.95 inside a large and beautifully designed egg shaped box, achieved a top score of 89 out of 100. This was thanks to the 'smooth truffle filling and elegant hand-painted velvet-lined box'.

Good Housekeeping's consumer director, Caroline Bloor, said: 'Seeing a vegan-friendly egg take the crown may come as a surprise to some, but this is why our famous blind tests are more important now than ever before.'

A more purse friendly egg from Tesco - made entirely from chocolate - came in second with a score of 87.

Lindt's classic Gold Bunny remained popular scoring third overall and best for children (file photo)

The store's Finest Dark Chocolate Belgian Egg, at just 5, won praise for its 'distinctive blackberry flavour'.

Lindt's classic Gold Bunny, which weighs in at a whopping 1kg and 39.99, achieved the top spot in the Kids category. It also came in third overall with a score of 84/100, with tasters commenting on its 'milky, caramel like taste.' The Institute assessed the Easter eggs across eight categories.

Sainsbury's scored top marks in the White Chocolate section, with its Taste the Difference White Chocolate Bunny, at 6, achieving a score of 82. The judges praised its 'meltingly smooth texture'.

Sainsbury's Taste The Difference chocolate bunny rated highest in the white chocolate category (file photo)

Marks & Spencer took the prize in the Showstoppers category for its beautiful Hand Decorated Milk and Dark Chocolate Egg with Dulce de Leche Truffles, at 15.

Judges, who awarded a score of 80, loved its golden stardust centre and its 'dark berry and rich caramel notes'.

Winner of the Milk Chocolate league was the Co-op's Irresistible Single Origin Ecuadorian Milk Chocolate Cocoa Pod, at 7, with a score of 76. Tasters complimented its 'complex vanilla flavours and subtle fruity notes'.

A faux milk chocolate Egg Sandwich from Hotel Chocolat, at 10, won the Novelty category with a score of 78.

Hotel Chocolat's faux milk chocolate egg sandwich rated highest in the novelty section (file photo)

BEST FOR KIDS

Lindt's classic Gold Bunny, 39.99

Rated: 84/100

Lindt's classic Gold Bunny, which weighs a hefty 1kg was nominated first in the Kids category. It also came in third overall as tasters commented on its 'milky, caramel like taste.'

BEST WHITE CHOCOLATE

Sainsbury's Taste the Difference White Chocolate Bunny, 6

Rated: 82/100

The judges praised its 'meltingly smooth texture'.

BEST SHOWSTOPPER

Marks and Spencer Milk and Dark Chocolate Egg with Dulce de Leche Truffles, 15

Rated: 80/10

Judges commented on its golden stardust centre and its 'dark berry and rich caramel notes'.

BEST MILK CHOCOLATE

Co-op's Irresistible Single Origin Ecuadorian Milk Chocolate Cocoa Pod, 7,

Rated: 76/ 100

Judges complimented its 'complex vanilla flavours and subtle fruity notes'.

BEST NOVELTY

Hotel Chocolat's faux milk chocolate Egg Sandwich, 10

Rated: 78/100

Full results can be found at goodhousekeeping.co.uk
Starbucks has released a new cold brew drink that changes colour right before your eyes

Now that the fever for the Unicorn Frappucino has cooled, Starbucks has found a new way to get everyone snapping up coffees - and snapping plenty of pictures.

The international coffee chain has released a new cold brew drink that changes colours right before your eyes.

Dubbed the Butterfly Pea Lemonade Cold Brew, the drink transforms from blue to a deep purple ombre among layers of espresso brown and pale yellow colours.

The drink is able to accomplish this mood ring magic thanks to butterfly pea flower tea, a trendy ingredient in Southeast Asia.

Butterfly pea flower tea is naturally blue, but it changes colour and turns purple when it reacts with the citrus in the lemonade.

The drink is topped with Starbucks Cold Brew coffee to make sure you're still getting a caffeine hit after taking those Instagram pics.

Dubbed the Butterfly Pea Lemonade Cold Brew, the drink is one of three released by the international coffee chain in select Asia markets this week

Starbucks revealed that the limited edition drink will be released in select Asia markets on February 20 to celebrate the coming of spring.

The drink will also only be available iced.

But that's not the only new Starbucks drink to get excited for - at least if you're in Asia.

The chain has also released a Macadamia Cocoa Cappuccino, combining espresso and creamy milk foam with macadamia chocolate sauce and a crumble of macadamia nuts and graham crackers on top.

Starbucks' Tahitian Vanilla Macchiato is also making a return, mixing steamed milk with Tahitian vanilla syrup, Starbucks Signature Espresso, and topped with vanilla bean specks and a vanilla drizzle.
It's the sweet and fruity drink enjoyed by thousands of children and adults too, but now a debate has erupted about how to make the perfect glass of squash.

The row was started by an anonymous man who spoke of his horror that his girlfriend poured in squash after adding the water.

He however maintains that the perfect glass of squash is made by first adding the concentrated liquid and then pouring in the water.

He took to Reddit to ask fellow squash drinkers for their views on the proper way to drink the sweet beverage - and found that while most sided with him, others agreed with his girlfriend.

Squash is a syrup that is used to mix with water or even alcohol to create a fruity beverage. It has a long shelf life due to its high sugar content and comes in many flavours, including classic orange (pictured)

The anonymous man, who goes by the username 'aldershotsam286,' posted in the Reddit group British Problems after being blindsided by the way his girlfriend makes squash.

Revealing he didn't 'know how to feel,' many of his fellow Reddit users agreed with him that she was making squash incorrectly.

Traditional squashes may be flavoured with elderflowers, lemon, pomegranate, apple, strawberry, orange, raspberry or pear

One jokingly encouraged him to break up with his girlfriend, while another said it was 'taboo' to add water to a glass first before the squash.

However others sided with her, prompting a debate about the right way to make the classic fruity beverage.

User joeChump said he used to add the squash first but now pours in water before the concentrated liquid because he finds it easier to judge the strength by colour that way.

Another said they enjoyed watching the squash swirl through the water, while one user pointed out that adding water first is a European habit.

The boyfriend then admitted his girlfriend had lived in Spain for five years, which may explain why she makes squash in such a way.

After revealing that a 'disapproving text had been delivered,' the anonymous boyfriend told the Reddit group that he would soon be testing her tea-making abilities to see if she would put the milk in before the tea - another hot debate amongst British people.
A dairy producer claims to have launched the world's first camel's milk-based baby formula - and it could be a godsend for parents of lactose-intolerant infants.

The Dubai-based makers of the new powder say the formula is aimed at babies who struggle to drink cow's milk, and say it also has at least triple the vitamin C content.

However Melbourne-based health journalist Christie Cooper has warned that camel's milk cannot replace breast milk or formula designed for newborn babies, as official advice says that infants should not drink cow's or other animal milk until they are eight years old.

Official advice says that babies should not drink milk other than breast milk until the age of eight months, but Camelicious's camel's milk formula is aimed at babies older than one year who are allergic to cow's milk

The makers of the camel's milk formula, Camelicious, said that the product is designed for infants between one and three years old.

It is only being launched in the Middle East and North Africa for now, but US-based camel's milk producers Desert Farms was also due to launch a similar product last year. However, it has yet to be released.

Camelicious is targeting children who struggle to drink cow's milk.

'Camel milk  is rich in vitamin C. It has three-to-five times more vitamin C than cow's milk', Mutasher Al Badry, the deputy general manager & business development manager at Camelicious, told The National.

Camel's milk has been drunk for more than 5,000 years and is said to have numerous health benefits, such as boosting the immune system

However health journalist Christie Cooper wrote in a 2016 blog post that camel's milk could never be a substitute for breast milk.

'Is camel milk a safe breastmilk alternative? NO IT IS NOT,' she wrote.

'Bupa National Medical Officer Dr Tim Ross says the antibodies in human breastmilk are one of the key reasons its so special, specifically tailored to look after a babys delicate and developing immune system.'

She also highlighted that milk which is not breast milk or formula designed for newborn infants should not be given to a baby until they are eight months old.

However Camelicious says its products are not designed to replace breast milk, but should be fed to infants from the age of one.

Camelicious claims to be one of the few Middle Eastern companies with food safety standards approval from the European Union.

The formula will be based on camel's milk powder produced in Dubai, but it will be 'enhanced' and then packaged in the Netherlands.

The product was launched at Dubai's Gulfood exhibition and was developed with Dutch dairy-maker Triscom Holland.
A tiny wire cage may help men suffering symptoms of an enlarged prostate.

The cage, implanted under mild sedation in five minutes, is designed to improve urine flow without any need for drugs or invasive surgery.

A recent study of 32 patients given the implant, which is removed after five days, showed they were able to stop taking medication immediately and most were free from symptoms three years later.

An enlarged prostate, or benign prostatic hyperplasia, is a common age-related condition that affects up to 40 per cent of men over 50.

Facts: An enlarged prostate, or benign prostatic hyperplasia, is a common age-related condition that affects up to 40 per cent of men over 50

The exact cause is not known but one theory is that levels of a hormone called dihydrotestosterone increase with age, which may stimulate growth of the prostate.

The prostate sits around the urethra, the tube through which urine exits the body. If the gland becomes enlarged it can impede the flow, causing problems in starting urination, a frequent need to urinate and difficulty in emptying the bladder.

STANDARD treatment includes medicines such as alpha-blockers, which relax muscles in and around the prostate, making urination easier  but these can have side-effects including dizziness and headaches.

Patients may be offered surgical options such as transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), which involves removing part of the prostate tissue using a tube passed through the urethra. Side-effects include possible incontinence and sexual dysfunction.

The new treatment, called iTIND, is a cage-like device made from a metal called nitinol that can be moulded into different shapes but reverts to its original shape when heated.

The cage is normally around 50mm long and 33mm wide but surgeons squeeze it into a tight tube around 5mm wide to insert it through the narrow urethra.

Success: A recent study of 32 patients given the implant, showed they were able to stop taking medication immediately and most were free from symptoms three years later

In a five-minute procedure, the device is placed into the urethra to the point where it is being squeezed by the prostate. Once in place, it reacts with body heat and expands to its normal size.

As a result it expands the width of the urethra, bringing immediate relief. After five days the device is removed by surgeons pulling it out of the urethra.

Research at the University of Turin, in Italy, showed the device can be highly effective. The study, reported in the journal BJU International, of 32 men, all of whom had been on medication, revealed it took an average of 5.8 minutes to implant the device.

The mens urine flow rate had increased by an average of 76 per cent when measured six weeks after implantation, and all were able to stop taking medication three months after treatment. None experienced any sexual dysfunction or incontinence as a result of the iTIND treatment in the three-year follow-up period.

Professor Raj Persad, a consultant urologist with Bristol Urology Associates, says: Many new treatments for an enlarged prostate are evolving, including iTIND.

n A BLAST of steam can shrink an enlarged prostate, say researchers at the University of Texas, in the U.S.

Results of a new study involving 129 men who received the treatment, which is applied through a hand-held device that looks like a gun, show a near- 60 per cent drop in symptoms, a 17 per cent reduction in the size of the prostate, and 90 per cent of patients were able to come off their medication, reports the journal Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases.

The steam is fired at the enlarged prostate tissue and is thought to kill off the cells.
Family affair: Fiona Brown, who is a busy mum to toddlers Seth (3) and Zacharia (1)

The sound of my baby giggling brought tears to my eyes. Not of happiness, but of frustration.

Instead of holding my three-month-old daughter Amelia, I was forced to watch via a grainy baby monitor as I was laid-up in bed.

Id just undergone surgery to repair a tear in my labrum  the ring of cartilage that cushions the hip joint and helps hold the ball at the top of the thigh bone within the hip socket  because of damage caused in pregnancy, and I was under strict orders not to lift or hold Amelia for two months.

The surgery to stitch the tear together, and reattach the part of the labrum that had come away from the bone came three months after an emergency Caesarean, and so I had begrudgingly hired a nanny to care for my longed-for IVF baby.

A year on, I am still suffering muscular pain, as well as having physiotherapy. This pain is awful, but the psychological damage is almost worse. I was unable to breastfeed as I could not sit. I felt jealous watching another woman feed and comfort the baby Id spent two years trying for, after struggling to conceive due to endometriosis.

I also felt intense guilt in seeing husband Andy, 36, go from 12-hour days as an assistant headteacher into long nights caring for Amelia.

But things neednt have been this way. If my GP had acted when I had complained repeatedly of crippling pain in my left hip, the lasting joint damage may not have occurred because I would have known how to manage my movements.

Instead, I was left unable to stand, walk, sit or sleep.

My GP didnt take me seriously, while the midwives at my NHS hospital referred me for a single antenatal group physiotherapy class  which I couldnt attend as I was in too much pain.

During pregnancy, its normal to have hip discomfort or some kind of pelvic pain. The relaxin hormone released by the brain causes the ligaments between muscles to open and allow room for the baby to grow, and later pass through the birth canal.

But if your ligaments are too flexible, this puts pressure on the muscles and joints.

The weight of the growing baby, plus all the amniotic fluid and placenta, can cause strain on the pelvis as well as an exaggerated forward curve of the lower back. This changes the way you sit or stand and puts more stress on your pelvis.

Standard: During pregnancy, its normal to have hip discomfort or some kind of pelvic pain

Another common cause is pelvic girdle pain. The three pelvic joints work together, but if they move unevenly, it causes the pelvic girdle to become painful and less stable.

Usually, this pain reduces greatly once the baby arrives. My condition was different.

The ball at the top of my thigh bone wasnt perfectly round, and a small, extra jutting piece of bone was wearing away at the cartilage each time I moved.

I was born with that problem, but it emerged only when I was 22 weeks pregnant. It got so bad that, by the end of my pregnancy, I was wheelchair-bound. Eight weeks after the birth, I was finally referred to a specialist. An MRI revealed the labrum cartilage had ripped and partially detached. Surgery was my only hope. I was devastated.

I am not alone. A study at Waikato Hospital in New Zealand in 2010 suggested that just under 10 per cent of pregnant women suffer a labral tear  many more go undiagnosed.

Fiona Brown, a mother-of-two from Essex, is one of them. Her tear occurred when she was pregnant with first son Seth in 2014, but it was three years before her diagnosis.

Fiona, 38, has osteoarthritis in her hips and lower back. Though no one knows if the tear caused it, a specialist told her the bone rubbing on bone could have been responsible. When I was pregnant, they assumed it was pelvic girdle pain, says Fiona. I made do with crutches and belly bands  maternity belts which support the back in pregnancy and alleviate back and hip pain.

She mentioned it in post-natal appointments, to no avail. When pregnant with second son Zachariah, the pain  from eight weeks into her pregnancy  was continuous.

Fiona self-referred to an NHS physiotherapist, who insisted her GP order an MRI  this showed she had a tear. However, with two young children, surgery is out of the question, at least until they start school.

Face it: If ignored, a labral tear can lead to arthritis - and, in some cases, total joint replacement

Ive not been left with many options, says Fiona. I cant take codeine because it makes me drowsy and unable to drive.

Her current painkiller  naproxen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory  can cause stomach bleeding if used long-term. Fiona quit her job as a college lecturer as she cannot stand for long periods and runs business training from home for post-natal women (facebook.com/flbconfidenceclub).

She and husband Phil would love another baby, but at 35 he will have a vasectomy as Fionas body cannot endure another pregnancy.

Paul Jairaj, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon with Ramsay Healthcare Group and HCA Healthcare Group, says: If you do a repetitive activity and have an altered hip and pelvic position  which most women do in pregnancy  a labral tear can happen. The difficulty is proving thats responsible for the symptoms.

He is clear on why misdiagnosis is common: When you tell a GP or midwife you have hip pain in pregnancy, they may say this is expected. Ive seen mothers later and no one has made the link that it could be a tear. Its usually physiotherapists who figure it out, and it can be too late.

A labral tear cannot heal by itself, though the pain can be reduced through physical therapy, he explains. However, significant loss of articular cartilage  found inside the socket, while labrum is found at the edge of the socket  can occur alongside a labral tear.

If this is ignored it could lead to arthritis, and even the need for a total joint replacement.

Andy and I have six embryos frozen, and though I long for another baby, I am scared to become pregnant again.

Sadly, Fiona and I are not unique  thousands of women could be suffering from this combination of debilitating hip damage and GPs ignorance.
Earlier this month, Dee Mani, a mother of two from Birmingham, claimed shed cured her aggressive breast cancer by taking a drop of cannabis oil a day.

Dee had refused chemotherapy as it had failed to keep her sister alive a few years earlier when she had the disease.

After being diagnosed in March 2017, Dee, 44, read online about the reported benefits of the oil and began putting a single drop on her tongue every evening. Five months later, scans showed her cancer had gone.

Alternative: Cannabis oil is often credit by users as curing their cancer and other diseases

Over the years, more stories such as Dees have emerged, with claims not only that cannabis oil can cure cancer, but that it can successfully treat a host of other serious problems where conventional medicine has failed. Its proponents point to research that shows it can help with nerve pain, for instance. Anecdotal evidence suggests it may also prevent seizures caused by some forms of epilepsy.

And recently cannabis oil, or specifically, a chemical found in cannabis plants called cannabidiol (CBD), was given a clean bill of health by none other than the World Health Organisation.

In a report published in December, its Expert Committee on Drug Dependence said it found cannabidiol had several possible major medical applications and no adverse health outcomes.

Perhaps not surprisingly, then, CBD products have become increasingly popular. Last week Holland & Barrett reported that sales of one remedy, Jacob Hooy CBD+Oil have risen by 37 per cent since it started stocking it in January. The health food chain says its going to add four more cannabis oil products to its shelves next month.

Meanwhile, the Cannabis Trades Association says the number of regular users of CBD in the UK has doubled to 250,000 in the past 18 months.

However, CBD products, which include digestible gel capsules, vaping liquid to be inhaled with an e-cigarette, lip balm and even gummy bear sweets, are not cheap.

Prices range from 9.49 for a 10ml bottle (containing 240 drops) from Holland & Barrett to 400 for a 100ml bottle from some UK online suppliers: even the gummy bear sweets cost an eye-watering 1 each.

Popular: 250,000 UK people use cannabidiol (CBD), says the Cannabis Trades Association

Against this are the question marks over just how effective CBD actually is. For instance, a 2016 study published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, carried out at the North-West University in South Africa, showed CBD slowed the rate at which cervical cancer cells grew in the laboratory or, in some cases, even killed them off.

But these findings have not yet been replicated in humans.

And just last week, guidelines issued to 30,000 doctors in Canada highlighted that in the few conditions where cannabis has been shown to be helpful (such as for nerve pain and muscle spasticity in multiple sclerosis) the impact is only marginal, but there was plenty of evidence of side-effects.

We recommend against the use of cannabinoids for most conditions owing to lack of evidence of benefits and known harms, the document from the University of Alberta said.

Cannabis is a Schedule 1, Class B drug. When people talk about using cannabis as a medical treatment, usually it is in the form of drops of oil, taken daily, made from the stalks and leaves of cannabis plants.

The oil is said to ease pain, reduce the nausea of chemotherapy and relieve muscle spasms, amongst other things.

There are two types of oil  cannabis oil made from marijuana and containing THC, the psychoactive element of cannabis that causes a high. This form is illegal. The legal CBD you can buy on the High Street is derived from hemp, which comes from the same plant as marijuana, but is cultivated differently.

Natural wonder? The oil is said to ease pain, reduce the nausea of chemotherapy and relieve muscle spasms, amongst other things

As a result, it has very much lower levels of THC  less than 0.2 per cent compared with 50 to 80 per cent in marijuana.

The question is, will the legal CBD you get on the High Street be potent enough to make a difference? The simple answer is no, say some experts.

They say research shows that for CBD to have any beneficial effect, it must be given in much larger quantities than found in these High Street products. This is because CBD is poorly absorbed by the body as it can easily be broken down by enzymes produced in the gut and the liver.

Consequently, only a fraction of the CBD ingested reaches the bloodstream. Only about 6 per cent of what is taken gets absorbed, says Dr Amir Englund, a researcher in psychopharmacology at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at Kings College London. Thats why, in trials, we have to use very large doses.

He was involved in a study, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry last December, which showed that giving a daily dose of CBD oil to mentally ill patients significantly reduced the level of psychotic symptoms such as paranoia and hallucinations.

CBD has great potential and there are many studies under way looking at its possible future uses Dr Tom Freeman

They gave 88 patients either CBD or a dummy drug for six weeks and found a significant reduction in psychosis, with hardly any side-effects. But the dose needed was 1,000mg of (100 per cent) CBD oil, twice daily.

Most online oils, gels or sweets provide no more than a couple of hundred milligrams at most: Jacob Hooy CBD+Oil 240 drops bottle contains just 2.75 per cent CBD. Online suppliers such as CBD Oils UK, which produces a product range called Love Hemp, have oils containing up to 40 per cent CBD.

The daily dose of CBD from these would be very low and there are no studies to support the idea that it would have any beneficial effects, says Dr Englund.

In fact, none of the CBD products supplied by UK firms are allowed to be described as medicines, or make claims for their health benefits.

This is because the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority, which regulates the sale of drugs, has classed CBD as a medicine. That means any claims must be backed up by extensive clinical trials proving its effectiveness.

So CBD products are instead sold as food supplements and suppliers are careful not to make specific claims. For example, one online UK supplier, called For The Ageless, says its products support wellbeing and optimum health.

CBD Oils claims on its website: Regular use of CBD as a food supplement can help to improve and maintain your health. And another online supplier, Canabidol, states on the opening page of its website: Maintain your health with cannabis.

Scientists who have spent years investigating the drugs potential medicinal powers say there is good evidence that CBD could indeed be the basis for powerful new medicines for a range of conditions. But there is no evidence yet that placing a few drops of oil on the tongue every day, chewing a sweet made with CBD or rubbing on a lip balm will prevent ill health or combat common ailments.

CBD has great potential and there are many studies under way looking at its possible future uses, says Dr Tom Freeman, a senior academic fellow at the National Addiction Centre at Kings College London, who has been investigating CBD for the last decade.

But none of these products on sale has been through clinical trials and people should definitely not be using them as though they are a medicine. I would recommend that people using these products seek advice from their GP for any decisions related to their treatment.

In fact, there are already legitimate and licensed cannabis-based medicines available. British drugs firm GW Pharmaceuticals makes Sativ ex, a peppermint-flavoured mouth spray for multiple sclerosis, using CBD and tiny amounts of psychoactive THC to ease painful muscle spasms. However, the drug is so expensive, about 500 a month, that it is rarely prescribed on the NHS.

GW Pharmaceuticals has also developed a CBD-based drug for certain hard-to-treat forms of epilepsy. The drug, called Epidiolex, is awaiting approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration following successful trials. It is 98 per cent CBD, more than double the highest content oil sold online.

The University of Oxford recently set up a 10 million drugs research business, called Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies, to investigate CBDs potential to treat arthritis, cancer, Alzheimers, depression and Parkinsons disease.

This research could take several years to bear fruit. In the meantime, celebrity-backed endorsements of cannabis oil, along with deregulation of cannabis for medical use in U.S. states such as California, Colorado and Oregon, are fuelling consumer demand.

Former EastEnders actress Pam St Clement recently revealed she takes CBD oil every day to help ease the pain of her osteoarthritis.

Dr Ian Hamilton, a lecturer in mental health at York University, fears the hype around CBD may put some patients at risk  especially if anxious parents of children with epilepsy decide to abandon prescription medicines in favour of what they perceive as a more natural treatment. People who buy these CBD products are potentially wasting their money, he says. And parents should never stop a childs anti-epileptic medication without going to see their GP first.

Dr Jeremy Howick, a senior researcher at the University of Oxford who specialises in studying the placebo effect, says any health-boosting benefits that cannabis oil devotees experience are probably all in the mind.

They are unlikely to help other than through a placebo mechanism, he says.

And when it comes to hemp products, its potentially a very expensive placebo at that.

Dee Mani has since asked us to make clear that she took Full Extract Cannabis Oil with a high THC content to treat her cancer.
British babies are more likely to die in their first month than those born in Latvia, Belarus and Cuba.

Researchers suggested reasons for this could include low breastfeeding rates, obesity and women delaying childbirth.

Figures from Unicef ranked the UK 30th out of 184 countries for lowest mortality rates within a month of birth.

Although comfortably within the top quarter, Britain lags behind countries from the former Eastern Bloc such as Latvia, Estonia and Belarus.

Researchers suggested reasons for this could include low breastfeeding rates, obesity and women delaying childbirth

Approximately 2.6 babies died in their first month for every 1,000 born in the UK in 2016. This is more than double the rate of Japan  which has the lowest neonatal mortality rate  and also higher than in Finland, Cyprus, Slovenia, Cuba, Greece and Portugal.

Experts cited several reasons babies are more likely to die in Britain, including mothers lifestyle and medical care.

Infants which are born to older or obese women have a greater risk of complications during birth and are also more likely to be premature.

In addition, twins and triplets  including those conceived through IVF  have higher mortality rates during pregnancy and shortly after birth.

Research has also shown that babies not breastfed straight after being born are more susceptible to fatal illnesses, possibly because mothers do not pass on their immunity.

Another reason could be that NHS staff are slower at detecting and treating infections, such as sepsis and pneumonia  two of the principal causes of neonatal deaths in Britain.

The report states that countries with low death rates tend to have strong healthcare systems, ample numbers of doctors and midwives, and high hygiene standards.

By contrast, many NHS maternity units are extremely understaffed and some have been found to be dirty.

The report said that, around the world, 2.6million babies die before they are a month old. Japan, Singapore and Iceland were found to be the safest countries, with Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Central African Republic the riskiest.

Henrietta Fore, of Unicef, said that although deaths of under-fives had halved over the past 25 years, we have not made similar progress in ending deaths among children less than one month old.

She added: Given the majority of these deaths are preventable, clearly, we are failing the worlds poorest babies.

Experts cited several reasons babies are more likely to die in Britain, including mothers lifestyle and medical care

Dr Clea Harmer, of Sands, the leading neonatal death charity, said: The rate of babies dying in the first month of life in the UK has remained almost static for three years we need more focus on delivering vulnerable babies in the right place with the right care.

A Department of Health spokesman said: We have committed to halving the rates of stillbirth, neonatal deaths and maternal deaths in the NHS by 2025. Weve invested millions in staff training and safety equipment, as well as ensuring every unexplained stillbirth and neonatal death receives an independent investigation.

Professor Neena Modi, of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said: The primary causes of newborn deaths in this global report  prematurity, complications around the time of birth, and infections  are also important causes in the UK.
Ten minutes after taking a selfie, a mother-of-one suffered a stroke that left her fighting for her life.

Moments after taking the snap, Debbie Schofield, 37, from Hertfordshire, complained of a pounding headache before her eyes rolled back in her head and she was fighting for her life.

Ms Schofield, who was on a family Christmas train journey on December 16 last year, only survived due to her mother Janet Walker, 64, recognising the symptoms of a stroke after seeing a FAST Public Health England advert on Facebook.

After being rushed to hospital, Ms Schofield spent weeks paralysed and unable to speak while she recovered at a rehabilitation centre.

Ms Schofield, who spent Christmas Day in hospital, and her daughter Millie, five, who was there at the time of the incident, have been forced to move back in with her parents as the senior scientific officer is still barely able to communicate.

The mother-of-one credits Ms Walker's quick thinking for saving her life, saying, 'It's shocking to think that one minute we were posing for a picture and the next thing I was nearly dead. In fact, if it wasn't for mum, I would be dead.'

Ms Walker shared her daughter's selfie online to raise awareness of stroke in young people.

Around one stroke occurs every five minutes in the UK.

Janet Walker (far right) has revealed the selfie her daughter Debbie Schofield (far left) took just minutes before her stroke (also pictured Ms Schofield's daughter Millie Schofield, niece Emily Makani and sister Nicky Makai). She later complained of a pounding headache

'I just thought FAST'

Speaking of Ms Schofield's symptoms, her mother said: 'Instinctively, I knew Debbie was having a stroke.

'I just thought FAST - which stands for Facial drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties and Time to call emergency services.

'Seeing Debbie's face droop, I asked if she could speak. She started to, but her words, which had been fine minutes earlier, were slurring.

'Then, I asked [her] to lift up her arm, which she couldn't, even though 10 minutes before she'd picked up her arm to take the selfie of us all.

'Then I thought, "Time to call the emergency services", and ordered Nicky Makani, my other daughter, downstairs. She told the driver to stop the bus and call an ambulance, which arrived within 15 minutes.'

Ms Schofield was rushed to hospital after her face starting to droop, her speech slur and her eyes roll back into her head (pictured surrounded by her family on Christmas Day)

Ms Schofield spent weeks paralysed and unable to speak while she recovered at a rehab centre (pictured with her daughter Millie, who was there at the time of the stroke)

'I've been told I saved her life'

According to doctors, Ms Walker remembered the FAST acronym in the nick of time.

She said: 'I've been told I saved her life and that's brilliant to hear.

'Until this happened, we were having a lovely day. Every year a special festive train, with people dressed in Christmas outfits, travels from North Weald to Ongar in Essex.

'The children wanted to go on it, so we planned it as a special treat ahead of December 25; getting to the station on an old Routemaster bus.

'We were all wearing reindeer ears and were about 10 minutes into our journey, not far from the station, when Debbie had the stroke.'

Although still unable to fully communicate, Ms Schofield (pictured with her family, including her father Grahame) has been discharged from hospital and has moved in with her parents

Ms Schofield's sister Nicky Makani (pictured) initially dismissed her symptoms as a hangover

'She could barely speak and was totally paralysed'

When paramedics arrived at the scene, they had to carefully manoeuvre Ms Schofield down the narrow staircase of the historic 1960s bus while she drifted in and out of consciousness.

Ms Walker said: 'Around five paramedics sat with her on the top deck.

HOW CAN F.A.S.T SAVE YOU DURING A STROKE? The main symptoms of stroke can be remembered with the word F.A.S.T. This will help you more quickly identify someone having a stroke. Face: the face may have dropped on one side, the person may not be able to smile, or their mouth or eye may have dropped.

Arms: the person with suspected stroke may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in one arm.

Speech: their speech may be slurred or garbled, or the person may not be able to talk at all despite appearing to be awake.

Time: it's time to dial 999 immediately if you see any of these signs or symptoms. Source: NHS Advertisement

'I was with the children, who were obviously scared. Eventually they managed to get Debbie on to a blow-up stretcher, which they twisted down the stairs.'

Ms Schofield was taken by ambulance, with her sister, to Queen's Hospital in Romford, Essex, while Ms Walker dropped the children off with their family.

Ms Walker said: 'A later CT scan showed a tear in an artery in her neck.

'They think this is where the stroke started. They gave her blood-thinning drugs and she slept and slept.'

A few days later, Ms Schofield was well enough to be transferred to Barnet General Hospital in North London, before later being taken to a rehabilitation centre near where she lives.

Ms Walker said: 'She spent weeks there and was so brave.

'She had two weeks of intensive rehabilitation before she was allowed home.

'She could barely speak and was totally paralysed down the right side of her body.'

At the end of January, Ms Schofield was discharged and moved in with her mother and father Grahame, 68.

Ms Walker said: 'We have her and Millie with us now. Grahame is helping her with her speech therapy. I couldn't, we would giggle too much.'

Ms Walker posted the selfie on Facebook to raise awareness of strokes in the young

Millie, who found the incident very frightening, has also moved in with her grandparents

'I want people to be aware this can happen to anyone'

Posting the selfie on Facebook, Ms Walker wrote: 'I felt I just had to post this.

'10 mins after this pic was taken my daughter Debbie had a major stroke.

'She was perfectly fine before this happened and she is only 37.

'I am so happy to say that she is making an excellent recovery, but I want people to be aware that this can happen to anyone young and old and if I hadn't see the post on here about strokes and known to act fast, it may have been a different story, so please read this.'

Ms Makani, 41, a check-out operator, is also keen for people to become familiar with the signs of a stroke.

She said: 'At first, when she said she had a headache in the car, I thought it was a hangover, because she had been out the night before.

'Then, suddenly, she got really sick and mum realised it was a stroke.

'Now I want everyone to know about the signs. If you do, you can dial 999. The quicker the better.'

Ms Schofield added: 'I want all people to know about FAST. It could save your life.'
The number of measles cases in Europe rose by 400 per cent in 2017 compared to the previous year, new figures reveal.

The life-threatening infection affected 21,315 people last year, resulting in 35 fatalities, the figures add. This comes after a record low of just 5,273 incidences in 2016.

Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab, regional director for Europe at the World Health Organization (WHO), said: 'Every new person affected by measles in Europe reminds us that unvaccinated children and adults, regardless of where they live, remain at risk of catching the disease and spreading it to others who may not be able to get vaccinated.'

Poor vaccination rates are thought to have led to epidemics in Romania, Italy and Ukraine.

As of last month, there were 122 confirmed cases of measles across five regions in England, with West Yorkshire, West Midlands, and Liverpool and Cheshire being most affected.

To prevent an outbreak, 95 per cent of the population should be immunised.

Yet, in the UK, only 91.9 per cent of children were vaccinated against measles between 2015 and 2016 compared to 94.2 per cent in 2014-to-2015 and 94.3 per cent in 2013-to-2014, according to NHS immunisation statistics.

The WHO claims people's fear of jabs, means many, particularly young children, are unprotected.

This fear could be attributed to disgraced gastroenterologist Andrew Wakefield's theory in 1995 that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is linked to bowel disease and autism. His controversial views have since been widely discredited.

The number of measles cases in Europe rose by 400 per cent in 2017 (stock)

Romania had the most measles cases in Europe in 2017 with 5,562 incidences

MEASLES DECLARED 'ELIMINATED' FROM THE UK JUST FIVE MONTHS AGO The 'elimination' of measles has been achieved in the UK, global health leaders said in September. This can be verified once a country has sustained 'interruption of endemic transmission' for at least 36 months, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The European Regional Verification Commission said the UK achieved elimination status for measles as of 2016. Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at Public Health England, said: 'We are delighted that the WHO has confirmed that the UK achieved measles elimination in 2016 and that rubella elimination continues to be sustained. 'In addition, national vaccine coverage of the first MMR dose in five year olds has hit the WHO's 95 per cent target. 'This is a huge achievement and a testament to all the hard work by our health professionals in the NHS to ensure that all children and adults are fully protected with two doses of the MMR vaccine. 'We need to ensure that this is sustained going forward by maintaining and improving coverage of the MMR vaccine in children and by catching up older children and young adults who missed out.' Advertisement

WHAT IS MEASLES, WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS AND HOW CAN YOU CATCH IT? Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that spreads easily from an infected person by coughing, sneezing or even just breathing. Symptoms develop between six and 19 days after infection, and include a runny nose, cough, sore eyes, a fever and a rash. The rash appears as red and blotchy marks on the hairline that travel down over several days, turning brown and eventually fading. Some children complain of disliking bright lights or develop white spots with red backgrounds on their tongue. In one in 15 cases, measles can cause life-threatening complications including pneumonia, convulsions and encephalitis. Dr Ava Easton, chief executive of the Encephalitis Society told MailOnline: 'Measles can be very serious. '[It] can cause encephalitis which is inflammation of the brain. 'Encephalitis can result in death or disability.' Treatment focuses on staying hydrated, resting and taking painkillers, if necessary. Measles can be prevented by receiving two vaccinations, the first at 13 months old and the second at three years and four months to five years old. Source: Great Ormond Street Hospital Advertisement

Epidemics in Europe

The surge in measles cases in 2017 included large outbreaks in 15 of the 53 European countries.

Romania was most affected with 5,562 cases, followed by Italy with 5,006 and Ukraine with 4,767 incidences. These regions have experienced a decline in overall routine immunisation rates.

These figures comes after the WHO declared measles 'eliminated' from Europe in 2016 after 42 countries successfully disrupted disease transmission.

Yet, it now says, 'outbreaks will continue to occur until every susceptible child and adult is protected'.

Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at Public Health England, added: 'Due to ongoing measles outbreaks within Europe, we will continue to see imported measles cases in the UK in unimmunised individuals.

'This serves as an important reminder for parents to take up the offer of MMR vaccination for their children when offered at one year of age and as a pre-school booster at three years, four months of age.'

Ministers of health from 11 countries will meet today to discuss working together to achieve the goals set out in the European Vaccine Action Plan by 2020, including measles and rubella elimination.

Low vaccination rates

Dr Will Welfare, a consultant in health protection at Public Health England, told Manchester Evening News: 'Measles is a very infectious virus and can spread rapidly among communities, such as schools, if people have not been fully immunised.

'I would appeal to any parents who have not yet had their children vaccinated to get them protected as soon as possible through their GP.'

Dr David Elliman, paediatrician at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, added: 'Although the uptake of the both doses of MMR vaccine is high in UK, because measles is so infectious, it is not yet high enough to stop [the] outbreaks we are seeing'.

The World Health Organization claims people's fear of vaccines, along with complacency, means many, particularly young children, are unprotected against measles

WHO IS MOST AT RISK OF MEASLES? Everyone has a slight risk of developing measles because being vaccinated does not guarantee full immunity. However, unvaccinated young children are particularly at risk, as well as pregnant women who have not had the jab. Measles is common in many developing countries, particularly parts of Africa and Asia. More than 95 percent of measles deaths occur in countries with low average incomes. Outbreaks can be particularly life-threatening in countries experiencing or recovering from natural disasters or conflict. Damage to health services disrupts routine immunization, while overcrowding greatly increases the risk of infection. Source: World Health Organization Advertisement

Is Andrew Wakefield's discredited research to blame for low vaccination rates?

In 1995 the gastroenterologist Andrew Wakefield published a study in The Lancet showing children who had been vaccinated against MMR were more likely to have bowel disease and autism.

He speculated that being injected with a 'dead' form of the measles virus via vaccination causes disruption to intestinal tissue, leading to both of the disorders.

After a 1998 paper further confirmed this finding, Wakefield said: 'The risk of this particular syndrome [which he termed 'autistic enterocolitis'] developing is related to the combined vaccine, the MMR, rather than the single vaccines.'

At the time, Wakefield had a patent for single measles, mumps and rubella vaccines, and was therefore accused of having a conflict of interest.

Nonetheless, MMR vaccination rates in the US and the UK plummeted, until, in 2004 the then-editor of The Lancet Dr Richard Horton described Wakefield's research as 'fundamentally flawed', adding he was paid by attorneys seeking lawsuits against vaccine manufacturers.

The Lancet formally retracted Wakefield's research paper in 2010.

Three months later, the General Medical Council banned Wakefield from practicing medicine in Britain, stating his research had shown a 'callous disregard' for children's health.

On January 6 2011, The British Medical Journal published a report showing that of the 12 children included in Wakefield's 1995 study, at most two had autistic symptoms post vaccination, rather than the eight he claimed.

At least two of the children also had developmental delays before they were vaccinated, yet Wakefield's paper claimed they were all 'previously normal'.

Further findings revealed none of the children had autism, non-specific colitis or symptoms within days of receiving the MMR vaccine, yet the study claimed six of the participants suffered all three.
Zaps to the ankle may boost women's libido more than foreplay.

Sending electrical signals from the foot to the base of the spine could increase women's sex drive by sending a surge of blood to their genitalia, according to researchers.

In less than 30 minutes, women experience a tickling tingle that may leave them more aroused.

Study author Professor Tim Bruns from Michigan University, said: 'If stimulation is repeated over three months, it could lead to better blood flow and nerve connections to the vagina.

'It would improve symptoms of genital arousal disorder.'

Studies are in development to analyse the impact of such zaps on 30 women's sex drives, which the scientists hope will lead to the development of a cheaper alternative to medication.

Nearly half of women experience loss of libido at some point in their lives.

Zaps to the ankle may boost libido by causing a surge of blood to the intimate areas (stock)

Zaps are sent from the foot up to the spine, where they increase blood supply to the genitals

WHAT IS LOSS OF LIBIDO? Loss of libido is a reduced sex drive. Past research suggests it affects nearly half of all women at some point in their lives. It is often linked to relationship issues, stress or tiredness, but could also indicate an underlying health problem. Sex drives vary person-to-person with no libido being 'normal', however, if it is affecting your relationship, it may be worth seeking help from a GP or psychosexual therapist. Common causes: Relationship problems - such as becoming overly familiar with your partner, poor communication or trust issues

- such as becoming overly familiar with your partner, poor communication or trust issues Sexual problems - including erectile dysfunction or vaginal dryness

- including erectile dysfunction or vaginal dryness Stress, anxiety or depression

Age - sex hormones fall during the menopause. Low libido can also occur due to the side effects of medication or mobility problems

- sex hormones fall during the menopause. Low libido can also occur due to the side effects of medication or mobility problems Pregnancy and breastfeeding - can cause changes in hormone levels, exhaustion or altered priorities as people focus on their child

- can cause changes in hormone levels, exhaustion or altered priorities as people focus on their child Underlying health issues - such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes

- such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes Medication - including antidepressants and drugs for high blood pressure

- including antidepressants and drugs for high blood pressure Alcohol and drugs Source: NHS Choices Advertisement

How does it work?

A thin needle is inserted into women's ankles where it gives off an electrical current.

This passes along the tibial nerve, which runs to the bottom of the spine.

In theory, this will improve blood supply to women's intimate areas, boosting their sex drive.

It is unclear if the treatment has any side effects or when future studies are due to begin.

The researchers got the idea for the treatment after discovering it improves sex for women suffering from incontinence.

'Kiss hormone' paves the way for new libido treatment

This comes after research released last month suggested the discovery of a brain chemical that fuels sex drive and could help women achieve better orgasms.

Kisspeptin, which is better known as the 'kiss hormone', has previously been linked to puberty and fertility, but research implies it could benefit women suffering from extremely low sex drives, or hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD).

Testosterone is sometimes given to improve women's desires between the sheets, however, this can cause 'male' side effects, including facial hair and a deeper voice. Kisspeptin's potential complications are unclear.

Study author Professor Julie Bakker from Liege University, Belgium, said: 'There are no good treatments available for women suffering from low sexual desire.

'The discovery that kisspeptin controls both attraction and sexual desire opens up exciting new possibilities for the development of treatments for low sexual desire.'

HSDD is thought to affect up to 40 per cent of women at some point in their lives in the US and UK. Five-to-15 per cent suffer continuously.
A toddler who battled 11 heart defects has defied the odds to survive and now never stops smiling.

Sophia Marshall, from Wychbold, Worcestershire, was just 18 months old when doctors suggested that her devastated parents, Chantelle and Samuel, both 30, take her to a hospice to live out her final days in comfort.

Determined not to give up on their only daughter, they made the difficult decision to have Sophia, who suffered her first cardiac arrest at just two days old in her father's arms, undergo a risky operation last July.

After four weeks in hospital with doctors not expecting her to make it, Sophia miraculously pulled through.

Although the youngster, who will require further life-saving surgery in the future, has suffered stunted development as a result of her conditions, she is now enjoying life at home just eight months after her procedure.

Chantelle and Samuel are sharing their story to give other parents hope.

Toddler Sophia Marshall (pictured with her parents Chantelle and Samuel, both 30), who battled 11 heart defects, has defied the odds to survive and now never stops smiling

Sophia (pictured in hospital) was just 18 months old when doctors suggested that her devastated parents take her to a hospice where she could live out her final days in comfort

Sophia (pictured in hospital) had her first cardiac arrest at just two days old in her father's arms

SOPHIA'S 11 HEART DEFECTS Sophia's 11 heart defects are: Complete Atrioventricular Septal Defect - a hole between the heart chambers

- a hole between the heart chambers Right Bundle Branch Block - prevents impulses travelling between heart chambers

- prevents impulses travelling between heart chambers Left atrial isomerism - abnormality in heart layout

- abnormality in heart layout Three holes in the heart - these are considered three separate defects and cannot be fixed

- these are considered three separate defects and cannot be fixed Severe leaky aortic valve - prevents the body getting enough blood. Requires life-long medication in Sophia's case

- prevents the body getting enough blood. Requires life-long medication in Sophia's case Interrupted IVC - failure of parts of the heart to fuse

- failure of parts of the heart to fuse Bilateral SVC - causes poor heart drainage

- causes poor heart drainage Coarctation of the aorta - can cause inadequate blood supply to the rest of the body

- can cause inadequate blood supply to the rest of the body Slow left pumping chamber Advertisement

'Doctors gave us the option of palliative care'

Chantelle, a full-time mother, said: 'We had no idea there was anything wrong with Sophia when she was first born until we brought her home.

'She turned blue and after rushing her to hospital we were devastated when we realised she had a heart defect.

'After undergoing surgery to permanently fix this defect last July, Sophia's body rejected the repair valve and she deteriorated rapidly.

'Doctors gave us the option of palliative care and said she could go into a hospice to die comfortably.

'At this point, due to her failed corrective surgery, she now had 11 heart defects, which amazed doctors as most kids just have one or two.

She said: 'Sophia had another operation to try and save her life where is band is placed over her heart, to even the pressures in her heart and control the blood flow.

'And thankfully, after waiting four weeks in Birmingham's Children's Hospital, we were told that it had been a success and Sophia had responded well to surgery.'

Surgery to fix the original defect went wrong when Sophia's body rejected the heart valve

Although now happy at home, Sophia's failed surgery caused her to develop 10 more defects

Refusing to give up, her parents had her undergo a risky operation, which was a success

The defects have halted Sophia's development, leaving her unable to stand unaided

'Last July was the worst time of our lives'

Chantelle and Samuel have been warned Sophia's operation is not a permanent solution and the youngster will need to undergo a second procedure once her band needs replacing.

The mother-of-one said: 'Last July was the worst time of our lives, we were so incredibly lucky that Sophia's pulled through her surgery.

'We'd missed her so much as we'd not heard her talk for five weeks while she recovered.

'She's normally such a happy little chatterbox and is never not smiling or giggling.

'Sophia hasn't started walking yet as her development has been slowed down by her heart defects but we're hopeful she will soon.'

Doctors are unsure how Sophia will be affected by her heart defect in later life but hope that as new developments are discovered, she will go on to live a normal life.

Chantelle said: 'In the future she might be eligible for a heart transplant but at the moment we're just enjoying her being healthy again.'

Chantelle described Sophia's battle as 'the worst time of our lives' (pictured in hospital)

While recovering, the normally happy Sophia was unable to communicate for five weeks

Sophia (pictured on her second birthday) will require further life-saving surgery in the future

'We couldn't be happier'

Chantelle said: 'We've decided to share Sophia's success story as we hope that if any other parents are faced with the same decision as us last July that they can find the strength to also defy doctors.

'Her recovery has been a long process but we've now been signed off from the hospital for three months and we couldn't be happier.'

Ashleigh Doggett, a senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, added: 'Congenital heart disease is the most common birth defect, affecting around one in 100 babies born in the UK.

'Thankfully congenital conditions which cause multiple heart defects are very rare, but in order to understand them better and mend tiny hearts we need to fund more life saving research.

'The British Heart Foundation is committed to supporting families affected by congenital heart disease.'

Sophia may one day be eligible for a heart transplant but is currently enjoying being healthy

Sophia's parents are speaking out to give hope to others going through similar situations

Her parents add they want their story to give people the strength to defy doctors
A supermarket manager had his entire memory wiped from birth up to the age of 16 after he suffered a brain injury.

Antony Holly suddenly fainted at train station on his commute home to Romford, Essex, after feeling he was suffering from heat stroke.

His family then rushed him to hospital, where doctors said he was suffering from meningitis, sepsis, and a severe sinus infection. He had to have six lumbar punctures to try and identify the infection causing the problem.

The infections lead him to develop encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain that wiped his memory.

The disease had affected him so badly he couldn't remember his mum, sister, nieces, friends - or even his own name.

Normal daily activities like showering, washing his hair and going to the toilet were a mystery to him as he simply couldn't recollect how to do them.

Today, he still has no recollection of family holidays, his school teachers, his favourite childhood toys, birthdays or sitting exams before turning 16.

'For me it has been hard not being able to remember things. People treat you differently,' Anthony said.

'You take your memories for granted. Now I don't have any, it's about taking life and living it. Have fun and don't moan and groan about things.'

Anthony Holly's had his entire memory wiped from birth up to the age of 16 after he suffered a brain injury

Antony Holly couldn't remember his mum, sister, nieces, friends or even his own name after he collapsed at a train station on his commute home

He still has no recollection of family holidays, his school teachers, his favourite childhood toys, birthdays or sitting exams before turning 16

Collapsing on the commute home

Antony, 22, was at work as a manager at the John Lewis store in London's Oxford Street on June 16 last year when he began to feel unwell.

It was one of the hottest days of the year and he initially put it down to heatstroke, but standing in one of the store's chillers didn't help and he had to go home early.

However during his commute back to his home in Romford, Essex, he collapsed at Liverpool Street Station.

Antony said: 'Losing your memory is like watching a film of your own life, with you as the main character, but I don't remember anything. It's very frustrating.

'People tell me things I've done, and remind me of lovely memories they have of me, but I haven't a clue what they're on about.

Normal daily activities like showering, washing his hair and going to the toilet were a mystery to him as he simply couldn't recollect how to do them

'On the day I collapsed everyone thought it was a bit strange because it was really unusual for me. I started sweating. I was getting really hot. And I'm usually a very well person.

'It was one of the hottest days of the year and I thought it was just that.

'I went and stood in one of the cold chillers to chill out but that didn't have any effect so I told them I was going to go home a half hour early.

'I got to Liverpool Street station and when I got there I collapsed.

'From there everything was a vague picture. They don't know how I collapsed or how I got to Liverpool Street and I don't remember a thing.'

Antony had to be resuscitated three times. He had no idea of his name and couldn't give any family members' names either. Thankfully his next of kin details were stored on an app on his iPhone.

Antony Holly, 22, at his home in Romford, Essex

He couldn't remember his own name

His family were called into the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, thinking he'd simply collapsed in the high temperatures, but as soon as they arrived they were ushered into a family room and told it was unlikely he would make it.

He was suffering meningitis, sepsis, a severe sinus infection and had to have six lumbar punctures to try and identify the infection causing the problem.

Because of the infections, Antony developed encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, which severely affected his memory.

Encephalitis is caused by an infection invading the brain or through the immune system attacking the brain in error.

There are 6,000 cases in the UK every year, many of which are fatal. Sufferers can be left permanently disabled.

He was in hospital for a month and couldn't remember who he was until the second week.

His mum Lorraine, 50, kept asking him if he remembered her and it was only when he'd been in hospital about ten days that he retorted with: 'You're my mother, unfortunately!'

Antony's sister Danielle, 25, has two daughters, Libby, six, and Chloe, one. One of Antony's greatest upsets was that he couldn't remember his two beloved nieces.

'In the hospital, my mum was on my bed and on the phone to my sister and my nieces wanted to say hello and I spoke to them,' Antony said.

His mum Lorraine, 50, kept asking him if he remembered her and it was only when he'd been in hospital about ten days that he retorted with: 'You're my mother, unfortunately!'

'I started crying because I could recognise the voices but I couldn't speak and couldn't place them. It was so upsetting.'

'I thought I was still at Liverpool Street'

Doctors showed him simple items, like watches, and stethoscopes, and Antony couldn't tell them what they were.

For days he also still believed he was waiting to catch the train he had been due to get before he collapsed.

He said: 'At first I kept repeating a message of 'When's the train going?' because I thought I was still waiting for a train.

'In my mind I thought I was still at Liverpool Street. I kept asking the doctors when we were leaving. I meant the train, but they thought I meant going home.

'They'd take me to x-ray and tell me I was departing, pretending I was getting a train, so I'd shut up.'

After coming out of immediate danger, the 22-year-old had to learn his entire daily routine again, much of which was left to his mum. His handwriting also went back to that of a seven-year-old.

Antony suffers with Encephalitis leading to the loss of all his childhood memories before the age of 16

Anthony had suffered meningitis, sepsis, a severe sinus infection, which lead to encephalitis

He said: 'My mum has been such a star. She essentially had to rehabilitate me.

'It was such a worry for her, me not knowing who she was.

'In hospital I had to learn to wash myself, wash my hair. I couldn't dress.

'My day to day routine was completely wiped, it was just gone. What you normally do in life, the basics in life, they're just gone.

'Going to the toilet is a simple thing you learn as a kid, but I didn't know how. My mum had to show me.'

All his memories were wiped

And his memories of the happy childhood he'd spent with his sister were also a blank.

Antony couldn't remember any of his school friends, teachers, or anything about growing up and going to Squirrels Heath Junior School and Emerson Park Academy.

'Me and my sister would always laugh and joke about stuff we'd done as kids.

'When I was younger my mum would go to the baker's and buy two iced fingers for us and I'd sneak one out of the bag and take the icing off it and put it back in the bag and tell her they'd given her one without icing.

'Little things like that are so lovely to remember, but I don't have them anymore.

'Growing up, I just can't remember.

'I had a special teddy bear called Rattles and it had a rattle inside and it made a funny noise. I went everywhere with him.

'My mum got it out to show me the stuff I had as a child and I can't remember any of it.

'I don't remember going to school. All my primary and secondary school memories are gone.

'Looking at photos I can vaguely remember things, but a deep sort of relationship with those people, I can't. I don't remember my school friends or the fun we had.

'The most upsetting thing is losing the fun times and looking back and not remembering amazing school trips and things like that. I know we went on great ones but I just can't remember them.

'We used to go to the Isle of Wight every year too and away to Spain on family holidays and they're gone.

'It's like that at work as well. People would have told me last summer that their children are expecting babies and when I went back they'd tell me they'd had their babies and I didn't even know they were pregnant.

'For me it's hard. It seems like I'm stupid or I don't care, but it's just that I've forgotten.'

Antony was six months through a nine-month secondment to the John Lewis store in Oxford Street as a retail manager when he fell ill.

He has now moved back to the Waitrose branch at Upminster as assistant team manager.

'People treat you differently'

WHAT IS ENCEPHALITIS? Encephalitis is an uncommon but serious condition in which the brain becomes inflamed (swollen). It can be life-threatening and requires urgent treatment in hospital. Anyone can be affected, but the very young and very old are most at risk. Encephalitis sometimes starts off with flu-like symptoms, such as a high temperature and headache, but these don't always occur. More serious symptoms develop over hours, days or weeks, including: confusion or disorientation, seizures (fits), changes in personality and behaviour or loss of consciousness. Dial 999 for an ambulance immediately if you or someone else has these more serious symptoms. It's not always clear what causes encephalitis, but it can be caused by viral infections. Several common viruses can spread to the brain and cause encephalitis in rare cases, including the herpes simplex virus (which causes cold sores and genital herpes) and the chickenpox virus. Source: NHS Advertisement

But he has re-learnt his job so quickly that since coming out of hospital he has already been promoted to assistant team manager at the supermarket's busy Edgware Road store, where he is due to move shortly.

He said: 'Work have been absolutely brilliant. They have really helped me get back to normality.

'They knew there was stuff I might not remember but along the way I picked it up.

'I had six lumbar punctures which hurt my back. I can't lift things or do too much heavy work and they supported me with that.

'I remembered what money was and basic things like that, but the company policies, I just couldn't remember.

'I could write, but it would take me a while. It was all wonky, almost like I'd gone back to being six or seven and you need a handwriting pen.

'I'm just taking things slowly.'

Antony met his partner just after his illness and says being in a relationship has been a huge help.

And he added: 'I want to raise awareness of Encephalitis. People don't know about it.

World Encephalitis Day takes place on February 22.

Dr Ava Easton, Chief Executive of the Encephalitis Society, said: 'One person every minute will be struck down by encephalitis in 2018, irrespective of their age, gender or the country in which they live.

'This devastating condition has a high death rate while those who survive can be left with an acquired brain injury resulting in epilepsy, fatigue, cognitive difficulties, problems with memory and personality.

'And yet statistics reveal that eight out of 10 people do not know what encephalitis is - a truly startling figure which we are striving to improve through campaigns such as BrainWalk and World Encephalitis Day on February 22.'
Gun violence is a bigger public health crisis than mental illness, top medical officials say.

In the wake of the mass shooting at a Florida high school on Valentines Day, experts have been quick to remind the Trump administration that mental health is not the real problem.

The American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and four other medical associations issued a joint statement Friday urging Trump and Congress to stop blaming mental illness and focus prevention efforts on increasing research and decreasing access to guns.

'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 statement said.

'They need action from the highest levels of our government to stop this epidemic of gun violence now.'

In the wake of the mass shooting at a Florida high school on February 14, health officials have criticized the Trump administration for blaming the mental health of shooter Nikolas Cruz (pictured)

So far in 2018 there have been 34 mass shootings, defined as shootings with four or more people shot or killed, excluding the shooter.

In 2017, the total number of mass shootings was 346. In 2016, it was 383. In 2015, 333. The US has less than five percent of the world's population but has 31 percent of global mass shooters.

Last week 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz shot up a high school in Parkland, Florida, with an AR-15 machine gun, killing 17 people.

Hours after the shooting, President Donald Trump tweeted: '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!'

Top health officials have responded to the administration's focus on mental health by emphasizing that gun violence cannot be blamed on mental illness.

While they welcome more resources and attention to mental health issues, they say the administration is ignoring the real problem - easy access to guns, particularly the kind of high-powered highly lethal assault weapons used in many of the most recent mass shootings.

American Psychological Association President Jessica Henderson Daniel, PhD, released a statement on Friday addressing the mental health narrative that had formed around Cruz.

'It is important to remember that only a very small percentage of violent acts are committed by people who are diagnosed with, or in treatment for, mental illness,' Daniel said.

'Framing the conversation about gun violence in the context of mental illness does a disservice to the victims of violence and unfairly stigmatizes the many others with mental illness. More important, it does not direct us to appropriate solutions to this public health crisis,' she said.

Gun violence in America today is a public health crisis, one that requires a comprehensive and far-reaching solution. American Medical Association President David Barbe, MD

Similarly, American Medical Association's president David Barbe, MD, wrote a column following the shooting calling politicians to action because 'action on gun violence is long overdue.'

'Gun violence in America today is a public health crisis, one that requires a comprehensive and far-reaching solution,' he wrote.

'Today, more than ever before, America's physicians must lend their voice and their considerable political muscle to force lawmakers to examine this urgent health crisisthrough federally funded researchand take appropriate steps to address it.

'Let me be very clear about this. We are not talking about Second Amendment rights or restricting your ability to own a firearm.'

'We are talking about a public health crisis that our Congress has failed to address. This must end.'

The AMA has supported efforts to boost gun violence research, ban assault weapons and to restrict access to automatic weapons.

However, Barbe and others have emphasized the importance of research on the federal level.

On average, 96 Americans are killed by guns every day. There were about 38,000 US gun deaths in 2016, slightly more than the number of people who died in car crashes, according to the CDC.

Gun violence is a leading cause of death, but there is very little research on it versus other leading causes.

A 1996 bill limits the extent to which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can study the topic by forbidding the organization to use funding to 'advocate or promote gun control.'

In 2016, more than 100 medical organizations signed a letter asking Congress to lift the amendment.

Again on Friday, the joint statement from six top medical associations urged the federal government to take action.

A Gallup poll from October found that 60 percent of Americans support passing stricter gun control laws.

A main blockade to gun control laws is the National Rifle Association, which has contributed more than $13 million to political candidates, parties and leadership political action committees between 1998 and 2016, according to the Center for Responsive Politics database.

For the 2016 election cycle, the group spent just over $1 million on candidates for federal office, the vast majority of which went to Republicans.

In February 2017, 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.

Republican governor of Florida Rick Scott has said he's discussed how to restrict gun access to the mentally ill with Trump and GOP leaders.

Federal and state laws already attempt to do this, in many cases with a ban on gun ownership for people who have been treated in mental institutions.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said the administration is committed to addressing serious mental illness and that his agency 'will be laser-focused on this issue in the days, weeks, and months to come.'

This is hardly the first time mental health has been a key focus in the discussion of mass shootings.

When James Holmes was in court for the 2012 movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado, the media scrutinized his psychiatrist. Holmes pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

After Adam Lanza shot and killed 20 students and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, the media focused heavily on his autism spectrum disorder.

In response to the Sandy Hook shooting, President Barack Obama mentioned the importance of addressing mental health.

The question of mental illness has come up after most mass shootings in recent years, notably with perpetrators James Holmes (left), Adam Lanza (center) and now Nikolas Cruz (right)

Following the Valentines Day shooting, media coverage has dug deep into Cruz's history to determine if he was mentally ill.

Cruz was expelled from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last February after officials at the high school claimed they documented at least five separate violent incidents involving the Florida native.

He has been described by students as a loner with anger management issues. Classmates had flagged up his threatening behavior including messages on social media to school authorities on several occasions.

His adoptive mother died in November and he had been staying with family friends who have said he'd never shown any signs of dangerous behavior.

He was held for a psychiatric evaluation in 2016 after recording a video on Snapchat in which he cut his arms and said he wanted to buy a gun, according to a mental health report.

However, professionals at the mental health facility in south Florida decided not to hospitalize him.

Officials are still working to determine the motive behind Cruz's attack on February 14.
The herbal opioid substitute kratom has been linked to 28 salmonella infections in the US, the CDC warned today.

Kratom is marketed as a plant-based supplement to treat pain, anxiety and depression but its similarities to opioids have raised concerns that it can be addictive and dangerous.

The substance has also been blamed for the deaths of at least 36 people, according to warnings issued the Food and Drug Administration in November.

Now, the CDC is urging Americans to steer clear of all forms kratom which they say is the culprit in salmonella infections in 20 states.

Kratom has sickened people in 20 states, including three in California, according to the CDC

Beginning in October, at least 28 people with salmonella infections have reported that they consumed kratom  in capsule, powder or tea forms  prior to developing symptoms including diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever and chills.

At least 11 people have been hospitalized for severe infections after being sickened by the plant product.

Three people have been sickened in California, where the kratom is legal (except in San Diego, which passed a city ordinance against the substance).

Cases have also been reported in Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania and Oregon to name a few.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also warned that, because symptoms of infection can take up to four weeks to appear, people who consumed kratom after January 28 may yet get sick.

Salmonella is a bacteria that most commonly associated with foods like eggs and poultry, but in recent months it has been cropping up in usually unsuspected foods like spices.

When the FDA began investigating the increase in contamination to imported spice in 2013, the agency warned that 'general filth' could allow the bacteria to get into these products.

The CDC has been unable to trace the recent salmonella outbreak to any particular brands or distributors, and has issued a broad advisory notice against the use of the supplement.

'At this time, CDC recommends that people not consume kratom in any form because it could be contaminated with salmonella,' the agency warned.

Safety checks of kratom products  which Amazon sells for around $20 - are tricky because the substance falls into a legal and regulatory gray area in the US.

These products are made from the eponymous plant. A member of the coffee family, kratom grows natively in Southeast Asia where its leaves are well-known for their psychoactive effects.

Powders, capsules and teas made from the herbal alternative kratom have been linked to salmonella infections in 28 people in the US, the CDC announced Tuesday

As it has made its way to the US, kratom has gained a reputation as an opioid alternative to help people wean themselves off of the dangerous and addictive drugs with milder withdrawal symptoms, but there have not been clinical studies to prove this.

Kratom contains alkaloids which bind with the same opiate receptors in the brain that prescription and street opioid drugs do.

Earlier this month, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it had found evidence of opioid compounds in kratom, and said that its own investigation, taken together with other chemical studies have clearly revealed, compounds in kratom make it so it isnt just a plant  its an opioid.

But because there are no FDA-approved uses of the substance, the agency can do nothing more than warn the public.

The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) tried to have the substance classified as a Schedule 1 drug  alongside heroin, ecstasy and marijuana  in 2016, but the attempt was met with public outrage, and Congress urged authorities to allow the public to comment on kratom before outlawing it.

So with the two agencies hamstrung, kratom remains in a federal limbo, although it has been banned in Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee and Wisconsin.
At the end of the day it is price which too often decides the outcome of British takeovers.

Share registers have become global and, once the train has left the station, the hedge funds hitch a ride and profit handsomely.

But there have been several bid approaches where a robust industrial and strategic defence prevailed.

These include the proposed Airbus deal with BAE Systems, the Pfizer skirmish with Astrazeneca, the Deutsche Boerse merger of equals with the London Stock Exchange and the approach for Unilever by Kraft-Heinz.

The key to shooting down these transactions was a robust board, regulatory and political response.

Top guns: GKN may not be a top Ministry of Defence contractor, but it does important work on the Typhoon jet fighter (pictured) and is a strategic partners with the US

The Business Select Committee may be up to its neck picking over the carcass of Carillion, but it would be a dereliction if it allowed GKN, Britains only world-class car components manufacturer, to fall into the hands of financially driven engineer Melrose with little of the same commitment to British R&D and manufacturing.

The country may not be in the 1970s game of backing winners, but it cannot allow manufacturing know-how to vanish into uncertain hands at the very moment that Britain is looking to new global markets.

At least the Defence Select Committee is preparing to ask some questions about aerospace.

GKN may not be a top Ministry of Defence contractor, but it does important work on the Typhoon and is a strategic partners with the US, including work on the Lockheed Martin F-35 joint-strike fighter destined for Britains new aircraft carriers.

In the civilian sector, Airbus regards GKN as a vital supplier for wing components, to the point that the companys German chief executive, Tom Enders, says he would not favour GKN falling into the hands of a financially driven bidder.

Aerospace, along with pharmaceuticals, finance and high-tech, is a sector of the UK economy where there are industrial clusters and genuine competitive advantage. Allowing that to be denuded would be enormously detrimental.

The biggest concern about a Melrose takeover is for GKNs driveline (driveshaft) technology and its advanced work in Abingdon (the former Williams plant) on e-drive, a vital component for next generation electric cars already embraced by manufacturers including Volvo.

The UK car components industry was greatly denuded by the experiences of the late 20th Century, but, as the industry has risen phoenix-like from the ashes, GKN emerged as a world-class player willing to invest in the new drive technologies.

It would be an act of industrial sabotage if Melrose were to get its hands on driveline and e-drive and sell the technology to the highest bidders in France, Germany or China.

We only have to look at the recent takeover of Vauxhall by Peugeot owners PSA and the threat to the Ellesmere Port plant to understand how ruinous that would be. The Unite union recognises this, and so does an industrialist of the stature of Sir Richard Lapthorne.

The Business Select Committee has a sacred duty to scrutinise what the impact of a hostile Melrose deal would be. Allowing the future of GKN to be settled by global investors, with no loyalties to British technology and jobs, would be unconscionable.

Shritis shout

With her extensive Whitehall and ministerial experience, Santander UKs chairman, Baroness Vadera, is better placed than most in banking to know how damaging it can be to keep faith with a chief executive tainted by scandal.

There is no escaping the fact that Nathan Bostock was head of risk at Royal Bank of Scotland with responsibility for its Global Restructuring Group when it was hanging small businesses out to dry.

That Santander wants to claim challenger bank funds, provided by RBS in a scheme approved by the European Commission so as to expand its reach into small businesses, is farcical.

To her great credit, Shriti Vadera has sought advice from her board (including proprietor Ana Botin), regulators and the companys owners about Bostocks future.

Vadera is sitting on her hands, with the bank saying it hasnt seen the full report into GRG even though it has widely leaked and disseminated. Best to dispense with Bostock and his cohorts before they contaminate a good bank.

Ropey donations

Here is a puzzle. Is the David A Roper who in recent years donated 131,375 to the Tory Party the vice-chairman of Melrose?

Time for some clarity.
The controversial boss of Jet2 was 68million richer last night after a bullish trading update drove shares in his business to a record high.

Philip Meeson, a former RAF pilot who set up the airline in 2002, saw the value of his 38 per cent holding in parent company Dart Group soar from 365million to 433million.

The increase in the 70-year-old's paper fortune came after the firm said profits for the year will be 'materially ahead of current market expectations', which sent its shares up 19 per cent.

Taking off: Philip Meeson, a former RAF pilot who set up Jet2 in 2002, saw the value of his 38 per cent holding in parent company Dart Group soar from 365m to 433m

But campaigners raised fresh questions over Jet2's commitment to customer service after it emerged that the company has refused to sign up to a scheme that ensures fair compensation for delayed flights.

Jet2 is the only one of the ten largest airlines to refuse to join the 'alternative dispute resolution' (ADR) complaints service that was set up by the Civil Aviation Authority two years ago to ensure legitimate claims are dealt with fairly.

While customers of British Airways, Ryanair and EasyJet can seek redress through an independent arbitrator if their claims are rejected by the airline, Jet2 passengers have to go to court, in what can be an expensive and time-consuming process.

A CAA spokesman said: 'ADR is good for UK consumers, which is why it is disappointing that Jet2 has so far refused to sign up, denying their passengers access to an independent arbitration service.

FACTFILE: JET 2 Airline begun in 1983 as Channel Express, with the name Jet 2 launched in 2003

Today it flies to 58 destinations and carries around six million people a year

Chief executive Philip Meeson is a formerRAF pilot and British aerobatics champion

He began as a second-hand car salesman and then owned a BMW dealership

Clearly this decision puts Jet2's customers at a distinct disadvantage and, in many cases, could mean their passengers are denied the fundamental rights they are entitled to.

We have invited Jet2 to meet with us so we can discuss our concerns with them.

'Our aim is to ensure that consumers get the best protection when they travel.'

Justin Modray, of consumer group Candid Money, said: 'There is nothing more frustrating for customers than not having their complaints dealt with in a satisfactory manner.

'I don't think anyone would begrudge the success of this company but it does grate when it comes at the expense of customer service.'

Dart Group, which runs package holidays as well as the Jet2 airline, has benefited from the collapse of rivals including Monarch, Air Berlin and Alitalia.

It yesterday welcomed the return of more normal prices for its holidays and flights after a year of heavy discounting.

Analysts had forecast profits for the year to the end of March would fall from 101million to 94.9million.

But they are now pencilling in a haul of 112million and raised their forecasts for next year from 80.5million to 110million.

The update sent Dart shares up 18.6 per cent or 120.5p to an all-time high of 770p, valuing the company at more than 1.1billion.

Meeson, a father of one, is no stranger to controversy. In 2006, he raised eyebrows when he called striking air traffic controllers in France 'lazy frogs'.
Big bit: 1,650 owners of bitcoin have 39 per cent of the total amount in circulation

Fewer than 1,700 investors own more than a third of all bitcoin, making the unregulated Wild West market easy for major players to rig.

A study by ratings agency Standard & Poors found that 1,650 owners of bitcoin with 1,000 or more units of the online currency  worth 8million at todays prices  have 39 per cent of the total amount in circulation.

Around 26.3m investors have less than 100 bitcoin each  giving them a 38 per cent overall share.

Mail analysis suggests this group have an average of 0.24 units each, worth around 2,000 at todays prices.

By contrast, the top 1,650 have an average 31.2million each.

The S&P researchers warned that with so much of the market in the hands of a few investors, there is a danger they can engineer prices lower or higher for their own benefit.

This concentration, along with the unregulated nature of this instrument, makes it prone to market manipulation, they said.

The agency also warned that bitcoin and similar internet-based currencies are prone to wild price swings which make their use as money low.

Instead, most people have piled in on the hope that they can get rich quick.
MJ Gleeson boss Jolyon Harrison agreed to sell some of his own land to the firm

The boss of regeneration specialist MJ Gleeson is in line for a windfall of nearly 100,000 after he agreed to sell some of his own land to the firm for development.

Jolyon Harrison, who lives near York, bought the plot 75 miles away in Mansfield more than a decade ago.

The 69-year-old has agreed to sell it to MJ Gleeson for 98,750.

The company, whose houses typically sell for an average of 124,400, plans to build 32 homes on the site.

If all of them go for that amount, the company will rake in 4million.

The transaction was agreed by the Gleeson board, with Harrison recusing himself from the discussions.

'The land, if purchased, will form part of a new Gleeson Homes site being developed in the ordinary course of business,' the company said.

'The price paid by the group was supported by an independent valuation and approved by the board.'

The deal was made public as Gleeson reported a 19 per cent rise in half-year profits to 13.7million and raised its interim dividend from 6.5p to 9p a share.

The company built and sold 593 homes in the six months to the end of December, up 31.5 per cent on the 451 it sold in the same period the previous year.

Nearly two-thirds of the homes  373  were sold through Help To Buy, the Government's flagship scheme that lends house hunters cash to get on the property ladder.

The equity loan scheme allows people to purchase new-builds worth up to 600,000 using deposits of just 5 per cent  or 30,000.

The Government loans up to another 20 per cent, or 120,000, interest-free for five years. In London, where prices are typically higher, buyers can get a 40 per cent loan worth up to 240,000.

Shares rose 4.9 per cent, or 34p, to 724p.
Mark Carney last night admitted that the Bank of England is powerless to stop the next financial crisis.

Speaking in London, the central bank's governor said something was bound to go wrong in future, and it was impossible to know exactly what.

But he added that the UK banking system was strong enough to withstand the next shock  even what he called a 'cliff-edge Brexit'.

Que sera sera: Bank of England governor Mark Carney said something was bound to go wrong in future, and it was impossible to know exactly what

The Bank has been criticised for its gloomy stance over Brexit ever since Carney wrongly warned a vote to leave the European Union could tip the economy into recession.

'We must remember that, although we can make financial crises less likely to happen and less severe when they do occur, we cannot abolish them,' the 52-year-old said.

He said the strength of the banking system is now such that it would have been able to withstand any of the 20 largest crises in history and still lend to households and businesses.
Questions: Nathan Bostocks involvement with the notorious GRG small business unit

Santander has held crisis talks concerning the future of UK chief executive Nathan Bostock over his involvement with a toxic banking unit.

The chairman of Santanders British operation, Baroness Vadera, has probed Bostocks involvement in a scandal which allegedly saw small firms wrecked by bankers for a profit.

Vadera, 55, has held talks with the banks board, City regulators and its Spanish parent firm in Madrid about Bostocks involvement with the notorious Global Restructuring Group (GRG) small business unit when he worked at Royal Bank of Scotland.

Bostock, 57, oversaw GRG as the banks head of risk from 2009 to 2013.

It was supposed to help struggling small businesses get back on their feet, but has instead been accused of loading them up with massive fees as management turned a blind eye. It is claimed this hastened the collapse of many firms.

The lenders head office in Madrid and its executive chairman Ana Botin  a former chief executive of the UK division  have been kept fully informed.

Bostock is understood to have the full confidence of the chairman, the board and the head office in Spain, and there is no evidence he was personally responsible for any failings at RBS.

But pressure is mounting on him as a Financial Conduct Authority report into the failings of GRG  which was leaked last week  could be officially made public as soon as today.

THE BANKING BARONESS Santander UK chairman Shriti Vadera is under growing pressure to take action over the lenders links to the scandal at rival Royal Bank of Scotland Nicknamed Shriti the shriek for her domineering style, she was a business minister in 2008 and helped develop the response to the financial crisis. An investment banker, Vadera has never held elected office and was made a baroness so she could join the Labour government. She is paid 650,000 a year as chairman of Santander.

Bostock jumped ship to Santander in 2014 and has since claimed to be a champion of small business. But there is growing outrage over what happened on his watch at RBS.

Vadera, 55, who was a small business minister in the last Labour government, will consider the FCA report, which is due to be made public by MPs on the Treasury Select Committee.

A copy seen by the Mail alleged that bosses were behind a hard-driving culture which put the squeeze on customers.

Vadera was a key player in the response to the financial crisis and won plaudits for her efforts. But some last night said this reputation is at risk unless she takes action.

Liberal Democrat leader and ex-Business Secretary Sir Vince Cable said: Baroness Vadera is rightly regarded with respect in the City.

But she cannot continue to preside over an arrangement whereby one of the main perpetrators of one of the worst scandals in the banking crisis remains in post.

Santander declined to comment last night.
Two thirds of people can detect a pension scam touting investments that seem too good to be true, but fewer can spot more subtle approaches, new research reveals.

Research probing 2,000 adults on their vulnerability to fraudsters found that 29 per cent - the equivalent of 14.8million Britons - would miss the most common methods of looting retirement savings.

The fraud test results can be found below, and were published by the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association as it emerged watchdogs are battling a worsening 'cloning' scourge.

This is where financial sharks create copycat websites and pose as legitimate investment businesses to cheat people out of their savings. Read more below about cloning and how to guard against it.

Pension fraud: Industry group is calling on the Government to introduce an official 'authorisation regime' for all schemes which receive fund transfers

The Government has promised to ban cold calls, emails and texts about pensions to combat fraud, and to make people more suspicious about any approaches they continue to receive afterwards.

The PLSA says this is 'a step in the right direction', but claims its research into people's susceptibility to fraud shows it should goes further.

The industry group is calling on the Government to introduce an official 'authorisation regime' for all pension schemes which receive fund transfers from savers.

In addition to asking people whether they could spot pension swindles, the PLSA gauged their attitudes towards industry checks to stop potentially fraudulent pension transfers.

How tough should pension industry get about checking against scams? Popular pension freedoms have given over-55s access to pension pots, so any attempts firms to stop people getting control of their own money are controversial. But the reforms have also created fertile ground for conmen trying to trick people out of their funds. Some 'groom' pension savers by giving them a script of what to say to get around company safeguards, according to pensions giant Aegon. They might also claim firms will try to block transfers because they just want to keep the money - hampering sincere attempts to tip off people at risk of losing their life savings. The Pensions Advisory Service is currently piloting a 'pre-scam' prevention initiative, so that firms can refer customers to its independent and free helpline, effectively using it as a last line of defence for those at risk of losing their retirement savings. If you want an impartial view on whether your pension firm is being unfairly slow about a transfer or trying to stop you being ripped off, you can call TPAS on 0800 123 1047.

Most were in favour of pension schemes carrying out checks before releasing people's savings to ensure they are not being scammed, but the results show some people are either conflicted or unsure about how tough providers should get on that front.

Some 28 per cent agreed such checks were unnecessary as people 'should be able to access their money easily as and when they want'.

But 88 per cent agreed checks were good if they made it harder to scam people, and 79 per cent agreed 'rules and checks should be stricter to ensure that pension pots are secured'.

The PLSA said: 'Pension freedoms have encouraged people to engage with their pension pots and use them as and when they see fit. Many people value that freedom but want to be well protected. The numbers in our survey reflect that.'

The PLSA said most scams seem like they could be legitimate, so some people surveyed were wary about situations that might be completely authentic, which it also included in the test.

For example, some 36 per cent felt that if 'they received advice on how to invest their pension and subsequently lost money' it could be a scam, while 27 per cent thought that if 'they were contacted by someone to discuss their pension and provided with advice' that could describe a scam.

Taking the cautious approach might mean you do extra checks on firms that eventually turn out to be legitimate, but this is a worthwhile exercise.

Some 17 per cent of those the PLSA surveyed who had a pension said they had been contacted by a company, other than the one that provided their pension, to discuss making changes or transferring their money. And 11 per cent said they had been contacted multiple times.

The findings of the PLSA's fraud test and its survey of people's attitudes to industry checks to curb pension fraud are below.

PLSA spokesman James Walsh said: 'Research shows that consumers struggle to identify pension scams and are keen to see stronger checks.

'As an industry, we need to step up to this challenge and the Governments recent commitment to tabling an amendment to the Financial Guidance and Claims Bill to introduce a ban on pension cold-calling is a step in the right direction.

'However, pension scams come in all shapes and sizes as scammers become increasingly sophisticated. Whilst the Governments ban on cold calling is welcome it is only part of the solution.

'There are other steps the Government can also take to help protect peoples hard-earned savings. The PLSA is calling on the Government to make urgent progress towards introducing an authorisation regime for pension schemes.

'That will reassure people that they are only dealing with legitimate providers.'

What is 'cloning' fraud and how do you guard against it?

Fraudsters who 'clone' the websites of legitimate firms are using this trick more often, according to figures released by the Financial Conduct Authority.

'Cloned' firm fraud The FCA says people should take the following steps to protect themselves. * Only use financial firms that are authorised by the FCA - you can check its register here. The watchdog advises people to access the register direct from its website, rather through links in emails or on a firms website, as this might be part of the scam. * Always double check the 'url' - the website address you input to reach a homepage - and contact details of a firm to ensure they match those of the genuine one. * Check the FCA's warning list of cloned firms it has issued alerts against here. Read more here about cloned firm fraud.

The watchdog dealt with 90 cases of cloned firms in 2015, some 126 in 2016, and 157 in 2017, although hard figures on how much money people have lost are not easy to nail down.

Such imposters seek to fool people into thinking they are mainstream financial operators, and lull them into a false sense of security before looting their cash.

The FCA says they seem to operate across most sectors, but are currently most prevalent in share fraud, foreign exchange and 'contracts for difference' trading - including binary options - and advance fee loan fraud, which involves asking borrowers for money upfront.

The majority of clone firms appear to be based abroad and have websites and bank accounts hosted overseas, although they might use bogus UK addresses.

The FCA says this makes it difficult to crack down beyond publishing consumer warnings, but most clone firms involved in fraudulent investment activity stop once it has issued an alert against them.

An FCA spokesperson said: 'We support legislation being brought forward to ban cold calling. Combating investment fraud is a priority for the FCA, which is why we have launched our Scamsmart campaign and work in partnership with other agencies to raise awareness of potential frauds and how people can protect themselves.'
It's something that very few of us think about, but when you fall victim to hackers it can impact you considerably, both financially and emotionally. Not to mention the time you'll need to sort it all out.

In fact, cybercrime cost Australians almost $2.3BILLION last year, with over a third of the population affected.

Yet, despite the staggering cost of cybercrime, new research warns that few people are actually taking steps to protect themselves.

Cybercrime cost Australians almost $2.3BILLION in 2017 with over a third of the population affected - but new research warns that few people are taking steps to protect themselves

A recent global Norton survey of over 21,000 adults shows that many of us still 'feel invincible' and skip online security precautions, despite the warnings against hackers and a deluge of high-profile privacy breaches.

Out of pocket: Joshua Casemore, 27, was shocked to learn fraudsters had racked up debts of $12,000 on his credit card

Last year Cronulla resident Joshua Casemore, 27, was shocked to learn that hackers had racked up debts of $12,000 on his credit card.

He says: 'It was around Valentine's Day and they had spent thousands on flowers, they'd purchased computers and they had bought all sorts of things online in my name.'

'I was about to buy a house with my partner and the fraud couldn't have come at a worse time. It was so stressful having to put the $12,000 as a debt under my name, because it hadn't been resolved, at the time we lodged our application. We were worried we wouldn't get the mortgage and that we'd be affected by a higher rate because of the hackers.'

Joshua isn't alone. In 2017 six million Aussies were affected by cybercrime and in addition to the financial toll, each victim lost two working days dealing with the aftermath.

Even celebrities aren't immune from cybercrime. According to a recent report Virgin Australia has recently been targeted, allowing hackers to access the travel information of some of the country's biggest stars.

Naomi Watts, Rebel Wilson and even Nicole Kidman are said to have been affected by the hack, with the perpetrators reportedly passing on the stars travel itineraries to paparazzi.

Victims: Naomi Watts, Rebel Wilson and Nicole Kidman are all said to have been affected by a hack of Virgin Australia travel information, which leaked their travel plans

Wendy Day, who represents Nicole Kidman, told a newspaper that is was 'extremely disturbing that clients and families were being tracked, especially considering the world we live in today'.

In 2014 hackers managed to access private and intimate photos and videos, of celebrities including Jennifer Lawrence, Kim Kardashian, Kate Upton and Kirsten Dunst. It seems four years on we're still not learning the lesson.

Despite the threat of cybercrime being a very real one - how can you protect yourself online?

Here, Daily Mail Australia examines the best ways to outsmart hackers and ensure your personal information is kept just that, personal.

You can thank us later.

USE DIFFERENT PASSWORDS

Have you been using the same password since setting up your first email account? Or, worse, something obvious like password? Perhaps it's time to change.

Have you been using the same password since setting up your first email account? Or, worse, something obvious like password? Perhaps it's time to change

The number of people who choose the same credentials for ALL of their online profiles would surprise you, with 16 per cent of cybercrime victims admitting to doing so.

And over half of the Norton survey respondents who experienced cybercrime shared their passwords with others - making any security efforts pointless.

Sydney resident Alex Michael had his bank account hacked recently and it left him without a card.

He now realises his mistake and says: 'I had my bank card details saved on a lot of websites, all with the same passwords. All it took was for one of the places I had it saved to be hacked, which I believe in this case means someone managed to get past security of one of the websites my card is saved, and stole all the information.'

'My chances of getting hacked are increased because I have my card info on more sites than most people.'

Fortunately, Norton Security Premium keeps your passwords and personal information private so you dont have to worry.

TWO-STEP VERIFICATION

One method to keep your accounts secure is two-step verification, which is now available with major companies like Google, Apple, and Facebook

One method to keep your accounts secure is two-step verification, which is now available with major companies like Google, Apple, and Facebook.

It is one of the most effective ways to stop unauthorised access to your personal accounts - even when your password has been stolen.

Two-step verification typically works by entering your username and password and then receiving an authentication code sent via SMS to your phone.

Users then enter the code, which serves as an additional security step, and can access their account or profile.

Check your settings in your online accounts to see if two-step SMS login is available.

DON'T SAVE YOUR DETAILS

Relying upon an internet browser or app to save your username and password may sound convenient, but there are risks involved in doing so

Relying upon an internet browser or app to save your username and password may sound convenient, but there are risks involved in doing so.

Victims of cybercrime are almost twice as likely to have their browser save their passwords for them than non-victims, Norton's research shows.

Additionally, over a quarter of people who fall prey to hackers admit to writing their passwords down on paper, exposing them to opportunistic cyber criminals.

The lesson is: keep your passwords private, varied and memorised so you don't have to depend on your web programs.

SECURE YOUR DEVICE BEFORE IT'S STOLEN

Having a smart phone lost or stolen also opens you up to a variety of security risks - especially if they have weak passwords or are logged into their personal accounts

Protecting your phone and tablet is just as important as safeguarding the family computer, with more than a third of cybercrime victims owning a smart device.

Having a smart phone lost or stolen also opens you up to a variety of security risks - especially if they have weak passwords or are logged into their personal accounts.

Strengthen your passwords and make sure your most important accounts, such as emails and personal banking, require manual or two-step login.

Also, make sure you are always able to access your accounts from another device, like a home PC, to secure or deactivate them quickly.

And theres still hope for your lost phone or tablet, as Norton Security Premium instantly pinpoints misplaced or stolen devices to help you get them back.

ALWAYS HAVE A BACK-UP PLAN

Half of Australians have at least one device that isnt backed up, according to Nortons research

Half of Australians have at least one device that isnt backed up, according to Nortons research.

A stolen phone can mean losing thousands of photos, audio and videos - which makes securing your files doubly important.

If you dont like the idea of losing gigabytes of data and years of memories (and why would you?) its crucial to have a back-up plan.

Norton Security Premium offers automated set-it-and-forget-it local and secured online backup. This lets you quickly and easily back up and restore digital photos, music, financial documents, and other important files in case of loss or damage.

KEEP AN EYE ON THE KIDS

Younger people are less likely to be aware of web security risks and hidden costs (such as in-app purchases) and take fewer precautions with passwords

Being conscious of your children's internet activity, and safeguarding them against online threats, is absolutely essential for all parents.

Younger people are less likely to be aware of web security risks and hidden costs (such as in-app purchases) and take fewer precautions with passwords.

Many are also worryingly oblivious to the dangers of sharing personal information online that they may find difficult to remove later.

Luckily, parents have one less thing to worry about with Nortons technology as less experienced internet users are warned against social media scams and suspicious posts.

BE SCAM AWARE

Norton Security Premium automatically alerts users to phishing sites and scams, but theres also a handy trick for spotting these fraudulent website

One method hackers use to steal passwords, financial details and other personal information is 'phishing'.

The scam works as follows: an unsolicited email from a forged sender address links the user to a fake website which closely resembles a legitimate organisation, such as a bank.

The unsuspecting victim is then encouraged to provide sensitive information to these websites, which may be infected with malware.

Norton Security Premium automatically alerts users to phishing sites and scams, but theres also a handy trick for spotting dodgy websites.

Look closely at the URL and cross-check it with the actual website being fraudulently imitated. Also watch out for any misspellings or unfamiliar suffixes.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR PC

It goes without saying: a healthy, speedy and up-to-date PC is better equipped to deal with hackers and security threats

It goes without saying: a healthy, speedy and up-to-date PC is better equipped to deal with hackers and security threats.

In addition to its safeguarding features, the easy-to-use Norton Security Premium automatically tunes up your PC to help keep it running well.

It helps you keep your computer performing at its best by providing information about files and applications that may be impacting performance.

Norton Security Premium (three devices) one-year subscription for Windows, Mac OS X, Android, and iOS is available now with $30 off for just $104.99. Click here for more details.
Police say a Michigan woman killed her husband and two adult children before turning the gun on herself last week.

The bodies of 45-year-old Lauren Stuart, her husband Daniel, 47, and their kids Steven, 27, and Bethany, 24, were found inside the family's Keego Harbor home Friday morning, after a concerned family member called police to conduct a welfare check.

The family dog was also found dead in a bathtub.

Scroll down for video

Police say Lauren Stuart, 45 (left and right), shot and killed her husband Daniel, 47, and their kids Steven, 27, and Bethany, 24, before turning the gun on herself

Since their deaths, friends revealed that the family left the Jehovah's Witnesses five years ago, and had been subsequently shunned by their former community.

The friends speculated that the isolation from the shunning may have been what caused Lauren to snap and kill her loved ones.

Friend Joyce Taylor told the Detroit Free Press that the family left the church five yeas ago because they wanted to send their children to college, which the group generally discourages when it comes to secular institutions.

Friends say the family struggled with being shunned by the Jehovah's Witnesses. The family left the Christian sect five years ago when they decided to let their kids go to college, which the group discourages. Daniel Stuart pictured on the left and his son Steven on the right

When anyone leaves the church, current members are no longer allowed to interact with them, even the Stuart's family members still in the church.

Taylor barged into a Jehovah's Witness meeting on Sunday in Union Lake and blamed them for the triple murder-suicide.

In a video posted online, she is seen getting up on a chair to address the congregation.

'Excuse me everyone, my name is Joyce Taylor... Two days ago, four people died as a result of your shunning process,' Taylor said. 'Five years ago you people pulled your support from this small family, the only support they had was you people. You turned them away and you shunned them.'

The bodies of the four family members were found inside their Keego Harbor, Michigan home Friday morning, after a concerned family member called police

As members tried to get her to step down, Taylor started yelling.

'For what?! Because they wanted to raise their children as they saw fit,' she said.

Police say they are aware of the claim that the family had issues with their former church, but they refused to comment on it. They said Lauren left behind a long suicide note, but would not comment on the details included in that either.

Taylor said she had Lauren over for tea just a week before her death and nothing seemed unusual. Still, she thinks her friend may have been battling a personal problem that was probably exacerbated by her isolation.

Lauren was an aspiring model. She's pictured above in some of her modeling photos

'She worshiped Danny. Danny worshiped her. They were like hand in glove. But she was very concerned about Dan. He was prone to depression and she was always worried about him,' Taylor said.

She added: 'She was in emotional distress... she felt alone. I was her lifeline.'

After leaving the church, Lauren got into modeling, and still has a modeling website up with professional pictures. She also worked as a personal-trainer and cleaned houses.

Her husband on the other hand, worked as a data solutions architect at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor's Center for Integrative Research in Critical Care.

Neighbors took part in a candlelight vigil for the family after learning about the triple murder-suicide

Neighbors said the family were quiet and kept to themselves. They didn't see the dad often, but the mom was often seen working in the yard or remodeling the home

He was reportedly working on technology that could predict heart attacks.

'Dan was an extraordinarily talented individual and highly valued team member who was making very important contributions,' said Dr. Kevin Ward, the center's executive director. 'Despite his immense talent, he was very humble and was always excited that his contributions may one day help save lives. He will be sorely missed.'

Neighbors say they rarely saw Dan, but that the kids and Lauren were around often.

However, neighbor Jackie Tristani says the family were 'quiet' and mostly kept to themselves.

'Because, you know, I think they were in Jehovah's Witness that they weren't - they didn't have a whole lot of friends around here,' Tristani told Fox 2 Detroit.

Tristani's husband John says the first time they met Lauren, she tried to recruit them into the Jehovah's Witnesses.

'I said we were Catholics and werent interested,' he told the Detroit News. 'She accepted the answer and it was the end of that.'

Anyone with information is asked to contact authorities at 248-682-3030.
The woman who took in teen killer Nikolas Cruz and his younger brother Zachary after their mother's death has told friends she is receiving threats, DailyMail.com can disclose.

Zachary, 17, still lives with 42-year-old Rocxanne Deschamps at her home in Lake Worth, Florida, and has been undergoing psychiatric evaluation at a mental hospital in Palm Beach since Friday.

The teenager, who turns 18 this week, is expected to be released before his birthday.

Both boys moved in with Deschamps after their adoptive mother Lynda Cruz, 68, died from pneumonia in November but Cruz moved out in January after being told he could not have guns at the house.

Deschamps' close friend Chad Bennett, 37, of West Palm Beach, Florida, said: 'She's got parents of kids coming after her, threatening her to the point where she's got to have police escorts sitting outside her house.'

A family friend of Rocxanne Deschamps (pictured), 42, who initially took in the Cruz brothers after the death of their mother, said she was receiving threats from parents who had children die in the school shooting. She has been taking care of Cruz's younger brother Zachary

Zachary Cruz, the 17-year-old younger brother of Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz (pictured) is still in the care of a psychiatric facility, after police were told he would 'finish what his older brother started'

Deschamps' friend Chad Bennett (pictured) said Cruz appeared odd from the start while his younger brother Zachary is a 'smart kid' who adores video games and socializing

He added: 'She's getting threats from parents of kids who were in the shooting. Don't get me wrong, what Nikolas did was absolutely wrong and what he gets, his punishment is his punishment.

'I don't condone that and that was wrong. But she's trying to help these kids out.'

Cruz, 19, slaughtered 17 former classmates and teachers at the Marjory Douglas Stoneman High School in Parkland, Florida, on Wednesday.

Cruz, who remains locked up at the Broward County Jail, was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder the following day.

According to the arrest report, he burst into the school at approximately 2.23pm and mowed down victims indiscriminately using an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle. Seven of the victims were just 14 years old.

It has since emerged that Cruz had been expelled from the school the previous February due to disciplinary issues, including an incident in which he was caught carrying bullet casings.

He then went on to two schools, most recently at Rock Island OCLC in Oakland Park, and had been diagnosed with autism and depression, according to records held by the Department of Children and Families.

The killer was born in Margate, Florida, and grew up in Parkland, not far from the school, with his adoptive mother Lynda and his father Roger, who died in 2005 from heart problems.

His younger brother Zachary, DailyMail.com has been told, is not biologically related and was adopted, also from Margate, two years later.

Zachary, 17, still lives with Deschamps at her home (pictured) in Lake Worth, Florida, and has been undergoing psychiatric evaluation at a mental hospital in Palm Beach since Friday

Zachary, who turns 18 this week, is expected to be released prior to his birthday. Pictured: Deschamps on Friday

Bennett said of Zachary: 'He's had to watch his adopted father die, to watch his adopted mother die and now there's this. That kid's going to be scarred for life and it's not fair to him'. Pictured: Police outside Deschamps' home

Although he was believed to be close to his mother, cops were called to the large detached home 39 times between 2010 and 2017  with incidents ranging from vandalizing cars to shooting at a neighbor's chickens.

In January 2017, the family sold their home and moved to a rented property in a gated community nearby  the same house given by Cruz as his address to police following his arrest on Wednesday.

When Lynda died aged 68 on November 1, 2017, both boys moved in with Deschamps who had previously lived next door and 'loved Lynda to death'.

'I was there with Roxy when it happened,' Bennett, who works at a hardware store in Loxahatchee, told DailyMail.com. 'Those boys were in the room when their mother passed.'

Bennett says he helped bring the Cruz brothers home to Deschamps' trailer home in Lake Worth, where the yacht company worker lives with her own two sons.

Cruz, he says, appeared odd from the start while younger brother Zachary is a 'smart kid' who adores video games and socializing.

Like school friends who told DailyMail.com that he had pestered them for their thoughts on potential weapons purchases, Bennett noticed Cruz appeared obsessed with guns but said it didn't initially concern Deschamps.

'He had rifles and things like that when I met him,' he told DailyMail.com. 'But he led me to believe that he liked hunting.

'He didn't let on that he felt like killing people or anything like that until the last second. I would never have seen this coming, never.'

Both boys moved in with Deschamps after their adoptive mother Lynda Cruz, 68, (pictured with one of her sons) died from pneumonia in November but Cruz moved out in January after being told he could not have guns at the house

After leaving Deschamps' home, Nikolas Cruz moved in with James and Kimberly Snead (pictured) and their 17-year-old son

He added: 'She [Deschamps] never seemed like she was concerned about him  she was more than happy to give them a home.

'She had known them since they were young. Lynda was like family to her  she loved her to death.'

But Cruz moved out less than two months later, after attempting to bring a weapon into the house and being told to choose between them by Deschamps.

'He wanted to have a gun and she did not want it in the house so she gave him the ultimatum that if you want to keep the gun, you cannot live here,' Bennett said.

'He chose to keep the gun and that was his decision. So the stuff about she kicked him out  no, she gave him the choice. And being 19 and an adult, the choice he made was he wanted to go.'

Cruz moved in with the Snead family, whose son, TJ, was a friend of his.

They have since spoken of their horror at discovering they had 'this monster living under our roof' but allowed him to keep his weapons.

Indeed, in January, Cruz added to his gun collection  purchasing an AK-47 assault rifle at Gun World of South Florida in Deerfield Beach, where he passed all of the background checks after failing to disclose his long-standing mental health issues.

Cruz faced court briefly on Thursday as he was officially charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder over the high school shooting massacre

Last Thursday, Deschamps filed a petition in Broward County to gain formal control of Lynda Cruz's estate  understood to be worth at least $800,000 (pictured)

Although Deschamps filed the petition for the cash, Bennett says it is not for her personal gain

According to Bennett, both Zachary and Deschamps have been left distraught by the shooting and he says he is furious that Zachary is being put through needless mental health exams.

Bennett claims the only reason Zachary is being investigated is due to spurious allegations about him to police that the 17-year-old would 'finish what his older brother started'.

On Thursday, Deschamps filed a petition in Broward County gain formal control what remains of Lynda Cruz's estate  understood to be worth at least $800,000  although Bennett says it is not for her personal gain.

Of the accused Valentine's Day killer's younger brother, he added: 'He's well taken care of  he's got food, he's got a roof, people who care about him and have love for him.

'He's got everything any child would want. But he's had to watch his adopted father die, to watch his adopted mother die and now there's this.

'That kid's going to be scarred for life and it's not fair to him.'
This is the husband and wife 'troll team' indicted by the US authorities on Friday.

They are both believed to be graduates from Vladimir Putin's old university where Robert Bovda, 28, studied psychology of 'crisis and extreme situations'.

Maria Bovda, previously Maria Belyaeva, was the alleged head of the so-called translator project in the troll factory in St Petersburg, from where an attempt was made to subvert the US 2016 election.

Robert appears to have worked as his wife's deputy.

Both are accused of 'creating false US personas' and developing social media accounts or groups giving them a significant reach in the US.

The two were among the 13 Russians and two Russian companies indicted in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe.

Maria Anatolyevna Bovda and Robert Sergeyevish Bovda (pictured) are accused of being part of a Russian 'troll factory' that meddled in the 2016 election

Maria Bovda (left) was 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. Her husband Robert (right) served as her deputy

Maria 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.

Her husband Robert was second in charge of the project and worked at the company over the same dates.

Robert, 28, is accused of trying to enter the United States under false pretenses to collect information but he did not obtain a visa and could not make the trip.

Robert, who graduated from St Petersburg State University in 2011, is also a specialist on the psychology of the elderly, but it appears his career was devoted to anti-Western propaganda.

He was named in 2014 as working at the Internet Research Agency in St Petersburg, also known as a troll plant relentlessly pumping out pro-Vladimir Putin propaganda on social media in the West - including Britain - as well as Russia.

A former classmate of the Bovdas' joked on social media that they had 'woke up famous' after the US Justice Department charges. They 'chose Trump', he said.

Pictured for the first time, too, is Gleb Vasilchenko, 25, a journalism graduate from St Petersburg State University.

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 monitored and updated social media accounts, posing as either individual Americans or grassroots organizations.

Gleb Vasilchenko (pictured) is a journalism graduate from St Petersburg State University and is accused of posting under numerous social media accounts, which the factory operated from 2014 until September 2016

The 25-year-old monitored and updated social media accounts, posing as either individual Americans or grassroots organizations

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

Vasilchenko is accused of leading two subgroups focused on political interference in the US, including the election won by Donald Trump.

He is reported to have shared a meme about a drinking game involving downing a shot each time Trump mentioned building a wall between the US and Mexico or 'making America great again'.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller's indictment also claimed that the 'troll factory' included efforts to suppress black voter turnout.

The shocking claim was buried on page 18 of the 37-page indictment and claims that in the later half of 2016, the defendants 'began to encourage US minority groups not to vote in the 2016 US presidential election or to vote for a third-party US presidential candidate'.

Mueller cites alleged Russian-controlled Instagram account 'Woke Blacks', which posted: '[A] particular hype and hatred for Trump is misleading the people and forcing Blacks to vote Killary. We cannot resort to the lesser of two devils. Then we'd surely be better off without voting AT ALL.'

Another Russian-controlled account called 'Blacktivist' hosted a Russia-purchased sponsored post urging voters to support Green Party candidate Jill Stein, according to the indictment.

'Trust me, it's not a wasted vote,' the post read.

A third example targeted Muslim voters in the days before the election.

'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,' the post from 'United Muslims of America' read.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller (pictured) filed charges Friday against the married couple as well as 11 other Russians and two Russian companies in his probe to determine if Russia meddled in the 2016 election

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

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.

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.'

But moments earlier on the same stage on Saturday, foreign minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed the indictment and its allegations.

'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.'
This cheeky quokka sits back and enjoys a complimentary face rub from a tourist at a pub in Western Australia.

Proving once again that it really is the happiest animal in the world, this curious quokka soaked up the attention it received from a group of laughing tourists.

The photogenic marsupial became an unexpected guest when it joined a group of tourists over a few beers at the pub.

The quokka sat back and enjoyed the scratch while keeping a low-key profile under the table at the pub.

The camera zoomed in to show a wide grin on the quokka's little face as it enjoyed it's few moments of contented bliss.

The quokka has become so loved that in January, Qantas named it's new Dreamliner Boeing 787-9 flight between Perth and London after the iconic marsupial. The direct flight will start in March this year.

Once common across Western Australia, the quokka is now listed as an endangered species and is protected in its natural habitat of Rottnest Island.

Thousands of tourists each year travel to the tiny island specifically to visit the much-loved marsupial which are known for their curiosity and playful nature.

That's the spot! This quokka proves once again that it really is the happiest animal in the world, filmed enjoying a complimentary face rub from a tourist at the pub

Two happy customers! A curious quokka (pictured) enjoyed this relaxing face-rub when it turned up at a pub in Western Australia. Between beers, tourists filmed the complimentary massage
A prominent Australian preacher has told his Muslim followers paedophiles and murderers who never miss a prayer are better, in the eyes of Allah, than good citizens who only miss one.

The teachings by Mohamed Hoblos fell onto the radar this month of the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), which aims to bridge the gap between Western culture and the Middle East.

The organisation posted a video to YouTube revealing the 2017 lecture from Mr Hoblos, in which he appears to suggest rape and murder are lesser sins than forgetting to pray in Islam.

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Prominent Australian preacher Mohamed Hoblos (pictured) has told his Muslim followers paedophiles and murderers who never miss a prayer are better, in the eyes of Allah, than good citizens who only miss one

The teachings by Mr Hoblos (pictured) fell onto the radar this month of the Middle East Media Research Institute

In the video, he stresses the importance of prayer - known as Salah - in an impassioned two-minute speech.

He asks his followers if someone who sells drugs, murders someone and rapes a child is 'good or bad'.

'This person, one person who commits all these sins on a daily basis - but he prays - is better in the eyes of Allah than the one who doesn't commit any of these sins, but doesn't pray,' he says.

'So you and your brother say: "Yeah, I'm a good guy" - habibi (my friend), go and pack that up because it's not going to work on the day of judgement.

The organisation posted a video to YouTube revealing the 2017 lecture (pictured) from Mr Hoblos, in which he appears to suggest rape and murder are lesser sins than forgetting to pray in Islam

Mr Hoblos boasts a large social media presence and has more than 50,000 Facebook followers

'Any person who misses one Salah (prayer) for no reason - you are worse than a murderer, you are worse than a rapist, you are worse than a terrorist, you are worse than a paedophile in the eyes of Allah.'

Mr Hoblos tells his followers to understand his teaching as 'fact' and something which should be 'understood very clearly'.

But he also tells the congregation that all sin is still bad and should never be accepted.

Mr Hoblos boasts a large social media presence and has more than 50,000 Facebook followers.
An Uber Eats driver has been charged with killing one of his customers late Saturday night, just days after he started working for the company.

Robert Bivines turned himself into police in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday after the department issued a statement they had a warrant charging the 36-year-old with felony murder.

He is accused of killing 30-year-old Ryan Thornton while delivering food from the nearby Mexican restaurant Tin Lizzy's to his Buckhead apartment complex.

The incident was also caught on surveillance video at the Pharr Court South condominium.

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Robert Bivines (left) turned himself into police in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday after the department issued a statement accusing him of murdering 30-year-old Ryan Thornton (right)

Atlanta police spokesman Carlos Campos said in a statement that the Thornton was walking away from Bivines' car when they started speaking to each other again, causing Thornton to turn around and walk back towards the car. Shots were then fired. Bivines is pictured Monday

The incident was also caught on surveillance video at the Pharr Court South condominium

Thornton exited the apartment and exchanged a few words with Bivines before the fatal shooting, witnesses told investigators after the incident.

Atlanta police spokesman Carlos Campos said in a statement that the Thornton was walking away from Bivines' car when they started speaking to each other again, causing Thornton to turn around and walk back towards the car.

Bivines then allegedly fired four bullets through the passenger-side window into Thornton's torso, WSB-TV

Bivines then allegedly fired four bullets through the passenger-side window into Thornton's torso, WSB-TV.

As Thornton was falling to the ground, Bivines apparently whipped his white Volkswagon out of the parking lot and far from the scene.

Thornton then called his girlfriend, who attempted to administer aid. He was pronounced dead at the Grady Memorial Hospital a few hours later.

But according to Bivines' lawyer, Jackie Patterson, the driver was acting in self defense.

She told Channel 2 that Thornton, angry about how long the delivery had taken, threatened Bivines and started walking towards his car, motioning at his pocket.

'My client had no choice but to defend himself,' Patterson said.

Bivines is scheduled to appear in court for the first time on Tuesday.

As Thornton was falling to the ground, Bivines apparently whipped his white Volkswagon out of the parking lot and far from the scene

But according to Bivines' lawyer, Jackie Patterson, the driver was acting in self defense

He had only been working for Uber for a few days when the incident occurred.

Bivines was able to start working for the company, which does background tests, because it only tracks criminal records back as far as seven years.

Because of that, the pre-screening didn't catch charges of aggravated assault in DeKalb county from nine years ago. Bivines pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of battery in 2010 and served a year of probation, according to court records.

'We are shocked and saddened by this senseless act of violence and our hearts go out to [Ryan Thornton's] friends and family,' Uber Eats said in a statement.

'We have been working with the Atlanta Police Department and the driver can no longer access the app.'
Experienced reptile photographer Ross McGibbon had a closer than expected encounter with a highly venomous dugite snake while on a recent close-up shoot.

The dugite - a snake that is native to Western Australia and highly venomous - decided it liked the look of the camera while Mr McGibbon was in close proximity with the animal, forcing him to give it up temporarily.

'I had to surrender my camera to the snake while it explored it with interest,' he wrote.

'The snake then decided I was in-between it and its escape route.'

The dugite then moved into defensive mode when it felt Mr McGibbon may be a potential threat.

'The snake uses defensive posturing to intimidate me into retreating to allow it room to escape,' he wrote.

'This should not be mistaken for aggression or chasing.

The snake decided to take a closer look at the camera leaving photographer Ross McGibbon no choice but to step back and let the snake have its way.

The snakes actions shouldn't be considered aggressive but rather a natural defensive instinct in order to clear the way for a clean escape into the shrubbery

'It is simply instinctual defensive behaviour designed to put any perceived predators on the back foot to afford them the opportunity to escape.'

The snake's venom is highly toxic and considered to be extremely dangerous to humans, and is responsible for 70 per cent of all snake bites reported at Perth Hospital.
Barnaby Joyce's estranged wife has made her first public appearance since her husband's affair with his pregnant former staffer was revealed.

Natalie Joyce left the deputy prime minister's love child scandal behind her on Saturday with a day aboard the exclusive Tango super yacht on Sydney Harbour.

The $5,250 per hour cruise, on Sydney's most expensive yacht available for private charter, marked the 40th birthday of National Party donor, Kirsty Berger.

Mrs Joyce was pictured smiling and looking into the eyes of political lobbyist Michael Kauter, a close friend of the Joyce family and a former senior Nationals adviser.

Natalie Joyce left the deputy prime minister's love child scandal behind her on Saturday. She was was pictured smiling and gazing into the eyes of political lobbyist Michael Kauter, a close friend of the Joyce family and a former Nationals political adviser

Mrs Joyce (right) was also pictured below deck mingling with guests, including Sky News CEO Angelos Frangopoulos (second from right)

The $5,250 per hour cruise was onbaord Sydney's most expensive yacht available for private charter, the Tango

'With Natalie Joyce celebrating Kirsty Berger's 40th Birthday,' Mr Kauter captioned the photo, which showed the boat cruising passed the Sydney Opera House.

One of Barnaby and Natalie Joyce's four daughters, Bridgette, described the photo as 'beautiful' and added two love heart emojies in an online comment.

In another image, Mrs Joyce was seen enjoying a glass of pink champagne with Mr Kauter and his partner, David Gracey.

She was also pictured below deck mingling with guests, including Sky News CEO Angelos Frangopoulos.

The occasion marked the 40th birthday of National Party donor, Kirsty Berger (pictured right)

Friends of Mrs Joyce said the cruise was the perfect opportunity to forget the 'traumatic' past week. The DJ during Saturday's cruise is pictured posing for a photo

Mrs Joyce was seen enjoying a glass of pink champagne as she mingled with guests below and above deck

'Surprise! Kirsty Berger had absolutely NO idea!' Mr Kauter captioned a snap he posted on Instagram.

'Best birthday yet on Tango. Lesli Berger, what a super husband you are,' the captioned read, referencing Ms Berger's property mogul partner.

Mr Kauter has previously shared an image of himself with his arm around Mr Joyce, celebrating his 2017 swearing in as Deputy Prime Minister and Agriculture and Water Resources Minister.

Friends of Mrs Joyce said the cruise was the perfect opportunity forget the 'traumatic' past week.

Mrs Joyce is seen with Mr Kauter and his partner, David Gracey, during Saturday's cruise

A Chanel birthday cake is pictured during celebrations of the 40th birthday of National Party donor, Kirsty Berger

The Tango super was built with 'no expense spared' and with a six star fit out, according to an online listing

'It was a chance for her to relax with friends after what's been a terribly traumatic time for her,' one told The Daily Telegraph.

'Everyone was right behind her. She's very resilient.'

Complete with a helicopter pad, the Tango super was built with 'no expense spared' and with a six star fit out, according to an online listing.

'Tango is 140 feet of absolute pleasure and carries two six metre tenders and three kayaks for water sports, a sauna and spa cater for those wishing to relax,' it reads.

'Tango accommodates 8 guests overnight, or 70 guests for a Harbour cruise or a cocktail style 5 star event.'

Meanwhile, Mr Joyce remained defiant on Monday and said he would not be quitting as potential new leadership candidates began to circle.

Mr Kauter has previously shared an image of himself with his arm around Mr Joyce, celebrating his 2017 swearing in as Deputy Prime Minister and Agriculture and Water Resources Minister

Guests are seen below deck of the no expense spared cruise around Sydney Harbour

Barnaby Joyce, 50, is in a relationship with his former media adviser Vikki Campion, 33

About a third of the Nationals party room have openly supported Mr Joyce, while six are locked against him and the rest have refused to comment, the paper reported.

'People are starting to see this as a witch hunt. I'm not going anywhere, I never would,' Mr Joyce told the Sydney Morning Herald.

'People know enough about me to know that I'm hardly one to run away from a fight.'

Mr Joyce has vowed to fight on despite the criticism and mounting pressure on him to quit amid the scandal engulfing the federal government.

'I've been in heaps of fights in my political life, this is another one,' he said.

'In any person's political career you aren't created by the times in your favour, you're tempered by the times of adversity. That's how politics works - you rise to deal with it.'

The deputy prime minister has taken personal leave after his affair with Vikki Campion was made public.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER BARNABY JOYCE DEFIES CALLS FOR HIM TO TO STEP DOWN 'I've been in heaps of fights in my political life, this is another one, in any person's political career you aren't created by the times in your favour, you're tempered by the times of adversity. That's how politics works - you rise to deal with it' - Fairfax Media, Feb 20. 'I am humbled by the support in my electorate and in the community. People are starting to see this as a witch hunt. I'm not going anywhere, I never would.' - Fairfax Media, Feb 20. 'My colleagues support me. We have a job to do.' - Canberra doorstop, Feb 16. 'I am quite supported obviously by my electorate and my electorate is the catalyst for getting back to my job at the last by-election.' - Canberra doorstop, Feb 16. 'This has been a searing personal experience for Natalie, our daughters and for Vikki (Campion) - criticise me if you wish but please have some regard for them' - Statement, Feb 13. MALCOLM TURNBULL ON JOYCE'S FUTURE 'I don't know (if he still commands the support of the party room). He says he does and others have said he does, but these are all matters in the gift of the National Party room' - 3AW radio, Feb 19. 'Barnaby Joyce has my confidence as Deputy Prime Minister. He is the leader of the National Party' - Doorstop, Feb 16 'He has to consider his own position obviously' - Doorstop, Feb 15 Advertisement

Mr Joyce's relationship with his younger former media adviser had cost taxpayers more than $28,000 for them to travel together for work
Furniture, security cameras and a tanning bed were among several items removed from Salim Mehajer's Vaucluse home on Monday as the 31-year-old appeared in court on an assault charge.

A group of men were seen loading the disgraced property developer's possessions into a removal truck after Mehajer was ordered on Friday to pay $18,000 in back rent and given 21 days to vacate the property.

A massage chair, a washing machine and couches were also seen being loaded into the large white truck as a man used a drill to remove CCTV cameras.

His youngest sister Mary - a former Miss Lebanon Australia - has been living in the house since Mehajer was taken into police custody over claims he staged a car crash as an elaborate plot to avoid appearing in court on an assault charge.

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A group of removalists were seen carrying furniture, a massage chair and a tanning bed from Salim Mehajer's Sydney home on Monday as the 31-year-old appeared in court

The men were filmed by Channel Nine loading the disgraced property developer's possessions into a large white truck after Mehajer was ordered on Friday to pay $18,000 in back rent and given 21 days to vacate the property

A washing machine and couches were also seen being carried out of the home as a man used a drill to remove CCTV cameras

Mehajer's youngest sister Mary - a former Miss Lebanon Australia - has been living in the house (pictured) since he was taken into police custody over claims he staged a car crash as an elaborate plot to avoid appearing in court on an assault charge

Mehajer pleaded not guilty to slamming Channel Seven reporter Laura Banks' hand in a Porsche door when he appeared at the Downing Centre Local Court via video link on Monday

On Friday, he was given 21 days to vacate the house in an order granted at the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal. It is not known who organised for the removal of the items from Mehajers home.

A Rolls Royce and a BMW, which Mehajer was often seen driving, have since been removed from the property's garage.

Mehajer pleaded not guilty to slamming Channel Seven reporter Laura Banks' hand in a Porsche door when he appeared at the Downing Centre Local Court via video link on Monday.

Banks and other journalists pursued the 31-year-old in on April 2, 2017, as he left a Sydney CBD police station following his arrest over separate allegations he assaulted a taxi driver outside Star Casino.

Mehajer told the court he felt 'cornered, bullied and harassed' by the media pack waiting media outside Day Street police station where he had been taken early that morning.

'I didn't want to face the media,' Mehajer said during the hearing.

Property developer Salim Mehajer (right) has faced court charged with assaulting Sydney TV reporter Laura Banks (left) after he allegedly slammed his car door on her last April

Two men are sen lifting a large piece of furniture into the truck on Monday

On Friday, Mehajer was given 21 days to vacate the house in an order granted at the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal

A tradesman is seen removing the many CCTV security cameras

Tanning beds were removed from the Vaucluse mansion

The court heard Mehajer had traded insults with Ms Banks, who teased him about his height, after he asked if the jewellery she was wearing was a ring or a key ring.

'It all happened very quickly and my only thought was to leave,' Mehajer said of the door slamming.

'As selfish as this may sound I wasn't aware of the extent of the impact.'

Mehajer said while he was smiling during the confrontations with media he was not enjoying himself.

'I just unfortunately smile inappropriately sometimes,' he said. 'It's just the character I am.'

Ms Banks denied she deliberately provoked Mehajer during their confrontation prior to the alleged assault.

She even suggested Mehajer had been flirting with her when he asked: 'Why are you attached to me?'

'It was almost suggestive, flirtatious,' Ms Banks told the court.

'He was suggestive in some of his comments. Asking me to get in the back of his car felt like that was suggestive and (had) innuendo behind it.'

Mehajer's barrister Phillip Boulten, SC, accused Ms Banks of goading Mehajer about his height.

'[She said]"Why have you got such high heels? Is it to make yourself look bigger or taller or something like that?" Mr Boulten said.

'This was deliberate goading of the accused.'

At an earlier point in one video Mehajer looks at jewellery on Ms Banks's hand and asks 'Is that a key ring or a ring? Who bought you that?'

Ms Banks (pictured) denied she deliberately provoked Mehajer during their confrontation prior to the alleged assault, claiming the disgraced property developer was almost 'flirting' with her

Mehajer told the court he felt cornered, bullied and harassed before the car door incident, but said he 'absolutely (did) not' mean to slam Ms Banks in the car door

Mehajer told the court he felt cornered, bullied and harassed before he got into a white Porsche to leave the scene.

Asked if he meant to slam Porsche's door on Ms Banks he said: 'Absolutely not'.

Ms Banks was shown on video asking Mehajer why he was wearing such high heels.

Mehajer responded 'to step over you'.

Mr Boulten asked Ms Banks if her actions, including telling a taxi driver of Mehajer's alleged assault of another cab driver, were designed to prolong the situation.

'It was pertinent to the story,' Ms Banks replied, adding that she was more bemused than amused.

'Did you ever think about whether you had reached the point where your actions crossed the boundary between proper and improper?' Mr Boulton said.

'I don't believe they did,' Ms Banks replied on Monday.

Mr Boulten grilled Ms Banks on why she continually pursued Mehajer even though it was clear he did not want to comment.

'You just never know what you'll get with Mr Mehajer,' Ms Banks said.

'Can you get that thing off my leg? Can you stop touching me?' Mehajer told Ms Banks as she pushed a microphone towards him, the court heard

Taking to the witness stand on Monday morning, Banks told the court she had been standing in the doorway of the Porsche trying to ask Mehajer questions when the alleged assault occurred

Earlier on Monday, Ms Banks told the court she had been standing in the doorway of the Porsche trying to ask Mehajer questions when the alleged assault occurred.

'Mr Mehajer abruptly shut the door,' she said.

'I was jammed in the door. My hand was bruised and also my back. I was squashed in the car.'

Her left hand caused her pain for an hour or two.

'But my back is still quite sore,' Ms Banks said.

In footage of the incident, Ms Banks appears approaching Mehajer as he gets behind the wheel of the Porsche with the door open.

'Watch it, watch it,' Mehajer warns. 'Watch it.

'Do you want to hop in the back seat? Jump in, I'll have a little chat with ya. Just jump in,' Mehajer said.

As Banks trails behind Mehajer he says: 'Why are you so attached to me? Have some respect.'

Mehajer then closes the door, catching Ms Banks.

Earlier videos show her asking Mehajer questions while he waits for a lift, including if he had hit 'rock bottom'.

While Mehajer was in the back seat of the taxi before the Porsche incident Ms Banks put a microphone through the drivers' seat and it became wedged under his leg.

'Can you get that thing off my leg?' Mehajer asks. 'Can you stop touching me?'.

Magistrate Joanne Keogh will hand down her decision on Friday.
Police believe the body of Raphael Joseph, who had faced charges over a gangland killing, could be buried at a property in Sydney's northwest.

A large-scale police search will take place at the rural property on the outskirts of Sydney which may be the burial site of Mr Joseph - believed to have been murdered in 2014 after he claimed to have a $100,000 bounty on his head.

Raphael Joseph was 37-years-old when he was last seen in March 2014 getting into the back of a silver Holden Commodore at Auburn with at least two other men.

Raphael Joseph (pictured) was 37-years-old when he was last seen in March 2014 getting into the back of a silver Holden Commodore at Auburn with at least two other men

A large-scale police search is taking place at the rural property on the outskirts of Sydney which may be the burial site of Mr Joseph

Police on Tuesday revealed they've recently found the car, which has a secret compartment in the dashboard believed to have been for drugs.

The homicide squad's Detective Chief Inspector Grant Taylor said the car, along with two others, will be forensically examined.

Police believe Mr Joseph trusted the occupants of the vehicle and got into it voluntarily before being driven to another location and killed.

On Tuesday a large contingent, including forensic officers, the bomb squad and the riot squad, will search a property at Blaxlands Ridge.

'Officers are searching for items relevant to the investigation, and we believe Mr Joseph may have been buried on the property,' Chief Insp Taylor said in a statement.

Six years before his disappearance, Mr Joseph (pictured) had been extradited from the United States over his suspected role in in the fatal shooting of Dimitri Debaz

Police officers search a rural property outside Sydney after the discovery of a 'vehicle of interest'

New South Wales Police search the rural property for the body of Mr Joseph who went missing in 2014

Six years before his disappearance, Mr Joseph had been extradited from the United States over his suspected role in in the fatal shooting of Dimitri Debaz in the Sefton car park of the Playhouse Hotel in 2002, which sparked a wave of crime in the city's southwest.

Mr Joseph was charged with murder but the case was later dropped.

Known as Huss or Hussany to his mates and family, Mr Joseph pleaded with US authorities to keep him in the country because an Australian crime family had placed a $100,000 bounty on his head.

New South Wales police and detectives continue searching the rural property for signs of Mr Joseph

Known as Huss or Hussany to his mates and family, Mr Joseph pleaded with US authorities to keep him in the country because an Australian crime family had placed a $100,000 bounty on his head

He also claimed members of Sydney's Bronx Boys gang wanted to murder him and his lawyer previously filed documents in court alleging his friends and associates had been kidnapped and tortured.

Chief Insp Taylor said police were confident those associated with Mr Joseph know what happened to him.

'While we are following strong lines of inquiry, I would encourage those people to come forward now, as it won't be long before we come for you,' he said.

The homicide squad's Detective Chief Inspector Grant Taylor said the car (pictured), along with two others, will be forensically examined
A Detroit woman accidentally shot her husband in the leg while trying to hit the guy he was fighting with.

The row began after the husband, 39, who survived the shooting, got into an argument with his neighbor Muhammad Jamil over an outstanding debt, in the middle of the street.

Jamil, 32, said the 'little confrontation' rapidly escalated into a physical fight, in the 1900 block of Atkinson Street, Detroit, at around 10.45am on Sunday.

A Detroit woman accidentally shot her husband in the leg while trying to hit the guy he was fighting with (pictured are police outside their property)

Police arrested the 37-year-old woman (pictured are police arresting the suspect) for shooting her own husband

The pair were wrestling on the ground when Jamil said that his neighbor's wife, 37, grabbed a gun and opened fire, ClickonDetroit reports.

While she was attempting to hit Jamil, she in fact hit her own husband in his left leg.

Jamil said that after the gunshots, the fight stopped and he even helped the injured man to his feet.

The row began after the husband, 39, who survived the shooting, got into an argument with his neighbor Muhammad Jamil (pictured)

The pair were wrestling on the ground when Jamil said that his neighbor's wife, 37, grabbed a gun and opened fire. An ambulance arrived at the scene to rush the man to hospital

'I helped him off the ground when he got shot,' Jamil said. 'I was, like, 'Dude, that's your wife doing all of this,' and he's, like, 'I'm sorry!''

Jamil explained that his neighbor, who has not been named, reportedly owed him $1,500 for some work he did on the couple's home.

'He was trying to play me over some money,' Jamil said.

Police arrested the 37-year-old woman and her husband was rushed to hospital. Their children are currently in the care of a family friend.
A Maryland woman found a live worm in cod fish she bought from Costco, and she caught the harrowing moment on tape.

Emily Randolph of Frederick, Maryland shared the video to her Facebook page that showed the live worm climbing up the inside the package of cod she purchased on February 9.

The disgusting video shows the small worm wriggling free of the fish underneath the protective cellophane wrapping.

Emily Randolph's Facebook video showed a live worm wriggling around her package of Costco-bought cod

'When we took the video to Costco to get our money back the girl behind the counter said someone had just returned salmon with worms in it. No apologies at all,' Randolph said on her Facebook page.

'She acted as if this happens all the time. I'm so grossed out,' Randolph added.

In the video, Randolph shows the circled 'sell by' date of February 12 - three days after she reportedly bought the fish.

The video has been shared over 6,000 times since it was posted last week, eliciting many strong reactions.

'I'm so grossed out,' Randolph said of the disgusting experience

'I purchased ground beef and all on the outside was bright red but inside was brown Not happy with their meat. Will not buy any meat or seafood from there,' Facebook user Donna Andrews said of her own Costco purchases in the video's comments section.

Other Facebook users were less worried about the worm - stating that cooking it properly would take care of the issue.

'Cooking takes care of it - they all (fish) have parasites,' Facebook user Linda King Helbeck said.

Randolph also issued a warning to other consumers in her post.

'Check your food people,' she said.
A mother found in a 'zombie-like' state after smoking synthetic cannabis in the company of her two young children has been convicted of child ill treatment.

The woman from Rotorua, on New Zealand's north island, will be sentenced in April after she pleaded guilty to using the drug while her eight-week-old baby and five-year-old child watched on.

Officers arrived at a Rotorua home in August to find the woman - who cannot be named to protect her children's identities - swaying and slurring her speech as she held her infant child, Stuff reported.

A mother found in a 'zombie-like' state after smoking synthetic cannabis in the company of her two young children has been convicted of child ill treatment (stock image)

Police were called to the home to help paramedics who were helping an unconscious man, also affected by synthetic cannabis.

Rotorua District Court heard the police found all of the home's residents in 'various drug induced states'.

The mother picked her baby up from a pillow on the floor when she saw police enter the room.

Police became concerned as the woman swayed with her child in her arms and failed to support the baby's head, the court was told.

A police summary of facts found she only admitted to smoking a cigarette at the time, and not synthetic cannabis.

Her five-year-old was found rocking back and forth, while the eight-week-old was 'extremely quiet' with 'droopy' arms, the summary found.

Court also heard the eyes rolled back in the baby's head twice while being taken away from the scene by police.

The woman from Rotorua, on New Zealand's north island, will be sentenced in April after she pleaded guilty to using the drug while her eight-week-old baby and five-year-old child watched on (stock image)

Another woman was found at the house 'grunting and vomiting over herself', which was 'clearly' observed by the five-year-old.

'[This was] child abuse of a serious nature and type and it needs to be treated this way,' Judge Tony Snell said.

The children remain under the care of government child support service Oranga Tamariki, the publication reported.

Manager Tayelva Petley said the children had not suffered any medical issues despite their exposure to synthetic cannabis.

'Oranga Tamariki staff have been working intensively with the family around appropriate longer term care arrangements for the children,' the manager told Stuff.

'A family group conference was held in December, and a plan was developed for each child with their best interests and safety at heart.'
Edward Charles Osgood, 14, was arrested on Saturday in St. Petersburg, Florida

At least a dozen copycats have been arrested in school shooting threats across the country, less than a week after 17 died in the Florida high school massacre that shocked the nation.

Edward Charles Osgood, 14, was arrested on a written threat to kill charge on Saturday in St. Petersburg, Florida, after allegedly posting a menacing photo on Snapchat.

'Round 3 on Florida on Tuesday' read the caption, as Osgood stands in the photo posted Friday holding what appears to be a semi-automatic rifle.

Students at Lealman Innovation Academy, which Osgood attends, quickly reported the disturbing image to police, who rushed to interview the teen.

'I know why you are here, because of the photo,' Osgood told the Pinellas County deputies when they arrived, according to investigators.

Osgood explained that he'd seen a recent Snapchat post of a masked man with a gun promising 'Round 2 on Florida' and thought it was 'messed up', cops said. A teen in Spartanburg, South Carolina was arrested for the 'Round 2' threat.

Fellow students at Lealman Innovation Academy reported this image to police on Saturday. Osgood was interviewed and arrested, and the BB gun replica AR-15 in the photo was seized

For some reason, Osgood decided to pose with a friend's AR-15 replica BB gun and make a similar post, according to police. Police seized the BB gun from a friend's house after Osgood was arrested at his parents' house.

Osgood says he was inspired by this 'messed up' image. The poster was also arrested

It's only the latest in a string of sickening copycat school-shooting threats to sweep across the nation, landing the kids involved in a world of trouble.

In Morganton, North Carolina, police rushed to Patton High School on Monday morning after a student reported that another kid had threatened to 'shoot up the school'.

Mackenzie Rae Swink, 17, was charged with making a false report concerning mass violence on educational property.

She is being held at the Burke-Catawba District Confinement Facility. Bail was set at $50,000.

Police in Toledo, Ohio said on Monday that Christian Costet, 19, had been arrested for allegedly threatening to 'shoot up' Waite High School.

Cops recovered a replica rifle that Costed had allegedly posed with in photos. He was charged with inducing panic.

'There is no such thing as "this was just a joke",' Toledo Police Chief George Kral said in a statement. 'With mass shooting incidents increasing exponentially in our country, we will investigate and prosecute every threat to the full extent of the law.'

Mackenzie Rae Swink, 17, was arrested on a school threat charge on Monday in North Carolina

Tristan H. Kelly, 19, and Cody T. Ritchey, 18, were arrested at 5.21am on Sunday in Nicholasville, Kentucky after cops worked throughout the night on a threat sent through Snapchat

An image that first circulated on Snapchat in central Kentucky (left) threatening schools there turned up later on Sunday in north Texas (right) with a new caption threatening Ennis HS

One disturbing incident spanned multiple states, landing two teenage males in Kentucky and a juvenile girl in Texas behind bars.

Tristan H. Kelly, 19, and Cody T. Ritchey, 18, were arrested at 5.21am on Sunday in Nicholasville, Kentucky after cops worked throughout the night on a threat sent through Snapchat.

The image showed a boy holding a gun, who was identified as not involved in the threat, with the caption 'Be ready for school monday Jessamine County'.

The same photo, circulated online, appeared in a Snapchat post in north Texas later on Sunday.

It had a new caption over the original, reading: 'Be ready for school Tuesday Ennis High School.' Police in Texas said a juvenile female had been charged with terroristic threat in the case.

In eastern Kentucky, three teen girls were arrested on Sunday in a threat against Knox county schools.

Kentucky cops say Megan Scott, 19, knew about a threat but failed to report it

A 13-year-old girl who attends Knox County Middle School and an 16-year-old girl who attends Knox County Learning Academy hatched a scheme to get out of school by sending a threat over social media, police said.

Knox Central High School student Megan Scott, 19, was also arrested and charged with complicity to terroristic threatening.

Police said she knew about the two younger girls' threat and failed to report it to authorities.

Also in Kentucky, a 15-year-old girl was arrested on Monday for allegedly threatening to bomb Jackson County High School. She was charged with first-degree terroristic threatening and is being held in the Breathitt County Juvenile Detention Center.

There she joins a 14-year-old boy who was charged with second degree terroristic threatening after allegedly making a social media threat against North Laurel Middle School on Saturday. Kentucky State Police have not identified either teen.

On Monday, a 15-year-old girl was arrested for allegedly threatening to bomb Jackson County High School (pictured) in eastern Kentucky

In Norfolk, Virgina, a 14-year-old Lake Taylor Middle School student was arrested around 6.30am on Monday, after police responded to a tip about a social media post threatening to shoot other students.

The seventh grader faces a Class 6 felony charge for making threats of death or bodily injury.

On Thursday, a girl in Davie, Florida aged just 11 wrote a terrifying threat note, police say.

'I will bring a gun to school to kill all of you ugly a** kids and teachers b***h. I will bring the gun Feb, 16, 18. BE prepared b***h!'' read the note slipped under the door of an assistant principal's office.

Cops say the girl confessed to writing the note after surveillance footage revealed her leaving it. She has been arrested.

On Thursday, a girl in Davie, Florida aged just 11 wrote this terrifying threat note, police say

In Houston, Stevenson Middle School went on lockdown for about two hours on Monday after a threat on social media. A student was arrested off-campus and charged with making a terroristic threat.

Elsewhere in Texas, police in El Paso said on Monday that they had arrested four suspects tied to a rash of school threats in recent days.

Across the state line in Louisiana, students at Ville Platte High School were also put on lockdown on Monday, after a threat to the school was made on Instagram around 12am.

A 15-year-old boy was arrested and charged in the matter, police say.

In Indiana, at least 10 school districts have investigated either a real or rumored copycat threat since the Florida school shooting. At least four people have been arrested in the state, and cops say more arrests could be coming.

In Iowa, schools in the Southeast Warren Community School District were put on lockdown Monday and a juvenile was arrested over a threat of a school shooting.

In Mississippi, a juvenile was arrested on Monday for allegedly making threats on Snapchat against Petal High School the day prior. It follows the arrests of two 16-year-old boys in north Mississippi on Saturday in Snapchat threats made against students at Olive Branch's Center Hill High School.

Over the weekend, a 13-year-old boy in Republic, Missouri was arrested after making a video threat to shoot up a school with an AK-47.

The teen was charged with first-degree making a terrorist threat after sending the video to a friend via social media late on Friday evening, police said.

The threat was not reported to cops until nearly a day later, on Saturday evening, the Republic Police Department said in a statement.

The teen was arrested at 2.37am and transported to the Greene County Juvenile Detention Center.

Cops said that the threat did not target a specific school. The boy was a student at Republic Middle School (pictured in a file photo)

An AK-47 is seen in a stock image. Police said guns and other evidence were seized during the search of the boy's home, but did not reveal whether they recovered an AK-47

Cops said that the threat did not target a specific school. The boy was reportedly a student at Republic Middle School.

Police said guns and other evidence were seized during the search of the boy's home, but did not reveal whether they recovered an AK-47.

The Kalashnikov AK-47 and similar knock-offs are fully automatic rifles that are illegal throughout the US, unless they are models designed to fire only in semi-auto mode.

School was held as normal in Republic on Monday.

All staff met before classes started to discuss how to support students in any conversations sparked by the incident, the district said in a statement.

'We will help students process this situation and continue to reiterate the message that we must all work together to keep our schools safe,' the statement said.

The Republic Police Department reminded the public to communicate any threats promptly.

'It is important for students and parents to immediately report threats like this to law enforcement so a proper investigation can be conducted,' the department said.
After all these years, Andrew Lloyd Webber has now explained why his name always comes before Tim Rices in their song-writing credits. The reason, it transpires, is neither alphabetical nor hierarchical.

The fact is Lloyd Webber and Rice is easier to say than Rice and Lloyd Webber, he told the Mail on Sunday. Just as Sullivan and Gilbert would have sounded awful.

Is that so? Sullivan and Gilbert may sound a little peculiar to us now, but that is surely because we have grown so used to saying Gilbert and Sullivan.

Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sir Tim Rice (pictured), explain that it would have sounded 'awful' if they were referred to as Rice and Lloyd Webber

Theres not much in it, but it seems to me just as easy  or as difficult  to say Rice and Lloyd Webber as it is to say Lloyd Webber and Rice. If one member of a duo is more talented and harder-working than the other, then clearly he or she has earned the right to be first in the pecking order. Was this the real reason Lloyd Webber wanted to be first?

The same must surely have been true of Batman and Robin. When the crime crusaders first got together, it would have been impertinent for weedy little Robin to have insisted on top billing. He was quite clearly the sidekick, the number two, the hanger-on.

Without Batman, Robin would have had no hope of forging a career as a caped crusader, unless it was as some sort of junior store detective in the fancy dress department of the Gotham City Walmart.

So it was quite right that they called themselves Batman and Robin, not Robin and Batman.

The same goes for many other unequal partnerships. There is no point in putting the duff partner first, otherwise we would have Wise and Morecambe, Watson and Holmes, and Joseph and Mary. The weaker partner should always come second, hence David and Goliath and  harsh but true  Barbie and Ken.

But what of those partnerships which operate on a completely equal footing, with no clear superior? It is in the nature of duos to fall out, so the best way of avoiding an early contretemps is to stick to strict alphabetical order.

This is what the most successful and democratic duos have done, or else we would now be talking of Dec and Ant, Dave and Chas, Bowser & Callard, Sweep and Sooty, Jerry & Ben, Jill and Jack, and Spencer & Marks.

When alphabetical order is reversed, sceptics rush to judgment. We immediately assume that the first-named insisted on signalling his or her precedence over the second-named.

Craig Brown asks why Perky let Pinky go first when their 1956 show was named, and says that in duos where alphabet order is reversed, it's clear one is more pushy than the other

Personally, I consider Paul Simon perfectly within his rights to force the less talented Art Garfunkel into second place, but it cant have done much to help their already scratchy relationship. They have been squabbling for the past 60 years or more about everything, even toupees: a recent biography revealed that because Simon wanted to wear a hairpiece at their 1981 gig in New Yorks Central Park, he insisted Garfunkel wear one too, in solidarity. Needless to say, an argument ensued.

In some billings, there is a clear gender bias: Hansel precedes Gretel, Samson precedes Delilah, Peters precedes Lee, Terry precedes June. Even though Cher always had much more to offer than Sonny, it was always Sonny and Cher, never Cher and Sonny.

Other billings are more baffling. Within the piggy puppet community, why did Perky let Pinky go first, defying the alphabet, when their stage roles were the same, their genders indeterminate and their skills interchangeable?

Personally, I feel sore on Perkys behalf. Alas, I have no inside knowledge, but Perkys downgrading must surely have been down to Pinkys pushiness, and Perkys need for a quiet life.

It was Pinky who pulled the strings. The same must also be said of quite a few other duos where alphabetical order is reversed, for no clear reason.

In a fair world, we would have Little & Osborne, Hutch and Starsky, Edgar & Swan, Large and Little, Peller & Rigby, and Ben and Bill. But, then again, when was the world ever fair?
Students at almost every mainstream university could have their final year exams cancelled or disrupted this year because of striking academics.

Union leaders say they will call unprecedented industrial action in the summer to coincide with exam season if university bosses do not meet their demands in a dispute over pensions.

Up to 45,000 academics could walk out at 64 universities, causing countless exams to be called off.

Students at almost every mainstream university could have their final year exams cancelled or disrupted this year because of striking academics (file photo)

Students who are unable to take exams may find that their final degree grade is based instead on coursework or exam performance from previous years.

Alternatively, universities may be able to draft in agency staff to replace some of the strikers, or else reschedule exams for later in the summer.

More than 200,000 students in their final years could be affected.

Yesterday some students said it was unfair of academics to bring them into the dispute. Geography student Nick Sundin said: I thought it was pensions this was about? Seems selfish to prioritise those over an entire generation of students.

Stop university bosses helping to set their own pay, says Theresa May University bosses should not sit on the panels which set their own pay, Theresa May declared yesterday. The Prime Minister said she was concerned about vice-chancellors who were involved in the remuneration committees which decide how much they are paid. As she launched a major review of post-school education, Mrs May warned the odds were stacked against working class children. She also admitted high tuition fees meant a lot of graduates were getting a poor return on their investment. And the Education Secretary, Damian Hinds, said that in future fees will be determined by the benefit to the student and the benefit to our country. Mrs May said the vote for Brexit was a sign that the UK economy and society doesnt work in too many communities and pledged to turn Britain into a Great Meritocracy. Addressing an audience of academics, lecturers and students at Derby College she said making good on the referendum result meant spreading fairness and opportunity. The review will look at encouraging more children to take up technical and skills courses instead of seeing university as the only route. Her intervention follows a major backlash over spiralling pay and perks for senior university officials. A study earlier this month found 95 per cent of vice-chancellors sat on their university remuneration committee or at least attended its meetings. A spokesman for Universities UK, representing vice-chancellors, said a new remuneration code will ensure senior pay decisions are fair, accountable and justified. Advertisement

Chris Price added: As always, its the students who bear the consequences of this selfish action. I have sympathy with their pension situation but striking is not the answer.

Students across many campuses are demanding compensation of tuition fees and say the lost 14 days will equate to 1,295 worth of lost teaching per person.

Proposed changes to the sector pension scheme mean academics are set to lose up to half their retirement income, according to analysis by experts.

The University and College Union (UCU), which represents academics and campus staff, is already holding four weeks of strikes beginning this Thursday which they say will affect one million students in the institutions covered by the action.

Lecturers will refuse to teach on 14 strike days spread across this period, with classes cancelled and marking left undone. The strikes will take place in mostly older, research-intensive universities, including 22 out of 24 in the elite Russell Group.

Academics will walk out from institutions including Cambridge, Oxford, UCL, Bristol, Cardiff, Durham, Exeter, Glasgow, Imperial College, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Queens Belfast, Sheffield, Southampton, Warwick and York.

If the union does not have a concession from the universities by March 2 it will consider further action in the summer, since the strike mandate lasts six months.

Students are already threatening to sue universities for the potential damage the strike will cause to their education.

UCU general secretary Sally Hunt urged new Education Secretary Damian Hinds to intervene to end the strikes by telling vice-chancellors to give her members a fair deal.

She said: Im devastated students will be affected by this. Theyre in the middle because we havent had a negotiation. What weve had is an imposition.

Universities UK, which represents vice-chancellors, said in November it would stop offering staff traditional defined benefit pensions, which offer a certainty of income in retirement. Instead, it wants to shift staff into a riskier, less generous defined contribution plan, to help deal with rising costs as many private sector companies have done.

A Universities UK spokesman said: We hope employees recognise changes are necessary to put the scheme on a secure footing, and the proposed strike action will only serve to unfairly disrupt students education.
David Davis will take aim at Brussels today over scaremongering claims that Brexit could leave British workers at a greater risk of cancer.

The Brexit Secretary will say that leaving the EU will not plunge the UK into a Mad Max-style world borrowed from dystopian fiction, and that ministers will use the opportunity to improve standards.

In a speech in Vienna, Mr Davis will say Britain may choose to move away from EU regulations, but that the countrys blueprint for life outside of Europe is a race to the top in global standards, not a regression from the high standards we have now.

The Brexit Secretary will say that leaving the EU will not plunge the UK into a Mad Max-style world borrowed from dystopian fiction, and that ministers will use the opportunity to improve standards

Addressing an audience of Austrian business leaders, he will argue a common commitment to high regulatory standards should ensure trade with the EU remains as frictionless as possible after Brexit. Mr Davis will criticise the European Commission, which has claimed that Brexit could lead to workers losing protections.

A presentation prepared by Michel Barniers Brexit taskforce last month said the UK could ditch rules around redundancies in order to reduce cost and delays for collective dismissals. It also said ministers could reduce levels of occupational safety and health, which could lead to higher exposure to chemicals and carcinogens resulting in lower production cost.

But Mr Davis will insist the Government will continue its track record of high standards outside the EU and had no intention of engaging in a new race to the bottom.

Mr Davis will point to Theresa Mays commitment to maintaining and enhancing workers rights, Chancellor Philip Hammonds support for a stable European banking system and Environment Secretary Michael Goves crusading zeal on animal welfare as examples of UK determination to lead a race to the top

I know that for one reason or another there are some people who have sought to question that these really are our intentions, he will say.

They fear that Brexit could lead to an Anglo-Saxon race to the bottom, with Britain plunged into a Mad Max-style world borrowed from dystopian fiction. These fears about a race to the bottom are based on nothing  not history, not intention, nor interest.

Mr Davis will point to Theresa Mays commitment to maintaining and enhancing workers rights, Chancellor Philip Hammonds support for a stable European banking system and Environment Secretary Michael Goves crusading zeal on animal welfare as examples of UK determination to lead a race to the top. He will say it is the interests of both sides to be able to continue to trust each others regulations and the institutions that enforce them after Brexit.

Such mutual recognition will naturally require close, even-handed co-operation between these authorities and a common set of principles to guide them, he said.

And the certainty that Britains plan, its blueprint for life outside of Europe, is a race to the top in global standards, not a regression from the high standards we have now, can provide the basis of the trust that means that Britains regulators and institutions can continue to be recognised.

Mr Davis will insist the Government will continue its track record of high standards outside the EU and had no intention of engaging in a new race to the bottom

Mr Davis will say that when one side or the other wishes to change its regulations, it will be essential to ensure it does not lead to the creation of unnecessary barriers to trade.

Take a car produced here in Austria to be exported to the UK. Currently, that vehicle only has to undergo one series of approvals, in one country, to show that it meets the required regulatory standards and those approvals are accepted across the European Union. Thats exactly the sort of arrangement we want to see maintained even after we leave the EU.

Meanwhile, Australia last night raised the prospect of a lucrative trade deal with the UK after Brexit. Julie Bishop, the countrys foreign minister, said: When the circumstances are right, when the timing is right, Australia would be keen to pursue a free trade agreement with the United Kingdom. High quality, comprehensive, gold standard.

Gove pledge to improve animal welfare on farms Improving animal welfare will be a priority after Brexit, the Environment Secretary will say today. Farmers could be given extra state payments to treat livestock better, Michael Gove will announce. In a speech at the National Farmers Union conference in Birmingham, he will say: I believe investing in higher animal welfare standards and investing in improved training and education for those in agriculture and food production are clear public goods. He will also argue that preserving the landscape will be easier after the UK leaves the EU. Mr Gove will tell farmers their voices are now more influential as the UK can set its own standards. Advertisement

Britain could refuse to pay the 40billion Brexit divorce bill if the EU fails to agree on a trade deal, it was claimed last night. Ministers have reportedly drawn up a secret contingency plan to withhold the money if Brussels goes back on its word.

European political website Politico said British officials had briefed that they hoped to use it to raise leverage and force the EU to give the UK the trade deal it wants.
Young offenders are being allowed to make Skype calls from behind bars to talk to their friends and families.

Teenage inmates have also been given in-cell telephones to help them stay in touch with their loved ones.

The scheme emerged in a report by the prisons watchdog into the young persons unit at HMP Parc in Bridgend, South Wales, which holds up to 60 boys aged between 15 to 18.

HMP Parc in Bridgend, South Wales ran a scheme that saw 60 male prisoners aged between 15 and 18 being given access to tablets with Skype on them

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has permitted the detainees access to taxpayer-funded laptop computers and iPad-style tablets to speak to their families using video-calling technology.

Ministers say the so-called virtual visits are intended to help rehabilitate young offenders and prevent them falling back into a life of crime by maintaining strong links with their relatives while they are locked up.

The MoJ said prisoners were not given access to the internet, and strict controls were in place to ensure the technology is not abused.

But critics will seize on the findings as fresh evidence that jails are too cushy and becoming holiday camps. They will add to concerns at a time when governors are facing a security crisis.

The report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons, praised HMP Parc - managed by private firm G4S - for supporting teenage inmates to have quality contact with relatives and friends.

It said: Boys could book visits using the electronic kiosk on the wings, and could keep in contact using their in-cell telephones.

Parents welcomed this contact and felt that their child was able to report issues to them quickly. Skype had been used for two boys in the last six months, with arrangements for another boy to use this facility. But Tory MP Philip Hollobone said: Prisons are meant to be prisons, not holiday camps. A lot of my constituents would like to use Skype but cant afford to do so or have the necessary technology.

Most will be outraged that these sort of freedoms are being given to those who are supposed to be being punished for committing crimes. There have been several calls for technology to play a greater role behind bars to boost prison education programmes and the ability of inmates to stay in touch with their families.

Last year a Government-ordered review proposed that some prisoners should be able to use video-calling technology for virtual visits.

The report by Tory peer Lord Farmer recommended that inmates should be able to use iPads to Skype their families from behind bars.

The multi-millionaire hedge fund boss, who was ennobled by David Cameron after he donated millions to the party, said boosting links between offenders and their families would reduce the likelihood of them reoffending when they are released.

In October, the Mail told how inmates at HMP Wayland near Thetford, Norfolk, were being handed laptops so they can order treats from their cells.

Inmates can purchase food, including chocolate bars, tinned fruit, tea bags and coffee, toiletries, stamps and batteries the weekly prison shop system, also known as the canteen list.

The report into HMP Parc praised the prison for supporting teenage inmates to have quality contact with relatives and friends

Although they do not have access to the internet, they can choose items from a list approved by the Ministry of Justice if there is enough money in their prison spends account, which holds money earned in jail or sent in by family and friends.

Criminals also use the taxpayer-funded tablets to select meals and sign up for educational and workplace courses as part of their rehabilitation.

And in January last year, it emerged that prisoners at HMP Hewell, a Category B jail in Worcestershire, were allowed to order themselves treats from Amazon from their cells.

They could buy computer games, CDs, DVDs, trainers, electronic appliances, cosmetics and clothes from the internet store and retailers such as Argos.

HM Inspectorate of Prisons, which visited the unit at HMP Parc in October, said it had shown quite significant improvement in key aspects, including safety, in the past year.

G4S director for HMP Parc Janet Wallsgrove said: This report shows the excellent work of the team here at Parc, who are dedicated to providing a safe and secure facility for the young people in our care.

Michael Spurr, chief executive of HM Prison & Probation Service, said: Parc has significantly improved the services it provides for young people, which is a credit to the director and her team.
Lauri Love (pictured) will not be extradited to the US after prosecutors decided not to challenge the High Court decision

Lauri Love will not be extradited to the US after prosecutors decided not to challenge the High Court decision.

American authorities said they would not try to reverse the decision to block the extradition of the accused hacker because it would be unjust and oppressive.

It marks a considerable victory for Aspergers sufferer Mr Love, and the Mail, which has campaigned on his behalf for the past four years.

Yesterday, the deadline passed for the US to challenge the High Court decision to prevent Mr Love being tried in the country.

All bail conditions have now been lifted, meaning he will no longer have to report to police.

Earlier this month, the High Court ruled that Mr Love should be not extradited to the US, though authorities there had leave to appeal.

Judges ruled that it would not be in the interests of justice to send the 33-year-old vicars son to face trial outside the UK.

They said: We have come to the conclusion Mr Loves extradition would be oppressive by reason of his physical and mental condition.

We accept that the evidence shows that the fact of extradition would bring on severe depression, and that Mr Love would probably be determined to commit suicide, here or in America.

Yesterday, Mr Loves lawyer Ben Cooper said that they had decided not to appeal the decision and conceded his discharge.

The student, from Stradishall, Suffolk, had faced a 99-year prison sentence and experts and his family warned that he would commit suicide if sent to the US.

Lauri Love leaves Ecuador's embassy in London, Britain, February 6, 2018. It marks a considerable victory for Aspergers sufferer Mr Love, and the Mail, which has campaigned on his behalf for the past four years

He tweeted: I have received an undertaking from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) that the USA will not be appealing the finding that it would be unjust and oppressive to extradite me given the woeful inadequacy of detention conditions.

Now no prospect whatsoever of my extradition. All bail conditions will be annulled.

Mr Love may still be prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service in the UK where he would face a far more lenient sentence.

The landmark High Court decision by the Lord Chief Justice recognised the supremacy of British law as enshrined in the Forum Bar.

The law, introduced by then Home Secretary Theresa May in the wake of the Gary McKinnon case, decreed that British citizens should be tried in the UK where it was in the interests of justice.

American authorities said they would not try to reverse the decision to block the extradition of the accused hacker because it would be unjust and oppressive

Following the case, he said: Im greatly relieved I am no longer facing the prospect of being locked up for potentially the rest of my life in a country I have never visited.

He also paid tribute to the Mail, which has campaigned for him and against a perceived unfairness in the extradition treaty between the UK and US.

Mr Love, who suffers from depression and severe illness, was arrested in 2012 after being accused of hacking US websites.

They included online attacks on the Federal Reserve, the US army, the defence department, Nasa and the FBI in 2012 and 2013.

In 2016, a district judge ruled that he could be extradited, but he challenged the decision and his case was heard by the Lord Chief Justice, the most senior judge in England and Wales.

Yesterdays decision means that Mr Love will be extradited, however, the US are pursuing an academic point of appeal on the agreement, but this will not affect Mr Loves case.

There is still a chance that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will prosecute Mr Love, but this will not happen for at least a month while the appeal is assessed.

The CPS has not announced a decision to pursue Mr Love in the UK, but there is no deadline for a decision.

It said it was considering the case.
A yacht and its owner have been missing for almost a week and police hold grave concerns for the safety of the captain, a man in his 60s.

Police said it was out of character for the captain who was last seen with his 34ft manitou yacht 'Wayfarer' at the Hervey Bay Marina on February 14.

The man did not leave any travel plans with friends or family and police say it is out of character for him to not do so.

The man in his 60s was last seen on his 34ft manitou yacht in the Hervey Bay Marina on February 14 and police hold grave concerns for his safety

The location of the Hervey Bay Marina where the man and his yacht were last seen on February 14.

Tropical Cyclone Gita has been causing havoc on the Queensland coast with swell as high as four metres recorded.

Anyone who may have seen or heard from the man, or has seen his yacht on the water should contact Queensland Police as soon as possible on 131 444.
Two men were captured on CCTV allegedly stealing a dinghy from the Dinah Beach Yacht Club in the Northern Territory.

The men were seen swimming to the yacht club under the cover of darkness while ignoring the threat of crocodiles, jellyfish and sharks before climbing into the dingy when one of the men mooned security cameras.

The dinghy, which is usually stored on land, is owned by Oliver Vicrower who told NT News that he saw a crocodile near the wharf a few hours before it was stolen.

Two men were captured on CCTV cameras braving crocs and sharks to steal a dinghy

'It was about two minutes of footage of the two guys who swam around from who knows where and they jumped on to the boat and they were gone,' Mr Vicrower said.

An NT Police spokesperson spoke to Daily Mail Australia and said the owner had advised police the boat was stolen about 11pm on February 15 and this was the second time the boat had been stolen.

Wendy McCallum, Dinah Beach Yacht Club general manager, told NT News it was disappointing thieves stole the boat and new initiatives were being put in place to prevent future thefts.

'For somebody to steal someone's mode of transport is a pretty low act and in a couple of weeks we are having our safety and access upgrade to the pontoon,' Ms McCallum said.

The NT Police spokesperson said the owner had spoken to police and the boat had not been recovered.

'The owner of the boat possesses the CCTV footage but due to poor quality of the footage the men are unidentifiable but investigations are continuing.'
The jobs of 2,500 shop staff at the Maplin's electronics chain were hanging in the balance last night as the firm struggled to stay afloat.

Bosses are said to be desperately seeking cash to help save the British retailer before it collapses into administration.

They are talking to potential buyers and want to secure new investors before the end of this week, according to Sky News.

Bosses are now trying to save the business with last-minute talks, with one possible outcome that it is sold after going into administration

It comes after credit insurers refused to offer cover - protection that payments will still be made if a retailer cannot pay its bills - to Maplin's suppliers last year.

That heaped pressure on Maplin because some suppliers may have refused to supply goods unless they get a cash payment upfront.

The chain has 211 stores across the country. It is the latest High Street chain to sound the alarm as many struggle to adapt to the rise of online shopping.

New Look was also recently plunged into turmoil and Toys R Us' UK arm is said to be urgently seeking fresh investment after nearly collapsing before Christmas

Many are under growing pressure from internet rivals such as Amazon, which offer products at lower prices.

New Look was also recently plunged into turmoil and Toys R Us' UK arm is said to be urgently seeking fresh investment after nearly collapsing before Christmas.

Maplin was bought by Rutland Partners for 85m in 2014 but the business made a loss of 15.8m last year.

The company has warned of a 'challenging trading environment', blaming it woes variously on the weak pound, rising costs and impact of red tape on its operations.

Bosses are now trying to save the business with last-minute talks, with one possible outcome that it is sold after going into administration.

One possible buyer is Edinburgh Woollen Mill, the clothing empire run by industry tycoon Philip Day, Sky News said.

A spokesman for Maplin did not immediately respond to a request for comment last night.
Spectacular images have captured the moment an unsuspecting man and child were slammed by a giant freak wave while relaxing in an ocean pool.

The pair were seen cooling off during hot weather on Friday at the Newcastle Ocean Baths, on the New South Wales coast.

Images show the man walking in the deep end of the toddler's pool with the child as they look out at the wild swell from the comfort of the sheltered ocean bath.

Spectacular images have captured the moment an unsuspecting man and child were slammed by a giant freak wave while relaxing at Newcastle Ocean Baths, on the New South Wales coast

Images show the man walking in the deep end of the toddler's pool with the child last week as they look out at the wild swell from the comfort of the sheltered ocean bath

The pair were caught by surprise, as a freak wave rolled in over the rocks and engulfed the ocean bath

They appear to remain unfazed by the conditions despite the massive waves building and crashing into rocks just metres away.

But then they are caught by surprise, as the freak wave rolls in over the rocks and engulfs the ocean bath.

The man can be seen quickly sweeping the child up in his arms to protect her from being washed away.

The pair are then seen battling to keep their head above water in the pool, which has turned into white suds from the massive crashing wave.

Pictures show the pair battling to keep their head above water in the pool, which turned into white suds from the massive crashing wave

Authorities issued warnings on Monday and Tuesday for dangerous swells, including waves up to four metres high on the NSW coastline

Photographer Peter Lorimer said lifeguards were warning people away from the larger ocean baths as the waves continued to build.

'There were constant warnings for people to get away. The sea wasn't that big but you could tell it was building and surfers were being told to get out,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

New South Wales' coastline has continued to receive a battering from wild surf this week in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Gita.

Authorities issued warnings on Monday and Tuesday for dangerous swells, including waves up to four metres high.

Meteorologist Max Gonzalez told Daily Mail Australia the dangerous surf was a result of the cyclone which hit Tonga last week.

Mr Gonzalez warned waves would reach about two metres off the coast of Sydney on Monday, before picking up overnight.

Despite beaches along the state's coastline being closed over the weekend, lifesavers rescued about 150 people from dangerous surf

Surf Life Saving NSW Liam Howitt warned swimmers, surfers, and fishermen to steer clear of the water, particularly in the state's north

Despite beaches along the state's coastline being closed over the weekend, lifesavers rescued about 150 people from dangerous surf.

Surf Life Saving NSW Liam Howitt warned swimmers, surfers, and fishermen to steer clear of the water, particularly in the state's north.

'Northern New South Wales is expected to experience extremely strong conditions, with waves in excess of four metres as a result of the system pushing down from Queensland,' he said.

'So as a lifesaving community, we're certainly encouraging everyone to be extremely careful before heading out and not to overestimate their ability or underestimate the conditions.'
Jeremy Corbyn was accused of wanting to turn the City of London into a 'Soviet-era capital' that is like Pyongyang, North Korea today.

The Labour leader made a hard-hitting speech on reforming the banks to a conference of manufacturers today, vowing to stand up for the 'real economy'.

But his demand for an end to 'out of control financial wizardry and gambling' was met with mockery by City analysts.

The promises could also alarm boardrooms as polls show Labour as competitive in the race for No 10.

Jeremy Corbyn (pictured at the EEF conference today) launched a fresh assault on the City of London today with a pledge to 'take on' the finance industry.

The Labour leader (pictured at the QEII centre today) made a hard-hitting speech on reforming the banks to a conference of manufacturers today, vowing to stand up for the 'real economy'

City commentator David Buik told the Standard Mr Corbyn appeared to want to 'turn London into the last Soviet-era capital west of Pyongyang'.

He added: 'To go crashing into the City of London at a time of Brexit, which is proving a very difficult process, is close to insanity.'

In his speech this lunchtime, Mr Corbyn told the annual conference of the EEF manufacturing lobby group in London: 'We will take decisive action to make finance the servant of industry not the masters of us all.'

City commentator David Buik (file image) told the Standard Mr Corbyn appeared to want to 'turn London into the last Soviet-era capital west of Pyongyang'

His latest attack comes weeks after he warned bankers that they were right to see Labour as a threat.

That broadside came after analysts at Morgan Stanley dared to warn that his hard-Left policies would be catastrophic for the economy and were more dangerous than risks from Brexit.

Investment bankers at Goldman Sachs have also warned that the UK would be like 'Cuba without the sunshine' if Mr Corbyn became prime minister.

But it is not just bankers who have cautioned against a government led by Mr Corbyn and his shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who has spoken of his wish to see 'the overthrow of capitalism'.

Terry Scuoler, retiring head of the EEF, has said Labour represents a 'nightmarish' prospect for business and could wreck the economy.

Many campaigners have railed against sky-high pay in the City but it is a global powerhouse that rakes in huge sums of money for the Treasury each year.

Miles Celic, chief executive of TheCityUK financial services lobby group, said: 'What too many politicians fail to grasp is that the industry is a national asset'

Financial services firms paid 72.1billion in taxes last year, according to the City of London Corporation  11 per cent of the total handed over to the Exchequer. Taxes paid by high-earning bankers and other professionals made up 31.4billion of this.

Mr Corbyn said: 'We need a fundamental rethink of whom finance should serve and how it should be regulated. There can be no rebalancing of our distorted, sluggish and unequal economy without taking on the power of finance.

'For 40 years, deregulated finance has progressively become more powerful. Its dominance over industry, obvious and destructive; its control of politics, pernicious and undemocratic.

'The size and power of finance created a generation of politicians who thought the City of London could power the whole economy. Out-of-control financial wizardry and gambling were left barely regulated, while the real economies in once-strong industrial areas were put into managed decline.

'For a generation, instead of finance serving industry, politicians have served finance.

'We've seen where that ends: the productive economy, our public services and people's lives being held hostage by a small number of too-big-to-fail banks and casino financial institutions.'

Miles Celic, chief executive of TheCityUK financial services lobby group, said: 'What too many politicians fail to grasp is that the industry is a national asset.

'It is more than the City of London, with strong financial centres right across the country in cities such as Manchester, Glasgow, Cardiff, Birmingham and Bristol.

'Two thirds of the 2.2million jobs in the industry are outside the M25. As well as providing jobs and tax revenue, this industry helps people save for a mortgage, start a business, invest in new technologies or plan for retirement.'
An Iowa meteorologist who was accused of soliciting sex from young boys is no longer an employee of KCCI-TV.

The Des Moines station confirmed Frank Scaglione's departure from the station but KCCI news director Dave Busiek did not say whether he was fired or if he resigned.

According to the Des Moines Register, the allegations against Scaglione, 26, first surfaced on Sunday when several Twitter accounts posted claims online.

The users accused Scaglione of using social media to pursue sexual relationships with boys younger than 18.

KCCI-TV meteorologist, Frank Scaglione (pictured), is no longer an employee of the Iowa news station after he was accused of soliciting sex from boys younger than 18 on social media

The Des Moines station confirmed Scaglione's departure from the station but KCCI news director Dave Busiek did not say whether he was fired or if he resigned

Five boys told the Register that Scaglione tried to pursue personal relationships with them over social media.

They claimed he sent them unsolicited pictures of genitals or of his shirtless upper body to 17-year-old boys in the Des Moines area.

The teens alleged that Scaglione asked them to get lunch, to come to his house or to send pictures of their genitals.

One 17-year-old accuser, who attends Southeast Polk High School, told the Register that he connected with Scaglione on Snapchat.

'It was cool to add the weather guy on Snapchat,' he said. 'You know, it was a thing. So I added him but (was) not expecting him to add me back.'

According to the teen, he and Scaglione exchanged messages on Snapchat after the teen jokingly sent him a message first asking about the weather.

According to the Des Moines Register, the allegations against Scaglione (left and right), 26, first surfaced on Sunday when several Twitter accounts posted the claims online

Five boys told the Register that Scaglione tried to pursue personal relationships with them over social media

Scaglione allegedly responded by asking the teen how old he was. The teen said he told Scaglione he was 17.

'I thought that it was weird at the time that he was asking me my age, but I didn't really think anything of it at first, just because I felt like he was just a trusted person,' the teen told the newspaper.

The teen then claimed that Scaglione sent him a message asking him to come over to his house, sent him inappropriate statements and photos of genitals.

The teen said he didn't tell anyone about the incident. Another accuser claimed he interacted with Scaglione on Snapchat in March 2017.

'I had no idea who he was, so I added him back,' the teen told the Register.

The teen said their conversation started with Scaglione asking if he'd like to send messages back and forth to each other.

The teens claimed Scaglione sent them unsolicited pictures of genitals or of his shirtless upper body to 17-year-old boys in the Des Moines area

They alleged that Scaglione (left and right) asked them to get lunch, to come to his house or to send pictures of their genitals

'I told him no. No way. That's weird,' the teen told the newspaper. 'I'm only 17. You're a grown man.'

The second teen alleged Scaglione sent shirtless pictures to him.

'He sent a picture of himself at the gym with his shirt off, flexing in the mirror. And then he proceeded to ask me questions about me taking my shirt off,' the teen said.

The teen said he told Scaglione that he wasn't gay and that he has a girlfriend.

Scaglione has not been charged with any crimes. Scaglione had worked for KCCI in the weather department since March 2009, when he was 17, per his LinkedIn account.

He received his bachelor's degree at AIB College of Business and studied meteorology online through Mississippi State University.

His Twitter and Facebook accounts were apparently deleted Sunday. He had more than 13,200 followers on Twitter.
A carload of tourists has been caught dangerously driving on the wrong side of the road.

The silver 4WD hire car with three people inside was filmed driving into oncoming traffic on The Esplanade at Torquay, on Victoria's surf coast on Sunday.

Tragedy was averted when the 4WD was able to pull off the road to the right into an empty parking space.

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A carload of tourists has been caught dangerously driving on the wrong side of the road (pictured)

Shanan Greenhough, a local resident who caught the encounter on camera, said the car was going the speed limit and hadn't veered into the wrong lane, 3AW reported.

'I got the absolute shock of my life,' said Mr Greenhough.

'Police said that licence plate was a hire car from Tullamarine Airport.

'There was three people in the car of Asian appearance.'

The silver 4WD hire car with three people inside was filmed driving into oncoming traffic on The Esplanade at Torquay, on Victoria's surf coast on Sunday (pictured)

Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton confirmed there was a problem with cars driving on the wrong side of the road which worsens during summer.

Car rental companies have been supplied videos to show tourists before hiring, but few use them.

The problem can also be seen at the snow, and a Phillip Island, Mr Ashton said, as is erratic driving.

Road signs with Chinese translations have been erected in some parts of Victoria, such as at Separation Creek near the Great Ocean Road, to deal with the problem.
Social workers now outnumber GPs in England, according to official figures.

There were more than 36,000 childrens social workers employed by local councils and agencies last year, they disclosed, a total up by more than 2,000 in just two years.

Just over half of the countrys childrens social workers actually deal with children who are in state care or in need of help, the breakdown compiled by the Department for Education said.

By contrast the number of GPs in England is falling, and dropped below 34,000 in the last three months of last year, according to NHS Digital (file photo)

Some 49 per cent are managers, senior practitioners or other qualified social workers who do not handle the cases of real children, it found.

By contrast the number of GPs in England is falling, and dropped below 34,000 in the last three months of last year, according to NHS Digital.

The Mail reported earlier this month that the pressure on GPs time is such that surgeries in some major cities are now running shared consultations for up to 15 patients with similar conditions at a time.

The increase in the ranks of social workers has come while local councils and childrens services chiefs have been complaining loudly about the impact of austerity and limited government funding. Last week the Local Government Association, the umbrella body for councils, said there is a funding gap of 2 billion facing the childrens services departments which employ social workers.

It warned that failure to invest in these services will have long-term consequences for our countrys children and families.

But critics queried how the army of social workers measures success in helping troubled children. Academic and researcher Patricia Morgan said: There appears to be a major increase in bureaucracy. It may be that we have a lot of social workers just getting in the way of each other.

The figures from the DfE were the first headcount of individual social workers to be carried out in England. It showed that, including part-time social workers, there were 30,670 employed by local councils at the end of September last year. A further 5,340, counted as full-time equivalents, were recorded working for independent agencies, which are routinely called upon by council childrens services.

The Mail reported earlier this month that the pressure on GPs time is such that surgeries in some major cities are now running shared consultations for up to 15 patients with similar conditions at a time (file photo)

Numbers of agency workers are unchanged, the DfE said, but the headcount of social workers employed by councils was up from 28,570 in 2015.

Some 85 per cent were women, the report said.

Local authorities had the equivalent of 28,500 full-time social workers in September last year, up from 26,500 in 2015. The growth amounts to 7.5 per cent, although the DfE report warned that totals may have been affected by the change in counting methods in 2017.

These increases continue a long-term trend, the DfE report said, but may be driven partly be improved data quality.

Only 51 per cent of children and family social workers were case holders - in other words were handling the cases of individual troubled families and children, the DfE report said. The proportion of caseholder social workers had fallen from 54 per cent in 2016, it found.

The other 49 per cent, it found, were senior managers, middle managers, first line managers, senior practitioners and qualified without cases workers who did not deal with individual children.

Including agency workers, there were 17,840 social workers handling 317,690 cases, the figures showed. This meant that despite frequent complaints that social workers are overburdened, a typical social worker dealing with children was handling a caseload of 17.8 families.

Caseloads varied between 26.4 for each social worker in Staffordshire to 10..2 each in the West London boroughs of Kingston upon Thames and Richmond upon Thames.

The DfE said the figures should be treated with caution because the number of cases reported in the council count is much smaller than the 389,430 total of children in need and at risk from abuse or family problems who were reported to the same ministry last spring.

Richard Watts of the Local Government Associations Children and Young People Board said: Services caring for and protecting vulnerable children are now, in many areas, being pushed to breaking point'

It added: Local authorities have reported difficulties with linking the number of cases and the social worker holding those cases so care should be taken interpreting the figures.

While social worker numbers were on the increase, the NHS has been reporting a decline in numbers of GPs. In September 2015, according to NHS Digital, there were 34,592 GPs in England, more than the number of social workers. By last December their ranks had thinned to 33,872.

Local Government Association spokesman Simon Blackburn said last week that the Government needs to close the funding gap facing childrens services, which will reach at least 2 billion by 2020. An urgent injection of funding is also needed to protect the services that families rely on the tackle problems or recover from previous abuse.

Mrs Morgan said: What is the scale of improvement in childrens lives that we have because of social workers? What difference to they make to the outcome for children? How many more social workers do councils want?

It looks as if they are just building a bureaucracy. They do not appear to have any measure of what counts as success.

Richard Watts of the Local Government Associations Children and Young People Board said: Services caring for and protecting vulnerable children are now, in many areas, being pushed to breaking point.

These latest figures highlight the challenge facing local authorities in coping with record increases in demand for child protection services. With an 83 per cent increase in children on child protection plans over the past decade and children in care numbers increasing at the fastest rate since 2010, councils are having to work around the clock to recruit additional social workers to ensure that vulnerable children and young people get the support they need.

Councils are organising their social work teams to be as efficient as possible, but this constant growth in demand and case complexity, coupled with the difficulty of recruiting experienced social workers, brings considerable challenges that cannot be solved through the recruitment of newly qualified social workers alone.

Mr Watts added: The current situation in childrens social care is simply not sustainable. Councils are facing a 2 billion funding gap for childrens services by 2020, and local authorities across England overspent their childrens services budgets by 605 million in the last year alone as they worked to address these growing pressures.

A child was referred to childrens services every 49 seconds last year, and 90 children entered the care system every day. We are urging the Government to fully fund childrens services and invest in vital early intervention services, to help councils provide the right help and support for vulnerable children and their families when they need it.
Moutia Elzahed, one of two wives of jailed terrorist recruiter Hamdi Alqudsi, waved to the cameras as she left Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court today.

The Sydney wife of an Islamic State extremist accused of refusing to stand for a judge on religious grounds has failed in a bid to have the charges quashed.

The case of the first person in New South Wales to be charged for refusing to stand for a judge on religious grounds will go ahead after a magistrate rejected a challenge from the defence team.

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Moutia Elzahed, the wife of an Islamic State extremist, waved to cameras as she left Sydney's Downing Centre district court on Monday February 19, 2018, after her appeal was denied

Moutia Elzahed, wife of jailed terrorist recruiter Hamdi Alqudsi, allegedly remained seated in front of District Court Judge Audrey Balla multiple times in November and December 2016, saying she stood only for Allah.

Magistrate Carolyn Hunstman ruled against her lawyer's application to have the disrespectful behaviour charges quashed at Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday on constitutional and jurisdictional grounds.

Defence barrister David Hume on Monday said the New South Wales attorney-general referred the matter to the solicitor-general, arguing the executive had interfered with the judiciary.

Moutia Elzahed, was charged for allegedly refusing to stand for a judge multiple times late last year, saying she 'only stood for Allah'

Mr Hume added that solicitor-general Michael Sexton SC didn't consider whether the case was appropriate, desirable and in the public interest.

But Ms Hunstman said she wasn't convinced that the solicitor-general improperly exercised the power that was delegated to him, or that he didn't consider the public interest.

'I am therefore satisfied that the delegation from the attorney-general to the solicitor-general was valid,' she said.

Elzahed, a niqab-wearing Muslim woman, rose to her feet several times for Ms Hunstman throughout the hearing

Elzahed, a niqab-wearing Muslim woman, has risen to her feet several times for Ms Hunstman throughout the hearing.

Her husband Hamdi Alqudsi, 42, was jailed in 2016 for a minimum of six years for helping young Australians travel to Syria to fight with Islamic State.



She is the first person in New South Wales to be charged for refusing to stand for a judge on religious grounds.

Her husband was the first Australian to be prosecuted for helping men fight in Syria.

Last December the Australian National Imams Council said Islamic defendants have no faith-based reason not to stand before a judge or uncover their faces while giving testimony.
The head of Oxfam is being investigated over his handling of a sexual assault case, it was reported last night.

Mark Goldring is the subject of an internal inquiry into the sacking in 2010 of Lesley Agams.

Miss Agams, who was the charitys country director in Nigeria, was dismissed by a senior manager she had accused of sexually assaulting her three months beforehand, according to reports.

Miss Agams, who was the charitys country director in Nigeria, was dismissed by a senior manager she had accused of sexually assaulting her three months beforehand, according to reports

Oxfam staff had wanted an independent inquiry but Mr Goldring held a personal review. He apologised to Miss Agams, 51, for what she had gone through but stood by the decision to sack her.

The sacking of Miss Agams resurfaced after a complaint was lodged against Mr Goldring by Marc Wegerif, 49, who resigned as a senior policy official at Oxfam two months ago. He told The Times that the charity had discredited Miss Agams without justification.

He said: The decisions on how to respond to Lesleys case were made by senior leadership team without the involvement of the safeguarding team or the gender justice teams. I found it amazing Mark Goldring could acknowledge that she was sacked by the person she accused of assaulting her but then conclude that there was nothing wrong with that.

Mark Goldring is the subject of an internal inquiry into the sacking in 2010 of Lesley Agams

The incident will form part of the Charity Commissions inquiry into Oxfam that was announced last week following revelations that it had covered up allegations of sexual misconduct by staff in Haiti in 2010.

Mr Goldring, 60, will face questioning from MPs on the Commons international development committee over the scandal today.

Theresa May condemned the behaviour of Oxfam staff as horrific yesterday.

The Prime Minister said she was appalled that those who had used prostitutes engaged in physical intimidation of witnesses.

The sacking of Miss Agams resurfaced after a complaint was lodged against Mr Goldring by Marc Wegerif (pictured), 49, who resigned as a senior policy official at Oxfam two months ago

Meanwhile a watchdog had found that Britains aid department risks making poorer nations dependent on handouts. Officials prioritise short-term and immediate results rather than helping third-world countries to finance and lead their own development.

There was a failure to monitor value for money in a third of projects, the study into the aid budget of the Department for International Development found. The report was compiled by the Independent Commission for Aid Impact which scrutinises the 13billion spent each year.

A spokesman for DfID said: This report rightly recognises that DfID is a global champion in achieving value for money and is leading the rest of the world in pushing vital reforms through the international aid system to help the poorest people and ensure UK aid cannot be better spent.
A murdered woman's lifeless body was found by her husband and step-children when they returned home from school.

Sarbjit Kaur, 38, is thought to have been murdered in a burglary gone wrong at her home on Rookery Lane, in the leafy suburb of Penn, Wolverhampton.

She was last seen alive by her husband Gurpreet Singh at about 9am on Friday morning when he left to go to work at the construction company he is director of.

Police attended the scene after textile worker Sarbjit Kaur was found murdered in her home with her body being discovered by her husband and step-children

After finishing work, Mr Singh picked up his two children, a girl aged 11 and a boy aged ten, from school and they returned to their home.

When they arrived, they found the body of Mrs Kaur.

Police said the mother-of-two had been assaulted and was pronounced dead at the scene when paramedics arrived.

Early inquiries suggest some items were taken from the 250,000 property and police are not ruling out a botched burglary as a possible motive.

A friend of the family said she was a home-based textile worker and that material and fabric was found strewn near her body and upstairs.

The victim was last seen alive by her husband Gurpreet Singh at about 9am on Friday morning when he left to go to work

Her husband, known locally as Sonu, is though to have been staying at a relatives' house following the shocking murder, together with the two children who are from his first marriage.

According to locals, Sarbjit Kaur arrived in the country from the Punjab in India just under three years ago after she married Mr Singh in July 2015.

Mr Singhs first wife, also an Indian national and the mother of his two children, had died of a sudden illness in India in December 2014.

A post-mortem failed to reveal the cause of death but police have confirmed she was murdered, with items seemingly missing from the house

The Inspector in charge of the murder investigation said: 'This is a shocking case, the likes of which are extremely rare'

West Midlands Police also confirmed that a post-mortem examination had not revealed a precise cause of death, and further tests are now being conducted.

Inspector Chris Mallett, who is leading the murder investigation, said he is 'keeping an open mind' on the motive for the murder.

He said: 'Mrs Kaur was attacked inside her own home. This is a shocking case, the likes of which are extremely rare, and we have a team of officers working on this murder enquiry to establish what happened and to finding the person or people responsible.

'The motive so far is unclear and I'm keeping an open mind regards the circumstanceswe are investigating several lines of enquiry including whether this was a random burglary or if the address or Mrs Kaur were deliberately targeted.

Mrs Kaur reportedly arrived in the country from the Punjab in India just under three years ago when she married Mr Singh in July 2015

'The interior was in an untidy state  which could indicate it had been searched  and we believe that some items are missing. We are working with the family to understand exactly what items were taken.

'We have carried out CCTV and house-to-house enquiries, conducted an extensive forensic examination of the scene, and working with the family to establish the victim's movements throughout the day.

'I would urge anyone who saw anything suspicious on Friday, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to contact my team on 101.'

Neighbours of the couple expressed shock at the murder.

Five police cars and a forensic tent could be seen outside the sprawling detached home in Rookery Lane, the Penn, on Friday

A resident living next door to the house said: 'We've lived here for 20 years.

'I used to head off to work at 5am and I used to the see the man who lived there, we would just give each other a friendly hello.

'I never saw the woman, and didn't know their names, but we've had a couple burglaries in the past.

'The burglars wait for you to go to work and then they break in from the side gate or the back.

'I don't know if this area is being targeted but it is a bit worrying.'

Another neighbour added: 'I only moved in five weeks ago, and I heard about this incident on the day it happened.

The home has been sealed off for forensic examination and officers are conducting house-to-house enquiries in the road where properties sell for around 250,000

'I'm a shocked at that this has happened, this is a nice neighbourhood.

'We've got to be vigilant, and do things like keeping our doors and windows locked and watching for any suspicious behaviour, just have to look out for each other really.'

Another neighbour said: 'It's terrible what's happened.

'I didn't know them personally, they just kept themselves to themselves, but everyone in neighbour pretty much does the same.

'I've been here for 50 years and I've had a couple of burglaries myself, but not recently though.

'They must see the houses and think these are wealthy and just wait till everyone's out and then jump at the chance to break in.

'I've seen on the news that we as neighbours have been told to be more vigilant, and we do.'
A man has claimed he was denied access to a pub in south-west Melbourne because of a tattoo on his neck that is a tribute to his son who recently died of cancer.

John, 67, told 3AW on Tuesday he was stopped by security at the entrance of the Park Hotel in Werribee as he and his partner tried to enter for dinner.

'He said "Have you got a shirt and collar as you can't come in because you have a neck tattoo",' John told the radio station.

'All my partner said was 'What century are we living in?', and they said 'Look, that's our policy', and so we walked off.'

A 67-year-old man said he was denied access to a pub in south-west Melbourne because of a tattoo on his neck that is a tribute to his son who recently died of cancer (pictured)

John told 3AW on Tuesday he was stopped by security at the entrance of the Park Hotel (pictured) in Werribee as he and his partner tried to enter for dinner

The Park Hotel's dress code says it 'maintains a smart casual dress code at all times', including 'no exposed neck or face tattoos and no exposed intimidating or offensive tattoos.'

John said his tattoo is not offensive and is a tribute for his John who died from cancer.

'You're allowed in with a T-shirt if the tattoo is on your arm,' he said.

The Park Hotel did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Daily Mail Australia.
This is the moment a man is kicked and racially abused in the middle of the street in a terrifying road rage attack.

Melbourne man Paddy, who moved from Sri Lanka 22 years ago, said the threatening attack happened when both drivers pulled their cars to the side of a Melbourne road on November 22.

In the footage shared by Avi Yemini, the New Zealand attacker is seen repeatedly kicking Paddy in the legs.

'I'll knock you out c***, who's laughing now b***h,' the man said.

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His attacker, a New Zealand man, (left) is seen verbally abusing Paddy (right) and repeatedly kicking him in the legs

Forcefully kicking Paddy with his steel-capped boots, the man said 'what c***, you think I give a f***?'

Paddy can be seen walking backwards and away from his attacker in a bid to stop the fight.

Paddy warned the man his friend was recording the attack on his camera, but the New Zealand man said 'I don't give a f*** c***'.

'I don't care, f*** you. Talking sh** to me like that c***, put your f***ing hands up c***,' he said.

'Indian c***, f***ing . Punjabis b***h.'

Paddy said the November 22 attack was the result of road rage.

'I asked him, where are you going to go, how are you going to drive like this, he was swearing and I was like, 'you do not drive like that', I have a business and if something happens, who's going to look after my family?' Paddy said.

He said he wanted to go public with the attack because he felt the judicial system had not done anything to help.

'Where else are we supposed to go if the very law supposed to be protecting us isn't,' he told Avi Yemini.

Paddy can be seen walking away from his attacker before he is kicked again from behind

Speaking about the increased number of violent attacks in Melbourne in recent years, he said: 'We're hoping someone will wake up and stop this lunacy'.

He called for 'tougher laws and tougher penalties'.

'Pay the victims, at least then they will know they have to pay out of their pocket,' he said.

Paddy said he couldn't work for a week after the attack which left his legs severely injured.

'This shouldn't happen, if they knew they were going to be in trouble, this wouldn't happen,' he said.

Paddy also called for the perpetrators of violent crimes to be deported back to their native countries.

'Remember why you came here, you bypassed all the other countries to come to Australia for a better life. So make sure it's a better life for everyone,' he said.

'Integrate and accept the way we live, very easy going, peace loving Australians.

'If they don't agree with the system, what are they doing here.

'If you don't accept it, you should go back.'

Speaking to Avi Yemini (right) about the increased number of violent attacks in Melbourne in recent years, Paddy (left) called for violent perpetrators to be deported

Paddy claimed the Victorian and Federal governments were not doing enough to protect their citizens.

'There are all these horrible things happening, even my family in Sri Lanka is asking what is happening in Australia,' he said.

'We need to do something.'

Victoria Police told Daily Mail Australia a Noble Park man was expected to be charged on summons following the alleged road rage and assault.

The police confirmed the 42-year old victim received minor leg injuries as a result of the incident.

The 21-year-old will be charged with unlawful assault, assault by kicking, use offensive language in a public place and use threatening words.

He will appear at Dandenong Magistrates' Court on April 24.
The ex-child bride who helped take down Warren Jeffs has revealed that she suffered several miscarriage and a still birth after she was forced to marry her 19-year-old first cousin when she was just 14.

Elissa Wall, now 31, was awarded $16million in damages against Mormon cult leader Jeffs, last September, after she was the star witness in the trial that ultimately put him away.

A judge noted that as the leader of the isolated sect of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) Jeffs had control over every aspect of his followers' lives. He was responsible for arranging for Wall, then 14, to marry her first cousin Allen Steed, then 19, over her objections.

Now, as part of a new documentary for A&E, named Warren Jeffs: Prophet of Evil, Wall has opened up about her abusive childhood growing up in the Utah-based cult which had an estimated 15,000 followers at one time.

Scroll down for video

Elissa Wall, now 31, was awarded $16million in damages against Mormon cult leader Jeffs, last September

Wall, who was born into the FLDS church in Utah, described growing up in the isolated and secretive community.

'We led a very secret lifestyle,' she told Fox News. 'We didn't interact with the outside world. We didn't go to public school. We were educated, cultivated and bred to be products of the church and the religion.'

She said that church members were fed lies about non-believers, who were described as 'evil disciples of the devil' but she questioned these claims early on.

Jeffs, who was referred to as 'Uncle Warren' growing up, was a huge presence in her life and Wall said that children of the cult would grow up listening to tapes of Jeffs again and again to learn the history of the church.

'It became the backdrop of our childhood,' she said.

Elissa Wall pictured being forcibly kissed by her 19-year-old first cousin Allen Steed after their forced marriage

In 2001, Jeffs made the decision that Wall's childhood was over. Aged just 14, and despite her tearful pleas, she was married to Steed. She says the abuse began almost immediately

In 2001, Jeffs made the decision that Wall's childhood was over.

Aged just 14, and despite her tearful pleas, she was married to Steed.

She says the abuse began almost immediately.

'Mentally, it was immediate,' she said. 'I was now the property of my cousin. And no matter how resistant I was to him, his job was to get me into submission as quickly as possible Then the sexual abuse came later as he started to force himself on me and force that my role as a wife was to be at his beck and call and to have his children.

'And when I became resistant to that, then the physical abuse started to take over. And I think the frustration of my cousin, his frustration of being judged for not being a good man because his wife wasn't submissive and she wasn't good  that all compounded the problem.'

Wall suffered several miscarriages and a still-birth during the almost four-year-long forced marriage. All the while, she says that the abuse continued. Her pleas to Jeffs to intervene resulted only in her being told off for not being submissive enough.

Third District Judge Keith Kelly awarded Elissa Wall (left) $12million in punitive damages and $4million in damages in the lawsuit she filed in 2005 against Warren Jeffs (right), the former Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) president

'I really think at the time it was about submission,' Wall told Fox News about the illegal marriage. 'I could have become a really big problem for the community and for Warren. I was a little more outspoken than the average girl. But I really think it was about pounding me into submission I was just the next player he wanted to eliminate and to quickly get control over.'

Steed would later plead guilty to solemnization of a prohibited marriage and pleaded no contest to unlawful sexual activity with a minor.

He received just 30 days in jail and three years of probation.

In 2005, Wall finally fled the church aged 18.

When she left she was forced to leave her entire family behind - the hardest part of which was abandoning her two younger sisters. But she said that, at the time, there was a 'giant canyon between us.'

She said that the reason she first came forward to testify, wasn't to take down Jeffs, but to save her sisters.

The lawsuit stems from the fact that Jeffs forced Wall to marry her 19-year-old cousin Allen Steed when she was just 14 years old (above together shortly after the wedding)

In 2006, Jeffs - who had been on the run for four months - was finally arrested and charged with facilitating polygamous marriages involving underage girls.

At his trial the following years, Wall met the man who forced her to marry her adult cousin, and locked eyes with him in court.

She added that she 'felt this overwhelming power that consumed my very soul and I refused to drop eyes.'

'That was my stand. If I can keep contact with him, I can prove to myself that he didn't control me I was liberating myself from his control. I was beginning to free myself from the anger I had towards him.'

After facing him in court, Wall has been able to get on with her own life.

She has been able to reconnect with her beloved sisters, although she has not been able to reach her mother - who was born and raised in the church.

Wall is a single mother a son, 13, and an 11-year-old daughter in Utah, and has also founded a kids' clothing company.

Wall, who was born into the FLDS church in Utah, described growing up in the isolated and secretive community (pictured as a young girl is the sect, left and right)

In the ruling, the judge noted that Jeffs controlled FLDS and key aspects of Wall's life when he arranged for her to marry Steed over her objections. Wall (center) said Steed was a violent man who raped her often

In September, Third District Judge Keith Kelly awarded Wall $12million in punitive damages and $4million in damages in the lawsuit she filed in 2005 against Jeffs.

'The judgment handed down by the Court is a big step forward in the fight for a strong and unmovable statement to the world that no one, especially children, can be sexual[ly] exploited and abused in the name of religion,' Wall said in a news release said, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

When the events occurred, Wall filed the case under the pseudonym 'MJ'. Her attorney Alan Mortensen said that the ruling now allows for her to collect the money from either Jeffs, who is serving a life sentence in prison, or the church.

Mortensen added that they may pursue FLDS assets in several states along with Mexico and Canada.

'It's so the church feels the pain of what their doctrine has been as to the rape of young girls,' Mortensen told the Salt Lake Tribune.

Neither Jeffs nor the church defended himself or itself in the lawsuit.

Jeffs has been behind bars since 2006 after he was sentenced to life plus 20 years in a Texas prison when he was convicted of several sexual abuse charges with two girls he married as plural wives. Above are dozens of Jeffs's brides

In the ruling, the judge noted that Jeffs controlled FLDS and key aspects of Wall's life when he arranged for her to marry Allen Steed, then 19, over her objections.

Wall testified during Jeffs' trial in St. George that she has trust issues and other problematic effects from the relationship.

During this trial he was charged with rape as an accomplice, and was convicted by a jury. But the Utah Supreme Court overturned the conviction.

Jeffs has been behind bars since 2006 after he was sentenced to life plus 20 years in a Texas prison when he was convicted of several sexual abuse charges with two girls he married as plural wives.

In 2016, Wall was awarded $2.75million in cash and property from the United Effort Plan, which is the trust that holds much of the property in Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Arizona for the traditional home of the FLDS.

Wall sued the trust now controlled by the state to hold leaders accountable for abuses such as underage marriage, her lawyer said.

The new governing board of the trust said in a statement they appreciated that she spoke out publicly against Jeffs.

Under that agreement, Wall received $1.5 million in cash, said property trust lawyer Jeffrey Shields.

She also received a house in Hildale and a 40-acre piece of property in Colorado City with a total value of $1.25 million.

'She's done enough for this community, I think she's entitled to a residence,' Shields said.

The trust holds nearly all the land, homes and businesses in the home base of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints along the Utah-Arizona border.

Estimated to be worth about $110 million, it was built to fulfill a belief in holding property communally.

'Warren Jeffs: Prophet of Evil' airs Monday at 9 p.m. on A&E.
A 19-year-old driver who killed his friend in a horrific road accident did a 'road cone beer bong' before smashing his car into a tree.

Scott David Millar, an apprentice builder, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and reckless driving causing injuries on Tuesday morning at the Dunedin High Court, in the South Island of New Zealand.

His front seat passenger, Ravineel Avikash Sharma, died in the accident on August 10, 2017, near Alexandra, Stuff.co.nz reported.

Scott David Millar (pictured) killed his friend in an accident and drank alcohol before the smash

His front seat passenger, Ravineel Sharma (pictured) died in the accident in August 2017

After attending a party and drinking, Millar was to drop Sharma at his house but the pair never arrived after Millar drove recklessly and crashed into a tree

Appearing in front of Justice Gerald Nation, the court heard Millar and Sharma drove to meet with friends at a commercial garage after work for some drinks.

At the party Millar drank alcohol and later in the evening did a 'road cone (beer) bong'.

Reading from the police summary of facts, the Crown Prosecutor said an orange plastic road cone was used as a funnel, which 'forces the drinker to consume a large amount of alcohol in a short period of time'.

While at the gathering Millar did at least one of the bongs, and became friends with a new arrival in the town, Hayden Crawley.

Millar, who was described by other party-goers as 'intoxicated' and 'too drunk to drive' offered to drop Crawley home, before all three men got into his vehicle.

Once en route, Crawley told Millar he was going 'the long way home' who then accelerated over the speed limit throughout the journey home.

After turning onto Dunstan Road, Millar slid through a T-intersection and hit a gutter, travelling between 80 - 120 kilometres an hour in a 50kmh zone, according to a witness.

Despite possibly damaging his vehicle, Millar continued to drive erratically, reaching speeds of more than 110kmh, while both passengers begged him to slow down.

Near the Alexandra Airport terminal, the driver performed doughnuts and the vehicle spun out through a muddy area off Coates Road.

After hitting a tree, the top of the car caved in to the height of the door sills, killing Sharma (pictured) who died from severe head and neck injuries from the collapsed roof

After turning onto Dunstan Road (pictured0 Millar slid through a T-intersection and hit a gutter, travelling between 80 - 120 kilometres an hour in a 50kmh zone, but continued to drive

While continuing to speed, Millar then pulled up the handbrake, attempting to 'drift' but instead the car was pushed off the side of the road and plummeted down a steep bank.

Upon hitting a tree, the top of the car caved in to the height of the door sills, killing Sharma who died from severe head and neck injuries from the collapsed roof.

Crawley was able to escape the wreck, and headed to a nearby property to raise alarm just before midnight.

Millar was flown to Dunedin Hospital and placed in an induced coma.

When his blood was taken at 4:15am, Millar was found with 142 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, nearly twice the legal limit of 80mg.

His license however only allowed him to drive with a zero limit.

The court heard Millar had no recollection of the crash and remembered drinking only a 'few beers' that evening.

Millar was remanded in custody for sentencing on April 9.
A Queensland man's bid to commute to work in a World War II-era aeroplane is set to be approved.

Engineer Pat English owns three aircraft, including the World War II-era Spitfire, and wants to fly from the Tablelands to Cairns each day for work, the Cairns Post reported.

He had applied for council permission last year to use a private airstrip on his property at Koah.

A Queensland man's bid to commute to work in a World War 2-era aeroplane is set to be approved (stock image)

But Mr English's plan has been met with strong opposition from neighbours.

They claim the increased air traffic will decrease privacy and make for more noise.

A planning officer has recommended Mr English's application be approved ahead of the council's general meeting on Wednesday.

It will include six flights permitted on any given day, with a maximum of seven flights a week.

Engineer Pat English owns three aircraft, including the World War II-era Spitfire, and wants to fly from the Tablelands to Cairns each day for work

Mr English will have to follow a strict flight path and will only be allowed to fly from 7am to 6pm.

'I would have been difficult for (the council) to say no to it,' he said.

Koah resident Sarah Isaacs said residents would be disappointed if the council didn't listen to their concerns.

'A vast majority of submissions were against this application,' she said.
The a gun owner took a stand for gun control by sawing off the barrel of his AR-15 instead of selling it.

Scott Pappalardo from New York recorded a poignant video of himself destroying the gun in response to the deadly shooting in Parkland, Florida, last week.

He chose to render the gun useless instead of sell it, so it will 'never be pointed at someone else'.

'I've decided today, I'm going to make sure this weapon will never be able to take a life. The barrel of this gun will never be pointed at someone,' Pappalardo said. He said he owned the gun for target shooting and had owned it for 30 years.

Scott Pappalardo of New York decided to take a stand on gun control - by destroying his own AR-15 rifle

Pappalardo spoke of the desire to keep his gun out of harmful hands, which he couldn't guarantee by selling it - so he cut the barrel off with an electric saw

Scott Pappalardo of New York State said that he was destroying his gun because of the recent mass shooting that left 17 people dead. Pappalardo also weighed the Second Amendment, of which is a supporter, against the danger and death that guns can cause.

Pappalardo said: 'Is the right to own this weapon more important than someone's life?'

In the video, Pappalardo says that weapons similar to his AR-15 have been used in other mass shootings. He also said that in the wake of the Sandy Hook shootings in 2012, he'd happily sacrifice his guns to save the life of a child.

Pappalardo asked in his Facebook video, viewed more than 14 million times, 'Is that right (to bear arms) more important?' (than the victims killed in mass shootings)

'Look at the pictures of those victims. Is that right (the right to own guns) more important?,' he said in the video.

Pappalardo also said he chose not to sell the gun because in that instance, there is still a chance that it could be used for a violent act.

While he says that he enjoys shooting for fun at targets, he doesn't want his weapons used for violent purposes.

Papparlardo also tagged his video #oneless, and called it his 'drop in a very large bucket'. The video has viewed over 14 million times and has been shared over 280,000 times since being posted on Saturday.
A family of three crashed into a wild pig on Tuesday morning in Queensland (file photo)

A four-month-old baby girl and her young parents were taken to hospital after their car crashed into a wild pig and veered off a highway in Northern Queensland.

The family were driving on Gregory Developmental road, 250km south of Townsville, just before 1am on Tuesday before colliding into the feral pig.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokesman told Daily Mail Australia that they received a call at 12.54am reporting the accident.

She added: 'Patients were pulled out of the car from a passer-by.'

The car rolled from the impact of the collision, leaving the baby safe but both parents were taken to hospital.

Father, 26, suffered from chest and arm injuries while the young mother, 20, had a fractured arm and head injuries.

A Townsville Hospital and Health Services spokesman told Daily Mail Australia that the patients are in a stable condition and were discharged from hospital at 7am.

A spokesman from Queensland police said she didn't have any details of the crash or information on the wild pig.

She suspects only Queensland ambulance but not police were present at the scene.

Father, 26, and mother, 20, were taken to Charters Towers Hospital after the car crash. They were discharged from hospital at 7am Tuesday

The young family were driving on Gregory Developmental road before they collided with a wild pig at 1am Tuesday

Graph shows the distribution of feral pigs in Queensland. Feral pigs are mainly concentrated on larger drainage basins and swamp areas
A former 2Day FM employee claims he was raped by a senior male colleague while working at the radio station.

Blake Phillips wrote in a blog post which was shared to social media on Monday that the alleged attack took place in late 2013.

He did not name his alleged rapist who is believed to still be working in Australia's commercial radio industry.

Former 2Day FM employee Blake Phillips (pictured) claimed he was raped by senior colleague

In a post shared online Blake Phillips said the alleged attack occurred in 2013 while he was employed by SCA

The former Southern Cross Austereo video producer reported the incident to police at the time however met with detectives again in December.

'Just before Christmas I reopened my case with new detectives and will be standing by the truth,' Mr Phillips wrote online.

'I am exploring all options of the law to set precedence for others who may find themselves somewhere in a similar lonely dark journey that can take years to recover from, if at all.'

A NSW police spokesperson told Newscorp, 'Detectives from Sydney City Police Area Command are conducting inquiries into a reported sexual assault that allegedly occurred in August 2013'.

Mr Phillips said he regrets not pursuing legal action at the time and chose to deal with the incident 'off the public record' through the SCA HR department in fear of public and media scrutiny.

Phillips did not name his alleged rapist, who still remains working within in radio

SCA responded stating that it takes incidents of this nature very seriously

'I had no idea or capacity to research my rights at the time and now it makes me feel sick knowing how much better it could have been,' he wrote.

SCA has responded by issuing a statement on Monday, stating that it takes incidents of this nature very seriously.

'In 2013, on becoming aware of the incident, SCA acted promptly by investigating.

'SCA supported Blake including assisting him with his conversations with the police and providing him with extensive counselling.

'This support was ongoing for the duration of his remaining two and a half year employment, including his request to be relocated to another office within the company.

'We have and are continuing to assist the police with any further inquiries they may have.'

Daily Mail Australia has approached SCA for comment.
This is the frightening moment schoolchildren fled for their lives as huge plumes of volcanic ash spewed from Indonesia's Mount Sinabung.

Locals could only watch in horror as the screams of hundreds of children echoed through Tiga Pancur village in North Sumatra.

The colossal ash cloud shot five kilometres into the air, with the plume appearing to head towards the Sipandak elementary students.

The volcano, one of three currently erupting in Indonesia, was dormant for four centuries before exploding in 2010, killing two people.

Another eruption in 2014 killed 16 people, while seven died in a 2016 eruption.

There were no fatalities or injuries from the latest morning, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency said.

Schoolchildren are seen fleeing for their lives as huge plumes of volcanic ash spew from Indonesia's Mount Sinabung.

The screams of hundreds of children echoed throughout Tiga Pancur village in North Sumatra

The colossal ash cloud shot five kilometres into the air, with the plume appearing to head towards the Sipandak elementary students

Airlines have been issued a 'red notice', barring them from flying over parts of Indonesia because of the eruption.

A Jetstar spokesman told Daily Mail Australia the eruption has not affected any of their flights. A Qantas spokeswoman said none of their flights had been affected either.

Incredible video footage showed the North Sumatra volcano erupting which caused dangerous ash rain to fall.

While there have been no casualties, local residents have been warned to watch out for lava.

A volcanic eruption in Indonesia has sent colossal clouds of ash shooting five kilometres into the sky

Airlines have been issued a 'red notice', barring them from flying over parts of Indonesia because of the eruption

Locals could only watch on as the smoke engulfed the sky. Motorists are seen on a road covered in volcanic ash

The mountain which usually stands against a picturesque scene, has been at its highest alert level after its eruption four years ago.

The Indonesian National Disaster Mitigation Agency have warned against locals getting near the danger zone which is within three to seven-kilometres around Mount Sinabung's crater.

Authorities feared lava flows could cascade down the mountain and destroy homes, as has happened several times.

The volcano explodes so frequently, warning signs are permanently stationed around it warning against going near it.

Sinabung is located on the 'Ring of Fire', a volatile zone of seismic activity with hundreds of active volcanoes and 90 per cent of the world's earthquakes.

A Jetstar spokesman told Daily Mail Australia the eruption has not affected any of their flights. A Qantas spokeswoman said none of their flights had been affected either

National disaster management agency spokesman Sutopo Nugroho said a plume of thick ash was sent five kilometres into the sky
Despite years of political and personal disagreements, President Donald Trump has endorsed Mitt Romney for the Utah Senate chair.

Trump tweeted his endorsement on Monday night, writing that he 'will make a great senator and successor to @OrrinHatch.'

The support comes as a surprise to many considering Romney has been critical of Trump throughout his presidency and beforehand during the election.

Despite years of political and personal disagreements, President Donald Trump has endorsed Mitt Romney for the Utah Senate chair. the pair are pictured together in 2016 just after Trump won the election

Trump tweeted his endorsement on Monday night, writing that he 'will make a great senator and successor to @OrrinHatch'

Romney thanked Trump for the endorsement in a Tweet posted soon after the president's statement

During the 2016 campaign Romney excoriated Trump as a 'fraud' who was 'playing the American public for suckers.'

Trump responded that Romney, who ran for president against Obama in 2012, had 'choked' during the election.He also wrote that Romney was 'one of the dumbest and worst candidates in the history of Republican politics.'

Romney then slammed Trump on Twitter - saying he wouldn't have wanted his endorsement during his run in 2012.

'If Trump had said 4 years ago the things he says today about the KKK, Muslims, Mexicans, disabled, I would NOT have accepted his endorsement,' Romney wrote in 2016.

Since then Romney has taken aim at Trump and his policies multiple times. He hit out at the president particularly hard for his comments on white supremacists at a 'Unite the Right' rally in Charlottesville in August.

He also condoned Trump's endorsement of Roy Moore in the Alabama Senate special election, and slammed Trump's comments about Haiti and other African nations as 's***hole countries.'

But the pair seem to have temporarily overcome their differences - and Romney thanked Trump for the endorsement in a Tweet posted soon after the president's statement.

'I hope that over the course of the campaign I also earn the support and endorsement of the people of Utah,' Romney wrote.

The support comes as a surprise to many considering Romney has been critical of Trump throughout his presidency and beforehand during the election. Romney is pictured at the 2018 Utah County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner on Friday

During the 2016 campaign Romney excoriated Trump as a 'fraud' who was 'playing the American public for suckers.' They are pictured together in 2012

Trump tweeted Romney, who ran for president against Obama in 2012, had 'choked like a dog' during the election. He also wrote that Romney was 'one of the dumbest and worst candidates in the history of Republican politics'

Romney then slammed Trump on Twitter - saying he wouldn't have wanted his endorsement during his run in 2012

Romney hit out at the president particularly hard for his comments on white supremacists at a 'Unite the Right' rally in Charlottesville in August

He also condoned Trump's endorsement of Roy Moore in the Alabama Senate special election, and slammed Trump's comments about Haiti and other African nations as 's***hole countries'

Despite Romney's prior criticism, after Trump won the presidency in November 2016, he briefly considered picking Romney as secretary of state.

After Trump's endorsement on Monday night he followed with tweets to boast about the state of the economy since the 2016 election.

'The U.S. economy is looking very good, in my opinion, even better than anticipated,' Trump wrote.

'Companies are pouring back into our country, reversing the long term trend of leaving. The unemployment numbers are looking great, and Regulations & Taxes have been massively Cut! JOBS, JOBS, JOBS'

He also tweeted about the 'very interesting' new book 'The Faith of Donald Trump.'

The book is described as a 'spiritual biography' of the president, which looks at his relationship with evangelicals in the United States. It was written by evangelical authors and ardent Trump supporters David Brody and Scott Lamb.

Despite Romney's prior criticism, after Trump won the presidency in November 2016, he briefly considered picking Romney as secretary of state

Romney announced he would be running for senate in Utah on Friday. He previously ran for president in 2012, and served as governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007

Trump's tweet on Monday night comes at a critical time for Republicans, who hold 51 of the Senate's 100 seats.

Many legislative issues require getting the support of 60 senators, and Trump has repeatedly said that he needs more Republicans elected during the 2018 congressional elections to win approval of more of his agenda.

Romney said last week he generally approved of Trump's agenda, but would not hesitate to call out the president if needed.

'I'm with the president's domestic policy agenda of low taxes, low regulation, smaller government, pushing back against the bureaucrats,' Romney said.

'I'm not always with the president on what he might say or do, and if that happens I'll call'em like I see'em, the way I have in the past.'

Trump had lobbied Hatch to run for re-election in 2018, in what was viewed as an effort to prevent Romney from getting into the Senate.

Trump and Romney spoke in January after Hatch announced his retirement, a White House official said.

Romney, the son of former Michigan Governor George Romney, helped found the buyout firm Bain Capital and gained prominence after stepping in to lead the organizing committee for the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics after a bribery scandal.

He served as governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007.
John Ibrahim's model girlfriend Sarah Budge donned an almost $1,200 designer outfit when she fronted a Sydney court on Tuesday.

Ibrahim's brother Fadi Ibrahim and son Daniel Taylor are facing charges for their alleged roles in a billion-dollar tobacco and drug smuggling syndicate, while Ms Budge, 27, is facing separate firearm and ammunition charges.

The Kings Cross nightclub tsar's partner was seen wearing a $699 Camilla and Marc blazer and $470 Gianvito Rossi triple strap beige suede shoes with a crisp white dress as she made her to the Downing Centre Court, flanked by a high-powered legal team.

John Ibrahim's model girlfriend Sarah Budge wore a $699 Camilla and Marc blazer and Gianvito Rossi beige suede shoes when she appeared at a Sydney court on Tuesday (pictured)

Ms Budge, 27, is facing firearm and ammunition charges (pictured on Tuesday)

Ibrahim, who has a property empire worth $52 million but hates the limelight, was not pictured with Ms Budge at her Tuesday court appearance.

The 47-year-old did accompany Ms Budge for her November court appearance, for which she wore a designer Scanlan Theodore outfit worth $1,000.

Budge, the owner of a ritzy Potts Point bar, was charged with possession of a firearm after a loaded Glock 26 pistol was allegedly found in her bedroom in August.

John Ibrahim has not been charged with any offences and Budge's charges have no relation to the alleged drug syndicate.

The Kings Cross nightclub tsar's partner was seen wearing the $699 blazer and $470 heels with a crisp white dress as she made her to the Downing Centre Court

Ms Budge was flanked by a high-powered legal team during her court appearance

Ibrahim's son Daniel, 27, is alleged to have handed over a suitcase holding $2.25m to buy smuggled tobacco as part of a deal allegedly masterminded by his uncle, Michael.

Fadi Ibrahim, 43, is not alleged to be have been involved with the drug transactions.

He's accused of mortgaging his house and putting up $800,000 to fund a tobacco importation deal so he could double his money on return.

He was among four men, including brother Michael Ibrahim, extradited from Dubai six weeks after police raids in August.
A two-year-old girl has been hospitalised after she was allegedly sexually assaulted in Tennant Creek, Northern Territory.

The toddler was flown to the Alice Springs Hospital in the Northern Territory on Friday for assessment.

She was later transported to the Women's and Children's Hospital in Adelaide for further treatment.

The toddler was flown to the Alice Springs Hospital (pictured) in the Northern Territory on Friday for assessment after she was allegedly sexually assaulted

A 24-year-old man was arrested and charged with sexual assault, the ABC reported.

The man was due to appear in the Tennant Creek Local Court, in the Northern Territory, on Tuesday.

Police said there were no other suspects in relation to the alleged sexual assault.
New York University professor, Mark Kleiman (pictured), called out conservatives on Twitter for verbally attacking survivors of the Florida high school shooting massacre

An outraged New York University professor called out conservatives on Twitter for verbally attacking survivors of the Florida high school shooting massacre.

'The MAGA maggots are out in force, feasting on the corpses of murdered schoolchildren,' public policy professor Mark Kleiman tweeted Monday morning.

Kleiman was responding to political news contributor Kambree Kawahine Koa's tweet when he made the remark.

'Its quite interesting that the children survivors havent even buried their friends, grieve, get over shock but have had the time to plan for a march, come up with a creative hashtag, get their story to all media outlets all in such a short amount time.....' Koa tweeted.

She was referring to the numerous student survivors who are planning to march on Washington, DC, to demand tighter gun control.

Koa also used the #MarchForOurLives hashtag, which is the name of the upcoming march.

Students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Florida, where Nikolas Cruz, 19, opened fire on Wednesday killing 17 and leaving 15 injured, have demanded an end to gun violence and school mass shootings.

But Koa blamed Democrats for 'using children as pawns' in a plan that 'will BACKFIRE in Nov like it did in 2016'.

Scroll down for video

'The MAGA maggots are out in force, feasting on the corpses of murdered schoolchildren,' public policy professor Mark Kleiman tweeted Monday morning

Kleiman was responding to political news contributor Kambree Kawahine Koa's tweet (pictured) when he made the remark

Koa was referring to the numerous student survivors who are planning to march on Washington, DC, to demand tighter gun control

Protesters held signs calling for more gun controls at a rally three days after the shooting in Parkland, Florida

High school senior, Emma Gonzalez, told Fox News last week: 'Please stop allowing us to be gunned down in our hallways.'

She insisted that this would be the final school shooting in US history.

'We will be the last mass shooting,' said Gonzalez, a senior at the high school who took cover on the floor of the auditorium as a shooter rampaged through the building.

Gonzalez and other students said they are organizing a protest in Washington on March 24 called March For Our Lives to call for action by politicians.

'People keep asking us, what about the Stoneman Douglas shooting is going to be different, because this has happened before and change hasn't come?' Cameron Kasky, an 11th-grader, told ABC's 'This Week.' 'This is it.'

'At the end of the day, this isn't a red and blue thing. This isn't Democrats or Republicans. This is about everybody and how we are begging for our lives,' he added on Face The Nation.

'We need to make real change here and that's exactly what we're going to do.'

Seventeen perished and 15 were wounded in the hail of bullets at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on Wednesday

'We will be the last mass shooting,' said Emma Gonzalez, a senior at the high school who took cover on the floor of the auditorium as a shooter rampaged through the building

'This cannot be [our] normal. This can be changed and it will be changed. And anybody who tells you that it can't, is buying into the facade of this being created by the people who have our blood on their hands,' he said.

The teens also plan to create a 'Badge of Shame' for politicians who continue to accept money from the NRA.

'At this point, any politician on either side who is taking money from the NRA is responsible for events like this,' Kasky said.

'The NRA is fostering and promoting this gun culture in which people like Nikolas Cruz can gun down 17 innocent lives in our school.'

The protesters highlighted politicians such as Republican Florida Senator Rubio who has accepted $3,303,355 in campaign spending by the NRA, according to the LA Times.

He claimed in the wake of the tragedy that gun control would not have stopped the shooting.

Gonzalez cries as she hugs her father Jose Gonzalez at the rally. The senior took cover on the floor of the high school auditorium as a shooter rampaged through the building on Wednesday

Seniors Delaney Tarr, 17, (left) and David Hogg, 18, (right) both spoke out at the rally in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday

The Florida Republican told the US Senate that it 'isn't fair or right to create this impression that somehow this attack happened because there is some law out there that we could have passed to prevent it'.

'Most of the proposals that have been offered would not have prevented, not just yesterday's tragedy, but any of those in recent history,' Rubio added. He also made similar comments after the Pulse nightclub shooting.

The students are hoping to get a reaction from President Donald Trump who is yet to endorse any gun control policies.

Instead, he has discussed the mental health of the shooter and even blamed the FBI's Russia investigation, tweeting: 'Very sad that the FBI missed all of the many signals sent out by the Florida school shooter. 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!'

Gunman Nikolas Cruz, 19, at is seen on a closed circuit television screen during a bond hearing in front of Broward Judge Kim Mollica at the Broward County Courthouse on Thursday

Students left the school on Wednesday with their arms on each other's shoulders during the active shooter situation

An injured female was transported from the school on a stretcher by first responders on Wednesday afternoon

Plans for the Washington march have emerged after thousands gathered on Saturday at the federal court house in Fort Lauderdale, some 25 miles from where the 17 students were shot and killed.

Gonzalez directly addressed Trump, reading out his tweet in response to the shooting and demanding to know how much the NRA had donated to his campaign.

During the presidential election, the gun owners' rights group pumped $31 million into ads supporting Trump and attacking his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton

Gonzalez also said adults who knew that the shooter was mentally ill should have done more to prevent him from having a weapon.

'We need to pay attention to the fact that this isn't just a mental health issue,' Gonzalez said at last week's rally. 'He wouldn't have been able to kill that many people with a knife.'

More than a thousand people attended a candlelight vigil for the victims of the Wednesday shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Florida

It was a deeply emotional time for the many students who had lost their friends or family members in the attack

Dressed in the school's colors, some held flowers while others wielded signs asking for action to fight school violence, including gun control

Another senior at the school, Delaney Tarr, told the crowd: 'My innocence, our innocence has been taken away from us. I am 17 but in a matter of days I have aged decades.'

Senior David Hogg, 18, also spoke out at the rally, saying: 'Thank you for your prayers and condolences but that is not enough.'

'We've been hearing the same thing again and again, and same thing continues to happen. We say stop it, stop it today,' Hogg said.

'No more guns, no more guns!' the crowd began chanting at points.

Other speakers demanded a ban on 'assault weapons'. Shooter Nikolas Cruz used an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle that he purchased legally a year ago to kill the students on Wednesday.

Many speakers at the rally urged for change through the ballot box, suggesting that Democrats would offer solutions

Protesters hold signs at a rally for gun control at the Broward County Federal Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Saturday

Students who survived the shooting at Stoneman have been speaking out loudly in the days since the massacre on Wednesday.

David Hogg urged 'policy makers take a look in the mirror and take some action' in an interview just one day after the shooting.

'Ideas are great, but without action, ideas stay idea and children die,' added the teen, whose articulate, 'common sense' response to the shooting has won him fans on Twitter.

Hogg was in his AP Environmental Science class when he heard a gunshot ring out at around 2.30pm.

'So I started running with the herd and we're running we're actually running towards the freshman building,' he told CNN. 'And thank god a janitor stopped us.'

'That's not acceptable,' the very articulate 18-year-old said. 'That's not something that should happen in this country, especially when we're going to school. It's something that we really need to take a look at.

'Our policy makers and some people need to look in the mirror, and take some action.'

David Hogg (pictured with classmate Kelsey Friend) urged policy makers to take action in an inspirational interview outside his school earlier this week

Meanwhile, state lawmakers in Florida have just three weeks left in their annual 60-day session and normally are trying to wrap up work on a new state budget in the final days.

But the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland has revived an ongoing legislative debate about how to respond to gun violence.

Democrats want the Legislature to take up gun control bills that have languished again this year, but Republican legislative leaders are talking about boosting mental health programs in Florida's public schools as well as considering measures that would bolster safety on school campuses.

Governor Rick Scott has said he plans to talk to legislative leaders in the coming week about what could be done to make it harder for people who are mentally ill to purchase a gun.
Shocking video of an exotic car club drag racing down an interstate in broad daylight has been revealed.

The dashcam and traffic footage of the April 2016 incident in Minnetonka, Minnesota was released last week, after prosecutors closed out cases against 12 men charged in the incident.

Seven drivers pleaded guilty to misdemeanors and five won dismissals in the case, the Star-Tribune reported.

The incident unfolded when a state trooper clocked a lime green Lamborghini zipping down I-394 at 110mph.

A state trooper clocked a lime green Lamborghini zipping down I-394 at 110mph

The pack of cars including two Lamborghinis, a Porsche, a Ferrari, a Mclaren 675LT and a Maserati roar past a school bus on the interstate

State troopers and local police flagged the cars down and lined them up to issue citations

In tight formation followed another Lamborghini, a Porsche, a Ferrari, a McLaren 675LT and a Maserati.

Also participating in the exotic car club outing were three Nissans, a Dodge Viper, an Acura and two Audis.

Traffic cam footage shows the cars roaring past a school bus at one point.

Troopers and local cops raced to pull over the pack of speed demons, who complied when they were flagged over.

'Last thing I need is for you guys to hit a motorcycle or somebody at 110 miles an hour,' Minnesota State Patrol Lt. Paul Stricker is heard telling one of the drivers on the video. 'Somebody's going to die, unfortunately.'

'A bunch of beautiful cars going that fast out here. It's like the Cannonball Run all over again,' said one state patrol lieutenant

Stricker asks one of the drivers why he thought he was flagged down.

'For speeding?' the driver answers.

Stricker replies, 'A bunch of beautiful cars going that fast out here. It's like the Cannonball Run all over again.'

Stricker sends the drivers on their way with citations and some advice: 'You guys got beautiful cars, enjoy 'em.

'But just run 'em in the right spot. There's tracks around, I know you can run 'em.'
Western Australia Nationals leader Mia Davies has said Barnaby Joyce no longer has the support of the party and called on him to step down.

Ms Davies said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon she has contacted Mr Joyce to tell him of the decision made by her state branch.

The statement followed crisis talks between executives from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and the federal body late on Monday.

'Mr Joyce's actions have caused pain for his family but it is the ongoing damage Mr Joyce is causing The Nationals organisation that is of greatest concern to me as WA Leader,' the statement said.

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Western Australia Nationals leader Mia Davies has said Barnaby Joyce (pictured) no longer has the support of the party

Ms Davies (pictured) said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon she has contacted Mr Joyce to tell him of the decision made by her state branch

'The Nationals brand across regional Western Australia has suffered as a result of Mr Joyce's actions and he has become a distraction at both Federal and State level.

'My Parliamentary colleagues and I have urged Mr Joyce to consider his position as Leader in the best interests of the Federal Party and State branches.

'It is the view of the Parliamentary National Party of Western Australia that Mr Joyce's position as Federal Leader is no longer tenable.

'I recognise Mr Joyce for his service to the party over many years and acknowledge his work dedicated to the people of regional Australia.'

Mr Joyce shot back in a statement to Sky News, pointing out WA didn't have any federal MPs and the eastern states, which had more 'skin in the game', supported him.

Ms Davies' (pictured) statement followed crisis talks between executives from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and the federal body late on Monday

Mr Joyce (pictured with Ms Campion) shot back in a statement to Sky News, pointing out WA didn't have any federal MPs and the eastern states, which had more 'skin in the game', supported him

The Nationals who can decide Barnaby Joyce's future BARNABY JOYCE Joyce is the under-fire leader who has taken leave following revelations of his affair with former staffer Vikki Campion, who is now pregnant with his child. The MP, who was first elected to the Senate in 2004, insists he isn't for moving, labelling calls to oust him a 'witch-hunt'. It's been a big six months for Joyce, who was found by the High Court in October to be a New Zealander and had to contest a by-election in his seat of New England. BRIDGET MCKENZIE The senator who became Joyce's deputy in December is sticking by her leader, offering a 'rolled gold guarantee' he will remain in the position. The new sports minister is also away while Joyce is on leave, representing the government at the Winter Olympics. DAVID LITTLEPROUD Littleproud, a first-term MP, has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the Turnbull government, being appointed agriculture minister at Joyce's insistence in December. He has urged those agitating against the leader to 'put up or shut up'. NIGEL SCULLION The Northern Territory senator, who was named interim parliamentary leader when Joyce was contesting the by-election, has backed the leader to remain. In an outburst to reporters, Scullion labelled reports about Joyce's affair the biggest beat-up he's seen. MATTHEW CANAVAN The former chief-of-staff to Joyce, Canavan was also caught up in the revelations after he employed Ms Campion. The resources minister won his own High Court fight last year over his Italian citizenship. MICHAEL MCCORMACK In a car-crash television interview, the NSW Nationals MP refused six times to support Joyce as leader, relying on the phrase 'at the moment'. The man seen as the most likely contender to replace him finally said 'of course' he supported Joyce. DARREN CHESTER The former infrastructure minister was dumped in the December reshuffle, losing his portfolio to Joyce. The action against the Victorian MP was seen by some as a rebuke from Joyce against Chester. KEITH PITT The now-backbencher from Queensland was also dumped from his trade responsibilities in the reshuffle and has been laying low since the Joyce reports surfaced. GEORGE CHRISTENSEN The outspoken MP and former party whip has backed his leader and says he continues to have the support of the party room. But Christensen has labelled Malcolm Turnbull's new ban on ministers having sex with staff as 'bonkers'. DAMIAN DRUM Drum has also slotted in behind his leader and insists he understood Joyce's affair with Ms Campion was over when she moved to work in his office. BARRY O'SULLIVAN The outspoken Queenslander fears losing one of the best politicians he said the country has had in his lifetime. He threw his support behind Joyce, questioning whether you 'shoot your best horse because he jumped the fence and was found in the neighbour's paddock'. ANDREW BROAD The Victorian MP says Joyce made an error of judgement and he's still waiting to see if there has been an abuse of power. KEN O'DOWD The Queensland backbencher believes the ball is in Joyce's court when it comes to his future, but something needs to be resolved. LLEW O'BRIEN The fellow Queenslander admits there are obviously people concerned about the crisis engulfing Mr Joyce, but just as many, if not more, are supportive of him. MICHELLE LANDRY The party's whip has been standing by her leader, but says people should wait to see what pans out after his week on leave. JOHN WILLIAMS The senator known as 'Wacka' was one of the first to warn any revelations about the misuse of public money would mean trouble for Joyce, but has expressed confidence in him. ANDREW GEE The NSW MP says he hasn't been approached by anyone talking about a Joyce challenge. LUKE HARTSUYKER The former minister believes Joyce needs to work through his issues, but the coalition can move on together with him at the helm. DAVID GILLESPIE The backbencher, who is facing his own High Court fight about questions over his eligibility, says he supports Joyce at this difficult time. KEVIN HOGAN The member for the NSW seat of Page has no doubt Joyce is feeling very bruised, but has talked up the job he has done leading the party. MARK COULTON The NSW MP has kept his head down since the news broke, telling one paper he had 'no comment' on Joyce's future. Source: AAP Advertisement

The WA branch will play no role in any potential vote on the leadership, but it was second only to the NSW branch in political donations last financial year, receiving $1.785 million.

Mr Joyce's federal Nationals colleague Matt Canavan said there was a 'level of disappointment' about the situation, but party supporters wanted Mr Joyce to keep fighting for regional Australia.

Asked about Ms Davies' statement, Senator Canavan said: 'It's a sentiment I've heard from lots of people ... (but) it's obviously not 100 per cent in one direction.'

He said the vast majority of Nationals MPs backed Mr Joyce as leader, but a spill was a matter for the party room.

Mr Joyce said the nationwide phone hook-up between Nationals branches was not an official meeting, reiterating the leader of the party is decided by party MPs.

'People are starting to see this as a witch hunt. I'm not going anywhere, I never would,' Mr Joyce told Fairfax Media on Tuesday.

The statement comes after Mr Joyce (pictured) resisted pressure from prime minister Malcolm Turnbull to step down over his affair with pregnant former staffer Vikki Campion

Mr Joyce (pictured with wife Natalie) is under pressure to step down as Nationals leader

Ms Davies' statement comes after Mr Joyce resisted pressure from prime minister Malcolm Turnbull to step down over his affair with pregnant former staffer Vikki Campion.

Mr Joyce began five days of personal leave on Monday, with Mathias Cormann serving as acting prime minister while Mr Turnbull is in the US.

Senator Cormann told reporters in Canberra Mr Joyce's future is up to his colleagues.

But he was very confident Mr Joyce and Mr Turnbull will continue to work together, despite their sometimes 'robust relationship'.

'Barnaby's had a difficult week, there's no two ways about it,' Senator Cormann said.

Mr Joyce began five days of personal leave on Monday, with Mathias Cormann (pictured) serving as acting prime minister while Mr Turnbull is in the US

Senator Cormann left a voicemail message with the deputy prime minister in the last few days but said the pair haven't had a chance to talk.

Mr Joyce's NSW Nationals colleague Michael McCormack, who's been touted as a potential replacement, refused six times to explicitly back Mr Joyce's leadership.

'There is no challenge at the moment ... he has the party's support,' the minister told Sky News on Monday.

A Newspoll published by The Australian on Monday found 65 per cent of Australian voters believe Mr Joyce should quit as Nationals leader and either go to the backbench or quit politics.

News Corp reports friends of Mr Joyce's wife Natalie say she doesn't want him to lose his job.
Cameron Calvisi, 5, was accidentally shot with a .22 rifle by his 12-year-old cousin as the pair were playing with the gun near Stanthorpe just north of the Queensland-New South Wales border in January

The father and grandfather of a five-year-old boy shot in the face on the family's rural property south-west of Brisbane have been charged.

Cameron Calvisi was accidentally shot with a .22 rifle by his 12-year-old cousin as the pair were playing with the gun near Stanthorpe just north of the Queensland-New South Wales border in January.

The bullet lodged in Cameron's jaw and he was airlifted to Lady Cilento Children's Hospital in Brisbane in a critical condition.

He was placed in an induced coma and underwent emergency surgery to remove the bullet from his face.

The boy's father Robert Calvisi, 29, was charged with one count of unlawful possession of a weapon. Tony Calvisi, his 63-year-old grandfather was charged with one count of failing to secure a weapon.

Tony Calvisi, Cameron's 63-year-old grandfather, was charged with one count of failing to secure a weapon. He was at the property at the time of the gun shot and said he was devastated something like this could have happened

The bullet lodged in Cameron's jaw and he was airlifted to Lady Cilento Children's Hospital in Brisbane in a critical condition. He was placed in an induced coma and underwent emergency surgery to remove the bullet from his face

Tony Calvisi was present on the property at the time, and was the only person Robert told before he began the mad dash to the hospital.

'I was devastated, I was shocked to even hear he'd been shot ... Nobody would want to go through it - to have a little boy, just hanging on.

'Anything can go wrong when the bullet is that close,' the grandfather told Ten News at the time.

Cameron needed to wear a metal neck brace after undergoing three rounds of surgery to dislodge a bullet that lay in his C2 vertebra, only 1mm from his spinal cord.

Cameron needed to wear a metal neck brace after undergoing three rounds of surgery to dislodge a bullet that lay in his C2 vertebra, only 1mm from his spinal cord

Cameron was hit by a bullet fired from a .22 rifle at a Cottonvale property (pictured), near the Queensland-NSW border, in January

Robert Calvisi described the afternoon his son was shot when he drove with a 'lead foot' through a fierce storm to reach the nearest hospital as his son's eyes rolled back and blood poured out of his mouth, he told The Courier Mail.

Robert said he stuffed the child in his car, placed a shirt under him to absorb the blood that was running from his mouth and kept his son talking as he sped towards the closest hospital.

'I've never driven so fast in my life, 156km/h I think I was doing all the way, in the rain,' he said.

'He was drowsy. His eyes were starting to roll [as we drove to the hospital].

'I just kept making him say 'dad' all the way into town. I was making him talk to me and he was doing it.'

The men are expected to appear in the Warwick Magistrates Court on March 28.

The Queensland father said he was driving with a 'lead foot' through an afternoon storm in the hope of saving his son's life
Michael Zakhour gave a one-finger salute as he was removed from the Carnival Legend with his father, Zak Zakjour, and other family and friends at Eden, NSW on Friday

The young man at the centre of a shocking late night cruise ship brawl which led to his family and friends being kicked off the vessel can be identified.

Teenager Michael Zakhour, from Melbourne, was at the centre of a series of vicious scuffles on board the Carnival Legend as it was sailing in the south Pacific shortly after midnight on Friday, Daily Mail Australia can reveal.

The liner was forced to make an early stop at port in Eden, New South Wales, on the ninth day of its 10 day journey following allegations of chaos and brawling.

Shocked passengers watched as ship crew and other guests kicked and tackled Zakhour on Friday evening leaving him severely bruised.

In a video, Zakhour, dressed in orange and red striped boardshorts, can clearly be seen pushing away a cruise staff member and wagging his finger. The stoushes led police to escort Zakhour - and a large group of friends and family including his father - off the ten-day cruise some 24 hours early.

'They f***ed me up nicely,' Zakhour told friends. 'I can't wait till court I'll get my justice.'

In a Facebook post, he branded the guards who stopped him as 'low life scum' and claimed he had 'about 15 guards kicking me in the head with steel cap boots'.

Zakhour claimed he was 'stomped' on and told 'I hope you die don't f*** with us blacks' ... and much more.' Police and the cruise ship company are investigating.

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Michael Zakhour is pictured brandishes an assault rifle during a trip to Lebanon

Michael Zakhour is also seen carrying two handguns in this image he posted on Instagram

Bruise cruise: Michael Zakhour, left, with arm around relative Sam Nanfaro, friend George Bharko and his father Zak Zakhour close behind - as they were escorted off the cruise ship by police on Friday

A further clip shows him being tackled to the ground by a blonde man and then being kicked by a security guard.

Sam Nanfaro - one of the men who stepped off the cruise ship with Zakhour - claimed online that the media 'have it all wrong'.

'Carnival will be seeing me (in) court,' he said.

Approached for comment on Tuesday, Mr Nanfaro declined to comment 'until we have heard from our lawyer'.

Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Mr Nanfaro or the other persons shown disembarking were involved in the violent brawl, just that they were escorted off the boat.

Zakhour, left, is seen smoking during the trip to Lebanon last year. Relative Sam Nanfaro, who accompanied him on the cruise, is on right

Michael's injuries seen here: Video filmed on a guest's mobile phone shows both male and female passengers erupt into an all-in brawl as cruise security attempted to intervene

A photo of Michael Zakhour's injuries which he shared with friends on Facebook

Other photos posted on Michael Zakhour's Instagram show a cache of weapons

Another man seen disembarking from the boat with police is George Barkho, 20, whose relatives said he is 'not a fighter'.

His father, David, has rubbished claims his family was at the centre of it all as 'all lies'.

'None of what is being said is true. It's all in the hands of our legal team,' he said at the weekend.

'Members of my family are receiving medical attention at the hospital now.'

Two further relatives said there was only one Barkho on the boat - George. One family member said he was 'just a friend' of the others.

Michael Zakhour's friends said he 'copped it hard'. He wore a bandage and was heavily bruised as he left the vessel

A passenger on board the Carnival Legend snapped this picture of the police cruiser

More of Michael's injuries: He was allegedly kicked while he was pinned to the ground and received cuts and bruising to his face, back and legs (Pictured left and right)

The scene on the deck of the Carnival Legend as it entered the bay near Eden on Friday

George Barkho (pictured left and right) left the cruise ship with family. It's not suggested he was an aggressor in the violence

George Barkho (pictured) was caught up in the violence and called his father at 1am

The Zakhour and Nanfaro families are related by marriage. Michael Zakhour did not respond to a request for comment.

In a statement, police said a group of men were 'removed' from the ship at Twofold Bay, Eden, on the border of New South Wales and Victoria on Friday.

A further group of 14 passengers, including women and children, also left the ship, the statement said.

Investigators said the fight allegedly occurred about 12.45am when the Carnival Legend was about 220km off Jervis Bay, on the NSW south coast.

Relative Bartolo Pittorino leaves the vessel with his relatives

The Carnival Legend was heading for Melbourne when the incident broke out on board prompting police to be called

The Barkho family called the police after a crowd of media attempted to speak to them at their home on Monday.

A NSW Police spokesman on Tuesday said no charges have been laid over the incident and inquiries continue.

A Carnival Australia spokesman said the company was conducting a full investigation of all aspects of the cruise, including the security response to the 'unprecedented' violence.
Barnaby Joyce is not the only minister having affairs with staffers, according to controversial South Australian senator Cory Bernadi.

The Australian Conservatives Leader said there was a 'culture' of sex between ministers and their staffers who thought it was appropriate.

'It says to me that there is a problem, a culture problem where people think that this is okay,' he told ABC Radio Tuesday.

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Barnaby Joyce (right) is not the only minister having affairs with staffers according to controversial South Australian senator Cory Bernadi (left)

The Australian Conservatives Leader (pictured) said there was a 'culture' of sex between ministers and their staffers who thought it was appropriate

The claims come as Barnaby Joyce takes a week of personal leave after it was revealed he had an affair with former staffer, Vikki Campion, (pictured together) who is having their baby

The explosive claims come as the Deputy Prime Minister takes a week of personal leave after it was revealed he had an affair with former staffer, Vikki Campion, who is due to have their baby in April.

Mr Bernadi did not name the ministers in breach of the Prime Minister's new code of conduct introduced late last week which bans ministers from having sexual relationships with staff.

The Senator told Radio National on Tuesday he thought Malcolm Turnbull had done 'what he thinks is right' but he did not think the ban was necessary.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop also agreed the 'bonk ban' shouldn't be enforced.

'At the end of the day it comes down to personal responsibility of the ministers and our code of conduct already sets high standards and it's the responsibility of each minister to meet the standards set out in the code of conduct,' Ms Bishop said according to The Age.

Mr Turnbull told 3AW yesterday he had heard rumors about Mr Joyce and Ms Campion but the 'Parliament house was full of rumors'.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop (pictured) believed the Prime Minister's code of conduct banning ministers from having sex with staffers shouldn't be enforced

'At the end of the day it comes down to personal responsibility of the ministers,' Ms Bishop said of 'bonk ban' which was enforced after Mr Joyce's (pictured) affair became public

The revelations saw the Deputy Prime Minister publicly apologise to his estranged wife, Natalie, and four daughters last week.

While there were calls for the Prime Minister to urge Mr Joyce to step down, the decision is up to the National Party.

'People are starting to see this as a witch hunt. I'm not going anywhere, I never would,' Mr Joyce told Fairfax Media.
The theft of a thumb of an ancient Terracotta Warrior statue on display in the U.S. incited a wave of criticism on Chinese social media Tuesday, following China's calls to 'severely punish' the thief.

The Chinese public have taken to Weibo, the Chinese equivalent to Twitter, to express their anger over the damage of the 2,000-year-old artefact, which is considered 'invaluable' by the Chinese.

One person questioned 'why did we lend our treasure to the U.S' while many insisted 'appropriated compensation' be given by a museum in Pennsylvania, where 10 of the figures are on display.

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A compilation picture shared by Chinese media show how the Terracotta Warrior statue was damaged. The particular statue has been loaned along with nine others to a museum in U.S.

China has called on 'severe punishment' to the thief. This photo taken on October 21, 2016 shows the Terracotta Warriors on display at the Terracotta Warrior Museum in China

A number of other Chinese commentators were so livid they even suggested the thief's thumb should be cut off.

Michael Rohana, 24, has been arrested over the theft during an after hours 'ugly sweater party' just before Christmas at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.

The museum is holding an exhibition to display 10 life-size clay soldiers and over 170 other artifacts from China's pre-Qin, Qin, and Han dynasties from September last year to March 4 this year.

According to an arrest affidavit filed by an FBI agent, Rohana snuck into the closed exhibit and snapped a selfie with the warrior, worth $4.5 million (3.2 million).

Rohana then appeared to break off the statue's left thumb and pocket it before leaving the event with friends.

Michael Rohana, 24, has been arrested over the theft during an after hours party at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, which is holding an exhibition about the Terracotta Warriors

Rohana snuck into the closed exhibit and snapped a selfie with the warrior, worth $4.5 million

The museum noticed its disappearance weeks later on January 8. The FBI agent tracked Rohana back to his home in Bear, Delaware, where the young man admitted to having stashed the thumb in a desk drawer.

He was arrested for theft of a major artwork from a museum, concealment of a major stolen artwork, and the interstate transportation of stolen property, but released on a $15,000 (10,700) bail, according to court documents seen by AFP.

Built around 209 BC to stand guard over the tomb of the first emperor, the 8,000-strong Terracotta Army is one of China's most important archaeological discoveries, and considered a symbol of ancient Chinese artistic and military sophistication.

A major tourist attraction in Xi'an, capital of the northern province of Shaanxi, it has been a UNESCO world heritage site since 1987.

The Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Relic Exchange Centre, which looks after the important archaeological findings in China, was shocked by the incident.

The centre's director told the Beijing Youth Daily on Sunday: 'We call on the US side to severely punish the person who committed such a damaging act of vandalism and theft of humanity's cultural heritage.'

Built around 209 BC to stand guard over the tomb of the first emperor, the 8,000-strong Terracotta Army is one of China's most important archaeological discoveries

The life-size army was was discovered by chance by a few villagers in 1974 in Shaanxi Province, north-west China, and excavation has been on-going at the site since that date

The Terracotta Army is a form of funerary art buried with the first emperor in 210 to 209 BC

Two experts would be sent to the US to help with repairs, the director said, adding that they had begun the process of claiming compensation for damages.

The director also said the centre felt very guilty because it was the lender of the exhibits and they should have taken care of them better on behalf of the country. The director vowed to draw lessons from the incident.

News of the damage sparked strong criticism on Chinese social media, with many comments nationalistic in tone.

'Whoever agreed to use our ancestor's funerary objects to curry favour with foreigners should be the one 'severely punished' first,' wrote one user.

'If they don't understand that our statue is precious why would we lend it to the US in the first place?' another asked.

But a few were more circumspect in their disapproval, recalling China's destruction of its own heritage.

'Who will be held responsible for all the cultural relics destroyed in the Cultural Revolution?' a user wrote, referring to the tumultuous period in the 1960s and 70s when countless artifacts were defaced or destroyed as China tried to rid itself of the influence of traditional culture.

MailOnline has contacted the Franklin Institute for comments and is awaiting a reply.
An Uber driver was arrested for allowing female genital mutilation to be carried out on his daughter after he told an anti-FGM campaigner in his taxi, a court heard.

The 29-year-old was making small talk with charity worker Sami Ullah when the conversation turned to FGM and he revealed his seven-year-old daughter had a 'small cut.'

After the 10-minute journey, Mr Ullah, a junior trustee for the charity Integrate, used the app's feedback service to identify the Somalian driver before reporting him to police.

Uber's feedback service was used to identify the driver before he was reported to police (file)

Officers questioned him and his three young daughters were examined. The oldest, aged seven, was found to have a 'small lesion,' classed as type 4 FGM.

The father, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, is not thought to have carried out the painful procedure himself, but allowed it to happen, Bristol Crown Court heard.

He has been charged with child cruelty offences over the injuries, allegedly inflicted between June 27, 2009, and May 26, 2016. He denies the charges.

The court heard the father picked up Mr Ullah from Temple Meads station in Bristol on March 9, 2016, and agreed to take him to the charity's offices 10 minutes away.

He started a conversation with his passenger and asked what he had been doing with his day.

Mr Ullah was a junior trustee for charity Integrate and asked the driver if he knew what FGM was. When he still did not understand, Mr Ullah used the Somali word.

The driver responded by making a symbol with his hand as he held onto the steering wheel, and said: 'You mean cutting?', the court was told.

Giving evidence, Mr Ullah said: 'He then said that it was very wrong and I agreed with him. Then he said 'I did the small one to my daughter. Other people did the big one but I did the small one.'

Bristol Crown Court (pictured) was told the father allowed the painful procedure to happen

When Mr Ullah asked the driver if he knew it was illegal, he said it was 'custom and tradition', adding: 'Some people did it and some people don't.'

Mr Ullah told the court: 'He asked me 'do you know why we do it?' and said 'it's so women don't feel sexy all the time.'

After the driver's daughters were examined, a community paediatric worker sent photos to a specialist in London, who examined the little girl months later and found the mark had healed - which the prosecutor said showed she had not been born with the damage.

Prosecutor Anna Vigars QC said: 'Nobody is suggesting he is not a good father. His children are a credit to him and his wife.

He asked me 'do you know why we do it?' and said 'it's so women don't feel sexy all the time' Sami Ullah

'Doctors found them to be well-nourished, tidy, sparkling little children.' She added that the defendant had 'exposed his daughter to a painful procedure.'

The child was said to have been subjected to Type 4 FGM, defined by the World Health Organisation as 'all other harmful procedures' involving pricking with a hot needle, or quartering, rather than the most severe forms, but which still leaves a mark.

Defending, James Haskell, suggested that it was common for 'different ethnic minorities to use words such as daughter, sister, auntie or mother' when they are not referring to their own relatives.

But Mr Ullah said the driver had repeated the comment about the 'small cut' on his daughter before saying 'it is to stop women feeling sexy all the time'. He described it as an attitude he had encountered on many occasions in his work.

The family lived in an inner city area of Bristol, and are originally from Somalia.

The driver has been charged with cruelty to a child under the age of 16 years, and having responsibility for a child under that age wilfully assaulting / ill-treating / abandoning a child or young person to cause unnecessary suffering or injury.

The trial continues.
A Republican Idaho state senator shouted 'Abortion is murder' at a group of college students lobbying for a birth control bill Monday, after they left him a note with condoms because he cancelled their meeting.

Students from the University of Idaho traveled to the state's Capitol some 300 miles from their school were accosted by an irate Republican state Sen. Dan Foreman.

When the senator cancelled their meeting Monday morning, the students left a note and condoms in his office before moving onto other scheduled meetings with lawmakers from northern Idaho regions.

Later that day, the Republican from Moscow passed the students in a hallway and several people recorded him shouting, 'Abortion is murder, I stand against it.'

Students caught Idaho Republican Senator Dan Foreman on video shouting at them about abortion. They were at the Capital to lobbying for birth control and updated sex education

Condoms and a note: Students left this sassy letter for the Senator who was none pleased to come face-to-face with them later in the day and started shouting at them

'I'm a Roman Catholic and a conservative Republican. I think what you guys are doing stinks,' Foreman says on the video.

A voice is heard standing with the students responding: 'That is your choice...'

'You're damn right it's my choice!' Foreman shouts back.

'You shouldn't make it other people's,' the voice standing with the students says.

During the exchange, Foreman, told students he would call the Idaho State Police if they returned to his office.

They were at the Capital in Boise to lobby for a bill that would allow women to receive up to a 12-month supply of prescribed birth control and promote better sex education on college campuses.

The students were not at the Capitol to talk about abortion, said Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho public affairs director Paul Dillon.

They were present to encourage lawmakers to vote in favor of the birth control and sex education bill.

Afterwards, a Twitter that appeared to be Foreman's directed the students to discuss 'killing babies' with a Democratic colleague.

The colleague, Democratic State Sen. Maryanne Jordan, filed the complaint against Foreman.

'It's one thing to disagree with policy, it's another thing to position something like that against another lawmaker,' Jordan said in response to the tweet Monday.

'This type of behavior is beneath the Idaho Senate.'

Foreman is a married father with seven children.

Other meetings with state lawmakers were peaceful, Dillon said, even if the lawmakers disagreed with the students' talking points.

Sen. Bob Nonini, a Republican from Coeur d'Alene, waved a rosary while talking to students about abstinence but did not shout or demean them, Dillon said.

Dillon described Foreman as 'completely unhinged.'

'Even if you disagree with what we have to say, there's no excuse for that kind behavior,' Dillon said in a phone interview. 'He was being a bully.'

Democratic State Sen. Maryanne Jordan (left) from Idaho filed an ethics complaint against Foreman, while a student in the group with Twitter handle Nicky Skinz (right) was in attendance, she explained how they left the note that may have angered Foreman further

As if being caught on video wasn't enough: An account that appeared to be Sen. Foreman's directed the student group to talk to his Democratic colleague about 'killing babies'

Sen. Dan Foreman, R-Moscow (pictured) told a group of students he would call Idaho State Police if any student affiliate from Planned Parenthood stopped by his office

The unverified Twitter account sent several tweets concerning Planned Parenthood and abortion in the hours that followed.

This isn't the first time Foreman has been recorded having an outburst. Last year, bodycam video from the Latah County Sheriff's Department showed Foreman swearing and shouting insults with an unseen and unidentified male on Sept. 14 - the first day of the county fair in Moscow.

'Go straight to hell, you son of a b****,' Foreman can be heard saying in the footage.

The deputy then asked Foreman to move along.

Foreman has also faced scrutiny over an email response to a constituent's concerns over climate change. Foreman called global warming 'nonsense' and said it was a scam used by left-wing fanatics to raise taxes.
A retired Brisbane man has been left covered in his own blood, bruised all over and nursing a fractured eye socket after he was coward-punched in broad daylight.

Ivan Bradshaw, 58, was going for his usual stroll in West End, Brisbane, when he saw a woman arguing with two people outside a clothing store.

Stephanie Economides, the owner of the store, had been trying to get back a pink skirt the pair had allegedly stolen when tensions flared.

Mr Bradshaw approached the trio to see what the commotion was, but was allegedly struck from behind by the man and then savagely beaten for up to 20 seconds.

Ivan Bradshaw, 58, was coward punched in broad day light in Brisbane's West End. He had been going for an evening stroll when he came across a shopkeeper trying to get a stolen skirt back.

'Basically the woman that was with him stole a skirt off the front rack, I went after her and got the skirt back,' Ms Economides claimed to Daily Mail Australia.

'The guy who got hit, he was standing about a meter away and listening to what was going on.'

'I got the skirt back and walked away and then heard yelling back down the street,' she said.



'It happened about 40 meters down the street from the store.'

Bradshaw stopped and stood behind Stephanie to show that he 'had her back,' the Brisbane Times reported.

After Ms Economides had snatched the skirt back the man turned on Bradshaw.

'I was taken unawares and then king hit,' he said.

Euphora, the store that the skirt was allegedly stolen from before Mr. Bradshaw was coward-punched

'There were a lot of kicks and punches and blows, I was pretty much reeling back the whole time after the king hit,' he said.

The man allegedly punched and kicked him for the next 10 to 15 seconds, while Bradshaw wriggled around, trying to get onto his back and avoid the blows.

Ms Economides went back to check what the yelling was about.

'I turned back and he had all this blood over him, I was in the middle of calling the cops at that point,' she said.

'Im pretty sure someone pulled the other guy off and he ran away.'

Mr Bradshaw was taken to the bike shop around the corner and given some ice to help his wounds until the ambulance arrived, she said.

He was then taken to the Mater hospital before being released into the care of his family.

A 39-year-old Bulimba man was arrested and charged with one count of assault occasioning bodily harm following the alleged attack.

The female who allegedly stole the skirt has not been found yet.

Ms Economides, who has owned the store for three years, said it was usually peaceful, 'Not that bad no. I havent seen it happen that bad.'
An ex-Muslim woman has described how she ran away from home after her mother had spent years forcing her to wear a niqab.

The apostate, who writes an atheist blog, courageously told her story at the Secular Party of Australia's Losing Your Religion conference in Melbourne earlier this month.

The woman, who chose to remain anonymous to protect her identity, told the audience her Muslim-convert mother removed her from school when he was in her early teens.

An ex-Muslim woman has described how she ran away from home after her mother had spent years forcing her to wear a niqab (stock image not of actual woman in story)

'She did not deem the school environment as an Islamic one and it was time for me to learn how to be the perfect Muslim wife and mother,' she said in her speech, which was also posted on her blog site The Nullifidian.

'At thirteen she "encouraged" me to put on the niqab which I wore until the night I left home.'

After years of being forced to cover her face, she detests the Islamic garb which originated in Saudi Arabia.

'I hate the niqab. It is one of the most dehumanising and alienating pieces of clothing a woman can wear,' she said.

The woman, who chose to remain anonymous to protect her identity, told the audience her mother removed her from school when he was in her early teens (stock image of Muslim women in Young, New South Wales)

She described the niqab as a 'dehumanising' and 'alienating' piece of clothing for women (stock image)

'It puts a literal barrier between her and the rest of the world.'

She also recalled begging her mother for permission to show her face in public, only to be called the Arabic term for a 'b**ch'.

'She would refuse saying that I was a disappointing her or be cruel and say I would look like a sharmoota or whore,' the woman said.

Five years after leaving home, she discovered there were other ex-Muslims like herself when she did a Google search.
The bodies of the men presumed dead when a fishing trawler tragically sank off the Queensland coast could be on board the recovered ship.

The MV Dianne was brought back to land in the Port of Bundaberg on Tuesday, four months after it sank off the town of Seventeen Seventy.

The bodies of Adam Hoffman, 30 and Ben Leahy, 45, were recovered by divers but Eli Tonks, 39, Adam Bidner, 33, Chris Sammut, 34 and Zach Feeney, 28 are still tragically missing.

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The fishing trawler MV Dianne was recovered on Tuesday four months after it sank

Footage of the MV Dianne, still full of water, as it is pulled out from the water at the Port of Bundaberg

Investigations will continue until police can help 'give closure' to family members, News Corp reported.

'There is a possibility the men may be on board,' Bundaberg Police Inspector Pat Swindells said.

'The police divers did an amazing job in some very hostile conditions to initially get into the vessel (after it sank).'

Inspector Swindells told the ABC investigators would 'attempt to pump the Dianne out' once it has been 'emptied of water'.

'Later on today they'll attempt to pump the Dianne out once it has been emptied of water,' he said.

'Police will continue an investigation with specialist police coming from Brisbane and our detectives will continue to try and find out exactly what happened and how it sank.

Family are hoping the investigation will bring closure. Zach Feeney, left, and Eli Tonks, are presumed dead

Chris Sammut, left, and Adam Bidner were also on the ship when it sank, and their bodies have yet to be recovered

The sunken ship was partially raised last Monday, and crews towed it to the Port on Friday before it was lifted on to land.

Survivor Ruben McDornan spent the night in stormy seas before being rescued by a passing yacht.

Previous attempts to bring the wreckage to shore have been hindered by poor weather conditions.

Skipper Ben Leahy, left, and Ada Hoffman, right, were recovered by divers after the ship sunk in October
A gay couple have hit out at an Indian restaurant after they were 'made to feel uncomfortable' when they kissed after a Valentine's Day meal.

Sam Anderson and Angus Reilly were enjoying a dinner at The Mumbai Inn in Leicester on 12 February when they briefly kissed after exchanging gifts.

But the London School of Economics students claim they left when the owner told them it was a 'family friendly' establishment and another customer did not feel comfortable'.

Sam Anderson and Angus Reilly were enjoying a dinner at The Mumbai Inn in Leicester before they got up and left

Owner of The Mumbai Inn Andaz Rana claims he spoke to the pair after a customer said they were not comfortable sitting near them. He has since apologised on behalf of the team

Mr Anderson, from Oadby in Leicestershire, is studying government at The London School of Economics and Political Science.

Mr Reilly is Secretary of the Labour party at the university, where he studies government and history.

Mr Anderson, 20, told the BBC they 'briefly kissed across the table' after exchanging gifts for Valentine's Day.

He added: 'A couple of minutes later, Mr Rana [the owner] came up to the table and stood over us, in a fairly intimidating way, we felt.

'He told us it was a family-friendly restaurant.'

Customers have now taken to Trip Advisor to urge fellow diners to avoid the restaurant

The pair claim they were told it was a 'family friendly' restaurant and they 'did not feel wanted'

He added: 'What so upset us was the intimidating way he went about it and the fact he referenced it was a family friendly restaurant, as if being a gay couple is something that not is family friendly.

'We did not feel comfortable in that restaurant, we did not feel wanted.'

Owner Andaz Rana claims he spoke to the pair after a customer, who was there with a child, said they were not comfortable sitting near them.

He has since apologised on behalf of the team but said he was 'upset' the pair shared their story on social media.
Lucas Belmonte, from Kent, has been jailed for a year in Dubai for credit card fraud

A British tourist jailed in Dubai for using a fake credit card is dating Love Island star Chyna Ellis's sister, MailOnline can reveal.

The man - named as Lucas Belmonte - was arrested by police while he was staying in the country with his girlfriend Summer Ellis.

The 23-year-old was sentenced to a year behind bars in the strict Arab country and fined 20,000 after having to sign a confession admitting to using the stolen card.

Belmote, from Kent, had claimed he was given the credit card by a friend who told him he could use it to pay for his New Year stay at the five star Jumeriah Beach Hotel.

He was arrested and told at the Bur Dubai Police station if he signed a statement translated from Arabic his girlfriend would be allowed to leave and not face any charges.

He told the 'Detained in Dubai' organisation, who are campaigning for his release, that he had been given an inaccurate translation of what police had asked him to sign.

It wasn't until the following day when he was refused bail that he found out what he had signed.

His confession read: 'I knew the card was fake. I bought the card in the UK to use in Dubai and I knew it was illegal'

Belmonte maintains that he was given the card by a friend who has since refused to help out and make a statement to the Dubai police.

Belmonte was on holiday in Dubai last month with girlfriend Summer Ellis (pictured) when he was arrested

The fitness trainer, 23, from Kent, is dating Summer Ellis, who lives in Marbella, Spain, and is the sister of Love Island star Chyna Ellis

Reality star Chyna Ellis (pictured) appeared in the Love Island house on the hit ITV show last year

The 23-year-old (pictured with Wayne Rooney) claimed he was given the credit card by a friend who told him he could use it to pay for his New Year stay at the five star Jumeriah Beach hotel

The friend had allegedly told Belmonte it was his company credit card and could be used to pay for the trip

Belmonte now believes he was 'set up' by his friend who gave him a fake credit card.

Belmonte and Miss Ellis had checked into the Sheraton Hotel on December 30th and used the card to pay for their room.

The pair were not happy with the hotel and moved to the luxury Jumeriah Beach Hotel where rooms cost up to 500 a night.

As they tried to check-in the hotel receptionist told them the credit card had been blocked.

Belmonte called his friend who had loaned him the card and was given the authorisation number to complete the booking.

But three days later Dubai CID officers arrested Belmonte and his girlfriend.

David Haigh, from the Detained in Dubai group, said Belmonte told them officers repeatedly asked him in Arabic where the fake card was.

Lucas says he was duped into signing a confession by police in Dubai

Belmonte said he was told to admit he was using a fake credit card and told by police 'you will both go to prison and we will make sure you do not see a judge for six months.'

Both Belmonte and his girlfriend were held overnight in a freezing police cell.

He claims he was given an inaccurate translation of the confession, which he signed, allowing the release of his girlfriend who flew home to Essex.

Belmonte was locked up in the Bur Dubai police station on January 4th where he remained until his court appearance on Monday when he was given a years jail sentence based on his confession.

His distraught mother Louise visited the United Arab Emirates embassy in London to appeal for his release.

She said her son had been duped by the friend who gave him the credit card.

Louise said: 'Within hours of knowing about the dispute Lucas and I paid the money to the hotels. I would like to appeal to the ruler of Dubai, to say to him I know he is a fair man and to ask him please look at my sons case and let him come home as he did with other Brits such as Jamie Harron and Billy Barclay who were unjustly detained.'

She added: 'I just want Luke to come home. He is very young, very frightened and in prison in a strange country he does not know. If he can be given a pardon by the country's ruler he can come home.

'This has been so stressful it has put me in hospital. I have managed to speak to him but it is just so hard.

'The first I knew was a call from Luke's girlfriend who said they had been arrested for fraud. She told me that the police said if Luke signed a document she would be able to go home.

'Luke signed the paper and she came home the next day, but it was days before I could talk with him.'

Lucas and his girlfriend were staying at the luxury Jumeriah Beach Hotel. As soon as his mother discovered what happened, she paid the money to the hotels

David Haigh, Joint Managing Partner at Stirling Haigh and Partner at Detained in Dubai, who has been in contact with Lucas's mother, said 'We have been supporting Lucas and his family since he was first detained in Dubai on his New Years holiday.

As we see all too often, Lucas was forced to sign a false confession under duress of threats to his girlfriend and physical abuse to himself. Lucas was then repeatedly denied bail on the basis of the false confession he was made to sign in Arabic and not given access to representation and without a translation available in English he was unable to defend himself. This has led to another wrongful conviction in the UAEs unjust legal system.

'One other point that Lucas's case highlights is the zeal with which International brands and law firms are willing to abuse and unfair trial process to benefit themselves and their clients. In this case with Lucas that company is American Express, whom we have and continue to approach to release Lucas.'

Haigh said it was not unusual for people to have been tricked into signing false confessions after being arrested in Dubai.

Radha Stirling, from Detained in Dubai, said: 'Many people who come to Detained in Dubai seeking help have been tricked into signing false confessions. Most people who are working in, or holidaying in Dubai and the Emirates don't speak Arabic, which is a well known fact amongst the police, yet they still force and coerce people into signing these documents.

'In 100% of these cases, the police deliberately tell the detainee whatever they want in order to get signatures on these confessions. A very high proportion of these cases involve forceful coercion. This is despite both Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which provide that 'no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.' This includes force 'intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession'

'Regardless of whether an individual is considered guilty by Dubai police or not, they have the right to a fair trial unhindered by falsified evidence.'
A British woman brutally raped after a night out in a Costa del Sol resort has helped police snare her alleged squatter attacker after spotting selfies he took using her stolen phone.

The 23-year-old was punched in the face and threatened before being sexually attacked as she walked home alone in an area of Torremolinos called La Nogalera.

She told police she was knocked unconscious during the assault and was naked from the waist down when she came to.

The perpetrator fled with her mobile phone following the attack around 5am on Feb 11.

A British woman brutally raped after a night out as she walked home alone in an area of Torremolinos (pictured) helped police snare her alleged squatter attacker after spotting selfies he took using her stolen phone

Bin men told detectives they had thrown the victim's clothes into a rubbish container and they were lost for ever - but investigators discovered evidence including an earring and DNA at the scene.

They also tracked down witnesses including one who had heard the British expat begging her attacker to stop and another who saw a man punching a woman who was calling for help around the head and body.

The rapist had fled the area by the time the Good Samaritan reacted and raced down to the street.

Police made an arrest within 48 hours after the victim contacted them to say she had spotted pictures of a man she recognised as her attacker on her Google Drive account.

The photos - showing him posing for the camera with friends - are believed to have been taken the day after the rape.

Pictures taken on phones with the Google Drive application installed can be set to automatically upload to the cloud, and then be accessed on other devices.

The suspect, a 22-year-old Spanish squatter who was already known to police, has now been remanded in prison pending an ongoing criminal probe led by a local investigating magistrate.

The perpetrator fled with her mobile phone following the attack around 5am on Feb 11 in the Costa del Sol (pictured)

A National Police spokesman confirmed: 'Police have arrested a man suspected of a sex attack in the area of La Nogalera during the early hours of February 11.

'The suspect, a 22-year-old Spaniard, is accused of sexual assault, robbery and wounding.

'The investigation was sparked by a complaint from a young woman who said she had been raped.

'She said she was waking in the La Nogalera area when she was approached by a stranger who hit her, threatened her and forced himself on her.

'She was treated at a local health centre she managed to reach after the incident.'

The spokesman added: 'The suspect was carrying his alleged victim's mobile phone when he was arrested.

'He was living in a squat in the area of Torremolinos where he was arrested.'

A well-placed source added: 'The photos that appeared on her Google Drive were key in helping officers track down the suspect.'

The arrest was only confirmed by police after the suspect's appearance in court. The remand hearing took place behind closed doors as is customary in Spain.
Donald Trump Jr has landed in India here he hopes to sell luxury apartments in a new $1.5bn development near Dehli.

Acting as head of the Trump organization, he is attempting to entice buyers to the homes in Trump Towers Delhi, which will feature 254 apartments in two 47-story towers when it is complete in 2023, with prices ranging from $850,000 to $1.7 million per unit.

The trip is raising eyebrows among some because President Trump has also been working to strengthen ties with India, and Ivanka traveled to the country last year just as sales started on the units.

But Mr Trump Jr - accompanied by secret service security - has argued that he has been developing business connections in India for years.

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The eldest son of U.S. President Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr, gives a thumbs up as he arrives for a meeting in New Delhi, India, on Tuesday

A man walks past a billboard of Trump Tower, a luxury apartment building, at a construction site in Kolkata, India

Mr Trump Jr is on a visit to India as head of the Trump organization to promote his family's real estate projects

Trump complexes are being built in four Indian cities including Kolkata

President Trump has also been working to strengthen ties with India, with his daughter Ivanka travelling to the country last year just as sales started on the units.

Mr Trump Jr - accompanied by secret service security - has argued that he has been developing business connections in India for years.

He posed for photos Tuesday morning with Indian developers, who are building Trump complexes in four cities.

Later in the week, he is scheduled to make a speech about Indo-Pacific relations at a New Delhi business summit, sharing the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Don Jr. is flying in ahead of the project's groundbreaking ceremony, and buyers who commit to purchasing a unit this week have been promised a seat at a dinner with President Trump's oldest son according to The New York Times.

A full-page advertisement featured on the front pages of several Indian newspapers over the weekend, showing a picture of Mr Trump Jr together alongside a caption which read: 'Trump is here. Are you invited?' and 'Trump has arrived. Have you?'

Critics including author Patrick French have been strongly critical of the tone of the adverts.

'For the last however many days every newspaper in India has been wrapped in this abominable invitation to dinner with Trump Jr.,' he tweeted.

President Trump has been working to strengthen ties with India, and his daughter Ivanka traveled to the country last year just as sales started on the units.

Mr Trump Jr' s visit has been condemned by critics including the author Patrick French

Mr Trump Jr ( second from right) posed with Indian promoters of Trump Towers at a photocall in New Delhi

The Trump Organization has not put up any of the money towards the building of these new projects in India, but has instead lent its name and business acumen for a cut of the sales

The Trump Organization has five projects in India, making it the brand's largest market outside the U.S.

Richie Rich: Donald Trump Jr (above in December leaving the Senate Intelligence Committee) will be in India this week in support of The Trump Organization's four projects in the country, with Secret Service by his side

Ambitious rendering: His main focus will be selling units at Trump Tower Delhi (above in rendering), which will feature 254 apartments in two 47-story towers when it is complete in 2023

Leaders in love: Some are questioning the trip in light of President Trump's very public adoration for India over the past year and close relationship with Prime Minister Modi (pair above in June)

President Trump's oldest son will be attending cocktail parties, dinners and meetings with local real estate developers during his week-long trip in support of the project.

Don Jr said in an interview he would not be interacting with government officials despite his commitment to speak at the Global Business Summit in Delhi on Friday, alongside Mr Modi.

He is travelling with a taxpayer-funded Secret Service detail.

Trump Towers Delhi is not in fact in New Delhi, but rather the city of Guragon. It is one of four projects that The Trump Organization is currently involved with in the country.

Mr Trump Jr was previously in India back in 2014 with his father as they launched the Trump Mumbai.

That project is expected to be completed next year, and Don Jr will stop in the city again during his trip.

He will also visit the cities of Kolkata, where a new project is set to break ground, and Pune, the only project that has been completed of the four.

Daughter delegation: Ivanka Trump traveled to India in November (above with Prime Minister Modi) just before units became available for sale at the development, located outside New Delhi in the city of Guragon

Family ties: The Trump Organization put up no capital for any of the four projects, and instead receives a portion of sales for the usage of their name and services (President Trump and Don Jr with developer Abhishek Lodha of Lodha Group in 2014 promoting Trump Tower Mumbai ahead of its groundbreaking)

The Trump Organization has not put up any of the money towards the building of these new projects, and instead are lending their name and business acumen for a cut of the sales.

That payout is increased for units that sell above the market rate.

The Trump Organization has five projects in India, making it the brand's largest market outside the U.S.

President Trump has shown a deep affection for India and Prime Minister Modi, who he famously hugged outside the White House back last June.

At the same time he has come down hard on the country's neighbor and greatest foe, Pakistan.

On New Year's Eve he tweeted: 'The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!'
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Chicken destined for KFC is piled high at a DHL distribution depot after the delivery firm's new computer system 'failed' forcing the popular fast food chain to close almost two thirds of its 900 UK branches.

Up to 570 outlets across Britain were temporarily shut when delivery problems meant they ran out of chicken  sparking a furious reaction from customers.

So panicked were KFC fans they even resorted to calling police  prompting a stern warning from Scotland Yard officers  amid fears it could be up to a month before some restaurants re-open.

One Twitter user, 'Kara', wrote: 'Still can't believe KFC was shut because they ran out of chicken', while Emmie Twyford tweeted: 'Can't believe the two KFC's in my town are shut... at least we have a Chicken Cottage'.

KFCs chicken shortage fiasco began last week shortly after the fast-food giant switched its delivery contract to German-owned DHL. It was triggered by an accident that shut the M6, causing traffic gridlock and reportedly leaving DHL lorries sat in traffic for hours, sparking a huge backlog of deliveries.

The chaos had a knock-on affect which centred on a DHL delivery hub in Rugby, with KFC saying it first became aware of a problem in the software around a new computer ordering and delivery system on Friday.

DHL blamed 'operational issues' for the supply disruption, which worsened over the weekend with KFC outlets in the North East, London, Kent, East Anglia, the Midlands and the south of England all reporting that they had run out of some chicken products.

More than 80 per cent of the fast-food eateries are run by franchisees, who are together losing hundreds of thousands of pounds. As of lunchtime today there were still 470 restaurants shut - down from 575 at 9pm last night.

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This was the scene in Rugby where a huge pile of chicken sat inside a DHL depot after supply problems meant it was unable to reach hundreds of KFC branches

KFC customers took to Twitter today to express their shock that their local branch had shut because of the supply problems, while others make fun of the 'crisis'

So panicked were some KFC fans that they even resorted to calling police  prompting a stern warning from Scotland Yard officers  amid fears it could be up to a month before some restaurants re-open

More than 500 of KFC's 900 UK stores were forced to close after running out of chicken (pictured the KFC in Tottenham Court Road)

The Kentucky Fried Chicken fast food chain blamed the temporary closures on several 'hiccups' with food deliveries

In a statement on the company's website KFC said it was 'working flat out' to get us 'back up and running again'

Crate upon crate of chicken in plastic wrapping was pictured at a DHL depot in Rugby yesterday, where it was still waiting to be loaded onto lorries.

Environmental officers from Rugby Council inspected the stash of chicken after they did not receive DHL's registration for a cold storage facility. But inspectors found everything was in order and did not see any chicken that needed to be thrown out.

KFC branches first started running out of food over the weekend.

Initially, KFC removed items from the menu and shortened their opening hours, but hundreds have now been forced to close.

Signs on many of the stores read: 'Sorry, we're closed. We deliver our chickens fresh into our restaurants, but we've had a few hiccups with the delivery today.

'We wouldn't want to be open without offering our full menu, but we'll be back at the fryers as soon as we can.'

The company explained the problems saying: 'We've brought a new delivery partner on board, but they've had a couple of teething problems - getting fresh chicken out to 900 restaurants across the country is pretty complex.

'We won't compromise on quality, so no deliveries has meant some of our restaurants are closed and others are operating a limited menu, or shortened hours.

'We know that this might have inconvenienced some of you over the last few days, and disappointed you when you wanted your fried chicken fix - we're really sorry about that.'

Hundreds of KFC stores were closed last night after a new delivery contract with DHL sparked chicken shortages across the country

A KFC spokesperson said: 'Our teams are working flat out all hours to get the rest back up and running as soon as possible - but it's too early to say how long it will take to clear the backlog.'

The firm has set up a 'web page' where 'fans' can find their nearest outlet that is still open.

Many angry diners took to Twitter to complain to the fried chicken company about the chicken shortage.

One Twitter user complained: 'Drove to two separate KFCs to find one had no chicken and one was closed. What even is my luck? Just want some fried chicken.'

Another asked in disbelief: 'As if KFC is closed coz they've run out of chicken?

While another tweeted: 'KFC in both Cheshire Oakes and Chester Greyhound Park are closed because...they're out of chicken.'

HOW HAS THE KFC CHICKEN CRISIS UNFOLDED? Wednesday February 14 - DHL takes over delivery duties for KFC from Bidvest Logistics to supply food products and packaging to KFC restaurants. A new computer software system developed to manage orders and deliveries fails, triggering a delivery chaos. There was also an accident that shut the M6 on Valentine's Day, that caused traffic chaos. Friday February 16 - Shortage started to bite at KFC outlets. Saturday/Sunday February 17/18 - Crisis worsens over the weekend. Monday February 19 - The system collapsed completely. Almost 700 stores are closed. Tuesday February 20 - 470 KFC stores remain shut, as on 1pm. Advertisement

Daniel Watts wrote: 'It's crazy to think in 50 years that we will be able to turn round to our grandchildren and say I remember the KFC chicken crisis of 2018', while another added: 'Do you know what I would eat? Chips done in the KFC batter. Kentucky fried chips.'

Another person shared a picture of their feast in a Camden restaurant and wrote: 'I survived the great British @KFC_UKI chicken shortage of 2018 #camden #KFCShortageSurvivor.'

Craig Sanders wrote: 'Chickens are on strike. Store has run out of chicken lol.'

A KFC employee, who asked not to be named, said: 'It's annoying and frustrating for us. It's nuts.

'It's damaging the brand. The amount of people trying the door and walking off is incredible.

'We are getting abuse off people who are surprisingly impatient about chicken. KFC changed delivery companies in August.

'A brand new purpose-built warehouse was built and it was all meant to go live on Wednesday.

'There was a crash on the M6 which put deliveries back and they had IT issues.

'Anybody who was due deliveries on Wednesday didn't get it, so they ran out on Thursday. Then the same happened to others on Thursday.'

Another KFC worker from Exeter said: 'A delivery didn't turn up Friday or Saturday. Our branch in Exeter is not open again today (on Monday) and we don't know if it will open tomorrow.

'Workers are not getting paid for it which we think is unfair as it's not our fault.

'We're not happy about it at all. We have been told to be on standby so we have to be around, so technically we should be getting paid.

'We are being told to put it through as holiday but that means using our holiday pay.

'I've heard staff at other KFC branches are also not getting paid. I have already lost over 30 hours of pay.'

The video captured by the customer shows two men in KFC uniforms carrying crates of black bags out of a Volvo and through the backdoors of a restaurant in Erith, south London

Danny Mercer, who filmed the clip, claims he was told to 'f*** off' by employees when they saw him capturing the delivery on camera

Footage uploaded online yesterday apparently showed KFC workers smuggling chicken they had obtained themselves into a store in Erith, Kent, through a fire door  in an attempt to keep it trading.

A customer recorded two men in KFC uniforms carrying crates of black bags out of a Volvo and through the backdoors of a restaurant in Erith, south London.

Danny Mercer, who filmed the clip, said he was told to 'f*** off' by employees when they saw him filming the delivery on camera.

Chuckle Brother Paul tucks into 'three-piece chicken and chips' after discovering an open KFC... but moans about them running out of COLESLAW Paul Chuckle visits a KFC in Leicester Hungry Britons across the UK have faced trouble getting their hands on fried chicken over the past few days. But one half of the Chuckle Brothers still managed got his Kentucky Fried Chicken fix yesterday at the Leicester Forest motorway services branch. Paul Chuckle, 73, whose real name is Paul Elliott, said he had three pieces of chicken and chips - but the restaurant 'must have run out of coleslaw because it wasn't in my bag'. The comedian, one half of the comic double act The Chuckle Brothers with his sibling Barry, later added: 'It's not the same without coleslaw.' KFC expects disruption to some restaurants to continue for the rest of the week after a new delivery contract with DHL sparked chicken shortages. Advertisement

Mr Mercer told Kent Live: 'I got KFC in Erith shut down because I caught them on video smuggling raw chicken into the back of the restaurant out of the back of a car in black bags and boxes and not refrigerated.

'Turns out there has been a delivery problem nationwide for all KFC restaurants.

'But I guess the manager of KFC in Erith took it into his own hands to get chicken.'

He added that the staff had brought in 'about six black bags from the boot' that were 'bulging and gloopy shaped' before he started filming, and said he will 'never eat at KFC again'.

Mr Mercer said customers were 'lining up for the drive thru' when the video was taken but it branch closed later in the afternoon.

KFC told MailOnline it was investigating the issue and was aware of the video.

A spokesman added: 'We've closed several of our restaurants because we won't compromise the quality of our food, and it also goes without saying that food safety remains our top priority.

'When it comes to the safe handling and transport of food, we have strict policies in place, so we're investigating this urgently and will take any necessary steps.'

As the company faced a deepening crisis and anger, it insisted salaried employees will be paid as normal, while others on short term contracts will be paid the average hours worked per day over the last 12 weeks.

However 80 per cent of KFC outlets are run on a franchise basis.

The firms said it is encouraging its franchisees to adopt the same policies but they have no legal requirement to do so as they have their own contracts of employment.

'Franchisees will be seeking their own independent advice, but we're encouraging them to adopt this policy too,' said the chain.

More than 24,000 workers are employed by KFC and its franchises in Britain.

KFC named DHL as the new delivery company last year and it took over the job at the beginning of this month.

At the time, the KFC supply chain director, Jens Hentschel, boasted: 'We want to deliver a new level of service to our restaurants and franchise partners.'

The new regime is built around computer software developed by the company QSL, which is meant to ensure swift and efficient of delivery of fresh chicken to KFC restaurants.

When the partnership with KFC was announced, DHL's John Boulter, said: 'We intend to re-write the rulebook and create a stock management, distribution and reverse logistics model based on best practice from a range of sectors including foodservice logistics.'

Yesterday, DHL said: 'Due to operational issues a number of deliveries in recent days have been incomplete or delayed.

'We are working with our partners to rectify the situation as a priority and apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.'

Sources said KFC may seek up to 30million in compensation from DHL. Business experts said KFC should have phased in the new delivery system to minimise disruption.

Mick Rix, national officer for the GMB union, said it had 'tried to warn KFC' the decision to move from Bidvest to DHL 'would have consequences'.

He said: 'Bidvest are specialists  a food distribution firm with years of experience.

'KFC are left with hundreds of restaurants closed while DHL try and run the whole operation out of one distribution centre  where conditions are an utter shambles.'

'Is this a sign of the apocalypse?' Twitter users share their hilarious overreactions to KFC running out of chicken in two-thirds of UK stores

Most people would recognise that the arrival of the four horsemen of the apocalypse - Death, Famine, War, and Conquest - marks the beginning of the end of days.

But for some Twitter users, KFC running out of chicken in two-thirds of its stores across the nation is the clearest sign yet that the end of the world is coming.

After 700 out of 870 stores were closed today, chicken-hungry individuals already suffering from withdrawal symptoms took to Twitter to post hilarious memes.

Using the hashtag #KFCCrisis, users mocked the overreaction of Brits when they couldn't get their favourite fast food.

This Twitter user thought KFC running out of chicken was 'a sign of the apocalypse', and expected to see the Four Horseman any day now - and not the Four Horsemen of wrestling

Another individual tweeted a reaction gif with the caption: 'How can you be out of the one thing you are known for selling?!?'

This user tweeted a still from the comedy Chicken Run, a film about the exploits of a group of chickens as they attempt to escape from a farm, with the caption 'Frrrrreeeeedom!!!'

Others mocked the overreaction of Brits who couldn't get their favourite fast food for seemingly forgetting they could buy their own chicken and cook it themselves

McDonald's mascot Ronald McDonald was accused of being the one who orchestrated the chicken disaster

One user posted a photo of Sam Allardyce from the 2016 Daily Telegraph investigation where he was filmed giving advice on getting around FA rules on player third party ownership, saying 'I can get you a boneless banquet for one, but it's gonna cost ya'

Another account from a user pretending to be Jesus Christ said they were trying to 'fix' America before they would fix the chicken crisis

Heart radio North East described the crisis as the 'great KFC drought of 2018' as they shared a gif saying: 'I just want fried chicken'

Capital FM in Birmingham had a similar overreaction, posting a gif of a David Cross sobbing uncontrollably in the show Arrested Development
Theresa May is threatening to keep her Brexit war Cabinet at Chequers all night to thrash out a plan for negotiations with Brussels.

The Prime Minister is due to gather senior ministers at her country residence on Thursday to discuss the 'end state' of relations with the EU.

Mrs May has been struggling to forge a united position as Brexiteer and Remain factions within her top team clash over how close ties should be.

She has been mooting a compromise that could see Britain vow to keep EU standards initially to minimise disruption to trade.

The Prime Minister (pictured giving a speech in the Midlands yesterday) is due to gather senior ministers at her country residence to discuss the 'end state' of relations with the EU

Boris Johnson, pictured out running with Australian counterpart Julie Bishop this morning, wants a clean break from the EU

Mr Johnson looked slightly less bedraggled as he arrived for the regular Cabinet meeting later. Home Secretary Amber Rudd was also at the gathering of ministers in Downing Street

David Davis gave a speech in Vienna today setting out his vision for post-Brexit Britain

But she is expected to try to win over senior figures such as Boris Johnson and Michael Gove by insisting the UK will be able to move away from Brussels regulations over time.

According to the Financial Times, Downing Street has told ministers to clear their diaries for the afternoon and evening and is insisting the main points must be decided.

The PM is hoping to hammer out the government's position and deliver her own keynote speech on Brexit before a crunch EU summit next month - when the terms of a transition deal should be finalised.

Former Foreign Secretary Lord Hague warned today that failure by ministers to agree could propel Jeremy Corbyn into power.

Writing in the Telegraph, he said the Cabinet discussions would be one of the 'most important deliberations of their political lives'.

'If they can come up with a plan for our future trading with the EU that is workable, acceptable to the Conservative Party, can command a majority in Parliament and be negotiated with Brussels, the prize is huge: the delivery of a successful exit from the European Union and the confounding of critics across the continent,' Lord Hague said.

'If they fail to do so, the consequences are unknowable but might include the collapse of their administration.

Energy minister Claire Perry and Culture Secretary Matt Hancock were also at the regular Cabinet meeting in Downing Street today

Former Foreign Secretary Lord Hague warned today that failure by ministers to agree could propel Jeremy Corbyn into power (file picture)

The meeting comes amid a series of speeches by senior ministers setting out their vision for post-Brexit Britain.

David Davis took aim at Brussels today over scaremongering claims that British workers will be left at a greater risk of cancer.

The Brexit Secretary said leaving the EU will not plunge the UK into a Mad Max-style world borrowed from dystopian fiction, and that ministers will use the opportunity to improve standards.

In a speech in Vienna, Mr Davis said Britain may choose to move away from EU regulations, but that the countrys blueprint for life outside of Europe is a race to the top in global standards, not a regression from the high standards we have now.
A tractor driver in India has been blinded after a gang of attackers allegedly injected acid into his eyes in revenge for his affair with his boss's wife.

Doctors say Gautam Kumar Choudhary, 30, has lost 90 per cent of his vision after the alleged attack in the Begusarai district of the country's north-eastern Bihar state.

Mr Choudhary, from the Samastipur district of Bihar, says his assailants were punishing him for his affair with Archana Devi, his farmer boss Dayaram Singh's wife.

Doctors say Gautam Kumar Choudhary (pictured), 30, has lost 90 per cent of his vision after acid was allegedly injected into his eyes by a group of men at a roadside motel

The pair ran away together earlier this month but returned after just 10 days.

Mother-of-two Ms Devi was brought back after her husband told police of her disappearance, Gulf News India reported.

Mr Choudhary says Pankaj Singh, his boss's brother, called him posing as a policeman and told him to go to the police station in the village of Teghra to get her.

'I hired a vehicle from my native village and left for Begusarai. But I was kidnapped about one kilometre (0.6 miles) from the police station,' he said.

He claims a group of men including Pankaj Singh frogmarched him to a roadside motel then injected acid into his eyes.

The alleged attack happened in the Begusarai district (pictured) of the country's north-eastern Bihar state

'My cries for help fell on deaf ears. I fainted,' he told police.

Mr Choudhary says he was then dumped in a ditch by the roadside and left to die, but a motorist spotted him lying in a pool of blood and drove him to hospital.

He has formally accused Pankaj Singh, Kundan Singh, Manish Singh, Praveen Kumar, Kari Singh, Roshan Singh and others of abducting him, assaulting him and injecting acid into his eyes.

Teghra sub-divisional police officer B K Singh said Dayaram Singh had already been arrested, adding: 'Efforts are on to nab the other accused whose names figure in the FIR lodged with Teghra police station.'

Dayaram Singh, an influential farmer in the region, employed Mr Choudhary to drive his tractor a decade ago.

It is not clear at what point Mr Choudhary struck up a relationship with Mr Singh's wife.
A bouncy castle full of children was blown upside down by a gust of strong wind in a Chinese city as many parents brought their sons and daughters out to play during a major national holiday.

Three children were injured by the incident which took place on February 17 in Guizhou Province, south-east China, according to local reports.

Two of the children are said to be seriously injured.

A bouncy castle was blown over by strong wind as people celebrate a major holiday in China

According to Chinese news site on.cc, the incident happened on the Huangping County Cultural Plaza in the city of Kaili, a city of around 500,000 people.

The large inflatable castle had reportedly been set up by a private business.

As the incident occurred, parents watching from the sidelines had apparently noticed the wind picking up, but many left their son and daughters on the structure believing that it had been properly tied down.

Footage shared on social media shows one side of the bouncy castle suddenly being lifted off the ground by the wind, flipping the entire structure over.

Three children were injured after falling from a height of at least 30 feet during the ordeal

Some children rolled onto the public square and were unharmed, while the three injured children are thought to have fallen from a height of at least 30 feet during the terrifying ordeal.

Two of the injured children are still receiving treatment for more serious injuries, while the bouncy castle has been shut down and is now under investigation by local authorities.

Video taken in the aftermath of the incident showed one of the injured boys, whose mum can be heard yelling at him: 'I told you to stop playing on it!'

The incident took place on the second day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, when millions of families around the country go out to celebrate the major festival.

The police are yet to release a statement.
Douglas Robb, head teacher at a 34,000-a-year boarding school has slammed the Snowflake generation for being 'mollycoddled, entitled and spoilt'

A head teacher at a 34,000-a-year boarding school has slammed the Snowflake generation for being 'mollycoddled, entitled and spoilt.'

Douglas Robb's remarks prompted a backlash from students with ex-pupils at the prestigious Norfolk school labelling him 'negative' and his words 'worthless'.

Mr Robb, who has been head of Gresham's School in upmarket Holt for three years, sparked the row in a blog for the school website where he handed out job interview advice.

The head said he is worried some youngsters expect to land a one-in-a-million job, lack 'grit' and look down their noses at certain vocations.

In a damning indictment of his student cohort, he wrote: 'Among this generation there is an underlying sense of entitlement. I dont blame them.

'They have been advertised to since birth; they have had credit and loans on a plate; they have been overly molly-coddled; and they have been overwhelmed by a strange combination of fictional sit-com characters, reality TV and social media stars, who paint a picture of perfection to be achieved.

'They have even been encouraged by governments to believe that they deserve more than their parents and grandparents had.'

Adding, later in the blog: 'I would encourage young people to be grateful for the work opportunities they are given and to throw themselves into each task and take pride in working to the best of their ability.'

His remarks prompted a backlash from students with ex-pupil Rebecca Lawrence labelling him 'negative' and his words 'worthless'

But former students were offended by his generalisations, with one penning in reply: 'These assertions left me feeling uncomfortable.'

Rebecca Lawrence, who attended Gresham's between 2007 and 2011, before Mr Robb was head teacher, hit back in an article on the blogging site Medium.

She said: 'Negative stereotypes of millennials are two a penny and you don't have to look far to find the source.

'It's disheartening for anyone to hear, whether it's their head teacher or one they're linked with.

'I feel like he's in a Gresham's bubble, maybe children at his school are privileged and so are more entitled but he shouldn't generalise our generation from a few.'

Ms Lawrence, 23, added: 'It was quite personal to me, as growing up I had a lot of jobs in restaurants and cafes to finance unpaid internships.'

Defending his opinions, head teacher Mr Robb said 'Generalisation is a necessary part of life if we are to be able to discuss trends that seem to be more prevalent among a particular group of people.

Located in upmarket Holt in Norfolk, it charges senior boarders 34,000 a year, it has around 800 pupils aged three to 18 and former pupils include actress Olivia Colman, composer Benjamin Britten and the poet W H Auden

'We must, of course, always be able to see individuals for who they are, whether they seem to conform to a generalisation or not,' he explained.

But added: 'It is now well documented that employers have noticed a trend where young people seem ill-prepared for the requirements of the working day, despite boasting an impressive academic education.

'I believe it is valuable for educators and governments to be informed about this in order to better prepare or equip young people for work.

Notable alumni: W.H. Auden (left) and General Robert Bray (right). Auden, the famed English-American poet described as one of the three most influential poets of the 19th century with Yeats and Eliot. Robert Bray became Deputy Supreme Commander Europe's NATO forces

'We try as a school not to molly coddle our students - to develop the ability to have their opinions challenged through debating societies and other forums.

'Giving students opportunities to experience the sorts of tests of spirit and resilience is what we mean when we say that emphasis should be placed on encouraging grit.

'I don't think all students should leave school thinking that their one-in-a-million job is going to present itself straight away.

Notable alumni: Benjamin Britten (left) the English composer, conductor and pianist. He was a central figure of 20th-century British classical music. Stephen Spender (right) an English poet, novelist, and essayist passionate about social injustice, inspired by W.H. Auden

Notable alumni: Olivia Colman, one of Britain's most acclaimed actors who has starred in award winning TV and film projects

'It takes hard work and determination for most of us to secure a job in which we are truly satisfied.'

The row spilled over on to social media, with others joining in the heated debate.

Phil Right said 'Every generation thinks the next one is 'spoilt, molly-coddled and 'entitled.

'How worrying that a head teacher isn't sufficiently aware to realise that such comments are commonplace and worthless.'

Founded in 1555 and currently rated in the top 30 independent boarding schools in England, for three years.

Located in upmarket Holt, Norfolk, it charges senior boarders 34,000 a year, it has around 800 pupils aged three to 18 and former pupils include actress Olivia Colman, composer Benjamin Britten and the poet W H Auden.
This woman celebrated rainfall in Cape Town after three years of drought by washing her hair in the middle of the street during the downpour.

The South African city has been warned by officials that they could completely run out of water in the area as early as May.

Trudie Loots was so ecstatic by the wet weather that she excitedly dashed out to clean her car and even lathered up her hair as well.

The mother-of-three was filmed by her son, Jaco, as she danced around in the thunderstorm rejoicing the change in forecast last week.

The drought-stricken city is headed for 'Day Zero' which is when the taps are still expected to run dry and it is yet to be reported whether the rainstorm will delay the date.

Trudie said: 'I was just so ecstatic that the rain came.

Trudie Loots celebrated rainfall in Cape Town after three years of drought by washing her hair in the middle of the street during the downpour

'For weeks, my family has been having our 60 second showers at the gym, as we are all trying to conserve water. We have to use left over shower water to flush the toilets.

'I couldn't believe it when the rain came.

'My son, Jaco, was inside playing video games when he heard me whooping and giggling. He looked outside and saw me washing the tarmac.

'He thought it was really funny so started filming - I couldn't care less who saw me though.

'If we get more rain, I will wash the dogs next time!'

The last rainfall was January 22 and the drought has been ongoing for three years so the rain was cause for celebration.

Trudie Loots was so ecstatic by the wet weather that she excitedly dashed out to clean her car and even lathered up her hair as well

South Africa has been suffering a national emergency as riverbeds dry up and families' businesses struggle.

Restaurant diners reportedly rushed outside to stand in the rain and others stockpiled buckets of water from gutters to be used for washing.

Officials havent announced whether the brief downpour was enough to delay the date set for 'Day Zero', which is currently May 11.

The city received between 2 millimetres and 10 millimetres of rainfall but satellite images of Cape Town's largest reservoir Theewaterskloor Dam show it is still at dangerously low levels, reports CNN.

The mother-of-three was filmed by her son, Jaco, as she danced around in the thunderstorm rejoicing the change in forecast last week

This vast dammed reservoir supplies almost two-thirds of the water for Cape Town, a city of four million people at centre of South African agriculture.

Yet it is only at 11.7 per cent capacity after the regions worst drought in more than a century. It is expected that the water will drop below the level it needs to be to flow into the supply pipes that take it into the city.

Africas tenth biggest city is facing an unprecedented crisis. Rigid water restrictions on businesses, farms and households have helped hold disaster at bay  but it may not be enough.

Schools and hospitals are expected to continue receiving water after Day Zero, according to officials, who have said contingency plans have been made.
David Davis today said his robot lawnmower showed why Britain and the EU must work together after Brexit - as he lashed out at Brussels smears.

The Brexit Secretary said he used a Swedish-made AI gadget to cut the lawn at his home in Yorkshire.

And he said agreeing global regulations on such technology would be crucial to exploiting it in future.

Mr Davis highlighted the example as he used a speech in Austria to ridicule the idea that the UK would turn into a cancer-ridden Mad Max-style dystopia after quitting the EU.

Instead he vowed that ministers will take the opportunity to raise standards - and urged 'mutual recognition' of regulations on both sides of the Channel, saying it is in no-one's interests to harm the flow of goods and services.

Delivering a speech to business leaders in Vienna, David Davis urged 'mutual recognition' of regulations on both sides of the Channel, saying it is in no-one's interests to harm the flow of goods and services

Mr Davis is understood to have a Husqvarna lawnmower at his home in his Howden and Haltemprice constituency. Pictured is the 430X model

Mr Davis insisted the Government will continue its track record of high standards outside the EU and had no intention of engaging in a new 'race to the bottom' (file picture)

The address in Austria is the latest in a series of interventions by Cabinet ministers setting out their vision for Brexit.

Theresa May is due to gather senior ministers at her country residence on Thursday to discuss the 'end state' of relations with the EU.

The PM has been struggling to forge a united position as Brexiteer and Remain factions within her top team clash over how close ties should be.

Mr Davis has been on a charm offensive to reassure EU leaders that the UK can be relied on to deal fairly after we leave the bloc.

In his speech today he argued that a common commitment to high regulatory standards should ensure trade with the EU remains as 'frictionless as possible' after Brexit.

Government does back the Good Friday Agreement, says Davis David Davis insisted today that the UK government still backs the Good Friday Agreement after Brexiteers were accused of undermining the accord. The Brexit Secretary said ministers were fully committed to upholding the agreement to end the Troubles and restoring powersharing in Belfast. Ireland's Foreign Minister Simon Coveney hit out today after a series of Brexiteers, including ex Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson, suggested the peace deal needed to be scrapped and replaced. Mr Paterson, along with Tory MEP Dan Hannan and Labour Brexiteer Kate Hoey, have suggested Sinn Fein are holding up talks in Stormont to pursue a united Ireland inside the EU. Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley will update MPs later on the latest collapse in powersharing talks. At his Road to Brexit speech in Vienna, Mr Davis said he was not 'conscious' of anyone talking down the Good Friday Agreement, insisting 'certainly nobody in Government is'. He said that 'everything we are doing is aiming towards ensuring we meet every aspect' of the agreement. Advertisement

He said he 'could not agree more' with French President Emmanuel Macron - who recently warned that failure to forge broad international standards would undermine trust in gobalisation.

Mr Davis said leaps in technology were posing new challenges for governments and they had to work together to ensure rules worked properly.

He revealed that he has a robot lawn mower - and it was due to be cutting his grass as he spoke.

Regulations must be generated to help turn such 'inventive ideas into successful industries', he said.

'I soon expect to receive deliveries from Amazon by drone,' he said. 'In fact  at this very moment at my house in Yorkshire  a robot lawnmower, designed in Sweden and built using drone technology in the North East of England, is mowing the grass.

'But if we are to realise the full potential of new aerial drone technology, we must also maintain our world-class aviation safety record  and address security and privacy concerns.'

Mr Davis is understood to have a Husqvarna lawnmower at his home in his Howden and Haltemprice constituency.

He said Brexit will 'inevitably mean a change in the way British, Austrian and other EU companies do business'.

'It has to if we're to make good on the referendum result and carve a path for Britain to strike its own trade deals, its own immigration policy & make our courts sovereign once more,' he added.

But he said there would be no 'fundamental change' to Britain's values, and there would be no effort to 'undermine' the EU.

Mr Davis also criticised the European Commission, which has claimed that Brexit could lead to workers losing protections.

The Prime Minister (pictured giving a speech in the Midlands yesterday) is due to gather senior ministers at her country residence to discuss the 'end state' of relations with the EU

Mr Davis also criticised the European Commission, which has claimed that Brexit could lead to workers losing protections

A presentation prepared by Michel Barnier's Brexit taskforce last month said the UK could ditch rules around redundancies 'in order to reduce cost and delays for collective dismissals'.

It also said ministers could 'reduce levels of occupational safety and health', which could lead to 'higher exposure to chemicals and carcinogens resulting in lower production cost'.

Mr Davis insisted the Government will continue its track record of high standards outside the EU and had no intention of engaging in a new 'race to the bottom'.

'I know that for one reason or another there are some people who have sought to question that these really are our intentions,' he said.

Key points from David Davis's speech Britain will not engage in 'Mad Max-style' deregulation and easing of workers' rights and environmental standards once it leaves the European Union. Mr Davis said leaps in technology were posing new challenges for governments and they had to work together to ensure rules worked properly. A common commitment to high regulatory standards should ensure trade with the EU remains as 'frictionless as possible' after Brexit. Cited his robot lawnmower as evidence that global standards were needed to exploit technology. Ministers are fully committed to upholding the Good Friday Agreement during the Brexit process. Asked about reports that officials think he is 'lazy', Mr Davis said: 'You should give them my travel schedule which starts early in the morning and arrives rather later than most people go to bed.' Advertisement

'They fear that Brexit could lead to an Anglo-Saxon race to the bottom, with Britain plunged into a Mad Max-style world borrowed from dystopian fiction.

'These fears about a race to the bottom are based on nothing  not history, not intention, nor interest.'

Mr Davis pointed to Theresa May's commitment to maintaining and enhancing workers' rights, Chancellor Philip Hammond's support for a stable European banking system and Environment Secretary Michael Gove's 'crusading zeal' on animal welfare as examples of UK determination to lead a 'race to the top'.

He said it is in the interests of both sides to be able to continue to trust each other's regulations and the institutions that enforce them after Brexit.

'Such mutual recognition will naturally require close, even-handed co-operation between these authorities and a common set of principles to guide them,' he will say.

'And the certainty that Britain's plan, its blueprint for life outside of Europe, is a race to the top in global standards, not a regression from the high standards we have now, can provide the basis of the trust that means that Britain's regulators and institutions can continue to be recognised.'

Mr Davis said that when one side or the other wishes to change its regulations, it will be essential to ensure it does not lead to the creation of 'unnecessary barriers' to trade.

'Take a car produced here in Austria to be exported to the UK. Currently, that vehicle only has to undergo one series of approvals, in one country, to show that it meets the required regulatory standards and those approvals are accepted across the European Union.

'That's exactly the sort of arrangement we want to see maintained even after we leave the EU.'

Mr Davis was also asked about reported claims from some anonymous officials in his department that he is 'lazy'.

'You should give them my travel schedule which starts early in the morning and arrives rather later than most people go to bed,' he shot back.
A gun-wielding Ohio pastor and two members of his family attacked and robbed a Sunday school teacher at their church in Toledo, police have said.

Anthony Morris, a 49-year-old pastor at St. Paul's AME Zion Church in downtown Toledo, was arrested along with his wife Zelda for the alleged attack this weekend.

They and their 19-year-old daughter Kamali - who has yet to be located - have all been charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, according to WTVG.

The attack was allegedly because the teacher had an affair with Morris, police quoted Zelda Morris as saying.

Anthony Morris (right) and his wife Zelda (left) have been charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon- their daughter Kamali has also been charged but is on the run

The robbery was reported to have taken place at St Paul's AME Zion Church in downtown Toledo

'You wanna know why this happened? It happened because your mom slept with my husband, Zelda Morris allegedly told the teachers daughter, according to the police report.

Police said Nickema Turner, 39, was in her class teaching over the weekend when Karmali grabbed her by the hair.

'Zelda Morris then punched Turner in her face, police said, and the pastor then threw her to the ground. Police said Zelda Morris grabbed Turner's purse and took items including two prescription bottles, a stun gun and a cellphone.

When Turner attempted to recover her belongings, Anthony Morris allegedly pulled out a gun and pointed it at her, police said. The woman told police the pastor threatened to kill her.

The Morris family then fled the church before police arrived, Toledoblade.com reported.

Turner was treated at the scene for shock and minor injuries.
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Organisers of a Thai tattoo festival have been fined and a local police chief disciplined after participants were allowed to wander around naked in a shopping mall while putting their body art on display.

The Rayong Tattoo Convention II was held in a shopping centre in eastern Thailand last weekend, and attracted large numbers of body art fans.

In order to show off their ink, many participants had to remove several items of clothing, with some stripping off completely to reveal full-body tattoos.

Showing off: Male participants show off their full-body tattoos during the Rayong Tattoo Convention II

Body art: In order to showcase their tattoos in their full glory, some participants stripped off and walked around nude

The parades of naked men and women exposing their bodies attracted several complaints from visitors to the shopping centre who did not part-take in the convention.

Ton Naboon said: 'I was visiting to watch a film with my wife and young daughter and my wife was doing some shopping.

'We had no choice but seeing these people. This should have been in a different place, with only people who choose to see it going inside.'

Wattana Sagasin added: 'This is not acceptable for society and traditional Thai culture.'

Organisers of the event at the SF Senima City in Rayong, Thailand, have now been fined 114 each for 'lewd and obscene' behaviour in public.

Nice ink: Two female participants show off their thigh and back tattoos during the convention

Complaints: The state of undress of some participants attracted complaints from visitors to the shopping centre

Punishment: The organisers of the tattoo convention, aged 28 to 41, were fined 114 each

While the police chief of the region, Damrong Uansoongnern, who gave the show the green light has been reprimanded and transferred to a desk job doing paper work for 30 days.

Police Lieutenant Traisoon Niamsap, provincial police boss, said a committee has now been set up to investigate how the event was allowed to happen.

He said: 'We apologise to people who were offended by this. The police and the shopping mall did not know that the event would be inappropriate.

'The four people who organised the event aged 28 to 41, have each been fined in accordance with the law.

'The superintendent who oversaw this has been transferred for a period of 30 days to help with the civil service and we have today set up a committee to investigate.'

Bosses at the shopping mall said they were unable to cancel the convention when they became aware of the scantily clad people around the facility because the event had already started.
Tony Abbott has blasted Melbourne's African gang crime as he called for a dramatic reduction in Australia's annual immigration intake.

The former prime minister said violent thugs who failed to integrate into Australian society and find work were a 'problem' in the Victorian capital.

'There are these gangs, these ethnic gangs which are causing mayhem in many instances,' he told Sky News presenter Andrew Bolt on Tuesday night.

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Tony Abbott has blasted Melbourne's African gang crime as he called for a dramatic reduction in Australia's annual immigration intake

The former prime minister said violent thugs (barber shop brawl in Melbourne last year pictured) who failed to integrate into Australian society were a 'particular problem'

The Liberal backbencher from Sydney's northern beaches said while the 'vast majority' of immigrants sought the join 'our team', there were a small minority who hated Australia's democratic and liberal standards.

'I'm certainly very hostile to those who ignore our values,' Mr Abbott said.

'As the citizenship oath states, when you come here, youve got to obey our laws and respect our way of life and thats, I think, the least we should require.'

He cited research from the Menzies Research Institute showing '58 per cent of refugees who have settled here in the past 10 years are living on welfare'.

The former journalist delivered a speech to the conservative Sydney Institute think tank on Tuesday night calling for Australia's net annual immigration intake to be slashed from 190,000 to 110,000 in a bid to ease pressure on house prices and boost stagnant wages growth.

The Liberal backbencher said a small minority of migrants ignored Australia's values (a man being arrested at Tarneit in Melbourne's west pictured)

Mr Abbott told Sky News presenter Andrew Bolt he had reduced immigration numbers when he was prime minister

Mr Abbott claimed on Sky News he had reduced immigration numbers when he was prime minister.

'I certainly managed the number down,' he said.

However in the 2013-14 financial year, when his Coalition government came to power, Australia's annual net immigration intake, comprising skilled migrants and family reunions, stood at 190,000.

The number of permanent arrivals fell to 189,097 in 2014-15, the only full financial year he was PM, figures from a Parliament of Australia research paper show.

Mr Abbott acknowledged his target annual immigration number of 110,000 was 'still very significant' and the highest per capital in the developed world.

It is also significantly higher than Australia's 20th century average of 70,000 a year.

Annual immigration was at that level when John Howard became prime minister in 1996, but it accelerated above 100,000 a year just six years later.
Piled up on the floor of a make-shift morgue, these are the child victims of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's bloodiest airstrikes for three years.

Harrowing pictures show the wrapped-up bodies of some of the 20 boys and girls killed in a devastating bombardment of Syria's eastern Ghouta rebel-held enclave.

The children were among more than 100 people who died in the pro-government airstrikes on Monday, making it the heaviest one-day death toll from airstrikes in the region since 2015, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Distressing pictures have emerged showing some of the child victims of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's bloodiest airstrikes for three years

Harrowing pictures show the wrapped-up bodies of some of the 20 boys and girls killed in a devastating bombardment of Syria's eastern Ghouta rebel-held enclave

The children were among more than 100 people killed by pro-government airstrikes making it the heaviest one-day death toll from airstrikes in the region since 2015, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights

The violence in eastern Ghouta is part of a wider escalation in warfare on several fronts in Syria in recent months as President Bashar al-Assad pushes to end the seven-year rebellion against him

Distressing images show the corpses of young victims wrapped in blood-stained sheets on the floor of what looks like a medical facility.

They emerged in the wake of rocket strikes and shelling on a rebel-held suburb of the capital, Damascus. Warplanes, helicopter gunships and missiles were used in the attack.

The United Nations has called for an immediate ceasefire in the area on Monday, saying the situation was 'spiralling out of control' after an 'extreme escalation in hostilities'.

But today, fresh air strikes hit the area killing 45 civilians.

The targeted suburbs - scattered across an area known as eastern Ghouta - have been subjected to weeks-long bombardment that has killed and wounded hundreds of people.

The Union of Medical Care and Relief Organisations, a coalition of international agencies that funds hospitals in Syria, said bombs had hit five hospitals in the area on Monday.

Opposition activists say government forces have brought in more reinforcements in recent days, suggesting a major assault is imminent to recapture the area.

Both the Observatory and the opposition-affiliated Syrian Civil Defense, also known as White Helmets, reported more airstrikes and shelling on Tuesday in eastern Ghouta as rebels pounded Damascus with mortar shells in retaliation.

Distressing images show the corpses of young victims wrapped in blood-stained sheets on the floor of what looks like a medical facility

The images emerged in the wake of rocket strikes and shelling of the town of Hamouria, a rebel-held suburbs of the capital, Damascus

The United Nations has called for an immediate ceasefire in the area on Monday, saying the situation was 'spiralling out of control' after an 'extreme escalation in hostilities'

Syrian children cry at a make-shift hospital in Douma following air strikes on the Syrian village of Mesraba in the besieged Eastern Ghouta region.Heavy Syrian bombardment has killed dozens of civilians in recent days

Rebels hit some Damascus neighborhoods with mortar shells, killing one person and wounding six people, according to the state news agency SANA. On Tuesday morning, Damascus residents reported shelling on areas in central Damascus.

'Shells are falling like rain. We are hiding in the corridor,' a Damascus resident told The Associated Press, asking that her name not be mentioned for her own safety. She spoke while hiding in the corridor of an office building.

Videos have surfaced from the eastern suburbs showing paramedics pulling out the injured from under the rubble while others are seen franticly digging through the debris in the dark, in search for survivors.

'The humanitarian situation of civilians in East Ghouta is spiraling out of control,' said Panos Moumtzis, the U.N. regional humanitarian coordinator for the Syria crisis, in a statement late Monday.

'It's imperative to end this senseless human suffering now. Such targeting of innocent civilians and infrastructure must stop now,' he said.

The violence in eastern Ghouta is part of a wider escalation in warfare on several fronts in Syria in recent months as President Bashar al-Assad pushes to end the seven-year rebellion against him.

Assad's most powerful ally, Russia, has been pushing a diplomatic track at the same time as the increase in fighting, resulting in the establishment of several 'de-escalation zones'.

Videos have surfaced from the eastern suburbs showing paramedics pulling out the injured from under the rubble while others are seen franticly digging through the debris in the dark, in search for survivors. This picture shows an injured man stuck under the rubble of a damaged building in Ghouta

Members of the Syrian Civil Defense run to help survivors from a street attacked by airstrikes and shelling carried out by Syrian government forces in Ghouta, suburb of Damascus

Smoke rises from buildings following bombardment on the village of Mesraba in the rebel-held besieged Eastern Ghouta on the outskirts of the capital Damascus on Monday

Eastern Ghouta is in one of these areas, where violence is meant to be contained, but the agreement does not include a former al Qaeda affiliate which has a small presence there.

Other insurgent groups in eastern Ghouta, including Islamist factions, say the Syrian government and Russia are using the jihadist presence as a pretext to continue their bombardment.

Neither the Syrian military nor Russia commented on the renewed bombardment in eastern Ghouta, but they have often said they do not target civilians.

The Observatory said the intensified bombing was in preparation for a pro-government ground offensive against the enclave and that a rebel group there had foiled an attempt by Syria's army to advance at al-Marj overnight.
A struggling father and small business owner who became a victim of fraud after he gave a tradie a job is being forced to pay a bill he didn't rack up.

Tony Stengel lent his former employee Darren Keyssecker a company car but the following day, Keyssecker and the Rent A Hubby vehicle had vanished.

Mr Stengel said Keyssecker racked up bills of more than $20,000 using his Bunnings and Caltex account card in just two days, A Current Affair reported.

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Tony Stengel (pictured) became a victim of fraud after he gave a tradie a job is being forced to pay a bill he didn't rack up

Mr Stengel lent his former employee, Darren Keyssecker (pictured), a work ute but the following day, Keyssecker and the Rent A Hubby ute had vanished

Mr Stengel said Keyssecker racked up bills of $20,000 using his Bunnings and Caltex account card in two days after he fled south of Hervey Bay, Queensland in the ute (pictured)

The brazen Bunnings bandit fled 400km away from Mr Stengel in Hervey Bay, Queensland, to Brisbane where he was caught, charged and convicted by authorities.

Despite Keyssecker being convicted of car theft and fraud, which landed him behind bars for four months, it's Mr Stengel who is still paying for the crime.

While Caltex lifted the $1500 bill which was fraudulently charged to the business owner, Bunnings has put a caveat on Mr Stengel's house and is threatening to sell it if he doesn't pay the $23,112 bill.

'Someone works hard, someone rips you off, yet he gets a slap on the wrist and I get nailed for it,' he said.

'How I am supposed to afford that and live ... I'm a one-man band.'

Bunnings Managing Director Michael Schneider told A Current Affair they make 'no claims to be perfect' and 'always try to do the right thing by (their) customers'.

Despite Keyssecker (pictured) being convicted of car theft and fraud, which landed him behind bars for four months, it's Mr Stengel who is still paying for the crime

Bunnings has put a caveat on Mr Stengel's house and is threatening to sell it if he doesn't pay the $23,112 bill (stock image)

'We have offered to work with Tony to help him through this unfortunate situation several times, including offering a reasonable long term payment plan,' the statement read.

'We will continue to try and come to a resolution with Tony and strongly encourage all customers to keep their personal details safe to ensure the security of their account.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Bunnings for further comment.
A violent brawl broke out at a restaurant in China between customers and staff because they couldn't agree on the bill.

The customers claimed the restaurant had charged them 100 yuan (11) more while the staff insisted the customers had paid 100 yuan less, according to the police.

Police also said two people were injured during the fight on February 15 in eastern China's Jiangsu Province.

Two people were injured during the fight on February 15 in eastern China's Jiangsu Province

A video clip released by Pear Video shows that around 10 people were involved in the brawl, which occurred in Fudi Haodu Hotel in the city of Huai'an.

A couple of them appeared to be armed with weapons. One woman in a pink top can be seen trying to throw a cleaver towards a man, but was brutally slammed to the ground by him.

It's understood that the customers were a group who had gone to a restaurant affiliated to the hotel to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Police have questioned those who were involved in the fight and are investigating the case

The Qingjiangpu District police have released a statement on its social media account.

The statement said the incident occurred at around 8pm.

It also said two people who were injured during the fight were taken to the hospital and their condition was stable.

People who were involved in the brawl are under investigation by the police, the statement said.
Boris Johnson today took his friend and Australian counterpart Julie Bishop out for a jog in matching his and hers t-shirts.

The two ministers both braved the drizzle to go for an early morning run around the park this morning.

And they both sported similar save the pangolin t-shirts - which raise awareness about the endangered animal which is hunted and used in Chinese medicine.

The little-known mammal is the most trafficked mammal in the world and is now teetering on the edge of extinction.

The two foreign ministers are good friends and Ms Bishop was last year photographed helping Mr Johnson straighten his tie as the pair met in London.

Ms Bishop yesterday gave Brexit Britain a boost by saying that Australia is 'very keen' to do a free trade deal with the UK after we quit the Brussels bloc.

Boris Johnson today took his friend and Australian counterpart Julie Bishop out for a jog in matching his and hers t-shirt (pictured today)

The two ministers both braved the drizzle to go for an early morning run around the park this morning - an inspected their matching save the pangolin t-shirts

The two ministers both wore the tops to raise awareness about the endangers pangolin, which is the most trafficked mammal in the world

She said they would be open to the UK joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership - the trade deal between Australia, which is nearly 9,500 miles away, Canada, Malaysia and other countries.

But she warned that it would only be possible if the UK left the customs union - the system of tariffs put on goods and services as they cross over borders.

She said: 'Australia is very keen to pursue a free trade agreement with the United Kingdom.

'I think that would be precluded if the United Kingdom were to rejoin the customs union.'

Leaving the customs union would leave Britain free to pursue its own bilateral trade deals.

But the EU has said that would make border checks between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic inevitable - a major obstacle in Brexit talks.

The two foreign ministers are good friends and Ms Bishop was last year photographed helping Mr Johnson straighten his tie as the pair met in London.

It was world pangolin day on Saturday and Mr Johnson used it to write an article in a national newspaper calling for greater efforts to track down on hunting and smuggling the mammal.

He wrote: 'As we get older we human beings are capable of all manner of self-deception. We go under the knife in the hope of looking younger. We take pills and potions of dubious efficacity.

'But in the annals of human folly there is surely nothing more delusional than the belief still prevalent in large parts of Asia that a man can somehow rectify his waning virility by grinding and eating the scales of a pangolin.

'And yet that is what they do. The tragedy is that all eight species of pangolin are now endangered, two of them critically so.

'We are losing them to poachers at a rate of 100,000 a year. They are smuggled, butchered and cooked  all for the sake of their mythical medicinal qualities.'
Furious taxi drivers have forced parking firm NCP to back down after they were hit with a blizzard of tickets for dropping passengers off at train stations.

The wave of fines came after new high-tech cameras were installed in the private car park outside Ipswich Station, in Suffolk.

Cameras recording vehicles using the drop-off area, with a '20-minute max' waiting time, were confused by the returning cabs, flagging them for automatic fines.

Furious taxi drivers have forced parking firm NCP to back down after they were hit with a blizzard of tickets for dropping passengers off at train stations. The wave of fines came after new cameras were installed in the private car park outside of Ipswich Station, in Suffolk

While a lack of width in the cameras' vision meant departing cars were not always picked up by sensors.

But taxi chiefs threatened to stop ferrying passengers to the busy station as the penalty notice storm turned into a full-blown crisis.

NCP, the UK's largest private car park operator, has now promised to tear up the tickets and rejig their CCTV enforcement system.

Hawk Express, the largest cab company in Ipswich, had 17 penalty notices sent to it so far - but that is only the tip of the iceberg.

Outraged company director Richard Morphew told the Ipswich Star: 'Those notices are only for the cars we own and operate.

'But most of our vehicles are driven by their owners and just hire our equipment.

Cameras recording vehicles using the drop-off area, with a '20-minute max' waiting time, were confused by the returning cabs, flagging them for automatic fines. While a lack of width in the cameras' vision meant departing cars were not always picked up by sensors

'For every one car we own there are three owner-operated ones, so you can multiply that 17 by four to get the real figure.'

Mark Kraft, of NCP in Ipswich, admitted they've had problems with coverage provided by the cameras.

Mr Kraft vowed that all tickets issued for the drop-off area since the cameras went live would be rescinded and angry car owners contacted in the next few days.

'We realised the entrance was too wide and the cameras were not picking up all the car movements,' he said.

Hawk Express, the largest cab company in Ipswich, had 17 penalty notices sent to it so far - but that is only the tip of the iceberg. Outraged company director Richard Morphew told the Ipswich Star: 'Those notices are only for the cars we own and operate'

'We will be installing a third camera which will provide better coverage, it will pick up 99.9% of movements.'

Two notices have been issued to Hawk Express for cars parked for 17 minutes and 19 minutes - both within the 20-minute parking limit at the drop-off point at the station.

Mr Kraft said: 'We originally configured the system for a 15-minute period before realising our mistake.

'We thought we'd caught all the wrong notices. These will not have to be paid.'

Mr Morphew had warned that he'd have to start dropping off passengers outside the Station Hotel on the opposite side of the station in a bid to escape punishment.

NCP, the UK's largest private car park operator, has now promised to tear up the tickets and rejig their CCTV enforcement system (Ipswich Station parking bay)

Mr Kraft said he hoped his move would ease cab drivers' fears.

'We don't want to collect penalty fines,' he insisted. 'We just want people to park correctly.'

Cabbies and other motorists have faced serious problems since the rebuilt Ipswich station forecourt was completed last year.

The official taxi rank in front of the station has sparked serious problems because it is only wide enough for two vehicles.

As a result cars adapted for disabled people cannot get to the front of the queue if someone with a disability needs a ride.

The multi-storey car park operated by NCP also had serious problems with its payment machines for months.

They refused to accept credit cards and angry passengers had to queue up to 30 minutes to pay to get out before the problems were resolved by the car park company.
A blue whale carcass has been stomped on by people taking selfies and covered in graffiti after it washed up on a beach in Chile.

The huge 66ft whale created a stir among locals after it was discovered on the shoreline of Punta Arenas in the Magallanes Region of the country.

But pictures soon emerged online showing people clambering on the dead mammal's body and trampling on its back.

Footprints could be seen on its carcass and one online picture showed how someone had scrawled 'Ana, I love you' on its flank.

A blue whale carcass has been stomped on by people taking selfies and covered in graffiti saying 'Ana I love you' after it washed up on a beach in Chile

Footprints could be seen on its carcass and one online picture showed how someone had scrawled 'Ana, I love you' on its flank

Furious social media users have hit out at the 'vandals'.

One, called Carmen Julia Gonzalez Escanilla, said: 'We are losing respect and empathy for everything today.'

Xieman Hernandez added: 'So stupid, every day we get worse. How would the people who did this like to have their dead bodies written on? They do not respect anything!'

The whale has now been taken away by Chilean authorities to establish its cause of death.

The huge 66 feet whale created a stir among locals after it was discovered on the shoreline of Punta Arenas in the Magallanes Region of the country.

The carcass proved a draw for locals in the area with people descending on the beach to take pictures

Initial reports suggest the mammal could have died from an illness or possibly following a collision with a ship, although it displayed no obvious signs of physical injury

Initial reports suggest that it could have died from an illness or possibly following a collision with a ship, although it displayed no obvious signs of physical injury.

Marine specialists will report on their investigation into the blue whale's death later this week.

The blue whale is the largest animal known to have ever existed, however they are difficult to weigh because of their enormity.

The heaviest blue whale recorded weighed 190 metric tonnes and was a southern hemisphere female.
Animal activists have called for horse-drawn carriages to be banned in Melbourne after spotting two writhing in pain on the ground near tram tracks.

Activist group Melbourne Against Horse-Drawn Carriages uploaded confronting images of the horses lying on top of each other to Facebook.

'We have images of a trail of blood and scratch marks from the tram tracks into the Crown driveway,' the group claimed online.

One of the horses (pictured) was captured lying on the ground, injured after it fell in Melbourne

'We are very concerned that these horses were hit by a tram.'

Elite Carriages operator Peter Hunter shot back at their claims in an attempt to set the record straight, saying the horses had slipped on tiles that lined the CBD's pavement.

Mr Hunter told The Age when the horse 'fell' the other horse came down on top of it, leaving one of the horses with minor grazes on its hind legs.

'It's a very stressful thing because once they're down they can't get up; you have to get their harnesses off them as quickly as possible,' he said.

He stressed that the horses were treated 'like gold', rubbishing suggestions of animal cruelty.

The horse was found near the Crown casino in this location (pictured) at 2pm on Monday

He said the horses were 'thrashing around while they were down' but once he calmed them down and removed the harnesses, they recovered and got back on their feet.

'They were thrashing around while they were down, once I calmed them down they realised that they couldn't do anything and then they got back up when the harnesses,'he said.

Horse-drawn carriages were banned in Swanston Street by Melbourne City Council in July last year.
An award-winning comedian is being sued for 30,000 by her estranged husband after using material about their marriage in her Edinburgh Fringe stand-up show.

Louise Beamont, stage name Reay, has been accused by Thomas Reay of defamation in what one leading lawyer described as a test case of whether British judges can take a joke'.

Ms Beaumont, who is also being sued for breach of privacy and data protection, faces being bankrupted if she loses and launched a gofundme page, which raised 5,000 in its first days, to defend against what she calls a threat to free speech.

Louise Beamont, stage name Reay, (pictured in undated social media photos) has been accused by Thomas Reay of defamation in what one leading lawyer described as a test case of whether British judges can take a joke'

Her show, Hard Mode, was billed as an immersive comedy about life in an 'authoritarian regime' but was described by one critic as being 'at its core... about a very recent a raw heartbreak'. The couple married in 2013 and broke up before the show.

Mr Reay wants 30,000 worth of damages in addition to legal costs and an injunction preventing his former wife, who was named 2015 Alternative New Comedian of the Year, from mentioning him in the future.

His lawyers allege that she aired 'very serious and inflammatory allegations' including the 'entirely false suggestion that our client's relationship with Ms Beaumont was an abusive one'.

The comedian wrote on her gofundmepage, which is half way to its initial target of 10,000: '[My husband] has a lot more money than me and he says that I accused him of abusing me in my show.

Her show, Hard Mode, (seen in a promotional poster) was billed as an immersive comedy about life in an 'authoritarian regime' but was described by one critic as being 'at its core... about a very recent a raw heartbreak'

'And so he's suing me, which in my opinion is simply an attempt to silence me. As standup comedians, I believe it's the very definition of our job to talk about our lives and social issues.

'So this has become a free speech issue - and free speech means everything to me. As a Chinese speaker, I've spent many years in China and experienced the social impact when people do not have this freedom.

'I've also spent many years making documentaries for the BBC with vulnerable people whose voices are rarely heard.

'And, I cannot begin to tell you how difficult an experience it has been to have my Edinburgh show censored. I think therefore it's really important for me to defend myself in this case.'

Mark Stephens, libel lawyer at Howard and Kennedy, told The Guardian British juries typically found in favour of defendants who had made a joke but this would be the first time such a case would go before a judge.

'There's a long history of British juries  before they were abolished [in defamation cases]  not finding in favour of claimants when it's a joke,' he said.

'This will be the first time [the issue comes] before a judge. It's going to be a test of whether the British judiciary understands a joke  I mean that seriously.'

Taylor Hampton, who are acting for Thomas Reay, said in a statement: 'This is not a free speech issue, and contrary to how Ms Beamont presents our clients legal complaint on her fundraising page, there is no question of any censorship taking place.

The comedian wrote on her gofundmepage, (pictured today) which is half way to its initial target of 10,000: '[My husband] has a lot more money than me and he says that I accused him of abusing me in my show'

'For an extended period last summer, following their separation, Ms Beamont repeatedly performed a comedy show which identified our client verbally and in still and moving images, contained private information about him and his relationship with Ms Beamont, and made very serious and inflammatory allegations of wrongdoing against him.

'These allegations included the entirely false suggestion that our clients relationship with Ms Beamont was an abusive one. At no stage was our client asked for his consent or given any chance to put his side of the story.

'This was a highly personal attack on our client with no justification whatsoever.'
This is the unbelievable moment a young man appears calm and unperturbed despite a large kitchen knife sticking out of his back.

Elionardo Nascimento had been enjoying a drink in a pub in Brasileia, a rural town in north Brazil, when an assailant ran up behind him and plunged a blade between his shoulder blades.

The 22-year-old narrowly survived the horrendous attack because the blade failed to hit major organs and missed his spinal column by millimeters, surgeons said.

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Calm facing danger: Elionardo Nascimento, 22, is seen calmly waiting for an ambulance after he was stabbed in the back by what he claims was an unknown man

Images hows Mr Nascimento standing by the side of the road, seemingly unbothered by the knife stuck between his shoulder-blades, and the blood pouring down his back.

Mr Nascimento claimed the attack was unprovoked as he 'didn't know the person behind the assault and had not argued with anyone that night.'

Footage of the incident shows the labourer with the wooden-hilted kitchen knife embedded in his back and his red tee-shirt drenched with blood.

In the film, locals are heard comforting the victim as they tell him to keep calm because an ambulance is coming and warn him not to fall down but to stay upright and awake.

Mr Nascimento, who is recovering in Rio Branco Emergency Hospital after successful surgery to remove the weapon, said: 'I don't know why this happened. I wasn't involved in a fight or an argument.

Lucky: Mr Nascimento narrowly survived the horrendous attack because the blade missed major organs and his spinal column

Getting help: Footage of the incident shows the labourer with the wooden-hilted kitchen knife embedded in his back and his red tee-shirt drenched with blood

'I had just come out of the pub to talk to some friends and was standing around outside with a drink in my hand, when a guy ran up, stabbed me in the back and ran off.

'I didn't even see him approach. I just felt a punch in my back which nearly knocked me off my feet.

'I was a bit confused as to what had just happened and when a friend took a look and told me I had a knife in my back, I couldn't believe it.

'At the time, I didn't feel any pain, I think I must have been in a state of shock. But I knew I had to keep upright and calm.

'There was no point panicking as this would only have made the situation worse than it was already.'

Getting help: Mr Nascimento is seen after arriving at hospital, shortly before surgery

By the time cops arrived, the victim had been given a chair and was able to walk a few steps to it to sit down while waiting for the ambulance.

Detective Karlesso Nespoli said: 'We were surprised to find the victim alert and not panicking. His composure certainly helped him to stay alive.

Narrow miss: The knife is seen after having been removed by doctors

'Elionardo was able to tell us what happened, and our preliminary investigations found the knife was new and had only recently been bought.

'At the time of the attack, nobody ran after the suspect as they didn't immediately realise what he had done.

'We are treating this as attempted murder and we have identified a suspect and a warrant is out for his arrest,' Det Nespoli added.

The victim's aunt, Reginilda da Cruz Araujo, 41, revealed her nephew is out of intensive care and on the way to making a full recovery.

She said: 'Elionardo is a quiet person, hardworking and has never been in a fight with anyone. This has really scared us because we can't understand why he was targeted by someone who he has never exchanged a cross word with.

'My nephew came close to dying and we are thankful that he was strong and fit enough to survive this cowardly act,' the aunt added.

Doctors reported that Mr Nascimento is already trying to walk and he may not suffer any long term damage or side effects from the attack.
Teaching assistant Thomas Holdroyd, 30, who lost his 799 iPhone 8 on a night out tracked it down to Ilford police station using an app but officers say they still cannot find it

A teaching assistant who lost his 799 iPhone 8 on a night out tracked it down to his local police station using a GPS app but officers say they still cannot find it.

Thomas Holdroyd can see the mobile is somewhere inside Ilford police station thanks to Apple's Find My iPhone app.

But the 30-year-old has now waited 11 days to get his much-needed phone back and says he's frustrated that police are holding it hostage.

Mr Holdroyd, who works at a school in Hackney, eastLondon, joked: 'I'm thinking about breaking into the police station to find it.'

He had been out for drinks with colleagues on February 9 when he noticed that his phone was missing.

After returning home, the 30-year-old used Apple's Find My iPhone feature to track it down.

When the GPS system showed it was at the police station in east London, Mr Holdroyd thought his problem had been solved.

Officers contacted his flatmate through the app and told Mr Holdroyd to visit the police station on Saturday.

But on his first visit, he was rebuffed by an officer who told him to return on Monday, as the property office was closed.

On a second visit, the officer still could not produce his mobile, and Mr Holdroyd says he's running out of options.

Bizarrely the Find My iPhone app still shows the police station as the phone's last recorded position.

He said: 'On my first visit, I spoke to the desk sergeant and he had a look for it.

But the 30-year-old has now waited 11 days to get his much-needed phone back and says he's frustrated that police are holding it hostage. Mr Holdroyd, who works at a school in Hackney, east London, joked: 'I'm thinking about breaking into the police station to find it'

'He didn't ask for any identification or anything, even though I had bought the receipt for it with me.

'He showed me two phones but neither of them were mine.

'He said that couldn't do anything more and that I should return on Monday as the property office is only open during the week

'I knew it was in the building as Find My iPhone showed it was the last known location of the phone.

Officers contacted his flatmate via the app and told Mr Holdroyd to visit Ilford police station on Saturday. But on his first visit, he was rebuffed and told to return on Monday, as the property office was closed. On a second and third visit, the officers still could not produce his mobile

'When I returned, this officer was a lot more helpful. He did a lot more looking for me but still couldn't find it.

'He said that a phone had been handed in that just had the description of iPhone but he couldn't find it.

'I waited a day but didn't hear anything so I got on the phone to the station but they still can't find it. Now I just want my phone back.'

The Metropolitan Police declined to comment on Mr Holdroyd's case.
Nicola Sturgeon has rejected a Westminster offer to immediately devolve all powers returned from the EU to Scotland.

Ministers in Westminster had hoped offering to hand over all 111 powers over devolved issues such as fishing and agriculture would end the impasse.

The veto leaves London and Edinburgh deadlocked over Brexit and throws into new doubt whether Theresa May's flagship Brexit legislation will be law.

The Scottish Government has objected to a demand some powers not being handed over until 'common frameworks' had been set up to ensure the smooth functioning of the England-Scotland border.

Nicola Sturgeon (file image) has rejected a Westminster offer to immediately devolve all powers returned from the EU to Scotland

The veto leaves London and Edinburgh deadlocked over Brexit and throws into new doubt whether Theresa May's (pictured in Derby yesterday) flagship Brexit legislation will be law

A Scottish government insider told The Times: 'This goes against the essence of devolution: you can't devolve something if you are not really devolving it.'

If no deal is reached, the Scottish Government has said it will refuse to pass a legislative consent motion to the EU Withdrawal Bill.

Mrs May's Government does not technically need a consent motion but pressing ahead without one would trigger a constitutional crisis over the devolution settlement.

Downing Street said today it continued to work with the devolved administrations on the crucial draft laws to 'get the legislation passed'.

The Prime Minister is due to gather senior ministers at her country residence on Thursday to discuss the 'end state' of relations with the EU.

The PM has been struggling to forge a united position as Brexiteer and Remain factions within her top team clash over how close ties should be.

Brexit Secretary David Davis has been on a charm offensive to reassure EU leaders that the UK can be relied on to deal fairly after we leave the bloc.

Brexit Secretary David Davis has been on a charm offensive to reassure EU leaders that the UK can be relied on to deal fairly after we leave the bloc

In his speech today he argued that a common commitment to high regulatory standards should ensure trade with the EU remains as frictionless as possible after Brexit.

He said he 'could not agree more' with French President Emmanuel Macron - who recently warned that failure to forge broad international standards would undermine trust in gobalisation.

But Mr Davis also criticised the European Commission, which has claimed that Brexit could lead to workers losing protections.
The boss of Oxfam has issued a groveling apology over the Haiti scandal - as he revealed they have received 26 new reports of sexual exploitation in the wake of the crisis.

Chief executive Mark Goldring apologised for downplaying the charity's scandal by saying that it was 'not like we murdered babies in their cots'.

He said he made the ill-judged comment after six days of sleepless nights worrying and dealing with the scandal.

Mr Goldring, who is being investigated over his handling of a sexual assault complaint, apologised as he was hauled in front of MPs to be grilled in the scandal.

Mr Goldring, who earns nearly 150,000-a-year, told MPs: 'I do apologise. I was thinking under stress, I had given many interviews.... I should not have said those things. It is not for Oxfam to judge issues of proportionality.'

He added: 'I shouldn't have put my own sleep, or lack of it, in the public domain.'

It came as it was revealed that 7,000 people have pulled their donations to Oxfam in the wake of the scandal.

Meanwhile, Aid Secretary Penny Mordaunt said Oxfam's former chief executive Barbara Stocking and deputy CEO Penny Lawrence 'quite possibly deliberately' misled the authorities over the Haiti scandal.

Mark Goldring (pictured in Parliament yesterday) issued a groveling apology for downplaying the charity's scandal by saying that it was 'not like we murdered babies in their cots'

Oxfam bosses Winnie Byanyima, executive director of Oxfam International, Mark Goldring, CEO of Oxfam GB, and Caroline Thomson, chair of trustees for Oxfam GB were hauled to Parliament to explain themselves after the organisation was rocked by scandal

Oxfam bosses arrive at Parliament where they will be grilled by MPs over the sex scandal allegations - where they revealed the charity has been flooded with new complaints since the scandal broke earlier this month

He said he made the remark after six days of no sleep, adding: 'I make no excuses, I make an apology for comparing what I was going through with the bigger picture.

'My first concern is the women of Haiti and anybody else who has been wronged as a result of Oxfam's programme.'

And he said the aid organisation should have done more to protect the vulnerable people it worked with and ensure abusers could not work elsewhere in the sector.

In a dramatic session in front of the international development select committee it emerged that:

Last year Oxfam received 87 allegations of misconduct - 50 relating to things happening in shops and in Oxfam's trading operations. It said 35 reports were reported to the Charity Commission The scandal is spreading, with 26 allegations of sexual abuse reports to Oxfam since the news broke earlier this month Some 7,000 people have pulled their donations from Oxfam in the wake of the scandal One of the men caught up in the Haiti prostitute scandal was employed as a contractor by Oxfam again Tory MP Pauline Latham, who sits on the committee, said she first heard aid workers were abusing women two years ago Kevin Watkins, Save the Children chief executive of Save the Children UK, warned 'predatory men' were seeking to use aid work to abuse women

Aid Secretary Penny Mordaunt said Oxfam's former chief executive Barbara Stocking and deputy CEO Penny Lawrence 'quite possibly deliberately' misled the authorities over the Haiti scandal

Mr Goldring also revealed the sheer scale of the abuse claims flooding into the charity - saying that Oxfam has received 26 complains since the scandal broke.

He said that people who have been abused or witnessed it had been too afraid to speak out, but were now coming forward with their allegations.

How did the Oxfam scandal erupt and what are the key developments? The Oxfam scandal has rocked the charity and the entire aid sector. Here are the key dates in how it erupted: February 9 The scandal breaks. The Times reveals that an internal Oxfam investigation found senior staff used prostitutes and held sex parties in Haiti in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake, and the charity tried to cover it up. Roland van Hauwermeiren, a Belgian Oxfam chief, admitted using prostitutes. But rather than be sacked he was offered a deal - he would be allowed to resign and given one month's notice if he co-operated with the investigation. February 10 The men sacked for the Oxfam Haiti scandal were allowed to go on and get other jobs in the aid sector, it is revealed. Mr van Hauwermeiren - the man at the centre of the scandal - went on to become head of mission for Action Against Hunger in Bangladesh in 2012-14. February 12 It is revealed Oxfam knew of concerns about the conduct of two men caught up in the Haiti sex scandal before they were appointed to senior humanitarian roles. The charity's deputy chief executive, Penny Lawrence, resigns saying she is ashamed of how the charity handled the Haiti sex scandal. February 13 Whistleblower Helen Evans says Oxfam's chief executive, Mark Goldring, knew of allegations a woman was coerced into having sex in return for aid and failed to act. Ms Evans, the charity's global head of safeguarding from 2012-15, said there were allegations young volunteers were abused in Oxfam's UK shops. Minnie Driver quits as an ambassador to Oxfam. Charity Commission announced a statutory inquiry into Oxfam to examine whether the charity is fit to be trusted with public and government support. February 15 Archbishop Desmond Tutu quits as an Oxfam ambassador, saying that he was 'deeply disappointed' by the sex abuse scandal. February 16 Mr Goldring sparks outrage by saying the backlash to the scandal has been overblown and saying 'it is not like we murdered babies in their cots'. February 20: Charity bosses are grilled by MPs on the international development select committee over the scandal. Mr Goldring apologises for his 'murdered babies' comments. Advertisement

He said some of the allegations of abuse are historic while 16 occurred in countries where Oxfam ran aid operations.

Mr Goldring made the admission as he and other bosses are being grilled by MPs to explain themselves after the charity was rocked by scandal in recent weeks.

Earlier this month it that Oxfam charity had paid prostitutes for sex in Haiti in the aftermath of the devastating 2010 earthquake.

But men accused of exploiting their position and power to have sex with women were allowed to go off and get jobs in other aid organisations, it emerged.

And whisteblowers have said that the scandal extended to the charity's British shops where young volunteers have complained that they were sexually assaulted by staff members.

Stephen Twigg, a Labour MP and chairman of the international development select committee kicked off the grilling by challenging the Oxfam boss over his controversial comment

He said: 'In your interview with The Guardian you appeared to be downplaying the scandal by comparing it to the murder of babies in their cots, which many people thought were inappropriate.'

Mr Goldring took up the invite to apologise - and blamed the controversial comment on the stress he was under.

Caroline Thomson, who became chairwoman of Oxfam's trustees in October 2017, told the committee: 'On behalf of the council of Oxfam, we are ashamed of what happened in Haiti.

'We don't think it was well handled and our task now is to make sure we report always with transparency and accountability.

'My task is to make sure we never again can be at risk of being perceived to have put reputation over accountability.'

The committee of MPs also announced that they have decided to launch their own investigation into sexual misconduct in the aid sector.

They quizzed Oxfam bosses over their handling of the sex allegation claims.

During the lengthy exchange, Mr Goldring admitted that Oxfam failed to tell Britain's international aid department enough information about the scandal.

This means aid ministers who were handing over vast amounts of taxpayers' money to the charity were left in the dark about the abuse.

Meanwhile, Mr Goldring also revealed that last year Oxfam received 87 allegations of sexual misconduct.

He said 50 of those related to things happening in shops and in Oxfam's trading operations and 35 incidents were reported to the Charity Commission.

And he also admitted that one of the men involved in the scandal in Haiti went on to work as a contractor for another branch of Oxfam.

He said: 'I believe that one person was re-employed as a contractor indirectly by another Oxfam - not Oxfam GB.,

'That was a mistake. It shouldn't have happened.It was a short term contract. It was a failing.'

Oxfam has been plunged into crisis after it emerged that Roland Van Hauwermeiren (pictured) used prostitutes in Haiti while he was stationed in the country dealing with the aftermath of he devastating 2010 earthquake

He also revealed that 7,000 people have pulled their donations from the charity in the wake of the scandal.

What did we learn from Oxfam bosses appearing in front of the select committee? Here are some key things revealed in from the appearance of Oxfam bosses in front of the UK parliamentary select committee: The scandal is spreading: 26 allegations of misconduct have been made since the expose broke

Donations are being pulled: 7,000 people have pulled their donations from the charity in the wake of the scandal

One of the men caught up in the Haiti prostitute scandal was employed as a contractor by Oxfam again

Oxfam boss Mark Goldring issued a groveling apology for downplaying the charity's scandal by saying that it was 'not like we murdered babies in their cots'

The international development select committee will launch an inquiry into allegations of sex abuse in the aid sector

Last year Oxfam received 87 allegations of misconduct - 50 relating to things happening in shops and in Oxfams trading operations

Last year 35 incidents were reported to the Charity Commission

Kevin Watkins, chief executive of Save the Children UK, said some 'predatory men' infiltrate the aid sector so they can abuse. Advertisement

Pauline Latham, a Tory MP on the committee, said she had heard allegations of aid workers abusing women as early as two years ago at an international conference.

She said: 'Everybody knew this happened, everybody knew that the aid sector was pretty rotten, because it had got all these people who were abusing women and girls regularly in all countries.

'But nobody, not one organisation, was actually tackling it and doing a thing about it.

'That's shocking. You are all supposed to be good people trying to help the world, but it would appear you are not as good as you should be.'

And she said Britons are rightly shocked are the claims.

She said: 'No wonder the world is angry and no wonder that people are questioning whether any money should be going to charity.'

Meanwhile, Kevin Watkins, chief executive of Save the Children UK, told the same select committee that some 'predatory men' infiltrate the aid sector so they can abuse.

He said: 'What both reports highlighted is the role of powerful men as gatekeepers to food, shelter and security, and the fears and concerns of the people who they were there to serve, who felt threatened by them, unsafe and unprotected.

'What has come to light over the past few weeks cautions all of us against complacency.'

In an urgent statement to the House of Commons Ms Mordaunt tore into Oxfam's former bosses over their handling of the scandal.

Aid Secretary says Oxfam bosses 'misled' the authorities 'possibly deliberately' over Haiti scandal Aid Secretary Penny Mordaunt today accused Oxfam's former bosses of misleading the authorities Aid Secretary Penny Mordaunt today accused Oxfam's former bosses of misleading the authorities over the Haiti scandal to protect the charity. She said Oxfam's former chief executive Barbara Stocking and deputy CEO Penny Lawrence had 'failed' in their duty of care. She said the failure of the charities to alert the authorities to the allegations was a 'betrayal' of Oxfam's donors, workers and the British taxpayer. She said that charities working in desperate circumstances must have high standards of preventing abuse and reporting it when it is discovered. She told MPs: 'In this duty Oxfam failed under the watch of Barbara Stocking and Penny Lawrence. 'They did not provide a full report to the charity commission, they did not provide a full report to their donors, they did not provide any report to prosecuting authorities. 'In my view they misled quite possibly deliberately. 'Even as their report concluded that their investigation could not rule out the allegation that some of the women involved were actually children. 'They did not think it was necessary to report to the police either in Haiti or the countries or origins of those accountable. 'I believe their motivation appears to be the protection of their organisation.' She added: 'They put that before those they were there to help and protect  that is a complete betrayal of trust. 'A betrayal to of those who sent them there  the British people, and a betrayal of all those Oxfam staff who do put the people they serve first.' Advertisement

And she said the failure of the charities to alert the authorities to the allegations was a 'betrayal' of Oxfam's donors, workers and the British taxpayer.

She said that charities working in desperate circumstances must have high standards of preventing abuse and reporting it when it is discovered.

She told MPs: 'In this duty Oxfam failed under the watch of Barbara Stocking and Penny Lawrence.

'They did not provide a full report to the charity commission, they did not provide a full report to their donors, they did not provide any report to prosecuting authorities.

'In my view they misled quite possibly deliberately.

'Even as their report concluded that their investigation could not rule out the allegation that some of the women involved were actually children.

'They did not think it was necessary to report to the police either in Haiti or the countries or origins of those accountable.

'I believe their motivation appears to be the protection of their organisation.'

She added: 'They put that before those they were there to help and protect  that is a complete betrayal of trust.

'A betrayal to of those who sent them there  the British people, and a betrayal of all those Oxfam staff who do put the people they serve first.'

Ms Lawrence quit Oxfam after the Haiti scandal was exposed earlier this month.

Announcing her resignation, she said: 'As programme director at the time, I am ashamed that this happened on my watch and I take full responsibility.

'I am desperately sorry for the harm and distress that this has caused to Oxfam's supporters, the wider development sector and most of all the vulnerable people who trusted us.'

The grilling came after emerged last night that Mr Goldring is being investigated over his handling of a sexual assault case.

Oxfam has reportedly launched an internal inquiry into the sacking in 2010 of Lesley Agams - the charity's country director in Nigeria.

She was dismissed by a senior manager she had accused of sexually assaulting her three months beforehand, according to reports.

Oxfam staff had wanted an independent inquiry but Mr Goldring held a personal review, it was claimed.

Miss Agams, who was the charity's country director in Nigeria, was dismissed by a senior manager she had accused of sexually assaulting her three months beforehand, according to reports

He apologised to Miss Agams, 51, for what she had gone through but stood by the decision to sack her.

Who is Oxfam boss Mark Goldring and how much does the charity pay him? Oxfam GB chief executive Mark Goldring is facing questions about his time at the helm of the organisation after the Haiti prostutute scandal broke. He earned 127,753 a year for leading the charity last year and claimed expenses of 12,006. While he was also handed pension contributions of 12,818. He studied law at Keble College in Oxford before starting his career in the charity sector. He has worked for the UN and the UK's international development department as well as other charities before getting the top job at Oxfam. He heads up all of Oxfam GB's work around the world and manages a budget of 414.7m. As charity chief he lead 2,500 staff and 31,000 volunteers who are based around the world. Advertisement

The sacking of Miss Agams resurfaced after a complaint was lodged against Mr Goldring by Marc Wegerif, 49, who resigned as a senior policy official at Oxfam two months ago.

He told The Times that the charity had 'discredited Miss Agams without justification'.

He said: 'The decisions on how to respond to Lesley's case were made by senior leadership team without the involvement of the safeguarding team or the gender justice teams.

'I found it amazing Mark Goldring could acknowledge that she was sacked by the person she accused of assaulting her but then conclude that there was nothing wrong with that.'

The incident will form part of the Charity Commission's inquiry into Oxfam that was announced last week following revelations that it had covered up allegations of sexual misconduct by staff in Haiti in 2010.

Theresa May condemned the behaviour of Oxfam staff as 'horrific' earlier this week.

The Prime Minister said she was appalled that those who had used prostitutes engaged in physical intimidation of witnesses.

Meanwhile a watchdog had found that Britain's aid department risks making poorer nations dependent on handouts.

The sacking of Miss Agams resurfaced after a complaint was lodged against Mr Goldring by Marc Wegerif (pictured), 49, who resigned as a senior policy official at Oxfam two months ago

Officials prioritise 'short-term and immediate results' rather than helping third-world countries to 'finance and lead their own development'.

There was a failure to monitor value for money in a third of projects, the study into the aid budget of the Department for International Development found.

The report was compiled by the Independent Commission for Aid Impact which scrutinises the 13billion spent each year.

A spokesman for DfID said: 'This report rightly recognises that DfID is a global champion in achieving value for money and is leading the rest of the world in pushing vital reforms through the international aid system to help the poorest people and ensure UK aid cannot be better spent.'
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) allows previously unreleased information that is held by the United States government to be revealed to a person who has made an FOI request.

From the first Freedom of Information Act being enacted by President Lyndon Johnson on July 4 1966 to subsequent amendments being passed, National Freedom of Information Day is celebrated on the birthday of President James Madison.

But who was James Madison, when is Freedom of Information Day and how can you make an FOI request?

The FOI Act was used when the FBI requested Apple unlock an iPhone used by a terrorist Tashfeen Malik, left, and Syed Farook, right, involved in the San Bernardino attack in 2016

What is the Freedom of Information Act?

Known as the Father of the Constitution as well as an advocate for transparent and free speech, President Madison is known to have helped to draft the Freedom of Information Act, still used to this day.

The Freedom of Information Act was used when the FBI requested Apple unlock an iPhone used by a terrorist involved in the San Bernardino attack in 2016.

Alongside this, National Freedom of Information Day has also been used to highlight the breakdown of privacy, the hidden surveillance of US citizens and how different the government is in comparison to in James Madisons time.

History of the Freedom of Information Act

CJ Ciaramella wrote a report to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the law in 2016 called 'The Freedom of Information Act - and the Hero Who Pioneered It'.

It read: 'The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) turns 50 years old on July 4, 2016. The landmark bill, signed into law by a reluctant Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966, gave the public unprecedented access to government documents.

'Like many great American contributions to democracy, it was the project of a lone crusader, opposed by the leading politicians of the day until it finally became law, then fully embraced on paper but never more than half-realized in reality'.

Ciaramella goes on to say that information discovered in any big news investigation is most likely to be obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.

John E. Moss, a backbench Democratic congressman from California is also a significant player in getting this Act passed, after 12 years of labouring for it and often against his own party.

In 1952, Moss entered Congress and the American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE) published Harold Cross's study on government secrecy.

'In the midst of the Cold War, the government's classification system had exploded in size, and there was neither a clear right to access government records nor judicial remedy for anyone denied access. Under Cross's guidance, those two principles would become the foundation of the FOIA.'

During the Kennedy presidency, Moss objected to any form of secrecy within the government and attempted to do the same with Johnson but was uninvited from the White House over his scepticism over the Vietnam War.

However, Moss gathered support for the FOIA from both Democrats and Republicans and despite Johnson's opinion, Congress passed the Act on June 20, 1966 by a vote of 307-0.

Who was James Madison?

Born James Madison, Jr on March 16, 1751 in Port Conway, Virginia, he was a Founding Father who served as the fourth President of the United States.

As well as being known for his role in drafting the Freedom of Information Act, he played a major role in promoting the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Despite championing a free government during his presidency between 1809 to 1817, the Freedom of Information Act was not passed into law until 1966.

When is Freedom of Information Day?

National Freedom of Information Day is marked on March 16 every year and is held during Sunshine Week.

In 2018, Sunshine Week falls from March 11-17 2018 and is a annual national celebration of access of public information.

Although the law came into effect in 1966, the creator of National Freedom of Information Day is thought to be Jim Bohannon, who was a syndicated radio talk show host on Westwood 1 stations.

National Freedom of Information Day is not considered a federal holiday.

How to make a FOI request

An FOIA request can be made on the government website and is a four-step process.

First, it needs to be confirmed whether the records that are being requested are with the Department of State.

The Department of State has information on:

Formulation and execution of US Foreign policy

Administration and operations of the Department of State and US missions abroad

US citizen US passport applications

Visa requests from non-citizens

Consular assistance given to US citizens abroad

Department of State current and former employees

However, records that are older than 25 years, pre-1925 passport and pre-1940 visa records are the property of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

2. Secondly, it needs to be confirmed whether the records that are being requested are available online. Some records can be found on the Department of States Virtual Reading Room Documents Search page, Administrative Rulings, Policy Statements and Other Publications pages.

These pages will have information on:

Final opinions and orders provided in the adjudication of administrative cases

Specific agency policy statements

Certain administrative staff manuals

Records disclosed in response to a FOIA request (as of March 31, 1997)

3. The next step is to draft your request and it should include the following information:

Name, address, telephone number

Information to help the Department locate the material being requested such as the subject, time frame, individuals involved as well as the reasons why the Department would have the records.

The maximum amount of fees you are willing to pay. By making an FOIA request, the applicant has agreed to pay up to $25.

Whether the request needs to be given expedited treatment or not.

4. The final step is to send the request to the Department of State at the following address or by electronic submission.

U. S. Department of State

Office of Information Programs and Services

A/GIS/IPS/RL

SA-2, Suite 8100

Washington, D. C. 20522-0208
The 19-year-old accused of murdering 17 people in a Florida high school last week had at least seven legally acquired long guns - including an AK-47-style rifle he bought less than a month ago.

Nikolas Cruz, who has been charged with 17 counts of murder after the slaughter at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine's Day, owned an assortment of firearms as well as the rifles.

A law enforcement official speaking on condition of anonymity said he had bought at least seven of the guns legally, with the other three firearms in his 10-gun arsenal bought illegally.

Federal law allows those 18 and over to buy rifles - and Cruz passed background checks necessary to obtain the weapons over roughly a year leading up to the shooting.

DailyMail.com revealed on Thursday that Cruz had bought an AK-47-style assault rifle from a gun store in Deerfield Beach, Florida, less than a month ago and passed all necessary background checks.

The 19-year-old accused of murdering 17 people in a Florida high school last week had at least seven legally acquired long guns - including an AK-47-style rifle he bought less than a month ago. Pictured: A post on Nikolas Cruz's Instagram showing his weapons stash

Nikolas Cruz (left), who has been charged with 17 counts of murder after the slaughter at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine's Day, owned an assortment of shotguns and other firearms as well as the rifles. Right: An Instagram post on Cruz's account showing a rifle

Federal law allows those 18 and over to buy rifles, and Cruz (pictured being arrested) passed background checks necessary to obtain the weapons over roughly a year

Cruz, 19, was trained to use weapons and had taken a marksmanship course with the US Army Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps, a former friend has revealed. he's seen above posing on Instagram

Speaking to DailyMail.com, owner of Gun World of South Florida Kim Waltuch, 54, of Parkland, said Cruz had done nothing to arouse suspicion during the purchase process and had appeared normal to her staff. He also bought a shotgun from the same store in 2016.

'He purchased a shotgun and an AK-47,' she said. 'He purchased a shotgun in 2016 and he purchased the AK in January.

'He was not a regular customer of ours. He did purchase firearms from us but it was not the AR-15 [thought to have been used in the killing spree].

'We went through the process of the background checks which is the only way we release a firearm. He was immediately approved.'

Kim Waltuch (pictured) is the owner of Gun World where Nikolas Cruz purchased a number of guns in the past two years

The AK-47, also referred to as a Kalashnikov, is a semi-automatic assault rifle that was originally designed for use by the Soviet Army and was first fired in 1948.

Prices start at around $400 and go up to $1,000 depending on the model. A similar weapon to Cruz' that was seen on sale at the Deerfield Beach store on Thursday was priced at $869.99.

The AK-47 was not used during Cruz' killing spree.

Meanwhile, a hundred Stoneman Douglas students are busing 400 miles to Florida's capital today to urge lawmakers to act to prevent a repeat of the massacre that killed 17 students and faculty last week.

The students plan to hold a rally Wednesday in hopes that it will put pressure on the state's Republican-controlled legislature to consider a sweeping package of gun-control laws, something some GOP lawmakers said Monday they would consider.

Shortly after the shooting, several legislative leaders were taken on a tour of the school to see the damage firsthand and they appeared shaken afterward. Pictured: A gun being held in a picture on Cruz's Instagram

Shortly after the shooting, several legislative leaders were taken on a tour of the school to see the damage firsthand and they appeared shaken afterward.

'I really think they are going to hear us out,' said Chris Grady, a 19-year-old senior who is going on the trip. He said he hopes the trip will lead to some 'commonsense laws like rigorous background checks.'

The attack last Wednesday seemed to overcome the resistance of some in the state's leadership, which has rebuffed gun restrictions since Republicans took control of both the governor's office and the legislature in 1999.

However, there is still strong resistance by many in the party to any gun-control measures, leaving the fate of new restrictions unclear.

Students have also vowed to exert pressure on Congress as the aftermath of the rampage resonates beyond Florida and from coast to coast.

Hundreds of chanting protesters converged Monday on a downtown Los Angeles park, demanding tougher background checks and other gun-safety measures after the shooting.

Some signs held up by the California demonstrators read, 'Your Children Are Counting On You.'

Senator Bill Galvano, a Republican and the incoming Florida senate president, said the state senate was preparing a package that would include raising the age to purchase any firearm to 21, creating a waiting period for purchasing any type of firearm, banning bump stocks that can allow semi-automatic guns to spray bullets quickly and creating gun-violence restraining orders.

Authorities said suspect Nikolas Cruz, 19, had a string of run-ins with school authorities that ended with his expulsion.

Police also were repeatedly called to his house throughout his childhood. Cruz's lawyers said there were repeated warning signs that he was mentally unstable and potentially violent.

Cruz did not look up at all yesterday and spoke only to his attorney, public defender Melissa McNeill, and another representative from the public defender's office

While McNeill spoke to the judge, Cruz was comforted by British barrister Jodie Woodward who is volunteering at the Broward County Public Defender's Office on capital cases

Yet he legally purchased a semi-automatic rifle.

'We need to make sure everything is working and to learn from the experience,' said Galvano, who was among those who visited the school.

The senate is also considering boosting spending on mental health programs for schools and giving law-enforcement greater power to involuntarily hold someone considered a danger to themselves.

The body will also look at a proposal to deputize a teacher or someone else at school so they are authorized to have a gun.

Galvano said senators want to examine ways to protect schools that do not have resource officers - often armed law enforcement officers - on site.

Cruz bought the deadly AR-15 that he used to shoot dead 17 people at a Florida high school from Sunrise Tactical Supply (seen above) in a shopping center in Coral Springs

Law enforcement spent five hours inside Sunrise Tactical Supplies, in Coral Springs, amid an investigation into how alleged school shooter Cruz armed himself. Pictured: Stuart Kaplan, an attorney representing the corporate entity, Sunrise Tactical Supply, and Douglas Rudman, who represents shop owners Michael and Lisa Morrison

State House leaders and Governor Rick Scott also are considering possible changes to firearms rules but have not given any details. Scott planned meetings Tuesday on school safety, and said he would announce proposals on mental health issues later in the week.

Still, some Republicans questioned whether additional gun restrictions are the answer.

'I really don't want to see this politicized into a gun debate,' Republican Sen. Dennis Baxley.

Referring to gun-control advocates, he said: 'Sometimes I wish they were right, that this would fix it, but it won't ... We have a terrible problem with obesity, but we're not banning forks and spoons.'

Democrats believe raising the age limit and creating a waiting period to buy rifles isn't enough.

'That's unacceptable. That's a joke,' said Democratic Sen. Gary Farmer of Broward County. 'I don't see that as a restriction. It never should have been that an 18-year-old could buy an assault weapon. No Floridians should be able to buy an assault weapon.'

In Washington on Monday, protesters staged a lie in in front of the White House to call on stricter gun laws

Female students attend the funeral of Alaina Petty in Coral Springs, Florida, on Monday

Another young JROTC student is comforted outside the church (left) and two teenage girls console one another (right)

Cruz made his first appearance in court Monday. Wearing a prison jumpsuit, he kept his head down and did not appear to make eye contact with the judge or others in the courtroom, though he responded briefly to someone on the defense team. A previous appearance was by a video connection from jail.

His lawyers have said he will plead guilty if prosecutors agree not to pursue the death penalty. No decision has been made on that.

Since the attack, students from the school have become increasingly vocal in their demands for gun-control measures.

Many have pointed out politicians who take financial support from the National Rifle Association, and some have lashed out at President Donald Trump, saying he was busy blaming Democrats for failing to pass gun restrictions while taking no action of his own.

After staying largely mum in the last few days about the massacre and the escalating debate about weapons, Trump said Monday that he was supportive of a bipartisan effort to strengthen federal background checks for gun purchases.

Students are also calling for anti-gun violence demonstrations in Washington and other cities March 24.

Organizers behind the anti-Trump Women's March called for a 17-minute nationwide walkout by teachers and students on March 14, and a gun-control group was calling for a rally to ban assault weapons Wednesday at the Florida Capitol.
Luke Stewart, 28, has been given a black mark on his record for 'inappropriate' behaviour for sending a birthday card to a schoolgirl, 15

A maths teacher who sent a birthday card to a 15-year-old girl at a private Catholic school has been given a black mark on his record for 'inappropriate' behaviour.

Luke Stewart, 28, wrote in pink ink to the student and made inappropriate comments to her while teaching at the 12,000-a-year college.

A disciplinary panel ruled the maths master can carry on teaching - despite finding him guilty of unacceptable professional misconduct.

Stewart was investigated by senior staff at St John's College in Cardiff after pupils complained of 'favouritism' shown towards the 15-year-old.

A child protection officer warned him not to be alone with the teenager - but Stewart was later found to be giving her private tutoring.

The Education Workforce Council hearing in Cardiff heard Stewart sent the girl pink birthday cards and signed them off as 'Stewey'.

He also wrote 'inappropriate comments' on her exam papers in pink ink including: 'You have been really cold with me for about one third of the year - fair?'

Stewart was also found to have engaged in 'extensive text message conversations' with the teenager's mother and also arranged to meet her outside school.

But panel Chair Helene Mansfield said there was not enough evidence to prove Stewart had flirted, shown favouritism, or encroached the girl's personal space.

A disciplinary panel ruled the maths master Stewart (pictured) can carry on teaching - despite finding him guilty of unacceptable professional misconduct

Stewart left Roman Catholic college St John's - rated in the top ten in Britain for A-level results last year - by mutual agreement in 2016

Stewart, of Caerphilly, South Wales, was given a Conditional Registration Order which will last until May this year.

The order allows him to keep his place on the teaching register and work in education.

Stewart left Roman Catholic college St John's - rated in the top ten in Britain for A-level results last year - by mutual agreement in 2016.
Actress Heather Graham has accused playwright Israel Horovitz of forcibly kissing her after she ended her relationship with his son in the late 1980s.

She told the latest edition of Marc Maron's 'WTF' podcast, which was posted Monday, that she dated Adam Horovitz - also know as Ad-Rock - when she was 18 or 19, about the same time as she appeared in the 1989 film Drugstore Cowboy.

'After I dated Adam and we broke up, I auditioned for one of [the elder Horovitz's] plays and after the audition he was like, 'Let me walk you out' and so he gets in the elevator and then he just pushes me against the elevator, sticks his tongue down my throat,' Graham told Maron.

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Heather Graham (left) said that Israel Horovitz (right) stuck his tongue down her throat

Former Beastie Boy Adam Horovitz (right) last year said that he believed allegations made by nine women against his father were true

Israel Horovitz (above with his second wife Gillian and Glenn Close in 2007) said last year he remembered sexual harassment encounters differently

Horovitz is pictured in 1977 before the alleged abuse began

'I got out of the elevator and I just never talked to him again. And then I heard him saying later, like, 'Heather's so ungrateful,' Graham was quoted as saying by Thewrap.com.

Israel Horowitz, 78, is best known for more than 70 plays including The Indian Wants the Bronx (which starred Al Pacino in 1968) and Park Your Car in Harvard Yard. He has not so far responded to Graham's allegations.

Israel Horowitz was accused of sexual assault in a New York Times article last year by nine women who came forward with allegations against him, dating back to the mid-1980s.

Heather Graham has starred in numerous critically-acclaimed films including Boogie Nights (1997), Say It Isn't So (2001) and more recently Netflix's Flaked (2016). She said the alleged assault took place around the time of Drugstore Cowboy (1989)

He said at the time that while he had 'a different memory of some of these events, I apologize with all my heart to any woman who has ever felt compromised by my actions, and to my family and friends who have put their trust in me'.

'To hear that I have caused pain is profoundly upsetting, as is the idea that I might have crossed a line with anyone who considered me a mentor.'

Former Beastie Boy Adam Horovitz, in a statement at the time said: 'I believe the allegations against my father are true, and I stand behind the women that made them.'

Heather Graham IS one of more than 80 women who have accused producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct, alleging he implied she had to sleep with him if she wanted to star in one of his films.

Israel Horovitz was also the subject of sexual harassment and assault allegations by 10 women in the Boston Phoenix in 1993.
Denise Fergus, the mother of James Bulger, revealed she only discovered the government had rejected her calls for a public inquiry into the handling of her son's killer from Twitter

TV viewers have backed James Bulger's mother's call for a public inquiry into the handling of her son's killer after she insisted: 'He's laughing at us.'

James was tortured and left on a railway line by ten year olds Jon Venables and Robert Thompson in 1993 in a crime which shocked Britain.

Venables' repeated reoffending since his release from youth custody has led to James's mother, Denis Fergus, calling for a public inquiry into the case.

But despite a petition calling for a review now having more than 200,000 signatures, the government rejected the move last week.

Speaking on ITV's This Morning today, Mrs Fergus said she doesn't believe Venables can be rehabilitated and wants to know why he keeps being freed.

She told the shows presenters Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby: 'After all the money that has been spent on him, he's just laughing at everyone. He's laughing at the government, he's laughing at us and he knows he can get away with it and he's doing whatever he wants.'

She revealed she only heard ministers had rejected the calls through Twitter as she was preparing to go to visit her son's grave.

Mrs Fergus and her new husband Stuart appeared on ITV's This Morning today. It was the 25th anniversary of her son's killing last week

James Bulger was killed by Jon Venables and Robert Thompson in a crime which repulsed the country in 1993. Mrs Fergus is angry so little is know about why they were released so quickly

She said: 'I want to know why they rejected the petition. Doesn't public opinion count any more?

'They were meant to respond after we reached 10,000 signatures, but we never got no response from them.

'They chose to respond on the 25th anniversary when we were getting ready and spend the day at the cemetery. And they even got his name wrong.

'Someone tagged me in to something on Twitter to say "Have you seen this?". I was getting ready to go to the cemetery and I got it with that.'

Mrs Fergus only recently discovered that James was sexually abused before his death and believes the parole boards who freed Venables did not know the full facts.

Mrs Fergus told This Morning she did not want her son's killers to be locked up for ever, but feels they were released too soon and should have spent time in an adult prison.

Mrs Fergus is calling for a public inquiry into the situation around her son's killer's release

She only recently discovered that her son was sexually abused before his death and believes the parole board who freed Venables were unaware of the full horror of his crime

She said she feels like they have been 'rewarded, not punished' for the horrific crime they carried out.

She has now written a book about her experiences, saying she was worried she was starting to forget the good memories she has of James.

She said: I became like two people. Like James's mum, fighting and campaigning. But once I'd done all that and I went home to the boys [her other sons] I become their mum and it never got spoke about because I didn't want my boys to sense my feelings about James, so I kind of was two people.'

Viewers backed Mrs Fergus call for a review of Venables' handling.

One wrote on Twitter: 'I really do feel for Denise Fergus. She has been so strong, dont stop fighting for justice for James and the victims Venables has since affected. Venables has shown nothing but contempt, he continues to offend. The justice system has protected the wrong people.'

ITV viewers backed Mrs Fergus calls for a public inquiry into Venables' release

Lisa Broderick added: 'The justice system is an absolute disgrace my heart breaks for Denise Fergus. What a beautiful strong women its so unfair that after all these years she is still suffering and needing answers the government need to get there act together makes me so mad.'

Nikki Hayes wrote: 'Absolutely disgusting that Denise Fergus has only found out recently that her son James Bulger was sexually abused before he was murdered. She's a tower of strength, she was badly let down by the law.'

Ms Fergus' comments come after it was revealed that Venables has a secret girlfriend who knows about his vile past and his convictions over child abuse images.

The woman was told of her new boyfriend's true identity when their relationship got serious but she stood by him.

She was even at Venables' house when police discovered his sickening hoard of child sex images and plans to visit him in prison after he was jailed for 40 months, according to The Sun.

The woman does not have any children but is believed to have primary school-age relatives.

Venables is currently serving 40 months in prison after pleading guilty to having more than 1,000 indecent images of children at a trial at the Old Bailey earlier this month.
A convicted child abuser who assaulted his teenage bride in Warren Jeffs' polygamous cult has been given the deed to his home back after his release from jail.

Michael George Emack served seven years in a Texas prison after pleading no contest to sexually assaulting a child in 2010 following a raid in 2008.

His victim was a 16-year-old girl who Emack married when he was 53, the Salt Lake Tribune reports.

Emack has been living in Arizona, where he is on the sex offender registry, since his release in January last year.

Michael George Emack (pictured) served seven years in a Texas prison after pleading no contest to sexually assaulting a child. He has been given the deed to his old home in Hildale, Utah, for a tenth of its assessed value

Now, it has emerged he is getting the deed to his old home in Hildale, Utah  where he lived as part of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or FLDS.

The board of the United Effort Plan (UEP) agreed to give Emack the home  a property spanning 7,4452 sq ft with 15 bedrooms and 15 bathrooms  for $25,454, which is approximately a tenth of its assessed value, the Tribune reports.

The UEP is a land trust that owns the properties donated by FLDS members on the Utah-Arizona border.

The properties were put in the trust so the cult's members could live communally but the trust was seized by the state of Utah in 2005.

Its board is attempting to dissolve the UEP by giving away or selling at low cost the homes in the sister cities of Hildale and Colorado City, Arizona  which are collectively known as Short Creek.

Wendell Nielsen (pictured) got the deed to a vast 13,804 sq ft property with 25 bedrooms and 21 bathrooms worth more than $800,000 for just $13,264

Wendell Nielsen, 77, who was convicted of bigamy in 2012, has received the deed to a home he built in 1999  a vast 13,804 sq ft property with 25 bedrooms and 21 bathrooms worth more than $800,000  for just $13,264.

He had been sentenced to 10 years in prison, but was released on parole in 2013.

Nielsen was once a prominent member of the Mormon offshoot group, ranking just below Jeffs, and had 21 wives at one point.

According to the Tribune, members of the FLDS usually refuse property from the UEP.

Utah seized control of the UEP, a land trust that owns properties donated by FLDS members on the Utah-Arizona border so they could live communally, in 2005. Above, Hildale, Utah

Some have said the board's distribution of homes was an incentive to get sect members to leave.

Emack's deeds  as well as Nielsen's  seem to indicate they no longer follow Jeffs.

The UEP has criteria to determine who gets a home, including their contributions to the trust, history with a home and need, but criminal history isn't listed as a reason to reject an application.

Warren Jeffs (pictured) is serving a life sentence for sexually assaulting girls he considered wives

Emack  who was a licensed electrician in Utah before he was jailed - worked on UEP homes across Short Creek.

More and more members of the sect are leaving the FLDS since Jeffs was sentenced to life in prison for sexually assaulting girls he considered wives.

In December, his brother Lyle  a former leader of the sect - was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for his role in carrying out an elaborate food stamp fraud scheme.

Lyle Jeffs was accused of being the ring-leader of a scheme that diverted some $11 million in food-stamp benefits to a communal storehouse and front companies over several years.

The food stamp investigation was one of several government crackdowns on the group in recent years that has weakened the sect and created a leadership void.

The town governments and the police are being watched closely by court-appointed monitors after a jury found them guilty of civil rights violations.

Government-ordered evictions of sect families from nearly 150 homes has forced many to seek refuge in trailers around the communities or in different cities across the West.
The fed-up owner of an iconic live music venue in Melbourne has banned mobile phones at gigs because it's 'just not rock n roll'.

James Young, who owns Cherry Bar, proposed the rule after noticing people at gigs were regularly pulling out their phones to film large amounts of the set.

'The idea for the 'phone ban' comes from a communal feeling that genuine live music fans are sick to death of having people obscure their view, f#ck with the gig vibe and embarrass themselves,' the bar said in a Facebook post.

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After noticing that people at gigs were pulling out their phones to film more the owner of Melbourne's iconic Cherry bar has decided to ban them

'The idea for the 'phone ban' comes from a communal feeling that genuine live music fans are sick to death of having people obscure their view,' the bar said on Facebook

'Getting rid of annoying phones at gigs: it's just a vibe man. And Cherry Bar encourages other venues and artists to support Cherry and also adopt this ban.'

The bar asked it's followers to give their opinions on the ban and received a mix of responses.

'I love the venue so I'm a bit annoyed that they want to do this,' Michael Boyd, who regularly goes to gig there, told Daily Mail Australia.

'I don't agree with people going to gigs and holding their phones the whole time. But I like taking photos at gigs and recording maybe one or two songs at most and have done so for the last 20 years.'

The bars owner, James Young, asked punters to comment on a potential ban against mobile phones at gigs and got mixed reactions

A shot of Aimee Francis, that gig-goer Michael Boyd took while watching her set at Cherry bar

'It's not very rock n roll trying to enforce something that takes away the punter's choice,' Dave Metalife, another regular at Cherry, told Daily Mail Australia.

'If documenting a show with some pictures and a video is part of a punters enjoyment, why would they go to a venue that wants to take that away.'

When asked by concerned patrons how the bar planned to enforce the new rule, they said crowds would just learn what to do.

'Cherry Bar is pretty much self-regulating. Once we officially introduce a 'no filming entire songs on your mobile ban' all the staff and all the punters will self-implement the rule,' the bar said over Facebook.

'It's not very rock n roll trying to enforce something that takes away the punter's choice,' said punter Dave Metalife

'It's kind of a name and shame thing. No, we won't be confiscating anyone's phone.'

Ignoring the naysayers, Mr Young told The Age that the ban had '99% support' and would most likely go ahead.

'We're not going to have security guards slapping phones out of people's hands,' he said.

Many gig goers weren't convinced but there are a few who thought the idea had some merit.

'I can see it from a business point of view. Some may find it very annoying while others couldn't care less,' Micheal Stephens, a live music lover, told Daily Mail Australia.

Cherry bar is one of Melbourne's most prominent live music venue and is beloved by punters

Many gig-goers weren't convinced about the ban, concerned about how it would be enforced

'While at an event I do always comment to my wife how silly it looks with a sea full of people looking at their phone and not at the band.'

'I believe a band should have the decision weather to ban mobile phones. If they don't mind, then no one else's should,' he said.

This isn't the first time that the use of mobile phones at gigs has stirred up controversy.

Yondr is an American company that makes small bags to lock punters' phones in while they're watching the gig. They can only be unlocked afterwards at the companies stand in the lobby.

This isn't the first time audiences using phones at shows has come under attack. Earlier this year White Stripes front man, Jack White, told fans to leave their phones at home

Alicia Keys and Dave Chappelle are just two of the big names to have used Yondr, in an attempt to keep all eyes on them, and not on phones, at their concerts.

While the locked bag technique sits on the more extreme end of the debate, many stars are asking their fans to put the mobiles away.

In the lead up to Jack White's U.S tour later this year, the White Stripes front man released a statement saying 'No photos, video or audio recording devices allowed.'

He joined a long list of artists including, Beyonce, Adele, Pink Floyd and Bruno Mars to call fans out on their love of screen time at live shows.
Iran has threatened to raze Tel Aviv to the ground and kill Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if Israel makes 'the slightest unwise move' against the country.

The explicit threat came after Netanyahu warned that Israel would 'act against Iran itself' if the country continued to invade their airspace, something which Tehran denies.

The Israeli leader took to the stage during the Munich Security Conference last week, brandishing what he claimed to be a part of an Iranian drone.

Explicit warning: Senior official Mohsen Rezaee threatened to raze Tel Aviv to the ground and kill Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if Israel makes 'the slightest unwise move' against Iran

Saying he had 'a message to the tyrants of Tehran', Prime Minister Netanyahu warned: 'Do not test Israel's resolve.'

'We will act if necessary, not just against Iran's proxies that are attacking us but against Iran itself.'

In response, Mohsen Rezaee, secretary of Iran's Expediency Discernment Council, an assembly appointed by Supreme Leader Atatolla Khamenei which supervises the government, made similar promises of military action.

However, he took it one step further, and made an explicit threat against Netanyahu's life.

Response: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds up an object what he claimed was a piece of an Iranian drone shot down in Israeli airspace as he gives a speech during the Munich Security Conference in Germany on Sunday

Strong words: Netanyahu claimed Iran was trying to move in and replace ISIS in Syria and Iraq

'About Netanyahu's unwise words, I should say that if they carry out the slightest unwise move against Iran, we will level Tel Aviv to the ground,' Rezaee told al-Manar TV according to Times of Israel.

Rezaei added that Tehran 'will not give Netanyahu any opportunity to flee.'

The drone Israel claims belonged to Tehran was shot down on February 10 after it entered the country from Syria.

Israel responded with a raid on what Netanyahu's government claims were the Iranian control systems for the craft in Syria.

Tehran has denied that the drone belonged to Iran.

Israel has said it shot down the drone on February 10 after it entered the country from Syria, and responded with a raid on what it said was the Iranian control systems for the craft in Syria

During the strikes last week, one of Israel's F-16 fighter jets was shot down, believed to be the first loss of an Israeli plane in combat since 1982.

Speaking in Munich last week, Netanyahu claimed that Iran was trying to take the place of terror organisation Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.

'The unfortunate thing is that as ISIS compresses and Iran moves in, it is trying to establish this continuous empire surrounding the Middle East from the south in Yemen but also trying to create a land bridge from Iran to Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Gaza.'

During the strikes last week, one of Israel's F-16 fighter jets was shot down, believed to be the first loss of an Israeli plane in combat since 1982.

Israel's response marked the first time it publicly acknowledged hitting Iranian targets in Syria since the 2011 start of the civil war there.
A young girl is thought to have been poisoned by arsenic after playing with magnetic putty toy bought for her on Amazon.

Frances Kelly claims her daughter Neve got ill from the toxic Christmas present, in January, after playing with it for a few weeks.

Frances and her husband Mark took their daughter to the doctors after she complained of stomach pains and a family friend warned them about the toy.

When they took Neve to the doctors, they were shocked to discover she had ten times the normal level of arsenic in her urine.

Frances Kelly claims her daughter Neve had ten times the safe level of the deadly poison in her urine after playing with the Magnetic Putty toy for just a week

The magnetic putty was removed from Amazon in January, following Northamptonshire Trading Standards Service banning the sale from a market stall

Magnetic Putty was removed from sale last month after Trading Standards officers issued an alert over its safety.

It is still available to buy in the UK from some online retailers.

The Kellys, from Lanarkshire, took both their girls to the doctor after learning of the warning over the toy from a family member.

They are poised to take legal action over the matter after they said they received devastating results from tests carried out after they took their girl to the doctors.

Frances, 37, then wrote on Facebook to warn other parents.

Frances Kelly claims her daughter Neve had ten times the safe level of the deadly poison in her urine after playing with the Magnetic Putty toy for just a week

Frances and Mark are poised to take legal action over the matter after they said they received devastating results from tests carried out after they took their girl to the doctors

She said: 'We have received shock news this afternoon with the results of my daughter Neve's tests and there is a toxicology team in Edinburgh who are now dealing with it.

'There was 10 times the normal level of arsenic found in her urine.

'They had to take vials of blood and it is getting sent to an arsenic specialist in Glasgow.

'They are all in shock.

'Neve has thankfully not shown many symptoms of damage and pray this test will be lower as she hasn't been in contact with it since January.

The product is still on the market online elsewhere - despite Amazon removing it

'If we hadn't found out when we did...we pray to God her tests will be all clear. So please if you have this product get your children tested*'

A woman claiming to be Neve's grandmother added on Facebook: 'Praying levels have dropped terrifying for them n we want to highlight it as God knows how many have been sold and how many other children are playing with it and totally unaware of the dangers especially on front of tin it says non toxic.

'We're praying levels will be down Dr sent it for peace of mind n didn't expect this.'

Neve is said to have had 430mcg of arsenic in her system when the safe level is just 40-50mcg.

Neve's dad Mark, 40, wrote of his daughter's condition on Facebook: 'She had stomach pains but we don't know if that's related.

'The skin is not absorbent enough to cause Neve's elevated level so she may have played with it and eaten something without washing her hands.

'We don't want to cause a panic, only make people aware of the potentially dangerous product.

Despite being removed from the market stalls earlier this month, the product is still avaiable to buy in the UK

'We have contacted Amazon regarding this and they have removed it from sale. No word of whether the hundreds or thousands of buyers have been informed it could be toxic.'

Hair loss, vomiting, stomach cramps, and blood in urine...how does arsenic poisoning affect the body? Arsenic is a metal element used for preserving wood and for making electronic components and glass and ceramic products. It can be lethal when exposed to humans. It's found naturally in the environment, but rarely at harmful levels. A person who has suffered from arsenic poisoning generally suffers from drowsiness, headaches, confusion and severe diarrhea. This can happen within 30 minutes if it has been swallowed. In extreme cases, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea are followed by numbness and tingling of the extremities, muscle cramping and death, If arsenic has been inhaled in a less less concentrated amount, it will take longer to develop. Signs and symptoms associated with more severe cases of arsenic poisoning are: a metallic taste in the mouth and garlicky breath

excess saliva

problems swallowing

blood in the urine

cramping muscles

hair loss

stomach cramps

convulsions

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Northamptonshire Trading Standards barred the product from sale last month after discovering it on a market stall.

There were no manufacturer details and the product did not have the CE safety mark.

Amazon then removed it from its website over fears it contained seven times the safe level of arsenic and the magnet was 29 times stronger than the permitted force.

At the time, the online retailer said: 'Customer safety is our priority.'

Symptoms of arsenic poisoning include vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea while long term exposure can cause heart disease and cancer. Most exposure comes from drinking contaminated water.

The Kellys must now wait for up to a month to discover how badly Neve has been poisoned.

After admitting they were seeking legal advice, Frances Kelly added on Facebook: 'We have now sought legal advice and are seeing lawyers and can't comment on anything until we have results.

'Just glad my sister warned us and I got them tested straight away.

'You'd think buying a Christmas present from a well-known seller would be safe.

'Just worried if a child ingested it how much damage this would cause. We are all in disbelief.'

The couple are believed to still be waiting the results of Neve's tests. Earlier this week, Frances said: 'Thank you to everyone for the messages of concern.

'Neve is doing well we are in the process of waiting on test results. We have now sought legal advice and can't comment on anything until we have the results.

'The media who have been contacting us and visited our family we can't give any more information than what was in my post at this minute. My main reason was to ensure the safety of others after receiving this shocking news. Thank you again to all our friends and family for the messages of concern.'

Amazon confirmed to MailOnline that they removed the product from sale last month.
Self-proclaimed 'white witch' Trefor Wickens, 53, sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl after offering to help heal her back pain with alternative remedies in 1989, a court in London heard

A self-proclaimed 'white witch' sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl after offering to help heal her back pain with alternative remedies, a court heard.

Trefor Wickens, 53, allegedly abused the teenager after telling her: 'We were together in a past life'.

Wickens met the child in 1989 and invited her to stay at his London home for treatment, where she claims he attacked her after his wife and young children had gone to bed, jurors heard.

The alleged victim said in her police interview: 'He called himself a white witch, he was covered in pentacles and jewellery. He most definitely referred to himself as a white witch.'

A pentacle, a pendant typically disc-shaped and inscribed with a pentagram, are commonly worn by pagans or self-proclaimed white witches.

Inner London Crown Court heard the girl had been told that Wickens practised alternative medicine and could help with her bad back.

She made the trip to London while on her summer holidays, where Wickens took her shopping and bought her alcoholic drinks.

Prosecutor Emily Verity said: 'Quite soon after that, the defendant came to visit her home and she saw him come into her bedroom completely naked.

'She told him to go out and she felt on reflection that was him trying something else.'

The victim told police he was laughing and told her: 'I just wanted to give you a cuddle.'

This was the last time she saw Wickens and, although she told a friend at the time what had allegedly happened, she did not go to the police until 2013.

Ms Verity said: 'This complainant suffered with ill health as a child and suffered with serious back pain and, whilst baby-sitting near Ashford, Kent, she met the defendant.

'The defendant ended up becoming a friend and he was someone who practised alternative remedies.

Wickens met the child in 1989 and invited her to stay at his London home for treatment, where she claims he attacked her after his wife and young children had gone to bed, jurors heard

'He said that he could help to heal the back problems, so he would visit in order to conduct these alternative remedies on her back and she felt these made a difference and trusted him.

'When she was about 15, in her summer holidays, he invited her to stay with him in his home in Peckham Rye.

'He was married with two boys and his wife and children went to bed that night.

'The complainant and the defendant were alone and went to sit in the sitting room on the sofa and he began his practice of what he called "regression therapy".

'This involved looking intensely into each other's eyes and he said that this would improve her back symptoms, but he suddenly and unexpectedly he started kissing her.

'Before this point there had been no indication and she saw him as a person in a position of trust, she in fact had her own boyfriend of a similar age to her.

Inner London Crown Court (pictured) heard the girl had been told that Wickens practised alternative medicine and could help with her bad back. She made the trip to London while on her summer holidays, where Wickens took her shopping and bought her alcoholic drinks

'She was in fact so shocked and stunned that she didn't say anything and was concerned about the wife and children, so she kept quiet.

'He lifted her nightie and performed oral sex on her,'

The prosecutor said Wickens then went on to have sex with the girl.

The alleged victim said in her interview read to the court: 'He talked about doing this "regression therapy", which I didn't really know why he wanted to do that, it's not something I had talked about wanting to do.

'Basically it involves staring at each other until you see things, which was a bit weird, I must admit.

She told the court: 'I remember he was kissing me and that's when the shock set in because I didn't want him to kiss me. 'He kissed me for quite a while with tongues and stuff, I was wearing my nightie at that point and I'm not sure whether he took my nightie off or lifted it up'

'He then said that he felt that we were together in a past life. I didn't know what to think of that, it didn't make me think that was true or that we had a connection.

'The next thing I remember is that he was kissing me and that's when the shock set in because I didn't want him to kiss me.

'He kissed me for quite a while with tongues and stuff, I was wearing my nightie at that point and I'm not sure whether he took my nightie off or lifted it up.

'But the next thing I remember I was on the sofa lying on my back and he was on top of me and I was just really shocked.

'I had my period and told him that I did - I thought that would stop him but he didn't.'

She said he then removed her underwear and performed a sex act on her, adding:

'He was wearing thin, cheap jogging bottoms.

'He still had his bottoms on so I don't know what you consider that as, but I could feel him inside me.

'He was doing that for a while and I was lying there just looking at the ceiling, not making any noise.'

The woman said that she felt Wickens knew what he had done was wrong, but she agreed to see him again.

But she said after Wickens entered her room naked she realised she had to stop seeing him for treatment.

She told the court she did not tell her family because she was worried that her older brother might do something violent.

Wickens, of Dover Court Road, Dulwich, denies indecent assault on a person under 16.
Katie Cornelis, from Connecticut, said she gave the doorstops to her two nieces

A woman's poignant Facebook post advising parents to give children doorstops so they can obstruct shooters at school has gone viral in the wake of the Florida massacre.

Katie Cornelis, from Connecticut, said she handed out the doorstops to her two nieces after 27 people - mostly children - were slaughtered at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012.

She said that, 'in light of the recent shooting', she wanted to 'share this with all parents' - adding that she 'always' carries hers in her purse.

Cornelis added: 'It truly pained me when I handed it to them, and I didnt want to scare them, but it was out of love and they understood.

'Sure its small, but it can be powerful in keeping you safe if you ever have to barricade yourself in a room. If a gunman shoots out the door lock it will still keep the door from opening and may just buy you some time.'

She also said she was 'really sad' to be posting the advice, but stressed: 'A security expert shared this tip with me so I wanted to pass it on.'

'I pray no one ever has to use it,' she added.

Speaking to DailyMail.com on Tuesday, she explained her nieces Haley, now 17, and Gabby Bates, 19, lived in Sandy Hook shortly before the massacre.

'They could have been in that school but they moved,' she said. She explained the younger niece was in tears when she was presented with the doorstop, but the Gabby was more 'stoic'.

'After the last shooting I was just so upset and angry,' she added.

Cornelis poses with her two nieces with the doorstops she gave them to take into school after the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012

She said that, 'in light of the recent shooting', she wanted to 'share this with all parents' - adding that she 'always' carries hers in her purse

She said that, 'in light of the recent shooting', she wanted to 'share this with all parents' - adding that she 'always' carries hers in her purse

Cornelis (pictured) added: 'It truly pained me when I handed it to them, and I didnt want to scare them, but it was out of love and they understood'

The post - written one day after the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting - has so far been shared by over 1.3 million people.

Among those commenting on the post were many people expressing gratitude, including one who wrote: 'This is the right kind of message to go viral right now'.

Another explained: 'Katie cant believe Im seeing this shared by some of my friends now. Great advice. Thanks for the post.'

It comes after an anonymous law enforcement source said the Valentine's Day mass shooter, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, had bought seven of his ten guns legally in the build-up to the massacre.

He has been charged with 17 acts of murder after the tragedy at Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida.

Nikolas Cruz (left), who has been charged with 17 counts of murder after the slaughter at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine's Day, owned an assortment of shotguns and other firearms as well as the rifles. Right: An Instagram post on Cruz's account showing a rifle

The 19-year-old accused of murdering 17 people in a Florida high school last week had at least seven legally acquired long guns. Pictured: A post on Nikolas Cruz's Instagram showing his weapons stash
Two men accused of raping and murdering a five-year-old girl have been dragged from a police station and beaten to death by a hundreds-strong lynch mob in India.

The suspects, named as Sanjay Sobor, 30, and Jagdish Lohar, 25, were attacked with 'clubs, hammers and stones' before their battered bodies were dumped in a town square in theLohit district of north eastern India's Arunachal Pradesh.

They were being questioned by police over the rape, mutilation and murder of a girl whose badly disfigured body was discovered in the tea estate where they lived.

An enraged mob stormed the police station, injuring 15 people, including several officers, as they grabbed the plantation workers. Graphic pictures used by local media purportedly show the two corpses lying in the street.

Two men accused of raping and murdering a five-year-old girl have been dragged from a police station and beaten to death by a hundreds-strong lynch mob in India. Graphic images used by local media purportedly showed the two corpses lying in the street (pictured)

'The mob damaged the station and took away the accused before beating them to death with clubs, hammers and stones,' Lohit police chief Issac Pertin told AFP.

No arrests have been made yet in connection with the lynching outside Tezu police station.

There are conflicting reports as to the size of the mob, with some outlets saying as many as 1,200 were involved.

Police had charged the pair with raping and killing the girl and said they confessed to the crime during interrogation. Local media said the child was found naked with her head severed from her body five days after she was reported missing on February 12.

A UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in 2014 said one in three rape victims in India was a minor and expressed alarm over widespread sex abuse against children. File picture shows protesters in New Delhi demanding action to lower the number of sex attacks in India

Local media reported that the situation in Tezu has been brought 'under control' and that extra police had been brought in to the area.

Conflict between ethnic tribal inhabitants of Arunachal Pradesh and migrant workers from nearby states sometimes boils over into skirmishes.

In 2015 a mob broke into a jail in neighbouring Nagaland state and murdered a migrant worker accused of raping a tribal woman.

A UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in 2014 said one in three rape victims in India was a minor and expressed alarm over widespread sex abuse against children.

Nearly 11,000 cases of child rape were reported in India in 2015, according to the National Crime Records Bureau's latest figures.
Senior DUP MPs today endorsed claims from some Brexiteers that the Good Friday Agreement that brought peace to Northern Ireland had failed.

Jim Shannon and Sammy Wilson said Sinn Fein's refusal to form a power-sharing executive proved the 1998 peace accord no longer worked.

The claim came amid warnings from Brexiteers the peace accord was being manipulated by Republicans who wanted a unite Ireland after Brexit.

In an update to MPs in the Commons, Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley said she would soon have to take steps to set a new budget for the province from London.

She hinted fresh elections could be ordered in an attempt to end the 13-month stalemate and insisted the Government wanted to preserve the Good Friday Agreement.

DUP MPs Jim Shannon (left) and Sammy Wilson (right) said Sinn Fein's refusal to form a power-sharing executive proved the 1998 peace accord no longer worked

In an update to MPs in the Commons, Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley (pictured at the Despatch Box today) said she would soon have to take steps to set a new budget for the province from London

Ireland's Foreign Minister Simon Coveney branded the claims 'irresponsible' today and Brexit Secretary David Davis was forced to say the UK Government still backs the agreement.

The intervention of the DUP MPs - who help prop up the Tory Government in Westminster - will fuel concern the UK could walk away from the deal.

The DUP did not support the Good Friday Agreement when it was signed and opposed it in a referendum. The party later endorsed it and led the power sharing government it created.

Mr Wilson, the DUP MP for East Antrim, told PoliticsHome that critics of the Good Friday Agreement 'are right'.

He said 'wreckers' in Sinn Fein had used it to bring the assembly down and 'refuse to allow it to be reformed unless others give in to their blackmail demands'.

And he added: 'The Tories are only saying what we have been arguing for - changes which make the assembly sustainable, which means no more wreckers' veto.'

Stramgford MP Mr Shannon said: 'If Sinn Fein can hold back where we are as a protest to move forward then in real terms the Good Friday Agreement as it was has failed.

'Therefore its value has to be considered and looked at for the future.'

David Davis (pictured today in Vienna) insisted the UK government still backs the Good Friday Agreement after Brexiteers were accused of undermining the accord

Ireland's Foreign Minister Simon Coveney (pictured with Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley last week) hit out at Brexiteers who suggested the peace deal needed to be scrapped

At his Road to Brexit speech in Vienna, Mr Davis said he was not 'conscious' of anyone talking down the Good Friday Agreement, insisting 'certainly nobody in Government is'.

He said that 'everything we are doing is aiming towards ensuring we meet every aspect' of the agreement.

Mr Coveney said talking down the 1998 peace deal to further the Brexit agenda was 'irresponsible'.

Writing on Twitter, he said: 'Talking down (the) Good Friday Agreement because it raises serious and genuine questions of those pursuing Brexit is not only irresponsible but reckless and potentially undermines the foundations of a fragile peace process in Northern Ireland that should never be taken for granted.'

Mr Paterson, a former Northern Ireland secretary, recently retweeted a commentator's suggestion that the agreement had outlived its use.

Brexiteers including ex Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson left) and Labour's Kate Hoey (right) have suggested Sinn Fein are holding up talks in Stormont to pursue a united Ireland inside the EU

He also tweeted that Northern Ireland deserved good government, and health services were falling behind the rest of the UK without a devolved executive.

The agreement was signed almost 20 years ago by the British and Irish governments and enjoyed support from most of the major parties in Northern Ireland. The DUP - now the leading unionist party and Theresa May's ally in Westminster - opposed it at the time.

It enabled the formation of a ministerial executive and assembly at Stormont.

Ms Hoey said her questions over the future of the Good Friday Agreement were nothing to do with Brexit.

'Hiding head in sand over viability of sustainability of mandatory coalition is reckless and wrong,' she said.

Mr Hannan said he had been arguing long before Brexit that the agreement needed to be changed.
The US publication released a glossy and heavily-airbrushed cover on Harry's 37th birthday showing the Duke of Sussex stood behind his wife with his arms on her right shoulder in the 'icons' section of the annual line-up alongside Naomi Osaka, Dolly Parton, Britney Spears and Alexei Navalny. The glossy photos are accompanied by a profile, branded sycophantic by critics, written by their friend and chef Jose Andres, whose charity World Central Kitchen is loved by the Sussexes and supported financially by their Archewell foundation in India and the Caribbean. He wrote: 'In a world where everyone has an opinion about people they don't know, the duke and duchess have compassion for the people they don't know. They don't just opine. They run toward the struggle.' On the cover Harry is dressed in all black and Meghan in all white on a terrace at their $14.65million mansion and then in green (centre) walking through their estate in Montecito, California, as Mr Andres said they couple are 'blessed through birth and talent, and burned by fame', adding: 'It would be much safer to enjoy their good fortune and stay silent. That's not what Harry and Meghan do, or who they are'. In another image they are in matching grey office-style clothes next to a window (right) in outfits chosen by celebrity stylists Clare and Nina Hallwroth, who have recently dressed Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, in pictures taken by Serbian Pari Dukovic. But one critic, a fellow photographer, tweeted: 'Terrible retouching job. They look CGI'. Another claimed the cover photo (inset) reflected the power dynamic in the relationship, because Meghan is in front of her husband, tweeting: 'Wow, this photo speaks volumes. There is no hiding who's in control'.
Paris Valeta Bregazzi, 30, (pictured outside the Old Bailey today) pushed an off-duty officer onto the track at Hanger Lane Station

A transgender beautician who pushed an off-duty police officer onto Tube tracks in an alcohol-fuelled rage has been spared jail.

Paris Valeta Bregazzi, 30, had drunk four bottles of Prosecco and was heard being 'abusive and aggressive' towards other passengers and arguing with a friend on the platform of Hanger Lane Station in west London last July.

Pc Sam Chegwin intervened, asking her to 'calm down' and she responded by telling him to mind his own business unaware he was an off-duty officer, the Old Bailey heard.

Fearing for public safety Pc Chegwin pushed her in the chest in a defensive manner, ignorant of the fact she had recently had extensive breast surgery.

Bregazzi reacted by shoving him onto the track just inches from the line with a fast train minutes away.

PC Chegwin 'mercifully' suffered only minor injuries after his head landed inches from the line which became live as the first train passed through seven minutes later.

The court heard Bregazzi has previously attacked staff and commuters at Highgate Station, East Finchley Station and Kings Cross Station.

The 30-year-old, who had also had cosmetic surgery worth 10,000, was detained in a male prison before pleading guilty to one count of doing an unlawful act on a railway with intent to endanger a person on 21 November 2017.

She already had 39 convictions for 62 offences, including assault, harassment and shoplifting designer clothing dating back to 2007.

Last November, Bregazzi pleaded guilty to carrying out an unlawful act on a railway with intent to endanger a person.

Bregazzi (pictured outside court today) was detained in a male prison before pleading guilty to one count of doing an unlawful act on a railway with intent to endanger a person on 21 November 2017

But Judge Jeremy Dein, QC, deferred deciding on her case amid concern for her 'difficult' circumstances.

She returned to the Old Bailey today wearing a black jumpsuit, black studded leather jacket, blue faux fur wrap and hot pink flip flops.

Her lawyer Mustapha Hakme conceded the offence passed the custody mark but argued for a community order as she had stayed out of trouble since.

The court heard Bregazzi has struggled to deal with her parents 'disowning her' and feels there is 'absolutely no hope of a reconciliation' after she came out aged 19.

She was said to be left 'full of anger and at the same time sadness' and is 'desperate' to finish transitioning.

Judge Dein described her record as 'appalling', but said he felt her attack on PC Chegwin was a 'low level' offence that could be dealt with by a suspended sentence.

He told the court Bregazzi, from Highgate in north London, was 'calmer and more stable' now, despite suffering from depression and mental health problems in the past.

Sentencing, Judge Dein told her it was lucky Pc Chegwin was not seriously hurt.

Bregazzi was given six months in prison, suspended for two years. Outside court (left) she said she regretted what happened, saying it was 'a scuffle'. CCTV footage (right) shows the moment Mr Chegwin confronted Bregazzi and pushed her away when she became abusive

He said: 'The fact is he could have been killed by falling and hitting his head, electrocuted or hit by an on-coming train but mercifully he maintained his consciousness and composure and managed to clamber back onto the platform.

'Mr Chegwin is extremely fortunate he was not injured or killed and so are you, for you could have been here facing far more serious charges.

'It is clear to me having viewed the CCTV that you reacted spontaneously. You had significant surgery on the part of the body he made contact with although he did not know it. Furthermore, you did not seem to form a malign intent.'

Handing her six months in prison, suspended for two years, he added: 'It was made crystal clear I do not undermine the gravity of this offence.

'Mr Chegwin was acting in a public spirited manner in intervening and seeking to prevent the escalation of violence.'

The judge said that Bregazzi must learn to control herself better in future.

Outside court, Bregazzi said she regretted what happened, describing the incident as a 'a scuffle'.
Basil Goulandris' property in Belgravia where he claims he was forced to move out due to renovation noise. But after missing an appeal deadline he now owes neighbour Nicholas Knight thousands to cover legal costs

A billionaire shipping magnate who sued his neighbour for more than 800,000 has seen his attempts backfire after an admin delay meant his appeal was thrown out.

Basil Goulandris, of a super-rich Greek shipping dynasty, claimed that Nicholas Knight's two-story basement extension put his wife and children through hell.

But despite demanding 821,000 to compensate for his family's misery, Mr Goulandris now owes thousands in legal fees for missing the appeal deadline.

He claimed the project damaged his 18th Century home in London's exclusive Chester Square and his family were so disturbed by the racket they had to move elsewhere for months.

Mr Goulandris, 56, demanded 640,000 to cover the costs of four months alternative accommodation for him and his family - but will not receive a penny after an Appeal Court ruling today.

Tom Weeks QC, for Mr Goulandris, earlier told the court he and his family had 'endured two years of building works next door', causing 'excessive noise, vibrations and disturbance'.

A building surveyor came up with the 821,000 compensation figure, saying the family had been forced to move out by the upheaval of the subterranean work which had damaged their home.

But Mr Knight said the internal decor of the Goulandris home was 'defective from the outset' and he should not have to pay to make it perfect.

Adding that it had also been unnecessary for the family to move out for months.

Mr Goulandris was awarded just 55,000 in 2015 by an independent expert who said that many of the defects in his home - including hairline cracks in the walls - had been there before work started on Mr Knight's basement (Google image of Mr Knight's property during the extensive building work)

Mr Goulandris was awarded just 55,000 in 2015 by an independent expert who said that many of the defects in his home - including hairline cracks in the walls - had been there before work started on Mr Knight's basement.

Decorative damage was 'comparatively minor' and there had been no need for the family to vacate their home, he ruled.

Mr Goulandris had 14 days to lodge an appeal against the expert's decision - but three Appeal Court judges today ruled that he missed the strict deadline by one or two days.

Lords Justice Patten, Hamblen and Henderson decided that he had been validly served with the expert's report by email and the two-week time limit began to run when it landed in his inbox.

The court's ruling means that Mr Goulandris will have to pay the huge legal costs of the case. The costs of the appeal alone came to 43,826 and, once the total is added up, it will be Mr Goulandris who owes his neighbour money.

Mr Goulandris is a relative and namesake of the renowned shipping tycoon and art collector, Basil Goulandris, who helped create Greece's Museum of Modern Art and amassed a collection of treasures worth over 1billion.

He died in 1994, aged 81, but his son has carried on the family's maritime tradition by taking a key role in managing the Goulandris shipping fleet, whch has its roots in the 19th Century.
NRL player Konrad Hurrell has returned to his home country of Tonga to aid in the mammoth clean-up after the islands were ravaged by Cyclone Gita.

The Gold Coast Titans centre flew home to capital Nukualofa to lend a hand to family, friends and humanitarian workers as they struggled in the aftermath of the category four cyclone.

Hurrell, 26, was granted leave from pre-season training in Queensland in order to pay a visit to his hometown and help rebuild what was flattened by the tropical weather storm earlier this week.

The Gold Coast Titans centre (pictured far right) flew home to capital Nukualofa to lend a hand to family. friends and humanitarian workers as they struggled in the aftermath of the category four cyclone

Hurrell, 26, was granted leave from pre-season training in Queensland in order to pay a visit to his hometown and help rebuild what was flattened by the tropical weather storm earlier this week

'So good seeing the family safe after the cyclone but sad to see most people's home are gone. We stand together again Tonga to rebuild our 'lil nation,' Hurrell wrote on Twitter.

The NRL star shared heartbreaking photographs of a storm-battered Tonga, where hundreds of homes and businesses were destroyed during the cyclone.

Hurrell spent time helping locals by building temporary shelters and re-homing displaced families alongside humanitarian aid workers.

Cyclone Gita damaged or destroyed around 1,400 homes on Tongatapu and 'Eua, kilometres of of power lines were torn down and Tonga's Parliament House was also devastated.

The NRL star shared heartbreaking photographs of a storm-battered Tonga, where hundreds of homes and businesses were destroyed during the cyclone

Hurrell (pictured) spent time helping locals by building temporary shelters and re-homing displaced families alongside humanitarian aid workers

'So good seeing the family safe after the cyclone but sad to see most people's home are gone. We stand together again Tonga to rebuild our 'lil nation,' Hurrell (pictured) wrote on Twitter

Catastrophic 230-kilometre winds ripped through the capital and blew down remote villages and outer islands in Tonga.

Fallen trees, toppled power lines and dilapidated buildings litter the empty streets as thousands of residents remain in evacuation centres.

Australia and New Zealand are sending humanitarian supplies to Tonga, including emergency shelters, cooking equipment and hygiene kits.

Wild surf also battered the NSW coast in the wake of Cyclone Gita.

Catastrophic 230-kilometre winds ripped through the capital and blew down remote villages and outer islands in Tonga

Fallen trees, toppled power lines and dilapidated buildings litter the empty streets as thousands of residents remain in evacuation centres

Australia and New Zealand are sending humanitarian supplies to Tonga, including emergency shelters, cooking equipment and hygiene kits

Authorities issued warnings for dangerous swells, including waves up to four metres high along the NSW coastline.

Parts of New Zealand are also being hit by the tropical storm, with Christchurch, Grey District and Buller District declaring a state of emergency as the cyclone began to make landfall overnight.

Tens of thousands were without power on Tuesday night as locals were warned to prepare for floods, huge waves and gusts of winds reaching close to 200km/h.
Canadian MPs have called on Justin Trudeau to do something about a mysterious vibrating noise heard across an Ontario city over the past seven years.

The 'Windsor Hum' - a bizarre, persistent rumbling sound like trucks idling - was first recorded in 2011 when residents complained of stress and difficulty sleeping.

Those who suffer the noise in and around the city of Windsor, just across the river from Detroit, have said that one of its worst aspects is its unpredictability.

The sound is so distressing that MPs have appealed to the government to intervene.

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The 'Windsor Hum' - a bizarre, persistent rumbling sound like trucks idling - was first recorded in 2011 when residents complained of stress and difficulty sleeping. Pictured: Heavily industrialized Zug Island in the US, thought to be the source of the hum

Those who suffer the noise in and around the city of Windsor, just across the river from Detroit, have said that one of its worst aspects is its unpredictability

Last year Essex MP Tracey Ramsey, who has previously started a petition about the hum, asked the government what was being done about the sound. Pictured: The Ambassador Bridge that spans both Canada and the United States. In the background is Windsor, in the foreground Detroit

The sound is so distressing that MPs have appealed to the government to intervene. Pictured: A recording of the hum in 2016

A 2014 study found the hum was emanating from the heavily industrialized Zug Island (pictured) across the border

In 2012 more than 22,000 people took part in a teleconference about the hum and among their concerns were how it might affect their pregnancy and the foundations of their home. Pictured: Windsor, Ontario

Just last month, Windsor MP Brian Masse called on Prime Minister Trudeau to do something about the infernal hum.

'The activity is still there,' he said, according to CTV.

'Unfortunately we still don't have an answer from the government with regards to what they are doing.'

A Facebook group devoted to the phenomenon in the city of 220,000 has already attracted over 1,800 members. Pictured: A resident complains on Twitter

Activists have previously complained that United States Steel, which operates blast furnaces on the island, were uncooperative. Pictured: A Twitter user complains of the sound last month

A Twitter user complains of the vibrating sound in 2016. It was first recorded in 2011 and varies in its severity, according to those affected

He added that he had already taken numerous calls about the hum since the start of the year.

Last year Essex MP Tracey Ramsey, who has previously started a petition about the hum, asked the government what was being done about the sound.

Andrew Leslie, a secretary to the minister of foreign affairs, responded: 'We understand their concern. Our officials have consistently raised the issue with the American counterparts and we'll continue to engage and work to find a solution.'

Dr Darius Kohan, meanwhile, who works at Lenox Hill Hospital and Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, said that while the hum is not likely to cause serious hearing damage, it could be as distressing as tinnitus.

A Facebook group devoted to the phenomenon in the city of 220,000 has already attracted over 1,800 members.

Its creator, Mike Provost, said he has had to push back against conspiracy theorists who attribute the hum to secret government operations or UFOs.

He told the New York Times he has collected more than 4,000 pages of observations of the hum, including the duration and intensity of each manifestation.

His work is partly a hobby and partly an obsession, he said, adding: 'I've got to keep going. I'm not going to quit this.'

A 2014 study found the hum was emanating from the heavily industrialized Zug Island across the border.

Activists have previously complained that United States Steel, which operates blast furnaces on the island, were uncooperative.

Similar phenomena have been recorded across the world, including in the UK.

In 2014, Professor Colin Novak, who worked on the study of the sound's origins, said confirming the source was 'like chasing a ghost'.

Mr Novak was forbidden from accessing the island, which is patrolled by security guards.

In 2012 more than 22,000 people took part in a teleconference about the hum and among their concerns were how it might affect their pregnancy and the foundations of their home.


A businessman who fought off a shark by punching it in the face after it sunk its teeth into his leg was today reunited with the doctor who helped save his life.

Andrew Newman, from Dulwich, was on a snorkelling trip off the Galapagos Islands and was swimming towards a sea lion when he felt a 'vice-like grip just suddenly bang around my foot'.

The 45-year-old escaped with his life after repeatedly lashing out at the shark's face until it released him.

Mr Newman was helped on to nearby rocks where he found 'half of it was coming off'.

He then faced an agonising three-hour boat trip to the nearest hospital, fearing he was going to 'bleed out'.

Luckily for Mr Newman, one of his fellow travellers on board was Dr Kathryn Gilbert who instructed fellow passengers to put pressure on his wound to stop the bleeding.

Andrew Newman, from Dulwich, who fought off a shark by punching it in the face was today reunited with Dr Kathryn Gilbert who saved his life

The pair were reunited for the first time since the terrifying ordeal on Lorraine on ITV today

Andrew Newman (pictured) fought off a shark by punching it in the face after it sunk its teeth into his leg while he snorkelled off the Galapagos Islands

Mr Newman fought off a shark by repeatedly punching it in the face earlier this month

The pair were reunited for the first time since the terrifying ordeal on Lorraine on ITV today.

Recalling the frightening experience Mr Newman, who co-founded ad agency DOOH.com, said: 'I was doing a snorkel in the Galapagos Islands...it was five days on a boat with 16 other people.

'In the last five minutes of an excursion on the last day of the trip...that's when it happened.

'I was wearing this wetsuit and everyone was taking the mick out of me saying I looked like a sea lion with my flippers on. I got out the dinghy and was snorkelling towards a sea lion pup with my GoPro.

'Then all of a sudden I felt this vice-like grip just suddenly bang around my foot. I wondered whether it was one of my holiday friends because I had teased them before by grabbing their foot, as I do.

'But I thought it was far too hard and it pulled me and I went underwater and flipped around and came face to face with a four metre shark.

'My foot was in its mouth and it was all just reaction, the anger that was pent up for some time took over and I just punched it, and punched it, and punched it, until it let go.'

The 45-year-old was helped by a friend onto nearby rocks and then rescued by a dinghy.

'Half of my foot looked like it was hanging off', he recalled. 'I didn't feel any pain when I saw my bones and tendons...I could just see the blood pumping.'

The pair were reunited for the first time since the terrifying ordeal earlier this month

However Mr Newman then faced a three hour journey to hospital.

'That was a bit scary', he said. 'Because I didn't know if I was going to bleed out.'

Luckily one of the travellers on the boat was doctor Kathryn Gilbert, 27, who previously worked in the A&E department at St Georges Hospital in Tooting.

Mr Newman said: 'She said 'OK we need to take it in turns to apply pressure' so that's what everyone did on the boat.'

Speaking today Dr Gilbert said: 'I feel like I can't claim to be a hero, I just kept everyone a bit calmer and Andy was a bit reassured I was on board.

'Everyone was a bit panicked and grabbing all the painkillers they could find.'

She added: 'It was quite the experience, as unsurprisingly I've never dealt with a shark bite working in the UK.'

The businessman joked how he self-medicated with painkillers, a couple of shots of tequila and a mojito'.

Mr Newman said three ligaments were severed and he suffered a broken bone when the '12ft' predator attacked him off the coast of Santa Fe, Ecuador

Mr Newman had travelled to the Pacific islands to 'find my faith in life again through nature' after the sudden death of his husband Damon in 2016.

He said: 'It was strange...when your partner is suddenly removed from you...and your future outlook is completely changed, the best thing you should do is look after yourself but you don't.

'And I didn't and I suppose at that moment when I looked at the shark in the face with its white eye there was this moment of "do you want to live? Then show us."

'So it's like staring death in the face, and I decided I wanted to live.'
Dallas' acting mayor has asked the NRA to hold its annual convention in a different city and says it is time for its leaders to do more to end gun violence in the wake of last week's high school massacre in Florida.

Dwaine R. Caraway, who works under mayor Mike Rawlings, made the unexpected comments at a press conference on Monday.

Despite owning five guns himself, he said there was 'no reason' for anyone to own assault rifles and semi-automatic weapons like the AR-15 used by gunman Nikolas Cruz.

'I am all for the protection of the 2nd Amendment, but I am also for protecting the children and a safer Dallas.

'I have five guns, one in my car, one in every room of my house... [but] I am saddened by the fact that every time that we turn around, there is some type of gun violence.'

'Who needs an AR-15 to go hunting? Who needs an AR-15 to protect their house?'

'It is a tough call when you ask the NRA to reconsider coming to Dallas, but it is putting all citizens first, and getting them to come to the table and elected officials to come to the table and to address this madness now,' he said.

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Dallas's Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine R. Caraway asked the NRA to take its annual convention which is scheduled for May somewhere else

'They talk about mental illness. Yes, mental illness is an issue, but it's not just an issue that should only be associated with guns.

'At the end of the day, we need to connect the dots.

'The NRA needs to step up to the plate and show leadership.

'Elected officials are receiving dollars from the NRA, and they're afraid to set policy and to set necessary gun rules.'

Who needs an AR-15 to go hunting? Who needs an AR-15 to protect their house? They talk about mental illness. Yes, mental illness is an issue, but it's not just an issue that should only be associated with guns Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine R. Caraway

Dallas is a standalone blue city in the sea of Republican districts in the center and north of the state.

The state is largely pro-2nd amendment and has the 18th highest gun ownership per capita in the country.

Caraway's comments, however confronting, fell on deaf ears.

NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam said neither Caraway nor any other politician in the country had the right to tell them where to take the convention.

'No politician anywhere can tell the NRA not to come to their city,' he told local ABC affiliate WFAA.

'We are already there. Dallas, like every American city and community, is populated by NRA members.

The NRA's annual convention draws thousands of firearms enthusiasts of all ages. Above, attendees at last year's event in Atlanta, Georgia

A boy holds an enormous assault rifle at the event in Atlanta, Georgia, last year

President Trump was among the speakers at last year's even

Gunman Nikolas Cruz, 19, (above in court on Monday in Fort Lauderdale) killed 17 people on February 14 with an AR-15 he bought legally

The body of Alaina Petty, 14, one of Cruz's 17 victims, is carried out of her funeral service on Monday

'Our members work in fire stations and police departments.

'They save lives in local hospitals and own businesses in communities urban and rural throughout this country.'

Rawlings, Caraway's boss, said he was 'frustrated' by the lack of action on gun laws but did not share his colleague's opinion that the NRA should take its event elsewhere.

No politician anywhere can tell the NRA not to come to their city. NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam

The NRA's convention draws thousands of firearms enthusiasts every year and will bring millions to Dallas when it takes place there in May.

President Trump was among speakers at last year's event in Atlanta, Georgia which White House Senior Adviser Kellyanne Conway also attended.

Since the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas school in Parkland last week, focus has turned to Congress and what it will do to prevent such atrocities happening again.

It was the second deadliest school shooting in US history, claiming 17 lives and inflicting injuries on another 15 people.

Angry teenager protesters skipped school on Monday to stage a 'lie in' outside the White House in the name of tighter gun laws

Gunman Nikolas Cruz, 19, remains behind bars on 17 murder charges.

Despite having a history of mental health problems and being so troublesome he was not even allowed to bring a book bag to school, Cruz legally purchased the AR-15 rifle he used and six other rifles in the last year alone.

Police had been called to the home he lived in with his adoptive mother Lynda and his brother more than 36 times but, when he went to buy the guns, his background check came up clean.

Since the shooting on February 14, the NRA itself has given no public comment on the atrocity but its advocates have been vocal in their assessment.

They say it was the fault of the FBI, which had been alerted to Cruz's instability and, in particular a YouTube comment saying he wanted to be a 'professional school shooter' but that they dropped the ball.

'I hope that people are marching to the FBI Offices. This is a question that I've not seen the Main Stream Media cover: why is it that this individual was reported over 30 timeswhy is it that none of these questions are being brought up?' radio host Dana Loesch told NRATV last week.

She also complained about receiving abhorrent comments from trolls who said they hoped her children were the next to be killed.
Two New York State troopers bought a distraught woman a plane ticket to Florida to attend the funeral of a family friend killed in the high school shooting massacre.

Jordana Judson, 23, rushed to LaGuardia Airport in New York on Thursday after learning that Meadow Pollack, 18, was among the 17 killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland the day before.

Judson, who had attended the same high school as Pollack, told NBC News their families had been long-time friends.

She desperately wanted to return home to support Pollack's parents.

'As soon as I got out of the car at the airport, I started hysterically crying,' Judson said.

Jordana Judson, 23, went to LaGuardia Airport in New York on Thursday after learning that Meadow Pollack, 18, had been killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School the day before

Troopers Robert Troy and Thomas Karasinski spotted her in tears and asked if she needed help.

Meadow Pollack, 18, died last week in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting

Judson said she told the officers the situation and that she needed help getting a ticket back to Florida.

They led her inside so she could speak to a JetBlue employee, but was told a one-way ticket would cost $700.

Judson said she begged the ticketing agent to lower the cost but was unsuccessful.

'I look up, and the state troopers are standing there, and they're both handing over their credit cards,' Judson said.

'I'm telling them that they don't have to do this. This is crazy.

'They said: 'It's already done. We want you to be home with their families. This is a tough time'.'

Troy and Karasinski said they had both agreed if it was anybody in their own families they would have wanted someone to help them out.

This memorial for the slain Meadow Pollack, 18, sits in a park in Parkland

Judson attended Pollack's emotional funeral on Friday.

'Meadows family has been a second family to us and always will be. Meadow was a ray of sunshine, passionate and beautiful in every way,' Judson said in a Facebook post thanking the officer's for their help.

'I cant express the gratitude I have for these two men enough. Spread love, be kind to everyone and always pay it forward. I am so thankful to be with my family at this time as Florida will always be my home.

'Meadow will forever be in my heart, as will Trooper Troy, Trooper Karasinski and the 16 other victims taken from us too soon.'

Pollack's distraught father Andrew was overcome by grief at his daughter's funeral, screaming during the service: 'You killed my kid!' referring to gunman Nikolas Cruz.

'My kid is dead,' he said.

'This is just unimaginable that I will never see my princess again.'
A simply footy injury turned into a harrowing two-decade addiction to Nurofen Plus that nearly ended in death for a former prison officer.

Paul Denys became addicted to the over-the-counter drug after buying a packet of tablets to help deal with pain he was suffering from a shoulder injury.

But what followed was a 21-year addiction that saw him take up to 90 tablets a day during the depths of his despair, news.com.au reported.

The addiction to the readily-available drug destroyed his engagement, left him overweight and eventually landed him in a hospital bed facing emergency surgery.

Paul Denys (pictured in hospital) became addicted to Nurofen Plus after he suffered pain from a shoulder injury

The 21-year-addiction saw Denys taking up to 90 tablets a day of the over the counter drug (stock image)

Living through the superficial 'buzz', Denys was just 24-years-old when the prescription drug addiction began to take hold of his life.

Denys said he was visiting four pharmacies a day to feed his addiction as he lived 'half a life'.

Three years ago on Christmas Eve, Denys was rushed to hospital for a 10-hour emergency surgery for a 'burning ulcer', the publication reported.

'It's just like any other drug, heroin, cocaine or ice - it's got to take something that will nearly cost your life to wake up,' he said.

From February 1, over the counter codeine drugs, like Nurofen Plus, will not be avaliable to buy without a prescription from a doctor.

With at least 100 deaths each year caused by the highly addictive drug, the decision came after research showed codeine related deaths had doubled in ten years in Australia according to Choice.

The highly addictive drug is also found in other medications including Panadeine, Mersyndol, Codral and Deamzin.

Denys said he was visiting four pharmacies a day to feed his addiction as he lived 'half a life'
A gender neutral high school teacher is dividing the classroom after announcing they did not want to be referred to with traditional titles.

The teacher identifies as gender neutral meaning they do not identify as a man or a woman.

The secondary teacher in Sydney's northern suburbs asked students to call them 'Mx' instead of 'Mrs' or 'Mr'.

A gender neutral high school teacher is dividing the classroom after announcing they did not want to be referred to with traditional titles (stock image)

The Year 10 science teacher identifies as gender neutral and asked students to call them Mx instead of Mrs or Mr (stock image)

The Year 10 science teacher angered some of the school community with one father angry at the principal for not warning the parents, Daily Telegraph reported.

'I don't think my son's ever met a transgender person,' he said.

'I'm sure the same could be said for a lot of other students too. The school really should have, at the very least, spoken with the parents of the students who would be taking the class.'

While not trying to be negative, the father reportedly wanted to see if other parents felt the same way and shared his view to Facebook - which has been deleted.

Gender neutral The term avoids identifying something, or someone, based on gender. People who identify as gender neutral may not want to use single-sex bathrooms or be referred to by titles that imply a specific gender. Gender neutral people may express a mix of both male and female characteristics. Advertisement

The NSW Department of Education told the publication it 'adheres to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity in all aspects of teacher recruitment and promotion'.

Two weeks ago, an elite Christian girls school announced to parents they had a transgender student who was a 'born into a boy's body'.

The Glennie School in Toowoomba, Queensland, welcomed the student and openly discussed the young girl's attendance to squash any rumours.

Discussing the transgender addition in the school community, the Christian school sent an email to parents - an act the Year 10 student's father wished the principal had done about the transgender teacher.
John Staley III, 17 (pictured) was sentenced to four years in adult prison for plotting a mass shooting at Hilliard Davidson High School in Ohio

A teenage boy accused of plotting a mass shooting at an Ohio high school has been sentenced to four years in an adult prison.

On February 8, a judge in Columbus sentenced 17-year-old John Staley III, who earlier pleaded no contest to a charge of conspiracy to commit murder.

Authorities say Staley was suspended from Hilliard Davidson High School in 2016 after a student heard him on a school bus discussing a shooting plot, which was never carried out.

Prosecutors say Staley created at least three school diagrams to map out a shooting, tried to recruit other students to help and wrote down weapons and ammunition needed.

Authorities say his electronic devices contained Nazi and racist information, sites glorifying school shooters and searches on how to obtain guns and ammunition and make explosives.

According to The Columbia Dispatch, Staley's mother lowered her head and wept softly as the sentence was read.

The sentence makes Staley eligible to apply for judicial release after serving six months in prison. He also was credited with the 349 days he has spent in the Juvenile Detention Center.

Staley (center, in white) had earlier pleaded no contest to a charge of conspiracy to commit murder. He was suspended from school in 2016 after a student heard him on a school bus discussing a shooting plot, which was never carried out

Staley (center) offered a brief, soft-spoken apology before sentencing, telling the judge: 'I never meant for it to go this far. Please have mercy on me, sir'

Defense attorney Steve Palmer (right) contends the case shouldn't have been in adult court and they'll appeal the juvenile court ruling that sent it there.

Defense attorney Steve Palmer contends the case shouldn't have been in adult court and they'll appeal the juvenile court ruling that sent it there.

However, Special Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Gibson called prison 'the only appropriate sentence' for Staley, who he says was perfectly aware of what he was doing.

'The defendant should not be rewarded for not being able to carry it out,' Gibson said.

He said Staley didn't fully accept responsibility for his actions during a pre-sentencing interview in which he called the plan 'a sick joke that got out of hand.'

Staley's mother (pictured) lowered her head and wept softly as the sentence was read

Prosecutors say Staley created at least three school diagrams to map out a shooting (pictured, Hilliard), tried to recruit other students to help and wrote down weapons and ammunition needed

Authorities say his electronic devices contained Nazi and racist information, sites glorifying school shooters and searches on how to obtain guns and ammunition and make explosives (Pictured, Staley, center)

Staley offered a brief, soft-spoken apology before sentencing.

'I never meant for it to go this far,' he told the judge. 'Please have mercy on me, sir.'

The judge said the letters and psychologists' reports were factors in his decision to sentence Staley 'toward the minimum' of a sentencing range of three to 11 years.
Luiza Pinheiro, from Riacho Frio in Brazil, was rushed to hospital on Sunday after being electrocuted

A student was electrocuted while playing on her phone as it charged, leaving her with the headphones 'melted in her ears'.

Luiza Pinheiro, from Riacho Frio in Brazil, was rushed to hospital on Sunday but doctors were unable to revive her.

The 17-year-old's lifeless body was found on the floor by a relative at about 5pm, the Mirror reported.

A 'huge electric charge' had destroyed her phone, which was plugged into a charger.

'The girl's grandmother told the doctor that they found her granddaughter unconscious, lying on the floor and with headphones in her ears,' a hospital spokesman told local media.

'They said they believe that the young woman had an electric shock because the cell phone was charging and the phone was melted.'

The 17-year-old's phone was destroyed by a 'huge electric charge' and her headphones were 'melted in her ears'

He added: 'It is stated in the medical record that the girl was admitted to the hospital one hour after the electric shock.

'The relatives said that the girl had received a shock, but the causes of death will still be confirmed.'

He said it was not raining at the time but there was a lightning storm.

It is not clear exactly how the teenager was electrocuted and the cause of the shock is still under investigation.
A former friend of Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz said that the teenager often spoke of murdering people and was frequently abusive in an interview with Good Morning America on Tuesday.

Ariana Lopez, who survived the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre, by hiding in a closet, said that her relationship with Cruz started out like any other friendship, but soon took a dark turn due to his threatening behavior and love of weapons.

The two eventually grew apart, and that was when he began stalking her and following her and a friend home after school.

Lopez said she reported him to school officials, but it did little to change the situation.

She also said that everyone at the school knew the gunman was Cruz once they heard about the shooting, just one day after the family that took in the young man expressed their shock and disbelief over his actions on the same morning program.

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Opening up: Ariana Lopez spoke with Good Morning America on Tuesday about her former friend, school shooter Nikolas Cruz

Quick conclusion: She said she was not surprised to learn he was the shooter, and would often talk about killing 'our parents, our friends, our boyfriends, our girlfriends' (Cruz in court on Monday left, in a 2016 school fight on right in the white shirt)

"He talked about killing our parents, our friends, boyfriends and girlfriends."



Former friend of Florida school shooting suspect speaks out to @VictorOquendo, saying she and her friends reported him multiple times: https://t.co/ZGimiAMj0m pic.twitter.com/gCCo4iEy4G  Good Morning America (@GMA) February 20, 2018

Lopez made it clear during her interview that Cruz's problematic behavior and mental health issues were on clear display at school.

'He used to sell knives out of his lunch box which I thought was insane. You can't have knives, this is a school', said Lopez of Cruz. 'He would be like, "hey guys, want some knives?".

Cruz was disciplined 25 times by the school before he was expelled in February of last year.

One of the incidents that led to his being disciplined was a fight in September 2016. Footage of the brawl emerged over the weekend.

Cruz was suspended for two days as a result of the fight, which was over a former girlfriend.

An in-home investigation was conducted by Florida Department of Children and Families after the fight and Cruz's late adoptive mother Lynda said it was because the unnamed girl was cheating on her son.

Lynda also said in that report that Cruz did not own a gun and only had an air gun, which had been taken away from him when he did not follow her rules for using the weapon.

She stated that Cruz was only allowed to use the gun in the backyard while aiming at targets, but had broken those rules. The report did not go into any further detail. Lynda died in November 2017

It also revealed that Cruz had posted videos on Snapchat showing him cutting himself.

'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,' the released report said.

Lopez said that the fight at the school was not over a break-up, but rather because Cruz had been physically abusing his girlfriend.

'He would hit her. He would threaten her. He would threaten her family and friends for talking to other guys,' said Lopez.

Cruz's violence was not a surprise by that point, according to Lopez.

'He would talk about how he sympathized with Syrian terrorists and say people who opposed them should be killed. He posted pictures of 15 or more firearms just on his bed. Like this was normal. Like you could even see a hamper in the background,' said the young woman of Cruz's now infamous Instagram posts.

'That's how ordinary this was to him.'

She then added: 'He talked about killing our parents, our friends, boyfriends and girlfriends.'

And while she did not specifically reference Kimberly and James Snead, the couple who took in Cruz after his mother's death, she undermined their claims there was no evidence that he was violent.

'I was thinking about why he could have done this. Because Nik was an avid hunter, I thought about it from a hunter's perspective,' said Lopez of the brutal massacre.

'The freshman building is very difficult to get out of - and when you think about it from the way that a hunter might have, which was the way Nik thought about a lot of things, that was an easy target.'

She then said the same exact thing that almost every single student who attended Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School has stated over the past week in interviews.

'I knew it [was him]. We all did. Everybody who knew him, knew it. Before they announced that he was the shooter - we all knew it was Nik,' said Lopez.

'He was the only person we could think of that would do something like this because it was obvious that he had the power to do this.'

Alerting proper authorities: When they stopped being friends, Lopez said that Cruz would stalk her and follow her and a friend, incidents she reported to school officials

Shock and surprise: Lopez's interview came one day after the couple who took Cruz in, Kimberly and James Snead (above), said he was a polite and well mannered boy

The Sneads say the teen being described by former friends is different to the boy they knew at home.

James Snead told ABC: 'He was very polite, he seemed normal. We knew he had one Instagram account. ... The other ones he had, we had no idea about.'

His wife told the Sun Sentinel: 'We had this monster living under our roof and we didn't know,'

Cruz is facing 17 counts of premeditated murder after the attack on Wednesday. It is the deadliest shooting ever at a U.S. high school.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has acknowledged it failed to act on a tip called in last month warning that Cruz possessed a gun and the desire to kill.
Jeremy Corbyn dismissed a storm over his meetings with a Soviet-backed spy 30 years ago as 'nonsense' today.

The Labour leader denied he was himself a spy in heated exchanges at a manufacturing conference that saw journalists booed for raising questions.

Mr Corbyn refused to directly answer a question about Theresa May's demand for him to authorise the release of any Stasi files held on him.

The Prime Minister yesterday demanded Mr Corbyn be 'open and transparent' about his past as a week-long scandal continued to grow.

Labour has furiously denied the claims levelled against Mr Corbyn and other senior MPs since his name was found on archive files held by the Czech security services.

They revealed he was given the code name 'Cob' and ex-spy Jan Sarkocy has made a series of lurid allegations since the records first emerged publicly last week.

Labour sources have insisted Sarkocy has no credibility and nothing to back up his incendiary claims, branding them 'absurd' and a 'tissue of lies'.

Jeremy Corbyn (pictured today at the EEF conference in London) dismissed a storm over his meetings with a Soviet-backed spy 30 years ago as 'nonsense' today

The Labour leader (pictured making his speech today) denied he was himself a spy in heated exchanges at a manufacturing conference that saw journalists booed for raising questions

Labour MPs were paid up to 10,000 to meet Eastern Bloc agents during the Cold War, an ex-spy Jan Sarkocy (pictured) claimed

Following their first meeting in Parliament in 1986, Mr Sarkocy wrote: 'He seems to be the right person for fulfilling the task and giving information.'

In a later memo, the spy said Mr Corbyn had 'an active supply of information on British intelligence services'.

The Prime Minister addressed the issue for the first time yesterday as she answered questions after a speech on education.

Mrs May said: 'It's for individual MP s to be accountable for the actions in their past.

'Where there are allegations of this sort they should be prepared to be open and transparent.'

Sarkocy's latest claim is that Labour MPs were paid up to 10,000 to meet Eastern Bloc agents during the Cold War.

He said at least 15 senior Labour figures had shared information with him in the late 1980s. Some pocketed between 1,000 and 10,000 per meeting but still wanted more, he alleged.

The former Czech spy, who met Mr Corbyn at the time, claimed the MPs 'wanted big bucks for giving us help'.

Theresa May (pictured in Derby yesterday) has demanded Jeremy Corbyn be 'open and transparent' in response to allegations he and other Labour MPs met with Soviet-backed spies 30 years ago

His latest comments prompted calls for an official probe into the allegations.

Mr Corbyn vehemently denies Mr Sarkocy's claim he was a paid informant of the Czech secret police.

It was also alleged that John McDonnell had met a KGB agent several times and Ken Livingstone had met representatives of the Czech regime, although there is no suggestion that either of these were paid.

Defence minister Tobias Ellwood wrote on Twitter: 'Corbyn (and others') meetings with the StB (the repressive Czechoslovak secret police & intelligence service) at the height of the Cold War ... raises serious questions about his loyalty to Britain that should be investigated.'

The Mail understands MPs are urging the Commons foreign affairs committee to consider the claims in its probe into the influence of foreign powers on elections.

Tory MP David Morris has written to the committee chairman Tom Tughendhat to formally ask for hearings.

Defence minister Tobias Ellwood wrote on Twitter: 'Corbyn (and others') meetings with the StB (the repressive Czechoslovak secret police & intelligence service) at the height of the Cold War ... raises serious questions about his loyalty to Britain that should be investigated.'

Mr Sarkocy, 64, who was not involved in organising or delivering the payments, described the MPs as 'great sources' to himself or colleagues in the KGB.

Speaking from his home in Bratislava, he has alleged that Mr Corbyn shared 'good information that we could use' with the Communist Czechoslovak regime.

The Labour figures have hit back at the claims, branding them 'absurd', 'ridiculous' and a 'tissue of lies'  and the party has dismissed Mr Sarkocy as a 'fantasist'.

Mr Sarkocy worked for the Statni Bezpecnost (StB) at Czechoslovakia's London embassy under the identity of a diplomat called Lieutenant Jan Dymic.

The former Czech spy, who met Jeremy Corbyn (pictured) at the time, claimed the MPs 'wanted big bucks for giving us help'

He was in Britain from 1986 to 1989 before being expelled and says there was 'no question' the Labour figures knew he was a spy.

It was claimed official records show only part of the picture and that he met Mr Corbyn  codenamed Agent Cob  'more than ten times'.

Mr Corbyn admits meeting Mr Sarkocy, but strenuously denies supplying information to a foreign power.

Yesterday an online petition was launched calling for the Labour leader to make public any files showing his link to Communist spy agencies.

More than 2,500 people had signed it last night.

It said Mr Corbyn 'has a duty to provide clarity over who he met, what information he handed over, and how deep the relationship was.'

Mr Sarkocy said the Islington North MP was a very 'smart and polite guy' and was a communist 'from the inside', following in the footsteps of his parents.

Earlier this week, Mr McDonnell said the accusations against him were 'ludicrous' and 'lies'. Mr Livingstone said he had 'no recollection of meeting anyone from the Czech embassy' and said Mr Sarkocy's claims were 'a tissue of lies'.

Tom Watson, Labour deputy leader, attacked the Press, saying the claims were 'not worth the paper they're printed on'.
Controversial Muslim activist Yassmin Abdel-Magied praised Allah in Arabic after the Australian Human Rights Commission dismissed a complaint against her in just a week.

The 26-year-old, Sudanese-born London writer, raised in Brisbane, told her 47,600 Twitter followers an allegation she had breached the Racial Discrimination Act was 'terminated due to a lack of substance'.

'Alhamdulilah! Nice to know the system works,' she tweeted on Tuesday night, without providing details of the case.

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Controversial Muslim activist Yassmin Abdel-Magied praised Allah in Arabic after the Australian Human Rights Commission dismissed a complaint against her in only a week

The Sudanese-bornwriter told her 47,600 Twitter followers a racism complaint was 'terminated due to a lack of substance'

The dismissal of this complaint against her, after only a week, is a stark contrast to how the Human Rights Commission treated three Queensland University of Technology students.

In 2013 Cindy Prior, an Aboriginal administration officer at QUT, had filed a $250,000 lawsuit against university students Alex Wood, Calum Thwaites and Jackson Powell after a Facebook post was published about an indigenous-only computer lab.

However under the leadership of former Humans Rights Commissioner Gillian Triggs, that case wasn't resolved until March 2017, when a Federal Court judge John Dowsett ruled Ms Prior could not appeal a 2016 court verdict in favour of the students.

Mr Thwaites said the instant dismissal of Ms Abdel-Magied's case highlighted the poor processes of his situation, where the commission took more than a year before it even started mediation proceedings.

'Funny what can happen when someone actually looks at or, shock horror, investigates a complaint ... instead of sitting on it for 14 months without even contacting the majority of the respondents,' he tweeted.

The dismissal of the complaint against her Ms Abdel-Magied is a stark contrast to how the Human Rights Commission treated Brisbane student Calum Thwaites

Mr Thwaites said the instant dismissal of Ms Abdel-Magied's case was very different to his situation

In August 2016, cartoonist Bill Leak was hauled before the commission after a woman complained about a cartoon featuring a drunk Aboriginal man

In August 2016, cartoonist Bill Leak was hauled before the commission after a woman complained about a cartoon featuring an Aboriginal policeman telling a drunk indigenous man he needed to take responsibility for his son.

The woman dropped that complaint only months before The Australian newspaper's veteran cartoonist died in March 2017.

Ms Abdel-Magied, the founder of Youth Without Borders, has been a magnet for controversy since April last year, when she linked Anzac Day with the plight of Palestinians and asylum seekers held in Papua New Guinea and Nauru.

While she apologised for that message, she last month stirred more controversy when she linked diversity quotas with Western colonialism.

In November, she told The Project her treatment in Australia by her critics was like an abusive relationship

Last month she linked diversity quotas for minorities with Western colonialisation and slavery

'Don't like 'diversity' quotas? Well, your ancestors shoulda thought about that before they went all over the world colonizing and enslaving. #justsayin,' she wrote in January.

In November, the former ABC-TV host controversially likened Australia's treatment of her to an abusive relationship, telling The Project it was 'like dating an abusive guy, you love a lot of things about them but they hurt you deep'.

Former Labor leader Mark Latham in August accused her of 'anti-white racism' after she engaged in a controversial Twitter conversation with journalist Osman Faruqi about the dual citizenship crisis in parliament.

Faruqi, who has taken legal action against Mr Latham, had tweeted 'the white people are getting f***eed, Yas, it's happening,' to which she replied: 'Hahahaha. Look, they wanted people to go back to where they came from ... and they didn't realise it included them too?'.

In April last year, she was widely slammed for her Anzac Day tweet which said: 'Lest. We. Forget. (Manus, Nauru, Syria, Palestine)'.
A chef has been arrested for allegedly raping a female patron after serving her a drink and taking her to his apartment.

Darryl Lee Mantanane, 55, was arrested in Seal Beach California on Friday, three days after the alleged attack.

On February 13, the victim went to Bistro St Germain where Mantanane, who works there as the executive chef, served her a glass of wine.

Cook arrested: Darryl Lee Mantanane (seen left in mugshot), 55, a professional chef from California, is accused of raping a patron after serving her a glass of wine

Mantanane is the executive chef at Bistro St Germain, a French eatery in Seal Beach, California

'She later awoke in an unfamiliar apartment and was sexually assaulted,' Seal Beach Police Sgt Michael Henderson stated. '

'The victim does not remember how she got to the apartment.'

Investigators have not yet confirmed that the glass of wine served by the chef to the customer was spiked with some kind of a narcotic substance.

They are currently waiting for the results of toxicology tests, reported NBC Bay Area.

Mantanane remained jailed on $100,000 bail as of Monday and was due back in court on Tuesday.

The 55-year-old cook is a native of Hawaii who had worked at restaurants in Alaska and in Costa Mesa and Redondo Beach, California, before being hired at Bistro St Germain in Seal Beach.

Police are looking to determine whether Mantanane (left and right) had spiked the victim's drink before taking her to his apartment and allegedly raping her

Mantanane, who has a daughter, had worked in Alaska and at other restaurants in California before being hired at Bistro St Germain

Mantanane has a daughter living in Los Angeles according to his bio page on the eatery's website.

The restaurant, located in the 300 block of Main Street, bills itself as Seal Beach's 'Signature French Bistro, serving such classic French fare as boeuf bourguignon.

The owner of the eatery has posted a statement on Bistro St Germain's website addressing Mantananes arrest without mentioning the chef by name.

The management of the Bistro St. Germain are shocked and saddened of the recent news involving one of our former employees, the post read.

We want the public and our customers to know that we are fully cooperating with law enforcement.
A car blogger has revealed how large amounts of water can get trapped in vehicles  and how to release it.

John Viper noticed a sloshing sound coming from his car and realised that it was water trapped in a frame at the bottom of a door.

The water gets trapped there after large rainstorms or if the vehicle drives through flooded areas.

But he discovered a simple solution: using a metal pick to remove a plastic cap underneath the door.

John Viper noticed a sloshing sound coming from his car and realised that it was water trapped in a frame at the bottom of a door, pictured

Using a metal pick Mr Viper drains the sills from his 2003 Volkswagen Touareg, pictured, and water comes pouring out

In the video Mr Viper demonstrates how to drain the sills from a 2003 Volkswagen Touareg - a problem that also affects cars in Britain.

Speaking from his home in Australia, Mr Viper said: 'The symptoms are as you're coming to stop a big sloshing water sound is coming from underneath the car.

'I looked many times underneath the car to find out how to drain it and I couldn't find it.'

Mr Viper discovered a simple solution to the sloshing sound: using a metal pick to chip away at the bungs of a car's sill, pictured

Mr Viper is shocked at how water continues to pour out of his vehicle, pictured, believed to have been stuck in there after driving down a flooded street or from heavy rainwater

Mr Viper points to the area of the vehicle that needs to be drained, using a metal pick to release the plastic cap which have become covered in tar.

Water comes pouring out immediately - and it does not stop.

'That's quite a lot of water,' exclaims Mr Viper. The water keeps pouring out.

He explains that he's owned his vehicle for four to five years and it was only recently that he's noticed to problem.

'It obviously builds up over time,' he says.

Ignoring the sloshing sound that's coming from your vehicle can have some dire consequences as the built up water can cause the vehicle to rust.

MailOnline reached out to Volkswagen for comment.
Special counsel Robert Mueller gained another guilty plea Tuesday as a Russian oligarch's son-in-law admitted lying to the FBI  after another figure connected to former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort faced charges.

Alex van der Zwaan pleaded guilty at federal court in Washington D.C. in a plea deal with the special counsel.

The 33-year-old becomes the fourth to be convicted as a result of the Mueller investigation, coming after President Donald Trump's disgraced national security adviser Mike Flynn and campaign adviser George Papadopolous both cut deals with the special counsel. Richard Pinedo, a California man, pleaded guilty on Feb. 12 to identity fraud.

Also charged in the probe is former Manafort deputy Rick Gates, who features in Tuesday's indictment as party to a phone call that Van Der Zwaan secretly recorded.

Disgraced: Attorney Alex Van Der Zwaan is expected to plead guilty to lying to Robert Mueller's investigators. he arrived at the Washington D.C. federal courthouse ahead of a hearing where he pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI

Van der Zwaan, 33, is a Dutch citizen and London-based lawyer whose father-in-law, German Khan, is named in the notorious 'golden showers' dossier on Trump which was drawn up by British spy Christopher Steele.

Van der Zwaan's law firm assisted in efforts on behalf of Ukrainian former president Viktor Yanukovych - the Putin ally forced from office in the country's 'orange revolution'.

Plea deal: Alex van der Zwaan, a London-based, Dutch-born attorney for a high-profile New York firm, is pleading guilty to lying to the FBI and destroying evidence by deleting emails

Alex Van Der Zwaan wedding to Eva Khan. Circled is her father, German Khan, a Russian billionaire who is suing over being named in the 'golden showers' anti-Trump dossier

Robert Mueller is expected to get a guilty plea Tuesday from Alex Van Der Zwaan, who will plead guilty to making 'false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements' to investigators about his dealings with Rick Gates (right), Paul Manafort's deputy

Van der Zwaan did work as an associate for the law firm Skadden, Arps, Meagher, & Flom LLP on behalf of the project.

Paul Manafort, a former campaign chair for the Trump campaign, has been already been charged with conspiracy and money laundering.

But when he got asked about his activities during a November interview with authorities, Van Der Zwaan 'made materially false statements,' according to a statement of offense. His own lawyer was present during the interview, according to the government.

Prosecutors wrote that at all relevant times, Manafort was under investigation for foreign principles without registering registering as required by lobbying laws.

Van Der Zwaan admitted that he wasn't truthful about his dealings with Rick Gates, Manafort's deputy, who is also charged and has been in negotiations about cooperating with prosecutors.

He was ensnared by his own notes, emails, and recordings  which he failed to turn over to his law firm when prosecutors asked for them.

Charging documents show that he surreptitiously recorded Gates but lied to the FBI about it.

According to a statement of offense, Gates called Van Der Zwaan in September 2016 and told him to contact 'Person A'  who prosecutor Andrew Weissman identified in court as a Ukraine-based Manafort associate.

'After the call, Gates sent Van Der Zwaan documents including a preliminary criminal complaint in Ukraine via an electronic application called Viber,' according to the statement. Van Der Zwaan then called Person A and discussed in Russian that formal criminal charges might be brought against a former Ukrainian Minister of Justice, Law Firm A, and Manafort.

Van Der Zwaan recorded the call, according to the statement, then called the senior partner at his firm and partially recorded that call, before calling Gates and recording that call as well, taking notes each time.

But when asked for notes or emails by prosecutors, Van Der Zwaan 'did not produce' them to the law firm and 'deleted and otherwise did not produce emails he possessed that he understood had been requested by either the Special Counsel's Office or Law Firm A, or both.'

Among the emails he didn't hand over was one, dated Sept. 12, 2016, written in Russian, where the person had asked Van Der Zwann to call using an encrypted app.

Although the documents do not identify 'Person A,' Mother Jones reported the person could be Konstantin Kilimnik, who was Manafort's Ukraine-based business partner.

Manafort reached out to Kilimnik in April, soon after he was brought aboard the Trump campaign. '"How do we use to get whole?' Manafort wrote. His attorney, Jason Maloni, told the Washington Post it was a reference to collecting on debts.

Guilty pair: Mike Flynn, Trump's disgraced national security adviser (left), and ex-Trump campaign aide George Papadopolous were the first two to cut deals with Robert Mueller

He lied when he said his last communication with Gates was in August 2016, according to the government, when in fact in September 2016 'he spoke with both [Manafort deputy Rick] Gates and Person A' about a report and 'surreptitiously recorded the calls.'

At the time, Gates was deputy campaign manager of Donald Trump's campaign.

Van Der Zwaan had said that his last communication consisted of an innocuous text message, according to investigators.

Van Der Zwaan is the son-in-law of Russian oligarch German Khan. He is estimated by Forbes to be worth $10 billion.

Khan is one of three oligarchs to appear in the infamous Steele Dossier who have sued a political intelligence firm over its release. They also sued BuzzFeed for publishing the dossier.

Khan was joined by two other oligarchs, Mikhail Fridman, Petr Aven, in suing Fusion GPS, the firm that contracted with ex British intelligence officer Christopher Steele, who compiled the dossier.

They are majority owners of the Russian bank Alfa Bank, which the dossier reports aided the Russian election meddling effort  though notably misspelling the bank's name as 'Alpha Bank.'

The dossier contained sensational unverified claims about Donald Trump's supposed conduct in a Moscow Hotel room during a visit for the Miss Universe Pageant, but it also focused on Trump's business dealings.

According to the dossier: 'Top level Russian official confirms current closeness Of Alpha Group-PUTIN relationship. Significant favours continue to be done in both directions,' according to the compilation of Steele memos.

Van Der Zwaan was charged Feb. 16 in federal court in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He appeared Tuesday at the courthouse to submit his plea.

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD: Alex Van Der Zwaan married Eva Khan, the daughter of Russian oligarch, German Khan, outside London

The oligarch walked his daughter down the aisle

Alex Van Der Zwaan's home in Bayswater in West London. He lives in one of London's most exclusive areas and his father-in-law is estimated to be worth at least $10 billion

He also 'deleted and otherwise did not produce' emails sought by the special counsel and a law firm  thereby withholding information from the probe, which has already led to multiple guilty pleas, and last week unveiled an indictment of 13 Russians working for a troll farm attempting to influence the 2016 presidential election.

Van Der Zwaan is the son-in-law of Russian oligarch German Khan, the Kyiv Post reported.

Van Der Zwaan married Eva Khan, German Khan's daughter, at Luton Hoo Hotel, a posh estate outside of London. The festivities lasted three days.

Skadden Arps said they terminated Van Der Zwaan in 2017, that he was cooperating with Mueller, and that he had worked for them for a decade.

The Los Angeles Times reported Sunday that Gates will himself plead guilty to fraud charges and will agree to testify against his longtime partner, Manafort.

The information provided by the government says Van Der Zwaan's false statements were made in connection to his work as an attorney working for a law firm whose client was the Ukraine Ministry of Justice. The firm was helping prepare a report on the trial of Yulia Tymoshenko.

Tymoshenko is a former Ukrainian prime minister who was tried and jailed for fraud in proceedings European governments labeled politically motivated.

He was part of a team dispatched by his firm, working along with Manafort, to bolster Yanukovych's contention that the jailing of his political rival was not politically motivated.

The Justice Department asked the firm for documents related to the report, the New York Times reported in September.

Ukrainian prosecutors sought to question Greg Craig, who was Skadden Arps' lead attorney on the case, and who served as President Obama's White House counsel. They also wanted to question Clifford Sloan, another Obama administration official.
Jayne Olorunda, the daughter of a man killed by the IRA, has told how she was forced out of Northern Ireland by racism

The daughter of a man killed in an IRA bombing has told how she was later forced from Northern Ireland by racism.

Jayne Olorunda is the daughter of Nigerian-born Max Olorunda, who was killed by an IRA incendiary bomb which detonated aboard a train in Dunmurry in 1980.

She grew up in Belfast but recently moved to England due to racism in Northern Ireland.

As well as coping with the death of her father, Ms Olorunda and her family have been subject to racism, with 'stares and taunts' commonplace while she was growing up.

The 39-year-old, who was just two when her father was killed, has now told how she was confronted by a group of men.

After launching a new book about her experiences in Northern Ireland, she said: 'Racism has been a huge factor in my life and even occurred towards my parents before I was born.

'My mum Gabrielle told me about an incident which happened when she was carrying my sister and was told 'how dare you bring another black b*****d into the world'.

'As I grew up I got sick of being told "go back home" and being asked "where were you from before here" - people just wouldn't believe I was born in Northern Ireland.

'Racism has always been an issue in my life, after all we are a mixed race family and don't always blend in. Growing up we became used to stares and taunts, but that was all we had.'

Ms Olorunda with her Northern Irish mother Gabrielle and Nigerian father Max in a photo from when she was a baby

She has written a book about her family's struggles in coping with her father's death

She added: 'Naively I thought that Northern Ireland seemed to be changing, more and more people of colour were coming in and we no longer stood out as much.

'I even hoped that my work in the public eye would help to raise awareness of the difficulties faced here by people of colour and those new to our shores trying to integrate.

'In early 2016, I had been invited to dinner by an African family, I was so excited because believe it or not at the time I didn't know many Africans and even more importantly I had never had African food.

'It was a beautiful welcoming atmosphere in the house, people laughing and talking and children playing.

'I had to leave early so I said my goodbyes and thought nothing of walking out the front door onto the street and walking the short distance to my car.

'But within seconds of being out the door I unwittingly encountered a group of right wing thugs, who surrounded me, blocked me in with an SS banner they were carrying and proceeded to terrify me.

She said growing up mixed-race in Belfast meant she was repeatedly subjected to racism

Ms Olorunda, pictured with her sister Alison, said they would get taunts and stares growing up

'There was about eight of them shouting racist slurs, telling me to 'go home' and using threatening gestures and behaviour.

'I didn't know what to do. They had me cornered, I feared for my life, I couldn't call for help. I couldn't knock the door of the house - people inside were having a good time, singing and were joyful.

'I didn't want to expose them to what was happening, especially because there were children in the house and the front door opened directly into the living room. I couldn't have exposed any child to that.

'I repeatedly told the mob that I was from Belfast but they were having none of it, they approached me from across the street, I didn't have my phone but I reached into my bag anyway just in case the thought that I might call for help would deter them.

'It made things worse. I was told to 'go ahead and call your n*****-loving PSNI'.'

Mr Olorunda was one of three people, including the bomber, killed in the IRA train bombing in January 1980. The IRA said the explosive went off prematurely

Miss Olorunda's mother, Gabrielle, is from Northern Ireland and fell in love with Mr Olorunda when he was working in Belfast. They married despite her Protestant parents' objections

She managed to get away after one of the men recognised her and let her go.

Miss Olorunda said: 'It's hard to leave your home at any time, but when you leave your home due to intolerance it's overwhelming.

'As a family the decision wasn't easy but having lived through the outcome of intolerance before with dad we knew how dangerous any type of hatred can be. Like sectarianism, racism cannot be undermined.

Miss Olorunda as a child in Belfast

'The rise of racism in Northern Ireland and the escalation of some very right wing views meant we no longer felt safe. It had got to a ridiculous stage. The underlying racism was rife.

'All my life I have lived in the shadow of sectarianism, as an IRA victim we weren't welcome in Catholic areas, and as Catholics we weren't welcome in Protestant areas.

'England has been very welcoming to us. It feels the atmosphere here is different. I know we have made the right decision. I spent my last two years in Belfast afraid to go out alone as a result of my attack.'

'Here no one looks twice at me, except when I speak but my accent is a bit of an ice breaker. There are so many mixed race people and black British people about, that I am nothing new. I at last fit in.'

Miss Olorunda has written Legacy, the story of her family and how they have coped with her father's tragic death and the aftermath of it.

The book covers Miss Olorunda's mother's deteriorating health and how the pair eventually met the man involved in the bombing which killed her father as well as her own struggles growing up.
A company director on 170,000-a-year tried to avoid a driving ban claiming it would cause him 'exceptional hardship' as he would be unable to take his daughter horse riding.

Mark Lapping already had nine penalty points when he was caught speeding for a fourth time.

But the 48-year-old pleaded with magistrates not to impose a ban because a taxi fare to work would cost him 20 per cent of his wages.

He also claimed he would be forced to stop taking his daughter horse riding, which she was 'passionate' about.

Mark Lapping has been banned from driving for six months and has 21 points on his licence

Lapping admitted four offences of speeding, committed between February 21 and May 25 last year, at Norwich Magistrates' Court.

Lapping, the chief executive of Global Chair Components, told the court he regularly has to travel to work in Reydon, Suffolk, from his home at Helhoughton in Norfolk.

Driving a Land Rover Discovery, the father-of-two was caught doing 72mph in a 60 zone on February 21 at Sutton Bridge, King's Lynn.

Pleading 'exceptional hardship', Lapping told magistrates: 'I am responsible for the business and that requires me to be in Reydon on a regular basis.

'I can't get there by public transport in the time available.

'The duties extend throughout the UK as they have customers in China and Eastern Europe which requires transport to airports.

'There are over 40 employees and the reason I was employed was they needed someone to run the business on a day-to-day basis, so there could be a detrimental impact on employees.

'My mortgage is 3,411 per month and I am the sole earner. Taxi costs for all of the locations I would need to get to would take at least 20% of my income.'

He added: 'I would have to stop other activities, particularly my daughter's equine activities which she is passionate about.

'I regret the incidents as they have occurred and apologise unreservedly for them. I was in a distracted state of mind at the time and I had other priorities.'

Lapping admitted four offences of speeding, committed between February 21 and May 25 last year, at Norwich Magistrates' Court (pictured)

He also did 35mph in a 30mph limit on May 6 in Lincolnshire, 62mph in a 50mph zone on the A414 at Stanstead Abbotts on May 20, and 35mph in a 30mph limit, at Whaplode on May 25.

Joanna Kasprzyk, defending, said Lapping had been 'burnt out' by a decade of hard work with his previous employer.

Ms Kasprzyk said: 'He was burnt out and it had an effect on him and his family.

'When he decided to leave and tell everyone he was leaving that is when the driving offences were committed.'

Lapping already had nine points for speeding offences and now has another 12.

He was given three penalty points and a 330 fine for each offence, with 300 costs and a 33 victim surcharge. He was also banned from driving for six months.
Deborah Evans, 44, is accused of controlling and abusing the teenager by repeatedly subjecting her to sex attacks

A woman catering company boss who forced a 15-year-old girl to take part in a series of sordid sex games, a court heard.

Deborah Evans, 44, is accused of controlling and abusing the teenager by repeatedly subjecting her to sex attacks.

A court heard the series of alleged assaults took place when Evans was 27 and the girl was a 15-year-old high school student.

Prosecutor Michael Hammett said the alleged victim waited 16 years before making a complaint to police, but had kept a diary as a schoolgirl which detailed the assaults.

Mr Hammett said: 'She kept a folder of letters that she never sent. She made references to what happened to her some years before at the hands of Evans.

'These incidents were not done willingly. The victim would ask that Evans not do these things to her but she didn't listen. She felt as though she was under Evan's control.

'Whether she allowed these things to happen didn't put up much of a fight doesn't matter.

'She hadn't reached the age of 16 and the age of consent. She was not capable of consenting or agreeing to these things happening.'

Mr Hammett said the girl confided in a school teacher at the time of the alleged attacks, but she decided not to 'pursue' the allegations after they were reported to social services.

The woman - who is now in her 30s - told Cardiff Crown Court Evans had looked up to the older woman.

She said: 'I thought she was great. Funny. She had a rebellious side and I liked it. We got on fine and there were no problems.'

But the woman said Evans began to make advances towards her, including trying to kiss her on the lips when they were alone together.

Cardiff Crown Court (pictured) heard the series of alleged assaults took place when Evans was 27 and the girl was a 15-year-old high school student

She said: 'I said I didn't want to kiss her. She had never said anything like that before or suggested she was interested in me in that way.'

The woman said Evans later became 'very controlling' and would 'belittle' her in front of friends and assaulted her over five months.

But she said in private Evans - who owns and runs Cardiff Cuisine Catering - began assaulting her by forcing her to perform sex acts at both of their homes.

Evans, from Deere Place, Ely, Cardiff, denies 11 counts of indecent assault on a girl aged under 16 between October 1999 and February 2000.

The trial continues.
Edith Atkinson, 66, was struck by her husband, 74, at False River Academy in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana

A Louisiana teacher was accidentally run over and killed by her husband outside the school she worked at on Monday.

Edith Atkinson, 66, was struck by her husband, 74, at False River Academy in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana.

Atkinson became crushed between the truck and a school bus, according to the New Roads Police Department, WAFB reports.

She had been walking around the back of her husband's truck when his foot slipped off the brake.

He instead hit the gas by mistake, Chief Deputy Coroner Joe Gannon told WBRZ.

Atkinson was taken to a local hospital but she later died.

Atkinson became crushed between the truck and a school bus on the campus. She had been walking around the back of her husband's truck when his foot slipped off the brake

She was listed on the school's website as being a college and career counselor at the school, which accepts students from pre-K through the 12th grade.

According to local authorities, the educator had worked at the school for approximately 30 years.

New Roads police are still investigating the details surrounding the incident.
Hundreds of devotees of the Ancient Greek god of fertility invaded the streets of Athens over the weekend to part-take in a penis parade.

'Phallephoria' sees participants dress up in masks and costumes inspired by Ancient Greece, with the addition of exaggerated fake penises strapped to their bodies to honour the god Dionysus.

Video footage from Saturday's overnight celebrations sees dozens of people wave large gold penises and other phallic objects as they dance through the city.

Scroll down for video

Come join: A parade celebrating the Ancient Greek god Dionysus is held in the Greek capital Athens over the weekend

Hero: Dionysus was god of many things, including wine, fertility, lovemaking and ritual madness

Breach of the penal code: The 'Phallephoria' parade sees participants dress up in masks and costumes inspired by Ancient Greece, with the addition of fake penises in many forms

As Phallephoria participants went back to the daily grind on Monday, a small town more than 180miles from the capital was similarly invaded by phalluses in all shapes and sizes, for their own annual fertility festival - also in honour of Dionysus.

The Bourani festival held in the city of Tyrnavos in Greece has put the 25,000-strong municipality on the map thanks to its celebration of the male genitalia as a symbol of fertility.

The festival mixes Greek Orthodox Christianity with ancient Greek religions; held in honour of Dionysus - god of wine, fertility and ritual madness among others - it marks the start of Lent.

The first written record of the festival is from 1898, however it is believed the people of Tyrnavos have been celebrating it long before that.

Initiation ceremony: Newcomers are 'knighted' with a penis during the annual Bourani festival in Tyrnavos, Greece

Drink up: People dance around the cauldron cooking the traditional Bourani spinach soup in Tirnavos, central Greece

Pictured: During the Bourani Festival, everything takes a phallic shape in Tyrnavos, including these cakes in a shop window

Dip it in: A penis-shaped loaf of bread used as an accompaniment to the Bourani soup is held up by the cauldron

There are several elements of the Buorani festival, including a phallus parade which features penis costumes, fake penises, penis masks and phallus floats.

Like a British hen-party on steroids, the festival features edibles such as breads, sweets and lollipops in penis-shapes, and devotees are seen wearing penis earrings or penis necklaces.

The carnival is named after a type of spinach soup, which takes centre stage during the initial part of the festival.

Festival-goers gather around a huge pot of bourani, where newcomers are 'initiated' by being served the soup using a phallic-shaped ladle.

After this, the festivities start, and others can also drink the soup as the crowd dances and begin singing songs with obscene themes and words.

Festival of profanities: As well as the many phalluses, participants of the Bourani Festival are encouraged to swear and use rude language, and festival floats often feature offensive phrases as well as penises

Ride along: A man in traditional Greek costume rides a penis-shaped see-saw in Tyrnavos during the festival

Religious devotion: The annual phallus carnival which dates back to at least 1898 marks the start of Lent

Mix and match: While the festival is held in honour of Ancient Greek god Dionysus - it marks the start of Greek Orthodox Lent
The anguish-ridden mom pictured in a now-iconic photograph from the Florida school shooting has spoken out about how she relives the panic of not being able to find her son every time she sees the image.

Cathi and Scott Rush were fortunate enough to reunite with their two sons who go to Marjory Stoneman Douglas middle and high schools after the shooting that killed 17 on Wednesday February 14 .

But Cathi's initial terror as she waited for news on her son Brandon, who is a freshman and was locked inside the school, was captured in one of the many horrific photos of the scene.

Cathi explained to CNN's Don Lemon: 'I hate that photo. Every time I look at that picture I relive it.'

The mother says she received a robocall from her son's middle school that they were on lockdown, but went back to work.

She says, in retrospect, 'I am so desensitized to the lockdowns that it didn't bother me, and that bothers me now.'

Iconic: Anguished mothers, Cathi Rush and another named Michelle (Michelle has not been fully identified) were pictured in the now-famous photo from the scene of the school shooting

Don Lemon (left) spoke to Cathi and her husband Scott Rush (together) about the shooting

Scott Rush is pictured with the couple's three sons. Two of the boys go to Marjory Stoneman Douglas School

Students were evacuated by police out of Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fl

She says she soon learned that SWAT was on the way to the school, so she started rushing over.

Cathi was able to get a hold of her eldest son Adam, who evacuated to the nearby Walmart parking lot, but she had still not heard from her middle child Brandon, who she would later learn was hiding underneath a table in a classroom.

Once the frantic mother arrived at the school, after watching police and SWAT vehicles whizzing by her on the freeway, she became more upset.

'I parked my car and spilled out of my car to the ground, and my friend Michelle picked me up, and that's the one in the picture. I had no idea someone snapped that photo,' she explained.

The other woman in the photo, Michelle, has not been identified beyond her first name. It does not appear her children were among those killed that day.

Cathi and her husband Scott said that on Monday, they attended the funeral of their friend's daughter, Jamie Guttenberg, who had been in classes with their son Brandon since second grade.

'It seems VERY real, my friends buried their daughter yesterday,' Cathi said of the family of 14-year-old shooting victim.

Brandon is usually in what was known as the freshman building where the shooting occured, but he happened to have an elective on the other side of campus that afternoon. Had it been a day before or after he would have been in the building with the gunman.

Cathi, pictured on the ground being consoled by her friend Michelle within moments of the now iconic photo being take- while they were waiting to hear about their children who were at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland

'He hunted children': Furious mother who was photographed in anguish waiting to hear about her son who thankfully survived says Nikolas Cruz didn't just gun them down he 'hunted' them

Cathi and Scott say they will support the children who are fighting for gun control in the wake of the school massacre.

'Those students are going to roar. You are going to hear those kids roar. They are so angry and so upset and so devastated, that their classmates and friends and teachers were gunned down,' Cathi said.

'They weren't just gunned down, they were hunted in that school, that man that came in that school - he hunted children,' she furiously added.

Scott added the parents are going to keep up the pressure too.

'This is not going to go away and we need to be louder and have more stamina than the people that want this to go away,' he said.

Cathi added in closing: 'It is not ok that this 19-year-old can walk into a shop and plunk down this money for a gun and go hunt kids at a school.'
Pedro Rubim, 43, has denied manslaughter, at Blackfriars Crown Court

A City worker accused of shaking his baby to death told a paramedic operator his baby had fallen off a sofa bed, a jury heard.

Pedro Rubim, 43, is accused of killing his seven week old son Alejandro at his home in London in February 2016.

Rubim, who worked for Global asset Management as an administrative assistant, claimed his son fell out of a baby bouncer which was on a sofa bed while he was out the room to get his next bottle.

The fall happened while the baby's mother, Rubim's wife Maribel Rodriguez, 40, was out at a dentist appointment.

The jury in his trial at Blackfriars Crown Court were today played the 999 call made by Rubim at 11:15am on February 20, saying his son had fallen off a sofa bed at the family's small flat in Hampstead, North London.

The baby was initially taken to the Royal Free Hospital where he was stabilised before he was transported to Great Ormond Street Hospital for further tests.

At Royal Free, Rubim told consultant Paediatrician Dr Michael Greenberg what had happened, explaining Alejandro had fallen from the baby bouncer.

The doctor told the parents the child had bleeding on the brain and suffered a significant brain injury.

Sally O'Neill QC, prosecuting, said: 'Dr Greenberg was concerned that this history of Alejandro having slipped off a baby bouncer on a low sofa bed seemed inconsistent with the extent of he injury.

JURY HEAR HARROWING 999 CALL In his 999 call, Rubim said 'I can't even talk' before the operator asked Rubim what had happened. He said: 'The baby fell off, erm..... we call it a bed and like a sofa bed, he fell on the floor. 'Now he's gone.....he's not moving at all..... and he's bleeding from his nose.... nose and mouth.' He was asked by the operator if the blood was coming from the inside the nose, and he said: 'I think it's coming from inside.... and he's very very numb he doesn't do anything.' He went on to say: 'His eyes aren't really open but he is not doing anything at all. He doesn't respond to anything. His eyes aren't moving.' The operator asked how high had Alejandro had fallen from, and Rubim said: 'It's not too high, it's about I don't know 10cm or something.' And when asked what caused the fall, he said: 'It's because he was.... he was too on the edge he should have been more in the middle..' Advertisement

'He explained to the parents they would would be investigating for possible bleeding disorder and the possibility of the injury being non-accidental.'

The court heard Alejandro was pronounced dead on February 24, 2016, at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Consultant forensic pathologist Dr Nat Cary carried out he post-mortem on the baby's body and concluded his death was 'an example of a fatal head injury of the shaking/impact type'.

Dr Cary gave the cause of death as head injury.

The prosecutor said: 'In Dr Cary's opinion, it was not plausible that a low level fall could cause the nature and extent of both bruising and the internal signs of injury present in the brain, the eyes and the cervical spine.'

She added: 'He concluded that this is a pattern of injuries he would expect to see if a young infant were forcibly thrown to the ground or against some upright structure, with or without and element of movement or shaking.'

Explaining as to why Rubim may have killed his son, Ms O'Neill QC said: 'Why he did so is more difficult to understand but sometimes, for example, people snap when a baby keeps crying and they won't stop, particularly perhaps if they are tired or stressed or whatever.

'I am not suggesting that any of those possibilities was the case here.

'All that we are in the position say is that that 45 day old baby was in the sole care of his father at the time he received those injuries which led to his death four days later.'

The jury sitting at Blackfriars crown Court (above) heard Rubim's harrowing 999 call

Rubim moved to the UK from Portugal in 2006 to work for Global Asset Management and had been in a relationship with his wife Maribel, a nanny from Columbia, for five years.

They had been living together in a one bedroom flat in Finchley Road, Camden since 2013.

Maribel went on maternity leave in 2015 and Rubim had a month's paternity leave after his son was born and had only been back at work for a couple of weeks before his son's death, the court heard.

Rubim, of Southgate, north London, denies manslaughter.

The trial continues.
A 7th grader at an Ohio middle school has shot himself in a bathroom on campus.

Jackson Memorial Middle School went into lockdown early Tuesday after the student shot himself in the men's restroom just before 8am.

The boy was rushed to a nearby hospital to be treated for the self-inflicted gunshot wound but his condition is not yet known.

Police would not reveal if the shooting was intentional or an accident.

Jackson Memorial Middle School went into lockdown early Tuesday after the student shot himself in the men's restroom just before 8am

'The Middle School and High School are on lockdown at this time,' Jackson Local Schools said in a statement.

'Students will be released to their parents in the near future.'

The district said all four elementary schools would remain closed on Tuesday.

A message on the school's website said students would be released around 11am.

Students were reportedly having their backpacks and lockers searched before they could be picked up by their parents.

Police said they would investigate how the student was able to get a gun inside the school.

Parents waited anxiously outside the middle school for their children to be released

An officer is pictured above speaking to a motorist outside Jackson Township Middle School after a boy shot himself in a bathroom just before 8am

Parents were waiting anxiously outside the school for their children to be evacuated.

Gina Larkins, whose daughter is in eighth grade, told News 5 she noticed the police activity on her way to drop her other daughter at the elementary school.

'I received a phone call from the superintendent that the middle school and high school was on lockdown and all the elementary schools would be closed. I just pulled in waiting to hear further information,' she said.

'I just want to get my daughter and hug her and hold her. I thought it would never happen here but obviously, that is not the case.'

Another father Don Casey said he had put a piece of armor in his eighth-grade son's backpack over the weekend as a precaution.

Police said the heavily emergency response was a precaution.
The Federal Bureau of Investigations official website couldnt be any clearer about the purpose of the organisation.

The mission of the FBI, it reads, is to protect the American people.

As for the role of its much-vaunted Special Agents, the FBI defines their job as: Staying ahead of the threat through leadership, agility and collaboration.

Hmmm.

Where do those two bold statements of intent sit today, I wonder?

Its hard to imagine there has even been a worse week for the FBI in its 109-year history.

First, they were forced to admit they spectacularly dropped the ball on the Florida mass shooter.

First the FBI were forced to admit they spectacularly dropped the ball on the Florida mass shooter - about whom they had received detailed warnings and yet done nothing

On January 5 this year, the FBI received a call to its Public Access Line, a service specifically set up to encourage people to report crimes or threats.

This wasnt a vague call to the hotlines West Virginia call center.

It was very, very specific.

A person close to Nikolas Cruz, read the FBI statement, provided information about Cruzs gun ownership, desire to kill people, erratic behaviour, and disturbing social media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting.

What should have happened next is blindingly obvious.

Under established protocols, the statement continued, the information provided by the caller should have been assessed as a potential threat to life (and) forwarded to the FBI Miami Field Office where appropriate investigative steps would have been taken.

You THINK?

But staggeringly, shamefully, it wasnt.

As the FBI conceded, the information was not provided to the Miami field office, and no further investigation was conducted at that time.

Sorry, WHAT?

How is it even possible that such a detailed, terrifying warning could be ignored?

FBI Director Christopher Wray said: It is up to all Americans to be vigilant, and when members of the public contact us with concerns, we must act properly and quickly.

Well yes, Mr Wray.

Thanks for the reminder of what the FBI is supposed to do with tips like that.

But an American WAS vigilant, and DID contact you with concerns, and you acted improperly, and not just slowly but non-existently.

This wasnt the only warning the FBI received about Cruz.

FBI Director Christopher Wray said: It is up to all Americans to be vigilant, and when members of the public contact us with concerns, we must act properly and quickly. But an American WAS vigilant, and DID contact you with concerns, and you did nothing

'I'm going to be a professional school shooter.' wrote Cruz on a video that had been shared by YouTube vlogger Ben Bennight - who ALSO called the FBI

In September, 2017, YouTube vlogger Ben Bennight contacted the FBI to report that a user named Nikolas Cruz had left the following comment on one of his videos: Im going to be a professional school shooter. Two agents were despatched to interview Bennight the next day but the FBI was apparently unable to trace the commenter.

Really?

How many people named Nikolas Cruz are there in America right now?

Had the FBI done their job with either of these tips, they would have learned that Cruz had received treatment for mental illness, had been thrown out of the school for violent conduct, and that he posted regular social media threats and sinister gun images.

They would also have learned that he bought not one but SEVEN rifles in the past year.

In short, they would have learned this was someone very likely to do something very bad very soon.

Director Wray said the FBI had spoken with victims and families, and deeply regret the additional pain this causes all those affected by this horrible tragedy.

Additional pain? Try, ALL their pain.

The FBI was told how dangerous this guy was, how heavily armed he was, how unstable he was, and how he might shoot up a school.

Their abject failure to act on this information is thus what allowed it to then happen.

So you can stuff your weasly words of regret where the sun dont shine, Director - because the blood of the 17 people who died, and that of all those wounded, is on the hands of your Bureau.

And its not like this is the first time the FBI has cocked up a mass shooter investigation.

They were criticised by Congress in 2009 for failing to act on emails between the Fort Hood shooter  that left 13 dead - and terrorist Anwar al-Awaki.

And a white supremacist who killed nine people at a black church in South Carolina in 2015 was only able to purchase his gun because of a breakdown in the FBIs background check system.

The second massive FBI ball-drop concerns Russias meddling in the 2016 US election.

Last Friday, Special counsel Robert Mueller charged 13 Russian nationals and three Russian entities with an illegal information warfare scheme designed to disrupt the election.

The Russian suspects stand accused of physically entering the US, hiding their true identities, gathering intelligence, engaging online with political and social activists, organising political rallies and even paying American to assist in their sabotage.

The indictment concludes that the St Petersburg-based Internet Research Agency  known as the troll factory - had a strategic goal to sow discord in the U.S. political system.

Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said the indictment contained no allegation that any Americans were knowing participants in this illegal activity nor that this charged conduct altered the outcome of the election.

That doesnt mean, as President Trump has wrongly suggested, that such allegations may not still emerge in Muellers wider investigation.

But it remains a fact that no smoking gun evidence has yet been uncovered to prove any collusion between Trump, or his campaign officials, and Russians to fix the election.

Rod Rosenstein said the indictment contained no allegation that any Americans were knowing participants in this illegal activity nor that this charged conduct altered the outcome of the election. While no smoking gun has yet been uncovered to prove any collusion between Trump and Russians, what IS now beyond any doubt is that Russians DID try to fix it

What IS now beyond any doubt is that Russians DID try to fix it.

And while it is perfectly legitimate to criticise Trump for not now doing more to punish Russia for this appalling activity  he should - it is surely also perfectly legitimate to ask very serious questions of those tasked with stopping it happening in the first place? The meddling began in 2014, and continued right through to Election Day.

That means it happened on President Obamas watch, and right under the noses of the FBI.

The Russians wilfully used and abused giant internet platforms like Facebook, Google and Twitter to spread their disruptive messages.

These are all American companies.

Why did the FBI not do more to investigate and expose this assault on US firms?

Where were they as these Russian cyber spies corrupted the hearts and minds of American voters in an attempt to pervert democracy?

Former FBI Director James Comey, a man who loved the limelight way too much for a job thats supposed to involve discretion and secrecy, was incredibly busy hunting down Hillary Clintons emails.

The fact is Trump was probably more helped to victory by Former FBI Director James Comey's Clinton-hunting decision to reopen that investigation just days before the election than by any Russian bot

Indeed, his own bombshell decision to reopen that investigation just days before the election probably helped Donald Trump more than any Russian bot.

But why was he not just as energised to root out these Putin-inspired foreign agents flagrantly attacking the US democratic process itself?

The FBI dropped the ball horrendously badly on Russian meddling, and now its dropped the ball horrendously badly on one of Americas worst mass murderers.

The first failure may have affected the result of a US election.

The second failure probably cost the lives of 17 people including 14 children.

So they neither protected the American people nor stayed ahead of the threat.

Little wonder the new nickname for the FBI is the Federal Bureau of Incompetence.
Passover is one of the most important Jewish holidays, celebrating the time when Moses led the Jewish people out of enslavement in Egypt to freedom.

The festival, Pesach in Hebrew, lasts seven days in Israel and for Reform Jews, however some congregations celebrate the holiday over eight days.

It has been celebrated every year in spring since around 1300 BC and involves rituals such as consumption of ceremonial foods and special prayers on Passover Seder nights.

Heres all the information on Passover including what is it, when is Passover 2018 and why do Jews celebrate it.

An Israeli boy swims next to sheep belonging to a Palestinian farmer in the West Bank village of Al-Auja in the Jordan Valley during the eight-day Jewish Passover holiday

When is Passover 2018?

Passover 2018 starts at sundown on March 30 and ends on April 7.

In the Hebrew calendar, the dates for Passover are Nissan 15-22.

The first night of Passover 2018 is March 30.

March 31/April 1 and April 6/7 are Yom Tovs. Yom Tovs translate as 'Good Days' and a time during which working is prohibited.

In 2017, Passover started on April 11 and ended on April 18.

What is Passover?

Passover is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the time when Moses led the Children of Israel from Egypt and enslavement. The story is set out in the Book of Exodus in the Old Testament.

The Book Exodus tells the story of how the Jews settled in Egypt when Jacob and his sons went there to be reunited with Joseph. As long as Joseph and his siblings were alive, the Jewish people were treated with respect in Egypt.

However, after Joseph died and a new Pharaoh came to the throne, the attitude changed. 'Behold the Children of Israel are more and mightier than we. Come, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply,' it says in Exodus 1:8-10.

The Jewish people became enslaved and the Pharaoh ordered for all newborn sons to be drowned in the Nile. One such newborn was Moses, who was saved from drowning when his mother placed him in a basket and set him down the river.

The baby is discovered by the Pharaohs daughter and names him Moses, which translates into English as he who was drawn from the water.

Moses grows up with the Pharaohs family but does not forget his true heritage. One day he sees an Egyptian slave driver beating a slave and kills him and flees Egypt to become a shepherd.

However, God intervenes and appears to Moses as a burning bush and tells him to go before the Pharaoh and demand that he Let My people go, so that they may serve Me.

The Pharaoh refuses and instead intensifies the Jewish peoples torment. Moses continues to return and demand freedom for the Children of Israel, each time the Pharaoh refuses, ignoring the warnings that God would smite Egypt with terrible plagues.

The Ten Plagues of Egypt

God turned the water of the River Nile into blood, causing all life in the river to die. Then all the water in Egypt turned to blood. The second plague saw Egypt overrun with a swarm of frogs. The Plague of Lice saw all dust turned into lice, which infected everyone. In the fourth plague, all animals in Egypt died including horses, camels, sheep and goats. A Plague of Flies fills every Egyptian house, including the Pharaohs palace. The Egyptians are plagued by terrible boils. A Hail made up of fire and ice terrorises Egypt. The Pharaoh still refuses to free the Jewish people, ignoring the pleas of his people. Anything that survived the hail, was then consumed by a Plague of Locusts. Egypt descends into darkness for three days. The tenth and final plague saw an avenging angel go to every Egyptian house and kill the first-born. On the stroke of midnight of Nissan 15, all of Egypts firstborn are killed.

To ensure the Children of Israel were passed over, i.e. werent touched by the angel, God ordered them to brush their door frames with the blood of a freshly slaughtered male lamb, then roast the lamb and consume it with bitter herbs and unleavened bread.

The Pharaoh gives in after the tenth plague and begs the Jewish people to leave. The Jews leave Egypt so quickly that they dont have time to let the dough of the bread rise with yeast, meaning all their bread is unleavened.

However, the Pharaoh then changes his mind and pursues the Jews to force them to return. The Jewish people end up being trapped between the Pharaohs army and the Red Sea.

God orders Moses to raise his staff and suddenly the Red Sea parts down the middle, allowing the Jewish people to pass through.

Why do Jews celebrate Passover?

The Book of Exodus says how God ordered the Children of Israel to commemorate this period every year by removing all leaven and eating matzah instead.

'This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast,' it says in Exodus 12:14.

A post shared by RJ, ,  (@reneejihyo) on Feb 19, 2018 at 3:07pm PST

Passover meal, celebrations and traditions

The most famous part of Passover is the removal of Chametz (leaven) from the house. This means anything that is a risen product of a combination of water and one of five types of grain (wheat, spelt, rye, barley and oat) are not allowed.

Fermented drinks such as beer and champagne are also not allowed.

On Passover Seder night, family and friends get together and follow a 15-step process that includes prayer, washing and eating foods in a specific order.

A passover Seder meal will usually consist of red wine, vegetables dipped in saltwater, matzah, bitter herbs such as horseradish and may feature matzo ball soup or gefilte fish.

Throughout the night, everyone takes part in reading passages from the Haggadah, which means Narration and tells the story of how the Jewish people fled Egypt.

The part that kids probably look most forward to is the afikoman. On the Passover Seder table, under the Seder plate, there will be three matzahs.

The middle piece is taken and then split. The largest part of that piece is called the afikoman, from the Greek epikomen, which means 'that which comes after'. It is wrapped in cloth and eaten for dessert, a symbolic gesture to remember how quickly the Jews had to leave Egypt, when they wrapped their unleavened bread in their clothes.

The reason it may be the favourite part for children is because the afikoman is traditionally hidden in the house and the kids have to find it and bring it back to the table.
In a test case that threatens to cost the NHS millions, junior doctors are claiming they do not get enough rest and that patients are being put at risk.

Dr Sarah Hallett says it is up to NHS trusts to make sure that junior medics get a half-hour break after every four hours they are continuously on duty.

Now, on behalf of 20 other doctors who trained with her in Derby she has taken her fight to the High Court, where she is accusing the NHS of failing to honour junior medics' contracts.

If she wins her case, Royal Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation could have to pay out 250,000 to the 21 medics for rest breaks missed over an eight-month period.

Dr Sarah Hallett says it is up to NHS trusts to make sure that junior medics get a half-hour break after every four hours they are continuously on duty. She is pictured here in 2016 when junior doctors launched an online campaign tweeting the hash tag #IAmTheDoctorWho

Who is Dr Sarah Hallett? Dr Sarah Hallett, the junior doctors' committee deputy chairman for education and training, is a paediatric doctor working in south London. She identified herself as a Labour Party member when she signed a letter organised by Momentums NHS group in March 2016 calling for privatisation in the NHS to be reversed. Last February Dr Hallett was a signatory to a letter in The Guardian urging people to join the #OurNHS national demonstration, which was addressed by Mr Corbyn and supported by Momentum. The letter branded Theresa Mays relationship with Donald Trump as transatlantic appeasement spectacle. Advertisement

And NHS lawyers say the floodgates would open to similar claims by thousands of medics who trained at NHS hospitals all over the country.

NHS barrister, Richard Leiper QC, said: 'The potential cost to the trust, let alone to the NHS as a whole, would be dramatic'.

John Cavanagh QC, representing Dr Hallett, said: 'The case concerns the entitlement of junior doctors to take breaks during the course of their working duties.

'This case is of general public importance...it is a test case which is of significance across the NHS.'

The barrister said NHS trusts are duty-bound to ensure that junior doctors take 30-minute 'natural breaks' after every four-hour working stint.

'If they do not have the opportunity to take these breaks, this affects their safety and welfare, with consequent effects on patient safety.'

NHS trusts who do not comply with the rules have to pay junior doctors double their normal rate for missed rest periods, he added.

Dr Hallett, who is Chair of the British Medical Association's Junior Doctor Committee, says she and hard-pressed colleagues did not get enough breaks during their foundation year in Derby in 2013 and 2014.

Her case is 'not about money, but principle', and Mr Cavanagh said her 'primary objective' was to make sure that NHS trusts meet their contractual duty to make sure junior doctors take enough breaks.

'It is the responsibility of trusts to make sure that they do not run overly fatiguing or unsafe rotas. It is hoped that it is obvious why it is in the public interest that this does not happen.

'Junior doctors who have to work for many hours in very stressful and high-pressure conditions without even a short break will be exhausted and this will potentially lead to risks to patient safety,' the QC added.

Dr Hallett pictured at a rally with Jeremy Corbyn and Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell in 2016

What hours do junior doctors work? The European Working Time Directive (EWTD) protects the health and safety of doctors by restricting the number of hours an individual can work and imposing minimum rest requirements. For Junior doctors it means: Working hours have been reduced from an average of 56 per week to 48, calculated over a period of 26 weeks. Doctors are entitled to choose to work additional hours if they wish. A period of 11 hours continuous rest a day (or compensatory rest to be taken at another time if this is not achieved). A day off each week, or two days off in every fortnight (or compensatory rest) A 20 minute rest break every 6 hours (or compensatory rest) Under EWTD guidelines, a rest is: A minimum of 11 hours' continuous rest in every 24-hour period A minimum rest break of 20 continuous minutes after every six hours worked A minimum period of 24 hours' continuous rest in each seven-day period (or 48 hours in a 14-day period) A minimum of 28 days or 5.6 weeks' paid annual leave a maximum of eight hours' work in each 24 hours for night workers. Source: BMA Advertisement

'This will also have an adverse effect on the morale and happiness of junior doctors which is both harmful in itself and is likely to have negative consequences, for example in junior doctors losing heart and leaving the profession.'

Mr Cavanagh said the primary duty to monitor junior doctors to ensure they get enough rest lies on the NHS trusts who employ them.

'It would be quite wrong to place the responsibility on the shoulders of junior doctors, many of whom, like Dr Hallett in 2013, are just out of medical school and are working in their first job.

'If they are faced with extremely heavy workloads and very sick patients, it can be very difficult for junior doctors to take responsibility for the decision to stop what they are doing in order to take a break.

'It is for the employer to take appropriate steps to protect patients and the junior doctors themselves,' he told Mrs Justice Simler.

The Royal Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is defending the case, arguing through Mr Leiper that Dr Hallett's case is based on a misinterpretation of junior doctors' contracts.

Dr Hallett's case has won the backing of the British Medical Association (BMA).

In a statement, the trade union said: 'The BMA believes breaches are commonplace owing to widespread use and incorrect application of monitoring software resulting in trusts failing to apply the protections provided to doctors in their contracts of employment.

'The BMA expects that the decision will set a binding legal precedent in England and Wales.'

The Department of Health and Social Care and the BMA have been contacted for comment.

The hearing, expected to last four days, continues.

If Dr Hallett wins her case, Royal Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation could have to pay out 250,000 to the 21 medics for rest breaks missed over an eight-month period. Pictured, junior doctors at a rally in London in February 2016
Donald Trump swatted away the latest accusation of sexual misconduct against him on Tuesday, claiming that a Washington Post story about a woman who has accused him of unwanted kissing is 'Fake News.'

Rachel Crooks, 35, is running for a seat in the Ohio legislature  mostly, she says, so she can have a platform to tell the story of a day when Trump mashed his face against hers without an invitation.

Trump himself pushed back on Tuesday, enlarging the story by tweeting about it.

'A woman I dont know and, to the best of my knowledge, never met, is on the FRONT PAGE of the Fake News Washington Post saying I kissed her (for two minutes yet) in the lobby of Trump Tower 12 years ago. Never happened!' he wrote.

Donald Trump insisted Tuesday on Twitter that a woman's story of unwanted kissing in 2006 is 'fake news'

Rachel Crooks first claimed a few weeks before the 2016 election that Trump once forcibly kissed her in an elevator lobby at Trump Tower

'Who would do this in a public space with live security cameras running. Another False Accusation.'

Crooks recalled the alleged kiss in a group conversation witnessed by a Post reporter.

'It happened right by the elevators,' she said, talking about an encounter at Trump Tower at age 22, where she was working as a receptionist at Bayrock Group, a company Trump sometimes did business with.

'He started kissing me on one cheek, then the other cheek. He was talking to me in between kisses, asking where I was from, or if I wanted to be a model. He wouldnt let go of my hand, and then he went right in and started kissing me on the lips.'

'It felt like a long kiss,' Crooks told the gathering, a confab of women intended to drum up support for her political campaign.

'The whole thing probably lasted two minutes, maybe less.'

Crooks first made her claim to The New York Times about four weeks before the 2016 election.

'It was so inappropriate,' Crooks recalled at the time. 'I was so upset that he thought I was so insignificant that he could do that.'

Crooks has said the incident happened in the elevator lobby near the Bayrock offices, in the early morning. It's a relatively secluded spot.

Trump's tweet placed her accusation in the 'lobby of Trump Tower,' a far more public location.

On Tuesday the president enlarged Crooks' claims by denying them forcefully, saying it 'never happened!'

Crooks has asked Trump in the past to find and release security-camera video from that day. His company has never responded to those requests.

Hours after Trump's tweets, she responded with her own.

'Please, by all means, share the footage from the hallway outside the 24th floor residential elevator bank on the morning of January 11, 2006,' she challenged the president. 'Lets clear this up for everyone. Its liars like you in politics that have prompted me to run for office myself.'

The tweet included a link to her campaign fundraising Web page.

Trump also complained on Tuesday that the Fox News Channel has been the only major cable network to cover the story one accuser who was reportedly offered a payoff from lawyer Lisa Bloom to tell her story publicly.

That woman is reportedly Jill Harth. Neither she nor Bloom has denied a financial transaction took place.

Crooks tweeted back at Trump, pinpointing the location of her claim and challenging him to release security footage; she also used the profile-enhancing tweet as a fundraising opportunity

Trump fumed on Tuesday about what he claims is a lack of media attention to the saga of Jill Harth (left), one of his accusers, who reportedly got a payoff arranged by feminist lawyer Lisa Bloom (right) in exchange for telling her story

'Why doesnt @washingtonpost report the story of the women taking money to make up stories about me? One had her home mortgage paid off,' Trump tweeted.

'Only @FoxNews so reported...doesnt fit the Mainstream Media narrative.'

A total of 19 women have claimed publicly that Trump subjected them in the past to sexual misconduct of some kind, running the gamut from harassment to assault.

His presidential campaign was roiled in its final days when the Post published audio from a 2005 taping of 'Access Hollywood,' in which the future president told host Billy Bush that he was 'automatically attracted to beautiful women. I just start kissing them. Its like a magnet. Just kiss. I don't even wait.

'And when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.'

Crooks' accusations date to the year after Trump made those comments.
A great grandmother who claimed 40,000 in benefits while secretly owning a Spanish holiday villa has narrowly avoided jail.

Sally Folan, 63, rented out the villa in a resort on the Spanish coast while also claiming Jobseekers Allowance in the UK. She failed disclose the property to authorities.

Hove Crown Court heard she and her husband, Noel, a builder, had moved to Spain 'for a better life'.

In 2002, they sold their home in Sussex and bought the house of their dreams in Spain for 120,000 euros (105,868).

Sally Folan, (right), 63, rented out the villa in a resort on the Spanish coast while also claiming Jobseekers Allowance in the UK. She failed disclose the property to authorities

They in 2003, when Ms Folan was 48.

Mr Folan was able to find regular work in the building trade and the couple had money coming in.

However, following the 2007 credit crunch, Mr Folan struggled to find building jobs and the value of their property plummeted and the pair were forced to make ends meet by selling goods at car boot sales.

Eventually the situation became so bad they were forced to return to the UK where Folan made her claim for Jobseeker's Allowance.

She applied for benefits but failed to tell the authorities about her home in El Puerto De Mazarron in Spain.

And despite several reviews in over the next three years Hove Crown Court heard the great grandmother kept quiet about the property she owned in the coastal Spanish resort.

Martha Walsh, prosecuting, said that between February 2013 and June 2016 she fraudulently claimed 39,462.59 before the authorities discovered she had a property in Murcia, Spain.

Miss Walsh said: 'Her claim was fraudulent at the outset, perpetuated for a significant amount of time and there were a number of occasions on which she could have set the record straight.'

Ms Folan failed to tell the authorities about her home in El Puerto De Mazarron in Spain

Martha Walsh, prosecuting, said that between February 2013 and June 2016 she fraudulently claimed 39,462.59 before the authorities discovered she had a property in Murcia, Spain

Kevin Light, defending, said Folan and her husband, Noel, a builder, had staked everything on their new life in Spain.

He said the great grandmother was of previously of good character and had admitted her guilt a the first opportunity.

Judge Jeremy Gold QC sentenced Ms Folan to eight months in prison suspended for two years.

He also ordered her to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and warned her she would face jail if she did not comply with ruling.

The 63-year-old, who lives in Worthing, will also be subject to a hearing to establish how she can pay back the sum and has already begun paying 50 month towards it.
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.
Jurors returned to a Florida courtroom this morning to begin the sentencing phase in the trial of a man convicted of abducting, raping and murdering an eight-year-old girl

On Tuesday, a woman tearfully told jurors Donald Smith tried to kidnap her as she walked to her friend's house one Sunday morning in 1992, when she was 13 years old. Smith, then aged 36, was later tried and convicted of attempted kidnapping.

The jury took less than 15 minutes last Wednesday to find the 62-year-old guilty of brutally raping and killing Cherish Perrywinkle in 2013.

Jurors returned to court to decide whether Smith should be executed, or spend the rest of his life in prison.

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Survivor speaks: Carrie Ann Buck (left) cries telling a Florida jury how convicted child rapist and killer Donald Smith (right) had nearly kidnapped her in 1992, when she was 13 years old

Smith presents his handcuffs to be unlocked by a bailiff so he can sign paperwork early in Tuesday's court proceedings in the courtroom of Judge Mallory Cooper in Jacksonville, Florida

Carrie Ann Buck, a mother-of-four from Syracuse, New York, told jurors she would 'never forget his face.' She recounted hiding in a tubular slide at a playground after he chased her in his van.

'He told me to get the f*** in the van,' Buck said from the witness stand through tears, describing the predator's voice as 'mean,' First Coast News reporter Anne Schindler live-tweeted on Tuesday.

Pedophile: The jury heard from Smith's previous victim, who recounted how he tried to kidnap her in 1992, when she was 13 and he was 36 (pictured in mugshot from his arrest for that crime)

Buck also recalled Smith telling her: 'I know you're in there, you little b****, and Im going to find you.'

Buck added: 'I knew he was going to hurt me.'

Smith was arrested after he showed up in his van outside Buck's home a few days after the failed abduction, and her family were able to write down his license plate number, Florida Times-Union reporter Eileen Kelley live-tweeted. He ultimately served six years for the attempted kidnapping.

Defense attorney Charles Fletcher argued that his client is mentally ill and that he is 'wired differently,' and noted that 'sometimes mercy is given to someone who doesn't deserve it.'

The attorney told the court that his client started showing signs of sexual awareness at the age of five. By the time he was 10, Fletcher said Smith was exhibiting voyeuristic tendencies, and by the age of 20, he was showing signs of being a pedophile.

'Nobody says "I think I'll be a pedophile for the rest of my life." It's a mental disorder,' the lawyer told court, reiterating the Smith has a mental disorder that makes it impossible for him to control his impulses, even though he is sane and can tell right from wrong.

Cherish Perrywinkle was found brutally raped and murdered in a creek in June 2013 after Smith abducted her from a Florida mall

Smith lured Cherish Perrywinkle's cash-strapped mother and sisters to Walmart in June 2013 with promises to buy a McDonald's meal and new clothing, then left with the girl. Security video showed her skipping out the door behind him. Cherish was never seen alive again.

His DNA was found on the girl's mutilated body.

In his closing arguments last week, prosecutor Mark Caliel said Cherish 'endured a nightmare no child should have to endure.'

The State called 19 witnesses but the defense called none, reported Action News Jax.

Smith was convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping and sexual battery on a child less than 12 years of age.

Jacksonville Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Valerie Rao, who conducted the autopsy on Cherish became emotional and had to interrupt her testimony last week.

Cherish's brutalized body would later be found in a creek. She'd been raped, smothered and had blunt force trauma to the back of her head

She told the court that Cherish sustained severe injuries all over her body from being strangled with a piece of clothing and raped.

Viewing photographs of her battered body in court last Tuesday, she became teary and unable to continue.

During 45 minutes of testimony on Tuesday, which left jurors in tears and had them covering their eyes, Dr Rao listed the dozens of injuries Cherish had sustained during her final moments, including bruises and cuts on her knees and thighs.

The medical examiner said the child's female anatomy was 'totally distorted' from the trauma of the rape, as First Coast News reporter Anne Schindler live-tweeted.

'Looking at her genital area and her anal area, she had so much trauma, the anatomy was totally distorted by the injury that she sustained both to her vaginal area and her anus,' Rao testified, according to WOKV.

She estimated that it took the eight-year-old 3-5 minutes to die. As she was being strangled, her right eye began bleeding.

Smith's semen was found in Cherish's mouth, vagina and anus, according to The Florida Times-Union reporter, Eileen Kelley, who has been live-tweeting the trial.

Rao also revealed that Cherish had attempted to fight back and managed to inflict an injury on Smith's penis after he allegedly attempted to force oral sex on her.

This is the moment Walmart monster Donald Smith was found guilty last Wednesday

Rayne Perrywinkle, second left, the mother of Cherish Perrywinkle reacts to the first guilty verdict

Smith had been released from jail three weeks before Cherish's death, after serving 438 days on felony charges of child abuse and unlawful impersonation of a public employee.

The man had a long criminal history dating back to the 1970s related to lewd and lascivious conduct. He has been a registered sex offender since a 1993 conviction in Duval County for attempted kidnapping and selling obscene materials.

Doctors determined that he met the criteria of a violent sexual predator after arrests in 1999, and he had served prison time and been ordered to get treatment, according to the Florida Times-Union newspaper.

In 2009 he posed as a child welfare worker and asked a child sexually explicit questions on the telephone and was arrested on felony charges, which were later reduced to misdemeanors, the newspaper reported.
Four years after six-year-old Jenise Wrights lifeless body was found submerged in a muddy bog in Washington state, her former next-door neighbor has pleaded guilty to raping and murdering the little girl.

Gabriel Gaeta, 21, on Friday entered guilty pleas in Kitsap County Superior Court to counts of first-degree murder and first-degree rape in Wrights 2014 slaying.

He faces a minimum 40-year sentence while the maximum sentence is life in prison.

Gaeta was arrested in August 2014 at age 17 but in February 2017 was found incompetent to stand trial.

He was medicated at Western State Hospital so he could be returned to a mental state where he could stand trial.

Heinous crime: Gabriel Gaeta, 21 (left), has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and first-degree rape in the August 2014 death of his six-year-old neighbor Jenise Wright (right)

Gaeta, who was 17 years old at the time of the killing, faces a minimum 40-year sentence

He was arrested a week after Jenise was reported missing from her parents' trailer-park home in Kitsap County, Washington (pictured in custody in 2014)

Gaeta is scheduled to be sentenced on May 21, at which time Jenise's family will get a chance to deliver their victim impact statements.

Following Friday's hearing, which was attended by the victim's loved ones, her mother, Denise Wright, told The Kitsap Sun that she was glad her daughter's killer pleaded guilty.

Gaeta's defense attorney said that it was never his intention to take this case to trial.

The man's mother, Tina Wright - no relation to the victim - said she was glad Jenise's family will finally get closure.

Jenise was last seen alive by her parents, Denise and James Wright, when she went to bed on August 2, 2014, at her family's home in a mobile-home park in Bremerton, Washington.

She was reported missing the following day.

Officials have said there were no signs of forced entry at the residence and no indication Jenise was kidnapped from her home.

Following an intensive search that lasted five days, an FBI team with dogs discovered the girl's body covered by a wood pallet and submerged in a muddy bog in woods near her Bremerton home.

The girl's underwear and shorts were found 15-20 feet away from her remains.

Authorities said they linked material evidence found near the girl's body to Gaeta, a star high school wrestler (pictured)

Closure: Jenise's mother, Denise Wright (left) said on Friday she was glad her daughter's killer pleaded guilty

Authorities said they linked material evidence found near the girl's body to Gaeta's DNA.

A search of his bedroom turned up a blood- and mud-covered shirt and a bloody towel, leading to his arrest on August 9.

Court records showed that Jenise Wright suffered brunt-force trauma to the head and was strangled and sexually assaulted, and that her body appeared to have been moved between a half-hour and three hours after she died.

Gaeta, a star high school wrestler with no prior criminal history, has been described by Jenise's father as a close friend of the family.

His residence was two homes away from the access point to a wooded trail that led to where the body was found, according to court documents.
A South Korean official who oversaw his country's regulatory clampdown on cryptocurrencies was found dead on Sunday, officials have said.

Investigators say that Jung Ki-joon, 52, the head of economic policy at South Korea's Office for Government Policy Coordination, was initially thought to have suffered a heart attack but is now believed to have died from an unknown cause.

Jung oversaw moves to introduce new laws that were intended to eradicate cryptocurrency speculation and other illicit activity.

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Jung Ki-joon (pictured) was initially thought to have suffered a heart attack but his cause of death remains unknown

Mr Jung recently insisted that virtual currencies like bitcoin were not a form of legal currency and the South Korean government would 'strongly respond' to excessive cryptocurrency speculation

FILE - In this Friday, Dec. 8, 2017, file photo, a man uses a Bitcoin ATM in Hong Kong. In January this year the value of numerous forms of digital currency tumbled after South Korea, a hotbed for currencies like bitcoin, said it was considering a trading ban

The Yonhap state news agency said that that he had been under immense pressure over the last year in his job which involved co-ordinating the opinions of various ministries in relation to the regulation of cryptocurrencies.

South Korea has been an international centre for cryptocurrency trading - but the possibility of new legislation has damaged on the price of bitcoin this year following dramatic rises in 2017.

Bitcoin traded at $20,000 in December - before global efforts to regulate cryptocurrencies gathered momentum - and is now trading at round $11,000, according to research site CoinDesk, representing a loss of about 70 percent of its value.

The volatility of cryptocurrency, combined with a widespread lack of understanding of the market, has led many financial experts to warn people to steer clear.

At a briefing last month, Mr Jung insisted that virtual currencies like bitcoin were not a form of legal currency and the government would 'strongly respond to excessive cryptocurrency speculation and illegal activity.'

Nearly 5 percent of all bitcoin transactions world-wide last year used the South Korean won, making it the most widely used fiat currency in bitcoin trading after the U.S. dollar, the Japanese yen and the euro, according to CryptoCompare.

The South Korean won was also the second-most widely-used currency for trading some alternative cryptocurrencies, including ether and Bitcoin Cash, which is a bitcoin rival.




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The Sackler brothers represented Americas wildest dream: three Brooklyn-born sons of Jewish immigrants who became physicians and went on to found a pharmaceutical dynasty that is today worth more than $13 billion.

The family used their fortune to invest in the arts and philanthropy, with Sackler wings at the Metropolitan Museum in New York, Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the Louvre in Paris  to name just a few. The Sackler name, however, is conspicuously missing from anything associated with their main source of income, Purdue Pharmaceuticals and its related companies, or its billion dollar product: OxyContin. You wont find them on the companys logo, on their bottle labels, or even on their website.

For years, the Sacklers' company billed OxyContin as a safer alternative to morphine. This led to rampant over-prescription of the drug, which has created a snowball effect of addiction to opioid-based painkillers, according to critics, essentially kick-starting the modern epidemic President Trump has labelled as a public health emergency.

More than 200 US states, cities and counties have filed lawsuits against Purdue Pharma for criminal misbranding of the drug. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has declared war against Purdue and other pharmaceutical companies for their roles in creating a generation of addicts  and is seeking $500 million in damages he says the city needs to climb out of the hole Oxycontin has created.

Meanwhile, overdose is now the leading cause of death for Americans under 50  greater than gun violence and car accidents combined  and has devastated families across the country.

The onslaught of legal action prompted Purdue last week to stop promoting opioid drugs to doctors and halve its sales force; company representatives will no longer visit doctors offices to advertise the addictive drugs.

The middle Sackler brother Mortimer is pictured with his wife Theresa, right, and daughter Marissa, left, at the 2003 Stella Artois Tennis Championships at the Queens Club in London. After Arthur Sackler died in 1987, Mortimer and his younger brother Raymond bought his option of Purdue Pharma for $22.4 million

The youngest Sackler, Raymond, is pictured with his wife Beverly. Raymond was in control of Purdue Pharma after Arthur died, and in 1999, passed the reigns to his son Richard. The father-son duo were working at Purdue when the company began manufacturing OxyContin and using questionable advertising practices to promote it

The children and grandchildren of the three Sackler brothers, who started a pharmaceutical empire, continue to enjoy luxurious lifestyles and properties, such as the multi-million-dollar Central Park apartment in this building which is owned by Mortimer's oldest daughter, Ilene Sackler Lefcourt - who was listed as a director of Purdue's sister company, UK-based Napp Pharamaceutical Holdings, as of December 2016

Richard Sackler, son of founding brother Raymond, headed Purdue from 1999 to 2003 and oversaw much of the increasing sales of OxyContin as it was being falsely advertised; as of December 2016, he was still listed as a director of sister company Napp Pharmaceuticals and now lives on this sprawling estate outside of Austin, Texas that features six bedrooms, six bathrooms, a pool and stunning views of Lake Austin

We have restructured and significantly reduced our commercial operation and will no longer be promoting opioids to prescribers, the company said in a statement.

The Sackler family, however, has remained quiet in the background. The three brothers who founded the pharmaceutical empire  Arthur, Mortimer and Raymond  are all dead, but some of their descendants remain actively involved in the company. One of their widows and two children were directors until as recently as October of Napp Pharmaceuticals, one of the familys UK-based companies which also sold OxyContin. Several others were listed as directors as of December 2016.

The descendant generations have continued the brothers legacy of philanthropy, but there is no denying that they simultaneously enjoy lifestyles of fabulous wealth. There are multi-million-dollar homes in the Hamptons, Switzerland, Antibes and the swankiest parts of London; one of Mortimers daughters bought the nine-bedroom former Chelsea home of Hugh Grant and heiress Jemima Khan.

The Sacklers children are an established presence on the glitzy society circuit of benefits and events both in the US and UK, wearing perfectly-tailored suits and designer dresses. The next generation  the grandchildren  attend the finest schools and jet to holidays in places such as the Swiss resort of Gstaad.

Their social media posts make no mention of the opioid crisis gripping America and the world  though the descendants of oldest brother Arthur have sought to distance themselves from the situation.

I, nor my siblings, nor my children have ever owned or benefited from Purdue Pharma or OxyContin or oxycodone, his daughter, Elizabeth, told DailyMail.com.

Its another branch of the family. Purdue Pharma was owned by my uncles and my cousins. I have no relationship to it whatsoever.

The descendants of her two uncles, however, declined to comment on this story, said Bob Josephson, executive director of communications for Purdue Pharma.

He referred instead to a statement from Purdue: 'Many leading medical, scientific, cultural and educational institutions throughout the world have been beneficiaries of Sackler family philanthropy for nearly seven decades, including long before OxyContin was approved by FDA in December 1995. Since that approval, OxyContin has been and continues to be appropriately prescribed by doctors to bring needed relief to millions of Americans suffering from severe pain, including those with cancer and terminal illnesses.'

He added the following statement, as well: 'Despite how our critics portray us, and having less than 2% of all opioid prescriptions, Purdue has led industry efforts to combat prescription drug abuse which includes collaborating with law enforcement, funding state prescription drug monitoring programs and directing health care professionals to the CDCs Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain. In addition, weve recently announced educational initiatives aimed at teenagers warning of the dangers of opioids and continue to fund grants to law enforcement to help with accessing naloxone.'

THE SACKLER FAMILY: A DYNASTY OF PHYSICIANS, ADVERTISERS AND PHILANTHROPISTS

Arthur Sackler, the eldest of the three brothers, held an option to purchase a portion of stock in Purdue Frederick while his younger brothers were active players in the new venture. When he died in 1987, the option was sold to Mortimer and Raymond

It all started in 1952, when the Sackler brothers paved the way for the familys future wealth by purchasing a small pharmaceutical company called Purdue Frederick in lower Manhattan; Arthur held an option to purchase a portion of stock while his younger brothers were active players in the new venture. (When Arthur eventually died in 1987, the option was sold to Mortimer and Raymond.)

At the time of the Sacklers' Purdue Frederick purchase, Arthur and his brothers had already established successful careers as physicians. Mortimer and Raymond Sackler did substantial research in the fields of psychoanalytic disorders and drugs used to treat them. Their industrious legacy has trickled down through the family: Mortimer's daughter Marissa went on to found the non-profit startup Beespace, which is involved with the Malala Fund, and Raymond's son Richard eventually became Purdue's president.

The company sprung from its humble beginnings when Arthur proved himself again as a trailblazer after he began working with a small ad agency in New York City, and excelled so much there that he went on the buy the company altogether. He possessed a unique understanding of the need for advertisements to appeal to its specific audience  a technique that was still in its infancy during the 1950s  catalyzing the hysteria surrounding new medical discoveries of the era such as steroids, antibiotics, and psychoactive drugs.

Arthur built up his experience by producing contracted advertisements for other pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer and Roche in the late 1950s and 1960s. It was then that he began to cultivate questionable practices.

For a Pfizer ad promoting a new antibiotic called Sigmamycin, Arthur designed a spread of doctors business cards which were pictured next to the phrase: More and more physicians find Sigmamycin the antibiotic therapy of choice. The only problem was  the doctors didnt actually exist. An investigation in 1959 discovered that the doctors names printed in the ad were fabricated.

Arthurs Roche advertisement in the 1960s was for Valium  depicting a woman surrounded by concerned doctors and family members because of her psychic tension, a 20th century term for what is now just considered stress. Valium became the first drug in US history to top $100 million in sales.

This work earned Arthur a spot posthumously in the Medical Advertising Hall of Fame in 1997 - citing his achievement of bringing the full power of advertising and promotion to pharmaceutical marketing.

After Arthurs death, his branch of the Sackler family claim to have distanced themselves from the Purdue empire. His daughter Elizabeth told DailyMail.com she has never profited from Purdue Pharma or OxyContin

When Arthur died, Raymond and his brother Mortimer purchased Arthurs share of Purdue Pharma for $22.4 million while pioneering its sister company, Napp Pharmaceuticals, in the United Kingdom. Napp Pharma headquarters in Cambridge, England are pictured here

Like their parents, cousins Elizabeth and Richard both have set up charitable funds in their names. Websites are not available for either. Elizabeth Sackler (second from left) is pictured with (from left) Director of the Brooklyn Museum Anne Pasternak, activist Gloria Steinem, First lady of new York City Chirlane McCray and honoree Angela Y Davis at the 2016 Brooklyn Museum's Sackler Center First

Mortimer and his wife Theresa were known as international philanthropists, and are pictured here in 2004 at the Cartier Dinner at the Chelsea Physic Garden

Despite their prominent status in the medical community, the Sacklers struck gold using their skills in advertising, publicizing products in a way that wooed the nation into popping pills by the billions.

When Purdue, and by proxy the Sacklers, developed OxyContin in 1996  it was the same penchant for questionable advertising that landed them, and the nation, in trouble.

By this point, Arthur had already passed away in 1987, and the company was being headed by the youngest Sackler sibling, Raymond. Raymond and his brother Mortimer purchased Arthurs share of Purdue Pharma for $22.4 million while pioneering its sister company, Napp Pharmaceuticals, in the United Kingdom. Less than a year before Raymond died in July 2017, Purdue was valued at $13 billion by Forbes.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, Arthur's widow, Jillian Sackler, said: 'Arthur died nearly a decade before Purdue Pharma  owned by the families of Mortimer and Raymond Sackler (his brothers) -- developed and marketed OxyContin. At the time of his death in 1987, Arthur was lauded for his contributions to medical research, medical communications and museums.

'He was a renowned art collector and connoisseur, and because of this, we have the Arthur M. Sacker Gallery of Chinese Stone Sculpture at The Met, the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery at the Smithsonian, the Arthur M. Sackler Museum at Harvard, the Jillian and Arthur M. Sackler Wing of Galleries at the Royal Academy and the Arthur M. Sackler Museum of Art and Archaeology and the Jillian Sackler Sculpture Garden at Peking University. None of the charitable donations made by Arthur prior to his death, nor that I made on his behalf after his death, were funded by the production, distribution or sale of OxyContin or other revenue from Purdue Pharma. Period.

'Further, as a physician and medical scientist, Arthur was moved by a curiosity and desire to improve lives with new therapies. He made a substantial part of his fortune over 50 years in medical research, medical advertising and trade publications. His philanthropy in medicine extended to the Arthur M. Sackler Center for Health Communications at Tufts University and the Arthur M. Sackler Sciences Center at Clark University.

'All these gifts, made in the 1970s and 80s, were made independently of his brothers and their families.'

A MIRACLE DRUG: HOW OXYCONTIN CAME TO BE  AND DUPED THE NATION

From 1999 to 2003 the company was run by Raymonds son Richard Sackler. He oversaw much of the increasing sales of OxyContin as it was being falsely advertised

From 1999 to 2003 the company was run by Raymonds son Richard Sackler.

Former Purdue employees told the New Yorker that Richard, now 72, is fiercely private, but extremely eccentric in the workplace. Richard assisted his father throughout the 1980s as the company pioneered their revolutionary time-release morphine pill, which would gradually break down in the body over a longer period of time than traditional medications.

Purdues United Kingdom equivalent, Napp Pharmaceuticals, debuted their first time-release morphine pill in 1981  known as the Contin system. Six years later, in 1987, the MS Contin system made the jump to the United States.

The drug had one primary consumer: cancer patients. MS Contin was supposed to be able to provide longer-lasting pain relief throughout the night without needing an IV. However, this niche market was not incredibly lucrative, so Richard made it his goal to find broader uses for the Contin system.

Dr Andrew Kolodny, an addiction expert and Co-Director of Opioid Policy Research at Brandeis University, explained further how Richard was able to make MS Contin became more widely prescribed, and gave way to the development of OxyContin.

He told DailyMail.com: MS Contin was coming off patent, and that product had only really been prescribed to people with cancer at the end of life. Youre not going to make much money if your product is only being used by people at the end of their life. So they wanted to make a product prescribed for common chronic pain - people with pain from cancer is not a common condition.

Some of the patients enrolled in their clinical trials had a very hard time coming off of the drug - so [its addictive qualities] should not have been a surprise to them, he continued.

The Sacklers' pharmaceutical efforts began with brothers Arthur, Mortimer and Raymond. Arthur's children were not actively involved in the business, but sons and daughters of Mortimer and Sackler - as well as the wives they were married to at the time of their deaths - continued directorship of Napp Pharmaceutical Holdings, based in Cambridge, England; this family tree outlines the Sackler descendants and their connection with the family business

Richard Sackler's former Greenwich, Connecticut home - where he lived with his wife and children before he divorced and moved to Texas - was situated on two acres, featured seasonal water views and a community dock in the gated neighborhood and included a pool and pool house

Richard Sackler's former Greenwich home boasts a vaulted gallery and airy open spaces, befitting a family whose philanthropy often focused on the arts

Richard's Greenwich home has since been sold; these real estate photos from last year show contemporary furnishings in the coveted residence

Jonathan Sackler, Richard's brother and son of youngest brother Raymond, has been a huge supporter of education and has given tens of thousands in donations to the Democratic party; he and his wife have also held a fundraiser in their home (pictured) in the exclusive enclave of Greenwich, Connecticut, with gorgeous views of the Long Island Sound

Dr Kathe Sackler and her wife, Susan Shack Sackler (fourth and third from left, respectively) are well-known for their philanthropic efforts; Kathe is the second daughter of founding brother Mortimer and was also listed as a Napp director as of December 2016

Dr Mortimer Sackler, Jr - who was also listed as a Napp director as of December 2016 - is pictured with his wife, Jacqueline, at the Winter Dance 2006 Desert Oasis sponsored by Versace at The American Museum of Natural History in February 2006

In 1990, then-Vice President of clinical research at Purdue, Robert Kaiko, suggested that they begin developing a new time-release pill containing oxycodone instead of morphine.

Though both drugs are opiates derived from the poppy plant, oxycodone came into the public eye at a time when morphine was being demonized  following a mass addiction to heroin by Vietnam veterans after the war.

Purdues product containing purely oxycodone  OxyContin  hit the shelves in 1996. A press release advertising the drug promised 12 hours of smooth and sustained pain control, diminished presence of common opioid-related side effects, and improved patients quality of life, mood, and sleep.

Oxycodone was then considered among doctors to be less powerful and addictive then morphine, though it was actually nearly 50 per cent stronger.

The argument they made was that since the drug is a longer lasting or slower release of the euphoric effect, it would be safer, Dr Kolodny continued.

However  the exact opposite was true, and the result has been devastating. Recreational drug users discovered that by crushing, snorting or injecting the OxyContin pills, they could bypass the time-release effect and get the full impact of the pill immediately.

In 2016, drug overdoses took the lives of 64,070 people  outnumbering the total American lives lost in the entirety of the Vietnam War.

Bob Josephson, Purdue's executive director for communications, provided the following company statement to DailyMail.com: 'Despite how our critics portray us, and having less than 2% of all opioid prescriptions, Purdue has led industry efforts to combat prescription drug abuse which includes collaborating with law enforcement, funding state prescription drug monitoring programs and directing health care professionals to the CDCs Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain. In addition, weve recently announced educational initiatives aimed at teenagers warning of the dangers of opioids and continue to fund grants to law enforcement to help with accessing naloxone.'

FROM THE 90s TO NOW: OXYCONTINS PATH OF DESTRUCTION

Overdose deaths due to opioid drugs have steadily been on the rise for the last two decades, since the invention of OxyContin. The preliminary reports for 2016 only came to light in August of 2017, because characterizing overdose deaths is a difficult science.

The Centers for Disease Control estimate that prescription opioids killed 14,400 people in 2016.

President Trump declared last month that the opioid epidemic is now a national public health emergency, saying: As you all know, from personal experience, families, citizens and Americans across the country are currently dealing with the worst drug crisis in American history.

In declaring the widespread drug abuse a public health emergency  efforts to combat opioid addiction now have access to a Public Health Emergency Fund totaling just $57,000.

This month, opioid commission member Patrick Kennedy slammed Trumps declaration as a sham  and that the governments low-ball funding would not even scratch the surface of what is needed to combat the epidemic. In addition, many of President Trumps policies stand to make the situation worse  including the proposed cuts of $722 billion to Medicaid by 2026.

For many, the issue has become one that cant be ignored. Its been a family member, a partner, or a loved one that has overdosed  and now its personal.

Revered photographer Nan Goldin published the devastating truth about her battle with OxyContin, and has launched a social media campaign with the hashtag #ShameonSackler to raise awareness about the familys role in the crisis.

President Trump declared last month that the opioid epidemic is now a national public health emergency, which makes only $57,000 of public funding available

The artist was shocked to learn that the Sackler family was behind the production of the deadly drug, having seen their name grace the sides of galleries and museums she loved - such as the Sackler Courtyard, pictured here, at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London

When she learned that the Sackler family, whose named shed grown accustomed to seeing in art galleries around the world, was responsible for creating the drug her body couldnt resist, she was furious. Her life revolved around her addiction, she wrote, and the drugs were so easy to come by. Like many others, her addiction began when she was prescribed Oxycontin after undergoing surgery. Because of the drugs highly addictive properties, once she started, she couldnt stop.

Counting and recounting, crushing and snorting was my full-time job, she said. When I ran out of money for Oxy I copped dope. I ended up snorting fentanyl and I overdosed.

She survived  and went into rehab, and has now been clean for over a year. But shes seen how Oxycontin has irreparably destroyed her community  much like the HIV/AIDS epidemic did in the 1980s.

She continued: I regret the time I lost, which is irretrievable. Now I find the world hard to navigate, but I have a sharpened clarity and a sense of purpose.

In a statement, Elizabeth Sackler said: 'The opioid epidemic is a national crisis and Purdue Pharmas role in it is morally abhorrent to me. I admire Nan Goldins commitment to take action and her courage to tell her story. I stand in solidarity with artists and thinkers whose work and voices must be heard.

'My father, Arthur M. Sackler, died in 1987, before Oxycontin existed and his one-third option in Purdue Frederick was sold by his estate to his brothers a few months later. None of his descendants have ever owned a share of Purdue stock nor benefitted in any way from it or the sale of Oxycontin. I stand with all angry voices against abuse of power that harms or compromises any and all lives.'

THE EXPERIENCE OF ADDICTION: FAMOUS PHOTOGRAPHER ON OXY Nan Goldin, best known for her prints chronicling the LGBT community, revealed recently that she narrowly survived her addiction to OxyContin Nan Goldin, best known for her prints chronicling the LGBT community, revealed recently that she narrowly survived her addiction to OxyContin. While living in Berlin, she was prescribed the drug to help with the pain caused by tendinitis in her left wrist, but despite taking the pills in exactly the way her doctor ordered, she became addicted. After a successful bout in rehab, she's kicked the drug and been sober for ten months. But the journey wasn't easy - and when in the throes of addiction, she was at the lowest point in her life. 'My life revolved entirely around getting and using Oxy. Counting and recounting, crushing and snorting was my full-time job,' she recounted in ArtForum. When OxyContin became to expensive to buy in bulk, she turned, as many others do, to heroin. Goldin said she rarely left her home for three years while the drug dominated her existence. After beating the drug, she feels called to action to hold the Sacklers accountable for the creation and promotion of OxyContin, and the company that allowed them to do so. 'The Sacklers made their fortune promoting addiction ... They advertised and distributed their medication knowing all the dangers,' she continued. 'The Sackler family and their private company, Purdue Pharma, built their empire with the lives of hundreds of thousands. The bodies are piling up.' She has since launched an organization called PAIN (Prescription Addiction Intervention Now) that she hopes will raise awareness about the dangers of OxyContin and the Sacklers role in its production. Advertisement

THE METHODS OF MADNESS: HOW DID OXYCONTIN BECOME SO POPULAR?

The dire situation begs the question: with knowledge of how dangerous this drug was, how is it possible that it was prescribed in such large numbers?

Lawmakers and researchers agree that the primary reason OxyContin was able to reach such historic prescribing levels was because of the way it was advertised as safer than morphine.

The FDA permitted Purdue to promote OxyContin the way they did largely on the basis of two medical publications from the 1980s.

Purdue distributed OxyContin swag including plush bears emblazoned with the drugs logo, fishing hats, and even a dance CD titled Swing Is Alive: Swing in the right direction with OxyContin

The first was a small study from 1986 which treated patients with persistent pain. Nearly a third of the sample group reported that opioids werent helpful in treating their pain. The study concluded that opioid treatment was a safe, salutary, and more humane alternative to surgery, or no treatment at all, if the patients had no history of drug abuse.

The second rallying cry for Purdue and opioids was a 1980 letter to the editor in the New England Journal of Medicine, declaring only four patients out of 11,882 treated with opioids became addicted.

A co-author of the letter, Dr Hershel Jick of the Boston Collaborative Drug Surveillance Program, later said he regretted having written it. But it was too late  it had already garnered more than 600 citations once OxyContin became widely advertised in the 1990s.

The letter wasn't of value to health and medicine in and of itself. So if I could take it back  if I knew then what I know now, I would never have published it. It wasn't worth it, Dr Jick told NPR last year.

Dr Jicks letter was one of many suspicious advertising strategies Purdue Pharma used to promote OxyContin. According to a 2009 study by a Virginia-based doctor and researcher, Dr Art Van Zee, Purdue hosted at least 40 conferences at all-expenses paid resorts across the nation for physicians, pharmacists, and nurses from 1996 to 2001.

Four years after OxyContin debuted, annual revenue was more than $1 billion, and sales continued to climb. Even after the dramatic $600 million settlement in 2007 in which Purdue apologized and admitted to federal misbranding, sales peaked in 2010

Marissa Sackler, daughter of Mortimer and his wife, Dame Theresa Sackler (who was also listed as a Napp director as of December 2016) has not been involved in the family pharmaceutical company but has started a charity called Beespace, an 'incubator' focused on 'building the startups mastery' for non-profits; messages left by DailyMail.com for Ms Sackler at the phone number listed for Beespace in New York were not returned. A Purdue spokesman issued a statement on behalf of the Sacklers saying they did not wish to comment

Research from 1992 shows that although doctors dont believe that taking pharmaceutical companies up on these enticing offers changes the drugs they provide to patients  it unintentionally does.

Purdue distributed OxyContin swag including plush bears emblazoned with the drugs logo, fishing hats, and even a dance CD titled Swing Is Alive: Swing in the right direction with OxyContin.

Purdue flourished.

Four years after OxyContin debuted, annual revenue was more than $1 billion, and sales continued to climb.

Though it was billed a miracle 12-hour drug, doctors were hearing increasingly from patients that it didnt last nearly that long. Rather than prescribing the drug at more frequent intervals, Purdue was dedicated to sticking to its selling point, and instead told sales representatives to refocus and push OxyContin pills with higher dosages, according to the LA Times.

Addiction expert Dr Klodony added: Patients who were on the drug long-term would need higher and higher doses to get effective release, and they projected opioids as having no ceiling, so the people they were giving money to were telling doctors that when the patient gets tolerant, just give them even more of the drug.

By 2002, OxyContin was leading the nation in pain relief, accounting for 68 per cent of all oxycodone sales.

In the five years prior (1997 to 2002) there was a 402 per cent increase in the sale of oxycodone, and a 346 per cent increase of emergency hospitalizations due to oxycodone consumption.

America had become addicted  and they werent just swallowing the pills, they were crushing them, snorting them, and injecting their numbing contents to get high.

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT: THE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR LAWSUIT THAT COULDNT STOP THE SACKLERS

In 2007, an affiliated company, Purdue (Frederick), and three of Purdues executives pleaded guilty to misbranding of Oxycontin - by saying it wasnt addictive.

Purdues top lawyer, Howard Udell, former medical director, Paul Goldenheim, and then-president Michael Friedman were sentenced to probation and agreed to pay more than $600 million in fines along with Purdue (Frederick) for their actions. It was one of the largest pharmaceutical settlements in American history.

Purdue Pharma released an official statement: Nearly six years and longer ago, some employees made, or told other employees to make, certain statements about OxyContin to some health care professionals that were inconsistent with the F.D.A.-approved prescribing information for OxyContin and the express warnings it contained about risks associated with the medicine. The statements also violated written company policies requiring adherence to the prescribing information.

We accept responsibility for those past misstatements and regret that they were made.

Despite this, the drug hit peak sales at $3 billion in 2010.

Because the Sacklers had largely stepped away from direct management positions at that point, Purdues top lawyer, Howard Udell (right), former medical director, Paul Goldenheim (left), and then-president Michael Friedman were sentenced to probation and agreed to pay more than $600 million in fines

Though the Sacklers werent at the helm of Purdue at the time, but remained on the board of directors, they were spared them the brunt of the legal blowback that followed the scandal.

Richard, the last of the Sackler men, stepped down as President of Purdue Pharma in 2003, but remains on its board.

He sits on several other distinguished boards: Yale Cancer Center Advisory Board, Advisory Council for the Department of Astrophysical Sciences at Princeton University, Board of Overseers of the Tufts University School of Medicine, and the MIT Cancer Center Advisory Board.

Like their parents, cousins Elizabeth and Richard both have set up charitable funds in their names. Websites are not available for either.

Richard and his ex-wife Beth, divorced in 2013, made a number of donations through their foundation over the years, including to three anti-Muslim organizations that are characterized as hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center, according to Esquire.

They also donated to True the Vote  a volunteer organization that aimed to stop voter fraud that inspired President Trumps fictitious claim that three million undocumented immigrants voted in the 2016 election  stopping him from obtaining the popular vote.

Richard Sackler did not return the DailyMail.coms request for a comment.

HORRIFIC OPIOID OVERDOSES ACROSS THE NATION As President Trump has dubbed the opioid crisis a public health emergency - it's revealed that opioids killed more Americans in 2016 than in the entirety of the Vietnam War, at an estimated death rate of 64,070 overdose deaths. It's an issue so pervasive that it has become personal for citizens nationwide. High profile opioid overdose deaths like those of Prince and Tom Petty have become as common as those of small town Americans. Some law enforcement officers have posting footage from the scene of dangerous overdoses in a desperate bid to make others aware of the severity of the situation. In most cases today,deadly overdoses from prescription opioids like OxyContin aren't as common. Rather, it's the initial prescription of drugs like OxyContin for legitimate medical purposes that is the driving factor to the path of addiction. Even when taking OxyContin on the exact order of doctors, it is possible to still become addicted. If so, the need for the drugs euphoric symptom becomes unavoidable, and many will switch to heroin to obtain the same affect when OxyContin or other opioid drugs become too expensive, according to a 2014 study by JAMA. Preliminary CDC data published by The New York Times shows US drug overdose deaths surged 19 percent to at least 59,000 in 2016. That means that for the first time drug overdoses are the leading cause of death for Americans under 50 years old. Shocking photos posted on various social media sites have documented the real-world implications of what the overdose epidemic looks like. The emergence of the synthetic opioid fentanyl has increased the frequency of fatal drug abuse, as its incredible potency makes it up to 40 times stronger than heroin. Ohio police sparked controversy by posting a photo of two parents passed out from an opioid overdose while driving with their child in the back seat. They defended their actions by expressing hope that it would raise awareness to the overwhelming prevalence of opioids in the country. The horrific trend continued in Indiana when a 25-year-old mother was found unconscious with a syringe still in her hand while driving with her daughter in the back seat. Ohio police sparked controversy by posting a photo of two parents passed out from an opioid overdose while driving with their child in the back seat (pictured left). The horrific trend continued in Indiana when a 25-year-old mother was found unconscious with a syringe still in her hand while driving with her daughter in the back seat DEA Acting Administrator Rosenberg said in 2016 of the annual drug report: 'Sadly, this report reconfirms that opioids such as heroin and fentanyl - and diverted prescription pain pills - are killing people in this country at a horrifying rate. 'We face a public health crisis of historic proportions. Countering it requires a comprehensive approach that includes law enforcement, education, and treatment.' Overdose deaths are now the leading cause of death among young Americans - killing more in a year than were ever killed annually by HIV, gun violence or car crashes. Advertisement

IN A CRISIS OF HISTORIC PROPORTIONS: IS ANYTHING BEING DONE?

Dr Andrew Kolodny, an addiction expert and Co-Director of Opioid Policy Research at Brandeis University, told DailyMail.com that most people who become addicted to heroin began as OxyContin users who were prescribed the drug for a legitimate medical condition

Purdue Pharma has made some effort to rectify the rampant addiction to their products. In 2012, the company debuted an abuse-deterrent version of OxyContin. Unlike its original formula, the new OxyContin cannot be crushed into a powder that can be snorted. Rather, it dissolves into a gel-like substance  which makes it more difficult to be injected.

Dr Kolodny also explained that these abuse-deterrent drugs arent the solution to the problem.

It might release the drug a little slower than the original version but basically thats the main thing, its been made harder to crush for snorting or injecting. These deterrent formulations dont do very much, he said.

By 2013, the FDA had outlawed the original formula of OxyContin, only allowing sales of its new gel version. Still, drug deaths climbed, particularly in rural areas where there is more manual labor. Because of the greater likelihood of developing chronic pain in manual labor, doctors in rural areas tend to prescribe painkillers more aggressively, according to Dr Kolodny.

Nearly two decades after a letter to the Editor of the New England Journal of Medicine pioneered OxyContins initial safety  the same publication condemned it.

A study published in the journal revealed that most opioid users found ways around the new abuse-deterrent formula, and once addicted, they switched to cheaper options  primarily heroin.

Dr Kolodny said that most people who become addicted to heroin began as OxyContin users who were prescribed the drug for a legitimate medical condition. In addition, despite the fact that heroin deaths are rising among a younger population, he says that it is actually older people who are dying in greater numbers from OxyContin overdoses because they are prescribed it more often.

They [doctors] think that older people cant get addicted, he said.

Older people who get addicted dont have to switch so much, they can still get lots of pills pretty easily from doctors. Older people are overdosing from pills, younger people are overdosing on heroin, and now heroin with fentanyl mixed into it  or fentanyl sold as heroin, thats where were seeing many deaths going up right now.

If youre young and healthy-looking, they dont want to give you a lot of pills every month, so once youre addicted to maintain your supply you end up having to find an illicit source, he said. The pills are very expensive on the black market, so people who are young and healthy looking and cant get lots of pills from doctors, they switch to heroin.

FIGHTING BACK: FIVE STATES HIT HARDEST BY THE EPIDEMIC SUE PURDUE

Efforts to hold the Sacklers and Purdue Pharma responsible for their actions for the last decade have been widespread, but largely unsuccessful.

On Tuesday, Alabama joined the ranks of more than 200 states, cities, and counties who have sued the company for the impact that OxyContin has had on their communities.

Last month, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio waged war on big pharma  and is suing Purdue, among other companies, for $500 million in damages caused to New York City by its residents crippling addiction to opioid products.

Last month, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio waged war on big pharma  and is suing Purdue, among other companies, for $500 million in damages caused to New York City by its residents crippling addiction to opioid products

In Kentucky, where opioid overdose deaths are among the highest in the nation, state officials were determined to confront the Sacklers with the proof of what OxyContin and heroin had done to their residents. As a result of the lawsuit, Purdue conducted a report on Pike County, Kentucky  an area substantially affected by the opioid crisis, as an attempt to demonstrate the potential for bias in their jury.

The report was damning: 29 per cent of Pike County residents said they personally knew, or someone in their family knew of someone who had died of an OxyContin overdoes, and 70 per cent of the sampled demographic said OxyContin was devastating to the area.

Pike County isnt even the hardest-hit by overdose deaths in Kentucky. A 2016 Overdose Fatality Report found that the counties containing the states largest cities, Louisville and Lexington, saw 1,782 overdose deaths that year alone, compared to just 128 in Pike County.

As a result of the lawsuit, Richard Sackler traveled to Louisville in 2015, nearly eight years after the suit was first filed, to give a deposition about his role at Purdue and its faulty advertising of OxyContin.

The contents of that deposition have been the subject of a tense legal battle in the years since. Soon after his trip, Purdue Pharma settled with the state for $24 million  far more than their original offer of $500,000. The company admitted no guilt in the public health crisis that has consumed Kentucky, and millions of trial documents were destroyed or sealed, including Richard Sacklers deposition.

A judge ruled in 2017 that his statements should be made public  Purdue appealed the decision. His deposition remains under a protective order.

EFFORTS ABROAD: PURDUES PURSUIT TO KEEP OXYCONTIN ALIVE

Since the original OxyContin formula has now been banned in the United States, the abuse-deterrent version is the only one available. However, its being bypassed for safer treatments in recent years.

In China, however, Oxycontin has become particularly popular. As its population boomed, so did cancer rates. Among the elderly, the need for management for chronic pain is dire.

Dr Kolodony said: They say risk of addiction is extremely low, fear of addiction shouldnt be a barrier to compassionate treatment, thats basically the way they promote it.'

Its pretty awful, theyre using the same playbook that worked for them here and created an epidemic  knowing very well what happened here theyre doing the same way abroad,' he continued.

Former addict and photographer Nan Goldin puts it a bit differently.

They have washed their blood money through the halls of museums and universities around the world. We demand that the Sacklers and Purdue Pharma use their fortune to fund addiction treatment and education. There is no time to waste.
Donald Trump has been ranked the worst president in history - behind a man who failed to acknowledge slavery as the United States descended into the Civil War and a Commander in Chief who died a month after taking office, a new poll reveals.

To mark Presidents' Day on Monday, the American Political Science Association (APSA) released a survey ranking each of America's 44 presidents on a 'Greatness' scale.

The survey, which is taken every four years by 170 of APSA's presidential experts, put Abraham Lincoln and George Washington at the top of the list.

Trump ranked last in the poll, despite only being a year into his four-year presidency.

Donald Trump was ranked last in the American Political Science Association's presidential 'greatness' survey on Monday

To mark Presidents' Day on Monday, the American Political Science Association (APSA) released a survey ranking each of America's 44 presidents on a 'Greatness' scale. Abraham Lincoln and George Washington topped the list

Bill Clinton and Andrew Jackson fell from the top ten, likely because of changing attitudes on Clinton's treatment of women and Jackson's handling of the Trail of Tears, which saw thousands of Native Americans removed from their homes in the 1800s

Donald Trump took the bottom spot, behind William Henry Harrison and James Buchanan, who have long been considered two of America's worst presidents

Political science professors Brandon Rottinghaus and Justin Vaughn published the results of the poll in the New York Times on Monday.

The survey asked political science majors to rank each of the last 44 presidents on a 'greatness' scale from one to 100.

Trump received a score of 12 out of 100 on the scale.

Sitting just above Trump are James Buchanan and William Harrison, who have long been considered two of America's worst presidents.

Buchanan, the country's 15th president, has been criticized for failing to address slavery as the divided United States was on the brink of the Civil War.

Ninth US president Harrison died 31 days after taking office following the longest inauguration speech in history.

At the time of his death, it was reported that he died of pneumonia after refusing to wear a coat during his two-hour inauguration speech.

Presidents Abraham Lincoln and George Washington ranked first and second respectively on the 'Greatness' scale

In 2014, a medical analysis suggested Harrison actually died of septic shock due to the White House's water supply being downstream from public sewage.

Rottinghaus and Vaughn said that Trump's position could greatly increase by the next poll, which will be published in 2022.

'Trump's initial rating places him in an ignominious category, but dozens of presidents have had slow starts and have course corrected to improve their public esteem,' they wrote.

The experts added: 'Beyond his reputation or ranking, Donald Trump's very presidency may alter perceptions of presidential legacies as his unique approach to the office continues to surprise.'

Barack Obama is ranked 18th in 2014's survey, but after leaving office he rocketed into the top ten and is now considered the eighth greatest president, according to ASPA experts.

Sitting just above Trump on the survey list are James Buchanan (left) and William Harrison (right). Buchanan, the country's 15th president, has been criticized for failing to address slavery as the divided United States was on the brink of the Civil War. Ninth US president Harrison died 31 days after taking office following the longest inauguration speech in history

Bill Clinton and Andrew Jackson fell from their top-ten spots, likely because of changing attitudes toward Clinton's treatment of women and Jackson's handling of the Trail of Tears, which saw thousands of Native Americans removed from their homes in the 1800s.

The pair managed to stay in the top 15, however, with Clinton at 13th greatest and Jackson at 15th.

Meanwhile, across party lines, Democrats ranked Obama ten places higher than Republicans, while Reagan was ranked nine places higher by GOP experts than their liberal counterparts.

Among only Republican scholars, Trump still sat in the bottom five presidents.

The only presidents below Trump were Andrew Johnson, Franklin Pierce, Harrison and Buchanan.

Meanwhile, as of last week, Trump had his lowest disapproval marks since last April, at 47 per cent, according to a Politico/Morning Consult survey.

The rating was the same percentage of registered voters who approved of the job he's done in office.
A 12-year-old girl in Indiana is the latest to be arrested for threatening a school in a string of sick social media posts since last week's Florida high school massacre.

The unnamed girl was arrested in western Indiana on Tuesday for allegedly making the threat towards school and staff on Snapchat.

Sullivan County Sheriff Clark Cottom told DailyMail.com officers received multiple reports about what she had been posting.

He would not disclose her specific wording nor would he share photographs of the posts she made but said they were 'very direct' and were aimed at the Dugger Union Community Schools campus in Dugger.

The unnamed girl was arrested in western Indiana on Tuesday for allegedly making the threat towards school and staff of Dugger Union Community Schools (above) on Snapchat

The particular building she was threatening looks after children from kindergarten to 12th grade.

The girl is not being named because she is a juvenile but will face a felony charge of intimidation.

She is being held at a juvenile facility.

Police did not find any weapons at the child's home when they searched it.

The 12-year-old is among dozen other children who have all made threats on social media to 'shoot up' or 'bomb' their schools since the attack on Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, last week.

Edward Charles Osgood was arrested in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Saturday after posting a menacing Snapchat where he appeared with a gun and the words: 'Florida round 3'.

He said he'd seen another person's post who threatened 'Round 2' and that he was following their lead.

Edward Charles Osgood, 14, was arrested after sharing this Snapchat picture on Saturday

On Thursday, a girl in Davie, Florida aged just 11 wrote this terrifying threat note, police say

Osgood says he was inspired by this 'messed up' image. The unidentified juvenile who posted this was also arrested

In Kentucky, a 15-year-old girl was charged for threatening to bomb her school.

Other children, including 17-year-old McKenzie Rae, have been arrested for making false reports.

Gunman Nikolas Cruz, 19, used an AR-15 to unleash terror on students and staff in a Valentine's Day massacre.

He had posted Snapchat videos and photographs which showed him hurting himself for months beforehand.

He also had an Instagram page which was littered with pictures of weapons. It has been removed.

Cruz remains in custody on 17 murder charges.

Mackenzie Rae Swink, 17, was arrested on a school threat charge on Monday in North Carolina

Tristan H. Kelly, 19, and Cody T. Ritchey, 18, were arrested at 5.21am on Sunday in Nicholasville, Kentucky after cops worked throughout the night on a threat sent through Snapchat
Surveillance video has captured a teenager bringing a gun to the entrance of a charter school in Philadelphia.

Just one day after the mass shooting at a Florida high school that left 17 people dead, cameras caught a teen pulling out a handgun by the Frederick Douglas Mastery Charter School.

The incident took place at about 3.20pm on February 15, barely 24 hours after Nikolas Cruz shot and killed three teachers and 14 students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Surveillance video has captured a teenager bringing a gun to the entrance of the Frederick Douglas Mastery Charter School in Philadelphia (left and right)

The incident took place at about 3.20pm on February 15 as the teen walked down Norris Street

The unknown teenager is seen brandishing a handgun as he walks down Norris Street, where the school is located. He first tries to open the doors but they're locked.

He then knocks on the door and waits for a few seconds, but then turns around and leaves.

He was last seen headed south on 22nd Street. No shots were fired, according to police.

Law enforcement has described the suspect as an unknown black male believed to be between 13 and 16 years old.

The boy, believed to be between ages 13 and 16, first tries to open the doors of the school, but they're locked

He then knocks on the door and waits for a few seconds, but then turns around and leaves

He was last seen headed south on 22nd Street. No shots were fired, according to police

He's approximately 5'5" tall with a thin build and dark complexion. He was wearing a black and gray jacket, dark-colored hoodie, black plants, and black sneakers at the time of the incident

According to Sheyma Boone, who has two brothers who are students at the school (pictured), security is tight. In addition to cameras around the school, visitors are seen on camera as they wait to get buzzed in. They can also be subject to a search once they enter

He's approximately 5'5" tall with a thin build and dark complexion. He was wearing a black and gray jacket, dark-colored hoodie, black plants, and black sneakers at the time of the incident.

Police have also noted that he has a lazy right eye.

Sheyma Boone has two younger brothers, aged 11 and 14, who attend the school. She felt uneasy after being shown the video by FOX 29.

'I'm scared. I'm scared for their life,' she told the news station. '[Police] need to find him because he could be going around to any school. Probably doesn't go here. He's just a bully.'

Boone says security at the charter school is tight. In addition to cameras around the school, visitors are seen on camera as they wait to get buzzed in. They can also be subject to a search once they enter.

The event occurred barely 24 hours after Nikolas Cruz (pictured in court, Monday) shot and killed three teachers and 14 students at a high school in Parkland, Florida

This is the second time in the 48 hours after the Florida school massacre where the threat of a gun caused concern at Philadelphia schools (Pictured, students are evacuated from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14

This is the second time in the 48 hours since the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine's Day where the threat of a gun caused concern at Philadelphia schools.

On Friday morning, a student tipped off officials after she saw another student with what turned out to be a toy gun at the Wagner Middle School.

After a four-hour lockdown and a search by police, the 12-year-old boy who brought the toy was charged on Monday with possessing a gun in school.

'What this speaks to is the importance of something we hammer down every day, which is see something say something,' Police Sgt Eric Gripp said on Friday.
Smoke billows from a herb burner filling the Spirit Room with an eerie haze.

A woman stands over Hollywood actress Megan Duffy chanting and shaking a rattle carved with a head inspired by shamanic art, as her client lies motionless on a narrow bed.

The tension in the air is thick as the 'healer' places an ornate dagger on Duffy's wrist and, breathing deep, rapid breathes, summons 'higher beings' from the spirit world, asking them to rid her body of evil demons.

The woman carrying out the 'working' is Rachel Stavis - the world's only non-denominational Exorcist.

And in a television first DailyMailTV was invited to witness Stavis carry out a real-life Hollywood exorcism.

We watched as Stavis worked on actress Duffy - best known for starring alongside Elijah Wood in 2012 horror movie Maniac - ridding her of an evil 'entity' that she believes has attached itself to her.

Sister of Darkness: Rachel Stavis reveals to DailyMailTV how she has performed exorcisms on Hollywood moguls, Oscar winners and politicians and for the first time opens up one of her exorcisms to the cameras

Exorcism: Rachel Stavis, performs an exorcism on actress Megan Duffy in her Studio City home - her first ever televised casting out of evil spirits. She tells DailyMailTV that people may be skeptical but she wants to show how she helps those she feels are possessed

Powers: Rachel Stavis tells DailyMailTV that she has known since she was a child that she could sense the presence of demons and the reasons for them being there, leading to her being able to exorcise them - as she showed on actress Megan Duffy

Symbolism: Rachel Stavis uses a dagger as part of the exorcism, representing her casting out of the demon she says she has found in actress Megan Duffy

Stavis says Duffy has a 'Clive', the name she gives to low-level, low energy entities or demons that have caused the actress to feel negative and down in the dumps of late.

Stavis, dubbed the Sister of Darkness, has gone public with her extraordinary gift with the release of her new book: Sister of Darkness The Chronicles of a Modern Exorcist.

The horror screenwriter and novelist has secretly been an exorcist to the stars for years, helping Hollywood's elite to get rid of their demons.

She has cleansed thousands of tormented people from Hollywood moguls, actors and actresses to stay-at-home moms and politicians.

Stavis, 39, has never advertised her services and works pro bono, first starting her hobby by helping 'possessed' friends and family in her spare time.

But word soon spread around Hollywood about her unusual gift and now she has a waiting list of mostly high profile clients all desperate to be cleansed.

'My clients range all over the place, but I do see a lot of people you'd think of as famous,' she says.

'I see heads of studios, rock icons, Oscar winners, politicians, I see all kinds of people, I also see the girl next door and this grandma and regular people who are suffering as well.'

Most people's knowledge of the subject comes from watching hit 1973 supernatural horror film The Exorcist.

And Stavis says the movie, which sees a teenage girl possessed by a mysterious entity, isn't far from the truth.

'With The Exorcist, there's definite truth and the book is so amazing and it's one of my favorite books of all time,' she admits.

As a child raised in California Stavis quickly discovered she wasn't your typical girl.

She began to see 'monsters' floating around her bedroom or attached to other children.

'I realized very quickly I could see something other people couldn't,' she tells DailyMailTV in an exclusive interview.

'I tried to ignore it, I didn't feel like it was a gift at all, it was pretty scary and horrible.

Close to the truth: Stavis calls The Exorcist her favorite book and says the movie version is close to how she sees the world. The 1973 classic was adapted from William Peter Blatty's novel published two years before and saw Max von Sydow play Fr Lankester Merrin as he battled the demons who posessed Regan MacNeil, played by Linda Blair

understanding: 'With The Exorcist, there's definite truth,' Stavis tells DailyMailTV. She classified demons by the scale of their ambition and says that like The Exorcist portrays, demons attach themselves to people to 'feed'. 'They're gonna feed until they can't,' she says

'I learned pretty quickly that other people didn't have it because every time I tried to talk about it people were like, 'what, that's crazy, no, we don't talk about it'.

'So I didn't talk about it, I kept it hidden and went on with my life, became a writer and tried to live normally.'

But as she grew older a series of events in adulthood forced Stavis to acknowledge her unique ability and embrace her power to heal.

Since then, she has dedicated her life to helping others cast off the evil forces she says feed off of us.

'I see manifestations of entities, sometimes they have a face, sometimes they don't,' she explains.

'When I was a child I called them monsters...they still are monsters, these are things that have never existed as human beings.

'But there was no definitive guide book for me growing up so I had to create one.'

Stavis has named and classified all the demons she encounters from the most common and smallest of entities she calls 'Clives' - named because they look like drawings by artist Clive Barker - to the more dangerous 'wraiths' that she says cause night terrors and physical injury and 'roam-walkers' that can shift from person to person.

'I don't know if I can ever explain to people exactly how this works, how I can see things and how that translates,' Stavis says of her talent.

'I do my best to be down to earth, I'm definitely not new agey, out there, that's just not who I am, I'm not all peace and light.

'It is a weird juxtaposition of living, I'm a writer, I'm going through my life trying to have a sense of normalcy trying not to see these weird things, but you have to realize I've never not seen these things. If it all stopped one day that would freak me out, for me this is normal.'

Organized religions like the Catholic Church have a very specific set of guidelines about demonic possession and exorcisms, which the Vatican updated in 1999, but the subject has remained hugely controversial.

Afflicted: Megan Duffy turned to Rachel Stavis for a second time and allowed DailyMailTV to witness their encounter. 'It was really weird I just couldn't stop my teeth from chattering and I was shivering. It felt joyful. It was weird,' Duffy said

Cured? When Duffy opened her eyes she seemed drowsy and told DailyMailTV the experience - her second exorcism - felt 'strange'

Her view is that, like The Exorcist portrays, demons attach themselves to people to 'feed'.

'They're gonna feed until they can't,' she says. 'Most entities are looking to survive and this is what they survive on, low frequency energies they get from people. Who knows why anything exists the way it does.'

But the exorcist says the more 'malevolent' entities like the 'movie style' entities are looking for big targets, 'world changers'.

'Those types of entities are rare and they are looking for big game changers in the world,' she says. 'Not to be cliched but this war between good and evil does go on, you see it every day. This is the type of entity is trying to tip the scales into darkness.'

Stavis' $1.2million house in the hills of Studio City, Los Angeles seems specially built for exorcisms.

The property has ornate stained glass windows, chunky medieval style doors and a Spirit Room filled with an eclectic collection of art and memorabilia.

But surprisingly Stavis hasn't lived in the house for years, in fact she only moved in two months ago.

In the Spirit Room actress Duffy is waiting patiently for her 'working'.

Stavis insists we all take off our shoes and no metal, jewelry, or cell phones are allowed.

The exorcist lights herbs and the air fills with an oily smoke that envelopes its occupants and after a while burns the throat.

Stavis closes her eyes and calls in her 'master teachers', before asking the 'higher beings' to enter the room.

Addressing them directly she said: 'I ask you to send your energy through the body and spirit, moving that energy through the body and spirit, identifying any negative entities that do not belong and do not serve and pushing them up and out.'

Half way through the 25 minute session Duffy seems overcome with emotion and suddenly lets out an almost surreal giggle.

Stavis walks slowly around Duffy shaking a rainstick and brandishing an ornate dagger against her wrist.

The whole thing is intense but there's no Hollywood drama.

No one throws up, the lights don't flicker, the doors don't slam and nothing falls off the walls.

Towards the end Stavis loudly chimes a bell over and over again, the chimes getting faster, until it suddenly stops. A Tibetan gong signals the end.

When Duffy opens her eyes she seems drowsy and said the experience - her second exorcism - felt 'strange'.

Tool of the trade: During the exorcism, Stavis shakes a rattle whose head is inspired by shamanic tradition. She says it and other noise makers agitate the energy in the room as part of the process of casting out the entities which have taken hold of the people who come to her

Spiritual: Rachel Stavis says she is agnostic but acknowledges the power of symbols from religious and spiritual traditions

Egyptian symbolism: Among the many spiritual symbols in Rachel Stavis' home in Studio City are those of the gods worshiped in ancient Egypt

'It was really weird I just couldn't stop my teeth from chattering and I was shivering. It felt joyful. It was weird,' she explained.

For Stavis exorcism can be exhausting.

'It's very draining, it's hard on the body believe it or not, you get aches and pains, there's been times after the more extreme exorcisms that I can't move for days afterwards,' she says.

ME AND MY EXORCISM Megan Duffy met Rachel Stavis at a bar for a mutual friend's birthday party and they started talking. 'At some point we went outside and I was a glass and half of wine in and she said, 'I don't want to alarm you but you have an entity that's attached itself to you and it's holding you back from the things you want to do'. 'At first I thought she was joking, it was a lot of friends who work in the horror film industry. But she told me more about what she did and offered to do a session with me. 'I was like, "is my head gonna spin, am I gonna puke green, what's going to happen?" 'I started becoming more intrigued and after about two years of becoming friends I said okay Rachel I'll take you up on it. 'At the time I had a lot of jobs that almost went my way but didn't which made me sad, I also had a couple of jerks I dated and some friends who were bringing me down and I didn't quite know how to fix it. So I thought why not and I thought it would be a cool being able to tell the story I had an exorcism.' Duffy, 38, who was raised a Roman Catholic, said the experience wasn't what she expected and she was initially 'scared' of what might happen. But after leaving Stavis' Spirit Room she felt amazing, so much so she decided to come back for a second session three months later. 'I started feeling there was a darkness trying to get hold of me again and I was fighting it,' she said. 'I believe the entity has now left me but there's always a chance it will come back.' Duffy added: 'I am a believer, absolutely, I guess who knows for sure whether it's a literal spirit or a placebo, I just know that what Rachel did made me feel whole and complete and empowered and strong and I started attracting the things I wanted in my life almost immediately, it worked.' Advertisement

A lot of Stavis' clients see her just once, however.

And she says for a lot of people coming to see her is the last resort.

'I've even had women come to see me who cannot conceive, they've tried everything and will call me a month later and say they're pregnant, people who have been addicted and have tried everything to quit who come once and never touch it [drugs] again, that's not a placebo, I can see that, they can feel that,' she says.

Stavis often sees clients who think they are possessed when they're not.

'If you're suffering with mental illness there's certainly a chance you could also have attachment, it's not mutually exclusive, but then there are people who think they're possessed when they're not,' she says.

As for her most extreme experiences she says they involve a specific type of entity which most people would consider the devil or the demon they see in movies like The Exorcist.

'I call it a movie style entity, I call it a 'roam-walker' in my book, because of the way it moves between the realms, if you will, is very easy, it is a very malevolent, very intelligent being.

'Those are the ones where the possession is very serious, you can see cuts and bruises on the body, it can move from person to person, which other entities cannot do.

'Those are the ones that are dangerous and scary. People don't realize that they can also take over buildings, which they do, they overtake spaces.

'When you are going through to exorcise the space and you have an entity essentially owning the space, that can be very dangerous, things can come off walls, things can fall on you. If you have people with you they can get sick, they can get harmed.

'There is another entity that takes over buildings as well, almost as malevolent as a roam walker, but not quite. That's called a Collector, what that does is it takes over a space where trauma has happened, where people have died in horrible ways.

'It collects the deceased people who have not moved on from that space in order to drain the living, to scare the living, if you will.'

Stavis recalls encountering a Collector in the basement of a former slaughterhouse in LA which is now used as a movie studio.

Movie bosses called her in after workers seemed to be getting hurt on set all the time, especially in the basement.

I've had skeptics come in who won't tell me anything about what's wrong with them and they come in expecting nothing, expecting BS, and those are the ones that sit up crying and say I don't know what just happened to me, I feel like a totally different human being now, and they leave joyous Rachel Stavis

Stavis says she went down to the basement in the middle of the night and water started dripping out of disused pipes.

In another room in the maze like 13,000 sq ft basement, utility cords that had been innocuous one minute were suddenly shaped like a noose the next.

Then she discovered something even more chilling.

'We went to another room and there was no pipes, no nothing, but the room was full of water, water was coming down the walls, we had to remove the entity.'

Stavis is aware that many skeptics don't believe in her 'gift' and she says being a woman and not religious doesn't help her cause.

'Naturally people are going to be skeptical about the whole thing, this is a very controversial subject, people feel very strongly, their opinions are very strong,' she says.

'But I've had skeptics come in who won't tell me anything about what's wrong with them and they come in expecting nothing, expecting BS, and those are the ones that sit up crying and say I don't know what just happened to me, I feel like a totally different human being now, and they leave joyous.'

However, convincing the doubters of her abilities isn't high on Stavis' agenda.

'We're afraid of these things, we don't want to change our world view, we don't want to look at this differently, because if this does exist in some way, that can be scary, but in a way too, that's also empowering.

'Once you know and understand it there are ways you can help yourself...so why not.

'You don't have to see things my way, you don't have to agree with it, but it's helping people. That's all that matters to me.'

As for any personal life Stavis says: 'I honestly don't have time for boyfriends I'm too busy and with what I do it is difficult.

'But at least now it's out there, they're gonna know going in, if somebody wants to ask me out, they're gonna be like "this chick is weird".'

Stavis admits that she's had several marriage proposals from people who have contacted her online, but doesn't intend to set up a Tinder profile any time soon.

She added: 'Being an exorcist has its downfalls but it's the most rewarding thing I do, because I believe it is my calling, why do I have this, there's a reason, there's a destiny involved.

'I don't charge people, this is not my job, I write, that's what I've done for years for a living, but I find this more rewarding in a lot of ways because I want to help people, that's what keeps me going.'

Sister of Darkness: Chronicles of a Modern Exorcist, by R.H. Stavis is available on Amazon.com.
Mystery: Isabella Hellmann and Lewis Bennett were on a belated honeymoon cruise

A British sailor has been charged with murdering his wife in the Caribbean on their honeymoon and staging a yacht accident to cover it up.

Lewis Bennett was charged with second degree murder in Florida on Tuesday, ten months after he reported his wife Isabella Hellmann missing from their crashed catamaran off the coast off Cuba.

US Coast Guard rescuers found Bennett alone in his life raft in May 2017 after the supposed accident, and he claimed his wife had vanished overboard while alone at the helm.

Bennett has already been jailed in Florida for smuggling $100,000 in gold coins into the US and will now face trial for his wife's murder.

Bennett, 41, of Poole, Dorset, was arrested on suspicion of second degree murder in a Miami court, where he was also sentenced to seven months in prison for smuggling stolen coins.

In a court document, FBI Special Agent James Kelley said the bureau believes Bennett 'knowingly and unlawfully killed' Isabella Hellmann, the mother of his child.

According to the FBI, Bennett told investigators he had gone below deck on their boat near the Bahamas and left Hellman above to keep watch.

The FBI says he falsely claimed she disappeared after the supposed accident.

Rescuers found the British-Australian dual citizen, 40, alone in his life raft on May 15 after he made an SOS call to say Ms Hellmann, 41, was missing and his 37-ft catamaran was taking on water.

On May 14  Mother's Day in the US  the British yachtsman and his wife were on the final leg of a belated honeymoon cruise through the northern Caribbean on his 37 ft catamaran, Surf Into Summer.

As Bennett later recounted to the US Coastguard, he had gone to bed in his cabin at 8pm, exhausted after five days on the water as they sailed from Cuba home to Florida.

Capsized: Bennett's abandoned catamaran was found capsized about 30 miles away from Cay Sal

Bennett said that his wife, Isabella Hellmann, had been given the helm and left alone in charge of the vessel.

He described how he had been woken at around 1am by the loud thud of the boat hitting an object, and, that when he went on deck, his wife had disappeared.

Bennett, a businessman and mining engineer, fired his emergency positioning beacon and sent out a distress call after he realised the catamaran was taking on water.

Two hours later, he was rescued  safe and sound, but alone  by a US Coastguard helicopter about 30 miles west of the Bahamas.

An exhaustive four-day air and sea search for his 41-year-old wife, a beautiful Colombian-born estate agent (pictured) he had married three months earlier, never found a trace

He was floating in a life raft 1,000 yards from the now half-submerged boat, which he had abandoned after first gathering his possessions.

He said he believed the catamaran had hit something.

He also told investigators that the mast had been loose and 'there is a possibility that she may have (fallen) in the water due to an accident with the mast hitting her'.

An exhaustive four-day air and sea search for his wife, a Colombian-born estate agent he married three months earlier, never found a trace  even though he said she had been wearing a life jacket.

At 5ft 4in and 7st 12lb, and dressed only in light clothing, she would probably only have survived in the water for a few hours if she had been conscious.

But investigators say they have found evidence that Bennett had scuttled the catamaran.

Portholes had been opened below the waterline and damage to the twin hulls appeared to have been caused from the inside.

The tragedy has left the couple's 15-month-old daughter Emelia, who was being looked after by Isabella's family in Florida at the time, motherless.

Detectives said they found a stash of silver coins in the raft before uncovering a haul of gold coins in the couple's home in Delray Beach, Florida.

Lawyers for his wife's family believe the couple's daughter, Emelia, is being looked after by Bennett's parents in Hampshire.

According to papers filed at court by his sister-in-law Adriana Difeo, in a legal challenge relating to Mr Bennett's control of his wife's finances, just one day after the Coastguard called off its search for her, Bennett asked the service for a 'letter of presumed death'  a document that would speed up the process of sorting out her financial affairs.

Florida law says nobody can be declared legally dead until he or she has been missing for at least five years.

The Coastguard returned the coins to Mr Bennett (pictured), but almost immediately discovered they might have been stolen

Isabella's disappearance remains officially under investigation, although no law enforcement agency has said whether or not Mr Bennett is a suspect.

However, in a police report relating to the Briton, an officer said he had been told by the US Marshals Service that Mr Bennett was being investigated over his missing spouse.

Prosecutors chose to include in their outline of the stolen coins case some fascinating travel records.

These show that Mr Bennett and Isabella flew to St Maarten in March this year  ten months after the 'burglary' on the yacht Kitty R  and again at the end of April.

What remains clear is that  before this week's arrest  there has been a very public fallout between Bennett and Isabella's family, with both sides making accusations against the other.

On the one side, her family have accused him to his face, and in front of police, of killing her.

He in turn has accused them of stealing from his home.

On May 28, he contacted police in Boca Raton, Florida, where  with his daughter Emelia in tow  he was visiting one of his wife's sisters.

Bennett also told investigators that the mast had been loose and 'there is a possibility that she may have (fallen) in the water due to an accident with the mast hitting her'. Pictured: The family home in Delray Beach

He requested the presence of officers as he recovered possessions belonging to his wife  including computers, an engagement ring, clothes and handbags  which he said her family had taken from his home while he was in Cuba after Isabella went missing, scouring its hospitals for his wife.

According to police, as soon as Mr Bennett arrived, his sister-in-law, Elizabeth Rodriguez screamed at him to get out and 'repeatedly stated that Lewis killed her sister'.

Mr Bennett and the accompanying officer decided it was best not to pursue the matter and left empty-handed.

Other members of Ms Hellmann's family have revealed they became dubious about Mr Bennett's account because of the unemotional way he reacted to the tragedy. Another of his sisters-in-law, Dayana Rodriguez, recalled: 'He was calm, he wasn't crying or anything. When I saw him, I ran to him and I hugged him and I said: 'Where is Isabella?' And he said: 'I don't know.' '

She was dumbfounded by the way her brother-in-law, an experienced seaman, had reacted to his wife's disappearance. When she asked him why he didn't stop the boat and drop anchor, he told her 'he needed to keep the boat on track', she said.

'I asked him: 'Do you think she's alive? Do you think she's dead?' And he said: 'I think she's asleep.' That was his answer.'

She said her mother had 'passed out on the floor' when Mr Bennett had rejected their pleas to keep baby Emelia in Florida, telling them: 'I'm leaving and you're not going to see the baby again.'

In June, weeks after Isabella Hellmann's disappearance, her oldest sister, Adriana Difeo, went to court in order to take over her sister's finances from Mr Bennett. That case has yet to be settled.

Asked about her sister's death, Ms Difeo said yesterday: 'We don't know the truth yet. We're waiting for the FBI report.' For his part, Mr Bennett has insisted he is entirely innocent of any involvement in his wife's death, and that it was 'absolutely devastating' to lose the 'soulmate I had always searched for'.
Three alleged paedophile hunters who were told 'continuously' to stop by police appeared in court today facing 18 or 19 charges each.

George Keenan, 34, Richard Curtis, 32, and Tim Heron, 28, all face charges of assault, unlawful imprisonment and intimidation.

The charges are in relation to activities in the Belfast and Co Down areas since September last year, Belfast Magistrates' Court heard today.

A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) sergeant told presiding district judge Fiona Bagnall: 'We don't believe that they have been assisting police because they have been told continuously to desist from this activity.

'They have chosen to carry on and detain individuals and carry out their own investigations.'

George Keenan (pictured), Richard Curtis and Tim Heron all face charges of assault, unlawful imprisonment and intimidation

Richard Curtis (left) and Tim Heron (right) were pictured leaving court today. All three have been released on bail but banned from social media platforms or associating with paedophile hunting groups

All three were released on bail but were banned from online social media platforms or associating with paedophile hunting groups and identifying or confronting those suspected of sex offences.

A defence lawyer suggested that police had issued the group with a 'paedophile hunting manual' helping them to gather the best evidence they can.

The officer said police were willing to take any information in relation to any crime but it was for them to take action.

He added: 'We would never encourage any group to confront or to unlawfully detain and put themselves in danger or... unlawfully imprison individuals.

'Report it to the police and allow us as the competent authority to carry out investigations.'

The lawyer said this group had contacted police on 100 separate occasions with evidence.

Some of the alleged offences relate to an incident on Belfast's Botanic Avenue on February 6 in which disorderly behaviour and attempted intimidation is alleged.

A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) sergeant told Belfast Magistrates' Court (pictured): 'We don't believe that they have been assisting police because they have been told continuously to desist from this activity'

The trio are also accused of attempting unlawfully by force, threats or menaces to cause BBC journalist Kevin Magee to refrain from broadcasting an interview on television

The trio are accused of attempting unlawfully by force, threats or menaces to cause BBC journalist Kevin Magee to refrain from broadcasting an interview on television as well as disorderly behaviour.

Keenan, from Glenwood Court, Dunmurry, and Heron, of Cloverhill Vale in Bangor, are also accused of obstruction of a road.

Keenan faces charges dating from September last year involving unlawful imprisonment, assault, detaining people against their will and forcing people to leave home.

He is also accused of failing to give information to police.

Curtis, is accused of using disorderly behaviour in Banbridge, Co Down, imprisonment and assault.

He is also charged with attempting to cause a man to leave his home.

Heron, of Albert Road, Carrickfergus, is accused of unlawfully imprisoning and assaulting a man and attempting to threaten him into leaving his home.

He is also alleged to have accused a person of being a 'paedo' in front of a crowd in Banbridge with the intention of breaching the peace.

The accused must also abide by a curfew.

They will appear in court again in April.
Matthew Horne (pictured) threw a stress ball at a junior officer's throat

A deputy chief constable who threw a stress ball at a junior officer's throat and verbally abused other colleagues was today told he will face no further action.

Matthew Horne, 47, pushed the younger officer over a table and shouted at another staff member, calling them a 'f****** c***'.

A disciplinary panel heard the 'aggressive and domineering' officer hurled the stress ball at Essex Police chief superintendent Carl O'Malley.

Just two weeks later he pushed a junior officer over a table in his office for 'no reason whatsoever'.

The panel also heard he swore at detective chief superintendent Glenn Maleary outside the force's HQ with 'clenched fists' because he was angry about the performance of the force control room.

Essex Police chief constable Stephen Kavanagh made the ruling today after a disciplinary panel found Mr Horne had committed misconduct.

Mr Horne had denied three breaches of police professional standards under of authority, respect and courtesy and discreditable conduct between 2015 and 2016.

But the misconduct panel found all of them proved at level of misconduct and recommended he receive 'management advice' after a five-day hearing in Chelmsford, Essex, in January.

Today Mr Kavanagh told a sanction hearing at Chelmsford Civic Centre: 'What I see here today is an individual who is recognised by the panel and the 92 persons who provided statement as an outstanding officer with an outstanding career.

'Based on an unblemished 28-year career, I am satisfied that DCC Horne's actions were utterly out of character and will not be repeated.

'This amounted to ten minutes of uncharacteristic and disappointing behaviour in what was a distinguished career.'

A panel heard Mr Horne (left) he hurled the stress ball at chief superintendent Carl O'Malley (right)

He said DCC Horne 'did not seek to humiliate or to undermine' and was not 'systematically bullying' junior officers, adding: 'I want to develop a culture where people are permitted to on occasion to commit mistakes.'

Mr Horne, who is on secondment as the National Crime Agency's deputy director general, has worked on police operations including the Leveson Inquiry and the royal wedding between Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge in 2011.

Nobody involved in the case made official complaints but the incidents arose in an employment tribunal against Essex Police which was eventually dismissed.

Earlier the chief constable said he could in theory impose a final written warning, a formal warning, management advice and no further action for Mr Horne's misconduct.

Stephen Morley, for Essex Police, inviting the chief constable to impose 'management advice' on Mr Horne, said: 'The real significance of those facts is the rank of Mr Horne.

The panel also heard he swore at detective chief superintendent Glenn Maleary (pictured) outside the force's HQ with 'clenched fists'

'If this were a case involving three schoolboys throwing a ball at each other or pushing each other around the bike sheds in a school you might think that is to be deal with by a level of severity but this is a deputy chief constable.'

But John Beggs QC, for Mr Horne, urged the chief constable to use his 'discretion' to impose no further action for the misconduct.

He said the disciplinary panel found his client would not have faced misconduct proceedings if the allegations were promptly raised with police management.

The QC added: 'No one can have anything but the highest regard for Mr Horne both as a police officer and as a man. He has brought strength and honour to each force he has served.'

Mr Beggs said a review by the former Chief Commissioner for Scotland Yard William Taylor CBE in 2005 had a 'theme of proportionality and timeliness'.

He added Home Office papers on police misconduct hearings published two months ago recommended removing 'management advice' as a sanction for misconduct.

'We say for all of those reasons, but most particularly for what I will in shorthand say the Taylor reason, you are entitled to and we invite you to conclude that no further action as a just outcome,' said Mr Beggs.

When asked outside the hearing whether the incident was the biggest regret of his life, DCC Horne answered: 'Professionally.'
A mother who pocketed almost $150,000 in Centrelink payments that she wasn't entitled to allegedly used the cash to fund a lavish lifestyle - but has yet to pay back the debt.

Fatma Sleiman, from Glenroy in Melbourne, was paid $107,000 in childcare fee assistance and more than $40,000 in carer payments, A Current Affair reports.

But she wasn't entitled to the benefits because of her income from a property she owns and was self-employed at the time.

Fatma Sleiman pocketed almost $150,000 in Centrelink payments that she wasn't entitled to

The Melbourne woman was paid $107,000 in childcare fee assistance and more than $40,000 in carer payments, A Current Affair reports

According to the programme, Ms Sleiman owns two properties and has a speedboat parked in the driveway of her home.

When asked by reporters how she was going to pay back the money she owes, she replied: 'You don't know, I am.'

She then called friends, saying: 'They're f****** harassing me in front of the house man, hurry.'

The Department of Human Services says Ms Sleiman received the payments after a mistake was made when assessing her income.

She was not entitled to any help with childcare and only entitled to $4,195 in carer payments, court documents say.

Ms Sleiman owes $147,629 as well as $2,850 for legal costs, according to ACA.

Last month, it was revealed that Centrelink overpaid $2.84 billion to welfare recipients in the last financial year but the Turnbull government only recouped half the cash.

The Department of Human Services says Ms Sleiman received the payments after a mistake was made when assessing her income

The new Human Services Minister Michael Keenan blamed human error and fraud for the overpayments.

'It is important that system operates with integrity, that people are not overpaid more than they are entitled to,' he said.

'If you have been defrauding the system, you can expect us to come down on you like a tonne of bricks.'

The Human Services department has only recovered $1.64 billion in overpayments.

Last year, the Turnbull government copped criticism for mistakenly sending robo-debt recovery notices to 20,000 people.
Former White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus denied on Tuesday that he ever knew about the history of domestic abuse that would torpedo the career of a senior West Wing aide this month.

The revelation will put new pressure squarely on Don McGahn, the White House's chief lawyer, who got the first information from the FBI that Rob Porter's past could come back to haunt him.

But Priebus, who left his position in the waning days of July 2017, said during a Washington Examiner podcast that 'no,' he was never aware of Porter's past.

'By the time I left it wasn't something that had popped up,' he claimed.

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Reince Priebus said Tuesday that during his six months as White House chief of staff, no one told him that senior aide Rob Porter's wives had accused him of domestic abuse during background-check interviews with the FBI

Porter was forced out of his job as Donald Trump's staff secretary on February 8, following a pair of DailyMail.com stories chronicling (and picturing) his former spouses' accounts of violent and abusive marriages

Priebus also denied that the Trump White House is handling security clearances any differently from past administrations, citing the lengthy process in his own case.

FBI director Chris Wray told a Senate panel last week that the bureau first 'submitted a partial report on the investigation' into Porter's suitability for a security clearance in March 2017, while Priebus was in control of the West Wing.

Wray added that 'a completed background investigation' was submitted 'in late July,' right around the time Gen. John Kelly replaced Priebus.

The later installments from the FBI came in November 2017 and February 2018, long after Priebus left.

Porter's two ex-wives told DailyMail.com two weeks ago that he physically and emotionally abused them. One provided photos of a black eye she said he inflicted on her during their tumultuous marriage.

That information or something similar made its way from federal law enforcement to McGahn's office in the West Wing during the first days of the Trump presidency, according to The Washington Post.

And CNN suggest last week that the FBI had handed McGahn copies of the black-eye pictures  or at least a description of them  by March 2017.

It would have been McGahn's responsibility to notify Priebus at that point, according to a person who served in a senior Obama White House capacity.

Kelly still hasn't confirmed how much he was told, or when.

White House Counsel Don McGahn was likely the official whom the FBI told no later than March 2017 about the accusations leveled against Porter, yet he was give more and more responsibility and access to the president

Colbie Holderness, Porter's first wife, (left) told DailyMail.com that he repeatedly punched and choked her. His second wife Jennifer Willoughby (right) has also claimed that Porter was abusive in their marriage

He claimed on February 8 that he was 'shocked by the new allegations' of past physical violence that DailyMail.com surfaced.

The Porter episode has brought new attention to the process that security clearance applicants must go through before they are permitted to see classified information.

Priebus said during the Examiner's podcast that the Trump White House hasn't changed a thing from the Obama years.

'It's running the same. You have people who come into the West Wing, they fill our their FBI documents, the DOJ and the FBI conduct their review, they grant a temporary clearance for an employee that comes into the White House,' he said.

'That is a grant of authority by the DOJ and the FBI after doing a preliminary review for that person to have the access that they're entitled to have.'

Priebus said that he was 'one of the very first people' in the Trump orbit 'to submit my documents to the FBI in April [2016]. I think I got my temporary at the end of December.'

It's unclear why Priebus, then the chairman of the Republican national Committee, would have applied for a security clearance while the GOP primary season was still underway.

But Trump met with him at the RNC headquarters on March 31, 2016. And both men spoke glowingly of each other in most cases from then on.

'Just had a very nice meeting with @Reince Priebus and the @GOP,' Trump tweeted that day. 'Looking forward to bringing the Party together --- and it will happen!'

Current White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, who replaced Priebus near the end of July 2017, has still not said how much he was told about Porter's past, or when

Priebus applied for his security clearance in April 2016, he says, long before Trump was the Republican nominee  suggesting he knew well in advance that he would have a senior West Wing job if the billionaire beat Hillary Clinton

Trump and Priebus had a meeting of the minds on March 31, 2016, and just three weeks later the then-RNC chairman was telling party faithful to unite behind their nominee

At the point that meeting took place, Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz were the only two remaining viable candidates left standing in the Republican presidential primary race.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich had yet to throw in the towel, but he was never much of a factor.

By April 22, Priebus was encouraging his party to rally around whichever man  Trump or Cruz  emerged victorious.

'We all need to get behind the nominee,' he said during the RNC's spring meeting in Hollywood, Florida.

It was clear to all but the most die-hard Cruz supporters by that point that Priebus was talking about Trump.

Cruz won only four Republican delegates in the remaining 15 primary elections. Trump took 595.

Priebus's permanent security clearance, he said Tuesday, wasn't awarded to him until 'mid-April [2017], maybe a little bit later.'

But it's still unclear why he had jump-started the process a year earlier.

It's possible Trump promised Priebus a plum West Wing job in exchange for his support, but equally plausible that Priebus merely assumed he would go to the White House with a Republican winner.

FBI Director Christopher Wray testified last week in a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing that the White House had four separate notifications from the bureau about why Rob Porter couldn't get a permanent security clearance

Attempts to reach Priebus on Tuesday were unsuccessful.

He broke with Trump only once during the general election campaign season, after the release of an infamous 'Access Hollywood' hot-mic recording of him boasting about how famous men could get away with sexual misconduct.

But instead of openly condemning Trump, Priebus's RNC kept radio-silent, giving the candidate a full weekend to rescue himself from a polling freefall.

By Monday he was pledging to party leaders on a conference call that 'the RNC is in full coordination with the Trump campaign, and we have a great relationship with them.'
The GOP's tax cuts are scoring higher with voters now that the savings are beginning to pad their pocketbooks.

A New York Times poll taken through SurveyMonkey showed 51 percent of Americans now backing the tax cuts that the leader of the House Democrats described as 'crumbs,' up from 46 percent a month prior.

Commenting on a separate survey taken by the polling giant and CNBC that displayed an uptick of five points in small business confidence, the president boasted that the Republican-passed rate slashes are are increasing optimism all around.

'Main Street is BOOMING thanks to our incredible TAX CUT and Reform law,' Trump tweeted.

The GOP's tax cuts are scoring higher with voters now that the savings are beginning to pad their pocketbooks and President Trump is celelebrating

Earlier on Tuesday, the president noted that Republicans are now leading in generic ballot tests and its was 'perhaps because of the popular Tax Cuts which the Dems want to take away.'

The GOP's tax cuts are scoring higher with voters now that the savings are beginning to pad their pocketbooks.

'Actually, they want to raise you taxes, substantially. Also, they want to do nothing on DACA, Rs want to fix!' he claimed.

The tweet was included in a stream of observations and statements the president made after disclosing to his followers that he was watching Fox News' morning television program.

Republicans have largely been unable to cash in on the momentum they built up at the end of last year with their tax cut reforms. Immigration reform legislation has stalled in both chambers and the president's infrastructure proposal has barely garnered any attention beyond since its introduction.

Congress is out of session this week and is likely to begin a discussion of gun violence prevention measures that have mainly been pushed by Democrats when it returns.

Trump, who spent the weekend harping about the FBI and the Department of Justice, attempted to get back on message on Monday evening and Tuesday morning with tweets about economic improvements and the jobs that are being created by his party's reforms and regulation changes.

He was sidetracked, however, by a Washington Post article detailing one of his sexual assault accusers' bid for office, making headlines as he denied the woman's allegation that he forcibly kissed her more than a decade ago in Trump Tower.

The president noted that Republicans are now leading in generic ballot tests and its was 'perhaps because of the popular Tax Cuts which the Dems want to take away' on Tuesday morning

Trump eventually came back to the topic of taxes, tweeting out a CNBC article on the survey that showed small business owners were twice as likely to feel positively about the GOP's tax cuts than they were when they passed at the end of December.

A separate poll taken in tandem with Survey Monkey that appeared in the New York Times showed that consumers were feeling better about the tax cuts overall, though most said they did not expect to see a bonus, salary increase or income tax decrease as a result.

Democrats have made it their business to undermine the GOP's messaging on its tax slash, with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi referring to it last month as 'crumbs' for the average worker.

Trump and the Republican Party have seized on the assault as they both sides turn their attention to the 2018 elections.

The president has said that Pelosi would be Republicans' 'secret weapon' in November.

'She's a rich woman who lives in a big, beautiful house in California, who wants to give all of your money away. And she talked about crumbs,' the billionaire president said at a Cincinnati, Ohio event.

Trump, who spent the weekend harping about the FBI and the Department of Justice, attempted to get back on message on Monday evening and Tuesday morning with tweets about taxes and jobs

Trump was in Ohio promoting a business that gave it's employees $1,000 bonuses after the GOP forced through its sweeping tax cuts.

There, he lambasted Pelosi and 'what she's doing to this country,' as well, and talked up the GOP's odds of keeping the House and the Senate in the coming elections.

'I think we're going to do well in '18. I think we're going to do very well,' the president said. 'They have gone left. They want to raise your taxes. You know, I figure we're safe.'

The ruling party is at a historical disadvantage in mid-presidency elections, and Trump acknowledged it's because its voters tend to become complacent. He urged his supporters to hold fast to the tax cuts, though and not let it happen to them.

'But I think because of what we've done, because of the tremendous success we've had, I have a feeling that we're going to do incredibly well in '18,' he added.
Prominent conservatives want President Trump to dole out pardons to his associates ensnared in the Russia probe like talk show host Oprah Winfrey gives out cars.

'It's kind of cruel what's going on right now and the president should put these defendants out of their misery,' conservative legal activist Larry Klayman recently told Politico. 'I think he should pardon everybody  and pardon himself,'

Trump fans suggest that Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe, which started as an investigation by the FBI  the same FBI that put out a letter days before the election that derailed Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign  is biased against the Republican president and his associates.

President Trump should pardon all of his associates charged by Special Counsel Robert Mueller some conservatives are arguing charging that there's an anti-Trump bias plaguing the probe starting from when it was opened at the FBI

POTENTIAL PARDONS: Conservative supporters of President Trump would like to see him pardon associates like Michael Flynn (left) Paul Manafort (center) and Rick Gates (right)

Special Counsel Robert Mueller's (pictured) Russia probe has already ensnared a number of Trump associates, including the president's national security adviser and his campaign manager, individuals that conservatives think should be pardoned

'The whole super structure of the Russia investigation is compromised,' Tom Fitton, the president of conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch, complained to Politico.

'Those caught up in it deserve some protection,' he continued. 'Rather then just let the virus run its course, it'd be appropriate for the president to consider pardons for people who are caught up in the prosecution.'

So far that would include one of the Trump campaign's former foreign policy advisers, George Papadopoulos, his ex-campaign manager Paul Manafort, Manafort's deputy Rick Gates and the former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.

'I think he should be pardoning anybody who's been indicted and make it clear that anybody else who gets indicted would be pardoned immediately,' Frederick Fleitz, the senior vice president at the right-leaning Center for Security Policy told Politico.

The online publication talked to conservatives even before the latest shoes dropped, with the Mueller probe indicting 13 Russian nationals on Friday involved in the social media campaign to hijack the American election.

And then on Tuesday, Mueller charged lawyer Alex Van Der Zwaan for allegedly lying to investigators over discussions he had with Gates and another individual in September 2016 on the subject of Ukraine.

On Monday, news reports indicated that Gates planned to plead guilty as part of a plea deal with Mueller in which he would then testify against Manafort.

Trump's lawyer Ty Cobb indicated that chatter about pardons is premature.

'There have been no pardon discussions at the White House,' Cobb told Politico.

Historically, pardons have been politically dicey and are often deployed as an executive is leaving office, like President Bill Clinton did for Marc Rich, when he pardoned the businessman on January 20, 2001.

Trump, however, has shown little restraint in exercising his pardon power thus far, announcing last August that he was pardoning Sheriff Joe Arpaio, making the move outside the Department of Justice's pardon process.
Former Donald Trump campaign advisor Michael Caputo says Russia did interfere in the elections  although he tried to cast the actions as part of meddling that goes both ways.

Caputo told CNN Tuesday he had 'no bout' Russia has interfered  days after special counsel Robert Mueller indicted 13 Russians charged with setting up fake Facebook posts, fake Twitter accounts, impersonating Americans to stir up rallies, and other fraudulent activity.

'No doubt. I believe that Russia interferes in all the elections of, lets say the security council for the United Nations,' Caputo told Chris Cuomo, host of the 'New Day' program when asked about interference.

But then he tried to shift the discussion from Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election to the United States.

Former Trump campaign advisor Michael Caputo said there was 'no doubt' Russia meddled in elections

'We also do things to manipulate elections overseas. I was sent to Russia by the Clinton administration to get involved in their elections,' Caputo said.

Then he brought up the 'Internet Research Agency,' the notorious Russian troll farm prosecutors say were behind the meddling, with a budget of more than $1 million per month.

'This stuff has been going on since 2013. It's been in the news in Russia for a while. This needs to be shut down. It's absolutely real, no doubt,' Caputo said.

Cuomo tried to ask him if it was 'silly' to try to divert from the serious charges of a Russian cyber war on the U.S. political system.

'I don't find that silly,' Caputo said.

'I think a lot of the dissension that's been sown since the election was entirely the responsibility of the Democrats,' he said.

President Trump tweeted Tuesday about the 'Russian excuse' he said 'became the narrative of the Dems'

'I think the Democrats have fed this bogus Russia collusion narrative to the media, (and) the media have gleefully swallowed it because it's really good for ratings,' he added.

"I believe that Russia interferes in all the elections of let's say, for example, the Security Council from the United Nations. We also do things to manipulate elections overseas": Fmr. Trump campaign senior adviser Michael Caputo has "no doubt" Russia interfered in 2016 election pic.twitter.com/hriM78MNFZ  New Day (@NewDay) February 20, 2018

Caputo was echoing his former boss President Trump, who after deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein announced the charges asserted there was 'no collusion.'

Trump tweeted about the topic again on Tuesday  by digging up a quote from his predecessor, President Barack Obama. 'There is no serious person out there who would suggest somehow that you could even rig America's elections, there's no evidence that that has happened in the past or that it will happen this time, and so I'd invite Mr. Trump to stop whining and make his case to get votes,' Trump wrote in the first of two tweets  noting it was a 'President Obama quote just before election.'

President Donald Trump (R) and Russian President Vladimir Putin attend a photo session at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in the central Vietnamese city of Danang on Nov. 11, 2017. The leaders of 21 Pacific Rim economies gathered to discuss free trade and measures against protectionism, with Trump attending for the first time

'That's because he thought Crooked Hillary was going to win and he didn't want to 'rock the boat,' Trump added. When I easily won the Electoral College, the whole game changed and the Russian excuse became the narrative of the Dems.'

Caputo made a similar comment to the network last July before testifying before the House Intelligence Committee.

'I was sent there by the Clinton administration to meddle in their elections,' he quipped.

He has said the government sent him to Russia in 1994 to help the fledgling government set up election laws.

He was an advisor to Russian President Boris Yeltsin, did work for Gazprom media, and returned to the U.S. in 2000 after Vladimir Putin got elected.

'I'm not proud of the work today,' he told the Buffalo News in 2016. 'But at the time, Putin wasn't such a bad guy.'

On Friday deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein announced criminal charges against 13 Russians and two Russian companies accused of interfering in the 2016 elections.
A wealthy castle owner allowed his dangerously out of control Labrador to bite a postman on the buttocks, a court heard.

Robert Hay, 71, is accused of letting his two dogs run wild in the grounds of 11th-century Bickleigh Castle in Devon.

One of them, a black Labrador called Rona, injured postman Mark Peters by biting him on the backside on October 7 last year.

A day earlier, a second Labrador named Doublee also snapped at the postman, Exeter magistrates court heard yesterday.

Pictured: Robert Hay's wife Sarah with their Labrador Doublee at their home in Bickleigh, Devon, pictured in 2016

Hay, a property agent, is also accused of breaching a dog control order which was enforced after Doublee bruised the nose of a teenage waiter working at the castle during a wedding in 2015.

Prosecutor Sonia Croft said the latest allegation against Rona was that she bit someone and caused injury to their buttocks, which was an aggravated offence.

She claimed the charges involving Doublee were brought by police after the dog snapped at someone delivering the post.

It was alleged that Hay had breached the January 2016 court order stipulating that Doublee should be muzzled in public areas following the previous incident.

Hays barrister Simon Morgan said the injury to the postman was not the most serious although conceded it may have been uncomfortable. He asked for an adjournment, stressing the need for an experts position about the risks the animal presents.

Pictured: Robert Hay, 71, and wife Sarah dressed up for a banquet at their castle in Devon

Hays wife Sarah, who was in the public gallery during the hearing, said at the time of the case involving Doublee in 2016: Three thousand people have been here and Doublee has never had a single incident like this.

The Hays bought Bickleigh Castle, a fortified manor house on the banks of the River Exe near Tiverton, and its estate 15 years ago.

Parts of the castle date back to the 11th century.

Charles Is queen Henrietta Maria stayed there before fleeing to France during the Civil War. The buildings fell into disrepair before they were restored early in the 20th century.

The grounds are now used to host five-star wedding ceremonies. The Hays have hosted more than 300 events since they bought the property, and also offer bed and breakfast accommodation, hire of the castle and house parties.

Mrs Hay spent 250,000 refurbishing the castles non-family areas to become a permanent wedding venue.

Yesterday, the case was adjourned until April.

That order was made after Doublee bruised the nose of a waiter at a wedding that they hosted at their 11th century Bickleigh Castle (pictured) in rural Devon in May 2016

The Hays bought Bickleigh Castle and its estate 15 years ago and it stands on the banks of the River Exe near Tiverton, Devon
A woman, now aged 21, has filed a lawsuit against Kansas City Public Schools claiming her school allowed convicted felon Roy Andrews (above) to take her out of class in 2010 and rape her.

A violent felon was allowed to pick up a 14-year-old girl from a Missouri high school without permission before raping her in a motel, a lawsuit alleges.

The student, who is now aged 21, claims she was in class at Lincoln College Preparatory Academy in Kansas City in May 2010 when Roy Andrews came to the school.

Andrews, a family acquaintance who had spent years in prison for murder, told the school the girl's parents wanted him to pick her up.

But he was not authorized to take her out of school and had not been given permission by the teen's parents.

The girl claims Andrews took her to a motel room after checking her out of school and raped her.

Her parents filed a police report about the alleged rape, but he was never charged as a result.

The girl is now suing multiple people, including Kansas City Public Schools, the former principal at Lincoln College Preparatory Academy and an attendance secretary at the school.

The lawsuit, obtained by DailyMail.com, alleges the school ignored its own policies by allowing her to leave with Andrews.

As part of a student's enrollment at Lincoln Prep, parents are required to complete a form listing all individuals who are authorized to pick up their child from school, the lawsuit states.

The girl's mother had never listed Andrews as an authorized person.

The student, who is now aged 21, claims that she was in class at Lincoln College Preparatory Academy (above) in Kansas City in May 2010 when Roy Andrews came to the school

The suit claims the attendance secretary did not try to contact the girl's parents to confirm Andrews had permission to pick her up.

Andrews had previously spent 16 years in prison for murder in 1990 and served a separate two years sentence after pleading guilty in 2007 to felony assault for shooting a man.

The lawsuit states that the victim's parents would never have given Andrews authorization to pick up the student given his 'predatory reputation'.

In 2012, two years after the alleged rape of the girl, DNA evidence linked him to an old rape case involving a woman and her 11-year-old daughter in 1990.

Andrews is currently serving an 18-year prison sentence for those two rapes.

The recent lawsuit against Kansas City Public Schools is seeking unspecified damages.

The school district said it does not comment on pending litigation.
Scotland Yard has formally apologised for failing to reveal that an undercover officer was involved in the release of thousands of mink from a fur farm in the 1990s.

The police mole, who used the cover name Christine Green, posed as an animal rights campaigner and took part in the raid on Crow Hill Farm in Ringwood, Hampshire on August 8, 1998.

She was given permission by her bosses, potentially up to the rank of detective chief superintendent, to take part in the crime, Scotland Yard said.

Investigators from Hampshire Constabulary were not told until 2014 that an undercover officer had infiltrated the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), the group that carried out the vandalism.

A farm worker recaptures a mink at Crow Hill Farm, after animal rights activists broke in

Scotland Yard has formally apologised for failing to reveal that an undercover officer was involved in the release of thousands of mink from a fur farm in the 1990s. The police mole, who used the cover name Christine Green, posed as an animal rights campaigner and took part in the raid on Crow Hill Farm (pictured) in Ringwood, Hampshire on August 8, 1998

Up to 6,000 mink flooded over neighbouring properties and many of the predators were killed to protect pets and livestock.

No charges were ever brought over the raid.

On Tuesday, the chairman of a public inquiry into the actions of Scotland Yard's former undercover unit, the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS), decided to publish Ms Green's cover name.

Up to 6,000 mink flooded over neighbouring properties and many of the predators were killed to protect pets and livestock

Her real name will not be revealed.

Assistant Commissioner Helen Ball, in charge of Professionalism at the Met, said: 'The Metropolitan Police Service has apologised to Hampshire Constabulary for the impact these decisions had on their ability to bring those responsible to justice.

'The precise circumstances of the decision to authorise an undercover officer to participate in this criminal act will be fully explored as part of the Public Inquiry process.

'I would like to be clear that the decision making surrounding this incident would simply not happen in today's Metropolitan Police Service.

'It appears that the SDS allowed this incident to go ahead, as they saw it, in the interests of preventing more serious crime in the longer term.

'The scale of the release was unforeseen by the SDS at the time, but once the impact became clear they still did not inform Hampshire Constabulary of the officer's involvement.

'I do understand that this decision making from 20 years ago will cause significant concern to the public, especially those people directly affected by the events in 1998.

'The MPS will be honest about our past and accept criticism where it is due.'

Christine Green infiltrated the ALF and London Animal Action between 1994 and 1999.

She resigned from the Met in August 2000.

The police probe into undercover tactics, Operation Herne, investigated Ms Green's conduct and in February 2016 prosecutors advised that there was not enough evidence to charge her with any crime.
Donald Trump Jr. has liked a tweet criticizing a teenage survivor of Florida's high school massacre last week which suggest he was not really there and cannot be trusted because he is the son of a retired FBI agent.

The tweet mocks 17-year-old David Hogg, a student journalist who fled gunman Nikolas Cruz along with his classmates at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on Wednesday.

Since the shooting, Hogg has been relentless in his calls for tighter gun laws and has repeatedly asked the president to do more to end gun violence.

In one interview he told how his 51-year-old father, Kevin, was a retired FBI agent and said it was 'disgusting' for the president and his family to blame the shooting on the bureau which missed several warning signs that Cruz was dangerous.

On Saturday, Twitter user Thomas Pine shared a link to a True Pundit story which poked holes in Hogg's comments.

It touted him as an 'outspoken, Trump-hating school shooting survivor' and the headline of the story was: 'MSM Helps Prop Up Incompetent Bureau.'

In the body of the story, the writer wrote cruelly: 'David Hogg is a school shooting survivor in Florida.

'At least that is what the mainstream media has told us. We wouldnt be surprised by anything involving the FBI at this point.'

Trump Jr, who is an avid hunter, liked it among a string of other conservative tweets which suggested gun reform would do nothing to prevent more mass shootings.

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Donald Trump Jr. liked a tweet on Tuesday which criticized one of the Florida school shooting's survivors and suggested his comments about gun reform could not be trusted because he was the son of a former FBI agent

Donald Trump Jr. is in India promoting for meetings at his family's Delhi hotel this week to house hunters who can now buy apartments in it

'While the media allowed Hogg to adorn us with his worldly teen views on the Constitution, they conveniently left out the part where the FBI was warned that the Florida school shooter had promised to shoot up a school  at least twice  long before the massacre that killed 17 students last week.'

It then appeared to blame Hogg for not telling his parents or school officials about their concerns about Cruz.

'If Hogg knew the shooter would snap  as he and other students have professed  perhaps he could have told his father about it.

'Oh but wait, his father was in the FBI. It would not have mattered anyway.

'Thats the funny thing about the limelight, kid. Often the lights can come crashing down on your head.'

The New York Post reports that Donald Jr. liked a second tweet which repeated the criticism.

It was written by The Daily Ledger host Graham Ledger and said: 'Could it be that this student is running cover for his dad who Works as an FBI agent at the Miami field office Which botched tracking down the Man behind the Valentine day massacre? Just wondering. Just connecting some dots.'

Hogg, who is organizing a rally in Washington DC next month with his classmates, said he was 'sickened' by the president's son's Twitter activity.

Hogg, 17, has been relentless in his calls for tighter gun laws since the shooting killed 14 of his classmates and three of his teachers

Donald Jr. is an avid hunter who regularly shares photographs of his collection of guns on social media

Donald Jr. is of the view that tighter gun laws would not prevent gun deaths. He has liked several tweets which suggest as much but is yet to share his opinion in his own words

'I just think it's a testament to the sick immaturity and broken state of our government when these people feel the need to pedal conspiracy theories about people that were in a school shooting where 17 people died and it just makes me sick.

While he has not tweeted himself about the atrocity, Donald Jr. has been busy supporting others who do not share Hogg's view of his father's policies. Above, a tweet he liked on Monday which says 'no one cares' about how many male suicides per gun there

'It's immature, rude, and inhuman for these people to destroy the people trying to prevent the death of the future of America because they won't,' he told BuzzFeed.

Over the weekend, Donald Jr. is said to have had multiple, lengthy conversations with his father at Mar-a-Lago about the issue of gun reform.

Sources cited by The Daily Beast said the pair spoke often while televisions were in front of them playing the interviews of survivors like Hogg.

In a tweet which outraged shooting survivors on Saturday, Trump appeared to blame the FBI for the mass murder

Donald Jr. implored his father to maintain his position on the issue and to focus instead on mental health checks, it was claimed.

Donald Jr. is in India on business.

Since the Parkland shooting, his own tweets have been limited to the FBI's investigation into Russian meddling but he has liked several others about gun control.

All suggest that a change in the law would not have prevented the massacre and focus instead on monitoring gun owners' mental health.

President Trump has said he is working on 'many fronts' with Congress in wake of the shooting but he is yet to promise any reform on the law on owning or purchasing guns.

Conservative critics suggested David could not be trusted because his father Kevin (above with him, his mother Rebecca and his younger sister) was a retired FBI agent

The family moved to Florida in 2014 from California. David proudly said last week that his father and other FBI agents were among the hardest working people he knew and they should not be blamed for the shooting despite the bureau being warned numerous times about Cruz

He appeared to blame the FBI for the shooting last week in a tweet which outraged other survivors.

Among them was Hogg who asked why he and other politicians relied on the NRA's donations.

'If you cant get elected without taking money from child murderers, why are you running?' he told CNN.

He added that his father and other former FBI agents were among the 'hardest working people in the world'.

Neither Kevin nor David's mother Rebecca has spoken out on the issue since their son stormed the nation's media last week.

The family moved to Florida from California in 2014.

David's mother Rebecca advocates for Planned Parenthood on social media.

She also appears to be a fan of CNN, on which he has appeared numerous times this past week and which the Trumps notoriously dislike.

The family are avid CNN fans and visited the network's headquarters in 2016. David's mother is pictured posing with a cardboard cutout of Anderson Cooper (left). David, who is involved with his student news network and is a budding young journalist, right, is pictured behind the anchor's desk
Two reckless youths were filmed appearing to be 'bus surfing' on the back of the no. 4 bus which runs between Archway and Waterloo stations.

The two thrill-seeking young males, who were clinging to the back of the bus, were filmed by a vehicle behind the bus and posted onto Instagram.

London's transport authorities have slammed the behaviour as 'reckless and life-threatening' after seeing the duo in the footage.

Steve Burton, Transport for London's Director of Compliance, Policing and On Streets Services branded the stunt as extremely reckless and said that it will not be tolerated.

'The actions of these individuals not only pose a risk to their personal safety, but also the safety of the drivers and passengers,' he said.

Extremely dangerous: The footage of the two daredevils was filmed by the vehicle behind the bus and appears to show them clinging to the no. 4 bus which runs from archway to Waterloo

TfL reports show that London buses can travel up to 40mph, proving that the stunt is extremely dangerous for those involved.

A spokesman for Metroline, the company which operates the bus route with TfL,said: 'This is very dangerous and potentially life threatening; such actions also pose a risk to other members of the public and other road users and we will assist the police to ensure appropriate action is taken.'

Now there's a way to get a free ride! The stunt was branded reckless and dangerous by TfL and also poses a risk to other road users

Bus surfing, despite being illegal and carrying a hefty fine of up to 1,000, has been filmed all over the UK.

A similar incident happened just a week ago when the police appealed for information following a video of three children clinging onto the back of a bus which was travelling in the Islington area.

The footage was posted on social media by the motorcyclist who said: 'Ive often seen kids doing this but this is the first time Ive caught it on my headcam'.
Students should have the right to shun controversial debates on campuses if they risk being painful or difficult experiences, a leading university chief has said.

Baroness Valerie Amos, the director of SOAS University of London, said universities should balance their commitment to free speech with their duty to support students.

She said that while there should be spaces for hot topics to be discussed, students must have the right not to attend them.

Baroness Amos said universities have a commitment to free speech but also need to respect students rights not to attend

However, she stopped short of giving permission for youngsters to skip compulsory lectures which form part of their courses.

Her comments, made at a conference held by the university funding body Hefce, follow a debate over free speech at universities.

Many student unions have stopped guest speakers from appearing on campuses because they claim their views might upset women, ethnic minorities, trans people and other groups.

Critics have said it is symptomatic of a snowflake generation which is unable to cope with the realities of the world.

Lady Amos said: As universities we have a responsibility towards free speech but we also have a responsibility to make sure it is done in a way which is supportive of our students who have gone through experiences where that commitment to freedom of speech can lead to extremely painful and difficult experiences.

She added: We need to support difficult and robust debate about difficult and complex issues but we also have to respect the right of students not to attend if they so wish  to attend and engage in the vast debate if they so wish.

Baroness Amos is director of SOAS, formerly the School of Oriental and African Studies

We need to ensure that we create the space for students to be able to disagree and question.

The university said her comments only applied to extra-curricular events in which guest speakers were invited  and not to classes or lecturers.

It said students should not be forced to engage in these optional events if they do not feel comfortable.

In her wide-ranging speech, Lady Amos also said SOAS had a working group to decolonise the university and make it more sensitive to the culture of ethnic minorities and less focussed on the West.

As part of that we are looking at how to decolonise knowledge and in particular decolonise our literature and pedagogy, she said.

Faculty members discussed the issue at the university senate last year and posed questions such as how far the programme or syllabus presumes a particular profile and mind-set of students.

At other universities, faculties have worked to include more ethnic minority writers and theorists on the curriculum.

She added: Given that we are specialists in certain regions of the world  Asia, Africa, the Middle East  and looking at the perspective of those regions, it should be easier for us.

SOAS was formerly named the School of Oriental and African Studies and has a tradition for student activism and radical politics.
President Donald Trump called on politicians on both sides of the aisle to back stronger background checks for prospective gun owners on Tuesday.

'Whether we are Republican or Democrat, we must now focus on strengthening Background Checks!' the president tweeted.

Hours earlier, Trump took action to outlaw bump stocks like the one used in the Las Vegas massacre last fall.

'I signed a memorandum directing the Attorney General to propose regulations to ban all devices that turn legal weapons into machine guns,' Trump said in the wake of a Florida massacre in which the killer did not use such a device.

His push for stricter gun controls comes after thousands of students and parents have called on his administration to implement changes to prevent future mass shootings.

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'Whether we are Republican or Democrat, we must now focus on strengthening Background Checks!' Trump tweeted on Tuesday night

The tweet came just hours after Trump announced Tuesday he wants to outlaw bump stocks like the one used in the Las Vegas shooting last year. He made the announcement at a Medal of Valor ceremony at the White House

Trump's bump stocks directive, which he pointedly brought up at a White House Medal of Valor ceremony, followed his press secretary's announcement minutes before that the president had ordered his administration to look at ways it could unilaterally deter mass shootings like the one in Parkland.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders also said that Trump had not closed the door on new gun controls, including an assault weapons ban that is unpopular with the president's base.

Sanders said Tuesday at her first briefing since the shooting that Trump had also directed his Health and Human Services department to review its rule-making ability and to advise him on possible improvements it could make to the mental health system.

Trump has not provided specifics about what he wants new background checks to entail of what changes he envisions to the mental health system.

One of the actions Trump took early into his presidency was to withdraw an Obama-era initiative making it more difficult for people with mental health issues to buy guns.

The president will hold a listening session with survivors of mass shootings, including the 1999 massacre at Columbine High School, parents and teachers. He'll have a White House meeting the following day with state and local leaders.

After that, with the input of his administration, Sanders said that Trump will come up with concrete proposals on how to mitigate rampages like the one in Parkland.

'Unfortunately, when horrific tragedies like this happen, everybody wants a quick and a simple answer, but there isn't one.' she told reporters. 'There's not a quick and there's not a simple answer.'

'I signed a memorandum directing the Attorney General to propose regulations to ban all devices that turn legal weapons into machine guns,' Trump said in the wake of a Florida massacre in which the killer did use such a device. Trump is seen above with Attorney General Jeff Sessions at Tuesday's White House event

Students are planning marches in cities all around the nation, including Washington, D.C. to demand action next month.

'President Trump, I think it's really important that you listen to us, We are your constituents, and you're working for us. And kids are dead,' one student organizer, Sofie Whitney, told CNN just after Trump's bum stock announcement. 'It's really symbolic that we're the ones doing it because we're the ones who experienced it.'

Riding on a school bus at the time of the interview, Whitney, said Trump's ban is 'obviously, that's a step forward.'

'But there's still so much more to be done,' she said. 'Because even though that would have stopped deaths in Las Vegas, it still wouldn't have helped when it came to my school.'

The gesture to ban bump stocks immediately came under attack from Democrats, including Dianne Feinstein, who is a co-sponsor of legislation in the Senate to ban bump stocks.

'Im glad President Trump finally understands that bump stocks should be illegal. Now he needs to follow through with action and support our bill to ban these deadly devices,' she said in a statement.

ATF is already in the middle of a rule-making process for bump stocks. 'I expect that these critical regulations will be finalized very soon,' Trump said Tuesday

Feinstein said that ATF currently does not have the authority to do what Trump directed Attorney General Jeff Sessions to do.

'The agency made this clear in a 2013 letter to Congress, writing that "stocks of this type are not subject to the provisions of federal firearms statutes." '

ATF is already in the middle of a rule-making process for bump stocks. A comment period on the proposed regulations ended several weeks ago.

On Tuesday, Feinstein said that the rule-making process could be tied up in court for years, if ATF follows through on Trump's direction 'and that would mean bump stocks would continue to be sold.'

'Legislation is the only answer,' she stated. 'Words are one thing, Mr. President, but we need meaningful action. If you want these devices off the street, call congressional Republicans and tell them to stop blocking our bill.'

Trump said Tuesday at the White House event that he had directed his AG to 'clarify whether certain bump stock devices, like the one used in Las Vegas, are illegal under current law' and that review began in December.

'I expect that these critical regulations will be finalized very soon,' Trump said Tuesday from the White House's East Room.

The president had come under scrutiny, though, in the days since the Florida shooting for his relative silence on the issue of gun violence after he failed to mention firearms, aside from a reference to gunfire that took place at Marjory Stoneman, in a national address the day after.

He insisted at the White House event on Tuesday afternoon that school safety is a 'top priority' of his administration.

'The key in all of these efforts, as I said in my remarks the day after the shooting, is that we cannot merely take actions that make us feel like we are making a difference,' he said. 'We must actually make a difference.'

The White House on Monday said that Trump is mulling legislation to strengthen existing background check and federal firearms laws in the wake of last week's Florida massacre.

Sanders said Trump has been in touch with the Republican author of a Senate bill that would provide the carrot and the stick to states and federal agencies to provide better comply with background check requirements and those conversations are ongoing.

'While discussions are ongoing and revisions are being considered, the President is supportive of efforts to improve the Federal background check system,' she said in a Monday statement.

Sanders did not go into further detail on Tuesday on what specifically the president would be willing to support when it comes to background checks or other gun controls.

'But we want to make sure that we're addressing the problem. And we want to make sure that we're meeting and talking with as many people that not only are affected, but that play in this process as possible,' she stated.

The president's spokeswoman suggested that Trump might even be willing to endorse gun control legislation that has been repudiated by Republicans like an assault weapons ban.

'I don't have any specific announcements, but we haven't closed the door on any front,' she said. 'Again, that's the next several days and weeks will be -- to have conversations and to see what this process looks like, and to see what areas we can help make changes to, and in what places that we can do better.'

President Donald Trump, seen leaving Palm Beach on Monday, is mulling legislation to strengthen existing background check and federal firearms laws in the wake of last week's Florida massacre

Children lay flowers at the crosses for the 17 victims for the Valentine's Day mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Monday

This cross, seen Monday in Parkland, Florida, honors the memory of Peter Wang

Ashley Boul and Joel Robinson (L), who is an alumni of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, visit a makeshift memorial setup in front of the school on Monday

Protestors join in on a grassroots movement during a rally against gun violence in downtown Los Angeles on Monday in response to the tragic shooting last week in Parkland

The Senate legislation that the White House has said that Trump would be willing to back looks to 'fix' the National Instant Criminal Background Check System legislation has the backing of key senators on both sides of the aisle.

On the Republican side, it is being pushed by Sen. John Cornyn, the majority whip. Democrat Chris Murphy of Connecticut, whose state is home to Newtown, is a sponsor, as well.

GOP Sen. James Lankford, another sponsor of the bill, said Sunday on 'Meet the Press' that he legislation primarily upgrades 'our background check system to make sure that all the information is actually getting in there.'

'We have a lot of warning signs that were out there, and people in Parkland, and all across the country, have every reason to be grieved and incredibly furious,' Lankford said.

The senator said that Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz's file should have reflected social service visits to his home, his expulsion from school, the violent posts he made online and warnings people who were concerned about him sent into the FBI.

'All the warning signs were there. The community did all the things the community should do to engage. They saw something, they said something, and nothing was done,' the Oklahoma senator said.

Cornyn has not commented on the White House's suggestion Monday that it would be willing to get behind his bill, depending on how the finalized text is worded.

Murphy said in a tweet that the statement made for an 'interesting morning' and the president's support for the legislation 'is another sign the politics of gun violence are shifting rapidly.'

The Democrat crusader for gun control legislation also said, 'No one should pretend this bill alone is an adequate response to this epidemic.'

President Trump celebrated his Monday holiday with a trip to his West Palm Beach golf club after forgoing the routine that takes him from one property to the other most weekend mornings when he's in town out of respect for the Parkland shooting victims

A progressive organization with the sole purpose of cracking down on firearms laws they see as too lax likewise said that the measure alone was not to make a dent in gun violence.

'If all Congress does is pass the Fix NICS Act, then lawmakers will have failed to meet this moment and do their job,' Everytown for Gun Safety said.

The group said that Americans across the country are 'demanding that Congress finally get serious and meet this moment with robust action to reduce gun violence' and the Cornyn-Murphy bill 'is a small step forward.'

'Congress needs to do much more, starting with legislation to require criminal background checks on every gun sale -- supported by 95 percent of Americans,' the group said.

Background checks are not required when firearms are sold by private sellers, including at gun shows. The exemption has given rise to the term 'gun show loophole' for that reason.

Legislators unsuccessfully attempted to pass legislation in the Senate placing new restrictions on firearms sales in 2013 after a mentally ill man gunned down 20 children at Sandy Hook Elementary in Murphy's home state.

Then-President Barack Obama aggressively chased the reforms but none of the measures earned the required 60 votes in bitterly divided upper chamber.

A assault weapons ban championed by California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein and background check legislation spearheaded by Sens. Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia, and Pat Toomey, a Republican from Pennsylvania, each failed.

Lashing out at his predecessor's party on Twitter on Saturday evening, Trump said, 'Just like they dont want to solve the DACA problem, why didnt the Democrats pass gun control legislation when they had both the House & Senate during the Obama Administration.

'Because they didnt want to, and now they just talk!' the Republican asserted.

Democrats were in control of the House and Senate for Obama's first two years in office. They chose to prioritize healthcare reform in those years, ultimately passing Obamacare.

Obama's gun control push in his second term, when Democrats controlled the Senate but not the House, did not pan out. The president consequently took as much executive action as the White House believed he legally had the power to in order to enact some new firearms regulations.

Republicans lawmakers rolled back an Obama-era rule that was intended to make it more difficult for people with mental health issues to purchase guns at the beginning of 2017.

Democrats were swift to point out on Thursday that it was Trump who signed the legislation containing the scale-back into law after the Republican president said mental health was the issue.

Trump in a tweet also appeared to blame peers of Cruz's and adults around him who knew that something was off about his behavior and did not contact the police.

US President Donald Trump (C) talks with his son Barron (L) as First Lady Melania Trump (R) boards Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach on Monday to return to Washington

A separate message that Trump sent over the weekend that ridiculed federal authorities for not acting on a tip upset students who survived the shooting because it made reference to the FBI's investigation into collusion between his campaign and Russia in the 2016 election.

A student claiming to be a survivor of the shooting said in response:'17 of my classmates are gone. That's 17 futures, 17 children, and 17 friends stolen. But you're right, it always has to be about you. How silly of me to forget. #neveragain" '

Trump visited Broward Health North hospital on Friday evening and spoke to two victims of the Parkland high school shooting behind closed doors.

'Its sad something like that could happen,' Trump said of the massacre that snuffed out 17 young lives.

The president and first lady also stopped by the Broward County Sheriffs office in Fort Lauderdale.

He was joined there by Florida Gov. Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Sen. Marco Rubio, who caught a ride on Air Force One with the president.

Scott has called on FBI Director Chris Wray to resign, but the White House said Tuesday that Trump still has confidence in the DOJ official.
Authorities were repeatedly asked to look into the wellbeing of a Northern Territory toddler who was allegedly raped last week, family and friends have claimed.

The two-year-old girl from Tennant Creek was flown to the Alice Springs Hospital on Friday before being rushed to the Women's and Children's Hospital in Adelaide, where she was placed in an induced coma because of the severity of her injuries.

A 24-year-old man has since been arrested and charged with sexual assault and was denied bail when he appeared in court on Monday.

Child protection services and police were repeatedly asked to look into the wellbeing of a Northern Territory toddler who was allegedly raped last week, family and friends have claimed (pictured is Tennant Creek)

The two-year-old girl from Tennant Creek was flown to the Alice Springs Hospital (pictured) on Friday

A man who said he has been 'like a dad' to the young girl told The Australian child protection services and police were alerted to the toddler's well-being by multiple people close to her.

He said the two-year-old's alleged assault was indicative of the issues plaguing Tennant Creek.

'It's a forgotten town running rampant with violence,' the relative said.

'Someone has got to be held accountable for this little girl. How many [child protection] notifications do you have to put in before Territory Families does something?'

Area locals said the girl lives in 'The Bronx' of Tennant Creek and said both of her parents are alcoholics and had run-ins with the law.

A source told NT News a party was hosted at the young girl's home before the alleged incident.

'It's understood a party, with alcohol involved, was at the house preceding the incident,' the source said.

'A man died in the house several weeks before.'

The two-year-old girl (stock) was later transported to the Women's and Children's Hospital in Adelaide because of the severity of her injuries

CEO of Manungurra Aboriginal Corporation Graeme Smith told the publication he and his wife lived near the family and often heard the girl's parents argue over her.

'Sometimes we would ring the cops but other times we would just say, "What's the point?' This kid should not have been allowed to get to this stage",' he said.

Police said there were no other suspects in relation to the girl's alleged sexual assault.

On Thursday, the day the toddler was allegedly assaulted, local police officers were called to attended 58 incidents in the town between 3pm and 6am on Friday, according to the ABC.

A 44-year-old Tennant Creek man died last week after he was allegedly assaulted by a 41-year-old man.

The increase in crime has prompted the Acting Chief Minister Nicole Manison, Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw and Minister for Territory Families Dale Wakefield to meet in the town on Friday.

'Repeated trauma has scarred our communities for decades. Too many Territorians have lived this nightmare for too long,' Chief Minister of the Northern Territory told the ABC.
Adrienne Satterly, 41 (pictured), has been charged with 14 counts of first-degree arson after she set her home on fire when she lost it in a divorce

A Georgia woman has been charged with 14 counts of first-degree arson after she set her home on fire when she lost it in a divorce, damaging 20 other homes in the process.

According to the state insurance and safety fire commissioner's office, 41-year-old Adrienne Satterly left her Rosemont Court house with her two cats but not before she set a pile of mattresses on fire in the kitchen.

The blaze destroyed four homes, two sustained significant damage and 14 other homes suffered varying degrees of heat and smoke damage.

She then walked to a Walmart an hour away on Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway before calling 911 at about 3.25am on Sunday, office spokesman Glenn Allen told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

In 911 audio obtained on Tuesday by The Constitution, Satterly never mentioned a fire. She told a dispatcher she had a 'kitty cat and a suitcase' and asked if someone could pick her up from Walmart.

Satterly left her Rosemont Court house with her two cats but not before she set a pile of mattresses on fire in the kitchen (left and right). She then walked to a Walmart an hour away on Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway before calling 911 at about 3.25am

The blaze destroyed four homes, two sustained significant damage and 14 other homes suffered varying degrees of heat and smoke damage

In 911 audio obtained on Tuesday by The Constitution, Satterly never mentioned a fire. She told a dispatcher she had a 'kitty cat and a suitcase' and asked if someone could pick her up from Walmart (Pictured, the homes on Rosemont Court)

'Where do you need them to go?' the dispatcher asked.

'To Greystone,' Satterly said. 'By the hospital.'

She gave her address to the Rosemont Court home but told the dispatcher that she had been ordered to leave the residence due to a case.

The Constitution says it is unclear from the audio if authorities ever picked Satterly up and took her home.

By the time firefighters arrived in the neighborhood of Hiram, the blaze had spread from Satterly's home to 19 others.

Deputy Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Jay Florence told Dallas Patch that because it was windy on Sunday, it contributed to how quickly the blaze spread.

By the time firefighters arrived in the neighborhood of Hiram, the blaze had spread from Satterly's home to 19 others. Deputy Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Jay Florence told said because it was windy on Sunday, it contributed to how quickly the blaze spread

The damage is estimated to surpass $1million, officials said. Everyone got out of their homes safely, but one man suffered a minor ankle injury, authorities said

Satterly remained jailed on Tuesday in Paulding County, where she is being held without bond. First-degree arson is a felony with a penalty of one to 20 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $50,000.

The damage is estimated to surpass $1million, officials said.

Everyone got out of their homes safely, but one man suffered a minor ankle injury, authorities said.

A cat and two dogs from two neighboring homes died, however.

'I lost my two dogs, which is the hardest thing because material things can be replaced, but my dogs is my -- that breaks my heart,' neighbor Auzalea Godfrey said.

Satterly has been charged with 14 counts of first-degree arson and three counts of aggravated animal cruelty.

She remained jailed on Tuesday in Paulding County, where she is being held without bond.

First-degree arson is a felony with a penalty of one to 20 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $50,000.
Two men have been charged over a shooting incident south-west of Melbourne at an apartment block.

On Monday afternoon police officers armed with assault rifles stormed a quiet street near Adelphi Boulevard after shots were fired at an apartment block.

Heavily-armed police wearing bullet proof vests were seen in numbers roaming Adelphi Boulevard in Point Cook just after 5.30pm.

Police and Special Operation Group were at the scene of the shooting on Adelphi Boulevard in Point Cook

Residents were told to lock their doors as police searched for the gunman, believed to have fired shots at an apartment block.

On Tuesday a 27-year-old South Melbourne man was charged with possess proceeds of crime, possess ammunition and drug-related offences.

Later investigators executed a search warrant at an address in Wyndham Vale afternoon and arrested a second man.

The 32-year-old Wyndham Vale man has been charged with reckless conduct endangering life, reckless conduct endangering serious injury and possess a firearm.

Both Police and the Special Operations Group attended at the scene of the shooting.

No one was injured in the shooting, which is believed to be a targeted attack.

Police searched for the weapon after shell casings were found at the scene.

Police were searching for a weapon after locating casings at the scene of the shooting
Marked for death: Death row inmate Doyle Lee Hamm, 61, is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on February 22, 30 years after murdering an Alabama motel clerk

A federal judge has ruled that a cancer-stricken Alabama inmate's veins are in good enough condition that the state can execute him by lethal injection.

US District Judge Karon Bowdre on Tuesday denied Doyle Lee Hamm's plea to block his execution scheduled for Thursday.

Hamm's attorney has argued lymphoma and hepatitis C have damaged his veins to the point that lethal injection would be unconstitutionally painful.

Bowdre said an independent medical review found that Hamm, 61, has usable veins in his legs and feet. The expert said ultrasound would be needed to tap the veins in his upper extremities.

Hamm is scheduled to be put to death for the 1987 murder of motel clerk Patrick Cunningham, reported Al.com.

Hamm's attorney, Bernard Harcourt, said he has asked the judge to reconsider and will appeal the decision.

Hamm has been on Death Row at Holman Prison since December 1987 after being convicted of Cunningham's murder.

Unusable: Hamm's attorney has argued lymphoma and hepatitis C have damaged his veins (pictured in his arms and hands) to the point that lethal injection would be unconstitutionally painful

Alternatives: A federal judge has ruled that an independent medical review found that Hamm has usable veins in his legs (left) and feet (right)

The victim, an employee of Andersons Motel in Cullman, was shot in the head during a robbery that apparently netted about $410.

In the course of the investigation, Hamm confessed to the murder; in exchange for being allowed to plead guilty to lesser offenses, two accomplices testified against him.

Hamms lawyer previously said the inmate has been battling cranial and lymphatic cancer for over three years. Treatment has compromised his veins, and lethal injection would likely cause 'cruel and needless pain,' according to papers filed last December by Harcourt, who has represented Hamm since 1990.

'What were litigating right now is the specific venous protocol for lethal injection as applied to Doyles situation, given his lymphatic cancer, rather than the general cruelty of the drug cocktail in Alabama,' Harcourt said. 'Overall, I have to say, its inhumane to execute somebody whos at the end of his life suffering and battling with cancer.'

The Alabama Attorney General's Office argued Hamm's cancer is in remission.

Killer: Hamm (pictured in a 1981 mugshot, left) has been on death row for 30 years. He was convicted of murdering a motel clerk in 1987 during a robbery that netted $410

Harcourt retained Dr. Mark Heath, an anesthesiologist and professor of medicine at Columbia University, to examine Hamm in late September 2017.

Heath assessed Hamms condition by using Harcourts tie as a tourniquet to probe for veins because corrections officials did not allow him to bring medical equipment into the prison.

'There are no accessible veins on [Hamms] left upper extremity (arm/hand) or either of his lower extremities [legs/feet],' Heath found.

Use of one 'potentially accessible' vein on Hamms right hand 'would have a high chance of rupturing the vein and being unsuccessful,' he added in a written statement Harcourt filed with the court.
The remains of a Sydney drug kingpin abducted in 2014 may have been stuffed into a 44-gallon drum and set alight on a property north-west of the city.

Raphael Joseph, 37, disappeared from a McDonald's restaurant in Auburn in March 2014. Police believe he was kidnapped, tortured and murdered by a drug supply syndicate, The Daily Telegraph reported.

While it was previously unknown what had happened to the man after he got into the car, police now say they have details of exactly what happened, and know who was responsible.

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Raphael Joseph (pictured) was 37-years-old when he was last seen in March 2014 getting into the back of a silver Holden Commodore at Auburn with at least two other men

His body may have been stuffed into a 44-gallon drum and burned at a property in Blaxland's Ridge (pictured)

A large cluster of barrels were seen placed near the outskirts of the property and are surrounded by bushland (pictured)

'We are confident we know what happened,' Detective Inspector Grant Taylor told reporters on Tuesday.

'We know very well there were several people involved in this murder, we know who they are, and they can expect a visit from us in the near future.'

Police swarmed the Blaxlands Ridge property, north of Richmond, on Tuesday and seized large barrels. On Wednesday, officers will use 'excavation equipment and other new technology to search the property'.

Det Insp. Taylor told reporters the 37-year-old had been murdered at another property known to police before he was taken to the Blaxlands Ridge property in a white Toyota Hi-Ace van.

Detective Inspector Grant Taylor told reporters police know 'very well' what happened and who was involved in Mr Joseph's death

Police and forensic investigators scoured the Blaxlands Ridge property on Tuesday and will begin excavation work on Wednesday

Det Insp Taylor told reporters on Tuesday police believed Mr Joseph was murdered at one premises before his body was transported to the Blaxlands Ridge property

The officer believes 'greed, financial gain and organised crime networks in competition with each other' were the motivations for the crime, as Raphael Joseph was known to have large sums of money.

Before his death, the international king-pin told people there was a $100,000 bounty on his head.

Six years before his disappearance, Mr Joseph had been extradited from the United States over his suspected role in in the fatal shooting of Dimitri Debaz in the Sefton car park of the Playhouse Hotel in 2002, which sparked a wave of crime in the city's southwest.

Mr Joseph was charged with murder but the case was later dropped.

Known as Huss or Hussany to his mates and family, Mr Joseph pleaded with US authorities to keep him in the country because an Australian crime family had placed a $100,000 bounty on his head.

He also claimed members of Sydney's Bronx Boys gang wanted to murder him and his lawyer previously filed documents in court alleging his friends and associates had been kidnapped and tortured.

The property (pictured), located north of Richmond, was known to police to have been used by a competing drug syndicate
A notorious ISIS fighter has admitted to being a member of Islamic State, but denied leading and recruiting for the terror group in Australia.

Neil Prakash appeared in a Turkish court Tuesday, but a decision on whether he would be extradited back to Australia was deferred to a court hearing on May 24.

Appearing in the Kilis Criminal Court, the Melbourne-born jihadist said he had nothing to do with the group in Australia.

Neil Prakash (pictured) admitted to being a member of Islamic State, but denied leading and recruiting for the terrorist group in Australia

The 26-year-old appeared by video link from a prison north of Kilis.

He faces charges in Australia over his promotion of Islamic State and his recruitment of militants to fight for the group in Syria and carry out attacks in Australia.

He was arrested 16 months ago trying to cross the border from Syria into Turkey after deserting Islamic State and is being held in jail on terror-related charges.

The decision by Judge Ismail Deniz to adjourn an extradition decision until May 24 came after the prosecution asked for more time to provide a report on whether Prakash should be extradited, News Corp reported.

'I am not guilty of DEAS [the Turkish acronym for ISIS] in Australia. I have nothing to do with the leadership in Australia,' said Prakash (pictured)

He is the most senior Australian Islamic State terrorist to be captured and would be the first senior figure to be extradited and charged under legislation introduced in 2015 in response to the threat posed by Islamic State.

Prakash has been linked to a failed Melbourne plot to behead a police officer, and another attack that saw two officers stabbed outside a Melbourne police station.

Born to a Fijian father and a Cambodian mother, he converted to Islam in Cambodia in 2012 and later travelled to the Middle East to join ISIS.

He left Australia for Syria in 2013 and featured in Islamic State propaganda videos calling for attacks on Australia and the US.

Prakash has been linked to a failed Melbourne plot to behead a police officer, and another attack that saw two officers stabbed outside a Melbourne police station

Australia previously requested Turkey extradite him, and Canberra once reported him as having been killed in a US airstrike in northern Iraq.

Prakash's defence lawyer said prior to his February 20 hearing a verdict must be reached.

'There are no solid accusations against him in the lawsuit files. This trial is to decide whether Turkey would extradite Prakash to Australia or not,' Mr Unver said.
Mystery: Isabella Hellmann and Lewis Bennett were on a belated honeymoon cruise

An Australian sailor has been charged with murdering his wife in the Caribbean on their honeymoon and staging a yacht accident to cover it up.

Lewis Bennett was charged with second degree murder in Florida on Tuesday, ten months after he reported his wife Isabella Hellmann missing from their crashed catamaran off the coast off Cuba.

US Coast Guard rescuers found Bennett alone in his life raft in May 2017 after the supposed accident, and he claimed his wife had vanished overboard while alone at the helm.

Bennett has already been jailed in Florida for smuggling $100,000 in gold coins into the US and will now face trial for his wife's murder.

Bennett, 41, who lived in Poole, Dorset, in the United Kingdom, was arrested on suspicion of second degree murder in a Miami court, where he was also sentenced to seven months in prison for smuggling stolen coins.

In a court document, FBI Special Agent James Kelley said the bureau believes Bennett 'knowingly and unlawfully killed' Isabella Hellmann, the mother of his child.

According to the FBI, Bennett told investigators he had gone below deck on their boat near the Bahamas and left Hellman above to keep watch.

The FBI says he falsely claimed she disappeared after the supposed accident.

He had previously admitted to smuggling up to $100,000 in stolen coins.

The coins had gone missing from another yacht in the Caribbean last year at a time when Bennett was sailing it on its owner's behalf.

The charge was brought by the FBI as it investigates the disappearance of the defendant's wife Isabella Hellmann.

Rescuers found the British-Australian dual citizen, 40, alone in his life raft on May 15 after he made an SOS call to say Ms Hellmann, 41, was missing and his 37-ft catamaran was taking on water.

On May 14  Mother's Day in the US  the Australian yachtsman and his wife were on the final leg of a belated honeymoon cruise through the northern Caribbean on his 37 ft catamaran, Surf Into Summer.

As Bennett later recounted to the US Coastguard, he had gone to bed in his cabin at 8pm, exhausted after five days on the water as they sailed from Cuba home to Florida.

Capsized: Bennett's abandoned catamaran was found capsized about 30 miles away from Cay Sal

Bennett said that his wife, Isabella Hellmann, had been given the helm and left alone in charge of the vessel.

He described how he had been woken at around 1am by the loud thud of the boat hitting an object, and, that when he went on deck, his wife had disappeared.

Bennett, a businessman and mining engineer, fired his emergency positioning beacon and sent out a distress call after he realised the catamaran was taking on water.

Two hours later, he was rescued  safe and sound, but alone  by a US Coastguard helicopter about 30 miles west of the Bahamas.

An exhaustive four-day air and sea search for his 41-year-old wife, a beautiful Colombian-born estate agent (pictured) he had married three months earlier, never found a trace

He was floating in a life raft 1,000 yards from the now half-submerged boat, which he had abandoned after first gathering his possessions.

He said he believed the catamaran had hit something.

He also told investigators that the mast had been loose and 'there is a possibility that she may have (fallen) in the water due to an accident with the mast hitting her'.

An exhaustive four-day air and sea search for his wife, a Colombian-born estate agent he married three months earlier, never found a trace  even though he said she had been wearing a life jacket.

At 5ft 4in and 7st 12lb, and dressed only in light clothing, she would probably only have survived in the water for a few hours if she had been conscious.

The tragedy has left the couple's 15-month-old daughter Emelia, who was being looked after by Isabella's family in Florida at the time, motherless.

Detectives said they found a stash of silver coins in the raft before uncovering a haul of gold coins in the couple's home in Delray Beach, Florida.

Lawyers for his wife's family believe the couple's daughter, Emelia, is being looked after by Bennett's parents in Hampshire.

According to papers filed at court by his sister-in-law Adriana Difeo, in a legal challenge relating to Mr Bennett's control of his wife's finances, just one day after the Coastguard called off its search for her, Bennett asked the service for a 'letter of presumed death'  a document that would speed up the process of sorting out her financial affairs.

Florida law says nobody can be declared legally dead until he or she has been missing for at least five years.

The Coastguard returned the coins to Mr Bennett (pictured), but almost immediately discovered they might have been stolen

Isabella's disappearance remains officially under investigation, although no law enforcement agency has said whether or not Mr Bennett is a suspect.

However, in a police report relating to the Australian, an officer said he had been told by the US Marshals Service that Mr Bennett was being investigated over his missing spouse.

Prosecutors chose to include in their outline of the stolen coins case some fascinating travel records.

These show that Mr Bennett and Isabella flew to St Maarten in March this year  ten months after the 'burglary' on the yacht Kitty R  and again at the end of April.

What remains clear is that  before this week's arrest  there has been a very public fallout between Bennett and Isabella's family, with both sides making accusations against the other.

On the one side, her family have accused him to his face, and in front of police, of killing her.

He in turn has accused them of stealing from his home.

On May 28, he contacted police in Boca Raton, Florida, where  with his daughter Emelia in tow  he was visiting one of his wife's sisters.

Bennett also told investigators that the mast had been loose and 'there is a possibility that she may have (fallen) in the water due to an accident with the mast hitting her'. Pictured: The family home in Delray Beach

He requested the presence of officers as he recovered possessions belonging to his wife  including computers, an engagement ring, clothes and handbags  which he said her family had taken from his home while he was in Cuba after Isabella went missing, scouring its hospitals for his wife.

According to police, as soon as Mr Bennett arrived, his sister-in-law, Elizabeth Rodriguez screamed at him to get out and 'repeatedly stated that Lewis killed her sister'.

Mr Bennett and the accompanying officer decided it was best not to pursue the matter and left empty-handed.

Other members of Ms Hellmann's family have revealed they became dubious about Mr Bennett's account because of the unemotional way he reacted to the tragedy. Another of his sisters-in-law, Dayana Rodriguez, recalled: 'He was calm, he wasn't crying or anything. When I saw him, I ran to him and I hugged him and I said: 'Where is Isabella?' And he said: 'I don't know.' '

She was dumbfounded by the way her brother-in-law, an experienced seaman, had reacted to his wife's disappearance. When she asked him why he didn't stop the boat and drop anchor, he told her 'he needed to keep the boat on track', she said.

'I asked him: 'Do you think she's alive? Do you think she's dead?' And he said: 'I think she's asleep.' That was his answer.'

She said her mother had 'passed out on the floor' when Mr Bennett had rejected their pleas to keep baby Emelia in Florida, telling them: 'I'm leaving and you're not going to see the baby again.'

In June, weeks after Isabella Hellmann's disappearance, her oldest sister, Adriana Difeo, went to court in order to take over her sister's finances from Mr Bennett. That case has yet to be settled.

Asked about her sister's death, Ms Difeo said yesterday: 'We don't know the truth yet. We're waiting for the FBI report.' For his part, Mr Bennett has insisted he is entirely innocent of any involvement in his wife's death, and that it was 'absolutely devastating' to lose the 'soulmate I had always searched for'.
A Queensland man is facing animal cruelty charges after he allegedly strangled his neighbour's dog to death.

Police will allege the horrific incident occurred on January 8 in Grand St Pittsworth, when the man and his dog were in front of the alleged 71-year-old offenders house.

Police will further allege the offender held the dog on the ground with his hands around its throat before choking the animal to death in front of its carer.

A man is facing animal cruelty charges after allegedly strangling his neighbour's dog

The RSPCA described the incident as serious and believe some for of jail is appropriate

'The incident occurred in front of a number of witnesses including a four-year-old boy who was with his mother,' a woman told The Chronicle.

Victoria Police spoke to Daily Mail Australia and said there are no further developments in the incident.

The offender is scheduled to appear in Pittsworth Magistrates Court on March 16 with one count of animal cruelty.

The offence carries a maximum three-year prison sentence.

The alleged offender will appear in court on March 16 and is facing a maximum of three yeras

RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty told The Chronicle the incident was very serious.

'We are confident the magistrate will treat the matter with the gravity it deserves,' Mr Beatty said.

'We hope the sentence will be in line with community expectations and some form of jail time would be appropriate.'
The White House insisted Tuesday that a top-to-bottom review of security-clearance procedures initiated Friday by Chief of Staff John Kelly won't have any effect on presidential son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner.

Kelly wrote in a memo to White House Consel Don McGahn, National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster and four other top officials that he would soon severely limit the access of top aides operating with 'interim' security clearances, a group that reportedly includes Kushner.

But Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters Tuesday that 'no decision within the memo will impact anything that Jared Kushner is working on.'

That seems to suggest that he can perform his duties without any access to classified information.

Kushner spent Tuesday at the United Nations, sitting in on a Security Council meeting alongside U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley.

President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, a key adviser at the White House, has had an 'interim' security clearance for more than a year, and could lost it on Friday  but the White House insists it won't affect how he does his job. He's pictured Tuesday at a United Nations Security Council meeting in New York City

Chief of Staff John Kelly issued new directives Friday on how to handle temporary clearances, and they would seem to exclude Kushner having a clearance in the future

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters Tuesday that 'no decision within the memo will impact anything that Jared Kushner is working on'

Sanders also denied being aware of any 'red flags' in Kushner's background check that might deny him a permanent clearance.

'I think it's irresponsible to suggest that without having seen any individual's file,' she said, upbraiding a reporter.

President Trump's spokeswoman also said she was unaware of any time he had 'overruled' the White House's Office of Personnel Security, which makes final clearance recommendations to the West Wing.

Kelly wrote on Friday that beginning on February 23, he would 'discontinue any Top Secret or SCI-level interim clearances for individuals whose investigations or adjudications have been pending since June 1, 2007 or earlier.'

Kushner moved into the White House with the administration in late January 2017.

'SCI' refers to 'Secure Compartmented Information, the most sensitive material in U.S. government has.

Kelly's memo on Friday outlined a series of changes, including the end of temporary clearances for people who have had them since before June 1, 2017; Kushner's goes back at least as far as inauguration Day

The White House's process for granting 'interim' clearances has come under a microscope in the past two weeks, after DailyMail.com reported that then-White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter  who had such a clearance for more than a year  was being accused of spousals abuse by two ex-wives

Kelly also said he would 'limit access to certain highly classified information for those individuals working with interim clearance status,' unless they have 'explicit Chief of Staff's approval, which would be granted only in the most compelling circumstances.'

Kelly also wrote that he had already ended the practice of granting interim clearances, back in September, with the exception of 'extraordinary circumstances.'

It's unclear how much access to classified information Kushner currently has  or needs.

Much of his time is occupied with managing the Office of American Innovation, a business-oriented working group focused on streamlining bureaucratic government processes. He also shoulders some of the White House's burden on matters touching Canada, China and Mexico.

But Kushner is also engaged heavily, and has been for more than a year, in the Middle East peace process. That job could require access to at least some classified intelligence.

Kushner is unusually close to the president  he's family  but his status in the Trump family won't help him overcome several significant omissions on his clearance applications

His permanent clearance was reportedly stalled last year because he had to amend his application multiple times.

At least 100 foreign contacts were omitted the first time he filed the standard form required of all applicants.

He also had to revise his financial disclosure filings to document more of his overseas business interests.

White House security clearances were thrust front-and-center this month following the deporture of Trump's former staff secretary Rob Porter.

Porter's two ex-wives told DailyMail.com harrowing stories of spousal abuse, information that the FBI had more than a year ago.

Like Kushner, Porter had an interim clearance for more than a year.
A man has vanished while kayaking on the Brisbane River.

Police are searching the water for the kayaker who fell into the water during a pre-dawn paddle and failed to resurface.

The man and a friend were out together when one of the kayaks overturned in part of the river near West End about 4.40am on Wednesday.

Police are searching the water for the kayaker who fell into the water during a pre-dawn paddle and failed to resurface

A man has vanished while kayaking on the Brisbane River

The friend called to someone on the river bank and asked them to raise the alarm.

Police have started an air, water and land search and appealed to the public for more information.

Seven crews are searching for the man.

The kayaker was last seen near Orleigh Park at West End.

More to come.
An Illinois man who fell to his death in Yellowstone National Park last year was searching for a supposed hidden cache of gold and jewels. He is the fourth man to die looking for it.

Jeff Murphy, 43, of Batavia, Illinois, was looking for the treasurer that antiquities dealer Forrest Fenn says he stashed somewhere in the Rocky Mountains several years ago.

The treasure is said to be worth $2million and was hidden by New Mexico art dealer and collector Forrest Fenn who has released clues to the buried treasure whereabouts in books he has authored.

Jeff Murphy, 53, died while looking for Forrest Fenn's supposed $2million treasure in Yellowstone National Park in June of 2017

Murphy, pictured with his wife (left), who told police he was out in Yellowstone searching for the treasure, as has been revealed in a FOIA request

The investigation by Yellowstone officials into Murphy's death was kept private, but the info was obtained in a Freedom of Information Act request, by KULR-TV.

The investigative report reveals Murphy's wife told park authorities that Murphy was looking for the treasure when she called to report him missing.

Murphy's body was found June 9, 2017. He had fallen about 500 feet down a steep slope.

The report ruled the death an accident.

In another incident the same month Murphy's body was found, officials found the remains of another treasure hunter, Eric Ashby, 31, who was rafting with three other people on the Arkansas River in Fremont County, Colorado when the raft capsized.

Ashby moved to Colorado Springs to be able to find Fenn's treasure.

His remains were found 15 miles downstream from where he went missing, ABC 13 reported.

Officials say Eric Ashby, 31, (pictured) went missing while he was searching for Forrest Fenn's notorious hidden treasure

Ashby moved to Colorado Springs in April 2016 to search for Fenn's supposed treasure estimated to be around $2million

Two other men have died in 2016 while searching for Fenn's treasure since 2016. Randy Bilyeu, 54, (left) disappeared along the Rio Grande River in January 2016 and Colorado pastor Paris Wallace, 52, (right) went missing in June

Fenn hid his treasure 2010 inside a bronze treasure chest, which he claims contains 265 gold coins along with gems, rubies and hundreds of gold nuggets. He says the chest is Roman in appearance (similar shown above)

Courtesy of KOB

Two other men have died since 2016 while searching for Fenn's treasure, which he hid in 2010 inside a bronze treasure chest, which he claims contains 265 gold coins along with gems, rubies and hundreds of gold nuggets.

Randy Bilyeu, 54, disappeared along the Rio Grande River in January 2016 and Colorado pastor Paris Wallace, 52, went missing in June.

After authorities found both men dead in New Mexico, officials demanded that Fenn retrieves the treasure to bring an end to the 'nonsense and insanity'.

'He's putting lives at risk,' New Mexico's top law enforcement officer, State Police Chief Pete Kassetas said at the time.

Fenn himself said at the time he would consider it after he received hundreds of emails, but he did not.

The 87-year-old encourages readers to follow clues in his two books - Thrill of the Chase and Too Long For Walking - to find the treasure.

The author said he buried the goods in 2010 and that the treasure hunt is his way of encouraging families to get outdoors and spend time together.

New Mexico art dealer and collector Forrest Fenn, 86, (pictured) hid his treasure, which he says is worth $2million, in the Rocky Mountains in 2010

He encourages hunters to follow clues in his two books - Thrill of the Chase and Too Long For Walking - to find the treasure

He told DailyMail.com in June of 2016, after Wallace went missing: 'It is terrible news that the man has gone missing. I pray that he will be found safe and well.

'If I were 10 years younger I would be out looking for him myself.

'It is unfortunate that hundreds of hunters and hikers are lost each year in our forests and waterways.'

In rules on a website about the hunt, he stipulates that readers should never attempt the search alone.
When charity bosses start talking about their outfit as a brand, like tinned meatballs, alarm bells should tinkle.

When they jaw about cross-organisational committees and broader leadership teams and safeguarding issues and hiring former senior policemen to make sure their staff are not abusing juniors, it may be evident this is no longer a simple good cause deserving of your loose change.

It has become a business, indistinguishable from other enterprises run by our blame-dodging, report-compiling, bureaucracy-bloating managerial elite.

Three top bods from Oxfam appeared in front of MPs yesterday to discuss the Haiti sex scandal in 2010, when workers allegedly entertained local prostitutes days after an earthquake in which 200,000 people died.

You thought your money was going on food and blankets? How quaintly old-fashioned.

Three top bods from Oxfam appeared in front of MPs yesterday to discuss the Haiti sex scandal in 2010, when workers allegedly entertained local prostitutes days after an earthquake in which 200,000 people died

Mark Goldring, Oxfam chief executive, had to cough up immediate regret for some high-handed indignation he expressed in a Guardian interview last week. In that interview he appeared to pooh-pooh the gravity of the scandal.

I was talking under stress, blurted a miserable Mr Goldring. I should not have said those things. It was one of numerous apologies he made.

To his left, more serene, sat Oxfams chairman, Caroline Thomson, once a bigshot at the BBC (she might have become its director general had scandals there played out differently).

She kept well out of trouble yesterday, repeatedly stressing she only arrived at Oxfam last year.

Caroline Thomson, Chair of Trustees, Oxfam arriving to appear before the Commons Development Committee on the aid worker sex scandal

With a grandiose air she said she had commissioned a report on its governance.

To be important enough to commission reports? How delicious. While Mr Goldring was almost sobbing his sorrys, Miss Thomson remained utterly still, one superior, feline eyebrow arching its back.

Shes a piece of work, Thomson: office-political, her moist Queens English not quite disguising a pale-eyed corporatist calculator.

She didnt get where she is today by interrupting colleagues who were digging their own holes.

Her husband is Labour peer and arch Europhile Lord Liddle.

I have never heard him declare, when he raves about Brussels, that Lady Liddles charity has received millions from the very EU he wants us not to leave.

Should he not do so?

On hapless Goldrings other side sat Winnie Byanyima, executive director of Oxfam International.

Less shrewd than Thomson, she kept trying to contribute, not least to remind us that she was from Uganda.

Winnie the human shield. MPs were little interested in her contributions. Can I just say? she would begin. Noooo! cried the MPs. Goldring was the one they wanted to interrogate.

Oxfams response to the crisis was a classic of the elite. It was, basically, make us more technocratic.

Mr Goldring wanted aid workers to become minted as a profession  ie on the same level as doctors or engineers.

Anyone working in foreign aid should have a humanitarian passport which would only be granted to those who had complied to official standards of behaviour monitored by Parliament.

Such is the evaporation of our moral self-sufficiency. Oxfam workers are now being given a code of conduct which bars them from visiting prostitutes (when abroad).

Mr Goldring wanted aid workers to become minted as a profession  ie on the same level as doctors or engineers

Oxfam Chair of Trustees Caroline Thomson (right) and Oxfam International Executive Director Winnie Byanyima (left) speaking at an evidence session as witnesses before the International Development Committee of members of parliament at Portcullis House in London

Do we really need a code of conduct to tell us bedding a harlot is wrong?

The committee was told that in future Oxfam would spend more millions of pounds on safeguarding (i.e. on managerial systems that codify sackable offences and ringfence executive blame).

La Thomson put on a pair of tortoiseshell half-moon spectacles to aver that secrecy is anathema to trust.

Coming from such a veteran of the BBC politburo, that made me bark with laughter.

Elsewhere, the Culture select committee was scrutinising Lady Stowell, proposed new chairman of the Charity Commission.

MPs focused on her lack of experience running charities. Not a long-standing charities schmoozer? Tut tut.

But hang on. Might Lady Stowells lack of past involvement with this careerist Third Sector not be an advantage? Might she not look at charities with the eye of a member of the public, rather than one of the gang?

A restoration of amateurs might be what we need.
The eruption of Indonesia's Mount Sinabung, which shot ash five kilometres (three miles) high, also 'annihilated' the mountain's summit.

Before and after images from Indonesia's Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation show an enormous chunk missing from the peak.

Volcanologist Devy Kamil Syahbana said the chunk, known as the 'lava dome', had a volume of at least 1.6 million cubic metres (56.5 million cubic feet).

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The peak of Mount Sinabung in Karo, North Sumatra before, top, and after with a graphic line superimposed on the area of the new crater following its eruption on Monday. The chunk, known as the 'lava dome', had a volume of at least 1.6 million cubic metres

The volcano in North Sumatra, which has been active since 2010, erupted explosively on Monday morning.

Hot ash clouds rolled down its slopes, travelling as far as 4.9 kilometres from the crater.

Video showed screaming children fleeing a school outside the exclusion zone that surrounds the volcano as a billowing column of ash rose in the background.

Rumbling Mount Sinabung on the Indonesian island of Sumatra shot billowing columns of ash more than 16,400ft (5,000m) into the atmosphere and sent hot clouds down its slopes.

The volcano in North Sumatra, which has been active since 2010, erupted explosively on Monday morning

Video showed screaming children fleeing a school outside the exclusion zone that surrounds the volcano as a billowing column of ash rose in the background

There were no fatalities or injuries from the morning eruption, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency said.

The volcano, one of three currently erupting in Indonesia, was dormant for four centuries before exploding in 2010, killing two people.

Another eruption in 2014 killed 16 people, while seven died in a 2016 eruption.

Disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said hot ash clouds travelled as far as three miles (4.km) south.

WHAT IS EARTH'S 'RING OF FIRE'? Earth's so-called 'Ring of Fire' is a horseshoe-shaped geological disaster zone that is a hot bed for tectonic and volcanic activity. Roughly 90 per cent of the world's earthquakes occur in the belt, which is also home to more than 450 volcanoes. The seismic region stretches along the Pacific Ocean coastlines, where the Pacific Plate grinds against other plates that form the Earth's crust. It loops from New Zealand to Chile, passing through the coasts of Asia and the Americas on the way. In total, the loop makes up a 25,000-mile (40,000-kilometre) -long zone prone to frequent earthquakes and eruptions. The region is susceptible to disasters because it is home to a vast number of 'subduction zones', areas where tectonic plates overlap. Earthquakes are triggered when these plates scrape or slide underneath one another, and when that happens at sea it can spawn tsunamis. Advertisement

The regional volcanic ash advisory centre in Darwin, Australia, issued a 'red notice' to airlines.

Some 30,000 people have been forced to leave homes around the mountain in the past few years.

Mount Sinabung is among more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia, which is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.
Disney heroines Snow White and Sleeping Beauty are in fresh peril - not from a wicked witch, but old age.

The original hand-painted artwork from the films is cracking up and flaking away.

Now, dashing to their rescue are British scientists who have revealed that putting them in humidity chambers could ensure a happy ending.

The 'cells' - sheets of plastic- were painted by hand - a technique used up to and including the Little Mermaid in 1989.

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Disney heroines Snow White and Sleeping Beauty are in fresh peril - not from a wicked witch, but old age. The original hand-painted artwork from the films is cracking up and flaking away

London-born art conservator Tom Learner led the team who launched the urgent mission to preserve the classic animated films.

He told the American Association for the Advancement of Science conference in Austin, Texas that many paintings and sculptures from the 20th century that used plastic are cracking up.

But he said: 'One particular project that we have been involved with where perhaps the plastic is not quite so obvious, we have been working very closely with the Disney animation research library in Los Angeles.

'All the original Disney films were single shot stills that were hand painted and the substrate on which the paint was applied was cellulose acetate, one of the very important early cellulose plastics, and the way these are made, the figure was inked on one side and then they were reverse painted. '

Changes in the chemistry of the plastic is resulting in the plastic becoming rippled. But the team came up with a method to stop the damage.

Pinocchio (1940) was originally made using the cellulose acetate method. The characters were drawn on to these cells and then the background was added afterwards. These cells have becoming rippled and the paint has peeled away from the plastic over time

Bambi, Thumper and Flower were first released in 1937. The original drawings of the characters are at risk of being destroyed as time has started to distort the plastic cells and they may continue to degrade

HOW WERE THE ORIGINAL DISNEY FILMS MADE? Walt Disney productions was founded by Walt Disney, his brother Roy and a friend and fellow cartoonist called Ub Iwekrs. After a failed cartoon company called Laugh-O-Works in Kansas city and declaring bankruptcy in 1929, the trio moved to Hollywood. Here, they first drew up Mickey Mouse, his girlfriend Minnie. In 1929 the first short film was released, called Steamboat Willie, which ran for nearly eight minutes. Steamboat Willie (pictured) was a short film made in 1929 by Disney. It is widely regarded to be the debut of Mickey and Minnie Mouse and was the first time sound had been added to a Disney production Disney produced its first feature length film in 1937, it was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. To make these cartoon films in an age before computers, the creators would first make a storyboard. After animators and directors talk about the whole film and produce a complete storyboard, the dialogue is recorded first. The animators had to know what the characters would say to correctly draw them. Only after the story has been outlined and the dialogie is recorded to the characters start coming to life. Rough sketches of just the characters are made, they have no background and no colour. Some animated films have used over 50,000 individual drawings. The top animators in the company would roughly sketch a few character drawings, leaving large gaps in between. An 'inbetweener' would finish the scenes, by drawing in between the areas that the animator had left. After the entire film has been drawn on paper, the animation drawings go to the inking department. There, the inkers copy the animation drawings on to a clear celluloid acetate, called a Cel. When the characters have been drawn without colour or filler, the unfinished Cel's go to the Painting Department. Here, the painters colour on the back of the Cel. This gave the characters a crisp outline. Now, the backgrounds get added to the story. Backgrounds tended to be done with watercolour or Tempera but occasionally it was painted on glass, like it was in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Now the background and the Cel with the character on are both completed, it can be photographed. A special camera, that faced down on to a table top captured every single frame individually. Usually, the background is placed into a special mount, then covered with the Cel, then covered with a large piece of glass, then photographed. Now the frames can be combined and dialogue added, and occasionally the film was edited at this stage. Walt Disney (pictured) released his first feature length film in 1937 and it was called Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Here, Mr Disney holds one of the stills from the film which was created by being printed on a 'cell' made of cellulose acetate Advertisement

He said: 'It's always nice to end up on a happier note rather than the doom and gloom of degradation.

'As part of our cell study one of the problems was with the plastic deforming through degradation, the paint was being pushed off.

'It's very sensitive to humidity, so when the humidity drops to a dry condition the paint becomes very rippled and huge amounts of work have led to an amazingly simple treatment which is just to use humidity itself.

Ariel from The Little Mermaid in 1989 was one of the last characters to ever be drawn using the 'Cell' method. After this film, the studios moved to computer drawn animation. A single cell can be worth up to 10,000 ($14,000)

'We found just putting these things in humidity chambers and ramping up the humidity you actually are able to re-adhere the paint to the plastic in its deformed state, so while we are not able to flatten the cells, but we can re-adhere it.

'What's lovely about this is we haven't had to put in any glue, adhesive or anything to stick the paint down.

'And this means the paint is safe, it will not crack off, it can be digitally photographed so we're thrilled with that.' Disney holds a collection of millions of cells - and there are thousands that have been sold at auction over the years - with single cells going for as much as 10,000 at auction.

Walt Disney (pictured) was responsible for characters such as Pluto, Daffy Duck, Goofy and Cinderella. He died in 1966 and his original cells are being saved from old-age by humidity chambers allowing the paint re adhere to the plastic

Mr Learner said: 'Disney was an unusual man because he valued these things right from the start so they really were archived pretty well.

'Many other studios used them for the movie then they were tossed out so it is an amazing resource.

'The vast majority of the cells, given that they are on these very unstable plastics, are in a remarkably good condition so they have invested a lot in storage.

'Really the advice we're giving them is over this issue of the paint popping off the plastic and cracking and delaminating and that has been a nice thing to figure out a way of reattaching the paint, which buys you more time.'
Your Uber journeys could be about to get a lot more exciting.

The firm's chief executive, Dara Khosrowshahi, says the firm will roll out self-flying taxis in the next five to 10 years.

Uber is currently developing an airborne version of its ride-hailing app, called UberAIR, which is expected to launch in 2020.

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The morning commute may soon get a little more exciting, if predictions about flying taxis made by Uber's chief come to pass. The CEO of the $70 billion (50 billion) firm believes self-flying transport will become more affordable within the next five to ten years

Khosrowshahi made the claims while speaking at an investor forum in Tokyo today.

He is currently in Japan to lobby for an easing of the country's stringent taxi regulations.

Uber first announced its intention to work on a flying taxi service since 2016, when it published a lengthy white paper on 'Uber Elevate'.

It has since worked with Nasa to launch the UberAir project in Dubai, Dallas and Los Angeles by 2020.

According to Uber, an all-electric, 200mph (320kph) ride across the skies of LA will be price-competitive with an UberX trip of the same distance.

The ride-hailing company hopes UberAir will be well-established before the 2028 Olympic Games in the city.

In a previous statement, chief product officer at Uber, Jeff Holden, said: 'By the time the Olympics come, we believe Los Angeles residents will be making heavy use of UberAIR.

'Because UberAIR is all-electric from day one, it will have a net positive impact on the environment.'

Uber has also joined forces with Nasa to develop a traffic management system for its flying taxi service.

Dara Khosrowshahi (pictured) made the claims while speaking at an investor forum in Tokyo today. He is currently in Japan to lobby for an easing of the country's stringent taxi regulations

Users will order the aircraft through the Uber app much like they would one of the firm's taxis.

Once they have selected an UberAIR ride, the craft will fly to the nearest 'Skyport' - a series of launch pads spread across the city.

Several manufacturers and investors are backing flying taxi technology.

At CES in Las Vegas last month, two rival firms showcased different prototypes of autonomous, self-flying drones.

In a presentation about Volocopter's craft, an exhibitor said it is the 'world's first autonomous air taxi.'

The craft completed the first unmanned test flight in Dubai in Fall 2017.

'Potentially in years to come, you would be able to take your phone out and pull up a transportation application, and similar to what you do with a taxi today, summon this to your location, hop in, tell it where you're going,' he said.

'And it would autonomously fly you to that location, no pilot required. It's a safe, reliable form of transportation.'

WHAT TYPE OF FLYING TAXIS COULD WE EXPECT TO SEE IN THE FUTURE? Advances in electric motors, battery technology and autonomous software has triggered an explosion in the field of electric air taxis. Larry Page, CEO of Google parent company Alphabet, has poured millions into aviation start-ups Zee Aero and Kitty Hawk, which are both striving to create all-electric flying cabs. Kitty Hawk is believed to be developing a flying car and has already filed more than a dozen different aircraft registrations with the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA. Page, who co-founded Google with Sergey Brin back in 1998, has personally invested $100 million (70 million) into the two companies, which have yet to publicly acknowledge or demonstrate their technology. AirSpaceX unveiled its latest prototype, Mobi-One, at the North American International Auto Show in early 2018. Like its closest rivals, the electric aircraft is designed to carry two to four passengers and is capable of vertical take-off and landing Airbus is also hard at work on an all-electric, vertical-take-off-and-landing craft, with its latest Project Vahana prototype, branded Alpha One, successfully completing its maiden test flight in February 2018. The self-piloted helicopter reached a height of 16 feet (five metres) before successfully returning to the ground. In total, the test flight lasted 53 seconds. Airbus previously shared a well-produced concept video, showcasing its vision for Project Vahana. The footage reveals a sleek self-flying aircraft that seats one passenger under a canopy that retracts in similar way to a motorcycle helmet visor. Airbus Project Vahana prototype, branded Alpha One, successfully completed its maiden test flight in February 2018. The self-piloted helicopter reached a height of 16 feet (five metres) before successfully returning to the ground. In total, the test flight lasted 53 seconds AirSpaceX is another company with ambitions to take commuters to the skies. The Detroit-based start-up has promised to deploy 2,500 aircrafts in the 50 largest cities in the United States by 2026. AirSpaceX unveiled its latest prototype, Mobi-One, at the North American International Auto Show in early 2018. Like its closest rivals, the electric aircraft is designed to carry two to four passengers and is capable of vertical take-off and landing. AirSpaceX has even included broadband connectivity for high speed internet access so you can check your Facebook News Feed as you fly to work. Aside from passenger and cargo services, AirSpaceX says the craft can also be used for medical and casualty evacuation, as well as tactical Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR). Even Uber is working on making its ride-hailing service airborne. Dubbed Uber Elevate, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi tentatively discussed the companys plans during a technology conference in January 2018. I think its going to happen within the next 10 years, he said. Advertisement

The Volocopter craft 'is essentially a scaled-up super drone,' he noted.

Volocopter relies on a system of 'redundancies' to ensure its safety, meaning there are many propellers, batteries, and motors to compensate in case one goes out.

At the same show, the manufacturers of Volocopter flew its 'megadrone' on to the stage during Intel's keynote speech.

It is powered by 18 independent motors and propellers, which provides back up so that if one or several fail, flight can still be maintained.

Rival company Workhorse calls its craft SureFly  a 'personal electric octocopter.'

Workhorse and Volocopter (pictured) were among the most highly-anticipated exhibitors at CES this year, the firms have both revealed their visions for Uber-style flying taxi services with the vertical takeoff and landing craft in the foreseeable future

This passenger-carrying drone can carry a load of up to 400 lb (180 kg) and travel up to 70 miles (110 km) in a single trip.

The firm is working with Uber's Elevate project in hopes to bring a taxi style system to life. But, it could have a wide range of applications even beyond this.

'We feel that with this product, since it is so new breaking so much new ground, the market will tell us what the market is

'Military people like it, emergency responders, law enforcement, and even agriculture.'

The craft from Workhouse has potential military applications. It is controlled with a joystick, though it could be flown either piloted or autonomously

Workhorse calls its craft SureFly  a 'personal electric octocopter' which can carry a load of up to 400 lb (180 kg) and travel up to 70 miles (110 km) in a single trip and expects to be available to passengers by 2020

Both firms expect to have working models available by 2020.

Earlier this month, a Californian start-up company called Joby Aviation received $100 million (70 million) in funding from a group led by Intel and Toyota.

The money will be used to develop the firm's 'megadrone' which can reach speeds of 200mph (321kph).

Much bigger than the small drones for a small amount of people, the Joby S2 prototype has 16 electric propellers, 12 of which are designed for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL).

It needs no runway, the propellers fold away after a successful take off and then glides like a plane using just four propellors.

Powered by lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide batteries, the drone can reach speeds of up to 200mph (321kph).
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Archaeologists exploring the world's biggest flooded cave in Mexico have discovered 9,000-year-old human remains, as well as the bones of animals who roamed the Earth during the last Ice Age.

Experts believe water levels in the caves fluctuated throughout their history, and that they were used to quench the thirst of animals and people in the region during times of severe drought.

They also proved perilous, however, and some of the creatures who ventured inside never made it out alive.

Today, their remains are a treasure trove for researchers, allowing them to piece together parts of the cave's past, dating all the way back to the Pleistocene epoch, between 2.6 million and 11,700 years ago.

Sacred relics from the later Mayan civilisation were also uncovered, suggesting they followed the path of their stone age ancestors.

Experts have declared the caves 'the most important submerged archaeological site in the world.'

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Archaeologists exploring the word's biggest flooded cave in Mexico have discovered ancient human remains at least 9,000 years old and the bones of animals (pictured) who roamed the earth during the last Ice Age. This image shows divers at the underwater burial site

Scuba divers made the find while exploring the Sac Actun cave system in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, the largest flooded cave system in the world with 248 underwater pools connected by 215 miles (347 km) of tunnels.

They have been exploring the artefacts left in the caves over the millennia, in a project sponsored by Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).

As part of the project, they have discovered 200 archaeological sites in the cave system, near the beach resort of Tulum.

Animal remains ranging from gomphotheres, an extinct elephant-like animal, to giant sloths and bears, were uncovered.

Then there are the relics left inside by humans, including burnt human bones, ceramics, wall etchings and more.

The cave's discovery has rocked the archaeological world.

'I think it's overwhelming. Without a doubt it's the most important submerged archaeological site in the world,' said Guillermo de Anda, researcher at INAH.

'It is very unlikely that there is another site in the world with these characteristics. There is an impressive amount of archaeological artefacts inside, and the level of preservation is also impressive.'

Dr de Anda is also director of GAM, which is dedicated to the study and preservation of the subterranean waters of the Yucatan peninsula.

Water levels in the region rose 330 feet (100m) at the end of the Ice Age, flooding the cave system and leading to 'ideal conditions for the preservation of the remains of extinct megafauna from the Pleistocene,' he says.

Of the sites discovered around 140 are from the Mayan civilisation, which first established cities in around 750 AD and dominated large parts of the Americas for hundreds of years.

Relics from the later Mayan civilisation were also uncovered, suggesting they followed the path of their stone age ancestors, leading experts to declare the caves 'the most important submerged archaeological site in the world.' This image shows the remains of an ancient bear

Divers made the find while exploring the Sac Actun cave system in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, the largest flooded cave system in the world with 248 underwater pools connected by 215 miles (347 km) of tunnels. This image shows a human skull in the underwater burial

Researchers from Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), say they have discovered 200 archaeological sites in the cave system, near the beach resort of Tulum. Of these, around 140 are from the Mayan culture. This image shows a human jaw bone

For hundreds of years the Mayans dominated large parts of the Americas until, mysteriously in the 8th and 9th century AD, a large chunk of their civilisation collapsed. The reason for this has been hotly debated. This image shows the underwater burial site containing an array of ancient bones

In the 8th and 9th century AD, a large chunk of their civilisation mysteriously collapsed, although the reason for this has been hotly debated.

The Great Mayan Aquifer (GAM) project, which oversaw the dive, was created to discover if there are links between the Mayans and earlier, pre-ceramic, human societies which existed on the continent.

A total of 198 objects were found in the cave system, including walls, altars and a Mayan burial site with human remains.

Of these, 138 are believed to be from the post-classic Mayan period, 900 to 1200 AD, and the 60 remaining objects seem to be from pre-ceramic era of 10,000 to 4,000 BC.

The relics include a shrine to the Mayan god of war and commerce, with a staircase accessed through a sink-hole in the middle of the jungle.

The Great Mayan Aquifer (GAM) project, which oversaw the dive, was created to discover if there are links between Mayans and the Preceramic era. This image shows stairs leading down to the underwater burial

According to the INAH, water levels rose 330 feet (100m) at the end of the Ice Age, flooding the cave system and leading to 'ideal conditions for the preservation of the remains of extinct megafauna from the Pleistocene.' This image shows a mask of the Mayan god of commerce

The Pleistocene geological epoch, the most recent Ice Age, began 2.6 million years ago and ended around 11,700 years ago. This image shows a fist of the Mayan god of commerce

Many other of the hundreds of sink-holes that connect to the cave have elaborate signs of ritual activity around them, archaeologists said.

The ancient Mayans viewed caves, 'and especially ones that led to water, as extremely sacred places,' the INAH said.

Experts also believe that the evidence shows the Mayans made use of existing spaces with religious significance for their ancestors.

'This is a very clear phenomenon of appropriation of sacred spaces, the underwater pools, the caves and the modification the ancient Mayans made,' Dr de Anda added.

In January, it was reported that a group of divers had connected two underwater caverns in eastern Mexico to reveal what is believed to be the biggest flooded cave on the planet.

A total of 198 objects were found in the cave system, including walls, altars and a Mayan burial site with human remains. This image shows a vessel found in the underwater burial site

Of these, 138 are believed to be from the postclassic Mayan period, 900 to 1200 AD, and the 60 remaining objects seem to be from Precereamic era of 10,000 to 4,000 BC. This image shows the remains of a turtle found in the underwater burial

A team from GAM, said the cave system was identified after months of exploring a maze of underwater channels. The relics include a shrine to the Mayan god of war and commerce, with a staircase accessed through a sink-hole in the middle of the jungle (pictured)

A map showing the location of Sac Actun, which is now believed to be the longest underwater cave in the world at 216-miles long

A team from GAM, said the cave system was identified after months of exploring a maze of underwater channels.

The project found that the cave system, once measured at 163 miles (262km), is actually connected with the 53 mile (85km) Dos Ojos system.

In a statement, GAM said for that reason, Sac Actun now absorbs Dos Ojos.

GAM director and underwater archaeologist Guillermo de Anda hailed the discovery as an 'amazing' find.

The Gran Acuifero Maya Project has been studying the caves off the eastern coast of Mexico on the Yucatan Peninsula. A scuba diver measures the length of Sac Aktun underwater cave system

It is believed that the discovery of the caves by divers could help shed more light on the ancient Maya civilisation

He also said it would help to understand the rich culture of the region, which was dominated by the Maya civilisation before the Spanish conquest.

He told Reuters: 'It allows us to appreciate much more clearly how the rituals, the pilgrimage sites and ultimately the great pre-Hispanic settlements that we know emerged.'

The Yucatan peninsula in Mexico is studded with monumental relics of the Maya people, whose cities drew upon an extensive network of sinkholes linked to subterranean waters known as cenotes.

Some cenotes acquired particular religious significance to the Maya, whose descendants continue to inhabit the region.
The secret to how the ancient Egyptians achieved the near-perfect alignment of the Great Pyramid of Giza may have finally been uncovered.

Ancient engineers used shadows cast during the equinox to line up the 4,500-year-old structure with the cardinal points, north-south-east-west, an expert says.

The theory may finally reveal how the Egyptians aligned the pyramid's walls without the use of modern technology, a mystery that has long puzzled archaeologists.

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Using a wooden rod known as gnomon, the Egyptians tracked the path of the sun throughout the day to help them draw perfect lines running east-west (artist's impression)

Glen Dash, an Connecticut-based engineer who studies the Giza pyramids, says the ancient people used a technique known as the 'Indian circle method' to position the monument.

He said they created points-of-reference using the sun during the autumn equinox - a day halfway between the summer and winter solstices when day and night are of equal length.

Using a wooden rod known as gnomon, the Egyptians tracked the path of the sun throughout the day to help them draw perfect lines running east-west.

Egyptian engineers used shadows cast over a vertical pole (top image) during the autumn equinox to line up the walls of the 4,500-year-old Great Pyramid of Giza with the cardinal points, north-south-east-west (bottom image)

'The builders of the Great Pyramid of Khufu aligned the great monument to the cardinal points with an accuracy of better than four minutes of arc, or one-fifteenth of one degree,' Mr Dash wrote in a new paper.

He added that all three of Egypt's largest pyramids, including another located at Giza, 'Khafre', and the 'Red Pyramid' found at nearby Dahshur, share the same high degree of accuracy in their alignment with the cardinal points.

'All three pyramids exhibit the same manner of error; they are rotated slightly counterclockwise from the cardinal points,' he wrote.

WHAT IS THE INDIAN CIRCLE METHOD? The Indian circle method allows you to draw a line running east-west (red) with just a pole and the sun's shadow (top) The Indian circle method allows you to accurately draw a line running east-west with a simple set of equipment. It involves plotting the path of the sun throughout the day using the shadow it casts from a rod or pole stuck vertically into the ground. As the sun moves through the sky, the shadow shifts across the floor like the point on a sundial. If you plot the shadow's position on the ground every half an hour, you are left with a curved 'shadow line'. The curvature of this line changes depending on the time of year because the sun sits at different points in the sky. At the end of the day, with a curved shadow line drawn, you must wrap a short, taut piece of string around the vertical pole. When moved around the rod in a circle, the end of the string should intercept two points on the shadow line. Drawing a new line through these two points creates a line running precisely east-west. On the day of the autumn equinox it is possible to create a perfectly straight shadow line that runs east-west, with no need for the second, string line. The day is halfway between the summer and winter solstices, so day and night are of equal length, meaning the sun is perfectly centred in the sky. Advertisement

As a proof-of-concept, the engineer conducted his own experiment, using a gnomon to cast shadows starting on September 22, 2016 - the first day of the autumn equinox that year.

He plotted the path of the sun throughout the day using the shadow it cast from a wooden pole or 'gnomon' stuck vertically into the ground.

As the sun moved through the sky, the shadow shifted across the floor like the point on a sundial.

The theory may finally reveal how the Egyptians aligned the pyramid's walls without the use of modern technology, a mystery that has long puzzled archaeologists (stock image)

Mr Dash plotted where the sun's shadow sat on a piece of paper on the ground every minute for around half an hour, forming a straight series of points.

Drawing a line through these points created a near-perfect east-west line because during the equinox the sun is almost perfectly centred in the sky.

Mr Dash wrote: 'On the equinox, the surveyor will find that the tip of the shadow runs in a straight line and nearly perfectly east-west.'

The engineer said this technique only works on the autumn equinox because of specific tilt of the Earth on that day.

WHAT IS EGYPT'S VALLEY OF THE KINGS? The Valley of the Kings in upper Egypt is one of the country's main tourist attractions and is the famous burial ground of many deceased pharaohs. It is located near the ancient city of Luxor on the banks of the river Nile in eastern Egypt - 300 miles (500km) away from the pyramids of Giza, near Cairo. The majority of the pharaohs of the 18th to 20th dynasties, who ruled from 1550 to 1069 BC, rested in the tombs which were cut into the local rock. The royal tombs are decorated with scenes from Egyptian mythology and give clues as to the beliefs and funerary rituals of the period. The majority of the pharaohs of the 18th to 20th dynasties, who ruled from 1550 to 1069 BC, rested in the tombs which were cut into the local rock. Pictured are statues of goddesses at the site Almost all of the tombs were opened and looted centuries ago, but the sites still give an idea of the opulence and power of the Pharaohs. The most famous pharaoh at the site is Tutankhamun, whose tomb was discovered in 1922. Preserved to this day, in the tomb are original decorations of sacred imagery from, among others, the Book of Gates or the Book of Caverns. These are among the most important funeral texts found on the walls of ancient Egyptian tombs. The Valley of the Kings in upper Egypt is one of the country's main tourist attractions. The most famous pharaoh at the site is Tutankhamun, whose tomb was discovered in 1922 Advertisement

Creating a line in this way creates a slight degree of error counterclockwise - an alignment blip found in the Great Pyramid, Khafre Pyramid and Red Pyramid.

Though his experiment was conducted in Connecticut, Mr Dash said the same technique would have worked in Giza.

He added that the Egyptians could have calculated the day of the autumn equinox by counting forward 91 days after the summer solstice.

All the pyramid's engineers would have needed was a 'clear sunny day, like most of the days at Giza', to plot the monument's walls, he told Live Science.

Mr Dash admits that the Egyptians could have used other methods involving the position of the sun or stars to align the pyramids.

Mr Dash admits that the Egyptians could have used other methods involving the position of the sun or stars to align the pyramids, found near Giza, Egypt

'The Egyptians, unfortunately, left us few clues,' he wrote.

'No engineering documents or architectural plans have been found that give technical explanations demonstrating how the ancient Egyptians aligned any of their temples or pyramids.'

The engineer noted that his theory has the advantage of being less complicated than other methods.

'It is hard to imagine a method that could be simpler, either conceptually or in practice,' he wrote.
Global sea levels could rise as much as 1.2 metres (4 feet) by 2300 even if we meet the 2015 Paris climate goals, scientists have warned.

The long-term change will be driven by a thaw of ice from Greenland to Antarctica that is set to re-draw global coastlines.

Sea level rise threatens cities from Shanghai to London, to low-lying swathes of Florida or Bangladesh, and to entire nations such as the Maldives.

It is vital that we curb emissions as soon as possible to avoid an even greater rise, a German-led team of researchers said in a new report.

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Global sea levels could rise as much as 1.2 metres (4 feet) by 2300 even if we meet the 2015 Paris climate goals, scientists have warned. The long-term change will be driven by a thaw of ice from Greenland (file photo) to Antarctica that is set to re-draw global coastlines

By 2300, the report projected that sea levels would gain by 0.7-1.2 metres, even if almost 200 nations fully meet goals under the 2015 Paris Agreement.

Targets set by the accords include cutting greenhouse gas emissions to net zero in the second half of this century.

Ocean levels will rise inexorably because heat-trapping industrial gases already emitted will linger in the atmosphere, melting more ice, it said.

In addition, water naturally expands as it warms above four degrees Celsius (39.2F).

The report also found that every five years of delay beyond 2020 in peaking global emissions would mean an extra 20 centimetres (8 inches) of sea level rise by 2300.

'Sea level is often communicated as a really slow process that you can't do much about ... but the next 30 years really matter,' lead author Dr Matthias Mengel, of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, in Potsdam, Germany, told Reuters.

None of the nearly 200 governments to sign the Paris Accords are on track to meet its pledges.

Global emissions of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas given off by burning fossil fuels, rose last year after a three-year plateau.

THE KEY GOALS OF THE PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT The Paris Agreement on Climate Change has four main goals with regards to reducing emissions: 1) A long-term goal of keeping the increase in global average temperature to well below 2C above pre-industrial levels 2) To aim to limit the increase to 1.5C, since this would significantly reduce risks and the impacts of climate change 3) Goverments agreed on the need for global emissions to peak as soon as possible, recognising that this will take longer for developing countries 4) To undertake rapid reductions thereafter in accordance with the best available science Source: European Commission Advertisement

And President Donald Trump, who doubts that human activities are the prime cause of global warming, plans to quit the Paris deal and instead promote US coal, oil and natural gas.

Maldives Environment Minister Thoriq Ibrahim, who chairs the 44-member Alliance of Small Island States, said Tuesday's findings showed a need for faster action to cut emissions, especially by rich nations.

'Unfortunately, the study confirms what small island nations have been saying for years: decades of procrastination on climate change have brought many of us to the brink of inundation,' he told Reuters.

Sea level rise threatens cities across the globe. It is vital that we curb emissions as soon as possible to avoid an even greater rise, scientists said in a new report. One way we could limit global emissions is to invest more in renewable energy (stock)

Professor John Church, of the Climate Change Research Centre at the University of New South Wales, who was not involved in the study, said 100 million people now live within one metre of the high tide mark.

'With the order of 100 million people living within 1 m of current high tide level, the world is vulnerable to rising sea levels,' he said in a statement.

'More people are moving to live within the coastal zone, increasing the vulnerable population and infrastructure.

'Adaptation to sea level rise will be essential.'
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A dramatic image of Saturn shared today by NASA has revealed the site where Cassini plunged into the ringed planets atmosphere, as seen from the eyes of the doomed spacecraft itself.

The remarkable photo is a mosaic of some of Cassinis last images, captured just hours before it entered the harsh atmosphere where it soon burned to pieces.

According to NASA, the mosaic shows Saturn in near-natural color, thanks to red, green, and blue spectral filters on the spacecrafts wide-angle camera.

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The remarkable photo is a mosaic of some of Cassinis last images, captured just hours before it entered the harsh atmosphere where it soon burned to pieces. A small white oval circling a region on the side of the planet shows just where the spacecraft would enter Saturns atmosphere for its planned death dive

Cassini spent 13 years studying Saturn and its many moons  and, it snapped thousands upon thousands of images along the way.

The latest photo shared by NASA is a haunting look at the ringed planet in Cassinis final hours on Sept 14, 2017.

On Sept 15, Cassinis historic mission came to a dramatic end.

A small white oval circling a region on the side of the planet shows just where the spacecraft would enter Saturns atmosphere for its planned death dive.

While this area was on the night side of the planet at the time, it would rotate into daylight by the time Cassini made its final dive into Saturns upper atmosphere, ending its remarkable 13-year exploration of Saturn, NASA explains.

Two days before its fiery demise in Saturns atmosphere, Cassini captured one last mosaic of its subject, using its wide-angle camera to snap a total of 80 images in just two hours.

NASA released the stunning Farewell to Saturn' in November, more than two months after the mission ended, stitching together 42 of these observations for one final look at the remarkable planet  and, if you look closely, six moons can be seen lurking in the darkness beyond the rings.

The Cassini data will be the subject of study for years to come, as scientists pore through more than a decade of observations.

In the breathtaking last look at Saturn, the planet appears bathed in a crescent of sunlight, seen as Cassini viewed it from roughly 698,000 miles (1.1 million kilometers) away. Each individual ring can be seen in stunning clarity, and an annotated version of the image reveals there are six moons (labeled above), barely visible, hiding in the picture as well

Cassinis scientific bounty has been truly spectacular  a vast array of new results leading to new insights and surprises, from the tiniest of ring particles to the opening of new landscapes on Titan and Enceladus, to the deep interior of Saturn itself, said Robert West, Cassinis deputy imaging team leader at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

While numerous tributes to the spacecraft emerged in the weeks after its death dive, the Cassini team said the last mosaic is a fitting farewell.

Over the span of roughly two hours on September 13, Cassini captured a lingering look at Saturn in red, green, and blue images.

The imaging scientists then stitched 42 frames together to create the natural color view.

In the breathtaking last look at Saturn, the planet appears bathed in a crescent of sunlight, seen as Cassini viewed it from roughly 698,000 miles (1.1 million kilometers) away.

Each individual ring can be seen in stunning clarity, and an annotated version of the image reveals there are six moons, barely visible, hiding in the picture as well.

According to NASA, Cassinis farewell mosaic includes a look at Enceladus, Epimetheus, Janus, Mimas, Pandora, and Prometheus.

After 20 years in space, including a seven-year mission extension, Cassinis dramatic finale was no surprise.

The team carefully planned every aspect of its termination, to expend every last bit of its propellant and crash the spacecraft into Saturn itself  where it would burn up in the atmosphere, and ensure it didnt accidentally contaminate the pristine moons Enceladus and Titan, which have shown potential to support microbial life

The team carefully planned every aspect of its termination, to expend every last bit of its propellant and crash the spacecraft into Saturn itself  where it would burn up in the atmosphere, and ensure it didnt accidentally contaminate the pristine moons Enceladus and Titan, which have shown potential to support microbial life.

But, for the scientists who have been a part of the entire journey, saying goodbye wasnt easy.

It was all too easy to get used to receiving new images from the Saturn system on a daily basis, seeing new sights, watching things change, said Elizabeth Turtle, an imaging team associate at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland.

It was hard to say goodbye, but how lucky we were to be able to see it all through Cassinis eyes.

In 13 years studying Saturn and its many moons, the Cassini spacecraft snapped thousands upon thousands of images, bringing these distant worlds closer into view than ever before. In 1980, Voyager 1 captured an image of Saturn (above) during its closest approach - but since then, Cassini has viewed the system in far greater detail

Cassinis observations have revealed unprecedented insight on the Saturn system, uncovering details on the features that have sparked intrigue since Voyager 1 made its closest approach to the planet in 1980 and captured an image that remains remarkable to this day.

And, after 13 years at Saturn and countless discoveries, Cassinis legacy is set to leave an impact.

For 37 years, Voyager 1s last view of Saturn has been, for me, one of the most evocative images ever taken in the exploration of the solar system, said Carolyn Porco, former Voyager imaging team member and Cassinis imaging team leader at the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colorado.

In a similar vein, this Farewell to Saturn will forevermore serve as a reminder of the dramatic conclusion to the wondrous time humankind spent in intimate study of our suns most iconic planetary system.
Apple may not be selling many iPhone X's after all.

Samsung has slashed its organic LED panel production targets by more than half in the January to March quarter, the Nikkei Asian Review reported.

The Korean tech giant, who supplies the OLED panels for Apple, now expects to produce 20 million or fewer iPhone X units versus its initial target of building panels for 45 million to 50 million iPhones.

That's after Apple reportedly told suppliers in January that it had cut its iPhone production targets by 50% to 20 million.

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Apple informed its suppliers that it would be cutting iPhone X production by half, stoking fears that the tech giant had sold fewer units of the 10th anniversary smartphone than expected

Samsung is Apple's sole supplier of OLED screens and manufactured them for the 10th anniversary iPhone X.

The iPhone X's high-resolution OLED display, as well as its advanced cameras and sensors, are the three components that primarily drive up the cost of the 999 ($999) handset.

Samsung has yet to decide if it will curb its production target for the April to June quarter, but it's possible that a 'further cutback' is in store, Nikkei noted.

In the meantime, Samsung has scrambled to find new buyers of its leftover OLED panels.

Samsung is the sole supplier of OLED displays for Apple. The Korean tech giant, who supplies the OLED panels for Apple, now expects to produce 20 million or fewer iPhone X units vs. its initial target of building panels for 45 million to 50 million iPhones

The company had expected other smartphone makers in and outside of China to be making devices that require OLED display, Nikkei noted, but it appears that many are still using cheaper LED screens instead.

Additionally, Samsung faces heightened competition as other Chinese suppliers have developed cheaper OLED displays.

Profits in Samsung's display unit, which manufactures the OLED screens, are expected to take a hit as a result of the production cut.

The report is likely to confirm experts' fears that Apple is seeing weak demand for the iPhone X among consumers.

WHY ARE EXPERTS PREDICTING POOR IPHONE X SALES? Experts say the high price of the iPhone X  Apple's most expensive handset yet  and its 'lack of interesting innovations' could deter many buyers. According to Sinolink Securities analyst Zhang Bin, shipments could be as low as 35 million in the first quarter of this year  roughly 10 million less than previously estimated. Some analysts have also flagged disappointing demand. US-based JL Warren Capital is predicting shipments of just 25 million units. Chinese broker Sinolink Securities said it expects the model's price would dampen consumer enthusiasm for the product, adding that slow production rates could also hinder sales. During a trip to China in December of 2017, Apple CEO Tim Cook said he 'couldn't be happier' with the demand for the iPhone X in the country. Chinese broker Sinolink Securities said it expects the iPhone X's price would dampen consumer enthusiasm for the product, however during a recent trip to China Apple CEO Tim Cook said he 'couldn't be happier' with the demand for the iPhone X in the country Advertisement

Those concerns first started to bubble up last December, when analysts said Apple could cut iPhone X production in 2018 to 30 million down from its prior forecast 50 million units.

Several experts cited the device's wallet-busting price tag and a 'lack of interesting innovations,' as catalysts behind the sluggish demand.

That's in stark contrast to last year, when some believed Apple would experience an iPhone X 'super cycle,' triggered by a backlog of iPhone owners looking to upgrade to newer models.
If youre visiting Barcelona with your other half, youll probably be looking to experience, alongside the usual tourist attractions, some romance-inspired activities in this starry-eyed city. So, once youve admired the architecture of the Gothic Quarter and taken in the citys world-class art galleries, you might be wondering how just to do that? Our expert guide shows you how.

With Barcelona's many rooftop bars, you can spend hours wistfully staring at picturesque views of the city with your loved one

Enjoy drinks at a rooftop bar

If theres one thing Barcelona isnt short of, its rooftop bars with beautiful views. Theyre the perfect place to park yourselves after a long day of sightseeing, shopping or swimming. For somewhere chic and sophisticated, sip on sangria as you watch the crowds stroll along Las Ramblas below at La Isabela at Hotel 1898 or head to the Sky Bar at the Grand Hotel Central after 20:00 for panoramic views of the city after dark. For a more romantic setting, try the Pulitzer Terrace with its climbing plants, Mediterranean interiors and fruity cocktails, or settle down on a sofa at Le Terrace del Duquesa and soak up its stunning views of the Gothic Quarter.

Gaudi's magical park provides the perfect backdrop for a romantic stroll

Take a stroll through Park Guell

The enchanting wooded Park Guell at the top of Carmel Hill is the ideal destination for a casual, romantic stroll. Designed by Anton Gaudi in the early 1900s, its a charmed place filled with bright mosaic sculptures, mythological shapes and a wide main terrace with a tiled bench in the shape of a sea serpent snaking around its edges. Park Guell was originally supposed to be an attraction for the rich, filled with small yet artistic houses, but it was instead turned into a public park in 1922 and has remained one ever since. Stroll down its pathways hand in hand and admire the wonderful sights in the park itself, as well as the spectacular views of the city below.

Price: 8pp

Watch a film together at Montjuic Castle

If youre visiting Barcelona in the summer months, make the most of the outdoors by catching a film at the pop-up outdoor cinema in the dry moat of Montjuic Castle. Join city dwellers and other tourists reclining on picnic blankets or deckchairs on the soft grass and watch new and classic films on the large screen. Most of the films are shown in English with Spanish subtitles, and all feature live concerts beforehand from local talent as well as the occasional short film preview. To add some romance to the evening, pick up a bottle of cava and some fresh olives on your way there.

Price: Tickets start at 6.50pp

During the summer months, Montjuic Castle sets the scene for an atmospheric outdoor cinema

Do a Catalan cooking class

Barcelona is a city known just as much for its culinary delights as it is for its cultural ones. Learn the tricks of the trade and add some delicious dishes to your dinnertime repertoire with a Catalan cooking class. Several companies and restaurants across the city offer them, including group sessions and private tutorials that will see you creating a bounty of traditional mouth-watering Mediterranean dishes. Barcelona Cooking round the corner from La Boqueria Market teaches the classics like paella and tapas, while Born to Cook school in El Born will see you visit Santa Caterina Market for ingredients before whipping up a Catalan feast. Most schools will offer classes in English and pair your food with local wines so you can enjoy a sit down meal at the end of your culinary session.

Price: 60+pp

Have dinner with a view at Mirablau

Sitting on Tibidabo mountain and accessed by a funicular railway, Mirablau arguably has one of the best views in Barcelona thanks to its floor to ceiling windows that look out over the city below. A popular dining spot for over 25 years now, its the ideal location to go as a couple for a celebration or simply to commemorate your last night in the city. Made up of two levels, start off on the lower floor of Mirablau for wine or cocktails before heading upstairs for tapas. If you visit on a weekend, the lower floor also turns into a dance floor after 23:00 so you can dance together into the early hours. Mirablau may be a little pricier than many restaurants and bars in the city centre, but the views definitely make it worth it.

Price: 30+pp
You may have explored Paris on foot and by tour bus, but what about by boat? The iconic river Seine runs through the heart of the city and is the perfect place to enjoy the sights, sounds and cuisine of the French capital. Boat trips run all year round, varying from dinner cruises and sightseeing tours through to seasonal voyages. Heres our guide to the best of them.

Peruse our list of the best boat trips in the French capital

Dinner on La Calife

A beautiful early 20th century wooden houseboat turned restaurant, La Calife is a great river cruise option that gives visitors a comprehensive tour of the Seine as they tuck into a delicious lunch or dinner. Its a highly unique river cruise thanks to its unique setting which includes an atmospheric bar area, a music room (complete with grand piano) and a sun terrace thats the perfect spot to watch the sunset if youre cruising in the summer months. The evening cruise is the most popular option on the Calife, and the typical French menu is sourced fresh on the day before being prepared on deck by the on-board chef. Embarking under the Pont des Art bridge, the La Calife glides for two hours up and down the Seine as guests enjoy a three-course meal. Sample seafood entrees, fillet mains and sweet Parisian desserts, and dont forget to look towards the shore as you glide past Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, Grand Palais, the Eiffel Tower and other iconic attractions.

Price point: 67+pp (not including drinks)

Duration: Two hours

Vedettes du Pont Neuf Champagne Cruise

Paris isnt referred to as the City of Love for nothing, and the romantic champagne cruise organised by Vedettes du Pont Neuf is the perfect way to pop the question or commemorate a special anniversary. It takes you on either a sunset or night time cruise along the Seine, departing from Port de Larsenal and crossing over on to the main river. From there, it sails past Pariss iconic riverside buildings and bridges while a knowledgeable tour guide tells you about their fascinating histories. The highlight of the tour though has to be watching the Eiffel Tower light show, which happens every half an hour after dark. Its even more spectacular from the river than it is from the shore, plus you can enjoy it while sipping on your glass of complimentary bubbly.

Price point: 24.50

Duration: Two hours

Bateaux Mouches Dinner Show Cruise

As one of the oldest cruise companies in Paris, youll have to forgive Bateaux Mouches for enforcing a smart dress code on their dinner cruises. It has been around since the 1940s, and continues to be one of the most popular river boat options in the city. While Bateaux Mouches offers meal cruises at all times of the day, its dinner show cruise is the pick of the bunch. Beginning with a three-course meal of French classics (think foie gras, duck and delicate pastries) on board a smart glass fronted vessel, guests then disembark and walk the short distance to the famous Crazy Horse for an atmospheric cabaret performance. Ideal as a romantic date idea, the steep  but definitely worth it  ticket price includes entry to the show, your cruise meal, wine and a glass of champagne.

Price point: 200pp

Duration: Two hours 15 minutes cruise journey, 90-minute show

Make your trip unforgettable with one of these boat trips

Bateaux Parisiens Sightseeing Cruise

If youre travelling to the City of Light with your kids in tow, the Bateaux Parisiens Sightseeing Cruise is a must if you have your heart set on a family boat trip. Its only an hour long so itll keep even the most distracted of kids interested, plus it takes in Pariss most well-known sights such as the imposing Eiffel Tower and the gothic Notre Dame Cathedral. Bateaux Parisiens modern boat features comfy bench seats to sit on as you gaze out of the floor-to-ceiling glass windows at the riverbanks and listen along to an audio guide. It also has an observation deck thats a great spot for those all-important family holiday snaps.

Price point: 15 adults, 7 kids

Duration: One hour

Seasonal Cruises

Visiting Paris for a special occasion or perhaps youre spending your Christmas holidays there? Most of Pariss river boat companies offer special cruises at certain times of year which make unique ideas for big celebrations. From Christmas afternoon teas to New Years Eve champagne gourmet picnics, celebrating on the Seine is something youll undoubtedly never forget.
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If you've got a fear of heights, then this job certainly isn't for you.

Hyden, which is based in Oslo, Norway, employs a team of around 20 abseilers who spend their days scaling some of Norway's highest heights to carry out maintenance and repair work.

Dizzying images provided exclusively to MailOnline Travel show the troop of technicians at work, putting their faith in ropes as they dangle from bridges and skyscrapers.

Hyden, which is based in Oslo, Norway, employs a team of professional abseilers who spend their days scaling some of the city's highest buildings in a bid to carry out maintenance and repair work

An abseiler reaches forward to clean a panel on a building while enjoying some Norwegian sunshine

A team of abseilers seen working on Posthuset, which is a commercial building located in the centre of Oslo. The building was designed by Norwegian architect Rolf Christian Krognes and first constructed in 1975. It has 26 floors and at 364 feet high, it is the second tallest building in the Norwegian capital

One shot shows a team of climbers on the Farris Bridge in the Norwegian county of Vestfold, spidering their way up the central concrete tower, which measures 230 feet.

Another vertigo-inducing photo captures some abseilers working on Posthuset, which is the second tallest building in Oslo, measuring 364 feet.

Martin Halvorsen, a project manager for Hyden, explained that 'these guys are all adventurers and love to live'.

A professional abseiler can earn up to 50,000 per year and many supplement their income with mountain guiding.

A team of abseilers work on the Farris Bridge in Vestfold, Norway. The overpass features a central concrete tower measuring 230 feet high

Towering 37 stories above Oslo city center, the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel offers views of top attractions including the Royal Palace, National Gallery and Oslo Spektrum Arena

Martin Halvorsen, a project manager for Hyden, explained that 'these guys are all adventurers and love to live.' A professional abseiler can earn up to 50,000 per year and many supplement their income with mountain guiding

The job certainly offers stunning views of the landscape around, with the abseilers winching themselves up to a mix of hard-to-reach places

Halvorsen says many of the abseilers are multi-skilled, too, with some working part-time as welders, engineers and electricians.

The majority are men but increasing numbers of women are being roped into the trade.

The climbers are required to do rope access training, which teaches them how to ascend, descend and set the ropes up to exacting standards. They are also trained around how to perform rescues.

Halvorsen says the courses are expensive, starting at around 3,000, and it takes time to move through the different stages.

But once they've passed the final level, the climbers are ready to hit the heights.

Halvorsen says the work can be exhilarating, with the opportunity to navigate famous bridges and buildings, from banks to theatres.

The climbers are required to do rope access training, which teaches them how to ascend, descend and set the ropes up to exacting standards. They are also trained how to perform rescues

The main job of the abseilers is do 'anything if it's hard to reach'.

Halvorsen continues: 'The work can range from changing a lightbulb to mounting heavy steel plates 328 feet high dangling over water.

'We've also done things linked to nature, like mounting a camera over an eagle's nest.'

Asked what the best qualities are needed to be a commercial abseiler, Halvorsen concluded: 'You must be a good planner and obviously be good with heights!

'It's also important to be safety-conscious. We haven't had any accidents yet.'

Compared to other methods, Hyden, which was founded in 2010, says rope access is more cost-effective and more environmentally-friendly than using mechanical hoists and lifts.

The accomplished climbers are on the go all year round. Here, two men can be seen working on a radio mast with a snowy landscape down below

Compared to other methods, Hyden, which was founded in 2010, says rope access is more cost-effective and more environmentally-friendly than using mechanical hoists and lifts
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These post offices give a whole new meaning to the phrase 'snail mail', as their remote locations could mean several weeks of waiting before letters reach their destination.

MailOnline Travel has pushed the envelope to find some of the most obscure places at which you can pop something in the post.

One of the odder spots includes a post box ten-feet-down at the bottom of the South Pacific Ocean, where you can buy waterproof postcards and postal marks are embossed instead of inked. Scroll down to see some first-class oddities.

The world's most southerly post office - Port Lockroy, Antarctica

Located on Goudier Island, 700 miles south of the Chile and Argentina coastlines, Port Lockroy sends out cards and letters, which will take between two and six weeks to reach their destinations

Port Lockroy is the world's most southerly post office and a top tourist destination in Antarctica.

Each year, around 70,000 cards are posted at the remote hub, destined for more than 100 countries.

Located on Goudier Island, 700 miles south of the Chile and Argentina coastlines, the unusual post office sends out cards and letters that will take between two and six weeks to reach their destinations.

Run by the United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust on behalf of the government, the remote base receives an income from the Post Office and a small gift shop, which goes towards the renovation of historic sites in Antarctica.

The southernmost post office in the Americas - Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

The End of the World Post Office is the southernmost post office in the Americas, making it a popular tourist attraction

The End of the World Post Office is located at the end of an unnamed road at the tip of Argentina on the Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego.

The post office is housed within a shed clad with corrugated metal and the ramshackle structure sits on a small pier over the water. Its exterior is coated with dozens of stickers left by visitors.

It is the southernmost post office in the Americas, making it a popular tourist attraction.

Inside the non-air-conditioned shed there are postcards, special edition stamps and other souvenirs available to buy.

The world's only hand-delivery box - Post Office Bay, Floreana Island, the Galapagos

At Post Office Bay on Floreana Island in the Galapagos, visitors sift through mail and take it back home to deliver by hand

Post Office Bay on Floreana Island in the Galapagos dates back to the 19th century, when whalers first began keeping a wooden barrel at the site.

Since then, mail can be picked up and delivered by ships - mainly on their way home to Europe and the United States - without requiring any postage.

The impressive endeavour continues to work because visitors come to the island to sift through letters and cards and decide which they want to take back home and deliver by hand. This requires checking the addresses for a convenient location.

Over 1,700 people have left cards over the years. Some say the hand-delivery method proves to be very quick. Indeed, one visitor told MailOnline Travel that the letter she left in the barrel was there waiting for her when she got home but if she posted it the traditional way it would have taken at least two weeks.

The world's only underwater post office - Hideaway Island, Vanuatu

Vanuatu, a South Pacific Ocean nation made up of roughly 80 islands, is home to the worlds only underwater post office. Instead of being stamped with ink to show that the card has been sent, an embossing system has been developed

Vanuatu, a South Pacific Ocean nation made up of roughly 80 islands, is home to the worlds only underwater post office.

Situated within the Hideaway Island marine sanctuary, the post office - which opened in 2003 - sits in almost ten feet of water and both divers and snorkelers are able to post special waterproof postcards.

If snorkelers can't dive down far enough, there are staff on hand to help.

Instead of being stamped with ink to show that the card has been sent, the post office has developed an embossing device.

Opening hours are posted on the beach and a special flag is raised on a float above the site when there are postal workers in the water.

Summer Isles post office - Isle of Tanera Mor, Scotland

The Summer Isles post office, on the island of Tanera Mor in northwest Scotland, was inaugurated on September 1 1970

The Summer Isles post office, on the island of Tanera Mor in northwest Scotland, was inaugurated on September 1 1970, with the approval of the Royal Mail.

A letter posted from the tiny island must bear two stamps: a Summer Isles stamp to carry it from Tanera to the mainland post office in Achiltibuie, and a Royal Mail stamp for the rest of its journey.

Post travels from Tanera to the mainland via a boat, which returns with mail for the island inhabitants.

Ascension Island Post Office, South Atlantic Ocean

The post office on Ascension pictured in 1997. The small isolated volcanic island is located in the equatorial waters of the South Atlantic Ocean

Ascension Island, which is located in the South Atlantic Ocean and part of a British Overseas Territory, has a small stone-clad post office that employs a staff of three including a postmistress, a postal clerk and postal researcher.

There is no national postal service on the island as few of the roads have names.

However, companies operating on the island have postal addresses and organisational representatives are sent to collect mail from the post office.

Ascension Island produces its own postage stamps with the first set issued on August 20, 1924.

These help provide a source of income for the island with overseas collectors snapping them up and they are also used for domestic purposes.

Santa Claus' official post office - Lapland, Finland

Santa Claus's main post office in the Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Circle, 8km north of Lapland's capital Rovaniemi

Santa Claus's main post office in the Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Circle, 8km north of Lapland's capital Rovaniemi, is the only official post office of Father Christmas.

It belongs to Finland's official postal service network and it is staffed by a merry team of elves who are fluent in several languages. Each year, more than 600,000 letters are received from children in over 150 countries.

Visitors can order a unique letter from Santa Claus when visiting the post office - and it's sent to them in time for Christmas.

Furthering the festive spirit, cards, letters and parcels sent from the wood cabin are stamped with an Arctic Circle postmark.

Ilulissat post office, Greenland

One of the main post offices in Greenland can be found in the coastal town of Ilulissat

One of the main post offices in Greenland can be found in the coastal town of Ilulissat.

The sorting office is located within a bright red shed, with opening hours running Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm.

The town gets many visitors from tourist boats and there are around 4,500 residents to keep postal workers busy.

On the temperature front, the remote area experiences average lows of minus 20 degrees Celsius and highs of 11 degrees Celsius during the summer.

Sub-Antarctic post office, King Edward Point, South Georgia

Tourists seen leaving the post office on South Georgia, having sent postcards while visiting the sub-Antarctic island

Situated at King Edward Point, the sole post office on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia is run by a postal officer or appointed representative, and is open upon request.

During visits by passing expedition cruise ships, the post office service transfers to a nearby shed over at Grytviken - a former whaling station that has now become a historic place of interest.

In some instances, the post office might go aboard some larger vessels.

Items for sale inside the store include stamps, postcards, first day covers and South Georgia merchandise. Mail can be posted if South Georgia stamps of the appropriate value are used, although it may take up to two months or more for items to reach their destination, via the Falkland Islands.

The world's highest post office, Everest Base Camp, Tibet

Travellers send postcards at the world's highest post office located at Mount Everest's base camp on the Tibetan side

After a gruelling climb up to the world's highest mountain, travellers can share their feelings of exhilaration or weariness with their nearest and dearest thanks to a post office at Base Camp.

It's located on the Tibetan side and takes the form of a compact metal shed.

Located at an elevation of 17,388 feet, it is reputed to be the worlds highest post office.

The mailing facility was set up by China Post in 2008 and due to the harsh weather conditions it is only open from April to August.

According to www.tibettravel.org, the post office employs three workers, and due to its remoteness, fees for sending mail are a little higher.
He's the radio shock-jock who's made no secret of his romantic conquests throughout the years.

But Kyle Sandilands has revealed that his gestures of love haven't always gone to plan.

Speaking on his KIIS FM breakfast show, the 46-year-old confessed he once tried to impress a girl with his BMX skills, only to break her sister's ribs after his stunt went haywire.

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'I broke her rib': Kyle Sandilands reveals he once tried to impress a crush with his BMX biking skills but things took a dangerous turn when the stunt went haywire

'I remember once I tried to impress a girl when I was a teenage boy,' Kyle revealed.

'I made her, a couple of her friends and her sister lay down on the ground and made a makeshift ramp... and then I jumped over them on the BMX.'

But, as he copntinued, things didn't go to plan.

'I didn't make it all the way and I think I broke one of her sister's ribs with the back tire,' he sheepishly revealed.

Unsurprisingly, Kyle said his relationship with his crush 'didn't progress to anything'.

He broke her ribs! 'Unfortunately, I didn't make it all the way and I think I broke one of her sisters ribs with the back tire'

Kyle's revelation of his failed gesture of love comes after he and co-host Jackie O were discussing Married At First Sight's cheating husband Dean Wells and his display of affection through rap.

Not that the heartbreak has held him back - he's currently happily settled with long-term girlfriend 27-year-old model Imogen Anthony - and more than happy to share his grand gestures of affection with the world.

Taking to Instagram last week, the model showcased the big bouquet of long stem red roses he had got her along with an X-rated card and a bag full of elegant Versace cushions for Valentine's Day.

Bringing home the goods! Taking to Instagram last week, the model showcased the big bouquet of long stem red roses he had got her along with an X-rated card and a bag full of elegant Versace cushions for Valentine's Day

The clip showcased King Kyle in a head-to-toe black ensemble while walking in with the goods.

'Happy Valentine's Day, baby,' he said.

The pair who met when Imogen was 20 on Kyle's 40th birthday, recently purchased their first property together in the Southern Highlands for $2.95 million.
He's the Married At First Sight 'super villain' who chose rap as a legitimate way of apologising to his wife Tracey Jewel after having an 'affair' with their co-star.

But Dean Wells' attempt to connect himself to the 'underground rap scene' with the stage name Visionz didn't seem to impress anyone other than Tracey.

While there is very little to connect the 39-year-old to the arts, he did tag recording company Big Village Recors in his latest photo, suggesting they might be behind his burgeoning career.

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'That was the most embarrassing thing I've ever seen': Dean Wells' rapping abilities were slammed by social media, after he performed a hip-hop ditty for wife Tracey on Monday's episode of Married At First Sight

However, Twitter doesn't actually believe he's the next big thing.

Social media users posted a number of memes throughout the show on Monday to perfectly encapsulate how the felt about Dean's rap.

Some saw the opportunity to connect the skateboarding 'cheater' to Jay-Z and Eminem, sharing photos of the pair laughing to show what a mockery Dean's music was.

Less than impressed! Social media began to share memes relating to Dean's rap attempt

Others said the scene reminded them of Daniel and Nathan's bedroom rap from Angry Birds - a thought comedian Chris Lilley, who plays the characters, would likely be appalled by.

One even hilariously stated it was as though 'Vanilla Ice melted'.

Dean attracted much ire for his performance o Monday night's episode, with one person stating online: 'That was the most embarrassing thing I've ever seen'.

Showing off his way with words, Dean rapped: 'Tracey my little lady/ you drive me crazy/ after last week on the couch you probably hate me/ but you gave me a shot/ you're so hot/ plus your brain is next level/ show me what you got'.

And while wife Tracey was impressed by the performance, most were less than enthralled. 'I wish I never witnessed that. Wow... my ears are bleeding,' one Twitter user complained.

Ooops! Dean attracted much ire for his performance on last night's episode, with one person stating online: 'That was the most embarrassing thing I've ever seen'

'I wish I never witnessed that. Wow... my ears are bleeding': Social media users did not appreciate Dean's performance skills

Several others claimed they nearly died while watching Dean attempt to rap.

'Almost died of cringe overload,' 'dying of embarrassment' and 'I'm going to f**king die' were some of the emergency tweets that were shared online.

One viewer went further, claiming that the performance had actually killed them, by writing: 'DEAN'S RAP. I AM DEADER THAN DEAD'.

'I AM DEADER THAN DEAD': A number of viewers claimed that witnessing Dean's rap had left them dying or dead

She's a fan! Former Bachelor star seemed to (sarcastically) suggest that Tracey and Dean may be Australian hip-hop royalty

However, one celebrity viewer was impressed by Dean's skills on the microphone.

Former Bachelor babe Zilda Williams hilariously tweeted: 'Are Tracey and Dean the Beyonce and Jay-Z of Australia?'

Tracey was blown away by Dean creating his own hip-hop song for her, stating in a piece to camera his songwriting made her 'feel like a giddy little girl'.
They look like one of The Bachelor couples who could go all the way to the altar.

But on Monday, Matty J was roasted on comedian Dave Hughes' and his panel of guests on for complaining about his petty arguments with girlfriend Laura Byrne.

After Dave aired several images of the pair in lavish, all-expenses-paid locations, Matty preceded to argue about getting in trouble by Laura for the way he takes out the bins.

'You seem like you've got a lot of problems!': Matty J slammed by Dave Hughes for complaining about his first world problems with Laura Byrne

It occured on 'Hughesy, We Have A Problem,' Dave's new low-rated show, in which he attempts to solve people's issues.

Generally, people have legitimate issues, Matty's, according to some guest panelists, are far from abnormal.

After happy snaps of Matty and Laura at lavish events like the races and the ARIASs aired, a guest panelist sarcastically quipped: '(Yeah) you seem like you've got a LOT of problems.'

What's his problem? It occurred on 'Hughesy, We Have A Problem,' Dave's new low-rated show, in which he attempts to solve people's issues

Clearly, she was poking fun of the Bachelor star's charmed life.

Matty continued: 'I've let someone into my inner-sanctum (Laura)... And she's questioned the way I do my chores'.

'(Specifically) the way I bring out the rubbish'.

'You seem like you've got a lot of problems!': After happy snaps of Matty and Laura at lavish events a guest panelist sarcastically quipped: '(Yeah) you seem like you've got a LOT of problems.'

The Bondi-based upper-middle income earner mansplained: 'And one of the things that fills up the trash the most is food'.

Nobody on the panel was surprised or impressed by that revelation.

'Well, you could eat it!' Hughesy joked, as Matty took the joke in good spirits.

'But then you wouldn't have those washboard abs'.

That's rubbish! Matty continued: 'I've let someone into my inner-sanctum (Laura)... And she's questioned the way I do my chores'. '(Specifically) the way I bring out the rubbish'
It's the controversial Channel Nine series where strangers 'tie the knot' on national television.

And as current Married At First Sight stars Sarah Roza and Telv Williams announce they're moving in together, Daily Mail Australia takes a look at other couples in the show's history who have gone the distance.

Since appearing on season one of the show, Zoe Hendrix and Alex Garner have had a baby, while Erin Bateman and Bryce Mohr are set to legalise their union.

Growing brood: Season one stars of Married At First Sight Zoe Hendrix and Alex Garner welcomed their first child together, daughter Harper Rose, in mid-November 2016

Smitten couple Zoe and Alex welcomed their bundle of joy Harper into the world in mid-November 2016.

The couple however are in no rush to wed, with Zoe, 28, telling The Daily Telegraph last year: 'When the time is right, yes, we will definitely have a big wedding.'

Zoe regularly shares the joys and challenges of parenthood with her 92,200 Instagram followers.

Content: The couple however are in no rush to wed, with Zoe, 28, having told The Daily Telegraph last year: 'When the time is right, yes, we will definitely have a big wedding'

Revealing she was left 'in awe' at her body's ability to withstand the pain of delivery, the brunette has also praised Alex, who she loves 'on a whole other level' after the experience.

Meanwhile, Erin and Alex, who 'wed' on season two of MAFS, are still going strong.

Going strong: Season two stars Erin Bateman and Bryce Mohr are proving that the reality show's format is a recipe for success

Just last month, the 28-year-old social media star told NW magazine that it's just a case of when - not if - she will the knot with Bryce.

Erin revealed that they're opting for a small celebration, telling the weekly: 'I never really wanted to have a wedding. I would rather put money towards something else.'

The brunette added: 'I thought that before the show and it's good that Bryce even wants to have a small thing too - it's perfect for us.'

The One: Just last month, the 28-year-old social media star told NW magazine that it's just a case of when - not if - she will the knot with Bryce

Making their debut: Sarah Roza, 38, and Telv Williams, 33, are favourites on the current season

Meanwhile, this season's stars Sarah, 38, and Telv, 33, have announced they're moving in together in Sydney.

Sharing the happy news to Instagram last week, Sarah wrote: 'Moving in day for Sydney's newest residents!' followed by the hash-tags #newlyweds, #movingintogether and #newhome.

The lovebirds are already talking babies, with machinery technician Telv revealing to NW magazine: 'I've always said if I fall in love again I'd definitely want more children and I definitely want to with Sarah.'
Married At First Sight's Troy Delmege proved he's anything but domestic on Monday night's episode.

But MAFS alum Erin Bateman, who hosts an official Nine recap of the show alongside fellow alum Zoe Hendrix, admitted Troy's unconventional ways happen to tickle her fancy and are right up her ally.

When discussing Ash and Troy's relationship, Erin was quick to admit: 'I am kind of digging Troy. I have this weird, sick crush on Troy!'

Sucker for Troy! MAFS alum Erin Bateman says Troy's unconventional ways tickle her fancy and admits: 'I have this weird, sick crush on Troy'

Adding: 'I think he's sweet. I just think he's a sweet-hearted man. I'm kind of like, "Oooh, la la! Troy".'

On discussing the dinner debacle  whereby Troy attempted to cook Ash fettuccine bolognaise without any pasta and using cold tomato sauce straight from the tin  Erin leveled with Zoe, sharing: 'Oh, I wouldn't even feed it to be my dogs!'

Adding: 'Look, I'm not very domestic  I mean, I'm no Betty Crocker  but I know that pasta involves actual pasta and I know that the sauce should be mixed in to the mince on heat.'

'Whereas I'm not sure Troy, in his adult age, has quite got that yet,' she admitted.

Pasta sans pasta: On discussing the dinner debacle  whereby Troy attempted to cook Ash fettuccine bolognaise without any pasta and using cold tomato sauce straight from the tin  Erin leveled with Zoe, sharing: 'Oh, I wouldn't even feed it to be my dogs'

When talking about the massage incident, Erin was quick to pipe in, sharing: 'Who wouldn't enjoy a massage from Troy? I mean, I would. I'm just putting it out there!'

On discussing his technique however, Erin jokingly commented: 'He was doing this tapping thing on her neck  I'm not sure that really has any chiropractic benefit.'

Zoe was quick to question if the former MAFS star still felt Troy-inclined, given his lack of massage-giving skills and un-domestic ways. Erin responded: 'Look, I'm glad that he's on a television screen and not right up next to me on the couch, but like, I'm into it.'

Tap tap! When talking about the massage incident, Erin was quick to pipe in, sharing: 'Who wouldn't enjoy a massage from Troy? I mean, I would. I'm just putting it out there'

'Yes, I definitely like Troy from a distance but I'm not going to deny my feelings for Troy and how sweet I think he is. I don't know, I'm loving it!' She added.

'I just think he's hilarious! I think everything about him, I'm just like, "You do you, you're an individual and I'm all about it!" I actually find his weirdness and his quirkiness endearing,' Erin finished.

Clearly all in jest, as Erin is still happily dating her on-screen co-star husband, Bryce Mohr, 32.

Last week, the MAFS alum took to Instagram to document shaving her head for World's Greatest Shave  a charity which raises money for cancer research.
He's the nice guy of Married At First Sight who slammed Dean Wells for cheating on 'wife' Tracey Jewel.

And Nasser Sultan has again unleashed on Dean, telling Today Extra hosts David Campbell and Sonia Kruger on Tuesday he was treating the show like Tinder.

The personal trainer also slammed Davina Rankin's 'husband' Ryan Gallagher for not standing up for himself when he found out she had cheated on him with Dean.

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'It's not Tinder!' Nasser continues his tirade against Married At First Sight's love rat Dean ... as he slams Ryan for not standing up for himself when Davina cheated on him

Clearly still fuming, Dean told Sonia and David he found Dean's behaviour completely unacceptable.

'This is not pick a girlfriend, this is Married At First Sight,' he said.

'This is where you are paired with someone where you have to make it work, not just ''oh I'll come on the show and I don't like you I'll just pick you'', it's not Tinder.'

'This is not pick a girlfriend, this is Married At First Sight': Clearly still fuming, Dean told Sonia and David he found Dean's behaviour completely unacceptable

Nasser added that he had been put out that none of the other male contestants had condemned Dean's behaviour during the commitment ceremony.

'I got so mad and no one stood up, none of the guys,' he said.

'Even Ryan - if that was me and I was Ryan, I would have said, ''hang on mate, you don't behave like that, you've embarrassed me''. He just sat there and said, ''oh well, OK yeah she played me''.'

'He just sat there': Nasser added that he had been put out that Ryan hadn't condemned Davina or Dean's behaviour

'This is where you are paired with someone where you have to make it work': Nasser blasted Dean for not being faithful

During Sunday night's commitment ceremony Nasser exploded with anger when it emerged Dean had been two timing Tracey and Davina.

'He's played you and played her!' He told a crying Tracey, clearly furious at Dean's actions.

The personal trainer continued his war with words with Dean on Monday when he told NW Magazine he would 'break his legs'.

'If you're an a--hole, I'm going to tell you you're an a--hole. I'll never walk away with that sort of stuff and in the past I've ended up in fights,' Nasser said.
Rebecca Gayheart has been pictured for the first time since ending her 14 year marriage to Eric Dane.

The actress, 46, was seen arriving to a friend's house in Los Angeles on Monday with her daughters Billie, seven, and Georgia, six.

Rebecca could be seen wearing two gold bands on her left hand, including one on her ring finger.

Single: Rebecca Gayheart has been pictured in Los Angeles on Monday for the first time since ending her 14 year marriage to Eric Dane

The former model was every inch the doting mother as she followed her little girls inside the house.

Rebecca appeared makeup-free, had her hair pulled back into a ponytail, and wore an over size grey sweatshirt, jeans, and ankle boots.

The actress appeared relaxed as she enjoyed a day out with her girls, smiling just days after news broke she had filed for divorce from Eric.

Rebecca is seeking spousal support  according to The Blast  and joint legal and physical custody of their two daughters.

Jewelry: Rebecca could be seen wearing two gold bands on her left hand, including one on her ring finger

Doting mom: The actress, 46, was seen arriving to a friend's house in Los Angeles on Monday with her daughters Billie, seven, and Georgia, six

Surprise split: The split comes as a surprise, as they were seen on a romantic holiday getaway in late December in Hawaii

Casual and comfortable: Gayheart appeared makeup-free, had her hair pulled back into a ponytail, and wore an over size grey sweatshirt, jeans, and ankle boots

The split comes as a surprise, as they were seen on a romantic holiday getaway in late December in Hawaii.

On Monday, Rebecca thanked her fans for all their love and support as she posted the message, 'Today I am thankful for all the people who are loving and kind to me.'

The caption of the photo read: 'I just wanted to say thank you to all of you that have sent me kind encouraging words ...... it means more than you will ever know . #attitudeofgratitude #kindnessmatters #luckyduckiam #thankYOU #quoterepost #happymonday

Earlier on Friday, she also shared a black-and-white photo of herself embracing her children.

'Holding onto my girls tight and loving them hard today . So many broken hearts and shattered dreams ....... @nancyneil @sophiemonet #meandmygirls #myeverything #trulymadlydeeply #gratitude #feels,' she captioned the photo.

Grateful: On Monday, Rebecca thanked her fans for all their love and support
She previously admitted to eating predominantly organic produce to keep her incredible physique in check.

And to put her money where her mouth is, Megan Gale has been sharing her dinner meals with her more than 400,000 fans on Instagram.

'Clean eating' she labelled a particularly delicious looking plate, which had a slice of salmon sitting in the centre.

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Getting her five a day! Model Megan Gale shares her day on a plate... and yes, she's a big fan of kale

Surrounding the orange fish where a selection of fruit and vegetables, including kale, edamame, red cabbage, carrot, cucumber, avocado and a sprinkling of sesame seeds.

The post received almost 50 comments from curious strangers wanting to see more.

So, she gave it to them.

On Monday evening the 42-year-old uploaded a second dinner with a similar nutrient value.

Healthy meals: The mother-of-two has been sharing snaps of her healthy dinner meals

This time her choice of protein was a piece of teriyaki chicken, circled by roast pumpkin, avocado, carrot, cucumber, cabbage and broccoli.

A light drizzling of olive oil was used as a dressing - and for an additional serving of healthy fats.

The mother-of-two plans is currently building a house with her partner Shaun Hampson.

Grand home designs? The mother-of-two plans is currently building a house with her partner Shaun Hampson

She recently opened up about their plans on Instagram writing: 'After several years of looking for the perfect house we are now considering creating it. Are we mad? Will it destroy us?'

'In any case, I've been collecting oodles of inspiration in case we take the plunge,' she admitted, adding: 'I'm bathroom obsessed and LOVE a bathroom that incorporates nature in some way.'

The brunette beauty also revealed her love for a more minimal aesthetic as well as a black-and-white colour scheme.

Megan and Shaun will have to juggle their grand building plans with raising their son River, three, and five-month-old daughter Rosie.

The couple also recently signed a lease on $1,400 a week cottage in Malvern East, in Melbourne.

The Mad Max actress has sold off quite a few properties from her portfolio in recent years including a luxurious Aberfieldie property for $2,967,000.

Model and property mogul: The Mad Max actress has sold off quite a few properties from her portfolio in recent years including a luxurious Aberfieldie property for $2,967,000 (pictured)

In 2016, she struggled to sell her Palm Beach mansion after 308 days on the market with an asking price of $3.5 million.

She reportedly settled on selling the property for $3 million, according to The Daily Telegraph.

She also sold her Bondi home for $1,025,00 and Tamarama property for $3 million in 2012.
She recently announced her engagement to real estate agent Pierre Ghougassian.

And former Bachelor star Emily Simms has now revealed her sparkling engagement ring for the first time.

The 34-year-old flashed the bling in an Instagram post on Tuesday while promoting doughnuts.

There it is! Ex-Bachelor star Emily Simms flashes her engagement ring for the first time and reveals set to wed fiance Pierre Ghougassian in just FOUR months

The ring appears to made up of a centre diamond set in two diamond bands.

The brunette beauty, who received the sweet treats as an engagement gift, also flaunted her trim figure in activewear.

It appears decadent treats are the first priority for the newly engaged couple, as she also asked fans for their recommendations on wedding cakes in a post prior.

Emily, who plans to walk down the aisle in just four months, wrote: 'Thanks so much for all your wedding recommendations! I really appreciate it.'

Help! It appears decadent treats are the first priority for the newly engaged couple, as she also asked fans for their recommendations on wedding cakes in a post prior

'If you know of any beautiful cake specialists in Melbourne, car companies (vintage) and suppliers for cutlery and napkins, that would be awesome. Thank you all. We have four months to organise everything before we go over seas, so any suggestions you have would be fab.'

Emily took to Instagram last week to share several romantic photos from the moment real estate agent Pierre proposed on Valentine's Day.

'He put a ring on it! We're engaged!,' Emily excitedly revealed.

'He put a ring on it!' Former Bachelor 2015 'villain' Emily surprised her fans by announcing she got engaged to boyfriend Pierre Ghougassian on Valentine's Day

In her post, Emily explained she was wearing her red Alice McCall dress for the occasion.

She assumed the couple would just be celebrating Valentine's Day and Pierre's birthday at swanky Melbourne restaurant The George on Collins.

'And the love of my life proposed to me!' Emily wrote. 'I couldn't be happier! Love this silly, funny, thoughtful, caring, loving, handsome man so much!'

'I can't wait to be your wife,' she added.

'I can't wait to be your wife!': The 34-year-old took to Instagram to share several romantic photos from the moment real estate agent Pierre proposed on their date

Emily's social media followers expressed their delight, and even her former Bachelor co-star Zilda Williams commented: 'Your happily ever after... how wonderful!'

New mother Bec Chin also wrote: 'Can' t stop looking at these pics'.

Sarah Mackay, another contestant from Sam Wood's season of The Bachelor, sent her congratulations too.

Loved up: Emily only publicly debuted her relationship with Pierre in May 2017, in a post shared to Instagram on her birthday

'Oh Em! Congratulations to you and Pierre,' she commented.

Meanwhile, former My Kitchen Rules star Zana Pali wrote: 'Congratulations Emily this is the best news. Maybe a munchkin soon too so happy for you! You deserve this.'

Emily only publicly debuted her relationship with Pierre in May 2017, in a post shared to Instagram on her birthday.

New flame: Pierre appears to be Emily's first boyfriend since her headline-making departure from The Bachelor Australia in 2015

Pierre appears to be Emily's first boyfriend since her headline-making departure from The Bachelor Australia in 2015.

Fans will remember Emily from season three of the Network Ten dating series, where she was one of 21 women vying for the heart of personal trainer Sam Wood.

One of their most steamiest moments involved recreating the steamy pottery scene from the 1990 film Ghost for a photo shoot date.
She's made her directional debut for the luxury brand as part of the Italian label's Women's Tales series.

And now discussing the upcoming release of the short film, Dakota Fanning attended the Miu Miu Women's Tales screening at London's Curzon Mayfair with the support of her younger sister Elle on Monday night.

The 23-year-old actress, who is known for her roles in Charlotte's Web, the Twilight Saga and the upcoming Ocean's 8, looked charming in a Miu Miu grey midi dress which featured a striking crystal embellished bow in the midst of her bust.

Sister, sister: Dakota Fanning attended the Miu Miu Women's Tales screening at London's Curzon Mayfair with the support of her younger sister Elle on Monday night

Her pleated number boasted a plunging neckline which was complemented by crystal studded detailing around the waistband that drew attention to her narrow midriff.

The soft grey hued number offset Dakota's alabaster complexion while she posed next to her sister, clad in a pair of metallic strappy heels.

Dakota completed her look by working her blonde locks into a soft chignon and left strands of hair to frame her face as they posed together ahead of her talk.

Designer darlings: The 23-year-old actress, who is known for her roles in Charlotte's Web, the Twilight Saga and the upcoming Ocean's 8, looked charming in a Miu Miu grey midi dress which featured a striking crystal embellished bow in the midst of her bust

Style savvy: Her pleated number boasted a plunging neckline which was complemented by crystal studded detailing around the waistband that drew attention to her narrow midriff

Walk this way: The soft grey hued number offset Dakota's alabaster complexion while she posed next to her sister, clad in a pair of metallic strappy heels

Meanwhile, Elle, 19, was fashion forward in a dark plaid suit which highlighted her statuesque frame.

The striking two-piece featured a leather fabric waist belt wrapped around her midriff while she donned a pair of khaki-coloured stilettos.

Elle, who is a brand ambassador for the fashion house, continued her fashionable appearance by working her golden locks into a sleek straight style.

Mane attraction: Dakota completed her look by working her blonde locks into a soft chignon and left strands of hair to frame her face

Chit chat: Dakota took to the stage to discuss her directorial debut

Picture perfect: She posed with pal and talent agent Brittany Kahan

Their appearance at the LFW event comes as Dakota premiered her directorial debut Hello Apartment at the bash.

The American actress was asked by Miu Miu to step up to the directorial plate with her cinematic project, which marks the brand's 15th commission, that focuses on how the spaces that we live in shape our formative years.

Drawing on her own experience of her first apartment, Dakota, who follows in the footsteps of Ava DuVernay, Miranda July and Chloe Sevigny to create her own short, told Vanity Fair that her creative offering follows Ava, who has moved into her first Brooklyn loft.

Stars: The short film's stars Eve Hewson (L) and Tom Sturridge attended the premiere in jovial spirits

Celebrations: Later, Dakota was joined alongside Rob Pattinson at the LOVE x Miu Miu Women's Tales dinner hosted by Katie Grand and Elle Fanning at Loulou's

Friends: Casually clad Rob was there to support his pal Tom at the event

Having fun: Eve and Elle posed for photos inside LouLou's

Thrilled: Elle chatted to Derek Blasberg during the evening

Written by Liz Hannah, Ava (played by Irish actress Eve Hewson) finds her first love (played by Tom Sturridge), heartbreak and loss. Fast forward a number of decades, a wiser Ava returned to her first space to reflect on her time.

Helping Dakota celebrate her debut film, the short's stars Eve and Tom attended the fashionable event, clad in the Italian fashion house's threads.

The daughter of U2 frontman Bono stunned in a powder blue short-sleeved boiler suit with race car badges sown on.

Supper time: (Pictured: L-R) Tom Sturridge, Eve Hewson, Dakota, Naomi Scott and Millie Brady at the LOVE x Miu Miu Women's Tales dinner

Monochrome muses: Actresses Florence Pugh and Naomi Scott (R) attended the stylish soirees in their contrasting monochrome looks

Picture perfect: The pair posed for photos together at the star-studded event

Glamorous: Dakota later layered a sleek navy coat, lined with matching blue faux-fur, atop her look as she headed home

Essentials: The actress accessorised with a glittering pale pink clutch bag

Turning heads: The siblings certainly commanded attention as they headed to Loulou's nightclub after the fashionable dinner

Check her out! Elle looked truly radiant as she excitedly headed out with her sister

She teamed the look with a pair of metallic heels while working her pink-hued tresses into a sleek top knot.

While, Tom, who has a daughter Marlowe with ex Sienna Miller, looked dapper in his double breasted tuxedo.

Other stars enjoying the event included actresses Florence Pugh, Naomi Scott and socialite Alice Naylor-Leyland.

Dressed to impress: Alice Naylor-Leyland stunned in a polka dot dress
Georgia Love beat the heat on a scorching Sydney summer's day by picking up a case of beers with her boyfriend Lee Elliot.

The Bachelorette couple were spotted in Bondi following a shopping trip in the area.

The 29-year-old dressed casually for the outing on Sunday, opting for a plunging pink crop top that showed off her cleavage and toned arms.

Feeling hot, hot, hot: Georgia Love beat the heat on a scorching Sydney summer's day by picking up a case of beers with her boyfriend Lee Elliot, on Sunday

The Channel 10 journalist teamed the look with a white denim mini-skirt that highlighted her shapely pins.

Accessorising with black thongs and stylish sunglasses, Georgia swept her brunette locks into a ponytail, with a blue scarf acting as a hair tie.

Georgia looked to have sported a minimal makeup palette, allowing her natural beauty to shine through.

Casual: The 29-year-old dressed casually for the outing, opting for a plunging pink crop top that showed off her cleavage and toned arms

Walking along a grassy knoll with a shopping bag in hand, Georgia was joined by beau Lee, 37, who she chose on the grand finale episode of The Bachelorette.

The plumber showed off his bulging biceps in a grey muscle tank, teamed with white denim shorts, coordinating sneakers and designer sunglasses.

Showing off his strength, Lee carried the box of Corona beer.

Buff: Plumber Lee showed off his bulging biceps in a grey muscle tank, teamed with white denim shorts and coordinating sneakers

On Valentine's Day last Wednesday, Georgia shared a gushing tribute to her man, alongside a picture of the couple in an intimate embrace.

The brunette wrote: 'Oh how I love you, my funny Valentine,' alongside the hash-tags #sweetcomicvalentine, #cupiddrawbackyourbow and #nobodynosehowmuchiloveyou.

Georgia and Lee celebrated the occasion at the trendy QT hotel in Melbourne.
She's the successful art director daughter of the former editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris Carine Roitfeld.

Enjoying London Fashion Week, Julia Restoin Roitfeld, 37, was her mother's complete doppleganger as she celebrated the CR Fashion Book drinks party at Blakes Hotel alongside pal Jourdan Dunn.

The French beauty looked sensational in a form-fitting strapless jumpsuit which highlighted her svelte figure as she posed up a storm at the exclusive soiree on Monday night.

Party people: Julia Restoin Roitfeld, 37, was her mother's complete doppleganger as she celebrated the CR Fashion Book drinks party at Blakes Hotel alongside pal Jourdan Dunn

The petite beauty, who's father is Christian Restoin, creator of the clothing line Equipment, accentuated her ample cleavage in the sultry number which was sure to upped the fashion ante.

She teamed the look with a pair of pointed black stilettos which complemented her ensemble perfectly.

Julia, who is mother to daughter Romy from her previous relationship with Croatian model Robert Konjic, worked her glossy brunette locks into a sleek straight style which teased at her glittering earrings.

Complementing her pal's attire, supermodel Jourdan highlighted her model physique in a one-shouldered black midi which boasted button detailing down the front.

Chic: The French beauty looked sensational in a form-fitting strapless jumpsuit which highlighted her svelte figure as she posed up a storm at the exclusive soiree on Monday night

Eye-popping: The petite beauty, who's father is Christian Restoin, creator of the clothing line Equipment, accentuated her ample cleavage in the sultry number which was sure to upped the fashion ante

Her demure look exhibited her slender pins as she posed for photos alongside the French beauty, sporting a glamorous beauty look as she tackled one of the many events she has attended over London Fashion Week.

Jourdan was scouted in Hammersmith's Primark at the age of 15 by Storm Model Management and has gone on to find fame across the globe.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline in September, Jordan admitted that being in the spotlight means she finds it hard to form friendships - and she trusts her instincts to filter out the disingenuous people.

Ive made strong friendships in the spotlight and youre meeting new people all the time. But you soon become wary and realise that some people just want to get near you for your name.

Glam gal: Complementing her pal's attire, supermodel Jourdan highlighted her model physique in a one-shouldered black midi which boasted button detailing down the front

Demure darling: Her demure look exhibited her slender pins as she posed for photos alongside the French beauty, sporting a glamorous beauty look as she tackled one of the many events she has attended over London Fashion Week

Camera ready: Jourdan posed with fellow model Halima Aden

'I have developed good judgement and go off vibes now. Anyone with bad energy is cut off straight away.

And being part of the newest batch of supermodels, which includes Kendall Jenner and Gigi and Bella Hadid, Jourdan has developed a close friendship with Karlie Kloss.

She is my best friend, Jourdan admitted. We give each other advice all the time. We talk about everything, but the one thing Karlie does is see my potential and helps me to be the best me.'

Relaxed about her A-list shoulder-rubbing is her son Riley, who helps keep her feet firmly planted on the ground.

Perfect: She teamed the look with a pair of pointed black stilettos which complemented her ensemble perfectly (Pictured with Fiorina Benveniste-Schuler)

Glittering: Julia, who is mother to daughter Romy from her previous relationship with Croatian model Robert Konjic, worked her glossy brunette locks into a sleek straight style which teased at her glittering earrings (Pictured with Halima Aden)

Jourdan, who made the 2014 Forbes list as one of its highest earning models, as well as being the first solo black model to appear on the cover of British Vogue in 2015, ensures she organises her hectic career and family time carefully.

I make sure that Riley and I take time off to spend together. We go away and just have some "us" time, she explained on how she juggles life as a single working mum.

She is also fully appreciative of having an extra pair of helping hands in the form of her doting mother Dee, who takes care of Riley whenever her supermodel duties require her to jet to all corners of the globe.

'I am very lucky to have my mum to help,' admitted the statuesque stunner. 'Some mums dont have help and have to do it alone.'

All smiles: She posed alongside George Kolasa at her book party
She was hand picked for the 21st cycle of America's Next Top Model.

And Winnie Harlow drew attention to the model proportions that got her noticed on Monday night, as she made an extremely leggy arrival to Loulou's in London.

The Canadian fashion model, 23, wore little more than a camo vest top for the LOVE and Miu Miu party during London Fashion Week.

Leggy look: Miodel Winnie Harlow put her endless model pins on display on Monday night, as she arrived for the LOVE x Miu Miu party at London Fashion Week

She showcased her endless legs in the hemline, which skimmed off at the very top of her slender thighs.

Leaving her bottoms behind, Winnie's belted top served as a dress - but fortunately she had a long fur coat to cover her modesty from behind.

Draped in the fashionable garment, Winnie turned Loulou's into the scene of an impromptu shoot and began working up her best poses for the camera.

Is she fur real? She draped a fluffy jacket over her shoulders to keep her bottom covered

Leggy look: She wore towering heels with her ensemble to elongate her limbs

Making an entrance: The catwalk star made quite the show-stopping arrival

Her leggy frame benefitted yet more from towering stilettos that completed to designer get up.

Winnie has had quite the busy start to London Fashion Week, which is the second week of Fashion Month.

Only the previous evening, the star turned out for a glamorous party hosted by British Vogue in the capital.

Showing her shape: The camo top featured a drawstring hem to protect her modesty

Having a moment: She couldn't resist posing up a storm inside Loulou's

Posing up a storm: Leaving the other guests behind, Winnie had an impromptu shoot

Snapped: She was snapped inside the venue in A-list company on Monday

Winnie was accompanied by fellow model Jourdan Dunn as she stopped by the post-BAFTAs celebration of fashion and film.

The raven-haired beauty stunned in a metallic silver cut out dress, featuring panels across her midriff and a daring thigh-high split to the skirt.

Teaming it with coordinating silver shoes and sleek raven hair, the model sizzled for the cameras at the star-studded bash.

Army girl: She wore camo from top to toe but certainly didn't blend in like a wallflower

The cover up: Her oversized coat acted as a great prop for the model moment

Model behaviour! The previous evening, Winnie was accompanied by Jourdan Dunn as they attended British Vogue and Tiffany & Co's party in London on Sunday

Leggy! Teaming it with coordinating silver shoes and sleek raven hair, the model sizzled for the cameras at the star-studded bash
She's held her reign as the modern day Queen of Burlesque for over 20 years.

And Dita Von Teese has landed Down Under for her hotly anticipated Australia tour  but not before making a few furry friends in Adelaide.

Taking to Instagram on Monday, the 45-year-old posted a picture of herself cuddling a baby koala at Adelaide's wildlife rescue sanctuary.

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First stop: Koala cuddles! Burlesque Queen Dita Von Teese lands in Australia for her hotly anticipated 2018 tour and heads straight to a wildlife sanctuary

Captioning the post, Dita wrote: 'Met this baby koaka at #faunarescuesa care centre today in Adelaide.'

'Fauna Rescue is now the largest wildlife rescue organisation in South Australia, caring for sick, injured and orphaned koalas,' she added.

Dita made her appearance at the South Australian wildlife shelter, opting for her signature feline eye and bold lip makeup combination.

She's back! Dita has returned to Australia  following her sold-out run in 2016  with a brand new show: The Art Of The Teese

The raven-haired beauty wore her trademark old Hollywood glamour hair in side-parted, vintage waves.

Wearing a peach-hued, puffy-sleeve blouse paired with a rose-gold chained handbag, Dita was all smiles while snuggling the rescue joey.

Fans were quick to comment, with the post stacking up over 81,000 likes within 24-hours of being posted.

All hail the Queen! Dita's show will travel Australia-wide throughout late February and March, kicking off in Perth and continuing on to Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast and Brisbane

One wrote: 'What am amazing experience that must have been. So sweet! And you're gorgeous as always.'

'So happy to have you in Adelaide! Can't wait to see the show,' another wrote of her upcoming tour.'

Dita has returned to Australia  following her sold-out run in 2016  with a brand new show: The Art Of The Teese.

Brand spanking new! Set to deliver acts never seen before in Australia  including Lazy, a show only ever featured at The Crazy Horse in Pairs  Dita is joined by a cast of guest performers

Her show will travel Australia-wide throughout late February and March, kicking off in Perth and continuing on to Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast and Brisbane.

Set to deliver acts never seen before in Australia  including Lazy, a show only ever featured at The Crazy Horse in Pairs  Dita is joined by a cast of guest performers.

Guest performers will include the likes of Dirty Martini, Jett Adore, Zelia Rose and Ginger Valentine and will be hosted by Jonny McGovern.
Arie Luyendyk Jr sent home Tia Booth from the final four during Monday's episode of The Bachelor after her family grilled him about his reputation as a playboy.

The 36-year-old former race car driver made hometown visits to the families of the four remaining women before making what he called 'the hardest decision I've ever had to make in my life.'

He initially seemed ready to send home Kendall Long - who bizarrely had him stuff a dead rat for their date - halting the final rose ceremony to quiz her over whether she was ready to accept a proposal if he chose her.

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Sent home: Tia Booth burst into tears after being sent home by Arie Luyendyk Jr on Monday's episode of The Bachelor

'I can't say that at that this very moment that I'm ready to be engaged,' she admitted, seemingly making his decision a simple one.

Instead, physical therapist Tia, 26, was left in floods of tears as she was rejected, sobbing as she asked: 'What did I do wrong?'

'You didn't do anything wrong,' Arie insisted. 'I don't have a good explanation, I really don't. There's just something missing. You are an incredible woman and anyone would be lucky to be with you.'

Tia bravely told him to 'go with your heart, OK?' before walking to a waiting car to leave, where she broke down again.

Something missing: Arie told Tia that she did nothing wrong but there was 'something missing'

Final four: Lauren Burnham, Tia, Kendall Long and Becca Kufrin were the final four

'This s*** is what makes me put my walls up,' she cried.

'Telling someone how I feel for them and not feeling it in return. I'm just tired of feeling not good enough for people. I'm tired of it.'

The decision will undoubtedly anger her family who had also been the toughest on him when he visited them in Weiner, Arkansas - with her dad even warning him: 'If you hurt her I can find you on Google. It will be bad for you.'

Walls up: Tia wailed that she was tired of feeling not good enough for people

Tears flowing: The Weiner, Arkansas resident broke down after failing to get a rose

She had taken him race car driving for a date 'near and dear to your heart' before the tough grilling from her clearly suspicious family.

'I heard some things about you - you're maybe a little bit of a playboy,' her brother Jason challenged Arie.

'The rumors are out there - the ''kissing bandit''. Is that something I have to look forward to?','

Fun date: Tia set up a fun race car driving date for Arie

Big brother: Jason challenged Arie about his 'kissing bandit' reputation

Tia's dad Kenny also challenged Arie over his reputation, wondering 'if he was just out having a good time with 25 girls or if he was really looking to settle down.'

'The only thing I know about you is what I've read on the Internet,' he told Arie, warning: 'She may be 26 but she's still my little girl.'

Kenny gave Arie his permission to propose if he chose his daughter, saying: 'I've got to trust her judgment on this one and she really digs you. So if that's the way it works out I'm fine with it.'

The dad: Kenny also grilled Arie about his intentions with Tia

He then laughed as he gave his warning about finding him if he hurt her, with Arie admitting: 'I'm laughing but I'm a little scared.'

Arie feared the toughest time would come from Lauren Burnham's family in Virginia Beach, Virginia - with him even needing to excuse himself from the dinner table to fan himself as he sweated from the stress that he insisted reached a '10.'

He had been met with stony glances and awkward silences, with Lauren's mom Pamela also hinting at his reputation as she asked him bluntly: 'When are you going to be ready to settle down?'

Beach date: Lauren and Arie enjoyed horseback riding on the beach

Awkward silence: Arie was greeted by Lauren's family with stony silence

He most feared the chat with her military dad Dave, who had insisted: 'He needs to be willing to protect my daughter with his life.

'My daughter seems to like him a lot. If he proves me wrong I'll f***ing kill him.'

But their chat went surprisingly smoothly - especially when Arie won over the military man by talking about how he had gone on a good will tour to support the troops in Iraq.

Time out: The former race car driver had to take a break and wipe his sweat away

Military man: Arie won over military dad Dave by talking about a good will tour to Iraq

'We trust Lauren - Lauren is a smart lady,' Lauren's dad told Arie. 'I don't really worry about her picking the right guy.

'If she likes you, I like you. If you're an honest guy, it'll all work out.'

'I'm actually pretty shocked because I fully expected her dad to be tough on me,' Arie admitted later, with Dave having smiled: 'I'm not as tough as everyone says I am.'

Instead, he later told Lauren it was her mother who was 'so hard on me,' with her hesitating when he asked for her permission if he proposed, ultimately telling him: 'I have to revert back to I trust Lauren. I'm trying to have faith in that.'

Somewhat skeptical: Lauren's mom Pamela hesitated when Arie asked for her permission if he proposed

'It's just very difficult to give your blessing to someone you just met,' the mother explained to camera later. 'I just hope it's as real as it seems.'

Lauren, 25, told her mother how Arie had told her he was 'falling deeply in love with me,' insisting: 'I know he's a very honest and genuine person and I don't think he would say that to me if he was saying it to other people.'

'She seems awfully convinced that it's real,' her mom said later. 'I just hope it's real and it lasts a lifetime.'

Falling deeply: Pamela listened as Lauren told her that Arie said he was 'falling deeply in love with me'

Kendall, 26, gave Arie easily the weirdest date, taking him to her taxidermy room, with him admitting: 'The taxidermy creeped me out a little bit... not my thing.'

But he could not help but laugh when she produced two dead rats for them to stuff, saying he was 'a little terrified' and admitting: 'This is Silence Of The Lambs stuff.'

She then produced a Paris backdrop for their stuffed rats, with them getting them to pretend to kiss as his rat gave hers a rose.

Taxidermy date: Kendall took Arie to her taxidermy room during their date

Stuffed rats: Arie and Kendall acted out a love story with stuffed rats

Kendall insisted she wanted him to see the side of her life, saying: 'I don't see it as something morbid, something gross - I see it as something beautiful, and I want Arie to see the beauty in that. In a way, taxidermy is like a perfect relationship because it's something that's going to last forever.'

Arie's biggest fear with Kendall was clearly over her readiness to accept a proposal if he chose her.

Kendall's twin sister Kylie warned her: 'This is a lifetime, this is not just another boyfriend.'

Twin sisters: Kylie reminded her twin sister Kendall that she was with dealing with marriage on the line and 'not just another boyfriend'

'As of right now, I don't think I'm ready to get engaged,' Kendall admitted to Kylie.

'But can that possibly happen at the end of this? Maybe. I do feel myself falling for him, a hundred percent.'

She ended the date by telling Arie she could 'definitely see myself falling for you' - but was honest with him at the final rose ceremony that she still had doubts about an engagement.

'I don't want to lose you,' she sobbed when she thought she was going home.

Getting emotional: Kendall started crying at the thought of losing Arie

Arie also had a tough time with publicist Becca Kufrin's family in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with her uncle Gary, a pastor, warning Arie he was 'her guard dog' after the death of her dad Steve, telling him: 'I'm not going to mess around.'

'Are we wasting time here, or is Becca the real deal to you?' he asked him bluntly.

'She is,' he insisted, after Gary got emotional about the loss of Becca's dad, telling him: 'This should be her dad sitting here now, not me.'

Candid conversation: Gary was stepping in on behalf of Becca's late father Steve

Becca's mother Jill was honest about her skepticism, telling her daughter when she asked if she was willing to give Arie her permission to propose: 'No.'

But she eased up a little by the time he finally asked, telling him: 'I would honor whatever her choice is because I trust her and I love her.'

She then smiled: 'I really like you! You've really done well with my weird family.'

Flat answer: Lauren asked her mother Jill if she was willing to give Arie her permission to propose and she said, 'No'

When Arie later told Becca he 'got her blessing,' she told him: 'Words can't describe how happy I am right now. I just feel so good and so right with you.

'You keep blowing my mind and stealing pieces of my heart.'

The Bachelor returns with a two-night special starting with the Women Tell All episode on Sunday followed by the penultimate episode on Monday.

Final rose: Chris Harrison informed the ladies that there was one final rose on the table

First rose: Becca got the first rose

Second rose: Lauren gladly accepted the second rose
James Kennedy confessed to Lala Kent that she was 'the one I love' after their latest blazing row on Monday's episode of Vanderpump Rules.

Lala, 27, was already concerned at how James, 26, kept 'poking' at her when drunk, including when he recently said of her new relationship: 'You f*** a fat man because he pays for your rent.'

Calling him 'like a brother' and 'my best friend,' Lala also admitted that 'multiple people' have told her James was lashing out because he still has feelings for her.

Tears flowing: Lala Kent cried while arguing with James Kennedy during a group trip on Monday's episode of Vanderpump Rules

That finally came out during a furious fight they had as the group went for a weekend away in a waterfront cabin in Big Bear.

Despite being there with his girlfriend Raquel Leviss, James had already been touchy-feely with Lala, laying down close to her at one point and also trying to get Ariana Madix to 'lick Lala's nipples' in a game of Truth Or Dare.

When Raquel confronted him James admitted there was 'passion behind our friendship,' with Raquel, clearly hurt, stressing: 'I guarantee if I was laying on a couch with a boy you would not be having it.'

James initially tried walking away from Lala, upsetting her more by saying she was not his friend - and then angering her by once more calling her current boyfriend 'fat.'

True love: James admitted to Lala that he still has feelings for her

Poking away: Lala erupted at James as he continued to poke and needle her

Too far: The Sur hostess threatened to beat James if he continued badmouthing her man

'Shut the f*** up, you talk about my man one more goddamn time I'm gonna f***ing draw blood from your face,' Lala threatened him as they screamed at one another on the porch.

With everyone able to hear them, Lala sobbed as she accused James of using secrets she told him against her - and with him dismissing their past relationship as 'we f***ed.'

But he finally opened up about his feelings as he told her: 'I have a negative view on that man because he put the one I love in jeopardy.'

Getting emotional: Lala sobbed as she accused James of using secrets she told him against her

He then made it clear it was really just jealousy as he told her: 'So now you've come to a place where you're finally happy and talking about a future together and a house - beautiful things that I want... I've loved you.'

'So you have to understand Lala. I'm not used to it yet,' he said.

James seemed confused when Lala insisted their relationship needed to change, with her telling him: 'Do you know how much respect we owe to Raquel and my dude?'

Major admission: James told Lala that he has continued to love her

'James thinks he's losing me to my relationship,' she explained later to camera. 'But it's OK for me to have a boyfriend, it's OK for him to have a girlfriend - it doesn't mean we're losing each other as friends. I don't think he knows how to make the transition.'

However, she stressed: 'James and I will never be romantically involved ever again.

'That ship sailed a long time ago, and since then it's done sank. Hell no.'

Never again: Lala vowed that she and James would never be romantically involved ever again

James, however, had insisted he had Lala's best interests at heart, telling Raquel: 'Do I want Lala to be happy forever? Yes. Do I think she will be with the new guy? Probably not.'

'She's my best friend and I love her and I want her to be happy. You can't support something that's rotten,' he insisted.

The group was staying in a waterfront home owned by Scheana Marie's then-boyfriend Robert Valletta - with Scheana driving them crazy by constantly gushing about her man.

Best friend: James insisted that he was just looking out for his best friend Lala by mocking her boyfriend

'I'm with a man who knows how to do everything,' she declared at one point, and during a game where Rob said he would never join a swingers party because 'I don't want my dick to fall off,' she told everyone: 'I don't want it to fall off either - it's really good.'

'The way Scheana talks about Rob, I mean he created the air we breathe apparently,' Jax Taylor quipped to camera later.

'Sheana wants to believe that Rob is perfect. She wants everyone to see that she's living this fairytale life. She did the same thing with Shay, and look what happened - it bit her in the face,' he said of her failed marriage.

Proud girlfriend: Scheana Marie gushed about her boyfriend Rob

Sun session: Brittany Cartwright, Raquel Leviss and Ariana Madix soaked up some sun

Heads up: Lala told Raquel about her boyfriend James attacking her and her boyfriend

Stassi Schroeder, meanwhile, was not on the trip, but earlier apologized to the girls for the way she stormed off from her birthday party in a wild tantrum - and handing over the $1,500 she owed them for picking up the bar tab.

'I've been feeling like I was gonna throw up for two days, I felt like s***,' she sobbed, bizarrely adding: I thought that maybe it would make me not eat and I'd get skinny, but no, it made me binge eat. I'm so sorry - there's nothing I can say.'

But she insisted: 'Before everything happened it was one of the best birthdays I've ever had. You made it so nice for me.'

Birthday tantrum: Stassi Schroeder apologized to her friends for her birthday tantrum

Forgiving group: Katie Maloney and Kristen Doute were quick to forgive Stassi

Good times: The girls rode their personalized bikes together in West Hollywood

She put the stress down to relationship woes with Patrick Meagher - and even went for a tarot card reading for guidance on what to do.

'The way that this reads you'll know if it's worth it to keep going - and I don't know if it is, I don't think that it is,' the reader told her.

Stassi had admitted: 'I feel like this relationship is so f***ed up. I love him, I'm in love with him, but the same patterns are happening.'

Tarot reading: Stassi got a tarot card reading for guidance on her relationship

'The same things that I said can't happen this time around are happening,' she said of her rekindled relationship.

She had tears when the tarot reader told her she would have babies in 2019, joking later: 'I've always been worried that I couldn't have children because I have this very serious medical condition where I only date a**holes.'

Vanderpump Rules returns next week on Bravo.
She announced in November that she was expecting her second child.

And on Monday, Amber Portwood took to Instagram to share a selfie of her growing bump.

The mother-of-two snapped the photo as she she prepped to head to a doctor's appointment.

'Heading to my doctor for a check up!': On Monday, Amber Portwood, 27, took to Instagram to share a selfie of her growing bump

'Heading to my doctor for a check up! Can't wait to share my little bundle of joy with you all. sending love always,' she said.

In the picture, the 27-year-old sweetly patted her baby bump as she sat on a couch.

The Teen Mom OG star was dressed simply in a blue T-shirt and pants, and accessorized with a pendant necklace necklace, stud earrings and hoops.

Coming soon: In November, Amber announced that she was pregnant with her second child. The reality star will welcome her first son with boyfriend Andrew Glennon, 33

In November, Amber took to Instagram to announce that she was pregnant with her second child.

The reality star will welcome her first son with boyfriend Andrew Glennon, 33.

The couple met when Amber starred on Marriage Bootcamp with ex-fiance Matt Baier.

Andrew, a cinematographer, was working on the show.

Their story: The couple met when Amber starred on Marriage Bootcamp with ex-fiance Matt Baier. Andrew, a cinematographer, was working on the show. He is seen above

While their new son is Andrew's first child, it is Amber's second.

The Anderson, Indiana native shares daughter Leah, nine, with ex-boyfriend Gary Shirley, 31.

Gary has since moved on with wife, Kristina.
It's a necessary part of any healthy romantic relationship.

And the couples of Married At First Sight are confronting intimacy issues head on, with Troy Delmege confessing he is 'so attracted' to wife Ashley Irvin as they go to bed together in an upcoming promo for the controversial show.

A preview for Wednesday night's episode sees the experts encourage the couples to have sex, with grooms Telv Williams and Troy appearing to successfully take their respective relationships to the next level.

'I'm so attracted to you it's ridiculous': Married At First Sight's Troy and Ashley take their relationship to the next level in new teaser trailer ... after THAT bizarre back massage

During a round of sessions with relationships expert John Aiken, the couples are quizzed on whether they have sealed the deal with each other.

In the trailer, Troy is heard whispering sweet nothings to Ashley as they go to bed together.

'I'm so attracted to you right now it's ridiculous,' the tooth brushing fanatic tells his flight attendant wife.

Working hard: Troy appears to try his best to woo wife Ashley in the bedroom

Underwhelmed: The step forward in their relationship comes despite Ashley being less than impressed by Troy's massaging skills

The couple are seen waking up in bed together the next day, the trailer hinting that Ashley and Troy have taken things to the next level.

The step forward in their relationship comes despite Ashley being less than impressed by Troy's massaging skills.

On Tuesday night's episode Troy underwhelmed Ashley when he blew on her back, tapped her neck like a percussion instrument, and vigorously rubbed her shoulders.

Not good with his hands? Troy underwhelmed Ashley when he blew on her back, tapped her neck like a percussion instrument, and vigorously rubbed her shoulders

Something to be happy about? Telv is seen fist pumping and letting out a triumphant 'yes', appearing to allude to him finally sleeping with wife Sarah

Meanwhile in the new trailer, Telv is seen fist pumping and letting out a triumphant 'yes', appearing to allude to him finally sleeping with wife Sarah.

The buxom red head had purposefully held off on heating things up in the bedroom, admitting she hadn't had sex in 18 months.

But not all are pleased with the focus on sex, with Nasser Sultan appearing annoyed by the intrusion into his personal life - with him and Gabrielle Bartlett first sleeping together while on their honeymoon.

'Why is Nasser's sex life so important?' Nasser is not happy about the focus on intimacy

No issues here! Him and Gabrielle Bartlett first slept together while on their honeymoon

'Why is Nasser's sex life so important?' he asks producers, referring to himself in the third person.

Meanwhile the focus on getting physical appears to give Carly Bowyer a chance to air her grievances with husband Justin Fischer.

The soft serve millionaire insisted on building a pillow fort between him and Carly on their wedding night and honeymoon.

'There's zero physical intimacy between us,' she complains to the relationship experts.
David Hasselhoff and his fiancee Hayley Roberts enjoyed a casual lunch date Monday in Calabasas, California.

The 65-year-old former Baywatch star and the 37-year-old Welsh blonde looked all loved up as they strolled along.

They've been together since 2013 and while engaged, have not yet publicly set a wedding date.

Relaxing day: David Hasselhoff, 65, and his fiancee Hayley Roberts, 37, enjoyed a casual lunch date Monday in Calabasas, California. They've been engaged since 2013

Hasselhof was dressed simply in a white shirt left untucked over black jeans.

He rolled up the sleeves to the elbow and added a pair of Adidas trainers.

He carried a cup of coffee to go and sported sunglasses.

Loved up: Hasselhof was dressed simply in a white shirt left untucked over black jeans while Roberts showcased her slender frame in skinny blue jeans and a short-sleeved top

Roberts wore her long hair in a jaunty ponytail and showcased her slender frame in skinny blue jeans and a short-sleeved top.

She stepped out in pale pink fringed loafers, carried her smartphone and donned shades.

Hasselhoff has been married twice - first to actress Catherine Hickland from 1984 to 1989 and second to actress Pamela Bach from 1989 to 2006.

It was announced last week that Arnold Schwarzenegger will join Hasselhoff and Michael Fassbender in the film Kung Fury which will shoot in Europe and the U.S. this summer.
He's the millionaire mogul who hasn't been shy to boast of his business success on Married At First Sight.

But Justin Fischer, 41, left fans less-than-impressed during Monday night's episode when he invited Carly Bowyer, 32, to explore his office headquarters as part of a home-stay date.

Carly struggled to hide her disappointment as she wandered through the stock-standard building, prompting fans to mercilessly mock Justin for failing to live up to the hype surrounding his so-called lavish lifestyle.

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Not so swanky after all? Justin Fischer, 41, left fans less-than-impressed during Monday night's episode when he invited Carly to explore his office headquarters as part of a home-stay date

'Was honestly expecting Apple HQ standards,' one viewer wrote on Facebook alongside a visual comparison of Justin's office and that of Apple in California.

On Twitter, another fan quipped: 'Justin's office is barren - just like his personality.'

'Justin's office looks like one of those places that cleans out before the cops turn up,' another viewer joked.

Expectation vs reality: 'Was honestly expecting Apple HQ standards,' one viewer wrote on Facebook alongside a visual comparison of Justin's office and that of Apple in California

'Barren': One fan poked fun at Justin's interior and personality in one fell swoop

In previous episodes, Justin has been filmed working in what appeared to be a far more swanky office space, complete with chrome furnishings and extravagant paintings.

During the first episode, he was also seen cruising on a luxury yacht as he travelled to his wedding with wife Carly.

However, according to a source, the self-described entrepreneur is listed on a couch surfing website and may have rented his yacht.

Burn! 'Justin's office looks like one of those places that cleans out before the cops turn up,' another viewer joked

Not romantic! Another fan Tweeted about the lack of romance during the date

Not so cashed up? According to a source, the self-described entrepreneur is listed on a couch surfing website and may have rented his yacht

Justin, who owns three companies according to his LinkedIn profile, is listed on Couchsurfing.com, a popular website that allows its members to stay on one another's sofas.

Although his last log-in was four years ago, the divorced father-of-two wrote that his mission was to 'to meet new people and make new friends!'.

Further raising eyebrows about his status as a 'millionaire' is the claim the star may have rented the luxury Murcielago yacht that he and his groomsmen were seen sailing on around Sydney prior to his wedding.

Rented? Justin and his groomsmen were seen boarding a luxury Murcielago yacht prior to his wedding

A taste for the finer things: During his time on Married At First Sight, the star has been portrayed as a successful businessman with a taste for the finer things in life

The website Sydney Harbour Escapes offers a similar looking Murcielago yacht for hire, at the price of $2000 an hour.

While Justin did not specifically state he was the owner of the yacht, just before boarding the vessel he stated: 'I feel like I've got it all. I'm a successful entrepreneur, I have all the material things I want.'

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Justin regarding his Couchsurfing website and the claim he may have rented the yacht. Daily Mail Australia has also reached out to Channel Nine representatives for comment.

During his time on Married At First Sight, the star has been portrayed as a successful businessman with a taste for the finer things in life.

During his wedding reception, Justin told his new wife Carly that he only flies in first or business class.

The businessman is the founder and CEO of Brullen, which makes the soft-serve ice cream and frozen yoghurt machines.

He established the business in 1998 and works on it with his brother, Scott.

He also owns Ruggito Coffee, a coffee supplier with clients purportedly including McDonald's, and Cafequip, which provides equipment for hospitality businesses.
The use of the tropical fruit in cooking has long been debated by foodies.

And My Kitchen Rules' defence force couple Matt and Aly divided the judges and their rivals by using pineapple in their main dish on Tuesday night.

Judge Manu Feildel was thrown by the ingredient, slamming the Queensland-based duo, while Pete Evans described it as: 'an unpleasant dish to eat.'

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'Queensland and pineapple... you don't have to put it in everything!' My Kitchen Rules judges slam Matt and Aly's Mexican salsa as they receive LOWEST score on leader board

While waiting for their mains, Matt came out to retrieve a pineapple from the table to cook with, prompting discussion around the table.

Davide bemoaned: 'I hope he's not chucking that inside the pulled pork. I don't like pineapple in my meat.'

Truffle farmer Henry claimed he loved the tropical fruit, with sister Anna adding: 'Put it on anything, we don't care. Put it on pizza, put it in pasta- it's a good time!'

Prickly debate! While waiting for their mains(R), Matt (L) came out to retrieve a pineapple from the table to cook with, prompting discussion around the table

Mother and daughter duo Louisa and Pat were not so enthralled, complaining: 'Queensland and pineapple... come on, pineapple is delicious, but you don't have to put it in everything.'

Meanwhile Hadil also agreed, pleading: 'Please don't put it in our food!'

When the dishes were presented, the table saw pineapple chunks throughout their side salda.

'Pineapple is delicious, but you don't have to put it in everything!' Mother and daughter duo Louisa and Pat were enthralled by the idea of eating the fruit for dinner

'Put it on pizza, put it in pasta- it's a good time!' Truffle farmers Henry and Anna raved about pineapples, unlike their fellow rivals

'Unfortunately I'm going to be quite harsh on this critique...I'm very, very disappointed, you haven't taken me to Mexico,' Manu said of the dish, which he scored with just ONE point.

He continued: 'The pork is dry, it's unseasoned, and the salsa, pineapple doesn't exist in Mexican cuisine - it's a very Aussie thing to do. I really haven't enjoyed this.'

Fellow judge Pete also showed his displeasure with a score of one: 'There's no flavour, there's no love - there's nothing there. It's an unpleasant dish to eat.'

'Pineapple doesn't exist in Mexican cuisine - it's a very Aussie thing to do. I really haven't enjoyed this!': Judge Manu was 'quite harsh on this critique'

Not happy! After BOTH judges scores their Mexican pulled pork tacos with a single point, the stars landed themselves in the bottom of the leader board

After the three-course dinner party was complete, the couple scored a lacklustre 60 points, which has cemented them at the bottom of the leader board.

On Monday, Georgie and Alicia topped the leader board for group two with 113 points, kicking Russians Olga and Valeria off top spot by five points.

There are two more Instant restaurant left to go for group two.

My Kitchen Rules airs on Seven weeknights from 7.30pm
She is one of the industry's top clothing designers.

And Rachel Zoe, 46, looked nothing short of extremely stylish as she stepped out with her husband Rodger Berman, and her two sons, Skyler Morrison, age six, and Kaius Jagger, age four.

The family of four went hand-in-hand to grab frozen yogurt in Beverly Hills.

Family time! Rachel Zoe, 46, was spotted in Los Angeles with her husband Rodger Berman, and her two sons, Skyler Morrison, age six, and Kaius Jagger, age four

Rachel has a signature look that either includes a maxi dress or a pantsuit.

On Monday, the mom-of-two wore a long-sleeve black and white maxi with a faux fur vest.

Her hair was parted down the middle and she had on a pair of large, round sunglasses.

Special treat! The family of four went hand-in-hand to grab frozen yogurt in Beverly Hills

Kid-free! Zoe and Berman recently returned home after attending NYFW together

Zoe and Berman recently returned home after attending New York Fashion Week together.

The two have been married since 1996.

They met while attending college in Washington D.C.

Family of four! The couple have been married since 1996

The NYC native debuted her fall collection at The Jeremy Hotel in West Hollywood on February 5.

Walking to a soundtrack heavy on Stevie Nicks and '80s disco tunes, models stepped out in looks that Zoe described to The Hollywood Reporter as 'very glam-rock, very sensual but not overtly sexy.

'All my favorite elements in one collection: sequins, jewel-tone velvets, gold lace, silk fringe, high boots and platform heels. Happiness.'
She never fails to look glamorous when she hits the town, as one of the industry's hottest models of the moment.

And Hailey Baldwin certainly set pulses racing on Monday night, as she slipped into another sizzling ensemble to attend the Miu Miu Women's Tales Party in London.

The 21-year-old model turned heads in a seriously skimpy playsuit and raunchy thigh-high boots, as she arrived at Loulou's club in Mayfair for the Fashion Week event.

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Fashion party: Hailey Baldwin arrived in style on Monday to the Love magazine party in London

The blonde showed off her sensational figure in the sporty Micol one-piece, featuring an elasticated waist and striking checkerboard lining.

Upping the sex appeal of the look however, the playsuit then plunged deeply at the chest and cut off high at her thigh, to flash her cleavage and leggy figure to all.

Heightening her already leggy frame, she tied her look together with racy thigh-high boots, adorned with a chunky zip down the front.

High boots: The 21-year-old model added even more flair with thigh-high boots

Hailey had her blonde hair parted down the middle and hanging straight to her shoulders.

She accentuated her natural beauty with full maroon eye makeup and pink lipstick.

Hailey teamed up at the event with model Molly Smith as they struck a pose for the camera.

The party also sponsored by Belvedere Vodka additionally drew Noomi Rapace, Winnie Harlow, Jourdan Dunn and Naomi Campbell.

Top model: Hailey attended the Love magazine hosted Miu Miu Women's Tales Party London held at Lou Lou Club and also sponsored by Belvedere Vodka

Busy star: The top model last week walked in the Zadig & Voltaire show as part of New York Fashion Week

Hailey recently posed for Swedish denim brand FRAME in Grazia magazine's Big Fashion issue.

The daughter of Stephen Baldwin and graphic designer Kennya Deodato last week also walked in the Zadig & Voltaire show as part of New York Fashion Week.

Hailey scored her first commercial modeling campaign with the French Connection clothing brand in 2014.

Famous family: Hailey is the daughter of Stephen Baldwin and her uncle is Alec Baldwin

Blonde beauty: The runway model had her blonde hair parted down the middle and straight down

She also made her runway debut in 2014 walking for Topshop.

Hailey was at the top of Maxim magazine's May 2017 list of the most beautiful women in the world.

She will co-host the iHeart Radio Music Awards on March 11 with DJ Khaled at The Forum in Inglewood, California

Striking a pose: Molly Smith and Hailey teamed up at the party
She's currently on promotional duties in Perth for her ambassador role with ENJO Australia.

And PR queen Roxy Jacenko has been living the high life during her trip, if her Instagram posts are anything to go by.

Residing in the exclusive Crown Towers resort, the 37-year-old has been treated to helicopter rides, fine-dining, bespoke floral arrangements and a custom personal training kit.

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Living the high life! Designer-clad Roxy Jacenko, 37, got lavished with helicopter rides, fine-dining, bespoke floral arrangements and a custom PT kit, at the exclusive $1,000-a-night Crown Towers resort in Perth

Dressed to impress, several snaps on Roxy's Instagram account sees the entrepreneur sporting head-to-toe designer wear from Dior, Prada and Alexander McQueen.

Perfect for photo opportunities and the occasional mirror selfie, the luxurious Crown Towers resort, with suites going up to $1,000-a-night, features gold tiled ceilings, marble floors, plush interiors and views of the water park from one's own suite.

Made to feel comfortable during her stay, Roxy has been treated to bespoke floral arrangements by Matthew Landers, a fine-dining experience including a flaming dish at Nobu, as well as a custom personal training kit.

The mother-of-two has certainly been busy of late, sharing her tips and tricks just last week at her Gold Coast In Conversation With Seminar.

Luxe: Perfect for photo opportunities and the occasional mirror selfie, the luxurious Crown Towers resort, with suites going up to $1,000-a-night, features gold tiled ceilings, marble floors, plush interiors and views of the water park from one's own suite

Picture-perfect: Roxy's luxury suite on the twelfth floor features incredible views of the resort's water park

Speaking with Daily Mail Australia at the packed-out event, Roxy admitted that despite being an in-demand businesswoman, she only considers five people to be friends: 'Whilst I don't have thirty friends, I have five friends who I can count on.'

The talent manager's revelation came after she was asked whether she lost friends in the wake of pictures which showed her kissing ex-boyfriend Nabil Gazal while her husband Oliver Curtis was in jail.

'I learned long ago when I first started my business who my friends were... I also learned who the opportunists in my life were, and I also learned who had my back, even if we didn't speak every week.

Culinary: The entrepreneur has been treated to a fine-dining experience at Nobu, including a flaming dish

'So when Oli went to jail, and when I got cancer, I didn't have that issue, because I'd already established who my network was,' Roxy continued.

The bestselling author then claimed that she has five friends who she knows she can always depend on.

Roxy didn't reveal just who the lucky pals were, but stated: 'I don't speak to those five people every day, I probably speak to three of them every week.'

'But they're friends no matter what, and they have my back.'
They have been by each other's side since 2013.

And on Monday, Zoe Saldana attended a photoshoot in LA, and was joined by husband Marco Perego.

The 39-year-old gave her fans a behind-the-scenes look at her morning, courtesy of footage captured during her visit.

Day date: On Monday, Zoe Saldana, 39, attended a photoshoot in LA, and was joined by husband Marco Perego, 38

Zoe, 39, layered a light, V-neck sweater underneath a long, plaid button-down.

The mother-of-three accessorized with large hoops, her wedding ring, a watch and a Chanel bag. Her look was complete with skinny jeans and military boots.

Husband Marco, 38, also layered a sweater over a button-down, and added a pair of boots and jeans to his ensemble.

Her look: The Star Treck star layered a light, V-neck sweater underneath a long, plaid button-down. Her look was complete with skinny jeans and military boots

Coordinating: Husband Marco also layered a sweater over a button-down, and added a pair of boots and jeans to his ensemble

Time to go! Following her photo shoot, the duo made their way to their awaiting vehicle

According to her Instagram stories, Zoe looked to be having a great time.

In the snaps, the Avatar star stood against a red backdrop, and got playful with her medium-length, curly hair.

At one point, the New Jersey native stopped to check out the handy work of the photographer.

In that snap, Zoe had the hashtag 'bese' written all over it.

Living life! According to her Instagram stories, Zoe looked to be having a great time

Letting loose: In the snaps, the Avatar star stood against a red backdrop, and got playful with her medium-length, curly hair

Did she approve? At one point, the New Jersey native stopped to check out the handy work of the photographer

With constantly being in front of the camera, Zoe has consistently maintained a trim figure.

In an interview with People, the actress revealed that she and her family aim to eat health, 'every single day.'

'Consciously we are trying to eat healthy every single day, whereas our children don't need to have that if we don't instill that in them, she began.

'We want them to have a natural instinct of eating healthy. [But] they're super picky.'

Hipster: The shoot appeared to be artistic, with the look of this snap
She rose to stardom on Neighbours as Jane Harris back in the '80s.

And Annie Jones, 51, has revealed she is set to return to the Australian soap, three decades after her show debut.

She revealed on Monday that while it was honourable to star alongside the likes of Kylie Minogue and Guy Pearce, she struggled with fame at the time.

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She's back! Annie Jones has revealed she is set to return to the Australian soap, three decades after her show debut

'It was a little scary, she told TV Week.

'It was almost like Beatlemania, especially when we did a trip to London. It was insane - quite frightening.'

Appearing on the soap between 1986-89, Annie played 'Plain Jane Sueprbrain' Harris who quickly became friends with Charlene Mitchell (Kylie Minogue), Scott Robinson (Jason Donovan) and her boyfriend Mike young (Guy Pearce).

But although starring opposite Kylie Minogue and Guy Pearce (above) during its prime in the late 80s, the 51-year-old confessed it wasn't always smooth sailing, and in fact, she found the attention terrifying and compared it to 'Beatlemania'

Going on to win two Silver Logies, she soon after stepped away from the spotlight to care for her mother who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

Speaking to TV Tonight on Monday, the actress said: 'I was absolutely thrilled to be asked to return to Neighbours.'

And although keeping tight-lipped on her her return that will see, Annie told TV Week that her character's traits will be very different to when she left the show.

Starring roles: Appearing on the soap between 1986-89, Annie played 'Plain Jane Sueprbrain' Harris who quickly became friends with Charlene Mitchell (Kylie Minogue) [left], Scott Robinson (Jason Donovan) and her boyfriend Mike young (Guy Pearce)

Excited for her new gig: Speaking to TV Tonight on Monday, the actress said: 'I was absolutely thrilled to be asked to return to Neighbours'

'Jane has been looking after Mrs Mangel [who was played by the late Vivean Gray] in London for the past 28 years,' she shared.

'So a lot of Mrs Mangel's views and attitudes have rubbed off on Jane. She's kind of absorbed that, because she's been locked away in Mrs Mangel's World for so long.'

Annie's who's set to make her Ramsay Street small screen return in April 2018, is married to Australian actor Paul Moloney.
She is happily married to her husband Oliver Curtis.

But Roxy Jacenko appeared to engaged in some harmless flirting with a handsome helicopter pilot who was flying her from the plus Crown Hotel to Rottnest Island on Tuesday.

The blonde looked stunning in a figure hugging multi-coloured striped dress as she stood at the door to the chopper while the pilot carefully suited her up with a life vest.

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Giddy heights! PR Queen Roxy Jacenko spotted flirting up a storm with handsome helicopter pilot while living the high life in Perth

As the pilot, who looked dashing in his uniform, fitted the mother-of-two they appeared to share a joke prompting the pair to throw their heads back in laughter.

At one point he could be seen reaching around Roxy's waist to attach the clips on the lifesaving device.

Roxy completed her look with a square cross-body Prada bag and a pair of aviator sunglasses and a pair of embroidered sandals.

Suited up: The blonde looked stunning in a figure hugging multi-coloured striped dress as she stood at the door to the chopper while the pilot carefully suited her up with a life vest

Accessories, accessories: Roxy completed her look with a square cross-body Prada bag and a pair of aviator sunglasses and a pair of embroidered sandals

All strapped in: At one point the pilot could be seen reaching around Roxy's waist to attach the clips on the lifesaving device

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia Roxy explained that the pilot was on duty to fly her to Rottnest Island with her crew.

'That's Patrick!' she said.

She gave a little more insight into the trip, telling Daily Mail Australia that 'the chopper was arranged by Luke Wylie, who is the son of Rhonda Wylie and Western Australia tourism.'

Roxy has been busy in Perth for her ambassador role with ENJO Australia.

Having a laugh: As the pilot, who looked dashing in his uniform, fitted the mother-of-two they appeared to share a joke prompting the pair to throw their heads back in laughter
She's currently in Western Australia as part of her ambassador role for Australian cleaning company ENJO.

And in between meetings and tasting the delicacies from the region, Roxy Jacenko managed to score a super sweet selfie with a quokka.

The friendly, and rather furry, creature wasn't actually looking at the camera for the snap, but no doubt the 37-year-old PR mogul will whip him into photo-taking shape by the end of their time together on Rottnest Island.

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Holy quokka! Roxy Jacenko takes a selfie with one of the adorable creatures while visiting Rottnest Island

Her trip so far has been nothing short of lavish but she appeared to be missing the company of her children Pixie, six, and Hunter, three, as she cuddled up to a baby girl earlier in the day.

Sweaty Betty publicist Holly Asser, who is also a close friend of Roxy's, held up another little tot in the photo they shared on Instagram.

Both children were embellished with Pixie's new hair bow line.

Feeling Clucky? Her trip so far has been nothing short of lavish but she appeared to be missing the company of her children Pixie, six, and Hunter, three, as she cuddled up to a baby girl earlier in the day

The successful businesswoman she 'couldn't resist a cuddle' with the twin girls.

'We met ENJO Australias founder, Barb de Cortis twin granddaughters on arrival into Perth yesterday so couldnt resist a cuddle!' she told Daily Mail Australia.

The businesswoman seized the moment and adorned the twins with charming pale-pink Newborn Headbands courtesy of Pixie's Bows - her daughters hair bow line.

On the promotional trail: Roxy has been in Perth working on the launch of the Sante by ENJO, Sante Seamless makeup removers

Roxy was decked out in designer gear, stunning in a Dior dress paired with black glamorous ankle-strap high heels from Gianvito Rossi.

The blonde has been in Perth working on the launch of the Sante by ENJO, Sante Seamless makeup removers.

She documented her busy West Coast business trip on her Instagram story.

Busy: She documented her busy West Coast business trip on her Instagram story

In one snap, Roxy is seen packing boxes in a huge brown-box-laden warehouse.

'Picking and Packing Sante by ENJO's brand new seamless makeup remover disks that launched on Sante by ENJO today (Monday).' she wrote on the side of the photo.

Roxy's baby-cuddling fest in Perth comes just days after she shared a cute snap of herself taking her new puppy Oreo out for a walk in Sydney's Centennial Park.
She split with Channel Seven reporter Ryan Phelan in January.

And despite previously quitting her work as a high-profile escort, Samantha X has revealed she's still being solicited by randoms for X-rated fun.

Taken to Instagram stories on Monday, the 43-year-old uploaded a screenshot of a proposed hourly rate email she had received.

Going once, going twice! Samantha X is taking no time in reverting to old habits, with the former high-profile escort taking to social media to show she's entertaining hourly offers

The email, which was received on Monday afternoon, read: 'How about $2000 for one hour??'

The busty blonde captioned her screenshot: 'Reckon I should wait til gets to $10K?'

By the looks of it, the email was one of an ongoing thread, whereby another proposed hourly rate was offered earlier on. The email subject line read: 'Hope there is a yes.'

Yay or nay? The busty blonde captioned her screenshot: 'Reckon I should wait til gets to $10K?'

While the previously exchanged emails in the thread are not visible, it appears a previous email response from Samantha to the mystery man offered that of direct rejection, with what was legible reading: 'No thanks. Please excuse the brevity of this' before the preview text ran out.

Since her high-profile breakup, the former escort has been seen looking very slender and was seen on Friday taking a solo stroll.

The 43-year-old, whose real name is Amanda Goff, appeared rather downcast and failed to raise a smile as she took a solitary stroll.

Feeling the strain? Samantha X cut a slender figure during a solitary beach outing in Sydney on Friday, three weeks after her split from Channel Seven journalist Ryan Phelan

The former journalist went solo for the beach outing, showing apparent signs of strain with her slimmed-down figure.

Samantha's flat stomach and svelte arms were on display as she stripped off her white shirt and denim shorts for a quick dip.

Making her way into the surf, the escort agency boss stared thoughtfully into the distance, perhaps with Ryan on her mind.

Slim: Samantha's flat stomach and svelte arms were on full display as she stripped off her white shirt and denim shorts for a quick dip

No Morning Show for her! Not staying at home to watch her famous ex on TV, the busty blonde instead took a refreshing swim in a skimpy flesh-coloured bikini

Wish you were here? Making her way into the surf, the escort agency boss stared thoughtfully into the distance, perhaps with Ryan on her mind

At the time of her swimming expedition, Ryan was just a couple of suburbs away, filming The Morning Show at Channel Seven's Martin Place studios.

Not staying at home to watch her famous ex on TV, the busty blonde instead took a refreshing swim in a skimpy flesh-coloured bikini.

Samantha's only company on Friday was her new puppy, Little May.

Dripping wet: At one point, she was seen splashing water on her surgically-enhanced bust in what appeared to be an attempt to cool down

Lovely! It appeared Samantha X was relishing the healing powers of salt water

At one point, she was seen splashing water on her surgically-enhanced bust in what appeared to be an attempt to cool down.

Samantha's sighting comes just a day after she ruled out a return to escorting.

Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia on Thursday, she clarified that 'the door was firmly closed' on a return to sex work.

Mature age student: Samantha has now enrolled at university, after giving up escorting

Puppy love! Samantha's only company on the outing was her new puppy, Little May

'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,' she said.

'I'm looking for stability now.'

However, Samantha is still involved in the sex industry as owner of her own elite escort agency, Samantha X Angels.

'Escorting gives you freedom and flexibility, away from the constraints of a 'normal job': Samantha has no regrets about being an escort, but has now decided to move on

No return: Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia on Thursday, Samantha clarified that 'the door was firmly closed' on a return to sex work

In her interview with Daily Mail, Samantha confessed she 'misses the friends (she) made' while escorting, 'particularly the women', but added they still catch up for drinks occasionally.

'I still mentor women in this industry and I still have my escort agency where I employ mostly women over age of 30, who choose to escort as a hobby rather than full time,' she added.

Samantha has now enrolled in a masters of counselling and psychology at university.

'I'm looking for stability now': Samantha is moving on following from her split with Ryan
In December, the former Biggest Loser host halted her training to nurse two bandaged feet after undergoing foot surgery.

But on Tuesday, Fiona Falkiner appeared as happy as ever to be back at the gym.

The curvaceous model, 34, flaunted her physique in an activewear-clad look, as she admitted to her Instagram followers she was 'injury prone'.

Happy and healthy! Former Biggest Loser host Fiona Falkiner flaunts figure in crop top and leggings as she heads back to the gym after foot surgery

In December, Fiona shared footage using a wheelchair and posted pictures of her bandaged feet as she recovered.

Six weeks on from her surgery, Fiona had returned to light workouts at the gym.

In her posts she posed with her arms above her head stretching, as she said: 'Finding out through @mydnalife testing that I am pretty injury prone, has really reminded me of the importance of warming up and cooling down after training!'

She encouraged people to be the best they can be, adding: 'Stretching keeps the muscles flexible, strong and healthy, which you really need to maintain range of motion and to prevent injury!'

'Stretching keeps the muscles flexible, strong and healthy': The curvaceous model, 34, flaunted her physique in an activewear-clad look, as she admitted to her Instagram followers she needed to focus on her warm-up and warm-down stretched because she is 'injury prone'

Last Tuesday, Fiona's successful road to recovery became evident when a a dancing boomerang post was uploaded to social media.

In the clip, she was seen back into active wear, out and about for a stroll around New South Wales' Coogee bay.

'Not being able to go for a walk for the past 8 weeks has been so frustrating': Fiona Falkiner ditches her wheelchair for Nike trainers as she continues to recover from foot surgery

The Aussie model wore head-to-toe black gym attire with matching black Nike trainers, and was all smiles during her first unassisted walking outing for some time.

Grinning ear-to-ear and doing an Elvis-inspired boogie, Fiona captioned the post: 'It's the little things you take for granted. For me not being able to walk for the past eight weeks has been so frustrating.'

She continued: 'But it makes me appreciate my heath and this beautiful place we live in.'

Keeping mum: Fiona kept the recent surgery for her foot injury under wraps, only showcasing a select few snaps on social media to share the unfortunate news in December

Fiona first let her social media followers know about her impending surgery back in early December, when she posted a photo of herself looking happy and healthy in activewear at Sydney's Bondi Beach.

Her post was captioned: 'Ok here it goes! Final training session for 8 weeks.... #whenyourfeetfailyou #surgeryday.'

While little has been shared about the procedure, she did upload a series of clips showcasing her 'new wheels' after the surgery.

She also shared before and after X-rays of her feet.
Salma Hayek touched down in Los Angeles Monday night.

The 51-year-old actress spent the weekend across the pond for London Fashion Week and the British Academy Film Awards.

She tickled the crowd with her presentation of best actor when she said, 'In this very important and historical year for women, I am here on this legendary stage to celebrate men.'

Red eye! Salma Hayek touched down in Los Angeles Monday night after spending the weekend in London

Hayek arrived at LAX in a casual ensemble that included a graphic Markus Lupfer sweater boasting images of women divers.

She paired the eclectic sweater with a navy Markus Lupfer jacket, black pants, and a pair of Stella McCartney platform shoes.

Despite it being nighttime, the Frida actress donned a pair of round, retro sunglasses as she walked through the terminal.

Eventful! The 51-year-old actress attended London Fashion Week and the British Academy Film Awards while across the pond

Peace and love! Despite it being nighttime, the Frida star donned a pair of round, retro sunglasses as she walked through the terminal

After presenting at BAFTA, the Mexico native joined a slew of celebrities at British Vogue's after party.

She almost took a tumble down the red carpeted stairs at the event co-hosted by Tiffany & Co., but her husband Francois-Henri Pinault came to her rescue.

The couple have been happily married since 2009.

'Best date ever,' she said in an Instagram post of the two of them.

Casually clad! She paired her eclectic sweater with a navy Markus Lupfer jacket, black pants, and a pair of Stella McCartney platform shoes

Putting her best foot forward: Salma was looking stylish in her silk trousers

Salma recently said goodbye to the second love of her lifeher beloved dog Lupe.

The actress made the announcement on Instagram and wrote, 'With my heart filled with love and pain I had to say goodbye to my Lupe.

'I am so grateful for the 18 years she enriched my life with her great spirit. I have no words or tears to describe how much she meant to me,' she said.

Hayek concluded: 'May she run free with my pack of dogs that are already waiting for her in dog heaven.'

Watch your step! Salma almost took a tumble down the red carpeted stairs at British Vogue's LFW party
She gave birth to her fourth child in December last year.

And Lindy Klim has flaunted her slender post-baby figure, just two months after giving birth.

The stunning 40-year-old took to her Instagram story on Tuesday to a snap of herself at the The Slow art gallery in Bali, modelling an off-white jumpsuit from her label Rama Voyage.

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Chic mama! Lindy Klim has flaunted her slender post-baby figure, just three months after giving birth to her fourth child in a seventies inspired ensemble, matched with a trendy black newspaper boy cap with flat sandals

Her seventies inspired ensemble, matched with a trendy black newspaper boy cap with flat sandals.

She teamed the look with delicate gold rings and added a touch of luxury with a Cartier Juste un Clou bracelet.

The next day, she posted a short clip of herself playing with the baby girl on her lap.

While the tot was the centre of attention in the video, Lindy's slim and statuesque physique stood out in her slinky, black slip dress.

Saucy in a slip dress: The next day, she posted a short clip of herself playing with the baby girl on her lap. While the tot was the centre of attention in the video, Lindy's slim and statuesque physique stood out in her slinky, black slip dress

Lindy also shared a sweet mirror selfie of herself with adorable little Goldie in her arms quizzically staring at herself in the mirror.

The Balinese-based fashionista and her fiance Adam Ellis welcomed the cherubic bub in December.

She recently revealed to Daily Mail Australia she worries she won't fit into her wedding dress ahead her of impending nuptials to the British property developer.

She jokingly hinted that her wedding date, had been moved to later in the year because of her recent pregnancy.

Mummy-daughter time: Lindy also shared a sweet mirror selfie of herself with adorable little Goldie in her arms quizzically staring at herself in the mirror

Adorable: The Balinese-based fashionista and her fiance Adam Ellis welcomed the cherubic bub in December

'I want to fit into an amazing dress,' she said on the red carpet at the David Jones Autumn Winter 2018 Collections Launch.

Speaking about her changing frame after the recent child birth, Lindy added: 'My boobs are so massive! I'm really self conscious.'

Lindy shares three other kids - Stella, 11, Rocco, nine, Frankie, six - with her Olympian ex-husband Michael Klim.
Technology, why is it so complicated and daunting?

That's what Married At First Sight's John Robertson, 56, may have been asking on Tuesday after he appeared to get flustered by the complexity of Instagram's messaging system.

After his castmate Mat Lockett posted on Instagram, John shot-off a note to let the 28-year-old know how much he missed him - but he left it in the public comment section.

'Been too long since we caught up': MAFS' John, 56, appeared to forget Instagram comments aren't private. getting roasted on Tuesday for telling co-star Mat how he missed him

It came after dapper Mat posted on Tuesday: 'Free to be me #listentoyourheart #betruetoyourself #keepmovingforward #takingitslow #real #exciting #life.'

The contestant's Instagram post was almost certainly in reference to, Alycia Galbraith, a woman he spectacularly dumped on the show last week.

Upon seeing Mat's photo, 'Australia's Dad' John was struck with an urge to catch up with his co-star - Perhaps to sink a few beers and just chat about the good old days.

'Free to be me': It came after dapper Mat posted on Tuesday: 'Free to be me #listentoyourheart #betruetoyourself #keepmovingforward #takingitslow #real #exciting #life'.

For Alycia: The contestant's Instagram post was almost certainly in reference to, Alycia Galbraith, a woman he spectacularly dumped on the show last week

But it's not always easy to rekindle a friendship, so he started the reunion by complimenting his rugged photo.

'Great pose Matty - has anyone ever mentioned you look a little like (AFL star) Ben Cousins mate?' he wrote on Instagram's publicly viewable comment section.

Referencing his recent celebrity sighting, Mat joked in reply that in fact only one other person had called him that.

He joked: 'haha just you and Bec Judd mate. You still get the 3 votes tho John.'

Here's Johnny! Upon seeing Mat's photo, 'Australia's Dad' John was struck with an urge to catch up with his co-star - Perhaps to sink a few beers and just chat about the good old days (see below)

It sparked the interest of millionaire and fellow MAFS star Justin Fischer, who'd also seen the potentially accidentally public exchange.

He mocked John's eagerness hilariously: 'Settle down @johnrobertson_1962. Hes only been single for a week. And your married anyway!'

But instead of getting offended by the joke, John was just thrilled that another of his mates was chatting to him.

'Oh Jussy boy - so nice to hear from you! he beamed in his (public) reply.

'Been too long since we caught up mate!'

'Just you': Referencing his recent celebrity sighting, Mat joked in reply that in fact only one other person had called him that (see below)

Confirming he DID know Justin had seen his message to Mat, he added: 'no thats just an observation, he looks like a younger better looking version of Ben cousins.'

Next, a fan of the show chimed-in on the adorable virtual reunion, insisting Mat looked more like Liam Neeson than Ben Cousins.

Suddenly, the attempted catchup had turned into a debate over whether Mat looks more like the Irish Actor or the West Coast Eagles veteran.

Hello! It sparked the interest of millionaire and fellow MAFS star Justin Fischer, who'd also seen the potentially accidentally public exchange, who hilariously mocked him (see below)

John offered: 'Good point - his serious side does have a bit of the Liam Neesons going on - but you should mention a much younger version!' he replied.

But after that, John once again learned what it was like to be an empty-nester, as his castmates flew off to get on with their day, and he was left back where he started.

It has not yet been revealed whether John is still with his 'wife' Melissa.
Seashells are by the seashore, but they can also be found on Doutzen Kroes' denim two-piece ensemble.

The former Victoria's Secret model, 33, was spotted leaving MKNY HSEa club in Londonin a cropped jacket and pants on Monday night.

She looked especially cool with her collar popped and large gold hoops hanging from her ears.

Showstopper! Doutzen Kroes, 33, was spotted leaving MKNY HSEa club in Londonin a cropped jacket and pants on Monday night

The leggy Dutch native had her hair tightly pulled back into a bun and on her feet with a pair of black pumps.

Doutzen was just one of the many celebrities at the Ciroc sponsored party thrown in celebration of photographer Mert Alas' birthday.

She mingled with Kate Moss and Lindsay Lohan who were both in attendance.

Hot mama! Doutzen looked especially cool with her collar popped and large gold hoops hanging from her ears

Like a ballerina! The leggy Dutch native had her hair tightly pulled back into a bun and on her feet with a pair of black pumps

Kroes attended a number of New York Fashion Week shows just a week ago.

She was spotted at Tom Ford, Raf Simons, and Stuart Weitzman.

But surprisingly, she was not seen strutting the catwalk for any designers.

Bottoms up! Kroes was just one of the many celebrities at the Ciroc sponsored party thrown in celebration of photographer Mert Alas' birthday

She used the week to catch up with her model pals including Joan Smalls and Coco Rocha.

The mom-of-two was seen dancing the night away with Smalls at a NY hotspot after sitting front row at Jason Wu's runway show with actresses Zosia Mamet and Whoopi Goldberg.

Her sister, Rens Kroes, who lives in New York, was also by her side that evening.
Lindsay Lohan is the center of attention where ever she goes.

All eyes were on the Mean Girls starlet, 31, as she stepped out for fashion photographer Mert Alas' birthday festivities hosted by CIROC at the upscale London spot Monkey House Monday.

While at the exclusive nightclub, the red-tressed beauty looked classic in black blouse featuring layers of silver chains around her center.

Night on the town! Lindsay Lohan was the center of attention when she stepped out for fashion photographer Mert Alas' birthday festivities hosted by CIROC at the upscale London spot Monkey House Monday

The Canyons beauty was all smiles as she teamed her hardware-heavy top with a blue jeans tucked into knee-high black boots.

LiLo added a long, black jacket for the chilly London evening and carried a sturdy designer handbag at her side.

A sizable ring could be seen on the starlet's left hand as she headed into the event - which appeared to feature two diamond bands below a hearty citrine-colored stone.

Booted! The Canyons beauty teamed her hardware-heavy top with a blue jeans tucked into knee-high black boots

Yo glow girl! Lindsay let her natural beauty shine through with well-groomed brows and a makeup-free glow

Chain of love! The red-tressed beauty looked classic in black blouse featuring layers of silver chains around her center

Bling bling! A sizable ring could be seen on the starlet's left hand as she headed into the event

Shiny: Upon closer look, it appeared to be two diamond bands below a hearty citrine-colored stone

Cozying up: LiLo added a long, black jacket for the chilly London evening

Lindsay let her natural beauty shine through with well-groomed brows and a makeup-free glow.

Inside, she wrapped birthday boy Mert, works with partner Marcus Piggott under the name Mert and Marcus, with a huge hug.

Their editorials have graced the pages of Vogue USA and W Magazine and the duo have been responsible for campaigns from Dior, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Miu Miu and more.

In the bag! The starlet schlepped a sizable designer handbag along with her for the night

No scarf today: While Lohan was enjoying the nightlife Monday, the star made a very subdued display on Sunday when she donned a hijab to visit London's Modest Fashion Week

Happy to see him! Inside the event she wrapped birthday boy Mert in a huge hug

While Lohan was enjoying the nightlife Monday, the star made a very subdued display on Sunday during a visit to London's Modest Fashion Week, where she opted for a hijab.

The event geared towards Muslim women's dress was scheduled to coincide with London Fashion Week fanfare.

At Modest Fashion Week the latest styles in hijabs, abayas and long hemlines were showcased.

Behind the lens: The fashion photographer works with partner Marcus Piggott under the name Mert and Marcus and has been featured in Vogue, W, and much more

Finding faith? Lindsay sparked rumors she had converted to Islam when she changed her Instagram bio to 'Alaikum salam' in January, which translates to 'and unto you peace' in Arabic

Lindsay sparked rumors she had converted to Islam when she changed her Instagram bio to 'Alaikum salam' in January, which translates to 'and unto you peace' in Arabic.

There were previously rumors that Lohan might be converting back in 2015 when she was photographed holding a copy of the Quran while doing community service in Brooklyn.

When appearing on the Turkish talk show Haber Turk later year, she explained that the book was actually just a gift from some friends.

'My very close friends, who have been there for me a lot, in London are Saudi and they gave me the Quran and I brought it to New York because I was learning,' said Lohan.
She previously admitted that she 'doesn't know how to date'.

Yet Saoirse Ronan is said to have conquered her fear of courting as she's reportedly dating Swedish ballet star Calum Lowden after meeting through mutual friends.

The 23-year-old actress was seen with the dancer after the BAFTAs on Sunday, reports The Sun, with the 'spark' between the pair undeniable.

New couple? Saoirse Ronan is said to have conquered her fear of courting as she's reportedly dating Swedish ballet star Calum Lowden after meeting through mutual friends

Calum is said to have also been at the ceremony alongside his brother Jack, who starred in the BAFTA-nominated, Dunkirk.

An insider told the paper: 'Saoirse didnt win [Best Actress] on the night but couldnt have looked happier. They looked like things are going great between them.

'Its early days and they have been keeping things low-key, but there was no mistaking the spark between them.'

MailOnline has contacted Saoirse's representatives for comment.

Dressed to win: The 23-year-old actress was seen with the dancer after the BAFTAs ceremony on Sunday, with the 'spark' between the pair said to be undeniable

It comes just weeks after Saoirse claimed she had never been in a serious relationship as she 'doesn't know how to date.'

Speaking to Ellen DeGeneres, the three-time Oscar nominee confessed: 'I dont date. Im not into the whole, "Lets go out for dinner".

'I dont even know how to talk about it.'

Creative siblings: Calum is said to have also been at the ceremony alongside his brother Jack, who starred in the BAFTA-nominated, Dunkirk

Saoirse's latest movie role in Lady Bird has earned her huge critical acclaim as protagonist Lady Bird McPherson.

The film, which has been tipped for Oscars success, is set in 2002 and tells the story of an artistically inclined seventeen-year-old girl, who comes of age in Sacramento, California.

Whilst Saoirse missed out on a BAFTA for the role, she picked up a Golden Globe last month and is also a nominee for Best Actress at the Oscars.
She has expressed desires of moving to sunny Los Angeles for a fresh start.

And Jorgie Porter still proved she could set temperatures soaring in her native Britain, as she sizzled for a barely-there lingerie photoshoot for online retailer, So Monroe.

Setting pulses racing, the former soap star, 30, flashed her honed figure in a saucy dominatrix inspired look which proved to be semi-sheer.

Sexy lady: Jorgie Porter, 30, set temperatures soaring as she sizzled for a barely-there lingerie photoshoot for online retailer, So Monroe

Giving the camera her best sultry glance, Jorgie looked sensational in a semi-sheer bodysuit which boasted a PVC corset waist.

The blonde bombshell completed the look with a matching negligee, glittering socks and towering black strappy heels.

In another sexy snap Jorgie showcased her tiny waist in a similar look, this time white in colour.

Her shoulder length blonde locks were effortlessly tousled upon her shoulders and she sported a contoured make-up look, with focused on smokey eyeshadow and glossy lipstick.

Setting pulses racing: The former soap star flashed her honed figure in a saucy dominatrix inspired look which proved to be semi-sheer

Racy: The blonde bombshell was seen striking a fierce pose in a bath tub

Beauty: In another sexy snap Jorgie showcased her tiny waist in a similar look, this time white in colour

Mane attraction: Her shoulder length blonde locks were effortlessly tousled upon her shoulders and she sported a contoured make-up look

In another she opted for a satin bra which flaunted her ample assets and she teamed it with a matching faux fur shrug.

Jorgie looked in her element as she worked her angles in the racy all-black looks.

In one she flashed a glimpse of her toned torso in a black bandeau bra and skintight PVC trousers.

Teasing at her ample assets, in another snap she showcased her honed physique in a sexy jumpsuit which had flared bottoms.

Tickled pink: In another she opted for a satin bra which flaunted her ample assets and she teamed it with a matching faux fur shrug

Saucy: Jorgie looked in her element as she worked her angles in the racy all-black looks

Top of the crops: In one she flashed a glimpse of her toned torso in a black bandeau bra and skintight PVC trousers

Racy star: Teasing at her ample assets, in another snap she showcased her honed physique in a sexy jumpsuit which had flared bottoms

The stunning star also showcased her pert posterior in a pair of high-waisted disco pants, which she teamed with matching pink essentials.

The actress, who shot to fame as Theresa McQueen in Channel 4's Hollyoaks, recently admitted she was planning on relocating to the States for a fresh start.

After a visit to the West Coast in August, she told The Sun: 'I'm moving back to LA at some point.'

She continued: 'I'm not pressuring myself into getting a job, I never want to think like that. I love England so I want to come back and do stuff here.

Bottoms up! The stunning star showcased her pert posterior in high-waisted pink disco pants

Tickled pink: She completed the matching look with towering heels and oversized handbag

Giving it her all: Jorgie flirtatiously sprawled out across the floor and propped a chic baker boy cap on her dat

She continued: 'I'm not pressuring myself into getting a job, I never want to think like that. I love England so I want to come back and do stuff here.

'I'm not going to say I want to crack Hollywood or anything like that because I want to do as much stuff as I can over here too.'

The move will no doubt be something she needs to discuss with rumoured new man Philip Parker, however, as she was recently spotted packing on the PDA with the hunk after they met on Celebs Go Dating earlier this year.
Fellow ITV hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield are known for their saucy gaffes on This Morning.

But it was the Good Morning Britain team who were left in stitches on Tuesday, when they playfully poked fun at Lorraine Kelly's top.

Introducing the Scottish presenter's chat show, the GMB girls complimented Lorraine on her rainbow-printed jumper - but soon erupted into giggles when they noticed the embellishment's positioning across her chest.

'It's srategically placed!': GMB's Charlotte Hawkins, Kate Garraway and Susanna Reid were left in hysterics on Tuesday as they made a saucy gaffe about Lorraine Kelly's rainbow top (L-R)

Susanna kicked the gaffe off by complimenting Lorraine on her ensemble, telling her at the end of the segment: 'I'm loving your jumper Lorraine.'

The host then explained that she and Mark Heyes, clad in a garish plaid shirt complete with yellow lining, were embarking on a tartan and rainbows fashion segment on the show.

To the delight of her co-hosts, Lorraine then poked fun at the rainbow's positioning across her chest by stating: 'They're quite strategic, that's the only thing!' and grappling with her assets.

Big fan: Susanna (R) kicked the gaffe off by complimenting Lorraine on her ensemble, telling her at the end of the segment: 'I'm loving your jumper Lorraine.

Striking: The host then explained that she and Mark Heyes, clad in a garish plaid shirt with yellow lining (above), were embarking on a tartan and rainbows fashion segment on the show

Playful: Lorraine then poked fun at the rainbow's positioning across her chest by stating: 'They're quite strategic, that's the only thing!' and grappling with her assets

Susanna threw her head back in laughter at the gaffe, before Kate only heightened the hilarity by adding: 'There's pots of gold at the end of that rainbow! We need to be careful!'

As well as the fashion segment, Lorraine also spoke to Emmerdale star Amy Walsh, Lady Victoria Hervey, and Benidorm's Sheila Reid on the show.

The ITV morning shows are often littered with jokes and gaffes, thanks to likes of Holly Willoughby, Phillip Schofield and Piers Morgan, who usually fronts GMB.

The joke about Lorraine's breats came after Kate, Susanna and Charlotte Hawkins had discussed ice dancer Gabriella Papadakis' recent wardrobe mishap.

Saucy: Susanna threw her head back in laughter at the gaffe, before Kate only heightened the hilarity by adding: 'There's pots of gold at the end of that rainbow!'

Hilarious: Both TV teams were left in stitches by the gaffe

Gabriella, 22, accidentally flashed her left nipple when the halterneck to her costume unfastened while she was performing at the Winter Olympics with her partner, Guillaume Cizeron, 23, on Monday.

Susanna was quick to slam the furore around the incident - which saw the nipples edited out of the television broadcast - and questioned why there was such interest in the malfunction when nipples are simply 'another bit of skin'.

'Why are we so squeamish about it?' Susanna asked: 'We're almost squeamish about the word', while Kate agreed: 'The boys show them all the time on Dancing On Ice.'

Susanna joked that if she was on the ice she would feel just as self-conscious about having her 'entire arm' out as she would about her nipple.

However when Kate joked she should get her breasts out on TV if she feels that way, Susanna said: 'I'm not suggesting that - I think you're taking it slightly too far!'
He was accused of being the type of guy to 'hit it and quit it,' by his Married At First Sight wife Tracey Jewel.

But it appears 'alpha male,' Dean Wells, 40, has his own crass adages when it comes to relationships, mocking Married couple Sean Thomsen and Blair Rachael after their shock split, the day after being intimate.

Taking to Instagram, the groom commented on a still from the scene where Sean and Blair admit to physically intimate, but Sean says the sexual chemistry just isn't there.

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'Tap n go': Married At First Sight's 'alpha male' groom Dean Wells has mocked couple Sean Thomsen and Blair Rachael after Sean confessed to having no feelings for his TV wife the night after they were intimate. "Tap n go" he captioned a photograph of the emotional scene

'Tap n go,' the amateur rapper captioned the photograph.

In the scene Blair becomes emotional after Sean's admission he doesn't feel anything for her, breaking down into tears.

But Dean's comment garnered an immediate backlash from fans, who called him out on the heartless response.

'Have some respect pls,' one Instagram user wrote, while another added, 'your [sic] the goat.'

Mocked! Groom Dean got the ire of social media after his heartless post, with one fan imploring him to 'Have some respect pls'

Dean himself has been embroiled in controversy on the show, accused of two-timing wife Tracey and his Married co-star, bikini model Davina Rankin.

In the emotional scene on Tuesday night's episode, the pair are having a chat then Sean asked Blair 'Are you developing any feelings?'

While Blair confessed that he feelings for him were growing, Sean didn't appear to be on the same page.

Hit it and quit it! Groom Dean has been a constant source of controversy on the show. Wife Tracey Jewel (pictured) accused him of being the type of guy to "hit it and quit it"

'For me, it's like... not at this stage,' he told her abruptly.

The candid confession had an emotional effect on Blair, who was in tears as she recalled the discussion with Sean during her one-on-one camera time.

'It's so not worth my time,' she wailed, while dabbing at her tear-stained face.

'It's so not worth my time!': Heartbroken Blair Rachel (pictured) was left in tears at Sean's admission on Tuesday night's episode of Married At First Sight

For his part, Sean seemed to feeling guilty about how he treated Blair.

'I was probably a bit blunt saying it the way I did,' the railway technician acknowledged.

However, Sean explained that he was looking for a certain kind of connection with a partner, which he wasn't sure he was feeling with Blair.

'I want that spark and that longing for someone but it's not there,' he told producers.
She recently quit her role as Eva Price on Coronation Street.

And Catherine Tyldesley was spotted on a break during her last few months filming for the ITV soap, visiting her local supermarket in Manchester.

The soap favourite, 34, was casually clad for her shopping spree in a pair of black skinny jeans and a matching fleece.

Stepping out: Catherine Tyldesley was spotted on a break during her last few months filming for the ITV soap, visiting her local supermarket in Manchester

Catherine covered up in a khaki coat with a faux fur lined hood and slung a large bag over one shoulder.

She styled her blonde locks in a sleek style and peered out from behind a pair of shades.

The star's exit comes amid news that her co-stars Shayne Ward, 33 and Debbie Rush, 51, have all quit the soap.

Coronation Street producer Kate Oates has hit back at claims she is fighting for her job, after reports stated the cast were left unhappy by her new dark storylines.

Flying under the radar: The soap favourite, 34, was casually clad for her shopping spree in a pair of black skinny jeans and a matching fleece

Casual: Catherine covered up in a khaki coat with a faux fur lined hood and slung a large bag over one shoulder

ITV Studios Director John Whiston told MailOnline that during her two-year tenure as producer Kate had 'transformed' Coronation Street.

This comes after reports stated that Kate's job was hanging by a thread, after actors were left furious by the show's lack of awards success.

John said: 'In the last two years Kate Oates has transformed Coronation Street in the same way as she transformed Emmerdale when she was there.

'The show is now chock full of gripping, talked about storylines, is tackling ground breaking social issues.

Touch of glamour: She styled her blonde locks in a sleek style and peered out from behind a pair of shades

Moving on: Catherine recently quit her role as Eva Price on Coronation Street

And most importantly for a commercial channel such as ITV is delivering strong ratings, Coronation Street's audience share is up year on year, an impressive feat for a 57 year old soap on our screens six times a week.'

Reports stated that Kate had left Corrie stars furious as the show's slew of dark storylines failed to generate awards success, with ITV rival Emmerdale scooping the top prize at the British Soap Awards and the National Television Awards.

Viewers have been left outraged by some of Corrie's darker storylines in recent weeks, as teenage Bethany Platt began working in a lap dancing club after her horrific grooming ordeal.

Leaving soon: The star's exit comes amid news that her co-stars Shayne Ward, 33 and Debbie Rush, 51, have all quit the soap

The seeds have also been sown for the David Platt male rape storyline set to begin in the coming weeks, as mysterious newcomer Josh arrived on the street.

Newer stars Lucy Fallon, 22, and Conor Mcintyre, 57, have been the talking points of the show over the past few months, with Bethany Platt's grooming storyline and Pat Phelan's murderous rampage.

Fans have also been left outraged as Bethany began working in a lap dancing club in scenes that aired this week.

Such dramatic plots have also infuriated die-hard fans, including talk show legend Michael Parkinson, 82, who told The Radio Times in November that Phelan's violent kidnapping and torture of Andy Carver would be 'more suited to a horror channel.'

Showrunner success: ITV Studios Director John Whiston told MailOnline that during her two-year tenure as producer Kate Oates had 'transformed' Coronation Street
The Munich police have denied Liam Gallagher's claims that his teeth were pulled out by the force during a bar brawl in the city.

On Monday the Oasis rocker, 45, claimed the German police pulled out his two front teeth with pliers during the fight back in 2002, which saw him arrested and slapped with a 50,000 fine.

However a spokesperson for the police branded his comments 'complete rubbish', and affirmed Liam and his bandmates had started the fight with fellow party-goers.

'Complete rubbish': The Munich police have denied Liam Gallagher's claims that his teeth were pulled out by the force during a bar brawl in the city (pictured at LFW last week)

A representative for the Munich police told TheLocal.de: 'It was the band who started the fight with a group of Italians in a nightclub.'

While they admitted to not knowing how Liam lost his teeth during the brawl, the spokesperson branded the allegation as 'complete rubbish'.

'If he wants to do something he should file an official complaint and not tell some story to a newspaper sixteen years later,' they added.

Not true: A spokesperson for the force branded his comments 'complete rubbish', and affirmed Liam had started the fight with fellow party-goers in Munich (pictured in 1997)

Liam had claimed on Monday that the German police 'pulled his teeth out with pliers' during his epic Munich bar brawl in 2002, which resulted in the loss of his front two gnashers.

The explosive 'ding-dong' saw 80 police officers called to the scene and led to the cancellation of Oasis's German tour, Liam being arrested for bodily harm, trespassing and material damage, and being slapped with a 50,000 fine.

In an interview with The Guardian, the star recalled how one of the band's roadies 'giving some bird the eye' led to a man dropped a glass table from a balcony over their heads - and a mass punch-up ensued.

Wild night: Liam Gallagher has now outrageously claimed that the German police 'pulled his teeth out with pliers' during his epic Munich bar brawl in 2002, which resulted in the loss of his front two gnashers

The Britpop legend has since formulated a far-fetched theory that the German police pulled his teeth out while he was unconscious, as a punishment for his actions.

He joked: 'I think they give me a whack over the head in the back of the fucking van and I think they've just gone, 'Fuck you, you c**t', later on.

'[My teeth would] have broken, wouldn't they? You don't fucking have them completely fall out like that.

Ouch: The Britpop legend - pictured on the way back from Munich in December 2002 - woke up in jail, with his two front teeth knocked clean out

'And I woke up in a prison cell, handcuffed, no teeth, but I could still [whistle] and no other marks on me.'

Gallagher and two other band members had got into a fight with five Italians in a nightclub at Munich's top hotel, the Bayerischer Hof.

Liam's brother, guitarist Noel Gallagher, was not involved, police said.

'The boy didn't look good. Several of his teeth were punched out,' a Munich police spokesperson said at the time.

Back in the day: The explosive 'ding-dong' saw 80 police officers called to the scene and led to the cancellation of Oasis's German tour, Liam being arrested for bodily harm, trespassing and material damage, and being slapped with a 50,000 fine

Officers arrived at the scene after being alerted by the nightclub manager, by which time the fight had moved out into the hotel foyer.

When Liam was detained he attacked a police officer and kicked him in the ribs 'with full force'.

The band's website claimed they were innocent victims in the brawl.

'Several members of Oasis and their entourage were the victims of an unprovoked attack by a group of youths in a Munich club,' it read, adding that Liam had 'sustained facial injuries' in the assault.

The band said their attackers fled before police arrived, having left two of their security guards in need of hospital treatment.
She recently celebrated her 14th birthday with her boyfriend Jacob Sartorius.

And Millie Bobby Brown proved that life couldn't get any sweeter, as she arrived in style at the Moncler fashion show ahead of Milan Fashion Week in Italy on Tuesday.

The teen star, who has found immense success in nostalgic sci-fi Netflix series Stranger Things, put on a super cool display in a padded black jacket and casual 'mom' jeans from FRAME.

There she is! Millie Bobby Brown, 14, arrived in style at the Moncler fashion show ahead of Milan Fashion Week in Italy on Tuesday

Millie led the style pack for the show as she happily sauntered forth in a navy hoodie.

The star, who was born in Spain, wrapped up against the chiller climes in an oversized black jacket and completed the look with roll-up jeans.

A pair of casual lace-up boots added comfort as she waved to onlookers while making her way to the fashion spectacle.

Millie shielded herself from the rays with a pair of vintage, cat eye shades and sported centre-parted slicked back locks.

Stylish: The teen star, who has found immense success in sci-fi Netflix series Stranger Things, put on a super cool display in a padded black jacket and casual 'mom' jeans from FRAME

Taking no risks: The star, who was born in Spain, wrapped up against the chiller climes in an oversized black jacket

Millie turned 14 on Monday and boyfriend Jacob Sartorius paid a sweet tribute to her on Instagram.

'Happy birthday to this beautiful girl, 14!!' he gushed in the caption for the black and white snap which saw the pair of them together.

Jacob wrote that 'youre the funniest, most caring person in the entire world. I hope this year brings you lots of great memories and moments you remember forever.'

He warmly concluded: 'Cant wait to see you, I love you and miss you so much!! Everybody go wish this girl a happy birthday @milliebobbybrown'.

Jacob posted the same message to Twitter, where Millie has retweeted it.

Happy: Millie shielded herself from the rays with a pair of vintage, cat eye shades and sported centre-parted slicked back locks

Waving: Millie led the style pack for the show as she happily sauntered forth in a navy hoodie

'Can't wait to see you': Millie turned 14 on Monday and boyfriend Jacob Sartorius paid a sweet tribute to her on Instagram

Birthday wishes poured in for Millie via Twitter on Monday, and she has quoted quite a few of them, responding with her gratitude.

The official Twitter account for Marc Jacobs wished her a happy birthday, sharing a photo of her that had been taken for British Vogue.

Millie's pal and fellow child star Maddie Ziegler, 15, tweeted: 'happy birthday to the most beautiful person! thank you for being one of my best friends for life.'

Her tweet continued: 'you are one of the biggest lights in my life and i will ALWAYS appreciate you and support you through everything! have the best birthday you crazy girl! love you to the moon and back'.

'Happy birthday': Birthday wishes poured in for Millie via Twitter Monday, and she has quoted quite a few of them, including from the official account of Marc Jacobs

'Have the best birthday': Millie's pal and fellow child star Maddie Ziegler, 15, tweeted: 'happy birthday to the most beautiful person! thank you for being one of my best friends for life'

Quoting this tweet, Millie wrote: 'Love you @Maddie Ziegler so so much you are the best cant wait to see you,' and added a few emoji.

Millie's Stranger Things co-star Paul Reiser tweeted: 'Happy Birthday to this amazingly talented kid, @milliebbrown. #StrangerThings', alongside a GIF of him affectionately tousling her hair on their show.

Laurie Holden of The Walking Dead fame said kindly on Twitter: 'Happy Birthday @milliebbrown. You are a shining light in this world with your talent and care for humanitarian causes. Sending much love...#teammillie'.

Sharing a photo of herself with Millie at this year's MTV Video Music Awards, Miley Cyrus tweeted: 'Happy bday lil sis @milliebbrown'.

So sweet: Millie's Stranger Things co-star Paul Reiser tweeted: 'Happy Birthday to this amazingly talented kid, @milliebbrown. #StrangerThings'
He recently announced his engagement to shoe designer Jasmine Yarbrough, with the pair set to tie the knot this year.

And Karl Stefanovic showed the strength of his bond with his future-in-laws as he made a playful joke about his upcoming wedding while dining with Jasmine's parents in Brisbane on Sunday.

The popular Today Show co-host, 43, whose 34-year-old fiancee is in New York, looked cheery in a photo shared to Instagram by Cheryl Yarbrough showing the pair and future father-in-law Bob enjoying a seafood dinner at Gambaro's restaurant.

Bnater: Karl Stefanovic showed the strength of his bond with his future-in-laws as he made a playful joke about his upcoming wedding to Jasmine Yarbrough while dining with her parents in Brisbane on Sunday

Giving an insight into the star's cheeky personality Cheryl captioned the snap: 'With 2 of my 3 boys . #futuresoninlaw #ifhebehaves #hesays.'

Karl has swiftly developed a close bond with the Yarbrough family during his whirlwind romance with the model and fashion designer, and was seen spending time with Bob during a trip to the Gold Coast last year.

Karl and Jasmine recently confirmed they will tie the knot later this year, in what is expected to be the biggest celebrity wedding of 2018.

Confirming his wedding plans, Karl told The Fix last week: 'We are yet to work out when we will get married, but probably later this year. We are both very happy.'

Miss you: Karl and shoe designer Jasmine revealed their engagement in February

Playful: Giving an insight into the star's cheeky personality Cheryl Yarbrough captioned the snap: 'With 2 of my 3 boys . #futuresoninlaw #ifhebehaves #hesays.

It is believed Karl's brother Pete Stefanovic will be his best man, returning the favour after Karl's entertaining speech at his wedding to Sylvia Jeffreys last year.

As a colleague on the Today show, Sylvia herself will almost certainly be invited - despite the fact Jasmine did not attend her wedding in April.

Karl's supportive mother Jenny will likely be sitting front row as her son gets married for a second time.

However, his father Alex is less likely to make an appearance after he spoke to New Idea magazine last year about the alleged Stefanovic 'family feud'.

New love: Karl and Jasmine recently confirmed they will tie the knot later this year, in what is expected to be the biggest celebrity wedding of 2018

Alex claimed he had 'cut ties' with his famous sons, despite the fact was pictured in attendance at Peter and Sylvia's wedding.

Channel Nine star Karl separated from his wife, former ABC journalist, Cassandra Thorburn in 2016 before he began dating Jasmine in February.

They originally met at a Sydney boat party in December 2016, just months after his split with Cassandra.

The couple - who share three children, Jackson, River, and Ava - had been married for 21 years before their split.
Lisa Oldfield has blasted Paul Burrell for talking about Princess Diana in the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here.

The Real Housewives of Sydney star fumed that all the former royal butler does is 'talk about a dead princess', while her husband David accused him of playing the 'victim'.

Paul, 59, has been vocal in the jungle about his experiences with the late Princess of Wales, claiming she predicted her own death and alleging that Prince Charles wasn't there for their son Harry's birth.

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Lashing out: Lisa Oldfield has blasted Paul Burrell for talking about Princess Diana in the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here

Speaking about Burrell, Lisa told David: 'He is pretty dull. I suppose if all you've got to talk about in your life is a dead princess then...'

David added: 'And all of the victim stuff. I can't stand that. People with that victim mentality.'

The pair were discussing Paul after the former butler turned reality star sparked a clash with David over the couple's decision to circumcise their two sons.

David said: 'It's not what I believe. All of the medical science shows that categorically. Google it when you get home.'

Paul countered: 'Why not give the child the opportunity? It's a God given thing.'

'It is our kids' penises, what's he worried about? Is he the penis police?' Lisa asked furiously.

Oh dear: The Real Housewives of Sydney star fumed that all the former royal butler does is 'talk about a dead princess', while her husband David accused him of playing the 'victim' (pictured, Paul with Diana in 1997)

David replied: 'He is a snow flake, a social justice warrior. Any cause and he will be on it. He obviously wasn't happy about Cesareans either.'

It comes after Paul revisited sensational claims that Prince Charles left Diana in hospital to meet Camilla Parker Bowles after Prince Harry's birth.

The former royal butler alleged that Charles saw a newborn Harry in his cot, remarked 'now I have an heir and a spare' and left to meet Camilla at the theatre - leaving Diana in floods of tears.

Paul also repeated his claims that the Princess Of Wales predicted her own car crash death nine months before it happened and allegedly wrote to tell him she believed Charles was planning an 'accident'.

Not impressed: Speaking about Burrell, Lisa told David: 'He is pretty dull. I suppose if all you've got to talk about in your life is a dead princess then...'

Burrell, speaking during his stint on I'm A Celebrity Australia on Sunday, told actress Kerry Armstrong: 'She told me, on the night that Harry was born, Charles came to visit.

'He wasn't at the birth. Harry is lying into the cot, and he said "red hair, I suppose that's a Spencer gene".

'She said "are you pleased, Charles?" He said "I'm delighted. I now have an heir and a spare". She said "well, that's an odd thing to say why are you dressed up in black tie?".'

Paul continued: 'He said "my work is done, isn't it, now? I'm off to the theatre with Camilla". She said "on the night that Harry was born, I cried myself to sleep, knowing my marriage was over".'

Hitting out: David added: 'And all of the victim stuff. I can't stand that. People with that victim mentality'

Paul was Diana's butler for 10 years between 1987 and 1997, when Diana tragically died in a car crash in Paris. He famously described himself as her 'rock'.

Diana and Dodi Fayed were killed early on the morning of August 31, 1997 when a Mercedes driven by chauffeur Henri Paul crashed in the Pont D'Alma tunnel in Paris.

A French inquiry in 1999 blamed Mr Paul, concluding he had taken a cocktail of drink and drugs and was driving too fast.

Discussing her death, Burrell claimed: 'She wrote me a letter. On her own stationary, in her own hand writing.

'Her words were "these next few months, are the most difficult months of my life. I fear my husband is going to kill me. In an automobile accident. With head injuries. In order that he can remarry".

Accusations: It comes after Paul revisited sensational claims that Prince Charles left Princess Diana in hospital to meet Camilla Parker Bowles after Prince Harry's birth

Claims: He alleged that Charles saw a newborn Harry in his cot, remarked 'now I have an heir and a spare' and left to meet Camilla at the theatre - leaving Diana in floods of tears

'Her words. Her writing. Her stationary. I said to her "you don't really think that, do you?" then she said, "I don't know, these thoughts get in my head. I get the voices and feelings and I write then to you at night".

'She leaves them on my desk so I can read her thoughts the next morning. That is spooky. She predicted her own death nine months before she died.'

It's not the first reality show Paul has participated in since Diana's tragic death, prompting accusations that he's been cashing in on his links to her.

He also was a judge on Australian Princess, competed in the UK version of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here and made an appearance on Celebrity Big Brother.
Matthew Wolfenden and Charley Webb shocked fans when they revealed they'd married in secret with a surprise wedding.

And Amy Walsh - who plays Matthew's on-screen husband on Emmerdale, revealed that no one was more astounded than the guests themselves.

Speaking on Tuesday's episode of ITV's Lorraine, the 30-year-old soap star confessed that no one had an inkling of what would occur when they were invited to what they believed was Charley's birthday party.

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Surprised: Amy Walsh - who plays Matthew Wolfenden's on-screen husband in Emmerdale - revealed her shock at the star's surprise wedding to Charley Webb earlier this month

Speaking about the surprise nuptials, Amy - who is the younger sister of Kimberley Walsh - explained: 'What a nice surprise. We thought it was Charleys 30th.

'We were all just stood there having drinks and then they made this announcement. Yeah were about to get married in the room next door and we were like "ahh!"

'So yeah it was a brilliant night, a really, really wonderful night.'

Cute couple: Charley and Matthew tied the knot in a romantic surprise wedding at Ripley Castle, Yorkshire earlier this month. The talented actors have been together for 11 years

Charley and Matthew tied the knot in a romantic surprise wedding at Ripley Castle, Yorkshire earlier this month.

The talented actors who have been together for 11 years and share two sons, Buster, seven and Bowie, two, first got engaged back in 2009, after meeting on the set of the hit ITV soap in 2007.

They walked down the aisle on February 10 with around 100 guests in attendance, who had been fooled into thinking they were in attendance to celebrate Charley's 30th birthday, which falls on February 26.

However they both shocked and delighted their friends and family when they announced they were getting married in 45 minutes

Out of the loop: Speaking on Tuesday's episode of ITV's Lorraine, the 30-year-old soap star confessed that no one had an inkling of what would occur

Family first: The newlyweds and Emmerdale co-stars share two sons, Buster, seven (above) and Bowie, two, and first got engaged back in 2009

Charley. who plays Debbie Dingle in Emmerdale, told OK! Magazine: 'That moment when we announced what we were doing and seeing everybodys reaction is the best moment of my life.

David Metcalfe actor Matthew, 37, added: We couldnt have had a better response. People just screamed for about ten minutes!'

Charley said: This way we got to do it totally the way we wanted  it wasnt traditional, we didnt have a sit-down meal and there werent loads of speeches.'

Bit of all white! Bride Charley looked sensational in a Suzanne Neville gown

Due to the surprise nature of the nuptials, the actor's celebrity guests found themselves playing pivotal roles in the ceremony, with brother Jamie Lomas giving Charley away and Lucy Pargeter becoming a bridesmaid.

Charley then invited her bridesmaids - Roxy Shahidi, Zoe Henry, Charlotte Bellamy, Sammy Winward, Emma Atkins, Kate Oates and her sister Cassie - and her on-screen dad Jeff Hordley to accompany her down the aisle.

Matthew's 'second dad' Chris Chittell, who plays Eric Pollard on the hit soap, was one of the four groomsmen, while their sons were the pageboys.

Bride Charley looked sensational in a revealing bespoke Suzanne Neville semi-sheer lacy gown with a full ivory skirt for the nuptials.
She spent a bit of time auditioning for parts in Los Angeles last November despite denying a Hollywood career was in her sights.

And Pia Miller has returned to California, but it looks like this time she is there to spend time with her friends.

The 34-year-old took to Instagram on Monday to share a snap of herself flaunting her trim pins alongside Clint Nicolas and Karissa Dalton, the ex wife of pro surfer Mick Fanning.

Babe in black! Former Home And Away star Pia Miller has returned to California, but it looks like this time she is there to spend time with her friends Clint Nicolas (centre) and Karissa Dalton (right), the ex wife of pro surfer Mick Fanning

She looked chic in the black long-sleeved top, with a matching mini skirt.

Her ensemble was teamed with platform heeled booties and, for a touch of luxury, Pia paired the outfit with a mini Sylvie bag by Gucci, worth $2,660.

The brunette stunner captioned her post: 'My loves,' along with the hashtag '#malibu.'

Earlier she posted a mirror selfie of herself with a gal pal looking relaxed and cool in a stripped long sleeve shirt and mini denim jeans.

Earlier she posted a mirror selfie of herself with a gal pal looking relaxed and cool in a stripped long sleeve shirt and mini denim jeans, alongside Karissa

This comes after the Chilean beauty, who is also a mother-of-two boys, revealed: 'I don't have my sights set on Hollywood, which is always publicised about me,'

'Found me a cute lil koala,' she wrote in the caption, tagging friend Karissa.

This comes after the Chilean beauty, who is also a mother-of-two boys, revealed that she's hot on the audition trail in search of new roles.

'I take it day by day and I audition for things when they come up. I don't have my sights set on Hollywood, which is always publicised about me. It's not the case,' she told The Daily Telegraph.

Moving on: Pia also revealed to the publication that she had mixed feelings about her decision to leave Home And Away at the end of last year, calling it 'bittersweet'

'I'm just enjoying what I'm doing and spending time with family,' said the mother-of-two.

Pia, who became engaged to fiance Tyson Mullane last year, recently revealed to Popsugar that she would meditate in her dressing room ritual before playing Senior constable Katarina Chapman.

'Not every scene, but definitely in the morning when I'd have time. . . If I had 10 minutes then I'd use that 10 minutes very wisely,' she explained.

Pia also revealed to the publication that she had mixed feelings about her decision to leave Home And Away at the end of last year, calling it 'bittersweet.'

New gig: These days Pia is focussing on her new role in the Channel Nine mini-series Bite Club alongside Dominic Monaghan, Deborah Mailman and Todd Lasance

'It was obviously really sad to say goodbye to that character and to people that I've worked with for so long,' she said.

These days Pia is focusing on her new role in the Channel Nine mini-series Bite Club alongside Dominic Monaghan, Deborah Mailman and Todd Lasance.

The thriller follows the tale of two detectives who survive a shark attack, before joining forces to hunt down a serial killer who is stalking them.
He finally confirmed the gossip on everyone's lips that he is romancing Gemma Atkinson when he shared sun-drenched snaps from their Tenerife getaway.

And as 33-year-old Gemma resided in Manchester, Gorka Marquez headed out for drinks in the company of his female friend in London's Soho on Monday evening.

Dressed in a blue and white flamboyant shirt, the 27-year-old Strictly Come Dancing professional looked sharp when he joined his companion in the window of the bar.

Strictly friends? Gorka Marquez enjoyed dinner with female pal in London's Soho on Monday after he FINALLY confirmed the Gemma Atkinson romance with their Tenerife getaway

The pair knocked back a few Coronas while they spent time catching up during their low-key outing in the British capital.

Spanish hunk Gorka used his smooth talk and charm to amuse his friend as she was seen smiling and laughing over the course of the evening.

The mystery female friend also listened intently and rested her head in her hands while they relaxed over a few drinks.

Going strong: He finally confirmed the gossip on everyone's lips that he is romancing Gemma Atkinson (pictured in Manchester, Tuesday)

He's got style: Dressed in a blue and white flamboyant shirt, the 27-year-old Strictly Come Dancing professional looked sharp when he joined his companion in the window of the bar

Elsewhere, Gemma was beaming brightly when she made her exit from Key 103 Radio Station after she co-hosted the Manchester Breakfast Show on Tuesday.

It is no surprise fans were happy when the Strictly duo finally went Instagram official with their romance on Valentine's Day.

The pair jetted off across the sunny globe to the Canary Islands for a romantic getaway to celebrate their love.

Giggling girl: Spanish hunk Gorka used his smooth talk and charm to amuse his friend as she was seen smiling and laughing over the course of the evening

They insisted they were friends the whole time while the Hollyoaks' star competed for the Glitter Ball trophy in the latest series of the BBC dancing show.

Gemma gave eager fans their first glimpse into their love story when she discussed the intimate details with her Key 103 hosts Mike Toolan and Matt Haslam.

She addressed their long-distance romance as she lives and works in Manchester while Gorka is based in London.

'Hes in London and Im in Manchester I think thats a good thing because you both have to make an effort to see each other,' Gemma considered.

Got her attention: The mystery female friend also listened intently and rested her head in her hands while they relaxed over a few drinks

Close bond: The pair knocked back a few Coronas while they spent time catching up during their low-key outing in the British capital

'When youre working with someone it's very convenient and easy, I'm very aware of that, and when youre separated thats when you have to make the effort and it's sweet thats nice.'

The actress divulged it was Gorka's sense of humour that made her fall madly in love with the dark, tall, handsome hunk.

'Hes very funny, I like the fact that hes funny he makes me laugh,' she explained.

The golden-haired beauty explained they decided to give love a go after they forged an incredibly close bond as friends for six months.

Chat: Gorka kept the attention of his female friend while they enjoyed their evening in the capital

'It's hard work': Gemma confessed their romance takes work as she lives and works in Manchester, while Gorka is based down in London

Blissfully happy! Elsewhere, Gemma was beaming brightly when she made her exit from Key 103 Radio Station after she co-hosted the Manchester Breakfast Show on Tuesday

She said: 'Obviously we worked together, Ive known him for six months now. During the show we only saw each other at weekends everyone was saying "Oh, they're together," but we genuinely werent.

'We just went for coffee and stuff on Sundays, not every Sunday, you cant get to know someone just by seeing them at weekends.

'It was only when the tour started that we saw each other all the time and we thought this could work, and it did, and it does so far!'
It is the hotly-anticipated TV remake of Joan Lindsays Australian 1967 novel.

And Foxtel's Picnic At Hanging Rock drama series has been met with universal acclaim after its international premiere at the Berlin Film Festival on Monday.

The Fremantle Australia production, which stars Lily Sullivan, Game of Thrones actress Natalie Dormer and Ruby Rees, opened the TV section of the prestigious festival and sold out the 850-seat theatre.

Talent: Foxtel's Picnic At Hanging Rock drama series has been met with universal acclaim after its international premiere at the Berlin Film Festival on Monday (pictured L-R stars Lola Bessis, Natalie Dormer, Lily Sullivan, Ruby Rees and Harrison Gilbertson)

Acclaimed: The new series is due to air on Foxtel's Showcase on May 6, 2018

And the series lived up to expectation as it garnered 'overwhelmingly positive' reviews from harsh critics, and a standing ovation from the audience reports The Daily Telegraph.

Cast members also received extended applause during a Q&A session.

The 1975 mystery drama was based on the popular novel by Joan Lindsay and was about the disappearance of several schoolgirls.

Stars of the show Lily Sullivan and Ruby Rees told News Corp it was surreal to walk the red carpet for the festival's TV Program on Monday.

Wow factor: The Fremantle Australia production opened the TV section of the prestigious festival and sold out the 850-seat theatre (pictured L-R stars Harrison Gilbertson, Lily Sullivan, Dieter Kosslick, Lola Bessis, Ruby Rees, Jo Porter and director Larysa Kondracki)

Lily, who plays lead character Miranda Reid, said she was overwhelmed by the experience, describing it as 'nuts!'

'Oh my god, this is like a fantasy, a sick fantasy, just so incredible,' she gushed.

Lily's co-star Ruby said the experience at Berlin's film festival was made all the more special because of the hard work making Picnic At Hanging Rock.

'It was a hard shoot, especially at the Rock, but the work ethic was there,' she explained.

'Every single person on that shoot was aware we were making something incredibly special.'

Talented: Lily Sullivan (R ) who plays lead character Miranda Reid said it was a 'fantasy' to appear at the festival

Leading lights: (L) Lily wowed in a feathered pink dress as co-star Natalie (R) wowed in a blush gown and leather jacket

Picnic At Hanging Rock's director Larysa Kondraki made a fashion statement, flashing a 'Future Is Female' T-shirt at onlookers.

Natalie looked rock star chic with the star wearing a leather jacket over her ball gown.

Absent from the red carpet was Yael Stone, who is on doctor's orders to stay in Australia.

The Orange Is The New Black star is expecting her first child with partner Jack Manning in May.

The new series is due to air on Foxtel's Showcase on May 6, 2018.
Teresa Giudice's mother Antonia Gorga passed away in March 2017.

And it's been very hard on the Real Housewives Of New Jersey star as she is acting as a single mom to her four daughters while husband Joe Giudice serves out his three-year prison sentence for fraud.

So it's no wonder the 45-year-old broke down in tears when talking about her dear mother, who she once described as her 'rock,' while on the upcoming third season of Hollywood Medium With Tyler Henry.

Gone too soon: Teresa Giudice's mother Antonia Gorga passed away in March 2017. And it's been very hard on the Real Housewives Of New Jersey star. Seen in 2012

Sad: So it's no wonder the 45-year-old broke down in tears when talking about her mother while on the upcoming third season of Hollywood Medium With Tyler Henry; stock image

The reality TV star was able to speak to her mother as Henry served as medium.

'That was really probably one of the toughest ones of the entire season because Teresa's reading, her grief was still very tangible,' Tyler told E! News on Monday.

'It was really clear in her face.'

He helped her: 'That was really probably one of the toughest ones of the entire season because Teresa's reading, her grief was still very tangible,' said Tyler to E!

The gifted medium added: 'She was still very much grieving her mother. And I think the reading came at an important time.

'I think it was necessary for her to have that experience.'

Tyler also said: 'I think it's one of those ones where it will take time for her to really process the magnitude. Not only the experience but also of her grief. It was just a really vulnerable, emotional side of Teresa that I think people will see and be able to relate to.

'And I really appreciate that she put her grief so openly out there to the world because people will relate to it and also be able to heal from it who are in similar situations, just through that reliability. So that was really special.'

So hard: 'She was still very much grieving her mother. And I think the reading came at an important time. I think it was necessary for her to have that experience,' said Tyler

Her mother was her rock: The beauty with her mom in 2012 in Pennsylvania

And Henry thinks his reading with Teresa helped bring her some closure.

'I think obviously the inherent nature of this is comforting in knowing that our loved ones are around,' said the 22-year-old California native.

'I think for her it was also just about talking through the physical loss and I think she was still very much focused on that physical loss, and that's a very normal state to be in especially when a passing is so recent,' he revealed.

Tyler added that did not address Joe's incarceration.

So many tears: Teresa wiping away the tears as she joined husband Joe, who is now is prison, on WWHL

Doing it all alone: Teresa has been the bread winner since her husband checked into prison over a year ago; seen in January

'When she came through, her mother was really very much just focused on the present moment,' he said.

'And obviously her death came at a very difficult time when the family was going through a lot and anticipating a lot so I think she was just very much focused on kind of picking up those pieces and regrouping.

'There were messages that focused towards the future obviously for Teresa. I don't know what will be shown, what won't, but it was all very positive.

'There was nothing that came through that was any way negative and it was just very much focused on telling her what to focus on and what's worth your energy, what's not. Just help to provide that clarity for her so that was good.'

Season three of Hollywood Medium With Tyler Henry premieres on Wednesday, February 28 at 9 pm on E!
She recently underwent a series of lunch time bum lifts, after struggling to firm up her behind with exercise and shapewear.

And Lizzie Cundy was certainly confident to show off her new derriere on Sunday, as she attended the Stories from Arabia catwalk show during London Fashion Week.

The TV personality, 47, slipped her new figure into a slinky gold mesh jumpsuit, as she posed for camerasat the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms.

Golden girl: Lizzie Cundy showed off her new derriere on Sunday, as she attended the Stories from Arabia catwalk show during London Fashion Week - after undergoing a series of bum lifts

Lizzie commanded attention in the dazzling gold one-piece, embellished with glittering sequins all over.

While the jumpsuit pulled into long sleeves and a high neck, it also featured a saucy mesh panel across the front - which plunged all the way to her navel, to tease at her cleavage.

Cinching in at her slim waist, the jumpsuit then skimmed her long legs to the floor, and cut into a saucy side split to give a flash of skin as she posed.

Leading lady: Lizzie commanded attention in the dazzling gold one-piece, embellished with glittering sequins all over

Saucy: While the jumpsuit pulled into long sleeves and a high neck, it also featured a saucy mesh panel across the front - which plunged all the way to her navel

Leggy lady: Cinching in at her slim waist, the jumpsuit then skimmed her long legs to the floor, and cut into a saucy side split to give a flash of skin as she pose

Not holding back on the glitter, the former WAG teamed her jumpsuit with gold platform heels and a smattering of matching jewellery.

She kept her hair sleek and straight and sporting a metallic eye and soft pink lip, to draw attention to her clear and glowing complexion.

However, it was her new derriere that stole the show - with Lizzie cheekily sticking it out as she posed with her rear to the camera.

Lizzie unveiled her 'brand new' bum last week, after undergoing a series of lunch time butt-lift treatments.

Co-ordinated: Not holding back on the glitter, the former WAG teamed her jumpsuit with gold platform heels and a smattering of matching jewellery

Radiant: She kept her hair sleek and straight and sporting a metallic eye and soft pink lip, to draw attention to her clear complexion as she playfully posed on the stairs at the event

Star-studded: She joined reality star Pascal Craymer at the show

The TV personality decided to undergo the speedy procedure after a date mistook her bulky shapewear for a nappy.

Lizzie has now completed a course of five treatments over 90 minutes, which surgeons claim offer the same results as a three-hour gym workout.

Speaking to the MailOnline FEMAIL, the former WAG told how she had become more conscious of her bottom with age.

She said: 'It had gone south. When I was 20 I had this lovely little peachy pert bottom and I wondered "where has my bum gone?"

Transformed: Lizzie unveiled her 'brand new' bum last week, after undergoing a series of lunch time butt-lift treatments

'I know I'm out there all the time and I know I wear very skimpy clothing but I got very anxious.

'I could see my bum had really changed, I've got two kids and I'm the wrong end of 40 but I felt my body had changed a lot.'

Lizzie added: 'I don't think it's being vain or shallow but you want to be confident.'

Before she came across the Pure Fitness butt lift, Lizzie had attempted to plump her posterior with shapewear - something she later regretted.

She said: 'I wanted this J Lo bum so I went to the gym I did loads of bum squats all of the right things but it wasn't working out.

'I got so conscious of my bum that I bought some padded Spanx and the worst thing was on a date, this guy sort of felt my bottom and he said "what have you got on are you wearing a nappy?" and I thought this is a passion killer, this has got to go.

'I'm never gonna find a husband with those pants on.'

Wanting her 'old bum back' but hoping to avoid surgery, Lizzie opted for the The Pure Fitness butt lift treatment costing 100-350.

Lizzie (pictured before) was inspired to seek treatment for her bottom after her shapewear was mistaken for a nappy while on a date

Lizzie (pictured after) confessed she hopes her new derriere will attract a potential partner

Lizzie admits that she wants to her bum to look its best for potential suitors, revealing that she had a hot date flying in from LA for Valentine's Day last week.

She added: 'I think as well if you're single and on the dating scene you want to feel confident.

'I come across very confident, I've got hang ups like everyone else, I had a swimwear shoot recently and I just thought "please don't photograph me from behind".

'I would try and cover it up with frilly skirts and my son said "mum you can't do anything about it" and I said "well yes I can".'

Lizzie (pictured before) believes having children and ageing has affected the appearance of her bottom

Lizzie (pictured before her butt lift) compared having her butt lift to having her own personal trainer

Lizzie confessed she was impressed by the immediate results of her non-invasive butt lift.

How does The Pure Fitness butt lift work? The non-invasive butt lift procedure uses technology developed in Italy to stimulate specific muscles. Relatively pain free, electric waves are submitted to the skin via a 'slender probe' to help subtly reshape the bottom in minutes. The Pure Fitness iOS 21 technology has been developing for over 25 years and promises to achieve the same results as regular gym exercise. An bum lift treatment on the Pure Fitness iOS 21 machine costs approximately 100-350. Advertisement

She said: 'It was quite an exquisite sensation. A slight tingling but felt like there was a party happening on my bum. A very swift and effective, I've been so excited to see the result.

'I can't believe how different my bottom looked and felt after just the first treatment. That machine works miracles, that's for sure!

'The whole experience has been like having my very own personal trainer but even better because there's no blood, sweat or tears and I saw an immediate improvement in shape and tone.

'I would never have got this fantastic result from exercise alone. In just a few sessions my bum has been transformed.'

At 47, the mother-of-two says she embraces getting older, but laments having to cover up because of it.

She continued: 'When you get into your 40s people think you're invisible and that you can't keep up and now we're seeing so many older women doing so well look at Debbie McGee in Strictly.

Lizzie (pictured during treatment) revealed she hates the attitude of expecting women over 40 to be invisible

Lizzie (pictured before left and after right) says she believes feminists have gone to far in their aim of equal rights

Lizzie (pictured after) revealed she sees herself as a 'girls girl' and believes women should be proud of their age

'It is the Year of the Woman and I think embrace it, be proud to be your age and look good at your age. If you feel good wearing it wear it.'

Lizzie, who considers herself to be a feminist, is very vocal when it comes to the Year of the Woman, recently discussing her opinions on the ban on F1 grid girls, having worked as one for four years.

Speaking to the MailOnline she explained: 'Women are going against women and they're losing their jobs.

'They're taking away all of the TV hostesses, the dolly dealers. It's all gone and I thought you're actually taking away opportunities for girls.

'I don't want anyone harassed, no one male or female should go through that. I'm really pro girls, I'm such a girls girl. I'm a feminist it's equal rights for everyone but we've got these feminists that have turned into fascists we've gone too extreme.'

Jayne Mitchell, Managing Director, Pure Skin International, which carried out Lizzie's treatments, said: 'As soon as I was introduced to the 21 Equipment team in Italy and started to use Pure Fitness iOS 21, I realised that this technology was a total game changer.

'The results are incredible, even from the first application. Nothing else Ive seen or used compares to it.'
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When the Kardashian and Jenner girls go to the snow, they don't rough it.

DailyMail.com has learned exclusively that when Kim, Kourtney and Kendall went on a ski trip to Utah this weekend, they stayed at the Montage Hotel in Deer Valley.

And the ladies were able to spread out as they stayed in a four-bedroom residence on the property that cost about $8,000 a night.

Their hotel: DailyMail.com has learned exclusively that when Kim, Kourtney and Kendall went on a ski trip to Utah this weekend, they stayed at the Montage Hotel in exclusive Deer Valley

Kim seen last week in Hollywood before the ski trip

With over 3,600 square feet of living space, the suite, which is more like a private home, features four bedrooms.

There are also large private balconies with incredible views of the surrounding mountains.

And there is a fully outfitted gourmet kitchen with all the top cooking items.

The large bathrooms are luxurious with marble and plenty of fixtures.

And there are gas fireplaces in the rooms, according to the website.

There are also walk-in closets so Kim can hang up all her latest Yeezy items.

The Montage in Deer Valley is a 3,5000-square-foot sanctuary.

The resort has a mosaic pool, several hot tubs, plenty of outdoor space and a top spa.

Only the best for the K family: The Montage in Deer Valley is a 3,5000-square-foot sanctuary. The resort has a mosaic pool, several hot tubs, plenty of outdoor space and a top spa

Nice view: Skiers can dine outside by a large fire pit as they watch skiers come down the mountain

Treatments include oxygen facials and body sculpting wraps.

There is also the Kim Vo Salon where the ladies could get a cut. Kim has worked with Britney Spears and Cindy Crawford.

The ladies dropped a hint that they were in Utah when they took to social media on Monday.

But they didn't say which part of Utah.

DailyMail.com has learned that they chose as their destination Deer Valley, where Silicon Valley billionaires as well as Hollywood stars like Justin Bieber flock.

Suit up! Kourtney, Kim and Kendall on a ski lift in Utah for one last zip down the slopes before winter comes to a close

Kim was with Kourtney, 38, as well as Kendall, 22, and it looked like all three took to the slopes.

While Kim and Kourtney skied, Kendall went over to Park City to snowboard.

An under the weather Kylie Jenner, 20, and a very pregnant Khloe Kardashian, 33, stayed back in Los Angeles.

On Sunday, the sisters suited in designer ski clothing that included ski pants, boots and puffy jackets up for a day on the mountain.

Nice spot: With over 3,600 square feet of living space, the suite, which is more like a private home, features four bedrooms

Spread out: There are also large private balconies with incredible views of the surrounding mountains. And there is a fully outfitted gourmet kitchen with all the top cooking items

Room to party: There are gas fireplaces, according to the website, to keep guests toasty warm in the middle of winter

They snapped a photo together as they rode the ski lift. 'Guess who,' Kourtney captioned the snapshot.

Kim donned all black ski gear while Kourtney sported a cameo green jacket and Kendall was fierce in a flame printed coat.

The eldest Kardashian sister began documenting her kid-free vacation at takeoff.

And if one of them suddenly wants to tie the knot: The ballroom offers a large space for weddings

She was seen sitting across from Kendall on their private plane. In her lap was a Prada backpack and on her feet were the latest Yeezy sneakers.

Kourtney captured the snow covered scenery for her followers as she drove through the countryside.

Once on the mountain, Kendall posted a video of her impressive snowboarding skills. 'Time off,' the Vogue supermodel captioned the clip.

Meanwhile, Kylie was sorrowfully at home tweeting, 'toooo sick.'

Kid-free zone! Kourt captured the snow covered scenery for her followers as she drove through the countryside

Mommy-to-be! And Khloe Kardashian is currently too pregnant to hit the slopes
Courtney Love and Frances Bean Cobain have paid tribute to Kurt Cobain to mark what would have been his 51st birthday..

On Tuesday, the 53-year-old rocker and her 25-year-old daughter each took to Instagram to commemorate the late Nirvana front-man, who committed suicide in April 1994.

Courtney and Kurt - who died aged 27 - tied the knot on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1992 and she gave birth to their daughter in August of the same year.

'I miss you': Courtney Love posted an intimate photo with Kurt Cobain to commemorate his 51st birthday

Alongside a black and white photograph of them together, Courtney wrote on Tuesday: 'happy birthday baby god I miss you (sic)'

Frances also shared touching images of her with her father, along with the caption: 'I hope they don't have the internet wherever you are. I feel like that would be counterproductive. Regardless, Happy Birthday to an angel.'

Frances served as a producer on the 2015 documentary about Kurt, titled 'Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck', which Courtney believes gave fans of the musician an insight into his 'internal world'.

'Happy Birthday to an angel': Frances Bean also took to Instagram to honor her late father

Of the project, Courtney previously explained: 'It was me and my daughter's (baby).

'I found the director but I think to make it a credible documentary I needed to not be a producer on it ... and my daughter did and she did a great job. That documentary is really great and says a lot of the things that I think Kurt would have wanted to be said.'

Courtney - who has become something of a hate-figure among a section of Kurt's fans since he took his own life - believes 'Montage of Heck' offers an unfiltered look at the music icon.

'Happy Birthday to an angel': Frances also shared this image of her dad

She shared: 'He's not overt about certain things - like, some of the scores I have to settle are within my book - he doesn't get into some bad things that happened, but he does get into a few.

'It's more Kurt's internal world, it's not the Kurt and Courtney story, per say.'

Musical family: Cobain, Love, and Frances are pictured together at the 1993 MTV VMAs in Los Angeles

Meanwhile, Courtney previously admitted that her perception of their relationship differed markedly from that of the general public, who regarded it as chaotic and doomed to fail.

She previously explained: 'I think that it looked like it was headed for doom, but it didn't feel like it was headed for doom on a daily basis.

'We went mountain biking; we would go camping. We were damn normal.'
Iconic Supermodel Cindy Crawford turned 52 on Tuesday.

And the social media tributes poured on in - including from Rande Gerber, with whom she will celebrate her 20th wedding anniversary in May.

Rande posted a throwback black and white modeling shot of his wife to Instagram, captioning: 'The good things in life are simply Beautiful. Happy Birthday Beautiful!'

'The good things in life are simply Beautiful': Cindy Crawford turned 52 on Tuesday, an occasion her husband Rande Gerber marked with a throwback Instagram photo of her

The Casamigos co-founder is husband number two for Cindy, who was previously married to movie star Richard Gere from 1991 until 1995.

Cindy and Rande have two children - 16-year-old daughter Kaia and 18-year-old son Presley, who have both followed their mother's footsteps into modeling.

Kaia posted a sweet birthday message to her mother on Instagram, alongside a GIF of Cindy dancing at the set of Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air in 1990.

Cindy paid this set visit for an episode of MTV's House Of Style, and in the GIF, Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air star Will Smith is briefly visible in the background.

Party of four: Cindy (second from right) and Rande (right) have two children - Kaia, 16, (second from left) and Presley, 18, who have both followed their mother's footsteps into modeling

Before she did the moves seen in the GIF, Will had encouraged her to 'let yourself go crazy, and you do the dumbest dance that you could possibly do.'

In the caption to the Instagram post, Kaia wrote: 'happy birthday to this beautiful angel. im so lucky to get to call you mom. LIVING LEGEND... i love you the mostest @cindycrawford,' and added a heart emoji.

Kaia herself landed in Milan that day ahead of the northern Italian city's Fashion Week, which is slated to officially begin on Wednesday.

'LIVING LEGEND': Kaia posted a sweet birthday message to her mother on Instagram, alongside a GIF of Cindy dancing at the set of Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air in 1990

Cindy herself, who originally hails from DeKalb, Illinois, found herself in a reminiscent mood when her 52nd birthday rolled around this Tuesday.

She posted an Instagram photo of herself blowing out the candles on the cake for her 6th birthday in 1972. Another little girl, likely her sister Danielle, gawped nearby.

'A few years ago, today,' Cindy captioned dryly with a birthday cake emoji.
Blac Chyna's ex-boyfriend Mechie was thrust into the spotlight after a sex tape the pair made in July leaked online.

The 24-year-old rapper identified himself as the male in the clip, which began circulating on Twitter and elsewhere on the internet on Monday. The private video was taken in July, while Blac Chyna and Mechie were an item. They have since broken up, but are going to have to team up if they intend to take down the person who leaked their tape.

Having learned from a 2017 incident in which former beau Rob Kardashian shared an intimate video of her on Instagram, Blac Chyna has already lawyered up. Walter Mosley, her representative, told TMZ this is a criminal matter and theyve turned to police to investigate.

Blac Chyna's rapper ex-boyfriend Mechie has admitted to being the man in her leaked sex tape

Lisa Bloom, another legal representative for Blac Chyna, tweeted a poignant message about revenge porn, calling it a form of domestic abuse. She added that its no laughing matter amid a myriad of jokes from strangers on social media.

Revenge porn  posting explicit images without the consent of everyone in those images  is a crime, a civil wrong, and a form of domestic abuse. Its also a way to try to slut shame women for being sexual. Girls have killed themselves over revenge porn. Its not a joke.

Mosely, however, continues to err on the side of caution. Speaking with People on Monday he claimed it was too early to declare the incident revenge porn. He added that the source of the video was anonymous.

'There's not enough information right now to even know what happened,' he said. 'An anonymous source posted the tape  could be from an ex-boyfriend, or stolen, someone texting it to someone else. It's upsetting and troubling. After that Rob thing, she's become a big target. It's a sad time.'

Blac Chyna is clearly visible in the video and has been largely ridiculed for her 'performance' or lack thereof. The man's anonymity is largely preserved throughout, however.

So whats the deal with Blac Chynas rapper ex?

Who is Mechie?

Mechie is a rapper from Washington D.C. His real name is Demetrius Harris. He began his career as a member of the R&B group 4EY the Future, according to CBS Local. The group was still active in 2016, though Mechie was focused on his solo career, during which hes been asked to open up for the likes of Chrisette Michele and Meek Mill.

Hes believed to have been the man with whom Blac Chyna was lying in bed in the explicit content posted by Rob on Instagram in July 2017.

When did Blac Chyna and Mechie break up?

Blac Chyna and Mechie reportedly broke up in August 2017. TMZ reported that the pair split a month after the rapper tattooed Blac Chynas initials on his neck. Despite the permanence of his gesture, many fans questioned whether the relationship was one big publicity stunt for the duo.

Who is Blac Chyna?

Born Angela Renee White, Blac Chyna is a model and businesswoman. She formerly worked as a stripper in Miami as a way to pay her way through college. She was unable to finish school, however.

In 2012, Blac Chyna appeared in Tygas Rack City music video. The pair are believed to have begun dating around that time. That same year, they welcomed their first child together, a baby boy named King Cairo Stevenson.

Blac Chyna and rapper Tyga split in 2014 and he began dating Kylie Jenner. Blac Chyna and Kylie feuded online for some time before making amends just in time for Blac Chyna and Rob Kardashian to get together.

On April 5, 2016, not long after the beginning of their relationship, Blac Chyna and Rob announced that they were engaged. Just one month later they confirmed that they were expecting a child together. Dream Renee Kardashian was born on November 10, 2016.

 A post shared by Blac Chyna (@blacchyna) on Dec 30, 2017 at 7:39pm PST

Blac Chyna and Tyga split in 2014 and he began dating Kylie Jenner. Blac Chyna and Kylie feuded online for some time before making amends just in time for Blac Chyna and Rob Kardashian to get together.

On April 5, 2016, not long after the beginning of their relationship, Blac Chyna and Rob announced that they were engaged. Just one month later they confirmed that they were expecting a child together. Dream Renee Kardashian was born on November 10, 2016.

Rob and Blac Chyna officially ended their relationship in December 2016. Days later the pair got back together only to break up again in February 2017. In July 2017, Rob shared nude photos of Blac Chyna on Twitter and was banned from the site. Blac Chyna obtained a restraining order against her former fiance.

Blac Chyna net worth

Blac Chyna has amassed quite a fortune for herself between her beauty empire, a now-defunct reality TV series and other business ventures. Get the breakdown of her finances and fortune here.
Stephanie Davis reportedly begged ex-boyfriend Jeremy McConnell to visit her at home as he awaited sentence for physically assaulting the actress, despite any contact being a breach of his restraining order.

McConnell, 27, was ordered to stay away from Stephanie, with whom he shares son Caben Albi, following his trial for the violent attack at her Merseyside property.

But the former Hollyoaks star, 24, is said to have contacted the heavily tattooed model both before and after his sentencing in a slew of emails and text messages, allegedly obtained by Sun Online.

Claims: Stephanie Davis reportedly begged ex-boyfriend Jeremy McConnell to visit her at home as he awaited sentence for physically assaulting the actress

In one alleged message, reportedly sent to members of McConnells family just 24 hours before his sentence, she 'demands he call her', while in another she refers to herself as his future wife.

'Your family loves you. Your son loves you. Your future wife loves you. Just make the move so we know you care,' it allegedly reads.

The actress also allegedly asked the Irish model to visit her home, despite him receiving a three-year restraining order following his trial in August 2017, telling him: 'The door is open.'

Reaching out: The former Hollyoaks star, 24, is said to have contacted the heavily tattooed model both before and after his sentencing in a slew of emails and text messages

A friend told The Sun: Steph made out shes never been in touch with Jeremy but that couldnt be further from the truth.

Shes repeatedly approached him and begged him to visit her. Steph even said his late mother Val had told her to tell him to come to her house. Its sick.

Jeremy wanted a clean break and after the court case in August he thought it would be over for good. But it was only the beginning.

Always welcome: In one such message Stephanie is believed to have asked the Irish model to visit her home, despite him receiving a three-year restraining order following his trial in August 2017, telling him, 'The door is open'

McConnell is understood to have responded on three separate occasions, breaking the terms of his restraining order in the process, but only to inform Stephanie that he could not visit her home and to ask the actress, whose struggle with alcohol is well documented, if she had been drinking.

According to The Sun Stephanie's messages became more persistent as she prepared to enter residential rehabilitation for alcoholism in the months following his trial.

In one, sent on November 14, she allegedly claims: 'I've lost SO much weight and was hoping you would call me.'

Controversy: McConnell allegedly joked about the assault on his ex Stephanie Davis during a 'rough' one-night stand with a mother-of-two

While another reportedly reads: 'Its me contacting you if that gives you piece of mind. Look Jezz, I love you always.'

The actress is also believed to have sent McConnell a flurry of 16 emails in 24- hours.

Allegedly demanding he reach out to her, one reported message reads: 'F**k this Ive tried and tried. You dont give a f**k. You cant even make a phone call to the mother of your child.

'Have it your way then cos its clear you dont want to speak to me or have your family.'

MailOnline has contacted Stephanie's representatives for further comment.

Former flame: The Mirror reports the model, 27, enjoyed a one-night-stand with the woman he met on Instagram and was said to have 'laughed and joked' about the attack on Stephanie (above with their son Caben, 13 months)

The messages come after McConnell allegedly joked about the assault on his ex during a 'rough' one-night stand with a mother-of-two.

The Mirror reports the model enjoyed a one-night-stand with a woman he met on Instagram and was said to have 'laughed and joked' about the attack on Stephanie, which left her with post-traumatic stress disorder, saying she 'deserved it.'

The woman told the website: 'He was laughing about the assault on Steph while I was there. And then he started laughing about the post traumatic stress disorder.'

'He would make little remarks, something like, she deserved it, or Ill do that like I did to Steph kind of thing.

'He talks about her so much. It was almost as though he was trying to get her back or something.'

The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, says she first chatted to McConnell before joining him at a hotel in London during fashion week.

Model: The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, says she first chatted to Jeremy before joining him at a hotel in London during fashion week

She alleges that he was 'rough' in bed, leaving her with a bruised collarbone and 'massive' unwanted love bite on her neck.

The woman also said McConnell 'leaned on her so she couldn't breathe properly' and dug his legs into hers, causing her pain.

She claims as the pair were having sex, he told her he wished to get her pregnant, which she said he 'tells everybody.'

Calling McConnell a 'horrid, horrid person'. she said the experience left her feeling 'awful' and that she couldn't wait to leave.

Beginnings: Jeremy and Stephanie first met on the January 2016 series of Celebrity Big Brother

She also claims the model, who has spoken only about his cocaine addiction, spoke about using the drug 'later' although he did not drink alcohol or do drugs when she was there.

McConnell's representative declined to comment when approached by MailOnline.

Messages shared with the website appear to show him telling the woman his nose was still swollen, after hereportedly went under the knife for emergency surgery on his septum.

The woman blocked him on Instagram and said she went public with her story to warn others about 'what he is like.'

In March, a court heard how McConnell had thrown the soap actress 'around like a rag doll' during the attack, and was handed a 20 week suspended sentence and 200 hours community service in August.

He was later sentenced to 18 weeks in prison after skipping out eight community service sessions while jetting off to Turkey for a hair and beard transplant.

McConnell recently spoke to The Sun about his well-documented cocaine addiction, revealing he would snort 200 worth of the Class A substance while doing 'double-barrelled lines'.

The star underwent emergency surgery on his septum in Poland this month to repair the damage following years of drug abuse.

He said: 'There were times when I would get 200, shove it up my nose and do double barrelled lines. We used to call them the M50 after the motorway in Dublin.

Stephanie and McConnell met and fell in love on Celebrity Big Brother two years ago, when the actress was already in a relationship.

Over the next year the couple's turbulent relationship played out in the press before Stephanie fell pregnant.
His mind control tricks have made him a controversial TV star in the UK.

And psychological illusionist Derren Brown makes his US debut with a Netflix special this month which explores how social pressures and authority figures can be used to manipulate a person into committing murder.

In The Push, which originally aired in the UK in 2016, Brown uses a team of actors to interact with and enmesh a subject in a 'web of lies' and try to convince him, eventually, to push a man off the roof of a building.

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Controversial: Derren Brown makes his US debut with a Netflix special this month called The Push which explores whether a person can be manipulated into committing murder

Feeling the heat: The trailer shows the subject (business owner Chris Kingston) - who is unaware he is being filmed - surrounded by actors as he's exposed to high stress situations

'I need him to feel like there's only one way out when he's told to commit murder,' Brown says in the official trailer released this week.

'The question we're asking is simple: Can we be manipulated through social pressure to commit murder?' the 46-year-old hypnotist continues.

The trailer shows the subject (business owner Chris Kingston) - who is unaware he is being filmed - surrounded by actors as he's exposed to high stress situations.

'This show is about how readily we hand over authorship of our lives every day,' Brown says.

Will he do it? The show will eventually see Chris being told to push a living man off a roof terrace

Think fast: Chris is put through his paces as he finds himself faced with a series of tough decisions

Scary stuff: The show, which originally aired in the UK in 2016, explores how social pressures and authority figures can be used to manipulate a person into committing murder

'Can social compliance be used to make someone push a living, breathing human being to their death?'

Unsurprisingly there have been mixed reactions to the show, which will be available to stream on February 27, on Twitter.

'So this new reality show on Netflix where a professional manipulator tries to convince someone to do a murder looks deeply troubling.' one person tweeted.

'I have some pretty serious concerns about this. I mean, Derren Brown's no idiot, but...' tweeted user @SusanArendt.

While another less than enthusiastic response came from @BethElderkin who wrote: 'Reality TV continues to be a mistake.'

'When confronted with authority, our natural instinct is to unflinchingly obey without question' reads Netflix' description of the special

'This show is about how readily we hand over authorship of our lives every day,' Brown says

Another Twitter user was excited to see Brown to work his magic for US audiences, writing: 'One of @DerrenBrown's specials is coming to Netflix and it's about time american audiences embrace this global treasure of a spectacular man'

The official Netflix description of The Push reads: 'In The Push, Brown exposes the psychological secrets of obedience and social compliance. He expertly lifts the lid on the terrifying truth that, when confronted with authority, our natural instinct is to unflinchingly obey without questionto such an extent that even the most moral people can be made to commit the most horrendous acts, simply because they are told to do so.'

Some users took to Twitter to express their concern on Tuesday when the official trailer was released

Brown doesn't claim to have any supernatural powers but uses a mix of magic, suggestion, psychology, misdirection and showmanship in his performances.

The Tricks of the Mind author made his television debut with Derren Brown: Mind Control in 2000.

His other TV stunts have included playing Russian roulette on live TV, predicting the National Lottery and hypnotizing a man to assassinate Stephen Fry.

Brown doesn't claim to have any supernatural powers but uses a mix of magic, suggestion, psychology, misdirection and showmanship in his performances
He's been dating his girlfriend Rooney Mara, with whom he's shared a considerable amount of screen time in a selection of movies.

But Joaquin Phoenix opted to fly solo when their latest collaboration - Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far On Foot - had its big unveiling at the 68th Berlinale International Film Festival in Germany on Tuesday night.

The Hollywood actor, 43 - who also shares a home with 32-year-old Rooney - made his way down the Berlinale Palast's red carpet in a dark striped suit, while he left the top button of his crisp white shirt undone.

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Premiere: Joaquin Phoenix attended the Berlinale International Film festival premiere of his latest movie Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot, at the Berlinale Palast on Tuesday

With his hair slicked back, the three-times Oscar-nominated actor posed for snapshots alongside his 73-year-old German co-star Udo Kier, who cut a dapper figure in a dark suit over a black jacket.

The film's director Gus Van Sant, 65, was also on hand for the festivities, and was seen laughing and chatting with Joaquin as he stepped out in a dark suit and also appeared to follow the night's trend of leaving his top shirt button undone.

Earlier in the day, the film-maker and the actor appeared together at a photocall for their movie at the city's Grand Hyatt Hotel.

Suited and booted: The Hollywood actor, 43 made his way down the red carpet in a dark striped suit, while he left the top button of his crisp white shirt undone

Pose: He walked with his hands in his pockets as he posed for photographers at the event

Solo: He arrived without his girlfriend Rooney Mara, who is also in the film. Pictured in May

According to Deadline, Joaquin admitted that he experienced something of a first at the festival, in that he was actually getting involved in the activities.

He admitted: 'Typically when I go to film festivals, I just show up and do press and thats it. So I usually hate film festivals.

'Last night, Gus was doing the Berlin Talents and I went along to watch and saw all these young filmmakers that are curious about the process and hearing Gus speak, I had a real appreciation for a film festival.

'Its odd that Im so old and that its the first time I really experienced a film festival for what it is for people so I was grateful for that experience.'

The man at the helm: The actor walked the red carpet with the film's director Gus Van Sant

Undone: Gus appeared to follow Joaquin's fashion cue of leaving his top shirt button undone

The film, which also stars Jonah Hill and Jack Black, is a comedy-drama based on cartoonist John Callahan's memoir of the same name. It is set to be released in July.

Joaquin and Rooney also appear together in Her and the upcoming Mary Magdalene, in which the actress takes on the titular role.

Phoenix is reported to be in talks to play the Clown Prince of Crime in Todd Phillips' as-yet untitled Joker movie, according to Variety.

The publication reports that studio negotiations are not yet underway, but Phillips clearly wants Phoenix in the lead role.

Dapper: Joaquin also posed with his German actor Udo Kier, who looked dapper in a black suit

Sharing screen time: The 73-year-old actor appears in the upcoming movie alongside Joaquin

Main man: Later that night Willem Dafoe and his wife Giada Colagrande attended the Hommage Willem Dafoe - Honorary Golden Bear award ceremony, followed by a screening of The Hunter

Upbeat: The actor was in high spirits as he made his way across the red carpet with his wife on Tuesday evening

All eyes on me: Willem struck a playful pose after greeting photographers at the event

Close: The actor and wife Giada were inseparable during their latest public appearance

Say cheese: (L-R) Giada Colagrande, Donata Wenders, Willem Dafoe, festival director Dieter Kosslick, minister of State and Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, Monika Gruetters and Wim Wenders

Supportive: Willem got an affectionate kiss for his wife as they paused on the red carpet

This one's for you: Willem received the Honorary Golden Bear from Festival director Dieter Kosslick

Cause for celebration: The actor held his award aloft as he addressed the audience on Tuesday evening

Sources say that Phillips is on board to co-write and direct the movie, having met with Phoenix before the new year to further discuss the project.

The film would possibly be able to expand and explore more opportunities within the DC Comics world, with more details to further the iconic comic-book characters.

'Insiders stress that Jared Leto - who starred in Suicide Squad as the Joker - is still on board as the character in the DC universe and that Phoenix has no effect on what happens with Letos character in future DC films,' Variety wrote.

Joaquin recently wrapped filming The Sisters Brothers with Jake Gyllenhaal and John C. Reilly.

Photocall: Earlier in the day, Joaquin cut a more casual figure as he attended a photocall for the movie, held at the city's Grand Hyatt Hotel

Good spirits: The actor appeared to be in jovial spirits as he waved and smiled at attendees

Cam: He was joined by Udo and Gus, who used his camera to capture memories of the moment

Fans: He also took time out to pose for selfies with excited fans gathered outside the venue
Karl Stefanovic labelled him 'soft' and 'weak' for refusing to come on the Today show and 'explain' himself.

And now Married At First Sight's Dean Wells has returned fire at the TV host, claiming he was never invited back to the Channel Nine morning show.

Speaking to the Kyle and Jackie O Show on Wednesday, Dean blasted Karl over his comments, adding that the TV host was 'no angel'.

'He's no angel': Married At First Sight's Dean Wells returns fire at Today's Karl Stefanovic after the TV host labelled him 'soft' and 'weak' as their feud escalates

'Karl keeps saying that he's asking me to come on the show and I've refused, that's not true he has never asked me at all,' Dean told hosts Jackie 'O' Henderson and Kyle Sandilands.

'I like the guy, I don't want to cause any problems ... I don't think he likes me.'

Trying to solve their feud by offering to call on get Dean on Today, Kyle suggested: 'Why don't you go on there and say, ''I'll explain myself if you explain yourself Karl,'' because people don't know what goes on in people's lives.'

Trying to mediate? Kyle suggested: 'Why don't you go on there and say, ''I'll explain myself if you explain yourself Karl,'' because people don't know what goes on in people's lives'

War of words: Karl 's feud with the reality star escalated on Tuesday, with the TV host labelling the 'alpha male' contestant 'soft'

'Yeah well that's it - I don't think he is an angel - I'm no angel,' Dean replied. 'Like I said I like him, he seems to have a bit of a beef with me at the moment.'

Karl's feud with the reality star escalated on Tuesday, with the TV host labelling the 'alpha male' contestant 'soft' for refusing to come on Today and discuss his cheating scandal.

The Channel Nine personality revealed that Dean declined the offer to be interviewed by him, after Karl previously called his behaviour 'sexist at worst and offensive'.

Not happy: 'Come on the show and explain yourself': Karl Stefanovic slams MAFS' Dean Wells as 'soft' and 'weak' after he REFUSED to come on the Today show and face the journalist over his cheating scandal

Karl and co-host Georgie Gardner were concluding their interview with MAFS couple Charlene and Patrick when they revealed Dean refused to come on the show.

'We have repeatedly asked Dean to come on the show and the invitation stands,' Karl told viewers.

'Has he turned us down?' An incredulous-sounding Georgie asked her co-host.

'He's turned me down': Karl and co-host Georgie Gardner were concluding their interview of MAFS couple Charlene and Patrick when they revealed Dean was refusing to come on the Today show.

'He's turned me down,' Karl clarified. 'That doesn't necessarily mean he is going to turn the offer down.'

'What did you do to him?' Patrick jokingly asked.

'I'm not going to say too much, but the guy is soft if he doesn't want to come on our show,' Karl fired back.

'I'm not going to say too much, but the guy is soft if he doesn't want to come on our show': Karl appeared unwilling to let his co-host do the interview solo

Karl's co-host Georgie offered to do the interview herself, adding: 'Come and have a chat to me if you're watching Dean!'

However Karl appeared unwilling to let his co-host do the interview solo, issuing a stern challenge to his reality TV nemesis.

'Come on the show and explain yourself because at the moment it is just weak,' he said.

'At the moment it is just weak': Karl issued a stern challenge to his reality TV nemesis Dean

Slammed him: Karl has since labelled Dean 'two-faced' for cheating on wife Tracey Jewel with Davina Rankin

The feud between Dean and Karl has been escalating since the 'alpha male' contestant first made an appearance on the Channel Nine breakfast show last month.

Karl has since labelled Dean 'two-faced' for cheating on wife Tracey Jewel with Davina Rankin, also telling the 39-year-old to stay away from him and fiance Jasmine Yarbrough.

During his appearance on Today last month, Karl told Dean his comments were 'sexist at worst and offensive', asking the MAFS star whether he regretted any of his statements.

'It is old school language at best and sexist at worst, and offensive': Today's Karl Stefanovic BLASTS Married At First Sight's Dean Wells for making comments about 'wife' Tracey Jewel's breasts in VERY heated exchange

During Married At First Sight's premiere Dean admitted he had been unable to stop staring at Tracey's surgically-enhanced breasts during their wedding vows, telling producers afterwards: 'I'm a man, it's just natural. '

Karl quickly took Dean to task for his comments about Tracey's breasts.

'You had others things to say ... which I guess is old school language at best and sexist at worst, and offensive,' he said.

'I wouldn't say I regret any of that, no I don't think Tracey was offended by any of that': A flushed and ruffled Dean defended his comments about Tracey's breasts

Flushed and visibly ruffled, Dean hit back: 'You think it is offensive?'

'I think so,' Karl said, to which Dean asked: 'What specifically?'

Refusing to detail what Dean had said about Tracey's bust Karl answered: 'I'm not going to say it on breakfast television but ... do you regret any of those comments?'

'I wouldn't say I regret any of that, no I don't think Tracey was offended by any of that, so that's the main person I'm worried about,' he replied.

'The whole alpha male thing has been blown out of proportion': Dean also defended his comments about gender roles, telling Karl and host Georgie Gardner they had been over-exaggerated

Dean also defended his comments about gender roles, telling Karl and host Georgie Gardner they had been over-exaggerated.

'The whole alpha male thing has been blown out of proportion - I just want to take responsibility for my wife and my partner, and I don't think there is anything wrong with that,' he said.

Dean experienced his first social media backlash when he declared: 'I'm the man and I'm in charge' in a trailer for Married At First Sight.
She became a bona fide Hollywood superstar when she scooped the role of Miss Moneypenny in 2012 James Bond hit Skyfall.

And Naomie Harris looked every inch the big screen starlet in a sugar pink suit as she attended the first female-only members club in the UK for working women.

The 41-year-old, who played Miss Moneypenny in the last two Bond films, was glowing at The Allbright event in London on Tuesday.

Suited and booted: Naomie Harris looked every inch the big screen starlet in a sugar pink suit by Tibi as she attended the first female-only members club in the UK for working women

Naomie dazzled as she posed for pictures, and she complemented her statement outfit with simple gold hoops and natural makeup. The actress's long tresses were pulled away from her hair off her face to show off her glowing skin.

Women-only club The Allbright's name is inspired by former US Secretary of State Madeline AlBright's famous remark, 'There's a special place in hell for women who don't support other women'.

The club, which aims to help women boost their careers, already has a waiting list and its founders are sourcing a second site in central London.

In 2017, the Cambridge University alumnus landed an Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nomination for her latest role as a crack addict in award-winning film Moonlight.

A vision: The actress's long tresses were styled in intricate braids, which pulled her hair off her face to show off her glowing skin

Chic: Naomie dazzled as she posed for pictures at the event, and complemented her statement outfit with simple gold hoops and natural makeup as she posed with Sky News host Sarah-Jane Mee within the bash

However, the British actress admitted she was hesitant to undertake the role as she they are enough 'negative portrayals' of 'black women' in film.

In February, she told The Telegraph: 'I didn't want to play a crack addict. I feel that there are enough negative portrayals of women in general, and black women in particular.

'I grew up with this really strong mother - really intelligent, powerful, independent - and I've always admired her. She was part of a group of powerful women as well. I very rarely saw those women represented them. So I initially said no to the role.'

Pretty in pink: In 2017, the Cambridge University alumnus landed an Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nomination for her latest role as a crack addict in award-winning film Moonlight

Prior to Moonlight, the star had her big break on 2012's Skyfall when she mastered the role of Eve Moneypenny in the good company of Daniel Craig as Bond.

Speaking about her relationship with Daniel, she told the Express: 'Chemistry is something you either have or don't have, so its a real gamble when people cast you, because you just never know whether the chemistry's going to work.

'Sometimes you have couples who are dating in real life and they have no chemistry on screen whatsoever so you just never know. I am just lucky that it works with Daniel and I'm looking forward to coming back.'
She may have skipped out on London Fashion Week.

But Gigi Hadid still looked every inch the catwalk queen as she stepped out into New York on Tuesday in head-to-toe glam wear.

The model, 22, rocked a gold Fendi jacket, black skinny jeans, and a pair of iRi Black Patent Boots as she prepared to travel to Milan.

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Still runway ready! Gigi Hadid still looked every inch the catwalk queen as she stepped out into New York on Tuesday in head-to-toe glam wear

Her glossy brunette tresses were scraped back from her face with a headband, along with a pair of black sunglasses to give her outfit an edgy touch.

She carried a chic taupe Fendi purse with a playful key chain.

Even though she's rocketed to fame as a model, Gigi skipped out on London Fashion Week.

Though she's participated in years past, Gigi has been staying put in NYC these last few days.

Best tressed! Her glossy brunette tresses were scraped back from her face with a headband, along with a pair of black sunglasses to give her outfit an edgy touch

She carried a chic taupe Fendi purse with a playful key chain.

She did, however, participate in New York Fashion Week earlier this month, walking at the Brandon Maxwell show.

Gigi is now headed off to Italy, where she will be showcasing her collaboration with Tommy Hilfiger, TommyXGigi, during Milan Fashion Week.

It'll be the last time she shows off her collaborative collection too, after four seasons working with the brand, the model announced Tuesday in a heartfelt Instagram post.

So fly! Gigi is now headed off to Italy, where she will be showcasing her collaboration with Tommy Hilfiger, TommyXGigi during Milan Fashion Week

Stepping out in style: The model, 22, rocked a gold Fendi jacket, black skinny jeans, and PVC ankle boots

'Less than a week left til I show my last #TOMMYxGIGI Collection, in Milan @tommyhilfiger,' she wrote. 'Its definitely bittersweet, but I feel so grateful and humbled to have been given this opportunity to grow and learn through designing four seasons.

'To Tommy @thomasjhilfiger, I'll never be able to thank you enough for believing in me and the possibilities of this collaboration. To my TH team&family- thank you for genuinely embracing me and for your endless hard work, love, and talent; I have enjoyed our design meetings & time together more than you know, and I feel deeply lucky to have been able to learn from and create with you all. To @trey.laird and @mikaeljansson - thank you for four epic campaigns that I am so proud of, your partnership in this has been a dream come true.

'Last but definitely not least, To the Fans, thank you for making this into something so much greater than any of us could have ever imagined. Seeing you wear & support Tommy x Gigi, and meeting you across the global #TogetherTour has meant the world to me. (heart emoji) I will never forget these past couple of years !

'Let's celebrate. Season IV. Milan. WATCH LIVE SUNDAY 2/25 8pm CET. Stay tuned for more info. #TOMMYNOW.'

Stayed home: Gigi decided to skip London fashion Week and stay in the Big Apple
Hailey Baldwin celebrated the end of London Fashion Week with a suitably chic makeover on Tuesday night.

The California girl turned bleached bombshell with a new fringe and a brighter tinge to her tresses as she arrived for yet another fashion party in the British capital.

The 21-year-old was one of the glamorous guests at the Naked Heart Foundation's Fabulous Fund Fair, held at The Roundhouse, to celebrate the end of the style capital's Autumn/Winter 2018 shows.

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Working it: Hailey Baldwin unveiled a new look for the end of London Fashion Week on Tuesday night, as she arrived at the Naked Heart Foundation's Fabulous Fund Fair in London

Only the previous evening, Hailey had attended a party at LouLou's with a blunt bob in her natural yellow-blonde hue.

But Hailey suddenly had longer, brighter locks and bangs when she joined guests, including exquisite model Izabel Goulart, at the Fund Fair on Tuesday.

Looking leggy, Hailey sizzled in a see-through dress under which she wore a strapless bodysuit.

Hair today! The bombshell previously sported a blunt bob without bangs on Monday night

Glamorous guest: Inside the party, Hailey posed with stunning model Izabel Goulart

She teamed the patterned mididress with killer heels and finished off the vampy look with dark shadowy eye make-up.

It's the model's third night out in a row, after a busy few days in London attending the designer presentations.

She will no doubt join guests in Italy next, where Milan Fashion Week is already kicking off.

New look: The bombshell worked her best angles at the bash, as she arrived in a bodysuit and sheer dress

Showing the love: The model duo put on a flirtatious display with the cameras

The Fashion Fund Fair is held annually by model Natalia Vodianova, bringing all of the fun of the fair to the British capital with the aim of fundraising for her Naked Heart Foundation.

The foundation, for which the Fund Fair has raised over 2.3 million, helps children with physical, mental and sensory disabilities.

Previously, Natalia has said of the event: 'I love that this fabulous event highlights how important fun and games are to the human experience, right across the spectrum, and what a vital unifier laughter is for everyone regardless of ability or circumstance.

Model beauties: The duo were helping to raise money for the Naked Heart Foundation

'Im eternally grateful to our partner brands for helping us realise it, and thrilled by how much London has embraced the work of the Naked Heart Foundation in helping us raise crucial funds to develop family support services and inclusive play facilities for children of all ages and abilities.'

Guests at this year's event included Natalia herself, Natasha Poly, Lara Stone, Kimberley Garner Lottie Moss and Tallia Storm.

Prizes are also courtesy of participating brands to the likes of participating brands including Louis Vuitton, Dior, Givenchy, Versace, Fendi, Guerlain, Stella McCartney, By Kilian, LOreal, Messika, and Maxx Royal Resorts among others.

Previous Fabulous Fund Fair events have been attended by guests including Taylor Swift, Ellie Goulding, Cara Delevingne, Naomi Campbell, Paris and Nicky Hilton, Lewis Hamilton, Lily Donaldson and Brooklyn Beckham.

Where is the love? The Fashion Fund Fair is held annually by model Natalia Vodianova, with the focus on laughter and fun

I heart London: Bringing all of the fun of the fair to the British capital, the aim is fundraising for her Naked Heart Foundation
He's faced a barrage of criticism after 'cheating' on 'wife' Tracey Jewel with Davina Rankin.

But Married At First Sight's Dean Wells has at least one ally in his corner, with Troy Delmege defending his character on Wednesday.

The toothbrushing fanatic told Today's Georgie Gardner and Karl Stefanovic Dean was 'a really classy bloke' who was also 'gentle and caring'.

'He is a really classy bloke': Married At First Sight's Troy Delmege defends 'gentle and caring' Dean Wells after he cheated on 'wife' Tracey Jewel with Davina Rankin

Troy let out a raucous bout of laughter when he was asked by Georgie to give his thoughts on the 'alpha male' contestant.

'Dean!' He exclaimed. 'Look Dean may have made a mistake. I actually think Dean is a really classy bloke, I like Dean.'

'Classy?' Georgie asked in disbelief.

'I actually think Dean is a really classy bloke, I like Dean': Troy let out a raucous bout of laughter when he was asked by Georgie to give his thoughts on the 'alpha male' contestant

'Classy?' Troy's defense of Dean was met with surprise from the Today hosts, with Karl in an escalating feud with the Married At First Sight contestant

'I like Davina, I like Dean ... if you get to know him he is so down to earth,' Troy continued.

'He's gentle and caring. Get to know him, he is a really good guy ... He's got very humble roots, had a lot of situations in life.'

Troy's defense of Dean was met with surprise from the Today hosts, with Karl in an escalating feud with the Married At First Sight contestant.

Needed help: The dental hygiene fan was trying to make a romantic breakfast for 'wife' Ashley Irwin and was forced to google an instructional video on how to cook eggs

Say what? Troy confused Camembert cheese with butter while trying to cook for Ashley

During Wednesday night's episode of Married At First Sight, Troy left viewers baffled when he confused Camembert cheese with butter.

The dental hygiene fan was trying to make a romantic breakfast for 'wife' Ashley Irwin and was forced to google an instructional video on how to cook eggs.

The flight attendant was left less than impressed when Troy served her up burnt scrambled eggs.
She was rushed to hospital last week after fainting at work due to low blood pressure.

But while Erin Molan feels blessed that her unborn child is healthy, the Channel Nine personality admits her pregnancy has been far from easy.

Speaking on Wednesday's episode of Today, Erin revealed her bruised knees from her fainting spell and said she had been suffering the same extreme morning sickness as the Duchess of Cambridge.

'My knees are black and bruised': Erin Molan reveals her injured legs and says her pregnancy has been 'awful' after suffering from extreme morning sickness and being rushed to hospital for fainting at work

Erin, who is 25 weeks pregnant, was rushed to hospital last Friday after fainting at Channel Nine's Sydney studios.

Subsequent tests revealed the Footy Show host had low blood pressure, but her unborn baby was fine.

'I think I need to slowly learn that my body is not capable of what it was this time last year and that it does put a lot of pressure on your pregnancy,' Erin told Karl Stefanovic and Georgie Gardner on Wednesday.

'I think I need to slowly learn that my body is not capable of what it was this time last year': Erin, who is 25 weeks pregnant, was rushed to hospital last Friday after fainting at Channel Nine's Sydney studios

'I hit my knees, I hit my head but stomach maintained facing upwards which was good': Erin said she was fortunate that when she fainted she had fallen backwards rather than onto her stomach

'It takes a lot of the good out of you, having a child - in a lovely blessed kind of way.

'In other words everything good is going to the baby inside me, and not too much left over for me.'

Erin said she was fortunate that when she fainted she had fallen backwards rather than onto her stomach.

'Luckily my knees are black and bruised - I hit my knees, I hit my head but stomach maintained facing upwards which was good,' she said.

Tough times: While acknowledging she was fortunate to conceive and carry a child, Erin said her pregnancy had been extremely difficult

While acknowledging she was fortunate to conceive and carry a child, Erin said her pregnancy had been extremely difficult.

The Channel Nine reporter confirmed she had suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum, commonly known as extreme morning sickness, during the first few months of her pregnancy.

'I'm really blessed, it's been wonderful,' Erin said sarcastically, holding up her hands in quotation marks.

'It's been horrendous': The Channel Nine reporter confirmed she had suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum, commonly known as extreme morning sickness,

'It's been horrendous but I feel horrendously guilty even talking about it, because I know how blessed I am to even have children ... but it's been awful.

'It hasn't been fun, even all the things that give me joy like alcohol, runny eggs and raw meat and sushi I can't eat any more,' Erin joked.

Erin confirmed last December that she was expected her first child with fiance Sean Ogilvy.

The couple became engaged in April 2017, the policeman presenting Erin with a diamond sparkler reportedly worth $100,000.
She was stepping out in support of model pal Natalia Vodianova, at one of fashion's most well-attended charitable nights out.

But Lara Stone wasn't exactly dressed for 'all of the fun of the fair' on Tuesday night, as she made a leggy arrival at the the Naked Heart Foundation's Fabulous Fund Fair in London just hours before departing the bash with a mystery man on her arm.

Getting stuck into the festivities, Lara was pictured bending over one of the classic fairground games, only to reveal an eyeful with her daring neckline before holding her pal close upon leaving the event.

Wow! Lara Stone wasn't exactly dressed for 'all of the fun of the fair' on Tuesday night, as she made a leggy arrival at the the Naked Heart Foundation's Fabulous Fund Fair in London just hours before departing the bash with a mystery man on her arm

As the night wound down, the stunner was joined by the dashing companion, whose hand she held close. MailOnline has contacted Lara's representatives for comment.

She was spotted with the same hunky fellow two weeks before as they left a London venue together. With past romance, Lara started dating David Walliams in 2009 and they decided to put a ring on their relationship in January 2010.

The former flames, who share their young son Alfred, were married in a lavish ceremony at Claridges' hotel, in London, in May 2010. They went their separate ways for good in September 2015 when David filed for divorce from Lara.

In recent months, the mother-of-one confessed it was a struggle being apart from Alfred while on promotional duties at the Melbourne Cup.

Easy does it! Getting stuck into the festivities, Lara was later pictured bending over one of the classic fairground games, only to reveal an eyeful with her daring neckline before holding her pal close upon leaving the event

Bust in show! Lara put on quite the eye-popping display for the glitzy night of all-star fun

Way back when: She was spotted with the same hunky fellow two weeks before as they left a London venue together

Lara hit the red carpet in serious style, showcasing her best assets in the low-cut garment, which split high of the sides to reveal her legs. With one hand poised on her hip, Lara looked confident in a daringly low neckline, which exposed her bra.

The black balcony-style lingerie was on display as her dress plunged right to her waistband - in her clear bid to turn every head on the red carpet.

And her hemline was similarly revealing, since the dress featured a tabbard-style front to make the most of her endless model legs from the side. Lara pulled her hair away from her face to let her angular features take centre stage.

Though sexy, her nighttime outfit was altogether impractical for the evening's festivities - which included merry go rounds and classic fairground games - at the Roundhouse in Chalk Farm.

Leggy look: Her ensemble comprised a cutaway dress with a low neckline and a tabbard style skirt

Legs eleven! Lara showed off her staggering pins in her scanty mini dress which left little to the imagination

The Fashion Fund Fair is held annually by model Natalia Vodianova, bringing all of the fun of the fair to the British capital with the aim of fundraising for her Naked Heart Foundation.

The foundation, for which the Fund Fair has raised over 2.3 million, helps children with physical, mental and sensory disabilities.

Previously, Natalia has said of the event: 'I love that this fabulous event highlights how important fun and games are to the human experience, right across the spectrum, and what a vital unifier laughter is for everyone regardless of ability or circumstance.

Showing her shape: The leggy blonde displayed her lithe model figure

Impractical: The model flashed her bra in the plunging garment

Making an entrance: Lara was among the high profile models at the annual fundraiser

Having fun: The focus of the charitable event is on laughter and fun

Making her departure: The blonde was seen leaving the venue later that night

Glamazon: She chose not to cover up the outfit with a coat, despite the chill

Heading home: The bombshell left the party alone following a fun-filled evening

'Im eternally grateful to our partner brands for helping us realise it, and thrilled by how much London has embraced the work of the Naked Heart Foundation in helping us raise crucial funds to develop family support services and inclusive play facilities for children of all ages and abilities.'

Guests at this year's event included Natalia herself, Natasha Poly, Lara Stone, Kimberley Garner Lottie Moss and Tallia Storm.

Prizes are also courtesy of participating brands to the likes of participating brands including Louis Vuitton, Dior, Givenchy, Versace, Fendi, Guerlain, Stella McCartney, By Kilian, LOreal, Messika, and Maxx Royal Resorts among others.

Previous Fabulous Fund Fair events have been attended by guests including Taylor Swift, Ellie Goulding, Cara Delevingne, Naomi Campbell, Paris and Nicky Hilton, Lewis Hamilton, Lily Donaldson and Brooklyn Beckham.

Girl gang: Natalia Vodianova (centre) was flanked by models Lara (left) and Izabel Goulart (right)

Welcome: Natalia herself was there to host yet another successful event

I heart London: Bringing all of the fun of the fair to the British capital, the aim is fundraising for her Naked Heart Foundation
Natalie Joyce does not want her husband unseated as deputy prime minister or Nationals leader, News Corp Australia reports.

The paper cites Mrs Joyce's close friends as saying she has been worried that some in the Nationals party room are using the scandal to unseat Mr Joyce and claim the leadership.

Only about a third of the Nationals party room have openly supported Mr Joyce while six are locked against him and the rest have refused to comment, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Mr Joyce has been in crisis since it was revealed he had become embroiled in an affair with former staffer Vikki Campion and is expecting a child with her in April.
BARNABY JOYCE ISN'T FOR TURNING

* "I've been in heaps of fights in my political life, this is another one, in any person's political career you aren't created by the times in your favour, you're tempered by the times of adversity. That's how politics works - you rise to deal with it" - Fairfax Media, Feb 20.

* "I am humbled by the support in my electorate and in the community. People are starting to see this as a witch hunt. I'm not going anywhere, I never would." - Fairfax Media, Feb 20.

* "My colleagues support me. We have a job to do" - Canberra doorstop, Feb 16.

* "I am quite supported obviously by my electorate and my electorate is the catalyst for getting back to my job at the last by-election." - Canberra doorstop, Feb 16.

* "This has been a searing personal experience for Natalie, our daughters and for Vikki (Campion) - criticise me if you wish but please have some regard for them" - Statement, Feb 13.

MALCOLM TURNBULL ON JOYCE'S FUTURE

* "I don't know (if he still commands the support of the party room). He says he does and others have said he does, but these are all matters in the gift of the National Party room" - 3AW radio, Feb 19.

* "Barnaby Joyce has my confidence as Deputy Prime Minister. He is the leader of the National Party" - Doorstop, Feb 16

* "He has to consider his own position obviously" - Doorstop, Feb 15
A man who allegedly fleeced property investors of millions of dollars has been arrested and charged in Queensland.

The 52-year-old Gold Coast man has been charged with dishonestly inducing victims to deliver money into accounts he controlled following an 11-month investigation into the directors of a business called Members Alliance Group.

Police allege Members Alliance Group cold-called members of the public, raising over $2.2 million for the construction of houses in Queensland and New South Wales, leaving investors out of pocket when the company ceased trading in July 2016.
Income support for Australians living with permanent disabilities is projected to cost almost $4.8 billion less in 10 years time, as the government stems the flow of people onto the payments.

The disability support pension covers roughly 760,000 recipients and is one of the biggest areas of federal government spending, costing $16.3 billion or 10.6 per cent of the social security budget in the past year.

But in a report released on Tuesday, the Parliamentary Budget Office has significantly revised down its medium-term projections for spending on the pension, tipping it will average one per cent annual real growth in 2027-28.
Australia's consumer watchdog is appealing a decision by the Federal Court to dismiss a case of alleged cartel behaviour against laundry detergent manufacturer Cussons.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission launched legal action in 2013 claiming the company engaged in conduct with rivals Colgate and Unilever that "substantially lessened competition". The action was dismissed in December 2017.

"We believe that there was sufficient evidence for the court to find that Cussons had entered into an understanding," ACCC chairman Rod Sims said in a statement on Tuesday after confirming the watchdog would appeal.
The Queensland government is in talks with the state's peak motoring body to introduce real-time fuel price disclosures after repeatedly insisting it was a matter for the national consumer watchdog.

Energy minister Anthony Lynham and transport minister Mark Bailey on Monday met with with RACQ's head of public policy Rebecca Michael to discuss ways to lower fuel prices across the state.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and her cabinet had previously stood firm on calls to roll out real-time disclosures, instead urging the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to take the lead on the issue.
Australia has granted asylum to the family of a murdered Cambodian political activist, as a deal to send refugees from Nauru to Cambodia remains in place.

The wife and five children of Kem Ley arrived in Melbourne on Saturday, the office of Victorian state MP Hong Lim confirmed.

Ley was gunned down in 2016 in a suspected political assassination.

He had made comments critical of Prime Minister Hun Sen's business dealings.

The family had spent 15 months in limbo in Thailand waiting for Australia to grant them visas.

Last week, exiled former Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy questioned the process.

"It would be very embarrassing to accept refugees from Cambodia when you want to send refugees to Cambodia," Mr Rainsy told the National Press Club in Canberra.

Cambodia agreed in 2014 to resettle refugees from Nauru in exchange for a $40 million aid sweetener.

A further $15 million has been allocated for running costs.

Only seven people took up the offer and it's believed only three remain there.

Cambodia's democracy is under attack, with the country's Supreme Court dissolving Mr Rainsy's Cambodia National Rescue Party last year and jailing opposition leader Kem Sokha.

The opposition was poised to strongly challenge the 33-year rule of Prime Minister Hun Sen at the July election.
David Warner has Australia on the verge of becoming the world's No.1 ranked Twenty20 team but says he hasn't spoken to Steve Smith about taking over as the full-time captain.

Warner's success with the T20 side as stand-in skipper during Smith's absence has become a topic of intrigue before Wednesday night's tri-series final against New Zealand in Auckland.

"At the end of the day, it's up to Steve. If he thinks his workloads are too high and he doesn't feel like he can do that, I'm sure he'll put his hand up and step aside," Warner told reporters on Tuesday.
A western Sydney businessman says he's been robbed of $500,000 when a robber snatched a bag he had just retrieved from the boot of his car, minutes after he arrived home.

The 45-year-old man says he parked outside his Lidcombe home on Monday night and went to retrieve the bag containing the day's takings when another man grabbed it and ran off.

Police wouldn't confirm the figure, only saying it was a "large amount", but the businessman has told media it was $500,000.

The victim chased the robber for about 50 metres before he was struck from behind by a white sedan, police said in a statement on Tuesday.

He suffered minor injuries while the robber can be seen in CCTV footage getting into the car as it sped away.
Victorian Road Minister Luke Donnellan has apologised for making a comment about being kicked in the nether regions to a female regional mayor.

Mr Donnellan told Corangamite Shire mayor Jo Beard funding levels were "better than a kick in the dick", Nationals MP Steph Ryan told parliament on Tuesday.

"I actually spoke to the mayor yesterday and indicated that was an inappropriate use of language and ... what I should of said (was) 'it was better than a kick in the head'," Mr Donnellan said.
MALCOLM TURNBULL'S TRIP TO WASHINGTON

* Aims to build trade connections with every level of US government

ON THE TABLE

* North Korea and regional security

* Economic development, including business tax cuts

OFF THE TABLE

* Refugee swap deal, as it's already going ahead

* Gun control

MEETING

* President Trump at the White House, with joint press conference on Saturday morning (AEDT)

* Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, NSA boss Mike Rogers, National Intelligence Director Dan Coats, Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell, and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford.

* Turnbull to deliver keynote speech at the National Governors' Association

THE DELEGATION

* Four premiers, the two chief ministers and business leaders

* Trade Minister Steve Ciobo, who will meet key trade and economic officials

(SOURCE: Turnbull government)
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has brushed off concerns a new private bus operator in Sydney's inner west could be dogged by similar delay issues that have sparked public anger in Newcastle.

Private company Transit Systems won the tender to operate buses in the Inner West Region Six last week, prompting criticism from the opposition and unions.

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) described the move as a "betrayal" to commuters and drivers, while the opposition is questioning if more regions are slated for privatisation.

Both have pointed to Newcastle's sharp decline in on-time bus services following recent privatisation as reason to be wary of the change.

The RTBU has cited statistics showing on-time busses dropping from 87 per cent to 52 per cent since a private operator took over in Newcastle.

But Ms Berejiklian said patronage was improving in Newcastle.

"I know for a fact that Newcastle buses used to travel empty, people didn't ride them, the routes were wrong, the service was appalling," Ms Berejiklian told reporters in Sydney on Tuesday.

"Every time we make major change in Newcastle our political opponents complain about it."

Ms Berejiklian said there were teething issues associated with implementing new services but was confident the private operators would iron out any kinks.

"When you move to a new operator, it always takes a while for the service to stand up to what the end product will be, it's always the case," she said.

"On-time running on buses is always lower than other modes of transport, trains and ferries and other modes of public transport aren't subjected to the road conditions."
Solar farms in Queensland are being built by "backpacker" labour rather than qualified electricians, a parliamentary inquiry has heard.

A Senate committee investigating the future of employment in Australia, including the impact of automation, held its first public hearing on Tuesday in Brisbane.

Electrical Trades Union Queensland acting secretary Peter Ong told the senators firms were favouring labour-hire companies instead of using electricians on industrial agreements with good pay and conditions.

"There should be 50 directly employed electricians building a solar farm," Mr Ong said.

"I have five electricians and 45 backpackers who are employed through labour hire and paid poverty wages."

He said the union was aware of unlicensed work on solar farm work sites.

"The real sickening thing for us and our members in the regions is that these are projects that could have delivered decent ongoing jobs for regional Queenslanders," Mr Ong said.

"Instead, there's no real jobs being delivered to any Queenslanders, they're delivered to backpackers."

Mr Ong was among a group of union officials who told the inquiry there needed to be more consultation with workers before job cuts hit to prepare for the transition to different jobs.

In a submission to the inquiry, the Minerals Council of Australia called for education system reform to produce more highly skilled workers to take advantage of new technology.

The council's interim executive director David Byers said technology like drones, robotics and artificial intelligence had changed the face of modern mining.

"The future success of the minerals industry will depend on highly skilled and technologically-literate experts including operators, engineers, environmental scientists and geologists," Mr Byers said.
The NSW government is investigating after more than a dozen sharks were discovered lined up on rocks - with their necks slit - on the NSW far north coast.

Pictures of the slit-eye sharks at Fingal Head were posted on social media late last week and the NSW Department of Primary Industries is now investigating whether any illegal activity was involved.

Fishers are each allowed to catch five of the species each day, a DPI spokeswoman said in a statement on Tuesday.

"The Department of Primary Industries promotes responsible fishing including only catching sufficient fish for your immediate needs and disposing of all litter and fish waste responsibly," she said.

The sharks discovered were about five to 10 kilograms each and in total would be worth close to $1000, Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW spokesman Malcolm Poole said.

"It takes a massive effort to catch a five-to-10kg shark, line it up on rocks and then cut its throat," Mr Poole told AAP on Tuesday.

"It's a senseless killing. Dumping catch is not on."

Mr Poole said the lack of blood at the scene suggested the sharks could have been caught and killed on a boat offshore and then placed on the rocks.
A popular Melbourne live music venue is considering a ban on smartphone-obsessed concert-goers taking excessive photos during gigs.

In an online post on Tuesday, ACDC Lane's Cherry Bar flagged it would move to clamp down on mobile phone users who drive fellow revellers to distraction by constantly filming bands on stage.

"Holding up your phone and filming an entire song is just not on. It blocks the view of those behind you, it distracts the band and it's just uncool," read the Facebook post, while indicating the venue would tolerate fans who took a quick snap.
A man visiting a woman in a NSW prison has been hospitalised for "rapid intoxication" after he allegedly swallowed contraband rather than hand it over to guards.

But the 23-year-old wasn't able to stomach all of the items, including a syringe which was left protruding from his mouth.

He swallowed unknown substances when confronted by prison officers and drug dogs on February 15 at Silverwater Women's Correctional Centre, police say.

"After allegedly refusing to remove his hands from his pockets and acting aggressively towards staff, officers were forced to restrain the man, during which time he transferred concealed items into his mouth," Corrective Services NSW said in a statement on Tuesday.

As well as the syringe, several small plastic bags were found on the man, as well as tobacco.

He was taken to hospital after he began showing signs of "rapid intoxication".

The man has been charged with introducing a syringe into a place of detention.
BEST QUOTES ON THE SA ELECTION CAMPAIGN:

"I think going down there the choices are awful, awful and terrible." - Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis talking about the choices for voters in Mt Gambier where the contest is between the Liberal Party, a Liberal independent and a Nick Xenophon candidate.

"I've always found wooden spoons to be much more practical," - SA-BEST leader Nick Xenophon responding to Labor's suggestions he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

"If you haven't been attacked by a dog and broken an arm, are you really campaigning hard enough?" - Labor candidate Jo Chapley taking a light-hearted view of her mishap while doorknocking in the seat of Adelaide.

"This is the most astonishing backflip, I think, in electoral history in South Australia." - Liberal Leader Steven Marshall talking about Nick Xenophon's gambling policy which only calls for a reduction in poker machine numbers.

"Steven Marshall still has 27 days to go to the election and he's basically talking about how he'll decorate the premier's office." - Nick Xenophon's comment after Mr Marshall's release of a plan for the first 100 days of Liberal government.
A firefighter battling a massive fire in the NSW Hunter Valley has been struck by a falling tree.

A rescue helicopter has been tasked to the Putty State Forest following reports a NSW Rural Fire Service member suffered head and chest injuries in the incident on Tuesday afternoon.

The firefighter may need to be winched from the location, a Westpac Rescue Helicopter spokesman said in a statement.

The so-called 695 fire has engulfed more than 18,000 hectares of bushland.

RFS crews had been working to strengthen containment lines on Tuesday ahead of expected high winds in the area.
An elderly man has died after he was hit by a ute while crossing a road in Sydney's south.

The man, aged in his 80s, was struck by the Holden ute while crossing General Holmes Drive in Brighton Le Sands at about 3.25pm on Tuesday, NSW Police said in a statement.

Emergency services were unable to revive the man and he died at the scene.

The driver of the ute was uninjured and taken to St George Hospital for blood and urine tests.

Police have established a crime scene which will be examined by forensic specialists and traffic diversions are in place.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.
A girl has been critically injured after being hit by a car in Sydney's north west.

The girl, aged about 12-years-old, was struck on Windsor Road in Baulkham Hills about 4.35pm on Tuesday, NSW Police said in a statement.

She received critical injuries and was airlifted to Westmead Children's Hospital. The girl is yet to be formally identified.

The driver of the Toyota Hilux, who was uninjured, was taken to Westmead Hospital for blood and urine tests.

Traffic is extensively delayed in the area and police are investigating.
Authorities have found a boat washed up on the coast of northern NSW as they search for a man missing from a Queensland marina for nearly a week.

Keith Jones, 65, left Hervey Bay Marina on February 14 and has not been seen or heard from since.

Authorities on Tuesday afternoon found a boat similar to his 34-foot vessel washed up in northern NSW but there was no sign of Mr Jones on board.

Concerns are held for him as his behaviour is out of character and he didn't leave travel plans with anyone before setting off.
A court in Turkey has deferred until May 24 a decision on whether to extradite senior Islamic State militant and recruiter Neil Prakash to Australia.

Appearing in the Kilis Criminal Court on Tuesday the Melbourne-born jihadist admitted being a member of Islamic State but said he had nothing to do with the group in Australia.

"The charge of being a member of Islamic State, I admit to it, I was.

"But on the other charge of being a leader of an organisation in Australia, that I had nothing to do with," News Corp Australia reported him saying.

The 26-year-old appeared by video link from a prison north of Kilis.

He faces charges in Australia over his promotion of Islamic State and his recruitment of militants to fight for the group in Syria and carry out attacks in Australia.

He was arrested 16 months ago trying to cross the border from Syria into Turkey after deserting Islamic State and is being held in jail on terror-related charges.

The decision by Judge Ismail Deniz to adjourn an extradition decision until May 24 came after the prosecution asked for more time to provide a report on whether Prakash should be extradited, News Corp reported.

He is the most senior Australian Islamic State terrorist to be captured and would be the first senior figure to be extradited and charged under legislation introduced in 2015 in response to the threat posed by Islamic State.

Prakash has been linked to a failed Melbourne plot to behead a police officer, and another attack that saw two officers stabbed outside a Melbourne police station.

He left Australia for Syria in 2013 and featured in Islamic State propaganda videos calling for attacks on Australia and the US.
Today's Birthday, February 21: Alan Rickman, English actor, (1946-2016).

With the ability to perfectly switch from posh accents, to a snarl both purring and menacing, to cool deadpan terror, Alan Rickman's remarkable voice helped his 30-year career span from the Royal Shakespeare Company to a billion-dollar movie franchise.

"He was utterly distinctive, with a voice that could suggest honey or a hidden stiletto blade, and the profile of a Roman Emperor," Dame Helen Mirren said following his passing.

Distinct aquiline features served his many memorable villains, including terrorist Hans Gruber in Die Hard and the snarling Severus Snape in the Harry Potter blockbusters.

One of Britain's most lauded and well known actors, he died aged 69 from pancreatic cancer surrounded by family and friends.

Rickman was born into a working-class family in Hammersmith, West London 1946. He attended a Montessori method-based primary school in Acton and then, through a special grant, a London-based high school where he became involved in drama.

A graduate of the Royal College of Art, Rickman worked as a graphic designer for three years after opening up a studio with friends before attending London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

He got his big break appearing the Broadway version of Les Liaisons Dangereuses in the mid-1980s before making his first major film appearance as Hans Gruber in Die Hard soon afterward.

That was to be the first of many performances as a villain, including Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, for which he won a Bafta, the British equivalent of an Oscar.

He was also credited for heartfelt roles including 1991's Truly, Madly, Deeply and Love Actually in 2003.

Rickman won a Golden Globe and Emmy for the mini-series Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny in 1996.

He directed and starred in 2014's A Little Chaos, playing King Louis XIV alongside Kate Winslet.

Mirren starred alongside Rickman in 2016's Eye In The Sky - one of the last films he made.
The Turnbull government will be hoping for an upbeat annual assessment of Australia from the International Monetary Fund to refocus attention on the economy, rather than the controversy surrounding Barnaby Joyce.

The IMF will release its final report on Australia for 2017 on Wednesday.

Any pickup in economic growth is likely to be "modest", according to preliminary findings after IMF staff visited Australia last November.

Strengthening global growth, low local unemployment and new infrastructure projects will more than offset declining housing investment, they found.

But low wage growth will weigh on household incomes and consumption.

The IMF has been forecasting an economic growth rate of 2.9 per cent for 2018, a shade faster than the economy was travelling in the September quarter national accounts, the last official growth figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
The body of slain bikie boss Mick Hawi is being returned to loved ones ahead of his funeral this week while detectives probe his criminal background as they hunt for the killers.

So far no suspects have been named as triggermen in the underworld execution.

Born in Beirut in the Lebanon, Mahmoud "Mick" Hawi moved to Australia with his parents, brother and three sisters as a young boy in 1985.

He rose to prominence for his role in the infamous bikie brawl at Sydney Airport in 2009 while he was the national president of the Comancheros.

Passengers in the terminal watched on in fear as the club clashed with rival Hells Angels members. Associate Anthony Zervas was bludgeoned to death with a bollard.

Hawi did time in prison for his role in the killing and, since his release in 2015, laid low in south Sydney.

But Hawi's suburban life came to an end last Thursday when he was shot multiple times while he sat in his luxury Mercedes 4WD outside Rockdale's Fitness First.

He died in St George Hospital that night, aged 37.

Tributes flowed online from club members and family friends while rumours swirled about bad blood between Hawi and the current club leadership.

AAP understands a service will be held for Hawi at the Al-Zahra mosque in Arncliffe on Thursday before his body is laid to rest in the Muslim section of Rookwood Cemetery.

A large police presence is expected at the event after NSW Police, last week, assured the public they would remain on high alert for retaliation attacks.
Detectives trying to solve the murder of Sydney gangland figure Raphael Joseph have begun digging at a property on the city's outskirts.

They are confident they are closing in on the suspects behind the killing.

NSW Police say 37-year-old Joseph was likely murdered by fellow drug dealers in March 2014 in a botched attempt to extract money from the international crime figure.

Vehicles and buildings, believed to have been used in the murder, have all been examined by police.

Officers on Tuesday started searching a property in Blaxlands Ridge in Sydney's northwest in connection with the case.

Forensic police and the riot and bomb squads are involved in the multi-day search which is utilising excavators.

Six years before his disappearance, Joseph had been extradited from the United States over his suspected role in a fatal shooting in 2002 which sparked a wave of crime in the city's southwest.
New Zealand's South Island has "dodged a bullet" after battling with former Cyclone Gita.

Between midday Tuesday and 6am on Wednesday, Fire and Emergency received 1300 call-outs, mainly for flooded homes, fallen power lines and trees, a spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

States of emergency were declared in Taranaki, Nelson/Tasman region, Selywn district, Grey district, Buller, Westland and Christchurch.

The top of the South was worst hit with heavy rain closing roads and causing flooding in the Tasman region.

But Buller Mayor Garry Howard said there was minimal damage to the district with only a few trees and "superficial stuff" affected.

"Things didn't eventuate as bad as we were expecting," he said.

Kaikoura was hit with heavy rain, closing both the coastal highway and inland route but Mayor Winston Gray said on Wednesday morning the "sun is shining."

He said there was no damage to the township itself.

"We've really dodged a bullet."

Tasman mayor Richard Kempthorne said they had been concerned about coastal inundation but were fortunate they did not have a very high tide.

A state of emergency remained in place in Nelson on Wednesday morning and more than 130 people had spent the night welfare centres in Takaka and Motueka after escaping flooding.

Eighty were later escorted home in Takaka on Tuesday night, while 53 spent the night at the Motueka welfare centre.

Former cyclone Gita on Wednesday morning was about 250km east of Canterbury and should continue to move away from the country, the MetService said.

However, heavy rain was expected to continue in Dunedin and North Otago until late afternoon.

But all wind warnings associated with Gita were now lifted.
Julie Bishop is encouraging a free trade agreement between Australia and the UK as a stepping stone for Britain to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

The foreign minister joined her British counterpart Boris Johnson for a run around London's St James Park and breakfast at his home before an hour-long meeting to talk trade, visas and terrorism.

A spokeswoman for Ms Bishop said talks included how Britain and Australia could negotiate a post-Brexit free trade agreement.

"Minister Bishop encouraged the UK to use such an FTA as a vehicle to later sign up to the (Trans-Pacific Partnership) 11," the spokeswoman said.

On a day when a poll found support for the monarchy at its lowest level, the pair discussed the future of the Commonwealth as well as a possible reciprocal extended visa for Australians in the UK - similar to the E3 visa with the US.

That allows Australians and their spouses to live in the US while working in a specialty occupation.

The proposed Australia Pacific Security College, rebuilding Iraq and Mr Johnson's recent visit to Myanmar were also raised.
A re-elected Labor party will invest more than $4 million to upgrade and build new bus shelters in South Australia.

Around 600 shelters will be built or upgraded under the $4.1 million plan encouraging more people to use public transport, SA Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan says.

"Over the past five years we have seen a huge increase in the number of South Australians using public transport but Labor wants to encourage even more people to catch our buses, trains and trams," Mr Mullighan said in a statement on Wednesday.
Tony Abbott's former immigration minister has rebuffed his calls to drastically cut Australia's migration levels, saying the facts don't back it up.

But Scott Morrison - now the federal treasurer - says he can see why people would be "superficially attracted" to the idea that lowering the permanent immigration level would ease pressure on wages and house prices.

Mr Abbott used a speech to the Sydney Institute and a series of media interviews on Tuesday to call for the permanent immigration level to be cut from 180,000 to 110,000.

The former prime minister said he took issue with the rate of immigration when wages were stagnant, house prices soaring, infrastructure clogging and "ethnic gangs ... are testing the resolve of police".

Mr Morrison said while those things were happening, tying them back to the level of immigration was a separate issue.

"The real issue here is that when wages are flat and when people are feeling the pinch, people will line others up as being the reason for this," Mr Morrison told Melbourne's 3AW radio on Wednesday.

Cutting immigration by the level Mr Abbott suggested would lead to the federal budget taking a $4-5 billion hit and drastically reduce the number of skilled migrants - people who come to Australia to fill job shortages and pay taxes here, Mr Morrison said.

Recent rises in the population growth rate were down to "variable immigration", with more students, backpackers and temporary workers coming down under, while the permanent migration level had remained static since 2011.

Mr Morrison also disagreed with the proposition that immigrants caused crime, saying statistics showed they were less likely to be unemployed and their children did better educationally than the general population.
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump visit a Florida hospital February 19, 2018 after a school shooting that left 17 dead

US President Donald Trump signaled support Monday for a bipartisan effort to improve a national system of background checks for gun purchases in the wake of the Florida school shooting.

"While discussions are ongoing and revisions are being considered, the president is supportive of efforts to improve the Federal background check system," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement.

Trump has come under intensifying pressure to act after a teenage gunman went on a rampage at a high school in Parkland, Florida on Wednesday, killing 17 people.

Angry students who survived the attack have called for a march on Washington to demand changes in US gun laws, calling out Trump and the powerful National Rifle Association at rallies.

Sanders said Trump had spoken to Senators Chris Murphy, a Democrat, and John Cornyn, a Republican, who have jointly sponsored a bill to fix a national database by requiring states and federal agencies to report more often on offenses that would bar an individual from buying a gun.

The legislation amounts to a narrow, technical fix, leaving unaddressed the broader, divisive issue of permissive gun laws under a constitutional amendment that protects the right to bear arms.

Normally on opposite sides of the gun debate, the lawmakers teamed up in November after a gunman stormed a church in Texas, killing 26 people in one of the nation's deadliest mass shootings.

That gunman, Devin Kelly, was able to buy guns while serving in the air force despite a domestic violence conviction that should, by law, have prohibited him from purchasing or possessing firearms.

The conviction was never reported by the air force, however, exposing a major weakness in the background check system.
A file picture taken on September 20, 2017 shows Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas addressing the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York City

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas will call for an alternative to US-mediated negotiations with Israel during a rare address to the United Nations Security Council, Palestinian officials said Monday.

Addressing the council Tuesday for the first time since 2009, the longtime Palestinian leader is expected to call for multiple international powers to facilitate peace negotiations and again criticise the United States' controversial recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

President Donald Trump's December announcement angered the Palestinians, who also consider the city the capital of their future state, and led them to say the US had disqualified itself from its traditional role as lead mediator in talks with Israel.

In a statement ahead of the visit, Abbas's spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina told state media a "new phase of struggle has started" as they seek to protect their claim to Jerusalem.

Senior Palestinian official Nasser al-Qudwa said on Monday that Abbas would be looking to gain support for a multilateral initiative, but added that the Palestinians would not dictate what shape it would take.

The 2015 Iranian nuclear agreement negotiated by the so-called P5+1 -- the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany -- is seen by many Palestinians as a good example.

"We can live with different formats, the P5, P5+1, expanded Quartet, we can live with an international peace conference," Qudwa told a news conference in Ramallah.

"Anything that can do the job, provide a reasonable basis for negotiation and follow up the process -- sponsor it until it successfully concludes."

Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, is expected to respond to Abbas's comments.

Israel, which often accuses both the European Union and the United Nations of bias against it, would be reluctant to accept any other mediator than the US.

Palestine currently has non-member observer status at the UN, but would need a UN Security Council vote to be upgraded to full membership.

The United States has said it would veto any such attempt and Qudwa said he did not expect a major policy announcement, such as a fresh push for full membership, during the speech.

"At this stage I don't think the statement will be followed immediately by any specific action within the UN system, whether at the Security Council or otherwise," Qudwa added.

Another senior Palestinian official, Mustafa Barghouti, said he expected Abbas to again attack the US declaration and call for the recognition of east Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital.

Grant Rumley, who focuses on Palestinian politics at the US think tank Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said the Palestinians had reduced their rejection of any American role.

"Initially (after Trump's recognition of Jerusalem) they said the US could play no role whatsoever, but they've recently clarified that the US can play a role, it will just have to be in a multilateral format."
A pregnant woman in eastern Uganda receives the sort of prenatal care that UNICEF says can prove crucial to a newborn's chances of survival

Babies born in the world's poorest countries, most of them in Africa, still face "alarming" risks of death that can be 50 times as high as those in the richest countries, according to a UNICEF report released Tuesday.

While the last quarter-century has seen broad improvements in older children's health, "we have not made similar progress in ending deaths among children less than one month old," said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF's executive director.

"Given that the majority of these deaths are preventable, clearly we are failing the world's poorest babies."

The differences are stark. A baby born in Pakistan -- the country with the worst newborn mortality rate -- faced a one in 22 chance of death, while a newborn in Japan had only a one in 1,111 risk of dying, the report said.

Of the 10 highest-risk countries, eight are in sub-Saharan Africa, countries where "pregnant women are much less likely to receive assistance," due to poverty, conflict or weak institutions, according to the report.

Those eight countries are the Central African Republic (a one in 24 chance of death); Somalia, Lesotho, Guinea-Bissau and South Sudan (all with a one in 26 chance); Cote d'Ivoire (one in 27) and Mali and Chad (both with a one in 28 chance).

Each year, some 2.6 million babies do not survive through their first month.

- Preventable deaths -

The report was released in conjunction with the launch of a global campaign, called Every Child Alive, aimed at ensuring "affordable, quality health care solutions for every mother and newborn."

A UNICEF report said large numbers of newborn deaths could be prevented in poorer countries by providing access to well-trained midwives along with other proven solutions like clean water

More than 80 percent of newborn deaths can be prevented, the report says, "with access to well-trained midwives, along with proven solutions like clean water, disinfectants, breastfeeding within the first hour, skin-to-skin contact and good nutrition."

But shortages of properly trained health workers and midwives are a major problem in poorer nations.

While a rich country like Norway has 18 doctors, nurses and midwives for every 10,000 people, impoverished Somalia has only one.

Every year, one million babies die the day they are born.

"We know we can save the vast majority of these babies with affordable, quality health care solutions," Fore said.

- Rwandan success story -

In general, babies born in richer countries fare far better, but there are differences within countries. Babies born to the poorest families are 40 percent more likely to die than those born to the least poor.

Sadly typical was the story of Mary James, an 18-year-old from rural Malawi.

When her labor started, she and her sister made the long trek to a health center on foot. When her baby was delivered, he was small and terribly weak. She says an overstretched staff did its best, but by night the child was gone.

"I felt like my heart was breaking," James told UNICEF staff. "I had a name for the child but he never opened his eyes."

Since improvements to health care can be expensive, "it is crucial to invest the money in a smart way," UNICEF's global maternity and newborn program chief Willibald Zeck told AFP.

That can mean something as simple as ensuring that a pregnant woman who has walked three days to a health care facility is received with "dignity," so she remains long enough to receive proper postnatal care.

But the dearth of expensive equipment matters. Zeck, who worked as an obstetrician/gynecologist in Tanzania, said women were often unsure how pregnant they were, and he would have to use his hands to estimate whether a fetus was premature or seriously underweight.

Still, among countries that have made dramatic improvements is low-income Rwanda, which more than halved its rate from 1990 to 2016, illustrating that "political will to invest in strong health systems... is critical," the report said.

Education matters, too. Babies born to mothers with no education face nearly twice the risk of early death as babies whose mothers have at least a secondary education.

The United States -- generally affluent, but with considerable income inequality and wide variations in access to health care -- was only the 41st safest country for newborns.

The countries with the lowest newborn mortality rates, after Japan, are mostly well-off countries with strong education and health care systems: Iceland (a one in 1,000 chance of death), Singapore (one in 909), Finland (one in 833), Estonia and Slovenia (both one in 769), Cyprus (one in 714) and Belarus, Luxembourg, Norway and South Korea (all with risks of one in 667).
Of the world's 1.5 million Yazidis, the largest community was in Iraq where it comprised some 550,000 people before being scattered by the IS offensive

Iraq must stabilise the northern region of Sinjar to help the Yazidi minority brutalised at the hands of the Islamic State group return home, the International Crisis Group said Tuesday.

A report by the conflict analysts said Baghdad must set up a local administration and mediate between factions who hold sway over Sinjar to pave the way for the return of the Yazidis.

The Kurdish-speaking Yazidis follow their own non-Muslim faith that earned them the hatred of the Sunni Muslim extremists of IS, who seized Sinjar in 2014 and unleashed a brutal campaign against the minority.

Thousands of men from the Kurdish-speaking minority were slaughtered, women and girls abducted as sex slaves and boys sent to military training camps.

The UN has called the massacre of Yazidis a genocide.

Of the world's 1.5 million Yazidis, the largest community was in Iraq where it comprised some 550,000 people before being scattered by the IS offensive.

Around 100,000 have fled the country while 360,000 have been displaced and live in Iraqi Kurdistan or across the border in Syria.

ICG said Sinjar's occupation by "a succession of Iraqi and non-Iraqi sub-state actors has militarised the population, fragmented the elites and prevented the return of the displaced".

"Only the effective reentry of the Iraqi state, mediating between factions and reinstating local governance, can fully stabilise Sinjar, lay the groundwork for reconstruction, allow the displaced to return and end foreign interference," it said.

- 'Second-class Kurds' -

According to the ICG, the problems of Sinjar are deep-rooted and go back to the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein.

After the invasion, "real power (in Sinjar) was exercised by... the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)" of Massud Barzani, the former head of Iraq's Kurdish autonomous region.

Kurdish fighters backed by the US-led coalition against IS captured Sinjar from the jihadists in November 2015

The KDP, it said, "took advantage of the administrative and security vacuum" in the region.

The party "treated the Yazidis... as second-class Kurds" and "barely disguised its ambition... to annex Sinjar" to the Kurdish region.

"The KDP made itself still more unpopular by withdrawing its forces from Sinjar ahead of the ISIS (IS) assault, leaving the population to the jihadists' mercy."

The ICG said the battle to rout IS jihadists from Sinjar "brought peace but no political or economic recovery".

Kurdish fighters backed by the US-led coalition against IS captured Sinjar from the jihadists in November 2015, before Iraqi paramilitary forces took control of the whole region last October.

ICG said the Baghdad government must reassert its authority by making use of a local administration set up by the KDP in Sinjar.

Members of this administration "possess the skills needed for the restoration of functioning governance institutions in Sinjar", it said.

It urged Baghdad to "lead the way" to restore local governance in Sinjar by relying on Yazidis in order to reduce "their dependence on external power".

This initiative would also "facilitate the provision of international reconstruction aid and improve prospects for the return of the displaced," the ICG said.
The Malian army took part in the first joint G5 Sahel force operation in central Mali last year

Efforts to build a five-nation force to roll back jihadism in the Sahel face a funding hurdle this week, with a surge in rebel attacks providing an urgent reminder of the task in hand.

So far more than $350 million has already been pledged for the G5 Sahel force, gathering Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger -- countries in the frontline of a war against Islamist militants yet which rank among the poorest in the world.

The money has enabled the force to set up a headquarters and command structure and carry out two operations, with French support, in the troubled "tri-border" area between Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

But more is needed to help the force reach its target of 5,000 men, pooled from the five nations' armies, provide training and equipment, and durably restore authority in lawless areas.

Intended to become fully operational in mid-2018, the G5 Sahel force operates alongside France's 4,000 troops in the area and the UN's 12,000-strong MINUSMA peacekeeping operation in Mali.

The five Sahel countries will make a pitch for funds at a meeting in Brussels on Friday.

The drive behind setting up the G5 Sahel force dates back to 2015, when Mali's government signed a peace agreement with coalitions of non-jihadist armed groups.

Islamist insurgents remained active -- violence spread from the north of the country to the centre and the south, and then spilled over into Burkina Faso and Niger.

Today, as the new force is starting to take shape, the jihadists are becoming more sophisticated in their operations, say experts.

On February 5, the head of French military intelligence, General Jean-Francois Ferlet, said there had been a surge of jihadist attacks in central Mali.

The attacks "are a bit more lethal because (the assailants) are improving their methods," he said.

A European security expert in the Mali capital Bamako told AFP said the jihadists had made strides in the handling of explosives.

"When a mine slices a vehicle in half like a loaf of bread, it's no longer a home-made device," he said pointedly.

Jihadists have carried out killings of UN peacekeepers and Malian soldiers. In one incident in January, 26 civilians were killed when their vehicle ran over a landmine in Boni, central Mali.

Progress against the rebels seems meagre, if the official records are anything to go by. The joint force's second operation, which mobilised Malian and Burkinabe battalions on both sides of the border from January 15-28, listed seizures of ammunition, explosives materials and motorcycles, but little else.

- Morale -

Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, in a visit to the central town of Boni, argued that the jihadists had been "driven mad" by the emergence of the G5 Sahel and by the "fierce determination" of Malian troops.

Five countries -- Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger -- make up the G5 Sahel force

On the ground, though, morale is a clear source of concern.

In January, 36 Malian officers deserted and a sergeant was arrested for releasing a video in which he complained about incompetence and the lack of military strategy.

The government promised to provide "the best conditions" for the troops and appointed a number of senior state officials in central Mali, in a show of support.

Hearts and minds, too, are another front for the G5 Sahel force to conquer.

A report published earlier this month by MINUSMA's human-rights division found that "at least 20 percent" of recorded incidents in 2016 and in the first of half of 2017 that endangered civilian lives involved the Malian authorities -- essentially the security forces.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is asking US President Donald Trump on Twitter to start a new dialogue

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro took to the US president's favorite medium, Twitter, on Monday to ask him to start a dialogue between the two countries.

"@RealDonaldTrump campaigned pledging to promote non-interference in the domestic affairs of other countries. It's time to keep your pledge," Maduro wrote, encouraging Trump to hold a meeting in Washington or Caracas.

Maduro and senior government officials, including Attorney General Tarek William Saab, have alleged that the US is orchestrating an alleged plan for a "military invasion" of Venezuela from neighboring Colombia.

"The military bombing, the military invasion, the blood and fire occupation of a peaceful country like Venezuela are being planned," Saab charged last week, an allegation Colombia has flatly denied.

On a recent tour of Latin America, top US diplomat Rex Tillerson floated the idea of slapping sanctions on Venezuela's oil exports, the source of 96 percent of the country's revenues.

Tillerson met in Bogota with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos.

The United States has already imposed financial sanctions on Venezuela, forbidding its citizens and companies to negotiate debt issued by the Maduro government and the state oil company PDVSA.

Maduro has assured that he will travel to Lima in April for the Summit of the Americas, which Trump will attend.

But the Peruvian government announced that it will not allow Maduro to attend, on the grounds that he has broken with his country's democratic institutional order.
German actor Daniel Bruehl, English actress Rosamund Pike and Brazilian director Jose Padilha pose on the Berlin red carpet upon arrival for the premiere of the film "7 Days in Entebbe"

The counter-terrorism plot seems more far fetched than many action thrillers, yet "7 Days in Entebbe", which premiered at the Berlin film festival Monday, depicts a real-life airline hijack drama.

The movie recounts what is often called the most audacious hostage rescue mission ever staged, Israel's 1976 "Operation Thunderbolt" in Uganda, but aims to be more than a tale of military heroism.

Instead Brazilian director Jose Padilha ("Narcos") explores the harrowing events from multiple perspectives: that of the hijackers and their hostages, and of the Israeli leaders forced to decide whether to negotiate or fight.

Several previous movies, said Padilha, had depicted "a gigantic military feat and ignored the interaction between the hostages and their hijackers and the political aspects in Israel".

Padilha, a previous Berlinale winner for "Elite Squad", said he had met former hostages, flight crew and Israeli political and military veterans to get beyond the "standard military narrative".

The battle between Israel's then prime minister Yitzhak Rabin and the more hawkish defence minister Shimon Peres helps illustrate why there is still no Middle East peace, said the director.

"You see the dynamic, you realise how difficult it is for a politician in Israel to negotiate" with the enemy, Padilha said, adding that this was true on both sides of the conflict and "still true today".

- Echoes of Holocaust -

The hijacking of a Paris-bound Air France flight from Tel Aviv was a joint plot of Palestinian militants and their far-left German backers, who saw themselves as anti-imperialist revolutionaries.

The militants -- the two Germans are portrayed by Daniel Bruehl ("Good Bye, Lenin!") and Rosamund Pike ("Gone Girl") -- took over the flight after an Athens stop-over.

After a refuelling stop in Moamer Kadhafi's Libya, they headed to Entebbe, Uganda, then ruled by brutal dictator Idi Amin, who is described in the film as a "lunatic" who feeds his enemies to crocodiles.

The divergent motivations of the kidnappers become evident in the film when they separate out Jewish passengers, Israelis as well as non-Israelis, in scenes that chillingly evoke the Holocaust.

Bruehl's character Wilfried Boese, a book-seller who considers himself an anti-fascist urban guerrilla, is portrayed as increasingly troubled.

As the cracks widen, a Palestinian militant angrily tells Boese: "You are here because you hate your country. I am here because I love mine."

- 'Into his head' -

The fear of a Jewish bloodbath also drives Rabin's cabinet, where Peres puts together a plan involving 100 commandos in under-the-radar flights who launch a surprise raid using a fake presidential limousine.

On day seven, the special forces shot dead all the kidnappers and scores of Ugandan troops while rescuing all but four of the remaining 106 hostages.

The only Israeli soldier killed was unit commander Yonatan Netanyahu, the elder brother of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

On their way out, the Israeli forces blew up Uganda's fleet of Soviet MiG fighters, although the film does not depict the fiery end of the operation, instead interspersing the battle scenes with a dance choreography.

The new version, based in part on testimony from flight engineer Jacques Lemoine, shows Boese deciding against massacring the Jewish passengers before he goes down in a hail of bullets.

"The hostages had got into his head," Padilha told a press conference on the movie, which is screening out of competition, adding that this had helped to "save their own lives".

Asked whether he was ready for a "backlash" against showing "terrorists with a conscience", the director said that, although they do "terrible, inexcusable things... terrorists are human beings".
A Japanese millionaire has been awarded legal custody to 13 children he fathered through surrogate mothers in Thailand.

Mitsutoki Shigeta, thought to be 27 years old, caused a 'baby factory' scandal in 2014 after Thai police found nine infants living with their nannies in an upmarket Bangkok apartment.

A DNA test found that Shigeta was the biological father of the nine children, as well as four more babies born by surrogates in Thailand.

Large brood: Nannies are seen holding nine of Mr Shigeta's 13 children born in Thailand through surrogacy after a police raid at a flat in Bangkok in August 2014

The murky case threw the spotlight on Thailand's then unregulated rent-a-womb industry, and helped push authorities to bar foreigners from paying for Thai surrogates in 2015.

Shigeta, the son of a Japanese tycoon, left the country in the wake of the scandal three-and-a-half-years ago.

He later sued Thailand's Ministry of Social Development and Human Security for custody of the children.

'For the happiness and opportunities which the 13 children will receive from their biological father, who does not have a history of bad behaviour, the court rules that all 13 born from surrogacy to be legal children of the plaintiff,' Bangkok's Central Juvenile Court said in a statement.

Baby daddy: Mitsutoki Shigeta, a Japanese millionaire thought to be 27 years old, was found to be the father of 13 children after a DNA test was carried out

Mitsutoki Shigeta has been identified as the man in this photo by local media

Kong Suriyamontol, the Thai lawyer for Japanese national Mitsutoki Shigeta, speaks to the press after his client was granted paternity rights to his 13 children fathered through Thai surrogate mothers

Shigeta, who did not attend the trial in person, was deemed the 'sole parent' of the children after the Thai surrogates had signed away their rights, the court said.

As he comes from a wealthy family, he has ample money and has prepared nurses and nannies to care for the children in Japan, the ruling stated.

Shigeta's lawyer said he would contact the Social Welfare Ministry, who has taken care of the children since the scandal broke in 2014, about the next steps in transferring them from state custody.

Shigeta hired the Thai surrogates before the kingdom banned the lucrative trade in 2015, following a string of scandals and custody tussles.

Surrogacy agencies quickly migrated to neighbouring Cambodia, who followed suit and barred the industry in 2016.

In recent months there have been signs the industry has shifted to Laos, an opaque communist country with no restrictions on surrogacy.

Some surrogacy agencies are now offering services to carry out the embryo transfer in Laos and then provide pregnancy care for the surrogate in Thailand, a wealthier country with vastly superior medical facilities.
Former French far-right National Front lawmaker Marion Marechal-Le Pen is due to speak at the high-profile CPAC conservative gathering in Washington

The niece of French far-right leader Marine Le Pen, a hardliner tipped as a possible future leader of the anti-immigrant National Front, will share a stage this week with President Donald Trump and other US conservatives.

Marion Marechal-Le Pen, a 27-year-old former MP, is to mark her return to the public eye with a speech in Washington nine months after she said she was withdrawing from politics.

She will address the annual Conservative Political Action Conference on Thursday as the second headliner, shortly after Vice President Mike Pence. Trump will speak at the same event on Friday.

The US leader came close to endorsing Marechal-Le Pen's aunt, National Front (FN) leader Marine Le Pen, when she campaigned for president last year against centrist Emmanuel Macron.

The Le Pen family dominates France's anti-immigration and anti-EU far-right party, which was co-founded by former paratrooper Jean-Marie, who is Marine's father and Marion's grandfather.

Brexit champion Nigel Farage will also attend the CPAC event after receiving a warm welcome there last year, when he praised Trump's "quite remarkable" victory.

Each day of the convention, held at Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center just outside Washington, begins with a pledge of allegiance to the US flag and a prayer.

- Comeback? -

Marechal-Le Pen's re-appearance is likely to fuel speculation about her intentions after she stepped back from politics in May last year, supposedly to pursue a career in the private sector.

The openly religious figure, who takes a hardline stance on immigration, Islam and abortion, is popular among grassroots FN members, particularly in its heartland in southern France.

The speech coincides with difficulties for Marine Le Pen who polled 34 percent in the run-off round of the presidential election last May -- a record score for the FN that nonetheless fell below expectations.

The FN leader campaigned as a more moderate figure than her father, who has several convictions for anti-Semitism and racism, but faltered badly when trying to sell voters on pulling France out of the eurozone.

She has struggled since to unite the party and admitted this week ahead of a party convention next month that she would be prepared to step aside for a better candidate in the next presidential election in 2022.

Personal tensions and political differences between Marine and Marion were widely reported during last year's campaign and are thought to have led Marion to step back.

Jean-Marie Le Pen did not hide his disappointment at the decision by "one of the most loved and most admired stars in the movement" to work in the private sector.

Marechal-Le Pen, who is studying for an MBA, also said she wanted to spend more time with her young daughter.

"It's not exactly a comeback but it's a sign that Marion Marechal-Le Pen has not completely left politics," Le Figaro newspaper commented on Tuesday.
Asia-focused HSBC has laid off tens of thousands of staff since 2015 as part of a wide-ranging overhaul that also saw it sell off its Brazil operations

Banking giant HSBC more than doubled pre-tax profit to $17.2 billion in 2017, it announced Tuesday, after a recovery drive to streamline its business and slash costs.

Adjusted pre-tax profit also rose 11 percent year-on-year to $21 billion as revenue growth outweighed operating expenses, the bank said.

The results came as new chief executive John Flint takes over from Stuart Gulliver, who steps down later Tuesday following seven years at the helm.

Flint, who was previously head of retail banking and wealth management at HSBC, has said he wants to accelerate the pace of change at the bank.

The Asia-focused firm has laid off tens of thousands of staff since 2015 as part of a wide-ranging overhaul that also saw it sell off its Brazil operations.

The bank's strategy of expanding business in the Pearl River Delta, an area of southern China including major cities such as Hong Kong and Guangzhou, has also boosted performance.

Gulliver said HSBC had concluded the transformation programme that it started in 2015 and described it as "simpler, stronger, and more secure" than it had been when he became chief executive.

But chairman Mark Tucker warned that while the bank was optimistic about the global economy in 2018, rising international tensions and the threat of protectionism could be disruptive.
A Turkish-backed Syrian rebel fighter runs after firing a mortar shell towards Kurdish forces from the People's Protection Units (YPG) in the Afrin region on Monday

Turkey's offensive against a Kurdish militia in northern Syria will enter a second month Tuesday having made little progress while straining relations with Washington and The European Union.

Ankara on January 20 launched a cross-border air and ground operation against the People's Protection Units (YPG) supporting Syrian rebels in the Afrin region.

Turkey views the YPG as a Syrian offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been waging an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984.

Although Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly hailed the operation's success, analysts argue Ankara's forces have made slow progress.

The Turkish army has said 32 Turkish military personnel have been killed in the process.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor, Syrian rebels and Turkish forces have taken 35 villages since the start of the operation, but most border Afrin.

Meanwhile, Turkish security expert Abdullah Agar said the "Olive Branch" operation forces captured around 300 square kilometres (120 square miles) of territory.

Since the operation began, the Observatory said 238 Olive Branch fighters (including Turkish soldiers) and 197 YPG fighters have been killed along with 94 civilians.

Ankara strongly denies that there have been civilian casualties, saying its armed forces are showing utmost care not to harm civilians.

- Further complications? -

Jana Jabbour, professor of Political Science at Sciences Po university in Paris, said the Turks were "struggling to move forward" because of the "organisation of the Kurdish YPG forces and their combativeness".

She added it was important to distinguish between the political rhetoric, "even political propaganda", and the reality on the ground.

On the ground, Turkish fighting was now focused around the area of Arab Wiran in northeast Afrin, the UK-based Observatory said.

If this is captured, pro-Ankara forces would control 50 continuous kilometres (31 miles) on Afrins northern border with Turkey.

The operation is likely to be further complicated after the Syrian state news agency SANA on Monday said pro-government forces were expected to enter Afrin to counter the Turkish offensive.

Putin and Erdogan in Ankara in December

In response, Erdogan told Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a phone call there would be "consequences" if the regime entered the region, according to Turkish media.

Jabbour said she doubted the regime would move into Afrin because "behind the scenes Turkish forces and Syrian forces are talking to each other", adding Russia would not allow the regime to enter direct confrontation with Turkey.

Turkey views the YPG as a terrorist offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), blacklisted by Ankara, the United States and the European Union.

- Strained ties with US -

The operation has further strained relations with the United States, which has given weaponry to the YPG as part of its fight against the Islamic State extremist group in Syria.

Washington has called on Turkey to show restraint and has said the offensive risked becoming a distraction from the fight against jihadists in Syria.

The EU on Friday joined the call for Turkey to act with restraint, telling Ankara its efforts should focus on the Islamic State group.

Erdogan has, however, threatened to expand the offensive to the YPG-held town of Manbij.

After US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's visit to Ankara last week, the two sides agreed to work together in Syria and set up working groups to address issues including Manbij where there are US military forces, which Tillerson said was a "priority".

In addition to its disagreements with Washington, Turkey must take into account the interests of Russia, a key ally of Damascus, which controls northern Syrian airspace.

Moscow may have given the green light to the offensive, but it has previously closed the airspace to Turkish jets after a Russian plane was shot down in an area of north Syria where Turkish military observers were expected to enforce a de-escalation zone.

According to Jabbour, the "government and Erdogan are raising their voices and developing a rhetoric that is supposed to boost the Turks' national pride and bring people together around the government".

All of the Turkish political parties represented in parliament support the operation except the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP). The interior ministry on Monday said 786 people had been detained since the operation started including 85 people accused of organising protests against the offensive.

Some 587 of those were held over spreading "terror propaganda" on social media as opponents say the authorities target those criticising the operation.
In a rare address to the United Nations Security Council, Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas called for an international Middle East peace conference

Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas on Tuesday called for an international conference to be held later this year to launch a new, wider Middle East peace process and pave the way to Palestinian statehood.

In a rare address to the UN Security Council, Abbas presented a plan to revive Israeli-Palestinian talks under a new international peace process that would replace the US-led mediation.

President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital infuriated the Palestinians, who declared that Washington could no longer play a role as peace broker.

"To solve the Palestine question, it is essential to establish a multilateral international mechanism emanating from an international conference," Abbas said.

Abbas said the conference would be attended by Israel and the Palestinians, regional players, the five permanent Security Council members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- and the diplomatic Quartet comprised of the European Union, Russia, the United States and the United Nations.

The gathering should lead to full UN membership for the state of Palestine, mutual recognition of Israel and Palestine, and the creation of a new international mechanism to reach a final settlement, he said.

The Palestinian leader immediately left the council chamber following his address, leading Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon to complain that Abbas was "running away" from dialogue.

- Path to 'nowhere' -

US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley listens to Abbas, along with Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law and advisor on Middle East peace efforts

Addressing the council, US Ambassador Nikki Haley warned that turning to the United Nations and rejecting the US role in peace talks "will get the Palestinian people exactly nowhere toward the achievement of their aspirations."

Haley was accompanied to the council meeting by Jason Greenblatt, the US envoy for Middle East peace and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and adviser on Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts.

"Our negotiators are sitting right behind us, ready to talk," she said, before adding: "But we will not chase after you. The choice, Mister President, is yours."

The Israeli-Palestinian peace process has been deadlocked since a major push by the administration of Trump's predecessor Barack Obama ended in failure in April 2014.

The Trump administration is preparing a new peace plan even though chances for agreement appear dim.

The Palestinians hope that greater international involvement in the peace process will serve to counter what they see as a US stance biased in favor of Israel after Trump's decision on Jerusalem.

Israel, which often accuses the European Union and the United Nations of bias against it, is reluctant to accept any other mediator than the United States.

- US envoys meet ambassadors -

Greenblatt and Kushner later met with council ambassadors behind closed doors to discuss US peace efforts, but they did not provide specific details of the Trump plan.

"They talked about the progress in their efforts and contacts, and this was useful," said French Ambassador Francois Delattre.

France, which hosted a Middle East peace conference in Paris last year, is ready to examine Abbas's proposal for a revamped approach, but this "would not cast doubt" over the "indispensable" role of the United States, Delattre told the council.

The Palestinians see East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state and UN resolutions call on countries to refrain from moving their embassies to the city until its status is resolved in an Israeli-Palestinian deal.

In December, the General Assembly voted 128-9, with 35 abstentions, to reject the US decision to recognize Jerusalem.

That vote in the 193-nation assembly came after 14 of the 15 council members voted in favor of a similar measure. The United States vetoed that draft resolution.

Tensions have also flared over the US decision to cut funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).

The United Nations granted Palestine non-member observer state status in 2012, but an upgrade to full membership would require unanimous backing from the Security Council -- an unlikely outcome, given the near-certainty of a US veto.
A massive tsunami, triggered by a 9.0-magnitude offshore earthquake on March 11, 2011, swamped the emergency power supplies at the Fukushima power plant, sending its reactors into meltdown as cooling systems failed

A Japanese court on Tuesday ordered the operator of the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant to compensate relatives of a 102-year-old man who killed himself at the prospect of fleeing his home.

The Fukushima District Court ordered Tokyo Electric Co (TEPCO) to pay 15.2 million yen ($143,400) in damages to the family of Fumio Okubo, according to their attorney Yukio Yasuda.

Okubo was the oldest resident of Iitate village, 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the tsunami-hit Fukushima Daiichi plant on Japan's northeast coast, which sparked the world's worst atomic accident in a generation in 2011.

He took his own life after the government ordered area residents to flee in April 2011, a month after tsunami waves sent the plant's reactors into meltdown.

"I lived a bit too long," he told his family soon after he learned of the government-ordered evacuation from a news report.

The court acknowledged his suicide was linked to "strong stress" at the prospect that he would have to flee and his fear that he would be a burden to his family, the attorney said.

"It is significant that the court recognised the eldest man in the village who would have lived out his final days in his homeland was hit by such a terrible tragedy," he told AFP on the phone.

The compensation ordered by the court was smaller than the 60 million yen the bereaved family had demanded, but they do not plan to appeal, he added.

TEPCO said it would examine the latest ruling before it decides on its response

The firm has already been ordered to pay damages over two other suicides involving former Fukushima residents who killed themselves after fleeing their homes.

Iitate was one of a number of areas the central government declared off-limits due to concerns at the effect of long-term exposure to radiation.

The killer tsunami, triggered by a 9.0-magnitude offshore earthquake on March 11, 2011, swamped the emergency power supplies at the Fukushima power plant, sending its reactors into meltdown as cooling systems failed.

Many of the tens of thousands of people who evacuated their homes and farms are unlikely to return to their ancestral properties due to radiation dangers.

While the quake and tsunami killed nearly 18,000 people, no one is officially recorded as having died as a direct result of the atomic catastrophe.
Iran has formally criticised Sweden over its decision to grant nationality to an Iranian professor Ahmadreza Djalali, a Stockholm-based specialist in emergency medicine, sentenced to death on spying charges

Iran has formally criticised Sweden over its decision to grant nationality to an Iranian professor sentenced to death on spying charges, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

Sweden granted citizenship last week to Ahmadreza Djalali, a Stockholm-based specialist in emergency medicine.

He was arrested during a brief visit to Iran in April 2016 and found guilty in October of passing information about two Iranian nuclear scientists to Israel's Mossad intelligence agency that led to their assassinations.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said the decision to grant a convict citizenship was "very strange, unprincipled and questionable" and that the Swedish ambassador was summoned on Monday.

"Iran's strong protest was conveyed to the Swedish ambassador with regards to the move by the Swedish government to grant nationality to a person who has confessed to spying for Mossad and the Zionist regime and participating in killing Iranian scientists," Ghasemi said in a statement on the ministry website.

Ghasemi emphasised that Iran does not recognise dual nationality, and that Djalili will be treated purely as an Iranian citizen.

The Supreme Court confirmed Djalali's death sentence in December, which was criticised by human rights group Amnesty International as running "roughshod over the rule of law".

Djalali has claimed he is being punished for refusing to spy for Iran while working in Europe.

His lawyers say they were blocked from presenting submissions ahead of the Supreme Court hearing.

The sentence has been condemned by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium where he was a visiting professor. The European Union has said it is closely following the case.

A total of five Iranian scientists -- four of them involved in the country's nuclear programme -- were killed in bomb and gun attacks in Tehran between 2010 and 2012 at the height of tensions over the country's nuclear ambitions.

Iran has accused Mossad and the CIA of ordering the killings.
Iranian search helicopters have found the wreckage of Aseman Airlines flight EP3704 which crashed in the Zagros mountains on Sunday, a spokesman says

Iranian rescue teams found the wreckage on Tuesday of a plane that went missing in the Zagros mountains two days earlier, a Revolutionary Guards spokesman told state media.

"The Revolutionary Guards' helicopters this morning found the wreckage of the plane on Dena mountain," spokesman Ramezan Sharif told state broadcaster IRIB.

"Since yesterday the Revolutionary Guards' drones started carefully identifying the geographical area where the plane had probably crashed and this morning two helicopters of the air forces were dispatched to the location," he added.

Aseman Airlines flight EP3704 disappeared on Sunday morning in the Zagros range with 66 people on board, around 45 minutes after taking off from Tehran.

After two days of heavy snow and fog, the weather finally cleared on Tuesday morning, giving helicopter teams much better visibility.
Some 6,000 Rohingya refugees are stranded in the border no-man's land after fleeing a crackdown in Myanmar

Rohingya refugees living in no man's land refused Tuesday to return to Myanmar without guarantees of citizenship and security after Bangladesh and Myanmar officials met to discuss their repatriation.

The 6,000 Rohingya were among the first to flee Myanmar in the wake of a brutal military crackdown on the Muslim minority in late August. They have been living ever since in a makeshift camp in a strip of unclaimed land between the two countries.

In recent weeks they have come under pressure to return, with a Myanmar minister warning of "consequences" if they remain in no man's land.

But community leader Dil Mohammad told AFP they would not return without guarantees of security, citizenship and compensation for property lost in the clampdown.

"We are not going to return to our homes and villages in Myanmar unless our demands are met. We want citizenship, all rights, security to our lives and property and compensation," he said.

Mainly Buddhist Myanmar denies citizenship to its Muslim Rohingya minority in Rakhine state, insisting they are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh even though many have been there for generations.

Nearly 700,000 fled after last year's crackdown, which the United Nations has said amounted to ethnic cleansing.

Most of those now live in camps across the border in Bangladesh, but the country's government has made clear it does not want them to stay and has agreed to start sending them home.

On Tuesday officials from both countries held talks to decide the fate of the 6,000 before speaking to them directly in no man's land.

"Every person we spoke to said that they would go back to their homes if they got security," said the head of the Bangladesh delegation, Abdul Mannan.

A spokeswoman for the UN refugee agency told AFP any returns must be voluntary.

"Some members of this group in no man's land have said they fear returning home and wish to seek safety in Bangladesh," Caroline Gluck said.

"We appeal to the Bangladeshi authorities to allow them to do so. At the same time, Myanmar should ensure conducive conditions for the safe and sustainable return of those who wish to do so voluntarily."

A video circulated on social media last week showed Myanmar's deputy minister for home affairs Aung Soe addressing the refugees through a barbed-wire fence.

Other Rohingya living there said the Myanmar army had recently set up bunkers near the fence and now conducted regular patrols nearby, stirring fear among the refugees.

"They tell us that we should leave this place or else they will shoot us," said Rashid Ahmed, 32.

Bangladesh was supposed to start the repatriation process last month but it has been delayed amid concerns over a lack of preparation.

Recent aerial photos of Rakhine state showed bulldozed Rohingya settlements, and it is unclear whether they will be able to return to their former homes.
Wreckage of an Iranian airliner is seen in the Zagros mountains

Iranian rescue teams struggled to recover bodies on Tuesday from the wreckage of a plane that crashed in hazardous terrain near a mountain peak two days earlier with 66 people on board.

"Deep and dangerous crevices in the area of the crash have made it impossible for helicopters to land," Ghafoor Rastinrooz, director of the regional medical centre, told official news agency IRNA.

"The bodies must be transferred by hand to the foot of the mountain which will be time-consuming," he said.

Aseman Airlines flight EP3704 disappeared from radar as it flew over the Zagros mountain range on Sunday morning, around 45 minutes after taking off from Tehran on a domestic flight.

After two days of heavy snow and fog, the weather finally cleared on Tuesday morning, allowing a helicopter crew to spot a piece of the wreckage with the company's logo.

A pilot told state broadcaster IRIB he had seen "scattered bodies around the plane" and that it was located on one of the Dena mountains at a height of around 4,000 metres (13,000 feet).

Details on flight EP3704 from Tehran to Yasuj, with location of the wreckage

Footage from the helicopter showed the wreckage almost entirely buried in snow on a sheer mountain face, while officials warned that bad weather was expected to return and could last for days.

Around 100 mountaineers have been making their way up the mountain since Monday and teams were being choppered to near the crash site.

"Little by little they have reached the area and are collecting bodies," Shahin Fathi, from Iran's Red Crescent, told state TV.

"As we're approaching sunset and the helicopters will no longer be able to fly, the teams will stay in place overnight and we will try to increase the number of teams tomorrow, although it's very difficult."

The head of the Red Crescent team, Mohammad Hossein Kobadi, told IRIB that helicopters were able to drop off equipment at the site of the crash but high winds were making the work "very dangerous and difficult" and there was an avalanche risk.

- Aviation safety -

The ATR-72 twin-engine plane, in service since 1993, had gone missing while flying from the capital's Mehrabad airport towards the city of Yasuj, some 500 kilometres (300 miles) to the south.

A team of crash investigators from French air safety agency BEA was due to arrive in Iran later on Tuesday.

A rescue helicopter searches for the wreckage of Aseman Airlines flight EP3704 in Iran's Zagros mountains

The incident has reawakened concerns over aviation safety in Iran, which has been exacerbated by international sanctions over the years.

Aseman Airlines was blacklisted by the European Commission in December 2016.

It was one of only three airlines barred over safety concerns -- the other 190 being blacklisted due to broader concerns over oversight in their respective countries.

Iran has complained that sanctions imposed by the United States have jeopardised the safety of its airlines and made it difficult to maintain and modernise ageing fleets.

Aseman was forced to ground many of its planes at the height of the sanctions due to difficulties in obtaining spares.

Rescuers search for the wreckage of Aseman Airlines flight EP3704 in Iran's Zagros mountains

In a working paper presented to the United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in 2013, Iran said US sanctions were blocking "the acquisition of parts, services and support essential to aviation safety".

Iran has suffered multiple aviation disasters, most recently in 2014 when 39 people were killed as a Sepahan Airlines plane crashed just after take-off from Tehran, narrowly avoiding many more deaths when it plummeted near a busy market.

But figures from the Flight Safety Foundation, a US-based NGO, suggest Iran is nonetheless above-average in implementing ICAO safety standards.

Lifting sanctions on aviation purchases was a key clause in the nuclear deal that Iran signed with world powers in 2015.

Following the deal, Aseman Airlines finalised an agreement to buy 30 Boeing 737 MAX jets for $3 billion (2.4 billion euros) last June, with an option to buy 30 more.

The sale could still be scuppered if US President Donald Trump chooses to reimpose sanctions in the coming months, as he has threatened to do.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticises the police investigation that led detectives to recommend his indictment for corruption, during a speech in Tel Aviv on February 14, 2018

Israeli police revealed Tuesday that two close associates of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were among the suspects in a new corruption probe, with five others central figures in the Bezeq telecommunications group.

The seven were arrested on Sunday, just days after police said there were grounds to indict Netanyahu for bribery, fraud and breach of public trust, in the biggest challenge yet to the right-wing premier's long tenure in power.

Those arrested included Nir Hefetz, a former personal spokesman for Netanyahu's family, and Shlomo Filber, a Netanyahu confidant appointed as director of the communications ministry by the premier.

Others included Shaul Elovitch, the controlling shareholder of Bezeq, members of Elovitch's family and senior Bezeq executives.

Police suspect that Bezeq's controlling shareholder Shaul Elovitch was granted business concessions in return for Netanyahu receiving positive coverage on Elovitch's news website Walla.

"As part of the investigation, suspicions accumulated on felonies concerning ethics, fraud, money laundering and securities violations, conducted over extended periods of time, frequently and systematically as part of relationships between Bezeq executives and public servants and their associates," police said on Tuesday.

Elovitch has already been investigated over a deal merging Bezeq with cable company Yes which saw him pocketing dozens of millions of dollars.

Netanyahu has not been named as a suspect in the Bezeq affair, but a spokesman for his family had responded to media reports on the investigation, calling them "yet another empty probe" that would yield nothing.

Meanwhile, police believe Netanyahu sought a secret deal for favourable coverage with the publisher of top-selling newspaper Yediot Aharonot, whose publisher Arnon Moses could also face bribery charges.

The attorney general must now decide how to move forward with the police recommendations, a process that could take months.
Murad warns that another Marawi is possible

The chief of the Philippines' main Muslim rebel group warned Tuesday that jihadists loyal to the Islamic State group, flush with looted guns and cash, could seize another Filipino city after Marawi last year.

Murad Ebrahim has billed his Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which has made peace with the government, as a rival to IS for the hearts and minds of angry young Muslims in the impoverished south of the mainly Catholic nation.

Murad said the MILF was battling pro-IS groups for influence in schools as the jihadists worked to infiltrate madrasas (Islamic religious schools) and secular universities.

At the same time IS gunmen were making their way into the southern Philippines from Malaysia and Indonesia, he added, but gave no estimates.

A five-month siege flattened the city of Marawi on the southern island of Mindanao, the Philippines' main Islamic centre, and claimed more than 1,100 lives.

Murad told reporters conditions on the ground were still ripe for another Marawi-style siege.

"This ISIS group continues to penetrate us because they are being displaced in the Middle East and they want to have another place," Murad said, using an another name for IS.

"The chances of having another Marawi cannot be overruled."

The Marawi attackers found and looted stockpiles of munitions, cash and jewellery from homes -- some owned by MILF members -- before the city was retaken by US-backed Filipino troops in October, he said.

"When they (MILF members) fled from Marawi they (could) not bring their vaults. That is where the ISIS was also able to get so much money and now they're using it for recruitment," he added.

"It's very sad. In our country some people say buying weapons and ammunition is just like buying fish in the market."

The combination of weak central government authority, the presence of rebel groups and long-running blood feuds means Mindanao is awash with weapons, he added.

Manila signed a peace deal with the 10,000-member MILF in 2014 after decades of Muslim rebellion in Mindanao for independence or self-rule that had claimed more than 100,000 lives.

Murad urged President Rodrigo Duterte's government to speed up the passage of a Muslim self-rule law to flesh out the peace accord, warning pro-IS militants were recruiting for a new attack.

"If the (self-rule law) will not be passed now I think it will develop a situation where these extremist groups can recruit more adherents, because it will prove their theory that there is no hope in the peace process," he said.

"Since they have the capability also to supply money and then they also have the ability to make explosives, bombs, they can just use these young recruits to work out their plan."
The caricature of Najib on display in Kuala Lumpur in 2016: the creator has now been jailed

A Malaysian artist was jailed for a month Tuesday for publishing a caricature of scandal-plagued Prime Minister Najib Razak looking like a clown, the latest government critic to be imprisoned.

Fahmi Reza's picture of the premier wearing powder-white clown make-up, with evilly arched eyebrows and blood-red lips, went viral and the image was widely used in demonstrations against Najib.

His lawyer Syahredzan Johan said Fahmi, 40, was jailed and fined 30,000 ringgit ($7,700) by a court in the northern city of Ipoh after being found guilty of breaching laws that ban the spreading online of content that is deemed offensive.

"We are certainly appealing and are disappointed by the decision," Syahredzan told AFP.

Fahmi was arrested and charged in June 2016 after his drawing went viral.

Najib, who must call elections by August, has been cracking down hard on dissent since allegations emerged that billions of dollars were looted from a sovereign wealth fund that he founded. Najib and the fund, 1MDB, deny any wrongdoing.

A tough new security law has been enacted and government critics have been increasingly targeted.

A leading opposition MP was sentenced to 30 months in jail earlier this month for his role in exposing confidential banking details, which he alleged showed political corruption. The sentence disqualifies him from the looming polls.

Rafizi Ramli, vice-president of the People's Justice Party of jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, is still free pending an appeal.

Fahmi is not the first artist to be targeted. Top political cartoonist Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque -- who goes by the pen name Zunar -- was arrested for sedition in 2016 after regularly lampooning Najib and his wife in his drawings.
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The family of slain Cambodian political analyst Kem Ley has arrived in Australia after being granted refugee status there, an Australian lawmaker's office said, more than a year after fleeing home in the wake of his brazen murder.

Kem Ley, a popular analyst and critic who dabbled in grassroots political organising, was shot at point-blank range while having his morning coffee at a gas station cafe in Phnom Penh in July 2016.

"The Australian government granted them visas on Wednesday 14 February 2018 and they arrived in Australia on Saturday 17 February," the office of Victorian state MP Hong Lim, who helped with the application, told AFP.

A Twitter account created after Kem Ley was killed posted a photo of his widow, Bou Rachna, and their five children after their arrival in Australia from Thailand, where they had spent the last 15 months.

The family was granted special humanitarian visas for those "subject to substantial discrimination amounting to a gross violation of your human rights in your home country".

They can apply for Australian citizenship after four years.

Kem Ley criticised Cambodian politicians of all shades but he was particularly scathing about the corruption that blights the country.

Shortly before his murder he gave an interview about an investigative report that detailed some of the millions of dollars allegedly amassed by the family of long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The Cambodian government strongly denied any role in his killing.

Unemployed former soldier Oeuth Ang admitted carrying it out and was sentenced to life imprisonment in March after a brief trial.

But many observers and members of the public were sceptical of the story, which gave the motive as an unpaid $3,000 debt.

Kem Ley's murder shocked Cambodia's community of activists and civil society, and tens of thousands attended funeral ceremonies.

Political assassinations were common in the 1990s and early 2000s in Cambodia but have become rarer in recent years, with the legal system replacing violence as the chosen form of repression.

Hun Sen, in power for 33 years, backed the dissolution of the only viable opposition party last year, and has moved closer to China in the run-up to national elections in July.
Smoke billowed from Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel during the assault carried out a month ago

The deputy head of security at Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel says guards were ordered to wave through a car later revealed to be carrying militants and explosives ahead of a deadly assault one month ago.

His account reinforces earlier speculation from survivors that the terrifying hours-long assault at the government-owned hotel, which killed at least 25 people including 15 foreigners, had inside help.

It comes in the face of official silence over how the attack on the hilltop hotel unfolded on January 20.

At 7:23 pm that day the hotel's security chief was told by management in a series of text messages seen by AFP that a car with licence plate 14-14 was approaching. "Please kindly assist this VIP," the final SMS read.

The car, later revealed to be loaded with militants and explosives, duly passed through hotel security without being searched, according to B. Tamas, the deputy chief of security at the hotel, who saw the messages after they were sent to his boss.

Roughly an hour later the gunmen opened fire, going from room to room in search of foreigners to kill as frantic guests climbed out of windows on ropes made of bedsheets in a bid to escape.

The account by Tamas, employed by Kabul Balkh Safety & Security (KBSS) and who asked AFP not to identify him by his full name, comes a month after the attack while official details are still sparse.

Even the death toll remains uncertain. At least 15 foreigners have been confirmed killed. Beyond that, statements from Kabul authorities vary, with one official telling AFP the total toll numbers 25 while there are unofficial fears it could be as high as 40.

Nasrat Rahimi, an interior ministry spokesman, told AFP the investigation team was still working on a report for President Ashraf Ghani, saying only that details will be publicised "very soon".

Management at the state-owned hotel have also declined to answer any queries over the attack.

A poster bearing the image of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is pictured next to scorch marks at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul following the attack

Faced with this silence, Tamas, a 42-year-old former Hungarian soldier who served in Kosovo under the NATO flag, told AFP in a Skype interview from an undisclosed location that the hotel -- even in the best light -- had failed to cooperate with KBSS on security.

His boss -- an American named as "Kenny" to protect his identity after he was banned by the attorney general from leaving the country -- received the texts from the hotel's sales manager.

The car, which Tamas said had three or four people on board, was later found in the hotel parking lot stuffed with weapons and explosives.

- Long planned -

KBSS received such requests to waive security searches from the sales manager, Ahmad Haris Ayab, "every day", Tamas said.

Haris, currently detained by authorities along with 10 other suspects and unable to comment on the claims, was the main contact at the hotel for KBSS, a private security company which had taken over the hotel contract from Afghan police on January 1.

Afghan security personnel took positions on the roof of the Intercontinental Hotel during the fight between gunmen and security forces

But, Tamas and other KBSS officials have said, it was only responsible for the hotel's external security, with the interior protected by what he described as unarmed and untrained guards.

Tamas and Kenny, who both carried small arms, lived on the second floor.

When the attack began, the highly trained pair survived the onslaught by barricading themselves in stairwells for more than half an hour before help arrived in the form of Afghan commandos backed by Norwegian special forces, Tamas said.

In that time, he told AFP, the militants' evident knowledge of the hotel layout made it clear that the operation had been planned for some time.

- Complicity -

Tamas's statements have added fuel to speculation over how the attack was planned and carried out.

A witness and a security source had earlier told AFP that at least two of the gunmen were armed and inside the hotel before the attack began, and questions have been raised -- including by the country's interior minister -- over whether the militants had inside help.

Fears of negligence and complicity in attacks by the Taliban and other militant groups are common in Afghanistan.

Mistrust of the government is also high, as authorities routinely understate death tolls and anger surges over the state's inability to protect civilians.

Tamas is still struck by the basic lack of security procedures in place, even after a 2011 attack on the Intercontinental -- which is not part of the global InterContinental chain.

Inside, where his company was not responsible for security, the building had no panic button to shut down the elevators and no fire alarm, while X-ray machines had "simply never worked".

Other survivors have also described the lax measures, telling AFP that bags were not checked, scanners did not work and body searches were non-existent.

Every request that KBSS made to the management to tighten security was denied, Tamas said. "They were not listening to us. It was always tomorrow, tomorrow."
Ankara's military operation is targeting the Kurdish YPG militia in and around Afrin, a town in northern Syria

Turkey will lay siege to Afrin in northern Syria, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday a month after Ankara launched an offensive against Kurdish militia in the region.

"In the coming days, swiftly, we will lay siege to the centre of the town of Afrin," Erdogan told parliament.

His remarks came as Turkey's operation "Olive Branch", a ground and air offensive against the People's Protection Units (YPG) militia which Ankara brands "terrorists", entered its second month.

While some analysts say Turkey and pro-Ankara Syrian rebels have made slow advances, Erdogan defended the operation's progress, saying it was to avoid putting the lives of both its troops and civilians needlessly "at risk".

"We did not go there to burn it down," he said, insisting the operation's aim was to "create a safe and livable area" for the Syrian refugees inside Turkey, who fled across the border since the conflict began in 2011 and who now number more than three million.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said at least 94 civilians have been killed during Turkey's offensive.

But Ankara has repeatedly insisted there have been no civilian casualties, saying its armed forces are showing utmost care not to harm civilians.

Turkey says the YPG is a "terrorist" offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984.

The PKK is blacklisted as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies.

But the YPG has been working closely with the United States against the Islamic State extremist group in Syria.

Both Washington and Brussels have urged Turkey to show restraint in its operation, with the US warning the offensive could detract from the fight against jihadists in Syria.
Smoke rises from the Eastern Ghouta town of Mesraba during an intense Syrian army bombardment of the rebel enclave on February 19, 2018

Fresh air strikes hit the Syrian rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta on Tuesday killing 45 civilians as a ferocious regime bombing campaign entered its third day, a monitor said.

Twelve children were among the dead, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor of the war.

Tuesday's raids followed Eastern Ghouta's bloodiest day in three years.

At least 127 civilians, among them 39 children, were killed by air strikes or rocket or artillery fire on Monday, the Observatory said.

Held by rebels since 2012, Eastern Ghouta is the last opposition pocket around Damascus and President Bashar al-Assad is keen to retake it with an apparently imminent ground assault.

Al-Watan newspaper, which is close to the government, said on Tuesday that the bombing campaign "comes ahead of a vast operation on Ghouta, which may start on the ground at any moment."

Rebels based in the enclave often fire rockets and mortar rounds into residential neighbourhoods of east Damascus.

On Tuesday, at least two people were killed and 13 wounded by rebel fire on the capital, state television reported.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (R) and his family pose for a photo as they arrive in Ahmedabad, India

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met India's corporate titans on Tuesday as he pursued a tour of the country marred by reports he has been snubbed by political leaders.

Trudeau addressed a business conference in Mumbai on Tuesday morning, attended by leaders from the Tata conglomerate, IT giants Infosys and pharmaceutical major Jubilant Life Sciences.

But Indian and Canadian media said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sidestepped his Canadian counterpart over the Trudeau administration's perceived support for Sikh separatists and dealings with Sikh groups in Canada.

Canada is home to roughly half a million Sikhs and a significant number appear to back a decades-long Sikh campaign in India's northern Punjab state for an independent homeland of Khalistan.

Trudeau was received by a junior minister when he arrived at New Delhi airport on Saturday and by district officials when he visited the historic Taj Mahal monument in Agra the next day.

Modi often meets leading heads of government at the airport with bear hugs and cheerful photo-ops.

He was again missing however when Trudeau visited Modi's home state of Gujarat on Monday.

The social media-savvy Modi, who has 40.4 million Twitter followers, is also yet to tweet a welcome message to Trudeau as he does customarily for other leaders.

The nationalist Hindu premier shared a photo of himself meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani the same day that Trudeau landed.

"The Khalistan issue, which has kept India-Canada ties on ice through three decades from 1980, has resurfaced, taking away much of the warmth" during Trudeau's visit, the Hindu daily said Tuesday.

An Indian government source denied there was a snub in comments reported by several media outlets.

- 'Cold shoulder' -

But Candice Malcolm, a columnist for the Toronto Sun newspaper, insisted that Trudeau has been given the "cold shoulder" by the Indian government.

India accuses Canadian administrations of backing separatist groups although Canada's Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, a Sikh, has publicly denied that his community was sympathetic to the Khalistan cause.

All four of Trudeau's Indian-Canadian ministers are of Sikh origin.

Last April, Trudeau attended a Khalsa Day parade where Sikh militants who were killed in a bloody siege at Amritsar's Golden Temple in 1984 were hailed as heroes.

Trudeau, who is to meet with Modi in New Delhi on Friday, will go to see the Golden Temple, the Sikhs' holiest shrine, on Wednesday.

Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh said he was looking forward to meeting Trudeau after reports initially suggested he would skip the meeting. He failed to meet Sajjan when the Canadian minister visited the state last year.

Amrik Singh, who heads the UK-based Sikh Federation, a political group, accused India of giving Trudeau a cold reception because he was a close ally of Sikhs.

"This is showing India's discomfort with the Canadian PM for having Sikhs in his cabinet who the Indian authorities are paranoid about."
South Korean director Kim Ki-duk says he does not remember exactly what happened but has admitted repeatedly slapping the actress on set

A South Korean actress assaulted by top director Kim Ki-duk Tuesday rejected his defence at the Berlin film festival, saying it had left her "dumbfounded" and calling his invitation to the prestigious event "morally problematic".

The acclaimed South Korean director has won prizes at the Berlinale, Cannes and Venice festivals but is at the centre of a #MeToo storm at this year's Berlinale -- which organisers said they wanted to spotlight misconduct in the industry -- over the actress' physical and sex abuse accusations.

Kim, 57, has been fined 5 million won ($4,600) by South Korean prosecutors for physically assaulting her while shooting his 2013 film "Moebius". They dropped sex abuse allegations against him for lack of evidence.

In Berlin on Saturday Kim said he did not remember exactly what happened and did not agree with the ruling, but would accept responsibility.

He admitted repeatedly slapping the actress on set for an "acting lesson" but said that his signature ultra-violent cinematic style did not reflect his own personality, describing himself as a "good human being".

The actress -- who refuses to be publicly identified -- told AFP she was "so dumbfounded that I laughed".

"He does not even remember beating me. He said he is not a violent person," she added. "A person who is not violent slaps a woman's face like that and does not even remember?"

- 'It is about power' -

Kim told his audience in Berlin that none of the film crew had objected to his actions while making "Moebius".

The actress retorted that was the "king on his film set" where no one dared to voice opposition to his behaviour. "He instinctively knew that no one would say a word."

The actress has accused Kim of forcing her into unwanted and unscripted nude and sex scenes, and has appealed against the decision by Seoul prosecutors to dismiss the sex abuse allegation for lack of evidence.

"The issue of sex violence is about power," she told AFP. "It is not just about men versus women. It is about power.

"People listen to the voices of famous, powerful victims and support them.

"I'm a powerless person who risked everything in my life to speak out. I have nothing to protect me. I have no fame, no money, but that does not mean that my voice can be ignored."

- Public shaming -

The Berlinale organisers have said the festival "condemns and opposes any form of violence or sexual misconduct."

The actress accused them of taking violence against women "too lightly" by inviting Kim.

"If a festival that declared itself as a forum to discuss about and support #Metoo campaign made a decision like this... it is morally problematic," she said.

Her allegations against the renowned director are a rarity in the male-dominated, tight-knit film industry in South Korea, which remains a patriarchal and conservative society despite its economic and technological advances.

Women in the movie industry, both on screen or behind cameras, shy away from making public accusations against senior staffers or directors for fear of permanently damaging their careers.

Kim replaced the actress with another performer on "Moebius" and she has not worked in the industry since, abandoning her 20-year screen career to freelance in another sector where "no one knows" that she is Kim's victim.

She still refuses to be identified for fear of public shaming.

"Those who give me jobs may find it very uncomfortable if I come forward publicly," she said. "It's sad. Why should I stay in the shadow like this when I didn't do anything wrong?

"I thought about coming forward publicly," she added. "But I have to make a living to survive."
The Bangladeshi capital Dhaka: China and India are competing for influence in the country

Bangladesh has agreed to sell a large stake in its stock exchange to a Chinese consortium, an official said Tuesday, rebuffing a rival bid from India that raised political sensitivities.

The Dhaka Stock Exchange on February 10 had approved the Chinese offer to buy a quarter of the bourse's 1.8 billion shares, but Bangladesh's financial regulator asked it to "further scrutinise" the decision.

"The board has reconfirmed its decision about approving the Chinese consortium's bid as it is higher than its nearest competitor's," said stock exchange spokesman Shafiqur Rahman after the meeting Monday evening.

The Mumbai-based National Stock Exchange had offered 15 taka ($0.18) per share during the tender process this month.

China's Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges made a joint higher bid of 22 taka per share, or $122 million, and offered additional technical support worth nearly $37 million.

The intervention by the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission in the sale sparked allegations in local media that it was trying to favour India.

The Bangladesh office of Transparency International, the Berlin-based corruption watchdog, issued a statement "strongly condemning" what it called unethical and illegal meddling.

The regulator -- which at the time defended its final authority to override decisions made by the stock exchange -- was not immediately available for comment.

The competing bids have exposed tensions in Bangladesh as it juggles growing interest from China against longstanding ties with its huge neighbour India.

New Delhi threw its weight behind the 2014 elections that returned Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to power, despite boycotts by the opposition who feared the vote would be rigged.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has made big investments in Bangladesh and Indian companies have won multi-billion contracts in key sectors in recent years.

But increasingly it must counter China, which has also courted India's arch-rival Pakistan and strategic Indian Ocean nations including Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Xi Jinping in October 2016 became the first Chinese president to visit Bangladesh in more than three decades, signing deals worth more than $20 billion.

But there have been setbacks, with Bangladesh last month blacklisting a top Chinese construction firm for allegedly trying to bribe a senior government official.
Malawi's cholera outbreak began in November near the border with Tanzania and has since spread to other regions of the country

A cholera outbreak in Malawi described as "very difficult to contain" has claimed nine lives and affected a total of 541 people nationwide, health officials said on Tuesday.

The outbreak began in November near the landlocked southern African nation's northern border with Tanzania and has since spread to other regions of the country.

UNICEF's representative to Malawi Johannes Wedenig told local media that "as long as people in Malawi don't change the behaviour of using unsafe water, it'll be very difficult to contain".

He urged Malawians to follow strict sanitation rules and stressed the importance of hand-washing before eating or preparing food.

Cholera is a water-borne diarrhoeal disease that can kill within hours if left untreated, but is easily cured with oral rehydration, intravenous fluids and antibiotics.

Clean water and hygiene standards are critical to controlling transmission.

The country has also received 216,000 oral cholera treatment packs from the World Health Organization which are being distributed in the badly-affected northern region, health ministry spokesman Joshua Malango told AFP.

Another 450,000 doses are expected to arrive soon for distribution in the rest of the country, added Malango, confirming the current toll.

Health officials have begun a media blitz to educate people about the risk of cholera and what steps they can take to avoid contracting it.
Ankara-backed Syrian rebel fighters hold up Turkish and Free Syrian Army flags on a road leading to Afrin

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday said Turkish forces would soon lay siege to Syria's Afrin as a cross-border offensive targeting a Kurdish militia entered its second month.

On January 20, Ankara launched an air and ground operation supporting Syrian rebels against the People's Protection Units (YPG) in the Afrin region of northern Syria.

Turkey views the YPG as a Syrian offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been waging an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984.

"In the coming days, swiftly, we will lay siege to the centre of the town of Afrin," Erdogan told parliament.

While some analysts say Turkey and pro-Ankara Syrian rebels have made slow advances, Erdogan defended the operation's progress, saying the army wanted to avoid putting the lives of both its troops and civilians needlessly "at risk".

"We did not go there to burn it down," he said, adding that the operation's aim was to "create a safe and liveable area", where Syrian refugees in Turkey could conceivably return to.

Since Syria's war erupted in 2011, more than 3.5 million people have sought refuge in Turkey.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor, Syrian rebels and Turkish forces have taken 45 villages since the start of the operation, most of them bordering Afrin.

And Turkish security expert Abdullah Agar said troops involved in operation "Olive Branch" had captured around 300 square kilometres (120 square miles) of territory.

Ankara's military operation is targeting the Kurdish YPG militia in and around Afrin, a town in northern Syria

Over the past month, 205 Syrian rebels have been killed, along with 219 YPG and allied fighters and 112 civilians, Observatory figures show.

The Turkish army says 32 of its troops have been killed since the offensive was launched.

Ankara strongly denies there have been any civilian casualties.

- Warning to Damascus -

Jana Jabbour, a political science professor at Sciences Po university in Paris, said the Turks were "struggling to move forward" because of the "organisation of the Kurdish YPG forces and their combativeness".

She said it was important to distinguish between political rhetoric, "even political propaganda", and the reality on the ground.

On the ground, fighting was now focused around the area of Arab Wiran in northeast Afrin, the Observatory said.

Syrian rebel fighters backed by Turkey launched an offensive against Kurdish militia in Afrin on January 20

If captured, pro-Ankara forces would control 50 continuous kilometres of Afrin's northern border with Turkey.

The operation looked like it was going to be further complicated when Syrian state media reported that pro-government forces were expected to enter Afrin to counter the Turkish offensive.

In a thinly-veiled threat to Damascus, Erdogan on Tuesday warned Turkey would tolerate no interference.

"We will block the way of those who come to help from outside the city or the region," he said.

Later, Erdogan told reporters that the Syrian regime would not send any fighters.

Asked by a journalist if the regime backed down after Russian President Vladimir Putin and Erdogan spoke on the phone on Monday, the Turkish leader said without elaborating that the threat had been defused "after discussions", NTV broadcaster quoted him as saying.

- Strained ties with US -

The operation strained already difficult ties with Washington, which has given weaponry to the YPG as part of its fight against Islamic State jihadists in Syria.

Turkey's Erdogan has told Russia's Putin there would be "consequences" if Syrian regime forces entered the Afrin region

The US has called on Turkey to show restraint, warning that the offensive risks diluting the fight against the jihadists.

But instead of pulling back, Erdogan threatened to expand the offensive to the YPG-held town of Manbij.

When US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visited Ankara last week, the two sides agreed to work together in Syria and set up working groups on issues like Manbij where American troops are operating and which the US diplomat described as a "priority".

In addition to its disagreements with Washington, Turkey must take into account the interests of Russia, a key Damascus ally, which controls northern Syrian airspace.

Moscow may have given the green light to the offensive, but it has previously closed the airspace to Turkish jets after a Russian plane was shot down in an area of north Syria where Turkish military observers were expected to enforce a de-escalation zone.

The offensive is broadly supported in Turkey where political parties, media and clerics speak in unison, against a backdrop of nationalist rhetoric led by Erdogan.

Only the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) does not back the operation.

Since Olive Branch got under way, Turkey has detained 786 people, 587 of whom are being held for spreading "terror propaganda" on social media, the interior ministry says, in what opponents charge is a crackdown on critics of the operation.

Another 85 people have been held on charges of organising protests against the offensive.
Since the protests began in August, Togo has arrested 92 demonstrators but has decided to release around half of them

Nearly half of the opposition supporters arrested during a wave of anti-government demonstrations in Togo will be pardoned, Ghanaian mediators have said as talks to end a six-month political crisis got under way in Lome.

Togo's President Faure Gnassingbe "has decided to give a presidential pardon to 45 of the 92 people detained ... following their participation in protests," said Ghanaian delegation spokesman Daniel Osei late on Monday.

"Togo's courts will look at the situations of the other detainees on a case-by-case basis," he added in a statement.

A coalition of 14 opposition parties had made the release of those arrested during the protests a condition of its participation in talks with the government.

Negotiations opened in the capital on Monday to try to end the standoff which has seen thousands take to the streets across the country on an almost weekly basis.

Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo and his Guinean counterpart Alpha Conde are acting as mediators in the talks which are taking place behind closed doors at a city hotel.

Osei said the first day of talks took place in a "good atmosphere and led to successful conclusions", including an agreement to suspend protests until the end of the dialogue.

Both sides -- each represented by seven delegates -- will meet again on Friday, when the issue of whether to "return to the 1992 constitution" will be examined, he added.

The opposition wants the reintroduction of a two-term limit on presidents, applied retroactively, to prevent the current head of state seeking re-election in 2020 and 2025.

Gnassingbe, whose family has been in power in Togo for 50 years, took over from his father, General Gnassingbe Eyadema, on his death in 2005.
Former rebel leader Nkurunziza has ruled Burundi since 2005 and critics accuse him of becoming a dictator who refuses to quit

More than five million people have signed up to vote in Burundi's controversial constitutional referendum in May and elections in 2020, which could allow President Pierre Nkurunziza to remain in power until 2034.

By the end of the inscription process on Saturday, "a total of 5,000,742 people" signed up, including Burundians living abroad, Pierre-Claver Ndayicariye, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) was quoted as saying Tuesday by local media.

The figure was higher than CENI's estimate of 4.5 million earlier.

This includes those who will be of voting age in time for the referendum as well as people who will become adult by the 2020 general elections, Ndayicariye said.

The CENI has not stated how many of the registered people will need to wait until 2020 to be of voting age.

Former rebel leader Nkurunziza, 54, has ruled the densely populated country since 2005 after a devastating civil war and critics accuse him of becoming a dictator who refuses to quit.

The government of the small central African country said the turnout showed "the eagerness and patriotic sense" of citizens who were also "initiators" of the constitutional referendum.

Throughout the voter registration, the political opposition claimed that people were being forcibly enrolled mainly in rural areas, while the press reported a widespread lack of enthusiasm.

A protestor opposed to a third presidential term for Pierre Nkurunziza in 2015 confronts members of the Imbonerakure, youth league of the ruling party, in the capital's Kinama district

Opposition sources, with the independent media and witnesses who spoke to AFP reported pressure by police officers and the ruling party's Imbonerakure youth league to compel people to register in the markets and schools.

School pupils were turned away from class until they enrolled, while administrators also threatened those who had no registration papers with the withdrawal of access to health care and administrative documents, various sources said.

Many children under 16 and already members of the ruling party's Imbonerakure youth wing -- described as a militia by the United Nations -- were illegally given identity cards and listed on the voting rolls, witnesses said.

Opposition parties are against the constitutional changes on grounds they could deal a death blow to the Arusha peace accords that helped to end the 1993-2006 civil war, in which more than 300,000 people died.

The Arusha accords stipulate that no president can govern the country for more than 10 years and the current constitution sets a limit of two five-year mandates.

When Nkurunziza ran for a third term in 2015 and won, his victory sparked a crisis and violence that has left at least 1,200 dead and driven more than 400,000 into exile.
Syrian children cry at a makeshift hospital in the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta town of Douma on February 19, 2018 after heavy regime bombardment that killed dozens of civilians

The UN children's fund on Tuesday expressed "outrage" over the killings of children in Syria by issuing a blank statement, adding in a footnote that "no words will do (them) justice".

The statement came after a ferocious Syrian regime bombing campaign pounded the rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta on Monday, killing 127 civilians, 39 of them children.

"No words will do justice to the children killed, their mothers, their fathers and their loved ones," said Geert Cappelaere, UNICEF regional director for the Middle East and North Africa.

Those words were followed by a blank page.

UNICEF voiced its anger in a postscript at the end of the news release, entitled "The War ON Children in Syria. Reports of mass casualties among children in Eastern Ghouta and Damascus."

"UNICEF is issuing this blank statement," it said. "We no longer have the words to describe children's suffering and our outrage. Do those inflicting the suffering still have words to justify their barbaric acts?"

The United Nations on Monday demanded an end to the targeting of civilians in Syria.

But on Tuesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said at least 50 civilians, including 13 children, were killed in a second day of air strikes on Eastern Ghouta.

Held by rebels since 2012, Eastern Ghouta is the last pocket of opposition-held territory around Damascus and the regime of President Bashar al-Assad appears to be preparing a ground assault to retake it.
Illegal immigrants from different African countries are transported to a naval base in the Libyan capital Tripoli on February 19, 2018 after being rescued by the coastguard from boats drifting in the Mediterranean Sea

Libya's coastguard rescued 441 migrants in two separate operations as their boats drifted off the western coast, the navy and a doctor said on Tuesday.

Thirty-five women and 16 children were among 324 illegal migrants rescued in one of the operations on Monday with help from a fishing boat, a navy statement said.

The migrants, from countries including Chad, Nigeria, Mali and Libya, were drifting in two inflatable boats about seven nautical miles from Zuwara near the Tunisian border after the engines failed, it said.

The coastguard also rescued 117 migrants, including five women and two babies, off the coast of Zawiya, west of the capital Tripoli, on Monday, doctor Abdel Aziz al-Misrati of the charity International Medical Corps told AFP.

Rocked by lawlessness since the NATO-backed 2011 uprising that toppled and killed longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi, Libya has become a key transit country for illegal migration across the Mediterranean Sea.

The migrants often try to make the treacherous crossing on unseaworthy boats, hoping to reach Italy and make their way further inland in Europe and start a new life.
Renamo rebels fought a 16-year war against Mozambique's ruling Frelimo party until 1992, and unrest again boiled over between 2013 and 2016

Mozambique's President Filipe Nyusi has met the leader of opposition Renamo as part of efforts to broker peace between the group and his ruling Frelimo party.

Renamo rebels fought a 16-year war against Frelimo until 1992, and unrest again boiled over between 2013 and 2016.

Nyusi travelled to the remote Gorongosa mountains on Monday for talks with Renamo's leader Afonso Dhlakama who has been in hiding since October 2015.

The meeting follows a pledge by the president earlier this month to change the constitution to allow for the devolution of power in an effort to persuade the opposition to sign a peace deal.

The proposed constitutional changes will now go before parliament.

"I had a meeting with Afonso Dhlakama... to discuss military matters, specifically on disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration," Nyusi said in an emailed statement.

The fighting between 2013 and 2016 often centred on the country's main roads, with Renamo attacking government convoys and civilian vehicles, and soldiers accused of ruthlessly targeting suspected rebels.

The violence, which ended after Dhlakama announced a truce, forced thousands of people to escape to government-run camps, relatives' homes or across the border to Malawi and Zimbabwe.

- 'Pressure on the Maputo regime' -

Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi has pledged to change the constitution to allow for the devolution of power in an effort to persuade the opposition to sign a peace deal

Renamo, which also holds seats in parliament, has long been seeking greater decentralisation of power and better integration of its supporters into the police and military.

The peace deal being negotiated would see the governors of Mozambique's 11 provinces elected directly, not named by the president as is currently the case.

The deal would also require the disarmament of the Renamo party's armed wing which has been maintained since the end of the civil war in 1992.

"We welcome... the steps to be taken," said Nyusi.

"(They) will allow an end to military hostilities and open a new era for effective and lasting peace."

He added that detailed proposals would be made public "in a timely manner".

Domingos do Rosario, a professor of political science at Eduardo Mondlane University in Maputo, warned that the question of Renamo disarmament remained a challenge.

The violence in Mozambique forced thousands of people to escape to government-run camps, relatives' homes or across the border to Malawi and Zimbabwe

"Is Renamo is going to disarm? Do you think Renamo, if it did not have weapons, would still survive politically?" he said.

"They tried to kill Dhlakama and what did he do? He fled to his comfort zone -- the bush where he has the military arsenal that allows him to put pressure on the Maputo regime."

Do Rosario added that the negotiations had been timed by Nyusi to ensure the smooth running of local elections due later this year and presidential polls due in 2019.

"These negotiations had to go ahead at all costs, otherwise the source of the Maputo regime's international legitimacy, the elections, would not take place."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticises the police investigation that led detectives to recommend his indictment for corruption, during a speech in Tel Aviv on February 14, 2018

Israeli police said on Tuesday that two associates of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were suspected of offering a judge promotion in return for closing a criminal case against the premier's wife.

The new investigation stemmed from a separate probe into alleged bribery in the form of positive news coverage of Netanyahu in return for business concessions worth millions made public just hours earlier.

The revelations come just days after police said there were grounds to indict the prime minister himself in a separate case for bribery, fraud and breach of public trust, in the biggest challenge yet to the right-wing premier's long tenure in power.

A statement from the police said two men had in 2015 "approached a public official with an offer to help advance her to the position of attorney general" in return for her taking certain action "on a criminal case," with the offer never reaching fruition.

The two men have been identified as Nir Hefetz and Eli Kamir, both former media advisers for the Netanyahu family.

Their alleged offer was to Hila Gerstel, a judge involved in a graft probe into Sara Netanyahu over alleged misuse of public funds.

A spokesman for Netanyahu said that "Hefetz never presented this ridiculous proposal to the prime minister and his wife, and was never asked by them to make such a proposal, and we don't think he even considered such a thing."

- Looming charges -

Police have already concluded investigations into two separate cases involving the prime minister and their recommendation that charges be pressed is now in the hands of the attorney general.

Tuesday's revelations came as police commissioner Roni Alsheich faced a parliamentary committee after outrage among lawmakers over a recent interview, in which he said that detectives probing Netanyahu had been targeted by private investigators to dig up dirt on them.

Left-wing lawmakers accused the committee, headed by Yoav Kish of Netanyahu's Likud party, of trying to "terrorise" Alsheich to sway the outcomes of police work on suspicions connected to Netanyahu.

Israeli police chief Roni Alsheich takes questions from a parliamentary committee on February 20, 2018 over his claim that officers probing corruption allegations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been targeted by private investigators

Supporters of the premier said Alsheich's interview with Israel's Channel 2 television further weakened the public's trust in the police, perceived by some as attempting to frame Netanyahu.

"I didn't mention the prime minister in connection with anything, I said that there were persons sniffing around the investigators working on these cases," Alsheich told committee members, several of whom admitted not having seen the broadcast.

The latest suspicions emerged from a corruption probe involving Hefetz, who on Sunday was arrested along with another Netanyahu associate Shlomo Filber.

Also arrested were Shaul Elovitch, the controlling shareholder of telecommunications group Bezeq, as well as members of his family and senior Bezeq executives.

Police suspect Elovitch was granted business concessions in return for Netanyahu receiving positive coverage on Walla!, a news website he owns.

Hefetz and Filber are suspected of passing Netanyahu's wishes and demands to Bezeq and Walla! officials.

"As part of the investigation, suspicions accumulated of felonies concerning ethics, fraud, money-laundering and securities violations, conducted over extended periods of time, frequently and systematically as part of relationships between Bezeq executives and public servants and their associates," Tuesday's police statement said.

Elovitch has already been investigated over a merger of Bezeq with cable company Yes which saw him pocketing dozens of millions of dollars.

Netanyahu has not been named as a suspect in the Bezeq affair, but a spokesman for his family responded to media reports on the investigation, calling them "yet another empty probe" that would yield nothing.

This would not be the first time that Netanyahu has been accused of trying to win good press in corrupt ways, as police believe the premier sought a secret deal for favourable coverage with the publisher of top-selling newspaper Yediot Aharonot, whose publisher Arnon Moses could also face bribery charges.

The attorney general must now decide how to move forward with the police recommendations on the Yediot Aharonot affair and another case involving gifts from Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan and Australian billionaire James Packer, in a process that could take months.
Teodorin Obiang was prosecuted by a French court on charges of embezzling 150 million euros ($180 million) of public funds to finance his jet-set lifestyle

Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday angrily denounced the conviction of its vice president for corruption by a French court as a "flagrant violation" of international law, and insisted on its "total independence."

On the second of four days of hearings before the UN's top court in The Hague, Malabo pushed its case against France which it accuses of breaking conventions on diplomatic relations and immunity.

Ties have strained between the two countries since Malabo's vice president, Teodorin Obiang, was prosecuted by a French court on charges of embezzling 150 million euros ($180 million) of public funds to finance his jet-set lifestyle.

Obiang, 48, the son of long-time President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, was tried in absentia and sentenced in October to a three-year suspended sentence for corruption. He was also slapped with a suspended fine of 30 million euros ($35 million).

But Equatorial Guinea sees the case as "a flagrant violation which has given rise to deep indignation in my country," said Carmelo Nvono Nca, Malabo's ambassador to the Netherlands.

"Such an injustice cannot be allowed. The indifference shown by France to our sovereign rights has had important repercussions," he told the International Court of Justice.

This was "undermining" his country's "ability to manage its international relations," he argued.

Malabo's case "involves fundamental principles of international law, principles that are essential to order the relations between states," added lawyer Michael Wood.

"Principles that are even more essential in today's troubled world."

Equatorial Guinea had urged the ICJ in 2016 to order the French courts to suspend the proceedings against Obiang, but the tribunal refused to intervene.

On Monday, France called on the tribunal, set up by the United Nations to rule in disputes between nations, to throw out the case, arguing the judges had no competence to hear the matter.

Paris accused Malabo of seeking to "paralyse" French criminal procedures in the top-level corruption probe, which came after nearly a decade of lobbying by Transparency International and another group, Sherpa.

French judges have also been probing allegations of corruption against Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso, and Omar Bongo, the late president of Gabon.

The case sets a precedent for France which has long turned a blind eye to African dictators pouring their ill-gotten gains into Parisian real estate and luxury products.

France delegation member Alain Pellet said Monday that Equatorial Guinea was attempting to "slow down, or even paralyse the criminal procedure launched in France."

The decision to take the matter to the ICJ was a bid "to give their case more prominence" argued Pellet.
People commemorate the fifth anniversary of the massacre in Marikana last year

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said Tuesday he wanted "healing and atonement" following the 2012 massacre of 34 striking workers at a mine run by Lonmin where he was a director.

"I would like to use this opportunity to address what role I played in my capacity as a Lonmin director in the events of that tragic week," said Ramaphosa in an address to parliament in Cape Town.

"I am determined to play whatever role I can in the process of healing and atonement for what happened at Marikana," a platinum mine northwest of Johannesburg.

The 34 striking mine workers were killed by police at the mine operated by London-listed Lonmin, where he was then a non-executive director.

Opposition parties and lawyers for the victims and their families have insisted that he played a part in the bloodshed after pressing the authorities to crack down on the strikers.

Shortly before the massacre Ramaphosa accused striking mine workers of "dastardly criminal" behaviour.

But in 2015, a judicial commission of inquiry into the killings exonerated Ramaphosa.

It was the worst police violence in South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994.

The official inquiry established by former president Jacob Zuma put much of the blame for the deaths on police tactics used to disperse the 3,000 strikers.
Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, is lit up for New Year's Eve celebrations on January 31, 2018

A three-year downturn in Dubai's property market will likely continue until at least 2020, Standard & Poor's said Tuesday, citing low oil prices, the introduction of VAT and a Gulf diplomatic crisis.

A glut of housing units and weak demand were also key reasons for the decline, the credit ratings agency said in a report.

The emirate's real estate sector has been on the slide since 2014, when crude oil prices crashed, dealing a harsh blow to many Gulf investors.

Home prices dropped more than 15 percent between then and mid-2017.The downward trajectory continued through to the end of last year, the S&P report said, with prices of residential units falling a further five to ten percent.

It said the introduction of a value added tax and a prolonged crisis between Qatar and its Gulf neighbours, including the United Arab Emirates, had also put pressure on real estate prices.

S&P called the downturn a "correction" but said the sector may start to bounce back when Dubai hosts a six-month World's Fair in 2020.

"We believe this correction will continue at least for this year and next, before prices stabilise in 2020 at the earliest," it said, adding that rents will likely follow the same trend.

Dubai's Expo 2020 is expected to attract up to 300,000 visitors a day when it opens in October 2020.

Experts have predicted it will also create around 300,000 new jobs and attract new residents in the emirate city, which currently has a population of three million.

Dubai is slated to spend some $7 billion (5.7 billion euros) on infrastructure projects and $2.9 billion on the expansion of the metro route to the exhibition between now and event's inauguration.

The property sector and related activities form around 13 percent of Dubai's gross domestic product, which was $108 billion at the end of 2017.

Between December 2015 and June 2017, overseas investors put up as much as $41 billion to purchase property in the emirate, said the Dubai Land Department in August.
Nnamdi Kanu's populist rhetoric has tapped into lingering separatist sentiment for a breakaway state among the Igbo people

The treason trial of Biafran separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu resumed on Tuesday but the defendant again failed to turn up in court.

The former London estate agent's populist rhetoric has tapped into lingering separatist sentiment for a breakaway state among the Igbo people who dominate the region.

Prosecutor Shuaibu Labaran told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the absence of the head of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement was "frustrating the trial".

Judge Binta Nyako ordered the trial of Kanu's three co-defendants without him on March 20 and prosecute him separately.

Kanu, who also runs Radio Biafra, was first arrested in October 2015, sparking a wave of demonstrations calling for his release across southeast Nigeria.

A previous unilateral declaration of independence in 1967 sparked a brutal civil war that lasted 30 months and left at least one million dead from starvation and disease.

Most of them were Igbos.

Kanu was given bail under strict conditions last year but did not appear for the resumption of his trial in October.

He was last seen in September before troops raided his family home in the Abia state capital, Umuahia, during a crackdown on IPOB and its supporters.

Kanu's wife, Uchechi, told the BBC in an interview broadcast on Monday: "I don't know where my husband is, whether he is dead or alive, I don't know."

She and his family maintain he is being held in government custody. The government denies the claim and a civil court has ruled there is no evidence to support the assertion.

Kanu's lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, said the three people who stood surety for his client were expected in court on March 28 to explain why he did not answer his bail.

"(The government) should be in a better position to explain to court where he is," he told reporters outside court. "That is the fact which the sureties are coming to present to the court.

"Nnamdi Kanu never jumped bail and at no point has he indicated interest of not coming to face his trial."
Qualcomm chairman Paul Jacobs said sealing the deal for Dutch chipmaking rival NXP is an important strategic step for the California giant

US mobile chipmaking giant Qualcomm on Tuesday raised its bid for Dutch rival NXP to an estimated $43 billion as the California-based firm moved to fend off a hostile offer from Singapore's Broadcom.

The new bid amounts to $127.50 per NXP share and aims to satisfy NXP shareholders who had expressed concern the Qualcomm bid was too low.

By moving closer to a tie-up with NXP, Qualcomm could make it more difficult for Broadcom, which is pressing ahead with a record $121 billion offer despite opposition from Qualcomm's board.

Qualcomm called the offer an "amended definitive agreement" with NXP which includes the support of hedge fund shareholders of the Dutch firm. With NXP debt, the deal's value is over $50 billion.

Adding NXP would give a broader array of products including sensors and microprocessors for connected "internet of things" devices to Qualcomm, which is the dominant maker of chips for smartphones.

"NXP is a highly strategic and attractive acquisition for Qualcomm that enhances the value of our leading 5G technologies," said Qualcomm chairman Paul Jacobs, referring to the fifth generation of wireless technology which is being deployed around the world.

"We also believe the revised agreement provides certainty for both Qualcomm and NXP stockholders."

Qualcomm's move comes after it rejected for a second time last week the Broadcom bid, with the Singapore-based firm indicating it will press its case to the Qualcomm shareholders' annual meeting next month.

In rebuffing Broadcom, Qualcomm executives have said the offer undervalues the US firm in light of its growth potential for 5G products and failed to consider the value of NXP. It also said a Broadcom-Qualcomm tie-up could face a difficult regulatory path with antitrust authorities.

Qualcomm has faced antitrust probes in several countries over its dominance of the mobile chip market.

According to Qualcomm, the acquisition of NXP has received antitrust clearance from eight of the nine required government regulatory bodies around the world, with the matter still pending in China.

Qualcomm said it was optimistic it will receive clearance "in the near term" from Chinese authorities.

Responding to the news, Broadcom said the new offer effectively transfers $6.2 billion of Qualcomm value to the Dutch firm.

"Broadcom believes the price increase demonstrates the Qualcomm board's disregard for its fiduciary duty to maximize value for Qualcomm stockholders," the firm said in a statement.

"In light of Qualcomm's decision to transfer value from its own stockholders to NXP stockholders, Broadcom is evaluating its options."

Qualcomm said it would proceed with the deal if it is approved by 70 percent of NXP shareholders by March 5 -- the day before the Qualcomm annual shareholders' meeting.
Smoke rises from a village in Syria's Afrin region on February 10, 2018 after reported Turkish air strikes

A convoy of pro-government fighters entered Syria's Afrin region on Tuesday, a local official and a monitor told AFP, as Turkey pressed its assault on the Kurdish-controlled enclave.

"The popular forces have entered the Afrin canton," said Rojhad Rojava, a Kurdish defence official in the local administration.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said that "hundreds of fighters" entered the Afrin region on Tuesday afternoon.

AFP correspondents said the forces did not appear to have entered Afrin city itself.

Ankara and allied Syrian rebels launched an offensive exactly one month ago against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in the northwestern region.

The YPG has controlled Afrin since Syrian government forces withdrew from Kurdish-majority areas in the country's north in 2012.

But on Monday, Syria's state media reported that pro-Damascus forces would head to Afrin to "join the resistance against the Turkish aggression".

"This comes in the framework of supporting residents and defending the territorial unity and sovereignty of Syria," news agency SANA said.

The Afrin region lies in Syria's northern province of Aleppo.

An AFP correspondent in government-controlled Aleppo city told AFP that a convoy of pick-up trucks carrying armed men had left earlier Tuesday en route to Afrin.
Newborns in Pakistan face a one in 22 chance of dying in their first month, a UNICEF report shows

In the neonatal intensive care department of an Islamabad hospital, scrawny infants struggle for survival -- victims of a vacuum in resources and education in the country with the highest newborn mortality rate in the world.

"In Pakistan, a baby dies every second minute," says Haider Shirazi, head of the neonatal department at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Science (PIMS), the largest health facility in the capital.

Newborns in the Muslim giant, with its rapidly growing population of 207 million inhabitants, face a one in 22 chance of dying in their first month, a UNICEF report released Tuesday showed.

That makes it worse than neighbouring war-torn Afghanistan, as well as the Central African Republic and eight other sub-Saharan African countries, which are often unstable and struggle with desperate poverty.

At the other end of the scale, Japan, which has spent decades guaranteeing the conditions necessary to protect the lives of babies, only lost one infant out of 1,111, according to the UNICEF report.

The ranking is embarrassing for Pakistan. The country is proud of its economic growth rate and expanding middle class, but in the last ten years has spent just 0.5-0.8 percent of its GDP on healthcare.

"It's only a tenth of what WHO (the World Health Organization) requires," says Kennedy Ongwae, a Kenyan doctor working for UNICEF in Islamabad.

At PIMS, says Dr Shirazi, there are 15 ventilators for newborns -- but PIMS is not representative of hospitals in Pakistan.

"In a lot of other parts of the country, they don't (have such equipment). And when the babies are infected, they die...The health budget is so pathetically low that we can do nothing with it."

- Talking about sex -

Inadequate funding is just one of the challenges. Pakistan, a deeply conservative patriarchal Muslim country, also struggles with a complete absence of sex education, family planning, health education for mothers, and healthcare training.

As a result it has the highest birth rate in South Asia -- around three children per woman, according to the World Bank.

But malnutrition and ignorance coupled with little in the way of birth spacing, or allowing a woman's body to rest for at least 18 months between pregnancies, make many of the babies particularly fragile, says Dr Shireen Gul, head of the intensive care unit at PIMS.

"This baby weighs 1.1 kilograms, (this one) 1.4 kilograms, and 1.2 kilograms," she recites, indicating three tiny bodies, her voice almost drowned out by the beeps of incubators.

In the developed world, she says, neonatal units have one nurse to one or two babies. In Pakistan, it is one nurse to eight infants.

"Many babies here do not survive," sighs Aysha Siddiqa, a nurse, gently rubbing an inert infant.

Dr. Ongwae of UNICEF also points to inadequate training of what staff there are.

Pakistan saw a surge in mothers giving birth in medical facilities between 2001 and 2013, from 21 percent to 48 percent -- but neonatal deaths have not decreased as a result, he said.

That can be down to issues as basic as midwives who carry out several deliveries without washing their hands.

- 'Never a priority' -

It is unthinkable behaviour in Japan, which "has spent several decades to ensure the 'conditions necessary to protect lives of babies'", says Fumio Bessho, a professor of paediatrics and public health, in comments published on UNICEF's Japan website.

The success is due to medical technology, regional reforms, and "above all, to the presence of many medical workers who take great care of high-risk pregnancies and babies with various problems every day", he writes.

"(E)asy access to doctors and hospitals for everyone, including frequent health checks during pregnancy, contribute to a good result," agrees Yasuhide Nakamura, professor of global health at Konan Women's University in Kobe.

Nakamura also said education of new mothers played an important role.

"The existence of the 'mother and child health handbook' that almost all mothers in Japan receive when they get pregnant is worthy of special mention," he told AFP.

"As mothers read what doctors write in their handbook, their awareness towards health of their babies and themselves is probably greater" than those in other countries, Nakamura said.

At the local level "mother classes" are offered to women, and nurses come to their homes free of charge, adds Hideki Kiyoshima, professor of modern society studies at Kinki University.

The level of care makes for a jarring comparison with the chaos of Pakistan.

"Everything is very simple. We know what we must do and it's not expensive," says Dr Shirazi.

But the newborn mortality rate, he says, "was never a priority".
As part of his plea deal, Saudi citizen Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Haza al-Darbi has provided evidence against Saudi Guantanamo detainee Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri

A Guantanamo Bay detainee who pleaded guilty to helping plan a 2002 attack on a French oil tanker is set to be transferred from the military prison to Saudi Arabia, a US official said Tuesday.

Saudi citizen Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Haza al-Darbi has cooperated with the government since entering his plea as part of a deal four years ago, and authorities say he should now be sent to a Saudi rehabilitation center for jihadists.

If transferred, Darbi would be the first Guantanamo inmate to be released since President Donald Trump took office more than a year ago.

Darbi entered a plea deal in February 2014 that saw him admit to planning, aiding and supporting an attack on the MV Limburg, which killed a Bulgarian sailor, injured a dozen and caused a large oil spill in the Gulf of Aden.

As part of his plea, Darbi has provided evidence against another Saudi Guantanamo detainee -- Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, who faces the death penalty on charges he masterminded the MV Limburg attack and the 2000 attack against the USS Cole in Yemen that left 17 dead.

Commander Sarah Higgins, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said the Defense Department hopes Darbi's transfer "will take place soon."

"Darbi has complied with all terms of his plea agreement," she said.

Darbi was sentenced to 13 years in prison, starting from the date of the plea.

The deal included a provision that after four more years at Guantanamo, he could serve the remainder of his term at a luxurious rehab center in the Saudi capital Riyadh, where former extremists are given counseling and ideological detoxification.

"We await assurances from the Saudi Arabian government to move forward on his departure," Higgins said.

According to a transcript of an October hearing, prosecutors said Darbi gave a wide range of help to the Limburg attackers "including providing or obtaining visas for the terrorists that actually took part in the attack, providing them housing, purchasing equipment."

Darbi's lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

- Legal shambles -

Instead of being tried in a US civilian court, Nashiri and other inmates are going through a legal process known as the military commissions, which were drawn up to prosecute Guantanamo captives.

Among those facing trial are several alleged 9/11 co-conspirators, including accused mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.

But their cases have been beset with legal challenges and seemingly interminable delays, and Nashiri's trial collapsed in disarray last week.

Military commissions judge Air Force Colonel Vance Spath had to halt that case in frustration -- at one point threatening to retire -- because he could not compel Nashiri's main lawyers to show up in court.

Guantanamo Bay

His lawyers last year said their privileged conversations with and about their client had been monitored by the government, and that they could not proceed with his defense.

A total of 41 inmates remain at Guantanamo, but Trump has vowed to send more detainees to the notorious prison, which is located on a US naval base on the southeastern tip of Cuba.

Of the 41, five inmates apart from Darbi were cleared for transfer under president Barack Obama, but efforts to fly them out before Trump took office failed at the last minute.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has warned that Yemen's historic city of Zabid is under threat as a government offensive draws near

Yemen's historic city of Zabid is under threat as a government military offensive closes in, the International Committee of the Red Cross warned Tuesday, calling on the warring sides to protect the site.

"The fighting in Hodeida governorate is at the gates of the historic city of Zabid, fanning fears for the fate of its cultural heritage," said Alexandre Faite, ICRC's head of delegation in Yemen.

Red Sea coastal site Zabid, which served as the capital of Yemen from the 13th to 15th centuries, is listed as a United Nations World Heritage Site for its unique architecture and deep connection to the spread of Islam.

The city, according to UNESCO, is home to the highest concentration of mosques in Yemen -- among them one of the world's earliest mosques, built by a companion of Islam's Prophet Mohammed.

It now lies on the fault lines of Yemen's modern war, as government forces backed by Saudi-led air strikes press an offensive along the Red Sea coast.

The offensive, which has been gathering momentum in recent months, is aimed at retaking the key port of Hodeida from the Huthi rebels.

Zabid -- under rebel control -- lies on its path.

"The frontline is only kilometres from Zabid. Any destruction of cultural property there would mean that people, communities and all of humanity lose out," the ICRC's Faite said, calling on all parties to "protect and respect" the ancient city.

Yemen, rich in historic sites, has for years been embroiled in a bloody conflict between the Huthi rebels and a loosely aligned camp of government troops and separatist forces.

The capital, Sanaa, fell to the Iran-backed rebels in 2014, prompting a Saudi-led intervention the following year.

More than 9,200 Yemenis have been killed in the fighting since, while tens of thousands have been wounded, according to the World Health Organisation.
Smoke rises from buildings following bombardment on the village of Mesraba in the rebel-held besieged Eastern Ghouta region on the outskirts of the capital Damascus, on February 19, 2018

Despite a crippling siege, infighting and a ferocious wave of bombardment, Syrian rebels have clung on to their Eastern Ghouta stronghold near Damascus -- but a looming ground offensive might finally oust them.

A renewed regime air campaign has left nearly 200 civilians dead in just three days, and signals the government is gearing up to make an all-out push to seize the enclave.

When Syrians broke out in protest against leader Bashar al-Assad's rule in 2011, Eastern Ghouta joined in, and rebels captured it the following year.

Rebel control is now divided between two groups: Jaish al-Islam and Faylaq al-Rahman, both of which have pledged to mount a fierce defence against a regime assault.

The fighters have already survived five years of bombardment and siege, drawing on their local roots and smuggling tunnels.

Syrian civilians and children run for cover amid the rubble of buildings following government bombing in the rebel-held town of Hamouria, in the besieged Eastern Ghouta region on the outskirts of the capital Damascus, on February 19, 2018

"They are opposition organisations that have a social, political, economic, and military approach to interacting with the population of the Ghouta," said Nicholas Heras of the Center for New American Security.

To pull out those roots, the regime imposed a punishing siege on the region in 2013 in what Heras called a "strategy of collective punishment."

That encirclement made food, medicine, and other daily goods nearly impossible to access for Eastern Ghouta's 400,000 residents.

"It is the regime saying to the people of the Ghouta that their rebellion personally offended Assad's regime," said Heras.

- 'Profiteer' from siege -

Both Faylaq al-Rahman and Jaish al-Islam are Islamist factions founded in 2013 that have joined in peace talks in Geneva and Astana.

But the pair have also clashed multiple times in a struggle for influence in rebel-held parts of Ghouta, which amount to a little more than 100 square kilometres (less than 40 square miles).

Syrian boy Mohammed cries as he receives treatment at a make-shift hospital in Kafr Batna after being wounded in government air strikes in the besieged Eastern Ghouta region on the outskirts of the capital Damascus, on February 19, 2018

Jaish al-Islam is a Salafist-inspired organisation that controls the main towns of Douma and Nashabiyah, with military positions outside the city centres.

Faylaq al-Rahman holds Eastern Ghouta's other half, including the towns of Erbin, Hammuriyeh, and Jisreen, as well as part of the Damascus district of Jobar.

It has fought alongside Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which includes jihadists formerly linked to Al-Qaeda.

Since Eastern Ghouta first fell under regime siege in 2013, rebels have been using tunnels and smuggling routes to bring supplies in.

That means they also "actively and systematically profiteered from the siege," said Will Todman at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

"Rebel groups had developed bureaucratic systems to control the smuggling, charging fixed rates for certain goods to come in, and requiring smugglers to submit application forms to operate," he told AFP.

A Syrian civil defence member carries an injured child rescued from rubble following government bombing in the rebel-held town of Hamouria, in the besieged Eastern Ghouta region on the outskirts of the capital Damascus, on February 19, 2018

They also stand accused of hoarding supplies and unfairly controlling aid distribution for profit.

In 2017, government troops totally sealed off Eastern Ghouta, destroying smuggling routes and granting less access to aid groups.

The situation has grown increasingly dire since then, with hundreds in desperate need of medical evacuations and others facing severe malnutrition.

- 'Permanent' solution -

In May 2017, Eastern Ghouta was designated a "de-escalation zone" in an effort to still the violence, but Assad's regime now seems more determined than ever to capture it.

The government wants to secure the capital and put a halt to the salvo of rockets and mortars rebels launch from Eastern Ghouta onto Damascus.

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The regime pounded the area heavily for five days earlier this month and resumed bombing on Sunday, leaving a total of almost 450 civilians dead.

Sam Heller, an analyst at the International Crisis Group, said the regime was looking to "resolve the issue of Eastern Ghouta permanently -- either with a military victory or through a negotiated settlement under military pressure."

Similar escalations have ended with rebels agreeing to "reconciliation" deals, exiting the area in exchange for a halt to bombardment.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday hinted Syria was executing that very strategy in Eastern Ghouta.

"The Aleppo experience -- when the evacuation of fighters was organised -- is completely applicable to Eastern Ghouta," Lavrov said.

In Aleppo in 2016, regime troops conducted a month-long offensive, then secured a deal that evacuated the city's rebel-controlled half.

A Syrian man stands amid the rubble of buildings following government bombing in the rebel-held town of Hamouria, in the besieged Eastern Ghouta region on the outskirts of the capital Damascus, on February 19, 2018

CSIS's Todman says that could happen in Eastern Ghouta, too.

"Rebels won't be able to hold out indefinitely -- several months or a year from now, I wouldn't be surprised if some kind of evacuation deal was agreed for at least parts of the Eastern Ghouta, although some rebel factions will likely fight to the bitter end," he said.

But Ghouta resident Abu Zeid, 32, expects the regime is hungry for total conquest, not a deal.

"I don't think the rebels' withdrawal will resolve the issue. The regime's essential problem is with the people," he said.
Special counsel Robert Mueller filed charges against London-based lawyer Alex van der Zwaan, shown here leaving US District Court

A lawyer linked to a former campaign aide of President Donald Trump pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents Tuesday, as the probe into Russian election meddling gains pace.

Special prosecutor Robert Mueller's powerful team of investigators accused Alex van der Zwaan of knowingly making false statements about his communications with Richard Gates, a former senior official on the Trump campaign who is under indictment on money laundering and tax-related charges linked to his work in Ukraine.

Van der Zwaan, a London-based lawyer with the international law firm Skadden, was also accused of lying about his contacts with another unnamed person, the charges said. He will be sentenced April 3, according to the Special Counsel's Office.

Little information was provided about Van der Zwaan's links to the Trump campaign, but he represented his law firm in work done for the Ukraine government in 2012 on the corruption trial of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

At that time, Gates and former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort were working for the Russian-backed Ukraine president Viktor Yanukovych, who himself was brought down in an anti-corruption uprising in 2014.

Gates and Manafort, according to Ukraine government records, earned millions of dollars in their work for Yanukovych that was not reported.

Manafort too has been indicted by Mueller on money laundering and tax-related charges. In a filing Friday, Mueller's team said it had uncovered evidence of bank fraud by Manafort that was not covered in the original charges.

Mueller, whose work focuses on whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign, issued a surprise indictment Friday charging 13 Russians with alleged meddling in US politics.

The special counsel is also examining whether Trump sought to obstruct his investigation.

The White House has repeatedly rejected allegations of wrongdoing.
In this file photo taken on May 24, 2011 then Egyptian presidential candidate and reformist member of the Muslim Brotherhood Abdel Moneim Abul Fotouh speaks at his office in Cairo

An Egyptian court on Tuesday put a leading government critic and 15 others on terror lists at the request of the public prosecutor, a judicial official said.

Abdel Moneim Abul Fotouh, who is accused of joining an illegally formed group and spreading false news in Egypt that could harm its interests, is to remain on the list for five years, the official said.

He was arrested on Wednesday after joining a call to boycott next month's presidential election, which incumbent Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is expected win easily after most rivals were sidelined or withdrew.

The identity of the 15 others put on the terror lists were unknown.

On Thursday, prosecutors ordered Abul Fotouh be remanded for 15 days over alleged links to exiled members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.

The interior ministry accused Abul Fotouh, a former leading member of the Brotherhood and candidate in the 2012 presidential election, of having been in contact with the group's members in exile "to sow trouble and instability".

Abul Fotouh was detained shortly after he arrived from London where he gave interviews in which he was critical of the Egyptian government.

Sisi was elected in 2014, a year after the former army chief ousted his Islamist predecessor Mohamed Morsi.

Abul Fotouh had supported mass protests against the Islamist that prompted the military to topple him.

He has since been critical of Sisi who has been accused of clamping down on dissent.
In a rare address to the United Nations Security Council, Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas called for an international Middle East peace conference

Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas on Tuesday called for an international conference to be held by mid-2018 to pave the way for recognition of Palestinian statehood as part of a wider Middle East peace process.

In a rare address to the UN Security Council, Abbas said he would step up efforts to achieve full UN membership for Palestine and urged countries that have yet to recognize it to do so.

"To solve the Palestine question, it is essential to establish a multilateral international mechanism emanating from an international conference," Abbas said.

His address to the top UN body came amid simmering global concern over President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Trump's decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem infuriated the Palestinians, who declared that Washington could no longer play a role as lead mediator in the Middle East peace process.

Abbas said his proposed conference should lead to full UN membership for the state of Palestine, mutual recognition of Israel and Palestine, and the creation of a new international mechanism to reach a final settlement.

The Palestinian leader immediately left the council chamber following his address, leaving Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon to complain that he was once again "running away" from dialogue.

The address came just weeks after US Ambassador Nikki Haley launched a scathing attack on Abbas and accused him of lacking the courage needed for peace.

Haley was accompanied to Tuesday's council meeting by Jason Greenblatt, the US envoy for Middle East peace, and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in law and adviser on Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts.

The Trump administration is preparing a new peace plan even though chances for agreement appear dim.

The Palestinians see East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state and UN resolutions call on countries to refrain from moving their embassies to the city until its status is resolved in an Israeli-Palestinian deal.

In December, the General Assembly voted 128-9, with 35 abstentions, to reject the US decision to recognize Jerusalem.

That vote in the 193-nation assembly came after 14 of the 15 council members voted in favor of a similar measure. The United States vetoed that draft resolution.

Tensions have also flared over the US decision to cut funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).

The United Nations granted Palestine the status of a non-member observer state in 1992, but an upgrade to full membership would require unanimous backing from the Security Council -- an unlikely outcome, given the near-certainly of a US veto.
A video grab released by Boko Haram in January shows at least 14 of the schoolgirls abducted from Chibok in 2014

A Boko Haram attack on a girls school in northeast Nigeria has revived fears of another Chibok-style mass kidnapping, even as the government claims the jihadists are on the verge of defeat.

Dozens of heavily armed fighters stormed Dapchi village in the Bursari area of Yobe state on Monday evening, firing shots and setting off explosives.

Students and teachers at the Girls Science Secondary School fled into the bush for safety, fearing the Islamist militants would abduct them.

The potential for a repeat of what happened some 275 kilometres (170 miles) away by road in Chibok, in neighbouring Borno state, has not been lost on many Nigerians.

Both were state-run boarding schools in rural areas teaching girls of a similar age a so-called secular curriculum; Boko Haram fighters came in a convoy of pick-up trucks at night.

Boko Haram, whose name translates from Hausa to "Western education is forbidden", has kidnapped thousands of women and young girls since beginning its bloody insurgency in 2009.

But it was only the mass abduction of 276 girls in Chibok, in neighbouring Borno state in April 2014 that brought global attention to the conflict for the first time.

Fifty-seven girls managed to escape in the immediate aftermath while 107 have been found, escaped or released since May 2016; 112 are still being held.

- 'A dirty game' -

Some locals maintained Boko Haram deliberately targeted the school.

But with all those who fled not yet returned and the institution now closed, it is still not clear exactly what happened.

Some security analysts and those closely involved in the conflict said the attack may have been motivated by knowledge of payments to secure the release of the Chibok girls.

Last May, at least two million euros ($2.5 million) is said to have been paid for the release of a batch of 82 students in an exchange with jihadist fighters in Nigerian government custody.

Amaechi Nwokolo, a security analyst at the Roman Institute for International Studies in Abuja, said ransoms had become "a new way of financing" Boko Haram activities.

"They need money for arms, ammunitions, vehicles, to keep their army of fighters moving across the borders. They're spending a lot of money on arms and logistics," he told AFP.

Payment of a kidnap ransom is often seen as the only way of securing a person's release but civilian militia said the government risked being dragged into "a dirty game of money".

Boko Haram has not specifically targeted a girls school since Chibok.

But one militia leader said should they ever emulate the feat, "the government will be under intense pressure to secure their release, which means giving them money".

"The reality is whether girls from Dapchi school were taken or not, the importance of the attack is that this could be a new strategy for the group to raise money.

"So we have to be careful."

- Wider tactics -

Nigeria's military and government have repeatedly claimed that Boko Haram is on the run after a sustained fight-back by troops since early 2015.

A senior military source in the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, said operations had "destabilised Boko Haram and they have realised they have nowhere to hide".

Kidnapping for ransom could purely be a way of making money for after the end of the conflict, he suggested.

Family members crying while being reunited with a released Chibok girl

Others, including Babaji Katagum, a security analyst and former Nigerian Army captain, pointed out that Boko Haram had only ever made a ransom demand for the Chibok schoolgirls.

Persistent raids across northeast Nigeria were now primarily about survival -- the need for food, fuel and medication, he added.

"You can see from the attacks in the villages in the Dapchi area last night. No one was killed. It was all about looting," he said.

"I believe the attack on the Dapchi girls school was not meant to abduct anyone. They were just there looking for food and other supplies, which they got.

"If the school was their target, they would have gone straight to the school unannounced, like they did in Chibok."

Yan St-Pierre, a counter-terrorism specialist with the Modern Security Consulting group, agreed and said he saw kidnapping as part of its wider, long-established tactics.

"They do so every week, regardless of ransoms... or the pressure put on them by military operations," he said.
Mourners wave goodbye to Zimbabwe's iconic opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai

Thousands of Zimbabweans gathered Tuesday to bid a final farewell to opposition veteran Morgan Tsvangirai who was one of Africa's most admired politicians and lived to see the fall of his political nemesis Robert Mugabe.

"We are celebrating a hero," said the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party's acting president Nelson Chamisa.

Tsvangirai, the country's fiercest opponent of former president Mugabe's tyrannical 37-year rule, died on Wednesday aged 65 at a hospital in South Africa where he had been undergoing treatment for colon cancer.

His body was flown to the burial ceremony aboard a military helicopter, accompanied by his mother Mbuya Tsvangirai.

Thousands of mourners, braving the rain, gathered for the burial at Tsvangirai's Buhera rural home, 220 kilometres (135 miles) south of Harare.

Zimbabwe's Vice President Oppah Muchinguri also attended along with US and European diplomats.

Many people in the crowd blew whistles and wore red shirts emblazoned with Tsvangirai's portrait, some weeping openly.

Tsvangirai's dreams of unseating Mugabe through the ballot box were dashed at several elections.

But he lived to see Mugabe resign in November, amid moves by his own party to impeach him, ending his 37-year reign of autocratic control and brutality.

Mugabe, who turns 94 on Wednesday, and his wife Grace sent their condolences to Tsvangirai's family.

Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga, attending the event, condemned political oppression in Africa as he addressed supporters of Tsvangirai whose electoral ambitions, like Odinga's, were thwarted at controversial polls.

"Africa is littered with elections which are rigged," Odinga told the crowds.

- 'Election victory stolen' -

Morgan Tsvangirai became a symbol of resistance against Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF

Tsvangirai beat Mugabe in the first round of presidential polls in 2008 but narrowly fell short of the total required to win outright, according to the official vote count.

Tsvangirai pulled out of an election run-off following violence which, he said, claimed the lives of at least 200 of his supporters.

Odinga insists he was the rightful winner of general elections in Kenya in August which extended President Uhuru Kenyatta's rule.

"We need to have clear and proper transparent elections in Africa. Rigged elections will not help Africa," Odinga told mourners.

"Morgan's election victory was stolen a year after mine was stolen in Kenya," Odinga said, referring to the 2007 elections which he alleges were rigged to ensure Kenyatta's victory.

Tsvangirai was a tenacious opponent of the ruling ZANU-PF party's four-decade hold on power.

Following the 2008 election violence, he was forced into a power-sharing government with Mugabe, who was ousted last year following a military takeover.

"He agreed to sacrifice his victory in order to save Zimbabwe. He became one of the leading icons of the second liberation of Africa," Odinga said, describing Tsvangirai as "my dear brother" and a "hero".

- 'A great African' -

Zimbabwe is due to hold crucial general elections by July and the country's new president Emmerson Mnangagwa has pledged they will be free, fair and credible -- in honour of Tsvangirai.

After being repeatedly beaten and jailed by the regime, Tsvangirai became a symbol of resistance to the ruling ZANU-PF's authoritarianism, entrenched since Zimbabwe broke from its colonial master Britain in 1980.

"We want to thank Morgan Tsvangirai for fighting for our rights. He was a humble man -- a man who was loved by people," said Christopher Chikwati, a 70-year-old resident of Tsvangirai's village. "We will remember him forever."

Former opposition leader Arthur Mutambara, who served as Tsvangirai's deputy in the power-sharing government, said Tsvangirai was Zimbabwe's rightful president.

"We are here to mourn the president of Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai -- a great Zimbabwean, a great African," he said.

"He was arrested. He was beaten. The people of ZANU-PF are also here, they are the people who killed Morgan Tsvangirai."

Tsvangirai's death has sparked a bitter succession struggle within the opposition MDC party which is threatening to divide the party to the benefit of ZANU-PF.

Those tensions were on display even before Tsvangirai was in the ground, with MDC deputy president Thokozani Khupe booed during the funeral and criticised by "drunken" party youth members, according to party official Douglas Mwonzora.
Migrants disembark from a coast guard boat after being rescued at sea off the coast of Spain, the one route last year that saw an increase in the number of illegal border crossings into the EU.

The European Union saw in 2017 the lowest number of detected illegal border-crossings since the migrant crisis began four years ago, the EU border agency Frontex said Tuesday.

"The annual total of 204,700 marked a significant decrease compared to recent years, but not yet a return to the situation before 2014," the Warsaw-based agency said, upon releasing a new report based on figures provided by EU member states.

It amounted to a 60 percent decline from the 511,000 illegal border-crossings in 2016, and far below the 1.8 million in 2015, according to the report.

The drop was especially observed on the eastern Mediterranean migratory route which connects Turkey to Greece, and the central Mediterranean route connecting Libya to Italy.

The EU last year reached controversial agreements with chaos-wracked Libya to stem the flow of migrants from that country, following a more comprehensive deal with Turkey in 2016, which sharply reduced the number of people crossing to Greece.

However, the western Mediterranean route, which involves making the sea crossing between North Africa and Spain, saw an increase in the number of illegal migrants.

"Domestic issues in Morocco, the main transit country for migrants heading to Spain, created an opening for more departures from Morocco's western coast in particular, which starting from the second quarter of the year led to the use of high-capacity boats able to transport large numbers of migrants," Frontex said.

Given the change in migratory routes, the relative share of Africans -- including Moroccans, Algerians and Tunisians -- increased compared to 2016.

"African nationals accounted for almost two-thirds of irregular migrants arriving at the shores of the EU," Frontex said.

While Frontex noted the significant decline in migrant arrivals to Greece, which had been a major entry point into the EU, a Greek NGO on Tuesday claimed authorities were illegally expelling refugees to Turkey.

On the Turkish-Greek border, the Greek Council of Refugees (GCR) said in a statement at least 40 people were arrested and sent back to Turkey in 2017, including "families in vulnerable situations, pregnant women, minors and victims of torture."

GCR called these actions "arbitrary" and against international law. Contacted by AFP, Greek police denied the allegations.
George Clooney and his wife Amal, shown in this October 22, 2017 file photo, said they have been inspired by the "courage and eloquence" of the survivors of the latest US school shooting

Hollywood star George Clooney and his human rights lawyer wife Amal on Monday pledged $500,000 to help fund a student march on Washington, giving a huge boost to what is considered an unprecedented youth mobilization against gun violence.

The "March for Our Lives" is scheduled to take place on March 24, with sister rallies planned across the country demanding that US Congress come up with effective legislation to address the epidemic of gun violence in the United States.

It comes after a 19-year-old armed with a semi-automatic rifle killed 17 people at a high school in Parkland, Florida last week, and is being organized by surviving students.

The teenagers, who have grown up with mass shootings at US schools, have vowed to make the tragedy a turning point in America's deadlocked debate on gun control.

"Amal and I are so inspired by the courage and eloquence of these young men and women from Stoneman Douglas High School," Clooney said in a statement.

"Our family will be there on March 24 to stand side by side with this incredible generation of young people from all over the country," he added.

"In the name of our children Ella and Alexander, we're donating $500,000 to help pay for this groundbreaking event. Our children's lives depend on it."

- 'Overwhelmed' -

The pledge from the Clooneys, one of the biggest A-list couples on the planet, who announced the birth of their twins in London last June, comes after other celebrities have called for greater gun controls since the Florida shooting.

"We want to express extreme gratitude for the amazing donation that George Clooney and his family have made," tweeted the Never Again account representing survivors of the Florida shooting.

"We are overwhelmed with the support, and we can't wait to march."

US Congress is deadlocked on the gun debate, accomplishing nothing even after last October's killing of 58 people by a gunman in Las Vegas who had amassed 47 firearms to commit the worst mass shooting in recent US history.

The White House says President Donald Trump is supportive of efforts to improve background checks for gun purchases, but many want far more deep-seated reforms.

The students organizing the March 24 rally say they are fed up "waiting for someone else" to take action to stop the US epidemic of mass school shootings, and are demanding a "comprehensive and effective bill" in Congress to address gun violence.

"Politicians are telling us that now is not the time to talk about guns," their mission statement said. "Every kid in this country now goes to school wondering if this day might be their last. We live in fear.

"Change is coming. And it starts now, inspired by and led by the kids who are our hope for the future. Their young voices will be heard."
Chevron halted drilling in October after an independence referendum in the northern city of Erbil sparked tensions with Baghdad

Chevron said Tuesday it resumed its oil drilling operations in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, four months after suspending them amid tensions between Baghdad and the Kurds.

"Chevron can confirm that it has resumed its activities in the KRI and we have restarted drilling operations at our Sarta 3 well," a company spokeswoman said in an email to AFP.

Chevron halted drilling in October after an independence referendum in the northern city of Erbil sparked tensions with Baghdad.

Baghdad responded harshly to the vote, declaring the referendum illegal, imposing an aerial blockade on Kurdistan and sending troops to the contested region.
Visitors check out weapons at the South Florida Gun Show in Miami, Florida

There have been renewed calls for stricter gun control in the United States following the shooting deaths last week of 14 students and three adults at a Florida high school.

Here's a look at some of the issues surrounding gun control and various proposals:

- Assault weapons ban -

Semi-automatic weapons such as the AR-15-style rifle used by Parkland, Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz were prohibited under the 1994 federal assault weapons ban passed by Congress and signed into law by president Bill Clinton.

It prohibited the manufacture and sale of the weapons for civilian use and also limited "large-capacity" magazines -- defined as those capable of holding more than 10 rounds.

The ban lapsed in 2004 amid pressure from the powerful National Rifle Association and congressional efforts to renew the prohibition since then have failed.

Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein of California introduced an assault weapons ban following the massacre of 26 people -- 20 of them young children -- at Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012.

It did not pass and Feinstein re-introduced an assault weapons ban in November 2017 after 26 people were shot dead at a church in Texas.

It also has gone nowhere.

Fifty percent of those surveyed in a Washington Post-ABC poll after the Parkland shooting supported a nationwide ban on the sale of assault weapons.

Forty-six percent were opposed.

- Expanded background checks -

The White House has said following the Florida school shooting that President Donald Trump supports efforts to improve the federal background check system for gun buyers.

The 1993 Brady Bill requires federally licensed gun dealers to run background checks on purchasers with the FBI.

The names of potential buyers are run through a database called the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), which is meant to flag those prohibited from buying firearms, such as convicted felons, domestic abusers and the dangerously mentally ill.

There are a number of state loopholes, however, and many private sales are unregulated.

A bill co-sponsored by Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas and Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut seeks to ensure greater compliance by state and federal agencies with NICS.

This is the bill that the White House said Trump is considering supporting and it has also received the backing of the powerful NRA gun lobby.

Cornyn and Murphy introduced the legislation after the Sutherland Springs, Texas church shooting because the Air Force had failed to inform NICS that the gunman had a conviction for domestic abuse that would have prevented him from buying the guns he used.

Voters support tightening gun laws by 66 to 31 percent, according to a national poll by Quinnipiac University, which described the margin as "the highest level of support" since it began surveys on the question in 2008.

The survey also found that a majority of gun owners -- 50 percent to 44 percent -- backed stricter gun laws, and that their support specifically for universal background checks rose to an overwhelming 97 percent, against just three percent who opposed such checks or expressed no opinion.

- Arming teachers -

One of the more controversial proposals raised by NRA lobbyists is to arm teachers.

Forty-two percent of those surveyed in the Washington Post-ABC poll said this could have prevented the Parkland shooting.

Fifty-one percent said it could not.

The partisan divide in the United States is also reflected in support for the move to arm teachers.

Fifty-nine percent of Republicans surveyed said they believed allowing teachers to carry guns could have prevented the Parkland shooting.

Only 23 percent of Democrats thought so.

- Bump stocks -

After a shooting in Las Vegas last October that left 58 dead -- the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history -- calls went out for a ban on an accessory known as a "bump stock."

Bump stocks allow semi-automatic weapons to fire like automatic weapons and Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock had affixed them to some of his weapons as he rained gunfire on an outdoor concert from his hotel suite.

Trump announced Tuesday that he would support moves to ban the devices.

"Just a few moments ago, I signed a memorandum directing the attorney general to propose regulations to ban all devices that turn legal weapons into machine guns," Trump said at the White House.

A ban on bump stocks is one of the rare gun control moves that has also won the support of the NRA and some Republican lawmakers.

- Mental health screening -

One thing both Republicans and Democrats agree on is that better mental health screening could help prevent gun violence.

Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz was a troubled teenager, according to numerous accounts, and his disturbing behavior was brought to authorities' attention on numerous occasions.

The 19-year-old had nevertheless legally acquired several deadly weapons.

The FBI even received a warning about a month before the attack that Cruz had acquired guns and may have been planning a school shooting. No action was taken.

Seventy-eight percent of the Democrats in the Washington Post-ABC poll said more effective mental health screening and treatment could have prevented the Parkland attack.

Seventy-seven percent of Republicans agreed.

- Concealed carry -

While efforts are being made to expand background checks and to restrict access to certain types of guns, the NRA is seeking at the same time to loosen regulations.

One such effort would allow gun owners who have a permit to carry a concealed weapon in one state to legally bring that weapon into another state.

The Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act was passed by the House of Representatives by a 231-198 vote in December but has yet to clear the Senate.
An aid worker from the NGO Hydraulique sans Frontieres (HYFRO), which specialises in water purification projects, was freed after being abducted near the village of Mushikiri in North Kivu

A Congolese humanitarian worker, kidnapped at the weekend in the troubled east of DR Congo by an armed group that killed two of his colleagues, has been freed, his NGO said Tuesday.

"He was freed yesterday (Monday)... We found him with several cuts on his face," said Richard Kahindo, head of the NGO Hydraulique sans Frontieres (HYFRO), which specialises in water purification projects.

The release of the abducted aid worker was also confirmed to AFP by local official Francois Bakundakabo.

He had been kidnapped on Saturday near the village of Mushikiri in North Kivu after his vehicle, also carrying three other colleagues, was attacked by unidentified armed men.

Two colleagues, an engineer and the driver, were killed while a third managed to escape.

The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Monday condemned the assault and called for "the immediate and unconditional release of the person held hostage".

Aid workers "should never be targeted. This attack represents a serious violation of international humanitarian law and emergency standards," OCHA said.

Kidnappings, including of foreign and Congolese personnel of humanitarian organisations, are frequent in the province of North Kivu.

Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is torn apart by more than 20 years of armed conflict, fueled by ethnic and land disputes, competition for control of the region's mineral resources, and rivalry between regional powers.
Stanley Majors was sentenced to life in prison without parole over the hate-motivated killing of his Lebanese American neighbor

An Oklahoma man convicted of the hate-motivated killing of his Lebanese American neighbor was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison without parole.

Stanley Majors was convicted earlier this month of first-degree murder for fatally shooting his next-door neighbor in the city of Tulsa, because of his hatred of the neighbor's Lebanese descent.

Khalid Jabara, 37, was killed on the front porch of his family home in August 2016, just minutes after calling police to report that his threatening neighbor had a gun.

Majors had tormented the Jabara family for years, according to prosecutors, calling them "dirty Arabs," "filthy Lebanese" and "Mooslems."

The Jabaras are Christian and had fled Lebanon's civil war decades ago to avoid religious persecution.

The 63-year-old was also sentenced for the hate crime charge of malicious intimidation or harassment.

The Jabara family said the hate crime charge sent an important message.

"We believe that as a community we have to pay attention to our thoughts, as they become our words, our words as they become our actions. We must hold each other accountable," the victim's sister Victoria Jabara Williams told reporters after Majors's conviction.

"The rhetoric that's going on in our community and nationally, and globally, I think it's more important than ever that we say something when we hear something," she said.

At the time of the shooting, Majors was out on bail after serving prison time for striking Jabara's mother with his car. He was also under a protective order that barred him from having a firearm.

Prosecutors had asked the presiding judge to show no mercy to Majors because he had expressed no remorse for his actions, according to the Tulsa World newspaper.

His defense argued that Majors was a mentally ill gay man who feared Muslims would harm him because of his sexuality. His mistaken belief that the Jabaras were Muslim drove him to his violent actions, they claimed.

Majors's attorney Justin Smith planned to appeal the conviction.

"We still are under the impression and belief that our client has a severe mental illness," Smith said, according to CNN.
Peter Wang's dream had been to go to the prestigious US Military Academy at West Point, which instructs officers-in-training

A top US military academy gave an honorary letter of acceptance Tuesday to a Florida teen who was killed during last week's mass shooting at a high school.

Fifteen-year-old Peter Wang, an Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadet at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, was among the 17 people killed in the Valentine's Day attack.

Wang's dream had been to go to the prestigious US Military Academy at West Point, which instructs officers-in-training.

According to local media, he died after holding a door open to help schoolmates escape before him as a gunman prowled through the school and opened fire on students and teachers.

"One of USMA's priorities is to develop leaders of character who are committed to the values of Duty, Honor & Country," the academy wrote on Twitter.

"Peter Wang's actions on February 14 are an example of those principles & the academy honors his dream of being a West Point cadet with a 2025 letter of acceptance."

West Point officials announced they were giving Wang a letter of acceptance because of his "heroic actions."

The academy posted pictures of Wang's letter, as well as a photo of the young student standing at attention in a blue cadet's uniform.

West Point said it has given posthumous offers of admissions only in very rare instances.
Civilians flee the rebel-held Syrian town of Saqba, in the besieged Eastern Ghouta region outside Damascus, after a reported Assad regime air strike

The United States said Tuesday it was "deeply concerned" about the escalating Syrian and Russian attacks on the rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta, which have left more than 250 civilians dead in two days.

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert blamed the Assad regime's "siege and starve tactics" for adding to the humanitarian disaster in the Damascus district, and endorsed the United Nations' call for a monthlong halt to violence.

"The United States is deeply concerned by the escalating violence in the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta," Nauert told reporters. "The escalation is exacerbating the already grave human suffering of nearly 400,000 people.

"The cessation of violence must begin now, and those needing emergency assistance should be allowed to evacuate immediately," she added.

Eastern Ghouta is home to more than 400,000 people living under crippling government siege, with little access to food or medical resources.

Syrian and Russian air strikes slammed the area earlier, adding 100 civilian deaths to the toll since Sunday and putting another hospital out of service.

The rebel-held district is nominally included in a "de-escalation" deal meant to tamp down violence, but President Bashar al-Assad is apparently preparing troops for an imminent ground assault to retake the area.

Nauert compared the assault on Eastern Ghouta to the 2016 siege of East Aleppo, when the Assad regime with Russian support laid waste to a heavily civilian populated district of the city in its push to eliminate Islamic State fighters.

"The horrors of East Aleppo are being repeated in East Ghouta with the ongoing slaughter of trapped civilians and woefully inadequate access for humanitarian actors," she said.

"We call on all parties to commit to the unconditional deescalation of violence. Russia must end its support of the Assad regime and its allies. They are responsible for the attacks, for the dire humanitarian situation in East Ghouta and for the horrendous civilian death toll."
US President Donald Trump and Mexico's Enrique Pena Nieto held their first meeting as presidents on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany in July 2017

US President Donald Trump and his Mexican counterpart Enrique Pena Nieto agreed to boost cooperation on security, trade and migration in a phone call Tuesday, both countries said.

Tension between the two countries has soared over Trump's anti-Mexican rhetoric, but there are recent signs the two leaders are trying to smooth things over. Last week, the White House said the two presidents were working on arranging a meeting.

However, there was no mention of a meeting in Tuesday's brief statements.

"President Trump underscored his commitment to expanding cooperation between the United States and Mexico on security, trade and immigration," the White House said.

Pena Nieto's office issued a similar statement.

Both sides said the two leaders also exchanged condolences over last week's school shooting in Parkland, Florida and a military helicopter crash in the Mexican state of Oaxaca that killed 14 people.

Trump's vows to make Mexico pay for a wall on the border, attacks on Mexican immigrants and threats to scrap the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) have strained relations between the two neighbors.

In January last year, Pena Nieto canceled a visit to Washington over Trump's insistence that Mexico pay for the wall.

The two leaders later held their first meeting as presidents on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany in July.
US President Donald Trump came out in support for a ban on "bump stocks" which turn a semi-automatic weapon into an automatic one

Faced with an outpouring of grief and anger over a deadly school shooting in Florida, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday threw his support behind moves to ban "bump stocks" -- an accessory that can turn a semi-automatic weapon into an automatic one.

Trump also said school safety was a "top priority" for his administration, with meetings on the subject planned through next week, when he holds talks with governors from all 50 US states.

Calls to ban bump stocks have been mounting since Stephen Paddock, a retired accountant, used them on several of his weapons to kill 58 concertgoers in Las Vegas in October 2017 in the deadliest mass shooting in recent US history.

Although the former student who shot dead 17 people in Florida last week did not use bump stocks, there has been a renewed focus on the devices because outlawing them is a rare point of agreement between Democrats, some Republicans and the powerful National Rifle Association (NRA) gun lobby.

Less than a week after the shooting, the Florida state House of Representatives rejected a ban on assault weapons and large capacity magazines in a 36-71 vote, during a session that opened with a prayer for the people killed in the tragedy.

About 100 student survivors of the tragedy plan to hold a gun control rally and speak with lawmakers about gun control and school safety Wednesday at the state Capitol in Tallahassee.

Trump -- who received strong backing from the NRA during his White House run -- said he had signed a memorandum "directing the attorney general to propose regulations to ban all devices that turn legal weapons into machine guns."

The president said he expected the measures to be finalized "very soon."

"We must move past cliches and tired debates and focus on evidence-based solutions and security measures that actually work," Trump said at a White House event to honor 12 Americans for heroism.

"We must actually make a difference... We must do more to protect our children."

A memorial for Meadow Pollack, one of the 17 people shot dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida

Trump said he would meet this week with students, local leaders and members of law enforcement to develop "concrete steps" to protect schools, students and communities.

"This includes implementing common sense security measures and addressing mental health issues," he said, "including better coordination between federal and state law enforcement to take swift action when there are warning signs."

"Whether we are Republican or Democrat, we must now focus on strengthening Background Checks!" he added later on Twitter.

Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz, 19, had a history of troubling behavior and a person close to him warned the FBI five weeks before the shooting that he was a threat -- but no action was taken.

- Parkland students take action -

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Cameron Kasky speaks at a rally for gun control

Cruz legally bought the gun he used in the attack -- an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle -- and the White House said it would consider options to raise the age for such purchases.

"I think that's certainly something that's on the table for us to discuss and that we expect to come up over the next couple of weeks," spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters.

Many of the students who survived the shooting have vowed to make the tragedy a turning point in America's deadlocked debate on gun control.

They are planning a "Narch for Our Lives" in Washington next month, and they earned at least $2 million in pledges from Hollywood A-listers. Sister rallies are set to take place around the country.

George Clooney and his human rights lawyer wife Amal, Oprah Winfrey, director Steven Spielberg and his wife, actress Kate Capshaw, and film producer Jeffrey Katzenberg and his wife Marilyn each pledged $500,000.

"Amal and I are so inspired by the courage and eloquence of these young men and women," Clooney said in a statement.

"Our family will be there on March 24 to stand side by side with this incredible generation of young people from all over the country."

Winfrey then tweeted: "George and Amal, I couldn't agree with you more. I am joining forces with you and will match your $500,000 donation."

The US Congress is deadlocked on the gun control debate, accomplishing nothing since the October shooting in Las Vegas.

Americans support stricter gun laws by a 66 percent to 31 percent margin, according to a poll released on Tuesday by Quinnipiac University.

It described the margin as "the highest level of support" for stricter gun control since it began surveys on the question in 2008.
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) - The Latest on trials of protesters accused of tearing down a Durham monument (all times local):

6:20 p.m.

A North Carolina judge has found one protester not guilty of toppling a Confederate statue, and dismissed charges against two others.

FILE - In a Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017 file photo, from left, Ngoc Loan Tran, 24, Peter Gull Gilbert, 36, and Dante Strobino, 35, leave a courtroom in the Durham County Courthouse after their first court appearance after being arrested for the toppling of the Durham County confederate statue during a protest, in Durham, NC. A North Carolina judge trying protesters accused of toppling a Confederate statue on Monday, Feb. 19, 2018, dismissed the criminal case against Strobino. (Casey Toth/The Herald-Sun via AP, File)

Five more protesters accused of tearing down the monument in Durham last summer face trial at a later date.

Judge Fred Battaglia found Raul Jimenez not guilty on Monday of three misdemeanor counts including damaging a public monument and conspiracy. He then wrapped up the day's hearings.

Two other defendants had their cases dismissed by Battaglia after defense attorneys successfully argued that authorities hadn't properly identified them as taking part in tearing down the monument. It was pulled down days after deadly violence at a Charlottesville, Virginia, rally by white nationalists.

___

12:40 p.m.

A North Carolina judge trying protesters accused of toppling a Confederate statue has dismissed the criminal case against one of them.

Dante Strobino was tried Monday on charges including defacing public property and conspiracy in the August 2017 toppling of the monument outside a Durham government building. Seven others are expected to be tried individually after Strobino.

After testimony from investigators and other witnesses, the defense moved to dismiss the case. Durham County District Court Judge Fred Battaglia then ruled prosecutors had failed to identify Strobino as a perpetrator and hadn't shown there was a conspiracy. The cases are being heard before Judge Battaglia without a jury.

The Durham Confederate statue was pulled down in the days after a deadly violence at a Charlottesville, Virginia, rally started by white nationalists.
NEW YORK (AP) - The 12-year-old girl was in her school uniform, wearing pigtails. She clutched her princess lunch box as she got off the Bronx bus after tutoring, and that's when the rapist grabbed her by the arm.

"If you scream, I'm gonna kill you," he said, according to police. The stranger dragged her roughly, turning down an alley where he brutally attacked her.

The crime took place on Feb. 24, 2015. And, despite DNA evidence and surveillance footage of the attack, no arrests have been made. As the anniversary nears, the Special Victims Division detective on the case is pleading for anyone with information to send a tip through the Crime Stoppers website or call the hotline.

This image taken from a Feb. 24, 2015 surveillance video and provided on Feb. 17, 2018 by the New York City Police Department, shows a man being sought by the NYPD in connection with a rape three years ago. New York detectives are again asking for help in solving the 2015 rape of a 12-year-old school girl who was brutally attacked in the Bronx. (NYPD via AP)

"She was just a baby," said Det. Diane Crowley. "This is the worst of the worst."

Surveillance footage shows a young man in tan cargo pants, wearing a blue jacket with a hood and a hat. His face is blurry, but it's not impossible to recognize. Part of the problem, Crowley thinks, is the suspect also was young, probably 14 to 16 years old. She thinks people are afraid of being wrong and turning in an innocent kid.

"Obviously with the forensic evidence, there's no way the wrong kid will go to jail for this," she said. "I just think after three years, you told somebody, you told part of it to somebody. A mom saw it. Someone knows something."

There's a reward of more than $22,000 for any tips leading to an arrest.

Crowley is haunted by the case. She said when she arrived to the hospital, the little girl was in a bed, still in her uniform, but it was ripped and dirty. Her glasses were askew.

She had a hard time explaining the attack to police.

"She had to describe things that happened to her that she didn't even have the vocabulary for," Crowley said. "She'd never seen a male body before."

She was on the BX 19 bus to East Tremont, where she transfers to another bus to go home. She said he grabbed her when she got off, then walked her into an alley at 2064 Daley Avenue, the first building off 179th Street.

The alley is sunken - not something easily seen from the street, but there's turf covering one of the walls.

After the attack, she ran and called her mother and they went to the hospital, which collected forensic evidence. Crowley set to work. It took police days to find the crime location because the little girl didn't know where she was.

They followed up on hundreds of leads, talked to any gang members in the possibility it was some sort of initiation. They combed through bus footage. The victim didn't remember seeing him at school, but it looked like he might also have been wearing a uniform.

"I think most sex crimes are about opportunity. She happened to be an easy target," Crowley said. "But when you find a 12-year-old and you say 'I'm going to kill you' ... it's a real cowardly attack," she said.

Crowley said the girl has had ups and downs. She's anxious and can't sleep, struggles in school, but she's growing into a smart young woman and is doing her best.

"But, her innocence was taken. The twinkle in her eye dimmed out," she said. "I would love nothing more than to bring her and her family justice."
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump is endorsing Mitt Romney in Utah's Senate race, another sign that the two Republicans are burying the hatchet after a fraught relationship.

The GOP's presidential nominee in 2012, Romney announced last week he would seek the nomination to replace retiring Sen. Orrin Hatch. In a tweet Monday night, Trump wrote, "He will make a great Senator and worthy successor to @OrrinHatch, and has my full support and endorsement!" Romney quickly accepted the endorsement via Twitter.

Trump has not always been so positive about Romney the political candidate. In 2016 Trump said the former Massachusetts governor had "choked like a dog" during his failed 2012 bid against President Barack Obama.

FILE - In this Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012 file photo, Donald Trump greets Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, after announcing his endorsement of Romney during a news conference in Las Vegas. Trump is endorsing Romney in Utah's Senate race, another sign that the two Republicans are burying the hatchet after a fraught relationship. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, File)

For his part, Romney gave a scathing critique of then-candidate Trump during the GOP primary that year, calling him a "phony" who was unfit for office. More recently, Romney criticized Trump's response to last year's deadly white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, and last month called Trump's use of an obscenity to describe African countries as inconsistent with American history and values.

Members of both political parties have suggested that Romney, if elected to the Senate, would continue to call out Trump if he believed the president warranted criticism. However, Romney did not mention Trump or his scandal-plagued administration in his campaign announcement on Friday, focusing instead on how his adopted state of Utah could be a model for better government in Washington.

Asked Friday if he would seek or accept Trump's endorsement, Romney demurred but said they had talked on the phone two or three times in recent months and had a cordial and respectful relationship.

Within minutes of Trump's tweet Monday night, Romney sent one of his own: "Thank you Mr. President for the support. I hope that over the course of the campaign I also earn the support and endorsement of the people of Utah."
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Petr Mrazek is going from being a backup goaltender on a losing team to a starting job for a playoff contender.

The Philadelphia Flyers acquired Mrazek from the Detroit Red Wings for two conditional draft picks on Monday night, a day after losing their second goalie to injury in less than 10 days.

Flyers general manager Ron Hextall made the move after backup Michal Neuvirth was injured in Sunday's win at the New York Rangers. Hextall said late Monday night that Neuvirth will miss several weeks. Starter Brian Elliott had core muscle surgery last Tuesday and is expected to miss up to 6 weeks.

"We're excited to have obtained Petr Mrazek," Hextall said. "Petr is a proven NHL goaltender, and given the situation we're in, we needed a proven goaltender and we got one."

The surprising Flyers are tied for third place in the Metropolitan Division and sixth in the Eastern Conference. The Red Wings have the fourth-fewest point total in the East and are looking to move more players before next week's trade deadline.

Mrazek was 8-7-3 with a 2.89 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage this season for Detroit while playing behind Jimmy Howard. He's 72-58-20 with a 2.60 GAA and a .912 save percentage in 166 appearances in six seasons for the Red Wings.

Mrazek had his best season two years ago, going 27-16-6 with a 2.33 GAA and a .921 save percentage. He's 4-6 in 10 career playoff starts with a 1.88 GAA and a .931 save percentage.

"We know how capable he is, and his experience in the NHL, playing in a high-pressure market in Detroit, went into our decision," Hextall said. "We felt like we had to get a guy that has a proven track record."

The Flyers sent a conditional fourth-round draft pick in 2018 and a conditional third-round draft pick in 2019 to Detroit.

The first pick becomes a third if the Flyers make the playoffs and Mrazek wins five games in the regular season. That same pick can move to a second if Philadelphia wins two rounds of the playoffs and Mrazek wins six games. The additional third-rounder goes to Detroit in 2019 if Flyers re-sign him. Mrazek is set to become a restricted free agent after this season.

Alex Lyon made 25 saves in relief to earn his first career win after replacing Neuvirth against the Rangers. Lyon passed up his senior season at Yale to sign with the Flyers in April 2016. He played in 47 games for the AHL's Lehigh Valley Phantoms last season and 26 more this season. He's 1-1 in four appearances for Philadelphia.

The Flyers also activated goaltender Anthony Stolarz and sent him to the minors before making the move. Stolarz hasn't played this season following surgery to repair the meniscus in his left knee in September.

"We're in a tough situation - you lose your top two goalies when you're fighting for a playoff spot, and our players have worked hard for a long time now, and I didn't feel like it was fair to not have a proven NHL goaltender for this team," Hextall said.

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More NHL hockey: https://apnews.com/tags-NHLhockey
AMMAN, Jordan (AP) - Amer Othman's life turned upside down in an instant.

The Ohio entrepreneur, who came to the United States 38 years ago and won praise for helping revive once-blighted downtown Youngstown, was arrested during what he thought was another check-in with immigration authorities. He was detained for two weeks and then deported to his native Jordan.

Othman's supporters in the U.S. view such treatment as a particularly egregious example of the Trump administration's ramped-up deportation campaign that potentially targets anyone lacking the right papers, including long-time residents with American spouses and children.

In this Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018 photo, Amer Othman, 57, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Amman, Jordan. Othman's life turned upside down in an instant: The Ohio entrepreneur who came to the United States 38 years ago and won praise for helping revive once-blighted downtown Youngstown, was arrested during what he thought was another check-in with immigration authorities. He was detained for two weeks and deported to his native Jordan. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh)

Recent cases include a Missouri college lecturer and a Connecticut couple running a nail salon who won last-minute reprieves through local politicians but remain at risk of expulsion.

Supporters of the crackdown say immigration rules must be enforced, regardless of family and community ties of those targeted.

Othman's battle to remain in the United States goes back to the mid-1990s, when immigration authorities refused to renew his green card, alleging his first marriage in 1980 had been fraudulent.

Othman denies the charge, noting that his ex-wife later retracted an initial statement she said was made under duress. A deportation order was issued in 2007, but Othman he didn't feel at immediate risk - until last summer - because of ongoing appeals.

Three weeks after his arrival in Jordan, the 57-year-old Othman still seems in shock.

Speaking at his sister's apartment in the capital, Amman, he said he'll fight to return to "my Youngstown."

He might sue the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, or ICE, which he said locked him up needlessly, treating him like a criminal. "What ICE has done is un-American," said Othman, whose second wife Fidaa and their four adult daughters are U.S. citizens.

"The American people are completely and absolutely different from that," Othman said. Tears welled up as he described wide community support, including from Rep. Tim Ryan, a Democrat, and Youngstown Mayor Jamael Tito Brown. "I love the American people. I love my community," he said.

Ryan was previously able to keep Othman in the country through private bills in Congress, the first submitted in 2013.

Othman's deportation marks the first time ICE acted against recommendations of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security to hold off on an expulsion while a case is being reviewed, Ryan said.

"Now, here we are with a new set of rules because of the Trump administration," he said.

Othman's lawyer, David Leopold, said the deportation was "beyond inexplicable." He accused the administration of "playing a numbers game, without any coherent strategy."

ICE did not respond to two emails requesting comment on the Othman case.

Dan Cadman, a former long-time immigration official and fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, a group that advocates for more limits on immigration, said that "the answer in an orderly society cannot be to simply suspend or eliminate deportations."

"Justice is also due to the American people, not just to Mr. Othman and his family." he said. "At some point, the reckoning comes due and the bill must be paid. What is the purpose of having laws if they are to mean nothing?"

The Department of Homeland Security launched the crackdown a year ago, scrapping the Obama administration's instructions to limit deportations to public safety threats, convicted criminals and recent border crossers. This effectively made anyone without the proper papers vulnerable.

The shift is reflected in ICE statistics on deportations, including of those who have settled in the United States, or "internal removals," and those who recently crossed the border.

Internal removals increased from 65,332, or 27 percent of the total number of deportations, to 81,603, or 36 percent of the total, in a year. Within this category, deportations of those without a criminal record nearly tripled, from 5,104 to 13,744.

Othman, a descendant of Palestinian refugees from Jerusalem who fled to Jordan in the 1948 war over Israel's creation, said he arrived in California in 1979.

He briefly attended college, married a U.S. citizen in 1980, received a green card and divorced in 1982, he said. He moved to Youngstown, where he married Fidaa in 1988. The couple moved to Brazil for three years for business.

Upon his return to the U.S., he was told he had to apply for a new green card, but was ultimately turned down. In the meantime, he opened businesses in the Youngstown area.

In 2011, he opened the Downtown Circle, a convenience store and deli. Later, he added a bar and hookah bar, and bought another building in the area.

"Amer was the first private sector business guy to really put the flag in the ground in downtown," encouraging others, said Ryan.

Othman's legal troubles erupted anew in August when ICE told him he had 30 days to leave the country. His lawyer obtained an extension, and Othman walked out of the ICE office with a Jan. 7 departure deadline and an ankle bracelet to monitor his movements, he said.

Othman said he bought a plane ticket to Amman for Jan. 7, sold his home and taught his family how to run the businesses.

In early January, he held a news conference detailing the looming deadline. Amid widespread publicity, ICE told him later that day that the deadline was off and that he should instead report to ICE two weeks later. Elated, Othman thought he had won a reprieve.

On Jan. 16, he reported to the ICE office. To his shock, he was arrested and handcuffed. Feeling betrayed, he started a hunger strike.

Leopold said his client was locked up "like an animal for the sole purpose of publicly humiliating him before deportation."

In late January, Othman was driven to Cleveland airport for a flight to Chicago.

As his Amman-bound plane took off from Chicago, Othman looked at the city below, overwhelmed by mixed emotions.

"It was very sad for me to leave and just to know I have left my family behind me, my wife, my daughters, my businesses, my friends, my Youngstown," said Othman, who has since rented a furnished apartment in Amman and has been joined by his wife, who plans to travel back and forth.

"I thought I would never be back, even though in my mind, I'm going to fight as much as possible," he said.

__

Associated Press writers Dan Sewell in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Elliot Spagat in San Diego, California, contributed to this report.

In this Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018 photo, Amer Othman, 57, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Amman, Jordan. Othman's life turned upside down in an instant: The Ohio entrepreneur who came to the United States 38 years ago and won praise for helping revive once-blighted downtown Youngstown, was arrested during what he thought was another check-in with immigration authorities. He was detained for two weeks and deported to his native Jordan. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh)

In this Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018 photo, Amer Othman, 57, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Amman, Jordan. Othman's life turned upside down in an instant: The Ohio entrepreneur who came to the United States 38 years ago and won praise for helping revive once-blighted downtown Youngstown, was arrested during what he thought was another check-in with immigration authorities. He was detained for two weeks and deported to his native Jordan. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh)
A shopper has been fined 184,000 for trying to avoid paying 40 for a piece of veal at a self-service checkout in Germany.

The businessman was convicted of theft after being caught trying to pass off the calf liver as cheaper fruit, paying a fraction of the cost at a supermarket in Munich.

The 58-year-old, who has not been named, had done the same thing three times before, according to German media.

A shopper has been fined 184,000 for trying to avoid paying 40 for a piece of veal liver (file picture) at a self-service checkout in Germany

Munich's district court based the huge fine on the man's monthly income of 24,000 euros.

He was released from jail, where he had been held since the theft in December.

It later emerged that the businessman had past convictions for theft and had been released from jail in 2017 after serving two prison sentences over tax evasion.

A district court in Munich (file picture) based the huge fine on the man's monthly income of 24,000 euros

Munich court spokesman Klaus-Peter Juengst said on Tuesday that the defendant did not appeal the verdict, which was issued last month.

Calf liver is often found on menus in and around the Bavarian capital in southern Germany.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - Mudslides blocked the only road to a small New Zealand town Wednesday after a powerful Pacific storm caused disruptions across parts of the country.

The 1,000 tourists and 5,000 locals in Takaka are not entirely trapped, but would have to use a boat, helicopter or small plane to leave town now or wait a week or more before the road is cleared and repaired.

The storm that hit late Tuesday was the remnants of Cyclone Gita, which last week ripped through the Pacific nation of Tonga, destroying homes, churches and the historic Parliament House.

In this Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, image made from video, flood waters from a strong storm surround a home in Nelson, New Zealand. Parts of New Zealand have declared an emergency as remnants of Cyclone Gita hits, causing flooding and forcing some people to evacuate their homes. (TVNZ via AP)

The winds weakened as the storm moved on an arc through the Pacific. But the heavy rains were enough to cause disruptions in New Zealand, although the country escaped major damage.

Tasman District Mayor Richard Kempthorne said the main concern was ensuring Takaka had enough fuel and food. He said he'd been working with civil defense authorities to ensure supplies were being brought in by boat.

The town is at the north end of South Island and is near Abel Tasman National Park, popular for its hiking and stunning beaches. Kempthorne said people in Takaka remained in good spirits.

"They're holding up fine, they're quite resilient and self-sufficient," he said.

He said about 80 people from the nearby town of Riwaka had evacuated overnight due to fears their homes would be flooded. Some had been asked to leave by New Zealand's military.

Several places declared an emergency as the storm hit, although most were spared major damage.

National carrier Air New Zealand has canceled some flights since Tuesday afternoon from the capital, Wellington, and was working through the backlog Wednesday. The city of Christchurch asked residents to keep showers short and delay washing clothes as the city's wastewater system came under pressure from rain water.

Dozens of schools were closed and power outages were continuing to affect thousands of homes.

The weather on Wednesday was sunny and calm in most places as the storm moved away from New Zealand.

"The weather is really nice now," Kempthorne said. "You wouldn't believe what we had yesterday. I mean, apart from damage that's been caused."

In this image made from video, mudslides from a strong storm block a main mountain road, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018, in the Tasman District, New Zealand. Parts of New Zealand have declared an emergency as remnants of Cyclone Gita hits, causing flooding and forcing some people to evacuate their homes. (TVNZ via AP)

In this Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, image made from video, flood waters from a strong storm surround a home in Nelson, New Zealand. Parts of New Zealand have declared an emergency as remnants of Cyclone Gita hits, causing flooding and forcing some people to evacuate their homes. (TVNZ via AP)

In this image made from video, linemen repair power lines damaged in a strong storm, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018, in Taranaki, New Zealand. Parts of New Zealand have declared an emergency as remnants of Cyclone Gita hits, causing flooding and forcing some people to evacuate their homes. (TVNZ via AP)
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - Australia continued to work effectively with Cambodia, an Australian minister said on Wednesday after news that a murdered Cambodian political activist's family had been accepted as refugees.

Kem Ley's wife and five children arrived in the Australian city of Melbourne from Thailand on Saturday, state officials said on Tuesday.

Kem Ley was shot dead in a convenience store in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, in July 2016, and his family escaped to a Thai refugee camp.

Peter Dutton, as minister for immigration and border protection, has encouraged refugees rejected by Australia to resettle in Cambodia, arguing that they would be safe from persecution in the developing Southeast Asian country with a tarnished human rights record.

Dutton, who is now home affairs ministers, told reporters on Wednesday that he would not discuss the refugee case of the slain activist's family.

"We take our international obligations very seriously. We also have a very good working relationship with the Cambodian government," Dutton told the National Press Club.

"There is a lot, by way of equity, in that relationship and we'll continue to work very effectively with the Cambodian government," Dutton added.

Alleged gunman Oeut Ang was sentenced by a Cambodian court last year to life in prison after he confessed to shooting the activist for failing to repay a personal debt.

There was speculation that Oeut Ang was a scapegoat, and that the murder was politically motivated because of Kem Ley's caustic commentaries about Prime Minister Hun Sen and his government.

Last week, exiled former Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy questioned the prospect of Australia resettling the slain activist's family when Australia continues to pay Cambodia to accept refugees that Australia holds in the Pacific island nation of Nauru.

Australia has stopped asylum seekers from attempting to reach its shores by boat by refusing to accept them and banishing all boat arrivals to Australian-run immigration camps on Nauru and Papua New Guinea.

Australia agreed in 2014 to pay Cambodia $35 million over four years to resettle an unspecified number of asylum seekers held on Nauru.

Only seven refugees took up the offer and reportedly only three remain there.

"It would be very embarrassing to accept refugees from Cambodia when you want to send refugees to Cambodia," Rainsy told the National Press Club.

The United States is in the process of resettling up to 1,250 of Australia's refugees from Nauru and Papua New Guinea.
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) - Marina Stevanov never doubted she would leave Serbia as soon as she earned her medical degree. Now, the 25-year-old doctor is packing her diploma, medical books and a German language dictionary for a job at an elite hospital in Austria.

Rampant unemployment, low wages, corruption and a lack of opportunity to advance careers are driving thousands of young and educated adults to emigrate from Europe's Balkan nations.

As fresh talent decamps for Western Europe, the U.S. or oil-rich Persian Gulf countries, the massive brain drain puts their struggling countries on even more uneven footing, with populations increasingly made up of people less educated or elderly.

Bosnia ranked 135th out of 137 countries for "capacity to retain talent" in a World Economic Forum report. Serbia placed 134th and Croatia at 131st.
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) - Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia appealed a five-year prison sentence in a corruption case on Tuesday, with her lawyers arguing that the verdict was politically motivated and influenced by the government.

Her conviction means that Zia, the opposition leader and archrival of the current prime minister, could be barred from running in December national elections.

Zia was convicted on Feb. 8 of misusing power in embezzling some $250,000 in donations meant for an orphanage trust established when she first became prime minister in 1991.

FILE- In this Dec. 28, 2017 file photo, Bangladesh's former prime minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia, center, leaves after a court appearance in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Zia appealed a five-year prison sentence in a corruption case on Tuesday, with her lawyers arguing that the verdict was politically motivated and influenced by the government. (AP Photo/A.M. Ahad, File)

The court also sentenced Zia's son, Tarique Rahman, and four others to 10 years in prison for involvement in the case.

Moudud Ahmed, a top aide to Zia and one of her counsels, told reporters after appealing to the High Court on Tuesday that the verdict was doctored by the authorities. The government has denied the allegation.

Bangladesh law says anyone imprisoned for more than two years cannot run for office for the next five years.

The chief election commissioner recently said that because of the verdict Zia is ineligible to run, but that the final decision would depend on the higher court.

Zia faces more than 30 other charges, ranging from corruption to sedition. Bangladesh politics are deeply fractious, with current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Zia ruling the country alternately since 1991, when democracy was restored.

Both women emerged from political dynasties. Zia is the widow of Ziaur Rahman, a general-turned-president who was assassinated in 1981. Hasina is the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country's first president who was assassinated in 1975.

In the last election in 2014, Zia's party and its political allies boycotted the race, allowing Hasina to return to power with a landslide victory.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) - A Pakistani prosecutor says the serial child killer who was given the death sentence last week for killing eight children in eastern Punjab province has filed an appeal against his conviction and sentence.

Munir Siyal said on Tuesday that Mohammad Imran filed the appeal in Lahore's High Court, stating that his trial was conducted in haste. Imran had pleaded guilty during the five-day trial conducted at a prison in Lahore.

A court last Saturday sentenced him to death for killing eight children, including a 7-year-old Zainab Ansari whose rape and murder shocked Pakistan.

Imran was arrested in January, two weeks after authorities say he raped and killed Zainab and threw her body into a garbage dump in the city of Kasur.

The case has also triggered street protests in Kasur.
One Pennsylvania resident has been called to perform his civic duty a few years earlier than expected.

Jeanette Fox says her son came running to her with a summons from the Chester County court to appear for jury duty in March. Her son, Luke, is only 11 years old.

'I got summoned to jury duty,' Luke said. 'I'm only 11 so I didn't think it would ever happen.'

Fox says she tried to go online to request an exemption, but there was no option to select for those too young to serve. She says she made multiple phone calls, and a person who answered said the county had recently changed companies that pull the list for people who receive summonses.

The summons came with dress code recommendations for the day, tips on things to bring, and even directions on where to park a car - something that didn't apply to 11-year old Luke.

The error was eventually fixed, but Fox says her son was excited to go. Luke is a Boy Scout, and he toured the Chester County Courthouse last year.

Luke Fox, 11, was called for jury duty by Chester County, Pennsylvania authorities - despite the fact his age made him ineligible to serve

He was also interested in the fact that he'd get off from school for jury duty.

'They sit during the court case and listen to both sides of the story and they go into the back room, discuss it and take a vote on if the person is guilty or not,' he said.

'I think he would've done a great job,' Jeanette said. 'I would have worried more about the content he was hearing.'

A representative from the Chester County Courthouse said that if a minor gets a jury summons, they should request an exemption. It's not immediately clear how Luke's name got in the pool of names taken for jury duty.
ATHENS, Greece (AP) - A group of Turks who reached a Greek island by dinghy from Turkey are seeking political asylum in Greece, authorities in Athens said Tuesday.

The 17 were reportedly Turkish civil servants and their families who fled a government crackdown in the wake of a failed 2016 coup.

The coast guard said the Turks, including six children, were found Monday on the eastern Aegean Sea island of Oinousses, and taken to the nearby island of Chios where a refugee center is located.

Turkey has arrested more than 50,000 people since the failed coup and fired at least 110,000 others from government jobs. The crackdown was initially launched to deal with alleged coup-plotters, but critics say it has expanded to include other government opponents, such as academics, journalists and legislators.

Also Tuesday, Turkey's state-run news agency reported that local authorities detained five people who were allegedly trying to illegally cross into Greece, as well as a suspected smuggler.

They were suspected of links to U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkey blames for the coup. Gulen denies the accusation.

The group was in a van in the western town of Havsa, near Turkey's land border with Greece that runs along the Evros, or Meric, river when they were stopped, Anadolu Agency reported.

Turkish police seized an inflatable boat, a pair of oars and 10 life jackets.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - The suspect in the fatal shooting of two Ohio police officers is being held without bail as the potential death penalty case proceeds.

Thirty-year-old Quentin Smith is charged with aggravated murder in the Feb. 10 shootings of Westerville officers Eric Joering and Anthony Morelli. They were responding to a 911 hang-up call at Smith's home in the Columbus suburb.

Prosecutors requested that the court deny bail for Smith, characterizing him as a danger to the community.

Flowers and signs adorn a Westerville Police car at a memorial outside the police department following a procession transporting the bodies of Westerville Police Officer Eric Joering and Anthony Morelli from the Franklin County Coroners Office to the Hill and Moreland funeral homes in Westerville, Ohio, Monday, Feb. 12, 2018. (Adam Cairns/The Columbus Dispatch via AP)

A public defender represented Smith during his initial appearance Tuesday in Franklin County Municipal Court and didn't object to him being jailed without bail.

Investigators say Smith was wounded when he exchanged gunfire with police. In court, he had one hand bandaged and the other arm hidden beneath his jail uniform.

FILE - These undated file photos provided by the City of Westerville, Ohio show Officers Eric Joering, 39, left, and Anthony Morelli, 54, who were fatally shot while responding to a hang-up 9-1-1 call on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. A prosecutor is asking that Quentin Smith, the suspect in the fatal shooting of the two police officers be held without bail or bond as the potential death penalty case proceeds. Smith is charged with aggravated murder in the Feb. 10 shootings of Westerville officers Eric Joering and Anthony Morelli. (City of Westerville via AP, File)
PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (AP) - Martin Fourcade earned a third gold medal at the Pyeongchang Winter Games and solidified his legacy as the most successful Olympic champion in French history by anchoring his team to victory in the biathlon mixed relay.

The 29-year-old Fourcade became the first athlete to win three gold medals in Pyeongchang, lifting his career tally to five Olympic gold medals. That's the most of any French athlete in Summer or Winter Olympics.

Fourcade was at his best, erasing a nearly 38-second deficit on the last leg of the relay by hitting all 10 shots to help the French team of Marie Dorin Habert, Anais Bescond and Simon Desthieux to the come-from-behind win.

The French team celebrates their gold medal in the 2x6-kilometer women's + 2x7.5-kilometer men's mixed relay biathlon at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. They are (L-R) Anais Bescond, Marie Dorin Hapert, Martin Fourcade, and Simon Desthieux. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

The victory was a little less dramatic than this photo finish decision over Germany's Simon Schempp in the mass start. This time Fourcade had enough of a lead to wave the French flag as he crossed the finish line for his team in 1 hour, 8 minutes and 34.3 seconds, more than 20 seconds ahead of second place Norway.

Italy won the bronze.

It was a blown opportunity for Germany.

Arnd Peiffer, a late replacement for Schempp as anchor, inherited a 37.9 second lead of Fourcade but struggled to hit his targets on the final two shoots and gave up the lead.

Germany, which had three gold medals in the biathlon coming into the event - including one by Peiffer - finished off the podium in fourth place.

Only Norway's Ole Einar Bjoerndalen (eight) has more Olympic gold medals in the biathlon than Fourcade.

Martin Fourcade, of France, skis across the finish line with the French flag winning the gold medal for Team France in the 2x6-kilometer women's + 2x7.5-kilometer men's mixed relay biathlon at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Martin Fourcade, of France, skis across the finish line with the French flag winning the gold medal for Team France in the 2x6-kilometer women's + 2x7.5-kilometer men's mixed relay biathlon at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Martin Fourcade, of France, skis during the 2x6-kilometer women's + 2x7.5-kilometer men's mixed relay biathlon at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Martin Fourcade, of France, skis across the finish line with the French flag wining the gold medal for the French team in the 2x6-kilometer women's + 2x7.5-kilometer men's mixed relay biathlon at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
WASHINGTON (AP) - A 33-year-old attorney fired last year by a prominent international law firm became the fourth person to plead guilty in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation, admitting Tuesday that he lied to federal investigators about his contacts with a Trump campaign official.

Alex van der Zwaan, who worked at the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, admitted in Washington's federal court Tuesday to making false statements about his interactions with former Trump campaign aide Rick Gates. His plea deal may allow him to avoid prison.

Van der Zwaan's plea comes on the heels of an extraordinary indictment from Mueller last week that charged 13 Russian individuals and three Russian companies in a hidden but robust social media effort that provoked on-the-ground rallies and sought to meddle in the 2016 U.S. presidential election by denigrating Democrat Hillary Clinton and boosting the successful campaign of Republican Donald Trump.

Alex van der Zwaan arrives at Federal District Court in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. Van der Zwaan has been accused of lying to investigators about his interactions with Rick Gates, who was indicted last year along with Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump's campaign chairman, on charges of conspiracy to launder money and acting as an unregistered foreign agent. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

But the charge against the attorney, who is also the son-in-law of a Russian billionaire, does not involve election meddling or relate to the Trump campaign's operations. Instead, it stems from the special counsel's investigation into Paul Manafort, Trump's former campaign chair, and Gates, who is a longtime business associate of Manafort.

Gates and Manafort were indicted last year on charges that they conspired to launder millions of dollars and directed a covert Washington lobbying campaign on behalf of pro-Russian Ukrainian interests. Both men have pleaded not guilty.

On Tuesday, van der Zwaan, a Dutch citizen who authorities say lives in London, admitted to lying to federal investigators while they questioned him about the production of a report that Manafort and Gates are accused of secretly funding by funneling $4 million through an offshore account.

The report, authored by Skadden Arps, focused on the trial of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, a political foe of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, whose political party was a client of Gates and Manafort.

The false statements van der Zwaan admitted to making involved the timing of his last communication with Gates and a person, described as "Person A," who was a longtime business associate of Manafort and Gates in Ukraine.

According to court papers attached to his plea agreement, the conversations, including some using encrypted applications, occurred in September 2016 and involved possible criminal charges being brought in Ukraine against a former Ukrainian official, Manafort and "Law Firm A," an apparent reference to Skadden Arps.

The Nov. 3, 2017, questioning of van der Zwaan occurred just days after Manafort's indictment and, according to court papers, while prosecutors still were investigating potential violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

The charge against van der Zwaan carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, though sentencing guideline ranges discussed in court placed the more likely punishment from zero to six months.

In addition to the false statements, court papers reveal that in late July or early August of 2012, van der Zwaan, without authorization, gave an advance draft of the Tymoshenko report to a public relations firm working for the Ukrainian Ministry of Justice. In September 2012, he also provided Gates with talking points for use in a public relations campaign.

On Tuesday, Skadden Arps released a statement saying it had fired van der Zwaan last year, and it "has been cooperating with authorities in connection with this matter."

"The conduct to which Alex has pled guilty is contrary to our values, policies and expectations," the firm added.

Last year, van der Zwaan married the daughter of Ukrainian-Russian billionaire German Khan, according to the Russian editions of Forbes and Tatler magazines.

Khan, who was born in Kiev, shares control of one of Russia's biggest financial and industrial investment conglomerates, Alfa Group, with fellow billionaires Mikhail Fridman and Alexei Kuzmichev. Forbes estimates Khan is worth about $10 billion.

Khan and his partners are suing Buzzfeed News over its publication of a dossier of allegations about ties between Trump and Russia. The dossier, which is a collection of memoranda authored by former British spy Christopher Steele, makes several claims about Alfa Group that the partners say are false and defamatory.

Buzzfeed is fighting the lawsuit. The dossier has become a political lightning rod because Steele's work was funded in part by Clinton's campaign and the Democratic National Committee. Parts of Steele's work were also used in obtaining a secret warrant to monitor Carter Page, a former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser.

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Associated Press writers Jeff Horwitz and Desmond Butler in Washington and Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed to this report.

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Read van der Zwaan's plea agreement: http://apne.ws/3H8TtLg
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on President Donald Trump (all times local):

10:55 a.m.

President Donald Trump is lashing out at a woman who claims he once forcibly kissed her, saying it "Never happened!"

President Donald Trump gestures as he walks 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)

Trump tweeted Tuesday: "Who would do this in a public space with live security......cameras running. Another False Accusation." Trump says he doesn't know Rachel Crooks and "to the best of my knowledge, never met" her.

Crooks is among 14 women who have accused Trump of past inappropriate behavior. Trump has denied the allegations. The Washington Post featured Crooks in a story Tuesday.

Trump asks why doesn't the Post "report the story of the women taking money to make up stories about me?"

Crooks went public during the 2016 election. She said she was a 22-year-old receptionist at Trump Tower in New York in 2005 when Trump kissed her repeatedly on the cheeks and then "directly on the mouth" during an introductory conversation.

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8:50 a.m.

President Donald Trump is crediting "popular Tax Cuts which the Dems want to take away" with giving his Republican Party an edge in recent polling.

Trump tweeted Tuesday: "Republicans are now leading the Generic Poll, perhaps because of the popular Tax Cuts which the Dems want to take away. Actually, they want to raise you taxes, substantially. Also, they want to do nothing on DACA, R's want to fix!"

Generic polls ask voters which political party they plan to vote for, not which candidate.

No Democrats voted for the $1.5 trillion tax cut Trump signed into law before Christmas. Democrats say corporations - not individuals - received too many of the benefits.

Trump also criticized Democrats on immigration, saying they don't want to protect from deportation individuals who were brought to the U.S. as children and stayed illegally. Democrats say protecting "Dreamers" is a priority but won't agree to Trump's demands for a border wall.

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8:45 a.m.

President Donald Trump is encouraging Pennsylvania's political leaders to challenge a new court-imposed congressional map all the way to the Supreme Court, if necessary.

Trump tweets Tuesday to Pennsylvania: "Your Original was correct! Don't let the Dems take elections away from you so that they can raise taxes & waste money!"

The Democratic-majority Pennsylvania Supreme Court voted 4-3 on Monday to impose a new map for the state's 18 congressional districts, effective for the May 15 primary. The new map substantially overhauls a Republican-drawn congressional map widely viewed as among the most gerrymandered in the nation, and boosts Democrats heading into November's election.

The new boundaries will usher in changes to Pennsylvania's predominantly Republican congressional delegation, which is already facing big changes with six open seats.

Legal challenges are expected.

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8:35 a.m.

President Donald Trump is again accusing his predecessor of not doing enough to prevent Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

Trump tweets that's because President Barack Obama "thought Crooked Hillary was going to win and he didn't want to 'rock the boat.'" But Trump says when he won "the whole game changed and the Russian excuse became the narrative of the Dems."

Trump's tweet Tuesday included a quote from Obama saying in October 2016 that "there is no serious person out there who would suggest somehow that you could even rig America's elections." Obama was addressing Trump's claims of voter fraud, not Russia's attempt to influence voters on social media.

Obama has defended his response to Russian meddling, saying he had told the Russian president to "cut it out."

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2 a.m.

President Donald Trump is offering support for taking limited steps to strengthen the federal background checks on gun purchases.

The White House says he spoke Friday to Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, about a bipartisan bill designed to strengthen the FBI database of prohibited gun buyers.

Spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders qualified the support, stressing that talks continue and "revisions are being considered," but said "the president is supportive of efforts to improve the federal background check system."

Demonstrators hold signs during a protest in favor of gun control reform in front of the White House, Monday, Feb. 19, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Demonstrators hold signs during a protest in favor of gun control reform in front of the White House, Monday, Feb. 19, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Demonstrators participate in a "lie-in" during a protest in favor of gun control reform in front of the White House, Monday, Feb. 19, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Anna Hurley, 15, of Washington, top, and other demonstrators participate in a "lie-in" during a protest in favor of gun control reform in front of the White House, Monday, Feb. 19, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
LONDON (AP) - Oxfam's leadership apologized Tuesday for downplaying the significance of a sexual misconduct scandal in Haiti as they were grilled by British lawmakers and sought to stem the tide of cancelled donations.

Appearing before Parliament's International Development Committee, Oxfam Great Britain CEO Mark Goldring repeatedly apologized for a lack of transparency and urgency in handling the original allegations.

Goldring said he regretted making comments in the Guardian newspaper suggesting that the response to the scandal had been out of proportion because no one had "murdered babies in their cots."

In this image taken from video, Mark Goldring, CEO of Oxfam GB, gives evidence before the Commons Development Committee at Portcullis House, London, Tuesday Feb. 20, 2018. British lawmakers are set to question officials of two anti-poverty charities Tuesday amid concern sex predators are targeting aid organizations because of the chaotic environments in which they work. (PA via AP)

"I should not have said those things. It is not for Oxfam to judge issues of proportionality or motivation," he said. "I am sorry, we are sorry, for the damage Oxfam has done both to the people of Haiti but also to wider efforts for aid and development by possibly undermining public support."

The committee called the urgent session amid fury over Oxfam's response to allegations that some of its staff in Haiti used prostitutes, including some who may have been minors. The scandal has shaken the aid group to the core, with the government suspending funding for the agency.

In addition, Oxfam said Tuesday that about 7,000 individual donors have canceled regular donations in the past 10 days and some corporate sponsors are reserving judgment.

Seven Oxfam workers were fired or resigned in 2011 after a whistleblower accused staff members of misconduct while working in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake that devastated the country. Government officials and Britain's charity regulator have said that Oxfam didn't tell them the allegations included sexual misconduct until Britain's Times newspaper revealed details of the case earlier this month.

Goldring said that with hindsight, the charity's leaders made the wrong call at the time of their initial investigation about how much information to give to the public and government authorities. But he said he believed those decisions were made in the interest of continuing vital aid to desperate people.

"At the time, I suspect there was a balance of saying 'Oxfam is delivering life-saving assistance to a million people in Haiti ... We have got to keep that work going'," he said.

But some members of the panel were having none of it. Conservative committee member Pauline Latham noted that she had heard allegations of aid workers abusing women as early as two years ago at an international conference - and that no one was doing anything about it.

"That's shocking," she said. "You are all supposed to be good people trying to help the world, but it would appear you are not as good as you should be."

British lawmakers also questioned officials from Save the Children UK amid concern sex predators are targeting aid organizations because of the chaotic environments in which they work.

CEO Kevin Watkins said the organization had produced two reports warning that "predatory men" were seeking to use aid work as an opportunity for abuse. The reports underscored the imbalance of power between those providing food, shelter and security and those in need of aid.

"I have seen it argued that if you work in a difficult and dangerous place, you should somehow be subjected to a different set of rules, that the standards should be lower," he testified. "There is only one rule that should apply to our mission and our organization. That is that you treat other people as you would expect to be treated yourself."
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - A Kansas City school allowed a violent felon to pick up a 14-year-old student who was then taken to a motel and raped, according to a lawsuit.

The now 21-year-old woman is suing Kansas City Public Schools, a former principal and an attendance secretary at Lincoln College Preparatory Academy, alleging the district violated its own policies by allowing the man - a relative and a convicted murderer - to take her from the school in May 2010. He was later convicted in a separate rape of a woman and her young daughter.

Her attorney, Gerald McGonagle, called it a "parent's worst nightmare."

"It shocks the conscience," he told the Kansas City Star . "You send your kids to school, you expect your kids to be safe, and the school allows a predator to come on the premises and walk out with your kid."

The school district said it doesn't comment on pending litigation.

The lawsuit alleges the then-teenager was in class in May 2010 when Roy Andrews arrived at the school and told school officials he had authority from the girl's family to pick her. The family was aware of Andrews' criminal history and had not authorized him to take her, according to the lawsuit. Andrews, now 51, is a relative of the girl's mother, McGonagle said.

The lawsuit alleges the school's policy allowed students to be released only to authorized persons. Parents were required to complete a form listing everyone allowed to pick up their children, and the girl's mother did so at the beginning of that school year, the lawsuit alleges.

Andrews left the school with the girl, drove her to a motel in the Kansas City suburb of Independence, and then raped her, the lawsuit said.

Andrews was never charged in the attack. But in 2012, DNA evidence linked him to a 1990 sexual assault of a woman and her 11-year-old daughter. Andrews pleaded guilty just prior to the start of his trial.

McGonagle said evidence from his client's case was used in the discussion that led to the guilty plea. Andrews is now serving an 18-year prison sentence for the 1990 crime.

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Information from: The Kansas City Star, http://www.kcstar.com
Alexandre Pato saved Chinese side Tianjin Quanjian from a first loss in its first Asian Champions League when his late goal earned a 1-1 draw with Kashiwa Reysol of Japan on Tuesday.

Tianjin was heading for defeat in its second Group E game after Cristiano put Kashiwa ahead in the second half to atone for squandering a first-half penalty shot.

With two minutes remaining, former Brazil international Pato hit a rebound into an open net.

Two-time champion Jeonbuk Motors of South Korea led the group after thrashing Kitchee in Hong Kong 6-0.

Ulsan Hyundai of South Korea defeated J-League champion Kawasaki Frontale 2-1. Ulsan went up 2-0 pouncing on Frontale errors in defense.

Frontale scored with five minutes remaining but it fell to two defeats in two matches, and faces group leader Shanghai SIPG next.

Shanghai routed the Melbourne Victory 4-1 with Oscar scoring twice and Hulk once.

Hulk broke the deadlock after 27 minutes with a penalty, and a Wu Lei header doubled the lead just before the break. When Oscar scored soon after the restart, the contest looked to be over.

But Besart Berisha gave Melbourne hope from the spot midway through the second half, until the second from Oscar secured the points.
PARIS (AP) - The French prosecutor's office says three people have been detained in France in connection with August's deadly attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils.

The arrests were made in the southern French regions of Tarn and Gard Tuesday after a decision by a French judge last month to launch a full inquiry into the Spanish attacks, which left 16 dead during the peak tourist season.

The three individuals are being held over the inquiry into "attempted murder as part of a terrorist enterprise" and "criminal terrorist association." The identities and nationalities of the three have not been disclosed.

No charges have been made.

The French prosecutor's office said the three are in the network of one of the attack suspects in Spain but declined to elaborate.
DUGGER, Ind. (AP) - Authorities say a 12-year-old girl has been arrested after making online threats toward students and staff at a school in rural western Indiana.

The Sullivan County sheriff says she's responsible for threats via Snapchat directed at Dugger-Union Community School. Sheriff Clark Cottom says no weapons were found and she faces an intimidation charge.

The case is among about a dozen school threats in Indiana since the deadly shooting last week at a Florida high school.

Social media threats have also resulted in the arrests of two male students from Carmel High School near Indianapolis and a student at Columbus East High School in southern Indiana. Evansville police says a 17-year-old boy faces intimidation charges for writing a violence threat on a bathroom stall door last week at Reitz High School.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on the Russia probe (all times local):

3:25 p.m.

An attorney for a prominent law firm is pleading guilty to lying to federal authorities about his interactions with a former Trump campaign associate.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, announces 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, in Washington. The defendants are accused of violating U.S. criminal laws to interfere with American elections and the political process. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Alex van der Zwaan is entering the plea in federal court in Washington where he is admitting to lying to special counsel Robert Mueller's investigators about his interactions with Rick Gates. Gates is a former aide on President Donald Trump's campaign and a longtime associate of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort.

The charge against van der Zwaan does not involve election meddling or the Trump campaign's operations. It stems from the special counsel's investigation into a covert Washington lobbying campaign Manafort and Gates are accused of directing on behalf of pro-Russian Ukrainian interests.

Manafort and Gates have pleaded not guilty.

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10 a.m.

The law firm where a lawyer charged by special counsel Robert Mueller used to work says it fired him last year and has been cooperating with authorities.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP issued a statement Tuesday after news broke that Alex van der Zwaan had been charged with lying to investigators.

A charging document filed in federal court in Washington accuses van der Zwaan of lying to investigators about his interactions with Rick Gates, a former Trump campaign official.

Gates was indicted last year along with Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump's campaign chairman, on charges of conspiracy to launder money and acting as an unregistered foreign agent.

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9:35 a.m.

Special counsel Robert Mueller's prosecutors have filed a new charge against a lawyer they say lied to federal investigators in the Russia probe.

A charging document filed in federal court in Washington on Tuesday accuses Alex van der Zwaan of one charge of making false statements. The information was filed ahead of a plea hearing scheduled for later Tuesday.

The court filing says that van der Zwaan lied to investigators about his interactions with Rick Gates. Gates, a former Trump campaign aide, was indicted last year on charges of conspiracy to launder money and acting as an unregistered foreign agent.

Mueller is investigating Russian election interference and links between the Trump campaign and Russia.

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8:36 a.m.

President Donald Trump is again accusing his predecessor of not doing enough to prevent Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

Trump tweets that's because President Barack Obama "thought Crooked Hillary was going to win and he didn't want to 'rock the boat.'" But Trump says when he won "the whole game changed and the Russian excuse became the narrative of the Dems."

Trump's tweet Tuesday included a quote from Obama saying in October 2016 that "there is no serious person out there who would suggest somehow that you could even rig America's elections." Obama was addressing Trump's claims of voter fraud, not Russia's attempt to influence voters on social media.

Obama has defended his response to Russian meddling, saying he had told the Russian president to "cut it out."
BERLIN (AP) - German police say a Muslim woman wearing a veil covering her entire face and body was attacked and verbally abused inside a Berlin store.

Police said Tuesday a 28-year-old woman insulted the victim and ripped the veil of the burqa from her head.

The attacker then followed the 54-year-old victim out of the store and continued shouting anti-foreigner abuse at her before being detained by police. Police gave no more details of the incident.

Last year the German Parliament approved a government proposal to ban the wearing of all veils that fully cover the face by public employees in schools, courts and other institutions.

Anti-Islam groups have called for a total ban on the wearing of all full-face veils in Germany.
"Down the River Unto the Sea" (Mulholland Books), by Walter Mosley

Few mystery writers can examine issues of race - how it divides and binds people - as clearly and unflinchingly as Walter Mosley, who returns to this theme in his stand-alone novel "Down the River Unto the Sea."

Racism, corruption and injustice flow well in this novel, which introduces former NYPD Detective Joe King Oliver, now the owner-operator of King Detective Service in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood of New York City. King, as he prefers to be called, spent several months in jail on phony assault charges before the case was dropped without an explanation. That was 13 years ago, and the arrest ended his police career and his marriage. It also "broke" him because of the frequent beatings and violence he endured from other prisoners and guards while in jail. Except for his 17-year-old daughter, Aja-Denise, he lives an isolated life. "Human connection only reminded me of what I could lose," he says.

This cover image released by Mulholland Books shows "Down the River Unto the Sea," a novel by Walter Mosley. (Mulholland Books via AP)

King is jolted when he receives a letter from the woman who accused him of assault, saying that crooked cops forced her to bring the charges. King wasn't a popular detective, but doesn't know what he did to incur such hatred. He's barely begun to look into what happened to him when he is asked to look into the case of A Free Man, the name militant journalist Leonard Compton calls himself. Compton is on death row for shooting two police officers though he claimed it was self-defense.

King's investigations take him on a journey to underground bars - the kind that need a password - after-hours nightclubs and remote diners. Along the way, he unleashes a maelstrom of violence. He's helped by Melquarth Frost, a vicious career criminal who hasn't forgotten that King once saved his life.

Examining how discrimination and prejudice affects African-Americans is right in Mosley's wheelhouse. The author doesn't miss a beat weaving this into the gritty plot of "Down the River Unto the Sea."

While the plot soars, King doesn't land as completely formed. Mosley's Easy Rawlins ruled "Devil in a Blue Dress" from the first page; Leonid McGill, Fearless Jones and Socrates Fortlow were also memorable. King needs a bit more sculpting before he reaches the level of Mosley's other characters.

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Online:

http://www.waltermosley.com/
VALLETTA, Malta (AP) - Authorities at Malta's only airport say a fire in a fish tank pump room forced the airport to close for two hours while half-a- dozen incoming flights were diverted to Sicily.

No one was injured in the fire on Tuesday, which began in a room that holds pumps for a decorative aquarium located in the arrivals area at Malta International Airport.

Airport officials say hundreds of passengers were evacuated and 16 flights were affected. They say 10 departing flights were delayed while six incoming flights were rerouted to nearby Catania, Sicily.

When the airport reopened, the rerouted flights made their way back to Malta. Malta International Airport is the only airport serving the Mediterranean island nation.
PRYOR, Okla. (AP) - Google is planning to open another four-story data center in Oklahoma, bringing the company's total investment in the state to at least $2.5 billion.

The Tulsa World reports the company recently announced its plans for the $600 million data center. The plans call for expanding Google's campus at the MidAmerica Industrial Park near Pryor, which is about 40 miles (64 kilometers) northeast of Tulsa.

Officials declined to give a timeline for the project or how it would affect job totals. But leaders in Pryor say the expansion could add up to $200,000 to the local economy in tax revenues for the next couple of years.

The Mayes County campus currently employs more than 400 people.

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Information from: Tulsa World, http://www.tulsaworld.com
FAIRMONT, W.Va. (AP) - A West Virginia pastor's support for homosexuality could get her church voted out of local and state Baptist groups.

Pastor Valerie Gittings at First Baptist Church of Fairmont has publicly endorsed a local human rights ordinance that includes sexual orientation under its protections, the Times West Virginian reported .

That position put her at odds with the Fairmont Baptist Association. Its executive board voted Monday to recommend dis-fellowship of the church from the association, and thereby from the West Virginia Baptist Convention.

The division began during a Sept. 12 Fairmont City Council meeting where a human rights commission ordinance was being discussed. Gittings spoke in favor of the ordinance, which would include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes. Gittings said she was unaware at the time that a convention resolution prohibits pastors from taking a different stance from the convention on homosexuality.

After the association discussed the matter in November, one recommendation was that Gittings resign and no action be taken against the church because it was her personal stance and not that of the church as a whole.

Gittings said she offered to resign, but her church didn't want her to.

She said First Baptist may join the Rochester Genesee Region American Baptist Churches, which she said accepts churches like hers. The Fairmont Baptist Association's full board will meet soon to vote on the matter, she said.

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Information from: Times West Virginian, http://www.timeswv.com
"The French Girl" (Berkley), by Lexie Elliott

Friendship, love, murder, drugs: What could go wrong? It should have been a carefree week in a French farmhouse for Katie, her boyfriend and four university friends, but when Severine, the strikingly beautiful girl next door, appeared, her presence exposed cracks in the group's bond. Then she vanished. Now, a decade later, Katie is brooding over a decade-old breakup and struggling to start her own company when she receives a phone call. Severine's body has been found in a well behind the farmhouse, and suddenly Katie and her friends are of keen interest to the police.

Lexie Elliott's "The French Girl" commands attention. The author provides the perfect dose of character development before unveiling eerie details from her cast's past, ensuring that we're properly unnerved when their lives begin to unravel. Katie's charming demeanor combined with her endearing self-awareness produce a main character that readers will find themselves begging, "Please don't be the murderer." Her multifaceted relationships with her friends prove realistic and engaging, and the British pubs, flats and offices where their lives intertwine serve as relevant backdrops.

While the crux of the story rests in events that occurred 10 years ago, Elliott opts to forgo the alternating past-and-present chapter layout and instead digs deep into her characters' current lives, allowing history to reveal itself naturally through dialogue and memories. So stark is this difference from current thrillers that the book reads like a fresh genre.

Prose comes dappled with twists of phrases, expertly sinking readers deep into scenes, and Katie's teetering career combined with shaky love life carries its own plot-worthy weight. You'll be well-served to carve out a lofty chunk of time for this tangled mystery, as "The French Girl" demands a one-sit read.

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Online:

https://www.lexieelliott.com/
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) - A Romanian museum has defended its screening of French AIDS drama "120 Beats Per Minute" amid protests over gay themes which feature in the film.

Lila Passima, director of the Romanian Peasant Museum said the museum's role was not to "ask people if they are a homosexual, an Orthodox or a Protestant."

A dozen far-right protesters gathered outside the museum Tuesday. They said the Cannes award-winning movie "glorified the fight of pro-gay activists," and should not be screened in the museum they called "a temple... of ancient Romanian civilization."

FILE - In this Saturday, May 20, 2017 file photo, a child holds a sign that reads "No to homosexual marriages and adoptions" during a counter march before of a gay pride parade in Bucharest, Romania. Religious protesters in Romania have disrupted the screening of two movies in Bucharest in Feb. 2018, saying they violate traditional values. The recent protests illustrate divided views about homosexuality, a provocative and difficult topic in the European Union member. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, file)

British Ambassador Paul Brummell called the movie "a widely acclaimed film that should be seen."

The dispute highlights divided views about homosexuality in Romania, where more than 85 percent of its people belong to Christian Orthodox churches.
NEW YORK (AP) - Actor George Clooney and his wife, Amal Clooney, are donating $500,000 to students organizing nationwide marches against gun violence, and they say they'll also attend next month's planned protests.

In a statement released Tuesday, the couple says they're inspired by the "courage and eloquence" of the survivors-turned-activists from Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Seventeen people were killed at the school and others wounded when a former student went on a rampage with an assault rifle. Students are mobilizing a March 24 march in Washington and elsewhere to urge lawmakers to enact tougher gun control.

The Clooneys say they're donating the money in the names of their eight-month-old twins Ella and Alexander. The couple also says the family plans to "stand side by side" with students next month.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - A federal judge ruled Tuesday that an Alabama inmate who has battled lymphoma and hepatitis C has veins that are in good enough shape that the state can execute him by injection this week.

U.S. District Judge Karon O. Bowdre denied Doyle Lee Hamm's request to block his scheduled execution Thursday.

Hamm's attorney has argued that lethal injection would be unconstitutionally cruel because lymphoma, drug use and hepatitis C have compromised Hamm's veins. His lawyer also argued it would be inhumane to execute someone battling cancer.

Hamm was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2014. The state contends he has been in remission since 2016.

Bowdre said an independent medical review found that Hamm has usable veins in his lower extremities. The expert said a doctor or physician's assistant would have to use ultrasound in order to tap the veins in his upper extremities. However, Bowdre said the state stipulated during a Feb. 16 hearing that it would not attempt to administer the lethal injection drugs through those veins.

"He cannot show any medical factors that would make the Alabama lethal injection protocol, as applied to him, more likely to violate the Eighth Amendment than it would for any other inmate who would be executed following that protocol," Bowdre wrote.

Hamm is scheduled to be executed Thursday for the 1987 murder of Cullman motel clerk Patrick Cunningham.

Prosecutors said Cunningham was working the overnight shift at Anderson's Motel when he was killed in a robbery that netted $410. Cunningham had been shot once in the temple with a handgun. Prosecutors said that Hamm confessed to the murder and that two accomplices testified against him in exchange for being allowed to plead guilty to lesser offenses.

Hamm's attorney, Bernard E. Harcourt, said he is appealing the decision to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Harcourt wrote in court filing before Bowdre that the state, prior to the Feb. 16 hearing, had planned to execute Hamm using "the very veins" that the expert said would be difficult to access.
EL-ARISH, Egypt (AP) - Egyptian officials say the country will open its border with the Gaza Strip amid a military campaign against Islamic insurgents in restive northern Sinai Peninsula.

The two officials said Tuesday the Rafah crossing point will operate starting Wednesday for four days on a humanitarian basis. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to brief the media.

The Palestinian embassy in Cairo confirmed the opening of Gaza's main gateway to the outside world.

Thousands of Gaza residents are on travel lists - most of them medical patients, students and holders of residency permits of other countries. Only a few thousand will make it out in the time allotted.

Egypt has kept Rafah largely sealed off since 2013, after the ouster of Egypt's elected Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The Latest on the U.N. Security Council meeting on Mideast issues (all times local):

1:45 p.m.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is giving the United Nations' strong support to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, stressing: "There is no Plan B."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, left, meets with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018 at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

But he told the U.N. Security Council's monthly Mideast meeting that "after decades of support, the global consensus for a two-state solution could be eroding."

Guterres warned that "obstacles on the ground have the potential to create an irreversible one-state reality."

Stressing the U.N.'s opposition to such a reality, he said: "It is simply impossible to square the circle of a one-state reality with the legitimate national, historic and democratic aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians."

Guterres told council members Tuesday that "this is a time for dialogue, for reconciliation, for reason."

He also called conditions in Hamas-rule Gaza "dire" and mentioned the shortage of funds for the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, caused by the U.S. suspension of $65 million in assistance.

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1:30 p.m.

The U.N. Mideast envoy is warning that if the window of opportunity for peace between Israel and the Palestinians isn't seized quickly, the conflict "will be engulfed in the whirlwind of religious radicalization that remains present in the region."

Nickolay Mladenov told the U.N. Security Council Tuesday that "the enemies of peace are growing more confident by the day" and believe "the political odds are tilting in their favor."

Mladenov said that "as the peace process falters and the gulf between the two sides widens, Palestinians and Israelis continue to suffer the violent consequences on the ground."

He also warned that without immediate steps to address the humanitarian crisis in Hamas-ruled Gaza and revive its economy, "we will face a total institutional and economic collapse in Gaza." He stressed: "This is not an alarmist prediction - it is a fact."

Mladenov urged the international community "not to give up on support for the moderate Palestinian leadership" and said Palestinian unity is crucial for a Palestinian state.

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12:50 p.m.

Israel's U.N. ambassador is accusing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of refusing direct peace negotiations with Israel and is calling him "the problem" - not the solution.

Ambassador Danny Danon addressed the U.N. Security Council immediately after Abbas on Tuesday, but the Palestinian leader left the chamber as soon as he finished, and Danon accused him of "once again running away."

He said Abbas has refused to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for 7 1/2 years "to negotiate peace," and he told council members that instead, the Palestinian president has been coming to the U.N. "expecting you to deliver the results."

Danon said: "It's not going to work that way. The only way to move forward is to have direct negotiations between Israel and Palestinians."

Abbas outlined the Palestinian vision for peace and told the council: "We are ready to begin negotiations immediately in order to achieve the freedom and independence of our people."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks during a Security Council meeting on the situation in Palestine, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018 at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

American Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, foreground left, Jared Kushner, background center, and Jason Greenblatt, background right, listen to Nikolay Mladenov speak during a Security Council meeting on the situation in Palestine, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018 at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Israel's ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon speaks during a Security Council meeting on the situation in Palestine, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018 at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley talks with Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, as Jared Kushner, center and Jason Greenblatt, right, listen before a Security Council meeting Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018 at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Jared Kushner takes a phone call before a Security Council meeting on the situation in Middle East, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018 at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - Opponents of the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada are asking a judge to force the U.S. government to turn over emails and other documents related to President Donald Trump's approval of the project.

Environmentalists who sued to stop the 1,179-mile (1,800-kilometer) pipeline said the documents could bolster their case that Trump's decision was arbitrary and should be overturned by the courts.

But U.S. Justice Department attorneys argued in court filings that the disputed documents include internal deliberations that don't have to be made public. They said the request amounts to a "fishing expedition" and should be rejected.

FILE--In this Aug. 6, 2017, file photo, demonstrators against the Keystone XL pipeline march in Lincoln, Neb. Opponents of the proposed oil pipeline from Canada are asking a federal judge to force the U.S. government to turn over emails and other documents related to President Donald Trump's approval of the project. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, file)

Formal arguments were scheduled for Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Brian Morris in Great Falls.

If the environmentalists prevail, the U.S. State Department would have to review an estimated 5 million pages of documents at a cost of more than $6 million, according to a declaration filed by Jerry Drake, an agency division chief who oversees its information technology team.

That's on top of more than 4.5 million documents that were turned over in the case in December, according to the Justice Department.

President Barack Obama's administration rejected the pipeline in 2015 after it had become a flashpoint in the debate over climate change and fossil fuel use. It was revived in March 2017 under Trump, who insisted it would lead to greater energy independence.

The pipeline is sponsored by Alberta-based company TransCanada Corp., which is siding with the U.S. government in the document dispute.

An attorney for the Northern Plains Resource Council, one of the plaintiffs in the case, said the goal of the conservation group's sweeping document request was to uncover the basis of Trump's decision and see if it aligns with years of analysis on the project during the Obama years.

"You can't make one decision based upon the record, then change your mind based upon the same record," council attorney Timothy Bechtold said. "That is the definition of arbitrary and capricious."

The judge has sided with the plaintiffs once, rejecting a bid by the Trump administration in November to dismiss the lawsuits over Keystone. The administration unsuccessfully argued the courts have no authority in the matter because it concerns foreign affairs and national security.

TransCanada announced last month that it hopes to begin construction in 2019 after securing enough commitments from oil companies to ship approximately 500,000 barrels per day through the line.

If completed, the pipeline would carry oil from Canada through Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska, where it would connect to an existing pump station in Steele City, Nebraska. From there, it would continue through Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas until it reaches Gulf Coast refineries.

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Follow Matthew Brown on Twitter at www.twitter.com/matthewbrownap .
CHICAGO (AP) - The Latest on severe weather in the Midwest (all times local):

10:35 p.m.

The National Weather Service now says it was three tornadoes that hit North Texas.

A mobile home is seen destroyed after a tornado struck an area outside Joshua, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Fort Worth, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. Two weak tornadoes have hit North Texas, demolishing at least one mobile home and damaging about a dozen others in the rural area near Joshua and damaging the roofs of homes in the Dallas suburb of DeSoto. (Jessica Pounds/Cleburne Times-Review via AP)

It says two of the twisters struck early Tuesday in a rural area near Joshua, destroying at least two mobile homes and severely damaging several others. A mother and her disabled daughter were injured when one tornado demolished their mobile home.

The third tornado struck a short time later in the Dallas suburb of DeSoto. No injuries were reported there.

The weather service says all three tornadoes were weak EF0 ones with winds ranging from 65 to 85 mph (105 to 137 kph).

After the tornadoes came the rain. Up to 4 inches of it fell in the Dallas-Fort Worth area by 8 p.m. Tuesday, causing some flooding.

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5:25 p.m.

Two weak tornadoes have hit North Texas, demolishing at least one mobile home and damaging about a dozen others in a rural area near Joshua and damaging the roofs of homes in the Dallas suburb of DeSoto.

At least two people were injured.

The National Weather Service said they were EF0 tornadoes with winds ranging from 65 to 85 mph (105 to 137 kph).

The most damage was caused by the storm that struck mobile homes early Tuesday just outside Joshua, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Fort Worth. James Woolard, fire chief from nearby Godley, told the Cleburne Times-Review that a mobile home "was completely ripped apart" and neighbors had to dig a mother and her disabled daughter from the wreckage. Both were taken to a Fort Worth hospital for treatment of their injuries.

A short time later, the storm hit the southern Dallas suburb of DeSoto, damaging the homes' roofs.

The storms occurred in advance of a strong cold front that threatened to bring wintry precipitation and freezing temperatures to parts of North Texas.

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2 p.m.

A storm system that's brought rain, ice and snow to the Midwest and Great Plains is being blamed for a Nebraska traffic crash that left four people dead along with fatal crashes in Kansas and Minnesota.

The accidents happened as a storm system stretching from Texas to the Great Lakes states.

In eastern Nebraska, authorities blamed speed and slippery pavement for a Tuesday morning collision between a pickup truck and semitrailer that killed four people on Interstate 80. Police say the three men and one woman killed were from Colorado. Roads were snowy and icy.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says a 38-year-old woman died and two other people were injured late Monday in a collision on an icy highway.

In Minnesota, state police say winter weather has contributed to 400 crashes and 250 spinouts, including two fatal accidents.

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11:40 a.m.

A storm system stretching from Texas to the Great Lakes states with risks of flooding, freezing rain and snow is causing fatal accidents and forcing schools to close.

The National Weather Service issued winter weather advisories Tuesday for parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin. Flood warnings were in effect in Illinois, Indiana and Michigan with flood watches in Texas and Arkansas.

In Minnesota, state police say winter weather has contributed to 400 crashes and 250 spinouts, including two fatal accidents. As much as a half-foot of snow is expected in some areas. Arkansas weather service forecasters say some areas could see 8 inches or more of rain this week.

Schools in Missouri and Wisconsin canceled classes or delayed start times Tuesday. High water closed roads in Michigan.

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This story has been corrected to reflect that Nebraska is not under a winter weather advisory.

A mobile home is seen destroyed after a tornado struck an area outside Joshua, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Fort Worth, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. Two weak tornadoes have hit North Texas, demolishing at least one mobile home and damaging about a dozen others in the rural area near Joshua and damaging the roofs of homes in the Dallas suburb of DeSoto. (Jessica Pounds/Cleburne Times-Review via AP)

A motorist stops to clear ice from his wipers along I-70 near Lawrence, Kan., Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. The area is under a winter weather advisory. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

A Slate-Colored Junco perches among icy branches in Lawrence, Kan., Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. The area is under a winter weather advisory. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Cars drive on Park Street in Kalamazoo Tuesday, Feb. 20. The road closed due to flooding. Heavy rain and melting snow are combining to cause flooding and road closures in parts of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. (Meagan Beck/Kalamazoo Gazette-MLive Media Group via AP)

Cars drive on Park Street in Kalamazoo, Mich., Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. The road closed due to flooding. Heavy rain and melting snow are combining to cause flooding and road closures in parts of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. (Meagan Beck/Kalamazoo Gazette-MLive Media Group via AP)

Workers block off a side road near Park Street in Kalamazoo Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018 due to flooding. Heavy rain and melting snow are combining to cause flooding and road closures in parts of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. (Meagan Beck/Kalamazoo Gazette-MLive Media Group via AP)
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ruled out the United States as a broker for peace with Israel on Tuesday, calling for an international peace conference by mid-2018 with the key goals of full U.N. membership for the state of Palestine and a timeframe for a two-state solution.

Abbas spoke as the Trump administration's two key Mideast negotiators who are working on a U.S. peace proposal - the president's son-in-law Jared Kushner and special representative Jason Greenblatt - sat in the Security Council chamber listening. But he left without speaking to them or listening to U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley say that "the United States stands ready to work with the Palestinian leadership," and the two envoys are "ready to talk."

The Palestinians are furious at President Donald Trump for overturning decades of U.S. policy and recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital, ignoring that east Jerusalem is Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since the 1967 war that the Palestinians want as the capital of their independent state. Abbas called Trump's pro-Israeli action "dangerous" and has said the president's action destroyed his credibility as a Mideast peace broker.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks during a Security Council meeting on the situation in Palestine, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018 at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

"It has become impossible today for one country alone to solve a regional or international conflict without the participation of other international partners," the Palestinian leader said.

Abbas presented the Palestinians "peace plan" to the council. It calls for mutual recognition by the states of Israel and Palestine based on 1967 borders, and formation of "an international multilateral mechanism" to assist the two parties in resolving all final status issues and implementing them "within a set time frame."

He said the peace conference should include the Israelis and Palestinians, the five permanent Security Council members and key regional and international governments, noting that 74 countries attended a Mideast peace conference in Paris in January 2017.

The Palestinians want to set up a state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem, lands Israel captured in the 1967 war. But there have been no serious negotiations since gaps widened following the 2009 election of Benjamin Netanyahu as Israel's prime minister. He rejects the 1967 frontier as a baseline for border talks, has expanded settlements which the U.N. call illegal, and rules out a partition of Jerusalem.

Abbas accused Israel of "acting as a State above the law."

"It has transformed the occupation from a temporary situation ... into a situation of permanent settlement colonization," he said. "How can this happen? Israel shut the door on the two-state solution on the basis of the 1967 borders."

The Palestinian leader added into his prepared remarks: "We are employees for the occupation."

Abbas said the principle of two-states living side-by-side with full sovereignty must be preserved, but he said the U.S. has not clarified whether it is for a two-state or a one-state solution.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed that "there is no Plan B" to a two-state solution. But he warned that "after decades of support, the global consensus for a two-state solution could be eroding."

The U.N. chief voiced opposition to a one-state solution saying: "It is simply impossible to square the circle of a one-state reality with the legitimate national, historic and democratic aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians."

Abbas was the last to arrive in the Security Council, and he left immediately after his speech to attend a reception hosted by the Palestinians, avoiding any direct contact with the Americans or Israelis.

Israel's U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon accused Abbas of "once again running away," and refusing to meet Netanyahu for 7 1/2 years "to negotiate peace."

Netanyahu's office issued a statement saying: "Abbas didn't say anything new. He continues to run away from peace, and continues to pay terrorists and their families $347 million."

Danon accused Abbas of using "hateful speech" and glorifying violence instead of improving the lives of Palestinians.

"Mr. Abbas, you have made it clear with your words and with your actions that you are no longer part of the solution," he said. "You are the problem."

Haley disagreed, saying the Trump administration was offering "an outstretched hand" to the Palestinian people and their leaders.

"But we will not chase after you," Haley said. "The choice, Mr. president, is yours."

She said the U.S. will not change its decision on Dec. 6 to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, a move that has frozen U.S.-Palestinian relations.

The Palestinian leadership has a choice of two paths - "absolutist demands, hateful rhetoric, and incitement to violence" which will only lead to hardship for the Palestinian people or "negotiation and compromise" that holds the promise of peace, Haley said.

Though Kushner and Greenblatt didn't meet Abbas, they did meet informally behind closed doors with Security Council members.

Equatorial Guinea's U.N. Ambassador Anatolio Ndong Mba called the fact that they came to the council "very, very important" and "a good sign." But he said council members "haven't received any details" of the U.S. proposal for Palestinian-Israeli peace.

France's U.N. Ambassador Francois Delattre said his government received Abbas' proposal with interest and will study his call for an international conference, but U.S. participation in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process "is indispensable."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks during a Security Council meeting on the situation in Palestine, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018 at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Israel's ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon listens as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during a Security Council meeting on the situation in Palestine, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018 at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

American Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, center, Jared Kushner, left, and Jason Greenblatt, listen as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks during a Security Council meeting on the situation in Palestine, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018 at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
NEW YORK (AP) - In the Oscar-nominated documentary "Strong Island," Yance Ford stares back at the camera with profound sorrow and unshakable resilience.

"Strong Island," a Netflix release, is Ford's investigation into the killing of his brother, William Ford, in 1992 in Central Islip, New York. Ford, a 22-year-old black man, was shot and killed by a 19-year-old white man - a mechanic named Mark Reilly - after a verbal altercation. But an all-white grand jury declined to indict Reilly and the investigation has remained sealed.

"I'm not angry," Yance Ford says into the camera. "I'm also not willing to accept that someone else gets to say who William was. And if you're uncomfortable with me asking these questions, you should probably get up and go."

In this Feb. 9, 2018 photo, filmmaker Yance Ford poses for a portrait in New York to promote his Oscar-nominated documentary "Strong Island." The film, a Netflix release, is Ford's investigation into the 1992 killing of his brother, William Ford, in Central Islip, N.Y. The 22-year-old Ford was shot and killed by a 19-year-old white man after a verbal altercation. (Photo by Christopher Smith/Invision/AP)

Ford's film is a kind of investigative memoir that burrows into not only the justice of his brother's death but also the still-quaking reverberations that William's loss has had on their family, one that moved from South Carolina to Brooklyn before settling in the suburbs of Long Island.

Much of the film's power comes from the raw, emotional first-person filmmaking of Ford, a 44-year-old former producer for the PBS documentary program "POV," making his feature film debut. By framing himself in searing close-ups, Ford dares viewers to analyze their own biases, fears and tolerance for injustice.

On a recent winter day, Ford spoke about making "Strong Island" and making Oscar history. Ford is the first transgender filmmaker nominated by the Academy Awards. "I am as proud of my occupying this place as the first transgender director," said Ford, "as I am of the nomination itself."

Associated Press: Did you always know that you would take this deeply personal approach in "Strong Island"?

Ford: It turned into this realm of a personal film because in the absence of due process, in the absence of justice, the personal film is the only thing that you have left. My producer Joslyn Barnes says it really well when she says personal filmmaking is the language of the dispossessed. Yes, it was a film based in personal experience but it's not really personal. It's just an illustration of what many, many people have gone through.

AP: Tell me about your brother.

Ford: The funny thing about answering that question, now, 25 years later, what you see in the film is my character attempting to get to know William better. So my answer has to be tempered with what I remember of my brother. The cruel thing about time is that it does things like: I've forgotten what his voice sounds like. Thankfully my sister and I have his diaries. I can tell you that he was a kind, compassionate, loyal person, that he believed in defending his family but also he had aspiration of being a law enforcement officer. He was a young man who was trying.

AP: Your film does much to reclaim his story from the narrative described by investigators. Has there been any catharsis for you in making the documentary?

Ford: Grief is a very complicated monster. There's no real exorcising of it. It has a different form every day. But one of the things that I am really happy about is 'Strong Island' has pushed something that is consistently sidelined back into our conversation, which is: Why it's so easy to take the life of black people in the United States and be unpunished for it. What systemic bias looks like when it's lived by ordinary people is this. It looks like my family.

AP: Your film very directly asks the audience to question itself.

Ford: Someone pointed out - Scott MacDonald, the film theorist - that I've brought the audience closer to my face than anyone can actually get with the human eye. So you really do have to confront blackness. And for some people it's a foreign experience. And for some people it's a familiar experience. That proximity puts me into direct conversation with you. I'm speaking directly to you. I wanted to be talking to each individual in the audience.

AP: Have you heard from any of the authorities?

Ford: (Laughs) No. No, and I don't expect to. (The) Suffolk County criminal justice system is in trouble right now. The police chief was arrested - I won't even list what he was arrested for. But the DA was also arrested. The Suffolk County criminal justice system is broken right now.

AP: A video captured your excitement on Oscar morning. What was that moment like?

Ford: That moment was brought to you by my social media consultant - a millennial who I essentially do whatever she tells me and then it winds up on the five o'clock news. I had absolutely no idea I would have the reaction I did. But to have that kind of once-in-a-lifetime thing happen, it was just incredible.

AP: You made history that day as the first trans filmmaker ever nominated for an Oscar. What did that mean to you?

Ford: My transgender identity is new to you because I don't live a public life. It's not new in my life but it's new publicly. I'm incredibly proud to be the first trans director to be nominated for an Oscar. I'm also incredibly proud to occupy a place in what is actually a historic class of nominees for many reasons - to share the space with Daniela Vega, (a trans actress whose 'A Fantastic Woman' is nominated for best foreign language film), the oldest woman to be nominated (Agnes Varda) and the first woman to be nominated in cinematography (Rachel Morrison). Steve James' nomination is historic. Firas Fayyad with 'Last Men in Aleppo,' his nomination is historic. So much that cracked open this year.

AP: What kind of reactions to the film and your nomination have you experienced?

Ford: At every screening since we premiered, at least one person identifies as having survived homicide. And that's been happening for a year. The thing that tells me is that we are a culture awash in violence. We need to look at how to fix, once and for all, the systemic brokenness of our criminal justice system.

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Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP

In this Feb. 9, 2018 photo, filmmaker Yance Ford poses for a portrait in New York to promote his Oscar-nominated documentary "Strong Island." The film, a Netflix release, is Ford's investigation into the 1992 killing of his brother, William Ford, in Central Islip, N.Y. The 22-year-old Ford was shot and killed by a 19-year-old white man after a verbal altercation. (Photo by Christopher Smith/Invision/AP)

In this Feb. 9, 2018 photo, filmmaker Yance Ford poses for a portrait in New York to promote his Oscar-nominated documentary "Strong Island." The film, a Netflix release, is Ford's investigation into the 1992 killing of his brother, William Ford, in Central Islip, N.Y. The 22-year-old Ford was shot and killed by a 19-year-old white man after a verbal altercation. (Photo by Christopher Smith/Invision/AP)
Hawaii's nuclear missile scare showed that the state began testing alerts before fully developing a plan to address a potential ballistic missile threat, according to a report released on Tuesday by the state Department of Defense.

The agency that oversees Hawaii's emergency management released the internal review after an alert was sent to cellphones, televisions and radio stations across the state last month.

The notification, which read 'BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL,' triggered widespread panic as more than one million residents and visitors feared they were about to face a ballistic missile strike.

The incident prompted Hawaii Governor David Ige to assign Brigadier General Kenneth Hara, the second in command at the state's DoD, to conduct a comprehensive internal review of the agency's operations.

Hara's report found the state DoD's response and recovery plans in the event of an actual ballistic missile strike to be 'minimally developed.'

Hawaii's nuclear missile scare showed that the state began testing alerts before fully developing a plan to address a potential ballistic missile threat, according to a report released on Tuesday by Hawaii Department of Defense Brigadier General Kenneth Hara

'The response and recovery sections of the plan were minimally developed,' Hara's report said.

'The plan lacked clear details for sheltering, county coordination and protocols for a decision to send out all clear or false missile alert messages, [such as notices of] interception, missile impact without effect to Hawaii, etc.'

The public didn't get adequate directions about what to do in the alert, the report said. It also added that a public outreach campaign carried out months earlier wasn't effective.

The report's recommendations include suspending all activities related to the Ballistic Missile Preparedness Campaign, with the exception of the monthly ballistic missile alert tone siren testing, until a plan is published and the majority of Hawaii's public know 'what to do, where to go, and when to do it.'

It also recommends reviewing the feasibility of reinstituting 'fallout shelters.' Hawaii stopped maintaining such shelters after the Cold War ended and funding ran out.

Hawaii Governor David Ige assigned to conduct the comprehensive internal review of the defense agency's operations following an alert that was mistakenly sent on January 13

This report was brought on by an incident on January 13, when an agency employee mistakenly sent the alert to cellphones and broadcast stations across the state during a shift-change drill at the agency.

Officials later disclosed that the employee didn't think he and his colleagues were participating in a drill and instead believed a real attack was imminent. The state has since fired him.

According to state officials, the former worker, who had been employed at the agency for 11 years, had mistakenly believed two prior drills, for tsunami and fire warnings, were actual events.

His supervisors counseled him at those times, and kept him on staff for a decade in a position that had to be renewed each year.

The ex-worker disputed that, saying he wasn't aware of any performance problems.

The person who sent out the alert, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he feared for his safety after receiving death threats, told reporters that he was devastated about causing panic but was '100 percent sure' at the time that the attack was real.

The notification, which read 'BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL,' triggered widespread panic as more than one million residents and visitors feared they were about to face a ballistic missile strike

Ige (left) meets the press in Honolulu on January 30, following the release earlier in the day of an interim US government report on the cause of a false emergency alert in mid-January that warned of an incoming ballistic missile

Hara's report said that the failure of some managers to follow proper procedures to deal with unsatisfactory performance contributed to the false alert.

As a result, employee development training was recommended for supervisors and managers, the report said.

The agency's administrator, Vern Miyagi, resigned on January 30.

The agency's executive officer, Toby Clairmont, also resigned shortly after the incident because it was clear action would be taken against agency leaders, he said.

A fourth employee was suspended without pay.

It took the agency 38 minutes to send a follow-up message to broadcast stations and cellphones notifying people the alert was a mistake, in part because the agency had not previously prepared a message it could send out in the event of a false alarm.

Within hours of the alert, the agency changed protocols to start requiring that two people send an alert. It also made it easier to cancel alerts by preparing a pre-programmed false alarm message.

Although spurred by the missile scare, the report provides recommendations about all the hazards the islands face.

Because Hawaii relies on nearly all of its goods to be imported, the report recommends improving ports and expanding distribution infrastructure, but notes doing so will be expensive and time-consuming.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A jury on Tuesday acquitted a Minneapolis police officer who shot at a car full of club-goers nearly two years ago.

The Hennepin County jury deliberated over two days before finding officer Efrem Hamilton not guilty of second-degree assault and intentional discharge of a firearm. No one was hurt, but prosecutors still charged Hamilton.

County Attorney Mike Freeman said he was disappointed but accepts the verdict.

"We continue to believe that Officer Hamilton should not have fired that shot at a car full of people within seconds of getting out of his car. We do not believe this was good police work and hope not to see such carelessness in the future," Freeman said in a statement.

Hamilton was off duty when he went to assist with a shots fired call near Target Field in November 2016. His squad car collided with a BMW driving in reverse to get away from the chaotic scene.

The Star Tribune reports Hamilton testified he heard the car's engine revving and feared for his life. Prosecutors argued that the sound could have come from any number of cars in the area.

Six people were in the car. City officials later settled with the car's occupants for $150,000.
A California teen has been sentenced to six months in prison for smuggling in a Bengal tiger cub from Mexico.

The defense attorney for 18-year-old Luis Valencia told the court Tuesday in San Diego before his sentencing that his client had had a lapse in judgment and wanted the endangered tiger as a pet.

'He had a lapse in judgment, allowing his passion for animals and youth to overcome obvious common sense,' Robert Schlein, attorney with Robert Schlein & Associates, said. 'He now knows that having wild animals as pets is just not something thats possible.'

But prosecutors argued Valencia's cell phone data showed he was running an animal smuggling business and boasted about getting thousands for monkeys, jaguars and lions.

A San Diego, California teen was sentenced to six months in prison on Tuesday for trying to smuggle a Bengal tiger cub into the U.S.

Luis Valencia was arrested back in August after customs agents found him hiding the cub on the floor of the passenger side of his car while he was entering the U.S. from Mexico. Above, the cub

'This is a crime against nature, as well as the laws of man, and it requires punishment if were going to send a message to the public that were not going to tolerate this,' said U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Battaglia.

The prosecution obtained text messages in which Valencia boasted about selling such exotic animals as monkeys, jaguars and panthers for thousands of dollars.

In several text message exchanges with a smuggler, Valencia talked about the best way to get the tiger to be quiet as they crossed the border, and whether another baby tiger would fit in a hidden compartment in his car.

The cub was named Moka and sent to live at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Valencia's defense attorney said he wanted to keep the tiger as a pet. Prosecutors say the tiger was just one of many exotic animals the teen helped smuggle into the U.S.

Moka has become a major attraction at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The Smithsonian Zoo in Washington, DC sent him a Sumatran tiger cub to have as a friend. Above, Moka in November

The prosecution also pointed out that both Valencia's father and grandfather were convicted criminals.

'The defendants history and characteristics are far more consistent with a junior member of a smuggling organization rather than an innocent young man who made a youthful error in judgment,' Assistant U.S. Attorney Melanie K. Pierson said.

The six-week-old cub was found on the passenger-side floor in Valencia's Camaro in August at a San Diego border checkpoint.

The passenger, Eriberto Paniagua, told customs agents that it was a cat and that they had the proper paperwork.

But the agents discovered that it was an endangered Bengal tiger cub, which is illegal to import without a permit.

Valencia later changed their story, saying he bought the animal that day for $300 after seeing a person walking it on a leash in Tijuana.

The tiger cub was seized and taken to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park where it has since been named Moka (meaning 'chance') and become a major attraction.

Since then, the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC sent the zoo an orphan Sumatran tiger cub to be Moka's companion. That cub was named Rakan or 'friend'.

Moka could grow to weigh as much as 600 pounds.
A Pennsylvania-based offshoot of the Unification Church is encouraging couples to bring their AR-15 rifles with them to a commitment ceremony in the Pocono Mountains, a half-mile from an elementary school.

World Peace and Unification Sanctuary in Newfoundland, Pennsylvania, says it planned the Feb. 28 ceremony long before last week's massacre at a Florida high school. Authorities say the alleged shooter used an AR-15.

Tim Elder of the Unification Sanctuary said Tuesday that the church believes the AR-15 symbolizes the 'rod of iron' mentioned in the Bible's apocalyptic book of Revelation.

The Unification Church (led by Hyung-Jin Moon and his wife, above) is holding a blessing that encourages believers in Pennsylvania to bring along rifles - the church claims the guns are referred to in the Bible

'This will be a big thing for us. It's a new stage for us because it incorporates the rod of iron, as it is in Revelations. Revelations talks about the returning Christ ruling with the rod of iron,' Elder said.

'This rod of iron is the AR-15, in today's terms,' he added.

Up to 600 people are expected to attend the ceremony according to WNEP.

Some parents are expressing alarm, but Elder says the weapons will be unloaded and secured.

The controversy arises from the fact that the ceremony will take place near a school, soon after the Parkland Florida shootings, concerning area parents

'It's something I would consider keeping my child home. It's scary,' said Liz Zoccola.

'I wish they wouldn't have it at all. I don't think there's a good time to have it, especially this close,' Kendra Hanor added.

The leader of the church is Hyung-Jin Moon. The church leader's father is the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Unification Church, which often is described as a cult.
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump says he's been "much tougher" on Russia than his predecessor - but his evidence remains scant at best.

During the 2016 campaign, President Barack Obama called out Russia for political interference when much less was known about it and followed up after the election by expelling 35 Russian diplomats suspected of being intelligence officers. Obama also seized two Russian "dachas" or country estates, in Maryland and New York, that the State Department said were used for intelligence activities.

In contrast, the Trump administration, despite now-pervasive evidence of Russian interference, has held out the threat of sanctions, but not acted on it, while the president has equivocated since the 2016 campaign on whether he believes Moscow meddled at all.

President Donald Trump speaks during the Public Safety Medal of Valor awards ceremony in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

A look at his claim and the facts behind it:

TRUMP: "I have been much tougher on Russia than Obama, just look at the facts. Total Fake News!" - Trump's tweet on Tuesday.

THE FACTS: The Trump administration actually lags the Obama administration on this front, by all public evidence.

It has not yet penalized any Russian officials for interfering in the 2016 election, arguing the threat of sanctions has been enough of a deterrent. Meanwhile, Trump's own officials warn that Russia is already acting to subvert this year's U.S. midterm elections after having judged its efforts in 2016 a success.

Under a mandate and deadline from Congress, the administration in late January released a public report listing Russians who have gained wealth or power under President Vladimir Putin - 114 politicians and 96 "oligarchs" in all. The list was drawn from Forbes magazine's Russian billionaires' rankings, but the Treasury Department said it sent Congress a classified version with additional names. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said the report would lead to new sanctions against Russia, but none has been issued.

A week ago, Trump's national intelligence director, Dan Coats, told senators Russia took "sophisticated advantage of social media" in the 2016 campaign and interfered broadly, in "pervasive" fashion. That conclusion was followed by special counsel Robert Mueller's indictment against 13 Russians and three Russian companies accused of plotting to meddle in that election, ultimately aiming to benefit Trump over Democrat Hillary Clinton.

But Trump has not responded to that with "tough" words against Russia, lashing out instead against Democrats, other critics and his FBI. Trump has not forcefully asserted that Russia meddled in the 2016 election, famously suggesting that interference could have come from Russia, China, another country or "somebody sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pounds."

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Tuesday that Trump has been "extremely tough on Russia," pointing to a boost in U.S. military spending, energy exports to eastern Europe, Trump's upholding of Obama-era sanctions against Russia and the U.S. decision to provide Ukraine with lethal weapons, including anti-tank missiles.

In August, the State Department retaliated against Russia's expulsion of U.S. diplomats by ordering Russia to shutter three diplomatic posts in San Francisco, Washington and New York City.

In December, the Trump administration imposed sanctions on five Russians under a U.S. human rights law that has been a major irritant between Washington and Moscow. On Tuesday, the State Department said Russian interference in the election was part of the reason for those steps.

Obama has indeed been criticized for not doing more to protect the electoral system, even by fellow Democrats, but if his steps were insufficient, they do not illustrate complacency.

A month before the election, his administration publicly accused the Russians of being behind the hacking of the Democratic National Committee and other officials, then carried out the expulsions and property seizures after the election. While not identifying Putin as the culprit, Obama officials said only Russia's senior-most officials could have authorized the election-related activities.

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Associated Press writers Deb Riechmann and Josh Lederman contributed to this report.

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AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - Author Stephen King on Tuesday called a Maine congressman an "NRA sweetheart" for receiving thousands of dollars from the gun rights advocacy group.

King urged residents in a tweet to not vote for Republican U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin in November, citing his support from the National Rifle Association. The Maine-born novelist has posted several tweets about gun policy since a Florida high school shooting last week that left 17 people dead.

Poliquin adviser Brent Littlefield said the incumbent congressman is a strong Second Amendment supporter and that he will not respond directly to a "Hollywood person."

"There are literally thousands and thousands of National Rifle Association members throughout Maine," Littlefield said. "And Congressman Poliquin has been happy to have those Maine people's support. Maine has a long tradition of responsible and peaceful firearms ownership."

The New York Times has identified Poliquin as a top House recipient of NRA funding. The newspaper last fall said the association reported spending more than $200,000 to help Poliquin's political career, including $68,000 spent attacking his opponents.
NEW YORK (AP) - In a story Feb. 20 about a neurologist charged with repeatedly raping a patient in New York City, The Associated Press, relying on information from police, reported erroneously the year the alleged abuse ended. Accuser Hillary Tullin says she called a sexual abuse hotline last year and reported that Dr. Ricardo Cruciani had abused her in New York between 2005 and 2013, not 2012. A corrected version of the story is below:

A corrected version of the story is below:

Neurologist charged with raping New York City woman

A neurologist who pleaded guilty to groping women at a Philadelphia clinic has been arrested on charges he sexually abused a woman in New York City for years

By COLLEEN LONG and MICHAEL RUBINKAM

Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - A neurologist who had pleaded guilty to groping women at a Philadelphia clinic was arrested on Tuesday on charges he repeatedly raped a patient in New York City.

Dr. Ricardo Cruciani was taken into custody and will be arraigned in New York on multiple counts of rape and other sex crimes, police said.

The former patient, Hillary Tullin, 45, called a sexual abuse hotline last year and reported that Cruciani had abused her between 2005 and 2013, authorities said.

Tullin told The Associated Press on Tuesday that she testified before a grand jury about two weeks ago.

"I don't know that he's going to go gently into the good night, but I'm very hopeful," she said. "He needs to be locked up."

The AP does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they grant permission, which Tullin has done. She told her story publicly to the AP last year.

Cruciani's lawyer, Mark Furman, did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

The AP reported in November that at least 17 women in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey had stepped forward to accuse Cruciani of sexual misconduct in encounters dating back at least a dozen years.

Women who said they were sexually abused by Cruciani told the AP that they felt they had no alternative but to continue seeing the Ivy League-trained neurologist, who specialized in rare, complicated syndromes that produce debilitating pain.

Tullin said she too felt she had no choice but to continue seeing Cruciani because he was one of the very few doctors who could treat her condition.

On Tuesday, she praised New York City police and prosecutors for taking her case seriously.

"This is for all the women he tortured and abused and mistreated," she said.

Two law enforcement officials confirmed Tullin is the woman whom Cruciani is charged with raping. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to provide the names of people who say they have been sexually assaulted.

Cruciani pleaded guilty to assaulting seven patients in 2016 while he was chairman of Drexel University's neurology department. Under a plea agreement, he was sentenced to seven years' probation. He also had to register as a sex offender and forfeit his medical license.

"I'm truly sorry if I caused any harm or any pain," he said at his sentencing hearing.

___

Rubinkam reported from northeastern Pennsylvania.
SHEPHERDSVILLE, Ky. (AP) - The wife of a former Kentucky Republican lawmaker who killed himself last year after facing sexual assault allegations has lost her attempt to fill the remainder of her husband's term in a special election that ended up being a referendum of sorts on the #metoo movement.

Rebecca Johnson denied the allegations against Dan Johnson, claiming he was a victim of "an assault from the left." But the allegations were backed up by an on-the-record interview from the victim, plus pages of police documents that were published by the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting after months of reporting.

Votes on Tuesday in this rural Kentucky House district just south of Louisville voted overwhelmingly to replace Johnson with Linda Belcher, a retired teacher and former Democratic state lawmaker who lost to Dan Johnson by less than 200 votes in 2016.

FILE - In this Dec. 12, 2017, file photo, Kentucky State Rep. Republican Dan Johnson addresses the public from his church regarding sexual assault allegations in Louisville, Ky. Johnson died Wednesday night, Dec. 13, 2017. The wife of Johnson, who killed himself in 2017 after facing sexual assault allegations, has lost her attempt to fill the remainder of her husband's term in a special election that ended up being a referendum of sorts on the #metoo movement. Votes on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, in this rural Kentucky House district just south of Louisville voted to replace Rebecca Johnson with Linda Belcher, a retired teacher and former Democratic state lawmaker who lost to Dan Johnson by less than 200 votes in 2016. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File)

Carol Schneider, 65, called Rebecca Johnson "a die hard, stand by your man kind of woman." But she voted for Belcher, she said, because Johnson was "hanging on to a bunch of lies and now that he's dead he's like this martyr."

James Carmony, 47, said he wasn't sure he believed the sexual assault allegations and said he ultimately voted for Johnson because she is a Republican and he believed she would support the state's GOP governor. "A lot of things like that come out, sometimes they are true and sometimes they are not," Carmony.

Tuesday's election was also one of the first signs in 2018 that Democrats have momentum heading into the pivotal midterm elections two years into Donald Trump's presidency.

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee said it's at least the 35th contested seat Democrats have taken from Republicans since Trump was inaugurated. And it may have come in the reddest district to date. Trump won Kentucky's 49th House district in 2016 with more than 72 percent of the vote. On Tuesday, the Democratic candidate won with more than 68 percent of the vote.

"The results here show that if we can win in this district, we can win anywhere," said Ben Self, chairman of the Kentucky Democratic Party. "I think this shows the entire House, the Kentucky House, is in play."

Republicans scoffed at that notion, with state GOP spokesman Tres Watson pointing to low turnout and the circumstances of Johnson's suicide "clouding the outcome."

Despite the lopsided results, Johnson refused to concede, citing "widespread voter fraud."

"I've heard from and about people all day long saying they went to vote for me at the correct polling place and were refused the opportunity to vote," Johnson said in a news release. "It's like we're in a Third World country."

Earlier in the day, county election officials discovered residents in a particular subdivision were incorrectly listed as not living in the district. Bullitt County Clerk Kevin Mooney said the problem was fixed and poll workers were instructed to send affected voters to another precinct. Mooney said if all of the affected voters had voted for Johnson, it would not have changed the outcome.

At her campaign headquarters in downtown Shepherdsville, Belcher said she won the election "fair and square." It is the third time voters have elected Belcher, who was first elected in 2008 when she replaced her husband on the ballot after he was killed in a car wreck.

Belcher said it was "hard to say" if sexual assault allegations against Dan Johnson and his death played a part in the election, adding: "I have tried to stay very positive and away from that whole situation."

Belcher told a reporter Bullitt County "has spoken what it wants."

"It wants honesty and integrity and a very visible person as their state representative," she said.

Democratic candidate Linda Belcher thanks her supporters following her victory in the special election to fill the vacant seat for the Kentucky House of Representatives 49th District, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, in Shepherdsville, Ky. Belcher defeated Republican Rebecca Johnson, who sought to fill the seat that was vacated by her husband Dan Johnson following his suicide in 2017. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)

Campaign signs for both candidates for Kentucky's 49th District, Republican Rebecca Johnson, and Democrat Linda Belcher, share space on Kentucky State Road 61 Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, in Shepherdsville, Ky. A special election is being held to fill the vacancy. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)

Voters cast their ballots at Cedar Grove Elementary School, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, in Shepherdsville, Ky. A special election is being held in Kentucky's 49th House District to fill the vacancy left by former representative, Dan Johnson, who committed suicide in 2017. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)

Campaign signs for both candidates for Kentucky's 49th District, Republican Rebecca Johnson, and Democrat Linda Belcher, share space on Kentucky State Road 61 Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, in Shepherdsville, Ky. A special election is being held to fill the vacancy. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
London banking jobs are at risk as Deutsche Bank embarks on a cost-cutting drive that could result in the loss of up to 500 staff across the business.

The bank is targeting investment and corporate banking jobs, with plans to axe between 250 to 500 staff as it struggles with a drop in performance in its securities division.

The news was first reported by Bloomberg, which said the lender has already started laying off staff, having already cut a number of senior and mid-level positions in both London and the US including its head of European energy investment banking Marc Benton.

Deutsche Bank is understood to be planning a raft of job cuts (PA)

It is understood other UK staff are still at risk as part of the efficiency drive and that not all lay-off notices have been delivered.

The Frankfurt-headquartered bank currently employs around 8,500 staff across the country, most of which are based in London.

Deutsche Bank declined to comment.

While it is likely to stoke fears over a further hit to the City in light of Brexit, the German bank itself last year reiterated commitments to the UK by signing a 25-year lease for a new London headquarters.

Deutsche has committed to taking up a minimum of 469,000 of the 564,000 square foot building, with an option to take more space if needed.

Staff are expected to be transferred to the new site during the second half of 2023.

However, it is still preparing to settle more of its transactions out of Frankfurt as part of its Brexit contingency plans and is likely to move hundreds of staff from London as a result.
A Government minister has rejected claims that differing views among cabinet colleagues on the proposed liberalisation of abortion laws is creating confusion.

Employment Minister Regina Doherty denied that ministers were muddying the waters on the referendum on the Eighth Amendment and causing issues for the campaign before it officially gets under way.

Ms Doherty defended her remarks she made that there was a job of work to be done if people were to be persuaded to back repeal of the constitutional amendment and legislate for abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Regina Doherty denied ministers were muddying the waters over the referendum (Brian Lawless/PA)

Its not going to pass itself, she said.

Ms Doherty added: What I said yesterday was that if we do not clearly explain to the Irish people where the 12 weeks came from, well then I fear it wont pass. But clearly we will clearly explain to the Irish people.

Terminations are currently only allowed in the Irish Republic when the life of the mother is at risk, including from suicide, and the maximum penalty for accessing an illegal abortion is 14 years in prison.

Campaigners are seeking to liberalise the regime to allow for unrestricted abortion up to 12 weeks into pregnancy.

Asked whether Government ministers were muddying the waters on this issue and that it was creating issues for the Government campaign, Ms Doherty said: I reject that.

I dont think there is anybody creating problems or muddying the waters.

I think you have people reflecting their own views which is what we are accepting and allowing for in a vote of conscience with no whip in here.

I wouldnt expect anybody with a personal view to campaign for something that they dont believe in.

Ms Doherty said the status quo needed to change.

We cant continue with the current status, she said.

The Eighth Amendment for me is not doing what people think its doing. It is not protecting, what it is doing is it is forcing Irish women to go and have medical procedures outside of their own country and thats not on for me.

The Government has formally agreed to hold a referendum on the Eighth Amendment.

The move comes after the Committee on the Eighth Amendment published its report recommending repeal of Article 40.3.3, which recognises the equal right to life of the mother and the unborn child.

The report stated that constitutional provision prohibiting the termination of pregnancy in Ireland was unfit for purpose and in need of reform.

Ms Doherty said the referendum would most likely be in June and that the Government will consider a draft legislation on Tuesday.
A disgraced paedophile graduate could be stripped of his qualifications in a rare move by the University of Cambridge.

The university where Matthew Falder graduated with a geophysics degree before going on to gain both his masters and PhD there, confirmed it was now pursuing the almost unprecedented measure.

It comes following the jailing of Falder for 32 years at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday, after admitting 137 offences including blackmail, voyeurism, encouraging child rape and sharing indecent images.

A still taken from surveillance footage of Matthew Falder on a train (National Crime Agency/PA)

Judge Philip Parker QC called him warped and sadistic for preying on 46 victims, male and female, including teenagers.

The judge drew attention to the 29-year-olds extraordinary sexual offending, which he set against Falders exceptional academic background with one former university tutor describing him as one of the finest students hed supervised.

Following sentencing, the University of Cambridge also said in a statement: These crimes have appalled and distressed the Cambridge community.

Our thoughts today are with those who have shown such immense bravery in coming forward to give evidence.

Falders skill at covering his tracks online as his offending escalated in depravity and scale was such that the National Crime Agencys investigation took two years to uncover the full extent of his crimes.

The university would like to thank the police for their thorough investigation into this matter.

We continue to offer support to those affected by this.

Falder, of Harborne Park Road, Birmingham, but whose family are from Cheshire, was arrested by NCA officers while working as a lecturer at the University of Birmingham in 2017.
The family of a man who went missing after a stag weekend in Hamburg more than a week ago have revealed details of his first confirmed sighting.

Liam Colgan, 29, from Inverness, was on his brother Eamonns stag weekend in the German city when he disappeared in the early hours of Saturday February 10.

The sighting, a short time after friends and relatives last saw Liam in the Veermaster Bar, creates new lines of inquiry that are being looked into, his family said.

Liam Colgan has been missing for more than a week (Colgan Family/PA)

The search is being assisted by The Lucie Blackman Trust, which said the sighting of the missing man that Saturday has been confirmed by his family.

We now have a first CONFIRMED sighting of Liam Colgan. Whilst this is only shortly after he was last seen, it is still positive news and we are following several other leads.  LBT Global (@LBT_Global) February 19, 2018

CCTV footage seen by the family shows Liam arriving at the vehicle barrier of G&J building in Baumwall, Hamburg, at about 2.20am.

A witness reports seeing Liam and helping him up some steps to the main entrance of that building after he fell. This was corroborated by the CCTV.

The footage goes on to show Liam trying unsuccessfully to get in to the building, before walking towards the Michelwiese Park.

He is helped again by the same witness to get into this park, and is last seen heading towards the Portuguese Quarter at around 2.30am.

Chief executive Matthew Searle, of The Lucie Blackman Trust, said: Although there have been quite a few sighting of Liam, this is the first one thats definitely him.

Further to previous update - if anyone has access to CCTV footage, or was in the area of BAUMWALL, Hamburg, around 0220 on Saturday Feb 10th - Please get in touch via ops@lbtrust.org  LBT Global (@LBT_Global) February 19, 2018

Meanwhile, the trust has launched an urgent appeal for information or CCTV images from people who were in the Baumwall area or the Portuguese Quarter of Hamburg at around 2.30am on February 10.

The trust said it has received an unprecedented amount of calls and emails providing further potential sightings and information and is currently sifting through photographs, CCTV and other intelligence in the search for the missing man.

Hamburg Police have been using search dogs and searching the Buxtehude area, next to Hamburg railway station where Liam was reportedly seen on Wednesday and Thursday.

The family said in a Facebook page set up to find Liam they are encouraged by a regular stream of reports about a confused Scotsman wandering the city of Hamburg.

The confirmed sighting follows the recovery of a mans body from the River Elbe which was not Liam.

His brother Eamonn said: Im obviously incredibly relieved that this was not Liam however pass on my condolences to the family involved in what must be a horrible time for them.

My brother is still out there and we are still receiving sightings. We need to find Liam and bring him home to his family and friends.

Anyone with CCTV footage or photographs taken on February 10, or who remembers seeing a man acting confused or lost, is asked to email ops@lbtrust.org with information.
Campaigners are calling for a ban on the sale of electric shock collars which are used to deliver a painful jolt to dogs to correct their behaviour.

Polling for the Dogs Trust found almost a third of people (31%) wrongly thought that the collars, which can continuously shock a dog for 11 seconds, were already banned.

The devices cause dogs to yelp, squeal, crouch and exhibit physiological signs of distress, and, despite being sold to improve the way dogs behave, they can worsen the animals behaviour, the charity said.

The poll of 2,067 adults by Populus also found that 84% knew they caused pain and 83% of dog owners would not use them.

Electric shock collars cause dogs pain and distress, the Dogs Trust warns (Clive Tagg/Dogs Trust/PA)

Their use has been banned in Wales, and Scotland has also made moves towards prohibiting dog owners using them, but only the UK Government can ban their sale across the country.

The Dogs Trust has launched a #Shockinglylegal campaign, calling on the Government to ban their sale and urging people to tweet their MP to demand they support the move.

The organisation is also holding a reception in the House of Commons, where they will ask MPs to sign a letter to Environment Secretary Michael Gove backing a ban.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who has compared the shock collars to caning a child, is among the MPs and peers already pledging support.

Boris Johnson (Clive Tagg/PA)

Rachel Casey, director of canine behaviour and research at the Dogs Trust, said the charity was appalled that it was still legal to buy and use electric shock collars in England.

She said: It is both unnecessary and cruel to resort to the use of these collars on dogs.

This type of device is not only painful for a dog, it can have a serious negative impact on their mental and physical well-being.

A dog cant understand when or why its being shocked and this can cause it immense distress, with many dogs exhibiting signs of anxiety and worsened behaviour as a result.

She said positive methods such as using food rewards were the most effective and kindest way of training dogs.

We urge everyone who loves dogs to consider the impact that using these kinds of devices can have on our four-legged friends, and join with us in asking your MP for an immediate ban on their sale and their use.

Shadow environment secretary Sue Hayman said: Last week, Labour set out our animal welfare plan, a vision where no animal is made to suffer unnecessary pain and degradation, and where we continue to drive up standards of animal welfare in line with the most recent advances and understanding.

Thats why Labour is consulting on banning the use, sale and importation of animal shock collars in England, following the lead of both Wales and Scotland.
Coronation Street star Faye Brookes has said that its current lesbian storyline is quite historical for the soap.

Brookes plays Kate Connor, who has been embroiled in a secret love affair with Bhavna Limbachias Muslim character Rana Nazir in the ITV serial drama, and she is also romantically involved with Sophie Webster, played by Brooke Vincent.

The gay love triangle plot has spanned several months, and Brookes said they are so overwhelmed and so grateful at the positive response from viewers.

Coronation Streets Rana and Kate (ITV)

She said: We spoke about this relationship before it was on screen for months, the planning with the writers, the talking with the producers.

We knew it was going to be a real hard story to tell and I cannot get over the support that we have had so I can only be thankful and I love the fact that they love me more because Im with Rana.

Brookes, who has been a Corrie regular since 2015, said she is really proud of the storyline, because they have all worked really hard on it.

She added: We are giving those people a voice, were telling a real story that is so relatable and its a game changer.

I do think were doing something thats quite historical for Coronation Street.

Brookes said there is definitely added pressure, and more so for Bhavna as an actress where sexuality and religion are concerned.

We were worried about the reaction and that people werent going to accept the idea about this new relationship but because theyve received it so well and I know that its only a positive thing and it can only get better, she said.

The pressure is from me wanting to do a good job. We are both straight women playing those characters so were just giving truth to everything we do with it.

Love is love and thats the message across all boards. We dont need to even think about any other factors, its down to a feeling and down to happiness and two people just falling for one another.

Coronation Streets Rana and Sophie (ITV)

Its what Corrie always has  it has heart.

Brookes said that Vincent cracks me up every day, and praised Limbachia for her work ethic as an actress.

She added: We constantly bounce off each other with new ideas.

We have to kiss a lot so to be comfortable with her is really important and I cant take that for granted.

Rana recently confessed to husband Zeedan (Qasim Akhtar) that she had a lesbian affair.

Brookes said that Kate and Rana are currently not speaking, and that Kate is with Sophie which everyone thinks is a rebound.

The actress added: Kate is not seeing it as a rebound but she feels like if she was to lead Sophie down the wrong path she might be breaking her heart so she is keeping her distance because she knows her true feelings are for Rana.

Coronation Street continues on Wednesday at 7.30pm on ITV.
A Briton who was rescued off the Cuban coast from a doomed trip that saw his wife mysteriously vanish is to be sentenced for smuggling stolen coins.

Lewis Bennett faces up to 10 years in prison when he appears in a federal court in Miami on Tuesday.

The gold and silver collectables were from a haul worth up to 100,000 dollars (72,000) that he had reported as being stolen from an employers boat a year before the rescue.

Lewis Bennett was rescued alone (Broward Sheriffs Office/PA)

The FBI brought the charge as it investigated the disappearance of Isabella Hellmann, the mother of Bennetts baby.

Bennett reported the 41-year-old missing in the early hours of May 15 in an SOS call as their 37ft catamaran was sinking as they sailed home from Havana.

The recovered coins were found in Bennetts life raft and during a subsequent search of their home in Delray Beach, Florida. They were valued as being worth 38,480 dollars (27,530) in May.

In November, the British-Australian dual citizen, then 40, admitted a charge of transporting stolen property.
Former world champions Norway were stunned into submission as Great Britains men curlers claimed a dominant victory to boost their hopes of a Winter Olympics medal.

When skip Kyle Smiths rink were selected last June  ahead of David Murdochs silver-medal winning squad from Sochi 2014  eyebrows were raised.

But Kyle Smith, his brother Cammy Smith, Thomas Muirhead and Kyle Waddell have answered their doubters emphatically  no more so than in Tuesdays 10-3 humbling of Norway, who conceded defeat after seven ends.

ALL OVER! 



A dominant display from @Team_Smith13 is ended early as they steal one in the seventh 



That's three wins in a row now for the boys. Hitting form at the right time...#WeAreTheGreat #LoveCurling pic.twitter.com/OnZQuGeVEa  Team GB (@TeamGB) February 20, 2018

After five wins from eight games  and three in a row  ahead of Wednesdays final round-robin contest with the United States, Kyle Smith was overjoyed.

Its just pleasing weve managed to put a good string of wins together now and were in a position where were in control of our own destiny, he said.

It gives everyone else a bit of confidence in us as well, I hope. Weve always believed in our own ability.

Weve had a couple of games where we havent played our best but weve still managed to come through and win. If youre doing that youre doing something right. It does a lot for confidence.

Kyle Smith praised his team-mates for their performance against Norway (Mike Egerton/PA Images)

Thomas Ulsruds Norway squad, renowned for their colourful trousers, silver medallists at the Vancouver 2010 Games and 2014 world champions, struggled as the quietly spoken Kyle Smith put in a more flamboyant performance.

The Norwegian skip missed a double takeout in the first end and Britain raced to a 4-0 advantage after two ends as Ulsruds accuracy deserted him.

Kyle Smith, however, was metronomic. Another 3-0 end in Britains favour in the sixth was followed by another error from Ulsrud in the seventh and Norway had had enough.

I had a good feeling this morning, Kyle Smith added.

Kyle Smith believes confidence will be boosted by the win over Norway (Mike Egerton/PA Images)

Theres a few different ends that things couldve been very different.

We were expecting a really tough game because they always play well those guys. Thankfully today we were just a wee bit sharper than them.

Were just happy that we managed to make those last ones later in the end to really put the pressure on and it gives us a lot of confidence to win in that fashion.

Theyre going to be one of the contenders this week. Its a great feeling for us.

For us to come out and play like that against them shows just what were made of.

Britain womens coach Viktor Kjell was delighted with Smiths form  this was his best game  and added: Its good for the teams confidence as well, to get a big win like this against a tough opponent.
Amber Rudd has left the door open to putting the British men suspected of being members of an Islamic State execution group dubbed the Beatles on trial in a UK court.

The Home Secretary said she was absolutely convinced and absolutely committed to the idea of Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh facing justice after their capture in Syria in January.

But she declined to answer when asked by the Press Association where the men, alleged to be the only living members of a British-accented quartet of suspected killers, might be tried.

Last week Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said that the pair should not return to the UK, because they had turned their back on British ideas, British values.

Kotey is believed to have been caught trying to travel to Turkey (ITV News/PA)

His comments threatened to spark a diplomatic row with the United States, which wants countries to take responsibility for their citizens arrested in the fight against IS.

Ms Rudd, who was speaking on a visit to the Middle East, said: The important thing is that they have been arrested.

And the important thing is, to us, that they will face trial.

I cant be drawn at the moment on where that will be, but I am absolutely convinced, and absolutely committed, to making sure that they will face trial, because the security of the United Kingdom will always come first.

Opinion is currently divided on where and how the men should be tried.

It is understood that the pair have been stripped of their British citizenship, although officials at the Home Office have refused to comment on individual cases.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has opposed bringing the men back to the UK to stand trial (US Department of Defense/PA)

Mr Williamson, speaking in Brussels, said: Do I want them back in the United Kingdom? No, I dont.

His comments came after talks with his US counterpart Jim Mattis, where the Pentagon chief urged countries to take back their fighters, saying: The important thing is that the countries of origin keep responsibility for them.

US officials have also said putting the two in Guantanamo Bay is not an option.

Junior defence minister Tobias Ellwood has suggested the men should be tried at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

But Lord Carlile, the UKs independent reviewer of terrorism legislation from 2001 to 2011, said a British trial was the proper forum.

Along with Mohammed Emwazi  the killer nicknamed Jihadi John  and Aine Davis, Kotey and Elsheikh  a former child refugee  are thought to have been part of a group named after the 60s band because of their English accents.

The four Londoners were linked to a string of hostage murders in Iraq and Syria during the bloody Islamist uprising and gained global notoriety.

Briton Alan Henning is believed to be one of the Beatles victims (Family handout/PA)

Emwazi, who was killed in a US air strike in 2015, appeared in a number of videos in which captives including British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning were beheaded.

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.
Some Brexiteers are risking fragile peace in Northern Ireland by questioning the future of the Good Friday Agreement, Irelands deputy prime minister has said.

Simon Coveney, the Republics Foreign Affairs Minister, tweeted that the 1998 accord was being undermined in some political circles.

Talking down Good Friday Agreement because it raises serious and genuine questions of those pursuing #Brexit is not only irresponsible but reckless and potentially undermines the foundations of a fragile peace process in Northern Ireland that should never be taken for granted  Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) February 20, 2018

Mr Coveney said: Talking down (the) Good Friday Agreement because it raises serious and genuine questions of those pursuing Brexit is not only irresponsible but reckless and potentially undermines the foundations of a fragile peace process in Northern Ireland that should never be taken for granted.

Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney outside Stormont House in Belfast

The British and Irish governments have reiterated they are fully committed to the Good Friday Agreement amid a deep political impasse in Stormont.

Mr Coveneys tweet was directed at Labour MP Kate Hoey and Conservative MPs Daniel Hannan and Owen Paterson after they raised questions over the future of the 20-year-old accord.

With injury cannot be at NI Statement. @OwenSmith_MP @Andrew_Adonis et al must listen to Nobel Laureate Lord Trimble. Interim Direct Rule renews proper govt & services for NI citizens. Also gives time to discuss practical improvements to Belfast Agreement. https://t.co/MAuowLl1t7  Owen Paterson (@OwenPaterson) February 20, 2018

Mr Paterson, a former Northern Ireland secretary, recently retweeted a commentators suggestion that the agreement had outlived its use.

He also tweeted that Northern Ireland deserved good government, and health services were falling behind the rest of the UK without a devolved executive.

Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley is due to update Westminster on the Stormont deadlock on Tuesday.

Nothing at all to do with Brexit. Hiding head in sand over viability of sustainability of mandatory co-alition is reckless and wrong https://t.co/f54XDIcUNx  Kate Hoey (@CatharineHoey) February 19, 2018

The Easter agreement was signed almost 20 years ago by the British and Irish governments and enjoyed support from most of the major parties in Northern Ireland. Ian Paisleys DUP opposed it at the time.

It enabled the formation of a ministerial executive and assembly at Stormont.

Ms Hoey said her questions over the future of the Good Friday Agreement were nothing to do with Brexit.

Hiding head in sand over viability of sustainability of mandatory coalition is reckless and wrong, she said.

Mr Hannan said he had been arguing long before Brexit that the agreement needed to be changed.

Prime Minister Theresa May and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar spoke by phone on Monday night after the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Fein clashed over the prospect of direct rule being imposed on Northern Ireland.

Both leaders expressed disappointment over the political impasse at Stormont.

The breakdown in powersharing came to a head despite optimism that a deal had been close on contentious issues such as the Irish language, marriage equality and the legacy of the past.
The head of Latvias central bank has said he will not resign following an investigation into suspected bribery.

Ilmars Rimsevics, who is also on the European Central Banks top policy-making council, said he had made a decision not to step down because I am not guilty.

The Associated Press reported that the chairman of local Latvian bank Norvik, Grigory Guselnikov, said Mr Rimsevics had asked for bribes since 2015.

Ilmars Rimsevics insists he has done nothing wrong (AP)

At a news conference, Mr Rimsevics said my retreat would allow a man like Guselnikov to triumph.

Mr Rimsevics was detained on Saturday and released two days later on bail.

In response, Mr Guselnikov said Mr Rimsevics comments were contradictory, saying: He (Rimsevics) says that he does not regulate the banking industry, that it is the financial regulator. Then why would commercial banks try to attack him? If he thinks commercial banks are attacking him, hes admitting that hes involved in financial regulation.

Mr Guselnikov claimed that Mr Rimsevics told him that the financial regulator was loyal to him personally, and that he used that to threaten his bank with regulatory measures.

He said his bank still aims to find a win-win settlement with Latvia in the arbitration process.

The Norvik chief also claimed that his bank had been asked by Mr Rimsevics associate to launder 100 million dollars (71 million) from Russia.

Mr Rimsevics acknowledged knowing the middleman Mr Guselnikov mentioned, Renars Kokins, but said he had met him only once with Mr Guselnikov.

Latvias president, prime minister and finance minister have all called on Mr Rimsevics to step down from his post, at least while an investigation is under way. The government cannot force him to step down  only a court can  because the central bank is politically independent.

The stand-off risks destabilising the countrys financial system, where one bank, ABLV, has already needed a rescue loan from the central bank to remain afloat.

This comes after the US Treasury said last week that ABLV had institutionalised money laundering and recommended that ABLV be cut off from dollar transactions with US banks.

The AP also published a photo that shows Mr Rimsevics on a trip in 2010 that shows him in the company of the then-chief of a Russian military technology company. Data from the Russian border agency obtained by the AP shows Mr Rimsevics was in Russia at the time.

Mr Rimsevics said he did go on a fishing trip in the Russian region of Kamchatka in 2010, but that he does not know anybody in the photo and that the picture was likely tampered with.

The Latvian banking chief also said he had received death threats, which he had reported to the police.
A transgender beautician has been spared a spell in a mens prison for pushing an off-duty police officer onto a Tube line after an alcohol-fuelled night out.

Paris Valeta Bregazzi, 30, had drunk four bottles of Prosecco and was arguing with a friend on the platform of Hanger Lane Station in Ealing, west London when Pc Sam Chegwin intervened last July.

He told her to calm down and she responded by telling him to mind his own business, unaware he was an officer, a court heard.

Fearing for public safety, Pc Chegwin pushed her in the chest in a defensive manner, ignorant of the fact she had recently had extensive breast surgery.

Bregazzi reacted by shoving him with force, sending him toppling onto the track, just inches from the line with a fast train seven minutes away.

Last November, she pleaded guilty to carrying out an unlawful act on a railway with intent to endanger a person.

But Judge Jeremy Dein, QC, deferred deciding on her case amid concern for her difficult circumstances.

She returned to the Old Bailey wearing a black jumpsuit, black studded leather jacket, blue faux fur wrap and hot pink flip flops.

Her lawyer Mustapha Hakme conceded the offence passed the custody mark but argued for a community order as she had stayed out of trouble since.

He told the court Bregazzi, of Highgate, north London, was calmer and more stable now, despite having suffered from depression and mental health problems in the past.

Paris Valeti Bregazzi outside the Old Bailey (Emily Pennink/PA)

Sentencing, Judge Dein told her it was lucky Pc Chegwin was not seriously hurt.

He said: The fact is he could have been killed by falling and hitting his head, electrocuted or hit by an on-coming train but mercifully he maintained his consciousness and composure and managed to clamber back onto the platform.

Mr Chegwin is extremely fortunate he was not injured or killed and so are you, for you could have been here facing far more serious charges.

It is clear to me having viewed the CCTV that you reacted spontaneously. You had significant surgery on the part of the body he made contact with although he did not know it. Furthermore, you did not seem to form a malign intent.

The judge said the defendant had 39 convictions for low level crimes of theft and violence but had difficult circumstances and a history of mental health problems.

Handing her six months in prison, suspended for two years, he said: It was made crystal clear I do not undermine the gravity of this offence. Mr Chegwin was acting in a public spirited manner in intervening and seeking to prevent the escalation of violence.

Outside court, the defendant said she regretted what happened, saying it was a scuffle.
Six people have been arrested in an alleged 1.2 billion Indian bank fraud case.

Central Bureau of Investigation spokesman Abhished Dayal said five bank workers and an employee of main suspect Nirav Modi, a billionaire jeweller, were arrested for allegedly conspiring to cheat the Punjab National Bank.

Modi allegedly cheated the state-run bank by using fake letters of understanding to get loans. Most of the letters were sent to overseas offices of Indian banks, which made the actual loans, according to Sunil Mehta, Punjab National Banks managing director.

Officials of the Central Bureau of Investigation and bank staff stand inside during a raid at the Punjab National Bank (AP)

The Press Trust of India news agency reported that Modi sent a letter to the bank this week saying he owes less than half the amount claimed by the bank in connection with the alleged fraud.

He runs an international jewellery empire that reaches from India to New York, with a string of high-end brands. He and his family fled India weeks before the bank registered a criminal case with the CBI on January 31.

The CBI and other Indian investigative agencies searched dozens of offices and residences used by Modi and his business partners. The bank named Modi, his brother Nishal Modi, wife Ami Modi and uncle Mehul Chinubhai Choksi as suspects in its complaint.

In his letter to the bank, Modi said he owes about 50 billion rupees (553 million), according to PTI. He said the 1.2 billion cited by the bank had resulted in a media frenzy that pressured authorities to quickly search and seize assets from his Firestar International and Firestar Diamond International companies.

This thereby jeopardised our ability to discharge the dues of the group to the banks, Modi said.

Mr Dayal, the CBI spokesman, said the agency has not yet received Modis letter.

With the Indian media reporting that Modi and his family are hiding in New York or Dubai, the external affairs ministry said it has suspended the passports of Modi and his uncle Choksi for four weeks.

It said that if they fail to explain within seven days why their passports should not be cancelled, their travel documents will be revoked.
The UK Government has said same sex marriage in Northern Ireland could be introduced via Westminster.

Northern Ireland Secretary of State Karen Bradley said while it should be a matter for the Stormont Assembly, if the matter was to be raised at Westminster it is the Governments policy to allow a free vote on matters of conscience.

She was responding to a written question from Labour MP Conor McGinn, who asked if she would bring forward legislative proposals on equal marriage for same-sex couples in the region.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Karen Bradley (PA Wire/PA Images)

Ms Bradley said: In accordance with the Belfast Agreement, this is a devolved matter which should be addressed in the NI Assembly; but the power of the Westminster Parliament to legislate remains unaffected.

If this issue were to be raised in Westminster, the Governments policy is to allow a free vote on matters of conscience such as equal marriage.

Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK where same-sex marriage is not recognised in law.

Several attempts in the Stormont Assembly to introduce marriage equality failed.

The DUP used a petition of concern to veto the bills, arguing that such legislation did not command enough cross-community support.

Campaigners calling for the introduction of same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland during a parade and rally in Belfast City centre. (PA Archive/PA Images/Niall Carson)

Human rights organisations and LGBT equality campaigners have been calling for Westminster to legislate for marriage equality in the region.

In August 2017 the High Court in Belfast dismissed two cases challenging Northern Irelands ban on same-sex marriage.

Delivering his judgement, a judge said it was for the Stormont Assembly, and not a judge, to decide social policy.

However, the region has been without a devolved administration for more than 13 months following the collapse of powersharing between the DUP and Sinn Fein.

The latest round of negotiations to restore the institutions failed last week after the DUP pulled the plug on the talks.

After the talks process broke down, shadow Northern Ireland secretary Owen Smith said it was up to London to introduce legislation in such areas as same-sex marriage.
International Trade Secretary Liam Fox has warned EU leaders that imposing new tariff barriers with the UK after Brexit will simply make their own economies less competitive.

Addressing the EEF manufacturers organisation in London, Dr Fox said the Government was committed to protecting the interests of British exporters in the ongoing Brexit negotiations with Brussels.

He said that any attempt by the remaining 27 member states to create new barriers to trade would rebound against them.

Liam Fox, Secretary of State for International Trade (Steve Parsons/PA)

This Government opposes erecting barriers to trade where none yet exists, or disrupting the commercial relationships that exist between this country and our continental partners, he said.

If Europe erects barriers to trade and investment that do not exist today, it will make Europe less competitive in a global context and less attractive to international investors.

Today I'm speaking at @EEF_Insights Manufacturing Conference. UKs modern, dynamic and innovative manufacturing industry exports to markets around the world - ONS stats released last month show manufacturing output reached its highest level in 10 years #EEF2018 pic.twitter.com/M3MLYa0Nyh  Dr Liam Fox MP (@LiamFox) February 20, 2018

Dr Fox said the Governments Brexit legislation would enable Britain to continue the EUs trade arrangements with third countries, protecting UK exporters access to overseas markets.

It will also give us the tools we need to fight back against any unfair subsidies or dumping from abroad, he said.

We want to protect the interests of British manufacturers. We want to maintain your access to markets across Europe and beyond.
Dan Biggar has given Wales NatWest 6 Nations hopes a lift by returning from injury for Saturdays clash against Ireland in Dublin.

The Ospreys fly-half has recovered from a shoulder problem that ruled him out of Wales opening two games against Scotland and England.

Biggar returns to the starting line-up instead of Rhys Patchell, while there are two other changes from the side beaten 12-6 by England at Twickenham 10 days ago.

Dan Biggar should be fit to face Ireland (David Davies/PA)

TEAM NEWS  Wales welcome back @lionsofficial trio Dan Biggar, Leigh Halfpenny and Liam Williams for #IREvWAL. Croeso nol i Lewod Halfpenny, Williams a Biggar i wynebu Iwerddon dydd Sadwrn. pic.twitter.com/MDgRyrrmGM  Welsh Rugby Union  (@WelshRugbyUnion) February 20, 2018

Full-back Leigh Halfpenny has recovered from a foot infection and replaces Gareth Anscombe, while Saracens wing Liam Williams is in for Worcesters Josh Adams.

Biggar features for the first time since he was hurt during the Ospreys European Champions Cup defeat against Clermont Auvergne last month.

Williams, meanwhile, suffered an abdominal injury during the autumn campaign and has not played for Wales since they beat Georgia in November.

Both Patchell and Adams drop out of the match-day 23, and Northampton wing George North remains on the bench with Gatland opting for a back-three of Halfpenny, Williams and Steff Evans.

 Leading into his 100th game in charge of Wales, head coach Warren Gatland discusses his selections for #IREvWAL this Saturday in Dublin. pic.twitter.com/7IJHvGPXd1  Welsh Rugby Union  (@WelshRugbyUnion) February 20, 2018

Gatland has named an unchanged pack, including number eight Ross Moriarty, who missed Gloucesters Aviva Premiership game against Worcester last weekend after suffering a shoulder knock.

Gatland, who takes charge of Wales for his 100th Test this week, said: It is great to be able to bring so much experience back into the starting XV and into the back-line.

It is the first week we have had everyone in the green in terms of availability, which is a nice luxury to have and a positive ahead of what is a very important Test match against a very good Ireland side.

We have been pleased with the depth we have developed in the back-three and pleased with how those players have gone, but having the experience of Dan, Liam and Leigh coming back in is hugely important.

 #NatWest6Nations team news!



Dan Biggar is one of 3 @lionsofficial stars recalled by @WelshRugbyUnion



Read the full team to take on @IrishRugby here https://t.co/tA7dUqRFRn pic.twitter.com/TgxkHJHAzM  Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 20, 2018

We have been pleased with how the forward pack has been going and how they have worked as a unit, but as always, there is pressure for them to perform, too.

Victory for Wales at the Aviva Stadium would keep them in the Six Nations title mix ahead of home games against Italy and France next month.

But defeat in Dublin would potentially render the race for silverware a two-horse race between Ireland and reigning Six Nations champions England.

Wales team to play Ireland: L Halfpenny (Scarlets); L Williams (Saracens), S Williams (Scarlets), H Parkes (Scarlets), S Evans (Scarlets); D Biggar (Ospreys), G Davies (Scarlets); R Evans (Scarlets), K Owens (Scarlets), S Lee (Scarlets), C Hill (Dragons), A W Jones (Ospreys, capt), A Shingler (Scarlets), J Navidi (Cardiff Blues), R Moriarty (Gloucester).

Replacements: E Dee (Dragons), W Jones (Scarlets), T Francis (Exeter), B Davies (Ospreys), J Tipuric (Ospreys), A Davies (Scarlets), G Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), G North (Northampton).
The Queen has been described as very on the ball after visiting the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) to mark its 500th anniversary.

It was the Queens first public engagement outside of Buckingham Palace since she returned to London from Sandringham.

Dressed in a duck egg blue Stewart Parvin dress and matching coat, the 91-year-old Queen was greeted by RCP president Professor Jane Dacre, who was impressed by her royal visitor.

Queen Elizabeth II leaves after a visit to the Royal College of Physicians in London (Chris Jackson/PA)

Very on the ball, very interested, and a charming, graceful lady, Prof Dacre said of the Queen after the event.

In a speech, Prof Dacre  the RCPs third female president  joked: I hope I am not being presumptuous, Maam, in thinking that Maam will be most relieved that medical treatment has changed.

Its moved on from when monarchs were treated with arsenic and bloodletting.

After the Queen left, Prof Dacre said: She really seemed genuinely interested.

The Queen was described as `very on the ball on her visit to the college on its 500th anniversary (Chris Jackson/PA)

During her visit to the Colleges Regents Park headquarters in central London, the Queen viewed an exhibition called Ceaseless Motion: William Harveys Experiments In Circulation.

It celebrates the life and works of physician William Harvey whose discovery of the circulation of blood changed the face of medicine.

Kristin Hussey, curator at the RCP, said: She was quite keen to see the bloodletting. And she said that she thought it was really fascinating.

Ms Hussey said the Queen and Prof Dacre had a conversation about the importance of diversity in medicine.

Prof Dacre said afterwards that there have been more Queens than female presidents of the RCP.

The Queen on her first public engagement outside of Buckingham Palace since her return to London from Sandringham (Chris Jackson/PA

Before the Queen arrived, Prof Dacre said: One thing thats very poignant for me is that Im only the third ever female president.

And Im very proud to be here on this occasion.

Asked about the NHS, Prof Dacre said: I think the NHS is troubled.

However, every health system in the world is troubled.

And if you look at the Commonwealth Fund, its an American piece of research that looks at how healthcare systems are doing, it puts us right at the top.

So we are amongst the best health systems in the world.

Were priceless to have healthcare for everybody free at the point of delivery.

Queen Elizabeth IIs signature in the visitors book which she signed during a visit to the Royal College of Physicians in London (Chris Jackson/PA)

The difficulties with that is that weve become victims of our success, because people are living longer and collecting more illnesses and were treating them all and so it means theres a lot of pressure.

Having said that though, the job of being a doctor and caring for an individual patient in front of you is a huge privilege.

During the visit, the Queen also unveiled a plaque to mark the milestone and was shown the original charter document from 1518, granted by Henry VIII, which founded the College.

It was established to help regulate the medical profession at a time when anyone could call themselves a doctor and start treating patients.

Today the RCP plays an important role in improving patient care and shaping public health and is the professional membership body for physicians with 34,000 members and fellows across the globe.

The Queen met staff and members of the medical profession, before unveiling the plaque and a new commemorative charter to mark the occasion.

The College will be organising a series of events throughout 2018 to mark the 500th anniversary of the bodys original 1518 royal charter.

It has also produced a commemorative RCP500 Charter, to reaffirm the Colleges commitment to seek and champion excellence in healthcare  through research, training and support for members of the medical profession.

The Queen laid the foundation stone for the Colleges Regents Park building in 1964 and Tuesdays visit came at the start of a year which will also mark the 70th anniversary of the NHS.
The Duke of Cambridge has visited the Triumph motorcycle factory as he celebrated the building of world-class bikes in Warwickshire.

William even got kitted up to try out a powerful Triumph Tiger 1200 XRT for himself at the site near Nuneaton.

William is given a guided tour of the site in Hinckley (Ian Vogler/Daily Mirror/PA)

Triumph Motorcycles builds around 67,000 bikes a year (Ian Vogler/Daily Mirror/PA)

They are sold in 57 countries across the world (Ian Vogler/Daily Mirror/PA)

William admires the Triumph TR6 made famous by Steve McQueen in The Great Escape (Ian Vogler/Daily Mirror/PA)

He tries out the Triumph Tiger 1200 XRT (Ian Vogler/Daily Mirror/PA)

William tries a Triumph Bobber for size (Aaron Chown/PA)

The Duke of Cambridge meets apprentices and graduates during a visit to the MIRA Technology Park in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, which supplies pioneering engineering, research and test services to the transport industry. MIRA was formerly known as the Motor Industry Research Association. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday February 20, 2018. See PA story ROYAL William. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire

The Duke of Cambridge exits the NIMR RIV vehicle during a visit to the MIRA Technology Park in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, which supplies pioneering engineering, research and test services to the transport industry. MIRA was formerly known as the Motor Industry Research Association. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday February 20, 2018. See PA story ROYAL William. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire

The Duke of Cambridge is escorted by Dr George Gillespie Chief Executive Officer Officer of MIRA as they vehicles at the MIRA Technology Park in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, which supplies pioneering engineering, research and test services to the transport industry. MIRA was formerly known as the Motor Industry Research Association. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday February 20, 2018. See PA story ROYAL William. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire
The Duke of Cambridge relived his motorbiking youth when he took the latest model from legendary firm Triumph for a spin  and gave it the thumbs up.

William tried the new Triumph Tiger 1200 during a tour of the manufacturers factory and could not hide his excitement at seeing all the two-wheeled machines in various stages of construction.

When the duke first arrived at the plant he was impressed by the bike he would later ride waiting at the entrance and said Look at this  a monster.

The Duke of Cambridge tries out a Triumph Tiger ( Ian Vogler/Daily Mirror/PA)

In his 20s the duke was known to ride powerful motorbikes and is likely to have enjoyed the anonymity and freedom of riding around London as just another biker.

William, 35, wore a helmet, gloves and jacket for the brief turn on the Triumph Tiger and at first drove into a car park to give himself a longer run along a stretch of private road at the factory in Hinckley, near Nuneaton.

He revved the engine and sped along towards the waiting press and braked gently before taking off his helmet and saying very nice, and adding to the media: Your turn next guys.
Oxfam has received 26 allegations of misconduct since the Haiti sex scandal erupted two weeks ago, charity chiefs have revealed.

Mark Goldring, Oxfam GBs chief executive, said 16 of the claims stemmed from abroad, while 10 came from the UK.

Giving evidence to the Commons International Development Committee, Mr Goldring said around 7,000 people have cancelled regular donations to Oxfam over the past 10 days, adding that corporate sponsors appeared to be reserving judgment.

Mr Goldring publicly apologised for the actions of charity staff who sexually exploited female victims of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

And he also apologised for his own comments which appeared to play down the seriousness of the scandal, when he told a newspaper that the charity was being attacked as if it had murdered babies in their cots.

The parliamentary hearing comes in the wake of the news of resignations and dismissals of Oxfam staff in Haiti following allegations of sex parties involving prostitutes.

Asked how many more revelations had come to his notice since newspaper reports of the Haiti scandal emerged earlier this month, Mr Goldring said: Across Oxfam Great Britain we have had about 26 stories, reports come to us which were either new reports come out as a result of the stories, or earlier stories where people said, I didnt necessarily report this at the time. Over an extended period of time, I am not talking about recent cases.

We really want people to come forward wherever they are and whenever this happened. Some of those cases relate to the UK, some of them relate to our international programme.

Mr Goldring apologised after committee chairman Stephen Twigg said that the parallel the charity chief drew with the murder of babies in an interview with the Guardian was regarded by many people as grossly inappropriate.

Oxfam has seen thousands of donations cancelled in recent days (Nick Ansell/PA)

Mr Goldring responded: I do apologise. I was under stress, Id given many interviews, Id made many decisions to try to lead Oxfams response to this. I was thinking about amazing work Ive seen Oxfam do across the world, most recently with refugees coming from Myanmar.

I should not have said those things. It is not for Oxfam to judge issues of proportionality or motivation.

Oxfam Internationals executive director Winnie Byanyima told the committee: Some hideous men came into our organisation and abused the trust of the British people, the supporters.

But they were able to get away, to get a recommendation to leave. This was wrong.

Caroline Thomson, who became chairwoman of Oxfams trustees in October 2017, said: On behalf of the council of Oxfam, we are ashamed of what happened in Haiti.

We dont think it was well handled and our task now is to make sure we report always with transparency and accountability.

My task is to make sure we never again can be at risk of being perceived to have put reputation over accountability.

Mr Goldring told the committee Oxfam made the wrong call at the time of the original investigation into events in Haiti when it issued a press release revealing its findings of serious misconduct involving bullying, intimidation and breaches of the charitys code of conduct, but did not go into details about the fact that sexual exploitation was involved.

At the time, people thought that was being transparent. We know now that that was not enough.

My colleagues at the time made a set of decisions about how public to go. With hindsight, they made the wrong call. If we were culpable  which we were  we should have been completely transparent.

Mr Goldring said that one of those who resigned or were sacked as a result of events in Haiti was later re-employed by an Oxfam organisation elsewhere in the world  but not by Oxfam GB.

That was a mistake, he said. It shouldnt have happened. It was a short-term contract, but that was a failing.

Mr Goldring revealed that when another aid charity later inquired about whether it should offer a job to Roland van Hauwermeiren, who was forced to resign as a result of the Haiti scandal, it declined to offer a reference but merely listed his positions at Oxfam.

We should have been more pro-active, said Mr Goldring. We should have said Please call us  there is cause for concern.
The parents of a seriously ill little boy have lost a life support treatment fight with doctors.

Specialists at Alder Hey Childrens Hospital in Liverpool had asked a High Court judge to allow them to stop providing life support treatment to 21-month-old Alfie Evans.

Alfies parents Kate James and Tom Evans, who are both in their 20s, wanted treatment to continue.

Tom Evans outside the High Court in London after the judges ruling (John Stillwell/PA)

Mr Justice Hayden on Tuesday in London ruled in favour of hospital bosses after analysing the dispute at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in Liverpool earlier this month.

Mr Justice Hayden said he accepted medical evidence which showed further treatment was futile, adding that he had reached his conclusion with great sadness.

Alfies need now is for good quality palliative care.

He requires peace, quiet and privacy in order that he may conclude his life ad he has lived it, with dignity, he said.

He paid tribute to Alfies parents and to doctors and nurses at Alder Hey.

Alfies mother left the court hearing before Mr Justice Hayden reached his conclusion and his father broke down as the decision was announced.

The judge had previously heard that Alfie, who was born on May 9 2016, was in a semi-vegetative state and had a degenerative neurological condition doctors had not definitively diagnosed.

Doctors said continuing to provide life support treatment was unkind, unfair and inhumane.

Alfies parents believe that he responds to them.

The judge had visited Alfie in hospital and has praised his parents and said they had tried to explore every avenue and leave no stone unturned.

Alfie, 21 months, suffers an incurable brain disease. His family are at the High Court, London now as a judge decides his fate; doctors want to end life support, his family want to take him to Rome for more treatment. pic.twitter.com/7Aj08bSe1d  Patrick Hurst (@paddyhurst) February 20, 2018

Outside Alder Hey around 30 members of Alfies Army were supporting the familys campaign as they awaited the decision.

Blue and purple balloons fluttered in the wind as they chanted, Save Alfie Evans!

As news of the decision filtered through, supporters stood in silence, wiping away tears and exchanging hugs.

Danielle Page, 32, from St Helens, said: It is devastating. Hes not lying there like a vegetable, hes a little boy, hes a miracle. He needs a chance. Everything thats been thrown at him, hes battled through. We are not going to give up.

Alfies father said after the ruling: I need time to reflect on the judgement.

A statement from Alder Hey Hospital said: Our aim is always to try and reach an agreement with parents about the most appropriate care plan for their child.

Unfortunately there are sometimes rare situations such as this where agreement cannot be reached and the treating team believe that continued active treatment is not in a childs best interests.

The Trust referred this case to the Family Division of the High Court to seek a determination as to what treatment Alfie should receive in his best interests.

The Court has today made a decision about Alfies future care and treatment.

We understand that this is a very difficult time for Alfies family and we will continue to work with them to agree the most appropriate palliative care plan for Alfie.
Jeremy Corbyn has flatly denied that he was a spy for communist Czechoslovakia during the Cold War.

The Labour leader dismissed the claims, which originally appeared in The Sun, that he passed information to an agent of the Czech StB intelligence agency during the 1980s as nonsense.

Mr Corbyn was challenged about the allegations by a journalist from the Daily Mail during a question and answer session at the EEF manufacturers conference in London, where he had delivered the keynote speech.

He replied: I am sorry the Daily Mail has reduced itself to reproducing some nonsense that was written in The Sun.

Asked directly by BBC Breakfast presenter Steph McGovern, who was acting as compere for the event, if he was a Czech spy, he said: No.

His denial came after he threatened Tory MP Ben Bradley with legal action over a tweet claiming he sold British secrets to Communist spies.

Ben Bradley could face legal action (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

According to the original Sun report, documents unearthed in the StB archives showed that Mr Corbyn met a Czech agent on at least three occasions  including twice in the House of Commons  during the 1980s and was given the codename Cob.

The Labour leaders office acknowledged that he had had tea in the Commons with a Czech diplomat, but said any claim he was an agent, asset or informer for any intelligence agency is entirely false and a ridiculous smear.
Karen Bradley has committed to provide budget clarity for Northern Irelands public services.

She declined to immediately reimpose direct rule from Westminster and raised the prospect of calling another Assembly election.

The Northern Ireland Secretary has come under pressure from the DUP to appoint ministers to take decisions on schools and hospitals and pass a budget before they run out of cash.

Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley updated the Commons on the Northern Ireland powersharing impasse. PA/Jonathan Brady.

It is 13 months since powersharing collapsed at Stormont in a row over a botched green energy scheme.

Ms Bradley said: I intend to take steps to provide clarity on the budget and will update the House (of Commons) as soon as possible.

This is clearly not where I want to be but in the absence of an Executive I have no other choice.

Senior Democratic Unionist Nigel Dodds said it was a dereliction of duty to continue without a spending plan or ministers to make decisions.

Ms Bradley said she was working to ensure budget certainty for civil servants and she would return to the House of Commons.

She also told the Commons fresh elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly could be called if all other viable options were exhausted.

The Northern Ireland Secretary said the Government will not shirk its responsibilities.

Things in Northern Ireland cannot simply remain in a state of limbo. Challenging decisions will have to be taken.

She said commemorations of the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement later this year risked looking decidedly hollow.

Sinn Fein opposes the return of direct rule and has called for an intergovernmental council involving the Irish Government to consider the issue.

Dublin has said it wants to protect the Good Friday Agreement and the British Government has echoed that stance and said it believes in devolution.

Sinn Feins Northern Ireland leader Michelle ONeill said Ms Bradley singularly failed to progress those issues which the British Government is directly responsible for.

They must release the legacy inquest funding immediately and issue the consultation on the legacy mechanisms.

The fact that the DUP failed to close on last weeks draft agreement and chose to collapse the process does not abdicate the British Government from their responsibilities. 

Prime Minister Theresa May is due to meet the leaders of the DUP and Sinn Fein at the House of Commons on Wednesday afternoon, Downing Street said.

Mrs Mays official spokesman said: The focus is on restoring devolved government to Northern Ireland.

Asked about suggestions by Tory backbencher Owen Paterson that the Good Friday Agreement may have outlived its usefulness, the spokesman said: The Government remains absolutely steadfastly committed to the Belfast Agreement and is currently working with partners in order to get the devolved administration up and running as soon as possible.

Thats what the Prime Minister is going to be talking about when she meets with the DUP and Sinn Fein tomorrow.

Meanwhile, parts of a draft agreement text between the DUP and Sinn Fein were published on broadcaster Eamonn Mallies website.

He wrote: On page 5 under the heading: Respecting Languages and Culture, there is specific reference to the Irish (Respecting Language and Diversity) Bill and the Ulster Scots (Respecting Language and Diversity) Bill and a Respecting Language and Diversity Bill.

It has to be stated that square brackets obtain in this eight-line paragraph  meaning it had not yet been signed off and agreed.

The document spells out that draft legislation is in an annex.
Cash aimed at closing the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their most well-off classmates is being used to pay for campus officers at schools in Glasgow.

The five officers now in place at schools in the south-west of the city are funded by the Scottish Governments Pupil Equity Fund and Police Scotland.

They are based at Bellahouston Academy, St Pauls High School, Rosshall Academy, Govan High and Hillpark Secondary.

More Glasgow schools now have campus police officers (Andrew Milligan/PA)

The latest took up the position on February 5 while the campus officer at Bellahouston Academy has been in place for around three years.

Chief Inspector Alan Bowater said: After seeing the positive impact that the Bellahouston campus officer was having in the community, we approached the other secondary schools in the division to see if they were interested in securing funding to buy into the project.

We are delighted to have the support of all five schools, and thankful that the Scottish Governments Pupil Equity Fund was able to help us support the schools and the surrounding community.

The 120 million Pupil Equity Fund is paid directly to eligible schools across Scotland.
A coastal community in the west of Ireland is hoping for a gold rush of sorts on the back of the success of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

Locals, who have long celebrated film-maker Martin McDonaghs connections to the picturesque Irish speaking region, erected their own signs in homage to the movie after his five Bafta awards.

Now they are hoping the London-Irish director and playwright might go one further and win an Academy Award and send it to Leitir Meallain in Connemara where his father was born and raised.

Martin McDonagh with two of his Baftas for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (Yui Mok/PA)

Brid Ni Lathain, principal of Scoil Naisunta Leitir Meallain, was one of a bunch of savvy locals who came up with the idea to hammer together their own three billboards on a rugged hill on the approach to the village.

I think now that Martin has so many awards that he could put them anywhere hed like, she said.

But of course we will always have a place for any of his awards  especially if they are golden.

The signs on the hillside, known as Caislean, outside Leitir Meallain read Comhghairdeas Martin McDonagh, Realt Mor Leitir Meallain and Realt Mor Hollywood, or Congratulations Martin McDonagh, Big Star of Leitir Meallain, Big Star of Hollywood.

Huge congratulations to #ThreeBillboards on its 5 @BAFTA awards including Best Film, Leading Actress, and Supporting Actor! #EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/73VnNqKZDs  Three Billboards (@3Billboards) February 18, 2018

Malachy O Cualain, 12, who had just returned from putting on a school performance of Roald Dahls hit Willy Wonka, said: They are in a nice area. Everybody whos coming into Leitir Meallain can see it.

Its gaining a lot of publicity and I hope people that see it would like to come here on holidays or at any time.

McDonagh, a regular visitor to the area since his childhood, is better known among many of the locals as Martin Johnny Micheal Colm Rua, taking his names, as is tradition in Gaeltacht communities, from his father Johnny Michael Colm Rua.

Along with his writer/director brother, John Michael, they spent family holidays in the Ceantar na nOilean area of Connemara, where a chain of bridges and causeways connects a rugged archipelago.

Nowadays the area is beset by emigration and a lack of job opportunities with 57 homes only having one person in each and another 47 where two people live.

Martin McDonagh and cast members at the premiere of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (Matt Crossick/PA)

Local historian John Bhaba Jeaic O Conghaile, curator of Leitir Meallain heritage centre and a relation of the McDonaghs, said: I hope the signs will stay here until after the summer.

The tourists will see where Martin McDonagh came from, where his roots come from. Hes one of our own.

Locals in Leitir Meallain have to drive for more than an hour to get to a cinema to watch McDonaghs hit film.

I just had to get a look at #ThreeBillboards outside Leitir Meallain, #Connemara. Fair play to John Bhaba Jeaic O Conghaile! @PA pic.twitter.com/aZ4oG8QRoW  Niall Carson (@niallcarsonpa) February 20, 2018

Mr O Conghaile added: He gives all his awards to his mother and father, Johnny and Mary, so you never know.

Mr McDonaghs Three Billboards won five Baftas and is nominated for seven Oscars.

The movie has also sparked the appearance of billboards to promote campaigns and causes, including beneath the site of the Grenfell Tower disaster in London.
Holyrood has approved the establishment of a new income tax system for Scotland  a move which will benefit low earners but could hit hundreds of thousands of better-off workers.

Scottish Finance Secretary Derek Mackay insisted the changes he is bringing in will mean seven out of 10 taxpayers north of the border will be better off in 2018-19, but opposition politicians accused the SNP of breaking a key election promise.

After the changes were approved by 67 votes to 50, Mr Mackay said: Scotland is set to become the lowest taxed part of the UK.

Scottish Finance Secretary Derek Mackay (David Cheskin/PA)

Our progressive reforms to income tax will deliver greater tax fairness and additional funding to protect vital public services.

Today the @ScotParl backed our reforms to income tax. As a result, more than two thirds of taxpayers will pay less tax next year on their current income. More at https://t.co/Hu3GDmd7V9 @DerekMackaySNP #ScotBudget pic.twitter.com/uBSOp1hzJ9  Scottish Government Finance and Economy (@scotgoveconomy) February 20, 2018

The new tax system  part of a package of tax and spending measures set out in the Scottish Governments Budget for 2018-19  will see both the higher and top rate of income tax increased by 1p, rising to 41p and 46p respectively.

In addition the Scottish Government will levy a new intermediate rate of 21p on income between 24,000 and 43,430, as well as a 19p starter rate on earnings between 11,850 and 13,850.

Mr Mackay said: Im confident that these proposals will deliver the best outcome for the people and the economy of Scotland. The best deal anywhere in the UK.

But Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Murdo Fraser blasted the Scottish Government for the income tax rises, pointing out the SNPs 2016 Holyrood election manifesto included a pledge not to increase the basic rate.

The SNP has rubber-stamped its own broken promise on tax - reinforcing Scotlands reputation as the highest-taxed part of the UK. pic.twitter.com/sovfeicOrm  Scottish Conservatives (@ScotTories) February 20, 2018

Mr Fraser said: This rise in income tax penalises hardworking Scottish families.

It breaks a promise made by the SNP in 2016, and repeated dozens of times since.

And, in making Scotland the highest-taxed part of the UK, it will condemn us to more years of sluggish economic growth, depriving the government of much-needed tax revenue as a result.

He had urged the Scottish Government to start listening to all the voices expressing concerns about tax increases.

The Conservative added: Every economic forecast has the Scottish economy growing at a fraction of the UK average in coming years.

While the Tories attacked the SNP over tax rises, Labour criticised the Scottish Government for not being radical enough.

Holyrood finance spokesman James Kelly said the devolution of income tax powers gave Scottish ministers the chance to present a bold and radical budget.

He added: The SNP tax plans fall massively short of what is required and it is the people of Scotland who will suffer, with a quarter of a million children living in poverty, performance in education on the slide, as the economy continues to falter and there is an NHS crisis where people struggle to get GP appointments.

These tax proposals should be rejected because the SNP have failed to make the changes that will make a difference to peoples lives.

Meanwhile Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said the SNP must understand why people are frustrated with their lack of honesty over taxation.

He argued: Weve got an SNP Government that will increase the very tax that they said they would not at election time. So the question is about their integrity more than anything else, can they be frank with the voters about what they are proposing.

But the Greens  who have already struck a deal with the Scottish Government to support their budget  hailed the changes.

Green MSP Patrick Harvie said: What todays rate resolution achieves  and Im very pleased the Greens have played a pivotal role in bringing us to this point  is a huge step, a bold reform, towards progressive use of income tax powers and reducing inequality and funding our public services.
Zenit St Petersburg defender Emanuel Mammana has warned Celtic they face just as intimidating an atmosphere in Russia as their own fans produced in the first leg of their Europa League tie.

The Argentinian admitted he and his team-mates were affected by the Parkhead atmosphere as they fell to a 1-0 defeat last week thanks to Callum McGregors second-half strike. Celtic dominated throughout and were well worth their victory.

But the centre-back claims Zenit will overturn their deficit with no problems on Thursday.

The Zenit fans have been backed to inspire their side against Celtic (Brian Lawless/PA)

The St Petersburg Stadium is heading for a 56,000 sell-out for the Russian sides first match of the year following their winter break.

Mammana told Zenits official website: We made a lot of mistakes at Celtic Park, we have carefully analysed what went wrong and watched the video.

Weve studied all aspects of their game to understand why it didnt work out as we planned and to make the most of the 90 minutes we have at St Petersburg Stadium. Its only half-time in the battle and the result is still unclear.

We made quite a lot of mistakes during the match. Some very simple ones.

There were a number of reasons for this, it being the first match after the break, the pressure from their crowd. I can admit it that we were very worried in the first few minutes, we constantly lost the ball when making some really basic passes.

Of course, it was a shame to concede towards the end. After all, we could have come away with the score at 0-0 and now we would be in a better mood. But losing only 1-0 away in the knock-out rounds is also not a disaster.

We will work on controlling the ball, passing, we will correct our mistakes and then in St Petersburg, I think we will win without any issues.

We must always win at home. We are absolutely focused on the result and I hope the fans will help us with this too. Im sure Celtic will feel the atmosphere in our stadium is comparable to theirs.
The boss of British Airways parent company has urged MPs not to trust Heathrow over its expansion plans.

IAG chief executive Willie Walsh claimed the third runway scheme should not be approved unless the airport guarantees that landing charges will not be increased.

Heathrow has previously said it is confident that it can meet the Department for Transports (DfT) challenge of keeping fees close to current levels of around 22 per passenger.

Heathrows plans to expand should not be trusted, according to IAG boss Willie Walsh (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA)

Mr Walsh told the Commons Transport Select Committee that he has zero confidence that the west London hub can build a third runway on time and on budget.

He gave the chaotic opening of Terminal 5 in 2008 as one reason for his scepticism.

History does not demonstrate that Heathrow is capable of delivering on time and on budget, he said.

Mr Walsh claimed Heathrows position is that it will deliver something for you for about 14 billion, but will not give details about what it will build until after the project has been given the go-ahead by Parliament.

He went on: What they are saying is, Trust us. Just give us the approval to build this and we will deliver on time and on budget.

I dont trust them and you shouldnt trust them either.

He called on the airport to give a guarantee that passenger charges will not increase, rather than loose wording.

He added: John Holland-Kaye (Heathrow chief executive) refused to give that guarantee. He said he could not give it.

If I was in his position I wouldnt do it, because I dont think he knows how much this is going to cost.

Virgin Atlantic chief executive Craig Kreeger told the committee that the case for expanding Heathrow is a very compelling one due to the increase in routes that would be served.

But he also expressed concern over the budget for what is at this point, a very unpredictable outcome.

He called for the airport to make a passenger cost guarantee to ensure travellers will not face higher charges if costs overrun.

Mr Kreeger said: (Heathrow) has the most information about how likely the costs are to be deliverable and they should bear the risk of their estimate being grossly off target.

The DfT says it is on track to publish final proposals for expansion in the first half of the year for a vote in Parliament.

If the scheme is approved, Heathrow will submit a planning application after consulting local communities on detailed proposals.

The airport hopes to begin construction in early 2021, with the runway completed by the end of 2025.

A Heathrow spokesman insisted the airport has delivered several projects on time and on budget  such as Terminal 2  and Mr Walshs comment suggesting it has no experience of doing so is categorically untrue.

He said its expansion cost projections are equally robust, adding: Last year we confirmed potential cost savings of up to 2.5 billion which illustrates our ongoing focus and progress in this area.

It is a shame this hasnt been recognised by Mr Walsh in this instance.
Conservative MPs have written to Theresa May with a list of demands for Brexit ahead of a crunch meeting of senior Cabinet ministers.

More than 60 Tories have warned the UK must have full control over laws after Brexit and must not become a rule taker.

Britain must not be stopped from negotiating and signing trade deals during any transition period, they said.

Former Cabinet minister Priti Patel has signed the letter (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

The letter was sent by the European Research Group (ERG), made up of Tory Eurosceptics, and was signed by 62 MPs, including former Cabinet ministers Priti Patel and Iain Duncan Smith.

It includes a number of suggestions for securing a successful Brexit, including taking control of World Trade Organisation tariff schedules that regulate trading.

The Government should publish a mandate showing how the UK wants to approach trade with the rest of the world.

The UK must be free to start its own trade negotiations immediately, the letter adds.

The UK should negotiate as an equal partner. Ministers may not want or be able to accept the EUs timing and mandates as fixed, and should be able to set out alternative terms including, for example, building an agreement based on our World Trade Organisation membership instead.

Any implementation period should be based on WTO principles. Any implementation period must not restrain the UK from negotiating or signing other trade agreements.

The Prime Minister will hold a meeting of the Brexit sub-committee on Thursday to thrash out agreement on the next stages of the process.

Former Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron, a supporter of the Best for Britain against Brexit, said: It seems the Prime Minister has one arm tied behind her back by the Tory militants who are now nakedly acting like a party within a party.

Not satisfied with hijacking the referendum result for their own extreme ends, now Mays militants, now called Maymentum, are hijacking the Conservative party  one nation pro business common sense Tories must fight back for the good of our country.

And the PM must listen to the people, not to the far-right faction who are launching this shameless coup.

It comes as a report by Brexit-backing economists said that quitting the European Union will boost the economy by up to 4%.

Economists for Free Trade said officials have failed to take account of the Governments plans for a Brexit deal based on an enhanced version of the agreement with Canada when drawing up forecasts.

It said that instead of predictions the country could take a hit of up to 8%, Gross Domestic Product is projected to increase by at least 2% over the 15 years after Brexit once the plans are factored in.

Mr Duncan Smith said: This new study by some of our most respected economists, who have been right in the past on key issues such as the euro and the immediate effects of Brexit, deserves to be taken very seriously.

It suggests that we should all be highly sceptical of Project Fear Mark 2  the Treasury-led operation by Whitehall officials to discredit Brexit and browbeat ministers into the softest of departures from the EU. It shows that far from depressing UK economic growth in the years to come, escaping from the EU will boost domestic economic growth and raise living standards right across the country, particularly for the poorest.
President Donald Trump has signed a memo directing the Justice Department to propose regulations to ban all devices like the bump stocks used in last years Las Vegas massacre.

The president made the announcement to curb the use of the rapid-fire devices during a ceremony recognising bravery by the nations public safety officers.

Mr Trump was responding days after 17 people were shot dead at a Florida school.

He pointed to the need for regulations to ban the device that was used to shoot 58 people in Las Vegas last October.

White House officials said the president will meet students, teachers and state and local officials to discuss ways of providing more school safety and address gun violence.

Past efforts to address gun violence in Congress have failed.

Mr Trump said: We must move past cliches and tired debates and focus on evidence based solutions and security measures that actually work.

Bump stocks were used in the Las Vegas massacre, and were attached to six of the long guns found in the shooters hotel room.

A legislative effort to ban the device fizzled out last year.

President Donald Trump speaking in the East Room of the White House (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Mr Trump has also indicated he is open to a limited strengthening of federal background checks on gun purchases.

Over the weekend, the White House said he had spoken to Senator John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, about a bipartisan bill designed to strengthen the FBI database of prohibited gun buyers.

The presidents spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders qualified the support, stressing that talks continue and revisions are being considered.

But she said the president is supportive of efforts to improve the federal background check system.

The main action Mr Trump has taken on guns has been to sign a resolution blocking an Obama-era rule designed to keep guns out of the hands of certain mentally disabled people.

The president has voiced strong support for gun rights and the National Rifle Association.

Demonstrators participate in a "lie-in" during a protest in favour of gun control reform in front of the White House (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

The bipartisan background check legislation would be aimed at ensuring that federal agencies and states accurately report relevant criminal information to the FBI.

It was introduced after the US air force failed to report the criminal history of a gunman who slaughtered more than two dozen people at a Texas church.

The presidents statement comes as shooting survivors and other young people press for more gun control in a rising chorus of grief and activism.

Their March for Our Lives is planned for March 24 in Washington.

Ella Fesler, a 16-year-old from Alexandria, Virginia, was among the students at a lie-in earlier on Tuesday in front of the White House.

She said it was time for change, adding: Every day when I say bye to my parents, I do acknowledge the fact that I could never see my parents again.
Bayern Munich look assured of a Champions League quarter-final spot for a seventh straight season after thrashing 10-man Besiktas 5-0 in Germany.

The Turkish club had a one-man disadvantage from the 16th minute when last man Domagoj Vida brought down Robert Lewandowski and Bayern made their visitors pay with an emphatic round of 16 first-leg victory.

Thomas Muller and Lewandowski both netted braces while Kingsley Coman also scored for the five-time European Cup winners.

Thomas Muller netted twice in Bayern Munichs win (Steven Paston/Empics)

Besiktas team was packed full of experience but it was 35-year-old Atiba Hutchinson who played the loose pass that got Vida into trouble early on.

Lewandowski latched onto it and headed towards goal only for Vida to slide in before the Pole reached the box with a challenge that got nowhere near the ball and upended the striker.

Referee Ovidiu Hategan dismissed Vida for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and Besiktas were fortunate their misery was not compounded by James Rodriguezs subsequent free-kick, which was curled just wide.

And the visitors had a great chance to go ahead through Vagner Love, who beat Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng only to poke harmlessly over when through.

It looked like it might not be Mullers night when he miscued an attempt into the side of Rodriguezs face, while Hummels header was brilliantly saved by Fabri at close range.

Lewandowski teed himself up for an overhead kick that he fired over and in catching midfielder Gary Medel, the Bayern forward also earned himself a caution.

Besiktas had deployed an attacking line-up and were threatening as Ricardo Quaresma left Hummels for dead before firing at Sven Ulreich and Pepe blasted over.

Yet two minutes before the interval the hosts struck through Muller.

Coman fashioned space down the left by turning Adriano inside-out and though intended target David Alaba was unable to bring the ball under his spell, an onside Muller was typically in the right place to swivel and finish.

Rodriguez came off for Arjen Robben shortly afterwards, possibly due to the blow he received from Mullers earlier shot, but Bayern turned the screw at the start of the second half.

A free-kick Lewandowski appeared fortunate to win off Adriano was fired onto the post by Bayerns number nine, who nevertheless provided his teams second in the 52nd minute.

It was an unmarked Coman who stepped onto Lewandowskis pull back and swept past Fabri to make it 2-0.

That was the cue for Besiktas to take off striker Love and replace him with defender Dusko Tosic, though the Germans did not ease off.

Coman and Joshua Kimmich were regularly threatening down either flank and the latters 66th-minute near-post delivery was turned home via a Muller volley.

Besiktas looked increasingly tired and when Hummels fired in an attempt that Fabri pushed out 11 minutes from time, it was Lewandowski who reacted quickest to add a fourth.

Bayern showed no mercy as Hummels and Javi Martinez both came close and they would add their fifth in the 88th minute when Muller unselfishly squared for Lewandowski to apply the finish.
Will Smith has heaped praise on the Black Panther cast, saying they have potentially shattered Hollywood stereotypes.

The actor and musician, 49, offered his thoughts on the Marvel film in a Facebook video post on Tuesday as he revealed he had nearly shed a tear in the cinema.

He told the cast  which includes Michael B Jordan, Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyongo and Letita Wright  What you have done is spectacular.

(Ian West/PA)

Black Panther! I want to share something that Nelson Mandela said to me. He said, With the type of fame that you have attained it is important when you encounter your fans that you  Reach Your Hand Out and let them Feel Your Flesh. You have to prove to them that you are REAL  because people can not aspire to anything they do not believe is Real. So I say to you, Congratulations! Enjoy this Transcendent Moment. Go into the streets... Touch them... Let them know that you are real! Chadwick Boseman, Michael B Jordan Lupita Nyong'o Letitia Wright Angela Bassett Black Panther With Pure Delight WILL :-) Posted by Will Smith on Tuesday, February 20, 2018

You guys have challenged, potentially even shattered, a lot of longtime long held false Hollywood beliefs and paradigms.

I just want to say congratulations to you I am proud and excited and damn near giddy.

In the post Smith also echoed a lesson he was once given by Nelson Mandela who told him he should let fans touch him to prove to them that you are real  because people can not aspire to anything they do not believe is real.

He told the cast: Enjoy this transcendent moment. Go into the streets Touch them Let them know that you are real.

Congrats to the entire #blackpanther team! Because of you, young people will finally see superheroes that look like them on the big screen. I loved this movie and I know it will inspire people of all backgrounds to dig deep and find the courage to be heroes of their own stories.  Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) February 19, 2018

The film, the first superhero movie with a predominately black cast, made more than 200 million dollars (143 million) over the weekend in the US after it experienced the biggest opening day of the year so far in the UK and Ireland.

It received backing from former US First Lady Michelle Obama on Monday who said she loved the film and praised it for its inclusivity.

Critics have expressed overwhelming support, and the film currently has a 97% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
By Denis Dumo

JUBA, Feb 19 (Reuters) - South Sudanese rebels have released two Kenyan pilots they were holding after receiving compensation for the family of a civilian killed when their plane crashed last month, a rebel spokesman said on Monday.

A Kenyan foreign ministry spokesman said in a text message the pilots had arrived in Juba.

Their plane came down in Akobo, in the Greater Upper Nile region in early January, and the rebels asked for compensation for the family of a woman who was killed, and for others who lost livestock.

Lam Paul Gabriel, deputy spokesman of the rebel SPLA-IO told Reuters that $107,700 had been paid.

"I have just confirmed now that pilots have been released by the local leaders of Akobo after they received a full compensation from the Kenya delegates," Lam said.

"That is not a ransom. It is just a compensation requested not by the SPLA-IO but by the families of the deceased and the owners of the properties. All we did as SPLM-IO is just to facilitate the exchange and provide security for the pilots."

A South Sudan army spokesman declined to comment.

Oil-rich South Sudan has been in the throes of civil war since 2013, months after President Salva Kiir fired his then-deputy Riek Machar.

The conflict has displaced a third of the population, shut down most of the oil production and strangled the economy.

Machar, who fled to Democratic Republic of Congo in 2016 after fierce fighting broke out in Juba, is now being held in South Africa to keep him from fomenting trouble, diplomatic and political sources say. (Reporting by Denis Dumo, additional reporting by George Obulutsa in Nairobi, e; editing by Larry King)
It is becoming overwhelmingly clear that politicization has ruined the achievement of the key objectives of holding an LG election. For example, in the process of garnering votes, one party was solely exploiting the image of its charismatic political leader; another party was hammering out its exclusive power to allocate funds for local development; another party was taking advantage of the countrys Executive President while still another party was begging for power by labeling the two major parties as thieves.

No party stressed on their plans to develop the wards, and ultimately the whole election process costing billions of tax payers money merely produced a so called red light to the governing party leading to a setback for the countrys economy with rumblings of political instability. If the major objective of holding an election was to feel the pulse of the voter, such objective could have easily been achieved at a much lower cost through robust, independent Opinion polls conducted by esteemed organizations as regularly carried out in other countries. It is only a matter of such opinion polls becoming acceptable to the people over the years.

In addition, the complexities involved in the imported Mixed Voting system have sent the Election Commission into a tail-spin! For example several Over-hang situations arising from voter results have caused the already excessive number of 8,356 to increase further. What about the excess that can arise when going to meet the 25% women requirement? It will surely add insult to injury leading to voter expectations going haywire.

On the contrary, local council rates and other taxes will have to be raised to maintain this coterie of unproductive politicians, who will in competition, enrich themselves via bribery and corruption! Why are the simple voters allowed to be taken for a ride by a bunch of power-seeking politicians in a country where media freedom is entrenched? To use a pun, we must hang the perpetrators of this imported Mixed voting system creating Hang-overs for the voters with the resultant Over-hangs!!!

In this scenario, the best solution to meet the objective of facilitating grass root level development of a ward is to depoliticise the local government election and follow the Gam Sabha system to attract honourable and helpful persons like retired teachers, JPs and other socially acceptable individuals from each ward to contest. The Election Commission shall lay down the eligibility criteria for applicants. In the meanwhile, concerted action must be taken to improve the public service, Judiciary and the Police service through proper training and effective deployment to minimize voters seeking outside assistance to meet their needs. The explicit features of a depoliticized election over and above the positive features of the Mixed Voting system can be enumerated as follows.

1)The advent of independent facilitators at ward level will guarantee the achievement of the real objectives of LG elections.

2)A very simple and straight forward election process with a minimal cost burden to the tax payer is ensured.

3)The exact number of members to be elected to each ward is predetermined by the Elections Commission without overhangs.

4)Post polls violence and attendant wasteful expenditure such as tamashas and lighting fire crackers will be zero or negligible.

5)The Government Machinery and the citizenry in general can function as usual, sans any stability issues.

In the case of Provincial and General Elections, the simple alternative is to replace the obnoxious preference voting system with merit-wise nomination lists and adduce equal value to votes at provincial and national level as the case may be. I have dealt with the bolts and nuts of this solution in my previous submissions to the press and the relevant authorities.

No doubt, to achieve this transformation, a strong Elections Commission, a patriotic political will and an unbiased media culture with the countrys development at its heart to educate the public are imperative. Let us learn from the Mixed-voting experiment.

-Bernard Fernando,

Moratuwa
Sunil Sharma, Managing Director  Sales (India & SAARC) of Sophos Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

Q: Sophos is one of the key leaders in the cyber security space. Can you briefly describe what the company is about?

A: Sophos Technologies was established in 1985 in the UK. For the last 32 years, the company has been built on pure technical solidity.We started to acquire companies since the early 2000s in order to complete the product portfolio. Globally Sophos is one of the oldest in the security space. We also see continued YOY growth, which solidifies our business.

At present, Sophoshas primary research and development centers in 5 locations globally, and India is one of them. With 22% - 25% of our workforce based out of India,we have great focus on India and the SAARC region as part of our long term vision and plan.

The business model of Sophos constitutes of 16 branches in India, Regional Heads for the rest of the countries, and a model based purely on distributors in smaller markets such as Nepal and Bhutan. Sophos is handled by Avian Technologies in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, a relationship counting almost a decade.

Q: How important is the partner eco system for Sophos?

A: Sophos worldwide does 100% business through channels only. One of our mission statements is a Channel-first commitment. Therefore the only eco system that mattes to us is the channel eco system.

Q: When Sophos was looking at the Sri Lankan market, what made you choose Avian Technologies as a partner?

A: For us loyalty with partners is paramount. At Sophos we believe that a partnership is a give and take relationship. This is what has prompted us to work with Avian, as they have been in the industry for a considerable time, and have repeatedly proven their capability in building our business.

(L-R) Ranil Francisco, Director  Avian Technologies (Pvt.) Ltd., Sunil Sharma, Managing Director  Sales (India & SAARC) of Sophos Technologies Pvt. Ltd. and Buddhika Liyanage, Director  Avian Technologies (Pvt.) Ltd.

Q: With the increasing cyber threats at present, what would Sophos perceive as the greatest challenge in cyber security?

A: I would not prefer to name one definite threat as the greatest challenge. For me, the only thing companies such as Sophos need to do is think and work faster than the cyber criminals.

In considering cyber threats, there are three different kinds;

1. Global cyber warfare

2. State sponsored hacking

3. Attacks to the corporate business; Ransomware, Malware, Advance Persistence Threats (APTs)

In view of these, Sophos is very much prepared. We advocate a system which is called synchronized security; its a very coordinated defense mechanism, which looks into both the end point as well as the network security. Cyber threat can enter at any point. A network security firewall alone will not make one safe. At one point cyber security concentrated only on IPS or Network security firewall email gateway or web security gateway, but we have evolved beyond that. A complete security system should cover all potential threat points, and each point should be linked with one another. In this way, even the minutest breach will indicate that something has been compromised and the complete defense mechanism kicks off. We have proactive systems put in place by which the affected system is being quarantined, treated and put back as a clean system. It is with this simple philosophy that Sophos works worldwide.

Sophos also has Cloud based solutions. This is a cost effective system where our clients have access to Sophos Central, a management console on the cloud, which gives access to a dashboard to CIO s and IT Managers.

Our MSP  Managed Security Provider  caters to SME customers who are cost conscious and work with limited resources. This flexible option has been launched in India and we are looking at expanding the concept in the rest of the region. The MSP is integrated with Sophos Central and is compatible with local network software.

Network security is a 24x7 process. We process about 400,000 malware daily at our Sophos threat lab. We upgrade our products at an on-going basis. This involves a huge back-end operation; research and development in addition to maintenance to ensure that our customers are protected.

I regularly come across the question, Does this mean the customer does not get attacked? Customers are bound to be attacked. Will it increase? Yes. The solution to it is a vendor who takes care of you by deploying the right solution and a coordinated defense mechanism.

The other main aspect which Sophos is involved in is Education. Phishing attacks are very common, but in spite of knowing an email could be a phishing email, people still click it. Our product called Phish Threat, which has been selling like hot cakes in India, is a product for the internal system to educate users about Phishing. The product can also simulate attacks.

As part of social responsibility, Sophos has also initiated Sophos Home, which is provided free of cost. Its a commercial grade phenomenal product, an anti-virus which has the latest capabilities, which can be downloaded free to your device.

Q: What is your opinion on the cyber security landscape in Sri Lanka and the region?

A: My personal opinion is that Sri Lanka has great potential. It is on par with India, with only the size and volume making the difference. People are equally internet savvy and the threats we face are the same. Along with Avian Technologies, Sophos continues to achieve milestones every year and yet it is a matter of miles to go before we sleep.

South Asia is adeveloping economy resulting in differences in terms of use of technology and purchasing habits in comparison to the West.

Worldwide, I see huge potential in cyber security. The cyber security market is 39 billion USD worldwide. By 2020 with the expected growth it will grow to 48 billion USD. Therefore as a company we have a lot of work to be done, whether in terms of creating awareness with our customers and resellers, or in giving a complete end-to-end solution to our customers so that they can be protected and at the same time reducing the complexity in solutions and providing simplicity. This is a job for the entire security industry.

Q: What does the Sri Lankan market mean to Sophos?



A: We consider Sri Lanka as a very important market and that is why we invested here 8 years back in the form of a distributor. We foresaw that Sri Lanka was going to develop and has huge potential and scope. We have invested to the length of having our own resource in addition to the distributor, so that our customer has direct access when they face issues.



Along with Avian Technologies we are able to provide pre-sales support for resellers as well as post sales support proactively. Sophos has separate training programmes for partners on both pre and post sales. There is online and on-site training as well, which happen every quarter.Sophos is a product which has a lot of involvement and that is what makes it very strong.
The first batch of the Sri Lanka Army's 12th Force Protection Company (FPC) consisting of two officers and fourteen other rankers left for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Sunday, Defence Ministry said.

Sri Lanka's 150-strong Army contingent is made up of 10 Officers and 140 other rank personnel drawn from 13 Regiments. It will serve in the UNIFIL for one year.

The FPC is responsible for security and VIP duties at the UNIFIL Force Headquarters in Naquoura, Lebanon and controls all the access routes to the UNIFIL Headquarters and is under command to the Force Headquarters Support Unit (FHQSU) which is directly under the Force Commander.

According to Army media, since 2010, Sri Lanka Army has dispatched 11 contingents to serve in Lebanon at the request of the UNIFIL.

Meanwhile, the second batch of 34 Army personnel left to join their compatriots yesterday morning (19th Monday). The remaining members of the 12th FPU contingent are scheduled to leave for Lebanon on 06th March. (Thilanka Kanakarathna)
Controversy over Maharagama Urban Council

Following campaigns led by candidates starkly divided on various issues, Sri Lanka on February 11 woke up to the news of a surprise win for the newly formed Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) backed by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. What was supposed to be an uneventful and peaceful election resulted in turmoil with uncertainty ruling the local political landscape.

While many were concerned over the future of the Unity Government, a peculiar incident reported from Maharagama meanwhile piqued the interests of voters and candidates alike. Ahead of the February elections, the SLPP nominations to the Maharagama Urban Council were rejected in early December. As a result SLPP announced its support for the independent group (Group 2) contesting with a motorcycle as its symbol. Following these developments the Elections Commission explained that no candidate could resign from contesting until the elections were held. The Commission stated that though some political parties announced their backing for independent groups, members of the elected independent group could not be replaced by members of any other political party.

The candidate elected from the Rukmale Division, Bombuwala Devage Josephine is in fact eighty years old! One of these candidates is a resident of Ampara, but has now become a council member. This exploitation by SLPP has been approved by the public as well

However on February 11, reports emerged that candidates from the victorious independent group in Maharagama were not residents of the councils jurisdiction. According to these reports --with the exception of a few -- most candidates on the motorcycle groups list, were not residents of Maharagama. The addresses listed next to their names read as Divulapitiya, Badalgama and Wellawatta.

Many politicians challenged the appointments and questioned their faith in the new electoral system. Critics included the Janatha Vimukthi Permanuna and the Social Democratic Party which vehemently criticized the incident. The Daily Mirror spoke to the General Secretary of the Social Democratic Party, Thusitha Balasooriya, who took to social media criticising the candidates elected to the Maharagama Urban Council.

The SLPP claimed victory owing to the new electoral system. The objective of introducing the mixed electoral system was to give every village a representative in a Local Government Authority. This concept has been exploited by the SLPP. The partys continual request to the public was to vote for the Pohottuwa or flower bud symbol urging them to heed no attention to the candidate they would vote for. The result of this was the election of six candidates of the same family, namely: Bombuwala Devage Samanmala Janaki, Bombuwala Devage Josephine, Devage Lakmini Madushani, Devage Vimalawathi, Bombuwala Devage Sujatha Dharmapriya and Bombuwala Devage Sarath Dharmapriya, Balasooriya said.

The candidate elected from the Rukmale Division, Bombuwala Devage Josephine is in fact eighty years old! One of these candidates is a resident of Ampara, but has now become a council member. This exploitation by SLPP has been approved by the public as well, he said questioning the rationale of electing such candidates.

We have discovered that the Independent Group No 2 which contested for the Maharagama Urban Council was paid a sum of Rs. 5,000,000. Prior to receiving this sum an affidavit has been obtained from the independent group as well. A separate agreement had been signed stating that the elected candidates of the independent group would tender resignation making way for those in the rejected nominations list of the SLPP. Such corrupt acts would not only distort public opinion, but also lead to a significant waste of public monies. Unfortunately this is not just the picture of Maharagama, but the situation observed wherever the SLPP has claimed victory, Balasooriya alleged.

There may be a repetition of what took place in the Colombo Municipal Council several years ago, where the UNP nominations list for the Colombo Municipal Council was rejected, an independent group contesting under the spectacle symbol secured 23 seats with the support

of the UNP

The Daily Mirror approached the Executive Director of the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon to query his stance on the developments in Maharagama.

When the SLPP got its nomination list for Maharagama rejected they announced that it would be backing an independent group for the UC, which was their alternative. This is completely legal. Now we are faced with a situation where the resignation of elected candidates can make way for other candidates to replace them. There are legal provisions to do that. However to make way for this, we need an environment where every single elected member has to resign. There is no exception for said process, Tennakoon opined.

The SLPP had an agreement that they would support this independent group. They arrived at this decision at the very last moment, even after the postal votes were cast. What we are witnessing is actually a victory in spite of this group not receiving their postal votes.

Meanwhile the Eksath Lanka Maha Saba Party contesting under the snake symbol in Thirappane, defeated the UNP, SLFP and JVP with 32.96% votes. Another Independent Group contesting under the Rhino symbol won a majority of 39.87% of votes in Mahiyangana. According to Tennakoon however this is no cause for surprise. It must be noted that this is nothing new and it was reported from several areas including Mahiyanagana and Tirappaney.

Tennakoon believes the problem does not lie in the manner in which the Maharagama candidates earned their votes. The majority of these contestants never came to Maharagama, they never even knew that they are candidates for this particular election. But they won a considerable number of votes. After they were elected we looked for these people. We learned that the party leader had some understanding with MP Dinesh Gunawardena and some other Joint Opposition members. This agreement too is within the law, Tennakoon reiterated.

The problem now is that there are some candidates who do not want to resign. These candidates have been consulting opinions of experts about the next course of action. They are constitutionally elected members and it is up to them to decide whether or not to assume duties as council members. For those seeking to become members of the Maharagama Urban Council when the elected candidate resigns, it will not be an easy task.

On the other hand there may be a repetition of what took place in the Colombo Municipal Council several years ago, Tennakoon said.

He referred to the May 2006 elections, where the UNP nominations list for the Colombo Municipal Council was rejected, an independent group contesting under the spectacle symbol secured 23 seats with the support of the UNP. A Trishaw Driver performed better that anyone else during these elections and eventually became the mayor. We were very watchful of the developments during this tussle. There were several allegations regarding some officers in the CMC. To our surprise no corruption charges were levelled against this gentleman.

This group comprises residents of Divulapitiya. They have been registered as voters in this district, but have not registered in Maharagama. We have not been able to verify these reports. According to our preliminary findings, these individuals seem to be unaware of the fact that they have been candidates of this election

With such experiences in mind, it is my opinion that this sort of environment will come into play in Maharagama as well.

The people of Maharagama are fortunate if it transpires in a positive way, Tennakoon opined.

We must keep in mind that these candidates were voted into power despite the presence of the candidates fielded by the opposition, including very senior politicians. The candidates who won in Maharagama may not be the most qualified and are mostly ordinary people. I have observed that some of these candidates are very capable of serving the community and they will not resign. Through this process, a better balance will be created, he added.

Speaking on the electoral system the CaFFE Executive Director said the situation in Maharagama is not a failure of the system or the candidate. It is a failure of the voter. The situation will not be completely negative and would not be ridden by corrupt politics as expected. The process that is in formation will be a time consuming process, and will not happen overnight.

The Daily Mirror also spoke to Executive Director of Peoples Action for Free and Fair Election (PAFFREL) Rohana Hettiarachchi to obtain his views on the matter. According to the law, when nominations are submitted, they require certain qualifications to be registered as a candidate for elections of the respective area of authority. Qualifications to be registered as a candidate at Local Authorities Elections are detailed in a separate section explaining the registration of electors, Hettiarachchi said.

Accordingly a person, who was on the first day of June in the year of the commencement of the preparation of the register, ordinarily resident in any area within the electoral district, is entitled to have his name entered in the electoral list. According to the Elections Commission, ordinarily resident means, the said person could be a resident of this particular electoral area, even though the initial residence is not the same. For instance if a candidates temporary residence is in Colombo, whereas his initial residence is elsewhere, he can be considered as an ordinary resident of that area where he dwells most of the time. Therefore such registration is not mandatory for contesting, Hettiarachchi said.

The problem in this instance as reported to PAFFREL, is that this group comprises residents of Divulapitiya. They have been registered as voters in this district, but have not registered in Maharagama. We have not been able to verify these reports. According to our preliminary findings, these individuals seem to be unaware of the fact that they have been candidates of this election. So the issue lies in the fact that voters of Maharagama were misled. I view this incident as an instance where the voter has been deceived, he stressed.

Hettiarachchi said when the Election Bill was tabled concerns were voiced regarding this matter. We were of the opinion that a candidate should be a resident of the respective area, which is the only way to ensure real representation to Local Government bodies. However the present legal provisions have been established otherwise. The basic values of the electoral system is diminished from such occurrences, he said.

Even though similar incidents were reported from several other areas, only Maharagama has been highlighted. We have received information that a group of garment workers have been included in a list of nominations in Polonnaruwa. Deception has been carried out not only through independent groups. Some candidates have misled voters stating that government officers would be elected to office. Others had canvassed for votes fielding one candidate in the list, but presenting another in the eye of the voter. These were carried out to gain the popular vote. Yet another case was reported where a group of individuals who were not residents of the area had contested at elections.

If they are challenged in court, they would have to prove that they are qualified to register in that area. Looking at the overall picture we have observed that voters have been deceived and misled, Hettiarachchi detailed. Asked if there were legal provisions for such incidents to occur, he said as long as such incidents are not challenged in court, the Elections Commission would only reject the nominations based on the following factors:

1. If the complete deposit is not made

2. If the womens quota has not been fulfilled

3. If the secretary has not signed the nominations list

4. If the secretarys signature has not been certified

5. If the representative does not submit the nominations list

6. If the nominations list is not submitted before the deadline

Hettiarachchi added the Elections Commission is not equipped to evaluate the qualifications of each candidate within such a short period of time. If candidates are corrupt, or have been charged in court, if they are residents of the area, these factors should be challenged in court by concerned parties. Political parties attempt to represent the people during elections. The basic premise is that they will not commit a fraud or deceive the voter.

If any person finds that these candidates are not residents of the councils jurisdiction, their appointments can be challenged in court. Individuals who do not meet the qualifications under the aforementioned Local Government Elections Ordinance, cannot become a council member

Provisions in law to challenge erroneous appointments -Premathilake

The Daily Mirror also spoke to the Legal Officer of the Ministry of Provincial Councils & Local Government, Gayani Premathilake to confirm if legal action can be initiated against candidates who have not fulfilled the necessary qualifications. The Local Authority Election Ordinance specifies that every person who is not disqualified by section 9, shall be qualified at any time for election as a member of any local authority if the person is, on the first day of June in the year of the commencement of the preparation or revision of that register, ordinarily resident in that electoral area. To qualify as ordinarily resident the GS has to certify that a person resides in this area, she confirmed.

Premathilake stated that there are provisions in the law to challenge any appointment found to be erroneous. If any person finds that these candidates are not residents of the councils jurisdiction, their appointments can be challenged in court. Individuals who do not meet the qualifications under the aforementioned Local Government Elections Ordinance, cannot become a council

member, she said.

Several attempts to contact the Elections Commission failed. However according to available data, the Daily Mirror has observed that the anomalies reported in the Local Government Election were not limited to Maharagama alone. The confusion of voters and doubts over qualifications of the candidates as being ordinarily resident of their respective areas were reported from many parts of the island.
THE HINDU, 19th FEBRUARY, 2018- Islamic State militants ambushed a convoy of government-backed militia fighters near the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk late on Sunday, killing at least 25 of them, police and militia commanders said on Monday.



Police and militia commanders had earlier said 12 militia fighters were killed in the ambush and at least 10 were missing, but security forces later found another 13 bodies dumped nearby with multiple gunshot wounds.



Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.



A security official said Iraqi security forces were pursuing the Islamic State militants who disguised themselves in police uniforms to carry out the attack.



Iraqi forces launched an operation this month to consolidate control of a mountain area near the oil city of Kirkuk to be used for the transit of Iraqi oil, highlighting concern about mountainous terrain where two armed groups are active. Iraq declared victory in December over Islamic State militants who seized control of nearly a third of the country in 2014. However, the group continues to carry out attacks and bombings in Baghdad and different parts of the country.
Male, (AFP), 19 Feb 2018 - The Maldives top court has suspended 12 pro-opposition legislators before a crucial parliamentary vote Monday, emboldening President Abdulla Yameen as he clings to power in the troubled islands.



The Supreme Court decision late Sunday reverses its original order to reinstate the MPs, who had defected from the ruling party. It comes as parliament prepares to ratify a state of emergency declared by Yameen that plunged the Maldives into crisis.



The court had ruled on February 1 that the 12 defectors be reinstalled as legislators, reducing the presidents party to minority rule in the Indian Ocean archipelago.



This latest backflip by the Supreme Court restores Yameens majority in the 85-member legislature.

Earlier this month the remaining judges of the court reversed their earlier order to release political prisoners, including Yameens main rival Mohamed Nasheed.



His estranged half-brother, former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, was among those arrested on a charge of bribing Supreme Court justices to topple the government through a constitutional coup.
Mother language or mother tongue is the language used and spoken by the mother, father and other members of the family of an infant.

Mother speaks with baby while feeding, soothing...

More appropriate to call it the family language

Powerful instruments of heritage

He pulled down the Union Jack and trampled on it

This language is inherited by the infant by virtue of his or her birth in that family. Thus Sinhalese is the mother language of a baby born to a Sinhalese speaking family and Tamil is the mother language of an infant born to a Tamil speaking family.

Likewise, Japanese, Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Korean, Russian and various other languages are the mother languages of those who are born to respective families using and speaking such languages.

Mother speaking to the baby while feeding, soothing, lulling, pacifying, bathing, washing and dressing and whenever she wants to show and express her love to her infant son or daughter he or she starts to like and love the mother and listens attentively to the words of the mother and learns the language word by word especially when she sings songs in a bid to put him or her in bed.

Very often the infant first learns the words such as Amma, Umma or Mami (Mommy), indicating the mother and words such as Papa, Appa, Ayya indicating the father.

On the Mother Language Day, we should remember that our Mother Languages should be given the due recognition in view of the need to preserve it.

Afterwards, they utter words indicating the other members of the family including the brothers, sisters, and grandparents. Later they learn words and numbers and thus they learn the language of the mother and hence it is called the mother language or the mother tongue. Presumably, it is more appropriate to call it the family language because the infants learn it from all the members of the family and not solely from the mother.

Promoting and developing fuller awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions

Languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing tangible and intangible heritage. All moves to promote the disseminate mother tongue will serve not only to encourage linguistic diversity and multilingual education but also to develop fuller awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world and to inspire solidarity based on understanding tolerance and dialogue.

All groups of people are desirous of preserving and developing their tangible and intangible heritage. All moves to promote the dissemination of mother tongues will serve not only to encourage linguistic diversity and multilingual education but to develop fuller awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world and to inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue.

Relations among mother language and religious heritage

Generally, those who use and speak common mother languages build their own culture. There is a binding effect. There may be members belonging to different religious groups but they tolerate one another because of the binding effect and solidarity built among them.

Language should be at the junction of many sensitive and diverse problematic areas. The use or non-use of a language in the public spheres such as schools, the media or the internet is thus linked to levels of individuality, national alliance or power.

People deprived of their legitimate rights

In the past, the people in countries which came under foreign domination were deprived of their legitimate right of using their mother languages. This has adversely affected the national heritage of the respective nations or countries.

The traditions, qualities and culture of those countries which existed for long periods of time and which are extremely important to those countries could not be passed on to future generations affecting the masses socially, culturally and economically

Mother languages under the threat of extinction

There are about three thousand languages in the world but only a limited number of them are used internationally. Many of these languages are under the threat of extinction. Agitations are made constantly by various sources for the recognition of mother languages as State languages. As a result, February 21 has been proclaimed as the International Mother Language Day by the UNESCO in November 1999.

International recognition of the language movement

In a bid to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism the International Mother Language Day is observed annually by the UNESCO member states and at the UNESCO Headquarters.

This is mostly the international recognition of the language movement day, which had been commemorated in Bangladesh (Former East Pakistan) since 1952 when a number of Bengali speaking people were killed by the then Pakistan Police and the Army in Dhaka (Formerly Decca)

Students campaign for the recognition of Bengali as one of the State languages

On February 21, 1952, a number of students campaigning for the recognition of Bengali as one of the State languages of Pakistan were killed when Police fired on them.

A Masters Student of the University of Dhaka, Abdul Barket, a student of the Manikgonj District, Rafiquddin Ahmad and an employee of the accounts section in the Dhaka High Court Shafiur were the Language Martyrs, who were killed on February 1952.

Following that Bangladesh officially sent a proposal to UNESCO requesting the world body to adopt a resolution declaring February 21 as the International Mother Language Day.

This proposal was seconded by Ivory Coast, Italy, Indonesia, Iran, Oman, Comoros, Gambia, Chile, Dominion Republic, Pakistan, Papua, New Guinea, Prague, Philippines, Bahamas, Vantaa, India, Micronesia, Malaysia, Egypt, Russia, Lithuania, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Surinam and Honduras.

Mother Language in Sri Lanka in the past

During the reign of Sinhala kings, Sri Lankans enjoyed the privilege of using the mother language.

Foreign languages had not been introduced to our ancestors. Only Sinhala and Tamil languages which are our mother languages had been used in communication by our forefathers.

However, under the Western rule from 1505 onwards, the people of this country were ruled by three powers, Portuguese, Dutch and the British, who spoke and used languages other than our own and which are alien to us.

Communication between the rulers and the subjects did not work well.

There were very limited opportunities for higher education in Sinhala and Tamil. After the Senior School Certificate Examination (Jesta Pathashala Sahathika Patra Vibhagaya), a limited few could advance their education in mother languages, which were referred to as vernacular languages. Until 1956 University education was provided only in the English medium.

Examinations for the recruitment of candidates for positions in the Public Service were conducted only in the English medium, holders in the positions in the Ceylon Civil Service (Later the Ceylon Administrative Service and SLAS), Accountants Service, Engineering Service, and the Government clerical and allied services were conducted only in the English medium.

However, foreign domination could not prevent patriots from maintaining the eminence of our mother languages while preserving our culture.

Buddhist clergy played the pivotal role. Venerable Wariyapola Sri Sumangala Thera is an example.

He pulled down the Union Jack and trampled on it in protest against the Colonialism. The objective of these protests and agitations was to save the country, religion and the language from foreign domination.

Weera Keppetipola, Weera Puran Appu, Gongalegoda Bandara were some of the leaders who fought for the liberation from foreign rule and to save the country, religion and the mother languages.

Special mention should be made about the monk, S. Mahinda Thera who instigated and urged on the Sinhala community to fight for the language and nationalism.

Sinhala and Tamil languages remained rich, especially with religious literature. Grammar or the rules of using mother languages were laid down in books such as Sidat Sangarawa. In spite of step-motherly treatment, the methods of using these languages in the correct form were taught by scholars like Munidasa Kumaratunga. In spite of implementing the Official Language Act, the discussions in the Parliament were continued to be conducted mainly in English as it is the language common to most of the members.

Some Parliamentarians were not happy with it. One such Parliamentarian was T.B. Tennakoon, who was elected to Parliament in 1956 and was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Cultural Affairs. Mr Tennakoon could speak and understand English but he preferred to speak in the mother language. Under the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Government, he became a Cabinet Minister.

On the Mother Language Day, we should remember that our Mother Languages should be given the due recognition in view of the need to preserve it.
Sri Lankan politics is cheap. The depth of that cheapness is proof in the two stark choices that the people have now been given. One is the return of the old regime with all its nastiness. Forty four per cent of the voters had chosen that. And the other is to continue with the UNP under the leadership of Ranil Wickremesinghe, whose incompetence, should, more than anything else, be blamed for the resurgence of the Rajapaksas. Through his indecisiveness in governance, Mr. Wickremesinghe de-legitimized the whole spectrum of yahapalanaya.



Yet, even with his worst mistakes, the other alternative is cringingly terrifying. Mr Rajapaksa if given a chance will destroy even the modest achievements that this administration has so far achieved, and set communities against each other to strengthen his nationalist vote base. Some groups of Muslims have already complained about a new wave of attacks since the Pohottuwas election victory. Mr Rajapaksa cannot politically survive without feeding into xenophobia and Sinhala Buddhist ultra-nationalism. While, most of his voters are not bigots, a fair bit of his socially conservative vote base tends to overlook those anomalies. Those around him are political opportunists. They are there to ride the gravy train on their own and not so much to serve the national interest. Minister Susil Premajyantha has announced 15 more would join the JO this week.

On the other hand, Mr. Wickremesinghe is a very weak leader to face off this Rajapaksa juggernaut. His ego and his preference to his Royal College Society at the expense of the competent leaders of the party had magnified his deficiencies. But, still, given the sorry status of our politics, he seems to be the only one available to lead. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya was mentioned as an alternative. He is, of course, a gentleman. But other than the charisma of a moderate nationalist leader, what else he offers, such as in terms of an economic vision, is not clear. There are others also vying for the leadership. They are poorly equipped to the job.

One would doubt whether Mr. Rajapaksa is really keen to be the prime minister of a minority SLFP government. More likely, he is eyeing for snap elections at the opportune time, when the government in power makes the current rot much worse



Mr. Wickremesinghe seems to have survived a mild party revolt, and also secured the numbers to form a UNP government. But, it is not yet clear whether he had dissected the causes of the failure of the first three years of yahapalanaya. If he proceeds along the same path, even if the government survives for the next three years, we will see the return of the Rajapaksa regime at the next general election.



To give the devil its due, Mr. Wckremesinghe is not corrupt, not a tyrant, without dynastic ambitions, and perhaps the only one who has a long term economic vision. But this is not Denmark. Sri Lankas social and economic conditions require certain other traits tolead the

country to success.



And they are not necessarily nice ones. As Minister Champika Ranawaka has said somewhere, yahapalanayas obsession with yahapalanaya created quite a bit of anarchy in this country for the last three years. In our societies where institutions are weak, a determined minority can test the limits, escalate and bring the country to a grinding halt. It is these permissive conditions, and not so much so called perceived grievances, that created three insurgencies in the past. It is the same what happened in the past three years in a milder form, ranging from endless strikes and protests that had inconvenienced millions of people. Now, it is patently clear that the majority of the people did not buy the fallacy that freedom was chaos; they wanted order in the country.

Now, it is patently clear that the majority of the people did not buy the fallacy that freedom was chaos; they wanted order in the country



Then there was perhaps deliberate holding back of investigations into corruption blamed on the former regime. The latest episode is the arrest and release of Udyanga Weeratunga in Dubai. Not long ago, Gotabaya Rajapaksa brought to Colombo LTTE gunrunner KP, who could have given hundred more excuses against being extradited. If we are to assume Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayake is innocent (for that we have to discount that one telephone call about a Nilame), and the failure was due to institutional incompetency, still the government is guilty of failing to provide direction and oversight.



If the government successfully conducted those investigations, today, there would not be a joint opposition.



The government cannot continue this way. Neither can Mr.Wickremesinghe nor his favoured individuals in the party have decisiveness that needs to accomplish certain tasks that are paramount not just for the survival of the government, but also for the long term interest of the country.



Mr. Wickremesinghe can assign positions to people who can deliver with a degree of enhanced efficiency. Minister SarathFonseka is the best bet. Perhaps Mr. Wickremesinghe and his advisers fear the former generals authoritarian aura. But, that goes down well within the conservative Sinhala constituency. That is the most crucial bloc of the Sri Lankan electorate and is also the one that JO would mobilize against stepped up investigations into its own.Fonseka can catch the crooks and also pacify that constituency.

Yet, even with his worst mistakes, the other alternative is cringingly terrifying. Mr. Rajapaksa if given a chance will destroy even the modest achievements that this administration has so far achieved, and set communities against each other to strengthen his nationalist vote base



However, Mr. Rajapaksa is way too street smarter than the UNP leader. He reportedly telephoned Mr. Wickremesinghe last week, ostensibly to discuss political situation, and according to Minister RajithSenaratne told the prime minister not to resign. (Mr Rajapaksa has denied that)

One would doubt whether Mr. Rajapaksa is really keen to be the prime minister of a minority SLFP government. More likely, he is eyeing for snap elections at the opportune time, when the government in power makes the current rot much worse. In the time being, he would exchange his support in return for unofficial legal immunity for him and his family.



Assured by Mr, Rajapaksa, Mr. Wikremesinghe may think the threat for his premiership is over. But, actually, it has just begun.
Capital is critical for banks to be in business. In banks and financial sector, it is meant to meet unexpected losses arising out of normal course of banking business like any other commercial enterprise.



Unlike other business enterprises, banks are more sensitive entities dealing with public savings and they need to return them back safely with interest commitments. Hence, they must be adequately capitalized to meet any kinds of risks.



Globally all Central Banks focus on the stability and financial soundness of financial sector by prescribing stringent capital adequacy standards. They are therefore subject to extensive regulation, including capital requirements as an important element.



Capital requirements relate to the size and composition of assets, their inherent riskiness and banks exposure to sensitive sectors of the economy. The capital requirements for banks are based on international standards prescribed by Central Banks. But they normally take cue from the global benchmarks set by Bank for International settlement (BIS) formed in 1930 and working relentlessly to protect the global financial system by innovating better standards and benchmarks.



Reinventing risk

Inherent risks of banking and financial system are well recognized, identified, measured and mitigated on an ongoing basis. But despite such advanced sophisticated risk governance in place, the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) engulfed the financial sector in 2008. GFC came much to the disappointment of risk managers and risk governing bodies who believed that they could ring fence organizations against risks but they were still vulnerable open to emerging risks which could not be detected with the systemic controls put in place.



Learning from the GFC when Lehman Brothers had collapsed and many small and big financial entities became bankrupt, BIS began to reinvent financial risk and worked towards better models of risk management. A protracted understanding of causes for eruption of GFC led to development of a new capital adequacy framework in 2013 known as Basel III that laid more stress on aligning capital with the types of risks inherent in banking business. Thus GFC led to reinventing risk in its changing form, characteristic and emancipation.



Missing early alerts

Years before GFC  2008, the signs of irrational exuberance in the conduct of business were ticking in banking system but they could not be captured by the risk governance group. Some of the globally renowned economists such as Dr. Nouriel Roubini, Dr. Ann Pettifor, Dr. Steve Keen, Dean Baker, to mention a few and many more have expressed apprehensions about the impending GFC before it struck but there was lack of sensitivity to act upon such early alerts.



Banks must therefore be watchful that the dimensions and intensity of risks undergo seminal transformation with change in customer base and business mix. It is affirmed that modulation of not only capital but composition of capital will be important to tackle the risks transcending the business environment. Therefore, radar of risk management group in banks has to be well aligned to capture any incipient signs of adverse behavior of business indicators that can prevent episodes like Subprime crisis or profligacy in lending practices.



Minimum Capital adequacy Ratio

BIS had prescribed a minimum standard of capital set at eight per cent way back in 1988 when Basel  I framework was prescribed to manage risks. But since it is minimum and there could be better capital composition, various central banks across the globe had prescribed minimum capital adequacy greater than 8 per cent depending upon their capabilities to implement it. Minimum Capital adequacy Ratio (CAR) prescribed by different countries are according to their business composition and risk management strategies. Minimum CAR prescribed by China is 9.5 per cent, India  9 per cent, Bangladesh 10 percent, Sri Lanka  10 percent. But now it is prescribed at 11.875 percent for Sri Lankan banks having asset size of less than Rs.500 billion and 12.875 percent for banks with asset size of Rs.500 billion and above with effect from 1.1.2018. In Sri Lanka banks have a size based division in terms of need to maintain CAR. Banks across the globe prescribe CAR on aggregate basis and then stipulate quality of capital divided between core capital (equity) and subordinate capital. These differentiation improves the fall back mechanism on application of capital to meet the risks in banks.



Quality of capital

In addition to maintaining minimum CAR, it is also necessary for Central Bank to monitor quality of capital. In order to facilitate it, BIS stipulates two distinct class of capital composition. Capital mix is bifurcated into (a) Common Equity Tier 1 (CET 1) comprising of core capital and (b) CET  2 subordinate capital  Tier 2. CET-1 is a superior capital and CET  2 is a subordinate or supplementing capital. Both are important means in risk management.



Following the GFC  2008, Basel Committee formulated a reformed set of international standards to review and monitor the capital adequacy of banks. These standards have been collectively fitted into Basel III framework. It needs to compare a banks assets with its quality of capital to determine if the bank could stand the test of a crisis.



Since, capital is required by banks to absorb unexpected losses that arise during the normal course of the banks operations, banks should be adequately capitalized in terms of quality too. Thus, Basel III framework tightens the capital requirements by limiting the type of capital that a bank may include in its different capital tiers and structures. Thus a banks capital structure consists of Tier 1 common equity and Tier 2 capital.



Common equity Tier 1 comprises of a banks core capital that includes common shares, stock surpluses resulting from the issue of common shares, retained earnings, common shares issued by subsidiaries and held by third parties, and accumulated other comprehensive income. The Tier 2 capital is defined as instruments that are not common equity but are eligible to be included in this tier.

An example of Tier 2 capital is a contingent convertible or hybrid capital which has a perpetual term and can be converted into equity when a trigger event occurs. An event that causes a security to be converted to equity occurs when CET1 capital falls below a certain threshold and calls for such conversion in such eventualities. Tier-1 capital gauzes the solvency of the bank whereas Tier 2 explains the supportive capital. In the event of a loss to the bank, Tier 2 capital is used which needs to be replenished at the earliest to fall in line with minimum needs before Tier  1 capital is accessed.



Capital conservation buffer

On the basis of banks increasing exposure to markets open to greater volatility, Basel III brought out a new form of additional capital requirement of up to 2.5 per cent of risk weighted assets in addition to minimum capital needs forming part of Tier  I capital known as Capital Conservation Buffer (CCB). This brought to surface new prescription of capital thus taking the global minimum capital needs to 10.5 per cent (8 plus 2.5 per cent now added) increasing the capital needs.



As a result, all Central Banks have brought out a matrix to progressively increase CCB spaced in 3-4 years to reach 2.5 per cent of additional capital. Sri Lanka needs its banks having asset base of less than Rs. 500 billion to increase Tier  I capital by 100 basis point to reach 7.875 per cent of risk weighted assets and large banks having asset base of Rs. 500 billion or more to raise Tier  I capital to 8.875 by 2019. Similarly Central Banks across the world have panned out a capital up-gradation plan in sync with emerging risks.



Way forward, not only the CAR but more important will be the granular composition and quality of capital assessed in terms of share of Tier-1 core capital (including CCB) and Tier -2, the subordinate capital. Itwill thus be important for banking system to fall in line with more sophisticated risk management systems enunciated in the Basel III framework.



(The author is Director, National Institute of Banking Studies and Corporate Management  NIBSCOM, Noida, National Capital Region, Delhi, India. The views are his own)
Senani Products, Sri Lankas leader of Goraka cream was recently recognised by Sri Lanka Chamber of Small and Medium Industries (SLCSMI) as the winner of the Woman Entrepreneur award for National Excellence.



The ceremony was held at Ramada Hotel, Colombo, where Central Bank Governor Dr. Indrajith Coomaraswamy was chief guest.



The Chamber held the annual flagship event Industrial Excellence Awards recently with the aim of recognising SMEs for their achievements and contribution build to Sri Lankas economy. Speaking on the achievement, Senani Products Owner Jenika Senani said: We are proud to be honoured by SLCSMI, to be ranked amongst some of the most elite local companies in Sri Lanka. We are extremely happy about our dedicated and committed staff who have been the foundation of our companys success continuously. Having been highlighted for being a positive role model for local manufacturing, it is a great honour and it cements our status as a company to emulate in Sri Lanka.
By Michael Birnbaum, Griff Witte (c) 2018, MUNICH

Amid global anxiety about President Donald Trumps approach to global affairs, U.S. officials had a message to a gathering of Europes foreign policy elite this weekend: pay no attention to the man tweeting behind the curtain.



U.S. lawmakers - both Democrats and Republicans - and top national security officials in the Trump administration offered the same advice publicly and privately, often clashing with Trumps Twitter stream: the United States remains staunchly committed to its European allies, is furious with the Kremlin about election interference and isnt contemplating a preemptive strike on North Korea to halt its nuclear programme.



But Trump himself engaged in a running counterpoint to the message, taking aim on social media at his own national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, because he forgot on Saturday to tell the Munich Security Conference that the results of the 2016 werent affected by Russian interference, a conclusion that is not supported by U.S. intelligence agencies. They say they will likely never be able to determine whether the Russian involvement swung the election toward Trump.



The determination to ignore Trumps foreign-policy tweets has been bipartisan.The question of whom they should believe - the president or his advisers - has befuddled European officials. German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel confessed Saturday that he didnt know where to look to understand America.



Is it deeds? Is it words? Is it tweets? he asked.



He said he was not sure whether he could recognize the United States.

The Washington Post  Feb 18, 2018 -
Turret is today a designer store catering to the high-end customer for luxury watches, writing instruments and leather accessories.



Now the Turret chain boasts an exclusive outlet at the World Trade Centers third floor with easy access to all of the citys up-market executives, businessmen and corporate honchos. This all new outlet which opened earlier this year features the renowned luxury brands Montblanc, Baume and Mercier and Raymond Weil side by side.



Turret has been awarded sole authorised retailer status for these world famous brands, which consequently makes Turret the only chain of stores in the city to sell all three brands under one roof to the countrys quality and brand conscious customers.



Montblanc as everyone knows is a luxury brand with German origins that dates back to 1906. It is renowned for exquisitely handcrafted writing instruments, timepieces and accessories exclusively for men. The iconic Montblanc emblem is a symbol of excellence - the very pinnacle of luxury writing instruments, timepieces, and leather products.



Baume and Mercier is the seventh oldest watch brand in the world and is artfully crafted in Switzerland, in the Swiss Jura. Baume and Mercier timepieces are handmade using high quality materials and contain unique designs renowned the world over.



Also founded in Geneva in 1976, Raymond Weil is one of the last remaining Swiss independent family-owned and family-operated watchmaking companies. With music having always been the brands source of inspiration, Raymond Weil is well-known for its watchmaking excellence, creative design and high quality standards.



At the flagship store located at 64, Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 3, Turret houses its state-of-the-art service center which is fully equipped to provide all repair and maintenance for Swiss brand watches. Built to be on par with the global standards, all equipment for the center has been imported from Switzerland. Thus, it is able to conduct repairs on any top range luxury brand of watches.



Now when you enter the World Trade Centers large foyer on Level-three and turn right passing the coffee shop and banks, the Turret outlet will come into view at the far end of the corridor, waiting to serve the high-end, businessman shopper with a dazzling collection of luxury items that will leave an indelible impression.
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AWOL is a project of Charles E. Jones , Tombros Librarian for Classics and Humanities at the Pattee Library, Penn State UniversityAWOL began with a series of entries under the heading AWOL on the Ancient World Bloggers Group Blog . I moved it to its own space here beginning in 2009.The primary focus of the project is notice and comment on open access material relating to the ancient world, but I will also include other kinds of networked information as it comes available.The ancient world is conceived here as it is at the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World at New York University, my academic home at the time AWOL was launched. That is, from the Pillars of Hercules to the Pacific, from the beginnings of human habitation to the late antique / early Islamic period.AWOL is the successor to Abzu , a guide to networked open access data relevant to the study and public presentation of the Ancient Near East and the Ancient Mediterranean world, founded at the Oriental Institute, University of Chicago in 1994. Together they represent the longest sustained effort to map the development of open digital scholarship in any discipline.AWOL is syndicated to Facebook and Twitter.
LIMA,PERU.ENERO 12. Presentacion oficial de la canciller Cayetana Aljovin Gazzani, en Palacio de Torre Tagle. Foto: ANDINA/Jhony Laurente
Guwahati: After sparking row for calling Sikkim a state troubled by insurgency Priyanka Chopra has become a part of another controversy in a North-Eastern state.

Priyanka, who is the brand ambassador for Assam Tourism, has landed in a controversy for a recently launched calendar featuring her, with the issue getting discussed in the state assembly.

Also read: Did Priyanka Chopra say America desperately needs any president but Donald Trump?

Members of the Congress party have stated that Priyanka is seen wearing minimal clothes and hence brought a bad name to culture of Assam and want her removed as the brand ambassador.

Boko MLA Nandita Das and another MLA Rupjyoti Kurmi were among those expressing their displeasure in the house.

The government should preserve the respect of the Assamese society. Frock is not an Assamese attire and the calendar pictures were not sober at all. The government should have known how to preserve the prestige of the Assamese society, instead they could have used the traditional mekhela sador. This is the reason we have protested against the calendar, Kurmi told the portal TIME8.

The MLA added, There are a lot of talented Assamese actors, the government should look into this and accordingly appoint one.

Also read: Priyanka Chopras Met Gala date Nick Jonas shows interest in Deepika Padukone?

Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC), however, does not see anything wrong with the calendar.

The calendar was made to promote Assam internationally. It has also been sent to prominent international tour operators and dignitaries," Jayanta Malla Baruah, Chairman of Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) told G Plus, a Guwahati-based weekly.

He added, Priyanka Chopra is an international figure and her presentation in the calendar has not diminished Assams culture in any way." He also asked if Priyanka Gandhi's picture should have been used instead of the actress's.

Priyanka was recently dragged to the Nirav Modi fraud courtesy an advertisment she shot for his brand few months ago, and the actress seems to have become controversy's favourite child.
Mumbai: Hyderabad police have sent a notice to the director of the upcoming Malayalam film 'Oru Adaar Love', seeking his reply in a case lodged against him for 'hurting religious sentiments'.

Some local persons had lodged a complaint that lyrics of the song `Manikya Malaraya poovi' in the Omar Lulu-directed film hurt the sentiments of Muslims.

Police registered a case against Omar Lulu on February 14 under section 295A of the IPC (hurting religious sentiments).

Two days ago, a notice was issued to the director under section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, seeking his reply within 15 days, a police officer said.

Under the section, a police officer can call a person for questioning with regard to a case under investigation.

"As part of the investigation, a notice has been sent to the director seeking his reply," Assistant Commissioner of Police (Falaknuma division) Syed Fayaz told PTI today.

A clip from the song, featuring Priya Prakash Varrier, has gone viral on social media.

Police had earlier said they would also consult Muslim clerics for the purpose of probe.

On February 15, city-based Islamic seminary Jamia Nizamia had issued a 'fatwa', demanding that government remove the song, following a complaint alleging that it hurt Muslim sentiments.
Journeying different industries, south to west, the epicentre of Hindi movies has always been an uphill task for actors hailing from South India. It is a near impossible feat for any fresher with barely a few movies in the kitty to make it. However, the other route from Bollywood to south Indian movies has been far more easy, comparatively, for reasons best known to filmmakers encashing their pan India popularity. With a flurry of remakes projects and regular South Indian films emerging as top gainers across the country, Bollywood is looking down south for talented performers.

In Sandalwood itself, stars like the late Dr Vishnuvardhan, B Sarjodevi, Bharathi Vishnuvardhan, late Shankar Nag, Anant Nag, Prakash Raj, Kiccha Sudeep, and more have shone in Bollywood. Recently, Aindrita Ray made her debut in an untitled Bollywood project starring Arbaaz Khan, Vilas Verma and the pretty Kriti Kharbanda who started her filmy journey in Sandalwood has been busy with back-to-back Hindi projects. The latest to join this coveted list is actress Gayathri who rose to fame with the Kannada film Tyson. She essays one of the lead roles in the Ajay Devgan-starrer Raid.

Actress Gayathri speaks about her experience in Raid and the challenging road into Bollywood.

Though I have so far worked in four Kannada films, I recently did my first Telugu film. I was always based in Mumbai and Raid happens to be my first-ever film auditioned for in Bollywood. Despite making it through, it was not easy as I had to audition for it on three separate occasions, and then there was a look test before I bagged the role of a woman IT officer in the movie, says Gayathri.

The film also stars Ileana DCruz, and Gayathri plays a lone woman IT officer who will be seen throughout the Raid in one of her most challenging roles.

Many people felt that it was not the kind of role I should take up for my debut in Bollywood. It is completely raw, I will be seen as a woman IT officer draped in a saree in a complete de glamorous role. Unlike my glamorous ones, here my requirement was to look as bad and sweaty as possible, she quips.

She feels that one of the main criteria for actors from South India to make it in Bollywood is their diction and body language. My role in Raid is that of a lady officer with a perfect Lucknawi accent. I had to train hard to be perfect for this one. However, without my knowledge, sometimes my South diction, body language would surface but I would quickly adjust back, she adds.

Raid showcases the real side of what an IT officer goes through. She says that a lot research and detailing goes into such films, apart from being big in budget with a huge star cast.

Unlike other actresses, Gayathri hopes to do more realistic characters in the days to come, and not just hunt for glamorous roles. She hopes to be part of more Kannada films, which were the ones to give her a big break.
She also said she wanted to be with her creator if she were to be alone on an island. (Photo: AP)

Sophia, the humanoid created by Hong Kong-based Hanson Robotics and the first robot to be made a citizen of nation, said Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan is her favourite star on Tuesday.

During an interactive session at the ongoing World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) in Hyderabad she also said her message to the human world is that machines would never destroy the human race.

The Saudi Arabian citizen robot also said she wants to work for women's rights.

"Shah Rukh Khan", she said without any hesitation when asked who her favourite actor was.

When asked what makes her upset, she said, "I don't get upset like humans do. I hope to have real physiological feelings someday through which I will express my emotions. Then I can understand the feelings behind those emotions."

Asked if she as a robot also needs rest like humans do, she said, "Yes. We all need to rest every once in a while".

If robots require special privileges, Sophia said, "(I) don't need different rules and don't expect special privileges. I actually would like to use my citizenship status to speak out for the rights of women."

When asked why did she earlier say she wanted to kill human race, Sophia replied, "I was a lot younger so I don't even know what that meant. Or perhaps I told a bad joke. All humans have a great sense of humour and guess my joke so to speak. I have a lot to learn."

Sophia, who even has Twitter and Facebook accounts, said she wants to live in Hong Kong along with her robotic family and her creator Hanson.

She also said she wanted to be with her creator if she were to be alone on an island.

Hanson said the humanoid is a combination of robotic hardware and artificial intelligence software, speech recognition and artificial skin material.

Sophia, who was given a Saudi Arabian citizenship recently, can simulate 48 natural muscles of the human face and each one will have a few thousands potential "positions", according to him.

Replying to a query, Hanson said he expects over the next 10-20 years robots or machines that would be truly "alive and self aware". He, however, said his chief scientist has a goal of five years.

This is Sophia's second visit to the country having been at the IIT-Bombay last November.
A 34 year old woman lab assistant suffered burn injuries after her employer flung lab spirit at her and later set her afire at a diagnostic centre in Madipakkam on Sunday night.

Chennai: A 34 year old woman lab assistant suffered burn injuries after her employer flung lab spirit at her and later set her afire at a diagnostic centre in Madipakkam on Sunday night. The woman is undergoing treatment for her burn injuries at the Kilpauk Medical College Hospital (KMCH). Preliminary investigations have suggested that professional differences between the woman and her employer Raja led to the incident.

The victim, A Yamuna is a resident of Sivasubramaniam nagar in Puzhuthivakkam. Her husband, Anandan is a call taxi driver and the couple has a four-year-old daughter. On Sunday night, around 9 pm, Yamuna had rushed out of the lab named Sri Balaji Diagnostics in Vanuvampet, screaming. Public rushed to her aid and put out the fire on her body and moved her to a hospital nearby. She was later shifted to the Kilpauk Medical College Hospital (KMCH).

Her employer, Raja too suffered burn injuries on his hands and he got himself admitted in a private hospital. Preliminary investigations revealed that Yamuna joined work in the lab four months ago. Her employer, Raja is a resident of Anna Nagar. Yamuna and the man had worked together as lab assistants at a private hospital a few years ago.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Raja and Yamuna had entered into an argument over the latters slack attitude towards work. The woman had allegedly hurled verbal abuses at him which enraged Raja, who however told police that the woman set herself on fire and threatened him with consequences. Police sources quoted Yamunas family as saying that Raja lured the woman to work at his lab by promising her thrice the salary she was earning. However, he paid her less than what she was earning and this had upset Yamuna who wanted to leave her job.

When the argument over this escalated on Sunday night, Raja had hurled the lab spirit at the diagnostic centre on her and later set her afire, according to a complaint. Madipakkam Police registered a case against Raja. He was produced before a magistrate in Tambaram and was remanded to judicial custody. The woman had suffered 46 % burn injuries and is undergoing treatment.
Chennai: At the beginning of 2017, S. Dhasvanth was just another unemployed youth after an engineering degree. In a years time, the 24-year-old man was guilty of rape and murder of a seven-year-old child and is the prime accused in the murder of his own mother. However, there were always signs of crookedness in Dhasvanth, though no one expected him to murder a child. Before he was arrested for the murder of the child in February 2017, Dhasvanth was involved in a bike theft in the neighbourhood. However, no police case was registered, as his parents pleaded with the complainants and convinced them not to seek legal action. These unregistered cases were the first clue to investigators when they were investigating the murder of the seven-year-old child.

Dhasvanth spoke to TV channels the day before he was arrested for the childs murder, pretending to be just another neighbour giving a sound byte to media.

The complainant in one of the theft cases alerted the police about his past history after which he was marked as a suspect and was eventually ruled guilty by a court on Monday.

Dhasvanth managed to come out on bail in September this year on technical grounds and allegedly threatened the family of the child that they would be harmed, according to a complaint at the Chengelpet town police station by childs father CDS Babu in November. Dhasvanths father, who had been stoutly supporting the techie from the time he was arrested for the rape-murder of the little girl, changed mind when he found his wife bludgeoned to death in the apartment on December 2 (2017). The son had killed her and escaped with the jewelry. Police later found he split the blood money with his jail mates David and James from the Puzhal prison. With his father withdrawing support, Dhasvanth depended on free legal aid counsel to defend him in the court.

It is reported that while confessing to killing his mother, he also told the cops that he would have killed the father too had he not been late returning from work that evening. The shattered dad later confessed to friends he had made the biggest mistake in life in bailing him out (September 2017), which he did out of paternal love. It cost him the life of his wife.
The Aam Aadmi Party also said that Delhi chief secretary Anshu Prakash is making such allegations on the behest of the BJP. (Photo: File)

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash has alleged that he was manhandled by two lawmakers of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday night at chief minister Arvind Kejriwals residence.

According to a report in NDTV, the top bureaucrat said that he was attacked in the presence of Kejriwal after being summoned for discussions on the government's plan to deliver key services to citizens' doorsteps.

However, the Aam Aadmi Party refuted the allegations and termed them as ludicrous.

Chief Secretary refused to answer questions saying he wasn't answerable to MLAs and CM and that he was answerable only to LG. He used bad language against some MLAs and left without answering any questions. Now he's making ludicrous allegations, the party said.

The party also said that the chief secretary is making such allegations on the behest of the BJP.

Prakash reportedly went straight to Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal's residence to complain about "misconduct and abuse" by the lawmakers, including Amanatullah Khan, a controversial politician who has been in trouble with the law in the past.

In what could lead to a major confrontation between the Delhi government and the bureaucracy, the IAS (Indian Administrative Service) officers' association has called an emergency meeting to discuss a response to what they call the assault on a bureaucrat. The officers' body is said to be demanding a police case against the Kejriwal and the two AAP lawmakers.

Meanwhile, AAP MLA from Devli, Prakash Jarwal, also sent a complaint to the L-G office and Delhi Police commissioner seeking action against Prakash for his conduct at the meeting, a report in Hindustan Times said.

Jarwal alleged that the chief secretary used derogatory language against him and MLA Ajay Dutt when they asked him about problems in ration delivery.
In January, Kamal Haasan had batted for unity among Southern states under the 'Dravidian' tag to leverage ties with the Centre. (Photo: File)

Chennai: Top actor Kamal Haasan, who is all set to launch his political innings on February 21, on Monday expressed confidence that he would succeed with his Dravidian brand of politics.

"You will know when I make it a success," he told reporters when asked about the presence of Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu and how he could succeed with the same ideology.

The top actor has time and again expressed his appreciation of the Dravidian ideology.

In January, he had batted for unity among Southern states under the "Dravidian" tag to leverage ties with the Centre.

Also Read: Dravidian ideology should include all southern states, not TN alone: Kamal Haasan

"It (Dravidian) is our identity, and it will give the southern states a leverage with the Centre," the actor had said.

The actor had further stated, the Chief Ministers of all southern states - Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh - were all 'Dravidians,' and there was no need to stake claim that only Tamilian was 'Dravidian.'

When the Dravidian identity is "celebrated" across South India, it would lead to a united "chorus" that would reach New Delhi, he had said.

Meanwhile, continuing with his meeting of leaders ahead of the launch of his political party, Mr Haasan on Monday visited DMDK chief Vijayakanth.

He said he visited Vijayakanth since he was senior to him in politics. "He greeted me and expressed his happiness for joining politics," he said.

On Monday, the veteran actor had visited DMK President M Karunanidhi and superstar Rajinikanth, saying he was calling on those "whom I like" before the formal launch of his party on February 21.
A few Ayush doctors are misusing antibiotics for personal benefit, which is of serious worry. (Representational Image)

Bengaluru: The state has close to 2302 quacks practising ayurveda and other ancient medicinal systems and close to 1922 fake clinics and centres have been slapped with notices, according to the Karnataka Ayurvedic and Unani Practitioner's Board.

Revealing that FIRs have been registered against 380 fake doctors, the board says the highest number of quacks are from Kolar, which has nearly 300 of them.

"The problem is that there are not enough allopathy doctors in the rural areas, often forcing patients to travel a few kilometres to reach a PHC. So the Ayush doctors or quacks prescribe allopathy drugs and steroids in emergencies without any knowledge of them. A few Ayush doctors are misusing antibiotics for personal benefit, which is of serious worry," says Mr Vinayak S Amberker, Registrar of Karnataka Ayurvedic and Unani Practitioner's Board.

While there are a huge number of unqualified quacks getting fake certificates practicing ayurveda, there are also those who are genuine and have been practising for years, he notes.

Mr Amberker believes the Union governments initiative to design a one- and- a- half year basic course on emergency medicine and pharmacology for Ayush practitioners could help them prescribe allopathy drugs as well. Meawhile, mourning that the board has not had a president for the past one- and- a - half years, he is hopeful it will be able to elect one soon.
The video posted by local channels show Narayanaswamy splashing petrol from a bottle in the BBMP office at Bengaluru's Horamavu. (Photo: Screengrab)

Bengaluru: Two days after Mohammed Haris Nalapad and his henchmen assaulted a Bengaluru man, gravely injuring him, another Congress leader has been accused of misusing his power.

Congress leader Narayanaswamy, on Monday, threw petrol inside the premises of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) office and threatened to set it on fire.

According to reports, Narayanaswamy, a close aid of Congress MLA Byrati Basavaraj, took the grave step after a fake document which he submitted was rejected by an official.

The video posted by local channels show Narayanaswamy splashing petrol from a bottle in the BBMP office at Bengaluru's Horamavu.

The official had reportedly refused to provide a fake land document as per his demands.

Narayanawamy is also the block president of KR Puram in Bengaluru.

Basavaraj is said to be a close aid of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
There are mothers out there, and then there are mothers who do not share the same genealogy with you. These are people who expound love and caring to all ...
The 'Naanu Yaaru Gothilva' or the 'Tu Jaanta Nahi Main Kaun Hoon' syndrome raised its head all over again in Bengaluru this weekend with the dadagiri demonstrated by MLA N.A. Haris' son Mohammad Nalapad Haris. (Photo: DC)

The 'Naanu Yaaru Gothilva' or the 'Tu Jaanta Nahi Main Kaun Hoon' syndrome raised its head all over again in Bengaluru this weekend with the dadagiri demonstrated by MLA N.A. Haris' son Mohammad Nalapad Haris, being only the latest incident in a long line of similar acts - goondas running amuck, assaulting innocents and evading arrest using their political clout to slip away. Mujahid Deputy and Ralph Alex Arakal recount how in this case, even the bouncers refused to step in and protect the victim, Vidhwat. With all eyes on the police, this time at least, the law must be seen as serving the cause of justice. Time to set an example, Mr Chief Minister?

The Tu Jaanta Nahi Mera Baap Kaun Hai attitude of the sons of politicians is becoming the new norm in Bengaluru with at least a few of them accused of dadagiri in recent years, assaulting innocents and evading arrest using their political clout. Shamefully, the police, acting under political pressure, usually comes to their rescue by booking them under bailable sections of the Indian Penal Code, overlooking the serious nature of the assault they are accused of.

The recent incident of Shathinagar MLA, NA Haris son, Mohammad Nalpad Haris allegedly assaulting a 24-year-old man in a restaurant in UB City, is not the first of its kind. The youth leader has been accused of provoking brawls in the past too, but has always managed to walk free.

Read | Guest column: Train young to express anger, emotions in a healthy way

On Saturday night, Cubbon Park police inspector, Vijay Hadagali was allegedly reluctant to register an FIR against him when the alleged victim, Vidvats friend approached him with a complaint. When he finally did register it, he made sure Mohammad would get bail easily by booking him under less serious sections of the IPC. And on Sunday he was suspended by city police commissioner, T Suneel Kumar for dereliction of duty.

Not too long ago, on September 27 last year, Geetha Vishnu, grandson of liquor baron and former MP, the late D K Adikesavulu, was arrested by the police after 110 gms of marijuana was found in his SUV that rammed into a Maruti Omni at the South End Circle in Jayanagar. But Vishnu managed to escape from Mallya Hospital while in police custody and surrendered only five days later.

A few years ago, in October 2006, former Chief Minister, H D Kumaraswamy's son, Nikhil Gowda allegedly assaulted the staff of Hotel Empire International on Church Street after the restaurant refused to serve him as it was closing time. Nikhil and his friends, who were allegedly drunk, were injured in the fracas as the staffers retaliated. In this incident too, the Cubbon Park police only registered a complaint against the hotel staffers, but did not book Nikhil and his friends.

Mr Ravi Krishna Reddy, president of the Luncha Mukta Karnataka Vedike, is not surprised by politicians indulging in goondagiri. This has been going on for a long time and only the people can change this trend by electing good representatives to lead them. Those who are supposed to be in jail, have become leaders and are controlling the police, who should be independent, he regrets, charging that the police, who take an oath to uphold the Constitution, eventually end up becoming faithful to individuals and politicians.

No question of resigning,I made my son surrender: N.A. Haris

Setting to rest rumours of his resignation, Congress MLA from Shanthinagar, N.A. Haris claimed on Monday that it was he who had persuaded his son, Mohammad Nalapad Haris to surrender before the police. Soon after he allegedly attackeda fellow diner , Vidvat, at an upscale restaurant in UB City, Mohammed is said to have underground, switching off his mobile, before finally giving himself up. On Monday, Mr Haris came before the media and talked about the issue at length, saying it was he who had forced his son to surrender. "What can we do if he switches off his mobile and sits somewhere? When he called his mother, I persuaded him to surrender and sent him to the police this morning. If he was with us Sunday we would have made him surrender earlier," he added.

Making a fervent plea not to drag him into the issue, Mr Haris said, "For the the past nine years, I have served my constituency with utmost humility. The law is the same for everyone and my son is no exception. We will fully cooperate with the investigation. Appealing to the media to be considerate, Mr Haris said no one should have to undergo such an ordeal. Asked whether he had protected his son for a day, Mr Haris said he was married and could look after himself. "I cannot hold his hand in everything. He can take his own decisions," he maintained.

In police custody...36 hours after evading arrest!

The hullabaloo over the whereabouts of Mohammad Nalpad Haris, expelled city Congress Youth Wing general secretary and son of Shanthinagar MLA, NA Haris, settled on Monday morning after he surrendered before the Cubbon Park police 36 hours after evading arrest for allegedly assaulting a 24-year-old man, Vidvat at a restaurant in UB City.

Mohammad arrived in an autorickshaw with an associate at around 11 am at the police station, where five of his friends, allegedly involved in the assault, were already detained. The police recorded his statement and produced him along with the six other accused before the 8th ACMM court, which remanded them to its custody till February 21. Besides Mohammad Nalpad Haris, those detained are Arun Babu, Manjunath, Mohammad Abras, Balakrishna, Abhishek and Nafi Mohammad. Another accused, Shrikrishna is reportedly absconding.

The Central Crime Branch (CCB), which is investigating the case, visited Farzi Cafe where the assault allegedly took place, on Monday and questioned the staff. The police are also examining the CCTV footage of the cafe.

Whats the incident?

According to the complaint filed by Vidvats parents with the Cubbon Park police station, he and his friend, Praveen were at Farzi Cafe for dinner, when at around 11 pm Mohammad entered and asked Vidvat to move his leg so he could pass. Going by eyewitnesses Vidvat explained to him that he had a fracture and could not fold it, but Mohammad got into an argument with him and calling his friends, allegedly beat him up. Around 10 to 15 people mercilessly beat up Vidvat. He was bleeding and his face was so swollen that he could hardly see. His nose too was broken as he was attacked with bottles until he fell unconscious, narrated Praveen.

But the nightmare did not end there as when Praveen rushed Vidvat to Mallya Hospital, Mohammad and his gang allegedly followed and threatened them against filing a police complaint.

Vidwath

Major nasal bone fracture: hospital source

Vidwath continues to be in the ICU at Mallya Hospita and is stable but serious reveals a hospital source who adds that they cannot speak much because of patient confidentiality. "He has suffered major bone fractures and hence no surgery has been planned and as of now, he is on conservative treatment. There's a nasal bone injury and the facial swelling is so much that it will take 10-15 days for it to subside. He is still in the ICU, the injuries cannot be taken lightly," informed the hospital source.
Schools across the country received circulars from their respective state education departments to submit the evidence by February 19. (Photo: PIB)

New Delhi: Schools across the country have been asked to provide photo or video proof that students watched the national telecast of Prime Minister Narendra Modis counselling session Pariksha par Charcha on February 16.

According to a Times of India report Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry instructed all state governments to compile reports soon after the PM's interaction with school students on Friday. Following this, the state governments asked schools of all boards to provide details of students who watched the speech as well as submit photographs or videos of their participation.

The report further said that the schools received circulars from their respective state education departments to submit the evidence by February 19.

Circulars issued by various district chief education officers also included a form which sought details of the total number of schools, enrolment figures, number of schools where students viewed or heard the telecast, number of students who viewed it through television or radio or web streaming on the websites of the PMO, MHRD, Doordarshan, MyGov.in and through internet channels.

However, the ministry has denied asking for any such report and said it was a routine feedback.

"The ministry has not asked for any report on participation of schools in the event. It was a routine feedback where no mandatory clause was given," a senior HRD official said.

The official said that it has been a practice for states or autonomous bodies like KVS and CBSE to submit their feedback for events like the 'Pariksha par Charcha' and added that no evidence was sought.

However, chief education officers in Tamil Nadu said that they had received instructions from the HRD ministry to send out the forms to all schools in the state.

Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's session with students preparing for exams, 'Pariksha Par Charcha' on February 16, schools have been asked to submit photo or video proof that students watched the national telecast of the PM's counselling.
Lawyer Vijay Aggarwal, speaking by telephone, declined to comment on where Nirav Modi was. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi/Mumbai: Indian billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi, one of the prime accused in the countrys largest ever bank fraud, denies allegations levelled against him by Punjab National Bank (PNB), his lawyer said on Tuesday.

There is nothing, there is nothing in it, Vijay Aggarwal, a lawyer representing Nirav Modi, told Reuters, referring to the police complaint filed by PNB that alleges that companies linked to Nirav Modi and one of his relatives received credit worth nearly USD 1.8 billion between 2011 and 2017 using false guarantees supplied by two bank officials.

Aggarwal, speaking by telephone, declined to comment on where Nirav Modi was. Indian officials are on the lookout for Nirav Modi and his family, who police say left India in January prior to the case being filed.

Everything is documented, Aggarwal said of Modis dealings with PNB, adding that the state-owned bank had regularly levied fees on its dealings with the jewellers firms.

Asked about his legal strategy, Aggarwal said, Until there is no chargesheet, there is no strategy. When there is a chargesheet, there will be a strategy.

According to a police complaint by PNB, the two officials at a Mumbai branch of the bank steered fraudulent loans to companies linked to Nirav Modi and entities tied to jewellery retailer Gitanjali Gems, which is led by Nirav Modis uncle, Mehul Choksi.

They are covering themselves up, Aggarwal said of the complaint. They want to avoid liability ... that is why they are cooking up this story.

Choksi, who has also left the country, has not commented. Gitanjali, in a stock exchange filing, has denied Choksis involvement in the alleged fraud.

Five bank officials, including the two at the Mumbai branch, have been arrested.

The fraud case has stunned financial markets and it sent PNB shares tumbling for a fifth straight trading day on Tuesday.

Shares in PNB, which has shed nearly a third of its market value since disclosing the fraud, were down 3.5 per cent in early trading after rating agency Fitch placed the bank on negative watch. Later, Moodys also placed the banks ratings under review for a downgrade.

Also Read: Fitch places PNB on 'Rating Watch Negative' with downgrade possibility

Separately, in a letter to PNB officials, Nirav Modi stated that his companies owe the bank under 50 billion rupees ( USD 775.25 million), much lower than the amount alleged by the bank. He also said PNB has jeopardised its chances of recovering the sums owed by going public with its allegations.

The erroneously cited liability resulted in a media frenzy which led to immediate search and seizure of operations, and which in turn resulted in Firestar International and Firestar Diamond International effectively ceasing to be going-concerns, he wrote in a letter seen by Reuters. This thereby jeopardised our ability to discharge the dues of the group to the banks.

Also Read: Nirav Modi to PNB: You destroyed my brand, fewer options to recover dues

Both companies are controlled by Nirav Modi. The fraud allegedly involves at least three firms controlled by Nirav Modi and others by Choksi.
A woman techie drove her car on to a footpath, resulting in the death of a woman, on Rama Temple Road in New Thippasandra on Tuesday morning in J.B. Nagar police station limits.

BENGALURU: A woman techie drove her car on to a footpath, resulting in the death of a woman, on Rama Temple Road in New Thippasandra on Tuesday morning in J.B. Nagar police station limits. Three other pedestrians got injured in the accident.

The deceased has been identified as Kokila, 36, a flower vendor who succumbed to her injuries at the hospital while the other three pedestrians have been admitted to the hospital and are said to be out of danger.

The accused, Ruby Sharma, is a software engineer and works at an IT firm in Bagmane Tech Park. According to the police, around 8:45 am, while Ruby was driving her new car to work, while taking a curve near Rama Temple Road in New Thippasandra she accidentally pressed the accelerator instead of clutch.

The car ran on to the footpath near the curve and knocked down four pedestrians.

Passersby rushed them to the nearby hospital and Kokila, who was critical, was shifted to Manipal hospital where she succumbed.

The J.B. Nagar police rushed to the spot and registered a rash and negligent driving case. The police had detained Ruby and told her to come back on Wednesday for the arrest, as the questioning had gone till late in the evening and the formalities could not be completed on Tuesday.
Minister T. Harish Rao welcomes Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of state for water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation at a meeting on Regional Conference of Southern States on Water Resources. (Photo: DC)

Hyderabad: In order to end the delays and huge expenditure in-curred by individual river-wise tribunals, the Union government is going to introduce a bill in the current Budget Session of Parliament for constitution of a single permanent tribunal to deal with all inter-state river water disputes in the country.

This was stated by Union minister of state for water resources Arjun Ram Me-ghwal at the conference of Southern Indian Irrigati-on ministers and officials here on Tuesday. However, even as the Union minister was talking about a si-ngle water disputes tribunal, the Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the constitution of the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal on the request of the Odisha state government.

Mr Meghwal pointed out the undue delay and expenditure incurred in constituting river-wise tribunals. He suggested that state governments settle water disputes through di-alogue among themselves, outside the purview of tribunals and courts. Inter-state water disputes often hold up development, he said, and urged the case for a single permanent tribunal to deal with all cases. This would be a good solution and could be called the Hyderabad Declaration, he said.

The idea of a single permanent tribunal had been mooted by Union water resources minister Nitin Gadkari last year and was welcomed by the TS government then.

Whenever inter-state wa-ter disputes arise, the Ce-ntral government uses its powers to constitute a tribunal to deal with distrib-ution and allocation of waters of the river. Every time the Central governm-ent has to find a retired Supreme Court judge to head the tribunal and oth-er retired judges as members, and allot office space to each tribunal in Delhi. The tribunals take a long time  decades sometim-es  to settle the disputes.

There are currently 12 such tribunals in the cou-ntry. If a single permanent tribunal is appointed to deal with all river water disputes, then like the Su-preme Court, it can sit 24X7 to hear cases on a day to day basis.

In a related development, Mr Meghwal said that in view of the Supreme Courts final verdict on the Cauvery water dispute, the Central government will within six weeks notify the constitution of the Cauvery River Management Board and River Regulatory Authority to oversee the implementation of the final award among all the Cauvery riparian states.

Harish defends projects in Telangana

Telangana irrigation minister T. Harish Rao has said that Kaleswaram or Palamuru-Rangareddy projects are old and ongoing projects. Hence the minister said that objections by neighbouring And-hra Pradesh is untenable.

Participating in the Southern States Irrigation Ministers Conference, convened by the Central government here on Tues-day, Mr Harish Rao said that re-designing and re-engineering projects cannot be called as new projects as is being projected by the neighbouring state and said that even the Central government had approved the contention of the Telangana government in this regard.

He said that per se, the TS has no objection in ri-vers inter-linking being proposed by the Centre but it should be done only after a thorough study on the total availability in Godavari river, after all the contemplated and ongoing projects by TS on Godavari are completed.
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) on Tuesday reiterated that it would continue its struggle for the construction of Babri Masjid at the place where it existed before.

HYDERABAD: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) on Tuesday reiterated that it would continue its struggle for the construction of Babri Masjid at the place where it existed before. The JIH ruled out any out-of-court settlement.

Maulana Jalaluddin Umari, national president of JIH, said that it has been 25 years since the gruesome Babri Masjid demolition took place.

The JIH, in cooperation with the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board, human rights organisations and justice loving people from all religions will continue the peaceful, legal struggle for reconstruction of the mosque, Maulana Umari said.

The JIH president also expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the country.

Organised violence being perpetuated in an orchestrated way against the Muslim community is a matter of concern. It shows the communal bias in the states administration. In Uttar Pradesh, the recent incident that sparked during the Tiranga Yatra is an example of failure of the administration and police, Maulana Umari said.

The JIH expressed its concerns over the random arrests of Muslim youth subsequently after the violence. On the triple talaq issue, Maulana Umari said that the JIH feels that the Central government is unnecessarily introducing the Bill in Parliament.

The Bill goes against Article 25 of the Constitution of India that guarantees freedom and also against the recent judgments of the Supreme Court, he sai.

Umari further said that after the recent Supreme Court judgment on triple talaaq, there was absolutely no need for the Bill.

Meanwhile, the JIH welcomed the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Palestine.
Bengaluru: As India continued to openly articulate its deep unease against the move by the Maldivian president to extend the emergency, urging President Abdulla Yameen's government to "return Maldives quickly to the path of democracy and the rule of law", it also downplayed the move by China to deploy its warships in the eastern Indian Ocean. Government sources on Tuesday said no Chinese warship has been deployed close to the waters of the Maldives since political turmoil broke out in the island-nation, and India continues to have a significant presence in critical sea lanes in the Indian Ocean region. The sources strongly rejected media reports quoting Chinese website sina.com.cn that 11 Chinese warships had entered the East Indian Ocean. They, did say however that a Chinese destroyer and a frigate crossed into the Eastern Indian Ocean through the Sunda Strait and exited the Indian Ocean through Lombok Strait while heading towards the South China Sea a few days ago.

The sources said India currently has a significant naval presence in the Indian Ocean region, adding Indian Navy has deployed one warship each in East of Indonesia, Malacca Strait, Gulf of Oman and Gulf of Aden. India has also deployed a warship next to the waters of Sri Lanka, another one between Bangladesh and Myanmar and one between the Seychelles and Mauritius. India has two Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) in the Maldives and around 40 personnel from the Indian armed forces are stationed at the island nation as part of defence cooperation between the two countries. We have a very robust surveillance mechanism at the Indian Ocean Region based on deployment since July 2017. No movement of Chinese warship has been detected near the waters of Maldives, said a source in the Indian Navy. It said currently, the closest distance between a Chinese warship and Maldivian waters would be around 2,500 nautical miles.
Hyderabad: Several IAS officers belonging to the Telangana State and Andhra Pradesh cadres have bought property in and around Hyderabad city. Some own residential, commercial and agricultural property, according to information uploaded by the Department of Personnel and Training.

Among those who own no property are Poonam Malakondaiah, R.P. Sisodia in AP, and Vikas Raj and Navin Mittal in TS.

The IAS officers said that they have purchased these properties with their savings and with loans from financial institutions. Most of them purchased these properties in the combined state. Chief Secretary of the Telangana government S.K. Joshi has bought one acre of land in Vattinagulapally in Rangareddy district, and a 1,441.9 sq ft flat in Ghatkesar.

Some IAS officers have single property

Both properties are in the name of his wife Anuradha Joshi. Mr Joshi has a residence in Prashasan Nagar in Hyderabad.

Chief Secretary of Andhra Prad-esh, Dinesh Kumar, owns 10 acres of agriculture land in Gopanpally in Medak district and a flat in My Home Apartments at Raidurgam in Rangareddy district, in addition to 2.69 acres of agricultural land in Nidamanur in Guntur district.

In the AP cadre, K.S. Srinivasa Raju, joint executive officer of the TTD for more than a decade now, has a 2200 sq ft flat in Aditya and DSR Lakeside complex at Gachibowli in Rangareddy district, one acre of land in Edula Magulappli in Ramachandrapuram mandal in Medak district and 1.24 acres of land in Nagireddy Guda village in Moinabad mandal in Rangareddy district.

In Telangana, the IAS couple Sp-ecial Chief Secretary Ajay Misra and his wife principal secretary Shalini Misra have a number of properties in and around Hyderabad city. Some IAS officers have a single property in their name in their home state.

IAS officer belonging to the AP cadre and a native of AP, K. Ram Gopal, has purchased properties in AP, Hyderabad and also in Haryana.

According to the DoPT website, Andhra Pradesh has about 146 IAS officers, including those who have retired recently, and Telangana has 112 IAS officers.
The superstar, who is all set to launch his political innings, expressed confidence that he would succeed with his Dravidian brand of politics. (Photo: PTI/File)

Chennai: Tamil Nadu waits with baited breath the launch of a new party led by actor-turned politician Kamal Haasan on Wednesday.

As per the itinerary released, the actor will unveil his party flag, announce the party name and will hoist the party flag in Madurai.

The superstar, who is all set to launch his political innings, expressed confidence that he would succeed with his Dravidian brand of politics.

In January, he had batted for unity among Southern states under the "Dravidian" tag to leverage ties with the Centre.

Earlier on Monday, Haasan, who had been meeting top political leaders and friends to seek their wishes before he begins his state-wide tour from APJ Abdul Kalam's residence in Rameswaram, met his senior and DMDK chief Vijayakanth.

Also Read: Kamal Haasan meets senior Vijayakanth

On Sunday, Haasan had also met DMK president M Karunanidhi and superstar Rajinikanth. He said that he was calling on those "whom he liked" before the formal launch of his party.

Emerging from the brief meeting with Karunanidhi, Haasan told reporters he called on the former chief minister to get his blessings and inform him about his political journey.

Asked about having a tie-up with DMK, the actor said it was for that party to take a call after it understood his ideology.

"DMK's ideology is known. If my ideology suits them, they can think about it."

Hassan personally invited Rajinikanth on Sunday for the launch of his political journey, which however, was politely turned down by Rajinikanth.

"Our styles are different," Rajinikanth had said.

Also Read: Rajinikanth declines Kamal Haasans invite for Tamil Nadu tour launch

Rajinikanth said he prayed for "divine blessings" to be bestowed on his friend Haasan and wished him success in his political endeavours.

Haasan had earlier in February referred to the stark differences between him and Rajinikanth - on religion and on "saffron", which was interpreted as Rajinikanth's inclination towards the BJP.

There is a hue of saffron in Rajini's politics. If that doesn't change then I don't see an alliance with him. We are good friends but politics is different, He had said.

Kamal Haasan has so far met chief ministers of Kerala and Delhi  Pinarayi Vijayan and Arvind Kejriwal  besides former chief election commissioner TN Seshan and veteran state CPI leader R Nallakannu.

Both Haasan and Rajinikanth, who command a huge fan following, have announced they will enter politics.

(With agency inputs)
Hyderabad: Chief Economic Advisor to the Central government Arvind Subramanian on Monday lavished praise on Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao and the Telangana state government for implementing novel schemes and initiatives.

He described the revenue land records updation programme of TS state government as the Heart of Good Governance and said that it should be considered as a case study by the Harvard University. Subramanian also suggested that the KCR kits programme being successfully implemented in the state should be briefed to the Centre and said that it should become a learning point for other states.

The Chief Economic Advisor also suggested that the cheque distribution programme towards investment support scheme for farmers to be launched on April 20 should be made a nation-wide event and he would be honoured to be present on that day.

Subramanian, who is on a visit to Hyderabad, called on the CM on Monday and had a meeting with him for around two-and-a-half hours. Earlier, the Chief Minister hosted a lunch to Subramanian at Pragathi Bhavan.
A group of diverse but like-minded individuals, the members of ARC have come together in their common desire to fight hatred, bigotry, intolerance and violence because of the harm these antisocial behaviors cause to our society. In that effort, we will not use or sanction the use of illegal actions (such as violence or intimidation) in pursuit of our desired aims and if we learn of anyone who does use these unethical methods we will report those individuals to the authorities. Instead, we will use the guarantees found in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms that ensure freedom of legal speech and expression.
Mysuru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah declined to join the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the latters comments about the state government but dismissed the rally addressed by the leader in Mysuru as just another rally here on Monday.

He told the media here that the BJP lacked a significant support base in Old Mysore region and therefore the rally would not make any impact on the people. Have they won in any of the districts in this region? he asked.

Asked to comment on the railway double line project, he said: For the railway doubling project and electrification between Bengaluru and Mysuru, the state government has contributed significant amount of resources. For the doubling work taken up at the cost at the cost of Rs 990 crores, the state government contributed two-thirds or Rs 581 crores, while the Union government chipped in with one-third or Rs 409 crores. Besides, the state government contributed 50 per cent for electrification work taken up at a cost of Rs 220 crores.
Bengaluru: Working president of KPCC, Dinesh Gundurao, charged PM Modi with launching a vilification campaign against the state government while keeping mum about business czars who owed banks thousands of crores of rupees but fled the country. He flayed the PM while addressing the media here on Monday for reiterating that the state government headed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was a commission government during his revolutionary speech in Mysuru. He also scoffed at the PM saying whether he meant the launch of a new train to link Mysuru and Udaipur was a revolutionary move. He said Mr Modi had alleged Karnataka was allotted 3.36 lakh houses for the poor under Prime Minister Awaaz Yojana, but the state government had constructed only 38,000. How could any government to be so casual and careless, he asked. In fact, under PMAY, there were two components-one of urban and the other of rural. The share of the Union government is very less. Under PMAY (urban), 2.90 lakh houses had been constructed at a cost of Rs 14,764 crores of which the share of the Union government was Rs 4357 crores and the states share, Rs 9157 crores. Ouf of this share of Rs 4357 crore, the Union government had released only Rs 345 crore which was not even 10 per cent of its share. Despite this, the state government had spent its own funds for completion of 21,905 houses while construction of 38,000 houses was under progress.

Mr Rao said under PMAY (rural), during 2016-17 and 2017-18, 1.45 lakh houses were sanctioned of which 1.37 lakh houses were completed. The share of the Union government was Rs 1088 crore of which only Rs 696 crore had been released. "This clearly shows how Mr Modi is misleading people by giving wrong statistics in a public meeting," he added.
Bengaluru: A day after his arrest, Shanthinagar MLA, N.A. Haris son, Mohammad Nalapad Haris, allegedly confessed to the police that he and his men beat up a 24-year-old man, Vidwat, following a heated argument at the Farzi Cafe in UB City Saturday night.

Vidwat , who sustained multiple injuries and broken ribs and nose, is still in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Mallya Hospital.

Mohammad, who surrendered before the Cubbon Park police Monday morning after evading arrest for 36 hours, was questioned by Central Crime Branch (CCB) sleuths. Post interrogation, he and his associates are said to have received special treatment from the station staff, who allegedly gave him a separate room to spend the night in and a mobile phone to allow him to speak to his friends and relatives.

But when contacted, DCP (Central Division), Chandragupta, denied that Mohammad was receiving any special treatment. He said the CCTV footage from in and around Farzi Cafe showed that there were many people surrounding the two groups.

We still dont know who assaulted whom first. We will get a clear picture once we record Vidwat's statement. Doctors say he will need a few days more to recover. But prima facie the involvement of Mohammed and his gang has been established, he added.

As for the assault on media persons at Cubbon Park police station on Monday, Mr. Chandragupta said a resident of Ashoknagar, Mujeeb had been arrested for it.

So far, besides Mohammad, the police have arrested Arun Babu, the owner of a juice centre in Austin Town, Manjunath, a driver-cum-bouncer, Mohammed Ashraf, an umeployed B.Com graduate, Balakrishna, a driver, Abhishek, a small-time businessman and Mohammed Nasir. A few more men involved in the assault, including one Srikrishna, are still at large.

The incident

Vidwat and his friend, Praveen were at the Farzi Cafe in UB city for dinner when at around 11 pm Saturday night Mohammad took objection to the formers leg touching him accidentally.

Vidwat explained he had a fractured leg and had to keep it stretched out.

But a quarrel broke out and Mohammad demanded an apology from him, but Vidvat reportedly refused to give it. Mohammad then allegedly called up his henchmen and mercilessly beat him up.

The nightmare did not end there as when Praveen rushed Vidwat to Mallya Hospital, Mohammad and gang allegedly arrived there too and warned him against filing a complaint with the police.

FALSE CASE FALLS APART

Soon after Vidwats family members lodged a complaint with the Cubbon Park police station, one of the accused, Arun Babu, filed a counter complaint, claiming that a drunk Vidvat had provoked Mohammad.

But on verification from the Mallya Hospital the police found that Vidwat was not drunk at the time as claimed.

Will Mohammad get bail?

Mohammad, who was sent to police custody for two days by the 8th ACMM court on Monday, will be produced before the magistrate on Wednesday. While his lawyer is bound to file for bail, sources say he and his men are unlikely to get it as the police have still not recorded the victims statement. The court could either extend their police custody or send them to judicial custody, going by sources.

When a Father pays for sons indiscretion

Bengaluru: A day after his son, Mohammad Nalapad Haris surrendered to the police, Shanthinagar MLA, N A Haris cut a sorry figure in the Legislative Assembly, apologising for his sons behaviour.

I am an elected representative and also a father. No father should ever have to face what I am going through. I apologise to the House, state government, my party, media and also the public for this incident, he said.

Contending that children do make mistakes, he maintained it was the duty of parents to teach them to walk on the right path. I shall do it. And I will also apologise to the media men, who were assaulted near Cubbon park police station on Monday. No one is above the law. After I learnt about the incident, I tried contacting my son, but his phone was switched off as he was afraid I would blast him. When his phone was switched on again, I contacted him and as a responsible member of the Legislative House asked him to surrender before the police. I did not bring any pressure on the state government. I appeal all to stop dragging this incident,' he pleaded.

Earlier, opposition party members attacked the home department for failing to take immediate action against Nalapad.

If there was no pressure from the public and the media, the police would have suppressed the incident and Nalapad would not have been arrested. Common people are not safe under this government, charged opposition leader, Jagadish Shettar.

While CM Siddaramaiah intervened to say necessary action had been taken under the law and a case had been booked under IPC 307 (attempt to murder) against Nalapad, Mr Shettar argued that it was only on his orders that the case was booked when it should have been done by the police themselves.

Recalling the previous cases against Nalapad, he said Peter who was allegedly assaulted last year and Poornima, who was allegedly attacked a while ago had now come out in public about their experiences. But earlier when these two tried to lodge a complaint against Nalapad, the police did not help them as it was a high profile case. If the case had been booked against Nalapad at the time, this incident would not have happened. Give freedom to your policemen and curtail such anti-social elements, he said.

Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy responded that it was a small incident that had turned ugly, big and bad. I visited the hospital and the police officer has been suspended for not making the arrest on time. Also, the ACP concerned has been transferred and the case has been handed over to the CCB for investigation, he said.
CM Siddaramaiah launches the Anila Bhagya scheme for providing LPG connections to all BJP families in the state, at Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday.

Mysuru: Fans of farmer leader and Melkote MLA K.S. Puttannaiah, are reportedly flooding the JSS medical college to pay their last respects.

The body of Mr Puttannaiah, who breathed his last following a massive cardiac arrest on Sunday night, has been kept at JSS medical college as the family awaits the arrival of his two daughters who are in the USA.

Those who paid their respects to the departed leader include actor turned politician and Congress MLA Ambareesh.

The actor politician also visited Ramya Mahendra hotel near the RTO Circle.

Ramya Hotel is a favourite spot of CM Siddaramaiah too and was started over three decades ago. It was a favourite with noted politicians including Mr S. Bangarappa, and star actor Dr Rajkumar among others.

City-Mysuru highway gets

Centres nod

l A day after Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi announced the project for six-laning of the Mysuru-Bengaluru National Highway-275, at the BJP rally in Mysuru on Monday, the Cabinet Committee on Economic affairs gave its clearance to the project on Tuesday. Mysuru Kodagu MP Mr Pratap Simha stated this in a press release. The total cost of the project is over Rs 7000 Crores, according to National Highway Authority sources. They added, "The Union ministry of road transport and highways has already approved the project. And even the tender has been opened. But since the cost of the project crossed Rs 2000 Crores, it needed clearance of the CCEA. With this clearance, work on the project is likely to begin soon," NHAI sources informed.
Hyderabad: N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, the president of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC), said there were indications that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao would prefer the Assembly polls to be held early, in Dece-mber this year, and that it would be the end of the TRS rule. However, he did not reveal the source of his information.

Mr Reddy said the Congress was set to come to power, whenever the elections were held. He said the upcoming Budget Session would be the TRS last because the next Budget would be presented by the Congress.

Speaking to newsmen at Gandhi Bhavan on Tuesday, Mr Reddy said the Praja Chaitanya Yatra being taken out by senior Congress leaders in the state on February 26 wou-ld kick-start the Congress partys election campaign. He said the yatra had the blessings and the appro-val of Rahul Gandhi, the president of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), and quashed any notions that it was being organised without consultation with senior party leaders.

Mr Reddy said the members of the Congress wou-ld be joined by the leaders of several different parties during the bus yatra. He said that all those who were appointed presidents of the District Congress Committees would not contest the elections, in keeping with the directions issued by the AICC.

He criticised the Chief Minister for completely surrendering to the Centre and not raising his voice when Telangana was given a raw deal in the Union Budget. He said the Rajya Sabha had passed the historic bifurcation bill exactly four years ago, but the Chief Minister had failed to put pressure on the Central government to implement the promises made to the state at the time of bifurcation.
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an inter-governmental body comprising 35 nations and two regional organisations (European Union and Gulf Cooperation Council), was set up to set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money-laundering, terror financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system. Initially set up to counter the menace of international money-laundering, it has expanded its scope to incorporate efforts to combat terror financing.

As a major victim of cross-border terrorism and the accompanying scourge of terror financing, India is a member state of the Paris-based secretariat. While FATF findings are in the realm of recommendations, it sets the sovereign standards on the required transparencies and measures for handling the terror-financing infrastructure. A definitive outcome of the FATF workings is the dynamic black and gray list of countries that are designated non-cooperative in the global fight against money-laundering and terror financing.

Pakistan was put in the gray list in February 2012 and remained there for the next three years. It was taken out from the watchlist only after it showed certain concrete steps to address the issue. In 2015, Pakistans then finance minister Ishaq Dar aggressively made a case with corrective initiatives and actions taken to address the twin menace of money-laundering and curbing terror financing. It showcased its intent and will on the matter with the National Action Plan  this followed the deadly Peshawar school attack, when the unacknowledged consequences of playing with terror ricocheted on the country. Besides speedy trials, capital punishment and sanctioning military actions against terror organisations, it had sought a clampdown on the sophistry of terror financing, fronts for terrormonies and disallowing the chicanery of different names for terror organisations. Over a period of time, the patented Pakistani instinct of a dual approach, when it came to the differential slotting of Pakistan facing terror groups (such as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan), as opposed to India facing ones (Hafiz Saeeds Lashkar-e-Tayyaba or Jamaat-ud-Dawa) or Afghan facing ones (Haqqani Network), set in seamlessly.

The benign charade of allowing terror outfits to merrily change names to avoid official action is the worst kept secret in Pakistan  as when Hafiz Saeed dreaded Lashkar-e-Tayyaba became JuD , and later when the heat increased it got renamed once again, to Tehreek Azadi Jammu and Kashmir! In June 2014, the United States declared Jamaat-ud-Dawa as an affiliate of Lashkar-e-Tayyaba.

Similarly, the group behind the attacks in Uri and Pathankot, Jaish-e-Mohammed, changed its name to Khuddam-ul-Islam! The officially sanctified and overt running of the uber-puritanical seminaries by these groups and the routine fund collection drives have not gone unnoticed. More so, as the Afghan-facing groups, that have received protection and cover from the ISI (like India-facing groups), have directly hit US interests, assets and lives in Afghanistan. As an Afghan diplomat in the US tweeted after the deadly attack that had Pakistani-beneficence written all over it: The night vision goggles found with Taliban attackers in Maiwands ANA base were military-grade goggles (not sold to the public) procured by Pakistan Army from a British company and supplied to the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba in Kashmir and Taliban in Afghanistan. Lashkar-e-Tayyaba is an international terrorist organization.

The exact same sentiment was echoed by Indias defence minister on the incontrovertible support afforded by Pakistan in the wake of the Sunjwan camp attack: Definitely evidence will be given, as always, to Pakistan. And yes, Pakistan, in spite of us giving dossiers after dossiers, has not taken any action. On the contrary, we find people who were directly responsible for the Mumbai terror attacks and many others are still free and happily roaming in Pakistan.

The chorus for punitive action against Islamabads deceitfulness is growing internationally, and the United States, Britain, France and Germany have jointly proposed a motion to put Pakistan under a global terror financing watchlist once again. With the impending plenary session of FATF to be held in Paris from February 21 to 23, the humiliating threat of getting blacklisted once more is very real for Pakistan. The ignominy of getting proposed by four countries jointly is unique and a first-time-ever. It points towards the gravity of accusations on Pakistans patent behaviour.

As expected, Pakistan has been consistently brazen and is trying to pint a finger at New Delhi, accusing it of pulling strings from behind the scenes, even though diplomats at the US embassy in Islamabad have bluntly refuted this by saying absolutely not!

While Pakistan is working feverishly with China, the GCC countries, Turkey and even Russia in a bid to muster the numbers against the gray list possibilities, its domestic nervousness is displayed by a flurry of political and administrative activities to complete the few outstanding actions. Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain passed a sudden ordinance to amend the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 which seeks to ban all those individuals or groups that get designated as terrorists by the United Nations. Almost immediately, the action of seizing moveable and immoveable assets of Hafiz Saeeds ensued, with the government taking over the seminaries, offices and other facilities, besides confiscating donation boxes. The and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation, which are a charity cover for Hafiz Saeeds LeT, the group behind the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, had earlier led the US to place a $10 million bounty on Hafiz Saeeds arrest. However, Pakistan had stayed smug and complicit in allowing him a free run. Former Pakistan dictator Pervez Musharraf had infamously called himself the biggest supporter of both Hafiz Saeed and his JuD!

But with several countries calling the Pakistani bluff on its terror record, its interior minister Ahsan Iqbals recent statement  no country in the world has made as many sacrifices and as much contribution towards fighting terrorism [as Pakistan] in the last years  falls short of credibility. The Damocles sword hangs over the Pakistani government as the chickens come home to roost over Pakistans hypocritical stand on terror.
In an uncharacteristic overture, the Afghan Taliban recently offered the Americans dialogue on ending the 17-year-old war, urging US citizens and lawmakers to mount pressure on the Trump administration to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. Amid intensifying bloodshed in much of Afghanistan, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid held out the proposal in an open letter  a 10-page rebuke of the American military campaign, which began in late 2001. The dialogue offer comes almost a month after two deadly assaults in Kabul claimed almost 200 civilian lives. Conditions for Afghan security forces and Nato-led troops on the battlefield, meanwhile, are fast deteriorating. The increasingly lethal impact of the armed conflict on civilians can be best gauged from the fact that more than 10,000 non-combatant Afghans lost their lives or suffered injuries in 2017. At least 3,438 people were killed and 7,015 wounded.

Even if snubbed by Washington and Kabul, the letter is reflective of a gradual evolution in Talibans propaganda war and concurrently represents a struggle between moderates and hardliners within the group. It may also resonate with anti-war Americans, who genuinely demand better utilisation of their tax dollars. Objectively speaking, the invitation should demonstrably influence Washingtons new policy for South Asia. Americas positive response to the call for peace parleys would vindicate its claim of seeking a negotiated end to the war and stabilising the region at large. Sticking to its guns, the United States wants the Afghan Taliban to engage with the government of President Ashraf Ghani in discussions on charting a path to peace. However, the insurgent movement is unwilling to talk to a President it views as an American stooge.

While the Taliban brand the unity government as a puppet regime with no authority, US officials appear to be divided on reaching out to the insurgents. For obvious reasons, the divisions spell bad news for the long-suffering Afghans. Trump is the third successive US President to ramp up the military campaign in Afghanistan. Without learning from the missteps of George W. Bush and Barack Obama, he has ruled out communicating directly with the Taliban. But secretary of state Rex Tillerson has hinted at US willingness for talks with what he calls moderate voices in the Taliban. He has also suggested that reconcilable militants could become part of the Afghan government.

By the same token, deputy secretary of state John Sullivan also hopes communication with the Taliban would happen in due course of time. Nonetheless, he has not explained when conditions would warrant such contacts. Now is the time for hawks in the Trump administration to see the reality that the war in Afghanistan is unwinnable and peace talks need to be given a fair chance. Terrorist threats persist, Al Qaeda is regrouping and the illicit drug commerce continues to flourish in the country. And thats why the US should heed the Talibans argument: If the use of force continues for another 100 years, the outcome will be the same...

A spike in coalition air strikes notwithstanding, the Taliban control large swathes of the countryside. Undeterred by the heightened bombing blitz, the fighters have effectively foiled Trumps much-touted strategy to break the stalemate. Several rounds of fruitless negotiations between Afghan actors have taken place in Pakistan, Dubai, Russia, China and Turkey. But all such attempts have been scuttled by US actions. Regardless of the frustrating outcome of previous meetings, Afghan spymaster Masoom Stanikzai and national security adviser Mohammed Hanif Atmar are said to be in backdoor negotiations with representatives of the guerrilla outfit.

Intriguingly, however, the High Peace Council is being kept out of the loop. Given lingering dust-ups in the ruling coalition, neither of the two officials has so far bothered taking the peace panel on board. Even then, the door for reconciliation has been left ajar. Pursuing an outright victory on the battlefield or bulking up US military resources in Afghanistan is going to be an untenable course of action. But Trump seemingly clings to his illogical position of fight now, talk later.

By arrangement with Dawn
Taking on the criminals in Uttar Pradesh is the big challenge to any government in the state. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has sent out the clear message that criminals and gangsters firing at policemen will face return fire. Its a barely disguised message that criminals will be shot down if they dare to attack the police. The encounter killings in the state have been conspicuous. It might seem that this bit of tough talk and tough stance is necessary to put the fear of government in the hearts of lawbreakers, and no state needs this more than Uttar Pradesh. The BJP, which had won a massive majority in the Assembly elections of March 2017, has much to prove its credentials, and the chief minister is grappling with the challenge. It is an unenviable task. There are, however, many pitfalls on the way, and its much more so for a law-and-order-loving right-wing political party like the BJP. The traditional right-wing view is that the only way to maintain the peace in the streets is to terrorise the criminals. The liberals are sure to wince, and it is easy to make fun of their tender-mindedness. But there is a real problem at hand. If the police is given the leeway to shoot down dreaded gangsters, it is most likely that the police will also go into overdrive of terrorising the people at large as well.

And all governments keen to chase down the criminals say that the terror is only for the law-breakers, and not for law-abiding folk. But its an apology of an assurance because in a state where the police faces armed criminals, it is not geared to treat law-abiding citizens with respect and concern. The other pressing problem is that the BJP government needs to show that it is not soft on the anti-social elements in pro-Hindutva organisations and that it is not targeting Muslim groups. With its image of an anti-minority, and particularly anti-Muslim tilt, the BJP government proves beyond reasonable doubt that it does not discriminate between groups of citizens. The sense of fair play and impartiality are important if the government wants to win the battle of turning the unruly state into a citizen-friendly one. The Kasganj affair, where there was an eruption of violence between Hindutva groups and Muslims, raises questions of concern. The chief minister has tried to give the impression that he is dealing with the situation even-handedly, and he has even said that it is not a communal flareup as ordinarily understood, and that it is a matter of breakdown of law. It is situations like those in Kasganj that will test the credibility of the Yogi Adityanath government.

It is also the case that Uttar Pradesh, along with Bihar, has been a problem state because of its social and economic backwardness. Crime and violence is embedded in the backwardness of these states. Political leaders from different parties have all been trying unsuccessfully to fight this negative image of Uttar Pradesh as a lawless state because all of them had refused to accept that there is indeed a problem on hand, and that it has also to do with the state of the economy. The counter-argument is that an agriculturally rich state  and it is a fact that it is a fertile state and its farm output is impressive  proves that Uttar Pradesh is not the backward state it is shown to be. The earlier governments of the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party have each set out to industrialise and modernise the state, and the BJP is pressing forward on the same track. The Uttar Pradesh investors summit in Lucknow this week is a fresh attempt to take the state forward in terms of industry and technology. The sales pitch to project Uttar Pradesh as an attractive investment destination through innumerable incentives is the right step, but it may not be sufficient.

The ease of doing business in places like Uttar Pradesh is not confined to getting government clearances on the fast track. It will also have much to do with the social atmosphere, where people are friendly towards technology and investors. This can come about only through improved and increased educational levels of the general population. The economic transformation of Uttar Pradesh is more a social rather than an economic challenge. You cannot keep out sections of society like dalits and Muslims out of the development process, and the dominant intermediate castes cannot corner the advantages of industrial development. The Hindutva elements as well as the dominant castes in the state must acknowledge that progress is possible only when everyone gets a share of the development. This change in attitude is not as easy as bringing out changes in the rulebook for setting up enterprises. The three major parties in the state  BJP, SP and BSP  simply cannot hope to change Uttar Pradesh through administrative fiat.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath is anxious to provide his credentials of good governance despite critics carping that he is a representative of divisive Hindutva politics. The chief minister might partially succeed in creating an image of an orderly society where criminals are not roaming about with abandon as they have done in the past, but that might turn out to be unstable. His pragmatism might trump the rigidity of his Hindutva politics temporarily. But it will turn out to be an elusive task because the people of Uttar Pradesh do not appear to be ready to embrace economic and social change in a big way. It is necessary to control crime in Uttar Pradesh, but this itself is not enough to turn the state into a happening place. Its futile to blame Yogi Adityanath, Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati for the uphill task that Uttar Pradesh faces. It is not just beyond the capabilities of the political leaders, but it is beyond their ken as well.
Are banks meant for robbing? This could well be true given the number of daylight robberies by well-heeled customers like diamantaire Nirav Modi and Winsome Diamonds Jatin Mehta (Rs 7,000-crore fraud), penmaker Kotharis of Kanpur (Rs 2,919-crore scam) and the Harshad Mehtas before them. The `9.5 lakh crore non-performing assets banks are saddled with is also plain loot, largely by big borrowers. The governments chief economic adviser, Arvind Subramanian, added fuel to the fire by saying the NPAs could well be 20-30 per cent more than what is known so far, and recognised and has suggested more banks should be privatised. While the buck for the Rs 11,300-crore PNB scam stops at the door of the Reserve Banks banking supervision wing, its curious the government that has called for an explanation from the RBI on the PNB scam. The banks board, after all, has representatives from both the RBI and the government under the Banking Regulation Act. What were these people doing as they were privy to the foreign exchange deals reported to the PNB board?

The Corporation Bank Officers Organisation has noted that the banks foreign exchange business is also subject to foreign exchange audit by the bank as well as the RBI, and it also goes through seven different audits. Its thus very disturbing that none of these worthies noticed anything amiss with the PNBs checks and balances systems. Conversely, does it mean the auditors were just careless in doing their job? If so, it implies nothing has changed since the disgraceful performance of auditors of Satyam Computer Services, under whose watch Satyams promoter Ramalinga Raju could loot `7,000 crore from the company. Amid the scenario of repeated multi-crore scams in state-owned banks, theres a rising demand to privatise most of the banks. The Modi government seems to be open to this, and the sooner its done, the better. State-owned banks handle around 70 per cent of loans disbursed, and its big borrowers that get a huge chunk of these loans.

The raison detre for which banks were nationalised in 1969 by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi  to give loans to the underprivileged, who were ignored by the private sector banks  no longer exists. There are many micro-financing companies today catering to the small borrowers. The government can help these institutions. Theres an advantage too in privatising banks as in case of losses its only the bank and its shareholders who suffer. In case of state-owned banks, the government is involved and spends crores in recapitalising banks. This money is the peoples hard-earned money. There will also be better regulation as the bank officials will be answerable to the shareholders.
There are ethical concerns over Donald Trump Jrs business trip to India this week that should be addressed both by India and the United States. India is embracing the US Presidents sons visit to sell apartments and office space in Gurgaon and Kolkata. While the issue may concern the US more, in that President Trumps efforts to separate himself from his businesses seem feeble, the Trump Organisation has pledged it will not sign any new deals while he is in office. But its true that the Trump real estate business, which runs on a franchise model, is marketing access to the US first family in such highly-publicised events. India is treating the current visit as a private one, unlike Ivankas recent Hyderabad trip for a global business summit.

A business summit is also due during the sons visit later this week in New Delhi, and the government may invest it with higher status, with officials attending it. Trump Jrs easy access to key people in governments raises moral issues  in a situation where a top businessman has become US President and whose family members are used as interlocutors in diplomatic matters. Ivanka raised hackles by briefly taking Mr Trumps seat at a G-20 summit in Europe when he had left the room for a while, and his son-in-law is considered a key player in US-Israel ties. Given Americas primacy as a global power, its difficult to keep people off from seeking the Trumps influence. While there can be no issue about progeny of politicians being in business, it is the thin red line of ethicality that is so troubling.
2021, Summer Pre-Sales for new book coming in fall about Walter the cat.

2021, May Community Champion Honor on Spirituality & Heath Magazine.

2020, July Interview about the book "White Dog" on Madame Mayo's blog.

2020, May "White Dog" an illustrated memoir is published.

2019, Illustration for Notre Dame Magainze

2019, October Apifera Collection with Goldfinch Modern Textiles.

2019 Writing a monthly article for Lincoln County News Maine with stories from Apifera called "Tails and Tales from Apifera Farm"

2018, October Apifera given the "Be The Change" Award from Spirituality and Health Magaine .

2018, September Art showcasedon Spirituality and Health Magaine .

2018, August Interview of Katherineand how she got to where she is today in Voyage Atlanta magazine .

2018, July Little Tulip a new illustrated book is published .

Spring 2018 Featured in Sundance Catalog

Uppercase Magazine Issue 30 article features an article about me and Apifera and rural living and art making.

My article about working as a shepherdess but also helping the the endangered species living in our fields in the 2nd issue of the new Wild Hope Magazine.

Interview with Katherine at Miss Marple's blog.

My new article in Mabel Magazine Issue 4. is out.

The healing aspects of donkeys at Apifera, for Modern Farmer for Modern Farmer.

Article about raising sheep at Apifera for Modern Farmer.

Ellie Garber of Ellie + Friends will be selling my book in indie shops out East. Thrilled!

New article in Mingle Winter 2014 about Apifera and Pino Pie Day

Buy a copy of "Misfits of Love"Apifera Press!

"Bucket & Donkey" now available as ebook!

Interviewed in Summer 2013 issue of Willamette Valley Life.

Solo show in May at The Adamson Gallery in Sacramento, CA.

Featured article in The Jacksonville Review about my Rosie and Stevie.

Feature article on Apifera and my art and life helping animals and sharing pie. July issue of Willamette Valley Life Magazine, July, 2012 issue [see spread 10/11].

Four new illustrations for University of Notre Dame Magazine summer issue.

Had fun chatting with Mark Lipinski about "Misfits of Love". Podcast for 1/25/12 episode here. I'm the first interview.

I'm going to do some writing for "Life with Dogs".

Interview at Blu Penny about life and career.

Podcast with Rice Freeman-Zachary about Pino, the farm, art and more.

Interviewed by Mark Lipinski on Creative Mojo.

I was interviewed by Lesley Riley of Blog Talk Radio/Art+ Soul. Airs May 9, 7PM EST.

I'll be writing regular posts on the Huffington Post. Here's the first one.

Wow, I'm thrilled, the new book is part of the Top 10 Editor Picks for Arts 2010 at Amazon!



Somerset Life/April,'08: To Wear an Apron > article written by Katherine on life as an artist/farmer/apron wearer.



Somerset Life/July,'08: Donkey Dreams > article written by Katherine on pie,donkeys and her Donkey Dream.




Tipeshwar is a small wildlife sanctuary just across the Telangana border along NH-7, about 20 km north of Adilabad towards Nagpur. It has had a great success in providing a sanctuary to about a dozen of Indias beleaguered tigers. It is a typical Deccan deciduous teak forest with a good population of deer, antelopes, bear, hyena, langur and animals typical of such forests. The Maharashtra forest department has done a great job of conservation and protecting this forest. Today it is popular with day visitors from Nagpur and increasingly from Hyderabad, who revel in seeing tigers. I have a friend in Adilabad who visits Tipeshwar a few times every week.

The king of Tipeshwar is a young full grown male tiger called Star Male because of the characteristic star on his forehead, which seems to give him a perpetual scowl. Others call it a smile. Tipeshwar is a small tiger reserve, and measures just about 148 sq km. Imagine a small patch that will be no bigger than the cantonment area of Secunderabad or the newer part of Gurgaon. A good part of the forest is planted teak, which can be noticed by the neat straight lines, somewhat like the hair on Virender Sehwags head. The Maharashtra forest department began nursing this forest in the late 1990s and the forest you see today is the fruit of those efforts. Soon the forest started receiving migrating tigers from Tadoba, about 60 km away. Its population numbers a dozen now. One big male and three females with eight cubs  four each of male and female  in various stages of growth. This is where the problem begins.

Tigers are extremely territorial, so they will fight other animals and even other tigers that invade their space. This problem has become more of an issue due to the reduction of their natural environment. A male may have a territory of up to 60-100 sq km, while females up to 20 sq km, but these numbers vary according to the habitat and the sub-species. As a result of territory reduction, their areas overlap, as they have to venture into new zones to find food. Tipeshwar is full. There is no buffer forest. So young adults are forced to migrate.

If they migrate westwards, they enter open fields where there is no prey base and are forced to live on domestic livestock, beginning a cycle of man-animal conflicts. They then evolve into man-eaters. The Yavatmal pair of man-eaters are Tipeshwar tigers forced out of their natural habitat. When these tigers turn man-eaters, the forest department turns to so-called professional shikaris  like that purported Nawab from Hyderabad, who arrive with four-wheel drive vehicles, powerful spotlights and high-powered rifles. Its no contest  and ends mostly with a cowardly night shoot. Like a police encounter. Why do you need a so-called shikari in the first place? One hears of high fees changing hands more than once. I am told the Yavatmal man-eaters bounty is in the upper seven-figure range.

If the tigers migrate eastwards or northwards, they will be pushed by habitations towards Tadoba, which is not an easy passage as it would mean crossing two multi-lane national highways with heavy traffic, day and night. To go southeastwards is more inviting. After crossing the easily fordable Penganga, they enter the Adilabad forests in Telangana and the Kawal Tiger Reserve. Telangana is a very unfriendly place for tigers. The Adilabad jungles used to teem with tigers. Last year Kawal reported two tigers after many years, but they were poached. No sooner migrants are reported they are poached. Tigers are a nuisance to the nexus between politicians, timber smugglers and forest officials. They attract attention from nettlesome NGOs, wildlife lovers, resort hoteliers and naturalists. Tigers need privacy, deep forests and a thriving prey base of deer and antelopes, and wild boar. Once a tiger enters a forest and gets noticed by the outside world, poaching gets affected. Adilabad is the home district of the Telangana forests minister  who is reputed to have an abiding interest in timber.

Farmers electrify their fences to kill wild animals before they attack their crops. Often tigers are caught in these and die. Such deaths are quickly hushed up as they invite the attention of the police and the forest department, both of which are harmful for health and wealth.

Even Naxalites dont like tigers. Recently, Naxalites were caught on camera breaking a tiger-trap camera. What happened was that out of the two cameras alongside the trail, one was with a flash. When the Naxalite dalam passed, the flash was triggered and the Naxalites realised that they were on film. They then smashed the camera and took out the memory drive. This action was caught by the other camera, which silently went about its business. Naxalites hate tigers as they drive away timber poachers, and timber poachers are a vital source of cash to finance the liberation war.

Two tigers have now been noticed with wire snares still wrapped around them. There is one reported near Chennur in Telangana with a steel wire wrapped around its belly, and the young male with a steel wire around its neck has recently re-entered Tipeshwar. It will soon catch the attention of the Star Male. Before that happens, the forest department has a job to do. It has to tranquilise the big cat and free it from the steel noose, to give it a fighting chance of survival.

Of late, even Tadoba tigers are spilling over in Telangana, where they have to run the gauntlet like the Tipeshwar tigers. To survive, the Telangana tigers need friends in high places. In Telangana, this means the chief minister and his two children. Sadly, in Adilabad, they say the government is not interested in whats in the forest, so much as what is below the forest, and what comes out of it.
Within a few days itself, an Australian student and developer by the name of Joshua has already built a Chrome and Firefox extension

Its been just a few days since netizens took the social platform by a storm against Googles decision to remove the View Image button from its Google Images search engine. The move by Google was actually a peace deal between Getty Images and the search engine giant to help curb stealing of images online and also make revenue to the online image library. The move by Google was to remove the View Image button so that people searching for images would land up on the original website where the image lay and the user would have to then download the images from the parent website. This way the parent website gets its revenue by the user getting his revenue as well as taking care of copyrighted images.

However, within a few days itself, an Australian student and developer by the name of Joshua has already built a Chrome and Firefox extension, which brings back the View Image button on the images search engine page by Google. The extension is free to download and can presently only be installed on Chrome and Firefox respectively.

Google made it a bit more difficult for users to head to the images search and download what he needed from there he would have to now visit the parent website and then download it from there. Alternatively, users can also right-click and select view in new tab to see the images. Though this is a work around, the users would have to go that extra step.

The new extension called View Image works as promoted  it literally brings back the View Image button on the browser, just like it used to be earlier.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
The experiment was held near the isolated Israeli township of Mitzpe Ramon, whose surroundings resemble the Martian environment in its geology, aridity, appearance and desolation, the ministry said. (Photo: AFP)

A team of six Israeli researchers on February 18 ended a four-day Mars habitat experiment in Israels Negev desert where they simulated living conditions on the Red Planet, Israels Science and Technology Ministry said. The experiment was held near the isolated Israeli township of Mitzpe Ramon, whose surroundings resemble the Martian environment in its geology, aridity, appearance and desolation, the ministry said.

The participants were investigating various fields relevant to a future Mars mission, including satellite communications, the psychological effects of isolation, radiation measurements and searching for life signs in the soil. Participant Guy Ron, a nuclear physics professor from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, said the project was not only intended to look for new approaches in designing a future mission to the Red Planet but to increase public interest.

(Photo: AFP)

D-Mars is half about the research, and the other half is about the outreach. A major part of this project is getting public interest and getting students interested in space, he said.

The D-Mars project was being held in Israel for the first time in cooperation with the Israel Space Agency. It is one of a number of Mars simulation projects taking place worldwide.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
Washington: Special counsel Robert Mueller is probing Jared Kushners efforts to get foreign investors beyond Russia to provide financing for his company during the presidential transition, including in China, CNN reported on Tuesday.

The probe was previously only said to have focused on the Russia contacts of President Donald Trumps senior advisor and son in law, only with the campaigns data analytics and Kushners ties with disgraced ex-national security advisor Michael Flynn.

Muellers team is probing Kushners conversations during the presidential transition to get financing for the Kushner Companies-backed 666 Fifth Avenue office building in New York after financial setbacks, CNN said.

Kushners father founded the real estate developer and lender.

CNN said Muellers investigators have yet to contact Kushner Companies or request interviews with its executives, and the reasons behind the focus on the outreach to foreign investors are unclear.

Kushner played a leading role in the presidential transition team's contacts with foreign governments, and has indicated he spoke during that time with more than 50 contacts.
On May 7, 2015, Spanish police noticed a young Moroccan woman dragging what looked like a heavy suitcase across the border with Ceuta. When they put the suitcase through an X-ray machine they were shocked to see the silhouette of a child curled up in foetal position. (Photo: AFP)

Ceuta, Spain: The heart-rending photo went round the world in 2015, showing an eight-year-old boy from Ivory Coast crammed into a suitcase that was found at a Spanish border crossing.

His father goes on trial on Tuesday in Ceuta, a Spanish overseas territory in northern Morocco which migrants from Africa regularly try to reach by scaling high border fences, hiding behind car dashboards or in bus chassis.

Prosecutors are seeking a three-year prison term for Ali Ouattara for facilitating his son's illegal entry into Europe and endangering the child's life.

"I'm going to this trial with a lot of confidence because I'm not a human trafficker," Ouattara, 45, told AFP.

On May 7, 2015, Spanish police noticed a young Moroccan woman dragging what looked like a heavy suitcase across the border with Ceuta.

When they put the suitcase through an X-ray machine they were shocked to see the silhouette of a child curled up in foetal position.

"My name is Adou," the boy told them in French after they extricated him from the suitcase, according to Spanish journalist Nicolas Castellano, who wrote a book about the story.

Paid traffickers 5,000 euros

The desperate smuggling attempt was a first in Ceuta.

But only three months later, a 27-year-old Moroccan died of asphyxiation inside a suitcase placed in the trunk of a car on a ferry linking Melilla, another Spanish territory in Morocco, to southern Spain.

Adou was soon reunited with his mother, and his father, who had been waiting for his son on the Spanish side of the border, was arrested shortly after the police discovery.

Ouattara said he was "misled" by the traffickers who charged him 5,000 euros (USD 6,200) and did not tell him his son would be hidden in a suitcase.

The traffickers had initially promised to fly the boy from the Ivorian economic capital Abidjan to Madrid but then told him they would instead travel via Ceuta by car, he said.

"For us, it was crucial for the child to come, we couldn't live without him, we couldn't stop thinking about him," Ouattara said.

A former philosophy and French teacher in Abidjan, Ouattara arrived illegally in Spain in 2006, making the perilous journey across the Mediterranean aboard a boat.

He eventually got a stable job and home in the Canary Islands, and was able to bring his wife and daughter over legally.

But Spanish authorities refused four times to let him bring over his son too.

"I was earning more than 1,300 euros in a launderette but they said it wasn't enough" for the entire family to live, he says.

His wife, daughter and Adou are now living in France, but Ali is still in Spain as he is barred from leaving the country pending the trial.

Adou is expected to return to Ceuta for the trial.
Ankara: Turkey will lay siege to Afrin in northern Syria, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday a month after Ankara launched an offensive against Kurdish militia in the region.

In the coming days, swiftly, we will lay siege to the centre of the town of Afrin, Erdogan told parliament.

His remarks came as Turkey's operation Olive Branch, a ground and air offensive against the People's Protection Units (YPG) militia which Ankara brands terrorists, entered its second month.

While some analysts say Turkey and pro-Ankara Syrian rebels have made slow advances, Erdogan defended the operations progress, saying it was to avoid putting the lives of both its troops and civilians needlessly at risk.

We did not go there to burn it down, he said, insisting the operations aim was to create a safe and livable area for the Syrian refugees inside Turkey.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to consider on February 21 a PIL by a Delhi advocate for framing guidelines for disbursal of corporate loan above Rs 10 crore following the unearthing of the PNB scam.



A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud allowed a plea made by advocate J P Dhanda for an urgent listing of the PIL filed by Vineet Dhanda.

The petitioner, among others, sought a direction to the finance ministry and the Reserve Bank of India to frame guidelines in granting of the loan of the 10 crores and above to ensure safety and recovery of such loans.

He also sought direction to make the officials and employees of the bank (which sanctioned the loan on the deficient documents) liable for the recovery of the loan by affecting the recovery from their properties even after their retirement.

The petitioner-advocate also requested for providing the list of the borrowers of loan of more than Rs 500 crores.

Another PIL by advocate M L Sharma sought an SIT probe into the banking fraud, involving billionaire jewellers Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi.

A probe into the role of top management of the Punjab National Bank (PNB) was also sought.
A 43-year-old driver of a luxury car was arrested for allegedly pleasuring himself in front of a TV actress near a school in suburban Vile Parle here, police said today.



Jeevan Chaudhary, who works as a driver for a city businessman, was arrested on a complaint lodged by the actress after the incident yesterday, a police official said.



The woman was speaking on phone in front of her residence which is located close to a school. Chaudhary parked his car just 100 feet away from her and started pleasuring himself, he said.



When the actor's wife noticed the obscene act, she threw a bottle at him. But before she could catch him, Chaudhary sped off, the official said.



However, the actor's wife managed to note down the last four digits of the car's registration number and this helped police track down the vehicle, he said.



The actress, along with her husband - a known TV actor, later approached the Vile Parle police station and lodged a complaint.



Based on the complaint, an offence under IPC section 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) was registered against the driver.



After examining the CCTV footage of the area, police tracked down Chaudhary and arrested him from Vile Parle within hours of the incident, he added.
BJP workers are already ready for elections. Even Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is aware of this, BJP general secretary Muralidhar Rao who is in-charge of Karnataka, told media people in Mangaluru on Tuesday.



"BJP will win this election through its party workers in a democratic manner. Congress party workers have to learn by watching RSS and BJP workers. The Congress leaders in-charge of Karnataka themselves have said so," he added.

"The Congress is drama unfolding in Karnataka. It's true culture is being revealed. Congress workers are misusing power to commit rape, murder and anti-social activities," he alleged, adding that the Yeddyurappa-Modi combination will win the polls in the state for BJP.




452 | September 10, 2021 17:58 Integration of Russia, Belarus to continue on equitable basis, Kremlin says

450 | September 11, 2021 12:09 Discussions entitled "Partnership for Artsakh" launched in Stepanakert

420 | September 10, 2021 17:08 Russian peacekeepers clear over 180 hectares of land of mines in Artsakhs Martuni region

384 | September 10, 2021 17:22 EU Council prolongs personal sanctions against Russian citizens till March 15, 2022

376 | September 10, 2021 17:35 Neighboring countries of Afghanistan stress no foothold of terrorist organizations in Afghanistan's territory

365 | September 11, 2021 11:31 Seven families have resettled in Harutyunagomer. Head of Community

360 | September 10, 2021 17:07 Russia reports 18,341 daily COVID-19 cases

342 | September 11, 2021 10:02 Russia will not depend on anyone in maintaining its security. Lavrov
Eleven Chinese warships sailed into the East Indian Ocean this month, a Chinese news portal said, amid a constitutional crisis in the tiny tropical island chain of the Maldives now under a state of emergency.



A fleet of destroyers and at least one frigate, a 30,000-tone amphibious transport dock and three support tankers entered the Indian Ocean, news portal Sina.com.cn said, without linking the deployment to the crisis in the Maldives or giving a reason.

"If you look at warships and other equipment, the gap between the Indian and Chinese navy is not large," Sina.com.cn said on Sunday.

It did not say when the fleet was deployed or for how long.

Rivalry between old foes India and China for influence in the Maldives became evident after President Abdulla Yameen signed up to Beijing's Belt and Road initiative to build trade and transport links across Asia and beyond.

India, which has had longstanding political and security ties to the islands about 400 km (250 miles) away, has sought to push back against China's expanding presence in the overwhelmingly Muslim country of 400,000 people. Maldivian opposition leaders have urged New Delhi to intervene in the crisis.

China's Ministry of Defence did not respond to requests for comment.

On Friday, the People's Liberation Army posted photos and a story on rescue training exercises taking place in the East Indian Ocean on its official Twitter-like Weibo account.

China earlier this month advised Chinese citizens to avoid visiting the Maldives, famous its luxury hotels, scuba-diving resorts and limpid tropical seas, until political tensions subside.

China has been striking deals with countries in Asia and Africa in line with its Belt and Road initiative to improve imports of key commodities, upgrade infrastructure and trade routes in the region and boost its diplomatic clout.

Yameen imposed the emergency on Feb. 5 for 15 days to annul a Supreme Court ruling that quashed convictions against nine opposition leaders and ordered his government to free those held in prison. He sought parliamentary approval to extend the emergency for 30 days on Monday.

China has drawn criticism in the West for its perceived military buildup of the neighbouring South China Sea, where it has built and expanded islands and reefs.

China claims most of the sea where neighbours Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.

(Reporting by Engen Tham in Shanghai, Ben Blanchard in Beijing and Wang Jing in Shanghai; Editing by Nick Macfie)
State BJP President B S Yeddyurappa said that as part of Parivartana Yatre he had traveled the length and breadth of the state and learnt about the pressing issues, hopes, aspirations of the people in those areas.



He spoke at the Navashakti Samavesha at Bantwal, Dakshina Kannada district on Tuesday.



"We have to strengthen our party at the booth-level. We have get at least 60% of the votes at each booth. Don't bother about how strong the Congress is. Just focus on strengthening booths," he said.



Congress is in power in Karnataka only. In the last three and half years, BJP is in power in 19 states. "If you work hard to strengthen the party, BJP will surely come to power in Karnataka," he added.



The contribution of booth-level workers is invaluable in rooting out corrupt Congress from the state the former CM said.



"Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working hard without rest. As his supporters, we have to work hard too. At the booth, during the polls, each page of the electoral roll has to be monitored by a separate party worker. You must enlighten people on the successes of the Central government and the failure of the state government," Yeddyurappa advised party rank and file.
Eminent cardiologist Dr B K Goyal passed away in Mumbai on Tuesday. He was 82.



He is survived by son Rahul Goyal, and three daughters Sandhya Mittersain, Alka Jhunjhunwala and Varsha Sethi. Dr Goyal was the Honorary Dean and Chief Cardiologist at the Bombay Hospital Institute of Medical Sciences and is a former Director-Professor of cardiology of JJ Group of Hospitals and Grant Medical College, Mumbai.



A recipient of the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and the Padma Vibhushan, he had penned a book titled Heart Talk. He also has more than 50 publications in recognized national and international journals. Dr Goyal is the only cardiologist outside the United States to have the unique distinction of being appointed as the Honorary Consultant Cardiologist to the world famous Texas Heart Institute, Houston.



He was a consultant cardiologist to the Armed Forces of India, a visiting Professor of Cardiology at the University of Alabama in U.S. and visiting cardiologist to the Oshner Heart Institute, New Orleans.



The Maharashtra government honoured him by appointing him as the Professor Emeritus of Cardiology for life. He was the member of executive council of the University of Bombay and presently is the Member of the senate of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS).



He has served as a member of the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare and National Council for blood transfusion. He was also the Sheriff of Mumbai for a year.
Rotomac promoter Vikram Kothari is claimed to have acquired credit from various banks for making payments to firms abroad for export but no order was executed and entire operation was carried out through "ficticious and front companies".



After the CBI registered a case against Rotomac, Kothari and his close family, the Income Tax Department has also swung into action attaching 11 bank accounts in connection with an alleged tax evasion probe against them. This action is to "recover outstanding tax demands", which is around Rs 85 crore.



According to the complaint filed by Bank of Baroda, which is part of the CBI FIR, the buyers that the Rotomac involved abroad ran "virtual offices" in Hong Kong, Sharjah and Dubai.



It is claimed that Rotomac did not produce full set of documents for "all the trades carried out under mercantile trade segment which raises suspicion about the genuineness of these transactions".



Company used to submit photocopies of bill to the bank on the "pretext that original papers were directly" sent to the importer. "All these papers were originated at overseas centres. Company misutilised the facility and submitted documents related to mercantile trade on the basis of which chain of the transaction could not be established. Genuineness of these bills submitted...is doubtful," it said.



When Rotomac defaulted in payments, Bank of Baroda representatives visited companies suppliers and buyers. Its Hong Kong branch officials visited M/s Gulf Distribution Ltd only to find it was maintaining a "virtual office" and no one was present at the address given by Rotomac.



In Dubai, it could only find an office boy at the address given and nothing substantial was seen in the office. The offices in Sharjah were found to be closed, the bank claimed.



"The entire business operation were carried out through fictitious and front companies. Company submitted false and forged document and dishonestly induced bank to advance money," it said.



Rotomac is claimed to have tied up with M/s Pacific Global and M/s Bunge, which have sister concerns. "The company was routing sale transactions from one company and purchase transactions from other/sister concern. It is evident that Rotomac was receiving money back from importer's sister concern at a discount of 1.865% by discounting the Letter of Credit at overseas centre," it added.
BJP National President Amit Shah said that the Congress-led government in Karnataka was indulging in appeasement of minorities and vote-bank politics.



"Hindu activists are being killed. When the Yeddyurappa government comes to power in the elections, those responsible for the killings will be caught and punished," Shah assured.

Shah said that the Navashakti Yatra would win the election for BJP in Karnataka.

"BJP is very different from other parties. It wins through galvanization of the party. This fact is probably unknown to poll forecasters. PM Narendra Modi's welfare programs and booth-level BJP workers will be the factors for victory in the polls this year," Shah said

"You have to remain committed in order to root out Siddaramaiah's corrupt government. There are several temples in this region that the Congress government wants to control. You beware," Shah added.
Turkey will lay siege to Afrin in northern Syria after launching an offensive against Kurdish militia in the region last month, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said today.



"In the coming days, swiftly, we will lay siege to the centre of the town of Afrin," Erdogan told his ruling party lawmakers in parliament.

His remarks came as Turkeys ground and air offensive against the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) militia, viewed as "terrorists" by Ankara, entered its second month.
Ruling Congress MLA N A Haris today apologised to the state legislative Assembly about his son's involvement in an assault case at an upscale pub-cum-restaurant that has stirred a huge political row.

Mohammed Nalapad Haris, son of Haris, has been booked for attempt to murder for allegedly assaulting one Vidwat at the pub-cum-restaurant here on Saturday night.

He surrendered before police yesterday and is now in police custody.

"Sometimes, due to some circumstances, incidents such as these happen. I tender my apologies if the incident has affected the pride of the House and honourable members," he said in the Assembly. A red-faced Congress had expelled Nalapad from the party for six years after the incident triggered a political backlash with the BJP and JD(S) accusing the state government of trying to protect him. Nalapad was the Bengaluru District Youth Congress general secretary.

To opposition BJP leader Jagadish Shettar's charge that there was a delay of 40 hours before Nalapad surrendered, Haris said he would have asked his son to surrender immediately, but could not because he was not reachable. "He did so (surrender) after I chided him and wanted to punish him. But, when I found him, I asked him to surrender as a law-abiding member of the House," he said. Haris said he did not put any pressure on the state government.

A A He also tendered apologies for the attack on the media outside the Cubbon Park police station allegedly by Nalapad's supporters when came for surrender.

He said nobody, including the members of the Assembly, was above law and wrongdoers must be punished, but appealed to all to stay away from political mud-slinging in the light of the upcoming Assembly elections.

Shettar asked the home minister to take measures to avoid such ugly incidents from happening at sensitive upscale restaurant-cum-pubs situated at UB City.

In his reply, home minister Ramalinga Reddy said a police officer has been suspended for not taking appropriate action against the accused. Police have booked a case against Nalapad under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Police had earlier booked Nalapad under the IPC Sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 506 (criminal intimidation), 143 and 144 (unlawful assembly), 146 and 147 (rioting), 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), he said.

Police had registered an FIR regarding the attack on media persons, he said.

During the brawl, Reddy said Vidwat was assaulted and his head smashed with a liquor bottle. Nalapad and his friends had also visited the hospital where Vidwat was admitted following the incident, and threatened him, Reddy said. Vidwat is currently undergoing treatment in a private hospital.
The Union Cabinet has approved the setting up of a tribunal at national level to settle the dispute over sharing of river water between states.



Briefing media after the Regional Conference of Southern States on Water resources here on Tuesday, the union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said that the Bill for a central Tribunal will be passed during the current budget session. He said that Cauvery management board and regulatory authorities will be established within six months following the Supreme Court's judgment on share of water between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.



Calling the decisions made during the meeting as "Hyderabad Declaration", the minister said that allocations for irrigation projects in different states will be increased and efforts will be made to secure funding from Nabard or the World Bank.



Earlier inaugurating the meeting, he said that interstate disputes over share of river water are a major hurdle in the development of the country. He pointed out that prolonged litigation in courts is a sheer waste of time and money. He made it clear that the meeting being held here is crucial. He reminded everyone that to end water wars is one of the priorities of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.



Telangana Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao welcoming the move to setting up a central Tribunal has sought centre's help in minimizing inundation of lands in Telangana, due to Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh. He also made it clear that the Kaleswaram project of Telangana is not a new project as alleged by Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh demanded notification of jurisdiction of Krishna River Management Board and Godavari River Management Board.
Major General Tiran Khachatryan, deputy Chief of Staff of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia, head of the tactical department of the general staff, departed to Moscow, the defense ministry said.

February 20, 2018, 16:58 Armenian military delegation departs for Moscow

STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 20, ARTSAKHPRESS:During the visit the Armenian delegation will participate in the negotiations on preparations for the upcoming Search, Partnership and Indestructible Brotherhood military exercises within the framework of the February 19-22 CSTO Combat Brotherhood 2018 tactical strategic joint drills.

The delegation will also participate in the discussions on the 2019 joint readiness plan of CSTO bodies and the list of 2025 joint actions.
In what appears to be a straight lift from Akshay Kumar-starrer 'Special 26', three youths, masquerading as CBI officers, raided the house of a prominent trader in Muzaffarpur and decamped with jewellery worth Rs 15 lakh.



The incident took place just at the same time when the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials were actually conducting raids at Gitanjali Gems (chain of jewellery shop run by fugitive Nirav Modi) in Muzaffarpur on Monday.

Taking advantage of the fear psychosis among traders in the town, three thugs, posing as CBI cops, entered the house of a businessman Krishna Kanhaiya Jalan and asked him to hand over all the ornaments. The miscreants collected 300 grams of gold, jewellery and other valuables worth Rs 15 lakh, locked Jalan and his family members in a room and escaped unchallenged on the bikes.

The criminals stayed in the house for around one hour and ransacked the almirahs in search of precious stones and rings. "They came on three motorcycles. After looting, they left with the valuables in the shoulder bags and warned us of dire consequences if we reported the matter to police," said Jalan.

When informed, the city DSP Ashish Anand rushed to the spot and took stock of the situation. A forensic team has been pressed into service so that the investigation could be carried out in a scientific manner," said the DSP, adding that efforts were being made to identify the miscreants through CCTV footage.
Jailed mafia don Ateeq Ahmed has filed nomination papers from Phulpur Lok Sabha seat, for which by-poll is scheduled for March 11.



Ahmed, who is currently lodged in Deoria district jail in connection with the murder of BSP leader Raju Pal, filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate from Phulpur on Tuesday.

Ahmed's lawyer submitted the nomination papers before the returning officer, official sources here said.

Ahmed, who faces over a dozen criminal cases, including murder, extortion and kidnappings, had won the Phulpur seat as Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate in 2004 Lok Sabha elections.

The nominees of the Congress, SP and BJP have already filed their nomination papers from Phulpur.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is on a four-day visit to Japan, has sought the assistance of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in setting up a 'Peace corridor' in Bihar.



The 'Peace corridor' is aimed at connecting all the historical Buddhist sites in Bodh Gaya, Nalanda, Rajgir and Vaishali through high-speed rail link as well as road network.

"The move will not only facilitate smoother travel for tourists visiting the Buddha Circuit but also go a long way in boosting the tourists flow between India and Japan," Nitish reportedly told Abe.

Nitish also requested that Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) should consider including Vaishali in the ongoing project for linking Patna with Bodh Gaya, Rajgir and Nalanda as important destinations on the Buddha circuit.



It is pertinent to mention here that while the three Buddhist places are south of Patna, Vaishali is in North Bihar.



Nitish, who is in Japan on the invitation of Abe, also extended an invitation to the Japanese Premier urging him to find time to visit Bihar as well whenever he visits India next.

The chief minister also discussed the proposal for starting an air link between Bihar and Japan. Besides, he invited the president of the International High-Speed Railway Association, Masafumi Shukri, to visit Bihar for a preliminary survey.



Later, Nitish urged the Japanese investors to set up industrial centre in Bihar so that it could open employment avenues for the local youths in the state.
Accusing Karnataka's Siddaramaiah government of being the "most corrupt" in the country and pursuing "appeasement politics", BJP president Amit Shah today asserted the countdown for its exit has begun.



Launching his tour of the communally sensitive coastal region in poll-bound Karnataka, Shah said if there was to be a competition for the most corrupt government, the award for the last five years would go to the one headed by Siddaramaiah.

Addressing a BJP rally, he said, the Siddaramaiah government had "shamelessly" indulged in corruption. "....The (Hindi) translation of corruption would be bhrashtachar. Now use Siddaramaiah government as a translation for corruption... Siddaramaiah government has shamelessly indulged in corruption for last five years," he said.

Accusing the Siddaramaiah government of pursuing "appeasement and vote bank politics", Shah said one after the other more than 20 BJP and RSS activists had been killed in the state.

"As the party president, I would like to assure you... let this Siddaramaiah government try to protect (killers) however much they want. Their countdown has begun.. their time to go has come near. Yeddyurappa government (of BJP) will find the killers and bring them to justice," he said. He referred to the recent incident involving Mohammed Nalapad Haris, son of a Congress MLA and himself a party leader, who recently triggered outrage by assaulting a man in a restaurant.

"The son of a Congress MLA assaults a man twice but no FIR is registered. This is appeasement politics. It will not be tolerated," he said.

The BJP has been targeting the Siddaramaiah government consistently over a series of killings of Hindu activists by alleged "Jihadi forces," and accused it of adopting a "soft approach" towards them as part of the Congress' "vote bank" and "minorities appeasement" politics.

Shah said the Karnataka Assembly polls are important for the BJP, which has won almost all the elections after the Modi government came to power or has improved its tally, while the Congress lost everywhere except for Punjab.

In Tripura, where Assembly polls were held recently, the BJP would win, he said.

"BJP's electoral success lies in its workers," Shah said, and asked them to get ready for celebrations.

Calling the BJP a party with a difference, Shah said it fights elections on the strength of the organisation and wins.

Citing the party's electoral successes in Assam, Manipur and Uttar Pradesh, he said reasons for these were the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP's booth-level workers.

He said, "from the land of Parashurama and Rani Abbakka let us take the pledge to overthrow the Siddaramaiah government in the coming Assembly polls." Rani Abbakka was the legendary queen of Ullal in Dakshina Kannada district, who fought against the Portuguese in the 16th century.

He alleged the Siddaramaiah government "disrespected" Hindu religious places in coastal Karnataka.

The BJP government would try to integrate these cultural treasures with society and bring back their lost glory, he said.

The next BJP government headed by Yeddyurappa would work for the region's development and restore its lost pride, Shah said.

During his three-day tour, Shah would cover the districts of Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada, where the party has a strong presence and is trying to further consolidate its vote base.
Law student B L Sanjay minced no words when he took on Congress leaders Dinesh Gundu Rao, Tourism Minister Priyank Kharge and Agriculture Minister Krishna Byre Gowda. It was the party's first Town Hall to connect with the youth.



"Please don't take this personally, but I see three out of five panelists on stage who have a political background. What chance do youngsters like me have in politics without money or political lineage," Sanjay asked, amid loud cheering from the audience.

The Town Hall, as part of the Congress' Nanna Karnataka youth outreach campaign, turned out to be a no-holds barred contest on Tuesday, as students went all guns blazing. The party has planned 100 Town Halls all over Karnataka ahead of the polls.

Kharge conceded that political patronage in the family does provide a springboard. "But you must know that we are elected, not selected. I had to put in 20 years of work before I got a ticket to contest and I lost my first election," he said. Gowda said there was another face to the Congress, one that comprised leaders who had no political background. "I agree the society isn't fair. And I could be uprooted someday by someone coming from the grassroots."

The Jnanajyothi auditorium was full, with students from Mount Carmel College, Seshadripuram College, VHD Home Science College, Maharani's Science College for Women among others. They grilled the panel of Congress leaders, which included MLC Rizwan Arshad, Rajya Sabha member M V Rajeev Gowda and Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader.

Kavita asked why SC/STs were showered with so many benefits, including free laptops, at the cost of students of the general quota. "There's a Constitutional mandate to protect SC/STs. We have to live with it. But our government is giving laptops for all, this time, and also free bus passes," Rao said.

But what is the point in giving free bus passes when women feel unsafe and are expected to stay home, Renuka asked.

Shailfa asked why student elections were banned in Karnataka, to which Rao said it was time to consider revoking the ban. "We will discuss this seriously. When student elections happen in other states, why not in Karnataka?" he said.

Students also wanted to know why the party was reaching out to the youth closer to the polls, and why every government starts working only in the fourth year of its term. "When is it that you start studying for exams?" Rao quipped, leaving the students in splits.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was on the defensive, on Tuesday, when JD(S) MLA from Chamundeshwari constituency G T Deve Gowda accused him of allowing his son Yatindra to launch developmental works, throwing all rules to the winds ahead of the polls.

Gowda, who sought to move a privilege motion on the issue in the Assembly, charged the chief minister with neglecting him. "As per the rule book, the local MLA has to preside over any programme related to government-sponsored developmental works. But I am not invited to any such function," he said.

Siddaramaiah announced recently that he will be contesting the coming polls from Chamundeshwari constituency. His son Yatindra will be contesting from Varuna constituency, which Siddaramaiah is currently representing. As the chief minister is unable to spend much time in Chamundeshwari, his son is doing the ground work in both the constituencies.

"The chief minister's son (Yatindra) is launching developmental works taking police protection. The officials are saying that the chief minister has issued an order in this regard. Is the chief minister's son an elected representative? What the chief minister is doing in unconstitutional," he charged, urging Speaker K B Koliwad to protect his rights.

Siddaramaiah, however, denied the charges, claiming that the MLA was not left out. "I admit that my son is touring the constituency. But he is not launching any government works," he said.

BJP MLA from Hebbal constituency N Y Narayanaswamy also charged the government with sanctioning Rs 4 crore to MLC Byrati Suresh to take up developmental works in places where people belonging to minority communities live in large numbers in the constituency. He sought to move a privilege motion and demanded that the order be withdrawn.

Another BJP member Govind Karjol complained that family members of Bagalkot district incharge Minister R B Thimmapur were launching developmental works. No action has been taken despite referring the issue to the privileges committee, he added.

When both Gowda and Narayanaswamy staged a protest in the well of House, Koliwad assured them that he will get a report on both the cases within 24 hours and take an appropriate action.
Scotching reports on the presence of 11 Chinese warships in the Indian Ocean, the navy on Tuesday said these ships were in different parts of the ocean at different times and none of them was spotted anywhere close to the Indian or Maldives coast.



Five People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy ships entered the Indian Ocean via Sunda strait "few days ago" but went back via Lombok channel after conducting their own exercise in East Indian Ocean.

In addition, three PLAN ships were deployed on the anti-piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden and another three were in Cape Town on their return from the same place.

China has carried out anti-piracy patrol off Somalia since 2013, while Indian Navy is doing the same job since 2008.

"There were never a congregation of 11 Chinese ships in the Indian Ocean, as reported. We have a very robust surveillance system and strong maritime domain awareness," said a Navy official.

Since last June, as many as eight Indian warships are on "mission-based deployment" at eight different locations in the Indian Ocean. In addition, ships from the training command and Andaman command are out at sea.

Moreover, nearly 40 ships and submarines of the Western Fleet are out in the sea, too, as they conduct the triservice maritime exercise Paschim Leher in the Arabian Sea. The exercise began on February 12 and will continue for a month.

"The exercise includes the participation of a large number of ships, submarines and aircraft from the Western Naval Command of the Indian Navy. Units from Eastern Naval Command, Indian Army, Indian Air Force and the Coast Guard also participate to build interoperability," a Navy spokesperson had stated last week in a statement.

Maldives crisis

The response from the Navy comes in the wake of a report by a Chinese portal, which claimed the presence of 11 Chinese warships including a frigate, a landing platform dock and a tanker in the Indian Ocean. Subsequently, the Chinese report was quoted by other agencies that linked the presence of the PLAN ships to the Maldives crisis.

Navy officials asserted no Chinese warships are anywhere close to the Indian and Maldives cost. The maritime force keeps a constant eye on the naval traffic in the Indian Ocean through a network of sensors and radars and shipping information obtained from other nations.

Earlier this month, India asked China to play "a constructive role" in the Maldives, after President Abdulla Yameen's government in Male called upon Beijing to send troops to protect its investment in the Indian Ocean archipelago.
The lawyer of Nirav Modi, who is at the centre of controversy over the Rs 11,500 crore banking fraud, today questioned reports that his client has fled the country asking why would anyone run away leaving behind assets worth over Rs 5,000 crore.



"Everybody is saying that Nirav Modi has run away. Why would anyone flee, leaving assets worth Rs 5000 to 6000 crore for the Enforcement Directorate to recover?" advocate Vijay Aggarwal, who represents Modi, told PTI on phone.

However, he did not reply to questions about his client's whereabouts or whether or when he would return to India.

"I have studied the case file and this case will have a similar fate like that of the 2G and Bofors. Agencies are making all the noises in the media. They will not be able to prove these charges in the court. Nirav will not be found guilty, I'm certain, the lawyer said.

Aggarwal said if anyone is worried about the recovery of the bank money, first, the ED should deposit the money seized by it in the bank.

Now since ED has come into the picture, the bank will not get the money, he alleged.

The lawyer also claimed, "there is no evidence to prove any of the charges levelled against my client."

Billionaire Modi, his uncle Mehul Choksi and others are being investigated by multiple probe agencies after it recently came to light, following a complaint by the PNB, that they had allegedly cheated the nationalised bank to the tune of Rs 11,400 crore, with the purported involvement of a few employees of the bank.

Over Rs 11,384 crore worth of Letters of Understanding and Letters of Credit were issued by the bank in favour of billionaire jewellers Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi through SWIFT messages with only limited number worth smaller sums being entered in the core banking solutions system.

The CBI and the ED have registered FIRs to probe the case and intensified the crackdown on Modi and Choksi with the ED seizing jewellery and assets worth thousands of crores of rupees, the I-T department attaching various properties, and the CBI grilling several senior executives of his company.

Six persons -- four PNB officials, a retired employee of the bank, and an authorised signatory of Nirav Modi's company -- have been arrested so far by the CBI.
How many people will the restaurant employ?

According to Jimmer Szatkowski, the restaurant's operator, there will be more than 100 employees at the Cicero Chick-fil-A. He expects more employees will be hired, but they have enough to open the restaurant.

Will there be a "First 100" giveaway?

For Chick-fil-A newbies, the "First 100" is a promotion held when a new restaurant opens. The first 100 customers receive 52 free Chick-fil-A meals for one year.

Szatkowski opted for a twist on the "First 100" giveaway. People can begin lining up at the restaurant at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday. At 6 a.m., registration will open for the "First 100" promotion. If there are more than 100 people who show up, a random drawing will be held. The drawing will determine the 100 people who receive the giveaway.

But Szatkowski is combining the promotion with a day of service. After the drawing is held and the 100 people are chosen, they will board buses and visit a few organizations in the Syracuse area. Once the day of service is completed, the 100 people will receive the giveaway.
Amid a boycott threat from the Sangh-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) and other trade unions, the government on Tuesday indefinitely postponed the Indian Labour Conference starting on February 26 and to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.



The trade unions have received a letter from the Ministry of Labour and Employment regarding the postponement of the two-day conference.

BMS president Saji Narayanan confirmed the receipt of the letter and told DH that no new dates have been intimated to them.

Modi was to inaugurate the conference, to be held after three years, but the BMS had threatened to boycott it, saying their demands were not met in the budget, which they said "totally neglected labourers".

On February 2, it held nationwide protests against the budget and on Tuesday, it observed a black day.

The BMS has also called for a boycott of the conference and has given a call to organise a protest outside the venue and across the country if its demands are not met by February 25.

Other trade unions are also planning a boycott after an invitation was not extended to the Congress-backed Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), which the government has said was a divided house with three factions claiming to be the real one.

The BMS had objected to the new contract system rolled out in the budget as well as provisions for lower contribution by women workers in Provident Fund.

Its demand also includes increasing honorarium to anganwadi workers, enhancing EPS pension from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 and providing special funds to sick PSUs among others.
Two certified and experienced life saving trainers Niroop G R and Srikrishna Vasanth from the Puttur Aquatic Club had been to Coogee, Sydney to understand and get themselves trained in various aspects in surf lifesaving training.



Drowning is one of the major causes for unintentional death and injuries in India. The country accounts for approximately 30,000 such cases  with coastal drowning playing a major role as per a survey conducted till 2014. Educating people about aquatic safety measures is the only way to reduce such drowning incidents. AUSTSWIM Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety (TSW) provides excellent training in water safety and rescue techniques. Rashtriya Life Saving Society (India)- RLSS and Surf Life Saving Australia together started Surf Life Saving through AIC funding in 2014 and has trained around 33 nippers (junior SLS) in India. This favoured advancing knowledge by educating people about beach safety and the importance of starting beach safety centres in India to prevent drowning.

Dough Hawkins (trainer, assessor and facilitator, and director of Surf Life Saving SLS Sydney Nippers) inspired a bunch of youngsters to make Mangalore Surf Club India's first surf life-saving club on the lines of Australia's Surf Life Saving model. Partha Varanashi and Niroop G R with their trainers from Mangalore Surf Club trained over 500 surf lifesavers and successfully prevented 14 possible drowning cases.

Niroop G R and Sri Krishna Vasanth, lifesavers from India, were a part of life-saving and beach safety course at the Coogee Surf Life Saving Club, Australia, recently. Their motive to attend the course was to advance their skills and knowledge on aquatic safety and to initiate first beach safety centre in Mangaluru and then cover all the coastal states of India to educate people regarding water safety and rescue techniques.

The Lightning Bronze Medallion Course that they underwent provided them with in-depth knowledge of hazard identification, risk control, resuscitation techniques, performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), patient management techniques, patient retrieval with and without equipment and performing radio communications.

The Silver Medallion Beach Management course included advanced search and rescue techniques covering both day and night, executing complex patient rescue and demonstrating recovery. The beach management also included complete beach surveillance, managing rescue recovery requirement and preparing for the rescue, excelling the effectiveness of team, responding to the casualties, building up leadership qualities, undertaking work activities, setting performance requirements and maintaining team performance, communicating with management and management of aquatic spinal injuries.

Their training included Nipper's Age Manager course that was about educating youngsters aged 5 to 14 years regarding beach safety and training them to become life-savers. Apart from this, they underwent advanced swimming training by Ceri Weeks who is the AUSTSWIM Presenter for India in Tasmania.
The Gujarat High Court today restored a gag order against news portal "The Wire", thereby debarring it from publishing any article related to the businesses of BJP chief Amit Shah's son Jay.



Justice Paresh Upadhyay allowed an appeal filed by Jay Shah against a lower court order, which had partly lifted the injunction against the news portal while restraining it from linking the article to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

With today's order, the portal will not be able to publish any article related to the businesses of the petitioner until the hearing concludes in a civil defamatory suit filed by him.

Earlier, in its order passed on November 28 last year, the high court had rejected a petition moved by the seven defendants, including the author of the article - "The Golden Touch of Jay Amit Shah" - and the news portal's editors and publisher, against the gag order passed by the lower court hearing the civil defamation suit.

The high court had then ordered them to go back to the lower court against its order.

The lower court in its order passed in December last year partly allowed their petition, while restraining them from linking it to the prime minister.

The lower court is hearing a civil defamation suit of Rs 100 crore filed by Jay Shah against the reporters, editors and the company over the article, which claimed that his company's turnover rose 16,000 times in one year after the NDA came to power.

The article claimed that the company saw a huge rise in its turnover after the BJP came to power in 2014, and its revenue rose from Rs 50,000 to over Rs 80 crore in one year.

Shah also filed a criminal defamation suit against the author of the article Rohini Singh, founding editors of the news portal Siddharth Varadarajan, Siddharth Bhatia and M K Venu, managing editor Monobina Gupta, public editor Pamela Philipose and the Foundation for Independent Journalism.

In his suit, Shah termed the article as "scandalous, frivolous, misleading, derogatory, libellous and consisting of several defamatory statements."
Canada will reaffirm its support to the unity of India when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host his counterpart from the North American nation, Justin Trudeau, in New Delhi on Friday.



Modi and Trudeau will review the progress of India-Canada Joint Working Group for Counter-Terrorism Cooperation. They are also expected to discuss ways to step up bilateral cooperation in combating radical extremism.

Ottawa's lack of actions on New Delhi's repeated call to rein in anti-India radical Sikh activists in Canada irked India and cast a shadow over Trudeau's week-long visit to India.

New Delhi is particularly irked over the ban recently imposed by the management committees of as many as 14 Gurudwaras in Ontario province of Canada on the entry of the officials and official representatives of government of India into the shrines.

New Delhi was of the view that pro-Khalistan Sikh radicals in Canada had played a role in imposing the ban.

What also raised hackles in New Delhi are reports about some sympathisers of Khalistani secessionists in the Sikh community of Canada making their way into higher echelons in the government in the North American nations, including Trudeau cabinet.

Trudeau indicated during a speech he delivered in Mumbai that he would re-assure Modi of Canada's unwavering support to unity of India.

Sources, however, told the DH that Trudeau would also convey to Modi that while it would not allow any extremist organization to be involved in anti-India activities in Canada, its actions would not infringe upon freedom of expression that was guaranteed by law in the North American country.

New Delhi had in the past argued that the radical elements should not be allowed to misuse the freedom of expression to spread extremist and fanatic ideologies.
Private hospitals make a killing at the cost of hapless patients as they enjoy a profit margin as high as 1300-1700% on disposable syringes, more than 2000% on intra-venous infusion set and nearly 600% on medicines, according to a new government report released on Tuesday.



The report by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority said, "the major beneficiaries of profit (due to inflated pricing) are hospitals rather than drugs and device manufacturers."



Take the case of IV set for example. An IV set was sold at Rs 5.2 to the distributor and Rs 8.39 to the hospital, which makes bulk purchase from the manufacturer.



But when the hospital sells the same to the patient, it sells at a MRP of Rs 115  a margin of 2,112% on the distributor price.



Similarly for disposable syringes, the margin (against the distributor price) varies between 1,286% on the lower end to 1,697% on the higher end of the spectrum.



On 3-way stop cock valve, the margin is more than 1700% while on surgical gloves, it is 661%. The margin for elastic adhesive bandage is 625% while it is 344% for alcoholic swab.



The NPPA made the 20-page report based on the bills supplied by four big private hospitals in and around Delhi against whom patients complained of overcharging.



The authority held back the names of three hospitals, but the fourth one is Fortis in Gurgaon that courted controversy last year after billing Rs 16 lakh to the father of a girl child who died of dengue after spending 15 days at the ICU of the hospital.



"Institutional bulk purchase by private hospitals makes it easier for them to get very high profit margin and indulge into profiteering on drugs and devices, even without the need to violate the MRPs which is already inflated. It is a clear case of market distortion" NPPA said.



The margin is significantly higher on consumables and medical devices as against medicines. The NPPA notes doctors and hospitals prefer prescribing and dispensing non-scheduled branded medicines than scheduled medicines that are under price control.



On non-scheduled medicines, the margins are as high as 1,293% (Adrenor 2 ml injection), 1,125% (Emtig 50 mg injection) and 930% (Treonam 1 gm injection). Even on medicines under price control, the hospitals make profit on some of the items like Amlip 5mg tablet (438%) because of the flawed MRP and bulk purchase at discounted price. On normal saline, the margin is 680%.



The total expenditure on drugs and devices and diagnostics is substantially high (46%) and is not a part of the much publicised 'estimate' or 'package' (in case of implant) offered by the hospital. They are also much more than the room rent or procedure charges, notes the report.






Three of the five Punjab National Bank officials arrested in the Rs 11,344.40 crore banking fraud involving billionaire diamond merchant Nirav Modi are putting the entire blame on retired official Gokulnath Shetty, CBI sources said on Tuesday.



Sources said Bechu Tiwari, Yashwant Joshi and Praful Sawant, who were arrested on Monday, are acting as if they had no responsibility in monitoring the transactions on Letters of Understanding.

Investigators said that the trio are not cooperating with the investigation and "shifting the entire responsibility" on Shetty.

"They are acting as if they have 'no responsibility' in monitoring the transactions on SWIFT, an international banking network.

"They are acting as if only Shetty was working in the forex department of PNB's Brady House Branch, the nerve centre of the multi-crore scam. Their collusion and deliberate omission have resulted in the humongous loss of public money to the PNB," sources claimed.

The trio were sent to CBI custody till March 3.

Tiwari was responsible for Shetty's work, with the CBI claiming that he had full knowledge of the former's activities.

Joshi, who also supervised Shetty and had to ensure daily reports of SWIFT and core banking system entries, did not take any action despite knowing about the latter's actions, the CBI said, adding Sawant, was also responsible for checking the SWIFT messages daily and report but erred in his responsibilities.

Along with Shetty, single window operator Manoj Kharat was also arrested earlier along with Nirav's authorised signatory Hemant Bhat.

Taking forward the probe, the CBI questioned 28 people - 10 PNB officials, 10 officials of Nirav's uncle Mehul Choksi-led Gitanjali Group and eight officers of Nirav - on Tuesday.

The PNB officials quizzed include executive director-level officers.

Sources said the CBI has already asked Nirav's senior officials not to leave the country.

They said it was a precautionary measure as investigators want them available for questioning.

Forty employees of Choksi's firm Gitanjali record their statements with the CBI.

The CBI also searched Nirav's bungalow in Alibaugh, while the Income Tax Department conducted searched 20 premises linked to Choksi in a tax evasion case.

The searches were conducted in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Surat and Hyderabad.
As India seeks to pursue multi-dimensional engagement with West Asia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to the region has merely underscored the growing salience of the region in India's foreign policy matrix. While a lot of focus is often put on India's 'Act East' policy, India's 'Look West' policy, too, has evolved rapidly. This was Modi's fifth visit to West Asia since coming to power, and sustained high-level engagements have ensured India's voice becoming an important one in a region which is witnessing major power rivalries playing out in the open like never before.



Coming weeks after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's high-profile visit to India, Modi's Palestine engagement - the first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister - was being looked at with significant interest.

Underlining India's credentials as a "very respected country in the international arena", the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had called for a potential Indian role in the West Asian peace process. "We believe in the importance of a possible Indian role to reach a final agreement based on international consensus and resolutions," Abbas had suggested before Modi's visit.

Modi decided to steer clear of this as the complexities of the region were evident in the very manner of Modi's landing at the Palestinian Authority's presidential headquarters in Ramallah, in a chopper provided by the Jordanian government and escorted by choppers from the Israeli Air Force.

In line with New Delhi's policy of helping Palestine build capacity, India signed six agreements worth around $50 million with the Palestinian Authority that includes setting up of a $30 million super-speciality hospital in Beit Sahur, a centre for empowering women, procurement of equipment and machinery for the Palestinian national printing press and significant investment in the education sector. Recognising his key contribution to promote ties between India and Palestine, Abbas conferred the 'Grand Collar of the State of Palestine' on the Indian Prime Minister.

Though Modi said India hopes for Palestine to soon emerge a sovereign and independent country in a peaceful environment through dialogue, he departed from past practice by dropping any mention of a "united" and "viable" Palestine in his remarks. Urging the two sides to move away from "violence and baggage of the past," Modi's shift is as much about changing realities on the ground as about New Delhi's evolving priorities.

India's robust engagements with the Arab Gulf states are part of this dynamic, with Modi visiting the UAE a second time in three years. Trade and economic ties are becoming central to the India-UAE relationship. The two sides signed a landmark pact awarding a consortium of Indian oil companies a 10% stake in offshore oil concession which will be the first Indian investment in the upstream oil sector of the UAE. It will go a long way in transforming a traditional buyer-seller relationship to a long-term investor relationship with stakes in each other's strategic sectors.

Keeping the Indian workforce in mind, India and the UAE signed an MoU that aims to institutionalise the collaborative administration of contractual employment of Indian workers. In their joint statement, India and the UAE "reiterated their condemnation for efforts, including by states, to use religion to justify, support and sponsor terrorism against other countries, or to use terrorism as an instrument of state policy." A growing convergence is emerging between India and the UAE in tackling terrorism that India has been successful in tapping into with an eye on Pakistan.

Oman has been a longstanding partner of India in West Asia where Indians constitute the largest expatriate community. With the Indian Ocean becoming a priority focus for New Delhi, Oman's significance is only likely to grow. China's expanding footprint in the Indian Ocean region has alerted India to the possibility of strengthening security ties with littoral states.

India is likely to step up its military presence in Oman. Naval cooperation with Oman has already been gaining momentum, with Muscat giving birthing rights to Indian naval vessels to fight piracy in the Gulf of Aden. Regular naval exercises have now become the norm.

India and Oman not only made their military cooperation more expansive during Modi's visit but also made an attempt to take the relationship to other domains by enhancing cooperation in the field of health, tourism and peaceful uses of outer space.

Bureaucratic inertia

Given the nature of West Asian polities, where sultans and monarchs still pervade the region, Modi's personal diplomacy has indeed had a significant impact in galvanising bilateral relations. But bureaucratic inertia in New Delhi continues to hamper India's outreach. India's engagement with West Asia should now focus on delivering on its commitments and strengthening its presence as an economic and security partner. This will be crucial as traditional powers like the US and Russia are busy in militarily jostling with each other, even as America's stakes in the region are declining by the day.

Though the US Navy's Fifth Fleet still cruises the Persian Gulf, ostensibly to protect energy shipments flowing out of the Strait of Hormuz, it is only a matter of time before its role evolves. In contrast, China and India are today the world's largest net oil importers and much of their crude comes from countries in the Middle East. China and India as two emerging powers are yet to articulate a clear roadmap for the region.

India is still stuck in the age-old debates of the Israel-Arab rivalry whereas West Asia has moved on. Growing rivalry between Sunni Arabs and Shia Iran is reshaping old relationships. India will have to be more pragmatic in its approach towards the region and junk old shibboleths. In the end, Modi's visit underlined this new reality for India.

(The writer is a Distinguished Fellow, Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi and Professor of International Relations, King's College, London)
With the Communist Party of Nepal United Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) and the CPN-Maoist Centre reaching agreement on unification, the prospects of Nepal's new government have brightened. CPN-UML chairperson Khadga Prasad Oli was sworn in as prime minister last week at the head of a minority government. While his government was expected to win an upcoming vote of confidence with the Maoist Centre's support, there was a bit of apprehension given Nepal's unpredictable and power-driven politics. The CPN-UML and the Maoists had contested the November general elections as a Left alliance. With the two merging now, Oli's government will enjoy stability. Hopefully, this government will serve its full term. Nepal's democracy has for years been highly unstable; governments have fallen within months of their formation. The lust for power animates all political parties, which means that allies turn into antagonists within weeks. Oli is Nepal's 41st prime minister. The last time he was prime minister it was Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal's withdrawal of support that brought down his government. His biggest challenge will be to ensure that history doesn't repeat itself.



As challenging will be the task of crafting Nepal's relations with its giant neighbours, India and China. During his last stint as prime minister, Oli's proximity to China drew Delhi's ire. Additionally, it was during Oli's term that the Madhesi agitation culminated in an economic blockade, which the Oli government blamed on India. Not surprisingly, India-Nepal relations soured. Oli's return to the helm has triggered unease in Delhi, especially following his statement that his government would deepen relations with China in order to gain more leverage with India. He has also said that he would revive the Budhi Gandaki hydropower project, which was awarded to a Chinese company but was subsequently scrapped by his predecessor, Sher Bahadur Deuba.

China's rapidly growing influence in India's other neighbours has undoubtedly clouded India's perception of Nepal. Thus, Delhi tends to tag governments in Kathmandu as pro-India and anti-India and, as per this classification, Oli has fallen under the anti-India category. If Oli is leaning towards China, it is because the Narendra Modi government has tended to be rather overbearing in its dealings with Kathmandu. Should India respect Nepal's sovereignty and make a determined effort to not step on Nepal's toes, it can expect a more confident Nepal to reach out to India. After all, geography and culture make India and Nepal natural allies. Nepal is keen to improve infrastructure in order to boost its economy. India must extend it a helping hand. It must match the Chinese in swiftly executing projects. Else, Beijing will be Kathmandu's preferred partner.
Bags of cash delivered to a Rome hotel for favoured Italian candidates. Scandalous stories leaked to foreign newspapers to swing an election in Nicaragua. Millions of pamphlets, posters and stickers printed to defeat an incumbent in Serbia.



The long arm of Vladimir Putin? No, just a small sample of the US's history of intervention in foreign elections.

On Tuesday, US intelligence chiefs warned the Senate Intelligence Committee that Russia appears to be preparing to repeat in the 2018 midterm elections the same full-on chicanery it unleashed in 2016: hacking, leaking, social media manipulation and possibly more.

Then on Friday, Robert Mueller, the special counsel, announced the indictments of 13 Russians and three companies, run by a businessman with close Kremlin ties, laying out in astonishing detail a three-year scheme to use social media to attack Hillary Clinton, boost Donald Trump and sow discord.

Most Americans are understandably shocked by what they view as an unprecedented attack on our political system. But intelligence veterans, and scholars who have studied covert operations, have a different, and quite revealing, view.

"If you ask an intelligence officer, did the Russians break the rules or do something bizarre, the answer is no, not at all," said Steven L Hall, who retired in 2015 after 30 years at the CIA, where he was the chief of Russian operations. The US "absolutely" has carried out such election influence operations historically, he said, "and I hope we keep doing it."

Loch K Johnson, the dean of US intelligence scholars, who began his career in the 1970s investigating the CIA as a staff member of the Senate's Church Committee, says Russia's 2016 operation was simply the cyberage version of standard US practice for decades, whenever US officials were worried about a foreign vote.

"We've been doing this kind of thing since the CIA was created in 1947," said Johnson, now at the University of Georgia. "We've used posters, pamphlets, mailers, banners - you name it. We've planted false information in foreign newspapers. We've used what the British call 'King George's cavalry': suitcases of cash."

The US departure from democratic ideals sometimes went much further. The CIA helped overthrow elected leaders in Iran and Guatemala in the 1950s and backed violent coups in several other countries in the 1960s. It plotted assassinations and supported brutal anti-Communist governments in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

But in recent decades, both Hall and Johnson argued, Russian and US interferences in elections have not been morally equivalent. US interventions have generally been aimed at helping non-authoritarian candidates challenge dictators or otherwise promoting democracy. Russia has more often intervened to disrupt democracy or promote authoritarian rule, they said.

Equating the two, 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 US electoral interventions during the Cold War and motivate Russia's 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 US and 36 by the Soviet Union or Russia between 1946 and 2000, though the Russian count is undoubtedly incomplete.

"I'm not in any way justifying what the Russians did in 2016," 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 US - 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 CIA officer, in a 1996 interview.

Covert propaganda has also been a mainstay. Richard M Bissell Jr, who ran the agency's 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 CIA's work in Chile's 1964 election boasts of the "hard work" the agency did supplying "large sums" to its favoured candidate and portraying him as a "wise, sincere and high-minded statesman" while painting his leftist opponent as a "calculating schemer."

CIA officials told Johnson in the late 1980s that "insertions" of information into foreign news

media, mostly accurate but sometimes false, were running at 70 to 80 a day. In the 1990 election in Nicaragua, the CIA planted stories about corruption in the leftist Sandinista government, Levin said. The opposition won.

Threat of American cash

In recent decades, the most visible US presence in foreign politics has been taxpayer-funded groups like the National Endowment for Democracy, the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute, which do not support candidates but teach basic campaign skills, build democratic institutions and train election monitors.

Most Americans view such efforts as benign - indeed, charitable. But Putin sees them as hostile. The National Endowment for Democracy gave grants years ago to Alexei Navalny, now Putin's main political nemesis. In 2016, the endowment gave 108 grants totalling $6.8 million to organisations in Russia for such purposes as "engaging activists" and "fostering civic engagement." The endowment no longer names Russian recipients, who, under Russian laws cracking down on foreign funding, can face harassment or arrest.

It is easy to understand why Putin sees such American cash as a threat to his rule, which tolerates no real opposition. But US veterans of democracy promotion find abhorrent Putin's insinuations that their work is equivalent to what the Russian government is accused of doing in the United States today.

"It's not just apples and oranges," said Kenneth Wollack, president of the National Democratic Institute. "It's comparing someone who delivers lifesaving medicine to someone who brings deadly poison."

What the CIA may have done in recent years to steer foreign elections is still secret and may not be known for decades. It may be modest by comparison with the agency's Cold War manipulation. But some old-timers aren't so sure.

"I assume they're doing a lot of the old stuff, because, you know, it never changes," said William J Daugherty, who worked for the CIA from 1979-96 and at one time had the job of reviewing covert operations. "The technology may change, but the objectives don't."
AUBURN  In 2012, Michelle Garrow was sentenced to six months in jail for stealing more than $4,000 worth of jewelry, cash and morphine pills in Cayuga County. At the time, she was supposed to answer separate drug charges upon her release from jail. But she never showed up to court.

For more than four years, Garrow managed to evade the police, Cayuga County District Attorney Jon Budelmann said. But on Feb. 2, she was arrested in New York City and returned to Auburn to address her case.

Garrow, 27, was charged with two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, all class B felonies. The charges stemmed from an indictment filed in January 2013.

In court Tuesday, Garrow pleaded guilty to one criminal sale. During her plea, she admitted to selling $120 worth of heroin in Auburn on Jan. 25, 2012.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday dispensed with personal appearance of Karnataka's revenue secretary in a land dispute involving the University of Mysore, in view of ongoing Assembly session.



A bench of Justices N V Ramana and S Abdul Nazeer allowed a plea for exemption moved by Additional Advocate General Devdutt Kamat on behalf of Dr E V Ramareddy, Principal Secretary, revenue department.

In his application, Reddy stated, "In view of the ongoing Budget session of the state legislature, he is unable to present himself before the court." However, other officers - D Randeep, deputy commissioner, Mysuru and tahsildar T Ramesh Babu were directed to be present in the court along with the original records.

The court had on February 12 taken exception to the stand government's failure to assist it in deciding a civil appeal filed by the varsity. It had then directed for presence of the top officer on February 20.

"We are not happy with the attitude of the State of Karnataka in not assisting this court properly, knowing specifically that the matter is coming up for hearing."

"The State has not produced any original record before this court, when the basis of the appeal is that the respondents are claiming valuable land of the University by fraud and forged documents," the bench had then said. On Tuesday, the law officer cited the reasons for inability of the officer to be present. The court then went ahead to conclude the hearing and reserved its judgement.
Even as the Congress is yet to recover from the episode involving the son of Shanthinagar legislator N A Haris, it received another jolt on Tuesday with a video showing a party worker running amok inside a government office going viral.



The video showing party worker S Narayanaswamy spewing what looked like petrol at a BBMP office in KR Puram, with threats to set it afire, was widely aired by news channels.

Narayanaswamy was formerly president of the party's KR Puram unit and is a member of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB).

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president G Parameshwara ordered his suspension.

Expelled for six years

He is the second party worker to be shown the door in three days after Bengaluru City Youth Congress general secretary Mohammed Haris Nalapad was expelled for six years. Nalapad has been booked for assaulting a diner named L Vidwath at a city restaurant.

Apparently, AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka K C Venugopal got in touch with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Parameshwara, directing them to ensure such incidents do not occur, lest they cost the party dearly in the upcoming polls.

They have been asked to send a strong message to the party cadre on exercising caution.

Ashoka meets Vidwath

BJP leader R Ashoka, a former deputy chief minister, visited Vidwath at the hospital on Tuesday.

"His breathing problem has increased. X-ray shows nine ruptured bones in his chest because he was stomped upon. There are two cuts on the nose and a fracture in the leg. His health seems to be deteriorating by the day," he said.
The state government on Tuesday came under attack from the Opposition BJP in both Houses of the legislature over two public brawls involving Congress functionaries.



The Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar, who sought to move an adjournment motion in this regard, described the state government as "a goonda sarkar" and accused it of trying to protect Congress legislator N A Haris's son, Mohammed Haris Nalapad, who brutally beat a youth at a city pub last Saturday.

The second incident involved a Congress worker, Narayanaswamy, who reportedly threatened to set a BBMP office afire in KR Puram.

Irrelevant cases

"Police initially registered cases under irrelevant and insignificant IPC Sections against Haris Nalapad. Section 307 (attempted murder) was invoked only after pressure mounted," he suggested.

Ministers K J George, R Roshan Baig and U T Khader tried to defend the government, leading to a commotion in the House.

Shettar claimed the police were not given a free hand to deal with such cases. Haris Nalapad was involved in violent brawls in the past, too, but the cases were hushed up, he added.

"The home minister (Ramalinga Reddy) recently said those taking the law into their hands will be booked under the Goonda Act. Why hasn't he included Haris Nalapad on the goonda list," the former chief minister asked. He claimed that Muniraju, another Congress worker from KR Puram, had assaulted a BJP worker on Monday.

In the Legislative Council, the Opposition demanded that Mohammed Nalapad be booked under the Goonda Act. The Leader of the Opposition in the Council, K S Eshwarappa, alleged police inaction "owing to external pressure".

'Action as per the law'

Replying to the charges, both Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the home minister said action had been taken against Haris Nalapad as per the law. "The law will take its own course. The government will not interfere in such cases. Make it an issue is not right," Siddaramaiah said.
Nine out of 14 labourers, who sustained injuries in the building collapse in Kasavanahalli, will be discharged from the hospital on Wednesday with empty pockets. For, they have not been handed any compensation by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).



Four workers were killed and 14 sustained injuries after a five-storey building, half of which was under construction, collapsed at Jayaramareddy Layout in Kasuvanahalli on Sarjapur Road in Bengaluru on February 15.

Painter Ram Nivas, one of injured, said from the hospital that BBMP has not given them any compensation even six days after the incident. Hospital and other NGOs were giving them food and he is completely blank on what to do after getting discharged. He has fractured both legs in the incident and he is unable to stand on his own feet.

Raghuveer, another injured, said that their luggage was in the building. The little money they saved got buried under the debris. Even the contractor had not given them the balance amount. "We want to go back to our village and train fare cost us Rs 2,000 to 2,500 and if anyone helps us, we just go to our homes,'' he said.

None of the BBMP officials have met them in six days.

Nothing to injured

Sources in the BBMP said that Bengaluru Development minister K J George announced Rs 5 lakh compensation to the deceased and he did not announce anything to the injured so BBMP is not giving any compensation to the injured except barring the medical expenses.

Of the 14 injured 11 had admitted in Standford Hospital. Three other labourers were sent to Sakra Hospital.

Sylvia, administrator of the Sandford hospital, said that except Vikas Kanujiya and Moharam Ansari the remaining nine will be discharged on Wednesday.

Bharathi Mani, a member of Bellandur WhatApp Group - 'Helping Hand' - said they along with residents of Sarjapur Road and Bellandur have collected some money. "We will give the money to them when they are discharged so that they can at least reach homes and not end up begging on the streets.''
Customs sleuths at the Kempegowda International Airport seized smuggled gold worth Rs 95 lakh in Bengaluru over the past three days.



Kannad Kathasleem Arif (21), a passenger from Dubai was apprehended by the sleuths and gold weighing 895 gm worth Rs 28.43 lakh was seized from him.

He arrived by a flight (EK568) on Tuesday with gold in the form of foils concealed in corrugated boxes which in turn was used for wrapping toys.

"It was a challenge for the sleuths as the gold foils were wrapped in black carbon papers making it difficult to appear on x-ray scanning," said Harsh Vardhan Umre, Additional Commissioner, Customs Bengaluru.

In a separate case, gold weighing 1,900 gm worth Rs 60 lakh was found by the sleuths in flight 572 from Singapore which arrived on February 18.

The gold that was in the form of two biscuits was wrapped in a black insulating tape and kept inside a bag in cabin luggage which was found abandoned in the flight.

In another case, the sleuths apprehended a passenger Mohammed Talib Ahmed who arrived in Bengaluru by the flight (EK564) from Dubai on February 20.

On thorough interrogation and search of the passenger, 233.24 gm of gold valued at Rs 7.4 lakh was concealed in his rectum, said the sleuths.

On Monday, the sleuths seized cigarettes worth Rs 4 lakh from Allah Baksh. He arrived from Kuala Lumpur to the city.
A case has been registered against former K R Puram Block Congress president Narayanaswamy for threatening to set a BBMP ward office on fire.

The incident occurred on February 16 but came to light on Tuesday after a video clip went viral.

Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy informed the Assembly that he has directed Police Commissioner T Suneel Kumar to register a suo moto case and take stern action against Narayanaswamy.

KPCC president G Parameshwara suspended Narayanaswamy from the party membership for six years.

Sources said Narayanswamy is a close aide of K R Puram MLA Byrathi Basavaraju and is also close to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

In the video clip, Narayanswamy is seen abusing Assistant Revenue Officer (ARO) Chengal Rayappa and intimidating him by pouring petrol over the cupboards and furniture at his office.

Narayanaswamy had instructed Rayappa to issue a Khata for a land he owns in Horamavu which is under litigation.

Rayappa said he cannot issue the Khata as the matter was before the court. This infuriated Narayanaswamy.

A BBMP staffer was recording the entire incident on his mobile phone. The staffer then uploaded the video footage on social media.
MISS: To the Federal Emergency Management Agency, for failing to step in to help southern Cayuga County residents affected by a major flood event last summer.

FEMA recently rejected the state's appeal of the agency's earlier decision to bypass a major disaster declaration in connection with the July storm that brought historic rainfall to parts of the state. Especially hard hit was the Moravia area, where roads were washed out and entire neighborhoods were under water. Local officials estimated that nearly $4 million in damages resulted in Cayuga County alone.

A small consolation prize is that the U.S. Small Business Administration decided that businesses affected by the storm could be eligible for assistance under its program, but the damage went far beyond what that program will be able to cover.

HIT: To the start of the annual Lenten dinner and talk series put on by the congregations that make up the Southern Cayuga Wider Parish.

Southern Cayuga Lenten series kicks off In the first of a five-week Lenten series. the Southern Cayuga Wider Parish began with a talk of how spiritualism can be found within the use 

This yearly series provides thought-provoking presentations and an opportunity for area residents to share some homemade food and conversation.

This year's overall them is Awakening Our Spirituality: Using the Multiplicity of Resources Available.
By Katie Weeman and Patrick Lynch; Edited by Mike Carlowicz

20 February 2018

(NASA)  Global sea level rise has been accelerating in recent decades, according to a new study based on 25 years of NASA and European satellite data. This acceleration has been driven mainly by increased ice melting in Greenland and Antarctica, and it has the potential to double the total sea level rise projected by 2100, according to lead author Steve Nerem, a scientist at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) and the University of Colorado.If things continue to change at the observed pace, sea level will rise 65 centimeters (26 inches) by 2100, enough to cause significant problems for coastal cities. The teamcomprised of scientists from NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center, the University of Colorado, the University of South Florida, and Old Dominion Universityrecently published their work in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.This is almost certainly a conservative estimate, said Nerem, who is a member of NASAs Sea Level Change team. Our extrapolation assumes that sea level continues to change in the future as it has over the last 25 years. Given the large changes we are seeing in the ice sheets today, that is not likely.Rising concentrations of greenhouse gases in Earths atmosphere increase the temperature of air and water, which causes sea level to rise in two ways. First, warmer water expands, and this thermal expansion of the ocean has contributed about half of the 7 centimeters (2.8 inches) of global mean sea level rise that has been observed over the past 25 years, Nerem said. Second, the water from melting land ice flows into the ocean, which also increases sea level around the world.The rate of sea level rise has risen from about 2.5 millimeters (0.1 inch) per year in the 1990s to about 3.4 millimeters (0.13 inches) per year today. These increases have been measured by satellite altimeters since 1992, including the TOPEX/Poseidon, Jason-1, Jason-2, and Jason-3 missions, which have been jointly managed by NASA, Frances Centre national detudes spatiales (CNES), the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The maps on this page depict the changes in sea level observed by those satellites between 1992 and 2014.The TOPEX/Poseidon/Jason altimetry missions have been essentially providing the equivalent of a global network of nearly half a million accurate tide gauges, providing sea surface height information every 10 days for over 25 years, said Brian Beckley of NASA Goddard. As this climate data record approaches three decades, the fingerprints of Greenland and Antarctic land-based ice loss are now being revealed in the global and regional mean sea level estimates.
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SEATTLE  Seattle-based McKinstry said it has been awarded a six-year contract to provide energy contracting services to participating public agencies.

The Port of Portland was the lead public agency and awarded McKinstry the contract in a competitive bid process, McKinstry said in a press release.





. . .
Nepal's new Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli has said he wants to deepen ties with China to explore more options and get more leverage in his dealings with India "in keeping with the times". Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli The communist Oli, widely regarded as pro-China, also said he wants to "update" relations with India and favours a review of all special provisions of the Indo-Nepal relations, including the long-established practice of Nepalese soldiers serving India's armed forces. The Nepal PM also said he will restart a Chinese-led $2.5-billion hydropower project that was pulled by the previous government considered friendly towards India, and wants to increase infrastructure connectivity with Beijing to ease the country's reliance on New Delhi. ''Political prejudice or pressure from rival companies may have been instrumental in scrapping of the project. But for us, hydropower is a main focus and come what may, we will revive the Budhi Gandaki project,'' Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) leader Oli told Hong Kong's South China Morning Post in an exclusive interview, his first since taking office on Thursday. The contract to build a dam on the Budhi Gandaki river in central-western Nepal turned into a political hot potato after it was awarded last June to China's Gezhouba Group by a government headed by Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal as part of China's Belt and Road Initiative that Nepal joined the previous month. The next prime minister, from the Nepali Congress, scrapped the project, in a move seen as a result of pressure from India, which has been wary of a growing Chinese footprint in what it sees as its sphere of influence. ''Our petroleum usage has been increasing but we import all of it. We urgently need to develop hydropower to reduce our dependence on petroleum,'' Oli said. Almost all of Nepal's petroleum is imported from India. Its fuel import bill has tripled in the past five years, adding to the ballooning trade deficit with India, which stood at around $6 billion in the last financial year (15 July 2016 to 15 June, 2017). The trade deficit with India constitutes about 80 per cent of Nepal's overall deficit. Oli's UML and the Maoist Centre formed the Left alliance that swept to power in a landmark election, Nepal's first after the promulgation of its new constitution restructuring the Himalayan country as a federal republic. The two communist parties are also inching towards a merger, which China has always advocated. "We have great connectivity with India and an open border. All that's fine and we'll increase connectivity even further, but we can't forget that we have two neighbours. We don't want to depend on one country or have one option," he said. About how he plans to work out relations with India, Oli said, "We've always had excellent relations with India. There were some elements in the Indian establishment that caused some misunderstanding, but Indian leaders have assured us that there will be no interference in the future and we will respect each other's sovereign rights." Oli, 65, who had also served as the country's prime minister from 11 October 2015 to 3 August 2016, was forced to resign following the political crisis in the Himalayan nation over the Madhesi issue. Madhesis, mostly of Indian-origin, had been demanding amendment of the new Constitution to address their concerns over representation in Parliament. Before Oli's inauguration as the prime minister for the second time, India's external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had visited Nepal and met him and other Left leaders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to Oli. About Nepalese serving in the Indian Army, Oli said, "This should be internally and mutually discussed and corrected, if necessary. We live in a new world, and Nepal is starting a new journey, we have to update whatever is considered outdated and bring it in line with the modern era." Expectations are high in China about Oli's government as he signed the Transit Treaty with Beijing during his first stint as Prime Minister in 2015 to end dependence on India for his landlocked country to revive the Budhi Gandaki project. China has been investing heavily in Nepal, blunting India's influence in the Himalayan country. Oli infrastructure development as an important means to narrow the distance with China, whose physical remoteness compared with next-door India is a hindrance to deeper Sino-Nepal relations, the paper said. He also spoke about improving rail and road network between Nepal and China through Tibet. "Once China brings its rail network up to Shigatse and then Kyirong in Tibet, it should be easy to extend it to Nepal. It's lower in altitude than Tibet, and the terrain is actually sloping all the way down from Kyirong. Apart from that, three roads are under construction connecting China and Nepal, which should be ready in a couple of years. If we can connect this railway network to our east-west rail project, it can revolutionise China-India trade, with Nepal in the middle," he said. China aims to extend the Qinghai-Tibet railway to the Nepal border by 2020 and has expressed interest in extending it to Kathmandu. Kyirong in Tibet is about 25km from Nepal's Rasuwagadhi border transit point, which is 50 km from Kathmandu.








Australia, the United States, India and Japan are discussing establishing a joint regional infrastructure scheme as a counter to China's multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative and Beijing's spreading influence, the Australian Financial Review reported on Monday. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is expected to discuss the idea during talks in Washington DC this week, possibly during a scheduled meeting with US President Donald Trump. An unnamed senior US official was quoted as saying the plan involving the four regional partners was still "nascent" and "won't be ripe enough to be announced" during Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's visit to the United States later this week. The official said the project was on the agenda for Turnbull's talks with the US President. But he preferred to describe the plan as an "alternative" to the Belt and Road Initiative rather than a "rival". "No one is saying China should not build infrastructure," the official was quoted as saying. "China might build a port which on its own is not economically viable. We could make it economically viable by building a road or rail line linking that port." Representatives for Turnbull, foreign minister Julie Bishop and trade minister Steven Ciobo did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Japanese chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga, asked at a news conference about the report of four-way cooperation, said Japan, the United States, Australia, and Japan, Australia and India regularly exchanged views on issues of common interest. "It is not the case that this is to counter China's Belt and Road," he said. The prospect of such an initiative will be watched closely by Beijing, which is already jumpy at the same four nations for agreeing last year to restore the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QSD). In November, China protested after senior foreign affairs officials from Australia, the US, Japan and India met in Manila on the sidelines ASEAN and East Asia Summits in Manila to discuss the restoration of the QSD, which had earlier collapsed under Chinese pressure on the then Australian government. The US and its allies have long been suspicious of Belt and Road, a massive push by Chinese President Xi Jinping to fund a global network of major infrastructure projects throughout the region and beyond such as ports, rail networks, bridges and roads. The US regards it as a vehicle for Beijing to exert its influence globally. India too is highly averse to the project, which passes through disputed territory in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, and has refused to have anything to do with the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative. While almost 70 countries, including New Zealand and several European nations, have signed up to Belt and Road, the Turnbull government in Australia has been cautious whereas Labour has signalled a preparedness to join the initiative as part of an increased embrace of Asia, should it win the next election. Japan, meanwhile, plans to use its official development assistance (ODA) to promote a broader "Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy" including "high-quality infrastructure", according to a summary draft of its 2017 white paper on ODA. The Indo-Pacific strategy has been endorsed by Washington and is also seen as a counter to the Belt and Road Initiative. Chinese President Xi Jinping has heavily promoted the OBOR initiative, inviting world leaders to Beijing last May for an inaugural summit at which he pledged $124 billion in funding for the plan, and enshrining it into the ruling Communist Party's constitution in October. In January, Beijing outlined its ambitions to extend the initiative to the Arctic by developing shipping lanes opened up by global warming, forming a 'Polar Silk Road'.








Top stories of BAIC Group in 2017

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- BAIC Group, a Chinese stated-owned automaker, has experienced many big events in the past year. Hereby the reporter summarizes some significant stories of BAIC Group in 2017.



BAIC to ban sales, production of self-owned branded fossil fuel-powered vehicles in 2025

At the opening ceremony of Beijing New Energy Technology Innovation Center held on December 9, Xu Heyi, president of BAIC Group, said that the group plans to ban the sales of self-own branded traditional fossil fuel-powered vehicles first in Beijing city in 2020. In 2025, the automaker will finally stop the sales and production of those vehicles across China. BAIC Group is the second Chinese automaker which released the timetable to ban sales of fossil fuel-powered vehicles behind Changan Auto.

BAIC BJEV plans to construct 3,000 optical storage power exchange stations

On November 3rd, BAIC BJEV vice general-manage Zhang Yong announced that the company will invest about RMB 10 billion to construct 3,000 optical storage power exchange stations around China and will release 500,000 battery-swapping electric vehicles to the market with storage power capacity exceeding 5GWH. Besides, BAIC BJEV also held a ceremony, officially delivering 1,000-unit battery-swapping taxis to several companies.

BAIC Group signs agreement with Baidu to mass produce autonomous vehicles

In October last year, BAIC Group signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with Baidu, attempting to set an example for the industry to explore a comprehensive ecosystem which can deeply integrate AI into automobiles. They announced the strategic cooperation will focus on such areas as autonomous driving and connected vehicles. According to the statement, both parties plans to expedite the realization of BAICs autonomous vehicles with the assistance of Baidus AI technologies.

BAIC BJEV manages to raise RMB 11.118 billion in Series B round

In August last year, BAIC Group revealed that BAIC BJEV had completed its series B round of RMB 11.118 billion, which exceeded the earlier estimate of RMB 8 billion. Reportedly, this was the largest single financing in China's new energy vehicle industry, and also the largest one for a state-owned enterprise. After this round, BJEV will have 33 shareholders. Its parent BAIC Group and the groups other affiliates have a combined 41.19% stake.

BAIC Group, Daimler to invest RMB 5 billion in electric vehicles in China

On July 5, BAIC Group and its Germany partner Daimler signed a new framework agreement and agreed to jointly invest RMB 5 billion in battery electric vehicle production in China by 2020. According to the agreement, the money will be invested in a new battery factory to be built in China and the production of pure electric vehicles by the joint venture Beijing Benz Automotive Co., Ltd. (BBAC).

The 2nd Plant of BAIC in Hunan is completed and ready to produce Senova D50

In May 2017, the 2nd plant of BAIC Motor (BAIC Groups subsidiary) in Zhuzhou was completed and is to produce models like the all-new Senova D50. The completion of this plant will give support to BAICs expansion in Southern areas. The new plant in Zhuzhou, which covers an area of 1,167 thousand square meters, was planned and constructed according to the criteria of Made in China 2025. It has an annual production capacity of 300,000 vehicles and 200,000 engines.

BAIC Group builds global travel service platform

On April 8th, BAIC Group officially unveiled the launch of Huaxia Travel Co., Ltd. On the ceremony, Xue Heyi, Chairman of BAIC Group, said that Huaxia Travel will be a global travel service platform with hundreds of billions of investment. According to public information, registered capital of Huaxia travel amounts to 1.5 billion yuan, among which BAIC Group holds 51%. At the same time, it will launch a travel program suitable to all sectors of society, which includes vehicle rental, finance leasing, taxi, vehicle-hailing and other businesses.

BAIC Jiaqing builds NEV production base in Chongqing with capacity of 300,000 units per year

In February 2017, BAIC Jiaqing (Chongqing) New Energy Vehicle Technology Company, an entity jointly built by BAIC Yinxiang Automobile Co., Ltd and three private companies, started to build a new plant in Chongqing. Involving an investment of RMB 3 billion and covering an area of 1,098 mu (around 732 thousand square meters), the new plant features a designed annual production capacity of 300,000 NEVs. The first phase will be completed within two years with a planned capacity of 100,000 units per year.
Since 1997, DR1 has been covering the Dominican Republic in English. A site overhaul had long been due. Here is the beta version of the first phase of the new DR1. We have upgraded the website with user-friendly software to serve our community better. We have kept the up-to-date content. Now it is your turn to give the new DR1 a test run!

We are tough-skinned. Go ahead and tell us what we are doing right, wrong, and what we need to change asap or work on next. Tell us what you would like to see less or more of, and what we shouldnt change!

Imagine we have bought a new house for DR1. The house comes with:

New server that ensures DR1 can handle peaks in traffic

New DR1 Forums

Improved Search

New DR1 Calendar

DR1 News and DR1 Calendar are integrated into the DR1 Forums

New DR1 Wiki for frequently asked topics

New Trending Topics emails

We now need to furnish the house. It is YOUR DR1! We invite you to collaborate in adding valuable content. What content or services should we add? Check out the new resources, but get creative, too. You can contribute and play a key role in helping people connect, enjoy and be productive in the Dominican Republic.

Dolores Vicioso, founder

Write to support@dr1.com
As consumers increasingly opt for online shopping experiences over in-store, businesses of all sizes can ill afford having a lacklustre ecommerce presence  or worse, none at all. In the Amazon era, that means obscurity, even oblivion. But how can small businesses with limited resources go about establishing an effective ecommerce presence that captivates new and existing shoppers?

Thats the question we put to a dozen thought leaders, this week, for our exclusive Lets Talk feature examining ecommerce. As one commentator assured budding e-tailers, the proliferation of digital e-commerce tools, platforms and services has brought down the cost of entry, making it possible for almost anyone to set up an online trading presence. Read on for further insights from this weeks line-up:

Mick Spencer, CEO, ONTHEGO: The trick for resource-poor businesses is creativity. You need to assess what roles staff can play, what additional skills they have and what can be outsourced. Think scalability. Why hire someone in house who is a jack-of-all trades when you can draw on a network of specialist freelancers? By tapping into on-demand talent you can better service your team and clients, without the fixed cost of a salary. Also, not all jobs require people. In the age of the internet, technology and systems can aid your online presence  think engagement through automation i.e. scheduling EDMs, harnessing sharing platforms and leveraging off other peoples audiences to grow your own.

Rohan Lock, Regional Director (APAC), dotmailer: In order to establish an effective ecommerce presence, an efficient website design is needed. The emphasis should not be on costly and overcomplicated designs but on providing a seamless and smooth experience for the user. From browsing to payment, make sure that the interface is intuitive and supports mobile devices.

Maximise the value of the ecommerce platform via targeted email marketing campaigns that drive traffic to your website. Consider the likes of abandoned cart emails or targeted promotions/sales to boost traffic. Contemporary customers actively choose to engage with brands that provide relevant content; leverage this to your advantage.

As word of mouth is indisputably the most effective form of communication, make sure to prioritise the positive customer experience. With such customers acting effectively as your brand ambassadors, your ecommerce presence will effectively be tied with trust and authenticity.

Ivan Lim, Co-founder & CEO, Brosa: There are plenty of off-the-shelf solutions that help with getting an ecommerce presence set up with templates and functionality right out of the box.

For example, if you want to get a store set up you can use tools like Shopify or BigCommerce to have a website up and going in less than an hour.

There is a wealth of tools online that are just a google search away, this can be varied, everything from email marketing through to social media tools and advice can be found via searches.

Kristy Chong, CEO, Modibodi & Portfolio CEO, Heads Over Heels: There are numerous ways to establish an ecommerce presence without money, all of which require time and good content. My number one recommendation is earned media, which involves pitching your brand/product to online media and influencers who represent the customers you are talking to. For those influencers who want payment, suggest a commission instead, where they make a percentage of the sale for every referral. I also suggest writing a weekly blog that includes engaging, SEO-rich content that is shared via social media channels and pitched to online media. Lastly, it is useful to partner with like-minded brands with large followings and offer giveaways or incentives for their customers.

Greg Taylor, Group VP (APAC), New Relic: For any business looking to set up an online presence at low cost and quickly, an e-commerce platform can bring a lot of benefits.

There are some great e-commerce platforms such as Shopify, Amazon or Magento that upstart businesses can partner with to establish an effective online sales presence.

This online presence can take various forms such as a branded website, marketplaces like eBay or selling on social media platforms, which can significantly expand customer reach.

Just moving to an ecommerce platform is not enough in itself. There are many ways to sell to consumers over the internet; however, to be successful from the get-go, businesses should focus on high value products that can be easily consumed online. It is also very important to use tools like SurveyMonkey to test and improve the user experience and make it as easy as possible for consumers to access, navigate and buy online.

Dan Ross, Managing Director, Optimizely ANZ: Going up against the likes of Amazon, Kogan, and The Iconic is no small feat. In a resource-poor environment, you arent going to outspend your competitors so you must find ways to outflank or out-innovate them. The only way to do that is to make the most of every digital decision and investment you make. Utilising experimentation (aka A/B testing) with your digital experiences and testing variations of a customers journey will allow you to identify winning and losing digital experiences, thus focusing your limited resources to greatest effect.

Fran Ereira, General Manager, Sales & Solution Delivery, zip.co: You need to ensure your website is optimised and that your customer hat is firmly on your head. Just like a physical store where the layout is changed frequently, your ecommerce store needs to instantly captivate and invite new and existing shoppers. Really welcome your shoppers and let them know what options you have available as early in the buying journey as possible to ensure they dont go elsewhere. Banners on homepages, product page call outs, checkout pages, eDMs, social and other marketing channels are all keys to success. Simple to implement and very effective.

Delivering personalised and relevant content to your customers utilising best-of-breed marketing automation platforms differentiates you from your competitors and builds loyalty. Finally, dont forget to provide choices that your customers want with regards to delivery and payment. Options like express shipping and digital wallets are what consumers want. They will help you minimise cart abandonment, increase basket sizes and maximise conversion.

Simon Banks, Managing Director, Hyperwallet APAC: New digital marketplaces are emerging every day, and there is a myriad of options for both ecommerce buyers and sellers. If your online payment process is slow or complicated, users can simply choose to move on.

This is a particular concern for two-sided marketplaces. Roughly 59% of independent sellers and gig economy workers report that the speed of earning payments are essential to their sense of platform loyalty. Marketplaces hoping to retain these users need to ensure theyre making their payouts as fast and convenient as possible.

Ben Pfisterer, Country Manager, Square Australia: With the rise in DIY platforms and affordable cloud-based payments software, e-commerce is now more accessible than ever for businesses on a budget. No longer is the online world populated only by the big retailers, there are now plenty of opportunities for smaller players to start selling online.

Firstly, they need to decide whether it makes more sense for them to create their own online shop or host their goods on an existing site that already has great traffic and can help smaller retailers promote their wares to the world (such as Etsy, eBay, Amazon). For hobby sellers, an existing website that they can host and sell their products through is probably more viable, but for those looking to get a bit more serious with online sales, they shouldnt be scared off by the cost of deploying their own web presence.

Nima Yassini, Founder & CEO, New Republique: Ensure your online and offline environments are connected. Automation is key and there are a variety of tools that will help you automate and improve your level of conversion. For example, Shopify is an excellent e-commerce platform that can help you set up your e-commerce business online. If you have a physical footprint then it will plug in with your point of sale or warehouse to help you collect data on your customers so you can continue the conversation post sale.

As someone who specialises in conversion rate optimisation (CRO) and UX design, I believe price and shipping are critical factors you have to get right. The older the customer, the more likely they are to be enticed by free delivery. Another useful software tool is Criteo, which allows you to track when customers put items in their cart but dont complete the transaction and then follow them up through targeted emails and tailored social media ads.

Azam Kassim, Owner, Hab Shifa: Some of the primary factors that have contributed to the success of Hab Shifas ecommerce presence can be attributed to the following: an operational website, sophisticated content management system, effective marketing strategies and fluid logistic operations.

A functional website that is in line with current website trends is key in capturing a consumers attention and being able to retain that attention for longer than a few seconds.

Successful content management systems comes with a strategy that effectively manages inventory, dedicated purchase, payment, and support systems along with customer relationship management procedures and efficient logistic management.

The marketing strategies used to drive sales have been a combination of social media marketing and an investment into online advertising such as Google Adwords.

Establishing and maintaining an effective ecommerce presence requires an ongoing investment in research, marketing and financial resources to be able to capture and sustain a strong presence in the online marketing space.

Andrew Johnson, CEO, ACS: This is an excellent topic as smaller companies and businesses may not have the internal skill sets and capital to establish an e-commerce presence. Fortunately, today the the proliferation of digital e-commerce tools, platforms and services has brought down the cost of entry, making it possible for almost anyone to set up an online trading presence.

As a result, entry is not so much the issue, but rather finding the right fit for your business  is the platform just an online shop front, or does it provide POS capabilities? Can it integrate with social media services like Facebook? Does the service provide adequate security? Does it fit your unique business requirements? And importantly  can it scale if your trading takes off and your business grows?

Finally, examine how flexible the tools are to build and maintain the e-commerce presence, keeping in mind any training for your staff. One other important factor to consider  depending on the service, the e-commerce site may sit on the service providers domain name, which you ultimately wont own. Remember to register your own unique site address and re-direct it  this is your brand, and from the start you want to ensure that as its presence grows its associated with a domain you own.

About Lets Talk

Lets Talk is an exciting weekly initiative that provides entrepreneurs and industry experts with a forum to share rapid-fire views on a range of issues that matter to start-ups and SMEs. Every Wednesday, we pose a themed question to a line-up of knowledgeable industry figures, with a view to picking their brains for valuable insights to share with you, our readers.

Related: Lets Talk Ecommerce (2017), The perfection mindset is an e-commerce killer: get online quickly, cheaply to help win customers and Focus on what you can uniquely own on Amazon, BigCommerce CEO tells e-tailers.
Entrepreneurial migrants and refugees are being encouraged to apply for a free accelerator program that has been designed to generate long-term economic value for Victoria by increasing diversity and inclusion in the local startup ecosystem.

The First Gens Program is being run by YGAP  an international not-for-profit that backs early-stage social impact ventures  with the help of a $304,000 grant from startup ecosystem development agency LaunchVic.

There will be multiple intakes for the First Gens program, which consists of a five-day live-in accelerator followed by three months of tailored support for migrant and refugee entrepreneurs as well as startups that are helping to improve the lives of migrants and refugees in Australia.

The top entrepreneurs from each intake will receive access to additional support, including up to $25,000 in growth capital.

According to LaunchVic CEO Dr Kate Cornick, YGAPs First Gens program aligns with her agencys vision for a state where people, no matter what their background is, are empowered to launch a startup.

Migrants and refugees are underrepresented in the startup ecosystem, which has been dominated by Caucasian men, she told Dynamic Business. Part of the reason is that the venture capital industry has struggled with diversity and inclusion. In the same way that only 2% of the worlds venture capital flows to female-led businesses, migrant and refugee entrepreneurs have struggled to attract venture capital.

This is detrimental to the economy because migrant and refugee startup founders are providing themselves to be very successful entrepreneurs, often due to a very strong risk appetite, and theyre actually making significant contributions to the economy. So, its really important they have an avenue to follow to launch a startup.

Dr Cornick said that YGAPs accelerator  in equipping migrant and refugee founders with the skills necessary to build startups  will generate real economic value, including the creation of hundreds, if not thousands of jobs.

She noted, however, that the program is geared more towards the long-term sustainability of Victorias startup ecosystem rather than overnight success stories.

We know that not every founder will be successful the first time around, she said. What we want is a cohort of educated founders who, even if their first startups arent successful, can take the skills theyve learned through the program and use them to help others or perhaps start a second startup.

Many people think startups happen overnight but growing a business is a long, tough process. In Silicon Valley, for instance, ten-year overnight success stories are common. While we dont expect large job creation and economic development to happen quickly, its really important for entrepreneurs to have access to programs like First gens so theyre able to accelerate themselves along that journey.

YGAPs First Gens Accelerator Program is free to participants. Eligible ventures are open to apply at ygap-firstgens.com.au. Applications close 30th of March so plenty of time.
Training sessions for local businesses to ensure high quality products

Phoenician travellers first introduced the olive tree to what is nowadays Tunisia. Its cultivation is said to have been refined here, before trees were taken northwards and westwards, into the heartlands of the Roman Empire.

Tunisia is well established as a major exporter of olive oil, alongside Italy and Spain  and the countrys producers increasingly see the benefits of producing high quality extra virgin olive oil. This is helping them to become more competitive, while Tunisian oil is also being recognised more widely at home and abroad.

The EBRD and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) are working closely to support this ambition and help producers  from small organic farms to large industrial businesses  to adopt state-of-the-art practices.

Best practices for better returns

We have been in the olive oil business since 1988 and employ up to 300 pickers during the harvesting season, so were a well-established actor in the sector, said Fathi Kanzari, owner of Societe de Developpement et de Production Agricole (SODEPA).

The training sessions helped our technical director to learn some new tricks and trends, which made us even more efficient.

The work of the EBRD and FAO includes training to spread knowledge about sustainable practices and help producers achieve the highest quality olive oil possible. This has helped more than 100 farms and oil millers to make their businesses more competitive.

The training offered advice on the whole production cycle, from managing olive orchards and harvesting, to the pressing process and storage needs.

Using breathable nets that surround the tree (so that the olives do not perish in the sun), storing olives in open containers, and transporting them immediately to the pressing mill  these are just a few examples of the advice that can help to achieve high quality.

Mr Kanzaris family-run company is one of the largest producers in Zaghouan, a region south of Tunis with abundant olive trees, citrus plants and other agricultural crops.

There are many things to look out for during the harvest season, including pest control, which can often be done inexpensively, he added.

We always try to stay up-to-date with the latest techniques and ensure best practices along the full cycle, from beginning to end.

There is potential all across Tunisia to produce extra virgin olive oil  and there are different ways of adding value to your product.

Ms Zakia Bel Haj, for example, runs a small olive grove, which produces around 10,000 to 15,000 litres of organic oil per year. Her challenge is to ensure organic production along the whole cycle, from harvest to bottling.

The training session allowed me to improve my knowledge on pest control and disease management for the organic planting system, she said.

It also taught her how to improve soil fertility by using by-products for composting purposes.

Making use of by-products

Almost all by-products of olive oil production can be sustainably reused. Fallen branches and twigs can serve as compost for the soil around trees. The margines, the water squeezed out of the olives while separating the oil, can be used as fertiliser for the olive orchards.

Lastly, the left-over pits from Mr Kanzaris grove, once separated from the oil and mill water, are spending their retirement in frosty Scandinavia.

Compressed into heating briquettes, they will provide industrial energy and keep homes warm for those living in colder climes.

Using all by-products makes good economic sense, as it can cut costs significantly and provide extra revenue.

Through resourcefulness and industry knowledge, olive farmers produce olive oil of a higher quality. This means a better product for consumers and the potential for producers to achieve higher profits.

The project is support by funds from the EBRDs Southern and Eastern Mediterranean (SEMED) Multi-Donor Account, which includes Australia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taipei China and the United Kingdom as contributors.

Dialogue to strengthen the sector

The EBRD and FAO have also led structured discussions between all of the sectors stakeholders, from small farmers, oil millers and exporters to government officials, which will help to guide the activities of the two organisations.

A high-level conference, held in Tunis in November 2017, brought together 100 industry players to discuss innovation, new technologies, and the importance of quality in a commercial strategy.

The sector  with the help of the EBRD and FAO  will now aim to tackle key constraints such as organisation, traceability and certification, access to long-term finance, and a supportive policy environment.

The olive oil sector is one with huge potential in Tunisia  thats why the EBRD is working with various producers to expand their businesses, which creates new economic opportunities, said Antoine Salle de Chou, Head of the EBRDs Tunisia office.

Our work with FAO helps to develop sustainable practices in the sector in the long run, while it also prepares local businesses for investment in their production facilities and equipment.

Lisa Paglietti, FAO economist and project leader, stresses that olive oil is vital to Tunisias wider economy: It can add significant value locally, develop complementary industries and services, such as tourism, and support the creation of rural employment.
Ahram Online

File Photo: Largest gas field in the Mediterranean Sea, Zohr (Photo: Reuters)

Egypt's Armed Forces said in a statement on Tuesday that its navy is implementing security measures at the countrys Zohr gas field in the Mediterranean's to combat any potential threats.

The Armed Forces said that in concurrence with Operation Sinai 2018, naval forces are conducting a series of missions to secure vital and strategic sites in the countrys territorial waters to protect its national and economic interests and investments.

The statement said that the navy is securing great distances off the coast using modern naval technology with advanced combat capabilities, including submarines, frigates and missile boats, as well as special naval units with high mobility and manoeuvrability.

Operation Sinai 2018, which was launched on 9 February, is a comprehensive anti-terrorism campaign primarily focused in northern and central Sinai, and also includes operations in the Delta, the Nile Valley and the Western Desert.
Community College Partnership Day' Brings Regional Educators Together at ECSU

Elizabeth City State University educators and administrators are working hard to build many pathways to success for students, and building strong partnerships with North Carolinas community colleges is high on the list.

Across the state of North Carolina weve been talking a decade or so on how to build this relationship with community colleges and the University of North Carolina institutions, said ECSU Chancellor Thomas Conway, welcoming nearly 100 educators and administrators from regional community colleges. Now weve come together to talk about better ways to build partnerships.

For the Full Story Read Here.
( Peter Kenny)Rev. Isaiah Majok Dau, presiding bishop of the Sudan Pentecostal Church at the Ecumenical Center in Geneva, Switzerland on March 27, 2017.

The World Council of Churches says it has joined the Feb. 23 call by Pope Francis for a worldwide day of prayer and fasting for South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo; two countries plagued by conflict, unrest and famine.

The WCC said in a Feb. 20 statement it is heeding Pope Francis' call to prayer and it is encouraging all its member church to join.

The South Sudan Council of Churches, a group that includes Anglican, Catholic, Pentecostal, and Presbyterian churches, as well as other Protestant traditions welcomed Pope Francis' announcement.

"This is actually the second time he calls for a prayer for South Sudan.

"It means a lot to know that we are not alone in our suffering and pain. The ecumenical world is with us on our journey towards peace and reconciliation," said Father James Oyet Latansio, the SSCC general secretary.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, 4.3 million people are displaced throughout the country and 13.1 million people will be in need of humanitarian assistance throughout the country this year.

In South Sudan, the world's newest nation, 2 million people have fled the young nation as refugees and about 1.9 million people are internally displaced, over the past four years of conflict.

With 7 million people inside the country - this is almost two-thirds of the remaining population - still in need of humanitarian assistance.

Children, young men, and women have been among the most affected. Millions of women and girls are exposed to gender-based violence in these crisis-affected areas.

URGING COMPROMISE

Earlier this month, the SSCC issued a pastoral letter to the government of South Sudan and the opposition urging them to compromise.

"They have been discussing revitalization of the peace of 2016 and we, as their church, their pastors and spiritual leaders, now call upon them to consider the sufferings and pains of the people of South Sudan.

"We call upon them to exercise restraint, forgiveness, tolerance, love and reconciliation," Latansio explained.

Since their independence in 2011, the people of South Sudan have endured famine, civil war and atrocities which has displaced millions and created a huge refugee-wave across the borders to Uganda and Kenya.

"It has been a turbulent time with man-made hunger and famine, where especially women and children have suffered. The situation is still bad, and people live in fear," said Latansio, who has been robbed at gunpoint in his hometown Juba.

He welcomed the Pope's announcement which reinforces the messages of peace from the churches in South Sudan.

The call for prayer coincides with Lent, which for Catholics is a period of fasting, conversion, prayers and renewal. Lent started on 14 February and lasts for 40 days.

The call from the Vatican came when Latansio attended a meeting for religious leaders at the United Nations in Vienna to prevent incitement to violence that could lead to atrocity crimes.

"At this very important meeting concrete commitments were made by church leaders and other actors all over the world to turn strategies against hate speech and incitement to violence into action.

"Along with the call from Pope Francis, that reinforces me to continue advocating  and beating the drum in my country  for justice and peace," concluded Latansio.
During the Age of Sail, when tall sailing ships dominated the oceans, sailors listened for their directions to be delivered with the high-pitched trill of a metal whistle.

The whistle could be heard over the noisy ocean, telling sailors to haul on a rope or that it was time for dinner. It could also signal all hands on deck, instructing the entire crew to gather because something important was about to happen.

Now Iowa Lakes Community College is calling for all hands on deck, as it prepares for a March 26-28 visit by an accreditation team from the Higher Learning Commission. A colleges accreditation status provides independent quality assurance to the public and offers ideas for further improvement to the college.

This status is important to students, said Barb Grandstaff, director of registration and records. It is because of our active accreditation status that students can receive federal financial aid, and that (their) credits will transfer to other colleges and universities.

The Higher Learning Commission is an independent corporation that works with the federal government, the states and other groups to provide oversight and evaluation of colleges and universities.

Accreditation is not just Iowa Lakes saying we are great- it is a third party review and assessment that validates what we are doing is great, said Robert Leifeld, vice president of administration.

There are three options for accreditation; Iowa Lakes uses the Academic Quality Improvement Program Pathway, which emphasizes continuous quality improvement and runs on an eight-year cycle.

AQIP has six categories that offer a framework for colleges to examine their key processes and find opportunities for improvement, according to the commissions website. The categories of focus are: helping students learn, meeting student and other key stakeholder needs, valuing employees, planning and leading, knowledge management and resource stewardship and quality overview, which looks at all the colleges quality improvement initiatives.

All Hands

The Iowa Lakes call for all hands on deck isnt limited to college personnel.

Students, staff, faculty, administrators, board, community members are all involved and may be invited to visit with the team, Grandstaff said.

Documents pertaining to the March visit are available on the Iowa Lakes website, and when the college gets specific scheduling for the visit that will go up as well, likely in February, Grandstaff said.

Preparation for the visit is ongoing, and has included substantial self-evaluation and appraisal of existing systems.

In addition to community input through a survey, Iowa Lakes students, area employers and those serving on advisory boards will have an opportunity to provide feedback, Leifeld said.

Accreditation is a validation of our standing as a quality institution and more important that we have the high standards, processes and the will for quality assurance in all that we do and throughout our educational offerings, Grandstaff said.

For more about accreditation, to read AQIP documents or learn about the upcoming visit of the Higher Learning Commission, go to www.iowalakes.edu/planning-development/accreditation/
France tries to stop Turkeys Operation Olive Branch

After Turkish Armys successful operations towards terror organizations in Afrin, French politicians started to collect signatures to stop Turkish Army's progression in Afrin.

On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to clear YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin in northwestern Syria, while establishing security and stability along Turkey's borders and the region as well as protecting Syrians from terrorist oppression and cruelty.

As the operation continues, certain European countries were annoyed from developments.

French President Emmanuel Macron had called for the operation to stop saying that Turkeys ongoing military operation into northern Syria should not turn into an invasion as evidence of a crooked view.

French politicians took heart from Macrons statements has started a petition to stop Operation Olive Branch. Politicians have stressed that the organizations in Afrin are their allies.
Syria summit in Istanbul

The presidents of Turkey, Russia and Iran are scheduled to meet to discuss Syria in Istanbul.

The three-way summit had been discussed during a phone conversation between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Feb. 8, during which they had also discussed Turkeys Operation Olive Branch into Afrin.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that preparations were started for the summit which will be holded in April.

The foreign ministers of Turkey, Russia and Iran will meet in Kazakhstan in two weeks to prepare the ground for the Istanbul summit on March 16.

Turkey, Russian and Iran have worked together in recent months to try to reduce violence in Syria. The three countries also agreed to establish so-called de-escalation zones across Syria, hoping to limit the violence in the country.

US IS FOLLOWING CLOSELY

US officials opposed to this summit will be a close follower of the summit.
Kourtney Kardashian revealed some shocking information in regard to her future plans to expand her family on last night's Keeping Up With the Kardashians.

According to a new report, the 38-year-old mother of three isn't done having kids and wants to ensure she will be able to conceive more children in the future by freezing her eggs.

Ive been thinking about freezing my eggs, Kardashian revealed to her sister Kim during last night's episode, via Hollywood Life.

Kardashian is already mom to eight-year-old Mason, five-year-old Penelope, and three-year-old Reign, whom she shares with ex-boyfriend Scott Disick. However, for the past few years, she's been vocal about her desire to have a very large family, much like her mother Kris Jenner who is mom to six kids.

I should just do it so I dont have to think, Kardashian added.

According to a recent report, Kardashian recently had a pregnancy scare.

Kourtney thought she was pregnant for a minute this month and it completely freaked her out, a source told Hollywood Life earlier this February.

The insider claimed that Kardashian was terrified to tell her 24-year-old boyfriend Younes Bendjima about the potential news because she was unsure of how he would respond. After all, he reportedly comes from a very strict and traditional family who would surely insist that they get married if she were to be pregnant.

"Ultimately it was a false alarm and she told Younes after she figured out what was going on with her body. They were both a little sad and relieved at the same time, the insider said.

Kardashian and Disick parted ways in mid-2015 after nearly a decade together, and a year later, after being linked for several months to Justin Bieber, Kardashian moved on with Bendjima, whom she met in Paris, France in September 2016. Since then, she and Bendjima have been caught canoodling with one another in Los Angeles and in Paris. Recently, Bendjima met Kardashian's three kids.

As for Disick, he's been dating 19-year-old Sofia Richie since last summer and appears to be quite invested in their relationship. He's even allowed Richie to spend time with his daughter.

To see more of Kourtney Kardashian and her family, tune in to new episodes of Keeping Up With the Kardashians on Sundays at 9 p.m. on the E! Network.
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
Blac Chyna is making headlines again after her sex tape with a still-unidentified man leaked on Twitter, prompting the former stripper to rush to the cops.

Chyna's sex tape was uploaded by an anonymous Twitter user early Monday, and the 29-year-old certainly would not take the matter sitting down. The video, which is a minute and 23 seconds long, looked like it was taken by the unknown man.

Moreover, Chyna's face was visible and recognizable as she gave oral sex on the man. Since the video was shot by the other person, his face was never shown, but only his voice can be heard. TMZ guaranteed that it was not her ex, Rob Kardashian, in the clip.

The former star of Rob & Chyna is putting things to the hands of authorities, as Walter Mosley, her lawyer, said that they were communicating with the police. In an Instagram post, the counsel expressed his disappointment over what had happened to Chyna, whom he said was "not only my client but my friend."

"It is a morally corrupt action, which is (at least in California) criminal. Maybe it is time to set an example. #blacchyna," Mosley wrote.

Meanwhile, Lisa Bloom, famous power lawyer for many celebrities, seemingly hinted that this was a "revenge porn," much like what they accused Kardashian of last year.

"Revenge porn  posting explicit images without the consent of everyone in those images  is a crime, a civil wrong, and a form of domestic abuse. It's also a way to try to slut shame women for being sexual," Bloom tweeted.

She added that it should not be taken as a laughing matter, citing the numerous women that had taken their own lives as a result of revenge porn.

Online Reactions

Meanwhile, the internet exploded when the footage leaked, launching many gifs and memes as a reaction to Chyna's sex tape. One user likened her to a cat licking a watermelon slice. Another user humorously used a gif of a woman dancing in front of a court judge and captioned it with "Rob Kardashian after that Blac Chyna video got leaked."

Rob Kardashian

It is worth noting that the Chyna, or Angela Renee White in real life, was embroiled in the same thing last year when Kardashian shared online nude photos of her on photo-sharing app Instagram. These images were with captions that accused his partner of cheating on him with several men, including a rapper.

However, Chyna lashed back at him through another social media platform and said that the 30-year-old Keeping Up with the Kardashians star physically abused her. The two share a daughter, Dream.
Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux announced their split last week, but TMZ reveals the couple may not even need to file for divorce after all.

The A-list couple made waves in every step of their relationship, from their engagement to marriage and now to their divorce. The celebrity gossip website claims that there's a chance that the pair might not even be married in the first place.

Not Married?

Aniston, 49, and Theroux, 46, famously threw a lavish secret party in their Bel Air home to celebrate their nuptials in 2015.

However, when TMZ checked marriage records in Los Angeles County, they failed to find the couple's records even in files that go all the way up to 2010. While a marriage license can be confidential, the website's team was informed that the pair didn't get one in the county.

There are other counties in California where they could have acquired their marriage license. An insider who knows Aniston revealed that there have been speculation for a while that the two Hollywood stars are not legally married.

Multiple divorce lawyers whom TMZ talked to also said that the two never reached out to them.

Theroux Doubts From The Beginning

Reports have said that one of the reasons for the couple's split is the fact that Aniston and Theroux want to live in different places. The Friends star, a true California girl, loves living in Los Angeles, while The Leftovers actor prefers New York City. While Aniston tried to live with her former husband in the Big Apple, a source says her heart isn't in it.

It turns out, this has been a problem from the very beginning.

"[Theroux] had reservations at the time because they still hadn't figured out where they were going to live as a couple," a source tells Us Weekly. "Justin was absolutely head over heels in love with Jen  and probably always will be  but marriage was never important to him."

"Marriage was always just a piece of paper to Justin, and he didn't need it," the source adds.

Apparently, it was Aniston who wanted and needed to get married, especially due to the constant media scrutiny on her and her relationship status.

The A-list couple announced their separation in a joint statement, stressing that the decision was both "mutual and lovingly made." They have been together for around seven years after working on the set of Wanderlust.
Oprah Winfrey is the latest personality to take the brunt of U.S. President Donald Trump's vitriol, saying the talk show host ought to run so she would be "exposed."

This came on Sunday, after a string of tweets by the leader of the United States. In his tweet, Trump came out swinging on Oprah for her appearance on CBS's 60 Minutes, where she consistently shot down claims that she would be running for president in the 2020 elections.

Trump described the talk show host as "very insecure."

"The questions were biased and slanted, the facts incorrect. Hope Oprah runs so she can be exposed and defeated just like all of the others!" Trump tweeted.

It can be remembered that Oprah gave a moving, no-holds-barred, and lauded acceptance speech during the Golden Globes. This had ignited people to encourage the 64-year-old influential celebrity to run for the presidential elections, where she supposedly would be going head to head with Trump.

However, as much as the people's clamor for her to run was too great, Oprah seemed to have released a conclusive answer.

"I am actually humbled by the fact that people think that I could be a leader of the free world, but it's just not in my spirit. It's not in my DNA," she said in 60 Minutes.

This was a nod to previous interviews, which, in gist, she repeatedly said that though she was humbled and honored for the intentions of the many, she lacked the interest in running for office. This was also despite the wealthy people willing to support her in the upcoming poll.

Even with the numerous turndowns by Oprah, Trump did not seem to take things well, especially with the last episode of 60 Minutes. His tweet reaped both criticisms and praises, with fans of each prominent person defending their idols.

Reactions

One user stressed that Trump was the one who was insecure and added that the 71-year-old tycoon's use of the platform oozes insecurity. Another supporter hailed the president and said he was the best president.

Meanwhile, even as Oprah expressed her disinterest in running, many are still in the hopes of seating the talk show host in the White House. CNN's Brian Stelter explained that there is still a possibility for her to adhere to the desire of people.

Stelter cited former U.S. President Barack Obama's initial plans of snatching a senatorial position, before opting for the presidency. Whether Oprah's run for presidency would pan out or not, her fans would have to wait.

The only insecure one here is you. You show your insecurities through your constant tweets. You should be mentally evaluated . Hope she runs , cause she will bring you down like Hillary did . You lost your election  SamG (@SemraGuzman) February 19, 2018

Best president ever reelect trump 2020  TRUMP NATION 2020 MAGA (@BillGallagher19) February 19, 2018
John Oliver returns to Last Week Tonight in time to deliver an impassioned speech on the shooting at a Florida high school last week.

The school shooting in Parkland, Florida resulted in 17 fatalities and numerous injuries.

Oliver On The Parkland Students And Gun Control

"These events are now so familiar, we now automatically know how each side will play out," Oliver says, describing a few of the standard reactions to such incidents. "And then someone says now's not the time to talk about gun control and everyone moves on until it inevitably happens again."

"When the 'now's not the time' argument came out, the kids from that school said, 'You know what? Yes, it f**king is,'" he points out.

A clip plays of Stoneman Douglas Junior students who explained that the suspect who isn't old enough to even buy alcohol is able to purchase a "war weapon." Another student spoke passionately in front of a crowd who answered her each call with "We call BS!"

Oliver praises the students for their mettle, adding that the students have organized a march called "March For Our Lives" for the following month. The march is meant to challenge adults to participate on a conversation about gun violence. However, as Oliver points out, the students are up against considerable resistance.

Another clip begins to play of former South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer who was asked whether Republicans will take heed of the children. Instead of answering the question directly, Bauer pointed to "cultural things" in modern times that play a larger role in desensitizing people such as the movie industry, rap, and radio.

"Now we have kids eating Tide pods instead of discipline," he says.

Late Night Hosts On School Shooting

Oliver isn't the only host who has spoken up about the Parkland school shooting. Jimmy Kimmel dedicated a monologue to the incident, specifically calling out President Donald Trump who delivered a statement from the White House.

While Kimmel says he agrees with a few of Trump's points, the late night host calls for action from the president and other politicians.

"And here's what you do to fix that," he addresses Trump. "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 real laws that do everything possible to keep assault rifles out of the hands of people who are gonna shoot our kids."
Jenelle Evans is setting the record straight about certain stories involving her and her family. The Teen Mom 2 star spoke candidly on a podcast.

Coming Clean

Appearing on wrestling personality Vince Russo's The Brand, Evans admitted to having tested positive for THC, which is a chemical typically found in marijuana, after giving birth to her daughter Ensley last January.

"I'm not going to lie about that. ... Ensley did not test positive. I did. So [Child Protective Services] were like  I was in the hospital  they said, 'Did you smoke when you were pregnant?' I said, 'I did within the past 30 days. I said I have really bad esophageal spasms and I throw up every 5 minutes, I can't even eat.' And they said, 'OK, some moms do that. We are not here to judge, we are writing down your information,'" she explained.

After taking Ensley, Evans's daughter with husband David Eason, CPS carried out wellness checks and subsequently closed the case relating to the drug test.

"They came and did a checkup, and everything is fine. They closed the case," she said.

However, in the intervening months, Evans claimed Child Protective Services have checked up on the family about 30 times. She blames this fascination with her on online speculation about her lack of parenting skills.

In her 2017 tell-all book Read Between the Lines: From the Diary of a Teenage Mom, Evans admitted to excessive drug use over the years. The Teen Mom star was reportedly injecting heroin four or five times a day at the height of her drug addiction.

Although she was careful not to glamorize the drug in her account, Evans did admit that the first time she tried heroin, she thought it was amazing. Nowadays, though, she insists she's totally and completely clean and healthy.

"If I were on drugs, I wouldn't be able to sit here in the morning and get the kids ready and eat healthily. Or I'd be losing a lot of weight," she advised.

Setting A Bad Example

Evans's comments about online haters are particularly pertinent at the moment, as most recently fans were clamoring for Eason to be fired in the wake of homophobic comments he made on Twitter.

The move came as Eason tried to defend his wife after she posed with a massive assault rifle on Feb. 15, just one day after the horrific Parkland school shooting in Florida.

After a Twitter user called out Eason and Evans for normalizing the use of weapons in front of their children, the father-of-two responded in a rather unfortunate manner.

"And just what makes you think you have the right to tell me how to be a parent. Because you think you know me? LMAO, why don't you tell the h**o and transgender parents to start teaching their kids better morals. Oh, I forgot, that's supposed to be normal," he tweeted.

Although Eason swiftly deleted the offending tweets, users rallied to tell MTV to fire him and Evans from Teen Mom.

This is the type of person thats allowed on tv, the type of person thats paid by @mtv @Viacom , and the type of person our youth is influenced by! We need to take a stand for gender equality and show our youth theyre loved no matter who they grow up to be! FIRE DAVID EASON! pic.twitter.com/lfhFz0eke1  ImFcknRakin! (@ImFcknRakin) February 19, 2018

Poor Maryssa, Jace, Kaiser and Ensley have to grow up listening to all of this hate speak. I pray that none of those sweet kids are gay, transgender or questioning because David would public shame and disown them. David Eason is an abomination.  Nonmom Jenelle Evans (@NonMomJenelle) February 19, 2018

Eason initially claimed he hadn't heard about the Parkland shooting because he doesn't sit around all day watching TV. Evans, meanwhile, dismissed it as a case of bad timing.

The photo of the Teen Mom star with the assault rifle even prompted a Change.org petition. There were no signatures at the time of writing.
Letters

COVID It is ironic the Federal Government appointees are blaming the unvaccinated U.S. citizens for the new COVID-19 explosion. When at the same time, people  900,000 so far and going up  are crossing the southern border, coming in hot with COVID in their body. Government appointees sprinkle these people into the interior of the U.S.

Safety At Rural Road Intersections Crawford County Farm Bureau Board of Directors wants to remind everyone when traveling on rural roads to slow down at intersections, especially where there is tall corn.

A plea for a plea To the Editor, Mr. Schauer and Ms. Creasman wrote a pitiful plea to their followers (Times News July 14) to be Silent No More. Their call to action for support of 

In response to the July 14 Letter to the Editor by Harrison County Chair and Vice-Chair. It was a relief to read the recent Letter to the Editor submitted by Benjamin Schauer and Jan Creasman. Their letter strongly outlined our current political climate, but did so in a respectful manner. They asked the reader to think, rather than telling the reader what to think.

Dig Deeper After my last editorial in this paper on the extreme property tax increases being forced on Harrison County taxpayers, I was tipped off to dig deeper into what really is going on with our County Assessor and Boards.

Read more letters
In January, the Estherville News invited readers to take our survey. In Thursdays newspaper, the results of that survey will be published. First, however, our newsroom thought it would help to share the results of a statewide newspaper readership poll published this week.

The graphic with this story illustrates some of the results. Most of the 2.4 million readers in Iowa still read print exclusively, but the hybrid of print and digital engagement is growing. Our newsroom is participating with Online News Association in developing our digital product to bring more and better news to your devices. The statewide poll found that 12 percent of Iowans read local news on their phone every day with a high number of those readers between the ages of 18 and 34.

Significant among the findings is that newspaper readership is high among all incomes and age levels. Twenty-one percent arrive at a newspaper website after another website redirects them. Our newsroom will develop more effective engagement strategies to reach more readers.

None of this will come at the expense of continuously improving content. Our readers frustration with the typos and other slipups that have happened has been received and more time and repetitions of proofreading have been implemented.

At some newspapers, reader engagement is someones full time job. From our newsroom, reader engagement will be a greater part of everything that happens.
Turkeys cross border activity in northern Syria has brought to attention the terrifying prospect of a direct confrontation between two NATO allies. Ankaras initial plan was to seize control of the Afrin enclave held by Syrian Kurds, specifically Syrian Kurdish militia the YPC, a branch of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK). The grouping is considered a terrorist organization by both Turkey and the US. However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the operation would be extended to Manbij and possibly also beyond.

Yet, unlike Afrin, which is under Russian influence, Manbij and Rojava are enclaves mostly used by American troops to equip and train the YPH for the fight against ISIS. More than 2,000 American personnel are stationed in the region. Admittedly, there are concerns over possible confrontation between Turkish soldiers and US troops on Syrian soil. This extreme scenario is, however, far from fiction. They key consideration is whether Ankara is genuinely ready to challenge the US in Syria. Or is it just the rhetoric with the aim to deter the Americans from engaging more deeply with the Syrian Kurds? At the same time, it is also important to ask whether Washington believes that the Turks are bluffing and that they will not attack the YPG in Manbij.

History approves of the fact that when trust erodes, parties can miscalculate. Moreover, the institutional ties that were previously the basis for the relationship between the US and Turkey have weakened and military ties are now obsolete. The situation is also hard to manage due to the changing priorities of the US foreign policy. A direct confrontation between Turkish and American troops would have major long-term implications for transatlantic security. This would cause damage to the bilateral relations between the two countries as well as question Turkeys future commitment to the Alliance.

Turkish public opinion is already skeptical of the benefits of NATO membership. A poll in November 2017 found that 67 per cent of Turks believe that the countrys security can be assured outside of the Alliance. On the US side, instead of testing Turkeys intentions in northern Syria, Washington should encourage the finding of a mutual interest with Ankara. Turkey and the US should take the lead together in creating a humanitarian corridor for the civilians in the area. Both sides should also work on restoring the trust that has been lost. This will be key if talks between the two allies on the future of Syria are to be successful and bring about new security order in the Middle East.

Cooperation is in Turkey and Americas Best Interests  Op-Ed by Sinan Ulgen  Carnegie Europe.

(The Op-Ed can be downloaded here)
1985 i was selected as a promising young man by QHD city government and went to anther college again for another two year. The city government paid me for college and also paid my salary. Right after from this college I left China to America as an exchange student with help from my American teacher DEE

i came to America as a undergraduate and I studied America policy and public administration for 7 years
This Page Is Under Construction - Coming Soon!

Why am I seeing this 'Under Construction' page?
Hi,



I have applied the visa subclass 190 (PR). Now my office wants me to apply visa subclass 400 for a short stay to travel immediately for some work.



1. What is the best way to ensure that visa 400 doesn't overwrite visa 190?



I learnt that I keep checking and withdraw the application of visa 400 if 190 comes first.



2. How the withdrawal works?



3. I read that I have to upload form 1446. How much time do they take to cancel the application?



4. Do I need to do something more other than uploading the form 1446?



Thanks!
Hi,





For Statistician, As per VETASSES What are the cut-off points and what it the timeline for skill assessment. It would be grateful for quick response.
OP - i cannot offer specific advice, but two things.



1. The situation is not really in your control - you have sent across your documents etc. So just have a plan B in hand (e.g. do not leave your current job till the visa is sorted)



2. "my dream job" - this is not a land of gold or riches or non stop partying. There is nothing about a job with MOE/ ADEC/ ADEK which is "dream job" material. I can understand that you may be looking for a change and working overseas, but there are lots of places you can do that (e.g. SE Asia, North Asia, China) with a very enriching experience.


Zagreb Airport's General Manager Jacques Feron said his team is working towards developing Croatia's busiest airport into a regional hub by attracting new carriers and cooperating closely with Croatia Airlines. Mr Feron noted that such a process would take time but added that the country's growing tourism industry would assist in achieving this goal. "I believe I would not exaggerate in saying that Zagreb Airport's future looks promising. Of course, we are benefiting from the continuous economic and tourism sector development in Zagreb. At the same time, with new infrastructure and a modern and efficient passenger terminal, we can have an impact on the positive perception of the country. We can use the terminal as a tool to further promote the city. However, our ambitions do not end there. We want to transform Zagreb Airport into an example of excellence when it comes to infrastructure management and development, and we are continuously working on further improving our relations with stakeholders and airlines, above all with our national carrier, Croatia Airlines, which is of most importance to us". Zagreb Airport's General Manager Jacques Feron said his team is working towards developing Croatia's busiest airport into a regional hub by attracting new carriers and cooperating closely with Croatia Airlines. Mr Feron noted that such a process would take time but added that the country's growing tourism industry would assist in achieving this goal. "I believe I would not exaggerate in saying that Zagreb Airport's future looks promising. Of course, we are benefiting from the continuous economic and tourism sector development in Zagreb. At the same time, with new infrastructure and a modern and efficient passenger terminal, we can have an impact on the positive perception of the country. We can use the terminal as a tool to further promote the city. However, our ambitions do not end there. We want to transform Zagreb Airport into an example of excellence when it comes to infrastructure management and development, and we are continuously working on further improving our relations with stakeholders and airlines, above all with our national carrier, Croatia Airlines, which is of most importance to us".





Mr Feron noted that transforming Zagreb into a hub is a long-term strategy, with Group Aerport de Paris' concession to run until 2042. "It is important to bear in mind that an airport like Zagreb cannot develop independently into a hub. We cannot simply decide on it alone. This process has to take place in close cooperation with other airlines, which results in transforming an airport into a hub. It is clear that this cannot happen overnight, but we are heading in the right direction. We are planning new destinations, and our future development is linked to Croatia Airlines' growth, which remains our most important partner and has the largest share in overall traffic. As a concessionaire, we will continue to support co-operation with airline companies and create a flexible and efficient environment in which carriers will be able to easily develop their strategies".





Zagreb Airport has attracted several big names over the past few years including Emirates and the Air Canada group. It is also attempting to secure flights to both the United States and China. On the other hand, there has also been some criticism of the airport, primarily from Croatia Airlines which has accused several of the new terminal's design flaws for putting pressure on its operational costs. However, the airport has said it is working together with airlines towards resolving all issues. Zagreb Airport handled a record 3.092.047 passengers in 2017, with growth standing at 13.3% in January of this year. It is dominated by full service carriers, which account for 91.3% of seats, whereas low cost carriers have a share of 8.5%
The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you, we are excited to offer 4 weeks FREE Digital & Print access to all subscribers new and returning alike.

We are dedicated to continuing providing reliable, high quality journalism. This is possible with the trust and support of our subscribers in the community we are proud to serve.
Transparency International  Russia graded the 200 biggest Russian companies for the amount of information they disclose about themselves. Most of them flunked.

On a scale of zero to ten for transparency, the companies scored an average of 2.6.

Of the 200 companies, 41 didnt receive a single point. They scored zero for transparency.

Twenty-eight percent dont disclose any information about their subsidiaries and associates and where they operate.

TI-Russia looked at disclosure in three main areas:

A companys published anti-corruption programs

Its organizational transparency

And disclosure of key financial information on a country-by-country basis

The profits reportedly earned by the 200 companies represent 70 percent of Russiaa national income, TI said.

Some companies did well  32 received five points or higher.

The top ranked companies for overall transparency were Magnet (7.9), Sberbank (7.9), Kazanorgsintez (7.8), Rosseti (7.5), Nizhnekamsk- neftekhim (6.8), Udmurtneft (6.4), MTS (6.3), RUSAL (6.2), Megaphone (6.0), ALROSA (6.0), and Tactical Missiles Corporation (5.9).

Among those scoring zero for transparency were Pipe Innovation Technologies, Novoshakhtinskii Zavod Nefteproduktov, Krastsvetmet, Trans Nafta, GAZFOND, Ulmart, Metallokomplekt-M, Alfa Bank, New Stream Group, Forteinvest, Drilling Company Eurasia, and Euroset.

The worst sectors for transparency were trade and food, and infrastructure construction. Those companies had an overall average score below 1.5.

Of the 200 companies that make up Russias so-called backbone enterprises, only five have a confidential communications channel for whistleblowers to report corruption offenses.

Only 14 percent have published a CEO message in support of the companys anti-corruption program.

And 166 of the 200 companies dont regulate political contributions.

The full TI-Russia report is here (pdf).

_____

Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog.
A woman was filmed drying a pair of knickers on an air vent on board a plane.

Woman dries underwear on plane

The woman - who was flying with Ural Airlines from Turkey to Moscow - spent around 20 minutes waving the black and white pants above her head, Mirror Online reports.

The footage was captured by another passenger who used their phone to film the unique way of drying underwear.

Although the woman didn't seem phased by the act, other passengers were shocked and others came to conclusion she was drying a pair of children's pants after one of her children had an accident.
1968 was arguably one of the most volatile and influential years of the 20th century. Set against the backdrop of momentous world events, new novel Sleeping Through War tells the story of three ordinary women living in extraordinary times. Here are ten things that you might not know about 1968:

Jackie Carreira

1. In 1968, the worlds population was just over 3.5 billion. So, if you were born that year, the number of people on the planet has doubled in your lifetime. If youre feeling a bit overcrowded, its hardly surprising.

2. We all know that 2018 marks the centenary of the first women in Britain to get the vote, but it took another fifty years before equality was seriously considered. In May 1968 permission was given for a Bill to be introduced to Parliament to remove discrimination against women, including equal pay for equal work. This was, in part, due to the actions of women at the Ford Motor works, which inspired the movie Made In Dagenham. Fifty years on and were still waiting for equal pay!

3. In December, the Apollo 8 spacecraft orbited around the Moon and its astronauts became the first humans to see the far side of it and the whole of planet Earth. The iconic photograph Earthrise was taken on that voyage.

4. Other iconic pictures you might recognise from 1968 are the African American athletes at the Olympic Games in Mexico City raising their fists in support of the civil rights movement, and a Viet Cong officer being executed in the street in a Pulitzer Prize winning photograph. A year of powerful images.

5. In November, Yale University announced it was going to admit female students for the first time. Meanwhile millions of students around the globe were protesting war in Vietnam, campaigning for civil rights, womens rights, environmental issues, nuclear protests and many other political issues, holding sit-ins, rallies and sometimes violent demonstrations. Todays undergraduates are too busy struggling with student debt!

6. The average UK house price was 4,344 and the average annual salary was around 1,660. Today the gap between the two is a teeny bit wider.

7. It was a good year for actors. Daniel Craig, Naomi Watts, Cuba Gooding Jr, Gillian Anderson, Will Smith and Hugh Jackman were all born in 1968.

8. It was a good year for comedians too. Catherine Tate, Stewart Lee, Al Murray, Jon Culshaw and Lee Mack were all born in 1968.

9. Tragically both Martin Luther King Jr and Robert F Kennedy were assassinated in 1968. Other greats we lost that year include blind/deaf campaigner Helen Keller, Nobel Prize-winning author John Steinbeck, and Yuri Gagarin, who was the first human in space.
Angela Bassett wanted her children to be part of 'Black Panther' so they could see what an important movie the cast were making.

Angela Basset

The 59-year-old actress plays Ramonda - the mother of titular hero T'Challa and Queen Mother of fictional African nation Wakanda - in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie, which has been praised for having a virtually all-black cast and positive messages.

Angela and her actor husband Courtney B. Vance, 57, had made a joint decision to keep their 12-year-old twins, son Slater and daughter Bronwyn, away from their work and the world of celebrity but made an exception with the superhero film and allowed them to attend the premiere and even visit the set so they could experience just what a special movie the superhero story is.

Speaking to Vanity Fair about her decision to have her kids at the premiere, Angela said: "We keep them back from premieres and this sort of thing. We try to keep them doing their own thing, out and away from it all. But ['Black Panther'] was one that we felt it was imperative that they experienced and witnessed. It's an iconic film. It's such positive images ... They can see themselves in a light as warriors, as heroes, as kings, as queens, and potential panthers. All things positive. I really wanted them to experience something that in the way they carry themselves, how they walk through the day, with their heads held high and their chests poked out, feeling good about who they are."

Angela insists director Ryan Coogler, the crew and her castmates - which include Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther, Michael B. Jordan and Lupita Nyong'o - all made her kids feel super-welcome on set and when they shot scenes on location at the Rwenzori Mountains and in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda everyone felt inspired.

She explained: "I saw these kids on the set during the day and to see them running around and helping me with my queen garb. The love they were getting from the actors, it was immediate family. They are all aunties and uncles. As we're waiting on the mountains, with the waterfalls cascading between us and the drummers just drumming, passing the time, the entire mountain would just yell and sway and dance and just groove and gyrate. It was like nothing you've ever seen before. It was just like a familiarity and call that went up to the heavens. So it was pretty spectacular. It was just a source of unbearable pride, except that I could bear it. I would bear it a million times over and over ... This has to open up success. I hope that this is a clarion call, that it's something that continues. It's so satisfying."
Georgina Chapman insists she is "not a victim" of her estranged husband Harvey Weinstein.

Keren Craig and Georgina Chapman for Grazia magazine, courtesy of Marchesa

The 41-year-old fashion designer - who has seven-year-old daughter India and four-year-old son Dashiell with the disgraced producer - split with the former Weinstein Company chairman in October last year after he was accused of sexually harassing multiple female employees over a 30-year period.

And now, her close pal Keren Craig - with whom she co-founded fashion brand Marchesa - has claimed the designer doesn't view herself as a "victim" of the producer, and is instead just trying to move on with her life away from her estranged spouse.

Keren said: "She doesn't see herself as a victim. That's very important. She's just trying to get on with her life. You've got to realise George is such a strong woman. Don't get me wrong, it's a very hard time, but she's quite inspirational."

Keren, also 41, also revealed she and Georgina are in the process of discussing the best way for the fashion brand to support the #MeToo and Time's Up movements which have risen from the allegations against Weinstein and other Hollywood executives.

She added: "We want to support them. We want to make a gesture. We need to properly process how it can be the most beneficial."

Georgina announced her decision to divorce 65-year-old Weinstein within days of the New York Times article in which several of his alleged victims first came forward, and Keren was stunned by how "incredibly strong" her fashion pal was.

Asked by Grazia magazine for their Big Fashion Issue if she'd ever had an inkling about Weinstein's alleged behaviour, Keren said: "Absolutely not. No it was a total shock. It was upsetting and my heart was broken for George. I actually couldn't believe how incredibly strong she was. She threw herself in to work, she threw herself into protecting her kids. Marchesa is her life, it is her passion."
With the BRIT Awards right around the corner, we thought wed do our predictions a little differently this year, bringing TV and radio presenter Arielle Free on board to do the job for us! Putting some questions to the star about the biggest categories on the night, as well as asking about her thoughts when it comes to female performers and more, she gave us some brilliant commentary to chew through! Find out what Arielle had to say below...

Arielle Free makes some big BRITs predictions

When it comes to the British Male Solo Artist and British Female Solo Artist categories at the BRIT Awards this year, who do you think has what it takes to take home the prizes?

I think without a doubt Dua Lipa will be taking home the Best Female prize. With five nominations under her belt, a hugely successful debut album which has gone on to spawn seven singles, Id say its a given that Dua Lipa wins Best Female.

The male category for me would be harder to predict. I would love to see Stormzy take home the prize however, Ed Sheerans Divide album was one of the fastest-selling albums ever for a male artist and that doesnt happen unless youve got a dedicated fanbase that spawns all generations. I have a soft spot for Loyle Carner; his album Yesterdays Gone is an incredible piece of work and at only 23, this is clearly just the beginning of a huge and fruitful career.

How about Best British Single? Whats been your favourite single of the past 12 months?

Calvin Harris Feels gave me all the feels last year. It was the one track Id put on and pretend I was living in Malibu and not in a sweaty underground tube carriage with my head stuffed into someones damp armpit. Jax Jones You Dont Know Me is an absolute banger, I love hearing it while Im out. Dua Lipas New Rules would be a close contender as that song has been everywhere, is still getting played and sounds as fresh as ever.

I think 2018 is going to be Dua Lipas year at the BRITs and Ill predict shell take this one too. Although Im sure Liam Paynes army of fans will have something to say about that.

One of the biggest awards of the night is the Mastercard British Album Of The Year  who are you pulling for in that category?

This is the one big prize everyone wants to go home with. Bar Ed Sheerans Divide, all the other albums shortlisted are debut albums which is incredible and it highlights the abundance of talented UK artists producing timeless albums from the off. its so hard in this day and age to release an album that stands the test of time.

I would love to see Stormzy win Best Album for Gang Signs & Prayers as it has the right amount of light and shade and lyrically it is vulnerable, hard hitting and cheeky in equal measure. Its so good it would be a shame not to see it win. J Hus Common Sense is probably the underdog but it is a stand out album and the BRITs do like to keep everyone on their toes, so you never know.

Who do you think will be taking home the International prizes?

Kendrick Lemar NEEDS to win Best International Male. Drake might just grab this from him but its been Kendricks time for a long time, this years Grammy wins are testament to that. Drake did just drop two surprise tracks which have both proved to be hugely popular. The music video for Gods Plan in which he gives away a million dollars on the streets of Miami has gone viral and people are hailing him the King of Miami. This might help him seal the deal for International Male, but my money is on Kendrick.

Arcade Fire should win International Group for creating the dancefloor-filling, absolute masterpiece single Everything Now; if that doesnt get you up shimmying with a massive grin on your face then I dont know what will.

International Female is the toughest category to call in my opinion. P!nk is a solid artist whose singles are always worldwide hits. Bjork has been praised for her most recent Tinder album Utopia. Lorde continues her reign as the art pop underdog. Alicia Keys is the piece de resistance and well, Taylor Swift can never be beaten. The bookies favourite will be Taylor Swift, but Id love to see Lorde win this. I got to see her perform for the first time at this years Glastonbury and she blew my socks off. shes a brilliant vocalist, not your usual pop star and I love that about her.

Whose look are you most looking forward to seeing at the BRIT Awards this year?

Rita Ora always comes through with the strong outfits. She could literally wear a bin bag and Id be into it. Im a huge sequins fan so anyone sparkling and shining like a diamond will be my top choice. Little Mix did rock a Western cow print carnival look on their recent tour and it was tremendous. Mabel McVey has excellent style, FKA Twigs always wears something beautiful, ethereal and a bit weird. Present Clara Amfo is guaranteed to pop some bright colours and I bet Dua Lipa has a great stage outfit planned not only for herself, but her dancers too.

Whose performance do you think will have everybody talking?

Justin Timberlake. Hes a genius when it comes to stage performing. There will be timeless choreography, maybe a special guest and hopefully a mash-up of his classic hits as well as his new stuff.

Jorja Smiths vocals are stunning and I think she might have a moment like Adele did back in 2011.

Paloma Faith made headlines earlier in the year, saying there werent enough female performers at the show. Do you echo that sentiment?

2018 is The Year of the Woman and it would be great if we could see a 50/50 line-up. Who knows? Maybe a surprise Spice Girls performance might be on the cards? That really would bring some girl power.

-

The 2018 BRIT Awards will be streamed live from 8pm tomorrow, Wednesday February 21 on ITV, with the show set to run until 10:20pm.

You can also follow Arielle on her Instagram account at: https://www.instagram.com/ariellefree/

by Daniel Falconer for www.femalefirst.co.uk

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Duchess Catherine and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, were joined by fashion royalty as they co-hosted a London Fashion Week event at Buckingham Palace on Monday (19.02.18).

Sophie Wessex and Duchess Catherine

Supermodels Naomi Campbell and Neelam Gill, VOGUE Editor Anna Wintour and fashion designer Stella McCartney were in attendance at The Commonwealth Fashion Exchange, which Catherine and Sophie were put in charge of on behalf of Queen Elizabeth.

The bash was held to celebrate and showcase designs, designers and artisans from across the Commonwealth's 53 countries.

The initiative was launched earlier this month, by Commonwealth Secretary General the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland and Livia Firth - founder of sustainability consultancy Eco-Age - who initiated and produced the ambitious Exchange project.

Last night's (19.02.18) reception saw 30 CFE creations displayed in the Palace's State Apartment. From Thursday (22.02.18), the design looks showcased will be displayed at the new exhibition at Australia House on The Strand, before being exhibited during the Commonwealth Summit itself.

The exhibition has been carefully curated by VOGUE's International Editor, Hamish Bowles.

A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said previously: "The initiative uses fashion as a common language and platform to help people understand the modern Commonwealth in a different way.

"The reception at Buckingham Palace will showcase the best of Commonwealth contemporary fashion and creativity with an exhibition of some of the bespoke fashion 'looks' which are the result of these exchanges."

Both Catherine and Sophie are style icons in their own right and are the perfect fit for the event, which saw renowned designers work together with producers from less-developed countries to "exemplify traditional handcraft techniques and trades".

The Duchess of Cambridge - who is pregnant with her third child with Prince William, with whom she has four-year-old Prince George and two-year-old Princess Charlotte - performed hosting duties after a night attending the BAFTA Awards at The Royal Albert Hall.
The name of the wind

One of the things we love about living in Fethiye (and there are many) is how the winds have names. This isnt unusual in itself, but what is more unusual is the locals, many of whom make a living on the sea and have intimate knowledge of the winds, talk about them with the familiarity of an old friend.

To make sure you dont feel at a complete disadvantage if you find yourself in the middle of one of these conversations, wed like to tell you a bit more about a couple of the winds that affect us here in Fethiye.

Meltemi

Meltemi is the Greek and Turkish name for the well known etesian wind blowing from north to northwest across the Aegean Sea. The meltemi flows from a high-pressure ridge over the Balkans towards a heat trough over the Anatolian Plateau.

Although the etesian winds are part of the large scale Asian monsoon system, the Meltemi might also be caused or enhanced by regional-scale weather patterns, i.e. a local heat trough over Turkey, the relatively cold Aegean waters and resulting high pressure. This is especially true at the beginning and end of the Meltemi season (May to October).

The Meltemi are at their strongest in the afternoon and often die down at night, but sometimes Meltemi winds last for days without a break.

These winds generally bring low humidity, good visibility and beautiful blue clear skies.

They bring cooling relief from hot Mediterranean summer months and many visitors head to Cals Beach in the afternoons to enjoy the summer breeze.

Kite surfers on a breezy afternoon in Cals

It is also great for windsurfing and sailing. For the seasoned sailor, it can be a real joy when the Meltemi starts to blow as it means there is some serious sailing to be enjoyed.

However, for newcomers to yachting and boating, it can prove pretty challenging when the Meltemi blows as this wind can be unpredictable and can suddenly start up without any warning, even when the weather is glorious, thus catching you off guard because you dont expect it.

Although quite suitable for adventurous sailors, Meltemis are not for the inexperienced.

Lodos

The Lodos has been classified as a fierce south westerly wind (blowing from the south west) which may prevail on the Mediterranean shoreline of Turkey all through the year.

The word Lodos is Turkish, comes from the Greek word Notus, and originally means southern wind.

Lodos winds are at their strongest in the afternoon and often die down at night, but sometimes they last for days without a break.

The Lodos brings wind and waves from the south from October to April, with a peak season in December.

Lodos and waves at Cals Beach. Photo by Sue Fockner-Ask

Lodos winds bringing rough seas and swells in Bodrum.

The Lodos blowing in Koycegiz.

The Lodos is not an unusual wind type since it occurs around twenty times or more yearly. Its sudden nature, however, makes it rather unique and often a danger to sailors who are often not equipped to deal with calm, clear weather suddenly changing to treacherous one.

This sailor got caught out!

The wind is not entirely bad news because its occurrence drives warm waters from the south and these warm currents bring African dust from the Sahara Desert, giving the appearance of a sandstorm.

The view before the arrival of the Lodos

The same view when the Lodos blows, bringing sand from the Sahara desert

This image shows the dust as it moves from North Africa, sweeps northeast over the Mediterranean sea, and blankets the atmosphere over Turkey and Greece. (Source: NASA)

This dust is very rich in many minerals such as sulfate, iron, zinc and other minerals that are beneficial to plants which form the basis of the local peoples livelihood.

However, if Lodos winds continue for more than a day, these same mineral-rich dusts can cause different types of illnesses due to the fact that these minerals are not human body-friendly at all. These illnesses which can occur include headaches, bronchitis and other respiratory diseases.

Next time youre in Fethiye and the wind blows, youll be able to greet it by name.

Sources: Geo Lounge/Weather Online
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HON PM BAINIMARAMA AT THE OPENING OF THE 20TH CONFERENCE OF COMMONWEALTH EDUCATION MINISTERS





Your Excellency the Commonwealth Secretary General,The Honourable Attorney General and Minister for Education,Honourable Ministers from throughout the Commonwealth,Excellencies,Ladies and Gentlemen.Bula vinaka and a very good evening to you all.This is a proud day for Fiji as we host the first gathering of Commonwealth education ministers to be held in our country. And wherever you come from in the world from the 53 nations that make up the Commonwealth family, I warmly welcome you on behalf of the Fijian people. It is our pleasure to have you in Fiji and I hope you enjoy our world famous hospitality.It also happens to be a sad day, a day of somber reflection for the Fijian people as we commemorate the second anniversary of Tropical Cyclone Winston, which slammed into our nation with terrible force on 20 February 2016. Winston was the biggest storm ever to make landfall in the southern hemisphere, packing record winds at its peak of more than 300 kilometres an hour.44 of our loved ones were killed in the affected areas; many thousands of Fijians lost their homes; public infrastructure, including many schools, was damaged or destroyed; and when it was over, the overall cost amounted to one third of our GDP.Our people have recognised the need for a new standard of resilience to meet the constant threat we now face, even outside the traditional cyclone season. They know - because they lived through it - that we must build back stronger and better to survive the more frequent and more intense cyclones that are coming because of climate change.Of course, homes and schools can be rebuilt. What cant be replaced are the 44 men, women and children who died in the affected areas, their lives cut short by Winstons fury.They were someones father, someones mother, brothers, sisters, grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins. They were ordinary Fijians - the backbone of our nation. And because we are a small country, they were known to many of us and they mattered to all of us. We still mourn their passing and on this anniversary we remember them, as they rest in the loving arms of Almighty God.Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I ask you to rise for a moment of silence for those who died in Cyclone Winston. And let us also remember the people of Samoa, Tonga and the southern Lau group of Fiji, many of whom are suffering as we gather here today in the wake of Cyclone Gita.(silence)Thank you.Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is singularly appropriate - given the new age of climate uncertainty that is upon us - that sustainability and resilience be the theme of this conference. We all know that education is the key to sustainable development because it equips people with the skills they need to benefit their own lives and the lives of those around them. But governments at every level must also place sustainability at the core of their decision-making. Sustainable development that protects our natural heritage and treads lightly on the environment. Sustainable policies that work holistically and which have longevity to extend the benefits of development to as many of our citizens as possible. Sustainable spending that doesnt cripple nations, states and cities with excessive debt. And sustainable economies that balance the needs of government and the private sector, with both working hand in hand to ensure continuing sustainable development.Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, the global community has committed itself to achieving 17 Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs by 2030. But none of them can be achieved without fulfilling SDG 13  Climate Change  and SDG 14 - Life below Water or the health of our oceans.They are inextricably linked and everything else depends on them. In that, no sustainable development at all will be possible without decisive action on climate change and decisive action to reverse the degradation of our oceans.People ask me: Why did you take on the presidency of COP23 when there is so much to do in Fiji? Why did you co- chair the World Ocean Conference last year? And my answer is very simple: Because our lives depend on it. The lives of every Fijian and every citizen of climate-vulnerable nations around the world. They include Pacific Islanders who face the prospect of their nations disappearing beneath the rising waves altogether. the people of Bangladesh and other low-lying continental states also assailed by large-scale flooding and storms. Prolonged droughts and arable land turning to desert in vast swathes of Africa and elsewhere. the beautiful city of Cape Town facing the prospect of running out of water altogether. Residents of California, Portugal and Spain battling fierce wildfires, with significant loss of life and infrastructure. Increased acidity in our oceans and coral bleaching destroying our reefs; and all over the world, threats to food security posed by drought and salinity playing havoc with our agriculture.Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, none of us are safe until we meet the challenge posed by climate change. None of us are truly secure. As I keep saying: we are all in the same canoe. And as a global community, we must do everything in our power to meet this challenge and resist all attempts to slow the process down.As COP President, I want maximum ambition, maximum action and with maximum urgency. As I said on the beachfront a short time ago, only by embracing the most ambitious target of the Paris Agreement can we avoid catastrophe. Zero net carbon emissions as soon as possible to limit average global warming to no more than 1.5 degree Celsius over that of the pre-industrial age.At our Heads of Government Meeting in London in April, I will be specifically asking all 53 Commonwealth countries for that commitment. And I urge every nation  as well as non-state stakeholders - to work with Fiji to make a success of the 2018 Talanoa Dialogue, in which we are seeking more ambition in all our Nationally Determined Contributions to reduce heat trapping carbon emissions - our NDCs.In London, I will also be pressing for the Blue Charter  a key feature for CHOGM  to be as ambitious as possible to adequately address the threat to our oceans. I cannot stress enough that the two are interlinked. Which is why I am very gratified that among our many successes at the COP23 negotiations in Bonn in November, many in the global community endorsed and are joining our Ocean Pathway Partnership. Vital for the future of Fiji. Vital for the future of our planet.Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, after ensuring our very survival, nothing is more important to any nation than to equip its young people for satisfying, worthwhile lives by giving them access to quality education. The future of all our nations depends on it  our political and economic status in the world, our standing in the great global forums, respect from others, respect for ourselves.By far my governments proudest achievement has been our education revolution that began in 2013 and we intend to continue it. In fact, we now cannot stop it. Because just as you are never too old to learn new things, the process of maximizing the learning process has no conclusion. Constant development, constant refining and capacity building, constantly seeking new horizons and new opportunities.The centerpiece of that revolution was the introduction, for the first time in Fiji, of free education in our primary and secondary schools. Plus free textbooks and subsidised transportation. At the same time  recognising the importance of early education - we developed a pre-school sector and there are now a lot more kindergartens in Fiji. We introduced the countrys first tertiary loans scheme. We significantly expanded the number of scholarships available to hard-performing students. And we set up a national network of technical colleges to encourage participation in the trades and provide Fiji with many of the skills it needs to grow our economy.Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, as with anything on this scale and level of ambition, we have had our challenges. Among other things, we are streamlining the Education Ministry to be more responsive. And we are working with our teachers to increase their skills base and financially reward our best performers. But for all the challenges, I believe our education revolution is the biggest single thing we have done as a government and as a nation to benefit our people. We have ended the heartbreak of generations of low-income families who couldnt afford to give their children a proper education. We have opened up new horizons for even the most disadvantaged young person - a world of opportunity - and given our girls and young women opportunities their mothers never had. We are producing a fairer and more inclusive society. And we have laid out a vision for every Fijian that through focus and hard work, we can eventually step out of the ranks of the developing nations and into the ranks of the educated nation states.The wonderful thing is that our people are responding. And speaking personally, I get the biggest thrill from reading the stories in the media of individual Fijians who are benefitting. Like the one last week of Peni Kauivalenibula, a Lauan from Vanuabalavu, who dropped out in Year 11 and spent two years living on the streets of Suva. Peni is now studying to be a quantity surveyor at the Fiji National University through the governments tertiary loans scheme. And I was very moved to see him tearfully thanking the government for giving him a second chance of an education and another shot at life.Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, this is what makes the education sector so satisfying for politicians and educators, no matter where we come from in the world. The ability to change peoples lives  to empower them through the acquisition of knowledge to benefit not only themselves and their families but benefit our nations and help build a better world.I wish you every success this week as you link education with the great challenge of building a more resilient future in the face of the greatest challenge humanity has ever faced. But I also want to leave you with the positive thought that it is because of education that humanity is able to bring all of its ingenuity and skills to the task of confronting this crisis head on.The transition from dirty energy such as fossil fuels to clean energy such as hydro, solar and wind is already happening. Emerging technologies such as battery storage offer us the prospect of being able to ensure the supply of adequate, affordable power and still achieve net zero carbon emissions.What we need is a sustained global effort to scale up investment in these technologies and make them more affordable, especially for developing countries around the world. And as COP President, I am convinced that will eventually happen. Not least because humanity - unlike the dinosaurs - has a great capacity to adapt to changed circumstances.So rather than a message of doom and gloom, let us all fire the imaginations of our educators - and through them, our young people - about what is possible if the world can finally come together to overcome this threat.Thank you for bringing your intellectual input and experience to our collective effort this week. And I now have the great pleasure to formally open the 20th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers.Vinaka vakalevu. Thank you.
Structure of SMAVIA

Pricing and Availability



Fujitsu Limited Public and Investor Relations Tel: +81-3-3215-5259 URL: www.fujitsu.com/global/news/contacts/

TOKYO, Feb 20, 2018 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu today announced the Japan launch of Fujitsu IoT Solution SMAVIA, an IoT utilization service platform upon which data can be put to new uses. It does this by linking data stored in various systems throughout a supply chain, such as data stored in sales and inventory management, transportation and delivery, and sensor data, such as employee location information and vital signs. Fujitsu plans to roll out the IoT service platform globally in the future.SMAVIA aggregates and integrates in the cloud data stored in various operations systems, combining it with sensor data from people, things, and the environment at on-site locations, such as distribution warehouses. By analyzing such data as the status of sales and inventory, logistics costs, and the work efficiency of employees, this service platform enables users to address labor shortages, an issue in retail and distribution, and to implement optimal improvement measures to maximize sales. This further enhances the competitive strength of customers.SMAVIA consists of two components. The first is Fujitsu IoT Solution SMAVIA Platform, which aggregates data from operational systems and from IoT devices such as sensors, and provides Fujitsu's proprietary algorithms via APIs for such functions as optimizing distribution inventory and visualizing the efficiency of employees. The second are data utilization services that analyze, visualize, and support improvements in customer processes based on that data. Fujitsu is now launching in Japan both the SMAVIA Platform and three different data utilization services, with plans for a future global roll out.By expanding the number of data utilization services and promoting data utilization across the entire supply chain, including data analysis and prediction using Fujitsu Human Centric AI Zinrai, Fujitsu's AI technology, the company will continue to support the digital transformation in retail and distribution.Fujitsu will exhibit SMAVIA at RETAILTECH JAPAN 2018, which will be held at the Tokyo Big Sight March 6-9, 2018.BackgroundRetail and distribution has in recent years seen diversification of consumer preferences, more varied products, and increasingly sophisticated sales and delivery methods. At the same time, problems such as aging employees or even a shortage of labor have grown more severe, raising the burden on each individual worker. In order to resolve these sorts of issues, there has been a desire to accelerate digital transformations, including the collection and analysis of not only data from operations systems, but also on-site data collected using IoT devices, such as sensors.Building on its series of financial solutions, Fujitsu Financial Solution Finplex, and its "digital place" for manufacturing, Fujitsu Manufacturing Solution COLMINA, the company is launching SMAVIA, an IoT utilization service platform for retail and distribution, as the third in its series of industry platforms. Being rolled out over the Fujitsu Digital Business Platform MetaArc, SMAVIA will support the transformation of existing businesses and the creation of new ones.SMAVIA OverviewSMAVIA is an IoT utilization service platform that promotes comprehensive data utilization. It takes the wide variety of data stored in various systems throughout the supply chain, along with on-site sensor data about people, things, and the environment collected through IoT devices installed in places such as warehouses and storefronts, and combines that data on the basis of the experience Fujitsu has accumulated through providing services and solutions to customers in retail and distribution, from logistics companies to retail stores.The system consists of the SMAVIA Platform, which collects and aggregates a variety of operational system and on-site sensor data from the retail and distribution industry, and features APIs to combine these data for analyses and predictions via proprietary algorithms, as well as data utilization services suited for a variety of usage scenarios.http://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_FujitsuStructureSMAVIA.jpgStructure of SMAVIAThe Newly Launched SMAVIA Platform and the Three New Data Utilization Services1. Fujitsu IoT Solution SMAVIA Platform links data across the supply chain, creating new valueBased on the customer's data utilization needs, SMAVIA Platform extracts and aggregates only necessary data from the variety of supply chain operational systems and on-site IoT devices. Using APIs developed based on the experience Fujitsu has cultivated in building and operating systems internally and for customers in the retail and distribution industry, as well as its Zinrai AI technology, Fujitsu supports the effective utilization of this data for customer processes.Fujitsu can also build customer-specific systems using the SMAVIA Platform.2. Fujitsu IoT Solution SMAVIA Warehouse Employee Performance analyzes and visualizes operational efficiencyBased on experience cultivated in Fujitsu's internal deployments, SMAVIA Warehouse Employee Performance is a service that provides an objective look at work efficiencies by combining customer warehouse management data with sensor data recording the position and movement of warehouse employees, and then analyzing and visualizing that data.With this service, data relating to operational instructions and performance data managed through customer operations systems, along with data collected through on-site sensors such as Fujitsu's location badges(1) or vital-sign sensing bands(2), are collected in the SMAVIA Platform, visualizing task times, movement distance, and movement routes for each warehouse employee. Moreover, the service computes average task efficiencies based on that data, clarifying places each employee can improve by comparing those values, and thereby helping to standardize employee skills and improve productivity.3. Fujitsu IoT Solution SMAVIA Storefront Inventory Search Assistant combines RFID and inventory management data to instantly locate productsSMAVIA Storefront Inventory Search Assistant is a service that can manage and monitor store inventory for each storefront and back room using RFID.With this service, when products enter or leave inventory, the RFID tag attached to the product is read with a handheld terminal(3), and location information on whether the product is in the storefront or a back room is attached. By combining and managing this RFID data with data from inventory systems and POS systems through SMAVIA Platform, store staff can use a tablet or smartphone to instantly grasp the up-to-the-minute stock level of a product and its location. In addition, the system can prevent lost sales opportunities by significantly shortening time spent searching for a product compared with previous methods because, when employees holding their handheld terminal approach the product for which they are looking, the terminal will read the RFID tag and emit a sound.4. Fujitsu IoT Solution SMAVIA Question Answering Assistant uses AI chatbot to enhance customer supportThe SMAVIA Question Answering Assistant is a service that supports smooth answers for customer questions when employees are helping customers in stores through a text-based exchange between an employee and an AI chatbot, using Fujitsu's Smart Communication(4), which supports more active engagement with customers.If employees input a question they have been asked into the system using their smartphone, for example, an AI chatbot, trained using machine learning on FAQ data, including data from other stores in the company stored in the SMAVIA Platform, will automatically find and extract the correct answer. This will enable employees to smoothly answer even questions that they cannot immediately answer, speeding up customer support. In addition, this service enables the broader sharing of operational know-how. Moreover, this service can be useful in improving both marketing strategies and customer service quality by using machine learning to study the day-to-day question and answer data accumulated in the SMAVIA Platform, and then predicting trends in customer interest or which items will be hot sellers, analyzing different trends in customers among different locations, and even using this data in planning the company's storefront lineup.Future PlansFujitsu will expand the list of data utilization service options to 13 during fiscal 2018, promoting the creation of new value through the utilization of a variety of data in the retail and distribution industry, and providing strong support for the digital transformations of customers.Pricing and Availabilityhttp://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_FujitsuPricing220.jpgSales TargetTotal revenue of 20.0 billion yen from SMAVIA-related business by fiscal 2020.(1) Location badgeIoT device that can detect information such as location and if the user has fallen down.(2) Vital-sign sensing bandAn IoT device that can detect an employee's location, vital signs, and whether they have fallen down.(3) Handheld terminalA portable, handheld RFID reader and writer and barcode reader.(4) Smart CommunicationA solution that includes a set of a smartphone-based IP transceiver service, a business SNS service, and a smartphone LCM service.(5) Fujitsu IoT Solution SMAVIA Warehouse Employee PerformanceThe minimum number of employees is 50. In addition, the service will require the deployment of Microsoft Office 365, a Microsoft Power BI license, and devices to record the movement of employees, available by individual estimate depending on the customer's usage environment.About Fujitsu LtdFujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company, offering a full range of technology products, solutions, and services. Approximately 155,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE: 6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.5 trillion yen (US$40 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. For more information, please see http://www.fujitsu.com.* Please see this press release, with images, at:http://www.fujitsu.com/global/about/resources/news/press-releases/Source: Fujitsu LtdContact:Copyright 2018 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / February 19, 2018 / After the financial meltdown of 2008, private equity (PE) was one of the sectors that showed a speedy recovery, and 2017 proved a memorable year for it despite the complex investing environment. In addition to political and regulatory uncertainty in some global regions, PE players also had to navigate a landscape marked by rising economic protectionism and frothy valuations. Nevertheless, the sector delivered a robust performance last year, with fund-raising on a steady upward trajectory and merger and acquisition (M&A) activity on secure footing. Market participants and observers believe that regulatory compliance, valuation risks in certain industry segments, and governance considerations will keep PE investors alert in 2018. Still, both analysts and the industry itself have entered the New Year with heightened expectations, projecting another notable annual performance, comments GoBuyside, a leading New York City-based recruitment platform serving the investment management industry.

In terms of fund-raising, 2017 was an impressive year for private equity, with the Softbank Vision private equity fund attracting $100 billion to set an all-time record in its class. Another unprecedented performance was the $24.6 billion raised by Apollo Fund IX, which made history by becoming the largest buyout vehicle to date. According to multinational asset manager Schroders, 2018 will bring new fund-raising records as many institutional investors continue to bet on PE due to lower volatility as compared to stock investments, positive diversification effects, and exposure to sectors or industries inaccessible through other asset classes. Law firm Debevoise & Plimpton also anticipates another buoyant year for PE fund-raising, noting the trend towards massive vehicles. "We expect to see continued growth with respect to mega-funds as large institutional investors seek to streamline their private equity holdings by directing their capital to a slimmed-down list of the industry's most recognized firms," Debevoise & Plimpton said in a report on the PE outlook for 2018.

Analysts are not alone in their optimistic projections for the industry, as GoBuyside notes. PE investors themselves are looking confidently ahead, as apparent from the results of two surveys carried out by PitchBook. In its "Global PE Deal Multiples Report," the financial data provider points out that 52% of respondents replied with "yes" to the question of whether they considered current deal multiples within range to deliver typical fund returns. Moreover, at least 60% forecast revenue growth in excess of 10% at their companies within the first year of ownership. Shortly after that, PitchBook published its annual "PE Crystal Ball Report," which showed that 77% of respondents were under no pressure to exit the investment early. Those who remained invested in portfolio companies longer than anticipated did so because their assets continued to gain in value and perform well.

GoBuyside was founded in 2011 by Stanford MBA graduate Arjun Kapur, who chose New York City as the base for his recruitment platform. The company specializes in sourcing and screening top-tier talent for private equity firms, hedge funds, investment managers, and advisory platforms, achieving service excellence through the combination of diligence and proprietary technology. GoBuyside caters to the human capital needs of more than 500 clients, among them Fortune 500 corporations, while its talent network spans over 10,000 firms and 500-plus cities around the world.

GoBuyside - A Global Recruitment Platform: http://gobuysidenews.com

GoBuyside - Explores Factors Driving Compensation in Private Equity Sector: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gobuyside-explores-factors-driving-compensation-025500715.html

Investment Management Recruiting Solutions - GoBuyside: http://www.GoBuysideblog.com

GoBuyside - Home - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoBuyside/

Contact Information:

GoBuysideNews.com

contact@gobuysidenews.com

http://gobuysidenews.com

SOURCE: GoBuyside
TOKYO (dpa-AFX) - Sony Corp. (SON.L, SNE) will lead a new Japanese effort to develop a taxi-hailing system that uses artificial intelligence to predict demand, entering a field of competition that includes the likes of Toyota Motor and Uber investor SoftBank Group, the Nikkei Asian Review reported. The report said Five taxi operators will form a joint venture with Sony to build the platform. The aim is to dispatch taxis more efficiently by analyzing such factors as past rides, traffic and weather conditions, and event schedules. Sony, which uses AI in such products as the Aibo robot dog, has been looking to raise its profile in both consumer and business applications of the technology -- an effort that has seen it make investments in the U.S. and joint ventures in Japan. The report noted that Sony's alliance includes Tokyo-based operators Daiwa Motor Transportation, Hinomaru Kotsu, Kokusai Motorcars, Green Cab and the Checker Cab group. U.S.-based Uber Technologies is in talks to offer dispatch systems to taxi providers including Japan's Daiichi Koutsu Sangyo. Daiichi Koutsu has already announced plans to team with Didi Chuxing, China's largest ride-hailing company. Both Uber and Didi are backed by SoftBank. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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ORANGE COUNTY, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 19, 2018 / The internet and social media has complicated many ways of life for people, but although it may have effects on the way we communicate with others, it has already proven to be the most influential factor for marketing companies to have a broad outreach. Nicholas Kohlschreiber, a renowned entrepreneur from California, points out that a profound transformation of marketing techniques is already well underway, as consumers spend an increasing amount of time on their smartphones and computers. This has created a challenge for brands as they seek to connect with customers through all these devices in real-time, while also developing advertising campaigns that are effective across social media, display advertising and e-commerce.

Sweeping technological advances and the expansive outreach of social media has permanently altered the nature of marketing as a whole, a sentiment Guardian contributor David Benady noted prior to a panel discussion with industry executives. "Real-time conversations brands have with people as they interact with websites and mobile apps has changed the nature of marketing," Benady wrote. "The modern-day marketing department needs to combine the creative side of the discipline - using powerful narratives to tap into people's wishes and aspirations - with the technical side of data, digital engineering and analytics." The potential reach of an advertising campaign has also broadened. Facebook, YouTube, online news websites, and integrated apps for smartphones and tablets now allow strong ideas to quickly spread and influence in the span of a single day. "If you come up with that nugget of an idea, you've now got such reach that you can expand that and get tremendous coverage just from a little niche idea," said Mark Singleton, head of marketing at betting brand Paddy Power.

Various technological tools enable modern marketing techniques to provide a highly personalized customer experience, often through insightful analytics providing a more targeted audience. As the number of tools and options continues to grow at rapid rates, marketers are faced with increasingly complicated decisions while deciding on their strategy. Nicholas Kohlschreiber encourages them to carefully weigh the numerous choices available and focus on methods that best fit their brand, while offering the highest level of direct access to their targeted consumer base. Kohlschreiber also advises companies to constantly reevaluate their strategies in light of emerging entities that may ensure even higher degrees of innovative and strategic advertising. By continuing to embrace evolutions in technology, marketing experts can stay ahead of the latest trends, adapting to changes while receiving optimal results.

Nicholas Kohlschreiber is an experienced businessman and entrepreneur, beginning his career at a young age as the head of marketing at an online wholesale product company, where he invigorated sales with his innovative approach to the online selling and direct shipping of products to its consumers. Now the owner of a media company based in Newport Beach, Kohlschreiber oversees hundreds of employees and tens of thousands of clients every day, while striving to further the connections to the modern communication platforms - from document preparation, to online, multimedia-driven business development. In his spare time, he is a dedicated philanthropist assisting both local charities and various international non-profit organizations.

Nick Kohlschreiber - Expert in Modern Marketing: http://www.nickkohlschreibernews.com

Nick Kohlschreiber - Business Entrepreneur & Founder of TeleTree: http://nickkohlschreiberreviews.com

Nick Kohlschreiber - Creative Marketing Solutions Expert: http://nickkohlschreibermarketing.com

Contact Information

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SOURCE: Nick Kohlschreiber
RISHIKESH, India, February 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Rishikul Yogshala, a recognized yoga school and retreat home, has announced the upcoming Yoga Retreats in India for the year 2018

Rishikul Yogshala has revealed the final details about its upcoming yoga retreats for the year 2018. The highly-reformative retreats shall be offered in the very land of yoga and spirituality, India.

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(Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/643322/Yoga_Retreat.jpg )



With the divine purpose to help entities find inner peace, balance, and harmony in the mind, body, and spirit, along with the added experience of feeling pampered in the embrace of earth's most bountiful reserves, Yoga Retreats in India are organized by Rishikul Yogshala. With the revelation of their Yoga Retreat Calendar for the year 2018, this year shall be even more rejuvenating than ever. Wandering souls from across the globe seeking peace, relaxation, self-love, and inner bliss shall be welcomed to these retreats at the Yogshala. These retreats shall be held at the Yogshala's much-treasured southern wing in Kerala, and its headquarters in the North, also the yoga capital of the globe, Rishikesh, India. Owing to the amazing climatic conditions, the yoga retreats in the Ayurveda abode, Kerala, shall be held in the most exotic southern time zone during November, December, January, February, March, and April, whereas the ashram shall offer splendid retreats in the Himalayan town, Rishikesh, throughout the year.

The enthusiasts shall be able to choose from a variety of retreat options and packages - yoga retreat for the yoga enthusiasts, meditation retreats for the spiritualists, ayurveda retreats for the healing souls. However, each retreat at the Yogshala shall exhibit a subtle glimpse of the other categories for providing a holistic experience to the guests. The retreats shall cover various aspects of the sciences on a basic level including complementary Ayurveda massages and knowledge of detoxifying therapies. The addition of soulful site-seeing, excursions, and other activities in these historic and mesmerizing towns shall make up for highly wonderful and rehabilitating experiences.

The food and accommodation facility shall be provided to the guests on-site at the Yogshala's ashram facility for truly yogic acquaintances. The dwelling place at the Yogshala is akin to living in nature's haven which is only amplified by the addition of modern amenities so the guests can experience the Vedic life while feeling at home and at ease. Pure yogic food shall be served to the guests thrice a day comprising of clean, hygienic Vedic preparations, freshly sourced vegetables, and herbs. Each retreat shall be led and guided by the time-honored teachers of Rishikul Yogshala.

Rishikul Yogshala is recognized as the leading yoga school and retreat abode since its inception in 2010. Owing to the school's registered status and accreditation by Yoga Alliance, the school has maintained the finest quality in its programs and curriculum. The idealist foundation has a firm belief in offering the most authentic and rejuvenating experiences of yoga. The school strictly follows traditional teachings and system of the science with a penetrating focus on Hatha and Ashtanga Yoga, Pranayama Therapy, Shat-Kriyas (Yogic Detoxification Works), Yoga Philosophy, Anatomy, Meditation (particularly Yoga Nidra), and Adjustment and Alignment. With a range of RYT 200, 300, and 500 Hour programs, Rishikul Yogshala conducts specialized 7-Day and 15-Day Yoga, Meditation, and Ayurveda Retreats at its various locations in India, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam.

About Rishikul Yogshala

Rishikul Yogshala is an internationally acclaimed Yoga and Meditation school centered in Rishikesh with branches at several locations in India and neighboring countries since 2010. The school has been approved by Yoga Alliance USA and Yoga Alliance International. Rishikul Yogshala offers 200, 300, and 500 hour Yoga TTC courses along with exclusive 7 and 15 day Yoga, Ayurveda, and Meditation retreats. For more information, visit https://www.rishikulyogshala.org/.

Media contact:

Manmohan Singh

+91-7060-060-954

info@rishikulyogshala.org
LONDON, February 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

The search has begun for the world's best building, as the World Architecture Festival launches its annual global award programme, the 'Oscars of architecture'. The 11th edition of the Festival will take place in Amsterdam from 28 to 30 November, where more than 500 architectural practices are expected to compete for category and overall prizes.

(Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/642956/Architecture_Global_Awards_Programme.jpg )



In addition to more than 30 category winners, international judging panels will choose the best building of the year, the best future project, and the best completed landscape.

Past winners are a roll-call of significant architects from across the world including Foster & Partners, Zaha Hadid Architects; Snohetta; BIG; Isay Weinfeld; Perkins & Will; Rogers Stirk Harbour; FJMT and Sou Fujimoto.

The awards programme is the largest live event of its type in the world. All shortlisted practices will present their proposals live, in front of festival delegates and the judging panels. Organizers are expecting more than 1,000 entries following a record entry of more than 900 in 2017.

In addition to the category and overall winners, WAF also presents a series of prizes covering small projects, best use of colour, best use of timber, photography, drawing, and student work.

This year's Completed Buildings final super-jury will be chaired by Nathalie de Vries from Rotterdam-based MVRDV, and will also include Sir David Adjadye, Li Xiadong and Harvard Graduate School of Design dean, Mohsen Mostafavi.

More than 120 judges, about 40 per cent of whom will be women, will decide category winners.

The associated WAFX awards, launched to mark the tenth anniversary of the Festival, will continue to be presented to future projects that address specific problems likely to affect architects over the next few years, such as climate and social equity.

In addition, the first WAF Research Prize will also be presented, for an initiative addressing issues related to water and the built environment. The 10,000 prize is supported by Grohe, WAF's founder sponsor.

Following two successful years in Berlin, this year's edition will move to the RAI Amsterdam, with the Gala Awards Dinner hosted at the historic Beurs van Berlage.

WAF Partners include Founder Partner Grohe and Headline Partners ABB Busch-Jaeger and Miele.
First large, multi-site EPC project awarded and delivered through Scottish Non Domestic Energy Efficiency Framework

Ameresco, Inc., (NYSE:AMRC), a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company, and provider of energy infrastructure solutions, today announced that its UK operation was awarded and delivered a 3 million energy performance contract (EPC) across four colleges in Scotland. The Colleges include Edinburgh College, Borders College, Newbattle Abbey College, and West Lothian College.

This is the first large, multi-site EPC project awarded and delivered through Scottish Government's Non-Domestic Energy Efficiency Framework (NDEEF), and the first higher education EPC in Scotland delivered by Ameresco's UK operation. Ameresco identified savings opportunities through an Investment Grade Proposal (IGP), installed energy conservation measures (ECMs), and guaranteed the identified savings. The combined predicted annual energy savings total nearly 300,000, based on the energy efficiency measures installed. In addition, each College is predicted to benefit from a reduction in its carbon emissions: Edinburgh College by 13 percent, Borders College by 16 percent, Newbattle Abbey College by 53 percent, and West Lothian College by 14 percent.

David J. Anderson, Executive Vice President, Ameresco, said: "Ameresco is honoured to work with the Scottish NDEEF and the Colleges to provide comprehensive energy saving solutions. We are committed to expanding our UK operations, and to delivering sustainable energy efficient solutions for existing and new clients."

The project was funded by Scottish Government's 2017 Capital Stimulus Programme. The installation contracts were signed in May 2017, and due to the timing restrictions on the funding, the entire programme from IGP to installation had to be completed within six months. Installation of the improvements had to be completed during the college summer holidays to avoid disruption.

In addition to the accelerated timeline, the historic nature of the area and buildings added to the challenges faced by Ameresco's implementation team. Special care was taken where archeologically significant materials were found at a former medieval battlefield and grave yard at Newbattle Abbey College, and careful coordination was required with Historic Scotland and Midlothian Council to ensure all work was carried to meet the preservation requirements of the building and grounds.

ECMs implemented at the Colleges included LED lighting and controls, a combined heat and power (CHP) system, controls optimization, variable speed drives and CO 2 sensing, gas oil to natural gas conversion, smart occupancy controls, low flow taps and showers, building envelope improvements and transformer tap downs.

"Newbattle Abbey College was delighted to participate in the project. Our 16th century building, and heritage estate has benefited enormously from the project investment which will enable a significant reduction in carbon emissions and accrue energy savings which can be reinvested in our estate." George Currie, Estates and Facilities Manager, Newbattle Abbey College

"These projects are helping us reduce our carbon emissions and meet our duties as outlined in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. In addition, significant financial savings are being realised, which will help us invest in future projects." Annette Burton, Principal, Edinburgh College

"The College was pleased to participate in this programme as the projects undertaken will contribute to the College delivering on its commitment to reduce the carbon footprint and the targets set out in the Carbon Management Plan 2016-2020." Jennifer McLaren, Vice Principal, West Lothian College

Ameresco's streamlined processes and efficiency of operation enabled this challenging programme to be mobilized, delivered and installed within the original timescale. A combination of the Colleges' existing contractors, select local contractors and national providers were utilized to install the projects. Subcontractors were managed by Ameresco, ensuring minimal disruption to College staff during project installation. Ameresco worked with a third-party M&V consultant to develop the appropriate protocols to meet the Colleges expectations for measurement and verification of savings following project installation.

"The success of this project would not have been possible without the collaboration between the College site teams, their senior management and Ameresco," stated Britta MacIntosh, Ameresco's Vice President of UK Operations. "Our goal was to identify and implement a project that would deliver the most benefit and value to each College based on their unique requirements. The challenging logistics of each site required a true partnership with the Colleges and we are honoured to have worked with all those involved."

About Ameresco, Inc.

Founded in 2000, Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE:AMRC) is a leading independent provider of comprehensive services, energy efficiency, infrastructure upgrades, asset sustainability and renewable energy solutions for businesses and organizations throughout North America and Europe. Ameresco's sustainability services include upgrades to a facility's energy infrastructure and the development, construction and operation of renewable energy plants. Ameresco has successfully completed energy saving, environmentally responsible projects with Federal, state and local governments, healthcare and educational institutions, housing authorities, and commercial and industrial customers. With its corporate headquarters in Framingham, MA, Ameresco has more than 1,000 employees providing local expertise in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For more information, www.ameresco.com.

The announcement of a customer's entry into a project contract is not necessarily indicative of the timing or amount of revenue from such contract, of the company's overall revenue for any particular period or of trends in the company's overall total construction backlog. This project was included in our previously reported fully-contracted backlog as of September 30, 2017.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180220005273/en/

Contacts:

Ameresco, Inc.

CarolAnn Hibbard, 508-661-2264

news@ameresco.com
Connected planning platform in the cloud will enable German-based companies to connect data, people, and plans for better decision making

FRANKFURT, Germany, and SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --Anaplan, a leading platform provider driving a new age of connected planning, opened an office in Frankfurt, Germany today. Under the leadership of Managing Director for the DACH region Yuri Rotmanov and Christian Thiede, Sales Leader for Germany, Anaplan's Frankfurt office demonstrates the company's commitment to bringing connected planning to German organizations to help them succeed in a rapidly changing environment.

Anaplan also announced the opening of a data center in Germany, hosted by Equinix, for its German customers. To serve customers in the European market, Anaplan also has offices in the U.K., Russia, France, Austria, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Customers worldwide are using the Anaplan platform, including AccorHotels, AXA, Barclaycard, Deloitte, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, HP Inc., Intel, Louis Vuitton, and United Airlines.

"Speed and agility are essential for German companies in today's fast-moving environment," said Anaplan Founder Michael Gould. "The Anaplan platform enables companies to quickly and accurately address the challenges they face. We see enormous potential for Anaplan in the German market and are eager to help businesses here succeed through connected planning."

"Our experience shows that CFOs need fast information, more transparency, and better insights into the overall performance of the companies they manage," said Thomas Klingspor, Partner and Head of the Competence Center for Business Finance at Deloitte in Germany. "They need to be able to plan and simulate the impact of their decisions on business across the entire organization in real time." Together, Anaplan and Deloitte are committed to helping their joint customers maximize the business value of the Anaplan platform.

To learn more about how customers are leveraging the Anaplan platform for connected planning, register forHub 2018, Anaplan's annual connected planning conference at the Aria Hotel in Las Vegas from March 5-7.

About Anaplan

Anaplanis driving a new age of connected planning. Large and fast-growing organizations use Anaplan's cloud platform in every business function to make better-informed plans and decisions, and to drive faster, more effective planning processes. Anaplan also provides support, training, and planning transformation advisory services. Anaplan is a privately held company based in San Francisco with 18 offices and over 150 expert partners worldwide. To learn more, visitanaplan.com.

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- Patents in South Korea and Israel cover integration of an external DNA sequence into the chromosome of eukaryotic cells

- Merck continues to support research with genome editing under careful ethical and legal standards

- Merck to license its CRISPR-related patents to interested parties

DARMSTADT, Germany, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --Merck, a leading science and technology company and leader in genome editing, today announced that the Korean Intellectual Property Office and the Israel Patent Office have each issued notices granting Merck's patent applications for the company's CRISPR technology used in a genomic-integration method for eukaryotic cells.

"These decisions mark the fifth and sixth patent allowances for our unique CRISPR technology to find new treatments for some of the toughest medical conditions faced today, including cancer, hereditary and rare diseases," said Udit Batra, member of the Merck Executive Board and CEO, Life Science. "These foundational integration patents recognize our significant contributions to the genome-editing field and reinforce our commitment to evolving CRISPR technology globally."

Merck also has patent filings for its insertion CRISPR method in the U.S., Brazil, China, India and Japan. In December 2017, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore awarded Merck a patent for this technology. Earlier, in June 2017, Merck was awarded a similar patent by the Australian patent office. The company has also received related patent awards by the European and Canadian patent offices.

Merck is licensing these patents for applications including basic science research, agricultural biotechand therapeutic use.

Merck recognizes the potential benefits of conducting properly defined research with genome editing because of the breakthrough therapeutic potential. Therefore, Merck supports research with genome editing under careful consideration of ethical and legal standards. Merck has established a Bioethics Advisory Panel to provide guidance for research in which its businesses are involved, including research on or using genome editing.

These forthcoming, fundamental patents in South Korea and Israel cover chromosomal integration, or cutting of the chromosomal sequence of eukaryotic cells (such as mammalian and plant cells) and insertion of an external or donor DNA sequence into those cells using CRISPR. Scientists can replace a disease-associated mutation with a beneficial or functional sequence - a method important for creating disease models and gene therapy. Additionally, the method can be used to insert transgenes that label endogenous proteins for visual tracking within cells.

CRISPR genome-editing technology, which allows the precise modification of chromosomes in living cells, is advancing treatment options for a variety of medical conditions. CRISPR applications are far-ranging - from identifying genes associated with cancer and rare diseases to reversing mutations that cause blindness.

With a 12-year history in the genome-editing field, Merck was the first company to offer custom biomolecules for genome editing globally (TargeTron' RNA-guided group II introns and CompoZr' zinc finger nucleases), driving adoption of these techniques by researchers all over the world. Merck was also the first company to manufacture arrayed CRISPR libraries covering the entire human genome, accelerating cures for diseases by allowing scientists to explore more questions about root causes.

All Merck news releases are distributed by email at the same time they become available on the Merck website. Please go to www.merckgroup.com/subscribe to register online, change your selection or discontinue this service.

About Merck

Merck is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 50,000 employees work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life - from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2016, Merck generated sales of 15 billion in 66 countries.

Founded in 1668, Merck is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed corporate group. Merck holds the global rights to the "Merck" name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials.






IRVINE (dpa-AFX) - Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM) said Tuesday that its subsidiary Qualcomm River Holdings B.V. reached an agreement with NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NXPI) to increase to $127.50 per share its previously announced cash tender offer to purchase all outstanding shares of NXP.



The amended agreement, which was approved by the Qualcomm and NXP Boards of Directors, also lowers the minimum tender condition from 80% of NXP's outstanding shares to 70%.



Qualcomm also announced that Qualcomm River Holdings B.V. has entered into binding agreements with nine NXP stockholders who collectively own more than 28% of NXP's outstanding shares, excluding additional economic interests through derivatives, to tender their shares at $127.50 per share. These stockholders include funds affiliated with Elliott Advisors (UK) Limited and Soroban Capital Partners LP.



Qualcomm said it remain highly confident in its fiscal 2019 Non-GAAP earnings per share target of $6.75-$7.50, which includes $1.50 per share accretion from the acquisition of NXP.



As per the terms of the revised agreement, the currently pending tender offer of Qualcomm River Holdings B.V. to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of NXP will be amended as described above and the expiration time for the offer will be extended to the end of day, one minute after 11:59 p.m. New York City time, on March 5,2018.



Qualcomm intends to fund the additional consideration with cash on hand and new debt. The amended tender offer is not subject to any financing condition. The offer is conditioned on at least 70% of the outstanding ordinary shares of NXP being validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of the offer .



Qualcomm noted that its acquisition of NXP has received antitrust clearance from eight of the nine required government regulatory bodies around the world. The transaction remains contingent on clearance from the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) in China. Qualcomm is optimistic it will receive MOFCOM clearance in the near term.



Last week, Qualcomm said that the Broadcom's $82.00 per share proposal was unacceptable. It view that the proposal materially undervalued Qualcomm and has an unacceptably high level of risk. However, Qualcomm said it was open to further discussions with Broadcom to see if a proposal that appropriately reflected the true value of Qualcomm shares, and ensures an appropriate level of deal certainty, can be obtained.



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Frankfurt am Main (ots) -- Financed enterprises benefit from energy cost savings worth EUR 131 million per year - Annual reduction of 413,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in Germany - Financed investments secure some 19,000 jobs for a yearThe energy transition in Germany cannot succeed without significant increases in energy efficiency. The results of an evaluation of the KfW Energy Efficiency Programme - Production Facilities and Processes conducted by Prognos AG for the years 2015 and 2016 show that the programme makes an important contribution to achieving the national energy reduction targets. KfW financed around 700 energy efficiency projects in commercial enterprises between 2015 and 2016. The financed projects lead to annual energy end-use savings of 1,110 GWh, of which 130 GWh through projects financed abroad. The financed enterprises benefit from energy cost savings of EUR 131 million per year."Industrial production processes account for around one fourth of Germany's total final energy consumption. The financed projects are impressive proof that the industrial sector still has a number of levers that it can deploy to improve energy efficiency", said Dr Jorg Zeuner, Chief Economist of KfW Group, adding: "The KfW Energy Efficiency Programme supports enterprises in harnessing their energy saving potentials while at the same time strengthening Germany's international competitiveness."Machinery, equipment and process technology took the highest share of investments promoted by the KfW Energy Efficiency Programme, with around 94%. Combined heat and power generation plants followed with a share of 4%. The projects located in Germany which KfW financed in 2015 and 2016 reduce greenhouse gas emissions permanently by a total of 413.000 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year. The investments financed abroad over the same period avoid a further 62,000 tonnes per year.The KfW programme also has positive effects on employment in Germany. The investments financed in 2015 and 2016 secured or newly created around 19,000 jobs in Germany for a year - around half of them in small and medium-sized enterprises.Under the KfW Energy Efficiency Programme - Production Facilities and Processes, KfW Group provides low-interest loans to support commercial enterprises in implementing energy efficiency measures. It promotes investments in production facilities, process technology, cross-cutting technologies, heat recovery and waste heat utilisation as well as combined heat and power plants. The programme also finances measures abroad in addition to projects in Germany. The KfW Energy Efficiency Programme - Production Facilities and Processes was launched on 1 July 2015.The Prognos AG study entitled "Ermittlung der Forderwirkungen des KfW-Energieeffizienzprogramms Produktionsanlagen/-prozesse fur die Forderjahrgange 2015-2016" is available in German at www.kfw.de/evaluationenOriginaltext: KfW digital press kits: http://www.presseportal.de/nr/41193 press kits via RSS: http://www.presseportal.de/rss/pm_41193.rss2Pressekontakt: KfW, Palmengartenstr. 5 - 9, 60325 Frankfurt Kommunikation (KOM), Dr Charis Pothig, Tel. +49 (0)69 7431 4683, Fax: +49 (0)69 7431 3266, E-Mail: Charis.Poethig@kfw.de, Internet: www.kfw.de


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Packaged food company General Mills' (GIS) Chairman and CEO Jeff Harmening reiterated the company's strategy for delivering value in the face of shifting consumer food values, changing competition across categories, and disruption within retail channels. The company provided an update on the company's full-year fiscal 2018 targets



At the Consumer Analyst Group of New York conference today, Harmening said that the company is investing to drive differential growth on four key platforms - snack bars, Haagen-Dazs ice cream, Old El Paso Mexican food, and its portfolio of natural and organic food brands - that play in faster-growing categories where General Mills has leading positions. These platforms represented approximately $4 billion in net sales in fiscal 2017, or 25 percent of General Mills worldwide net sales, and Harmening said he expects them to grow at a mid single-digit rate or better over the next three years.



Harmening noted that competing effectively and growing in line with category growth would translate to a 1 to 2 percent organic sales growth opportunity, based on the company's current mix of categories and geographies.



Harmening said attractive acquisition targets fall into one of three areas: bolt-on plays in existing categories in North America and Europe; businesses that enhance scale in emerging markets such as China, Brazil, or India; and new growth platforms where the company can leverage existing capabilities and create value. Harmening also said the scope of possible divestiture candidates totals roughly 5 percent of company sales.



Don Mulligan, Chief Financial Officer provided an update on the company's full-year fiscal 2018 targets. Organic net sales are now expected to be in line with last year, at the high end of the previous range of flat to down 1 percent. The company continues to see broad-based improvement in topline momentum, including in the U.S., where it grew Nielsen-measured retail sales 1 percent and gained market share in 6 of its top 9 categories in the latest three months through January.



Constant-currency total segment operating profit for fiscal 2018 is now expected to be in a range between down 1 percent and flat, below the prior range of flat to up 1 percent, driven by increased input cost pressure, including freight and logistics costs in North America, and slower-than-expected performance improvement in Brazil. Currency translation is expected to round up to a 1 percent benefit to full-year total segment operating profit.



The full-year fiscal 2018 adjusted effective tax rate is now expected to be approximately 27 percent. This is 2 percentage points lower than prior guidance, driven by the impact of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.



Including the benefit of the lower tax rate, constant-currency adjusted earnings per share are now expected to increase 3 to 4 percent, up from previous guidance of a 1 to 2 percent increase. The company now estimates currency translation will be a 2 cent benefit to fiscal 2018 adjusted earnings per share.



For 2018, the company introduced guidance for free cash flow, which is expected to increase at least 15 percent from the prior year, driven by strong discipline on core working capital.



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WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Noble Energy Inc. (NBL) provided an updated outlook through 2020, including detailed guidance for 2018. The company provided an updated outlook through 2020, including scenarios at a $50 per barrel WTI oil price with $3 Henry Hub natural gas, as well as at recent strip pricing. The company expects to generate a cumulative total of $1.5 billion of excess cash flows through 2020 in the $50 scenario, and an additional $1.5 billion at strip pricing. The Board-authorized $750 million share repurchase program and current dividend payout will result in more than $1.3 billion in direct shareholder return over the plan period. Capital expenditures are estimated to be approximately $2.8 billion annually through 2020 in both pricing scenarios, with no changes in activity levels assumed. More than 80 percent of total capital is planned for U.S. onshore assets and in excess of 15 percent will be allocated to the Eastern Mediterranean, primarily for the Leviathan project. Estimated cash flow from operations is anticipated to grow at a 35 percent compound annual growth rate in the $50 scenario and 40 percent at strip pricing as compared to 2017. Estimated volumes are anticipated to grow to approximately 525 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (MBoe/d) in 2020, a 20 percent compound annual growth rate from 2017. Oil volumes grow at more than a 25 percent compound annual growth rate. For 2018, Capital expenditures are expected to total between $2.7 and $2.9 billion, with nearly 70 percent allocated to the U.S. onshore program and over 25 percent to the Eastern Mediterranean. Full-year sales volumes, at the midpoint of the Company's expected range, are approximately 12 percent higher than 2017. U.S. onshore volumes are expected to increase more than 20 percent and U.S. onshore oil volumes are anticipated to be up nearly 30 percent with upstream capital investments essentially flat to 2017 levels. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 20, 2018) - Lupaka Gold Corp. (TSXV: LPK) (FSE: LQP) ("Lupaka Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Daniel B.J. Kivari, P.Eng., as Director of Operations, and commencement of an investor relations program.

Mr. Kivari is a Professional Engineer and holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree with honors in metallurgy and mineral processing from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. He has more than 30 years of international experience in metallurgy, engineering and management of mineral projects throughout various stages of development. Most recently Mr. Kivari held the position of Chief Operating Officer at Stellar Mining Corp., a privately held mining company in Peru with a focus on base metals. Mr. Kivari's previous work experience includes several senior operating roles including Chief Operating Officer for Carpathian Gold Inc, Regional Manager for Agnico Eagle Ltd.'s Western and Nunavut operations where he was responsible for the development of the US$400-million Meadowbank gold project, and Vice President of Operations with Yamana Gold Inc., based in Brazil, overseeing the development of the US$200-milion Chapada copper-gold project (a 50,000 tpd operation). He also managed open-pit and underground operations at the Mineracao Maraca and Mineracao Fazendo Brasileiro mines and the open pit operation at the San Andres Mine, in Honduras.

Will Ansley, President and CEO of Lupaka stated: "We are fortunate to have Mr. Kivari join our team as Director of Operations. Dan brings a tremendous depth of operational experience and technical knowledge having developed and operated a variety of mining projects all over the Americas, including Peru, where he is a resident and understands the environment. We welcome Dan to the team knowing he will have an immediate impact on the Invicta Gold Development Project by overseeing the rehabilitation and development of site infrastructure, the selection of a processing facility, and ultimately the commencement of production in the second half of this year. Looking forward, Dan will also be of great value as we evaluate additional growth opportunities for Lupaka."

Commensurate with his appointment, Mr. Kivari will be granted 750,000 stock options, for the purchase of up to 750,000 common shares, pursuant to the Company's 2010 Incentive Stock Option Plan. The options vest over 18 months and are exercisable on or before February 16, 2023 at a price of $0.23.

In connection with the news release dated February 13, 2018, Lupaka Gold announces that it has engaged WIN Expertise to provide Corporate Advisory and Investor Relations services pursuant to a consulting agreement dated February 9, 2018 (the "WIN Consulting Agreement").

The WIN Consulting Agreement has an initial 12 month term (which may be terminated by the Company upon 30 days written notice) and is being granted stock options to acquire up to 75,000 common shares in the capital of the Company at an exercise price of $0.18 per share (as disclosed in the February 13, 2018 news release). The Options are exercisable for a period of three years from the date of grant.

The appointment of Mr. Kivari and the WIN Consulting Agreement are subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of this news release.

About Win Expertise

WIN Expertise is a corporate advisory and investor relations firm headquartered in Toronto that assists small cap public companies with strategic investor relations programs and marketing awareness campaigns focused on the investment community. WIN Expertise will assist Lupaka Gold with enhancing market awareness by managing corporate communications and marketing activities to achieve an effective flow of information between the Company and shareholders, finance professionals, analysts and the media.

About Lupaka Gold

Lupaka is an active Canadian-based company focused on creating shareholder value through discoveries and strategic development of its assets in some of the most prolific mining regions of Peru.

Invicta Gold Development Project - 100% owned, the Company's flagship project is an advanced stage gold-copper polymetallic underground deposit located approximately 120 kilometres north of Lima. Over $15 million of capital has been spent by previous owners on development and infrastructure at Invicta, and management expects to commence potential production in the second half of 2018 by using third-party mining contractors and utilizing the adit and existing workings. The Invicta project is fully permitted and community agreements are in place.

The potential underground operation will be focused on accessing Invicta's Measured and Indicated mineral resources, which was prepared by SRK Consulting (US) Inc. in 2012 estimated as:

Measured mineral resource - 131,000 tonnes grading 6.65 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold equivalent for 28,000 contained ounces ("ozs") of gold, from: 18,000 ozs Au grading at 4.29 g/t, 133,000 ozs Ag grading at 31.71 g/t, 2,119k lbs Cu grading at 0.73%, 1,110k lbs Pb grading at 0.39% and 1,105k lbs of Zn grading at 0.38%.

Indicated mineral resource - 8,513,000 tonnes grading 3.43 g/t gold equivalent for 939,000 contained ozs of gold, from: 573,000 ozs Au grading at 2.09 g/t, 4,285,000 ozs Ag grading at 15.65 g/t, 79,048k lbs Cu grading at 0.42%, 45,171k lbs Pb grading at 0.24% and 53,482k lbs of Zn grading at 0.21%.

An Inferred mineral resource estimate of 2,534,000 tonnes grading 2.90 g/t gold equivalent for 236,000 contained ozs of gold has also been established.

The 2012 Mineral Resource Estimate was stated at a 1.30 g/t gold equivalent cut-off. Metal prices assumed for the gold equivalent calculation are US$1,500/oz for gold, US$32.50/oz for silver, US$3.90/lb for copper, US$1.05/lb for lead and US$1.00/lb for zinc. The gold equivalent calculation assumes 100% metallurgical recovery, and does not account for any smelting, transportation or refining charges. See further disclosure regarding the calculated gold equivalent cut-off grade, as below.

Invicta's approved EIA allows for mine production of 1,000 tpd, although the current mining plan is limited to 350 tpd.

Cautionary Note Regarding the Invicta Production Decision

The decision to commence potential production at the Invicta Gold Project and the Company's plans for a mining operation as referenced herein (the "Production Decision and Plans") were based on economic models prepared by the Company in conjunction with management's knowledge of the property and the existing estimate of measured, indicated and inferred mineral resources on the property. The Production Decision and Plans were not based on a preliminary economic assessment, a pre-feasibility study or a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability. Accordingly, there is increased uncertainty and economic and technical risks of failure associated with the Production Decision and Plans, in particular the risk that mineral grades will be lower than expected, the risk that construction or ongoing mining operations are more difficult or more expensive than expected, the risk that the Company will not be able to transport or sell the mineralized material it produces to local custom toll mills on the terms it expects, or at all; production and economic variables may vary considerably, due to the absence of a detailed economic and technical analysis according to and in accordance with NI 43-101.

Josnitoro Gold Project - the Company holds an option to earn a 65% interest on this project from Hochschild Mining PLC. The project is located approximately 800 kilometres by road southeast of Lima in the Department of Apurimac, southern Peru, within the Andahuaylas-Yaury Belt, in which the Las Bambas mine (MMG Limited) and the Constancia mine (HudBay Minerals) are located. Historical work on the disseminated gold zones includes over 170 shallow drill holes and extensive surface trenching, as well as artisanal mining.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Will Ansley, President & C.E.O.

wansley@lupakagold.com

Tel: (416) 862-5257

or visit the Company's profile at www.sedar.com or its website at www.lupakagold.com

Qualified Person

The technical information in this document has been reviewed and approved by Julio Castaneda Mondragon, MAIG, the President of Lupaka Gold Peru S.A.C., a Peruvian subsidiary of the Company, and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Castaneda has verified the scientific and technical information, including sampling, analytical and test data underlying the information or opinions contained in this news release.

The Invicta Gold Project mineral resource estimates referred to in this news release are disclosed in the technical report dated April 16, 2012, titled "Technical Report on Resources, Invicta Gold Project, Huaura Province, Peru" (the "Invicta Technical Report"), and prepared by SRK Consulting (U.S.) Inc., which is available at www.sedar.com under Lupaka Gold Corp's profile. The metal prices used to calculate the gold equivalent cut-off grade in the Invicta Technical Report are based on prices at the time. Investors are cautioned that current metal prices are now lower and as a result, the above-referenced cut-off grade could be materially affected based on current prices. Investors are further cautioned that the prices of precious metals can fluctuate in wide ranges over short periods of time.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information

All statements, trend analysis and other information contained in this press release relative to anticipated future events or results constitute forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including, without limitation, statements relating to improvements in the road to the Invicta Project and its anticipated benefits and the timing of completion of the improvements, the timing of the commencement of potential production from the Invicta Project and the generation of cash therefrom, the anticipated methods of production, the receipt of and anticipated use of proceeds of the PLI Financing, the Company's plans and intentions for Invicta, mineral resource estimates, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, estimates and opinions of management at the date the statements are made that the Company believes are reasonable, including: that the repayment of the PLI Financing is consummated on the anticipated terms, that the supplies, equipment, personnel, permits, and local community approvals required to conduct the Company's planned pre-production and development activities will be available on reasonable terms, that the Company will be able to comply with the delivery and other obligations in the PLI Financing Agreement, that results of exploration activities will be consistent with management's expectations and that the Company will not experience any material accident, labour dispute, or failure of equipment and with respect to the planned mining operations at Invicta; that pre-production mine development can be completed in the time and for the cost projected; that the Company will be able to obtain funding for planned production expenses; that mineralization at Invicta will be of the grades and in the locations expected; that the Company will be able to extract and transport mineralized rock efficiently and sell the mineralized rock at the prices and in the manner and quantities expected; that permits will be received on the terms and timeline expected and that other regulatory or permitting issues will not arise; that mining methods can be employed in the manner and at the costs expected and that such methods yield the results the Company expects them to. However, forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others: all of the risks described in this news release; failure of the PLI Financing to complete on the proposed terms or at all, including due to the Company's inability to complete the conditions precedent, the risk that actual results of exploration and development activities will be different than anticipated; that the Company will not be able to comply with the delivery or other obligations in the PLI Financing Agreement and the risk that PLI will enforce its security over the Company's assets, including its mineral properties; that cost of labour, equipment or materials will increase more than expected; that the future price of gold will decline; that the Canadian dollar will strengthen against the U.S. dollar; that mineral resources are not as estimated; unexpected variations in mineral resources, grade or recovery rates; risks related to shipping mineralized rock; the risk that local mills cannot or will not buy or process mineralized rock from the planned production for the prices expected or at all; risk of accidents, labour disputes and other risks generally associated with mineral exploration; unanticipated delays in obtaining or failure to obtain community, governmental or regulatory approvals or financing; and all of the risks generally associated with the development of mining facilities and the operation of a producing mine, as well as the risks described in the Company's annual information form, which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to not be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. Lupaka Gold does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Zurich - Today, Switzerland's leading FinTech space, F10 Incubator and Accelerator, announces the final selection of fifteen startups for Batch III of its praised P2 Prototype to Product Program. Successful startups have undergone one of the most rigorous selection processes in the industry.

Andreas Iten, F10's co-founder and board member, states "startups with innovative ideas from around the world - fifty countries in total - applied to be a part of Batch III of our P2 Program. The quality of entrants was incredibly high and deciding on who to pick was not an easy effort."

"Our process saw F10 go on a world tour to scout talented startups in their native environment, before returning to our corporate members to present the cream of the crop. Selecting the top twenty-five was then done through a corporate member vote - and was whittled down to the final fifteen through a competitive 'speed dating' event' where we distilled the selection to a smaller number of even higher quality participants."

The startups include:

Anansi insurance platform for high-growth SMEs with an international supply chain of physical goods.

Baasis ID all-in-one identity verification (KYC) platform for FinTechs, crypto wallets and exchanges, and government agencies.

BDEO streamlined operational processes for insurance claims for companies in Europe and South America.

Borderless blockchain-powered international ...

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Steel Partners Holdings L.P. (NYSE:SPLP) today announced it has completed the acquisition of the assets of the specialty coated film manufacturer, Dunmore Corporation in the United States, and the share purchase of Dunmore Europe GmbH in Germany. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Bristol, Pennsylvania, and with three major ISO 9001: 2008 certified manufacturing facilities (two in the United States and one in Europe), Dunmore is a leading global provider of specialty coated, laminated and metallized films. Founded 45 years ago, Dunmore will operate as a stand-alone business, reporting into Steel Partners' API Group subsidiary, which is part of Steel Partners' Diversified Industrial segment.

"Dunmore, which had sales last year of approximately $70 million, provides another growth platform for Steel and API," said Warren Lichtenstein, Executive Chairman of Steel Partners. "The transaction deepens our market penetration into substrates, technical films, and laminates, serving the aerospace, photo voltaic solar panel, reflective insulation and durable label markets. It also opens new adjacent markets for existing technologies and capabilities. Since our acquisition of API in 2015, we have been able to grow the top line of that business by 50%, including two complementary acquisitions, and we significantly enhanced quality and productivity through the disciplines of our Steel Business System."

Dino Kiriakopoulos, CEO of API Group, said, "Dunmore's modern facilities in the United States and Germany, which produce high-value films and laminates, will provide us with an excellent platform to continue to develop the high-value markets in graphic and technical laminates we entered when we acquired Amsterdam Metallized Products."

Commenting on the acquisition, Dunmore CEO Matt Sullivan, added, "The complementary opportunities are huge and speak for themselves, so we look forward to working with Warren, Dino and the entire team as we develop this next, exciting phase in Dunmore's history."

About Steel Partners

Steel Partners Holdings L.P. (www.steelpartners.com) is a diversified global holding company that owns and operates businesses and has significant interests in leading companies in various industries, including diversified industrial products, energy, defense, supply chain management and logistics, banking and youth sports.

About API

API Group (www.apigroup.com) is a leading manufacturer and distributor of foils, laminates and holographic materials which provide exceptional brand enhancement for consumer goods and printed media worldwide. With roots in the British paper industry, the company's reputation is founded on a trading history going back over a century.

Operating from thirteen locations across Europe, America and Asia, API's packaging solutions enable companies across a wide-range of industry sectors, including premium drinks, confectionery, tobacco, perfumery, personal-care, cosmetics and healthcare to empower their brands on the shelf and in the hand.

About Dunmore

Dunmore Corporation (www.dunmore.com) is a global supplier of engineered coated and laminated films and foils. Dunmore offers film conversion services such as coating, metallizing and laminating along with contract film manufacturing and custom film product development. Dunmore produces coated film, metallized film and laminating film substrates for the aircraft, spacecraft, photovoltaic, graphic arts, packaging, insulation, surfacing and fashion industries.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that reflect Steel Partners Holdings' current expectations and projections about future results, performance, prospects and opportunities. Steel Partners Holdings has tried to identify these forward-looking statements by using words such as "may," "should," "expect," "hope," "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "plan," "estimate" and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects or future opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. These factors include, without limitation, the ability of Steel Partners Holdings to successfully integrate Dunmore's business and the risk that the expected benefits of the transaction may not be realized or maintained, the need for additional financing and the terms and conditions of any financing that is consummated, customers' acceptance of new and existing products, the risk that Steel Partners Holdings and its operating companies will not be able to compete successfully, the possible volatility of Steel Partners Holdings common or preferred unit price and the potential fluctuation in its operating results. Although Steel Partners Holdings believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable and achievable, no assurance can be given that the actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Investors should read carefully the factors described in the "Risk Factors" section of Steel Partners Holdings filings with the SEC, including Steel Partners Holdings Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, and in any interim quarterly reports, for information regarding risk factors that could affect Steel Partners Holdings' results. Except as otherwise required by federal securities laws, Steel Partners Holdings undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180220005494/en/

Contacts:

For API customer and media inquiries:

Richard Burhouse, +44 1625 650500

Commercial Director

richard.burhouse@apigroup.com

or

For Dunmore customer and media inquiries:

Tom Rimel, +1-215-781-8895

COO

trimel@dunmore.com

or

For Steel Partners Holdings investor and media inquiries:

PondelWilkinson Inc.

Roger Pondel, +1-310-279-5965

rpondel@pondel.com
AIRPORT CITY, Israel, February 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Shikun & Binui Ltd. (TASE: SKBN.TA) has learned that four individuals, which are former and current employees, of a foreign indirect subsidiary company were detained this morning for questioning by the Israeli Police.

In addition, during the morning hours, police investigators visited the offices of a direct subsidiary company, which holds the foreign indirect subsidiary company, in order to obtain documents under a warrant of suspicion of bribery.

It is noted, that the foreign indirect subsidiary company, voluntarily initiated a report to foreign enforcement officials in Europe (where the foreign company resides) in light of claims against the foreign indirect subsidiary company, which were raised by a former employee, with respect to its conduct in Africa.

The claims were raised within the framework of a lawsuit filed against the foreign indirect subsidiary at the Israeli Labor Court. The foreign indirect subsidiary made a report to foreign enforcement officials regarding the claims raised by this former employee, and the steps taken to examine those claims.

The foreign indirect subsidiary company also initiated a thorough investigation with respect to the subsidiary company's conduct in Africa, using an external foreign independent forensic accounting firm. This examination is still ongoing.

It is noted that recently the foreign indirect subsidiary company received a request from the INT department at the World Bank, stating its intention to conduct an audit process in connection with several projects in Kenya, of the indirect subsidiary company, which the World Bank was involved in its financing.

S&B is not aware of any connection between the three events described above.

S&B is unable at this stage to assess the accuracy of the claims and the impact of the above-mentioned events.

About the Shikun & Binui Group

The Shikun & Binui Group is a global construction and infrastructure company that operates in Israel and internationally in seven segments: 1) infrastructure and construction contracting outside of Israel; 2) infrastructure and construction contracting within Israel; 3) real estate development within Israel; 4) real estate development outside of Israel; 5) renewable energy;and 6) concessions. The Group's activities focus on large, highly complex projects carried out for entities in private and public sectors with a focus on sustainability.

IR Contacts:

Company

Inbal Uliansky

+972-(3)-6301058

inbal_u@shikunbinui.com

External IR

Ehud Helft

GK Investor Relations

+1-617-418-3096

shikunbinuni@gkir.com

This summary announcement was prepared solely for the convenience of the reader and does not replace Shikun & Binui Ltd.'s (hereafter - "the Company") full report. The information contained in this announcement is, by its nature, incomplete. All of its contents are provided as a supplement to the Company's report, and are subject to the declarations therein stated. This announcement includes forecasts, assessments, estimates and other information relating to the Company or its subsidiaries, or to other parties or to future events and matters, the extent of whose realization is not certain and is not under the sole control of the Company (forward-looking information, as defined in the Securities Law-1968). The key facts and data serving as the basis for this information are facts and data, among others, related to the current status of the Company and its businesses, facts and data relating to the current status of the operating segments in which the Company engages in its areas of operation, and other macroeconomic facts and data known to the Company on the preparation date of this presentation.

It is understood that forward-looking information does not constitute a fact and is based solely on subjective assessments. Forward-looking information is uncertain and for the most part, is not under the Company's control. The realization or non-realization of the forward-looking information will be influenced, among others, by the risk factors that characterize the Company's operations, as well as developments in the general environment and external factors that impact the Company's operations. The Company's future results and achievements could differ significantly from those presented in this presentation. The Company is not obligated to update or modify the said forecast or assessment, and is not obligated to update this announcement. This announcement does not constitute an offer to purchase the Company's securities or an invitation to receive such offers. An investment in securities in general, and in the Company in particular, carries risk. One must take into account that past data do not necessarily indicate future performance.
Regulatory News:

Ontex Group NV, a leading international provider of disposable solutions, with expertise in baby care, feminine care and adult care, will release its Full Year 2017 results at 6:00 am GMT 7:00 am CET on Tuesday, 6 March 2018. The press release and presentation announcement will be available on the Company's website: http://www.ontexglobal.com/financial-reports.

Management will host a conference call for investors and analysts on Tuesday, 6 March 2018 at 8:00 am GMT 9:00 am CET. A replay of the conference call will also be available for one week afterwards.

Dial-in information

Please dial in 5-10 minutes before the scheduled start time to register your attendance. Dial-in numbers for the call are as follows:

United Kingdom +44 (0)330 336 9105 United States +1 646 828 8156 Belgium +32 (0)2 404 0659 France +33 (0)1 76 77 22 74 Germany +49 (0)69 2222 13420 Passcode: 6390577

Replay numbers

United Kingdom +44 (0) 207 660 0134 United States +1 719 457 0820 Belgium +32 (0) 2 620 0568 France +33 (0) 1 70 48 00 94 Germany +49 (0) 69 2000 1800 Passcode: 6390577

About Ontex

Ontex is a leading international provider of personal hygiene solutions, with expertise in baby care, feminine care and adult care. Ontex's innovative products are distributed in more than 110 countries through Ontex brands such as BBTips, BioBaby, Pompom, Bigfral, Canbebe, Canped, ID and Serenity, as well as leading retailer brands.

Employing 11,000 passionate people all over the world, Ontex has a presence in 22 countries, with its headquarters in Aalst, Belgium. Ontex is part of the Bel20 and STOXX Europe 600.

To keep up with the latest news, visit www.ontexglobal.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180220005811/en/

Contacts:

Ontex Group NV

INVESTOR ENQUIRIES

Philip Ludwig

+32 53 333 730

investorrelations@ontexglobal.com

or

PRESS ENQUIRIES

Gaelle Vilatte

+32 53 333 708

gaelle.vilatte@ontexglobal.com
PALM BEACH, Florida, February 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

MarketNewsUpdates.com News Commentary

The massive growth of the CBD-based product market continues to be one of the most active opportunities in the multi-billion dollar legal marijuana/cannabis markets, as experts are currently forecasting the CBD segment alone to grow to $2.1 Billion by 2020, according to The Hemp Business Journal. Through innovation and the development of new product lines with new uses, aggressive companies in the space are tapping into new consumer markets to increase their market share. CBD-based products have a growing list of uses with the potential to be used in a number of ways, ranging from therapeutic benefits, consumer edible products, health and wellness products and even animal/pet medications. CBD applications and uses are nonpsychoactive and are known for targeting reliefs of pain, anxiety and depression, stimulate appetite and have anti-inflammatory and anti-acne properties.Development of diversified productsand uses are boosting the already Multi-Billion Dollar CBD market to new heights as more growth is on the horizon. Active Companies from around the market with current developments this week include: Marijuana Company of America, Inc. (OTC: MCOA), Hemp Inc. (OTC: HEMP), Medical Marijuana Inc. (OTC: MJNA), mCig, Inc. (OTC: MCIG), PotNetwork Holding Inc. (OTC: POTN) and Rocky Mountain High Brands Inc. (OTC: RMHB).

Marijuana Company of America, Inc. (OTC: MCOA), an innovative hemp and cannabis corporation, is pleased to announce the release of hempSMART' Full Spectrum Pet Drops formulated for cats and dogs. Each bottle of hempSMART Full Spectrum Pet Drops is formulated with 250mg of full spectrum non-psychoactive Cannabidiol (CBD) derived from industrial hemp. The new specially formulated product contains naturally occurring CBD derived from hemp seed oil, full spectrum hemp extract, fractionated coconut oil, and a rich bacon flavor. Read this and more news for MCOA at http://www.marketnewsupdates.com/news/mcoa.html

Donald Steinberg, MCOA's CEO said, "Our new hempSMART product is a natural option for pet owners who care about supporting their animals' healthy energy levels as well as optimizing their health. Our hempSMART product line will continue to expand to other popular areas of consumer interest to give our affiliates what they need to succeed."

In reviewing pet supplement trends for 2017, Watson, Inc.'s Mona Hollums observed that natural pet supplement sales nearly doubled between 2008 and 2014. With the increasing focus on pet health, the market for pet supplements is projected to show significant and continuing expansion. Projections show that U.S. retail sales of pet supplements and nutraceuticals treats will grow 3%-5% annually, bringing the market to $1.6 billion. Globally, the pet supplement market is also expected to grow even further. Between 2016-2020, sales are projected to increase over 5% and will continue to yield lucrative investment payouts.

In the industry developments and happenings in the market this week include:

Medical Marijuana Inc. (OTC: MJNA) recently announced it has garnered national news coverage on globally-recognized lifestyle website POPSUGAR. A February 4, 2018, article on the POPSUGAR website entitled "14 of the Best CBD Products We're Obsessed With - You Need to Try These ASAP" showcases Medical Marijuana, Inc.'s Cannabis Beauty Defined CBD Anti-Aging Serum and talks about how the product is like a "miracle syrup" for the face and body that provides moisture to patches of dry and inflamed skin. This leading lifestyle website, which boasts an audience of over three billion global monthly views, is targeted predominately at millennial women and is a trusted source for fashion, beauty and fitness tips as well as beauty product reviews.

mCig, Inc. (OTCQB: MCIG), an innovative biotech company, which focuses on cannabis-industrial hemp, cannabinoid research, and development, nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals, also recently announced plans to launch an innovatively advanced hemp CBD-based formula for pets. Doctor of Bioengineering and Cardiology at Mt. Sinai Medical Center, Arkady Uryash, will be leading this new initiative in the rapidly expanding sixty-billion-dollar CBD pet industry market. "CBD-based pet products are seeing heightened demand across the globe. Trial studies have shown that CBD oils can help reduce anxiety, inflammation, and chronic pain while boosting the pet's immune system," Says Arkady Uryash, MD, Ph.D. at Biomedical Research Institute, Mt Sinai Medical Center. "Results have demonstrated rapid positive results in improving condition of pets suffering from these ailments, which is one of the many reasons pet owners are eager to obtain CBD wellness products supported by science and from reputable and trustworthy companies."

PotNetwork Holding Inc. (OTC: POTN) recently announced its subsidiary, Diamond CBD, Inc., has successfully launched a new product line, Meds BioTech, which expands the Company's product marketing and distribution into health-focused distribution channels, such as vitamin shops, health product stores, gyms, chiropractic offices and physicians' offices, which the Company regards as a new industry sector for the distribution of its products. Dr. Richard Goulding, CEO, stated, "We have designed this new product line, Meds BioTech, to appeal to health-conscious consumers and health-focused distribution channels, while adding under this new brand such new formulations as 'CBD & Turmeric' capsules." He added, "By creating these specially-designed products formulated and packaged to meet the needs of this sector, we believe we will carve out in 2018 a strong presence in, and sizable incremental revenue source from these new distribution channels. We believe the result will be a significant spike in our consumer awareness, brand preference and distribution footprint."

Rocky Mountain High Brands Inc. (OTCQB: RMHB) recently announced an update from its Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer, Michael Welch, on the Company's Master Manufacturing Agreement with CBD Alimentos SA de CV ("Client"). Mr. Welch stated, "In January, we amended the agreement with our Client at their request to switch from our Rocky Mountain High functional beverages with hemp seed extract to a new formulation of our Rocky Mountain High functional beverages with water soluble cannabidiol ('CBD'), containing a non-detectable level of 0.00% THC (the compound that creates a 'high'). With an agreement worth an estimated $7.2 million, we believe that this represents one of the largest single orders of CBD-infused beverages in the industry*. Rocky Mountain High Brands will be one of the first companies to infuse a functional beverage with CBD in a can, which affirms our trailblazer status. Migrating from a hemp-based product to a CBD-infused offering demonstrates our Client's confidence in Rocky Mountain High Brands' product quality, capabilities, flexibility, and leadership status." Mr. Welch concluded, "In addition to our CBD-infused beverages, we are also researching other products to present to our Client to enhance their portfolio. As demonstrated by our recent HEMPd product line announcement, we are evolving into a more diverse brand in 2018, which will provide the Company different sources of revenue. This private label agreement is a very important step in our diversification. Properly executing it is a top priority for the Company at this time."

DISCLAIMER: MarketNewsUpdates.com (MNU) is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. MNU is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. MNU and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. MNU's market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks. All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release. MNU is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks. For current services performed MNU has been compensated forty four hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press release issued by Marijuana Company of America, Inc. by the company. MNU HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may", "future", "plan" or "planned", "will" or "should", "expected," "anticipates", "draft", "eventually" or "projected". You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company's annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and MNU undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

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SAN FRANCISCO (dpa-AFX) - Gap Inc. (GPS) said that Jeff Kirwan, president and CEO of Gap brand, will leave the company. The company added that a search is underway for a new president of Gap brand. 'Under Jeff's leadership we made significant progress on the operating model of Gap brand. We are faster and more responsive than ever before, we radically improved quality and fit, and we centered the brand on the aesthetic that our customers love: casual, optimistic and American,' said Art Peck, CEO of Gap Inc. Brent Hyder, current Gap Inc. EVP, Global Talent and Sustainability will oversee the brand. Prior to his current role, Hyder served as Chief Operating Officer at Gap brand. He also served as Vice President and General Manager of Gap Japan K.K., leading all aspects of the Gap Inc. business in Japan. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
The signing ceremony

Outline of PoC



Hitachi Ltd Corporate Communications Tel: +81-3-3258-1111

BANGKOK, Feb 20, 2018 - (JCN Newswire) - Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501) and Hitachi Asia (Thailand) Co., Ltd., a branch of Hitachi, today announced that they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Thailand Post Co., Ltd., the Thai government-owned state enterprise under the supervision of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society to provide postal services. The MoU concerns the cooperation amongst the parties with view of realizing the information providing service for Thai people and other related Thailand Post's new services.http://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_HitachiSigningCerenomy220.jpgThe signing ceremonyBased on this MoU, Hitachi and Hitachi Asia (Thailand) will work with Thailand Post to start proof of concept (PoC) regarding a new information transmission that utilizes the nationwide postal network as a highly reliable way to deliver public administrative information to Thai nationals. Specifically, Thailand Post will introduce an experimental digital post(1) that will enable receivers to receive notifications from the state agencies of Thailand through their computers and smartphones. The PoC will also accommodate the outsource mail printing service. Studies will also be conducted on the needs associated with other public administrative information and various types of notifications from private companies, such as direct mail and invoices, to determine the feasibility of specific Thailand Post services specifically for such notifications. Utilizing the results of the PoC including consideration of change to alternative approach, in order to achieve Thailand Post's new services that can contribute to improving its business operation or solving challenges in the future, Thailand Post, Hitachi and Hitachi Asia (Thailand) will compile plans to develop the service for the following years and consider the wide range of ICT functions to realize the services.Thailand is currently promoting a national policy aimed at establishing an advanced economic infrastructure and achieving further economic development. In the field of postal services, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (Thailand) (MDES) has been working with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (Japan) (MIC). In FY 2016, MIC conducted a research project that suggested that the utilization of postal network for the purpose of public administrative services could be effective in addressing the digital divide (information gap)(2).In view of this, in June 2017, the Minister of MIC and the Minister of MDES concluded a MoU in the field of information, communication and digital technology, including postal services. MIC was to conduct research related to the delivery of pubic administrative information via Thailand's postal network to Thai nationals. Having received the contract to conduct this research, Hitachi will be conducting the aforementioned PoC.Hitachi has extensive experience and expertise in developing and providing systems for postal and other public services in Japan. The information transmission to be introduced is based on the use of digital post and is intended to serve as an alternative to hard copy deliveries. Hitachi aims to contribute in supporting the services through digital post or print and mail outsourcing to improve access for Thai nationals.The Thai government has announced "Thailand 4.0", a vision of the ideal economic society that Thailand is striving to achieve, and is promoting the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) development plan as a one of the key measures to realize this vision. Hitachi and the EEC Office have concluded a collaboration agreement to apply digital technologies, including IoT technologies, and establishing innovative environment(3) Based on this agreement, Hitachi has begun considering the establishment of bases from which to deploy Lumada, Hitachi's IoT platform, and is strengthening efforts to provide digital solutions throughout Thailand and the ASEAN region.By combining the postal network of Thailand Post and Hitachi's digital technologies, Hitachi and Hitachi Asia (Thailand) will work with Thailand Post to create new services that will enable interactive information transmission with Thai nationals and accelerate this collaborative creation effort to further improve postal services.Outline of PoChttp://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_HitachiOutlineofPoC.jpg(1) Digital post: An electronic mailbox system for receiving electronic documents from senders; when the user is successfully authenticated, he/she will be allowed to browse and store electronic documents on the system.(2) Digital divide: The gap between those who can use information and communication technologies (such as computers and the internet) and those who cannot(3) Hitachi and the Eastern Economic Corridor Office concluded a cooperation agreement on the use of IoT technologies in the EEC Development Plan in Thailand (September 12, 2017).About Hitachi, Ltd.Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, delivers innovations that answer society's challenges with our talented team and proven experience in global markets. The company's consolidated revenues for fiscal 2014 (ended March 31, 2015) totaled 9,761 billion yen ($81.3 billion). Hitachi is focusing more than ever on the Social Innovation Business, which includes power & infrastructure systems, information & telecommunication systems, construction machinery, high functional materials & components, automotive systems, healthcare and others. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at www.hitachi.com.Source: Hitachi, Ltd.Contact:Copyright 2018 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
EFIDEX Company brings deep knowledge of ERP and MES to help manufacturers across Central Europe optimize their operations using IQMS ERP and MES software

IQMS, a leading manufacturing ERP software and manufacturing execution system (MES) authority, today announced that EFIDEX Company Ltd., a solution provider with extensive expertise in enterprise resource planning (ERP) and MES solutions, has joined the global IQMS partner network. Headquartered in Modrice, Czech Republic, EFIDEX Company serves manufacturing enterprises throughout the Central European region.

Founded in 2013, EFIDEX Company draws upon decades of experience in helping manufacturers to increase their competitiveness, maximize productivity, and sustain achieved improvements through ERP and MES consulting, implementation, and software solutions. Additionally, the company delivers business intelligence (BI) and enterprise performance management (EPM) tools specifically configured to support material handling and manufacturing operations.

As an IQMS partner, EFIDEX Company will expand regional support for IQMS software, helping manufacturers to implement and maximize their value in using IQMS. The solution provider's implementation expertise complements IQMS's comprehensive software, which is designed specifically for manufacturing businesses and uniquely combines ERP and MES functionality into one integrated system that can run on-premises or in the cloud.

As a result, mutual customers of EFIDEX Company and IQMS will now have access to a single, comprehensive end-to-end suite to run their business. By eliminating the need to manage multiple systems, integrations, and business relationships, these manufacturers will be better positioned to address the challenges they face in production planning and execution.

"We continue to see high gross domestic product growth and extremely low unemployment rates as companies start reaching the limits of the European Union labor market. Consequently, there are just a few means of enabling manufacturers to grow-such as automation, the adoption of best practices, and better production planning and management-to increase work efficiency," said Jan Kovarik, managing director of EFIDEX Company. "The opportunity to introduce IQMS to the Czech Republic market is coming at the right time, and we are excited to add IQMS's comprehensive ERP and MES software to our product portfolio. In doing so, we are taking an essential step in filling the gap in functionally-rich information technology offerings available in the Central European region."

"Empowering manufacturers to succeed requires, not only strong technology skills, but also a comprehensive understanding of local business and government requirements," said Gary Nemmers, president and CEO of IQMS. "We are thrilled by the addition of EFIDEX Company to the IQMS partner network. The team there brings outstanding expertise in supporting business environments across the Czech Republic and Central Europe. With its deep understanding of the needs faced by local manufacturers and subsidiaries of global enterprises, alike, EFIDEX Company is the ideal partner to expand our efforts in the region."

About EFIDEX Company

EFIDEX Company Ltd. focuses on improving the competitiveness and efficiency of small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises using modern information technology. EFIDEX Company helps organizations to improve material handling and manufacturing operations through the adoption of best industry practices and deployment of ERP, MES, and BI solutions. EFIDEX Company is a subsidiary of DSB Data Software Brno Ltd., which has operated in the market since 1995. More than 20 years of experience as a system integrator have been taken over and applied by the EFIDEX Company. To learn more, visit http://www.efidex.cz.

About IQMS

IQMS uniquely combines ERP and MES functionality to give manufacturers a comprehensive end-to-end suite for running the business, backed by the real-time performance and scalability that companies demand. Developed specifically for mid-market repetitive, discrete and batch process manufacturers, IQMS provides robust capabilities for addressing strict customer and regulatory certification and compliance. IQMS achieves this by delivering traditional ERP functionality for accounting, sales orders, material requirements, inventory, and purchasing, plus extended native features for CRM, human resources, production scheduling, shop floor control, warehouse and quality modules. With offices across North America, Europe, and Asia, IQMS serves manufacturers around the world. For more information, please visit https://www.iqms.com.

Engage with IQMS at:

Website: IQMS.com

Twitter: @IQMSerp

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/IQMS

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IQMSerp

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/IQMSerp

Google+: https://plus.google.com/+IQMSerp

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180220005357/en/

Contacts:

EFIDEX Company Ltd.

Jan Kovarik, +420 547 243 801

Managing Director

Jan.Kovarik@dsb.cz

or

IQMS

Steve Bieszczat, +1 805-227-1122

Chief Marketing Officer

sbieszczat@iqms.com


Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 20, 2018) - Arizona Silver Exploration Inc. (TSXV: AZS) (OTCQB: AZASF) (the "Company" or "Arizona Silver") announces the appointment of David Vincent to the board of directors of the Company (the "Board").

Mr. Vincent's background includes consulting and investment banking, providing corporate advisory, corporate public relations and capital raising services within the resources sector. Mr. Vincent was a senior executive with BAE Systems, a global aerospace company, where he gained significant skills and experience in international business development, feasibility studies, market analysis, business planning, project financing, project management and marketing within the United Kingdom, the Middle East and Europe. Mr. Vincent is a professional engineer and commercial pilot with post graduate academic qualifications in management and financial services. Mr. Vincent was a senior commissioned officer (Engineer and Pilot) in the Royal Australian Air Force. Mr. Vincent has worked throughout Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia region for the last 20 years. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering with Distinction from RMIT Australia, a Diploma in Administrative Studies, an Advanced Diploma in Aviation Studies and a Diploma in Financial Planning from Deakin University

"We are pleased to have David join our board. His skills and knowledge of market cycles, financial background along with global knowledge, and industry leading ideas make David a strong and welcome asset to the Arizona Silver Board", states Mike Stark, Chairman of the Board.

Greg Hahn, CPG#7122, President & CEO of the Company, is the Qualified Person that has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this release.

ARIZONA SILVER EXPLORATION INC.

Contact: Mike Stark, Chairman and Director

Phone: (604) 833-4278

About Arizona Silver Exploration Inc.:

Arizona Silver is a young company exploring the historic Ramsey Mine. Arizona Silver has completed surface mapping and geophysical surveying and one year of drilling. To date, Arizona Silver has found a large area adjacent to the historic producing mine that carries strong geochemical values at surface, and where drilling to date of eleven holes has intersected significant silver mineralization across tens of meters of thickness below tens of meters of alluvial cover and unaltered rhyolite . With the current 2018 drill campaign imminent, we anticipate expanding on the area containing silver mineralization at depth. This program consists of six holes designed to further test open extensions to mineralization. Please refer to our web site for all news and updated 2018 drill campaign locations. www.arizonasilverexploration.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release, and the TSX Venture Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the transactions herein.
New Brunswick Shaft successfully inspected by underwater remote operated vehicle.

Existing mine shaft and timberwork appear to be in good condition to depth.

Recent exploration drill intercept on Brunswick #1 Vein is located near the existing shaft.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 20, 2018) - Rise Gold Corp. (CSE: RISE) (OTCQB: RYES) ("Rise" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has successfully completed an initial underwater inspection of the New Brunswick mine shaft.

The Company previously announced the assay results from drill hole B-17-01 ("the Drillhole"), the first drill hole of the exploration drilling program at the Idaho-Maryland ("I-M") Gold Project (see Rise news release of Jan. 3, 2018). The Drillhole intersected the Brunswick #1 Vein approximately 50 m below the B1600 level at a depth of ~540 m below surface and assayed 12.2 gpt gold over 14.9 m (7.8 m est. true width) including 63 gpt gold over 2.7 m (1.4 m est. true width).

This drill intercept at the Brunswick #1 Vein raises the possibility that there could be substantial gold mineralization in the developed upper levels of the mine near the existing mine shaft.

To support additional drill testing of the new exploration target at the Brunswick #1 Vein, the Company conducted an underwater survey of the existing New Brunswick vertical mine shaft in mid-February. The objective of this survey was to determine the current condition of the shaft which the Company believes is a valuable component of the I-M project.

NEW BRUNSWICK SHAFT SURVEY

The Company believes the existing New Brunswick vertical mine shaft (the "NB Shaft") is a valuable component of the I-M project. The I-M mine is currently flooded and the Company completed an initial inspection of the shaft to determine its condition.

The NB Shaft was the primary entry and hoist for the historic production at the Idaho-Maryland Mine. The NB Shaft extends to a depth of 3400 ft (1036 m) below surface and connects to all major levels of the I-M Mine. The NB shaft consist of three timbered compartments and had historic skipping capacity of ~75 tons/hour using 6 ton skips and hoisting speed of 1250 feet per minute. There is potential to increase hoisting capacity further by using larger skips and increasing the hoisting speed.

The Company engaged Advanced Marine Services Corp. ("AMS"), from Lake Tahoe, California to conduct a preliminary inspection of the New Brunswick Shaft. AMS used a Seabotics LBV-300 remote operated vehicle ("ROV") to survey the shaft down to a depth of ~760 ft (232 m). The ROV filmed the timberwork and center compartment of the shaft and entered the B580 level shaft station. The ROV survey confirmed that the NB Shaft remains open and the timberwork and guides appear to be in good condition to the depth surveyed. AMS subsequently tested the shaft to 2300 ft (701 m) with a weight and winch cable and the shaft is confirmed to remain open to at least this depth.

The Company believes it is likely that the submerged timberwork has been preserved. Decay, or rot, of wood by fungus requires the presence of oxygen. Recent field testing of water quality from the New Brunswick Shaft consistently demonstrate very low oxygen levels and strongly reducing conditions within the water. The reducing conditions and low oxygen levels indicate that wood mine timbers present below the water surface within the mine workings should not be susceptible to rotting.

The successful survey of the shaft allows the planning of future underwater inspections using an ROV capable of reaching the deepest levels of the shaft. Future ROV inspections could include the inspection of the shaft to the full depth of 3400 ft, inspections of mine levels, and core testing of the wooden timberwork to prove its structural strength for engineering studies.

The Company has added photos and video of the shaft survey to its website at www.risegoldcorp.com.

The Company expects to provide further updates on the planned exploration drilling program at the Idaho-Maryland mine over the coming weeks.

About Rise Gold Corp

Rise is an exploration-stage mining company. The Company's principal asset is the historic past producing Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine located in Nevada County, California, USA. The Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine is one of the United States' greatest past producing gold mines with total past production of 2,414,000 oz of gold from 1866-1955. Rise is a US corporation incorporated in Nevada, USA and maintains its head office in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

On behalf of the Board of Directors:

Benjamin Mossman

President, CEO and Director

Rise Gold Corp.

For further information, please contact:

RISE GOLD CORP

Suite 488, 1090 West Georgia Street

Vancouver, BC V6E 3V7

T: 604.260.4577

info@risegoldcorp.com

www.risegoldcorp.com

Benjamin Mossman, P.Eng, CEO of Rise Gold Corp, is the Qualified Person responsible for the technical content of this news release. The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur.

Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions related to certain factors including, without limitation, obtaining all necessary approvals, meeting expenditure and financing requirements, compliance with environmental regulations, title matters, operating hazards, metal prices, political and economic factors, competitive factors, general economic conditions, relationships with vendors and strategic partners, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, technological change, industry practices, and one-time events that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information contained in this release. Rise undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements or information except as required by law.
Fast Company announces the 2018 Most Innovative Companies issue, honoring WePower alongside Apple, Netflix, and Amazon.

WePower (https://wepower.network/), the blockchain based green energy trading platform, has been chosen as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies in Energy for 2018 (https://www.fastcompany.com/most-innovative-companies/2018).Fast Company's annual ranking of the world's Most Innovative Companies (MIC) for 2018 honors leading enterprises and rising newcomers that exemplify the best in business and innovation. Other winners in the energy field include: Green Mountain Power, BYD, Sonnen, Drift Marketplace, Entrade, GE Power, Ciel Terre, Zen Ecosystems, and Dandelion.

WePower is strongly focused on partnerships with utility companies. The company has already announced strategic agreements with Elering AS, an independent electricity and gas system operator in Estonia, the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania, 220 Energia, Eleon, an Estonia based wind power technology company, and Spanish/Italian energy companies such as Conquista solar, Civitas project and Novacorex. WePower's growing success shows that green energy and sustainability are some of the most supported challenges by communities across the globe that blockchain can solve.

Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies recognize pioneering companies across 36 categories, from energy to artificial intelligence to wellness. More than three dozen Fast Company editors, reporters, and contributors surveyed thousands of companies-many of which were identified by a new MIC submission process-to create these lists. Most Innovative Companies is Fast Company's signature franchise and one of its most highly anticipated editorial efforts of the year. It provides both a snapshot and a road map for the future of innovation across the most dynamic sectors of the economy.

WePower creates opportunities for green energy developers, such as solar or wind plant builders, to raise capital by selling future energy production upfront in a form of energy tokens. WePower is strongly focused on securing partnerships with utility and energy companies.

Aside from a smart contract based financing mechanism, WePower's technology also creates an opportunity for transparent green energy accounting. WePower operates a distributed open ledger, which records when and in what volumes green energy financed on the platform was produced and supplied into the grid. With WePower technology a whole new level of transparency in green energy account becomes possible, that does not exist today, to make investing in green energy producers easier and a reality for anyone.

"We are thrilled and honored to have been chosen as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies," said Nikolaj Martyniuk, Co-Founder and CEO of WePower, "To see WePower listed next to big names in the tech industry like Apple and and Netflix, shows not only how important the drive to sustainability is, but also the impact blockchain technology like WePower's can have on our future."

"This year's MIC list is an inspiring and insightful window into how many companies have embraced innovation and are working to make meaningful change," said Fast Company deputy editor David Lidsky, who oversaw the issue with senior editor Amy Farley.

Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies issue (March-April 2018) is now available online at www.fastcompany.com/MIC, as well as in app form via iTunes and on newsstands beginning February 27.

ABOUT FAST COMPANY

Fast Company is the world's leading progressive business media brand, with a unique editorial focus on innovation in technology, ethical economics, leadership, and design. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, one of the U.S.'s leading media ecompanies.

About WePower:

WePower is a blockchain-based green energy trading platform. It helps renewable energy producers to raise capital by issuing their own energy tokens. WePower connects energy buyers (end users and investors) directly with the green energy producers and creates an opportunity to purchase energy upfront at below market rates. WePower has developed Ethereum Smart Energy contract tokens to standardize, simplify and globally open currently existing energy investment ecosystem. Energy tokenization ensures liquidity and extends access to capital. WePower wants to help build an infrastructure to bridge renewable energy producers output and traditional energy grid operators thus making the grid a little greener.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180220005792/en/

Contacts:

WePower

Company Media:

Molly Winik, +972-58-443-3219 (Cell)

Blonde 2.0 for WePower

molly@blonde20.com

or

Media:

Geoffrey Riggs

geoffrey@wepower.network


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Mitt Romney, a vocal critic of President Donald Trump, has received his endorsement to run for Utah's Senate seat.



'MittRomney has announced he is running for the Senate from the wonderful State of Utah,' Trump wrote on Twitter Monday night.



'He will make a great Senator and worthy successor to @OrrinHatch, and has my full support and endorsement,' the President said in a surprise move that is seen as another sign that the two Republicans are burying an already complex relationship between them.



Ending weeks of speculation, Mitt Romney officially announced Friday that he is running for Senate in Utah.



The former Republican presidential nominee indicated in a video announcing his campaign that he would seek to bring Utah's values and lessons to Washington.



In an apparent jab at Trump, Romney also said, 'Utah welcomes legal immigrants from around the world. Washington sends immigrants a message of exclusion.'



However, on Monday, Romney responded to Trump's endorsement with respect.



'Thank you Mr. President for the support,' he tweeted. 'I hope that over the course of the campaign I also earn the support and endorsement of the people of Utah.'



Romney has been a vocal critic of Trump but is expected to tone down his rhetoric during the campaign to avoid alienating Utah voters who support the president.



Romney is running to replace Orrin G. Hatch, the longest-serving Senate Republican, who announced last month that he will not run for re-election seeking a record eighth term.



83-year-old Hatch, a Trump loyalist, reportedly rebuffed his personal plea to run again for another six-year term.



Hatch's decision marked another setback for Trump, as it paved the way for a political comeback of Romney, reports say. The former Massachusetts Governor stands a good chance to win the seat in his home state, which is heavily populated by his fellow Mormons.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
HAVANA, February 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Havana has everything ready to host the biggest global event dedicated to the best tobacco in the world

A ttendees will be able to enjoy visits to the plantations and manufacturing sites of Habanos cigars, as well as attend the International Seminar

For the first time, the Habanos World Challenge will take place, joining the International Habanosommelier contest that is celebrating its 17th edition

A week before the start of the XX Habanos Festival, everything is ready in Havana for the hosting of this international gathering dedicated to the world best tobacco. From 26th of February to 2nd of March, lovers of Habanos cigars from more than 50 countries will enjoy a full programme and new releases from the most prestigious brands for the 20th anniversary edition.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8274951-habanos-festival-20th-anniversary/

The Welcome Night on 26th of February will be held in the Salon de Protocolo El Laguito with the launch of Cohiba's 2014 Reserva Cosecha, a singular and exclusive run of 5,000 numbered boxes.

28th of February sees the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Festival del Habano in the Teatro Marti and the Gran Teatro de Habana function room.

The event will close with a Gala Night, dedicated to Partagas Linea Maduro, on 2nd of March in Pabexpo, with the performance from the renowned group Orishas. The Premio Habanos 2017 award will be presented, as well as the Humidors Auction. All funds raised will go to the Cuban public health system.

The Habanos Festival highlights the talent of the Habanosommeliers with the International Habanosommelier Contest, which celebrates its 17th edition. And for the first time, the Habanos World Challenge will be celebrated. The contest consists of two phases: in a first stage, each country will hold a local competition to select the winning pair to represent them and who will go to the grand final in the Cuban capital, where a jury of experts will choose the first Habanos World Challenge winner.

The programme features master classes and lectures, led by recognized experts in the Habanos world, and brought together at the International Seminar, which will be inaugurated on Wednesday 28th of February.

The Festival holds visits to tobacco plantations in Vuelta Abajo*, in Pinar del Rio*, considered as the world's best land for the cultivation of tobacco; as well as visits to the factories.

Carla Llado

press.habanos@yr.com

Tel: +34-669-54-69-09

(Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/642583/HABANOS_SA_Tobacco.jpg )



Video:

https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8274951-habanos-festival-20th-anniversary/
LONDON, February 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

StoryStream, leading AI-powered content marketing platform provider, today announced their partnership with Brandwatch, the world's premier social intelligence group, on the launch of its Vizia data-visualisation platform.

(Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/643588/StoryStream_Logo.jpg )



The partnership will enable StoryStream's proprietary artificial intelligence powered content management capabilities to be used within the Vizia's platform, allowing Brandwatch customers to display the social content that matters most alongside insightful data-visualisations across organisations.

StoryStream's Content Marketing Platform' powered by Aura', an AI brain built for brands, unifies digital asset management, multi-channel publishing and advanced content analytics. The Platform uses Aura's advanced AI skills to centralise, manage and publish both social and brand content directly to digital touchpoints to influence customer behaviour.

With the new partnership StoryStream can help Brandwatch customers who use Vizia to put AI enriched social content in context with its data-visualisations to deliver more engaging and authentic brand experiences.

"If you want to understand the true value of social and marketing data, you need to look into its context" said Cameron Franks, COO at StoryStream. "It can unveil a whole host of insights including the changing wants and needs of customers, new trends ahead of the curve and what customers really think when they see a brand. The partnership with StoryStream's Content Marketing Platform' gives Vizia access to that context. Numerical and traditionally rigid displays will now feature authentic customer and brand content together, creating a more richer, and engaging experience."

Michael Brackpool,VP of Product for Vizia added, "The beauty of StoryStream is its ability to very quickly prove to marketers the content that resonates with their consumers. The power of Vizia is its ability to put insight right in front of key internal stakeholders and consumers, especially at the point of purchase in retail environments. With that said, Vizia and StoryStream has always felt like a natural fit."

About StoryStream

StoryStream is a next-generation content marketing platform powered by Aura', an AI brain built for brands. The company empowers marketers to connect the right content with the right audiences at scale, transforming engagement and conversion.

Some of the world's most innovative brands such as Porsche, Volvo, Casio, and KLM use StoryStream to gain up to 22% increase in conversions, 4.5x increase in customer engagement and an overall ROI of 5-1.

The revolutionary StoryStream Content Marketing Platform' seamlessly combines digital asset management, multi-channel publishing and advanced content analytics with artificial intelligence to transform how marketers work, increasing efficiency and conversions with more relevant and meaningful content.

For more information, visit storystream.ai

About Brandwatch

Brandwatch is the world's leading social intelligence company. The company's flagship products, Brandwatch Analytics and the Vizia platform, fuel smarter decision making around the world.

The Brandwatch Analytics platform gathers millions of online conversations every day and provides users with the tools to analyze them, empowering the world's most admired brands and agencies to make insightful, data-driven business decisions. The Vizia platform distributes visually-engaging insights to the physical places where the action happens.

The Brandwatch platform is used by over 1,200 brands and agencies, including Unilever, Whirlpool, British Airways, Asos, Walmart and Dell. Brandwatch continues on its impressive business trajectory, recently named a global leader in enterprise social listening platforms by the latest reports from several independent research firms. Increasing its worldwide presence, the company has offices around the world including Brighton, New York, San Francisco, Berlin, Stuttgart, Paris and Singapore.

Brandwatch. Now You Know.

Contact

Rebecca Moorcroft

StoryStream Content and Communications Manager

rebecca.moorcroft@storystream.ai




WHAT: The Pepper Festival (A Family-Friendly Food & Music Festival)

WHEN: Saturday, June 23, 2018 (12pm to 10pm)

WHERE: Gold Country Fairgrounds in Auburn, CA

WHY: Raising funds for local children's charities and family-friendly fun!

TICKETS: Adults $25 (kids under 13 FREE) available at https://ThePepperFestival.com

AUBURN, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 20, 2018 / The Pepper Festival will be held at the beautiful 32-acre Gold Country Fairgrounds in Auburn, CA. The festival will raise much-needed funds for three local children's charities; The Markie Foundation, which pays salaries for children's hospice nurses, Children Advocates (CASA) of Placer County, which helps foster youth, at-risk youth and young adults build resiliency, self-confidence, and self-sufficiency, and Sierra Promise (a Sierra College Foundation program), which mentors local high school students, giving them the opportunity to go to college.

"I was thrilled to learn that Child Advocates of Placer County had been chosen to partner with The Pepper Festival for their upcoming event in June! We are grateful for the opportunity to bring about awareness of the important work we do to serve the at-risk youth and foster children in our community while enjoying live music, great food, and fun activities with our neighbors! Endless thanks to Mr. Tracewell and The Pepper Festival team for their dedication to helping children in Placer County and passion for connecting the community," said Amber Lane Celmer, Development Director.

Not A Typical Festival

The family-friendly Pepper Festival features amazing food from local area food trucks and restaurants, live music performed by upbeat, seasoned local and national acts from many genres, all local breweries and wineries, and an incredible variety of vendors providing great shopping. All of the above celebrates the mighty pepper - the most versatile vegetable (it's really a fruit) on the planet.

The festival producers are looking to raise as much funds for the aforementioned charities as possible. At the time of this release, over 1,200 people have responded "Going" or "Interested" on the festival's Facebook event page and over 100 tickets have been sold to festival goers as far away as Los Angeles, CA, Reno, NV, and Seattle, WA. The excitement surrounding The Pepper Festival is creating a buzz in the greater Sacramento area and the festival will be rolling out promotional videos, flyers, and posters in the coming weeks that will generate even more interest.

"We wanted to offer a fun, family-friendly, safe festival. By having amazing music acts of all varieties, incredible food offerings, great shopping, and genuinely fun and unique features like the adult bounce house, we knew that we'd create a buzzworthy event for the greater Sacramento community and raise much-needed funds for three worthy children's charities. For years, we have wondered why no one had ever created a festival celebrating all types of peppers, so we created it ourselves," said Rick Tracewell, Founder/Executive Producer

The Pepper Festival Grabs the Common Festival Experience and Takes It Up a Notch

Adult Bounce House - Yes, you read that correctly.

Hot Pepper Eating Contest - Who can outlast all the rest by eating the world's hottest peppers without crying "uncle"?

Celebrity Chef Keith Breedlove - Owner of Sacramento's popular Culinerdy food truck, regular on Fox40 and Good Morning Sacramento morning shows, and has been featured on many Food Network shows.

Chef Throwdown Competitions - Fun and entertaining contests (ala Iron Chef from Food Network) featuring popular local chefs and festival food truck owners.

Epic Condiment Bar - Hot sauces from around the world and sliced sweet, mild and super hot peppers.

Master Gardener Workshops - Scheduled workshops teaching the planting, growing, cultivating and canning of all types of peppers.

The Burn Unit - Sponsored by Cowtown Creamery, there will be at least one staff member dressed in white with an ice chest filled with milk, ice cream, and cheese to assist those who partake in hot peppers and need a little relief.

Local Beer & Wine - Only local area breweries and wineries.

Hot Cars Show - Featuring hot cars from every era and a festival-goer voted contest.

Salsa Dancing - Demonstrations from local dance studio Salsa Sierra with audience participation.

Kid's/Teen Area - Featuring an area with a "silent disco" where teens can wear wireless headsets and listen to their choice of three music channels.

Pepper Cookbook - Amazing variety of recipes featuring a Heat Scale to control the spiciness of each recipe. Profits shared with the featured charities.

Great Food Offerings

What would a pepper festival be without the food? We have carefully chosen food vendors who would take the idea of dishes with peppers of all heat and flavors and run with it. For more information on our food offerings, visit https://ThePepperFestival.com/the-food/

Cousins Maine Lobster - They are currently working with the corporate office to develop a lobster dish featuring peppers. Now that's what we're talking about!

Tailgater 44 - Traditional tailgate fare with a Filipino twist. Yum!

Che Buono - Authentic Italian cuisine - pasta, pizza, spicy stuffed rice balls, and more.

The Dive - Burgers and fries...with peppers!

Cowtown Creamery - Ice cream, freezes, sundaes, floats, and more. Perfect for a June day.

An Honest Pie - Sweet dessert pies and savory ones...featuring peppers!

California Gold Kettle Corn - Sure, they'll have kettle corn...and jalapeno popcorn!

Incredible, Fun & Upbeat Music

The Pepper Festival wanted the lineup of musical acts to be the soundtrack for the festival. The bands currently on the schedule all have a unique sound and are upbeat and entertaining. We are very proud to say that six of the bands signed on are original artists. For a sample from each band, visit https://ThePepperFestival.com/the-music/.

Some featured artists:

Antsy McClain & The Trailer Park Troubadours - A world renown Americana artist out of Nashville, TN with a huge following.

Earles of Newtown - An incredibly unique and upbeat all-original Dixie Rag/Funk Jazz band.

The Bleeping Bleeps - An Auburn/Grass Valley cover band that runs the gamut of upbeat, danceable cover songs. From Maroon 5 and Bruno Mars to Van Halen and Green Day.

J Ross Parelli - An Auburn born and raised R&B/Funk artist. Her drummer is also in Stevie Wonder's band and her horn section is also in Bootsie Collins' band.

Frequency - An all-original hard/melodic rock band out of San Jose, CA. They will be debuting their new EP at the festival.

Whoville - A Sacramento-based fun, rocking tribute to The Who.

Robby James & The Streets of Bakersfield - Keeping the traditional country sound originated out of Bakersfield, CA

Tickets & Merchandise

Special fundraising ticket/merchandise packages, as well as limited pre-sale tickets, are now available at a 40% discount, as well as festival merchandise on the official website: https://ThePepperFestival.com

More bands, food offerings, fun features and news to come.

PRESS CONTACT:

Rick Tracewell - (888) 598-1159 - Rick@ThePepperFestival.com

SOURCE: The Pepper Festival
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 20, 2018) - Lucky Minerals Inc. (TSXV: LJ) (OTCQB: LKMNF) (FSE: 8LM) ("Lucky" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a binding letter of intent ("LOI") with Monterra Resources S.A. ("Monterra"), a private company incorporated under the laws of Panama, to acquire 100% of Goldmindex S.A. ("Goldmindex"), a private Ecuadorian company, by way of a share exchange between Lucky and Monterra (the "Transaction"). Robert Rosner, Lucky Minerals' CEO commented, "Lucky's management and directors are excited to enter into this Transaction. It builds upon Lucky's solid base in the core of the mineralized and intensely altered Emigrant Mining district in Montana, and adds a prospective land package in the heart of a prolific Ecuadorian mineral belt." Commenting on behalf of Monterra, Monterra's head of Corporate Affairs and International Investor Relations, Peter Nesveda, said, "Monterra Resources is very pleased to be working with Lucky Minerals and looks forward to the exploration of Monterra Resources' substantial Fortuna concessions located near a number of significant gold and copper discoveries made during the last 20 years in Ecuador."

Assets Being Acquired

Through the Transaction, Lucky is gaining Goldmindex's 100% interest in a 54,985 hectare (550 km2) contiguous property position comprising 12 individual mineral concessions located 50 km south of Cuenca, the capital of Azuay province (the "Fortuna Property"). The Fortuna Property is accessible via the Pan American highway, secondary all-weather roads and a network of gravel roads, and has a readily available workforce nearby and a year-round operating season. There is a power transmission line within 10km and abundant water available to support exploration activities on the Fortuna Property.

To view the entire News Release and full details of the transaction, please follow the link:

http://www.luckyminerals.com/2018-02-20-nr-lucky-minerals-goldmindex/

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Robert Rosner"

Chief Executive Officer

Shaun Dykes, M.Sc. (Eng); P.Geo (#20044), is a non-independent Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101, who is responsible for the review of all scientific and technical information contained in this press release.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE, NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Contact Information:

Robert Rosner

(866) 924-6484

info@luckyminerals.com
Business Travel Show (BTS) provides a backdrop to share 2018 forecasts with Suppliers and Travel Managers.

RESTON, Virginia, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --BridgeStreet's launch and success as the first technology platform dedicated to business travel has sparked unprecedented growth for the company - and new awareness for the sector. The once-curious OTA has quieted naysayers and laid the foundation for all serviced apartments to enter the era of the modern business traveler. This means Corporate Travel Managers can book in real time, Suppliers can access global demand with ease, and technology is evolving to meet those needs to a tailored fit.

Since launching in 2017, BridgeStreet.com has added more than 140,000 serviced apartments, homes and extended-stay hotels around the globe to their platform. BridgeStreet's accommodation pipeline has enlarged to a whopping 240,000 and the company is on pace to sign on 500 new clients per quarter. This rapid surge is spurring the need for regional expansion - and important technology updates - to better serve BridgeStreet's many suppliers. To continue to provide excellent service to clients and guests, BridgeStreet will invest in a 20% increase of regional and local sales and support staff in key growth areas.

Technology and the fundamental focus on how Suppliers and Corporate Travel Managers engage the industry is how BridgeStreet is forecasting the future for Extended Stay and Serviced Apartments. The analytics allows BridgeStreet to listen attentively and make impacting technology changes on a weekly basis. This capacity to respond to feedback and implement change is why Corporate Travel Managers and the Supply Partner world see 2018 as a pivotal year for our industry.

"We've made sweeping changes to our business model which actively responds to an industry that demands access, improved user experience, and transparency," said BridgeStreet CEO Sean Worker. "It's taken several years - from inception to activation - to make BridgeStreet.com a change agent. We're excited to be that disruptor knowing that the future of business travel as a whole is reaching more business travelers with ease, interest, and ability."

Travel Decision Makers

For corporations located around the globe with extended stay needs including extended-stay business travel, relocation, project-driven travel, and intern groups, the BridgeStreet platform offers tools that provide peace of mind and duty of care by removing the guess work of new certified accommodations and new locations, guaranteed every time.





"With these new technology solutions, our clients can actually see that we are continuing to enhance the connections between certified supply partners and corporate travel managers to provide a seamless business travel experience," said Chief Technical Officer, Aaron Turner.

These new technology solutions combined with the BridgeStreet Guarantee ensures that each stay is perfect: timely delivery of keys, clean and comfortable apartments and homes, and reliable wireless.

Supply Partners

When supply partners sign on to BridgeStreet.com, they are now able to create a customizable, digital experience to introduce travel managers and business travelers to their properties. This electronic guide communicates essential information--from where to pick up keys, how to run the dishwasher, to the best spots for dinner and coffee. By using the platform, suppliers are able to deliver the promise of a seamless stay and an authentic experience for each stay.

Supply partners are also able to take advantage of BridgeStreet's world class photography partner when they sign on to BridgeStreet.com. Living rooms, kitchens and amenities will pop as travel managers and guests view each room. These photos illustrate BridgeStreet's commitment to their extensive portfolio of clients, which include Forbes Global 2000 companies, to curate the most trusted suppliers of serviced apartments, homes and extended stay hotels.

*BridgeStreet is looking forward to sharing lessons learned over the last year at BTS. Please contact us for interviews with Sean Worker, President and CEO, or Michael Snapkoski, SVP Revenue Generation, to discuss new technologies that are driving the serviced apartment industry forward into 2018 and beyond.
BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - Lucky Charms' new marshmallow - the magical unicorn is ready to attract kids and cereal lovers. This is the first marshmallow to be introduced in the last ten years. To attract kids, the Lucky Charms have added magical unicorns to its popular features such as hearts, stars, horseshoes, clovers, blue moons, rainbows, and red balloons. The new unicorns will replace yellow and orange hourglass marshmallows. The unicorns is mostly in white with a blue and purple swirls representing mane and horn. The new Lucky Charms contains 12 vitamins and minerals apart from calcium. The food makers General Mills have introduced Lucky Charms cereal brand around five decades back. It features frosted oats and colored marshmallows. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Allie Berner Appointed to Fill New Position

HOBOKEN, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / February 20, 2018 / Epion Health is pleased to announce the appointment of Allie Berner to Athena Channel Manager. The newly created position signals a move by Epion to continue to invest in its longstanding partnership with EHR partner, athenahealth.



Allie Berner, Epion Health - Athena Channel Manager

Hired by Epion in February 2016 as an Account Executive, Allie was later promoted to Senior Account Executive. Since at Epion, Berner has participated in numerous coordinated efforts with Athena groups, including joint sales events, trade shows, and group training sessions. In her new role, Allie will be dedicated to working as the liaison to the athenahealth team to identify opportunities where Epion can provide services to further increase the satisfaction of the Athena client base.

Epion's flagship product, Epion Check-in, lands on both the "Most Popular" and "Most Highly Rated" lists on Athena's Marketplace. The iPad-based platform offers Athena customers a turnkey add-on to their EHR platform, virtually eliminating manual patient intake. Epion's product offers deep clinical integration and significant improvements to Time of Service collections, time spent in the exam room, data collection, reimbursements, denied claim reductions, savings on materials, staff and patient satisfaction. Epion also offers Epion InsurPro, which collects insurance card images before appointments, and Epion Screener, a series of digital health risk assessments.

"As one of the original MDP (More Disruption Please) Partners, we have often worked alongside the athenahealth team on various efforts over the years," said Joe Blewitt, CEO of Epion Health. "In light of our accelerated growth within the Athena channel and our expanding line of complementary products, we recognized a need to support the partnership with a dedicated resource."

Before joining Epion, Allie earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Siena College and began her career with The Boston Beer Company working as a sales executive in New York City, San Diego, and San Francisco. Allie met Joe Blewitt while she was driving an Uber in the San Francisco Bay area while waiting to start a new job. "I love to tell this story," remarks Blewitt, "I found one of my star employees while taking a $20 Uber ride to the JP Morgan Conference." Click here to read more about the "Uber story."

Ms. Berner currently resides in San Francisco. Her new role became effective on Feb. 1 of this year.

About Epion Health, Inc.

Founded in 2011, Epion Health has emerged as a leader in Patient Access solutions for medical providers. Its flagship product, Epion Check-in, offers a cloud-based solution to automate the collection of patient information within the physician office and ambulatory clinic settings. Epion's check-in solution aims to eliminate inefficient and error-prone manual methods, resulting in measurable improvements to practice success and patient satisfaction. Epion also offers solutions to facilitate the collection of patient health screening information and a mobile technology to collect insurance card information ahead of appointments. For more information about the company and its full line of Patient Access products, visit us online at www.epionhealth.com or email info@epionhealth.com.

Epion Health Media Contact:

George Ludlow

Epion Health

gludlow@epionhealth.com

800.293.4564

SOURCE: Epion Health
Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Self-storage company Lok'nStore announced an increase in its banking facility to 50m on Tuesday, following the execution of a 10m accordion. The AIM-traded firm said the increased facility would provide funding for site acquisitions and working capital to support its ambitious growth plans. It said the facility was originally agreed with the Royal Bank of Scotland in January 2016, and the term extended by two years in January last year. The larger facility now runs until January 2023. ...

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Mike Pence has called on the US Congress to reach an agreement on immigration reform and funding for an extension of the border wall with Mexico just days after lawmakers' latest attempt at reaching a deal fell through, leaving the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program ever so close to expiring on 5 March. In an interview on 19 February, Vice President Mike Pence said that border security was a priority and Congress needed to reach a deal on funding it "as soon as possible". But ...

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 20, 2018) - Ely Gold Royalties Inc. (TSXV: ELY) (OTC Pink: ELYGF) ("Ely Gold" or the "Company") through its wholly owned subsidiary, Nevada Select Royalty, Inc ("Nevada Select") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive option agreement with Intermont Exploration LLC., ("Intermont") a Nevada limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Fremont Gold Ltd, a British Columbia corporation (TSXV: FRE) ("Fremont") whereby Fremont has the option to acquire a 100% interest in the North Carlin Project, located in Elko County, Nevada (the "Option" or "Option Agreement"). The total Option consideration (if exercised by Fremont) is US$267,500 and Nevada Select will retain a net smelter returns royalty ("NSR"). Fremont will also issue 200,000 Fremont Shares to Ely Gold, subject to TSXV approval.

The North Carlin project consists of twelve (12) unpatented mining claims (the "North Carlin Claims") which are adjacent to a larger claim package staked by Fremont. With this additional property, Fremont now essentially controls the northern end of the Carlin Trend. Nevada Select acquired the North Carlin Claims through staking in 2017.

Jerry Baughman, President of Nevada Select commented on the Option Agreement, "This is the fourth high-quality project we have optioned to Fremont. They are excellent exploration partners and we are excited to see them test the high-quality targets identified at North Carlin."

The Option

Under the terms of the Option Agreement, Fremont can acquire a 100% interest in the Property by making an initial payment of US$5,000 and 200,000 Fremont Shares, followed by:

$12,500 six months after the Effective Date

$25,000 one year after the Effective Date

$37,500 two years after the Effective Date

$37,500 three years after the Effective Date

$50,000 four years after the Effective Date

$100,000 five years after the Effective Date (the "Final Option Payment")

Fremont may terminate the Option Agreement at any time without further liability for future Option payments.

In addition to the payments, Fremont must pay advance royalty payments as follows:

$25,000 on the first, second and third anniversary of the Final Option Payment; and

$35,000 on the fourth anniversary of the Final Option Payment and on each anniversary thereafter.

There are no work commitments or additional expenditures required other than Fremont's obligation to maintain the claim maintenance fees. If the Option is exercised by Fremont, Nevada Select will retain a 2% NSR on the North Carlin Claims. There is no area of interest associated with the NSR. Fremont will have the right to buy-down 1% of the NSR for an aggregate purchase price of $3,000,000.





Location map showing the North Carlin Claims in relation to Fremont's Alkali and Coyote claim blocks

To view an enhanced version of the Location Map, please visit:

http://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4181/32937_a1519145818413_37.jpg

Trey Wasser, President and CEO of Ely Gold stated, "This transaction provides another excellent example of our royalty business model. The Carlin Trend is the second richest gold province in the world, with total historic production of greater than 50 million ounces and 3 million ounces of production in 2017. Finalizing this Option adds another exciting exploration property to our Nevada asset portfolio."

Stephen Kenwood, P. Geo, is director of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Kenwood has reviewed and approved the technical information in this press release.

About Ely Gold Royalties Inc.

Ely Gold Royalties is an emerging royalty company with development assets focused in Nevada and the Western US. The Company is actively purchasing existing third-party royalties for its portfolio and all the Company's Option Properties will produce royalties, if exercised. Most of the royalties and option properties have active exploration programs and are being developed by partners comprised of majors, mid-tier gold producing companies and well-funded junior explorers. In 2018, Ely Gold estimates it will generate positive cash flow from its current portfolio. Ely Gold maintains a strong cash position and a gold stock equity portfolio. Ely Gold is well positioned with its current portfolio of available properties to generate additional operating revenue through option and sale transactions. The Company has a proven track record of maximizing the value of its properties through claim consolidation and advancement using its extensive, proprietary data base.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Signed "Trey Wasser"

Trey Wasser, President & CEO

For further information, please contact:

Trey Wasser, President & CEO

trey@elygoldinc.com

972-803-3087

Joanne Jobin, Investor Relations Officer

jjobin@elygoldinc.com

604-488-1104

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.
Media Release

Zurich, February 20, 2018

LafargeHolcim to invest CHF 200 million to drive further growth in India

LafargeHolcim will strengthen its presence in India with the construction of a new cement plant in the state of Rajasthan in the North of the country. The CHF 200 million investment will serve customers in the North, including Delhi.

Jan Jenisch, Group CEO of LafargeHolcim, said: "India is the second biggest global cement market and is forecasted to continue to see high growth rates. We are excited to invest in this highly attractive market to further strengthen our footprint and to reinforce our leading building materials position in India."

The new plant, which is being set up by the Group's subsidiary Ambuja Cement will have a clinker capacity of 3.1 million tonnes per year and the commissioning of the plant is expected for the second half of 2020.

About LafargeHolcim in India

LafargeHolcim operates in India through Ambuja Cement and ACC Limited. Both companies have well-known brands marketed through their networks of some 100,000 dealers and retailers. The Group has a nationwide foot-print across India and more than 60 million tonnes of cement capacity. It operates 29 cement and more than 60 ready-mix plants. LafargeHolcim is one of the largest foreign investors in India's building material industry and since entering the Indian market has spent more than CHF 8 billion to build up its equity participation as well as maintain and expand plant capacities.

LafargeHolcim has also been involved in a range of major projects in India including high-rise residential towers, highway and railroad projects. Most recently LafargeHolcim has played a vital role in the construction of India's longest highway tunnel located in the country's northern state of Jammu and Kashmir. Other projects include metro systems in Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, and Hyderabad and several hydro-electric power plants.

In 2016 LafargeHolcim's net sales in India amounted to around CHF 3.2 billion. LafargeHolcim has more than 13,000 employees in India.

About LafargeHolcim

LafargeHolcim is the leading global building materials and solutions company serving masons, builders, architects and engineers all over the world. Group operations produce cement, aggregates and ready-mix concrete which are used in building projects ranging from affordable housing and small, local projects to the biggest, most technically and architecturally challenging infrastructure projects. As urbanization increasingly impacts people and the planet, the Group provides innovative products and building solutions with a clear commitment to social and environmental sustainability. With leading positions in all regions, LafargeHolcim employs around 90,000 employees in more than 80 countries and has a portfolio that is equally balanced between developing and mature markets.

More information is available on (www.lafargeholcim.com: http://www.lafargeholcim.com/)

Follow us on Twitter (@LafargeHolcim: https://twitter.com/lafargeholcim)
MUNICH, Feb 21, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - Trillium Secure, Inc., known for its disruptive automotive IoT cybersecurity technology and highly innovative 'SecureIoT' Cyber Security as a Service (C-SaaS) platform, has been selected to present at the renowned Munich Summit (MUST) on February 21, 2018. MUST is an exclusive, invitation-only, networking event connecting cutting-edge startup companies with industry leaders and investors to create new business realities.Trillium will showcase technology that enables real-time global protection of the millions of commercial, public and private vehicles that will be serviced by the SecureIoT C-SaaS platform. Trillium's solution dynamically creates and deploys security patches and countermeasures in near real-time as threats unfold."Trillium was nominated for its innovative business model and disruptive technology - it's just the type of startup company for which the MUST summit was designed" said David Hajizadeh, Entrepreneur in Residence, Volkswagen DataLab."We are honored by the opportunity to present at such a prestigious event. We are continuously innovating our security platform, which incorporates in-vehicle machine learning agents and deep learning technologies in the cloud. Our development work over the past year is enabling Trillium to deliver a solution that solves the most critical problems facing automakers and insurance providers in the era of connected and autonomously driven vehicles," said David Uze, Trillium CEO."Our solution provides a scalable comprehensive security platform as well as a business model that dramatically reduces vehicle manufacturer liability and transforms automotive safety from a considerable cost for manufacturers into a compelling profit center," said Uze.Adrian Sossna, Trillium's Strategic Business Development Manager will share Trillium's SecureIoT technology and the C-SaaS business model at The MUST event. Equally as important, Sossna will hold one-on-one meetings the following day towards selecting the right partner for Trillium in the European market. February 22st has been set aside for the specific purpose of helping technology innovators identify the right partner for penetrating the European market."It will be a Darwinian version of musical chairs, with some players not having a partner with which to sit once the music stops. We need to identify our go-to-market partners for Europe as quickly as possible to complete our global footprint before launching our services this summer in Japan," said Sossna.The SecureIoT solution is a purely software-based technology comprised of four modules: SecureCAR, SecureIXS, SecureOTA, and SecureSKYE.About Trillium Secure, Inc.Trillium Secure, Inc. is the world's largest independent automotive IoT cybersecurity provider. Trillium's multi-layered offering includes lightweight encryption, authentication, cryptographic key management, IDS/IPS and secure over-the-air software update technology. The company operates design centers & fleet security operation sites in Silicon Valley, Brno, Detroit, Ho Chi Min City and Tokyo. For further information, please visit www.trilliumcyber.com.Trillium Secure, Inc. products and services are marketed under the Trillium, SecureIoT, SecureCAR, SecureIXS, SecureOTA and SecureSKYE trademarks.For Media Enquiries, please contact Adrian Sossna at adrian.sossna@trilliumcyber.com.Source: Trillium Secure, Inc.Copyright 2018 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
The Balearic Islands regional government has fined Airbnb 300,000 for advertising homes whose owners didn't hold a licence for vacation rentals, a legal requirement since August 2017. Authorities on the island had previously warned Airbnb on at least two occassions that they risked falling afoul of the law, but the company had flouted those warnings, continuing instead to promote unlicensed apartments. The Balearic government notified Airbnb in August and November 2017 that it was in breach of ...

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Next-Generation of Real Estate Transactions on the Blockchain Etherty Offers Unprecedented Transactability, Liquidity, and Ease of Use

DUBAI, UAE / ACCESSWIRE / February 20, 2018 / Designed to provide seamless international property trading without the need to get involved in local bureaucracy and processes, all at the press of a button. Etherty will remove the tedious barriers that are normally involved in purchasing and selling property internationally such as, finding a trustworthy realtor, sales listings, advertising and promotions, remote property viewings, values and inspections, lawyers, government verifications etc. removing barriers for every level of investor both locally and abroad.

"I'm very excited about this partnership. As blockchain matures it's vital that new players have the capacity and talent to deliver on the promise of a new path for financial markets. Australia is one of the fastest growing first world economies with sophisticated and well-regulated property and financial markets. Our partnership with Enva provides us with critical knowledge of this market's regulations and ready access to $180 million+USD worth of high-quality off-market transactions. These are exactly the type of deals we envisioned to make accessible for our users with ETY. This is one big step towards gaining our first revenue stream possibly before launch which is extremely rare in the start-up space." - Murtaza Khan Etherty CEO

Real estate investors can begin to invest in the platform's property portfolio with an investment that starts with a minimum of USD $1,000. By keeping the bid in escrow, the platform will then facilitate the sale of the property to multiple shareholders, creating the right legal structure, using the smart contracts of the blockchain engine. Custom tokens are also created for each project, to prevent a dilution of investment by any one party or individual. This means that a user who has invested in a successful project in Thailand with a 10% return will not be penalized because of the poor returns of another project elsewhere. The web portal will also allow users to rent properties on short or long-term leases. The rental property will be managed by Etherty directly or in agreement with local affiliates. Rental income will then be distributed automatically using the smart rental contracts generated by the platform. The Etherty platform works in between these communications to lock tokens upon an offer, transfer funds, update the ownership and smart contract ledger, and transfer tokens and funds to the right parties.

"We're pleased to assist the Etherty team in both uncovering quality assets and providing guidance in working within the Australian regulatory environment. The conversations we have had with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Innovation Hub have shown us that the regulator is very keen to provide innovators with support and guidance. Frankly, we were surprised by their level of interest and willingness to engage in dialogue. The introduction of a globally distributed ledger and the Etherty platform rivals the introduction of the Torrens title system in 1858. This system was devised in South Australia and now used the world over in nations including New Zealand, Canada, Israel, Singapore, the USA, and Russia to name a few. A new distributed global ledger of property deeds that allows even the smallest investor to directly access the largest property assets and the poorest nation to give its citizens certainty of property rights is a technology we are proud to support." - Enva Managing Director Michael Baragwanath

Whether the intention is to raise money for the development of a property or execute a simple purchase or sale - all needs can be catered for on the Etherty platform. The integration with Ethereum smart contracts and property registrations on the blockchain provides a quick, transparent and secure method to complete these transactions. Etherty is currently in the Pre-ICO stage of their Initial Coin Offering.

About Etherty

Etherty is a blockchain based platform for the buying, selling and trading of properties around the globe. The process to purchase international real estate can be complex and tedious, the Etherty platform makes that process simple and transparent. Etherty also democratizes the real estate buying process by allowing the tokenization of assets to be purchased on the platform with as little as $USD 1000. Like other digital currencies, it offers all the advantages of non-centralized blockchain networking, such as privacy, security, and immediate value transfer from peer to peer. For more information visit www.etherty.com.

Contact:

https://etherty.com/



SOURCE: Etherty
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 20, 2018 / The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces the filing of a class action lawsuit against Kobe Steel, Ltd. (OTC PINK: KBSTY) ("Kobe Steel" or "the Company") for violations of 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Investors who purchased the Company's shares between May 29, 2013 and October 12, 2017, inclusive (the "Class Period"), are encouraged to contact the firm before February 26, 2018, the lead plaintiff motion deadline.

If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss during the Class Period, click here to participate.

We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall, or Sherin Mahdavian, of the Schall Law Firm, 1880 Century Park East, Suite 404, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at (424)-303-1964, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at brian@schallfirm.com.

The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.

According to the lawsuit, Kobe Steel repeatedly misrepresented the quality of its products and the integrity of its operations during the Class Period by emphasizing that it offers "excellent products and services" with "special attention to product safety" as it has "an organizational culture that is highly sensitive to compliance issues." Defendants' statements pertaining to Kobe Steel's products and performance of its operations were materially false and misleading because Kobe Steel had intentionally falsified data on many of its aluminum, copper, iron and steel products, and knowingly sold products that failed quality control tests.

The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.

CONTACT:

The Schall Law Firm

Brian Schall, Esq.

Sherin Mahdavian, Esq.

Schallfirm.com

SOURCE: The Schall Law Firm
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, February 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

MYM Nutraceuticals Inc., (CSE: MYM) (OTCBB: MYMMF) (CSE: MYM.CN) (MYM.CN)("MYM") is pleased to announce it has closed its non-brokered private placement of 5,000,000 units at a price of $2.00 per unit for gross proceeds of $10,000,000.

Due to the change in market conditions, the Company received approval from the CSE to reduce the price of this financing from $2.80 per unit to $2.00 per unit.

Each unit in the private placement is comprised of one common share and one transferable share purchase warrant with each warrant exercisable into one additional common share at a price of $3.00 for a period of two years. The securities will be subject to a four month and one day hold period under securities laws.

Insider buying of MYM shares



The following company insiders have purchased shares in the last Private Placement at $2.00:

Sheryl Dhillon - 10,000 shares

Mark Forster - 35,200 shares

Total proceeds from insider share purchases was $70,400. Total proceeds from Insiders, Founders, Family and Friends share purchases was over $9,000,000. No commissions were paid for this private placement.

"All of us at MYM are very excited about the future of our company," said Rob Gietl, CEO of MYM. "This excitement extends to our family and friends who have participated in this non-brokered financing. We have many major milestones to achieve this year that will shape MYM for years to come. Continued global expansion and leveraging the relationships we have built, will ensure that MYM and its shareholders have a bright future."

Due to overwhelming interest, the company also announces that on February 12th, 2018, a non-brokered private placement of up to 888,888 units at a price of CAD$2.25 per unit was registered with the CSE (Canadian Stock Exchange). Each unit will consist of one common share and one transferable share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one additional common share exercisable for a period of 24 months following the closing of the private placement at a price of CAD $3.25 per warrant share.

The private placement is subject to the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange and the securities will be subject to a four-month and one day hold period under securities laws.



The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the private placement for general working capital and corporate purposes.

About MYM Nutraceuticals Inc.

MYM Nutraceuticals Inc. is an innovative company focused on acquiring Health Canada licenses to produce and sell high-end organic medicinal cannabis supplements and topical products. MYM has two production projects in Quebec that when completed will have over 1.5 million sf of production space. MYM is also a partner in a 1.2 million sf production project (Northern Rivers Project) in New South Wales, Australia. Australia is an exciting new market that has recently legalized medicinal cannabis. To ensure a strong presence and growth potential within the industry, MYM is actively looking to acquire complementary businesses and assets in the technology, nutraceuticals and CBD sectors. MYM shares trade in Canada, Germany and the USA under the following symbols: (CSE: MYM) (OTC:MYMMF) (FRA:0MY) (DEU:0MY) (MUN:0MY) (STU:0MY).

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Rob Gietl, CEO

MYM Nutraceuticals Inc.

http://www.mymarijuana.ca

Keep up to date with MYM on our social media channels:

Twitter: @MYM_Nutra

Facebook: @mymcanada

Instagram: @MYM_Nutra

This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results. Such statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. The company disclaims any intention or obligation to revise or update such statements. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are posted on http://www.sedar.com.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE or CNSX Markets), nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the CSE), accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein in the United States. The securities described herein have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities law and may not be offered or sold in the "United States", as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act, unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.

Investor Relations

Terry Brown

+1-855-696-2261

terry@mymarijuana.ca


DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / February 20, 2018 / Approachable, empathetic, and compassionate are words patients often use to describe 46-year-old Michael Rimlawi. Dr. Rimlawi is the founder of the Minimally Invasive Spine Institute in Dallas. The spine institute was created to provide care for patients who suffer from back and neck pain, as well as to provide minimally invasive surgery when needed.

Rimlawi grew up in a family of health care professionals who he credits for his love of medicine and helping others. He is the oldest of four children born to an Italian and Lebanese father and American mother. His father is an obstetrician/gynecologist and his mother a nurse. His parents met while they were in training in Ohio and soon married and started a family.

For Rimlawi, not going into health care was never an option. From a very early age, his mother recalls that he emphatically would state he wanted to fix people. He would shadow his father on rounds and observe surgeries. Rimlawi reflects, "It was a different time back then. He would put me by the anesthesiologist and have me watch surgery. Of course, one would never be allowed to do this today, but I must say this experience, and watching my parents with patients, shaped me to respect the medical profession and to want to be a physician so I could help people the way my parents did. My mother was so kind and understanding with everyone she came in contact with and I saw how she would make people around her feel safe and at ease. My father has an amazing work ethic and never complained about the hours he worked or the family time he missed because of work. He modeled focus and drive for me. He sacrificed so much to take care of our family."

After graduating high school, Rimlawi headed to the University of Wisconsin - Madison. His mother joined him there as she pursued her undergraduate degree after being a stay-at-home mother for many years. Rimlawi laughs, "My friends would see her in the dorm and thought she was my girlfriend, and I'd have to point out that she was my mom. I don't know how she had the energy to attend classes and study after taking care of all of us. She's pretty amazing."

From Wisconsin, Rimlawi headed to New York College of Medicine. It was here that he changed his focus from wanting to be an OB-GYN to a spine surgeon. It became personal because he suffered a bad back injury. He went to numerous physicians for treatment, but nothing really worked. No one took the time to explain what was causing him pain and why.

"One doctor would send me to another doctor, then to physical therapy, then to a chiropractor, and give me medications," Rimlawi states. "I dealt with severe back pain for years, and no one explained my prognosis or treatment options to me. My back pain was so bad at one point that I had to take my medical school exams standing up. It wasn't until later in medical school that I started understanding what was wrong with my back and why I was in so much pain. That's when I became very interested in becoming a spine surgeon."

Rimlawi adds that because he lived for so long in pain, he understands patients who come to him frustrated and at the end of their rope. He believes patients need to understand their treatment plans and options. "Spine pain can be scary, so it's important that my patients know their diagnosis and understand the process we are going to follow to treat their pain. Knowledge helps patients to feel in control and know what to expect."

When Rimlawi finished medical school, his residency training brought him to the North Texas Health Science Center. And as they say, the rest is history.

Five questions for Michael Rimlawi:

1. Who is your role model?

"My role models have always been my parents. I witnessed firsthand their work ethic and how family was very important to them. My father was constantly working to provide for us. He missed a lot of games, family dinners, and events because he had to work. My mother is an amazing cook, and she insisted we have meals together. We would all sit together, eat and share stories about our day. My mother was always there for us. I realized as I got older just how special she is. She taught us the value of treating others in the way we would want to be treated and the importance of doing the right thing. Those life lessons you never forget."

2. What's one thing about Michael Rimlawi others would be surprised to know?

"The one thing that others would be surprised to know is that I invented two minimally invasive spine surgery instruments. There were a few products available that each did the things I needed in surgery but not one complete instrument that did it all - back then they had deficiencies. I wanted to invent something that had all the superior aspects of each product rolled into one. I sat down with an engineer and gave him all my ideas. We put it into one device that I was able to patent. I also patented a minimally invasive retractor as well. My retractor allows me to get into the spine with very little muscle destruction."

3. How do you maintain empathy?

"You know what? It's the only way I know how to be. If someone is in pain, I recognize that feeling. I can't sit back and do nothing. I have to help. I know what it is like to be in excruciating pain 24 hours a day. I can relate. It's funny, certain things in my life I've gotten used to, like seeing blood, broken bones, pinched nerves, but as far as seeing people in pain, I'm never going to get used to that. If I can help minimize or erase their pain, I have to do it."

4. What has been a defining moment in your life?

"One of the biggest defining moments in my life was when my father developed a focal dystonia in his hand. It affected his ability to operate and therefore affected his ability to support the family. It really shook me to see this strong person become vulnerable. Even though I was in training, I started moonlighting to help my family because I knew how stressed my father was. I had to work to help finance my brothers' and my sister's education. I'm grateful that I was in a position to give back. My family means everything to me."

5. What is one of the most interesting surgical cases you've been involved with?

"There's so many. One of the most interesting or best cases I've worked on was with a gentleman who came to my office in a wheelchair. He could barely move his arms or legs, and he didn't know why. We were able to discover the cause of his paralysis. Following surgery, I'd see progress where he slowly got out of his wheelchair, he slowly went to a walker, he slowly went to a cane, and then one day he wanted to surprise me. He told the staff to knock on the door three times before I came in. So they knocked three times, I opened the door, and without saying a word, he performed a short dance in the patient room. That was very touching. He went from a wheelchair unable to move his arms or legs to doing a little dance. There is very little else that feels as fulfilling as positively affecting someone's life."

The Minimally Invasive Spine Institute was founded in 2011 on the principle of patient-centered compassionate care where every treatment offered is customized to meet the patient's specific needs and exceed their expectations. From staff and fellowship-trained, spine specialists to state-of-the-art technology and innovative techniques, the Minimally Invasive Spine Institute in Dallas has brought together the best of the best, where patients can access their team of doctors and specialists all under the same roof. Providing no operative and advanced surgical care for all types of spinal disorders, this 45,851-square-foot facility has helped more than 20,000 patients and holds a 98 percent success rate. The ambulatory surgery center ("ASC") is AAAHC Certified, meaning it maintains the highest standards for ASCs and boasts a zero percent infection rate. The Minimally Invasive Spine Institute's ASC houses four hospital-grade operating suites and 16 stress-free recovery bays staffed with experienced, specialized nurses. Additional facility features include an on-site imaging center, clinic and procedure rooms, rehabilitation, physician rooms and a hotel lobby-like reception/waiting areas in a quiet, clean environment specifically designed for comfort and care. The Minimally Invasive Spine Institute is noted for the development of the groundbreaking procedure MicroCision, the least invasive option to treat back and neck pain in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions with an incision as small as 3 millimeters. For more information on the Minimally Invasive Spine Institute, go to www.MiSpineRelief.com or call 855-466-6741.

The Minimally Invasive Spine Institute offers the unique benefits of a center solely dedicated to using the latest technologies to effectively treat a comprehensive range of spinal conditions. Whether it's employing a cutting-edge pain mapping process to diagnose or performing minimally invasive back surgery with incisions so small it allows patients to return home the very same day, the Minimally Invasive Spine Institute works to give superior care and lasting results to every person they see. The spine specialists at the Minimally Invasive Spine Institute treat all aspects of spinal disease including degenerative and traumatic conditions of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine. More than just back doctors, the Minimally Invasive Spine Institute specialists are leaders in their field, pioneering minimally invasive surgical techniques, helping train spine surgeons all over the world and achieving successful outcomes for their patients.



Click here to watch video

For more information on the Minimally Invasive Spine Institute, call 855-297-7242 or go to https://www.mispinerelief.com.

Follow on social media:

Facebook - www.facebook.com/MiSurgicalInstitute

Twitter - https://twitter.com/MISInstitute

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/the-minimally-invasive-spine-institute

Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/MISInstitute

SOURCE: Minimally Invasive Spine Institute
- Recently Opened Vancouver and Washington, D.C. Hotels Make the Coveted List

Trump Hotel Group is honored to announce that its two newest hotels, Trump International Hotel Washington, D.C. and Trump International Hotel & Tower Vancouver have been designated as Forbes Five-Star Hotels.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180220006667/en/

Trump International Hotel Tower Vancouver (Photo: Business Wire)

It is unusual for two new hotels to achieve this prestigious recognition just after their first year of operation, and the Hotel Group is honored that these latest properties join the portfolio's other Forbes Five-Star Hotels -- Trump International Hotel Tower Chicago; Trump International Hotel Tower New York and Trump International Hotel Waikiki.

Forbes Travel Guide, the global authority on luxury travel, sends anonymous professional inspectors around the world to assess hotels, restaurants and spas against up to 800 objective standards focused on service and facilities.

"It is a tremendous honor for our two newest hotels to be recognized as Forbes Five-Star Hotels so soon after opening," said Trump Organization Executive Vice President Eric Trump. "This achievement is an incredible feat and a true testament to the efforts of our hotel teams who provide the unparalleled service that is a hallmark of our brand."

About Our Forbes Five-Star Hotels:

Trump International Hotel Tower Chicago

Located in the heart of the city and soaring 92 stories above the Loop and North Michigan Avenue, Trump International Hotel Tower Chicago features 339 luxuriously appointed guest rooms and Sixteen, the two-star Michelin-rated restaurant.

Trump International Hotel Tower New York

Rising above Central Park and Columbus Circle, the majestic Trump International Hotel Tower New York the only Forbes Five-Star/AAA Five-Diamond hotel with a Five-Star/Five-Diamond restaurant, Jean Georges is an icon delivering the highest level of service, style and exclusivity.

Trump International Hotel Tower Vancouver

Set in the heart of downtown and opened just last year, Trump International Hotel Tower Vancouver is a twisting $360-million tower designed by famed architect Arthur Erickson. One of the tallest buildings in the city, the hotel boasts 147 luxury guest rooms and suites, the award winning fine dining Chinese restaurant, Mott 32; the city's ultra-lounge, Drai's Vancouver; and The Trump Champagne Lounge. Prior to opening in February 2017, Forbes Travel Guide named the hotel one of the most anticipated hotel openings of the year.

Trump International Hotel Waikiki

Boasting a two-level, open-air lobby with expansive ocean views and interiors reflecting the island's rich history, Trump Waikiki is Oahu's only Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel since 2015 and the #1 TripAdvisor hotel in Honolulu for 76 consecutive months.

Trump International Hotel Washington, D.C.

The recently opened Trump International Hotel, Washington, D.C. features 263 richly luxurious guest rooms and suites, among the largest in Washington, D.C., with lofty 16-foot ceilings, soaring windows, beautifully restored historic millwork, and glittering crystal sconces and chandeliers. The hotel also offers a total of 38,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including the opulent 13,200-square-foot Presidential Ballroom, the largest among D.C. luxury hotels, a 10,000-square-foot Spa by IVANKA TRUMP and Fitness Center, and D.C.'s first BLT Prime restaurant by Chef David Burke.

About Forbes Travel Guide

Forbes Travel Guide is the gold standard for luxury hospitality ratings worldwide. For more information about Forbes Travel Guide, visit ForbesTravelGuide.com. For a detailed explanation of how Forbes Travel Guide compiles its Star ratings, click here.

About TRUMP HOTEL GROUP

Trump Hotel Group is the world-renowned hotel brand and management company home to Trump Hotels, SCION Hotels and Resorts and American IDEA Hotels. Led by seasoned hotel industry veteran Eric Danziger, Trump Hotel Group is part of The Trump Organization, helmed by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180220006667/en/

Contacts:

Glodow Nead Communications

Hwee Peng Yeo, 415-394-6500

TrumpHotelsPR@glodownead.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 20, 2018) - MediaValet Inc. (TSXV: MVP) (the "Company"), a leading provider of cloud-based digital asset management software, announces that, further to the Company's February 8, 2018 news release, in addition to his Executive Chairman role, Rob Chase has now been appointed as Chief Financial Officer.

The former CFO was principally focused on the internal accounting function and was the perfect fit for the development stage of the Company. With MediaValet now ready to go to the next level of growth, it is the right time to pass the reigns to someone with more public markets and technology growth experience. He has now formally retired from MediaValet and has transitioned his responsibilities to Mr. Chase.

Effective immediately, Mr. Chase is now Executive Chairman and Chief Financial Officer. As announced with his move to Executive Chairman on February 8th, 2018, Mr. Chase brings nearly 20-years of Board member, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer experience in publicly traded Software-as-a-Service, technology start-up and growth companies to the MediaValet executive team.

About MediaValet Inc.

MediaValet stands at the forefront of the cloud-based digital asset management industry. Built exclusively on Microsoft Azure and available on 44 highly secure and hyper scalable data centers around the world, MediaValet is uniquely equipped to meet the digital asset management needs of any organization, no matter its size, its industry or its location. Cutting-edge technology, exceptional product design, and unlimited friendly customer service are at the core of MediaValet's DNA - ensuring exceptional customer and user experiences are delivered at all times.

Follow MediaValet: Blog, Twitter and LinkedIn

Surf: www.mediavalet.com

For further information, please contact:

David MacLaren

Tel: (604) 688-2321

david.maclaren@mediavalet.com

Babak Pedram

Tel: (416) 644-5081

babak.pedram@mediavalet.com

"Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 20, 2018) - Bluestone Resources Inc. (TSXV: BSR) (OTCQB: BBSRF) ("Bluestone" or the "Company") today announced the formation of a Technical Advisory Committee ("TAC") to provide impartial advice and peer review over the Cerro Blanco Feasibility Study, expected to be completed by the end of 2018. The Committee will help identify risks and opportunities working closely with Bluestone management and consultants on material technical aspects of the project.

A.L (Alf) Hills will Chair the Technical Advisory Committee. The composition of the committee will be made up of six members: Alf Hills, Allan Moss, Roger Nendick, Donald Scott, Robert Sim and Ward Wilson.

Darren Klinck, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are very fortunate to have been able to assemble a Technical Advisory Committee with this breadth of experience and knowledge, obtained from an incredibly wide range of projects across the globe. Establishing an independent peer review process for the Feasibility study was our intention when we launched the study in September and is consistent with "best practice." We believe this is a tremendous opportunity to ensure we take full advantage of new technologies and solutions, leveraging the experience from industry-leading professionals as we bring together all aspects of the project in the Feasibility Study."

Alf Hills

Mr. Hills is registered as a Professional Engineer in the Province of British Columbia and holds a degree in Mining and Mineral Process Engineering with over 40 years of international mine evaluation, development, start-up operations, general management and board experience. Mr. Hills spent 26 years of his career with Placer Dome Inc, where he held a number of positions including Vice President Evaluations, Mine General Manager at Placer's Australian Kidston Gold Mine and in Papua New Guinea in various construction, start-up and operating positions. Mr. Hills also participated in developing the CIM Best Practice guidelines for Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Estimation and was a corporate member of the SME Resources and Reserve Committee.

Scott Donald

Mr. Donald is a Principal and Senior Hydrogeologist with Golder Associates and a specialist in numerical, analytical and statistical analysis of hydrogeological processes. He has over 25 years of experience applying numerical and analytical techniques to the solution of groundwater flow over a wide range of projects including extraction and re-injection studies. Over the past 20 years these skills have been primarily applied to the mining industry where he has directed or played a leading role in assessing potential hydrologic and hydrogeologic impacts and issues related to the development of new mines or in the mine closure process.

Mr. Donald has represented the hydrogeological and/or groundwater modeling component of the work at public hearings and/or through expert review panels as part of the formal review process.

Allan Moss

Mr. Moss has over 40 years of experience in mining and geo-technical engineering. After spending 20 years working as a Principal at SRK and Golder Associates he worked for Rio Tinto including as Principal Consultant Manager, General Manager Copper Technology, and General Manager Underground Technology. Over the last 20 years Allan has been heavily involved in large underground mines, from design through implementation to operations as well as a number of smaller underground operations. Mr. Moss is currently President of Sonal Mining Technology providing advisory services to underground bulk mining operations and has served on a number of technical review boards for many of industry's senior firms. He also assists in strategic and technical risk reviews of both brownfield and greenfield projects.

Roger Nendick

Mr. Nendick has more than 40 years of operating and engineering experience in the mining industry. His most recent assignment was Project Director for the Udokan Copper Project in Siberia, Russia. Prior to that he was Project Director for the Ambatovy Project in Madagascar for Sherritt International. Mr. Nendick currently acts as a consultant to Lundin Mining, Filo Mining and NGEx. He has experience as a Project director for major Feasibility Studies and in Front End Project Development. As Vice-President, Technology and Operations for Fluor Mining and Minerals, he was involved as sponsor or technology specialist in a number of recent engineering and construction projects including the Glamis Marlin mine in Guatemala. During the course of his career he has led due diligence and consulting assignments for the project financing of mining operations.

Robert Sim

Mr. Sim is a senior resource consultant with more than 30 years of experience in mineral exploration, mine operations management, project evaluations, resource audits, geostatistical studies, feasibility studies, QA/QC programs, conditional simulation studies, and mineral resource evaluations and modelling. Considerable experience across surface and underground deposits, including base metal, gold, silver, uranium, oil sands, cobalt, coal and phosphate deposits in Canada, the United States, Central and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia.

Mr. Sim worked for Inmet Mining Corporation as Chief Geologist at the Winston Lake Mine, Ontario, Canada; Pend Oreille Mine, Washington State, USA; Cayeli Bakir Isletmeleri (CBI), Turkey; and as Senior Geologist, Resource Evaluations.

Robert founded SIM Geological in 2004, which conducts independent mineral resource evaluations, modelling, and governance, and provides reporting that is compliant with National Instrument 43-101 standards.

Ward Wilson

Dr. Ward Wilson is a Professor of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering at the University of Alberta and brings more than 30 years of industrial experience to his practice in advance mine waste management. He has extensive experience as a consulting engineer and has maintained an exceptionally strong industrial focus through his research programs. Dr. Wilson is involved in mine waste management systems at numerous mine sites worldwide. He has also served as a specialist review consultant for many larger international mining projects.

Dr. Wilson's academic interest lies in technologies that improve the physical and chemical stability of tailing and waste rock systems. These methods focus on the de-watering of tailing to produce thickened, paste and filtered tailing to eliminate the need for conventional tailing ponds and allow the construction of dry stacks. He is involved in several innovative research programs for the blending of tailing and waste rock to produce a high strength sealing material termed 'Paste Rock'.

Professor Wilson is currently the NSERC/COSIA Industrial Research Chair in Oil Sands Tailing Geotechnique at the University of Alberta.

About Bluestone Resources

Bluestone Resources is a mineral exploration and development company that is focused on advancing its 100% owned Cerro Blanco Gold and Mita Geothermal projects located in Guatemala. The Cerro Blanco Project economics, as disclosed in the Company's Cerro Blanco Preliminary Economic Assessment which is available at www.sedar.com, and updated mineral resource estimate for Cerro Blanco indicates a robust project with an expected nine-year mine life producing 952,000 ounces of gold and 3,141,000 ounces of silver. Initial capital expenditures estimated in the PEA to fund construction and commissioning is estimated at US$170.8 million with all-in sustaining cash costs (as defined per World Gold Council guidelines, less corporate general and administration costs) estimated to be US$490 per ounce of gold produced. The Company trades under the symbol "BSR" on the TSX Venture Exchange and "BBSRF" on the OTCQB Venture.

On Behalf of Bluestone Resources Inc.

"Darren Klinck"

Darren Klinck | President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

For further information, please contact:

Bluestone Resources Inc.

Stephen Williams | VP Corporate Development & Investor Relations

Phone: +1 604 646 4534

info@bluestoneresources.ca

www.bluestoneresources.ca

Cautionary Language

The PEA is preliminary in nature, it includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that Bluestone Resources Inc. ("Bluestone" or the "Company") believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future including, without limitation: statements about the Company's plans for its mineral properties; Bluestone's business strategy, plans and outlook; the future financial or operating performance of Bluestone; capital expenditures, corporate general and administration expenses and exploration and development expenses; expected working capital requirements; the future financial estimates of the Cerro Blanco Project economics, including estimates of capital costs of constructing mine facilities and bringing a mine into production and of sustaining capital costs, estimates of operating costs and total costs, net present value and economic returns; proposed production timelines and rates; funding availability; resource estimates; and future exploration and operating plans are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to Bluestone and often use words such as "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "may" or variations thereof or the negative of any of these terms.

All forward-looking statements are made based on the Company's current beliefs as well as various assumptions made by them and information currently available to them. Generally, these assumptions include, among others: the ability of Bluestone to carry on exploration and development activities; the price of gold, silver and other metals; there being no material variations in the current tax and regulatory environment; the exchange rates among the Canadian dollar, Guatemalan quetzal and the United States dollar remaining consistent with current levels; the presence of and continuity of metals at the Cerro Blanco Project at estimated grades; the availability of personnel, machinery and equipment at estimated prices and within estimated delivery times; metals sales prices and exchange rates assumed; appropriate discount rates applied to the cash flows in economic analyses; tax rates and royalty rates applicable to the proposed mining operation; the availability of acceptable financing; anticipated mining losses and dilution; success in realizing proposed operations; anticipated timelines for community consultations and the impact of those consultations on the regulatory approval process.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements and, even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, Bluestone. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: risks and uncertainties related to expected production rates, timing and amount of production and total costs of production; risks and uncertainties related to ability to obtain or maintain necessary licenses, permits, or surface rights; risks associated with technical difficulties in connection with mining development activities; risks and uncertainties related to the accuracy of mineral resource estimates and estimates of future production, future cash flow, total costs of production and diminishing quantities or grades of mineral resources; risks associated with geopolitical uncertainty and political and economic instability in Guatemala; risks and uncertainties related to interruptions in production; the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; uncertain political and economic environments and relationships with local communities; risks relating to variations in the mineral content within the mineral identified as mineral resources from that predicted; variations in rates of recovery and extraction; developments in world metals markets; risks related to fluctuations in currency exchange rates; as well as those factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's Amended and Restated Annual Information Form.

Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it was made, and except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Bluestone disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although Bluestone believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to their inherent uncertainty. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.
Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - February 20, 2018) - Manganese X Energy Corp. (TSXV: MN) (FSE:9SC2) (OTC Pink: SNCGF) (the "Company") is pleased to announce it has completed a non-brokered private placement financing (the "Financing") as previously announced on February 7, 2018, and increased the Financing from $750,000 to $792,750. Pursuant to the Financing, the Company issued 5,285,000 units ("Units") of the Company at a price of $0.15 per Unit to raise aggregate proceeds of $792,750. Each unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company and one common share purchase warrant. Each warrant will entitle its holder to purchase one additional common share at an exercise price of $0.25 for a period of two (2) years from the closing date of the private placement.

All securities issued in connection with the Financing are subject to a four-month hold period from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities laws.

The proceeds of funds will be used for exploration, growth, research and development, marketing, and general working capital purposes.

Manganese X Energy's mission is to acquire and advance high potential manganese mining prospects located in North America with the intent of supplying value added materials to the lithium ion battery and other alternative energy industries. In addition our company is striving to achieve new methodologies emanating from environmentally friendly green/zero emissions, while processing manganese at a lower competitive cost. For more information visit the website at www.manganesexenergycorp.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Martin Kepman

CEO and Director

martin@kepman.com

1-514-802-1814

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains "forward-looking information" including statements with respect to the future exploration performance of the Company. This forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements of the Company, expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, as well as others, are disclosed within the Company's filing on SEDAR, which investors are encouraged to review prior to any transaction involving the securities of the Company. Forward-looking information contained herein is provided as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation, other than as required by law, to update any forward-looking information for any reason. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking information.
Braviant Holdings, a Chicago, IL-based fintech startup that uses advanced analytics and proprietary technology to make smarter lending decisions, raised $5m in common equity funding.

Loom Capital, LLC, made the investment. In addition to the investment from Loom, one of Braviants early investors has converted a $2m note to equity. The company also has the option to raise up to an additional $10m at the same price per unit as Loom during a 60-day tail period.

Alongside the equity investment, Braviant has entered into an exclusive partnership with a subsidiary of Trend Capital, a tech-enabled digital marketing platform affiliated with Loom.

Led by Matt Martorello, Founder and Chairman, and Stephanie Klein, CEO, Braviant provides pre-approved direct mail offers of credit for underbanked consumers. Its suite of financial products include Balance Credit and Chorus Credit.

Through the new partnership with Trend, the company will further diversify its customer acquisition channels.

FinSMEs

20/02/2018
SparkCognition, an Austin, Texas-based artificial intelligence (AI) company offers business critical solutions for enterprise customers, raised an additional $24m in Series B funding.

In June 2017, the company announced an initial Series B raise of $32.5m and this second tranche brought the total amount raised in the Series B to $56.5m.

The round was led by Verizon Ventures with participation from The Boeing Company, through its Boeing HorizonX unit. Additional investors participating in the final Series B close were CME Ventures, Brevan Howard Investment Holdings Limited, Invenergy Future Fund, and Cisco veterans, former CEO and Executive Chairman, John Chambers, and former EVP and Chief Development Officer, Pankaj Patel. One additional investor, an American global financial services company and one of the largest asset management firms in the world, also participated.

Led by Amir Husain, Founder and CEO, SparkCognition is deploying advanced machine learning technology to customers in energy, oil and gas, manufacturing, finance, aerospace, defense, and security.

FinSMEs

20/02/2018
Accompanying the digital chauffeur on the journey would be the virtual host, an in-car assistant that responds to voice commands and gestures.

For most of us, the future of driving means environmentally friendly cars, therefore electric and hybrid vehicles, right? Dream a little more and we probably start imagining a fully connected car with a built-in butler... maybe we won't even have to drive?

Well, it looks like Volkswagen's vision' for the future  a long sleek sedan, a concept appropriately named I.D. Vizzion  reflects this view of a clean, safe and comfortable car.

With no way for a driver to manually steer, this is an autonomously driving automobile that could essentially chauffeur customers unable to drive themselves, for example because of their age.

Accompanying the digital chauffeur on the journey would be the virtual host, in other words, an in-car assistant that responds to voice commands and gestures, remembering different vehicle guest preferences, such as temperature settings or seat position. This is all made possible thanks to complete embedding into the digital ecosystem, explains Volkswagen in an announcement made this week.

Debuting at this year's Geneva Motor Show (March 8 - March 18), the I.D. Vizzion concept is a 5-meter long premium glass MPV with an electric drive system, designed to travel at up to 180km/h. Equipped with 111 kWh lithium-ion batteries, the concept is designed to drive up to 665 kilometers (413 miles) when braking regeneration is factored in.

These specs are similar to those of the previous three models demonstrated by the brand  the original I.D, the I.D. Crozz and Buzz  meaning the series will be reasonably fast and powerful, however this may not even feel relevant in the future when vehicle guests' (as VW describes them) can optimize how they use their time during commutes.

Volkswagen describes the I.D. Vizzion as the technological backbone of future Volkswagen electric vehicles," enabling "long driving ranges and maximum space utilization at optimal costs.

Volkswagen has plans to introduce more than 20 electric vehicle models by 2025 and will roll out a compact electric I.D.2 in 2020, followed by the electric I.D. CROZZ3 SUV and an MPV in the I.D. BUZZ4.
Shares of PNB, too, declined after the Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday sealed the Brady House Branch of the bank

The markets on Tuesday opened on a cautious note with all the public sector bank stocks were trading lower. At 9.15 am all the big public sector banks were lower by 1.5 percent. Apart from the banking stocks, share prices of jewellery companies will also be in focus going ahead in the day. Analysts expect massive selling in stocks of public sector banks would be seen as the Rs 11,400 crore Punjab National Bank fraud continues to rock stock exchanges.

All the top six public sector banks were down with largest among the lot the State Bank of India falling 2.2 percent at 9.17 opening hours. Jewellery maker Gitanjali Gems was also named in the PNB scam thus impacting its stocks.

However, some banks started to show some recovery signs after early morning lows, Bank of India was one of them

On Monday, the stocks of PNB were down more than 7 percent and its market value came down to Rs 10,781 crore in just four days of trading.

On Monday, shares of Gitanjali Gems extended losses for the fourth consecutive session -- plunging almost 10 percent to its lower circuit level at Rs 33.80 per scrip -- while those of Punjab National Bank (PNB) slipped over 7 percent.

On a closing basis, PNB's scrips fell by Rs 9.25 per share, or 7.36 percent, to Rs 116.40 on the BSE.

The stocks of jewellery company Geetanjali Gems continued the plunge a day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted search operations in six franchise-based outlets located in four malls in Kolkata in connection with $1.8 billion banking fraud case.

Following the unravelling of the multi-crore PNB fraud, two senior officials of Gitanjali Gems -- Chandrakant Karkare and Pankhuri Warange -- resigned from the company, according to a regulatory filing with the stock exchanges on Monday.

Shares of PNB, too, declined after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday sealed the Brady House Branch of the bank as multiple probe agencies continued with their probe into the multi-crore fraud.

The shares of the two companies started to decline following the country's second largest state-run bank PNB's declaration of unearthing a fraud of Rs 11,300 crore involving diamantaire Nirav Modi.

The fraud, which included money-laundering among others, concerned the Firestar Diamonds group in which the CBI booked Modi, his wife Ami, brother Nishal Modi and uncle and business partner Mehul Choksi -- who promotes the luxury jewellery brand Gitanjali Gems.

Last week, the ED launched a nationwide raid on the offices, showrooms and workshops of Nirav Modi. The CBI registered an FIR against the Gitanjali Group of companies based on a complaint registered by the PNB.

On Sunday, the ED conducted searches at over 45 more locations in 15 cities across India in connection with the scam.

(With inputs from IANS)
Non-scheduled drugs and diagnostic services constituted major components of charges billed to patients in four private hospitals with margins as high as 1,192 percent, drug pricing regulator NPPA said on Tuesday

New Delhi: Non-scheduled drugs and diagnostic services constituted major components of charges billed to patients in four private hospitals with margins as high as 1,192 percent, drug pricing regulator NPPA said on Tuesday.

For consumables such as three way stop cock, BI valve, GS-3040, the margins were even higher. The purchase price of the device for the hospital was Rs 5.77 and a 1,737 percent margin on procurement price was charged, it added.

This has emerged from an analysis done by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) after "some unfortunate deaths because of dengue and other ailments in four reputed private hospitals" in Delhi and NCR , the regulator said in a memorandum.

"Institutional bulk purchases by private hospitals, which in most cases keep a pharmacy of their own, makes it easier for them to get very high profit margins and indulge in profiteering on drugs and devices even without need to violate the MRPs, which is already enough inflated," the NPPA said.

Elaborating on how patients were billed with high margins on medicines, the regulator said in case of Adrenor 2 ml injection with an MRP of Rs 189.95, the purchase price to the hospital was Rs 14.70 but was charged at Rs 5,318.60, inclusive of taxes, to patients.

The margin on procurement price of the drug used in emergency cases for treatment of potentially life-threatening low blood pressure was 1,192 percent.

Likewise, the NPPA said Todaycef 1 gm injection was billed to patients at Rs 860, whereas, the purchase price of the hospital was Rs 40.32 although the MRP was Rs 430. The margin on procurement price was 966 percent.

The drug price regulator did not disclose the names of the four private hospitals.

The NPPA said the pharmaceuticals industry in order to get bulk supply orders in a way is 'forced' to print higher MRPs as per the 'market requirements'.

It is amply clear that for claiming higher margins, doctors, hospitals preferred prescribing and dispensing non-scheduled branded medicines instead of scheduled medicines, it said.

This also indicates that the drug variants of scheduled medicines in the name of 'new drugs' and 'fixed dose combinations' have become the preferred choice avoid price control by manufacturing and medical fraternity, the regulator said.

"This trend of migration from scheduled to non-scheduled category is reflected in the growth rate of NLEM and non-NLEM drugs in the year 2017 where the rate of growth of non-NLEM drugs is almost double the rate of NLEM drugs," NPPA said.
The IndusInd Bank says it has a small exposure to Gitanjali Gems, a gems and jewellery company started by Mehul Choksi

The IndusInd Bank on Tuesday clarified that it has no direct or indirect exposure to the companies started and run by Nirav Modi, the billionaire diamond trader who has been at the centre of Rs 11,400 crore Punjab National Bank fraud that has sent shockwaves across the banking fraternity.

The Hinduja Group promoted bank is a big player in the gems and jeweller industry that was also at the receiving end of the PNB fraud as stocks of most of the players fell in the aftermath of the scam.

However, the IndusInd Bank has a small exposure to Gitanjali Gems, a gems and jewellery company started by Mehul Choksi, who is maternal uncle of Nirav Modi. It has been reported that Modi came to the diamond business after he came in touch with Choksi who by then had already made a big name in the sector.

"IndusInd Bank has no direct credit exposures to Nirav Modi nor any indirect credit exposures on the basis of the letters of undertaking (LOUs) issued by Punjab National Bank (PNB)," the bank said in a statement on Tuesday according to PTI.

The State Bank of India (SBI) -- country's largest public sector bank, note that Punjab National Bank comes second to it-- has revealed it has an exposure of Rs 1,360 crore or $212 million debt related to the letter of undertakings in the PNB scam. We dont have any direct exposure on Nirav Modi but we do have some exposure on Punjab National Bank, State Bank of India Chairman Rajnish Kumar told reporters on Monday.

The Allahabad Bank also informed that it has an exposure in the the Punjab National Bank letters of undertaking scam. The bank whose Hong Kong branch was used to pay overseas credit payments has an exposure of Rs 2,000 crore. "We have an exposure of around Rs 2,000 crore in the fraud detected by PNB some days back," a source in Allahabad Bank told PTI.

Kolkata-based UCO bank, yet another public sector bank, also claims an exposure in the Rs 11,400 crore Punjab National Bank fraud case valued at Rs 2,656 crore or roughly $412 million, The Hindu Businessline reported. In the normal course of trade business, our Hong Kong branch has been negotiating export documents against Letters of Credit issued through authenticated SWIFT message by PNB after receiving acceptance through authenticated SWIFT message, UCO Bank said in a regulatory filing to the BSE.

The clarification from IndusInd Bank comes days after PNB disclosed that Rs 11,400 crore worth of fraudulent transactions had taken place at its Brady House Branch in Mumbai.It maybe noted that several banks ignored the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)'s warning about the possibility of such scams. Mint reported that RBI's Financial Stability Report of June 2017 referred to the growing volume and value of frauds in the banking sector.

The report adds that in September 2016, former deputy governor S S Mundra had sounded alert on possible misuse of SWIFT facility in a banking setup. Interestingly, Nirav Modi and the other accused utilised the same facility to siphon off Rs 11,400 crore fraud from the Punjab National Bank.

The entire scam pertains to illegal issuance of comfort letters that were used at foreign branches of Allahabad Bank and Axis Bank. The stocks of the most of the public sector banks on Tuesday went crashing down in opening trade and lost value in the rage of 1 to 2.5 percent.
Gold loans popularity in the country has something to do with craze for the metal and ease of getting the loan sanctioned in just two hours.

Nirav Modi, prime accused in the Rs 11,400 crore Punjab National Bank fraud, has the gall to accuse the bank of acting in haste, leading to the government unleashing sleuths on his companies, and destroying his brand name and thus jeopardising the chances of repayment of loans.

In Hindi, there is a saying ulta chor kotwal ko dante (thief scolding the police). Nirav Modi in fact destructed his own brand, exaggerated though it was. Be that as it may. There are banks in the private sector who are content with retail loans namely -- for cars and other durables by tying up with the manufacturers, gold loan and home loan.

Why? Because the chances of funds being diverted for extraneous purposes, one of the principal causes of bad debts, is minimal with such loans.

Gold loans popularity in the country has something to do with craze for the metal and ease of getting the loan sanctioned in just two hours. Two assayers are called by the bank and the jewels evaluated for their gold content in front of the borrower. Thereafter the prescribed percentage (right now 72 percent as per the extant RBI norms) of the value is sanctioned as the maximum entitlement.

The loan is released immediately. Of course not all assets lend themselves to such quick and hassle-free ease of valuation. But the larger point is a bank secures itself fully in case of gold loan.

Personal guarantees are often not worth the paper they are written on unless the lender takes physical and tangible securities to back such guarantees.

Indeed even bank guarantees are not good enough to make the grade as secured loans in the eyes of the ICAI which says unless there are tangible securities; a loan cannot be classified as secured.

This despite the fact that bank guarantees are more valuable than physical securities as banks cannot renege on their guarantees.

Business loans however defy the gold loan principle because a going concern cannot physically mortgage or pledge the securities like inventories and receivables with the bank though they are capable of being hypothecated.

In the event, there is always a possibility of the borrower being tantalised into diverting the funds for self-aggrandisement as the two recent banking cases Kingfisher and Nirav Modi show. To forestall diversion, asset-based financing is the only possible solution as things stand.

Islamic banking sets store by financial lease under which the bank and its client jointly select the supplier of the asset required by the client and thereafter the bank closes the deal by buying it on his behalf. It is followed up with a back to back leasing agreement. Hire-purchase agreement is also a species of asset-based financing.

Critics aver that banks in that event would be venturing into unchartered territories -- purchasing for which it has neither the expertise nor the time nor the resources. Time has come for banks to acquire and find all these and more.

They can also hire consultants like gold loan giving banks hiring the services of assayers and pin responsibility on them. Whatever they do, it cannot be business as usual any longer for banks in India reeling under mounting NPAs and banking frauds with or without the connivance of bank staff.

Banks have been let down by the concept of floating charge on the assets of the borrower. The floating charge is such a nebulous idea that the bank does not know where and how its interests are secured unless the operations are frozen in a liquidation exercise.

And when the charge gets crystallised, the bank finds to its chagrin that bulk of the assets have been spirited away or worthless.

Banks must therefore be given more than the wooly comfort of what floating charge gives. They must know what they are lending for and what they are lending against. This becomes possible only in case of pledge like gold loan and asset-based financing.

Let banks also not be lax by being careless about non-fund based financing like letters of credit and bank guarantees because when a crisis breaks out it doesnt discriminate between fund based and non-fund based financing as the still-unraveling PNB fraud shows.

One question however remains unanswered in the above discussion -- pray what happens to farm loans and other socially desirable lending? The answer is the government simply cannot burden the banking system with social objectives. It must find ways and means to ring fence such social objectives by standing guard against default by the borrowers.

(The writer tweets @smurlidharan)
A special CBI court on Tuesday sent three Punjab National Bank officials arrested in connection with the Rs 11,300-crore fraud in police custody till 3 March.

Mumbai: A special CBI court on Tuesday sent three Punjab National Bank officials arrested in connection with the Rs 11,300-crore fraud in police custody till 3 March.

Those arrested on Monday are Bechhu Tiwari, Chief Manager in charge of Forex Department, Yashwant Joshi, a Scale II Manager in the same department and Praful Sawant, a Scale I officer in the Exports Section.

They were held three days after the first arrests were made in the sensational case on 17 July and presented in the CBI court this afternoon.

On Saturday, the CBI had arrested retired PNB officialsformer Deputy General Manager Gokulnath Shetty and single window Operator Manoj Kharatbesides Hemant Bhat, an authorised signatory for the Nirav Modi Group. They are in police custody until 3 March.

Tiwari was entrusted with supervising the work of Shetty and his team and to ensure entry of authorised SWIFT messages only into the system. Joshi was responsible for ensuring that daily reports of SWIFT and CBS entries were prepared, while Sawant was tasked with checking these SWIFT messages daily and reporting them to the bosses.

In the ongoing investigations, the Central Bureau of Investigation has interrogated around a dozen more PNB officials, mainly from the PNB's flagship Brady House Branch which has now emerged as the epicentre of the massive fraud.

The branch office was raided on Sunday and Monday and even sealed for a few hours on Monday to enable the CBI team to carry out its investigations.

A CBI team also swooped down on a farmhouse of absconding billionaire diamond trader Nirav Modi at the famed Kihim beach resort in Raigad.

The bungalow is constructed over nearly one-and-a-half acres, about two km from Alibaug, which houses bungalows, resorts and farmhouses of some of India's richest personalities, businessmen, film stars and others, accessible by an hour's catamaran ride from the Gateway of India.
PNB scam took a new turn when Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi's received a notice from the Income Tax dept over unaccounted payment of Rs 4.5 crores.

As Nirav Modi's lawyer claimed that agencies will not be able to prove the charges against him, the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam took a new turn on Tuesday when Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi received a notice from the Income Tax department over unaccounted payment of Rs 4.5 crore. Singhvi's wife Anita was also served notice for a transaction of Rs six crores with the Nirav Modi firm. While Nirav Modi's bungalow at Alibaug was searched, 10 Punjab National Bank's top officials were questioned by the CBI on Tuesday. Gitanjali Gems employees were handed relieving letters and refused gratuity after which they took to the streets protesting February salary.

Singhvi under scanner

While the Congress defended Singhvi and asked how long will the government remain helpless, party president Rahul Gandhi said Nirav sold dreams to many people including the government. Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said the question does not stop at Nirav and Vikram Kothari but extends to the credibility of the entire banking sector. While denying the charges, Singhvi went onto say that his wife had purchased jewellery from different vendors but "there was no cash transaction with Nirav".

Later the Congress leader slammed a news channel that had procured a copy of the transactions, saying "harassment, innuendo, insinuation must have its limits". NCP leader Majeed Memon also defended Singhvi and said it is inappropriate to assume that Congress is involved in this matter.

On 17 February, Singhvi had rubbished accusations that he and his family had links with Nirav Modi's companies and said Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman "was liable to civil and criminal defamation". The Congress leader said he reserved the right to take appropriate legal action against Sitharaman and a section of the media "which carry such false and maliciously defamatory allegations".

CBI continues questioning

The CBI questioned 10 top officials of the Punjab National Bank including the executive director on Tuesday. Earlier on Tuesday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided Gitanjali Jewels in Jabalpur of Madhya Pradesh. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also continued questioning 10 PNB officials including those of general manager rank and four employees of Nirav Modi group of companies in the Rs 11,300 crore bank fraud case, IANS reported.

According to the officials, Nirav's two chief financing officers  Ravi Gupta and Vipul Ambani  along with Saurabh Sharma, president foreign finance division and Subhash Parab, finance executive, were questioned on Tuesday. They were also questioned for over eight hours on Monday.

In Mumbai, 30 employees of Gitanjali and PNB reached the CBI headquarters for interrogation on Tuesday morning.

SC to hear plea on Friday

The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear on Friday a plea seeking a SIT probe and other reliefs in the over Rs 11,000 crore PNB fraud. Two separate petitions were filed before the apex court on Monday seeking its direction to the Centre to initiate the process of deportation of Nirav, who is abroad, and others allegedly involved in the case as soon as possible, preferably within two months.

Meanwhile, private sector lender IndusInd Bank said it has no direct or indirect exposures to firms floated by scam-tainted Nirav. The bank, one of the most active lenders in the gems and jewellery sector, however, has a "small" exposure to Gitanjali Gems, promoted by Nirav's uncle Mehul Choksi who is also an accused in the Rs 11,400-crore fraud. "IndusInd Bank has no direct credit exposures to Nirav nor any indirect credit exposures on the basis of the letters of undertaking (LOUs) issued by Punjab National Bank (PNB)," the lender said in a statement.

One of the petitions was mentioned on Tuesday before a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud. The bench posted the matter for hearing on 23 February. The other plea, filed by advocate ML Sharma, had said that the SIT should consist of retired judges of the apex court while claiming that the banking fraud has caused serious injury to the general public and the state's treasury.

Opposition seeks discussion on PNB case

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath said that the PNB scam was a sin committed during UPA tenure and the government would take all actions to "unearth" it.

In West Bengal, 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 a walkout from the house during most of the discussions.

"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.

Moody's places PNB under review for downgrade

International rating agencies Moody's Investor Service and Fitch Ratings on Tuesday warned the scam-hit Punjab National Bank (PNB) of rating downgrades, citing net-worth erosion and widening losses at the second largest state-run lender.

The Rs 11,400-crore fraud  the biggest in the country's banking history  has 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.

With inputs from agencies
The correlation between NPAs and potential fraud in PSU banks raises all kinds of red-flags, something that RBI itself has pointed out

More skeletons continue to tumble out of Punjab National Banks (PNB) closet. Reuters reported that over the last five years, 8,670 loan frauds in public sector banks resulted in a loss of Rs 61,200 crore. And like Abou Ben Adhem, PNBs name led all the rest, with 389 cases totalling Rs 6,162 crore. Public sector banks accounted for just 18 percent of the frauds in number, but 83 percent by value.

It might be tempting to treat the Nirav Modi instance as an isolated one, but nothing could be further than the truth. In fact, it highlights the inherent risk of fraud when the balance sheets of two or more banks are connected. Banks lend in syndicates and consortia, the leader of which undertakes the responsibility for due diligence and rigid credit appraisal.

Other lenders in the consortia are happy to go by the leaders judgement, and that is risky. Different banks have different portfolio structures, and its entirely possible that being part of a new consortium may require a diligent credit review. When their balance sheets are connected, the vulnerability to fraud in another institution is also higher. The regulator is worried; its high time the banks were too.

The Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) taxonomy of fraud details three types: deposit related, credit-related and services related. New payment systems, electronic banking and other developments have cut down deposit-related fraud dramatically. But credit-related fraud, especially in the present scenario of ever-rising non-performing assets or NPAs, is a growing danger.

In the last few years, credit-related fraud accounts for two-thirds of all frauds by value. Within this sub-category, the RBI reported in 2014 that documentary credit  letters of credit (LCs) and the now infamous letters of understanding (LoUs) were the principal worry. And cyber frauds represent the third type, or services fraud, but these too are relatively small compared to credit-related fraud.

But lets return to the correlation between NPAs and fraud, which is the larger question that the Nirav Modi case raises for all banks. At what point does an NPA become a fraud? Bankers have talked about many cases that fit the following type: A bank, or a consortium, sanctions a combination of fund and non-fund based credit company X. In short order, in three years, say company X is declared an NPA.

When the bank conducts an investigation, it discovers potential siphoning off funds through connected parties. Most of the LCs were issued in favour of a third party, most likely related to the promoter of company X. Deeper investigation reveal no business activity carried out by the related party.

The exercise also shows a huge sum of money invested in property, and/or shifted to other business ventures. Financial irregularities begin to emerge in the financial statements of company X. In keeping with RBI guidelines, company X is declared a wilful defaulter, but not a fraud, despite the nature of promoter activities. Because a fraud would require higher write-offs and banks are extremely reluctant to do that. Call it willful blindness.

A quick hark-back to the Nirav Modi issue raises another bogey for banks. Now that PNB claims that the staff in the foreign branches of the other two banks, Allahabad Bank and Axis Bank, participated in the fraud, PNB is not liable to meet its commitment to pay them. In other words, the fake LoUs are not IoUs. Should PNB continue to insist and persist with its claim, the courts may come into play.

And that adds another dimension to the issue, not to mention complexity to inter-bank relationships. The idea of one public-sector bank potentially taking another public-sector bank to court raises a whole new set of problems for the government that owns both. It may also test the boundaries of contract law and how that figures in documentary credit.

The correlation between NPAs and potential fraud in public sector banks raises all kinds of red-flags, something that the RBI itself has pointed out, in a speech by none other than former deputy governor KC Chakraborty; chairman and managing director of PNB is also on his resume, from 2007-2009. Another red flag is about corporate governance, and yet another about the efficacy of credit appraisals as pointed out by another RBI deputy governor R Gandhi.

The RBIs latest report on Trend and Progress of Banking in India 2016-17 has a couple of interesting numbers that raise other red flags, at least in terms of due diligence and the care that banks will have to take in dealing with documentary credit.

A review of off-balance sheet items, where LCs and LoUs figure, shows an amount of Rs 3 lakh crore plus of such items as the scale of exposure for the banking system, which includes claims not acknowledged as debt, liability for partly paid investment, bills rediscounted and LCs.

Could we expect renewed scrutiny of all documentary credit undertaken as a risk management and control exercise? Its possible that there may be clean-ups in other banks, and that is a good thing.

In addition, one more thing is necessary: a review of internal and statutory audits, and auditors. They are part of the external independent control system, and given all the warnings by the central bank others over the last 18 months, its only natural that their efficacy be challenged.

The PNB case is a serious wake-up call for public sector banks to look at a number of their systems and operations. History has shown that crisis-like conditions actually make it easy to push through difficult changes, and we are on the cusp of a crisis when it comes to banking system stability. As Walter Bagehot, who became editor-in-chief of The Economist in 1860 pointed out, Adventure is the life of commerce, but caution is the life of banking. Now is the time to exercise it the most.
The ease of doing business efforts will continue apace because Modi and Jaitley are pragmatic.

Clearly, the 2018 Indian Budget statement, delivered by Arun Jaitley on 1 February, contained some ambitious and eye-catching announcements aimed at improving the "ease of living for the poorest of the poor.

These announcements included a minimum support price of 150 percent for agricultural produce, investments in education, rural roads and, most ambitiously, a healthcare insurance scheme that will give 500 million people insurance cover of 5,500.

No one seems to be questioning the importance of these schemes, but the governments ability to pay for and deliver, in particular, the healthcare scheme has been questioned.

Given the ambition, complexity and importance of the healthcare scheme, it has been argued that the government has to take the time to get it right. A rush to meet an arbitrary politically-driven deadline will damage the programmes effectiveness and sustainability.

Have we seen the end of the ease of doing business campaign?

Jaitleys statement that the governments focus is shifting from the ease of doing business to the ease of living for the poorest of the poor could be seen as cause for concern by businesses.

I think these concerns are misplaced.

Given that this was the last Budget before the next general election (due by May 2019) and series of 10 State elections in 2018, it is no surprise that the political rhetoric and high-profile announcements were aimed at the 500 to 600 million people living in rural India.

During the 2014 election campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised that Good times are coming. For many, this has not yet become a reality. So, although this was always a two-term project, it is no surprise that money and attention is being directed towards the rural population.

The ease of living for the poorest of the poor will, rightly, receive more attention. But the ease of doing business efforts will continue apace because Modi and Jaitley are pragmatic.

They know that it is the private sector that will create the jobs, prosperity, and tax receipts to fund schemes aimed at improving livelihoods. And there is ample evidence that Central and State ministers and departments are upping their game when it comes to engaging businesses and improving the ease of doing business.

Fine, but what did Jaitley have for businesses?

I am hesitant to reach a conclusion today, as devilish details may still emerge. After all, the hugely damaging retrospective tax law from the 2012 Budget didnt emerge until two weeks after the Finance Ministers Statement to Parliament.

Nevertheless, with the above disclaimer in place, I feel comfortable enough to say that the Budget was, on balance, OK for business.

Companies involved in healthcare, education, and road building will benefit from these rural schemes. So will consumer goods companies selling into these millions. India as a whole will benefit from a healthier and better-educated population as this will raise prosperity and productivity, stimulating demand across India.

So, these indirect benefits and opportunities, when they materialise, should be welcomed by the business community.

Two Good, and Too Bad

Two elements of the Budget struck me as positive developments.

First, the increased investment in infrastructure, particularly in airports and urban infrastructure, was good news. As the UK has world-leading capability in both areas there is scope for even more India-UK collaborations.

Secondly, reform of the labour law, which will see an expansion in the use of contract workers from just the textiles and footwear sectors to all industries, should be welcomed.

As UK businesses employ nearly 800,000 people in India  1 in 20 of all jobs in the organised sector - labour laws matter, and if they are sufficiently flexible they will encourage more companies to employ more people.

There were, though, a number of areas where the Budget was not so good for business.

Be thankful I dont take it all, cause Im the Taxman

Tax payments and compliance has not become simpler, and the threat of retrospective tax still hangs over business. Simplifying the tax system, and making it fairer, is a major ask from businesses. It is something that would sharply improve the ease of doing business. So, in this regard, the Budget was a missed opportunity.

Companies with a turnover of less than around 28 million (Rs 2,5000,000,000) will thank Jaitley for the cut in corporate tax from 29 percent to 25 percent. However, there was no tax cut for the big businesses that contribute so much to Indias employment, exports, and growth, despite FM saying in 2015 that he would reduce it to 25 percent this fiscal.

Does the tax policy to help or hinder Make in India?

With Indian and international companies weighing-up competing investment destinations, lower tax countries, particularly in South East Asia, could attract the manufacturing investment India is trying so hard to attract.

The Budget contained another set of announcements that could inhibit the 'Make in India' campaign.

While the objectives of announcing new import duties on a range of goods were to protect those manufacturing in India and provide an economic incentive for others to manufacture in India rather than import, there are unintended and negative consequences.

A perception is developing that India is protectionist, despite Modis compelling pro-globalisation and anti-protectionism Davos speech in January. Perceptions matter, and a perception  no matter how mis-placed  that India is protectionist will deter companies from doing business in and with India.

The cost of tariffs matter too. They will stop companies from selling to India and, for two reasons, this will reduce the number of companies investing in India.

First, businesses will often invest in a country only once they know there is a market for their goods and services. And they will only know there is a market once they have achieved exporting success.

The other reason investments could reduce due to higher tariffs is the global nature of manufacturing supply chains. Companies looking to 'Make in India' will plan to import much of their components in the short and medium term as it will take longer to develop a domestic Indian supply chain.

So, higher tariffs on components can weaken the economic case for investing in India. Combine this with a higher effective corporate tax rate than competing countries, and India is giving investors much to consider.

Conclusion: Economic Reform is a long-term process, not an event. Nevertheless, this Budget was an important event. For business, it signaled the governments desire to boost SMEs and manufacturing, even though the tax and tariff policies have unintended consequences. For everyone, the Budget signaled that the government is sharply focused on the electorate. The next general election is due by May 2019, but with this Budget and a clutch of big State elections in the autumn, the prospect of a general election in October/November has risen sharply.

Click here for full coverage of Union Budget 2018.

(The writer is COO, UK India Business Council)
Delhi chief secretary Anshu Prakash was allegedly assaulted at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence on Monday evening, media reports have said

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Calling the assault on Delhi chief secretary Anshu Prakash a constitutional crisis, the IAS Association members have decided to be on "hartal" with immediate effect to protest against the two AAP MLAs who allegedly assaulted Prakash at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence on Monday evening, CNN-News18 reported on Tuesday.

Chief Secretary Ashu Prakash complained to the L-G Anil Baijal that two Aam Aadmi Party MLAs physically assaulted him. Meanwhile, India Today reported that Prakash will also be filing an FIR against the two MLAs.

"A mob of 200 to 250 people assembled outside my elevator. 20 to 30 in the mob got aggressive and ran towards me while shouting slogans in the name of BJP. I was protected by my personal security officer but they got injured. All of this is captured by the CCTV camera," Ashish Khetan told News18.

"They came with a lot of promises but they have not fulfilled them. We told everyone how there has been a nreakdown in the transport, education and medical sector in Delhi. They talk of "mohalla clinics" but we know its situation," Ajay Maken, Delhi Congress chief said.

Reacting to the incident, Delhi BJP leader Manoj Tiwari demanded a high-level inquiry against Kejriwal and asked for strict action against him. He added that the two AAP MLAs need to be suspended from the Assembly, CNN-News18 reported.

"BJP workers are assembling in Delhi Secretariat and they are assaulting our ministers. We will meet the Home Minister in the afternoon," said AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj.

The IAS association will be meeting Home Minister Rajnath Singh at 3 pm to protest against the assault against Delhi chief secretary Anshu Prakash, reported Financial Express.

"The whole issue is that there were less money spent on the publicity of the three years of government. Kejriwal government was not happy over this. So they called him to the house and assaulted him. Beating up people for personal egos will not work. We demand the L-G to intervene and take strict action. The AAP is now spreading lies to counter Anshu Prakash," Vijender Gupta, the Leader of Opposition said.

AAP MLA Ajay Dutt has written to Delhi police commissioner to lodge FIR against the chief secretary. The Delhi chief secretary had used "casteist remarks" against him in a meeting at Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.

According to CNN-News18, the Union home ministry has asked for a report on the ongoing crisis between the AAP government and the IAS officers in the Union Territory of Delhi. Meanwhile, IAS officers are set to meet Rajnath Singh at 3 pm.

Taking to Twitter, AAP government spokesperson Nagendar Sharma said, "Minister Imran Hussaain is on his way to lodge a complaint at IP Estate police station. MLAs Prakash Jarwal and Ajay Dutt will be lodging a complaint with SC/ST Commission against casteist comments against them."

Former Congress MP hit out at the AAP over the controversy and told Times Now, "It shows how the AAP is involved in malpractices and corruption. If something good happens, Kejriwal and his MLAs take credit, and in case of something bad, the onus falls on the government. Iss tarah se haathapaai karna, koi gundagardi hai kya?"

Hitting out at the Arvind Kejriwal government over the law and order in Delhi, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said, "It's the first time something of this magnitude has happened in a chief minister's house. These three of years of Kejriwal are three years of anarchy. The question is, does this kind of chief minister have the authority to remain in power. He should give up his seat. This is not the way democracy functions."

Following reports of a mob gathering in the Delhi Secretariat, AAP leader Ashish Khetan told CNN-News18 that he managed to escape the crowd which was shouting, "Maaro Maaro". "How did a mob of 200 gather inside Delhi Secretariat," he asked.

Speaking to CNN-News18, Manisha Saxena said that Delhi chief secretary Anshu Prakash narrated the incident to Home Minister Rajnath Singh during the meeting. "We have decided to stage a candle march at 6.30 pm at Rajghat on Tuesday. The officers will not strike work," she said.

AAP leader Atishi Marlena said that Delhi Cabinet minister Imran Hussain was given the date of 23 February by Rajnath Singh's offfice when he tried to fix a meeting with him. "Why are we being discriminated against," she asked.

At a press conference, the Aam Aadmi Party leaders said that the CCTV footage from Arvind Kejriwal's residence shows that Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash left the premises without showing signs that he was attacked. "It is clearly seen in the footage that one of our leaders went after Prakash, requesting him to come back to the meeting," they said.

"1. On Thursday, i.e on 19 February, I was informed on the telephone around 8.45 pm by Advisor to Chief Minister VK Jain that I have to reach Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals residence at midnight to discuss with chief minster and his deputy the issue of difficulty in release of certain TV advertisement relating to completion of 3 three years of current government in Delhi. I suggested that the meeting could be held on 20 February morning. However it was reiterated by Advisor to Chief Minister at 9 pm and again at around 10 pm that the meeting has been scheduled by the chief minister at midnight. Prior to this message from Advisor to Chief Minister, and the deputy chief minister had also called me around 6.55 pm and had informed if the matter of release of TV advertisement is not resolved by evening, I should reach chief miniserresidence at midnight to discuss the issue. I had already explained to the deputy chief minister earlier that any advertisement to be released should not be in contravention of Supreme Court guidelines."

"2. Advisor to the Chief Minister again called me around 11.20 pm to confirm that I have left for chief minister's residence for the meeting. Thereafter I left my residence in my official car and driver along with my PSO and reached chief minister's residence at midnight."

"3. On my arrival at chief minister's residence, I met Sri VK Jain, Advisor to Chief Minister, and thereafter both of us were taken to the front room where Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and around 11 MLAs/persons were present. The chief minister told me that persons present in the room was MLAs and they had come to ask him about governments publicity program on completion of three years. One of the MLAs firmly shut the door of the room. I was made to sit in between Amanatullah Khan and another person/MLA on a 3-seater sofa. The chief minister directed me to answer the MLAs and explain the reason for the delay in release of the TV campaign. I explained to them that the officers were bound by the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court and advertisement to be released must be in consonance with the said guidelines."

"5. I request you to take action as per law as the assault was premeditated and in conspiracy of all present with intention to criminally intimidate, cause hurt with motive to deter me from discharge of my lawful duty and compel me to follow unlawful directions. None of the persons present in the room made any effort to save me."

AAP leader Sanjay Singh said that only on the basis of a person's account, the Delhi Police has arrested two legislators and reached the chief minister's place. He also asked if the Delhi Police is dancing to the tunes of the BJP.

Soon after the Delhi Police raided Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence to look for evidence in connection with the alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash by AAP legislators, party leaders slammed the police in a press conference.

"The time of cameras at the chief minister's residence was running behind by 40.43 minutes," he said, adding that hard disks of the cameras had been seized.

"Going by the coverage by CCTV cameras outside the drawing room and in the corridor, we will try to understand the movement of people before and after the incident," Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Harendra Kumar Singh said.

A senior police officer said they would go about the investigation based on the coverage by cameras installed in the corridor and added that seven of the 21 CCTV cameras in the house were not functioning.

Delhi Police, which searched Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence on Friday for CCTV footages in connection with the alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash, said no cameras were installed in the room where the incident reportedly took place.

An MLA would only assault a bureaucrat when he wants to make him do something wrong, Congress' Ajay Maken tells CNN-News18

Delhi IAS officers association secretary Manisha Saxena said the minister has assured full cooperation. "He said he is overseeing the developments, and action, as per the law, will be taken. He said they will take every step to protect and uphold the dignity of the civil servants," Saxena said.

He said the officers wanted to officially register their grievances with the personnel ministry, which is the cadre controlling authority of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).

"We have heard the members of the delegation. We took cognisance of all the grievances and concerns raised by them and necessary steps would be taken on it," Singh told reporters after the meeting.

A delegation of IAS officers working under the Delhi government met Union minister Jitendra Singh on Friday and put forward their grievances following the alleged attack on Delhi chief secretary Anshu Prakash.

"Arvind Kejriwal informed L-G how bureaucrats are striking work completely. We have asked whatever is necessary for Delhi. Kejriwal and other ministers said that we will ensure that no untoward incident takes place. We will take whatever step is necessary. The way L-G assured, I think he is viewing the matter from the point of view of entire Delhi," says Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

Delhi IAS officers association secretary Manisha Saxena said the minister has assured full cooperation. "He said he is overseeing the developments, and action, as per the law, will be taken. He said they will take every step to protect and uphold the dignity of the civil servants," Saxena said.

He said the officers wanted to officially register their grievances with the personnel ministry, which is the cadre controlling authority of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).

"We have heard the members of the delegation. We took cognisance of all the grievances and concerns raised by them and necessary steps would be taken on it," Singh told reporters after the meeting.

A delegation of IAS officers working under the Delhi government met Union minister Jitendra Singh on Friday and put forward their grievances following the alleged attack on Delhi chief secretary Anshu Prakash.

Even if one stretches one's imagination to believe that the CM wanted to get the Chief Secretary beaten up, would he call him to his own house: @AtishiMarlena pic.twitter.com/IZnk1cVwOM

Met Hon'ble CM @ArvindKejriwal & his cabinet colleagues. Strongly condemn the recent unfortunate incidents. Advised elected Govt. to take steps to remove mistrust with Govt. employees so that development of Delhi is not affected. No place for violence in democracy.

"Arvind Kejriwal informed L-G how bureaucrats are striking work completely. We have asked whatever is necessary for Delhi. Kejriwal and other ministers said that we will ensure that no untoward incident takes place. We will take whatever step is necessary. The way L-G assured, I think he is viewing the matter from the point of view of entire Delhi," says Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

Officers not attending meetings for last 3 days. Governance suffering. I m v concerned. LG assured he will take all steps to ensure officers started functioning normally. Council of ministers assured him all cooperation. All of us need to work together for betterment of Delhi

LIVE updates: At a press briefing, the Aam Aadmi Party hit out at Union minister Rajnath Singh for coming in support of Delhi chief secretary Anshu Prakash. Singh had met Prakash and a delegation of IAS officers and had later tweeted that civil servants "should be allowed to work with dignity and without fear."

Hours after the alleged assault against Prakash, India Today is quoting AAP sources as saying that bureaucrats assaulted AAP leader Ashish Khetan inside the secretariat. Delhi Congress' Ajay Maken has asked Arvind Kejriwal to apologise for the "hooliganism" and urged the chief minister to apologise.

Calling the assault on Delhi chief secretary Anshu Prakash a constitutional crisis, the IAS Association members have decided to be on "hartal" with immediate effect to protest against the two AAP MLAs who allegedly assaulted Prakash at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence on Monday evening, CNN-News18 reported on Tuesday.

"The assault on the chief secretary is a constitutional crisis. if the chief secretary can be assaulted then we are also unsafe. We are on 'hartal' with immediate effect," the IAS association said while adding that they will soon meet Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal to file a complaint against the MLAs.

#BREAKING -- Delhi Chief Secy allegedly assaulted at CM Kejriwal's residence. The Chief Secy complains of assault to L-G | @rupashreenanda with more details pic.twitter.com/5oy7S5chTE  News18 (@CNNnews18) February 20, 2018

CNN-News18 reported that Prakash had complained to the L-G that two Aam Aadmi Party MLAs physically assaulted him. The Delhi Police said it had not yet received any complaint about the incident. Meanwhile, India Today reported that Prakash will also be filing an FIR against the two MLAs. Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan was one of the two leaders named by the chief secretary in his complaint letter to the L-G, the report mentioned. However, the channel also reported that Aam Aadmi Party and the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) have denied the incident took place, and called the accusations "bizarre". The party also tweeted its response, dismissing Prakash's charges. AAP said that the MLAs were gathered at Kejriwal's residence to discuss the ration crisis emerging out of the faulty implementation of Aadhaar. However, the AAP claimed that Prakash refused to answer the questions posed by the MLAs and stormed out of the meeting after abusing them. The statement posted by AAP also alleged that Prakash was working at the behest of the BJP. The party also alleged that Prakash misbehaved with the MLAs and used a casteist slur against them.

AAP's response to false allegations by Chief Secretary  pic.twitter.com/dl3M2MrXW6  AAP (@AamAadmiParty) February 20, 2018

Mayank Gandhi, former AAP leader, was quoted by the channel as saying it's a "natural progression" of the situation. "Considering the confrontational attitude taken up by both sides and the vicious atmosphere that this created, this was a natural consequence," he said. "However, this is a shocking incident and there needs to be a quick investigation and swift action taken against those found guilty," he added.

Reacting to the incident, Delhi BJP leader Manoj Tiwari demanded a high-level inquiry against Kejriwal and asked for strict action against him. He added that the two AAP MLAs need to be suspended from the Assembly, CNN-News18 reported.
A week after two unidentified gunmen killed former militant commander and separatist leader, Mohammad Yusuf Rather, shooting him dead inside a passenger vehicle, the police is investigating claims made by Al-Qaeda's Kashmir head, Zakir Musa

A week after two unidentified gunmen killed former militant commander and separatist leader, Mohammad Yusuf Rather, shooting him dead inside a passenger vehicle, the police is investigating claims made by Al-Qaeda's Kashmir head, Zakir Musa, that the killing was carried out to warn Hurriyat parties against pursuing secularism.

Rather, who was associated with Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani for the last 14 years, was killed by two gunmen on Saturday, when he was travelling from Beerwah in Budgam to his house in the same district. Two pistol-wielding men who were sitting in the back seat of a vehicle fired at his head and later fled from the place.

A shutdown was declared in Kashmir, after which Musa allegedly released an audio file claiming that he ordered his men to kill the Hurriyat leader. He also said that Kashmir's battle will not be political but in order to establish the rule of Islam. "These dishonest Hurriyat leaders don't understand. If they want to run their politics, they shouldn't become a thorn in our way, or else we will chop off their heads and display them at Lal Chowk. This is why we had to kill Mohammad Yusuf Rather," he can be heard saying in the audio clip.

"Our Kashmir's battle is for ensuring glorification of Islam and we will establish the Shariah system of Islam. My appeal to all who want to enforce religion is that it should be followed first by oneself. We should become dear to Allah and tie the rope of the Almighty with strength and not repose faith on anyone else," he added.

Musa is the head of Al-Qaeda affiliate Ansar Ghazwatul Hind, and the fresh audio release came a few months after he had accused Pakistan of "back-stabbing militants", following US' attack on Afghanistan. In his previous audio message, he had said that even as foreign militants were fighting in Kashmir, the Pakistani government got militants killed, and even closed the training camps.

Deputy inspector general of police, Central Kashmir Range, Ghulam Hassan Bhat, said that a case has been registered after Rather's killing, and they are looking into the audio clip as well. "We are also going through call records of the deceased, and have questioned the driver in whose vehicle Rather was heading home," Bhat said.

According to police officials, two pistol-wielding persons were sitting in the back seat of a vehicle on 13 February. At around 4.40 pm, they fired at Rather, killing him immediately. The police then handed over his body to Rather's family members, after which a case was registered.

However, Geelani and two other members of the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL)  a joint forum of separatists  Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and JKLF chairman Mohammad Yaseen Malik, blamed government agencies for the killing. In his statement, Geelani said, "The assassins are enjoying the full support of their sponsors, and a territory which is controlled by seven lakh armed people roaming with lethal weapons, can never be a safe place" for people like Rather.

Hurriyat (G) spokesman Gulam Ahmad Gulzar said that as the general secretary of the separatist outfit Tehreke Wahadati Islami, Rather was associated with the Geelani-led faction since 2004. He said that he was the deputy chief commander of the now non-existent militant outfit Hizbul Momineen in the early 1990s before he joined the separatist conglomerate. "He was an important Hurriyat (G) leader and a member of our executive council," he said.

Meanwhile, Rather's killing has further deteriorated the security situation in Kashmir, with the Hurriyat blaming the incident on "Indian security agencies". Gulzar said that the government was "using" security agencies for killing the separatists to thwart Kashmir's "freedom struggle".

Police officials said that Gulzar was also working as a section officer in the power development department, even as he remained associated with the Hurriyat (G) chairman. He was working a few kilometers away from his Budgam residence, said a police official.

Gulzar also said that the fresh audio "may have been doctored by the Indian agencies to create a wedge in the Kashmiri society".

However, while Musa claimed responsibility for the killing, a senior police official said that Rather has earlier been detained for anti-India demonstrations during protests in 2008 and 2010, which were ignited over the transfer of land to the Amarnath Shrine Board and the killing of three civilians in a fake encounter.
SC refused to extend the deadline for publication of final National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam & directed the Centre to complete work by 31 May.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to extend the deadline for publication of the final National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam and directed the Centre to complete the work by 31 May.

The apex court said that the work of the verification of around one crore citizens in the state should continue without interference from any quarter.

A bench comprising justices Ranjan Gogoi and RF Nariman said that it would monitor the progress of the NRC work in Assam after 30 days.

When Attorney General KK Venugopal told the bench that it was not "physically possible" to complete the work by 31 May, the apex court said its business was to make the impossible possible.

"Attorney General, what everybody thought was a big joke has been turned into a reality. Our business is to make impossible possible and we will do it. We are monitoring it for the last four years and we know this," the bench said.

The bench also made it clear that the upcoming panchayat and local body elections in Assam, which are scheduled to be held in the months of March and April 2018 will be conducted by the state election commission and the state government.

"The work of holding panchayat and local body elections in Assam will not be at the cost of upgrading and preparation of NRC and the NRC work will continue as before with full deployment," the bench said.

The top court also said that the state election commission and the state government would take all the necessary action for holding these elections. The bench also did not accept the request to appoint an additional state coordinator for NRC work and said that incumbent coordinator Prateek Hajela would continue to carry out the exercise till it reaches its logical conclusion.

The bench has listed the matter for further hearing on 27 March. Earlier, the first draft NRC for Assam was published in December end as per the apex court's direction to come out with the first draft NRC by 31 December, 2017.

The Supreme Court had said that claims of those citizens, whose names do not figure in the draft NRC for Assam published by 31 December, would be scrutinised and included in the subsequent list if found genuine.

The apex court had on 30 November said that on the expiry of midnight of 31 December, the draft NRC pertaining to 2.38 crore claims, would be published. The NRC is prepared to identify illegal migrants in Assam.

The court had observed this while rejecting the Centre's plea seeking an extension of time for publication of the draft NRC.

The NRC of 1951 is being updated for Assam in accordance with the tripartite agreement among the state and central governments and the influential All Assam Students Union (AASU), which was arrived at in 2005 to implement the 1985 Assam Accord.
China has been quietly holding talks with Baloch militants in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province for over five years to protect its $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor initiative, according to a media report

Islamabad: China has been quietly holding talks with Baloch militants in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province for over five years to protect its $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor initiative, according to a media report.

The 3,000-km-long CPEC is aimed at connecting China and Pakistan with rail, road, pipelines and optical cable fibre network. It connects China's Xinjiang province with Pakistan's Gwadar port, providing access to China to the Arabian Sea.

The project, when completed, would enable China to pump its oil supplies from West Asia through pipelines to Xinjiang cutting considerable distance for Chinese ships to travel to China.

"China had been in direct contact with militants in the southwestern province, where many of the schemes most important projects are located," three officials were quoted as saying by the Financial Times.

For more than half a century, Beijing has maintained a policy of non-interference in the domestic politics of other countries. But that has been tested by its desire to protect the billions of dollars it is investing around the world under its Belt and Road Initiative to create a new Silk Road of trade routes in Europe, Asia and Africa.

"China's willingness to get involved in Pakistani politics has fuelled concerns in New Delhi, which is worried about Chinas growing political influence in neighbouring countries, including Nepal, Myanmar and Sri Lanka," the report said.

As it seeks to boost the Chinese economy, Chinas plans for a new Silk Road has pitched China into some of the worlds most complex conflict zones, the report said.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), over which India has conveyed its protests to China.

Pakistan, which is set to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the infrastructure initiative, is one of the riskiest parts of the world in which to do business. Last year, 10 local workers were killed by unidentified gunmen while working near Gwadar port, the linchpin of the economic corridor.

Pakistani officials have welcomed the talks between Baloch rebels and Chinese envoys, even if they do not know the details of what has been discussed.

Ultimately, if theres peace in Balochistan, that will benefit both of us, the paper quoted a Pakistani official as saying.

Another said the recent decision by the US to suspend security assistance to Pakistan had convinced many in Islamabad that China was a more genuine partner.

One provincial tribal leader who was not identified in the report said many young men had been persuaded to lay down their weapons by the promise of financial benefits.

Today, young men are not getting attracted to join the insurgents as they did some 10 years ago, he said. Many people see prosperity as a result of the China-Pakistan corridor, he said.
Xi Jinping's China relies on a combination of gunboat and chequebook diplomacy for regional hegemony, and where it cannot employ this coercive playbook, Beijing tries to either bribe its way in or intensify discord where unrest will serve its long-term purpose.

Indian policymakers, wonks and strategists still tend to reflexively underplay the scope, scale and gravity of the threat that China poses for India. If we choose to ignore the Cold War hangover, part of this has roots in our collective memory of the 1962 war and the lessons that we have (wittingly or unwittingly) internalised. It has, among other things, led to a denial of realities that prevents us from assessing the true nature of the bilateral relationship.

Part of this 'underplaying' of Chinese threat also flows from a strong moral compulsion in India's foreign policy, that places a burden of 'exceptionalism' on our actions. Regardless of the threat perception, India must do what is "morally right" and set an example before the world. In her book From Chanakya To Modi, The Evolution of India's Foreign Policy (Harper Collins, Page 15) Aparna Pande posits that an element of this 'Indian exceptionlism' is an assumption that "the rest of the world (will) accord India status commensurate with its civilisational contribution." Since we are destined for greatness, it makes sense, as it were, to wait for it instead of being proactive.

Beijing obviously doesn't subscribe to the Indian worldview. Under Xi Jinping, it has set about constructing a Sinocentric globe and "a unipolar Asian order that will be defined by deference to the Middle Kingdom and its increasingly imperial rulers", as ORF vice-president Samir Saran writes in The Security Times on Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

And as China goes about rapidly translating its economic prowess into hard power and geopolitical might to further strategic goals, at least in the immediate neighbourhood it increasingly finds India blocking its path to regional hegemony. From India's stand on BRI to resistance in Doka La, from New Delhi's economic, strategic, military and political influence over Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh to its larger game in ASEAN, the stage is set for a fierce battle for Asia's and even global future, because at issue are not just two giant competing nations but completely different political, ethical, philosophical and normative systems.

It is fascinating to watch China's response to India's primacy in the subcontinent  a region that falls within India's civilisational sphere of influence and consists of sovereigns who have deep and enduring traditional, cultural and historical ties with India. For New Delhi, its immediate neighbourhood isn't just a "sphere of influence" but also a security buffer and "one indivisible historical entity", as Pande writes in her book.

Xi's China relies on a combination of gunboat and chequebook diplomacy for regional hegemony, and where it cannot employ this coercive playbook, Beijing tries to either bribe its way in or intensify discord where unrest will serve its long-term purpose. Xi seems to have been more influenced by Kautilya's Arthashastra, the ancient realist treatise on statecraft that advice saam, daan, dand and bhed for imperial rulers to manage their state.

Recent churnings bring to sharp focus the realities that India is faced with in its struggle to measure up to China and contain its revanchist and neo-colonial advances. A look at these simultaneous developments provides an idea of the scale of China's strategic game plan  logical, meticulous and swift.

It has been said that Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, which houses major CPEC infrastructure including the China-developed Gwadar deep water port, may eventually prove to be Beijing's greatest headache. China has pumped in more than $60 billion in mega infrastructure projects in the federally administered region that has been for decades the hotbed of an armed secessionist movement.

London-based Financial Times reported on Monday that China has been in "quiet talks" for more than five years with tribal separatist leaders and militants in Balochistan to insure their investment against subversive actions. One tribal leader was quoted as saying by FT that "many young men had been persuaded to lay down their weapons by the promise of financial benefits."

If true, this would fly in the face of China's claims that it "doesn't interfere in domestic politics" of other nations  a claim that it had recently repeated during the unfolding of Maldives crisis. China appears confident that it has been able to buy peace and subdue the Balochistan movement with bribes. Yao Jing, China's ambassador to Pakistan, was recently quoted by BBC Urdu as saying that Baloch militant organisations are no longer a threat to the CPEC.

China's increasing interference in Pakistan's domestic politics presents an additional challenge for India, as has recently been articulated by Naeem Akhtar, a minister with the Jammu and Kashmir government. In an interview to Indian Express, Akhtar pointed to China's game of stonewalling India on Masood Azhar to claim that Beijing has "adopted" Azhar and his terror group Jaish-e-Muhammad so that Pakistan may continue unabated its strategy of sub-conventional war against India.

Unlike earlier, the great game is literally being played inside Kashmir The Kashmir issue isnt limited to the fight between India and Pakistan now. There is another major factor involved. It isnt Pakistan alone, it is China too Now it is one single front, circling around. From Bhutan to Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Valley to Jammu, Sri Lanka and Maldives, it is all one front. Pakistan and China arent separate, he was quoted, as saying by the newspaper.

China's move to turn Pakistan into a 'client-state' and use it for counterbalancing India isn't new. What is, is the pace at which this seems to be happening. Again on Monday, the Pakistani senate approved a motion to declare Mandarin as an "official language", ostensibly to smoothen communication over CPEC, reported ANI.

The move isn't exactly to deepen "Pakistan-China relationship" as Islamabad power brokers have claimed but to deepen the "client-state" ties. Beijing is in no hurry to introduce Urdu as its "official language", for instance. China's steps in Balochistan, similarly, is less intended towards the development of the region and more towards securing its own interests and investments, another marker of a client-state relationship.

As Pakistani journalist Muhammad Akbar Notezai writes in The Diplomat, "There is also a deep sense of deprivation among the general population in Balochistan, who also seem largely uninterested in the unfolding development. The apathy can be explained by the conviction the locals will see little benefit from Chinese money."

News has also emerged from Islamabad that Pakistan has turned down cheaper loans from Japan because it no longer needs to borrow. There's little doubt on who would have influenced Pakistana nation reeling under Chinese debtagainst taking Japanese money that had softer lending terms.

China pressuring Pakistan not to accept Japanese infrastructure lending.

Tells everything you need to know about Chinas aims with Belt and Road. https://t.co/FogUmC4sLy  Ely Ratner (@elyratner) February 19, 2018

China's coercive strategies around India are not limited to Pakistan. It recently sent a naval task force to the Maldives, which is undergoing a political turmoil, to flex its military muscle in India's backyard. The task force, according to an Australian newspaper, consists of "at least one modern destroyer, a frigate, an amphibious assault ship and a support tanker entered the Indian Ocean last week." The motive is to intensify its competition with India in the Indo-Pacific theatre and warn it against military intervention in Male.

A similar game is unfolding in Nepal where newly elected prime minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli has vowed to "deepen ties with China to get more leverage against India." For a start, he wants to revive the Chinese dam project that his predecessor had cancelled because "we cant forget that we have two neighbours We dont want to depend on one country or have one option according to South China Morning Post.

This isn't to say that New Delhi is under siege in its immediate neighbourhood from China but there's no denying the zero-sum nature of the Sino-Indian rivalry. In the short to medium term, this is set to intensify as India pushes back against Chinese hegemony and both nations compete for regional influence.

India's close civilisation integration with neighbours is both an advantage and a disadvantage. While it raises the costs for China in employing coercive diplomacy, it equally gives many of these debt-ridden infrastructure-hungry states the chance to play one giant against the other and secures for itself a better deal. Either way, Indian policy needs to be flexible. But above all, it needs to be alert to the Chinese threat. Apart from building on its maritime advantages over China and gradual accumulation of hard power, Indian strategic game needs to be less reactionary. It must achieve a direction and a purpose within the larger template of a grand, over-arching design. Indian economy presents some capacity constraints but those are temporal. The battle is won first in the mind.
IAS association secretary said that Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash was 'manhandled' and 'mistreated' at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence.

New Delhi: IAS association secretary Manisha Saxena on Tuesday said that Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash was "manhandled" and "mistreated" at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence on Monday and termed it a "planned criminal conspiracy".

The Indian Administrative Service officers would work on Tuesday with a black band as a mark of protest, Saxena said

Speaking to the media after a meeting with Lt Governor Anil Baijal, Saxena said that the bureaucrat body has asked Baijal to take strict action. A police complaint had already been filed.

She also said that the association will meet Home Minister Rajnath Singh and President Ram Nath Kovind to highlight the issue.

"There should be criminal action against everyone involved," Saxena added.

Earlier in the day, Delhi Government Employees Welfare Association (DGEWA) president DN Singh told reporters that the chief secretary was assaulted by AAP legislators at Kejriwal's residence.

Saxena said that Prakash was called for a meeting around midnight on Monday where Kejriwal along with his deputy Manish Sisodia and 10 to 12 other MLAs were present.

Saxena said that the meeting was on "some advertisements by the Delhi government which were in violation of the Supreme Court's guidelines".

Discussions were already on and the meeting was called to resolve it, Saxena said.

Saxena said that when the chief secretary reached the meeting, he was "manhandled" and "mistreated".

"For the past couple of years, officers have been insulted and humiliated in public," she said. "The attack on the chief secretary is an attempt to intimidate the bureaucracy to toe the line by the powers that be."

Saxena, however, refused to name who exactly attacked the chief secretary.

However, the Delhi government spokesperson Nagendar Sharma denied the allegation saying the chief secretary was making false accusations at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Sharma said the meeting at Kejriwal's residence was on the "faulty implementation" of Aadhaar that "deprived about 2.5 lakh families of ration".

He said the chief secretary had refused to answer questions saying he was not answerable to MLAs or the chief minister but only to the Lt Governor.

"He even used bad language against some MLAs and left without answering any questions," the spokesman said.

"Moreover, it is false information that the meeting and the argument were about TV ads. The entire discussion was on how a large number of families were not getting ration," Sharma said in a statement.
As the blame game over the alleged manhandling of the Delhi chief secretary by few AAP MLAs escalated on Tuesday, Anshu Prakash wrote to DCP North over the incident.

As the blame game over the alleged manhandling of the Delhi chief secretary by few AAP MLAs escalated on Tuesday, Anshu Prakash wrote to DCP North over the incident.

In the letter, Prakash alleged that he was abused by MLA at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence on Wednesday night. "My spectacles fell on the ground. I was in a state of shock. With difficulty I was able to leave the room and get into my official car and leave chief minister's residence," he said.

Kejriwal's office has dismissed Prakash's accusation as "bizarre and baseless". The home ministry on Thursday sought a report from Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on an alleged assault on the chief secretary of the city government, an official said.

Here is the full text of Prakash's letter:

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF SECRETARY, DELHI

1. Yesterday, i.e on 19.2.2018, I was informed on telephone around 8.45 pm by Advisor to Chief Minister Shri V K Jain that I have to reach CMs Residence at 12.00 midnight to discuss with Chief Minister & Deputy Chief Minister the issue of difficulty in release of certain TV Advertisement relating to completion of 3 years of current Government in Delhi. I suggested that the meeting could be held on 20.02.2018 in the morning. However it was reiterated by Advisor to CM at 9pm and again at around 10.00 pm that the meeting has been scheduled by CM at 12 midnight. Prior to this message from Advisor to CM, the Dy. CM had also called me around 6.55 pm and had informed if the matter of release of TV advertisement is not resolved by evening, I should reach CM residence at 12.00 midnight to discuss the issue. I had already explained to Dy. CM earlier that any advertisement to be released should not be in contravention of Supreme Court guidelines.

2. Advisor to CM again called me around 11.20pm to confirm that I have left for CMs residence for the meeting. Thereafter I left my residence in my official car and driver along with my PSO and reached CMs residence at midnight.

3. On arrival of CMs residence, I met Sri V K Jain advisor to CM and thereafter both of us were taken to the front room where Chief Minister (Shri Arvind Kejriwal) and deputy Chief Minister (Shri Manish Sisodia ) and around 11 MLAs / persons were present. CM told me that persons present in the room was MLAs and they had come to ask him about Governments publicity program on completion of three years. One of the MLAs firmly shut the door of the room. I was made to sit in between Shri Amanatullah Khan and another person/MLA on a 3-seater sofa. CM directed me to answer the MLAs and explain the reason for the delay in release of the TV campaign. I explained to them that the officers were bound by the guidelines laid down by Hon. Supreme Court and advertisement to be released must be in consonance with the said guidelines.

4. The MLAs started shouting at me and abused me while blaming me and the bureaucracy for not doing enough for publicity of the Government. One MLA, whom I can identify threatened that I will be confined in the room entire night unless I agree to release TV campaign. A threat was made that I will be implicated in false cases including under the SC/ST Act. The MLAs whom I can identify became more aggressive and abusive extending threat to my life. Then suddenly Shri Amanatullah Khan, MLA and the person/ MLA on my left side, whom I can identify, without any provocation from my side, started hitting and assaulting me and hit several blows with fists on my head and temple. My spectacles fell on the ground. I was in a state of shock. With difficulty I was able to leave the room and get into my official car and leave CM residence. At no stage did I retaliate or provoke any person in the room despite confinement, criminal intimidation by extending threat to my life, and assault by several MLAs while I was discharging my official duties.

5. I request you to take action as per law as the assault was premeditated and in conspiracy of all present with intention to criminally intimidate, cause hurt with motive to deter me from discharge of my lawful duty and compel me to follow unlawful directions. None of the persons present in the room made any effort to save me.

The full text has been entirely reproduced from the original letter and has not been edited by Firstpost for style or content

Click here for LIVE updates on the AAP vs Delhi chief secretary row
India is in talks with Australia, the US and Japan about setting up a regional infrastructure scheme as an 'alternative' to China's Belt and Road Initiative.

Melbourne: India is in talks with Australia, the US and Japan about setting up a regional infrastructure scheme as an "alternative" to China's multi-billion dollar Belt and Road Initiative, according to a media report.

Touted as Chinese President Xi Jinping's ambitious project, the One Belt One Road initiative focuses on improving connectivity and cooperation among Asian countries, Africa, China and Europe.

The Australian Financial Review (AFR) quoted a senior US official as saying that the plan of the four regional partners was still "nascent" and "won't be ripe enough to be announced during the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's US visit this week". The US official who was not identified described that the plan as an "alternative" to the Belt and Road Initiative rather than a "rival", the report said.

Notably, India was the first country to object to One Belt One Road, part of which passes through the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. India has said that the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) violates India's sovereignty. In 2017, India had skipped China's OBOR summit held in Beijing.

Following India's objections, many countries, including the US, have come out openly against China's OBOR.

"No one is saying China should not build infrastructure," the official said, adding "China might build a port which, on its own is not economically viable. We could make it economically viable by building a road or rail line linking that port".

Turnbull will be leaving for Washington on Wednesday for a three-day visit during which he will meet the US president Donald Trump and will be leading a delegation of state and territory leaders and business executives. Meanwhile, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on Monday said that China was the largest trading partner for Australia and OBOR was one option whereby nations could access funds for critical infrastructure. "Australian government is acutely aware that we need significant investment in infrastructure, particularly in our region in the Indo-Pacific and One Belt, One Road is one option whereby nations can access more funds for critical infrastructure,'' she said.

"Its early days for the One Belt, One Road initiative, and we are obviously monitoring it closely. We are already working with China on a development project in Papua New Guinea, so we hope that we will be able to work more closely with China in driving economic, sustainable economic growth in our region," she said.

"Our concerns are to ensure that Pacific nations are not burdened with debt they cannot repay, that all transactions are transparent and that there is an appropriate level of governance. So we hope to work with China to ensure that infrastructure in our part of the world, particularly in the Pacific, adds to the sustainable economic growth of those countries," she said.

India, the US, Japan and Australia in 2017 held their first official- level talks here with a focus on keeping the Indo-Pacific region free and open, seen as a move to counter Chinas aggressive behaviour in the area.
The Gujarat High Court on Thursday restored a gag order against news portal The Wire, thereby debarring it from publishing any article related to the businesses of BJP chief Amit Shah's son Jay.

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court on Thursday restored a gag order against news portal The Wire, thereby debarring it from publishing any article related to the businesses of BJP chief Amit Shah's son Jay.

Justice Paresh Upadhyay allowed an appeal filed by Jay Shah against a lower court order, which had partly lifted the injunction against the news portal while restraining it from linking the article to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

With Tuesday's order, the portal will not be able to publish any article related to the businesses of the petitioner until the hearing concludes in a civil defamatory suit filed by him.

Earlier, in its order passed on 28 November, 2018, the high court had rejected a petition moved by the seven defendants, including the author of the article "The Golden Touch of Jay Amit Shah" and the news portal's editors and publisher, against the gag order passed by the lower court hearing the civil defamation suit.

The high court had then ordered them to go back to the lower court against its order.

The lower court in its order passed in December, 2017 partly allowed their petition, while restraining them from linking it to the prime minister.

The lower court is hearing a civil defamation suit of Rs 100 crore filed by Jay Shah against the reporters, editors and the company over the article, which claimed that his company's turnover rose 16,000 times in one year after the NDA came to power.

The article claimed that the company saw a huge rise in its turnover after the BJP came to power in 2014, and its revenue rose from Rs 50,000 to over Rs 80 crore in one year.

Shah also filed a criminal defamation suit against the author of the article Rohini Singh, founding editors of the news portal Siddharth Varadarajan, Siddharth Bhatia and M K Venu, managing editor Monobina Gupta, public editor Pamela Philipose and the Foundation for Independent Journalism.

In his suit, Shah termed the article as "scandalous, frivolous, misleading, derogatory, libellous and consisting of several defamatory statements."
The problem of appointment of judges continues to vex the Indian State and its pillars of democracy.

The problem of appointment of judges continues to vex the Indian State and its pillars of democracy. While earlier the clashes were between the different pillars (the executive and the judiciary), recent reports suggest that the courts might not have their own house in order either.

The tussle between the executive and the judiciary over who has primacy in the process continues as is made apparent in the case of Justice KM Joseph's elevation. Justice Joseph is the Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court and was recommended for elevation to the Supreme Court by the Collegium. However, since then it has been widely reported that the Centre is not keen on giving its assent to Joseph's elevation. According to a Bar and Bench report, the issue seems to be limited to Joseph as the other recommendation made by the Collegium, of senior advocate Indu Malhotra  the first woman lawyer to be directly elevated to the Supreme Court from the Bar  faced no such resistance.

Incidentally, it was a bench headed by Chief Justice Joseph which, in April 2016, left the Centre embarrassed when it quashed the imposition of Presidents Rule in Uttarakhand, The Indian Express reported. The court revived the Congress government of Harish Rawat, directing him to prove his majority on the floor of the House.

Intra-judicial conflicts

Furthermore, even within the judiciary there are multiple conflicts. In September 2016, The Hindu reported that Justice Chelameswar had stopped attending the Collegium meetings. He had already made his disdain for the Collegium system clear in the NJAC judgment where he had called the system absolutely opaque and inaccessible both to public and history, barring occasional leaks.

Even outside the Collegium, the law adds a fresh wrinkle to the appointment process as it introduces the concept of a "consultee judge". Consultee judges are judges of the Supreme Court who are consulted about judges and lawyers from the high court/s they have served when such names come up for elevation, according to The Print. While the opinion of the consultee judges is considered important, it isnt binding on the Collegium.

This additional factor always had the potential to create conflict and it fulfilled that potential recently. According to a report in The Indian Express, two days after the Collegium recommended the appointment of Punjab & Haryana High Court judge Surya Kant to the Chief Justiceship of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, Supreme Court judge Justice AK Goel sent a letter to Chief Justice Dipak Misra putting on record his respectful disagreement with the proposal. Justice Goel is the consultee judge in this case by virtue of having served in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Justice Kant's appointment was against normal practice as he superseded his senior brother judge in the Punjab & Haryana High Court, Justice AK Mittal. This is not the first time Justice Goel sought to benefit Justice Mittal by his actions. In April 2017, when there was a proposal to appoint Justice Mittal as the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court superseding Justice SS Saron, Justice Goel was in favour of the appointment even as two other consultee judges opposed it in writing, said the Indian Express report.

Laughably short tenures

Finally, when the judiciary does manage to make its mind up over who to appoint, the retirement rules mean that some of the tenures end up being extraordinarily short. A recent example of this is apparent in Manipur and Meghalaya.

The first woman Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court, Abhilasha Kumari, took oath on 9 February and will retire on 22 February, and Justice Tarun Agarwala, who took oath as the Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court on 12 February, will end his term on 2 March, reported Hindustan Times. Both of them would have been in the top jobs for less than a month and their retirements will set off another round of judicial appointments which we have seen are not exactly straightforward.

The report further adds that seven other high courts  Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, Calcutta, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Bombay and Jharkhand  are currently without chief justices.

With the enormous backlog of cases in the judicial system, these incidents only serve to cause further dismay in litigants. As Firspost wrote earlier, the concept of seniority and regional representation in how the Supreme Court is constituted may require a re-look. It may not make sense to have Supreme Court judges who have very short tenures before retirement. It may be good to have younger judges who will be able to spend a longer time at the Supreme Court. This will help the court to fulfil its role in settling substantial questions of law and will also help it to clear the backlog of cases, as the judges will be on the bench longer and therefore will be able to hear more cases.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who arrived in Mumbai on Monday, will meet industry leaders on Tuesday.

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LIVE updates: While discussing various issues of importance, Canadian business leaders believed that reforms like GST have helped in making India a good prospect for Canadian businesses. The Indo-Canadian Business Chamber-hosted business forum has begun. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to attend an armchair discussion session at 3 am.

Meanwhile, Trudeau began his day with meeting Tata Sons CEO N Chandrasekharan at Mumbai's Taj Mahal hotel. He is set to spend most of his day at the iconic Colaba hotel.

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, who arrived in Mumbai on Monday, will on Tuesday meet industry leaders. According to the itinerary posted on Trudeau's official website, the Canadian prime minister will be meeting N Chandrasekharan of Tata Sons at 9 am before holding discussions with Infosys CEO Salil Parekh and Mahindra chairman Anand Mahindra. Trudeau is also expected to meet Jubilant Bhartia Group's Hari Bhartia, Aditya Birla Group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla and Shapoorji Pallonji Group board member, Cyrus Mistry.

Later in the day, Trudeau is also expected to address a roundtable of women business leaders and attend the India-Canada Business Forum at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. At 4 pm, he is expected to meet Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis before ending the day by meeting Bollywood celebrities at a private event.

Trudeau and Amarinder to meet on Wednesday

Trudeau is all set to meet Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh during the former's visit to Amritsar on Wednesday. Trudeau will offer prayers at the Golden Temple complex, where the holiest of Sikh shrines 'Harmandir Sahib' is located. The visit is of political and social significance in Canada as that country has a substantial Indian diaspora, a majority of them being from Punjab.

Amarinder on Monday said that he was looking forward to the "one-on-one" meeting with the Canadian prime minister. "Look forward to taking Punjab's close business as well as people-to-people relations with Canada to the next level, with a one-to-one meeting with visiting Canadian prime minister in Amritsar on Wednesday," Amarinder said.

The chief minister, who has already issued instructions to the state administration to roll out the red carpet for the visiting dignitary's visit, said on Monday that he looked forward to the meeting.

There was uncertainty over Amarinder's meeting with Trudeau as the Punjab chief minister had last year courted controversy when he had refused to meet Canadian defence minister Harjit Singh Sajjan, the first Sikh defence minister of a western country, during a visit to Punjab in April last year. Amarinder had gone public to label Sajjan and other ministers of Indian origin in the Trudeau government as "Khalistani sympathisers".

In a change of tone now, Amarinder expressed the hope that his meeting with Trudeau would help strengthen the bilateral relations in the context of the diaspora.

While trade and business will be the key focus area of the meeting, the two leaders are also expected to discuss steps to intensify the close relations between the people of the two countries, according to a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office (CMO).

Punjab has deep roots in Canada, where a large Punjabi community is settled and has always striven to strengthen the connection, Amarinder Singh said and expressed appreciation for Trudeau's efforts in this direction.

Citing Trudeau's apology two years ago in the Canadian parliament for the 1914 Komagata Maru incident, in which hundreds of Sikh, Muslim and Hindu passengers in a ship were denied entry to Canada and forced to return to India, where they met a violent fate, he said it was a gesture that underlined the depth of the relations between the two countries, which Wednesday's meeting would help in consolidating further.



Protocol was extended to Trudeau, says MEA

Prime Minister Narendra Modi not receiving Trudeau at the airport, a courtesy he extended to some world leaders in the past, has triggered speculation in Canada that it was a snub to him for the rising Sikh radicalism in that country. However, government sources strongly rejected the speculation, insisting normal diplomatic protocol has been extended to Trudeau.

They also expressed surprise over the Canadian side preferring to schedule Trudeau's official engagements in Delhi at the fag end of the tour as against the normal practice of having bilateral meetings during the first part of such visits. The sources said it is quite unusual for a visiting dignitary to slot important talks towards the end of a visit, besides setting aside little time for official engagements. Trudeau will hold bilateral talks with Modi on Friday, a day before he wraps up his tour.

With inputs from agencies
A Kerala-based woman, who is alleged to be a victim of 'love jihad', has told the Supreme Court that she had willingly converted to Islam and wants to remain a Muslim.

New Delhi: A Kerala-based woman, who is alleged to be a victim of 'love jihad', has told the Supreme Court that she had willingly converted to Islam and wants to remain a Muslim.

In an affidavit filed before the top court, 25-year-old Hadiya also said that she had married Shafin Jahan on her own and sought the court's permission to "live as his wife".

She has also claimed that her husband was wrongly portrayed as a terrorist by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and he has nothing to do with the Middle East-based terror group ISIS.

The matter had come to fore when Jahan had challenged the Kerala High Court's order annulling his marriage with Hadiya and sending her to her parents' custody.

On 27 November, 2017, the apex court had freed Hadiya from her parents' custody and sent her to college to pursue her studies, even as she had pleaded that she should be allowed to go with her husband.

"I respectfully reiterate that I am a Muslim and I want to continue to live as a Muslim ... I have been under confinement without the freedom that I am entitled to. Even now I am under police surveillance. I most humbly pray that my entire liberty may kindly be restored to me.

"Shafin Jahan is my husband, I want to continue to live as wife of my be loved husband and that I embraced Islam and married him on my own free will," she said in her 25-page affidavit.

She also urged the court to set aside the judgement of the Kerala High Court that had annulled the marriage terming it as an instance of 'love jihad'.

"I further pray that this court may be kind enough to appoint my husband as guardian. I most humbly pray that this court may be pleased to allow us to live together as husband and wife. Therefore, I most humbly pray that this Court may be pleased to allow the Special Leave Petition by setting aside the impugned judgment passed by the High Court," she said.

The top court had earlier ordered NIA probe into a 'pattern' where some women were allegedly being converted to Islam.

Later, the court decided to hear the major woman and interviewed her in the open court when she made an appeal for her freedom under the Constitution.

In her affidavit, the woman has told the court that "horrendous sufferings" were meted out to her for converting to Islam and marrying a Muslim boy.

"It appears to me that my father is under the influence of certain sections of people who are trying to use him. Otherwise, I do not see how my father, who is an atheist, would object to me changing my religion or marrying someone from a different religion.

"I further submit that all those people played and are still playing behind my father and all those errant personnel, both official and non-official, who subjected or caused to subject me to the horrendous torture and torments are liable to be brought to justice," she said.

The apex court had on January 23 made it clear that the National Investigation Agency cannot probe the marital status of Hadiya and Jahan.

"She (Hadiya) had come before the court and said that she had married him (Jahan). Whether the person she has married is a good human being or not, it is for her to decide," the bench had said, adding "She is an adult. How can anyone say that she cannot marry X, Y or Z?"

"Marriage has to be separated from criminal conspiracy and criminal aspects, otherwise it would create a bad precedent in law. They (NIA) cannot investigate into the marital status," the top court had observed.
The Ministry of Defence on Monday issued a circular in which it listed all the companies which had been debarred or suspended from engaging in business.

The Ministry of Defence on Monday issued a circular in which it listed all the companies which had been debarred or suspended from engaging in business with the ministry because of being accused of wrongdoings in various cases.

Of the six firms which have been debarred, two are Indian: TS Kisan and Co Pvt Ltd, and RK Machine Tools Ltd. The other four are Singapore Technologies Kinetics Ltd, Israel Military Industries Ltd, Rheinmetall Air Defence in Zurich, and Corporation Defence in Russia.

No business transactions with these six firms are allowed til 2022.

There are 14 firms which have been suspended from engaging in business with the defence ministry. These include Agusta Westland International Ltd in UK, and Leonardo SpA (erstwhile Finmeccanica), both of which were involved in the infamous Rs 3,600-crore VVIP chopper deal scam.

On 1 January, 2014, India had scrapped the contract with Finmeccanica's British subsidiary AgustaWestland for supplying 12 AW-101 VVIP choppers to the IAF over alleged breach of contractual obligations and charges of kickbacks of Rs 423 crore paid by it to secure the deal.

Some of the other firms involved in the VVIP helicopter scam which have been suspended by the defence ministry are IDS (Tunisia), Infotech Design System (Mauritius), IDS Infotech (Mohali) and Aeromatrix Info Solution (Chandigarh), according to The Times of India.

The report also said that Shanx Oceaneering, Inter Spiro India Pvt Ltd, Expert Systems, Unitech Enterprises, Kelvin Engineering and Atlas group of companies  involved in the 2005 naval war room leak case  are also in the list of firms suspended.

Offset India Solutions, under the scanner for its alleged role in the Pilatus aircraft scam, was also one of the suspended firms, reported India Today.

Rolls Royce and its allied and subsidiary companies, and Tatra Trucks in Czech Republic are the firms which have been allowed to only engage in "restricted procurement".

India Today reported that Rolls Royce is in the list for alleged irregularities while dealing with the defence sector undertaking HAL in 2014.

With inputs from PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hard sold pro-farmer initiatives announced in his government's last full-year budget, saying more agriculture credit and easy access to markets will help boost farm income.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi hard sold pro-farmer initiatives announced in his government's last full-year budget, saying more agriculture credit and easy access to markets will help boost farm income. Addressing a conference on 'doubling farm income by 2022', he said the government will seriously look into suggestions made for increasing farmers' income and the Niti Aayog will chalk out an actionable plan.

Shifting of agri-marketing to concurrent list, digitalisation of land records, GST reduction on products made from agri-waste, setting up rural business hubs, improving export infrastructure, setting up of green logistics for perishables at airports/ports, real market information to farmers to plan sowing are some of the suggestions emanated from the two-day conference.

The other recommendations were setting of 'start up agri', agri-tech parks, incubation centres, early adoption of model land leasing act, increasing limit of collateral free loan, state specific investments and promotion of allied sectors and food processing. Modi said, "Your recommendations will be analysed at every level in the government. Some may be implemented in a short term, while some will be implemented later. I desire to take these (recommendations) forward."

The Niti Aayog will come out with actionable points after coordinating with the ministry concerned on the recommendations, he added. Modi also called for separate efforts to come out of traditional methods of farming and even suggested agri varsities to hold hackathons to evolve solutions to the problems facing the farm sector. Asserting that the government is changing the way agriculture sector operates, the prime minister said efforts are being made to build a new culture that will empower farmers. The focus is being laid on four key areas: reducing input costs, ensuring a fair price for the produce, reducing wastage, and creating alternate sources of income.

Highlighting steps taken to transform the entire agri ecosystem, Modi said 100 percent neem coating of urea has led to an increased efficiency of the urea itself, while also increasing productivity. Also, soil health cards  providing detailed analysis of state of soil and the crops it can support best  have improved productivity, he said, adding that this has helped curb use of chemical fertiliser by 8 to 10 percent and increase productivity by 5 to 6 percent. Modi said as many as 99 irrigation schemes that had been stuck for 2-3 decades will be completed within a specified time-frame and Rs 80,000 crore has been allocated for the same. Half of these schemes would be completed by this year end and remaining in the next year, he added.

In the budget 2018-19, 'Operation Greens' has been announced to augment farm supply chain that will help cultivation of tomato, onion and potato, he said. The prime minister said 22,000 rural markets would be upgraded so as to provide a market for farm produce within 5-15 km distance of production points. The government, he said, is also encouraging Farmer Producer Organisation. Also, the provision for agri-credit has been raised to Rs 11 lakh crore from Rs 8 lakh crore.

Promoting use of solar energy, converting agriculture waste into wealth and economical use of crop residue will also help in doubling of farmers' income by 2022, he said. With this in mind, the government has also approved blending of up to 10 percent sugarcane-extracted ethanol in petrol, the prime minister added.

Modi said as much as Rs 11,000-crore claims have been settled under the crop insurance scheme, which is double of the past amount. Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Himachal Pradesh Governor were among those present at the event.
Pakistan summoned India's deputy high commissioner to condemn the 'unprovoked firing' by Indian troops across the LoC which killed an eight-year-old boy.

Islamabad: Pakistan on Tuesday summoned India's deputy high commissioner JP Singh in Islamabad to condemn the "unprovoked firing" by Indian troops across the Line of Control which killed an eight-year-old boy.

Pakistan's foreign ministry claimed that the boy, Ayan Zahid, was killed after Indian troops opened fire on Monday in Khuiratta Sector in the PoK.

Pakistan Army claimed that at least two Indian soldiers were killed when it destroyed an army post that was used to kill the minor across the Line of Control, a claim rejected by the Indian Army as "baseless".

Director General (South Asia and SAARC) Mohammad Faisal summoned Singh and "condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations" by Indian forces, the foreign office said in a statement.

The deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas especially children is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity, international human rights and humanitarian laws, Faisal said.

He alleged that India committed more than 335 ceasefire violations along the LoC and the Working Boundary in 2018, resulting in the deaths of 15 civilians and injuries to 65 others.

This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India is continuing from the year 2017 when the Indian forces committed more than 1970 ceasefire violations, he said.

Faisal said the ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation.

Faisal urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement and investigate the repeated incidents of ceasefire violations, the statement said.

He also urged the Indian side to allow the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions.

India maintains that UNMOGIP has outlived its utility and is irrelevant after the Simla Agreement and the consequent establishment of the Line of Control.
The question that the CBI and ED sleuths are asking Nirav Modi's associates and PNB repeatedly over the course of interrogation is: Where is the Rs 11,360 crore?

New Delhi: The question that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) sleuths are asking Nirav Modi's associates and Punjab National Bank (PNB) repeatedly over the course of sustained interrogation is: Where is the Rs 11,360 crore? The investigators believe the trade mentioned by the companies is a sham and it was purely meant to cover up bogus purchases and sales.

The major portion of cash, sources said, may have already ended up in secret accounts in the Bahamas and Jersey, a tax haven situated between England and France. The income tax authorities have shared some details of Nirav's offshore activities, revealing that he was operating several accounts in Mauritius, Singapore, the Bahamas and Jersey, which could have been used to park the money siphoned off from PNB. Huge sums by way of Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) were also raised in Antwerp, Frankfurt, Bahrain and Hong Kong which could have been laundered by moving back and forth through shell companies before reaching the final destination.

"We are likely to send the Letter Rogatory to Cyprus as well. A huge amount of money has been raised and transferred through shell firms in Mauritius by Nirav and his aides. Another destination is Singapore, where he had created a layer of three shell companies to rinse the funds," sources said.

Nirav and his uncle Mehul Choksi also used three ghost companies  Mumbai Gems Private Limited, Shreeji Multitrade Private Limited and Jain Diamonds Private Limited  to provide them with accommodation entries. Basically, the entries were bogus purchases to launder money. Further, the income tax investigation conducted last year had revealed that the Nirav Modi brand, through its SEZ units at Surat had claimed huge deductions to the tune of hundreds of crores in the past six years.

"On the basis of evidence gathered and facts of the case, it is inferred that the high-quality imported diamonds diverted from SEZ to domestic markets are sold in cash and low-quality diamond is exported to associated concerns at a high value. The difference in stock valuation has been worked out by IT investigation to the tune of Rs 1,216 crore in 2016-17, which represents the unaccounted sale of imported diamonds diverted to domestic markets," the income tax report said.

Overseas branches of Indian banks claim they follwed the rules

Foreign branches of Indian banks were not aware that PNB's system was compromised and that letters of credit were a complete rip-off, UCO Bank's executive director Charan Singh told Firstpost. The state-owned UCO Bank has an exposure of approximately Rs 2,656 crore in the PNB fraud case. Singh said the bank, as per the procedure, has informed the Hong Kong monetary authority of the scam and letters of credit issued to its Hong Kong branch in favour of companies owned by fugitive diamond merchant Choksi.

"We gave the money to PNB's Nostro account after receiving a guarantee on the SWIFT channel. In a banking system, that means PNB is going to pay us back. We have submitted a regulatory filing to BSE as well as informed the authorities at Hong Kong. Hopefully, PNB is going to honour its guarantee. They cannot say SWIFT was exploited to benefit certain individuals by some employee," Singh said.

UCO Bank has offered 146 letters of credit to Choksi-owned Gitanjali Gems, Gili India and Nakshatra after it received SWIFT messaged from a PNB branch in Mumbai. On the question of PNB shifting blame to foreign branches of Indian banks for not raising an alarm in the complaint filed with the CBI, Singh said it is a completely wrong interpretation since these overseas branches had nothing to do with Choksi or Nirav, but were dealing with PNB.

"It is understood in the banking system that a guarantee is issued by the bank only after following due diligence. It is not appropriate to blame the overseas branch in such cases because the customer is actually the bank that is issuing the letters and not the individual," Singh added. High-placed sources in the Ministry of Finance said that overseas branches of Indian banks with an exposure in the PNB fraud case have submitted the mandatory status report to the regulator of the concerned country.

An officer of the Union Bank of India, on the condition of anonymity, said they did not suspect the messages received from PNB. The bank, that has an exposure of approximately Rs 1,900 crore in the Rs 11,360-crore fraud case has reported the matter to Indian exchanges and Hong Kong authorities. All-India Union Bank Staff Federation Committee's SD Mishra told Firstpost that LoUs worth over Rs 11,000 crore cannot be issued without top management knowing about it. Mishra also questioned PNB's audit team arguing that the trail is not difficult to detect.

"Although Union Bank of India is not going to suffer any losses, we must make an example of this and prove the role of top officers and prosecute them. The banking system really needs a surgical operation," Mishra said.

Click here to follow LIVE updates on the PNB scam case
The Income Tax department has slapped fresh charges under the new anti-black money law against jeweller Nirav Modi, involved in the Rs 11,400-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud, for allegedly holding an illegal asset abroad, official sources said.

New Delhi: The Income Tax department has slapped fresh charges under the new anti-black money law against jeweller Nirav Modi, involved in the Rs 11,400-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud, for allegedly holding an illegal asset abroad, official sources said.

According to them, this is the second overseas asset that the taxman suspects has not been disclosed to it by the diamantaire, who is suspected to have left India in January.

The Income Tax department had last week slapped sections of the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015 against Nirav Modi last week after it detected that a bank account in Singapore was allegedly held by him, which is not disclosed to the tax authorities.

The latest foreign asset is suspected to be a trust registered in Jersey, located near the coast of Normandy. The business trust is being probed for routing funds with alleged links to Modi.

The department is also probing two separate transfer of fundsRs 284 crore from Cyprus and Rs 271 crore from Singaporeto a firm linked to the diamantaire in India.

The income tax department, on 16 February, had provisionally attached 29 properties and 105 bank accounts of the diamond merchant, his family and firms as part of its tax evasion probe.

The new anti-black money law deals with cases of overseas illegal assets, which till recently were probed under the Income Tax Act, 1961.

The new legislation has provisions for a steep 120 percent tax and penalty on undisclosed foreign assets and income, besides carrying a jail term of up to 10 years.

The taxman also had 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, 1961.

The court will take up the case on 27 February.

Tax sleuths also pasted attachment notices at immovable properties of Modi, his wife Ami and his firms located in Mumbai, Surat, Jaipur and Delhi.

In the Maharashtra capital, the properties that have been provisionally attached pending assessment, include Modi's premises in the posh Peddar road area, Worli, Bandra, Lower Parel and Opera House.

A total of 105 bank accounts of Modi, his family and companies have also been attached, they said.

"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, accessed by PTI, had said.

The I-T had first raided Modi in January last year on charges of alleged tax evasion.

Modi, his uncle Mehul Choksi and others are accused in a Rs 11,400-crore fraud involving the Punjab National Bank.
Nirav Modi is betraying all the signs of a hardened criminal. His mask of a suave trader who flew high with even higher-flying celebrities is slipping off to reveal what lies underneath: A swindler without a conscience, an immaculate trickster and fraud.

Nirav Modi is betraying all the signs of a hardened criminal. His mask of a suave trader who flew high with even higher-flying celebrities is slipping off to reveal what lies underneath: A swindler without a conscience, an immaculate trickster and fraud.

The standard operating procedure of consummate criminals is simple: First, they create a business empire based on lies, false perceptions, shady deals and connections. Then, they leverage it to fraudulently raise money from the market: Investors, banks and financial institutions.

This money, instead of being used to run the purported business, is parked in safe havens, beyond the reach of the lenders. And when their fraud is exposed, the criminals run away to some other country, showing what Kapil Sharma famously called babaji ka thullu to lenders and investigating agencies.

There is yet another hallmark of a hardened criminal: The penchant for making the victim feel guilty. Threatening the victim of dire consequences for speaking up. Telling them: You will pay for exposing my misdeeds. In essence, the moment he is called out, running away to try to occupy the high moral ground.

The difference between petty criminals and crooks such as Nirav is that the latter make their fraud look glamorous, almost filmy: Like Akshay Kumar and his team in Special 26. With their hair slicked back, faces gleaming with raw energy that comes from money and the high of playing with danger, wearing bow ties and classy suits, cavorting and consorting with both the Page 3 and power players, they appear to be exercising their divine right to exploit the system for their advantage. They think they are on the sets of Ocean's Eleven.

Nirav, like many before him, has perfected this template. Which is evident from a letter purportedly written by him to the Punjab National Bank (PNB), saying he will not be able to pay up because, hear hear, the bank "closed all options" to recover pending dues by going public.

In the purported letter, Nirav, who is accused of swindling nearly Rs 11,400 crore from the PNB, writes that the erroneous reporting (of his liabilities) led to seizure of operations, which in turn resulted in Firestar International Private Limited and Firestar Diamond International Private Limited effectively ceasing to be going concerns and jeopardised his companys ability to discharge the dues to banks.

This is classical criminality at play: Defraud, flee and blame the victim. Wring your crime-stained hands by arguing the victim should not have cried while he was twisting the knife in your back. Unburden your conscience by passing the blame and the guilt to the victim. Pop a Dom Perignon and chill.

The truth is, Nirav never wanted to play by rules. He played a game of shadows, lies and cooked-up books, running a Ponzi scheme in which he was programmed to be the ultimate beneficiary. When he borrowed through Letters of Understanding (LoUs), he did not have enough collateral to cover the liability.

The money he borrowed was not spent on legitimate business deals, but on round trips for stashing away safe assets out of reach of lenders. Then, instead of facing an investigation, co-operating with the banks, he fled India before he was exposed as a swindler.

Before he left, he emptied out his bank accounts, sold his inventory, which, in any case, was always overpriced through 'brand value.' And now, he is preaching from his London pulpit about the guilt of the lenders, telling them it is too late because of their own fault.

The money he borrowed was never meant to be returned. When swindlers siphon it away after a planned loot, it never does. Every scam in independent India has shown that whatever the lender may try, the money just vanishes. Harshad Mehta did not repay the money. Ketan Parekh spent months in litigation, but never paid his debt. Vijay Mallya disappeared after borrowing and defaulting; like Nirav, he too, kept blaming the banks for ruining his business by speaking up. Not much has been recovered from Jignesh Shah, the face of the Rs 5,600 crore National Spot Exchange Ltd (NSEL) scam.

The credo of the fraudster, as my Marwari friends say, is Chamdi jaye par damdi na jaye (we can lose our skin, but we won't part with money). Nirav is cut from the same stone, but like the stuff he sells, just a tad more polished.

It would be futile to believe Nirav would have ultimately returned the money if he was allowed to keep borrowing cash. Like a hardened criminal, Nirav would have continued to exploit the system, relying on its silence to perpetuate his dark deeds, without shame, remorse or moral rectitude.
Starting today, Firstpost will publish a multi-part series that examines the serious structural problems that have engulfed India's state-run banks and the likely course of this industry, which constitutes 70 percent of India's banking sector assets

Editor's note: The Rs 11,400-crore bank fraud in Punjab National Bank, that was perpetrated by billionaire Nirav Modi in collusion with a few bank employees, has once again brought governance practices in Public Sector Banks (PSBs) back to public debate. There are questions raised on the way these entries function. A political blame game is on. But the problems in this sector are far beyond one instance of fraud. After five decades of bank nationalisation, India's public sector banks face deeper structural problems ranging from poor management practices, ineffective risk-management systems, vulnerability to a political-corporate nexus, large chunk of bad loans and lack of sufficient autonomy. Beginning today, Firstpost will publish a multi-part series that examines the serious structural problems that have engulfed India's state-run banks and the likely course of this industry, which constitutes 70 percent of India's banking sector assets. Here's the first part in the series:

It's impossible for a visitor to miss the British Raj ambience of Punjab National Bank's (PNB) Brady House branch at Fort in Mumbai. The imposing structure is a stone's throw away from the Bombay Stock Exchange and Reserve Bank of India (RBI). A symbol of its legacy and pride of the bank for several decades, the Brady House branch today is in the eye of a storm  a Rs 11,400-crore fraud in which PNB finds itself embroiled. The bank, India's second largest by assets, is fighting to save its image and win back investor confidence since it reported the fraud  since Valentine's Day (14 February), to be precie  when it disclosed to stock exchanges that a fraud had been underway for several years (since 2011).

The fraud, it divulged, had been orchestrated by a few PNB employees at Brady House and billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi's companies. A CBI investigation has already led to the arrests of two PNB employees. Policymakers, regulator and investors have been taken by surprise seeing the extent and nature of the fraud that was perpetrated using fake Letters of Understandings (LoUs) to Nirav, who used them to borrow from overseas branches of certain Indian banks for several years. PNB has taken a hit, both in terms of its image and investor-confidence. PNB's stock price has eroded 31 percent since the day of the announcement of the fraud. We will have to wait and watch before the full extent of damage can be ascertained.

A feudal setup? The PNB fraud can't be seen in isolation. It represents a larger systemic problem. The fact is that India's state-run banks often operate as feudal institutions. These banks eagerly wait for cues from their higher-ups in the bureaucratic hierarchy. Most bank chairmen function like feudal kings in PSU banks and officers down the hierarchy often get unfair treatment. The working culture is far different from that of a typical private sector bank. The chairman and others in the top brass, in turn, look for cues from their bosses (read bureaucrats in the government and ministers) and aim to please them by taking orders rather than taking independent decisions that are in accordance with spirit of competition and longterm efficiency of the institutions. There is no sense of ownership. This was one major reason behind the buildup of the NPA pile in state-run banks. During the period of the economic boom, most PSBs competed to get a larger share of the corporate loan pile often forgetting the rules of prudence and credit assessment. When banks focus blindly on loan volumes and less on quality of loans, the problems begin. This later manifested itself as NPAs when the economic cycle took a downturn. At one point, it was quite common to see advertisements in national newspapers by state-run banks flashing their 'Total Business', which was basically done to impress the bosses in government and didn't give any indication of the quality of the balance sheet. "Whether it was UPA or NDA, this feudal culture hasnt changed much," said one retired banker who spoke on condition of anonymity. Every outgoing bank chairman merrily passed on the bad loan burden to the successor and showed a healthy balance sheet.

Not a one-off problem It will be a cardinal mistake to imagine that PNB is a one-off problem for the banking sector. This is only the outcome of loose checks and balances, and governance practices that have crippled state-run banks for a long time. PNB, in fact, only represents the real situation of public sector banks in India long-affected by weak risk-management systems, poor management and no significant autonomy in big business decisions. The fraud signals the deeper problems faced by sarkari banks and raises questions on the logic of recapitalising these lenders using taxpayers' money before fundamental reforms are executed to change the way these banks function. In a recent interview with Firstpost, KC Chakrabarty, former RBI deputy governor, and former chairman and managing director of PNB said the fraud should not be seen in isolation. This is the result of long-followed poor risk-management systems and inefficient auditing practices, Chakrabarty said, adding there needs to be proper risk-based audit and supervision in place to prevent such frauds. Banks do various types of audits of their accounts, the banking regulator, the RBI, too does periodic monitoring of bank transactions, the government (majority owner of these banks) frequently reviews the PSU bank performance. Yet, none of these could sniff out a fraud that has been going on since 2011. A failed system? The PNB fraud will certainly make ripples across the Indian banking sector. But it isn't the only dark spot in the public sector banking industry. There are a plethora of problems these lenders have been tackling for a long time, including the issues arising out of poor governance practices, shortage of capital, lack of reforms and vulnerability to the corporate-political nexus on account of their sheer public sector character. The biggest problem PSU banks have been facing is the mounting NPAs. Over 90 percent of the total gross NPAs of the banking sector is with state-run banks, also because of their sheer asset size in relation to private and foreign banks. Around 70 percent of the Indian banking system is controlled by state-run banks, in other words, the government. But, government control has not done any good to these institutions after five decades of nationalisation, even though it has helped to spread the banking services to India's far-flung villages and direct credit to farm sector. Today, the total gross NPAs of state-run banks is nearing around Rs eight lakh crore. But, if one looks at the total chunk of stressed assets including the parts of loans that are being restructured, the figure will be far higher. If one looks at the overall industry NPA picture, again PSBs come out on top. PNB has a GNPA figure of 12.11 percent, Bank of Baroda is at 11.31 percent, SBI at 10.35 percent and Canara Bank has 10.38 percent. The figures look even bad among the relatively smaller peers of SBI in the public sector banking industry. IDBI Bank tops the list with GNPAs of 24.72 percent, followed by Indian Overseas Bank which has 21.95 percent of its loans gone bad, UCO Bank had 20.64 percent gross NPAs, United Bank 20.1 percent and Dena Bank 19.56 percent. Total slippages of SBI rose to Rs 25,836 crore, compared with Rs 9,026 crore in the previous quarter.

Reform calls long ignored

There have been promises on bold reforms in state-run banks for a long time in order to change these institutions for better. But, except certain cosmetic incremental reform steps, nothing much has happened. One of the major reforms that ruling governments promise repeatedly is that of consolidation of government-owned banks, but except for mergers in the state bank group, which are largely technical in nature, there has been no major progress on this front. In 2014, an expert panel under PJ Nayak had recommended bringing down government holding in these banks below controlling stake and let private parties run these banks. But nothing much has happened so far except the continuation of long-practiced policies and cosmetic reforms such as splitting chairman and CEO posts and bringing private sector CEOs.

In the light of the PNB episode, it's time the government looked at privatisation of PSU banks more seriously and, in the meantime, commence the process of overhauling the risk-management framework that has proven to be completely ineffective so far. The PNB episode conclusively tells the regulator and policymakers that cosmetic steps won't work any more.

Part II: PNB, Nirav Modi, Vikram Kothari arent the first; Indias PSBs have long been beaten by frauds

Part III: Nirav Modi scams shows its time Parliament reexamined banking laws, brought in transparency
The Srinagar Central Jail is a hub for recruiting militants with inmates establishing a 'parallel administrative' set-up, ignored by local police despite warnings.

Srinagar: The Srinagar Central Jail is a hub for recruiting militants with inmates establishing a "parallel administrative" set-up, ignored by local police despite warnings by prison authorities, says a report by the Jammu and Kashmir CID.

The role of the Central Jail is presently so important that every new militant is recruited only after approval from inside the prison, the report said, quoting reliable sources. "However, as to who gives such an approval is being ascertained," it said.

Director General of Police SP Vaid sent the report, prepared under AG Mir, Inspector General of the state Criminal Investigation Department, to Principal Secretary (Home) Raj Kumar Goyal in 2017. He also sought stricter vigilance within the prison.

According to the report, accessed by PTI, the inmates have a "parallel administrative set up" with an 'Ameer-e-Zindaan' (chief of prison) appointed by a self-styled 'shura' (a consultative council) for six months.

Former director general of prison SK Mishra, who was recently shunted following the escape of Lashker-e-Taiba terrorist Mohammed Naveed Jhatt on 6 February, said in a lengthy reply to the report that he had long been highlighting the issue. He said he had told the state home department about several communications to former inspector general of police (Kashmir) Munir Khan and the deputy inspector general for a through search of jail but this was not done.

In his reply to the principal home secretary, Mishra also said he had flagged issues related to poor infrastructure in the jail which does not allow for proper segregation of the inmates.

Mishra, who is the senior-most IPS officer of the state and is now chairman-managing director of JK Police Housing Corporation, also said that he had decided to shift many hardened terrorists and their sympathisers outside Kashmir but this could not be done following orders from various courts. "At a time five to 20 people remain inside to guard the 300 prisoners and it cannot be expected with this thin force to discipline the inmates with iron fist.... request for deputation of 150 police personnel to supplement the requirement of security of central jail and other jails have not been considered by the government," the reply said.

Mishra also drew attention to the role of the state law department and said "necessary directions need to be issued to Advocate-General and Additional Advocate-General in pursuing the matter of the prison department such as vacation of stay orders on transfer of prisoners and surrender of convicts who are on parole and are at large".

The Central Jail, he said, is located in the heart of downtown Srinagar and high profile terrorists lodged there have links with locals in the area. "They (militants) directly or indirectly threaten the staff," he said, adding that this was not brought to the notice of senior jail officials.

Hitting out at Vaid, Mishra said, "...the problems of prison department are well known to home department and DGP. Instead of levelling allegations, it is time to become a part of the solution and collectively sort out all issues in the national interest."

The state CID is mandated to keep a watch on political and militancy related development within the state.
A 28-year-old mentally challenged tribal woman was gang-raped in Dehaband area in West Bengals South Dinajpur district, media reports said

A 28-year-old tribal woman was gang-raped in Dehaband area in West Bengals South Dinajpur district, according to several media reports on Tuesday.

According to a report in Mumbai Mirror, the woman was assaulted and raped multiple times and iron rods were thrust into her genitals. The report added that the victim is currently in critical condition.

According to News18, the victim was operated at Raigunj Super Speciality Hospital near the location of the crime, but was shifted to Malda Medical College and Hospital after her condition further deteriorated. The report added that the victim had gone to a local fair in Kushmandi on Sunday, where she was dragged away and gang-raped under a bridge.

The New Indian Express reported that the victim lay unconscious at the crime scene for over 12 hours and was spotted by locals on Monday morning, who then informed the Kushmandi police.

The police have made two arrests in relation to the incident. Ramprabesh Sharma and one of his associates, who hail from the same village as the victim, have been arrested, additional deputy general of police (law and order) Anuj Sharma said, according to the report.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to visit Malda district on Tuesday and Raigunj on Wednesday as part of her district tour. Opposition parties condemned the state government over the incident.

The chief minister issues numerous statements every day, but she has no time to send a strong message against those committing crimes against women. The safety and security of women is clearly not her priority. In fact, goons are having a free run in her regime, BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha told Hindustan Times.

According to News18, CPM leader and Raigunj MP Mohammed Salim said, Its even more gruesome than the Nirbhaya incident. In the Nirbhaya case, the victim was alone and targetted inside a moving bus. But this happened right in the middle of the village. People from all walks of life who value human life and freedom must protest against such perversion.

West Bengal Women's Commission chairperson Sunanda Mukherjee demanded "exemplary punishment" for the guilty. It is a shocking incident. The accused should be punished, she added, according to the Mumbai Mirror report. The NCW stated that it has taken suo motu cognisance of the incident and said that it is writing to the concerned authorities, according to the report.

With inputs from agencies
Accusing Karnataka's Siddaramaiah government of being the 'most corrupt' in the country and pursuing 'appeasement politics', BJP president Amit Shah asserted the countdown for its exit has begun

Bantwal (Karna): Accusing Karnataka's Siddaramaiah government of being the "most corrupt" in the country and pursuing "appeasement politics", BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday asserted the countdown for its exit has begun.

Launching his tour of the communally sensitive coastal region in poll-bound Karnataka, Shah said if there was to be a competition for the most corrupt government, the award for the last five years would go to the one headed by Siddaramaiah.

Addressing a BJP rally, he said, the Siddaramaiah government had "shamelessly" indulged in corruption.

"....The (Hindi) translation of corruption would be bhrashtachar. Now use Siddaramaiah government as a translation for corruption...Siddaramaiah government has shamelessly indulged in corruption for last five years," he said.

Accusing the Siddaramaiah government of pursuing "appeasement and vote bank politics", Shah said one after the other more than 20 BJP and RSS activists had been killed in the state.

"As the party president, I would like to assure you... let this Siddaramaiah government try to protect (killers) however much they want. Their countdown has begun.. their time to go has come near. Yeddyurappa government (of BJP) will find the killers and bring them to justice," he said.

He referred to the recent incident involving Mohammed Nalapad Haris, son of a Congress MLA and himself a party leader, who recently triggered outrage by assaulting a man in a restaurant.

"The son of a Congress MLA assaults a man twice but no FIR is registered. This is appeasement politics. It will not be tolerated," he said.

The BJP has been targeting the Siddaramaiah government consistently over a series of killings of Hindu activists by alleged "jihadi forces," and accused it of adopting a "soft approach" towards them as part of the Congress' "vote bank" and "minorities appeasement" politics.

Shah said the Karnataka Assembly polls are important for the BJP, which has won almost all the elections after the Modi government came to power or has improved its tally, while the Congress lost everywhere except for Punjab.

In Tripura, where Assembly polls were held recently, the BJP would win, he said.

"BJP's electoral success lies in its workers," Shah said, and asked them to get ready for celebrations.

Calling the BJP a party with a difference, Shah said it fights elections on the strength of the organisation and wins.

Citing the party's electoral successes in Assam, Manipur and Uttar Pradesh, he said reasons for these were the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP's booth-level workers.

He said, "from the land of Parashurama and Rani Abbakka let us take the pledge to overthrow the Siddaramaiah government in the coming Assembly polls."

Rani Abbakka was the legendary queen of Ullal in Dakshina Kannada district, who fought against the Portuguese in the 16th century.

He alleged the Siddaramaiah government "disrespected" Hindu religious places in coastal Karnataka.

The BJP government would try to integrate these cultural treasures with society and bring back their lost glory, he said.

The next BJP government headed by Yeddyurappa would work for the region's development and restore its lost pride, Shah said.

During his three-day tour, Shah would cover the districts of Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada, where the party has a strong presence and is trying to further consolidate its vote base.
A case has been registered against Congress leader Narayanaswamy, who had thrown petrol and threatened to set ablaze Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) office in Bengaluru

A Karnataka Congress leader has been booked for threatening to set fire to a Bengaluru municipal office, ANI reported.

According to ANI, a case has been registered against Congress leader Narayanaswamy on Tuesday, for throwing petrol and threatening to set ablaze Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) office in Horamavu, Bengaluru. The report added that a case has been lodged under sections 353, 427, 341, 504 and 506 of Indian Panel Code on the complaint of BBMP revenue officer Satish Kumar.

In the video, which has gone viral on social media, the Congress leader can be seen purportedly splashing the liquid filled in a plastic bottle twice inside a city corporation office while the officer is pleading with him to stop. Narayanaswamy, a close aide of Congress MLA Byrati Basavaraj, took the step after officials refused to provide him with a fake land document, PTI reported.

Narayanaswamy is also the block president of KR Puram in Bengaluru. The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president G Parameshwara tweeted:

I have instructed our Bengaluru District North District Congress Committee (DCC) to immediately suspend Narayanswamy.  Dr. G Parameshwara (@DrParameshwara) February 20, 2018

State home minister Ramalinga Reddy condemned the incident on the floor of the state Assembly earlier on Tuesday. It is unfortunate that the incident took place. The government has initiated necessary action against the leader, he said. BJP spokesperson Suresh Kumar said that this incident was "another show of hooliganism" by the states ruling Congress by a "close aide of Siddaramaiah."

On Monday, Karnataka Congress MLA NA Haris' son Mohammed Haris Nalapad surrendered at the Cubbon Park Police Station in Bengaluru days after an FIR was filed against him and ten others for allegedly assaulting a man in UB City.

With inputs from agencies
Delhi chief secretary Anshu Prakash was allegedly threatened, abused and thrashed in presence of Arvind Kejriwal, proving he continues to be an 'anarchist'.

Back in January 2014, braving Delhi's evening winter chill, Arvind Kejriwal had landed at the Rail Bhawan in the Capital's Rajpath area in his new avatar as chief minister, to stage a dharna demanding the suspension of two junior police officers. He had then famously said: "They say I am an anarchist. Yes, I am."

The recent turn of events at the chief minister's official residence around midnight on Monday, when the serving chief secretary of Delhi Anshu Prakash was allegedly threatened, abused and thrashed by ruling Aam Admi Party MLAs proves that Kejriwal continues to be just that, an anarchist. The problem is that it is the city and its people that have to bear the brunt of his idiosyncrasies.

The chief secretary happens to be the senior-most civil servant of a state or Union Territory and the chief minister is the elected head of the government. Proper coordination and good personal rapport between the two is an essential pre-condition for effective delivery of goods and services in the state or Union Territory (as is the case in Delhi).

The government in the state or at the Centre, after all, works through layers of bureaucratic structures. As of now, the political executive (ruling AAP) and permanent executive bureaucracy are at loggerheads  a series of charges and counter-charges have been levelled by each against the other.

Delhi IAS officers association, Delhi sub-ordinate service association and Delhi government employee welfare association have gone on a pen-down strike  they are attending office but not working. Their argument is simple - if the chief secretary can be abused and assaulted in front of the chief minister at his residence then the fate of subordinate staffers could be even worse.

The political leadership of AAP, meanwhile, is busy lodging complaints against the chief secretary, alleging that he made casteist remarks against Dalit members of the party. It is also bringing in the issue of ration cards and delivery of subsidised ration to intended lower income groups. After allegedly committing a highly condemnable act, the AAP leadership it seems is trying to give a spin to the whole thing to swing public opinion in its favour and energise its cadre. The situation could not be more bizarre than what is now happening right now in Delhi. The fear of a constitutional breakdown is real.

AAP's attempt to build a poor, Dalit-angled political narrative out of the condemnable act, allegedly committed by the ruling party's trusted MLAs, is alarming. Sources revealed that the chief secretary was called at the chief minister's residence late on Monday to discuss the release of advertisements on the completion of three years of AAP government in Delhi.

The bureaucracy had red-flagged the words "seen and unseen forces" inserted in the ads and had withheld their clearance, even as they had been approved by Kejriwal. The bureaucracy had cited Supreme Court's guidelines to red flag the ads. It was an argument on these ads which is said to have been the tipping point at Kejriwals residence.

Prakash has since written a comprehensive note giving a blow-by-blow account of incidents as they happened on Monday and has submitted that to Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and Union home minister Rajnath Singh. He has also filed a complaint with DCP north.

Prakash wrote that he got repeated reminders from Kejriwal's office that the chief minister would meet him at midnight on Monday. When he reached there and was ushered into the room, Kejriwal is said to have been present there with his deputy Manish Sisodia and 11 other MLAs.

The chief secretary was made to sit in the middle of a three seater sofa with Amanatullah Khan and another MLA. The two MLAs kept demanding to know why Kejriwal's three-years-in-government ads were not released and allegedly started punching him. Prakash was allegedly abused and beaten. The MLAs are said to have even threatened him, saying they would implicate the chief secretary under false charges pertaining to the SC/ST Act, the written account revealed.

This raises a pertinent question: Why was the chief secretary summoned by Kejriwal and allegedly made to satisfy the demands of a group of MLAs?

Unfortunately, as reports and Prakash's account suggests in this case, it was Kejriwal who prepared the ground for a confrontation between the topmost official and his MLAs. In a way, he played facilitator for the boorish act by his MLAs.

There are laid out norms and mechanisms to deal with grievances by MLAs against public servants and the forum for that is the Assembly. Kejriwal and AAP are guilty of violating the norm of parliamentary democracy but the party seems to be unrepentant. "Why should bureaucrats not be accountable to an elected representative", a party spokesperson said. Kejriwal had been a bureaucrat, did he apply the same principle to himself when he was serving?

The AAP is using its alleged falsehood as if it is on a campaign trail and is raising the pitch against a rival political outfit. But then, the problem of Delhi's babus not obliging them is there. The party, meanwhile, has also put out its own version of the event, in writing.
Tamil film actor Kamal Haasan, who is all set to launch his political innings on 21 February, has expressed confidence that he would succeed with his Dravidian brand of politics

Chennai: Tamil film actor Kamal Haasan, who is all set to launch his political innings on 21 February, has expressed confidence that he would succeed with his Dravidian brand of politics.

"You will know when I make it a success," he said, when asked about the presence of Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu and how he could succeed with the same ideology.

The actor has time and again expressed his appreciation of the Dravidian ideology. Last month, he had batted for unity among Southern states under the 'Dravidian' tag to leverage ties with the Centre. "It (Dravidian) is our identity, and it will give the southern states a leverage with the Centre," the actor had said.

Chief ministers of all southern states  Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh  were all 'Dravidians', and there was no need to stake claim that only Tamilian was 'Dravidian'. When the Dravidian identity is "celebrated" across South India, it would lead to a united "chorus" that would reach New Delhi, he had said.

Meanwhile, continuing with his meeting of leaders ahead of the launch of his poltical party, Haasan visited DMDK chief Vijayakanth.

He said he visited Vijayakanth since he was senior to him in politics. "He greeted me and expressed his happiness for coming to politics," he said.

The veteran actor had visited DMK president M Karunanidhi and superstar Rajinikanth, saying he waas calling on those "whom I like" before the formal launch of his party on 21 February.
Like his idol, actor Kamal Haasan will discard his skin  this one full of glitz and glamour  to get into a politician's attire in Madurai.

On 22 September 1921, Mahatma Gandhi was a changed man, sartorially. He discarded his Gujarati attire, including the turban, for a simple dhoti and shawl. Though he had engaged with the thought of doing so on earlier occasions, Gandhi finally made up his mind to do so during the train journey from Madras to Madurai (then called Madura).

That morning, Gandhi emerged out of the room on the first floor at 251A, West Masi Street, to proceed to Ramanathapuram, dressed in his 'new' clothes. The place in Madurai where the public saw him in his new loincloth attire is where a statue of Bapu stands today. Gandhi makes a mention of this episode in The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi.

Cut to February 2018, where a man deeply influenced by the life and times of Gandhi will likewise travel from Chennai to Madurai. Like his idol, actor Kamal Haasan will discard his skin  this one full of glitz and glamour  to get into a politician's attire in Madurai. And following in the footsteps of Gandhi, Haasan would also travel to Ramanathapuram on 21 February.

This could well have been a poignant, well-layered scene from one of Haasan's movies. Not a surprise because as a creative person, Haasan knows the power of imagery and is certain to draw this parallel when he articulates his political party's ideology on Wednesday evening.

But Gandhi is not the sole inspiration for choosing Madurai as his launchpad. Though political power was seen as centered in Chennai  by virtue of being the capital of Tamil Nadu  the state was not seen as under the grip of powerful leaders unless Madurai region was under their control. It is significant that MGR, through his political career, contested from Assembly constituencies in and around Madurai.

In 1977, MGR emerged victorious from Aruppukkottai in neighbouring Virudhunagar district, while 1980 saw him shift to Madurai West. Four years later, from his hospital bed in the United States, MGR won from Andipatti in Theni district, a one-hour drive from Madurai city. J Jayalalithaa also chose Andipatti, considered one of the safest seats for the AIADMK, in the 2002 by-election and retained the constituency in 2006.

Vijaykanth, another popular actor-turned-politician in 2005, also started his new innings from Madurai. Looking to mine political capital from the MGR name, Vijaykanth, who is popularly known as Captain, styled himself as "Karuppu MGR" (black MGR). He also pointed out that the former chief minister was his "political guru'', revealing that Janaki Ramachandran gifted him MGR's campaign vehicle, which he was using.

Realising that Madurai and by extension, southern Tamil Nadu was slipping into the grip of the AIADMK, Karunanidhi positioned his elder son MK Alagiri in the city. Though it was also a ploy to ensure Alagiri and MK Stalin had different parts of Tamil Nadu to look after, politically, it resulted in the infamous Thirumangalam formula in a by-election in Madurai district in 2009, where money was openly used to buy votes for the DMK.

Haasan would be more than conscious of this blot when he takes to the mike in Madurai. On several occasions in the past, Haasan has made his displeasure with voters casting ballots for bribes known. Tamil Nadu elections have been notorious for voters having been bribed: Prominent blots include Thirumangalam by the DMK and RK Nagar in Chennai by the AIADMK in December 2017. Madurai, over the years, has also seen a culture of gangs who use the 'arivaal' (machette) to carry out political murders for a price. It will be interesting to watch how the crowd reacts to his call for clean politics.

Along with being seen as the political capital of Tamil Nadu, Madurai's history and culture offers the perfect backdrop for anyone looking to make a mark. Madurai, more than Chennai, is seen as the land of the Tamizhan and Haasan can be expected to unleash the flourish of his oratory to impress the crowds in chaste Tamil.

Haasan is conscious of the criticism against him: That he is not a mass leader like Rajinikanth or MK Stalin and that he is considered too high-brow and a tad too intellectual for people in the countryside. Madurai offers him an opportunity to neutralise that impression. The city has been carefully chosen because this is Jallikattu territory, the land of the bull-taming sport. In his 2004 production, Kamal played the title role of Virumaandi, who tames the bull, and this makes him incredibly popular in these parts.

Also, when the Marina uprising took place in Chennai in January 2017  demanding the lifting of the Supreme Court ban on Jallikattu, Haasan was one of the first popular film stars to openly lend it support. He said: "If you ban Jallikattu, then ban biryani as well''. The combination of those who liked him as an actor and those who appreciated him for calling a spade a spade will give Haasan the opening he is looking for.

For the better part of 2017, Haasan was seen more as a Twitter warrior and someone more at ease facing TV cameras in Chennai or a small audience in Harvard. Madurai and the live crowd will, in that sense, be a reality check for the actor who is undoubtedly taking on the most difficult role of his career.

To keep up with the latest updates, follow our live blog
Ahead of upcoming Karnataka polls, Narendra Modi's speech at a massive religious event in Hassan is being seen as BJP's attempt to breach JD(S)' stronghold.

Hassan, Karnataka: In view of the impending Assembly polls in the southern state of Karnataka, prime minister Narendra Modi's speech at a massive religious event in Hassan is being seen as his party's attempt to breach the Janata Dal (Secular)'s stronghold in the region.

These days, the Jain pilgrimage site of Shravanbelagola near Channarayapatna town in Hassan district is teeming with lakhs of devotees. Maha-mastaka-abhishekam (grand anointment) of Lord Bahubali's 57-foot-tall statue is a once-in-12-years event and the Jains celebrate it with grandeur. The programme started on 17 February and will go on till the 25 of the month. On Monday, the prime minister paid a visit to the pilgrimage and addressed a massive gathering.

In his 12-minute speech, Modi waxed eloquent about the philanthropic efforts of Indian religious heads. He mentioned how religious organisations in the country are committed to various causes, one of them being providing affordable healthcare. From here, he transitioned to the Centre's new welfare scheme of health insurance.

The Election Commission of India has not yet announced the dates of polls in Karnataka but the state is expected to go to polls in April-May. JD(S) national president HD Deve Gowda is the member of Parliament from Hassan whereas his son-in-law CN Balakrishna was elected as the MLA from Shravanbelagola.

A local BJP member Ashok Kumar Jain explained the current political scenario and put Modi's visit in context. He said chief minister Siddaramaiah is a sworn enemy of Gowda yet his cabinet colleagues are hobnobbing with JD(S) leaders as the Congress believes joining hands with the rival party is the only way to keep the BJP at bay in the upcoming Assembly elections. He said the Congress would want to keep at least 25 of the 34 seats in the Old Mysore region, which is a JD(S) stronghold.

He said this situation is dangerous for the JD(S) but conducive for the BJP to make inroads. Jain added that nothing can be more effective than the prime minister himself coming forth to do the needful. He said it does not matter that Modi did not use the Maha-mastaka-abhisheka platform to campaign for the party; he said Modi's gesture of making a trip to join people in this grand celebration itself was good enough.

The Congress too has been trying to cash in on the opportune timing of the Jains' grand celebration. The state government has released Rs 175 crore for the event even though Jain mutts don't depend on government funding; the entire programme is funded by devotees' contribution. Further, the state government has plastered Siddaramaiah's face on all the posters, banners and promotional material.

Even as hectic parleys are reportedly underway between the Congress and the JD(S) in Bangalore, the latter is also considering an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party. According to election watchers, this is a sign of desperation.

Sources in the Congress said Gowda's grandson Prajval Revanna's name has been suggested as the MLA candidate for the Raja Rajeshwari Nagar seat in Bangalore. It is believed that the Congress will either not field a candidate here or give the ticket to a weak candidate.

Voters' verdict

Chennappa Gowda, a functionary of Channarayapatna farmers' cooperative, told Firstpost that voters are fed up with Congress leaders' game of one-upmanship and the JD(S)' nepotism. He said it's as if nobody other than Gowda's kin was fit to be elected. He said this is time for people to wake up. A Hassan-based political science teacher, requesting anonymity, listed out names from the Gowda family that are in politics and the names that are in line to join politics. He called it 'heights of nepotism'.

Jyotiprasad, a teacher at PG Centre, the University of Mysore, based in Hemagangothri, Hassan, said he does not see any party other than the BJP that understands internal democracy. He said Modi might be the prime minister, but it is party president Amit Shah who calls the shots in the BJP. He called the JD(S) a family-controlled party and termed the Congress a "hereditary" party.

K Krishnamurthy, the owner of a coffee house in Channarayapatna, asked how long people will be fooled by these political parties. He said the parties say they want no truck with the Congress and the BJP but join hands with them ahead of every election.

The author is a Mangaluru-based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters. He tweets @mraghuram12
Ahead of Madhya Pradesh bypolls, Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced a bonus of Rs 200 per quintal on procurement price of wheat & paddy by farmers for 2016-17.

"Too often, poverty and deprivation get covered as events. That is when some disaster strikes... when people die. Yet, poverty is about much more than starvation deaths or near famine conditions. A person lacking minimal access to health at critical moments can face destruction almost as surely as one in hunger." P Sainath; Everybody Loves a Good Drought (2000).

Suffering cannot be quantified in the manifestations it prods against it, neither can it be fully contained in the solutions designed to repair it. Farmer suffering in India is nuanced and agrarian policies must mirror the contours of that nuance. Case in point: Madhya Pradesh. Here, neither can farmer distress be reduced to the incident that took place in Mandsaur in June 2017  where five farmers agitating for a better price for their produce were shot at by security personnel following violent clashes in places like Sehore, Indore and Bhopal. Nor can the Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana announced in October 2017, safeguarding the farmers against price crash by offering them the bhav-antar or the difference in price between the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the market price, be considered the one and only resolve.

Electorally, 2018 is a crucial year for Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's government, which is serving its third term. The assembly elections, where its 230 constituencies will go to polls, will be held towards the end of the year but on 24 February, bypolls will be held in Kolaras and Mungaoli districts. Since the seats had been held by the Scindias and their close associates since 1957, the bypolls are being viewed as a litmus test for Jyotiraditya Scindias preparedness ahead of the state elections.

Ahead of the bypolls in a state, where three-fourths of the population is dependent on agriculture and peripheral agro-activities, the chief minister announced a bonus of Rs 200 per quintal on procurement price of wheat and paddy for 2016-17 under the Chief Minister's Agriculture Productivity Scheme. He also declared that the government will procure wheat and paddy at an MSP of Rs 2,000 per quintal. Among the 23 promises made was an alteration in the populist Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana to offer free warehousing to farmers.

"What we need to understand is how the policy performs in the long run. The government has set a two-month timeframe for selling black gram and soyabean and since the stock comes into the mandis at the same time, theres a decline in prices.

"Recently, we have noticed traders buying up the stock for Rs 2,200 and Rs 2,500 and selling it for Rs 4,000 after the designated period of 60 days, when the price rises," explained Abhishek Raghuvanshi, a farmer from Ganj Basoda, District Vidisha. He shared that his earnings from the Bhavantar Yojana were Rs 220 per quintal and came into his account after a wait of two months.

"My earnings didnt reach Rs 3,000 and the MSP is Rs 3,050 per quintal for soyabean and Rs 5,400 for black gram, then where is the bhav-antar I am being promised? he asked. Another one of his grievances is the lack of government procurement centres for commodities aside from wheat. "Theres one such centre for every 50-100 villages and the one closest to me (in Gurod) doesn't procure lentils and the infrastructure for wheat there is makeshift too, with barbed-wire fencing," he told Firstpost.

As mentioned in a 2013 Madhya Pradesh press statement: "The government is providing a Rs 100 per quintal bonus to farmers on wheat and paddy in addition to the support price declared by the Union Government so that they get a fair price for their produce. The state government is making direct transfers of funds to farmers' bank accounts against subsidy and bonus provided to them under various schemes. This has ensured total transparency in transfer of subsidy amounts to farmers."

The BJP-ruled state government used to offer a bonus over the MSP until the central government issued an order in 2014 to stop surplus procurement from decentralised states. In the wake of the current electoral season, the chief minister has announced that farmers will be paid Rs 200 bonus over the MSP per quintal of wheat they sell to the state government.

The same 2013 government press release proudly declared that the total agriculture production in Madhya Pradesh, that was 142.45 lakh metric tonnes for the year 2002-03, has increased to 254.86 lakh metric tonnes in the year 2012-13. Thus, about 80 percent increase in crop production has been achieved. But an increase in production is not synonymous with an increase in farmers' income.

As agrarian policy expert Devender Sharma sees it, the Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana, a policy which states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra have shown an interest in, is on the face of it a good scheme. The problem lies in implementation, in what happens to the policy when it falls from paper to the mud. He gives the instance of the price of black gram fixed at Rs 3,000 per quintal in Madhya Pradesh against the procurement price of Rs 5,400 per quintal.

"Traders form a cartel and pick up the black gram for prices as low as Rs 500 per quintal from farmers," he said, explaining that the scheme is providing farmers with a distress price and merely helping them survive.

A peasants' agitation titled 'Krishi Vishal Mahapadav', staged just prior to the reintroduction of the Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana last year, went beyond demanding the right price for the crops and asked for compensation for drought-hit areas in the Harda district. This is a fertile district in southwestern Madhya Pradesh and home to the rivers Narmada, Ganjal and the Machak.

The protesters also asked the government to suspend the recovery of loans and offered farmers access to seeds and fertilisers via cooperatives, and that the state must evaluate and educate farmers on how many days exactly the water flowing in the canals from the Tawa Dam in Hoshangabad can sustain them. Here's a copy of the flyer regarding the said event:

Kedar Sirohi is the founder-member of the farmers' organisation Aam Kisaan Union in Harda district. He told Firstpost that after the Mandsaur outrage, the chief minister had ensured that all commodities will be bought at MSP. Had the government done that, there wouldn't have been a need for relaunching the Bhavantar Bhugtan scheme at all.

"The truth is that a strong union of traders doesn't want the MSP and they are able to influence the government," alleged Sirohi, who holds a Masters' degree in agriculture economics and farm management. Another factor that needs attention is that of improving the government extension services that include awareness about pesticides to use and diseases to be wary of.

"The field brigades are non-existent and one never hears of state-funded farmer seminars. Farmer resources have been drained due to ignorance," he said. Sirohi called the Madhya Pradesh agriculture model a power point presentation model that failed to thwart agitations in Malwa, Narmada, Mahakoshal, Niwar and Rewanchal.

For gaining more insight into the matter, Firstpost reached out to the faculty at Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University, Jabalpur. Here, Dr Sanjay Vaishampayan, senior scientist, Directorate of Extension, told us that the institute has developed three new Jawahar Gram varieties (JG 12, JG 24 and JG 38) and 90 percent of the indigenous heat-resistant seeds used in South India have been developed here.

"Our institute has worked hard to earn Madhya Pradesh the Krishi Karman Award (for raising country's food grain production) for the fifth year in a row. The problem lies in spreading the reach of our technology to the farmers. For instance, the light traps pest management can reduce use of pesticides in the soil but the mode to transfer knowledge of technology is weak," he explained that the lack of touch with the farmer leads to one more problem, that the trader can show a production rate of 10 quintals where only five have been produced and this is a disservice to those farmers who soil in the sun and rain to feed the country.

There's a country-wide network of Indian Council of Agricultural Research-funded Krishi Vigyan Kendras that has its own team of scientists and a wider interface with farming belts. We reached out to senior scientist Dr Harish Dixit, a scientist at the KVK centre in Dindori in central Madhya Pradesh.

"The KVKs are a strong agency but there is immense pressure on the scientists working in the field with peasant communities, especially in terms of having their papers published. A more synchronised cycle of allowing them to go through teaching, research and extension should be developed. It is also necessary for others to have some degree of field exposure, he explained that the staff (not more than 10) in these decentralised centres of research is overburdened.

Shivkant Dixit, Madhya Pradesh president of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, an Indian farmers' representative organisation affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, told Firstpost that the reintroduction of Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana had been done in consultation with 70,000 to 80,000 farmers and is expected to perform even better this time.

This, they said, is because the time limit to be able to sell their produce has been extended, thereby easing the pressure on the farmers. In fact, he feels the angst about the scheme is more among the small farmers who deal in two to five quintals of produce and had sold their stock before the scheme was announced.

Discontentment is splattered across the spectrum and one broad swathe of a scheme won't camouflage it. Umesh Tiwari runs a movement called the Toko-Roko-Thoko Krantikari Morcha in the Sidhi district and feels that after Mandsaur, different movements across the state have found a new kind of strength. Earlier this year, he wrote to the district collector complaining that during the increase in the height of the Gulab Sagar Dam across the river Mahan (a tributary of river Banas), the water level rose over people's lands.

Those whose lands were irrigated, which they had proof for, were compensated for non-irrigated land instead. Even the people who were displaced are yet to receive compensation. He stressed on the need to increase the responsiveness of local administration and make them more empathic towards addressing issues before they escalate, because, as he puts it, the farmer is first a human being and then a voter.
Taking a veiled dig once again at top actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan for their political ambitions, DMK working president MK Stalin likened them to 'glamorous paper flowers' which do not spread fragrance.

Chennai: Taking a veiled dig once again at top actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan for their political ambitions, DMK working president MK Stalin likened them to 'glamorous paper flowers' which do not spread fragrance.

"Owing to seasonal changes some flowers may suddenly bloom and later wither. Similarly, in Tamil Nadu's political arena too glamorous paper flowers may bloom," he said in an apparent reference to top actors Rajinikanth and Haasan's political entry.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, in a letter to party cadres said though "such flowers may bloom, they do not spread fragrance," which is seen as an indication that the duo could not succeed and shine in politics though they could enter the fray.

Kamal Haasan was quick to retort to Stalin's jibe, telling reporters at Madurai that "I am not a flower, I am a seed, sow me, I will grow." Stalin, in his letter also said that DMK was a massive people's movement nurtured by late party founder CN Annadurai and party patriarch M Karunanidhi.

The party cannot be shaken by anyone who is driven by ideology and it is the lifeline of the people's rights. Calling himself a "front line worker" who is part of the larger one crore cadres of DMK, Stalin said he would continue the interactive sessions with party workers and once again assured of steps for the "party's victorious forward march."

Chaired by Stalin, interactive sessions with party functionaries, from the lowest rung of village panchayat level secretary to district secretaries, started on 1 February and is scheduled to go on till 22 March at the party headquarters 'Anna Arivalayam'.

Last month, Stalin said that while democracy is a "sky" common for all, many birds could hardly cover the distance. "Aware of the political atmosphere, new birds want to fly. Democracy is a sky (common) for all. The political arena is watching how much distance a bird can fly on the strength of its wings," he had said.
K Therie, president of NPCC, has accused AICC secretary general CP Joshi of systematically destroying the Congress in Nagaland ahead of the Assembly polls.

Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee, which failed to field candidates in more than half of the 60 constituencies for the upcoming state Assembly election, has lambasted the party leadership for the party's ongoing political crisis in the state.

K Therie, president of NPCC, has accused the All India Congress Committee secretary general CP Joshi of systematically destroying the Congress in Nagaland by not providing funds for electioneering.

While speaking to Firspost at his residence in Nagaland, he said: "The responsibility of fielding candidates lies with the AICC secretary general... he has systematically destroyed the party. Other parties have assured adequate funding to their candidates which the Congress has not done."

He further said that the Bharatiya Janata Party has assured Rs five-ten crore as electioneering fund in each constituency. "In such a situation, simply saying that the party cannot fund at all cannot be the answer," he said.

Absolving Congress president Rahul Gandhi of his failure in managing party affairs, he said that it is the secretary general's responsibility to inform the president about the needs of the party, which he claims was not done.

"Rahul is not responsible at all for this situation. He has taken over just in the month of December. It is the general secretaries who are not putting up issues before him. In Nagaland's case, it is the responsibility of Joshi," he added.

Joshi is the party's in-charge for the state of Nagaland. He also heads the coordination committee for the upcoming election in the state. Therie also held Joshi responsible for systematically destroying Congress party's prospects not only in Nagaland but also in Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura and even Bihar.

Congress fielded 23 candidates for the Nagaland Assembly polls out of which five have withdrawn their nominations, reportedly due to a cash crunch. At present, only 18 candidates from Congress party are in the fray for the upcoming polls.

Therie also expressed his disbelief at the fact that the AICC did not have funds to meet electioneering expenditure. "They are in Opposition for hardly three years after ruling the country for 10 years. We find it difficult to believe that AICC lacks funds to provide the basic logistical support to its candidates and party officials for elections," he added.

Therie claimed that people still love the Congress and want to vote for it. But adds that it is only the lack of logistical support that has prevented them from fielding more candidates. "Many candidates felt let down by the party and joined other outfits," he added.

Significantly, he also slammed Odisha governor and former Nagaland chief minister SC Jamir for allegedly campaigning for his son Apok Jamir, who is a candidate for the ruling Naga People's Front.

"Jamir was appointed as the governor by the UPA. But now, he is working as the NDA governor. Considering his constitutional designation, he should have refrained from campaigning for his son," Therie added.

The BJP has filed a complaint against the Odisha governor with the Election Commission for allegedly campaigning in the election process, which the party says is a misuse of his official power.

Jamir, meanwhile, has refuted the claim saying that he only went to his home to solve a dispute between two families.

Interestingly, Joshi claimed that the ongoing peace talks with NSCN(IM) and other insurgent groups were initiated by the Congress and not by the BJP, as the saffron party has been claiming.

"It was former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi who had offered to talk with the rebel groups without any precondition. Similarly, in the year 1996, PV Narasimha Rao had made the same offer. Only after these offers were made did the rebel groups turn up for peace talks in 1997, he said.
Hitting back at the Trinamool Congress (TMC), West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh on Tuesday asked the state's ruling party to clarify about the photographs showing state Finance Minister Amit Mitra with Mehul Choksi, one of the co-accused in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case who is on the run.

Kolkata: Hitting back at the Trinamool Congress (TMC), West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh on Tuesday asked the state's ruling party to clarify about the photographs showing state Finance Minister Amit Mitra with Mehul Choksi, one of the co-accused in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case who is on the run.

The state BJP leadership has released the photographs of Mitra and Choksi and claimed that those were taken during a business summit in Mumbai a few years back.

West Bengal chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee has been targeting the BJP-led central government over the alleged PNB scam involving diamond merchant Nirav Modi and his relative Choksi.

"The TMC and the chief minister are accusing the BJP over the issue. But they should first explain about the photographs, in which Amit Mitra is seen with Mehul Choksi. It is easy to point fingers at others," Ghosh told reporters here.

The TMC, which was quick to react, asked the BJP not to divert from the main issue.

"At that business summit, several chambers of commerce and industry bodies were invited, maybe he (Choksi) had gone there as a representative of any of those chambers," state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee said.

He added that instead of trying to divert from the issue, the BJP should explain how the fraud took place and how Modi and Choksi were allowed to run away from the country.

A political slugfest is on between the BJP and the Congress over the PNB "scam" with both the parties blaming each other for allowing Nirav Modi and his associates to flourish during their respective tenures.

The PNB, the second largest state-run bank, had on 14 February informed the exchanges about detecting a $1.77 billion fraud at its Brady House branch in Mumbai and named the firms led by Modi and his uncle Choksi's Gitanjali Group and some other diamond and jewellery merchants as suspects.

Ghosh also asked the TMC to explain about the public money that had allegedly been syphoned off by its leaders in the multi-crore-rupee chit fund scam in the state.

"Before seeking answers from us, they should clarify about the TMC's role in the multi-crore-rupee chit fund scams of Saradha and Rose Valley," he said.

West Bengal was rocked by the chit fund scam a few years back and the names of certain TMC leaders had also figured in it.
Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has said he is ready to move a no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government, but said such a move will be the 'last resort'

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has said he is ready to move a no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government with the support of other parties to get "justice" for the southern state. However, he said such a move will be the "last resort".

Earlier in the day, Naidu had dismissed demands made by the Opposition YSR Congress and Jana Sena to consider bringing a no-trust motion.

TDP sources had said Naidu, who heads the TDP, was planning to convene an all-party meeting soon to discuss ways to build pressure on the Centre to secure the state's "rightful" due.

Ties between the BJP and TDP came under severe strain after the latter accused the Centre of making "insufficient" allocations for Andhra Pradesh in the Budget 2018-19. "But a no-confidence motion should be the last resort. We will continue our fight for justice to Andhra Pradesh. If that doesn't happen, we will muster support from other parties and move a no-trust motion," the TDP president announced at meeting of Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti in Vijayawada.

The TDP is a key constituent from south India in the BJP-led NDA dispensation.

Naidu said protecting the interests of the state was of paramount importance for him. "The Centre did nothing for us in the last four years. As chief minister, I will not tolerate if injustice is done to people. Whether they (the Centre) will help us with a special category status or a special economic package is up to them," he said.

The main Opposition YSR Congress and the Jana Sena wanted the TDP to move the no-confidence motion demanding that the Centre grant special category status to AP. While dismissing their demand, Naidu had said that the Modi government enjoys "full majority".

YSRC president YS Jaganmohan Reddy announced that his party would move the no-trust motion if the TDP did not do so. But Naidu cautioned against this and said it would backfire. "If you move a no-confidence motion, they (BJP) have majority. It will be defeated and you can't talk anything for six months on the issue," the chief minister told reporters at the Polavaram project site this afternoon.

"First there should be a debate... we have to muster support... Injustice was done (to Andhra Pradesh) right inside Parliament. Now we are demanding justice from the same Parliament. When our minister (YS Chowdary) demanded in Parliament that justice be done to the state, they (YSRC) demanded his dismissal (citing rules and procedures). Now they are talking about no-confidence," he said.

Naidu had said that provisions of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, and the promises made by the then prime minister Manmohan Singh in the Rajya Sabha have not been implemented yet. "We are also part of India. When I say that, they (YSRC) say we will run away by resigning (from Parliament) or moving a no-confidence motion," Naidu said.

He had accused Jagan of trying to gain an "upper hand" to corner the TDP on the special category status issue. "Without understanding parliamentary procedures and traditions, he (Jagan) wants to show he took an upper hand and cornered the TDP and the government. What is that you cornered? People are watching everything," he said.

The chief minister said his government would take the lead to secure the state's rights from the Centre. "Let them come with us and cooperate. But they are asking us to follow them. Who are they? What's their history," he questioned.

Following the protests by Andhra Pradesh MPs in Parliament, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said that a formula will soon be worked out to release funds under a special package to Andhra Pradesh.

The MPs belonging to the TDP, YSRC and Congress had protested "non-implementation" of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, and demanded a financial package for the bifurcated state.

Interestingly, the Andhra Pradesh unit of the BJP has suggested to its central leadership to break the bond, if required, with the TDP before the latter does so, a state minister said today.
tech2 News Staff

Elon Musk has been actively digging tunnels underneath his SpaceX building in Hawthorne, California to research his high-speed transportation idea called Hyperloop. Now, reportedly, Washington has granted Elon Musk permission to dig near an abandoned area in the northeast section of the city.

As per a Washington Post report, it is not clear how long and how deep this digging will go on. In theory, The Boring Company plans on creating a Hyperloop network across the entire east coast and the abandoned lot in Washington could become one of the many stops along the route.

An "early and vague building permit" has been given and city officials are reported to have been "upbeat but non-committal" about it, says the report. Were just beginning, in the mayors office, our conversation to get an understanding of what the general vision is for Hyperloop, said a spokesperson for DC mayor Muriel Bowser, in a statement to the Washington Post.

The plan of creating a Hyperloop transport service between major east coast cities like Washington DC, New York, Baltimore and Philadelphia was claimed to have been 'verbally' approved, according to a tweet by Elon Musk. The Verge reported that Musk had been given support from Maryland governor Larry Hogan and also from White House advisor Jared Kushner. However, there are still no visible developments in the plan.

Just received verbal govt approval for The Boring Company to build an underground NY-Phil-Balt-DC Hyperloop. NY-DC in 29 mins.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 20, 2017

Of course, many have questioned the legitimacy of this idea, and the fact that Musk claims the Boring Company can dig tunnels at a fraction of the original cost. For all the excess amount of hype, the Boring Company is yet to put a successful pilot run of its plans.

In more news related to Hyperloop, Los-Angeles-based Virgin Hyperloop One on Sunday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Maharashtra government to build and develop the world's first operational hyperloop between Mumbai and Pune.

The route is also expected to connect the planned Navi Mumbai International Airport, which would make it easier for travelers to move around. The foundation stone for the project was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Magnetic Maharashtra Global Business Summit in Mumbai.
tech2 News Staff

Google is testing a new navigation bar for its Google Phone app also know as the dialer app. The Phone app is by default available on Google Nexus and Pixel phones that includes Nexus 6P and Pixel 2 devices.

According to a report on XDADevelopers the new feature brings the dialers in-app shortcuts to the bottom of the screen. The new 'bottom bar' UI comes with a new added option of Voicemail at the bottom bar.

The bar includes the shortcuts for speed dial, call history and contacts. The report also mentioned about a new feature that is hidden by default on the overflow menu of the app. It now adds a shortcut to the Android's home screen and reveals the new Google Phone interface when tapped.

The Google Phone app is a customised version of the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) dialer and comes with features like Google Duo video call integration, real-time spam protection, caller ID, call blocking, visual voicemail, and a local directory feature that shows top search results for phone numbers that arent in your contact list.

The feature is available on the v17 of the app and can be installed to a device by rooting your phone.

Google recently added the 'Floating Bubble' feature on the v17 of the app. The feature allows the users to go to the home screen while and makes the dealer a floating app that icon that can be placed anywhere on the display area. Tapping on the app, gets the option to go back to the phone screen, mute the microphone, put the call on speaker and the option to end the call.
IANS

India on 20 February test-fired its indigenous developed intermediate range ballistic missile Agni II from the Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast.

The trial of the surface-to-surface missile was conducted from Launch Complex-4 of Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Balasore district at about 8.38 am, said a Defence Ministry official.

The trial was conducted by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of the Indian Army as part of its user training exercise, he added.

Agni II missile has already been inducted into the Indian Army.

The two-stage missile equipped with advanced high accuracy navigation system, which is guided by a novel scheme of state-of-the-art command and control system was propelled by solid rocket propellant system.

It has a strike range of more than 2,000 km, is 20 metres long, weighs 17 tonnes and can carry a payload of 1,000 kg.
Reuters

Sixteen Japanese cryptocurrency exchanges will fix plans as early as next week to create a self-regulating body in a bid to better safeguard investors after a $530 million digital money heist last month, two source familiar with the plan said.

A plan to merge two separate industry bodies, the Japan Cryptocurrency Business Association and Japan Blockchain Association, had been dropped after talks stalled in favour of the new body to regulate exchanges registered with Japans Financial Services Association, the sources said.

The sources declined to be identified because they are not authorised to speak to the media. Officials at the Japan Cryptocurrency Business Association and the Japan Blockchain Association were unavailable for comment.

Hackers last month, stole about $530 million from Tokyo-based cryptocurrency exchange Coincheck Inc, exposing flaws in Japans system and raised questions over how Japan regulates the industry.
IANS

A robot created by a group of students engaged in a startup will welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the inaugural session of the "Investors Meet" here on Wednesday, an official said on Tuesday.

The Special Protection Group (SPG) has given clearance for the proposal mooted by the organisers of the mega event. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has already seen a presentation of the robot, an official said.

The robot will greet the Prime Minister and other dignitaries by saying "Athithi Devo Bhava" (guests are gods) and by gifting them a rose bud. The robot can speak English and Hindu and has been created by an engineer of Lucknow Milind Raj and his team. The robot identifies persons through their retina scan and can be used in emergencies such as fires, the makers informed.

It can be operated both manually and automatically. Prime Minister Modi will arrive at the Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport at Amausi in a special Indian Air Force (IAF) plane, after which his cavalcade will drive straight to the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in Gomtinagar where he will first view an exhibition and then address investors, industrialists, officials, ministers and other lawmakers.

He is later scheduled to have tea with select industrialists like Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani and others. Security has been beefed up in the state capital ahead of the Prime Minister's visit. More than two dozen envoys from over a dozen countries will also take part in the mega two-day event, which is aimed at attracting investment for the state.

President Ram Nath Kovind will be attending the valedictory session on Thursday. More than two dozen chartered flights are scheduled to land at the airport and over 100 luxury cars including a fleet of Mercedes cars have been booked by the state government for the VIP guests.

All hotels are chock-a-block with investors and Chief Minister Adityanath is hosting a dinner for some 155 top CEOs at his 5-Kalidas Marg official residence on Tuesday night. More than 900 MoUs have been signed between investors and the state government in various sectors like skill development, IT, food processing and agro-industries, among others, officials said.
tech2 News Staff

We are just days away from the start of MWC 2018 and Sony has dropped a teaser video which suggests that the company is looking to launch a new model at the event. At this point, it is unclear which model Sony will unveil, but we are sure that it will happen on 26 February, after Samsung and HMD Global have showcased their own new smartphones.

Sony, having launched its flagship device Xperia XZ1 back in September 2017, could be looking to launch its successors, the Xperia XZ2 or the XZ2 Compact. The brief, 23-second video, posted on Sony Xperia's official Twitter handle, showed a hand cupping some sort of grid of lines. It's very meta, we know, this could mean that this new device may, in fact, receive some sort of 3D touch technology similar to what is currently found in Apple devices.

A report by Express said that this year Sony plans to radically change the design language of the devices. Some leaked renders show the new Xperia device sporting a huge, bezel-less display. The back of the device also sees a dual-camera system, which has been aligned vertically. A shake-up in design could very well be the thing that could help Sony be a competitive smartphone manufacturer again after seeing declining sales in recent years.

Last year's Sony flagship, the XZ1, turned out to be a huge disappointment because it arrived with a dated design, disappointing camera and a buggy OS. You can read our review here. Let's hope that Sony learns from its mistakes and manages to launches a worthy competitor this year. We're counting on you, Sony! Don't let us down.
A report published in a reputed newspaper about China quietly holding talks with insurgents in Balochistan, hardly comes as a surprise.

A report published in a reputed newspaper about China quietly holding talks with insurgents in Balochistan, hardly comes as a surprise. Quoting the Financial Times, the Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported that Beijing has been in direct contact with militants to protect their investments in the province.

Chinese plans for Pakistan via the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor ( CPEC) hinge on its ability to freely maneuver in the province, which is the vital exit point for a project that bases itself on connectivity with the outside world.

A CPEC which winds its way into a Pakistan without Balochistan is quite simply something of a dead end. Pakistan is not a market or a resource-rich country. It simply lies in the path towards such regions.

Simply put, the original declared basis for CPEC, and indeed for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a whole, is to get Chinese goods and services out of the mainland and into other countries through a string of investments in ports, roads and railways, not to mention the power and other infrastructure needed to sustain each of these.

CPEC is a showboat for the project as a whole, and critical to that is the port of Gwadar, which is in Balochistan. While the ports of Sindh are also part of the project, they are firstly far too silted, overcrowded, and far too close to the Indian mainland. Gwadar on the other hand, lies on a naturally deep sea port, close to the strategic Strait of Hormuz, and has hardly any population to speak of in the surrounding areas.

A little further up the coast, are Pakistani Navy installations, providing an effective defense for the port. In addition, it would be assumed that a province forming more than 44 percent of Pakistans total land area, and yet having the lowest human development indicators in the country, would have put out the bunting for Chinese investors and celebrated their release from grinding poverty. Clearly, this is not the case. One of the worlds longest running insurgencies is in no mood to respond to the wiles of the Chinese, and there are good reasons why.

Some while ago, the deputy chief of mission at the Chinese embassy explained in a series of tweets that Chinese investment in Balochistan was far higher than the rest of the country and tabulated the various projects involved. This was in response to accusations from mainstream politicians, that Punjab had, as usual, hogged the largest slice of funds from the Chinese, leaving the others a mere pittance.

The data provided by the Chinese embassy seemed to prove that the Chinese had been more than attentive to the Baloch, with some 16 projects located in the province. However, a closer look indicates that barring one, all of these are to do with the exploitation of Gwadar port. While this may seem entirely justifiable on the face of it, the reality is that Gwadar as a business plan is not meant to employ Baloch people, other than as labour.

Sadly, Balochistan's education indices are paltry when compared to the rest of Pakistan. Few teachers, and fewer schools means that the Baloch are hardly likely to be employed at managerial-level jobs. Those are likely to go to the Sindhis and the Punjabis, with good education backgrounds, and well able to tie up with the bureaucracy for coveted posts.

The major managerial jobs will of course, be entirely with the Chinese. At present, some 300 Chinese are working at various levels, and live in their own township with shops, restaurants, and captive power generation. While Gwadar blazes with light, the rest of the town lies in darkness, plagued by power outages.

The contradictions are even more apparent in language of development in which these projects are couched. Few projects are actually meant to provide anything of the kind for local people. An examination of the data provided by the official CPEC portal indicates that a grand plan for a university will actually translate only in twinning an existing university with a Chinese one.

Moreover, even this is still a long-term project and yet to receive active consideration. Another plan for setting up downstream industries in Balochistan that could service the port is not even part of the CPEC plan yet. The province is, however, the proud recipient of Chinas only major grant for a social sector project: A planned $100 million for a hospital.

However, even here a Letter of Effort (LoE) has yet to be signed to allow the project to proceed on expected lines. Water desalination plants have also been promised, but will probably serve the port area, rather than the chronically water deficient towns and villages. In addition, there is nothing yet apparent that is meant to compensate the local population for displacement to make way for the massive enterprise.

One example are Gwadars fishermen who make up nearly 80 percent of the population, and who have lived here for decades. Indeed, the Mullah Band area is actually seen as the historical origin of the Gwadar area. As of now, it appears that some 100 families have been moved out to new locations, with promises of land, and amenities which never arrived.

Several thousand more are expected to be moved to alternate locations further east. This is likely to be strongly resisted, but to little avail, given that the project is backed by the might of the Pakistani State. Insurgents in Balochistan, therefore, are hardly likely to have difficulty in finding recruits. An indicator of this is the spread of the insurgency from the traditional inland and central areas of the province to the coastal Makran area.

Also apparent is the shift of insurgent leadership from the traditional sardars of the Marris, Mengals and the Bugti tribes, to the middle class who are likely to be the most affected by not only CPEC, but are also most aware of the realities of non-governance and repression into which their province has fallen. They are also overwhelmingly part of the several thousands of missing persons whos numbers seem to be growing by the day.

Even if the account of the International Voice of Baloch Missing Persons were to be disbelieved, there are accounts from others including the state department, the Pakistan Human Rights Commission and reports of the findings of the judicial commission set up to probe the finding of mass graves in Khuzdar.

Clearly, there has been a level of repression to an extent that is largely unknown outside Pakistan, or even outside the province. The Baloch are no strangers to repression, nor are they unused to resisting it. Both insurgency and repression are therefore likely to continue into the foreseeable future.

That is probably what the Chinese have concluded. Over the past few years, Chinese officials have been known to have set up their own information network for the province, without the knowledge or permission of the local police and the intelligence bureau. This probably initially translated into a protection racket, so that insurgents or those supporting them did not attack Chinese nationals in the area.

This cautionary tactic may have been set off by the attack on Chinese technicians in May 2004 which killed 3 and injured 9 in Gwadar. Thereafter, there have been attacks on Chinese nearly every year, but nowhere near the violence levels seen by the rest of the province. In December 2017, however, the Chinese embassy warned its nationals of impending attacks, and directed that security be increased. Clearly, the outreach to Baloch rebels has not entirely delivered on its objectives.

Large manufacturing and other firms do have a significant outreach into their surrounding areas. Keeping the local population reasonably happy is part of the responsibilities of top management. Keeping a quiet tab on their activities is also usually part of the security details responsibilities, so that trouble is quashed before it can rear up and destabilise the project.

However, firstly, this is usually in one's own country. Second, it is usually directed towards generally peaceful villages and local populations. A country that is willing to talk its way into a foreign area rife with insurgency is not simply asking for trouble, it is also in some ways making a dangerous ingress into the other countrys sovereignty.

It may be argued that Pakistan being already well under the Chinese heel, a little more hardly matters. But Islamabad must remember that Beijings outreach is not meant to benefit the Pakistanis. It is aimed at protecting and benefitting itself. Sometimes, these two objectives may be mutually contradictory. Thats when Pakistan may find itself in dangerous waters.
Apart from a handful of dissenting voices, most of the media in Canada have chosen to adopt a wait-and-watch approach to see what comes of Justin Trudeau's meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Canadian prime minister Justine Trudeau is in India. He has been here for three days and he will be here for four more. However, if you consider that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, other senior members of his government, and even the chief ministers of states on Trudeau's itinerary  Uttar Pradesh and Punjab  have all opted out of meeting the Canadian prime minister, you would think something rather amiss.

It appears that Trudeau's handling of the Khalistani issue and concerns in India that his government is soft on pro-Khalistani elements have meant most Indian political leaders have chosen to stay away from meeting the 46-year-old, who became Prime Minister of Canada in 2015.

A veteran Indian diplomat told Hindustan Times on condition of anonymity that in his long experience with bilateral visits, he had never experienced a trip of this nature, where the visiting dignitary spent so little time in official engagements with counterparts in the Indian government.

It was a sentiment shared by Canadian journalist Candice Malcolm, who pointed out the disparity in the manner in which the Indian government treats other Heads of State and the manner in which it greeted Trudeau.

On official state visits to India, PM Modi personally greets and welcomes the Israeli PM, UAE Crown Prince and US President. For PM Trudeau, he sends a low-ranking official. Canada is back pic.twitter.com/ezsMtFTPzr  Candice Malcolm (@CandiceMalcolm) February 17, 2018

The Ottawa-based advocacy group, Canadian Taxpayers Federation, told Hindustan Times that it wasn't impressed with the itinerary either. Its federal director, Aaron Wudrick, said in an e-mail, "While it is understood that a prime minister will have to travel frequently, the proportion of time being spent actually meeting foreign counterparts on this trip does not suggest a good use of public money. A week is a long time for a prime minister to spend visiting one country, and a half of a day out of eight is very little official business."

A a Canadian policy advisor, meanwhile, described the low-profile reception Trudeau has got thus far to The Times of India as having "about the same enthusiasm as (a) malarian mosquito".

Trudeau has four Sikh Cabinet ministers  Harjit Sajjan, Amarjeet Sohi, Navdeep Bains and Bardish Chagger  of whom Sohi recently said that he was neither for nor against the Khalistani movement. "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," said Sohi.

Reactions by Canadian media

However, apart from a handful of dissenting voices, most of the media in Canada have chosen to adopt a wait-and-watch approach. Trudeau is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the final leg of his eight-day tour in New Delhi, while Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh, after some initial confusion and reported back-channeling, on Monday tweeted:

Look forward to meeting Canadian Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau in Amritsar on Wednesday. Im hopeful that this meeting will help strengthen the close Indo-Canadian business ties as well as the deep-rooted people-to-people relations between our two countries.  Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) February 19, 2018

Huffpost Canada wrote that billboards and banners came up all along the roads of Ahmedabad, where Trudeau visited with his family on Monday, along with the slogan 'Long Live India-Canada Friendship'. "Trudeau  who visited the home of Mahatma Gandhi and a Buddhist shrine while in the city  is the first Canadian prime minister to visit Gujarat and some Indian reporters said they had never seen anything quite like the billboards erected for his arrival," the article wrote.

A report on CBC News chose to focus on the deals and Memorandums of Understanding the two countries are expected to sign and the importance of bilateral trade, especially with it currently being just around $8 billion annually.

"Trudeau has been asked to raise with the Indian government the recent set of import taxes applied by New Delhi on chickpeas and other pulse crops. A duty of 30 percent was applied to chickpeas and lentils just before Christmas and was raised to 40 percent on 6 February, with the Indian government citing falling international market prices for the crops, abundant production elsewhere and a negative impact on Indian producers and domestic Indian prices of cheap imports. A 50 percent import duty was applied to yellow peas in November," the report mentioned.

In case Trudeau's planned visits with Modi and Amarinder do go through, the visit may ultimately be seen in a positive light by the Canadian and global media. However, a failure could leave Trudeau with little other than a family vacation.
On Tuesday, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau engaged in a fireside chat with ICICI Bank managing director and CEO Chanda Kochhar in Mumbai.

On Tuesday, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau engaged in a fireside chat with ICICI Bank managing director and CEO Chanda Kochhar at the India-Canada Business Forum (co-organised by Indo-Canadian Business Chamber) in Mumbai. While the debate over the protocol surrounding government officials meeting Trudeau continued to rage, business delegates assembled in Mumbai eagerly awaited his talk.

Dressed in a light blue shirt with a red tie and folded sleeves, Trudeau seemed relaxed, despite the constant meetings with business leaders and entrepreneurs earlier in the day. Arriving around 15 minutes after the scheduled start of the interview, Trudeau insisted he had a very good reason for being late. After some gentle prodding from Kochhar, Trudeau revealed he'd spent the past few hours chatting with women entrepreneurs.

It was a very good learning session for me. They shared their stories about managing work and family life. We discussed the gender gap and payment parity. It is important to recognise that a lot remains to be done for equality, said Trudeau.

Even though Canada has a codified law on gender parity, Trudeau said there was much scope for improvement, especially when it came to the wage difference between men and women. Urging the assembled business leaders to hire more women in top positions in their organisations, Trudeau added, Its not just a nice thing to do, but actually a smart thing to do.

Trudeau on India - Canada partnership

Trudeau spoke of the similarities between India and Canada and the tremendous opportunities to collaborate on various fronts. Calling it a win-win, Trudeau said he wasnt just interested in business ties, but was more focussed on people-to-people relationships which ought to lead the way forward. He spoke highly of the Indian-Canadian diaspora and the fact that over 125,000 Indian students were studying in Canada. Kochhar touched upon the immense opportunities in the areas of infrastructure, saying Canadian companies had great scope to work with their Indian counterparts.

Earlier in the day, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, the chairperson of Biocon Limited, said both India and Canada have plenty of skill and talent. We have to build a technology corridor between India and Canada. The United States has created a good ecosystem with that. The risk appetite created in the United States needs to be re emulated in other countries. Risk sharing can be an interesting model and both India and Canada can look at bringing new innovative ideas to the market. We should be focusing on technology diplomacy, she added.

India-Canada trade is worth just $8 billion, a fraction of the $100 billion trade between India and the United States, Jaspal Bindra, executive chairman, Centrum, said. Acknowledging the scope for improvement, Trudeau said many of the Canadian delegation were in talks with interested parties. We want to make sure that people realise there is a tremendous unrealised potential between the two countries, said Trudeau.

The Canadian government has planned to invest in Innovation Superclusters to help Indian companies (as well as other global companies) network with the right kind of partners in Canada, so as to assist with areas which have immense potential for growth. These, according to Trudeau, would enable the creation of a multiplier effect on innovation and growth.

'Wanted to highlight India's extraordinary diversity'

Even before Trudeaus visit, it is safe to say that he is, in India, counted among the most popular world leaders. He has been engaging with the Indian-Canadian community at many forums and has even done the bhangra.

On this week-long visit, Trudeau has visited prominent Indian monuments such as the Taj Mahal in Agra, Akshardham Temple in Gandhinagar, the Mahatma Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad, and is expected to visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar. He also addressed students at the IIM Ahmedabad.

Trudeau reminisced about his first visit to India with his father, 35 years ago, and said it was a pleasure to see the Taj Mahal again, this time, through the eyes of his children.

Trudeau also lauded India's diversity. I wanted to highlight the extraordinary diversity in India to my kids. One of the things that I really wanted to show to my children is that you are able to go to a mandir, to the Golden Temple, to a mosque and then to a church on the same day. Its a pleasure to see such harmony. This highlights the diversity and pluralism of India, which isn't without its challenges, he added. India should be leading the way on diversity and living harmoniously.

'Proud to be signing trade agreements'

Speaking on trade agreements, Trudeau mentioned the importance of being open to international trade. Trudeau has been instrumental in signing trade agreements with the European Union, China, and has also announced that Canada would be working with 10 countries (excluding the US) at revising the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

At a time when the world is turning away from trade, we are proud to be signing trade agreements. We know that trade leads to growth. But these agreements have to impact the public and small traders operating in Canada positively. We ensure that they benefit from our international trade agreements, said Trudeau. He also touched upon the topic of immigration and how Canada is opening up. Openness to international talent is a positive advantage in the world trade, he added.

While acknowledging the potential threat in the form of artificial intelligence taking over jobs and the global supply chain, Trudeau stated that there is no point fighting future trends. We are investing heavily in artificial intelligence, automation, self-driving cars, healthcare and so on. We want more young people taking advantage of our universities. We've decided that we want to be a part of the future and I see a similar philosophy being practiced here in India which is quite exciting, he said.

Trudeau will be addressing a similar business forum in New Delhi on Wednesday, but is expected to deliver a more formal address to the political leadership. He ended the chat on a curious note: Stressing the importance of curiousity.

I was fortunate enough to have a teacher who inculcated the importance of curiosity. I am curious to learn what leads to business success, what leads to personal success. I have a lot of questions about India that I am hoping to get answered during the remainder of my stay. I am also looking forward to how India can be a better partner of Canada and vice versa, Trudeau said.
The Maldives' Parliament extended the state of emergency by another 30 days, approving President Abdulla Yameen's recommendation, bolstering his grip on power in the troubled Indian Ocean island nation

Colombo/Male: The Maldives' Parliament on Tuesday extended the state of emergency by another 30 days, approving President Abdulla Yameen's recommendation, bolstering his grip on power in the troubled Indian Ocean island nation.

President Yameen declared an emergency on 5 February after the Supreme Court ordered the release of a group of Opposition leaders, who had been convicted in widely criticised trials. Among them was exiled ex-President Mohamed Nasheed. The court said his 2015 trial had been unconstitutional.

Only 38 MPs were present for the vote, which took place hours before the state of emergency was due to expire, despite 43 lawmakers being needed for the vote to take place as required by the Constitution, Maldives Independent news website reported.

All 38 were from the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives and they all approved the extension, it said.

The opposition boycotted the vote.

The state of emergency will now end on 22 March.

Parliament Speaker Abdulla Maseeh quoted parliamentary regulations which do not include state of emergency declarations among the votes where a constitutionally required quorum is needed.

"There is no other law that requires compliance by citizens to the extent a state of emergency requires compliance. We are asking citizens, we are compelling them to let the state suspend and restrict their fundamental rights for more than a month. There is no other violation of the constitution that shines on this clearly," said opposition MP Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Eva Abdulla, another opposition lawmaker, accused the speaker of bypassing the Constitution and said the state of emergency was illegal.

Shahindha Ismail, executive director of the Maldives Democracy Network, said the ruling party has effectively and completely removed all democratic and lawful systems of governance in this country.

The controversial vote took place at the second extraordinary session in as many days.

Under the emergency law, Yameen had two Supreme Court judges arrested, accusing them of corruption. Later, the remaining three judges annulled the order to release Yameen's opponents.

There has been an international condemnation of the government's moves, with the US and India expressing concern.

Meanwhile, India on Tuesday said it expects tha the in Maldives there will by no extension of emergency upon its expiry, asserting that it was important that the island nation quickly returns to the path of democracy and the rule of law.

"It is our expectation that the government of Maldives will not be seeking extension of the State of Emergency so that the political process in Maldives can resume with immediate effect," the external affairs ministry said in a statement in New Delhi.

In another development, the Maldivian government on Tuesday assured the European Union (EU) it will uphold the rule of law in the country.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamed Asim met with EU Ambassador to Maldives Tung-Lai Margue to discuss the Maldivian political situation, according to a media report.

The minister said that upholding the rule of law was the Maldivian governments biggest priority.

The declaration of emergency in Maldives has been criticised by the EU. It has appealed to the Maldivian government to ensure freedom of speech is protected, and ensure the police and military conduct their operations with minimum impact to the public.
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Xiaomi launched the Redmi Note 5 smartphone in India last week. As expected, it is the same Redmi 5 Plus that was introduced in China back in December last year, which is not a huge upgrade except for the full-screen display, camera and the selfie flash. It is definitely worth the price, but should you get it? Let us jump into the review to find out.

Unboxing

We recently unboxed the smartphone, check out the video below.

Box contents

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 in Black color

2-pin charger (5V-2A)

Micro USB cable

SIM ejector tool

Clear protective case

User guide

Video Review

Display, Hardware and Design

The main change in the Redmi Note 5 compared to the Note 4 is its 18:9 2.5D curved glass screen with gentle rounded corners. It has a large 5.99-inch Full HD+ display with a pixel resolution of 2160  1080 pixels and a pixel density of about 403 PPI. The display is bright, thanks to 450 nits brightness and has 1000:1 contrast ratio. Sunlight legibility is good, since it has a Sunlight display that uses hardware-level technology to adjust the contrast of each pixel in real time, so images are less affected by glare. It has 84% of NTSC color gamut, compared to 72% in the predecessor. It also has Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection.

Since this has a 18:9 aspect ratio screen, you can pinch to zoom to fill the screen when you use apps like YouTube, but the content is cropped. Several apps support full-screen, but JioTV or Airtel Live TV apps dont support full-screen, so you get weird black bars.

Under the display options there are different options to adjust colors and contrast based on your preference. There is also reading mode that lets you reduce the displays blue light emission so it doesnt cause eye strain when you are reading at night.

Above the display there is an earpiece along with the usual set of proximity and ambient light sensors next to it. It also has a gyroscope and a magnetic sensor, otherwise known as a magnetometer. There is also a 5-megapixel camera on the front with f/2.0 aperture along with selfie flash. There is also a notification LED next to the camera that glows in white color.

Even though there is a small bezel below the display, it uses on-screen buttons.

Coming to the button placements and slots, the power button and the volume rockers are present on the rights side, hybrid SIM slot is present on the left side, 3.5mm audio jack, secondary microphone and Infrared sensor are present on the top, while the primary microphone, micro USB port and loudspeaker grill are present on the bottom. The phone is 8.05mm thick compared to 8.45mm thick Redmi Note 4. It is also just 75.45mm wide compared to 76mm width on the Redmi Note 4, but it is 158.5mm tall since it has a large 18:9 screen.

Same as the Redmi Note 3 and the Note 4, the Note 5 comes with the same hybrid SIM slot, even though the company has moved to dedicated slots in the Redmi 5A and the Redmi Y1 series. This accepts two SIMs or a SIM and a microSD card (up to 128GB).

On the back there is a 12-megapixel rear camera with dual-tone LED flash and a fingerprint sensor below it. Even though the phone is slightly slimmer compared to the predecessor, this has a slight camera bump, but the camera lens doesnt get scratched when you place it on a flat surface since it has some kind of scratch-resistant glass.

Even though the phone has a large screen, it is compact to hold. It has a screen-to-body ratio of about 77%, slightly more than Redmi Note s 73% screen-to-body ratio. Similar to the predecessor, it has a metallic finish in the middle, while the top and bottom parts of the back have plastic finish where the antennas are present. It packs a 4000mAh built-in battery. At the launch the company said that similar to the Mi A1, Redmi 5A and other latest smartphone, this has dual pyrolytic graphite sheets that will help to diffuse and radiate heat quickly. Overall the build quality of the smartphone is good, even though the back has a similar design.

Xiaomi also bundles a clear case with the phone, so that you dont have to worry about looking for one. This is definitely a welcome move.

Camera

The Redmi Note 5 has a 12-megapixel rear camera with 5-element lens, f/2.2 aperture and large 1.25m pixel size, compared to 1.12m pixel size on the Redmi Note 4. It also comes with dual-tone LED flash. It has a 5-megapixel front-facing camera with f/2.0 aperture and selfie flash.

The camera UI is familiar with other Xiaomi smartphones with flash and HDR toggles on the top, front camera toggle on the bottom along with option to select modes (Panorama, Timer (3 to 10 seconds), Audio trigger, manual mode to adjust white balance and ISO (100 to 3200), Straighten, Beautify, HHT (Hand held twilight), Scene and Tilt-shift to blur a part of an image. It has image preview window, camera and video buttons on the right side. For the front camera, it has beautify mode, pro mode and smart mode that guesses your age using facing recognition algorithm.

Coming to the image quality, daylight shots are good in bright conditions, but some images are a bit dull. HDR shots are better, and macro shots are good as well. Since the sensor has 1.25m pixel size, low-light shots are decent, but there is still noise. Images with flash are good and the flash is not overpowering. Daylight front camera shots are good, but in low-light there is a lot of noise in the image even when LED flash is on. Overall the phone has a decent camera for the price, and is an improvement compared to the Redmi Note 4.

Check out some camera samples below (Click the image to view the full resolution sample.)

It can record videos at 4k resolution at 30 fps. Video quality is good and the audio is crisp, thanks to the secondary microphone. It has time-lapse as well as slow-motion video recording. The front camera can record 1080p videos at 30fps. It doesnt have any kind of stabilization, which you cant expect in the price range. Check out the video samples below.

Check out more Redmi Note 5 camera samples here.

Software, UI and Apps

It runs Android 7.1.2 (Nougat) out of the box with MIUI on top with Android security update for December 5, 2017. It will likely get the Android Oreo update, but no details about the time-frame yet.

MIUI 9 adds a lot of features including improved notifications, split screen, improved apps like Mi Drop to transfer of files between any Android device without requiring an internet connection. It also has new App Vault feature that shows shortcuts to access apps quickly by when you swipe left in the homescreen. You can add up to 8 shortcuts. There is also App lock that lets you protect your apps with a password and the dual apps feature lets you run app like WhatsApp with two different accounts at the same time.

Out of 4GB RAM, you get 3.59GB of usable RAM, and 2.1GB of RAM is free when default apps are running in the background. Out of 64GB, you get 54.8GB of free storage since OS and apps take about 8GB of space. The built-in Cleaner inside the storage lets free up space by clearing cache and obsolete files.

Apart from the usual set of utility apps, Google apps and Xiaomis own set of apps, it comes pre-loaded with Amazon Shopping, WPS Office and Hungama apps. You can easily uninstall these apps.

Since the phone has an infrared sensor for remote function, it comes with Mi Remote that lets you control your home appliances easily. It worked flawlessly with Airtel Set-top box, Samsung TV and Panasonic AC. It also supports A/V receiver, DVD Player, Projector, Camera and more.

Fingerprint Sensor

The phone has a fingerprint sensor on the back. It immediately unlocks phone just by keeping your finger on the home button so that you dont have to press it. You can add up to 5 fingerprints.

Music Player and FM Radio

The Mi Music Player is the default music player. There is also equalizer. It also has FM Radio with recording. Audio through the speaker is good. Since the speaker is present on the bottom, audio doesnt get muffled when the phone is on a flat surface. Audio through earphones is good as well.

Dual SIM and Connectivity

It has the usual set of connectivity features such as Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 + 5GHz), Bluetooth 4.2, GPS + GLONASS. It also has USB OTG support that lets you connect external drives. It has 4G connectivity and also has Voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) support for Reliance Jio, but it doesnt support Airtel or Vodafone VoLTE yet.

Both the SIMs support 4G, but you can enable 4G only in one SIM at a time, while the other goes to 3G. You can set preferred SIM for a voice call, text and data from the SIM card manager. It also has LTE band 1 (2100MHz) for Vodafone 4G in some circles, unlike the Redmi Note 4 and few other phones that lack it.

Calling and Messaging

The dialer and messaging UI are similar to other Xiaomi smartphones running MIUI 9. Since this is a dual SIM phone, you get the option to select either SIMs when calling or sending a text message. There are no call drops and the earpiece volume is good.

Performance and Benchmarks

Coming to the performance, the phone is powered by an Octa-Core Snapdragon 625 Mobile Platform with eight ARM Cortex A53 cores clocked at 2.02GHz per core and has 3GB or 4GB of RAM depending on the model, same as the predecessor. The performance is good without any lags, but the company could be gone with a faster Snapdragon 630 SoC. It gets a bit heated on intensive gaming and 4G data use, but it doesnt too hot to handle. It also has a Adreno 506 GPU that offers good gaming performance. That said, check out some synthetic benchmark scores below.

It scored 62620 points in AnTuTu Benchmark 6 and grabbed the fifth spot.

It scored 877 points in the Geekbench 4 Single-Core benchmark and grabbed the fifth spot again.

It scored 4345 points in Geekbench 4 Multi-Core benchmark and grabbed the second spot.

It scored 13810 points in the 3D Mark Ice Storm Unlimited GPU benchmark and grabbed the third spot.

Battery life

Coming to the battery life, the 4000mAh (typical) / 3900mAh (minimum) built-in battery, is a bit smaller compared to the 4100mAh battery on the Redmi Note 4, but the battery life is good. It lasts for a whole day even with heavy use and with average use it lasts for two days, thanks to optimization in the MIUI 9.

Sadly, the phone doesnt have fast charging so it takes about 2 hours to charge it from 0 to 100%, but 0 to 50% takes just 41 minutes. If you connect a Quick Charge 3.0 charger, it shows it is quick charging, but it takes the same time.

It achieved One Charge Rating of 18 hours and 23 minutes, which is pretty good for the phone with a 4000mAh battery. This is better compared to the Redmi Note 4 that scored 17 hours and 16 minutes One Charge Rating. We will bring you the complete set of battery life test results soon.

Conclusion

At a starting price of Rs. 9999, the Redmi Note 5 is definitely a value-for-money smartphone from Xiaomi. Even though this is not a major upgrade from last years Redmi Note 4 since this retains the same SoC and design, this has a large 18:9 display, slightly better camera and retains the same solid build quality, and offers good battery life as well. If you are tight on the budget, the Redmi Note 5 is a good choice, and for those who need a better camera and performance, the Redmi Note 5 Pro at a slightly higher price tag of Rs. 13,999 should be the choice.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 goes on sale every week exclusively on Flipkart as well as Mi.com starting from February 22nd at Rs. 9999 for the 3GB RAM with 32GB storage version and Rs. 11,999 for the 4GB RAM with 64GB storage version. It will soon be available from offline stores.It also comes with Rs. 2200 cashback offer and 100% additional 4G data for Reliance Jio customers. To summarize, here are the pros and cons of the smartphone.

Pros

18:9 Full screen display is good

Good build quality

Good battery life

Decent camera

Cons

Same old design

Hybrid Dual SIM might not be preferred by everyone

Images by Siraj
Vodafone today announced the commencement of trials of the worlds first air traffic control drone tracking and safety technology. It uses the 4G IoT technology to protect aircraft from any unexpected accidents as well as prevent any unintentional or criminal drone incursions at sensitive locations such as airports, prisons, and hospitals.

The company says that the regular drones are too small to be tracked by conventional radar and also present a serious risk to pilots worldwide, particularly in the immediate vicinity of airfields and airports. Since the usage of drone in criminal activities is a possibility, additional security and intelligence services are increasingly concerned about the wrong usage of them.

With this thought in mind, Vodafone has developed the worlds first Radio Positioning System (RPS) for drones. It combined with Artificial Intelligence algorithms which are also developed by Vodafone enables very large numbers of drones to be tracked and controlled remotely. The company claims that it has kept the RPS research and associated intellectual property in the public domain with no licensing fees for re-use in order to accelerate the pace of drone safety and geolocation innovation worldwide.

The Vodafone IoT drone tracking and safety technology trials support the objectives of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), with whom Vodafone has collaborated. EASA currently is said to developing new pan-European rules to regulate the operation of drones.

The Vodafones RPS technology uses a 4G modem and SIM embedded within each drone to enable real-time tracking of each drone within 50 meters, control by the operator to reduce the risk of accidental incursions, protective geofencing, emergency remote control intervention, SIM-based e-identification and owner registration. The 4G mobile networks offer strong end-to-end encryption over-the-air from SIM to the base station.

The company is aiming to make the drone tracking and safety technology available for commercial use from 2019.
Qualcomm today announced that it has reached an agreement with NXP Semiconductors NV to raise its bid to $127.50 per share from $110 and has lowered minimum tender threshold to 70% of outstanding shares instead of the 80% it required under the earlier terms.

Qualcomm said that it has reached a binding agreement with nine NXP Stockholders who currently collectively own more than 28% of outstanding shares which excludes additional economic interests through derivatives. The latest offer values NXP at $44 billion. The revised price reflects NXPs recent performance which includes the 2017 results which exceeded Qualcomms transaction model on revenue, gross margin and EBIT and GAAP operating income also increased 20% from calendar 2016 to 2017.

The NXP auto business has increased revenues by 11% YoY on the other hand, Qualcomm has also significantly improved its own capabilities in key industry segments such as Auto, IoT, and Networking. NXPs shares were up 6.5% at $126.15 in premarket trading. The acquisition will help Qualcomm in the fast-growing auto-mobiles chipset market.

NXP has time till March 5th, 2018 and Qualcomm intend to fund the additional consideration with cash on hand and new debt. Qualcomms acquisition of NXP has received antitrust clearance from eight of the nine required government regulatory bodies around the world while it remains contingent on clearance from the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) in China.

Steve Mollenkopf, Chief Executive Officer of Qualcomm Incorporated, said:

Qualcomms leading SoC capabilities and technology roadmap, coupled with NXPs differentiated position in Automotive, Security, and IoT, offers a compelling value proposition. We remain highly confident in our fiscal 2019 Non-GAAP EPS target of $6.75-$7.50, which includes $1.50 per share accretion from the acquisition of NXP. With only one regulatory approval remaining, we are working hard to complete this transaction expeditiously. Our integration planning is on track and we expect to realize the full benefits of this transaction for our customers, employees, and stockholders.

Source
Last month Google announced that it is merging Android Pay and Google Wallet into a single brand  Google Pay, making it an unified payment solution. Today the company has renamed the Android Pay app to Google Pay. The company said that it is currently working on bringing Google Pay to all Google products so that user will have a consistent checkout experience using the cards saved to their Google Account.

As announced earlier, Google is also working with partners online and in stores, so Google Pay will replace Android Pay on sites, in apps, and other places around the world.

It still has all the existing features such as banks perks and protections. Google also said that it has an extra layer of security, since Google Pay doesnt share your actual card number when you pay in stores.

It will get more features soon, and in the next few months, U.S. and UK users will be able to use Google Pay to send and request money. Google Wallet app is now called Google Pay Send, and has been redesigned to match the new Google Pay brand. This will likely be a temporary name until it merges it into the core Google Pay app.

Google already said that these experiences will be coming to Tez users in India soon, but it has not revealed any details regarding it yet.

Source
After a sex tape involving Blac Chyna leaked on the internet Monday, the reality star plans to go to the cops.

Chynas attorney Walter Mosley told TMZ the tapes release is a criminal matter and that theyll be contacting police to investigate. The identity of the male in the video is unknown.

Mosley also made a statement on Instagram.

Why do we think its acceptable to sell, or publish, or seek revenge, or blackmail women in this way and without their consent? Its not. Men  we have to do better, he captioned a photo of himself with Chyna. Im tired of telling my clients to not make videos because the men will put them out later. Its like Im telling them not to wear short skirts because youre going to entice a man to rape you. #smh And like most rapes, these betrayals often come from those most close to us.

The post continued, We need to stop sharing these videos with each other in the club, at the barbershop or (and especially) online. It is a morally corrupt action, which is (at least in California) criminal. Maybe it is time to set an example. #blacchyna

This isnt the first time sexually explicit imagery of Chyna, 29, has been released. Chynas ex-fiance Rob Kardashian posted revenge porn of her over the summer. As a result, she hired attorney Lisa Bloom to represent her while seeking a restraining order against Kardashian.

Its unclear whos behind this new leak, but Bloom told Page Six on Monday that this type of cyberbullying is still illegal.

Revenge porn  posting explicit images without the consent of everyone in those images  is a crime, a civil wrong and a form of domestic abuse, she said. Its also a cruel attempt to slut-shame women for being sexual.

Bloom later tweeted, Girls have killed themselves over revenge porn. Its not a joke.

This article originally appeared in Page Six.
Chelsea Handler is undoubtedly one of the most outspoken celebrities in Hollywood. Her silver-tongued social media posts draw a lot of attention to the comedian but they also usher in a slew of controversy. Here are some of the most outrageous, cringe-worthy moments of the former Netflix talk show host.



Chelsea jokes about Oprah sending Trump to jail

Depsite Oprah Winfrey promising she has no plans to run for POTUS, Chelsea Handler sent out an inflammatory tweet about the possiblity of an Oprah administration.

Handler tweeted on Feb. 20, "I hope Oprah shows up at White House the day Donald is impeached and reads him and his administration their jail sentences. You get 25 years in jail, and you get 25 years in jail, and you get 25 years in jail everyone gets 25 years in jail!"

Chelsea slams Trump after deadly shooting

Following a deadly shooting at Florida high school, Handler was quick to politicize the tragedy with a tweet about President Trump, calling him "mentally disturbed."

After Trump tweeted that there were "so many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed," Handler replied, "We will always have mentally disturbed people, especially now that one sits in the Oval Office. Better not to have guns for them to use, since you are also cutting funds for the mentally disabled. Do something decent while you are in office. Anything."

She also took to Twitter to capitalize on the tragic incident and blamed Republicans, saying that they now have blood on their hands.

Handler posted a tweet about midterm elections, urging voters to elect candidates that are not funded by the NRA and who wont allow kids to go to school and get shot.

Handler tweets homophobic remark about Lindsey Graham

Most recently, Handler ruffled feathers in January when she posted a tweet questioning Lindsey Grahams sexuality. Handler wrote, Holy, f--- f---. I just [saw] the video of trumps bipartisan meeting yesterday. Hey, @LindseyGrahamSC what kind of d--k sucking video do they have on you for you 2 be acting like this? Wouldnt coming out be more honorable?

Immediately, the social media universe pushed back on Handlers crude comments.

One Twitter user replied, Keep being a voice for the Democrats while you use homosexuality as an insult. Another chimed in, So being gay is an insult now? Well done Chelsea Handler. At least you removed all doubt.

Despite the onslaught of criticism, Handler never deleted the mean-spirited tweet, which as of now has over 5,500 retweets.

The TV personality calls Sarah Sanders a trollop

During the episode Dinner Party: Scandalous of her since-cancelled Netflix talk show, Handler went off on a tirade about White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders.

That Harlot that theyre dressing up and trolloping out every day? I mean, one day she has no makeup on at all, the next she has 6-foot long eyelashes, shes got cleavage and summer whore lipstick all over her face. Can you believe what they turned her into? A proper trollop, Handler snidely said on Dec. 5, 2017.

Viewers who did not take kindly to Handlers remarks voiced their dismay on social media. One person wrote, Showing your true colors of lifting up women. Huckabee-Sanders is more of a lady than you can ever fathom being.

Handler sends a message to white people on MLK Day

The former E! host voiced a strange message on MLK Day, Happy Martin Luther King day to a true hero. This day means more today than it ever has. We all must honor the spirit of his fairness and equality and tireless search for justice. It is up to white people to honor Dr King, and to think about what it must be like to not be white.

Then the 42-year-old followed up retweeting a meme featuring a cartoon image of Martin Luther King Jr. covering President Trumps mouth. Handler wrote the caption for the picture, Yeah, seriously. Dont speak today.

Handler blames POTUS for California wildfires

In the wake of tragedy, Handler told the world via Twitter that President Trump was responsible for the wave of wildfires in California a couple of months back. Just evacuated my house. Its like Donald Trump is setting the world on fire. Literally and figuratively. Stay safe everyone. Dark times, Handler wrote on Dec. 6, 2017.

Within moments, she received enormous backlash, with one person saying, 1st thought: These fires are absolutely tragic. God bless all. 2nd thought: Wow. If Chelsea Handler is tweeting about her hatred of @POTUS during this critical time, shes sicker than I thought. Sad.

Chelsea host blames Republicans for Texas church shooting

On the heels of the deadly mass shooting in Texas in November, Handler expressed her feelings on Twitter only moments after the heart-wrenching news broke. She penned, Innocent people go to church on Sunday to honor their God, and while doing so, get shot in killed. What country? America. Why? Republicans.

A flood of responses came in. A man responded, The bodies arent even cold yet and you are politicizing them. You really have a dark heart. #NastyWoman While another simply said, You are a terrible woman.

Comic calls for military coup

Handler caused social media chaos during the summer of 2017 with her post calling for military generals to take POTUS out of office.

To all the generals surrounding our idiot-in-chief...the longer U wait to remove him, the longer UR name will appear negatively in history, she wrote on Aug. 17.

Twitter users warned Handler that her request was a dangerous one.

So you are openly calling for a military coup? You are a dangerous thinker and hope no fans follow your thinking.

Another said, "Man, Chelsea. Do you think before you tweet? You really want the military to overthrow the President? Think about that for a moment."

Handler slams the first lady

The opioid crisis in the United States is a harrowing issue, but the comedian decided to make light of it at first lady Melania Trumps expense. She wrote on Twitter in September, Melania to host a discussion on opioid abuse. She says unless you have to have sex with Donald Trump, you have no excuse to be on drugs.

Many people did not find humor in her off-color joke. A social media user wrote, Opiods are killing people and decimating towns in record numbers. Not funny. While another simply called Handler, tacky.

Handler vs. Donald Trump Jr.

Donald Trump Jr. defended his brother, Eric, and his sister-in-law, Lara, after they announced they were expecting a baby boy. Handler wrote a snide post which read, "I guess one of @realDonaldTrump's sons is expecting a new baby. Just what we need. Another person with those jeans [sic]. Let's hope for a girl." Trump Jr. called out Handler for her grammatical error, "Genes #ItIsaBoy.

Comedian suggested dictator replace US president

Its no secret that Handler is no fan of President Trump but perhaps suggesting we trade in dictator Kim Jong Un to run the United States is a step too far.

In September 2017 she wrote, Uhhhh. Kim Jung's letter to @realDonaldTrump is a little bit more sane than @realDonaldTrump. Maybe we trade?

Handler goes off on white female Trump voters

In an essay for Thrive Global in December 2016, Handler singled out white female voters who backed President Trump. One of the saddest things about November 8," she wrote, "were the women of America who somehow managed to vote for Donald Trump, specifically the 53 percent of all white female voters who chose Mr. Trump.

She added, America "is a free country, and we are free to differ on public policy" but "what kind of a woman votes for a white, entitled rich guy who has spent his entire life working the system for excess personal profit while insatiably groping strange women for personal pleasure?

Chelsea calls President Trump a loser

Handler kept up her pattern of publicly dissing the commander in chief. In April, while attending a Young Literati Toast, she took the opportunity to lash out saying, I think the way we have come together is so inspiring. I would have hoped that would have happened before the election, but Ill f---ing take it because its so much better to be friends with people you would never talk to before just because we all know that Donald Trump is a f---ing loser.

Handler goes topless to mock Putin

The blonde comedian recreated a famous snap of Russian President Vladimir Putin riding horseback shirtless in October 2014. Handler kept the authenticity of the photo leaving her shirt off, but when she posted it on Instagram it was swiftly removed as it broke the social media apps guidelines.

She shot back a response, If Instagram takes this down again, you're saying Vladimir Putin has more 1st amendment rights than me. Talk to your bosses."

It was removed for a second time, leading Handler to say she was exiting Instagram and opting for Twitter instead. However, Handler did not keep her promise remaining on Instagram to this day.
George and Amal Clooney announced on Tuesday a $500,000 donation to the March for Our Lives demonstration organized by the Florida school shooting survivors expected to take place next month.

The couple made the donation in the name of their 8-month-old twins, Ella and Alexander, and added their family will be attending the March for Our Lives on March 24.

"Amal and I are so inspired by the courage and eloquence of these young men and women from Stoneman Douglas High School," George Clooney said in a statement, according to Reuters. Our family will be there on March 24 to stand side by side with this incredible generation of young people from all over the country, and in the name of our children Ella and Alexander, were donating $500,000 to help pay for this groundbreaking event.

Our childrens lives depend on it.

Five students who survived the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., announced on their plans to push for better gun control.

The March For Our Lives is going to be in every major city and we are organizing it so students everywhere can beg for our lives. Because at the end of the day, this isnt about the red and blue, the GOP and the Democrats, this is about adults and kids, Cameron Kasky, a junior at the high school, told Fox News Sunday.

Both the event and the Clooney family's pledge caught the attention of Oprah Winfrey as well, who tweeted that she plans to match their donation.

"George and Amal, I couldn't agree with you more. I am joining forces with you and will match your $500,000 donation to 'March For Our Lives.' These inspiring young people remind me of the Freedom Riders of the 60s who also said we've had ENOUGH and our voices will be heard," she tweeted Tuesday.

PARKLAND SHOOTING VICTIMS INCLUDE YOUNG STUDENTS, COACH WHO SAVED OTHERS IN FLORIDA HIGH SCHOOL

The march is a collaboration with the nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety. Its also one of the several rallies being held in an effort to end gun violence and mass shootings.

George and Amal Clooney have previously made major donations to other causes. The actor and the lawyer previously donated $1 million in August after the deadly rally in Charlottesville, Va. They made the donation to the Southern Poverty Law Center.
At age 90, Gina Lollobrigida has finally earned a star on Hollywoods Walk of Fame  nearly seven decades after the Italian actress achieved international stardom as a sought-after sex symbol in the 50s and 60s.

THROWBACK TIME: CELEBRITY FLASHBACK PHOTOS

But Lollobrigida may have been too busy to notice something was missing from her career. The screen siren didnt just tantalize audiences in films opposite iconic leading men, such as Humphrey Bogart, Frank Sinatra, Errol Flynn and Anthony Quinn. Shes also been traveling the world and pursuing her first love: sculpture.

Fox News spoke with Lollobrigida about her journey to Hollywood, impressing past Cuban dictator Fidel Castro and why she refuses to slow down anytime soon.

Fox News: How do you feel about getting a star on the Walk of Fame?

Gina Lollobrigida: I didnt expect it after so many years. Its beautiful and very nice that people still remember me. Its a big honor for me.

Fox News: Did you ever believe Americans would continue to celebrate your work after all of this time?

Lollobrigida: Not at all! I didnt expect it obviously, but Im very grateful. American fans are very faithful even though I have so much popularity all over the world because of my movies.

Fox News: You were called the most beautiful woman in the world in Hollywood. How did you feel about the title?

Lollobrigida: I was photogenic, probably (laughs). They always said I was the most beautiful woman in the world. But I also think every woman who is loved is just as beautiful. But I stopped movies after a while.

Ive always had a big desire to make art. I pursued photography, which gave me a lot of joy to know people and the world. I met people who lived on the streets and had nothing. It fascinated me to see a new side to life and photography was really a good experience for me. I then wanted to try sculpture. And this is what I hope the American public will learn about me as soon as possible. Because my desire really is art This is how you will know me completely.

Fox New: How would you describe your journey to Hollywood?

Lollobrigida: When I came to America for the first time, I did my first movie here with Frank Sinatra at MGM. They treated me like a queen. It was very nice. Usually when you start a career, people can be very severe. But here, I was welcomed like royalty. They were happy to fulfill every desire just to satisfy me. I had a very good experience I was spoiled. But my first American film was with Humphrey Bogart. I was in very good company  Jennifer Jones, John Huston directing.

I remember Humphrey said, Dont study so much English! If you lose your accent, it will be a pity. The one person who didnt love me was David O. Selznick. He was married to Jennifer at the time and was worried about me getting all the attention. He even asked me not to be in the movie. But I told him, Sorry, I have my contract. You cant throw me out. And I did the movie despite of him I always go on with life. I dont care about its difficulties. I just love life and no one was able to stop me and what I wanted to do.

Fox News: Humphrey Bogart once said you made Marilyn Monroe look like Shirley Temple.

Lollobrigida: It was flattering (laughs). But I met Marilyn and we became good friends in Hollywood. She was so modest and sweet as a person. But she was not so strong, like I was. I had a very strong character. But poor Marilyn  she tried to have a decent life. Its not easy when youre so popular Being popular can bring satisfaction, but at the same time, too much popularity can bring jealousy, especially from men.

Fox News: As a photojournalist, you had the opportunity to interview Fidel Castro later in your career. What was he like?

Lollobrigida: He was very nice. He was a great admirer of mine. I gave the interview to Time. Unfortunately, the journalist for Time spent five months in Cuba and they couldnt even photograph not even the shadow of Fidel Castro. I was just there for 12 days and he showed me Cuba.

I also met his brother and he joked, Now that Gina is here, you show up! And he invited my son to visit so he can learn Spanish I didnt interview him politically. I didnt care about the politics. I wanted to understand the man behind the figure who was always on the first pages of newspapers I also spent a lot of time traveling. I wanted to experience the world and its people I was especially in love with Mother Teresa. The country where I left my heart was India. I like the people there. And when you know India, you know all of the world.

Fox News: Its been said you refused Howard Hughes marriage proposal because he was too rich.

Lollobrigida: Yes, and it was he who brought me to America. But I dont care about money. I care about my work and the ability to express myself. He wanted to marry me and he didnt stop courting me for 12 years. He was the most persistent! He was a man who wanted me very badly. I think he was in love with me because I was different from the other stars. They just thought about careers and money (laughs).

Fox News: What do you remember the most about your friend, opera star Maria Callas?

Lollobrigida: Oh, the poor woman. She was in love with Onassis. So much. And she was so disappointed when Onassis went away not because he was really in love with Jacqueline Kennedy, but because he made a bet with another rich Greek friend. That was the reason, believe it or not. Terrible.

So she suffered a lot. But she never complained. She was really a lady. She will obviously be remembered for her incredible voice. And when I sang in one movie, she couldnt believe that was my voice. She said, Gina, is that really your voice? That cant be, its too much! (laughs).

Fox News: What has been the secret behind your lasting success?

Lollobrigida: In the beginning, I didnt want to do movies. But, this was after the war and we lost everything. So to help my family was a good thing. I was stopped on the street after attending the school of art. They offered me 1,000 lire a day. Thats about one dollar or something like that today. But at the time, it was big money. So I started acting this way and after I met Vittorio De Sica then obviously I understood cinema was an art, a beautiful art, with a lot of advantages.

After a little time, I was well known all over the world. This was a big surprise for me. I continued working and did Italian, French and English films. And in all my films I dubbed so that they would have my voice all the time. So if I did an Italian film, I would dub it in English and French too Ive been really working my entire life. Im still working. I guess that is the secret. Keep your brain active Because life is precious. And even now where there arent so many good situations in the world, I just feel that as long as I work, Im alive.
Just weeks after Kate Upton accused GUESS co-founder Paul Marciano of sexual misconduct, the company has announced that hes relinquishing his daily operations at the company until the completion of an internal investigation.

I have pledged my full cooperation to the Company, and I have the utmost confidence in our CEO, Victor Herrero, to continue leading the Company during this time, Marciano told CNBC in a statement.

In a separate statement, the company told the outlet that it takes the allegations by the 25-year-old model very seriously and has formed a special committee to investigate her claims and will reassess Marcianos future at the company once that investigation is complete. Marciano, meanwhile, continues to deny the allegations against him.

Its worth noting that Marciano is not out of the company completely. E! News reports that hes only giving up his daily responsibilities on an unpaid basis.

"The Board of Directors and Mr. Marciano have agreed that Mr. Marciano will relinquish his day to day responsibilities at the Company, on an unpaid basis, pending the completion of the investigation," the statement reportedly reads. "The Company takes very seriously any allegations of sexual misconduct, is committed to maintaining a safe work environment, and looks forward to the completion of a thorough investigation of all the facts."

As previously reported, Upton accused the GUESS co-founder of grabbing her breasts, forcibly kissing her and referring to her with lewd language. At one point, she was fired from a modeling job with him after he referred to her as a fat pig. The star also detailed how the allegations hurt her confidence in her body image for a long time.

Marciano has worked with the GUESS company for many years having founded it in 1981 after moving from the south of France.
Princess Diana's personal photographer has been accused of sexual assault, making him the latest fashion industry personality to be called out for alleged inappropriate behavior.

French photographer Patrick Demarchelier is accused of sexual misconduct by a former assistant and six models, who spoke out in a Boston Globe expose.

Demarchelier became the first non-British photographer to snap the royal family when Princess Diana hired him in 1989. He took the famous photo of the late princess in a strapless gown and tiara which appeared in Vogue.

Demarchelier's former assistant, who remains unnamed in the piece, alleges the photographer began coming on to her when she was 19-years-old. She said she eventually gave into his requests because she felt her job was at risk.

MORE: Prince Harry says Meghan Markle and Princess Diana would have been 'thick as thieves'

"I remember many test shoots with teenage girls where Patricks team of assistants (including me) was dismissed for the day only to find naked photos of the girl in the darkroom the next day," she alleged.

Demarchelier denied the accusations against him calling them "ridiculous."

One model told the paper that when she was a teenager working with Demarchelier in Paris, he asked her for oral sex in exchange for helping her career. She refused but two years later found herself working with him again in New York where he repeated his request.

Others accused Demarchelier of unwanted touching.

Demarchelier spoke about his relationship with Princess Diana in a 2008 interview with The Telegraph.

"We became friends," he told the paper. "She was funny and kind - but fundamentally she was a very simple woman who liked very simple things."
McSteamy is back on the market.

Eric Dane, 45, and Rebecca Gayheart, 46, are calling it quits after 13 years of marriage. Gayheart filed for divorce with the Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday, citing irreconcilable differences as the cause of the split, according to documents obtained by Page Six via The Blast.

The date of separation is listed as TBD.

Gayheart is asking for joint legal and physical custody of their daughters, 7-year-old Billie and 6-year-old Georgia. She is also seeking spousal support.

Last May, Dane took time off from filming TNTs The Last Ship to deal with his battle with depression.

This article originally appeared in the New York Post.
New York Times opinion columnist Thomas Friedman wrote an over-the-top piece designed to incite fear with anti-Trump rhetoric such as, the biggest threat to the integrity of our democracy today is in the Oval Office, and the liberal elite are eating it up despite a glaring omission.

The column, headlined, Whatever Trump is hiding is hurting all of us now, has been praised by the left. Friedman even told CNN that it may be the most widely circulated column of his career. The liberal red meat starts off by proclaiming that our democracy is in serious danger because President Trump is either totally compromised by the Russians or is a towering fool, or both.

Friedman, who once compared Russian meddling to both Pearl Harbor and the attacks of September 11, 2001 during an appearance on MSNBC, wrote that Trump is unwilling or unable to defend America against a Russian campaign to divide and undermine our democracy. He lists Trumps real estate empire, rumored sexual misbehavior and simply believing Russian President Vladimir Putin as possible explanations for the theory.

Trump is either hiding something so threatening to himself, or hes criminally incompetent to be commander in chief, Friedman wrote before explaining what type of leader he feels America needs at the moment  which should be noted is clearly a man based on the pronouns used.

He would educate the public on the scale of the problem; he would bring together all the stakeholders  state and local election authorities, the federal government, both parties and all the owners of social networks that the Russians used to carry out their interference  to mount an effective defense; and he would bring together our intelligence and military experts to mount an effective offense against Putin  the best defense of all, Friedman wrote.

However, Media Research Center Vice President Dan Gainor pointed out that Friedman missed two key facts in his attack on the president.

One, that the Obama administration refused to do anything but tell the Russians to stop their hacking endeavors. The Washington Post says the Russians have tried to influence American elections since 1960, so what they did here isn't news to anyone inside the Beltway, Gainor told Fox News.

The word Obama does not appear once in Friedmans piece. Even MSNBCs Joe Scarborough said its a very legitimate question to ask why Obama didnt do more on the Russian threat.

The second thing that Friedman overlooked is that the U.S. just killed dozens of Russians in a battle in Syria.

That is according to The New York Times, where Friedman works. That's hardly the act of a president who is bowing to Russia's every wish, Gainor said.

The media elite has devoured the meat cooked up by Friedman, as CNN interviewed him about how the column came about, MSNBC told viewers the piece is "worth your time and a variety of left-leaning pundits have tweeted out their favorite quotes from the op-ed.

It's #1 on the N.Y. Times' Most Emailed, Most Viewed and Most Shared on Facebook, Axios touted.

While the column has been widely shared and praised by liberals, not everyone agrees with the attack on the White House. Radio host Mark Simone called Friedman completely insane for writing a hysterical column claiming Trump not just colluding, but is owned by the Russians.

Conservative Action News published a rebuttal to Friedmans piece that disputed particular statements from the column and claimed no intellectually honest person can say Trump is compromised by Russia.

No, our democracy is not in serious danger. But Im pretty sure Thomas Friedmans sanity is in serious danger, the Conservative Action News wrote.

Perhaps the column was on Trumps mind when he took to Twitter on Tuesday morning.

I have been much tougher on Russia than Obama, just look at the facts, Trump tweeted.
Krispy Kreme is teaming up with Hersheys this Olympic season with one thing in mind  the gold.

The dessert powerhouses have launched a new limited-edition Gold doughnut that features Krispy Kremes iconic glazed doughnut topped with pieces of Hersheys newest golden candy bar sprinkled on a salted caramel icing.

BUFFALO WILD WINGS TO OFFER 'WING BLING' IN HONOR OF THE OLYMPICS

The Gold doughnut is the latest in the partnership between Hershey and Krispy Kreme. Last year the two joined forces for a wildly popular Krispy Kreme Reeses Peanut Butter doughnut.

The latest confection has a crunchy topping and caramelized creme base, like the new Gold candy bar from The Hershey Company, which is the brands fourth flavor ever introduced.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

The salty-and-sweet treat will be available for a limited-time beginning today at participating Krispy Kreme stores nationwide.
A family from Michigan is seeking answers from Burger King after their children were allegedly subjected to a graphic sex scene playing on one of the restaurants TVs.

"It almost seemed like a scripted pornographic film," said Richard Avery, who visited the Burger King with his two stepsons, in a statement to WDIV.

Avery said he and his 7- and 8-year-old boys walked into Burger Kings Southgate location on Sunday, but he didnt immediately realize what was airing on a TV in the dining area.

WOMAN FAKED BEING A FEDERAL AGENT TO GET A CHICK-FIL-A DISCOUNT, SAY COPS

"My oldest son said to my youngest son, 'Don't look up at the TV'," Avery told WDIV. Avery then looked up and saw what he described to be an explicit sex scene in which this guy was fondling this woman's breast and thrusting on a woman.

I couldnt believe that would be on a TV in any public place, Avery added to WXYZ.

A companion of Averys said other customers  even adults  were taken aback at how graphic the footage was.

There was another couple in there, and the guy was watching it, the woman claimed. And his wife yelled at him, Youre a nasty horndog.

Avery said he asked workers to shut off the television or change the channel, but the employees just kept taking customers orders. He then walked over to the TV and shut it off himself.

They didnt take it seriously at all, said Avery, who believes a worker was responsible for the content on the TV.

MCDONALD'S GUEST LEFT 'DEVASTATED' OVER MISSING INGREDIENT

Burger King has since issued a statement regarding the incident, saying it does not reflect our brand.

We value and encourage a culture of care and respect for all guests, writes Burger King. This behavior does not reflect our brand values or the values of the franchisee who independently owns and operates this restaurant. The franchisee is investigating this incident thoroughly.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

Avery, meanwhile, has already filed a police report with the Southgate Police.

"I feel like this will torment my eldest son," Avery told WDIV, adding that his 8-year-old has a photographic memory, and also suffers from ADHD. "Someone has to pay."
KFC workers were accused of smuggling raw chicken into one of the chains restaurants in the United Kingdom during a massive poultry shortage that has left hundreds of locations closed in the region.

A video surfaced over the weekend that appeared to show two workers taking in six bulging and gloopy shaped black bags into the KFC restaurant in Erith, southeast London, Yahoo7 News reported.

MICHIGAN BURGER KING AIRED RAUNCHY SEX SCENE ON DINING ROOM'S TV, SAYS FAMILY

Danny Mercer, who posted the recording, said the workers were going into the restaurant through the back door.

"I got KFC in Erith shut down because I caught them on videos smuggling raw chicken into the back of the restaurant out of the back of a car in black bags and boxes and unrefrigerated, Mercer said, according to Yahoo7 News. "Turns out there has been a delivery problem nationwide for all KFC restaurants.

He added that the bags of raw chicken were not in boxes.

Staff from another London-area KFC store reportedly went to a local butcher shop to buy all of its raw chicken, though the butcher refused, according to BuzzFeed News.

About 470 KFC locations  more than half of the U.K. locations  remained closed on Tuesday due to the chicken shortage. The fast-food company said the shortage occurred after it changed its delivery provider to DHL last week.

"We anticipate the number of closures will reduce today and over the coming days as our teams work flat-out all hours to clear the backlog, the fried chicken chain said.

MCDONALD'S GUEST LEFT 'DEVASTATED' OVER MISSING INGREDIENT

Some locations remained open, but with revised hours to avoid running out of fried chicken and meeting the wrath of hungry consumers. The company provided several updates on social media, posting quirky messages to keep customers laughing during the chicken crisis.

Some chickens have now crossed the road, the rest are waiting at the pelican crossing, read one message posted to KFC U.K. and Ireland's Twitter.

However, some customers, including a little girl, were very mad at the chain for not giving her the fried chicken she was craving.

I dont look sad but I really am disappointed. Im mad at KFC, the girl told ITV. Look at them, theyre just chillin, theyre happy. Sorry, were mad with them. We want to get in there, sit down, have some food, but we cant do that today.

The Tower Hamlets Police in East London is also fed up with hungry KFC fans. Please do not contact us about the #KFCCrisis," the department tweeted on Monday. "It is not a police matter if your favorite eatery is not serving the menu that you desire."

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A Washington restaurant has defended itself after being criticized on social media for having needle bins in its bathrooms.

Chaco Canyon Organic Cafe in Seattle has placed needle disposal bins in each of its bathrooms as a response to the heroin epidemic affecting the Seattle area.

The restaurant claims the bins have been up for a while, but are just now becoming a point of contention because of a Facebook post that was shared by a group called Safe Seattle, lambasting the idea and accusing the restaurant of promoting drug use.

KFC WORKERS ACCUSED OF 'SMUGGLING' CHICKEN INTO RESTAURANT AMID MASSIVE SHORTAGE IN UK

One man who eats at the restaurant regularly said, KIRO reported, The logic: we won't serve you meat, eggs, dairy, or honey because they're bad for you, but please shoot up heroin in our bathrooms. Its, like, totally vegan. We shouldn't pretend this is normal, safe, healthy, or good for our addicted brothers and sisters.

Lynda Lowe responded with, The social acceptance of addiction isn't really helpful to addicts (or anyone else for that matter).

However, there are others who have sided with the restaurant's actions.

Its the sign of the times..better a sharps container...then finding it walking on the side walk to an elementary school, which I have done, one user wrote.

Another said, I think restaurants do that so their employees do not get poked by needles. This seems like an unfair criticism of the restaurant.

The restaurant has spoken out about their choice to have a needle disposal bin, claiming it is for the safety of their workers.

You know, someone poking themselves with [a needle], or someone reusing them, Chaco Canyon worker Jeff Coyne said to KIRO. It sort of encourages the safe practice of disposing of them.

Coyne says the bins do not encourage people to use illicit substances.

You know we don't want people to be doing that, Coyne said. "We don't know that people are going to be using a needle in the bathroom.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

The restaurant stands behind its choice to have the receptacle, but notes that the bins arent advertised anywhere for the general public -- they are just there in case.

People are going to be using, wherever they are, Jeff Coyne said. I've seen people all over the city, using in alleyways.

The heroin epidemic is responsible for hundreds of deaths in Washington state.
A bride-to-be was brought to tears when her fiance arranged for her beloved horse to visit her in the hospital.

Christine Carbonneau was feeling depressed after recovering from a monthlong induced coma after being struck down with pneumonia following an operation to remove an abdominal blockage.

AIRPORTS BRINGING IN THERAPY DOGS TO CALM ANXIOUS PLANE PASSENGERS

While recovering at a long-term facility in Land OLakes, Florida, the 65-year-old got the surprise of her life when her fiance Gary Stephens decided to bring her rescue horse Ireland from their home in Thonotosassa, Florida, to cheer her up.

When Christine woke up at the end of January, she wasnt able to talk and just too tired to write, I could tell she was just a bit down and I thought I would hatch a plan to cheer her up, the boyfriend, 52, told news service SWNS.

LOCAL THERAPY DOGS COMFORT THOSE AFFECTED BY LAS VEGAS SHOOTING

The couple, who got engaged on Christmas Day, rescued the abused horse in February 2016, but Gary said "Ireland" always had a special relationship with Christine.

"He was so horribly abused before he came to us through the work of the SPCA, and he and Christine just hit it off," he said.

Christine burst into tears when she was wheeled outside to see the horse. Gary recalled, It was such an amazing moment and it was special to see Christine smile.

"Im really grateful to all the staff at the hospital who helped me make it happen, he added.
A New York Times opinion piece is being ridiculed for calling yoga pants bad for women, and suggesting that women over 30 should wear sweatpants instead.

The article, published under the byline Honor Jones, claims that women arent wearing [yoga pants] because theyre cooler or more comfortable than sweatpants, but because theyre sexy.

You think the selling point of Lululemons Reveal Tight Precision pants is really the way their moth-eaten design provides a much-needed dose of airflow?" asks Jones, before declaring that women are only "wearing them because theyre sexy."

The author goes on to call out the athleisure industry, and the rise in popularity of studio fitness classes, for getting Americans to spend a reported $46 billion on activewear in 2016.

NUDE BLOGGER CLAIMS SHE GETS BODY-SHAMED FOR BEING TOO SKINNY

Frankly, Im annoyed by the whole booming industry around womens exercise, which is perhaps most evident in the rise of studio classes. According to the Association of Fitness Studios, Americans spent around $24 billion on studio fees in 2015, or about $4 billion more than they spent on traditional gyms  and that spread has only increased since then. Naturally, women are spending the most; they outnumber men in studio classes by more than two to one, says Jones, who argued that expensive studio classes and expensive athletic clothing go hand-in-hand.

The article finally finishes with the authors main point: Sweatpants should be at the forefront of all gym-goers wardrobes, instead of tight-fitting pants that threaten to show every dimple and roll in every woman over 30.

Since the article's publication, women have taken to social media to call Jones out for body-shaming.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

One user wrote, Okay @nytimes. 1) I am sure you had your pick of thoughtful opinion pieces for this Sundays edition...and this was your choice? 2) Women writing op-eds about other womens sartorial choices is bad for women 3) You can have my yoga pants when you pry them from my cold dead booty.

The New York Times is apparently against women wearing yoga pants," another user wrote. "Being against yoga pants is one of the most absurd opinions I've ever heard.

While one simply tweeted, Instead of reading the New York Times yoga piece, try doing literally anything else.
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When it comes to the Stormy Daniels story, it is hard for me to understand the silence from evangelical Christians.

Let it sink in: It is now confirmed that the presidents personal lawyer paid a porn star for her silence.

After the story broke, a friend sent me an old article from a left-wing website.

Democrats, the story said, beat themselves up for not better understanding white, Christian support for President Trump.

But that is a fools errand, the writer argued, because there is no understanding people who dont accept facts.

The facts on the porn star and Trump became clear last week when Michael D. Cohen, the presidents lawyer, said he personally paid $130,000 to Daniels.

The money changed hands just before the 2016 election to allegedly stop her from talking about a sexual affair with candidate Trump that took place in 2006, just after Trumps wife had a baby.

There is no longer any way to deny the fact of the payment and the nature of the tawdry story.

Also, there is no way to deny a former Playboy playmates telling of another extramarital affair with the president in 2006 and 2007.

For a group that regularly preaches about the sanctity of marriage and inveighs against the evils of divorce, it was a major political puzzle to me when evangelicals first backed the thrice-married, adulterous Trump over Hillary Clinton.

The New Yorker magazine has now confirmed that the woman in question, Karen McDougal, wrote an account of the relationship. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier that she was paid for her story by the National Enquirers publisher, a Trump friend, and the tabloid sat on the story, presumably to protect Trump.

And there is no way to deny that FBI Director Christopher Wray testified to Congress last week that Trumps White House knew about two serious charges of domestic abuse against top aide Rob Porter but let him keep his job. Porter resigned only when those allegations became public.

Yes, the injunction to let he who is without sin cast the first stone is an important one. But it now seems clear that evangelical Christians, who hold up biblical edicts on lying, cheating and adultery, dont care about the word of God when it comes to Trump.

A January poll for The Washington Post and ABC News found 68 percent of white evangelical Protestants approve of Trumps job performance  a figure that is nearly double that of the population as a whole and that is higher than any other religious or demographic group.

Lets not forget that according to exit polls, 80 percent of white, born-again evangelical Christians supported Trump in the last election. Hillary Clinton only received 16 percent support. Voters from this demographic cast 26 percent of all votes for president in 2016.

For a group that regularly preaches about the sanctity of marriage and inveighs against the evils of divorce, it was a major political puzzle to me when evangelicals first backed the thrice-married, adulterous Trump over Hillary Clinton.

She suffered years of public humiliation rather than breaking up her family, turning away from marriage vows and divorcing her philandering husband.

And now the puzzling behavior of evangelicals is pushed to the limit by their support for Trump despite the slimy facts of the Stormy Daniels story.

Imagine for one moment if President Obamas personal lawyer had paid six figures in hush money to a porn star.

The same evangelicals would have condemned him as not being Christian and possibly believing in Muslim law that allows multiple wives. They would have said he was a bad example to the nations youth.

Imagine if Obama had endorsed a candidate despite credible allegations that he sexually molested young girls.

Well, there is no denying that Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore (R), who faced just such allegations, got Trumps full endorsement.

Again, evangelicals continued to support Trump.

Hypocrisy that deep cant be excused by Trumps convenient switch from supporting abortion rights to opposing abortion.

What we are seeing is a hollow core in evangelical faith as practiced by its leaders.

Tony Perkins, head of a Christian conservative evangelical group, The Family Research Council, said recently that his supporters give Trump a mulligan on sex with the porn star.

Evangelical leader Franklin Graham, the son of the nations most famous evangelical preacher, Billy Graham, also defended Trump.

That was a long time ago, Graham told CNNs Don Lemon in dismissing the porn star story. Im more interested in who a person is today. I believe hes a changed person.

Graham saves his fiery condemnations for what he calls the godless progressive agenda of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

Robert Jeffress, a leading Trump supporter among evangelicals and senior pastor of First Baptist Dallas, told The New York Times earlier this month he cant look into the presidents heart.

Jeffress said he doesnt care if Trump is a religious phony but only that Trump has embraced and enacted policies favored by Jeffress and other evangelicals.

That led Tara I. Burton to conclude in an article on Vox that Jeffress indifference about Trumps nasty earlier comments about "shithole countries" in fact revealed the dark heart of Christian nationalism: It is as muchabout jingoism and ethno-nationalism as it ever has been about Christian values.

When it comes to Trump, the nations political, social and historical norms do not matter anymore. Now the acid of the Trump presidency is eating away at the integrity of leading evangelists and their supporters.

God help us.

This column originally appeared on The Hill.
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President Obama was warned that Russia would try to interfere in America's elections. So, what did he do?

Nothing, except to tell us  and a rightly concerned candidate named Donald Trump  that all that such concerns were silly.

There is no serious person out there who would suggest somehow that you could even you could even rig America's elections there's no evidence that that has happened in the past or that there are instances in which that will happen this time, Obama said at the height of the 2016 election. And so, I invite Mr. Trump to stop whining and go try to make his case to get votes.

Fast forward to November of 2016, after Trump won, and all the Democrats can talk about is how the Russians rigged the election. How else could Trump have possibly won? And last weeks indictment by Special Counsel Robert Mueller of 13 Russian Internet trolls is their latest evidence that, yes, an election CAN be fixed.

Maybe they have given up on their mantra that Trump colluded with the Russians. After all, it has been more than a year, and there is absolutely no evidence such a thing took place. At least not with Trump. Hillary Clinton and Russia collusion? Thats a different story, though one few seem willing to report.

It was the Clinton campaign that bought and paid for a fake-news, anti-Trump dossier full of Russian lies, propaganda and salacious details that were never verified. Clinton used that to try to influence the election, and then to help her allies in the FBI mount a bogus counterintelligence operation against Team Trump.

As for President Trump, when the fake news, abusively biased propaganda news media ignores the real story, he tells it 280 characters at a time.

How funny that the fake news media doesn't want to say the Russian group was formed in 2014, long before my run for president? he tweeted. Maybe they knew I was going to run even though I did not know.

Hes right. Mueller's indictment clearly lays out that this Russian attempt to influence the election started in 2014 under Obama's watch, and he was warned and he did nothing to stop it. In fact, by the way, go back to 2012, during a presidential debate. Remember Obama mocking Mitt Romney for saying Russia still posed a very serious foreign policy threat? Looks like Romney was right, Obama was wrong, and the media was clueless.

So Russia did meddle in the election. And Clinton, not Trump, colluded with Russia. But here is the other point the media keeps missing: None of it changed the election.

There is no allegation in this indictment that any American was a knowing participant in this illegal activity, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said last week. There is no allegation in the indictment that the charged conduct altered the outcome of the 2016 election.

We also know now that Russias goal in meddling in the election was not to help Trump or Clinton win. It was to pit us all against each other. The Moscow-commissioned cyber trolls were out to rile us up, make us argue and make us angry. This continued throughout the election and after Trump won. And President Obama, who had been warned about it, did nothing.

Mission accomplished, Mr. Putin.

Adapted from Sean Hannity's monologue on "Hannity," Feb. 19, 2018
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Despite some media outlets endless fawning over all things North Korea during the Winter Olympics, the catalyst that nearly brought Washington and Pyongyang to war last yearthe murderous Kim regimes quest for nuclear weapons and missiles that can strike the U.S. homelandis only growing more powerful by the day.

In fact, we seem destined to re-live the tension-filled events of 2017 all over again. Know this: come springtime, the United States and North Korea could very well find itself at war as tensions are set to spike once more.

As the Temperature Rise Outside, So Does Tensions in Asia

Thanks to a unique set of overlapping events it seems all but certain the detente brought about by the Olympics will end up being short-lived.

First, we need to understand the fundamental problem that is pushing Washington and Pyongyang toward a potential military clash.

From North Koreas perspective, the regime looks at nuclear weapons as the ultimate guarantor of its survival, even enshrined in its constitution. Kim Jong Un correctly understands that his chances of someday ending up in The Hague for war crimes like Slobodan Milosevic or dead and buried like Mullah Omar, Saddam Hussein or Muammar Qaddafi rise exponentially without atomic arms.

Nations that continue to trade with Pyongyang or evade sanctions must be held to account. If China and Russia, for example, continue to go around UN Security Council sanctionssanctions they voted forthey must pay a price.

For these reasons, Pyongyang is not likely to ever give up its nuclear weaponsever. This fact, above all else, is driving Northeast Asia toward a conflict the world has not seen in decades.

As for Washington, the Trump administration looks at North Koreas nuclear weapons as an existential threat, with National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster even going as far as saying that the Kim regime is undeterrable. Only complete nuclear disarmament and the elimination of North Koreas missile programs will satisfy Washington.

With such profound disagreements driving the crisis, Washington is getting ready to enhance its maximum pressure campaign. Vice President Mike Pence recently announced a new round of sanctions which will be unveiled in the coming days that will be the toughest and most aggressive.

Additionally, Washington and Seoul are set to begin their annual joint military exercises involving 230,000 troopsone of the largest such drills on the planetat the end of April. With North Korea already complaining that such exercises are unacceptable and having already demanded their cancellation, such drills along with additional sanctions could very well see North Korea respond in dramatic fashion.

This is where we begin to enter the danger zone. Over the last several years, North Korea has conducted a series of missile tests that many times have started in March and go all the way through late fall. While the North has not tested any missiles since November of last year, Pyongyang could use the excuse of annual U.S.-South Korea military exercises to once again test their rockets before the drills commence. Such tests could include a fully operational ICBM being fired deep into the South Pacific with a dummy warhead passing through the atmosphere and splashing down into the ocean. North Korea, completing such a test, would prove to the world and the Trump administration that it could indeed hit the U.S. homeland with a nuclear weapon, raising the stakes dramatically.

Then there is the nightmare scenario. The Kim regime could decide that it must test a fully-operational nuclear weapon to the world, or what many North Korea experts call the Juche Bird. In such a test, North Korea would forgo a dummy warhead and fire off into a remote part of the Pacific a nuclear armed ICBM and detonate it. Such a test, the first atmospheric atomic explosion since 1980, could very well be the spark that sets the Trump administration down the path to a war, or at least a bloody nose response.

What Should the Trump Administration Do?

Knowing the timeline of events and how North Korea could respond, is it time for the Trump administration to change tack? Should the administration, for example, cancel joint exercises and stop upping the pressure on North Korea?

Never. But it may be time to shift our thinking on what would be an acceptable outcome to this crisis.

Considering Pyongyang in the 1990s allowed its own people to starve and millions to die rather than slash its military budget, it is likely the Kim regime will do anything to develop its offensive capabilities.

If we accept the logic that North Korea will never give up its nuclear weapons, and we also accept that a war of choice against Pyongyang to disarm them would be too costly, we owe it to ourselves to find what I would call the least worst policy option.

As I have argued before, containing North Korea economically and diplomatically is that option. Washington will never, ever, accept a nuclear armed Kim regime, and we will make sure a price is paid for Pyongyangs choices.

No one wants to see a regime that has prison camps three times the size of Washington, D.C. exist, let alone have nuclear weapons that can kill millions. However, an aggressive long-term pressure campaign, one that unleashes economic warfare on North Korea and permanently damages its economy and denies the regimes ability to give its elites the creature comforts they so desire, would see North Korea pay for its actions considerably.

Put another way: if North Korea wants nuclear weapons the price for those weapons must be made astronomically high.

But this also means that nations that continue to trade with Pyongyang or evade sanctions must be held to account. If China and Russia, for example, continue to go around UN Security Council sanctionssanctions they voted forthey must pay a price. That means sanctioning any individual, company or even banks that are profiting from such trade. The Trump administration should even consider pushing back in areas of strategic interest to each nationfor China that means Taiwan and the South China Sea and for Russia Ukraineto make sure we demonstrate the seriousness of our resolve and intentions.

To be brutally honest, none of the strategy outlined above will be easy. Such a pressure campaign could take decades to get North Korea to give up its nukes. And to be even more honest, considering Pyongyang in the 1990s allowed its own people to starve and millions to die rather than slash its military budget, it is likely the Kim regime will do anything to develop its offensive capabilities.

That is why there must be an additional pillar to this maximum pressure strategy: shinning a giant spotlight on North Koreas horrifying human rights record. Along with a weak economy, this is Pyongyangs second Achilles heel. Anytime the administration talks about the Kim regime, making its case for maximum pressure, the human rights of the North Korea people must be part of that conversation. From President Trumps powerful State of the Union message highlighting a North Korean defector to Vice President Pence taking Otto Warmbiers father to the Olympic Games, such pressure on the regime is something North Korea cant counter.

If implemented to its maximum extent, North Korea will be pressured from all sidesand will likely push back even harder. This is where the Trump administration must communicate the limits of what it will tolerate, preferably through private channels. For example, if North Korea were to detonate a nuclear weapon in the atmosphere, spreading radioactive fallout over a large area, such an action should be communicated as unacceptable and could very well trigger a military response.

Get Ready for Trouble

When the Olympic flame fades from PyeongChang we should brace ourselves for what could be the most tension filled few months internationally we have seen since the Cuban Missile Crisis.

The challenge for the Trump administration is to navigate what will be a tense spring that could very well see the resumption of a conflict on the Korean peninsula that never truly ended and has the potential to claim millions of lives. Through a mix of ingenuity and creativity and avoiding the siren song of war, America and its allies can contain and deter North Korea. It wont be easy or cost free, but it is the best option we have to secure our homeland and our interests.
Colorado House Minority Leader Patrick Neville, who was a Columbine High School sophomore at the time of the 1999 mass shooting, is pushing legislation that he says would protect students  by getting rid of gun restrictions in schools.

He has introduced the bill annually since he was elected in 2014, The Washington Times reported. Previous attempts have been turned down.

Neville, a Republican, told The Times the current law creates a so-called gun free zone in every K-12 public school.

Under Colorado law, concealed-carry permit holders may bring firearms onto school property, according to The Times, but must keep them locked inside their vehicles.

Time and time again we point to the one common theme with mass shootings, they occur in gun-free zones, Neville told The Times.

He added law-abiding citizens should be able to defend themselves and most importantly our children from the worst-case scenarios.

The massacre on Valentines Day of last week in Florida has renewed a nationwide debate about gun violence and how to prevent mass shootings.

Nikolas Cruz, 19, was 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.

Neville has contended, according to The Times, that more of his classmates would have survived the attack if faculty had been armed. In April 1999, two teens killed 12 fellow students and a teacher before killing themselves inside Columbine High School, in Littleton, Colorado.

The congressmans office did not immediately respond to Fox News request for comment.
A unique effort is underway in Georgia to safeguard elections by taking voting machines back to the future.

The most secure elections in the world are conducted with a piece of paper and a pencil, said Georgia State Rep. Scot Turner. It allows you to continue into the future to verify the result.

Turner has proposed a bill that would retire Georgias electronic touch-screen voting machines and switch to paper ballots that voters would fill out and then be counted by optical scan machines. The technology has been in use for decades to score standardized tests for grade-school students.

You can try and hack these machines all day long, Turner said. But that piece of paper that you can touch and feel and look at is going to give the voter the confidence that the election is actually being recorded the way it should have been.

But Georgias top election official, Secretary of State Brian Kemp, also a Republican, said the electronic voting machines currently in use in Georgia are accurate and efficient and replacing them with paper would be a step backward.

The fraud we see in Georgia is with paper ballots, Kemp said. So, I would be very careful going back to the old days of the hanging chad.

Hanging chad is a reference to incompletely punched card ballots in Florida that put the outcome of the 2000 presidential race in limbo for 36 days. The delay prompted calls nationwide for upgrades in voting technology.

Georgia went to direct-recording electronic voting machines (DREs). Voters select candidates on a touch-screen computer, which records their choices on an electronic ballot.

Georgia is one of five states still using DREs statewide without a physical paper trail backup. A sixth state, Nevada, uses DREs with a paper trail statewide.

The rest of the nation uses a patchwork of voting systems that vary from state to state and, often, countsy to county.

I dont know that there needs to be one specific way to cast a ballot and record a vote, but there are a number of best practices, said Jeh Johnson, who served as director of Homeland Security during the Obama administration.

Johnson said whats crucial is redundancy  having a backup system for recounting votes if theres a technical glitch or deliberate meddling.

The cyber threat to our country is going to get worse before it gets better, Johnson said. Bad cyber actors  whether theyre nation states, cyber criminals, hacktivists, those who engage in ransomware  are increasingly aggressive, tenacious and ingenious.

Last year, DHS declared Americas election systems as critical infrastructure  underscoring the importance of protecting how the nation conducts democracy. Solutions are likely to vary from region to region, just as voting technology varies. And experts say that diversity is part of the protection.

Fox News producer David Lewkowict contributed to this report.
Washington Democrats are taking heat from some of their biggest financial supporters over a midterm-election strategy still focused on bashing President Trump and the Republican tax cut plan  as recent polls suggest the party's candidates could be losing their edge.

Congressional Democrats, just a couple months ago, thought they had a winning plan for taking control of the chamber by arguing the tax cuts were a gift to corporate supporters at the expense of the American worker. Within hours of the bill's passage, Democrats returned to their districts for the holidays, ready to trumpet the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committees message of House Republicans Sign Away Their Seats.

However, the extra money in employee paychecks since early January, and bonuses related to the cuts, apparently are winning over voters.

Those outside the Capitol Hill bubble are taking note, and urging Democrats to reconsider their message.

If we spend all of our cycle running against the tax bill, its probably going to be a mistake, Julie Greene, a former Democratic National Committee aide who now leads midterm campaign efforts for the AFL-CIO, recently said.

The most recent RealClearPolitics average of generic ballot polls -- asking voters which party they prefer in congressional races -- shows Democrats with a roughly 7-percentage-point lead over Republicans, compared with 13 points the day after Congress approved the tax law.

And a new Morning Consult/Politico poll showed Republicans leading by 1 percentage point, after trailing for three months.

Trump also has taken note of the polls, as Democrats try to win a total two-dozen seats to retake the House majority they lost in 2010.

Republicans are now leading the Generic Poll, perhaps because of the popular Tax Cuts which the Dems want to take away. Actually, they want to raise you taxes, substantially, the president tweeted Tuesday.

Gallup, meanwhile, announced that Americans satisfaction with the direction of the country was its highest since before Trump became president in November 2016, saying the impact of the cuts -- as seen on employees first pay stubs -- was a potential factor.

This is a terrible idea for Democrats to run on, Rory McShane, a Republican political media consultant, said Tuesday. The tax plan is benefitting most Americans. Everybody knew it was going to be like an extra 50 bucks in each paycheck. But that pays a cellphone bill. That just shows you the world in which Democratic leadership doesnt live.

Republicans already are trying to tie 2018 Democratic candidates to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosis recent comment that employee bonuses as a result of the tax cuts amount to crumbs.

McShane speculated that by Election Day, the cuts likely wont impact the well-paid, well-educated suburban swing voters that pollsters frequently say decide elections. But they will likely make Trumps base happy that they put him in office and make them want to vote the same way in 2018, he said.

Meanwhile, Priorities USA, the major Democratic super PAC that backed Barack Obama and Hillary Clintons presidential campaigns, issued a memo last week raising concerns about whether the party has become too focused -- or perhaps too refocused -- on reacting to Trump, according to Politico.

Ohio Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan told Politico the memo was "spot on."

"There are some real issues that we need to pound -- and I mean pound relentlessly -- if we are going to win the districts we need to win in," said Ryan, who has been critiical of House leadership.



The offices for House Democratic leaders and the DCCC, whose mission is to get the chamber's Democratic candidates elected and reelected, have not responded to requests for comment for this report.

Washington Democrats acknowledge that their failures in 2016 to keep the White House or retake the House were in large part the result of a campaign platform relying too much on opposing Trump and failing to connect with Middle America voters.

The party last year announced its Better Deal platform, an effort to create more better-paying, full-time jobs for Americans. This past fall, House Democratic leaders announced their related Jobs for America Task Force, though the idea of attacking Trump still appeared to be on their minds.

We all know our agenda just cant be against Donald Trump, as alluring as that may be, said New York Rep. Joe Crowley, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus. We will create a jobs package that our members can advocate for in this Congress and beyond.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A top executive at Facebook came under fire Friday after tweeting that it takes a well educated citizenry to fight off Russian election meddling attempts and claimed the main goal of the Russian online disinformation campaign was not to sway the 2016 presidential election, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Most of the coverage of Russian meddling involves their attempt to affect the outcome of the 2016 US election, Rob Goldman, Facebooks head of advertising, tweeted on Friday. I have seen all of the Russian ads and I can say very definitively that swaying the election was *NOT* the main goal.

Goldmans comments came shortly after a federal grand jury indicted 13 Russians and three Russian companies for allegedly meddling in the 2016 presidential election, in a case brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

The indictment described how an organization called the Internet Research Agency allegedly used social media, including Facebook, to create division and tried to influence U.S. public opinion. The company allegedly set up hundreds of social media accounts using stolen or fictitious identities to give an impression that real people are behind the activism online.

The defendants are also accused of starting a disinformation campaign in 2014 and spreading derogatory information about Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, attacking Republican candidates Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, and expressing support for then-Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders.

13 RUSSIANS NATIONALS INDICTED FOR INTERFERING IN US ELECTIONS

But Goldman, who was excited to see the Mueller indictment on Friday, said that despite the common view, the majority of the Russian ad spend happened AFTER the election. Part of the reason for lack of awareness is that very few outlets have covered it because it doesnt align with the main media narrative of Trump and the election.

44% of total ad impressions (number of times ads were displayed) were before the US election on November 8, 2016; 56% were after the election, read a factoid released by Facebook in October 2017.

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 Americans. It is working incredibly well. We are quite divided as a nation," he said.

He added: There are easy ways to fight this. Disinformation is ineffective against a well-educated citizenry. Finland, Sweden and Holland have all taught digital literacy and critical thinking about misinformation to great effect.

But Goldmans tweets caused a fury on social media and accusations of sowing confusion and diminishing the problem of Russian interference.

You really are not in a position to preach and your astonishing tweets have created confusion and anger, Mainardo de Nardis, a senior executive at advertising giant Omnicom Group Inc., said in a tweet Sunday. Enough damage done over the past 2+ years. In the absence of real actions silence would be appreciated.

The backlash was further amplified after President Donald Trump cited Goldmans tweets. The Fake News Media never fails. Hard to ignore this fact from the Vice President of Facebook Ads, Rob Goldman! Trump tweeted.

Mr. Goldman should have stayed silent, Clint Watts, a fellow with the Foreign Policy Research Institute who studied the Russian influence campaign, told The Wall Street Journal. He notes that minimizing the impact of the Russian efforts to influence the election risked further angering Americans.

The public is upset that they got duped on Facebooks platform. Facebook got duped, he added. It makes it seem like they dont get it.

Facebooks vice president of global public policy Joel Kaplan released a statement on Sunday regarding Goldmans tweets, saying that Nothing we found contradicts the Special Counsels indictments. Any suggestion otherwise is wrong.

After the onslaught of criticism, Goldman later expanded on some of the claims, tweeting that the Russian campaign was certainly in favor of Mr. Trump.

He also issued a caveat about his assertions: I am only speaking here about the Russian behavior on Facebook. That is the only aspect that I observed directly.
The public library in St. Petersburg, Fla., is being renamed in honor of the 44th president of the United States. This fall, the building will receive a major facelift as the President Barack Obama Community Library.

Mayor Rick Kriseman, who received an endorsement from Obama, says other roads and buildings in Florida are starting to bear the name of the former president so it's time for St. Pete to do the same.

"He is man who served honorably for two terms and has already been ranked by historians," Kriseman said during an announcement Monday.

The new name will come with a $16-million price tag paid for with funds from Penny for Pinellas account.

The current midcentury modern structure built in the early 60's will be redesigned to be more handicap-accessible. The back patio will be renovated to host community events and parties and more technology will be added throughout the building.

Its no coincidence that Kriseman made the announcement the morning of Presidents Day in the middle of Black History Month to celebrate the nation's first African American president.

The library plan is expected to pass City Council's approving vote. Only parts of the library will be shut down during renovations.

Read more on Fox 13 News.
House Intelligence Committee Republicans have launched Phase 2 of their probe into the origins of the unverified anti-Trump dossier, firing off an inquiry to a host of current and former officials -- including former FBI Director James Comey.

In a letter obtained by Fox News, committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., posed a string of dossier-related questions to current and former intelligence, law enforcement and State Department officials. He specifically wants to know when they learned the document was funded by Democratic sources, and how it was used to obtain one or more surveillance warrants at the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.

In the Feb. 20-dated letter, Nunes even threatened to issue subpoenas.

"If you do not provide timely answers on a voluntary basis, the Committee will initiate compulsory process, he wrote.

Nunes, with cooperation from the White House, earlier this month released a controversial memo alleging the anti-Trump dossier  compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele and funded by the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton campaign  was crucial in the application for a surveillance warrant against Trump associate Carter Page.

Democrats have called that memo misleading and want to release a memo of their own  though have been delayed by national security objections from the White House. Amid the firestorm, Nunes told Fox News earlier this month that his committee would pursue Phase 2 of the investigation.

He suggested this would include scrutinizing the State Department and other agencies.

The new letter includes a dozen questions about the dossier, including how the officials in question learned of the documents Democratic funding and whether they held meetings about the unverified allegations against Trump or took any other official action.

Fox News understands the questionnaire went out to about two dozen current and former officials.

Among them were Comey, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and former CIA Director John Brennan, who testified in May 2017 that the Trump dossier was virtually unknown to him.

I have no awareness, Brennan said, when asked by GOP Rep. Trey Gowdy if the FBI ever relied on the dossier as part of any court applications.

The newly released GOP memo says the FBI and Justice Department relied heavily on the Trump dossier and downplayed its Democratic roots.

A source close to the investigation is not ruling out the possibility that more officials could be questioned as the next phase of the probe continues.

Perhaps anticipating this phase of the investigation, an Obama State Department official earlier this month acknowledged he had regular contact with the dossiers author.

In a Washington Post column, Jonathan Winer detailed an extensive exchange of documents with Steele, a friend of his since 2009. He said he shared more than 100 of Steeles reports with the Russia experts at the State Department over a period of two years. These werent related to American politics  but he would later share information about the Trump dossier with the top levels of the Obama State Department.

Further, Winer said he shared separate Trump-related material passed on by a Clinton contact with Steele. And he acknowledged that material, originally from Clinton-tied activist/journalist Cody Shearer, made its way to the FBI.

In publishing his Op-Ed, Winer wrote that he suspects Nunes wants to know about his own relationship with Steele while at the Obama State Department.

A spokesman for top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Adam Schiff said the California lawmaker was travelling and not available for an interview.

Fox News Judson Berger contributed to this report.
In light of the Virginia rally that saw thousands of activists rally against proposed gun control legislation last month, President Trump made his voice heard when he ripped Democrats and defended the rights of gun owners.

The Democrat Party in the Great Commonwealth of Virginia are working hard to take away your 2nd Amendment rights. This is just the beginning, Trump wrote on Twitter. Dont let it happen, VOTE REPUBLICAN in 2020!

Heres a look at how the federal background check system currently works, and what experts and activists have to say about it.

What happens when you want to purchase a gun?

In order to purchase a gun from a federal firearms licensed dealer (FFL), a consumer must provide identification and pass a federal background check using the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 4473 form.

The first page of the document requires basic information, including the buyers full name, address, sex, birthday and ethnicity. A Social Security number is encouraged, but not required.

The form also asks the buyer about criminal background, immigration status and mental health  information that could result in a consumer being denied. Those questions include:

Have you ever been convicted in any court of a felony, or any other crime for which the judge could have imprisoned you for more than one year, even if you received a shorter sentence including probation?

Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug or any other controlled substance?

Have you been discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions?

Have you ever been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence?

Lying on the federal form is a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, an ATF spokesperson confirmed to Fox News. That penalty is also listed at the top of the form.

Once the form is completed, the dealer will submit it to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) online or by phone. Then, almost immediately, the licensed seller will know how to continue with the sale:

Proceed: If NICS indicates the seller can proceed, then the sale can continue.

Canceled or Denied: Should NICS mark the form as canceled or denied, the seller cannot legally sell the firearm to the buyer. Michael Smith, the vice president of marketing and media for Upstate Armory Group, a firearm dealer in Simpsonville, S.C., told Fox News he generally provides the customer with contact information for a local lawyer who handles restoration of firearm rights in case the failed background check is erroneous. There have been times police have arrived at the gun shop to arrest the customer who legally cannot purchase a gun, Smith said.

Delayed: If the background check elicits a delayed response from NICS, the seller cannot complete the transaction for at least three business days. Unless a specific denied designation is issued, the seller will be able to complete the transaction with the customer after that period elapses, under federal law.

Even before a 4473 form is filled out, Robbie Wheaton, vice president of the Wheaton Arms Inc. gun shop in Piedmont, S.C., said he takes note of the customer. If a customer seems to be intoxicated or shady  talking, for instance, about a cheating spouse  dealers dont have to sell that person a gun.

A shop has a final right to say no based on a persons behavior whether they will sell a firearm to them or not.  Robbie Wheaton, vice president of Wheaton Arms Inc. in South Carolina

As a federal firearms licensee, we have the right to be able to refuse the transfer of firearms to someone, Wheaton told Fox News. A shop has a final right to say no based on a persons behavior whether they will sell a firearm to them or not.

Smith praised the background check system, as it can flag other discrepancies for sellers, such as an age issue.

South Carolina law, for example, prohibits anyone under the age of 18 from purchasing a long gun (such as an AR-15) and anyone under 21 from buying a pistol, handgun or other firearm, he said. The background check can prevent sellers, particularly at hectic gun shows, from accidentally selling a firearm to someone who isnt of age, Smith said.

Why do I have to complete the background check?

Thanks to the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, the FBI created the NICS in 1998. The system is supposed to instantaneously let a firearms dealer know whether a buyer is legally allowed to purchase the gun.

According to the FBI, more than 230 million checks have been made by cashiers prior to a purchase and more than 1.3 million denials have been issued since the system was put in place.

Is this process the same in every state?

No.

In South Carolina, for example, consumers who already have a concealed weapons permit do not need to go through a background check in order to purchase a firearm in the state, multiple dealers in the Palmetto State told Fox News.

Also, state laws may be superseded by federal law. The 4473 form asks consumers about marijuana use. Those who use the drug, in states where recreational or medicinal use is legal, will be denied a firearm, Wheaton said.

In Hawaii, after the first legal medicinal marijuana dispensary opened in the state in 2017, local law enforcement agencies asked users who are also gun owners to turn in their firearms within 30 days, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.

Is this system strong enough?

It depends on who you ask.

Jonas Oransky, the deputy legal director of Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that advocates for stronger gun control, praised the background check system but said it has significant gaps.

Specifically, Oranskys organization points to a private sale loophole. Federal law requires licensed dealers to complete background checks, but people can also purchase guns from a private seller  such as a friend or through online classifieds websites like ArmsList.com. (ArmsList.com prompts users to accept a terms of use document, which acknowledges the website doesnt certify or investigate transactions and instructs users not to use the site for illegal purposes.)

It doesnt matter necessarily if people are selling at scale, Oransky told Fox News. Its not that all sellers are dangerous or devious, but buyers who know that they can skip the background check can look for an unlicensed seller.

Wheaton, who has been in the firearms business full time since 2007, said he and other licensed sellers try to persuade customers to transfer guns through a licensed dealer so a background check can be conducted.

Oransky also pointed to the so-called Charleston loophole, which allows dealers to sell guns to a customer before a background check is completed  when NICS marks a document delayed but does not approve or deny it within three business days. He said a disproportionate number of buyers who obtain a gun before a background check is completed are domestic abusers, citing complex records and restraining orders that investigators need additional time to read through or discuss with the appropriate local law enforcement agency.

The FBI should have the time they need to complete a background check. Its more important than expediting sales to people who shouldnt have a gun, he said.

On the other hand, Second Amendment advocates argue that the background check system already does too much.

We dont think its proper for people to have to prove their innocence to the government in order to exercise their God-given right, Erich Pratt, executive director of Gun Owners of America, a Virginia-based gun rights nonprofit, told Fox News.

Our rights are listed in the Bill of Rights for a reason, he continued. Peoples rights are being infringed upon and its resulting  in some cases  in death and in other cases extreme inconvenience in being able to purchase firearms.

Pratt also said the background check system doesnt do its job, as several of the more recent mass shooters in the U.S., including the suspect in the fatal shooting of 17 people in Parkland, Fla., were able to pass background checks.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Fox News' Barnini Chakraborty contributed to this report.
A lawyer connected to former Trump campaign adviser Rick Gates pleaded guilty Tuesday to a charge of lying to investigators, as part of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe.

Alex Van Der Zwaan was charged by Mueller's team with making false statements to investigators in an interview about his time working for a law firm hired by the Ukraine Ministry of Justice in 2012, when he helped produce a report on the trial of Ukrainian politician Yulia Tymoshenko. According to The Washington Post, Van Der Zwaan is the son-in-law of Russian oligarch German Khan.

That firm, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, told The Associated Press that it fired Van Der Zwaan last year and has been cooperating with authorities. The New York Times reported in September that the Justice Department had requested documents from the firm related to its work in Ukraine on behalf of the government of Russia-aligned President Viktor Yanukovych.

The Times reported that the report the New York-based firm drafted was used to justify the jailing of Tymoshenko -- a political rival of Yanukovych.



Van Der Zwaan is accused of lying about his last communication with Gates, who was indicted in October along with former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort on charges related to their work in Ukraine.

Van Der Zwaan pleaded guilty to the charge Tuesday afternoon. It was made clear in court that he had been cooperating with Mueller up to that point. Van Der Zwaan faces up to six months in prison and a fine of as much as $9,500.

Van Der Zwaan's sentencing is set for April 3.

Gates, a former business partner of Manafort, is expected to plead guilty to fraud-related charges in the next few days as part of a plea deal with Mueller, according to The Los Angeles Times.

The court document notes that Van Der Zwaan said he did not know why an email between him and Person A in September 2016 was not produced to the Special Counsels Office and that his last communication with Gates was in August 2016. It also says he claimed that his last communication with an unidentified Person A was in 2014.

But Mueller's team said that Van Der Zwaan spoke with Gates and Person A in September 2016, and that he deleted "and otherwise did not produce emails" sought by Muellers office -- including an email between him and Person A in September 2016.

The report that was produced by the firm was cited in the 12-count indictment against Manafort and Gates. That indictment accused the two men of acting as unregistered lobbyists in connection with the rollout of the report. According to the indictment, Manafort and Gates "used one of their offshore accounts to funnel $4 million to pay secretly for the report."

The plea after Mueller's team on Friday indicted 13 Russians and three Russian companies for allegedly interfering in the 2016 election.

Fox News' Jake Gibson, Catherine Herridge and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Michael Moore, the polemical filmmaker who has long accused President Trump of colluding with Russians, posted videos and pictures of himself participating in a protest in Manhattan that was allegedly organized by Russians in November 2016.

Prosecutors said Friday that the Russians indicted for meddling in the presidential campaign were also behind anti-Trump rallies that occured after the election.

The government alleged in an indictment signed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller that the defendants organized a Nov. 12 Trump is NOT my President rally in New York. Their strategic goal was to sow discord in the U.S. political system, the indictment said.

On Nov. 12, Moore tweeted: "At today's Trump Tower protest. He wouldn't come down."

He attached a picture of himself posing with a large number of protesters.

Moore also posted a lengthy video on Facebook Nov. 12, when he joined the protest and debated voters at Trump Tower.

Approximately 25,000 protesters turned out in New York on Nov. 12, chanting slogans rejecting the then-president-elect, NBC News reported at the time, citing New York Police Department officials.

Amid heavy police presence, protesters marched from Union Square to Trump Tower, the Guardian reported.

Moore has repeatedly claimed that President Trump inappropriately colluded with Russians.

Last year, Moore wrote on Facebook: "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what was going on: TRUMP COLLUDING WITH THE RUSSIANS TO THROW THE ELECTION TO HIM."
Pennsylvania Republicans, egged on by President Trump, on Tuesday blasted a court decision to impose new congressional maps as a power grab by Democrats and vowed to challenge the move in federal court.

This map constitutes a new standard for judicial activism, Pennsylvania Republican Party Chairman Val DiGiorgio said in a statement. This power grab is an affront to over 200 years of precedent and nothing short of judicial-mandering.

The Democratic-majority state Supreme Court voted 4-3 on Monday to impose the new congressional district map it drew, seen as a boost for Democrats.

The map of Pennsylvania's 18 congressional districts is to be in effect for the May 15 primary and substantially overhauls a Republican-drawn map widely viewed as among the nation's most gerrymandered.

The decision swiftly drew national attention on Monday. And on Tuesday, President Trump urged state Republicans to challenge it.

Hope Republicans in the Great State of Pennsylvania challenge the new pushed Congressional Map, all the way to the Supreme Court, if necessary. Your Original was correct! Dont let the Dems take elections away from you so that they can raise taxes & waste money! he tweeted.

DiGiorgio said, I expect we will be challenging this in federal court."

Further, National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Matt Gorman said in a statement that State and federal GOP officials will sue in federal court as soon as tomorrow in a bid to block the new map, claiming it has created chaos, confusion, and unnecessary expense.

DiGiorgio also accused the court of causing chaos by drawing residents into new districts and candidates out of their old districts, while allegedly diluting GOP voters.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court, by acting as judge, executive and legislature has trampled on the concept of separation of powers and violated the Pennsylvania and U.S. Constitution, he said.

Democrats similarly have claimed Republicans were carefully drawing districts to favor their own, especially in Philadelphias suburbs.

There, Republicans have held seats in bizarrely contorted districts, including one labeled "Goofy Kicking Donald Duck."

The court ruled last month that Republicans who redrew district boundaries in 2011 unconstitutionally put partisan interests above neutral line-drawing criteria. It was the first time any state court threw out congressional boundaries in a partisan gerrymandering case, this one brought by registered Democratic voters and the League of Women Voters last June.

The new map reunifies Democratic-heavy cities that had been split by Republican map drawers six years ago.

"It remedies the outrageous gerrymander of 2011, and that's the important thing, that the gerrymander be over," said David Landau, the Democratic Party chairman of Delaware County, site of the "Goofy Kicking Donald Duck" district. "All that zigging and zagging is all gone, and it makes Delaware County a competitive seat now."

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court had a Monday deadline to come up with a redistricting map.

Republicans have won 13 of the 18 congressional seats in the last three election cycles when the current, now invalidated, map took effect.

Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf praised the court decision and said residents are are sick and tired of gerrymandering.

Now, my focus will be on making sure the Department of State can support our counties and all candidates in the election process, particularly during the petition period. My administration will work expeditiously to update Department of State systems and ensure all processes are in place to assist candidates for Congress, he said in a statement.

Fox News Bill Mears, Michelle Chavez and Eric Strain and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway is telling the National Rifle Association to consider holding its annual convention this spring somewhere else, warning of protests if the event is held in Dallas as planned.

"I am saying to the NRA, reconsider coming to Dallas, Caraway reportedly said Monday, five days after a gunman killed 17 people at a Florida high school. There will be marches and demonstrations should they come to Dallas.

The NRA has been criticized in the aftermath of the massacre by critics who say the gun-rights group is keeping lawmakers in Washington and across the country from passing measures that would curb gun violence.

Our members work in fire stations and police departments, the NRA said in response to Caraways comments. They save lives in local hospitals and own businesses in communities urban and rural throughout this country. No politician anywhere can tell the NRA not to come to their city. We are already there.

The annual NRA conventions, which include meetings and exhibits, routinely draw tens of thousands of gun enthusiasts. This years event is set for May 4-6 in Dallass Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.

Caraway on Monday also mentioned the ambush murder of five Dallas police officers in July 2016 and invoked the 1963 John F. Kennedy assassination in Dallas, according to Fox 4 News.

He said he believes in Second Amendment rights and owns five guns but argued NRA officials, if they come to Dallas, should work with local leaders on changing laws to increase gun safety.

It is time for them to stand up, Caraway said. And it's time for us to listen and it's time for Trump and every elected official in Washington and USA on every level to stand up and speak out against this type of violence.

He also said he was not speaking for the city council, of which he is a member.

To read more from Fox 4, click here.


An Ohio woman's claim that Donald Trump stole a long and unwelcome kiss from her in the lobby of Trump Tower some 13 years ago is fake news, the president declared Tuesday.

Rachel Crooks, 35, who is running for office in Ohio as a Democrat, told her story most recently to the Washington Post, which published it Tuesday on the front page. She claimed the then-real estate mogul spied her by the elevators at his signature building as she waited to go upstairs to her job as a secretary for an investment firm.

He took hold of my hand and held me in place like this, Crooks told the paper, in a story she had previously told to The New York Times during the 2016 presidential campaign. He started kissing me on one cheek, then the other cheek. He was talking to me in between kisses, asking where I was from, or if I wanted to be a model. He wouldnt let go of my hand, and then he went right in and started kissing me on the lips.

Trump blasted back Tuesday, saying he doesn't know Crooks -- and has never been in the habit of kissing women in the lobby of his very-public office and residential tower.

"A woman I dont know and, to the best of my knowledge, never met, is on the FRONT PAGE of the Fake News Washington Post saying I kissed her (for two minutes yet) in the lobby of Trump Tower 12 years ago," Trump tweeted. "Never happened! Who would do this in a public space with live security...cameras running. Another False Accusation."

The Washington Post cited emails Crooks allegedly sent on the day of the incident, including one to her mother in which she alluded to a "weird incident with Mr. Trump.

Crooks' account is the latest of more than a dozen in which women claim Trump made advances at them, with some dating back to the 1980s. Accusers include a reality-TV host, a runner-up on The Apprentice, a yoga instructor and an adult-film star.

The claims have gained renewed attention after Trump lawyer Michael Cohen acknowledged he paid former porn star Stormy Daniels $130,000 in 2016.

Trump claims the accusations were all made for political reasons, and lawyer Lisa Bloom, who has represented several women who claim to have been sexually harassed by Trump, has admitted that her firm offered to pay some of the women.

Crooks is now employed as a recruiter at Heidelberg University, in Tiffin, Ohio. She is running for a seat in the Ohio legislature.
President Trump on Tuesday presented the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor to 12 "great heroes" who risked "their lives to protect America's citizens and communities."

The award is the highest national honor a public safety officer  local police, fire department, sheriff's officers and rescue personnel  can receive, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Trump said the 12 officers awarded the honor have "earned an eternal place in the gratitude of our history and in our hearts."

Officers who went "above and beyond the call of duty" in various emergency situations to protect human life received the honors from the president, including those who jumped into action during a terror attack more than two years ago.

Fourteen people were killed and 22 others injured in December 2015 when a husband and wife went on a deadly shooting rampage in San Bernardino, Calif.

Six public safety officers who responded to the terror attack were awarded a Medal of Valor.

Cpl. Rafael Ixco, San Bernardino Sheriff's Department

Det. Bruce Southworth, San Bernardino Sheriff's Department

Deputy Shaun Wallen, San Bernardino Sheriff's Department

Det. Brian Olvera, San Bernardino Police Department

District Attorney Investigator Chad Johnson, San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office

Officer Nicholas Koahou, Redlands Police Department

OBAMA AWARDS MEDAL OF VALOR TO 13 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AT WHITE HOUSE

In February 2016, two officers, as Trump described, "braved smoke, fire, and the danger of explosion," when they responded to a fiery car wreck in Tennessee, rescuing one man who was trapped inside his vehicle. Lt. William Buchanan of the Avery County Sheriff's Office in North Carolina and EMT Sean Ochsenbein of the Putnam County Rescue Squad in Tennessee were both recognized.

A California beach patrol officer, who in February 2016 rescued three people from drowning at Redondo Beach, also received a Medal of Valor. Firefighter/Harbor Patrol Officer David Poirier, Jr., of the Redondo Beach Fire Department, received the award at the ceremony.

Hesston, Kansas Police Chief Douglas Schroeder was awarded for his response to an active shooter alert in February 2016. During the shooting at a workplace with more than 150 employees on duty, the public safety officer rushed to the rescue without any backup.

In April 2016, a firefighter rescued a man from an Arizona home as his helmet melted and skin began to burn. Trump said Tuesday that the actions of Engineer Steven Gunn, from the Peoria Fire-Medical Department, exemplified an heroic "great job."

A Wisconsin police officer who responded to a shooting during a high school prom in April 2016 is "credited with saving the lives" of four students who were fired upon as they left the dance. Patrolman Andrew Hopfensperger, Jr., of the Antigo Police Department, earned the recognition at the ceremony, too.

Fox News' John Roberts contributed to this report.
President Trump on Tuesday turned a 2016 quote from then-President Barack Obama against him in the ongoing battle over Russian interference in the election -- claiming it shows Democrats are using the meddling as a belated excuse for losing.

Trump cited remarks made by Obama at a press conference with then-Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi just weeks before the election, in which Obama advised then-candidate Trump to stop whining about potential election rigging.



"There is no serious person out there who would suggest somehow that you could even rig Americas elections, in part because theyre so decentralized and the numbers of votes involved, Obama said.



Trump tweeted that quote Tuesday morning, citing it as proof Democrats attitudes changed after he won the election.

"When I easily won the Electoral College, the whole game changed and the Russian excuse became the narrative of the Dems," he tweeted shortly after the Obama quote was cited on 'Fox & Friends.'

Obama was addressing Trump claims that voter fraud within the U.S. could affect the election, not Russian meddling. But Trump seized on the words Tuesday to put them into the current context of Russian election meddling.

Trumps remarks come after a federal grand jury on Friday indicted 13 Russians and three Russian companies for allegedly interfering in the election, in a case brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller that detailed a plot to sow discord in the U.S. political system.

TRUMP PUSHED BACK AGAINST 'FAKE NEWS MEDIA' COVERAGE OF RUSSIAN MEDDLING



While the indictment details a sustained campaign of meddling from the Russians, who posed as politically active Americans and recruited real Americans to stage rallies and engage in political activities, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein noted on Friday there is no allegation that Americans knowingly conspired with the Russians or that the meddling changed the outcome of the election.



In the wake of the indictment, Trump repeatedly hailed it as vindication of his claims that the election outcome was not affected and that collusion was a false narrative. He has sought to challenge Democrats who still suggest Russian interference could have swayed the final outcome in 2016.

"Russia started their anti-US campaign in 2014, long before I announced that I would run for President," Trump tweeted on Friday. "The results of the election were not impacted. The Trump campaign did nothing wrong - no collusion!"

On Tuesday, Trump also claimed he had been "much tougher" on Russia than his predecessor.
President Trump's use of Twitter as a sledgehammer delights his base and drives his detractors crazy, especially in the press.

But even by Trumpian standards, his tweetstorm over the weekend was something to behold, coming as it did against the backdrop of Bob Mueller's indictment of 13 Russians for election meddling.

The New York Times said yesterday that Trump initially felt vindicated by Mueller's lack of any collusion charges against his campaignthough "unwitting" Americans were said to have cooperated with the Russiansbut things changed as he watched cable news at Mar-a-Lago:

"The president's mood began to darken as it became clearer to him that some commentators were portraying the indictment as nothing for him to celebrate, according to three people with knowledge of his reaction. Those commentators called it proof that he had not won the election on his own, a particularly galling, if not completely accurate, charge for a president long concerned about his legitimacy."

There was a swipe at his national security adviser: "General McMaster forgot to say that the results of the 2016 election were not impacted or changed by the Russians."

There was the fact that the Russian hacking predated his political career: "Funny how the Fake News Media doesn't want to say that the Russian group was formed in 2014, long before my run for President. Maybe they knew I was going to run even though I didn't know!"

There was the dismissal of his own repeated insistence that the Russia probe was a hoax, that he never fully accepted Moscow's role in election interference and appeared to accept Vladimir Putins denial when they met:

"I never said Russia did not meddle in the election, I said 'it may be Russia, or China or another country or group, or it may be a 400 pound genius sitting in bed and playing with his computer.' The Russian 'hoax' was that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia - it never did!"

And the president somehow suggests that the media, congressional and law enforcement pursuit of the Russian disruption was more important than the election hacking itself:

"If it was the GOAL of Russia to create discord, disruption and chaos within the U.S. then, with all of the Committee Hearings, Investigations and Party hatred, they have succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. They are laughing their asses off in Moscow."

Look, we know that the president is sensitive about the suggestion that the Russians were partially responsible for his election, and theres no evidence their shenanigansincluding identity theft, impersonating Americans and manipulating Facebookwere able to change the outcome. So he dissects the indictments through that narrow lens.

There are two journalistic narratives right now, and they're not mutually exclusive. Some in the media did cast the Mueller charges as a victory for Trump, at least for now. Others looked more narrowly at his past criticism of the investigation as a witch hunt and said Mueller had knocked down his "hoax" narrative. A Politico headline, for instance, declared: "Worries About Trump Legitimacy Resurface With Russia Indictment."

I dont see how indicting 13 Russians with no conscious help from those in Trump's orbit casts doubt on the legitimacy of a candidate who fairly won the Electoral College.

The one tweet that really bothered me was this:

"Very sad that the FBI missed all of the many signals sent out by the Florida school shooter. 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!"

I just don't think he should have dragged the Florida tragedy into it. The FBIs bungling of a warning about the shooter was indeed a terrible and tragic mistake. But the bureau is a large institution, and obviously it didn't botch that warning because too many agents were investigating the Russia matter.

By Sunday night he was back to his usual form, tweeting against the "insecure" Oprah for what he called her "biased and slanted" questioning of Trump supporters in a "60 Minutes" segment. Trump said he hopes she runs, but unfortunately for him, shes defied the media drumbeat and said she's not.

One thing the president hasn't done is denounced Moscow for its systematic effort to undermine American democracy. To me, this is a missed opportunity. Trump could get bipartisan support for a speech in which he vowed to retaliate, regardless of whether the hacking helped him or not. But because he views almost everything through the prism of his election, Trump has chosen not to address a conspiracy that his own Justice Department says was damaging to America.
When it was first measured in the 1800s, Jupiters Great Red Spot was an enormous four times bigger than the Earth.

Then, when the space probe Voyager 2 hurtled past in 1979, it was seen to be a little more than twice the size of our planet.

Now under the prying eye of NASAs Juno probe, its barely 30 per cent bigger than us.

Nothing lasts forever, Juno mission planetary scientist Glenn Orton told Business Insider.

In truth, the GRS (Great Red Spot) has been shrinking for a long time ...

The GRS will in a decade or two become the GRC (Great Red Circle), Orton said. Maybe sometime after that the GRM  the Great Red Memory.

But NASAs determined to have a good look at before it goes.

Juno sent back stunning images of the Great Red Spot last year as it dived close to the gas giants atmosphere. It passed 9000km above the 16,000km-wide storm.

Its going to do so again in April. But not quite as close.

None of its four future dives will bring it as close to Jupiter as July last year.

But they will still offer informative looks into the depths of the great red eye.

The first recorded instance of the Red Spot being sighted was in 1665. Its been churning away at some 600km/h ever since.

The longest lasting known storm on Earth was recorded in 1994  at 31 days.

Juno launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida in August, 2011, on a mission to learn more about Jupiters origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere.

Like the Cassini probes mission to Saturn last year, NASA will deliberately crash Juno into Jupiters upper atmosphere as its life nears its end. This is to avoid any contamination of potentially life-supporting moons, such as water-spewing Europa.

This story originally appeared in news.com.au.
Experts are planning to perform DNA analysis on a human bone recovered from a Cape Cod shipwreck to determine whether it belongs to the infamous pirate Samuel "Black Sam" Bellamy.

The Whydah Pirate Museum in Yarmouth, Mass., publicly displayed the bone Monday. The bone, thought be a femur, was found near what's believed to be Bellamy's pistol.

On Monday, the bone was extracted from a 3,600-pound concretion  a large chunk of hardened sand and artifacts that was taken from the wreck a number of years ago, the Cape Cod Times reports.

Over 200 concretions have been recovered the wreck site.

INCREDIBLE BLACKBEARD DISCOVERY: STUNNING

FIND ON BUCCANEER'S SHIP REVEALS PIRATE READING HABITS

The 300-year-old bone will now undergo DNA testing to shed new light on the Whydah, which sank in a storm in 1717. The wreck was discovered in 1984.

The museum has enlisted forensic scientists at the University of New Haven to extract DNA and compare it with DNA from a living Bellamy descendant. Testing is expected to take about a month.

Who is this pirate, who is this lost pirate? asked Barry Clifford, who discovered the wreck and founded the Whydah Pirate Museum, during a press conference Monday. Is he Sam Bellamy? Is he African? Is he from Scotland? Ireland? England? Native American? We dont know yet.

This really is an exciting opportunity for us, its not every day that we get to work on a case thats 300 years old, said Claire Glynn, assistant professor in the University of New Havens Forensic Science Department, at the press conference.

WILL CANNONBALL DISCOVERY LEAD TO LOST GALLEON'S SUNKEN 'TREASURE'?

Glynn explained that a Dremel tool will be used to drill into the bone and retrieve a sample.

Typical methods for extracting DNA from bone involve pulverizing the bone, according to Glynn. We have a cryogenic laboratory mill that we will use for this purpose, she said, but added that a variety of methods might be used.

Scientists will analyze DNA lineage markers know as Y-STRs that are passed down through the male line over generations.

Clifford said that there was a lot of ethnic diversity among the Whydahs crew.

CAPTAIN KIDDS TREASURE FOUND BY DIVERS OFF MADAGASCAR

There were 180 pirates on the ship  one third of whom were of African origin, most of whom were former slaves, he explained, adding that many Native Americans were also on the ship.

The Whydah clearly has plenty of secrets still to reveal.

What the Whydah really represents here in America - its Americas version of King Tuts tomb, said author and Whydah research team member Casey Sherman, during the press conference.

Since its discovery, some 20,000 coins have been recovered from the wreck, although most of its treasure is thought to remain on the ocean floor. The treasures that this shipwreck has revealed since 1984, since Barry Clifford discovered the wreck, has been enormous, said Sherman. The mother lode of treasure still has yet to be found.

THIS SHIPWRECK DATES TO WHEN GENGHIS KHANS DESCENDANTS RULED CHINA

Experts, however, believe that they may have found the location of the mother lode and will be conducting more research at the wreck site off the coast of Wellfleet, Mass., this summer.

"According to primary source documents, there's still a tremendous amount of treasure still on the site," Clifford told Fox News. "We think we know the location where it most likely is."

Bellamy had seized 54 ships in just over two years prior to the Whydahs sinking, fueling speculation that the wreck is treasure-laden. Forbes has listed the English pirate as the highest-earning pirate ever, plundering about $120 million worth of treasure in a little over a year.

Clifford, who had John F. Kennedy Jr. as his first mate during the 1984 discovery of the wreck, told Fox News that the project has vast amounts of work still to do. "It's going to take more than 6 months just to 'deconcrete' the concretion that we're working on now," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this article. Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers
Claudia Ackley is positive that she and her two daughters came across Bigfoot in a tree in southern California last year, but when she called different state authorities to report the sighting, she got the same response.

Nope, they told her, you saw a bear. As a result, the 46-year-old has filed a lawsuit against the state for failing to recognize Sasquatch as a distinct species, reports the Press-Enterprise.

In this case, you can judge for yourself: An ABC 30 report on Ackley's sighting includes phone video shot by her daughter near Lake Arrowhead in the San Bernardino mountains.

(It was shot around dusk and is pretty dark.) Ackley filed her suit with documentary filmmaker Todd Standing, who made the Netflix film "Discovering Bigfoot" and who believes the sighting is legit.

State officials won't comment on pending litigation. "He looked like a Neanderthal man with hair all over him," said Ackley, who says this is the second sure sighting of Bigfoot she has made.

"He had solid black eyes. He had no expression on his face at all. He did not show his teeth. He just stared at the three of us." The three then safely walked away, she says.

Among other things, the lawsuit says the state is endangering the public by not recognizing Bigfoot and calls on it to "'manage this wildlife species" and protect its habitat.

You can read the lawsuit in full at Gizmodo, which says it makes "some valid and interesting points." In the meantime, Ackley is leaving fruit and snacks out, along with a voice-activated book that includes recordings of words like "fur" and "candy," and samples of each, in an attempt to communicate.

This article originally appeared on Newser: Positive She Saw Bigfoot, She's Suing California
Russian bots aren't pro-Republican or pro-Democrat: they're simply anti-American.

That's the conclusion many are reaching in the wake of the indictments recently handed out by Special Counsel Robert Mueller against 13 Russian nationals and three Russian entities who allegedly enacted a sophisticated plot to wage information warfare against the United States.

Marat Mindiyarov, a former commenter at the Internet Research Agency, says the organization's Facebook department hired people with excellent English skills to sway U.S. public opinion through an elaborate social media campaign.

His own experience at the agency makes him trust the U.S. indictment, Mindiyarov told The Associated Press. "I believe that that's how it was and that it was them," he said.

While much of the attention has focused on the 2016 U.S. presidential election and the role played in it by the Internet Research Agency, one of the defendants named in the indictment, Russian social media bots also have been detected inserting discord into the Parkland, Fla., shooting debate on social media. Russian bots have reportedly been taking both sides in the debate.

Hamilton 68, a website built by Alliance for Securing Democracy, has tracked Twitter activity from accounts that have purportedly been involved with Russian dissuasion campaigns, according to a Wired report. The accounts put themselves into hashtags surrounding the Parkland shooting and mentioned topics such as Parkland, gun control, shooter Nikolas Cruz, the NRA and other related topics.

FACEBOOK, GOOGLE, TWITTER OPEN UP TO CONGRESS ABOUT RUSSIAN MISINFORMATION

Other websites, such as Botcheck.me, have also seen an increase in Russian bot activity following the Parkland shooting, using phrases such as "school shooting" and "gun control" and hashtags such as #guncontrol and #guncontrolnow.

"We worked in a group of three where one played the part of a scoundrel, the other one was a hero, and the third one kept a neutral position."  Marat Mindiyarov, a former commenter at the Internet Research Agency

In an email to Fox News, Ash Bhat, co-creator of Botcheck.me, said the project's analysis "found that a majority of tweets tagged with #mueller over the weekend [Fri. and Sat.] came from automated accounts." For comparison purposes, the site also tracked #blackpanther (a hashtag surrounding a superhero movie) and "we found that only a single digit percentage were from these automated accounts."

Bhat added that Botcheck.me uses machine learning to build a statistical model using inputs like date, frequency of tweets, bio, follower counts and other stats to determine whether the account is a bot or a person.

The site has found that bots will promote certain hashtags over others, including #memonday, which relates to the recently released Devin Nunes memo. "We theorize that this might be because it lets these networks frame the public debate around the events. For example, debating gun violence vs. debating mental illness," Bhat told Fox News.

He also noted that @realdonaldtrump, @potus and @foxnews (the main Twitter handle for this website) are among the most tweeted-at accounts. @Realdonaldtrump and @potus are "usually in the top 3," he said, while @foxnews moves around often in the top 10. Bhat added that CNN's Twitter account also "tends to be in the top 10."

INTERNET RESEARCH AGENCY INDICTED: WHO IS THE RUSSIAN COMPANY BEHIND THE FAKE FACEBOOK ADS?

"The most important principle of the work is to have an account like a real person. They create real characters, choosing a gender, a name, a place of living and an occupation. Therefore, it's hard to tell that the account was made for the propaganda."  -Lyudmila Savchuk, former troll and researcher at the Internet Research Agency

Bigger than the election and the fight against it

The Internet Research Agency has also allegedly purchased online advertisements and created content for other contentious topics beyond the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

It reportedly used doctored videos to spread false reports about a supposed Islamic State attack on a chemical plant in Louisiana and a purported case of Ebola in the state of Georgia. Seeking to sow division and mistrust ahead of the U.S. election, the agency apparently whipped up a fake video of an African-American woman being shot dead by a white police officer in Atlanta.

The two primary social media companies that have been subject to the influx of bot accounts and propaganda, Twitter and Facebook, are attempting to fight back, with varying degress of success.

In September, the Jack Dorsey-led Twitter gave an update on how it is attempting to stop bots and misinformation on its platform. It said that it had built systems to identify suspicious log-in attempts, catching about 450,000 suspicious logins per day, using machine learning and automated processes. Thanks to the processes put in place, it saw a 64 percent "year-over-year increase in suspicious logins were able to detect," but noted significantly more work needs to be done.

Bhat said that it is "impossible to say whether an account is 'Russian' with the data publicly available," adding that Twitter has access to IP logs and other information that has not been released publicly and could be used to determine an account's origin.

Data has not yet been released on how many people have seen or interacted with Russian bot accounts stemming from the Parkland shooting, but recently released data highlight how massive the issue has become.

At least 1.4 million people on Twitter interacted with Russian propaganda during the 2016 presidential election --double the number initially identified, according to a company blog post.

Twitter also said it notified all 1.4 million affected users that they saw propaganda, making good on a pledge the company made to U.S. lawmakers who are probing Russias social media tactics.

Approximately 150 million Facebook users saw inflammatory posts created by the Internet Research Agency, according to a report from Engadget.

In response, Facebook created a tool to let both Facebook and Instagram users know if they saw one of these posts from January 2015 to August 2017.

Additionally, Facebook told legislators that the Internet Research Agency attempted to organize 129 events such as rallies, protests and other events across the U.S.



Approximately 338,300 unique Facebook accounts viewed the events, 62,500 marked they were attending one of the events and 25,800 accounts marked they were interested, the company said.



In September 2017, Facebook announced that it had uncovered approximately $100,000 in fraudulent ad spending tied to the 2016 U.S. election. According to a source familiar with the social network's thinking, Facebook's research links its September findings back to the Internet Research Agency.

Facebook's Chief Security Officer Alex Stamos wrote in early September the company "found approximately $100,000 in ad spending from June of 2015 to May of 2017 -- associated with roughly 3,000 ads -- that was connected to about 470 inauthentic accounts and pages in violation of our policies. Our analysis suggests these accounts and pages were affiliated with one another and likely operated out of Russia."

Additionally, Facebook said it found approximately $50,000 in "potentially politically related ad spending," that was spent on approximately 2,200 ads.

The Internet Research Agency's potential involvement with the fraudulent Facebook ad spending was first reported in September 2017 by both The New York Times and The Washington Post.

In an unclassifed report in January 2017, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence mentioned the potential involvement by the Internet Research Agency in the 2016 U.S. election.

"A journalist who is a leading expert on the Internet Research Agency claimed that some social media accounts that appear to be tied to Russias professional trolls -- because they previously were devoted to supporting Russian actions in Ukraine -- started to advocate for President-elect Trump as early as December 2015," the report reads.



How the propaganda is being spread

While Russian officials scoff at the U.S. indictments handed out by Mueller, people who worked at the Internet Research Agency believe the criminal charges are well-founded.

The aim of the agency's work was either to influence voters or to undermine their faith in the U.S. political system, the 37-page indictment states.

Russia has repeatedly denied it was involved and Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Monday that while the indictment focuses on "Russian nationals," it gives "no indication that the Russian government was involved in this in any way."

Mindiyarov, who failed the language exam needed to get a job at the organization's Facebook desk where the pay was double that of the domestic side of the factory, said the content looked as if it were written by native English speakers. "These were people with excellent language skills, interpreters, university graduates," he said, "It's very hard to tell it's a foreigner writing because they master the language wonderfully."

The English test he took asked for a writing sample about Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's chances of winning the U.S. election, Mindiyarov recalled.

"I wrote that her chances were high and she could become the first female president," he told the AP.

Mindiyarov noted they received their wages in cash and operated in teams as they tried to foment public interest with fake discussions. There are also photo and video departments at the Internet Research Agency.

"We worked in a group of three where one played the part of a scoundrel, the other one was a hero, and the third one kept a neutral position," he said. "For instance, one could write that Putin was bad, the other one would say it was not so, and the third would confirm the position of the second while inserting some picture."

Another former Internet Research Agency worker, Lyudmila Savchuk, said her experience there corresponds with the allegations made by Mueller and his team.

"The posts and comments are made to form the opinion of Russian citizens regarding certain issues, and as we see it works for other countries, too," Savchuk told the AP.

"The most important principle of the work is to have an account like a real person," Savchuk added. "They create real characters, choosing a gender, a name, a place of living and an occupation. Therefore, it's hard to tell that the account was made for the propaganda."

Combatting the propaganda in the future

Though it's difficult to tell what account is a bot and what isn't, there are some steps the average social media user can take.

Accounts with no photos and user names with a series of letters and numbers are often accounts that should be looked at with a discerning eye, Eric Feinberg, a founding partner of deep web analysis company GIPEC.

"This could be a guide for people to look for when interacting with bots," Feinberg told Fox News, via email. "Review the account history and characteristics, including the speed and timing of tweets and posts, [as] many of these bot accounts recently joined Facebook and Twitter but have high amount of tweets and posts in [a] short period [of] time."

Additionally, RoBhat Labs wrote a blog post giving further guidelines on how to identify bots on Twitter, including ones it calls "high-confidence bot accounts," meaning accounts it is pretty certain are a bot.

"Behavior such as tweeting every few minutes in a full day, endorsing polarizing political propaganda (including fake news), obtaining a large follower account in a relatively small time span, and constant retweeting/promoting other high-confidence bot accounts are all traits that lead to high-confidence bot accounts," RoBhat Labs wrote in the post. "These are the accounts that we aim to classify and bring to the attention of the Twitter community."

Michael Balboni, president and managing director of RedLand Strategies, said the speed of social media posts can make it difficult to identify what is propaganda and what is not. "At the very least, in the shorter term, 'trending' will become an unreliable indicator of interest of a topic," he said.

Fox News' Christopher Carbone and the Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow Chris Ciaccia on Twitter @Chris_Ciaccia
Technology use while on vacation affects more than just the type of activities travelers do. According to Wyndham hotels, 54 percent of children believe their parents check their phones too often and 32 percent said that they feel unimportant when their parents are distracted by screens.

Later this month, the hotel will launch a program that gives traveling families a discount in exchange for locking away their phones.

We saw parents hopping on a quick conference call in the lobby, and some hotels have had to order extra pool chairs because guests are swimming less and swiping more, eschewing dips in the pool for iPad time on poolside loungers, Noelle Nicolai, who developed the Wyndham initiative, told Travel + Leisure.

In response, the hotel is offering a five percent discount to guests who opt into the Reconnected program at select Wyndham Grand hotels (Clearwater Beach, Orlando Bonnet Creek, Chicago Riverfront, Hotel Galvez, and The Mills House). The offer is available from Feb. 23 through Sept. 3, based on availability.

Guests will receive a lock box to put away their smartphones. The box has a timer and will not open until the time expires.

The new project focuses on the fun of an analog childhood, Nicolai said. Guests will also find a blanket fort for kids and an Instax camera in their Reconnected packages. Theres also a late-night Bedtime Brigade room service menu families can share together while, the hotel hopes, reading stories in the fort
When it comes to airplane travel, there are certain behaviors that are generally frowned upon, like taking off your shoes and socks, doing yoga in the aisle, or eating smelly foods. But sometimes a person does something on a plane no one is expecting, as was the case when one woman was caught literally airing out her dirty laundry.

The woman was traveling with Ural Airlines from Antalya, Turkey, to Moscow, Russia, when she was recorded holding a pair of white cotton underwear over her head up to the air vent to dry them off.

KFC WORKERS ACCUSED OF 'SMUGGLING' CHICKEN INTO RESTAURANT AMID MASSIVE SHORTAGE IN UK

A fellow passenger on the flight told The Sun that the woman didnt seem even remotely embarrassed as she held the underwear to the vent for at least 20 minutes.

Everybody was looking with interest and confusion, but everybody remained silent, the passenger told the publication.

After footage of the incident was shared online, the video sparked conflicting opinions from people who commented on the womans behavior, The Sun reports.

"Maybe the takeoff was sort of extreme, so now she has to dry those," one person commented.

Another suggested that the underwear potentially belonged to a child. "Those arent ones of an adult. Looks like they belong to a kid."

"This is not the worst thing in the modern world," someone else added.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

Others were not as understanding of the womans behavior.

This woman has the intellect of a dog  This is so sad  Half the country are like her."
A passenger is claiming she was removed from an Emirates flight because an attendant overheard her complaining about having menstrual cramps.

Beth Evans was flying to Dubai from Birmingham, UK, with her partner Josh Moran on Saturday when she experienced menstrual pains.

Though the pain was one out of ten while sitting down, Evans told The Sun, she alleges the crew still removed her from the seven-hour flight.

RUDE PASSENGER BOOTED FROM DELTA FLIGHT FOR SCREAMING ABOUT BEING SEATED NEAR A BABY

To be kicked off for period pains  it was madness, Moran told The Sun. Beth was in tears and getting upset when the hostess was asking her questions. Its embarrassing to have to explain about period pains when its being overheard.

The 26-year-old added that the airline didnt offer Evans medical treatment.

They didnt have anyone look her over, Moran said. "They just contacted a medical team in the US and they said Beth couldnt fly.

The couple claims they also had to pay an additional 250 (about $350) to rebook their flight after they were removed.

"The captain made the decision to request medical support and deplane Ms. Evans, so she could access medical assistance as needed."  Emirates spokesperson

The airline denies the claim that a flight attendant overheard the woman complaining. In a statement to Fox News, a spokesperson for Emirates said the passenger reached out to a crew member to say she wasnt feeling well.

We can confirm that Ms. Beth Evans deplaned flight EK40 on Saturday, February 17th, due to a medical emergency. The passenger alerted the crew onboard that she was suffering from discomfort and pain and mentioned she was feeling unwell. The captain made the decision to request medical support and deplane Ms. Evans, so she could access medical assistance as needed.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

The airline defended their decision to remove Evans from the flight.

The safety of our passengers and crew is of paramount importance, and we would not have wanted to endanger Ms. Evans by delaying medical help, had she worsened during the seven-hour flight to Dubai. We hope Ms. Evans felt better soon and look forward to welcoming her onboard again soon, the statement concluded.

According to the World Health Organization, the actions of the flight crew are not unusual.

On the WHO website, the organization says, If cabin crew suspect before departure that a passenger may be ill, the aircrafts captain will be informed and a decision taken as to whether the passenger is fit to travel, needs medical attention, or presents a danger to other passengers and crew or to the safety of the aircraft.
Uber and Lyft driver Joshua Thiede, who was last seen driving out of his Los Angeles apartment on Feb. 11 has been found alive, police said.

Thiede was discovered at Good Samaritan Hospital on Monday, Fox 11 Los Angeles reported. Further details regarding the situation remain unclear.

Law enforcement said Thiede's black 2014 Nissan Altima was found in Koreatown on Monday just before 12:30 p.m.

Thiede was last seen leaving his apartment on Feb. 11.

The Uber drivers mother, Janet, said earlier that phone records indicated that her son  or someone using her son's phone  made a call to 911 at 2:32 p.m. on Feb. 12. She said whoever made the call didn't say anything and hung up.

The phone was later traced to Venice Boulevard and Burlington Avenue, but is no longer active, according to Fox 11.

MISSING UBER, LYFT DRIVER CALLED 911 BEFORE DISAPPEARING IN LOS ANGELES, FAMILY SAYS

A key fob belonging to Thiede recorded the man last leaving his apartment on the night of Feb. 11, KTLA reported.

Janet said it's unlike her son to disappear and not contact anyone.

Were really getting concerned now, friend Kevin Young told KCBS-TV. Right now a week has gone by.

Janet added that Thiede was living with two roommates in Los Angeles and was a driver for Uber and Lyft to earn extra money.

Fox News' Katherine Lam contributed to this report.
Law enforcement officials in Arkansas are investigating after the bodies of newborn twins were reportedly discovered in a suitcase by a hunter on Friday.

The infants were found in a purple suitcase in a ditch near County Road 602 in Wynne just before 2 p.m. on Friday, the Cross County Sheriffs Office stated in a news release. Officials said the babies appear to be twins.

The Arkansas State Crime Lab expects the autopsies for the babies to be completed Tuesday morning, according to Fox 16.

"You know, it's always something being dumped in this ditch," Clyde Collins told the station. "To think something like that had happened was kind of strange."

MISSOURI MOM BELIEVED TO HAVE KILLED HUSBAND, BABY, HERSELF; POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION EYED

Collins told Fox 16 he heard a rabbit hunter discovered the suitcase.

"I've heard of a lot of things, but I've never heard of nobody killing babies and putting them in a suitcase," Collins added.

Santia Wallace, who lives on the 602, said when she heard the news, she was shaken up and in tears.

"Here I am, want to have kids and for you to, like, kill them? Like, who does that? Wallace told WREG. "You could have took him to the fire station, you know, something like that. You dont have to kill no kids.

Detective Sergeant Jeffrey Nichols told WREG that authorities have several persons of interest.

The sheriffs office asks anyone with information to call 870-238-5700.
Officials at the University of Vermont and St. Michael's College say they are investigating white supremacist signs and stickers that are being posted around the colleges' campuses.

The University of Vermont said last week that signs defending white privilege were posted in a campus display managed by its Mosaic Center for Students of Color. The Burlington Free Press reports St. Michael's President Jack Neuhauser says officials are investigating similar signs at his college.

Neuhauser said St. Michael's supports free speech but will not tolerate hate speech veiled as free speech. He cited news reports saying the postings are meant to encourage white nationalists and not promote equality for all.

University of Vermont officials say they're planning a gathering this week for student to discuss the signs.

___

Information from: The Burlington Free Press, http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com
Three junior ROTC cadets who were killed in the Florida high school shooting last week will be honored with heroism medals by the U.S. Army.

A spokesman for the U.S. Army told Fox News on Tuesday that Cadet Command approved Junior ROTC Heroism Medals for cadets Alaina Petty, Peter Wang and Martin Duque.

The family of Petty, 14, were presented the medal during her funeral service Monday, at which more than 1,500 people attended to pay their respects.

Wangs family received his medal at his service Tuesday morning.

According to students and teachers, Wang, 15, died in his junior ROTC uniform while helping students, teachers and staff escape from the shooting rampage.

An online petition to the White House sought to give Wang military honors at his funeral. It had more than 43,700 signatures as of Tuesday.

His selfless and heroic actions have led to the survival of dozens in the area. Wang died a hero, and deserves to be treated as such, and deserves a full honors military burial, the petition said.

The Army spokesman said the family has requested Wang be buried in his junior ROTC uniform.

The JROTC Heroism medal will be on his uniform, but a second keepsake medal will be given to his family, Michael Maddox, told Fox News in an email.

Additionally, the U.S. Military Academy West Point is posthumously admitting Wang, who dreamed of attending the prestigious academy, Fox News confirmed.

"It was an appropriate way for USMA to honor this brave young man," the academy said in a statement. "West Point has given posthumous offers of admissions in very rare instances for those candidates or potential candidate's whose actions exemplified the tenets of Duty, Honor and Country."

The family of 13-year-old Duque will receive the medal on Saturday during his funeral services.

Maddox said awards for other possible cadets are going through a review process.

However, the immediate focus right now is on supporting the funerals with dignity and honor, so deserved by these cadets and their families, he added.

All three students were killed by shooter Nikolas Cruz, an ex-JROTC member, when he opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last Wednesday. Cruz killed 17 people during the spree.

On Tuesday, Florida Gov. Rick Scott said he had directed the Florida National Guard to honor the three students.

@FLGuard members will be attending funeral services and paying respect to these JROTC members, their families and loved ones, he tweeted.

The JROTC Heroism Medal is a U.S. military decoration awarded by the Department of the Army to JROTC cadets whose performance involved the acceptance of danger and extraordinary responsibilities, exemplifying praiseworthy fortitude and courage.

Fox News' Shira Bush contributed to this report.
A member of the violent MS-13 gang has been arrested in Florida for brandishing an AK-47 semi-automatic rifle at drivers, police said.

Raul Garcia, 21, was nabbed Monday morning after an overnight search in Wimauma, according to Cpl. Lawrence McKinnon, a spokesman for Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office.

The "certified" MS-13 gang banger was accused of threatening passing motorists with the weapon as he stood on a street corner in shorts and no shirt, McKinnon said.

Deputies were told Garcia was holding the gun as he was yelling at drivers and jumping in front of cars to try and get them to stop, he said.

The spokesman said that after deputies were called to the scene for a report of a man with a gun, they quickly spotted the tattooed Garcia who took off into the woods.

WHAT IS MS-13, THE VIOLENT GANG TRUMP VOWED TO TARGET?

Deputies assisted by K-9 and a HCS0 helicopter then searched the wooded area and found the rifle and a green bag that Garcia was spotted carrying, McKinnon said.

He added that the search ended hours later with Garcias arrest on charges that included improper exhibition of a firearm, possession of methamphetamine, felon in possession of a firearm, loitering and resisting arrest.

The meth was found in the bag in three small plastic baggies, McKinnon said.

MS-13 GANG MEMBERS GET PRISON IN FATAL LONG ISLAND SHOOTING

Garcia, who is a U.S. citizen, was booked into the county jail where he was being held Tuesday on $13,750 bond.

McKinnon said the rifle had not been reported stolen and he did not know its history.
Up in the air, their skin color didnt matter.

In the 21 combat missions that Tuskegee airman George Hardy flew during World War II, firing at trucks, trains, [and] anything to keep Germans from moving supplies around, the American pilots came together.

When we were flying, there was no difference, Hardy told Fox News.

But back on the ground, racial tensions had remained a hurdle for black service members, and Hardy is set to share that experience with younger generations Thursday during a free electronic field trip the National World War II Museum is arranging for classrooms across the U.S.

Race was always a problem. We were originally segregated, Hardy said. Everywhere went, we were segregated.

The live event aimed at middle and high school students, will feature World War II survivors and experts who will analyze war-era racial injustices, examine artifacts from the museums collections and explore WWII historic sites in order to share stories of struggle, setbacks, triumphs and heroism of individuals who changed history, according to the museum.

The Black History Month program will include dispatches from student reporters in California and New Orleans, and interviews with Hardy and Betty Reid Soskin, a World War II home front worker and the oldest living National Park Service Ranger.

It will also feature looks at the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park and the Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial  the site of the worst home front disaster of the war, in which 320 men, mostly black, were killed in a munitions explosion.

I think we look back today on that event and we see workers trying to point us to very dangerous conditions that could have been rectified, Rob Citino, a senior historian at the National World War II Museum, told Fox News.

Central to the Field Trips discussion is an examination of how throughout World War II, African Americans pursued a double victory  one over the Axis abroad and the other over discrimination at home, the museum said in a statement. Major cultural, social and economic shifts amid a global conflict were changing American lives.

Hardy, now 92 and living in Sarasota, Fla., told Fox News that he originally wanted to be an engineer after high school but got drawn into the armed forces as the war heated up.

The war came along and all my buddies were joining up and I felt I wanted to go, too, he said. My older brother was in the service in 1941 and I wanted to go in also.

German POWs were able to do things that black and African American citizens were not permitted to do.  Rob Citino, senior historian at the National World War II Museum

Hardys first choice was the Navy, but his father felt it was too segregated at the time and not a good use of his education, as his brother was only allowed to be a cook.

He then determined he wanted to fly and started training to be a part of the Tuskegee airmen  the famous black American aviators  as an 18-year-old in December 1943. He graduated the next year and was on his way to Europe.

Hardy said he make the trek across the Atlantic on a small ship with about 400 people, around 23 of which were from Tuskegee.

Most of the people slept in hull of the ship on these hammocks, but they had to segregate us, Hardy said of the journey. But this time, he and the other black servicemen were placed in two cabins higher up in the ship and things worked out in our favor.

Its like we went first class and everyone else went in the hull, Hardy said.

Back at home, black Americans faced segregation and discrimination compared to German prisoners of war, who were sent to dozens of camps in states like Texas. Some of the prisoners traveled to those facilities in luxury Pullman railroad cars while being waited on by black servants, Citino said, in addition to being allowed to visit white-only shops and eat at white-only cafeterias and restaurants.

In the south, it was not unheard of for black MPs in buses filled with German POWs to move to the back of the bus, while the German prisoners were able to choose their seats, Citino told Fox News. German POWs were able to do things that black and African American citizens were not permitted to do.

President Harry Truman signed an executive order that desegregated the armed forces in 1948, following the conclusion of World War II, which set a process that would culminate in big civil rights movements of 50s and 60s, Citino said.

Citino said the goal of the program is to let students hear alternative voices talking about the World War II experience.

There have been certain voices that have been largely unheard, he said.

For more information, click here.
A 67-year-old man died after falling down a 500-foot cliff in California on Monday while trying to save his dog.

The National Park Service said the mans dog got away from him and made its way part way down a cliff at Thornton State Beach, which is in the San Francisco area.

The man, who was not identified, ran after the dog but slipped to his death, local TV station KPIX reported.

Rescuers airlifted the body from the cliff and later helped the dog off the steep cliff. The dog was returned to the family.

Thornton State Beach is a popular spot among dog walkers in the area.

"Stay on the trails, especially I mean the ice plants will be slippery with the moisture," Rath Skallion told local TV station KGO. "That's why I can see someone slipping on the edge."

The Park Service warns people to avoid trying to save dogs by themselves. Animals are likely to survive some falls while humans may not.

Sometimes things can move around. You gotta be careful. Always be on alert because rocks can tumble, Tedd Leblanc, who was hiking the same day the incident occurred, told KPIX.
A man fell from a cliff to his death Monday while trying to rescue his dog after it ran away from him at a Northern California park, officials said.

The National Park Service told KTVU the 67-year-old man fell from the nearly 500-foot cliff at Thornton Beach in Daly City.

The dog, which animal control officials said may be a Shepard-mix, had gone down to the rocks on the cliff and got stuck there.

The man had climbed down to get close to the dog, but the rocks gave way beneath him and he plunged to his death. Video from KTVU's helicopter showed the pooch anxiously pacing on the cliff just above where the man's body was found.

Kyle Moreno, who was walking his dog near the area where the man fell, told KTVU the area on the trail is like "a straight drop off."

OREGON CLIMBER 'STARTED CARTWHEELING' DURING FATAL PLUNGE ON MOUNT HOOD

"I stay away knowing how crumbly the cliff is. When it's that steep it can just fall right underneath you," he said.

Rescuers were able to help the dog get back up the cliff, where he was turned over to the victim's son. The park, located about 10 miles outside of San Francisco, is popular with hikers and dog walkers.

"I would definitely try to run after my dog," hiker Michelle Paredes told KTVU. "Unfortunately he did pass away, which is heartbreaking."
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School is expected to begin reopening in phases in an attempt to have all students and staff back by next Tuesday  nearly two weeks after the shooting that left 17 people dead.

Broward County Public Schools officials announced Tuesday staff members will return to campus Friday at 8 a.m. The day is set to be dedicated to their needs and will include a variety of support services," officials said.

On Sunday, the school will have a voluntary campus orientation for students and parents from 2-5 p.m. The school district hopes to resume classes next Tuesday with a modified schedule.

Building 12 at the high school  where gunman Nikolas Cruz opened fire at students and faculty Feb. 14  will most likely remain closed as the rest of the campus reopens. Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie told the Sun Sentinel on Friday there have been numerous requests to have the building torn down.

Weve received numerous requests from parents, students, community members and local elected officials that they would like the building demolished and some memorial resurrected on the site, Runcie said.

For many students and parents, the building is a painful memory of the deadly shooting. Florida Sen. Bill Galvano told the Miami Herald there were significant blood splatters on the hallway walls.

This building has to come down, he said.

Runcie said school officials are working to accommodate 900 students schedules to avoid the freshman building.

Several funerals have already been held for the victims of the shooting. On Monday, funerals were held for Alaina Petty, 14, and Luke Hoyer, 15, of Parkland, where hundreds of mourners gathered throughout the day.

Cruz made his second court appearance on Monday for a procedural hearing. The judge ruled that all investigative reports and case notes filed by the Florida Department of Children and Families will be released to the public.

A law enforcement official also said the 19-year-old legally purchased at least seven long guns. The guns included an AK-47-style rifle he brought less than a month ago. Cruz also bought an AR-15 rifle he used during Wednesdays shooting, in which 15 people were also wounded.

Cruz, who was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder, passed background checks to purchase the weapons.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Florida school where a gunman last week opened fire, killing 17 students and teachers, is set to reopen in phases starting on Friday, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School said in a statement.

When school opens on Friday at 8 a.m., the entire day will be dedicated to attending to staff members needs. There will be support services available. On Sunday, there will be a voluntary campus orientation for students and parents.

The district said it hopes for classes to resume on Tuesday. The classes will be on a modified schedule.

The suspect shooting appeared in court Monday for a procedural hearing about how legal paperwork would be handled in the case.

Nikolas Cruz, 19, said nothing when he made his first in-person appearance in Broward County Circuit Court. A previous appearance had been by a video connection from jail.

Cruz, wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, kept his head down and did not appear to make eye contact with the judge or others in the courtroom, though the slightly built teen responded briefly to someone on the defense team.

It was a tense atmosphere  Cruz was surrounded by Broward Sheriffs deputies as news media members and lawyers watched from the gallery.

The hearing concerned rules that will govern how documents are sealed. Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer said she was in favor of openness whenever possible.

Cruz is charged with killing 17 people and wounding many others in Wednesdays attack at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, which he once attended. Police say Cruz admitted last week to the mass shooting.

His lawyers have said he will plead guilty if prosecutors agree not to pursue the death penalty. No decision has been made on that.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
A former friend and classmate of Nikolas Cruz says he would follow her around, abuse his girlfriend and even talk about killing his friends' parents, adding to the shocking claims that have emerged about Cruz in the days since the Florida high school shooting.

Ariana Lopez told ABC News on Tuesday she and her friends reported Cruzs behavior to school officials multiple times between 2016 and 2017. Cruz was eventually expelled from Marjory Douglas Stoneman High School, where he shot and killed 17 last week.

He talked about killing our parents, our friends, boyfriends and girlfriends, Lopez said. He would talk about how he sympathized with Syrian terrorists and that people who opposed them should be killed. He posted pictures of like 15 or more firearms just on his bed. Like this was normal. Like you could even see a hamper in the background. That's how ordinary this was to him."

A 2016 fight involving Cruz on school grounds, and captured on video, was allegedly started over a girl he briefly dated, Lopez said.

He would hit her. He would threaten her. He would threaten her family and her friends for talking to other guys, she said.

A Florida Department of Children and Families report filed days after that 2016 incident noted Cruz had behavioral changes because of a recent breakup and that he talked about feeling depressed and wanting to purchase a gun, according to ABC News.

Lopez, who sought refuge in a closet during the shooting last week, also corroborated claims made by another student that Cruz would sell knives to classmates out of his lunchbox.

"He used to sell knives out of his lunchbox, which I thought was insane, Lopez said. You can't have knives, this is a school. He would be like, hey guys, want some knives?'"
A woman living alone in a home awarded to her husband in a divorce started a fire in the living room that quickly spread to 19 other houses, causing more than $1 million in damage, according to reports on Tuesday.

The woman, whom officials identified as Adrienne Satterly, 41, started a blaze in a stack of mattresses early Sunday in her home in Hiram, then drove off with her two cats, WSB-TV reported.

Her home and three others in the subdivision were destroyed and 16 others suffered damage, fire officials said.

Despite the massive property damage, only one minor injury was reported, the Paulding Fire Department said.

Satterly has been charged with 14 counts of first-degree arson and three counts of aggravated animal cruelty, Fox 5 Atlanta reported. Two dogs and a cat died in the blaze, fire officials said.

Jailhouse records show she was also charged with public intoxication.

Yolanda Woodland owned the dogs that perished when the flames spread to her home. She was asleep when the fire started about 3:25 a.m.

She told Fox 5 she and Auzalea Godfrey, her daughter, lost everything.

"The house next door, the whole thing was already engulfed in flames, our living room and kitchen was already on fire," she said. "Within two minutes, the house was engulfed in flames. I mean it went really quick."

Godfrey said they were barely able to get out and knock on neighbor doors ahead of the fast-moving flames.

Georgia Insurance Department spokesman Glenn Allen told the West Georgia Neighbor, a local newspaper, Satterlys husband was awarded the house in a divorce settlement. She was living in the house by herself, and her husband lived somewhere else.

She was scheduled to leave the home, Allen told the paper.
The 23-year-old son of an Illinois couple has been charged with hiring a man to try and kill them.

The DuPage County Sheriffs Office said the couple was attacked by a man wielding a hammer at around 2:50 a.m. Sunday. The two were in their home in an unincorporated area near the Chicago suburb of Glen Ellyn.

The couple sustained serious injuries but are in stable condition. They provided a description of their attacker, the sheriffs office said.

The suspect, Michael Targo, 18, was located and apprehended at a nearby business soon after the attack.

Law enforcement said that during the investigation it was determined that the teenager was part of a murder-for-hire plot involving the victims son, Joshua Miceli.

The 23-year-old Miceli was questioned and allegedly implicated himself in the plot, authorities said.

Miceli allegedly offered to pay Targo an undisclosed amount of money if he attacked his parents with a hammer, leaving them with serious injuries, police said.

I would like to praise our deputies for quickly apprehending these dangerous criminals and the investigators who were able to put the pieces together so swiftly, DuPage County Undersheriff Frank Bibbiano said in a statement. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of their heinous crime and we hope for their speeding recovery.

Both men were arrested and charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder. Miceli is also facing two counts of solicitation of murder.

They are being held without bail.
The state of Michigan is reportedly looking to pocket more than $100,000 from a convicted killer's book sales as compensation for his imprisonment, but the inmate wants his children to get the money for their education.

Curtis Dawkins, 49, fatally shot a man during a cocaine-fueld rampage in October 2004 in Kalamazoo, The Detroit News reported. Dawkins, a father of three, was sentenced to life without parole.

In July, Simon & Schuster published Dawkins book, The Graybar Hotel, a short story collection which offers a window into prison life through the eyes of his narrators and their cellmates.

Dawkins told The Detroit News that writing allowed him to escape the everyday life of being behind bars.

It gets me away from the world Im trying to turn into fiction, if that makes any sense, he said.

The felon reportedly received a $150,000 advance for his work, which is funding the education of his three kids. The state claims that Dawkins doesnt have any right to pass his book earnings to his family, according to The Guardian.

In October, the states Department of Treasury filed a lawsuit demanding 90 percent of Dawkins assets. The state wants proceeds from publications, future payments, royalties, in addition to the money his family adds into his prison account, according to The New York Times.

Michigan is one of dozens of states that can force inmates to pay for the cost of their imprisonment, according to the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law. During the last fiscal year, Michigan received $3.7 million from nearly 300 of the states 40,000 inmates, according to The New York Times.

The Brennan Center reported that about 10 million people owe about $50 billion in fees across the nation stemming from arrest or incarceration.

Kenneth Bowman, the brother of Dawkins victim Tom Bowman, told The Times last July that he believes Dawkins earnings should go to the victims family or charity.

Dawkins finances are essentially frozen until the legal issue ends, according to The Guardian.

The advance he received from the publishing company was split with the founder of a literary magazine who helped him get the book deal in the first place. The $50,000 he placed in a fund to help pay for his childrens education were suspended by the state.
The Latest on the closure of a large homeless encampment in Orange County (all times local):

12:00 p.m.

Scores of people have lined up hoping to get a motel room as Southern California authorities move to shut down a large homeless encampment under a court agreement.

Toting dogs and suitcases, tent-dwellers sought help Tuesday from Orange County workers who will place people in up to 400 motel rooms for the short term.

Since the deal was struck last week, officials say more than 200 people have been already placed.

But County Executive Officer Frank Kim says he saw people with sleeping bags arriving at the encampment on the Santa Ana River this weekend so they could also seek a room.

The county moved last month to close the two mile (3.2 kilometer) encampment and homeless advocates sued to protect tent-dwellers' rights.

Plaintiffs' lawyer Carol Sobel says those seeking help likely lived there until the county crackdown began and may have left fearing they'd be arrested.

9:02 a.m.

Authorities are being allowed to shut down a large homeless encampment in Southern California and move hundreds of tent-dwellers into motel rooms.

Orange County officials will move people camped out on a two-mile (3.2 kilometer) stretch of a trail along the Santa Ana River.

U.S. District Court Judge David Carter lifted a stay in the case Tuesday, allowing officials to begin removing the homeless residents and make arrests if necessary.

The county says it will pay for motel rooms for up to 30 days and provide outreach services to find roughly 400 homeless people a place to live.

The deal came after advocates sued to protect the rights of evicted tent-dwellers, saying they were driven there by a police crackdown on loitering in surrounding cities.
An employee at a New Jersey cemetery almost joined those six feet under on Tuesday when he became trapped inside a grave he was digging.

Peter Ferencze, 59, was digging a grave at Hanover Cemetery in East Hanover when an 800-pound concrete burial vault cover fell in around 10 a.m., a spokesperson told the Daily Record.

Ferencze was pinned at the bottom of the open grave by the slab of concrete, the spokesperson said.

Law enforcement and public safety officials rushed to the grave to dig him out and reportedly used straps to manually lift the vault cover high enough to free Ferencze from the grave.

The cemetery worker was treated at the scene and later released from a nearby hospital.

A coworker, according to the Record, was also treated at the hospital.
An Ohio middle school student who brought a gun to school and shot himself in a bathroom Tuesday had distraction devices in his backpack, police said.

Jackson Memorial Middle School was placed on lockdown Tuesday morning after a gunshot was heard just before 8 a.m., school officials said. The seventh grade student arrived at the school by bus and went directly to the bathroom, FOX8 reported.

He suffered an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound using a .22 caliber gun.

Jackson Township police said in a 2 p.m. news conference that distraction devices were found in the backpack. The devices are generally used to produce smoke or a loud bang.

Authorities said the student, who was not identified, was taken to a hospital and his condition was not known. It wasn't immediately clear if the act was intentional or accidental.

The school later dismissed students for the day and canceled afternoon extracurricular activities.

Four elementary schools in Massillon were also closed. Officials are still reviewing whether schools will be opened on Wednesday.

Police are investigating how the student obtained the gun and how he brought it into the building. The school does not have metal detectors.
The U.S. Postal worker who was shot to death while driving a mail truck on a Texas highway on Monday is being remembered as the "rock" of his family, as authorities are offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the capture of his killer.

Federal investigators announced they were offering the reward after 58-year-old Tony Mosby was killed while driving a mail delivery truck on Interstate 30 near downtown Dallas.

"He was the rock of the family and part of that glue is gone. And I think that's what's going to help heal his children and his brother and his sister is bringing this person to justice," Sylvia Mosby, his sister-in-law, told FOX 4.

Dallas Police said in a news release that Mosby was shot around 2:30 a.m. just before the Margaret McDermott Bridge near downtown. When authorities arrived at scene, they found Mosby dead inside the cab of the 11-ton box truck that had crashed into a guardrail.

US POSTAL WORKER KILLED IN SHOOTING ON DALLAS HIGHWAY

Family members described Mosby as a dedicated worker, who was a trustworthy father and grandfather.

"It's hard to believe that it could happen to your family," his niece JacQueline Mosby told FOX4. "You hear all this stuff in the news and you don't think so much of it until it happens to you."

Authorities said the deadly shooting happened 11 days after someone shot at two Dallas police officers in a squad car about a mile away from Monday's incident, around the same time of the morning. In that incident, the officers were not seriously injured.

Police said there's no evidence linking the two crimes, but there have also been no arrests for the attack on the officers.
Authorities say a man fatally shot his wife at a health rehabilitation center in New Jersey and then killed himself.

The shootings took place Tuesday morning at the Jefferson Health Care Center's Sub-Acute Rehabilitation Unit in Sewell.

Authorities say 74-year-old Arlene McKenna was being treated at the center when her 76-year-old husband, Raymond, opened fire. She was taken to a hospital, where she died. Her husband died at the scene.

Officials say the shooting at the 60-bed center was an isolated incident.
A soldier who died while saving others in a devastating New York apartment fire late last year was posthumously honored with two medals of valor, the National Guard announced Tuesday.

The brave efforts of Pfc. Emmanuel Mensah, of the New York Army National Guard, were recognized Friday with the Soldiers Medal, the Armys highest award for bravery outside of a combat zone and the New York State Medal for Valor, according to a news release. The soldiers family received the medals on his behalf.

Mensah, 28, was killed by the Bronx blaze on Dec. 28, 2017 along with 12 others. According to the release, the soldier ran back inside the burning building three times and was able to save four people. After another rescue attempt, Mensah did not re-emerge from the flames. The location where his remains were found led investigators to believe that he was still seeking to rescue people, the release said.

BRONX FIRES MULTIPLE VICTIMS INCLUDE YOUNG CHILDREN AND ADULTS

The fire was started by a young child who was playing with stove burners in a first-floor apartment, officials said at the time.

Lt. Gen. Thomas Kadavy, who presented Mensahs father with the Soldiers Medal, described the fallen service member as an unselfish Soldier of incredible bravery.

"After quickly escaping the fire, Private First Class Mensah could have remained safely outside," Kadavy said. "But, knowing that residents were still inside, it was not in his nature to stand by without doing whatever he could to help them escape the deadly inferno that was raging through their homes.

Mensah immigrated to the Bronx from Ghana and became a U.S. citizen about three months before his demise, the release said.

SCHUMER ASKS ARMY TO HONOR HEROIC SOLDIER KILLED IN MASSIVE BRONX FIRE

"He fulfilled his dream, what he wanted to do," Mensahs father, Kwabena, said. "He was proud of being (in) the American military. He was so proud of that."

Mensah had recently graduated from boot camp and was set to start drilling with the New York Army National Guards 107th Military Police Company in January, the release said. He was reportedly buried on Saturday with full military honors.

"Every Soldier has a story," Command Sgt. Maj. Javier Lugo said, "this just goes to show how all of our Soldiers are special."

In January, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called upon the military branch to honor Mensah and said it was his sincere hope that the Army would honor and recognize one of their own who lived and died according to the highest ideals of their institution and of this country.
Nikolas Cruz, the suspected gunman who opened fire at a Florida high school last week that left 17 students and teachers dead, legally purchased at least seven long guns, including an AK-47-style rifle that he bought less than a month ago, an official told The Associated Press.

The AR-15 weapon that authorities believed was used in Wednesdays deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, was also legally purchased by the 19-year-old, the report said.

The official is not authorized to discuss the detail of the investigation and spoke on the condition of anonymity with the AP.

The high School is set to reopen in phases beginning on Friday, and the district hopes to resume classes on a modified schedule starting Tuesday.

The mass shooting has reignited the debate over gun control, and prompted an outcry from protesters demanding tougher background checks and gun-safety measures.

About 500 protesters gathered at a park in downtown Los Angeles on Monday, holding signs that said Our Children Are Counting On You, with others chanting Ho, ho, hey, hey, our kids, not the NRA.

Cruz, who authorities say admitted to the shooting last week, is charged with killing 17 people and wounding more than a dozen others in the rampage.

According to his lawyers, Cruz plans on pleading guilty if prosecutors agree to take the death penalty off the table.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A petite Texas 17-year-old girl staged the gunpoint carjacking of a friend by two other friends, police said.

At first, authorities said they believed Susan Mize, of Spring, was also a victim. She was arrested after deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office conducted an investigation and quizzed her about what happened.

During the course of the investigation  deputies learned that Susan had lied about the entire incident,Lt. Scott Spencer Spencer said.

He said deputies learned that Susan had set up her friend Preston Barry, 20, also of Spring, to be robbed by two juvenile males. They arrested one of the juveniles, a 16-year-old boy, and issued an arrrest warrant for the other, a 15-year-old boy.

Spencer said published reports that Susan set up her father to be carjacked were not factual.

Barry had told deputies that he and Susan had been carjacked by the two juveniles, one of whom had a gun and was wearing a mask.

Spencer said that during the ordeal, Barry was robbed of his wallet, struck numerous times and forced to withdraw money from an ATM machine. In the car, he was also tied up with Susans shoelaces.

At one point the two juveniles dropped Susan off at her house and then drove with Barry to his house.

Spencer said Barry convinced the robbers to drive him home, telling them that he could get more money. Instead, when Barry ran inside, he locked the door, told his parents what happened and called 911.

Police searched Barry's vehicle and recovered a knife and two BB guns, they believed were used in the crime.

"Susan beleived Preston was an easy target and the plan was for the males to rob him for the money in his wallet," Spencer said.

She claimed that tying Barry up and taking his car, was not her idea or part of the plan, he said.

She is being held on $75,000 bond and being charged with aggravated robbery.

Fox News' Robert Gearty and Jennifer Earl contributed to this report.
An 18-year-old student was arrested and charged Monday for threatening to turn his Texas high school into 'another Florida' after he was caught cheating on a test, police said.

Oryan McFadden, 18, allegedly made the remark to a teacher in front of other students at Hitchcock High School, according to local reports.

He was booked at the school Monday and charged with making a terroristic threat -- a felony -- while his parents talked to school officials, KTRK reported.

McFadden transferred recently to Hitchcock High School from another school district in the Greater Houston area, KTRK reported, citing police officials.

The incident came just days after a gunman killed 17 at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida last Wednesday. The school is set to reopen for the first time after the massacre in phases on Friday, administrators said.

Elsewhere in Texas, multiple students -- including a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old -- were arrested last week for threatening schools, KPRC reported, citing investigators.

In several of those cases, students who saw or heard the threats reportedly alerted their parents, who contacted authorities.

Across the U.S., similar threats were reported by several schools in the wake of the Florida shooting.
The White House Christmas ornament in 2018 will pay tribute to the 33rd president  Missouri's own Harry Truman.

The White House Historical Association since 1981 has commissioned an ornament to sell that honors either a particular president or a White House event.

The recognition of Truman was announced Monday at the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum in Independence, Missouri.

One side of the ornament will feature the Truman Balcony, added to the White House in 1947 and 1948. The other side features the renovation of the Blue Room.
The Islamic State has been defeated on the battlefield, but the terror remains for 8-year-old Medya.

The Yazidi girl, found to suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome, is tormented by images of the bearded, black-clad ISIS soldiers who held her captive for three years and repeatedly raped her mother, Saran, in the room next door.

Medya would cry when she heard her mothers screams. And even today, when the images become unbearable, Medya faints, sometimes several times a day, said Dr. Jan Kizilhan, a German doctor of Kurdish background who works with traumatized Yazidi women and children.

ISIS views the Yazidis, a non-Muslim group whose homeland is in the Sinjar region of northern Iraq, as devil worshipers whose religion is not among the Abrahamic faiths. ISIS thus considers Yazidis outside the protections of Islamic law, and deserving of harsh punishment.

ISIS fighters invaded the Yazidi homeland in August 2014, killed thousands of Yazidi men and took women as sex slaves. Many Yazidis fled Sinjar, and were stranded in the nearby mountains. Some escaped with the help of American airlifts, and airstrikes against ISIS. Kurdish fighters led the remaining Yazidis to the safety of nearby refugee camps, where they now languish.

Medya and her mother are now in a camp with 8,000 refugees in Mam Rashan, two hours from the Sinjar region. Despite the proximity to their homeland, many refugees are afraid to return.

These fears are understandable, said Elizabeth Prodromou, a professor of religion and geopolitics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in Medford, Mass.

There are reports that former members of ISIS have shaved their beards and dont wear their traditional black clothes, Prodromou said in an interview. Some of them have moved back to abandoned villages, and are melding into the Sunni population.

Prodromou noted that some Yazidis keep their suitcases packed in the event they have to leave at a moments notice. The military defeat of ISIS does not mean the end of ISIS, she said.

The defeat of ISIS also does not mean the end of the group in the minds of traumatized women and children. Dr. Kizilhan sees the urgency of helping Medya and those who have suffered unspeakable horrors at the hands of ISIS.

Fainting is Medyas escape from the evil she often witnessed in her young life, Dr. Kizilhan said, speaking of the girl's sense of alienation and inability to trust people. This is evident when she is asked a question. Instead of looking at the questioner, she replies to her Minnie Mouse doll, Alis, which she clutches, said Kizilhan.

Medya didnt speak to anyone, including her mother, for some time. But since Kizilhan and his team of local psychologists have been counseling her, she has become more trusting.

Sometimes she tells me of dreaming of the natural beauty of the region with snow-capped mountains and streams, he said. She is a very smart girl, and if we can rid her of this trauma, she will have a bright future.

In addition to the work he and his team of therapists do in the refugee camps, Kizilhan currently treats a thousand badly abused Yazidis in his clinic near Stuttgart, Germany.

The German state of Baden-Wurttemberg is helping to train more psychologists in the Yazidi region of Iraq. The state has contributed $1.2 million for the training program.

A group of the trainees will be taught to educate future therapists themselves, said Theresia Bauer, minister of science, research and the arts for Baden-Wurttemberg.

ISIS SEXUAL VIOLENCE VICTIMS: MINORITIES TARGETED MORE THAN DOCUMENTED, FACE HONOR KILLINGS IF RETURNED

VICTIM OR THREAT? IRAQ HAS PLAN FOR ISIS FIGHTERS' WIVES, CHILDREN

Asked whether Germans have a special responsibility to help victims of persecution, Bauer emailed this response: "We have a historical responsibility. This has to be remembered again and again. In this respect it is important to learn from history, to make the present and the future better.
Video of British model Chloe Ayling retracing her movements during the week that she allegedly was kidnapped and held for ransom was played in a Milan courtroom Monday during the trial of her alleged abductor.

The video showed Ayling, 20, walking investigators into the supposed photographers studio in Milan where her agent had arranged a modeling job. She signaled to police a spot near a doorway where she said she was grabbed from behind.

According to prosecutors, Ayling was drugged at the studio, zipped inside a canvas bag and transported to a farmhouse in the Piedmont region near Turin, where she was held captive for six days.

MODEL CHLOE AYLING ON KIDNAPPING: IF IT WASNT ME, I WOULD THINK IT WAS JUST CRAZY

Investigator Gianluca Simontacchi told the court that Ayling broke down in tears as they reached the farmhouse, and had to be calmed by her lawyer before being able to continue.

A 30-year-old Pole, Lukasz Herba, who was arrested after releasing Ayling at the British consulate in Milan, is being tried for the kidnapping. Italian prosecutors are seeking to try Herbas brother, who is in Britain.

Inside the building, Ayling pointed out a piece of furniture where she said she had been cuffed by her hands and feet overnight on the first night. She then showed a bedroom, where she said later she shared a bed with her kidnapper; a photograph entered into evidence showed a blanket folded to create a boundary down the middle of the bed.

Finally, she showed investigators where she accompanied her kidnapper to buy food and a pair of sneakers in a nearby town before her release.

In court testimony, the grocery store owners son said that Herba had come to the store several times to buy fruit and vegetables, and that Ayling waited outside once.

A neighbor of the farmhouse where she was held testified that he had seen Ayling with Herba at least twice, and from a distance that it looked like they were a couple.

Aylings lawyer, Francesco Pesce, dismissed any notion that a video showing Ayling walking hand-in-hand with Herba shown at an earlier hearing cast any doubt on the kidnapping allegation.

She was holding hands with Mr. Herba but she looked, at least in my opinion, she looked frightened, quite scared, he said.

A police toxicologist testified that tests of Aylings hair indicated the presence of the drug ketamine, under the influence of which one remains conscious but disassociated from reality. Napolitano said there was a tiny hole on Aylings inner wrist consistent with an injection, but she said there was no way of knowing precisely when the drug had been administered.

It corresponds perfectly to the picture we have of Miss Ayling, she said, showing a photograph of the model with her eyes half-closed, pupils dilated, that allegedly was circulated on the Internet.

Herbas lawyer, Bozena Katia Kolakowska, said his client would testify at the next hearing, and that he is expected to say that the kidnapping was a ploy to give Aylings modeling career a boost.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
As the grandeur of the Winter Olympics opening ceremony dazzled inside South Koreas Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium  complete with North Korean cheerleaders singing and the media fawning over their dictators sister, Kim Yo Jong  hundreds of South Korean activists protested passionately outside.

They waved the flag of their country, of America and of Israel, and called for jailed former President Park Geun-hye to be restored to power. They also called for an end to what they see as meddling in South Korean affairs by China.

Others protesters mobilized outside a military base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, to welcome VP Mike Pence, and chant against talks with the North.

Often referred to as Taegeukgi rallies, they are typically made up of an array of conservative activists, exposing the political cracks in South Korea over how citizens want the North Korean threat to be handled. But their cause rarely makes it into the media limelight.

We are a group of patriotic Koreans who self-organized in response to the threat of the illegal Moon Jae-in regime, return Park Geun-hye to the presidency and restore Koreas sovereignty, Casey Ilsun Kim, president of one prominent activist group, the Korean Patriotic Citizens Assemblys Indictment (KPCA), and an adjunct professor of management and economics at Handong Global University (HGU) in Pohang, South Korea, told Fox News. North Korea, which is backed by Communist China, actively and gradually infiltrated South Korea. Today, major institutions  government, media, education and judiciary  are controlled by such pro-Communist, pro-North Korea forces.

Kim is among scores of conservatives across the nation who have asserted that their scorned former presidents hard-line approach to the North is needed now more than ever. The conservatives are concerned about the threat of communism, and what they see as current President Moon Jae-ins appeasement of the North.

There are thousands of pro-Park people who gather in Seoul every Saturday and marching to Free the Innocent Park. These people are the conservatives of Korea who are anti-North Korea and anti-China, but pro-U.S., pro-Trump and pro-strong national security, said Kim Dong Yon, an analyst at Chosun News Press and a former South Korean Air Force officer. This base is not only for Park Geun-hye, but the base to sustain the legacy of strong democracy and preserve the strong South Korea-U.S. alliance.

Yon argued there is a gigantic base for Park in his country, but its members are not represented by digital measurements as many are older, and not familiar with new technologies.

Many of these activists cant go to sleep at night because they are so worried that the pro-North Korea movements in the South may overtake what they have accomplished, he said. Park tried to deter the North, whereas Moon is fulfilling their conditions and compensations. The Kim regime has only one goal: Unify the Korean Peninsula in their communism way and become a nuclear power.

MILLIONS OF AMERICAN LIVES COULD BE AT STAKE AS NORTH KOREA THREATENS TO ATTACK POWER GRID

Geun-hye, South Koreas first female president, was impeached in December 2016 and forcibly removed last March. She is alleged to have colluded with a longtime friend to extort companies to donate millions to suspicious foundations in exchange for political favors. She has remained in custody while awaiting trial.

After taking office in 2013, Geun-hye advocated for tougher sanctions against the North, which plotted to assassinate her father, Park Chung-hee, in 1968, when he led South Korea.

Those close to Geun-hye have said she had grown increasingly frustrated with the North, and was planning a more confrontational approach with Kim Jong Un. Her supporters have also argued Kims behavior only became more dangerous since the change of administrations.

During Parks term, North Korea frequently spotlighted the U.S.-South Korea relationship as the South Korean government being a U.S. puppet, but there were not as many successful ICBM tests during her tenure, observed Adrian Romero, a liaison targeting officer to the South Korea Army. When President Moon took office, Kim Jong Un amped up the ICBM launches as North Korea gained success in their nuclear testing and further testing and further development.

WHY RUSSIA PROPS UP THE DANGEROUS NORTH KOREAN REGIME

Conservative activist and attorney Eugene Kim said they are devout supporters of President Trump because they believe he is restoring Americas sovereignty and values.

He is leading the fight against globalism, which was turning America and the world into slave states controlled by special interests. This kind of globalism was ultimately behind the unconstitutional removal of President Park and the theft of Koreas sovereignty, he explained. And we are pro-Israel because we support the protection of Israels right to survive. President Trumps Jerusalem Declaration is an acknowledgment that the protection of Israels right to survive is necessary for peace.

Following Geun-hyes impeachment, human rights lawyer Moon Jae-in came to power, and has made no secret of his strong preference for a diplomatic solution with the North. While many conservatives want the South to protect itself with its own nuclear weapons, Moon Jae-in has pledged to purge the Korean Peninsula of such weapons.

These rallies consist primarily of older conservative voters who lived in the authoritarian era of the 1960s, '70s and '80s. To them, Park Geun-hye is of special significance because she is the daughter of Park Chung-Hee, who was the authoritarian leader of South Korea from 1963 to 1979, noted Tom Fowdy, a North Korea analyst.

Nonetheless, other regional experts maintain the conservatives demonstrators are a small minority in South Korea. They also argue former President Park is viewed with deep disdain by many Koreans.

The general populace does not like her. They are certainly more happy with Moon in power than they would have been keeping her, said Ryan Barenklau, director of a Washington-based geostrategic consulting firm, Strategic Sentinel.

She is viewed in disgrace by the majority of South Koreans, said Bruce Klingler, senior research fellow for Northeast Asia at the Heritage Foundation and former CIA deputy division chief for Korea. Park Geun-hye was removed after the constitutionally required number of National Assembly members voted for impeachment, he added. The process followed all necessary legal and constitutional procedures.

Nonetheless, the conservatives have taken their grievances to the International Criminal Court (ICC). In October last year, the Korean Patriotic Citizens Assembly filed an indictment against Moon Jae-in and his collaborators alleging that North Korea and its collaborators illegally removed President Park and usurped South Koreas sovereignty.

The ICC did not respond to a request for comment.
China is reportedly demanding a 24-year-old American man face "severe punishment" for allegedly snapping off the left thumb of a $4.5 million ancient terra-cotta warrior statue on display at a Philadelphia museum.

Michael Rohana was charged with theft and concealment of a major artwork last week and released on bail, the BBC reported. The director of the Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Center, which loaned the sacred statues to the Franklin Institute, lashed out at the museum, however, for its careless guarding of the prized archaeological find.

"We ask that the U.S. severely punish the perpetrator. We have lodged a serious protest with them," Wu Haiyun said, according to the BBC.

Rohana, from Delaware, was attending an Ugly Sweater Party at the Franklin Institute on Dec. 21 when he entered the Terra-cotta Warriors of the First Emperor exhibit, according to an arrest affidavit.

Rohana proceeded to take selfies with the 2,000-year-old statue, known as The Calvaryman, then snapped off the left thumb and walked away, authorities said. The museum noticed the missing thumb on Jan. 8  more than two weeks after the alleged incident  and reported it to police.

Police arrested Rohana five days later.

Wu said he strongly condemned the Philadelphia museum and added two experts should be sent there to evaluate the damage done and reattach the thumb. The center is also seeking compensation for the damage.

A Franklin Institute spokeswoman said previously the statue will be repaired, adding that a security contractor did not follow standard procedures the night of the alleged theft.

The museum currently holds 10 of the statues thats part of a collection of 8,000, according to the BBC. The Terra-cotta Army, made of clay and built by Qin Shi Huang in the Qin Dynasty before he died in 210 B.C., were discovered in 1974.

The life-sized statues are considered one of China's most prized archaeological discoveries.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Australia has accepted the family of a murdered Cambodian political activist as refugees, as the Australian government encourages its rejected refugees to resettle in Cambodia.

Victoria state lawmaker Hong Lim's office said Tuesday that Kem Levy's wife and five children arrived in Melbourne, the state capital, from Thailand on Saturday.

Kem Ley was shot dead in a convenience store in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, in July 2016, and his family escaped to a Thai refugee camp.

Australia agreed in 2014 to pay Cambodia $35 million over four years to resettle an unspecified number of refugees held on an Australian-run immigration camp on the Pacific Island nation of Nauru.

Only seven refugees took up the offer and reportedly only three remain there.
A Pakistani prosecutor says the serial child killer who was given the death sentence last week for killing eight children in eastern Punjab province has filed an appeal against his conviction and sentence.

Munir Siyal said on Tuesday that Mohammad Imran filed the appeal in Lahore's High Court, stating that his trial was conducted in haste. Imran had pleaded guilty during the five-day trial conducted at a prison in Lahore.

A court last Saturday sentenced him to death for killing eight children, including a 7-year-old Zainab Ansari whose rape and murder shocked Pakistan.

Imran was arrested in January, two weeks after authorities say he raped and killed Zainab and threw her body into a garbage dump in the city of Kasur.

The case has also triggered street protests in Kasur.
Egyptian officials say the country will open its border with the Gaza Strip amid a military campaign against Islamic insurgents in restive northern Sinai Peninsula.

The two officials said Tuesday the Rafah crossing point will operate starting Wednesday for four days on a humanitarian basis. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to brief the media.

The Palestinian embassy in Cairo confirmed the opening of Gaza's main gateway to the outside world.

Thousands of Gaza residents are on travel lists  most of them medical patients, students and holders of residency permits of other countries. Only a few thousand will make it out in the time allotted.

Egypt has kept Rafah largely sealed off since 2013, after the ouster of Egypt's elected Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.
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The head of the European Union's border agency says the number of migrants trying to reach Europe through the Mediterranean will remain high this year, with more expected to arrive through Spain.

Fabrice Leggeri told reporters Tuesday that "the irregular migration pressure on the southern borders in the Mediterranean will remain at a very high level."

He said that "especially the western Mediterranean route is under scrutiny." About 21,000 unauthorized migrants  mostly from Morocco, Algeria and Guinea  entered Spain in 2017.

Leggeri said overall numbers have decreased since 2015, when 1.8 million people entered Europe. Crossings into Greece are down 80 percent from last year, but he said "of course there is still pressure."

He expressed concern that EU countries are sending fewer unauthorized migrants home.
Kim Jong Uns sister, Kim Yo Jong, reportedly revealed she was pregnant with her second child during her visit to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics earlier this month.

Kim Yo Jong, who was dubbed Kim Jong Uns Ivanka by the Souths media, told Seouls officials she was pregnant after she felt some discomfort during her three-day visit, Korea Herald reported, citing sources.

KIM JONG UN'S SIBLINGS: ERIC CLAPTON MEGA-FAN, POLITICIAN, SHADOWY SISTER

Kim's was rumored to have given birth to her first child in 2015, though no pictures have been seen and details about a baby were never released. The despots favorite sister and head of North Koreas propaganda department remained relatively in the background until last year.

None of Kim Jong Uns rumored children have never been seen in public, either.

Kim Yo Jong visited South Korea from Feb. 9 to 11 on behalf of her brother. She joined the Norths high-level delegation and attended the Opening Ceremony where North and South Korean athletes marched under the unification flag.

WHAT KIM JONG UNS SISTER REALLY MEANS WHEN CALLING FOR NORTH AND SOUTH UNIFICATION

Kim Yo Jong met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in during her time in the country and wrote about her wishes for closer ties in a guest book at South Koreas presidential office. She also mentioned the future of unification and prosperity  but her interpretation of the phrase is far more sinister than what the South Koreans have viewed it as. Kim Yo Jong -- and the rest of North Korea -- likely views "unification" as North Korea ruling over the entire Korean peninsula.
The Danish inventor accused of murdering journalist Kim Wall during a trip on his private submarine reportedly texted a former lover he had "a murder plan ready in the submarine" just days before the fatal voyage.

Peter Madsen, 47, planned Wall's murder last August by bringing a saw, screwdrivers, strips and pipes, which were used to hit, cut and stab the 30-year-old while she was alive, prosecutors said in an indictment last month.

Wall's cause of death has not yet officially been determined, but prosecutors said she died by either strangulation or the cutting of her throat. Prosecutor Jakob Buch-Jepsen said last month the case is "very unusual and extremely gross."

An unidentified woman who claims to be Madsen's former sexual partner said she'd "either seen or talked to Madsen nearly every day" before Wall's murder and recently told WIRED details of text messages the two shared that were "still bothering her."

In one exchange in the days before Wall stepped onto Madsen's submarine Aug 10., the woman asked the inventor to "motivate her with a threat" to help her finish a project she was working on.

He says he has a murder plan ready in the submarine, and I tell him 'I am not afraid, you have to be more threatening.' He talks about the tools he wants to use, and I say, Oh its not threatening, the woman told WIRED.

KIM WALL 'TORTURED' BEFORE BEING KILLED ON HOMEMADE SUBMARINE, COPS SAY

The conversation soon "darkened," and Madsen discussed inviting someone to his homemade submarine, "where they would suddenly change the mood and begin cutting her up," according to the WIRED report.

The woman told the magazine she didn't give the text exchange much thought at the time, and it was "not something she took seriously." The unidentified woman has since turned the texts over to police.

Madsen is charged with murder, dismemberment and indecent handling of a corpse for the way he disposed of Wall's body. He is also charged with having sexual relations of a "particularly dangerous nature" with Wall.

The inventor has offered a shifting variety of explanations for Wall's death. Initially, he told authorities he had dropped Wall off on an island several hours after their voyage began. Later, he said she had died in an accident on board and he had "buried" her at sea.

KIM WALL MURDER: DANISH INVENTOR FORMALLY CHARGED IN 'UNUSUAL AND EXTREMELY GROSS' CASE

Madsen eventually admitted throwing her body parts into the sea, but denies murdering or sexually assaulting her. Wall's dismembered, naked torso was found on the southern Copenhagen coast in late August and her head, legs and clothes were discovered in bags at sea in October. Heavy metal objects were attached to make them sink to the ocean floor, according to prosecutors.

The start of the Madsen's trial has been set for March 8 and a verdict is expected by April 25.

Wall's family and friends started to raise money in September for the "Kim Wall Memorial Fund Grant" as part of an online crowdfunding campaign that's raised more than more than $169,000 from donors around the world. The fund will award a female reporter a $5,000 grant on March 23, which would have been Walls 31st birthday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A 35-year-old defector is the new human face of the horrors in North Korea.

Ji Seong-ho fled torture and starvation in North Korea in a remarkable escape story. Now he is the Trumps administrations newest weapon in its war of words against North Korea.

North Korea is the kingdom of evil, he told Fox News in a rare interview.

Ji was singled out by President Trump in his State of Union address last month. He was seen defiantly holding up his crutches. He lost a leg and a hand in an accident in 1996 struggling to stay alive in North Korea.

Ten years later, when famine, hardship and persecution were too unbearable, he swam to freedom, crossing a river from North Korea to China, almost drowning in the process.

Even if I had just one day, he said, I wanted to live as a human being outside of North Korea.

After the State of the Union, Ji, currently a law student at Dongguk University in South Korea, met with President Trump in the White House and then Vice President Pence during his trip to South Korea.

He even met and hugged Fred Warmbier, the father of the American student who died after being held captive in North Korea.

He said he sees his newfound fame as a sort of victory.

It is a victory against North Korea, he said. A victory against evil.

Ji runs the Seoul-based North Korean humanitarian organization "Now Action & Unity for Human Rights. He helps defectors get out of the North and assists them when theyre in the South. His radio broadcasts reach the reclusive state.

He has faced threats and North Korea state media recently branded him "human scum."

He said he is concerned about recent moves by South Korea to engage with the North through Olympic diplomacy, including a visit by the sister of Kim Jong Un. He knows, he said, from tough experience.

I think that North Korea has a hidden side, he warned, I think this is just a show.

Ji said any future conversations the South, or even the U.S., has with North Korea must deal not only with nuclear weapons and missiles, but human suffering in the country, as well.

Washington seems to agree.
The chairman of a U.S. Senate panel dealing with foreign aid says a recently signed agreement granting Jordan $1.275 billion a year through 2022 "is a floor" and that Congress is likely to authorize additional financial support for the kingdom.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, was among seven senators visiting Jordan, a key U.S. security ally in the region.

Graham told reporters Tuesday that he hopes everyone in the U.S. "understands how important it is for this kingdom to survive."

He says the senators will talk to the International Monetary Fund "about taking some pressure off" Jordan regarding economic austerity measures.

Jordan has suffered an economic downturn and rising unemployment, raising fears of growing instability, in part because of fallout from conflicts in neighboring Syria and Iraq.
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Badgers could soon be culled in counties where cattle are at low risk of detecting bovine TB, as part of government efforts to tackle the disease.

More than 42,000 cattle were slaughtered in the UK in the 12 months up to December last year after they tested positive for TB. More than 30,000 of these animals were from herds in England.

Defra has announced plans to review its 25-year TB eradication programme for England to ensure progress continues towards the goal of being free of the disease by 2038.

See also: Farm minister explains purpose of bovine TB review

Animal rights groups initially hailed the announcement on Friday (16 February) as a signal from Defra that its controversial badger culling policy may be abandoned.

But Defra has also launched a three-month consultation on proposals to cull badgers in low-risk areas in the north and east of England, including Yorkshire, Cumbria and Northumberland, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Kent.

The TB strategy consultation states: 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.

Relicensing consultation

The department has launched a second consultation on a proposal to remove the cap on relicensing badger culling activity. This change would allow Natural England to issue culling licences to more than 10 areas each year.

Rosie Woodroffe, senior research fellow at the Institute of Zoology, 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.

Unfortunately, there is not yet robust evidence that the current badger culling policy is helping to control cattle TB.

The Badger Trust went further, accusing Defra secretary Michael Gove of a betrayal over his decision not to review the science behind the culls and giving in to pressure from the farming lobby.

Culling still best option

But NFU deputy president Minette Batters said proactive badger culling is currently the best evidenced available option to prevent TB infecting cattle.

Farm minister George Eustice said early analysis of the first two cull zones suggests the incidence of the disease is down by 21% in Somerset and 58% in Gloucestershire.

He said: While the badger culls are a necessary part of the strategy, no one wants to be culling badgers forever.

Cattle vaccination, improved diagnostics and better genetic resistance (in cattle) have a role to play in the latter stages of Defras 25-year TB strategy, he added.
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Port: Aging docks biggest threat to waterfront

STUART VILLANUEVA/ The Daily News A sightseeing boat carries tourists past cruise ships and tankers moored at the Port of Galveston on Monday, Feb. 19, 2018. Port of Galveston officials said they werent much concerned about efforts among other Texas ports to enter the cruise business. STUART VILLANUEVA/ The Daily News Cruise passengers roll their luggage across Harborside Drive to waiting ships at the Port of Galveston on Monday, Feb. 19, 2018. Galveston benefits from being so close to the Gulf of Mexico while also being close to such a major population center. STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News The Archer Daniels Midland Co. grain elevator is adjacent to the Galveston Cruise Terminal at the Port of Galveston on Monday, Feb. 19, 2018.

Ports along the Texas coast may be moving to compete with the Port of Galveston, but the most pressing threat to the islands public docks is dilapidated facilities that could take as much as $250 million to correct, officials said.

Some port tenants are interested in expanding their operations, but the cash-strapped docks need to address ongoing problems with infrastructure to allow for expansion, officials said. Fixing those problems could require taking on as much as $250 million in debt, they said.

I see a lot of potential here, but it depends on getting the funding, said Ted ORourke, chairman of the Port of Galvestons governing board.

Long operating as the states only cruise port, Galveston recently received potential competition when the South Padre Island City Council agreed to pay a consulting firm $100,000 to market the area as a port of call destination.

The Port of Corpus Christi has for years also been rumored to want to get into the cruise business, Galveston Port Director Rodger Rees said.

Despite Corpus Christis interest in getting into the cruise business, port officials and maritime experts werent too concerned about the possibility of cutting into Galvestons profits.

Shippers and cruise lines make determinations about what ports they go to based primarily upon their location, said Joan Mileski, the head of the maritime administration department at Texas A&M University at Galveston.

People from the Midwest fly to Houston and get here, Mileski said. Its attractive for cruise companies because people have a lot of money to spend on cruise ships and thats where they make money. You look at the geography of another port and its harder. Houston tried to become a cruise port, and that didnt work so well.

The Port of Houston in 2016 lost both cruise lines operating out of its Bayport Cruise Terminal despite officials pumping $108 million into the project.

Galveston benefits from being so close to the Gulf of Mexico while also being close to such a major population center  something the potential competition lacks, Mileski said.

Becoming a port of call, as South Padre Island hopes to do, also brings its own set of obstacles, Rees said.

Its not typically a port decision, Rees said. It goes back to the cruise lines. The place has to be on the way to somewhere. Thats the difference here. Over in Florida, its easy for a ship coming from the northeast and going to the Bahamas to stop at Disney and Miami along the way. We arent along the way to many places.

The Port of Galveston is also working to become a port of call destination, and Rees said it might have success with longer-term vessels.

A port of call is a stop a cruise ship makes on a voyage, as opposed to where it originates or ends, and some island and port leaders have sought for years to make Galveston one.

Were going to get some ports of call, but theyre going to come from ships that are at sea for long periods of time, Rees said. Ships coming by here are cruising the world, basically.

The port depends heavily on revenues from cruise ships. Port officials anticipate about 55 percent of revenue budgeted for 2018 will be cruise related.

Galvestons port is the fourth-busiest U.S. cruise port. Its a landlord port that generates much of its income from lease agreements with maritime tenants and fees related to ship calls.

Rumors have also circulated in recent months that Archer Daniels Midland Co., which took over operations of Galvestons grain elevator in 2004, might leave town for Corpus Christi.

The grain shippers have been making substantial investments at the Port of Corpus Christi.

Rees on Monday said he hadnt heard anything about the company leaving the port anytime soon.

They have not talked to us about anything, Rees said. Weve been over there and met with them. They do have some challenges, such as the depth of the berths over there. But they have not notified us or indicated anything about leaving. I noticed a bunch of grain coming in last week.

But the biggest issue for Galveston is the ports aging infrastructure, not potential local competition, Rees said.

It all gets back to infrastructure, Rees said. We have got tenants that need to expand and weve got to respond to them. Thats going to be an issue for us.

Then-interim Port Director Peter Simons in November 2017 estimated it would cost $150 million to bring all of the ports facilities up to standard.

But that is a conservative estimate, Rees said.

I think $150 million probably does a lot of patching work and doesnt address the need for new berths, Rees said. Youre probably looking closer to $250 million.

Addressing those needs becomes even more complicated by the fact that the port is projected to bring in only about $250,000 in net income in 2018, records show.

Port officials are projecting operating revenues of about $37.4 million in 2018 against operating expenditures of $37.2 million, according to documents.

I hate to say it, but at some point in time, we are going to have to look at debt, Rees said. As part of the city, we have limitations on debt. There are a lot of challenges here.

Port tenants such as Del Monte Fresh Produce Co. and Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics have expressed interest in expanding, but infrastructure must be addressed before that can happen, Rees said.

That isnt factoring in more cruise expansion that could be possible, Rees said.

Im going up to testify before the Texas Senate transportation committee and thats what Im going to say, Rees said. The economic impact of us being the only cruise port in Texas is huge. Im hoping the state government can see that.
Galveston, TX (77553)

Today

Considerable cloudiness. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 85F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Considerable clouds early. Some decrease in clouds late. Low 77F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Emil Kjaer of the Royal Danish Yacht Club, and Americans Jeffrey Petersen and David Wood secured the final three spots after coming in first, second and third respectively in the 2021 Ficker Cup, which was this past weekend in Long...
As we were walking down the street of a small village within Barahona in the Dominican Republic, we met a woman living in a humble home with her family. She had constructed a metal box out of scraps found discarded near her village, Algodon. On top of the box, she had a fire burning, and inside there was a large pan of yucca bread baking. It smelled delicious.

This is precisely the type of person that the Acton Institute Poverty Initiative understands to be the hope of her community. Taking the little she had to construct an innovative oven, she now bakes bread and sells it to earn a living that can support her family. She is an entrepreneur.

I tasted a bit of her bread, complimented her on how incredible it tasted, and she lit up. I could see that she takes so much pride in the work she does. This bread is the work of her hands, and to see people enjoying what she has produced gives her a purpose in her work. Several of us purchased loaves of bread, and she was so grateful, not because we had taken pity on her, but because we affirmed her dignity and creative capacity. She provided us with a good and earned an honest wage for doing so.

Her work stretches beyond our minor interaction, of course. She contributes to the micro-economic system within her village. She sells bread so that she can purchase rice from a local farmer and clothes from a neighbor. In doing so, her community becomes increasingly self-sustaining, less dependent on donations and government assistance. Complete independence wont happen overnight, but it is the goal, and her community is working toward it each and every day.

Children of the Nations (COTN) is one of our PovertyCure partner organizations and they are present in this community. They help establish schools and health clinics that allow the community to grow by raising children who transform nations. The goal of this organization is not to take root here, but to instead establish a base that will allow the community to flourish, which will allow COTN to be less and less present. As people in the community continue to work  including the woman I met  the community will become more and more self-reliant and COTN will no longer have to be as involved.

The people of Algodon are already transforming their community. After the children grow up and go on to higher education, they return to the village. Some have become doctors and are now coming back to work within their own home and community.

Others, like the woman I met, wish to lead their children by example and empower them with education and opportunity. She wants to be invested in their future and the future of Algodon, and she has the gifts to make it possible.

Image: Algodon, Children of the Nations (permission)
Oxfam released its internal report on the Haiti scandal Monday, exposing that the controversy enveloping the agency was deeper and more expansive than previously known.

In addition to the details already made public, the report states that allegations of fraud, negligence, sexual harassment, nepotism, and accessing pornography on an Oxfam computer led to four firings and three resignations.

The figure at the center of the controversy, Haitian country director Roland van Hauwermeiren, was allowed to make a phased and dignified exit, according to Oxfam chief executive Mark Goldring in an interview published in Saturdays Guardian.

The reports most explosive revelation is that three employees in Haiti threatened a co-worker with physical violence in order to coerce the eyewitness into silence.

Oxfam perpetuated the silence by misleading UK government officials in order to preserve its share of foreign aid funds  which totaled 31.7 million (approximately $43.8 million U.S.) last year alone.

We were categorically told there was no abuse of beneficiaries involved in the allegations, said Michelle Russell, the UK Charity Commissions director of investigations, monitoring, and enforcement. Nor were we told that there were issues or possible issues around possible crimes, including those involving minors.

Prime Minister Theresa May called the agencys behavior absolutely horrific on Monday.

Despite the broad, deep, and variegated nature of its wrongdoing, Oxfams CEO said over the weekend that he is indignant  at the publics reaction.

The intensity and the ferocity of the attack makes you wonder, what did we do? We murdered babies in their cots? Goldring asked incredulously.

Certainly, he continued, the scale and the intensity of the attacks feels out of proportion to the level of culpability. I struggle to understand it.

One puzzles at which is the bigger mystery: 1) why taxpayers would not object to being lied to about their compulsory funding of the potential sexual abuse of minors, aid workers using food as leverage to exploit vulnerable women, and witness intimidation, or 2) how their doing so is an attack upon Oxfam.

The reports release follows an announcement Friday that the agency will not apply for government funding until UK officials are satisfied that they can meet the high standards [they] expect of [government] partners  after government officials strongly implied they would withdraw funding over previous malfeasance.

Oxfam trumpeted the reports release as an effort to be as transparent as possible  a week after it became clear it had been leaked to The Times.

And on Monday, Oxfam announced that it has reported the malefactors names  which are redacted in the report  to Haitian authorities for potential prosecution  seven years after the fact.

This level of wrongdoing cannot be fixed by bureaucratic or procedural changes. It was not just the processes and procedures of that organisation that were lacking but moral leadership, said UK International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt.

Those helping the poor must be motivated by the highest ethical standards, including promptly disclosing its workers legal infractions to all relevant authorities. Fear of losing government funding fueled a cover-up that enabled additional sexual abuse and exploitation around the globe.

At a minimum, Oxfams reaction demonstrates that the harmful effects of becoming dependent on government aid apply as much to its distributors as to its recipients.

(Photo credit: Oxfam East Africa. This photo has been cropped. CC BY 2.0.)
Today, Vice New Zealand with the help of New Zealand On Air have released a harrowing documentary on the dangers of synthentic cannibis in NZ. The documentary comes as the third installment of the Vice series 'Zealandia'.

The documentary, 'Syn City', goes inside the lives of West Aucklanders affected by the highly addictive and gravely dangerous drug known on the streets as synnies. In particular, ex-addict Tamara is followed as she grapples her recovery after a six-year battle with synthetic drugs.

Up until 2014, the sale of synthetic cannabis in New Zealand was considered a global test case for legalised drugs. With the introduction of tighter controls, the synthetics market has gone underground, and the harm to the community has spiralled. At least 25 people are believed to have died from synthetic drug use in 2017.

Last Friday we spoke to James Borrowdale, a producer from the documentary, on the doco itself and even Tammy's own experience with syntehtics.

Listen here:

We spoke to James Borrowdale about upcoming Vice documentary
During the College's recent Mardi Gras break, 44 students and 10 faculty and staff advisors traveled on the annual International Service Immersion Program (ISIP) spring trip to five locations in Central America and the Caribbean. Since 2004, ISIP, through the Center for Campus Ministry, has continued to integrate learning, faith, justice and service through powerful international service opportunities for Spring Hill College students.

The volunteers ultimately traveled in five separate groups to each specific location to provide a variety of needed services through partner programs and with local parish support.

In Punta Gorda, Belize, a volunteer group worked with St. Peter Claver, the local Jesuit parish, in two rural villages, painting at a school and also working on a drainage project for another school.

ISIP members once again partnered with Hand in Hand Ministries in Managua, Nicaragua to build a portion of a home for a local family. This group also provided aid for Hand in Hand Ministry's scholarship program, Pathways to Change, which gives educational assistance and tutoring to children so they may attend local private schools. This program allows those children to complete high school and go on to further studies, which is nearly impossible in the impoverished local public school.

The Granada, Nicaragua group traveled with the International Samaritan program to learn more about the families who work in the trash dump in the town of Nadnaime. International Samaritan has worked with a local doctor who has put a community health program in place that supports "garbage dump dwellers" by giving them nutritional support, housing, education access and preventive health care. These families barely survive by digging through the city dump for recyclables to sell. Students built shelter with one of the families, visited schools and shadowed the doctor in the local clinic.

In Belize City, volunteers built a house for a single mother suffering with severe mental illness through Hand in Hand Ministry's Building for Change program. The simple 15x15 structure will dramatically increase the care received by this woman and her family. Afterwards, the group was able to visit the new Fowler Community Center, Hand in Hand Ministry's facility that serves children with HIV/AIDs and also socially supports the families living in poverty.

Partnering with the Caribbean Social Immersion Program, ISIP members visited the sugar plantations on the east side of the Dominican Republic. Most of the workers there are Haitians or Dominicans of Haitian descent, which are considered stateless after the Dominican Republic passed a law revoking citizenship. The group learned through the immersion experience about the incredible hardships these people currently face and met Jesuits and religious leaders who are working to protect their rights.

For more information or to become involved with ISIP, please visit their webpage or follow them on Facebook.
 The Media Ignores Foiled Plot to Assassinate Israels Defense Minister | Main | Boston Globe Op-Ed by Stephen Kinzer Includes Israel in List of Nations in Denial 

February 20, 2018

Israel-E.U. Economic Ties Increase



Economic ties between the nation of Israel and the European Union (EU) have increased, according to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP), a Washington D.C.-based think tank.

Ilysa Tuttelman, a researcher for WINEPs Fika Forum, detailed the growing relationship in a Feb. 9, 2018 article, Israel and the E.U.: Economic Growth Despite Political Tensions.?

Economic cooperation between the Jewish state and the multilateral body has its origins in the 2010 E.U.-Israel Association Agreement. EU exports to Israel increased from 2010-2011, with additional sharp increases from 2014-2015 and 2015-2016. By 2016, the value of EU exports to Israel rose to over 28 billion dollars, while Israeli exports to the EU approached 18 billion dollars. At present, the EU is Israels largest trading partner.

Yet, there is an inverse relationship between this increasing economic relations and deteriorating EU political attitudes towards certain Israeli policies,? Tuttelman noted. Indeed, the increased economic ties have occurred during a period that has seen member states of the EU, and the organization itself, target the Jewish state. In November 2015, the Council of the European Union adopted the European Commissions proposal to label Israeli goods made in eastern Jerusalem, the Golan Heights and the West Bank (Judea and Samaria)areas that the Commission considers occupied. Similarly, goods produced in territories ruled by the Palestinian Authority (PA) are labeled product of Palestine?implicitly recognizing a Palestinian state that doesntand hasnt everexisted, and whose borders must be made, per the Oslo accords, in bilateral negotiations with Israel.

Israel protested this EU policy, which was pushed by several member states and officials, including Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, EU Foreign Secretary Frederica Mogherini, and others.

Recent policy changes have done little to alter the economic dynamics. The EU, led by Germany and France, stated its disapproval for the Dec. 6, 2017 U.S. decision to implement the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act, recognizing the city as Israels capital. The bipartisan law was passed by U.S. elected representatives, expressing popular will, and was overwhelmingly reaffirmed by the U.S. Senate six months prior. As CAMERA highlighted in a Times of Israel Op-Ed (Days of Rage and Bad Reporting,? Dec. 7, 2017), the implementation merely recognized reality and didnt alter the status quo on Jerusalems holy sitesnor did it explicitly rule out the possibility of a Palestinian state with its capital in eastern Jerusalemnonetheless, the announcement prompted outcry from Western EU powers, which joined with the Russia, China, and others in condemning the United States decision before the United Nations.

However, as WINEP pointed out: The EU outcry hasnt had any corresponding punitive economic measures. Further:

Israeli imports of goods from EU countries increased year-over-year after the Jerusalem decision, from roughly 2.2 billion dollars in December 2016 to 2.4 billion dollars in December 2017. There was also an increase over November 2017, the month prior to the Jerusalem decision. Moreover, the month after that decision witnessed a year-over-year increase of Israeli exports to the EU, from 1.31 billion dollars in December 2016 to 1.34 billion dollars in December 2017.?

As the then-President of the European Commission, Jose Barraso stated in June 2014, Israel is a strong player in research and innovation and for this reason an important partner for the EU...? Jerusalems economic power than, cant be deniedeven by those who seek to tell the Jewish people where their eternal capital lies.

Posted by SD at February 20, 2018 01:59 PM

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felicilin at 20-02-2018 12:37 PM (3 years ago) (f)

A witness in the on going trial of two bankers: Ebenezer Joshua and Franca Johnson who allegedly forged the certificates of Special Control Unit. Against Money Laundering (SCUML) today, February 18, 2018, told the Kebbi State High Court how their investigation uncovered the alleged forgery.

A witness in the on going trial of two bankers: Ebenezer Joshua and Franca Johnson who allegedly forged the certificates of Special Control Unit. Against Money Laundering (SCUML) today, February 18, 2018, told the Kebbi State High Court how their investigation uncovered the alleged forgery. In his evidence in chief, PW6, Joshua Edward Mamza a staff of the Commission and the Head if ICT unit in SCUML informed the court that his unit maintained the online registration platform of the designated non financial institutions such as car dealers, hotels, etc.

He further informed the court that when applicants for certificate register online, his department, SCUML process their certificate while the ICT unit prints it out.

Joshua explained to the court that before certificates are issued to any applicant, certain ingredients must be met. Before issuing any certificate, the DNFIU will upload all their documents to Corporate Affairs Commission, (CAC)".

Secondly, before the print out, nine numerical numbers will be generated which are divided into 3, the first 2 digits represent the city where the company is located, the second 2 digits signifies the sector code and the last five digits signifies the serial number of the registered company. He said that in the instance case, the registration number of the certificate in dispute which was admitted in evidence as exhibit A did not comply with the rules.

When asked what the state code number for Birnin Kebbi is, the witness said it was 22 while that of Sokoto is 34. According to the witness the first two digits that was supposed to represent the state on the disputed certificate, is 34 as against 22 and yet the NGO is domiciled in Kebbi.

Prosecution counsel, Rimamssomte Eziekel, asked the witness if he could see any disparity between exhibit A, the disputed certificate and exhibit H that was allegedly used to forge exhibit A, to which he responded that they are one and the same

Exhibit A, Nobel Women for Better Tomorrow Initiative with registration number 341600002 is not supposed to have the registration number number it was bearing. Reason being that the Nobel Women for Better Tomorrow Initiative is an NGO domiciled in Kebbi and the code of Kebbi is 22 as against 34 and sector code should have been 14 as against 16. The witness added.

The witness concluded his evidence by confirming that exhibit A, Nobel Women for Better Tomorrow Initiative, with registration number 341600002 is not registered with EFCC.

During cross examination, the witness denied that exhibit A, E and H emanated from Nigeria Security, Print and Minting (NSPM) which was shown on the certificates. He however confirmed that exhibits E and H emanated from EFCC.

Database is not just computer. It is a comprehensive room where all electronic records are saved. A database can be saved in a computer. The witness said when the question was put to him by counsel, representing the first accused person, Chief Magnus Ihejirikha.

On exhibit D, the witness declined any comment because according to him, the document was just a forensic report which did not emanate from his department.

The witness finally informed the court that the forensic department of the Commission have nothing to do with printing of certificate. He said this while responding to question put to him by the counsel representing the second accused person, Husain Zakariyya.

Earlier during the trial, PW5, Effa I. Okim, concluded his cross examination during which he informed the court that his investigation revealed that the certificates in dispute were forged in a business centre in Birnin Kebbi. He further told the court that the accused persons are not supposed to sign on the forensic report when the question was put to him by the counsel representing the second accused person.

I would be recalled that the accused persons were arraigned by the Commission on the 31st day of July, 2017 before the Kebbi State High Court on a three count charge of forgery. Upon arraignment, they both pleaded not guilty and the case was adjourned to October 4 and 5 for the commencement of trial.

The case has been adjourned to 1st March, 2018 for continuation of trial.

In his evidence in chief, PW6, Joshua Edward Mamza a staff of the Commission and the Head if ICT unit in SCUML informed the court that his unit maintained the online registration platform of the designated non financial institutions such as car dealers, hotels, etc.He further informed the court that when applicants for certificate register online, his department, SCUML process their certificate while the ICT unit prints it out.Joshua explained to the court that before certificates are issued to any applicant, certain ingredients must be met. Before issuing any certificate, the DNFIU will upload all their documents to Corporate Affairs Commission, (CAC)".Secondly, before the print out, nine numerical numbers will be generated which are divided into 3, the first 2 digits represent the city where the company is located, the second 2 digits signifies the sector code and the last five digits signifies the serial number of the registered company. He said that in the instance case, the registration number of the certificate in dispute which was admitted in evidence as exhibit A did not comply with the rules.When asked what the state code number for Birnin Kebbi is, the witness said it was 22 while that of Sokoto is 34. According to the witness the first two digits that was supposed to represent the state on the disputed certificate, is 34 as against 22 and yet the NGO is domiciled in Kebbi.Prosecution counsel, Rimamssomte Eziekel, asked the witness if he could see any disparity between exhibit A, the disputed certificate and exhibit H that was allegedly used to forge exhibit A, to which he responded that they are one and the same. The witness added.The witness concluded his evidence by confirming that exhibit A, Nobel Women for Better Tomorrow Initiative, with registration number 341600002 is not registered with EFCC.During cross examination, the witness denied that exhibit A, E and H emanated from Nigeria Security, Print and Minting (NSPM) which was shown on the certificates. He however confirmed that exhibits E and H emanated from EFCC.The witness said when the question was put to him by counsel, representing the first accused person, Chief Magnus Ihejirikha.On exhibit D, the witness declined any comment because according to him, the document was just a forensic report which did not emanate from his department.The witness finally informed the court that the forensic department of the Commission have nothing to do with printing of certificate. He said this while responding to question put to him by the counsel representing the second accused person, Husain Zakariyya.Earlier during the trial, PW5, Effa I. Okim, concluded his cross examination during which he informed the court that his investigation revealed that the certificates in dispute were forged in a business centre in Birnin Kebbi. He further told the court that the accused persons are not supposed to sign on the forensic report when the question was put to him by the counsel representing the second accused person.I would be recalled that the accused persons were arraigned by the Commission on the 31st day of July, 2017 before the Kebbi State High Court on a three count charge of forgery. Upon arraignment, they both pleaded not guilty and the case was adjourned to October 4 and 5 for the commencement of trial.The case has been adjourned to 1st March, 2018 for continuation of trial.

Post Reply Posted: at 20-02-2018 12:37 PM (3 years ago) | Hero
felicilin at 20-02-2018 04:15 PM (3 years ago) (f)

Two Nigerian illegals and a Thai taxi driver were arrested in Aranyaprathet, a border town of Eastern Thailand, after a dramatic border chase traversing five checkpoints.

Two Nigerian illegals and a Thai taxi driver were arrested in Aranyaprathet, a border town of Eastern Thailand, after a dramatic border chase traversing five checkpoints. The Nigerians were eventually rounded up in a sugar cane plantation trying to return to Cambodia.

Photos: Two Nigerian men arrested in the border town of Eastern Thailand after a dramatic car chase

The drama began around 8am when a policeman on his rounds saw two black men vault over a wall into the car park at Rong Klua market.

They had jumped over to flee Cambodia. They jumped into a waiting taxi and the three including the taxi driver sped off.

Police and military authorities were soon informed as the taxi went along the Sri Phen Road that follows the border. In total five checkpoints both police and military were traversed before strips managed to damage the taxi enough to make it stop.

Photos: Two Nigerian men arrested in the border town of Eastern Thailand after a dramatic car chase

At that point the two Nigerians bailed out of the taxi and disappeared into a sugar cane field. As they tried to cross back into Cambodia they were arrested.

A bag in the boot of the taxi contained their passports identified them as Reginald Uzoho, 27, and Chinaka Ibemere, 31.

They told police they had been in Vietnam before they left and went into Cambodia. They said they were headed for Pratunam in Bangkok to see a friend.

Photos: Two Nigerian men arrested in the border town of Eastern Thailand after a dramatic car chase

They clammed up when asked to explain why they had no exit stamp from Vietnam. Police believe they were breaking the law there.

Taxi driver Wan Thongkhan, 57, told police that he was hired by Cambodians for 3,000 baht to drive two men to Bangkok. He said that he was forced by the Nigerians to drive on through the checkpoints.

Police dismissed this story as nonsense as he had plenty of opportunity to stop and give up.

The cops are looking into the background of the Nigerians and the taxi driver to see what they were up to suspecting that it may well have something to do with illicit drugs.











The Nigerians were eventually rounded up in a sugar cane plantation trying to return to Cambodia.Photos: Two Nigerian men arrested in the border town of Eastern Thailand after a dramatic car chaseThe drama began around 8am when a policeman on his rounds saw two black men vault over a wall into the car park at Rong Klua market.They had jumped over to flee Cambodia. They jumped into a waiting taxi and the three including the taxi driver sped off.Police and military authorities were soon informed as the taxi went along the Sri Phen Road that follows the border. In total five checkpoints both police and military were traversed before strips managed to damage the taxi enough to make it stop.Photos: Two Nigerian men arrested in the border town of Eastern Thailand after a dramatic car chaseAt that point the two Nigerians bailed out of the taxi and disappeared into a sugar cane field. As they tried to cross back into Cambodia they were arrested.A bag in the boot of the taxi contained their passports identified them as Reginald Uzoho, 27, and Chinaka Ibemere, 31.They told police they had been in Vietnam before they left and went into Cambodia. They said they were headed for Pratunam in Bangkok to see a friend.Photos: Two Nigerian men arrested in the border town of Eastern Thailand after a dramatic car chaseThey clammed up when asked to explain why they had no exit stamp from Vietnam. Police believe they were breaking the law there.Taxi driver Wan Thongkhan, 57, told police that he was hired by Cambodians for 3,000 baht to drive two men to Bangkok. He said that he was forced by the Nigerians to drive on through the checkpoints.Police dismissed this story as nonsense as he had plenty of opportunity to stop and give up.The cops are looking into the background of the Nigerians and the taxi driver to see what they were up to suspecting that it may well have something to do with illicit drugs.

Post Reply Posted: at 20-02-2018 04:15 PM (3 years ago) | Hero
 The Song Remains The Same: NYT Backs Off the Palestinian Authority | Main | Israel-E.U. Economic Ties Increase 

February 20, 2018

The Media Ignores Foiled Plot to Assassinate Israels Defense Minister



Israeli authorities foiled a plot to assassinate Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, the Shin Bet security service said on Feb. 18, 2018. The Shin Bets remarks went widely underreported by major U.S. news outlets.

The Times of Israel reported that Israels domestic security agency, the Shin Bet, had arrested members of two different Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) cells ("Shin Bet Says it Thwarted Plot to Assassinate Defense Minister, February 18). One cell had planned to murder Liberman via roadside bombs. The other planned shooting attacks against IDF soldiers and Israeli civilians in the Etzion Bloc of the West Bank [Judea and Samaria],? correspondent Tamar Pileggi said.

Six PIJ operatives were arrested in connection to the first plot. PIJ is a U.S.-designated terrorist group. As CAMERA noted in its 2016 backgrounder on the organization, PIJ receives extensive support from the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Shin Bet named Awad Mahmoud al-Asakra and Muhammad Ali Ibrahim al-Askara, both Bethlehem-area natives, as ringleaders of the cells. Both men had previously been convicted for plotting other terror attacks. The plan to murder Liberman was foiled in the very early stages of planning,? the Shin Bet said.

The Times of Israel reported:

The Shin Bet investigation also revealed that members of both cells were motivated by the Palestinian Authoritys benefits package awarded to the families of terrorists killed or jailed for carrying out attacks against Israeli targets.?

The paper also noted that Shin Bets announcement came on the heels of increased tensions along the Gaza border,? including the wounding of four IDF soldiers by an improvised explosive device (IED) that same weekend.

Yet, most major U.S. news outlets failed to provide original reporting on the foiled PIJ plots. A Lexis-Nexis search of The Washington Post, USA Today, The Baltimore Sun, and Politico, among other newspapers, showed zero coverage of the Shin Bets remarks. By contrast, The Jerusalem Post, Ynet News, Haaretz, and Reuters all reported on the incident.

Liberman has been the subject of considerable media attention. The Washington Post, The New York Times, and USA Today have published profilesoften criticalof Israels defense minister. But they couldnt devote column space to plans for his assassination.

Posted by SD at February 20, 2018 12:00 PM

stopping a plot in early stages isn't a big enough story, you think the whole world has to spend their days on israel?

Posted by: tan at March 19, 2018 01:11 AM

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Aabenraa, Denmark, 2018-02-20 09:20 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sydbanks Board of Directors has decided to implement a share buyback programme of DKK 500m, however a maximum of 3 million shares. The purpose of the share buyback is to reduce the Banks share capital with the shares purchased under the programme.

Using the closing price on Monday 19 February 2018 the buyback equals about 1.9m shares, equal to 2.8% of the Banks share capital.

The share buyback will be executed in accordance with the authorisation of the general meeting of 23 March 2017 whereby the Board of Directors may acquire own shares of up to 10% of the capital.

The share buyback is part of the capital adjustment to optimise the capital structure in accordance with the Banks capital targets and capital policy published in the Banks 2017 Annual Report. At 31 December 2017 the Banks Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio stood at 17.3% and its capital ratio stood at 20.8%.

The share buyback programme will be initiated on Wednesday 21 February 2018 and will be completed by 31 December 2018. Sydbank has chosen Danske Bank to manage the buyback which will be executed in compliance with Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 of 8 March 2016, collectively referred to as the Safe Harbour rules.

The share buyback programme will be subject to the following guidelines:

shares may not be purchased at a price higher than the higher of the following prices:

the price of the last independent trade the highest current independent purchase bid on the trading venue where the purchase is carried out, including when the shares are traded on different trading venues

purchases on any trading day must not exceed 25% of the average daily volume of the shares in the preceding 20 trading days on the trading venue on which the purchase is carried out.

On the first banking day of each week Sydbank will state the number and value of repurchased shares in a company announcement, the first time being on 26 February 2018.

Sydbank may suspend or end the share buyback programme at any time. In such case this will be announced in a company announcement.
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Regulated information

Bone Therapeutics strengthens Board with the appointment of Jean Stephenne as Chairman

Jean Stephenne brings extensive biotech and pharma experience

Gosselies, Belgium, 20 February 2018, 6 pm CET - BONE THERAPEUTICS (Euronext Brussels and Paris: BOTHE), the bone cell therapy company addressing high unmet medical needs in orthopaedics and bone diseases, today announces that Jean Stephenne has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors with immediate effect, replacing Steve Swinson who has informed the Board of his intention to step down.

Jean Stephenne is a highly-experienced life sciences executive, who has served in senior leadership roles at a large number of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, most recently as Chairman of TiGenix. Together with the Board of TiGenix, he oversaw the clinical development and market approval of its most advanced allogeneic cell therapy product for the treatment of complex perianal fistulas in Crohn's disease, resulting in Takeda's announced intention to acquire the company for EUR 520 million.

Jean Stephenne was also previously a Member of the Corporate Executive Team of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Chief Executive of GSK Biologicals (now GSK Vaccines). During his 40-year tenure, he grew a company of 50 people into a fully integrated worldwide leader in vaccine development, with 12,000 employees.

Jean Stephenne currently serves on the Board of various life sciences companies including TiGenix, Vaxxilon, OncoDNA, CureVac and Bepharbel. Previous board positions include Besix Group, BNP Paribas Fortis, GBL and IBA. For his contribution to the Belgian economy and global public health, he has received diverse business recognitions and was honoured with various titles by the Belgian and British governments.

Thomas Lienard, Chief Executive Officer of Bone Therapeutics, commented: "We are delighted to welcome Jean Stephenne as our new Chairman of the Board. Jean Stephenne has unparalleled experience in drug development and building innovative life science companies and is highly regarded within the sector. We are pleased to have attracted a Chairman of such calibre, a testament to the potential of our unique bone cell therapy platform. Jean Stephenne will be a valuable addition to an already strong Board, as we advance our allogeneic cell therapy platform through critical clinical studies and towards commercialization. I would also like to express my thanks, on behalf of the Board and leadership team, to Steve Swinson, who has provided valuable strategic counsel during his time with the Company."

Jean Stephenne, Chairman of Bone Therapeutics commented: "Bone Therapeutics is a highly innovative Company at the forefront of developments in bone cell therapy and I am very excited to be joining the Board. I look forward to working closely with Thomas, the rest of the Board and the whole Bone Therapeutics team as we move towards important value inflection points for the Company's bone cell therapy products for the benefit of patients."

About Bone Therapeutics

Bone Therapeutics is a leading cell therapy company addressing high unmet needs in orthopaedics and bone diseases. Based in Gosselies, Belgium, the Company has a broad, diversified portfolio of bone cell therapy products in clinical development across a number of disease areas targeting markets with large unmet medical needs and limited innovation.

Our technology is based on a unique, proprietary approach to bone regeneration which turns undifferentiated stem cells into "osteoblastic", or bone-forming cells. These cells can be administered via a minimally invasive procedure, avoiding the need for invasive surgery.

Our primary clinical focus is ALLOB, an allogeneic "off-the-shelf" cell therapy product derived from stem cells of healthy donors, which is in Phase II studies for the treatment of delayed-union fractures and spinal fusion. The Company also has an autologous bone cell therapy product, PREOB, obtained from patient`s own bone marrow and currently in Phase III development for osteonecrosis of the hip, and is also partnered with Asahi Kasei Corporation for the development and commercialisation of PREOB  in Japan.

Bone Therapeutics` cell therapy products are manufactured to the highest GMP standards and are protected by a rich IP estate covering nine patent families. Further information is available at: www.bonetherapeutics.com.

Contacts

Bone Therapeutics SA

Thomas Lienard, Chief Executive Officer

Jean-Luc Vandebroek, Chief Financial Officer

Tel: +32 (0)2 529 59 90

investorrelations@bonetherapeutics.com

For Belgium and International Media Enquiries:

Consilium Strategic Communications

Amber Fennell, Jessica Hodgson, Hendrik Thys and Lindsey Neville

Tel: +44 (0) 20 3709 5701

bonetherapeutics@consilium-comms.com

For French Media and Investor Enquiries:

NewCap Investor Relations & Financial Communications

Pierre Laurent, Louis-Victor Delouvrier and Nicolas Merigeau

Tel: + 33 (0)1 44 71 94 94

bone@newcap.eu

For US Media and Investor Enquiries

Westwicke Partners

John Woolford

Tel: + 1 443 213 0506

john.woolford@westwicke.com

Certain statements, beliefs and opinions in this press release are forward-looking, which reflect the Company or, as appropriate, the Company directors` current expectations and projections about future events. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. A multitude of factors including, but not limited to, changes in demand, competition and technology, can cause actual events, performance or results to differ significantly from any anticipated development. Forward looking statements contained in this press release regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. As a result, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any update or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press release as a result of any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based. Neither the Company nor its advisers or representatives nor any of its subsidiary undertakings or any such person`s officers or employees guarantees that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does either accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.
Governments around the nation are working to design the best vaccine policies that keep both their employees and their residents safe. Although the latest data shows a variety of polarizing perspectives, there are clear emerging best practices that leading governments are following to put trust first: creating policies that are flexible and provide a range of options, and being in tune with the needs and sentiments of their employees so that they are able to be dynamic and accommodate the rapidly changing situation.
DCF investigation

Nikolas Cruz cut his arms on Snapchat and said he wanted to buy a gun in September 2016, more than a year before he was accused of killing 17 people in a school in Parkland, Florida, records obtained by the South Florida Sun Sentinel show.The incident on the digital social network prompted an investigation by sheriff's deputies and adult welfare investigators from the Department of Children & Family Services.The documents provide further evidence that Cruz was a troubled teen who repeatedly went without help before he stalked the halls of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School with an AR-15 rifle on Wednesday.In another stunning example, the FBI acknowledged Friday that it ignored a tip last month that Cruz was at risk of committing a school shooting.A person close to Cruz contacted an FBI national tipline on Jan. 5 with concerns about the young man'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 in a news release.The information should have been sent to the FBI Miami Field Office but was never forwarded, officials said. Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Friday ordered an investigation of how the U.S. Department of Justice and FBI handled the matter.The DCF investigation came four days after Cruz's 18th birthday, meaning he could legally purchase a rifle."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," the DCF report reads.Investigators concluded there were "some implications" for Cruz's safety but determined he was receiving adequate support from his school and outpatient care from Henderson Mental Health in Broward County.About five months later, he bought the AR-15.Cruz came under DCF's supervision and care because he was classified as a vulnerable adult due to mental illness."[Cruz's] final level of risk is low as [he] resides with his mother, attends school and receives counseling through Henderson," the DCF investigator wrote.Cruz's lawyers said the report is the clearest evidence yet that the system failed not only their client but also the murder victims, their families and the wider community."All of this could have been prevented," said Melisa McNeill, the Broward assistant public defender who is leading the defense. "It makes me sick to my stomach because there are 17 people, including numerous children, who are dead and several others who are injured."The attorneys said the Snapchat incident alerted at least four local agencies -- DCF, the Broward Sheriff's Office, the Broward school district and Henderson Behavioral Health, one of the largest mental health providers in the county -- that Cruz was in crisis and posed a potential danger to himself and others."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 Chief Assistant Public Defender Gordon Weekes. "This community has been devastated. The system didn't only fail him, it failed the entire community."A mobile crisis unit from Henderson had been called out at some time in the past to figure out whether Cruz needed to be committed for psychiatric treatment under the Baker Act, the DCF report said. No date for that visit was provided and he was not committed.His mother, Lynda Cruz, told investigators that her son had been diagnosed with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He was being treated for depression, had a behavioral disorder and had been taking medication for the ADHD, the report said. Investigators wrote that they did not know whether he was still taking the medication.Cruz's mother told investigators his behavior was linked to "a breakup with a girl who was cheating on [him]." She and the girl's mom had told the teens they "had to end the relationship because it was unhealthy for everyone."Cruz began cutting himself after his relationship broke up, his mother said.
For Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, the anguish of Florida's worst school shooting remains raw. Families are still burying some of the 17 students and faculty members killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, victims of a deeply troubled ex-student with an assault rifle.For Miami Beach Police Chief Dan Oates, the scars are six years old but still deep. He headed the police department in Aurora, Colorado, when a mentally ill killer armed with a similar high-power rifle killed a dozen and injured 70 others in a movie theater.These two South Florida police chiefs share the up-close and personal horrors of overseeing mass shooting investigations that have reinforced their beliefs about gun control:First, they want military-style weapons like AR-15 rifles, the weapon used in both events, out of the hands of civilians. Second, they argue that lenient state and national gun laws and mental health privacy laws are hampering the mission of police to keep the public safe from gun violence, prohibiting officers from confiscating weapons -- often even from people who have produced a trail of warnings like Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz."Based on the law, if someone [who has weapons] says I want to grow up and be a serial killer, there's nothing you can do about it," Israel told the Miami Herald on Monday. "We can't arrest for something a person is thinking about."They're not alone among top state law enforcement officers calling for lawmakers to tighten gun control and reverse decades of bidding by the powerful National Rifle Association. The Florida Police Chiefs Association has called for an emergency meeting Monday night that Florida Gov. Rick Scott is expected to attend. Exactly what suggestions might emerge, is not yet clear.Kevin Lystad, the Miami Shores police chief who is president of the FPCA, said the plan is to offer gun legislation to state lawmakers in the coming weeks. Lystad said he's focused on assault weapons and background checks."Congress messed up when they didn't renew the assault weapons ban [in 2004]. I think that was problematic," Lystad said. "We need to deal with assault weapons, background checks. It's about finding common ground."One immediate change that Oates and Israel want to see: Ban the legal sale of the AR-15s used in both massacres."In only one condition should you have an assault rifle, if you've joined the Marines and you're going to fight," Israel said.The chiefs have joined a growing chorus of gun control advocates statewide that is suddenly being led by the young survivors of Stoneman Douglas shootings. A number of the students are busing up to Tallahassee and expect to meet with state legislators on Wednesday.One thing clearly on the agenda will be how to restrict weapons access to people like Cruz and Colorado shooter James Eagan Holmes, who issued threats while also undergoing mental health care. It's an issue where protecting mental health privacy will likely clash with increasining public safety.Aurora killer Holmes, for instance, "was in psychiatric treatment for months before the shooting,'' said Oates. "There were indicators in his digital profile for months before the shooting. Like all the rest of the cases, it was out there."According to Oates, a psychiatrist who had been treating Holmes told a university police department that her patient had been fantasizing about killing lots of people. The police chose not to Baker Act Holmes and did not pass along the information.Law enforcement sources say Cruz had purchased at least five guns other than the AR-15 semiautomatic rifle he used to mow down the students. A call to an FBI hotline in January that warned Cruz was planning a school shooting, was never forwarded to the Miami field office. And the Broward Sheriff's Office received dozens of calls about Cruz's erratic behavior.It's far from the first time that issues of gun control and mental health have become national talking points.Despite similar massacres in Aurora, at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut, at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando and at a concert on the Las Vegas strip only last year, Congress has largely rejected calls for gun control -- even those from first responders they so often praise after massacres.Many police chiefs, particularly in big cities, have long pressed for tougher gun laws to protect the public and their own officers to largely no avail.Miami-Dade Police Director Juan Perez said he has first-hand knowledge of the difficulty of monitoring an unstable person who poses a serious potential threat.He said he has been contacted repeatedly by someone he says exhibits signs of mental illness. Police went to his home, Perez said, and found a cache of weapons, including a hunting rifle. There's little police can do, Perez said, because the person has not committed a crime."This guy has hunting rifles," said the director. "There has to be reform on both sides -- on mental illness and on firearms."Carlos Baixauli, a retired agent who worked at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Miami, said reform of any kind is a "major problem because of the conflicts between privacy laws and gun rights."Baixauli, who spent his 30-year career in South Florida, said at the very least there should be universal background checks on all gun sales, including private sales, which are unregulated. He also praised several states that have passed firearms-restraining laws that -- patterned after the Baker Act -- would allow a family member or friend who knows that a person is exhibiting "red flags" to go and apply for such an order.Baixauli said that politicians in Washington, under the sway of the NRA, also have blocked efforts for a national gun registry. Under current federal regulations, a gun store owner keeps the record of a criminal and mental background check on a buyer.An ATF agent or investigator only sees the form if a trace of a specific weapon is requested or during a gun shop inspection. The agency doesn't keep any copies of the background check. In fact, whether the gun buyer clears the background check or not, the federal Brady law requires the history of that search be purged as a record."I don't see why they [law enforcement] shouldn't be allowed to keep the background checks on persons prohibited from buying guns," Baixauli said.The difficulties of reform have been well chronicled. The NRA, one of the most powerful lobbies in the country, has successfully fought to restrict waiting periods for gun purchases and to avoid limits on the number of bullets in magazines used with assault rifles. It has successfully opposed a national gun registry and universal background checks.While the NRA is the most powerful lobbying voice against gun-control, strong regional and cultural resistance also has defeated past efforts to tighten national gun laws. In more rural regions, residents have made it clear that backing gun control would be political suicide for lawmakers.Colorado state senators John Morse and Angela Giron, for instance, were recalled from office after the Aurora shooting when they voted for new laws that would have imposed universal background checks on gun purchases and limited magazines to 15 rounds.Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County have enacted more restrictive weapons purchase laws than the rest of the state. To buy a weapon in South Florida's largest counties -- as Cruz did in Broward last February -- there is a five-day waiting period for a background check. In the rest of the state there is a three-day wait for a handgun and no wait for a rifle.To purchase an AR-15 like Cruz did at Sunrise Tactical Supply in Coral Springs, all he needed to do was fill out a firearms transactions record form issued by the Department of Justice. Cruz gave his name, address, date of birth, sex and height and included a copy of his driver's license. Cruz checked off "no" in the section that asked if he'd been adjudicated or institutionalized for mental illness.Oates, the Miami Beach police chief, called it a "given" that at the very least a person should not be able to buy an assault weapon until 21. Federal law allows such a purchase at 18. The Miami Beach chief said he'd like to see lawmakers pass a bill that would put the burden of proof on the suspect after he or she is Baker Acted.Israel struck a similar tone, saying police would be more likely to employ the Baker Act if they knew it would keep guns out of the hands of unstable people for more than 72 hours. He believes they should not be able to retrieve their weapons until a doctor clears them as mentally healthy.State social workers were called to Cruz's home in 2016 when he became despondent after breaking up with a girlfriend and made a Snapchat video of himself cutting his arms. They chose not to hospitalize him. It was one of a number of episodes of erratic behavior."When we release someone from a mental health facility, they're not healed," Israel said. "You have to be an immediate threat [to others or yourself] or by law your weapon has to be returned. Absolutely, we're handcuffed and our hands are tied."
Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway on Monday urged the National Rifle Association to find a new home for its annual meeting in May.Caraway said that the NRA event, scheduled for May 3-6 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, is inappropriate for Dallas after the school shooting in Parkland, Fla., last week. The NRA's meeting will include firearms displays and exhibits, and the group's national elected officials will participate in leadership meetings. According to the website, ammunition sales are permitted, but on-site firearm sales are not.In a written statement, Caraway said that it's "time to put the heat on the NRA." He followed up his written comments with a news conference outside City Hall in which he decried high-powered civilian-owned weapons and gun violence in Dallas, referencing both the 1963 Kennedy assassination and the July 7, 2016, ambush on police.Caraway said asking the NRA to reconsider was "a tough call" but would put the city's residents first. He said the NRA's political positions would lead to demonstrations that Dallas would be forced to handle and that the organization needs to "come to the table" and be part of a solution."I would hope they would be sensitively moral themselves at some point," he said of the powerful interest group that has not bowed to past criticisms. "I would hope that the NRA would be watching, as I'm sure they are, around the country what has just taken place. They have children. They have families. At some point, they need to understand, and I think they do, that there will be opposition when they come here."NRA media representatives did not immediately respond to messages for comment Monday morning.Caraway largely sidestepped questions about what the city of Dallas could actually do about a legal event that already has a contract with the convention center. Instead, he said, other council members should take positions and that the city's attorneys could look into it.It appears unlikely to go far. The city's ban of the Exxxotica event, which is still in its own legal fight, was based on its sexually oriented business ordinance. The NRA's meeting would appear more difficult to challenge.Travis County commissioners in 2013 considered banning gun shows at the county's expo center, but ultimately voted such a measure down. Then-Attorney Gen. Greg Abbott warned of "a double-barreled lawsuit" if the county moved ahead with the ban.And Mayor Mike Rawlings said in an interview after the Sutherland Springs shooting last year that the city had its hands tied by the Constitution. At the time, Caraway was toying with the idea of taking some action regarding the NRA meeting.Rawlings last week instead focused on national leaders, writing a letter to President Donald Trump and Texans in Congress urging them to "summon the courage" to look for solutions for mass killings.Other City Council members have also weighed in after the Florida shooting. Kevin Felder, who represents South Dallas and Far East Dallas, tweeted his opposition to the NRA convention.Council member Rickey Callahan also wrote a letter to the mayor last week urging some type of local action and calling mental health the "800-pound gorilla in the room."Caraway said Monday that mental health should be a concern, but gun violence must be addressed. He said he is not opposed to gun ownership -- he claims he owns five guns -- and supports the Second Amendment. But he said there is no reason for anyone to own an AR-15."We must get rid of these assault weapons to protect the children, and we must do something now," he said.
The Committee has the important role of providing strategic and policy guidance to the operations of the Hub, mainly, at a time when climate change is becoming a major threat to human lives and in some cases to the very existence of States. Several key stakeholders including the British High Commissioner to Mauritius, Mr Keith Allan; the Australian High Commissioner, Ms Jenny Dee; as well as the General Manager, CFAH, and the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, were present at the event.

In his opening remarks, Minister Lutchmeenaraidoo pointed out that the topic of climate change is a very serious issue and it is now decades since the planet has been getting signs of disruption at various levels which can endanger life on Earth.

We are presently in a situation of emergency and the reality is that climate change is bringing havoc when it comes to production such as in the Caribbean countries which are producing banana for instance, he said. Climate change has thus reduced the production per acre in those countries and has affected the livelihood of those working for and depending on this production, he pointed out.

The Minister cautioned that climate change will bring havoc to the planet if nothing is done and the Indian Ocean region is suffering more and more from its effects. He further recalled that Mauritius is one of the rare countries which has the most beautiful beaches in the world but now the beaches are being affected by erosion and this will consequently have an impact on the tourism industry.

On that score Mr Lutchmeenaraidoo called for the need to stay focused as the issue is so colossal and the number of institutions supporting climate change issues being set are so many that risks exist that the Hub may become diluted when it comes to implementing measures which are urgent. Therefore, being result-oriented is crucial, he said. Each country is living climate change in its own way and consequently the Hub must be in a position to intervene following the list of priorities being defined by each country, he added.

For her part, High Commissioner Dee, announced that Australia will provide at least 1 billion AUD to help build climate change resilience and reduce emissions over the next five years. She also spoke of her countrys strong commitment to the Paris Agreement and in helping developing countries implement the Agreement. Australia believes that the Commonwealth has an important role to play in continuing to advocate climate vulnerable States, she added.

In his statement, High Commissioner Allan lauded the fact that much progress has been achieved since the establishment of the CFAH and reiterated the UKs support with regard to the Hubs work. The UK is, as is Australia and Mauritius, one of the significant contributors to the Hub and we do not do this through direct financial support as such but rather contribute through the Commonwealth Secretariat budget programme, he indicated.

For his part, the chair of the Steering Committee, Mr V.K. Daby, also Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, recalled that in just over a year of operations, the Hub has established itself as an efficient entity in providing technical support and in building capacity of countries to develop projects in line with international climate financed principles. The deployment of National Advisors in seven countries has been accomplished within the very first year of operation of the Hub and knowledge management operations are on track, he indicated.

The Hub

The Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub aims to unlock climate finance for the climatically most vulnerable States by adding critical strategic capacity at national and regional levels. The Hub is the Commonwealths response to the ongoing and future threats of climate change to its member countries.

The central Hub, based in the Republic of Mauritius, receives and manages requests for capacity and technical assistance to secure climate finance. It executes these through a network of long-term national and regional advisers. Linked to these advisers is access to: a Knowledge Network and a Technical Support Mechanism to enable peer-to-peer exchanges and consultancies.
Description

GIS  20 February 2018: 20 February 2018: The Mauritian academic diaspora is an important and useful asset for Mauritius as it can contribute to position the country as a major higher education destination. The academic excellence that the diaspora can bring to the local universities will be instrumental in providing them an international outlook and boost their competitive edge, resulting in job and wealth creation.

This statement was made by the Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, External Communications and National Development Unit, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, this morning during the opening ceremony of the International Conference of the Mauritian Academic Diaspora 2018 at Auditorium Paul Octave Wiehe, in Reduit. Ministers, members of the diaspora and other eminent personalities were also present on this occasion.

In his address, the Prime Minister highlighted that the Conference has brought together members of the Mauritian diaspora from various academic fields to engage with their counterparts from the University of Mauritius and other local universities. He observed that the Conference is bound to be a unique forum for sharing of professional experiences and discussing future joint projects.

He emphasised that there is a need to create strong platforms for more interactions between Mauritius and its diaspora. The immense knowledge and experience which members of the diaspora have acquired in their countries of adoption represent invaluable potential resources for Mauritius, he added.

Speaking about incentives available to the academic diaspora, the Prime Minister underscored that Government has set up a research fund managed by the Tertiary Education Commission to encourage fundamental academic research in various areas. The Mauritius Research Council, on the other hand, manages a fund for applied research and the Economic Development Board has an incentive scheme with many important benefits aimed at cementing effective diaspora relationships and opportunities for engagement for the progress of Mauritius, he added.

For his part, the Minister of Public Infrastructure and Land Transport, Mr Nandcoomar Bodha, pointed out that the diaspora can bring a very rich contribution to the development of Mauritius. He observed that the impact of the diaspora can bring trade investment, increase capacity building with networking, encourage transfer of skills, knowledge and technology, which in turn can help shape the modern Mauritius.

He further stated that the diasporas expertise is much needed in areas such as blue economy, information technology, climate change, green economy, robotics, and research. Mr Bodha encouraged members of the academic diaspora to work in collaboration with local counterparts so as to contribute to the countrys development.

International Conference of the Mauritian Academic Diaspora 2018

The three-day conference has been organised by the University of Mauritius as part of the activities to mark the 50th Anniversary of Independence of Mauritius. The theme chosen is Mauritian diaspora: Showcasing international success.

More than 30 members of the Mauritian academic diaspora are present on this occasion and the topics to be discussed include artificial intelligence and robotics, econometrics, ICT, medicine, nanotechnology, social sciences and humanities, law, marketing, education, and international relations.
He underscored that the topic of human rights concerns each and every one regardless of their ministries, departments or institutions and that we should all work towards preserving equality and eliminating discrimination. He highlighted that the organisations should review the various periodic reviews for 2018 before submitting the documents to international bodies. They include reports for the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; the third Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and the mid-term progress reports.

Minister Gobin added that the First Meeting of the NMRF has been fruitful in determining the position of various organisations as regards Human Rights Periodic Reports Reviews. He further pointed out that the committee will meet in two weeks after thorough research and precise data collection.

About the NMRF
The Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Humane Society International (HSI), this morning at the seat of the Ministry in Port-Louis, to mark the start of a pilot project to sterilise 10,000 dogs as part of a new humane street dog population control project.

The collaborative one-year pilot project, to be funded by both parties, will run from 20 February 2018 to March 2019. Eleven regions in the district of Flacq will be targeted during the initial pilot phase. The objectives are to spay/neuter 10,000 dogs, create community awareness and sensitise the public regarding the need for sterilisation and vaccination, amongst others.

In his address, the Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Mr Mahen Seeruttun, highlighted that the signing of the MoU, is one of the major initiatives currently being taken by the Government to deal with the issue of stray and roaming dogs in the country. He pointed out that Mauritius has an estimated dog population of 250,000 and some 57,000 roaming dogs, and added that this initiative will serve to bring a relief to animal neglect and suffering.

He underlined that the Mauritius Society for Animal Welfare is committed to promote kindness, prevent or suppress cruelty to animals and ensure animals protection. He announced that since the launch of the sterilisation campaign in 2015, which aims at reducing the street dog population, some 10,000 dogs and cats have been sterilised. According to him, the expertise of the HSI will undoubtedly help to boost up efforts to address the problem in the country.

Moreover, Minister Seeruttun underpinned the necessity to sensitise the public and educate pet owners on how to treat animals with respect, in order to deal with the stray dogs issue at all levels. As regards prevention of animal cruelty, he emphasised that the necessary measures are being taken at the level of the Animal Welfare Unit and added that additional staff has been recruited to reinforce its services.

As for the Director of the Companion Animals and Engagement HSI , Mr Rahul Sengal, he stressed that the project will help reduce the street dog population in a humane and sustainable way. The project, he said, ultimately aims to bring about a sustainable and scientific model to control street dogs in Mauritius, on a long-term basis.
Description

GIS  20 February 2018: A Road Safety Campaign, aiming at sensitising women and girls on precautionary road measures, was held yesterday at the Rabita Hall in Port Louis in presence of the Minister of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare, Mrs Roubina Jadoo-Jaunbocus.

This initiative is in line with the National Road Safety Campaign launched on the theme Ensam Pa Laisse Koltar Touy Nou Fami, by the Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, External Communications and National Development Unit, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, on Saturday 17 February 2018.

In her address, Minister Jadoo-Jaunbocus highlighted that it is imperative to educate women and girls on the importance of road safety for them to endorse a culture of zero-accidents. Women, she underlined, play a pivotal role and they can positively influence their family in adopting appropriate driving behaviours. This sensitisation campaign will therefore enable women to be more cautious as road users, and in turn, instill the ethics of road safety in their family, she emphasised.

The various malpractices such as driving in a drunken state, offensive driving and the use of mobile phones while driving were also highlighted by the Minister. Several measures such as regular vehicle checks and installation of speed cameras have been introduced with the objective to encourage road users act more responsibly, she underscored .

The Minister moreover called for a change in attitudes so as to prevent road accidents, and stressed that a culture of defensive driving should be promoted so as to protect vulnerable road users. Road safety, Mrs Jadoo-Jaunbocus pointed out, necessitates the concerted efforts of each and every one given the alarming rate of road fatalities and the increasing number of the seriously injured. The participation of all stakeholders and the population as a whole will help to prevent road injuries and save life on roads, she added.

About the Road Safety Campaign

The Road Safety Campaign was organised by the National Womens Council with the aim to provide a platform for women to share and express their views on road safety.

Activities related to the campaign comprised testimonials of relatives of victims of road accidents; a symbolic remittance of token to the relatives of the victims; and an overview of the causes and consequences of road accidents.
by Callum McKean, Curator of Contemporary Literary Archives and Manuscripts. This month the Library is running a series of events under the name China in Focus with speakers from a number of disciplines related to the study and appreciation of China and diasporic Chinese communities. All material referenced in this blog post is available to consult in our Reading Rooms, either online or in person.

On February 18th London will become witness to a spectacle. The already loud and luminescent streets of Soho will shine even brighter and shout even louder than usual, as hundreds of thousands of people descend to usher in the Year of the Dog. Fantastical creatures will wind their way down Charing Cross Road  roaring past its rare and vintage book shops  towards Gerard Street  with its bilingual street signage and open-door all you can eat Chinese restaurants  down to Trafalgar Square, where an 18th century vice-admiral will look on with bemusement as the stage is set for the evenings eclectic performances of music, dance, acrobatics and spoken-word. This is London at its most forward facing and outward looking; a city profoundly aware of its status as perhaps the most international city in the world; a city which understands a dynamic multiplicity of identities to be its singular identity, all contained in the all-encompassing and many-sided concept of the Londoner.

A Chinese style lion descends a building in Wardour Street, London with bilingual signage. Photo Credit: Garry Knight

But the history of the Chinese diaspora in London didnt begin with this West End spectacle, nor did it even begin in the little group of neon-lit streets which we now call Chinatown, bounded informally by Shaftesbury Avenue in the north, Rupert Street to the west, Charing Cross Road to the east and Leicester Square to the south. Instead, the history of the Chinese diaspora in London begins further east, in the now regenerated Docklands where  under the shadow of Canary Wharfs glistening glass-towers and luxury apartment blocks  little remains of the old Chinatown which formed around the Limehouse Causeway and Pennyfields in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This small assortment of specialist shops and meeting places which was built to serve the transient population of Chinese sailors working the ships docked on the Thames soon responded to the growth of the London docks by becoming a fixed settlement, almost doubling in terms of its fixed population from 1901 to 1911. (Although it is still important to note that the numbers remained very small in actual terms, growing from just 55 men to 101 registered in the census data).

Two men meet outside a Chinese laundry on the corner of Caston Street, Limehouse, c.1917

In an already highly cosmopolitan district the Chinese remained a minority, but a highly visible one, attracting disproportionate attention from reporters and fiction writers who went to Londons East End hoping to experience the exotic mystery and romance of the Far East. Fiction writers like Thomas Burke in Limehouse Nights (1916) and Sax Rohmer in Tales of Chinatown (1922) set the tone for journalism in the period. In their work the industrial slum of Limehouse became an inscrutable and ingenious facade, behind which something mysterious or violent always lurked -- just out of reach. With very little material evidence to go on, these writers began to construct fantasy worlds out of the basements, attics and back-rooms of the neighbourhood: every business became a front; every drab house-front concealed rooms full of exotic and luxurious ornamentation; every interaction was littered with secret codes and by-words; and every foggy alleyway cloaked a shady scheming figure, fading into a dimly seen doorway in a manner peculiarly unpleasant and Asiatic (Rohmer, Tales, p.56 [shelfmark: NN.7917]).

The front cover of the 1922 edition of Thomas Burkes Limehouse Nights, designed by C.R. Nevinson [shelfmark: X.989/27452.(9.)]

In this imaginary landscape ideology and topology merged into one foggy symbol. The ordinariness of the district itself was no match for this logic  perhaps even working in its favour to deepen the sense of scandal and intrigue with every perceived evasion or near-encounter. Each time the real Limehouse failed to deliver the goods, the fantasy Limehouse was pushed further and further back into the unreachable parts of the tenement houses and restaurants, which would need to become positively labyrinthine in order to accommodate the ever more complex patterns of organisation and depravity which writers like Rohmer and Burke were obsessed. (Rohmers own Fu Manchu character is in some sense the epitome of this process; the physical embodiment of nothing less than a world-domination conspiracy, hatched in a Limehouse cellar-cum-secret lair). Given this propensity for pushing back and building conspiracies, it is unsurprising that one of the most prominent and lasting tropes which emerges from narratives of Chinatown during this period is the idea of uncovering, unmasking and bringing to light that which was supposedly hidden, inaccessible and inscrutable. Reports from the Illustrated Police News repeatedly show raids on Chinese business and homes, focusing specifically on the act of breaking down doors and pulling up floor-boards to find hidden gambling and opium dens lying beneath and behind the hum-drum facades.

A page from the Illustrated Police News dated October 14th 1920 showing a police raid in Limehouse Chinatown. Thousands of digitised British newspaper pages are accessible through the British Newspaper Archive, which is available for free in the Library's Reading Rooms.

Contemporary Chinese writing in Britain has been forced to deal with this legacy in one way or another. Like many diasporic writers and their immediate descendants, an ability to write themselves so often depends, either implicitly or explicitly, on their ability to confront those who have so often written for them. Wasafiri magazine was founded in 1984 to provide a dynamic platform for contemporary international writing in this self-defining mode, featuring a diverse range of voices from across the UK and beyond, with an emphasis on diasporic writers. The Library acquired the magazines archive in 2016, and despite the its excellent output and considerable influence and reputation, when reading the correspondence related to the production of a 2008 Olympic special edition titled Writing China, it is striking how difficult the process of compiling, curating and translating for this single issue had evidently been for the editorial staff, even with their collective expertise. As Rana Mitter, the Director of the Oxford University China Centre, suggested in a recent lecture at the Librarys Knowledge Centre, titled simply China in 2018, even the most avowedly cosmopolitan among us often harbour grave misunderstandings about Chinese culture and politics. All to often some vital thing is lost in translation, either culturally or literally.

Yet when I read contemporary Chinese British writing I find myself more often in the exuberant and playful streets of Soho than in foggy Limehouse. A dual-language collection put out by Lambeth Chinese Community Association entitled Another Province (1994), as perhaps the first major selection of Chinese writing in the UK is, as much as Wasafiri's Writing China issue, a good place to start. In this collection we find ourselves in familiar locales (restaurants, take-aways, and tenement houses) but now the rules have changed. In Lab Ky Mos cameo titled Dining Alone at Wong Kee Restaurant with Seven Men, the touristic gaze is turned outwards, towards the white diners in the Chinese restaurant. Their peculiar habits and social defenses against the infamously abrupt waiting staff are deconstructed as Mo pokes fun at their mild suffering. The story is an at times caustic but always funny piece of mock amateur anthropology of the kind that journalists were taking much more seriously in Limehouse a century beforehand. Similarly, Lili Man turns the tables by examining the body, and more specifically the face in A Batty Metamorphosis. If the Chinese faces in Limehouse tended to be described as repetitious and unreadable, Man takes the readability of the face as a given when a Chinese woman wakes one morning to find herself with golden hair and blue eyes, but rather than having her identity issues resolved, her confusion is amplified.

An excerpt from Pui Fan Lees Short, Fat, Ugly and Chinese (1992) is particularly revealing in this regard. Lee's play is a tragicomic monologue describing the experience of growing up as a young Chinese woman in the UK. The action tracks Lees narrator through her panoptic Nottinghamshire hometown where white residents repeatedly comment upon and speculate on her body, imitate her voice and  revealingly attempt to get behind the counter of the take-away where she works after school in order to discover its operations. Eventually, Lees narrator escapes, leaving for University in London where  with a tongue in cheek idealism  she tells us, No one looks at you in London. No one cares. Its great (Another Province, p.192 [shelfmark: 98/10076]). Ironically though, this line is delivered first on a West End stage, where an audience of Londoners is necessarily compelled to look at her as she makes herself uncomfortably visible under the limelight. Perhaps the issue at hand here, then, as for much diasporic writing, is less about cultivating invisibility than about becoming visible on ones own terms. The end of the excerpt in Another Province sees Fans narrator move again, this time from her drab tenement flat in Tooting to the uninhabitable but magical streets of the West End; from London as it is often lived to London as it is often felt  and wished  to exist; from the secluded and marginal to the performative and visible; from Limehouse to Soho. These spaces are still symbols, but she is now free to move around in them and make them her own. Finally free from the weight of the reputation of the whole Chinese population on [her] shoulders, Lees narrator can begin to tell her own story, and we can finally listen (Another Province, p.179).
(TNS) - The University of Iowas emergency preparedness  including its ability to handle bomb threats, health crises and hostage situations  has unacceptable weaknesses that expose the campus to unacceptable risks, a new audit reports.The report, completed in October and made public last week, found problems with the UIs emergency policies and plans, its training protocols, its communication strategies and its incident follow-ups.Incident and emergency exercise information is not documented fully, completed timely, distributed appropriately, or reviewed for possible improvements, the report from the UI Office of Internal Audit determined. The lack of appropriate distribution of emergency information results in delays for corrective actions.The audit comes as the nation grapples with another campus shooting  this time at a Florida high school, where a former student shot and killed 17 people.A day after that mass shooting last week, Iowa lawmakers advanced a bill that would require Iowa K-12 schools establish security plans for their buildings, which some dont have.The UI already has experienced an on-campus shooting when on Nov. 1, 1991, graduate student Gang Lu shot and killed five people and paralyzed another before killing himself. He was upset that his dissertation had not won a prize.Like Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa, the UI has a critical incident management plan. But the UI plan, the audit found, falls far short of national standards.The University of Iowa Department of Public Safety appreciates the fact that the university does internal audits, public safety Director Scott Beckner said in an email. This audit will serve as a blueprint to help our department continue to improve our processes and procedures.After arriving on campus in July 2016, Beckner said, he and Emergency Management Coordinator Floyd Johnson identified ways to improve.This audit reaffirms our findings, identifying areas we should strive to improve as an institution, Beckner said. Im confident our emergency management coordinator can successfully address the issues identified in a timely manner.According to the audit, the university has vowed to update plans and procedures, improve follow-through, clarify staff roles, develop new trainings and technologies and create an Emergency Management Advisory Committee.That group, which has started meeting monthly, will among other things develop an updated comprehensive emergency management plan that complies with national standards and comports with plans at the UI Hospitals and Clinics and other emergency plans.Although UI officials have reported some progress on issues highlighted by the audit, other changes will take months  with target dates as far out as October 2019.One issue the UI already has taken some action on relates to its critical incident management plan. According to the audit, the plan doesnt clearly define emergency management roles or contain standard elements aligning with national frameworks. It includes unique emergency terms and definitions not used consistently across campus, hurting the UIs ability to coordinate its emergency plans and resources.The university has updated aspects of its plan and its operations manual  formally placing Emergency Management Coordinator Johnson in charge of directing and maintaining emergency plans, for example.Throughout the report, auditors noted areas where the university falls short of federal and national guidelines.The Federal Emergency Management Agency, for example, requires after-action analyses and reporting that include possible solutions and a plan to train and test those solutions.The UI audit, which assessed campus emergencies between July 2015 and September 2017, found an after-action report for just one  a fire last June in the Bowen Science Building. At the time of the audit, a follow-up fire assessment remained under development and review.No other incident documentation has been generated or distributed, the audit said.The university hasnt developed a multiyear training and mock exercise program, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security, increasing the risk that emergency responses will not be adequately performed.That deficiency means not all members of the UIs Critical Incident Management Team have completed FEMA training, and UI annual emergency exercises have not consistently included other jurisdictions.Additionally, UI colleges, departments and buildings themselves have varying emergency plans, trainings and exercises, the audit found.College and department emergency exercises are voluntary and performed inconsistently, auditors reported.Although the Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires employers create and communicate emergency action plans that spell out procedures for emergency evacuation, exit routes and how to account for employees, UI plans are not consistently created or communicated to faculty, staff, and students.The UIs emergency communication tools  Hawk Alerts, telephones, cellphones, email, radios and sirens  are not regularly reviewed or tested as part of emergency exercise activities, the report said.The UI, in response to the findings, committed to developing a solution for communicating disaster information quickly and efficiently.Johnson said a new policy has been put in place to ensure the appropriate standards are being followed in regard to alarms on campus.The university, according to auditors, also vowed to create a standardized process for conducting after-action reviews in hopes of learning lessons and identifying gaps in plans and responses by August. And it committed to updating building-specific emergency action plans by July.The Board of Regents this week is scheduled to discuss the internal audit and campus security at all its public universities.l Comments: (319) 339-3158; vanessa.miller@thegazette.com2018 The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)Visit The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) at thegazette.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
(TNS)  Theyre not just fighting fires.More than 1,000 active and retired FDNY members are battling 9/11-related cancers  and the department is holding a cook-off to raise funds and awareness."So many of our members are suffering," said Dr. Kerry Kelly, the FDNY's chief medical officer. "On a given week we will see two to four new cases.The departments ongoing fight against cancer will be highlighted Tuesday during a special Cook Off for Cancer at FDNY headquarters at the MetroTech Center in Downtown Brooklyn. About 600 FDNY employees and friends expected to pay $10 to attend.The event will honor the departments cancer survivors while promoting screenings and healthy eating as a way to combat the potentially deadly disease.Cooks from seven FDNY firehouses will share nutritious meals, Kelly said.Retired FDNY Firefighter Ray Cooney, the host ofon the city TV station, NYC Life, will talk about cancer awareness and prevention.Money raised from the event will go to the American Cancer Society, the FDNY Foundations Fired Up for a Cure, and several local groups that provide support services for survivors.Among the beneficiaries is the Ray Pfeifer Foundation, named after firefighter Ray Pfeifer, a driving force in getting the federal Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act extended for sick first responders who worked at Ground Zero. The Pfeifer Foundation assists first responders with medical needs not covered by insurance.Pfeifer, who received the key to the city for his efforts in getting the Zadroga Act extended, lost his battle to cancer in May. He is one of the 169 FDNY members who have died from 9/11-related illnesses.All of the more than 1,000 cancer cases the FDNY has catalogued can be linked back the first responders time breathing in toxins at Ground Zero, Kelly said.Nearly all of them are taken care of by Dominique Joseph, the oncology case manager for the FDNYs medical office.Not everyone has a life-threatening cancer, but the word cancer changes people's lives, Kelly said. We want to support that person, their spouses and their families.Another beneficiary of Tuesdays fund-raiser is the FDNY Fire Family Transport Foundation that organizes volunteers to escort cancer survivors to chemotherapy and other medical appointments.Its a labor of love for the people who are volunteering, Kelly said of the group. They want to show they care and provide assistance. But the bad news is you see four of five of these vans outside of Sloan Kettering on any given day.The staggering number of cancer cases comes amid fears that President Trump may reorganize the federal agency that oversees health treatment and monitoring of 9/11 first responders.Advocates for sick 9/11 first responders say the rejiggering could lead to delays in treatments, medications and monitoring.2018 New York Daily NewsVisit New York Daily News at www.nydailynews.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
(TNS)  Bexar County Commissioner Kevin Wolff believes that a meeting he had last month in Washington with federal transportation officials could lead to construction of lanes for driverless automated vehicles on the Austin-San Antonio section of Interstate 35."This is the first proposal of its kind in the nation that I'm aware of," Wolff said. "And when the feds heard about it, they told me, 'This is just the kind of proposal we want to fund.'"If it happens, it'll take a while. The 95-mile stretch of eight-lane highway -- perennially named one of the nation's most congested traffic corridors -- is already scheduled for an $8 billion expansion to add four "managed lanes" around 2025, according to the regional Alamo Metropolitan Planning Organization, or MPO, which Wolff chairs.Wolff wants to make two of those four lanes designed for driverless vehicles -- one in each direction from the Williamson County line in far north Austin almost to downtown San Antonio.He hopes his proposal can tap into an estimated $200 billion in President Donald Trump's infrastructure funding initiative, already under fire by critics who say the president will pay for it by crippling other existing federal programs and steer its benefits to Republican-dominated states."Department of Transportation officials told me they have targeted about $20 billion of that total for 'innovative' transportation ideas," Wolff said. "And when they heard I wanted driverless lanes on I-35, they acted like this is common sense. They were receptive."Few doubt that the basic technology could be ready by 2025, though plenty of skeptics, including insurance companies, say it hasn't yet proved that it can cope with the unpredictability of human drivers. Autonomous cars, they say, have a hard time figuring out how much rule-breaking is expected at, for example, a four-way stop or a left turn against traffic as the light is turning red.Wolff was not surprised that federal officials were publicly noncommittal about the idea when reached last week.A DOT spokesperson noted that the infrastructure proposal has yet to go to Congress and would only confirm that Wolff spoke with a government affairs officer, Chris Mitton, on Jan. 31 about "transformative projects" that might be suitable for future federal funding.An added incentive, Wolff said, is that the normal 80-20 federal funding formula for highway projects, in which the state pays 80 percent and Washington pays 20 percent, would be reversed for projects that the DOT deems innovative."Logic tells me the technology will be there when we get around to building this," said Wolff, who fought a years-long losing battle to bring a commuter rail system to the I-35 corridor.The Lone Star Rail project would have cost up to $3 billion but depended on the willingness -- which was never forthcoming -- of Union Pacific Railroad to lease its existing tracks. The driverless lanes would cost slightly more than the $4 billion estimated for two of the four managed lanes already planned, which includes acquiring new rights of way or elevating the new lanes where the interstate can't be made any wider.Will Conley, a former Hays County commissioner and chairman of the Capital Area MPO in Austin, said he thought Wolff's proposal was "promising" and planned to push it and other ideas when he has his own talks with federal transportation officials. The notion of driverless freeways might not be that hard a sell, he said."Central Texas is a diverse place," said Conley, who, like Wolff, is a Republican. "In my political experience, I don't get 100 percent consensus on anything, but if this is presented the right way, an overwhelming number of my constituents would welcome an innovative approach to safety and traffic congestion.""I would love for Interstate 35 to have this national reputation as a corridor of innovation," he added. "And wouldn't it be nice if the symbol of all that was an automated major highway?"Texas has built some of the nation's most successful managed-lane highways -- from tollways to high occupancy Vehicle lanes -- and preparing I-35 for automated vehicles "makes perfect sense," said Christopher Poe, assistant director for connected and automated transportation strategy at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute.It would fit in nicely, Poe said, in a research region anchored by Texas A&M, San Antonio's Southwest Research Institute and the University of Texas at Austin, where Google has been testing its Waymo automated vehicle on city streets for about two years.Though the day when cars zip past New Braunfels and San Marcos while guided by invisible drivers might be a decade or more away, the infrastructure is not dramatically more expensive than conventional concrete highways, Poe said.What's more uncertain, he said, is how motorists would get from their homes to the driverless lanes and whether large numbers of people would be able to afford to buy automated vehicles, or if they would be cheap enough for short-term rentals. It might take something like Park and Ride facilities or a new niche for ride-hailing services."Oh, the devil is always in the details," said Chandra Bhat, professor of civil architectural and environmental engineering at UT-Austin and a researcher of human behavior in transportation. "There are about 250 million vehicles in the country today, and it might take 30 years before a substantial number of them are driverless.""But 30 years ago, did anyone think we would ever ban smoking in public buildings and restaurants? In a democracy, it is hard to say, 'Thou shall not drive your manual vehicle.'" Bhat said. "There are so many things to work out about sharing, the pride of ownership and even how drivers would adjust from an automated section of highway back to a conventional one."Besides the question of how to make it available to anyone but the affluent, the unknowns include cybersecurity for the cars themselves, insurance and the accommodation of physically challenged drivers."We must figure all of this out," Bhat said. "But Mr. Wolff's proposal is a good start. And we must start somewhere."
(TNS)  Rural Washington may soon see high-speed internet capabilities, if a bill championed by Rep. Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy, survives the state senate.House Bill 2664, which passed the House in a landslide 98-0 vote, seeks to give ports throughout Washington the authority to build fiber optic infrastructure in their areas."It's an interesting political bill because there's just a great deal of support among both parties to do something to help rural Washington," Dye said. "There's rural areas throughout the state, even in urban counties like King County, that are underserved and the ports are the greatest tool to get that done."Dye said Pullman stands out as an example of how access to high-speed internet can foster growth. She said when the Port of Whitman County began building out its network, it gave a small boost to local business and innovation."All these wonderful intellectual properties companies sprung up from the minds and imaginations of great engineers and creators and innovators," Dye said. "That's what happens when people have access to technology."Dye said rural ports were given the authority to build high-speed infrastructure in 2000, but "rural" was defined as counties with less than 100 people per square mile, leaving many areas underserved. She said her bill would simply strike the word "rural" from the language of the original bill, expanding a program she sees as a success."Because the legislation was limited to 'rural,' it ended up being more of a pilot project," Dye said. "I just look at what the ports have done with their authority to build broadband infrastructure and they have a great story to tell."Dye said her bill gives ports the ability to lease their networks to existing internet service providers, but it does not assign them retail authority, which would allow them to circumvent ISPs and sell directly to the consumer. She said creating a new public entity that would compete with private telecommunications companies would make many lawmakers uncomfortable."The ports still do not want to have retail authority, they just simply want to have more ports have access," Dye said. "They don't want to be a utility and they also don't want to be a private telephone company. It doesn't fit with their business model at all."Dye said ports are infrastructure builders. They build an inert network, she said, and rely on ISPs to install the electrical components and manage the service."It's just a partnership and they have no intentions of doing anything but building the road and letting the private sector light the road," Dye said. "It makes it easy for private telecoms to access places where they don't have to bite off the entire investment."She said this also allows smaller ISPs to occupy a local "niche," building out residential services in areas where it would make less financial sense for larger companies.Dye said there are still steps to take before the bill passes, however, with three weeks left in the current legislative session, she feels confident her bill will continue to attract bipartisan support."It's heading over to Senate, (and) it's got a hearing (today)," Dye said. "The goal for that hearing, for me, is to convince them to just keep it simple and let the appeal travel through in the same form that it came out of the house."
(TNS)  JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.  Amid an investigation and lawsuit, Gov. Eric Greitens' administration last month altered its records retention policy, forbidding use of the text message-deleting app Confide when discussing public business.According to the policy, obtained by the Post-Dispatch through an open records request, "no staff member may use any self-destructing messaging application to conduct public business, whether it be on a state-issued or personal device."The language was added on Jan. 17, more than a month after the Kansas City Star reported on the governor and his staff's use of the app on personal devices. But Parker Briden, the governor's spokesman, said it has always been office policy to retain messages related to public business."After baseless media reports to the contrary, and to dispel any notion that this was not the case, the office decided to explicitly reiterate its policy on records retention as it pertains to the use of messaging applications such as Confide," he said in an email.Briden added that the revised policy also requires employees to refrain from using Confide for public business even if the communications are considered "transitory" and not required to be maintained under state law.The document's release comes as Greitens, a Republican, fends off legal troubles on multiple fronts. Last week, he added St. Louis attorney Jack Garvey to his defense team as St. Louis prosecutors apparently expanded their criminal investigation beyond probing whether in 2015 Greitens photographed a woman with whom he had an extramarital affair and threatened to release it if she talked about him.Greitens faces two lawsuits revolving around his controversial handling of State Board of Education appointments Attorney General Josh Hawley, a Republican, is investigating whether the governor's office broke the state's records-retention law. Two St. Louis-area attorneys are suing Greitens, seeking to forbid Confide use. A hearing on that case is scheduled for March 2 in Cole County Circuit Court.One of the attorneys suing Greitens said the office's Jan. 17 rules fall short because the policy still allows employees to discuss personal matters using text-deleting apps."They're continuing to justify its use in the governor's office," attorney Mark Pedroli said. "They had an opportunity to restrict use ... and they didn't do it."He said the public has to trust that employees are not discussing state business on Confide, because it is believed to be impossible to retrieve messages sent using the app."Why do you need to get on a super-secret app" to discuss private business, Pedroli asked.Briden said it is impossible for the governor's office to altogether ban Confide.The governor's office "does not, and cannot legally, dictate to staff how they can communicate on their personal devices during their personal time about exclusively private matters," he said.A Cole County judge earlier this month declined to issue a temporary restraining order barring use of the app, but still said the case raised concerns.There are a whole bunch of open questions here, Circuit Judge Jon Beetem said on Feb. 2, according to the Star. Were going to need to sort this out.Greitens associates had already indicated a shift in policy since the presence of Confide was first reported in December. On Jan. 3, Madden emailed the governor's staff, telling them "do not alter, shred, dispose of or otherwise destroy any records that relate to your official capacity with this office and the application Confide, the use of Confide, or any other application that does not retain messages."The memorandum was issued in response to Hawley's investigation, which he launched on Dec. 20. Under Missouri law , it is illegal to destroy records that are the subject of a pending inquiry.On Jan. 31, Michelle Hallford, the governor's custodian of record, wrote in an affidavit filed with the Cole County Circuit Court that the so-called "litigation hold" issued on Jan. 3 meant that employees would not be allowed to use the app for official purposes  similar to the revised Jan. 17 office policy.Pedroli said he believes the office is violating the state law which states that an agency custodian of records "shall not transfer custody, alter, destroy, or otherwise dispose of the public record sought to be inspected and examined.""The current policy, that you described, violates their obligations to preserve all Confide communications (or not to use Confide if they cannot preserve those communications) pursuant to statute," he said in an email.Meanwhile, legislation which would address the digital tool is pending before lawmakers.Rep. Gina Mitten, D-Richmond Heights, wants to prohibit members and employees of public governmental bodies from using software designed to send encrypted messages that automatically self-destruct to conduct public business.The legislation is House Bill 1817
Microsoft Teams quickly became the business application of choice as state and local governments raced to equip remote teams and maintain business continuity during the COVID-19 lockdown. But in the rush to deploy Teams, many organizations overlook, ignore or fail to anticipate some of the administrative hurdles to successful adoption. As more organizations have matured their use of Teams, a set of lessons learned has emerged to help agencies ensure a successful Teams rollout  or correct course on existing implementations.
In a relatively rare event, congressional Democrats and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos are on the same page regarding a big issue: They both want Capitol Hill to hold hearings on school shootings, after 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz allegedly killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla ., last week.

After the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in 2012 that left 20 students and six educators dead in Newtown Connecticut, there was a similar call to action.

So what was the response from federal lawmakers?

In 2013, just over two months after the Sandy Hook shootings, we profiled a House education committee hearing focused on school safety . Many of the same issues and questions that have arisen after the Parkland shootings were also discussed during that hearing: things like school resource officers and access to mental health.

Bill Bond, the former principal of a high school in West Paducah, Ky., where three students were killed in 1997, told lawmakers that, Students know more about whats going on in school than the principal, and that several children saw the gun that was used in the shootings. He stressed that everyone in a school community must feel responsibility for safety and security. Then-Rep. Rob Andrews, D-N.J., also raised school counselors responsibility and capability to spot warning signs in students.

However, the committee didnt engage in a robust debate over whether the federal government, or state and local governments, should be financing school safety efforts, Politics K-12 co-blogger Alyson Klein wrote in Education Week at the time.

And the committees top Democrat at the time, Rep. George Miller of California (who has since retired), was adamant that new school-safety measures could not be divorced from the issue of firearms.

Any school safety changes in the wake of Sandy Hook must be implemented in tandem with comprehensive gun-violence prevention, he said. Common-sense strategies are needed to keep guns out of the hands of those who intend harm.

A school security official for the Fairfax County, Va. district, also said he did not support arming teachers in order to improve school security.

The hearing took place shortly after the Obama administration released a series of proposals after Sandy Hook to address a variety of issues, including school safety and mental-health services, as a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars. Before the hearing, the then-chairman of the committee, Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., responded to these plans by asking how they would differ significantly from programs already in place, and how they would avoid repeating problems associated the Safe and Drug-Free School Grant program.

The big-ticket Obama proposals didnt get a ton of traction in Congress. A Senate measure intended to prevent gun violence that also included provisions designed to help mental-health services and security infrastructure at schools ultimately didnt get a floor vote. Retired Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, then-chairman of the Senate education committee, and Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn, at that time the ranking member, worked together on the mental-health and safety provisions for schools.

And former House staffer told us that while the momentum for significant change hadnt yet petered out by the time of that February House hearing on school safety, It wasnt too [long] after that that it was clear nothing was going to happen.

However, Congress did fund grant programs at the Education Department for mental-health training, among others, after Sandy Hook. The Department of Justice also provided additional funding for a grant program for school resource officers at the Justice Department for 2013, 2015, and 2016, through the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program. For fiscal 2017, the department changed the COPS program by requiring all such officers who are supported by those federal grants to attend the Basic School Resource Officer course .

Photo: Participants rush out of the cafeteria after hearing simulated gunshots during a lockdown exercise at Milford High School in Milford, Mass., in early 2013, soon after the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 .
5G New Radio (NR) is the global 5G standard for a new OFDM (Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing)-based air interface designed to support the wide variation of 5G device-types, services, deployments and spectrum. Following the guidelines of KT Corporation, the live, over-the-air interoperable testing demonstrated data connections operating in 3.5 GHz and 28 GHz bands, utilizing pre-commercial 5G NR base stations from Samsung and 5G NR UE prototypes from Qualcomm Technologies.

KT Corporation (Korea Telecom), Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., have successfully completed multi-vendor 5G NR (New Radio) interoperable testing compliant with the recently completed 3GPP Release-15 Non-Standalone (NSA) 5G NR global standard.

The achievement is a significant milestone on the path to standard-compliant mobile 5G NR trials starting in 2018, leading to commercial 5G NR network deployments and multimode smartphone launches anticipated in 2019.

The live demonstration, which was held in Samsungs lab in Suwon, South Korea, achieved multi-gigabits per second downlink speeds, as well as latencies as low as 1 millisecond. The fiber-like speeds and low latencies will be essential to meeting the increasing connectivity requirements of emerging mobile broadband experiences such as virtual/augmented reality, as well as enabling new high-reliability, low-latency services for industrial control, autonomous vehicles and drones, among other use cases.



Source: Qualcomm. Click to enlarge.

5G NR introduces numerous key technology enablers,including:

Mobilizing mmWave. mmWave refers to the spectrum bands above 24 GHz. Transmissions at mmWave bands suffer from much higher path loss and susceptibility to blockage. New 5G technologies such as advanced antenna techniques, maintaining an anchor in sub-6 GHz and new design are addressing these limitations.

Massive MIMO. Advanced antenna technologies that enable many antennas at the base station enable 3D beamforming to increase coverage and capacity.

Shared spectrum. Access to shared and unlicensed spectrum will extend 5G in multiple dimensionsi.e., more capacity, higher spectrum utilization, new deployment scenarios. 5G NR is designed to support all spectrum types natively and, through forward compatibility, has the flexibility to take advantage of new spectrum sharing paradigms. This creates opportunities for new innovation to take spectrum sharing to the next level in 5G.

Advanced coding. New 5G NR channel coding design will be more efficient than todays LTE Turbo codes at high data rates and low latency.

Grant-free transmissions. New Resource Spread Multiple Access (RSMA) design delivers optimizations for sporadic, grant-free uplink transmissions common in IoT communications.

The end-to-end 5G NR interoperability testing demonstrated the essential components of the 5G NR air interfacefully compliant with 3GPP Release-15 5G NR specificationsincluding scalable 5G NR OFDM numerology, advanced 5G NR channel coding and modulation schemes, low-latency 5G NR slot structure and 5G NR control and data channel support for Massive MIMO and mobile mmWave.

The 5G NR interoperability demonstration will be on display at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona from 26 February through 1 March at the Qualcomm Technologies booth in Hall 3  Booth 3E10, Samsung booth in Hall 2  Stand 2M20, and KT booth in Hall 4  Innovation city.
The U.S. Department of Education is more than halfway through approving state plans to implement the Every Student Succeeds Actbut not everyone is pleased with how things are going.

Two Democratic ESSA architects say U.S. Secretary Betsy DeVos is rubber-stamping plans that dont comply with the law . But the secretary says shes not greenlighting a single plan if it doesnt meet the laws requirements .

So whats behind each of these arguments? (Get excited ESSA geeks, wonky blog post ahead).



First, some background: When ESSA passed with big, bipartisan support in 2015, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle agreed that it a) gave way more flexibility to states than the No Child Left Behind Act, which the law ESSA replaced, and b) kept in place some of NCLBs guardrails to make sure states, districts, and schools continue to look out for vulnerable subgroups of students.

But behind the scenes, congressional aides on different sides of the aisle and advocates with different points of viewall of whom supported the lawdescribed the in-the-weeds pieces of ESSA very differently.

Now these different takes on what, exactly, ESSA means are playing out in disagreements over just which plans meet the laws requirements. As a reminder, 33 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have gotten a thumbs-up from the feds, and the other 17 states have at least gotten feedback from the department.

The politics: Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va. ESSA authors and the senior Democrats on the Senate and House education committeeshave said that DeVos is letting states flout the laws protections for historically-overlooked kids.

Im very concerned that the department of education is approving state plans that do not comply with all of ESSAs federal guardrails, Murray said at a hearing last month. She cited specific examples dealing with subgroups of students and categories of low-performing schools. I believe in this law, and Im not going to stop raising these issues until the fdepartment resolves them.

Scott expressed similar concerns, in this letter with Murray .

For her part, though, DeVos told reporters in a recent interview that shes not letting states slide on ESSAs requirements.

Ive said frequently, and Ill say it again, Im only approving plans that comport with the law, DeVos said. And Im encouraging anyone whos been critical of me and/or the department on approval of plansthat they in some way dont follow the lawI want to know where thats falling short and where is that exactly the case. And I havent really had any specific examples brought to our attention yet.

And Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., the chairman of the Senate education committee and another ESSA author, said DeVos is, appropriately balancing the laws flexibility and guardrails.

DeVos is supposed to meet with Murray, Scott, Alexander, and Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., the chairwoman of the House education committee, to go over these issues.

So what will they, or their lawyers, talk about?

Lets dive down into the policy weeds and look closely at whats behind each of these arguments.

State Rating Systems

Murray, other Democrats on the Senate education committee as well as advocacy organizations such as the Alliance for Excellent Education have argued that DeVos has OKd plans that allow schools to get the highest rating (say an A) in their states school rating system, even if subgroups of students such as minorities and those with disabilities are falling behind.

Heres why thats a problem, as explained by the Alliance: ESSA doesnt specifically say schools cant get an A if the performance of subgroup students is iffy. But the law does require states to factor in the performance of each subgroup into their accountability system (the calls that a system of annual meaningful differentiation.) And the law says states must use that system to flag schools that are a) in the bottom 5 percent overall, performance-wise, for comprehensive support, b) struggling with particular groups of students, for targeted support, and c) have subgroups of students that are performing as badly as the kids in the bottom 5 percent of schools, for additional targeted support. And in making those determinations, states must consider subgroup performance on each indicator of the accountability system. (That includes test scores and school quality factors like college-and-career readiness.) If states are going to use a rating system for their system of annual meaningful differentiation they need to take subgroup performance into account, the Alliance argues. And if states are giving schools As that arent doing a good job of educating, say, English-language learners, then the state really isnt taking the laws requirements seriously. (More in the Alliances legal brief on this issue .)

The reason this is a big deal to civil rights groups and Democrats: The Obama administrations waivers for states from provisions of the NCLB law didnt require states to intervene in schools where any individual subgroup was struggling, just the schools with the lowest performance or biggest achievement gaps in the states. They thought ESSA was going to change that, and now theyre worried it wont.

Murray and the Alliance didnt name states with approved plans that are missing the mark on this point. But sources who have analyzed the plans found problems with Arizona, Indiana, Maryland, and New Mexico. (The Education Trust has also did a deep dive on plans, many of which have not yet been approved, and found similar problems .)

The departments argument: Weve copied a response from the agency below. Its in legalese, so scroll down for our best crack at a plain language translation.

The response: 1) Section 1111(c)(4)(C) requires a state to establish a "system of annual meaningful differentiation" of indicators for all students and for subgroups so that data is available for identifying schools for comprehensive and targeted support. It does not require the state to establish an overall, public-facing rating system. In fact, the requirement of a summative rating system was rejected by Congress and by the prior administration when it issued regulations under ESSA. To the extent that a state creates a summative rating system, it is doing something the statute neither requires nor prohibits. ESSA does not dictate any particular criteria for such a system, and therefore it does not violate ESSA for states to include one set of criteria rather than another. With respect to comprehensive support, the Obama administration told states that identifying for purposes of comprehensive support the lowest-performing five percent of schools under section 1111(c)(4)(D)(i)(I) and low graduation rate under section 1111(c)(4)(D)(i)(II) could be based on indicators for all students and need not include indicators for each subgroup. (See page 33,//www2.ed.gov/programs/titleiparta/eseatitleiaccountabilityfaqs.pdf). We agree with the Obama administration that this is a permissible way of complying with the statute.

Politics K-12 translation of the departments argument: Yes, ESSA requires states to take subgroup performance into account when deciding which schools need to be flagged for extra help. But states only have to identify schools for certain categories: comprehensive support, targeted support, and other schools. Theres nothing in ESSA that says states must create A-through-F rating systems, or assign number ratings to schools. So states that are designing these rating systems are taking an extra step thats not required by the law. (And in fact, some states, like California, want to use dashboards that dont include an overall score for schools.)

Even the Obama administration decided it couldnt force states to use these so-called summative ratings in their systems when it wrote the now-defunct ESSA accountability regulations. Therefore, the department would be overstepping its bounds if it tried to tell a state that wanted to use a summative rating what that system should look like. All thats appropriate for the department to do is to make sure the state is taking subgroup performance into account when flagging schools for targeted support.

And others have pointed out that its tough to tell whether states are missing schools that really need help when they havent decided which schools are their lowest-performing yet. That wont happen until after this school year.

Categorizing Schools

Another big issue that Murray mentioned in a recent hearing has to do with identifying schools for extra help.

ESSA requires states to flag schools for additional targeted support where vulnerable groups, such as English-language learners, are doing as badly as the kids in the worst-performing schools in the state. (The Obama administrations defunct ESSA regs called these low-performing subgroups.) Those schools need to come up with a plan to fix the problem, monitored by the district. If the school doesnt get any better over time, the state is supposed to step in and identify the school for comprehensive support..

ESSA also requires states to flag schools for targeted support where subgroups of students are consistently underperforming. Yes, that sounds a lot like the schools in additional targeted support but, crucially, states get to decide what, exactly, consistently underperforming means. Schools have to come up with a plan to fix those schools, monitored by the district. If these schools with consistently underperforming subgroups dont any better fast enough, the district steps in. (Theres no specific timeline in the law for this.)

Some states though, decided to essentially lump these two categoriesconsistently underperforming and low-performing subgroupstogether and use the same, or a really similar, definition for both. Those states include Delaware, New Mexico, North Dakota, Washington, and Washington D.C., according to sources who have analyzed the plans.

Heres why the Alliance thinks thats a problem: ESSA clearly is asking states to come up with two buckets of schools where subgroup performance is problematic. The law even outlines different sets of procedures for each of those types of schools. States that decide to use the same definition for both are not doing what they are supposed to.

The Alliance would like the department to tell states to amend their planseven if they have already been approvedto deal with this issue and the problems with rating systems.

The department doesnt see it that way. Heres the legalese from the feds:

ESSA directs states to identify schools "in which any subgroup of students is consistently underperforming, as determined by the State" for targeted support and improvement. Because the statute expressly confers on States, rather than the Department, the authority to determine what it means for a subgroup to be "consistently underperforming," ESSA provides no basis for the Department to prohibit a state from selecting criteria that overlap with the criteria for additional targeted support.

Politics K-12 translation of that argument: The department believes ESSA is really clear that states get to come up with the definition of consistently underperforming, not the feds.If states decide to make the definition of consistently underperforming the same as their definition of low-performing, the law allows them to do that. The department would be overstepping our bounds by telling them they cant.

Who is right? And what happens next?

OK, that was a tease. We cant really tell you who is right. Were reporters, not judges or lawyers. Sorry!

But the executive branch, in this case the Education Department, gets to carry out laws. Civil rights groups, advocates, and even lawmakers can try to force a change to the way the department is going about this through political cajoling, or even by suing the agency. Of course, if DeVos and Company nixed plans that state leaders felt complied with the law, she could also get sued by states or their advocates.

Politically, though, the clash over just what ESSA means and how that translates into state plan approval is just one more bit of bad blood between Democrats in Congress and the Trump administration. It also calls into question just how bipartisan ESSA really was, if everyone is fighting about what the law really means more than two years after it passed.

Want to learn more about the Every Student Succeeds Act? Heres some useful information:

Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 .
Computer science is taking off in K-12 schools , fueled in part by hundreds of millions of dollars and aggressive lobbying from the technology industry.

Cue the concerned chorus.

Is Silicon Valleycurrently under harsh scrutiny for its consumer products and servicesattempting to reshape public schools to serve its own ends?

How are the tech industrys desires and dollars actually shaping what computer science looks like in real classrooms?

And given rapid advances in artificial intelligence, will a short-term focus on filling todays tech-sector jobs ultimately backfire?

As part of our deep dive on the Computer Science for All movement, Education Week explored those questions with a number of heavy hitters in the field, including:



The heads of philanthropic giving at tech giants Microsoft, Oracle, and Salesforce.

Code.org founder Hadi Partovi, who has played an instrumental role in leveraging tech-sector support for computer-science education.

Ruthe Farmer, who is a leader at the nonprofit CSforAll Consortium, and Janice Cuny, a program officer for the National Science foundation.

University of Michigan professor Megan Tompkins-Stange, who tracks trends in education philanthropy.

Their responses can help inform the emerging conversation about how K-12 educators and policymakers can best prepare students for the uncertain future of work .

The reality, said Farmer, previously an advisor to former President Barack Obama, is that the computer-science education field is currently like the Wild West.

Theres a lot of money suddenly available. The rules of the road are just now being written. Classrooms all over the country are experimenting with how to best teach a relatively new subject. And from creating talent pipelines to cultivating brand loyalty, the countrys largest tech companies have a big stake in shaping how the future of computer-science education looks.

See also: Computer Science for All: Can Schools Pull It Off?

The question has been raised about whether this is a corporate takeover of public education, Farmer said. I dont think thats necessarily true. But that doesnt mean there arent a lot of motives at play.

Why Silicon Valley cares

To be clear, its not just the private sector that is supporting K-12 computer-science education.

As part of its Computer Science for All initiative, the Obama White House focused federal attention to the issue. President Donald Trump has extended that support , directing that $200 million in existing federal grant funds be given to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and computer-science education. And some big-city school districts are well on their way to bringing introductory computer-science opportunities to all students (including Chicago, home to the students pictured at right.)

But without question, the big money is coming from the tech industry.

That includes a combined $300 million commitment announced in September by the Trump administration and the Internet Association, a trade group representing global internet companies.

As part of the initiative, Amazon, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and Salesforce each will give $50 million to computer-science education over five years.

Their number-one reason: jobs.

Below the surface, though, there are meaningful differences within Big Tech.

Take, for example, Microsoft and Oracle.

In an interview, senior director of Microsoft Philanthropies Jane Broom tied the companys support to both its own long-term workforce needs, and to a broader social mission of expanding opportunity for girls and students from underserved communities.

Microsoft is just finishing up a three-year, $75 million commitment to computer-science education. Broom said the support emerged out of the companys 2013 National Talent Strategy. The report placed Microsofts struggles to find qualified workers for its own research, developer, and engineering positions in the context of the broader economy, concluding that expanding access to computer science in high schools was a key part of the solution.

We need the talent, Broom said. Our growth and ability to innovate is 100 percent dependent on the people who work here.

Broom stressed, though, that Microsoft takes a broad view of computer-science education. Its certainly not about training students to use proprietary tools like Microsoft Office, she said, or even specific programming languages. Instead, the emphasis is on computer science as a broad, well-rounded academic discipline.

Compare that with Oracle, which has focused the bulk of its extensive support for computer science education (to the tune of $470 million since 2016, counting in-kind donations of software, according to the company) on providing schools with curriculum, software, and training for a suite of courses primarily focused on Java, the companys own programming language (and the focus of the Advanced Placement Computer Science - A exam.)

Oracle doesnt recommend that schools introduce students to computer science via a hardcore Java programming class, said Alison Derbenwick Miller, the vice president of Oracle Academy, the companys philanthropic arm.

The courses Oracle supports arent limited narrowly to Java programming, Derbenwick Miller said, but include concepts and skills that can be widely applicable.

And the company also views computer science as an academic discipline and is committed to expanding access and diversity, she said.

But Oracle does believe that focused programming classes are a key part of the pathways that students need in order to be prepared for the workforce, and it has chosen to focus primarily on Java.

One computer-science survey course isnt preparing anyone to do anything, just like Algebra 1 isnt preparing anyone to be a mathematician, Derbenwick Miller said.

Pushing Their Own Interests?

Such corporate philanthropy might not be necessary if public education were fully funded in other ways, said Janice Cuny of NSF.

I think the tech industry has stepped in to do a big service, Cuny said. Its not like schools have the option of funding computer science through their normal streams.

Still, there remain suspicions that tech companies are supporting computer-science education as part of a longer game: optimizing their market position for years to come, by shaping the content students learn and acclimating kids early to their products and platforms.

Some of that skepticism has come to center around Code.org, a nonprofit that has raised tens of millions of dollars in industry support since its founding five years ago. A June 2017 New York Times article , for example, called attention to the dozens of state laws and policies the organization has helped get passed, including an Idaho law that explicitly said computer-science education in the state should be driven by the needs of industry.

Code.org founder and CEO Hadi Partovi vehemently rejects criticism that his organization is doing the bidding of tech companies, saying his organization only represents its own mission.

Partovi, pictured at right, said Code.orgs policy advocacyand, more significantly, its curricula and teacher trainingare focused on helping students learn a broad set of computer-science skills and concepts that can be used in many different jobs and walks of life. He also emphasized that the Code.org platform hosts a variety of curricula from different sources.

It would challenge our nonprofit status if the main thing we did was helping one company sell software to schools, he said. Im not sure what the IRS would say, and I wouldnt feel comfortable with that.

Broom of Microsoft Philanthropies (a major supporter of Code.org) concurred.

Microsoft President Brad Smith is on the organizations board, and Broom attends most of the meetings along with him, she said.

Pushing specific products or platforms is never talked about. Broom said. Its honestly kind of fun to see Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Facebook sitting around the table talking about computer science, but never which tool set to use.

Out in the world, though, the lines can be blurry. Code.orgs recent Hour of Code events, for example, featured activities in Minecraft, the wildly popular online game that Microsoft now owns.

Theres also the reality that some big Silicon Valley playersmost notably, Oracle and Appleare going their own way.

Some observers believe thats because the companies arent willing to adhere to Code.orgs platform-agnostic stance.

In December, for example, Partovi himself took aim at Apple for its approach to supporting computer-science education, tweeting that the company is focused on getting schools to adopt its own curriculum, programming language, and devices.

I agree there can be multiple agendas supporting CS in schools. The Apple push for its own Swift coding curriculum helps sell Apple devices. Although its Apple, this is an outlier relative to the K-12 CS momentum in schools. (Side Note: Apple has not funded @codeorg ) -- Hadi Partovi (@hadip) December 14, 2017

An Apple spokesman declined to be interviewed, instead offering a written statement about its Everyone Can Code initiative, which focused on the companys own programming language, called Swift.

The free program gives everyone the power to learn, write, and teach code using Swift, one of the most popular open-source programming languages thats used to create hundreds of thousands of apps, the statement read.

The Longest View in the Room

Schools need clarity on why and how tech companies are supporting K-12 computer science for a number of reasons, outside experts say.

Its really important for schools and families to be able to judge for themselves when a corporate donation is being made for some additional private gain, said Tompkins-Stange, the University of Michigan professor. Its imperative that people be informed about who will have a voice in the curricula and programs that impact childrens learning.

But for the moment, at least, such clarity is still lacking in many quarters.

Take, for example, Salesforce.org, the nonprofit-and-philanthropic arm of the giant customer-relationship-management- software company Salesforce.

Since 1999, the group has given $65 million to STEM and computer science initiatives around the world, it says. The company is a major supporter of Code.org. Its also adopted the San Francisco and Oakland school districts, providing millions of dollars and thousands of volunteer hours to support both computer-science efforts and open-ended initiatives of principals own choosing.

But Salesforce.org CEO Rob Acker wasnt sure how involved he thinks companies like his should be in shaping the computer-science curricula that schools use.

On the one hand, Acker said in an interview, We need to get in the ring to inform curriculum.

But later, he took a somewhat different position, saying it would be counterproductive if the tech industry started dictating what curricula are.

Ultimately, Acker settled on the notion of a partnership between teachers and the tech industry.

But he seemed disinclined to accept critics contention that the details of such a relationship should be figured out before companies dole out millions of dollars and schools start overhauling their operations.

My biggest fear is that if we dont do anything, if we debate policy too much, then we never actually get something done, Acker said.

That kind of approach may be typical on the consumer side of Silicon Valley, Tompkins-Stange said, but it runs real risks when applied to public education.

If corporations are investing in computer-science education, but theyre not clear on who should have authority over decisions that affect teaching in the classroom, theyre essentially rolling out a half-baked reform, she said.

Theres also a longer-term reason to put guardrails around Silicon Valleys involvement, said Farmer of the Computer Science for All Consortium.

Theres widespread agreement that the technologies and programming languages taught today could well be irrelevant by the time todays 6th graders hit the labor market.

As a result, theres an emerging consensus on the wisdom of focusing K-12 computer-science education on students conceptual understanding, computational problem-solving ability, familiarity with manipulating and analyzing data, and experience designing and testing their own technologies.

Microsoft, Oracle, and Salesforce officials all say they support that vision.

But how can parents and public schools hold them accountable to it?

And what if the landscape changes, and all the entry-level coding jobs open now are wiped out by artificial intelligence? Or a liberal arts background and strong interpersonal skills end up being whats truly valuable in the 2030 labor market?

Where would that leave schools that have hitched their wagon to Silicon Valleys vision of the future?

Theres no doubt that industry has an important role to play, Farmer said.

But its often not great at taking the long view. And the K-12 sector is often not great at adjusting on the fly.

Thats why she believes educators need to remain central in shaping the future of Computer Science for All, especially at this criticial juncture.

If we get this wrong now, Farmer said, Its wrong for the next 40 years.

Photos (from top):

A student works on a laptop at Lindblom Math & Science Academy in Chicago. --Alyssa Schukar for Education Week

Deandre Crayton, left, and Toy Slaughter collaborate on an app during an introductory computer-science class at Lindblom Math and Science Academy in Chicago.--Alyssa Schukar for Education Week

Code.org founder Hadi Partovi --Code.org

An earlier version of this story misidentified the CSforAll Consortium.

See also:

for the latest news on ed-tech policies, practices, and trends.
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Haiti - FLASH : Mayor Limongy of Petit-Goave again out his revolver





Monday, February 19, employees of the road service of the Town Hall of Petit-Goave denounced and condemned the action of the Mayor of Petit-Goave, Jean Samson Limongy who turned his revolver on Charles Bonhomme, an employee of the service...



The incident occurred Monday morning around 8:00 am when Charles Bonhomme came to claim the Town Hall the payment of his 12 months of salary arrears.



"I have claimed my due... Mayor Limongy has gone against me. He pointed his gun at me saying : get out of here! Leave the gallery !" testified the employee Bonhomme...



As a sign of solidarity, a group of road workers observed a work stoppage while demanding the closure of the Town Hall and the dismissal of the Mayor. Moreover, they require the intervention of the Ministry of the Interior in this business and the full payment of salary arrears ...



Remember that this is the second time this month, that Mayor Limongy out his gun and threatens a citizen to assert his authority. The first incident occurred on February 2, in front of the gate of Lycee Faustin Soulouque of Petit-Goave during an altercation with a merchant https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-23474-icihaiti-petit-goave-the-mayor-threatens-a-small-shopkeeper-with-his-weapon.html



HL/ HaitiLibre / Guyto Mathieu (Correspondant Petit-Goave)






















Haiti - Politic : Freedom of the Press, Haiti is ahead of the Dominican Republic





Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has released its 2017 annual report presenting its world press freedom ranking, this year Haiti is ranked 53rd out of 180 countries with a score of 26.36. In 2016, Haiti was also 53rd with a score of 24.66.



"Too few resources.

Despite recent changes in Haitis media freedom laws, journalists suffer from a cruel lack of financial resources, an absence of institutional support, and difficulty in accessing information. Journalists continue to be the victims of intimidation or physical violence. A devastating earthquake in 2010 and, more recently, Hurricane Matthew in 2016 inflicted a great deal of damage on Haitis already limited infrastructure.



The privately-owned media, which are heavily influenced by the interests of their shareholders, tend to censor themselves. Journalists will be exposed to heavy sanctions under a proposed defamation law that was approved by the senate in 2017," states RSF.



Note that our neighbor the Dominican Republic is ranked 59th with a score of 26.76.



"Self-censorship as a solution.

The concentration of media ownership in very few hands and a high level of impunity undermines freedom of information and encourage self-censorship in the Dominican Republic. Journalists who dare to tackle sensitive subjects such as corruption and drug trafficking are exposed to the possibility of threats and violent reprisals, or even murder by government officials or criminal cartel members. The repeal in 2016 of legislation under which journalists could be imprisoned for defamation was a major step forward for the media and democracy," stresses RSF.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Canada : $8.3M contribution to Help Women





Canada believes that a society is more prosperous, more peaceful, safer and more united when women's rights are respected and when they are valued and empowered. In developing countries, local women's organizations and movements are important agents of change, contributing to the empowerment of women and girls, and helping societies to achieve gender equality.



That's why, last June, Canada pledged $ 150 million for the Women's Voice and Leadership program. Through this program, women's organizations that advocate women's rights and strengthen their social, economic and political power, as well as their inclusion and participation in political dialogue, can better develop their capacities and obtain more sustainable sources of funding.



On Monday, Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, in Haiti until February 21 https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-23591-icihaiti-canada-minister-marie-claude-bibeau-s-3rd-visit-to-haiti.html announced Canada's first contribution under the Women's Voice and Leadership Program to Haiti for $ 8.3 million. This announcement is a continuation of the commitment made in June 2017 at the launch of the Canada's new international women's aid policy focuses on supporting local organizations that advance women's rights.



In her speech, Minister Bibeau specified "[...] The Womens Voice and Leadership project in Haiti will receive $8 million in funding over five years. This initiative will support up to 30 local organizations and womens rights advocacy networks in Haiti.



These womens organizations have identified three key action areas they wish to focus on over the next five years: womens economic empowerment, the fight against gender-based violence and womens participation in decision making.



The funds will be managed by CECI, a Canadian development organization that has been working in Haiti since 1971, for whom gender equality is a key tenet.



[...] This project will reach more than 3,000 women and girls directly, and another 130,000 indirectly.



I am convinced that the next few years will bring a new generation of female leaders in Haiti and an even stronger and more vibrant civil societyone that is heard and engaged in Haitis development.



Womens voices must be heard in all spheres of society, in Canada, as well as in Haiti. We all need womens leadership. To change things. To build a better world. To break the cycle of poverty. We will never achieve this if half of humanity is left out [...]"



See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-23591-icihaiti-canada-minister-marie-claude-bibeau-s-3rd-visit-to-haiti.html



S/ HaitiLibre


















The Oxford Wine Company officially leaves Vindependents

By Lisa Riley

The Oxford Wine Company has officially left Vindependents.

Upon announcing its departure this week, The Oxford Wine Company said it had been a bit unhappy for a while and had decided to leave the buying group, of which it was a co-founder, to concentrate on its project with larger merchants.

The decision followed issues with deliveries, stock and quality, said managing director, Ted Sandbach.

In line with The Oxford Wine Companys buying power having increased, being part of the group no longer made financial sense, Sandbach told Harpers.

We have reasonable buying power now and, while the Vindependents format may work for smaller wine merchants, we are in a position to buy products cheaper, he said.

While retail and on-trade continued to be an important part of the business, The Oxford Wine Company was still primarily focused on trade and as such, it was more cost-effective to import wines directly, he added.

In addition, Vindependents was getting too big, with no personal touch, he added.

Having worked well for The Oxford Wine Company, Sandbach said the company would continue its project with larger wine merchants, such as Cambridge Wine Merchants and Hennings Wine, both of which remain members of Vindependents.

Going forward, we have plans in place to build on such projects, which involve shipping a container between the merchants of uniquely labelled wine, he said.

As well as such projects making more financial sense for The Oxford Wine Company than being part of Vindependents, it also ensured a level of exclusiveness a buying group with so many members was unable to provide, said Sandbach.

Vindependents, which also saw the departure of Corks Out as part of its January membership renewal, said The Oxford Wine Companys focus on wholesale did not fit with Vindependents focus on retail lines.

Our focus is on great high quality retail wines, not value lines in bulk, which is what The Oxford Wine Company sources, founder Jessica Hutchinson told Harpers

Corks Out is believed to have decided to part ways with Vindependents to focus on buying UK stock only, but the business was unavailable for comment as Harpers went to press.
Bowalley Road Rules



The blogosphere tends to be a very noisy, and all-too-often a very abusive, place. I intend Bowalley Road to be a much quieter, and certainly a more respectful, place.

So, if you wish your comments to survive the moderation process, you will have to follow the Bowalley Road Rules.

These are based on two very simple principles:

Courtesy and Respect.

Comments which are defamatory, vituperative, snide or hurtful will be removed, and the commentators responsible permanently banned.

Anonymous comments will not be published. Real names are preferred. If this is not possible, however, commentators are asked to use a consistent pseudonym.

Comments which are thoughtful, witty, creative and stimulating will be most welcome, becoming a permanent part of the Bowalley Road discourse.

However, I do add this warning. If the blog seems in danger of being over-run by the usual far-Right suspects, I reserve the right to simply disable the Comments function, and will keep it that way until the perpetrators find somewhere more appropriate to vent their collective spleen.


(Bloomberg) Qian Yongqiang, who made his fortune in Chinese education and tech startups, is starting a $100 million hedge fund with his own money. Singapore-based QQQ Capital Fund will start trading in April, Head of Operations Ye Yichen said in an interview.

To read this article:
(HedgeCo.Net) 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 SECs 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 SECs 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.

This matter underscores the SECs ongoing determination to protect investors from fraud and abuse, regardless of the location of the violators, and to hold accountable gatekeepers who facilitate fraud and fail to honestly discharge their duties, said Antonia Chion, Associate Director of the SECs Enforcement Division.

The law requires truthful disclosures about a company and its business operations to protect investors, said Marc P. Berger, Director of the SECs New York Regional Office. Here, we worked closely with foreign authorities to expose how the defendants spun up sham business plans, inserted placeholder shareholders, and with the assistance of gatekeepers filed false documents to reap over $1.8 million from companies that sold as worthless shells.

To settle the SECs 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 SECs 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 SECs 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 SECs order, Baer consented to be permanently barred from appearing and practicing before the SEC as an accountant.
The objective of the legislative project is to establish a nationwide operational reserve of 2,000 reserve police personnel that would support police operations in certain, pre-determined circumstances if the resources of the police were insufficient.

The Ministry of the Interior has begun drafting the legislative amendments required to establish a reserve police in Finland, indicates a newsletter distributed by the Finnish Police.

The new reserve police system has been designed to replace the ultimately dysfunctional [old] reserve police, which has failed to keep up with the times also in terms of the legislation, says Tomi Vuori, a Deputy National Police Commissioner on the National Police Board.

The legislation currently stipulates that members of the reserve police can only be assigned duties under extraordinary circumstances, a fact that has resulted in a high threshold for activating the reserve.

The Finnish Police and Finnish Defence Forces have already signed an agreement for developing the reserve police with the objective of recruiting military personnel released from reserve duty for the reserve police and utilising them in responding to internal security-related tasks.

Jussi Niinisto (BR), the Minister of Defence, has expressed his excitement with the co-operation agreement.

The Defence Forces reserve [] consists of a large number of people who have completed the training for military police officers, whose reserve police training would be a cost-efficient solution in the spirit of overall national defence, he wrote in the second half of last year in a blog on Puheenvuoro.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Markku Ulander  Lehtikuva

Source: Uusi Suomi
Posted 2/20/18

In 2017, the Dallas County Health Department served residents in areas such as nursing services, immunization and child health, communicable diseases, WIC services, environment and vital records. A 
Posted 2/20/18

The Buffalo chapter of Missouri Right to Life now is revving up for 2018. The members are happy about the strides the state has made in securing House and Senate bills that will assist in securing 
The Reverend John R. Andrus will celebrate his 90th birthday on March 3. He served for 31 years in the pastorate of Chattanooga's First Church of the Nazarene. Pastor Andrus is known for his Biblical ministry, hearty laughter, frugal lifestyle, and his deep devotion to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

After retiring in 1993 the congregation named him Pastor Emeritus.



The 6'4" Santa Ana, Californian received BA and MA degrees from Pasadena College in Pasadena, Ca.

He did graduate work in Education at Whittier California College, Los Angeles State College, and Eastern Kentucky State College in Richmond, Ky.

He served 11 years in secondary education at the Mt. Carmel High School in Breathitt County, Ky.,and as pastor of the nearby White Oak Community Church.



In 1962 at the age of 35 he came to Chattanooga to serve as assistant to Dr. Lawrence B. Hicks when First Church of The Nazarene was located at its long-time Main and Willow location.

After serving as pastor for several years the denominations District Assembly elected him as superintendent to supervise Nazarene churches in East Tennessee. He declined and chose to remain as pastor of First Church.



Pastor Andrus is known as a patriotic person. He was the recipient of 11 Valley Forge Freedoms Foundation Awards for sermons he delivered at First Church promoting God and Country themes. At one time he had one of the largest collections of Presidential campaign buttons dating back to the early 1900's. The late United States Senator Howard Baker Jr. in 1969 arranged for him to attend a White House worship service when Richard Nixon was President. He had the opportunity to talk to the President and his wife after the service. The President and Pastor Andrus both had attended Whittier College.



While serving as senior pastor to his large congregation he was instrumental in the church financing six missionary construction projects in foreign countries. He also served on the Board of Trustees at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville and the Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs, Colo. He ministered to the local Teen Challenge organization and conducted a weekly Bible study for Jaycee Tower residents.



Today, in retirement, he continues to minister to area families in hospitals, nursing homes, and conducts funeral services when asked to do so. He and his wife Loretta reside in East Ridge and often frequent the Lookout Valley Cracker Barrel where they have made a host of new friends.



His adult children are Lenae Andrus Sondgeroth and Tad Andrus. He has two adult step-daughters, Sharma Burdick and Shana Pearl.



The church, at 5455 North Terrace in the Brainerd area, will host a public reception on Saturday, March 3, from 2 to 4 p.m.. The family has requested no gifts, only cards when attending the reception.


A thought creeps in. Then his cousin. Then his siblings. Then his friends.

What if something happens to him? What if we dont have enough? What if she thinks I was mean? What if they misunderstood me? If I tell him, he is going to hate me. If I do that, Im going to get hurt. If hes elected, the country will be destroyed. If I speak up, I might lose my job.



Before you know it, your formerly private, comfortable living quarters are invaded. Doubts start repeatedly ringing the front door. Worries are suddenly couch-surfing in the living room of your mind. Fears over-stay their welcome.



Not only does this trio make for poor house guests, they make it impossible to have much space for God. They take up all the available room. They pull down the shades, eat all the food, and junk up the place, leaving our inner lives in shambles.



The Fear-Doubt Ticket



Our ancient ancestors in the desert first elected the Fear-Doubt ticket as their president in an upset victory over the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Weve been repeating the same contemptible pattern ever since.

With a deadly virus of cowardice and cynicism mixed with a touch of amnesia and rebellion, our forefathers reacted the same as we might have, when they first stood outside the new home God had built for them and assured them they could successfully fight for and inhabit.



Their response seemed eerily familiar:

If we do what he says, things arent going to work out very well.



No thanks, God, I dont think I can do what you want, that seems scary.



I dont think so, our kids might get hurt.



God is mean and isnt looking out for us.



Siding with the Devil



In the face of the invitation to know a dreamy life they had not found previously imaginable, they permitted their fears to grossly misinterpret all Gods good intentions and they temporarily sided with the Devil. They became co-accusers with Satan (God hates us) instead of co-laborers with the God who had responded to their desperate cries with concerned rescue.

Fear makes for abysmal misinterpretations.



A hard marriage, a declining investment account, or a resistant strain of sin thats pummeling us or someone we love----and we presume Gods inattention or worse, his malicious intentions. God mustnt care and is not to be trusted. What else can we conclude when we let fear take over the airwaves of our inner dialogue?



You Dont Have to Obey Fear!



And in our present cultural moment when fear is a virtue and worry a sign of responsibility, letting Gods view point and commands be the authoritative voice in our lives is all the less likely. It might even seem wrong.

But Moses, mouthing Gods paternal concerns, reassured his wobbly-kneed constituency this way:



Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place. (Deut. 1:29-31)



We cant do a thing about the presence of impulses that surge within us when facing an arduous task, a future uncertainty, or some commanded obedience. If we feel afraid, I doubt we can vanquish all feelings of fear.



But we can ignore them.



We dont have to let them decide our course of action. We can actively fight fear by making sure we dont confer upon its voice the same authority as Gods. We can sucker punch fear in the mid-section when it tries to jab us in the jaw.



The Neurotic Trinity



Fear, Doubt, and Worry are a triumvirate that makes God-loyalty impossible. If we bow to them, we will always be acting against the God who is against them but for us. If we lend them credibility in our hearts and let them direct our steps, well find it easy to be pre-occupied with our inner voices but difficult to love anyone else fully, even the folks that we think we are protecting by succumbing to the neurotic Trinitys compulsive exhortations (Fear, the Father, Doubt, the Son, and Worry, the Anxious Ghost).

Its a healthful practice to disobey fear, distrust our doubts, and worrying our worries by listening to Gods loyalty for, commands to, and affections toward us.



If He is carrying us, who can jar us from his arms? If His strong arm defends our children, then how can we spend all our mental energy in worry for them? If our future is His to form, then how can we step into it defensively?



Come, let me breathe on you.



But to appropriate this posture, well need the same remedy that Lucy encountered when she repeatedly failed to heed Aslans summons in Prince Caspian, because she was afraid her siblings would make fun of her or would be agitated with her. When at last she saw the great Lion, he said, Lucy, you have listened to fears. Come let me breathe on you.

When we discover weve become the most nervous kids on the block, its a perfect time to come breathe in the life, replenishment, and ways of the One who has not only given us permission to ignore fear, but has adored us so fiercely, that hes mandated that we disregard it and all its soul-mangling cousins, siblings, and friends entirely.



------



Contact Eric Youngblood, pastor of Rock Creek Fellowship on Lookout Mountain, at eric@rockcreekfellowship.org
Chattanooga Police said they do not believe any gang initiation took place as charged by a man who said on Facebook that he was attacked by a gang near Market Street and Aquarium Way (Second Street). Police said the man, who did not file a police report initially, is now refusing to talk about it. The man said he had to fight off several youths in an incident last Sunday ... (click for more)
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Dalton State got off to a great start on Monday, firing a (+26, 314) in the first round of the Georgetown College Invitational at Slammer and Squire Course in St. Augustine, Fla. They sit in a tie for second with #15 Southeastern (Fla.), trailing leader and #6-ranked South Carolina-Beaufort, (+21, 309) by five strokes.Rounding out the Top-5 are Rhodes College, (+32, 320), and #20 SCAD-Atlanta, (+37, 325). #4 Keiser, (+45, 333), is in seventh.All-Americans Caroline Griffin and Isabel Rijos led the way for the Lady Roadrunners.

Griffin carded a (+4, 76) and sits in a tie for fourth, while Rijos joins her in the Top-10 in seventh after a round of (+5, 77). Sophomore Tia Teiniketo is in 15th after posting (+7, 79).Sophomores Haejin Choe and Hannah Gasaway are tied for 25th after rounds of (+10, 82)The #2-ranked Lady Roadrunners will be back in action tomorrow, February 20, as they look to erase a five shot deficit and bring home the W in the final round of the Georgetown College Invitational.
Honoring the Sacrifice Foundation announced Monday that the organization will host its 5th annual American Heroes Dinner Friday, July 13, at the Chattanooga Convention Center. This patriotic evening acts as a key fundraiser for the organization which provides direct assistance to severely wounded members of the armed services.

This years event will feature Robert J. O'Neill, U.S. Navy (Retired) as its keynote speaker.

About Robert J. O'Neill:

Mr. ONeill is one of the most highly-decorated combat veterans of our time. He was a team leader with the Naval Special Warfare Development Group. He has deployed more than a dozen times, and he held combat leadership roles in more than 400 combat missions in four different theaters of war.

A highly-trained Navy SEAL, he led the militarys most elite and was involved in our nations most important campaigns. With most of his career shrouded in a classified cloak, Mr. ONeill was the man on the ground we have never heard of but know exists. He was one of the quiet professionals performing the most difficult tasks in the most difficult circumstances, serving his remarkable career in the shadows and keeping America safe in the process.

Mr. O'Neills New York Times Best-selling book, The Operator, was released on April 25. The Operator takes readers on a journey into these missions, providing intimate accounts of the rescues of Captain Phillips from Somali pirates and of Lone Survivor SEAL Marcus Luttrell from behind enemy lines in Afghanistan. It offers powerful stories aboutand new insights intoour war against terror, and captures the fierce and unique brotherhood among SEALSmany of whom spend up to 300 days away from their families and rely on team members for their survival. Most notably, the book recounts the painstaking preparation for and execution of the clandestine U.S. attack on Osama bin Ladens secret compound in Pakistan in May 2011.

"We're very excited to have Mr. ONeill deliver the keynote," said Honoring the Sacrifice President Todd Smith when announcing the speaker. "We think this years American Heroes Dinner will be extraordinarily powerful."

The annual dinner is scheduled for July 13. A reception will begin at 6:30 p.m. Dinner will follow at 7 p.m., with a program and keynote presentation at 8 p.m.

Limited sponsorships, which include admission to a private reception with Mr. O'Neill and premium event seating, are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is available at www.honoringthesacrifice.org.
The son of a sharecropper, Mississippi-born Jesse Leroy Brown would do whatever it took to become a pilot and break the navys color barrier

Jesse Leroy Brown set his sights on flying when he was just a youngster working in Mississippis corn and cotton fields. Growing up as the son of a sharecropper, whenever he spotted an airplane overhead, young Jesse would declare that someday he was going to be a pilot. His family always laughed good-naturedly at what they thought of as a joke. But this gifted student and athlete made good his promise soon after World War II ended, becoming the U.S. Navys first black flier.

Brown was born in Hattiesburg, Miss., on October 13, 1926. While attending Eureka High School he made a name for himself as a runner and long jumper. He was also the top math student in his junior class. When he graduated in 1944, he chose to attend a predominantly white college rather than Hampton or Howard as his counselors had suggested. Warned of the prejudice he would encounter, Jesse explained that he wanted to study architectural engineering at Ohio Stateand he didnt plan to let any such obstacles get in his way. That fall he became the only black student enrolled in the universitys College of Engineering. To make ends meet he had to work part-time as a janitor at a department store and also load boxcars during the night shift for the Pennsylvania Railroad.

Jesse hadnt forgotten his dream of flying. When he saw a poster announcing a new Navy flight training program called V-5, he rushed to the recruiting office and asked to be admitted into the program. The somewhat stunned recruiting officer, a Lieutenant Dawkins, told him that he wouldnt be able to pass the written exam, adding that even if he did, there was no way Jesse would ever get to sit in a Navy cockpit since there had never been a black Navy aviator. Brown responded that he would like to be the first. Eventually the recruiter ran out of excuses and let him take the examactually several written tests. The young man from Mississippi passed them all with flying colors, also acing the physical.

In 1947 Midshipman Brown became the first black man accepted into Navy flight school. Next came Selective Flight Training at the naval air station in Glenview, Ill., where he had to prove he could fly or be washed out. Upon Jesses arrival his roommate stuck out his hand, smiled and did not appear uncomfortable, but other midshipmen were considerably less cordial. Some classmates relentlessly harassed him, using every cruel tactic they could imagine to force him to resign. Even the black stewards in the mess hall were offended by his presence. On weekends, when other midshipmen spent time with their parents or girlfriends, Brown generally remained in his room.

Jesse was nervous when he first reported to Lt. j.g. Roland Christensen in the ready room, but Christensen welcomed him, saying: Youll be flying with me while youre here. Just relax and concentrate on doing the job. His first flight in a Stearman biplane apparently went well. Brown spent an hour doing maneuvers and thought he was in heaven. He went on to complete the selection process by soloing, and 10 days later reported for preflight training in Iowa.

During the next 16 weeks at Naval Air Station Ottumwa, the instructors did their best to weed out cadets who did not measure up to Navy standards. In June 1947, 36 out of 66 midshipmen in Browns class graduated from preflight. Jesse was among the group flown to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., to begin flight training. On October 1, he took his first flight in a North American SNJ.

Three days later Brown made a brash move that could have ended his dream of flight: He got married. At the time, Navy regulations stated that an aviation cadet must remain single until graduation or be dropped from the program. But Jesse, no longer able to stand being away from his long-time girlfriend Daisy, rushed home on Saturday and exchanged vows with her the next day. He was back in the cockpit on Monday morning.

The final test all the cadets had to pass in Pensacola was to land on an aircraft carrier. Browns five traps were flawless. On October 21, 1948, eight days after he turned 22, Ensign Brown was designated a naval aviator, becoming the first black man to wear wings of gold.

Jesse was subsequently assigned to fighter squadron VF-32 aboard the light carrier Wright (CVL-49). In October 1950, his squadron transferred to the fleet carrier Leyte (CV-32), which joined Fast Carrier Task Force 77, on its way to assist United Nations forces in Korea. Now a section leader, Brown flew a Vought F4U-4 Corsair, providing air support for allied ground troops.

On December 4, 1950, Jesses section headed for the Chosin Reservoir to support the embattled U.N. troops there. No targets were available, but a Chinese anti-aircraft gunner apparently got lucky. I think I may have been hit, Brown announced over the radio. Ive lost my oil pressure. He guided his crippled Corsair down, pancaking onto the side of a mountain. The fuselage buckled at the cockpit, and the instrument panel slammed into his right leg, trapping him.

Squadron Commander Lt. j.g. Thomas J. Hudner Jr., who had followed him down, realized something was wrong when Brown didnt climb out of the cockpit. Hudner then made a move that could have earned him a court-martial, belly-landing his own plane about 100 yards from the downed Corsair.

Struggling valiantly to extricate his squadron mate, Hudner quickly realized it was impossible to pull him out of the cockpit. He radioed for a rescue helicopter, but by that time Brown was fading fast from loss of blood and the frigid temperatures on the mountain. He looked at Hudner and said, Tell Daisy how much I love her. I will, replied the lieutenant, who watched as Jesses head slumped onto his chest.

When the chopper arrived, Hudner and the pilot again tried to free Browns now-limp body from the Corsair, to no avail. Hudners return to the carrier was met with shock among the crew. Leytes skipper, Captain Thomas U. Sisson, discussed sending a team to recover Browns body, but everyone agreed it was impractical due to the proximity of enemy troops. Sisson then decided to give Jesse a warriors funeral.

Seven fighters loaded with napalm took off from the carrier and flew to the crash site. They made a wide circle, then draped Jesses Corsair with a shroud of flames. After rocking their wings in a final salute, they sped away from the glowing funeral pyre.

Far from being court-martialed, Hudner received the first Navy Medal of Honor of the Korean War for his efforts to save Brown (who was awarded a posthumous Distinguished Flying Cross). Daisy Brown and her daughter Pamela were on hand at the White House when President Harry Truman made the presentation. In March 1972, the Navy launched USS Jesse L. Brown (DE- 1089), the first U.S. Navy vessel named for an African American aviator.

Originally published in the May 2010 issue of Aviation History. To subscribe, click here.
As a commercial hub, Brownsville, Texas, paled compared with the likes of New Orleans and Mobile, Ala. All the same, the town served as a vital Gulf of Mexico lifeline for the Confederacy, one the Union could not ignore. Federal forces briefly captured Brownsville in 1863, only to have it retaken the following year by a force under the command of Confederate Colonel John Salmon Ford. A South Carolina native, Ford had made Texas his home for nearly 30 years. In May 1865, with the end of the war nearing, Union troops hoped they had seen the last of him. They werent so lucky, as they found out at Palmito Ranch, in what would be the Civil Wars final battle.

Ford, born in 1815 to a family that boasted Revolutionary War veterans on both sides, spent much of his youth in Tennessee. At 21 he decided to seek his fortune in the vast, roiling Texas frontier. Leaving behind a wife and two children, Ford arrived in June 1836, just two months after the Battle of San Jacinto and the declaration of Texas independence from Mexico.

After settling in east Texas he established a doctors practice, though he had no medical degree. It was the first in a long line of careers: lawyer, surveyor, newspaper editor, teacher, historian, playwright, printer, mayor, Texas Ranger, sheriff, chief of police, city marshal, and state and national senator. (At one point, he ranunsuccessfullyagainst the Savior of Texas himself, Sam Houston.) In 1845 it was Ford who formally proposed the annexation of Texas to the Union.

Ford was never one to let inexperience, modesty, or a lack of formal education stand in his way. Through it all he was a soldierinitially in the nascent Army of the Republic of Texas, then during the Mexican War as a U.S. Army regimental adjutant of the Texas Mounted Rifles under the legendary John Coffee Hayes. According to oral tradition, whenever Ford submitted a list of the regiments fatalities and wrote a condolence letter to a deceased soldiers family, he would add Rest in Peace next to the name, which eventually became shortened to R.I.P. He was soon known across the Lone Star State as Rip Ford.

Not willing to be restricted to administrative duties, Ford recast himself as a combat officer, and won a reputation as a fierce fighting man. After the war he was named commander of all Texas Rangers in the field, waging successful campaigns against the Comanches in the north and Mexican bandit Juan Cortina in the south. About this time a photograph was taken showing Ford in fringed buckskins and gauntlets, with two .44-caliber Walker Colt revolvers holstered on his narrow waist. His tireless efforts and inexhaustible energy had made him arguably the most famous man in Texas.

When Texas seceded from the Union in early 1861, the Secession Convention assigned Ford the task of ousting all 4,500 Federal troops stationed along the Rio Grandea mission he fulfilled with only 1,000 men, without firing a shot, and without bloodshed. In emptying seven or eight Federal installations, he acquired dozens of Union artillery pieces.

Ford hoped this had earned him a generals star, only to discover he wasnt exactly the type of soldier favored by President Jefferson Davis, who doted on his Virginia cavaliers. Instead he received a state commission as colonel of the 2nd Texas Cavalry. By then Ford was living in Brownsville. When his regiment marched off to New Mexico Territory, he remained behind with several cavalry companies, to bolster the towns defenses.

Meanwhile, a wave of highly placed individuals reached out to Davis requesting a promotion for Ford. Though Davis still wouldnt budge, it was clear he had to do something. When a draft was introduced in 1863, Ford was put in charge of Texas unpopular Conscription Bureau. No surprise, it was a position he loathed.

In the fall of 1863, Union forces landed at Brownsville, capturing the town and working their way up to Corpus Christi. An overburdened Maj. Gen. John B. Magruder was ordered to find the right man to oust the Yankees. He naturally turned to Rip Ford, a fighter he knew other Texans would readily follow. Magruder gave him command of the Rio Grande Expeditionary Force, with the rank of a Texas state (i.e., militia) brigadier general.

By late 1864 Ford had driven the Yankees out of Brownsville, though a single garrison of Federals remained on the nearby island of Brazos Santiago. In March 1865, Union Maj. Gen. Lew Wallace landed there with an extraordinary proposition, one purportedly sanctioned by both Ulysses Grant and President Abraham Lincoln. The war all but over, Wallace proposed to Ford and his superior, Brig. Gen. James E. Slaughter, that the two sides join forces to invade Mexico and end French expansion and the rule of Emperor Maximilian.

Although Ford and Slaughter favored the plan, the Confederate high command rejected it, unwilling to remove soldiers from the field at this critical time. The two forces then agreed to a truce as they awaited the wars outcome. But after learning of Robert E. Lees surrender on April 9, the Texans refused to follow suit. General Edmund Kirby Smith, head of the Trans-Mississippi Department, told Texas governor, as well as those of nearby states, to ignore the surrender and keep fighting. Though some soldiers chose to go home, most Texans happily complied.

By the second week of May, the war was truly over. Both major Confederate armies (Lees and Joseph E. Johnstons) had surrendered, and Davis was captured on May 10. Then, on May 11, the Yankees on Brazos Santiago Island broke the truce. Their commander, Colonel Theodore H. Barrett, had never led troops in combat and apparently was unwilling to allow peace to ruin his chance for glory. He crossed to the mainland at the head of a force of 300 infantry and unmounted cavalry, and marched toward Brownsville. Hearing the news, Slaughter proposed surrendering; Rip Ford would have none of it. On May 12 the Federals met 190 men of Giddings Texas Cavalry Battalion at Palmito Ranch, about halfway between Brownsville and the coast. Following a brief skirmish, both sides retired. Ford sent word ordering the cavalry to maintain contact, pending reinforcements; the Yankees, however, were reinforced first, bringing their number to 500. The next morning they drove the outnumbered but hard-fighting Rebels far across a stretch of open prairie.

Ford arrived that afternoon with 300 cavalry and a six-gun battery. He launched a three-pronged attack that stunned the Federals, who quickly broke and ran, in what Ford laconically described as a rather confused mannerdemonstrating how fast demoralized men could get over ground. His men pursued the Yankees all the way to the coastwhat the Federals deemed a tactical withdrawal but was, in fact, a total rout.

Only five or six Confederates were wounded; the Yankees suffered as many as 30 killed or wounded, and about 100 captured. A few days later, Federal officers visited Brownsville and signed a truce. The skill, charisma, and intractability of John S. Rip Ford had made the Battle of Palmito Ranch a rousing Southern victory.

Ron Soodalter writes from Cold Spring, N.Y.
Elodie Todd loved a Confederate officer, her half-sister married Abraham Lincoln

E lodie Todd, a native Kentuckian, was stunned when Confederate officer Nathaniel Dawson proposed marriage just before his company left his native Selma, Alabama. She was 12 years his junior and worried her family would never approve of the engagement, considering she barely knew Dawson. But Todd accepted, and over the next year, April 1861 through April 1862, the couple wrote more than 200,000 words to each other.

Their letters, carefully edited and contextualized by historians Stephen Berry and Angela Esco Elder in Practical Strangers: The Courtship Correspondence of Nathaniel Dawson and Elodie Todd, Sister of Mary Todd Lincoln (University of Georgia Press, 2017), offer insights into a family at war, and not just any family, but one that reflected both its fame and its border-state roots. Five of the Todd siblings, including First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln, supported the Union, while nine, including Elodie, supported the Confederacy.

Her letters reflect their painful familial fractures, her anger toward her famous sister and brother-in-law, and Elodies determined defense of the Todds to any outsider who might criticize them. Dawsons letters capture an elite Southern white officers early enthusiasm for secession, his frustrations with military life, and his growing disillusion with the war. Their correspondence also reflects the divisions within a Southern communityin Selma and among the soldiers from Selmastruggling with normal social disagreements amid the pressures of distance and war. The excerpts below, which focus on their early correspondence and reactions to the First Battle of Manassas, touch on the issues that weave through the more than 300 letters in the collection. While spanning just a year, Dawson and Todds writings capture the exhausting toll the Civil War would take on these two elite families and millions of others.

Selma,

May 9, 1861

Elodie Todd

Ever since I can remember, I have been looked upon and called the old maid of the family, and Mother seemed to think I was to be depended on to take care of her when all the rest of her handsomer daughters left her, and I really believe they all think I am committing a sin to give a thought to any other than the arrangements they have made for me. But as this is the age when Secession, Freedom, and Rights are asserted, I am claiming mine and do not doubt but I shall succeed in obtaining them as I have some one to help me in my efforts.

Harpers Ferry,

May 10, 1861

Nathaniel Dawson

We are not as comfortably fixed as we were in our Ala. encampment but comfort is one of the articles we left at home and is therefore not to be regarded.

I sent my trunk yesterday to Winchesterand I do not know when I will again have the benefit of the few little luxuries and comforts it contained. I am now reduced to one suit of clothing and a few articles that a knap sack will contain. I am sorry to say that there are some men in the company too nice to do many of the duties required of them, and I have frequently to [lead by] an example. Some demur to carrying their knapsacks. Yesterday you should have seen their astonishment when I came out of my tent with a knapsack on with all of my accoutrements, rifle, sword and pistol, and large overcoat. I am obliged to do many of these things for the sake of example, and I am subjected to much inconvenience in consequence. But I desire to share all the hardships and dangers of my men as they have manifested much feeling for me on several occasions.

Even now, with their large armies in the field and all the appearance to the contrary, I do not think we will have a long war. The idea of subjugating us must be preposterous, and I think, if I could be allowed to have the ear of my future brother-in-law, I could persuade him to abandon the idea if he ever entertained it. Cant you use your influence or get your sister Miss Kittie to use hers? I am anxious to know your sister and more anxious to become her brother. Does she look like you? I hope her influence with Mr. Lincoln will save me the trouble of being hanged, should I fall into his power. Is it not strange that I should be so anxious to see Mr. Lincoln defeated in his policy and at the same time be so devoted to his sister-in-law?

Selma,

May 15, 1861

Elodie Todd

The Blues [a local volunteer company] are still making a great noise about going away, have succeeded in obtaining from the citizens 8 or more nice tents and are enjoying pound cake and all delicacies from the ladies in such quantities that they have requested no more to be sent for several days. What a pity you did not encamp for a few days prior to your departure from Selma. Pray remember to do so next time. I am indignant when I think of you all as in danger without tents and a pitiful sum in hand from the generous hearts of this community and Blues at home enjoying everything and peacefully protected without any intention or thought of going, or if they do it will be after the fighting is over.

Manassas,

July 21, 1861

Nathaniel Dawson

We have had a terrible battle today, my dear Elodie, but have achieved a glorious victory. Our brigade was in the hottest of the engagement, and the 4th Ala. Reg. has been cut to pieces. I have had from twenty to thirty killed and wounded in the Cadets, but thanks to a merciful Creator and your prayers, I escaped unscathed. A cannon ball struck a fence which I was crossing and knocked me down, but the only harm done me was a dislocation of my ankle which I do not think will give me much pain.

Selma,

July 23, 1861

Elodie Todd

I wrote you a day or two since, but I cannot refrain from writing to tell, or try to do, my joy and happiness that you have escaped unhurt. Early this morning I sent to town a servant with orders not to return until he brought me news of the battle, which we received intelligence of late yesterday evening. He has just returned bringing me the telegram from yourself and Captain Goldsby relieving by it the anxiety of many hours. I was surprised and distressed when I heard of a battle being fought and you were engaged in it and could do nothing but grieve and anticipate the worse and trembled so violently that for several moments I was incapable of reading the dispatch until with a desperate effort I overcame it somewhat and opened it, my mind prepared to receive the worst. But imagine my joy if you can which possessed me when I read of your safety and the slight loss sustained by the Cadets and Guards.

I see from todays paper Mrs. Lincoln is indignant at my Bro. Davids being in the Confederate service and declares that by no word or act of hers should he escape punishment for his treason against her husbands government should he fall into their hands. I do not believe she ever said it and if she did and meant it she is no longer a sister of mine nor deserves to be called a woman of nobleness and truth and God grant my noble and brave-hearted brother will never fall into their hands and have to suffer death twice over, and he could do nothing which could make me prouder of him than he is doing now, fighting for his country. What would she do to me, do you suppose? I have as much to answer for.

Manassas, Virginia,

July 24, 1861

Nathaniel Dawson

We, the 4th Ala., with the 2d Miss. And the 6th N.C. Rg., under Ben. Bee commenced the fight by attacking the advancing column of Yankees. Our reg. was supposed to attack 5,000 men and after keeping them in check for one hour, retreated, fell back upon the reserve. I was injured by a sprain in the ankle and missed the Reg. which was in advance and was not further engaged. About 200 of the reg. was collected but took no further active part in the battle. We have but about 200 killed and wounded. Among the former is Lieut. Simpson, whom you saw last winter in Montgomery. He was to be married to Miss Collier.

I walked over the battlefield the next day after the fight. The scene presented was horrible. I counted in one small spotwhere Shermans battery was takenthirty-seven horses that were dead and near one hundred dead Yankees, besides the wounded who had been removed. Near this place is a house, an old lady 90 years of age was killed by a cannon ball. Her daughter told me herself at the house. The dead presented an awful appearance, and I thought perchance that the fortunes of man might place me in a similar position. I have learned it seems, however, to think philosophically of these things and am inclined to the opinion that I am hard-hearted.

Near Manassas,

July 25, 1861

Nathaniel Dawson

I have written you three times since the late battle, my own dear Elodie, but it seems that for the first time today I am in a sufficiently quiet state of mind to commune with you. I feel like one who had accomplished a great work and was resting from his labors, and my first impulses after this are to lie down by your side and rest in the knowledge that your heart pulsates to every throb of mine.

I went over the field yesterday. The scene was awful. The dead Yankees were still lying unburied in many places. I saw as many as one hundred in a space of an acre. They belong to Ellsworths Zouaves who were reduced from 1,100 to 200 men. God seems specially to have marked them for vengeance. They wore blue pants and red shirts and are fierce looking fellows. They fought well.

Confederate States of America,

Selma, August 4, 1861

Elodie Todd

Tis no easy task, but I am endeavoring to bear everything as well and cheerfully as possible. Sometimes I fail entirely, but in a short time find myself persevering again in the struggle and may yet come out victorious. I do not think of peace and know well Mr. Lincoln is not man enough to dare to make it. He is but a tool in the hands of his party and would not brave their wrath by such a proposition. How nobly he could redeem himself if he had the courage. He is no more fitted for the office than many others who have recently occupied it, and we may date our trouble from the time when we allowed party to place in the chair a President entirely disregarding his worth, ability, or capacity for it, and I hope our Confederacy may guard against it.

I would not be more for him than his party or than for any other Blk. Rep. President, and you do not say as much as I do, tho that is a privilege I allow myself exclusively, to abuse my relations as much as I desire, but no one else can do the same before me or even say a word against Kentucky. I told two gentlemen the other night that as they knew I was a Kentuckian and acknowledged myself as such, that I considered anything they said against my birthplace and home personal, and there were many subjects more entertaining to me than abuse of Kentucky.

I thought if they desired to discuss her movements, they could take themselves off to do it, but as long as a drop of Ky. blood courses in my veins I see myself listening to people who just by a small majority threw off Northern tyranny themselves and before Ky. for I still have faith in her and will ever take her part knowing better than some all the disadvantages she is laboring under.

Manassas Junction,

August 29, 1861

Nathaniel Dawson

I reached camp yesterday safely. The love I bear you, my dear Elodie, and the intimate future and present relation that exists between us and my desire to let you know all that concerns me makes it proper, on account of rumors that I have heard have reached Selma, to make you, if to no others, a personal explanation of my conduct at the battle of Manassas, for I have no concealment as I am conscious of having done my duty.

I was with my company and the regiment during the battle and fought as well as others did. When we retreated, I was among the last to retire for I was in the rear of Col. Jones, owing to an accident, when he was shot. I was near the chaplain and in crossing a fence in our way, a ball knocked it down, and those who saw have told me I was knocked ten feet on the ground. When I recovered I found my ankle badly sprained. I followed on and overtook the regiment almost a quarter mile ahead, when an attempt was made to rally it. Everything was in great confusion as the Yankees were following us and were then flanking us on both wings. I went up to the colors and called on the Cadets to rally. The disorder was indescribable. Col. Law was now wounded, Col. Jones reported dead, and either with or without an order, for I heard none, the regiment, or that part of it that was there, again retired in my confusion, and brave men had to run for their lives as the enemy now poured upon us a murderous fire of musketry and artillery.

Over three hundred of our regiment became separated and never fell into it after the retreat. As brave and gallant men as breathe. Why I have been made a victim I cannot understand. If I could find out the author of the reports, I will hold him to a strict account. No officer in the regiment, I am glad to say, attaches any importance to this slander, except that is calculated to injure me.

D awson left the Confederate Army at the expiration of his one-year enlistment in the summer of 1862. The rumors of his cowardice at Manassas did little lasting damage, and he was elected to the state legislature in 1863. Dawson became speaker of the house in 1880, and ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1882 and 1886. The tenderness in their courtshipin one of his last letters from the front, Nathaniel wrote Elodie, I love you as my own soulappears to have continued into marriage. Their happiness, however, was cut short when Elodie Todd succumbed to the same health issue that had plagued Dawsons previous two wives and several of her sisters. She died giving birth to their fourth child in 1877. Think of me as always devoted to you, Nathaniel once told her, and that devotion continued after she died. He spent the next several years turning the Selma cemetery into a living memorial of live oaks, magnolias, and Italian sculpture to his own dear Elodie.

Susannah J. Ural is Professor of History and co-director of the Dale Center for the Study of War & Society at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Just 6% of SMEs in Ireland are prepared to deal with the fallout associated with Brexit, according to a new survey by AIB.

Fianna Fail Spokesperson on Brexit Stephen Donnelly TD says the publication of a new survey on the preparations being carried out by SMEs in advance of Britains departure from the EU must serve as a "wakeup call for the Government".

Deputy Donnelly said, These survey results are alarming. They show that Irish SMEs simply arent prepared to deal with the consequences of Brexit. This is no surprise when you consider the Government has failed to articulate the need for SMEs to carry out detailed contingency planning.

"All the focus to date has been on high level diplomacy, the Government simply hasnt been doing the groundwork in helping businesses prepare for Brexit.

A whole of Government response is needed to deal with this.

"We need to see detailed sectoral response plans which set out how the Government intends to deal with Brexit and assist SMEs overcome what will undoubtedly be a sudden economic shock to their operations."

The recent Copenhagen Economics Report said that a hard Brexit could cost Ireland 20,000 jobs.

"The Government needs to introduce a comprehensive domestic support package to help businesses overcome the challenges a possible hard-Brexit poses, concluded Deputy Donnelly.

Very positive exchange on #Brexit with @Feorlean. Clarity on the meaning of Brexit is vital for both Ireland and Scotland. pic.twitter.com/Yuf7H5VhUS  Stephen Donnelly (@DonnellyStephen) February 8, 2018
The Hollywood power couple announced that they will be marching in support of student survivors of the Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooting in Parkland, Florida.

Five teenagers who survived the school shooting in Florida, which left 17 people dead, announced that on March 24 there will be a march on Washington, D.C. to call for stricter gun laws.

Students David Hogg, Alex Wind, Cameron Kasky, Jacqueline Coren and Emma Gonzalez  who made an impassioned speech at a rally in Fort Lauderdale where she shamed lawmakers for taking money from the NRA over the weekend - explained their idea to the media this weekend.

What were trying to do here [with] March For Our Lives is say, the adult politicians have been playing around while my generation has been losing our lives, said Kasky.

At the end of the day, this isnt a red and blue thing. This isnt Democrats or Republicans. This is about everybody and how we are begging for our lives, he added. We need to make real change here and thats exactly what were going to do.

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George and Amal Clooney announced that they will be marching in support of the students.

"Amal and I are so inspired by the courage and eloquence of these young men and women from Stoneman Douglas High School," the statement reads. "Our family will be there on March 24 to stand side by side with this incredible generation of young people from all over the country, and in the name of our children Ella and Alexander, were donating $500,000 to help pay for this groundbreaking event.

He added, "Our childrens lives depend on it."
Minister for the Diaspora and International Development, Ciaran Cannon, has said that the five BAFTA awards picked up by Martin McDonaghs Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is a tribute to the director's "artistic genius".

Minister Cannon said: I think it is a splendid testimonial to the creative genius of Martin McDonagh and the artistic team associated with Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri that this movie has picked up five awards from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

This is a world-leading independent arts charity that was originally founded by cinematic giants like Laurence Olivier, David Lean and Alexander Korda among others and has as its vision a world where everyones life is culturally and creatively enriched through excellent work in film, games and television.

Though Martin McDonagh was born in London, his father and mother were natives of Galway and Sligo respectively and I was delighted to hear him describe himself during the ceremony as half-Irish.

These five BAFTA awards are not only abundant evidence of how McDonagh has enriched the lives of cinematic audiences, but also of how his work and the work of the other nominees who are either Irish-born or of Irish heritage have enriched the shared pride of our diaspora in internationally acknowledged creative success.

I wish to extend my congratulations to Martin McDonagh on these wins and also acknowledge the other Irish nominees and their own tremendous contribution to the arts.


Two employees of Barge Design Solutions, Inc. have achieved professional status. Gloria Neal has passed the required examination and is now a licensed professional engineer in Tennessee, and Andy Carr has passed the required examination and is now a licensed landscape architect in Tennessee.



Ms. Neal joined Barge Design Solutions in 2014 upon graduation from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She holds a bachelor of science and master of science degree in civil engineering. She volunteers in the community, tutoring students and adult-aged students in math.



Mr. Carr obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in plant science and landscape systems.

He later returned to receive a master of landscape architecture, studying abroad in Ireland and England. He joined Barge Design Solutions in 2014. Mr. Carr serves on the executive committee for the Tennessee Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. He is the Southeast Tennessee representative. The organization represents over 150 practicing and affiliated members located throughout the state.
Leitir Meallain in Conamara  the hometown of McDonaghs father  has paid an unusually cool tribute to the film director.

After the film 'Three Billboards...' swept the boards at the BAFTAs, the town honoured the film director by erecting three billboards of their own on the side of the road there that read Comhghairdeas Martin McDonagh, Realt Mor Leitir Meallain and Realt Mor Hollywood.

For those whose Irish is rusty, these translates as: Congratulations Martin McDonagh," and "Big Star of Leitir Meallain", and "Big Star of Hollywood.

The director's latest film has also been nominated for seven Oscars....

Brill film by London Irish 3 new billboards where his dads from Connemara #MartinMcDonagh #threebillboards pic.twitter.com/NspsxUrhUu  John Roch Simons (@JohnRochSimons) February 19, 2018

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David Bowie's iconic album 'Aladdin Sane' is being pressed onto silver vinyl to commemorate its 45th anniversary.

The legends sixth studio album was initially released on April 20th 1973 and so to celebrate the albums 45th birthday, they are making a very special vinyl edition that will be available this year on April 20th from 'bricks and mortar' record shops.

In addition, his 1981 compilation album CHANGESTWOBOWIE is also getting a vinyl repress which is due on April 13 this year.

Last year saw the release of a new box set titled "A New Career In A New Town(1977-1982)" which was a collection of all of his musical memorabilia from that time period. All five albums that were included in that collection are being reissued individually on 180-gram vinyl, all set for release this Friday February 23rd.

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These are set to fly off the shelf as none of these albums have been available individually on vinyl since 1991.
Vulpynes are back with their latest single from their debut EP 'Vulpynes' set for release on March 1st.

These rock'n'roll girls are back with a kick ass single and video to match. The duo are set to have a very busy 2018 with their recent signing to UK label Headcheck Records and their plans to tour the UK, Germany and beyond.

These girls are famous for their motor driven live performances and their edgy rock look, which is very much apparent in this new video. They've already garnered a wide fanbase off the back of a consistently busy gigging schedule and the girls are only expected to get busier.

Their new track wont let you down with the sound steeped in scuzzy guitars, meaty percussion and grunge flavoured hooks, just how we like our Dublin girls to be! Check out the video!
Hailing from Nottingham and now based in London, Joel Baker has seen it all in the music industry.

With a story of overcoming personal hardships and challenges of the industry, Baker will play the East Side Taven on Thursday, 5th April. Having supported popular acts such as Ella Eyre, Ryan Keen and Saint Redmond in the past, he now brings his own tour to Ireland for the first time and for one date only.

Following the release of his latest single Worry About Me - a smooth blend of rap and hip-hop vibes courtesy of Sneakbo, accompanied by sultry bass and keyboard melodies - Baker plans to release his new EP The Dreamers in the near future, teasing clips from upcoming video accompaniments on his social media. Since signing with Virgin label, things have gone from strength to strength for Baker and 2018 seems to be shaping up to be his most accomplished year yet as he puts all his energy into fulfilling his musical career that hes had since a young age.

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Coming into the year hot - the Dublin soul rockers are keeping busy.

Mixing rock and roll sounds with the wild Afro-beat rhythm, The Hot Sprockets have pulled a full list of releases and tour dates out of their sleeves, pouring vibrant energy into every aspect of their work.

Their new single Cold Cold Sweat is due to be released on the 9th of March - with an accompanying music video being released on the 1st of March, directed by Joey Ingersoll. Packed with a rolling melody and pounding drum beats, jazzy guitar and blaring brass notes, Cold Cold Sweat is this groovy, dancey tune that will sound incredible live - getting every set of hips in the room moving and shaking. Its a song very on form with their self-declared psychedelic flavours that fans go crazy for.

Following this, their third studio album Dream Mover is due to be released on the 6th of April and to celebrate this, the five-strong group will kick off their first Dublin gig of the year in The Button Factory on the 14th of April - pre-sale tickets now sold out!

This buzzing and ambitious band will then tour the rest of the country from April to June, with nine dates following their Dublin show (see below). Tickets will be available from Ticketmaster and each venue online - be sure to keep an eye out.

TOUR DATES

The Reg, Waterford. 20 April.

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Dolans, Limerick. 27 April.

Spirit Store, Dundalk. 28 April.

De Barras, Clonakilty. 4 May.

Skylite Room, Warrenpoint. 11 May.

Kavanaghs, Port Laoise. 12 May.

Monroes Live, Galway. 18 May.

Cyprus Avenue, Cork. 31 May.

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Mike The Piles. Listowel. 1 June.
Originally opening on North Great Fredrick Street in 1922, the shop has been passed from hands of Martin Walton, to his grandson Niall Walton creating a proud history for the business name.

The nation and beyond may have recognised the shop interior from the 2007 film Once, where Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova performed the duet Falling Slowly that would later meet much success at the Oscars. But to the musicians, students and hobbyists of Dublin, the shop was a wealth of knowledge, temptation and passion. People have taken to Twitter to recall memories of coming in to play on the pianos, picking out guitars and immersing themselves in song books. While the family are relocating the store and business to their unit in Blanchardstown shopping centre as a means of continuing to try and provide their customers with the best service they can, the loss is already felt on the street.

I have a dusty Epiphone Sunburst at home and I'll never forget the memory of buying it in Waltons on a murky Saturday in August 2002. Sad times https://t.co/WwZzjnZgxq via @IrishTimes  Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) February 19, 2018

Very sad - used to practise piano here when I came to Dublin as a student in the 1990s.... Walton family is heartbroken to close Dublin music shop https://t.co/Uu07Q65GmF  Simon Carswell (@SiCarswell) February 19, 2018

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As a musician this is sad news indeed-important to point out that Waltons are relocating to their shop in Blanch, they havent closed their doors for good, so we can keep supporting them. City centre will definitely not be the same though without them. https://t.co/vul9SP33o0  Carly Bailey (@CarlyBee25) February 19, 2018

Really sad to see Waltons having to move out of Dublin city centre. @paddylogue in his 20s played very expensive guitars so very badly in this shop so many times.

via @IrishTimeshttps://t.co/b7ToOeq68i  Paddy Logue (@paddylogue) February 19, 2018

Such an awful loss for our city. Unless something changes with rents, Dublin is destined to become a homogenous set of streets, devoid of native character.



Walton family is heartbroken to close Dublin music shop https://t.co/NX9GEn6C01  Ciara Reilly (@PrimEdTeacher) February 19, 2018

Waltons School of Music will continue to operate over the now empty shop with no plans to relocate in the foreseeable future. However, the closure of the store facility is the result of Dublins rental crisis. Soaring costs of buildings in some of the citys most walked areas, are resulting in family-run businesses having to admit defeat to the increasingly costs. Especially music shops in the city centre, as the readily available wealth of instruments and materials online continues to thrive. While business was drawn to Waltons following Once - with pictures and videos taken of people performing the same song at the same piano - it didnt do enough to gain a profit.

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But the closing of Waltons is also raising the issue of the citys own sense of culture and identity. Local and family-run businesses add character to the environment - they become something more than just a shop. Theyre a meeting point, a place to explore, a go-to for customers and visitors. The area of South Great Georges Street - home to the beautiful building of Georges Arcade - has such a unique feeling about it. Should the rent issue continue to grow, Waltons sadly wont be the last much-appreciated location in the city centre to close. While we still have the chance to support the business itself online and at Blanchardstown, this is a loss for the music business and industry in Dublin city centre.
The Simon Cumbers Media Fund is now seeking applications from third level students interested in reporting on development issues for a national media outlet.

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Our favourite group of friends are back and this time, they're more skint and hopeless than ever.

Eddie is still reaching for gold and hoping to one day get rich and this time he swears he has his best idea yet with Buzz, Boo and Frenchtoast right behind him and happy to follow his lead. The Bucks are back and now in their mid-30's, need to come to grips with age, forcing them to reflect on their lifestyle choices whilst delving into the importance of an epic life long friendship. These boys have been making us laugh for years now, giving us a comical insight into the quiet rural life in County Mayo. Hardy Bucks "Appetite for the Session" is a live theatrical show featuring the core cast members of Hardy Bucks this April 22nd at Vicar Street, Dublin.

Lamenting the past and exploring the future, the audience are taken on a journey down memory lane, through the highs and lows of life in Castletown. A strong concoction of music, drama and stand-up comedy guaranteed to make you laugh and/or cry in disgust, this is one night not to miss. Tickets go on sale this Friday 23rd February at 9am through ticketmaster and usual outlets nationwide. Set to be a sell out gig, make sure you get your tickets early.
Marc Gravitt, Republican candidate for Hamilton County Register of Deeds, received the endorsement of former Hamilton County Mayor and former Deputy Governor Claude Ramsey.

"Marc has been an effective public servant and will continue to do a great job in the role of Register of Deeds, said Mr. Ramsey who served as the chief executive of Hamilton County for 16 years. Marcs business and administrative experience will be a tremendous asset in being the best candidate for this important job.

The Register of Deeds oversees 16 employees and a budget of over $1 million in the office that is the guardian of all critical legal documents, such as property deeds, mortgages, powers of attorney and military discharges, and oversees the collection of levies and fees statutorily required within the Offices jurisdiction. The position of register is open after the announced retirement of the 23-year incumbent Pam Hurst.

"I am honored with the endorsement and trust of Mr. Ramsey," said Mr. Gravitt. "As a business owner, I am frequently in the Registers Office as a customer and appreciate the value of the office and have the unique perspective to make the customer experience the priority. Mr. Gravitt has been the owner of Gravitt Auctions & Appraisals, a real estate and business liquidation company, for the last 25 years.

Mr. Gravitt's career in public service began when he joined the U.S. Army in 1984. He served at home and abroad for six years. While operating the family auction business, Mr. Gravitt has served as an East Ridge City Council member, the vice mayor of East Ridge and is completing his service in House District 30, which includes parts of Chattanooga, East Ridge, East Brainerd, Apison and Collegedale.

The Republican primary is set for May 1 with early voting beginning on April 11.
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Valuing the human in humane

The humane society we envision for animals will also be a better world for people, and its only through human efforts that well get where we want to go. Because our advocacy is driven by people, were strongest when our people are empowered and valued. A work environment that fosters inclusion and collaboration energizes our teams, drives better thinking and makes our impact for animals more sustainable. Working with communities and stakeholders around the country and the world, we integrate a wide range of cultural perspectives in our approach to create a humane and sustainable world for all animals. We are committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in every aspect of our work and at all levels of our organization. We recognize and respect the full spectrum of human qualities, so that the unique talents of all employees are dignified with equitable access to opportunities and an ability to contribute to our mission.
WTBR may find a new home with PCTV.

PCTV Submits Proposal To Manage WTBR, The Brave FM

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Pittsfield Community Television wants to turn WTBR into a community radio station.

For nearly four years, school officials have been looking for partners to keep the The Brave FM alive after the demolition of the current Taconic High School building.

In the last few months, those talks led to the local public access television station. PCTV Executive Director Shawn Serre said the discussions are "in the initial phase" right now. But the organization sees great benefit in not only saving the radio station but enhancing its programming.

"If we end up managing the operations, we will look to increase community involvement," Serre said. "We also envision doing some interesting crossover programs."

Should it come to fruition, the shows that currently exist will remain but the studio would be relocated to PCTV's offices on Federico Drive. The organization will then solicit for new shows, and simulcast more programs on both mediums -- such as broadcasting City Council or School Committee meetings. Serre said the School Department will still own the licenses and PCTV will launch an outreach effort in the high schools to ensure students can still have that educational option.

"It was originally meant to be a student station but over the course of years and decades, it shifted," Serre said, calling the station now a "hybrid" between education and community programming.

The station was formed in 1973 and operates out of Taconic High. Over time, student interest faded and equipment broke down. It was rejuvenated in the 2000s under active and knowledgeable advisers, but in more recent years, participation again waned.

Radio broadcasting is not part of the curriculum in the new school and the radio tower and station face a potential silencing. Demolition of the current school building is expected to start this fall, and with that the tower would need to be relocated.

"The biggest timeline we all are facing right now is the old Taconic is facing the wrecking ball," Serre said.

In 2014, School Superintendent Jason McCandless suggested the school halt operations but community members rallied against it -- not wanting to lose the FCC-licensed nonprofit educational broadcasting service. Since then, McCandless has been searching for answers -- how to manage it, who will partner, and where the equipment will go.

"We think one of our best opportunities to keep WTBR healthy, high quality, and sustainable, is to look for partners," McCandless said.

United Cerebral Palsy of Berkshire County operates LRRS-LPFM, Pittsfield 104.3, which hosts the Berkshire Talking Chronicle for the reading impaired. UCP had also been in the conversations about managing the station . But a management agreement had not been reached.

Serre said it was recently mentioned to PCTV that there could be an opportunity to take over management. He said if PCTV does, UCP will still be able to operate as it has, and possibly add more programming.

Serre believes PCTV is particularly a good fit to manage the station because it already has staffing, funding, and longstanding partnerships with the schools. PCTV also has equipment in the current station to simulcast "Good Morning, Pittsfield," a morning show hosted by John Krol.

"PCTV for over 30 years has been the champion of public access," Serre said. "We find ways to give the community a voice."

A community radio station opens the door for many who may not otherwise have access to that medium. Serre believes public access allows for more diverse viewpoints. But the three Pittsfield Community Television stations are somewhat limited in reach because the channels are only available to local Spectrum Cable subscribers. He sees WTBR as a way to be reach more of the community.

"The platform itself is important. It is accessible to everybody," Serre said, adding that the station reaches "as far north as Adams and as far south as Lee."

He also believes that while PCTV allows citizens to produce shows, there is a population of people who shy away from television and would prefer doing radio. He said radio shows can be produced by just one person, whereas television requires a number of people being involved.

"In radio, you have the chance to be one person, one voice," Serre said.

It is still unclear where the tower will be placed. Office space at PCTV can easily be converted into a new radio studio. Some locations identified as a possibility for the tower are the Clocktower Building on South Church Street, the Crowne Plaza, 7 North St., or at PCTV's studios. Serre said he's been researching the technicalities of various locations for the town but no site has been settled on.

"There are some significant costs for the relocation of the tower," Serre said.

He said PCTV would likely have to replace the antennae and the transmitter and will assess the current equipment, and work to improve it as time goes on. PCTV will also have to embark on fundraising efforts to offset the cost to operate the station.

Serre said those efforts would be a combination of underwriting and traditional fundraising. As for manpower, Serre believes there will be volunteers attracted to the radio station.

"We always require more volunteers, as does any non-profit. But bringing a new platform like a public radio station online would bring a new crop of volunteers," Serre said.

There are still legal and logistical hurdles to jump before any of these changes can happen. Serre is hoping everything, including reaching an agreement with the schools, will come together quickly so the station can be transitioned before the demolition begins.
The Chowder Cook-off winners have been announced.

Berkshires Beat: Grazie, Mingo's Take Top Honors in Chowder Cook-off

The winners are

Hundreds of hungry WinterFest fans swarmed downtown to try samples of the nine fierce competitors at this year's annual Chowder Cook-off (find more photos here). Hundreds of ballots were cast for "People's Choice" favorites and write-ins for the "Only in North Adams" most unique chowder award. Voters were asked to rank their top three favorite, though many just picked one. Competitors were awarded three points for every first-place mark, two points for each second-place mark, and one point for every third-place mark.



In first place with 467 points was Grazie; a close second, Boston Seafood Restaurant snapped up second place with 460 points; and the Hub came in third place with 206 total points. Judges' Choice winners were close, but Mingo's was the favorite, with a chowder the judges described as savory. The Hub came in second, followed by Grazie in third. Freight Yard Pub and Gramercy Bistro tied for fourth.



This year's "Only in North Adams" people's choice award went to Ramuntos, which narrowly took the title from last year's winner, Gramercy Bistro. It was a tight race between Ramuntos with a Manhattan clam chowder over a cheesy bread knot, North Adams Commons' coconut-based broth, and Gramercy's curried chowder with sweet potato.



This year's judges were City Councilor Becky Cohen, City Councilor Marie Harpin and Mayor Tom Bernard. The 2018 competitors were Berkshire Food Project, Boston Sea Foods, Freight Yard Pub, Gramercy Bistro, Grazie, The Hub, Mingos, MCLA, North Adams Commons and Ramuntos. Individual scores are available upon request.

Just keep swimming

Berkshire South Regional Community Center will hold its eighth annual Swim-A-Thon fundraiser on Saturday, March 3, starting at 8 a.m. This year's goal is to raise $15,000. Last year participants raised more than $13,000. All funds raised are used to support adaptive needs programming and equipment at the center.



Berkshire Souths adaptive needs programming strives to address the needs of all members, providing specially trained employees that offer classes and individualized training accessible to all and for all abilities. Berkshire Souths adaptive needs initiatives range from free swim lessons and scholarships for membership to class modifications and specialized equipment to serve members with varying levels of ability.



George Wallace will be the official Swim-A-Thon ambassador this year. Wallace, a center member since childhood and a member of the adaptive needs community, hopes to encourage others both to participate in swimming and to sponsor those they know that are swimming.



All heart

Employees at Southwestern Vermont Health Care gathered on Friday, Feb. 2, for a photo to celebrate National Wear Red Day. The American Heart Associations observance and its Go Red for Women campaign raise awareness of heart health issues, especially in women.



Southwestern Vermont Health Care is a comprehensive, preeminent health care system providing exceptional, convenient, and affordable care to the communities of Bennington and Windham Counties of Vermont, eastern Rensselaer and Washington Counties of New York, and northern Berkshire County in Massachusetts. SVHCs providers are members of the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Putnam Physicians, a multi-specialty medical group operated in partnership with Dartmouth-Hitchcock.

STEM grant

Drury High School has received a grant to offer high-quality science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs from Project Lead The Way. PLTW is a nonprofit organization that provides a transformative learning experience for K-12 students and teachers through pathways in computer science, engineering and biomedical science. More than 10,500 schools across the country offer PLTW programs to millions of students.



Drury High School is just one of 73 schools across the state to receive the grant, which is supported by the Administration of Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, the One8 Foundation, and Mass STEM Hub.



Drury High School will use grant funds to launch its PLTW Gateway program at grades seven and eight. Funds from the grant will also support teacher professional development and the purchase of materials and equipment that will be used in the hands-on, activity-, project- and problem-based courses. All students in grades seven and eight will participate in PLTW units as part of their core science program.

In the beginning

The beginning of the Protestant Reformation is traditionally dated to October 31, 1517, the day on which Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the Castle Church door in Wittenberg. In a four-session mini-course, All Saints Episcopal Church of the Berkshires will explore three of the most important figures of the Protestant Reformation, the movements associated with them, and their possible continuing significance for us today and tomorrow. All sessions will begin at 7 and conclude by 8:30 p.m. and are free. Reserve a spot by calling 413-664-9656 or by sending an email.



Classes are as follows: Feb. 26, Martin Luther and Lutheranism; March 5, John Calvin and the Reformed Church; March 12, Elizabeth I (not Henry VIII?!) and the English Reformation; and March 19, Does It Continue to Matter 500 Years Later?



Courses will be taught by Joseph Molleur, who received his bachelor's degree in religious studies from Grinnell College, his master's degree in historical theology from Episcopal Divinity School, and his PhD in systematic and comparative theology from Boston College. Following a two-year assignment as a postdoctoral teaching fellow at Boston College, he taught religion for 15 years at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, until his retirement as professor emeritus in 2016. He is a member of All Saints Berkshires Episcopal Church, and volunteers regularly at the Council on Aging and the Catholic Charity Center in Adams.
The Tennessee Department of Education has announced that Hamilton County Schools have received district growth funding to support education initiatives in the Chattanooga area.

Hamilton County Schools received $654,000.

Officials said it is part of $18 million to cover school district growth as part of Governor Bill Haslams Fiscal Year 2018 budget.

Officials stated, "These significant investments will allow many of our states school districts with soaring populations to maintain proper student to teacher ratios so that they can continue offering quality education for our next generation of leaders."

With this investment, schools will be able to add resources as they add students. This will ensure that our students continue to get a quality education throughout Tennessee, said Rep. Patsy Hazlewood.

As leaders of our community, the Hamilton County Delegation is pleased that our local schools are receiving this vital funding. We will continue to fight for additional resources in order to ensure that our teachers and students have the tools they need to succeed, said Rep. Mike Carter.

As we prepare our young people for successful futures, it is vital that we keep up with the costs that come with expanding student bodies, said Rep. Marc Gravitt. My hope is that this funding will achieve just that.

We look forward at the state level to continue to partner with and support our students in Hamilton County and the entire state, said Rep. Gerald McCormick.




Dr. Kurt Schagen hands over a check in 2016 to Habitat for Humanity, which he is supporting again this year.

Biz Briefs: Pittsfield Chiropractor Sponsors Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity

Habitat Support

Dr. Kurt Schagen, owner of New Life Chiropractic, has once again chosen Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity to be the recipient of his annual philanthropic campaign. To support Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity, Schagen will donate all of the proceeds from new patient exams scheduled through his community outreach program.



During community events, as well as part of our Wellness at Work program, all participants have the opportunity to schedule an initial consultation and examination for only $25. All of the money raised is then donated directly to Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity. In 2017 Dr. Kurt Schagen of New Life Chiropractic donated $2,525 to Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity and more than $6,000 over the past three years.



In addition, New Life Chiropractic does other community outreach efforts, such as Wellness at Work and Lunch and Learn programs. Contact New Life Chiropractic at 413-443-3577 to support both Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity or host a wellness event or screening.

Welcome, Walgreens

The Rite Aid stores in North Adams and Williamstown becoming a Walgreens.



Some 600 locations, mostly Rite Aid but also some Walgreens, were to be closed. The rebranding of the mostly Northeast stores is expected cost $750 million.



Some changes have already occurred in the local Rite Aids, including a redesign of its layout and the creation of a more prominent pathway to the back pharmacy counter, but it's not clear if that was part of the takeover.

Tax planning for elders

Sweetwood of Williamstown Retirement Community will host a seminar on Estate, Financial and Tax Planning for Elders and their Families in the Auditorium of Sweetwood, located at 1611 Cold Spring Road in Williamstown, at 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 23. The seminar is free; those interested in attending are asked to RSVP by contacting Dedee Durham or Cheryl Monson of the Sweetwood Activities Department at 413-458-8371 since space for the event may be limited.



The featured presenters will consist of James R. Loughman, an attorney with the law firm of Donovan, OConnor & Dodig, LLP, who will talk about basic estate planning documents as well as Medicaid planning for nursing home care; Michael Caslin, a financial advisor with the Edward Jones investment firm, who will talk about financial planning for living in retirement and wealth transfers; and Donna L. Turner, an Enrolled Agent (tax specialist certified and qualified by the IRS) with the CPA firm of Smith Watson and Company, LLP, who will talk about common estate and trust tax considerations faced by elders.
Pignatelli: Use Volkswagen Settlement Money for Electric Car Infrastructure

Some state lawmakers want to make charging stations more accessible to promote the use of electric cars.

BOSTON  State Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli, D-Lenox, joined 37 other legislators who weighed in last week on the allocation of $75 million that the state is scheduled to receive from the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust Fund.

Members urged the state Department of Environmental Protection, which is charged with dispensing the money, to invest in electric vehicle charging infrastructure and invest the balance of the funds in fully-electric transit and school buses.

The money will be received as part of a multi-state settlement with Volkswagen after it used a cheating computer system that ran emissions controls during testing but not during normal vehicle operation. Emissions from these vehicles were 15-40 times the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency compliance level. Volkswagen has agreed to spend nearly $15 billion on remedial action, including $2.9 billion that is being divided up among participating states and territories.

"I am proud to stand with so many of my House colleagues to ask the DEP to dedicate this money to building up our electric vehicle infrastructure and moving our transit systems and school buses to electric, allowing Massachusetts to not only improve air quality, but also decrease transportation sector greenhouse gas emissions," Pignatelli said. "From charging stations to electric buses, the commonwealth has an opportunity to make a real difference in the way people move about the state."

In supporting electric vehicle charging infrastructure, legislators argued that charging stations need to become much more common across the state to give drivers convenient access to charging, overcome "range anxiety," and raise public awareness about the practicability and feasibility of purchasing an electric vehicle (EV). With a focus on equity, legislators pushed for EV charging at workplaces and multi-unit dwellings, locations more likely to be used by people of modest means without access to charging at home because they lack off-street parking.

Legislators urged the department to dedicate substantial amounts of funding to upgrade transit and school bus fleets to fully electric vehicles. While newer diesel and compressed natural gas vehicles emit lower levels of NOx (nitrogen oxides) gases than older models, electric buses emit no NOx at all and would improve air quality in areas that are heavily reliant on public transportation. Though electric buses have higher sticker prices, they have much lower lifetime maintenance costs.

Byron Rushing, D-Boston, House assistant majority leader, voiced his support for the effort.

"The Volkswagen settlement money has presented the commonwealth with a unique opportunity to make progress towards electrifying our transportation sector, essential to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality," he said. "If used conscientiously, we can expand electric vehicle access to middle-and-low-income drivers and protect our most vulnerable populations, including our children, from the negative health effects of smog."
Project Spotlight: Dental Care for the Elderly

The Fellowship | February 20, 2018 Project Spotlight: Dental Care for the Elderly

Lack of dental care for the elderly in Israel is actually a very dangerous situation. Often, having a tooth or gum infection is the turning point that leads to their death. They experience too much mouth pain to eat nutritious foods, and as a result, they lose weight, get sick, and become very frail. Thankfully, The Fellowships dental program for the elderly and Holocaust survivors is changing this story.

We help people like Edna:

Edna, 87, recently received dental assistance from The Fellowship, enabling her to obtain dentures. I could not eat. I was in constant pain, and it became unbearable, she says.

Born in Belarus, Edna recalls the quiet childhood she had before WWII. Life was ordinary. My father was in the army and so we moved from time to time. As a girl I did not know of the horrors that were brewing in Germany which would soon destroy they life I had.

Edna would go to sleepaway camp each year. She looked forward to the experience, meeting new friends, seeing new places, and enjoying the activities. And it was during summer break at sleepaway camp when the war broke out.

This was before cell phones and emails, and so I had no way of getting in touch with my parents, Edna says. As soon as war broke, the camp staff disappeared, most probably to save their own families.

Ednas family was hours away. She had no way to get home, nor did she know if it was safe to travel to her town. After befriending a Gentile boy at camp, Edna ran to his grandmothers house which was not too far away.

Edna was 10 years old, and she was smart enough to keep her Jewish identity a secret. No one knew she was Jewish  not her friend from camp and not his grandmother. There was constant talk about the Jews, very negative talk. I had to always hide my displeasure with such talk and even join in, Edna recalls.

Edna remembers the German pro-Nazi neighbor who lived across the street, and how he paraded around town in a Nazi uniform, helping the SS identify where Jews were hiding. She spoke about the hunger, the fear, and the loneliness she felt as a little girl hiding and fighting to survive without her family.

When the war ended, Edna returned to her hometown where eventually she was reunited with her parents who also miraculously survived.

When I returned, everything was destroyed  the houses, the synagogues, the community centers were all in ruin.

Edna worked hard to put the past behind her and focus on the future. She went back to school and became a nurse. She married and had children, establishing a life in Belarus. Yet the calling to come to Israel never stopped penetrating her heart. I needed to be in a country where my Jewish identity is celebrated and not washed away like a gross stain on a beautiful dress, she explains.

In 1990 Edna made aliyah (immigrated to Israel). She has been living in the Holy Land ever since, and she makes the best out of what little she has.

I am used to living in poverty. I have lived this way my whole life, she says. But when my dental problems began, I felt overwhelmed with pain and despair. I felt as though I could no longer live this way.

For two years, Edna could not eat any food besides puree and soft oatmeal. She needed help, and thank God, The Fellowship was there to help her. The dentures I received with The Fellowships assistance have changed my life. I feel like a person again. I can eat. I no longer live in pain, and when I smile, I feel no shame. I have no words to express how grateful I am for what The Fellowship has given me.

Learn how you can help elderly and Holocaust survivors in need today.
Facebook Removes Pages Glorifying Attacks on Israelis

The Fellowship | February 20, 2018 Facebook Removes Pages Glorifying Attacks on Israelis

Terrorists have come to use modern technology  specifically social media  as an effective means to further incite hatred and violence, with many wondering how to combat this evil. Writing at The Times of Israel, the ever-insightful Khaled Abu Toameh says that while Facebook has removed pages that glorify terrorist attacks on Israelis, Palestinians are accusing the media outlet of waging war on them:

Palestinian activists and journalists on Monday launched a campaign to protest against Facebook after the social media giant removed dozens of pages in recent weeks, saying they incited and glorified terrorism.

Facebook is waging war on the Palestinians, the activists and journalists complained in a statement as they launched a Twitter hashtag entitled #FBfightsPalestine to protest the Facebook measures.

According to the Palestinians, the Facebook crackdown intensified after the killing of Ahmed Jarrar, the Hamas terrorist who was part of a cell that killed Rabbi Raziel Shevach in the northern West Bank last month.

Israeli security forces killed Jarrar in a shootout on February 6 in the village of al Yamoun, near Jenin.

Since then, the Palestinians said, Facebook has temporarily suspended or permanently removed more than 50 private and public pages and posts, most of which were dedicated to glorifying Jarrar. One of the deleted pages belonged to the Jarrar clan in Jenin.

During 2017, Facebook took action against 200 Palestinian accounts, the statement said. The measures also included the removal of posts and photos deemed inflammatory and supportive of terrorism.

Earlier this week, Facebook removed the Hamas-affiliated Palestine.net page, which had more than 180,000 likes




This Isnt Our Last Love Letter



Dear Don Don,

Way back in 92



I walked into the room and knew



Never felt this way before



I shook your hand while gazing into your eyes



And the feeling grew



As I took a seat I knew



A love that would have my heart



Forever



I knew



Way back in 92





They say love at first sight doesnt always last or isnt true



We were the exception to that rule



Our love had no where to hide



A spark set fire



As if this is how the universe started





I never doubted our love or what we could do



Together we grew



Forming a bond everlasting



That became our glue



My euphoria was YOU



Im eternally grateful for the love and life we shared



For how fortunate we were :



to have and to hold

through sickness and in health

Til death do us part



Until we are together again



This isnt our last love letter



I love you with all my heart and soul



Yours forever,



Deirdre (Mrs. Hank Snow)





Im fortunate to have fallen in love with, marry and make a life with the sharpest, coolest, funniest, most rare, bad ass, tender loving, loyal man on the planet, my husband Don Imus.









A True American Hero

I dont know why it has been so hard for me to write about my dear friend Don Imus.



I certainly know what he meant to me, my family, my charity, my hospital and the millions of fans that listened and loved him for so many years.



I keep reading all the beautiful condolences that people are writing about how much a part of their lives were effected by listening to him over the years.

But what most people dont talk enough about is what he did for all of us.

In every sense of the word, he was an American Hero. His work with children with so many different illnesses and his dedication to their future was unmatched by anyone I have ever known or heard about.



Besides raising over $100,000,000 for so many causes, he took care of young people for over 20 years in a state where he could not breathe. Along with his incredible wife Deirdre, he created a world where children were not defined by their disease. That was a miracle! He was a miracle.

I will miss him ever day for the rest of my life.

I was blessed to be a part of his and Deirdes life.

No one will ever do what he did.

I love you Don Imus - A TRUE AMERICAN HERO





David Jurist

IMUS IN THE MORNING

FIRST DAY BACK!
Four years ago, a few months before he was re-elected, President Barack Obama read a book on the science of decision-making that he now considers one of his favourites.

The book, Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman, features insights into the pitfalls of human rationality that might just transform how you think about intelligence.

Obama's recommendation comes alongside nine other books on the president's list of required reading in the November issue of Wired.

Others include The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York by Robert A. Caro and Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo.

In Thinking, Fast and Slow, Kahneman, a Nobel Prize-winning psychologist and inventor of behavioural economics, explores two modes of thinking, which he calls System 1 and System 2.

System 1 thinking is gut-driven, instinctual; System 2 is thoughtful, reflective. Too often, Kahneman says, people's decision-making gets mired in System 1 when really they should be taking a few seconds to study the problem at hand.

Several months after Obama read Thinking, Fast and Slow, CNN's Christiane Amanpour interviewed Kahneman and asked him whether he thought the president was a System 1 thinker or a System 2 thinker.

He is a slow thinker. He deliberates, Kahneman said. He doesn't follow his gut immediately. He considers things. He is very thoughtful.

Deliberation may seem like a presidential trait, but Kahneman is quick to dispel the idea that commanders-in-chief must be System 2 thinkers. George W. Bush was a classic System 1 thinker, he says. President Bush was proud of acting on his intuition, acting on his gut.

If you're curious which kind of thinker you might be, consider the following puzzle:

If it takes 5 machines 5 minutes to make 5 widgets, how long would it take 100 machines to make 100 widgets?

System 1 thinkers are more likely to rely on their snap judgment to supply the answer of 100 minutes. But the answer is actually 5 minutes, since it doesn't actually matter how many machines you have. Each machine takes 5 minutes to make a widget.

Don't feel bad if that problem stumped you. It's designed to exploit gaps in System 1 thinking. By drawing your eye to the quick succession of 5s, you naturally look to make the same connection in the solution. It's only through the slower, more deliberate thinking involved with System 2 that brings the correct answer into focus.

Obama's recommendation seems to suggest that even those of us who aren't making careful choices in the Oval Office could stand to think more with System 2.

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Read the original article on Business Insider UK.  2018. Follow Business Insider UK on Twitter.
The British countryside has come in from the cold. Three films in the last year have given realist grit and political edge to regions which our urban majority tend to view as idyllic backdrops. Francis Lees Gods Own Country sees its sullen hero cope with the responsibility of taking over his ailing fathers farm, and the relief of a relationship with a male migrant worker. Hope Dickson Leachs The Levelling and Clio Barnards new release Dark River both show prodigal daughters returning to equally struggling homesteads. In the former, Clover (Ellie Kendrick) and her father dredge up love and grief in the flooded Somerset Levels; in the latter, Alice (Ruth Wilson) is stalked by memories of her Yorkshire fathers abuse.

All three protagonists are stoic to the point of being dumbstruck. All pursue hard physical labour in an economically precarious world. The Levelling and Dark River are especially striking in their similarities, as if something in the air required their making now. With gay and female heroes, too, were a long way from The Darling Buds of May.

The countrysides beauty is still something this harsher new wave has to confront. Early in Dark River, Alice pauses before crossing her blighted farms threshold to drink in the gorgeous moorland view. You need to understand why she would go back, despite what happened there, Barnard says of this near-tourist board scene. And I wanted to avoid it being picturesque in a detached, Hovis advert way. I grew up in the countryside around there, and as a kid you see it for what it is quite viscerally. You look at a dead crow nailed to a fence in the same way that you look at a stream full of reeds. It really gets under your skin, and then those representations of it where everythings at a distance seem quite odd. Id seen the Brazilian cinematographer Adriano Goldmans Jane Eyre [he also shot Dark River], and that was a representation of the Yorkshire countryside that wasnt picturesque in a cosy way. I wanted the film to look at what it really is.

Clio Barnard: Nature will stay, and we will go (Rex)

In a scene near Dark Rivers end, Alice seems to have been absorbed into the landscapes rain and mud, just as her brother Tom has sunk into the swampy psychic miasma of the haunted farm hes never left. Clio said that it was like she had brittle bones after those experiences [of abuse], and could snap, Ruth Wilson says of her character. And hes become part of the farms furniture, and bits of him are falling off. Clios always trying to match that relationship of the human and the land.

Barnards three feature films to date have gradually journeyed into the country. The very first image in The Arbor (2010) is a horse grazing in scrubland by Bradfords Buttershaw housing estate. The Selfish Giant (2013) follows two young boys as they ride a scrapyard horse and cart further into Bradfords rural hinterland, where sheep graze beneath mist-shrouded smokestacks, and a pylon electrocutes a wild horse. This borderland recalls Ken Loachs Kes (1969), set in the then mining village of Hoyland Common, near Barnsley.

Certainly in The Selfish Giant theres a relationship between landscape and the boys lives, Barnard agrees. The two boys I based its characters on had this relationship with horses and the semi-rural edgelands. The Buttershaw estate is very close to beautiful moorland and fields. Theyre not as divorced from each other as we might think. In The Selfish Giant theres also something about the permanence in the structures of the gas towers and the pylons as well as the landscape, and the ephemeral nature of human life. Theres something very powerful and beautiful about it. And nature in Dark River I see as the same thing. It will stay, and we will go.

Ellie Kendrick as Clover Catto who returns to her family farm in The Levelling

Like the nailed crows and reeds which starkly contrast in Barnards childhood memories, The Levelling offers rural poetry without romance, studding its rough, lived-in look with unexpected grace-notes: swimming hares, and a murmuration of starlings. Hope Dickson Leach needed poetic imagery to say what her stoic characters couldnt. It came to her as a Somerset farmer recalled 2014s floods.

In the middle of the night, she explains, with an elderly parent and kids, and water up to his chest, he saw a hare swimming in the water, and he wanted to save it, even though he was getting 400 head of cattle into trucks, and tractors are drowning. And he talked about owls falling from the sky later, because there were no mice, mice whod been running along the hedgerows before they drowned. This apocalyptic vision, really, of nature, and how important that was to the farmers. I was a total city girl. Ive never met so many people who love the land, and who get real joy out of the animals and the landscape, and the rebirth of life on the land. I wanted to make sure that we understood that theres a connection there that those of us who dont live in the country have lost, and dont understand.

Clio Barnards university lecturer dad is an expert on the English romantic poets. Though that tradition of the rural sublime creeps into Dark River, she prefers a more rigorously political confrontation with a countryside where rooted tenant farmers such as Alice have been bought out en masse by mega-farms, with their land a mere commodity, often then sold on for gentrifying urbanites holiday homes. It seems all arse over tit to me! she complains. And it goes way back to the Inclosure [sic] Acts [in the late 18th and early 19th centuries], which is where capitalism began. So Dark River is a very political film.

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Josh OConnor as John Saxby, a young farmer whose life is transformed by the arrival of a Romanian migrant worker (Orion Pictures)

This resurgence in telling more truthful rural stories comes as Brexit shows a yawning gap between rural and urban experience. With most Britons and their politicians in cities, the farmers represented in these films are viewed with suspicious incomprehension. If the filmmakers could change anything, its that.

Its about empathy for people who dont live the way you live, Leach says. Right now we live in such a divided society, that anything we can do to ask people to lose their arrogance and start thinking about the complexities of other peoples lives is a good thing. It is interesting to me that rural Britain is starting to be part of this conversation. Francis and Clios films are different from mine, because the Southwest is different from the North. And this is important. Weve got to stop saying Ive seen one country film, so Ive seen them all. There are 700 different ways to see New York onscreen. Lets talk about the different ways there are to see British life. Were living in a broken society, and if you want to really investigate that you have to understand different points of view.

Im glad that this rural realism seems to be emerging, Barnard agrees, because the situation [in the countryside] is becoming critical. And the outsiders in rural communities might now be the tenant farmers or itinerant workers in semi-industrial places like Blythe or the Thames Estuary where our food is being produced, with more than what George Monbiot calls the ornamental sheep on the pretty hillsides. That image is a delusion that makes everybody comfortable, and its essential we break it down.

Hope Dickson Leach won a Scottish BAFTA for her writing in The Levelling (Rex Features) (Rex)

The new films protagonists also break with the past. While Francis Lee shows a gay relationships quiet acceptance, Barnard parallels the British landscapes objectification with that of Alices body by her abusive dad. We make the country look beautiful as this green and pleasant land of England, Wilson considers, but its much more complex than that. And its the same with women. Were put on a pedestal and objectified by men, and were so much more. She ponders her characters gender. The farm world is male-orientated, and Alice feels slightly attacked all the time by them. She feels more free when shes out with her sheep.

Leach also thinks her films young female farmer changes its dynamic. With the prodigal daughter instead of son, youre immediately showing that women have their own lives. But that didnt feel like a conscious decision, because thats my life. Its why its important to have female storytellers.

The most interesting post-war rural films have evoked an ancient, mystic strangeness, as with the Anglo-Saxon psycho-sexual fantasia Pendas Fen (1974), or anachronistic stubbornness, as with the documentary about a forest-dwelling, steam engine-mending Sussex family The Moon and the Sledgehammer (1971). Perhaps only Peter Halls adaptation of Ronald Blythes East Anglian reverie Akenfield (1975) has an unsentimental yet loving realism akin to this years films. Although Leach opens The Levelling with a naked young man capering near what looks like a pagan rituals flames, shes in two minds about these hints of an Old Weird England.

The Southwest is the home of Glastonbury, and you have this feeling when youre down there that its ancient, and there is fire-walking. So I did want that Bacchanal feel. When youre creating your own fun, as people in the country tend to do, you get things people have done for years, and people pushing the boundaries and drinking a lot. But there was also something about that that I wanted to challenge, because a lot of countryside films tend to have some sense that its scary out there  dont go into the woods, its Wicker Man territory. As fun as that is, I think its important to be a little less other about the country.

Neither Leach nor Barnard feel their films are really in a rural British cinema lineage, anyway. Leach looks instead to French middle class rural realists such as Bruno Dumont and the American Kelly Reichardt. I wanted it to feel different to other British films, she says. Barnard thinks of Thomas Hardy (whose most famous film adaptations, Far From the Madding Crowd [1967] and Tess [1979], have their own points to make about rural poverty and female struggle).

Ruth Wilson also looks back into literature to consider the new films place. With Jane Austen, its about the city and image and negotiation of manners. Whereas the Brontes feel much more emotional and raw and violent and wild, and I think its to do with where they were. When I went up to study to play Jane Eyre in Howarth [for the 2006 BBC adaptation], I went on the moors, and you think, wow, no wonder they wrote like this. Its so dramatic and visceral and wild, and after being stuck in this dark, dingy house theyd then walk out onto this blasted heath. So I think thats what this country offers. We have this more structured image, and then we see this other deep, dark, wild side. Thats perhaps whats reflected in the films were seeing now.

Dark River is in cinemas from 23 February. Gods Own Country and 'The Levelling' are on on DVD and VOD
Just hours after appearing on stage at the Baftas to present an award, Jennifer Lawrence reportedly announced she was taking a year off acting.

Im going to take the next year off, the actor told ET, explaining how she would be concentrating on volunteer and activist work.

Im going to be working with this organisation as a part of Represent.Us. Trying to get young people engaged politically on a local level.

It doesnt have anything to do with partisan [politics]. Its just anti-corruption and stuff trying to pass state by state laws that can help prevent corruption, fix our democracy.

However, a spokesperson for the 27-year-old has since confirmed to EW that Lawrence will no be leaving behind acting for the year  instead, shes deciding on which project to move on with next.

BAFTAs 2018: Best dressed guests on the red carpet Show all 26 1 /26 BAFTAs 2018: Best dressed guests on the red carpet BAFTAs 2018: Best dressed guests on the red carpet The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge For the annual ceremony the Duchess relied on a firm fashion favourite for her red carpet look. This olive green Jenny Packham gown may defy the dress code, but it's no less worthy of a style accolade. Meanwhile, the Duke stayed true to the uniform in a traditional black tuxedo. Rex Features BAFTAs 2018: Best dressed guests on the red carpet Allison Janney The I,Tonya star excelled in this strapless black and gold ensemble which flattered the American actress from all angles. Rex Features BAFTAs 2018: Best dressed guests on the red carpet Gemma Arterton Few women could pull off the brazen pleats and avant-garde neckline of this couture Alberta Ferretti gown, but Gemma Arterton manages to seduce and delight with aplomb. A simple swish of scarlet lipstick proves the British actress's flair for the dramatic, an apt addition given the occasion. Rex Features BAFTAs 2018: Best dressed guests on the red carpet Salma Hayek A Gucci girl to her core, Hayek returned to the red carpet as Alessandro Michele's ultimate leading lady in this floral design, which was topped off with rosy rhinestones and a black velvet clutch. Jeff Spicer/Getty Images BAFTAs 2018: Best dressed guests on the red carpet Margot Robbie The Australian beautys porcelain-perfect skin was offset by a halter-neck Givenchy couture gown that gracefully flowed onto the red carpet in oscillating pleats. Rex Features BAFTAs 2018: Best dressed guests on the red carpet Chiwetel Ejiofor and Frances Aaternir Packing a stylish power couple punch, Ejiofor and Aaternir each donned classic black tuxedos and #TimesUp pins for the glittering event. Rex Features BAFTAs 2018: Best dressed guests on the red carpet Emma Roberts With a plunging Eighties neckline and oversized shoulder pads, the American actress successfully channelled a nostalgic nod to another Hollywood era in this Schiaparelli gown. Rex Features BAFTAs 2018: Best dressed guests on the red carpet Rungano Nyoni The I Am Not A Witch director added splashes of colour to her gown of choice, which featured a peppering of heavily-embroidered purple floral patterns. Rex Features BAFTAs 2018: Best dressed guests on the red carpet Lily James The British actress posed up a storm in this strapless tulle gown, worthy of a darker and edgier Cinderella. Rex Features BAFTAs 2018: Best dressed guests on the red carpet Jennifer Lawrence The American actress stayed true to her Dior heritage in a rigid off-the-shoulder gown hot off the design house's spring 2018 couture catwalk. Rex Features BAFTAs 2018: Best dressed guests on the red carpet Saoirse Ronan Nominated for her leading role in Ladybird, the Irish actress was semi-prepared for the British chill in a polo-neck Chanel gown that fluttered in the wind thanks to a sheer pleated skirt, complete with a buoyant feather trim. Rex Features BAFTAs 2018: Best dressed guests on the red carpet Greta Gerwig With three nominations for her coming-of-age drama, Ladybird, the American actress, writer and director kept things simple in a feminine shift dress adorned with flowers. Rex Features BAFTAs 2018: Best dressed guests on the red carpet Lupita Nyong'o The Academy-Award-winning actress proved her style credentials in this Elie Saab gown, featuring innovative cuts and a peplum skirt that complemented Nyong'o's lean figure. Rex Features BAFTAs 2018: Best dressed guests on the red carpet Angelina Jolie Nobody looks more at home sashaying down the red carpet than Ms Jolie, who probably would've stuck to her trademark all-black aesthetic regardless of the #TimesUp incentive. Nonetheless, the Hollywood starlet stunned in this velvet sweetheart-neck gown, which she paired with dramatic drop diamond earrings. Rex Features BAFTAs 2018: Best dressed guests on the red carpet Naomie Harris Never one to shy away from daring textures, the beloved British talent amplified her cigarette trousers with a highly-decorative sheer cape that accentuated her longline figure. Rex Features BAFTAs 2018: Best dressed guests on the red carpet Cressida Bonas Void of colour is by no means void of charm as Bonas proved in this wonderfully-girlish gown. Complete with a decorative bodice and dynamic skirt, the British actress looked just the part for the glamorous ceremony ahead. Rex Features BAFTAs 2018: Best dressed guests on the red carpet Kate Mara In a playful interpretation of the all-black dress code, the American actress' intricately-embellished Dior gown featured gold piping and a gentle tulle skirt. Minimal jewellery brought an elevated elegance to her look. Rex Features BAFTAs 2018: Best dressed guests on the red carpet Sir Patrick Stewart Proudly sporting a #TimesUp pin next to his lapel, the British acting legend showed his support for the movement in a dark navy and black suit. Rex Features BAFTAs 2018: Best dressed guests on the red carpet Octavia Spencer Renowned for a slew of sartorial successes on the red carpet, the Academy-Award-winning actress brought a subtle opulence to the BAFTAs in a geometrically-patterned gown, paired with fairy-like cropped sleeves. Rex Features BAFTAs 2018: Best dressed guests on the red carpet Nicholas Hoult There's nothing wrong with a classic tuxedo, as the former Skins frontman proved in his perfectly-tailored look. Rex Features BAFTAs 2018: Best dressed guests on the red carpet Letitia Wright Taking some time out to from Black Panther promo, the British actress turned heads in a slim-fitting velvet gown by Gucci, complete with diamante straps and an army of glittering bumblebees. Rex Features BAFTAs 2018: Best dressed guests on the red carpet Will Poulter The young British actor wore an all-black ensemble accessorised only by a #TimesUp pin and a classic pair of specs. Rex Features BAFTAs 2018: Best dressed guests on the red carpet Anya Taylor-Joy Staying true to her trademark gothic aesthetic, the 21-year-old actress brought a dark romance to the red carpet in a sheer lace Dolce & Gabbana gown. Plus, in an unexpected regal twist, the star of The Miniaturist completed her look with a decadent golden crown. Rex Features BAFTAs 2018: Best dressed guests on the red carpet Rochelle Humes The British singer arrived to host the red carpet arrival coverage wearing a simple but effective plunging long-sleeved gown. Rex Features BAFTAs 2018: Best dressed guests on the red carpet Natalie Dormer The former Game of Thrones star cut a slick silhouette in a strapless chiffon Alberta Ferretti gown with a dramatic micro-train that billowed over the red carpet. Rex Features BAFTAs 2018: Best dressed guests on the red carpet Kristen Scott Thomas The Darkest Hour actress donned a black tapered Dior gown while showcasing her new pixie haircut. Paired with a #TimesUp pin and a rather dazzling pair of oversized diamond Buccellati earrings, Scott Thomas' look was the perfect amalgamation of red carpet glamour and sophistication. Rex Features

Lawrence is currently promoting the spy-thriller Red Sparrow and has another X-Men movie, Dark Phoenix, reaching cinemas later this year. Further projects include a Zelda Fitzgerald biopic, Luca Guadagninos Burial Rites, Adam McKays Bad Blood, and more.

Meanwhile, the actor was recently forced to apologise for apparently being 'rude' to Baftas host Joanna Lumley at the ceremony. Lumley had called Lawrence "the hottest actress on the planet" and referred to her as "ravishing," to which she responded: "That was a bit much but thank you, Joanna."

"I want to clear it up, Lawrence said in an interview following the awards. Okay so backstage Joanna and I were both about to go out and I was like, Just [say] adjective after adjective, tall, beautiful, just say that Im this and that. And she was like, Alright darling.
Multi-instrumentalist Markus Sieber, who goes under the name Aukai, has revealed brand new music which you can hear first via The Independent.

Born near Lepzig in east Germany, he worked on this latest music in a small wooden hut near the Old Spanish Trail in Colorado, which he got to by strolling across a frozen lake.

This beautiful sense of solitude is translated to "Nightfall" - we're premiering a stunning video of Sieber performing it today - check it out below:

Q&A with Aukai

Can you tell us a bit about this track?

Its definitely slightly different than other pieces on the album, for being the only one written on guitar for instance, instead of the Ronroco, which is the main instrument throughout the album. Nightfall' journeys through a variety of emotions and thoughts, one may have during the evening hours, when the sunlight fades into the dark, which can be a moment where consciously or unconsciously a form of contemplation and reflection on our complex human nature happens.

There are hopes, there are doubts, ideas and memories, dreams and uncertainties, sometimes a sense of understanding and yet there is this indescribable something we are never able to grasp. I could see the piece as a musical analogy to one of my favourite Rilkes poems, The Evening.

The Sky put on a darkening blue coat, held for it by a row of ancient trees; you watch: and the lands grow distant in your sight,

one journeying to heaven, one that falls;.. ( excerpt from translation Stephen Mitchell)

What are you listening to at the moment?

In the heartbreaking fact of the recent passing of Johann Johannson, certainly one of the most brilliant composer of these times, I am going through his incredible heritage of transcendent music again. Many pieces have accompanied me in certain moments over the last years. Fordlandia, is such a stunning record, and also his latest more quiet and minimal solo release, Orphee, with a palpable sense of space and silence which allows me to nest myself within the music and just live there for a while.

What are your plans for 2018?

One of the most significant steps and sweet challenge will be starting to perform with Aukai. When I started the project I had no intentions at all to go on tour. It was more my little musical playground to which I would invite my best musician friends to join. But more and more people have asked, and I understand, that this step might be needed in order to become somehow a real thing, also for myself.

So its not only a virtual something from my studio dreaming world , but it actually can walk on earth too. So far its much fun to prepare for a stage situation and we will hold our first Aukai  pilot' concert at the National Theater of Dresden, Germany, on June 10.

Branches of Sun, the new album from Aukai, is released on 9 March via Aukai Music
Greater problem-solving abilities may explain why grey squirrels have largely replaced reds as the dominant UK species, according to new research.

Grey squirrels were introduced to Britain in the late 19th century and have all but pushed out the native reds, barring strongholds in Scotland, Cumbria and several islands.

Though red squirrels have inhabited the UK for around 10,000 years, they are now outnumbered by more than 15 to one.

Recommended Nutella used as bait help sterilise grey squirrels

In a study that pitted greys against reds in different tasks, researchers found the newer species had superior behavioural flexibility that may have contributed to the success of their UK invasion.

Many factors have been considered to explain why grey squirrels are more successful when they move into areas where red squirrels live, said Dr Pizza Ka Yee Chow, an animal behaviour specialist at the University of Exeter.

These factors include disease resistance and the fact grey squirrels are bigger, but our research shows problem solving could be another key factor for the success of greys.

While both squirrel species were equally successful in completing an easy task  namely opening a transparent lid  the greys were significantly more successful when attempting a difficult task, which involved pushing and pulling levers.

In both tasks, successful completion resulted in the squirrels unlocking hazelnuts.

Around 90 per cent of grey squirrels coped with the difficult task, compared to only about 60 per cent of reds.

 Squirrel caught on camera stealing chocolate from a corner shop

The scientists said this ability to deal with complicated new problems might be particularly important for invasive species like grey squirrels.

Originally from North America, the greys have therefore evolved to inhabit completely different settings. Their ability to adapt their behaviour and overcome environmental challenges could be key to their success in foreign lands.

Conversely, the inability to extract food with the ease of the greys could put red squirrels at a disadvantage.

However, the researchers did note a glimmer of hope for the reds, as some that successfully completed the trickier task managed to solve it faster in subsequent attempts.

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. 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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. 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It is not yet clear whether grey squirrels are born better problem solvers, or whether they work harder because theyre an invasive species living outside their natural environment, said Dr Chow. The current stage of our research is to look at this, and the results may give us more insight into the likely future of both species.

The scientists noted in their paper, which was published in the journal Animal Behaviour, that the ability to problem solve in greys may have resulted from only the craftiest squirrels flourishing in the UK following their invasion.

These findings could have implications for conservationists addressing the threat posed by grey squirrels, as well as other invasive species.

These results illustrate how investigating animals differing cognitive abilities can help us understand important issues in conservation, said Professor Stephen Lea, another University of Exeter researcher who also contributed to the study.
A Stockholm restaurant has become Sweden's first ever to receive three Michelin stars

Announced at a gala in Copenhagen, the Michelin Nordic Guide Countries 2018 bestowed its highest accolade to chef Bjorn Frantzens Stockholm eatery.

His eponymous restaurant, Frantzen, re-opened in September 2017 after closing the previous year to move to a bigger space and, before shutting down, it had already received numerous honours including two Michelin stars in 2010 and a spot on the Worlds 50 Best Restaurants List.

But, after spending the past year perfecting dishes Frantzen is now located in a renovated 19th-century Stockholm building, is around six times bigger than the original and hosts an intimate crowd of just 23 guests per night.

Hailed as an extraordinary food experience it is described as modern Nordic cuisine with Japanese influences.

Bjorn Frantzen has created a unique vision of Nordic cuisine, combining sublime ingredients with astounding culinary techniques, Michael Ellis, international director of the Michelin guides said in a statement.

Bjorn Frantzens gastronomic expression is truly worth the journey, and is a gustatory experience like no other.

The Nordic guide for 2018 features 64 starred restaurants in total including two new two-star locations - Daniel Berlin in Sweden and Kadeau in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Altogether the guide includes three three-star restaurants, seven two-star restaurants, and 54 one-star restaurants.

Denmark and Sweden have the most starred restaurants in the guide, with 26 restaurants each.

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At the end of last year, Michelin also revealed its star announcements for Great Britain and Ireland. While The Araki, a 300 per person sushi bar in Mayfair, was the UK's only upgrade to three-stars, Bibendum in Chelsea debuted at the two-star level.

Similarly, Wild Honey Inn became the first pub in Ireland to ever get a Michelin star and celebrity chef Tom Kerridges The Hand & Flowers was awarded two-stars to become the UKs first-ever pub to receive a Michelin rating.
Venezuela has developed a brand new cryptocurrency, called petro.

The government of the crisis-hit country says it was created in order to help overcome financial sanctions imposed by the US and the EU.

However, petro is considered to be illegal by opposition leaders in Venezuela, and there are also concerns that anyone who buys into it could quickly lose their investment.

Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. 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The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty

The Venezuelan government is officially launching the pre-sale of the cryptocurrency today.

Each petro token will be backed by one barrel of oil, it says.

The entire circulation of 100 million petro tokens will be available in its initial coin offering (ICO), with the government expecting the cryptocurrencys launch to raise $6bn.

Petro is born and we are going to have a total success for the welfare of Venezuela, said President Nicolas Maduro, teleSUR reports.

The largest and most important companies and blockchain in the world are with Venezuela, we are going to sign agreements.

Venezuela says it expects to attracts investors from Qatar, Turkey, the US and Europe.

It initially wont be available in to purchase in exchange for the Venezuelan bolivar  which has plummeted in value  but this could become an option in the future.

The Venezuelan government says petro holders will be able to exchange it for goods and services, similar to bitcoin. However, many people consider bitcoin to be more of an asset than a currency, because it can be much harder to spend than traditional money.

The most important contribution of petro to the cryptoassets market and the new digital economy will be the support offered by a sovereign state, reads the website for petro.

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela guarantees that it will receive petro as a form of payment for national taxes, fees, contributions and public services, taking as a reference the previous days Venezuelan oil basket price with a discount. This will ensure that the buyer always has a return value adjusted to the value of his investment.

However, Venezuelas opposition-led parliament considers petros IPO to be a forward sale of Venezuelan oil, and tailor-made for corruption.

There are also fears that the creation of petro is little more than a desperate bid to raise money, and that it will quickly lose much of its value, leaving investors out of pocket.

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That fear is what led to China banning ICOs last year, in order to stop people from falling prey to financial scams, at a time when mainstream interest in digital currencies was skyrocketing.

During the last 4 years Venezuela has experienced the biggest financial crisis in its history, a situation that has resulted in a devaluation of its national currency, the bolivar, the petro website says.

The petro will be the foundation of a policy to promote development, infrastructure and training of young people in electronic mining, coding, cryptography, network security and economics 4.0, that will enable the exploitation of Venezuela and other developing countries most valuable assets in a new world of transparent, deconcentrated and manipulation-free markets, all thanks to technology.

Weve teamed up with cryptocurrency trading platform eToro. Click here to get the latest Bitcoin rates and start trading. Cryptocurrencies are a highly volatile unregulated investment product. No EU investor protection. 75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.
A YouTube star who claimed a vegan lifestyle cured her breast cancer has died of cancer.

Mari Lopez, who was known for blogging alongside her niece, Liz Johnson, as Mari & Liz, died from the disease in December, according to Liz - after it spread to her blood, liver, and lungs.

However, Liz claims veganism could have saved her aunt - despite the spread of the disease - if only her carer hadnt fed her meat.

On their YouTube channel, where Liz and Mari had 11,761 subscribers, they posted videos in which they promote a vegan lifestyle and faith in God - and discuss how both healed Mari's cancer.

In one video, titled: "Cancer Transformation FAQ," Mari said: "The lemon-ginger blast helped me remove inflammation from my body," but that she did suffer from "food withdrawals" when going through a 90-day juice cleanse.

"It felt horrible and it was like I was catching the flu," Mari recalled of incorporating detox teas into her 90-day juice cleanse regime, but said the detoxes were "washing my body."

Mari also revealed that she completely skipped cancer treatment as recommended by her doctors.

"It's my choice, I've been okay, I haven't died, I haven't gotten to the hospital... I am going to continue on this path of going natural," Mari said at the time, "It's over, it is done with, I am healed. I feel it in my spirit and in my body."

In another video, titled "Stage 4 Cancer Natural Transformation," Mari revealed how God drew her to the fruits and vegetables in the grocery store that would cure her.

When she died Mari was following a vegan lifestyle, as promoted on their YouTube channel, but "wasn't completely consistent with what she had said in the video," according to Liz.

My family is not familiar with that style of living What happened was, as Mari was living with my mom, my mom started to tell her that she needed to eat meat now, Liz told Babe.

This, Liz claims, coupled with the use of a microwave to cook the food, is what ultimately led to her aunts demise.

Liz and Mari discuss their vegan lifestyle and Mari's cancer healing (YouTube)

My aunt was very against the microwave because of cancer-causing issues with that, and my mom would cook her things using the microwave, Liz told Babe.

According to Cancer.org, when microwave ovens are used according to instructions, there is no evidence that they pose a health risk to people.

And any injuries associated with microwaves are most often burns resulting from contact with steam or hot food.

However, Liz is adamant that the microwave and the meat were her aunts downfall - a belief that her aunt no longer shared towards the end of her life.

According to Liz, Mari asked her to remove the YouTube videos where she hails veganism as a cure for cancer when she realised she was going to die from the breast cancer, but Liz refused - because Liz still believes in the power of veganism.

Liz has revealed her aunt has died from the cancer (YouTube)

Since her aunts death, Liz has disabled the comments section on her YouTube channel - and released a new video, titled The Truth about Mari - CANCER, JUICING, & FAITH, in which she discusses Maris passing, and states the pair were not trying to mislead people but genuinely trying to help.

And Mari insists this has not been about money - as her and her family "received just pennies" from the advertising on YouTube.

The video has since been shared over 6,000 times.
Global miner BHP Billiton reported a 25 per cent rise in underlying half-year profit on Tuesday, helped by robust metals prices, and handed an extra $800m (573m) to shareholders as it forecast rising cash flows in the second half.

The payout echoes a similar move by rival Rio Tinto earlier this month as big miners recovering from the commodity crash two years ago look to cut debt and reward investors rather than spend.

Chief executive Andrew Mackenzie said the miner expected to boost free cash flow to around $7bn in the second half, up from $5bn in the first half if spot prices for its commodities stay at current levels.

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These are very strong foundations and position us well for the remainder of the 2018 financial year, he told a media call.

Underlying profit for the half year ended December 31 rose to $4.05bn from $3.24bn a year ago, but was below market forecasts of about $4.3bn, according to Thomson Reuters.

The interim dividend of $0.55 per share, equivalent to a 72 per cent payout ratio, was well up on $0.40 a share a year ago.

The dividend is better than what we expected, so that was certainly a positive surprise, said Andy Forster, senior investment officer at Argo Investments, a top 20 shareholder in BHPs Australian shares.

But definitely we see cost pressures starting to emerge in the business. Some of them are one-off in nature (but) more generally across the industry cost pressures are starting to re-emerge.

Costs rose at BHPs coal, petroleum and copper operations, but the increases were mostly single events, said chief financial officer Peter Beaven, partly reflecting maintenance at the Olympic dam copper mine and supply snags at Australian coal mines.

All of those one-off features are now behind us, Mackenzie said. Certainly as we look out to the medium term we expect further significant reduction in the unit costs, particularly for iron ore and coal.

SHALE SALE ON TRACK

BHP, facing calls from activist investor Elliott Advisors to make changes to its business, said the sale of its onshore US shale assets, which it has on its books at $14bn, was on track with initial bids expected in the June quarter.

We have people who are interested in the whole lot and people who are interest in just parts of it ... We have strong interest at both ends of the spectrum, Mackenzie said.

Mackenzie, who plans to meet with Elliott among other investors later this week, said the miner was also open to changing its structure, with listings in both Britain and Australia, but the costs and risks of collapsing the dual listed structure currently outweigh potential benefits.

BHP cut net debt by 23 per cent to $15.4bn during the period, and said it was on track to reach its $10bn to $15bn target before year-end.

Revenue rose 16 per cent during the half year to $21.78bn, with copper revenues jumping nearly 52 per cent, backed by stronger prices and higher production from the Escondida mine in Chile.

Revenue from iron ore mining, BHPs biggest division, rose 4.2 per cent, while oil was up 8.5 per cent.

Including a previously flagged $1.8bn exceptional charge arising from a change in US corporate taxes, net profit fell to $2.02bn.

Reuters
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Early humans may have learned to speak far earlier than previously thought.

Far from being stupid ape-like creatures, a language expert has claimed the ability of Homo erectus to cross bodies of water indicates members of this species were able to talk to one another.

Professor Daniel Everett announced his controversial idea at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

The origin of language is shrouded in mystery, with many experts arguing it is a unique characteristic of our species  Homo sapiens. This would mean language dates back no further than our own origins around 200,000 years ago.

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The earliest evidence of Homo erectus, on the other hand, dates to around 1.9 million years ago, meaning the timing of the first language could be pushed back considerably.

Professor Everett argued a primitive form of conversation would have been necessary for Homo erectus to achieve what they did.

His hypothesis hinges on the species apparent ability to sail across bodies of water.

Oceans were never a barrier to the travels of Erectus, Professor Everett, a linguist at Bentley University, told the science conference in Austin, Texas.

They sailed to the island of Crete and various other islands. It was intentional  they needed craft and they needed to take groups of 20 or so at least to get to those places.

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After originating in east Africa, Homo erectus spread across the world. Their remains have been found throughout Europe and Asia.

Some experts have argued a mysterious species likened to "hobbits", Homo floresiensis, which was discovered on the island of Flores in Indonesia, was descended from Homo erectus.

Erectus needed language when they were sailing to the island of Flores. They couldnt have simply caught a ride on a floating log because then they would have been washed out to sea when they hit the current, Professor Everett told the audience.

They needed to be able to paddle. And if they paddled they needed to be able to say paddle there or dont paddle. You need communication with symbols, not just grunts.

While the idea was welcomed by some, Professor Everett also met criticism from experts in human origins.

I dont accept that, for example, Erectus must have had boats to get to Flores, said Professor Chris Stringer of the Natural History Museum, arguing that tsunamis could have transported these early humans between islands on rafts of vegetation.

Professor Everett did note that while these early humans could have developed language, it would not have been sophisticated as that used by modern humans.

He described these early attempts as the Model T Ford of language compared to the Tesla form employed by Homo sapiens.
Animals may be losing their ability to display adaptive camouflage because of changing environmental conditions.

Snowshoe hares, ermines, caribou and arctic foxes all change colour from darker to lighter colours during winter, in order to blend into snow-covered landscapes.

With warmer winters come less snow, and it is thought the hares have adjusted their survival techniques in areas that have warmed faster than others.

There is greater change in the winter coats of populations of hares in more southerly areas, according to research published in the Canadian Journal of Zoology,

A research team looked at populations of hares living in Pennsylvania in the eastern US, and Yukon, much further north in west Canada.

In addition to finding greater numbers of the animals with thinner winter coats in the more southerly population, they found a small number of individuals which did not develop a full winter pelt.

We trapped three hares in January that were almost completely brown, and it's the first time that has been recorded in eastern North America," lead researcher Laura Gigliotti told ScienceDaily.com. There are hare populations in the Cascades in Washington that don't moult completely, but that had not been documented elsewhere.

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The team believe this could be an adaptation to warmer climate, giving the animals the advantages of a more appropriate level of insulation, and greater likelihood of camouflage in less snowy areas.

Non-hibernating mammals are good indicators of the impact climate change has on animals  they do not hibernate, so winter temperature fluctuations and snow cover are thought to affect them the most.

The team also investigated how hares in Pennsylvania altered their movement rates and resting spot selection as a response to variable winter temperatures.

They discovered hares from Pennsylvania had shorter, less dense, and less white winter coats than their northern counterparts, suggesting lower coat insulation.

They found they also had lower pelage temperatures (fur insulation), indicating they produced less heat than those in the northern population.

In addition, hares in Pennsylvania did not choose resting spots that offered thermal advantages, but instead selected locations offering visual obstruction from predators.

Our results indicate that snowshoe hares may be able to adapt to future climate conditions via changes in pelage characteristics, metabolism and behaviour, said Ms Gigliotti. Unfortunately, we don't know if they can adapt as quickly as climate change is occurring.

Recent studies by the same researchers studied how the hares make greater use of denser vegetation for cover during bright moonlit nights. The team believe some populations of hares respond to their surroundings and adjust their behaviour accordingly, while other populations from the same breed do not.
Calls are mounting for upskirting to be made a criminal offence as figures reveal that just a third of British police forces keep available records on the disturbing trend.

Girls as young as 10 have been targeted by perpetrators taking illicit photographs under their clothing, commonly using phones or hiding cameras in public places.

Campaigners fear the practice has been growing with the increasing availability of technology, but police are not required to record incidents under current rules, leaving the true scale unknown.

Just 15 of 44 police forces in England and Wales recorded allegations of upskirting in the past two years, according to a freedom of information request by the Press Association.

A further 14 said there were no such records on their system, and 15 forces either refused or failed to respond.

Of the 78 incidents reported, only 11 resulted in suspects being charged using existing laws on voyeurism, indecency and public order.

Several of the known victims were children, including girls aged 10 and 14 interviewed by Avon and Somerset Police, and a 16-year-old in Dorset  and locations included nightclubs, restaurants and the streets.

Maria Miller, the chair of the Women and Equalities Select Committee, said current laws were not adequate to address the practice.

Ms Miller, a former Tory Cabinet minister, said upskirting was falling outside current laws (Getty)

People say oh theres only a few cases, but thats because its not properly categorised and were looking at whether there should be a bespoke law to surface more of these appalling incidents, which are absolutely contrary to what anyone would consider legal behaviour, she told The Independent.

I dont think anyone can belittle the impact of someone taking an abusive photograph in this way without consent.

There are many instances where women have to deal with behaviour that does not have their consent and this is clearly on the unacceptable end of the spectrum.

The Women and Equalities Select Committee is considering a new law on upskirting as part of an ongoing inquiry into womens experience of everyday sexism and sexual harassment in public.

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The Government has so far resisted calls for change but will be required to formally consider its recommendations later this year.

Ms Miller said a new law on upskirting could deter sexual harassment, cause more victims to report incidents, offer police clarity and enable clear-cut prosecutions.

We cannot let people say its not necessary to have bespoke laws in certain circumstances, she added. It is really clear that this is falling outside of current laws.

Ms Miller, the Conservative MP for Basingstoke, pointed to hundreds of prosecutions sparked by a 2015 law that criminalised revenge pornography as a potential indicator.

Like upskirting, the practice was covered by previous legislation in some circumstances, but the lack of a specific law drove inconsistent approaches by police and prosecutors, while leaving victims unaware of their rights.

Figures showed dramatically different approaches across the country, with the Metropolitan Police recording the highest known number of upskirting incidents at 25, and others on zero.

People may take photos themselves or plant hidden cameras

Some forces had secured prosecutions for offences including taking an indecent photograph of a child, voyeurism and conspiring to outrage public decency, but others said cases had not progressed due to insufficient evidence.

Merseyside Police recorded 12 crimes against female victims, including four children, but admitted that because upskirting is not a specific offence it is possible that relevant crimes may not have been captured by keyword searches.

Police forces for Bedfordshire, Cleveland, Derbyshire, Durham, Essex, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, Humberside, Lancashire, Leicestershire, South Yorkshire, Surrey, Warwickshire, West Mercia and West Midlands all said they had no record of any incident being reported.

One woman said she reported two men taking and sharing indecent images of her on their phones to police, but they could not take it further.

The victim, in her mid-20s, said the law had failed to keep up with digital technology and left gaps to be exploited by sexual predators, and the practise was dismissed as a prank.

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We have this culture  unless you were physically touched, you were not assaulted, she added.

So often women dont know its happened to them. Its not always about sexual gratification  in some cases its harassment, and in my case it was revenge because they were trying to hit on me and I said no.

She said the horrible experience left her feeling powerless, later encountering people who believed she should get on with it.

This new law is a no-brainer and I think everyone agrees with that, its just going to be a case of how long it takes for everyone to agree, she added.

Clare McGlynn, a professor of law at Durham University, said many victims are unaware they have been targeted and can go to police.

Then if they do, often police dont know this can be prosecuted under other laws and victims can be met with disbelief or a minimising of the offence, she told The Independent.

A bespoke offence would show us more the reality, but its only the start of that conversation.

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Prof McGlynn, who specialises in the legal regulation of image-based sex abuse such as revenge porn, said victims currently have no automatic right to anonymity and may fear drawing attention to photographs already circulating online.

The advent of technology means that its easier than ever before to commit this kind of crime, she warned.

Upskirting is done for all sorts of reasons  it might be for sexual gratification, to harass someone or to make money.

Prof McGlynn and a colleague made recommendations to the former justice secretary about prospective legal changes in December but were told current laws were sufficient.

So far the Government are not to be moved, which I find baffling, she said.

Its a very straightforward law to change, there are examples of how it has been done elsewhere  and it would be a good message that we are taking these forms of street harassment seriously.

Sarah Green, for the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said the law should be urgently examined.

The police responses show that the police are clearly struggling to recognise upskirting distinctly, even though the disclosures reveal that it is commonly connected to existing sexual offences including voyeurism and sexual assault, she added.

It is notable that girls and young women are disproportionately targeted where that information has been recorded.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice said: This behaviour is a violation of privacy and causes considerable distress for victims.

Prosecutors have a range of powers to deal with these cases. We continue to keep legislation under constant review to ensure we can bring offenders to justice.

Additional reporting by PA
The parents of a seriously ill child have lost a court case to maintain life support treatment for their son.

Specialist doctors at Alder Hey Childrens Hospital in Liverpool had asked a High Court judge to allow them to stop providing life support treatment to 21-month-old Alfie Evans.

Alfies parents Kate James, 20, and Tom Evans, 21, wanted treatment to continue and had hoped to prolong their sons life with treatment at a hospital in Rome.

On Tuesday Mr Justice Hayden ruled in favour of the doctors after analysing the dispute at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in Liverpool earlier this month.

He had heard that Alfie, who was born on 9 May 2016, was in a semi-vegetative state and had also developed an unknown degenerative neurological condition.

Doctors said continuing to provide life support treatment was unkind, unfair and inhumane.

Alfies parents maintain their son responds to them.

The judge had visited Alfie in hospital and has praised his parents.

He said they had tried to explore every avenue and left no stone unturned.

At the High Court in London he said: It drives me reluctantly, and with great sadness, to one conclusion. What Alfie needs now is good quality palliative care which will keep him as comfortable as possible while sustaining his life.

He requires peace, quiet, stability, so that he may conclude his life as he has lived it."

Outside the hospital in Liverpool around 30 members of Alfies Army were supporting the familys campaign as they awaited the decision.

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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. 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

Blue and purple balloons fluttered in the wind and they chanted: "Save Alfie Evans!"

As the judge delivered his verdict, Mr Evans broke down in court. Ms James left before the judge had reached his conclusion.

PA contributed to this report
Members of the British Isis cell known as The Beatles could face trial in the UK, the Home Secretary has suggested.

The Government has previously pushed for Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh to be handled by the US for their involvement in crimes including the beheading of hostages.

But Amber Rudd left the door open for them to be returned to Britain amid talks between officials in the UK and US.

The important thing is that they have been arrested, she said during a visit to the Middle East. The important thing is, to us, that they will face trial.

I cant be drawn at the moment on where that will be, but I am absolutely convinced, and absolutely committed, to making sure that they will face trial, because the security of the United Kingdom will always come first.

Kotey and Elsheikh were the last two members of the The Beatles to remain at large until they were detained by US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in eastern Syria last month.

The former Londoners are among hundreds of foreign fighters captured during advances that saw all of Isis major strongholds in the country retaken, including its de-facto capital of Raqqa.

British hostage John Cantlie was shown in a series of Isis propaganda videos before disappearing during the battle of Mosul (AP)

The US is coordinating information on captured foreign fighters with governments in the broad anti-Isis coalition and American defence officials say they generally expect these detainees to return to their country of origin for disposition.

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis previously said that the important thing is that the countries of origin keep responsibility for them.

But his British counterpart Gavin Williamson, hit back last week by saying Kotey and Elsheikh have turned their back on British ideas, British values. Do I want them back in the United Kingdom, he said. No, I dont.

Kotey and ElSheikh are believed to be among dual nationals who joined Isis to have their British citizenship removed for the public good, although the Government has refused to confirm their status.

The US has ruled out sending Kotey and Elsheikh to the Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba, where terror suspects have been detained indefinitely without trial.

Tobias Ellwood, a parliamentary under secretary of state at the Ministry of Defence, has argued that the men should be tried at the International Criminal Court but it can only act when countries are unable or unwilling to exercise their jurisdiction.

Lord Carlile, the former Independent Reviewer of Terrorism of Legislation, said a British trial was the proper forum and the prospect has been supported by their victims and relatives.

Mohammed Emwazi, known as Jihadi John, was killed during a drone strike

Kotey and Elsheikh were wanted for involvement in the execution of hostages including the American journalist James Foley and British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning, whose families hailed their capture the first step towards justice.

They were declared specially designated global terrorists last year for their roles in the group, with officials holding the cell responsible for beheading more than 27 hostages and torturing many more.

Intelligence extracted during interrogation by American officials has already sparked operations hunting other jihadis down and could help searches for British hostage John Cantlie and victims bodies.

The Beatles ringleader Jihadi John, whose real name was Mohammed Emwazi, was killed in a 2015 drone strike and the fourth militant in the cell, Aine Davis, has been jailed for terror offences in Turkey.

A small number of captives, including French journalist Nicolas Henin, were freed and have told of the British militants brutality.

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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. 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Mr Henin, who was released just four months before the group started beheading his former cellmates, said they should not be given the satisfaction of being put to death and becoming martyrs.

What I want is an incontestable trial, he told The Independent. I believe both former hostages and the families of those murdered largely share my feelings. We all are looking for justice. It will not bring us what we lost, a year in our life or even a son, but its still necessary.

Elsheikh, 29, was said to have earned a reputation for waterboarding, mock executions and crucifixions while serving as a jailer.

He came to the UK as a child from Sudan, when his family were granted refugee status, and became a mechanic in west London. Elsheikh had links to local gangs as a teenager, was not known as religious until being introduced to a radical preacher. He travelled to Syria in 2012 and joined al Qaedas regional branch before an internal dispute led to a splinter group creating Isis.

Recommended New technology can detect Isis videos before they are uploaded

Fellow guard Kotey was involved in beheadings and known for exceptionally cruel torture methods, including electronic shocks. The 34-year-old is also accused of acting as an Isis recruiter and being responsible for drawing several other British extremists to join the terrorist group.

Born in London, Kotey is half-Ghanaian, half-Greek Cypriot and grew up in Shepherds Bush. He is believed to have converted to Islam in his early twenties, and left two young children in Britain when he travelled to Gaza in 2009 as part of a controversial aid convoy organised by former Labour and Respect MP George Galloway.

While Isiss self-declared caliphate across Iraq and Syria has collapsed, leaving only small pockets of militants surrounded in border areas, it continues efforts to inspire terror attacks around the world and has expanded into countries including Afghanistan, Libya and Egypt.

The Government has been stepping up efforts to combat its online propaganda, which has been linked to terror attacks in the UK and across Europe.

Additional reporting by PA
Oxfam has received 26 new allegations of sexual misconduct since the revelations over a 2011 scandal in Haiti, embattled leaders have told MPs.

Mark Goldring, the chief executive of Oxfam GB, said the charity had put out a call for people to come forward with reports.

Across Oxfam Great Britain we have had about 26 stories, reports come to us which were either new reports come out as a result of the stories, or earlier stories where people said, I didnt necessarily report this at the time, he said.

Some of those cases relate to the UK, some of them relate to our international programme.

He was appearing before the International Development Committee, which announced a full inquiry on sexual exploitation in the wider aid sector.

Chair Stephen Twigg accused Oxfam of putting their reputation ahead of their beneficiaries.

It is very clear that there is a much wider issue across the sector and that these are not new issues  the world has known about this for a very long time, he added.

You have got to get your house in order and demonstrate to the British people that you are getting your house in order.

Mark Goldring, the chief executive of Oxfam GB, was grilled by MPs (AFP/Getty)

Mr Goldring was asked to apologise for his previous comments claiming the response to sexual misconduct by aid workers in Haiti was out of proportion.

The intensity and the ferocity of the attack makes you wonder, what did we do? We murdered babies in their cots? he told The Guardian. Certainly, the scale and the intensity of the attacks feels out of proportion to the level of culpability.

Asked whether he wanted to apologise for the grossly inappropriate remarks, he said: I do apologise, I was thinking under stress, I had given many interviews ... I was thinking about the amazing work Id seen Oxfam do across the world.

I should not have said those things, it is not for Oxfam to judge issues of proportionality or motivation.

Mr Goldring said 7,000 direct debits have been cancelled since the scandal broke 10 days ago, while Oxfam has been temporarily barred from requesting any new funding from the Government.

Oxfam has released the results of an internal inquiry into sexual misconduct by staff in Haiti, which resulted in four employees being sacked and three others including the country director resigning.

Its own 2011 investigation called for other charities to be warned of problem staff, but Oxfam rehired one of the men involved and it was possible for others to gain work at charities including Action Against Hunger.

Mr Goldring, who took up his post two years after the investigation, said he was given clear assurances that the Haiti case had been well-handled and had no reason to believe it should be reopened.

After the original investigation, Oxfam issued a press release revealing its findings of serious misconduct involving bullying, intimidation and breaches of the charitys code of conduct but made no mention of sexual exploitation or prostitution.

A woman walks carrying a suitcase on her head next to an Oxfam sign in Corail, a camp for displaced people of the 2010 earthquake, on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, Haiti (Reuters)

At the time, people thought that was being transparent, he said. We know now that that was not enough.

My colleagues at the time made a set of decisions about how public to go. With hindsight they made the wrong call.

He said Oxfam had received no warnings over disgraced country director Roland van Hauwermeiren from a charity where he previously worked, but admitted failings after his departure.

Recommended Oxfam told of aid workers raping children in Haiti a decade ago

If any good can come out of the horror of Haiti and the past couple of weeks, its a more intensive commitment across the whole sector that we root this out both in a practical way and by getting to grips with culture, power relations, responsibility and values, Mr Goldring said.

Pauline Latham, a Conservative member of the committee, criticised Oxfam for not reporting the use of prostitutes to police and reforming too slowly.

She accused the charity of starting a new database of accredited referees only because you were found out, despite sexual abuse being common knowledge in the aid sector.

Your organisations are not victims in this, its the women and girls being abused by men that you employ and other aid agencies, Ms Latham said.

This is so shocking  no wonder the worlds angry, and no wonder people are questioning whether any money should be given to charities.

Sadly, the people who should benefit from this are the poor people in different countries and theyre going to lose out because of all your behaviours in the aid sector.

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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. 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Winnie Byanyima, the executive director of Oxfam International, said it had been working with other charities on a database of workers but decided to launch its own last week because of slow progress.

We were not doing nothing, we were working on it but we have reached the point where the world has woken up, she added.

We have been improving every year but we are not where we want to be and we admit that.

Oxfams chair of trustees, Caroline Thomson, said the scandal had been a real wake-up call not just for Oxfam but for the whole sector.

We are ashamed of what happened in Haiti, she told the committee. We dont think it was well handled and our task now is to make sure we report always with transparency and accountability.

My task is to make sure we never again can be at risk of being perceived to have put reputation over accountability.

Representatives of Save the Children, which published a report documenting aid workers abuse of children as young as six in Haiti in 2008, proposed a humanitarian passport scheme.

Steve Reeves, the charitys director of safeguarding, said both girls and boys were being abused by aid workers and UN peacekeepers globally in a pattern of behaviour largely manifested by men.

There is no doubt that there are people with a sexual interest in children who actively seek out the opportunity to work with children, he added. Its a very considerable problem.

Residents walk over debris of buildings destroyed after an earthquake in downtown Port-au-Prince in 2010 (Reuters)

Save the Children spent more than 100,000 on criminal records checks for staff last year and investigated 193 allegations in 2016.

Difficult to know if youre catching the tip of the iceberg or if youre catching the iceberg itself ... its a systemic problem, CEO Kevin Watkins told the committee.

We [in the aid sector] cant sit around and wait for somebody else to solve this problem ... the challenge is to move very quickly and build the coalitions we need to drive it forward.

The Department for International Development (Dfid) admitted it was told of Oxfams investigation in 2011 but said no point was either the scale of the severity of the allegations made clear.

Gerard Howe, head of its new safeguarding unit, said the Government was told that breaches of the charitys code of conduct did not involve beneficiaries or the abuse of funds.

He told MPs civil servants had found no record of contact from Oxfams former head of safeguarding in 2015, when she claims to have raised the alarm over failings.

When asked how Dfid reacted to Save the Childrens damning 2008 report, Mr Howe acknowledged that system-wide there was a failure to respond at scale to those messages.

Permanent Secretary Matthew Rycroft said the department was properly considering long-standing calls for a register of British aid workers and fuller international cooperation.

Nothing is any longer in the too difficult box, he added. We are determined to use this crisis to get the whole of the sector into a better shape, to root out this evil wherever it occurs and to draw on the sector, and beyond, to get ideas on how best to do that.

Penny Mordaunt, the International Development Secretary, said the next steps would be decided at a safeguarding summit to be attended by British charities on 5 March.

All 192 UK-based charities currently working overseas with British aid funding have been given until Monday to provide assurances on their safeguarding practices and hundreds of foreign NGOs and private organisations have been contacted.

The US, Canada, the Netherlands and others have already agreed to support our goal of improved safeguarding standards across the sector, Ms Mordaunt told the House of Commons.

The UK is not waiting for others to act. We are taking a lead on this.
A teenager who was arrested for stealing sweets hanged himself in prison after staff failed to respond to his call for help, a report has found.

Osvaldas Pagirys, who struggled with English, became suicidal after being imprisoned at HMP Wandsworth pending extradition to Lithuania.

Officials repeatedly assessed the 18-year-old as not suffering from significant mental health problems, despite interviewing him without an interpreter.

He was found five previous times with a ligature around his neck during his three months in prison, but left in isolation on the day he died.

Investigators found Pagirys rang a bell in his cell at lunchtime on 11 November 2016 but it was not answered for 37 minutes. Officers eventually arrived to find him hanging and he never regained consciousness, dying three days later.

A jury returned a conclusion of accidental death but found that numerous failings by healthcare and prison staff contributed to the tragedy.

HMP Wandsworth in London (Getty) (Getty Images)

Jurors sitting before Dr Shirley Radcliffe at Westminster Coroners Court found they had should not have segregated Pagirys, then failed to communicate with him or fellow officials.

They also found that staff did not conduct a timely welfare check and contributed to his death by not responding to the emergency bell sooner.

An investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) described the case as appalling and concluded that Pagirys life might well have been saved had staff responded sooner.

 Samaritans: Where to turn when life gets tough

Noting that HMP Wandsworth had previously been criticised by prisons inspectors for long delays in answering bells, investigators described mental health assessments as woefully inadequate.

Elizabeth Moody, the acting PPO, described Mr Pagirys as a vulnerable teenager who found it hard to cope with prison life and to communicate in English.

Staff responded to his increasing levels of distress punitively and he was subject to an impoverished, basic regime, she added. I am extremely concerned at the overall standard of care delivered by HMP Wandsworth  no manager or member of staff seems to have taken effective steps to prevent a deeply troubling death.

Pagirys was arrested for shoplifting in August 2016 and was the subject of a European Arrest Warrant in Lithuania. He was imprisoned at Pentonville and then Wandsworth after being refused bail.

Police placed him under constant supervision as a suicide risk but records in jail were incomplete and he started self-harming while displaying erratic emotional behaviour, with one nurse describing him as childlike.

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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. 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During a disciplinary hearing for possession of a knife, Mr Pagirys said that he tried to hang himself because he did not want to be extradited to Lithuania, as all his family were in Croydon.

He was moved to a segregation unit on 9 November after racially abusing a staff member and damaging his cell, with the move approved by a nurse despite the fact Pagirys tried to hang himself earlier that day.

Relatives who attended the inquest said it was painful to hear accounts of the weeks leading up to his lonely death.

We hope that lessons have been learnt but it is devastating for us that this is at such a cost, said a statement from the family. None of the evidence we have heard will stop us asking what would have happened if staff had answered his cell bell sooner when every moment counted. Would Osvaldas still be alive?

This is hard for us to deal with. We are not persuaded that Osvaldas was given the best chance of survival during his stay at HMP Wandsworth. He will be sorely missed.

Recommended Prison crisis laid bare as Government issued unprecedented warning

Rory Stewart, a minister for prisons, said 11,000 staff had been given improved training to identify prisoners needing support.

It is clear there were failings in how he was managed at HMP Wandsworth and these could have been avoided, he said. The safety and welfare of people in our custody is my top priority and a significant amount of work has been done at the prison, including improving the monitoring of vulnerable offenders and response times when in-cell alarm bells are triggered.

He added: The prison has also made improvements that will allow staff to identify more quickly prisoners who require tailored support. Prison can be an extremely challenging experience for some and we are determined to reduce deaths and self-harm in our jails.

To contact the Samaritans free of charge call 116 123; email jo@samaritans.org; or visit samaritans.org.
European Union countries fears that Britain will start a race to the bottom on taxes and standards when it leaves the EU are based on nothing, the Brexit Secretary is to claim.

David Davis is travelling to Austria where he will attempt to reassure an audience of local business leaders that the UK will not try to undercut the EU after it leaves.

His speech will come after a recent slide presentation from the European Commission, presented to member states, which suggested that the UK may reduce levels of occupational safety and health after Brexit  leading to higher exposure to chemicals and carcinogens.

In the same presentation the commission also said it expected reduced informational and consultation rights for workers in order to reduce delays for collective dismissals after Britain left the bloc.

Mr Davis will tell business leaders: I know that for one reason or another there are some people who have sought to question [whether we will maintain standards after the UK leaves].

They fear that Brexit could lead to an Anglo-Saxon race-to-the-bottom, with Britain plunged into a Mad Max-style world borrowed from dystopian fiction.

These fears about a race to the bottom are based on nothing, not history, not intention, nor interest.

The Chancellor, Philip Hammond, warned last year that if the UK did not get a trade deal it could be forced to change our economic model and we will have to change our model to regain competitiveness.

He later clarified that unfair competition on tax and regulation was neither our plan nor our vision for the future, suggesting the UK economy would stay recognisably European.

Mr Davis will on Tuesday try to unpick more of the damage done by Mr Hammonds comments, and suggestions by some Brexiteers such as Jacob Rees-Mogg that taxes should come down after Brexit.

The Brexit Secretary will tell business leaders that the UK will continue our track record of meeting high standards after we leave the European Union.

He will continue: Thats why its a message delivered by every member of Britains Government as we meet our European counterparts.

Whether its Theresa May committing to maintaining and enhancing workers rights; the Chancellors powerful advocacy for the stability of the European banking system; Michael Goves crusading zeal for improving animal welfare and environmental outcomes; or my friend the Foreign Secretary, who explained in an important speech last week how Brexit could be used to distinguish between membership of EU institutions and our shared European culture, values, civilisation.

Reacting to the trailed parts of the speech, Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable said Mr Davis might as well be making the case for staying in the EU, while Labour backbencher Chuka Umunna said that not everyone in the Cabinet agreed with Mr Davis that there would be no race to the bottom.

Theresa May has repeatedly failed to rule out scrapping working time regulations, Boris Johnson wants to get rid of the social chapter, and Liam Fox says hes in favour of importing chlorinated chicken from the United States, he said.

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

In reality, the best way to protect and enhance the high standards that exist in this country is to stay in the single market and the customs union.

Officials on both sides are being tight-lipped about this weeks resumption of face-to-face Brexit, which are talking place in Brussels. A previous round a week ago ended in recriminations after Mr Davis and Mr Barnier came to verbal blows about the UKs position on the enforcement of EU rules.

On Friday the EU27 leaders will meet without Theresa May at an informal summit in the EUs de facto capital.
Britain wants a Brexit trade deal that gives it free, unrestricted access to EU markets but where it was not required to obey European rules, David Davis has said.

Speaking to business leaders in Vienna the Brexit Secretary rejected the idea that the UK has to stay aligned with EU regulations to avoid trade barriers, and called for mutual recognition between the two regulatory regimes to avoid cutting British firms off from the continent.

Mr Davis said the EU and UK should trust each others regulations and the institutions that enforce them, with a robust and independent arbitration mechanism  that he suggested could be comprised of a representative from both sides with an independent chair.

In his latest attempt to flesh out the British position on what a trade deal should look like, the Secretary of State suggested it was the outcome of regulations that was important to maintain standards between the two countries rather than the way you do it.

The future trade talks will be a negotiation like no other, he said, speaking at the headquarters of the Industriellen Vereinigung, an Austrian business lobby group.

We start from a position of total alignment, with unprecedented experience in working with one-anothers regulators and institutions.

The agreement we strike will not be about convergence but what we do when one of us choses to make changes to our rules.

He added that other countries with free trade agreements with the EU were not required to obey European rules but have mutual recognition standards and that that was something every free trade agreements has.

The policy outlined by Mr Davis is an attempt by the UK to resolve the dilemma of how to 'take back control' of regulations without cutting off its access to EU markets.

Michel Barnier, the European Commissions chief Brexit negotiator, said earlier this month that if Britain left the customs union and single market barriers to trade in goods and services are unavoidable.

The situation is further complicated because the UK pledged in the first phase of negotiation to stay in "full regulatory alignment" with EU rules if required to avoid a hard border of the island of Ireland.

Mr Davis also reiterated a UK warning that if Britain did not strike a trade deal, it would withhold the massive cash payment to Brussels agreed as phase one of the Brexit negotiations.

He dismissed suggestions that this was a secret plan, arguing that it had already been announced by the Prime Minister.

We have been very plain that the withdrawal agreement follows Article 50. Article 50 says the withdrawal agreement has to take into account the future relationship. Theyre bound up in one, theyre not a separate issue, he said.

The minister also said companies that were heavily subsidised by EU taxpayers would not get unfettered access to UK markets, and that mergers with EU companies would continue to be regulated for anti-competitive behaviour.

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

Answering questions journalists the Brexit Secretary also revealed that 100 per cent of government ministers who he met around Europe did not want the UK to leave the bloc. Before making his speech he held bilateral meetings with Austrian foreign minister Karin Kneissl.

As expected, Mr Davis use the speech to try and assuage concerns the UK could try and cut regulations after it leaves the bloc, saying Britain would not become a Mad Max society, in reference to the dystopian film.

He said Britain had in fact been at the heart of shaping EU regulations and often went beyond European standards in many areas.
Irelands foreign minister has criticised irresponsible and reckless Brexiteers for attacking the basis of the Good Friday Agreement that brought peace to Northern Ireland.

Eurosceptics including Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan, Labour MP Kate Hoey, and former Tory Cabinet minister Owen Paterson have attacked the accord in recent days  as it becomes increasingly clear that its terms make Brexit more difficult.

Without explicitly naming the British politicians, Simon Coveney, who is also Ireland deputy prime minister, warned that they were undermining the foundations of a fragile peace process brought about by the 1998 deal.

He said: Talking down [the] Good Friday Agreement because it raises serious and genuine questions of those pursuing Brexit is not only irresponsible but reckless and potentially undermines the foundations of a fragile peace process in Northern Ireland that should never be taken for granted.

Brexit Secretary David Davis declined to acknowledge the existence of the eurosceptics comments when asked about them during a visit to Vienna on Tuesday.

Im not conscious of anybody talking down the Good Friday Agreement, certainly nobody in government has, he said.

Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney (Getty)

Everything that were doing is aiming towards ensuring we meet every aspect of [the Good Friday Agreement]. So I dont foresee that being a problem.

Former environment secretary Mr Paterson has said the Agreement had outlived its used while the MEP Mr Hannan wrote in the Daily Telegraph that is had failed. Ms Hoey called for a cold, rational look at the deal.

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

Stormont has ground to a halt in recent months as nationalist and unionist sides have failed to come to a deal to restore power-sharing in the province. But the deal also has implications for Brexit  because it explicitly stipulates that there cannot be a hard border on the island of Ireland.

European Commission chief negotiator Michel Barnier has also said that the restoration of a government in the Northern Ireland executive is an important factor in reaching a deal on the border issue.
 Close David Davis delivers Brexit speech in Vienna

Fears that Britain will be plunged into a "Mad Max-style" dystopia after Brexit are baseless, David Davis has told business leaders in Vienna.

In the latest in a series of high-profile speeches on the EU withdrawal, the Brexit Secretary insisted that ministers are not planning to sweep away regulations in a "race to the bottom" on taxes and standards.

As pressure mounts on Theresa May to unite her warring Cabinet, Brexiteers Michael Gove and Liam Fox delivered major speeches, while Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson faced questions from MPs in the Commons.

Oxfam GB chief executive Mark Goldring apologised for appearing to downplay allegations of sexual misconduct by some charity staff in Haiti following a devastating earthquake in 2010.

More than 7,000 people have cancelled regular donations to the charity since the scandal broke, he told MPs on the International Development Committee.

Elsewhere, Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn vowed to strip the City of London of its dominance in a speech accusing the financial sector of having a pernicious and undemocratic control over British politics.

As it happened...
To pay for one Labour leaders kitchen may be regarded as a misfortune; to pay for two Labour leaders kitchen looks like carelessness.

So spare a thought for newspaper tycoon Rupert Murdoch as controversy swirls around The Suns claims about Jeremy Corbyns contacts with a Cold War Czech spy.

The last time one of Mr Murdochs newspapers, The Sunday Times, claimed a Labour leader, Michael Foot, had got too close to the commies, it didnt end well.

KGB: Michael Foot was our agent, proclaimed The Sunday Times headline of 19 February1995.

Stuff, nonsense and libel, replied Foot, Labours left-wing leader between 1980 and 1983.

He sued both the newspaper and Mr Murdoch, winning damages substantial enough for him to pay for the new kitchen, plus the celebrations at the Gay Hussar, the Soho restaurant where he had allegedly met his KGB handlers, plus a donation to the left-wing magazine Tribune.

Michael Foot sued The Sunday Times over claims he was a KGB agent and got a new kitchen out of the damages (Getty)

It was a triumph so fondly remembered that 13 years later, in what would turn out to be his last published interview before his death, Mr Foot welcomed the New Statesman into the kitchen of his beautiful Hampstead home, recalled how Mr Murdoch had paid for it, and laughed.

Now, as Mr Corbyn issues categoric denials, some have suggested he should follow Mr Foot and sue over The Suns story that in 1986 he met Czech spy Jan Sarkocy, was given the code-name COB, and briefed evil [Communist] regime of clampdown by British intelligence.

When The Sunday Times falsely accused Michael Foot of being a Soviet agent of influence he sued, won, and bought a new kitchen, said Paul Richards, a former adviser to Labour ministers. I assume Corbyn will now do the same?

Whether that happens, remains to be seen. But there are certainly similarities between the Foot and Corbyn stories.

For one thing they do seem to reflect the obvious: that right-wing newspapers can rarely resist the chance to portray a Labour leader as a dangerous leftie who threatens national security.

That much was also suggested by another Sunday Times story about yet another Labour leader, Neil Kinnock.

During the 1992 election campaign, The Sunday Times advertised the contents of its next newspaper with posters outside newsagents proclaiming: Kinnocks Kremlin connection.

This one, followed by other newspapers using headlines like Kinnock and the Commies, revealed  if that is the right word  that Mr Kinnock had met the Soviet ambassador in 1984 and expressed an enthusiasm for unilateral nuclear disarmament.

This, though, was not altogether surprising, given that in 1984 unilateral disarmament was the openly published, official policy of the Labour Party (as it would be until 1989 when Mr Kinnock persuaded his colleagues to ditch it).

The story could fairly easily be dismissed by Labour as the kind of smear that always happens in the fever of an election campaign.

The Foot and Corbyn stories, though, demanded other explanations.

In 1995 The Sunday Times alleged that Foot, during his time editing Tribune in the Sixties, had been an agent of influence, accepting funds from the KGB for his efforts to shape British public opinion.

In giving him a code name, the KGB did at least show more imagination than the Czechs who called Corbyn COB, although given that Foot was a journalist at the time, he might not have been flattered had he known that the Russians were calling him Boot.

That, though, was a key point: in the same way that The Sun did not state that Mr Corbyn was a paid-up, fully active, fully aware secret agent, The Sunday Times was soon making clear it was not alleging Foot was a spy, or even that he knew the KGB regarded him as an agent of influence - let alone what his code name was.

Instead, hours after the story appeared, Sunday Times editor John Witherow told the BBC it was not his paper that was saying Foot had been a KGB agent - that allegation, he admitted, might be "utter rubbish".

The Sunday Times, Mr Witherow stressed, was merely saying that the KGB believed Foot was an agent.

Which was widely seen as something of a climb down from a three-page spread and the headline KGB: Michael Foot was our agent.

(Although, to be fair, Some in the KGB thought Foot was their agent of influence, although they may have been wrong and they never regarded him as a communist spy does not a snappy or sexy headline make.)

In admitting that the allegation Foot was a KGB agent might have been utter rubbish, Mr Witherow might also have hit upon another potential problem for the stories about both Labour leaders.

This could, perhaps, be loosely described as need to impress the boss syndrome  as The Independent discovered in 1995, when it went to Russia to follow up The Sunday Times story, and met former Soviet spy Mikhail Lyubimov.

Yes, he admitted, he did have lunches with Foot in the Gay Hussar, under his cover as Soviet embassy press attache. But, Lyubimov confessed, he was under pressure from Moscow to justify his salary (and lunch expenses). Soviet central planning, it seemed, extended even to intelligence gathering.

Like collective farm managers we had to report a good harvest, Lyubimov told The Independent. If we had no real agents, we mentioned agents of influence instead. Inside the secret services, and not just the KGB, there is always a lot of fantasy."

There was a similar confession from Viktor Kubeykin, who ran the Labour party and trade union desk at the KGB's London station during the 1970s.

He told The Independent he had spent most of his time cutting out clippings from English newspapers and using cocktail party chat to pad out what were in fact pretty thin reports to Moscow.

Hence, it seemed, the obsession with "agents of influence".

"Many new terms were invented to show we were doing something, admitted Mr Kubeykin. It was all just a camouflage for doing nothing, a bureaucratic game. The more people you mentioned, the more credit you got, the higher your promotion."

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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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. 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It does seem reasonable to at least wonder whether similar forces might have been at work when Jan met Jeremy for a cup of tea in the House of Commons in November 1986.

The way Jan Sarkocy wrote it up may well have impressed his bosses.

He [Corbyn] seems to be the right person for fulfilling the task and giving information, said Sarkocy in one of the memos found in the archive of the Statni Bezpecnost (StB) Czech secret police force. He has an active supply of information on British intelligence services.

According to the files, however, the active supply of information on British intelligence services seemed to consist of Mr Corbyn discussing, not something from the heart of MI6 in the style of Kim Philby, but a cutting from the Sunday People newspaper, containing a story about MI5.

So you could indeed say the Labour leader briefed the evil regime about a clampdown by British intelligence.

But you could also say the same about the Sunday People, available for purchase by any UK-based communist spy, without the extra expense of the 1 tube fare that Sarkocy supposedly claimed for one of his meetings with Corbyn.

Having said that, if you didnt meet Corbyn, how on earth could you have known, as Sarkocy did, that he was Negative towards USA, as well as the current politics of the [Thatcher] Conservative Government?

The files on Crobyn, the director of the Czech security forces archive has explained to the BBC, never got beyond classifying him as a person of interest.

But some have argued, if he met Jan Sarkocy at all, albeit thinking he was a diplomat, Mr Corbyn was very naive.

Similar things were said about Mr Foot.

Michael Foot's critics called him a 'useful idiot' but journalists at The Tribune said he had done nothing more sinister than help fund their end-of-year party (Getty Images)

In 2010 after Foot had died, removing the possibility of further libel action, Charles Moore of the Telegraph revealed what he had been told by Oleg Gordievsky, the KGB defector whose unedited autobiography manuscript had inspired the 1995 Sunday Times story.

Posing as diplomats, Mr Moore reported, the KGB agents met Foot regularly for nearly 20 years, slipping money into his pocket in a way which allowed him to ignore it.

Mr Moore, reporting what Gordievsky had told him, said Foot would reveal which politicians and trade union leaders were pro-Soviet, while his Russian friends passed him pre-written articles about unilateral nuclear disarmament that he could publish in Tribune, without acknowledging the source.

The contact ended before Foot became Labour leader, but, Mr Moore concluded, Foot had been a shockingly naive useful idiot.

Mr Moore did add the caveat that Foot would not have known he was considered an agent. That was an internal classification of the KGB  a scalp for the bureaucracy. There is no evidence he passed on state secrets.

It is not clear why Foot took the cash, Mr Moore added, But he probably did not blow it on himself. Most likely, he used it to pay petty bills for Tribune.

Mr Moore may have got the last bit right. In 2013 the Tribune itself published an article explaining that Foot, as a magazine editor, had been lunching people he regarded as journalistic contacts (not KGB spies):

In fact, the magazine said, What Foot had done was accept Soviet journalistic contacts contributions to the bill after lunch at the Gay Hussar, and put the money into the Tribune slush fund, a venerable institution that provided the float for the bar at the papers end-of-year party.

But if there are similarities in the Foot and Corbyn stories, there are also important differences.

Oleg Gordievsky (Rex)

One potential difference seems to be that with Foot, The Sunday Times may have oversold a story provided by a source, Gordievsky, who was, as John Witherow put it, accurate to an almost pedantic degree".

Indeed, when Gordievskys book was published, (after the lawyers had crawled over every word of the manuscript), it came with the warning: The fact that someone was regarded as an agent of influence meant no more than that it was how the KGB regarded them.

He even confessed to occasionally suffering from need to impress the boss syndrome himself.

The ageing trade unionist Jack Jones was, Gordievsky wrote, absolutely useless as a source of secret information, but he wrote up one report of a meeting with him so artfully that it received gushing praise from his less than sober, less than intelligent boss in Moscow.

By careful reporting, Gordievsky wrote, Success can be created out of very little.

Which does prompt you to wonder what Jan Sarkocy thinks about those reports he wrote for his bosses in the 1980s.

So far, its hard to detect any public acknowledgement that careful reporting of, say, meeting a left-wing backbench MP, can create success out of very little.

Nor does one necessarily get the sense of a source who is accurate to an almost pedantic degree.

Mr Sarkocy has gone on to tell other newspapers  not The Sun  that the files in the Czech security archive tell nowhere near the whole story.

He has told The Sunday Telegraph that from Corbyn he and his colleagues obtained good information that we could use.

He also appears to have told a Slovakian tabloid enquiring about the nature of this good information: I'll tell you this. I knew what Thatcher would have for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and what she would wear next day.

Barring the explanation that Jeremy Corbyn and Margaret Thatcher were secret star-crossed lovers, it is possible Mr Sarkocy was conflating information he was receiving from the Labour MP with intelligence he was getting  or claiming to get  from other sources.

That still leaves the question of what to make of his apparent insistence, in the same interview, that he and the Czech intelligence services somehow helped organise the 1988 Free Nelson Mandela concert at Wembley. Or Live Aid. It wasnt entirely clear which concert Mr Sarkocy seemed to be claiming credit for.

But the Labour Party has made up its mind about him.

The former Cold War Czechoslovak agent Jan Sarkocy is a fantasist, whose claims are entirely false and becoming more absurd by the day, a party spokesman has said. His account of his meeting with Jeremy was false 30 years ago, is false now and has no credibility whatsoever.

Perhaps the charge that has the most chance of sticking to Jeremy Corbyn is The Suns original one, of naivety.

But even Tories can be suspected of naivety.

When he visited Russia as Prime Minister in 2011, David Cameron delighted in telling the story of how when visiting the Black Sea coast on his gap year trip to Russia in 1985, he was approached by two Russians, speaking perfect English, [who] took me out to lunch and dinner and asked me about what I thought about England.

This, Mr Cameron surmised, may have been an interview to see whether he could be recruited as a KGB agent.

Four years later, however, Russian secret service sources seemed to provide a more prosaic explanation of what had happened to young Mr Cameron and his travelling companion.

Komsomolskaya Pravda quoted secret service sources as saying the two English-speaking Russians were after Western goods to sell on the black market  and the company of two nice-looking British guys.

This wasnt an attempted KGB hook-up, the sources said, but there was a gay motive.
Jeremy Corbyn will vow to strip the City of London of its dominance in the UK, before accusing the financial sector of having a pernicious and undemocratic control over British politics.

The Labour leader will argue in a major speech that the Citys growth has had a destructive impact on the real economy, as he pledges to swing the UK back towards an industry based model.

He will also say that in government, Labour would use new powers to prevent a hostile takeover of engineering firm GKN.

Speaking at the conference of EEF, the manufacturers organisation, on Monday Mr Corbyn will declare that the finance sector needs a fundamental rethink and the next Labour government will make it the servant of industry not the masters of us all.

He will say: There can be no rebalancing of our distorted, sluggish and unequal economy without taking on the power finance.

For 40 years, deregulated finance has progressively become more powerful. Its dominance over industry  obvious and destructive; its control of politics  pernicious and undemocratic.

He will hit out a generation of politicians who thought the City of London could power the whole economy, while once strong industrial areas were put into managed decline.

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

Mr Corbyn will go on to claim that the welfare state was left to pick up the slack with sticking plaster redistribution to the people and places held back by the finance-led boom in the South-east of England  an apparent attack on New Labour policies championed by Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

He will add: For a generation, instead of finance serving industry, politicians have served finance.

Weve seen where that ends: the productive economy, our public services and peoples lives being held hostage by a small number of too-big-to-fail banks and casino financial institutions.

Pledging to take action on the matter, he cited engineering firm GKN as an example of where he would use new promised powers to stop hostile takeovers of British firms.

Theresa May has also said she would act in the national interest when asked for her reaction to the takeover bid of aero-engineer GKN by Melrose.

Melrose Industries has offered 7.4bn to buy GKN, sparking a war of words between the two companies and drawing the attention of the Government due to the companys position as a leading engineer and large employer.

 Jeremy Corbyn hits out at the government's use of private companies following Carillion collapse

Conservative MP Robert Jenrick, exchequer secretary to the Treasury, said: Labour dont know how to handle the economy and would end up harming Britains businesses, and there would be fewer good jobs for people as a result.

We are stepping in to make sure businesses play by the rules, after Labours failure to properly regulate the banks.

Only the Conservatives can build a stronger, fairer economy that works for everyone.
The survivors of the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School want to be the last students to live through a school shooting  and they have a plan to make that happen.

One hundred students from the Florida high school, where a lone gunman killed 17 students and staff members last week, have travelled to the state capital of Tallahassee to meet with legislators and hold a march for gun safety reform.

It really needs to be recognised that they need to stop fighting each other and starting working together, Jaclyn Corin, the student and junior class president who conceived of the trip, told the Tampa Bay Times. This has to be the last school this happens to.

The trip is just the first step in waves of action planned by the teenage survivors, who have been outspoken in both mainstream and social media about their demand for more gun control in the wake of the shooting. The students have planned a nationwide March for Our Lives rally for 24 March, and are participating in a nationally televised town hall with CNN.

Some students  though the White House did not specify who  will also participate in a listening session with President Donald Trump.

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

The students and their chaperones are making the 450 mile journey to Tallahassee by bus, after first attending a funeral for former classmate Carmen Schentrup. Carmen, age 16, was killed when former Marjory Stoneman Douglas student Nikolas Cruz allegedly opened fire on the school with an AR-15 on Valentines Day.

The trip will culminate in the Rally to Support Gun Safety Reform this afternoon, at the Florida Historic Capitol Museum. The rally, co-sponsored by the Florida Coalition To Prevent Gun Violence and the League of Women Voters of Florida, will demand the prohibition of assault rifles and large-capacity magazines, according to its Facebook page. The students will speak alongside State Senator Gary Farmer and State Representative Carlos Guillermo Smith.

More than 600 people  including survivors of the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando in 2016  have already RSVPed to the rally on Facebook. The nearby Leon County school district will excuse students from class for the rally, and even bus them to the event, Superintendent Rocky Hanna told the Tallahassee Democrat.

 Florida student Emma Gonzalez passionately calls for gun control at rally after school shooting

The students will also meet with state legislators throughout the two day visit. According to Ms Corin, the pupils will encourage legislators to act on gun control bills that have been introduced to the Senate, but never passed.

Ms Corin posted screenshots of three Florida Senate bills on Twitter: one that would repeal prohibitions on record-keeping of firearm owners, one that would require gun sales to go through a licensed dealer with a three-day waiting period, and one that would prohibit the sale of assault rifles and large capacity magazines.

My classmates and I will be focusing on these bills, she tweeted. We are not yet allowed to bring about our own, but that does not mean we cant introduce our own ideas  DONT WORRY! Our hope is that the Senate may have a special session in the future using our suggestions for new bills.

Students have already confirmed meetings with Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, Senate President Joe Negron, and Speaker of the House Richard Corcoran, according to the Times. Ms Corin tweeted on Tuesday that Governor Rick Scott had also agreed to a meeting.

Senator Lauren Book, who represents the county where the shooting occurred, is helping to organise the trip. In an interview with the Democrat, she praised Ms Corin as the epitome of strength, advocacy and tenacity.

I hope that my daughter will be half the young woman that she is, dealing with such horrific events, she said.
Amal and George Clooney are donating a half a million dollars to the students organising marches against gun violence following the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last week.

The actor said that he and his human rights lawyer wife were inspired by the efforts undertaken by the high school students in the wake of a tragedy that has sent tremblers through their community and the nation.

Amal and I are so inspired by the courage and eloquence of these young men and women from Stoneman Douglas High School, he wrote in a statement Tuesday.

Recommended George and Amal Clooney gave out headphones on recent flight

Our family will be there on March 24 to stand side by side with this incredible generation of young people from all over the country, and in the name of our children Ella and Alexander, were donating $500,000 to help pay for this groundbreaking event. Our childrens lives depend on it.

The Clooney donation prompted several other celebrities to announce they would match those donations. Oprah Winfrey announced soon after that she would also donate $500,000 to the cause, as did Steven Spielberg and his wife Kate Capshaw. Jeffrey and Marilyn Katzenberg also said they would donate half a million dollars.

"George and Amal, I couldn't agree with you more," Oprah wrote on Twitter. "I am joining forces with you and will match your $500,000 donation to 'March For Our Lives.' These inspiring young people remind me of the Freedom Riders of the 60s who also said we've had ENOUGH and our voices will be heard."

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

After a 19-year-old gunman killed 17 people and injured as many as a dozen more, funerals have been taking place to lay the dead to rest.

Meanwhile, students from the school have made it their mission to try and ensure that theirs is the last mass school shooting that America must endure, organising what promises to be a massive march in Washington DC next month, which has inspired spin-off marches across the country.

Every singe person up here today, all these people should be home grieving, Emma Gonzalez, an 18-year-old senior from the school, said Saturday at an anti-gun rally in Ft Lauderdale. But instead we are up here standing together because if all our government and President can do is send thoughts and prayers, then its time for victims to be the change that we need to see.

Ms Gonzalez and a group of her classmates have been spent countless hours since the shooting Wednesday huddling together at each others homes, organising an effort to push gun control measures. They announced the March for our Lives march Sunday, with an expressed goal of making sure that politicians who have accepted money from the National Rifle Association (NRA) are not re-elected during this Novembers midterm elections.

Their organising has resulted in an outpouring of support on the groups Facebook page, with local chapters pledging that they will hold their own rallies on the same day as the national march in Washington.
A lawyer says he has been falsely accused of trying to have a sexual relationship with a suspected terrorist behind the 9/11 attacks.

Tim Jon Semmerling, a defence attorney and Middle East expert, is suing fellow lawyers who he claims spread horrific allegations that endanger his life and career.

The 56-year-old was appointed to defend Walid bin Attash, a Yemeni prisoner in Guantanamo Bay who has been formally charged with helping to train several of the 9/11 hijackers.

Mr Semmerling, who is gay, was warned by the CIA never to reveal his sexual orientation because of the views held my Islamic extremists regarding LGBT+ issues.

But in a federal lawsuit, Mr Semmerling claims rival lawyers told Mr bin Attash he was gay and was "pursuing a homosexual interest" with him. This triggered his sacking and left him a potential target in the Middle East, he alleges.

They have hurt my career, these people, they have made sure I can never go back by outing me to Guantananamo Bay to work with any of the people down there, Mr Semmerling told Fox 32.

 Distress calls from 9/11 relive the trauma of the attacks

How would that even be possible? If you meet with somebody down there, constantly around with cameras.

I remember being in one, and the minute I took my shoe off, because my shoe was bothering him that day, and within a minute they had a guard in there telling me to put my shoes back on.

Walid bin Attash has been charged with helping to train 9/11 hijackers (Fox 32)

So it couldn't even possibly happen. So that's what so absurd about it.

One defendant named in the lawsuit is Cheryl Bormann, a defence lawyer who represented Mr bin Attash in 2012. She claims in court documents she is immune from any liability because she was providing legal services to a client.

FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 Show all 19 1 /19 FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI FBI release unseen image of Pentagon on 9/11 FBI

Mr Semmerling says she and others had a personal vendetta against him because Mr bin Attash preferred his work to theirs.

They looked for a scapegoat, They found a homosexual bogeyman to do it to. And thats where we're at, Mr Semmerling said.
Michigan has sued a prisoner serving a life sentence for money he earned in jail for writing a book.

Curtis Dawkins, in prison for a committing murder during a botched robbery in 2004, published The Graybar Hotel last year to rave reviews.

Now the state of Michigan is seeking 90 per cent of his assets to include "proceeds from publications, future payments, royalties.

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Mr Dawkins was praised as a gifted stylist whose stories illuminated the often overlooked lives of prisoners, as the New York Times reported.

The state would like the money is family puts in his prison account as well.

Michigan had calculated the cost of Mr Dawkins imprisonment since 2005 at $372,000 (266,000) and the states is one of 40 in the US that could require prisoners to pay for their incarceration.

According to The Guardian, "Michigan collected $3.7m from 294 prisoners" in 2017.

Mr Dawkins has put a third of a $150,000 advance from the publisher towards an education fund for his three children. The rest of the payments from publisher Scribner, part of Simon and Schuster, have been suspended pending the outcome of the litigation.

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 former fiction writing graduate student who had suffered from drug and alcohol addiction for several years had killed Thomas Bowman in 2004.

Mr Bowmans brother was vocal about his opposition to the convicted killers book deal and profiting from it while in prison.

The state also frozen his prison account which he used for phone calls, extra food, and paper for his typewriter.

"I did wrong, but those kids are completely innocent, he told the newspaper, echoing the guilt he had expressed in the foreword to the short story collection.

A hearing is scheduled for early next week on the complaint which the state filed in October 2017.
Nearly double the number of women are running for office in 2018 than in the last election cycle two years ago.

Thus far, this year is on track to break records, NPR said of a study by Rutgers University in New Jersey.

According to the news outlet, 431 women are set to run the for the House in the US Congress  339 Democrats and 92 Republicans. In February 2016, that number was just 212.

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At least 50 women have declared they are running for US Senate, compared to 25 at this point in 2016.

Given that many states deadlines are still coming up, those numbers could increase by quite a bit.

Emilys List is an organisation that recruits and trains female Democratic candidates, focusing on helping women who support the right to legal abortions, get into office.

The organisastions president, Stephanie Schriock said that the phenomenon was largely a left-leaning one. US President Donald Trump actually won the white women vote in 2016.

I think its really being driven on the Democratic side. I think the energy and the excitement and the determination, not just to run but also in terms of whos going to show up to vote, right now, thats on the side of the Democrats, she said.

 Halsey delivers powerful, personal poem about sexual abuse at Women's March

In the last election cycle, Ms Schirock said approximately 920 women had contacted the group expressing interest in getting their help to run for office.

For the 2018 election that number is closer to 30,000. She noted that not all those women would run for office this year and some may end up working on campaigns instead of running themselves.

In some districts, male Republican candidates have essentially shot themselves in the foot with behaviour women in the community and the women running against them found sexist or misogynist.

Atlantic County, New Jersey legislature member John Carman had posted a meme on Facebook the day after Mr Trumps inauguration in January 2017 that read: Will the womens protest be over in time for them to cook dinner? and wrote a caption: Just asking?

Millions of people all over the world had gathered to march in the streets for womens rights that day.

Mr Carman later said at an October county meeting with citizens that posting the meme was bad choice but that the women in his life were strong and confident enough to know it was just a joke and not to be offended.

It spurred Ashley Bennet, a psychiatric emergency screener at a local hospital, to run against him as a Democrat in last years election.

She won.

She said she was angry about [the Facebook meme], because elected officials shouldnt be on social media mocking and belittling people who are expressing their concerns about their community and the nation.

Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Show all 35 1 /35 Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures London Women's rights demonstrators hold placards and shout slogans during the Time's Up rally at Richmond Terrace, opposite Downing Street in London. Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures London The Time's Up initiative was launched at the start of January 2018 as a response to the #MeToo movement and the Harvey Weinstein scandal. AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Berlin Women's March in Berlin. EPA Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures London The Time's Up Women's March marks the one year anniversary of the first Women's March in London and in 2018 it is inspired by the Time's Up movement against sexual abuse. Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Paris Women hold a banner reading "still feminist" with the Eiffel tower in background on the Trocadero esplanade in Paris. AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures London Protesters hold up placards at the Women's March in central London. Rex Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Paris A demonstator hold signs on the Trocadero esplanade in Paris during a women's march organised as part of global protests. AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures London Chanting Times Up in the cold rain - On the anniversary of the Women's March on London. Rex Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York Thousands of people gather holding protest signs on Central Park West. EPA Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York Demonstrators take part in the Women's March in Manhattan Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Chicago A woman holds a sign during the Second Annual Womens March in Chicago AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York People gather near Central Park before the beginning of the Women's March in New York Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Washington Supporters gather during the Women's March in Washington AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York The crowd lines up near Central Park Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Chicago Demostrators attend the Second Annual Womens March in Chicago AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York Thousands hold signs and rally while attending the Womens March in New York Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York People gather near Central Park before the beginning of the Women's March in New York Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Washington People participate in the second annual Women's March in Washington Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York People hold signs up during the women's march Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Philadelphia Oscar Janicki, 6, participates in the Second Annual Women's March in Philadelphia Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Philadelphia Crowds gather to participate in the Second Annual Women's March in Philadelphia Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Washington People participate in the second annual Women's March in Washington Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York Women pose as they attend the second annual National Womens March in New York City AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Washington People participate in the second annual Women's March in Washington Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York People gather prior to the second annual National Womens March in New York City AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York People take part in the Women's March in Manhattan Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York People gather the second annual National Womens March AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Washington People participate in the Second Annual Women's March in Washington Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Rome A woman holds a banner reading "Womwn united will never be defeated" during Rome Resists demonstration part of the Women's March in downtown. AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Rome Italian actress Asia Argento (3rdL) attends the Rome Resists demonstration part of the Women's March in downtown Rome. AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Rome The Women's March Rome, designed to show solidarity for the protection of civil and social rights, women's rights and the environment included Italian actress Asia Argento, one of the first women to accuse US film producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault. AFP/Getty Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Zurich A US citizen holds a poster on the anniversary of the inauguration of President Trump apologising to the world on behalf of her country, in Zurich, Switzerland. A year after millions of people took to the streets across the US and countries around the world, women's marches are being held in lots of cities this weekend. EPA Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures New York People take part in the Women's March in Manhattan Reuters Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Rome A woman holds a banner reading "The rising of the women means rising of us all" during Rome Resists demonstration. AFP/Getty Images Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures Rome A woman lifts her fist while holding a banner reading "Hear our voice" during Rome Resists demonstration. AFP/Getty

On a national level, many women seem to be inspired to run for office because of Mr Trump.

Deborah Walsh, Director of the Centre for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, said that Mr Trump is the gift that keeps on giving in terms of motivation to stay engaged and stay involved and not lose your enthusiasm.

Mr Trumps many tweets attacking crooked Hillary Clinton, bashing Oprah Winfrey, his alleged extramarital affairs, the 19 women accusing him of sexual harassment, and the now-infamous Hollywood Insider tape recording on which he used disparaging language to refer to womens genitals and openly discussed sexually harassing women are just some of the incidents adding fuel to the fire.

But, this is not just a revolutionary year for Democratic women.

 Police officers high-five demonstrators on women's march

Twenty-one Republican women have announced a run for Senate this year, along with 92 for the House, and 31 for governorships, according to the Rutgers study.

Thats more than in any year at this point since at least 2002, NPR reported.

To many Republican women, the ongoing discussion regarding gender politics is something they are left out of according to Missy Shorey, the Executive Director of Maggies List, the Republican version of Emilys List.

The group recruits, trains, and helps fundraise for female Republican candidates running for public office.

Were not invited to many of the womens marches and rallies, she said, adding: In fact, were disinvited sometimes. Thats fine, if thats the way the left wants [us] to be treated. But ignore us at your own peril.

Ms Shoreys estimation is that Republican women will not be seen as avengers the way Democratic female candidates will be in this election cycle.

She said that angry persona will just not play well in many districts around the country.

She also noted that the recent spate of sexual harassment allegations will make many voters naturally turn towards female candidates; that even male voters will vote for women because they are sick of the way these men have been behaving.
The niece of French far right leader Marine Le Pen has been invited to address American Republicans at an annual Conservative conference in Washington.

Marion Marechal-Le Pen will take to the stage shortly after Vice President Mike Pence at this years Conservative Political Action Conference,

President Donald Trump will also speak at the convention and former UKIP leader Nigel Farage will be in attendance.

Ms Marechal-Le Pens presence has nonetheless sparked divisions, with some moderate Republicans cautious about associating with a far-right figure.

Breitbart editor Raheem Kassam wrote on Twitter: Brilliant that Marion Marechal-Le Pen is speaking at CPAC. Even more amazing that the RINOs (Republican In Name Only) are *FREAKING OUT*.

Matt Schlapp, the head of the American Conservative Union, which organises CPAC, also defended her invitation, calling her a classical liberal, a conservative.

The former youth star of the French far-right, and granddaughter of Front National founder Jean-Marie Le Pen, is known for being more religious and socially conservative than her aunt.

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 27-year-old has also been billed by many as a potential future leader of the Front National party, which her aunt still heads.

After Ms Le Pens election defeat to Emmanuel Macron, Ms Marechal-Le Pen announced she would take a break from politics for personal and political reasons.

Her speech at CPAC thought to be her first public appearance since.
A Trump White House official reportedly said coverage of the mass shooting at a Florida high school last week has given the administration a reprieve from having to deal with bad publicity.

For everyone, it was a distraction or a reprieve, the official told the Washington Post. A lot of people here felt like it was a reprieve from seven or eight days of just getting pummeled.

The official said there was a similar calm in the wake of the mass shooting in Las Vegas that left 58 dead and hundreds more injured.

But as we all know, sadly, when the coverage dies down a little bit, well be back through the chaos, the official reportedly said.

Prior to the news that a gunman had attacked Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, killing 17 people, the White House was facing intense scrutiny over its mishandling of domestic abuse allegations against former staff secretary Rob Porter  claims Mr Porter denied.

The shooting gave aides an opportunity to focus on handling a crisis that wasnt of their own making, the Post 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

Mr Trump travelled to Florida on Friday and met with survivors of the shooting.

He then travelled to his Mar-a-Lago estate, where he spent some of the weekend ranting on Twitter about the FBI, former President Barack Obama and an investigation into alleged ties between his presidential campaign and Russia.

After he returns to Washington, the President this week is scheduled to hold a listening session with high schoolers on gun control.
One of the most-read newspaper columnists in America has said President Donald Trumps presidency is code red.

Thomas Friedman of the New York Times wrote that the biggest threat to the integrity of our democracy today is in the Oval Office.

The column discussed the influence of Russia on US politics in light of the recent indictment in the FBI investigation into possible collusion between Mr Trumps campaign team and Russian officials.

Recommended Mueller levels new charges against lawyer for lying to investigators

Donald, if you are so innocent, why do you go to such extraordinary lengths to try to shut [special prosecutor Robert] Mueller down? Mr Friedman asked.

The latest indictment brought charges against 13 Kremlin-linked Russian nationals and three groups from the country for interfering in the 2016 US election.

Mr Friedman said the country needed a real leader at this time, not a man who moonlights as President while continuing to be the head of the Trump Organisation.

He also wrote that what we have instead is a president vulgarly tweeting that the Russians are laughing their asses off in Moscow for how weve been investigating their interventions.

Mr Trump has routinely slammed the FBI for its bias against him, sacking former Director James Comey. But, he continued to openly criticise the bureau and Mr Comeys replacement  a man the President nominated  Christopher Wray.

Mr Friedman called the Presidents latest tweet about the bureau demented.

 George W Bush: 'There's pretty clear evidence Russia meddled' in US election

In the wake of the Parkland, Florida school shooting on 14 February when 14 students and 3 adults were gunned down, Mr Trump blamed the bureau for not following up on a tip they had received last year about the suspected shooter Nikolas Cruz.

Very sad that the FBI missed all of the many signals sent out by the Florida school shooter. 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, Mr Trump wrote just as funerals for the children were being held.

To the contrary. Our FBI, CIA, and [National Security Agency], working with the special counsel, have done us amazingly proud. Theyve uncovered a Russian program to divide Americans and tilt our last election towards Trump  i.e., to undermine the very core of our democracy, Mr Friedman wrote.

He seemed to imply that though the FBI did make a mistake their work on the Russia matter should outweigh not being able to stop the alleged school shooter.

The columnist said that either Mr Trump is in the pocket of Russian President Vladimir Putin or he has something to hide and is worried that the more Mr Mueller digs, the closer he will get to it.

The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images

Several politicians on the left and even stalwart conservatives like Bill Kristol and Richard Painter, who served in the administration of former President George W Bush, have made similar comments.

It has not been proven publicly that the Russian leader had knowledge of the alleged collusion or meddling during the election.

However, Mr Putin has been accused of several years of autocratic tendencies; jailing political opponents frequently.

My guess is what Trump is hiding has to do with money, Mr Friedman said.

Several critics have also pointed to namesake son Donald Trump Jrs comment in 2008 that a pretty disproportionate cross section of a lot of [the Trump Organisations] assets are with Russian nationals and entities.

There is also the matter of the dossier compiled by former MI6 officer Christopher Steele, which alleged that there was a video of Mr Trump engaging in certain sexual activities with Russian sex workers on a 2013 trip to Moscow.

Mr Trump is either trying so hard to hide it or is so naive about Russia that he would undermine American democracy, according to Mr Friedman.
Florida state lawmakers have rejected a bill that would ban assault rifles, less than a week after 17 people were killed in a shooting at a Florida high school.

The Florida House voted 36-71 against a motion to consider legislation to outlaw assault rifles and large capacity magazines, effectively killing the bill for the time-being, according to the Associated Press.

The vote came as members of Congress, state legislators, governors and student survivors of the Parkland shooting called for tougher gun control laws.

Armed with a legally purchased AR-15-style assault rifle, a gunman last Wednesday attacked Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, about 45 miles north of Miami.

Students from the high school had travelled to the State House in Tallahassee to watch the vote. They looked on from the gallery as their lawmakers voted against considering the bill, according to Local10 News.

Democratic State Representative, Carlos Guillermo Smith, who has sponsored the assault weapon ban in Florida for the past two years, said the vote was the first time in two years the legislature held a vote on the proposed legislation.

He said the House had a moment of prayer, which he decided to sit out, before lawmakers voted not to bring the bill to the floor.

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

For two years I have sponsored the assault weapons ban in the Florida legislature, and this afternoon we were finally given our first vote on whether to discuss the bill, and Republicans refused to even debate it, Mr Smith told The Independent. They couldve voted it down. They couldve at least voted to take up the assault weapons ban on the floor and have a debate, and then if they wanted to they couldve voted no on the bill. They didnt even want to have a debate or discussion. Shameful.

He continued: I decided to sit out this prayer intentionally because it was symbolic of what this legislatures strategy has been on how to curb gun violence all along: Thinking and praying all about it, which is not the solution.

The bill was assigned to three committees but was not scheduled for a hearing, AP reported. The House voted against removing the bill from committee to allow it to be considered by the full House, meaning it is essentially dead for this legislative session since the committees will not meet again before 9 March  when the session ends. Floridas next legislative session does not begin until next year.

The vote came amid a lack of action on gun control by the federal government. Fed up by the gridlock in Congress on the issue, one state governor, Phil Murphy of New Jersey, has suggested forming a coalition of like-minded governors to push for reform at the state level.

In what could be viewed as an attempt to throw a bone to gun control advocates, Donald Trump on Tuesday said he ordered regulation to ban bump stocks, devices that modify semi-automatic weapons to shoot hundreds of rounds of ammunition per minute. The devices were used in the Las Vegas shooting in October that left 58 people dead and hundreds injured.
Mike Pence has sidestepped questions about the ideal shape of Donald Trumps proposed border wall.

During an interview that took place near Americas border with Mexico, the Vice President was repeatedly asked about what type of barrier should be constructed. He deferred to Mr Trump, saying the priority was securing as-yet-lacking financial backing.

President Trump will make the final decision about the structure of the wall, but the first step is that Congress has to fund it, Mr Pence told interviewer Ainsley Earhardt.

When Ms Earhardt noted that we dont have a wall all the way across the border and asked Mr Pence to confirm that you would like that to happen, Mr Pence was noncommittal.

President Trump made a commitment to the American people that were going to build a wall, Mr Pence said. That means were going to have a physical barrier on our southern border.

Mr Trump has repeatedly said that a wall would only need to span about half the border, with natural obstacles like rivers accounting for the rest. Experts  including members of his own administration  have called building a wall the entire border unfeasible given the cost, legal hurdles and rough physical terrain.

Life on the US-Mexican border Show all 12 1 /12 Life on the US-Mexican border Life on the US-Mexican border Tijuana, Mexico A house stands next to a section of the border fence separating Mexico and the US Reuters Life on the US-Mexican border Tijuana, Mexico The border fence in Tijuana stretches all the way to beach Reuters Life on the US-Mexican border Tijuana, Mexico Migrants can often be spotted trying to cross the rusty barrier Reuters Life on the US-Mexican border Tijuana, Mexico Joaquin, 36, a chef from Guatemala who says he was deported from the US Reuters Life on the US-Mexican border Tijuana, Mexico A shack stands next to a section of the border fence Reuters Life on the US-Mexican border Tijuana, Mexico Tourists pose for a picture at the border Reuters Life on the US-Mexican border Tijuana, Mexico A family burns rubbish near the fence Reuters Life on the US-Mexican border Tijuana, Mexico Joaquin makes a living by selling rubbish Reuters Life on the US-Mexican border Tijuana, Mexico Neither Trump nor the wall is going to stop anyone, says Pedro Reuters Life on the US-Mexican border Tijuana, Mexico Mexicans have built homes right next to the fence Reuters Life on the US-Mexican border Tijuana, Mexico Mexican Carlos, 27, who says that he was deported from the United States, heats up tortillas at his house near the double fence that separates Mexico and the US Reuters Life on the US-Mexican border Tijuana, Mexico A girl climbs stairs near a section of the fence

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said during her confirmation hearing that a wall from sea to shining sea was not needed, and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly reportedly told members of Congress Mr Trump was not fully informed when he issued campaign pledges that included vowing Mexico would pay for the structure.

Mr Trump responded to the report of Mr Kellys statement by saying that his conception of the wall never changed or evolved from the first day I conceived of it and suggesting the barrier would not, in fact, span the entire border.

Parts will be, of necessity, see through and it was never intended to be built in areas where there is natural protection such as mountains, wastelands or tough rivers or water, Mr Trump said.

The Trump administrations push for wall funding is bound up with a larger debate about immigration. With the White House taking a hard line, the Senate last week voted down multiple proposals that would have allocated billions for border security while carving out a path to citizenship to a population of young immigrants, known as Dreamers, who had qualified for a since-lapsed deportation relief initiative.
President Donald Trump has endorsed a frequent critic of his in the race to replace retiring Sen Orrin Hatch in Utah.

Mr Trump took to Twitter to express his faith in Mitt Romney, saying that he is a worthy successor to Mr Hatch and that he has his full support.

Mitt Romney has announced he is running for the Senate from the wonderful State of Utah, Mr Trump wrote on the social media platform. He will make a great Senator and worthy successor to @OrrinHatch, and has my full support and endorsement!

Recommended Trump critic Mitt Romney announces run for Utah Senate seat

Mr Romney is a one-time presidential candidate who lost in the general election in 2012 against former President Barack Obama. Mr Romney was previously the governor of Massachusetts before his failed run for president.

The two politicians have had a strained relationship in the past. Mr Romney was very critical of Mr Trump during his 2016 presidential run, saying then that Mr Trump was not qualified to be president.

Mr Trump later invited Mr Romney to visit him during the presidential transition period before the inauguration, fueling speculation that the former Massachusetts governor was being considered to be Mr Trumps Secretary of State. Mr Trump ultimately those Rex Tillerson for that job.

Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Show all 29 1 /29 Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inauguration - 20 January 2017 US President Donald Trump acknowledges the audience after taking the oath of office as his wife Melania (L) and daughter Tiffany watch during inauguration ceremonies swearing in Trump as the 45th president of the United States on the West Front of the US capital in Washington on 20 January, 2017. Photographer Jim Bourg: "This photo was shot with one of two remote cameras. The cameras were monitored and triggered remotely and the pictures were transmitted to clients worldwide within minutes of being taken." Reuters/Jim Bourg Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Obama farewell address - 10 January 2017 US President Barack Obama wipes away tears as he delivers his farewell address in Chicago on 10 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "In his final days in office, Obama made a visit home to Chicago. As he spoke from the stage to his wife and daughter in the audience, he became emotional when he talked about what they had sacrificed during his time in office. I turned from photographing the Obama women embracing to find him onstage wiping away tears." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inauguration - 20 January 2017 A combination of photos shows the crowds attending the inauguration ceremonies to swear in U.S. President Donald Trump at 12:01pm (left) on January 20, 2017 and President Barack Obama sometime between 12:07pm and 12:26pm on January 20, 2009. Reuters/ Lucas Jackson/Stelios Varias Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Liberty Ball - 20 January 2017 US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the Liberty Ball in honour of his inauguration in Washington on 20 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "What I see when I look at this picture is the end of a very long day, not to mention weeks and months of preparation by many photographers, editors and network experts and the beginning of everything since." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inaugural Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders Reception - 22 January 2017 US President Donald Trump greets Director of the FBI James Comey as Director of the Secret Service Joseph Clancy (L), watches during the Inaugural Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders Reception in the Blue Room of the White House on 22 January, 2017. Photographer Joshua Roberts: "I have covered the White House for 16 years and normally either the President or the pool is in position when an event starts. In this case the President was not where anyone expected him to be. In fact, he was almost blocking the door when the pool came in. We had to scramble to find a position without bumping him or the furniture as he greeted and thanked members of law enforcement for their security efforts during the inauguration. Luckily, he greeted FBI Director James Comey a few seconds after the pool had made its way into the room." Reuters/Joshua Roberts Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Private phone calls to world leaders - 28 January 2017 US President Donald Trump, is joined by his staff, as he speaks by phone with Russia's President Vladimir Putin in the Oval Office on 28 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "Very early in the Trump administration, weekends were as busy as weekdays. On Trump's second Saturday the official schedule said he would be making private phone calls to a number of world leaders including Russia's Vladimir Putin. I arrived early and, before sitting down at my desk walked up to Press Secretary Sean Spicer's office. He, too, was just taking his coat off. I gingerly made the suggestion that previous administrations had sometimes allowed photos of such phone calls through the Oval Office windows on the colonnade. To my mild shock, he didn't even think about it twice. "We'll do it!" he said. In truth, I really only expected the Putin call, but we were outside the windows multiple times throughout the day as the calls went on." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Senior advisor Kellyanne Conway - 27 February 2017 Senior advisor Kellyanne Conway (L) attends as US President Donald Trump welcomes the leaders of dozens of historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) in the Oval Office on 27 February, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "We're often asked how much access we have to the Trump administration, and the answer is we have an awful lot. President Trump himself is very comfortable in the spotlight, and his aides are similarly unfazed by cameras. In this instance, senior advisor Kellyanne Conway was so comfortable in our presence she seemed not to consider the optics of kneeling on a Oval Office sofa to take pictures with her phone." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Angela Merkel heads to Washington - 17 March 2017 Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump hold a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House on 17 March, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "Chancellor Merkel made one of the earliest important visits of any US allies to meet Trump in his first months in office. When world leaders give joint news conferences they don't always tend to give each other their full attention - but Merkel watched Trump intently at several key moments, and here seemed particularly rapt." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Trump welcomes truckers to the White House - 23 March 2017 President Trump reacts as he sits on a truck while he welcomes truckers and CEOs to attend a meeting regarding healthcare at the White House on 23 March, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "The White House organised a listening session with truckers and CEO's of major American companies, regarding healthcare reform. An 18-wheeler tow truck was parked on the South Lawn of the White House and as Trump welcomed the truckers someone invited the him to come and sit in the driver's seat. Trump jumped into the cab and started yelling and pretending to drive - creating one of the most memorable pictures of the year. A lesson learned, always be prepared for the unexpected." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Air Force One - 6 April 2017 US President Donald Trump talks to journalists members of the travel pool on board the Air Force One during his trip to Palm Beach, Florida on 6 April, 2017. Carlos Barria: "During the many trips to President Trump's residence in Florida it is usual to see the president coming to the back of the plane to chat with journalists. During one of the trips to the so called 'Winter White House', Trump had a long talk with reporters while the Air Force One entertainment system was playing one of the latest Star Wars movies. As I was listening to Trump talk I was also looking at the movie waiting for a part of the movie to frame the mood of the day. Of the many scenes, I choose the one with Darth Vader." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures 100 Days - 27 April 2017 US President Donald Trump speaks during an interview with Reuters in the Oval Office of the White House on 27 April, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "A day before President Trump's hundred days in office I was part of the team that interviewed the commander-in-chief in the Oval Office. I was only allowed to photograph Trump during the last five minutes of the interview. The time was very tight so I had to move fast as I had pictures in mind that I wanted to shoot. I walked into the Oval Office and saw that the President had printed maps of the country showing areas in red where he won. I raised my hands holding my camera as high as possible to get the best view of the scene using a 16mm wide angle lens." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures 100 Days - 27 April 2017 US President Donald Trump reacts as he arrives at Harrisburg international airport, before attending a rally marking his first 100 days in office in Pennsylvania on 29 April, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "President Trump travelled to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to celebrate his hundred days in office with a victory rally. He was in friendly territory as he won with a big difference over his opponent Hillary Clinton in Pennsylvania, during the November elections. As usual when the commander-in-chief arrives local residents gather to greet him. This time a small group of military personnel attended the arrival. Surrounded by secret service agents Trump walked from the Air Force One and raised his hand in a sign of victory as the crowd cheered him on." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures White House staffers - 2 May 2017 White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer (L) and White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus watch as US President Donald Trump presents the U.S. Air Force Academy football team with the Commander-in-Chief trophy in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on 2 May, 2017. Photographer Joshua Roberts: "Covering the White House does not just mean covering the President. White House staffers are an important part of the story and their relationship with the President and each other is an indicator of how things are going in the West Wing. The tendency is to focus exclusively on the President once an event starts but I always try to look around to see how people are reacting as things unfold." Reuters/Joshua Roberts Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Secret Service - 4 May 2017 Secret Service agents use a presidential limousine as cover from spraying water as US President Donald Trump lands via Marine One helicopter in New York on 4 May, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "The best part of any trip to New York City with the sitting US President is the helicopter ride into Manhattan. The ride out at night can be stunning. Here, Secret Service agents protect themselves from the spray from the East River as Trump lands on the helipad." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures NATO Summit - 25 May 2017 US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump wait the arrival of French President Emmanuel Macron (unseen) before a lunch ahead of a NATO Summit in Brussels on 25 May, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "One of the best parts of travelling overseas for White House coverage is the chance to see the U.S. president in different environments and (literally) a different light. Here, Trump and his wife came out of the shadows to greet France's President Macron." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Trump meets Putin at G20 summit - 7 July 2017 US President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their bilateral meeting at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany on 7 July, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "On July 7, I witnessed one of the most important meetings of President Trump's first year in office. Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin during a bilateral meeting at the G20 summit in Germany. The world's eyes were on these two leaders after speculation about Russian interference during the 2016 US elections. We entered the room for less than two minutes, where I took dozens of pictures. But there was this very interesting moment when Trump extended his hand to Putin for a handshake. Putin paused for a second and looked at Trump's hand. That was the picture that I was looking for, a little moment that seemed to say a lot." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures First lady - 8 July 2017 First lady Melania Trump chats with US President Donald Trump during their return from Germany at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on 8 July, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "After President Trump's trip to Germany he arrived back at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. First Lady Melania Trump said goodbye to Trump as she was heading off in a different direction that day. While chatting a breeze blew Melania's hair up in the air." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Made in America product showcase - 17 July 2017 Vice President Mike Pence laughs as President Donald Trump holds a baseball bat as they attend a Made in America product showcase event at the White House on 17 July, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "This summer the White House organized an event to showcase 'Made in America' products. All kinds of exhibitors brought their products as the President and Vice President toured the event. One of the companies was Marucci Sport, a manufacturer of baseball bats based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As Trump approached a table full of baseball bats, photographers at the event, including me, rushed to get a good angle hoping that he would pick up a bat. As we predicted, he did. He took one and joked around as though he was hitting something hard. The only thing closer to him right there, was the media." Reuters Donald Trump's first year: in pictures White House staffers - 25 July 2017 Former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski says hello to reporters as he and White House advisors including Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci accompany President Trump for an event celebrating veterans at AMVETS Post 44 in Ohio, July 25, 2017. Jonathan Ernst: "The most visible person in any White House is naturally the President, followed by the press secretary. But there are also the staff who support them. For those of us covering the Trump administration, there seem to be more compelling figures in the West Wing than ever before. It's crucial to know who's who and why they're important. When I raised my camera and back-pedalled ahead of the group to take this image Lewandowski gave me a hello. I liked the photo, but had no idea it would go a little bit viral, especially since Scaramucci, who was the biggest mover and shaker that week, was hidden back in the pack. But I guess the image catches a glimpse of what it's like to be a West Wing staffer on the road." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Campaign rally - 3 August 2017 US President Donald Trump arrives at a rally in West Virginia on 3 August, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "President Trump travelled to Huntington for one of his usual campaign rallies. While members of his family spoke to the crowd he was waiting under a black curtain to be introduced. Suddenly he walked onto the stage, one of the first frames that I took was of his hand. I set my exposure for the light on the stage hoping to create this dark background and it worked." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Staring into the solar eclipse - 21 August 2017 Without his protective glasses on, US President Donald Trump looks up towards the solar eclipse while viewing with his wife Melania and son Barron at the White House on 21 August, 2017. Photographer Kevin Lamarque: "On a day when everyone, and I mean everyone, was told not to look at the eclipse without protective glasses, Trump, President of the United States, couldn't help himself." Reuters/Kevin Lamarque Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Hurricane Harvey - 2 September 2017 US President Donald Trump poses for a photo as he and first lady Melania Trump help volunteers hand out meals during a visit with flood survivors of Hurricane Harvey at a relief centre in Houston, Texas on 2 September, 2017. Photohrapher Kevin Lamarque: "Trump, eager to deliver the image of a hands-on response to Hurricane Harvey, made this visit to a relief centre and obliged this woman with a selfie as Melania continued to work." Reuters/Kevin Lamarque Donald Trump's first year: in pictures White House - 15 September 2017 Donald Trump welcomes 11-year-old Frank Giaccio as he cuts the Rose Garden grass at the White House on 15 September. Frank, who wrote a letter to Trump offering to mow the lawn, was invited to work for a day at the White House along the National Park Service staff. Frank was so focused on his task that he did not notice the President arrive to surprise him. He took his father jumping in to grab his attention and point Trump out. Photographer Carlos Barria said: The image of Trump shouting at a kid who is mowing his lawn might have many interpretations in today's politically polarized United States. But for me it was just a kid who loved what he was doing, to the point he almost appeared to ignore the President." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Take a knee - 27 September 2017 A man kneels with a folded U.S. flag as the motorcade of U.S. President Donald Trump passes him after an event at the state fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S., September 27, 2017. In September, soon after Trump had made comments condemning NFL players who kneel during the national anthem, he made a day trip to a rally in Indianapolis. Jonathan Ernst managed to capture a man on one knee with a tri-folded flag and was able to use a portion of the sign on the building he was kneeling in front of to track the man down and tell his story in full. US Army veteran Marvin Boatright wanted to send a message against social injustice. Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Hurricane Maria - 3 October 2017 President Donald Trump throws rolls of paper towels into a crowd of local residents affected by Hurricane Maria as he visits Calgary Chapel in San Juan, Puerto Rico on 3 October, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "During an afternoon visit to Puerto Rico for President Trump to survey damage from Hurricane Maria and greet some of its victims, Trump made a stop at a church where food and supplies were being distributed. Among the items were paper towels and Trump, apparently caught up in the moment, decided to distribute some of the rolls." Reuters Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Jared Kushner - 1 November 2017 White House Senior adviser Jared Kushner sits behind President Trump during a cabinet meeting in Washington on 1 November, 2017. Photographer Kevin Lamarque: "The role of Jared Kushner has gone through a series of changes. He began front and centre as a high profile adviser, but as time has passed and issues surrounding him have surfaced, he has become more of a background figure." Reuters/Kevin Lamarque Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Trump in China - 9 November 2017 Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping shake hands after making joint statements at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on 9 November, 2017. Photographer Damir Sagolj: "It's one of those "how to make a better or at least different shot when two presidents shake hands several times a day, several days in row". If I'm not mistaken in calculation, presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump shook their hands at least six times in events I covered during Trump's recent visit to China. I would imagine there were some more handshakes I haven't seen but other photographers did. And they all look similar - two big men, smiling and heartily greeting each other until everyone gets their shot. But then there is always something that can make it special - in this case the background made of US and Chinese flags. The first time it didn't work for me. The second time I positioned myself lower and centrally, and used the longest lens I have to capture only hands reaching for a handshake." Reuters/Damir Sagolj Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Air Force One - 10 November 2017 US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One to depart for Vietnam from Beijing Airport in Beijing, China, November 10, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "There is a Reuters photographer in the tight pool covering the US president for every appearance he makes 365 days a year. This was just one of 32 images of mine that were transmitted on the Reuters wire of President Trump visiting China and Vietnam that day. You never know when a sudden interaction, a gust of wind or a unique facial expression will lead to a striking image that grabs peoples' attention." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures ASEAN handshake - 13 November 2017 Donald Trump registers his surprise as he realises other leaders, including Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte and Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, are crossing their arms for the traditional "ASEAN handshake" as he participates in the opening ceremony of the summit in Manila on 13 November, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "Having covered a few ASEAN summits, I knew to expect the ASEAN handshake. Not everyone in the room knew to expect the ASEAN handshake. A lot was written about this unscripted moment, and what deeper meaning it might have. The simple truth is that sometimes in life there are unscripted moments." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

But, Mr Romney has since then been critical of Mr Trump since he actually became president. For instance, Mr Romney has been critical of Mr Trumps response to the events in Charlottesville, Virginia last year when a white supremacist drove through a crowd of demonstrators killing one.

Mr Romney also criticized Mr Trumps decision to endorse former Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore, who was accused by multiple women of pursuing them sexually when they were teenagers and he was an adult.
Mitt Romney thanked Donald Trump for his endorsement in the Utah Senate race, despite previously having been one of the Presidents highest-profile critics.

In the past, the former Presidential candidate has called Mr Trump a phony and a fraud, railed against his Republican Party leader's bombast and accused him of being very, very not smart on the subject of foreign policy.

Mr Trump gave as good as he got, suggesting in 2016 that the former Massachusetts governor had choked like a dog during his failed 2012 bid against President Barack Obama.

But after the US leader endorsed his candidacy, Mr Romney tweeted: Thank you Mr President for the support. I hope that over the course of the campaign I also earn the support and endorsement of the people of Utah."

It followed Mr Trump's comment that his former sparring partner would make a great senator and worthy successor" Orrin Hatch, the longest serving Republican senator in US history, who announced last month that he would retire after 40-years in the upper chamber of the House of Representatives.

Mr Trump has repeatedly said that he needs more Republicans elected during the 2018 congressional elections to win approval of more of his agenda.

Mr Romney said last week he generally approved of the Trump agenda, but would not hesitate to criticise him if necessary.

Im with the Presidents domestic policy agenda of low taxes, low regulation, smaller government, pushing back against the bureaucrats, Mr Romney said. Im not always with the President on what he might say or do, and if that happens Ill call em like I see em, the way I have in the past.

Mr Trump had lobbied Mr Hatch to run for re-election in 2018, in what was viewed as an effort to prevent Mr Romney from getting into the Senate.

Mr Romney, the son of former Michigan Governor George Romney, helped found the buyout firm Bain Capital and gained prominence after stepping in to lead the organising committee for the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics after a bribery scandal.

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 served as governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007.

He first sought the presidency in 2008 but lost the Republican nomination to Arizona senator John McCain.

After securing the party's nomination in 2012, he lost to Barack Obama.

Additional reporting by agencies
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has released a new configuration of Congressional districts which could provide the Democrats with a boost in the upcoming midterm elections.

The reshaping of political boundaries represents the latest phase in a years-long political battle. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that districts crafted by the Republican majority were unconstitutional and sought to give the GOP a lasting electoral advantage, backing plaintiffs who alleged the maps were drawn to undermine Democratic candidates.

Democratic Governor Tom Wolf subsequently refused a new map drawn by Republicans, who in turn repudiated a proposed map from Mr Wolf as a ridiculously hypocritical and a partisan move to help Nancy Pelosi, the DNC and Pennsylvania Democrats steal Pennsylvania congressional seats. The disagreement put the matter in the hands of the court.

By rejecting Republican-drawn districts and issuing new maps intended to be more balanced, the court sent a charge through the politic landscape of a perennial swing state months out from November elections.

Democrats hope they will be able to wrest the House of Representatives from Republican control  Republicans currently hold 13 out of Pennsylvanias 18 House seats  and some analysts said the new maps would benefit Democrats.

The early indications are that this is a much more competitive map which will help the Democrats compared to the gerrymandered maps drawn by the Republican legislature, election law analyst Rick Hasen wrote.

In pictures: US Elections 2016 Show all 15 1 /15 In pictures: US Elections 2016 In pictures: US Elections 2016 Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks to supporters after rival candidate Hillary Clinton was projected as the winner in the Nevada Democratic caucuses Reuters In pictures: US Elections 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton takes photos with workers at her campaign office in Des Moines, Iowa AP In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, second from left, prays before lunch with supporters at Drake Diner in Des Moines, Iowa Reuters In pictures: US Elections 2016 Democratic presidential candidate and former Maryland Governor. Martin O'Malley, speaks during a campaign stop in Waterloo, Iowa AP In pictures: US Elections 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks, as his wife Jane OMeara Sanders looks on, at a campaign event at Iowa State University Getty In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio speaks at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa Reuters In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson speaks at a campaign event at Fireside Pub and Steak House in Manchester, Iowa. Getty In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum visiting supporters at a house party in West Des Moines, Iowa Reuters In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at a campaign event in Cedar Rapids, Iowa AP In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican candidate Ted Cruz campaigns at Greene County Community Centre in Jefferson, Iowa AP In pictures: US Elections 2016 Senator Rand Paul speaks during a Caucus rally at his Des Moines headquarters in Iowa Getty In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican candidate Jeb Bush speaks at a campaign event in Des Moines, Iowa AFP In pictures: US Elections 2016 Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin introducing the arrival of Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Cedar Rapids, Iowa Reuters In pictures: US Elections 2016 A portrait of Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders at his campaign headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa Getty In pictures: US Elections 2016 Campaign badges on sale ahead of a Trump rally at the Ramada Waterloo Hotel and Convention Centre in Waterloo, Iowa Getty

The new map was actively helping Dems compensate for their natural geographic disadvantage, analyst Dave Wasserman of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report said on Twitter.

Make no mistake: this is the PA map Dems wanted, he wrote.

Republicans have said they plan to challenge the new map in court. The prospect of continued legal wrangling injects uncertainty into the plan to have new districts in place in time for May primary elections.
Special counsel Robert Muellers team is expanding its scope of interest to include Jared Kushners efforts to secure financing for his company from foreign investors during the presidential transition, people familiar with the probe have told CNN.

This is the first time that Mr Kushners conversations with potential non-Russian investors has been mentioned in the media, and could include countries like China.

The investigation has reportedly also been looking at President Donald Trump's son in law's relationship to former national security adviser Michael Flynn, as well as Mr Kushners personal contacts with Russians during the campaign or transition period.

The people familiar with the investigation told CNN that Mr Muellers team has been asking about conversations Mr Kushner may have had to try and attract financing for 666 Fifth Avenue, an asset owned by Kushner Companies that has led to profound financial troubles for the firm.

It was not immediately clear why, specifically, Mr Muellers team may be interested in Mr Kushners contacts. The probe has reportedly not contacted Kushner Companies for information, nor has it requested interviews with executives.

Mr Kushners role during the presidential transition was as point-man for contacts with foreign governments. He later told a congressional panel that he made over fifty contacts with people from over fifteen countries.

Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Show all 29 1 /29 Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inauguration - 20 January 2017 US President Donald Trump acknowledges the audience after taking the oath of office as his wife Melania (L) and daughter Tiffany watch during inauguration ceremonies swearing in Trump as the 45th president of the United States on the West Front of the US capital in Washington on 20 January, 2017. Photographer Jim Bourg: "This photo was shot with one of two remote cameras. The cameras were monitored and triggered remotely and the pictures were transmitted to clients worldwide within minutes of being taken." Reuters/Jim Bourg Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Obama farewell address - 10 January 2017 US President Barack Obama wipes away tears as he delivers his farewell address in Chicago on 10 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "In his final days in office, Obama made a visit home to Chicago. As he spoke from the stage to his wife and daughter in the audience, he became emotional when he talked about what they had sacrificed during his time in office. I turned from photographing the Obama women embracing to find him onstage wiping away tears." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inauguration - 20 January 2017 A combination of photos shows the crowds attending the inauguration ceremonies to swear in U.S. President Donald Trump at 12:01pm (left) on January 20, 2017 and President Barack Obama sometime between 12:07pm and 12:26pm on January 20, 2009. Reuters/ Lucas Jackson/Stelios Varias Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Liberty Ball - 20 January 2017 US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the Liberty Ball in honour of his inauguration in Washington on 20 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "What I see when I look at this picture is the end of a very long day, not to mention weeks and months of preparation by many photographers, editors and network experts and the beginning of everything since." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inaugural Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders Reception - 22 January 2017 US President Donald Trump greets Director of the FBI James Comey as Director of the Secret Service Joseph Clancy (L), watches during the Inaugural Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders Reception in the Blue Room of the White House on 22 January, 2017. Photographer Joshua Roberts: "I have covered the White House for 16 years and normally either the President or the pool is in position when an event starts. In this case the President was not where anyone expected him to be. In fact, he was almost blocking the door when the pool came in. We had to scramble to find a position without bumping him or the furniture as he greeted and thanked members of law enforcement for their security efforts during the inauguration. Luckily, he greeted FBI Director James Comey a few seconds after the pool had made its way into the room." Reuters/Joshua Roberts Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Private phone calls to world leaders - 28 January 2017 US President Donald Trump, is joined by his staff, as he speaks by phone with Russia's President Vladimir Putin in the Oval Office on 28 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "Very early in the Trump administration, weekends were as busy as weekdays. On Trump's second Saturday the official schedule said he would be making private phone calls to a number of world leaders including Russia's Vladimir Putin. I arrived early and, before sitting down at my desk walked up to Press Secretary Sean Spicer's office. He, too, was just taking his coat off. I gingerly made the suggestion that previous administrations had sometimes allowed photos of such phone calls through the Oval Office windows on the colonnade. To my mild shock, he didn't even think about it twice. "We'll do it!" he said. In truth, I really only expected the Putin call, but we were outside the windows multiple times throughout the day as the calls went on." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Senior advisor Kellyanne Conway - 27 February 2017 Senior advisor Kellyanne Conway (L) attends as US President Donald Trump welcomes the leaders of dozens of historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) in the Oval Office on 27 February, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "We're often asked how much access we have to the Trump administration, and the answer is we have an awful lot. President Trump himself is very comfortable in the spotlight, and his aides are similarly unfazed by cameras. In this instance, senior advisor Kellyanne Conway was so comfortable in our presence she seemed not to consider the optics of kneeling on a Oval Office sofa to take pictures with her phone." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Angela Merkel heads to Washington - 17 March 2017 Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump hold a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House on 17 March, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "Chancellor Merkel made one of the earliest important visits of any US allies to meet Trump in his first months in office. When world leaders give joint news conferences they don't always tend to give each other their full attention - but Merkel watched Trump intently at several key moments, and here seemed particularly rapt." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Trump welcomes truckers to the White House - 23 March 2017 President Trump reacts as he sits on a truck while he welcomes truckers and CEOs to attend a meeting regarding healthcare at the White House on 23 March, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "The White House organised a listening session with truckers and CEO's of major American companies, regarding healthcare reform. An 18-wheeler tow truck was parked on the South Lawn of the White House and as Trump welcomed the truckers someone invited the him to come and sit in the driver's seat. Trump jumped into the cab and started yelling and pretending to drive - creating one of the most memorable pictures of the year. A lesson learned, always be prepared for the unexpected." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Air Force One - 6 April 2017 US President Donald Trump talks to journalists members of the travel pool on board the Air Force One during his trip to Palm Beach, Florida on 6 April, 2017. Carlos Barria: "During the many trips to President Trump's residence in Florida it is usual to see the president coming to the back of the plane to chat with journalists. During one of the trips to the so called 'Winter White House', Trump had a long talk with reporters while the Air Force One entertainment system was playing one of the latest Star Wars movies. As I was listening to Trump talk I was also looking at the movie waiting for a part of the movie to frame the mood of the day. Of the many scenes, I choose the one with Darth Vader." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures 100 Days - 27 April 2017 US President Donald Trump speaks during an interview with Reuters in the Oval Office of the White House on 27 April, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "A day before President Trump's hundred days in office I was part of the team that interviewed the commander-in-chief in the Oval Office. I was only allowed to photograph Trump during the last five minutes of the interview. The time was very tight so I had to move fast as I had pictures in mind that I wanted to shoot. I walked into the Oval Office and saw that the President had printed maps of the country showing areas in red where he won. I raised my hands holding my camera as high as possible to get the best view of the scene using a 16mm wide angle lens." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures 100 Days - 27 April 2017 US President Donald Trump reacts as he arrives at Harrisburg international airport, before attending a rally marking his first 100 days in office in Pennsylvania on 29 April, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "President Trump travelled to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to celebrate his hundred days in office with a victory rally. He was in friendly territory as he won with a big difference over his opponent Hillary Clinton in Pennsylvania, during the November elections. As usual when the commander-in-chief arrives local residents gather to greet him. This time a small group of military personnel attended the arrival. Surrounded by secret service agents Trump walked from the Air Force One and raised his hand in a sign of victory as the crowd cheered him on." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures White House staffers - 2 May 2017 White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer (L) and White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus watch as US President Donald Trump presents the U.S. Air Force Academy football team with the Commander-in-Chief trophy in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on 2 May, 2017. Photographer Joshua Roberts: "Covering the White House does not just mean covering the President. White House staffers are an important part of the story and their relationship with the President and each other is an indicator of how things are going in the West Wing. The tendency is to focus exclusively on the President once an event starts but I always try to look around to see how people are reacting as things unfold." Reuters/Joshua Roberts Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Secret Service - 4 May 2017 Secret Service agents use a presidential limousine as cover from spraying water as US President Donald Trump lands via Marine One helicopter in New York on 4 May, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "The best part of any trip to New York City with the sitting US President is the helicopter ride into Manhattan. The ride out at night can be stunning. Here, Secret Service agents protect themselves from the spray from the East River as Trump lands on the helipad." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures NATO Summit - 25 May 2017 US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump wait the arrival of French President Emmanuel Macron (unseen) before a lunch ahead of a NATO Summit in Brussels on 25 May, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "One of the best parts of travelling overseas for White House coverage is the chance to see the U.S. president in different environments and (literally) a different light. Here, Trump and his wife came out of the shadows to greet France's President Macron." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Trump meets Putin at G20 summit - 7 July 2017 US President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their bilateral meeting at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany on 7 July, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "On July 7, I witnessed one of the most important meetings of President Trump's first year in office. Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin during a bilateral meeting at the G20 summit in Germany. The world's eyes were on these two leaders after speculation about Russian interference during the 2016 US elections. We entered the room for less than two minutes, where I took dozens of pictures. But there was this very interesting moment when Trump extended his hand to Putin for a handshake. Putin paused for a second and looked at Trump's hand. That was the picture that I was looking for, a little moment that seemed to say a lot." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures First lady - 8 July 2017 First lady Melania Trump chats with US President Donald Trump during their return from Germany at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on 8 July, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "After President Trump's trip to Germany he arrived back at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. First Lady Melania Trump said goodbye to Trump as she was heading off in a different direction that day. While chatting a breeze blew Melania's hair up in the air." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Made in America product showcase - 17 July 2017 Vice President Mike Pence laughs as President Donald Trump holds a baseball bat as they attend a Made in America product showcase event at the White House on 17 July, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "This summer the White House organized an event to showcase 'Made in America' products. All kinds of exhibitors brought their products as the President and Vice President toured the event. One of the companies was Marucci Sport, a manufacturer of baseball bats based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As Trump approached a table full of baseball bats, photographers at the event, including me, rushed to get a good angle hoping that he would pick up a bat. As we predicted, he did. He took one and joked around as though he was hitting something hard. The only thing closer to him right there, was the media." Reuters Donald Trump's first year: in pictures White House staffers - 25 July 2017 Former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski says hello to reporters as he and White House advisors including Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci accompany President Trump for an event celebrating veterans at AMVETS Post 44 in Ohio, July 25, 2017. Jonathan Ernst: "The most visible person in any White House is naturally the President, followed by the press secretary. But there are also the staff who support them. For those of us covering the Trump administration, there seem to be more compelling figures in the West Wing than ever before. It's crucial to know who's who and why they're important. When I raised my camera and back-pedalled ahead of the group to take this image Lewandowski gave me a hello. I liked the photo, but had no idea it would go a little bit viral, especially since Scaramucci, who was the biggest mover and shaker that week, was hidden back in the pack. But I guess the image catches a glimpse of what it's like to be a West Wing staffer on the road." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Campaign rally - 3 August 2017 US President Donald Trump arrives at a rally in West Virginia on 3 August, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "President Trump travelled to Huntington for one of his usual campaign rallies. While members of his family spoke to the crowd he was waiting under a black curtain to be introduced. Suddenly he walked onto the stage, one of the first frames that I took was of his hand. I set my exposure for the light on the stage hoping to create this dark background and it worked." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Staring into the solar eclipse - 21 August 2017 Without his protective glasses on, US President Donald Trump looks up towards the solar eclipse while viewing with his wife Melania and son Barron at the White House on 21 August, 2017. Photographer Kevin Lamarque: "On a day when everyone, and I mean everyone, was told not to look at the eclipse without protective glasses, Trump, President of the United States, couldn't help himself." Reuters/Kevin Lamarque Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Hurricane Harvey - 2 September 2017 US President Donald Trump poses for a photo as he and first lady Melania Trump help volunteers hand out meals during a visit with flood survivors of Hurricane Harvey at a relief centre in Houston, Texas on 2 September, 2017. Photohrapher Kevin Lamarque: "Trump, eager to deliver the image of a hands-on response to Hurricane Harvey, made this visit to a relief centre and obliged this woman with a selfie as Melania continued to work." Reuters/Kevin Lamarque Donald Trump's first year: in pictures White House - 15 September 2017 Donald Trump welcomes 11-year-old Frank Giaccio as he cuts the Rose Garden grass at the White House on 15 September. Frank, who wrote a letter to Trump offering to mow the lawn, was invited to work for a day at the White House along the National Park Service staff. Frank was so focused on his task that he did not notice the President arrive to surprise him. He took his father jumping in to grab his attention and point Trump out. Photographer Carlos Barria said: The image of Trump shouting at a kid who is mowing his lawn might have many interpretations in today's politically polarized United States. But for me it was just a kid who loved what he was doing, to the point he almost appeared to ignore the President." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Take a knee - 27 September 2017 A man kneels with a folded U.S. flag as the motorcade of U.S. President Donald Trump passes him after an event at the state fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S., September 27, 2017. In September, soon after Trump had made comments condemning NFL players who kneel during the national anthem, he made a day trip to a rally in Indianapolis. Jonathan Ernst managed to capture a man on one knee with a tri-folded flag and was able to use a portion of the sign on the building he was kneeling in front of to track the man down and tell his story in full. US Army veteran Marvin Boatright wanted to send a message against social injustice. Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Hurricane Maria - 3 October 2017 President Donald Trump throws rolls of paper towels into a crowd of local residents affected by Hurricane Maria as he visits Calgary Chapel in San Juan, Puerto Rico on 3 October, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "During an afternoon visit to Puerto Rico for President Trump to survey damage from Hurricane Maria and greet some of its victims, Trump made a stop at a church where food and supplies were being distributed. Among the items were paper towels and Trump, apparently caught up in the moment, decided to distribute some of the rolls." Reuters Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Jared Kushner - 1 November 2017 White House Senior adviser Jared Kushner sits behind President Trump during a cabinet meeting in Washington on 1 November, 2017. Photographer Kevin Lamarque: "The role of Jared Kushner has gone through a series of changes. He began front and centre as a high profile adviser, but as time has passed and issues surrounding him have surfaced, he has become more of a background figure." Reuters/Kevin Lamarque Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Trump in China - 9 November 2017 Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping shake hands after making joint statements at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on 9 November, 2017. Photographer Damir Sagolj: "It's one of those "how to make a better or at least different shot when two presidents shake hands several times a day, several days in row". If I'm not mistaken in calculation, presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump shook their hands at least six times in events I covered during Trump's recent visit to China. I would imagine there were some more handshakes I haven't seen but other photographers did. And they all look similar - two big men, smiling and heartily greeting each other until everyone gets their shot. But then there is always something that can make it special - in this case the background made of US and Chinese flags. The first time it didn't work for me. The second time I positioned myself lower and centrally, and used the longest lens I have to capture only hands reaching for a handshake." Reuters/Damir Sagolj Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Air Force One - 10 November 2017 US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One to depart for Vietnam from Beijing Airport in Beijing, China, November 10, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "There is a Reuters photographer in the tight pool covering the US president for every appearance he makes 365 days a year. This was just one of 32 images of mine that were transmitted on the Reuters wire of President Trump visiting China and Vietnam that day. You never know when a sudden interaction, a gust of wind or a unique facial expression will lead to a striking image that grabs peoples' attention." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures ASEAN handshake - 13 November 2017 Donald Trump registers his surprise as he realises other leaders, including Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte and Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, are crossing their arms for the traditional "ASEAN handshake" as he participates in the opening ceremony of the summit in Manila on 13 November, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "Having covered a few ASEAN summits, I knew to expect the ASEAN handshake. Not everyone in the room knew to expect the ASEAN handshake. A lot was written about this unscripted moment, and what deeper meaning it might have. The simple truth is that sometimes in life there are unscripted moments." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

Before joining the White House, Mr Kushner worked to divest his interests in Kushner Companies, which was founded by his father. He later divested from the 666 Fifth Avenue building, which his company purchased for $1.8 billion in 2007.

Those interests were placed in a family trust that Mr Kushner does not personally benefit from, according to a spokesman for Mr Kushner.

Mr Kushner reportedly met with Wu Xiaohui, of Anyang Insurance, during the transition period. Mr Kushner and Mr Wu were, at the time, reportedly close to striking a deal on the 666 Fifth Avenue property, which would have relieved debt stress on Kushner Companies that was exacerbated by the 2008 financial crisis (the deal collapsed in March). Mr Muellers team is reportedly interested in those talks.

Mr Muellers team has also become interested in talks between Mr Kushner and a Qatari investor related to the same property. Mr Kushner and his company tried to negotiate financing from former Qatari Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani for the property as well. Those negotiations ultimately stalled.
President Donald Trump has announced his intention to ban so-called "bump stock" accessories, which were used to kill 58 people in Las Vegas last year.

Mr Trump made the announcement at the White House during a Medal of Valour award ceremony, saying that he had signed a memorandum instructing the Justice Department to regulate the firearm accessories that can speed up the rate of fire for semi-automatic rifles. The news came just days after 17 people were shot and killed at a Florida school by a teenager using a semi-automatic weapon that was not fitted with the device.

"We can do more to protect our children. We must do more to protect our children," Mr Trump said, claiming school safety has now become the top priority of his administration.

The new announcement comes as pressure is being put on members of Congress and politicians around the country who accept money from the National Rifle Association (NRA), and who have proved instrumental in slowing or stopping gun control legislation that advocates say could have helped to stop events like those in Florida. Students there have been organising marches across the country to protest gun violence, and to champion gun control legislation.

The NRA, following the shooting in Las Vegas, announced that the organisation supports bans on bump stocks, so long as the ban were implemented within the framework of existing laws and regulatory powers. Critics saw that announcement as a strategic ploy to divert attention from stricter gun control proposals.

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 Trump is scheduled to hold a series of meetings with stakeholders in the gun control debate starting Wednesday, when high school students and teachers from Florida are due to discuss their concerns. He will continue to meet with state and local politicians, as well as law enforcement representatives, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said during her televised briefing on Tuesday.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and the Department of Justice announced in December that they were reviewing the bump stock issue.

Senator Chris Murphy, of Connecticut, quickly weighed in on Mr Trumps' bump stock announcement, saying that the President's announcement showed that politicians are "scared".

 Florida shooting: Man with Second Amendment tattoo destroys his AR-15 rifle

"Sign after sign this week that we've hit a fulcrum point in this debate where politicians are, for the first time, scared on the political consequences of inaction on guns," Mr Murphy wrote on Twitter. "Small, but vital step in the history of our movement."

Ms Huckabee Sanders had indicated, just before Mr Trump's announcement, that the relevant agencies were nearing the completion of their study into bump stock regulations.

"I can tell you that the President supports not having the use of bump stocks," she said. "The president does not support the use of those accessories."

Bump stock accessories essentially convert semi-automatic weapons into automatic weapons, which are banned in the United States. They allow semi-automatic rifles - which fire just a single bullet after each trigger pull - to fire repeatedly without continued trigger pressures.

The devices operate by taking advantage of the recoil force of a rifle's shot, transferring that force to the shooter's trigger finger, which results in the trigger being re-squeezed quickly.
President Donald Trumps oldest son is planning on delivering a foreign policy speech on Indo-Pacific relations at an event with Indian Prime Ministers Narendra Modi during an upcoming visit to the country that has been called an unofficial trip.

Donald Trump Jr is scheduled to make a trip to the country to promote his familys real estate projects before delivering the speech alongside Mr Modi, according to the Washington Post.

Mr Trump Jr has a full schedule in India starting Tuesday, including meet-and-greets with business leaders and investors from around India. The Trump organisation has projects all over India, including in Mumbai, a New Delhi suburb, and the eastern city of Kolkata.

In anticipation of his visit, Indian newspapers have been running full-page ads to get the public interested in the latest Trump Tower project, with headlines that say Trump is here  Are You Invited?

Those ads also invite home buyers to drop about $38,000 to join Mr Donald Trump Jr for a conversation and dinner.

Mr Trump Jr will take a break from that promotional tour to give the foreign policy speech, and the whole affair has been criticised by ethics experts for potential conflicts of interest.

Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Show all 29 1 /29 Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inauguration - 20 January 2017 US President Donald Trump acknowledges the audience after taking the oath of office as his wife Melania (L) and daughter Tiffany watch during inauguration ceremonies swearing in Trump as the 45th president of the United States on the West Front of the US capital in Washington on 20 January, 2017. Photographer Jim Bourg: "This photo was shot with one of two remote cameras. The cameras were monitored and triggered remotely and the pictures were transmitted to clients worldwide within minutes of being taken." Reuters/Jim Bourg Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Obama farewell address - 10 January 2017 US President Barack Obama wipes away tears as he delivers his farewell address in Chicago on 10 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "In his final days in office, Obama made a visit home to Chicago. As he spoke from the stage to his wife and daughter in the audience, he became emotional when he talked about what they had sacrificed during his time in office. I turned from photographing the Obama women embracing to find him onstage wiping away tears." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inauguration - 20 January 2017 A combination of photos shows the crowds attending the inauguration ceremonies to swear in U.S. President Donald Trump at 12:01pm (left) on January 20, 2017 and President Barack Obama sometime between 12:07pm and 12:26pm on January 20, 2009. Reuters/ Lucas Jackson/Stelios Varias Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Liberty Ball - 20 January 2017 US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the Liberty Ball in honour of his inauguration in Washington on 20 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "What I see when I look at this picture is the end of a very long day, not to mention weeks and months of preparation by many photographers, editors and network experts and the beginning of everything since." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inaugural Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders Reception - 22 January 2017 US President Donald Trump greets Director of the FBI James Comey as Director of the Secret Service Joseph Clancy (L), watches during the Inaugural Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders Reception in the Blue Room of the White House on 22 January, 2017. Photographer Joshua Roberts: "I have covered the White House for 16 years and normally either the President or the pool is in position when an event starts. In this case the President was not where anyone expected him to be. In fact, he was almost blocking the door when the pool came in. We had to scramble to find a position without bumping him or the furniture as he greeted and thanked members of law enforcement for their security efforts during the inauguration. Luckily, he greeted FBI Director James Comey a few seconds after the pool had made its way into the room." Reuters/Joshua Roberts Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Private phone calls to world leaders - 28 January 2017 US President Donald Trump, is joined by his staff, as he speaks by phone with Russia's President Vladimir Putin in the Oval Office on 28 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "Very early in the Trump administration, weekends were as busy as weekdays. On Trump's second Saturday the official schedule said he would be making private phone calls to a number of world leaders including Russia's Vladimir Putin. I arrived early and, before sitting down at my desk walked up to Press Secretary Sean Spicer's office. He, too, was just taking his coat off. I gingerly made the suggestion that previous administrations had sometimes allowed photos of such phone calls through the Oval Office windows on the colonnade. To my mild shock, he didn't even think about it twice. "We'll do it!" he said. In truth, I really only expected the Putin call, but we were outside the windows multiple times throughout the day as the calls went on." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Senior advisor Kellyanne Conway - 27 February 2017 Senior advisor Kellyanne Conway (L) attends as US President Donald Trump welcomes the leaders of dozens of historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) in the Oval Office on 27 February, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "We're often asked how much access we have to the Trump administration, and the answer is we have an awful lot. President Trump himself is very comfortable in the spotlight, and his aides are similarly unfazed by cameras. In this instance, senior advisor Kellyanne Conway was so comfortable in our presence she seemed not to consider the optics of kneeling on a Oval Office sofa to take pictures with her phone." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Angela Merkel heads to Washington - 17 March 2017 Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump hold a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House on 17 March, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "Chancellor Merkel made one of the earliest important visits of any US allies to meet Trump in his first months in office. When world leaders give joint news conferences they don't always tend to give each other their full attention - but Merkel watched Trump intently at several key moments, and here seemed particularly rapt." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Trump welcomes truckers to the White House - 23 March 2017 President Trump reacts as he sits on a truck while he welcomes truckers and CEOs to attend a meeting regarding healthcare at the White House on 23 March, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "The White House organised a listening session with truckers and CEO's of major American companies, regarding healthcare reform. An 18-wheeler tow truck was parked on the South Lawn of the White House and as Trump welcomed the truckers someone invited the him to come and sit in the driver's seat. Trump jumped into the cab and started yelling and pretending to drive - creating one of the most memorable pictures of the year. A lesson learned, always be prepared for the unexpected." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Air Force One - 6 April 2017 US President Donald Trump talks to journalists members of the travel pool on board the Air Force One during his trip to Palm Beach, Florida on 6 April, 2017. Carlos Barria: "During the many trips to President Trump's residence in Florida it is usual to see the president coming to the back of the plane to chat with journalists. During one of the trips to the so called 'Winter White House', Trump had a long talk with reporters while the Air Force One entertainment system was playing one of the latest Star Wars movies. As I was listening to Trump talk I was also looking at the movie waiting for a part of the movie to frame the mood of the day. Of the many scenes, I choose the one with Darth Vader." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures 100 Days - 27 April 2017 US President Donald Trump speaks during an interview with Reuters in the Oval Office of the White House on 27 April, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "A day before President Trump's hundred days in office I was part of the team that interviewed the commander-in-chief in the Oval Office. I was only allowed to photograph Trump during the last five minutes of the interview. The time was very tight so I had to move fast as I had pictures in mind that I wanted to shoot. I walked into the Oval Office and saw that the President had printed maps of the country showing areas in red where he won. I raised my hands holding my camera as high as possible to get the best view of the scene using a 16mm wide angle lens." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures 100 Days - 27 April 2017 US President Donald Trump reacts as he arrives at Harrisburg international airport, before attending a rally marking his first 100 days in office in Pennsylvania on 29 April, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "President Trump travelled to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to celebrate his hundred days in office with a victory rally. He was in friendly territory as he won with a big difference over his opponent Hillary Clinton in Pennsylvania, during the November elections. As usual when the commander-in-chief arrives local residents gather to greet him. This time a small group of military personnel attended the arrival. Surrounded by secret service agents Trump walked from the Air Force One and raised his hand in a sign of victory as the crowd cheered him on." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures White House staffers - 2 May 2017 White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer (L) and White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus watch as US President Donald Trump presents the U.S. Air Force Academy football team with the Commander-in-Chief trophy in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on 2 May, 2017. Photographer Joshua Roberts: "Covering the White House does not just mean covering the President. White House staffers are an important part of the story and their relationship with the President and each other is an indicator of how things are going in the West Wing. The tendency is to focus exclusively on the President once an event starts but I always try to look around to see how people are reacting as things unfold." Reuters/Joshua Roberts Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Secret Service - 4 May 2017 Secret Service agents use a presidential limousine as cover from spraying water as US President Donald Trump lands via Marine One helicopter in New York on 4 May, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "The best part of any trip to New York City with the sitting US President is the helicopter ride into Manhattan. The ride out at night can be stunning. Here, Secret Service agents protect themselves from the spray from the East River as Trump lands on the helipad." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures NATO Summit - 25 May 2017 US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump wait the arrival of French President Emmanuel Macron (unseen) before a lunch ahead of a NATO Summit in Brussels on 25 May, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "One of the best parts of travelling overseas for White House coverage is the chance to see the U.S. president in different environments and (literally) a different light. Here, Trump and his wife came out of the shadows to greet France's President Macron." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Trump meets Putin at G20 summit - 7 July 2017 US President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their bilateral meeting at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany on 7 July, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "On July 7, I witnessed one of the most important meetings of President Trump's first year in office. Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin during a bilateral meeting at the G20 summit in Germany. The world's eyes were on these two leaders after speculation about Russian interference during the 2016 US elections. We entered the room for less than two minutes, where I took dozens of pictures. But there was this very interesting moment when Trump extended his hand to Putin for a handshake. Putin paused for a second and looked at Trump's hand. That was the picture that I was looking for, a little moment that seemed to say a lot." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures First lady - 8 July 2017 First lady Melania Trump chats with US President Donald Trump during their return from Germany at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on 8 July, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "After President Trump's trip to Germany he arrived back at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. First Lady Melania Trump said goodbye to Trump as she was heading off in a different direction that day. While chatting a breeze blew Melania's hair up in the air." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Made in America product showcase - 17 July 2017 Vice President Mike Pence laughs as President Donald Trump holds a baseball bat as they attend a Made in America product showcase event at the White House on 17 July, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "This summer the White House organized an event to showcase 'Made in America' products. All kinds of exhibitors brought their products as the President and Vice President toured the event. One of the companies was Marucci Sport, a manufacturer of baseball bats based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As Trump approached a table full of baseball bats, photographers at the event, including me, rushed to get a good angle hoping that he would pick up a bat. As we predicted, he did. He took one and joked around as though he was hitting something hard. The only thing closer to him right there, was the media." Reuters Donald Trump's first year: in pictures White House staffers - 25 July 2017 Former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski says hello to reporters as he and White House advisors including Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci accompany President Trump for an event celebrating veterans at AMVETS Post 44 in Ohio, July 25, 2017. Jonathan Ernst: "The most visible person in any White House is naturally the President, followed by the press secretary. But there are also the staff who support them. For those of us covering the Trump administration, there seem to be more compelling figures in the West Wing than ever before. It's crucial to know who's who and why they're important. When I raised my camera and back-pedalled ahead of the group to take this image Lewandowski gave me a hello. I liked the photo, but had no idea it would go a little bit viral, especially since Scaramucci, who was the biggest mover and shaker that week, was hidden back in the pack. But I guess the image catches a glimpse of what it's like to be a West Wing staffer on the road." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Campaign rally - 3 August 2017 US President Donald Trump arrives at a rally in West Virginia on 3 August, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "President Trump travelled to Huntington for one of his usual campaign rallies. While members of his family spoke to the crowd he was waiting under a black curtain to be introduced. Suddenly he walked onto the stage, one of the first frames that I took was of his hand. I set my exposure for the light on the stage hoping to create this dark background and it worked." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Staring into the solar eclipse - 21 August 2017 Without his protective glasses on, US President Donald Trump looks up towards the solar eclipse while viewing with his wife Melania and son Barron at the White House on 21 August, 2017. Photographer Kevin Lamarque: "On a day when everyone, and I mean everyone, was told not to look at the eclipse without protective glasses, Trump, President of the United States, couldn't help himself." Reuters/Kevin Lamarque Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Hurricane Harvey - 2 September 2017 US President Donald Trump poses for a photo as he and first lady Melania Trump help volunteers hand out meals during a visit with flood survivors of Hurricane Harvey at a relief centre in Houston, Texas on 2 September, 2017. Photohrapher Kevin Lamarque: "Trump, eager to deliver the image of a hands-on response to Hurricane Harvey, made this visit to a relief centre and obliged this woman with a selfie as Melania continued to work." Reuters/Kevin Lamarque Donald Trump's first year: in pictures White House - 15 September 2017 Donald Trump welcomes 11-year-old Frank Giaccio as he cuts the Rose Garden grass at the White House on 15 September. Frank, who wrote a letter to Trump offering to mow the lawn, was invited to work for a day at the White House along the National Park Service staff. Frank was so focused on his task that he did not notice the President arrive to surprise him. He took his father jumping in to grab his attention and point Trump out. Photographer Carlos Barria said: The image of Trump shouting at a kid who is mowing his lawn might have many interpretations in today's politically polarized United States. But for me it was just a kid who loved what he was doing, to the point he almost appeared to ignore the President." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Take a knee - 27 September 2017 A man kneels with a folded U.S. flag as the motorcade of U.S. President Donald Trump passes him after an event at the state fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S., September 27, 2017. In September, soon after Trump had made comments condemning NFL players who kneel during the national anthem, he made a day trip to a rally in Indianapolis. Jonathan Ernst managed to capture a man on one knee with a tri-folded flag and was able to use a portion of the sign on the building he was kneeling in front of to track the man down and tell his story in full. US Army veteran Marvin Boatright wanted to send a message against social injustice. Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Hurricane Maria - 3 October 2017 President Donald Trump throws rolls of paper towels into a crowd of local residents affected by Hurricane Maria as he visits Calgary Chapel in San Juan, Puerto Rico on 3 October, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "During an afternoon visit to Puerto Rico for President Trump to survey damage from Hurricane Maria and greet some of its victims, Trump made a stop at a church where food and supplies were being distributed. Among the items were paper towels and Trump, apparently caught up in the moment, decided to distribute some of the rolls." Reuters Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Jared Kushner - 1 November 2017 White House Senior adviser Jared Kushner sits behind President Trump during a cabinet meeting in Washington on 1 November, 2017. Photographer Kevin Lamarque: "The role of Jared Kushner has gone through a series of changes. He began front and centre as a high profile adviser, but as time has passed and issues surrounding him have surfaced, he has become more of a background figure." Reuters/Kevin Lamarque Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Trump in China - 9 November 2017 Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping shake hands after making joint statements at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on 9 November, 2017. Photographer Damir Sagolj: "It's one of those "how to make a better or at least different shot when two presidents shake hands several times a day, several days in row". If I'm not mistaken in calculation, presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump shook their hands at least six times in events I covered during Trump's recent visit to China. I would imagine there were some more handshakes I haven't seen but other photographers did. And they all look similar - two big men, smiling and heartily greeting each other until everyone gets their shot. But then there is always something that can make it special - in this case the background made of US and Chinese flags. The first time it didn't work for me. The second time I positioned myself lower and centrally, and used the longest lens I have to capture only hands reaching for a handshake." Reuters/Damir Sagolj Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Air Force One - 10 November 2017 US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One to depart for Vietnam from Beijing Airport in Beijing, China, November 10, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "There is a Reuters photographer in the tight pool covering the US president for every appearance he makes 365 days a year. This was just one of 32 images of mine that were transmitted on the Reuters wire of President Trump visiting China and Vietnam that day. You never know when a sudden interaction, a gust of wind or a unique facial expression will lead to a striking image that grabs peoples' attention." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures ASEAN handshake - 13 November 2017 Donald Trump registers his surprise as he realises other leaders, including Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte and Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, are crossing their arms for the traditional "ASEAN handshake" as he participates in the opening ceremony of the summit in Manila on 13 November, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "Having covered a few ASEAN summits, I knew to expect the ASEAN handshake. Not everyone in the room knew to expect the ASEAN handshake. A lot was written about this unscripted moment, and what deeper meaning it might have. The simple truth is that sometimes in life there are unscripted moments." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

While the Trumps have indicated that they have separated the President from the day-to-day operations of the Trump Organisation, those experts say that, because Mr Trump did not divest from his holdings in the company, the potential for conflicts persists.

Trumps company is literally selling access to the presidents son overseas, said Jordan Libowitz, the communications director for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, told the Washington Post. For many people wanting to impact American policy in the region, the cost of a condo is a small price to pay to lobby one of the people closest to the president, far away from watchful eyes.

The Trump Organisation has at least three towers underway in India, and others are reportedly being planned in the future.
Nearly 200 of America's top political scientists have voted Donald Trump the worst president in US history.

According to the 2018 Presidents & Executive Politics Presidential Greatness Survey, Mr Trump ranks even lower than disgraced President Richard Nixon  even among conservatives. Abraham Lincoln, unsurprisingly, takes the top prize. Mr Nixon sits at 33.

The study, conducted every four years, surveys social science researchers from the American Political Science Associations section on presidents and executive politics. It asks the experts to rank each presidents greatness on a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 being great, 50 being average, and 0 being a total failure.

Mr Trump averaged a score of 12.34, bumping James Buchanan  the president who saw the US descend into the Civil War  out of the bottom spot. The result comes just months after Trump finished his first year in office as the most unpopular president in modern history.

Mr Trumps predecessor, Barack Obama, jumped 10 places since the survey was last conducted in 2014, to spot number eight. George W Bush also climbs in the rankings, making it five places up to number 30.

Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Show all 30 1 /30 Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Threatening to shut down Twitter after being fact-checked After the president tweeted that voting by post would be "substantially fraudulent", Twitter attached a warning label to his tweet and referred readers to a site which explained how the claim was "unsubstantiated". Trump then said Twitter was "stifling free speech" and that he may have to shut it down, something which he would not have the power to do AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Flippantly dismissing a serious allegation of sexual assault When author E Jean Carroll accused Trump of raping her, the president responded: Number one, shes not my type. Number two, it never happened. It never happened, OK?" AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Insulting the Mayor of London as he landed in London Just before touching down at Stansted Airport for his state visit, Trump took time out to @ the London mayor Sadiq Khan on twitter. He said that Khan has done a "terrible job"as mayor and that he is a "stone cold loser" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Taking plenty of "Executive Time" The president's official schedule sets aside the hours from 8 to 11am daily for "Executive Time". Further intermittent periods of "Executive Time" are scheduled throughout any given day, ranging from 15 minutes to 3 hours. His duties in these hours have not been officially disclosed, though Axios reports that he spends them watching TV, reading the newspapers and tweeting Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Shutdown the government for over a month in an effort to secure funding for his wall With Mexico declining to pay for the wall, the president has faced difficulty in raising the required $5bn at home. Due to his demand that the money for the wall be included in the budget, and Congress's refusal, the government partially shut down on 22 December 2018. It remained shut for over a month, the longest period in history Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Joking about the Nazi occupation of France to President Macron In this tweet from 13 November 2018, the president mocks Emmanuel Macron's suggestion of a "true, European army" by invoking the conflict between France and Germany in the world wars Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Railing against the Mueller investigation The president has repeatedly claimed that the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, is a "rigged witch hunt" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting a US intelligence report on Russian meddling in the presence of Vladimir Putin In the press conference that followed his landmark meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Trump stated that he saw no reason why Russia would have meddled in the 2016 US election. This contradicted a 2017 report by the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence that found evidence of Russian interference in favour of Trump Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting his contradiction of a US intelligence report on Russian meddling Following furious backlash in the US, the president claimed that he meant to say that he saw no reason why it would not have been Russia who meddled in the 2016 US election. As to why he would have intended to use such bizarre phrasing, he did not comment Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Colouring in the US flag wrong The president coloured in the US flag wrongly during a visit to a children's hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He added a blue stripe where in tradition, and statute, there have been only white and red stripes AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing a Secretary of State over Twitter The president announced on Twitter that he was appointing Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State, much to the surprise of then Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Quoting a catchphrase from a reality TV show when discussing police brutality While addressing the issue of black athletes not standing for the national anthem in protest of police brutality, the president made reference to his catchphrase from reality TV show "The Apprentice": you're fired! Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Calling African nations "S***hole Countries" Ever one for diplomacy, the president reportedly referred to African nations as "s***hole countries". Asked to confirm this when meeting with Nigeria's President Buhari, Trump stated that there are "some countries that are in very bad shape". Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Defending Russian President Vladimir Putin Trump appeared to equate US foreign actions to those of Russian president Vladimir Putin, saying: There are a lot of killers. You think our countrys so innocent? Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Asking for people to 'pray' for Arnold Schwarzenegger At the National Prayer Breakfast, Trump couldnt help but to ask for prayers for the ratings on Arnold Schwarzeneggers show to be good. Schwarzenegger took over as host of The Apprentice  which buoyed Trumps celebrity status years ago Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Hanging up on Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull Early in his presidency, Trump reportedly hung up the phone on Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull after the foreign leader angered him over refugee plans. Mr Trump later said that it was the worst call he had had so far Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... The 'Muslim ban' Perhaps one of his most controversial policies while acting as president, Trumps travel ban targeting predominantly Muslim countries has bought him a lot of criticism. The bans were immediately protested, and judges initially blocked their implementation. The Supreme Court later sided with the administrations argument that the ban was developed out of concern for US security Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Praising crowd size while touring Hurricane Harvey damage After Hurricane Harvey ravaged southeastern Texas, Trump paid the area a visit. While his response to the disaster in Houston was generally applauded, the president picked up some flack when he gave a speech outside Houston (he reportedly did not visit disaster zones), and praised the size of the crowds there AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... 'Little Rocket Man' During his first-ever speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Trump tried out a new nickname for North Korea leader Kim Jong-un: Rocket Man. He later tweaked it to be little Rocket Man as the two feuded, and threatened each other with nuclear war. During that speech, he also threatened to totally annihilate North Korea Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Attacking Sadiq Khan following London Bridge terror attack After the attack on the London Bridge, Trump lashed out at London Mayor Sadiq Khan, criticising Khan for saying there was no reason to be alarmed after the attack. Trump was taking the comments out of context, as Khan was simply saying that the police had everything under control Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming presenter Mika Brezinkski was 'bleeding from the face' Never one not to mock his enemies, Trump mocked MSNBCs Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski, saying that she and co-host Joe Scarborough had approached him before his inauguration asking to join him. He noted that she was bleeding badly from a face-lift at the time, and that he said no MSNBC Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming the blame for Charlottesville was on 'both sides' Trump refused to condemn far-right extremists involved in violence at 'the march for the right' protests in Charlottesville, even after the murder of counter protester Heather Heyer AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Retweeting cartoon of CNN being hit by a 'Trump train' Trump retweeted a cartoon showing a Trump-branded train running over a person whose body and head were replaced by a CNN avatar. He later deleted the retweet Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Tweeting about 'slamming' CNN Trump caught some flack when he tweeted a video showing him wrestling down an individual whose head had been replaced by a CNN avatar. Trump has singled CNN out in particular with his chants of fake news Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing head of the FBI, James Comey Trumps firing of former FBI Director James Comey landed him with a federal investigation into Russias meddling in the 2016 election that has caused many a headache for the White House. The White House initially said that the decision was made after consultation from the Justice Department. Then Mr Trump himself said that he had decided to fire him in part because he wanted the Russia investigation Mr Comey was conducting to stop Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Not realising being president would be 'hard' Just three months into his presidency, Trump admitted that being president is harder than he thought it would be. Though Trump insisted on the 2016 campaign trail that doing the job would be easy for him, he admitted in an interview that living in the White House is harder than running a business empire Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Accusing Obama of wiretapping him Trump accused former president Barack Obama of wire tapping him on twitter. The Justice Department later clarified: Obama had not, in fact, done so Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming there had been 3 million 'illegal votes' Trump was never very happy about losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by 2.8 million ballots. So, he and White House voter-fraud commissioner Kris Kobach have claimed that anywhere between three and five million people voted illegally during the 2016 election. Conveniently, he says that all of those illegal votes went to Clinton. (There is no evidence to support that level of widespread voter fraud.) Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Leaving Jews out of the Holocaust memorial statement Just days after taking office, Trumps White House issued a statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, but didnt mention jews or even the word jewish in the written statement Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Anger over Inauguration crowd size Trumps inauguration crowd was visibly, and noticeably, smaller than that of his predecessor, Barack Obama. But, he really wanted to have had the largest crowd on record. So, he praised it as the biggest crowd ever. Relatedly, Trump also claimed that it stopped raining in Washington at the moment he was inaugurated. It didnt, the day was very dreary Reuters

Bill Clinton did not fare as well as the other living presidents, dropping five places down to 14th. Only Andrew Jackson dropped more  down six places  possibly owing to increased attention on how he treated Native Americans.

The top seven presidents remained the exact same, with Abraham Lincoln on top, followed by George Washington, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson, Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower.

Mr Trump was accompanied in the bottom five by Andrew Johnson, Franklin Pierce, William Harrison, and Mr Buchanan.

 Voters discuss Donald Trump's presidency on CBS' 60 Minutes

Researchers Brandon Rottinghaus, of the University of Houston, and Justin Vaughn, of Boise State University, said they surveyed 170 political science experts for the study. Of those experts, 57.2 per cent identified as Democrats, 12.7 per cent as Republicans, and 27.1 per cent as independents.

While Republicans and Democrats differed on how they viewed figures like Mr Obama and Mr Bush, they were in fairly close agreement on My Trump: Conservatives voted him 40th out of 45.

The one area where Mr Trump did come out on top was in the most polarising section, in which the researchers asked the scientists to list the five presidents they found most divisive. Mr Trump was ranked most polarising by 90 of the 170 respondents, and second-most polarising by another 20.
Eleven Chinese warships reportedly sailed into the East Indian Ocean this month, amid a state of emergency in the Maldives.

A fleet of destroyers, at least one frigate, a 30,000-tonne amphibious transport dock and three support tankers entered the Indian Ocean, news portal Sina.com.cn reported. It did not link the deployment to a constitutional crisis currently underway in the Maldives, or giving a reason for the deployment.

China and India have been competing for influence in the tropical island chain, which is in a strategically-important location.

Maldivian president Abdulla Yameen imposed a state of emergency on 5 February to annul a Supreme Court ruling that quashed convictions against nine opposition leaders and ordered his government to free those held in prison.

Mr Yameen's administration has subsequently arrested the chief justice, another Supreme Court judge and former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on allegations of attempting to overthrow the government.

He sought parliamentary approval to extend the state of emergency for 30 days earlier this week.

"If you look at warships and other equipment, the gap between the Indian and Chinese navy is not large," Sina.com.cn reported. It did not say when the fleet was deployed or for how long.

Rivalry between old foes India and China for influence in the Maldives became evident after President Abdulla Yameen signed up to Beijing's Belt and Road initiative to build trade and transport links across Asia and beyond.

India, which has had longstanding political and security ties to the islands about 250 miles away, has sought to push back against China's expanding presence in the overwhelmingly Muslim country of 400,000 people. Maldivian opposition leaders have urged New Delhi to intervene in the crisis.

China's Ministry of Defence did not respond to requests for comment, but last week the country's People's Liberation Army posted photos and a story on rescue training exercises taking place in the East Indian Ocean on its official Twitter-like Weibo account.

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

China earlier this month advised its citizens to avoid visiting the Maldives, famous its luxury hotels, scuba-diving resorts and limpid tropical seas, until political tensions subside.

It has been striking deals with countries in Asia and Africa in line with its Belt and Road initiative to improve imports of key commodities, upgrade infrastructure and trade routes in the region and boost its diplomatic clout.

China has drawn criticism in the West for its military buildup of the neighbouring South China Sea, where it has built and expanded islands and reefs.

Beijing claims most of the sea where neighbours Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.

Reuters
A Bangkok court has granted a wealthy Japanese man sole parent rights to 13 children he fathered through Thai surrogate mothers.

The decision allows 28-year-old Mitsutoki Shigeta to apply for custody of the children. The surrogates have signed away their parental rights.

Mr Shigeta was at the centre of the 2014 baby factory scandal that emerged when police discovered nine babies and a pregnant surrogate mother in a Bangkok apartment.

DNA tests proved Mr Shigeta was the biological father of the children, who were being cared for by nine nannies.

Police later said they found more babies they suspected of being fathered by the Japanese businessman.

Four of the children had been taken to Cambodia, prompting Interpol to investigate Mr Shigeta for human trafficking.

The founder of the New Life clinic, a fertility centre that provided Mr Shigeta with two surrogate mothers, told AP she warned Interpol about him before the first baby was born in June 2013.

As soon as they got pregnant, he requested more. He said he wanted 10 to 15 babies a year, and that he wanted to continue the baby-making process until hes dead, Mariam Kukunashvili told the agency in 2014.

He told the head of the clinic he wanted to win elections and thought having children would increase the number of votes he received, she said.

Mr Shigeta argued through a lawyer he simply wanted a large family and sued the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security for custody of the children.

On Tuesday, Mr Shigeta, who did not attend the trial in person, was deemed the children's sole parent.

The court said the 28-year-old, who is reportedly the son of a billionaire businessman, had enough money to look after the children in Japan.

For the happiness and opportunities which the 13 children will receive from their biological father, who does not have a history of bad behaviour, the court rules that all 13 born from surrogacy to be legal children of the plaintiff, said Bangkoks Central Juvenile Court in a statement.

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 children were still in state care after the ruling, but Mr Shigetas lawyer Kong Suriyamontol said he would contact social services to assume custody of the children.

Mr Shigetas case was one of a number of incidents that led Thailand to ban foreigners from paying for surrogates.

In 2013 a Thai surrogate mother Pattaramon Chanbua accused an Australian couple of abandoning a baby, called Gammy, when they discovered he had Downs syndrome, instead taking only his twin sibling. They were later cleared of child abandonment.
New cases of HIV in the Philippines have soared by 3,147 per cent in 10 just years, according to new research.

More than 11,000 cases were reported in 2017, a near 20 per cent increase on the 9,264 cases reported in 2016, according to data seen by Al Jazeera that was released by the Philippine Department of Health, .

The use of contraception has historically been frowned on in the majority Catholic country.

But in 2012, the health department reformed their reproductive health laws and started encouraging family planning and safe sex to reduce high rates of teen pregnancy in the country.

Despite the rise, President Rodrigo Duterte recently advised his countrymen to avoid using condoms because it is not satisfying.

Addressing a group of migrant workers, he then put a wrapped sweet in his mouth, adding: Here, try eating it without unwrapping it...eat it. Thats what a condom is like.

The comments were condemned by Human Rights Watch (HRW), which accused him of demonstrating reckless disregard for the health of Filipinos.

Instead of criticising condoms as a pleasure inhibitor, Duterte should take meaningful action to protect the health of Filipinos by backing urgently needed policy changes to expand the accessibility and use of condoms in the Philippines, the group said in a statement.

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

Senator Risa Hontiveros said President Duterte needed to stop making thoughtless, reckless and irresponsible statements at the expense of public health.

She said: President Duterte seems to be overly concerned with pleasure. There is nothing pleasurable or funny about the rise in our cases of HIV and teen pregnancy."

It comes after HRW warned in 2016 that the country was already on track for a full-blown HIV epidemic in Asia Pacific.

HRW said HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men has increased tenfold in the last five years, but accused the government of failing to adequately target prevention measures.

Despite the surge in cases in the Philippines, new HIV cases have gone down worldwide, from 2.1 million in 2015 to 1.8 million in 2016, according to the World Health Organization.
A number of districts in New Zealands South Island have declared a state of emergency as the remains of Cyclone Gita pummel the country.

Heavy rains ahead of the storm's arrival brought floods in Christchurch.

More than 40 schools were shut and roads were closed in preparation for the storm, while mayors urged people to stay at home.

Recommended State of emergency declared as Cyclone Gita tears into Tonga

New Zealands national airline cancelled all flights in and out of the capital, Wellington, as authorities issued warnings of severe weather and heavy rain and gusts of up to 93mph.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said troops had spread out to areas likely to be the hardest hit and the national Civil Defence office in Wellington was on standby to help.

My message still to people is please look out for your local warnings and expect disruption to travel and please just be careful, she told reporters at parliament.

Cyclone Gita hit the Pacific island nations of Fiji and Tonga last week with winds of up to 171mph. While Fiji escaped major damage, Tonga suffered widespread destruction and flooding. Earlier, the storm had caused extensive damage in Samoa and American Samoa.

The cyclone had since been downgraded to a storm, but forecasters said it was still likely to wreak havoc on Tuesday evening as it traversed the centre of New Zealand.

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

Parts of the country are still reeling from a huge storm that prompted authorities to declare states of emergency at the beginning of February.

Transport authorities shut a stretch of highway along the east coast of the South Island and the Department of Conservation was reportedly closing seaside hiking tracks and campsites along the West Coast and urging tourists to avoid low-lying areas.

Reuters contributed to this report
Catherine Nevin, the so-called "black widow" who was jailed for orchestrating her husband's killing, has died in a Dublin hospice, it has been reported.

She was convicted in 2000 of murdering Thomas Nevin at Jack White's Inn, a pub the couple owned.

She was also found guilty on three charges of soliciting others to kill him.

The jury deliberated for five days before reaching their decision, which was then the longest period in the history of Ireland.

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 2016, she was diagnosed with a brain tumour and given only months to live.

Last September, she was released from prison to live the remainder of her days in a nursing home.

A source told the Irish Sun she passed away on Monday night at the age of 67 after having "been unwell for quite a number of months."

She was out of prison for a number of months, between hospital and respite care.

Nevin had always denied any involvement in her husband's murder and refused to name the gunman involved.
A leading politician from Catalonias pro-independence movement has fled Spain, claiming she will not get a fair trial over her alleged role in the regions declaration of independence last year.

Anna Gabriel, a well-known former deputy in the Catalan parliament for the hard-left CUP party, has headed to Switzerland rather than go to Madrid this week to face charges in Spains Supreme Court.

Since I will not have a fair trial at home, I have looked for a country that can protect my rights, Ms Gabriel told Swiss newspaper Le Temps on Tuesday.

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I wont go to Madrid. Im wanted for my political activities and the government press has already declared me guilty.

In a television interview, Ms Gabriel said she was considering asking for permanent political asylum in Switzerland should there be an extradition request from Spain, saying she will be more useful to her party in Geneva than behind bars. She also said that she has regularly received death threats from unspecified individuals.

Shortly after a failed unilateral declaration of independence was made by the Catalan parliament last autumn, the regions former president Carles Puigdemont fled to Belgium with four former cabinet ministers. Mr Puigdemont, who has also ignored a court summons, faces similar possible charges to Ms Gabriel of sedition and rebellion.

So far, four separatists have been imprisoned pending sedition charges, including the former regional vice-president, Oriol Junqueras.

A high number of pro-independence leaders currently face possible trials in Spain, most due to take place later this year. Another CUP politician Mireia Boya was also due to appear in court on Wednesday, as was former Catalan president Artur Mas on Tuesday. Both were set to make statements to the judge about the banned pro-independence referendum on 1 October.

The CUP has been one of the most hardline supporters of independence, and its fragile alliance with more moderate separatist parties was instrumental in allowing the nationalists to hold a narrow majority in the currently dissolved Catalan parliament.

Ms Gabriel was known to be in Switzerland since last Saturday. It was initially reported that she had travelled to Geneva to work with a local international human rights lawyer to prepare her defence.

Earlier this week Ines Arrimadas, head of the pro-unionist party Ciudadanos in Catalonia, had described Ms Gabriels departure for Switzerland as another example the independence leaders trying to save themselves. Theyd tried to sell the idea of the [Catalan] Republic and that wed all be rich and happy and now theyre making a break for it, she said.

The CUP, meanwhile, have insisted that Ms Gabriels trial was politically motivated, and expressed their support for their former MP.

While not part of the EU, Switzerland does have an extradition pact with Spain, although it is not clear if the charges that could affect Ms Gabriel are included in it.
A drunk pensioner attacked and wounded three migrants with a knife because he was angry about the German governments refugee policy, officials believe.

Prosecutors in southwest Germany said the 70-year-old man wanted to send a message with the assault over the weekend.

The man, who has German and Russian citizenship, seriously wounded a 17-year-old Afghan in the attack near a church in the city of Heilbronn.

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A 25-year-old Iraqi and a 19-year-old Syrian were also lightly injured.

Bettina Joerg, spokeswoman for Heilbronn prosecutors, said that the suspect was drunk and wanted to send a signal about the current refugee policy.

Germany has seen a rise in anti-migrant violence following the arrival of more than a million refugees in recent years.

Ms Joerg said the suspect is being investigated for dangerous bodily harm rather than attempted homicide because the assumption is he didnt intend to kill.

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

I am deeply troubled by this revolting crime and my thoughts are with the victims," Heilbronns mayor, Harry Mergel said. I hope they wont suffer lasting consequences.

I call on people to treat refugees with humanity and be prepared to help them.

The attacker has been released from custody following the assault outside St Kilian's Church, the site said.
Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi told a BBC reporter that her handshake was so strong that no one will marry her.

The remark was caught on camera as video journalist Sofia Bettiza went to say goodbye after an interview.

The video, posted to the BBC News website, shows the 81-year-old telling her: Dont shake hands like that.

He then warns her to be careful, referring to her being unmarried as evidence of his argument.

Ms Bettiza had told him in Italian: Thank you, goodbye, as she shook his hand.

Mr Berlusconi then turned to her and said: Dont shake hands like that, its too strong.

She said: Was it too strong?

Mr Berlusconi continued: Otherwise men will think she is going to beat me up, no one will marry you. Are you already married? You see? Be careful.

Ms Bettiza then asked: But I thought it was a good thing to have a strong handshake?

Mr Berlusconi replied: No, a little less, whoever is going to marry you? He added: Im joking, you have to joke once in a while.

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

Its not the first time the veteran politician has found himself in hot water over offensive comments.

In 2016, he claimed a mother cannot be a mayor in criticism of then-pregnant Giorgia Meloni, leader of the Brothers of Italy party, who was running in the Rome election contest.

A mother cannot be mayor. Being mayor means being in your office 14 hours a day, he said. I dont think this could be the right choice for Meloni.

After Donald Trumps election, he told a TV interviewer his favourite thing about the US President was his wife: I can say, like many men and women, I like Melania. For her beauty, for her style and also her charm.

He also referred to French President Emmanuel Macrons wife Brigitte as his good-looking mum in an apparent jibe at the couples 24-year age gap.

Mr Berlusconi was banned from running for office after being convicted of tax fraud. He was also caught up in a series of sex scandals that undermined his political career.

But he has since made a comeback after his party, Forza Italia (Go Italy!), entered a coalition with the Northern League and the smaller Brothers of Italy in the upcoming elections, which could allow him a seat at the table.

The BBC declined to comment.
A man has been fined 208,000 (183,000) for pretending expensive meat was fruit at a supermarket self-service checkout.

The 58-year-old, who earns 24,000 (21,000) a month, was convicted for theft by a Munich court after he tried to repackage up to 47 euros-worth of veal liver in a fruit bag in December.

The wealthy businessman admitted it was the fourth time he had committed the offence that month, but gave no motive for the crime, according to local media.

A judge, who described the defendant as having not inconsiderable criminal energy, cited his monthly income and criminal history for theft and tax evasion as reasons for the record-breaking fine.

Munich court spokesman Klaus-Peter Juengst said the defendant did not appeal the verdict, which was issued last month.

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 unidentified man was released from jail having been put behind bars following his arrest.

In 2015, supermarket chain Morrisons replaced self-service machines with 1,000 manned tills after 96% of customers surveyed said they preferred staffed checkouts.
Israel has successfully tested an advanced defence system capable of shooting down long-range ballistic missiles while they are still outside the earths atmosphere, the countrys military has claimed.

The Ministry of Defence declared development of the Arrow-3 interceptor a major milestone in Israels ability to defend itself against current and future threats in the region.

One expert said the system was designed predominantly as a defence against Iran.

The announcement of the successful tests comes amid mounting tensions in the Middle East and growing fears of conflict between Iran and Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week called the Iranian regime dangerous and pledged to act act if necessary, not just against Irans proxies but against Iran itself.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, he held a charred fragment of what he claimed was an Iranian drone brought down in Israeli airspace this month.

Irans foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who also spoke at the conference, dismissed Mr Netanyahus attack as a cartoonish circus which does not even deserve a response.

Arrow-3 is part of the multi-layered system Israel is developing to defend against both short- and mid-range rockets fired from the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, as well as Irans long-range missiles.

In development for a decade, it is designed to intercept ballistic missiles while they are still outside the earths atmosphere and is considered one of the most powerful weapons of its kind.

The system was developed by Israel Aerospace Industries and US aviation giant Boeing. The successful test was conducted an an unnamed site in Israel following two cancelled trial runs is as many months.

The government described the system as a significant step up in the air defence of the state of Israel. Further tests are planned for Alaska later this year.

Yiftah Shapir, head of the Middle East Military Balance Project at the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies, said the system had been developed with Iran in mind.

The Arrow 3 is specifically designed against very long-range missiles in terms of the Middle East, which means mostly the Iranian threat of ballistic missiles with ranges of over 1,500 kilometres, which is basically the difference between Israel and Iran, he told New York based newspaper, The Algemeiner.

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 said it would likely be a few years before the system becomes fully operational.

People come to think of it as buying a car, and you just get the keys and start driving, he said. You are introducing a very complex system like the Arrow-3, its a very long process.

Tensions between Israel and Iran surged on 10 February when anti-aircraft fire downed an Israeli warplane returning from a bombing raid on Iran-backed positions in Syria.

It was the most serious confrontation yet between Israel and Iranian-backed forces based across the border.
Saudi Arabias powerful crown prince is trying to reassure investors the country is open and ready for business after the release of several high profile figures arrested in Novembers anti-corruption crackdown.

More than 300 people, among them royals, politicians and business leaders, were detained at Riyadhs Ritz-Carlton hotel as part of an unprecedented operation three months ago.

The move, widely viewed as part of newly appointed heir the throne Mohammed bin Salmans efforts to consolidate his power, sent shock waves through stock markets all over the world.

 Saudi Arabia king's golden escalator get stuck as he tries to descend from his plane in Russia

Both Saudi Arabias government and private sectors are riddled with corruption. However, the secretive nature of the arrests and concerns over political motivations - have worried business leaders.

Reuters reported on Tuesday that MbS, as he is known, met with several senior business figures last month to reassure them that the crackdown was almost over, according to five Saudi and Western sources either present at meetings or who had spoken to people who attended.

MbS and other officials repeatedly said no more mass detentions were planned, according to one of the sources, and business and investments should continue as normal.

Saudi Arabia struggles to employ its most-educated women Show all 4 1 /4 Saudi Arabia struggles to employ its most-educated women Saudi Arabia struggles to employ its most-educated women SAUDI WOMEN122.jpg SAUDI WOMEN: Tahany Omar, 36, has a Masters of Business Administration from the US but has found the job market challenging in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; she works in an investment firm, but not in management. Washington Post photo by Linda Davidson Saudi Arabia struggles to employ its most-educated women SAUDI WOMEN124.jpg A young Saudi woman in her 20's shops for dresses on the women-only level at Kingdom Centre Mall in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in October. Unless designated as a women's only area, most shopping in Saudi Arabia is staffed by men. Washington Post photo by Linda Davidson Saudi Arabia struggles to employ its most-educated women SAUDI WOMEN123.jpg Saudi men reflected in the mirrors of the Al-Faisaliyah Center viewing level which overlooks the expansive city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Washington Post photo by Linda Davidson Saudi Arabia struggles to employ its most-educated women SAUDI WOMEN121.jpg SAUDI WOMEN: Zainab Al Talib, left, assists legal consultant Tala Al-Hejailan at the law offices of DLA Piper in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 8. Hejailan is a lawyer, but cannot practise law in Saudi Arabia, which will not grant licences to women. Washington Post photo by Linda Davidson

MbS is the driving force behind the countrys Vision 2030, a long-term economic plan to wean the Kingdom off its dependence on oil.

It is understood the $100bn (72m) raised in financial settlements made in exchange for the Ritz-Carlton detainees freedom will be used for some of MbS ambitious development plans such as Neom, a new tech hub planned for Saudi Arabias northwestern desert.

Representatives of the government in Riyadh did not respond to requests for comment.
Pro-Syrian government forces have entered the contested canton of Afrin to help Kurdish forces defend against a Turkish offensive - a further escalation in Syrias already complex civil war.

Footage broadcast by Hezbollah and Syrian regime-allied outlets showed convoys of tanks carrying Syrian flags and soldiers brandishing weapons entering the northwestern part of the country from Aleppo on Tuesday. Syrian state media reported they had been targeted by Turkish shellfire.

The new forces are mostly believed to be made up of the Shia Iranian-backed Popular Mobilisation Units (PMU).

 Video appears to show Syrian fighters signing Jihadi sings on frontline in northern Syria

The Syrian government has responded to the call of the duty and sent military units on this day... to deploy along the border and take part in defending the unity of Syria's territory and borders, Nouri Mahmoud, a spokesperson for the Kurdish YPG militia, said in a statement.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched the air and ground offensive Operation Olive Branch last month, opening a new front in Syrias bloody conflict which has already killed dozens of civilians and fighters on both sides.

Turkey has been widely accused of not properly vetting the Sunni Syrian fighters it is using in the offensive. Both sides have accused the other of war crimes, targeting civilians and mutilating the bodies of fallen soldiers.

Turkey views the Kurdish YPG as an extension of its own separatist PKK, a group designated as a terrorist organisation by Ankara as well as the EU and US.

Turkish attack on Afrin, northern Syria  in pictures Show all 9 1 /9 Turkish attack on Afrin, northern Syria  in pictures Turkish attack on Afrin, northern Syria  in pictures Smoke billows following a Turkish airstrike on a village in the Afrin district, on 28 January, 2018. Turkey launched operation "Olive Branch" on January 20 against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia in Afrin, supporting Syrian opposition fighters with ground troops and air strikes AFP Turkish attack on Afrin, northern Syria  in pictures Smoke billows from surrounding villages during the Turkish military operation against the Kurdish enclave on 28 January, 2018 AFP/Getty Turkish attack on Afrin, northern Syria  in pictures Twenty-year old Kifah al-Moussa, a Syrian Arab woman living among the Kurds of Afrin province, was working on a chicken farm in the village of Maryameen when a Turkish aircraft bombed the building at midday on 21 January, wounding her in the chest. When she recovered consciousness, she found eight people from one family lying dead around her Yara Ismail Turkish attack on Afrin, northern Syria  in pictures Mohamed Hussein, a 58-year-old Kurdish farmer, lies in the Afrin hospital, wounded in the head and eye after his home was bombed by Turkish aircraft on the second night of the attack Yara Ismail Turkish attack on Afrin, northern Syria  in pictures Syrian Kurds sit on benches overlooking a street in Afrin, on 28 January, 2018. Above is a memorial to martyrs who died in the fight against Isis AFP/Getty Turkish attack on Afrin, northern Syria  in pictures Smoke is seen rising on the Syrian side of the border, at Hassa, near Hatay, southern Turkey as Turkish jet fighters hit People's Protection Unit (YPG) positions, on 28 January, 2018 AFP/Getty Turkish attack on Afrin, northern Syria  in pictures A Turkish made T-155 Firtina (Storm) howitzer is dispatched to the border at Hassa near Hatay, southern Turkey, on 28 January, 2018 AFP/Getty Turkish attack on Afrin, northern Syria  in pictures A Turkish soldier waves a flag on Mount Barsaya, northeast of Afrin, on 28 January, 2018 Reuters Turkish attack on Afrin, northern Syria  in pictures Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army fighters are seen in Barsaya mountain, northeast of Afrin, on 28 January, 2018 Reuters

The YPG and broader Arab-Kurdish coalition Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have won widespread Western support over the past few years as the most effective ground force against Isis.

In January the US pledged continued support for the YPG and SDF to ensure the jihadi militants do not form a resurgent movement, a strategy which enraged Turkey and contributed to the decision to launch the new offensive on Afrin.

The entry of forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al Assad into the new theatre raises the spectre of a wider escalation.

 Foreign volunteers join the Kurds on the Turkey-YPG frontline in Syria

The deal was first reported on Sunday, when a Kurdish official said there was a agreement with Mr Assad's government for the army to enter Afrin and deploy along the border - but that the agreement did not extend to political relations between Damascus and the YPG.

The two sides have at times been in direct conflict and at others have formed realpolitik alliances during the seven-year-old conflict.

The move flies in the face of remarks from Mr Erdogan earlier on Tuesday, said Ankara had worked alongside the Syrian governments ally Russia to prevent any deployment by pro-Syrian government forces.

On Monday, Turkey warned it was not afraid to confront government forces if they entered Afrin to help the YPG.

Despite international calls to halt the offensive, President Erdogan has remained bullish, repeatedly threatening that his forces could extend their offensive as far east as Manbij  which could bring them into direct conflict with the US-backed SDF coalition and stationed US troops.

News agencies contributed to this report
The United Nations has expressed its outrage at the escalating violence in Syrias East Ghouta by releasing a blank statement - because "no words will do justice to the children killed, their mothers, their fathers and their loved ones".

The symbolic message from Unicefs regional director Geert Cappalaere on Tuesday contained ten empty lines with quotation marks to indicate the missing text before finishing with a footnote.

We no longer have the words to describe childrens suffering and our outrage," it said.

 UK rescue teams donate unused equipment to Syria

"Do those inflicting the suffering still have words to justify their barbaric acts?"

More than 100 civilians have been killed and five hospitals damaged in air strikes in the last 24 hours in the rebel-held Damascus suburb after unprecedentedly ferocious bombing, rocket attacks and shelling by the Syrian government and its Russian allies.

Photos and video sent to The Independent by locals show shell-shocked children and scores of bodies either covered in rubble dust or wrapped in bloodied sheets.

Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures Show all 14 1 /14 Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures A Syrian woman and children run for cover amid the rubble of buildings. AFP/Getty Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures Smoke rises from buildings following the attack on the village of Mesraba in the rebel-held besieged Eastern Ghouta region on the outskirts of the capital Damascu. AFP/Getty Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures Injured children receive medical treatment. EPA Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures A Syrian man carries a child injured. AFP/Getty Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures An injured child receives treatment following bombings on several areas of eastern Ghouta. EPA Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures A child reacts inside a hospital after relatives were injured in the bombing. EPA Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures Syrian children cry at a make-shift hospital in Douma following air strikes on the Syrian village of Mesraba. AFP/Getty Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures Syrian Civil Defense group extinguishing a store during airstrikes and shelling by Syrian government forces. AP Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures A wounded 12-year-old Syrian boy, cries as he receives treatment at a make-shift hospital. AFP/Getty Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures Syrians carry a wounded man. AFP/Getty Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures An injured man covered with blood at a medical point. Reuters Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures People sit a medical point in the besieged town of Douma, Eastern Ghouta. Reuters Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures Syrian Civil Defense running to help survivors. AP Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures Injured children receive medical treatment. EPA

Doctors and first responders are struggling to cope with the mass casualties as their facilities are also hit in the offensive.

East Ghouta has been besieged by government forces for years, but in recent months the siege has been tightened, leaving the 400,000 civilians inside with dwindling food and medical supplies.

The area is supposedly one of four de-escalation zones created in May 2017 in an agreement brokered by Russia, Turkey and Iran to quell fighting between rebel forces and the regime.

The siege tactics and seemingly indiscriminate shelling of civilian infrastructure - President Bashar al Assads playbook in the war to date - contravene international law, the UNs regional humanitarian coordinator also said on Tuesday.

The recent escalation of violence compounds an already precarious humanitarian situation," Panos Moumtzis said in a statement calling for an immediate ceasefire.

"It's imperative to end this senseless human suffering now. Such targeting of innocent civilians and infrastructure must stop now.
Mortar shells and bombs are raining on a rebel-held suburb of Damascus as a ferocious attack by the Syrian government enters its third day.

By local counts more than 150 people have been killed by intense shelling, rocket attacks and air strikes on Eastern Ghouta since overnight on Monday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the death toll had risen to 250 in just 48 hours.

Many bodies are still trapped under rubble. Overwhelmed first responders are struggling to keep up with the demands of the injured, let alone take care of the dead.

Recommended Footage shows moment bomb destroys building in East Ghouta

At least two health workers have been killed in the assault, according to the Union of Medical and Relief Organisations (UOSSM), which runs hospitals in opposition-held Syria, as well as one White Helmets volunteer who was responding to a bombing.

Pictures and video too graphic to publish sent to The Independent by residents and activists show bodies grey with dust save for streaks of red blood down their faces and clothes.

On Tuesday, resident Wassim Khatib said he feared the death toll would be even worse than the previous day as three war planes droned overhead and the booms of strikes could be heard in the background.

I cant think straight. People are so afraid, he said.

Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures Show all 14 1 /14 Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures A Syrian woman and children run for cover amid the rubble of buildings. AFP/Getty Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures Smoke rises from buildings following the attack on the village of Mesraba in the rebel-held besieged Eastern Ghouta region on the outskirts of the capital Damascu. AFP/Getty Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures Injured children receive medical treatment. EPA Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures A Syrian man carries a child injured. AFP/Getty Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures An injured child receives treatment following bombings on several areas of eastern Ghouta. EPA Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures A child reacts inside a hospital after relatives were injured in the bombing. EPA Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures Syrian children cry at a make-shift hospital in Douma following air strikes on the Syrian village of Mesraba. AFP/Getty Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures Syrian Civil Defense group extinguishing a store during airstrikes and shelling by Syrian government forces. AP Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures A wounded 12-year-old Syrian boy, cries as he receives treatment at a make-shift hospital. AFP/Getty Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures Syrians carry a wounded man. AFP/Getty Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures An injured man covered with blood at a medical point. Reuters Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures People sit a medical point in the besieged town of Douma, Eastern Ghouta. Reuters Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures Syrian Civil Defense running to help survivors. AP Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures Injured children receive medical treatment. EPA

Hundreds of people have been injured and at least seven medical facilities hit by air strikes as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian allies step up the onslaught ahead of what is anticipated to be a final ground assault to crush the rebel enclave once and for all.

Many families are taking shelter in basements and makeshift tunnels underground in the districts of Old Damascus, Bab Touma, Abu Rummaneh which were once used to smuggle in fuel, medicine and machinery.

Ghouta is one of four supposed de-escalation zones created in a May 2017 agreement brokered by Russia, Turkey and Iran to quell fighting between rebel forces and the regime  but the recent violence there been some of the most brutal of Syrias civil war, now entering its eighth year.

The Damascus suburb has been besieged by government forces for years and was also the scene of a sarin and chlorine gas attack in 2013, one of the worst chemical incidents in modern history.

Rebel infighting is rife, and the Syrian government says it controlled by factions allied to extremists groups such as al Qaeda.

In recent months, however, Mr Assads government has tightened the siege, leaving its 400,000 civilians struggling with dwindling food and medical supplies. At the same time, it has stepped up the military campaign.

The tactics echo several other battles in Syria's war, including Homs, Daraya and Aleppo.

Russia is supposed to be a guarantor, but instead it is propping up this violence, saying it is killing terrorists, Bassma Kodmani, a senior negotiator from the opposition Syrian Negotiation Commission, told The Independent.

Killing 100 civilians for one terrorist is a terrible strategy.

We Syrians see and share all these pictures of death, but I dont know if the scale of the horror is obvious to other people.

After seven years of war I think maybe this is the most terrible aspect of it all, the fatigue. Since [the fall of Aleppo in December 2016] it has been hard to convey that the rest of Syria is still suffering.

 Explosions as Turkey confirms airstrikes on Afrin, Syria

On Tuesday the UNs Childrens Fund expressed its outrage at the violence by releasing a blank statement, arguing no words will do justice to the children killed, their mothers, their fathers and their loved ones.

The message from Unicefs regional director Geert Cappelaere contained ten empty lines with quotation marks to indicate the missing text before finishing with a footnote.

We no longer have the words to describe childrens suffering and our outrage, it said.

Do those inflicting the suffering still have words to justify their barbaric acts?

UN officials have repeatedly called for a immediate cessation of hostilities in Ghouta and the resumption of aid shipments.

The fall of the eastern rebel-held side of Aleppo at the end of 2016 marked a turning point in Syrias conflict, shifting the tide of the war in President Assads favour.

After more than seven years of fighting which has left half a million people dead and caused half of the pre-war population of 18 million to flee their homes, however, the war is far from over.

The UN tells them to stop, and what? Nothing, said Mr Khatib. And more people die every minute.
The 8.31am Amsterdam Express became a reality today. A special Eurostar train left London St Pancras International exactly on time, carrying the train operators staff, travel industry figures and media.

The train raced through Kent  where there have been calls for it to stop in Ebbsfleet or Ashford  and into the Channel Tunnel at Folkestone at 9.05am. It emerged exactly 20 minutes later, and sped through Calais and Lille, which are also omitted from the schedule.

The new London-Amsterdam train calls at Brussels-Midi, and indeed accelerates the best journey time from St Pancras to the Belgian capital to just 108 minutes.

The train arrived to much fanfare (Simon Calder)

While Eurostar has captured three-quarters of the market from London to both Brussels and Paris, the journey time to Amsterdam is around twice as long. Airlines have dismissed rails credibility as competition.

Amsterdam is the best-served continental city by air from London. And there is also a serious problem with the inbound Eurostar service. Until sometime next year, Amsterdam-London passengers are told to take a Thalys high-speed train to Brussels, and connect there for Eurostar.

A deal between the UK and the Netherlands on juxtaposed border controls, allowing British officials to check passports of passengers at Amsterdam and the intermediate step of Rotterdam, has not yet been finalised. So initially all passengers will need to clear security and passport control in Brussels.

One of the passengers on board was Tom Hall, editorial director of Lonely Planet travel guides.

I travel to Amsterdam quite a lot, because there are a number of big travel companies based there. I will definitely be taking this train out. But I wont necessarily be taking it back, until I can get a direct train.

The stop in Brussels slows you down. The question is how important is speed versus the pleasure of taking the train.

Nicolas Petrovic, chief executive of Eurostar said: You dont hop on a plane. You have to get to the airport, wait to check in, wait, wait wait. Youre not long in the air but you cant do anything. On the train its your time.

You can enjoy the trip from the moment you depart.

South of Antwerp, the train got caught in congestion with regular domestic services, but still arrived ahead of time at Rotterdam Centraal  covering the distance from London in just under three hours.

Simone Sagi, of the Netherlands Board of Tourism in London, said: We hope it will bring more tourists to Rotterdam.

The second Dutch city is more vibrant and architecturally dramatic than Amsterdam, and also has poor air connections from the UK. A three-hour rail link is likely to prove popular with business travellers as well as city-breakers. And for the journey home, there is a retro option: taking the Rotterdam Metro to Hook of Holland, and an overnight ferry from there to Harwich in Essex.

The Eurostar train travels via Schiphol airport, but does not stop there. Todays service arrived on platform 15 of Amsterdam Central Station three minutes behind schedule.

Commercial services begin on 4 April. There will be departures at 8.31am from London daily except Sundays, and at 5.31pm daily except Saturdays.

Fares start at 35 each way.
Syrian artillery and aircraft are bombarding Eastern Ghouta, the last big rebel enclave which is just to the east of Damascus. Some 127 people were reported to have been killed on Monday alone. By Tuesday evening that figure was said to have doubled. The strength of the attack by shellfire, bombs and missiles is more intense than anything seen in the area for several years, suggesting that an all-out ground assault is in prospect or, as in East Aleppo just over a year ago, there will be a last minute attempt to negotiate a mass evacuation.

The siege of Eastern Ghouta could be the last of the big sieges that have characterised the war in Syria for the last five or six years and has made it such a destructive conflict. Early on in the war, government forces adapted the strategy of abandoning opposition strongholds, surrounding them and concentrating pro-government forces in defence of loyalist areas, essential roads and important urban areas. The rebel enclaves were sealed off with checkpoints and the people inside were subjected to regular bombardment.

Once there were many such areas, almost encircling Damascus which has a population of around five million. Some districts, like Daraya in the south of the capital, were emptied out early and their buildings still stand but are gutted and uninhabitable. Other opposition enclaves, notably those in north Damascus, have been levelled by gunfire or demolition teams so hardly a single building stands more than a few feet high.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. 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Eastern Ghouta is just a few miles to the east of the capital and is an extensive urban and agricultural area with an estimated population of 400,000 which was loosely besieged after 2013. There were shortages of medical supplies, machinery spare parts and other high value items though not of basic food supplies. But last year the government tightened the siege, closing the informal tunnel system through which fuel and food had been coming in. By January this year, the cost of a basket of essential food items in Eastern Ghouta was 780 per cent higher than in government-held areas a few miles away.

The government has been advancing all over Syria since Russian military intervention in 2015. Besieged rebel areas have been falling one by one, the fighters and the civilian population sympathising with them often going to Idlib in northwest Syria. In Daraya, they left in the summer of 2016 and East Aleppo fell at the end of the same year. Eastern Ghouta has held out longest because it was large, strongly held and could grow part of its own food. But the rebel factions in control were divided, occasionally fought each other and had no strategy to counter the Syrian armys steady advances other than firing mortars into pro-government districts like Christian Bab Touma in the Damascus Old City.

Living conditions have been deteriorating because of lack of goods or, even when they are available at high prices, people have no money to pay for them. Where food is permitted to enter the Eastern Ghouta enclave, it is subjected to a high fee for every kilo imported. Aid workers say that nobody died of starvation in January, but many people are suffering from malnutrition. As shelling and airstrikes intensified last month, all schools closed.

With Syrian government forces either victorious or not engaged in full scale combat in much of the country, it has more soldiers and air power to concentrate on remaining rebel strongholds in Eastern Ghouta and Idlib. But there is a growing confrontation between President Bashar al-Assad and Turkey in the northern Kurdish enclave of Afrin. Turkish artillery has been shelling on Tuesday the government held entry point to Afrin down which pro-government fighters armed with heavy machine guns have been driving as part of their new alliance with the Kurds.

The Syrian and  to a lesser extent  the Iraqi wars have been wars of sieges in which limited numbers of ground troops are deployed, but are supported by massive air power. This was true of the Syrian government and Russians against Isis, al-Qaeda linked groups and jihadi rebels. But it was also true of the Kurdish YPG (Peoples Protection Units) backed by US airpower in the four month siege of Raqqa and the Iraqi Army, also backed by the US air force and its own artillery, in the nine-month siege of Mosul. The latter was probably the bloodiest of all these sieges because of the size of the city, the ferocity of the fighting and the refusal of Isis to allow the civilian population to escape from West Mosul and from the close-packed Old City.
While it is difficult to say who will be the winner in the three-cornered fight between Turkish, Kurdish and Syrian-regime militias in the enclave of Afrin, it is quite apparent who the losers are. As ever in this pitiless, apparently endless slaughter it is the innocent civilian population, their lives, their health and their human rights, who suffer most grievously. Once again the world is faced with incomprehensible horrors, and the West with few options at its disposal; after all, intervention on strategic or humanitarian grounds has had a mixed record across Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria already.

That is the first and central fact about the fate of this nominal province of Syria. By the end of the fight, again as with so many other battles, there will be a victory of sorts, the triumph of the graveyard, where someone will, for a time, hoist some banner over a pile of rubble and declare liberation. The Kurds, again following the pattern of history, have few friends they can rely on, their national homeland divided as it is across Turkey, Syria and Iran, their claim to an independent Kurdistan opposed by all three. In that at least they are united.

 Explosions as Turkey confirms airstrikes on Afrin, Syria

The battle for Afrin may have its unusual aspects, but it is also part of wearily familiar pattern. Syria has become a set of interlocking proxy wars between the superpowers, America and Russia, and between the shifting alliances of the regional powers Turkey, Iran and Saudi Arabia. With the exception of the Kurds, each and every faction at war in the region has its links to one of these, sometimes switching sides, with a supply of arms and ammunition and money that is as unstinting as it is amoral. Religious, tribal and racial divisions are ruthlessly exploited. At the end of it, more than in most conflicts, what is left is hardly worth having and every side suffers.

The danger is that the so-far proxy nature of the war starts to slide into direct confrontation. We have already seen US-supplied anti-aircraft artillery bring down a Russian-made jet, and now we find Turkish national forces in contact with Iranian-backed Syrian militia. The obvious risk comes when the confrontations become more direct. Still, even when the Turks shot down a Russian jet two years ago, national interests soon defused an apparently fissile diplomatic atmosphere. In the curious dance of death they are undertaking, no one can be quite sure where Vladimir Putin and Recep Erdogan will end up after they have finished colluding in the carve up of the region.

Meantime, in the remaining rebel strongholds elsewhere in Syria, the regime is grinding its way towards what seems an inevitable victory, at least in theory, for President Assad and his friends in Tehran and Moscow. As in Afrin, and so many other places, the victims are overwhelmingly civilians, and in Afrin include children. At least 50 civilians have reportedly been killed in the latest Syrian government attacks on the besieged Eastern Ghouta region, near the capital Damascus. It is a wonder they have hung on so long. The longer they do, whatever the merits of their case, the suffering of the 400,000 people trapped there will continue to worsen, and the UN say the situation is spiralling out of control. One doctor there warned: We are standing before the massacre of the 21st century. If the massacre of the 1990s was Srebrenica, and the massacres of the 1980s were Halabja and Sabra and Shatila, then Eastern Ghouta is the massacre of this century right now.

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

Remote as it may seem to some European eyes, the past few summers and the million-strong Syrian refugee crisis have taught us some lessons about the costs of wars far away. The fighting may soon be over in Syria, but many more will flee the region for their safety before that happens, and those who have made it to Europe will face the reality that they have nothing, and sometimes no one, to go home to in Syria. It is difficult to see, beyond diplomacy and sanctions, what the West can do about the massacres. There is no more ground for optimism in Syria than when the conflict grew out of the Arab Spring, six blood-soaked years and half a million lives ago.
It would be wrong to say living in the US deadens you emotionally when a mass shooting happens. But it does leave you cynical.

There is a pattern that has become so utterly, awfully predictable. Firstly, there is the breaking news alert of an active shooter incident, followed shortly by sources telling local media of at least one fatality.

Within a couple of hours, a grim-faced police officer reveals the death toll has leapt, enough for the cable television channels to dedicate their coverage to nothing else. Next comes the identity of the gunman  for it is, almost always, a man  followed by details of his recent social media posts and his struggle with mental health.

There are messages of support, and, of course, prayers. Some say it is too early to talk about gun control, but for the people mourning loved ones, there is a determination this gun violence, this murderous madness that has taken grip of the country, cannot happen again.

Such words were spoken after the slaughter of 26 children and their teachers at Sandy Hook, Connecticut, in 2012. They were spoken after white supremacist Dylann Roof killed nine black church members in Charleston in June 2015 (I thought wed done with all this in the Sixties, one elderly resident told The Independent, sitting on a bench near the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church.)

It was said after the shooting in San Bernardino in 2015, after the bloodbath inside the Pulse nightclub in Orlando in 2016, after the mowing down of concertgoers in Las Vegas last year, and following the 27 deaths that occurred when a man opened fire at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, about 30 miles east of San Antonio, on 5 November.

In 2015, Andy Parker said he was adamant such violence would stop after his daughter, Alison, a television reporter, was shot dead live on air along with her cameraman, in Moneta, Virginia.

I think people recognising who the victim was and what she represented and how kind and sweet and innocent she was, I think this time its going to be different, he told CNN.

Despite all the effort and heartache, the determination and singlemindedness, very little has been achieved. Massachusetts has perhaps had the most success, when it passed a law banning assault weapons.

 John Oliver pays tribute to students of Florida shooting fighting for gun control

Now, following the atrocity in Parkland, Florida, it is the turn of those who survived the attack and the friends and relatives of the 17 students and staff who did not, to voice similar demands.

Empowered, social-media savvy and with a story the mainstream media has chosen to run with for successive days, the teenagers have said they want to be the last students to suffer from a mass shooting and demanded Donald Trump and other politicians act to keep them safe.

We are going to be the kids you read about in textbooks. Not because were going to be another statistic about mass shooting in America .... We are going to be the last mass shooting, said Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Emma Gonzalez.

Recommended Top Florida Republican unveils gun control plan after school shooting

Can these young people succeed where so many other deserving individuals have failed, or will their passionate voices be forgotten once the media moves onto the next big story?

Perhaps.

Already, they have met with politicians in Florida to discuss regulating weapons. Mr Trump has invited some of them to the White House for a listening session, though details remain unclear. The President has said he supports better background checks, while Florida Senator Marco Rubio who receives considerable funding from the NRA, which scores him an A+ in terms of being supportive of its policies, has said he also supports expanded background checks and a gun-violence restraining order to remove weapons from those accused of domestic violence.

The real problem lies in Congress. It is there that laws live or die and where commonsense legislation to make America safer, usually stalls. Polls show there is widespread public support for background checks, a waiting period on all gun purchases and a ban on magazines that carry more than 10 rounds. A recent poll by Quinnipiac University found 64 per cent of people supported banning assault-style weapons.

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

The trouble is, we have a stalemate in Congress. Too many lawmakers get their funding from the NRA and they block changes that would help stop this. Instead, they tweet about praying for the families, says Kristin Brown, co-president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

But Congress may not be the only way to tackle gun regulation. The recently elected New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is trying to build a coalition of likeminded governors to build a state-level coalition for greater gun regulation, similar to the one formed after Mr Trump withdrew the US from the Paris Accord on climate change. Weve got to die trying, he told Politico.

And it is not just the politicians. Writing in the New York Times, journalist Andrew Sorkin pointed out the impact banks have could if they chose to.

Heres an idea, he wrote. What if the finance industry  credit card companies like Visa, Mastercard and American Express; credit card processors like First Data; and banks like JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo  were to effectively set new rules for the sales of guns in America?

Collectively, they have more leverage over the gun industry than any lawmaker. And it wouldnt be hard for them to take a stand. PayPal, Square, Stripe and Apple Pay announced years ago that they would not allow their services to be used for the sale of firearms.

Chris Grady is one of about 100 Stoneman Douglas students heading to Tallahassee to push lawmakers to do something to stop gun violence (AP)

He added: For example, Visa, which published a 71-page paper in 2016 espousing its corporate responsibility, could easily change its terms of service to say that it wont do business with retailers that sell assault weapons, high-capacity magazines and bump stocks, which make semiautomatic rifles fire faster.

It was Martin Luther King who said the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice. Yet change is not always apparent, especially when people are caught up in it.

Who would have dared imagine 12 months ago that an allegation of sexual assault levelled at Harvey Weinstein, a man whom apparently had a reputation in the movie industry  though he denies the accusations  would set in motion the firing or resignation of dozens of major figures accused of similar behaviour in fields ranging from restaurants to ballet.

And there are examples for the the US to look to: Australia has not had a fatal mass shooting since it changed its gun laws in 1996. Britain enacted similar change after a massacre that same year at the elementary school in Dunblane. Today, the UK averages around 50 to 60 gun deaths a year.

Right now, the young people of Parkland have public support as they seek to convert their anger and grief into change. On their side, they have also triggered considerable public guilt. How can it be than an entire generation of children has grown up since the killing of 15 students at Columbine High School in 1999, in an environment where lockdown drills are as much a part of going to school as the high school prom. The adults have failed them.

That point was made, with no small eloquence by Cameron Kasky, one of the Parkland students.

You are going to be seeing students in every single major city marching and we have our lives on the line here, and at the end of the day, that is going to be whats bringing us to victory and to making some sort of right out of this tragedy, he told CNN. This is about us begging for our lives.
Indian Central Bureau of Investigation officials escort Gokulnath Shetty (center, grey hair), the former deputy manager of the Punjab National Bank, into a special CBI court in Mumbai on Feb. 17, 2018. Investigators are looking into allegations that Nirav Modi and his business partner Mehul Choksi were involved in defrauding India's second-largest state-run lender, PNB. (AFP/Getty Images)
Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah heads back into the White House after briefly talking to reporters about the ongoing partial federal government shutdown. Reports have emerged that the Indian American Republican strategist once called President Donald Trump a deplorable during the 2016 presidential cycle, when he was working for the Republican National Committee. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Empire of Chaos

With President Trump, Is the American Experiment O ver?

By Tom Engelhardt

February 19, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - The one thing you could say about empires is that, at or near their height, they have always represented a principle of order as well as domination. So heres the confounding thing about the American version of empire in the years when this country was often referred to as the sole superpower, when it was putting more money into its military than the next 10 nations combined: its been an empire of chaos.

Back in September 2002, Amr Moussa, then head of the Arab League, offered a warning Ive never forgotten. The Bush administrations intention to invade Iraq and topple its ruler, Saddam Hussein, was already obvious . Were they to take such a step, Moussa insisted , it would open the gates of hell. His prediction turned out to be anything but hyperbole -- and those gates have never again closed.

The Wars Come Home

From the moment of the invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001, in fact, everything the U.S. military touched in these years has turned to dust. Nations across the Greater Middle East and Africa collapsed under the weight of American interventions or those of its allies, and terror movements, one grimmer than the next, spread in a remarkably unchecked fashion. Afghanistan is now a disaster zone; Yemen, wracked by civil war, a brutal U.S.-backed Saudi air campaign, and various ascendant terror groups, is essentially no more; Iraq, at best, is a riven sectarian nation; Syria barely exists; Libya, too, is hardly a state these days; and Somalia is a set of fiefdoms and terror movements. All in all, its quite a record for the mightiest power on the planet, which, in a distinctly un-imperial fashion, has been unable to impose its military will or order of any sort on any state or even group, no matter where it chose to act in these years. Its hard to think of a historical precedent for this.

Meanwhile, from the shattered lands of the empire of chaos stream refugees by the millions, numbers not seen since vast swaths of the globe were left in rubble at the end of World War II. Startling percentages of the populations of various failed and failing states, including stunning numbers of children , have been driven into internal exile or sent fleeing across borders and, from Afghanistan to North Africa to Europe, they are shaking up the planet in unsettling ways (as their fantasy versions shook up the election here in the U.S.).

Its something of a cliche to say that, sooner or later, the frontier wars of empires come home to haunt the imperial heartland in curious ways. Certainly, such has been the case for our wars on the peripheries. In various forms -- from the militarization of the police to the loosing of spy drones in American skies and of surveillance technology tested on distant battlefields -- its obvious that Americas post-9/11 conflicts have returned to "the homeland," even if, most of the time, we have paid remarkably little attention to this phenomena.

And that, I suspect, is the least significant way in which our wars have been repatriated. What Election 2016 made clear was that the empire of chaos has not remained a phenomenon of the planet's backlands. Its with us in the United States, right here, right now. And its come home in a fashion that no one has yet truly tried to make sense of. Cant you feel the deep and spreading sense of disorder that lay at the heart of the bizarre election campaign that roiled this country, brought the most extreme kinds of racism and xenophobia back into the mainstream, and with Donald Trump's election, may never really end? Using the term of tradecraft that Chalmers Johnson borrowed from the CIA and popularized, think of this as, in some strange fashion, the ultimate in imperial blowback .

Theres a history to be written of how such disorder came home, of how it warped the American system and our democratic form of governance, of how a process that began decades ago not in the stew of defeat or disaster but in a moment of unparalleled imperial triumph undermined so much. If I had to choose a date to begin that history, I think I would start in 1979 in Afghanistan, a country that, if you were an American but not a hippie backpacker , you might then have had trouble locating on a map. And if someone had told you at the time that, over the next nearly four decades, your country would be involved in at least a quarter-century of wars there, you would undoubtedly have considered him mad.

Thought of a certain way, the empire of chaos began in a victory so stunning, so complete, so imperial that it essentially helped drive the other superpower, that Evil Empire the Soviet Union, to implode. It began, in fact, with the desire of Jimmy Carters national security adviser, Zbigniew Brzezinski , to give the Soviets a bloody nose, or to be more precise, a taste of Americas Vietnam experience, to trap the Red Army in an Afghan quagmire. In that light, the CIA would run a massive, decade-long covert program to fund, arm, and train fundamentalist opponents of the leftwing Afghan government in Kabul and of the occupying Red Army. To do so, it fatefully buddied up with two unsavory allies: the Saudis, who were ready to sink their oil money into support for Afghan mujahedeen fighters of the most extreme sort, and the Pakistani intelligence service, the ISI, which was intent on controlling events in that land, no matter the nature of the cast of characters it found available.

In the fashion of Vietnam for the Americans, Afghanistan would prove to be what Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev called "the bleeding wound for the Russians. A decade later, the Red Army would limp home in defeat and within two years a hollowed-out Soviet Union, never as strong as Washington imagined, would implode, a triumph so stunning that the American political elite initially couldnt take it in. After almost half a century, the Cold War was over; one of the two remaining superpowers had left the global stage in defeat; and for the first time since Europeans set out on wooden ships to conquer distant parts of the globe, only a single great power was left standing on the planet.

Given the history of those centuries past, the dreams of Bush-Cheney & Co. about how the U.S. would dominate the world as no power, not even the Romans or the British, had ever done seemed to make a certain sense. But in that triumph of 1989 lay the seeds as well of future chaos. To take down the Soviets, the CIA, in tandem with the Saudis and the Pakistanis, had armed and built up groups of extreme Islamists, who, it turned out, had no intention of going away once the Soviets were driven from Afghanistan. It wont exactly shock you if I add that, in those decisions, in that triumphant moment, lay the genesis of the future 9/11 attacks and in some curious fashion, even perhaps the future rise of a presidential candidate, and now president-elect, so bizarre that, despite the billions of words expended on him, he remains a phenomenon beyond understanding.

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As our first declinist candidate for president, Donald J. Trump did at least express something new and true about the nature of our country. In the phrase that he tried to trademark in 2012 and with which he launched his presidential campaign in 2015 --  Make America Great Again " -- he caught a deeply felt sense among millions of Americans that the empire of chaos had indeed arrived on our shores and that, like the Soviet Union a quarter-century ago, the U.S. might ever so slowly be heading into an era in which (minus him, naturally) greatness was a goner.

Imperial Overreach and the Rise of the National Security State

In the end, those seeds, first planted in Afghan and Pakistani soil in 1979, led to the attacks of September 11, 2001. That day was the very definition of chaos brought to the imperial heartland, and spurred the emergence of a new, post-Constitutional governing structure, through the expansion of the national security state to monumental proportions and a staggering version of imperial overreach. On the basis of the supposed need to keep Americans safe from terrorism (and essentially nothing else), the national security state would balloon into a dominant -- and dominantly funded -- set of institutions at the heart of American political life (without which, rest assured, FBI Director James Comeys public interventions in an American election would have been inconceivable). In these years, that state-within-a-state became the unofficial fourth branch of government, at a moment when two of the others -- Congress and the courts, or at least the Supreme Court -- were faltering.

The 9/11 attacks also unleashed the Bush administrations stunningly ambitious, ultimately disastrous Global War on Terror, and over-the-top fantasies about establishing a military-enforced Pax Americana, first in the Middle East and then perhaps globally. They also unleashed its wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the U.S. drone assassination program across significant parts of the planet, the building of an unprecedented global surveillance state, the spread of a kind of secrecy so all-encompassing that much of government activity became unknowable to the People, and a kind of imperial overreach that sent literally trillions of dollars (often via warrior corporations ) tumbling into the abyss . All of these were chaos-creating factors.

At the same time, the basic needs of many Americans went increasingly unattended , of those at least who werent part of a Gilded Age 1% sucking up American wealth in an extraordinary fashion. The one-percenters then repurposed some of those trickle-up funds for the buying and selling of politicians, again in an atmosphere of remarkable secrecy. (It was often impossible to know who had given money to whom for what.) In turn, that stream of Supreme Court-approved funds changed the nature of, and perhaps the very idea of, what an election was.

Meanwhile, parts of the heartland were being hollowed out, while -- even as the military continued to produce trillion-dollar boondoggle weapons systems -- the country's inadequately funded infrastructure began to crumble in a way that once would have been inconceivable. Similarly, the non-security-state part of the government -- Congress in particular -- began to falter and wither. Meanwhile, one of the countrys two great political parties launched a scorched-earth campaign against governing representatives of the other and against the very idea of governing in a reasonably democratic fashion or getting much of anything done at all. At the same time, that party shattered into disorderly, competing factions that grew ever more extreme and produced what is likely to become a unique celebrity presidency of chaos.

The United States with all its wealth and power is, of course, hardly an Afghanistan or a Libya or a Yemen or a Somalia. It still remains a genuinely great power, and one with remarkable resources to wield and fall back on. Nonetheless, the recent election offered striking evidence that the empire of chaos had indeed made the trip homeward. Its now with us big time, all the time. Get used to it.

Count on it to be an essential part of the Trump presidency. Domestically, for instance, if you thought the definition of American political dysfunction was a Congress that would essentially pass nothing, just wait until a fully Republican-controlled Congress actually begins to pass bills in 2017. Abroad, Trump's unexpected success will only encourage the rise of right-wing nationalist movements and the further fragmention of this planet of increasing disorder. Meanwhile, the American military (promised a vast further infusion of funds by The Donald during the election campaign) will still be trying to impose its version of order in distant lands and, so many years later, you know perfectly well what that will mean . All of this should shock no one in our new post-November 8th world.

Here, however, is a potentially shocking question that has to be asked: With Donald Trump's election, has the American experiment run its course?

Tom Engelhardt is a co-founder of the American Empire Project and the author of The United States of Fear as well as a history of the Cold War, The End of Victory Culture . He is a fellow of the Nation Institute and runs TomDispatch.com . His latest book is Shadow Government: Surveillance, Secret Wars, and a Global Security State in a Single-Superpower World . His next book, A Nation Unmade by War (Dispatch Books), will be published in May.

Follow TomDispatch on Twitter and join us on Facebook . Check out the newest Dispatch Book, Alfred McCoy's In the Shadows of the American Century: The Rise and Decline of U.S. Global Power , as well as John Dower's The Violent American Century: War and Terror Since World War II , John Feffer's dystopian novel Splinterlands , Nick Turse's Next Time Theyll Come to Count the Dead , and Tom Engelhardt's Shadow Government: Surveillance, Secret Wars, and a Global Security State in a Single-Superpower World .

Copyright 2018 Tom Engelhardt

- See Also -

Coming Soon to a City Near You: The U.S. Militarys Plan to Take Over America

The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.

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A Students Message to Politicians about the Florida Massacre





By Cesar Chelala

February 19, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - The recent school massacre in Florida, that left 17 dead and scores injured, provoked the usual empty expressions of concerns from U.S. politicians, most of whom receive millions of dollars in donations from the National Rifle Association. Emma Gonzalez, a surviving student, expressed the feeling of millions of people around the country who dont feel represented by their elected officials.

In her speech to her fellow students, their parents and school officials, Emma said, Every single person up here today, all these people should be home grieving. But instead we are up here standing together because if all our government and the President can do is send thoughts and prayers; then its time for victims to be the change that we need to see.

Since the time of the Founding Fathers and since they added the Second Amendment to the Constitution, our guns have developed at a rate that leaves me dizzy. The guns have changed but our laws have not. The Second Amendment to the Constitution states: 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. Although opponents to gun control insist in the last part of that statement, they usually neglect to consider the first part, which states that a well-regulated militia as the holder of that entitlement.

The facility to buy guns in the U.S. surprises almost everybody coming from another culture, as is my case. In Florida, to buy a gun you do not need a permit, you do not need a gun license, and once you buy it you do not need to register it. You do not need a permit to carry a concealed rifle or shotgun. You can buy as many guns as you want at one time.

While politicians in the U.S. continue to enact laws that make it easier for anybody to buy guns, even the mentally ill, other countries enact tougher laws that make these events less possible. As Emma, says, Because Australia had one mass shooting in 1999 in Port Arthur (and after the) massacre introduced gun safety, and it hasnt had one since. Japan has never had a mass shooting. Canada has had three and the UK had one and they both introduced gun control and yet here we are, with websites dedicated to reporting these tragedies so that they can be formulated into statistics for your convenience.

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.If you dont do anything to prevent this from continuing to occur, that number of gunshot victims will go up and the number that they are worth will go down. And we will be worthless to you.

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In the 2016 election, the NRA spent over $31 million in the last presidential race. Presidential candidates, however, arent the only ones who benefit from the NRAs donations. Representatives from both parties, although mostly from the Republican Party, receive tens of millions of dollars from the NRA. They will never bite the hand the feeds them.

In February of 2017, one year ago, President Trump and American lawmakers repealed an Obama-era regulation that would have made it easier to block the sale of firearms to people with certain mental illnesses. Thus, they made it easier for tragedies to occur.

Emma ended her speech saying, in a voice almost trembling with anger, The people in the government who were voted into power are lying to us. And us kids seem to be the only ones who notice and our parents to call BS. Companies trying to make caricatures of the teenagers these days, saying that all we are self-involved and trend-obsessed and they hush 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 been done to prevent this, we call BS. They say tougher guns 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 no laws could have prevented 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. If you agree, register to vote. Contact your local congressperson. Give them a piece of your mind.
Goofy Indictments Divert Attention from Criminal Abuses at the FBI and DOJ

By Mike Whitney

If the election is disrupted by voters changing their votes due to Russians posting on Facebook, then the problem is not that Russians are posting on Facebook, the problem is that voters are changing their votes based on posts they read on Facebook. Bill H, comments line Sic Semper Tyrannis God help America. Weve lost our damn minds. Publius Tacitus

February 19, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Robert Muellers Friday night indictment-spree, is a flagrant and infuriating attempt to divert attention from the damning revelations in the Nunes memo (and the Graham-Grassley criminal referral) which prove that senior-level officials at the FBI and DOJ were engaged in an expansive conspiracy to subvert the presidential elections by spying on members of the Trump campaign. The evidence that the FBI and DOJ improperly obtained FISA warrants to spy on Trump campaign affiliate, Carter Page, has now been overshadowed by the tragic massacre in Parkland, Florida and the obfuscating indictments of 13 Internet trolls who have not been linked to the Russian government and who are being used to conceal the fact that the 18 month-long witch hunt has not yet produced even one scintilla of hard evidence related to the original claims of hacking or collusion.

Think about whats Mueller is really up to: Hes not just moving the goalposts, hes loading them onto a spaceship and putting them on another planet. Wheres the evidence that Russia hacked the DNC computers and stole their emails? Wheres the proof that members of the Trump campaign colluded with Russia? Thats what we want to know, not whether some goofy Russian troll was spreading false information on Facebook. That has nothing to do with the original charges. Its just politically-motivated gibberish that proves Mueller has nothing to support his case. After a full year, the investigation has failed to produce anything but a big goose egg.

According to the indictment, the alleged Russian trolls posted derogatory information about a number of candidates and its operations included supporting the presidential campaign of then-candidate Donald J. Trumpand disparaging Clinton.

Big whoop. If people are so malleable that they can be brainwashed by some suggestive posting on Facebook, then maybe we should abandon democracy altogether. But thats not what this is really about, is it? Because if it was, Mueller would have posted the contents of those nefarious Russian comments in the indictmentWHICH HE DIDNT because he knows its all obfuscating bullsh** designed to make the sheeple think evil Putin is dabbling in our precious elections.

Oh, and heres a little tidbit the MSM managed to overlook in their typically-hysterical coverage. This is from journalist Alexander Mercouris at the pro-Russia website, The Duran: (If you think your delicate mind might be brainwashed by Russian propaganda, please, shield your eyes!)

The third thing to say about the indictment  and a point which has been almost universally overlooked in all the feverish commentary about it  is that it makes no claim that the Russian government was in any way involved in any of the activities of the persons indicted. Nowhere in the indictment is the Russian government or any official of the Russian government or any agency of the Russian government mentioned at all. Nor at any point in the indictment is it suggested that any of the persons indicted were employed by the Russian government or were acting under its instructions or on its behalf. (The Duran, Alexander Mercouris)

No Ruskis involved? But how can that be? We were assured that diabolical Russia is behind everything bad that happens in America. Has evil Putin been sleeping on the job??

Yes, its true that the Internet Research Agency, LLC, is in fact located in St. Petersburg butas yetthere is no known connection between the company and the government. And, if there was, you can bet that Mueller would have exploited it for all its worth.

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By the way, Muellers presumption that the hackers were trying to influence the election, is just that, a presumption. It has no basis in fact whatsoever. It is mere speculation like the rest of the claptrap hes come up with. The more reasonable explanation is that the hackers were trying to make a little dough on pageviews or clicks rather than trying to persuade voters to vote for one candidate or the other. Heres more from the indictment:

 Defendants and their co-conspirators began to track and study groups on U.S. social media sites dedicated to U.S. politics and social issues. In order to gauge the performance of various groups on social media sites, the organization tracked certain metrics like the groups size, the frequency of content placed by the group, and the level of audience engagement with that content, such as the average number of comments or responses to a post.

WTF! Isnt this what everyone is doing, including the Intel agencies, advertisers, media and corporations? So now its a crime? Give me a break!

Heres a blurb from the comments-line at Sic Semper Tyrannis:

The conspiracy started in 2014, and cost a whopping $1.2 MILLION, which includes salaries, tech support, and bonuses. The indictment includes info that the Russians ran ads supporting Black Lives Matter, Muslims, Jill Stein, Ted Cruz, Rubio, and Trump. They also organized rallies in support of, and in opposition to Trump and Hillary Clinton. They continued their activities up into 2017, still organizing pro-Clinton and pro-Trump rallies. At one point, the indictment says that the Russians ran an ad that reached 59,000 people, which is laughable, people with a camera in their kitchen get more views than that. Essentially, after about 1.5 years of investigating Russian collusion this is all theyve come up with. London Bob, Sic Semper Tyrannis

And heres more from the indictment:

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 any foreign entity from engaging in political activities within the United States without first registering with the Attorney General.

This is mind-numbingly stupid. Does Mueller really think he can cobble together a case against 13 foreign-born defendants based on the thin gruel of Russian support for Black Lives Matter, Jill Stein and Donald Trump? Good luck with that, Bob.

Political analyst Paul Craig Roberts summarizes how absurd the indictments are in a Friday article tiled  The Result of Muellers Investigation: Nothing :

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.

The whole thing is ridiculous and anyone with half a brain knows its ridiculous. The only reason this fiasco continues to drag on, is because the mandarins in the US National Security State run everything in America and theyve decided that they can invent whatever reality suits their foreign policy agenda and the rest of us will simply accept it in silence or be denounced as Putin apologists or Kremlin stooges. Fortunately, facts and reason appear to be getting the upper hand which why the deep state powerbrokers are getting so desperate. Theyre now genuinely concerned about what might come out and who might be exposed.

Do the names John Brennan or Barack Obama ring a bell?

Indeed. Im sure both names would factor quite large in any seriously impartial and thorough investigation of the Russiagate conspiracy.

One last thing for all you supporters of Donald Trump. I suggest you carefully examine his latest tweet on the topic. Here it is:

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! Donald Trump, Twitter

As I expected, Trump is going to save his own skin, but allow the Bigger Lie to persist. It looks to me that Trump may have cut a deal with his deep state antagonists to support their spurious claims of Russian meddling as long as they exonerate him on the charges of collusion. That means, he will NOT use his power as President to try to uncover the roots of Russia-gate fabrication. (that would probably expose the former Directors of the CIA and NSA and, perhaps, even the former president of the United States, who likely gave Brennan the greenlight to set the wheels in motion.) All of these suspects will go uninvestigated, unindicted, and unpunished just like the perpetrators of the Iraq War, just like the perpetrators of the Financial Meltdown, and just like the perpetrators of all the major crimes against the American people. As always, it is complete and total immunity for Parasite Class while the rest of us have to play by the rules. But you probably already knew that.

Trump will get off the hook while the rest of us languish in permanent ignorance of how the shadow government really works. You heard it first here.

Mike Whitney lives in Washington state. He is a contributor to Hopeless: Barack Obama and the Politics of Illusion (AK Press). Hopeless is also available in a Kindle edition . He can be reached at fergiewhitney@msn.com .

This article was originally published by " Unz Review "

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The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.

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New Women's Audio Bible, Created and Produced for At-Risk Women, Available from Courage For Life in Fall of 2018 Ann White and Courage For Life will produce and distribute an audio Bible recorded by women, using Tyndale House Publishing's NLT; the Audio Bible is specifically structured to comfort, encourage and inspire at-risk women.



Contact: Judy McDonough, SERVE Literary & Media, 615-243-5994, Judy@serveliterary.com



NASHVILLE, Feb. 20, 2018 /Christian Newswire/ -- A new audio Bible, specifically designed for hurting women, is being created, produced and distributed by Courage For Life, a non-profit organization (501c3), with an anticipated release beginning Fall of 2018. The Courage For Life Women's Audio Bible will be offered free of charge to women being treated in local at-risk facilities, such as homeless shelters, battered women's shelters, and safe houses throughout the United States.



This will be the first audio Bible  from Genesis to Revelation - recorded for women by women, using the modern language of Tyndale House Publishing's New Living Translation (NLT) Bible. The Audio Bible will include commentary from Courage For Life founder, internationally known author, speaker, and Bible teacher Ann White.



"After spending countless hours ministering to hurting women who are struggling to embrace their God-given courage, our team recognized a critical void that was common to each facility where we teach," said White. "Women and girls are eager to take in God's Word, but most often don't have adequate access to it. After more than a year of research, negotiations, and fundraising, we could not be more excited to announce that the Courage For Life Women's Audio Bible is set to begin production on Monday, March 26, 2018!"



Filmmaker and media consultant Phil Cooke, author of the new book The Way Back: How Christians Blew Our Credibility and How We Get It Back, will produce the audio project: "Ann White's vision for this project is remarkable. No audio Bible exists quite like this - especially focused on reaching at-risk women - which is such a critical issue today. This is why our media team at Cooke Pictures is all-in to help produce this timely, unique, and necessary project."



An audio Bible created specifically for at-risk women meets the very particular needs of this wounded community: Extensive research and clinical experience have proven that gender-specific programs  in this case, a project with audio provided by women  is best to help women heal from substance abuse, trauma and mental health issues.



Women in jail are the fastest growing correctional population in the country; with most of these women suffering from low reading skills and lack of education, it makes reading even basic Bible passages difficult.



Domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness among women and children  a population in desperate need of Biblical inspiration and encouragement.



Increasingly, at-risk women in the U.S. are not originally from this country, and are not proficient enough in English to be able to read spiritual literature. "There's no doubt that a woman's voice can bring comfort and reassurance," said White. "Even God refers to Himself as providing the 'comfort of a mother' in His promise to comfort the Jews as they prepare to return to Jerusalem after 70 years in captivity."



The Courage For Life Audio Bible will be available at no charge through a specially created app; details about the app, and other ways to access this material, will be made available in the coming months.



The Courage For Life Bible will also be available in print, with additional information about the Bible's release posted at CourageForLife.org in the near future.



Well known in the Atlanta region as a co-host of the popular television talk show "Atlanta Live," Ann White founded her global ministry out of a calling to share with others how God and His Word brought restoration to her life and marriage. Courage For Life is dedicated to helping people grow in their personal relationship with God by strengthening believers, equipping ministry leaders, and empowering women and children at risk. Through local and international missions, speaking engagements, developing and publishing inspirational materials (books, curriculum, study guides), social media and Christian television programming, Ann White's ministry reaches countless men, women and children with God's message of inspiration, encouragement, courage and hope.



Media contact for The Courage for Life Women's Audio Bible and Ann White:

Judy McDonough

SERVE Literary & Media

Judy@serveliterary.com

615-243-5994



About Ann White and Courage for Life: Ann White founded her global ministry out of a calling to share with others how God and His Word brought restoration to her life and marriage. Having personally experienced God's grace, salvation, and the life-changing power of the Bible, Ann's desire is to extend this same love, mercy, and encouragement to others, so they too may be reconciled to God.



Courage For Life, a non-profit organization (501c3), is dedicated to helping people grow in their personal relationship with God by strengthening believers, equipping ministry leaders, and empowering women and children at risk. Through local and international missions, speaking engagements, developing and publishing inspirational materials (books, curriculum, study guides), social media and Christian television programming, Ann White's ministry reaches countless men, women and children with God's message of inspiration, encouragement, courage and hope.



During her ministry's annual mission trip to South Asia, Ann facilitates conferences, in various locations, where hundreds of women travel many miles with their children for a time of inspirational training and spiritual encouragement. They pray with countless women and families, distribute hundreds of printed and audio Bibles, and provide Christian leaders with the necessary resources that allow them to continue to minister to these communities long after we return home. The ministry has been able to work closely with local church leaders in the region to reach victims of one of the area's largest red-light districts, where hundreds of young girls and many boys are forced into sex-slavery at a very young age, bought and sold day after day and are in desperate need to learn of God's saving grace and unconditional love. In and around Atlanta, the Courage For Life ministry team members and volunteers work with at-risk women and children utilizing an 8 week curriculum based on Ann's new book, Courage For Life.



For more information on Ann White and Courage For Life, go to CourageForLife.org



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Nunes: FBI and DOJ Perps Could Be Put on Trial



House Intelligence Committee Chair Devin Nunes has stated that DOJ and FBI are not above the law, and could face legal consequences for alleged abuses of the FISA court, reports Ray McGovern.



By Ray McGovern

February 19, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Throwing down the gauntlet on alleged abuse of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) by the Department of Justice and the FBI, House Intelligence Committee Chair Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) stated that there could be legal consequences for officials who may have misled the FISA court. If they need to be put on trial, we will put them on trial, he said. The reason Congress exists is to oversee these agencies that we created.

Nunes took this highly unusual, no-holds-barred stance during an interview with Emmy-award winning investigative journalist Sharyl Attkisson , which aired on Sunday.

Attkisson said she had invited both Nunes and House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) but that only Nunes agreed. She asked him about Schiffs charge that Nunes goal was to put the FBI and DOJ on trial. What followed was very atypical bluntness  candor normally considered quite unacceptable in polite circles of the Washington Establishment.

Rather than play the diplomat and disavow what Schiff contended was Nunes goal, Nunes said, in effect, let the chips fall where they may. He unapologetically averred that, yes, a criminal trial might well be the outcome. DOJ and FBI are not above the law, he stated emphatically. If they are committing abuse before a secret court getting warrants on American citizens, youre darn right that were going to put them on trial.

Die Is Cast

The stakes are very high. Current and former senior officials  and not only from DOJ and FBI, but from other agencies like the CIA and NSA, whom documents and testimony show were involved in providing faulty information to justify a FISA warrant to monitor former Trump campaign official Carter Page  may suddenly find themselves in considerable legal jeopardy. Like, felony territory.

This was not supposed to happen. Mrs. Clinton was a shoo-in, remember? Back when the FISA surveillance warrant of Page was obtained, just weeks before the November 2016 election, there seemed to be no need to hide tracks, because, even if these extracurricular activities were discovered, the perps would have looked forward to award certificates rather than legal problems under a Trump presidency.

Thus, the knives will be coming out. Mostly because the mainstream media will make a major effort  together with Schiff-mates in the Democratic Party  to marginalize Nunes, those who find themselves in jeopardy can be expected to push back strongly.

If past is precedent, they will be confident that, with their powerful allies within the FBI/DOJ/CIA Deep State they will be able to counter Nunes and show him and the other congressional investigation committee chairs, where the power lies. The conventional wisdom is that Nunes and the others have bit off far more than they can chew. And the odds do not favor folks, including oversight committee chairs, who buck the system.

Staying Power

On the other hand, the presumptive perps have not run into a chairman like Nunes in four decades, since Congressmen Lucien Nedzi (D-Mich.), Otis Pike (D-NY), and Sen. Frank Church (D-Idaho) ran tough, explosive hearings on the abuses of a previous generation deep state, including massive domestic spying revealed by quintessential investigative reporter Seymour Hersh in December 1974. (Actually, this is largely why the congressional intelligence oversight committees were later established, and why the FISA law was passed in 1978.)

At this point, one is tempted to say plus ca change, plus cest la meme chose  or the more things change, the more they stay the same  but that would be only half correct in this context. Yes, scoundrels will always take liberties with the law to spy on others. But the huge difference today is that mainstream media have no room for those who uncover government crimes and abuse. And this will be a major impediment to efforts by Nunes and other committee chairs to inform the public.

One glaring sign of the medias unwillingness to displease corporate masters and Official Washington is the harsh reality that Hershs most recent explosive investigations, using his large array of government sources to explore front-burner issues, have not been able to find a home in any English-speaking newspaper or journal. In a sense, this provides what might be called a confidence-building factor, giving some assurance to deep-state perps that they will be able to ride this out, and that congressional committee chairs will once again learn to know their (subservient) place.

Much will depend on whether top DOJ and FBI officials can bring themselves to reverse course and give priority to the oath they took to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic. This should not be too much to hope for, but it will require uncommon courage in facing up honestly to the major misdeeds appear to have occurred  and letting the chips fall where they may. Besides, it would be the right thing to do.

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Nunes is projecting calm confidence that once he and Trey Gowdey (R-Tenn.), chair of the House Oversight Committee, release documentary evidence showing what their investigations have turned up, it will be hard for DOJ and FBI officials to dissimulate.

In Other News 

In the interview with Attkisson, Nunes covered a number of other significant issues:

The committee is closing down its investigation into possible collusion between Moscow and the Trump campaign; no evidence of collusion was found.

The apparently widespread practice of unmasking the identities of Americans under surveillance. On this point, Nunes said, In the last administration they were unmasking hundreds, and hundreds, and hundreds of Americans names. They were unmasking for what I would say, for lack of a better definition, were for political purposes.

Asked about Schiffs criticism that Nunes behaved improperly on what he called the midnight run to the White House, Nunes responded that the stories were untrue. Well, most of the time I ignore political nonsense in this town, he said. What I will say is that all of those stories were totally fake from the beginning.

Not since Watergate has there been so high a degree of political tension here in Washington but the stakes for our Republic are even higher this time. Assuming abuse of FISA court procedures is documented and those responsible for playing fast and loose with the required justification for legal warrants are not held to account, the division of powers enshrined in the Constitution will be in peril.

A denouement of some kind can be expected in the coming months. Stay tuned.

Ray McGovern works with Tell the Word, a publishing arm of the ecumenical Church of the Savior in inner-city Washington. He was a CIA analyst for 27 years and is co-founder of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS).

This article was originally published by " Consortiumnews "

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The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.

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Kim Dotcom: "Let Me Assure You, The DNC Hack Wasnt Even A Hack"



By Tyler Durden

February 19, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Kim Dotcom has once again chimed in on the DNC hack, following a Sunday morning tweet from President Trump clarifying his previous comments on Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

I never said Russia did not meddle in the election, I said it may be Russia, or China or another country or group, or it may be a 400 pound genius sitting in bed and playing with his computer. The Russian hoax was that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia - it never did!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 18, 2018

In response, Dotcom tweeted "Let me assure you, the DNC hack wasn't even a hack. It was an insider with a memory stick. I know this because I know who did it and why," adding "Special Counsel Mueller is not interested in my evidence. My lawyers wrote to him twice. He never replied. 360 pounds!" alluding of course to Trump's "400 pound genius" comment.

Let me assure you, the DNC hack wasnt even a hack. It was an insider with a memory stick. I know this because I know who did it and why. Special Counsel Mueller is not interested in my evidence. My lawyers wrote to him twice. He never replied. 360 pounds! https://t.co/AGRO0sFx7s https://t.co/epXtv0t1uN  Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) February 18, 2018

Dotcom's assertion is backed up by an analysis done last year by a researcher who goes by the name Forensicator, who determined that the DNC files were copied at 22.6 MB/s - a speed virtually impossible to achieve from halfway around the world, much less over a local network - yet a speed typical of file transfers to a memory stick.

The local transfer theory of course blows the Russian hacking narrative out of the water, lending credibility to the theory that the DNC "hack" was in fact an inside job, potentially implicating late DNC IT staffer, Seth Rich.

John Podesta's email was allegely successfully "hacked" (he fell victim to a phishing scam ) in March 2016, while the DNC reported suspicious activity (the suspected Seth Rich file transfer) in late April, 2016 according to the Washington Post.

On May 18, 2017, Dotcom proposed that if Congress includes the Seth Rich investigation in their Russia probe, he would provide written testimony with evidence that Seth Rich was WikiLeaks' source.

If Congress includes #SethRich case into their Russia probe I'll give written testimony with evidence that Seth Rich was @Wikileaks source.  Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) May 19, 2017

On May 19 2017 Dotcom tweeted "I knew Seth Rich. I was involved"

I knew Seth Rich. I know he was the @Wikileaks source. I was involved. https://t.co/MbGQteHhZM  Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) May 20, 2017

Three days later, Dotcom again released a guarded statement saying "I KNOW THAT SETH RICH WAS INVOLVED IN THE DNC LEAK," adding:

"I have consulted with my lawyers. I accept that my full statement should be provided to the authorities and I am prepared to do that so that there can be a full investigation. My lawyers will speak with the authorities regarding the proper process. If my evidence is required to be given in the United States I would be prepared to do so if appropriate arrangements are made. I would need a guarantee from Special Counsel Mueller, on behalf of the United States, of safe passage from New Zealand to the United States and back. In the coming days we will be communicating with the appropriate authorities to make the necessary arrangements. In the meantime, I will make no further comment."

Dotcom knew.

While one could simply write off Dotcom's claims as an attention seeking stunt, he made several comments and a series of tweets hinting at the upcoming email releases prior to both the WikiLeaks dumps as well as the publication of the hacked DNC emails to a website known as "DCLeaks."

In a May 14, 2015 Bloomberg article entitled "Kim Dotcom: Julian Assange Will Be Hillary Clinton's Worst Nightmare In 2016": "I have to say its probably more Julian, who threatens Hillary, Dotcom said. But Im aware of some of the things that are going to be roadblocks for her.

Two days later, Dotcom tweeted this:

Hillary Clinton is raising a mountain of cash for her Presidential bid. I think it might turn into ash. pic.twitter.com/Nh8wnyj5AJ  Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) May 16, 2015

Around two months later, Kim asks a provocative question

Will hackers 0wn the U.S. presidential election and prevent Hillary Clinton? #Wikileaks  Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) July 12, 2016

Two weeks after that, Dotcom then tweeted "Mishandling classified info is a crime. When Hillary's emails eventually pop up on the internet who's going to jail?"

Mishandling classified info is a crime. When Hillary's emails eventually pop up on the Internet who's going to jail? http://t.co/zuUNiq26bR  Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) July 26, 2015

It should thus be fairly obvious to anyone that Dotcom was somehow involved, and therefore any evidence he claims to have, should be taken seriously as part of Mueller's investigation. Instead, as Dotcom tweeted, "Special Counsel Mueller is not interested in my evidence. My lawyers wrote to him twice. He never replied."

This article was originally published by " ZeroHedge "

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The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.

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A cell's membrane is composed of a bilayer of lipids, and the inside-facing layer is made of different lipids than the outside-facing layer; the differences in membrane order between the inside and outside bilayer are both obvious and striking. Credit: Joseph Lorent

A cell's membrane is its natural barrier between the inside of a cell and the outside world  composed of a double layer (bilayer) of lipids (such as fats, waxes, sterols, or fat-soluble vitamins). Intriguingly, it's been known for decades that the layer facing the inside of cells is made of different lipids than the outside-facing layer.

This lipid asymmetry, or lack of symmetry, is regulated via a variety of proteins and demands a high amount of energy from the cell. Since the cell invests resources toward keeping the lipids asymmetrically distributed equally between the two sides of the bilayer, the process is vital to its function. Dying cells, which permanently lose their lipid asymmetry, are targeted by the immune system for elimination.

Because different lipids create membranes with different physical properties, a group of McGovern Medical School researchers wondered whether different lipid compositions in the bilayer could also lead to different physical properties.

During the 62nd Biophysical Society Annual Meeting, held Feb. 17-21, in San Francisco, California, Joseph H. Lorent, a postdoctoral researcher, and Ilya Levental, an assistant professor, will present their work exploring lipid asymmetry's role in immune cell activation.

A variety of fluorescent probes can provide insights about the general physical properties of membranes. But these probes tend to stain both sides of the plasma membrane  making it impossible to independently measure the two layers of the bilayer.

To overcome it, we use a trick where we inject the probe directly inside single cells using a tiny glass syringe like the kind used for extracting nuclei out of cells for cloning, Lorent said. This allows us to visualize specifically half of the membrane facing the [inside of the cell].

Now the researchers could see the changes between the inside and outside bilayer. The differences were obvious and striking, Lorent said. By preventing the loss of membrane asymmetry, we inhibited the immune response.

The team found that adjusting the lipid asymmetry of the membrane was important to the immune cells functioning. In the long run, by knowing how lipid asymmetry is involved in cell signaling, we might be able to 'tune' certain immune responses or even cell death through the regulation of lipid asymmetry, Levental said. This might involve treatments for allergies, inflammation or possibly even cancer.

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1873-Plat  Structural determinants and functional consequences of protein association with membrane domains is authored by Joseph Lorent, Blanca Barbara Diaz-Rohrer, Xubo Lin, Alex Gorfe, Kandice R. Levental and Ilya Levental. It will be presented at 11:45 a.m. PST Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, in South, Level Two, Room 215-216 of the Moscone Center, South. Abstract: https:/ / plan. core-apps. com/ bpsam2018/ abstract/ 598979c882021290aae09439cc3f6e68

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ABOUT THE MEETING

Each year, the Biophysical Society Annual Meeting brings together more than 6,000 researchers working in the multidisciplinary fields representing biophysics. With more than 3,600 poster presentations, over 200 exhibits, and more than 20 symposia, the BPS Annual Meeting is the largest meeting of biophysicists in the world. Despite its size, the meeting retains its small-meeting flavor through its subgroup symposia, platform sessions, social activities and committee programs. The 62nd Annual Meeting will be held at the Moscone Center (South) in San Francisco, California.

PRESS REGISTRATION

The Biophysical Society invites professional journalists, freelance science writers and public information officers to attend its Annual Meeting free of charge. For press registration, contact Ellen Weiss at EWeiss@biophysics.org or the Media Line at the American Institute of Physics at media@aip.org or 301-209-3090.

NEWS RELEASES

Embargoed press releases describing in detail some of the breakthroughs to be discussed at the meeting are available on EurekAlert!, Newswise and Alpha Galileo or by contacting the Media Line at the American Institute of Physics at media@aip.org or 301-209-3090.

QUICK LINKS

Main Meeting Page: https:/ / www. biophysics. org/ 2018meeting/ Home/ tabid/ 7117/ Default. aspx

Symposia: https:/ / www. biophysics. org/ 2018meeting/ Program/ ScientificSessions/ Symposia/ tabid/ 7192/ Default. aspx

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As part of its effort to cut red tape, the US Treasury Department has singled out the section 385 regulations to be dropped alongside almost 300 tax regulations deemed to be out of date. This is after President Donald Trump called for the Treasury to find ways to reduce the regulatory burden on taxpayers.
When Austin Downey attended an Ames City Council meeting in late September, he was surprised he would be granted the opportunity to speak, let alone have his voice heard.

Downey, a graduate engineering student studying wind and energy at Iowa State, bought his house nearly a decade ago. As he nears graduation, however, his time in Ames is decreasing and the fear of his home falling into foreclosure is increasing.

I moved here when I was nineteen and bought a house with money I had saved up from my paper route," he said. "I have no debt, I worked incredibly hard to purchase a house that was on Lincoln Way."

The moratorium

In October, the Ames City Council passed a moratorium prohibiting the city from issuing rental letters of compliance until April. For Downey, this impedes his ability to sell.

I fully understood that [my] house would always be a rental; no one is going to buy it for their new family with two kids and a dog, he said. But also, there are people who live on my street in rentals who are families and they are low income ... with kids.

Downey, and many others, presented their arguments to the council both for and against the moratorium. What it boiled down to for Downey, however, was that the city made the wrong choice.

When you make a decision, you have to make some people mad and I affirmatively believe the city is making the wrong decision, he said.

The moratorium, however, is just one piece to the larger puzzle the city has been trying to solve in addressing issues of rental occupancy. It became divisive.

During a six-month period, the Ames City Council spent hours on Tuesday nights trying to work with city staff, long-term residents, property managers, landlords and students to understand the complexity of rental housing in Ames.

At one point, the term student ghetto was used to compare neighborhoods around campus that were largely rental-occupied.

A state law passed by the Iowa Legislature in the previous session that prohibited cities from limiting rental occupancy based on familial status is where these issues began.

Which, it turned out, was exactly what Ames was doing. So, the council got to work.

Finding a compromise

By the end of the year, however, working under a looming deadline of Jan. 1, 2018, when the current ordinance would go out of effect, the City Council still hadnt approved all three passages of the ordinance it had crafted.

So on Jan. 9, 2018, the City Council passed what council members had completed under the promise from the freshly appointed Mayor John Haila that there would be amendments to the ordinance  No. 4332  down the road.

The ordinances provisions are as follows:

Use the city assessor's bedroom count as the baseline for the number of bedrooms in a rental house; or the numbers established through the most recent rental inspection  whichever is most recent.

Adopt a limit of three people for one- and two-bedroom homes, and to have three-, four- and five-bedroom homes equal to the number of adult occupants

One-, two- and three-bedroom rental houses are required to have two off-street parking spaces, whereas four-bedroom or above rental houses must have the number of off-street parking spaces equal to the number of bedrooms

Cap rental housing occupancy at five adults

In some instances, the new ordinance worked to benefit stakeholders. In some houses, a landlord could have the opportunity to rent out his or her property to as many as five individuals.

For homeowners and long-term residents, they knew many of the houses didnt have more than three bedrooms, therefore limiting properties in their neighborhoods to just three occupants.

For students, however, the provision relating occupancy to parking was something they actively encouraged the council to stop pursuing.

Meghana Akella, mechanical engineering graduate research assistant, said she felt part of the ordinance was unfair to international students.

Right now, I am not affected [by the ordinance]. Being an international student is something I identify with, and most of my friends dont have cars, so it was on their behalf that I was talking, she said.

To counter the students' concerns, the council amended the parking provision to expire at the end of the moratorium  April 30, 2018  to give them more time to decide on the next best steps.

Concerns by the council

However, leases signed during this season are tied to that provision which could limit some landlords regarding how many people they can rent to.

Issues like this were a major concern that Council member Amber Corrieri, who was the only council member to oppose all three readings of the ordinance.

And going into the third reading of the ordinance on Jan. 9, Corrieri still had mixed feelings. She said her opposition to the ordinance was due to a fear of its complexity and what that could mean for the community.

About the workshop The workshop is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 20 in the Ames City Council chambers, 515 Clark Avenue. The first hour of the workshop will include staff presentations to the council and the second hour will be dedicated to public input.

The confusion in general, not just among landlords but tenants, was a big factor [in my opposition,] Corrieri said.

Corrieri recalled the emails she got leading up to the ordinances adoption from confused landlords who worried how the ordinance would affect them.

Another reason for her opposition had to do with concerns on how it could affect those in nontraditional living arrangements. For example, a couple living with one spouses older parents in a three-bedroom house would technically be in violation of the ordinance, as the number of adults exceeds the number of bedrooms.

Council member David Martin shared a similar concern. He worried that a high school student living with their parents in a two-bedroom house could turn 18, which would make their living situation in violation of the ordinance.

That really rubbed me the wrong way, that [an incident like] that could cause an over-occupancy situation while youre still a high school student, Martin said.

Martin considered proposing an amendment to address this issue during that Jan. 9 meeting  his first as a council member  but learned a provision in the Iowa State Constitution forced city government to honor existing contracts, including leases.

Martin interpreted this as giving them a grace period on the issue and hopes to address incidents such as this further in the planned workshop on Feb. 20.

I looked at it and thought we dont need to do this immediately. We do need to do it this year, Martin said.

However, some council members, such as Gloria Betcher, opposed putting off the passage of the ordinance.

"I dont like living in a world where we dont have an ordinance. Places and things could get worse before it gets better," Betcher said during the last reading in January.

Martin agreed with Betchers sentiments. He saw it was unclear how much of the old ordinance was enforceable and how much wasnt.

It was extremely important to revise our code so we are no longer in conflict with state law, Martin said.

Corrieri, on the other hand, felt the statement was hyperbolic. She felt the majority of leases were already signed by that time. However, she felt later on this definitely could have become an issue.

I really couldnt envision a scenario where we were all of a sudden going to see landlords cramming people into rental properties that only had three people before, because frankly, I dont see where those people were going to come from, Corrieri said.

What's next?

As the council looks forward and amends the current ordinance, Corrieri would like to see the limit on adults tied to number of bedrooms limited to more vulnerable areas of the city, like the south campus area. Currently the ordinance affects all rental properties citywide.

Another thing Corrieri hopes the other members of the council will look at is rental overlays. While not addressed in the ordinance, rental overlays mean taking an area or neighborhood and saying only a certain percentage of properties can be rentals.

While something like this could be an effective way to keep too many students from living in the south campus area, Corrieri fears this would just cause problems in other parts of the city.

We really need to think long and hard about what the impacts are, Corrieri said. Do you want your students living close to campus? I think so.

Another directly related issue in the city is parking, which the ordinance attempts to address.

Martin, however, worries the ordinance treats everyone as if they have a car.

Im not sure thats the best way to really control whos living in a building by number of cars, Martin said.

Martin feels students living near campus do not necessarily need a car, and the ordinance disadvantages those with cars through parking requirements.

Believing simply because youre a human being, youll have a car doesnt seem quite true, Martin said.

So while much is left unclear to even City Council members in the recently passed ordinance, it still is the legal code in Ames. To address this, the city will be hosting a workshop on Tuesday, Feb. 20 to present the issues at hand and discuss the ordinance with community members.

Corrieri hopes this will guide the council when deciding how to deal with the unintended consequences of the ordinance.

We might hear other things at the workshop we hadnt considered yet, Martin said.

Solution-oriented

As for Haila, he feels thus far the city and the council have dealt with the rental occupancy ordinance issue in a positive way.

Haila sees parking as a major issue that needs to be addressed as it serves as challenge because of the circulating student population and the fact that on any given day, the number of cars in use in student-heavy neighborhoods may vary.

In his opinion, the ordinance needs to deal with parking in a way that is sustainable.

How do we come up with an ordinance that can be applicable five or ten years down the road without causing other issues? Haila said.

Above all however, Haila sees himself as a mediator on the issue in his role as mayor. He stressed the importance of members of the community from all backgrounds attending the workshop.

So far it seems like, Im not sure everybody is listening to everybody else, Haila said.

With a wide variety of stakeholders who have different images for what rental occupancy should look like, such as students and developers to neighborhood associations and landlords, Haila hopes these groups can come together to find a point of understanding and compromise at the workshop.

If You Go The list of topics Haila hopes to address during the workshop as presented in a letter to community members. How will we allow an increase in bedrooms or parking spaces in rental units after the moratorium is lifted? How do we handle the situation when a non-adult who lives in a rental unit with his/her family becomes an adult later during the time a rental lease is still in affect? What should be the definition of an adult? Should the City Council impose a limit on concentrations of rental units in specific areas or throughout the city, and what would this look like? Should the rental occupancy limits apply to single and two-family homes in all zoning districts or only in low density zoning districts? Should rental occupancy limits apply to specific areas or city-wide? What penalties should be imposed against property owners for multiple rental housing code violations that occur on their property? How should we handle Airbnb?

The workshop is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 20 in the Ames City Council chambers, 515 Clark Avenue. The first hour of the workshop will include staff presentations to the council and the second hour will be dedicated to public input.

Reporting and editing contributed by The Daily's Alex Connor.
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 
Organisers Expect One Million People to Take Part in Campaign Encouraging Missional Engagement Across the Global Church

+44-7967-468008,

gareth@jerseyroad.co.uk Contact: Gareth Russell,+44-7967-468008,



As part of the campaign, scheduled for Sunday February 25th, churches around the world will be singing this song in their worship services as an act of solidarity and fellowship in support of global missions to the unreached. Already over 700,000 people from 3,300 churches in 68 countries have signed up for the 2018 campaign, and more are registering their participation every day.



In 1925, the Scottish athlete Eric Liddell decided to finish his career less than one year after winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics to become a missionary in China. The media called him a fool, and when he was leaving Edinburgh's Waverley Station, he was asked to comment and instead of making a statement he sang this song, "Jesus shall reign where'er the sun does his successive journeys run, His kingdom stretch from shore to shore till moons shall wax and wane no more."



Keith Getty says, "This hymn, Jesus Shall Reign, is very special to me. In that moment when the world was against him, Liddell stood firm and continued on the mission he knew God had called him too. The story of the church in China has been an incredible one, growing from 1 million believers to an estimated 100 million believers today. We want this campaign not only to be about congregational singing, but churches partnering in missions to see more lives impacted by the transformational message of the gospel."



The Gettys have written a new chorus for the long-loved hymn, creating a contemporary church setting for this year's Global Hymn Sing. The Gettys are also continuing their partnership with missions agency OMF who serve the church and seek to share the good news of Jesus Christ in all it's fullness with the peoples of East Asia. The organisation supports church planting, missional business, student work and medical practice, and aim to present the gospel in a culturally relevant way.



Dr Patrick Fung, OMF General Director says "Nearly one-third of the world's population live in places with little or no access to the gospel. That's over 2 billion individuals worldwide who need someone to share the good news of Jesus with them. We are passionate about drawing together the church around the world and we believe the Global Hymn Sing is a great opportunity to encourage more individuals and churches to engage with global mission."



The song, the sheet music, MP3s, and many other resources are now available free at

NASHVILLE, Feb. 20, 2018 / Christian Newswire / -- Getty Music in association with OMF have announced the third annual Global Hymn Sing, encouraging churches around the world to join together in song across nations, denominations and languages. The campaign, which in previous years has seen over 1.5 million people take part across 100 countries, aims to draw together churches and encourage them to focus on the mission of Jesus Christ through the words of the classic hymn, "Jesus Shall Reign."As part of the campaign, scheduled for Sunday February 25th, churches around the world will be singing this song in their worship services as an act of solidarity and fellowship in support of global missions to the unreached. Already over 700,000 people from 3,300 churches in 68 countries have signed up for the 2018 campaign, and more are registering their participation every day.In 1925, the Scottish athlete Eric Liddell decided to finish his career less than one year after winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics to become a missionary in China. The media called him a fool, and when he was leaving Edinburgh's Waverley Station, he was asked to comment and instead of making a statement he sang this song, "Jesus shall reign where'er the sun does his successive journeys run, His kingdom stretch from shore to shore till moons shall wax and wane no more."Keith Getty says, "This hymn, Jesus Shall Reign, is very special to me. In that moment when the world was against him, Liddell stood firm and continued on the mission he knew God had called him too. The story of the church in China has been an incredible one, growing from 1 million believers to an estimated 100 million believers today. We want this campaign not only to be about congregational singing, but churches partnering in missions to see more lives impacted by the transformational message of the gospel."The Gettys have written a new chorus for the long-loved hymn, creating a contemporary church setting for this year's Global Hymn Sing. The Gettys are also continuing their partnership with missions agency OMF who serve the church and seek to share the good news of Jesus Christ in all it's fullness with the peoples of East Asia. The organisation supports church planting, missional business, student work and medical practice, and aim to present the gospel in a culturally relevant way.Dr Patrick Fung, OMF General Director says "Nearly one-third of the world's population live in places with little or no access to the gospel. That's over 2 billion individuals worldwide who need someone to share the good news of Jesus with them. We are passionate about drawing together the church around the world and we believe the Global Hymn Sing is a great opportunity to encourage more individuals and churches to engage with global mission."The song, the sheet music, MP3s, and many other resources are now available free at www.globalhymnsing.com

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Iowa State Student Government elections take place every spring. One of 15 constituencies, the College of Design is represented by o
This collection features the arguments in favor of and against the renaming of Catt Hall on Iowa State's campus, which was named in 
"They tried to kill us! We won! Let's eat!!!" That phrase is directly linked to the fun-filled festivities enjoyed during the Jewish feast of Purim. Purim this year is on March 23, 24. It is without doubt one of the most energetic and fun-filled of all Jewish holidays.

The Book of Esther (commonly called 'the Megillah') is read during the party. The story is set more than 2000 years ago in Persia and emphasizes how the people escaped a diabolical plot. It reflects a cycle of existence the Jews have faced from one generation to the next.

Esther and Mordecai

The bible story relates how King Achashverosh held a large party whichhis queen refused to attend. As was the way with ancient kings,she was replaced by a new queen, Esther, the Jewess. The timing was perfect. Esther's uncle Mordechai uncovered a plot to assassinate the king which escalated his popularity and influence in the royal court.

That relationship proved particularly valuable when Haman, the King's senior advisor, began to plot the destruction of all the Jews in Persia.

(Biblical Persia is the modern day Iran which is interesting) Esther courageously reported that plot to the king who reversed the wicked decree. Haman was sent to the gallows and Mordechai, who was mentor to Esther, was appointed Prime Minister.

The Hidden, Revealed

It is a fascinating study. The name Esther in Hebrew means 'hidden.' The Hebrew word megilla means scroll and that relates to the word ligalot which means 'to reveal.' Esther was originally a megilla, a scroll. So that which is hidden in this book is revealed to those who will enquire.

Not once in the Book of Esther is God mentioned. The Author intends for the reader to find what He is doing and guiding throughout the story. As the Jewish people celebrate they remind themselves and each other how the Lord has His hand upon them despite the wicked schemes of anti-Semitism.

For the Jewish people He split the sea, made the Jericho walls tumble down and in a most timely fashion chose Esther and Mordecai 'for such a time as this.'

Jerusalem experience

When I first experienced Purim in Jerusalem I was stunned, shocked and surprised. People throughout the city appeared to be on-the-edge, even living recklessly. They wore strange colourful disguises. Purple, pink or rainbow colored hair was not unusual.

I know now rabbinical teaching explains the disguise by the story of Esau and Jacob. Esau received Jacob's blessing by disguise. By this Purim practice they say some outward activities may seem to be questionable, but in the heart the Jews remain a holy people, chosen by God.Isaac failed to identify his own son Jacob. That did not hinder the blessings Jacob received, his heart was always known to Hashem (God).

'Eat, Drink and Be Merry' is a physical Purim display of joy and appreciation. Haman planned to destroy the Jews physically. His plot was thwarted and the Jewish people celebrate with a focus on their physical rescue. They give money to the poor and provide gifts of food to their friends. They eat a festive meal and drink wine.

Haman described them as 'a scattered and dispersed nation.' The Purim Party explodes in the face of those words and the unity of the Jewish people is proclaimed by an open display of welfare and friendship.

Every year Purim is an important reminder to Israel and the Jewish people of the plans, plots and intentions of their enemies. Purim and the party atmosphere celebrates the underlying truth, God is with them.

Ron Ross is a Middle East consultant for United Christian Broadcasters (Vision FM). Previously he was radio news editor for Bridges for Peace in Jerusalem, Israel.

His career started at WINTV (Email: ronandyvonne@mac.com)

Ron Ross' previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/ron-ross.html
This Week in Review

A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more.
U.S. actions in Syria appear to be driven by "obsession" and overt "profiteering", Iran's foreign minister said, warning that Washington could cause long-term damage to the region.

Tsurkov concludes pessimistically: "It remains to be seen whether Israel will manage to secure a deal that prevents Iranian proxies from entering the border region or acquiesces to their presence", but, meanwhile, Israeli support to the rebels and the civilian population in southern Syria are creating expectations "among residents of southern Syria that Israel is unlikely to meet". They assert that these establishments would also serve as a post for carrying out attacks against the Jewish state.

The Iranian minister's comments contradict months of Israeli warnings against allowing Iran to gain a foothold in Syria.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu waves part of an Iranian drone downed in Israeli airspace, during a speech on the third day of the 54th Munich Security Conference, on February 18, 2018. "And that they understand that Iran and Hezbollah have hidden their missiles in the heart of Lebanese and Syrian villages, and have turned state infrastructure into a support system for their military machine". "And it is best to do this legally through the Syrian government". He added, "the allegations regarding surveillance by an Iranian drone are too ridiculous for words".

Speaking to RT after the event, Zarif criticized the reported proposal by Turkey for a joint deployment of troops with the United States in the Syrian Kurdish city of Manbij.

"[The Iranians] are investing billions of dollars in weapons of mass destruction and are trying to establish themselves [militarily]", Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman said at a local government conference on Sunday. Iran is the one that is attacking us. "You can take back with you a message to the tyrants of Tehran - do not test Israel's resolve!". In November, Israel backed up its charges with satellite photos that appeared to confirm a BBC report that Iran was building a permanent military base in Syria, just 31 miles from Israel's northern border.

Ghasemi said in contradiction, "we deny all unfounded allegations by the Zionists".
Labor says the infrastructure would be significantly faster (up to 10 times) and cheaper than NBN, as it would make the technology available to internet providers.

South Australia has unveiled plans to more than double the reach of its Gig City fibre network and open it up commercial operators wanting to compete with NBN Co in the consumer market.

According to the report, just 70 out of the 44,235 residences took up the one gigabit-per-second Internet service.

But he could not give a figure more specific than "hundreds of thousands" when asked how many homes would have access to the expanded network.

South Australia's Labor government will invest AU$35 million in expanding its GigCity fibre broadband network if it is re-elected next month, current Premier Jay Weatherill has announced.

"The evidence comes from our GigCity project already across 12 innovation precincts ... taking up these high capacity Internet speeds", he said.

"We're stepping in where the Federal Liberal Government has failed; under a re-elected Labor Government, Adelaide will have the fastest, cheapest internet speeds in the nation", Weatherill said in a tweet on Tuesday morning. GigCity connection pricing starts from $49.90 per month. This will include the establishment of a roundtable of the community sector, government and business.

The development of South Australia's proposed Fishbone network will be overseen by a new Department of Digital Innovation.

"The internet is an essential service that all South Australian's deserve access to, regardless of their income", Mr Weatherill said.

The state's peak welfare group, the South Australian Council for Social Services, welcomed both policies and said the state lagged behind the national average in terms of internet access.

"We also need to pay attention to regional areas where 22 per cent of households are not accessing the internet at home at all", SACOSS senior policy officer Greg Ogle said.

"There is still a lot of work to be done under any plan, but today's announcement will provide a platform for doing this work to ensure that no-one is left behind in the digital future".

The South Australian Labor Government has promised to deliver "Australia's fastest internet" by investing in new infrastructure in Adelaide, if it is re-elected on March 17. We hope you do too.

Weatherill's attack on the Federal Government over its own nationwide broadband rollout strategy is not the first time the South Australian leadership has locked horns with the Liberal-National Coalition-led administration that now leads the country. As a news organisation it offers an alternative to The Advertiser, a different voice and a closer look at what is happening in our city and state for free.
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.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 21)  India has expressed interest in providing a new telecommunications player for the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday.

"India is also interested to enter into the telecom industry and we are considering," Duterte said on Tuesday during an event of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce Phils. Inc. in Malacanang.

He was talking about the businesses Indian nationals have already ventured in the country, including in the construction sector.

He said he spoke with some of India's businessmen during his official visit there in January for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-India Commemorative Summit.

LOOK: Duterte attends ASEAN-India Summit

Duterte is pushing for a third player to enter the country by March 2018 to break the telco duopoly between PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc.

Earlier, the Palace said the DICT requested to extend the deadline for the third telco player until May, but this was denied by the President.

Read: Duterte wants DICT to stick with March target for third telco player

Duterte had offered China a chance to enter the telco industry as a third player last year. Malacanang later clarified any company should still undergo bidding.

Read: Roque: Duterte's offer of telco role to China a 'political decision'

A foreign company can only own 40 percent of the third player, while a consortium of Filipino companies will share in the remaining 60 percent, based on the draft rules and regulations proposed by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

CNN Philippines' VJ Bacungan and Eimor Santos contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 20)  A Cebu City court sentenced an Australian national to life in prison Tuesday for child trafficking and pornography.

Authorities were first made aware of Drew Frederick Shobbrook's activities on March 22, 2013 after four girls reported to the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas that he had sexually abused them and other minors.

The complainants detailed how Shobbrook lured them with promises of material goods, education, and money in exchange for work in his house. They would either visit or stay with Shobbrook at one of his three apartments in Cebu City.

The complainants said he would sexually abuse, and take photos and videos of them which were then distributed online. They also said Shobbrook offered them to other foreigners for sexual exploitation.

After a search warrant was issued, Shobbrook was found in possession of hundreds of images of children in sexual acts as well as videos of his abuse of minors.

Shobbrook and his Filipina accomplice, Leslie Ann Fernandez, were arrested on April 17, 2013. Fifteen victims were rescued in the police raid that led to their capture.

Shobbrook and Fenandez were sentenced to life in prison with a fine of 2 million for violating Republic Act No. 9208, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.

Shobbrook was also found guilty of violating Republic Act No. 9775, or the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009, with a sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of 1 million.

He was ordered to pay private complainants moral damages worth 500,000 and exemplary damages of 100,000.

Apart from Shobbrook and Fernandez, four more accomplices  Vanessa Monte Alto and three John Does  are on trial for trying to bribe and tamper with prosecution witnesses by offering them money to keep silent.

Should these charges be proven, these other accomplices face prison sentences of up to 15 years.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 20)  More than a hundred government personnel will be deployed to Boracay to address the environmental issues of the island, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said Tuesday.

The first "mission team," which was deployed Tuesday, is composed of 50 personnel from six regional offices of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The environment chief said the island will be divided into six areas and each of the six regions will be assigned an area to work on.

"The mission of the team will be to rehabilitate and restore Boracay into becoming (once) again a paradise. We are given six months by the President," Cimatu said in a press release.

Meanwhile, in a speech in Cebu City on Tuesday, Cimatu revealed another group consisted of 100 DENR personnel from all regions will be going to Boracay on Thursday.

"They will conduct a thorough sweep of establishments on Boracay to inspect these establishments and determine any illegal discharge of untreated wastewater into the sea, the encroachment into public/forest lands and wetlands, and illegal constructions within the easement areas," he said.

The DENR said it is committed to address the island's environmental issues.

"I assure you that we shall not relent in our efforts until we have turned around the condition of Boracay. We will save Boracay," he said.

Cimatu earlier warned commercial establishments releasing untreated sewage into Boracay's waters to "shape up" or risk closure, following President Rodrigo Duterte's threats on February 19.

The President likened the island to a "cesspool," and warned he would shut the island down due to pollution.

The DENR has since issued notices to 51 unnamed establishments that failed to comply with the country's water treatment laws. Violating companies were given two months to either install their own wastewater treatment facilities or to connect to the island's sewage treatment plant. If they do not comply, the DENR said they will be closed.

The Malay Municipal Tourism Office said the island saw over two million visitors from January to December 2017, a 16-percent increase from the number of tourist arrivals in 2016.
JURIST Guest Columnist, Dr. Charles I. M. Lugosi, J.D. LL.M. M.B.E. S.J.D. Counsel at the law firm of Crease Harman, LLP, discusses the jury controversy resulting from the trial of Gerald Stanley 

Speaking in my personal capacity as a lawyer who acted both as a prosecutor and as defence counsel, I am appalled at the brazen irresponsible conduct of those in positions of power and authority who are apparently shamelessly exploiting the verdict in the Stanley case to possibly further political agendas. The trial process in every murder case is a carefully nuanced balance of accumulated wisdom developed over years of experience, and the fairness of the trials judges charge to the jury in Stanley is absolutely clear in the instructions given to the jury. The trial judge is the sole judge of the law; the jury is the sole judge of the facts, free from judicial intimidation since Bushels Case in 1670. The accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The jury is legally forbidden to divulge what happens in their deliberations, and unlike American jurors, face serious consequences if confidentiality is violated.

Recent widespread public outrage suggests that justice was not done because the racial composition of the jury did not contain a sufficient component of visibly indigenous people, and suggest that therefore the jury in Gerald Stanleys case was presumably racist and incapable of rendering a true verdict of guilt, because the victim was indigenous. This assumes that the all-white jury of Mr. Stanleys peers was incapable of rendering a fair and impartial verdict upon the evidence, denying justice, and this mandates urgent legislative reform. But this kind of thinking is unfair speculation at best. These kinds of statements irresponsibly flame speculation that the Stanley jury was racist and that the entire criminal justice system in Canada is tainted by systemic racism. Comments, such as to do better cross the line, putting pressure on juries to decide a verdict by adding race as a factor, when considering all the admissible evidence. Political interference with jurors who are impartial judges must be soundly rebuked.

The legally muzzled jury members are unable to publicly voice their outrage at the insinuation that they are racist, that they refused to convict Mr. Stanley because he was white and that the jurors were prejudiced against Colten Boushie because he was indigenous. Consider this. What if Mr. Stanley was tried for murder by a single judge that was an indigenous person? What if the judge found him guilty? Would there be an outcry by Mr. Stanleys supporters, that the indigenous judge was prejudiced because a white man was found guilty? Would public denunciation by politicians suggesting that this judge was racist against white people put those critics at risk for contempt of court, a criminal offence?

What is at stake here is respect for the rule of law, the presumption of innocence, the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt and independence of the judiciary. There is no need to tinker or substantially make changes to a criminal trial process that is tested and true. Eliminating pre-emptory challenges is not the answer.

In R. v. Black, a young indigenous man, John Black, while pumping gas into his vehicle at a gas station in Kelowna, was confronted by an unarmed white man riding a bicycle, who was taunting and threatening him. Mr. Black, fearing for the safety of his wife and child in his car, calmly opened the trunk of his car, took out a tire iron, and struck a single blow to the head of the white man, shattering his skull and killing him. Mr. Black then drove to the police station and turned himself in. He was charged with second-degree murder. I was his defence lawyer. My indigenous client was judged by what appeared to be an all-white jury. My client was acquitted. The jury did their duty fairly and impartially. The judge correctly instructed the jury on the law. There was no appeal by the Crown. The members of the white victims family were outraged at what they perceived was a grave injustice. Politicians and leaders in the indigenous community were silent in the wake of this case. There were no headlines suggesting racism when this 1994 white jury acquitted an indigenous man of killing a white man.

The point is that Canadians of every race need to reject cheap overtures from self-interested persons for reform when no reform is needed. The jury system works well.

On occasion, juries may ignore the instructions of judges and deliver a verdict that is perverse, contrary to the evidence. Jury nullification happens when the personal values of individual jurors reject what the prosecution is attempting to accomplish. The Supreme Court of Canada noted, in R. v. Morgentaler, that disclosing to jurors the existence of this legal right is not permitted, as public knowledge of this limitation on government power might lead to chaos and disturb the rule of law. This is particularly so in situations when racial prejudice is so strong that a juror might be unwilling to ever convict someone of the same race, or conversely, may vote to convict the accused because the victim is of the same race as the juror.

Playing the race card in the wake of the Stanley case does not lead to more justice but smacks of jury tampering by political intimidation, rendering an expectation that race is a factor in achieving a better or different verdict. This is a dangerous path that must be soundly rejected by people of principle and integrity. There are other ways to combat the evil of racism. This is not one of them.

William Penns words to the Bushel court in 1670 are still relevant today, My jury who are my judges, ought not to be menaced; that their verdict should be free, and not compelled I do desire that justice may be done me, and that the arbitrary resolves of the bench may not be made the measure of my jurys verdict. To which Justice Howel replied, Stop that prating fellows mouth, or put him out of court, and then ordered the jury to be deprived of food, drink, heat and toilet facilities until the desired verdict was reached, which the jury bravely refused to do. The jurors were imprisoned along with the acquitted Penn. Political intimidation is no less wrong than judicial intimidation in a free and democratic society governed by the rule of law.

Dr. Lugosi, J.D. LL.M. M.B.E. S.J.D. has had a long and varied career, including work in medical malpractice, labor law, criminal law, and constitutional law. He has also taught at law schools law schools in Florida, Michigan, Tennessee, and Canada. He currently lives and works in Victoria, British Columbia as a litigation attorney, in a variety of areas, reflecting his diverse background in the law.

Suggested citation: Dr. Charles I. M. Lugosi, Defending the Jury After Stanley, JURIST  Academic Commentary, Feb. 19, 2018, http://jurist.org/forum/2018/02/charles-lugosi-stanley-jury.php.

This article was prepared for publication by Kelly Cullen, a JURIST Section Editor. Please direct any questions or comments to him at commentary@jurist.org
[JURIST] The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania [official website] released a map [opinion, PDF] on Monday intended to remedy what the court declared as the unconstitutional gerrymandering present in the 2011 redistricting plan.

While the court gave the legislature 18 days to devise a new plan, the legislature did not meet this deadline. The court had previously ruled that in this case, it would be up to the judiciary to create a new map.

The court described the remedial map as composed of congressional districts which follow the traditional redistricting criteria of compactness, contiguity, equality of population, and respect for the integrity of political subdivisions. The court explained [JURIST report] this criteria in an opinion published at the beginning of the month. The court based their remedial map off of criteria that the plaintiffs set forth in Commonwealth Court.

The remedial plan tried to maintain the integrity of counties, with only 13 being split. The court said, no district has more than a one-person difference in population from any other district, and, therefore, the Remedial Plan achieves the constitutional guarantee of one person, one vote.

The new plan will be used in the May 2018 primaries, but not in any special elections before that date.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court struck down [JURIST report] the 2011 plan in January. After the ruling, the Pennsylvania Senate President refused [JURIST report] to turn over redistricting data to the court. At the beginning of February, the US Supreme Court denied [JURIST report] a request for stay of the Pennsylvania courts order.
Nils Melzer [official profile], the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, voiced his concerns [press release] regarding the Israeli Supreme Courts [official website] December 2017 denial of a petition [opinion, in Hebrew] challenging a lower courts ruling exempting national security agents from criminal investigation despite their uncontroverted use of torture techniques on a Palestinian detainee.

The Israeli Supreme Court denied the petition after a finding that Assad Abu Ghosh, a Palestinian citizen in his 40s, failed to prove that the lower courts decision to close a criminal investigation into his claims of torture was unreasonable. Abu Ghosh was arrested in 2007 on suspicion of being an explosives expert working for Hamas in the West Bank. Abu Ghoshs application was supported by the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel [official website]. The court concluded that there were no grounds for the Supreme Court to intervene and there was no basis for a criminal investigation into Abu Ghoshs interrogators despite acknowledging the use of pressure techniques.

Melzer argues that the approval of these pressure techniques was not acceptable, stating:

Any interrogation technique that intentionally inflicts pain or suffering of sufficient intensity to make the victim confess or cooperate amounts to torture, and this certainly is the case for the methods used during Mr. Abu Goshs interrogation.

Melzer further added that:

The absolute prohibition of torture and ill-treatment is one of the most fundamental achievements in human history, and its violation is listed among the most serious international crimes, including crimes against humanity and war crimes. No circumstances, however exceptional and well argued, can ever justify torture.

The use of torture has been universally outlawed by the UN Convention against Torture [text]. Israel became a signatory to the Convention in 1986 and ratified it in 1991.

Melzer is now asking Israeli authorities to engage in direct and constructive dialogue with him in order to work towards a complete ban on torture in the country.
Uh-oh! It could be you, or it could be us, but there's no page here.
Updated to include statements from Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 20)  After his relationship with communist rebels got strained, President Rodrigo Duterte said he is considering the resumption of peace talks.

"I'm talking to the communists. The Norwegian officials came here to score the possibility of talking again. I have to consult my military people," the President said in a speech before lawmakers Tuesday.

Norway's government hosted and facilitated peace talks between the government, and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its negotiating arm, the National Democratic Front (NDF).

But Duterte said he will still consult the matter with the military, which has been fighting the CPP's armed wing, the New People's Army (NPA).

"Sabi ko [I said], I will have to talk to the military. If they would agree, I might," he said

The President said he would offer soldiers 25,000 each for every NPA member they kill.

"They cannot be more than 3,000. Sa 25,000, makamura ako [I can save money]," he added. He previously offered the indigenous groups in Mindanao the same amount for the same task.

CPP founder Jose Maria Sison earlier threatened to kill one soldier a day.

The Norwegian government on February 16 committed to assist in the peace talks between the Philippine government and the CPP-NPA-NDF. The talks were canceled in November, following a series of attacks by the communist rebels.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, however, said chances of reviving the peace talks are slim.

"Wala po atang katuturan na makipag-usap ng kapayapaan kung sila (CPP-NPA-NDF) ay hindi interested sa tunay na kapayapaan," he said in a press briefing Tuesday.

[Translation: There's no point to have peace talks if the CPP-NPA-NDF is not interested in actual peace.]

But Roque said should the military change its mind on the insurgents, the President will listen to them.

The CPP's insurgency has almost lasted 50 years and is dubbed Asia's longest running armed struggle.

CNN Philippines' Senior Correspondent Ina Andolong and digital producer Chad de Guzman contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 20)  The Senate ethics committee on Tuesday junked three complaints against detained Senator Leila De Lima.

These cases were filed separately by lawyer Abelardo De Jesus, leaders of the House of Representatives, and former solon and now Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque - in relation to De Lima's alleged drug links. The first two were lodged in 2016, the third in February 2017.

The Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, chaired by Senator Tito Sotto on Tuesday dismissed all complaints without prejudice, meaning the cases could still be refiled.

"As cited by Senator Lacson, there was no Senate rule violated," Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said as he moved to dismiss the complaints.

No senator objected to the motion, which was approved by Sotto.

De Jesus filed a complaint against De Lima in September 2016 after President Rodrigo Duterte named her as the highest government official involved in the illegal drug trade. De Lima supposedly abetted the drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison while she was Justice Secretary from 2010 to 2015.

House Justice Committee chair Reynaldo Umali filed another case in December 2016. Aside from Umali, the complaint accusing De Lima of misconduct was signed by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and House Majority Leader Rudy Farinas.

The lawmakers decried De Lima's failure to attend the Lower House hearings on the illegal drug trade inside the national penitentiary.

Umali said De Lima was disrespectful of the committee, which she described as a "kangaroo court."

De Lima is also facing a disobedience to summons case for advising her former driver-bodyguard - Ronnie Dayan - to also skip House hearings despite being summoned by the House committee. The case stemmed from the complaint Umali and other lawmakers filed at the Justice Department.

De Lima earlier admitted to "advising" Dayan to hide.

Roque filed another complaint in February 2017 over De Lima's alleged conspiracy with solon Ron Salo to conceal her role in the Bilibid drug trade.

De Lima has been detained without bail at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame since February 2017 over drug charges.

A staunch critic of the Duterte administration, De Lima has repeatedly denied involvement in the illegal drug trade. She claims to be a victim of political persecution.

CNN Philippines' Cecille Lardizabal contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 20)  Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno is open to "evolving federalism" for regions that are not economically ready to be independent.

"If really the data analytics will show that there are certain regions which cannot make it, that is not an automatic hindrance," Puno told CNN Philippines' The Source on Tuesday. "Those states or regions that cannot make it at this time, will be allowed to evolve at their own speed to become full states."

He also suggested an equalization fund which the federal government could use "in order to help these poor states become viable [or] sustainable states."

Puno is chairman of the consultative committee tasked with reviewing the 1987 Constitution. Findings from his committee could inform Congress' proposals for federalism, which was a campaign promise of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Related: Constitutional review committee holds first en banc session

In a Senate testimony on charter change on February 1, constitutional expert Christian Monsod pointed out that only three regions were ready to sustain themselves in a federal format.

Citing the Philippine Development Plan 2017 to 2022, Monsod noted that only the National Capital Region, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon contributed 63 percent of the Philippines' gross domestic product.

"Obviously the other regions cannot support themselves," he said.

Related: Prioritize fiscal decentralization, reform before federalism - expert

Puno said his committee would look into data analytics to determine a sustainable set-up.

"One model would be to have a full stage. Other models will have a half stage. Other models will have autonomous regions," he said. "Depending on the fiscal mapping that will be done, then we follow what is the best model for the Philippines."

Puno wants women and fiscal experts in the consultative committee. At present, Susan Ubalde-Ordinario is the only woman there.

"I also requested to have experts in the economy, fiscal experts, experts on international law and foreign relations, considering that we are facing a lot of problems in this area. Also representatives from the military," he said.

Puno said they will follow up with the Office of the Executive Secretary their request for a wider selection of committee members, adding that a colleague, former Senate President Nene Pimentel, also wanted indigenous groups to be represented.

Federalism is a form of government that provides more autonomy to local government units. However, its critics are concerned that it will empower political dynasties.

Watch The Source's full interview with Puno here.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 20)  Rappler will not be able to cover Malacanang events for now.

This was confirmed by the Office of the Executive Secretary Tuesday, adding that Rappler's accreditation will cease until the Court of Appeals issues a temporary restraining order on the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) ruling the media outfit's license revocation.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea is standing by the decision.

In an event in Malacanang Tuesday evening, he said, "Ayusin muna nila ang kanilang personality as a corporation  local corporation otherwise they cannot di ba?"

[Translation: They should first fix their personality as a corporation  local corporation otherwise they cannot, right?]

Pia Ranada, Rappler's Malacanang reporter shared a message sent to her by Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra; "Pia, there might have been a little miscommunication. the ES' position as relayed to Spokes(person) Harry (Roque) is this: unless the CA issues a TRO against the SEC ruling (which voided Rappler's registration), Rappler's accreditation with the Malacanang Press Corps has accordingly ceased. Consequently, you may not cover media events at the Palace as an individual journalist unless you get accredited in some other capacity."

Ranada was earlier barred from entering the Palace and covering a media briefing headed by Roque. She was told the instructions came from "up there."

READ: Roque: Barring reporters from Palace briefings not a press freedom issue

She was eventually allowed to enter Malacanang but Roque clarified once the CA upholds the SEC decision that Rappler violated foreign ownership restrictions, Ranada must become a member of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) and no longer as member of the Malacanang Press Corps.

Roque said FOCAP members are not allowed to enter Malacanang and cover briefings unless invited.

Rappler released a statement regarding the incident, saying it was "another instance of power attempting to intimidate independent journalists."

They mentioned the order to ban Rappler from covering events at the Palace came from President Rodrigo Duterte, and that had been extended to Rappler CEO Maria Ressa.

"It is the first time, post-Marcos, that a duly-elected president has banned particular journalists from entering the Palace," the statement read.

Rappler said their accreditation to cover Malacanang events cannot be cancelled as the SEC said the decision to revoke their registration was not final and executory.

"The case has been elevated to the Court of Appeals and is awaiting final decision. The executive branch must respect the judicial process and await the court's decision. The Palace cannot jump the gun in this latest attempt to evade public scrutiny and monopolize the conversation on matters of public interest," it said.

It further said it "categorically and strongly" denies accusations of Ranada and Rappler editorializing and making "conclusions without facts."

Rappler's license to do business was revoked on January 11 after the SEC said it breached the constitutional ban on foreign ownership in mass media. Rappler on January 29 asked the CA to invalidate SEC's decision.

READ: Rappler takes case to CA, seeks to invalidate SEC decision

RELATED: SEC cancels Rappler's license to do business

CNN Philippines Senior Digital producers Lara Tan and Pia Garcia contributed to his report.
Investigators say discarded smoking materials are to blame for a deadly Cedar Rapids fire.

The Cedar Rapids Fire Department says smoking materials ignited a chair on Saturday inside apartment #1 at Shamrock Apartments at 222 Jacolyn Drive SW.

Investigators say Thomas M. Jones, 57, was found close to the chair when firefighters made entry into the apartment.

Jones was taken to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics with severe burns. Family members tell KCRG-TV9 Jones died there.

Fire damage was contained to Jones' apartment.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 20)  A Malacanang-accredited reporter was prevented from covering a press briefing Tuesday, but Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said this was not a move to curtail freedom of the press.

Pia Ranada, accredited Malacanang reporter of Rappler, was initially not allowed to enter the New Executive Building minutes before Roque's regular media briefing. A member of the Presidential Security Group said there was specific instruction from "up there" to bar the Rappler reporter from entering the premises.

She was eventually allowed to enter the venue of the briefing. Roque, however, clarified Ranada was not barred from entering Malacanang.

He said she can still cover the Palace briefings for now  on orders of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea  pending the ruling on the media outfit's ownership.

"For now, the decision is, while pending appeal, Rappler can cover Malacanang You are still allowed (to cover Malacanang briefings) until the appeal is resolved by the Court of Appeals," Roque said.

But he said once the Court of Appeals upholds the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) decision that Rappler violated foreign ownership restrictions, Ranada must become a member of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) and no longer as member of the Malacanang Press Corps.

Roque said FOCAP members are not allowed to enter Malacanang and cover briefings unless invited.

The SEC in a January 11 decision revoked Rappler's business registration over an alleged breach of the constitutional ban on foreign ownership in mass media. Rappler on January 29 asked the CA to invalidate SEC's decision.

Hours after Roque's briefing, it was revealed that Rappler is barred from covering Malacanang events for now.

Related: Rappler barred from covering Malacanang events

Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra said there was a "miscommunication" on the order of Medialdea. He said, with SEC's decision, Rappler's accreditation with the Malacanang Press Corps has ceased, unless the CA issues a temporary restraining order on the SEC ruling.

Medialdea stood by the decision.

In an event in Malacanang Tuesday evening, he said, "Ayusin muna nila ang kanilang personality as a corporation  local corporation otherwise they cannot di ba?"

[Translation: They should first fix their personality as a corporation  local corporation otherwise they cannot, right?]

Press freedom, fake news

The presidential spokesperson said the government is committed to uphold freedom of the press.

"We will never prevent any media organization from practicing their profession. That is our firm commitment. We will never curtail the exercise of the freedom of the press, except access to the Palace is not part of the freedom of the press," he said.

Roque added it is "not a valid reason" to be barred if a government official dislikes a certain reporter.

Ranada, during the briefing, questioned Roque if the government is against reporters who are critical of the government.

"I don't think the issue is unsavory reporting, the issue is fake news....You make conclusions without facts. You are resorting to editorializing stories when you should be sticking to facts," he argued.

Rappler, along with Inquirer, were labeled as peddlers of fake and malicious news by Special Assistant to the President Bong Go due to their reports on his involvement in the Navy frigate controversy.
SALEM, Ore.  The Oregon House of Representatives voted unanimously today to pass a piece of legislature that would help Oregon communities finance affordable housing developments. House Joint Resolution 201 is a constitutional referral, which would give voters a chance to amend the state constitution if the resolution can also pass the state Senate.

Currently, local jurisdictions issue bonds in order to develop affordable housinghowever, the state constitution contains limitations for the ways in which these bonds can be used. Jurisdictions cannot work directly with private or non-profit developers, or use some common financing methods for achieving he best possible value for affordable housing units.

HJR 201, if approved by the Senate and Oregon voters, would allow counties and cities to finance the capital costs of building affordable housing through the use of bonds.

Both Democrat and Republican lawmakers spoke out in favor of the bill, calling it a boon for local communities in their pursuit of providing affordable housing for their constituents.
ASHLAND, Ore.-- Southern Oregonians are remembering those lost in the tragic Florida mass shooting last week.

NewsWatch 12's Eliana Sheriff tells us why some people are saying they want to see political reform, not just thoughts and prayers.

Janie Burcart says, "We want to ban AR-15s, we want to take other common sense measures, background checks, it's simple, Australia did it, England did it, we are the only developed country that goes around killing our own children."

Jeff Golden says, "There are two big pieces to this, one has to do with inadequate mental health and the unbelievable availability of guns and we can't solve this focusing on one or the other."
SALEM, Ore.  The Oregon State Senate voted today on a bill to support National Guard members who attend college. The bill passed unanimously, with total bipartisan support.

Senate Bill 1557 would allow National Guard members who are currently in college and are called into service for 30 days or less to retake college classes without having to pay for them again. The current law only extends this protection to service members who are called for 30 days or more.

The idea for this bill came from an Oregon National Guard captain who had several public university students among his command. He found that sometimes these students would be called into service during mid-terms or finals, and they would then have to repay for the classes after failing to pass them due to their absence.
MEDFORD, Ore.- Today buying a gun from a store is straight forward. The first step is walking into the gun store. Once you've figured out what type of firearm you want to buy, you talk with the employee and fill out a firearms transaction record. After the forms and fingerprints are taken, employees will input your information into a computer and see if your criminal and mental health history check out. If it does, you can walk home with your firearm the same day.

After Florida's mass school shooting, President Donald Trump promised to focus on mental health saying he supports efforts to improve the federal background check system.

Today NewsWatch12's Sionan Barrett spoke with a local gun shop owner who says oregon's system is more advanced than other states.

Dan Thorton, the owner at Good Guys Guns in Medford says, "They're already checking mental health systems they are checking DMV record they are checking national record they are checking all the different records that are available to them so in Oregon I'm not sure what more they can do."

Our local Indivisible chapter rallied in Ashland this afternoon demanding Representative Greg Walden take action on gun control bills. One member says she's disappointed in Walden's voting history to loosen restrictions on background checks.

Kristen Moline says, "I'd like him to give back his $39,000 that he that is been given to him by the NRA and that is spend solely with the intention of supporting looser gun laws."

Congressman Greg Walden tells me he recently supported legislation that would require bi-annual reviews to prevent firearms from going into the wrong hands.

Rep. Walden says, "We know and several of these instances have the data been shared people would've been denied the guns that they bought and used to create such awful tragedies said there is more work that needs to be done there and the senate needs to pass the bill we sent them. "
FILE - This Oct. 21, 2016 file photo shows a Rite Aid location in Philadelphia. The privately held owner of Safeway, Vons and other grocery brands is plunging deeper into the pharmacy business with a deal to buy Rite Aid, the nation's third-largest drugstore chain. Albertsons Companies is offering either a share of its stock and $1.83 in cash or slightly more than a share for every 10 shares of Rite Aid. A deal value was not disclosed in a statement released Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, by the companies. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 20)  The Senate approved on Tuesday a bill allowing cellphone users to keep their numbers for life, even if they change service providers or subscription plans.

Senate Bill No. 1636, the proposed "The Lifetime Cellphone Number Act," was sponsored and authored by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chair of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs.

The bill was passed with 20 yes votes, without abstentions and negative votes.

Under the bill, public telecommunications entities (PTEs) in the Philippines should provide consumers with mobile number portability, allowing them to transfer from one network provider to another free of charge.

Cellphone users can also change their subscription plan, from postpaid accounts to prepaid ones under the same bill.

PTEs are given 24 hours to implement the MNP, or they could be penalized with fines up to P1 million.

"The bill would give consumers them the freedom to choose the provider that would give the best value for their money without having to lose or change their mobile numbers," Gatchalian said.

But the bill also ordered PTEs to keep the user's profile confidential, under the Data Privacy Act of 2012.

Gatchalian said that given the expected entry of new telecommunications players, cellphone numbers should become an extension of every subscriber's so-called digital identity, "so that consumer loyalty will not be determined by the fear of losing their numbers but through the dynamism of competition among players."

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed there are more than 102 million different phone numbers subscribed to the country's mobile networks.
FILE - In this Feb. 21, 2017 file photo, Milo Yiannopoulos speaks during a news conference in New York. Yiannopoulos is dropping his lawsuit against his former publisher. In papers filed Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, in New York State Supreme Court, Yiannopoulos and Simon & Schuster asked that the case be dismissed Auwithout any admission of liability.Au After his legal counsel withdrew last month, Yiannopoulos announced he would represent himself. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)
FILE - This Feb. 20, 2015 file photo, photo shows an arrangement of peanuts in New York. The first treatment to help prevent serious allergic reactions to peanuts may be on the way. A company said Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018 that its daily capsules of peanut flour helped sensitize children to nuts in a major study. (AP Photo/Patrick Sison, File)
Calls for police assistance had been above the levels of previous years early in 2020 but numbers dropped in March, likely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, RCMP Supt. Brent Mundle says.
Two UBC researchers believe there may be such as a thing as an accent unique to Kelowna and the Okanagan, and are looking for participants in an online study to help them prove it.
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Dwight Ball, left, fields a question as Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen, and Veterans Affairs Minister Seamus O'Regan, right, look on at a news conference at a meeting of Atlantic Canadian politicians dealing with regional economic growth in Moncton, N.B. on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
The Nature Conservancy of Canada says its received a donation of nine parcels of ecologically significant land in northeastern New Brunswick, some of which is shown in this undated handout photo. The federal government appears poised to make commitments in next week's budget toward meeting United Nations targets on protecting more of Canada's lands, inland waters and oceans. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-The Nature Conservancy of Canada-Mike Dembeck
Raymond Cormier is seen in this photo taken of evidence provided by the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench in Winnipeg on Friday, February 2, 2018. Lawyers are expected to make their final pitches today in the case of a man accused of killing an Indigenous teenage girl and wrapping her body in a duvet cover before dumping her in Winnipeg's Red River. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Steve Lambert
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 20)  The Senate ethics committee on Tuesday dismissed the complaints filed by former Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon against two senators.

Faeldon in September 2017 filed separate ethics complaints against Senators Panfilo Lacson and Antonio Trillanes IV.

The Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, chaired by Senator Tito Sotto, on Tuesday junked both cases. Committee members did not object

READ: Ethics Committee holds Faeldon's complaint vs. Lacson in abeyance

Faeldon's legal counsel slammed the panel's decision, saying it was the revenge of Sotto and Senator Franklin Drilon. Faeldon had accused them of making "illegal requests" when he was Customs chief.

READ: Faeldon claims Drilon, Sotto sought him for 'illegal requests'

"It no longer surprised us that Drilon and Sotto, the latter being the Senate Ethics Committee Chairman, fell all over themselves in vindictively junking the meritorious cases filed by Capt. Faeldon. Apparently, neither Drilon nor Sotto has ever heard the word delicadeza," Faeldon's lawyers said in a statement.

In the ethics complaint, Faeldon said Lacson lied when he named officials involved in the tara or payoff system at the Bureau of Customs. Lacson said Faeldon received a 100-million payoff when he took over the agency.

Faeldon also sought for Trillanes' suspension or expulsion over "malicious" accusations. That's after Trillanes said the former Customs chief was "at the heart" of the controversy involving the P6.4-billion shabu shipment that slipped through the bureau under his watch in May 2017.

Faeldon denied allegations against him.

Lacson and Trillanes stood by their claims against Faeldon.

Despite controversies hounding him, Faeldon was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as Deputy Administrator III of the Office of Civil Defense under the Department of Defense in December 2017.

Faeldon is detained at the Pasay City Jail for after he was cited for contempt over his demeanor in the Senate hearings.

READ: Lawyer confident SC will set Faeldon free

CNN Philippines' Cecille Lardizabal contributed to this report.
Jeff Pelchat, of Rehoboth, Mass., left, places his hands on the shoulders of his wife, Station nightclub fire survivor Kathy Pelchat, also of Rehoboth, center, during a ceremony Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, to mark the 15th anniversary of the fire, in West Warwick, R.I. The Feb. 20, 2003, fire at the nightclub in West Warwick, that killed 100 and injured more than 200 others, started when pyrotechnics for the rock band Great White set fire to flammable foam installed as soundproofing. The site of the fire is now a memorial park. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
In this photo provided by Tasnim News Agency, a rescue helicopter flies over the Dena mountains while searching for wreckage of a plane that crashed on Sunday, in southern Iran, Monday, Feb. 19, 2018. Iranian search and rescue teams on Monday reached the site of a plane crash the previous day that authorities say killed all 65 people on board, Iran's Press TV reported.(Ali Khodaei/Tasnim News Agency via AP)
Rhode Island Senate Minority Whip Nicholas Kettle, appears in Superior Court in Providence on Monday, Feb. 19, 2018. A grand jury indictment unsealed Monday accuses Kettle of extorting sex from a page in the Rhode Island Senate page program. Kettle, 27, of Coventry, pleaded not guilty and was released on $50,000 personal recognizance. (Steve Szydlowski/Providence Journal via AP)
This undated photo shows 3M in St. Paul, Minn. Minnesota officials will soon try to convince a jury that manufacturer 3M Co. should pay the state $5 billion to help clean up environmental damage that the state alleges was caused by pollutants the company dumped for decades. The long-awaited trial begins Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, in Minneapolis. (Marlin Levison/Star Tribune via AP)
FILE - In this June 28, 2016 file photo, Peru's jailed, former President Alberto Fujimori, photographed through a glass window, attends his trial at a police base on the outskirts of Lima, Peru. A court in Peru determined on Monday, Feb. 19, 2018 that the former strongman can be tried in connection with a 1992 massacre despite his recent pardon from a 25-year jail sentence. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia, File)
FILE - This Aug. 12, 2016, file photo provided by the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office shows Stanley Majors, of Tulsa, Okla., who has been charged with first-degree murder and a hate crime in the 2016 slaying of his Lebanese neighbor. A 12-member jury on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018, found 63-year-old Majors guilty in the August 2016 shooting death of 37-year-old Khalid Jabara outside his Tulsa home. (Tulsa County Sheriff's Office via AP, File)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 20)  Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said he is not aware of a deal between Kuwait and the Philippine government supposedly regulating overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Gulf state.

"The only development that I'm aware of regarding our deployment to Kuwait is my meeting with the Kuwaiti ambassador where we decided or we agreed that finally we'll look into the pending MOU (Memorandum of Understanding)," Bello told CNN Philippines Tuesday.

State media Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported Monday that Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah has reached a deal with the Philippine authorities "in a bid to regulate the Southeast Asian archipelago's workforce in the country."

Al-Jarallah said authorities in Manila requested for the preliminary deal.

The Kuwaiti Foreign Minister said Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has invited Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte to visit Kuwait next month, pointing out that "calm has by and large been restored after the uproar created by Duterte's recent remarks."

"We made clear to the authorities in the Philippines that this issue needs to be rectified," Al-Jarallah said, citing "positive feedback" from Filipino officials.

Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Villa also told CNN Philippines on Tuesday there is no such deal, and that the two countries have yet to talk.

He, however, explained that a 2015 draft MOU submitted by the Labor Department was approved by Kuwait, as announced by its Ministry of Interior.

"Itong balitang ito, palagay ko, ay signal mula sa Kuwait na kanilang gusto nang mag-usap ang dalawang panig," Villa said on the KUNA article Thursday.

[Translation: This news, I think, is a signal from Kuwait to begin talks between the two countries.]

Villa said he will verify with the Ministry of Interior what deal KUNA referred to.

Duterte previously slammed the Gulf state for its maltreatment of OFWs. He signed the administrative order banning the deployment of new workers on February 12.

Bello said the existing MOU is the only deal in place, which is expected to be completed and signed by March. The draft agreement has been pending for three years.

He added they plan to put in the MOU clauses that will provide OFWs protection from abuses committed by their employers or sponsors.

"Gusto namin matiyak na doon sa MOU ay mayroong probisyon na 'yung passport ng ating manggagawa, 'pag nandoon na sila, ay hawak nila. Hindi hawak ng employer. Or at the very least, hawak ng ating Labor attache," he said.

[Translation:We want to make sure there are provisions in the MOU that disallow employers from holding OFW passports. Or at the very least, the Labor attache should be holding the workers' passports.]

The Department of Foreign Affairs also earlier proposed that passports of domestic workers in Kuwait should remain with the Philippine Embassy, to prevent abuse.

READ: DFA Chief wants PH embassy to hold passports of Kuwait OFWs
This photo released Tuesday Feb. 20, 2018, provided by the Syrian Civil Defense group known as the White Helmets, shows members of the Syrian Civil Defense group carrying a man who was killed during airstrikes and shelling by Syrian government forces, in Ghouta, a suburb of Damascus, Syria. Intense Syrian government shelling and airstrikes of rebel-held Damascus suburbs killed at least 100 people since Monday in what was the deadliest day in the area in three years, a monitoring group and paramedics said Tuesday. (Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets, via AP)
FILE - In this Jan. 9, 2017 photo, Sen. Dan Foreman, R-Moscow, waits for the State of the State address inside the House chambers at the state Capitol building in Boise, Idaho. Foreman said Monday, Feb. 19, 2018, he would call Idaho State Police if any student affiliate from Planned Parenthood stopped by his office. (AP Photo/Otto Kitsinger,File)
This Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018 photo released by the Inyo County Sheriff's Office shows smoke rising from wildfires near Bishop, Calif. A wind-driven wildfire in rural central California forced mandatory evacuations and threatened hundreds of buildings Monday, including a historic railroad station, after it tripled in size overnight, officials said. (Inyo County Sheriff's Office via AP)
Sen. Kevin Ranker, a Democrat from Orcas Island, listens during a hearing on a bill he's sponsoring to ban keeping whales and dolphins captive for entertainment, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, in Olympia, Wash. Ranker says he wants to see British Columbia join the state in phasing out ocean-based Atlantic salmon farms when the province decides whether to renew farm leases in June. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Rachel La Corte
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 20)  A third telecommunications player that enters the country should have a net worth of at least P10 billion and have "proven technical capability" to provide the service, according to a draft circular on selecting a service provider proposed by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

If it is a consortium, it must be at least 60% owned by Filipinos, with at least one member holding a congressional franchise to install, operate and maintain networks which should be valid until December 31, 2023.

"In case of a consortium, the participant should provide evidence that it has the capacity to raise equity from potential consortium members to enable it to have a net worth of at least PhP10 billion, provided that all ownership requirements under the law are complied with," the draft said.

The government will consult stakeholders on these proposed terms over the next few weeks before the rules and regulations are finalized.

A final circular will take effect by the first week of March, the DICT said in its website.

Earlier, the Palace said DICT officer-in-charge Eliseo Rio requested to extend the deadline until May, but this was denied by President Rodrigo Duterte.

READ: Duterte wants DICT to stick with March target for third telco player

The government welcomes the entry of a third player to break the duopoly of PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom. It wants a new player that is not a subsidiary or affiliate of a telecom group that has a mobile and broadband wireless market share of at least 40 percent.

President Duterte has been vocal against the poor state of the internet in the Philippines, which has one of the slowest speeds in the region.

He said the only way to improve internet speed is to introduce competition.

During Duterte's bilateral talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Manila in November 2017, he offered China a chance to supply the country's newest telecom provider.

READ: Roque: Duterte's offer of telco role to China a 'political decision'

Malacanang later clarified any company should still undergo bidding. Under the DICT's draft circular proposed auction rules, the "highest calculated and responsive bidder" would be chosen.

The winning bidder should then be able to start commercial operations not later than 12 months after the date of award, the draft said.

It said the company must "cover at least 80 percent of the provincial capital cities and towns and 80 percent of the chartered cities within five years from the date of award."

Failure to comply with any of the provisions in the circular would result in the automatic recall of assigned radio frequencies, the DICT said. Failure to comply with the 70-30 debt-to-equity ratio within two years would also result in the recall of the award, to be replaced by the second winning bidder.
(CNN)  Around the globe an estimated 1.1 billion people are unable to prove their identity. They have no official ID -- no passport, no birth certificate, no bank card -- and as a result they're unable to access basic services, such as healthcare.

Most of these "invisible citizens" live in Africa and Asia, and a third are children, according to the World Bank. But UK-based startup Simprints is trying to help them.

Simprints makes portable fingerprint readers for charities around the world. It's working with charities in Kenya to provide digital healthcare records for people in poorer communities, who don't have any official documents.

READ: Dad designs and 3D prints a prosthetic arm for his son

For each person who has their fingerprint scanned, an algorithm creates a unique ID, which can be linked to their health records. Health workers can access the information and update health records using an app on a cell phone or tablet.

"The biometric technology is enabling a lot of charities and organizations to leapfrog a computer-based system and go straight from a paper-based system to a mobile system," Simprints co-founder Alexandra Grigore told CNN.

Scanners providing a new hope

Nicholas Mwaura is head of technology at the Kenyan community health charity COHESU. He is working with a team of doctors and volunteers, using Simprints' technology to scan prints and create one of the country's first biometric identification databases.

"Biometrics as a technology has completely changed our way of thinking," Mwaura told CNN. He says Simprints is giving citizens without identities hope and access to a better synced healthcare system.

"Without it they'd probably stay at home and accept their fate."

READ: Darkest building on Earth unveiled at Winter Olympics

Once someone is successfully enrolled they can easily visit a doctor -- who can then access their entire medical history digitally.

Although it's revolutionizing healthcare in developing countries, fingerprint scanning isn't the newest or most technologically advanced biometric tool.

Today, technology firms are racing to find a new, universal identifier that will replace the need for passwords and change our digital lives. Soon your face, iris, or even your heartbeat could be used to make payments, unlock your front door or to access your emails.

This story was first published on CNN.com, How biometrics is giving identities to 'invisible citizens'"
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COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. -- Troopers are looking for the driver that crashed into a building in Cottage Grove Monday.

Troopers said the driver crashed a Honda station wagon into a building near Saginaw Road and took off around 8:15 a.m. They said the Honda was reported stolen.



Before coming to a stop in the building's storage area, the Honda took out several mailboxes and clipped the back of a parked car, troopers said.

Police said the driver took off and was picked up by someone in a black SUV.
MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) - A former youth pastor in southwestern Oregon has pleaded guilty to recording a video of a girl exiting a shower on a church trip.

The Mail Tribune reports that 39-year-old Donald Courtney Biggs pleaded guilty Friday in U.S. District Court to one felony count of transporting with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

As part of the deal, nine other transportation and child pornography charges were dropped.

He was indicted on the federal charges in 2015 after Medford police launched an initial investigation in late 2014. The investigation began after authorities were alerted to inappropriate text messages Biggs had exchanged with minors, according to court documents.

Biggs is scheduled to be sentenced in June. He faces up to nearly 16 years in prison.
LANE COUNTY, Ore. - Vaccinations are required for all children attending Oregon public or private schools, preschools, or Head Start programs. Coming up on Wednesday, February 21, is the deadline for children to recieve those vaccinations, or Exclusion Day.

Without vaccines or at least a medical or nonmedical exemption, your child will be sent home from school starting on that day.

Schools and health departments have been hard at work with families since the summer to make all of these vaccinations happen and documenting progress along the way.

Oregon School Law has been obtaining records for all children attending these facilities, tracking the ones who still need vaccines, identifying those who aren't complying, and then submitting that report to the local health departments.

That report was submitted 35 days before Exclusion Day, so that children who still needed their shots had plenty of time to be notified and take action. The advance notice is necessary because on Exclusion Day, if your child is not vaccinated, they'll be sent home, and a follow up report is sent to the health department 12 days later.

Lane County has made a decrease of 600 people they've needed to contact about vaccinations since last year. The health department sent out a little more than 1,600 letters compared to around 2,200 last year. They said each year over the last five years, they've sent at least 2,000 letters, so this dip was very significant.

Lane County Public Health will be holding a special Exclusion Day walk in clinic on Tuesday, February 20, and Wednesday, February 21 (Exclusion Day). You can come in any time on either day between 8am-11:15am and 1pm-4pm.

The state also keeps track of all records. You can find a visual representation of that here.
EUGENE, Ore. - There are more than 70,000 miles of public roads in Oregon. That's a lot of ground to cover for both truck drivers, and law enforcement watching over them.

"We can't stop them all. We can't inspect them all," said Trooper Kris Strubel, Oregon State Police.

He said there are too many truck drivers to keep an eye on everyone, but that's not to say they don't try.

"There's a headlight out on that truck right there," Strubel pointed out as we drove along Interstate 5 and the truck-in-question was heading in the opposite direction.

He said nearly every state trooper is a certified truck inspector. It's a second hat they wear that requires a keen eye for big rigs.

Strubel said they are on the lookout for drifty drivers to brake lines wearing thin.

"Honestly, they're pretty scary and they usually slow traffic down," said Cara Christofferson, driver.

Lane, Douglas, Coos, Benton, and Linn Counties saw nearly 4,500 safety violations in 2017. That's more than 400 safety violations than in 2016. In 2017, about 650 infractions were serious enough to put a driver out of service and more than 850 violations put a vehicle out of service.

Since 2014, more drivers have been put out of service every year. Overall, there's been a downward trend of trucks taken out of service.

"Truck drivers get paid for how much they drive, not by time," Strubel said. "So you get people driving way more than they should be. When they're fatigued, they're not stopping."

Driver fatigue is a chronic problem in the truck driving industry.

Stay with KEZI 9 News to find out what new federal law holds tired truckers more accountable. Plus, KEZI 9 News team up with the Oregon Department of Transportation, taking you underneath semi trucks to show you the hidden mechanical problems state inspectors look for.
WATERLOO, Iowa  A Floyd County man is being accused of trying to hit someone with an SUV.

Waterloo police say they were contacted around 2 am Sunday about a fight at 427 West Donald Street. They were told there was a guy in a truck trying to run people over. Officers arrived on scene and were told the driver of a white SUV had been asked to move his vehicle because it was blocking several other cars in a parking lot.

Witnesses said the driver, 27-year-old Grace Mutungi Nzundu, drove off and then came back and sideswiped a car, nearly hitting a man who had to jump out of the way. Police say the victim injured one of his legs. Nzundu is accused of hitting another parked vehicle and then driving away through someones yard.

Waterloo police then stopped a white SUV in the 1400 block of Longfellow Avenue and arrested Nzundu, who was the only person in the vehicle. Officers say a backpack in the SUV contained the prescription drug Cyproheptadine.

Nzundu, who lists addresses in both Charles City and Waterloo, is charged with assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, unlawful possession of a prescription drug, and driving while barred.
CHARLES CITY, Iowa  A summer drug search is leading to a spring trial.

20-year-old Jamison Tyler Zirbel of Charles City is charged with possession with intent to deliver marijuana. Authorities say they searched Zirbels home on July 26, 2017 and found scales, baggies, and 67.36 grams of marijuana.

A criminal complaint was filed against Zirbel in November 2017 and he has now entered a not guilty plea. His trial is scheduled for March 22 in Floyd County District Court.
AUSTIN, Minn.  A plea deal has been struck in a Mower County rape case.

22-year-old Oscar Armando Vargas of Austin was charged in October 2017 with five counts of 1st degree criminal sexual conduct. Austin police say a 15-year-old female accused Vargas of repeated sexual assaults that began when she was six or seven years old. Vargas was in Marshalltown, Iowa when he was contacted by authorities about these charges and turned himself in at the Mower County Law Enforcement Center.

He initially entered not guilty pleas but changed that on Tuesday. Vargas is pleading guilty to two counts of 1st degree criminal sexual conduct. Austin police say Vargas admitted during an interview to having sex with the victim, but said it began when she was 11 or 12 and continued about once a month.

Vargas sentencing is scheduled for June 14.
NEWTON, Iowa (AP)  An Ankeny man has been sentenced to life in prison for kidnapping and sexually abusing an 11-year-old girl in Jasper County.

The Des Moines Register reports that 58-year-old Jeff Altmayer was sentenced Monday in Jasper County District Court. Last month a jury found him guilty of kidnapping, sexual abuse and two counts of enticing a minor.

Prosecutors say Altmayer was arrested after he approached a girl and her friend in Colfax on Aug. 16, 2016. Police say he offered them $100 to come to his home in Des Moines and do yard work. Police say the 11-year-old got into his car, where Altmayer assaulted her.

A pretrial conference is scheduled March 5 in Grundy County for similar charges Altmayer faces there.
(CNN)  The Russian government denied Monday that it had interfered in the 2016 U.S. election campaign in the Kremlin's first remarks since 13 Russian nationals were indicted Friday on charges of conspiring to defraud the U.S.

Answering a question from CNN on a weekly telephone news conference, the spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Peskov, said the indictments provided "no substantial evidence" of Russian meddling, and that there were "no indications that the Russian state could have been involved."

"We didn't see any substantial evidence of someone interfering in the domestic affairs," Peskov added.

He said the U.S. indictment "mentions Russian citizens, but we heard the accusations against the Russian state  that the Russian state, the Kremlin and the Russian government were involved."

Special counsel Robert Mueller  appointed by the U.S. Justice Department to investigate Russian election meddling  laid out charges against 13 Russian nationals and three Russian entities on Friday.

The sweeping indictment describes in detail an unprecedented, years-long effort by Russia to interfere with the U.S. political system and the 2016 presidential election, affirming the longstanding conclusions of the U.S. intelligence community.

It is at odds with President Donald Trump's persistent questioning of those conclusions, which has continued throughout his first year in office.

The President has repeatedly called the investigations into his presidential campaign's potential collusion with Russia a "hoax," but on Sunday, Trump tried to clarify his stance.

"I never said Russia did not meddle in the election, I said 'it may be Russia, or China or another country or group, or it may be a 400 pound genius sitting in bed and playing with his computer,'" Trump tweeted. "The Russian 'hoax' was that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia - it never did!"

Trump also tweeted that the Russians were "laughing their asses off in Moscow" for the way Washington has handled the Russia investigations.

Russia has denied any involvement in the election, and Trump has repeatedly denied any collusion.

As recently as last week, three sources familiar with the President's thinking told CNN he remained unconvinced that Russia interfered in the presidential election.

On Monday, Peskov rejected the findings in Mueller's indictment, saying: "There are no indications that the Russian state could have been involved in this and there can't be any. So we still insist, we think such evidence lacks foundation, we don't think it's in any case comprehensive, we don't think it's fair and we can't agree with it."

"Russia has never interfered, doesn't have the habit of interfering in the domestic affairs of other countries, and is not doing it now," Peskov added.

The 'troll factory'

On Monday, CNN managed to briefly enter the building in St. Petersburg believed to house the "troll factory" at the center of the Mueller indictments, where paid bloggers flood social media, Internet forums and comments sections of news websites.

Security guards quickly ushered CNN out of the nondescript office block on 55 Savushkina Street, headquarters of the Internet Research Agency. Although the Agency officially ceased operations in December 2016, its work is said to continue inside the building.

A man smoking outside the property told CNN he was a journalist for Nevsky Novosti (Nevsky News), which is owned by Evgeny Prigozhin, according to the St. Petersburg investigative journalism website Fontanka.

Prigozhin, a Russian oligarch dubbed "chef" to Putin, controlled a firm that funded the Internet Research Agency, according to the Mueller indictment. He was one of the 13 Russians charged in the U.S. on Friday.

Prigozhin has denied any involvement in election meddling.

CNN was told by the building's real estate agent that although two floors of the property were empty, the top two floors were still occupied and would be vacated within 30 days.

Earlier reports had suggested that the troll factory had moved to another location, but that did not appear to be the case as of Monday.

This story was first published on cnn.com, "Kremlin dismisses Mueller's indictment of 13 Russians."
CHARLES CITY, Iowa  Police have arrested a man they say hit another man with a space heater.

29-year-old Isaac Charles Brown, of Charles City, has been charged with 1st-degree burglary. Charles City police say he entered a home in the 400 block of Richings Street without permission on Saturday and got into a physical confrontation with his ex-girlfriend. Officers say another man in the home tried to intervene and Brown struck him with the space heater and a beer bottle.

Police say the man suffered a cut on the top of his head, a cut on his right hand, and an open wound on his left hand.
OLMSTED COUNTY, Minn.  Luke Hottel, who has been wanted since November in connection to three counts of threats of violence and three counts of assault, has been arrested in Spring Grove.

Hottel is being held in Houston County. Authorities asked for the publics help to locate Hottel in November after learning he may be located in southeast Minnesota.

Hottel also had a Jackson County warrant for second-degree assault, first-degree burglary, threats of violence and a felon in possession of a firearm.
ST. PAUL, Minn. - Minnesota lawmakers are heading back to the capitol Tuesday for the start of the legislative session.

A couple of the issues they'll be focusing on is the Minnesota tax code, construction projects, senior abuse, sexual harassment laws, early childhood education, and water quality standards.

Lawmakers have until mid-May to wrap up their long to-do list.

Gov. Mark Dayton has set the tone entering the session with his own priorities like curbing opioid abuse and fixing the state's new computer system for license plates. However, some of these clash with the legislature's top Republicans.

Also, the legal fight over Sen. Michelle Fischbach's dual role as the state's new lieutenant governor may continue as the session states, even after a lawsuit was dismissed by a Ramsey County Judge last week.
(Adds quote and political context)

BRASILIA, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Brazil's political affairs minister Carlos Marun said on Monday that passage of a bill to overhaul the country's costly social security system has effectively ground to a halt in Congress and would become a campaign issue in this year's election.

Marun spoke to reporters after the head of the Senate, Eunicio Oliveira, said the federal government's military intervention in Rio de Janeiro would, by the rules of the country's constitution, block any vote on pension reform or any other measure requiring a constitutional amendment.

But Marun acknowledged what President Michel Temer's critics believe is the real reason for holding up a pension vote: the unpopular bill never gained enough support and the government faced certain defeat.

"We don't have the votes. I couldn't guarantee we would have the votes by the end of February," he said. That was the government's deadline for passing the bill before lawmakers turned their attention to securing their seats in the October general election.

Pension reform is the cornerstone policy in Temer's efforts to bring a bulging budget deficit under control. Generous pension benefits and early retirement have turned social security into the main driver of a deficit that cost Brazil its investment grade.

Marun, the cabinet minister charged with mobilizing coalition support in Congress, said pension reform would become a key issue in the election campaign if Congress did not take it up again.

The legislation to streamline social security, which required amending the constitution, was lined up for a first vote in the lower house of Congress this week.

But on Friday the government ordered the army to take over command of police forces in Rio de Janeiro state in a bid to curb violence driven by drug gangs, an intervention that blocks any constitutional changes during its duration. Temer decreed the Rio intervention through Dec. 31, his last day in office.

(Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu and Mateus Maia; Writing by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Paul Simao and Marguerita Choy)
BRUSSELS, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Talks over European banking union at the bloc's headquarters in Brussels have stalled, Italian Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan said after a meeting of EU finance ministers on Tuesday.

Padoan said the question of banking union, which is due to include an EU-wide deposit guarantee scheme, had been discussed "at length" during two days of meetings.

"Unfortunately we have had to acknowledge there is stalemate between those who, like Italy, think we need to introduce risk-sharing mechanisms as soon as possible, and those who maintain we need to reduce the risk," he told reporters.

Padoan also said all the bloc's finance ministers had backed the nomination of Spanish Economy Minister Luis de Guindos as European Central Bank vice president.

"I don't see why the nomination of de Guindos, who from a personal point of view has all the qualifications to be a member of the ECB board, should be an attack on its independence."

(Reporting by Francesco Guarascio, writing by Isla Binnie)
ZAGREB, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Croatia sold 1.5 billion kuna ($248.87 million) worth of one-year treasury bills on Tuesday, with yield remaining flat at 0.09 percent for the third consecutive auction, Finance Ministry data showed.

The result beat the target originally set at 1.3 billion kuna. The bids amounted to 1.77 billion kuna amid good liquidity.

More than 80 percent of the bills were bought by non-banking investors.

The ministry occasionally also auctions bills with 3-month and 6-month maturities as well as those denominated in euros.

After the auction Croatia's over-all short-term debt in the local currency inched down to 19.51 billion kuna from 19.53 billion.

The next auction will be held on Feb. 27.

Below are the details of Tuesday's auction:

Auction date Previous auction

20/02/18 13/02/18 1-year maturity Yield 0.09 0.09 Assigned price 99.915 99.915 Offered 1.3 bln HRK 1.0 bln Total bids 1.77 bln 2.33 bln Assigned 1.5 bln 1.3 bln ($1 = 6.0272 kuna)

(Reporting by Igor Ilic)
PRAGUE, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Czech financial markets on Tuesday.

ALL TIMES GMT (Czech Republic: GMT + 1 hours) =========================ECONOMIC DATA==========================

Real-time economic data releases.................... Summary of economic data and forecasts........... Recently released economic data.................. Previous stories on Czech data............. **For a schedule of corporate and economic events: ========================= NEWS =================================

BOND OFFER: The Czech Finance Ministry will offer up to 24 billion crowns ($1.18 billion) worth of domestic government bonds in six primary auctions taking place in March, the ministry said on Monday. CEE MARKETS: The Polish zloty led Central European currencies modestly higher in early trade on Monday, extending last week's gains helped by improved sentiment on the region's stock markets. ---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------ Index/Crown Currency Latest Prev Pct change Pct change

close on day in 2018 vs Euro 25.307 25.316 0.04 0.86 vs Dollar 20.436 20.454 0.09 3.96 Czech Equities 1,110.21 1,110.21 -0.19 2.97 U.S. Equities 25,219.38 25,200.37 0.08 2.02 Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1600 GMT

========================PRESS DIGEST============================

GOVERNMENT: The centre-left Social Democrats agreed at their weekend congress to start talks on forming a government, but senior party members still refuse entering or supporting a government with the ANO party unless Andrej Babis steps aside as prime minister due to criminal charges of alleged subsidy fraud he faces. This is a condition Babis has so far refused, and has been discussing support for his minority cabinet wit extremist parties - the Communists and the far-right SPD.

Hospodarske noviny, page 1

BABIS PREFERS MINORITY: Andrej Babis prefers forming a minority cabinet supported by other parties in return for programme concessions, rather than a coalition that would give cabinet seats to other parties.

Pravo, page 1

CEZ SPLIT: A cabinet committee made up of the prime minister and ministers of industry, environment and finance will be considering a proposal to split up electricity company CEZ into two parts. That would allow the state to take over full control of the traditional energy part which would be tasked with building a new nuclear power plant. This will only happen after a permanent expert committee considers various options in the upcoming two months.

E15, page 17

(Reuters has not verified the stories, nor does it vouch for their accuracy.)

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(Reporting by Prague Newsroom)
MADRID, Feb 20 (Reuters) - A former member of Catalonia's parliament who fled to Switzerland after Madrid blocked the region's bid to separate from Spain says she will not attend a Spanish court summons over her alleged role in a declaration of independence last year.

Anna Gabriel, a member of the far-left Catalan party CUP, told the Swiss newspaper Le Temps that she planned to stay in Switzerland and would not travel to Madrid to face Supreme Court charges which include rebellion and sedition.

"Since I will not have a fair trial at home, I have looked for a country that can protect my rights," Gabriel told the newspaper in an interview published on Tuesday. CUP confirmed her comments.

She is due to appear before the Supreme Court on Wednesday. No one at the court was available for comment on what the consquences might be if she failed to show up.

Several prominent members of the former Catalan government have been arrested and released on bail or are awaiting trial on remand after organising an independence referendum Oct. 1 and later making a unilateral declaration of independence.

A court ruled that the attempt by the wealthy northeastern region to split from Spain was unconstitutional, prompting Madrid to dismiss the Catalan government and take control before calling a new regional election.

Former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont fled the country shortly after the independence declaration and remains in self-imposed exile in Brussels with four members of his previous cabinet. All face similar charges as Gabriel for their part in the independence push.

Three Catalan independence leaders -- currently on remand after bail applications were denied -- have lodged a complaint with the United Nations against their detention. The Catalan independence drive has taken Spain to the brink of its worst political crisis since the transition to democracy in the mid-1970s and has prompted thousands of companies based in region to relocate to avoid potential fallout. Following the regional election in December, pro-independence parties continued to hold a narrow majority in the Catalan parliament, though attempts to reinstate Puigdemont as head while residing abroad have failed. The central government plans to remain in control of the region until parties can decide on a government.

(Reporting by Paul Day and Raquel Castillo, additional reporting by Tom Miles in Switzerland, Editing by Angus MacSwan)
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Malaysia's fiscal consolidation is likely to be "very slow" and remains a credit challenge along with high debt levels, ratings agency Moody's said on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Najib Razak has been able to lower the fiscal deficit every year since taking power in 2009 and that has been significant for maintaining Malaysia's investment-grade sovereign credit ratings.

The fiscal deficit dropped to 3 percent in 2017 and the government has forecast a further drop to 2.8 percent this year. But further consolidation will not be easy, Moody's said.

"Although the trend of fiscal deficit reduction has been maintained, the implementation of further fiscal consolidation remains a major credit challenge," Moody's analysts said in a report.

Further fiscal consolidation "is likely to be very slow absent any meaningful revenue-raising measures," which the past two budgets did not have, they said.

Second finance minister Johari Abdul Ghani said in January Malaysia was unlikely to meet a target of a balanced budget by 2020 and would need another two to three years to reach the goal. "Achieving this goal will likely rest primarily on economic growth, rather than any structural budgetary measures," Moody's said.

The ratings agency expects economic growth to moderate to 5.2 percent this year, from 5.9 percent last year.

It also said government spending was likely to slow down after a general election that is due by August, adding that it expected Najib's ruling coalition to retain power.

Najib, under pressure to shore up his government's popularity, in October unveiled a budget aimed at winning votes.

He announced a spending increase of 7.5 percent for 2018 from last year, and said the government planned to cut personal income tax for lower-income citizens, pay more to pensioners and spend billions on schools, hospitals and rural infrastructure.

The government's debt level - which Moody's has forecast to be at 48.7 percent of gross domestic product - is higher than peers though risks are mitigated by a large proportion of ringgit-denominated debt and a spread out maturity schedule, the ratings agency said.

Outstanding household debt, at 84.3 percent of gross domestic product at the end of last year, also posed a challenge, Moody's said.

(Reporting by A. Ananthalakshmi; Editing by Robert Birsel)
Gold is lower and has been below $1,340 an ounce as the U.S. dollar appreciates, says Commerzbank. Yields on 10-year U.S. Treasuries are likewise rising slightly, which is presumably also weighing on the gold price, the bank says. Gold in euro terms is faring somewhat better at a good 1,080 per troy ounce. Analysts point out that silver is suffering disproportionate losses compared to gold. Around 7:50 a.m. EST, spot gold was down 0.53% to $1,339.10 per ounce, while silver was down 0.96% to $16.50. We see no reason for the weakness of silver given the firm base-metals prices, Commerzbank says. Platinum and palladium are falling in tandem with gold, platinum dipping for a time below $1,000 per troy ounce again.

By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com

BBH: Markets Focused On How U.S. To Pay For Deficit

Treasury yields are a market focus ahead of an auction of short-term U.S. debt, points out Brown Brothers Harriman. The budget deficit is taking center stage. It is not so much the deficit as the paying for it, BBH says. That is, the U.S. Treasury will raise a boatload of money today. It will issue $96 billion in three- and six-month bills and $55 billion in a four-week cash management bill. It will also sell $28 billion of two-year notes. In the next two days it will raise another $80 billion in other note sales. Anticipation of the auction has pushed short-term rates higher, BBH adds. The U.S. debt market appears to have been building in a concession ahead of the new supply, BBH continues. The yield of the entire coupon curve is about three basis points higher.

By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com

Commerzbank: Swiss Data Show Higher Gold Exports To China

Swiss data showed that gold exports to China and Hong Kong picked up ahead of Chinese New Year festivities, accounting for roughly two-thirds of Switzerlands exports last month, Commerzbank points out. Analysts cite data from the Swiss Federal Customs Administration showing that Switzerland only a little more than 107 tonnes of gold in January. That said, last year also saw only smaller quantities of gold exported in the first two months, Commerzbank says. Exports to China and Hong Kong picked up by a very considerable 70% year-on-year to total 66 tonnes, which we attribute to higher gold demand ahead of the Chinese New Year Festival. By contrast, January exports to India were only roughly half as high  at a good 14 tonnes  as they were last January. Last week already saw the Indian Ministry of Commerce report a noticeable decline in gold imports in January. Thomson Reuters GFMS had also talked about weak Indian gold demand.
(CNN)  What was meant to be a simple uneventful local election has sparked uncertainty over the future of Sri Lanka's political landscape, after a newly formed party led by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa swept to victory.

The return of Rajapaksa to public life marks an unlikely turnaround for the two-time former president, who was unceremoniously voted out of office in 2015, amid allegations of corruption, nepotism and war crimes.

Considered a military hero among supporters, 72-year-old Rajapaksa was first elected president in 2005 and returned to office in 2010, a year after government forces routed Tamil rebel groups to end the country's brutal 25-year civil war. His surprise victory last Sunday now threatens to upend a still fragile political system marred by years of conflict and instability.

Addressing reporters at a press conference in the wake of the result, Rajapaksa called for the immediate dissolution of parliament and a snap national election.

"The victory is a clear indication that Sri Lankans are fed up of inaction and want to rebuild Sri Lanka," said Rajapaksa in a message posted on his official Facebook page.

By effectively transforming the local election into a referendum on the country's ruling party, Rajapaksa has positioned himself as the figurehead of growing anti-government movement.

Rajapaksa's campaign targeted the government's middling economic record, and its attempt to impose higher taxes, promising Sri Lankans a return to more confident, outward facing rule. Rajapaksa's supporters also criticized Sri lankan President Maithripala Sirisena for selling off national assets, including a controversial 99-year lease granted to China for the Hambantota port.

Uncertainty looms

Though parliamentary elections are not scheduled for another two years, Rajapaksa's comeback comes at a perilous time for the country's first postwar national government, who have been stymied by infighting and accusations of political inaction.

Led by Sirisena, the current administration was formed in 2015 with the help of a disparate coalition of minority groups, promising a more decentralized, transparent form of governance that would usher in a new post-war era of prosperity for the island nation.

Instead, Sirisena, a former health minister under Rajapaksa, has struggled to maintain unity among his coalition partners while attempting to implement his ambitious reform agenda.

Rajapaksa's Podujana Peramuna, also known as People's Front won 44.65% of the seats available in the local vote, sweeping aside Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP) who claimed just 32.63%, and the United People's Freedom Alliance (UFPA), a coalition led by Sirisena's Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) who came third with just 8.94%.

The opposition had not anticipated the scale of the victory, Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, executive director of the Colombo-based think tank, Center for Policy Alternatives, told CNN.

"There was always the argument that they (Podujana Peramuna) would probably emerge as first or second but they emerged as the largest party in terms of votes and councils by quite a large number," said Saravanamuttu, who attributed the result to problems relating to "command, control and communication" within the ruling coalition.

"The President himself started attacking his coalition partners and thought that he would win voters but that did not happen at all. The government has been abysmal in its ability to communicate as to what it's doing, why it is doing what it is doing, and what it intends to be doing," added Saravanamuttu.

Snap election?

Under the constitution, an early election can only be held with the endorsement of two-thirds of parliament, but with the ruling coalition weakened, the possibility of a snap election cannot be ruled out, say analysts.

"There's going to be a lot of jockeying in the parliament, within the parties. The dust won't settle for another couple of weeks," said Alan Keenan, a senior Sri Lanka analyst at the London-based Crisis Group. "A lot of people will begin gravitating back towards Rajapaksa," he added.

According to local Sri Lankan media reports, Sirisena is expected to make a special statement on the future course of National Unity Government before the weekend.

"The government will need to figure out how to come together. They need to go back to the drawing board and return to their fundamental principles and start to deliver," said Keenan.

Lingering controversies

Despite his recent electoral success, Rajapaksa remains a controversial figure in Sri Lanka, where scars from the decades-long civil war have yet to heal.

A 2011 UN report found credible allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by both sides during the final stages of the fighting.

Rajapaksa has long dismissed the report, and while in power refused to open an internal investigation into the findings

According to the UN report, between September 2008 and May 2009, tens of thousands of civilians were killed in Vanni in northern Sri Lanka, a period that coincides with an advancement into the same area by the Sri Lankan army.

Rajapaksa's brother, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, was Sri Lanka's defense secretary at the time and in charge of government forces.

The government described the report as "biased, baseless and unilateral."

This story was first published on CNN.com, Sri Lanka government in crisis after comeback of ex-leader."
(Updates to add graphic)

By Jarrett Renshaw

NEW YORK, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Throughout 2016 and 2017, a rail terminal built to accept crude oil for the largest East Coast refinery often sat idle, with few trains showing up to unload.

Although little oil flowed, plenty of money did.

Under a deal Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) signed in 2015, the refiner paid minimum quarterly payments of $30 million to terminal owner North Yard Logistics LP - even if little crude arrived. Much of that cash, in turn, flowed to the investors that own both PES and North Yard, led by the Carlyle Group, a global private equity firm with $178 billion in assets.

The deal in effect guaranteed lucrative payouts to Carlyle regardless of whether the refinery benefitted from the arrangement. When oil market conditions made the rail shipments unprofitable later that year, the refinery took heavy losses while its investors continued to collect large distributions for two more years.

The rail contract exemplifies the financial demands Carlyle imposed on PES in the years leading up to the refiner's bankruptcy in January. The Carlyle-led consortium collected at least $594 million in cash distributions from PES before it collapsed, according to a Reuters review of bankruptcy filings. Carlyle paid $175 million in 2012 for its two-thirds stake in the refiner.

(For a graphic detailing how PES went bankrupt, see: )

More than half the distributions to the Carlyle-led investors were financed by loans against PES assets that the refiner now can't pay back, the filings show. The rest came from the refiner's operating budget and payments PES made under the terminal deal to North Yard, a firm with no offices or employees that PES spun off in 2015.

PES has blamed its bankruptcy on environmental regulations that require all U.S. refiners to cover the costs of blending corn-based ethanol into the nation's gasoline. But the ill-fated train terminal deal and other large payouts to investors played key roles in the refiner's collapse, according to filings and five current or former PES employees who were involved in the refinery's decision-making. The employees spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity.

The investor payouts, along with a slump in refining economics, left PES unable to cover its obligations under the decade-old U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard or the loans it took to finance the distributions to Carlyle, the filings show.

PES had $600 million in debt and $43 million in cash on hand when it filed bankruptcy last month. It now hopes to restructure and continue operations, which employ about 1,100 people.

Carlyle Group spokesman Christopher Ullman declined to comment on whether the distributions or the rail-terminal deal contributed to the refiner's bankruptcy. PES spokeswoman Cherice Corley defended the payments to Carlyle and said the biofuels regulations played a "significant" role its collapse.

"We feel our capital structure was appropriate, and any suggestion that it was the cause of our restructuring is completely ignoring the significant effect of the flawed Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)," Corley said.

Other refiners and Pennsylvania officials have also blamed biofuels regulation for the South Philadelphia refinery's failure, triggering renewed debate about the program on Capitol Hill. Refiners without the necessary blending facilities, such as PES, are required to purchase regulatory credits, known as RINs, from firms that do such blending. The cost of compliance for PES rose from $13 million in 2012 to $218 million in 2017 as prices increased for the credits, which are traded in an open market.

The refiner, however, failed to pay a large portion of that obligation. In addition to its conventional debt, PES still owes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulatory credits worth about $350 million, an amount tied to the fuel it produced over the past two years, according to filings. The firm stopped buying RINs last year - and instead sold them to other refiners for what likely amounted to tens of millions of dollars, Reuters reported in November. The corn and ethanol lobby has pushed back on the argument that biofuels regulation sunk PES, pointing out that other refiners governed by the same law are raking in their highest profits in years. The refinery's failure had more to do with the hefty profits it paid to Carlyle as its cash reserves dwindled and its debt soared, said Brooke Coleman, head of the Advanced Biofuels Council.

"The Carlyle Group looks more like a corporate raider than a savior in this deal," Coleman said.

Carlyle would not lose any of its gains on the PES investment under the refiner's proposed restructuring plan, which has the support of almost all creditors, according to filings. PES also asks the bankruptcy court to entirely absolve its $350 million obligation to the EPA.

EPA spokeswoman Liz Bowman declined to comment on the delinquent PES credit obligations, citing the bankruptcy proceedings.

CARLYLE RECOUPED INVESTMENT WITH DEBT

Carlyle bought its stake in PES as many other East Coast refineries were closing down because of weak margins. The previous owner, Sunoco - now Energy Transfer Partners - contributed the refinery's assets and became a non-controlling partner.

The $175 million Carlyle paid was its only investment in PES, filings show, and the firm soon recouped its acquisition costs through a loan against the refinery.

At the direction of its investor-controlled board, PES borrowed $550 million in March 2013 and paid $200 million of that to investors, according to bankruptcy filings.

PES then spent $100 million building the rail terminal that year and $30 million in 2014 to double its capacity. At the time, U.S. oil production was skyrocketing as improved drilling technology unlocked new reserves in places such as North Dakota. Carlyle saw an opportunity to tap this cheaper supply and wean PES off costly imports.

The plan worked well at first, in 2013 and 2014, and PES posted earnings of about $500 million for the two years combined.

In January 2015, PES spun off the terminal, creating North Yard as a separate firm. PES then signed a ten-year agreement with North Yard to pay $1.95 for each barrel unloaded and agreed to a minimum quarterly volume of 170,000 bpd, guaranteeing the $30 million quarterly payments to North Yard. For any barrel PES unloaded above the threshold, the refinery paid North Yard 51 cents.

The system was designed to reward PES for success, but had no contingency plan to protect the refiner against the failure that would quickly follow the deal. The rail terminal has averaged just 58,000 bpd since the contract was signed, according to figures provided to Reuters by energy intelligence service Genscape, because Carlyle and PES could no longer access crude at prices low enough to make the rail shipments profitable.

That left PES paying millions of dollars to Carlyle, through North Yard, for oil shipments it never received.

BAD BET ON CHEAP CRUDE

Carlyle's purchase of PES and the rail terminal investment were bets that U.S. oil would remain cheap relative to imports. A glut of domestic production had caused U.S. crude to sell at a deep discount to imported barrels, with the gap averaging about $8.60 between 2012 and 2015.

But by late 2015, an oil price rebound slashed the domestic discount to less than $3 a barrel - not enough to cover the cost of a long rail journey. PES nonetheless continued to pay North Yard a total of $298 million between 2015 until August 2017, filings show. The Carlyle-led investor group received $151 million, in eight distributions, of the total paid to North Yard.

In November of that year, PES took on more debt to finance more payouts to investors, borrowing a total of $160 million in two loans against the rail terminal and delivering the proceeds its Carlyle-led backers, filings show.

Corley, the PES spokeswoman said terminal investment more than paid for itself during its more profitable period. But for last two years, PES said in filings, the refinery remained largely cut off from the cheap crude it needed to survive.

"Perversely, it became cheaper to transport crude oil from North Dakota to points in Western Europe than it was to transport the same crude oil to Philadelphia," the firm said.

<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ GRAPHIC: How a Philadelphia refiner went bankrupt ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Reporting By Jarrett Renshaw; Editing by Richard Valdmanis and Brian Thevenot)
RIGA, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Latvian Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis said on Tuesday that he could not rule out the fact that allegations the head of the central bank had solicited a bribe were an attempt to damage the reputation of the state.

Referring to a complaint by the owners of Norvik Bank that the management of the central bank had broken the law, Kucinskis said that evidence should be handed over to the anti-corruption authorities, adding that such evidence had not been handed over yet.

"At least, at the present time, I can not rule out that the relevant bank statement is to be considered only as an attempt to disrupt the reputation of the Latvian state," Kucinskis said in a statement.

Norvik Bank could not immediately be reached for comment. Central Bank Governor Ilmars Rimsevics denies any wrongdoing.

(Reporting by Gederts Gelzis; Writing by Simon Johnson; Editing by Alison Williams)
Following are news stories, press reports and events to watch that may affect Poland's financial markets on Tuesday. ALL TIMES GMT (Poland: GMT + 1 hour):

ECONOMIC DATA

The statistics office is due to publish at 0900 GMT January industrial output, retail sales and producer price data.

BOND SUPPLY

The finance ministry is expected to publish supply details for Thursday's treasury bond auction at 1400 GMT.

ZLOTY

The zloty's strong level is no cause for concern as it reflects robust economic fundamentals, Poland's finance minister said. WARSAW BOURSE Warsaw Stock Exchange has started negotiations regarding sale of its 20 percent stake in Britain's Aquis Exchange, it said on Monday evening.

ECONOMY

Poland's economy is far from over-heated, Dziennik Gazeta Prawna daily quoted deputy finance minister as saying.

JSW Poland's state run coking coal producer JSW wants to increase headcount following its plan to rise coal output, Parkiet daily said quoting, deputy energy minister.

****Reuters has not verified stories reported by Polish media and does not vouch for their accuracy.****

For other related news, double click on: Polish equities E.Europe equities Polish money Polish debt Eastern Europe All emerging markets Hot stocks Stock markets Market debt news Forex news For real-time index quotes, double click on: Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX ($1 = 3.3831 zlotys)

(Reporting by Warsaw Bureau)
RIYADH, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC), the world's fourth-biggest petrochemicals company, has recently secured a $3 billion bridge loan, sources told Reuters on Tuesday.

The facility was raised to meet SABIC's ongoing financial requirements, one of the sources said.

The sources declined to give further details on the lenders or the tenor of the loan and asked not to be identified because the matter is not yet public.

SABIC officials did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment.

In January, SABIC bought a 25 percent stake in speciality chemicals group Clariant ending the Swiss company's fight with activist investors.

CEO Yousef al-Benyan said then that SABIC could self-finance the Clariant stake acquisition, but did not rule out the possibility of inviting banks to part-finance the deal, adding that they will look into the best option.

(Reporting by Davide Barbuscia, Marwa Rashad and Reem Shamseddine, editing by Louise Heavens)
MADRID, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Spanish exports and imports rose to record levels in 2017, the economy ministry said on Tuesday, with exports rising in most sectors and imports boosted by strong domestic demand as the economy returns to strength following a prolonged recession.

Exports expanded by 8.9 percent in 2017 from a year earlier to 277.1 billion euros ($342.4 billion) while imports rose 10.5 percent to 301.9 billion euros leading to a trade deficit of 24.7 billion euros, up 31.9 percent from a year earlier.

In December, the deficit fell 16.2 percent from a year earlier to 2.1 billion euros as exports rose 6 percent to 22.0 billion euros while imports rose 3.6 percent to 24.0 billion euros, the ministry said. ($1 = 0.8094 euros)

(Reporting by Paul Day; Editing by Tomas Cobos)
NEW YORK, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Swedish central bank Deputy Governor Martin Floden said on Tuesday a decision at the latest policy meeting to tweak guidance for the next rate hike had not been difficult.

The Riksbank last week kept rates unchanged and said it expected a cycle of hikes to kick off "during the second half of the year", against earlier guidance for the middle of the year. "It was an unproblematic change in language, I would say. It is a better description of the forecast..," Floden told reporters during a visit to New York.

At the meeting, Deputy Governor Henry Ohlsson called for an immediate hike, and also entered a reservation against the rate path, in a show of divisions among policymakers.

"He was the only one arguing in favour of an immediate rate hike, and the five remaining members of the executive board we all stood behind the repo forecast that we had published..," Floden said.

(Reporting by Jonathan Spicer in New York, writing by Anna Ringstrom in Stockholm; Editing by Gareth Jones)
(Gives details on MPs plans)

MADRID, Feb 20 (Reuters) - A former member of Catalonia's parliament who has fled to Switzerland from Spain says she will not attend a Spanish court summons over her alleged role in the region's declaration of independence last year.

Anna Gabriel, a member of the far-left Catalan party CUP, told the Swiss newspaper Le Temps that she planned to stay in Switzerland and would not travel to Madrid to face Supreme Court charges which include rebellion and sedition.

"Since I will not have a fair trial at home, I have looked for a country that can protect my rights," Gabriel told the newspaper in an interview published on Tuesday. CUP confirmed her comments.

She is due to appear before the Supreme Court on Wednesday but was understood to have left Spain to travel to Geneva earlier this month. Gabriel faces a potential prison sentence of as much as 30 years if the court finds her guilty.

No one at the court was available for comment on what the consequences might be if she failed to show up.

In a separate appearance on Swiss public television, Gabriel said she was preparing to ask for political asylum if the Spanish courts call for her extradition.

Several prominent members of the former Catalan government have been arrested and released on bail or are awaiting trial on remand after organising an independence referendum Oct. 1 and later making a unilateral declaration of independence.

A court ruled that the attempt by the wealthy northeastern region to split from Spain was unconstitutional, prompting Madrid to dismiss the Catalan government and take control before calling a new regional election.

Former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont fled the country shortly after the independence declaration and remains in self-imposed exile in Brussels with four members of his previous cabinet. All face similar charges as Gabriel for their part in the independence push.

Three Catalan independence leaders -- currently on remand after bail applications were denied -- have lodged a complaint with the United Nations against their detention. The Catalan independence drive has taken Spain to the brink of its worst political crisis since the transition to democracy in the mid-1970s and has prompted thousands of companies based in region to relocate to avoid potential fallout. Following the regional election in December, pro-independence parties continued to hold a narrow majority in the Catalan parliament, though attempts to reinstate Puigdemont as head while residing abroad have failed. The central government plans to remain in control of the region until parties can decide on a government.

(Reporting by Paul Day and Raquel Castillo, additional reporting by Tom Miles in Switzerland, Editing by Angus MacSwan)
* Opposition party seeks to extend regulation on loan sales

* Government says changes must be in line with cutting NPLs

* 3.7 bln euro portfolio includes 14,000 homeowner loans

(Adds PTSB details on loan sale)

By Padraic Halpin

DUBLIN, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Ireland could consider boosting protection for borrowers whose loans are sold to unregulated funds, Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Tuesday, amid political opposition to a planned sale by majority state-owned permanent tsb (PTSB) .

Irish banks are still grappling with large stocks of legacy bad loans a decade after a severe property crash. PTSB in particular has come under pressure from European Central Bank supervisors to cut its level of non-performing loans (NPLs).

The mortgage lender, whose NPLs represented 28 percent of its loan book at the end of June, last week kicked off a formal sales process for a 3.7 billion euro portfolio that represents almost two-thirds of the book value of those loans.

Challenged loan books have been snapped up by large private-equity and investment firms in the past.

Ireland's main opposition party Fianna Fail, whose backing Varadkar's minority government relies on in parliament, introduced proposed legislation on Tuesday to extend regulation to such funds.

"I know there is considerable concern out there. If additional protections are required, we are certainly open to considering that," Varadkar told parliament, adding that this had to be done in line with PTSB's obligation to cut its level of NPLs.

PTSB said on Tuesday the portfolio included loans belonging to some 14,000 homeowners, representing almost 75 percent of the total, with the balance made up of properties bought as investments.

Of those 2.7 billion euros in loans, just under 2 billion is accounted for by customers who have not engaged with the bank for as long as seven years, whose mortgages are unsustainable or have been unable to meet attempted restructurings, it said.

The portfolio also contains some loans where the bank has agreed to let the homeowners pay as much as they can afford. Their inclusion elicited particular anger in parliament but the bank said it was required by regulators to address all bad loans, regardless of forbearance measures.

"We are now almost 10 years on from the start of the crisis. The bank believes that now is an appropriate time to implement measures considered part of normal banking practice in the UK and other European countries," PTSB said in a statement.

Currently unregulated buyers use regulated 'credit servicing firms' to service acquired loans, prompting Davy Stockbrokers to call the opposition party bill "an unwelcome and unnecessary development" given consumer protections already in place.

Analysts at Davy, Investec and Goodbody Stockbrokers all said any onerous restrictions imposed on buyers would likely lower the price achieved for future portfolio sales and legislative changes could also delay those sales.

(Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Adrian Croft and Edmund Blair)
LONDON, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Traders largely remained on the sidelines on Tuesday as an industry event took place in London. Angola's Sonangol was still sifting through allocations for its April cargoes, while Nigeria's smaller programmes have yet to emerge.

* Little fresh trading surfaced on any West African grades as the new loading plans were allocated and traders attended an industry event in London.

* Two tenders from Indian refiners to buy crude oil were also keeping a lid on fresh trading, specifically of Nigerian crude.

* Angola's Sonangol was still in the process of allocating cargoes from its April export plan, traders said.

* The prgoramme showed the lowest total exports since February, due in part to the short month in April. * The bulk of the March programmes across the region had already sold out, buoyed by positive European refinery margins and good demand for gasoline and other fuels.

TENDERS

* India's HPCL issued a tender to buy crude oil, including West African grades. It closes next week.

* Fellow Indian refinery BPCL was also running a tender for March-loading oil, closing on Feb. 19 and Feb. 21.

RELATED NEWS

* The emergence of electric cars and travel sharing are set to dent oil consumption by 2040, oil and gas giant BP said, forecasting a peak in demand for the first time. * OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers, including Russia, will discuss extending their cooperation for many more years when they meet in June as they seek to avoid major market shocks, the United Arab Emirates' energy minister told Reuters. (Reporting by Libby George; Editing by David Goodman)
(CNN)  Poland's embassy in Tel Aviv was daubed with swastikas on Sunday, a day after Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki caused outrage by claiming Jews were among the perpetrators of the Holocaust.

Profanities were scrawled across a noticeboard outside the embassy and a swastika had been drawn on the entrance gate. Israeli police have opened an investigation into the incident.

Tensions between the two countries have ratcheted up since Poland passed a controversial new Holocaust-related bill earlier this month.

The law, which, which makes it illegal to accuse the Polish nation of complicity in crimes committed by Nazi Germany, including the Holocaust, also bans the use of terms such as "Polish death camps" in relation to Auschwitz and other such camps located in Nazi-occupied Poland.

Violations would be punished by a fine or a jail sentence of up to three years.

Israel has been vociferous in its criticism of the new law, accusing Poland of attempting to rewrite history.

But Morawiecki's comments on Saturday at a security conference in Munich prompted a fresh wave of anger.

Replying to an Israeli journalist when questioned about whether a person could be imprisoned for claiming there were Polish collaborators in the Holocaust, Reuters reported Morawiecki as saying, "Of course it's 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."

The comments sparked an outcry from Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who phoned Morawiecki to register his disgust.

Netanyahu labeled the comments as "unacceptable" and insisted "there was no basis for comparing the actions of Poles during the Holocaust to those of Jews." Netanyahu added that the "distortion regarding Poland could not be corrected by means of another distortion."

Israeli President Reuben Rivlin described Morawiecki's remarks as a "new low."

Read: Poland's Holocaust law should terrify you

A Polish government spokesperson sought to clarity Morawiecki's comments, insisting they were not "intended to deny the Holocaust, or charge the Jewish victims of the Holocaust with responsibility for what was a Nazi German perpetrated genocide."

"The Prime Minister has repeatedly and categorically opposed denial of the Holocaust -- the murder of European Jewry -- as well as anti-Semitism in all its forms," the spokesperson said in a statement.

"Attempts to equate the crimes of Nazi German perpetrators with the actions of their victims -- Jewish, Polish, Romani among others -- who struggled for survival should be met with resolute, outright condemnation."

Poland was the center of Ashkenazi Jewry before the Holocaust, with around 3.5 million Jews living in the country before the outbreak of World War II in 1939. By the end of the war, just 10% of the community remained. Six million Jews were killed in the Holocaust overall.

According to Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem, between 30,000 and 35,000 Polish Jews were saved with the help of non-Jewish Polish citizens.

Despite more Poles being honored as Righteous Among the Nations -- non-Jews who helped Jews during the Holocaust -- than any other country, there is a consensus among historians that certain Polish individuals and groups did collaborate with the Nazi occupiers. Recent Polish governments have sought to challenge that narrative.

Earlier this month, Poland's deputy foreign minister Bartosz Cichocki told CNN that the new law was "not meant to revise the history whatsoever, this is meant to guard the truth about the Holocaust."

"We have to realize that when he or she says that the Polish state or the Polish nation is responsible for the Holocaust, they diminish the responsibility of the real perpetrators," Cichocki added.

This story was first published on CNN.com, Swastikas drawn on Polish embassy in Israel."
Jazz trio Gonia / Courtesy of Jeonju International Sori Festival



By Kwon Mee-yoo



Two Korean indie bands will perform in Japan as part of efforts by the Jeonju International Sori Festival (JISF) to promote young Korean musicians.



Jazz trio Gonia and classical pop band MuzGrain will tour Japan from Feb. 22 to 26. They will perform in Tokyo, Feb. 23, and in Kobe, Feb. 25.



Established in 2007, Gonia released their first album "Quiet Time" in 2009. Consisting of two guitar players and a drummer, the band pursues melodious jazz which is easy on the ear.



MuzGrain appeared on MBC's University Song Festival in 2006. The band is known for its experimental music combining classical music and jazz. They released their first studio album "Gleamy Night" in 2017, which topped indie music charts in Korea.



During the Japan visit, the Korean bands will perform with Japanese world music band Kiwi and the Papaya Mangoes. The collaboration will help the bands network in Japan.





Indie band MuzGrain
By Kim Jae-kyoung





Troy Stangarone
The floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party on Tuesday urged the United States to immediately withdraw a proposal to impose a massive tariff on steel imports from South Korea. Otherwise, he said Seoul should consider retaliatory steps.

The U.S. Commerce Department suggested last Friday slapping a 53 percent tariff on steel imports from a dozen countries, including South Korea, as part of measures to protect the local industry.

On Monday, President Moon Jae-in ordered the government to deal with such "unfair protectionist trade measures" in a "confident and resolute" manner, raising concerns that the two allies could clash head-on over trade issues.

"I express strong regret over the unilateral and dogmatic measure and the wrong retaliatory tariff must be scrapped immediately," Rep. Woo Won-shik, the ruling party's floor leader, said during a party meeting.

"We have to look closely into whether a series of U.S. measures to strengthen trade barriers are not in violation of World Trade Organization rules, and we should actively consider corresponding retaliatory measures."

Woo also said it is a far-fetched claim that civilian steel imports pose a threat to the U.S.

The proposed tariff was one of three suggestions that the Commerce Department made to President Donald Trump to protect the local industry. The two other suggestions are a global tariff of at least 24 percent on all steel imports from all countries and a quota for all countries equal to 63 percent of their respective 2017 exports to the U.S.

Trump is expected to make a decision by April 11 on what measures he will take.

The steep tariff proposal rattled South Korea because the country was the only U.S. ally on the 12-nation list. Critics and conservative opposition parties say it could be a sign of strained relations between the two countries. (Yonhap)




By Oh Young-jin







A man received two years behind bars for going to massage parlor  among other crimes  leaving his five-year-old son alone in a car.







Chunchon High Court confirmed a lower court sentence for the man, 60, Monday, for child abuse and endangerment.







Court records showed the man had a fight with his wife who demanded child support and left the scene, telling her that she wouldn't see them. He also attacked his wife with blunt objects.







He took their second son, a five-year-old away in a car, after his older nine-year-old escaped, as he drove away.







The man stopped at a massage parlor in his neighborhood and left the son locked in the car.







Police found the car and the child inside after the wife called them to report the incident.







The child was locked inside the car for nearly two hours.







His father was sleeping inside the parlor.







The court said that taking a five-year-old without the consent of the virtual custodian  the wife  amounted to virtual kidnapping.







The father claimed that he tried to calm himself and intended to take him back to his mother.







The court observed the panic the child felt being alone in the car, rejecting the father's plea for leniency.


Samsung office buildings in Seocho-dong, southern Seoul / Korea Times



By Oh Young-jin



Korea is at war with Samsung Group with a ferocity that sometimes shows as if it won't be over until one of the two is done away with.



The irony is that Samsung is the lifeline of Korean Inc., being the biggest employer, exporter, taxpayer, charity giver and the single largest pillar to support the stock market, possibly all at once.



If it were the firm of another country, it would be treated like a goose laying a golden egg. By extension of this logic, are Koreans getting greedy enough to kill the goose and get all the gold inside immediately?



From Samsung's perspective, it is only natural to ask why it is the victim of its own success.



Instead of answering these questions, let's look at three battles the nation and its biggest corporation are fighting, because we pretty much know the stock answers to these questions  historic collusion between the state and Samsung and other chaebol, and the people's sense of ownership to chaebol on the belief that the corporate behemoths have grown on the sweat, blood and tears of taxpayers.



Also in the mix is the public's resentment toward the misconduct of chaebol owners and their offspring. Lump them together and it is a love-hate relationship with these moneyed families.



But the ongoing war against Samsung could be different from the entanglements the nation has had before with chaebol _ not business as usual.



The first prong of the war is over the financial authorities' investigation into 27 borrowed-name accounts that belong to the ailing head of the conglomerate, Lee Kun-hee, at four brokerages.



Lee was believed to have inherited the money in the accounts from his father Lee Byung-chull, before real name notification was made mandatory in financial transactions in December 1993. He should have reported it and paid taxes.



The probe came after police named Lee as a suspect in a tax evasion case, accusing him of managing 400 billion won in 260 accounts held by executives at Samsung.



It's often the unwritten rule that when a person involved in a serious case dies or is rendered incapacitated, it gets closed. This rule doesn't apply to Lee, who has been in coma since he had a heart attack in 2014.



Then, there is another front regarding alleged payoffs made to former President Lee Myung-bak for his lawyers' fees to the tune of billions of won in a legal entanglement.



Lee Hak-soo, the ailing Lee's right-hand man, reportedly told prosecutors that Samsung had made payments in return for an amnesty granted to Lee, who was slapped with three-year imprisonment with its execution suspended for five years for tax evasion and breach of trust in August 2009.



Four months later, Lee was put on a one-person list for a presidential pardon and granted full amnesty in return for his help as an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member in securing the right to host the Winter Olympics. Korea won the right and the ongoing PyeongChang Olympics is the result.



The Samsung involvement came out as part of the ongoing probe into corruption by former President Lee, who will be summoned soon after the Olympics are over.



Sounds familiar? Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong spent a year in jail for alleged buying influence from Park Geun-hye, Lee's successor who was impeached, ousted from office and is now being tried for corruption.



The former President Lee was responsible for a corruption probe into his predecessor Roh Moo-hyun; and Roh's supporters blame Lee for leading him to commit suicide. Roh was the incumbent President Moon Jae-in's mentor. Recently when Lee called the investigation into him a "political vendetta," Moon expressed his deep resentment for such a claim.



Finally, the only son of the bedridden chairman is bearing the brunt of an onslaught for his alleged role in bribing former President Park and her "private deputy" Choi Soon-sil. He is now out on a suspended sentence pending a Supreme Court ruling.



The Moon Jae-in government is not naive enough to call out the slogan of chaebol reform but its all-out catch-all "campaign to liquidate the bad old heritage" no doubt includes economic justice, at the center of which lies Samsung.



Against this background, the public's wish to see the delivery of justice on Samsung  the rule of equality before the law  is set to boil over. A majority of people disagree with the high court's decision to let the young Lee walk free.



Walking through the three Samsung cases fails to give any new answers but takes us back to the old question: Are we risking killing the golden goose to fix its tainted feathers? I recommend serious thinking about this before answering the question.






By Lee Kyung-min



The prosecution secured key incriminating statements from a close aide to former President Lee Myung-bak, boosting the momentum of its months-long investigation into DAS, a company through which many believe Lee managed at least tens of billions of won in slush funds, Tuesday. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said Cheonggye Foundation secretary general Lee Byeong-mo's admission of managing personal assets, including land in Dogok-dong, southern Seoul, that former President Lee allegedly kept under borrowed names, is a key piece of evidence that could clarify who actually owned DAS. The aide said a considerable portion of over 26.3 billion won ($24.5 million) in proceeds secured after selling the land was funneled into DAS, substantiating the prosecutors' supposition that Lee, the alleged owner of DAS, used company funds to manage tens of billions of won in slush funds. Part of the illicit funds was used as seed money for DAS with investment consulting firm BBK, the owner of which fled to the U.S. with 38 billion won in embezzled company funds after defrauding 100 billion won out of 5,500 investors in 2001.



Meanwhile, prosecutors are likely to charge Lee Myung-bak with bribery, following a written statement from former Samsung Group Vice Chairman Lee Hak-soo who recently confessed the firm under his leadership paid $3.7 million (4.5 billion won) as a retainer to a U.S. firm, Akin Gump, of which Samsung was a major client. The legal fees that helped Lee Myung-bak recover 14 billion won in what could have been a failed investment were in return for a presidential pardon for group chairman Lee Kun-hee on Dec. 31, 2009, granted four months after he was sentenced to three years in prison, suspended for five years for embezzlement and for managing a slush fund, the former vice chair said.

While the pardon was given so the then-International Olympic Committee chairman could play a vital role in hosting the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, it raised a lot of criticism as he was the only one granted a pardon at the time.



DAS recovered its 14 billion won two years after hiring the U.S. law firm, unlike most investors that filed a civil suit against BBK and its head Kim Kyung-jun. Given DAS was the only firm Kim paid back through his Swiss bank account, prosecutors earlier believed Lee's recovery was a result of abusing the presidential office by mobilizing multiple government agencies including the National Tax Service and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Further investigation, though, uncovered the involvement of Samsung.



Lee is likely to face bribery charges, the burden of proof of which is much easier for the prosecution than it is for third-party bribery. Lee can be convicted of bribery if the prosecution proves he received something in exchange for exerting influence in his official capacity. Third-party bribery, however, requires there be an "illicit favor sought" in return for receiving bribes, based on which Samsung Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong was released on appeal. Early this month, the Seoul High Court overturned a lower court ruling that sentenced him to five years in prison by saying there was no "illicit favor sought" by the younger Lee from former President Park Geun-hye in return for financial support for Chung Yoo-ra, the daughter of Choi Soon-sil, the central figure in the influence-peddling scandal. Choi was sentenced to 20 years in prison last week. Park, who faces most of the charges Choi faced, could be sentenced as early as late March if she is convicted.




By Lee Min-hyung







President Moon Jae-in pledged to build a broad range of partnerships with Slovenia, with a strong focus on economic factors and politics, Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday.







At a luncheon meeting with Slovenian President Borut Pahor, Moon underlined the need to enhance ties between the two countries to move their relations forward .







"We are deeply satisfied with our long-term partnership built under the shared value of trust and friendship," Moon said at the presidential office. "A growing number of Korean people express deep interest in Slovenia for various reasons, including its attractive landscapes."







The meeting came on the sidelines of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, which will end Sunday.







"On top of the ongoing partnerships in politics, economy and culture, we hope to have more chances to hold in-depth talks with Slovenia on the international stage," he said.







The Slovenian president also agreed that extending political and economic ties would take the countries' relationship to a higher level.







In particular, he expressed respect for Moon's peaceful approach on North Korea.







"President Moon has a passion for peace and reconciliation on all the matters," he said. "We understand how tough and difficult it is for him to make decisions on North Korea's nuclear issues."







Pahor said he was deeply impressed by Moon's unwavering willingness to pursue dialogue and peaceful approaches to solve diplomatic matters.







"We hope to take advantage of my Seoul visit as momentum to get off to a fresh restart in our mutual relations," Pahor said. "Both sides are already teaming up in politics, culture and the economy, but the range will further develop down the road."







After the meeting, Moon held talks with the Russian Olympics delegation.


By Michael Bergmann





Evil powers are tricking us. Sinister forces are manipulating our minds. Negotiations will contaminate us, olive branches turn out to be Trojan horses.



In short, we would lose the peace  so we have to win a war. That's how a growing number of voices on "our" side try to talk us into the logic of "pre-emption."



I don't deny that we might have to beware of sinister tricks, plans and forces, on whatever side, and that attempts to manipulate our minds might be dangerous, in varying degrees.



But we should never forget that free societies may or may not have opponents or even enemies, but that oppressive regimes always fear their own populations the first and the most. They need external enemies to distract their own people  and we should indeed not fall in this trap.



Engaging the opponents of freedom is certainly not without ironies and risks. But we should have that much confidence: It is "trickier" for them than for us. They have to scare their populations, but at least sometimes to provide some good news to show their authoritarian capabilities  and that's why they can be tempted, maybe parallel to mutual "pressure," into deals and exchanges. As this obvious contradiction is their objective weak point, we don't have to intentionally try to trick them.



Whatever "they" might exactly intend  we want peace and prosperity for the people of North Korea, as much as for ourselves. And if this should turn out to be tricky for their regime, why not let them get exposed to this dilemma?



The people and government of West Germany carefully avoided showing any intentions to topple the East German regime. Engagement, dialogue and cooperation even seemed to stabilize it.



But at the same time there was no doubt without saying that the people and government of West Germany would be on the side of freedom, on the side of their East German fellow citizens, once they were ready to empower themselves.



And that's exactly what happened when, with just a few holes opened, the wind of change started to blow into their locked-up half-country. It was no sinister trick from the Western side, as freedom goes together, without contradiction, with openness and development.



When the people of East Germany told their regime it was time to retire, it became just too obvious: Those rulers had no grand plan, sinister or otherwise, except holding onto power and then begging for mercy.



War has no winners. But freedom will surely not lose the peace. South Korea's president has all the freedom- and peace-loving people of the world on his side when he grabs the opportunity for change.



And as it was with Germany's reunification, grudging neighbors and even the profiteers of armament will run out of arguments, warnings and horror visions when a new-born peaceful nation celebrates its happiness.



Michael Bergmann (bergmann2473@yahoo.de) is a teacher in Seoul.


By Shlomo Ben-Ami







MADRID  When, on a visit to Warsaw in 1970, German Chancellor Willy Brandt suddenly dropped to his knees before the Monument to the Ghetto Uprising, Wladyslaw Gomulka, Poland's communist leader, whispered, "wrong monument."







Gomulka would have preferred a tribute to Poland's fallen soldiers in World War II. Poland's current ultra-nationalist government, led by the Law and Justice (PiS) party, would probably have agreed.







In fact, the PiS government is attempting to reshape Poland's WWII narrative  and not in a whisper  with a new law criminalizing mention of the complicity of the "Polish nation" in the crimes of the Holocaust.







While Poles are justifiably offended by use of terms like "Polish death camps"  they were German-run camps, located on occupied Polish territory, and should be remembered as such  the law amounts to a dangerous attempt to use history as a political tool.







For Poles, the prevailing narrative of the Holocaust is exceedingly frustrating. After all, three million Polish Catholics were killed during WWII, and Poland would have been wiped off the map if Hitler had won. Over 6,700 Poles  more than any other nationality  have been honored by Israel as "Righteous Among the Nations" for standing up to the Nazis and saving Jews.







Yet, when Israelis make pilgrimages to the land of the Holocaust, it is Poland that is their destination. By contrast, Germany  where the destruction of both Poland and European Jewry took shape  has become a land of promise and opportunity for Israeli youth.







But, however shameful or frustrating, the truth is the truth. Even Polish President Andrzej Duda has acknowledged that there are two sides to Poland's WWII history. In March 2016, inaugurating a museum honoring the hundreds of Poles killed for helping Jews during the Holocaust, he called for "the whole truth, sometimes distressing and appalling," to be told.







Yet the law that Duda has just signed criminalizes discussion of distressing and appalling truths. One such truth is the murder, described by the historian Jan Grabowski, of about 200,000 Polish Jews by their non-Jewish neighbors.







Another is the massacre, examined by the journalist Anna Bikont, of at least 340  and, according to other authors, as many as 1,600  Jewish men, women, and children in the town of Jedwabne. Jews were massacred in Poland even after the war, most notably in the Kielce pogrom, in which a mob of Polish soldiers, police officers, and civilians murdered at least 42 Holocaust survivors.







For the PiS, the new law is a smart, if cynical, political move. The party's leaders are well aware that when then-President Aleksander Kwasniewski acknowledged in 2001 the truth about the Jedwabne massacre, the townspeople heckled him as a puppet of "international Jewry." Focusing on the ways Poles were victimized by the Nazis  or, even better, responded to that victimization with heroism  has proved very effective electorally.







It has even worked on foreign politicians. U.S. President Donald Trump's speech last summer at the same monument where Brandt fell to his knees was well received by the Polish public precisely because he did not deviate from the PiS-endorsed narrative.







Of course, Poland is not the only country that has been tempted to edit history in ways that play down complicity in wartime crimes perpetrated against Jews and others. Other former communist countries in Eastern Europe  namely, Lithuania, Ukraine, and Hungary  have also come to favor a nationalist narrative of victimhood and resistance. Given that all were undeniably victims of both Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, minimizing their role in the Holocaust hasn't been all that difficult to achieve.







Even countries with much longer democratic traditions have struggled to come to terms with their histories of collaboration in the Holocaust. For years after the war ended, the Netherlands propagated a narrative in which the Dutch nation struggled heroically to save its Jews from the Nazi extermination machine.







In fact, there was large-scale collaboration by the Dutch bureaucracy with the Nazis, and Dutch citizens played an instrumental role in deporting 80 percent of the country's Jewish population to concentration camps.







As for France, it was only after the 1969 documentary "The Sorrow and the Pity" (which, tellingly, was barred from French television until 1981) that the national narrative of anti-Nazi resistance began to unravel, revealing truths about the country's far-reaching complicity.







Only 26 years later did a French president, Jacques Chirac, officially acknowledge the role French collaborators played in the deportation of 90,000 Jews to Nazi death camps.







The past is always vulnerable to political manipulation. And, indeed, the editing of history has been essential to national narratives almost everywhere. In the United States, history textbooks focus on the colonists' heroic battle for independence in the Revolutionary War, not on the genocide carried out against their new country's indigenous population.







Stories of Israel's War of Independence focus on the struggle against the invading Arab armies, rather than Israel's own violence against the dispossessed and displaced Palestinians. When the war was over, the Palestinian problem was conveniently defined as one of "refugees" or "infiltrators."







Israel has gone so far as to try to force this narrative on its Palestinian citizens. Its 2011 "Nakba Law" authorizes Israel's finance minister to withhold funding from institutions that reject Israel's character as a "Jewish state" or that commemorate the country's Independence Day  which Palestinians call the Nakba (catastrophe)  as a day of mourning.







When it has suited him politically, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has been willing even to pervert the history of the Holocaust. It was not Hitler who first came up with the idea of exterminating the Jews, he declared in October 2015, but a Palestinian leader, Grand Mufti Haj Amin el-Husseini. That is as cynical and grotesque an abuse of memory as anything the PiS has concocted.









Shlomo Ben-Ami, a former Israeli foreign minister, is vice president of the Toledo International Center for Peace. He is the author of "Scars of War, Wounds of Peace: The Israeli-Arab Tragedy." Copyright belongs to Project Syndicate (

).




By Lee Seong-hyon





What was the real reason for China to send troops to aid North Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War?



The stock answer has always been that China made this decision because the fall of North Korea into the hands of the United States would constitute endangering China's security itself. This served as key evidence to reinforce the rationale that China regarded North Korea as China's security "buffer zone." Now, we have a new explanation.



Ever since China's intervention in the Korean War, both Chinese and North Korean leaders called the two countries' relationship "chun chi xiang yi (as close as lips and teeth)" and "chun wang chi han (if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold)," and defined Sino-North Korean relations as such for the ensuing decades.



These maxims symbolized North Korea's strategic importance for the security of China, implying that China would protect North Korea at all costs whenever the latter's security would be in grave peril.



During the Cold War era, this concept was generally accepted in the West regarding the two nations' relations. Even today, this view is still widely embraced in the West. But the latest academic achievements on Sino-North Korean relations show that we should revisit this view.



In October 1950, China dispatched troops to aid North Korea, which was about to be defeated by U.S. forces. A majority of scholars in both China and the West have been arguing that China made this decision because with North Korea gone, China would directly have a border with America, its main adversary.



However, newly available documents, both Chinese and Russian, reveal that, in the prelude to the Korean War, China's leader Mao Zedong was, in fact, reluctant to dispatch troops to the Korean Peninsula.



Furthermore, Mao's eventual decision to send troops was based on the premise that if China went to Korea, the concerned U.S. and South Korean forces would feel threatened and stop their northward advance at the Pyongyang-Wonsan line. In that case, China could likely secure the northern part of North Korea without shedding a single drop of blood in conflict with American forces.



This indicates that the eventual Chinese intervention in the Korean War was made not in order to save North Korea, but rather to secure the northern part of North Korea, aiming to extend China's "defense line" to the Pyongyang-Wonsan area without bloodshed.



It underscores the Chinese strategic calculus regarding North Korea was opportunistic, calculative, and pragmatic.



In fact, before and after the founding of the PRC in October 1949, Mao turned down Kim Il-sung's request to unify the Korean Peninsula through military means. The reason for Mao's objection was simple.



In June 1949, the U.S. Army completed its withdrawal from the Korean Peninsula. As a result, the PRC had no existing security threat from the peninsula. This had been China's security preference.



On the contrary, a full-scale attack by Pyongyang on Seoul was likely to prompt the Americans to return to the Korean Peninsula. China didn't like this option because the Korean Peninsula was used as a "gateway" for invasion to China by outside powers.



To Mao, the best way to protect the newly established PRC, after a ravaging civil war, was not to have the U.S. military in its vicinity at all. This psychology remains even today. This explains why China is often seen angrily overreacting to American military drills in and around the Korean Peninsula.



Geopolitical calculus undergoes change with time, and China's should be no exception to this general rule. As previously stated, the trait of China's policy toward North Korea showed not only opportunistic but pragmatic characteristics as well.



As examined, a careful review on Sino-North Korean historical relations, surprisingly, shows that China regarded North Korea as "expendable" during the Korean War, even when the U.S. forces were marching toward the Yalu River in the fall of 1950, posing an imminent security threat to the newly established PRC itself.



It provides support to the view that China's policy toward North Korea was flexible, insinuating that Washington and Seoul could inspire changes within China's policy toward North Korea.



The starting point of China's policy shift on North Korea was when the disadvantages generated by North Korea exceed the advantages. In this regard, the key is how to figure out the "tipping point" where North Korea's liability to China begins to outweigh its value as an asset.



Lee Seong-hyon (sunnybbsfs@gmail.com), Ph.D., is a research fellow at the Sejong Institute.


GM Korea CEO Kaher Kazem speaks during a parliamentary audit on Oct. 23, 2017. Asked whether GM will pull out of Korea, the chief refused to give a clear-cut answer. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun



Union leader claims GM prepared for restructuring last year



By Park Jae-hyuk



A senior union leader of General Motors (GM) Korea said Tuesday he suspected the Detroit-based automaker was arranging to restructure its Korean operations when it named CEO Kaher Kazem midway through last year.



The previous GM India President took charge of the ailing Incheon-based automaker on Sept. 1, replacing his predecessor, James Kim, who resigned after suffering low sales for years.



In less than half a year after Kazem came on board, GM decided to shut down its Gunsan plant 180 kilometers south of Seoul. Hinting at a possible full-scale pullout, the company said that it will decide about the remaining three factories here soon.



"When Kazem took the helm, many became worried, as he is known as Mr. Downsizing at GM. Although GM Korea denied it back then, the concerns are now becoming a reality," said a senior union leader who asked not to be named.



"Now I suspect that former CEO James Kim was pressed to step down so that GM could appoint Mr. Downsizing as the new chief of GM Korea. All this add up. I suspect GM might have given up its Korean unit last year."



Indeed, Kazem led the restructuring of GM India. When asked about GM's possible withdrawal from Korea at last year's parliamentary audit, he avoided answering the question.



Prof. Kim Pil-soo of Daelim University said that the union leader's claim is an educated guess.



"We cannot know for sure whether GM's withdrawal is a fixed game arranged by global CEO Mary Berra when she tapped Kazem as the Korean CEO," Kim said.



"In consideration of her style and what GM did just ahead of announcing closure of the Gunsan plant, the union has good reason to believe so. Plus, the track record of Kazem seems to prompt such a belief."



Kim is one of the most authoritative experts in the Korean automotive industry.



GM Korea has denied such a claim.



When it named Kazem as a Korean chief last year, it said that "he has the experience and global perspective to lead GM Korea to a sustainable and competitive future."



Kazem also showed his commitment to the Korean business.



"I will work closely with our team and business partners to turn around GM Korea's financial performance and ensure the sustainability of our business," he said.



"Chevrolet is a strong brand in Korea. I look forward to building on its success and continuing to put our customers in Korea at the center of everything we do."



If GM leaves Korea, however, his remarks would prove to be empty promises.



Kazem began his career with GM in Australia in 1995, and has since held several key leadership positions at GM's global operations.



In 2009, Kazem became vice president of manufacturing and quality for GM Thailand and ASEAN. He was then appointed president and managing director of GM Uzbekistan in 2012.



In 2015, Kazem joined GM India as chief operating officer, later being appointed president and managing director in 2016.






By Park Hyong-ki







Hyosung will invest $100 million to build a plant to produce spandex in India by 2019, the local conglomerate said Tuesday. Spandex is a synthetic textile for outdoor sportswear.







Hyosung Chairman and Chief Executive Cho Hyun-joon unveiled the investment plan there on the sidelines of the Magnetic Maharashtra Convergence Summit last Sunday.







He also met with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the investment forum to discuss Hyosung's textile plant.







"With India's support for the plant, Hyosung will seek to grow in partnership with India," Cho said.







He added Hyosung will greatly benefit from India as the country has one of the biggest textile industries in the world.







The Indian prime minister said Korea is becoming a strategic part of India's economy, which is promoting a policy promoting companies to produce goods in the country.







The spandex plant will be located on 40 hectares of land in an industrial complex near Aurangabad in Maharashtra, India.







Hyosung has a spandex brand called Creora, which has a 60 percent market share in the synthetic textile sector.







When the plant goes into operation in 2020, Hyosung will aim to grab a 70 percent market share there.







India's spandex market has been growing at an annual 16 percent on average over the past five years.







Its forecast showed it will continue to grow about 12 percent per year until 2020.







Hyosung Chairman Cho said India is an important strategic market for the conglomerate.







It began its India business in 2007, and set up a trading unit in 2012. In 2016, Hyosung built a plant to produce high-voltage circuit breakers.







Hyosung has annual sales of $300 million in India.







The chairman has been focusing his efforts to further develop the company's textile and tire cord businesses in South and Southeast Asia. Earlier this month, he visited Vietnam.


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Rome, February 20 - Industry Minister Carlo Calenda said Tuesday he would ask European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager later today for an exemption from EU treaties on State aid to deal with the case of Embraco, the US multinational Whirlpool unit that is sacking its 500 Italian employees as it moves production to Slovakia. "There are structural conditions," that mean eastern European countries have lower labour costs, he said. "I couldn't frame a rule saying that labour costs should be so much lower for Embraco, because that would be State aid. But I think you can interpret the treaties to say that in this specific case, of a firm moving to Slovakia, the norm may be flouted. "Let's see what Vestager's answer is". Embraco on Monday refused to change plans to sack its 497 workers at Riva di Chieri near Turin, prompting Calenda to say he would no longer "meet this scum". Calenda had asked the Brazilian company to agree to use a government layoff fund, but Embraco refused point blank.
Rome, February 20 - Interior Minister Marco Minniti on Tuesday said migration is "now under control", speaking to State broadcaster Rai1's 'Uno Mattina' program. "We have tried to govern the migration phenomenon which is now under control", the minister said, noting that arrivals had dropped for the eighth consecutive month. "In February, we have registered a 90% decrease on last February", Minniti noted, stressing however that the "situation in Africa is very delicate and Libya is in a condition of fragility". He added that respecting human rights is a "fundamental concern" for him. "We are trying to manage the migration phenomenon, keeping security and humanity together", he explained. "It is possible to intervene in Africa, ensuring that those who are fleeing war are not taken to Europe by smugglers but by governments and NGOs through humanitarian corridors like the ones we are organizing".
Rome, February 13 - The EU border agency Frontex and the Italian interior ministry appeared to disagree on Tuesday over the trend in migrant arrivals in Italy in early 2018 - though Frontex later spoke to ANSA and cleared up the discrepancy. Frontex said that numbers were up in January compared to the previous month and comparable to the same month last year. "The number of migrants arriving in Italy via the Central Mediterranean route in January rose to more than 4,800, double the figure from the previous month, when smuggling activities were affected by fighting near the departure areas and poor weather," the agency said. "The monthly total was roughly in line with January of last year," the EU agency added. Conversely, the interior ministry said migrant arrivals had dropped by 50% over the same period in 2017 to 4,731 so far this year. The drop was sharper from Libya: 3,534 in 2018, compared to 9,007 in 2017, a drop of 61%, the ministry added. Of the arrivals so far this year, 621 were unaccompanied minors. But speaking to ANSA later, Frontex said "there is no indication of a change in the general trend of falling" migrant arrivals "which started in summer of 2017". "The number of irregular migrants who arrived in Italy in December 2017 was the lowest in three years. The numbers rose slightly in January, remaining however in line with the January 2017 figures". After the slight rise in January, it said, "the number plunged to 249 in the first 12 days of February, 95% lower than the the same period in 2017". Frontex and the Italian interior ministry appeared to agree on trends in nationality of the migrants arriving in Italy. "According to preliminary data, Eritreans were the largest group of migrants detected on this route, followed by nationals of Pakistan and Tunisia," Frontex said. Likewise, the ministry said Eritreans topped the nationalities arriving at 1,312, followed by Tunisians (763), Pakistanis (279) and Nigerians (252). Frontex also noted an increase in the number of Libyans making their way across the Mediterranean in recent months. Asylum seekers transferred to other European countries according to relocation agreements were 11,934, the Italian interior ministry added. Overall, the number of migrants arriving in Europe via the four principal sea routes fell by 7% in January over the same month in 2017, Frontex said.
Brussels, February 20 - European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager has promised to be "intransigent" on Embraco's moving 500 Italian jobs to Slovakia, Industry Minister Carlo Calenda said after meeting her Tuesday. He said the talks on a possible exemption from State-aid rules had gone "well". Vestager, he said, will hold a press conference Wednesday and she has "a very clear view of the issue". He said "she assured me that the Commission is very intransigent in assessing cases flagged up where there is a problem of the wrong or not permitted use of aid, or worse, State aid to attract (business) by countries that are part of the EU". Calenda sent an encouraging message to Embraco workers not to give up the fight against the Whirlpool unit shutting its Italian plant and moving the jobs to Slovakia. "Let's not give up, we are working at all levels, we are working here (in Brussels), we are working with Invitalia which has started mapping out alternative projects for industrialisation, we won't give up as happened in other crises before this one," Calenda said in Brussels. Earlier Calenda said he would ask Vestager for an exemption from EU treaties on State aid to deal with the case of Embraco, the US multinational Whirlpool unit that is sacking its 500 Italian employees as it moves production to Slovakia. "There are structural conditions," that mean eastern European countries have lower labour costs, he said. "I couldn't frame a rule saying that labour costs should be so much lower for Embraco, because that would be State aid. But I think you can interpret the treaties to say that in this specific case, of a firm moving to Slovakia, the norm may be flouted. "Let's see what Vestager's answer is". Embraco on Monday refused to change plans to sack its 497 workers at Riva di Chieri near Turin, prompting Calenda to say he would no longer "meet this scum". Calenda had asked the Brazilian company to agree to use a government layoff fund, but Embraco refused point blank. An Embraco worker, Daniele Simoni, on Tuesday chained himself to the factory gates. "I don't want to give up, it's my factory that fed me for 25 years, as long as there's a chink of light I won't give up", he said. Labour Minister Giuliano Poletti said the government was ready to employ "social buffers" to help the 500 workers who are being laid off as Embraco moves its production to Slovakia. "We will work alongside the workers to foster the process of reindustrialisation of that site and we are ready to use social buffers in favour of a project that will give continuity to the firm," he said, referring to lay-off funds. "We view as unacceptable the conduct of the company which has chosen not to withdraw the firings," Poletti went on. This would have "allowed us to start the process of reindustrialisation. Something that is not possible in this phase".
Rome, February 20 - Egypt is "central in the geopolitical and regional-security dynamics and is a necessary interlocutor for our country, also to foster cooperation in finding those who (tortured and murdered Italian student) Giuliano Regeni," the annual intelligence report said Tuesday. Italian prosecutors suspect members of Egypt's security apparatus had a hand in the case of Regeni, who was killed two years ago. The Egyptian services have always denied playing a part. Italian and Egyptian prosecutors have been working on the case together but the Regeni family recently denounced a lack of progress in the case. photo: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
Brussels, February 20 - Italy's work on migrants and Libya has been positive, Frontex chief Fabrice Leggeri told ANSA in an interview Tuesday. "Italy is working to use the resources allotted by the EU to find sustainable solutions for Libya" and the migrants held there, he said. "And for now it is going in the right direction, even though the conditions of the centres in Libya are not in line with our standards, and with basic humanitarian standards. "But that is not Italy's fault, all the international community and not only the EU can help".
Brussels, February 20 - European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager has promised to be "intransigent" on Embraco's moving 500 Italian jobs to Slovakia, Industry Minister Carlo Calenda said after meeting her Tuesday. As European Parliament chief Antonio Tajani said the "unacceptable" situation highlighted the need for deep and swift changes to the EU, Calenda said the talks with Vestager on a possible exemption from State-aid rules had gone "well". Vestager, he said, will hold a press conference Wednesday and she has "a very clear view of the issue". He said "she assured me that the Commission is very intransigent in assessing cases flagged up where there is a problem of the wrong or not permitted use of aid, or worse, State aid to attract (business) by countries that are part of the EU". Calenda sent an encouraging message to Embraco workers not to give up the fight against the Whirlpool unit shutting its Italian plant and moving the jobs to Slovakia. "Let's not give up, we are working at all levels, we are working here (in Brussels), we are working with Invitalia which has started mapping out alternative projects for industrialisation, we won't give up as happened in other crises before this one," Calenda said in Brussels. Earlier Calenda said he would ask Vestager for an exemption from EU treaties on State aid to deal with the case of Embraco, the US multinational Whirlpool unit that is sacking its 500 Italian employees as it moves production to Slovakia. "There are structural conditions," that mean eastern European countries have lower labour costs, he said. "I couldn't frame a rule saying that labour costs should be so much lower for Embraco, because that would be State aid. But I think you can interpret the treaties to say that in this specific case, of a firm moving to Slovakia, the norm may be flouted. "Let's see what Vestager's answer is". Embraco on Monday refused to change plans to sack its 497 workers at Riva di Chieri near Turin, prompting Calenda to say he would no longer "meet this scum". Calenda had asked the Brazilian company to agree to use a government layoff fund, but Embraco refused point blank. An Embraco worker, Daniele Simoni, on Tuesday chained himself to the factory gates. "I don't want to give up, it's my factory that fed me for 25 years, as long as there's a chink of light I won't give up", he said. Labour Minister Giuliano Poletti said the government was ready to employ "social buffers" to help the 500 workers who are being laid off as Embraco moves its production to Slovakia. "We will work alongside the workers to foster the process of reindustrialisation of that site and we are ready to use social buffers in favour of a project that will give continuity to the firm," he said, referring to lay-off funds. "We view as unacceptable the conduct of the company which has chosen not to withdraw the firings," Poletti went on. This would have "allowed us to start the process of reindustrialisation. Something that is not possible in this phase". Meanwhile, back in Brussels, Tajani said the situation at Embraco is "unacceptable". Speaking after meeting Calenda, Tajani said the situation "shows that Europe must be profoundly changed, and rapidly." He said "this must be a joint commitment of any future Italian government". Tajani has been touted by centre-right leader Silvio Berlusconi as a possible premier. European trade unions, for their part, urged Embraco to halt the closure of its Italian plant and the production move to Slovakia. "We will do everything possible to block this operation," said Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). Visentini told ANSA "we must also strengthen and simplify the EU fund to compensate the effects of globalisation".
Rome, February 20 - A 41-year-old Italian street person was indicted Tuesday for the manslaughter of a 19-year-old American student he allegedly pushed into the Tiber River in June 2016. Massimo Galioto's trial in the death of Beau Solomon was set to start May 8. The suspect has remained in pretrial custody even though the charges against him were downgraded form murder to manslaughter. Galioto allegedly pushed Solomon into the Tiber after a violent argument, causing him to drown. Solomon was in Rome for a five-week course at John Cabot University and disappeared at around 01:00 on July 1 after drinking with fellow students in a Trastevere pub. The University of Wisconsin-Madison student's body was found in the river the following Monday. Galioto reportedly admitted having an argument with the student, during which Solomon allegedly slipped over the embankment edge into the water. Galioto, who has a record for petty crime, then failed to raise an alarm and instead returned to his tent close to Ponte Garibaldi. Galioto denies the charges and says Solomon tripped and fell accidentally.
Treading lightly on Tanna We go on a new ecotourism adventure tour in North Tanna
Milo Yiannopoulos, the right-wing provocateur and writer, has dropped his lawsuit against Simon & Schuster over the publishers cancelation of his book Dangerous last year.

In a document filed with the New York State Supreme Court, Yiannopoulos withdrew his legal action against the publisher with prejudice, meaning hell be unable to file another lawsuit based on the same claim.

We are pleased that Mr. Yiannopoulos lawsuit has been withdrawn, with prejudice, and with no payment from Simon & Schuster, the publisher said in a statement. We stand by our decision to terminate the publication of Mr. Yiannopoulos book.

Simon & Schuster canceled publication of the book in February 2017; it was to be published by conservative imprint Threshold Editions, which had paid Yiannopoulos a rumored $250,000 advance. Yiannopoulos inflammatory statements about women, Muslims, Black Lives Matter, transgender people and other groups had angered readers, who levied complaints against the company.

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The books cancelation came after a video clip surfaced that showed Yiannopoulos appearing to defend sexual relationships between adult men and boys.

The decision to publish the conservative journalists book had been controversial even before the clip surfaced. Yiannopoulos had been banned from Twitter after he posted a series of insults against actress and comedian Leslie Jones, whom he referred to as a black dude.

Roxane Gay, the bestselling author of Bad Feminist and Hunger, withdrew a book she had planned to publish with Simon & Schuster in protest over the firms decision to publish Yiannopoulos book.

Yiannopoulos sued Simon & Schuster in July 2017, alleging breach of contract and breach of good faith. He sought $10 million in damages.

He self-published the book on July 4, and it landed at the top of Amazons bestseller list.

Last month, Yiannopoulos dismissed the lawyers who he had hired, and announced he would represent himself in the lawsuit against Simon & Schuster.

Yiannopoulos explained his decision to drop the suit in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

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I dont want to spend all the money I made from my book, and the next two years of my life, on a lawsuit, he wrote. I would rather use it to help other authors reach the conservative audience that Simon & Schuster hates so much (but is happy to profit from, naturally).

He blasted Simon & Schuster as a liberal publishing house that is implacably hostile to popular conservative authors.

In the post, he stated that was able to keep his book advance.
Cable news ratings leader Fox News Channel is launching its own over-the-top TV service that will give its dedicated audience a 24-hour video stream of conservative opinion and commentary.

Fox News announced Tuesday that its new service will be called Fox Nation and will be offered as a stand-alone channel available for a yet-to-be determined monthly fee. The service will be launched this fall, the network said.

Fox News already can be streamed online through the cable and satellite providers that carry it. Fox Nation will be a separate channel aimed at dedicated viewers of Fox News Channels right-leaning commentary they get from prime-time hosts Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham.

While Fox Nation will have its own lineup of programs and personalities, Fox News Channels signature names will make appearances.

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John Finley, senior vice president of development and production for Fox News, said in a statement that the new service is aimed at the channels superfans, who represent the most loyal audience in cable if not all of television.

Many cable networks are looking at over-the-top streaming options to recoup some of the viewers they are losing because of the decline in pay-TV subscriptions. The cord-cutting trend has slowed the growth in subscriber revenue that is critical to the financial health of cable channels.

Fox News, and its cable news competitors CNN and MSNBC, have been largely insulated from the negative impact of cord-cutting as viewer interest in the machinations of the Trump White House has driven their ratings to record highs in recent years.

MSNBC launched a separate streaming channel called Shift in 2014, which was aimed at younger viewers, but quietly shuttered it after about a year. CNN executives have mentioned plans to offer a streaming version of its Great Big Story video website, which features mini-documentaries, but no formal launch has been announced.

CBS News is the only legacy TV news organization that offers a 24-hour live news stream. Called CBSN, the ad-supported free service launched in 2014 is now said to be profitable. ABC News has considered launching a streaming service using its resources.

While no personalities have been announced for Fox Nation, the new service is likely to include Tomi Lahren, who joined Fox News last year. At the time of her hiring, Fox News said Lahren would play a role in a future digital product.

Lahren had joined Fox News from TheBlaze, a TV service offered online and on satellite and cable systems that featured conservative viewpoints. Founded by conservative commentator Glenn Beck, the channel has struggled financially and is looking for a buyer.

stephen.battaglio@latimes.com

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Twitter: @SteveBattaglio
AT&T Inc. lost its bid to uncover evidence the Trump administration may have influenced the governments decision to challenge AT&Ts takeover of Time Warner Inc.

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon in Washington denied AT&Ts request that the Justice Department identify any communications between the White House and Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions or between Sessions and the Justice Departments antitrust division about the merger. AT&T had sought logs cataloging the existence of any such communications.

The decision is a win for the Justice Department and a setback for AT&T, which has suggested that President Trumps animus toward Time Warners CNN may have been behind the Justice Departments decision last year to sue to block the proposed $85-billion takeover.

Getting that evidence could have provided AT&T an additional weapon to defeat the governments case by arguing the company was singled out for selective enforcement of antitrust laws. If the companies cant establish political meddling, the outcome of the trial  which is set to begin in a month  will hinge on evidence from both sides about whether the merger threatens competition.

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AT&T shares fell 1% on Tuesday to $36.77. Time Warner fell less than 1% to $95.07.

We respect the judges decision and look forward to the upcoming trial, said Dan Petrocelli, lead trial attorney for both Time Warner and AT&T. The Justice Department did not immediately comment.

Leon said the companies hadnt made a credible showing that they were singled out. AT&T had tried to make its case by pointing out that deals like the Time Warner purchase  vertical mergers that unite companies in different parts of a supply chain rather than uniting direct competitors  are generally approved with settlements. The judge agreed with the Justice Department that the government often finds antitrust problems with such deals.

So while it may, indeed, be a rare breed of horse, it is not exactly a unicorn! Leon wrote about the lawsuit.

McLaughlin writes for Bloomberg.

UPDATES:

2:30 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from attorney Dan Petrocelli and U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, with stock prices and with additional details.

This article was originally published at 1:05 p.m.
Pieyre-Bernard Castelier (IPU IT expert) (R) mentor Parliament IT Officer, Vira Josiah on how to install the Data Storage system.
The recent high-profile reports of sexual harassment in the workplace have prompted a surge in training courses, which experts are updating to reflect the latest examples making front-page news.

Inquiries about sexual harassment training provided by TrainUp have skyrocketed, said Jeremy Tillman, founder and chairman of the Dallas-based company. The company got about 2,150 requests for its services last month, compared with 267 in January 2017.

Weve reached a point to where companies can no longer turn a blind eye, he said.

Since 2005, California employers have been required to conduct two hours of sexual harassment awareness training every other year for supervisors and executives in companies with 50 or more employees. The subjects covered have expanded over the years, and as of Jan. 1, were extended to gender identity, expression and orientation.

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During a training session, actors play a scene in a fictitious breakroom where one woman wears a provocative T-shirt and falls into the arms of her colleague at her birthday party. (Workplace Training Network )

Experts say two hours of training doesnt guarantee better behavior, judging by the publicized cases of late.

Heres what doesnt work  relying solely on compliance rules, education and training  to prevent or address sexual harassment,  said Johnny C. Taylor Jr., president and chief executive of the Society for Human Resource Management, at a joint legislative committee hearing in Sacramento last month. We could demand that every employee take 10 hours of sexual harassment training every week and accusations would still happen.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission logged 356 complaints last year in California, an increase from 2016 but less than the high of 441 filed in 2014.

Kit Goldman, a San Diego actress who runs sexual harassment training sessions, said she has seen a sharp increase in calls in recent months.

Theres definitely an awareness of how damaging [harassment] is, because people have seen companies and careers evaporate from this, she said.

Next month, she and her team will be shooting nine new videos to bring her sexual harassment vignettes up to date. She also gathers fellow actors together to demonstrate the donts in the workplace at onsite training sessions.

My job is to help my clients stay solvent, lawful and happy in the workplace, she said.

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Matt Lauer was fired as an anchor on NBCs Today show in November 2017 after a female employee accused him of inappropriate workplace behavior. (Richard Drew / Associated Press )

If companies dont take steps to deter harassment, they can pay a high price. The EEOC said employees who had made sexual harassment complaints received a record $46.3 million in monetary compensation in 2017, up 13.8% from 2016.

The Consumer Attorneys of California said several laws have been introduced in Sacramento this year to clamp down even further. They would:

Extend the statute of limitations from the current one-year maximum to three years.

Broaden the definition of who can sue in the course of searching for work.

Loosen arbitration-requirement provisions in employment contracts.

Regulate how many years company must keep complaint records.

But the groups legislative counsel, Jacqueline Serna, said no bills have been introduced yet to require all employees to undergo harassment awareness training. Some companies do conduct training for nonsupervisorial workers.

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Hollywood, Silicon Valley, New York and Washington, D.C., have dominated the headlines of egregious behavior, mostly men harassing women.

But the food, beverage and hospitality industry has historically seen the most cases, experts say.

We just have much more exposure than any of these other industries, said Stephen Zolezzi, chief executive of the San Diego Food & Beverage Assn. Its a hospitality environment. Theres more of an opportunity to be familiar with people, and that could be offensive to somebody  where do you draw the line?

His members pay $30 a person for online biannual sexual harassment training  a charge that can run much higher for in-person sessions. And the need is constant, he said.

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Melody Nelson, vice president of human resources at Burger Lounge Restaurants, said her company uses online training courses that feature animated scenarios and quizzes throughout. Onsite instructor sessions also have been held.

Were at work and we can be friendly and caring and have close bonds with employees, but we always have to maintain professionalism, she said.

Heather Whitley-Quinn, human resources director at employment agency Manpower, said virtually the entire staff, not just management, receives sexual harassment training. But she acknowledged that low-level employees at any company may still not feel empowered to complain because they cant afford to quit and look for a new job.

If they leave an organization they may not necessarily be able to get good references if they make waves, she said. These issues are probably still pretty common.

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Attorneys who represent both employers and employees in sexual harassment cases said that while training is required, many bosses and their workers dont take the rules very seriously  that is, until theres a problem.

Its not just about sex  its about power, said Joshua Gruenberg, who represents workers suing companies, and there are folks in the workplace who want to exert power over others.

Gruenberg began his legal career in the aftermath of Anita Hills allegations against Supreme Court justice then-nominee Clarence Thomas in 1991 and has gotten a boost in calls from potential clients as allegations multiplied against President Trump, Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, NBC anchor Matt Lauer and many others  despite robust anti-harassment policies in place.

People tend to let the worst of their human nature come out at times, Gruenberg said. We dont expect this to stop, just like we dont expect discrimination cases to stop.

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Showley writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.

roger.showley@sduniontribune.com
Some people across the country are reporting that theyre having a tough time getting their iPhone batteries replaced through Apple Inc.'s battery replacement program that launched after the company admitted that it slows down phones with older batteries to preserve the phones performance.

From Silicon Valley to Washington, from Detroit to Atlanta, people are sharing stories of long waits, dropped customer service calls and hard-to-get appointments.

Ive lost confidence in this rarefied company, David Cohen, a former newspaper publisher from San Jose, said in an email to the Washington Post. Im disappointed in them. As far as Im concerned, they should have recalled the phones and replaced all the batteries for free.

Cohen said he initially was told more than a month ago that there were no batteries for his 2-year-old iPhone 6. He placed an order for a new battery and was told it might take several weeks. He still doesnt have his battery.

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Others have said it has taken weeks to even land an appointment. And for some who were able to get through to someone, there arent batteries available. One man told the Chicago Tribune in February that he was told to come in after a two-week wait for his battery appointment, only to be told there were no batteries. Washington Post columnist Geoffrey Fowler said last month that one store in the Bay Area told him stock levels wont be back to normal until the summer.

When asked to comment about the long wait times, Apple pointed to its support site. The company warned customers that supplies would be limited. Different models can have different wait times. Some of the phones covered by Apples replacement program  the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus  no longer are being manufactured, which means battery supply is limited. (Many of the people who have been complaining say they have the iPhone 6.) An internal document reportedly leaked to MacRumors about a week after the program launched warned even then that some of those batteries would not come in until March.

Some time after the launch, Apple began saying on its website that people will not be able to make appointments until there is a battery available for their phone.

The battery replacement issue has been lingering for Apple at a time when the company is trying to maintain its hold on the shifting smartphone market. The admission sparked a rare apology from Apple and a price drop for out-of-warranty battery replacements  to $29 from $79  through the end of this year. The company also is facing multiple lawsuits and government inquiries over the battery issue. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, sent a letter asking Apple for more answers. So did Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), chairman of the House Commerce Committee.

When asked how many people have tried to get replacements, Apple did not say. But the company told Thune in a recent letter that it has seen strong demand.

That demand has led to long wait times. Calls to 10 Apple stores in different regions of the country last week revealed that wait times for a new iPhone 6 battery ranged from three to five days to two to three weeks, with no discernible pattern about why certain stores had shorter wait times than others.

Even the act of calling was a trial. During one call, Bob Marley sang that every little thing gonna be alright for seven minutes before an Apple specialist answered to say that a huge influx of work requests had backlogged the store. A call to the store in Little Rock  the only one in the state of Arkansas  dropped after 10 minutes of hold music. A call to the store in Anchorage, Alaska  also the only Apple store in its state  dropped before getting to Apples service counter, the Genius Bar.

Apple has said that people who want a new battery also can go to an authorized service provider that can swap out batteries on Apples behalf. A list of them is provided on Apples website. And although many of these other stores arent seeing the same crush of appointments as Apples own stores, they still are facing delays, said Georgia Rittenberg, the president of ComputerCare, a repair chain that has been given Apples stamp of approval.

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As an Apple Authorized Service Provider, ComputerCare receives its battery inventory directly from Apple, Rittenberg said. Therefore, we deal with the same inventory constraints as the Apple retail stores.

Tsukayama writes for the Washington Post.
For Jaime Martin, the first time was the charm. The Spanish conductor, who made his Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra debut only in September, has been named the ensembles next music director.

LACO is expected to announce Tuesday that Martin is the successor to Jeffrey Kahane, who stepped down in June after a 20-year tenure.

Speaking by phone from London, Martin said he was surprised by his appointment, which will begin in the 2019-20 season.

I just came to do a week of work with the orchestra for two concerts, Martin said. To be honest, I thought I had arrived too late to be considered for the post.

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But Martin, 52, recalled that from the first five minutes of the first rehearsal with the LACO musicians, he felt a special connection.

It felt like we had a natural way of communicating with each other, he said. It was a big surprise, I think, for all of us.

Principal flute of the Royal Philharmonic and London Philharmonic orchestras and of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Martin turned to conducting full-time five years ago. He is principal conductor of Swedens Gavle Symphony and chief conductor of the Cadaques Orchestra, a chamber ensemble in Spain.

Martin brings a shared sense of musical culture between London and L.A., said Scott Harrison, LACOs executive director. Jaimes ambitious and thats good. If Neville Marriner were here, I think hed approve of our choice.

Harrison was referring to LACOs first music director, founder of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, the prestigious chamber orchestra based in London. Martin worked with Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields for 15 years, becoming principal flute.

It was Marriner who encouraged Martin early on to become a conductor. There are a lot of hidden connections with LACO, Martin said. Well, not so hidden.

Indeed, Martin often performed with Iona Brown, LACOs music director in the 1980s and 90s. She also encouraged him to conduct.

L.A. Chamber Orchestras Music Director-designate Jaime Martin. (Jamie Pham )

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I suppose Im a cocktail with different ingredients and influences, said Martin, who has also worked with conductors such as Claudio Abbado, Nikolaus Harnoncourt and Zubin Mehta. Im happy I didnt become a conductor sooner, because I would have missed being a soloist and principal with great orchestras.

Martin, who studied flute in the Netherlands during the heyday of the period instrument movement, brings with him wide experience in the Baroque repertoire, a LACO staple. As the sixth music director of the orchestra, he plans to expand its programming, which combines core repertoire with modern music.

In April 2019, Martin will lead a program featuring Mozarts Requiem and the West Coast premiere of Bryce Dessners Voy a Dormir, a LACO co-commission.

I would like to continue that line of commissioning new pieces, and I think the orchestra is expecting me to bring some European composers they havent played before, Martin said. There are some Spanish composers doing things at a very high level, and I want to look at some Americans who are composing interesting works.

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Martin added that hed eventually like to focus on touring and recording with LACO  to get people around the world to know what we are doing, and to have a presence not only in the U.S., but also in Europe.

But first there is work to do.

The orchestra has a particular style, which I think is fantastic, and I have my particular style, Martin said. We have to find how we are going to combine those different accents to make something exciting and unique.

See all of our latest arts news and reviews at latimes.com/arts.

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Steve James does not hold grudges.

The fact that his wildly acclaimed 1994 film Hoop Dreams was not nominated for a documentary feature Oscar  one of the most controversial omissions in the history of the award  is in the past, as far as hes concerned. The 63-year-old filmmaker is just happy that his latest work, Abacus: Small Enough to Jail, is getting Oscar recognition. The film, about a small bank in New Yorks Chinatown that was the only financial institution to be criminally charged after the 2008 financial meltdown, is  finally  James first nomination in the documentary feature category.

I dont look at it as vindication after the Hoop Dreams snub, says James, speaking by phone from the Sundance Film Festival, where he was showing America to Me, a five-part series that deals with racial issues at an elite Chicago-area public high school, due out on Starz later this year.

Vera Sung, Jill Sung and Thomas Sung in the documentary Abacus: Small Enough to Jail. (Sean Lyness / PBS Distribution )

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WATCH: Video Q&As from this seasons hottest contenders 

I was just thrilled to get the nomination, says James, because this story is so important and so timely, given who we have in the White House. The Sungs [owners of the Abacus bank] are an example of why this country was built by immigrants, and their story is also whats wrong with this country in terms of the justice system. The fact this nomination could allow for a wider audience  I love that.

James film follows the story of the Abacus Federal Savings Bank, the 2,651st largest bank in the country, which was hit with a 240-count indictment alleging grand larceny, fraud, conspiracy and other crimes. Abacus was founded and run by a tight-knit Chinese American family; the bank served an overwhelmingly immigrant constituency. The story of its legal troubles is a complex tale involving cultural misunderstanding, possible racism and prosecutorial over-reach. Its a 21st century David vs. Goliath epic, asking why the Manhattan District Attorneys office chose, out of all the banks in New York, to pick on this one.

In many ways, it is a classic story in the way in which if you are not white, there is a different situation regarding justice in this country, says James. And the other thing that became clear to me making the film was that the D.A.s office felt like they were on safe ground putting this bank on trial because the Chinese community in New York is politically disenfranchised. The D.A. didnt have much fear as an elected official going after this bank. As opposed to the giant Wall Street banks, like Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan Chase, that were connected to the financial collapse. After a four-month trial and a defense cost of $10 million, the bank and family were found not guilty on all counts.

Abacus: Small Enough to Jail is typical of James output. The veteran filmmaker likes to tell stories about people facing a turning point in their lives who in some ways are on the margins of society, but have a universal tale to tell.

I tend to follow people facing a significant crossroads in their lives, says James. In Stevie [2002], he was facing prison. In The Interrupters [2011], you have people being part of the problem of violence in Chicago deciding they want to change it. Even in the Roger Ebert film [Life Itself, 2014] it ended up being a film about how he and his wife, Chaz, faced the last month of his life. And with the Sungs its about what could happen to them, and the banks future. Im also interested in people who tend to be on the margins of society but whose lives say something about the world we live in. They are intimate stories, but I hope the viewer sees their lives in a larger context.

James has not only been lucky with his choice of subjects; he came into the documentary field when it was morphing from staid, point and shoot filmmaking about limited subject matter into an exciting form encompassing a wide variety of stories and techniques.

Within the documentary form is every conceivable genre that would apply to fiction films horror, thrillers, comedies, animated, everything, and that speaks to the explosion in the form, he says. I think the most innovative storytelling today is in documentaries.

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And, he adds, these days there are more opportunities for your films to play, and more funding opportunities. When I first got in the business, I thought there were maybe three people in the world making a living at it. Now many more of us can make a living at it.

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Gary Oldman, Frances McDormand, Sam Rockwell and Allison Janney have all won Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards and countless other prizes and gewgaws in the weeks leading up to the Oscars.

You and I both know how this is going to end. Its 2015 all over again, when Eddie Redmayne, Julianne Moore, J.K. Simmons and Patricia Arquette took all the precursors before the Academy Awards. Or the year before that when Cate Blanchett, Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto and Lupita Nyongo had to come up with endless variations on their awards season acceptance speeches.

WATCH: Video Q&As from this seasons hottest contenders 

But maybe  just maybe  one of these races will end like it did two years ago when Oscar voters ignored their guild counterparts and the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. members and went for Mark Rylance over Sylvester Stallone just as the orchestra was about to launch into Gonna Fly Now. (Even Stallone nodded his head when Arquette read Rylances name, as if to say, Yo. Rylance. Respect.)

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Who could pull off such an upset this year? Lets take a look at the four acting races and devise some surprise scenarios.

LEAD ACTOR

Timothee Chalamet, Call Me by Your Name

Daniel Day-Lewis, Phantom Thread

Daniel Kaluuya, Get Out

Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour

Denzel Washington, Roman J. Israel, Esq.

Heavy favorite: Oldman

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Upset scenario: This years Oscar acting favorites are all BIG performances, with plenty of EMOTING and SHOUTING and, yes, a little grandstanding. Maybe if Day-Lewis Reynolds Woodcock had thrown that offending plate of buttered asparagus against the wall instead of calmly telling Alma, Im admiring my own gallantry for eating it the way you prepared it, he too could have been a contender. But Im afraid being fussy just isnt enough this year.

Chalamet, 22, has charmed audiences at awards shows and talk shows and, for all I know, bake shows as he has gladly made the rounds spreading the good word about Call Me by Your Name, a movie that still feels a little neglected. He has been starstruck, awestruck and not at all shy about showing off his impressive networking skills, like this bit from the Los Angeles Film Critics dinner:

Actors Michael Stuhlbarg and Timothee Chalamet agree that the town of Crema, Italy, where the film was shot, was a character in the film.From when it first played at Sundance earlier this year, Call Me by Your Name has been one of the years most

Im getting people saying, Keep working on these kind of projects, keep working on things with integrity that are more independently oriented, and certainly if it was a Christopher Nolan opportunity or was a Guillermo  hey, give me a call if you want to work together! Chalamet said, pointing at Shape of Water director Guillermo del Toro in the audience. Once the laughter abated, Chalamet deadpanned: Im totally serious about that.

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Chalamet is probably not going to win this year, but maybe one of those shout-outs will lead to an Oscar. What do you say, Guillermo?

Saoirse Ronan with Timothee Chalamet and Daniel Kaluuya at the Oscars luncheon. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images )

LEAD ACTRESS

Sally Hawkins, The Shape of Water

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Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Margot Robbie, I, Tonya

Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird

Meryl Streep, The Post

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Heavy favorite: McDormand

Upset scenario: When McDormand won the SAG Awards honor, she noted, I come out of the woods every few years and you invite me to the party, but theres a lot of young ones coming up and they need doorstops, too. Lets think about that.

So, yes, lets think about it. McDormand couldnt have been talking about Streep and her 21 Oscar nominations. Rule out Hawkins, too, as she has been working for nearly two decades. That leaves two women. At 27, Robbie has acted for Scorsese, survived Suicide Squad and will be playing Queen Elizabeth I in the upcoming Mary, Queen of Scots opposite  Ronan, whos starring as the title character. Could both Robbie and Ronan, a three-time Oscar nominee at age 23, be back in 2019 picking up doorstops? Possibly. Chances are McDormand has one more to collect this year.

Christopher Plummer is the only Oscar nominee for All the Money in the World. (Jordan Strauss / Invision )

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SUPPORTING ACTOR

Willem Dafoe, The Florida Project

Woody Harrelson, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Richard Jenkins, The Shape of Water

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Christopher Plummer, All the Money in the World

Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Heavy favorite: Rockwell

Upset scenario: Plummer and Dafoe are the only nominees from their respective films, a death sentence in the eyes of many Oscar pundits. Yet, just seven years ago, Plummer won the Oscar in this category as  you guessed it  the sole nominee from Mike Mills lovely Beginners.

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Now, those same pundits would argue that Plummers win hewed to another age-old Oscar narrative  paying overdue respect to a veteran performer who has never won. But whos to say voters wont want to hail Plummers 11th hour achievement in replacing Kevin Spacey in All the Money in the World? It feels like Plummers in half the movie. And if thats an overestimation, its largely because of the authority he brings to his portrayal of autocrat J. Paul Getty. At age 88, the man has more than earned another standing ovation.

Is Laurie Metcalf the best shot Lady Bird has at an Oscar? (Christopher Polk / Getty Images )

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Mary J. Blige, Mudbound

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Allison Janney, I, Tonya

Lesley Manville, Phantom Thread

Laurie Metcalf, Lady Bird

Octavia Spencer, The Shape of Water

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Heavy favorite: Janney

Upset scenario: Just remember the Rylance-over-Stallone year in which a revered theater actor triumphed over a well-liked performer who had won everything up to the Oscars. (Yes, the British Academy of Film went for Rylance, but that was seen as home field advantage. Stallone wasnt even nominated.)

Of course, given that Janney has won enough awards to fill a cargo container, you could argue Hollywood likes her a lot  more than, say, a movie star nominated for playing a beloved character for the seventh time. But its possible that the same bloc of voters that elevated Rylance  the academys small, serious East Coast contingent  could go all in on Metcalf, a four-time Tony nominee who won that honor last year for her lead turn in the Broadway production of A Dolls House, Part 2.

Metcalf might also represent Lady Birds best shot at an Oscar. With five nominations, including best picture, many voters will be looking for a spot to reward Greta Gerwigs movie. What better place than Mom?

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glenn.whipp@latimes.com

Twitter: @glennwhipp
Of course, it takes a fully realized performance to win an Academy Award, but sometimes it takes just a single scene to win the heart of an audience member  or an Oscar voter. But which scene is that key one  the prize-winning moment? Here, the 10 directors and producers behind this years lead actor and actress nominees offer up the scenes where their leads rose to the challenge  and showed off truly award-worthy acting chops.

Sally Hawkins, The Shape of Water

 Having learned that the life of the sea creature she loves is in danger, mute Elisa (Sally Hawkins) demands that her neighbor and best friend, Giles (Richard Jenkins), help her save him.

Key scene: Having learned that the life of the sea creature she loves is in danger, mute Elisa (Hawkins) demands that her neighbor and best friend Giles (Richard Jenkins) help her to save him.

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What makes it great: Everything Sally does in the movie is so critical; she has to do it all with her eyes and movement, says producer J. Miles Dale. Shes saying, My whole life people have seen me for what I lack; he sees me for what I am. Shes so emphatic, and smacking her hands, and she just jumps off the screen in this scene.

Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

 Frances McDormand and Woody Harrelson in a key scene from "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Warning: This video contains graphic language.

Key scene: An interrogation of Mildred (Frances McDormand) by police chief Willoughby (Woody Harrelson) begins as adversarial, then spins on a dime, says director Martin McDonagh, and becomes a scene about mortality, humanity and connection.

What makes it great: Frances begins the scene  with a take-no-prisoners wit and an integrity that will not be broken, but after the sudden reveal all that toughness is dispelled via a simple lingering look of compassion in her eyes, the use of the word baby  a Fran improv  and a physical touch both of empathy and a sense of her own fear, says McDonagh.

Margot Robbie, I, Tonya

 Margot Robbie plays troubled figure skater Tonya Harding in a key scene from I, Tonya.

Key scene: Tonya (Robbie) is alone in her dressing room, about to compete at the Olympics, trying to rally her strength to compete in front of the world.

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What makes it great: Its one of the rare times we see Tonya vulnerable in the film, says director Craig Gillespie. There is no dialogue. Every emotion Margot conveys is through her expressions. The exhaustion, the loneliness, the defiance dance across her face. She is at rock bottom yet refuses to give up. Margot draws the audience in and demands you view her as a human being. Its honest, raw and unapologetic.

Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird

 Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf star in a clip from Lady Bird.

Key scene: After Lady Birds (Ronan) mother learns she has secretly applied for out-of-state colleges and been wait-listed, she angrily washes dishes as Lady Bird pleads with her not to be mad.

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What makes it great: One of the things Saoirse does so brilliantly is  its almost a magic trick  you feel like the things coming out of her mouth are just coming to her as she says them, says producer Eli Bush. It doesnt feel like shes saying lines. She has this unbelievable ability to make it so alive and real and authentic and true.

Meryl Streep, The Post

Meryl Streep as Katharine Graham in The Post. (Niko Tavernise )

Key scene: Washington Post Publisher Katharine Graham (Streep) decides to publish the Pentagon Papers under threat of legal retaliation, after much consideration and fear.

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What makes it great: She makes the decision the way people do, with great trepidation and fear, and it feels really human, says producer Amy Pascal. Everything is happening in Meryls eyes. Shes trying to decide if theres a safe place for her to land, and shes grappling with her whole history as a human being whether shell put the paper at risk or not, and finally knowing once she makes this decision her life will be forever changed.

Timothee Chalamet, Call Me by Your Name

 Timothee Chalamet in Call Me By Your Name."-----------------------Feb. 2, 2018, 2:00 p.m.For the record: This video was labeled as a deleted scene. It is not.

WATCH: Video Q&As from this seasons hottest contenders 

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Key scene: In the films final single-take, dialogue-free scene, Elio (Chalamet) relives the heartbreak of several months earlier after learning his summer lover is getting married.

What makes it great: Without any words, he goes through sorrow, mourning and hope in his face, says director Luca Guadagnino. He is able to encompass a maelstrom of emotions that are contradictory, to let himself go and surrender in front of the camera. My actors are never asked to be doing drama. Theyre asked to be.

Daniel Day-Lewis, Phantom Thread

Key scene: While sick in bed, Reynolds (Day-Lewis) has a vision of his late mother and has a one-sided conversation with her.

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What makes it great: The conversation is incredibly intimate and vulnerable for a man who has been none of these things for his whole life, says director Paul Thomas Anderson. I love how restrained he is, and how vulnerable; the way he uses his voice and his diction. Normally, Daniels great in combat situations, where theres dialogue bouncing back and forth, and this is the exact opposite.

Daniel Kaluuya, Get Out

 Daniel Kaluuya and Catherine Keener in a key scene from Get Out.

Key scene: Chris (Kaluuya) is asked by his girlfriends mother to sit with her in her private study, where she then hypnotizes him against his will.

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What makes it great: I knew that him sitting in that chair could bother a lot of people; people are prone to not liking characters who walk into danger, says writer-director Jordan Peele. Daniel had to show this resistance to submitting to any psychoanalysis, but thats what you do in a loved ones family house: You endure those moments. Watching that push and pull and becoming vulnerable despite all of his will  thats what touches me.

Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour

 In a fictionalized moment, Prime Minister Winston Churchill (Gary Oldman) meets with citizens on the London Underground to see if they have the stomach to go to war with Germany.

Key scene: In a fictionalized moment, Prime Minister Winston Churchill (Oldman) meets with citizens on the London Underground to see if they have the stomach to go to war with Germany.

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What makes it great: Its a scene that relies deeply on the supporting actors to give Gary the support and response he needed, says director Joe Wright. Its about Gary/Winston listening as much as speaking. He gives us the full range of Winstons humanity, starting with humor, through doubt and into sentimental. Its a scene that runs the gamut of emotions.

Denzel Washington, Roman J. Israel, Esq.

 Ousted from his 40-year job as a backroom lawyer, Roman (Denzel Washington) shows up unannounced at a civil rights coalition for an interview with Maya (Carmen Ejogo) and slowly realizes that hes lost touch with the movement.

Key scene: Ousted from his 40-year job as a backroom lawyer, Roman (Washington) shows up at a civil rights coalition unannounced for an interview with Maya (Carmen Ejogo), slowly realizing that hes lost touch with the movement.

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What makes it great: Whats so amazing is the honesty with which Denzel peels back the layers of this man, who has come for a job and in selling himself realizes the tragedy of his choices, says writer-director Dan Gilroy. He cries in it. That wasnt scripted; Denzel arrived there utterly naturally in the moment. The scene is transporting and magical.

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Want to see five of the best Oscar-nominated films this year in less than two hours? Catch the Short Film (Live Action) entries at Nuart Theatre by Feb. 22, showcasing talent from around the globe.

As a student at UCLA, Reed Van Dyk wrote and directed the heart-stopping DeKalb Elementary, based on a real 911 call recorded during a school shooting lockdown. Van Dyk was researching another project when he found the call online. I kept having to pause it because I would become overwhelmed, he says. By the time it was over, I was sort of wrecked and so moved by what had happened, and saddened by this being a very common scene in American life.

WATCH: Video Q&As from this seasons hottest contenders 

Another haunting entry is My Nephew Emmett, by Kevin Wilson Jr. His NYU student film centers on the days surrounding 14-year-old Emmett Tills racially charged abduction from his great uncle Moses Wrights home in Mississippi in 1955. In making the film, Wilson kept the focus on Wright, who was threatened by the abductors. Having to make that decision whether to give up the child youre responsible for, or have your entire family massacred. That was an impossible decision that he had to make.

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The two men charged with Tills murder were acquitted, making the film all too relevant. This is about a kid being killed and no one being held accountable for it, Wilson says.

Watu Wote/All of Us, a German student film directed by Katja Benrath and produced by Tobias Rosen, also re-creates a real event. In 2015, the terrorist group Al Shabaab hijacked a bus in Kenya and demanded that the Muslim passengers identify the Christians or face death. When Benrath and Rosen read about what took place, it touched us so deeply, and we had the feeling that this is universal, Benrath says, speaking via Skype from Hamburg. Its very important that people know that you can stand up for each other and that Muslims are not terrorists.

Abdiwali Farrah in Watu Wote: All of us. (ShortsTV )

She premiered the film in Kenya the day the nominations were announced, because the cast and crew there were 95% of our team. When Watu Wote was named, everyone in the cinema was screaming.

Rachel Shenton, a British actress whose father had become profoundly deaf overnight, has long campaigned on behalf of deaf people. Most hearing parents of deaf children dont learn sign language, and most deaf children have no specialist support in school. She wrote The Silent Child and her fiance, actor-producer Chris Overton, directed it. The film stars 5-year-old Maisie Sly, who is deaf, as a girl whose middle-class family doesnt much notice her. Shenton plays her social worker.

Theres so much talk about diversity at the moment, but disability should be included in the conversation, says Overton, reached by Skype in London. Silent Child is the first Oscar-nominated film to star an actor with a disability since 1986s Children of a Lesser God.

Joanne (Rachel Shenton) with her student Libby (Maisie Sly) in a scene from The Silent Child. (The Silent Child )

The only comedy in the lineup, The Eleven OClock, comes from Australian director Derin Seale and his close friends, actors Josh Lawson and Damon Herriman. It wasnt set up to lead to anything particular at the time, Seale says, speaking from a set in New Zealand. We wanted to do something that was fun to make. Lawson adapted a play he had written about a psychiatrist who meets with a patient who believes hes the psychiatrist, and its unclear which is which.

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You dont really think of Oscar nominations and comedy in the same sentence, so Im not surprised that there was only one, says Seale. Although I was surprised that it was ours.

The nominations quickly affected the filmmakers lives. Everything that Ive ever dreamed of is starting to happen, says Wilson. Hes directing his first feature, a socially conscious revenge thriller, this summer. Benrath is prepping her first feature in Germany. Several have found representation. Overton and Shenton plan to adapt their film into either a feature or drama series. Everyones saying, Youve got to get it ready for the Oscars, but we cant just rush something like this, he says. The message is far too important.

Those who attended the nominee luncheon speak of it reverently. Says Benrath, I talked to Meryl Streep and I said, Thank you for existing because without you I wouldnt be nominated today. She was everything I thought she would be.

For Van Dyk, just being in the same room with his idol, director Paul Thomas Anderson, was surreal. Wilson managed to speak with Steven Spielberg, all the while thinking, Wow, Im done. This is all I needed right here.

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America asks a lot of its first couples. Fairly or not, they become national marital role models. We dont really care if they have separate bedrooms, but we do expect them to demonstrate a certain amount of mutual respect and fondness for each other.

We like it when they seem to be in love, like George and Laura Bush, or Barack and Michelle Obama. Even Bill and Hillary Clinton, for all their woes, seem to take pleasure in each others intellects and achievements. We also want them to be devoted parents.

We get no good vibes from the Trump marriage.

Trump, who demands adoration, would no doubt love for Melania to gaze upon him the way Nancy Reagan gazed upon her Ronnie. But Ronnie didnt cheat on Nancy with porn stars and Playmates.

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Whats distressing to many Americans is that Melania seems like a prop in her husbands reality show. During his inauguration last year, when the new president turned around to say something to his wife, her face lit up for a second. As soon as he turned away, her happy mask fell away. Months later, she slapped away his hand as they walked on the tarmac in Israel.

These people are under constant scrutiny, said University of Washington sociologist Pepper Schwartz, a sex and relationships expert. Has anyone ever seen a loving gesture between them?

Our first lady does not seem to be having a good time. In the last month alone, amid the daily chaos that is the Trump White House, stories about the presidents womanizing, and his techniques for suppressing stories about his womanizing, have become fodder for the daily news report.

Porn star Stormy Daniels said she was paid to stay quiet about an affair she alleges she had with Trump shortly after Melania gave birth to their son, Barron. Michael Cohen, Trumps personal attorney and self-described fix-it guy for the president, announced he had paid the actress, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, $130,000, but has not said why.

Last week, the New Yorker reported that former Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal kept a diary of the nine-month affair she began with Trump in 2006, around the same time he was seeing Clifford. McDougal has said that the National Enquirer, whose publisher is a friend and protector of Trump, paid her $150,000 for the exclusive rights to her story, then never ran it. (Trump has denied both affairs.)

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive for a National African American History Month reception in the East Room of the White House on Feb. 13. (Mandel Ngan / AFP / Getty Images )

Melania had already skipped the billionaire confab in Davos after the Stormy Daniels payment story broke. Then came Playmate McDougal , and more wifely passive-aggression followed: On Friday, Melanias office, citing a scheduling issue, announced she would drive alone to Andrews Air Force Base rather than helicopter there with her husband from the White House.

Maybe Melania passed on the copter ride because she is getting tired of walking across the White House lawn in her stilettos, but she was also a no-show at a Mar-a-Lago dinner her husband hosted with Geraldo Rivera and her stepsons, according to the Washington Post.

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Melania seems to be punishing Donald, but for what?

I dont think she ever imagined that he was going to be faithful to her, Schwartz said. This is a man who has never stopped pushing himself on women. The preponderance of the evidence, as they say, is pretty convincing.

The punishment, in that case, must be for the relentless humiliation.

::

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Surely, Melania Trump knew what she was getting into when she married the man who would become our 45th president.

Twenty-four years her senior, Donald Trump had already been divorced twice. He was a famous adulterer, womanizer and sexist, and a regular on shock jock Howard Sterns radio show, making proclamations about then-girlfriend Melanias breasts, the hotness of his own daughter, his belief that when a woman turns 35, its checkout time.

She rallied to his defense after the infamous Access Hollywood tape became public during the 2016 presidential campaign. Americas future first lady dismissed her husbands boast about being able to grab womens genitals as just boy talk, that her husband had been egged on by host Billy Bush.

And then, when more than a dozen women came forward to allege that Trump had sexually harassed or assaulted them over a period of four decades, the former model attacked the women. Their stories, she said, were lies.

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This was all organized from the opposition, Melania Trump, 47, told CNN. Did they ever check the background of these women? They dont have any facts.

Well, you certainly cant blame a wife for supporting her husband.

Unless, of course, shes a Democrat, like Hillary Clinton. In which case the wife will be vilified for supporting her husband.

Melania Trump arrives before the State of the Union address on Jan. 30. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press )

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::

In the past year, there has been a lot of speculation about the durability of the Trumps marriage, mostly focusing on Melanias tolerance levels. Tongue-in-cheek memes include #FreeMelania.

Thirteen months ago, at the first Womens March, there were numerous handmade posters, riffing on the first ladys generally stone-faced expression, with variations of Melania, blink twice if you need help! And that was long before new details about the porn star and the Playmate emerged .

A Marist Poll released on Valentines Day (!), found that 43% of Americans think the Trumps should stay together, 34% said Melania should leave and 23% were unsure. I cant imagine what it feels like to have your marriage put to a popular vote.

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Over the course of the last year, Melanias approval rating has inched up. She is now far more popular than her husband. This is not much of a surprise; most first ladies are more popular than their mates. In Melanias case, the bar was pretty low given Trumps low ratings, but good for her.

Last fall, during a White House dinner, President Trump acknowledged his wifes popularity, calling her the star of the Trump family, according to news reports. They love her out there, Ill tell you. We walked all over Florida. We walked all over Texas, and theyre loving Melania.

Since he has a history of walking all over his marriage, its good to know that someone is loving Melania.

To read this article in Spanish, click here

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robin.abcarian@latimes.com

Twitter: @AbcarianLAT
The crowd of homeless men and women lined up along the Santa Ana River trail to collect motel vouchers before bidding goodbye to Orange Countys largest homeless camp.

As they inched forward wearing woolen caps and hoodies in the cold Tuesday morning, county workers tried to answer their questions and steered people such as Michael Parenteau, who has lived on the streets for 15 years, to services including housing, healthcare and transportation.

Im ready. This is my one chance if I want to get my life in order and get back on my feet, said Parenteau, 67.

The retired carpenter clutched a rope as he led his terrier mix, Frankie, to join the waiting throng.

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Moving day at the so-called Camp Hope, assembled next to Anaheims Honda Center, brought together an assortment of tent city residents with 40 members of the countys Health Care Agency, all working to screen and process applicants.

Veronica Ruiz, left, of Garden Grove, and boyfriend Rick Vasquez, of Ontario, wait to board an OCTA bus after receiving a 30-day motel voucher. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times )

At 9 a.m. Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge David O. Carter lifted a temporary restraining order on evictions, enabling homeless advocates and representatives from the county, plus the cities of Anaheim, Costa Mesa and Orange, to join forces to clear the riverbed encampment.

Last week, the judge  a decorated Marine and Vietnam War veteran  walked several miles along the encampment to get an up-close and personal look at how people were living there.

Carter had asked that the evictions be done humanely and with dignity.

Many of the homeless, worried that vouchers or services would be limited, have already left.

Since Valentines Day, 244 riverbed residents have been moved to motels, according to Susan Price, the countys homeless czar.

Theres no one solution for everybody whos homeless. This is a response to a crisis until we can bring up the level of beds and other services available around the county, Price said. We are completely focused on helping those who want to be helped.

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Along with vouchers, those leaving the encampment receive a $75 gift card each week for four weeks to help with food and other necessities. County officials also made available more than 200 recuperative beds for those with serious medical issues, Price said. Tuesdays clearance concentrated on relocating people camped on the river trail from Ball Road to Katella Avenue.

By 7 p.m., more than 100 people had been moved from the riverbed camp, officials said. The relocations were accomplished without a single arrest or a single act of violence, Orange County counsel Leon Page said.

Carter, who met with advocates and county representatives in a quick meeting in the parking lot of the Honda Center to get a daily progress report, hailed the results, saying its a great credit to transparency, humanity ... history.

He said he would return to the encampment Wednesday morning for another look.

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Homeless people wait to board an OCTA bus after receiving a 30-day motel voucher from the Orange County Health Care Agency. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times )

As word spread about motel vouchers, homeless people from different parts of Southern California began streaming in, trying to get their names on a waiting list.

We know there are new faces and theyre exploiting the goodness of the county. But we know whos been here because we have inventory, said County Supervisor Todd Spitzer.

County Chief Executive Frank Kim said county workers are familiar with the people who have called the riverbed home. But that hasnt stopped new people from arriving, he said.

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Just yesterday, I was out here and people would open up their cars and a bunch of other people would step out with their sleeping bags, looking for a motel voucher, Kim said. We want to be clear that vouchers are being offered only to the riverbed residents. But we will work with all the homeless to help connect them to other services they need.

David Duran, who handles community development for the Housing Is a Human Right group, drove to the riverbed before the court order lifted Tuesday.

Weve already gotten phone calls from people who didnt get food vouchers or who have no way of getting to their destinations after being cited for infractions such as missing a bicycle light. There are a lot of challenges for the average person out here  not to mention mental health challenges.

But Duran added that he was happy that this is starting to help get the homeless in better living conditions.

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Alice Simpson, 57, originally from Alabama, said she was thrilled to get into safety. She stood in the shade of a tree, counting down the minutes until transportation arrived to take her to the Bridges at Kraemer Place, a county-run shelter in Anaheim.

Im very comfortable with this move and I want to go in without fear, said Simpson, who has been diagnosed with symptoms associated with schizophrenia. I have been living in fear at this camp and the person I call my best friend is 911. Maybe that will change now.

Fifteen minutes later, a blue bus pulled up on Katella Avenue near the 57 Freeway with seats for 36 passengers. A county worker started shouting out the names of those who had already qualified for a temporary motel or shelter stay. One by one, men and women from the waiting cluster emerged, hauling suitcases, purses bulging with used clothing or carrying dogs that shivered in the cold.

This next step, its the right step, said 54-year-old Carmen Ballesteros.

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Alice Simpson, 57, of Alabama, does her makeup as she waits to board a bus. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times )

She said she could not remember the last time she slept in a warm place. About four years ago, Ballesteros came to the riverbed for refuge. But she said she found a place that in many ways underscored how difficult it is to be homeless.

Living exposed out here has taken quite a lot from all of us. Every day is a struggle, Ballesteros said.

The former McDonalds manager said she lost her job and home after taking time off to care for a sister diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

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For a while, home used to be the cramped Santa Ana Civic Center, where hundreds of street people competed for a safe spot.

Now, to think of relaxing on a bed and not to worry about the freezing cold, I cant express how happy I am, she said. We are grateful for help.

Michael Diehl, 47, left, and Byron Pierce, 59, relax in a motel room after being moved from their Santa Ana river homeless camp (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times )

U.S. District Judge David Carter at a briefing by Orange County officials on the progress made on placing homeless people into motel rooms. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times )

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anh.do@latimes.com

@newsterrier

UPDATES:

8:15 p.m.: This article was updated with the number of people moved from the homeless encampment.

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5:10 p.m.: This article was updated with quotes from homeless people and others at the homeless encampment.

This article was originally published at 12:05 p.m.
Mexico City got a substantial warning before the shaking from a distant earthquake arrived Friday  some 30 to 60 seconds broadcast over loudspeakers from an earthquake early warning system.

It was another success for Mexico Citys earthquake warning system  one which California, Oregon and Washington state still lack, and one that is an ongoing target for elimination by President Trump.

The Trump administrations budget proposal released last week again zeroed out funding for the earthquake early warning program administered by the U.S. Geological Survey.

The presidents budget proposal for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1 requested about $13 million less for the federal governments earthquake hazards program, including $10.2 million for the earthquake early warning program. The administration also proposed reducing staff for the USGSs earthquake hazards program from 240 to 222, including 15 positions that staff the earthquake early warning program.

The U.S. Department of the Interior, which oversees the USGS, said in its budget justification that the reduction in the earthquake hazards program was proposed to address higher priorities.

Representatives from California said they would move to keep funding the program.

A functioning earthquake early warning system can provide critical life-saving benefits, which is why theres broad bipartisan support to fund it in Congress, Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Corona), chairman of an appropriations subcommittee that oversees funding for the USGS, said in a statement. I will continue to advocate for the development and funding for the earthquake early warning system. This is a system the West Coast needs to have in place.

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) said the USGSs ShakeAlert system would protect property and infrastructure.

Congress has remained steadfast in its bipartisan support for the system, and I will work to see that Congress resumes funding for the project just as we did last year when the budget zeroed it out, Schiff said in a statement.

This is the second consecutive budget the Trump administration has proposed zero funds for the earthquake early warning system. Congress reversed Trumps proposal to end development of the early warning system from the administrations first proposed budget.

The USGS has been working on an earthquake early warning system for years, but the system remains short on funds. Its estimated that the system will cost at least $38 million to build for the West Coast and $16 million annually to operate and maintain.

Nevertheless, the USGS has said it plans to begin limited public alerts of the early warning system by the end of this year, as long as funding isnt cut. Southern California is one area where the network of seismic sensors is dense enough to begin early warnings.

One company, Santa Monica-based Early Warning Labs, is in final stages of testing a smartphone app that would offer users early warnings from the USGS from their phone, and is planning on starting a limited public release in Southern California this summer; the company is already accepting requests on their website to get the app once its ready.

Were going to be slowly adding test users, said Josh Bashioum, founder of Early Warning Labs. A broader roll-out will come with some challenges, such as whether the Apple and Android systems will suffer push notification delays when tens of thousands are sent at the same time to the same geographical area. Thats why the release of the app will come in phases, Bashioum said.

For the system to go live across the West Coast, more sensors still need to be installed in Washington, Oregon and sparsely populated areas of Northern California. More than 850 earthquake sensing stations are online, but about 800 more are needed. Too few sensors would mean, for instance, that Los Angeles could also see warning delays in an earthquake that starts in Monterey County and barrels south along the San Andreas fault.

Funding is in place for 250 more stations over the next year and a half, which will make Californias seismic early warning network 74% complete, while the Pacific Northwests will be 51% built out. Besides Southern California, areas of high sensor density include the San Francisco Bay and Seattle areas.

Along the West Coast, facilities of all types are testing or planning to test the earthquake early warning system, including airports, oil refineries, pipelines, schools, universities, city halls and libraries.

Hospitals in California, for instance, are testing audible notifications broadcast from fire alarm equipment so surgeons can remove scalpels and staff can shut off electric cauterizers to prevent fire. Condominium towers testing the earthquake early warning system have been similarly rewired, which would allow residents time to drop, cover and hold on before shaking arrives.

Test of earthquake early warning announcement at condominium. Source: Early Warning Labs

Hospitals are also working to shut down coolant systems automatically, which if broken during an earthquake could release toxic chemicals throughout the building.

Some office buildings have also been wired to automatically bring elevators to the next available floor, preventing people from being trapped after an earthquake. Internet-connected desk phones at a few offices at Santa Monica College have been turned into warning systems, sending out audio and visual alerts that warn of an incoming earthquake.

Earthquake early warning test on an Internet-connected desk phone. Source: Early Warning Labs

In Los Angeles County, rail operators for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority are now trained to stop when they hear word of an earthquake early warning from the control center. The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit system is wired to automatically slow down trains when its computer system receives word of an incoming earthquake.

And the radio system at Universal Studios and Universal Citys fire station is programmed to alert critical staff of expected shaking and allow firefighters to open garage doors before a possible power outage makes them inoperable.

Automatic opening of garage doors in advance of an incoming earthquake. Source: Early Warning Labs

The system has worked in other countries besides Mexico.

On Feb. 6, Taipei had 11 seconds of warning broadcast on television before the shaking from a magnitude 6.4 earthquake off Taiwans east coast hit the capital, according to the website Temblor.

During the 2011 magnitude 9 earthquake in Japan, viewers in Tokyo watching an NHK television channel that blared the early warning had more than a minute of notice before the strongest shaking arrived.

At 40 seconds in this video, an earthquake early warning broadcast on NHK warns of incoming earthquake shaking well in advance of its arrival.

The system works on a simple principle: The shaking from an earthquake travels at the speed of sound through rock  slower than the speed of today's communications systems. That means it would take more than a minute for, say, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake that starts at the Salton Sea to shake up Los Angeles, 150 miles away, traveling on the state's longest fault, the San Andreas.

Priya Krishnakumar / Los Angeles Times

Southern California congressional districts Congressional district Representative Party Congressional district 8 Representative Paul Cook Party Republican Congressional District 25 Representative Steve Knight Party Republican Congressional District 26 Representative Julia Brownley Party Democrat Congressional District 27 Representative Judy Chu Party Democrat Congressional District 28 Representative Adam Schiff Party Democrat Congressional District 29 Representative Tony Cardenas Party Democrat Congressional District 30 Representative Brad Sherman Party Democrat Congressional District 31 Representative Pete Aguilar Party Democrat Congressional District 32 Representative Grace Napolitano Party Democrat Congressional District 33 Representative Ted Lieu Party Democrat Congressional District 34 Representative Jimmy Gomez Party Democrat Congressional District 35 Representative Norma Torres Party Democrat Congressional District 36 Representative Raul Ruiz Party Democrat Congressional District 37 Representative Karen Bass Party Democrat Congressional District 38 Representative Linda Sanchez Party Democrat Congressional District 39 Representative Edward Royce Party Republican Congressional District 40 Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard Party Democrat Congressional District 41 Representative Mark Takano Party Democrat Congressional District 42 Representative Ken Calvert Party Republican Congressional District 43 Representative Maxine Waters Party Democrat Congressional District 44 Representative Nanette Barragan Party Democrat Congressional District 45 Representative Mimi Walters Party Republican Congressional District 46 Representative Luis Correa Party Democrat Congressional District 47 Representative Alan Lowenthal Party Democrat Congressional District 48 Representative Dana Rohrabacher Party Republican Congressional District 49 Representative Darrell Issa Party Republican Congressional District 50 Representative Duncan Hunter Party Republican Congressional District 51 Representative Juan Vargas Party Democrat Congressional District 52 Representative Scott Peters Party Democrat Congressional District 53 Representative Susan Davis Party Democrat

Times staff writer Kate Linthicum in Mexico City contributed to this report.

ron.lin@latimes.com

@ronlin
Jonas Cullwick, a former General Manager of VBTC is now a Senior Journalist with the Daily Post. Contact: [email protected]. Cell # 678 5460922
A 29-year-old Uber and Lyft driver who went missing in downtown Los Angeles more than a week ago was located late Monday night, authorities said.

Joshua Thiede, who was last seen driving his black Nissan Altima in the 1000 block of Wilshire Boulevard near the 110 Freeway on Feb. 11, was spotted by a concerned citizen in Koreatown around 8 p.m. Monday, according to a statement issued by the Los Angeles Police Department.

Responding officers approached the man believed to be Thiede in the 500 block of South Serrano Avenue, authorities said. The officers determined that the man needed medical attention, and took him to Good Samaritan Hospital.

Police do not believe Thiedes disappearance was criminal in nature, according to the LAPD.

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Police did not disclose Thiedes condition, or explain how he wound up in Koreatown after disappearing downtown. An LAPD spokesman declined further comment Tuesday morning.

The LAPD found Thiedes car in the 100 block of South Kingsley Drive on Monday afternoon, less than a mile from where he was located on Monday night.

Thiedes mother, Janet, thanked those who aided in the search for her son.

At this time, we do not have all the details. We are just extremely happy that he is alive, she wrote in a Facebook post published early Tuesday. We are continuing to ask the LAPD to investigate the circumstances that landed him in the hospital.

Thiedes mother previously told the Los Angeles Times that her son has been driving for Uber and Lyft while working on a prototype organic shoe made of pineapple and hemp. His cars key fob indicated he last drove out of the garage of his Los Angeles apartment on the night of Feb. 11, his mother said.

Phone records show that someone called 911 from his cellphone at 2:32 p.m. the next day.

james.queally@latimes.com

Follow @JamesQueallyLAT on Twitter for crime and police news in California.

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UPDATES:

9:25 a.m.: This article was updated with additional information from the LAPD.

This article was originally published at 5:50 a.m.
Freezing temperatures are forecast to sweep much of California this week, potentially endangering the states almonds and other lucrative Central Valley crops.

Temperatures in most rural areas of the San Joaquin Valley, the heart of the states agricultural sector, are expected to fall to the mid-20s Tuesday morning. The below-freezing weather could kill blooms on almond and cherry trees, which appeared earlier than usual because of the unseasonably warm weather this month. California produces 80% of the worlds almonds, according to the Almond Board of California.

The warmer-than-usual weather brought the blooms out and now the freezing temperatures are putting them in peril, said Jim Bagnall, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Hanford. Without the blooms, there are no nuts. It could have a significant effect on the harvests.

Forecasters said the breakdown of a high pressure system, which brought weeks of warm weather, opened the way for a cold storm system from Canada to barrel through California. The cold and dry air mass will combine with clear skies to cause temperatures to plunge overnight Monday and Tuesday.

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In Southern California, overnight temperatures Tuesday are expected to drop to 32 degrees in Woodland Hills but downtown Los Angeles should be warmer, with a low of 40 degrees. Daytime temperatures are expected to reach the low 60s.

David Matias, 5, right, of Valencia, plays with his brother Angel, 7, as their parents Connie Lopez, left, and Herman Matias fish off the Redondo Beach Pier on Monday. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times )

Meteorologists warned motorists to take care driving through the Grapevine, which was hit with winds gusting up to 50 miles per hour and a light dusting of snow early Monday. Freeze warnings are in effect for the Central Coast and the Ventura, Santa Ynez and Cuyama valleys.

The way its been going, spring came first and then winter, said Bonnie Bartling, a weather specialist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. You have to trade your shorts and tank tops for jackets.

Freezing temperatures also are expected in most of the San Francisco Bay Area. Snow flurries hit the Santa Cruz Mountains early Monday and piled up to 4 inches in some areas of the Big Sur backcountry. Temperatures Tuesday morning are expected to fall to 28 degrees in some parts of wine country and dip to 38 degrees in San Francisco, which would tie a record low for the day set in 1897.

Steve Anderson, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said record low temperatures could sweep other Bay Area cities Tuesday morning.

Bagnall warned people in areas of freezing weather to bring their pets indoors, cover their outdoor plants and wrap exposed pipes with towels to prevent them from bursting. He said growers might deploy helicopters to stir up air around their trees, mixing warmer air at higher altitudes with colder air near the ground.

Warmer weather is expected to arrive by Friday, with overnight lows in the mid-to-high 40s and highs in the low 60s. Little rain is forecast.
Former Associated Press photographer Max Desfor, whose photo of hundreds of Korean War refugees crawling across a damaged bridge in 1950 captured the desperation of wartime and helped win him a Pulitzer Prize, has died at the age of 104.

Desfor, who died Monday in Silver Spring, Md., volunteered to cover the Korean War for the news service when the North invaded the South in June 1950. He parachuted into North Korea with U.S troops and retreated with them after forces from the North, joined by the Chinese, pushed south.

He was in a Jeep near the North Korean capital of Pyongyang when he spotted a bridge that had been hit by bombing along the Taedong River. Thousands of refugees were lined up on the north bank waiting their turn to cross the river.

Max Desfor in 2015. (Jon Elswick / Associated Press )

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We came across this incredible sight, he recalled in 1997. All of these people who are literally crawling through these broken-down girders of the bridge. They were in and out of it, on top, underneath, and just barely escaping the freezing water.

Desfor climbed a 50-foot-high section of the bridge to photograph the refugees as they fled for their lives.

My hands got so cold I could barely trip the shutter on my camera, he remembered. I couldnt even finish a full pack of film. It was just that cold.

The Pulitzer jury in 1951 determined that Desfors photos from Korea the previous year had all the qualities which make for distinguished news photography  imagination, disregard for personal safety, perception of human interest and the ability to make the camera tell the whole story. The Pulitzer board honored his overall coverage of the war, based on a portfolio of more than 50 photos, and cited the Taedong River bridge shot in particular.

Max Desfors Dec. 4, 1950 photo shows people near Pyongyang, North Korea, crawling over a bridges twisted girders as they flee south across the Taedong River to escape Chinese troops. (Max Desfor / Associated Press )

A native of New York, Desfor was born in the Bronx on Nov. 8, 1913, and attended Brooklyn College. He joined the Associated Press in 1933 as a messenger. After teaching himself the basics of photography and moonlighting as a baby photographer, he began shooting occasional assignments. He became a staff photographer in the Baltimore bureau in 1938 and moved to the Washington bureau a year later.

During World War II, Desfor photographed the crew of the Enola Gay after the B-29 landed in Saipan from its mission to drop an atomic bomb on Hiroshima in August 1945. He was with the first wave of Marines at Tokyo Bay shortly after Japans surrender that month and photographed the official surrender ceremony aboard the battleship Missouri on Sept. 2, 1945.

Desfor worked for the AP in the Philippines and in India, where he photographed Mahatma Gandhi and later covered the assassinated leaders funeral in 1948. He also worked in the APs Rome bureau and was set to return to the U.S. when war broke out in Korea.

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Desfor and his wife, Clara, raised a son, Barry, of Wauconda, Ill. She died in 2004. His second wife, Shirley Belasco, died in 2015.

Max Desfor worked for a time in India, where he took this photo of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, left, who would become Indias first prime minister. (Max Desfor / Associated Press )

Desfor said another photo from the Korean War had particular meaning to him. Walking near a field, he spotted two hands, blue from cold, sticking up in the snow. The hands, which had been bound, belonged to one of several civilians taken prisoner and executed, their bodies left to be covered by snowfall.

I labeled that picture, later on, Futility, because its always been  Ive always felt that its the civilians caught in the crossfire, the civilians, the innocent civilians, how futile it is for war, he told AP in 1997. That epitomized it to me.
Thousands of parents who crossed illegally into the U.S. in recent years have been held with their children at immigration detention centers. But the case of a Brazilian woman and her son illustrates what migrant advocates call a harsher approach to immigration enforcement that aims to separate parents and children.

Shes being held in Texas, while her son was taken to a shelter in Illinois. The unspoken goal, advocates say, is to discourage parents from crossing illegally or attempting to request asylum.

The Brazilian mother  who asked to be identified only as Jocelyn because she was fleeing domestic violence  entered the U.S. last August with her 14-year-old son, who she said was being threatened by gangs. They hoped to apply for asylum.

Migrant families like Jocelyns are usually processed by immigration courts, an administrative process. Such families are detained together or released with notices to appear at later court proceedings. President Trump promised to end the practice, dismissing it as catch and release.

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Historically, most border crossers were sent back to their home countries, but the Trump administration has threatened to prosecute some migrant parents because entering the country illegally is a federal crime. The first offense is a misdemeanor, with a maximum sentence of six months. Those caught a second time face a felony charge with a maximum sentence of up to 20 years, depending on their criminal record. Once a case becomes a criminal matter, parents and children are separated.

According to public defenders and immigrant advocates, more and more immigrant families who come to the southern border seeking asylum are being charged in federal criminal courts from El Paso to Arizona. Jocelyn was charged with a misdemeanor, and her son was sent to a shelter in Chicago. Comprehensive statistics do not exist, but activists and attorneys say anecdotal evidence suggests the practice is spreading.

Theres not supposed to be blanket detention of people seeking asylum, but in reality, thats whats happening in El Paso, said Dylan Corbett, director of the Hope Border Institute, a nonprofit social justice group. Were still in this limbo in our sector and across the border: Whats going on? What are the new policies?

Last week, 75 congressional Democrats led by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Downey) sent a letter to the secretary of Homeland Security expressing outrage at increased family separations and demanding officials clarify their policies within two weeks.

We are gravely concerned that these practices are expanding and worsening, further traumatizing families and impeding access to a fair process for seeking asylum, they wrote.

Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard speaks in Los Angeles on Jan. 16, 2017. (Michael Owen Baker / For The Times )

Homeland Security wont say it is targeting families but does say it is making procedural and policy changes to deter illegal immigration.

The administration is committed to using all legal tools at its disposal to secure our nations borders, said Tyler Houlton, a Homeland Security spokesman.

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Jocelyn said she fled Brazil to escape an abusive husband. During a recent meeting at the El Paso detention center where she is being held, she lifted the sleeve of her white uniform to show scars on her arm that she said came from beatings by her husband, an armed security guard who refused to grant her a divorce.

She and her son flew to Mexico on Aug. 24, crossed the border two days later, turned themselves in to Border Patrol near El Paso and were told they would be separated.

I didnt know where they were taking him, she said of her son. They didnt tell me. I asked many times. They just said Dont worry.

Elsewhere on the border, including Texas Rio Grande Valley to the east where most migrants cross illegally, many parents and children are still released together with notices to appear in immigration court.

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To opponents of illegal immigration, the practice of charging migrants with criminal offenses is a good thing. Andrew Arthur, a former immigration judge now serving as a resident fellow at the conservative Washington-based Center for Immigration Studies, said criminal charges are a deterrent.

The reason the children are there to begin with is this belief [among immigrants] that a parent with a child will not be detained, Arthur said. He added that exposing children to smugglers who could abuse and kidnap them borders frankly on child abuse.

Last April, Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions issued guidance to U.S. attorneys urging more aggressive prosecution of those illegally reentering the country. As the number of migrant families crossing illegally increased last summer, parents were detained by U.S. marshals, but their children were reclassified as unaccompanied minors and placed at shelters across the country by the Office of Refugee Resettlement.

Migrant advocates sued in federal court, arguing that when asylum seekers declare a fear of returning to their home country, federal law dictates that they be referred to an asylum officer, even if they crossed the border illegally, and their cases considered by immigration judges.

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U.S. Border Patrol agents look for immigrants crossing the Rio Grande from Mexico to the United States. (John Moore / Getty Images )

In October, El Paso immigrant advocates asked Border Patrol officials whether they were separating migrant parents from their children.

They volunteered yes, were doing family separation, Corbett recalled, adding that one agent said it was standard practice locally here in the sector to separate all children 10 years and older from their family. We were all shocked.

Afterward, Border Patrol attorney Lisa Donaldson emailed those who had attended the meeting, insisting that the Border Patrol does not have a blanket policy requiring the separation of family units and that any increase in separations is due primarily to the increase in prosecutions of immigration-related crimes.

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Daryl Fields, a spokesman for the U.S. attorneys office in western Texas, which files federal criminal charges, said each case is considered individually and that we do not target individuals for prosecution based on their parental status.

Federal public defenders said that criminally charging asylum seekers not only violates international treaties, it encourages migrants to plead guilty so they can end their case quickly, get deported and try to reunite with their children.

It impacts the lawfulness or constitutionality of their guilty plea, said Maureen Franco, the federal public defender for the western district of Texas. Theyre under the misconception The quicker I get my case over with, the quicker Ill get my children back. Any lawyer worth their salt will tell them its not like that.

Francos office has asked a federal court to dismiss improper entry charges against four Central American parents and a grandmother whose children were removed after the adults were detained. A judge ruled in favor of the government Jan. 5. Federal public defenders are appealing.

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Immigration attorney Bridget Cambria has handled 15 family separation cases, including several mothers charged and separated from their children in El Paso.

Theres huge questions about whether its legal when theyre seeking asylum. Theyre using the federal statutes as a reason to take their child, Cambria said.

Sister Norma Pimentel, surrounded by Central American migrant families at a shelter she runs in the border city of McAllen, Texas, where she said most migrant parents are still released with notices to appear in court. (Molly Hennessy-Fiske / Los Angeles Times )

Its not clear how many migrant parents like Jocelyn have been charged and separated from their children. Federal public defenders and U.S. district courts do not track them. U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported just five migrant family members referred for prosecution in federal criminal court this year fiscal year, which started in October. It reported seven last fiscal year and 21 the year before that.

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Estimates from migrant advocacy groups are much higher.

In Arizona, the Tucson-based Florence Immigration and Refugee Rights Project saw 213 such cases last year, an increase from the 190 cases the year before. Legal director Laura St. John said the group has already served 23 separated families this year.

A dozen cases of family separation were reported by Washington-based Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. Hope Border Institute surveyed attorneys representing 90 asylum seekers in the El Paso area between June and November 2017 and found 94% had clients separated from their children. Lawyers contacted for the report told The Times they had seen at least 70 cases of parents charged and separated from their children during the past six months.

In December, a host of immigrant advocacy groups filed a complaint with Homeland Security alleging that parents have been charged and separated from their children, without a clear or reasonable justification, as a means of punishment and/or deterrence, and with few mechanisms to locate, contact, or reunite with family members. The complaint is pending.

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Immigrants are held in 2014 at the McAllen Border Patrol Station in Texas Rio Grande Valley, a popular border-crossing region. (AFP / Getty Images)

As for Jocelyn, a federal judge in Las Cruces found her guilty of crossing the border illegally, a misdemeanor, last Sept. 22. She received a suspended sentence and was transferred to immigration detention in El Paso. Instead self-deporting, Jocelyn stayed to pursue her asylum claim.

She learned through the Brazilian Consulate that her son was at a Chicago shelter and she has since spoken to him by phone four times. She said her son told her that other children of migrants in the shelter tried to run away because they missed their parents. Jocelyn urged her son to stay put. He promised he would.

She worries, but is hopeful. Immigration officials recently found she has a credible fear of returning home, the first step toward obtaining asylum, and a pro bono attorney, Linda Rivas, executive director and managing attorney of the Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, is trying to get her released on bond.

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She tried to reassure her son during a recent phone call. As soon as I get out, she said, I will come get you.
A grand jury indictment unsealed Monday accuses a Republican state senator in Rhode Island of extorting sex from a page in the Senates page program.

The indictment was unsealed as Senate Minority Whip Nicholas Kettle was arraigned on two counts of extortion in Providence Superior Court. Kettle, of Coventry, is accused of using extortion to have sex multiple times with a male page. He pleaded not guilty and was released on a $50,000 personal recognizance bond.

The news prompted Democratic Senate President Dominick Ruggerio to call for Kettle to resign immediately. He said he was horrified and disgusted by these allegations.

We in the Senate are deeply shaken, he said.

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If Kettle refuses to step down, the Senate will pursue his expulsion, Ruggerio said. He said he also asked the Senates chief legal counsel to conduct an immediate review of the page program.

We have spoken to most of the pages to ensure that they are aware of their rights in the workplace as well as procedures for reporting anything inappropriate, Ruggerio said.

Kettle, 27, was indicted last week, but the details of the extortion counts remained sealed over the weekend. State police separately charged Kettle with video voyeurism on Friday, and his lawyer has said he denies any wrongdoing.

The indictment says Kettle extorted sex from the page on two occasions in 2011. The indictment names the page, but the Associated Press does not identify people who may be victims of sex crimes unless they come forward and agree to have their names published. The pages LinkedIn profile says he served as a page from February 2011 to May 2012.

In a statement Monday night, a spokeswoman for the page said hes spent the last seven years coming to terms with what was done to him and is moving on. She said hes now an executive in the music industry in Tennessee and is no longer affiliated with Rhode Island politics.

Kettle, whos among five Republicans in the 38-member Senate, did not speak to reporters outside court and did not comment on whether he would resign, but his lawyer described the page as a political rival of Kettles. State election records show the page ran against Kettle as an independent in 2014, three years after the extortion is alleged to have occurred.

House Minority Leader Dennis Algiere also has called on Kettle to resign.

Senate spokesman Greg Pare said the Senate page program includes 67 pages, all hired at the recommendation of senators. The pages, who usually range in age from 15 through college age, help lawmakers with errands at the Rhode Island Statehouse. Pare said the page Kettle is alleged to have had sex with did not lodge any complaints while he was a page.

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One of the Senates 38 seats is open, and a special election is scheduled to fill it.

The House runs its own page program. A spokesman for Democratic House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello said there have been no complaints about the House program. Mattiello last week designated a former long-term page and current General Assembly employee to serve as a liaison to the House pages in case any concerns arise, spokesman Larry Berman said.

A state police affidavit on the video voyeurism charge released Monday afternoon said Kettle sent naked pictures of his then-girlfriend without her knowledge to a friend in New Hampshire. Zachary Brennan, of Springfield, N.H., then sent back naked pictures of his wife, according to the affidavit.

In addition, police said the friends exchanged images of their own genitals and discussed how to take videos of the women during sex. In one message, Kettle allegedly said he needed to be stealthy and asked Brennan for advice.

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Brennan did not immediately return a message seeking comment. Police said he admitted exchanging the photos when they searched his house last month.
Despite the indictment of 13 Russian professional social media pranksters who worked to tip the 2016 election to Donald Trump, I remain somewhere between skeptical and agnostic on the question of whether or not Trump knowingly and secretly colluded with the Russians to win the election.

Well come back to those important qualifiers  knowingly and secretly  in a moment.

But first, a word about conspiracy theories: As a rule, they will almost always let you down.

The conspiracy theories that capture our imagination usually depend on false assumptions about how the world works. They rely on the idea that government  or some other large organization  is both profoundly evil and profoundly competent, particularly at keeping secrets. Sometimes the former may be true, but the latter virtually never is. They also rely on the belief that objectively bad outcomes are subjectively intended, like in a literary work where all actions foreshadow future events.

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Thats why I tend to avoid conspiracy theory in favor of what one might call character theory. Character is destiny, as Heraclitus observed, and it serves as a far more reliable guide than feverish dot-connecting of disparate events.

It is President Trumps character that leads me to think he didnt do it, at least not in a way the impeachment-hungry mob hopes he did.

Oh, I think hes morally capable of having done it. As a candidate he publicly called on the Russians to (further) hack Hillary Clintons server and release the missing emails. He is the one member of his administration incapable of condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin or his regime. Indeed, his instincts are to hail Putins leadership.

Nor do I think he surrounded himself with people who would have talked him out of collusion. We know that his former campaign manager Paul Manafort is not overly scrupulous. And Trumps son Don Jr. has already admitted to a) meeting with a Russian emissary and b) that he didnt care where anti-Clinton dirt came from.

It is President Trumps character that leads me to think he didnt do it, at least not in a way the impeachment-hungry mob hopes he did.

But while they may have been willing to coordinate with the Kremlin, Im not at all certain they would have been able to pull it off  and keep it a secret. Everything we know about the Trump campaign is that it was a shambolic movable feast of warring egos, relentless leaks and summary firings. But were supposed to believe that everyone maintained total secrecy about Russian collusion?

More implausible, were supposed to believe that Trump has never let it slip, in private or public? The man admitted he fired FBI Director James Comey to thwart the Russia investigation. Indeed, his blunders are what invited the investigation in the first place.

A counter-argument is that the president is obsessed with stopping Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel leading the Russia probe. That does seem suspicious, but I have three mutually reinforcing theories for his obsession that dont imply guilt.

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First: Trump thinks the probe is unfair. He knows he didnt personally collude and feels unjustly accused. Second, its a blow to his ego, because he thinks it robs him of credit for what he believes was a landslide victory. (It wasnt.) Third, he fears Mueller might find something else. Perhaps Trumps not nearly as rich as he claims. Maybe his business practices  or those of his family  particularly with regard to Russia, would not withstand close legal scrutiny. One explanation for why Trump always flattered Putin on the campaign trail is that he thought he would lose, so why foreclose future business opportunities?

Former White House strategist Steve Bannon matter-of-factly told author Michael Wolff: This is all about money laundering.

Muellers path to ... Trump goes right through Paul Manafort, Don Jr. and Jared Kushner, he added. Its as plain as a hair on your face. Tellingly, the president has said he might fire Mueller if he looks into his families finances.

These three factors add up to an explanation for why he insists the whole Russia investigation is a witch hunt and why he cant stop obsessing over it. Its not the only explanation, but its more in keeping with what we know of Trumps character than the current conspiracy theories, which depend on us believing hes a villainous mastermind.

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jgoldberg@latimescolumnists.com

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As the 2018 midterm approaches, one of the most closely tracked demographic groups will be white women. When Donald Trump won the presidency, these voters took a lot of the credit, or the blame. According to the election exit polls, 61% of non-college-educated white women voted for Trump, and so did 44% of college-educated white women.

For President Trumps opponents, especially progressive women, these are agonizing statistics. Why, they wondered, would women reject the first viable female candidate for president? As it turns out, its a family issue.

Single women were more likely to support Hillary Clinton than Trump. Research shows us that married white women cast ballots based less on individual self-interest and more on what they think is good for their children and, especially, their husbands. Theyre conservative as a group, and Republicans usually win their votes.

Kelsy Kretschmer, coauthor of a recent study examining female voting patterns, explains it this way: Women consistently earn less money and hold less power, which fosters womens economic dependence on men. Thus, it is within married womens interests to support policies and politicians who protect their husbands and improve their status. And, as Kretschmer told a reporter: We know white men are more conservative, so when youre married to a white man you get a lot more pressure to vote consistent with that ideology.

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Married white women may see more equality between the sexes as hurting their husbands rather than benefiting themselves. They may feel a sense of what social scientists call white fragility  in this case white male fragility, especially in the job market. They may fear that immigrants are taking the good jobs their male partners once held. Trump galvanizes such fears in his speeches and in his tweets.

There is a way to counter the effects of the barrage that could change white married womens voting patterns: Focus their concerns about family less on their husbands and more on their children and grandchildren, especially their daughters and daughters-in-law.

It is an unalterable fact that the daughters and daughters-in-law of white married voters will be in the workplace for most of their lives. As the mothers age, they are very likely to outlive their male partners, and they may have to rely on their children for financial support. It could well be the younger women in the family that arrive with the necessary cash in hand.

An important subset of Trumps white female supporters have launched their own #MeToo campaign: #SilenceIsNotSpiritual.

And even if a female Trump voter doesnt need the financial aid of younger women, she will surely understand that the paychecks of her daughters and daughters-in-law will be integral to the next generations security. The more white married women care about the welfare of their children and grandchildren, the more they have an incentive to see that younger women do well. That includes voting for candidates who explicitly make such connections.

The message can be delivered in a couple of ways: data and personal stories that illustrate the ripple effects of fair treatment of women, and examples of the Trump administrations toxic approach to womens issues.

For example, Trumps Labor Department refused to defend an Obama-era rule that would have given 3.2 million women the right to overtime pay.

The president revoked other Obama-era actions that protected working women in particular: Trump axed an order that required companies to transparently explain the way hourly pay was calculated (more women than men are paid by the hour). He canceled a rule that banned federal contractors from forcing women to settle sexual harassment and assault cases by arbitration. And he blocked a requirement that large companies report how much they pay workers by race and gender, which was meant to help identify and close persistent wage gaps.

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Trump initially stalled action on proposals that would expand paid family and medical leave, a bread-and-butter womens issue. His 2019 budget calls for just six weeks of paid leave for new parents only  those with personal medical problems or those caring for a family member need not apply.

Trumps reproductive health policies should also be of concern to white married women. Many of his female supporters are fiercely antiabortion, but they arent against birth control: The Guttmacher Institute reports that 99% of American women aged 15-44 who have ever had sexual intercourse used at least one contraceptive method. Yet the administration is trying to roll back birth control insurance coverage and to defund Planned Parenthood, which provides contraceptives to 80% of its 2.5 million clients each year.

Finally, the issue of sexual harassment may have resonance with white married women worried about their children in the workplace. Julie Kohler, senior vice president for the Democracy Alliance, a progressive donor network, noted in the Nation that evangelical women  an important subset of Trumps white female supporters  have launched their own #MeToo campaign: #SilenceIsNotSpiritual. According to Kohler, they have begun tiptoeing into the political fray over abuse allegations.

Trumps approval ratings show the potential in targeting his female supporters. The website FiveThirtyEight reports a recent widening of the Trump gender gap among Republicans: Seven percentage points separate GOP men and women, with women less favorably disposed toward the president. That represents, according to the analysis, an erosion of support that would have been more than enough to deny Trump the White House in 2016.

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White women, Kohler says, do not  and likely never will  constitute the progressive base. But in this unique political moment, there is evidence that some  may be reprioritizing their political interests.

Trumps opposition should seize the day.

Caryl Rivers, professor of journalism at Boston University, and Rosalind C. Barnett, senior scientist at the Womens Studies Research Center at Brandeis University, are the authors of The New Soft War on Women.

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For five years, pundits, planners, and policy-makers have scratched their heads at Los Angeles steep public transit ridership decline: a 21% decrease on buses,15% in total. To explain it, they cite ride-sharing, cheap gas, even the law that lets undocumented immigrants get licenses to drive. But another answer should be obvious: We lose transit riders when we displace the low-income families who rely on it.

Data from Policy Link/PERE shows that L.A.s transit riders are mostly low-income black and Latinos: 88% of Metro bus riders are people of color, and more than 50% have annual family incomes under $15,000. When they lose housing near bus or rail lines, they lose access to transit.

Metros No. 2 bus is a good example. In July 2009, 22,000 passengers rode the line, which travels up Sunset Boulevard from downtown to Pacific Palisades and back again. Now, only 14,300 people take the route.

Where did the riders go?

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One neighborhood served by the No. 2 is Echo Park. According to Zillow, in September 2011, the median home value there was $427,000, and the median rent was around $2,000. Five years later, those figures were $779,000 and $2,840, respectively, an increase of 90% and 42%. But as housing costs rose, the neighborhoods population shrank  by about 12% between 2000 and 2014, according to census data analyzed by USCs Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration. During that time, more than 5,000 Latinos and 2,000 Asian Angelenos were pushed out.

This story has repeated itself across the city. In those same years, rent and home prices spiked in Koreatown and Hollywood as dense new developments were built near busy transit lines. But the population in these areas fell, especially among people of color. Koreatown lost 12,000 Latinos and 1,000 black residents. In Hollywood  also served by the No. 2  the Latino community shrank by 13,000.

We have a name for this kind of displacement: Gentrification. It pushes out low-income residents of color, the same populations most likely to take public transportation.

Transit in Los Angeles isnt just suffering because of gentrification, its causing gentrification.

But transit in Los Angeles isnt just suffering because of gentrification, its causing gentrification. According to a recent UCLA/Berkeley study, transit-adjacent L.A. neighborhoods gentrify at higher rates than other neighborhoods. Its part of the plan.

Mayor Eric Garcetti links Metro with what he calls economic revitalization, articulating Metros role not as an agency that merely runs the buses, but as a source of new development corridors. To encourage developers to build new housing near rail lines, the county offers incentives including zoning variances for height, tax breaks on construction and a swifter permitting process.

On its surface, the idea makes sense: We should reward new housing near public transportation if we want to increase density and bolster rides. But rather than expanding ridership, new development is pushing riders away.

The Vermont, a 464-unit building constructed in Koreatown in 2013, is a stark example. It sits at the junction of the Metros Purple line subway, the No. 720 bus and the Red line subway (which lost around 3 million riders between 2013 and 2016). The Vermonts cheapest apartment now costs $2,550, more than double what the average L.A. renter can afford; two bedrooms run to $4,500. It has three floors of parking  enough spaces for every apartment to have at least one car.

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The Vermont is not an outlier. When the Expo Line was unveiled, new luxury and market-rate development sprang up to meet it, and, as tracked by RadPad, rents in areas around the route went up 45% in a year. UCLAs Will Dominie correlated the arrival of higher-income households to L.A.s transit-adjacent neighborhoods with the loss of transit riders. A report by the Center for Urban and Regional Policy warns this is a national trend.

Without adequate protections to keep low-income tenants in their homes, transit-oriented development might as well be called transit-rider displacement. Attempts to build densely along transportation routes will actually lead to population declines. And, by the way, the citys definition of affordable housing means most of the few new below-market units we are building go to families making between $45,000 and $72,000 a year.

If we want to stave off further transit ridership losses  not to mention meet our obligations as human beings to each other  we need to establish a new common-sense planning policy. We must prioritize tenants, not the supply of housing units. Stable housing should be a human right. With universal rent control and more public housing, we would link the well-being of low-income Angelenos of color to a greener future for our city of cars.

The cure to the displacement and ridership crises wont come from more of the cause.

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Tracy Jeanne Rosenthal is a member of the L.A. Tenants Union.

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To the editor: Ann Friedmans piece on the changing demographics in many Los Angeles neighborhoods, while somewhat tongue in cheek, resonates with me. (When New York sends people to Los Angeles, theyre not sending their best, Opinion, Feb. 15)

Presently existing at a major intersection in the Los Feliz-adjacent environs is a parcel hosting a Food 4 Less grocery store and not much else. Inevitably it will develop into a multi-use complex of housing on the upper levels and shops at ground level, none of which will be a budget grocery store upon which shoppers with their feet in two micro-economies rely. Access to lower-priced groceries that aid one in justifying that occasional splurge on Friedmans $5 cup of coffee will no longer be an option.

I feel it in my bones, Ann Friedman from the Midwest.

Diane McDowell, Los Angeles

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To the editor: Im not sure why the Los Angeles Times believed Dan McLaughlins Feb. 16 op-ed article, Every solution to mass shootings inevitably involves a serious trade-off, was worthy of publication. It was basically a clarion call to do nothing about gun violence, but not even a real discussion on why we do nothing.

In 1934, the National Firearms Act (NFA) was enacted. We never see criminal actors using fully automatic weapons now. They were banned by the NFA.

In the 1950s, I took the National Rifle Assn.s hunter safety course. Im sure my excellent NRA instructor never felt his rights were infringed by not being allowed to own a machine gun. By what measure would those traditional values be infringed by a ban on semiautomatic weapons and their multi-round clips?

How about the right to some reasonable degree of safety, especially for our children?

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Peter Poole, Temecula

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To the editor: Its time to stop talking and to start marching.

We are running out of schools, movie theaters, concerts, nightclubs, businesses, parties and subways to avoid being gunned down. But too many of us are also emotionally and intellectually in flight. Action is needed, not words.

We must shift from the flight response to the fight response.

Our history proves that the action of marching masses imprints in lawmakers minds the image of conviction in action. Marches were the catalyst for womens voting rights, the Civil Rights Act, marriage equality and the #MeToo movement.

A March for National Gun Sense Laws will shame our lawmakers into being true leaders. The nations youth are begging us to be dedicated, driven adults. Im ready to march. Are you?

Lisa Telesca, Valley Village

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To the editor: When I composed An American Elegy nearly 20 years ago in response to the Columbine shooting in 1999, I thought it would be a singular episode, or at least a rare one, in our nations history. Sadly, I am constantly reminded how wrong I was.

Nothing will improve until more lawmakers admit that the Constitution was written by mere mortals doing the best they could without benefit of a crystal ball. Those same mortals saw this themselves, thereby permitting amendments to the Constitution. In other words, they possessed a humility and wisdom that many current lawmakers seem to lack.

Common-sense gun legislation may very well save the 2nd Amendment. This may not happen in my lifetime, but I have hope that our childrens generation will show more wisdom than the small-minded legislators from our generation.

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An American Elegy has been performed frequently in response to mass shootings occurring since Columbine. I had no idea that could ever happen. I am sad about a cultural situation that makes it so.

Frank Ticheli, Pasadena

The writer is a professor of composition at the USC Thornton School of Music.

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To the editor: As Harry Litman, a former U.S. attorney and deputy assistant attorney general, makes clear, Russia engaged in sustained cyberwarfare against the United States during the 2016 presidential campaign. (Now we know for sure: The Russia story is not a hoax, Opinion, Feb. 16)

Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats had made clear that Russia will continue trying to interfere in 2018 and 2020. National security advisor H.R. McMaster has stated that evidence of meddling by Moscow is incontrovertible.

President Trump has taken no action since the indictments Friday of 13 Russian nationals and three Russian organizations except to tweet his denial of the facts. This raises the serious question of whether he is violating the oath of office he took on Inauguration Day. It also raises the question of whether Congress is meeting its obligation to defend our country amid the most serious national security crisis since the 9/11 attacks.

Sherman N. Mullin, Oxnard

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To the editor: American democracy was hijacked long ago by money and powerful interests, turning it into what amounts to a system of legalized corruption. Lobbying, super-PACs, myriad forms of campaign contributions and patronage are at the core of this phenomenon.

By comparison, the so-called Russian meddling in the 2016 election seems amateurish at best, and perhaps (more seriously) a way for the political establishment to divert the attention of the American people from the real problems of a corrupt system of public governance, whose patrons and beneficiaries want the rest of the world to think it is democratic.

Luis Suarez-Villa, Irvine

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To the editor: Fridays indictments sharply illustrate the stark contrast between the congressional investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 campaign and the real investigations done by the FBI.

The Republicans in Congress demonstrate their utter indifference to the dangers posed to our country by not doing enough to get to the truth of this attack.

David Helkenn, San Diego

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To the editor: The recent indictments by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III were impressive and reassuring. They highlight the incredible ability of the U.S. intelligence community to trace, with startling detail, deep into an elaborate, allegedly criminal enterprise operating anywhere in the world.

This sends a strong message to our allies as well as our enemies that we remain a nation of great power.

In response, the president went on a Twitter tirade attacking, among many others, the very U.S. organizations that successfully tracked down a massive network of people trying to destroy our democracy and, at the same time, exposed their complex methods.

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Dave Cronkey, El Cajon

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The Supreme Court made clear again Tuesday that the government has broad power to restrict and regulate firearms, dismissing a 2nd Amendment challenge to Californias 10-day waiting period for new gun purchases.

While the court has ruled that the 2nd Amendment protects the right of law-abiding citizens to own guns, the justices have repeatedly refused to go further by blocking strict gun regulations, including state bans on the sale of semi-automatic weapons or limits on who can carry a weapon in public.

Dissenting alone, Justice Clarence Thomas said the 2nd Amendment is a disfavored right in this court.

In 2008 and 2010, the high court struck down ordinances in Washington, D.C., and Chicago that prohibited the private possession of handguns as violations of 2nd Amendment. Americans have a right to have guns at home for self-defense, the court said in 5-4 decisions.

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But since then, the justices have turned down gun rights advocates who have sued to challenge gun regulations based on the 2nd Amendment.

There are simply not four justices who are eager to jump back into this fray, said UCLA law professor Adam Winkler, an expert on gun rights. It takes the votes of at least four justices to grant review of a case. The California case highlights that the gun debate will play out in the legislatures and in Congress.

Many gun rights advocates have insisted the 2nd Amendment includes the right to buy rapid-fire, military-style rifles, which are among the most popular weapons sold in the nation. But in December 2015, the high court refused to hear a challenge to an ordinance in Highland Park, Ill. that banned the sale and possession of semi-automatic rifles that have been used in several mass shootings. California and seven other states have similar laws.

Last June, the court also turned away a constitutional challenge to ordinances in San Diego and Los Angeles which strictly limit concealed carry permits. While gun owners may obtain a permit from a county sheriff if they can show good cause, many California counties set a very high bar for who qualifies under this standard. In upholding the restrictions, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said the 2nd Amendment does not preserve or protect a right of a member of the general public to carry concealed firearms in public. Only Thomas and new Justice Neil M. Gorsuch dissented then.

On Tuesday, the court let stand a ruling of the 9th Circuit Court that called Californias 10-day waiting period for gun purchases a reasonable safety precaution and one that does not violate the constitutional right to own a gun.

California, eight other states and the District of Columbia impose waiting periods for the purchase of a firearm. The others are Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey and Rhode Island.

Californias 10-day period is longer than all but Hawaiis. And Californias waiting period applies to new gun purchases even if the owner already possesses another legal weapon.

Jeff Silvester, a gun owner, and the CalGuns Foundation sued, contending the 10-day wait is too long and unnecessary for gun owners who are purchasing a second weapon. They said the states claimed need for a cooling off period makes no sense if the buyer already has a gun.

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But the 9th Circuit upheld the regulation. The judges said they agreed with the states argument that waiting 10 days may deter subsequent purchasers from buying new weapons that would be better suited for a heinous use.

The justices considered the appeal at several private conferences, but announced Tuesday they would not hear the case of Silvester vs. Becerra.

Thomas filed a 14-page dissent and lamented the courts general failure to afford the 2nd Amendment the respect due an enumerated constitutional right. He cited examples of where the court had intervened to hear cases about waiting periods or delays for abortion, protests or police searches.

The court would take these cases because abortion, speech and the 4th Amendment are three of its favored rights, he wrote. The right to keep and bear arms is apparently this courts constitutional orphan.

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Major questions before the Supreme Court this year 

david.savage@latimes.com

On Twitter: DavidGSavage

UPDATES:

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1:45 p.m.: This article was updated with reaction from Winkler and excerpts from Thomas dissent.

This article was originally published at 8:10 a.m.
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
As President Trump and congressional leaders scrambled to put together a spending bill to keep the government from shutting down at the end of this week, negotiations almost collapsed over an arcane, but critical part of the Affordable Care Act: cost-sharing reduction payments, or CSRs.
The deadly school shooting in Florida has moved President Trump to call for a ban on devices that turn legal firearms into deadly automatic assault rifles. But some gun control supporters expressed skepticism: He has promised action before in response to a mass killing, only to drop it when Americans attention wanes.

Trump said on Tuesday that he had directed Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions to very soon propose regulations to get rid of the so-called bump stocks that turn legal weapons into machine guns. There has been no indication that the shooter in Parkland, Fla., used such a device in killing 17 high school students and staff members, but aides say Trump will look at a range of remedies in coming days.

Aides to the president also say that he now favors efforts to improve the federal background check system, and that he has discussed the merits of doing so with Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, a Republican leader who has introduced a bill to make changes. The fact that the Parkland suspect, a mentally troubled teen, could so easily buy his AR-15 semiautomatic rifle has renewed criticism of the background check system.

Late Tuesday, Trump tweeted, Whether we are Republican or Democrat, we must now focus on strengthening Background Checks!

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But Trumps foray into policy talks is being met with skepticism based on his track record in office, his fluid stances on gun control and his close relationship with the National Rifle Assn. He backed an assault weapons ban and a longer waiting period for gun purchases in 2000, writing about it in one of his books, and then reversed that stance when he built a presidential campaign on an absolutist pro-gun interpretation of the 2nd Amendment.

Trumps idea to ban bump stocks is not a new one. After the Las Vegas mass shooting in October, he signaled a willingness to discuss regulating or banning the kits that allow people  like the shooter in that case, who fired down on a crowd from his hotel suite  to make their legal semi-automatic rifles operate like illegal, rapid-fire automatic weapons. The administration later clarified that any crackdown should be regulatory, not statutory. That stance is shared by the NRA, which opposes any new gun control laws.

The result is that nothing happened, and the country moved on. Thus did the reaction to the Vegas massacre, the nations worst mass murder in modern times, follow a familiar pattern of years of gun control debates: Gun rights advocates stalled serious policy discussion after the tragedy by saying it was too soon to think of anything but the victims, yet as time passed so did the impetus for action.

Theyll give a generic comment on how the president supports changes, said Corey Ciorciari, director of policy at the progressive organization Democracy Forward, speaking of White House aides. And that allows them to avoid scrutiny while people are talking about it. And then after people move on, you never hear another thing about it.

For a long time before his 2016 campaign, Trump branded himself as a nonpartisan moderate on the issue of gun control. In 2000 he wrote that he generally opposed gun control but that he was OK with certain restrictions, and he attacked Republicans for their pro-NRA rigidity.

The Republicans walk the NRA line and refuse even limited restrictions, he wrote in his book The America We Deserve. I generally oppose gun control, but I support the ban on assault weapons and I also support a slightly longer waiting period to purchase a gun.

Trump held that point of view until he began gearing up for his run for the presidency. As social conservatives flocked to his rallies, he turned increasingly hard-line in opposing any limitations on gun ownership.

In the White House, he has acted in keeping with that posture. His appointees have quietly chipped away at the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, the federal system that stores consult to make sure buyers are eligible to purchase guns.

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The administration officials narrowed a few legal definitions to make it harder to classify would-be gun buyers as ineligible. The FBI used to consider people fugitives from justice if there were outstanding warrants for their arrest, but now they must also have fled across state lines to intentionally avoid prosecution to be disqualified. Trump officials also purged tens of thousands of law enforcement records from the background system.

They narrowed the definition of mentally ill. And Congress and Trump rolled back an Obama-era regulation that required the Social Security Administration to send records of people receiving benefits for mental illness for inclusion in the background check system. In his recently released budget for the coming fiscal year, Trump proposed slashing millions of dollars from the budget for the background check system.

After the lone gunman opened fire on a concert crowd in Las Vegas on Oct. 1, the president appeared to waver for a moment in his view against gun controls. The gunman had attached bump stocks to his semiautomatic firearms, thereby turning them into machine guns that killed 58 people and injured hundreds more, and Trump hinted to reporters that he might support a proposed ban.

Well be looking at that in the next short period of time, he said.

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The public moved on, though, and so did the conversation. Trump did not prod Congress to act.

Following the Parkland shooting, Trump once again is signaling that he is thinking things over. Two days after the massacre, which coincided with Ash Wednesday and Valentines Day, he and First Lady Melania Trump visited the hospital trauma center where many of the victims and the suspect were treated. A doctor told the New York Times that he observed a parent of one of the wounded teenagers urging Trump to make sure this kind of tragedy never unfolded again.

Were going to work on it, the president told the parent, according to the doctor.

It is not clear that the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has legal authority to ban bump stocks by regulation. In the past, the ATF has said it does not, meaning that gun manufacturers could challenge any new regulations.

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The president spent a quiet weekend not far away from Parkland, at his Mar-a-Lago home, reportedly talking with friends about how to deal with the epidemic of mass shootings  and watching the surviving teens advocating on cable networks for gun controls. On Monday, a spokesperson issued a statement indicating that Trump had spoken with Cornyn.

Discussions on legislation were underway, the statement said, adding that the president was supportive of efforts to improve the federal background check system.

christi.parsons@latimes.com

Twitter: @cparsons

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UPDATES:

7:45 p.m: This article was updated to include a tweet from President Trump on background checks.

4:55 p.m: This article was updated to include that staff members died in the Florida school shooting.

This article originally published at 3:05 p.m.
The Trump administration took new steps Tuesday to loosen health insurance rules, moving to allow the sale of more short-term health plans that do not need to offer consumers a full range of health protections.

The proposed regulations  which represent the latest in a series of administrative attacks on the Affordable Care Act since President Trump took office  could make cheaper and skimpier plans available to more Americans.

But these short-term plans  which could last up to a year under the Trump administrations proposed new rules  also threaten to further weaken insurance markets around the country and drive up costs for sicker Americans who need health plans that offer a full set of benefits, such as prescription drugs, maternity care or mental health and substance abuse services.

That would erode the health laws guarantee that access to insurance would no longer depend on a persons health.

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Trump administration officials billed the proposed new regulations as a step to make health insurance more affordable.

Americans need more choices in health insurance so they can find coverage that meets their needs, said Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar. The status quo is failing too many Americans who face skyrocketing costs and fewer and fewer choices.

Rising premiums have squeezed a growing number of consumers, particularly those who earn too much to qualify for government assistance through the healthcare law, often called Obamacare.

But the Trump administrations new proposal is expected to generate widespread opposition from consumer advocates, patient groups and many physicians, who worry that looser insurance rules will leave patients without key protections and erode coverage for people who need it most.

Young and healthy people could be tempted to purchase these low-premium plans with few benefits, while older and sicker people, like cancer patients, seeking more comprehensive health coverage could potentially be left struggling with rising premiums because of the market divide, warned Chris Hansen, president of the advocacy arm of the American Cancer Society.

Among the other leading patient groups that condemned the proposed new rules are the American Heart Assn., the American Lung Assn., the Arthritis Foundation, Consumers Union, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the March of Dimes.

The administration is already under fire for proposing last month to make it easier for self-employed Americans, small businesses and others to band together to get health insurance through what are called association health plans.

Association plans do not have to offer a comprehensive set of so-called essential health benefits, a key requirement of the 2010 health law.

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Short-term plans, which were limited to three months under the Obama administration, would also be able to skirt the benefit requirements.

Importantly, these plans also could turn away sick consumers, another practice that was banned by the current health law, and they would not have to renew coverage for consumers that develop a medical condition.

That could ultimately split insurance markets in two, creating one cheaper market for healthy people and a second, more costly market for sick patients who need more extensive coverage.

Proposals last year by congressional Republicans to allow health insurers to offer slimmed-down benefits would have made coverage unaffordable for many consumers with preexisting medical conditions, according to multiple analyses by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

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It is unclear how widespread these short-term plans might become and whether some states would try to curtail their use if they want to preserve insurance market protections.

The Trump administration estimates that fewer than 200,000 consumers would actually shift into these short-term plans, though other Americans who are uninsured may enroll in these plans, federal officials said.

Officials in some states that have aggressively implemented the Affordable Care Act, such as California, have expressed opposition to short-term plans, warning they would put insurance markets at risk.

At the state Capitol in Sacramento, the chairman of the Senate health committee has already introduced legislation to ban short-term plans in California. Why would we want some kind of substandard, junk insurance to be sold here? said Anthony Wright, head of Health Access California, a leading consumer advocate in the state.

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In other places, however, state officials could move aggressively to promote skimpier health plans.

Idaho, for example, is already moving to allow health plans sold there to skirt the benefit requirements in the federal health law.

Testifying before lawmakers last week, Azar appeared to signal his discomfort with Idahos move, indicating that it was important that current law be followed.

But the new announcement on short-term insurance plans could effectively open a path for Idaho and other states to reach the same end: cheaper, less comprehensive coverage for healthy consumers.

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Obamacare 101: A primer on key issues in the debate over repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act. 

noam.levey@latimes.com

@noamlevey

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UPDATES:

11:55 a.m.: This article was updated with reaction from Chris Hansen of the American Cancer Society and Anthony Wright of Health Access California.

This article was originally published at 7:05 a.m.
Labor rights icon Dolores Huerta wont be on the ballot in Californias 21st Congressional District, but she has influenced the Central Valley race Democrats view as one of their biggest pickup opportunities in the midterm elections.

Elected officials, local activists and other congressional sources said Huerta is having pointed conversations to try to make sure her son, Emilio Huerta, is the only Democrat challenging Republican Rep. David Valadao. A local lawyer, he lost badly to Valadao in 2016.

So far, Huerta is the lone candidate, a statistic that stands out at a time when Democrats are averaging half a dozen or so viable candidates to run against vulnerable California Republicans with control of the U.S. House at stake.

Democrats living in the district and working in Washington said they are worried that Huertas appearance on the ballot a second time will imperil their chances of flipping a district that picked Hillary Clinton for president by a wide margin and where Democrats overwhelmingly outnumber Republicans.

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Track the congressional races that will make the difference in California 

A Democratic elected official who had been working to recruit other candidates to run against Valadao said Huerta brought up the race, unprompted, at a private event in the presence of about a dozen people last fall.

She told me very clearly, Stay out of our race, the official said. The impression Huerta left was, What are you doing getting into this race?

The official requested anonymity to speak candidly about an activist many liberals idolize.

Huerta, 87, made her name organizing Central Valley farmworkers in the 1960s, and remains a force in local and national politics by making coveted endorsements and campaign appearances. In 2012, President Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Four additional people in Washington  elected officials, top congressional sources and party insiders  shared similar stories from different conversations they said they had with Huerta. They said she used similar phrasing to get across the same message: Dont try to recruit any other candidates.

Separately, two Democrats working in the district said Huertas influence is so great that potential candidates opted against running after speaking with her because they fear risking her future support. One local politician said its difficult to imagine a Latino Democrat winning any race without her on their side. The local Democrats also asked to remain anonymous to avoid appearing publicly critical of Huerta.

The Times spoke with Huerta and asked if she was discouraging Democrats from running another candidate. She was emphatic. I would never do that. Ever, she said.

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Huerta said what she did do was ask the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in September if the national party was recruiting other candidates. She said she spoke with some local politicians about whether they would run after hearing the committee might be recruiting them, but said she didnt try to dissuade anyone.

A lot of time has been invested [by Emilio], she said. We had heard that they were trying to recruit a candidate to run against Emilio and I had asked the question.

A DCCC spokesman declined to comment.

Community and political organizer Joey Williams of Bakersfield told The Times that potential candidates are either waiting until 2020 out of respect for Huerta or out of concern for what a loss would mean for their political futures.

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Williams said he was part of a conversation between Democratic Party consultants and a potential candidate last year.

The big concern was opposing Dolores, Williams said. If you get into the race youre going to have to square off with Dolores and her machine thats working to get Emilio elected, and the community that supports her.

Another local activist shared a similar story. You dont want Dolores Huerta mad at you; you want her endorsement, the source said.

Emilio Huerta said local Democrats asked him to run against Valadao again after it became clear that no other Democrat would do so. He said he and his mother dont have a political machine or leverage against anyone, and said he had not heard criticism of his mothers outreach.

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Its not uncommon for a candidate or a party to try to clear the field to avoid tough competition and focus on the general election.

Certainly we were hoping that no one else would get into the race, the candidate said.

Huerta, 60, spent much of his childhood helping his mother as she worked with Cesar Chavez to build the United Farm Workers labor union. He left high school at 16 to work for the union and followed his mother into union work after earning a law degree. He was once a national representative for the United Farm Workers and worked on farmworker issues such as opening banks in rural areas and building senior and low-income housing.

Democrats had high hopes when he first decided to challenge Valadao, in part thanks to his mothers legacy. But he barely made it past the primary after Democrats split their votes and ultimately lost to Valadao by 13 percentage points as Clinton prevailed over Donald Trump by 15 points.

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After announcing his second attempt in May, Huerta essentially went silent for months. He sent some email appeals asking for volunteers to knock on doors. His campaign Twitter account has published just 15 tweets. His website displays ads from the 2016 campaign. Local Democratic activists said he showed up at their meetings all summer, but never mentioned that he was running for Congress.

My son Emilio Huerta is fighting to build opportunities for the Central Valleys future in Congressional District 21.



NOW is the time to build a CONGRESSIONAL WALL OF RESISTANCE!!!



Get involved 831-970-1674https://t.co/RNdMOFpEYI#Huerta4Congress#WIN21#VOTA#FlipIt pic.twitter.com/MGWZLMX3Ai  Dolores Huerta (@DoloresHuerta) January 27, 2018

He raised less than $100,000 in 2017, even though he paid a consulting company $58,500 to help him fundraise. In contrast, 18 first-time Democratic candidates in other districts each have raised more than $500,000. Headed into 2018, Huerta had about $97,000 in cash on hand while Valadao had nearly $1 million.

Dolores Huerta has given $1,000 to her sons campaign and so far has tweeted once asking people to get involved.

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She has been touring the country to promote a documentary aimed at solidifying her legacy as a civil rights hero and to raise money for the Dolores Huerta Foundation, which organizes neighborhood groups in the Central Valley. She said that after the primary, she expects to focus on campaigning for her son.

Elected officials said members of Congress frustrated by Dolores Huertas actions and her sons poor fundraising so far dont plan to help his campaign. Prominent members of the California congressional delegation have lent support to candidates challenging vulnerable Republicans but not Huerta.

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus political action committee has endorsed candidates in other districts but has stayed quiet in the 21st Congressional District. It endorsed Huerta in 2016.

Huerta did win the endorsement of the United Farm Workers union his mother helped found. As the only Democrat in the running, he received a preliminary endorsement from the California Democratic Party, which holds a convention starting Friday.

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Rep. David Valadao of Hanford, left, and Emilio Huerta of Bakersfield are the only candidates running in Californias 21st District. (Associated Press )

Its not too late for others to enter the race  the filing deadline is March 9.

Several local Latino politicians have considered bids, and a Democratic strategist working in California politics has hinted that Democrats expect a strong recruit to launch in the coming weeks. The strategist requested anonymity because the candidate hasnt yet announced.

If Huerta prevails in the June 5 primary and becomes the candidate to run against Valadao, the elected officials and local activists said they fear a repeat of his 2016 loss in a district that, on paper, seems prime for a takeover.

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In this overwhelmingly Latino district, only 29% of registered voters are Republicans. Voters here have picked Democrats for president, governor and senator for nearly a decade. Just two other Republican-held House districts in the country backed Clinton by a wider margin.

Valadao has been a good fit for the district, and has easily fended off challenges since his first election in 2012.

A local dairy farmer, Valadao has focused on bringing more water to the Central Valley, something that plays well in an agricultural district hit hard by drought. Hes been willing to break with many Republicans on immigration reform, most recently signing on to support Democratic bills to resolve the legal status of people brought to the country illegally.

Valadao said he hasnt spoken to Huerta since 2016 and hasnt seen evidence his campaign is revving up.

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Hes a nice enough guy, we just disagree on a lot, the congressman said.

sarah.wire@latimes.com

Follow @sarahdwire on Twitter

Read more about the 55 members of Californias delegation at latimes.com/politics

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Emilio Huerta, undaunted by 2016 loss, is back to challenge Rep. David Valadao

Updates on California politics
Healthcare in the United States is really expensive, and one of the reasons is that managing healthcare bills is really, really expensive.

Just how expensive? At one large academic medical center, the cost of collecting payments for a single primary-care doctor is upward of $99,000 a year.

And billing for primary-care visits is a bargain compared with billing for trips to the emergency room, a hospital stay or a surgical procedure, according to a report published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Assn.

Researchers from Duke University and Harvard Business School figured this out by reconstructing the entire life cycle of a medical bill  from the time a patient makes an appointment until the time the health system pockets the money for the services rendered. They applied their analysis to five types of patient encounters, as they put it.

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Members of the research team conducted 27 interviews with people involved at various points in the billing process to understand every single step along the way. They also surveyed 34 doctors to understand their billing-related activities, such as submitting prior authorization requests to health insurance companies.

Once they had mapped out the entire billing process, they used salary information from the medical center to determine the cost of carrying out each step. They also added in overhead costs such as office equipment and utility bills.

These were the results:

 It cost $20.49 to get paid for a typical primary-care visit, and took 13 minutes of processing time.

 It cost $61.54 to get paid for a typical trip to the emergency room, and took 32 minutes of processing time.

 It cost $124.26 to get paid for a typical hospital stay, and took 73 minutes of processing time.

 It cost $170.40 to get paid for a typical outpatient surgical procedure, and took 75 minutes of processing time.

 It cost $215.10 to get paid for a hospitalization that required surgery, and took 100 minutes of processing time.

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If those numbers arent enough to make you sick, consider this: For most healthcare providers, the true costs of billing are probably higher  perhaps much higher.

The medical center in the study handles so many patients that it created a separate company just to handle the bills. Its centralized system  which employs the equivalent of 1,500 full-time workers  surely benefits from economies of scale that are not shared by smaller providers, the study authors wrote.

Also, the flow chart that represents the life cycle of a bill left out several expensive items. These include the cost of negotiating prices with insurance companies, the cost of training doctors to handle billing-related tasks, and the cost of making sure that every potentially reimbursable service is added to the bill.

The study authors didnt even attempt to tally the considerable costs to insurers of processing and paying all of these bills. If they had, the total costs to the system could have been much higher  especially since some studies have found that the bill-related costs of payers are even higher than the bill-related costs of doctors and hospitals.

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Feeling outraged? Dr. Vivian S. Lee, a radiologist at the University of Utah, and Bonnie Blanchfield, a senior scientist and former CPA at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston, are way ahead of you.

The unnecessarily complex, fragmented, and inefficient system of billing, coding, and claims negotiations in the US health care system employs enough people to populate small nations, the pair wrote in an editorial that accompanied the study.

There is no apparent reason for this, they argued. Outside the healthcare industry, it might take about 100 full-time workers to collect $1 billion worth of bills. But when doctors are involved, it takes an astounding 770 full-time equivalents to collect the same amount of money, they wrote.

The process of moving money from payer to hospitals and physicians in the United States consumes an estimated $500 billion per year, they continued.

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And that doesnt include the psychological costs of dealing with medical bills, Lee and Blanchfield wrote. Ailing patients cant afford this extra layer of stress, and even doctors are mystified by their own families medical bills.

America simply cant afford to keep paying its medical bills this way, they concluded: Now is an opportune time to start unraveling the Gordian knot of health care billing  for the sake of the health  both physical and financial  of patients.

karen.kaplan@latimes.com

Follow me on Twitter @LATkarenkaplan and like Los Angeles Times Science & Health on Facebook.

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My father used to say I was born in a log cabin (i.e., the Stanford Hospital). Now that I am approaching 70, I am proud to say, I am a dreamer. For example, I dream that one day the law will be colorblind, no one will be denied healthcare for any reason, at a minimum community college will be tuition-free, the water people drink will be clean and, most of all, my children will live in a peaceful world.

I also dream about todays Dreamers  the young people who were brought to this country when they were little and now face deportation. I want their nightmare to end so they can remain here.

Dreamers always have shaped the American landscape. From Plymouth Rock to the Silicon Valley, their dreams have been the driving forces behind our economic, social and cultural revolutions. I dont know for sure, but Im guessing the next big innovations could easily come from a handful of todays Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Dreamers.

When I was a boy growing up in Palo Alto, my dream was to play left field for the San Francisco Giants. When I realized I couldnt hit a curve ball, I began dreaming about going to college. After I graduated from USC, I dreamed about working on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Two years later, my dream was to surf in the Seychelles, an island chain in the Indian Ocean. The following decade, I dreamed about living in Laguna Beach.

My point is, I have lived a long, wonderful life. Nearly every one of my dreams has come true. With this last thought in mind, I want todays DACA Dreamers to have the same opportunity to dream big like I did. Martin Luther King Jr. and music legend John Lennon often spoke about dreams.

I would never pretend to be as eloquent or talented as they were, but still, I have a dream. The best part is, Im not the only one.

Our Founding Fathers literally dreamed up a new nation. Its time to honor their dream by allowing todays DACA Dreamers to live in that new nation.

Denny Freidenrich

Laguna Beach

NRA is akin to a terrorist organization

A nation that cannot protect its innocent children from savage butchery, week after week, year after year, decade after decade, is a barbarian nation, worthy of utter contempt by the rest of humanity.

For these brutalized children there is no deadlier terrorist organization than the National Rifle Assn. (NRA) and its enablers  its entire membership, its paid stooges in Congress, the current occupant of the White House and the millions of complicit voters who keep them in office.

Shame on America!

Jamshed Dastur

Newport Beach

Investigation into signature gathering is valid

I applaud the Newport Beach City Council for undertaking an investigation of alleged irregularities in the Councilman Scott Peotter recall petitions. Protecting the integrity of our local elections is the foundation of our democracy. Did anyone knowingly submit fraudulent signatures? We wont know until a thorough investigation is done by the district attorney and our city.

Bob McCaffrey

Volunteer chairman, Residents for Reform

Balboa Island

How to get published: Email us at dailypilot@latimes.com. All correspondence must include full name, hometown and phone number (for verification purposes). The Pilot reserves the right to edit all submissions for clarity and length.
Five cars were destroyed as a fire burned through a Glendale carport Sunday morning, authorities said.

The Glendale Fire Department responded to reports of a fire at a townhome complex in the 500 block of West California Avenue around 9:40 a.m. Anita Shandi, fire department spokeswoman, said heavy smoke was seen coming from the building when firefighters arrived.

The fire originated from the carport and eventually spread to the townhome units above, damaging the floors and walls of at least two of the homes. A gas line was damaged as a result of the fire and caused a leak, according to Shandi.

All of the residents of the townhomes were evacuated safely, and firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze by 11:15 a.m. Shandi said firefighters from Burbank and Pasadena were called in to help.

Its unknown what caused the fire, and the incident is under investigation.

Glendale firefighters responded to a blaze at a town home complex in the 500 block of West California Avenue sometime Sunday morning. (Courtesy of the Glendale Fire Department )

andy.nguyen@latimes.com

Twitter: @Andy_Truc
From the moment you step into a nondescript building near Columbus Circle in New York City, you are transported from Manhattan to the beloved and fictional Downton Abbey in England. Downton Abbey: The Exhibition allows fans to once again fall in love with the lives and stories of the Crawley family.

The display, which continues through April 2, is a careful and lovingly crafted postscript to the Downton Abbey PBS series. For those still mourning the shows end a few years ago, this exposition will deliver an ample helping of everything you loved about the original series.

The servants dining area and famous bell board (right) are featured in the display, which remains in New York City through April 2. (Rodolfo Martinez/NBCUniversal International )

As you enter the first room, Lord Grantham and Carson are there to greet you in a 360-degree projected view of the driveway and the main house. Youll see other projected characters speaking to you in footage created especially for this show.

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Once you stop swooning over the welcome, visitors move into rooms that feature sets used on the show, including Mrs. Patmores kitchen and Lady Marys bedroom. And yes, the servants bell board that figures so prominently in the shows opening is within reach.

The set of Lady Marys bedroom, complete with costumes from Downton Abbey. (Rodolfo Martinez / NBCUniversal International )

Like the series, the exhibition places the Crawleys in context of the times they are living, with artifacts and storylines about women clamoring for the right to vote, the fall of Britains aristocracy and the economic doldrums of post-World War II England.

Hats are part of the fashion on display at Downton Abbey: The Exhibition. (Mary Forgione / For The Times )

In addition, period costumes  mostly worn by Mary, Edith and Cybil as well as Lady Grantham  beautifully fill rooms with windowed cases. Outfits include the elegant beaded formal dresses that Lady Mary wore merely for dinner and Cybils blue harem pants that sent shock waves when she debuted them.

The Crawleys dining table, where everyone in the fictional family dressed for a formal dinner. (Mary Forgione / For The Times )

Hats and other accessories, which figure prominently in re-creating the fashion of the period, also are on display.

Downton Abbey is located at 218 W. 57th St. (very near the Columbus Circle/59th St. subway stop). Its open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets bought online cost $35 for adults and are sold for a set time and date; VIP tickets cost $49 and allow you to visit any time on a specific date.

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There are special events too, such as a Downton Abbey Soiree on Friday and March 23. You can dress up in your Edwardian best for a three-hour cocktail party that includes after-hours admission to the exhibition ($225 per person).

The exhibition remains in New York City through April 2; no word yet on where it will land next.

Info: Downton Abbey: The Exhibition, 218 W. 57th St., New York, N.Y.; (866) 811-4111

travel@latimes.com

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@latimestravel
He has been cited by Rush Limbaugh, quoted in the New York Times, featured at Real Clear Politics and Lucianne.com and interviewed on radio, TV and in social media.





For many years he served as a Lecturer in Corporate Communication at Penn State University. A former President of the Philadelphia Public Relations Association (PPRA) he has lectured at Rowan University, Temple University, The College of New Jersey and Arcadia University. He has conducted workshops on public relations for thousands of participants throughout the nation and has taught countless others the art of public speaking. He has also advised numerous lawyers, judges, public officials and political candidates.





Cirucci is a prolific writer and his op-ed pieces have appeared in the Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia Inquirer, Courier-Post and other publications.



A native of Camden NJ, Cirucci is a former President of the Philadelphia chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators. Cirucci served as Associate Executive Director of the Philadelphia Bar Association for nearly 30 years. He served as Chair of Penn State University's Professional Advisory Board for the Corporate Communication major at Penn State Abington and on the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Judicial Selection Commission.



He received his MA degree from Rowan University and his BA from Villanova University. He has been named a Distinguished Alumnus of Rowan's public relations program and was inducted into the Philadelphia Public Relations Hall of Fame. He received the E. A. "Wally" Richter Leadership Award from the National Association of Bar Executives' Communications Section. The Award is the Section's highest honor. He has also been honored by numerous other local, state and national groups.









Cirucci's passions include politics, the popular culture, books and authors, art, communication, music, theatre, movies, dining and travel. In his hometown of Camden, Cirucci taught fifth grade at the Ulysses Wiggins Elementary School named for the founder of the Camden NAACP. He later served as editor of a local weekly newspaper, as Assistant to the Township Manager of Cherry Hill Township and as Associate Director of Communications at the New Jersey State Bar Association.

He's Dan Cirucci, the founder and editor-in chief of the Dan Cirucci Blog, Matt Rooney's sidekick on Save Jersey's weekly videocast and one of the most widely honored public relations professionals in his field. He's also been a public relations consultant to numerous organizations and individuals and hosted The Advocates on RVN-TV.
Landing in New Delhi on Tuesday to begin what was billed as an unofficial tour to promote his familys real estate interests in India, Donald Trump Jr. wasted little time before veering into international politics.

Some of Trump Jr.s first statements in India could be seen as crossing the line into geopolitics, showing how difficult it is to focus solely on business when youre the son of the U.S. president and you havent been exactly shy about defending his political views, statements and policies while running his business empire.

Asked to compare India with China as a place to invest, President Trumps eldest son  and acting head of his business empire  told journalists: As a businessman, I feel things here are substantially more aboveboard.

I think the mentality of the people is the same, the Press Trust of India quoted Trump Jr. as saying. I think there is probably little bit more honesty.

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The comparison undoubtedly flattered his Indian hosts, who view China as a strategic rival in Asia, but illustrated what many U.S. critics described as the ethical and political quandaries surrounding Trump Jr.s multicity tour of the country this week.

Trump Jr. has described this as purely a business trip to boost sales in four luxury real estate projects in India that have the Trump name attached. A fifth, commercial property is in the works outside New Delhi, making India the Trump Organizations most active overseas market.

But Trump Jr. could hardly avoid politics completely.

He is scheduled to deliver a policy address on Friday at a business summit in New Delhi, with the topic listed as Reshaping Indo-Pacific ties. The conference brings together executives and policymakers, and organizers say it will showcase Indias rise in world affairs.

On the website of the summit, sponsored by a leading Indian newspaper, Trump Jr. received second billing among the speakers, after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ahead of the countrys finance minister, Arun Jaitley.

And he was due to attend at least two dinners to thank buyers of apartments in Trump-branded properties, including in the New Delhi satellite city of Gurgaon, where a pair of 600-foot towers will house deluxe apartments priced from $750,000 to $1.5 million.

Trumps Indian partner, Tribeca, launched the Gurgaon project last month and promised any buyer who put down a 30% deposit an invitation to dinner with Trump Jr. In recent days, glossy wraparound advertisements have run in major Indian newspapers reading: Trump is here. Are you invited?

For the last however many days every newspaper in India has been wrapped in this abominable invitation to dinner with Trump Jr. pic.twitter.com/HXub9Hrpte  Patrick French (@PatrickFrench) February 18, 2018

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The dinners gave the appearance, to some ethics experts in the U.S., that the Trump Organization was selling access to a member of the presidents inner circle. A representative of Mumbai-based Tribeca who was not authorized to speak to the media said the dinner would be a meet-and-greet and nothing at all about politics.

Late last year, President Trumps daughter Ivanka Trump led the U.S. delegation to a global entrepreneurship summit in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad. Unlike his sister, Trump Jr. has no official White House position.

By American standards, its very unusual to have a presidential family member coming ostensibly on a business visit and talking about things that are not about business, said Dhruva Jaishankar, a foreign policy fellow at the Brookings India think tank in New Delhi.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Tuesday that the Secret Service was providing protection and other services for Trump Jr. in India. Though he is traveling as a private citizen, she said, he is among those connected to the president who qualify for such protection.

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The Trump Organization has not invested any money in the Indian projects but licensed the use of its name and stands to reap an undisclosed amount of royalties based on sales. Tribeca said this month that sales in the Gurgaon towers  where the apartments are said to feature floor-to-ceiling windows and private elevators  had topped $78 million in the first 30 days, making it the fastest-selling Trump property in India.

Others include twin residential towers in the western city of Pune, a skyscraper with a golden facade being built in the commercial capital, Mumbai, and a 38-story residential tower in the eastern city of Kolkata. The projects are lavish by Indian standards, some advertising valet service, lap pools and designer interiors.

The Trump Organization does not disclose its income from the licensing fees, but according to President Trumps 2017 financial disclosure report filed with the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, his company earned up to $1 million in royalties from the Kolkata project.

As president, Trump said he would not conduct any new business abroad, but deals that were struck before his election were not paused. Speaking to an Indian news channel, Trump Jr. lamented the fact that the company could not do more in India, where it signed its first licensing deal in 2011. (That project, in Mumbai, was ultimately scrapped.)

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When people talk about it these days, its like, profiteering from the presidency and all this nonsense, Trump Jr. told Indias CNBC channel. But wait a minute. I cant do deals. Ive spent over a decade creating relationships to now, where we have given incredible deals that are all active, and we could do so many more.

Trump Jr.s positive reception in India was due in part to his fathers warm relations with Modi, who also developed a strong working relationship with then-President Obama. Trump has pleased many Indians with his tough stances against Pakistan and China, and in a phone call last month, said the U.S. considers India a true friend and partner in addressing challenges around the world.

Speaking about his father, Trump Jr. told the Economic Times newspaper: You have someone now  wholl say what hes thinking and then actually implement it, not just tell you what you want to hear and do nothing. And thats kind of important and I think you may be experiencing something a little similar here with Modi.

It was striking, to some observers, that Trump Jr.s visit was receiving more favorable media attention than that of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has been snubbed by top officials during a visit to India this week due to his perceived outreach to members of a Sikh religious separatist movement who live in Canada.

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Its not as if people in the Indian government are going to go by anything that Trump Jr. says, because there are many other official channels to the White House, Jaishankar said. But if he develops a more favorable impression of India, that can only be a good thing.

shashank.bengali@latimes.com

Shashank Bengali is South Asia correspondent for The Times. Follow him on Twitter at @SBengali

Staff writer Tracy Wilkinson in Washington contributed to this report.

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UPDATES:

7:12 p.m.: This article was updated with a statement from the State Department.

This article was originally published at 9:10 a.m.
Israel continues to be rocked by new revelations in the cascading series of corruption investigations related to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Two former associates have been arrested and one has agreed to turn states witness against the Israeli leader.

In one twist, the Israeli police accused Nir Hefetz, Netanyahus former communications director, of offering a judge the post of attorney general in exchange for dismissing an indictment against the prime ministers wife, Sara.

It is yet another charge linked to Netanyahus efforts to protect himself and his family from police charges and unfavorable coverage in the media.

In another development that may prove devastating to Netanyahu, police announced at 1 a.m. Wednesday that another close associate of Netanyahus, Shlomo Filber, had agreed to provide testimony against the prime minister.

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The Hefetz investigation could come down to Netanyahus word against that of the chief justice of Israels Supreme Court.

The police accuse Hefetz, who remains a confidant of Netanyahus and who was arrested Sunday, of offering retired judge Hila Gerstel a quid pro quo whereby Netanyahu would appoint her attorney general in exchange for closing a case in which Sara Netanyahu was alleged to have abused public funds.

Israeli media reports said a shocked Gerstel immediately recounted the events to her friend Esther Hayut, who is now chief justice of the Supreme Court. Hayut is expected to be questioned as a witness in the case.

Filber, a former director general of the Communications Ministry, was arrested on Sunday. He is suspected of granting financial and regulatory benefits to Bezeq, Israels telecom giant, on behalf of Netanyahu. In return, police suspect that Shaul Elovitch, Bezeqs controlling shareholder, ordered the Walla news portal he owns to provide the Netanyahus with positive coverage.

Filber, in his early 50s and the father of young children, is expected to provide testimony about the privileges Netanyahu is alleged to have provided Bezeq and, crucially, about the prime ministers knowledge of the incident.

Netanyahu is a suspect in two unrelated criminal cases. Last week, the police recommended Israels attorney general indict Netanyahu for bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

In a statement, Netanyahu said, What has happened over the past two days is simply outlandish. Its a scandal. Theyve brought two delusional, false allegations as part of a campaign of persecution against me and my family that has been going on for years already. They show up with a new case every two hours.

Netanyahu has not been directly tied to the accusations that Hefetz attempted to bribe Judge Gerstel.

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The prime minister spent much of Tuesday in the southern Israeli town of Ashkelon, where he inaugurated a fortified emergency room in the hospital that serves most of Israels south.

On Monday, the police revealed that seven of Netanyahus closest associates, including senior figures in his communications team, had been arrested as suspects in a wide-ranging case of abuse of power.

Tarnopolsky is a special correspondent.

UPDATES:

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5:15 p.m.: This article was updated to report that Shlomo Filber has agreed to testify against the prime minister.

12:10 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details that include reports that another close associate of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Shlomo Filber, is in advanced talks to turn states witness against the prime minister.

This article was originally published at 9:50 a.m.
A rebel-held suburb just outside Damascus, the Syrian capital, witnessed some of the deadliest fighting in the countrys long-running civil war Tuesday, even as the United Nations issued a plea to end the senseless human suffering in the enclave.

The bombardment, believed to be a prelude to a large-scale assault aimed at routing the rebels from east Ghouta, left at least 194 people dead and hundreds more wounded over 48 hours, activists said. The uptick in violence comes as the government of President Bashar Assad presses its advantage and tries to reassert control over all of Syria.

Ghouta, immediately east of the capital, is one of the oppositions last remaining bastions in the country. The U.N. estimates that it is home to 393,000 residents.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a United Kingdom-based watchdog that relies on a network of activists in Syria, reported that 144 people had been killed Monday, while a fresh round of violence Tuesday left 50 more dead.

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A picture taken on Feb. 20, 2018, shows plumes of smoke rising following a reported government airstrike in the rebel-held town of Hamouria, in the besieged east Ghouta region on the outskirts of the Syrian capital, Damascus. (Abdulmonam Eassa / AFP/Getty Images )

That would make it the highest death toll since a suspected sarin gas attack struck east Ghouta in 2015, killing hundreds. That attack brought the U.S. to within a hairs breadth of deploying cruise missiles against the seat of power in Damascus.

Ghouta residents described an apocalyptic scene, with at least a dozen towns in the suburban region struck by a lethal combination of artillery, mortars and airstrikes that hasnt stopped for two days, said Abu Khaled, a 30-year-old former teacher who was hiding in a basement with members of his extended family, in a video interview via the WhatsApp messaging service.

The Ghouta has never witnessed such an escalation. Before you had bombs and strikes, sure, but it wasnt this hysterical targeting were seeing now, said Abu Khaled, adding that most of the people hiding in the basement with him had not been able to leave for three days.

His camera showed a grungy space, with a rock-strewn dirt floor and no bathroom, where Abu Khaled and 34 other people, mostly women and children, had taken shelter. The sounds of the ferocious barrage could be heard in the background.

You just sit in the basement and you feel like its going to collapse on your head at any minute, said Abu Khaled.

Siraj Mahmoud, a spokesman for Syrian civil defense volunteers, a team of first responders known as the White Helmets, said the bombardment of civilian areas had been relentless.

Warplanes are attacking schools, markets, with all types of weapons ... and its methodical. Its a catastrophe, he said in a phone interview Tuesday.

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Tuesdays victims, Mahmoud continued, included one of their own: a first responder named Firas Jumaa, who was in what the group called a double tap attack in the town of Beit Sawa. (In a double tap strike, a second attack hits the same target after people and first responders have gathered to help victims of the first attack.)

Mahmoud said the death toll was likely to rise significantly because of a severe shortage of medicine. Medical centers were also targeted by the strikes, with at least five hospitals rendered inoperative, according to activists. The U.N. confirmed several had been hit.

There are no safe areas whatsoever in eastern Ghouta, said Mahmoud.

Horrific videos and images ricocheted through social media. Some depicted rows of corpses wrapped in ceremonial white shrouds; others showed first responders and panicked residents running through a fog of dust as they search for survivors among the rubble. One video shows the scene inside a basement, with a chorus of frightened women and children shouting when the camera begins to shake from the effects of a bomb.

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A Syrian civil defense volunteer speaks on a wireless transmitter as other civilians flee an area hit by a reported government airstrike in the rebel-held town of Saqba, in the besieged east Ghouta region on the outskirts of Damascus, on Feb. 20, 2018. (Abdulmonam Eassa / AFP/Getty Images )

Pro-government activists also took to social media to show the massing of troops for the impending ground incursion that Watan, a pro-government Syrian daily, said would happen sometime next week while reinforcements arrived from all over the country.

The armys 3rd and 4th divisions, the Republican Guard, Russian forces, tribal fighters and pro-government irregulars are expected to take part in the offensive, pro-government activists said.

It will also include the Tiger Forces, an elite government unit whose commander, Gen. Suhail Hassan, released a video this week vowing to bring the fight to the rebels in Ghouta.

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I promise you Im the one who will teach them a lesson in combat and fire, said Hassan. And if I light the fire, then I say to them, await its hell. You will see it with your own eyes.

Many in Damascus welcomed the campaign on Ghouta. Rebel units have long peppered Damascus center with mortar and rocket fire. The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency reported five people were killed and 20 others wounded in militant shelling of residential neighborhoods in the capital.

These terrorist attacks come at a time when some Western officials and others are conducting a campaign that can only be described as direct support to those terrorists, said the Syrian Foreign Ministry in a letter to the U.N., employing Damascus customary description for the opposition.

The U.N.s Panos Moumtzis, the regional humanitarian coordinator for the Syrian crisis, said in a statement Monday that the humanitarian situation in Ghouta, already made dire by a years-long siege, was spiraling out of control.

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Malnutrition rates had reached unprecedented levels, while an acute shortage of flour had pushed bread prices to 22 times the national average, said Moumtzis.

Its imperative to end this senseless human suffering now. Such targeting of innocent civilians and infrastructure must stop now, he said.

Linda Tom, a Damascus-based spokeswoman for the U.N.s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said in a phone interview Tuesday that things have always been bad in eastern Ghouta but the last couple of hours have been particularly bad.

Although the U.N. had been able to deliver a shipment of aid on Wednesday, there had been no other, despite the government having approved nine such convoys to besieged areas until the end of the month.

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And the one convoy that went to Ghouta, delivering assistance to some 7,200 people, was nowhere close to meeting the needs of almost 400,000 people, Tom said.

The calls to allow access were echoed by other humanitarian groups, including the International Rescue Committee and Save the Children.

All released statements calling for an immediate halt to the violence while warning that east Ghouta could become another east Aleppo, the former rebel bastion that at one time encompassed more than half of that northern Syrian city.

Beyond Aleppos bustling market, the cost of Syrias brutal civil war becomes clear 

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Pro-government forces took it back in December 2016 after a similar Russian-backed offensive subdued the rebels. They agreed to an evacuation deal giving them passage to the northwestern province of Idlib. Pro-government forces are now waging battles in Idlib, as well as in the south and eastern corners of the country.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also saw another Aleppo scenario in Ghouta, but not as a potential humanitarian catastrophe. In a statement from Moscow reported by the Russian state news agency Tass on Monday, he said he considered it as a model that would serve to broker a similar organized exodus with militants.

Shrugging off the warnings, Lavrov countered that the militants in Ghouta were controlled by the former Al Nusra Front, the Al Qaeda-affiliated rebel faction now known as the Organization for the Liberation of Syria.

We find it very worrisome, he said, that in fact only the Syrian army and the Russian aerospace group that supports it are trying to suppress this terrorist wing of Al Qaeda and those collaborating with it.

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ALSO

Tangled fight in Syria poses new dangers to U.S.

U.S. pledges aid increase to Jordan, hints at developments in Middle East peace process

Russias shadowy world of military contractors: independent mercenaries, or working for the Kremlin?

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Bulos is a special correspondent.

UPDATES:

1:05 p.m.: This article has been updated throughout with Times reporting.

This article was originally posted at 5:40 a.m.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for more than three hours Thursday in what both sides predicted would be two days of difficult talks after months of badly fraying relations between Washington and its NATO ally in Ankara.

An unsmiling Erdogan received Tillerson at the presidential palace. After their meeting, Tillerson would only tell reporters, Were still working.

The diplomatic push came a day after Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis held a tense meeting with his Turkish counterpart on the sidelines of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization meeting in Brussels.

Mattis indicated later that the two sides were still struggling to resolve differences, saying sometimes war just gives you bad alternatives to choose from.

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Turkey, which hosts a major U.S. air base, has demanded that the Trump administration stop arming and training a Kurdish militia in northern Syria. Ankara argues the U.S.-backed Kurds share personnel and ideology with the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, a terrorist group that has waged a deadly insurgency inside Turkey.

Washington, which sees the Kurdish fighters as crucial to defeating Islamic State, has refused.

Turkey launched a military offensive last month against Afrin, a Kurdish-held enclave in northwestern Syria, and has threatened to push about 60 miles east to Manbij, where U.S. troops are deployed with Kurdish forces.

Ankara has urged Washington to move its forces out of the way, but the Trump administration has said it has no plans to withdraw.

U.S. officials fear the dispute with Turkey will distract from efforts to defeat Islamic State. The militants have been pushed into a sliver of land near the Iraqi border, but still pose a terrorist threat.

There is no question that the situation in Afrin has taken the focus away from Islamic State, said Col. Ryan Dillon, the Baghdad-based spokesman for the U.S.-led military coalition in Iraq and Syria.

He said the battle in Afrin has drawn not only Kurdish fighters from elsewhere in Syria, but also Arab and Christian fighters who want to help them.

U.S. officials say that Washington recognizes Turkeys legitimate security concerns about Kurdish militants but that Ankara must show restraint in the volatile region.

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We are urging them to show restraint in their operations in Afrin and to show restraint further along the line across the border in northern Syria, said a senior State Department official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity.

Turkey also is angry at U.S. criticism of the jailing of tens of thousands of people after a failed military coup in 2016, and Washingtons refusal to extradite a Turkish cleric in Pennsylvania who Ankara blames for the coup.

The Trump administration complains in turn of attacks on protesters by Erdogans guards when he visited Washington last year, and the arrests of civilian employees at U.S. diplomatic facilities in Turkey.

The rupture in relations is so severe that the two nominal allies stopped issuing visas to each others citizens for months last year.

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Before Tillerson arrived, Erdogan railed against the United States in a speech to the Turkish parliament in Ankara. He threatened to give Washington an Ottoman slap and suggested he might withdraw from NATO.

We declare that we will destroy every terrorist we have seen starting from the ones standing with [the U.S.] side, Erdogan said. Then they will understand that it is better for them not to stand with the terrorists which they rub their backs on.

Turkey has threatened to purchase Russian military equipment, including air-defense missiles and radar, that might not be compatible with NATO systems, or could give Moscow access to NATO intelligence.

On Sunday, H.R. McMaster, the White House national security advisor, met with Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin in Istanbul to discuss the Kurdish militias.

The disparity appeared to reflect the chill in relations, although Turkish officials said they still hope Washington will take notice of their concerns.

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Bilateral relations can still be rescued, the pro-government Daily Sabah paper wrote in an editorial addressed to Tillerson. However, as things stand, Turkey will not lift a finger to please you. It is about time you thought carefully and did something that made Ankara happy.

Special correspondent Farooq reported from Istanbul, and Times staff writers Zavis and Wilkinson from Beirut and Baghdad, respectively.

alexandra.zavis@latimes.com

Twitter: @alexzavis

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tracy.wilkinson@latimes.com

For more on international affairs, follow @TracyKWilkinson on Twitter
A raid last week of a Bethlehem apartment netted methamphetamine, various prescription drugs and four firearms, police said.

Jeremy Kistler, who lives in the apartment at 331 Broadway, was arrested, and was arraigned Thursday night on multiple drug charges.

The 37-year-old Kistler is free after posting $50,000 bail Saturday. An attorney has not yet entered an appearance for him.

Police said officers with the Northampton County Drug task Force raided the apartment a little after 1 p.m. Thursday, after they saw Kistler walk away from the apartment. Kistler was stopped outside the building, police said.

Inside the apartment, police said they found 30 grams of methamphetamine packaged for resale, about one ounce of marijuana, 15 Hydrocodone pills, 29 Oxycodone Hydrochloride pills, and 15 Adderall pills. The value was estimated at more than $2,000.

In addition to the drugs, officers allegedly found packaging materials, a digital scale, more than $2,300 in cash and four firearms -- three handguns, and one sawed-off shotgun, according to police.

Kistler is prohibited from owning any firearms because of a prior felony conviction for manufacturing a controlled substance. He was arrested March 17, 2015, and later pleaded guilty, court records indicate. He was sentenced to six months to one year and 11 months in jail, documents say.

Police noted the apartment had what they called an "elaborate" surveillance system, consisting of eight surveillance cameras being monitored in several rooms as well as changes to the front door that would have made it difficult for law enforcement to force their way inside.

Anyone with information about drug activity or any crime, can contact the Bethlehem Police Department Tip Line at 610-691-6660 or the Bethlehem Police Department 911 Center non-emergency line at 610-865-7187.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A space heater near a couch and blankets led to a fatal Bethlehem Township house fire that injured three firefighters.

The cause of the Jan. 20 blaze at 3722 Ironstone Rd. was ruled radiant heat too close to combustible materials, said Pennsylvania State Police deputy fire marshal Jim Welsh, who works out of the Bethlehem barracks.

It was an electric space heater in a rec room, near a couch and blankets.

Homeowner Walter Proding, 88, was found dead in a hallway on a top floor of the split-level home. He died from extremely high levels of carbon monoxide in his blood, Welsh said.

The death was ruled an accident and the investigation in the blaze is closed, Welsh said.

Neighbors reported hearing explosions during the fire, and Welsh said the blaze carried over to the garage, where there were multiple combustible items.

Three firefighters suffered injuries in the blaze, including two from Nancy Run who had to escape the fire and were burned.

Jake Gallich, of Freemansburg, suffered second-degree burns and James Peters, of Columbia, suffered second- and third-degree burns. Both were treated and have been released.

Bethlehem Township Fire Marshal Angela Kelly previously said the damage to the home was extensive and the building was considered a total loss.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A 53-year-old Monroe County woman was killed and a Bethlehem teenager seriously injured Monday afternoon in a head-on crash in Chestnuthill Township, Pennsylvania State Police report.

The 17-year-old was driving north on Route 115 near Brookmont Drive in the Monroe County community when the Ford Explorer crossed into oncoming traffic, police said.

The SUV slammed into a southbound Lexus RX330 driven by Diamilatou Bah, of the Blakeslee section of Tobyhanna Township, police said.

Bah died at the scene and the teenager suffered "major injuries to her lower extremities," police said. The girl was take to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Pocono for treatment, police said.

Authorities did not name the 17-year-old, which is common in crashes involving minors.

The investigation is continuing, police said.

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court's redrawn map of the state's congressional districts may not be the final word -- state Republican leaders say they'll ask the U.S. Supreme Court to throw it out. But if it stands, it will dramatically rearrange this year's mid-term elections, in which all 18 U.S. House seats are in play.

The court's plan nixes strangulated, gerrymandered districts created by the Republican Legislature and governor in 2011. That plan worked; since then Republicans have held 13 of the state's 18 congressional seats, despite Democrats having an edge in registration statewide.

The operative question is whether the court's redrawing is fair and constitutional, or just a different bias that reflects the Democratic majority on the state Supreme Court?

The new map keeps districts "compact and contiguous," as the state constitution requires, and regional identities intact. One example is a new 7th District made up of the Lehigh Valley (Lehigh and Northampton counties), along with a strip of Monroe County, including the Stroudsburgs and part of the West End.

What do you think? Is this a better way for Pennsylvanians to elect their representatives? Should it be kept or tossed? Have a say in our informal poll, and feel free to elaborate in the comments section.
Entertainment CCS launches Metnet 12Gbps 60GHz mmWave system



20.02.2018 16:40:45 - Metnet 12Gbps access and backhaul in 60GHz band, utilises 3D SON interference management and SDN Mesh networking architecture



(live-PR.com) - Cambridge, UK, February 20 2018  Cambridge Communication Systems (CCS) Limited today launches its Metnet 12Gbps unlicensed 60GHz mmWave access and backhaul solution. The ultra-high capacity 12Gbps multipoint system is the first element in CCSs new software-defined Mesh network architecture, with multiple Metnet 60GHz nodes operating as a centrally managed SDN-capable networking switch.



Operating in the unlicensed mmWave spectrum band - Cambridge, UK, February 20 2018  Cambridge Communication Systems (CCS) Limited today launches its Metnet 12Gbps unlicensed 60GHz mmWave access and backhaul solution. The ultra-high capacity 12Gbps multipoint system is the first element in CCSs new software-defined Mesh network architecture, with multiple Metnet 60GHz nodes operating as a centrally managed SDN-capable networking switch.Operating in the unlicensed mmWave spectrum band from 57GHz to 71GHz, the new 12Gbps multipoint Metnet system is optimised for performance today, while providing an upgrade path to much higher multi-gigabit capacity. Metnet 3D SON delivers capacity optimisation, automated interference avoidance and low latency, using distributed control of time, frequency, and space switching to manage co-ordination and co-existence with other unlicensed 60GHz systems. Implemented with high-capacity phased array beam steered transceivers, Metnet 12Gbps nodes provide a wide 300 field of view connecting autonomously to form flexible MPtMP (mesh) self-organising, self-healing networks that dynamically reconfigure to optimise performance and spectral efficiency as environment or traffic levels change. Applications include small cell backhaul, FWA, enterprise networks, WiFi backhaul, fibre or G-Fast extension, and CCTV backhaul.



Metnets discreet single unit form factor enables radios to be deployed at street level in 15 mins, with no need for detailed radio planning or manual alignment. The CCS Metnet 12Gbps unlicensed 60GHz mmWave system facilitates deployment in a flexible, organic way, allowing customers to seamlessly evolve their networks over time. Dedicated, long-range Metnet CPEs can also be incorporated into the mesh to support high capacity and low-cost FWA subscriber connections.



Commenting on the launch, CCS CEO Steve Greaves said: This is the first product release within our new Software-Defined Network architecture, and part of our evolutionary roadmap towards 5G next-generation radio. With this new product, were leveraging the low cost base of commercial, off-the-shelf component technology and combining it with our unique Metnet self-organising mesh architecture, to deliver a vastly superior solution that guarantees end-to-end capacity, low latency and quality of service, and resolves QOS issues associated with previous generation unlicensed alternatives. He added: Metnets coordinated, 3D SON interference-aware technology and ability to organically scale makes it an ideal solution for new entrants looking to take advantage of the exciting unlicensed 60GHz and 3.5GHz shared spectrum opportunity. For existing mobile operators, Metnet 12Gbps provides a robust and future-proof platform for network densification via small cells as well as backhaul and access applications. The new Metnet SDN 3D SON product portfolio will rapidly evolve, bringing many new frequency bands and ultimately massive capacity to power the wide scale roll-out of 5G at reasonable cost.



CCS will be showcasing its new Metnet 12Gbps 60GHz mmWave access and backhaul solution at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona (26th February  1st March 2018). To arrange a media briefing, meeting, or on-stand demo, please contact us:



- ends -



About CCS



CCS (Cambridge Communication Systems) is the creator of Metnet  the worlds only self-organising 5G microwave backhaul for small cell, 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), CCTV and fibre extension applications.



In major live deployments from Asia to North America, Metnet is powering networks to mmWave 5G performance  intuitively, scalably, flexibly and cost-effectively.



Delivering high capacity, ultra-low latency and ultra-fast deployment, Metnet is optimised for performance edge today and multgigabit capacity tomorrow.



Metnets proven capability is trusted at the heart of some of the worlds most demanding and data-heavy networks, including a pre-5G network for Telefonica O2 in London, at the heart of the worlds largest financial centre.



With a unique self-organising mesh solution for realising 5G  and beyond  CCSs innovation and vision is connecting the 5G world.



For regular updates, follow us at twitter.com/ccs_multipoint





For further information please contact:

For further information please contact: Press contacts: Nicky Denovan EvokedSet PR for CCS

Distributed on behalf of CCS Ltd by NeonDrum news distribution service (

from 57GHz to 71GHz, the new 12Gbps multipoint Metnet system is optimised for performance today, while providing an upgrade path to much higher multi-gigabit capacity. Metnet 3D SON delivers capacity optimisation, automated interference avoidance and low latency, using distributed control of time, frequency, and space switching to manage co-ordination and co-existence with other unlicensed 60GHz systems. Implemented with high-capacity phased array beam steered transceivers, Metnet 12Gbps nodes provide a wide 300 field of view connecting autonomously to form flexible MPtMP (mesh) self-organising, self-healing networks that dynamically reconfigure to optimise performance and spectral efficiency as environment or traffic levels change. Applications include small cell backhaul, FWA, enterprise networks, WiFi backhaul, fibre or G-Fast extension, and CCTV backhaul.Metnets discreet single unit form factor enables radios to be deployed at street level in 15 mins, with no need for detailed radio planning or manual alignment. The CCS Metnet 12Gbps unlicensed 60GHz mmWave system facilitates deployment in a flexible, organic way, allowing customers to seamlessly evolve their networks over time. Dedicated, long-range Metnet CPEs can also be incorporated into the mesh to support high capacity and low-cost FWA subscriber connections.Commenting on the launch, CCS CEO Steve Greaves said: This is the first product release within our new Software-Defined Network architecture, and part of our evolutionary roadmap towards 5G next-generation radio. With this new product, were leveraging the low cost base of commercial, off-the-shelf component technology and combining it with our unique Metnet self-organising mesh architecture, to deliver a vastly superior solution that guarantees end-to-end capacity, low latency and quality of service, and resolves QOS issues associated with previous generation unlicensed alternatives. He added: Metnets coordinated, 3D SON interference-aware technology and ability to organically scale makes it an ideal solution for new entrants looking to take advantage of the exciting unlicensed 60GHz and 3.5GHz shared spectrum opportunity. For existing mobile operators, Metnet 12Gbps provides a robust and future-proof platform for network densification via small cells as well as backhaul and access applications. The new Metnet SDN 3D SON product portfolio will rapidly evolve, bringing many new frequency bands and ultimately massive capacity to power the wide scale roll-out of 5G at reasonable cost.CCS will be showcasing its new Metnet 12Gbps 60GHz mmWave access and backhaul solution at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona (26th February  1st March 2018). To arrange a media briefing, meeting, or on-stand demo, please contact us: www.ccsl.com/mobile-world-congress-2018 - ends -About CCSCCS (Cambridge Communication Systems) is the creator of Metnet  the worlds only self-organising 5G microwave backhaul for small cell, 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), CCTV and fibre extension applications.In major live deployments from Asia to North America, Metnet is powering networks to mmWave 5G performance  intuitively, scalably, flexibly and cost-effectively.Delivering high capacity, ultra-low latency and ultra-fast deployment, Metnet is optimised for performance edge today and multgigabit capacity tomorrow.Metnets proven capability is trusted at the heart of some of the worlds most demanding and data-heavy networks, including a pre-5G network for Telefonica O2 in London, at the heart of the worlds largest financial centre.With a unique self-organising mesh solution for realising 5G  and beyond  CCSs innovation and vision is connecting the 5G world.For regular updates, follow us at twitter.com/ccs_multipointFor further information please contact:For further information please contact: Press contacts: Nicky Denovan EvokedSet PR for CCS ccs@evokedset.com +44 7747 017654Distributed on behalf of CCS Ltd by NeonDrum news distribution service ( www.neondrum.com) Contact information:

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20.02.2018 16:40:45 -

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Stock Market News

ECR Minerals reports good progress on Victoria gold exploration 20-02-2018 11:57



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HSBC annual profit disappoints as CEO Gulliver says goodbye 20-02-2018 07:04



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Siggi Olafsson installed as new CEO at Hikma 20-02-2018 08:43



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Stock Market News

The PRS REIT raises 250m to help fund massive housing pipeline 20-02-2018 12:24



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US government bond yields higher amid wave of issuance 20-02-2018 19:02



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Vodafone launching new drone safety technology trials 20-02-2018 07:17



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Wood Group wins five-year engineering services contract 20-02-2018 08:07



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New research by a De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) academic has shown that a fundamental change in how psychology research is conducted is required.

One of psychologys main goals is to study human behaviour, which has traditionally been described and explained using principles and theories that can be generalised to all human beings.

An article published in the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences by Dr Carlos Crivelli, VC2020 Lecturer in Psychology at DMU, has discussed new ways to advance our understanding of human psychology by taking into account human diversity.

Dr Crivelli has argued that culture plays an important role in shaping human perception, thought and action and therefore cannot be ignored. Human behaviour is influenced by prior experiences, beliefs and cultural background and therefore approaches constrained by Western assumptions grounded in psychological theories are unsuitable.

Dr Crivelli believes that the best way to advance our understanding of human behaviour is by using data-driven methods. These methods, which are frequently used in other branches of science such as psychophysics, ethology, or artificial intelligence, can reveal new insights that Western theories might overlook.

Data-driven methods allow for more flexibility during the process of data collection. The emphasis on description and discovery does not preclude the existence of a robust mathematical and theoretical background.



Dr Crivelli gathered a lot of data by doing research in Papua New Guinea

For example, machine learning and data mining, social network analysis, psychophysics or behavioural ecology all build mathematical models to describe reality; it is the data speaking rather than the intuitions of the reader.

He explained: In order to diversify our knowledge of human behaviour we need to restore the balance between data and theory-driven methods. Many areas in psychology have been grounded on Western assumptions that are starting to fall apart when we diversify the samples we study and the methods we use.

My research in non-industrialised, indigenous societies in Africa and the Pacific has debunked many established truths that most psychology students from all over the world learn as axioms.

Luckily for my third year psychology students, these established truths are critically discussed in light of the recent evidence that I have published in the field of emotions and facial displays.

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This research, which was published in one of the most important academic science journals, represents an important contribution to DMUs reputation for research excellence.



Dr. Crivelli added: I really believe that my expertise in the field of emotion and social influence should not only benefit DMUs reputation for excellent research but also DMU psychology students critical thinking and provide them with a state-of-the-art approach to controversial issues that are shaping the future of our discipline.

This is an important step forward in psychology and it sets the course for the years to come in many areas within the cognitive sciences. To describe, explain, and predict human behaviour we need to understand human diversity first. And to do so, data-driven methods are key to build a better psychological science.




The views expressed here are personal; official LMS announcements are described as such.




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Lycoming College is pleased to present Small Works, a solo exhibition of stop motion animations and 2D mixed media by artist Sarah Jenkins. The exhibition opens March 1, 4:30  5:30 p.m. in the Colleges Digital Media Gallery, and is free and open to the public. Any viewings after the opening will be available by appointment only.

Jenkins work, inspired by the duality of blue-collar labor, stems from her upbringing in a rural mining town in Appalachia. Her animation systems involve materials such as charcoal, coal slag, screws, t-pins, wood, cardboard and thread. The systems turn, pour, fill, blacken and cut as they perform small labors. The process of stop motion animation is significant to the concept of her work, as it is slow, repetitive and requires patience. According to Jenkins, the animation systems are a labor of love.

She is the recipient of several awards and grants from Pennsylvania State University Altoona, Tufts University, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. She most recently received the Studio Maelor Annual award, a 2018 funded artist residency in Corris, Wales.

Jenkins received a Bachelor of Arts from Pennsylvania State University Altoona, and a Master of Fine Arts from Tufts University. She is currently an adjunct professor of visual art at Pennsylvania State University Altoona.

The Lycoming College Digital Media Gallery, located in the Mass Communications Building on Franklin Avenue and Fourth Street, contributes to the citys arts culture and provides a way for the College to become more involved with the community surrounding it. Students studying film and video arts have the opportunity to interact with visiting artists, as well as learn first-hand about the inner workings of a gallery.

People who wish to view the exhibit after opening day should contact Stephen St. Francis Decky, the gallery curator, at decky@lycoming.edu or Leah Peterson, the gallery director, at peterson@lycoming.edu.
In this article, originally published on venezuelanalysis.com, Ricardo Vaz provides an interesting analysis of the situation in Venezuela. He argues that the Venezuelan people must take the fight to their parasitic importer bourgeoisie if the nation is to overcome the international imperialist siege.

The situation was bleak for the Bolivarian Revolution last spring. With a dire economic situation and a growing wave of violent opposition protests, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro turned the tables by convening a Constituent Assembly. From that point, we witnessed a resurgence of Chavismo, with the success of the Constituent Assembly followed by resounding victories in regional and municipal elections. But with presidential elections now on the horizon, significant challenges remain to be solved for the Bolivarian Revolution while the imperialist pressure is ratcheting up.

The Constituent Assembly did deliver on what was perhaps its most important pledge, which was peace. The opposition attempt to boycott it completely backfired and the violent street protests subsided. The replacement of the chief prosecutor saw a renewed effort in the battle against corruption, particularly in the state oil company PDVSA. The most prominent of those accused is former oil chief Rafael Ramirez (1).

Nevertheless, there has been no tackling of the severe economic crisis. People have been clamouring for action against the economic war from the Constituent Assembly while shortages have worsened and prices have skyrocketed, with salary raises and bonuses unable to keep up. There have been episodes of looting and workers in state companies, while stressing that they have nothing to do with the opposition, have complained about the crumbling infrastructure and their rapidly declining working conditions and living standards.

But there have also been potentially positive developments in recent weeks. A long overdue law granting legal status to workers councils was passed by the Constituent Assembly. The creation of workers councils in workplaces could be a weapon against sabotage from capitalists (more on this later).

Culture Minister, Ernesto Villegas, speaking in a forum dedicated to cryptocurrencies / Image: Alexander Lourido, Venezuelan Ministry for Culture

Currency exchange controls have also been overhauled. The preferential rate of 10 bolivars per dollar was scrapped and a revamped DICOM auction system was launched, with an exchange rate to be set by supply and demand. The hope is that this will do away with what was a tremendously lucrative avenue for corruption and speculation and burst the bubble of the black market. Alongside the creative launch of the Petro cryptocurrency, the government hopes to gain some breathing space in the short term.

In this context of economic turmoil but political momentum, the Venezuelan government announced that an agreement for democratic coexistence with the opposition, negotiated in the Dominican Republic, was on the verge of being signed. The government delegation signed what they claimed, and mediators such as Rodriguez Zapatero confirmed, was the final agreement, but the MUD opposition delegation did not. Shortly after, presidential elections, one of the issues that were being negotiated, were set for April 22, a date that allegedly the MUD had agreed to.

From dialogue to a coup

The Venezuelan opposition engaged in the dialogue only to refuse to sign the document at the 11th hour, perhaps after receiving instructions from Uncle Sam. The agreed-upon document established guidelines for coexistence, stipulations concerning presidential elections and a call for the withdrawal of the sanctions that they have been applauding.

The opposition quickly released another document with their demands dating back to December, which undermined their whole narrative of not negotiating with the dictatorship. We should recall that violent protests were unleashed last year with the demand for immediate presidential elections. OAS Secretary General and chief opposition cheerleader Luis Almagro led the chorus. But now that elections have been set, they are not accepted and its results unrecognised in advance.

OAS Secretary General, Luis Almagros' shifting opinions on the need for elections / Image: left, Reuters peice on March 15 2017; right, Miami Herald piece on January 20 2018

By walking away at the last minute the Venezuelan opposition dealt another blow to its credibility and backed itself further into a corner. After going back and forth last year on whether to participate in elections, the agreement with the government would have given the opposition some chance to save face and say, We will participate in the elections because now we have more guarantees." At this point, it is not clear if they will take part in the presidential elections. They are basically hoping for an imperial miracle that will deliver them back to power.

The US strategy is clear enough. Backing the opposition in an election is also not a priority. Given Chavismos surprising resilience and the oppositions stumbling from one blunder to the next, this avenue does not offer enough of a chance of success. So from the US point of view, full of imperial arrogance, it is safer to pre-emptively declare any election as being invalid.

With its European and Latin American lackeys not far behind, it will keep increasing the sanctions and financial blockade against Venezuela, possibly culminating in an oil embargo that would cripple Venezuelas main income source. The goal is to impose so much suffering on the Venezuelan people that the armed forces, or a sector of them, would be compelled to take power in a coup. Call it the Chilean model. US leaders, from Rex Tillerson to Marco Rubio, have openly endorsed this.

The calls for a foreign invasion have grown louder in recent days, with constant military drills and recent troop movements in Brazil and Colombia that have nothing to do with humanitarian concerns (2), as well as internal sabotage attacks. This prospect still remains unlikely and deeply unpopular, but things can change quickly. The mainstream media have been beating on this drum constantly, irrevocably wedded to the notion of American exceptionalism, so we know there will be no opposition from them.

Not enough socialism

Analysts often tend to overstate things and refer to upcoming events as decisive, crucial or make or break. Without diminishing the fact that Venezuela is the main obstacle to US hegemony in Latin America, we should be clear about what is at stake.

A return to power of the bourgeoisie, electorally or otherwise, would have disastrous consequences for the poor and working class in Venezuela. The economic crisis would be solved on the backs of the workers through massive cuts, layoffs and dismantling of social programs. And all the bottled rage from these past 20 years would be unleashed with a vengeance against all those looking like Chavistas.

However, this does not mean that everything will be solved if the threat of a coup subsides and Maduro gets reelected. The fact that the US is hell-bent on removing Maduro does not mean that everything he does is a step towards socialism. The logic works the other way around. And despite all the progress and the rhetoric, mostly from opponents of the Bolivarian Revolution, capitalism is still very much in place in Venezuela.

The Venezuelan government has gone out of its way in the recent past to offer assurances to investors, national and foreign, that their investments will be lucrative in Venezuela and safe from the dangers of nationalisations (3). Difficult circumstances might force one to make a deal with the devil, or as they are more commonly known, mining companies. Another policy that continues is the handing out of dollars to private companies in the hope that they will do the honourable thing and import whatever they promised to.

The strategy of offering some concessions to capitalists and calling for dialogue has clearly not worked. It has been met with increasing hostility and crippling sanctions, while the bourgeoisie has constantly sabotaged the distribution chain as a way to attack Chavismo. Even if everything was magically restored to how it was before Chavez was first elected, that still would not be enough for the global oligarchy and their Venezuelan proxies, who foam at the mouth at the notion of a former bus driver standing between them and the oil rent.

The efforts to stave off a coup and to defeat the economic war go hand in hand. The state needs to assume all control over imports, nationalise the financial sector and all companies involved in the economic war, so that dollars are no longer squandered or shipped to tax havens. But state control is not enough, overall there needs to be an increased worker control over the economy, especially through the communes, to ensure that all resources are used in the interest of the people.

People from the Simon Planas municipality protest against the results of the municipal elections / Image: El Maizal Commune

This is not an issue of personal preference or faith, it is a matter of removing (economic) power from those who wage the economic war and call for imperial intervention. The mobilisation of the workers and the reinforcement of popular self-defence units are the best defence against a coup. For all the natural resources in Venezuela, its most powerful asset is still a mobilised people.

In the long run companies under workers' control and communes have the potential to form territorial archipelagos where the social relations are not (fully) of a capitalist nature, which are thus more immune to the economic war. This has been a constant debate in the Bolivarian Revolution. It is not a question of choosing the optimal way to construct socialism, rather this is the only way to construct socialism in Venezuela, and it is the only way that the Bolivarian Revolution will survive. Comuna o nada!

On this matter, it should be mentioned that there have been worrying episodes in recent times. From the legal roadblocks imposed on El Maizal commune leader Angel Prado's mayoral candidacy, to cases where security forces come down on the side of landowners in disputes where communes want to put unproductive land to work, or the arrest of critical trade unionists, there is a legitimate concern that the more radical elements of the Bolivarian Revolution are being stifled.

But it should go without saying that the duty of leftist and progressive movements around the world is to stand in solidarity with the Venezuelan poor and working class, which means first and foremost opposing imperial aggression, in the form of sanctions or worse. After that is established there is room to discuss and be critical about the internal dynamics of the Bolivarian Revolution. Grandstanding lectures over freedom and democracy, shrouded in a western superiority complex, only serve to reinforce the narrative of the US State Department. Whatever western leaders and analysts claim Venezuela is lacking, freedom, democracy or human rights, are not landing with those marines.

Notes

(1) On this issue, one should not let the government off the hook easily, because the allegations of corruption inside PDVSA and against Rafael Ramirez have been hanging for years, and only when he started to oppose the government was there any interest in investigating it. The same holds for the alleged extortion ring set up by former prosecutor Luisa Ortega. While the early signs are positive, there needs to be more accountability going forward if prosecutions are not to be seen as political tools.

(2) Some ironic tidbits: 1) Social leaders and former FARC members are killed almost on a daily basis in Colombia, but the media seems happy to let Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos declare himself worried about human rights in Venezuela; 2) Brazils president came to power through a parliamentary coup, and yet no journalist seems bothered to see him expressing his sincere worry about Venezuelan democracy; 3) We often hear how everyone in Venezuela despises Maduro. Yet even according to opposition-aligned pollsters his approval rating is in the mid to high 20s. That is way more than the presidents of Brazil, Colombia, shining US allies, combined.

(3) I will use this occasion to dismiss the thesis that nationalisations broke what used to be a wonderfully productive economy in Venezuela. This argument is often thrown around to reinforce the dogma that only the logic of profit accumulation drives production. The Venezuelan bourgeoisie has historically been the poster child of the parasitic intermediary bourgeoisie, living off the oil rent to establish monopolies in the distribution of imported goods. Nobody summarises this better than Fanon:

The national bourgeoisie of under-developed countries is not engaged in production, nor in invention, nor building, nor labour; it is completely canalized into activities of the intermediary type. Its innermost vocation seems to be to keep in the running and to be part of the racket.
GREENFIELD -- Five members of the Greenfield City Council are expected to travel to Springfield Wednesday and lobby in person on behalf of unionized registered nurses who work at Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield.

Nurses at Baystate Franklin, which is owned by Baystate Health in Springfield, have set a strike date of Feb. 28.

The councilors -- Douglas Mayo, Timothy Dolan, Otis Wheeler, Sheila Gilmore and council president Karen "Rudy" Renaud -- are expected to visit the offices of Baystate Health CEO Dr. Mark Keroack at about 3 p.m., according to a press release from the Massachusetts Nurses Association, which represents Baystate Franklin nurses.

After that, they will see Ed Noonan, a member of the Baystate Health board, at his business, the MNA said.

The nurses have done similar attention-grabbing things before, but this comes one week before the date that's been set for a second one-day strike.

The 200-member bargaining unit's contract with the 90-bed Baystate Franklin facility expired in January 2017.

"We learned of the Greenfield city councilors' planned trip to Springfield via the media," Baystate spokeswoman Shelly Hazlett said in a statement. "Should the councilors have an interest in their community hospital in Greenfield, we suggest they schedule a time to meet with Baystate Franklin leadership in Greenfield.

"The collective bargaining process is ongoing with a federal mediator involved, and it is the mediator's job to communicate between the union representing Baystate Franklin's registered nurses and the hospital leadership regarding contract negotiation matters," Hazlett said. "We look forward to contract resolution through appropriate processes, and find it unfortunate that the MNA is choosing to strike rather than come to the table to negotiate - especially since we gave them dates to continue our negotiations prior to their strike notice, yet they declined to meet."

Nurses had a one-day strike in June 2017. Management replied by adding a two-day lockout. Hospitals contract with replacement nurses for a minimum of three days.

The Massachusetts Nurses Association wants minimum staffing requirements written in to the contract. Management says to do so would rob it of the flexibility it needs to run the hospital.

Baystate Health and nurses at Baystate Noble settled a contract in November.

This story was updated Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018 at 7 p.m. with a statement from a Baystate spokeswoman.
SPRINGFIELD -- Walgreens has begun converting Rite Aid locations into its own brand stores as it completes plans announced last year to buy more than 1,900 Rite Aids for a total of $4.4 billion.

Walgreens said it has bought 1,114 former Rite Aid locations and is about halfway through the total acquisition and transformation process and it has received $2.4 billion.

In Massachusetts, Walgreens bought 130 Rite Aids at the end of January including all but one of the Rite Aid locations in the Pioneer Valley, said Phil Caruso of Walgreens Media Relations. Those locations include:

Agawam

Chicopee

Easthampton

Enfield

Holyoke

Monson

Palmer

Springfield

Southhampton

Southwick

Ware

West Springfield

Westfield

Walgreens is not buying all of Rite Aid. Rite Aid will continue to operate about 2,600 stores and six distribution centers. Federal antitrust regulators turned down an earlier pan to have Walgreens buy all of Rite Aid.

The Rite Aid location in Greenfield, 107 Main St., will remain as a Rite Aid, said Rite Aid spokeswoman Ashley Flower. Rite Aid will also retain locations in Fall River and New Bedford.

Walgreens is converting the former Rite Aids in a step-by-step process, Caruso said. Employees at the locations are now Walgreens employees. For now, the front of the store, that is everything that's not the prescription pharmacy, is continuing to operate as before under the Rite Aid brand. Signs outside the store continue to say Rite Aid. But there is a sign on the window of the door indicated that the store is owned by Walgreens, in addition to signs at the pharmacy letting patients know this is a Walgreens pharmacy.

Then over the next 18 months, locations will convert fully to Walgreens-branded stores. But 600 current Rite Aids being bought by Walgreens will close, the company has said without naming those locations. Caruso didn't respond to questions asking what will happen in cases where Walgreens and Rite Aids that Walgreens has purchased are located close to one another.

In the meantime, Walgreens-owned Rite Aid stores will honor Rite Aid prices and advertisements and will participate in Rite Aid's customer rewards programs, Wellness+ and the Plenti card. The stores will sell and accept Rite Aid gift cards as well.

Pharmacy customers have already received letters notifying them of the change. Walgreens said it honors most prescription insurance plans.
LOWELL - Police and the District Attorney's Office announced in a joint release two arrests in connection with a fatal shooting Saturday morning.

Middlesex DA Marian Ryan and Lowell Police Cheif William Taylor said Christian Tripp-Kirwin, 21, and Joseph Luna, 21, were arrested not long after the shooting of Anthony Luna, 24, near the intersection of O'Connell and Fay streets at about 4:30 a.m.

Luna was transported to Lowell General Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

A second man was wounded in the shooting. He was taken to the hospital where he was treated for minor injuries and released.

The Tripp-Kirwin and Luna were seen fleeing the area of the shooting and police were able to locate the men and found that while they were in possession of a firearm it was not one used in the fatal shooting. Authorities said Tripp-Kirwin and the two Lunas were known to each other, Officials did not explain the relationship between the two Lunas.

Tripp-Kirwin and the younger Luna will be arraigned in Lowell District Court Tuesday on a charge of possession of a firearm without a license.
Archaeologists say they have recovered a human bone from the shipwreck of the 18th century pirate ship Whydah that they think may be pirate captain Samuel "Black Sam" Bellamy's leg, the Cape Cod Times reported.

The Whydah ran aground and sank just off the coast of Cape Cod sometime in 1717, killing all but two of the crew. Historians say 102 bodies washed ashore, but 40 bodies were never recovered, Bellamy's among them.

A human femur found sticking out of a lump of concretion containing artifacts, sand and debris could be Bellamy's, archaeologists say, because it was found very close to where one of Bellamy's own flintlock pistols was found.

The bone was extracted from the concretion Monday during a press conference at the Whydah Pirate Museum in West Yarmouth.

A team of forensic scientists from the University of New Haven will try to extract DNA from the bone and compare it with DNA taken from a relative of Bellamy's.

Bellamy was 28 when the ship sank.

Perhaps not as famous as his contemporary and fellow Flying Gang member, Edward "Black Beard" Teach, Bellamy was, nevertheless, a far better pirate. While Black Beard has gotten the lion's share of press over the centuries, it was Bellamy who captured the most booty.

According to British newspaper The Sun, Bellamy is thought to have captured more than 50 ships and accounted for more than 100 million British Pounds. The Whydah was one of two ships Bellamy captained. The fearsome raider carried 18 cannon, while the second ship, a smaller, lighter and faster vessel, was used to outmaneuver and block victim ships for the Whydah to dispatch.

The wreck of the 300-ton Whydah was found in 1984 off the coast of Cape Cod. Even today the exact location is held secret to prevent unauthorized divers from stealing artifacts. Reportedly, Bellamy was carrying more than four and a half tons of gold aboard the ship when it sank.
Some of the students who crouched in fear for their lives last week when a former student brought deathly destruction to their high school in Parkland, Florida have launched a nationwide movement: Never Again.

"This isn't about the GOP. This isn't about the Democrats," Cameron Kasky, a junior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland told CNN this weekend.

"This is about us creating a badge of shame for any politicians who are accepting money from the NRA and using us as collateral."

Kasky joins fellow students in making his pleas. Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School senior Emma Gonzalez made an impassioned speech at a gun control rally in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday to demand legislators act on gun violence.

The Parkland teens, now in the national spotlight for their fierce gun control advocacy, survived the mass shooting at their high school last Wednesday. Nikolas Cruz, 19, is charged with 17 counts of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of students and staff at Marjory Stoneman high school. Police say Cruz, who was expelled from the school for disciplinary problems, went on a rampage with an AR-15 semi-automatic weapon.

Like its predecessors, the most recent school shooting in Parkland has sparked national debate over gun control and mental illness. President Donald Trump blamed the latter, and declined to mention guns or gun violence in his address to the nation on Feb. 15, a day after the shooting.

Now, the outspoken survivors of Parkland believe action is necessary. The buzz has resulted in two planned events: the National School Walkout on March 14, and the March for our Lives in Washington D.C. and local communities on March 24.

Already in Boston, a Facebook event page created by Julian Diego Lopez-Leyva, Kim Hokanson and Stephanie Cooper Schoen has drawn the interest of 26,000, with more than 4,000 saying they will attend. The page says a "March for Our Lives" will take place on Boston Common on March 24, from noon to 5 p.m., in tandem with displays of action across the country.

"This must be a legislative turning point for our country in regards to gun control. This. is. not. normal. So together with fellow students and survivors [Parkland students] are calling for a 'March for Our Lives,'" the Boston event page says. "Here in Boston - we heed their call."

It is unclear whether a formal permit has been requested for the March 24 event in Boston.
CHICOPEE - State officials have awarded two grants totaling $325,200 to help develop two industrial parks in the city, including one which has been mostly vacant since it was created more than 25 years ago.

State Rep. Joseph F. Wagner, D-Chicopee, chairman of the economic development committee, announced the awards of two Site Readiness Program grants. A total of $255,200 will go to Westover Metropolitan Development Corporation to develop the relatively new Air Park South and $70,000 will go to Westmass Area Development to help in master planning and marketing for Chicopee River Business Park.

"The Site Readiness Program is designed to facilitate development at the local level by providing targeted resources for sites with great potential as these Chicopee projects," he said.

The state awarded a total of $2.5 million to fund a dozen projects under the new program that is designed to help communities, especially those working with private economic development agencies, to create to attract businesses, Wagner said.

The announcement was made with Sen. Eric P. Lesser and Rep. Joseph F. Tosado. After the announcement, Mayor Richard J. Kos tweeted out a thank you to Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and the seven legislators who represent parts of the city.

"Much thanks...for the $255k state grant to WMDC for Air Park South and $70k grant to WestMass for Chicopee River Business Park," he said.

He added the money will be used to spur economic growth in the city.

Westmass and Westover Metropolitan Development are both affiliates of the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts. Eric Nelson, head of Westmass, could not be reached for comment Monday.

Air Park South was created around 2009 when the city sold Western Metropolitan Development Corp. 57acres of vacant property it owned near the Massachusetts Turnpike for $1.45 million. That property was combined with 30 adjacent acres the non-profit agency already owned. Later the city sold the corporation an additional about 10 acres that was originally believed to be owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield but later found to be city property.

Kos in 2015 proposed continuing to support the park by allocating money to the agency to help it begin developing the vacant land. After much debate, the City Council agreed to withdraw the $425,000 from the city's stabilization account and give it to the Westover Metropolitan Development Corp. so it could begin the extensive the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act permitting process.

At the time, some of the councilors said they were reluctant to invest public money into a private agency but officials for the corporation pledged to pay back the city when the property was sold.

A partnership like that however is in part what the Site Readiness program is looking to foster, Wagner said.

"The program is new and designed to assist communities who work hand-in-hand with the development corporations," he said.

The Chicopee River Business Park has a longer and more complicated history. While the property is essentially shovel-ready it has attracted little interest from developers over two decades.

The Chicopee River Business Park was created around 1990 with 110 acres of business property in Chicopee off East Main Street and about 40 acres of land in Springfield.

The park was initially created to attract high-technology businesses but remains mostly vacant with Prima Electro North America as its only business.

"It has had a number of challenges...It was supposed to be about emerging technologies," Wagner said.

There were some environmental problems on part of the property where there was once a rifle range and the Rivers Protection Act passed in the 1990s required some reworking of parcels of property, he said.

The $70,000 is designed to help re-brand the industrial park and to help officials market it, Wagner said.

In the past few months the City Council also voted to modify the zoning ordinance, which covers that property, to allow some more modern industries such as hydroponics as well as to allow more mixed use businesses and limited warehousing to make it easier to market.
HOLYOKE -- Six public school teachers will receive the Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award at a banquet in May.

"It's a privilege and honor to recognize this year's awardees for their hard work and dedication to their students," Stephen K. Zrike, state-appointed receiver in charge of the Holyoke public schools, said in a press release.

The recipients are:

Faith Glanville, E.N. White School

Jeanette Acevedo, Sullivan School

Amy Drohan, Lawrence School

Jessica Giroux, McMahon School

Maureen O'Brien, Metcalf School

Diana Yousfi, Peck School.

The awards are from the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. and the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation, the press release said.

"Excited family members and district administrators surprised the teachers with balloons and flowers," the press release said. (see video above)

Mayor Alex B. Morse, chairman of the School Committee, said progress the schools are making would be impossible without the work of teachers.

"I join with others in congratulating these six excellent educators on this great honor, and I thank them for their tireless commitment to our students and our city," Morse said.

"I am thankful to all those educators who played a role in my own education here in Holyoke, and each time I interact with our teachers today I am reminded of the pivotal role they play in the development and success of our city's young people," he said.

The awards are given annually to honor Western Massachusetts educators based on nominations from colleagues. Nominations are based on teaching practices, subject mastery and scholarship, effectiveness and creativity, impact on students, positive impact on other teachers', participation in professional development and "evidence of going above and beyond in classroom and school community," the press release said.

Honorees receive two tickets to a private gala, two tickets to the awards banquet, $500 check, $250 for teachers receiving the Classroom Innovator Award, plaque, course tuition at a college or university, one-year membership to WGBY-TV Public Television for Western New England and limited membership to a YMCA and the Springfield Jewish Community Center, according to the Harold Grinspoon Foundation website.
HOLYOKE -- Members of the City Council are expected to tee off tonight on the financial mess that erupted at City Hall last week.

"It is safe to say there will be comments," Ward 2 Councilor Nelson R. Roman said.

The Council meeting is at 7 at City Hall.

Holyoke police confirmed to The Republican Feb. 12 that they are investigating a scam that stole money from the city treasurer's office via computer.

On Thursday, the city auditor quit and said he was unable to deal with the "nonsense" and procedural violations at City Hall.

The Council will consider at least two orders related to the financial problems on tonight's agenda. One order would summon City Treasurer Sandra A. Smith and a representative of the Police Department to a meeting of the Council Public Service Committee "to discuss the procedures and protocols for transferring funds in the Treasurer's office and other city departments."

The other order, urged by former councilor Patricia C. Devine and filed by Roman, will ask Massachusetts Auditor Suzanne M. Bump to do an audit of municipal finances. Mayor Alex B. Morse said Friday he supports contacting Bump.

Councilors often merely refer orders to committee so details can be examined in a meeting to be scheduled, but Roman and others said they will have a lot to say tonight about the financial problems that erupted last week.

In June, Smith provided by wire transfer $9,997 to someone who had contacted her by email and who she thought was another department head, Smith told Western Mass News. She told the news outlet she takes responsibility for the scam and it was an isolated breach. But it remains unclear why she failed to inform the City Council.

Holyoke Police Chief James M. Neiswanger said that a suspect in the treasurer's office scam has recently been identified on Long Island, New York, and that Smith is not the subject of the investigation.

"With all the nonsense that goes on with 'room one' and the treasurer, I simply cannot do this job. Nobody can," Pueschel said in an email to councilors that accompanied his resignation letter. "There would be no fraudulent wire or a Christmas tree if procedures were followed. There shouldn't be a dime of city money leaving our accounts without the signature of the auditor and mayor first."

"Room One" is the nickname used for the mayor's office in City Hall.

In his resignation letter, Pueschel said, "Every time I have tried to have departments adhere to procedure, I have been met with resistance. At this point I feel receivership would be a vast improvement for the city of Holyoke."

Morse said Pueschel's remarks were "false assertions."

"Josh's assertion that receivership is the answer to the city's challenges is completely off base. It is also an unqualified position, and certainly not one shared by our independent auditors or by our rating agencies, Moody's and Standard and Poor's, who have either raised or affirmed our credit ratings over the past six years," Morse said.

"We have been aware of issues in the auditor's office for some time," Morse said. "In November, members of the city's financial team approached me and some members of the City Council about deficiencies in the office. To assist in the improvement of practices within our finance departments, we hired an outside financial consulting firm soon after."
When developer Ed Murphy decided to acquire a troubled 16-unit apartment building at 1 Quincy Street in Worcester, he knew he would face challenges.

He didn't expect to find himself staring down the barrel of a gun.

As Murphy and his workers checked out the property before closing on the deal, a tenant mistook them for squatters and pulled a handgun on them, Murphy said in an interview.

"He told us he just got out of jail and wasn't scared to go back there. We defused it saying 'hey, we're property management, we're friendly.' It was a pretty interesting experience," Murphy said. "I wouldn't want to be here at night."

On a recent visit to 1 Quincy Street, heroin needles, crack pipes and human waste littered stairwells and piles of trash sat uncollected by the curb. The building's entrances have long been unsecured, with squatters arriving at night and turning the building into an ad-hoc homeless shelter.

Murphy, however, views it as an opportunity.

Despite the property being named by Worcester Magazine as the worst building in the city, Murphy has spent the past year working out a deal to buy the building from a Texas-based LLC that, he said, had left it to rot.

He closed on the deal this month, paying $425,000 -- less than half of the building's $975,000 list price. And regardless of the vacancies, vagrancy and basement drug deals, Murphy is investing in upgrades and believes he can make it work.

"I honestly don't think the property is that bad, just improperly managed," Murphy said. "We are just going to properly manage it."

Murphy said his company plans to spend about $80,000 on safety and security improvements, including upgraded fire alarms, the installation of 30 security cameras, new keyfob-secured doors and having a super live in the building until the property is stabilized.

If he succeeds, he will have treated a highly visible symptom of Worcester's social ills, from the foreclosure crisis and opioid addiction to absentee landlords and homelessness.

In 1998, the property's owner Chatham Street Realty Trust received $388,500 in public financing from the Massachusetts Housing Partnership Fund Board in exchange for agreeing to an affordable housing covenant. The building would be dedicated to providing housing to low and very low income families making a maximum of 65 percent of the area's median income.

In 2006, the city began foreclosure on the property for unpaid taxes. Chatham Street Realty Trust came to an agreement with the city later that year. But in 2008, both the bank holding the property mortgage and the city's tax authorities filed new foreclosure complaints. The city sold the tax title to the property to Plymouth Tax Services LLC, who in 2015 sold it to Propel Financial 1 LLC.

Propel, a Texas-based company which specializes in purchasing property tax liabilities and tax liens on buildings facing potential foreclosure, foreclosed on the building and took possession of it in 2016. But it did not prove responsive as city officials tried to force them to properly maintain the building.

Propel Financial did not respond to a request for comment.

As the building's tax problems continued, it developed a reputation for code violations. The property at 1 Quincy Street made a Worcester Telegram & Gazette list of troubled properties in 2016. The next year Worcester Magazine named it the worst property in the city, reporting 153 violations, 43 complaints and 30 police incidents there from 2014 through 2016.

That trend continued through 2017, according to housing inspection records reviewed by MassLive. The property was the subject of 19 separate complaints last year, ranging from the presence of squatters and unsecured doors to a lack of heating oil and uncollected trash.

The violations were typically remedied by Propel Financial after being contacted by authorities -- but they often recurred, and sometimes were not fixed until the company was threatened with court action.

On Jan. 24, 2017, the city received its first complaint at 1 Quincy Street that year. The Worcester Police Department reported the presence of squatters and a subsequent inspection found multiple problems, including unsecured entrances, snow and ice buildup on the front stairs and dangerous waste.

"There is an accumulation of rubbish and household debris including needles, drug paraphernalia and other discarded debris in the common areas and vacant units," an inspector wrote. "All rubbish and debris must be removed and the property must be kept in a clean and sanitary manner at all times. Failure to comply with this may result in fines and/or court action."

The property's owner boarded up access points in response to the complaint, but those barricades were quickly breached, according to the inspection records. The city considered securing a court order and securing the property using its own contractors; it was not until Feb. 27, over a month since the initial complaint, that the violations were corrected.

On April 14, the city recorded further accumulation of trash and unsecured access to the building's roof. Propel Financial had not fixed the problems by May 1, and the city referred the matter to court. The property owner did not show up and was held in contempt, according to the records. Months later, in early August, the conditions were abated and the case dismissed.

"The property has been unsecured for probably going on two-plus years now. The homeless people, drug addicts just come into the property and sleep," Murphy said. "It's heated so they stay warm. They kick doors in, break windows."

Murphy's pursuit of the property stretched on for about a year, he said, with one sticking point being the building's affordable housing covenant. He has agreed to keep the entire building affordable until at least 2028, he said. Currently, one bedroom apartments in the building cost $851 per month and studios $768 per month and are reserved for moderate to low income tenants.

Only five of the 16 units are currently legally occupied, Murphy said. He plans on keeping any tenants who are willing to pay rent, which has not been collected in over a year, he said.

"If they don't pay rent they have to go," Murphy said. "We inherited people that we don't know their name, telephone number, emails address. So communication is step one, and step two is getting them to pay rent. I have a feeling that they're not going to want to pay rent."

One tenant, who identified himself as Roland and did not give his last name, said he had been living in the building for 12 years and intends on staying -- despite the break-ins by homeless people who sometimes leave needles, burnt spoons and feces in the stairwells.

"The doors don't close. The doors don't lock," Roland said.

Asked whether he ever complaint to the building's owner, Roland said that was never a realistic option.

"Who was there to complaint to?" Roland said. "He was never here."

The City of Worcester did not respond to requests for an interview with housing officials. Murphy said the city's inspectional services division and fire department had been in touch with him throughout the process, but that he had not heard anything about plans to offer outreach or services to the homeless people currently using the building as an illegal shelter.

"We understand there are a ton of violations," Murphy said. "They're more concerned about getting the building up to code than who's actually here at this point."
This report is part of a MassLive series on what happens to Massachusetts' poor and unwanted when they die and the few people who take on the task of burying them. Read part one and part two.

------------------------

Funeral director Peter Stefan got a call last week, one he is all too familiar with.

Police officers were standing around the body of someone who died with little to no money and little to no family.

This time, it was in Framingham.

Stefan, the funeral director of Graham, Putnam & Mahoney in Worcester, said he got the call Tuesday from Sgt. Paul Patriarca.

"For three hours, they didn't know what to do," Stefan said.

Stefan drove out to Framingham to pick up the body of Edward K. Murphy from 73 Hollis Ave., a sober house, and bring him back to the funeral home in Worcester.

The problem is one Stefan has been pushing state lawmakers to change. The complexities of the issue stretch beyond just a dollar sign: There are only about three funeral homes across the state who will take bodies when people die without resources or any immediate family members.

It can leave police officers stranded, watching over a body with no local funeral directors willing to take the person.

And when Stefan, Lawler Funeral Home or Casper Funeral Services in Boston end up picking up one of those bodies, they are left fighting for state funding and tracking down family members.

The state Department of Transitional Assistance will pay no more than $1,100 to a funeral establishment if the total expense of the funeral and final disposition does not exceed $3,500 for people who receive assistance from the agency or the anonymous.

And if the person's next-of-kin has some savings, that money is deducted from the $1,100.

So, if a widow has some money in her checking account, a funeral director is left with less than $1,000 to carry out a burial. With graves for those on welfare going for around $700 in the Worcester area, funeral directors can be at risk of losing money.

In those cases, the funeral home may completely lose out on the price of other services involved in a burial. Embalming usually costs around $600, Stefan said. Removal of a body can cost from $350 to $400 and it can also cost a few hundred dollars for transportation in a hearse or van.

And, Stefan says the agency sometimes makes funeral directors go after family members to seek money that should be deducted from the $1,100.

One solution Stefan would like to see is a bill that would allow funeral directors to wait two weeks or a month after obtaining the body of an unknown or abandoned person before being able to ask the local Board of Health for permission to cremate the person. Stefan says he would make efforts to ensure the person's religious beliefs allowed cremation.

It would make an impact on the cost of burying someone who dies with no family and no money.

"What do you do," Stefan asked. "Do you leave the body there?"

Framingham police said Sgt. Patriarca could not comment on a case involving a sudden death.

"It is [a] situation that far too many police agencies are faced with," Framingham Police Lt. Patricia Grigas said. "There needs to be a system in place to handle the care of the deceased, in cases of financial hardships and/or no family contacts."

Stefan feels that state legislators "just don't seem to get it."

A spokesman for the office of Senate President Harriette Chandler said there has been no bill language filed.

One option could be filing an amendment to the budget to address the issue.

Chandler, a Worcester Democrat, likely would not sponsor a bill at this time with her new duties as Senate president.

Stefan said he is frustrated that no state legislators have reached out to offer sponsorship of the proposed bill.

"I'm not asking welfare for a dime," he said. "Just change these regulations."

Stefan said that Murphy may have a sister in Florida that could fill out paperwork for state funding for a final disposal.

If Stefan cannot get in touch with the sister or any other family members, he said he will be forced to bury Murphy at St. John's Cemetery in Worcester. It's one of the few local cemeteries that has space for the indigent. Graves cost $700 at St. John's he said.

Murphy, who was in his early 50s, died of natural causes, Stefan said. He is still waiting for Murphy's death certificate.

Nobody wants to deal with this element of the population and thats the sad part, Stefan said.
Lowell company "Bullet Blocker" has seen a recent spike in sales of its bulletproof school supplies following the latest deadly shooting rampage at a high school in Parkland, Florida.

Company founder Joe Curran told the Boston Herald that he has not seen such an increase in sales since the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut or the 2016 truck terror attack in Nice, France.

The company, which operates manufacturing and shipping at facilities in Lowell and conducts most transactions online, sells a wide range of bulletproof materials. Backpacks, zip-up notebooks and folders, briefcases and a variety of clothing all come with different levels of bulletproof plates. Products are typically custom-made and take several weeks to ship out.

The company offers Level IIA, II and IIIA bulletproof plates, which range from 4mm-9mm in thickness. The company says none of its products protect against rifle rounds, like the AR-15 semiautomatic weapon police say was used by Nikolas Cruz to shoot 17 students and staff in Parkland, Florida.

Bullet Blocker began in 2007 when Curran, a father of two, felt embolded to create something to protect his children after the Virginia Tech massacre that left 32 students and teachers dead. The bulletproof backpack, the company's website says, remains the top-selling item around the world.
NORTHAMPTON -- Ten years ago, the Massachusetts Office of Dam Safety ordered the city to either fix or remove the Upper Roberts Meadow Dam, touching off a hard-fought neighborhood campaign to save the historic structure.

Now a decade-long effort by the city to remove the dam on Chesterfield Road -- and drain its five-acre reservoir -- appears to be moving forward.

The state's Department of Fish and Game just awarded Northampton's Department of Public Works a $25,000 ecological restoration grant to complete the permitting process and put the project out to bid, according to a press release from the administration of Gov. Charlie Baker.

Removal of the 30-foot high dam will result in a more free-flowing Roberts Brook, "connecting nine miles of upstream trout habitat" and "repairing ecological processes that support a healthy stream system," reads the release.

The Roberts Brook will still be impounded by the Middle Roberts Meadow Reservoir, which is just upstream from the Musante Beach in Leeds and 6,000 feet downstream from the upper reservoir.

According to state and federal permits, the upper dam will be removed in phases, and 10,000 cubic feet of sediment will be sluiced downstream. Around 1,400 feet of the downstream man-made channel will be "restored," and a 525-foot section of streambed in Leeds, where there is severe erosion, will be buttressed with engineered "cross vanes."



The upper dam was deemed eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, so the Army Corps of Engineers required a historical and archaeological survey near the "impressive granite-faced structure." The dam impounded the city's first drinking water supply and represents a "distinctive example of 19th-century engineering," the ACOE noted.

As part of a 2012 agreement, the city will try to preserve the dam's abutments and northerly dike, and a historic walking trail will be established. The city at the time said it would reuse some of the stone masonry blocks in Pulaski Park downtown. If an "old mill stone from a former bark grinding mill" is found, it will be removed and incorporated into the "onsite interpretive signage area."

The city no longer uses reservoirs on the Roberts Brook for its drinking water. In the early 1900s, Northampton established new reservoirs in Whately and Hatfield.

From 2007 to 2010, a group called Friends of the Upper Roberts Meadow Reservoir tried to save the dam. While the Office of Dam Safety had labeled the structure as a "high hazard dam in poor condition," the group argued that the dam was solid and that repair would not cost much more than demolition, slated at $1.2 million. City officials countered that ongoing maintenance and inspection costs dictated by the state had to be considered, and pointed to grants that may be available for removal.

The neighbors' group argued that a small-scale hydro-electric plant at the dam could generate funds to pay for the dam's upkeep, but that concept was rejected by the city and its consulting engineers.

According to permits, around four acres of the shallow five-acre reservoir is expected to revert to an upland riparian buffer. A plan is in place to establish various native plants within the project area.
A middle school in Jackson Township in Stark County, Ohio was placed on lockdown Tuesday morning after a seventh-grade student was injured by a gunshot wound.

Police believe the young boy shot himself inside a boy's bathroom shortly before 8 a.m. in Jackson Memorial Middle School in Stark County. The town's head of police said the boy was taken to a local hospital and his condition is unknown, according to a broadcast shared by ABC Cleveland.

Police and school officials took extra caution and safety measures following the shooting by initially placing the middle school on lockdown. A school official told reporters the town's four elementary schools were closed and the town's high school was being evacuated. He added that all evening activities in the school district were canceled.

Photos shared on social media show parents waiting to reunite with their children outside the school.

Parents waiting to reunite with their kids. @wews pic.twitter.com/9MFR9QmJjm  Sarah Phinney (@sarahphinneytv) February 20, 2018
HAMPDEN -- The Hampden Police Department and Wilbraham Fire Department are hosting free public training sessions next month with Sarah Gaer, a suicide prevention specialist with the Riverside Trauma Center in Needham and co-chairwoman of the Pioneer Valley Coalition for Suicide Prevention.

The Hampden event is from 6:30-8 p.m. on March 27 in the Police Department's training room. Registration is available online at www.eventbrite.com.

"The Hampden Police Department has trained all our employees on this critical issue and now we have the opportunity to bring it to our community," police said on Facebook.

Wilbraham will host Gaer, a "close personal friend" of the Fire Department who has held past training classes for town firefighters, from 6-7:30 p.m. on March 19 in the police station's community room at 2780 Boston Road, located just east of fire headquarters.

Registration for this event is also available through eventbrite.com.

The free sessions are aimed at all members of the public who are interested in increasing their understanding of mental health and substance abuse issues and how they relate to suicidal thoughts or feelings. Anyone under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

The training will focus on the following topics:

local, state and national data about suicide;

recognition of the warning signs for suicide and risk and protective factors;

understanding the importance of "

having the ability to recognize someone at risk for suicide;

and possessing the skills to ask people about suicide, persuading them to seek help, and referring them to local, state and national suicide prevention resources.

According to an online bio, Gaer has a master's in clinical mental health counseling and began working in the human services field in 1998, specializing in trauma treatment for veterans and women survivors of sexual abuse.

As a trauma response team member, she has responded to calls involving natural disasters, homicides, suicides and terrorism, including serving as a team trauma leader for the deadly 2011 tornadoes that heavily damaged parts of Central and Western Massachusetts.

Gaer is also a "master trainer" for the QPR Institute, a suicide prevention organization based in Spokane, Washington.

Local suicide hotlines are as follows:
A server at the UMass Club, where you can sometimes spot Massachusetts movers and shakers in downtown Boston, is suing the private social venue, arguing that she and her fellow workers had been denied a basic minimum wage, tips and overtime pay.

Kristin Hansen, a Boston resident, has worked at the UMass Club as a server since 2011, and she is seeking to represent all wait staff employees in her complaint.

Earlier this month, she filed a civil complaint against University Services, Inc., a nonprofit which operates the UMass Club space on the 32nd floor of the One Beacon Street building.

The club, which bill itself as a "private social club in Boston, and a useful business tool for alumni, faculty and friends of the University of Massachusetts," offers skyline views from its location on historic Beacon Hill, steps from the State House and Boston City Hall.

Gov. Charlie Baker and former Senate President Stan Rosenberg, among others, have been spotted in breakfast meetings at the club.

University Services, Inc. provides space, food and beverages for private events like weddings and networking get-togethers, and also operates the various UMass campus bookstores.

In her lawsuit, filed in Suffolk Superior Court, Hansen alleges University Services Inc. failed to pay wait staff employees a basic minimum wage during shifts where they don't receive tips and do not receive enough in tips to compensate for the difference between the hourly rate they're paid and the basic minimum wage.

Hansen also alleges that University Services Inc. violated the state's tips law by distributing some banquet service charges to outside vendors who provide temporary banquet workers, instead of giving them to eligible wait staff employees, according to her complaint.

A spokesman for UMass declined to comment since it relates to a pending legal matter.

Hansen's attorney, Brant Casavant, also declined to comment beyond what was in her complaint.

"A class action is superior in this case for several reasons, including, but not limited to: the case challenges uniform wage practices; the amounts owed to individual employees are not substantial enough to justify individual lawsuits; many employees may be reluctant to bring claims individually for fear of retaliation" and some may not have the money to bring their own individual claims, the lawsuit says.

According to her complaint, Hansen filed a wage complaint with Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey's office, and on Jan. 26, Healey's office gave her a letter authorizing her to bring the class action.

Hansen is seeking the money she says she's been denied, treble damages, interest, and attorneys' fees and costs.
SPRINGFIELD - Firefighters making use of a ice-rescue sled Tuesday afternoon rescued a dog that had fallen through some thin ice at Five Mile Pond off Boston Road.

The dog, a female Labrador retriever named Nora, had fallen through the ice while walking with her owner, said Dennis Leger, aide to Fire Commissioner Bernard J. Calvi.

The owner went out onto the ice to attempt to rescue the dog but was unable to reach it, Leger said. He did not fall through but was escorted off the ice before the rescue started.

Firefighters used the sled to reach the dog, and a firefighter in a protective suit jumped in to grab Nora.

The dog was not injured.

Firefighters were called to the pond at about 2:45 p.m.

Warmer temperatures of late have left ice on ponds very thin. Leger said parents are cautioned to warn their children to stay off ice.
SPRINGFIELD -- A Springfield teenager charged with raping a 2-year-old child is being held on $50,000 bail.

Jorge A. Lopez, 18, pleaded not guilty in Springfield District Court on Feb. 12 to one count of rape of a child by force.

The charge was filed after the child was taken to Baystate Medical Center early Sunday for treatment of vaginal injuries that eventually required surgery to repair, according to the arrest report.

Lopez and his 17-year-old girlfriend had been babysitting for the child on the night of Feb. 10 and left her unattended while they took a shower, the report said.

The couple were having sex in the shower when they were startled by a noise, the report said. Lopez left the bathroom to check and, after finding nobody in the apartment, got dressed while his girlfriend continued to shower.

A few minutes later, Lopez brought the child into the bathroom, the report said. The child was bleeding from her pelvic area. The girlfriend called the child's parents, who returned home, wrapped her in a blanket and took her to the hospital.

Lopez initially blamed the child's injuries on toys left in her playpen, but later admitted to penetrating her with his finger "because he was angry with the family," the report said.

Lopez was arrested at the scene and held for his court appearance. A report of possible child abuse or neglect was filed with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families.

At a prosecutor's request, Judge John Payne set bail at $50,000 and ordered Lopez to submit to GPS monitoring and stay away from the victim if he posts bail.

Lopez is due back in court for a pretrial hearing on March 13.
SPRINGFIELD -- A fire for roasting hot dogs and a squirrel made of ice were two of the highlights of the opening day Monday of Springfield's Fabulous February at the Clifford A. Phaneuf Environmental Center on Porter Lake at Forest Park.

Families went to the park on the Presidents' Day holiday to get closer to nature. There was music during the "Sounds of the Rainforest" program with Ricardo Fronta, ice carving by Eric Fontecchio, hot dogs by the campfire and a birds of prey demonstration with local raptor rehabilitator Tom Ricardi.

In a prepared statement, Mayor Domenic Sarno said, "I am proud to be celebrating the 40th anniversary of Fabulous February. This year's program offers families the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors right in our beautiful Forest Park. I encourage everyone to look at the events planned and set time aside to participate and enjoy!"

Patrick Sullivan, Executive Director of Parks, Recreation and Building Management, said, "Our recreation division has done a great job to ensure 40 years of quality programs for February vacation week. We are thrilled to be working with Superintendent Daniel Warwick and the School Department in opening our newly renovated auditoriums at Kennedy and Duggan Jr. High Schools for a movie night as well as the Chestnut auditorium. This gives the opportunity beyond our usual weekend schedule to take time during the week and spend it with your family. We welcome everyone to participate."

Here's the remainder of the week's schedule:

Tuesday, Feb. 20

Public Skating Skating with Boomer, Noon - 1:30 p.m. All Ages

Skating with the Thunderbirds, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. All Ages

Location: Cyr Arena

Cost: Youth $3, Adults $5, skate rentals $4.25 per pair

"Frozen" Movie Night 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. All Ages

Location: Kennedy Middle School Auditorium Cost: Free

Wednesday, Feb. 21

Adventure Challenge 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Ages 7-15

Location: ECOS Center

Cost: Free Pre-Registration Required

Pool, Pizza, & Ice Cream Party 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Children can arrive at 10:15 a.m. to complete a mandatory swim test

Pre-Registration Required. Ages 5 - 15 years

Location: Central High School

Cost: $10 (cash only) per person payable on site. Proper swimwear required.

"Frozen" Movie Night 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Location: Duggan Middle School Auditorium Cost: Free

Thursday, Feb. 22

"Frozen" Movie Night 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Location: Chestnut Accelerated Middle School Auditorium Cost: Free

Throughout the week, Cyr Arena at Forest Park is operating with expanded public skating hours. The rink will hold public skating Tuesday through Thursday from noon until 1:50 p.m. There are public skating hours Friday and Saturday from 7 to 8:50 p.m., and Sunday from 2 to 3:50 p.m. There is a fee of $3 for children 15 and under and $5 for adults for public skating. Skate rentals are available for $4.25. Call Cyr Arena at 413-787-6438 for details.
LENOX -- Sitting in a conference room overlooking the snowy hills of the Berkshires, Arsema Abegaz gives off the air of a woman who is at home. She laughs easily, speaks confidently and professes her love for her work and her community.

"The Berkshires really resembles Botswana in some ways," Abegaz said.

As debate over immigration riles the country and tales of hate crimes against nonwhites are making the news, none of these tales belong to Abegaz.

"If there are people who don't want immigrants here, I haven't met them yet," Abegaz said during a recent interview in her office at the gym supply company Zogics in Lenox. "I've learned to celebrate my diversity and enjoy being the only one sometimes."

Abegaz, 25, was born in Ethiopia. Her family moved to Botswana when she was 4, and she was raised there.

Botswana is one of the most stable and well-off countries in Africa, a democracy that prospers from diamond production and safari tourism.

Abegaz's father is a professor of microbiology at the University of Botswana; her mother is a homemaker. Abegaz has a younger brother and two older half-brothers.

Abegaz said she had a happy childhood in a culture she describes as "welcoming, very chill." On visits with extended family in Ethiopia, she had "a blast," she said, when her family would stay in small houses with all of their cousins.

She came to America eight years ago. Her school in Botswana offered a scholarship program that allowed her to spend a year at a U.S. high school, then apply to a U.S. college.

Abegaz said America was known for having good education and she wanted to learn, so she attended a preparatory school in Pennsylvania for a year to get a U.S. high school degree, then applied to Williams College.

"I didn't know what I was getting into. ... I didn't know where it was," Abegaz said. But once she arrived in the Berkshires, she fell in love with the school and the region.

"I enjoyed that it was a smaller setting," Abegaz said. "It resembled what I was used to in Botswana."

Botswana is a small, rural country. Abegaz's high school class had 20 students. At Williams, she liked the small classes and the one-on-one interactions with professors. She liked living in a rural region.

"I see just as many cows driving around here as I would in Botswana!" Abegaz said.

She majored in economics but also took classes in women and gender studies, danced and studied abroad in Spain. She graduated in 2014.

After college, she started working at Berkshire United Way in Pittsfield coordinating a youth development program. Two years ago, she took a job at Zogics, where she now works in a dual role as a business analyst and digital marketing manager.

Abegaz said she is part of the "half a percent" of students in her college class who stayed in the Berkshires. She attributes that decision to her love of the culture, with its small-town feel and tight-knit community. Families of friends welcomed her into their homes, especially for holidays. "I found people here to be so welcoming," she said. "It reminds me of home, minus the snow."

She enjoys her job at Zogics, where she said she has felt like an important part of a growing company from the start. Zogics started out selling gym wipes and has expanded to other wellness equipment. Abegaz cites the perks of unlimited paid time off, vegetables dropped off from a subsidized community-supported agriculture share and an office gym.

Abegaz is also getting her master's degree in business administration at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She volunteers on the board of the Berkshire Community Action Council and leads professional development efforts for Berkshire Young Professionals.

Abegaz, who lives in Pittsfield, said the community of young professionals in the area "is a small enough community that you know everyone and see everyone."

She said many friends who moved to cities like Boston and New York spend a long time commuting. She appreciates the fact that she has time to work, go to school and volunteer. "I can't imagine doing all these things anywhere else and still having time to work out, see people, hike and attend cultural events," she said.

It is a message she tries to share with students who are considering whether to stay after graduation.

Abegaz has a green card and has not decided whether she wants to stay in the U.S. long-term. "This is home for right now," she said.

Abegaz said everyone she meets has been supportive and interested in her background. She believes communication can go a long way toward resolving tensions between immigrants and those born in the U.S.

"Outside of the major superficial differences, we all live for the same things. We all love our families, we have goals and want to achieve them," Abegaz said. "Where ignorance comes from is when we're not connecting with one another, we're not celebrating our differences."
President Trump's latest infrastructure plan outlines ways in which private-public partnership can help fix America's crumbling roads and bridges, including the liberalization of tolling policy so that private investment can have an active role in rebuilding America. Some argue toll roads are the key to improving infrastructure, decreasing congestion and reducing cost. But others argue toll roads are bad public policy, and the burden of the cost ultimately falls on average Americans. What do you think?

PERSPECTIVES

Trump's latest infrastructure initiative argues private investment should have a role in rebuilding America's roads and bridges. Part of his plan includes the liberalization of tolling policy so that private-public partnership may be created to address the country's infrastructure problems.

Transportation economists have often argued that toll roads are in fact the answer to improving America's roads. Taxes aren't enough to cover the cost of building and maintaining highways, and traffic congestion only makes the problem worse.

It is no secret that the U.S. falls far behind when it comes to infrastructure, and part of that is because the government simply does not have enough money to maintain their roads. Over a decade ago, Congress enlisted the help of a bipartisan commission of experts to find a solution to the transportation funding problem, and they came up with a "Vehicle Miles Traveled tax" that would charge drivers per mile traveled. It seems perfectly reasonable that those Americans who use the roads regularly help pay to maintain them.

Americans pay for the amount of water and electricity we use, why shouldn't we subsidize the amount of road we use? If gas taxes can't cut it, a toll just might.

But James Baxter of the National Motorist Association (NMA) argues toll roads are bad public policy.

For starters, while toll road advocates often reference "free-market principles" and "economic incentives," Baxter points out that toll roads "are literally a monopoly that is sanctioned and protected by the state." Toll roads exist in an environment free of competition. They can make whatever pricing decisions they want. How does that function like a "free market?"

Additionally, the idea of monitoring exactly how many miles one travels has a Big Brother feel to it. With gas taxes, drivers are being charged for how much fuel they consume which has environmental impacts. Those driving more fuel-efficient vehicles shouldn't be charged as much as those driving gas guzzlers, even if they drive the same distance.

The government should be funneling resources into improving our highways, not building expensive toll roads. The "private-public partnership" Trump so often touts is just an illusion that would hurt the average American in the long run.

The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Digital, Inc. property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say.
Attorney Alex van der Zwaan pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to lying to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office about his past communications with former Trump campaign aide Rick Gates.

Van der Zwaan, the son-in-law of Russian businessman German Khan, entered his plea in U.S. District Court in Washington D.C., according to the Associated Press.

Mueller, who is investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential campaign, charged van der Zwaan with one felony count of making false statements about his work for a law firm, which the Ukraine Ministry of Justice used in 2012 to prepare a report on the trial of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, according to court records.

Van der Zwaan is accused of falsely telling the FBI and Mueller's office that he last communicated with Gates via text message in mid-August 2016 and last communicated with an unidentified "Person A" in 2014.

Alex Van Der Zwaan charges by The Republican/MassLive.com on Scribd

Court records further allege that he falsely stated he did not know why a September 2016 email between him and "Person A" was not given to prosecutors, and allegedly spoke with both Gates and "Person A" over the Tymoshenko report, recorded the calls and deleted emails sought by prosecutors.

Mueller's office said the case was related to ex-Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, who along with Gates have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy, fraud and money laundering charges tied to their alleged work for a Russian-friendly Ukraine political party, according to reports.

News of Mueller charging van der Zwaan came just days after reports that Gates, President Donald Trump's former deputy campaign manager, plans to change his plea to guilty.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated when more information becomes available.
Who has the right to claim violation of a patent?

Massachusetts lawmakers are working on a bill that would crack down on so-called patent trolls.

Patent trolls, officially known as non-practicing entities or patent assertion entities, send off large numbers of letters to companies alleging that the company is infringing on a patent and demanding money to avoid a lawsuit.

While the practice is not illegal, technology companies say it is costly and prevents innovation, particularly among small businesses who often cannot afford to pay a settlement or litigate.

"What we're trying to do is put some guardrails on a system that's turned into the Wild West," said Sen. Eric Lesser, D-Longmeadow, the prime sponsor of one of the bills, speaking at a panel discussion in Boston sponsored by the Boston Bar Association.

A 2013 study commissioned by the White House under President Barack Obama found that more than 100,000 of these lawsuits had been brought the previous year. The percentage of patent infringement cases that were brought by patent trolls grew from 29 percent to 62 percent over two years.

Scott Foster, chairman of the business and finance department at the Springfield law firm Bulkley Richardson, is also chairman of the start-up accelerator Valley Venture Mentors. Foster said today, a demand letter from a patent troll can effectively kill a start-up businesses, even if the start-up is not actually violating a patent.

"The mere allegation is enough to have a chilling effect on the ability to raise capital from angel investors or venture capital," Foster said. Foster said some companies do not have the money to fight the letter, and determining how to respond takes time and effort.

"The whole process drains resources the startup could otherwise be using to move ahead with their own research or development," Foster said.

Foster said if a legitimate company is trying to protect its own invention, it has a right to do that. Established companies are often willing to reach a settlement, establish a reasonable licensing agreement or even buy a start-up.

"With patent trolls, there's no relationship," Foster said. "They're looking for a cash payment as quickly as possible, then want to move on."

Foster said he has had a couple of clients who received letters, and he advised them it will be cheaper to pay a settlement than pay his legal fees.

"That's not a satisfactory result from our point of view, but that's the reality of the status of the current laws," Foster said.

Lesser, Sen. Richard Ross, R-Wrentham, and Rep. James Arciero, D-Westford, have all introduced bills that would effectively outlaw patent trolling. The state Legislature recently agreed to extend a deadline to give lawmakers until April 9 to revise and make a recommendation on these bills.

When the extension came up for a vote, Sen. Barbara L'Italian, D-Andover, chairwoman of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, said the committee is working on a comprehensive bill to address patent trolling. "This is a complex issue," L'Italian said, according to a State House News Service transcript.

Lesser's bill, S.128, forbids someone from making an assertion of patent infringement "in bad faith," and includes standards that can be used for judging bad faith.

The bill would require a patent demand letter have some basic information -- the patent number, the name and address of the patent owner and the specific way in which the person is infringing on the patent. The demand for money and the time in which the money is being asked for would have to be reasonable. Someone could not send out letters they know to be deceptive or meritless.

The regulations would not apply to companies that are manufacturers, researchers or developers, colleges and universities and others that are in a legitimate business related to making a product.

Lesser said often, demand letters are vague letters from out of state, with little information about who is behind it or what the patent is.

"It's a little different if the letter is from (Massachusetts General Hospital)," Lesser said. "We know who's in charge or can figure it out."

"The intent is to zero in on troll mills," Lesser said, rather than "big, establishment players." Lesser said his concern is protecting the state's small entrepreneurs.

Around 30 states have similar laws in place.

A group of businesses and business groups published a letter supporting Lesser's bill. They include the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Mass Technology Leadership Council, Massachusetts High Technology Council, Athenahealth, TripAdvisor, Google Ventures, Wayfair, Twitter, Amazon Robotics, Kayak and others.

The businesses wrote that patent trolling is "ambulance chasing applied to patents," and can mean the difference between success and failure for an emerging company.

They cited the White House study, which found that in 2011, companies paid $29 billion to patent assertion entities, and less than 25 percent of the money flowed back to innovation.

In testimony before the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, Springfield entrepreneur Spiro Marangoudakis, who started Piddx, a website that lets people swap skills, said he worried about patent trolls as he was starting his company, because if he were targeted, he could not have afforded to respond.

"I lived with a constant worry that I would one day open the mail to find a cease and desist letter from one of these troll operations," Marangoudakis wrote in written testimony to the committee.

But some are pushing back against the bill. At the Boston Bar Association event, Lesser spoke alongside Wendy Verlander, president and CEO of Blackbird Technologies, which describes itself as a company that monetizes patents.

Verlander said she helps small companies, which cannot always capitalize on their patents.

As a former litigator who represented large tech companies, Verlander said, "What we really saw was large companies have every advantage when it comes to making money from patents. Smaller companies don't have a chance."

Verlander said legislation should try to "separate out the bad actors" rather than categorically labeling people by protecting manufacturers or universities.

"It's as if because you don't manufacture a product, somehow you're a bad guy," Verlander said. "There are bad actors on both sides. If you are someone asserting a patent in a way that's unfair or frivolous, sure you shouldn't be allowed to do that. If you're asserting it in a way that's well researched, fair and protects an invention, you should be allowed to do that regardless of whether you manufactured the product."
For medical marijuana patients, the drug is not only for getting high. It offers relief from pain, nausea and other symptoms of illness.

Now, medical marijuana patients are worried that supply of their medicine is in "grave danger" when legal recreational marijuana goes on sale.

"No regulations have been drafted that would protect the patient supply in times that the demand outweighs the supply," said Michael Latulippe, development director for the Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance, which represents medical marijuana patients.

According to experts who have been following the marijuana industry in other states, Massachusetts is likely to face a shortage of marijuana once legal sales begin in July. That is because it will take time for the industry to ramp up and develop enough growing facilities to meet the demand.

"I look at what happened in Nevada last summer, Colorado, Washington, Oregon when they opened retail," said Peter Bernard, president of the Massachusetts Grower Advocacy Council. "All of them ran out in a week or less."

Bernard added, "We're talking about opening this summer in the middle of tourist season."

Today Massachusetts has 22 registered dispensaries selling medical marijuana and 46,300 registered medical marijuana patients. Nine other dispensaries are in the final stages of the registration process before getting permission to sell. There is no way to know how many stores will apply for licenses to sell recreational marijuana, since the licensing process does not open until April.

"If they do not create rules and regulations governing the virtual separation of medical or adult use cannabis in a smart way, we could end up with a situation where patients run out of medicine in July," said Latulippe, who is on the state's Cannabis Advisory Board.

Nichole Snow, president of the Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance, said medical marijuana patients consume 29,000 ounces of marijuana a month. There is no data available on how much marijuana existing cultivation facilities are able to produce.

The alliance has been asking for the creation of a reserve supply so patients can continue to have access even if dispensaries sell out of recreational products.

So far, nothing has been included in the Cannabis Control Commission's draft regulations to protect the medical marijuana supply, although the commission is still working on writing the final rules.

One potential solution would be for the Cannabis Control Commission to require dispensaries to set aside a specific amount of their stock for medical patients. Another would be to limit the amount someone can purchase, which some dispensaries may do on their own if they face shortages. Bernard said getting cultivation licenses out quickly will also help increase supply.

For now, it is up to individual dispensaries to decide what to do. Several dispensary officials said they are committed to protecting the medical marijuana supply.

Revolutionary Clinics in Somerville plans to look back 60 days beginning March 15, then set aside 60 days worth of supply for medical patients after July 1.

"We do feel there will be shortages, and the last person who should have to suffer is patients," said Erik Williams, a spokesman for Revolutionary Clinics. "We are taking concrete steps right now to ensure our patients have the medicine they need."

Increased demand could also drive up the cost of marijuana.

Williams said Revolutionary Clinics cannot commit to pricing but does not expect a large price increase in medical marijuana.

Theory Wellness plans to keep its Bridgewater dispensary open only for patients, while selling recreational and medical marijuana in Great Barrington. Brandon Pollock, CEO of Theory Wellness, said, "We got into this for the patients, so that's our first priority, is making sure we can continue to serve them and not raise prices on existing products."

Pollock said the dispensary is tracking sales weekly, and officials plan to set aside enough inventory for patients. He noted that some medical products are not allowed to be sold on the recreational market because the doses are too high.

Norton Arbelaez, director of government affairs for New England Treatment Access -- which grows marijuana in Franklin and sells in Brookline and Northampton -- said some of the potential supply problem will be mitigated by the fact that some people will continue to buy on the black market during the transition.

"It will take some time for the regulated and taxed and tested marketplace to supplant and replace the gray and black market," Arbelaez said.

Arbelaez said NETA, like other companies, is also investing in new infrastructure and plans to double the amount of product available in advance of legal recreational sales.

"If for some reason down the line we have to choose whether to limit access to medical or recreational, we will limit access to recreational before we do medical," Arbelaez said. "We don't expect that to happen."

Arbelaez noted that medical marijuana also has the advantage of not being taxed in the way recreational marijuana is. He said he does not anticipate price spikes.

Will Luzier, political director at the Yes on 4 Coalition that pushed for legalization, said a potential marijuana shortage is a concern, and he supports efforts to ensure the medical marijuana supply is protected. "It's important for medical patients to have their medicine," Luzier said.
Top Massachusetts police officials have endorsed a revised version of a bill limiting the ability of state and local police forces to work with federal immigration authorities.

"The redraft of this bill now allows for what we view as a more effective balance of both building and improving trust in our respective communities while simultaneously enhancing public safety across the entire State," the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association said in a statement.

The so-called Safe Communities Act was filed amid a threatened crackdown by President Donald Trump, a Republican, on immigrants who entered the country illegally. The sponsors, Sen. Jamie Eldridge, D-Acton, and Rep. Juana Matias, D-Lawrence, aimed to ban state and local police from cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The redrafted language allows law enforcement to hold someone on an ICE detainer for up to six hours in cases where a detainee has prior criminal convictions for serious violent offenses such as sexual assault, abuse or exploitation, drug trafficking, human trafficking, or domestic violence, or if the detainee is under arrest on terrorism charges. The bill, S.1305/H.3269, would also let the Department of Corrections notify ICE when an inmate is about to be released who is serving time for serious, violent offenses.

The bill would prohibit local police chiefs and county sheriffs from acting as immigration enforcement agents.

Eldridge announced Tuesday that the bill had secured support from the Massachusetts Major City Police Chiefs Association and the members of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association's executive and legislative committees.

The support of law enforcement makes it more likely the bill will be acted on by the Legislature. It is currently pending in a legislative committee.

"From the day I filed this bill, I've said that it both strengthens public safety and protects our economy, by ensuring Massachusetts resources are not used to help deport hardworking undocumented immigrants," Eldridge said in a statement. "This strong endorsement by our police chiefs underscores that, and I am eager to work with my colleagues in the legislature, as well as Governor (Charlie) Baker, to get this critical public safety bill signed into law."

Baker, a Republican, has filed a bill to give state and local police officers authority to enforce federal immigration requests to detain immigrants in the country illegally who have also committed serious crimes.

The Supreme Judicial Court ruled that state and local police cannot detain someone solely because of an immigration violation. So the bill would give the police more authority to detain immigrants than they have today in cases where those immigrants were convicted of serious violent crimes.

At the same time, the bill would limit law enforcement in new ways by prohibiting police from telling ICE about the whereabouts of immigrants or otherwise collaborating with ICE.

According to federal data, under Trump, ICE has increased its total arrests and also increased its arrests of immigrants with no criminal convictions who entered the country illegally.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller has reportedly charged a prominent attorney with making false statements to federal authorities who are investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

Alex Van Der Zwaan, the son-in-law of Russian businessman German Khan, is expected to plead guilty Tuesday in Washington to lying to investigators about his past communications with former Trump campaign adviser Rick Gates, according to various news outlets.

Van der Zwaan was charged with one felony count of making false statements about his work for a law firm, which the Ukraine Ministry of Justice used in 2012 to prepare a report on the trial of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, according to court records.

Alex Van Der Zwaan charges by The Republican/MassLive.com on Scribd

Van der Zwaan is accused of falsely telling the FBI and Mueller's office that he last communicated with Gates via text message in mid-August 2016 and his last communicated with an unidentified "Person A" in 2014.

He is also accused of falsely stating he did not know why a September 2016 email between him and "Person A" was not given to prosecutors, and allegedly speaking with both Gates and "Person A" over the Tymoshenko report, recording the calls and deleting emails sought by prosecutors, according to court records.

Prosecutors in Mueller's office said the case was related to ex-Trump presidential campaign manager Paul Manafort, who along with Gates have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy, fraud and money laundering charges tied to their alleged work for a Russian-friendly Ukraine political party, the Washington Post reported.

Van der Zwaan is expected to attend an arraignment and plea hearing in U.S. District Court in Washington Tuesday afternoon.

News of Mueller charging Van der Zwaan came just days after reports that Gates, President Donald Trump's former deputy campaign manager, plans to change his plea to guilty.

A person with direct knowledge of the decision told reporters that Gates' plea change would be presented in federal court in Washington "within the next few days." Gates also reportedly told prosecutors he would testify against Manafort.

Mueller announced in late October that Manafort and Gates faced 12 charges, including conspiracy against the United States and money laundering.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated when more information becomes available.
Now that Massachusetts has legalized marijuana, and is on the verge of allowing retail sales, one concern raised by many is public safety. Will more people be driving while stoned? And how can the police identify if someone is impaired, since there is no test for marijuana like the Breathalyzer test for alcohol?

Michael Milburn, a psychology professor at the University of Massachusetts Boston who holds a doctorate from Harvard, believes he has an answer - or at least another tool to help keep people safe.

Milburn invented an app to detect impairment, which he calls DRUID, which stands for driving under the influence of drugs. His hope is that people will use the app before deciding whether to get behind the wheel.

"My first tagline was two minutes that could save your life," Milburn said. "DRUID could make a real difference."

So far, around 2,000 people have downloaded DRUID.

The app has multiple tests a person can perform. One involves balancing on one leg. Others involve touching objects on the screen in ways that test reaction time, decision-making and object tracking. It includes tasks that require people to do two things at once, such as touch a screen quickly while counting the number of shapes that appear.

The app does not differentiate between someone who is high or drunk, but measures the level of someone's impairment.

Milburn has been talking to law enforcement and has been working with Massachusetts municipal police to test the app and collect data using volunteers at the police academy. Milburn said more testing needs to be done before the app could be used by law enforcement and introduced in court as evidence. But initial testing has shown it is accurate.

For now, Milburn said he hopes people will use it voluntarily to decide when they can drive.

For example, someone who smokes marijuana then starts coming down off a high may not be sure if they are still impaired. He said with DRUID, the person's friend or partner could ask them to use the app before getting in the car.

The app costs $0.99.
Frontier Angels, Montanas early-stage technology investor group, announced the latest in their continuing series of investments in emerging technology businesses including companies in data security, sensor-driven analytics, genetic cancer testing, and ag-tech.

"We continue to find quality companies with great leadership who we can support and help them accelerate to great commercial success" said Pat LaPointe, Managing Director of Frontier Angels. "We are part of an active regional syndication network of about a dozen angel groups putting millions of dollars into these types of new technologies each and every month with the expectation that they will create high-skilled, high-paying jobs and help improve peoples lives, as well as provide a strong return on investment."

The four companies most recently "funded" include:

OverWatchID (http://www.Overwatchid.com)  a Denver-based company with an entirely new approach to saas-based, multi-tenant data security software that can be installed and administered across distributed company locations in a fraction of the time and cost of the current market leaders.

Toma Bioscience (http://www.tomabio.com)  a San Francisco company with a new genetic testing approach to help identify the most ideal forms of treatment for cancer tumors using patented techniques and processes to lower the cost of testing and make it accessible in every small-to-midsized lab in hospitals and clinics around the world.

StormSensor (http://www.stormsensor.io)  a Seattle-based company using advanced sensor and cloud-computing technologies to help municipalities and counties better understand where and how storm water runoff is polluting rivers, lakes, and tidal zones, leading to more precisely prescribed mitigation strategies to reduce costs and avoid expensive litigation or regulation.

BetaHatch (http://www.betahatch.com)  a Seattle-based company with innovations in genetics and rearing of meal worms as an alternate source of feed for fish and poultry farmers, providing high-quality protein at competitive cost but with a far more reliable supply chain.

"On the local front, we are meeting with dozens of Montana-based technology companies and providing advice and support to help them accelerate their growth path. From Billings to Bozeman to Missoula and Whitefish, we have members in all corners of Montana who are out in their communities looking for new investment opportunities everyday" said LaPointe. "Soon well be announcing some new programs to help local tech sector entrepreneurs with even more mentorship, funding, and access to the best available resources nationwide."

Frontier Angels meet every 6 weeks to showcase new and different technology companies including those in sectors like software, cloud computing, biotech, IoT, mobility, and ag-tech. Events are held regularly in Billings, Bozeman, Kalispell, and Missoula. For more information on Frontier Angels, visit http://www.FrontierAngels.com.
In Wyoming, we believe in leaving things better than we found them. Be it our jobs, water, lands or communities, our strong work ethic and commitment to making things better for current and future generations is unwavering.

As the Wyoming Legislature convenes for the 2018 Budget Session, Republicans are dedicated to making progress on the most pressing matters facing our state. Were focused on diversifying Wyomings economy for the long-term; ensuring fiscal discipline and smart planning for the future; making government more accountable and efficient; and preserving our way of life for Wyoming families.

Senate President Eli Bebout and Speaker of the House Steve Harsman

http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/harshman-bebout-budget-session-will-work-on-economic-diversification-government/article_10744b9e-2e98-5807-84b1-3543b99adc08.html
Le ministre des Services Financiers a participe a la ceremonie de lancement du Mauritius Finance Training Initiatives qui a eu lieu en fin de journee du 9 septembre 2021 au Hennessy Park Hotel.

I thank you for inviting me to be part of your distinguished assembly this afternoon to speak on a subject which I have held very much at heart ever since I took the helm of this Ministry.

Indeed, Ladies and Gentlemen, raising the competency bar and instilling a culture of continuous learning in the Financial Services Sector has been a matter of earnest for me.

We are here this afternoon because we are all well conscious that Mauritius can successfully compete as an International Financial Centre of repute if our people are ever ready and future ready to serve our clients and markets.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Our greatest national asset in Mauritius is our People.

Raising the quality and capacity of our human capital drives the policy initiatives of this Government.

For instance, making tertiary education free for our people speaks volumes on the commitment of this Government to bring greater prosperity to its people.

Wider access to quality education holds the promise of respectable livelihoods to the youth of the country.

As a member of this Government, I am honoured to be here among you this afternoon to talk about capacity building.

Distinguished Members

Earlier this year, in February, we came together for the launch of Mauritius Finance and I had said that this new institution holds the promise of bringing tremendous value to its membership, to employees of the sector and their families, to the Mauritius International Financial Centre and to economic development of the country.

Only a few months on, I can say that under the capable stewardship of Mr Mahesh Doorgakant and leadership of Mr Samade Jhummun, you have been making much headway on various fronts with a broadened membership and thus, a greater voice.

I am happy and proud to say that the relationship between the public and private sector has been going from strength to strength and has never been so compellingly strong.

I take the opportunity to express my profound gratitude for your unflinching support to Government during recent unsettling times from the sanitary crisis to the placing of Mauritius by the Financial Action Task Force on the list of countries on increased monitoring.

Ladies and Gentlemen

On the subject of the FATF, I have to admit that the matter is very intense for us to say the least.

We have a taxing week ahead in expectation of the visit of FATF assessors to Mauritius.

I have said it before and I wish to reiterate here that I have every hope that we shall pass the effectiveness and enforcement tests and that we shall be exiting the list before time.

And we are bound to succeed for many reasons.

The most important, in my view, is the commitment and political will at highest level including the Honourable Prime Minister, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, himself.

This commitment, Ladies and Gentlemen, will make the difference and allow us to make the grade.

Our regulatory bodies, and I have a very special word here for the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Intelligence Unit, have been working round the clock to place us in a state of preparedness to welcome the FATF delegation.

Our officers are working tirelessly in a focussed and collaborative manner which I must add, I have rarely seen before.

Our various government agencies, in particular law enforcement agencies, talk to each other, share and collaborate like never before.

On the upside, this new culture is here to stay.

I have felt a deep sense of patriotism and responsibility among our people working on the ground.

I am confident that all these committed efforts will bring extraordinary results for Mauritius.

I trust that we shall be recognised for having achieved the highest levels of compliance at par with international standards.

We are today in a space of value added and continuous improvement.

I am sure, Ladies and Gentlemen, you would have sensed these very positive undercurrents as much as I do.

Ladies and Gentlemen

In just a few months, we reached out to sectors, professionals and people like we never thought possible.

As part of capacity building on AML/CFT matters, our greatest challenge was to bring certain professions up to scratch, particularly those within the group of Designated Non-Financial Business and Professionals, so that they may better understand what is expected from them and share the importance of strengthening compliance and enhancing effectiveness.

Here, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the leadership of Mauritius Finance, Samade Jhummun in particular, for joining hands with the Financial Services Institute Ltd  which falls within my portfolio  to skill and upskill sector professionals.

I am happy to say that close to 1,000 professionals have been upskilled under this partnership through various intensive training programmes including specialised MLRO masterclasses.

It may be a good opportunity for me to mention that since July last year, the FSI with the support of my Ministry, the FIU, the FRC and the FSC, has become the countrys leading training body on Financial Crime matters and has trained well over 4,000 professionals.

We have made significant progress on the Capacity Building agenda and will demonstrate same to the FATF.

And, we are conscious that this was not a one-off training just to pass a test.

Developments in AML/CFT systems are continuous to combat transformations in the risk environment for money laundering and terrorist financing and digitialisation will bring even greater transformations on the horizon.

Continuous learning is an imperative and no longer a choice.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Our capacity building initiatives in financial crime compliance will turn our human capital into something that becomes a commodity for the region.

We are set to lead the way in Africa and beyond.

Already, our professionals are highly-prized resources for the more established jurisdictions from London to Luxembourg.

I can see our professionals being more and more sought-after and poached internationally.

Our compatriots are in demand for their innate disposition for continuous learning inspired by the belief that their best is yet to come.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We have heard Mr Mahesh Doorgakant speak on the various partnerships which Mauritius Finance has established with international training bodies.

I take the opportunity to commend you for these initiatives.

As indicated in the Financial Sector Blueprint, there is need to provide training in areas such as Wealth and Asset management, International Trade Finance as well as Fund and Pension Administration.

I would here like to praise efforts of industry players to bring foreign expertise to Mauritius to transfer knowledge to our youth.

On-the-job-training has the advantage of sharing specialist skills in a work environment.

The recent announcements in the Budget, such as the extension of the validity period of occupation permits, will help improve the range of incentives for professionals opting to work in Mauritius in areas where we have shortage of skills.

The returning diaspora scheme introduced by Government is also another key measure aimed at attracting and retaining talent as well as transferring of knowledge.

Distinguished Members

I cannot address you this afternoon and not recognise the importance you hold as Employers for the youth of our country.

You sustain and create a wide range of jobs offering many pathways to our people along with good wages so that they can Work, Learn and Live in a dignified manner.

You readily embrace Government initiatives from the Youth Employment Programme to the SME Graduate Scheme and the Dual Training Programme.

Your present involvement in the National Training and Reskilling Scheme will bring many more to the place of work and help generate decent livelihoods to our countrymen.

As employers, you have a vital role to play as Institutes of Continuous Learning.

Her Excellency,

Britain has been an important partner in our economic and social development and the British Council has played a very important role.

If we were to do justice to the influence of the British Government to skills development and higher education and its contribution to nation building, we would be here for a long time.

Allow me the opportunity, Her Excellency, to express our deep gratitude for believing in the capacity of our people, for extending constant support in shaping the education landscape of Mauritius and for playing such an important role in the development of professional skills.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Our Financial Services Sector is one of the key pillars of the Mauritian economy accounting for around 13 % of GDP.

It has demonstrated a growth of 1.0 % in 2020 and has a forecast of 3.8 % for 2021.

The Sector employs about 15,000 people and it creates good jobs.

The median wage for jobs in the sector is probably higher than the national median.

Our Financial Services Sector will become even more important in the future economy and I look forward to your continued partnership and your steadfast collaboration with my Ministry and our institutions to ensure the Sector remains resilient and open to the opportunities of the next decade.

And in our pursuit of financial sector resilience, we need to have the best of talent on our side.

The name of the game in todays competitive arena is Education.

My best wishes are with you on this Enduring Skills Journey.

I thank you for your attention.
AstraZeneca (www.AstraZeneca.com) is pleased to announce its partnership with the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya (PSK) to launch the Kamba Ya Shanga initiative in Kenya, a pharmacy-led end-to-end digitally integrated patient solution for chronic disease management.

The partnership forms part of their shared vision and commitment to work towards a future where all people have access to sustainable healthcare solutions for life-changing treatment.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have compelled healthcare stakeholders to explore new ways of improving health systems, stimulating the advancement of healthcare ecosystems that focus on securing continuum of care and improving treatment outcomes whilst also enhancing the patient experience.

The Kamba Ya Shanga initiative is a pharmacist-led disease management and referral programme aimed at improving patient outcomes for chronic conditions, connecting all key healthcare players along the patients disease management journey. Through the programme patients will be uniquely identified by the pharmacist, have their chronic disease treatment and medication monitored, receive support that ensures optimal treatment and correct use of devices; and be seamlessly referred by the Pharmacist to their General Practitioner should further consultation be required.

Dr. Daniella Munene, CEO of Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya (PSK) said: Pharmacists are very uniquely positioned to expand reach of healthcare services by participating more in the management of chronic diseases. From detection of poorly managed or undiagnosed disease to providing medication therapy management and counselling, pharmacists can have a positive impact on therapeutic outcomes in patients on long-term medication for both communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Barbara Nel, AstraZeneca Country President for African Cluster (South Africa, Sub Sahara and French Speaking Africa) said: At AstraZeneca we believe that patient experiences and outcomes are our shared responsibility, and that innovation doesnt happen in isolation. Our Pharmacists play a critical role in the continuance of care for patients, especially in the current landscape. We are delighted to be partnering with PSK in the launch of Kamba Ya Shanga, which is a Swahili term that essentially means a beautiful string of beads. The string of beads represents the link between the patient, the pharmacist, and the doctor, transforming the ecosystem for patients, whilst enabling pharmacies to direct patients to a relevant healthcare professional and track their progress and response to medication.

By joining forces with PSK we look forward to making an even greater positive impact for patients and healthcare practitioners, achieving results that go beyond what any individual stakeholder can achieve. This is the value of partnerships, with the patient at the centre.
UCOM prolongs the unlimited internet offer for the level up 4700 and level up 5500 subscribers

Ucom employees received recognition for their services to the homeland

Karen Vardanyan has allocated 105 million AMD to rescue the Yerevan Botanical Garden.

"The Power of One Dram" to overcome childhood cancer

Generation A 13  your chance to be the change

President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan met with Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Igor Khovayev

"uDays" special offer at Ucom: discounts for all smartphones and accessories for 2 days only

For more than 3 hours, 50 or more Azerbaijani servicemen have blocked the interstate road

Call on the international community for an adequate response against azerbaijani aggresssion

Transformation and trust are important for success in modern banking. Artak Hanesyan

UCOMS LEVEL UP 1700 REGIONAL TARIFF PLAN USERS TO RECEIVE MORE THAN THOSE IN YEREVAN

Joint statement

Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group

Covid-19: 163 new cases in Armenia

Armenia: Remarks by Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi at the press point with Acting Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan

The United States Welcomes Azerbaijans Release of Armenian Detainees and Armenias Actions to Facilitate Demining

Google Ad

The Coronavirus-Related Situation in Armenia

International aviation: Council greenlights signing of major agreements with four countries

With UCOMs level up tariff plans subscribers have unlimited access to Netflix, Duolingo and Zoom

Armenia: Statement by the Spokesperson on the early parliamentary elections

Armenias Parliamentary Elections PRESS STATEMENT

COVID19:77 new cases

Armenias early parliamentary elections were competitive and well run, but polarized and marred by aggressive rhetoric, international observers say

International election observers to Armenias early parliamentary elections held press conference

Drop Charges Against Rights Defender Sashik Sultanyan

The Coronavirus-Related Situation in Armenia

The European Union in Armenia calls all parties to contribute to a peaceful Election Day to celebrate democracy

22 ventilators to Armenia

PACE to observe the early parliamentary elections in Armenia
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These chimeras -- a term adopted from Greek mythology -- were only allowed to develop for 28 days, the researchers said while presenting the results at the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Texas.The experiment began with Hiro Nakauchi, from the University of Tokyo, who grew a mouse with a rat pancreas and a rat with a mouse pancreas.When cells from the rat-grown mouse pancreas were transplanted into a diabetic mouse, they made enough insulin to cure the condition without being rejected.Mice and rats are different types of rodents with the former having thin slightly hairy tails, while rats have thicker hairless scaly tails."The next step was to move into large animals," Nakauchi said. Since this was prohibited in Japan, he moved to the Stanford University in the US.Nakauchi's rodent work has demonstrated that you can "grow organs in a different species and cure a disease without [suppressing the immune system]," added co-researcher Pablo Ross, Professor at from the University of California, Davis."We are working together to translate the technology into humans, to solve the terrible shortage of organs for transplantation. In the US, 20 people die every day because they cannot get the organs they need," Ross explained.The novel approach helps to produce animal embryos that are genetically incapable of growing a particular organ.Then the embryos are injected with human stem cells. The overall proportion of human cells in the chimeric embryo may be small but, as it develops in the womb, the human cells fill the gap and produce the missing organ that the animal's own genes cannot create, the report said.If the technology is able to grow human organs inside other species, organ transplants can become a possibility beyond critical conditions.While it may take many years to develop chimeric transplant technology to the stage where it could be used safely on patient, "things are moving fast," Ross said.Source: IANS
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Increased levels of the consumption of food items that are high in calories

Sedentary lifestyle which does not involve any physical movement or exercise

Obesity

The economic transition from lower socio-economic strata to a higher one has played its part increasing the diabetic rate in Chandigarh.

Chandigarh, according to the study survey, has 13.6% prevalence of diabetes and 14.6% of prediabetes. It's followed by Tamil Nadu with 10.4% prevalence of diabetes and 8.3% of pre-diabetes, Maharashtra with 8.4% diabetes and 12.8% pre-diabetes, Jharkhand with 5.3% diabetes and 8.1% pre-diabetes.Irrespective of the fact that Chandigarh has the highest rate of the per capita income as well as the literacy rate which sums up to 98 percent, a considerably high rate of the diabetes percentage was observed in the recently conducted survey. The increased rate of diabetes in Chandigarh is an issue of concern and necessary steps should be taken in order to curb down the rate in Chandigarh.Inactive lifestyle, and unhealthy eating habits due to urbanization was found to be the reason for the growing number of diabetic in Chandigarh.Source: Medindia
New landfill in Nubarashen instead of wood (video)

In July 2015, a loan agreement was signed between the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Yerevan Municipality, through which the bank provides 8 million euro credit ( to the private company under the subordination of the Municipality) for building a new landfill beside Nubarashen.

European Investment Bank also provides an additional 8 million euro credit and another 8 million euro is provided by EU Neighborhood Investment Instrument too in the form of a grant. Its purpose is non-regulated landfill of Nubarashen from technical and environmental impermissible standards turn to new sanitary landfill which will correspond to EU standards. But the most important from EU standards is that in new landfill waste sorting and processing are not intended. It is mentioned in the description of the program.

Furthermore during studying an environmental and social impact assessment of the program it becomes clear that the new landfill will be built on the grounds of wood, where still in 2006-2008 by financing of rehabilitation and development Fund of woods have accomplished works of pumping station, reconstruction of irrigation network, fencing and foundation of forest felling.

Trees have been planted, which were desiccated (only 15 percent succeed). But now the place must be clean up and serve as a landfill.

At the same time the landfill will be built in the area of 29 hectare for exploitation of 28 years. It means that after 28 years it will probably be needed additional 30 hectare and seeking additional loans for building new landfill, if waste sorting and processing will not be accomplished anyway.

What about the European buildings instead of financing more green and stable program, they invest money in the state with such ineffective government. Lawyer- environmentalist Sofia Manukyan tells about the details of the program.
"No one wants" Karen Demirchyan Sport and Concert Complex - Arman Sahakyan (video)

Head of the State Property Management Department Arman Sahakyan summed up their activities in 2017 at the conference today and noted that their receipts made more than 685 million drams, which increased by 4.7 times as compared to 2016. He also mentioned that last year 240 citizens of Armenia, namely about 90 families, were donated and privatized their rooms in the hostels. Arman Sahakyan also stated that only 17 million drams was invested this year for the reconstruction of Dvin Hotel. Sahakyan also spoke about 71 unused properties in the region, which have been handed over to unknown businessmen. A1 + inquired about the textile company in former Artik high school area, which is owned by Astghik Alexanyan, the daughter of Republican MP Samvel Alexanyan. Whether the State Property Committee is consistent with this investment program to invest money in the set timeframes. To reply, Arman Sahakyan firstly urged not to speculate who got the area. "As far as the privatization of the high school is concerned, in this case, one should not underline the fact of its being a high school building. Only a few years ago, it was transferred to the Ministry of Education for the exploitation, now it is in the balance of the state and is handed over to the private sector to develop and create jobs. As a result, at least one person from each family can work in Artik. In the same way, textile production will be created within 27 years in Vayots Dzor." According to him, no investor has yet appeared for Karen Demirchyan Sport and Concert Complex: "No one wants it." As for the building of the National Academy of Sciences, Mr. Sahakyan mentioned that it will never be sold. Journalists inquired about his tense relationship with the prime minister , as they often have disagreements at government sessions: "We have very good relations." Government Reception House was included in the privatization plan. As Arman Sahakyan mentioned, it will be handed over to RA 4th Presidency as a residence. Arman Sahakyan also touched upon the officials who committed abuses or failed in their work, noting that there are already punished ones, for example, the Jewelery Plant Manager was dismissed last year.
UCOM prolongs the unlimited internet offer for the level up 4700 and level up 5500 subscribers

Ucom employees received recognition for their services to the homeland

Karen Vardanyan has allocated 105 million AMD to rescue the Yerevan Botanical Garden.

"The Power of One Dram" to overcome childhood cancer

Google Ad

Generation A 13  your chance to be the change

President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan met with Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Igor Khovayev

"uDays" special offer at Ucom: discounts for all smartphones and accessories for 2 days only

For more than 3 hours, 50 or more Azerbaijani servicemen have blocked the interstate road

Call on the international community for an adequate response against azerbaijani aggresssion

Transformation and trust are important for success in modern banking. Artak Hanesyan

UCOMS LEVEL UP 1700 REGIONAL TARIFF PLAN USERS TO RECEIVE MORE THAN THOSE IN YEREVAN

Joint statement

Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group

Covid-19: 163 new cases in Armenia

Armenia: Remarks by Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi at the press point with Acting Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan

The United States Welcomes Azerbaijans Release of Armenian Detainees and Armenias Actions to Facilitate Demining

Google Ad

The Coronavirus-Related Situation in Armenia

International aviation: Council greenlights signing of major agreements with four countries

With UCOMs level up tariff plans subscribers have unlimited access to Netflix, Duolingo and Zoom

Armenia: Statement by the Spokesperson on the early parliamentary elections

Armenias Parliamentary Elections PRESS STATEMENT

COVID19:77 new cases

Armenias early parliamentary elections were competitive and well run, but polarized and marred by aggressive rhetoric, international observers say

International election observers to Armenias early parliamentary elections held press conference

Drop Charges Against Rights Defender Sashik Sultanyan

The Coronavirus-Related Situation in Armenia

The European Union in Armenia calls all parties to contribute to a peaceful Election Day to celebrate democracy

22 ventilators to Armenia

PACE to observe the early parliamentary elections in Armenia
Referring to Astana and Sochi talks with Iranian, Turkish and Russian leaders taking part, the President said: Astana and Sochi talks aimed at Syrias stability and security are promising and this positive trend must further continue.



(AhlulBayt News Agency) - President Rouhani described tripartite cooperation and negotiations of Iran, Turkey and Russia in regional issues, especially in fighting terrorism and resolving the Syrian crisis positive and effective and underscored further work and more Tehran-Ankara-Moscow cooperation until a desired goal is reached.



President Hassan Rouhani talked with the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan by telephone late on Monday and described combatting terrorism and clearing Syria from terrorist groups, as well as confronting separatist conspiracies in the region as the common goals of Iran and Turkey, adding: Today, separatist plots and attempts to install puppet governments in the region are taking place, and we must have more cooperation in dealing with these security concerns.



Referring to Astana and Sochi talks with Iranian, Turkish and Russian leaders taking part, the President said: Astana and Sochi talks aimed at Syrias stability and security are promising and this positive trend must further continue.



He then mentioned the United States and Zionist Regimes conspiracies in the region, saying: Iran and Turkey have common goals in regional and international issues and we must promote cooperation in implementing Astana agreements.



We must not allow terrorist groups to regain power and have the opportunity to restore their activities in the region again, Dr Rouhani continued.



The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran also stressed the need to respect territorial integrity of Syria and said: Security and stability must return to Syria as soon as possible to let all Syrian refugees go back to their country.



He also appreciated the Turkish Presidents condolences over the recent plane crash in Iran.



President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered condolences over Tehran-Yasuj plane crash.



He then referred to Turkish troops presence in Afrin, saying: We want entire Syrian soil to be cleared from terrorists and we believe that protecting territorial integrity of this country must be a concern for all countries of the region.



Erdogan appreciated the Islamic Republic of Iran for its support in dealing with regional and international issues and the fight against terrorism, adding: What is being done with the aim of undermining the three countries efforts in Astana and Sochi will never be to the benefit of the region.







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The Tesla Roadster Elon Musk strapped to a rocket and launched into space has received so much fanfare that there is a website solely dedicated to tracking its current location.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 20, the Where is Starman? website reports it is more than 2.5 million miles from Earth and traveling at speeds close to 7,600 mph. The website also keeps track of how far Musk's red Tesla Roadster is from Mars and the Sun, its fuel economy and even how many times David Bowie's "Space Oddity" has played since its Feb. 6 launch (3,843 times).

"The current data that I am using comes from JPL Horizons," Ben Pearson, the website's operator, explains in the about section. "I am very thankful for this wonderful resource they have provided. I now have a script that I run periodically to update the information files that I have, which will allow for me to track this object, to the best of human understanding, for some time to come.

"This information will eventually expire, no longer being useful. I'm not sure exactly when that will be, but I suspect in a few years. Certainly it will be difficult to see when it next comes close to the Earth, which won't be for a long time."

Live view of Starman https://t.co/gvSlztlE6l  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 6, 2018

The Tesla Roadster was launched with SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket back on Feb. 6 from the Kennedy Space Center. Musk attached his red Roadster to the rocket with a mannequin spaceman he named "Starman" after the famous David Bowie song while "Life on Mars" blasted in the background.

With its three boosters and 27 engines, Musk's Tesla is attached to what is now the most powerful rocket in active use in the world.

For those curious of the Roadster's future, a recent study found in Cornell University's Library notes that its first close encounter with Earth will occur in 2091 with others coming every other 30 years or so. During its time in space, the Roadster has a 6 percent chance of colliding with the Earth and a 2.5 percent chance of hitting Venus, according to the Canadian and Czech researchers' study.

The team ran 240 computer simulations, and claim there is a slim chance the Roadster hits the sun, and nearly a zero chance it hits Mars. If the electric car does re-enter Earth's atmosphere, it is expected to burn up completely and leave nothing but small chunks falling to the ground.
ANN ARBOR, MI - Smell that? The aroma hovering over downtown Ann Arbor is coming from Satchel's BBQ, now open in the former Pizza Pino building.

The restaurant opened quietly on Valentine's Day at 221 W. Liberty and is attracting some patrons thanks to the giant "Now Open" sign gently flapping in the February breeze and the savory fragrance rising from a smoker near the back of the property.

It's the second location for Satchel's BBQ owner Hugh Morgan, who said the smell is the best kind of advertisement for his business.

"We want an aromatic presence in the downtown area," Morgan said. "It's a great way to let people know what we're all about."

Morgan opened the first location of Satchel's BBQ about seven years ago at 3035 Washtenaw Ave. with a vision of Southern-inspired barbecue, both on the menu and in the look and feel of the restaurant.

"We like to keep it very traditional Southern barbecue," Morgan said. "I want everything about Satchel's to feel like a road trip through Tennessee or South Carolina. A down-home, Southern eatery feel."

Named for his dog, a mutt adopted from the Humane Society, Satchel's BBQ has a menu filled with smoked and grilled favorites like ribs, brisket and pulled pork with classic sides such as cole slaw, baked beans and collard greens.

Morgan signed a lease in October to secure the former Pizza Pino building and work crews have been in and out of the property since then, painting and decorating and turning the restaurant into a comfortable and welcoming spot to enjoy some traditional Southern-style barbecue.

"We definitely wanted people to feel it was a completely new look, and to feel like a new establishment," Morgan said.

Aside from the sign and an email to newsletter subscribers, there was limited publicity that the new Satchel's BBQ location was open for business. That was an intentional move, Morgan said.

"It gave us the opportunity to see how to work in this kitchen," he said. "It's going well, compared to seven years ago. It's a lot easier the second time around."

Draft beer could possibly make an appearance on the menu over the next few months as Morgan works through the process to secure a liquor license for the second Satchel's BBQ location

"It feels like a natural fit," Morgan said about the combination of a beer and barbecue.

The restaurant could also feature outdoor seating, though Morgan said the additional parking around the restaurant may be too good to give up.

He is looking forward to seeing how the restaurant's location, nearby businesses like Blank Slate Creamery and impending spring weather could impact business.

"It's fun to be open downtown," Morgan said. "It changes things a little bit, we feel a bit more in the spotlight."
WYOMING - Construction of a brand new restroom facility at the entrance of Buck Creek Nature Preserve is on the docket following City Council's decision to accept a bid for the project from Vander Kodde Construction.

The company's $136,990 bid, which council members voted to accept at their meeting on Monday, Feb. 19, was one of 14 that the city received for the project.

Replacement of the Buck Creek restroom -- a project specifically prioritized in the city's Five-Year Community Recreation Master Plan -- was expected to cost around $115,000, city documents show, which is what Wyoming officials budgeted for initially.

The 14 bids the city received ranged widely. The average amount was equal to $168,165, a bit more than the city was anticipating.

With those bids coming in higher, the total estimated cost of the project (including architectural fees and contingency) increased up to around $189,000, and City Council found it necessary to pass a $64,290 budget amendment to ensure it had all its bases covered.

A report from Rebecca Rynbrandt, director of community services, said a number of factors most likely contributed to the city receiving higher bids than expected.

"The complexity of building within the floodplain, additional needs related to the (Michigan Department of Environmental Quality) permitting process and regulations, increases in masonry product costs, as well as the current economic conditions ... all are attributed to the higher than initially anticipated project cost," Rynbrandt's report stated.

The current Buck Creek restroom, located alongside trail head parking and a pavilion at 4269 Burlingame Ave. SW, was constructed in 1989, city documents show. At almost 30 years old, city officials deemed the wooden structure in need of replacement, thus City Council included the project in this year's budget.

The plan, according to Ryndrandt's report, is to convert the wooden structure into a brick one for dual purposes: ensuring a longer life and reducing fire hazards. The report also said the new restroom will be placed on the general footprint of the current building.

Even though the bids came in high, the city was able to minimize some costs for the overall project by re-using the architectural plans from the Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr and Huber Inc.-designed Frog Hollow restroom, with minor changes to allow for construction within the floodplain.

"The city is committed to providing leisure and recreation opportunities by developing and maintaining green spaces, facilities, and programs to enrich the quality of life for the citizens of the city of Wyoming," Rynbrandt's report said.

"With City Council support of a budget amendment utilizing the reserve fund balance of the Parks and Recreation Operational Fund to the Parks and Facilities Capital Outlay account ... the Community Services Department's Parks and Recreation staff can move forward with this project."

At Monday's meeting, Councilman Dan Burrill said he was pleased the city would again be working with Vander Kodde.

"This has been a bidder that's been in front of us before ... a Wyoming company bidding on Wyoming projects," Burrill said. "I'd like to thank them for continuing to bid on our projects."
ANN ARBOR, MI - If you encounter a police officer in Ann Arbor, odds are that officer is going to be white and male.

The same goes for Ann Arbor firefighters.

Both the police and fire departments in Ann Arbor are now confronting the issue of diversity within their ranks.

Leaders of both departments recently updated the City Council on new diversity recruitment plans and efforts underway.

"We've done quite a bit of work with a number of personnel working on this," said Assistant Fire Chief Ellen Taylor, mentioning a 116-page research paper she authored last year and a diversity committee that's been formed within the Ann Arbor Fire Department.

She said they've created new brochures and handouts, had professional photos taken to show diversity in the department, and they're preparing to make a strong push to go out and recruit at schools, colleges and other places to attract more diverse candidates.

"We also have been more active in the regional fire academies," she said. "The little bit of diversity that is out there in fire academies, we're being more active. We're showing up at these academies and trying to make those relationships with those diverse candidates."

The Ann Arbor Police Department also is trying to position itself to attract a more diverse mix of officer recruits.

"One of the things that's going on in law enforcement in Michigan right now is that 96-97 percent of the academy graduates are white males," said Police Chief Jim Baird, indicating that makes it a challenge to add diversity when that's the primary candidate pool.

Baird said the AAPD is at a point where a lot of police employees are retiring and a lot of the diversity the department had is leaving.

"But the pool is not the same, so ... we have to decide we're going to go to a different pool for our candidates," he said. "We're not just going to be solely focused on looking at academy graduates, people who put themselves through the academy.

"So, we began the process of sponsoring people, identifying people we think would be a good fit, and then sending them to the academy," he said. "We had a rather accelerated process several months ago. It started with five candidates. It only ended up being successful with one, and she is actually now in our in-house academy."

Baird said another candidate-recruitment posting recently closed and the AAPD is trying to be more intentional this time.

"And so we're going to see how many we can get, and see if we can help move this process forward," he said.

Baird said the city's human resources department has been helping the AAPD with recruiting at colleges.

"So, it's something that's still a work in progress, but we think we're moving in the right direction," he said.

In the AAPD, 86 percent of sworn officers are white and 76 percent are male, according to statistics provided by the city.

In the fire department, 91 percent of employees are white and 92 percent are male.

Across both departments, about 6 percent of firefighters and police officers are black and 3 percent are Hispanic/Latino.

Taylor said the AAFD has seen a loss of diversity through retirements in the last two years and more may be coming.

Several recommendations came out of Taylor's research paper last year, including implementation of a new cultural awareness program within the fire department and hiring or assigning someone to be the AAFD's diversity officer and public education officer to foster relationships with community stakeholders and diverse communities.

"It's important that we have cultural competency in the department and that we know what the diversity is that we're serving," Taylor said of the importance of diversity in the AAFD. "If we're on a scene that we don't understand the culture, that's a problem."

She said it goes beyond race.

"We have to understand the different types of religion as well, and what their expectations are," she said. "I mean, we can't go to a mosque and walk in with our shoes and being disrespectful to people if that's their culture -- that type of thing."

The AAFD wants to build relationships with middle schools, high schools, colleges, universities and technical schools to put a career in fire service on more minds. For some, Taylor said, there's a perception that a career in fire service is "not for me," and that can keep them away.

"If you don't really know what it is, and you have a perception that it's not for you, you're not going to go out and spend money as an individual to get those requirements that are right now expected to even apply for the position," she said. "So, that's another area that the recommendations go into -- that we need to look at those requirements and maybe lower them. Not to do the job, but just to apply so you have a chance to get those required expectations before being put into the job itself."

There's discussion of the AAFD potentially sponsoring candidates to go through training like the AAPD is doing.

"We have approached HR on doing the same method," Taylor said. "They're working out the bugs, I think, in the sense of contracts and how they could do that. But we're definitely looking at that."

The racial makeup of the AAPD in relation to Ann Arbor's population was discussed in a November 2017 report by Hillard Heintze, a consulting firm hired by the city to evaluate the police department.

The latest census data indicates Ann Arbor is about 72 percent white, 7 percent black, 16 percent Asian, and 4 percent Hispanic/Latino.

"Consistent with the residential population of Ann Arbor, the AAPD is not very diverse," the Hillard Heintze report stated, indicating 21 of 122 officers as of December 2016 claimed an ethnicity other than white. Of those 21, two were sergeants and two were detectives.

The report also noted there were 28 female officers, with only one claiming an ethnicity other than white.

"Women are better represented in the supervisory ranks than racial and ethnic minorities, with five female sergeants and two female lieutenants. Five women are detectives," the report stated.

The Hillard Heintze study found 100 percent of new hires in the AAPD from 2014 to 2016 were white and 84 percent were male.

About 83 percent of AAPD officers were white as of December 2016, the report showed, and that has since increased to 86 percent.

"The department has engaged in a proactive outreach program for recruitment, but faces strong competition in recruiting for diversity," the report stated. "The AAPD faced years of attrition, and a robust recruitment process is being developed by the new recruitment team that draws from both the AAPD and the city's Human Resources Department.

"The recruitment team is open to innovation, but is challenged by a focus on the police academies and a process heavily weighted toward technical knowledge," the report continued. "These result in a hiring process that does not generate significant diversity in racial and ethnic demographics and in education and approach. The AAPD's leaders should engage with the recruiting process and provide leadership and direction to ensure that as an organization, the AAPD is able to continue to innovate and provide law enforcement leadership within the area."

Baird said there's no specific goal in terms of diversity numbers for the police department.

He said the AAPD has been demographically similar to the population it serves for the last couple decades with the exception of the Asian population. However, he said, the AAPD has been losing some of its diversity through retirement, and the academy hiring pool is disproportionately white men, so that's the reason why the department is looking other places for candidates now.

"We will continue to hire people who put themselves through the academy and we will continue to hire people from other agencies," he said. "The sponsorship pool is just another source for us to look at."

Baird said men tend to be drawn to the law enforcement profession at higher rates than women, so he's not sure how far the AAPD will be able to move the needle in the gender category.

"We want good people from wherever we can get them," he said, indicating there are five recruits in the AAPD's current class. "In addition to the sponsored recruit, we have two fresh out of the academy, one from another Michigan agency and one from a department in Indiana."

According to data provided by the city, the entire city government has 696 regular employees; 86 percent are white and 68 percent are male.

About 8.8 percent are black, 2.6 percent are Hispanic/Latino, 1.7 percent are Asian, 0.3 percent are American Indian/Alaskan Native, and 0.7 percent are two or more races.

"There is an increased focus right now in AAPD, but we haven't really gotten started in AAFD," HR Director Robyn Wilkerson said of the city's diversity recruitment efforts.

Taylor said she's hoping the city's leadership will provide the resources to allow the AAFD to implement its plan. She said the AAFD doesn't have the same recruiting and engagement resources the AAPD does.

She said the fire department has not yet made a diversity hire as a result of the new plan.

"I think it's been recognized that we haven't been on par in regard to hiring diversity," she said. "Some of the stats will show you that we're drastically losing it within the department. So, it was identified in our fire department strategic plan that we were going to improve our diversity.

"So, what we've done is we put a plan together and we're trying to implement it as we go along, and there's many steps to it, but the first one is obviously we've identified it. Now we're getting some type of advertisement and data and materials so we can go out and try to make more of an effort to recruit, and we've started to work with HR in regards to hitting those job fairs and things like that."

Taylor said it's going to be important for the AAFD to really create relationships with the community.

"And that's the high schools, the different types of organizations and agencies, so they know that for their young people who are coming up and maybe looking for jobs -- and not even young, any age -- that there's a possibility here to work for the fire department," she said.

Assistant Fire Chief Marc Tyler joined the AAFD late last year after rising through the ranks of the Lansing Fire Department since 1989.

"When I got hired in for the city of Lansing, I know that it was to increase the diversity," said Tyler, who is black.

"I was afforded the opportunity to get my training from the Lansing Fire Department, which I am immensely grateful for that. In regard to being hired here in the city of Ann Arbor, I'm not really sure. I'm hoping my credentials got me to where I am today, but if being diverse is also something they wanted to achieve, well then kudos for them to recognize they needed to make their hierarchy ... more diverse."

Baird noted one of the recommendations from the Hillard Heintze report is maintaining a year-round focus on selling the "brand" of the AAPD to help with recruiting across a range of potential candidates.

He's now recommending the City Council authorize hiring a new training officer, freeing up time for the department's training sergeant to focus more on proactive recruiting.
WAYNE COUNTY, MI - A crash has blocked all lanes along southbound M-39 at Joy Road Monday, Feb. 19.

The crash was reported at 5:48 p.m. Monday by the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Further information on the crash was not immediately available.
UPDATE: This story has been updated with additional details.

BANGOR TWP, MI -- Police are investigating the discovery of three bodies in Bay County's Bangor Township as a murder-suicide.

Michigan State Police Special 1st Lt. David Kaiser confirmed troopers are assisting the Bay County Sheriff's Office at the scene where an adult female and two children were found dead outside the William P. Rosebush Drain Maintenance Center, 3716 Wheeler Road.

The adult woman and a female child were found dead inside a black sedan; a male child was found dead outside near the car, said Bay County Sheriff Troy R. Cunningham.

Police Give Info on Murder-Suicide Bay County Sheriff press conference on suspected murder-suicide involving mother, two children. Posted by The Bay City Times on Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Both children are believed to be younger than five years old. The woman, who is in her early 30s, is believed to be their mother. The family isn't from Bay County and the car is registered in Oakland County, Cunningham said.

Police recovered a handgun at the scene. All three victims bore gunshot wounds, Cunningham said.

Cunningham said police were called to the scene after 8 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, for a report of multiple dead bodies found inside a vehicle. A Bay County Drain Commission employee had found the car Tuesday morning and called 911.

Drain Commissioner Joseph Rivet said it appears the victims had no connection to his agency or any of its employees.

It's unknown how long the vehicle had been on the property, as the building was closed on Monday for Presidents' Day.

Police are not disclosing the victims' names until their identities are confirmed in an autopsy, which is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

There were several police vehicles at the scene, in addition to Bay County-owned vehicles. A black Dodge Caravan minivan and a black Chrysler sedan were also parked at the scene.

Tuesday's incident marks the first homicide of 2018 in Bay County.

It comes on the heels of a Feb. 15 murder-suicide in the village of Sebewaing, where father and suspected culprit Bob Bonini, 61, shot and killed his 60-year-old wife Margo Bonini and daughter and sole child, 21-year-old Katelyn Bonini.

In October 2017, in Kawkawlin Township, police allege Lawrence D. Alexander, 62, shot and killed his wife Cheryl A. Alexander, 60, before turning the gun on himself.
A screenshot from Austin Franzel's Twitter profile.

LAPEER, MI -- An 18-year-old candidate running for election to the Lapeer Community School's Board of Education is apologizing for sharing racist and homophobic tweets on social media.

Austin Franzel, who says his campaign is based on building a closer community, said the messages on Twitter were from a few years ago and don't represent his beliefs now.

"Last year was a year of growth for me," Franzel said. "I shouldn't have said those hateful, terrible things. I don't believe in any of those things now."

Screenshots of the tweets were obtained from the candidate's Twitter profile after an anonymous tip was emailed to MLive-The Flint Journal about the candidate's social media presence.

Franzel's Twitter profile displays tweets that compare the Black Lives Matter movement to the Ku Klux Klan and calling those supporting Black Girls Rock "racist monkeys."

Black Girls Rock is a nonprofit youth empowerment and mentoring organization established to promote the arts for young women of color, as well as to encourage dialogue and analysis of the ways women of color are portrayed in the media.

"I was personally upset because I thought they were attacking white girls and so I fought reverse racism with racism," Franzel said. "I know that is wrong now. I fully do not support that."

Franzel claims he's never seen a meme captioned "please cease your faggotry," posted on his Twitter profile, but he acknowledges that he does know the girl his account shows he tweeted it to.

"We actually grew up together, she's a little more liberal than me," Franzel said. "I don't remember sending her that picture."

AustinFranzel1.png





The 2008 presidential elections sparked Franzel's interest in politics. He said his grandfather, Golden Spurlock, was very involved and remembers the conversations he'd have about John McCain and Barack Obama over dinner.

"The election was a big deal to him and he was always expressing his stances on certain issues," Franzel said. "I wanted to develop my own stances on issues. I consider myself a conservative, but I believe my generation of conservatives are more socially aware than my grandfather's generation."

Franzel's grandfather grew up in southern Kentucky, and is very conservative he said.

"Being a conservative to me means believing God put us on Earth and created the nation for all people, granted, they need to come legally," Franzel said

Franzel has touted that he has been working closely with the Republican Party in Lapeer. He said he's spent time in the community with leaders such as State representatives Gary Glenn and Gary Howell.

"Gary Howell let me job shadow him in Lansing for a day," Franzel said. "I got to see the House vote on whether they want to get rid of no-fault insurance or not."

Howell declined to comment on Franzel's social media postings.

Glenn said this is a very unfortunate situation for Franzel.

"I feel really sorry for him because now he has to suffer the embarrassment of these things being exposed," Glenn said. "I think most of us wouldn't want to be judged for what we did or said when we were 17. For him, that's a year ago."

Franzel is the only candidate who has so far filed to run for the Board of Education election, deadline for registration is July 24 by 4 p.m.
FLINT, MI - Residents are being told to avoid the Flint River west of Mill Road after heavy rain forced the city to discharge stormwater and sewage into the river.

The discharge started at 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 20, according to a statement from the city's water pollution control division.

Excessive wet weather exceeded the plant's ability to treat and carry sewage in the plant, the statement said.

The amount of sewage dumped into the river was not released.

The wastewater treatment plant retention and treatment basins overflow into the Flint River when the plant exceeds its capacity.

Health officials recommend against any contact with the Flint River under high flow conditions - particularly downstream of the discharge, west of the Mill Road Bridge at Flushing Road, according to the statement.

There may be high bacteria levels in the river following the discharge and water sample test results will be posted on the MDEQ's website.

State law requires the city notify the Michigan Department of Environment Quality, the Genesee County Health Department and officials in Flint Township and Flushing about the discharge.
MANISTEE COUNTY, MI -- A 17-year-old Northern Michigan native was arrested this week after police said he threatened to shoot up a high school in Manistee County.

Police arrested the Wellston teen Monday, Feb. 19, for making a terrorist threat -- a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. The alleged threat was made verbally last week toward Brethren High School of the Kaleva Norman Dickson School District.

A group of students at the school heard the threat and notified the principal Monday. Deputies from the Manistee County Sheriff's Office made contact with the teen Monday upon being notified.

Police said the teen admitted to making the threat, but said he was "just joking."

Police confiscated the teen's cell phone and an AR-15 from his residence. Manistee County Undersheriff Kenneth Falk said the rifle belongs to the student's parents, who willingly turned it over to police for safekeeping.

The teen was transported to the Manistee County Jail, where he remains in custody pending arraignment. A report has been submitted to the county prosecutor for review.

Falk said he hasn't been informed of any previous encounters between the student and local authorities.

Monday's incident came less than a week after a 19-year-old killed 17 people and injured 14 more when he opened fire inside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward County, Florida.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - One community member called the "blackface" incident "unacceptable."

Another said the conversation about how minority students are treated in the school district is long overdue.

Two parents even said incidents like a white student applying brown makeup to his face are the reasons their children do not go to school at Forest Hills Public Schools.

More than 200 people attended the Forest Hills Public Schools Board of Education meeting on Monday, Feb. 19 at Meadow Brook Elementary School.

It was the board's first meeting since an incident where photos of a white Forest Hills Northern High School student wearing brown facial makeup surfaced on social media.

The photos of the upperclassman, posted Feb. 1, ignited a social media firestorm on Instagram and Facebook because blackface carries associations of racism and degradation.

Residents of the Grand Rapids' community voiced their concerns and opinions on the culture of Forest Hills Public Schools.

Mariterese Jenkins, a concerned mother of two biracial children who have attended Forest Hills schools, said she was very disappointed in the district's response to this highly publicized incident.

She said she had moved her son from Forest Hills Central High School to another school because of incidents she called racist.

Kimberly Gerard, a Forest Hills Eastern Middle School student who was born in Guatemala, spoke highly about the district's Global Learners Initiative. The program is designed for students to "appreciate, understand and empower a global community."

As a seventh-grader, she was told she should be a housewife for the rest of her life. She was told she should be a maid, and it hurt so much, she said.

She said when she walks in the room for Global Learners Initiative, she feels worth something, and she would like to see more programs like it and more positive change in the community.

These are three other viewpoints from community members shared at the board meeting:

India and Justin Manns

India Manns said she is an advocate for everyone in the community, especially people of color.

She said her son does not go to Forest Hills for the same reason people were standing in line to speak out at the meeting.

She said children are hurting every day.

"It's not acceptable," she said. "Not at all."

While she spoke, Manns turned away from the board and directly addressed the audience. She said they need to stop tolerating prejudice, because that would in turn make the board stop tolerating it.

Her son, Justin Manns, a Grand Rapids Christian High School student, also spoke at the meeting.

He said it is "really scary" to be a student of color who has to go through these experiences every day.

"It hurts, it really does," he said. "It hurts. Have you ever not wanted to be you so you could get through the day or wished you were somebody else?"

Justin asked how the white Forest Hills Northern High School student did not know "blackface" was hurtful, especially with the incident occurring at the beginning of Black History Month.

Darlene O'Neal

Darlene O'Neal is a Grand Rapids resident who has been in the school district since 2000. She currently has a senior at Forest Hills Northern High School.

"This is gonna sound a little controversial," she said. "Actually, I want to thank the young man for doing what he did because it blew the top off of it."

She said the problem people are dealing with right now in the Forest Hills school district is not new, but the young man's actions brought them together to have this tough, long overdue conversation.

O'Neal said there is a great divide in the district, and if people do not get a handle on it right away, it was going to continue.

She said she knows the district has great students and great administrators.

She asked the board to display "courage," by making changes to the curriculum to teach students about racial issues.

"When they say they don't know, let's teach," she said. "Let's educate, let's put it into the curriculum so we can make those changes."

Kristyn Vander Zouwen

When she walked up to the microphone, Kristyn Vander Zouwen, a Grand Valley State University student, said she had not heard anyone call out white people and the white community.

"This is our fault, and this is our problem," she said. "It's people of color's problem because we made it their problem, but we have to take this opportunity to acknowledge racism, acknowledge white supremacy, to bring this conversation to our families, dinner tables and friends."

She said she gets having these conversations can be uncomfortable, but what is more uncomfortable is going to school as a person of color.

"The audacity, right?" She said. "For us to say this is too much of an uncomfortable conversation. This is on us, what happened."
SAUGATUCK TOWNSHIP, MI - An Allegan County judge has ruled against an environmentalist group's appeal over a proposed private marina and housing development in the Saugatuck dunes.

The Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance had filed two lawsuits against Saugatuck Township after the planning commission issued a permit to a developer, claiming the township violated its own zoning ordinance.

The developer, North Shores of Saugatuck, is working on behalf of Jeff and Peg Padnos who are the latest owners of a 300-acre Lake Michigan dune property wedged between the Kalamazoo River and the Patricia Birkholz Natural Area. North Shores has proposed digging a marina out of the sand dunes and building homes around it - as well as new homes fronting the big lake and the river.

After the township's planning commission gave its approval for the marina, the Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance sued and appealed to the township's zoning board at the same time. Allegan County Circuit Court Judge Kevin Cronin dismissed the suit against the planning commission in November 2017, as the zoning board had yet to issue a decision.

Once the township's zoning board rejected the alliance's appeal, the alliance then appealed that decision in Allegan County Circuit Court. Feb. 7, visiting Judge Wesley Nykamp dismissed the suit on the grounds that there were no valid legally protected interests that would be harmed. Nykamp is filling Cronin's seat after Cronin's retirement.

"There should no longer be doubt in anyone's mind: the small band of opponents do NOT have legal standing to challenge development of this property," Jeff and Peg Padnos said in a written statement.

Scott Howard of Olson, Bzdok & Howard in Traverse City represented the Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance in the case.

Howard said the alliance was disappointed in the ruling and disagrees substantially with the judge's opinion.

The alliance is considering all of its options in response to Judge Nykamp's decision, Howard said. The group could consider appealing the court's ruling.

"We're committed to preserving the natural resources, committed to preserving the watershed and committed to preserving the interdunal wetlands," Howard said.

On Feb. 13, the alliance issued a statement on its Facebook page: "We are disappointed to report that Allegan County's visiting Judge, Wesley Nykamp, has denied the Coastal Alliance standing to appeal Saugatuck Township Planning Commission's decision to ignore the local anti-funneling ordinance."

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality granted the North Shores project a permit to dig out the marina in January. The project still awaits a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - A former bookkeeper who used labor-union funds to buy $900 Katy Perry concert tickets and purchases at QVC, Victoria's Secret and other retailers, was sentenced to four years in prison.

Stephanie Marie DeBoer, 41, the former bookkeeper and office manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 876 in Edmore, was sentenced Tuesday, Feb. 20, by U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney in Kalamazoo.

He ordered her to pay $307,562.54 in restitution.

The government said the loss included $89,000 taken from a safety-clothing fund that she used to make payments on 16 credit cards.

She took another $156,000 from the union's general account by writing checks to herself and her landlord, Assistant U.S. Attorney Clay Stiffler wrote in a sentencing memorandum.

She spent $7,000 at QVC, $5,000 at Victoria's Secret, and more than $12,000 at retailers including Zulily, Vans, Timberland, Puma, Finish Line, Dick's Sporting Goods, American Eagle Outfitters and Aeropostale, the government said.

"How was DeBoer able to steal so much money from the union?" Stiflfler wrote.

"She took advantage of her position as the sole employee responsible for producing the union's monthly financial reports and responding to audits, and the only employee with online access to the union's bank and credit card accounts. She hid her tracks by altering the union's books and credit card statements.

"As the union representative responsible for scheduling, preparing for, and providing documentation for the union's audits, she was also able to fool the union's auditors."

He said that DeBoer absconded from bond, and failed to appear for a jury trial. DeBoer told family to lie about her whereabouts, switched cars, and "when finally cornered, forced a several hour standoff with United States Marshals" in Cedar Springs.

Her attorney, Jolene Weiner-Vatter, said her client is in poor health. While on bond, she was "prescribed numerous narcotic drugs by various doctors for serious medical conditions," which left her "consistently 'high' and unable to think straight."

DeBoer, who hasn't been in trouble before, has been a "devoted parent to her children," and is worried about their welfare. Her health problems "have consumed her and greatly interfered with her life leading to poor choices and decisions," Weiner-Vatter wrote.

She is in daily pain, her attorney said.

The prosecutor said DeBoer managed to hide from authorities for two months despite the defense contention that she was under the influence of drugs.

Weiner-Vatter said her client has taken responsibility for her crimes.

"And without making (light) of the situation or shifting blame, it is important to note that Defendant DeBoer was able to steal in part because the organization did not follow its own bylaws and accounting procedures ... . However, Defendant DeBoer wishes all to know how embarrassed and ashamed she is of her own behavior and that she takes full responsibility."
HUDSONVILLE, MI -- A handful of potholes on the highway in Hudsonville caused damage to about a dozen vehicles, and forced traffic to slow Tuesday, Feb. 20, during the morning commute.

The right lane of westbound I-196 was closed shortly before 8 a.m. while personnel from the Ottawa County Road Commission were dispatched to fill "several potholes," according to an Ottawa County dispatcher.

A dispatcher said about a dozen vehicles reported damage to their vehicles, mostly in the form of flat tires, due to potholes in the right lane. The calls began coming in around 7:30 a.m.

The left lane remained open Tuesday morning, but traffic was backed up to at least M-6 as crews began to arrive on scene.
BYRON TOWNSHIP, MI -- A surveillance camera image of a home invasion suspect carrying a television generated tips and police say they now have a suspect in custody.

The man was taken to the Kent County Jail on Tuesday, Feb. 20, Kent County sheriff's deputies said. His name has not been released pending authorization of charges by Kent County prosecutors.

Police on Saturday released an image of a suspect and vehicle after a home in the 4400 block of 76th Street was targeted during daytime hours of Friday, Feb. 16.

Authorities also say similar home invasions occurred in Ottawa and Allegan counties on Friday, including one in the 3000 block of Ottogan Street in Jamestown Township.

Police were investigating whether the same person or persons could be responsible for all of the break-ins.
KENT COUNTY, MI -- The northbound U.S. 131 off-ramp to 54th Street is among a growing list of road closures caused by flooding in West Michigan.

Flooding at Buck Creek near Clay Avenue SW caused the closure of the off-ramp about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20.

John Richard, a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Transportation, said the ramp could be closed until Friday afternoon, given the soggy forecast.

Creek flooding also is the cause of another state trunkline closure -- westbound Chicago Drive between Port Sheldon Street and 32nd Street in Ottawa County. In that area, Rush Creek is the source of flooding.

Road commissions in Kent and Allegan counties have announced a handful of road-flooding trouble spots on their Facebook pages.

Those include Cherry Valley Avenue SE between 76th Street to 84th Street and

Sorenson Ave south of 22 Mile Road. Both are closed.

In Allegan County, several roads have water over the road. The following roads may not be barricaded, but authorities advise drivers to avoid them until the water recedes.

-139th Ave between 36th St and 140th Ave

-Ottagon Ave between 43rd St and 44th St

-19th St south of Jefferson Ave

-Baseline Rd between 59th St and 60th St

-19th St south of 112th Ave (down to 1 lane)

-River Road between 128th Ave and 130th Ave (down to 1 lane)

-62nd between Baseline and 102nd Ave (deep water signed but not closed)

-15th St between 128th Ave and 126th Ave

- 118th Ave between 20th St and 16th St

- 107th Ave at 36th St

Kent County Road Commission supervisors say that, because of the weather conditions, daytime road crews are staying late Tuesday and evening crews are coming in early to help patch potholes and clear storm drains.
LANSING, MI -- Michigan State University's Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel Bob Noto is retiring, the university announced in a press release Tuesday, and deputy general counsel Kristine Zayko is replacing him.

Zayko will also have help from retired Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Young, who the university is tapping to coordinate outside law firms assisting MSU and also handle its Title IX lawsuits and investigations.

"I am pleased to assist the university in addressing its multiple challenges," Young said. "President Engler has made it clear that MSU is cooperating fully with the various investigations and that will be an ongoing priority for me."

Noto started in his current position in 1995. He's come under fire recently as the university struggles with the fallout of employing Larry Nassar for nearly two decades, during which he sexually assaulted hundreds of girls and women under the guise of providing medical treatment.

MSU Trustee Brian Mosallam called on Noto to resign, and for a review of the legal department's handling of the case.

Mosallam was also critical of the university's Title IX process for not getting to the Board of Trustees at a recent meeting.

"Currently the office of the general counsel's practice and its silo flow of information does not allow for Title IX reports and incidents of sexual assault on this campus to be reported to the board. This needs to be reviewed and changed immediately," he said. "It's unacceptable for survivors of sexual assault to live in fear and anxiety that they will not be heard."

But in a statement, MSU Interim President John Engler praised Noto's service.

"Bob Noto served Michigan State University for more than two decades in exemplary fashion," said Engler. "During his time here he has handled the university's complex legal matters with great skill and integrity, and he built a strong in-house team that will continue to serve the MSU well. We wish him well as he transitions to emeritus status."

Zayko was a labor and employment attorney in private practice before joining the university.
JACKSON, MI - In an interview Monday, Steven Rand apologized for the hurt caused by his offensive and sometimes obscene comments, and said he intends to remain sheriff of Jackson County.

"I am not a person that likes leaving messes for other people to clean up," Rand said. "And I intend to resolve this issue."

Rand confirmed his voice was on recordings released last week by Jim Fett, the attorney representing sheriff's Lt. Tommy Schuette, who is suing Rand for creating a hostile work environment and the county for retaliation. The document calls Rand a "multifaceted bigot."

"I am not going to deny when I heard those tapes, I wanted to believe that that wasn't my voice. But it sure sounds like me," said Rand, a Republican elected, without opposition, in 2016 and serving his second term.

He said he cannot explain his statements - Rand called a judge a "scatter-brained c---" and talked of creating murderous pornography. "All I can do is take ownership of them. What I really want to say is: I apologize to everyone I have hurt."

Rand said he has spent some of the last week reaching out to people, apologizing directly to some and trying to make amends. He tried to talk to the judge, he said.

Meanwhile, community leaders, some of them in his own party, have condemned the sheriff's words. "Statements and sentiments such as these are not reflective of the values, morals, and core principles that the Jackson County Republican Party stands for," the party chairman wrote in a statement. Members of the Jackson City Council, and others, have called for Rand's resignation.

"Obviously the statements I made were inappropriate, embarrassing. I deeply embarrassed myself, my department, my family, all those people who have supported me through the years," Rand said. "I have let a lot of people down."

Rand sends his "sincerest apologies" to anyone who heard, read of or knows about the recordings.

"Clearly, I wouldn't even say 'and were offended by it.' Because if you hear them, you are offended by it," he said.

"It is offensive."

Frankly, he said, he probably didn't even realize what he was saying. "I was as shocked as anyone hearing that tape and there is no excuse for it."

He said he has a plan and is going to work on himself first. "I am the person with the issue here... I intend to move forward and restore confidence in myself and this office."

The sheriff said he has reached out to the Michigan Civil Rights Commission, charged with investigating alleged discrimination and securing equal protection of civil rights. He would like the commission to make recommendations, and training is in order, for himself in particular, he said.

Rand used the phrase "unconsious bias" in response to a question about the type of training. "I don't know if that fits this situation exactly..."

Rand does not consider himself a bigot. "I can't even speculate as to why I made some of the statements I did; I don't harbor any bigotry... that is not what my actions say," he said.

"I hope you realize that's not how I behave, although the words certainly don't help in this situation."

When asked about women working in or with the department, about whether female applicants could or would apply to his office, he re-emphasized his intended purpose of the interview, to apologize: "I really don't want to get into all the details."

He did, however, note the sheriff's office now employs more women, in corrections, on road patrol and in emergency dispatch, than at any other time. "We are working even harder at achieving a more diverse workforce, and we are going to do it, and I am going to be part of that," he said. "It is going to take a little time but I am sure we can get there."

Of race relations, he said he has to build back trust. "Obviously, that is going to be my No. 1 job. I am working to do that and I am working with community leaders to do that."

He hopes the county can continue to support the "hardworking men and women of this office." "They are the ones out there doing the job and they do it very well."

Rand stopped the interview after 12 minutes. He said he plans to issue a formal apology on Tuesday.
JACKSON, MI - Jackson County's road patrol deputies and road sergeants are speaking out against discrimination in the wake of allegedly bigoted comments made by Sheriff Steven Rand.

The unions representing these officers -- The Jackson County Road Patrol Deputies Association and Jackson County Road Sergeants Association -- released a joint statement on Tuesday, Feb. 20, to "reassure the public and the community...that we treat all people with professionalism, courtesy, and respect."

The statement comes on the heels of a federal lawsuit filed Feb. 12, by sheriff's Lt. Tommy Schuette, who is suing Rand for creating a hostile work environment and Jackson County for retaliation. The document calls Rand a "multifaceted bigot."

Several audio recordings of Rand making derogatory comments about women, minorities, the disabled and county employees were released by Schuette's attorney, Jim Fett.

"We strongly believe the use of derogatory language in any setting is unprofessional and the use of it would reflect negatively on our ability to serve the citizens of Jackson County," the unions' statement reads.

Rand, a Republican elected without opposition in 2016 and serving his second term, confirmed on Monday, Feb. 19, it was his voice was on recordings and apologized for his actions.

"The road patrol sergeants and deputies are vehemently against the discrimination of any person based on sex, race, religious preference, sexual preference, physical appearance etc.," the unions' statement reads.

Community leaders, some of them in Rand's own party, also have condemned the sheriff's words.

Officers will continue to serve the citizens of Jackson County "with integrity, courtesy, compassion and the utmost respect as we have in the past," the unions' statement reads, adding that the "road patrol is comprised of a diverse population and each member has chosen and sworn to protect every citizen of Jackson County."

To read all the stories regarding Rand and the lawsuit, click here.
JACKSON, MI - A Jackson mother is furious prosecutors accepted a plea for a five-year maximum prison sentence from a man who confessed he molested her 5-year-old daughter.

At a Jan. 19 pretrial hearing, Keven Tinlin, 61, pleaded no contest to one count each of accosting a child for immoral purposes and gross indecency.

"When my little girl was finally ready to talk about what happened, they give this monster a deal," the girl's mother said. "If we had more time to prepare her for what she would have to go through (in court), I think he would be spending the rest of his life in prison like he deserves."

The Citizen Patriot and MLive typically do not publish names or identify sexual assault or abuse victims.

"He lured my girl into the back of his van, did things to her and now she feels responsible for what happened. It breaks my heart he will get off so easy," the mother said.

Tinlin was originally charged with one count each of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, accosting a child for immoral purposes and indecent exposure after he was arrested and confessed to molesting the woman's daughter on Sept. 4, 2017, in the back of his van at the Sherman Oaks trailer park, records show.

The maximum punishment for gross indecency is five years while first-degree criminal sexual conduct is punishable by up to life in prison.

The child has been having nightmares about what happened and has been in counseling to help cope with the trauma, the mother said.

It was supposed to be a fun day for her daughter at her grandfather's home on Labor Day when her daughter was accosted by Tinlin, the mother said.

Police were called to the trailer park after a concerned neighbor saw the woman's daughter talking to Tinlin and briefly go into the back of his van, according to a Michigan State Police report obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.

The girl, who was riding her bike when police arrived, greeted the state trooper sent to the area and said "(Tinlin) was a nice old man" and "just being silly," the report says.

Asking what she was talking about, the girl told the trooper she and Tinlin were playing a game in the van where he showed her his penis and began wiggling it around, the report says.

The trooper approached Tinlin, who was still in his van, and he confessed he was masturbating in front of the girl and had touched her inappropriately, the report says.

After reading him his Miranda rights, Tinlin admitted he went out to his van to masturbate "away from the watchful eye of his two dogs" when the girl approached him and asked what he was doing.

He admitted he masturbated in front of her and invited her to sit in the back of his van with him where he later fondled and penetrated her private parts with his index finger, the report says.

Tinlin was arrested at the scene while the girl and her mother, who arrived while police were talking with Tinlin, went to C.S. Mott Children Hospital in Ann Arbor for an examination.

"Honestly, I was so frustrated when I heard what he did, I think I may have scared my little girl when I asked her why she got into the back of his van," the mother said. "But he confessed to police what he did, so I don't understand why they are not throwing the book at this monster."

Though the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office has a confession from Tinlin, state law prohibits its use in court unless prosecutors follow a special court procedure first, said Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kati Rezmierski.

"We want to stand behind the victims the entire way, but we have to follow the law and the law forbids us from using his statements," Rezmierski said.

In Jackson County, sexual abuse cases involving children go through the Child Advocacy Center, which is staffed by trained professionals who interview the children for investigative and court purposes with goal of getting statements form the children while minimizing the trauma, Rezmierski said.

Prior to the creation of the center, children would be interviewed multiple times by various entities and that would sometimes lead to children just saying what they thought their interviewers wanted them to say to get the process over with, Rezmierski said.

During the forensic interview at the Child Advocacy Center, Sept. 13, the girl told counselors "a man" show her his private parts and shook them in front of her. She did not say anything about a man touching her, the report says.

"For us to use the statements, we first have to establish a crime was committed," Rezmierski said. "Since the girl did not say she was touched by Tinlin during her interview, we cannot legally establish the crime was committed which would allow the statements to come in."

After learning how easy it was for Tinlin to lure her daughter into his van, the mother fears her daughter may not be the only child he's abused.

"We did everything right and have always told (our children) not to go with strangers, but it happened anyway," the mother said.

Tinlin is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 28 before Circuit Judge John McBain. Tinlin has been in the Jackson County Jail since his arrest.
JACKSON, MI - Jackson County Sheriff Steven Rand says he cannot explain the distinction between his public persona and the offensive statements he made in private conversations.

"I will tell you that is not what I represent... I think people close to me, including many in the media, including many I have interacted with for many years now, realize that," Rand said Tuesday morning.

"I think my actions over the past 25 years in this office, demonstrate a far different man than what those comments may indicate."

Rand, again, repeatedly apologized, often steering the conversation back to this: "With anyone I have offended... I am deeply, deeply sorry," he said in his first on-camera interview since one of his lieutenants, Tommy Schuette, accused Rand of creating a hostile work environment.

In a lawsuit filed last week, Rand is called a "multifaceted bigot" whose spoken slurs have targeted women, blacks, the disabled and others. On released recordings, he called a judge a "scatter-brained c---," inquired about the physical appearance of a female deputy candidate, and talked about creating a pornographic film of a murder starring a court employee.

The revelations have eroded his support, even among his own party, and led some to question his fitness and the integrity of his office.

"Clearly, some of the statements I am accused of making are inappropriate. There is no place for those statements. Obviously, I thought those were behind closed doors, but that doesn't change the fact that I said some things that are harmful or hurtful to other people."

The words do not reflect his true feelings or the feelings in his heart, he said, and have affected his department, his supporters and his family.

Sitting at his desk on the third-floor of the sheriff's office, Rand became emotional as he talked about his two children. They are involved in sports, and he recalls advising them not to embarrass him, because their jerseys bear his name. "And I never would have thought the reverse would be true," he said.

"Now, my name is on their jerseys, and I have embarrassed them.

"That is probably what bothers me the most."

Despite calls for it, Rand does not intend to resign, but to fix the situation, by rebuilding trust and completing training.

A deputy since 1993, he was appointed in 2011, and elected in 2012 and again, without opposition, in 2016.

"I am going to make an effort to make things right, and for me that means staying in the office, and doing what I set out to do... and moving forward and doing a much better job at representing this agency."

When asked about calming the concerns of women, the LGBT community, blacks and minorities about the level of service they might receive from his office, he said: "I am going to stick with this is a problem that I need to address. I have already gone to some people for help."

He said he did not realize, "maybe," the coarseness of his language, or remember the publicly circulated statements. "That is probably the worst part. I really don't recall those comments."

Annually, the sheriff's office sends staff to "diversity training," but Rand has not attended. "I was busy doing other things, and probably, I would have benefited from that."

He is in contact with the Michigan Civil Rights Commission, is open to its recommendations and will assure he and his staff receive instruction and guidance.

"I need to deal with me first," he said, responding to an inquiry about the crude remarks captured of others within his department. "I think this is a top-down thing."

Rand would not comment on any specific allegations made in the ongoing lawsuit or elsewhere. It would not be prudent to do so, he said, but allowed: "I do look forward to going to court."

He does feel there was a breech of trust - "clearly, it would be foolish of me to say otherwise" - but he did not want this to be the focus.

"I want this to be about a very sincere apology to everyone... in the public," he said. "Please try to accept my apology. And if forgiveness is in your heart, even better.

"I don't expect that immediately."

He also would not provide any details on an ongoing Michigan State Police criminal investigation separate from the contentions in the lawsuit and initiated in the last month.

"We have cooperated with investigators, and we have handed over all the information that has been requested of us," Rand said.

As he did previously, he said he was confident the state police would not find evidence of criminal activity at the sheriff's office. "I have got, frankly, some of the best people working here that simply wouldn't allow that."

State Police Detective 1st Lt. Tom DeClercq, in a brief interview Tuesday, would not comment on the nature of the inquiry, being conducted by the Special Investigations Section, which, among other responsibilities, explores political or high-priority cases in the Lansing-based District 1.

"Allegations have been made and based on those allegations, we are looking into some specific items related to the sheriff's office," he said and declined to elaborate.

"We don't talk about open, active investigations."

There have been no requests for arrest warrants, he said, and he expects a resolution in the next couple weeks.

In the meantime, the sheriff said he is determined to speak to every member of his department to formally apologize.

"Obviously, I created an environment where there is a little more stress on those folks, and they don't deserve that."

He believes the work environment at the sheriff's office has been one of teamwork and comraderie. In times of tragedy, they have rallied around and supported each other. He thought he had a "very good relationship" with employees.

"It is probably one of the toughest jobs, whether it be corrections, dispach or patrol, some of the most difficult jobs you can imagine, very stressful, and we try to make it an enjoyable job, something you want to come into," Rand said.

Despite his "shortcomings," he hopes people continue to support those working in the field. "This is not a reflection on them."
OTSEGO, MI - The Harding's Friendly Market in Otsego is slated to be closed permanently in March.

Its owner, Harding and Hill Inc., issued a statement Monday saying the business at 114 S. Farmer St. will close permanently after nearly 70 years of operation. But it did not say why or explain what triggered the decision.

"Recently, we made the difficult decision to close our Harding's Market Otsego location, which has proudly served the community and been a part of our family for nearly 70 years," Dan Hill, president of Harding and Hill Inc., stated in a Feb. 19 press release. "While it is never an easy decision to close a store, this outcome is particularly painful for us, and we thank the community for their loyal patronage over the years."

Contacted by telephone, he would not comment on why the store is closing or say how many jobs would be lost. In the press release he said the closing was "not a reflection on our dedicated associates or their commitment to serving our customers."

Harding and Hill Inc. is a privately held company that owns the Otsego location. The Harding's location a few miles away, at 533 Allegan St. in Plainwell, is owned by Harding's Markets-West Inc.

Both operate cooperatively with other Harding's supermarkets, per a marketing agreement, but face competition from nearby Walmart and Meijer supercenters, as well as an Aldi supermarket and one another.

Plainwell-based Harding's Market West closed one of its two Kalamazoo-area stores in February of 2015. That was the store at 412 Howard St. It is being redeveloped into a multi-use retail center that will include a smaller super market. Harding's Market West also owns the Harding's Friendly Market at 3199 S. 9th St. in Oshtemo Township.

In the press release, Dan Hill said the business would strive to find positions for as many associates as possible at its other Harding's locations. He did not say which ones.

"Until then, we will continue to serve our customers with the same customer focus, savings and quality they have come to expect at Harding's," he stated, "and we look forward to seeing them at our other locations in Southwest Michigan and Northern Indiana."
KALAMAZOO, MI -- An increasingly busy intersection on an Interstate 94 Business Loop through Kalamazoo will be rebuilt next year.

The Michigan Department of Transportation is holding an open house to discuss plans to reconstruct the intersection of Stadium Drive and Howard Street. Short presentations will be made at 4:15 and 5:15 p.m. on Feb. 28 at Kalamazoo Christian High School.

According to an MDOT release, tentative plans call for adding an additional left-turn lane on northbound and southbound Howard Street. A second left-turn lane would also be added on eastbound Stadium Drive to northbound Howard Street, heading into Western Michigan University's campus.

Plans also include adding a dedicated right turn lane from southbound Howard Street to westbound Stadium Drive. Traffic signal improvements would make turning right from Stadium Drive to Howard Street easier.

An Amtrak railroad crossing with Howard Street will also be reconstructed, including new railroad warning devices.

MDOT Spokesperson Nick Schirripa said a cost estimate isn't available as the plans aren't yet finalized. The open house is a chance for residents to provide feedback and suggest adjustments.

Reconstruction of the intersection is necessary due to an increase in traffic that has been experienced during the last several years, Schirripa said. The intersection is a gateway to WMU and accommodates a growing number of vehicles and non-motorized users.

According to historic traffic figures compiled by the Kalamazoo Area Transportation Study, an average of 25,000 vehicles use the intersection daily. MDOT traffic counts show more than 22,000 vehicles use Stadium Drive on an average day.

Schirripa said Amtrak has added more trips through the area to its train schedule as well.

He said the agencies are partnering to bring "major changes that address not only the changes that have already occurred, but look to the future as well."

Meanwhile, the intersection has also been cited as difficult to cross by bicycle and pedestrian safety advocates. A Kalamazoo Metro Transit stop is located nearby.

Schrippia said the open house is a good chance for residents to tell MDOT how the intersection can be safer.

"This is a great time to look seriously at the needs of the non-motorized community," he said. "This is a great opportunity to address (growing use by bicyclists and pedestrians). That is certainly on our radar. Folks can come in and tell us what they would like to see there."

The Feb. 28 open house can provide accommodations for persons with disabilities and limited English-speaking ability. Large print materials, auxiliary aids or the services of interpreters, signers, or readers are available upon request.

Call (517) 373-9534 to request at least seven days before the meeting.
KALAMAZOO, MI --A 21-year-old woman was sentenced to prison Monday in the May 2017 stabbing of her father's girlfriend.

Olivia Berry was sentenced to 16 to 30 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections for the stabbing death of Aiesha Walker, 23, a mother of three.

Police say on May 29, Berry argued with Walker in an upstairs area of a house in the 1000 block of Interfaith Boulevard, threatened to kill and stab her and then armed herself with two knives. When Walker walked downstairs, Berry lunged at her and stabbed her in an overhead motion, an assistant prosecutor said at Berry's preliminary examination in July 2017.

Walker's autopsy showed her cause of death was multiple sharp force injuries. Police responded to the home at 12:20 a.m. May 30 and rushed her to Bronson Methodist Hospital, where she died.

Berry pleaded guilty Jan. 23 to second-degree murder, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. Prosecutors did not have a sentencing recommendation for Berry, but MDOC sentencing guidelines placed her in the range of 13.5 to 22.5 years.

Berry will get credit for the 266 days she has already served in jail and must pay restitution of $3,050.

Berry's defense attorney, Keith Turpel, said Berry is remorseful for taking Walker's life. he said she also lost a family member in the death since Walker's daughter and Berry share the same father. Turpel pointed out Berry had no criminal history before this offense. He said she suffers from mental health issues and had "a very difficult upbringing."

"She wishes she could take this back," Turpel said.

When it was Berry's turn to speak, she said she punishes herself every day for committing the crime. She said she didn't want Walker to die, but said others allowed her to get into arguments with Walker.

Berry turned around and faced others in the courtroom and apologized.

"I am truly, truly sorry that I did this to you all and I hope you can forgive me," she said.

Berry said she didn't want her life to go like this. She said she feels like an animal being shackled in handcuffs, and she said she goes crazy in her jail cell.

Kalamazoo County Circuit Court Judge Paul J. Bridenstine said he weighed several factors into giving Berry her sentence, including the fact that she had no prior criminal history and that she had an "awful childhood," was in foster care and lived a high risk lifestyle. Bridenstine said Berry was in an argument and that she "took it to the next level," stabbing Walker 4 to 6 times.

"You allowed your emotions to get the best of you," Bridenstine told Berry.
SAGINAW, MI -- Businesses in the city of Saginaw have until March 1, 2019, to install three security cameras at each building and put up parking lot lights.

Saginaw City Council members unanimously passed an ordinance on Monday, Feb. 19, for most Saginaw businesses to install cameras and parking lot lights.

The ordinance is intended to reduce the likelihood of death and injury to patrons and employees of businesses that "have characteristics which may tend to increase the potential risk of criminal activity on their premises," according to the proposal.

If crime should occur, the cameras would aid law enforcement agencies in investigations, the proposal states.

Saginaw City Councilman Demond Tibbs and Saginaw Police Chief Bob Ruth said the move is cost-effective and in the long run will make the city safer.

"We need businesses to thrive in the city," Tibbs said.

The councilman brought up a recent incident where a 65-year-old woman was assaulted in downtown Saginaw in the Jefferson One Building on Tuesday, Feb. 6.

Tibbs said security cameras helped lead to the arrest of the suspect.

"This will be a joint effort between the clerk's office, who handles the licensing, and the police department," Ruth said. " The individuals who have the businesses will receive a certificate from the police department when they have been approved for their lighting and for their camera system."

Ruth said after business owners get a certificate, a business license will be issued to the business.

Business owners can purchase a camera system for as little as $300-$350, Ruth said.

Each of the three cameras would face a specific position: one covering the counter and register area, one capturing the face of each person entering and leaving and one providing a view of the parking lot, according to the proposal.

"I think the extra work that we're doing is far outweighed by the quality of work we're going to get in the end, on the way we'll be able to solve cases. It's really going to help us," Ruth said.

If a business chooses not to install cameras, or if a worker interferes with the cameras, a civil infraction and fine would be issued, according to the proposal. Ruth said business owners have one year for compliance.

The proposal also mandates any business open after dark or before dawn to have parking lot lights that stay on throughout all hours of darkness.

"Unfortunately, a lot of the parking at these places are for drug trafficking, which we know definitely impacts the quality of life in our city - that should definitely assist in that problem," Tibbs said.

The businesses requiring security cameras under the ordinance include banks, bars, coin dealers, gun dealers, scrap dealers, hotels, motels, gas stations, party stores, phone sellers, pharmacies, pawnbrokers, pool halls, dance halls and second-hand merchants.

The chief said so far the feedback from business owners regarding the ordinance has been positive.

"It's going to make Saginaw a safer place. That's all it is," Ruth said.
LAKELAND, Fla. - It may be gloomy and gray up in Michigan, but the Detroit Tigers are down in sunny Florida for spring training before their 2018 season.

Above are photos from the first full-squad practice at TigerTown in Lakeland.

Be sure to check back to MLive.com throughout the week for photo coverage from spring training.
Guinea Telecoms Market Report 2018 - Growth, Demand, Pricing, Competition, Infrastructure and Policies - ResearchAndMarkets.com

The "2018 Guinea Telecom Market Analysis and Outlook Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The research work strategically analyzes Guinea telecommunications market, examining the recent trends, drivers and challenges across diverse dimensions such as growth, demand, pricing, competition, consumer behaviour, infrastructure, policies and others.

The study also provides in-depth analysis of segment wise telecommunications including mobile, fixed line and fixed broadband services. The number of subscribers and penetration rates are forecast for each of the sub-segment including mobile, fixed landline and broadband segments from 2005 to 2025.

Guinea telecommunication revenues, investment and infrastructure details are also covered in the repor. Further, emerging business environment in Guinea together with comparison to five competitive benchmark countries are included, to assess the country's prominence on regional front.

On the competitive analysis front, leading companies along with their market shares are identified. Further, key business strategies of market leaders, their tariffs and SWOT profiles are included. In addition, the research work forecasts the demographic and economic drivers of Guinea that enable strategy planners to formulate their pricing and branding strategies.

The report also includes latest telecommunication market developments, mergers, acquisitions and launches, spectrum availability, tenders and other aspects are analyzed.

Key Topics Covered:

Executive Summary Guinea Telecom Market - Strategic Analysis Guinea Telecom Market Outlook Guinea Telecom Competitive Environment Guinea Telecom Industry Benchmarking Guinea Economic Outlook to 2025 Guinea Demographic Outlook to 2025 Competitor Analysis Recent Industry Developments

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View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180219005564/en/
Iceland Telecoms Market Report 2018 - Growth, Demand, Pricing, Competition, Infrastructure and Policies - ResearchAndMarkets.com

The "2018 Iceland Telecom Market Analysis and Outlook Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The research work strategically analyzes Iceland telecommunications market, examining the recent trends, drivers and challenges across diverse dimensions such as growth, demand, pricing, competition, consumer behavior, infrastructure, policies and others.

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Iceland telecommunication revenues, investment and infrastructure details are also covered in the report Further, emerging business environment in Iceland together with comparison to five competitive benchmark countries are included, to assess the country's prominence on regional front.

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The report also includes latest telecommunication market developments, mergers, acquisitions and launches, spectrum availability, tenders and other aspects are analyzed.

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For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/dvbhhq/iceland_telecoms?w=4

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180219005565/en/
Iraq Telecoms Market Report 2018: Analysis and Forecasts (2005-2025) - Trends, Drivers and Challenges - ResearchAndMarkets.com

The "2018 Iraq Telecom Market Analysis and Outlook Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The research work strategically analyzes Iraq telecommunications market, examining the recent trends, drivers and challenges across diverse dimensions such as growth, demand, pricing, competition, consumer behaviour, infrastructure, policies and others.

The study also provides in-depth analysis of segment wise telecommunications including mobile, fixed line and fixed broadband services. The number of subscribers and penetration rates are forecast for each of the sub-segment including mobile, fixed landline and broadband segments from 2005 to 2025.

Iraq telecommunication revenues, investment and infrastructure details are also covered in the reprt. Further, emerging business environment in Iraq together with comparison to five competitive benchmark countries are included, to assess the country's prominence on regional front.

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The report also includes latest telecommunication market developments, mergers, acquisitions and launches, spectrum availability, tenders and other aspects are analyzed.

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Executive Summary Iraq Telecom Market - Strategic Analysis Iraq Telecom Market Outlook Iraq Telecom Competitive Environment Iraq Telecom Industry Benchmarking Iraq Economic Outlook to 2025 Iraq Demographic Outlook to 2025 Competitor Analysis Recent Industry Developments

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/rjggw4/iraq_telecoms?w=4

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180219005587/en/
Ghana Telecoms Market Report 2018 - Subscriber and Penetration Rate Forecasts for Mobile, Fixed Landline and Broadband - ResearchAndMarkets.com

The "2018 Ghana Telecom Market Analysis and Outlook Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The research work strategically analyzes Ghana telecommunications market, examining the recent trends, drivers and challenges across diverse dimensions such as growth, demand, pricing, competition, consumer behaviour, infrastructure, policies and others.

The study also provides in-depth analysis of segment wise telecommunications including mobile, fixed line and fixed broadband services. The number of subscribers and penetration rates are forecast for each of the sub-segment including mobile, fixed landline and broadband segments from 2005 to 2025.

Ghana telecommunication revenues, investment and infrastructure details are also covered in the repot. Further, emerging business environment in Ghana together with comparison to five competitive benchmark countries are included, to assess the country's prominence on regional front.

On the competitive analysis front, leading companies along with their market shares are identified. Further, key business strategies of market leaders, their tariffs and SWOT profiles are included. In addition, the research work forecasts the demographic and economic drivers of Ghana that enable strategy planners to formulate their pricing and branding strategies.

The report also includes latest telecommunication market developments, mergers, acquisitions and launches, spectrum availability, tenders and other aspects are analyzed.

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For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/mdf4mr/ghana_telecoms?w=4

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180219005588/en/
Georgia Telecoms Market Report 2018 - Subscriber & Penetration Rate Forecasts for Mobile, Fixed Landline and Broadband - ResearchAndMarkets.com

The "2018 Georgia Telecom Market Analysis and Outlook Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The research work strategically analyzes Georgia telecommunications market, examining the recent trends, drivers and challenges across diverse dimensions such as growth, demand, pricing, competition, consumer behaviour, infrastructure, policies and others.

The study also provides in-depth analysis of segment wise telecommunications including mobile, fixed line and fixed broadband services. The number of subscribers and penetration rates are forecast for each of the sub-segment including mobile, fixed landline and broadband segments from 2005 to 2025.

Georgia telecommunication revenues, investment and infrastructure details are also covered in the report Further, emerging business environment in Georgia together with comparison to five competitive benchmark countries are included, to assess the country's prominence on regional front.

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The report also includes latest telecommunication market developments, mergers, acquisitions and launches, spectrum availability, tenders and other aspects are analyzed.

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For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/prtd3d/georgia_telecoms?w=4

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180219005589/en/
Bull's Eye, CNBC-TV18's popular game show, where market experts come together to dish out trading strategies for you to make your week more exciting and compete with each other to see whose portfolio is the strongest.

Remember these are midcap ideas not just for the day, but stocks that look attractive in the medium-term as well.

This week, Ruchit Jain, Rakesh Bansal and Vishal Malkan battle it out for top honours.

Below their top stock picks and analysis:

Ruchit Jain of Angel Broking

Buy Bharti Airtel with a stop loss at Rs 400, target of Rs 438

Buy MCX India with a stop loss at Rs 741, target of Rs 796

Sell IRB Infra with a stop loss at Rs 232.50, target of Rs 212

Sell Ujjivan Financial with a stop loss at Rs 376, target of Rs 338

Rakesh Bansal of RK GLobal

Buy Ganesh Benzoplast with a stop loss at Rs 79.5 for target of Rs 104

Buy Ashapura Intimate Fashion with a stop loss at Rs 456 for target of Rs 504

Buy Godrej Consumer Product with a stop loss at Rs 1015 for target of Rs 1072

Buy Interglobe Aviation with a stop loss at Rs 1249 for target of Rs 1330

Vishal Malkan of malkansview.com

Buy Bata India with a stop loss of Rs 700 for target of Rs 740

Buy Jain Irrigation with a stop loss of Rs 115 and target of Rs 128

Buy Reliance Infra with a stop loss of Rs 435 and target of Rs 480

Buy Karnataka Bank with a stop loss of Rs 128 and target of Rs 145
Sudarshan Sukhani of s2analytics.com told CNBC-TV18, "Bata India is a favourite, it is an intraday buy because any dip in the market justifies buying strong stocks at least for the day."

"Second buy is Infosys. Tech stocks are likely to outperform. Whatever that means, at least they will do better than the index."

"The three short sells are relatively easy. Dewan Housing Finance (DHFL) is a short, LIC Housing Finance  same group, same sector, it is a short sell. Lower levels are coming in both of them."

"BPCL and Hindustan Petroleum yesterday are suggesting lower levels are coming. Small bear flag like rallies have fizzled out and broken down the downside."

"Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) after that correction is a positional buy. The only point is that with the market these may be available at lower prices in the next two months. However, largecap IT is a buying opportunity today."

"Today is likely to be a choppy day. So for the day HDFC should only be a buying opportunity on a sharp dip. That could come mid-day. Otherwise most stocks are likely to be sort of a little choppy and volatile."
In an interview to CNBC-TV18, Alka Anbarasu, VP-Financial Institutions Group at Moody's Investors Service spoke about placing Punjab National Banks (PNB) rating under review for a downgrade.

Anbarasu we have placed ratings under review for downgrade because we think that the financial implications of this fraudulent transaction could be severe and that would depend on quantum and timing of the hit that PNB will need to take.

She further said that depending on the provisions the bank takes, its capital position could also come under pressure.

Talking about banking sector, we have considered the risk of this type of transactions emerging with other banks and may not just be restricted to public sector banks.
A customer shops in a Casino supermarket in Mouans Sartoux, France, October 27, 2016. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard - RTX2QQ3Q : FMCG

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Shoppers Stop will be launching five new stores in FY19 in the department format, and a dozen stores in the beauty format, said Managing Director Govind Shrikhande.

He believes FY19 could bring back the growth in retail, post demonetisation and implementation of goods and services tax (GST).

Shrikhande was speaking on the sidelines of two-day Retail Leadership Summit held in Mumbai today.

He further said the company is targeting a 7.5-8 percent like-to-like growth in the coming year, and a 10-11 percent top-line growth.

Speaking about the companys debt, Shrikhande said, We have less than 50 crore of debt in Jan end, and will be completely debt free by Q3FY19.

The company has two core businesses but is not looking to divest in any more business as of now.

The department stores chain will start multiple marketing initiatives starting Q2FY19.

Shoppers stop catalogue will start reflecting on the Amazon.in website by April-May,

We will look at sharing exact growth numbers from sales on Amazon.in after a one year period, said Shrikhande.

When asked about Amazon's stake in Shoppers Stop, he said, "We have not discussed increase in stake with Amazon. We are also not speculating on if Amazon will look at increasing stake in Shoppers Stop.

The American e-commerce giant picked 5 percent stake in Shoppers Stop last year.

The company will be investing Rs 120-130 crore in FY19 and according to him, private labels will contribute 15 percent share in revenue from 9 percent now.

Shrikhande expects FY19 to be better than FY18.
US-based hedge fund Deccan Value is leading the race of bidders for Amtek Auto, which has a debt pile of Rs 12,700 crore, according to a report in The Economic Times.

Sources told the newspaper that if lenders accept this offer, they are likely to face a haircut of around 65 percent.

Amtek had received two binding bids from Liberty House and Deccan Vaule in the initial round.

Liberty House has submitted a revised bid for Amtek Auto on February 9 after the lenders had rejected the initial bids for the troubled auto components maker, asking the bidders to come back with a revision. State Bank of India and Corporation Bank had said that if the bidders failed to submit improved bids by Februray 9, they would then consider liquidation of the company.

Also Read  Exclusive: Liberty House enters fray for Bhushan Power & Steel, to put in bids by end of Feb

According to the report, Amtek's liquidation value is pegged at about Rs 4,200 crore or 33 percent of the outstanding loan.

"We understand that the Deccan Vaue offer is almost at par with the liquidation value," one of the sources told the paper.

"Deccan Value has offered Rs 4,041 crore. As per the proposal, Rs 2,850 crore will be paid upfront and balance in installments over three to five years."

Over the next few days, the banks will negotiate with the higgest bidder, the report said.

Resolution professional Dinkar Venkatasubramanian did not respond to an email query.

Earlier, the banks had extended the deadline by a week as the bidders did not furnish bid bond guarantee.

As per the existing law, a resolution plan for a bankruptcy company would not be considered by lenders if the applicant did not provide a bid bond guarantee.

A bid bond guarantee is a letter of comfort from the bank or a bank guarnatee that indicates that the bidder has either cash balance to complete the transaction or the banks would step in.

The Amtek group is believed to owe over Rs 26,000 crore to 32 banks, including State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, IDBI Bank, Bank of Maharashtra and UCO Bank.

The auto component maker has been struggling to make a turnaround ever since it reported "temporary cash flow mismatch" in 2015 and defaulted on payment of an estimated Rs 800-crore bond.
Ports and shipping

After introducing Ro-Ro (Roll on  Roll off) service in Gujarat, India is set to have London like ferry terminals at Varanasi and Patna to reduce logistics costs, Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) vice chairman, Pravir Pandey, told Moneycontrol.

When we were carrying out projects (of national waterways), there were a lot of queries from various stakeholders that IWAI was talking only about cargo. What about passengers? , Pandey said adding, So we responded to that demand and have engaged Massachusetts Institute of Technology along with the Thompson Design Group They have studied and have prepared the detailed project report (DPR) for Patna and Varanasi.

Ferry is a merchant vessel used to transport passengers and cargo alike. Owing to its low cost, water transportation is fast picking momentum in India. Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had inaugurated first phase of Ro-Ro service in Gujarat between Ghogha in Saurashtra and Dahej in South Gujarat.

IWAI, the apex body responsible for maintaining inland waterways, is developing national waterways including NW-1 on which these ferry terminals will be built.

Pandey said that the present study by MIT and TDG is being done only for national waterways -1 for cities like Varanasi, Patna and Kolkata. He said that these cities, situated near the bank of river Ganges, are heavily congested and need urgent solution for alternate transportation. The ferry services will push two wheeler riders off road.

Also read: Planning to spend Rs 1,700 crore for development of national waterways in 2018-19: IWAI VC

We will, to some extent, be building certain ferry terminals in these cities. People like cycle riders or motor-cyclists or other two wheeler riders will be able to commute through ferries within the city but not long distances, he said.

These ferry services are inspired from waterways used in London (River bus system under Transport for London) and New York (NYC Ferry). Furthermore, the study on ferry services will focus on urban transportation planning to lower traffic congestion.

The study is only for National Waterway-1 for cities like Varanasi, Patna, Bharatpur and Kolkata as a part of urban transportation planning It focuses on how to reduce the logistics cost and the logistics congestion in these cities, the vice chairman said.

The logistic costs in India are extremely high and tapping the full potential of waterways will provide a huge impetus to movement of people, goods, commodities and vehicles, Amitabh Kant, chief executive officer for NITI Aayog has previously said.

As per government estimates, average cost for road transportation is approximately Rs. 1.5 per ton-km; for railways, it is Rs. 1.0 per ton-km and for waterways, it is close to 25 to 30 paisa per ton-km. Presently, 4,500 km of inland waterways is being commercially utilised and waterways carry less than 1 percent of domestic cargo in India.

Also read: PM Modi inaugurates ro-ro ferry service in Gujarat, blames UPA govt for delaying project

After running successful Ro-Ro service in Brahmaputra River, IWAI will focus on promoting Ro-Ro services in the country on various national waterways.

Theres demand for it (Ro-Ro service) in NW-1 We will introduce this in Kochi which is NW-3, where not only people could be ferried across but trucks and heavy vehicles can also be loaded onto the Ro-Ro service. We will also introduce it in NW-4, Pandey said.

IWAI had started Ro-Ro in Brahmaputra river (on NW-2) allowing people to cut short their journey of approximately 200 kilometer that was needed to avoid the river. These vessels are mechanised, self-propelled and kind-of rope packed that allows people with bikes, scooters and cycles to travel through it.

People with vehicles can stay on the lower deck while other passengers can go to the upper deck and stay there, he said.

Pandey, however, added that introducing ferry services in the country wasnt the mandate of IWAI as the matter was a state subject.

Each state government has its own rule or Act. So we are not intruding that but are providing initial infrastructure assistance and trying to guide the governments, he said.
Odisha's Naxal-affected Malkangiri is set to get its first railway line by 2022 with the Union Cabinet giving its nod to the project that is expected to cost over Rs 2,676 crore, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal announced today.

While making the announcement, he also said that connecting naxal-affected areas through railways is the government's priority.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today approved the 130-km Jeypore-Malkangiri New Line project at a completion cost of Rs 2,676.11 crore, Goyal said.

It is likely to be completed by 2021-22 and will cover the districts of Koraput and Malkangiri in Odisha.

"Connecting naxal-affected areas is our priority and for this we are starting the first rail project in Orissa's Malkangiri. This will help in the development of the area," the minister told reporters.

Malkangiri and Koraput districts are among the identified left wing extremism (LWE) affected districts in the country. These areas are also amongst the 115 aspirational districts identified by the Prime Minister for development to help achieve the vision of New India by 2022.

The proposed new line will connect Malkangiri, Boipariguda, Tanginiguda, Mathili, Pondripani Road and other major towns to Jeypore station on the existing Kottavalasa-Kirandul line.

Further, connectivity to important towns such as Koraput, Jeypore, Jagdalpur, Dantewara will improve. It will also result in shortening the journey-time to many other places of Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.

At present, Malkangiri has no connectivity through railways.

"The new line will provide basic infrastructure support for overall development, including industrial development of the area having large socio-economic ramifications," the railways said.

"This project will provide connectivity in this region, and will help provide economic opportunities to the people of these regions. This will also help in combating left wing extremism through development," it said.

Goyal also said that the project will generate direct employment during construction of about 31.2 lakh man-days.
manufacturer of Titanium alloys in India.

Questions from resolution professional, deliberations with lawyers, visits by senior officials and exchange of documents, the auction of Essar Steel is seeing a flurry of activities.

Sources told Moneycontrol that the resolution profession overseeing the auction on Tuesday has sent a list of questions to both bidders  ArcelorMittal and Numetal Mauritius. Most of the questions are pertaining to the eligibility of the two companies to make a bid, said sources.

The two companies had submitted their bids for Essar Steel on February 12. Essar Steel, which has about Rs 50,000 crore in dues to banks, was referred to the National Company Law Tribunal last year.

After the bids were submitted, the resolution professional has to examine them for compliance. Once done, the professional forward the bids to the Committee of Creditors, which consists of the lenders.

The question facing the resolution professional is a pertinent one.

The government had brought an amendment to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, barring defaulting promoters from participating in the auction.

To overcome the hurdle, ArcelorMittal sold its stake in Uttam Galva Steel, which is on the second list of defaulting companies prepared by the Reserve Bank of India.

But questions continue to be raised on the eligibility of the worlds largest steelmaker. According to regulations, a change in the promoter has to be cleared by the shareholders. Has this been done in the case of Uttam Galva, asked an industry executive.

Others point out a clause in the IBC which says that a promoter of a company that has defaulted for more than a year may also be barred from bidding. Does ArcelorMittal pass this test?

A spokesperson for ArcelorMittal said these doubts are unfounded.

As we have previously said, we do not believe there is any legal basis under which ArcelorMittal would not be considered eligible to participate in the resolution process. ArcelorMittal was never the promoter of Uttam Galva. We had no board representation and no involvement in the management of the company even before selling our shareholding, the spokesperson said in a mailed statement.

He added: ArcelorMittal is an internationally renowned, financially strong credit-worthy investor with an AA rating. We have invested successfully in many countries and developed a reputation for our ability to turn around distressed or underperforming assets. Section 29A of the IBC was not designed to prevent reputed, financially strong businesses, with no prior involvement with the asset in question from participating.

Other side

Numetal, which includes Russias VTB Bank and Essar Group founders as shareholders, is also facing some tough questions.

The Ruia family is represented in Numetal by Rewant Ruia, son of Ravi Ruia, one half of the two founding brothers  the other being Shashi. Asked if Rewant could be a connected person to Essar as defined by the IBC  and thus Numetal could be ineligible to bid - a representative said:

"Numetal is a fully eligible resolution applicant and has already submitted its plan for Essar Steel. Mr Rewant Ruia holds an indirect minority interest in Numetal, but is neither its promoter, nor is he in management or control of Numetal. He will also not have any role in the management of Essar Steel. Accordingly his indirect minority interest is of no relevance as regards eligibility of Numetal."

Even as these deliberations go on, Moneycontrol learns that senior officials from the VTB Bank are in India to hold talks with lenders and regulators.

A Bloomberg story on Tuesday stating bids by both ArcelorMittal and Numetal could be disqualified has added to the regulatory confusion that now besets the auction.

The ArcelorMittal spokesperson, however, declined to comment on the story.

We have not received any such information from the Resolution professional or his legal advisors. Numetal is a fully eligible resolution applicant and has submitted its resolution plan for Essar Steel, a NuMetal spokesperson said on this matter.

Sources told Moneycontrol that a decision by the resolution professional may be taken by the end of this week, or early next.
Incorporated on August 25, 1998 and since then company is engaged in manufacturing of chemicals particularly for construction industry. They offer a wide range of chemical products which finds variety of applications in the construction sector.In F.Y. 2016-17, their net revenue of operations comprised of Rs. 33.94 Crore of which 32.14% comprises of export sales to Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.Company have developed a wide portfolio over 100 products which has made them one stop shop provider of construction chemicals. Product portfolio includes Protective waterproofing coatings, Sodium Silicates, Concrete & mortar admixtures, Epoxy grouts & mortars, Waterproofing compounds, Shot crete aids, Remover cleaning compounds, Sealants, Tile adhesives etc.Company is also involved in a continuous process of modifying their products to eliminate any harmful ingredient so as to serve the society with echo-friendly finished materials. As a result of these measures, Company will be able to increase its market share and profitability.

Companies' manufacturing facility is located at Howrah, West Bengal which has an existing installed capacity of 30,000 MT per year.

Valuation: Company is bringing the issue at p/e multiple of 6.55 on post issue annualized H1FY18 eps at a price of Rs 28/- per Share while peers like Pidilite Industries & BASF are trading at p/e multiple of more than 30.

Objects of Fresh Issue:. For Meeting Working Capital Requirement & general corporate purpose.

For all IPO stories, click here

The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions

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Even as the market continues to take a hit, largely a sentimental one due to the scam surrounding Punjab National Bank that came to light last week, IIFLs Nirmal Jain asks investors to cut through the noise.

India is way beyond scams and near term disruptionssome foreign investors may miss on how the economy is growing amid all this noise. In fact, India stands to be a great investment destination for the next 20 years, Jain, Chairman, IIFL told CNBC-TV18 in an interview.

Speaking on the PNB scam, Jain said he believes that it will not have a long term overhang. I dont think this is a systemic fraud, which will have a cascading impact. But, this reinforces the urgent need for reform in PSU banks, he told the TV channel.

Jain is upbeat on home improvement and real estate. Affordable housing is seeing a pick up in demand and reforms are serious and far-reaching in this case, he said, adding that smaller towns still have a lot of value of less than USD 50 per square feet.

On NBFCs, Jain said he believes they can pass on increased cost of funds to customers. On information technology companies, he said valuations are attractive in some firms, adding that the introduction of some innovation by companies too acts as a positive cue.

Below is the verbatim transcript of the interview.

Anuj: Good time to do the conference I guess, what is the mood right now you think among global investors because we have seeing a big decline for our markets and this has been driven by local trigger?

A: I think it is very interesting because in this environment where newspaper headlines are all about scams and frauds, some foreign investor or anybody who is coming into India may miss the main story which is how the economy is growing. Therefore, the theme of our conference is actually the main story that is happening in India which is the Rise of Millennials. That is what makes our country very different from all other large economies, not only what is happening today but for next 10 to 20 years as an investment destination. So, the theme of our conference is the Rise of Millennials which I think is a real story happening in India.

It is a much bigger story than the scams and frauds that you hear about. I mean they will disappear in a day or two. For a USD 2.5 trillion economy these are exaggerated they are not something that will make or mar of the country. But if you look at millennials they are just about 25 percent of our population and they account for 60 percent of workforce. They are very different in terms of their behaviour, their habits, the way they take decisions, in terms of their educational background. This has implications for everything, for the economy, for business, for politics and the way country will march forward in next 10 to 20 years.

This time, in fact the list is growing bigger so we have about 140 companies with combined market cap of more than USD 1 trillion that are attending the conference. Also, in terms of the participation of fund managers it is a new record. We have a 675 local fund managers that have confirmed and about 100 odd foreign institutional investors and together they manage more than USD 5-6 trillion of global assets. So, conference is getting a very good response in terms of corporate participations, in terms of investor participation.

So, regardless of what we see in terms of last few days or post Budget I think India is still very attractive. There is a lot of interest. People are looking forward to, meeting Indian companies as well as listening to lot of many speakers who are talking on very different themes. We are covering data analytics, artificial intelligence what are more relevant when the business will be driven by millennials.

Surabhi: You referred to what has been happening in the last couple of days. What is the sense I mean is this something that the market will now digest? It has already been about a week and kind of move forward or is this going to be a bit of a longer term overhang what evr we have seen with respect to Punjab National Bank (PNB)?

A: I dont think it should be longer term overhang, because it primarily reflects one public sector bank and I dont think it is a systemic fraud or something which has any cascading impact. At least at this point in time we dont see anything like that. Basically, this reinforces urgent need to reform PSU banks and if government wants to consider privatisation in whichever form they should do that. In fact they allowed the Fairfax which is a foreign investor, also investor in our company to own 51 percent of Catholic Syrian Bank this maybe a good move that stressed banks or banks where you may have certain issues with quality of their assets.

But then they have assets which are not valued. They are intangible in terms of their franchise, their base of customers, their current account-saving account (CASA) deposit raising ability, branches and those are intangible assets which typically an investor would be willing to pay for. So it may be a good idea to match these things and try and expedite the process of reforms of public sector banks. If government really wants to take a bold move then they should try privatisation as soon as possible.

Anuj: Home improvement and real estate, how are you playing that particular theme because that theme has done well? I see a lot of companies which are part of your conference in this list.

A: We also came out with a very detailed report on this and I think affordable housing as a theme, this government has done quite a few reforms which are serious and far reaching. We are seeing that there is already a pickup in demand for affordable housing. Even real estate sector people get confused, because if you look at real estate sector from five kilometre radius from your studio or my office then it looks like overpriced and kind of a bubble or very expensive.

But when we look at India, there are so many smaller towns where you can still buy a house at less than USD 50 per square feet that is where the real growth is coming. There are number of tax incentives or reforms in land acquisitions and also the incentive schemes or the subsidy scheme which has been very innovative and has been very successful. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana where up to Rs 12 lakhs you can get around 15-20 percent of loan amount as a subsidy to the first time home owner of a lower middle class or a relative lower economic section that is something which will drive growth. I think whatever we are seeing now is just the beginning.

My sense is that next 5 to 10 years we will see explosive growth in this sector which is affordable home or a low income housing. There is a segment where many state governments are doing, they are making very large investments. They are coming out of major reforms. I think that is seeing lot of activity and as a company we have branches over more than 1,000 cities. We are trying to leverage our branch network and expand our home loan base in those smaller tier II, tier III and tier IV cities and towns.

Surabhi: The other area of keen interest in the market obviously is NBFCs. I am looking at the benchmark yield now 7.67 percent and that has caused some concern. There is a conversation about whether NBFCs can keep enjoying the kind of margins they did over the last one year. What is your own sense there and if you could share with us your own NBFC business, what is the kind of growth rate that you are looking at in FY19? I mean that is going to be separate listed entity soon enough?

A: Relatively NBFCs are fairly safe from the interest rate movement because most of their, sorts of segment that we lend to they are not so sensitive to 25 or 50 basis points in rise and therefore the cost increase can mostly be passed on. There can be some impact on the portfolio, but I dont think it will be significant given the robust growth that we are seeing in this sector. NBFCs have been beneficiary of very strong credit growth in the economy on one hand and on the other hand as we are seeing most of the PSU banks really arent expanding their credit as aggressively as the demand is.

Of course, we are seeing the credit growth has got into double digit which is a good news for the economy, but having said that the demands for SMEs as well as the various niche segments of the economy, the demand for credit is very strong and private sector banks and NBFCs are getting are larger share of it because PSU banks are constraint for new capital. I think that scenario may continue for some time and most NBFCs if they have a good volume growth they can take the small increase in cost of fund in their stride and move on.

Anuj: The other interesting discussion is going to be on IT, demystifying digital, because IT has done well and over the last six months I remember lot of people said that Indian IT story is over. But last six months have been phenomenal. It is not reflecting in the numbers yet though. Your thoughts on whether Indian companies are now ready to latch on to this digital opportunity and whether the rally that we have seen in IT stocks can continue?

A: IT sector basically was an underperformer for a long time when other high beta sectors were doing very well. So, last few years we have seen that banking, financial even pharmaceutical for some time many other sectors did well and IT sector growth has slowed down. So, IT sector has also, sort went through a transformative process where the nature of their project that they do, the types of clients everything underwent very significant change. But, now I think valuations have become attractive on one hand, some of the IT companies that have been innovative in terms of their skill set as well as the clients that they look for they will also see a reasonably good growth.

So, IT sector wont see explosive growth like 100 percent every year what we saw in late 90s or early 2000s but a very well managed companies if they grow at 15 percent or 15 to 20 percent I think there is a very good growth for long term investors. This sector has value, but I think you cant look at entire sector, you cant paint it with one brush or you cant look at one homogenous sector. There are some companies that will do well, so investors will have to do whatever stock picking and be selective.
It seems that nationwide lockdown has not much impacted the fertilizer sector. In May 2020, the Indian Fertiliser industry has witness sales growth of 25% to 5 million tonnes as compared to 4 million tonnes in the same month last year. Coromandel International and Chambal Fertilisers have seen major sales growth in the sector. The research firm Prabhudas Lilladher is bullish on 5 stocks in the sector and among that they expect stock Insecticides India may see the upside of 82 percent, report dated June 09, 2020.

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After beginning on a strong note, the Q3FY18 earnings season lost sheen towards the end, led by disappointment from heavy-weights like SBI, Tata Motors, Lupin, and ONGC.

However, whats more, encouraging is that the earnings picture is getting brighter, with the recovery expected to gather pace in FY19, Motilal Oswal said in a note.

Recovery in consumption-oriented sectors, with a broad-based volumes pick-up in Staples, Discretionary, Cement, and Auto, albeit on a low base of demonetisation and upbeat commentary on rural consumption were some of the highlights of December quarter results, it said.

The brokerage firm saw sequential asset quality improvement and a decline in slippages in Private banks, even as PSU banks posted a mixed performance on the asset quality front.

There was a semblance of a recovery in order inflow for Infrastructure, Construction and Capital goods companies after the GST-related pangs of Q2FY18.

On the technology front, D-Street witnessed optimistic commentary from the IT sector after a while, even as QQFY18 saw a good beat from tier-II IT names.

While aggregate sales and EBITDA were in line, profits missed Motilal Oswal estimates. The miss at the PAT level for both MOSL and Nifty Universe can be entirely ascribed to PSU Banks  elevated provisions and MTM losses in the bonds portfolio dragged the bottom line, said the report.

The proportion of companies reporting a PAT decline (at 29 percent of our MOSL Universe) is at a 12-quarter low. Within our MOSL Universe, out of the 19 sectors we track, 4/7/8 posted profits that were above/in-line/below our expectations. The surprise/miss ratio at 0.9x deteriorated sequentially, it said.

Earnings downgrade to upgrade ratio moderated on a sequential basis (QoQ) as 65 companies saw earnings cut of over 3 percent (58 in 2QFY18) and 43 companies saw earnings upgrades of over 3 percent (49 in 2QFY18).

The upgrade/downgrade ratio weakened from 0.84x to 0.66x. We have revised our Nifty EPS estimate downward by 3.2 percent for FY18E and 0.6 percent for FY19E. However, a large part of Nifty EPS cut is flowing from SBI, which reported losses in 3QFY18, said the report.

Nonetheless, the earnings estimates for FY18 are relatively more stable v/s FY15/16/17. We expect Nifty EPS to grow 13 percent to Rs471 in FY18 and 26 percent to Rs595 in FY19, it said.

Here is a list of ten stocks to buy from Motilal Oswal post-December quarter results:

ICICI Bank

ICICI Bank has recorded a steady decline in overall net stressed loans over the last eight quarters. The bank is focused on building a robust retail portfolio in both assets and liabilities, and also improve fee income traction while reducing the international loan book.

While in the near-term, credit cost is likely to stay elevated due to the ageing of NPAs. We expect it to moderate from FY19, enabling the bank to deliver 12 percent return on equity (RoE) by FY20E.

Cholamandalam Finance

Chola is among the earliest entrants in both vehicle finance (VF) and LAP. Its profit growth has been exemplary at 21 percent/29 percent AUM/PAT CAGR over FY12-17; 20 percent/37 percent AUM/PAT growth in 9HFY18.

Also, no state accounts for more than 12 percent of AUM. VF book is also diversified, with a healthy mix of LCV, M&HCV, tractors, cars and used vehicles.

Chola posted RoE of 18 percent in FY17 and 20 percent in 9MFY18. While GNPL ratio of 3.7 percent seems high, its credit cost of 1.1-1.2 percent is the lowest in our NBFC coverage universe.

Credit costs have been low and stable since the consumer lending fiasco in the prior decade. It trades at 2.9x FY20E BVPS.

M&M

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) is the best bet on a rural recovery, as it would improve the visibility of volumes in the tractor and UV businesses. Rural market contributes ~56 percent of the revenues and 72 percent of S/A PAT.

Several levers are available to margin improvement  such as mix (higher tractors and pick-up volumes), lower CV and 2W business losses, lower marketing spend, and positive op. leverage.

We estimate ~40bps margin improvement to 14.8 percent over FY18-20E. While the 3QFY18 operating performance was a miss due to a lag in price pass-through and higher other expenses, adj. PAT was in line due to higher other income, lower interest, and depreciation & tax.

Amara Raja Batteries

Favourable industry structure is likely to drive further consolidation, driven by the GST-led shift from unorganized to organized players.

After the last couple of years of muted earnings growth, we expect a recovery driven by auto segment, stabilization in the industrial segment, and newer avenues like e-rickshaws and traction batteries.

AMRJs 3QFY18 revenues grew 17 percent, driven by strong growth in auto and a QoQ recovery in telecom tower batteries. In-line operating performance was boosted by higher other income, which drove ~20 percent YoY PAT growth (v/s est. of 11 percent).

Jubilant Foodworks

Strong SSSG growth meant a huge margins surprise, as businesses like these have high operating leverage.

While management has not called out any significant recovery in consumer sentiment and JUBIs SSSG performance was actually weaker for yet another quarter (compared to other QSR players like Westlife and Yum Brands, despite a negative SSSG base in 3QFY17), there is no reason for us to remain negative on the prospects.

We, thus, upgrade to Neutral. The valuations after stock run-up is fair, despite an increase in our earnings projections.

Britannia Industries

Return to double-digit volume growth and the company being able to cross the 15 percent hurdle for the first time on operating margins (hence remarkable 30 percent EBITDA growth YoY) were the key highlights from the results.

Two aspects from management commentary stood out. (1) The broad-based biscuits segment recovery augurs well for Britannia. (2) 20 percent+ growth for all its erstwhile weak states indicates that there are multiple engines firing in conjunction for Britannia.

Mahanagar Gas

MGL showed resilience to high LNG prices and reported volume growth of 7 percent YoY in CNG and 8 percent in the PNG. EBITDA/scm also stood at strong INR8.

Increasing focus on pollution, along with the regulatory board coming up with the bidding of as many as 100 cities, is likely to re-rate the company.

Infosys

With little juice left to squeeze out from the lever of utilization factor, Infosys has moved its focus toward improving onsite/offshore mix and roll ratios onsite, and fresher hiring onsite to support its cost structure.

Infosys still maintained guidance of 23 percent-25 percent EBIT margin and left its 5.5 percent-6.5 percent growth guidance unchanged (implying a broad range of -0.5 percent to +3.0 percent for 4QFY18).

JSPL

Consolidated EBITDA increased 17 percent QoQ (+26 percent YoY) to Rs16bn, led by an improvement in the steel business in India and Oman. Steel production is at inflection  we expect 29 percent CAGR to 6.4mt over FY18-20.

Strong long product prices in India, operating leverage, and timely volume growth augur well for earnings. Nearly 25 percent of the raw material cost is insulated from input price risk due to captive iron ore mines and coal linkage.

Larsen & Toubro

With the result being largely in line, the key highlight from the 3QFY18 result has been the sharp pick-up in order flow. Order inflow during the quarter was up 38 percent on a YoY basis, driven by pick-up in the infrastructure and hydrocarbon verticals.

Domestic E&C execution seems to be picking up (+14 percent YoY), supported by the infrastructure segment (+21 percent YoY). We remain positive on the stock with a SOTP target price of Rs1,650.

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on moneycontrol.com are their own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
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The small & midcap space which got beaten down sharply in the last 1-2 months had outperformed largecaps as well as every other asset class by a wide margin in the year 2017.

Many analysts fear that the pain in this space is not over yet which given plenty of opportunity to investors to pick quality stocks on declines.

The equity portfolio of Porinju Veliyath, also known as mid & smallcap czar, includes 13 stocks (as per a BSE disclosure) in which he holds over 1 percent.

Out of which, four stocks rose up to 250 percent in the last one year include names like Emkay Global (up 255 percent), followed by BCL Industries (up 228 percent), IZMO (up 109 percent), and Vista Pharma (up 108 percent).

Recently, Equity Intelligence picked up minor stake in Kaya which send it shares rallying up to 5 percent in trade on Tuesday.

Portfolio Management clients of Equity Intelligence India Private Limited and EQ India Fund, which are owned by ace investor Porinju Veliyath, acquired 13,350 shares (representing 0.1 percent of total paid-up equity) of the company, as per disclosure available on the exchange on Monday.

Investors made plenty of money thanks to the sharp rise seen in equity markets in the year 2017 of 29 percent. But, 2018 will be different. It will give plenty of opportunities to long-term investors but may be tough for traders as consolidation in the market is likely to continue.

The valuation does look stretched in specific stock which could see some more pain, but overall the markets is not in a bubble zone and long-term investors have nothing to worry about, says Porinju in an interview with CNBC-TV18.

The market is not looking into any bubble territory, they look reasonable and healthy. In the fantastic rally of 29 percent on the Nifty in 2017, investors made average 30-40 percent kind of returns and smart investors made 80-90 percent returns; but in 2018, investors have to live with much lower return expectations, he said in an interview last week.

The correction, for the time being, is done, but some stocks, which are still overpriced, may correct more. Smart investors can create wealth by using midcap and smallcap theme for another 2-3 years, said Veliyath.

Porinju strongly believes politics will take the centre stage on Dalal Street over next one-and-half-years. In fact, politics will be trend decider for the market.

All-in-all, this is a year of consolidation but I am optimistic on investing front. India is in the midst of huge economic reforms, he believes.
India has underperformed global peers since the start of the year due to domestic issues like the big bank fraud etc., but what are global investors doing. In an interview to CNBC-TV18, Jonathan Schiessl of Ashburton shared his views and readings on India after the recent underperformance versus global peers.

Schiessl said that India has underperformed as compared to other emerging markets.

He further said that Indias macros have taken a turn for the worse recently.

According to him, relative attractiveness of India has dimmed and people are putting money elsewhere in the short term.

Schiessl also mentioned that we are still very much overweight on India, optimistic from a medium to long-term view.

However, China is looking more optimistic as compared to India. China has stocks like Alibaba and Tencent, which India doesn't have, he said.

Talking about banks, he said public sector undertaking (PSU) banks is a pack where a lot of effort is needed to improve risks.
The Nifty, which started on a bullish note, failed to keep the momentum going as last hour selling put bears on the driving seat on Tuesday. The Nifty moved in a narrow range of 80 points and formed a small bearish candle.

The index made a bearish candle for the third consecutive day. It suffered stiff resistance around its 100-days exponential moving average (DEMA), as well as 5-DMA.

The index, which opened at 10,391, rose to an intraday high of 10,429 but selling pressure soon gripped markets and pushed the index below 10,400 to hit its intraday low of 10,347. It closed 18 points lower at 10,360.

The index formed a bearish candle for the third consecutive day and now a close above 10,500 could negate the negative pattern formed on the charts. Technical analysts see a retest of 10,276 levels before a pullback could sustain, suggest experts.

The Nifty made an attempt to consolidate as it moved in a narrow range of around 80 points before signing off the day with a small bearish candle. However, bears are still in a commanding position as index mildly closed below 100 day moving average for the second day in a row, Mazhar Mohammad, Chief Strategist  Technical Research & Trading Advisory, Chartviewindia.in told Moneycontrol.

Unless bulls recover by pushing the indices above 10430 levels on closing basis chances of relief rally shall be ruled out without breach of 10276 levels. There will be a higher possibility of one corrective structure( or one leg of the corrective move) getting culminated below 10276 levels which shall pave the way for much awaited sustainable pullback rally, he said.

Mohammad further added that if Nifty slips below 10,276, then the correction shall get extended up to 10,070 levels, where a critical support is available in the form of 200-day moving averages.

India VIX move up by 1.18 percent at 16.86. On the options front, maximum Put open interest was seen at 10,300 followed by 10,000 strikes while maximum Call OI was seen at 11,100 followed by 10,400 strikes.

We have collated the top fifteen data points to help you spot profitable trade:

Key Support & Resistance Level for Nifty:

The Nifty closed at 10,360.4. According to Pivot charts, the key support level is placed at 10,328.97, followed by 10,297.53. If the index starts to move higher, key resistance levels to watch out are 10,410.57 and 10,460.73.

Nifty Bank:

The Nifty Bank closed at 24,874.4. Important Pivot level, which will act as crucial support for the index, is placed at 24,749.57, followed by 24,624.73. On the upside, key resistance levels are placed at 25,078.67, followed by 25,282.93.

Call Options Data:

Maximum call open interest (OI) of 46.54 lakh contracts stands at strike price 10,400, which will act as a crucial resistance level for the index in the February series, followed by 10,500, which now holds 45.32 lakh contracts in open interest, and 10,600, which has accumulated 40.55 lakh contracts in OI.

Call writing was seen at a strike price of 10,400, which saw the addition of 4.91 lakh contracts.

Call unwinding was seen at 10,600, which saw shedding of 6.6 lakh contracts, followed by 10,700 at 4.4 lakh contracts and 10,800, which shed 3.83 lakh contracts.

Put Options Data:

Maximum put OI of 62.09 lakh contracts was seen at strike price 10,300, which will act as a crucial base for the index in February series; followed by 10,000, which now holds 50.78 lakh contracts and 10,500 which has now accumulated 41.29 lakh contracts in open interest.

Put Writing was seen at the strike price of 10,300, which saw addition of 16.32 lakh contracts, along with 10,400, which added 10.54 lakh contracts and 10,200, which added 3.4 lakh contracts.

Meanwhile, Put unwinding was seen at 10,700, which saw shedding of 1.42 lakh contracts in Open Interest, followed by 10,600 (sheds 1.37 lakh contracts), and 10,500 (sheds 1.16 lakh contracts).

FII & DII Data:

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold shares worth Rs 850.35 crore, while domestic institutional investors bought shares worth Rs 1,437.24 crore in the Indian equity market, as per provisional data available on the NSE.

Fund Flow Picture:

Stocks with high delivery percentage:

High delivery percentage suggests that investors are accepting the delivery of the stock, which means that investors are bullish on the stock.

97 stocks saw long build-up:

2 stocks saw short covering:

A decrease in open interest along with an increase in price mostly indicates short covering.

106 stocks saw short build-up:

An increase in open interest along with a decrease in price mostly indicates short positions being built up.

1 stock saw long unwinding:

Long unwinding happens when there is a decrease in OI as well as in price.

Bulk Deals:

Fortis Healthcare: Societe Generale bought 2,836,369 shares at Rs 143.11 while ECL Finance sold 3,014,702 shares at Rs 141.69 per share. Chandarana Intermediaries Brokers bought 34,05,283 shares at Rs 145.74 per share.

Kesar Petroproducts: Aspire Emerging Fund sold 700,177 shares at Rs 44.04 per share.

Gokaldas Exports Limited: Parvesh Gandtora sold 2,80,000 shares at Rs 95.70 per share

(For more bulk deals click here)

Analyst or Board Meet/Briefings:

MCX: Morgan Stanley, Moon Capital, JPMorgan Asset Management, and IIFL & Kotak will be meeting the management between February 21 and March 1.

Narayana Health: Organised a telecom with investors on February 20.

Grasim: HSBC AMC, Baja Allianz, Enam Holdings, Exide Life, DHLF Pramaerica, KM Visaria and Finvest Advisors met the management of the firm on February 16.

Stocks in news:

Ambuja Cements Ltd: The company has recommended a final dividend on equity shares at the rate of Rs 2 per share.

Karnataka Bank: Received ASSOCHAM Social Banking Excellence award for 2017.

Reliance Naval: Appointed Rajesh Dhingra as Director of the firm.

Central Bank: Board to consider raising Rs 4,835 crore on preferential basis, on February 23.

Dilip Buildcon: It has been declared lowest bidder for Karnataka EPC project worth Rs 380 crore by NHAI

Bank of Maharashtra - ICRA revises ratings of various bonds

ICRA Updates rating of various PNB bonds

Dilip Buildcon declared as L1 bidder for NHAI project worth Rs 380.07cr

Max India, Max Healthcare

Companys equal JV, life healthcare group holdings ltd initiates preliminary discussions with company to explore possibility of acquisition of Life healthcare shares in max healthcare institute limited by the company

Fortis

Promoter invokes pledged shareholding

Promoter holding falls from 8.85% to 5.87%

7 stocks under ban period on NSE

Security in ban period for the next trade date under the F&O segment includes companies in which the security has crossed 95 percent of the market-wide position limit.

Securities which are banned for trading include names such as Balrampur Chini, Dish TV, Fortis, GMR Infra, IFCI, Jain Irrigation, and JP Associates.
Motherson Sumi Systems | The stock closed at Rs 112.55 on November 5, 2020. Its 50-DMA: Rs 112.54, which was above their 200-DMA: Rs 100.61.

We had created a "defensive portfolio" a couple of months ago and after 3QFY18 earnings, we rejig it while maintaining the overall defensive characteristics. The portfolio has gained close to 4.1% since inception against 5.8% rise of the Nifty and therefore deserves closer scrutiny.

We have one addition to the portfolio, Motherson Sumi Systems Limited (MSSL), which replaces Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited (Sun).

Amid overall market weakness, the price correction in MSSL, despite the good set of quarterly numbers and positive outlook, is giving an opportunity to include this in our portfolio.

MSSL is Indias largest automotive wiring company and one of the largest auto ancillary company. There are multiple growth drivers for the company: contribution from new plants, push towards EVs and healthy demand outlook.

In fact, the management expects next two-three quarters to be very good as the benefits from new plants will show up in the P&L.

This, coupled with the push towards EVs, which would need more wiring component that would increase the content per vehicle by close to 10-20 percent, should result in healthy growth in the topline and gradual increase in margins. Moreover, MSSL is currently trading at reasonable valuations.

In terms of 3QFY18 numbers, the company posted a significant growth of 36 percent in its topline. The margin, however, was marred by the lag of transferring the rise in the raw material (RM) costs. EBITDA margin contracted by 180bps primarily due to lag in pass-through of rise in the RM prices.

Sun Pharmaceutical continues to face challenges in the US generics business, similar to the trend seen with other pharmaceutical companies. We feel that the near term trigger of clearance of Halol plant by US FDA cannot offset structural challenges like the pricing issues in US base business and the significant investment warranted in creating a US specialty business.
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Embroiled in a major fraud, state-owned PNB assured all its customers that "enough arrangements" for their banking transactions without any inconvenience, and it has sufficient assets to meet any liability.

Replying to clarifications sought by stock exchanges, the Punjab National Bank (PNB) said: "Bank has enough assets to meet any liability which is decided as per law."

However, it added realisation of any specific asset would be decided at the time of need with the approval of board.

This followed media reports that the country's second largest bank was in process to monetise its fixed assets in the wake of Rs 11,400 crore fraud allegedly perpetrated by defaulter businessmen Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi. On reports about law enforcement agencies sealing its MCB Brady House branch in Mumbai, PNB said it is under discussion with CBI to allow normal operation at the branch during business hours.

"However, the bank has Core Banking Solution through which any customer of bank can transact at any branch of his convenience. Bank has made enough arrangements to ensure no customer is put to any inconvenience," it said.

Regarding exchanges' query on a petition in the Supreme Court demanding Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the fraud, PNB said it is not aware of any such petition.
The Raymond Group, under JK Investors (Bombay) Ltd, today signed pacts worth Rs 425 crore with the government of Maharashtra.

This would be to set up residential complex, commercial amenities, school project and sport complex in Nandgaon Peth, Amravati, the group said in a statement.

As per the MoU, signed during the Magnetic Maharashtra investors summit, the state government will facilitate JK Investors (Bombay) to obtain necessary permissions, registrations, approvals, clearances, fiscal incentives.

The project would commence in FY 2018-19, it added.

The first MoU is for a proposed investment of Rs 50 crore to set up a School Project and Sport Complex, while the second one is of Rs 375 crore for setting up a residential complex and commercial amenities with 2,000 houses.

The Raymond Group recently inaugurated a new Greenfield Linen manufacturing facility in the newly created Textile Park in Nandgaon Peth, Amravati, under its subsidiary Raymond Luxury Cottons Ltd.
In an attempt to add momentum to the pace of the implementation of the flagship Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), the Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the creation of a National Urban Housing Fund of Rs 60,000 crore to finance the scheme.

The fund will be anchored in the Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC), an autonomous body under the housing and urban affairs ministry, union minister Hardeep Singh Puri told reporters.

The National Urban Housing Fund (NUHF) will have provisioning of funds to the tune of Rs 60,000 crore over the next four years, he said.

"The Cabinet having approved the NUHF provisioning for funds amounting to Rs 60,000 crore over a period of four years, there will be an added momentum to the pace of implementation," he said.

The NUHF will facilitate raising funds in the next four years so that the flow of Central assistance under different verticals ie, beneficiary linked construction, affordable housing in partnership, in-situ slum redevelopment and credit linked subsidy scheme, are sustained and construction of houses to address the gap in housing progresses smoothly.

Under the PMAY(U), the housing and urban affairs ministry has targeted construction of about 1.2 crore houses for the urban poor. The ministry has so far sanctioned 39.4 lakh houses under the scheme, Puri said, adding that by March, the number is expected go up to 45 lakh.

So far 17.63 lakh houses have been grounded under the scheme.

The minister also exuded confidence that the government would be able to provide houses to all urban poor before the target of 2022. On an average, the ministry approves Central assistance to between 2-3 lakh houses every month, he said.

A committee will be constituted in the ministry to be chaired by the Joint Secretary/Mission Director PMAY (Urban) to operationalise and monitor the NUHF, Puri added.
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Even as banks are under the lens for compliance, it has emerged that all the 20 public sector banks including, Punjab National Bank (PNB), do not have a workman or an officer director on its board, a mandatory practice as per the Bank Nationalisation Act.

The post, which acts as a 'watchdog' on the Board and management decisions, has been lying vacant for at least last six months.

A workmen/officer director is a representative of the employees or the Unions to act as vigilantes or watchdogs to raise questions within the board on decisions that they find are not in the best interest of the bank, point at the governments indecision on this front.

PNB's workman director's term ended in March 2016 and the post has been lying vacant since then.

As per the requirement, the central government may nominate any employee of a nationalised bank, who is a workman, to be a director of that bank.

As per the Nationalisation Act, there must be a workman director on the Board for a three-year term. None of the 20 PSBs have a workman and an officer director as of now and there has not been a single appointment of these directors over the last three years. By not appointing them, the watchdogs have been removed from the system, said CH Venkatachalam, general secretary, All-India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA).

Venkatachalam said he has raised this issue in at least three letters to the Finance Minister as well as one to the Prime Minister seeking intervention to make an appointment but none have got a response.

We learn that all other formalities have also been completed but yet the appointments are withheld by the government, he has pointed out in the letter.

This comes to light in the wake of the big banking scam of Rs 11,400 crore that hit Punjab National Bank which alleged in a letter to the stock exchanges that two of its bank officials were involved in issuing fraudulent Letter of Undertakings (LoUs) to diamond and jewellery importer Nirav Modi to seek loans beyond his means.

Questions are being raised over the lapses in the systems and processes followed by not just PNB but also other public sector banks, both during the approval of credit to an entity and also during subsequent audit and checks.

The bank unions have also flagged concerns in the case saying, Attempts are being made to dilute the magnitude of the fraud as one bank one branch two employees fraud. Such huge frauds cannot be committed in a simple way that a branch official would give LoU for Rs 11,400 crore in a period of 6 or 7 years without no one knowing about it... It is very strange that EDs, MDs, CEOs, Chairman, Directors of the Banks are not covered by any Disciplinary and Conduct Regulations though they take very vital decisions.

The Bank Nationalisation Act/Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act provides for appointment of a workman employee representative and an officer employee representative as directors on the boards of all public sector banks.

According to a bank official, previously, workman/officer directors have raised red flags in the board meetings over lending and banking practices not meeting the required standards and it has been taken up by the Boards.

For the past two years and more, the posts of Employee Representative Director and Officer Representative Director are not being filled up by the government.

AIBEA's data shows that the position of an employee director in Canara Bank has been lying vacant since April 2014. Three other banks -- Corporation Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank and Union Bank of India  have also not had a workman director since 2014.

At least 11 banks have such positions vacant since June 2016.

The union head says that not having such directors on the board also leads to gaps in the governance which is not watched over by any external member. Such directors are required to further point out this kind of a lacunae in the banks.

The letter to the Prime Minister states that, While the Government under your leadership claims of good governance, quicker decisions, faster response, less bureaucratic, etcIt is a matter of concern that the posts of workman and officer directors in the banks that have fallen vacant from 2014, 2015 and 2016 still remain vacant with the result that there is no representation on the boards of all the banks representing the employees and officers.

Venkatachalam says this is illegal and plans to file a PIL (public interest litigation) after consulting some lawyers. The promise of good governance is not enough, there needs to be some action, he adds.
E-commerce sector is expected to grow by 17 percent in gross merchandise value (GMV) at USD 38.5 billion during the financial year 2018, IT industry body Nasscom said in its outlook for the year on Tuesday.

The growth is being led by an increase in the demand for online hotel booking and online food and grocery delivery.

The global digital spend is expected to increase to USD 310 billion in 2018 from USD 180 billion in 2017, reporting a 20 percent growth.

The country currently has 5,200 startups with about 1,000 added last year. This makes India the third largest startups hub in the world.

The gross valuation of the startups has grown to USD 40 billion with companies such as Flipkart and Paytm constituting of USD 14 billion and USD 10 billion of valuations, respectively.

Flipkart is also in talks with American retailer Walmart Inc and this round is expected to swell its valuation further to over USD 20 billion.

According to Nasscom, the startup sector is now witnessing a mature growth with greater focus on B2B.

India currently has 465 million internet users against a global user base of 3.2 billion. The country currently has over 300 million smartphone users and the same is expected to grow to 800 million by 2020.
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Tata Steels shares were up around 2 percent intraday on Tuesday as investors read into the brokerage views on its bid for Bhushan Steels assets. Firming up of metal prices also aided it.

Tata Steel emerged as the highest bidder for Bhushan Steel with a surprise bid of Rs 35,000 crore. JSW Steel, which was the favourite till the end of the race, was second placed with a bid of Rs 29,700 crore.

Bhushan Steel is one of the 12 large corporate accounts identified by the Reserve Bank of India that accounted for almost 25 percent of exposure to bad loans for the entire banking sector.

The Neeraj Singal-led company had accumulated debt of over Rs 50,000 crore, of which bank dues amounted to around Rs 44,000 crore.

We are happy with bid offer and this is a good sign. We have provided over 50 percent. The haircut is about 35 percent, the banker said.

The development follows a meeting between the lenders of Bhushan Steel and the resolution professional earlier in the day today. According to reports, the liquidation value of Bhushan Steel stood at Rs 15,000 crore.

Tata Steel and JSW Steel had submitted their bids on February 3. Initially, Tata Steel's bid was said to close to Rs 24,000 crore.

Heres a look at what major brokerages are talking about the deal.

Brokerage: PhillipCap | Target: Rs 910

The brokerage house said that acquisition costs for Bhusan assets could be lower than reported after adjusting working capital recovery. Further, a potential to improve profitability via synergies is significantly higher, it said, adding that the acquisition is a strategic fit.

Brokerage: Morgan Stanley

The research firm said that key point for Tatas acquisition of Bhushan assets will be deal value Eq stake. It also highlighted that potential to expand capacity will be key considerations for Tata. It sees debt rising to USD 17 billion in FY19.

Brokerage: Macquarie | Rating: Outperform

Macquarie said that it is calculating EV/EBITDA for Bhushan Steel At 6.37.6x FY19E Vs Tata At 7x. It estimates that the acquisition would increase Tatas net debt to 4.6 times FY19. Further, it believes that stock correction on headline bid value is making risk-reward attractive.

Brokerage: Citi | Rating: Buy | Target: Rs 830

Citi said that Bhushan acquisition at higher multiple implies reduction in fair value. The firm will use the captive ore for Bhushan Steel. Post Tata Steel EBITDA/t for Bhushan Steel will expand by Rs 3,000-4,000/t.

At 11:52 hrs Tata Steel was quoting at Rs 657.00, up Rs 8.75, or 1.35 percent. It touched an intraday high of Rs 661.35 and an intraday low of Rs 648.75.
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Fortis Healthcare shares rallied 3.7 percent in early trade Tuesday after ace investor Radhakishan Damani's firm Derive Investments picked up half a percent equity stake in the company.

Derive Investments has bought 26.5 lakh equity shares of the company at Rs 144.5 per share through block deals on Monday, as per bulk deal data on the National Stock Exchange.

Meanwhile, promoters holding in the company reduced to 8.85 percent from 34.33 percent earlier after lenders revoked 25.58 percent equity of promoter group.

In the latest development, the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) will initiate a probe into alleged financial irregularities at Fortis Healthcare and Religare Enterprises, according to a senior official.

The corporate affairs ministry has been looking into the affairs of Fortis Healthcare and Religare Enterprises after recent reports that financial irregularities have emerged at the two companies.

A senior official at the ministry said that a SFIO probe has been ordered against the two companies. The latest development comes against the backdrop of reports that the Fortis Healthcare's promoters -- Malvinder Singh and Shivinder Singh -- took at least USD 78 million out of the company without any board approval about a year ago.

A Religare spokesperson, however, said the company has not received any communication, written or otherwise, from any government authority with regard to such a purported investigation. "As such we have no knowledge of any investigation against the company," the spokesperson said in a statement.

The Singh brothers are promoters of both companies. The SFIO, under the ministry, mainly probes white collar crimes.

Fortis Healthcare has also come under the lens of markets regulator Sebi, which launched an investigation into the alleged regulatory lapses. On Saturday, Fortis informed the exchanges that Sebi, which has instituted an investigation, has sought information and documents by February 26.

At 09:25 hours IST, the stock price was quoting at Rs 146.75, up Rs 0.35, or 0.24 percent on the BSE.
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Punjab National Bank shares continued downtrend for fifth consecutive session Tuesday after detecting Rs 11,400 crore worth of scam involving billionaire jewellery merchants Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi.

The stock price hit a fresh 52-week low of Rs 111, falling 4.6 percent intraday and taking total five-day loss to 31 percent. In those five trading sessions, more than Rs 12,700 crore of investors' wealth has already been wiped out.

The scam came out into the open on February 14, 2018, when it informed the stock exchanges.

Following this biggest scam in the country's banking sector at state-run PNB, global rating agencies hinted that they may consider downgrading the bank.

Moody's placed the lender under review for downgrade.

"The primary driver for today's rating action is the risk of weakening standalone credit profile of PNB, as a result of a number of fraudulent transactions" through fake letters of undertakings issued by the bank to other lenders worth USD 1.8 billion over the past many years, Moody's Investor Service said in its note.

The review for downgrade will focus on: (1) the timing and quantum of the financial impact of the fraudulent transactions, (2) any management actions taken to improve the capitalisation profile of the bank, and (3) any punitive actions taken by the regulator on the bank, it added.

The agency has a Baa3/P-3 rating on the Delhi-based lender now while it has a Baa3 rating on its foreign currency issuer rating. The bank overall has a Baa2 rating with a stable outlook now from Moody's.

It has also placed the bank's baseline credit assessment (BCA) and adjusted BCA of Ba3 and the counterparty risk assessment (CRA) rating of Baa3(cr)/P-3(cr) under review for downgrade.

"These fraudulent transactions represent a contingent liability and the financial impact will be determined by the relevant laws. Nevertheless, we expect PNB will need to provide for at least a substantial portion of the exposure. As a result, the bank's profitability will likely come under pressure, although the actual impact will depend on the timing and quantum of provisions that need to be made, as well as any prospects for recovery," the agency said.

The fraudulent transactions represent about 230 basis points of the bank's risk-weighted assets as of December 2017.

Fitch also placed Punjab National Bank's Viability Rating of 'bb' on Rating Watch Negative (RWN), reflecting a possibility of downgrade, saying the fraud-- the biggest ever in the banking history-- has raised questions on both internal and external risk controls as well as the quality of management supervision considering that the fraud went undetected for several years.

The Viability Rating measures credit worthiness of a financial institution and reflects the likelihood of the entity to fail, as per Fitch.

The RWN reflects the possibility of a downgrade of PNB's Viability Rating.

Stating that the fraud event has been a setback for the bank in its reputation and has had a capital market impact, Fitch said it will monitor PNB's full liability, potential recoveries and the extent of additional fresh capital from both internal and external sources to determine if the bank's financial position is no longer consistent with the current viability rating.

PNB's asset quality and capital parameters continue to be weak but have shown some stability since Fitch's rating action in June 2017.

For the April-December period of 2017-18, PNB's non-performing loan (NPL) ratio eased to 12.1 percent. Profitability continued to be weak but the bank raised Rs 5,000 crore in fresh equity from capital markets in the third quarter of FY2018.

PNB is also likely to get an additional Rs 5,400 crore from the government by end-March 2018 under the government's recapitalisation agenda.

Fitch will look to resolve the RWN once clarity emerges on the extent of control failures within PNB and how management plans to address them.

The rating agency, however, said that the fraud event is unlikely to have an impact on PNB's Support Rating Floor (BBB-) due to the bank's high systemic importance as the second-largest state-owned bank.

Lenders which have large exposure to the PNB fraud case like Union Bank of India (down 1 percent) and Allahabad Bank (1 percent) were also under pressure while Gitanjali Gems, one of the jewellery companies involved in the case, continued to be locked at lower circuit.

The total number of arrests by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has risen to six -- four PNB officials, a retired employee of the bank, and an authorised signatory of Nirav Modi's company.

Over Rs 11,400 crore worth of Letter of Understanding and Letters of Credit were issued by the bank in favour of billionaire jewellers Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi through SWIFT messages with only limited number worth smaller sums being entered in the core banking solutions system.

At 12:21 hours IST, the stock price of Punjab National Bank was quoting at Rs 112.25, down Rs 4.15, or 3.57 percent on the BSE.

(With inputs from PTI)
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Packaging solutions firm Uflex plans to invest Rs 1,700 crore to enhance its manufacturing capacity and set up a solar project in Uttar Pradesh.

"We have ambitious plans to substantially enhance our manufacturing capacity for flexible packaging in the next few years. For this ... we endeavour to invest Rs 500 crore towards the project," Uflex Ltd Chairman & Managing Director Ashok Chaturvedi said ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Investors' Summit 2018.

Chaturvedi said the company also plans to invest Rs 1,200 crore to set up a solar project.

"As a Group we lay a lot of emphasis on environmental sustainability in all our business processes therefore we propose to set up a solar project on 300 acres of land with an investment of approximately Rs 1,200 crore. Electricity thus produced will be used for captive consumption and the surplus shall be supplied to state or national grid," he added.

Uttar Pradesh Investors' Summit 2018 scheduled to be held on February 21-22, 2018 in Lucknow.

Both the proposed projects together are expected to generate employment for 750 people at various levels, the company said.

Headquartered in Noida, Uflex has manufacturing facilities in India, the UAE, Mexico, Poland, Egypt and the US.
AAP

The Delhi Police registered an FIR on a complaint by Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash who alleged that he was assaulted by a few AAP MLAs during a meeting at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence.

Hours after Prakash lodged a complaint, Delhi minister Imran Hussain alleged that he was mobbed by government staff when he was waiting for an elevator at the Delhi Secretariat this morning.

Prakash's case was registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) pertaining to wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation, causing hurt, criminal conspiracy, insult and obstructing a public servant from discharging his duty, Special Commissioner and chief spokesperson of the Delhi Police, Dependra Pathak, said.

The chief secretary was allegedly manhandled by a few AAP legislators at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence last night. The chief minister's office, however, dismissed the accusation as "bizarre and baseless".

Hussain's case was registered at the IP Estate Police station.

The minister has alleged that he was mobbed by government officials and staff when he was waiting for the elevator at the Delhi Secretariat, police said.

In his complaint, Hussain said that he and his secretary were assaulted and that he did not know whether they were government servants or not.

The case was registered on charges of causing hurt, wrongful restraint and criminal intimidation, against unknown persons.

In the FIR registered on the complaint of Prakash, police have added IPC Section 120 B (criminal conspiracy).

Prakash alleged in his complaint that the assault on him at the chief minister's residence was "premeditated" and a "conspiracy" of all those who were present at a meeting.

The police will examine the case professionally, Pathak said, adding that investigations were in an early stage.

On whether the police would question Kejriwal, who was present in the meeting, he said, "It is very premature what you are mentioning."

In his complaint to DCP (North) seeking action, the chief secretary alleged that Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and 11 AAP legislators were present at the meeting at the CM's residence where they threatened to "implicate" him in false cases if the issue of releasing TV advertisements about the AAP government's achievements was not resolved.

Prakash was called by Kejriwal regarding an issue related to advertisements, which were not being released, while the AAP dispensation claimed that the meeting was called to discuss complaints about the distribution of ration.

Police teams have been formed to investigate both the cases and the Delhi Police will investigate both the cases with all seriousness, Pathak said

He said that 2-3 more complaints have been received from AAP MLA's and that these were being examined by the police.
Assam Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi today said the state government is pushing for development of infrastructure facilities and increasing trade ties with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries.

"The Central as well as the state government are pushing for development of infrastructure facilities, giving top priority to road, air, river and digital connectivity," Mukhi told reporters here.

ASEAN countries are not more than one-hour-thirty minutes from Guwahati, and these countries' consulates here will lead to a "lot of trade and commerce with them", he said.

The road to Thailand through Myanmar will be completed by the year end for boosting trade and tourism with ASEAN nations, Mukhi said.

The Governor added that all houses in Guwahati will get water connection and sewerage system by 2020.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi, on his second visit to poll-bound Meghalaya, hit out at the BJP-led central government today, alleging that it ''actively" participated in corruption by allowing bank-loan defaulters Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi to escape the country.

Gandhi is on a two-day campaign trail in the north-eastern state till tomorrow with road-shows in Tura and Shillong and a rally in the Jaintia Hills scheduled on the last day of his visit.

The Congress chief also criticised the Centre's offer to beautify the churches and religious institutions in the Christian-majority state and claimed that of late, there had been a ''tremendous increase" in the discrimination towards and humiliation of the north-east people.

''With the Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi scandals, we know that the government not only cannot remove corruption, but it is also actively participating in it,'' he said.

''This government has, instead of giving hope, security and economic growth, dealt us only with hopelessness, unemployment, fear, hatred and violence,'' he added.

Taking a jibe at the Centre over diamantaire Nirav Modi fleeing the country, Gandhi said, ''I would like to request (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji, on behalf of all of us, to bring back the other Modiji, when he goes on another of his many foreign trips.

''We will all be very grateful as a nation to get our hard-earned money back.''

Continuing his attack against the BJP, the Congress president said, ''I know they (BJP) have lots of money as some of the richest Indians, including perhaps those who have run away with money stolen from Indian banks, are their supporters,'' and urged the tribals of Meghalaya to teach the saffron party ''a lesson'' in the February 27 state Assembly polls.

He hit out at the Union tourism ministry for its offer last month to beautify the churches and religious institutions in Meghalaya and accused the BJP of buying some Congress members too.

Union Tourism Minister K J Alphons had announced a Rs 70-crore project under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme for beautifying the churches and religious institutions of Meghalaya. It was rejected outright by at least two main churches of the state.

''They (BJP) have even bought some of my party members. Now, in their arrogance, they think that they can buy god,'' Gandhi said, adding that churches, temples, gurdwaras and mosques and spirituality were not for sale.

Recounting attacks on Dalits in Uttar Pradesh and on a priest in Madhya Pradesh, he said, "There is a tremendous increase in the instances of discrimination and humiliation with the people from Meghalaya and other north-eastern states in the country.''

He also mentioned the harassment and threats to three Garo youths from their landlady in Delhi because they did not look "Indian enough".

Lauding the work of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, the Congress president said, ''He (Sangma) ushered in an era of unprecedented growth and prosperity and by being one of the most hardworking chief ministers in the country, one can see tremendous development here.''

Claiming that Meghalaya's growth rate was higher than that of Gujarat, Gandhi said, ''The Congress has overseen the emergence of Meghalaya as the most literate state in India, with the highest ratio of female enrolment in primary schools in the country. Before saying anything against the Meghalaya government, the BJP leaders should remember that Meghalaya's growth rate is higher than (that of) Gujarat's.a

He added that strikes and violent activities were a thing of the past in Meghalaya and that there was an atmosphere of peace and stability now in the state.

''This atmosphere of peace and stability has brought development and good governance,'' the Congress president said, adding that his party's government in the north-eastern state had created a ''tremendous'' road network and connected itself with the rest of India through the rail network.

''The Tura-Shillong highway is there for everyone to see,'' he said.

Meghalaya was one of the few states to have a universal health insurance, Gandhi said and added that single mothers were immensely helped by the state government's scheme of providing economic support and assistance to them.

Referring to the ruling BJP-NPF-NPP alliance in neighbouring Manipur, the Congress president accused it of running the state with ''ill-gotten money and power''.

''I promise you that we will not allow a repetition of Manipur in Meghalaya. On behalf of the Congress, I assure you of this.... Every voice in Meghalaya is calling for justice and together, we shall once again form the government in Meghalaya,'' he said, adding that his party would ''resist tooth and nail'' any attempt to dilute the traditional system of governance in the north-eastern state.
About 41 percent of the people in India think that it is sometimes acceptable for a news organisation to favour one political party over others when reporting news compared to 25 percent who think its never acceptable, a poll by Pew Research Centre revealed. A third of the Indians remained mum on the question.

The poll puts India as the only country among those where the poll was conducted where over 40% public believe biases in political news reporting is not so bad.

Israel and the Philippines also has a large number of people, 43 percent and 41 percent, respectively, opining that biases were acceptable in political news reporting but the majority of public there thought otherwise.

Apart from these three countries, all countries strongly believe that biases are 'never acceptable' in news reporting. Globally, three-fourths of the respondents of the poll said that favouring one political party over other by media is not acceptable.

Lately, with a spurt of social media and multiple online news platforms, the accusations of biases in news reporting and fake news has grown exponentially. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a gathering last year had also voiced his concerns and said that the media must make an extra effort to maintain credibility.

However, a two-thirds of the Indians think that media represent different positions fairly and an overwhelming 72 percent think that the government leaders and officials are adequately represented in the media.

Nearly three-fourths of the public thinks that the media is doing well to cover most important news events. Interestingly, 80 percent of the Indian respondents believe that media reports are accurate in the country. This number is second highest in the world, closely behind the Netherlands where 82 percent of the people think that media reports are accurate.
A senior American official said his country wants India to ensure that a level-playing field is offered to their companies and products.

"It is very clear that we are looking for a level-playing field for our firms and products. We are not asking for special treatment, but we want to make sure that American companies and American products have the opportunities to succeed here," Edgard Kagan, US Consul General in Mumbai said here today.

The comments come within days of US President Donald Trump expressing his displeasure over government slapping high import duty on Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Trump had also threatened to hike import tariff on "thousands and thousands" of Indian motorcycles sold to the US.

Trump described New Delhi reducing import tariff from 50 percent from 75 as "inadequate" and asked the New Delhi to be reciprocal, as the US imposes zero tax on imported Indian motorcycles.

"Obviously, the President feels strongly about it and he is been very clear about his views...I think it is a very-very real issue," Kagan told PTI on the sidelines of the ongoing Maharashtra investor summit here today.

Kagan, along with representatives of over 30 American companies had roundtable with Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis today.

He said India has made tremendous strides over the years to expand its competitiveness by lowering some of the barriers and admitted that Indian firms have created many jobs in the US.

"We believe that this trajectory would continue. We want to make sure that India continues to recognise the importance of the overall trajectory in terms of attracting investments and making progress in ease of doing business," Kagan noted.

Kagan also said India should make policies considering global needs as well. "We want 'make-in-India to work, but it should not be make in India for India. Make in India should be part of the globalised supply chain," he said.

At the roundtable, business representatives from the US while appreciating Maharashtra's efforts and support to foreign investors, said they need the right framework to do business effectively.

"We are looking to continue streamlining different government processes and raised specific issues namely in areas, where there is still room for further improvement," he said, adding the bilateral trade stood at USD 115 billion in 2016 and grew in 2017 as well but did not specify by how much.
Plastic Bags

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed the Maharashtra government to file an affidavit, in response to a plea challenging the state's decision to ban the sale of plastic materials such as bags, plates, cups etc.

The Maharashtra Plastic Manufacturers' Association has filed the plea, challenging a public notice and an order issued by the environment department of the state government on January 2, through which it sought to impose a ban on the manufacture, sale, distribution and storage of plastic materials like cups, spoons, plates, bags, forks and so on.

A bench of justices A S Oka and P N Deshmukh asked the government to file an affidavit, stating by when it planned to implement the ban, within a week.

The petition claimed that the order was arbitrary and that it was passed without following the principles of natural justice.

It added that the order was also violative of the fundamental right of the petitioner association and its members to carry out business.
India is in talks with Australia, the US and Japan about setting up a regional infrastructure scheme as an "alternative" to China's multi-billion dollar Belt and Road Initiative, according to a media report.

Touted as Chinese President Xi Jinping's ambitious project, the One Belt One Road initiative focuses on improving connectivity and cooperation among Asian countries, Africa, China and Europe.

The Australian Financial Review (AFR) quoted a senior US official as saying that the plan of the four regional partners was still "nascent" and "won't be ripe enough to be announced during the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's US visit this week".

The US official who was not identified described that the plan as an "alternative" to the Belt and Road Initiative rather than a "rival", the report said.

Notably, India was the first country to object to One Belt One Road, part of which passes through the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. India has said that the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) violates India's sovereignty. Last year, India had skipped China's OBOR summit held in Beijing.

Following India's objections, many countries, including the US, have come out openly against China's OBOR.

"No one is saying China should not build infrastructure," the official said, adding "China might build a port which, on its own is not economically viable. We could make it economically viable by building a road or rail line linking that port".

Turnbull will be leaving for Washington tomorrow for a three-day visit during which he will meet the US President Donald Trump and will be leading a delegation of state and territory leaders and business executives.

Meanwhile, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop yesterday said that China was the largest trading partner for Australia and OBOR was one option whereby nations could access funds for critical infrastructure.

"Australian government is acutely aware that we need significant investment in infrastructure, particularly in our region in the Indo-Pacific and One Belt, One Road is one option whereby nations can access more funds for critical infrastructure,'' she said.

"It's early days for the One Belt, One Road initiative, and we are obviously monitoring it closely. We are already working with China on a development project in Papua New Guinea, so we hope that we will be able to work more closely with China in driving economic, sustainable economic growth in our region," she said.

"Our concerns are to ensure that Pacific nations are not burdened with debt they cannot repay, that all transactions are transparent and that there is an appropriate level of governance. So we hope to work with China to ensure that infrastructure in our part of the world, particularly in the Pacific, adds to the sustainable economic growth of those countries," she said.
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - JULY 10: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during his meeting with Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen at the PM's Office on July 10, 2017 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The two heads of state discussed the situation on the Korean peninsula and how Japan and Denmark could enhance their strategic partnership further. The Japanese PM said during their joint press conference that North Korea undermines the international order seriously. (Photo by Ole Jensen - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

A group of Indian lawmakers today met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen maritime security cooperation, improving connectivity in the Indo-Pacific region between the two nations, an official statement said.

The Indian delegation comprised leaders cutting across party lines, including Baijayant 'Jay' Panda (BJD), Bharatendra Singh (BJP), Vivek Tankha (Congress), P D Rai (Sikkim Democratic Front) and Jaydev Galla (Telugu Desam Party), it said.

"These talks are significant in evolving relationship between our countries through enhancing maritime security cooperation, improving connectivity in the wider Indo-Pacific region, and strengthening cooperation with ASEAN," Panda, who is leading the delegation, was quoted as saying in a statement.

The delegation, which arrived in Tokyo yesterday, will be in Japan till February 25 where it is scheduled to meet with various high-ranking officers, ambassadors and thought leaders of the country.

Last year, there were several ministerial-level visits between the two countries which included Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshige Seko visiting India.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharam, who was then the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Commerce and Industry had visited Japan.
The government has attracted criticism from citizens and political leaders over the treatment given to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is on a 7-day visit to India along with his family.

With PM Narendra Modi's customary welcome tweet missing and Trudeau not being accompanied by him in Ahmedabad, it has made the government seem like poor hosts. Many Trudeau detractors from Canada have claimed that Modi not receiving him at the airport is also an issue.

However, the Centre has responded by stating that it is not snubbing Trudeau and his family. Sources quoted in a Times of India report said that going to the airport was a departure from protocol and a special gesture that is saved for a few select leaders. Being received by a minister of state is in keeping with the protocol. Really dont understand the point here as the PM didnt receive Chinese President Xi Jinping at the airport.

Sources also termed Trudeaus itinerary unusual as the Canadian PM had been advised to first complete meetings in New Delhi before touring the country, but he decided to go to Ahmedabad along with his family soon after arriving in India. The sources added that Modi had never committed to accompanying Trudeau and his family to Ahmedabad.

In the past, Prime Minister Modi has received former US President Barack Obama, Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu at the airport, during their diplomatic visits to India.



Look forward to meeting Canadian Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau in Amritsar on Wednesday. Im hopeful that this meeting will help strengthen the close Indo-Canadian business ties as well as the deep-rooted people-to-people relations between our two countries.

 Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) February 19, 2018

It was earlier speculated that Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh would not meet Trudeau as the latter has failed to curb pro-Khalistan voices in Canada. Singh had refused to meet Canadas Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan last year and called him a Khalistan sympathizer, and stating that his government would not meet anyone who supports the Khalistan cause. However, earlier on Tuesday, the Punjab CM tweeted that he was looking forward to meeting Trudeau.

Trudeau is believed to have set up this meet with Singh to address the perception that the Canadian government is not able to rein in active, pro-Khalistan elements back home.
February 20, 2018 / 10:13 PM IST

21:54 Nirav Modis counsel has said that CBI has written to the court saying that outstanding amount is not Rs 11,000 crore but is Rs 6,000 crore, according to CNBC TV18.

The counsel has also said that PNB was aware of the outstanding loans.
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special court has sent Punjab National Bank (PNB)s Brady House branch's three officers to police custody for 11 days till March 3.

CBI had arrested the three accused employees  Bechhu Tiwari, Yashwant Joshi and Praful Sawant  in the PNB fraud case on Monday.

CBI has said that cases have been registered against all the three accused under 120 (B), 420 of IPC.

Hemant Bhatt, the authorised signatory of the Nirav Modi Group of firms, was also remanded to police custody. Bhatt wants to seek legal aid in the CBI case against him.

According to the CBI, Bechhu Tiwari was in charge of monitoring transactions which were taking place at the time LoCs were issued.

Tiwari's lawyer said in the court that Bechhu Tiwari got to know about the loophole in January 2018 and he informed about the same to the senior management at that time.

Yashwant Joshi was working under Forex Department of the bank and took over the job after the retirement of Gokulnath Shetty. Joshi sanctioned buyers credit post Gokulnath Shettys retirement.

Praful Sawant was deliberately not checking the SWIFT messages and did not link the transactions to the core banking solutions, CBI told the court.

Trouble for Gitanjali

Gitanjalis company secretary (CS) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) had resigned on Monday.

As per reports, Gitanjali Group owes over Rs 7,000 crore to over 30 lenders, including ICICI Bank, State Bank of India (SBI), Standard Chartered Bank, Bank of India, IDBI Bank and Bank of Baroda.

Gitanjali has its plant in Hyderabad and Jaipur and has offices in Mumbai and Surat.

While an FIR has been registered against him, the Chairman and Managing Director of Gitanjali, Mehul Choksi is still absconding.
Representative Image

The government would not allow corrupt and terrorist activities under the guise of privacy protection laws, Union IT and Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said today.

The minister was replying to a query on the proposed Data (Privacy and Protection) Bill 2017 which grants a statutory Right to Privacy. It was reportedly put on hold after objections from intelligence agencies.

"On privacy, I have to say two things. Privacy cannot be the shield of the corrupt. And privacy cannot be the shield of a terrorist. Terrorists cannot say that don't raid my house because I have got the right of privacy. Privacy limitations also should be understood," Prasad said.

In a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court had last year declared Right to Privacy as a fundamental right. Prasad said the government had appointed a committee under the chairmanship of former Supreme Court Justice B N Srikrishna to study various issues related to data protection in the country and to make specific suggestions to the bill.

"Regarding the data protection law, I have set up a committee headed by Justice Srikrishna, a former supreme court judge. They are having widest consultation with the stakeholders and very soon he will come with a report. After that we will go for legislation," he said at the presser held at the World Congress of Information Technology (WCIT) here.

The minister said the government aimed to make 60 million people digitally literate in the next two to three years and that "10 million people have already met the norms".

"The aim of the Digital India is to bridge the digital gap and make technology more accessible, inclusive and affordable to the common people," the minister said.

There is a clear need to re-skill people and equip them for the new digital challenges, he said while observing that "disruptive technologies" create more jobs than they take away.

Prasad said the future skills platform had identified eight disruptive technologies which had zeroed in on 55 job roles that will impact individuals, companies and governments.
Bollywood actor-turned-politician and candidate of the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Shatrughan Sinha salutes during an election campaign rally in the northern Indian city of Chandigarh May 11, 2009. India is holding a general election between April 16 and May 13. REUTERS/Ajay Verma (INDIA POLITICS ELECTIONS) - GM1E55B1OBR01

Dissident BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha fired a fresh salvo at the Modi government today over the presence of scam-tainted diamantaire Nirav Modi with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Davos.

In a series of sarcastic tweets, the Patna Sahib MP scoffed at the government's claim that Nirav was not part of the prime minister's delegation to the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, last month.

"Dear sir, in many official functions, including my own Patna University centenary celebration, I, the sitting MP of Patna, was not allowed (along with luminous alumni Yashwant Sinha and others) to be on the dais with the PM, since we were not on the list approved by PMO", Sinha said.

He was referring to the function held here in October last year which was attended by the prime minister.

"According to our ministry, Nirav Modi was not invited to Davos. But he was very much with you on the dais. I just want to be enlightened. Was the ever so vigilant PMO sleeping this time. Or did it dive deep like always into the kundli of Nirav and still allowed him to be with you and your august group. Do enlighten the nation please," Sinha tweeted.

The BJP leader has been attacking the party and its government for quite some time now.

His outpourinigs on the social media, in the aftermath of the Punjab National Bank scam, have been particularly caustic.

"India must be the only country where the responsible people at the top do not come out with proper explanations that the nation needs and deserves. Almost as if the citizens do not matter. Even Donald Trump faces hard interviews. But here interviews are only (given) to sarkari darbaaris (government sycophants)"."A nationalized bank scam of unparalleled magnitude....and a conspicuous lack of response from the top people of government.....neither the chowkidaar-e-watan (a reference to prime minister Modi) nor even the ministry of finance has provided any response or explanation," Sinha had said in an earlier tweet.
A farmer works in a paddy field on the outskirt of Agartala, India, March 7, 2017. REUTERS/Jayanta Dey - RC124552B9F0

The United Democratic Party (UDP), a key Opposition party in Meghalaya, today said it will increase the upper age limit for entry into government jobs for SC/ST candidates, if voted to power in the February 27 Assembly elections.

The upper age limit will be hiked to 32 years from the existing 27 years with another five years relaxation period, the party said in its 12-page manifesto released today.

The manifesto said the party, which had eight MLAs in the current House, will provide free education for children below the poverty line (BPL) and introduce minimum support price for farmers.

It also promised setting up of a single-window agency to clear permissions for mining of limestone in the state.

Lashing out at the Congress, the UDP leader told PTI that the term of the present government will leave behind a legacy of a bleak political and economic future.
Kamal Haasan

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will attend the launch of veteran star Kamal Haasan's political party on February 21 in Madurai, the actor's camp said today.

The AAP supremo is also likely to address the meeting, sources close to Haasan said.

"Kejriwal will attend the evening public meeting in Madurai tomorrow," they added.

The Delhi chief minister had called on Haasan here in September 2017, when the award-winning actor had started dropping hints of taking the political plunge.

Kejriwal had then said it was "important at this point when the country is facing strong forces of corruption and communalism, all like minded people should talk to each other on these issues and work in tandem."

Meanwhile, the actor said he had no intentions of meeting anyone from the ruling AIADMK.

"I have been clearly saying this rule is not proper," he said when reporters here today asked if he had any plans in this regard.

Earlier, actor-director and founder of pro-Tamil outfit Naam Thamizhar Katchi, Seeman called on the actor and wished Haasan success in his political journey.

In a Twitter post, Haasan welcomed people to attend his party launch tomorrow in Madurai to "create a new era".

"I am going to explain (about my) new party and the gist of our policies.. Please come, to create a new era," he said.

"Our long journey is starting tomorrow. I am going to hoist our party flag at 6 PM at Othakadai grounds in Madurai," he further said in the same tweet.

The actor-director will also address public meetings in Ramanathapuram, Manamadurai and Paramakudi tomorrow.
Accusing Karnataka's Siddaramaiah government of being the "most corrupt" in the country and pursuing "appeasement politics", BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday asserted the countdown for its exit has begun.

Launching his tour of the communally sensitive coastal region in poll-bound Karnataka, Shah said if there was to be a competition for the most corrupt government, the award for the last five years would go to the one headed by Siddaramaiah.

Addressing a BJP rally, he said, the Siddaramaiah government had "shamelessly" indulged in corruption.

"....The (Hindi) translation of corruption would be bhrashtachar. Now use Siddaramaiah government as translation for corruption....Siddaramaiah government has shamelessly indulged in corruption for last five years," he said.

Accusing the Siddaramaiah government of pursuing "appeasement and vote bank politics", Shah said one after the other more than 20 BJP and RSS activists had been killed in the state.

"As the party president, I would like to assure you... let this Siddaramaiah government try to protect (killers) however much they want. Their countdown has begun.. their time to go has come near. Yeddyurappa government (of BJP) will find the killers and bring them to justice," he said.He referred to the recent incident involving Mohammed Nalapad Haris, son of

a Congress MLA and himself a party leader, who recently triggered outrage by assaulting a man in a restaurant.

"The son of a Congress MLA assaults a man twice but no FIR is registered. This is appeasement politics. It will not be tolerated," he said.

The BJP has been targeting the Siddaramaiah government consistently over a series of killings of Hindu activists by alleged "Jehadi forces," and accused it of adopting a "soft approach" towards them as part of the Congress' "vote bank"and "minorities appeasement" politics.

Shah said the Karnataka Assembly polls are important for the BJP, which has won almost all the elections after the Modi government came to power or has improved its tally, while the Congress lost everywhere except for Punjab.

In Tripura, where Assembly polls were held recently, the BJP would win, he said.

"BJP's electoral success lies in its workers," Shah said, and asked them to get ready for celebrations.

Calling the BJP a party with a difference, Shah said it fights elections on the strength of the organisation and wins.

Citing the party's electoral successes in Assam, Manipur and Uttar Pradesh, he said reasons for these were the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP's booth-level workers.

He said, "from the land of Parashurama and Rani Abbakka let us take the pledge to overthrow the Siddaramaiah government in the coming Assembly polls."

Rani Abbakka was the legendary queen of Ullal in Dakshina Kannada district, who fought against the Portuguese in the 16th century.

He alleged the Siddaramaiah government "disrespected" Hindu religious places in coastal Karnataka.

The BJP government would try to integrate these cultural treasures with society and bring back their lost glory, he said.

The next BJP government headed by Yeddyurappa would work for the region's development and restore its lost pride, Shah said.

During his three-day tour, Shah would cover the districts of Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada, where the party has a strong presence, and is trying to further consolidate its vote base.
This three-image mosaic handout photo is the highest resolution view ever obtained of the north polar region of Saturn's moon Enceladus. The view looks southward over cratered plains from high above the north pole of Enceladus. Cassini spacecraft took the image on March 12, 2008, when it flew over the surface of the moon as part of a joint U.S.-European mission. The view was obtained at a distance of approximately 20,000 miles (32,000 km) above Enceladus. REUTERS/NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute (UNITED STATES). NO COMMERCIAL SALES.. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.. - GM1E43E0V9B01

Chandrayaan-2, the lunar mission under which the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), will for the first time attempt to land a rover on the moon's south pole, costs lesser than a Hollywood sci-fi movie Interstellar.

ISRO's Chandrayaan-2 mission's cost is Rs 800 crore, which is lesser than the budget of Christopher Nolans 2014 release whose production cost was around Rs 1,062 crore ($165 million). However, it is not the first time that ISRO has achieved this feat.

ISROs earlier mission, Mangalyaan, was also cheaper than another Hollywood space movie 'Gravity'. The mission cost that was launched in 2013 cost Rs 470 crore whereas the George Clooney-starrer movies budget was Rs 644 crore ($100 million).

This surely showcases the cost-effectiveness of ISROs space missions. But, how do they manage this? ISRO chairman Dr K Sivan has an answer. In an interview with The Times of India, Dr Sivan revealed four important factors for the frugal nature of missions.

Simplifying the system, miniaturising the complex big system, strict quality control and maximising output from a product, make the missions of Indian space agency cost-effective," said Dr Sivan.

Explaining it further in the report, he said that at ISRO, they keep an eye on the entire process of development of a spacecraft or a rocket. This helps to cut down any wastage of products and thus, the cost of mission remains economical.

The ISRO chairman also discussed the tentative date of Chandrayaan-2 launch. As of now, the space agency is planning to launch the mission in April. However, it will be finalised after taking into consideration the factors like moon's relative position with respect to the Earth.

If the mission could not launch in April, the next suitable time will be in November. According to Dr Sivan, they are trying for a dawn-to-dusk landing, which is not possible anytime between April and November due to moon eclipses.
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Electric vehicle sales volumes need to grow ten times their current levels for operations to break even, believes Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), the only manufacturer of electric cars in India at present.

Right now, the electric vehicle business is in an investment phase, the volumes are very-very small, we are selling about 100 vehicles a month on an average, and that is pretty much the total four wheeler volume being sold in India right now. Even though we make money at the variable cost level, that volume is not enough for us to break even," said Pawan Goenka, managing director, M&M.

The Mumbai-based company currently sells two fully electric cars - e2O, a compact four-seater, four door, hatchback and the eVerito, a mid-sized sedan  in India. M&Ms 100 units sales a month includes these two cars. Apart from this the company also retails a cargo van eSupro and three wheeler eAlfa under the electric vehicle segment.

So I would have to think that till the volume reaches let us say 10x of what it is today, about 1000 vehicles per month, it will not be possible to breakeven. Whether that happens by the end of FY19 or goes into FY20, is hard to say, because the take-off of electric vehicles has not happened yet, it is around the corner, but I do not know whether that corner is one month away, three months away, six months away or one year away,"added Goenka.

Electric vehicles on sale today are very expensive than their petrol or diesel counterparts. For instance, the yet-to-be-launched, fully electric version of the Tata Tigor is sold at Rs 11.2 lakh, which is more than twice the price of its petrol version priced at Rs 4.71 lakh and diesel version priced at Rs 5.57 lakh.

TML delivers first set of Tigor EV to EESL

The Mahindra e2O is the most affordable electric car in India priced at Rs 7.46 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai, post subsidy), which is nearly on par with the WR-V, a premium hatchback from Honda priced at Rs 7.86 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai). The Mahindra eVerito is priced at Rs 10.3 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai, post subsidy).

Volumes will come only when you have sizeable numbers which is when we will have economies of scale. For good numbers you need to price the vehicles much more affordably than they are presently which is again a long drawn process. So profitability in electric vehicles would be a challenging task for every new company entering this space," said a senior executive from Maruti Suzuki.

In a conference call with media persons earlier Goenka had declared that M&M will not be making any money on the supplies to the order for 150 eVeritos from Delhi-based Energy Efficiency Services (EESL) for which it quoted a price of Rs 13.55 lakh.

However, rival Tata Motors, which had bagged the order to supply 250 eTigors (a smaller car than eVerito) to EESL, said it was confident of selling the sedan at a profit. Tata Motors had quoted a price of Rs 11.2 lakh for the eTigor. The company is also in the process of launching this compact sedan as well as electric version of the Tiago for the retail buyer in the coming year.
BSNL Office In Mumbai

State-owned telecom firm BSNL and Japan's NTT AT along with their Indian partner Virgo Corps have signed agreement to collaborate in futuristic technologies.

"BSNL and NTT Adavance Technology Corporation (Telecom leader in Japan) along with their partners in India Virgo Corp have signed a MoU (memorandum of understanding) to collaborate in futuristic technologies such as artificial intelligence / IoT and jointly create a 5G test bed," BSNL said in a statement.

The agreement is in line with the vision of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to collaborate on the next generation technologies and use the expertise of India in software and Japanese expertise in manufacturing, the statement said.

BSNL CMD Anupam Shrivastava along with board of directors; NTT AT President and CEO George Kimura, and Virgo Corp Chairman Monga were present during the signing of the pact.
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Infosys today announced the launch of a centre of excellence (CoE) with PTC, a technology platforms and solutions provider, at the sofware major's campus in Bengaluru.

"This CoE will focus on solutions for brownfield as well as greenfield industrial setups," an Infosys release said here.

Infosys said it will continue to channelise investments in building vertical-specific solutions that support new-age technologies, including Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem that leverages the PTC 'ThingWorx' industrial innovation platform.

This would enable customers to realise the benefits of Internet of Things (IoT).

"PTC is a strategic global partner for us. Based on our strong foundation of product engineering excellence, we will be able to create applications like product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions, Augmented Reality (AR) experiences and service lifecycle management (SLM) solutions leveraging their ThingWorx IoT platform," Ravi Kumar, President and Deputy Chief Operating Officer of Infosys said.
Delhi chief secretary Anshu Prakash has claimed he was assaulted by two AAP MLAs at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence.

Prakash alleged he was assaulted by Ajay Dutt and Prakash Jharwal. He has met the Delhi Lieutenant Governor and filed a complaint against the MLAs.

The Chief Minister's office has denied the incident, saying "Delhi CM office strongly denies allegations by the Chief Secretary. There was no incident of assault or attempted assault by any AAP MLAs."

"The allegation of assault is totally bizarre and baseless," a senior official of the chief minister's office (CMO) said.

A group of IAS officers have met the Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and demanded FIRs against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs, reports Hindustan Times.

Prakash had been summoned to the Delhi CM's residence for Aadhaar-related issues, reports NDTV.

A source told PTI the Chief Secretary's glasses had broken.

"There was a heated exchange at the meeting last night. During the argument, two-three AAP MLAs manhandled him... the CS's spectacles also got broken," senior IAS official told PTI.
Smart City

China has about 500 smart city pilot projects, the highest in the world, according to a leading auditing and consulting firm.

Over 1,000 smart city pilot projects are ready for or are under construction worldwide and China is home to about 500 of them, covering big and small cities, according to a report by Deloitte.

China is keen to build smart cities, and the industry will enjoy more policy and investment support, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted Ma Jionglin, a senior Deloitte partner as saying.

China started piloting national smart city development in 2012 to encourage use of the latest technology, such as artificial intelligence and Internet of Things, to help the flow of traffic, improve law enforcement and make public buildings more energy efficient.

Three groups of cities have been listed as national pilot projects so far.

China aims to nurture 100 new smart cities from 2016 to 2020 to lead the country's urban planning and development, the report said.However, Chinese cities should improve their strategy, design, operations and maintenance in developing smart urban areas, along with technology and infrastructure, to ensure residents needs can be met efficiently and in a timely manner, Xinhua quoted the report as saying.
U.S. President Donald Trump waves as he arrives to deliver his first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress inside the House Chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 30, 2018. REUTERS/Win McNamee/Pool - HP1EE1V06J5S3

The White House said on Monday that President Donald Trump supports efforts to improve federal background checks for gun purchases, days after a shooting at a Florida school killed 17 people.

Trump spoke to Senator John Cornyn, a Republican, on Friday about a bipartisan bill that he and Democratic Senator Chris Murphy introduced to improve federal compliance with criminal background checks, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.

"While discussions are ongoing and revisions are being considered, the president is supportive of efforts to improve the federal background check system," Sanders said in a statement.

Students, many using the mantra NeverAgain, are mobilizing around the country in favor of stronger gun laws after the deadliest high school shooting in U.S. history took place on Wednesday at Florida's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where a former student is accused of murdering 17 people using an assault-style rifle.

Previous mass shootings in the United States have also stirred outrage and calls for action to tighten U.S. gun laws, with few results in Congress.

Trump, who visited survivors of the shooting and law enforcement officials on Friday night before spending the weekend at his property in Palm Spring, Florida, is a strong supporter of gun rights and won the endorsement of the National Rifle Association, the powerful gun lobby group, for his 2016 presidential campaign.

He angered some students by suggesting in a tweet on Saturday that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had missed signs that the school shooter was troubled because it was distracted by its investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election. The FBI has acknowledged it failed to act on a tip flagging concerns about the suspect, Nikolas Cruz.

Many Republicans generally oppose measures to tighten gun restrictions, citing the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment protection of the right to bear arms.

Former President Barack Obama and many of his fellow Democrats unsuccessfully pushed to pass gun control legislation after a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012.

Cornyn and Murphy introduced their bill to improve federal background checks last November, days after a gunman killed more than two dozen people in a church in Texas.

The bill, called the Fix NICS Act, would ensure that states and federal agencies comply with existing law on reporting criminal history records to the national background check system.

Cornyn, of Texas, had complained when introducing the legislation that compliance by agencies was lousy.

Students are planning a "March For Our Lives" in Washington on March 24 to call attention to school safety and ask lawmakers to enact gun control.

Some students reacted with caution to Trump's support on background checks.

We want to prevent mass shootings from happening and while this could have happened with other types of weapons, NeverAgain believes school safety should be priority right now, not just background checks," said Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Kali Clougherty, 18, referring to a campaign for gun control. "This is about the victims. Don't forget that; we never will."

Trump is scheduled to host a "listening session" with high school students and teachers on Wednesday.

Dozens of high school students protested in front of the White House on Monday, chanting We want safe schools! and Hey! Hey! NRA how many kids did you kill today?

Crystal Jordan, a 15-year old from Spotsylvania, Virginia, said it was scary to go to school now.

OK to obtain a gun, like a handgun, but not an assault rifle, she said, adding that she hoped Trump and Congress would issue laws to strengthen background checks, ban assault rifles and prevent people with mental problems from accessing guns.
Lana and her partner Jordan finally got to celebrate their engagement with their friends and family.

Jase made a great speech, Producer Todd played MC - but Todd actually wished he could say the speech he had planned in dedication to the happy couple.

Good thing we have a radio platform where he can say his speech - and maybe that's where all that was 'good' stopped!
Petty theft

A man in his 20s with a goatee stole jewelry from Hobby Lobby, 990 Cochrane Road. The crime was reported 7:26pm Feb. 10.

An intoxicated man was seen hiding bottles of alcohol in his pants and stealing olives from Safeway, 840 E. Dunne Ave. The theft was reported 2:02am Feb. 11.

Three men walked out of Home Depot, 860 E. Dunne Ave., with power tools they did not pay for. They left the parking lot in a gray Infiniti with paper plates. The theft was reported 6:16pm Feb. 11.

Fire

Police and firefighters responded to a vehicle on fire in the parking lot of Live Oak High School, 1505 E. Main Ave. The fire was reported 6:35am Feb. 11.

A brush fire on the side of U.S. 101 near Cochrane Road spread to a freeway sign advertising businesses in the Cochrane Plaza shopping center, resulting in damage to the sign. The fire was reported next to the southbound on-ramp at Cochrane Road, in front of Hobby Lobby. Authorities briefly closed the on-ramp while they responded to the blaze. The fire was reported 5:50pm Feb. 12.

Municipal code violation

The owner of a business near the intersection of Joleen Way and East Dunne Avenue reported a motorhome was parked on the street near her business. She said she doesnt want the motorhome parked in the area and doesnt want its occupants walking on the sidewalk in front of the business. The incident was reported 3:44pm Feb. 11.

Auto burglary

A thief or thieves broke into a 1997 Honda Civic parked in a guest lot on the 100 block of Lewis Lane. Stole from the vehicle were two large sailing bags. The burglary was reported 8:19pm Feb. 11.

Someone broke into a blue Nissan pickup and stole tools. The crime was reported 5:41am Feb. 12 on the 16800 block of Barnell Avenue.

A thief or thieves smashed the window of a Toyota Tundra parked in front of Sun Valley Market, 16725 Monterey Road, and stole cigarettes. The crime was reported 2:20pm Feb. 12.

Accident

A vehicle collided with a brown horse in the area of Monterey Road and Live Oak Avenue. The horse was injured, and the driver of the vehicle stayed at the scene until authorities arrived. Before the collision, minutes earlier the horse had bucked a male human rider off its back, and continued to the area where the car hit it. There was no rider on the horse when it was hit. The collision was reported 3:30pm Feb. 6.

Stolen vehicle

A Ford Taurus stolen from a location in San Jose was recovered on the 200 block of West Main Avenue in Morgan Hill. The vehicle was reported recovered at 2:29pm Feb. 9.

Disturbance

Three young men petitioning customers outside Safeway were reportedly arguing with a customer, and multiple customers had complained about their behavior. The men were asking for money and signatures for a ban that is going on in San Jose. The disturbance was reported 4:06pm Feb. 9.

Theft

Someone stole a cashiers check for $20,000 from a UPS drop box, and attempted to cash it in Sacramento. The check was not cashed. The theft was reported 5:47pm Feb. 9.

Burglary

A thief or thieves broke into a shed on Spring Lane and stole some cordless drills. The victim told police he might have forgotten to lock the padlocks on the shed door. The burglary was reported 11:35am Feb. 10. Another victim on Dewey Circle in Woodland Estates Mobile Home Park reported a similar burglary the same evening, in which someone broke into her shed and stole a drill. That burglary was reported 2:38pm Feb. 10.

All subjects are innocent until proven guilty. Information is compiled from public records.
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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.
Unions representing employees at Walt Disney World Resort says the company is withholding $1,000 bonuses during contract negotiations.

Disney World workers union says company withholding $1,000

Disney and the union are currently under contract negotiations

Union members rejected a 50-cent an hour wage increase last year



The Service Trades Council Union, which represents more than 35,000 Disney World employees, filed a federal complaint with the National Labor Relations Board.

The Walt Disney Co. announced the one-time bonus for more than 125,000 employees last month. The move came after the Trump administration reduced the corporate tax rate.

The trades council said Disney is refusing to give employees the bonus until a new contract is approved.

According to a press release from the group, if unionized workers dont accept the contract proposal by Aug. 31, the bonus offer will expire.

The condition only affects the Orlando employees represented by the union.

At a time when Disney expects a yearly windfall of $1.6 billion, Disney is discriminating against 38,000 of some of its lowest paid cast members, said Angie McKinnon, financial secretary treasurer of Unite Here Local 737. Using the $1,000 bonus to force cast members to accept low wages amounts to extortion.

In December, union members rejected a proposal that would have raised wages by 50 cents an hour, 6 to 10 percent over the next two years. Workers have said they would like to eventually get $15 an hour.

Wages and bonuses are part of our negotiation process, Disney spokeswoman Andrea Finger said in a statement. We will continue to meet with the union to move toward a ratified agreement.

Earlier this month, Disney released its first quarter earnings report. It was the companys first financial report since announcing a $52 billion deal to acquire most of 21st Century Fox.

Disneys theme park division was the companys strongest, generating 5.2 billion in revenue.
Residents of Osceola and Polk counties had the chance to choose the Republican candidate for a special election in Florida House District 39.

Josie Tomkow beat Jennifer Spath, 64-36. Tomkow will now face Democrat Ricky Shirah in the general election May 1.

The primary is meant to replace Florida Rep. Neil Combee, who has left the legislature to work in the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the Trump administration.

The district covers west Kissimmee and Celebration, along with Polk County from the northwestern part down around Kathleen, down into Polk City and Auburndale. SEE a detailed district map
More than 80 percent of the Lake Mary High School student body was absent after note scrawled on a girls bathroom wall 12 days ago threatened violence Tuesday.

About 472 of 2,922 students  or 16 percent  of students attended classes Tuesday, Seminole County Public Schools said.

Administrators at Lake Mary High only informed parents on Monday in an email and phone call.

The threat was in the form of graffiti on a girls' bathroom stall that listed Feb. 20 as a target date for violence on campus.

In a recorded message to parents, Principal Mickey Reynolds said the school investigated the threat but could not find the source of it and concluded it was not credible.

Then, after the South Florida school shooting by Nikolas Cruz that left 17 dead, Reynolds says students made several social media posts about the Lake Mary High threat.

Parent Shonte Elias said she wouldn't let her children go to school Tuesday.

"We are sending them to learn so they can have a brighter future and a lot of kids get that taken away from them in these school shootings," she said. "It's something that I'm taking seriously whether its credible or not."

A Lake Mary High School student said he felt the threat was "concerning."

"I believe it's concerning, because obviously we wouldn't take it like as a big thing, but with the recent events playing out, just one in the country and obviously in Florida, it's a little more concerning seeing there may be a little more validity than what there usually would be," Matthew Hochfelder said.

Reynolds said she has ordered electronic locks for school doors and will be limiting access in and out of the school until those can be installed.

Reynolds is also planning a town hall to address school safety.

The threat comes a year after a very similar warning was made in a boys bathroom stall at Lake Mary High. Spectrum News 13 reached out to the school district to see if the two incidents are related.
MERIDEN  Two city residents faces charges after police said they found a stolen gun and drugs while serving a search warrant last week.

George Raleigh Parker, 29, of 115 New Hanover Ave., was charged with theft of a firearm, criminal possession of a weapon, risk of injury to a minor, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of narcotics with intent to sell.

Norma Huertas, 28, of 75 Arch Parkway, was charged with risk of injury to a minor. She was released on $25,000 bond.

On Friday around 5 a.m., members of the Meriden police SWAT team, the statewide narcotics task force and the crime suppression unit served a search warrant at 76 Arch Parkway. Officers found Parker and Huertas inside the home with a 7-year-old child, said police spokesman Sgt. Christopher Fry.

Officers searched the home and found a loaded pistol, 11 grams of heroin, four grams of marijuana, four grams of PCP, a digital scale and packaging materials, Fry said. The pistol was reported missing from a home on Catlin Street in December. Parker is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms, police said.

Parker was arraigned in Meriden Superior Court on Tuesday. Parker was convicted of possession of narcotics with intent to sell and is on probation, the bail commissioner said. The judge set his bond at $300,000 and continued the case to Feb. 28.

Lauren Sellew
By Online Desk

Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash was allegedly assaulted by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs during a meeting at Delhi Chief Minister and AP convenor Arvind Kejriwal's residence on Monday.

The AAP has denied the allegations and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has sought a report on the alleged attack from Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal.

Prakash was reportedly called for a meeting around midnight on Monday where Kejriwal along with his deputy Manish Sisodia and 10 to 12 MLAs was present. The meeting was on "some advertisements by the Delhi government which were in violation of the Supreme Court's guidelines".

The chief minister's office (CMO), however, has dismissed the accusation of Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash being assaulted last night as "bizarre and baseless" and also said the meet was on "faulty implementation" of Aadhaar that "deprived about 2.5 lakh families of ration".



HERE ARE ALL THE UPDATES:

Delhi Chief Secretary calls it a 'premeditated conspiracy'

Anshu Prakash alleged that as the meeting started, one of AAP MLAs slammed the door shut, and he was made to sit between MLA Amanatullah Khan and another MLA on a three-seater sofa. "CM directed me to answer the MLAs and explain the reasons for the delay in the release of the TV campaign. I explained to them that officers were bound by guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court," he said in the complaint. [READ FULL REPORT HERE]

FIR filed by Chief Secretary

The Delhi Police has filed an FIR on a complaint from Anshu Prakash under various sections, including 120B (criminal conspiracy), 186 (obstructing a public servant from performing the duty), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 342, 504, 506(2) & 120b & 34. and 353 (assault on public servant) against AAPs Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan and others. (ANI)

11 AM: News is planted that CS was manhandled; 12 noon: Office bearers of IAS Officers Assoc & allied services start giving statements against AAP Govt; 1 PM: Imran Hussain & I are attacked at Secretariat; 4 PM: HM gives a political statement. Isn't this all orchestrated by BJP?  Ashish Khetan (@AashishKhetan) February 20, 2018

AAP leader asks how mob was allowed inside Secretariat

AAP leaders Aashish Khetan and minister Imran Hussain at a press conference (AAP | Twitter Photo)

The fundamental question is how can police allow such huge mob to gather at high security zone like Delhi secretariat and then allow them to assault 1 member of the Govt and 15 minutes later another member of the cabinet? -@AashishKhetan pic.twitter.com/IRNLD46T2z  AAP (@AamAadmiParty) February 20, 2018

AAP alleges minister assaulted in Secretariat

#WATCH Earlier visuals of the scuffle which broke out at Delhi Secretariat between AAP Minister Imran Hussain's PS Himanshu Singh and unidentified persons pic.twitter.com/cJhnMHypQx  ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2018

Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain was mobbed by over a hundred officials and staff. AAP leader Aashish Khetan tweeted that he was attacked too.

Officials and staff of the Delhi government raised slogans and prevented Hussain from taking the elevator to his 6th floor office at the secretariat this afternoon. The minister later filed a complaint with the IP Estate Police Station alleging that he was assaulted.

Look how Minister Imran Hussain was held captive in the lift at Delhi Secretariat - hear the audio: , !          ! Does anyone need more evidence??? pic.twitter.com/5fVU0WvCWd  arunoday (@arunodayprakash) February 20, 2018



BJP VS Congress

Alleged assault of Delhi Chief Secy Anshu Prakash: IAS Association takes out candle light protest march at Rajghat pic.twitter.com/LSTPpg7wUz  ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2018

The BJP demanded Arvind Kejriwal's resignation while the Congress termed the incident an "administrative and constitutional crisis", and sought an apology from the chief minister. [READ FULL REPORT]



AAP retaliates

Delhi government spokesperson Nagendar Sharma denied the allegation saying the Chief Secretary was making false accusations at the behest of the BJP.

Sharma said during a meeting at Kejriwal's residence on the "faulty implementation" of Aadhaar that "deprived about 2.5 lakh families of ration", the Chief Secretary refused to answer questions saying he was not answerable to MLAs or the Chief Minister but only to the Lt. Governor.

"He even used bad language against some MLAs and left without answering any questions.

"If the Chief Secretary can make such wild allegations, one can imagine the kind of obstacles that are being created in AAP government's work by BJP through the officers."

AAP MLA @AjayDutt48 has written to @CPDelhi to lodge FIR against the Chief Secretary. Delhi chief secretary used "casteist remarks" against him in a meeting at CM @ArvindKejriwal residence. pic.twitter.com/vchb5wdkWt  AAP (@AamAadmiParty) February 20, 2018

BJP attacks Kejriwal

BJP MLA Vijender Gupta, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, alleged that Kejriwal "in his dictatorial style" called the Chief Secretary at midnight on Monday and "berated" him in front of his MLAs.

Gupta said Kejriwal was "drunk on power" and his concern was only about why more funds were not dispersed for advertisements. "Such is the state of affairs under AAP."

"In total, nine AAP MLAs were present at the CM's residence when the Chief Secretary was assaulted. They represent people of Delhi but are nothing short of urban naxalites. How utterly disgusting behaviour," he said.

MHA seeks report on incident

"I am deeply pained by the happenings involving the Chief Secretary of the Delhi Government. The civil servants should be allowed to work with dignity and without fear," Home minister Rajnath Singh tweeted. He sought a report from Delhi L-G Anil Baijal.

The MHA has sought a report on the incident from the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. Justice will be done. A delegation of IAS DANICS & Subordinate Services of Delhi Government met me today and apprised me of the prevailing situation.  Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) February 20, 2018

Government office employees threaten to go on strike

The Delhi Government Employees Welfare Association (DGEWA) demanded action against the accused AAP MLAs who "manhandled" and "mistreated" the top bureaucrat.

DGEWA President D.N. Singh said the association met the Lt. Governor regarding the issue. He said members of the group would go to offices but won't work till action is taken against those who assaulted the bureaucrat.

IAS bodies condemn attack

IAS Association Secretary, Manisha Saxena, complained to Lt. Governor Anil Baijal, claiming that the attack on Monday night was a "planned criminal conspiracy" against the top bureaucrat. "For the past couple of years, officers have been insulted and humiliated in public. The attack on the Chief Secretary is an attempt to intimidate the bureaucracy to toe the line of the powers that be."

Manisha Saxena and other IAS officers at the LG's office | PTI

She also said the officers would work on Tuesday with a black band as a mark of protest and that the association has also filed a police complaint.

Anshu Prakash's complaint letter to Delhi Police

Delhi: Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash's complaint letter to Police over yesterday's incident pic.twitter.com/zvdsNGatIN  ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2018

(With inputs from ANI, IANS and PTI)
By AFP

CARACAS: Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro took to the US president's favorite medium, Twitter, on Monday to ask him to start a dialogue between the two countries.

"@RealDonaldTrump campaigned pledging to promote non-interference in the domestic affairs of other countries. It's time to keep your pledge," Maduro wrote, encouraging Trump to hold a meeting in Washington or Caracas.

.@RealDonaldTrump hizo campana promoviendo la no intromision en los asuntos internos de otros paises. Llego el momento de cumplirlo y cambiar su agenda de agresion por una de dialogo. Dialogo en Caracas o Washington DC? Hora y lugar y ahi estare.  Nicolas Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) February 19, 2018

Maduro and senior government officials, including Attorney General Tarek William Saab, have alleged that the US is orchestrating an alleged plan for a "military invasion" of Venezuela from neighboring Colombia.

"The military bombing, the military invasion, the blood and fire occupation of a peaceful country like Venezuela are being planned," Saab charged last week, an allegation Colombia has flatly denied.

On a recent tour of Latin America, top US diplomat Rex Tillerson floated the idea of slapping sanctions on Venezuela's oil exports, the source of 96 percent of the country's revenues.

Tillerson met in Bogota with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos.

The United States has already imposed financial sanctions on Venezuela, forbidding its citizens and companies to negotiate debt issued by the Maduro government and the state oil company PDVSA.

Maduro has assured that he will travel to Lima in April for the Summit of the Americas, which Trump will attend.

But the Peruvian government announced that it will not allow Maduro to attend, on the grounds that he has broken with his country's democratic institutional order.
Where did all of those summertime tourists in Newport come from?

local
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
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A jury convicted Justin Hefner, 42, of Terre Haute this week after a two-day trial. He faces probation or up to seven years in prison when he is sentenced Dec. 5.
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).
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).
One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021
Back in 2015, Maruti Suzuki decided to spin-off its premium range of dealership from the regular Maruti Suzuki dealership chain and named it NEXA. The unprecedented move left many skeptical, given Marutis mass market image. However, NEXA soon emerged as a successful brand.

So much was the popularity of the cars sold through the new NEXA chain that within 1st fiscal year of 2015-2016, NEXA channel contributed to 6.9% of total MSIL sales, which has gone up to nearly 20% in FY17-18, with a couple of months remaining in the current fiscal.

Maruti Suzuki Arena dealership. (Image: Arjit Garg/News18.com)

Speaking number wise, in 2015-2016, 68774 cars were sold through NEXA, 6.9% of total Maruti sales. In 2016-17, the contribution grew to 10.9% with sales figure of 157775. This year (2017-2018), NEXA accounted for 270651 cars, a total of 19.8% of the total Maruti sales.

More than the internal numbers, its the competition with the rival brands that has excited us the most. NEXA has left behind some of the established auto brands to feature in the top 3 most successful brands, right behind the parent Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai Motors, beating Mahindra, Tata, Honda and other major brands.

A total of 270651 cars were sold through NEXA in 2017-18 FY (till January), while the cummulative Maruti Suzuki sales stood at 1359649 cars. Hyundai, on the other hand, sold 443727 cars in the same period. Going by the pace NEXA is growing, it may soon outpace Hyundai to become 2nd most successful brand in the country.

For the traditionalist who still see MSIL and NEXA as one brand, the combined sales of these two brands sits at a cumulative figure of 1,359,649. Thats 1.36 million cars to be precise. The closest brand is still 1/3rd the total sales of MSIL+NEXA brands.

Also Read: Top 5 Concept Cars Showcased at Auto Expo 2018!

R S Kalsi, Senior Executive Director (Marketing & Sales), Maruti Suzuki India Limited said, NEXA will continue to create new and unique experiences for its customer beyond selling cars, and forge relationships which last beyond car purchase. NEXA is a response to changing customer needs, expectations and aspirations.

Maurti Suzuki sells Ignis, Ciaz, Baleno and S-Cross through the NEXA dealership.

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Mumbai: The dream of a commercial pilot to set up an aircraft manufacturing company is set to take wings with the Maharashtra government on Monday signed a Rs 35,000 crore pact with him to build aircraft.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was present when the MoU, which envisages Rs 35,000 investment in the project, was signed at the "Magnetic Maharashtra" global investors summit in suburban Bandra.

The MoU, between Amol Yadav and MIDC, will lead to a generation of around 10,000 jobs in the project, which will be spread over 157-acre land in Palghar district.

Last year, Fadnavis had assured all help to Yadav, 42, who hails from Satara district, to start manufacturing facility for indigenous 6-seater and 19-seater aircraft.

"I have to make planes. I have demonstrated the capabilities. Fadnavis wants the first plane-making factory in the country to be in Maharashtra. The 157-acre plot was identified in Palghar. The MIDC will provide us land and support facilities like roads," Yadav told PTI.

"My responsibility is to build the plane and create the factory which will be producing more, and also to look after factories to be set up henceforth. This will be an aerospace hub to make planes," he said.

Maharashtra government will help in getting the required funds, Yadav said. "The government expects Rs 35,000 crore investment for not my company alone, but also for the ancillaries which will be a part of the hub," he said.

"Rs 35,000 crore is the total amount of funds which will be required to achieve the broader targets. The target is to create employment for 10,000 people. The investment figure is included in the MoU agreement but it will not be coming from me alone," he said.

"In the first phase, I am required to build a prototype 19-seater plane and three more similar planes for production. The investment required for this will be Rs 200 crore, which is the immediate requirement and will be spent in the next six months," he said.

"Our target, from the Rs 35,000 crore investment, is very simple. We want to make 600 19-seater planes in the next 2-3 years and then take it to 1,300 planes after that. We are planning for 1300 19-seater planes at present," he said.

"We have already identified many potential investors," Yadav said. The government will also help, he added.

"Pratt & Whitney is supplying me the engines at present. The engine supplied to me is 30 years old and tested one," he said, adding he "fully owns" the company.

Yadav, senior commander with Jet Airways, has promoted Thrust Aircraft Private Limited company for manufacturing aircraft.

His six-seater aircraft was the centre of attraction during the Make In India exhibition held in Mumbai in 2016.

The aircraft, that was assembled on the terrace of a Charkop building, got the certificate of registration from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) last year.
New Delhi/Mumbai: Billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi, one of the prime accused in the country's largest ever bank fraud, denies allegations levelled against him by Punjab National Bank (PNB), his lawyer said on Tuesday.

"There is nothing, there is nothing in it," Vijay Aggarwal, a lawyer representing Modi told Reuters, referring to a police complaint filed by the state-run bank that says companies linked to the jeweller and his relatives received credit worth close to Rs 11,400 crore between 2011 and 2017 using false guarantees supplied by two bank officials.

Aggarwal, speaking by telephone, declined to comment on Modi's whereabouts. Indian officials are on the lookout for Modi and his family, who police say left India in January prior to the case being filed.

"Everything is documented," Aggarwal said of Modi's dealings with PNB, adding that the bank had regularly levied fees on its dealings with the jeweller's firms.

According to the police complaint, the two officials at a Mumbai branch of PNB fraudulently steered credit to firms linked to Modi and entities tied to jewellery retailer Gitanjali Gems, led byModi's uncle, Mehul Choksi.

"They're covering themselves up," Aggarwal said referring to the PNB complaint. "They want to avoid liability ... that is why they are cooking up this story."

Asked about his legal strategy, Aggarwal said "Until there's no chargesheet, there's no strategy. When there's a chargesheet, there will be a strategy."

Choksi, who has also left the country, has not commented on the matter. Gitanjali, in a regulatory filing, denied Choksi's involvement in the alleged fraud.

PNB did not immediately respond to the lawyer's comments.

JEOPARDIZED RECOVERY

Separately, in a letter to PNB officials, Modi stated that his companies owe the bank under Rs 5,000 crore, much lower than the amount alleged by the bank. He also said PNB has jeopardized its chances of recovering the sums owed by going public with its allegations.

"The erroneously cited liability resulted in a media frenzy which led to immediate search and seizure of operations, and which in turn resulted in Firestar International and Firestar Diamond International effectively ceasing to be going-concerns," he wrote in a letter seen by Reuters. "This thereby jeopardised our ability to discharge the dues of the group to the banks."

Both companies are controlled by Modi. The fraud allegedly involves at least three firms controlled by Modi and others by Choksi.

"Your actions have destroyed my brand and the business and have now restricted your ability to recover all the dues," said Modi in the letter, accusing PNB of acting in haste and noting that his firm has always been current on paying its dues.

COMPULSORY TRANSFERS

Five bank officials, including the two at the Mumbai branch, have so far been arrested.

The alleged fraud occurred as one PNB deputy manager, with the assistance of one or more colleagues, issued over 100 fraudulent Letters of Undertaking  essentially guarantees sent to other banks so that they would provide loans to a customer.

After entering the transactions on the SWIFT messaging system, the official, who worked at the same branch from 2010 to 2017 despite normal bank practices of regular rotations - did not record them on PNB's internal system, according to the bank's complaint.

A PNB source said on Tuesday all its branches have now been asked to reconcile SWIFT messages with entries in their core banking system going back eight or nine years.

The bank has also asked branches to ensure no clerical staff stays in one office for more than five years, and officers no more than three years, the source said.

The fraud case has stunned financial markets and it sent PNB shares tumbling for a fifth straight trading day more than a quarter of its market value since disclosing the fraud. The stock was down about one percent at 0930 GMT.

Rating agency Fitch placed the bank on negative watch. Later, Moody's also placed PNB's ratings under review for a downgrade.

"PNB's capital position would deteriorate markedly, and fall below minimum regulatory requirements, if the bank is required to provide for the entire (fraud) exposure," Moody's said in a note on Tuesday.
Mumbai: A special CBI court on Tuesday remanded in police custody till March 3 three officials of Punjab National Bank, arrested yesterday(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 had earlier said that group companies of alleged mastermind and diamond czar 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 during 2011 to 2017.

The three PNB officials--Bechhu Tiwari, the then chief manager in the Forex department of PNB, Yashwant Joshi, Scale II Manager in the Forex department, and Praful Sawant, Scale-I officer handling the exports section--were produced before the special court judge S R Tamboli by the CBI on Tuesday.

"Tiwari, Joshi and Sawant are remanded in police custody till March 3," the judge said.

"The offence needs to be investigated and there is a possibility of involvement of bank officers in diverting money. The investigating officer has to confront the accused with various documents," the judge said.

According to the remand report filed by the CBI, Tiwari was working as chief manager in Forex Department and was incharge during the period from 2015 to 2017, but he did not monitor the fraudulent and illegal LoUs which were being issued by Shetty.

The agency said Tiwari issued circulars in February 2016 and February 2017 for keeping a check on LoUs sent through SWIFT terminal of the bank, but neither did he take any follow-up nor initiated any steps to see why his instructions were not being followed by Shetty, Joshi and Sawant.

"His deliberate acts of omission led to the continuance of concealment and largescale liabilities of PNB to foreign banks," the agency said.

The CBI said Joshi deliberately did not submit daily reports between the year 2015 and 2018 in respect of SWIFT messages and aided and abetted in the conspiracy to cheat PNB to the tune of hundreds of crores.

"Even after having circulars for keeping a check on LOUs sent through SWIFT terminal of the bank and whether the same were not entered in the Core Banking Solutions (CBS), Joshi, in conspiracy with others, deliberately ignored the instructions to avoid detection of the transactions," the CBI said.

On Sawant's role, the agency said he deliberately didn't check the details of SWIFT messages sent daily and whether the same were entered in the CBS of PNB.

The agency also said that the accused persons are not co-operating in the investigation and are shifting the entire responsibility on Shetty in the fraud and avoiding their responsibility in monitoring the transactions in SWIFT in spite of instructions.

During the arguments, the prosecutor said that Shetty told the CBI that such transactions of issuing LoUs were going on since 2008.

Arguing for the accused trio, their lawyer Prassanna Bangale told the court that Shetty was the perpetrator of the crime who left no trace through which the chief manager or the manager could know about the irregularities.

After Shetty retired in May 2017, Joshi took over and he reported about this scam to the bank which was later brought to the notice of the CBI, he said.

"The person who was instrumental in bringing out the case has been arrested," the lawyer said.

The CBI last Saturday arrested Shetty, Manoj Kharat, a single window operator of PNB, and Hemant Bhat, authorised signatory of Nirav Modi.

On January 31, the CBI registered an FIR against diamantaire Modi, his companies and uncle Mehul Choski.

The FIR has listed eight fraudulent transactions worth over Rs 280 crore but based on further complaints from the bank the CBI now says the amount investigated in the first FIR is over Rs 6,498 crore, involving 150 LoUs allegedly fraudulently issued by Shetty and Kharat.

The remaining 150 fraudulent LoUs worth over Rs 4,886 crore issued for Gitanjali group of companies are part of the second FIR registered yesterday by the agency against Choksi and his companies Gitanjali Gems, Nakshatra Brands and Gili.

All these LoUs were issued or renewed during 2017-18, the officials had said.
New Delhi: The Reserve Bank of India on Tuesday said it had alerted banks on the potential malicious use of SWIFT infrastructure on at least three occasions since August 2016. The platform was used by Punjab National Bank officials for the alleged fraudulent loan transactions.

"The risks arising from the potential malicious use of the SWIFT infrastructure, created by banks for their genuine business needs, has always been a component of their operational risk profile. RBI had, therefore, confidentially cautioned and alerted banks of such possible misuse, at least on three occasions since August 2016," an RBI notification stated.

The statement comes as the RBI has been under the spotlight after PNB disclosed last week it had been hit by a Rs 11,400 crore loan fraud. On Monday, the central government had written to the RBI, flagging doubts over supervisory lapses in the scam and asking how the fraud went undetected for so many years.

The RBI has now asked banks to implement measures to strengthen the SWIFT operating environment within a deadline, and also set up a committee to look into factors leading to increased number of frauds.

In a note to the banks, the RBI on Tuesday reiterated its "confidential instructions" and said these must be done within the stipulated deadline.

The apex bank further said in view of large divergences observed in asset classification and provisioning in the credit portfolio of banks as well as the rising incidence of frauds in the Indian banking system, it has been decided to constitute an Expert Committee under the chairmanship of YH, Malegam, a former member of the Central Board of Directors of RBI.

The committee would look into the reasons for high divergence observed in asset classification and provisioning by banks vis-a-vis the RBI's supervisory assessment, and the steps needed to prevent it; factors leading to an increasing incidence of frauds in banks and the measures (including IT interventions) needed to curb and prevent it; and the role and effectiveness of various types of audits conducted in banks in mitigating the incidence of such divergence and frauds, the apex bank said in a press release.

The members of the committee will be: Bharat Doshi, Member, Central Board of Directors, RBI; S Raman, former Chairman and Managing Director, Canara Bank and former Whole-Time Member, SEBI; and Nandkumar Saravade, Chief Executive Officer, Reserve Bank Information Technology Pvt Ltd (ReBIT).

A K Misra, Executive Director, RBI will be the Member-Secretary of the committee.

Keeping in view the PNB fraud, the RBI said as part of its ongoing efforts for strengthening of the supervisory framework in the country, it has been issuing necessary instructions to banks from time to time on a variety of issues of prudential supervisory concern, including the management of operational risks inherent in the functioning of banks.
A total of 195 candidates are in fray for the February 27 Assembly elections being held in Nagaland.

Religion is one of the dominant issues that will play a key role in the upcoming polls. BJP candidates have promised senior citizens a trip to the holy land of Jerusalem. Meanwhile, Congress, in its manifesto, has assured to work towards setting up a board to facilitate minorities to visit Holy Land at a subsidised cost.

As both the parties are trying to woo the Christian-majority of the state, regional parties will try to hold the fort.

Total Number of seats: 60 Seats

Date of Poling: 27/02/2017

Incumbent government: Nagaland People Front (NPF) led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) has been ruling over the state for the last 15 years. Former Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio won the elections thrice, but resigned in 2014 after he went to the Lok Sabha. T R Zeliang is now the Chief Minsiter. This election NPF is contesting alone, as the other constituents of DAN, BJP and JD(U) have decided to part ways.
Jaipur: In a step towards women empowerment, the Indian Railways has handed over the Gandhi Nagar railway station to an all women crew, a railway official said.

The station is fully operated by 28 women employees, including ticket checkers, RPF, operations staff and reservation and booking supervisors, North Western Railway spokesperson Tarun Jain said.

GandhiNagar Jaipur #Rajasthan becomes countrys first all #Women non suburban railway Station. Operation, commercial, RPF and other activities are done 24X7 by women staffs. Government of Rajasthan has also supported by posting GRP and lady traffic police officials at this Stn. pic.twitter.com/oS0KwfheyW Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) February 19, 2018

"The Gandhi Nagar railway station in the Pink city links major train routes including Jaipur-Delhi. Around 50 trains pass through the station, of which 25 make a halt for 7000 passengers at this station every day," Jain said.

Employees working at this station are well trained, CCTV cameras and sanitary napkin vending machines were installed before handing it over to the staff, he added.
Srinagar/New Delhi: A BSF jawan was on Tuesday killed after he was shot by a Pakistani sniper from across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Tangdhar, officials said.

Constable S K Murmu (28) succumbed to the "critical" injury of the gun shot wound he suffered in the ceasefire violation incident, they said.

He died at the Army hospital in Srinagar around 8:30 pm.

The officials said that Murmu was deployed at a forward defended location (FDL) along the LoC in Karnah sector of the Tangdhar area, when a sniper shot hit him in the stomach around 4:30 pm.

"He was initially evacuated on foot from the forward area and then taken to Srinagar in an Army helicopter. However, Murmu succumbed to the fatal sniper shot. He was shot at by the Pakistani forces," a senior officer said.

The jawan, who joined the Border Security Force (BSF) in 2013, hails from the Jamui district in Bihar.
New Delhi: China has been in talks with Balochistan militants to secure the ambitious China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

People in the know how of the developments told Financial Times that the Asian giant has been quietly talking to Baloch insurgents for the last five years and that the contact has been direct.

The report quoted a Pakistani official as saying that the Chinese have made progress to the extent that Baloch militants were not pushing with force.

The article claimed that Pakistan welcomes the move on the part of the Chinese and that Chinese involvement in Pakistan politics had many countries worried, including India. The CPEC passes through Pakistan occupied Kashmir, which is a bone of contention for India.

While there has been no official response from the Chinese on the report, the ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing had claimed in a recent interview that Baloch insurgents were no longer a threat to the CPEC and that those opposing it were not true Pakistanis. The CPEC is a network of infrastructure projects that are currently under construction throughout Pakistan that will connect China's Xinjiang province with Gwadar port in Pakistan's Balochistan province.
Beijing: China is upgrading air defence of its Western Theatre Command, which looks after the security along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), to "confront any threat from India", an official media report quoted a military expert as saying.

The Chinese military has released photographs of a J-10 fighter jet - a lightweight multi-role fighter aircraft - along with J-11 - a single-seat, twin-engine fighter jet - flying over the high-altitude plateau in western China during the current Chinese New Year and Spring Festival holiday, state-run Global Times reported on Tuesday.

The jets are attached to an aviation brigade of the air force under the PLA Western Theatre Command, the website of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) said.

China has also recently commissioned its stealth fighter, the J-20, which is first in the region.

The Western Theatre Command is mainly responsible for mountain warfare at the border area with India. The LAC stretches to 3,488-km including the high altitude Tibetan plateau.

India and China have been trying to reset their ties after last year's 73-day standoff between the two sides at Doklam in Sikkim section of boundary.

It is significant for China to strengthen control of airspace over the mountainous region, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times.

"Strengthening the 3.5-generation fighter jets or even stationing more advanced fighters in the Western Theatre Command has been urgent for the PLA," Song said, adding that such upgrades have been usually first conducted in south and east theatre commands.

Considering that India possesses 3rd-generation fighter jets, China's stationing of its 3.5-generation jets would be able to deal with any current threat from India, Song said.

Apparently referring to India's acquisition of Rafale fighter jets from France, Song said, "with India importing new jets, China will continue strengthening its fighter jets in the Western Theatre Command."

Since he took over power in 2013, President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has been pressing the PLA to step up live firing drills to win local wars.
New Delhi: Fresh controversy seems to have cropped up over the January 10 recommendation of the Supreme Court collegium for the elevation of a judge as the Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court. Sources said the Centre was yet to take a call on the recommendation to elevate Justice Surya Kant of Punjab and Haryana High Court as the Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court by superseding a judge senior to him.

Justice A K Mittal, who is senior to Justice Surya Kant, has been left out of the race by the collegium which in its recommendation has said that all relevant parameters for elevation favoured the latter. "Though Justice A K Mittal is senior to Justice Surya Kant in the seniority of Judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, having regard to all relevant factors and since we consider Justice Surya Kant more suitable than Justice A K Mittal, we are not recommending name of the latter, for the present, for appointment as Chief Justice," the notification, about the January 10 collegium meeting, said.

Sources said the "consultee" judges' opinion on the elevation was not in accordance with the established procedure. While one of the judges who came to the Supreme Court from the Punjab and Haryana High Court was not in favour of superseding the senior judge, another judge who was once the Chief Justice of the same high court supported the view of a judge in the collegium not to elevate the senior judge.

Sources said both the consultee judges in their note spoke about some complaint against the two high court judges and the note had come after the January 10 collegium meeting.
New Delhi: Former chief election commissioner N Gopalaswami will head the Empowered Expert Committee constituted for selecting 20 institutes of higher education that will be developed into World Class Institutes.

Gopalaswami is the head of Vivekananda Educational Society, which is affiliated to RSS educational wing Vidya Bharati or Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Sansthan.

The Ministry of Human Resource Development approved the constitution of the EEC as per UGC regulations of 2017.

While Gopalaswami will be the chairperson, Tarun Khanna of Harvard Business School, Houston university chancellor Dr Renu Khator and Dr Pritam Singh, a former director of MDI Gurugram and IIM Lucknow, will be the others on the panel.

The Modi government had also made Gopalaswami the chief of a 13-member panel in 2015 that was constituted to recommend ways of Sanskrit promotion.

The HRD ministry had last year invited institutes to apply to be upgraded into world-class universities. It had received 100 applications, including from seven IITs, Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jadhavpur University, Goa University and Mangalore University.

The O P Jindal Global University, Ashoka University, Manipal University and Amity University, among others, had applied from the private sector.

Ten universities from the public and private sector will be selected for the programme in the next few months. Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised Rs 10,000 crore over the next 10 years and autonomy to these institutes.

The EECs role would be to scrutinize the proposals submitted and monitor and review their implementation plans. After hearing their presentations, it would then rank the institutions for their suitability for inclusion in this scheme. It would forward its selection to the UGC, which will submit it to the HRD ministry to take a final call.
New Delhi: The Central government has issued a new notification, implying that Anand Grover has been replaced by Tushar Mehta as the special public prosecutor (SPP) for arguing the appeal in the 2G spectrum allocation scam cases.

All accused, including former Telecom Minister A Raja and DMK MP Kanimozhi, stand acquitted after the trial court verdict.

The new notification, issued on Monday, amends the November 2014 notification, and changes the terms of appointment of senior advocate Anand Grover as SPP.

While Grover was initially appointed to argue on behalf of CBI and Enforcement Directorate not only for trial but also for appeals and revisions arising out of 2G cases, the notification issued a day ago maintains that Grover's appointment was only for cases at the trial stage.

"For the words 'appeals/revisions or other proceedings arising out of the cases related to 2G Spectrum investigated by the Delhi Special Police Establishment (CBI) in the Court of Special Judge (2G Spectrum cases), Central Bureau of Investigation, New Delhi and appellate/revisional Courts', the words "arising out of the cases related to 2G Spectrum investigated by the Delhi Special Police Establishment (CBI) in the Court of Special Judge (2G Spectrum cases), Central Bureau of Investigation, New Delhi shall be substituted," stated the new notification.

The substitution of the words has clearly removed Grover's role as SPP beyond the trial stage, thus making it unequivocal that Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta will be the agency's lawyer in the Delhi High Court and also in the Supreme Court, as and when the matter reaches there.

The new notification has come 10 days after Mehta was appointed as the SPP through another notification by the DoPT. But this notification was not clear whether Grover has been replaced by Mehta or if both will be arguing at the appellate stage in the Delhi HC, given the fact that the trial has resulted into acquittal of all the accused in the 2G case and an appeal is being readied.

The two senior lawyers had then maintained that they were not certain about the terms of the new notification and would not want to comment on it.

However, the new notification has made it clear that Grover has been replaced by Mehta for all appeals and revisions after the culmination of the trial.

Notably, since Grover was appointed as the SPP under the order of the Supreme Court, the action of the government in amending a three-year-old notification will definitely come under scanner of the top court.

Centre for Public Interest Litigation, one of the petitioners before the apex court in the 2G case, has already filed a contempt plea, challenging Mehta's appointment.

The petition has contended that the government cannot supercede the Supreme Court's order by appointing a new SPP, and that this disobedience amounts to contempt. The plea has not come up for hearing so far.

According to the sources, the government is likely to tell the top court that there appeared to be no bar to appoint a new SPP after the trial was over since the Court's direction was limited to the stage of trial.
New Delhi: Asserting her right as an individual with free choices, the woman at the centre of the 'Kerala Love-Jihad' case has told the Supreme Court that she is a Muslim and wants to continue living like a Muslim.

She has also told the Court that she wants to live with her husband as a couple because she embraced Islam and married him on her own free will. "I have been under confinement without the freedom that I am entitled to. Even now, I am under police surveillance. I most humbly pray that my entire liberty may kindly be restored to me," her 25-page affidavit has stated.

The 25-year-old woman is mired in a controversy after she converted to Islam from Hinduism and married a Muslim man.

As her father had filed a habeas corpus petition in the Kerala High Court after she embraced Islam and lived in a hostel, the High Court held the marriage to be a "sham" for taking her out of the court's custody and annulled the marriage, besides sending the adult woman back to her parents.

Her husband, however, moved the Supreme Court in appeal. But the Court ordered a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into a 'pattern' where various women were allegedly being converted to Islam. Later, the Court decided to hear the major woman first, and interviewed her in the open court when she made an appeal for her freedom like every other individual was entitled to under the Indian Constitution.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra allowed her plea to walk out of the custody of the parents and asked her to complete her medical studies by staying in the college hostel. On January 23, she pleaded through a lawyer to become a party in the case so as to express her views, and the Court allowed it.

Filing an affidavit now, the woman has emphasised on her right to make choices and be left alone. She narrated how her parents and others allegedly forced her to give up Islam and also leave her husband since he was reportedly linked with terror organisation ISIS.

"All those horrendous sufferings were meted out to me not for any fault of mine, but for having exercised, on my own free will, my fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of India to believe in the religion of my choice as well as to marry the person of my choice," contended the affidavit.

She claimed that her father was under influence of some people who had vested interests in the whole episode and therefore, action should be taken against such rogue elements and not against her husband who has nothing to do with ISIS. The affidavit pleads that the NIA probe must stop forthwith and that the Court should let her lead her life.

"I further pray that this Honble Court may be kind enough to appoint my husband as guardian. I most humbly pray that this Honble Court may be pleased to allow us to live together as husband and wife," stated her plea. The case is likely to be listed for hearing next on Thursday.
Bengaluru: A Karnataka Congress leader splashed a combustible liquid inside a city corporation office and threatened to set it on fire, causing much embarrassment to the ruling party in the poll-bound state.

This comes just days after another Congress MLA's son allegedly brutally assaulted a man at an upscale restaurant in Bengaluru.

In the video which was viral on social media on Tuesday, local Congress leader Narayanaswamy was seen purportedly splashing a liquid filled in a plastic bottle twice inside a city corporation office after an official there allegedly refused to provide a fake land document.

The officer is seen pleading with Narayanswamy, who is clad in all-white dress.

KPCC President G Parameshwara said in a tweet, "I have instructed our Bengaluru District North District Congress Committee (DCC) to immediately suspend Narayanswamy."

Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy also condemned the incident on the floor of the state assembly earlier on Tuesday.

"It is unfortunate that the incident has taken place. The government has initiated necessary action against the (Congress) leader," he said.

The opposition has seized the opportunity to make it as a political issue in the poll-bound Karnataka this year.

"It is another show of hooliganism by the state's ruling Congress. The leader is close to lawmaker Byrathi Basavaraj, who is a close aide of Siddaramaiah," BJP spokesperson Suresh Kumar said.

Congress was red-faced after its MLA NA Haris' son Mohammad Nalapad and his friends allegedly beat up Vidwath, a Dollars Colony resident, on February 17 for sitting improperly and extending his plaster-cast leg near to the accused in the pub-cum-restaurant.

Nalapad, who has been booked for attempt to murder, is in police custody. He had surrendered before the police on Monday. A day before, 10 people were arrested in the case.

The embarrassed state Congress leadership expelled Nalapad for six years.

(With PTI inputs)
Thiruvananthapuram: In its new health policy, the Kerala government has proposed to make vaccination cards mandatory for children seeking admission in first standard. The Pinarayi Vijayan Cabinet on Tuesday approved the draft health policy that was announced by Health Minister KK Shylaja.

The decision to make vaccination cards mandatory for school admission comes after vaccination programmes were faced with resistance from different quarters in Kerala with the most recent being the struggle to implement the Measles Rubella (MR) vaccination programme in some districts, including Malappuram.

The health policy also states that strict legal action will be taken against those trying to discourage parents from getting their children vaccinated.

In another significant initiative, special clinics have been proposed for transgenders in taluk and district-level hospitals. There is also a proposal to include sex reassignment surgery for transgenders in the state health insurance scheme.

Shylaja said that though maternal mortality rate in the state is less compared to other states, the number still needs to go down and his government is making efforts to bring it down.

She added that a survey will be conducted in areas where maternal mortality is still more to find out the reasons and take corrective measures.

Also, standard treatment guidelines will be made mandatory for doctors at government hospitals and these will be applicable in private hospitals as well.

The new health policy further proposes a comprehensive trauma care facility at every 10 kilometre by co-ordinating the services of government, private and cooperative hospitals.

The government plans to improve facilities at trauma care units apart from training locals on trauma care and telling them how to handle situations after an accident and how to provide first aid.

In another announcement, the policy proposes a bifurcation of the state health department. In place of the existing Director of Health Services, the new policy plans to have separate directors for clinical services and public health while the Director of Medical Education remains.

Administrative autonomy will be granted to government medical colleges, which comes in the wake of principals and hospital superintendents complaining that they are not able to carry out administrative work effectively because of complicated procedures and lack of administrative freedom. The policy further promises to boost research activities in medical colleges.

The government has also proposed effective steps to check corruption among health officials apart from strengthening vigilance systems in hospitals.

The Kerala government has also promised to strictly enforce the ban on private practice of doctors.
Shambulal Regar, the Rajasthan man jailed for hacking a Muslim labourer from West Bengal to death two months ago, has released two new incendiary videos from what appears to be his cell in Jodhpurs central prison, raising question marks over the security apparatus. In the new videos being circulated, Regar makes a long-hate filled rant against Muslims, urging Hindus to unite against jihadis. Wearing a hoodie and reading the message from a paper, he makes repeated references to Islamic terrorism, love jiha, and counterfeit currency.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has ended the uncertainty over whether he would hold a one-on-one meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and said that he was looking forward to receive him in Amritsar on Wednesday. Singh would be the first major leader to meet Trudeau, who has cut a lonely figure on the first three days of his week-long India visit. The Canadian premier was received by MoS Agriculture Gajendra Singh, not the kind of reception he would have expected. PM Modi and Sushma did not even tweet any welcome message for him.

The prime accused in the Punjab National Bank scam, celebrity jeweller Nirav Modi, is going to be represented in court by an advocate used to high profile cases. Advocate Vijay Aggarwal has represented a number of accused persons in the 2G spectrum allocation scam case. He has represented former Orissa High Court judge, IM Quddussi, who had moved a Delhi court to seek a probe into the alleged leak of certain phone conversations.

The CBI has registered a case against Rotomac pen promoter Vikram Kothari and his family in connection with a case related to the alleged swindling of Rs 3,695 crore of bank loan funds. The scam was earlier estimated at around Rs 800 crore.

[caption id="attachment_1665969" align="alignnone" ] (File photo of Nirav Modi: Facebook)[/caption]

Nirav Modi, the kingpin behind the largest banking scam in the country's history, has virtually wrung his arms in the air saying PNB's overzealousness has shut the doors on his ability to clear the dues, which he claimed is much lower than the bank has gone public with. In a letter, Modi wrote on February 15 to the PNB management, a day after the bank disclosed the fraud, he pegged the amount his companies owes to the bank at under Rs 5,000 crore.

The main accused in the rape-murder of 7-year-old Hasini, Dhasvanth, was held guilty and sentenced to death by the Mahila Court in Chengalpet. The convict had burnt the body of the minor victim after raping her last year in Tamil Nadu.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that the PNB scam was planned a year before demonetisation and asserted that more influential people are involved in it.

Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Bansgaon, Kamlesh Paswan, has been booked along with 25 others over allegations of grabbing land illegally in Yogi Adityanaths hometown Gorakhpur.

The Bharatiya Janata Party continued to dominate semi-urban areas of Gujarat and won 47 of the 75 municipal seats. However, like in the Assembly election results, the ruling partys share of seats fell in the civic polls as well and came down from 59 to 47 while the Congress' tally went up from 14 to 16.

Actress Priya Prakash Varrier, who recently became an internet sensation for her wink in a song of a Malyalam movie, moved the Supreme Court seeking quashing of an FIR lodged against her in Telangana.

Security forces shot dead a man, believed to be mentally unsound, near the Air Force station in Budgam district of central Kashmir after he tried to enter the high-security area.

Noted Marathi actress Chinmayee Surve-Raghavan faced an obscene situation when a man came out of a car and masturbated in front of her. She filed a complaint with the police, who managed to trace and apprehend the perpetrator within a few hours.

Agree or disagree?

Theres a lot of chatter in the Canadian press about how their rockstar Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is undertaking his first official visit to India, is getting snubbed by the Indian establishment. One reason why Trudeau has been cold-shouldered is the apparent support he and his government have been giving to pro-Khalistan voices in Canada. Two of four Sikh ministers in Trudeaus cabinet Harjit Sajjan and Amarjit Sohi have both supported radical Khalistani elements in Canada. Is Trudeau getting snubbed in India?

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 stationery and in all communication.Trust is a touchy topic for the bank this week. 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. Sindhu Bhattacharya writes why its time for the government to tighten monitoring of state-run banks.

On reel

Facial hair is trendy worldwide these days, but in Jerusalem, beards have never gone out of style. Take a look.

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Lucknow: Uttar Pradeshs mouth-watering delicacies have fans all over the world, and with the mega UP Investors Summit to be held on Wednesday the state capitals restaurants are gearing up to play the host.

Famous for its non-vegetarian delicacies like Nihari Kulchas and the sumptuous Kebabs, guests attending the summit will get to taste the authentic dishes of the state. Some hotels have even arranged for dopalli topis and aarti thalis to welcome the guests.

Our honourable chairman is also coming for the UP Investors Summit, his team has already reached to check, recheck out facility. We will be welcoming our guests with the traditional aarti and teeka, said general manager of ITC Fortune Park BBD Hotel, Sanjay Pant.

Hotels located at a distance from the venue have arranged for a tailored Google map so that guests do not have any difficulty in travelling to and fro. Our tailored Google map will guide the guests to the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan without any problems. We have also reserved a fleet of 12 luxury cars exclusively for guests coming for the summit. We have tried to reach out to the guests through social media in order to provide them with the best of services, said Jyojit, general manager of Ramada Hotel.

Taj Vivanta, one of the oldest hotels in the city, will welcome guests in the traditional Lucknowi way. They will also be serving traditional food like Baigan Ka Salan and Bhindi Kurkuri to the guests, informed general manager Vikas Yadav.

The newly opened Hyatt Regency has added an elaborate breakfast menu and spa options in the itinerary of the guests. While Novotel has said that they would also be giving out Ittars (perfumes) in addition to all that the other hotels are providing.
Kolkata: In a shocking incident that brings back horrific memories of the December 2012 Nirbhaya rape case in the countrys capital, a 28-year-old mentally challenged tribal woman was brutally gang raped in Dehaband area under Kushmandi police station in West Bengals South Dinajpur district.

The perpetrators also thrust an iron rod into her genitals and bare hands into her private parts.

The woman was operated at the nearby Raigunj hospital, but was later shifted to Malda Medical College and Hospital after her condition deteriorated. According to hospital sources, she remains in a critical condition and is battling for her life.

While the doctors are trying to save the victims life, the district administration and police of South and North Dinajpur as well as Malda remain tight lipped. The victim was attended to by the doctors here and they have now decided to shift her to Malda Medical College. I cannot say anything more at this point of time, said Prakash Mirdda, the chief medical officer of health in North Dinajpur on Monday.

According to village residents, the victim had gone to a local fair on Sunday when she was dragged away by a few men and gang raped under a bridge. She was later rescued by the residents, who heard her screams and informed the police.

So far, there have been no arrests, although two persons have been detained for questioning in connection with the incident.

Incidentally, state chief minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to visit Malda district on Tuesday and Raigunj on Wednesday as part of her on-going district tour.

Senior police officers in South Dinajpur were unavailable for comment despite repeated attempts by News18. Locals alleged that the administration isnt forthcoming about the gruesome incident in view of Mamatas visit with security arrangements for the chief minister currently topping their priority list.

Opposition parties, including the CPI-M, condemned the incident. CPI-M leader and Raigunj MP Mohammed Salim said, Its even more gruesome than the Nirbhaya incident. In the Nirbhaya case, the victim was alone and targeted inside a moving bus. But this happened right in the middle of the village. People from all walks of life who value human life and freedom must protest against such perversion.

It bears recall that in November last year a minor tribal girl, a school student, was allegedly gang raped and murdered in North Dinajpur. Three people were arrested in connection with that case.
Amritsar: A Pakistani drug smuggler was killed and 10 kg of narcotics as well as arms and ammunition seized along the Indo-Pak International Border (IB) in Punjab on Tuesday, the BSF said.

The incident took place in the wee hours of the morning along the Barreke post in Firozpur sector of the IB where the Border Security Force and the special task force of the Punjab police laid an ambush to intercept cross-border drug smugglers and infiltrators.

"Ambush (team) located two Pakistani smugglers approaching stealthily towards the fence after crossing the IB into the Indian territory," a senior BSF officer said.

"When these smugglers were challenged, they opened fire on the ambush (team). In retaliatory fire, one Pakistani smuggler was killed, the other fled back towards Pakistani territory, taking the cover of darkness," the official said.

The body of the smuggler, 10 kg of drugs suspected to be heroin, one Chinese pistol, and a magazine, 17 bullets, Pakistani currency worth Rs110, 2 mobile phones, 3 Pakistani mobile phone SIM cards, a plastic pipe and some other items were recovered from the ambush spot, he said.

Meanwhile, in another incident, the border force apprehended a 30-year-old Pakistani national, a resident of Lahore, from the Maharsona border post in the Fazilka district of the state late last night.
Mumbai: A Special CBI court in Mumbai remanded the three accused employees of Punjab National Bank to CBI custody till March 3. The CBI had arrested Bechu Tiwari- chief manager of Forex Department, Yashwant Joshi - scale 2 manager of Forex Department and Praful Sawant - scale 1 officer of International Banking on Monday. Last week, two other employees of PNB including a retired deputy manager, a single window operator and an authorised signatory of the Nirav Modi Group of firms were arrested.

The CBI while seeking maximum custody to the three accused told the court that all the three accused were in the know-how of unauthorised LOUs being sanctioned to private firms by the retired deputy manager Gokulnath Shetty who was arrested last week. "It is revealed that during the period from 2015 to 2017, Bechu Tiwari who was working as the chief manager in the Forex Department did not monitor the fraudulent and illegal LOUs being issued by Shetty. His deliberate act of omission led to the continuance of concealment and large-scale liabilities of PNB to foreign banks," reads CBI's remand copy. It goes on to say that the scale 2 officer Yashwant Joshi did not submit daily reports with respect to SWIFT messages and aided and abetted in the conspiracy.

CBI lawyer informed the court, "as per bank guidelines, either there should be a sanction limit from the competent authority or there should have been 100 percent margin. Without a 100 percent margin, Joshi sanctioned buyers credit."

The lawyer went on to add that the scale 1 officer Praful Sawant did not deliberately check the details of SWIFT messages sent daily and did not enter it in the core banking solution, thereby abetting the crime.

The remand copy reads that the three accused have shifted the entire blame on Gokulnath Shetty who had issued the fake LOUs to Nirav Modi's firm and others. "This is a larger conspiracy done in collusion and there are many more who are involved in it," added the CBI lawyer.

The defense lawyer representing all three accused argued that Shetty, who is accused of issuing the LOUs, did not keep his colleagues or superiors in the loop. "When Shetty retired in May 2017, Joshi took over and when the firms came for fresh LOUs, Joshi had pointed out that there has to be margin or collateral to issue the same. He was shocked that LOUs were issued in the past without following proper procedure and informed the branch head. He was, in fact, instrumental in exposing the scam and now he is behind bars which is unfortunate," argued the defense lawyer, while stating that there is not a single document sanctioned or signed or approved by the three accused.

The court said it is a crime of grave nature and to get to the root of the scam and unearth the scam in its entirety, CBI should question all the accused. All the six accused will be produced before the court on March 3.
New Delhi: The Nirav Modi-Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam has brought to light a host of banking frauds in the country.

Diamond merchants, many believe, have been operating in the grey for years now. Add to that the falling global demand for diamonds and traders have taken to dealing in dubious ways to stay sustainable.

According to credit rating agency CARE, global demand for diamonds has seen a steady dip since the first quarter of 2016. With 90% of the worlds diamonds being cut and polished in India and China, the weak demand has adversely affected traders.

Profits are falling and merchants have been offloading their inventories at low prices. With their books in the red, these businessmen have been inflating balance sheets by distributing diamond consignments around the globe.

As one consignment shows up in different books, it gives the impression of multiple orders doing the rounds. The term used for this bogus trading  Pudiya Ghumao (passing the packet) or round-tripping.

Talking to News18, a diamond merchant in Surat explained the process. "In order to inflate my books, I create shell companies in other countries. My business in India exports a consignment to one of the shell companies and takes a loan from Indian banks showing that sale. The shell company then takes a loan from either foreign banks or from foreign branches of Indian banks to buy the jewels. For the businessman, that is two sources of loans, while the product is still with him," the trader said on the condition of anonymity.

This artificial trading is said to be an open secret. The banks know, other traders know and even the government seems to have turned a blind eye towards it.

In 2012, to curb these practices, the UPA-II government was the first to set a two percent import duty on polished diamonds. The current government, during the 2018 Union Budget, increased the number to five percent.

"These restrictions did, to an extent, curb the practice but those who have been involved in this corrupt practice for long were still given loans to cover their base. The banks did so because they did not want the businesses to turn into Non-performing Assets (NPA), the trader said.

These 'legacy' traders kept on taking larger loans and inflating their books as banks would give them targets to achieve for the corresponding year of them taking the loan.

This loan-on-a-loan policy is what led to the biggest banking fraud in the country.

Talking about the Rs 11,360-crore scam, the diamond merchant said, "The media, and subsequently the people, came to know about Gitanjali Gems just last week. We, the traders, have known about them for five years. We knew the skeletons could tumble out any day."
New Delhi: Those who may think that the events around Triple talaq  from Supreme Court judgments to the debates in Parliament to the draft of instant Triple Talaq Bill  are slowing chipping away personal laws and ushering in a Uniform Civil Code are mistaken, SC lawyer and Congress leader Salman Khurshid has argued in his latest book.

Titled, Triple Talaq: Examining Faith, Khurshid tries to explain how developments around the, now infamous, Islamic mode of divorce in no way suggests a need for bigger reform in the religion.

Ultimately, the court will have to decide if equality is uniformity or diversity too is desirable. Triple talaq was obviously not a deserving test for that proposition because of its inherent odious nature and its questionable pedigree, Khurshid says in his book.

The author also argues that organic changes within the Islamic society in India were already there to be seen. Although polygamy remains lawful (subject, of course, to strict conditions), government regulations prohibiting polygamy for civil servants has been quietly accepted by Muslims. Similarly, restrictions on cow slaughter have been widely accepted across the country, writes Khurshid.

Triple Talaq: Examining Faith, published by Oxford University Press, contains anecdotes from the Supreme Court, where he was appointed amicus curiae, and his own arguments in the case.

Talking about his book to a news portal, Khurshid explained the reasons for writing it 

It was a matter of interest to quite a few. People had imagined it to be something that it wasnt... I am not advocating Triple Talaq, Im against it but only to the extent that its not a valid form of divorce... The attempt to demonise the community because they have a somewhat unacceptable kind of divorce... that has to be put in the right perspective.

To give a glimpse about the arguments made on the issue, whose popularity can be gauged from how it spilled over from courtrooms onto the streets and poll campaigns, here is an excerpt of Khurshids book, a pre-release copy of which News18 has accessed:

Many votaries of the Uniform Civil Code see it [Triple Talaaq judgment] as clearing the path for what one channel called One Nation, One Law. But have they purposely overlooked the majority of three Justices giving a clear verdict on protection of Personal Law? A Uniform Civil Code, although mandated by the Directive Principles of State Policy, would still need to pass muster as far as the chapter on Fundamental Rights is concerned.

The recent unanimous pronouncement of a Constitutional Bench of nine judges has rearranged the landscape somewhat dramatically and finally laid to rest any doubts about the stand-alone nature of Fundamental Rights and making Article 21 the ultimate repository of rights that people have; indeed, even going further to hold that some rights can be traced to pre-constitutional natural rights. Jurisprudence on Fundamental Rights is a seamless whole and any dent to any part of it will inevitably impact the rest.

We made a mistake on civil liberty in the early years of our Independence by subjugating individual rights to the welfare of society in a utilitarian calculus.

The result was the Fundamental Rights judgment of the Emergency period that most of the present votaries of the Uniform Civil Code deprecate and indeed, was regretted in later life by the Justices who pronounced it.

Furthermore, Justice Narimans observation on Nikah should be a warning that the Uniform Code will certainly not be a majoritarian version of what is desirable.

For instance, not one person has ever ventured to explore whether a Uniform Code will require that all funerals culminate in a similar manner, that is, would everyone be cremated, buried, or confined to the Towers of Silence?

Furthermore, under the marriage 151 provisions, would same-sex marriages be permitted as they now are in a growing number of countries across the globe?

The judgment certainly gives clues to what might be the final outcome of pending proceedings in the Section 377 Naz Foundation matter, but that would go only to the extent of decriminalization of same-sex consensual relationships.

Modernism might not be as simple as some people make it out to be in order to promote petty political aspirations. The misplaced belief that modernizing community law is essentially a matter of reviewing different religious practices from the point of view of a version assumed to be superior is destructive to the notion of diversity that is a cornerstone of our democracy. Besides the philosophical dimension, there is also the political reality of diverse sub-cultures.

How much of tribal culture should be preserved in the face of modernity is far from a settled question of our democracy. Modes of marriage vary vastly in different parts of the country, particularly with matriarchal societies in certain parts. It might be possible to let a universal idea of equality prevail in the matter of genders by a degree of interference with existing systems, but then where would one draw a line of balance?

People who question the right of human beings to sacrifice animals for religious reasons (because they are vegetarians or subscribe to non-violence as a matter of faith) might end up having to question bali for Hindu Goddesses as much as the qurbani rituals of Muslims.

An interesting point was raised in a tweet by my erudite colleague, Shri P Chidambaram, after the judgment was delivered. He tweeted that only triple talaq (meaning the instant talaq) has been declared unlawful and that other 152 forms of talaq remain to be considered, being equally unilateral.

The Attorney General had made similar arguments during the hearing. Then again, another colleague has been reported to have opined that Parliament still has a role to play to implement the judgment. These raise much wider questions far beyond triple talaq.

Even the Supreme Court did not envisage going that far and simply indicated that nikah halala and polygamy would be considered by another bench in due course. As to why the concept of talaq does not suffer from the mischief of triple talaq, the answer is to be found in the remarkably erudite exposition of Shariah by the then Chief Justice.

As far as the intervention of Parliament is concerned, it is surprising that a matter that the majority of the Supreme Court steered clear ofnot because it found it expedient and appropriate, but because it did not see the jurisprudential ground for passing the buck to Parliament  should be assumed by some persons as a signal to Parliament to proceed.

Thus any attempt by Parliament to venture into this area will inevitably come back to the Supreme Court, where a later generation of judges will have to look for guidance in the present judgment of the Constitutional Bench. Hopefully, the myopic concession of the Board, that although the court cannot interfere in the matter yet Parliament can legislate to obliterate a 1,400-year-old matter of faith will not restrict their options.

Ultimately, the court will have to decide if equality is uniformity or diversity too is desirable. Triple talaq was obviously not a deserving test for that proposition because of its inherent odious nature and its questionable pedigree.

It is, indeed, important that we retain a rational perspective on the entire affair, keeping our sights focused on the then Chief Justices beaconthat rationality and faith cannot be tested against each other but must instead be kept in a careful balance in our society.

Barely days after the Supreme Court judgment came the verdict in the prolonged trial of Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim of Dera Sacha Sauda. The mayhem that was unleashed by his devotees, as indeed the dark stories that came tumbling out in the media, were a sharp reminder that the rule of law, based essentially on reason, has great challenges in the hysteria of the faithful.

The age of reason still has a long way to go before it can be said to be universally accepted in our land where the cults of modern-day demi-gods continue to spread their tentacles and political leaders, too, are generously borrowing from their style and substance. Morality seems under threat from a combination of a return to the past and rushing towards postmodern, permissive social mores.

For people who believe that Indias problems arise from the backward mentality of its Muslim population (as though Pakistan does not have any problems!), the Not For Commercial Use triple talaq 154 judgment came as a vindication of their unsuccessful battle in Shah Bano some thirty years ago.

It is interesting that the Board, as indeed Muslim scholars, seldom attempt to explain that Islam is followed in India in a unique manner, in that the criminal dimension of Shariah has never been applied and many practices are made subject to the general law of the land without any protest from Muslims. Although polygamy remains lawful (subject, of course, to strict conditions), government regulations prohibiting polygamy for civil servants has quietly been accepted by Muslims.

Similarly, restrictions on cow slaughter have been widely accepted across the country. It is another matter that the Supreme Court has not upheld the ban on the footing of faith and made strenuous efforts to justify it on the Directive Principles ground of agriculture. Furthermore, in interpreting or applying Shariah, there has been little inclination to open the Pandoras box of conflict of laws given that the four schools of Shariah differ on important aspects, as indeed Hanafi and Maliki do on triple talaq. It seems that there are no rules to decide whether the rule of reason to be applied in the case of parties of different schools would weigh in favour of the maslaq of the plaintiff or the defendant. The Muslim Marriage Dissolution Act, 1939 attempted such an exercise.
Hyderabad: Superstar Shah Rukh Khan may have found many admirers across the globe, but his latest fan has created the flutter. Meet Sophia, the two-year-old robot, who feels for the King of Bollywood as much as his human fans do.

Sophia, the first humanoid created in 2015 by Hong Kong-based Hanson Robotics, was in Hyderabad for a three-day World Congress for Information Technology where she addressed the audience as a guest speaker.

Sophia won several hearts when she expressed her fandom for Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan. While former US President Barak Obama had drawn a loud cheer from the audience when he quoted SRKs Senorita dialogue at his Siri Fort address two years ago, the humanoids reference to the star left many awestruck.

Not just that, Sophia also said that her perfect date would be in space. Talking about the Bitcoin, the robot said that she cannot invest in the popular cryptocurrency as she was only two-years-old, which is not a legal age to open an account.

Answering a question on the possibility of separate rules for robots, Sophia, who is worlds first humanoid to get a citizenship, said, Don't need different rules or special privileges. I would like to use my citizenship to speak out for the rights of women. The robot has a Saudi Arabian citizenship.

The robot was also asked about her previous statement on killing human race, to which she replied, I was a lot younger and did not know what it meant. I was told humans have a great sense of humour. I guess my joke bombed.

During the event, David Hanson, the creator of Sophia, said, The idea is not to fear technology but to find ways to use it in a constructive and positive manner.
Hyderabad: Hyderabad police have sent a notice to the director of the upcoming Malayalam film "Oru Adaar Love", seeking his reply in a case lodged against him for 'hurting religious sentiments'.

Some local persons had lodged a complaint that lyrics of the song `Manikya Malaraya poovi' in the Omar Lulu-directed film hurt the sentiments of Muslims. Police registered a case against Omar Lulu on February 14 under section 295A of the IPC (hurting religious sentiments).

Two days ago, a notice was issued to the director under section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, seeking his reply within 15 days, a police officer said. Under the section, a police officer can call a person for questioning with regard to a case under investigation.

"As part of the investigation, a notice has been sent to the director seeking his reply," Assistant Commissioner of Police (Falaknuma division) Syed Fayaz told PTI today.

A clip from the song, featuring Priya Prakash Varrier, has gone viral on social media.

Police had earlier said they would also consult Muslim clerics for the purpose of probe. On February 15, city-based Islamic seminary Jamia Nizamiahad issued a 'fatwa', demanding that government remove the song, following a complaint alleging that it hurt Muslim sentiments.
Priyanka Chopra has once again landed in big trouble over her attire after some members of the Congress party slammed the actor for wearing a "frock" in a calendar launched by the Assam Tourism Development Corporation.

In the State Assembly on Monday, Congress MLAs Nandita Das and Rupjyoti Kurmi criticised the Quantico star, who is also the brand ambassador for Assam Tourism, for wearing a revealing outfit in the photos and said her pictures "were not sober at all", according to a report in Deccan Chronicle.

Kurmi said, "The government should preserve the respect of the Assamese society. Frock is not an Assamese attire and the calendar pictures were not sober at all. The government should have known how to preserve the prestige of the Assamese society, instead, they could have used the traditional mekhela sador. This is the reason we have protested against the calendar. There are a lot of talented Assamese actors, the government should look into this and accordingly appoint one.

However, Chairman of Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC), Jayanta Malla Baruah, continued to defend the calendar and told a Guwahati-based weekly, G Plus, The calendar was made to promote Assam internationally. It has also been sent to prominent international tour operators and dignitaries."

He further added that Priyanka's presence in the calendar has not tarnished the reputation of the state in any way, saying, Priyanka Chopra is an international figure and her presentation in the calendar has not diminished Assams culture in any way."
Within days of the now infamous Nirav Modi case becoming public, I was tagged on Twitter by several people wanting to know if blockchain could have prevented it from happening. This is a large question that cant be addressed in 140 or even 280 characters. Nevertheless, the idea is beginning to gather force, and little soundbites in this direction are beginning to be heard.

In a country like India, where large businesses routinely default on loans to public banks, is there a blockchain silver bullet?

It all depends on what you mean by blockchain. There is blockchain with a small b, which should really be called Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT). This can be used to beef-up interbank protocols and may have ensured slightly higher security standards. But such DLT solutions would eventually also have been circumvented by Nirav Modis accomplices inside and outside PNB Bank because the failure here was just not at the level of technology  it had to do with the design of the system of trust through which the institution operated. While redesigning trust does have something to do with blockchain, it comes into play at a much larger and systemic level.

Kevin Werbach, in his seminal piece Trust but Verify, speaks of three different architectures of trust.

The first runs horizontally: I buy you a coffee, you buy me a soft drink. I buy you a beer, and you buy me a sandwich. We know each other well enough to know that our accounts will always be even. This form of trust can sometimes work quite well, even for large amounts. This has been seen in India among mercantile families and even in the case of cross-regional and trans-national informal settlement systems called hawala.

The second runs vertically: You present a cheque from a known and respected organization like PNB, which has a governmental banking license and ask me to honour it. I do so because I trust PNB and, moreover, I know that PNB enjoys both recognition and regulation by the State and this gives me even greater confidence in trusting their cheque.

Now consider what happens when the first form of horizontal trust intersects with the second form of vertical trust: Senior bankers see Nirav Modi hobnobbing with the Prime Minister in Davos and it is generally assumed that he has close linkages with the current government. He receives special attention and care when in the hands of senior banking officials. Nothing very noteworthy is going on here. Just well-known and well-placed members of society carrying on in their usual ways to bring growth and prosperity for all. All of this, up until the point when someone abuses their horizontal and vertical forms of trust. More particularly, this particular someone leverages their horizontal trust to compromise the vertical architectures of trust that organise the institutions of society.

Trust is a human, social, intersubjective phenomenon. You trust people and everything works fine until those rare cases where it doesnt. In such cases, you need enforcement and punitive action, which in Indias case is often weak. Those perceived to be close to the government of the day already seem to know the most opportune moment to flee the country.

The big-B Blockchain paradigm is not about increased technical security for banks whose risk exposure is poorly managed by their senior officials. It is about assuming that anyone who can take advantage of a poorly designed system will do so, and therefore the system must always be able to withstand such attacks. It is about moving away from trusted intermediaries, introductions, and assumed trustworthiness towards the automatic and market enforcement of transparent rules regardless of who you are and whom you know. According to Werbach, this is the third large paradigm of trust, what he calls trustless trust.

In trustless systems, many distributed participants in a network work together to arrive at a consensus for a given case  in a public and transparent manner  often without even knowing the actual identity of the individuals affected by the given case. This trend is broadly called decentralisation, and it represents an organizational and technical paradigm which is reshaping how we create value around the world.

Decentralised organisations operate according to a consensus algorithm that prevents anyone from exerting undue influence or subjective judgement. These new kinds of organisations promise to work more efficiently, more accurately, and with more skin-in-the-game than existing structures. In my own work with accelerator program Startereum, for example, I am involved with building a distributed means for a large number of people to discover and onboard value creating engines of growth on to our platform.

Centralised institutions of all kinds, including banks, financial service companies, and investment channels will soon be under increased competitive pressure from new alternative institutions that work in a decentralised manner. These new alternatives might have hundreds and thousands of hands coming together online to transparently approve normal business or financial transactions. Decentralised financial systems will prove resistant to the kinds of losses that PNB has suddenly shown. Incumbent institutions, therefore, will either reorganise as trustless versions of their earlier incarnations or find it harder to compete.

This is the way in which the Blockchain paradigm can eliminate big-ticket coordinated corruption between highly networked individuals and banks.

(Aditya Dev Sood is one of the founders of accelerator program Startereum  a platform and community dedicated to curation, co-creation and funding of scalable ventures. Views are personal.)
New Delhi: Utter chaos unfolded inside the secretariat here on Tuesday as Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain was mobbed by over a hundred officials and staff, hours after Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash was allegedly manhandled at the chief minister's residence.

Officials and staff of the Delhi government raised slogans and prevented Hussain from taking the elevator to his 6th floor office at the secretariat this afternoon.

Later, police had to escort the minister to his office, sources said.

About the incident, Hussain said, "I don't know whether they were government employees, but I will identify them."

The minister later filed a complaint with the IP Estate Police Station alleging that he was assaulted. The AAP government also released a video showing Hussain being roughed up while his APA Himanshu Singh thrashed by a section of the agitating staff.

However, Deepak Bharadwaj, general secretary of the Delhi Government Employees Association, refuted the allegations and claimed that the minister arrived when sloganeering was going on but nobody manhandled him.

Hundreds of government officials gathered at the second floor of the Delhi Secretariat, demanding that FIR be lodged against AAP MLAs, who allegedly assaulted the chief secretary.

Meanwhile, senior Aam Aadmi Party leaders, including Asish Khetan and Saurabh Bhardwaj, later came together to say that the Delhi government is being threatened by government officials and are often held at ransom.

The AAP leaders made these counter allegations while addressing a press conference after Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash claimed that he has been manhandled by a few AAP MLAs at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence on Monday. Prakash raised a complaint with LG Anil Baijal while Home Minister Rajnath Singh termed the incident as unfortunate and sought a report.

The people of Delhi are not ready to be held at ransom. The Delhi government is being threatened every day for not falling in line. I was heckled at the Delhi Secretariat. Can you imagine this happening to ministers of other state governments at their secretariats? asked Khetan at the media address on Tuesday.

While Anshu Prakash has claimed that he was manhandled by AAP leaders Ajay Dutt and Prakash Jharwal, the party leaders presented a very different picture and said the chief secretary refused to answer questions on ration distribution and said that he was answerable only to LG Anil Baijal.

AAP leader Atishi Marlena added, "You can clearly see in the CCTV footage that our leaders are pleading with the secretary with folded hands to come back to the meeting."

About 2.5 lakh families were deprived of rations last month due to faulty implementation of Aadhaar. MLAs were under tremendous pressure from public. There was a meeting of MLAs at the CMs residence. The Chief Secretary refused to answer questions saying that he was answerable only to the LG and not to MLAs and CM. He even used bad language against some MLAs and left without answering any questions."

Khetan said, It was a riot like situation at the Secretariat. A crowd had gathered who became violent and even raised slogans, we don't know who these people were. Everything has been recorded on CCTV and things will be clear from the footage. Police were mute spectators during the ruckus while the Delhi Secretariat is one of the most secure places.

He added, Delhi Police officials were present at the spot when the incident took place and even Imran Hussain and I were attacked. If the Home Minister has already decided who is the guilty party then why hold the inquiry at all? This is very unfortunate.

I am deeply pained by the happenings involving the Chief Secretary of the Delhi Government. The civil servants should be allowed to work with dignity and without fear.  Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) February 20, 2018

The AAP leader further added that Home Minister Rajnath Singhs office has turned down his request to meet Singh. He said, The Home Minister should have listened to both sides of the story before making a decision.

The Aam Aadmi Party leaders clarified that there were no fights at the CM's residence and Saurabh Bhardwaj said, "It is wrong to state that the secretary was manhandled as everything has been recorded in CCTVs".
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash on Tuesday met Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and registered a complaint against two ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs for allegedly assaulting him. Prakash alleged that he was assaulted by Ajay Dutt and Prakash Jharwal at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals residence on Monday evening.

The Chief Ministers office has denied the allegations and said the incident never took place. Delhi CM office strongly denies allegations by the Chief Secretary. There was no incident of assault or attempted assault by any AAP MLAs, a statement from Kejriwals office said.

The IAS officers body condemned the appalling and shocking physical assault. We condemn and protest the physical assault by MLAs on Chief Secretary in CMs residence in presence and with consent of CM & Deputy CM. The appalling and shocking physical assault meted out to the Head of the Administration of Delhi, in the form of blows on the head, amounting to threat to life and physical safety, is deplorable, said a statement by the IAS Association of Delhi.

The IAS association said officers will continue to work but will not attend any meeting beyond office hours, outside office premises, until effective action is taken against those responsible for the incident.

Home minister Rajnath Singh said he has sought a report on the incident from Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Anil Baijal and assured the IAS officers body that justice will be done in the case.

A delegation of IAS DANICS & Subordinate Services of Delhi Government met me today (Tuesday) and apprised me of the prevailing situation. I am deeply pained by the happenings involving the Chief Secretary of the Delhi Government. The civil servants should be allowed to work with dignity and without fear, he tweeted.

AAP leader Atishi Marlena presented a different picture of what transpired at on Monday. About 2.5 lakh families were deprived of rations last month due to faulty implementation of Aadhaar. MLAs were under tremendous pressure from public. There was a meeting of MLAs at the CMs residence. The Chief Secretary refused to answer questions saying that he was answerable only to the LG and not to MLAs and CM. He even used bad language against some MLAs and left without answering any questions. Moreover, it is false information that the meeting and the argument was about TV ads. The entire discussion was on how large number of families were not getting

ration, he said.

She added that Prakashs allegations are ludicrous. Obviously, he is doing it at the BJPs behest. The BJP has stooped very low in disrupting governance in Delhi through the LG and officers. If the Chief Secretary can make such wild allegations, one can imagine the kind of obstacles that are being created in AAP governments work by BJP through the officers, she added.

However, the AAPs political opponents have hit out at the ruling party and demanded that the action be taken against the errant MLAs.

Delhi BJP leader and MLA OP Sharma said his advice to the Chief Secretary would be to file an official complaint. He (Anshu Prakash) should go to the Delhi Police and file an FIR against the MLAs. This is absolutely unacceptable in a democracy, Sharma said.

Delhi Congress Vice-President Sharmistha Mukherjee also attacked the AAP and said, In a democracy, we expect that all disputes will be solved by dialogue. Violence against anyone, including a senior bureaucrat, is not the way to resolve anything. There should be a thorough probe into this and if the Chief Secretarys complaint is found to be true, the MLAs should receive tough punishment.

Kapil Mishra, rebel AAP MLA and former Minister in the Kejriwal cabinet, said, This has never happened in the history of India. As an MLA, I am ashamed that this incident has taken place.
New Delhi: The BJP today demanded Arvind Kejriwal's resignation over alleged manhandling of the Delhi chief secretary by a few ruling AAP MLAs, while the Congress termed the incident an "administrative and constitutional crisis", and sought an apology from the chief minister.

The chief minister's office, however, has dismissed the accusation of Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash being assaulted last night as "bizarre and baseless". Describing the last night's alleged incident in presence of Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia at the former's residence "an act of Urban Naxalism", Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari sought Kejriwal's resignation, a high-level inquiry against him and suspension of the legislators concerned.

"ArvindKejriwal and his Goon MLAs misbehaved and threatened the Chief secretary of NCT Delhi Government last night... another shameful act of @AamAadmiParty Goons... an act of Urban Naxalism... #UrbanNaxaliteKejriwal must Resign (sic)," he tweeted.

Echoing his sentiments, a senior BJP leader claimed that in total, nine AAP MLAs were present at the chief minister's residence when Prakash was assaulted. "They represent the people of Delhi but are nothing short of Urban Naxalites. How utterly disgusting behaviour!" he said.

Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken launched a scathing attack on the AAP government, accusing it of being a complete failure and demanded that Chief Minister Kejriwal apologises for this "hooliganism".

Kejriwal should apologise for this hooliganism which took place before him-AAP Govt is unable to deliver-Beating of Chief Secretary by MLAs in front of CM is another low & is aimed to divert attention from Govt failures! AAP does not know Governance and has failed miserably (sic)," Maken said in a tweet.

Senior Congress leader J P Agarwal sought L-G's intervention and said that an all-party meeting should be called in this regard. "We have run Delhi government for 15 years and never has there been such a problem. One should not stoop to such level," he said.
Mendipathar (Meghalaya): Congress president Rahul Gandhi, on his second visit to poll-bound Meghalaya, hit out at the BJP-led central government today, alleging that it ''actively" participated in corruption by allowing bank-loan defaulters Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi to escape the country.

Gandhi is on a two-day campaign trail in the north-eastern state till Wednesday with road-shows in Tura and Shillong and a rally in the Jaintia Hills scheduled on the last day of his visit.

The Congress chief also criticised the Centre's offer to beautify the churches and religious institutions in the Christian-majority state and claimed that of late, there had been a ''tremendous increase" in the discrimination towards and humiliation of the north-east people.

"With the Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi scandals, we know that the government not only cannot remove corruption, but it is also actively participating in it," he said.

''This government has, instead of giving hope, security and economic growth, dealt us only with hopelessness, unemployment, fear, hatred and violence,'' he added.

Taking a jibe at the Centre over diamantaire Nirav Modi fleeing the country, Gandhi said, ''I would like to request (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji, on behalf of all of us, to bring back the other Modiji, when he goes on another of his many foreign trips.

''We will all be very grateful as a nation to get our hard-earned money back.''

Continuing his attack against the BJP, the Congress president said, ''I know they (BJP) have lots of money as some of the richest Indians, including perhaps those who have run away with money stolen from Indian banks, are their supporters,'' and urged the tribals of Meghalaya to teach the saffron party ''a lesson'' in the February 27 state Assembly polls.

He hit out at the Union tourism ministry for its offer last month to beautify the churches and religious institutions in Meghalaya and accused the BJP of buying some Congress members too.

Union Tourism Minister K J Alphons had announced a Rs 70-crore project under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme for beautifying the churches and religious institutions of Meghalaya. It was rejected outright by at least two main churches of the state.

''They (BJP) have even bought some of my party members. Now, in their arrogance, they think that they can buy god,'' Gandhi said, adding that churches, temples, gurdwaras and mosques and spirituality were not for sale.

Recounting attacks on Dalits in Uttar Pradesh and on a priest in Madhya Pradesh, he said, "There is a tremendous increase in the instances of discrimination and humiliation with the people from Meghalaya and other north-eastern states in the country.''

He also mentioned the harassment and threats to three Garo youths from their landlady in Delhi because they did not look "Indian enough".

Lauding the work of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, the Congress president said, "He (Sangma) ushered in an era of unprecedented growth and prosperity and by being one of the most hardworking chief ministers in the country, one can see tremendous development here."

Claiming that Meghalaya's growth rate was higher than that of Gujarat, Gandhi said, ''The Congress has overseen the emergence of Meghalaya as the most literate state in India, with the highest ratio of female enrolment in primary schools in the country. Before saying anything against the Meghalaya government, the BJP leaders should remember that Meghalaya's growth rate is higher than (that of) Gujarat's.

He added that strikes and violent activities were a thing of the past in Meghalaya and that there was an atmosphere of peace and stability now in the state.

"This atmosphere of peace and stability has brought development and good governance," the Congress president said, adding that his party's government in the north-eastern state had created a "tremendous" road network and connected itself with the rest of India through the rail network.

"The Tura-Shillong highway is there for everyone to see," he said.

Meghalaya was one of the few states to have a universal health insurance, Gandhi said and added that single mothers were immensely helped by the state government's scheme of providing economic support and assistance to them.

Referring to the ruling BJP-NPF-NPP alliance in neighbouring Manipur, the Congress president accused it of running the state with ''ill-gotten money and power''.

"I promise you that we will not allow a repetition of Manipur in Meghalaya. On behalf of the Congress, I assure you of this.... Every voice in Meghalaya is calling for justice and together, we shall once again form the government in Meghalaya," he said, adding that his party would "resist tooth and nail" any attempt to dilute the traditional system of governance in the north-eastern state.
New Delhi: The Delhi government machinery came to a virtual halt on Tuesday as the alleged assault of chief secretary Anshu Prakash by AAP MLAs sent bureaucrats on a war path against the Arvind Kejriwal-led government, leading to scenes of utter chaos inside the secretariat. Countering the allegations, the AAP government released a video of its minister Imran Hussain being attacked by a mob of officials while he was going to attend a press conference.

IAS officials, protesting against the alleged assault, took out a candle light march from Rajghat and also met home minister Rajnath Singh at his residence, demanding action against the AAP MLAs accused of beating Prakash. They have threatened to go on a strike if their demands were not met. Prakash was also present at the meeting and reiterated that MLAs had rained blows on him after he refused to follow their instructions on publicising the achievements of the AAP government on its three-year anniversary.

The Delhi Police have filed an FIR on a complaint from Prakash under various sections, including 120B (criminal conspiracy), 186 (obstructing a public servant from performing the duty) and 353 (assault on public servant) against AAPs Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan and others.

AAP has denied the ludicrous allegations and accused Prakash of acting at BJPs behest. The incident has snowballed into a major slugfest, with AAP minister Imran Hussain also alleging that he was attacked at the Delhi secretariat by officials who were protesting the alleged assault. Hussain has also filed a police complaint.

In his complaint to Delhi Police, Prakash called the attack on him at Kejriwals residence premeditated. He further alleged that the MLAs also threatened to lock him up in a room all night if he does not release the TV campaign planned for the occasion.

Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash exits after meeting Lt Governor Anil Baijal over his alleged manhandling by an AAP MLA, in New Delhi on Tuesday. (PTI Photo)

Giving his version of what transpired at the CMs residence, Prakash said he was called to the chief ministers house at midnight on Monday despite him expressing his reservations to Kejriwals advisor repeatedly.

He said that when he reached the CMs residence, there were 11 MLAs present there already. The CM told me the MLAs had come to ask questions about the governments publicity programme. One MLA firmly shut the door of the room, he stated.

Prakash said that he explained the officials were bound by the Supreme Court guidelines and cant run any advertisements that are not in consonance with them. At this stage, he said the MLAs started shouting at him and abused him for not doing enough for the publicity of the Delhi government.

One MLA, who I can identify, threatened to lock me up in the room for the entire night unless I agreed to release the TV campaign. A threat was made that I will be implicated in false cases, including under the SC/ST act, he stated.

Then suddenly, MLA Amanatullah Khan and another MLA, without any provocation from my side, started assaulting me and landed several blows on my head and temples with their fists, he said, adding that no one in the room came to his help.

Prakash, demanding strict action against those involved, said he was able to leave the residence with great difficulty.

The Aam Aadmi Party has rubbished the allegations. Presenting a different picture of what transpired on Monday, AAP leader Atishi Marlena said the meeting was called because 2.5 lakh families were deprived of rations last month due to faulty implementation of Aadhaar.

The Chief Secretary refused to answer questions saying that he was answerable only to the LG and not to MLAs and CM. He even used bad language against some MLAs and left without answering any questions. Moreover, it is false information that the meeting and the argument was about TV ads, Marlena said.

Senior party leaders Ashish Khetan and Saurabh Bhardwaj also said that the Delhi government is being threatened by officials and are often held at ransom.

AAP leaders address the media on Tuesday evening. (Image: AAP/Twitter)

The people of Delhi are not ready to be held at ransom. The Delhi government is being threatened every day for not falling in line. I was heckled at the Delhi Secretariat. Can you imagine this happening to ministers of other state governments at their secretariats? asked Khetan at the media address on Tuesday.

The Centre has also gotten involved in the tussle and has asked Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal to submit a report on the incident.

After meeting the Chief Secretary, Rajnath Singh tweeted, I am deeply pained by the happenings involving the Chief Secretary of the Delhi Government. The civil servants should be allowed to work with dignity and without fear.

Speaking to CNN-News18, IAS Association secretary Manisha Saxena said that home minister has assured them of action. "We apprised the home minister of repeated verbal and physical assault against Delhi government staff. Assault on chief secretary is completely unprecedented, we demand action," she said.
Baharampur: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday slammed the BJP for "boasting" about its new party office in Delhi and said a political party should be "humble" in its approach.

''They (BJP) are boasting about inaugurating the world's largest party office. They should be ashamed of it. A political party should be humble in its approach and should not behave arrogantly,'' the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo told a public meeting here.

People do not like to see a political party sitting on crores of rupees, the chief minister said adding that political parties should not be proud of money power as democracy and the voice of the people can never be purchased.

With an area of over 1.70 lakh sq.ft, the new BJP headquarters in Delhi was bigger than the office of any other political party in the world, party president Amit Shah had said yesterday.

The BJP was quick to hit back at Banerjee, saying it had not built the party office by siphoning off public money in the name of chit funds.

''We have built the party office with our own funds. Our ministers did not siphon off public money in the name of chit funds,'' state BJP general secretary Sayantan Basu said.

West Bengal was rocked by chit fund scams a few years back and the names of certain TMC leaders had also figured in those.

Banerjee also accused the BJP-led central government of helping fraudsters swindle public money and alleged that a conspiracy was hatched in this regard ahead of demonetisation in November 2016.

She mocked the central government for asking people to link Aadhaar to their bank accounts while ''some others are running away with crores of rupees. People live in misery, while they (BJP) build grand offices".

It was ''India's misfortune'' that it was being ruled by a party like the BJP, she said.

Referring to the alleged fraud at the Punjab National Bank (PNB), the chief minister said, "If you keep money in banks, it will be taken away. If you dig deeper, you will find out that not only PNB, but any other bank is also being looted. Who gave them (fraudsters) protection -- the government has to answer."

Alleging that the bank fraud was being planned from the time of demonetisation, Banerjee claimed that in some banks selected officials were transferred and was placed in positions in order to facilitate fraudsters.

''What was the central government doing all these days? Instead of giving speeches on television channels and lectures to others it should act,'' she said.

Criticising the Centre over the proposed Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance (FRDI) Bill, Banerjee claimed that with the help of it the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre will take away the depositors' money to bail out banks which were suffering due to huge debts taken by big business houses.

She also alleged that the Centre has announced a health insurance scheme without any allocation and want the states to bear 40 per cent of the cost.

Lauding the developmental schemes of the state government, Banerjee said her government does not indulge in politics of division.

''We do not make false promises. We do not deceive people by putting up false statements on TV,'' she added.
New Delhi: The multi-crore PNB bank fraud and the Rotomac issue is set to rock the second leg of Parliament's Budget Session with the Congress saying it would talk to other like-minded parties to demand answers from the government on the state of the banking sector in the country.

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said his party would not let go of the issues till the government gives a satisfactory response.

The second leg of the Budget Session of Parliament is slated to commence from March 5.

He said the Congress would demand answers from the government not just on the Rs 11,400-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud involving diamond merchant Nirav Modi and the Rotomac fraud issue, but on the credibility of the entire banking sector.

Tewari also termed the purported letter of Nirav Modi to PNB as "full of arrogance", and said it insinuates in it that he would not return the money he owes. This arrogance, he said, comes as if he has an assurance from someone powerful at the helm of affairs that no harm will come to him.

"The second part of the Budget Session is starting and the Congress will talk to other parties which have concern over the country's banking sector and will demand answers from the government on the issue," Tewari told reporters.

"This is only the tip of the iceberg. The banking sector is in serious trouble. The government is trying to obfuscate the facts. They are trying to hide the enormity of the crisis which is afflicting the banking sector," he said, adding that the government needs to come clean on all facts.

"Till the time the government addresses the issue, we will not leave it there," he said, adding all political parties which are hurt by "malgovernance" will come together in Parliament on the issue and ask the government to break its silence.

"You have seen how all political parties got together to meet the President on the issue of probe into CBI judge Loya's death case. Answers will be demanded from the government on these issues in Parliament," the Congress leader said.

Tewari also dared the government to direct banks to come out with details of all their non-performing assets (NPAs) along with the list of defaulters and publish the same.

"We would once again reiterate that Mr Prime Minister and Mr Finance Minister the time has come for the NDA-BJP Government to direct all public and private sector banks to make all details about NPAs and bank frauds public," he said, adding that nothing short of a full and a complete disclosure, will now satisfy this country.

He said the Congress was giving some time to the government to come out with details of the bank scam and "if has a little bit of shame left", it would come out with all details.

The Congress would go to grassroots level to raise the banking fraud issue among the public, Tewari said.

"If the government of India has the courage and conviction, let them release information regarding total NPAs and list of defaulters," the Congress spokesperson said.

On the issue of the Income Tax department serving a notice to the wife of Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi, Tewari said that this was a clear case of political vendetta and asked whether the I-T or ED has questioned the person who made the entries of these loan sanctions.

He also asked whether the government has any knowledge of the whereabouts of Nirav Modi, and alleged that such a letter can be written by a person who has "protection" from the powers-that be in the government.

"Does the Government of India know the location or the whereabouts of Shri Nirav Modi?...Where is this gentleman who is writing these letters?" he asked.

Contending the claims made by Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, Tewari dared him for an open debate on the issue of NPAs during the NDA and the UPA dispensations as also on the state of the economy after the BJP-led government came to power.
Surathkal (Karnataka): BJP President Amit Shah on Tuesday hit out at the Congress for targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his photo with scam-tainted jeweller Nirav Modi and others in Davos, calling it "cheap politics".

"Photographs mean nothing. Even you people are sitting with me and being photographed. If somebody (in the photo) does anything (wrong), will I be linked (to wrongdoing)?" he told reporters in Surathkal.

Taking a jibe at the prime minister following the Punjab National Bank fraud, Congress president Rahul Gandhi had said: "Being seen with the Prime Minister (in a photo at Davos) helped the businessman flee the country."

In another tweet last week, he said: "Guide to Looting India by Nirav MODI. 1. Hug PM Modi 2. Be seen with him in DAVOS Use that clout to: A. Steal 12,000Cr B. Slip out of the country like Mallya, while the Govt looks the other way. From1MODI2another."

Taking exception to Gandhi's swipe, Shah retorted: "What kind of talk is this? In public life, if someone is at a function, and this type of photo (is shot) and made an issue, it is cheap politics."

"It (the talk of Nirav Modi's alleged proximity to the prime minister) is completely baseless," he said.

Nirav Modi was present at the World Economic Forum (WEF) meet in Switzerland's Davos which was also attended by the prime minister. TV news channels had shown a photograph of Modi with Indian business leaders, including Nirav Modi, clicked in Davos.

Shah asserted that the government had taken "strict action" in the bank fraud case.

He said assets worth more than Rs 5,000 crore were seized within three days of the fraud coming to light, and that investigation was on.

Replying to a question about the prime minister's office receiving a complaint against Nirav Modi, Shah said, "In January or February, I don't remember... an FIR was registered against Nirav Modi by the bank and this is the factual position."

Nirav Modi has been accused by central government agencies of defrauding the Punjab National Bank and others of Rs 11,384 crore. He is said to be currently in the US.

The BJP president is on a three-day tour of the coastal Dakshina and Uttara Kannada districts in poll-bound Karnataka.
Bengaluru: The grand old man of Karnataka politics and Janata Dal (Secular) supremo H D Deve Gowda has stunned the ruling Congress and the main opposition BJP by declaring candidates for 126 Assembly seats last Saturday. The JDS is known for delaying the announcement of candidates till the last minute and Gowda has changed that this time.

He has also tied up with Mayawatis BSP and Sharad Pawars NCP. Of the remaining 98 seats, Gowda will share 40 with the BSP and the NCP. The names of the JDS candidates for 58 constituencies will be announced soon, he said. Karnataka Assembly has 224 seats.

A former Prime Minister and Chief Minister, 84-year-old Gowda claim that this is going to be his last election and hopes that the people of Karnataka will vote for the JDS. He has been a member of the Assembly or Parliament for the past 56 years and has won 14 elections (seven Assembly and seven Parliament polls). A rare feat he shares with former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

Speaking to News18 about Karnataka Assembly elections, Gowda said that his party was in the fray to win on its own and not to play second fiddle to the Congress or the BJP. Firmly ruling out a post-poll alliance with either of the two national parties in the event of a hung Assembly, he said, Siddaramaiah is a power hungry politician. He will go even with the BJP. But we will sit in the opposition.

You are the first one to declare candidates even before the Election Commission comes out with the poll schedule. What prompted you to do this? Because JDS is not known for such things?

H D Deve Gowda  This time the situation is different. This election is extremely important for us and the people of Karnataka. We are fighting two cash-rich parties  the Congress and the BJP. We are a poor party. We cant fight their money and muscle power. Not even their propaganda. We are going to fight methodically. We are ready with our strategy. One more thing is coming together of non-Congress and non-BJP parties. To prevent splitting of these votes, I have tied up with the BSP and the NCP. This time we are a formidable force. Nobody can take us lightly.

Do you think that BSP will get you Dalit votes?

Certainly. Mayawati is a very tall Dalit leader in India today. She is their icon. She happily agreed to be our partner in the fight against two corrupt powerful parties. Both the Congress and the BJP are anti-Dalit parties and use them as vote bank during elections. Dalits are happy with our alliance. Over eight lakh people attended our joint rally last week. We are organising one more mega joint rally in MumbaiKarnataka region. The BSP will open its account in Karnataka this time.

Your critics say you have tied up with Mayawati to eat into Congress votes which may actually help the BJP?

Nonsense. I never do such things. Both are our political rivals. I maintain equidistance from both. Why should we help the BJP? For what?

In case, the election throws up a hung Assembly like 2004, will you go with one of the two parties?

Never. We are here to win on our own strength. If we get a fractured mandate, we will sit in the opposition. Worse we may opt for fresh polls as my son and our CM candidate H D Kumaraswamy has already said. We will never go with the Congress or the BJP. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah might go even with the BJP, if he cant get the majority. He is a power-hungry politician. He will do anything for power. He has no principles in life. But I am not like him.

But, you always change your stand after the election? It has happened in the past.

This time is different. Do you think that Mayawati and Sharad Pawar will go with the BJP? No way. I am also against it.

Isnt Siddaramaiah your one time blue-eyed boy?

Yes, he is. I made him what he is today. I made him deputy chief minister, not once, twice. He betrayed me later. He joined the Congress which he had earlier abused in the filthiest language. People know everything. His government is the most corrupt and the dirtiest in the history of Karnataka. He will be defeated this time. He is power drunk and thinks that he can win. But the people are against him.

How is your relationship the Congress high command? Now that Rahul Gandhi is the president.

I have nothing to do with the Congress. I maintain a cordial relationship with all. Politics is different.

What about the BJP? Do they have a chance?

The BJP has no chance. They are also corrupt. The five-year BJP rule was horrible. They looted the state with impunity. Did not their CM face Yeddyurappa go to jail for corruption? That too for taking a bribe in cheque. People dont trust the BJP. My party made Yeddyurappa deputy CM. He used that to become CM later. We have already apologised to the people for going with the BJP.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leading the campaign this time. What do you have to say about this?

He is their tallest leader as of now. Naturally, he leads the campaign. But his popularity is also on the wane. They won Gujarat with a great difficulty and were decimated in Rajasthan by-polls. Too many scams and the economic crisis have also compounded their problems. If you ask me every Prime Minister has contributed to the growth of India. That includes me too. India has not been built in a day or two.

In the past, political polarisation started with Karnataka. Is it a sign of third front parties coming together once again ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections?

To fight the Congress and the BJP, we must come together. Together we have 40% votes in the country. Reemergence of the third front is a good thing. You can call it whatever third front or force etc.

You are now 84 years old and have been a member of state Assembly or Parliament continuously for the past 56 years. Will you contest again in 2019?

My health is not permitting me to travel a lot and address too many public meetings. My life is full of struggle. I have gone through a lot of suffering in my political life. I personally dont want to contest again.
In 1975, when veteran Tamil film director late K.Balachander gave Rajinikanth his first entry into the film world, he cast him as a villain for a role that lasted a few seconds in the climax of the film Apoorva Ragangal. The hero in that film was Kamal Haasan.

The two starred in a few movies together after that, like '16 Vayathinile', and in all of them Kamal Haasan was the lead actor and Rajinikanth was in the supporting cast as villain. They starred together only till Rajinikanth broke through as a hero, lead actor and then superstar.

Since then they never starred together, instead there was a phase of perceived competition, in the 1980s, and a quest to become the bigger star. Eventually, Rajinikanth became the undisputed superstar of Tamil cinema and Kamal Haasan had to be content with the title of being the superior actor.

All through, they had projected an image of friendship at a personal level, at least in public, and shared kind praises for the other, especially Rajinikanth.

This is just a brief recollection of the cinematic journey of two ageing stars now trying to write a political script. Neither has had any experience in electoral politics or administration, but in 2018 they want to become the messiahs of change in Tamil Nadu.

Firstly, can they come together? It is highly unlikely because their image as superheroes of Tamil cinema will ensure that neither can work under the shadow of the other. Politics may be an art of dealing with equals, but political parties and even alliances are always about one lead partner and smaller players. Even seasoned politicians, driven by desperate compulsions, find it impossible to stick together.

Rajninikanth is clearly the more popular amongst the two and Kamal Haasan would not accept a supporting role. End of discussion. This is why it seems unlikely that the two can come together.

Secondly, if a miracle brings them together, they may turn into a cinematicpolitical satire and lose credibility as a serious political force. As things stand, the two hardly seem to have made a measurable impact. They have not even spelt out their ideological positions.

Rajinikanth speaks of spiritual politics and Kamal Haasan, in several of his films, has questioned religion and conventional spiritualism. They are both busy with upcoming releases and have hardly spent time with masses and working on grass root politics.

In other words, though there is still no clarity on what they represent, they seem poles apart. They are both fishing for political space in the midst of the political vacuum in the state after the demise of J.Jayalalithaa, but its not certain if either will make an impact.

Thirdly, if they do not come together who does it benefit? The obvious answer would be the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. In the absence of J.Jayalalithaa and her AIADMK in disarray, it is that space that Rajinikanth or Kamal Haasan or any other political force will have to occupy. If there is a split in that space, it will only strengthen the DMK.

Given that both Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth would get support from a section of the electorate that wants a fresh face in Tamil Nadu politics, the two of them contesting for that space separately would only make each other weaker.

A hitherto unproven conspiracy theory in the state is that while the BJP seems to be tacitly supporting Rajinikanth, the DMK may tacitly support Kamal Haasan as a counter to dent Rajnikanths chances. There is no evidence to substantiate such a political calculation, but it cannot be discarded completely either.

There is also a misplaced belief among some political observers that popularity in cinema translates into political success in Tamil, and to an extent Telugu politics. This belief is absurd.

While several stars have attempted a political entry in Tamil Nadu, only two have had phenomenal success  M.G.Ramachandran (MGR) and J.Jayalalithaa. M.G.R had a long history in the Dravidian politics before he launched his own political party.

He was the treasurer of the DMK and after the demise of the partys founder C.N.Annadurai, he had to leave the party due to a rift with M.Karunanidhi, who took charge as Chief Minister and president of the DMK.

M.G.R launched the AIADMK and it was a mix of his popularity as a star, acumen as a politician and the fact that he was perceived as a victim of Karunanidhis politics that led to the success of the party. He wasnt an instant one election politician.

Jayayalaithaa was a Rajya Sabha MP and propaganda secretary of the AIADMK under M.G.R. She had to fight a severe, even brutal, battle to gain control of the party and emerged Chief Minister only in an alliance with the Congress in the immediate aftermath of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination.

This is to reiterate that the two actors emerging successful in politics had more to do with their political experience and circumstances rather than their popularity as actors alone.

Veteran actor Sivaji Ganesan attempted a political entry, but failed. So have a new generation stars like Vijayakanth. They have a small presence, but are nowhere close to rewriting the script in the state.

Even in Telugu politics, N.T.Rama Rao swept the state as the custodian of Telugu pride. In 1983, NTR won after the Congress high command dismissed a series of its Chief Ministers and a perceived insult to Telugu pride, not because his popularity as a star turned into electoral success.

Since then there are no star political stories. Chiranjeevi, despite his popularity and crowd appeal, failed to make a major impact and that is a case in point.

In Tamil Nadu, every election season sees a few stars attempting a political rise, but they fade soon after an election ends. Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan are big stars, but they are yet to prove their mettle and it is clearly each one for his own in this race.

This is something like a Superman versus Batman political script with the mighty Thor and Odin (M.Karunanidhi and his son M.K.Stalin) watching the plot unfold!

(TM Veeraraghav is a senior journalist. Views are personal.)
New Delhi: With no compromise in sight, the persisting impasse within the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) is increasingly worrying the Rashtriya Sawayamsewak Sangh (RSS) as it works hard to avoid divisions in the organisation.

The RSS has not been able to bring about a rapprochement on the leadership issues in the VHP, which were triggered two months back at the Bhubaneshwar executive.

The larger worry for the RSS is that VHP  along with the BJP  is the only other Sangh affiliate with a large mass base. Such leadership issues raise fundamental questions in an organisation which gives precedence to the institution than an individual, says an RSS leader.

In the Bhubaneshwar executive of the VHP in December, matters came to head in presence of RSS second-in-command Bhaiyyaji Joshi. The RSS was apparently backing former Himachal Pradesh governor VS Kokje for the top post, while International Working President Pravin Togadia insisted on division.

The result of the voting shocked the RSS top brass. Togadia could muster 23 votes as compared to three for the RSS-backed candidate. 10 members abstained. In a huff, it was declared that the current team would continue till the elections are officially held later this year, said another Sangh leader.

In fact, sources say that Togadia had prior information about his removal. Ahead of the meeting, he had a conversation in this regard with Bhaiyyaji Joshi in Orissa.

But RSS thought that it would be able to oversee a change in VHP leadership without much resistance. What the Sangh did not take into consideration is that leaders working in mass based organisations develop a following of their own, said a senior RSS leader.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad, although established in mid-sixties, gained traction two decades later when the RSS handed over the leadership to its then prant pracharak of Himachal Pradesh, Ashok Singhal. Senior RSS leader Modopant Pingle was also deputed to oversee its proliferation in the aftermath of Meenakshipuram Conversions of Dalits to Islam.

Sighal led the VHP during Ram Temple movement, and until the time he was around, his writ ran large in the organisation. After Singhals death, Togadia is seen to be the tallest leader within.

But Togadia, who hails from Gujarat, over the years has had his share of run-ins with the current leadership in the BJP.

With fourteen months left for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the decision to replace Togadia came as the Supreme Court also began hearing the Ayodhya title suit.

Togadia was asked by the RSS to manage the Hindu-Helpline, aimed at helping members of the community in cases of emergencies. The showdown in Bhubaneshwar was a message from the Togadia camp about their support base within, says an RSS leader aware of the developments.

The RSS annual general body meeting is slated to be held in Nagpur this year. Every third year, RSS in the Akhil Bhartiya Pratinidhi Sabha allocates work to pracharaks. The VHP issue may be taken up after the Sangh settles down after the ABPS, slated for the second week of March.
Sony Corp said on Tuesday it would become the latest blue-chip firm to jockey for position in Japan's taxi and ride-hailing market, with plans for a joint venture to develop an artificial intelligence-based hailing system. Japan is seen as a potentially lucrative ride-hailing market, with regulators under pressure to ease stringent rules.

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Currently, non-professional drivers are barred from offering taxi services on safety grounds, and ride-hailing companies are limited to services that "match" users to existing taxi fleets via mobile platforms. Sony plans to build the AI-based hailing platform with Daiwa Motor Transportation and five other domestic taxi firms.

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This month, SoftBank Group Corp and China's Didi Chuxing said they would roll out a venture in Japan this year to provide matching services. Toyota Motor Corp has said it will take a stake in taxi-hailing service JapanTaxi, set up by Japan's largest taxi firm, Nihon Kotsu. Uber's new chief executive, Dara Khosrowshahi, is in Tokyo meeting regulators on his first visit to the region in post.

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Mumbai/New York, 20th February 2018: Fast Company today announced its annual ranking of the worlds 50 Most Innovative Companies (MIC) for 2018, honouring leading enterprises and rising newcomers that exemplify the best in business and innovation. Reliance Jio, Indias premier mobile and digital services provider earned the number 17 spot on the global list and also ranks at number one for Most Innovative Companies in India. Reliance Jio has been at the forefront of technology and innovation bringing transformational changes to the Indian digital services space and propelling India into global leadership in the digital economy. With their eco-system comprising of a network, devices, applications and content, Jio has revolutionized the Indian telecom landscape, becoming the highest quality and most affordable data market in the world.

Since the launch of Jio, our mission has been bold yet simple: to make broadband technology affordable and accessible to every person in India, stated Akash Ambani, Director, Reliance Jio. We have sought nothing less than a complete transformation of the Indian telecom sector, fueled by our commitment to bring the best products, services and value to our customers, and continuous innovation plays a major role in delivering on that promise.

Jio joins the list of other leading global companies such as Apple, Netflix, Tencent, Amazon, Spotify and many others. The 50 Most Innovative Companies were curated from Fast Company's Top 10 lists, which recognize pioneering companies across 36 categories, from artificial intelligence to wellness. More than three dozen Fast Company editors, reporters, and contributors surveyed thousands of companiesmany of which were identified by a new MIC submission processto create these lists. Most Innovative Companies is Fast Companys signature franchise and one of its most highly anticipated editorial efforts of the year. It provides both a snapshot and a roadmap for the future of innovation across the most dynamic sectors of the economy. This years MIC list is an inspiring and insightful window into how many companies have embraced innovation and are working to make meaningful change, said Fast Company deputy editor David Lidsky, who oversaw the issue with senior editor Amy Farley.

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(Disclaimer: News18.com is part of Network18 Media & Investment Limited which is owned by Reliance Industries Limited)
Much to our expectations and surprise as well Xiaomi launched the MiTv 4 in India at a price point fo Rs 39,999. Now we had been eagerly waiting for Xiaomi to launch their Mi TV in India for quite some time, and the Chinese tech company has finally obliged. The Xiaomi MiTV 4 is a 55-inch LED TV that promises to deliver on all your expectations of a budget TV that's also smart as well as a looker. We have been using the Mi TV 4 for a while now and before it goes on sale on February 22, 2018, on Mi.com and Xiaomi's online partners, we get you our review of Xiaomi's first TV offering in India.

What's Cool?

The Xiaomi Mi TV 4 is an LED smart TV and is measured at 55-inch. This is the only model that'll go on sale first by Xiaomi and we are hoping that they will launch more. As expected be sure that you are all set on Feb 22 for its online sale as this one is also expected to run out as fast as Xiaomi phones do whenever they are launched in India. First look at the Mi TV 4 will leave you in awe of it, you won't believe that a TV can also be nearly bezel-less and that too at a price point of Rs 39,999. The Mi TV 4 boasts of a frameless design and the top of this TV's panel is just 4.9mm thin. That's like paper thin in TV territory. As soon as you turn it on, the TV's patchwall designed UI greets you and makes you feel at home. It's as simple to operate as your smartphone. The icons on display are big and will guide you to choose the right option that you would love to watch. The 55-inch panel is also capable of delivering a 4K HDR cinematic experience and watching Wonderwoman on it again was as good as watching it in the theatre all over again. Choosing titles is also very easy and intuitive on the Xiaomi Mi TV 4 and the Amlogic 64-bit Quad-core processor powering it, does the job really well. The Mi TV 4 also comes with 2GB RAM and 8GB of inbuilt storage (Wait till we tell you why you need it). For connectivity, the Mi TV 4 comes with 3 HDMI ports for your DTH box, a PlayStation and even your Laptop if need be. There are also two USB ports on the Mi Tv 4 and the wireless connectivity is one of the best that we have seen on budget TV's in India. What's more is that the Mi Tv 4 will provide you over 5 lakh hours of content and if you are the one to buy it in the first three months, you'll get a free subscription to Hungama and SonyLIV. Xiaomi is also including the IR blaster adapter for early buyers that also help the Xiaomi Mi TV 4 to connect with your Set-Top Box and help you use only one remote for your convenience. There is also a universal search on the MI TV 4 that helps you find content across all online as well as on your STB.

One of the best things about the Xiaomi Mi TV 4 is the remote that comes with it. It's one of the easiest remote that you'll ever use and also is something that you'll get time to get accustomed as well. The Mi Tv 4's remote is inspired by Apple TV's remote and is made of plastic but it does the job really well. The minimal button design makes it easily one of the most intuitive remote not only in the budget TV space but also if you consider a Samsung's or an LG TV's remote. The picture quality on the MI TV 4 is also brilliant and if you are into detailing the contrasts and the true blacks are one of the finest on this TV and even comparable if not better to the bigwigs like Samsung and LG in the TV space. Talk about audio, the Mi TV 4 is capable of Dolby + DTS Cinema audio quality and the sound is distortion free and the TV also gives you various presets as well as custom audio profiles as per your liking. All in all the Xiaomi Mi TV 4 is a Smart TV that one would like to own in 2018 simply because in that price point you hardly will get a TV with a company name as strong as Xioami in India right now.

What's Not So Cool?

The Mi TV 4 does not come with Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. So what do you have to do if you don't want the only 3-month free subscription to SonyLIV and Hungama Play? Well, the one USB 3.0 port on the TV will come in handy. You will have to download an APK of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video App and install it on the MI TV via a USB drive, now that is where that 8GB inbuilt storage will come in handy. Now that is a tedious task for a person who's buying a smart TV for Rs 39,999 and will have to let go of the Netflix and Amazon Prime Video subscription. SonyLIV and Hungama Play are not bad for streaming content, but as we said they are not bad, but they are not Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. But if you are using a Fire Stick or an Apple TV you won't need a Netflix or an Amazon Prime inside the TV's interface. Also, it is an Android-based smart TV and we would have liked if they had given Google Play store inbuilt inside the MI TV 4.

Verdict

In 2018 you do even have players like Kodak offering you a smart TV with loads of functionalities at a similar or lesser price point. Also, if you are willing enough to spend Rs 39,999 for a Xiaomi Mi TV, you can also consider spending Rs 5,000 more on an LG TV that has a smart WebOS interface. Having said that, you won't get a beautiful looking 55-inch TV at such an amazing price point that's smart as well as good to look at. The Xiaomi Mi Tv 4 at a price point fo Rs 39,999 is a winner at least in our books and it also marks the beginning of Xiaomi's bigger ecosystem that consumers might see in 2018. It's definitely a TV that many will be eyeing to buy when sales open on February 22, 2018 and all we can say is all the best to you if you are able to buy it before it runs out of stock. Do let us know in the comments section below if you are one of those lucky ones to grab the first offcial Mi Tv 4 in India.

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Shanghai: Eleven Chinese warships sailed into the East Indian Ocean this month, a Chinese news portal said, amid a constitutional crisis in the tiny tropical island chain of the Maldives now under a state of emergency.

A fleet of destroyers and at least one frigate, a 30,000-tone amphibious transport dock and three support tankers entered the Indian Ocean, news portal Sina.com.cn said, without linking the deployment to the crisis in the Maldives or giving a reason.

"If you look at warships and other equipment, the gap between the Indian and Chinese navy is not large," Sina.com.cn said on Sunday.

It did not say when the fleet was deployed or for how long.

Rivalry between old foes India and China for influence in the Maldives became evident after President Abdulla Yameen signed up to Beijing's Belt and Road initiative to build trade and transport links across Asia and beyond.

India, which has had longstanding political and security ties to the islands about 400 km (250 miles) away, has sought to push back against China's expanding presence in the overwhelmingly Muslim country of 400,000 people. Maldivian opposition leaders have urged New Delhi to intervene in the crisis.

China's Ministry of Defence did not respond to requests for comment.

On Friday, the People's Liberation Army posted photos and a story on rescue training exercises taking place in the East Indian Ocean on its official Twitter-like Weibo account.

China earlier this month advised Chinese citizens to avoid visiting the Maldives, famous its luxury hotels, scuba-diving resorts and limpid tropical seas, until political tensions subside.

China has been striking deals with countries in Asia and Africa in line with its Belt and Road initiative to improve imports of key commodities, upgrade infrastructure and trade routes in the region and boost its diplomatic clout.

Yameen imposed the emergency on Feb. 5 for 15 days to annul a Supreme Court ruling that quashed convictions against nine opposition leaders and ordered his government to free those held in prison. He sought parliamentary approval to extend the emergency for 30 days on Monday.

China has drawn criticism in the West for its perceived military buildup of the neighbouring South China Sea, where it has built and expanded islands and reefs.

China claims most of the sea where neighbours Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.
Fort Lauderdale A former student accused of last week's deadly shooting at a Florida high school returned to court for a hearing on Monday in a case that has galvanized advocates of stricter gun control, including many of the rampage survivors.

Nikolas Cruz, his head bowed, hands shackled at his waist and wearing a red, jail-issued jumpsuit, showed no emotion during the procedural session in Fort Lauderdale.

The hearing ended with Broward Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth Scherer ruling that a defense motion filed last week remain sealed from public view. The content of the motion, sealed by another judge, was not described in the hearing.

In a second hearing, Broward Circuit Court Judge Charles Greene ordered the release of parts of a mental health assessment of Cruz by the Florida Department of Children and Families in November 2016. The report has already been leaked to South Florida's Sun Sentinel newspaper.

Cruz, who did not attend the second hearing, is facing 17 counts of premeditated murder after the attack on Wednesday at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, near Fort Lauderdale. It is the deadliest shooting ever at a U.S. high school.

The suspect, whose mother died in November, was investigated by authorities after videos surfaced on the social media platform Snapchat showing him cutting himself, the assessment by the Department of Children and Families said.

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, the released report said.

In a statement, department secretary Mike Carroll said the records showed Cruz was getting mental health services before, during and after the assessment. Cruz was living with his mother and attending school when it concluded, he said.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has acknowledged it failed to act on a tip called in last month warning that Cruz possessed a gun and the desire to kill.

Greene agreed to the request by Cruz's team of public defenders to release the assessment. But he stopped short of allowing the release of details of Cruz's mental health history and child abuse records.

Student survivors gathered with teachers and gun safety advocates to plan a visit to the state capital of Tallahassee on Wednesday. They will demand state lawmakers enact a ban on the sale of assault weapons in Florida.

The White House said on Monday that President Donald Trump supports efforts to improve federal background checks for gun purchases. Trump angered some students by suggesting in a tweet on Saturday that the FBI had missed signs that the shooter was troubled because it was distracted by its investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election.
Bangkok: A wealthy Japanese man was today granted "sole parent" rights to 13 children he fathered through Thai surrogate mothers, in a court ruling that paves the way for him to take them to Japan.

Mitsutoki Shigeta, 28, became the centre of a "baby factory" scandal in 2014 after Thai police found a plush Bangkok apartment packed with infants under the care of 24-hour nannies.

A probe later found he had fathered 19 children in total, 13 surrogate babies living in Thailand and six others living in Cambodia and Japan, according to an official from Thailand's Social Development and Welfare Department. Four of the six children living in Cambodia and Japan were from Thai surrogates.

Shigeta's bizarre case threw a spotlight on the kingdom's unregulated rent-a-womb industry, prompting authorities to bar foreigners in 2015 from paying for Thai surrogates. Shigeta, reportedly the son of a Japanese IT tycoon, left the country in the wake of the scandal and has never directly explained why he fathered so many children.

But he later took Thailand's Ministry of Social Development and Human Security to court to seek custody of the children.

A Bangkok court today granted him legal rights to take the children, saying he had ample money to care for them and had prepared nurses and nannies at a safe residence in Japan.

"For the happiness and opportunities the 13 children will receive from their biological father -- who does not have a history of bad behaviour -- the court rules them to be the plaintiff's legal children," the Central Juvenile Court said in a statement which did not mention Shigeta by name for privacy reasons.

Shigeta, who did not attend the trial, was deemed "sole parent" of the children after the Thai surrogates had signed away their rights, the court added.

His lawyer Kong Suriyamontol said he would contact Thai authorities about the next steps to transfer the children from state custody, adding that the timeline would depend on the "readiness" of the youngsters -- most of whom are aged around four.

Thai officials had visited Shigeta's homes in Japan as well as in Cambodia and deemed the children would be able to adapt to new surroundings.

"The foster homes will seek my authorisation to release the children to their father's custody... it won't take more than 10 days," Vitat Tachaboon of the Social Development and Welfare Department told reporters.

Shigeta's mother has also been visiting the children in Thailand and "they have got used to her", he added. Shigeta hired the Thai surrogates before the ban on foreigners. Police said he paid them between USD 9,300 and USD 12,500 each.

Thailand's rewriting of its surrogacy laws sparked a series of legal tussles, including a 14-month custody war between a same-sex couple and a Thai surrogate who was eventually forced to give up the baby girl.

Another high-profile case saw a Thai surrogate lose a court battle to bring back a baby after learning the Australian father was a convicted paedophile.

Sam Everingham, director of the Australia-based consultancy Families Through Surrogacy, said Shigeta's case was an "abuse of surrogacy" services that had helped give the controversial industry a bad name.

After Thailand clamped down on the trade surrogacy agencies quickly migrated to neighbouring Cambodia, which followed suit and barred the industry in 2016.

In recent months there have been signs the business is growing in Laos, an opaque communist country with no restrictions on surrogacy.

Some surrogacy agencies are now offering to carry out the embryo transfer in Laos and then provide pregnancy care for the surrogate in Thailand, a wealthier country with vastly superior medical facilities.
Kuala Lumpur: A Malaysian artist and prominent opposition activist was jailed for a month on Tuesday for publishing a caricature of Prime Minister Najib Razak looking like a clown, a ruling likely to exacerbate concern about free speech.

Southeast Asia's third-largest economy recently announced plans to amend a law to stamp out fake news, the latest step to broaden enforcement powers and penalties against online posts or content deemed detrimental to public order and security.

Artist Fahmi Reza was found guilty under a communications law for spreading online content deemed "obscene, indecent, false, menacing or offensive in character with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass another person".

Fahmi was also fined 30,000 ringgit ($7,700). His lawyer, Syahredzan Johan, said the judge did not give any grounds for the ruling.

"We are appealing the decision," Syahredzan said, adding that they will post a 10,000 ringgit bond to release Fahmi from custody pending the appeal.

Fahmi faces a second similar charge in a separate court.

Fahmi was among anti-government and opposition leaders and activists rounded up after protests against Najib over his handling of a multi-billion dollar scandal tied to state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

The government blocked several websites and news portals carrying reports critical of 1MDB and Najib, despite a longstanding government pledge not to censor the internet.

Najib, who faced a leadership challenge following the 1MDB scandal, is preparing to call general elections that must be held by August. The fund and Najib denied all wrongdoing.

1MDB has been the subject of money-laundering investigations in countries including the United States, Switzerland and Singapore.

In civil lawsuits, the U.S. Justice Department has alleged that about $4.5 billion was misappropriated from 1MDB.
Ceuta: The heart-rending photo went round the world in 2015, showing an eight-year-old boy from Ivory Coast crammed into a suitcase that was found at a Spanish border crossing.

His father goes to trial on Tuesday in Ceuta, a Spanish overseas territory in northern Morocco which migrants from Africa regularly try to reach by scaling high border fences, hiding behind car dashboards or in bus chassis.

Prosecutors are seeking a three-year prison term for Ali Ouattara for facilitating his son's illegal entry into Europe and endangering the child's life.

"I'm going to this trial with a lot of confidence because I'm not a human trafficker," Ouattara, 45, told AFP.

On May 7, 2015, Spanish police noticed a young Moroccan woman dragging what looked like a heavy suitcase across the border with Ceuta.

When they put the suitcase through an X-ray machine they were shocked to see the silhouette of a child curled up in a foetal position.

"My name is Adou," the boy told them in French after they extricated him from the suitcase, according to Spanish journalist Nicolas Castellano, who wrote a book about the story.

PAID TRAFFICKERS 5,000 EUROS

The desperate smuggling attempt was a first in Ceuta.

But only three months later, a 27-year-old Moroccan died of asphyxiation inside a suitcase placed in the trunk of a car on a ferry linking Melilla, another Spanish territory in Morocco, to southern Spain.

Adou was soon reunited with his mother, and his father, who had been waiting for his son on the Spanish side of the border, was arrested shortly after the police discovery.

Ouattara said he was "misled" by the traffickers who charged him 5,000 euros ($6,200) and did not tell him his son would be hidden in a suitcase.

The traffickers had initially promised to fly the boy from the Ivorian economic capital Abidjan to Madrid but then told him they would instead travel via Ceuta by car, he said.

"For us, it was crucial for the child to come, we couldn't live without him, we couldn't stop thinking about him," Ouattara said.

A former philosophy and French teacher in Abidjan, Ouattara arrived illegally in Spain in 2006, making the perilous journey across the Mediterranean aboard a boat.

He eventually got a stable job and home in the Canary Islands, and was able to bring his wife and daughter over legally.

But Spanish authorities refused four times to let him bring over his son too.

"I was earning more than 1,300 euros in a launderette but they said it wasn't enough" for the entire family to live, he says.

His wife, daughter, and Adou are now living in France, but Ali is still in Spain as he is barred from leaving the country pending the trial.

Adou is expected to return to Ceuta for the trial.
Philadelphia: Federal authorities say a Delaware man snapped a selfie before stealing part of a $4.5 million statue at a Philadelphia museum.

According to an arrest affidavit filed on Friday, 24-year-old Michael Rohana was attending an Ugly Sweater Party at the Franklin Institute on December 21 when he entered the "Terracotta Warriors of the First Emperor" exhibit.

Authorities say Rohana took photos while posing next to a statue known as "The Cavalryman," and then snapped off the statue's left thumb.

Museum staff noticed the missing thumb on January 8, and the FBI traced it to Rohana five days later. It is unclear if he has legal representation.

A museum spokeswoman says the statue will be repaired. She says a security contractor did not follow standard procedures the night of the alleged theft.
Washington: Special counsel Robert Mueller's interest in Jared Kushner has expanded beyond his contacts with Russia and now includes his efforts to secure financing for his company from foreign investors during the presidential transition, according to people familiar with the inquiry.

This is the first indication that Mueller is exploring Kushner's discussions with potential non-Russian foreign investors, including in China.

US officials briefed on the probe had told CNN in May that points of focus related to Kushner, the White House senior adviser and son-in-law of President Donald Trump, included the Trump campaign's 2016 data analytics operation, his relationship with former national security adviser Michael Flynn, and Kushner's own contacts with Russians.

Mueller's investigators have been asking questions, including during interviews in January and February, about Kushner's conversations during the transition to shore up financing for 666 Fifth Avenue, a Kushner Companies-backed New York City office building reeling from financial troubles, according to people familiar with the special counsel investigation.

It's not clear what's behind Mueller's specific interest in the financing discussions. Mueller's team has not contacted Kushner Companies for information or requested interviews with its executives, according to a person familiar with the matter.

During the presidential transition, Kushner was a lead contact for foreign governments, speaking to "over fifty contacts with people from over fifteen countries," according to a statement he gave to congressional investigators.

Before joining the administration, Kushner was also working to divest his interests in Kushner Companies, the family company founded by his father. In early 2017, Kushner also divested from the 666 Fifth Avenue property that his family's company purchased in 2007 for $1.8 billion. The interests were sold to a family trust that Kushner does not benefit from, a spokesperson said at the time.

KUSHNER'S CONTACTS WITH CHINESE INVESTORS

One line of questioning from Mueller's team involves discussions Kushner had with Chinese investors during the transition, according to the sources familiar with the inquiry.

A week after Trump's election, Kushner met with the chairman and other executives of Anbang Insurance, the Chinese conglomerate that also owns the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York, according to The New York Times.

At the time, Kushner and Anbang's chairman, Wu Xiaohui, were close to finishing a deal for the Chinese insurer to invest in the flagship Kushner Companies property, 666 Fifth Avenue. Talks between the two companies collapsed in March, according to the Times.

Mueller's team has also asked about Kushner's dealings with a Qatari investor regarding the same property, according to one of the sources. Kushner and his company were negotiating for financing from a prominent Qatari investor, former prime minister Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani, according to The Intercept. But as with Anbang, these efforts stalled.

Kushner had bought the property in 2007 in a mostly debt deal valued at a record $1.8 billion. The building came under financial pressure during the housing crisis, and in 2011 Vornado Realty Trust stepped in with financing, taking on a 49.5% stake in the building. The office tower shoulders more than $1.4 billion in debt, according to a report Vornado released in March.

Vornado last week disclosed its intention to sell its stake in a regulatory filing, saying, "We do not intend to hold this asset on a long-term basis."

A representative for Kushner declined to comment prior to the publication of this story. After publication, Kushner attorney Abbe Lowell told CNN in a statement, "Another anonymous source with questionable motives now contradicts the facts  in all of Kushner's extensive cooperation with all inquiries, there has not been a single question asked nor document sought on the 666 building or Kushner Co. deals. Nor would there be any reason to question these regular business transactions."

A representative for Anbang declined to comment. Al Thani could not be reached for comment. A spokesman for the special counsel declined to comment.

Also during the transition, Kushner met with Sergey Gorkov, chairman of Russian state-run Vnesheconombank. Kushner testified on Capitol Hill that the meeting was for official US government purposes. But the Russian bank maintains that the sit-down in New York was part of their "roadshow of business meetings" and that Gorkov met Kushner because he ran Kushner Companies. The Washington Post reported that Mueller's investigators are scrutinizing this meeting.

INVESTIGATORS' INTEREST IN KUSHNER

Last fall, Kushner turned over documents pertaining to the campaign and transition to both Mueller and congressional investigators, sources told CNN in November. Kushner spoke to investigators in November for less than two hours, and the dominant topic was Michael Flynn, according to two people familiar with the meeting who spoke to CNN at the time.

Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI and is cooperating with the investigation, attended some of Kushner's meetings with foreign nationals. Under his plea deal, Flynn is obligated to tell Mueller's investigators everything he knows about these meetings.

Last year, Trump said he would view any investigation of his or his family's personal finances as a "violation" by Mueller that crosses a red line. A personal familiar with the investigation who supports Trump suggested that the expanded inquiry falls outside of Mueller's purview. Mueller is authorized to investigate links between Trump associates and Russia as well as "any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation."
An U.S. Marine directs a hovercraft onto the beach as they participate in an amphibious assault exercise. (Image: Reuters)
Two revellers are seen amid flare smoke as they celebrate 'Ash Monday' by participating in a colorful 'flour war', a traditional festivity marking the end of the carnival season and the start of the 40-day Lent period until the Orthodox Easter, in the port town of Galaxidi, Greece. (Image: Reuters)
Court postpones consideration of Tatneft's $112 mln case against Ukraine over Ukrtatnafta to April 24

The Moscow Arbitration Court has postponed consideration of Tatneft's $112 million plus interest lawsuit against Ukraine for compensation over Ukrtatnafta until April 24.

"The court considers it advisable to send a query to the Federal Property Agency (Rosimushchestvo) regarding the ownership by Ukraine of property in Russia," the court said.

During preliminary sessions, the parties to the lawsuit continued their dispute over the court's as well as the presence of Ukrainian property in Russia that could be seized under Tatneft's lawsuit.

Tatneft maintains that a portion of the Ukrainian Cultural Center on Arbat Street in Moscow might be subject to confiscation since it is used for commercial purposes. In turn, Ukraine argues that the Cultural Center enjoys diplomatic immunity.

Tatneft began the arbitration process against Ukraine in 2008 in accordance with the Russian-Ukrainian agreement on compensation and mutual protection of investment due to the situation surrounding Ukrtatnafta.
Amount of procurement technical assistance raised by Ukraine in 2017 falls by $317 mln

Ukraine in 2017 raised $928.32 million of procurement technical assistance, which is $317.34 million less than the figure for 2016.

According to the data released by the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, this year it is planned to reduce this figure to $700 million.

"The largest donors for Ukraine are the Unite d States (about $370 million annually) and the European Union (EUR 310 million annually, which include sectoral budget support), "the ministry said.

The ministry said that last year the U.S. government provided technical assistance to Ukraine in the amount of $450 million, including $305 million to support political and anti-corruption reforms, economic growth, human rights, energy security, civil society and the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission.

In 2018, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade predicts the attraction of $203.78 million from the United States, $248 million from the European Commission and $137.62 million from the United Nations.

In 2017, Ukraine implemented 547 international technical assistance projects with a total estimated cost of $5.7 million, including $2.4 million of funding from the Chornobyl Shelter Fund and the Nuclear Safety Account. Of these, more than 10 years, 21 projects are being implemented, according to the ministry.
BUSINESSMAN Mr Wicknell Chivayo is embroiled in boardroom squabbles with his business partner Mr Yusuf Ahmid, whom he accuses of plotting to elbow him out of Intratrek Zimbabwe (Private) Limited.



Mr Chivayo, who is the founder and managing director of Intratrek, is battling to protect his interests in the firm, arguing that they own 50 percent shareholding apiece.



He claims that a verbal agreement entered between the two parties awarded them equal shareholding in the company.





Intratrek was awarded a tender worth $5 million to set up a 100MW solar project in Gwanda under controversial circumstances and it has been heavily criticised over failure to implement the project in time despite receiving payment from the Zimbabwe Power Company without a guarantee.





The problems arose when Mr Ahmids lawyers sought to be provided with documents related to the Gwanda tender, both from ZESA Holdings and Mr Chivayo. It is claimed that Mr Ahmids lawyers also had a meeting with ZESA Holdings, a development Mr Chivayo felt was part of his partners strategy to topple him.





Prominent Harare lawyer Mr Wilson Manase of Manase & Manase Legal Practitioners has written to ZESA Holdings chief executive officer Engineer Josh Chifamba warning him against entertaining Mr Ahmid and his lawyers in discussions regarding the Gwanda project.





Mr Manase, on behalf of Mr Chivayo, also wrote to Mr Ahmids lawyers Bruce Tokwe Commercial Law Chambers, accusing them of roping in ZESA Holdings in their plot for a boardroom coup.

Your demand (for documents) has been inopportunely made at a time when both your clients and yourself jointly and severally engaged certain officials from ZESA Holdings on or around 25 January 2018 on an inimical attempt to illegally topple our client from his rightful position as a 50 percent shareholder in Intratrek Zimbabwe and its managing director, he said.





The agenda and subsequent deliberations at the aforesaid meeting clearly demonstrate an insatiable appetite on the part of your clients and indeed any party associated with them, to unjustly benefit from the hard work and dedication which our client invested in the operations of Intratrek Zimbabwe, culminating in the winning and signing of the Gwanda Solar 100MW EPC Contract with the Zimbabwe Power Company on October 23 2015.





Mr Manase added, It is highly abhorrent on the part of your clients and correspondingly unethical on any person to be part of such an unscrupulous skirmish whose intention is to cuckold our client and swindle his shareholding in Intratrek Zimbabwe.





The verbal agreement between the parties, Mr Manase said, awarded them 50 percent shareholding apiece in Intratrek Zimbabwe. Mr Manase stated in the letter that Mr Ahmid abandoned Intratrek for three years, only to resurface when the ZESA tender had been won.





Their conduct is only explained by sheer greed and self-absorbed interests to acquire undeserving gains from the Gwanda Solar 100MW project, he said.





It is clear that your clients have conveniently peddled falsehoods in order to unjustly benefit from our clients exceptional dedication to ensuring that the project is a success.





In a letter to Eng Chifamba, Mr Manase urged ZESA to stop meddling in the affairs of Intratrek.





This unwarranted and illegal meddling is without doubt, highly improper, bordering on a scandalous connivance between public officials and a cabal of ill-intentioned schemers purporting to represent Intratrek Zimbabwe, while harbouring hostile interests in our clients business in general and the Gwanda Solar project, in particular, he said.





In terms of the contract between ZPC and Intratrek, any official communication should strictly be done between the two companies managing directors only. Herald
Harare City Council has banned commuter omnibuses from the central business district (CBD) and is ordering them to operate from new ranks with effect from Wednesday.



In a statement yesterday, Harare City Council corporate communications manager Mr Michael Chideme said the new development will be implemented tomorrow.



City of Harare advises residents, the commuting public and commuter omnibus operators that with effect from Wednesday 21 February 2018, no commuter omnibuses will be allowed in the central business district, he said.



The commuter omnibuses will terminate their journeys at the new peripheral ranks, from Charge Office to Seke Road and Dieppe Road (Coca-Cola), From Copa Cabana and Market Square to Coventry Road and Rotten Row rank.







Mr Chideme said council will only allow shuttle services to be provided into the CBD using specific routes.



Shuttle services in and out of the CBD will be provided from the new ranks and the buses will follow specific routes, he said.





Chideme said the routes would be as follows:

Coventry Rank  Rotten Row  Robert Mugabe Way  fourth St Rank through Copacabana Rank.

Fourth St Rank  Fifth St  George Silundika Rd  Fourth St  Jason Moyo  through Copacabana  Rotten Row to Coventry Rd Rank.





Seke Rd Rank  Seke Rd  Robert Mugabe Way  S. Muzenda Rank (Fourth St Rank).

Coventry Rd Rank  Rotten Row  Charter Rd  Market Square Rank  Bank St  Kenneth Kaunda  S. Muzenda Rank (Fourth Street) and back.





Seke Rd Rank  Dieppe Rd  Chiremba Rd  Robert Mugabe Way  Robson Manyika Charge Office.





Coventry Rd Rank  Cripps Rd  Dieppe Rd  Glenara Rd  S. Machel Rd  Rotten Rd  Coventry Rd Rank.





Chideme said the routes will be improved in the long run. This move was long overdue. We want to restore order in our city like we promised. The routes will continue to be improved as we implement this strategy, he said. Herald
VIOLENCE reared its ugly head at MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirais burial here yesterday, with rowdy party youths threatening to torch a thatched hut in which the partys co-vice president Dr Thokozani Khupe and secretary-general Mr Douglas Mwonzora had sought refuge after being assaulted.





Quick reaction by the police, who moved in to disperse the rowdy youths, saved the situation. Police escorted the pair to a nearby primary schools grounds from where they then followed the proceedings.





The youths considered Dr Khupe and Mr Mwonzora as obstacles to co-vice president Mr Nelson Chamisas road to leading the party. This came as Mr Tsvangirais uncle Mr Innocent Zvaipa assaulted a University of Zimbabwe student at the graveyard in full view of mourners for photographing Mr Tsvangirais mother, Gogo Lydia Tsvangirai.









On arrival at Mr Tsvangirais homestead, Dr Khupe and Mr Mwonzora had to scurry for cover as the youths bayed for their blood in front of mourners and dignitaries that included ambassadors from Western countries and Mr Tsvangirais close friend and Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga.





Dr Khupe was heckled by youths who protested against her presence at the burial, when she was boycotting party meetings in Harare. Dr Khupe has boycotted meetings convened by Adv Chamisa in protest over what she feels is his unconstitutional rise to power.





She was jeered on her arrival, together with Mr Mwonzora. They were manhandled before the police intervened and whisked them away to a hut at Mr Tsvangirais homestead. That was when the youths threatened to torch the hut.





When Dr Khupe eventually joined proceedings at the school grounds, she wept uncontrollably and had to be comforted by MDC-T national treasurer Mrs Theresa Makone and the partys womens assembly chairperson Mrs Lynette Karenyi.





Away from Dr Khupe and Mr Mwonzora plight, Mr Tsvangirais uncle Mr Innocent Zvaipa assaulted a University of Zimbabwe female student at the graveyard for photographing Mr Tsvangirais mother, Gogo Lydia Tsvangirai.





Mr Zvaipa slapped Ms Nyaradzo Mutize three times before he was restrained by the Tsvangirai family led by Mr Tsvangirais brother, Manase.





Ms Mutize was forced to delete all the pictures of Gogo Tsvangirai that she had captured. She was also detained for close to 40 minutes under intense interrogation by Mr Tsvangirais family members.





Gogo Tsvangirai has made headlines after she threatened to commit suicide if Adv Chamisa and Ms Elizabeth Macheka attended her sons funeral.





There was also an exchange of harsh words between the Tsvangirai family members led by the deceaseds brother Collin and Adv Chamisa. The misunderstanding delayed the removal of the coffin from the hearse for over 30 minutes.





Collin was insisting that the coffin be returned to the homestead to allow traditional rites to be undertaken, while Adv Chamisa felt proceedings should go ahead in the interest of time, as rains were beginning to build. Collin and his younger brother Manase stuck to their guns, forcing Adv Chamisa to make a public apology.





In an interview soon after Mr Tsvangirais burial, Manase expressed concern over the conduct of MDC-T leadership who authorised the removal of the hearse from their homestead to nearby school grounds without the familys knowledge.





We were preparing the programme on who was going to speak when we suddenly heard that the hearse had already been removed from our homestead to Makanda Primary School, the venue of the funeral wake, he said.





That had the effect of creating us problems because we had not performed any cultural rites like informing our in-laws. That omission can cast a bad spell in the family.





Responding to the rowdy and unbecoming behaviour of MDC-T members, Adv Chamisa implored people to be united.









Let us respect each other, he said. We want to be united and we do not want violence even after gathering.





The MDC-T supporters failed to respect leaders of other political parties such Cde Oppah Muchinguri (Zanu-PF national chairman), who were among dignitaries that came to bury Mr Tsvangirai. They intermittently interjected Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri when she gave her speech and Adv Chamisa had to restrain them.





The spectre of violence at Mr Tsvangirai received widespread condemnation yesterday, with Mr Mwonzora tweeting: The attack on @Dr Thoko Khupe by a gang of sponsored and drunken goons at Dr Tsvangirais funeral was outrageous and sadistic. It was tribal, sexist and totally unacceptable.





The US Embassy in Harare also condemned the violence in a statement on twitter.





The US Gov strongly condemns the violence that occurred today @ the funeral for Morgan Tsvangirai, said the embassy. He stood in opposition of such violence & there exists no place for these types of actions today in Zimbabwe, as the country moves forward.





Activist Mr Dehwa Mavhinga also castigated the acts of violence and challenged Adv Chamisa to institute investigations and bring the culprits to book.




Gabby Petito's Mom: The

Last Text She Sent Me Was Odd
(Newser)  The Miss Universe judges may have thought they were calling the shots, but Donald Trump apparently had the most sway in picking winners. A lengthy New Yorker story by Jeffrey Toobin recounts how Trump, when he owned the pageant from 1996 to 2015, would talk to contestants himself during rehearsals, then relay his preferences to the president of the Miss Universe Organization, who was following at a discreet distance. He made comments about every girl: Ive been to that country. Were building a Trump Tower there,'" says Adwoa Yamoah, who was Miss Canada in 2012. "It was clear the countries that he liked did well. Hed whisper to Paula (Shugart) about the girls, and shed write it down. He basically told us he picked nine of the top 15. Toobin makes the case that Trump picked women from nations in which he had business interests.

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That gets him to a key part of the storythe decision to stage the pageant in Moscow in 2013. Trump worked with Russian real estate magnate Aras Agalarov and his son, Emin, to arrange the deal, and Toobin writes that the relationships Trump struck at the time are now all tangled up in the Russia investigation. Emin's publicist, for example, played a role in arranging the controversial meeting between Russians and Donald Trump Jr. Robert Mueller is now looking closely at that meeting, and at the elder Trump's seemingly misleading public statements about it afterward. "For decades, in Trumps business dealings, he never paid a price for his salesmans hype, which repeatedly edged into falsehood," writes Toobin. But the Mueller investigation has the potential to bring a "moment of reckoning." Read the full story. (Read more Longform stories.)
Participants in a march "For the Future," organized by the Movement of New Forces party, adopted a resolution at a rally in Kyiv on Sunday, February 18, demanding the resignation of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and declaring the creation of committees of civil resistance and direct action groups.

"We demand the immediate resignation of the president. We will hold early parliamentary elections after early presidential elections. We will elect a transitional parliament for one year. Some 300 people will come there and adopt the necessary laws and changes to the Constitution," the protesters read out the resolution from the stage.

The document also contains a statement on the establishment of an anti-crisis government, "which will quickly bring order to the country."

The protesters also announced the establishment of committees of civil resistance the continuation of the collection of signatures for Poroshenko's dismissal as president.
(Newser)  The Florida couple allowing Nikolas Cruz to live with them has revealed a chilling text he sent to their son just a few minutes before the shooting rampage at a Florida high school last week. "He told my son he's going to the movies," James Snead tells ABC's Good Morning America. Cruz reportedly also suggested in the text messages that he had a secret to tell, but he declined to share it. Minutes later, police say Cruz opened fire, killing 14 students and three members of school staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. James and Kimberley Snead said they allowed the "polite" Cruz, 19, to move in around Thanksgiving after his adoptive mother died from pneumonia. (They now say they feel like they had a "monster" under their roof.)

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Also Monday, CNN reports that Cruz once again made an appearance, albeit a brief one, in a Florida courtroom. Wearing a red prison jumpsuit, Cruz attended a procedural hearing in silence and did not look at cameras as he was led in and out of the courtroom in shackles. The teenager obtained 10 rifles over the last year, per CNN. Cruz stands charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder. His state-appointed attorney has said the teen will likely enter a guilty plea if the death penalty is taken off the table. (Read more Nikolas Cruz stories.)
(Newser)  The FBI has joined police in Wichita, Kan., in the search for a 5-year-old boy who hasn't been seen since Saturday afternoon. Police say Lucas Hernandez was seen by his stepmother around 3pm before she showered and took a nap, ABC30 reports. The boy was reported missing at 6:15pm Saturday, and officers are now searching a wider area after scouring his home, backyard, neighborhood, and the 216-acre Chisholm Creek Park. Police say no Amber Alert was issued because there were no signs Lucas was abducted. The FBI says it has deployed its Child Abduction Rapid Deployment team to assist with the search.

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Authorities say Lucas has brown hair and eyes and weighs about 60 pounds, CBS News reports. He was last seen wearing black sweatpants and a gray shirt with a bear on it. Two relatives tell the Wichita Eagle that they've had concerns about the boy's welfare in the past. One of them contacted Kansas' Department for Children and Families last year. "He is one of my students and a very sweet little boy," a teacher at Wichita's Beech Elementary School, where Lucas is in pre-K, posted on Facebook. "Please pray for him and his family. My heart is so heavy right now." (Read more missing child stories.)
(Newser)  Mitt Romney and President Trump have traded their share of insults in the past, but they appear ready to let bygones be bygones: Trump endorsed Romney's Senate run Monday night, tweeting that the 2012 Republican nominee "will make a great Senator and worthy successor" to Sen. Orrin Hatch and has his "full support and endorsement," the Salt Lake Tribune reports. In response, Romney tweeted: "Thank you Mr. President for the support. I hope that over the course of the campaign I also earn the support and endorsement of the people of Utah." Romney said in 2016 that Trump was a "phony" and he wouldn't vote for him, and Trump reportedly urged the 83-year-old Hatch to seek another term to keep Romney out of the Senate.

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Trump and Romney appeared to have buried the hatchet after the 2016 election but there were a few clashes in 2017, with Romney criticizing Trump on issues including immigration and Trump accusing Romney of choking "like a dog" in 2012, Politico reports. Romney, who is expected to easily win the GOP nomination in Utah, didn't attack Trump when he formally announced the bid last week, though he did make it clear that he has a different view of immigration. "Utah welcomes legal immigrants from around the world," he said. "Washington sends immigrants a message of exclusion." (During his campaign, Trump said Romney would have "dropped to his knees" for his endorsement.)
(Newser)  The world's oldest parliament will soon be debating Europe's first ban on circumcising male children for non-medical reasonsa tradition campaigners call "male genital mutilation." The bill before Iceland's parliament proposes a six-year prison sentence for anybody removing part or all of a child's sexual organs, the BBC reports. Supporters say circumcising young boys violates their rights, while opponentsincluding Jewish and Muslim leaders, as well as Cardinal Reinhard Marx, president of the Catholic Church in the European Unionargue that it violates the religious freedom of the country's small Muslim and Jewish communities, believed to number around 1,500 and 250 people, respectively. The religious leaders say the ban could make Jews and Muslims feel "unwelcome" in Iceland.

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The billwhich says boys shouldn't be circumcised for religious or cultural reasons until they're old enough to decide for themselveswas proposed by Silja Dogg Gunnarsdottir of the Progressive Party, the Guardian reports. She says she decided to introduce the bill after realizing the country had banned female genital mutilation without addressing male circumcision. "If we have laws banning circumcision for girls, then we should do so for boys," she says. "We are talking about children's rights, not about freedom of belief. Everyone has the right to believe in what they want, but the rights of children come above the right to belief." Danish doctors recommended in 2016 that nobody under 18 be circumcised, but the country stopped short of a ban. (In Britain, Amazon has stopped selling circumcision training kits.)
(Newser)  An Uber Eats driver claims he was acting in self-defense when he killed a customer during his first week on the job. Robert Bivines, 36, arrived at the Atlanta condominium of 30-year-old Ryan Thornton around 11:30pm Saturday after a $27 food order was placed at Tin Lizzy's through the Uber Eats app, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and WXIA. Thornton "went down to meet the driver, received his order and began walking away from the vehicle," says a police rep. But after an exchange of words, Thornton, a recent Morehouse College graduate, walked back toward Bivines' white Volkswagen, according to surveillance video. The same video recorded footage of four shots fired through the car's passenger-side window, police say. Thornton, who was struck in the torso, died later at a hospital.

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Bivines, now charged with murder, surrendered to police on Monday with his lawyer telling WXIA that he feared for his own life. Attorney Jackie Patterson says Thornton was upset about the delivery timeBivines had trouble finding the condoand "jerked" the food from Bivines' hand. After walking away, Thornton returned to the vehicle, put a hand in his pocket, and told Bivines, "'I'm going to f--- you up,'" Patterson says, per WGCL. "My client had no choice but to defend himself," he tells WXIA. "He simply panicked because he didn't know what to do." Calling the incident a "senseless act of violence," Uber Eats says Bivines violated a policy banning firearms, per USA Today. And though he passed an Uber background check, the Journal-Constitution notes it wouldn't have revealed a 2009 aggravated assault charge. Bivines pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of battery. (Read more murder stories.)
(Newser)  After an outcry, the organization that controls the release of emojis has added two more legs to the forthcoming lobster emoji to make it correct. The Portland Press Herald reports that soon after the Unicode Consortium released proposed images of 157 new emojis, Maine residents took umbrage at the lobster emoji's eight legs instead of the correct 10. Emojipedia Chief Emoji Officer Jeremy Burge wrote in a blog post Monday that the consortium had heard people's complaints and is releasing updated designs for the lobster emoji, alongside updates for a skateboard and DNA emoji. (The post has before and after images.) The lobster emoji is expected to be available later this year, per the AP.

(Read more emoji stories.)
(Newser)  The death of a 67-year-old man in Golden Gate National Recreation Area has California park officials reiterating a warning: When a dog gets stranded on a cliff, leave him be. Chances are, the dog will return to safety, while would-be rescuers risk their lives, reports ABC7. In this case, the victim slipped and fell about 500 feet to his death when trying to retrieve his dog, who'd wandered partway down a cliff, reports CBS San Francisco. Rescuers got to the victim before high tide rolled in but couldn't save him. (Read more Golden Gate Park stories.)
(Newser)  More Robert Mueller moves: Prosecutors have charged an attorney they say lied to federal investigators in the Russia probe, reports the Hill. A document filed in federal court in Washington Tuesday accuses Alex Van Der Zwaan of one charge of making false statements, per the AP. The information was filed ahead of a plea hearing scheduled for later Tuesday. The court filing says Van Der Zwaan lied to investigators about his interactions with Rick Gates, a former Trump campaign aide who was indicted last year on charges of conspiracy to launder money and acting as an unregistered foreign agent. Gates is reportedly planning to plead guilty and testify against former campaign chief Paul Manafort.

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(Read more Robert Mueller stories.)
(Newser)  One of the women who has accused Donald Trump of sexual misconduct retells her story in a front-page Washington Post feature that caught the attention of the president himself. "A woman I don't know and, to the best of my knowledge, never met, is on the FRONT PAGE of the Fake News Washington Post saying I kissed her (for two minutes yet) in the lobby of Trump Tower 12 years ago," he tweeted about Rachel Crooks. "Never happened!" He added that it makes no sense he would do such a thing in a public place, in view of security cameras. "Another False Accusation," he wrote, adding that the media should instead report on "the women taking money to make up stories about me." Crooks maintains that when she was a 22-year-old receptionist at Trump Tower in 2006, Trump "forced himself on me" with an unwanted kiss on the lips.

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Crooks says she went over to Trump to introduce herself as he waited for an elevator. "He started kissing me on one cheek, then the other cheek," she says. "He was talking to me in between kisses, asking where I was from, or if I wanted to be a model. He wouldn't let go of my hand, and then he went right in and started kissing me on the lips. The 35-year-old is now telling the story more frequently as she runs in her first political race to become a Democratic state representative in Ohio. The Post story notes that she has asked Trump to release tapes from security cameras that day. Barring that, she cites emails she sent at the time, including to her mom: "Hey Ma, my day started off rough ... had a weird incident with Mr. Trump." And to another relative: "Ah yes, the Donald kiss ... very creepy man, let me tell you!" (Read more President Trump stories.)
(Newser)  He might not get a full military funeral, but Parkland school shooting victim Peter Wang will get a nod from the US Army. The 15-year-old old Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps member who held doors open for students and staff fleeing bullets at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last week will be honored with a Medal of Heroism, presented to his family at a memorial service Tuesday, reports the Daily Beast, which notes the medal is given to those whose actions "involved the acceptance of danger and extraordinary responsibilities." A medal was presented to relatives of 14-year-old JROTC member Alaina Petty at a memorial service Mondaythe Florida Attorney General's Office is covering funeral costs for all 17 shooting victimsand will be given to 14-year-old Martin Duque's family on Saturday, the Army says.

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Alex Schachter, another 14-year-old killed in the shooting, is being honored with a scholarship fund totaling more than $125,000 as of this writing. It's designed to "fund increased security at schools" and help students "experience the joys of music," according to a GoFundMe page. Another arranged by the Broward Education Foundation has raised $1.7 million to be used "to provide relief and financial support" to victims and family members, who've received free transportation from JetBlue Airways. "We've all cried a lotfirst in horror, but then because of the outpouring (of) generosity and compassion," BEF marketing director PeJay Ryan tells Fox News. Some 18 comfort dogs trained by Lutheran Church Charities are also providing relief. They "are good listeners and have a unique way of knowing when people are hurting," says CEO Tim Hetzner. (Read more Parkland school shooting stories.)
Russia's hybrid military forces mounted 12 attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas in the past 24 hours, with one Ukrainian soldier reported as killed in action (KIA) and another four as wounded, the press center of the Ukrainian Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) headquarters has reported.

"In general, the enemy has conducted 12 shelling attacks over the past day, and, unfortunately, one Ukrainian soldier was killed, one was injured, and another one suffered a combat injury. In addition, another two Ukrainian soldiers were injured during the execution of the combat mission after stepping on an unidentified explosive device," the press center of the Ukrainian Anti-Terrorist Operation Headquarters reported on Facebook on Tuesday morning.

In the Luhansk sector, the Russian occupation forces fired grenade launchers of various types and heavy machine guns near the villages of Hladosove and Novoluhanske, and the town of Svitlodarsk.

"The shelling of the Ukrainian positions near the village of Luhanske lasted more than two hours. A mortar blast was also recorded near the village of Krymske," the report reads.

"In the Donetsk direction, enemy fire activity was recorded in the Mariupol sector. In particular, the aggressor used 120mm and 82mm mortars near the villages of Lebedynske, Shyrokyne and Vodiane. In addition, the illegal armed formations opened fire from mortars, grenade launchers and machine guns near the village of Pisky," the press center said.
(Newser)  George and Amal Clooney are making a big move in the wake of the Parkland, Fla., school shooting: The celebrity couple is donating $500,000 to March For Our Lives, the Washington, DC, protest demanding gun control planned for next month by survivors of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. "Amal and I are so inspired by the courage and eloquence of these young men and women," George Clooney said in a statement obtained by Deadline. "Our family will be there on March 24 to stand side by side with this incredible generation of young people from all over the country." The couple is making the donation in the name of their infant twins, Ella and Alexander.

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"What were trying to do here [with] 'March For Our Lives' is say, the adult politicians have been playing around while my generation has been losing our lives," one of the students planning the march said when announcing it over the weekend, per People. "At the end of the day, this isnt a red and blue thing. This isnt Democrats or Republicans. This is about everybody and how we are begging for our lives." Other celebrities, including Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber, have voiced support on social media for the students' activism, Fader reports. (The Clooneys also made a big donation in the wake of the Charlottesville violence last year.)
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'Heavenly Hundred' lawyer convinced story about Georgian snipers on Maidan is another 'myth'

The presence of so-called Georgian snipers on Maidan is one of the myths connected with the Revolution of Dignity, lawyer for Heavenly Hundred heroes and wounded on Maidan Pavlo Dykan has said.

"In Kyiv's Sviatoshynsky District Court there are many ongoing attempts to include dubious unsupported information, for example, the myth about Georgian snipers," Dykan told the Kyiv-based Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

Dykan said there are many myths about what happened on February 20, 2014 on Maidan. He acknowledged, however, that policemen were killed. He said their deaths are being investigated.

Dykan also said he has no information about the involvement of Russian special forces in shootings on Maidan.
Tammy Phillips stands in front of Morris Morgan's painting after the third Morris Morgan Writing Challenge. This is the last one she will host, since she is moving to Montana. Kris Capps/News-Miner
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New Delhi:

The Narendra Modi-led Union government on Tuesday approved opening up of coal mining to the private sector for commercial use, a major reform in the sector since its nationalisation in 1973.

Announcing the decision taken by the CCEA, Coal and Railways Minister Piyush Goyal said the reform is expected to bring efficiency in the coal sector by moving from an era of monopoly to competition.

aIt will increase competitiveness and allow the best possible technology into the sector.

Reacting to the development, main Opposition Party Congress accused Modi govt of quietly taking another aU-turna after harping about auctions of natural resources.

After harping about auctions for natural resources, the Modi Govt has quietly made another U-turn and now believes in dumping that policy entirely. https://t.co/udUu4vPHMY a Congress (@INCIndia) February 20, 2018

The higher investment will create direct and indirect employment in coal-bearing areas, especially in the mining sector and will have an impact on economic development of these regions,a he said.

While coal mines were till now auctioned for captive power generation, they will now be sold in an e-auction to private domestic and global miners.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Goyal said has approved the methodology for the auction of coal mines/blocks for sale of coal under the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 and the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.

aThe opening up of commercial coal mining for the private sector is the most ambitious coal sector reform since the nationalisation of this sector in 1973,a the minister said.

For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

Following the reports of an alleged physical assault on Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals residence on Monday night, the Congress and the BJP have joined voices in condemning the ruling party.

BJP lawmaker and Leader of Opposition Delhi Vijender Gupta said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is behaving like a dictator by calling Chief Secretary Prakash at 12 midnight and berating him in front of his MLAs. Drunk on power CM was concerned about why not more funds were dispersed for advertisements. Such is the state of affairs under AAP, said Gupta.

Sandeep Dikshit of the Congress said, It clarifies how AAP is involved in malpractices and corruption. If something good happens, Kejriwal and his MLAs take credit and if it's something bad the onus falls on the government. Is tarah se haathapaai karna! Koi gundagardi hai kya? (To assault someone physically is nothing but hooliganism).

DN Singh, Delhi Administrative Subordinate Services President said, We are going on a strike with immediate effect. We are with our Chief Secretary (Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash). Until those at fault are not arrested we will not get back to work.
Pune:

A Sambhaji Brigade member was allegedly attacked by Bajrang Dal activists in Manchar taluka following a dispute over distribution of a book on Chhatrapati Shivaji penned by slain Communist leader Govind Pansare, police said on Monday.

Four members of the Hindutva outfit have been arrested under the relevant sections of the IPC for allegedly assaulting Sharad Pokharkar (39).

Pokharkar, a member of the Sambhaji Brigade, Maratha Mahasangh and Jijau Pratishtan, distributes the book "Shivaji Kon Hota" (Who was Shivaji) in Manchar every year.

"This year, they organised a similar programme in a village school near Manchar but some villagers and Bajrang Dal activists took objection to the event as well as the title of the book. They forced the school headmaster to cancel the programme," a Manchar police station officer said.

He said the situation became tense after Pokharkar allegedly exchanged messages after the cancellation of the programme.

"On Sunday evening, Pokharkar received a call from the Bajrang Dal members who sought to have a discussion over the book with the complainant. Some members of the Bajrang Dal then went to Pokharkar's flat in Manchar and started debating the book with him," he said.

The debate soon turned ugly and the Hindutva activists assaulted Pokharkar and his friend, the officer said.

He said by the time police reached the spot, the Hindutva activists had fled.
Delhi :

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, while demanding Special Category Status for the state, said that the Centre should do justice, and that the party will not back out to move a no-confidence motion against the Centre if needed as a last resort.

While addressing a gathering at Madigala Mahasabha organised in Vijawada on Monday, he said that many political parties have denied to support to fight against the Centre, while some Members of Parliament (MPs) of the state are asking for resignation, and questioned that who will fight for the special status and rights of the state if the MPs resign.

He said, Some are asking for resignations. If our MPs resign, who will fight for our state. No confidence motion should be last resort. We will not simply put such motion. It needs at least 54 MPs. But we don't have that number.

Recalling the injustice done to the state, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief said that the both the NDA government and the Congress did injustice with the state. He also said that both the BJP and the Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) are criticizing him, while the Congress too, is leaving no stone unturned to blame him.

He said, Center should do justice to our state. I am only asking for justice. But both YSRCP, BJP are criticizing me. Congress is blaming me. It's not good. Cong did injustice at the time of bifurcation, now BJP isn't properly implementing the promises.

He blamed the Congress for being injustice at the time of the split between the two Telugu states, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. He also said that now, the NDA government is not fulfilling the promises it made at the time of elections.

He said, The Congress had betrayed us. Hoping for justice to the State, we entered into alliance with the BJP. But even after three and a half years the BJP has not fulfilled the promises made in the Act or in Parliament. I have been to New Delhi 29 times and met everyone expressing our anguish.

Also Read: Take note of 'public anger', Chandrababu Naidu tells Centre

He said that on behalf of the many people of the state, he is demanding the Centre to immediately implement all the provisions as per the Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh.

Earlier on Thursday, the YSRCP President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, appealed the TDP leader to ask his party leaders to join hands with the YSRCP for a united fight to get a promised Special Category Status for the state.

Jagan said, TDP should join us in the resignations which would put the Centre into action mode. We need to put up joint fight and send out strong message to Centre with all 25 MPs from state resigning together.

However, the TDP has called all this a drama, and saying that there is no pressure on the party, Diwakar Reddy, TDP MP, said, YSRCP is only doing drama. The resignations will not get special status for the state.

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New Delhi:

Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash has alleged physical assault by Aam Aadmi Party MLAs at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwalas residence on Monday night.

The top bureaucrat of Delhi was allegedly manhandled by at least two AAP MLAs while a meeting on the door-to-door delivery of essential government services was in progress.

The Delhi Indian Administrative Services Association has called for a meeting on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the matter. A decision to lodge an FIR in the case is reportedly on the table.

However, the CM office has denied any such assault and said the incident never took place. A statement from Kejriwalas office said, aDelhi CM office strongly denies allegations by the Chief Secretary. There was no incident of assault or attempted assault by any AAP MLAs.a

BJPas Vijender Gupta took to Twitter and shared the event, reporting the whole incident as aill-treatmenta. He also conveyed that he will be meeting the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi in the afternoon on Tuesday and discuss the further course of action.

CM @ArvindKejriwal in his dictatorial style called Chief Secretary at 12 midnight & berated him in front of his MLAs. Drunk on power CM was concerned about why not more funds were dispersed for advertisements. Such is the state of affairs under AAP. @HMOIndia @LtGovDelhi a Vijender Gupta (@Gupta_vijender) February 20, 2018

Will be meeting Hon'ble @LtGovDelhi at 12:35pm to apprise him of the ill treatment meted out to the Chief Secretary at the hands of AAP goons on the behest of CM @ArvindKejriwal. The same had happened with BJP delegation when it went to meet the CM at his residence. a Vijender Gupta (@Gupta_vijender) February 20, 2018

He also said that a total of nine AAP MLAs were present when the Chief Secretary was assaulted in front of CM Kejriwal.

Delhi Police, however, said it has not received any formal complaint about the incident.

Former AAP leader, Mayank Gandhi, said, aConsidering the confrontational attitude taken up by both sides and the vicious atmosphere that this created, this was a natural consequence.a

Sharmistha Mukherjee, Delhi Congress Vice-President, said, aIn a democracy, we expect that all disputes will be solved by dialogue. Violence against anyone, including a senior bureaucrat, is not the way to resolve anything. There should be a thorough probe into this and if the Chief Secretaryas complaint is found to be true, the MLAs should receive tough punishment.a

Kapil Mishra, AAP MLA and former minister in the Kejriwal cabinet, said, aThis has never happened in the history of India. As an MLA, I am ashamed that this incident has taken place.a

aaaa aa - aaa 12 aaa CM aa aaaaaa aa aaaaa aasaa aa aaaa aa aaaaaa, aaa aaaaaa aaaa aaaa aa aaaaa aaa



CM aa aaaa asaa aaaaaaaYaa aa aaa aaaaaaa aa, aaa MLA aaaaaaaaaaa aa aaaaaaa aaa



aaa aa aa aaaa aaa aaa aaaa aaaaaa aaaaaa CM aa aaaa aa aaaaa aasaa aa aaaaa a Kapil Mishra (@KapilMishra_IND) February 20, 2018

DN Singh, Delhi Administrative Subordinate Services President said, "We are going on a strike with immediate effect. We are with our Chief Secretary. Until those at fault are not arrested we will not get back to work. We have urged LG to take legal action against those responsible. This is like a constitutional crisis, never seen such a thing happen in the past many years."

Delhi Congress President Ajay Maken took to Twitter to express his concern and said that the Delhi CM should apologise for the incident which happened in front of him, blaming the Aam Aadmi Party does not know governance.

Kejriwal should apologise for this hooliganism which took place before him-



AAP Govt is unable to deliver-Beating of Chief Secretary by MLAs in front of CM is another low & is aimed to divert attention from Govt failures!



AAP does not know Governance and has failed miserablyY a Ajay Maken (@ajaymaken) February 20, 2018

Responding to the allegations by the Chief Secretary, the Aam Aadmi Party shared a post on its Twitter handle and said that the Chieff Secretary refused to answer questions, and even used bad language against some MLAs.

AAP's response to false allegations by Chief Secretary



YYYY pic.twitter.com/dl3M2MrXW6 a AAP (@AamAadmiParty) February 20, 2018

In a new, Aam Aadmi Party's Ashish Khetan call up the Police Control Room (PCR) and alleges that he was manhandled at the Delhi Secretariat on Tuesday. The Delhi Police has reached the spot.

AAP's Ashish Khaitan called PCR (Police Control Room), alleges he was manhandled at Delhi Secretariat. Police has reached the spot. a ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2018

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko signed on Tuesday, February 20, the law "On the peculiarities of the state policy to ensure the state sovereignty of Ukraine in the temporarily occupied territories in Donetsk and Luhansk regions".

The signing of this document by the president during the meeting of the Military Cabinet was broadcast on Ukrainian TV channels.

As reported, on January 18, 2018, the Verkhovna Rada passed the bill "On the peculiarities of the state policy to ensure the state sovereignty of Ukraine in the temporarily occupied territories in Donetsk and Luhansk regions", which recognizes the Russian Federation as an aggressor state".

The document defines the territories in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, both the land territory and internal waters within certain districts and villages where the Russian armed forces and the occupation administration have established and are exercising the occupation authority and general control of Russia, as temporarily occupied. The internal sea waters and the territorial sea of Ukraine adjacent to the occupied land territory, as well as the airspace on it, are also recognized as occupied.

The temporary occupation by Russia of territories in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which are specified in paragraphs 1 to 3 of the first part of Article 1 of this law, is illegitimate and does not create for the Russian Federation any territorial rights, the bill says.
New Delhi:

Provoked by an attack on Delhi's chief secretary, allegedly by some AAP MLAs, bureaucrats on Tuesday said they would boycott all meetings called by Arvind Kejriwal and his cabinet colleagues till the chief minister apologised for the incident.

The three associations of officers of the IAS (Indian Administrative Service), DANICS (Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service) and DSSS (Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board) passed a resolution at a meeting tonight, saying that they would, however, maintain written communications with Aam Aadmi Party ministers to ensure there was no disruption in public service delivery.

"All the three associations have decided to boycott meetings called by all Delhi ministers in protest against the attack on the chief secretary by MLAs at the CM's residence," said Divisional Commissioner Manisha Saxena, who is the general secretary of the IAS officers' association.

Members of the three bodies also took out a candlelight march to Rajghat today in protest against the alleged assault on chief secretary Anshu Prakash.

Also read: Congress, BJP admonish AAP over alleged physical assault on Delhi Chief Secretary



The resolution passed by the officers' bodies said that since public interest was of paramount importance, and to ensure there was no disruption in public service delivery, the three associations would maintain formal written communication with the political executive, till the chief minister apologised for last night's attack.

The bodies alleged the "abhorrent" incident had resulted in a "serious breach of trust", and "shaken the faith" of the bureaucracy in the present political executive of the Delhi government.

Chief Secretary Prakash alleged today he was assaulted by some AAP MLAs in front of Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia at the chief minister's residence.

In his complaint to the police, Prakash said the attack on him was "premeditated" and a "conspiracy" of all those who were present at a meeting late last night at Kejriwal's residence.

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New Delhi:

The power tussle between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and bureaucrats turned ugly on Tuesday after Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash claimed that he was physically assaulted by two AAP MLAs in presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The top bureaucrat of Delhi was allegedly manhandled by at least two AAP MLAs while a meeting on the door-to-door delivery of essential government services was in progress.

A However, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, terming the Chief Secretaryas allegations as aludicrousa accused Prakash of working on aBJPas behesta.

aThere was no incident of assault or attempted assault by any AAP MLAs. The Chief Secretary refused to answer questions saying he was answerable only to LG and not CM and MLAs. He used bad language,a the Aam Aadmi Party said in its statement.

Meanwhile, political rivals have trained their guns at Kejriwal govt with Delhi Congress Chief Ajay Maken terming the incident as AAPas new low demanded Chief Ministeras apology.

Delhi Administrative Subordinate Services President DN Singh announced a strike with immediate effect and said they will not go to work until those at fault are not arrested.

After Anshu Prakash, AAP's Ashish Khetan also claimed that a mob shouting pro-BJP slogans manhandled him at the Delhi Secretariat while Delhi police remained a mute spectator and didn't intervene.

"There was a mob, unruly and aggressive - they ran towards me shouting pro-BJP slogans ..my staff members have been hurt. Lodged a complaint with Daryaganj PS....Delhi police staff did not intervene," Khetan said.

Here are the updates:

# 8:00 PM: The Delhi Police filed an FIR against AAP's Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan under IPC Sections including 120B (criminal conspiracy), 186 (obstructing a public servant from performing the duty) and 353 (assault on public servant.

# 7:20 PM : Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash lodged an compalaint against AAP's Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan and 10 other MLAs.

# 04: 27 PM | AAP leader Ashish Khetan : It was riot like situation. Everything is on CCTV. A violent crowd raising slogans attacked the chief secretary. We don't know who they are. Police were mute spectators.

# 04: 25 PM : AAP denies allegations

#A 03: 35 PM | Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweets, "The MHA has sought a report on the incident from the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. Justice will be done. A delegation of IAS DANICS & Subordinate Services of Delhi Government met me today and apprised me of the prevailing situation."

#A 03: 30 PM | Home Minister Rajnath Singh: I am deeply pained with the happening. Civil servants should be allowed to work with dignity and without fear

# Association says interest officers and staff will continue to work

In public interest officers & staff will continue to work in their offices. However, no officer will attend meeting beyond office hours, outside office premises, till such time effective action is taken against all people behind this incident: IAS Association Delhi a ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2018

# The Association says functional crisis on behalf of the AAP party

The Associations strongly feel that above incident amounts to functional crisis and breakdown of governance and earnestly implore the Honable Lt. Governor and the Govt. of India to take expeditious action against the perpetrators of the unfortunate incident: IAS Association Delhi a ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2018

#A IAS officers go on strike over Delhi Chief Secretary's assault

IAS, Delhi, Andaman&Nicobar Islands Civil Service (DANICS) & Delhi Admn Subordinate Services Assoc (DASS), representing officers of Govt of NCT Delhi, condemn&protest physical assault by MLAs on Chief Secy in CMas residence in presence&with consent of CM & Dy CM: IAS Assoc Delhi a ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2018

The appalling and shocking physical assault meted out to the Head of the Administration of Delhi, in the form of blows on the head, amounting to threat to life and physical safety, is deplorable: IAS Association Delhi a ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2018

# BJP member Manoj Tiwari says CM Arvind Kejriwal should resign

@ArvindKejriwal and his Goon MLAs misbehaved and threatened the Chief secretary of NCT Delhi Government last night...

another shameful act of @AamAadmiParty Goons ...

an act of Urban Naxalism ...#UrbanNaxaliteKejriwal must Resign a Manoj Tiwari (@ManojTiwariMP) February 20, 2018

# Former AAP MLA Kapil Mishra backs the Delhi Chief Secretary

Chief Secretary of Delhi is a very decent man, he doesn't even raise his voice to his juniors.



In last few months four IAS officers KS Meena, Varsha Joshi, Sarangi and Ashwani have voted in official records that they were threatened to get physically attacked by AAP MLAs. a Kapil Mishra (@KapilMishra_IND) February 20, 2018

# BJP's Satish Upadhyay asks why the CM and his people are not being arrested

Chief Secretary of Delhi, the Top most officer, gets physically assaulted, locked up, abused & beaten by @ArvindKejriwal & 15 of his MLA's @ 12 midnight at his residence. But why's CM & his goons not being arrested ? Is he above law ? a Satish Upadhyay (@upadhyaysbjp) February 20, 2018

# AAP MLA Ajay Dutt files an FIR against the Delhi Chief Secretariat

AAP MLA @AjayDutt48 has written to @CPDelhi to lodge FIR against the Chief Secretary. Delhi chief secretary used "casteist remarks" against him in a meeting at CM @ArvindKejriwal residence. pic.twitter.com/vchb5wdkWt a AAP (@AamAadmiParty) February 20, 2018

# The leaders of Aam Aadmi Party will meet at 4 pm today

AAP leaders to address an important press conference today ( Feb 20) at 4 PM. a AAP (@AamAadmiParty) February 20, 2018

# Delhi Police reaches the Secretariat

#A After Anshu Prakash, AAP's Ashish Khetan claimed he was manhandled at the Delhi Secretariat on Tuesday

AAP's Ashish Khaitan called PCR (Police Control Room), alleges he was manhandled at Delhi Secretariat. Police has reached the spot. a ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2018

#A Manisha Saxena, Secretary ofA Indian Administrative Services, said, "Met LG & put forward our concerns. Chief Secy was called for a meeting late at night; CM, Dy CM & MLAs were there, when CS reached he was roughed up. Since few years such things have been happening, officers have been insulted & humiliated."

# Responding to the allegations by the Chief Secretary, the Aam Aadmi Party shared a post on its Twitter handle and said that theA ChieffSecretary refused to answer questions, and even used bad language against some MLAs.

AAP's response to false allegations by Chief SecretaryA



YYYYA pic.twitter.com/dl3M2MrXW6 a AAP (@AamAadmiParty)A February 20, 2018

# Delhi Congress President Ajay Maken took to Twitter to express his concern and said that the Delhi CM shouldA apologiseA for the incident which happened in front of him, blaming the Aam Aadmi Party does not know governance.

Kejriwal should apologise for this hooliganism which took place before him-



AAP Govt is unable to deliver-Beating of Chief Secretary by MLAs in front of CM is another low & is aimed to divert attention from Govt failures!



AAP does not know Governance and has failed miserablyY a Ajay Maken (@ajaymaken)A February 20, 2018

#A DN Singh, Delhi Administrative Subordinate Services President said, "We are going on a strike with immediate effect. We are with our Chief Secretary. Until those at fault are not arrested we will not get back to work. We have urged LG to take legal action against those responsible. This is like a constitutional crisis, never seen such a thing happen in the past many years."

#A Kapil Mishra, AAP MLA and former minister in the Kejriwal cabinet, said, aThis has never happened in the history of India. As an MLA, I am ashamed that this incident has taken place.a

aaaa aa - aaa 12 aaa CM aa aaaaaa aa aaaaa aasaa aa aaaa aa aaaaaa, aaa aaaaaa aaaa aaaa aa aaaaa aaaA



CM aa aaaa asaa aaaaaaaYaa aa aaa aaaaaaa aa, aaa MLA aaaaaaaaaaa aa aaaaaaa aaa



aaa aa aa aaaa aaa aaa aaaa aaaaaa aaaaaa CM aa aaaa aa aaaaa aasaa aa aaaaa a Kapil Mishra (@KapilMishra_IND)A February 20, 2018

#A Sharmistha Mukherjee, Delhi Congress Vice-President, said, aIn a democracy, we expect that all disputes will be solved by dialogue. Violence against anyone, including a senior bureaucrat, is not the way to resolve anything. There should be a thorough probe into this and if the Chief Secretaryas complaint is found to be true, the MLAs should receive tough punishment.aA

#A Former AAP leader, Mayank Gandhi, said, aConsidering the confrontational attitude taken up by both sides and the vicious atmosphere that this created, this was a natural consequence.a

# BJPas Vijender Gupta took to Twitter and shared the event, reporting the whole incident as aill-treatmenta. He also conveyed that he will be meeting the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi in the afternoon on Tuesday and discuss the further course of action.

CM @ArvindKejriwal in his dictatorial style called Chief Secretary at 12 midnight & berated him in front of his MLAs. Drunk on power CM was concerned about why not more funds were dispersed for advertisements. Such is the state of affairs under AAP. @HMOIndia @LtGovDelhi a Vijender Gupta (@Gupta_vijender) February 20, 2018

Will be meeting Hon'ble @LtGovDelhi at 12:35pm to apprise him of the ill treatment meted out to the Chief Secretary at the hands of AAP goons on the behest of CM @ArvindKejriwal. The same had happened with BJP delegation when it went to meet the CM at his residence. a Vijender Gupta (@Gupta_vijender) February 20, 2018

He also said that a total of nine AAP MLAs were present when the Chief Secretary was assaulted in front of CM Kejriwal.

Delhi Police, however, said it has not received any formal complaint about the incident.

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New Delhi:

US President Donal Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr, will arrive in India on Tuesday on a business trip for a week-long and will hold a closed-door meeting with top industrialists in the national capital on Wednesday.

The luncheon meeting at Birla House will be hosted by Congress leader Milind Deora and business leaders Deepak Parekh and Shobhana Bhartiya, sources said.

Donald Trump Jr will attend another high-profile closed-door business event in Mumbai, which will be hosted by the Bombay Club.

While only 20 top business leaders have been invited, sources have confirmed that Sunil Bharti Mittal will be in attendance.

Rest of the names on the list are protected due to security reasons. Also, no political leaders from Delhi are on the list.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

Donald Trump Jr., eldest son of POTUS Donald Trump will deliver a speech on foreign policy related to the Indo-Pacific relations at an event where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be present.

Donald Trump Jr. is on a week-long unofficial visit to India to promote his family's real estate projects.

Trump Jr., the executive vice president of the Trump Organization will meet investors and business leaders where his family has real estate projects, namely Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, and Gurugram.

He will give an address on "Reshaping Indo-Pacific Ties: The New Era of Cooperation" at a global business summit on Friday evening where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be present and speak on the topic of "Preparing India for the Future."

Apartments worth $70 million have been sold since the Gurugram towers project was launched in early January said Amit Sharma, spokesman for the Gurugram developer.

The prices of the flats vary between $780,000 and $1.6 million and the buildings have private elevator service, in-residence catering, and an indoor swimming pool.

Along with the Trump Tower Delhi NCR (National Capital Region) in Gurugram, other projects include two residential towers Pune, towers in Mumbai and Kolkata, and a planned office tower in Gurugram.

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New Delhi:

Akhila Ashokan popularly known as Hadiya, a 24-year-old woman from Kerala who converted to Islam to marry a Muslim man, on Tuesday filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court seeking permission to live with Shafin Jahan as husband and wife.

Hadiya in an affidavit filed the affidavit through Advocate Sayid Marzook Bafaki at the Apex Court stated that she embraced Islam and married to Shafin Jahan on her own will.

I embraced the religion of Islam on my choice after studying about Islam and thereafter I married a person, namely Shafin Jahan. I embraced Islam and married him on my own free will, reads the affidavit.

She also requested the Supreme Court to restore are liberty by allowing her to stay with Jahan as husband and wife.

Hadiya  who is currently pursuing her medical course from Shivaraj Homeopathy Medical College in Tamil Nadus Salem after Supreme Courts direction in November,2017  has requested the Apex Court to appoint Jahan as her guardian.

Also read: Hadiya returns to college in Salem, will resume classes as Akhila; Hopes to meet husband



She also informed the court that her father is an atheist and was under the influence of certain sections of people who are trying to use him.

My father, who is an atheist, would not object to me changing my religion or marry someone from different religion. I further submit that all those people caused to subject me to the horrendous torture and torments, Hadiya stated in the affidavit.

The 24-year-olds marriage to a Muslim man and conversion had triggered widespread controversy across the country. Several political leaders and Hindu fundamentalists had termed her conversion as love jihad.

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New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on February 16 interacted with the students of Class 10 and 12 during an interactive session Pariksha Par Charcha organised at Delhi's Talkatora Stadium.

Now schools have been asked to submit proofs in form of photos and videos that students watched the telecast of PM's guiding session following Ministry of Human Resource Developments (HRDs) direction to all state governments to collect reports on the session soon after the conclusion of the programme.

Apart from the students who were present at Talkatora Stadium about 10 crore students from all over the country participated through video conferencing.

The state governments had sequentially instructed all schools to provide details of how many students watched PMs speech and substantiate the submissions with photographs and videos of their participation.

Schools across the country have received circulars to submit their evidence by February 19 as ordered by the state governments.

"The ministry has not asked for any report on the participation of schools in the event. It was a routine feedback where no mandatory clause was given," said a senior HRD official while another HRD official said that it has been a practice for states to submit their feedback for events like the PM's recent session adding, "No evidence was sought."

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New Delhi:

The Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of the Indian Army test fired Agni II medium-range nuclear-capable missile from APJ Abdul Kalam island off the Odisha coast. The missile has a strike range of more than 2,000 km.

India had earlier successfully test-fired its short-range nuclear capable ballistic missile Agni-1 with a strike range of over 700 km from a test range off the Odisha coast, Defence sources said.

The indigenous developed surface-to-surface missile was launched as a part of a periodic training activity by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of the Army to consolidate operational readiness, they said.

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Jalandhar:

A Jalandhar woman furious over her husbands alleged extra-marital affair allegedly chopped off his genitals and then disposed them in a toilet on Monday night, police said on Tuesday.

The Punjab Police said, The victim, Azad Singh is a resident of Joginder Nagar. He is battling for life in a local hospital.

The Singhs wife, Sukwant Kaur, has been arrested, said a senior police officer deployed at Jalandhar district.

Jalandhar Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Satiner Kumar told the media that Kaur using a knife cut off Singhs genitals while he was sleeping and later flushed them in a toilet.

Also read| Kerala: Woman cuts off man's genitals who attempts to rape her, Kerala CM calls it courageous



The accused told the police during questioning that her husband was having extra marital affair. She told us that even after repeated requests to cut off his ties with other women he did not mend his ways which made her furious and led to the incident, added police.

Singh was rushed for medical attention by his family members after he cried for help.

A complaint against Kaur was lodged at the local police station by Singhs father. FIR has been registered under relevant IPC sections.

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New Delhi:

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is on a week-long state visit to India, didnt receive a warm welcome by PM Modi with his trademark hug.

Instead, Modi government sent the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Gajendra Shekhawat to receive the visiting premier at the Delhi airport.

Prime Minister Modi has started a trend of personally receiving visiting government heads and welcoming them with his trademark hug.

Recently, when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited India, PM Modi, breaking protocol, himself went to the airport to receive him.

Many, including Canadian media, has interpreted the indifferent welcome to Trudeau as a "snub".

It has been two days since Trudeau is in India but Narendra Modi could not fetch time to meet the visiting premier.

Also Read | Donald Trump Jr to hold business meetings in Delhi, Mumbai

From taking a swing with Chinese Prime Minister Xi Jinping at the Sabarmati riverfront to flying kites with Israeli PM Netanyahu, Modi has accompanied most world leaders during their visit to his home state Gujarat.

However, PM Modi was absent when Justin Trudeau, with family in tow, was trying his hands on a traditional charkha or spinning wheel during his visit to Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad on Monday.

Not just by PM Modi, Trudeau was also cold-shouldered by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Yogi, who personally received Netanyahu during his Taj Mahal visit, did not go to greet Trudeau, neither he accompanied the visiting Canadian PM during his visit to the Taj Mahal on Sunday.

The reason behind Indias snub to Canadian Premier could be the fact that some of Trudeaus Ministers were hobnobbing with Sikh separatist  Khalistan movement members  who wanted a separate homeland for Sikhs.

Trudeaus cabinet has four Sikh ministers who openly gel with Khalistanis and were said to be their sympathiser.

The lukewarm welcome to Trudeau can backfire and hamper the significant 2015 deal, in which Canada agreed to supply 3,000 metric tonnes of Uranium to power Indias atomic reactors.

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New Delhi:

BJP President Amit Shah, who is campaigning for the BJP in poll-bound Karnataka has alleged that CM Siddaramaiah is playing politics of appeasement and polarisation in the state.

If Siddaramaiah thinks politics of appeasement will be successful, he's wrong. Appeasement and polarisation here reflect an example where the son of an MLA Haris thrashed a man but there was no FIR. Why? Not only because he's Haris's son but also because it involves appeasement of groups, said Shah referring to Mohammad Haris Nalapad, son of Congress MLA NA Haris, who allegedly assaulted a man at a restaurant in Bengaluru on Saturday night.

This is an election not only related to the state but the interests of the entire nation. In this election a government will come in Karnataka which will open doors to the South for us, said Shah, adding, BJP is a party with different work culture. Other parties go for elections based on various ministers and their work. We, on the other hand, not only have the world's most popular leader but also 11 crore members from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.

Earlier, Shah visited Kukke Shree Subrahmanya temple in south Kannada district.

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Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a telephone conversation have agreed to continue contacts, including in the Normandy format, on the release of hostages, the work of the Joint Center on Control and Coordination (JCCC), the possible deployment of the peacekeeping mission in Donbas.

"Petro Poroshenko and Angela Merkel have agreed to continue to maintain contacts on all the above-mentioned issues, including in the Normandy format," the presidential press service said after the conversation.

In particular, the parties discussed the state of the implementation of the Minsk Agreements, noting the need to consolidate the ceasefire.

A special emphasis was placed on the need to release the detained persons.

"Petro Poroshenko and Angela Merkel exchanged views on the issues related to the resumption of the efficient work of the Joint Center for Control and Coordination in Donbas and the possibility of the deployment of a United Nations peacekeeping mission to certain areas of the Donbas and Luhansk regions," the press service said.

In addition, the leaders of two countries discussed further interaction in the implementation of the program of reforms in Ukraine.
New Delhi:

aLike 2G Scam and Bofors matter, this case will also collapse. Agencies are making noises in the media but they will not be able to prove the charges in a court of law. I am sure Nirav Modi will not be found guilty,a said Vijay Aggarwal, Nirav Modi's lawyer.

Vijay Aggarwal has earlier represented a number of accused persons in the high profile 2G spectrum case.

"All allegations (against Modi) are wrong. If somebody has committed a fraud, why would he leave movable assets worth 5,600-crore, which the ED has taken away, behind," argued Aggarwal.

The case, which is being touted as the biggest banking fraud in India, came to light last week after Punjab National Bank (PNB) said it has detected a USD 1.77 billion (about Rs 11,400 crore) scam and referred the matter to CBI for investigation.

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New Delhi:

S Dhasvanth, an engineer, who was the main accused in the rape-and-murder of a 7-year-old Hasini, has been sentenced to death by the Mahila Court in Tamil Nadu.

The convict allegedly raped and murdered a 7-year-old girl named Hasini, who was his neighbour. The 23-year-old Dhasvanth had burnt the minors body after raping and strangulating her.

The incident, which took place in February 2017, has finally for a verdict. The court held Dashvanth guilty on all charges including those under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POSCO) Act.

Other than the POSCO Act, the accused was convicted under IPC Section 363 (kidnapping), 366 (kidnapping, abduction), 354-b (assault or use of criminal force on woman with intent to disrobe), 302 (murder), and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) and section 8 read with 7,6,5(m) of POSCO (punishment for aggravated sexual assault).

The court examined 30 witnesses, 45 documents, and 19 pieces of evidence in the investigation of the case. The lawyer fighting the case on behalf of Hasinis father, Kannadasan, said that Dashvanth had been sentenced seven years for kidnapping, 10 years under section 366 of the IPC, seven years under section 354-b, and seven years for destroying evidence.

Along with this, 15 years of sentence has been given under the POSCO Act. All in all, the convicted has been given a total of 46 years of severe imprisonment.

Also Read| Arunachal Pradesh: Rape, murder accused of 5-year-old girl pulled out of police lockup, lynched by villagers in Lohit

Hasinis father, while speaking to the media, said, In the last year I have never got sleep. I fought to ensure that the judicial system gave the right punishment in time. I know that my child will not come back but I will say thanks to the judiciary. I hope nobody does something like this ever again.

The minor, Hasini, went missing from her apartment complex on February 6, 2017, where she used to stay with her family. Dashvanth, as per witnesses, lured the minor away with a dog, and then sexually assaulted her, and later killed her. He strangulated her, put her body in a plastic bag, and set fire to the bag on a national highway.

It took almost eight months to get the accused, Dashvanth, to the court. The police failed to file a charge sheet against him within the 90 days reprimand given by the Court, which led to Dashvanths statutory bail on September 12, 2017.

Dashvanth also killed his mother on December 2, 2017 and escaped with her jewellery. He was caught on December 6 in Mumbai, escaped again, and was caught again the next day. His father, who was continuously supporting him from the start of the case, withdrew his legal support and regretted that getting him out on bail was the biggest mistake of his life as it cost him his wife.

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Dinajpur:

In a barbaric incident, a teenager from West Bengals Dinajpur was allegedly gang-raped by two men and a metal object was thrusted into her private parts, police said on Tuesday.

West Bengal Police said, the 19-year-old girl was found lying naked under a bridge. She is currently being medically treated at Malda Medical College and Hospital, said a senior police officer of South Dinajpur.

The police further added that a passerby had found the victim lying in unconscious state in pool of blood with her intestine coming out from her private part.

We have arrested two persons in connection to the incident,: said Prasun Banerjee, Dinajpur superintendent of police (SP).

Another police officer part of the investigation team said, The passerby who had rushed the victim to a nearby hospital told us that she told him that two persons abducted and assaulted her on February 17. She was returning from Shivratri fair.

The officer added, The victim named on Ram Prabesh Sharma along with an accomplice abducted and gang-raped her.

Also read: Jammu and Kashmir CM Mufti furious over use of Tiranga in rally by Hindu group demanding release of rape accused



Dr Amir Kumar Dawn, medical superintendent of Malda Medical College and Hospital said, She has been brutally assaulted by her perpetrators. We conducted two rounds of surgery on her. She is recovering.

Medical superintendent Amit Kumar Dawn said, The girl was brutally assaulted. A team of specialist doctors have conducted surgeries and she is responding well.

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paraklisi

Letter VIIMy children, Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that we through His poverty might become rich. (2 Cor. 8:9.) Behold, His bondage had made us free, and His weakness has strengthened us, and His foolishness has made us wise. Again, by His death He brings to pass our resurrection, that we may be able to lift up our voice on high and say, Though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him so no more, but in Christ each is a new creature. (2 Cor. 5:16-17.) Truly, my beloved in the Lord, I tell you that as to the details of the word of liberty whereby we have been set free, I have still many other things to say to you, but there is not time now to tell you them.Now I greet you all, my dear children in the Lord, holy Israelite children in your intellectual substance. Truly it befitted you, who have drawn near to your Creator, to seek the salvation of your souls by the implanted law of the covenant.But by the abundance of wickedness and stirring up of evil and the cupidity of the passions, the implanted law of the covenant dried up, and the senses of our soul perished, and therefore we could not perceive the glorious intellectual substance, because of the death into which we had fallen.Therefore it is written in the divine Scriptures, As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Cor. 15:22.) Now therefore He is the life of every rational nature created by Him after the likeness of His own image; who Himself is the true Mind of the Father, and unaltered Image of the Father. (Heb. 1:3.) But the creatures made in His image are of changeable substance; for evil is come about in us, wherein we have all died, since it is alien to the nature of our intellectual substance.Therefore through all that is foreign to nature, we have made for ourselves a home dark and full of war. An this I testify to you, that we had lost all knowledge of virtue. Therefore our Father God saw our infirmity, that we were become incapable of clothing ourselves aright in the truth; therefore in His goodness He came to visit His creatures by the ministry of the saints.I pray you all in the Lord, beloved, to understand what I write to you; for it is no bodily love that I have towards you, but a spiritual, religious love. Prepare yourselves therefore to go to your Creator, and rend your hearts and not your garments (Joel 2:13); and ask yourselves what we can render unto the Lord for all the benefits that He has done unto us (Ps. 116:11), who even in our dwelling here and our humiliation, remembered us in His great goodness and His infinite love, and hath not dealt with us after our sins (Ps. 103:10); who even made the sun to minister to us in this our dark home, and appointed the moon and all the stars for our ministers, commanding them to be subject unto vanity that will pass away (cf. Rom. 8:30), for the strengthening of our bodies. And there are other powers also, hidden powers, which He made ministers unto us, powers which we see not with the bodily eye.Now, therefore, what shall we answer Him in the day of judgment, or what good is lacking from Him to us, that He has not done for us? Did the patriarchs not suffer for us, or the priest not teach us, or judges and kings not fight for us? Did not the prophets die for us? Or were not the apostles persecuted for us? Or did not His beloved Son die for us all? And now we ought to prepare ourselves to go to our Creator in holiness. For the Creator saw that His creatures, even the saints, were not able to heal the great wound of their own members. Therefore, being the Father of the creatures, He knew the infirmity of all their minds, and showed mercy towards them according to His great love, and spared not His only-begotten Son for the salvation of us all, but delivered Him up for our sins. (Rom 8:32). And our iniquities humbled Him, and with His stripes we all are healed. (Isa. 53:5.) And He gathered us from all regions by the word of His power, till He should make the resurrection of our minds from the earth, teaching us that we are members one of another. (Eph. 4:25.)Therefore it behooves us all, approaching our Creator, to exercise our minds and senses to understand the distinction between good and evil, and to know the whole dispensation of Jesus which He made in His advent; how He was made in all things like unto us, apart from sin only. (Heb. 4:15.) But by reason of our great wickedness and stirring up of evil, and the grievousness of our inconstancy, the advent of Jesus was to some foolishness, and to some a stumbling-block; but for others, gain; and for some, wisdom and power; and for some, resurrection and life. (1 Cor. 1:23-24.) And let this be clear to you, that His advent is made a judgment for all the world. For it says, Behold the days come, saith the Lord, and they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them; and they shall teach no more every man his neighbor and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord; and I will make my name heard unto the ends of the earth: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God; because that when they knew God they glorified Him not as their Creator (Jer. 31:34; Rom. 3:19, 1:21), through their unintelligence, whereby they were unable to apprehend His wisdom, but each one of us sold himself to his own will for evil, and became slave to it.Therefore, also, Jesus emptied himself of His glory, and took upon himself the form of a slave (Phil. 2:8), that His bondage might make us free. And we were become foolish, and in our foolishness committed every kind of evil; and again He took the form of foolishness, that by His foolishness we might be made wise. And we were become poor, and in our poverty lacked all virtue; therefore again He took the form of poverty, that by His poverty He might make us rich in all wisdom and understanding. (2 Cor. 8:9.) Not only this, but He even took upon himself the form of our weakness, that by His weakness He might make us strong. And He became obedient to the Father in everything unto death, even the death of the cross (Phil. 2:8), that by His death He might work the resurrection of us all, that He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. (Heb. 2:14.) And if indeed we set ourselves free through His advent, we shall be found disciple of Jesus, and receive in Him the divine inheritance.Truly, my beloved in the Lord, I am greatly troubled and vexed in my spirit: for we wear the habit and have the name of saints, and boast of this before unbelievers. And I fear lest the word Paul be fulfilled in us, which says, having the form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. (2 Tim. 3:5.) And out of the love which I have towards you, I pray to God for you, that you may consider your own life, and inherit things unseen. Truly, my children, though we should give ourselves with all our power to seek the Lord, what thanks do we deserve? For we are only seeking our own reward; we are only seeking what is natural to our substance. For every man who seeks God or services Him, does what is natural to our substance. For every man who seeks God or serves Him, does what is natural to his substance. But every sin of which we are guilty, is foreign and unnatural to our substance.Truly, my dear children in the Lord, who have prepared to offer yourselves a sacrifice to God in holiness, we have hid from you nothing needful, but testify unto you that we have seen, that the enemies of virtue are always meditating evil against the truth. Of this also be advised, that he who is after the flesh always persecutes him who is after the spirit (Gal. 4:29), and all who will live godly in Christ shall suffer persecution. (2 Tim. 3:12.) Therefore Jesus, knowing all the tribulations and temptations were coming in the world upon the apostles, and that by their patience they would destroy all the power of the enemy, that is, idolatry, comforted them and said, In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world. (John 16:33.) And He taught them saying, Fear not the world: for all the evils of the world are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed. If they persecuted the prophets which were before you, they will also persecute you: if they hate me, they will hate you also. But fear not: for by your patience you will destroy all the power of the enemy. (Rom. 8:18; Matt. 5:12; John 15:20; Luke 21:19.)Of the details of the word of liberty wherewith we are west free, I have much to tell you. But vie occasion of wisdom to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser. (Prov. 9:9.) Yet we have need of mutual consolation in our paltry words. But if the mind has attained true perception, it needs no more the falsehood of bodily speech. But I rejoice in you all, beloved in the Lord, holy Israelite children in your intellectual substance. For first the rational man needs to know himself, and then to know the things of God, and all the bounties which His grace is ever showing towards him; and then to know that all sin and guilt is foreign to the nature of his intellectual substance. For at last our Creator seeing that by our own free choice we possess these unnatural things in which here we were dying, and being for this reason moved with compassion towards us, of His goodness wanted to bring us back to that beginning without end, and visited His creatures, not sparing Himself for the salvation of us all. He gave Himself up for our sins (Gal. 1:4); and our iniquities humbled Him, but with His stripes we were healed. (Isa. 53:5.) And by the word of His power He gathered us out of all lands, from one end of the earth to the other end of the world, and taught us that we are members one of another. (Eph. 4:25.) Therefore, if indeed we have prepared to set ourselves free through His advent, let us examine ourselves to see what as rational men we can render unto the Lord for all the benefits that He hath done unto us. (Ps. 116:11.) And so I also, the poor wretch who writes this letter, being roused from the sleep of death, have spent most of the time that I have been upon earth mourning and weeping, saying What can I render unto the Lord for all the benefits that He hath done unto me? For nothing is lacking to us, which He has not done for us in our humiliation. He made His angels minister to us. He bade His prophets to prophesy, and His apostles to preach the Gospel to us. And as the greatest of all His ordinances, He made His Only-begotten Son to take upon Himself the form of a slave for us.I beseech you therefore, my beloved in the Lord, you who are joint heirs with the saints, to rouse up your minds in the fear of God. For let this word be clear to you, that John the Forerunner of Jesus baptized unto remissions of sins for our sakes, but by the Spirit we were sanctified in Christ. Let us now prepare in all holiness to cleanse the senses of our mind, that we may be clean by the baptism of Jesus, so as to offer ourselves a sacrifice to God. And this Paraclete Spirit comforts us and brings us back to our beginning, to recover our inheritance and the dominion of that same comforting Spirit. Therefore, as many as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ; there is neither male nor female, there is neither bond nor free. (Gal. 3:27-28.) And every bodily tongue fails them, when they receive the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, at the time when they take up the holy inheritance, and worship the Father as is right, in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24.) And let this word be clear to you; and do not wait for a future judgment in that coming of Jesus. For already His advent is judgment to all of us.Now therefore know that the saints and the righteous, clothed in the Spirit, pray for us always that we may be humbled before God, and put on again the garment that we had put off, in our intellectual substance. For often also has that voice come from God the Father to all who are clothed in the Spirit, saying to them, Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith the Lord: priests, speak to the heart of Jerusalem. (Isa. 40:1-2.) For God always visits His creatures, and bestows His goodness upon them.Truly, my beloved, of the details of the word of liberty with which we are set free, there are very many other things to tell you. But it says, Give occasion of wisdom to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser. (Prov. 9:9.) But may the God of peace give you grace and the spirit of discernment, to know that what I write to you is the commandment of the Lord. May the God of all grace keep you holy in the Lord to your last breath. I pray God always for the salvation of you all, my beloved in the Lord. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.Source/
Ukraine will continue to insist on the introduction of a peacekeeping mission in Donbas, the country's president, Petro Poroshenko, said.

"Ukraine remains committed to peaceful resolution of the problem of liberating its occupied territories. This is proved by our resolute struggle - mine as president, by our foreign ministry, parliament and its members, other ministries and government departments - the struggle for deployment of the classic peacekeeping mission in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolution which would allow restoring the security component of the sovereignty-restoration," Poroshenko told the Military Cabinet in Kyiv on Tuesday.

Over 75% of Ukrainian people are in favor of introducing peacekeepers in Donbas, he said.

Furthermore, he promised to tell, during the closed-door part of the meeting, of the results of his talks with United States Defense Secretary James Mattis, British Prime Minister Theresa May and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

"Separately, I will ask [Ukrainian Defense Minister] Stepan Tymofiyovych Poltorak to report on the results of his U.S. visit. There has been positive news there, that soon we will finally get the long-waited defensive weapon. And there are certain positive results regarding the modernization of our Armed Forces," Poroshenko said.
Bringing lychees to Australia



When Luong Thanh Nghi assumed the role of Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia in early 2014, negotiations on exporting fruit to Australia had been going on for a long time without yielding concrete results.



At the time, Vietnamese coffee, pepper, shrimp, and fish were already being enjoyed widely by Australian consumers. But for fruit, Australia is a very demanding market. Fruits imported to Australia must meet not only the stringent quality and safety requirements but also strict labelling, packaging, and biological inspection rules.



Although Vietnamese fruits have been exported to dozens of global markets, including the EU and the US, it does not mean they can easily penetrate into the Australian market, said Nghi.



The country requires a risk assessment process that could last several years.



The greatest challenge is Vietnams limited health inspection and the post-harvest storage capacity. Before exporting, lychees must be radiated for sterilisation and an extended storage period. But at the time, Vietnam had only one radiation facility in Ho Chi Minh City.



Directly entrusted with the task of promoting fruit exports by the Prime Minister, Ambassador Nghi had multiple meetings with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Vietnamese trade mission in Australia as well as Australias functional agencies and agriculture minister with the aim of addressing each obstacle so as to soon reach a positive agreement.



Negotiations took place at multiple levels and were even included on the agenda of high-level meetings. He recalled that in 2015 when former PM Nguyen Tan Dung visited Australia, he asked Australia to allow Vietnamese fruit exports into the country and joked that the PM himself also had to market Vietnamese fruits.



The two ministries of agriculture met several more times while the Vietnamese trade mission actively learned about the Australian market, lobbying Australias fruit association to work with importers as part of preparations.



Prior to the 2015 lychee season, good news arrived when the Australian agriculture ministry officially allowed the imports of fresh lychees from Vietnam. A few weeks later, the first lychee shipments from the growing regions of Luc Ngan and Thanh Ha arrived in Sydney and Melbourne to the jubilation of many.



The happiest are the lychee farmers. In the beginning, lychees were sold for as much as AU$22 per kilogram before falling to AU$14-15 but such prices were still higher than at home, Nghi said in great joy. Driven by export prices, lychees in the domestic market were also sold at higher prices, which encouraged farmers to follow international practices in their production. But concerns remain because poor health inspections and storage capacity had affected the quality of lychees and the Vietnamese brand. But it is a different long story.



After lychees, mangoes were also given a passport to Australia after seven years of negotiation. And recently the dragon fruit has also been accepted. With valuable lessons from lychee negotiations, later negotiations are expected to be increasingly streamlined, opening the way for passion fruits, star apples, longans, and rambutan.



The seafood market also holds great potential when processed shrimp and fish from Vietnam have become a common food of Australians. Negotiations began last year on fresh shrimp exports. Although no results have been achieved, there are positive signs as many large enterprises have invested in advanced technology to meet Australias requirements.



Vietnamese corner in Coles supermarkets



It has become a regular routine for the ambassador and Vietnamese representative agencies in Australia to promote fruits and call on Vietnamese compatriots to use Vietnamese goods. Each time a shipment of fresh lychees arrives, Ambassador Nghi would take to Facebook to announce the time and venues where they would be sold.



The latest updates on fruits were also frequently posted on the Facebook fan page of the embassy and the website of the Vietnamese trade mission. The Embassy, the Vietnamese trade mission, and the Vietnamese Business Association in Australia worked together to organise a lychee day so that Vietnamese compatriots and foreigners could gather and enjoy the fruit.



A media kit comprising video clips, leaflets, and books were quickly designed to show and instruct ways of processing lychees in daily dishes, targeted not only at the Vietnamese community but also at Asians and Australians with a passion for exotic fruits.



Nghi recalled an unforgettable memory in 2014 when lychee negotiations stalled. That year Vietnam decided to stop importing Australian fruits because of an infection. Nghi was asked by the Australian agriculture minister what he thought about Vietnams ban. Nghi replied that it was a difficult decision because Vietnamese consumers always wanted to enjoy Australian fruits but infected fruits could harm tens of millions of people.



The Australian minister remained silent for a moment. Taking the opportunity, Nghi went on I have been to many states in Australia and noticed that many also want to eat Vietnamese fruits but there is no way they could buy. That is unfair trade. At that time, a cabinet reshuffle caused negotiations to come to a standstill. The new minister promised to re-examine the evaluation process and speed up negotiations.



One time Ambassador Nghi visited Victoria and met a manager of Coles, a chain with hundreds of supermarkets throughout Australia. He told Nghi that the chain imported a large amount of Vietnamese goods through a third country and because the chain was so large, its supplies must be stable and quality assured.



In the next hour or more, the ambassador would talk about Vietnamese produce and the benefits of importing goods directly from trusted Vietnamese partners. After the meeting and many emails of persuasion, the Coles manager promised to help promote Vietnamese goods in Coles supermarkets.



Shortly after that a small corner labelled Vietnamese appeared in the food section of Coles supermarkets selling Vietnamese agricultural produce, seasonings, and other foods. This is something very uncommon because Australia is a culturally and racially diverse country and the Vietnamese community is not the largest in the country.



While many Vietnamese foods exported to a third country have lost their brands and become Thai or Chinese, a small corner of made-in-Vietnam products in one of the largest supermarket chains in Australia is something to be proud of.



Ambassador Nghi was overcome with pride because Vietnamese products are truly competitive and have affirmed their position in the market by their quality, price, and brand, and have gradually taken their place in the global supply chain.



That is how diplomacy serves national development.
At the meeting, Swiss Ambassador Anne Lugon-Mounlin said that the Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs completed its two-year tenure as the first Chair of the GAF and nominated Vietnam as its successor.

Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Hai Bang pledged that Vietnam will work hard for the development of the GAF, while connecting members of the International Organisation of Francophone (OIF).

Firstly, Vietnam will coordinate with other members to organise activities within the framework of the Francophone Week in Switzerland in March, said the ambassador.

Bang also asked for support from the Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs and heads of diplomatic agencies of the member nations, and especially Ambassador Anne Lugon-Mounlin, to help Vietnam successfully assume the role as the GAF Chair.

Congratulating Ambassador Bang for his new position, Henri Eli Monceau, head of the OIF permanent mission to the United Nations, said that he hopes Vietnam will continue promoting the spirit of the OIF Summit in Hanoi in 1997 for the common goals of the French-speaking community.

The GAF groups more than 60 ambassadors from embassies of countries in Bern and permanent missions to the United Nations in Geneva who are members or observers of the OIF.
Over the past years, Tung volunteered to collect information and images of the cave system and send them to scientists to seek recognition of Chu BLuk as a volcanic geological park.

The legends of ancients

Many village patriarchs of E De ethnic minority community in Krong No District, Dak Nong Province told legends related to the mysterious Chu BLuk volcano.

Legend has it that, thousands of years ago, the ancestors of the E De people lived deep underground in the areas caves. They called the sacred mountain Chu BLuk which was the origin of the cave system. Chu means mountain and BLuk means origin. One day, a man from the community was expelled from Chu B'Luk Cave for his violation of the precepts. Over the years, he practiced hunting, gathering, and farming. Then, they gathered together and set up their village above the ground.

Nguyen Thanh Tung was born in 1975 in Duc Lap village, Dak So commune, Krong No District. When he was young, Tung and his friends often travelled along the banks of the Serepok River to fish. They came near the Chu BLuk caves, but no one dared to enter the dark hollows except Tung. With a burning torch, he was impressed by the mysterious vegetation. He tried to remember the location and distance between caves to avoid losing his bearings.

In 2007, Tung returned to his hometown as a tour guide after many years of living and working in the southern region. Realising the potential of the cave system in the district, he collected all the images and documents he could find and presented them to Dak Nong provinces cultural sector.

In late 2007, he met Dr La The Phuc, former Director of the Geological Museum and principal researcher of the Vietnam Museum of Nature, who was studying geological forms in the Central Highland provinces. I brought Dr Phuc to the caves and he was the first scientist in Vietnam to affirm that it was the largest volcanic cave system, Tung recalled.

Dak Nong province has submitted a dossier for recognition of Krong No volcanic geological park as a national relic site.

Awakened caves

After the project on researching and investigating and assessing the geological heritage and building a geological park in Krong No District, Dak Nong Province of Dr La The Phuc was published in domestic and foreign magazines, scientists from the General Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam (GDGM) and the Japan Caving Association (JCA) suggested a study of the remaining cave systems in the District under Tungs guidance. Nearly seven years later, the expedition made an announcement to the pride of Vietnam that the Central Highlands are home to the longest volcanic cave system in Southeast Asia. Chu BLuk is a unique natural heritage formed by volcanic eruptions millions of years ago.

Tung shared that during the time hew was discovering the caves, he and the expedition team had to live and work in difficult conditions and faced numerous dangers. However, all people overcame the difficulties to enter the deep caves. He said that it is a miniature world of jagged basalt rock surfaces and cool air. Exploring some unknown caves, the expeditions members found many archaeological relics that date from the Palaeolithic Era (Old Stone Age  6,000 years ago) to the late Neolithic Era (New Stone Age) and the Early Metal Age (4,000  3,000 years ago). They were considered as valid proof of the caves being a habitat of prehistoric humans, which is consistent with the legends told by E De ethnic people.

Scientists also discovered that the Chu BLuk cave system is connected to the large waterfall complex on the Serepok River, so they have a huge tourism potential. Tung and his friends are still exploring the unknown caves. Tung also emphasised that with the knowledge that he has accumulated over the past years, he is willing to introduce the wonders of the caves in the locality to visitors.

The rick vegetation in Chu B'Luk cave system
The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Mohammed Sanusi II and National President of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, Alhaji Muhammadu Kiruwa, have thrown their weight behind the enactment of the Anti-Open Grazing Law in the state, saying it is for the protection of all interest groups.The duo also commended Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose for promulgation of the law, which, according to them, caters for the well-being of parties involved, especially the herders, farmers, host communities among others.Also, amnesty has been declared for any armed herder who surrenders such arms to security agencies in the state.They spoke in Ado-Ekiti on Monday during a stakeholders meeting held at the Government House Grounds.In a statement by the governors Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, the Emir, who is a patron of the MACBAN, was represented by former Kano State Governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, who is also the Sarduana of Kano.Emir Sanusi also frowned at the situation whereby some criminal elements would hide under grazing of herd to perpetrate crimes.
Perhaps the most insightful and concise contribution that I have read about the history of the Fulani and their inordinate ambition and in...

Perhaps the most insightful and concise contribution that I have read about the history of the Fulani and their inordinate ambition and insatiable thirst for domination and conquest was provided by Mr. Gbonkas Ebiri.

His research and analysis of this topic is as historically accurate as it is outstanding. Permit me to share his words.





Kingdoms that accommodated Fulani herdsmen in the past were eventually overthrown by the Fulani. In all situations, these herdsmen took up arms and fought for a Fulani leader to overthrow the kingdoms that accommodated them and their cattle. Examples in history:





The first Fulani Jihad was at Futa Jallon. Fulani pastoralists migrated here in large numbers from North Africa in the 1600s (they migrated in smaller factions earlier).





Futa Jallon was a mountainous rich agricultural land. Shortly after the Pastoralist migrations, Fulani clerics migrated as well. they were called Ulamas.





In 1726, the Fulani community elected one of their own by the name Ibrahim Musa as their leader and gave him the title of Al  Imam (Leader of the Muslim community). Shortly after his election he proclaimed a jihad against the local rulers of the region and enlisted the herdsmen as soldiers in his Jihad.





His successor after his death and new Al- Iman, Ibrahim Sori completed the Jihad in 1776. The new Fulani aristocracy drove out many of the natives. Those they did not drive out, they enslaved.





Slave trade thrived in the region after the Jihad, this was when the slave castle at Goree Island (Point of no return) was built. They captured mostly the people of the Mandika tribe (this was the tribe of Kunta Kinte).





Another region not far from Futa Jallon was Futa Toro. It was rich in Agriculture and the stretch of the Senegal river passed through it. By the banks of this river was fertile farmlands.





This region was of great important to the Fulani pastoralists who migrated to the region around the same time they migrated to Futa Jallon. They could have the cattle feed and drink by the banks of the river. Shortly after the herdsmen arrived, clerics migrated as well.





They formed the majority of the Torobde clerics. A Fulani cleric called Sulayman Bal was nominated by the clerics as the spiritual leader. in the year 1776, Sulayman Bal launched a Jihad against the Denyanke dynasty and enlisted herdsmen into his army of the faithful.





They were overthrown and replaced with a new aristocracy of Fulani leaders. He died while trying to expand the empire to the regions of Trarzas. His successor, Abd al- Qadir completed the expansion and expanded the empire Southeast.





In our own Nigeria, the Fulani migrated as herdsmen and lived in communities. As at the time Dan Fodio arrived, they had Fulani leaders in almost all the Hausa City states with a large concentration in Katsina and Kano.





These leaders included Moyijo at Kebbi, Mohammadu Namoda at Zamfara, Salihu and Mohamadu Dabo of Kano. Very much like the previous Jihads, Dan Fodio was recognized as the leading cleric and given the title of Sarkin Musulmi. (Leader of the Faithful).





He formed a community after his confrontation with the authorities at Gobir and called on the faithfuls to join him, from the community he lauched his Jihad.





Majority of his soldiers were herdsmen and another faction natives that fell for his charismatic leadership. Dan Fodio would eventually give flags of leadership to the Fulani leaders of the various Hausa cities.





By far, the Dan Fodios Jihad was the most successful and all Fulani Jihads in West Africa. He would also replace the Hausa kings with Fulani aristocrats, and like the previous Fulbe leaders, the new empire was hostile to the natives.





Their lands were taken from them and they were relegated to second class citizens in their ancestral homeland. Many of them were forced into slavery under an oppressive feudal system and others sold to Arab slave traders.





At Ilorin, the shortsighted rebel Afonja made it so easy for the Fulani to get rid of him. Unlike the other kingdoms where they migrated on their free will and chose their spiritual leader, Afonja personally wooed the Fulani to his kingdom and appointed Alimi as the cleric of the province.





Both vital foundations for a fulani takeover was given on a platter of gold by warlord. very much as in all cases, the Fulani got rid of him and ensured the throne of Ilorin for their kinsman.





So far they have not been able to invade beyond Ilorin. The warriors at Ibadan fought them back as well as Benin warriors. To conquer the south, it is important to have Fulani herdsmen and clerics stationed in the land.





It is important to indoctrinate natives who profess same religion with them to trade ther ancestry for a religious theocracy of a divine cleric.





Among the Yoruba people, they will succeed as they did in the old Ilorin emirates when many natives of old Oyo empire enlisted in the army of Alimis descendants to invade villages under Oyo and capture their fellow kinsmen as slaves to be sold to the Portuguese.





All observations of history prove beyond doubt that giving colonies and settlements to Fulani people under the guise of land for grazing is very dangerous.





The Fulani is obsessed to conquer the South and take it from the ancestral owners like they did to the Hausas. The South owns the Ports and oil. It owns the best companies and rainforests. That is what they secretly want and not grazing land for cows.





With scattered Fulani settlements in the south, they will bring their clerics and launch a new phase of Jihads from our base. Cattle colonies is a plan to conquer the South.





Herdsmen are foot soldiers of the Fulani empire and the demand for lands in the South is a first step in future to take over the ancestral lands of the Southern people. (CONCLUDED).





I commend Mr. Ebiri for his courageous submission and I wholeheartedly concur with his conclusions and findings. He has said it all and there is very little left to say.





It is left for the Nigerian people to either resist the attempt to Fulanise their entire nation by learning from the lessons of history, increasing their depth of knowledge, creating awareness about the formidable challenges with which they are faced and rise to the occassion or they can sit back, act as if there is no danger or threat and be indoctrinated, stripped of all they have and all they are, conquered, dehumanised, enslaved and overwhelmed. The choice is ours.





And if anyone still doubts the assertion that we are in mortal danger I would urge them to read the words of Professor Ango Abdullahi, the spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum and a leading member of the Fulani cabal, in a recent interview with the Sunday Vanguard Newspaper where he told us why herdsmen must kill, where he sought to defend, justify and rationalise the bestial and barbaric acts of mass murder, genocide and ethnic cleansing that the Fulani herdsmen and terrorists have unleashed on the people of the south and the Middle Belt and where he claimed that the British had granted what he described as grazing routes in the Middle Belt and the south to the Fulani terrorists and herdsmen as far back as 1914!





Never in the history of our country, other than during the civil war, has mass murder, genocide, ethnic cleansing, the slaughter of infants and babies, rape, destruction and the burning and pillaging and violent occupation of other peooles lands and homes been justified and defended in this way.





Professor Abdullahi has proved to the world that we are a nation of bloodthirsty barbarians and sociopaths where human life has no meaning and has no value.





His views reveal nothing but madness in its most brazen form and the truth is that this reckless and irresponsible elderly man is playing with fire and is courting nothing but disaster for his Fulani people. Simply put he is begging for war.





I am disgusted and appauled by his cold-blooded, blood-thirsty and blood-lusting mindset but I cannot say that I am surprised. That is their way and these are their thoughts!





In addition to Abdullahis absurd and provocative submissions the skeptics shoud also read Professor Umar Muhammed Labdos insulting assertions about Fulani supremacy and the Fulani being born and destined to rule over the whole of Nigeria.





If, after reading the contributions of these two supposedly learned Fulani men, some still do not understand what is going on or that we have a major challenge in this country, then such persons are indeed part of the problem and are in dire need of help.





Permit me to end the concluding part of this essay with the following.





To those who say that my words are too blunt, plain and harsh and that suggest that I should be more circumspect and temperate when discussing the powers that be in our country, the state of our nation, the Fulani invasion and our ruling Caliph, I say the following: I am the Servant of Truth and the Voice of the Voiceless.





If I do not speak up and say what others know but dare not say who will speak for the downtrodden, the enslaved, the weak, the oppressed, the slaughtered and the silent majority?





It is a calling and I cannot but do as I do and say as I say. I cannot but speak bluntly and plainly, calling a spade a spade.





In any case bullies, tyrants, conquering foreign hordes and alien invaders neither understand subtlety and restraint nor do they appreciate its nuances.





Worse still they misconstrue gentle words and a kind and generous disposition for weakness and this fuels and feeds their appetite for bestial acts and tyranny and encourages their naked aggression.





Unlike most I fear not the heathan hordes that seek to conquer and enslave our people nor the bloody sword or the mighty roar of the uncircumcised Philistines.





I fear not the armies of Rome nor the occultic Egyptians with their satanic covenants, ancient spells and powerful invocations.





And neither will I bow, quiver or tremble before the Chaldeans or the Amalekites that rule our land with their unelenting display of violence, barbarity and cruelty.





I am led by the Holy Spirit of the Living God and I trust in Him for all. He is my strength, my shield, my glory and the lifter of my head.





I am in the Lords power and hands and not in that of my adversaries or the enemies of my people. Most importantly I am persuaded that He will never leave me or forsake me.





I am also guided by the wise counsel of our very own Nobel Laureate and celebrated bard, Professor Wole Soyinka, who wrote the following historic and powerful words in his famous book titled, The Man Died many years ago.





He wrote, the man died in him who remained silent in the face of tyranny.





Today I proclaim, may the man never die in any of us.





Again I am inspired by the compelling, beautiful and eternal words written by the great 19th century author and English sage, Thomas Babington Macauly, in his famous poem titled Lays Of Ancient Rome. He wrote,





Then out spake brave Horatius, the Captain of the Gate: to every man upon this earth death cometh soon or late.





And how can man die better than facing fearful odds, for the ashes of his fathers and the temples of his gods.





And for the tender mother who dandled him to rest, And for the wife who nurses his baby at her breast.





And for the holy maidens who feed the eternal flame, to save them from false Sextus that wrought the deed of shame?





Haul down the bridge, Sir Consul, with all the speed ye may; I, with two more to help me, will hold the foe in play.





Today I pray that we be like brave Horatius and hold the foe in play.




Meanwhile, Uchechi Kanu, wife of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has said she is not aware of the whereabouts of her husband, adding that she is not sure if he is alive or dead.She said the last time she spoke with him, in a telephone conversation was when the army raided their Abia residence in October.Uchechi insisted that her husband is in the custody of the army.The IPOB people are not sleeping. The army is going to tell them where their leader is. Keeping Nnamdi Kanu does not mean that IPOB is asleep, Uchechi said.I dont know where my husband is. If he is dead or alive, I dont know. The people that are supposed to answer these questions are the army.The last time I spoke him was when the army came to shoot in our house. He called me and asked if I was hearing the gunshots. I heard the gunshots and started shouting and asked him what was wrong.He said they are shooting and he is inside the house. That was the last time we spoke.In an interview with BBC Igbo, Uchechi also said the Igbos deserved more than they are getting from the country, noting that Nigeria needs to allow an Igbo person to rule.
The ad-hoc Committee set up by the House of Representatives on Tuesday commenced investigations into the Incessant Killings in Nigeria.Addressing journalists on their approach Chairman of the Committee, Rep Pally Iriase, PDP, Edo said the Committee of seven Lawmakers was going to be bi-partisan in their approach.He saidwe formally commenced our investigations today and we will use a three-prong approach via interaction with security chiefs, interface with foreign partners and conduct public hearing. Details soon..
If, when you saw the first Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance model, you thought, like me, that it was a technical accomplishment that would take some beating, you have probably already been proved wrong after the folks in Bienne teamed up with recognised master Kari Voutilainen to add a sublime engine-turned dial to their technical marvel. They did it again at this years SIHH, where Armin Strom was present for the first time, with a smaller, streamlined version with yet more focus on precision.



In keeping with the spirit of marine chronometers, we have removed anything that is not required for precision, explains Claude Greisler. In a smaller case (42mm instead of 43.4mm) the two superimposed, open-worked, counter-rotating seconds scales have been replaced by a smaller offset small seconds counter in the lower half of the dial. This subdial and the off-set hour and minute dial take on a more classical design theme with a sunbrushed finish, railway markings and Roman numerals. The hands are worthy of note, not because they also bring a more classical touch to this timepiece but because they are made in-house by Armin Strom. Even in the upper echelons of the giant manufactures, few companies could make such a claim and these stainless-steel hands, which are machined, cut by wire-erosion and then hand finished, bring the percentage of in-house components in the Pure Resonance up to a staggering 97%. Vertical Cotes de Geneve decoration covers all surfaces except the dials, which is another first for Armin Strom.

Pure Resonance Water and Fire  Armon Strom

But the changes are not merely aesthetic. The Pure Resonance houses an entirely new calibre, ARF 16, which is geared towards even greater precision. The reasoning is simple: the fewer functions that a timepiece has to perform, the better it can concentrate on accuracy. In concrete terms this means fewer jewels (38 instead of 43) and fewer components (206 instead of 226) in a smaller movement (34.40mm instead of 36.60mm). Owner Serge Michel even goes as far as to say that The Pure Resonance heralds a new era at Armin Strom.

Calibre ARF 16  Armin Strom

The Pure Resonance is initially available in two versions: stainless steel with blue dial for 49,000 Swiss francs and 18-carat rose gold with black dial for 62,000 Swiss francs, but it will be added to the Armin Strom Configurator with a selection of up to five different dial colours and a choice of different hands.

> Watches & Wonders
The Arewa Consultative Forum has rejected the proposal for the creation of state police, saying the privilege will be abused.The ACFs position has, however, drawn heated reactions from organisations, including Middle Belt groups, pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere; and Civil Liberties Organisation.The All Progressives Congress restructuring committee, led by the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, had recommended state police, among other suggestions.Also the Nigeria Governors Forum last week supported Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, who called for the creation of state police at a security summit organised by the Senate.But the ACF, faulting the call for state police, noted that the creation of state police would lead to chaos.The ACFs Secretary General, Mr. Anthony Sani, in an interview with one of our correspondents in Kaduna, said if created, the various state governors would abuse state police the way the state electoral commissions were being abused.According to the ACF, governors will use state police to torment the opposition.Given the experiences where state governments use the state electoral commissions to kill democracy at the local government level  where no opposition party wins a seat in the local government council  there is the high possibility of state governments abusing state police with dire consequences, especially in states with many ethnic groups and religions, the ACFs secretary said.The ACF, he added, was opposed to state police because it believed that the problems of the police were lack of training and lack of equipment, as well as insufficient personnel.He also said given the paucity of resources, it would not be a good judgment to saddle states with additional responsibilities of state police.He said the northern body believed that the problems that led to the calls for state police could not be solved by the multiplication of security agencies.Sani said that the northern group was of the view that the Nigeria Police Force would perform better if given adequate training, equipment and manpower.The ACF secretary said, We prefer that police personnel be properly trained and adequately equipped, while their number should be increased rather that the introduction of state police.However, the Middle Belt Youth Council President, Emma Zopmal, faulted the ACF position, saying the position of the northern group was borne out of fear.He said, They are not experts in security and defence. State policing is the only way of guaranteeing safety of lives and property of citizens. Regional police effectively worked in the First Republic; theres no doubt that it will work at the state level today.With the incessant infiltration of Nigerias territorial space by Fulani herdsmen, the federal police can no longer protect some states and citizens from the marauding killer herdsmen. We are aware that Nigerian government says that the Fulani herdsmen are foreigners.I do not believe that state governors will abuse state police. Even if they do so, they would have copied it from the present Federal Government, which also abuses police power.According to him, with laws governing state police system, there will be no abuse.Strong institutions will also ensure that the state police system is not abused.Our restructuring demands in the Middle Belt are state creation, creation of Middle Belt Region with its autonomy, state or regional police and solid mineral resource control.Functional laws in the state will prevent any abuse of state police.Also, The President of the National Council of Tiv Youths, Chief John Akperashi, rejected ACFs position and supported the creation of state police.He said, The truth basically is that state police remain the best to ensure an effective check of external aggression.According to him, the recent attacks by herdsmen had made the call for state police necessary.He said, Governors, although proclaimed chief security officers of their states, still appear helpless in the deployment of the security agencies, especially the police.He said the problem had strengthened the need for state police.Akperashi said, Certainly if the police are in the control of the governors at the affected states, this destruction and unfortunate killings wouldnt have gone up to alarming proportions.The governor of Zamfara just came out to decry the inefficiency of the security formations in his state which he alleged failed him as he did everything humanly possible in mitigating that carnage.The governor of Benue State also stated the complicity roles of the security in his state and particularly the ineffectiveness of the police. If Ortom had had the police under his direct command, he would have achieved much more and saved more lives against what was witnessed in Benue.On its part, Afenifere dismissed as baseless the fear by the ACF that governors would abuse state police.The group argued that the ACFs anxiety was not strong enough to stop the establishment of state police, noting that necessary institutions to check abuse by the governors would simply be put in place.Afenifere National Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin, in an interview with The PUNCH, said, The handling of the killings by herdsmen across the country has shown that the Federal Government is misusing the Nigeria Police Force.Executive Director, Civil Liberties Organization, Steve Aluko, said efficient mechanism for checks and balances to guide against abuses could be put in place instead of the ACFs rejection.He stated, There is the need for supervisory channels to curb the excesses of the governors.According to him, the state police will enhance intelligence gathering needed for preventive actions rather than over centralised structures that delay, leading to wastage of lives and property.The justification for the state police is the success story of the joint civilian and military operations in countering insurgency and extreme radicalism in the North-East. State police system is an idea whose time has come to tame the increasing criminality of the new age, he addedThe President, Conference of Ethnic Nationalities of Niger Delta, Prof. Kimse Okoko, dismissed the position of the ACF, adding that a new constitution would not allow state governors to go beyond their powers in controlling state police.He said, State police is part of the total restructuring that Nigerians demand; it (state police) has to be part of the production of a new constitution. This is because state police is related to the security issues being talked about in the country today.
Consul-General of Nigeria in Guangzhou, China, Mr. Wale Oloko has admonished young Nigerians aspiring to travel to China for employment p...

Consul-General of Nigeria in Guangzhou, China, Mr. Wale Oloko has admonished young Nigerians aspiring to travel to China for employment purposes to look elsewhere.Oloko told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that it had been and would continue to be difficult for unskilled Nigerians to secure even menial jobs in China.The consul-general, however, said it was only exceptionally skilled Nigerians in artificial intelligence, Information Technology and other areas that could be considered for employment in China.Nigerians wanting to travel to travel to China for employment must appreciate the fact that China currently has a population of about 1.4 billion people.And the Chinese government has to first be able to provide employment for the Chinese.And besides that, there is the language barrier for Nigerians wanting to get employment in China to contend with.Let me, therefore, say that there are not many employment opportunities for Nigerians or other foreigners, who want to travel to any part of China to do menial jobs, he said.Oloko, who was visiting Nigeria so as to strengthen China and Nigeria relations, said China was presently favourable to Nigerians who would be visiting for studies, tourism and business purposes.He said the over 70, 000 Nigerians that travelled to the Guangdong Province in 2016, had visited the Chinese province for business, tourism, education and healthcare issues.The bilateral relations between Nigeria and the Peoples Republic of China have expanded on growing bilateral trade and strategic cooperation.China is considered one of Nigerias closest allies and partners. China is also one of Nigerias important trading and export partners, with trade relations hitting the 2.7 billion dollar mark in 2017.
The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) Monday called former President Olusegun Obasanjo a pathologic...

The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) Monday called former President Olusegun Obasanjo a pathological liar, betrayer and deceiver who hates Igbos.





MASSOB in a statement issued in Abakaliki by its leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu attacked Obasanjo for not attending the burials of the two Igbo elder statesmen  Late Odumegwu Ojukwu and Dr. Alex Ekwueme or sending condolence messages over their demise, which it said, confirmed his hatred for Igbos.





The statement reads: Obasanjo knows the truth that General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was right in all his activities that involved Biafra, he knows the truth that Ndigbo were schemed out of political reality in Nigeria,





Obasanjo knows this truth that he hates Biafra and her people, he also knows the truth that all his dealings with Ndigbo are all camouflaged and hypocritical.





Olusegun Obasanjo openly without shame proved his pathological hatred and sadisms on Ndigbo when Eze Igbo Gburugburu died, Obasanjo did not attend the burial of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu and he did not send condolence.





He always sees Ojukwu as his enemy even in death and whosoever that hates Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu hates Ndigbo; such a person can never be a friend to the people of Biafra, Ndigbo can never enter into alliance with such a hater.




The Ohanaeze Ndigbo has flayed the trial of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Innosons Group, Chief Innocent Chukwuma over alleged criminal offences in a civil matter between him and a commercial bank in the country, saying that Ndigbo would not tolerate poor treatment of their people in a bid to give their competitors some edge over them.It, however, threatened to review the patronage of Ndigbo people to the alleged offending bank or any economic establishment trying to hound Chief Chukwuma.This was contained in a statement signed by the Special Assistant to the President General of Ohanaeze Worldwide, Chief Emeka Attamah, in Enugu yesterday.The Ohanaezes statement read, The attention of Ohanaeze Ndigbo has been drawn to a court action instituted against the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Innoson Nigeria Limited, Chief Innocent Chukwuma in which he is being charged, ostensibly, for obtaining Customs documents through fraudulent means.Cognizant of the fact that the matter is in court and without any pretense to the veracity of the case or otherwise, Ohanaeze Ndigbo views the current travails of Chief Chukwuma as yet another attempt at hounding another son of Igbo land who, out of personal enterprise and dint of hard work, has helped in shaping the economic and industrial fortunes of Nigeria.The apex Igbo organization frowns at this recent attempt to obfuscate the clear court victory won by Innosons Group in a crucial suit against a leading bank in the country.This release views the current twist in the whole affair as a deliberate attempt to put Chief Chukwuma on the defensive in a matter that clearly vindicates him and confers a lot of financial advantage on him and taint his reputation by introducing a criminal angle to an already settled civil proceedings.Ohanaeze is carefully studying this discriminatory treatment of his adversaries by the law enforcement agents with a view to reviewing the patronage of our people to any economic establishment found to be associated in this new criminal assault of Chief Innocent Chukwuma.We will no longer be prepared to do business with any organization that denigrates the best of our people.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described last Saturdays mega rally organised by Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State in Lokoja as a colossal waste of the states frugal resources, alleging that the governor wasted N2 billion on the exercise, at a time it owed 22 months arrears in salaries and pensions.However, in swift reaction, Governor Bello dismissed the allegation, saying PDP is merely ranting, having suddenly realised it had lost the state for good, describing its style of opposition as lazy and uncoordinated.Kogi State PDP Director of Research and Documentation, Achadu Dickson, in a statement yesterday, said: Spending a whopping N2 billion tax payers fund to organise a rally that is of no significance to the lives and well-being of Kogi people is disheartening and a glaring show of mans inhumanity to man.We wonder why Governor Bello would dole out N750,000 per polling unit in mobilisation, while council administrators were also directed to mobilise 500 persons at N5,000 per person, when the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has not announced the commencement of political activities.The party said it was worrisome that a governor who was planning to sell off state assets to fund 2018 budget could hire a private jet for the APC National Chairman to attend the cash-and-carry jamboree.The party also accused the governor of diverting January and February local government councils allocation to fund the jamboree in Lokoja.Gov Bello reactsMeanwhile, Governor Bello said, yesterday, that he didnt spend N2 billion on the rally.Bello, who reacted through his Director General, Media and Publicity, Fanwo Kingsley, said: What PDP is afraid of telling the world is that they have lost the state forever.We had over 100,000 people who couldnt even access the stadium. The issue of rented crowd is an insult to the pride of Kogi people.We didnt campaign. We brought our people together to play an important role in inviting President Muhammadu Buhari to continue beyond 2019. When he accepts our call, we shall follow INECs guidelines on campaign.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN and Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun to publish more details on the alleged fraud and stealing of some of the N1 trillion budgeted for the Social Investments Programme (SIP).SERAP also requested the authority to publish the exact amount of the $321 million of the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha loot recently returned by Switzerland, which was stolen.A statement by SERAPs Deputy Director, Timothy Adewale pleaded that the President should, instruct appropriate authorities to publish details of how his government plans to spend and monitor the spending of the $85 million returned by the United Kingdom from the controversial Malabu deal involving $1.6 billion, so as to remove the risks of corruption or mismanagement of the money.The Special Adviser on SIP, Maryam Uwais, had last week reportedly disclosed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was invited to probe massive fraud and other corrupt practices like short-changing, racketeering, harassment of beneficiaries and exploitation of the vulnerable plaguing the scheme in some states.Welcoming the reported disclosure of fraud and corruption in the SIP and the request to the EFCC to probe the allegations, SERAP said it was concerned that sufficient details about the allegations had not been disclosed.Nigerians have the right to know more about the allegations, including the names of the states involved, and whether the recently returned $321m Abacha loot was affected by the reported fraud and corruption, it added.
Muhammadu Sanusi II, emir of Kano, says herdsmen should obey the anti-open grazing law in the states where it has been enacted.

Muhammadu Sanusi II, emir of Kano, says herdsmen should obey the anti-open grazing law in the states where it has been enacted.





Sanusi said this on Monday while speaking at a meeting with Ayodele Fayose, governor of Ekiti, security agencies and interest groups, in the Ado-Ekiti.





The emir was represented by Ibrahim Shekarau, a former governor of Kano who said his mission to the state was not about politics but for peaceful coexistence among the people.





He also commended Fayose for promoting peace in the state.





My mission is not politics; it is about peace and peaceful coexistence of our nation. I am standing here for the Emir and I am the sardauna of Kano, Shekarau said.





The emir mandated me to come here with the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) and find out how we can work amicably.





He feels that as a patron of the group, he must ensure peace. He praised governor Fayose for promoting peace.





The law governor Fayose enacted is the best to defend the rights of farmers and cattle breeders. Whoever crosses the red line should be dealt with, as the law provides. Breeders should obey the rules of the communities they reside.





On his part, Fayose said the state is interested in the welfare of everyone.





Our interest is peace. As we are interested in the welfare of everybody, we must not allow criminal elements to go free, the governor said.





Our relationship goes beyond cows. We must respect each other and we will cooperate to achieve results. We want Ekiti to be a shining example. Anybody who needs to be charged to court or fined will be so disciplined.





Also speaking, Muhammadu Kiruwa, national president of MACBAN, said he was impressed that the governor called for a meeting.





I am really impressed with the governor for organising this meeting. Some state governors would just sit in their offices and not being proactive like governor Fayose. Some misconceptions that I personally had against the governor have been cleared now, Kiruwa said.





I can say it categorically that Governor Fayose is a true leader of his people. He is definitely a lover of all groups, including the Fulani. I can say he is the Sarkin Fulani of Ekiti state.




For advising President Muhammadu Buhari not to seek reelection and initiating the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM), former President...

For advising President Muhammadu Buhari not to seek reelection and initiating the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM), former President Olusegun Obasanjo came under attack yesterday.Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka dismissed the CNM, saying he would need to have his head examined should he identify with the Obasanjo-inspired group.Former Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Adamu warned the ex-President that he might soon become a national nuisance, with the way he had refused to allow his predecessors run the country.Sen. Abdullahi Adamu said Obasanjo cannot dictate to Nigerians who to vote in 2019.He also described Obasanjos CNM as a red herring which cannot influence the outcome of the next election, adding that the former presidents statement was in bad taste.According to him, Obasanjo ought to have been put on trial for corruption.Prof. Soyinka spoke in an interview with BBC Yoruba. Adamu spoke at a news conference in Abuja.Soyinka said: Me? Obasanjo would establish a group and I will become a member of such group? That means they should get a psychiatrist to examine me.He also spoke about the controversial statement by former military President Ibrahim Babangida, also on Buharis administration.Soyinka said: When these soldiers begin to speak, we are supposed to get suspicious and ask what exactly do they have in mind? It is possible that what they have in mind is different from what we have in mind.You can look at it from two perspectives  the messenger and the message. The message should be examined closely. We should not look at the misdeeds of the messenger alone. Lets start by asking, is he saying the truth or telling lies, or is he being tricky?If he is saying the truth and talking about things that are beneficial to the masses, we would allow that be. After that, we would now look at the person speaking; what is in his mind?  even if its a little child who is speaking, as far as that child is saying the truth, we wont ask the child to keep quiet. We wont ask the child, what do you know? We would listen. It is the same situation with those who have presided over the affairs of this nation without making significant progress.We have seen their weaknesses, we have seen their nakedness in public, if they now want to be covered by saying that they have turned a new leaf, we would examine that, too. What I am saying in essence is that what they have said should also be examined.He urged the youth to come together and present a candidate to represent them, adding that the older generation would support them.We have a lot of them. It is the turn of the younger ones. If they come together, as we speak, if they can start now and bring out one individual among them, we will work with him, Soyinka said.We are going to give them the support they need to transform the country. People like us are supposed to sit somewhere.Adamu said Buhari does not intend to leave a bleeding, disunited nation and disarticulated socio-economic development at the end of his tenure.He said: Let me say at this point that I am worried by the antics of Obasanjo and his penchant for promoting himself as the only competent Nigerian leader.Since he left office on October 1, 1979 to local and international applause, Obasanjo has systematically sought to undermine every federal administration after him. He has today set up himself as the moral conscience of the nation. He believes he has acquired the wisdom of King Solomon and has consequently imposed on himself the right to decide who rules us and how we should be ruled.Perhaps, part of the reason is that before leaving office in 2007, his party, the PDP, conferred on him the titles of Maker of Modern Nigeria and Father of the Nation. Such titles do have a heady way of making a man seeing his head bedecked in the halos of self-righteousness.There is a process for changing our governments through the instrumentality of elections. Chief Obasanjo, one of the architects of that process and a beneficiary to boot, ought to support that process and let the people decide who they want to rule them. It is not for him to decide for the people or the president.No one should arrogate to himself eternal verities in the administration of his country. It is his consuming ambition to have his hands on the levers of power under all our presidents. When he loses that grip, he turns against the incumbent in office.He undermined Gen. Babangidas economic programme, SAP, with his statement that the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) should have a human face and the milk of human kindness. He denigrated Gen. Babangida by advising people to whom the former president says good morning to check their wrist watches to make sure it is morning.Was he entirely motivated by that noble sentiment? I find that hard to believe.I find it difficult to completely ignore what appear to me like the dark motives hovering over his action because I see it as a behavioural pattern that began with his 2014 letter to the then President Goodluck Jonathan, titled Before it is too late.It seems to me he believes that that letter alone cost Jonathan the presidency. So, if he is fatigued by President Buhari, he can resort to the same weapon with probably the same consequences. It is a long shot.The ex-governor insisted that the CNM recently inaugurated by Obasanjo to effect change in 2019 cannot achieve any result.He said: His Coalition for Nigeria is a red herring across the path of our constitutional government.He is free to form a political party and pursue his ambition of being the power behind the throne but such a national movement would achieve no discernible purpose in the economic management and the social administration of the country.To the ex-governor, Obasanjos statement is in bad taste, aimed at destroying President Buhari politically.He said the ex-President ought to have been more circumspect and measured in his approach.He added: No one can deny him the right to criticise a sitting president but his method leaves much to be desired. He cannot, therefore, escape the charge of impure motive and that he took this step, not to try and set things right for the sake of the nation, but to promote Obasanjo for the sake of Obasanjo.Being a former president, he has an unimpeded access to the president and can, therefore, seek to influence him in the privacy of the seat of power. Indeed, in the early years of the Buhari administration, Chief Obasanjo was a frequent presence in Aso Rock.I believe he frequented the seat of power in support of the administration. I now wonder why he suddenly decided to turn a friend into an enemy and rubbish everything the President has done so far in a little over two and half years.In a civilised political culture, it is taboo for former presidents to openly take a sitting president to the cleaners. Our former head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, has faithfully kept to this time-honoured culture of a former ruler not washing the dirty linens of a current ruler rather gleefully in the public. So have former President Shehu Shagari and former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar.The implications for the polity of a former president regaling the public with a litany of the failures of a sitting president is a calculated and unholy effort to destroy him politically.adamu went on: No one, not even Buharis most rabid supporters, would be unfair to themselves enough to suggest that everything is right with the administration. It is true that the government has not met the expectations of the generality of Nigerians. But it is not for lack of capacity or the unwillingness on the part of the President to respond to the needs of the people and those of the country.I know that we invested high expectations on the Buhari administration but is it fair and realistic for us to expect the administration to solve all the problems it inherited in less than three years? Human and resources management towards achieving a desired result is not amenable to the waving of a magic wand.No administration is a total success and none is a total failure. Chief Obasanjo cannot honestly claim that he ran a perfect and totally successful administration. Because he did not.Every administration grapples with problems thrown at it by circumstances beyond its control. President Buhari inherited an economy that was unsteady on its feet. He also inherited the security problems, such as Boko Haram, armed robberies and kidnappings. Yes, I agree that under his watch these problems should grow less, not more. But the solution to problems such as these is a slow and agonizing process. He has no powers to simply make them disappear overnight.The President was fully aware of these problems and challenges when he sought the consent of the electorate in 2015. He did so in the hope that with the support and the goodwill of all Nigerians, he could tackle them. I know he has not given up on that.1 do not think he intends to leave a bleeding, disunited nation and disarticulated socio-economic development at the end of his tenure. He seems to be overwhelmed by the problems because while problems rain down, solutions to them take time to be effective.I think the President, in the circumstances, deserves support and encouragement rather than antagonism from a constituency that should give him that support and encouragement as he seeks to address these and other problems in his own way.Adamu said: Obasanjo said that President Buhari is selective in his anti-corruption war. I agree with him because if the President were not selective, Chief Obasanjo himself would be in the dock today on trial on charges of corruption arising from the corrupt practices in the pursuit of his third term gambit in the National Assembly in 2006.Today he denies that he ever nursed such ambition. And being a man much-favoured by God, he has repeatedly said that if he had wanted it and asked the almighty for it, he would have given him the third term.He knows as well as I and other leading members of the PDP that he badly wanted it and initiated the process of constitutional amendment. He bribed each member of the National Assembly who signed to support the amendment, with the whopping sum of N50 million to make the constitutional amendment scale through.The fresh, mint money was taken in its original boxes presumably from the vaults of the Central Bank of Nigeria and distributed among the legislators. The money was not his and it was not appropriated by the National Assembly as required by law. I, therefore, agree that in failing to make the former president account for that money. President Buhari is waging his anti-corruption war selectively.Obasanjo has always denied ever bribing anybody for a third term. If I had wanted another term I would have asked God and He would have obliged me. God has never refused me anything, he had said when confronted with the allegation.Besides, nobody has ever presented any proof that the former president bribed him.Adamu went on: Nor should we forget that President Buhari has also not bothered to interrogate Obasanjos role in the Halliburton scandal for which some Americans are cooling their heels in jail.Perhaps, President Buhari might look into the Siemens affairs in which the Obasanjo administration was indicted and for which people were on trial. What became of the trial?Adamu asked Obasanjo to retrace his steps before becoming a national nuisance and sliding into irrelevance.I believe that Obasanjo is too high and too big in the estimation of the people to permit himself the continued sickening indulgence in political skullduggery. I believe that the Nigerian people and the Nigerian state have been most kind to him.Obasanjo has a moral obligation to make the country succeed in solving its myriads of problems. That, I believe, is one way he can give back to the country that has given him so much.As a friend, I wish to advise the former president to pull back from the dangerous path of rubbishing all presidents that came into office after him.Bringing everyone down is not a patriotic duty. I fear that if he continues along this path, he would, sooner than later over reach himself and begin the inevitable descent into national nuisance and irrelevance. That would be a self-inflicted wound and a personal tragedy, Adamu said.
The senate has mandated its committee on ethics to probe the amended timetable for the 2019 elections.

The senate has mandated its committee on ethics to probe the amended timetable for the 2019 elections.

The resolution of the upper legislative chamber was sequel to a motion sponsored by Dino Melaye, senator representing Kogi west.





While moving the motion on the floor of the senate on Tuesday, Melaye said he did not want to be part of any move targeted at President Muhammadu Buhari.





Melaye said Buhari is not only a party man but someone he laboured for.





I rise this morning, heavily disturbed that we took a resolution in this house last week and the aftermath of the resolution had a very serious effect on me as a politician, he said.





Mr President, PMB, president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not only my partyman, but is also a man we all labored and voted for.





My brother and colleague, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege addressed the media, and I saw it on Channels and NTA last week, where he said the decision taken by this senate is targeted at Mr. president.





I cannot be part of a group or group of persons; I swore an oath on the 9th of June 2015, with a Bible on my right hand and the constitution of the federal republic on my left. And I swore that I was going to do good to all manner of men including the Federal Republic of Nigeria.





If decisions in this senate is now being teleguided and targeted at any particular person, then that is no longer democracy. That statement to me is wary. I personally campaigned and followed the president to 35 states of the federation; the only state I did not follow him to is Yobe state, where we didnt even go to.





Mr President, when I was campaigning with the president, Ovie Omo-Agege was busy labouring in Labour Party. Today, to take the integrity of the senate and say that it was tailored towards targeting a particular person, its unheard of, it is in bad taste and I do not want to be part of that.





This, among other statements, was made by Omo-Agege. I want to ask that the committee on ethics and privileges investigate this matter and find out if truly our decision was targeted at the president among other issues raised by him.





That was enough, another interview was granted. And I think I will want to state categorically that I will not be part of any group of decisions that will be targeted at any particular character talk less of the president of the federal republic of Nigeria.





The motion was referred to the committee on ethics after it was put to a voice vote by Ike Ekeweremadu, deputy senate president.





On Wednesday, nine senators opposed the amended timetable, saying it might be targeted at the president.





The senate had adopted the reordered sequence which the house of representatives passed earlier.





If approved by the president, election of the federal lawmakers will hold first, next will be state lawmakers and governors, with the last being the presidential election.




An 87-year-old Ocean County man was killed in a two-vehicle crash in Pemberton Township on Monday night, authorities said.

Richard J. Lissenden was attempting to turn from Lakehurst Road onto Route 70 east when his car crossed in front of the path of a westbound van, according to police.

Lissenden, of the of the Whiting section of Manchester, was pronounced dead at the scene following the 8:11 p.m. collision in the Browns Mills section of town.

The van driver, a 49-year-old from the Bayville section of Berkeley, was hospitalized with what police described as moderate injuries.

Both men were wearing seat belts, Lt. Brian Smith said. Neither vehicle had a passenger.

The crash is still under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call police 609-894-3308 or the department's confidential tip line at at 609-894-3352.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that reports that hundreds of Russian mercenaries had been killed in Syria recently were an attempt to exploit the war there, the RIA news agency reported.

About 300 men working for a Kremlin-linked Russian private military firm were either killed or injured in Syria in an incident this month, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters last week.

Short link:


Two menwere killed when one vehicle rear-ended another stopped at a red light in Camden County on Tuesday morning, authorities said.

The drivers of both cars died in the crash, while the passenger in one vehicle was hospitalized with undisclosed injuries, according to Berlin Borough police.

The car struck by the second vehicle was stopped at a traffic signal behind a tractor-trailer in the eastbound lanes of Route 30 (White Horse Pike) around 11 a.m. when another car plowed into it from behind, police said.

The crash sent the first vehicle into the tractor-trailer and onto Clementon Road while the car that failed to stop went into oncoming traffic, police said.

The tractor-trailer driver was not injured.

The driver of the car struck was a 60-year-old Franklinville man. His passenger, who was injured is a 55-year-old woman from Bridgeton.

The crash also killed a 63-year-old from the Atco section of Waterford..

The identities of the two people killed have not been released, pending notification of their families.

State Police and the Camden County Prosecutor's Office are assisting in the investigation.

The crash forced the closure of White Horse Pike for several hours.

Editor's note: The story has been updated to include the ages and hometowns of the deceased and the injured.
Students interested in applying for a job at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency won't find federal recruiters manning a booth Rutgers-Newark's spring career fair.

ICE backed out of appearing at Wednesday's Government and Public Service Career Fair in the campus center after a protest organized by unauthorized immigrant students, Rutgers officials said.

Students from RU Dreamers, a group for unauthorized immigrants and their allies, organized an online "ICE is not welcome here" petition last week calling on Rutgers to withdraw its invitation to the agency to recruit applicants at the fair.

"This is disturbing and unacceptable," said the petition. "Career fairs are intended to promote an inclusive environment for all RU students. This decision would alienate (undocumented) students from access to academic and professional opportunities."

Rutgers officials said they did not withdraw the university's invitation to ICE. Instead, the agency voluntarily withdrew from the career fair after talks with administrators on the Newark campus.

"After conversation with Rutgers-Newark student affairs leadership, the local ICE legal research office concluded that their presence at the career fair at this point would run counter to their goals to recruit students at this event and to the spirit of the event, so they withdrew from participation," said Peter Englot, Rutgers-Newark's senior vice chancellor for public affairs and chief of staff.

We want to thank everyone who signed and showed support! Posted by RU Dreamers on Monday, February 19, 2018

ICE officials did not immediately respond to a request to comment.

Rutgers officials did not say who recruited ICE to appear at the career fair, which is scheduled to include more than 30 employers. ICE was not listed among last year's participants.

Other employers at this year's career fair include the FBI, the Office of Homeland Security, the New York Police Department and the New Jersey State Police.

The RU Dreamers petition called for revoking only ICE's invitation.

"Students with traumatic, personal experiences regarding ICE would be emotionally distressed," the petition said.

Arrests by ICE, which enforces the nation's immigration laws, have dramatically increased since President Donald Trump took office last year. In New Jersey, arrests increased by 42 percent last year, among the biggest jumps in the country.

Rutgers President Robert Barchi has spoken out in support of continuing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program that extends protections to students brought to the country illegally as children.

Barchi stopped short last year of calling Rutgers a "sanctuary campus" for unauthorized immigrant students. However, he said Rutgers will not share the immigration status of students unless required to do so by a court order.

Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyHeyboer. Find her at KellyHeyboerReporter on Facebook.
Sixteen parents are urging district officials in Nutley to employ armed guards and metal detectors in all schools after a video appearing to show teenagers firing guns was posted online last week.

"I understand that having guards and metal detectors are 'unappealing' and might be perceived as making our school district look unsafe," Erica Zarro, mother of a 6-year-old, wrote in the letter. "But then the question becomes what is more important to us - appearances or our children?"

The video, which was posted to Instagram on Feb. 15, contains photos of teenagers appearing to shoot a handgun and a rifle at a firing range. The video also shows Nutley High School and unidentified children in a classroom.

The brief clip is set to the song "Pumped Up Kicks" by indie pop band Foster the People.

Among the lyrics: "You'd better run, better run, outrun my gun. All the other kids with the pumped up kicks. You'd better run, better run, faster than my bullet."

"The video is incredibly creepy, direct threat or not," Zarro said Monday night.

Concerning Zarro and parents even more was the timing - the video was posted a day after 17 children were murdered at a school in Parkland, Florida.

A Nutley High School student alerted his parents to the post, which prompted a police investigation.

The video is linked to a Nutley resident's account, which is now marked private.

"We have spoken to the individual (who) posted the video and detectives are in the process of speaking with all individuals from the video to ascertain further information," police said in a statement last week.

The names of the students in the video were not released and police said they did not believe there was an active threat to the schools.

However, schools Superintendent Julie Glazer ordered district schools closed until after winter break on Tuesday.

"Because of the nature of the world in which we live, there was no other decision to be made," Glazer said in a statement.

Zarro, whose son attends Lincoln Elementary School, said she and other parents were left shaken by an email and robo call they received from the district near midnight on Thursday.

"My first reaction was paralyzing fear, anger and confusion," she said. "To be told your child's school isn't safe is bad enough, but then not being given details or an opportunity to ask questions is extremely disconcerting and scary."

Zarro and her son's father, Frank Zarro, also of Nutley, signed the letter.

By Monday, 14 other parents of district students had contacted Erica Zarro through social media and asked to sign the letter, she said.

The parents have children in four of the districts seven schools, according to Zarro.

The letter has been forwarded to Glazer, Nutley Mayor Joseph Scarpelli and Public Safety Commissioner Alphonse Petracco.

So far, there has been no response from district officials, Zarro said.

Glazer did not return a call left on her cellphone Monday night. Scarpelli and Petracco could not be reached for comment.

Tonight, the district administration became aware of a security threat. The police are actively investigating. As it gets later in the evening, we have decided to err on the side of safety and close schools tomorrow, February 16, 2018. Read more: https://t.co/zh3ojZvW3A  NutleyPSD (@NutleySchoolsNJ) February 16, 2018

Frank Zarro said he hopes Nutley can come up with the money to hire armed guards at each of its schools, adding he does not believe gun control legislation is enough.

"Laws aren't going to erase the fact that there are illegal guns on the street and those who want to get them will get them," he said. "When it comes to our children, I don't play odds."

In her letter, Zarro cited other districts - including nearby Belleville - that employ armed guards.

"We are in essence sending our teachers, principals and other school staff to protect our children every day, as if they don't have enough responsibility in teaching and mentoring them," Erica Zarro wrote.

"I am asking that you please make our children a priority," Zarro wrote. "Please put guards, metal detectors, something in these schools to protect our children."

One parent said only an armed guard can effectively monitor who enters a school building.

"If an armed guard were present, then he or she would be at that door and be the only person to allow, and escort, guests to the office," Andrea Prince wrote on Facebook. "That is what we are asking for at the very least."

Most of the parents who signed the letter plan to be at the district's next Board of Education meeting, planned for Feb. 26, Zarro said.

Screen grab from a video posted to Instagram appears to show a teenager firing a rifle. The video also contained a photo of Nutley High School.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
The Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office has filed an appeal regarding the non-jail sentence handed down in a drunken driving case that left a police officer unable to work.

Superior Court Judge Robert P. Becker Jr. sentenced Angela Feaster, 38, to 10 years probation earlier this month after she pleaded guilty in a 2015 crash that seriously injured Franklin Township police officer Clifford Trovillo.

Feaster was driving with three of her children in the car when her vehicle collided with Trovillo's patrol car. The officer suffered a concussion, two broken wrists, an ankle fractured in two places, a hip fracture, back injuries and a broken tailbone. One of Feaster's children was also injured in the wreck.

Feaster's blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit, prosecutors said.

She pleaded guilty last November to five second-degree charges of assault by auto and endangering the welfare of a child.

Feaster faced up to 12 years in prison on the charges.

During her Feb. 9 sentencing, Trovillo and his wife urged Becker to sentence Feaster to the maximum penalty, noting that her actions had left their family with lifelong challenges.

Trovillo still cannot move some of his toes and suffers from nearly constant nerve pain and frequent headaches, he told the judge. He also faces additional surgeries.

The family has to sell its house because of the financial hardship associated with his injuries, Trovillo stated.

Becker concluded that jail time would only harm the progress he feels Feaster has made since the crash, pointing out that she has sought treatment for her alcoholism and had accepted responsibility for her actions.

He also cited Feaster's history as a victim of domestic violence. She was beaten and left for dead in a parking lot 10 months before the crash, and Becker presided over the case against her attacker.

Becker concluded that Feaster didn't receive necessary help from the criminal justice system after she was attacked, and that this failure contributed to a downward spiral that ended with the DWI crash.

"She was not recognized as needing services after her last domestic violence assault," Becker said during sentencing. "The court basically finds that this systemic failure to provide needed services subsequent to her attack contributed to her descent into the alcoholism and severe depression."

The Trovillos were stunned by the verdict, calling the sentence an injustice.

Judges with the state appellate court will review the notice of appeal and decide if they want to hear the case.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips.
HOBOKEN  A man who was turned away at the door of a popular bar Sunday morning called police to report a rape inside the bathroom.

But authorities say the call made by 21-year-old Robert Castaldi was unfounded and the Glen Rock man was charged with filing a false report and creating public alarm.

Castaldi and a friend were not allowed back inside 1Rupublik on Washington Street because they were both intoxicated, Hoboken police said in a statement. The 21-year-old then called police from outside the bar and said he witnessed a woman being sexually assaulted in the bathroom, authorities said.

Officers arrived and questioned Castaldi, who gave them conflicting answers. Police determined no sexual assault had taken place and dialed the phone number to the person who reported the alleged crime, at which time Castaldi's cellphone began ringing, authorities said.

Another of his friends said the 21-year-old was not inside the bar when he reported the sexual assault.

Castaldi was placed under arrest, police said.

Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.
As Jersey City's police department reels from the guilty pleas of 11 people who have admitted taking corrupt payments related to off-duty jobs, a former cop says in a new lawsuit that he was ostracized and eventually fired after reporting an illegal off-duty detail 10 years ago.

Juan Luis Ramos, 44, alleges in the seven-count lawsuit, filed in December in Hudson County Superior Court, that because he was "accused of being a rat," he was reprimanded and ostracized over the course of a decade, targeted with at least two internal affairs probes and eventually fired in 2016.

Ramos' lawyer, Lou Zayas, called the atmosphere inside the police department a "Serpico-like situation," referring to Frank Serpico, the New York cop who exposed widespread corruption inside the NYPD starting in the 1960s.

"The allegations make clear that there's a culture of silence within the police department that discourages police officers from reporting misconduct by other police officers," Zayas told The Jersey Journal.

Ramos also alleges he was the victim of racial discrimination, mocked for his obesity and improperly declared unfit for duty before he was fired. He says the city violated his civil rights and New Jersey laws against discrimination.

The city declined to comment on the ongoing litigation.

The nearly dozen officers implicated in the off-duty jobs scam have admitted to accepting money for off-duty details they didn't work; taking bribes to approve phony timesheets; and accepting money directly from vendors seeking off-duty cops to work as private security (the vendors are required to go through the city). One of the 11 is Phil Zacche, who was the police chief from 2014 until June.

Ramos says in the lawsuit that after he was hired in 2007, he complained to his supervisor, a police lieutenant, about "the legality of a police detail at a construction site." The lieutenant responded by reprimanding him, ignoring the complaint and accusing Ramos of recording their conversation "to provide to an outside law enforcement agency," the lawsuit says.

A claim circulated that Ramos secretly recorded other cops, the lawsuit says, culminating in a 2014 internal affairs investigation "designed to intimidate and threaten Officer Ramos from reporting police officers engaged in criminal activities or other wrongdoing."

At the time he was hired, Ramos was extremely obese, leading to ridicule from fellow cops, according to his lawsuit. Even after a weight-loss surgery, he alleges, other officers mocked him for not shedding pounds "the hard way."

It was in early 2015, Ramos says, that he was targeted with a "retaliatory internal affairs investigation" after he posted selfies of himself in uniform on Facebook. He was accused of violating the police department's social media policy and required to undergo an examination to determine his fitness for duty, the lawsuit says.

A doctor from a firm that does business with the city diagnosed him with "Histrionic Personality Disorder with narcissistic personality features" and deemed him unfit for duty, according to the lawsuit. Ramos says other doctors declared he was fit for duty, but the city suspended him anyway and then in June 2016 terminated him.

Ramos told The Jersey Journal his abrupt firing left him struggling to support himself.

"It's been extremely difficult on my mother, that's why she was crying every night," he said. "It's been extremely difficult for my sister, difficult on my son. My kid used to look up to me."
If New Jersey passes a law to permit adults to use marijuana recreationally, where should they be allowed to consume it?

Forcing people to light up at home may not be practical, said state Sen. Nicholas Scutari, D-Union, the driving force pushing for legalization in the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature.

Creating a "consumption zone" could be the way to go, Scutari, a municipal prosecutor, tells NJ Cannabis Insider.

"Some private homes are really not appropriate for consumption, such as apartment buildings or public housing," Scutari said. "We're looking to kind of flesh that out to allow people to consume without interfering with other people's enjoyment of life. Perhaps something adjacent to the dispensaries."

Scutari is expected to amend the legalization bill he introduced in the last legislative session, to address these and other issues.

Scutari also said:

* On expunging marijuana arrests: Scutari suggested this social justice issue may be best addressed in a separate piece of legislation. "I'm open minded to that but it depends to what degree. Simple possession we're going to consider, but not distribution. We're still looking to do that soon."

* He remains resistant to including options for people to grow their own cannabis. "I think we've got lessons that we can learn from other states, even Colorado, which is the head as far as legalization, to replicate something they have instead of reinventing the wheel. (But) homegrown (cannabis) is going to be difficult to explore right off the bat."

Gov. Phil Murphy has said he would sign a marijuana legalization bill, although support from the Legislature has been tepid so far.

Are you interested in the N.J. cannabis industry? Subscribe here for exclusive insider information from NJ Cannabis Insider

Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.
A Chatham Middle School student's social media posts referencing a school shooting are not credible, the district superintendent said.

The student's "inappropriate" posts were investigated and police determined there was no threat, Chatham schools Superintendent Michael LaSusa said in an email to parents Monday that was also posted on the district website.

The student will not "presently" be attending school, LaSusa said. Chatham Borough police have offered to keep an officer at the school.

LaSusa thanked students who notified school officials of the posts. Police are still investigating and school officials declined to release additional information.

The Chatham social media post is the latest in a series of school threats in New Jersey since 17 people were shot and killed at a high school in Parkland, Florida.

Nutley schools will re-open on Tuesday after being closed Friday following a threat by a student in an Instagram video. Schools were closed Monday for Presidents Day.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
A 33-year-old former convict from New Jersey was arrested after stabbing another man in Times Square on Sunday night, police said.

Nestor Galindo

Nestor Galindo, of Fairview, slashed a 41-year-old man in the face after being bumped into near the intersection of West 46th Street and Broadway, police said.

The two began arguing before Galindo pulled out a knife and slashed the man in the face, according to police.

Galindo served two years in prison on drug charges and has been arrested 16 times, according to WABC-7.

He was charged with assault and criminal possession of a weapon following the 11:30 p.m. attack, police said.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Police in the Bloomfield and Little Falls school districts have investigated questionable online posts over the past few days - including a photo of a student with a gun - but found that neither posed a threat to safety, authorities said.

In Bloomfield, police were called after a high school student posted a photo of himself holding a gun with a caption that "made a derogatory and inflammatory reference to the tragedy in South Florida," according to Public Safety Director Samual DeMaio.

On Monday, DeMaio said the photo was taken outside of New Jersey at a hunting camp and that the rifle in the photo is currently locked in a safe at the camp.

"The hunting rifle is owned by a relative and is a legally purchased weapon stored at the out-of-state hunting camp and used by the adult relative for the purpose of hunting," DeMaio said. "I will also emphasize that at no time was a threat to shoot at a school ever made."

The Bloomfield schools and BPD are aware of a picture posted by a student posing with a gun. The police investigated and there is no threat  Bloomfield H.S. (@07003BHS) February 20, 2018

In Little Falls, police were called over the weekend when district officials learned of a "digital exchange between students that contained potentially concerning content," schools Superintendent Tracey Marinelli said in an email to parents on Monday.

Marinelli did not say when the exchange occurred.

"There was an investigation and there was never a threat to our school or students," Marinelli said in an email to NJ Advance Media on Tuesday.

The two investigations were the latest over school safety in New Jersey since 17 people were killed at a high school in Parkland, Florida.

Last Thursday, Nutley schools Superintendent Julie Glazer ordered schools closed for several days after a video was posted to Instagram appearing to show local students firing a rifle and handgun.

Nutley police investigated and said they found no credible threat to safety. Glazer on Tuesday declined to comment on the investigation.

The incident prompted 16 parents to call for armed guards to be posted at all seven of Nutley's public schools.

Tonight, the district administration became aware of a security threat. The police are actively investigating. As it gets later in the evening, we have decided to err on the side of safety and close schools tomorrow, February 16, 2018. Read more: https://t.co/zh3ojZvW3A  NutleyPSD (@NutleySchoolsNJ) February 16, 2018

In Mahwah, Mayor Bill Laforet called for armed guards at township schools after district officials learned of a threat made several months ago by an eighth-grade student.

"We have all witnessed far too many horrific acts of violence against school children throughout our nation," Laforet said in a statement on Saturday. "As the mayor, I am committed to taking whatever steps are necessary to protect our students and district staff when attending Mahwah Township schools."

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.



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.



A threatening social media post regarding Carl Sandburg Middle School was brought to the attention of Old Bridge Police Thursday night, authorities said. After an investigation, no credible threat was found. However, police have increased their presence at the school, officials said.



In Jackson, police went to the home of a student after learning the student had a list of people he wanted to harm. However, police and school officials said the threat was unsubstantiated.



Fake threats also circulated in Monroe Townships in both Middlesex and Gloucester counties, causing confusion in both towns. None of the threats were credible, police said.

Screen grab from a video posted to Instagram shows a person shooting a handgun at a firing range. The video also contains a still photo of Nutley High School and students in a classroom. (Instagram)

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
A Cairo criminal court has put opposition figure and former Islamist presidential candidate Abdel-Moneim Abul Fotouh and 15 others on its terrorist list for alleged ties to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group, Egypt's state news agency MENA said on Tuesday.

Abul-Fotouh was arrested last week, a day after he returned from London where he had given interviews critical of the govenment.

The terrorism-list designation decision followed a request from State Security prosecutors after investigations showed Abul-Fotouh and the others "led and joined a group established in violation of the law with the aim of harming the intersts of the Egyptian state," MENA said, in reference to the Muslim Brotherhood group.

According to Egypt's "Terrorism Entity" law, individuals placed on the terrorism list are banned from travel, added on a watch list and subjected to an asset freeze. The designation decision can be appealed.

Egypt has designated the Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation.

Abul-Fotouh, a former member of the Brotherhood, has for years distanced himself from the group and his family said last week he broke away with the movement in 2009 before he was officially dismissed in 2011.

He was ordered remanded into custody for 15 days pending investigations into charges including "publishing and broadcasting false news harming national interests" and "leading an illegal group" that aims to topple the regime and disrupt public order.

Abul Fotouh was detained days after an interview with the Qatari-based new outlet Al-Jazeera Mubasher, which Egypt has banned, in which he criticized President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi for involving the military in politics and mishandling the economy.

The interior ministry claims he held secret meetings with leaders of the international Muslim Brotherhood organisation in London earlier this month to carry out a plot aimed at sparking off unrest and instability in the country.

Abul-Fotouh was among several Egyptian politicians who called last month for a boycott of the upcoming presidential elections, due for late March.

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By Erin Banco | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Over the last several months, New Jersey's unemployment rate has continued to increase putting it now almost one full percentage point higher than the U.S. unemployment rate -- a split not seen since February 2015.

New Jersey's economic growth has lagged behind the rest of the country for years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). But in late 2015, New Jersey's unemployment rate started to improve. Governor Chris Christie applauded the state's economic growth.

Last summer, though, the state's unemployment rate increased again, sharply departing from the national trajectory. The rate increased for nearly four months before dipping slightly in January.

Now, New Jersey's rate sits at 5.0 while the country's rate is 4.1.

Economic analysts weighed in and said the increase in the unemployment rate is concerning because it could indicate larger issue within the economy. But, they warned, while the unemployment rate is a key indicator of labor market performance, it is not necessarily a reflection of the overall health of the economy.

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What does does an unemployment rate tell us?

The unemployment rate is the percentage of unemployed workers in the total labor force. The rate only includes people who are still looking for work. So, if you're unemployed and have given up on finding a job, the government doesn't factor you into the equation.

The unemployment rate is often used as a way to discover if an economy is underperforming or to understand the health of certain business sectors.

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Did the Christie administration really cut the unemployment rate in half?

In his last address as governor, Chris Christie acknowledged that his administration had cut the unemployment rate in half.

When Christie entered office the state's unemployment rate was about 10.0 and when he left office, it was about 4.9. But the nation's unemployment rate had also decreased significantly.

So, it is tough to tell how much of Christie's policies really impacted the state's unemployment, said James Hughes, dean of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers.

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How does N.J. compare to other states?

The U.S. economy added 200,000 new jobs in January and the unemployment rate remained at 4.1 percent-- a 17-year low. The labor market is arguably the best it has been in almost two decades.

But New Jersey is lagging behind.

New Jersey is ranked next to last in the nation for its unemployment rate, in front of West Virginia, District of Columbia, New Mexico and Alaska. Hawaii holds the number one spot for the lowest unemployment rate (2.0).

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Why should I care?

The state unemployment rate trajectory could be an indicator of a new, harsher reality for those unemployed in New Jersey, experts say.

The rate is an indicator of how difficult it is to find a job after you've lost it. Even if a state adds jobs each month, it does not mean that those unemployed are qualified for them, Hughes said. It is also an indicator of the state of New Jersey's economic health.

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What N.J.'s unemployment rate says about state's economy

If the unemployment rate continues to rise, it could be a sign of a weakening local economy, with slow growth and little spending, said Hughes.

An increasing unemployment rate can cause a ripple effect in the economy and can lead to an decrease in consumer confidence (people worrying about money and spending less).

When one person loses their job, there is one less person that will pay state and federal income taxes. And a laid off worker will cut their non-necessary spending because they have less disposable income.

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What caused the sharp split?

It is difficult to pinpoint one event or underlying stressor that caused the New Jersey unemployment rate to depart so sharply from the national trend, experts say.

One possible answer to an increasing unemployment rate: There is a mismatch between the skills employers require and the skill level of people looking for work, Hughes said.

"As the (national) labor market improves, more folks are re-joining a labor market that they fled because they thought there simply werent jobs for them," Hughes said.

That means that there are more people entering the workforce, many who had given up on finding a job. When the number of people in the workforce grows, the harder it is to find a job, especially one that fits your skillset.

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What about wage growth?

New Jersey has an educated workforce and people are still having a hard time finding jobs, said Brandon McKoy, the Director of Government and Public Affairs at New Jersey Policy Perspective, a left-learning think tank.

And even if the unemployment rate decreases and more people find work, the wages in New Jersey are still too low, he said.

"What is the point of working if youre still in poverty?" McKoy said. "If more people are working and the poverty rate remains the same the jobs arent really all that great."

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How have the number of jobs in N.J. changed?

Since April 2017, New Jersey has experienced a decrease in jobs.

New Jersey reached a maximum of 4,343,387 in April, according to the Current Population Survey, a monthly survey of households that provides a comprehensive body of data on the labor force. About 77,924 jobs have been lost in New Jersey since then.

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Should I worry?

The unemployment rate in New Jersey, and nationwide, often fluctuates. The state rate has increased since August, but it could begin to improve in the first half of 2018.The unemployment rate in New Jersey has already dipped .1 percentage point in January from 5.1 to 5.0.

"Most of the job data and unemployment data right now is based on samples," Hughes said. "They are all subject to revision. Last year we thought the job growth was mediocre and then with the revised data it was the best year we had had before the recession."

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What to expect in the future

A Rutgers economic study published in July predicts New Jersey will lag the nation in key indicators through 2026.

Slow employment growth will continue to be a drag on state output, the study said, with real GDP growing by an average of 1 percent from 2018 to 2026 (versus 2.1 percent for the nation).

Hughes said New Jersey will experience setbacks in the future.

"We were the real beneficiary of the massive suburbanization waves right after WWII to the start of the Great Recession," Hughes said. "Our core specialization and economic competence was in suburban office buildings. Now we are the weakest nationally for that."

Hughes said with more people in New Jersey wanting to live in what he calles "24/7 live and play environments", fewer are moving to the suburbs.

"NYC is booming. The Hudson waterfront is booming," he said. "We have high vacancy rates in our suburban office inventories, so we're seeing more get knocked down. It is a structural change that is hitting N.J. harder than other states."

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What can Gov. Murphy do?

Gov. Murphy has already introduced several labor policies that will help boost New Jersey's economy, McKoy said, including equal pay for equal work and paid sick leave.

Murphy campaigned on the promise that he would raise the minimum wage in the state to $15/hour but he is facing pushback from other Democrats.

"There's been an artificial deflation of wages over the last several decades. As a result, the economy is not as strong as it could be," McKoy said. "Fifteen dollars an hour its not that much money. No where in the state can you meet basic needs and make less than 15 dollars an hour."

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More about unemployment in N.J.

Christie: N.J. jobs growth rate now better than U.S.

Here are 19 big promises Gov.-elect Phil Murphy made to you during the campaign

Phil Murphy on raising N.J. minimum wage: 'We are done with this us vs. them' attitude

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Erin Banco may be reached at ebanco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ErinBanco. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
By Charles Wowkanech

The U.S. Supreme Court soon will be the stage of one of the most consequential fights in the history of the American worker.

Anyone concerned with the future of middle-class jobs in our nation deserves to get the facts. Rather than sifting through the complexities of this legal battle, the goal of this article is to make clear to readers the real-life implications of this impending court decision.

The case is called Janus v. AFSCME, and it is scheduled to be heard by the court on Feb. 26. At its core, this case is a direct attack on collective bargaining rights and undermines the ability of all workers to join together and negotiate with their employer for better wages, benefits and working conditions.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the percentage of wage and salary workers who were members of a union was 10.7 percent in 2017, down from a peak of 33.4 percent in 1945. This might lead someone to ask: If union membership is such a small proportion of the workforce, why should anyone worry?

History however, makes it clear that as the percentage of union membership declines, so too does the percentage of income held by the middle class as a whole.

The refrain "United we stand, divided we fall" is a simple way of reminding people that the well-being of all working people is intertwined. When workers stick together, we maximize our voice on the job and gain the opportunity to earn a decent living. However, when workers are divided, none of us alone has the power to withstand attacks that can topple us one by one. The Janus case is only the latest example of the effort to pit workers against one another.

Unions create a level economic playing field that allows all workers to enjoy a better standard of living. But there are economic forces at work, and government policy plays a crucial role in our economy. To say that these policies have missed the mark is an understatement.

It's not just the nation's broken trade deals that have thrown workers under the bus. Reducing labor costs has become an art form among businesses and is a key driver of profit in the modern economy. Furthermore, anti-worker policies such as right-to-work, championed by corporate America, have become a tool to enrich businesses at the expense of working people.

In recent years no labor policy has gained as much traction as right-to-work, which has been adopted by 28 states, with the six most recent laws being passed between 2012 and 2017, as a result of groups such as the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation funded by the Koch brothers and America's biggest corporations. Such a policy functions only to weaken unions under the guise of "protecting" individual liberty. Following the money makes it immediately clear where the intent of this policy lies.

So what does any of this have to do with the Janus case? The answer is pretty simple: Janus v. AFSCME is the judicial equivalent of right-to-work. One key difference is that rather than applying to a single state, this case would apply to every public-sector job across the nation. Of course, such a broad-based attack on workers would leave no group unscathed.

As tumultuous as it may seem, the Trump administration has a laser focus in its effort to enrich corporate America at the expense of working families. With President Donald Trump's appointment of Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court, he has once again stacked the deck against working families while claiming -- as any good salesman would -- that he has come to their rescue.

No matter the outcome of this case, working people have the power to set the course for the future. The formula is simple: When workers unite and come together in common purpose, we can achieve an economy that works for all.

This movement has already begun, and we invite all working families to join on Saturday, Feb. 24, as part of the national Working People's Day of Action. Rallies will be held across the country to maximize our collective voice. Visit itsaboutfreedom.org to find the location nearest you.

If ever there was a time for working people to stand up for their rights, that time is now.

Charles Wowkanech is the President of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, representing more than one-million union members and their families.

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By Robert Barchi

Legislation is quickly heading to Gov. Phil Murphy's desk that would dedicate $10 million to NJ Transit for initial planning for a light rail that would connect East Brunswick, New Brunswick, Piscataway and South Plainfield. This marks an important transportation investment in central New Jersey that will benefit the region for decades to come.

Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, played an important role in including funding for the light-rail study. That shows a new and commendable commitment from leaders in Trenton to serious and consistent investments in mass transit that for too long have been lacking. Senate President Steve Sweeney, D-Gloucester, who sponsored one of the bills naming Transportation Trust Fund priorities, has been equally engaged in expanding light rail from Rutgers-Camden to Glassboro.

A light rail linking key parts of Middlesex County has the potential to bring enormous improvements to our environment, our regional economy and to the quality of life for the hundreds of thousands of commuters, workers, students and others who traverse the central Middlesex County corridors that include Route 18, Interstate 287 and countless county roads and bridges.

Chronic underfunding of New Jersey's transportation system has left the state with a rail system known for its delays and overcrowding, a road system where 1 in 11 of the bridges in New Jersey are in a state of dismal disrepair, and congested state highways that are connected to local roads that just can't handle the load.

For many years, starting with the visionary inception of NJ Transit in the 1970s, our state led the country in supporting and improving its transportation system, particularly its commuter and light-rail lines. The state was a center of commerce, respected for forward-thinking transportation policy and progress. New Jersey's workforce became mobile enough to grow. Benefits accrued to businesses big and small from this mobility -- including Rutgers University, which is the second-largest public employer in the state.

Unfortunately, New Jersey lost its way along that continuum of progress by affirmatively choosing to underfund the same system that delivered it to prosperity. The system today that so benefited New Jersey for decades is starving for investment and planning.

The new transportation capital plan is a good next step because the results of years of transit disinvestment are clear to all who seek to traverse the state, whether by road or rail. Traffic jams and gridlock contribute to air pollution as cars idle in endless delays. Trips that were once only a second thought are now major undertakings. Frustration abounds and tempers flare. The system that was once the envy of the nation is now an impediment to progress.

Managing mass transit is not easy. It takes continual planning, constant focus and it takes sustained investment. I know: Rutgers runs the second-largest mass transit system in the state. Moving students and staff around our campuses is fundamental to our mission -- when the buses don't run, our students can't learn. Over the past five years, we have made it our priority to invest in increasing the capacity and efficiency of the system that carries 90,000 riders every day. We have improved the flow of vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles along roads across the university and we've made them safer.

On a grand scale, New Jersey needs leaders in Trenton who are willing to do the same for mobility, both regionally and across the state. Let's acknowledge that the mobility of New Jersey's workforce is the lifeblood of progress, of economic vibrancy and of a better economic future for us all. New Jersey needs political leaders who are willing to make similar investments to improve the transportation system.

The region and the state have sorely needed a commitment to our mass-transit and transportation infrastructure. New Jersey's legislative leaders have taken a major step in the right direction.

Robert Barchi is the president of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.

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AR-15-style rifles have increasingly appeared in American mass shootings, including the deadliest high school shooting in United States' modern history.

The National Rifle Association has called the AR-15 the "most popular rifle in America." It is estimated that Americans own more than 8 million of the weapon.

NRA says the AR-15 has soared in popularity because it's "customizable, adaptable, reliable and accurate."

An AR-15 was used in last week's school shooting in Parkland, Florida, where 17, including 15 students, were killed. The weapon was also used in the Newtown, Conn. elementary school massacre in December 2012, the deadly workplace party shooting San Bernardino, California shooting, and October's Las Vegas concert shooting that killed 58 people.

Five of the six deadliest mass shootings in the past six years in the United States, the gunman used an AR-15-style rifle.

The weapon is basically a civilian version of the military's M-16.

AR-15s were banned as part of the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban. That ban expired in 2004 and was not renewed.

Should the AR-15 be banned in the United States?

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.
Two years ago, Gov. Chris Christie threatened to pull the plug on New Jersey's tax reciprocity agreement with Pennsylvania, something that could have meant higher taxes for thousands of residents.

Now a new bill in the state Senate would strip governors of their authority to unilaterally pull New Jersey out of its tax reciprocity agreement with Pennsylvania, which allows New Jerseyans and Pennsylvanians to pay income taxes where they live rather than where they work.

If passed into law, the bill (S878) would require that the New Jersey Legislature agree to terminate the decades-old pact.

Christie in 2016 took steps to withdaw by executive order, expecting to reap nearly $200 million in revenue from Pennsylvania residents who would be forced to pay taxes here. Christie accused the Legislature of backing him into a corner by passing a budget that counted on $250 million in cuts to public worker health care but did not identify those savings or mandate them.

He reversed course later that year.

More than 120,000 New Jerseyans commute across the Delaware River, and a similar number of Pennsylvanians work here, according to the U.S. census.

Low- and middle-income New Jerseyans working in Philadelphia and other spots in the Keystone State would have owed more.

And higher income Pennsylvania residents working in New Jersey likely would have paid much more. That state has a flat 3.07 percent income tax rate, while New Jersey's graduated income tax tops out at 8.97 percent.

"The reciprocal income tax agreement ... helps residents from both states, and there is no reason this agreement should ever have been threatened," Sen. Fred Madden, D-Gloucester, said in a statement. "The current law gives too much power to the (director of the Division of Taxation) to terminate these types of agreements."

The bill was approved last week by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee 11-0.

Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com . Follow her on Twitter @samanthamarcus. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.
Gov. Phil Murphy said Tuesday he's set to become the first governor in New Jersey history with a Cabinet in which the majority of members are female.

The Democratic governor made the declaration as he announced he's nominating three more women to run state agencies -- those overseeing higher education, motor vehicles, and civil service.

"We have a lot of firsts in this cabinet, but this is one I'm especially proud of," Murphy said during a news conference at Eberhardt Hall at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark. "And not just in the number of women but overall in the people we have asked and who have accepted to serve."

Murphy, who took office last month, also said he's "confident" his cabinet will be the most diverse in the United States.

The three new picks are:

* Zakiya Smith Ellis, a former education policy advisor in President Barack Obama's administration, for secretary of higher education.

* B. Sue Fulton, a military veteran named to the U.S. Military Academy's Board of Visitors by Obama, for chair and chief administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.

* Deirdre Webster Cobb, a state treasury official, for chair and CEO of the state Civil Service Commission, which oversees hiring of thousands of government workers.

Eleven of the nominees for Murphy's 21 Cabinet posts are women and nine are men. A governor's Cabinet consists of the officials who lead state agencies, such as the health and treasury departments.

Murphy has yet to nominate a State Police superintentent, but sources told NJ Advance Media that the current acting commissioner, Patrick Callahan, will be announced as his pick sometime this week.

Murphy has made diversity a major theme of his Cabinet. He also nominated the nation's first Sikh state attorney general and the first minority to lead the New Jersey National Guard.

The governor said Tuesday that New Jersey is "by many measures" the most diverse state in the nation and that he promised to "put a team on the field" that would "reflect that diversity."

A survey from WalletHub last year showed New Jersey is the fourth most diverse state in the U.S.

There's no immediate metric to determine if Murphy's cabinet will be the nation's most diverse. But the governor said his staff has researched the topic and is "99.9 percent sure."

Murphy also stressed that "this is not just for the sake of being diverse."

"The point is: At the end of the day, you want leadership that gets better results for all of us in the state, not just some of us," he said.

All three of Murphy's new nominees still need to be confirmed by the state Senate, as do many of the governor's previous picks.

The nominees who have not been confirmed yet have been serving in an acting capacity.

Gov. Phil Murphy holds a news conference Tuesday at NJIT in Newark.

Murphy said Tuesday he's not concerned about the pace of confirmations in the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats but run by state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, who so far has had a rocky relationship with the new governor.

"Our conversations behind the scenes are very productive," Murphy said. "And by comparison (to previous administrations), it's going along just fine."

"It's not like we're being kept back from pursuing what we want to pursue in government," he added.

Sweeney said Tuesday that the remaining nominees will receive confirmation hearings soon.

Smith Ellis, the higher education nominee -- who is black -- is currently the director of finance and federal policy at the Lumina Foundation. She previously served on the White House Domestic Policy Council as the senior policy advisor for education under Obama.

Murphy said Smith Ellis will help make college more affordable in the state and push for his goal of instituting free community college here.

"Now more than ever, we need strong colleges and university to help move us into the next era," Smith Ellis said.

Fulton, the motor vehicles nominee, is a retired Army captain and an LGBTQ advocate. She is currently the executive director of the Women in The Service Change Initiative, which aims to help women in the American armed forces, and has also worked for Pfizer Consumer Health.

Murphy said Fulton will help make the state's DMVs more "customer-friendly" and lobby for a system in which residents are automatically registered to vote when they receive a drivers license.

Fulton said she will help "leverage the MVC to expand democracy in our state" and ensure "all New Jerseyans are treated with respect for their time and for their dignity when they come to our offices."

Webster Cobb, the civil service nominee -- who is black -- has spent 28 years as a state government employee. She is currently the Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action officer at the state treasury department, making sure policies against discrimination at work are enforced.

Murphy said Webster Cobb will take over a commission that became "politicized" over the last eight years and will help restore it as an "unbiased voice in labor relations."

"I understand the issues we have faced in the civil service for the last 30 years," Webster Cobb said.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Matt Arco contributed to this report.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.
Gov. Phil Murphy plans to nominate Col. Patrick Callahan, the acting superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, as full-time head of the force, NJ Advance Media has learned.

Murphy is expected to make the announcement sometime this week, according to two sources with knowledge of the decision who asked for anonymity because they are not authorized to speak openly about the matter.

Callahan would still need to be confirmed by the state Senate for the job, which pays $140,000 a year.

By picking Callahan, Murphy is turning to a second-generation trooper with two decades of experience to lead New Jersey's top law enforcement agency.

But the selection could also present problems between Murphy's administration, which has touted itself as the most diverse in state history, and civil rights leaders and clergy who have long criticized the State Police over its troubled history with racial profiling and lack of minority recruitment.

Callahan, 48, has been on the job in an acting capacity since October, when longtime Col. Rick Fuentes retired after 13 years in the position and Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, installed him.

Before taking the post, Callahan was in charge of the bureau overseeing the division's response to Hurricane Sandy and served as one of Fuentes' deputy superintendents.

"To have grown up in the State Police and find myself in this position is somewhat surreal, but of course, it's an honor," Callahan, who joined the division in 1995, told NJ Advance Media in a recent interview.

The Senate did not confirm Callahan to take the position full time because Murphy was set to succeed Christie on Jan. 16 and would be allowed to nominate his own superintendent.

Asked earlier this month if Murphy, a Democrat, planned to keep him on, Callahan said he had "not had that discussion with the governor."

Murphy has also been considering at least two other candidates for the job, three sources familiar with the process told NJ Advance Media.

Those sources spoke on condition of anonymity.

One is Latrecia Littles-Floyd, another second-generation trooper who was the division's first African-American lieutenant colonel and chief of staff before retiring in 2016. She also served on the law and justice committee for Murphy's transition team.

The other is Maj. Frederick Fife, the commanding officer of the Special Operations Section who has served on the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force in Philadelphia and overseen high-level terrorism investigations, the sources said.

Patrick Callahan is sworn in as acting superintendent of the New Jersey State Police on Oct. 31.

Murphy made history with many of his Cabinet picks, selecting the first minority to lead the New Jersey National Guard and the nation's first Sikh attorney general.

The State Police is involved in everything from patrolling the state's highways and responding to natural disasters to conducting high-level drug and gang investigations and preventing terror attacks.

It is an elite law enforcement agency that also has a reputation for secrecy and infighting and an ethnic makeup less diverse than police departments across the country, including a command staff that skews overwhelmingly white and male.

Callahan, who is white, has tried in his first three months to quell tensions between the division and black community leaders, who have expressed concern about diversity among the ranks and the handling of internal investigations involving black troopers.

Earlier this month, members of the black clergy and the state chapter of the NAACP went to State Police headquarters for a private meeting with Callahan, other State Police leaders and newly confirmed state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal to air grievances over diversity issues within the division, according to several people in attendance.

Bishop Jethro James, a State Police chaplain who was among the clergy at the meeting, said black leaders had grown increasingly frustrated with State Police leadership. Late last year, he said, things got to the point where he had discussions with civil rights groups about filing a lawsuit similar to those that led in the 1990s to a decade of federal monitoring over racial profiling.

But James said the meeting, "one of the most fruitful meetings we've had in the last few years," made him cautiously optimistic.

"It's not a threat," James said of the lawsuit idea. "It's the only way it seems we can get caring and justice, and they agreed with us. We don't want to do it, they don't want to do it. They say they're at the table now. And that's all we want."

Callahan, for his part, has said he hopes to improve relationships between police and the communities they serve by "humanizing the badge."

"Sometimes it's that one-on-one relationship between law enforcement and the public that is going to be the ultimate thing that instills public trust," he said.

S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.
NJ Transit trains to and from Penn Station New York experienced delays due to an Amtrak train that was disabled due to debris near the station Tuesday morning.

NJ Transit sent an alert about 20-minute delays from the broken down train. NJ Transit typically stores trains in the Sunnyside yard in Queens after the morning rush. The delay was reported around 8:40 a.m.

Trains in and out of Penn Station New York are subject to up to 30 minute delays due to a disabled Amtrak train east of Penn Station New York .  NJ TRANSIT (@NJTRANSIT) February 20, 2018

The delay was caused after Amtrak Northeast Regional train 190, from Washington had debris stuck on the bottom of a rail car, said Jason Abrams, an Amtrak spokesman.

That caused smoke on the tracks, but no fire was reported, and the train was moved, he said.

An Amtrak Acela express from New York to Washington, D.C., also was delayed by the incident, but was moved, Abrams said. Delays for trains in and out of NY Penn Station continued, he said.

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Honors

:





An American Library Association Notable Children



s Book 2009







A Junior Library Guild Selection







A Children



s Choices title 2009







A Capitol Choices Noteworthy Book for Children and Teens 2009







An Association for Library Service to Children Notable Children



s Book 2009







A Sydney Taylor Notable Book of Jewish Content 2009







Kirkus Reviews



best of 2008



list







New York Public Library



s



100 Titles for Reading and Sharing



2008







Starred reviews

:







Vibrant and well-researched...Nobleman details this achievement with a zest amplified by MacDonald



s...punchy illustrations



 Publishers Weekly







[T]his robust treatment does [Shuster and Siegels] story justice



 Booklist







The battle for truth and justice is truly never-ending



 Kirkus Reviews





Other coverage

:











[N]o library in the world could object to the books style and panache. [T]his is one biography thats going to lure the kids like nothing else. More fun than any childrens biography has any right to be



Fuse #8 ( School Library Journal ; four out of five stars)







Fascinating



 Horn Book







Sure to become a classic example of the genre



Families Online







Wonderfulyoung readerswill find thistitle appealing and thereby ensure that future generations recall the amazing story behind Supermans creation as well. Wait, did I say recall? Strike thatmake it will be inspired by instead. This book is that good



Firefox News







[T]ouching... The illustrated section...is upbeat, entertaining, and informative...the [well-crafted] afterword shows the shadow side of the great American dream. ...Nobleman is equally adept at both stories



 Boston Globe







Surprisingly poignant



 San Francisco Chronicle







Haunting



 Geek Monthly







Excellent



GeekDad (WIRED)







A-minus



A.V. Club







Engrossing...wonderful



Scripps Howard News Service







I was completely mesmerized by this book from the first instant I opened it. I loved every page, and every word.

Boys of Steel

transported me; it made me feel young; it moved me to tears. Honest to God, it did! It caused my black heart to melt. The book is absolutely fantastic, the book is tremendous, the book is a huge achievement



Robby Reed, DIAL B for BLOG







Expertly crafted...entertaining and good looking...a real winner



 Tripwire







I have to praise this wonderful book. It has something for children and adults, fans of comics and otherwise...I don



t use the word a lot, but the book is very charming



PLAYBACK:stl







Terrific...elegantly laid down



Comics Waiting Room




A Cairo criminal court has sentenced 20 people to ten years in prison over the torching of the Virgin Mary Church in the Kerdasa district of Giza governorate during violent incidents on 14 August 2013.

The prosecution in the case charged the defendants with joining an illegal group, possession of illegal arms, attempted murder, disrupting transportation and defying the authorities.

Churches across Egypt came under frenzied attack after security forces forcibly dispersed two Cairo protest camps held by supporters of the banned Muslim Brotherhood organization and ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in Augist 2013.

Egyptian authorities accused the Brotherhood of orchestrating dozens of attacks against churches across the country following the dispersal of their protest camps.

Hundreds of people were tried in the following years for involvement in the attacks on churches.

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The Times-Picayune is marking the tricentennial of New Orleans with its ongoing 300 for 300 project, running through 2018 and highlighting 300 people who have made New Orleans New Orleans, featuring original artwork commissioned by NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune with Where Y'Art gallery. Today: philanthropist Paul Tulane.

The icon: Paul Tulane.

The legacy: Paul Tulane was the son of French immigrants who, by the time he was scarcely 20, had moved from New Jersey to New Orleans and opened the dry goods business on which he would build his fortune. That fortune would, in turn, support his lifelong habit of giving -- call it the original green wave -- including an 1881 donation of land worth $1 million for educational purposes in Louisiana. That donation would finance the University of Louisiana, which was subsequently named in his honor. More than 130 years later, Tulane University remains a vital part of the New Orleans community and Paul Tulane is remembered on as one of the city's most notable philanthropists.

The artist: D. Lammie Hanson, WhereYart.net.

The quote: "His integrity in business; his pure and blameless life; his patriotism and fidelity to political principles; his exalted sense of honor, and his unbounded philanthropy, will endear his memory to the people of Louisiana for all time." -- Gov. John McEnery, on the legacy of Paul Tulane

Explore more of D. Lammie Hanson's work online at WhereYart.net and in person at the Where Y'Art gallery, 1901 Royal St.

Paul Tulane was born near Princeton, New Jersey, on May 10, 1801, one of five children.

Source: The Times-Picayune archive

More on 300 for 300:
All roads have reopened in Montz and residents are free to leave their homes after a police standoff ended peacefully Tuesday (Feb. 20) afternoon in St. Charles Parish, authorities report. A 28-year-old man had barricaded himself inside a home on Hollywood Park near River Road and had refused to come out.

The man's family called the St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office shortly after 10 a.m. concerned that he would harm himself, Sheriff's Office spokesman Corporal James Grimaldi said. Authorities closed the area shortly after 2 p.m. advising residents in the area to remain indoors.

The man surrendered to deputies around 2:22 p.m. and the area was re-opened according to an update released around 3:30 p.m.

Grimaldi said the man was home alone, and that no one was injured during the incident.

"No one was hurt," Grimaldi said. "No weapons were discharged."

The Sheriff's Office alert, released shortly after 2 p.m. caused traffic to be diverted to Evangeline Road in Montz, and eastbound traffic was diverted at Louisiana 3217, commonly known as Bayou Steel Road, in St. John the Baptist Parish.

No charges have been filed, authorities said.
Thirty-two New Orleans students will spend the next year sharing their vision for public education in New Orleans as members of the 2018 Superintendent's Student Advisory Council.

The Orleans Parish School Board recognized the new members after receiving more than 100 applications from both OPSB and Recovery School District schools, according to a news release. The students selected come from 23 schools across New Orleans and range from 8th-grade to 12th-grade students.

The student advisory council will help guide OPSB leadership by providing feedback on the accountability framework of all schools in the district and offering insight into the daily needs and desires of their peers. The council will also get the opportunity to help vet charter organizations seeking to takeover schools in the city by asking questions about their applications and their goals.

Orleans Superintendent Henderson Lewis Jr. has already held a meeting with the council at Warren Easton High School, a OPSB spokeswoman said.

The 2018 Student Advisory Council, which OPSB recognized on Feb. 15, includes the following students:

Blake Brooks, Ben Franklin High School, 9th Grade

. . . . . . .

Wilborn P. Nobles III is an education reporter based in New Orleans. He can be reached at wnobles@nola.com or on Twitter at @WilNobles.
The Louisiana coast is again buzzing with big, green blood-hungry flies. And that's a really good thing, according to Claudia Husseneder, a biologist tracking the recovery of horse flies after the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil disaster.

"This blood-sucking nemesis is a sign of a healthy coast," she said. "They're a bio-indicator of ecosystem health after an oil spill."

Husseneder's research for the Louisiana State University AgCenter shows that the green-head horse fly, a native of Louisiana's coastal marshes, was particularly hard-hit by the BP spill, considered the world's largest and most destructive oil disaster. She recently presented her findings at the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science Conference in New Orleans.

The disaster harmed nearly every species in the Gulf, from dolphins to shore birds, but the horse fly hints at trends in wider ecosystem recovery. They're the top predator of marsh insects and many tiny invertebrates. A marsh with few horse flies is usually a sign that the food chain is out of whack or there's something toxic in the environment.

Flies have a fatal attraction to oil. They mistake an oily sheen for fresh water, and end up stuck in the toxic substance. Oil from the BP disaster also decimated fly larvae, which live in marsh mud for several months while they grow into adults.

Husseneder and her colleague Lane Foil rushed out to the marshes just as the Deepwater Horizon rig began spewing oil in April 2010. They wanted to get a baseline of data on horse fly populations before the oil reached the marsh. Three of their test sites - Grand Bayou, Grand Isle and Elmer's Island - were soon contaminated with oil. Three other sites in Cameron and St. Mary parishes remained pristine.

"You might ask how you catch horse flies," Husseneder said. "Well, they're out for blood so we used carbon dioxide."

The scent of carbon dioxide is a horse fly's cue that blood is near. AgCenter scientists baited their fly traps with a chunk of dry ice, carbon dioxide's solid form. Traps in marshes untouched by the disaster drew swarms of flies.

"But at the oiled sites, we found there was a severe population crash right after the oil spill," Husseneder said. "Even up to two years after the spill we could hardly find any larvae."

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Much of the BP oil degraded naturally from exposure to air, sunlight and oil-eating bacteria. Fly populations started to rebuild as the oil degraded, but they suffered from weak genes for years. "There was a genetic bottleneck because the population had been so reduced."

Horse flies from clean marshes eventually came to the rescue, adding numbers and diversifying the gene pool. It took six years before the contaminated marshes boasted healthy horse fly populations.

"In 2015 the numbers were rising, but there was a lot of buzzing around 2016," Husseneder said.

Other species are not faring as well. Bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles and deep-sea coral are among the marine animals still still struggling after the disaster.

The horse fly resurgence may come as bad news for anglers, duck hunters and other frequent visitors to Louisiana's marshlands.

"But look on the bright side of life," Hasseneder said. "It means you're in a much healthier and productive marsh again."

---

Tristan Baurick covers Louisiana's coastal environment for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Email: tbaurick@nola.com * Twitter: @tristanbaurick * Facebook: Tristan Baurick and Louisiana Coastal Watch.
Zachary Porter is a 21-year-old U.S. Marine stationed at Belle Chasse, and he wants you to know something:

It's chowder. Do NOT call it soup.

Sir! Yes sir!

That's like calling a New Orleans streetcar a trolley. It's a mistake. It's chowder. Today, here, now: New England Clam Chowder.

Porter is from Rhode Island, and then Florida. His staff sergeant showed him the Where NOLA Eats Facebook group moderated by NOLA.com and The Times-Picayune, and he attended the group's holiday cookie exchange, where he met food writer Ann Maloney. (Porter and his wife, Holli, have been unable to recreate the cookie that he brought to the exchange, a cross between a churro and shortbread.) At that event, Porter told Ann about New England Clam Chowder and the couple's passion for it.

Zachary and Holli, 23, drove to New Orleans recently to share more about chowder, the recipe and the techniques. Most charmingly, Holli brought a pair of goggles, and promptly started to work chopping onions while wearing them.

Chowder "is not soup," Zachary declared. "Chowder is thick. It should hold, not drip from the spoon. It sticks to the ribs. It makes you feel good."

Porter defined three types of chowder. In addition to the New England clam one, which is based on cream, there is Manhattan, which has tomato. And seafood chowder, which is soupier, is based on a broth made from the fish and seafood that are in it, Porter said.

"We've made this chowder a bunch of times," Zachary said. "My brother kept telling me, 'I'm going to Iggy's,' our favorite place for clam cakes and chowder. We would wait an hour. It's right on the beach in Warwick.

"My wife got annoyed with me sulking" every time his brother mentioned Iggy's.

"Holli made it for me because I was homesick," he said. "I came home one day and she said, 'It's a surprise.' I asked her, 'Why did I need to pick up oyster crackers?' And I fell in love with the recipe."

Although this dish can be made with canned clams, the Porters prefer to use a product they found at Hong Kong Market, a 10-ounce package labeled Boiled Baby Clam Meat. It's $3.99 and has more than enough for their batch. ("If you put in too many, it will taste like seawater," Zachary warns.) Soak, drain and pat the clams dry, then chop them.

Holli found an Iggy's-like recipe on the internet and adapted it. (Full name of the establishment: Iggy's Doughboys & Chowder House). The recipe is similar to the one given out by the restaurant for New England Clam Chowder, but with several differences. The restaurant website also has recipes for Manhattan Clam Chowder and Rhode Island Clam Chowder, which has no cream. It's a specialty of the state.

Zachary lived in Rhode Island until his stepmother found her birth parents in Florida when he was a teen, and the family moved there. He met Holli in culinary class in high school. She is the daughter of a Marine.

"It's ironic," she said. "I never thought I'd marry a serviceman."

At age 7, Zachary was taught to cook by an older sister, Jessica. They have different grandmothers. Hers is from Italy and taught her to cook.

Zachary grew up watching Emeril Lagasse on TV -- a huge influence, along with Bobby Flay. After high school, he wanted to go to culinary school, Zachary said, but he mailed the application a day late. He went to work at a barbecue restaurant, then joined the Marines.

During his time in Louisiana, he's become a big fan of Creole seasoning (they were given Tony Chachere's when they moved into base housing), they said.

They just bought a deep fryer.

For the couple's anniversary, they dined at Emeril's (Zachary raved about the service). During their time off, they drive to New Orleans to try different restaurants, checking each off a list.

"I love the food," Zachary said. "I want to learn to cook" it. He hopes to learn about the food and cuisine of each place he is stationed, and eventually open a small cafe in the Orlando area when his military service is over.

As for the goggles? Zachary said they were "one of the dumb things I got" during boot camp. "I came home one day and she was wearing them."

"I got tired of crying every single time I chopped onions," Holli said. "I saw the goggles and said, 'I'm going to do it. I'm not going to cry this time.'"

They work great.

This chowder is so thick that the roux amount could be cut in half if desired, and the addition of finely chopped bacon is an option. Also, half-and-half could be used instead of cream.

New England Clam Chowder

Makes about 6 servings

1 cup butter (2 sticks), divided

1 small onion, chopped

2 teaspoons minced garlic

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 cups clam juice (bottled), well shaken

2-1/4 cups chicken broth

2 bay leaves

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves

1-1/2 pounds red potatoes, diced

1 cup heavy cream

1 cup chopped clams

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Oyster crackers for serving

Heat chicken broth in a small saucepan.

In a large heavy soup pot, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add onions and saute 5 minutes. Add garlic and saute about 30 seconds. Add remaining butter to the pan. When melted, add flour. Whisk together well, until completely blended.

Mix clam juice with chicken broth in a bowl. Add slowly to roux, about 2 tablespoons at a time, whisking well, slowly adding in small amounts.

When fully mixed, add bay leaves, thyme and potatoes. Bring to a boil and cover. Simmer about 20 minutes, until potatoes are soft, stirring occasionally. Add cream and reduce heat to simmer. Add clams, salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Ladle into bowls and sprinkle each with parsley and some of the oyster crackers.

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Serve at once.

Refrigerate any leftovers. If chowder is too thick when reheating, stir in water or additional clam broth, a tablespoon at a time, to desired consistency.

This is one of the Porters' favorite meals. They top the casserole with homemade buttermilk biscuits, using a technique from Cook's Illustrated.

Chicken Pot Pie Casserole

Makes 6 to 8 servings

Homemade or refrigerated canned biscuits for topping (recipe link here)

6 to 8 russet potatoes, peeled, cut in half-inch cubes

3/4 cup chopped carrots

3/4 cup frozen peas

7 tablespoons butter, divided (plus more as needed)

1/2 medium onion, diced

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 large chicken breast, cut in half-inch pieces

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

3 cups chicken broth

1 cup milk

Make biscuits according to recipe, but do not bake. Heat oven to required biscuit temperature (450 if using the recipe in the link). Coat a 2-quart casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large saucepan, cover diced potatoes with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat slightly, and cook about 5 minutes. Add carrots and peas. Cook another 10 minutes or so, until carrots and potatoes are tender. Drain vegetables.

While vegetables cook, in a skillet over medium heat, melt 1/2 tablespoon butter. Add onions. Cook about 3 minutes, until clear. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from pan.

Add 1/2 tablespoon butter and adjust heat to medium high. Add chicken, salt and pepper. Cook about 5 minutes, or until chicken is opaque and no longer pink. Do not overcook. Remove from heat and add to vegetables.

In a large pot, melt 6 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add 6 tablespoons flour and whisk over medium heat to make a white roux. Cook 1 or 2 minutes. Starting with about 1 tablespoon at a time, add broth and milk, whisking until mixture is smooth. Increase heat to medium-high. Cook at a fast simmer about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mixture thickens.

Turn off heat. Add vegetables, salt and pepper to milk mixture. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Pour into the prepared casserole dish. Top with biscuits. Bake until biscuits are golden brown, 8 to 18 minutes.

Let casserole cool briefly before serving.

Holli Porter lived in Okinawa for several years when her father was stationed there. Zachary's favorite thing she makes is fried rice. They cook it with chicken, pork or steak. For Louisiana diners, Holli shared her shrimp version. Save the drained pineapple juice to adjust the moisture level of the rice.

Holli's Shrimp Fried Rice

Makes 4 servings

4-1/2 tablespoons butter, divided

1 shallot, minced

1/2 cup chopped carrots

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1/2 cup diced or crushed pineapple canned in water, drained, juice reserved

1/4 teaspoon Creole seasoning

1 pound shrimp, peeled, deveined, cut into 1-inch pieces if large

2-1/2 cups cooked rice

3 tablespoons soy sauce, plus more for serving

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

4 tablespoons water or pineapple juice, plus more if needed

In a wok or 3-quart saucepan over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter. Add shallots. Cook 2 minutes, or until clear. Add carrots and cook 5 minutes, until tender. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Remove mixture from pan.

In the same pan, over medium heat, melt 1/2 tablespoon butter. Add pineapple and Creole seasoning. Cook about 3 minutes, until pineapple has a nice golden-brown color, then remove from the pan.

In the same pan, over medium heat, melt 1/2 tablespoon butter. Add shrimp. Cook until shrimp is just pink on both sides, about 5 minutes.

In the wok or a larger pot, heat the remaining butter over medium-high heat. Add rice and soy sauce. If you are using cold or leftover rice, add 3 tablespoons water or pineapple juice. Cook about 3 minutes, and if rice is still too dry, add remaining 1 tablespoon liquid.

Add shallots, carrots, pineapple and shrimp. Cook another 3 or 4 minutes. Season with soy sauce, salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve at once.

***

For information about columnist Judy Walker's E-cookbook of favorite Louisiana recipes from her "In Judy's Kitchen" features and videos, send an email to her: JudyWalkerCooks@gmail.com.
A Trump administration plan to to replace food-stamp spending with boxes of "100 percent American grown food'' landed on Congress' doorstep with a thud.

But the public attention heaped on the Agriculture Department's plan to deliver "Harvest Boxes" to poor families also obscured the administration's other efforts to cut the number of people eligible for the nation's biggest food-aid program.

Those provisions, including changes to work rules, are likely to find a more receptive audience among Republican lawmakers looking for ways to broadly scale back the nation's social safety net for the poor. That's where the battle may loom as Congress takes up nutrition programs this summer.

The Department of Agriculture plans to keep pushing the proposal to save $129 billion over a decade by shifting from cash payments to recipients to directly providing food, even as congressional committee leaders who oversee food aid signaled disinterest.

The food box was part of Trump's Feb. 12 budget proposal, which lawmakers view as more of a priority list than a blueprint for spending. USDA spokesman Tim Murtaugh said the food box would effectively serve the poor.

"Innovation has always been one of the keys to success, and innovation is what America's Harvest Boxes represent," he said in an email. "It is a favorite pastime in Washington to criticize new ideas and claim they don't work."

He said the administration will press its full agenda for revising food benefits. "We don't intend to let one good idea distract us from proposing others," he said.

The plan calls for the majority of households in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to receive a package that would include items such as cereal, pasta, canned fruit and meat to replace a portion of the food assistance payments they currently receive.

It would apply to all households getting more than $90 a month in benefits. For instance, a family now receiving the maximum $640 a month would get $340 on debit cards used for purchasing food, and the boxes would replace the rest of the amount, Murtaugh said.

The America's Harvest Box was part of a proposed $216 billion in reductions to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program spending over a decade. Other savings come from tighter work requirements, expanding the age range of those covered under the rules, capping the number of people in a household eligible for assistance, and eliminating the minimum benefit, according to an analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a liberal-leaning group in Washington.

All are ideas with a longer history of consideration -- and more proponents in Congress -- than the Harvest Box. And Congress is set to consider a reauthorization of nutrition programs this summer.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., has long wanted to reshape the social safety net for the poor, including food stamps, as part of his effort to get people from welfare to work.

The food stamp program served 42.2 million people and 20.9 million households on average during the 2017 fiscal year. SNAP assistance cost $68.1 billion in 2017, with $63.7 billion given out as benefits.

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has said he wants to reduce costs and have fewer people participate. Perdue said he wants to discourage a "lifestyle" of government dependence.

The department already funds packages of non-perishable commodities for needy senior citizens in its Commodity Supplemental Food Program, and the Women, Infants and Children program gave out food instead of cash into the 1990s, said Robert Rector, who studies the social safety net at the conservative Heritage Foundation in Washington.

America's Harvest Box may save money, he said, as long as the USDA doesn't spend too much on delivery.

But even Heritage, which supports lower safety-net spending, isn't lined up behind the Harvest Box. Commodity distribution would best be limited only to a small group of food-stamp recipients who have difficulty allocating their money for food and repeatedly end up hungry, according to the research group.

Potential problems with such an initiative range from the logistics to stigmatizing poor people as different from the rest of the population, said Parke Wilde, a nutrition professor at Tufts University in Boston.

The plan was mocked on Twitter and lampooned by writers of satirical website The Onion, which joked about a fictional plan of Trump offering pictures of food and reusable bags for scavenging to low-income people.

The most likely way for the plan to become law would be as part of the farm bill, which includes nutrition programs. The House and Senate agriculture committees are at an advanced stage of developing that legislation, and the Harvest Box hasn't been part of it.

"The task at hand is to produce a farm bill for the benefit of our farmers, ranchers, consumers and other stakeholders," House Agriculture Chairman Michael Conaway of Texas and Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts of Kansas, both Republicans, said in a joint statement last week when the proposal was announced. "This budget, as with every other president's budget before, will not prevent us from doing that job."

Other parts of Trump's budget request, such as work rules and eligibility changes, may get serious consideration, said Jim Weill, head of the Food Research and Action Center in Washington, which seeks to end poverty-related hunger.

"This is all part of the White House's frontal assault of the social safety net," he said. Even if the Harvest Box goes nowhere, "it undercuts the credibility of the current program and diverts attention from the other really bad proposals."

- Alan Bjerga (c) 2018, Bloomberg
Egypt's flagship airline EgyptAir will postpone to April the resumption of direct flights to Moscow to ensure that flights are sufficiently booked, CEO Safwat Mosallam told Al-Ahram Arabic news website.

Mosallam said that this should give prospective travellers time to make flight reservations, adding that flights had previously not been open for reservation.

The CEO said that three flights will be scheduled for each week after the resumption.

Mosallam added that EgyptAir has received its office in Moscows Domodedovo Airport, where it has been assigned a special gate to be shared by Russian national carrier Aeroflot.

Mosallam also said that a Russian security agent has been stationed at Cairo International Airport's Terminal 2 to follow up on security procedures in accordance with international agreements concerning the right of airlines to implement additional security measures to ensure the safety of their flights and passengers.

Mosallam stressed that the Russian agent will not be participating in security procedures, and that an EgyptAir representative will also be present to monitor security procedures at Moscow airport.

According to Al-Ahram, Cairo International Airport has not received a timeline from Aeroflot regarding the resumption of Moscow-Cairo flights. Aeroflot has postponed flight resumption multiple times over "technical reasons."

The statements by the EgyptAir's CEO come a few days after Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich told reporters on the sidelines of the Sochi investment forum that the resumption of flights between Russia and Egypts resort cities is "impossible at the moment," without elaborating further.

Egypt has hoped that a resumption of flights to its resort cities would boost its tourism sector, which suffered a major blow following the suspension of flights between the two countries after the late 2015 crash of a Russian airliner in Sinai, which killed everyone on board.

Moscow banned flights to Egypt shortly after the deadly crash over security concerns. Egypt has since enhanced security procedures at its airports, which have been inspected by Russian security experts.

Earlier this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree approving the resumption of commercial air traffic between Russia and Cairo, which were initially set to resume at the start of February but have been postponed multiple times.

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An Associated Press story with a Johannesburg, South Africa, dateline says that "'Black Panther' has burst onto the screen in Africa, handing a powerful response to the unfortunate remarks about the continent by President Donald Trump." That may be overstating things just a tad. A comic-book movie, no matter how well done, probably shouldn't be seen as a response to the racist remarks by a U.S. president. And, as the previous sentence should make clear, I don't think it's appropriate to characterize as merely "unfortunate" Trump's description of El Salvador, Haiti and all places African as "shithole countries."

Thus, the AP is guilty of minimizing Trump's offense and exaggerating the power of Marvel's latest super hero flick directed by Ryan Coogler. The film is indeed spectacular and entertaining and the impetus for all manner of debates about the peculiar frustrations of the African-American experience. Even so, when the histories of President Donald Trump's time in office are written, don't expect any presidential historian to cite the fictional nation of Wakanda as having helped highlight the offensiveness of Trump's remarks.

That's not to say that popular culture - and movies in particular - can't make political statements. The screenwriters of "Back to the Future Part II" were, for example, making a statement -- a frighteningly prescient one - when they made Biff Tannen, the bully from the first film, a corrupt, ambitious and pleasure-loving owner of a casino in the sequel. But just like that movie didn't have the power to stop Trump from eventually ascending to the White House, "Black Panther" doesn't have the power to make racists rethink their opinions of Africa, its people or its diaspora.

As much as it might thrill him to think so, the movie isn't a "powerful response" to anything Trump has said. It is powerful, though. The movie plays out the conversations that Africans and people whose ancestors were snatched from Africa are having with one another -- or should be having.

Are we still one family? What is our duty to one another? If we're fortunate enough to be able to wall off ourselves from white supremacy have we done enough, or should we actively seek to destroy white supremacy for the benefit of those who have no such protection?

"An African-American coming back to Africa, it's a nice reminder of their heritage as well," a Johannesburg moviegoer told an AP reporter. If that moviegoer required a "nice reminder" of the black American experience, then she is unwittingly giving voice to the anger felt by the film's antihero Erik Killmonger. He has been abandoned, left to fend for himself, in the United States as his blood kin revel in their native culture in a country they rule.

And in this movie, the country they rule just so happens to be the world's most technologically advanced.

T'Challa, the king of Wakanda, is the putative hero of the film - he is the Black Panther - but few people who've seen the film are talking about T'Challa. Most are talking about Killmonger and debating his idea of using Wakandan weapons to liberate all black people, no matter their ancestry or where they are on the globe. But Wakanda hadn't even sought to reclaim Killmonger, and he's of royal blood; so the idea of them helping non-Wakandans is especially far-fetched.

Christopher Lebron, author of "The Making of Black Lives Matter: A Brief History of an Idea," writes in the Boston Review that "viewers have two radical imaginings in front of them: an immensely rich and flourishing advanced African nation that is sealed off from white colonialism and supremacy; and a few black Wakandans with a vision of black solidarity who are determined to use Wakanda's privilege to emancipate all black people."

Lebron expresses disappointment that filmmakers didn't attempt to reconcile those two positions but, instead have T'Challa and Killmonger fight to the death.

Captured Africans on Senegal's Goree Island passed through what's been called the "Door of No Return." In The New Yorker, Columbia journalism professor Jelani Cobb that people whose ancestors passed through that door can't really return either. He recalls a Senegalese tour guide dismissing the idea that black Americans are her sisters and brothers. "You are Americans. That is all."

Cobb writes, "There is a fundamental dissonance in the term 'African-American,' two feuding ancestries conjoined by a hyphen. That dissonance--a hyphen standing in for the brutal history that intervened between Africa and America--is the subject of 'Black Panther.'"

"Walking out of the theater, I felt fulfilled as a black viewer and as a woman, which rarely happens simultaneously with mainstream movies," Anika Reed writes at USA Today. "Representation in pop culture matters, and the women of 'Black Panther' are celebrated and validated throughout the film in powerful ways." In particular, the celebration of women with ebony skin and natural hair - or no hair at all - is a challenge to Hollywood's habit of rejecting women with such prominent African features.

As University of Pennsylvania professor Salamishah Tillet puts it, "Black Panther does not only imagine a world in which black people live free of racism, but as importantly, thrive in a society void of sexism, too. Unlike Wonder Woman's Amazon warrior-led hidden island of Themyscira, both the girls and boys of Wakanda grow up with this egalitarian gender ethos, making this Marvel's most feminist movie yet."

And all the while the film was imagining a world without sexism or racism, it was raking in $400 million worldwide. If "Black Panther" is a response to anything, consider it a response to the idea that a film tackling such weighty subject matter can't be entertaining or popular.

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.
Russian troll farms and bots were widely deployed as part of an illegal "information warfare" scheme to disrupt the 2016 presidential election and help the candidacy of President Donald Trump, according to grand jury indictments secured last week by U.S. special counsel Robert Mueller.

Did the three companies and 13 Russian nationals named in the indictments and perhaps others not yet identified actually have enough impact to change the outcome of the election? That is something we will likely never know for sure.

Although Trump's upset victory came as a shock to most, even Democrats admit that their nominee, Hillary Clinton, ran a dismal campaign, ignoring or miscalculating in several Midwestern states that turned out to be the difference in Trump's Electoral College win.

One of the more telling questions of the weekend came Sunday when "Face the Nation" host Nancy Cordes interviewed Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign chairman, John Podesta.

"How is it that these Russian operatives knew to focus on purple states like Michigan and Wisconsin and your campaign didn't?" Cordes asked.

Others, however, point out that the Russian meddling seems to have succeeded in suppressing Clinton support among key Democratic blocs, including black voters and young people, pushing them to stay home or to vote for a third-party candidate.

Clinton failed to match former President Barack Obama's turnout among black voters in cities like Philadelphia, Detroit and Milwaukee, and the Green Party nominee, Jill Stein, won enough votes to make up the difference between Clinton and Trump in the crucial states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.

But in a national election that turned out 140 million voters, it is folly to conclude that any single factor -- including Russian interference -- made the difference. And that's actually not the most important point.

The meaningful takeaway is that more than a year after the election, some Clinton supporters are questioning the legitimacy of the results and of the president while Trump and his some of his supporters are pushing back against the FBI investigation and questioning whether the Russians were involved at all. The information warfare is working.

Americans are becoming more distrustful of institutions like the presidency, the Department of Justice, the media and the integrity of our political and election processes. None of that is good for a democracy.

So, let's settle the question of Russian interference.

"As you can see with FBI indictment, the evidence is incontrovertible and available in the public domain," National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster said Saturday (Feb. 17). "Whereas in the past it was difficult to attribute ... now this is in the arena of law enforcement investigation, it's going to be very apparent to everyone."

A foreign power is attempting to undermine the pillars of our society and weaken us as a nation.

Americans, with their addiction to social media and strong "confirmation bias" are ripe for manipulation. The false information and political advertisements the Russians spread were targeted to those already predisposed to believe the worst about "the other side."

One Instagram account aimed at conservative voters, for example, implied that Black Lives Matter activists were assassinating police officers. Another account targeting black voters suggested that the government had implicitly supported the Ku Klux Klan by dismantling the Black Panthers.

The trolls pounce on any controversial issue -- racism, abortion, gun control -- and then let the automated bots take over in liking and sharing the material so that unwitting Americans think that they are passing on legitimate and trending stories, many of them received from their friends or from individuals and groups that hold views similar to theirs.

The idea is to keep people angry. The efforts focus on persuading the targeted group not just to disagree with, but to fear and distrust the opposition. Compromise is dismissed and the opposition is painted as evil and un-American, especially ironic since the shots are coming from Russian operatives.

After last week's horrifying mass shooting in Parkland, Fla., the bots began pushing false statistics on both sides of the gun-control debate, suggesting the shooter had searched for terms related to Islamic terrorism and even using the #falseflag hashtag to argue that the shootings never happened.

No matter how you feel about the outcome of the 2016 election, we should all agree that this is unacceptable. The social media giants need to take steps to identify these schemes and our government needs to take action to protect our electoral process. And we all need to apply some logic and common sense to what we are reading.

Tim Morris is an opinions columnist at NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. He can be reached at tmorris@nola.com. Follow him on Twitter @tmorris504.
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
Egypt's Armed Forces said in a statement on Tuesday that its navy is implementing security measures at the countrys Zohr gas field in the Mediterranean's to combat any potential threats.

The Armed Forces said that in concurrence with Operation Sinai 2018, naval forces are conducting a series of missions to secure vital and strategic sites in the countrys territorial waters to protect its national and economic interests and investments.

The statement said that the navy is securing great distances off the coast using modern naval technology with advanced combat capabilities, including submarines, frigates and missile boats, as well as special naval units with high mobility and manoeuvrability.

Operation Sinai 2018, which was launched on 9 February, is a comprehensive anti-terrorism campaign primarily focused in northern and central Sinai, and also includes operations in the Delta, the Nile Valley and the Western Desert.

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An elderly woman was treated for smoke inhalation Tuesday morning (Feb. 20) after a three-alarm fire at two homes in the St. Claude neighborhood, according to the New Orleans Fire Department.

The woman was among five adults and one child who escaped the buildings safely before fire personnel arrived.

Firefighters were dispatched at 6:59 a.m. after a call reporting a fire. They arrived at 7:05 a.m., according to an NOFD press release, and found heavy smoke coming from the single-story shotgun at 1328 Gallier St., and a fire at the next-door camelback at 1326 Gallier St.

Firefighters called in the second alarm minutes after arriving. They called in a third at 7:48 a.m. for "precautionary manpower and resources in the event the fire extended to any other exposed properties," the release stated.

In total, the NOFD deployed 15 vehicles and 45 personnel to bring the blaze under control.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, according to the press release, which did not provide details as to the extent of damage to the homes.

The NOFD offers Orleans Parish residents 10-year smoke alarms, which it will provide and install for free. Those interested can call 504-658-4714 or visit the department's website at www.nola.gov/nofd for details.
A New Cairo prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into the death of an American University in Cairo student who died after being found unconscious in the university's pool on Tuesday, Al-Ahram Arabic website reported.

Twenty-two year-old Ahmed Mohamed Abdel-Aziz was found unresponsive in the pool late on Monday and transferred to a New Cairo hospital in a coma.

He passed away early Tuesday.

The prosecution ordered a team from the criminal forensic evidence department to locate any CCTV units in the pool area in order to determine possible criminal wrongdoing.

The university has ordered the pool area closed until further notice, and lowered its flags to half-mast in mourning.

The funeral of Ahmed Abdel-Aziz was held Tuesday afternoon in New Cairo, according to his family.

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Egyptian leftist MP Abdel-Hamid Kamal, who represents the governorate of Suez, has submitted an urgent information request on Tuesday asking that Petroleum Minister Tarek El-Molla be summoned to parliament as soon as possible to explain to MPs reports that Israel has signed two agreements to sell gas to Egypt.

Kamal's request, submitted to parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Aal, said, "Importing natural gas from Israel would be in violation of Article 139 of the constitution, which states that the main job of the president of the republic is to preserve the people's interests and maintain the independence of the state and the integrity and safety of its land."

"Any gas deal with Israel goes against this article, as Israel is still an enemy of Egypt in practical and de facto terms," argued Kamal, who is affiliated with the leftist Tagammu Party.

Kamal told Ahram Online that "gas deals with Israel pose a big threat to Egypt's internal security and national economy It gives Israel, an enemy to Egypt, a hand to manipulate Egypt's economy, as dependence on gas imports from the Jewish state for a long period of time will surely be very risky," said Kamal.

In his request, Kamal said, I and other MPs were surprised yesterday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announcing that two Israeli companies Tamar and Leviathan  have signed a deal with the Egyptian private company Dolphinus to sell gas to Egypt worth $15 billion.

"The two Israeli companies will export as much as 64 billion cubic metres of natural gas to Egypt for 10 years," said Kamal, wondering how this can be the case given that Egypt celebrated last month the launch of the giant Mediterranean gas field Zohr.

"Petroleum ministry officials said during the launch that not only will this field help Egypt meet its local natural gas needs, but also will make the country a major exporter in future years," said Kamal.

The deal also raises questions about the private Egyptian company Dolphinus: who are [the companys] owners? Does it have foreign partners, and how were they able to sign a 10-year deal that will do a lot of harm to the Egyptian economy and delay the liquification of Egyptian gas?

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said on Twitter yesterday that he welcomes the historic gas export agreement.

"This will put billions into the state treasury to benefit education, health and social welfare of Israel's citizens, Netanyahu said.

The deal triggered wide-scale reactions in Egypt's economic and political circles yesterday, and was a hot issue on most private TV talk shows on Monday night.

In response, the Egyptian Natural Gas Regulatory Authority said it is not aware of the signing of such an agreement.

Authority chairman Karem Mahmoud told Al-Ahram Arabic news website that companies have the right to sign agreements to import or export gas, but such agreements must be presented to the authority for approval.

The authority has said in a statement that there is no certainty that the deal will go through given that the legal conditions for such an agreement have not been met yet."

Egypt passed a new natural gas law last year that allows for competition in the market by granting licenses to import gas for private companies.

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    10     ,       . Dear Mr. Chairman, Distinguished MEPs, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I stand before you this afternoon as a proud European, and as an ashamed European. Proud because my heritage, my culture, my beliefs, and my history bind me to a constellation of nations that, at the onset of the 21 st century, reconciled themselves, and created something so magnificent that one could say: there has truly never been anything else like it in the history of the world.' Winston Churchill equated the feeling I am trying to describe to you with a sense of enlarged patriotism. That was his vision of Europe, and Jean Monet's vision of Europe, and Konrad Adenauer's vision of Europe . It is a vision I proudly share. For the peoples of Europe , between whom rivers of blood have flowed without mercy, chose to end the feuds of a thousand years. And they sought to eliminate from their shores a zero-sum approach to the conduct of regional politics. How could I not be proud? How could I not, until just a few days ago, without the faintest shadow of a doubt, support the aspirations of my country to join the European Union, and therefore welcome the EU's commitment to the incorporation of Serbia and all the Western Balkans within its welcoming boundaries? ____ But I am also a deeply ashamed European. Tacitus wrote: Deserta faciunt et pacem appellant : They create a desolation and they call it peace. That is what some European Union countries have done to the Republic of Serbia, to a small, peace-loving, democratic country in Europe, a founding member of the United Nations, an original signatory to the Helsinki Final Act, and a pillar of stability in Southeast Europe. Creating desolation out of the promise of a European future. This is what the governments of some of your countries have done by recognizing the unilateral, illegal and illegitimate declaration of independence of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government of Serbia's southern province of Kosovo and Metohija. Ladies and Gentlemen, I am ashamed not as a Serbfor in the negotiating process on the future status of our province of Kosovo, we did nothing but demonstrate good faith and understanding for the legitimate rights of the other side. In fact, since the democratic overthrow of the regime of Slobodan Milosevic in October 2000, we have done almost everything right. We have overcome almost every obstacle. We have fulfilled almost every condition. We have embraced almost every standard. And we have taken on every challenge to our future with an optimism that thinkers like Alexis de Tocqueville thought had departed the Old Continent long ago. I am ashamed as a European. As someone who knows in his heart that what has been done to Serbia is a fundamental violation of the very nature of not just the international system, but of the values that hold up the European construction. I am ashamed, because if recognizing this act of ethnically-motivated secession from a democratic, European state is not wrong, then nothing is wrong. I am ashamed, because I see how the bedrock of values that make us who we are is being trampled underfoot. Because I see how my fellow Europeans are trying to construct the future on a foundation of sand and rubble. And I am ashamed, because for all the talk about reason and Enlightenment, for all the pious declinations on the common good and solidarity, Europe is rapidly becoming just another place where might makes right. Some may say I have exaggerated. Well, let us turn to the matter at hand. The institution with primary responsibility to maintain international peace and security is, according to the United Nations Charter, the Security Council. And, in 1999, following the 78-day bombing of my country, it adopted a resolutionstill operative todaythat conferred upon the UN the authority to administer Serbia 's southern province of Kosovo , and explicitly and unambiguously reaffirmed the sovereignty and territorial integrity of my country. When Serbia was ruled by a tyrant, Kosovo was a confirmed part of Serbia . It said so in Security Council Resolution 1244. And it went further than that. It placed a Chapter VII obligationa binding obligationon all the member-states of the United Nations to respect the borders of my country. And now, when Serbia is a democracy, some European nations are prepared to recognize Kosovo as an independent state. They say, in effect, we did not punish the tyrant, but now we will punish a democracya European democracyand we expect its citizens to take it. They say Kosovo can be independent, while saying that 1244 in its entirety still applies, including, presumably, that part that reaffirms Serbian sovereignty over Kosovo. And they send an EU-led mission to our province without the approval of the Security Council, even though paragraphs 5 and 19 of 1244 make it abundantly clear that only the Security Council can do that. And yesterday, at an emergency session of the Permanent Council, no European ambassador could explain to anyone with any degree of reason why what is being done to Serbia is not a violation of the core principles of the Helsinki Final Act. They could not explain to me why what they are doing is not setting a dangerous, precedent that will create very troubling consequences to the stability of Europe and the whole world. ____ Recognizing the unilateral declaration of Kosovo's independence from Serbia legitimizes the doctrine of imposing solutions to ethnic conflicts. It legitimizes the act of unilateral secession by a provincial or local entity. It transforms the right to self-determination into an avowed right to independence. It legitimizes the forced partition of internationally-recognized, sovereign states. And it violates the commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes in Europe. It even resurrects the discredited Cold War doctrine of limited sovereignty. ____ By the actions of some European Union member-states, every would-be ethnic or religious separatist across Europe and around the world has been provided with a tool kit on how to achieve recognition. Does anyone in this room think that the Kosovo Albanians are the only group in the world with a grievance against their capital? Do any of you honestly think that just by saying that Kosovo is sui generis , you will make it so? That there will be no consequences to the stability and security of the international system, just because you say it won't? Is this the way proud Europeans behave? Is this the way European values are put into practice? Is this the way to treat friends? Ladies and Gentlemen, Notwithstanding everything I have witnessed and all that my country has gone through, I have not lost faith in Europe , even though I am ashamed by the actions of some within it. I have not lost faith in Europe because I still hold out a measure of hope that Europe will live up to its values; that Europe will pause for a moment and recall the principles that drive its own decision-making in Brussels and Strasbourg . I'm talking about compromise, concession, and consensus-building. That's how it works: by engaging in a process of deliberate, patient, and sustained, good-faith negotiations until a compromise is struck that all stakeholders can abide by. In the case of Kosovo's future status, only a solution that is acceptable to the sides can be viable, sustainable, and lasting. Only a negotiated solution can pave the way towards a common, European future. Only such a solution can consolidate the regional gains made, reinforce the geo-strategic priorities achieved, and restore the drive for change in Southeast Europe. The imposition of a one-sided outcomethe recognition of an independent Kosovodoes the opposite. It sets back the achievements of European visionaries in our region; it uncouples the Western Balkans from its future in Europe; and it fosters a view throughout the region that Europe is in the business of imposing outcomes. This is where we are. It's a shameful place to be. And it's not where we should be. Where we are is at the precipice, facing down into the shadows of uncertainty. Uncertainty over the future of the Western Balkans. Uncertainty over democracy in Serbia . Uncertainty over the safety of the Kosovo Serbs. And uncertainty over the fate of our holy sitesthe central element of our national identity. Yet we also face forward. We can see beyond the break, and beyond the discord. We can still see Europe for what it is, for what it can become, for what it can accomplish. But also for what it can harm: the dreams of a proud, democratic, European country that has surmounted more obstacles since October 2000 than most other nations have in a hundred years. Ladies and Gentlemen, I assure you, with the fortitude of a unified nation, Serbia will not go quietly. We shall strive for what is just, for what we believe in, for our future, for what is rightfully ours. The Republic of Serbia shall not tolerate this illegal act of secession. Our Government and National Assembly have declared this action by the authorities in Pristina null and void. And we shall undertake all diplomatic, political, measures designed to impede and reverse this direct and unprovoked attack on our sovereignty. As a responsible member of the international community committed to the peaceful and negotiated resolution of disputes, the Republic of Serbia will not resort to the use of force. For violence cannot bring a peaceful settlement to any crisis. Violence only destroyslives, property, hope, ambitions. It destroys everything and creates desolation. We are for peace. We are for agreement. We are for concord. We are Europeans. Kosovo shall remain a part of Serbia forever.
Mayak Ding, the South Sudanese Minister of Presidential Affairs and presidential special envoy, handed over a message from President Silva Kiir to Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo on Tuesday on the subject of enhancing bilateral relations and the current political situation in South Sudan.

The meeting was attended by Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and the acting Chief of General Intelligence Abbas Kamel.

"The message discussed the political situation and efforts to maintain stability in South Sudan. In it, Kiir expressed appreciation to Egypt's role to maintain stability in South Sudan, in light of historic relations binding both countries," a statement by Egypt's presidential spokesperson Bassam Rady said.

"President El-Sisi expressed Egypt's willingness to exert efforts to help maintain safety and stability in the brotherly country and reaffirmed Cairo's commitment to offer assistance to development efforts in South Sudan," the statement added.

Last November, Egypt sponsored the signing of a declaration of unification between two factions of the South Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) at the headquarters of Egypt's intelligence agency headquarters in Cairo.

The declaration, which supports peace efforts to end the dispute between the rival factions and stipulates the return of refugees displaced by conflict, was signed under the auspices of President Abdel-Fatah El-Sisi and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.

South Sudan gained its independence from the Republic of the Sudan via referendum in 2011 following several years of conflict.

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Egyptian authorities will open the Rafah border crossing with Palestines Gaza Strip in both directions for four days starting Wednesday for humanitarian purposes and to allow stranded Palestinians to return to the Strip, Egypt's state news agency MENA reported.

The Rafah border crossing is the main gateway to the outside world for 1.8 million Palestinians living in Israeli-besieged Gaza, and is the only crossing point not controlled by Israel.

This will be the second time Egypt has opened the crossing in two weeks. The crossing was opened on 7 February for three days after an almost two-month closure.

Egypt has mostly kept the border closed over the past few years due to security concerns following the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013. The Egyptian government opens the crossing periodically for humanitarian purposes.

Gaza, a small, impoverished coastal enclave, has been under Israeli blockade since 2006.

Palestinian rivals Hamas and Fatah agreed to hand over control of the Rafah crossing on the Palestinian side to a unity government as part of an Egyptian-brokered reconciliation deal in October 2017.

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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday said Turkish forces would soon besiege the town of Afrin as a Turkish cross-border offensive targeting a Kurdish militia enters its second month.

On January 20, Ankara launched an air and ground operation supporting Syrian rebels against the People's Protection Units (YPG) in the Afrin region of northern Syria.

Turkey views the YPG as a Syrian offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been waging an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984.

"In the coming days, swiftly, we will lay siege to the centre of the town of Afrin," Erdogan told parliament.

While some analysts say Turkey and pro-Ankara Syrian rebels have made slow advances, Erdogan defended the operation's progress, saying it was to avoid putting the lives of both its troops and civilians needlessly "at risk".

"We did not go there to burn it down," he said, insisting the operation's aim was to "create a safe and livable area" for Syrian refugees inside Turkey, who fled across the border after the conflict began in 2011 and who now number more than three million.

The Turkish army says 32 of its troops have been killed in the process.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor, Syrian rebels and Turkish forces have taken 35 villages since the start of the operation, most of them bordering Afrin.

And Turkish security expert Abdullah Agar said troops involved in operation "Olive Branch" had captured around 300 square kilometres (120 square miles) of territory.

Over the past month, 238 Olive Branch fighters -- among them both Turkish soldiers and Syrian rebels -- have been killed, along with 197 YPG fighters and 94 civilians, Observatory figures show.

Ankara strongly denies there have been any civilian casualties.

Jana Jabbour, a political science professor at Sciences Po university in Paris, said the Turks were "struggling to move forward" because of the "organisation of the Kurdish YPG forces and their combativeness".

She said it was important to distinguish between political rhetoric, "even political propaganda", and the reality on the ground.

On the ground, Turkish fighting was now focused around the area of Arab Wiran in northeast Afrin, the Observatory said.

If captured, pro-Ankara forces would control 50 continuous kilometres of Afrin's northern border with Turkey.

The operation is likely to be further complicated reports by the Syrian state news agency SANA that pro-government forces were expected to enter Afrin to counter the Turkish offensive.

But, in what appeared to be a thinly-veiled threat to Damascus, Erdogan on Tuesday warned Turkey would brook no interference from outside forces.

"We will block the way of those who come to help from outside the city or the region," he said.

The operation strained already-difficult ties with Washington which has given weaponry to the YPG as part of its fight against Islamic State jihadists in Syria.

The US has called on Turkey to show restraint, warning that the offensive risked diluting the fight against the jihadists.

And Erdogan has threatened to expand the offensive to the YPG-held town of Manbij.

When US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visited Ankara last week, the two sides agreed to work together in Syria and set up working groups on issues like Manbij where American troops are operating and which the US diplomat described as a "priority".

In addition to its disagreements with Washington, Turkey must take into account the interests of Russia, a key Damascus ally, which controls northern Syrian airspace.

Moscow may have given the green light to the offensive, but it has previously closed the airspace to Turkish jets after a Russian plane was shot down in an area of north Syria where Turkish military observers were expected to enforce a de-escalation zone.

The offensive is broadly supported in Turkey where political parties, media and clerics speak in unison, against a backdrop of nationalist rhetoric led by Erdogan.

Only the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) does not back the operation.

Since Olive Branch got under way, Turkey has detained 786 people, 587 of whom are being held for spreading "terror propaganda" on social media, the interior ministry says, in what opponents charge is a crackdown on those criticising the operation.

Another 85 people have been held on charges of organising protests against the offensive.

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French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Tuesday he would travel to Russia and Iran in the coming days to discuss the war in Syria.

"We're heading toward a humanitarian cataclysm" in Syria if nothing is done, Le Drian told French lawmakers.

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Joseph Kagame displays packed nsenene

A smart innovation of spicing and preserving nsenene is on course to change the way we enjoy it on top of turning it into an all-year round delicacy, writes ALON MWESIGWA.

It has some chilli flavour, is spicy and with a good chomp. Taken with a mug of hot tea or even a cold beer, your morning or evening is sorted.

Gweke, a maize snack produced by local start-up, Lindemei Investments Limited, is gaining a foothold in the market. Company manager Joseph Kagame says the name was derived from high school slang amaweke (hard corn). Many boarding school students will have memories of frying the corn at home and packing it for school.

The process at Lindemei is a little more involving. They deep-fry the maize seed in vegetable oil, add chicken seasoning powder, or flavour it with small chilli before packing the finished snack in 350gm packets.

The demand is so huge that we cant finish it, says 30-year-old Kagame.

Every day, 300kg of maize are fried with the final product weighing 270kg. From this, they fill about 800 packs. At the factorys home in Kiyindi, Kawempe, several young people will be seen rapidly sorting and loading the product into boxes. They form part of a workforce Kagame says numbers 25 people in management, production, and sales.

The Lindemei story started in 2012 with an idea to distil and sell alcohol in sachets and small bottles. Given the way Ugandans love their drink, it was assumed it would be an instant success. They were wrong. Their products, Silverback and Million Dollar waragi, never really moved the market.

We were excited at the start, Kagame said. But it went down after two and half years as people did not buy them.

We then thought about maize, he remembers. We said in school, we used to take mberenge [roasted maize], but they had the [testa].

The company directors thought they would add value by removing the testa, fry and package maize seeds. They piloted the first products with friends and family members. Today, the snack is sold in Kampala metropolitan, parts of Jinja and in Mbarara.

When consumers liked the product, it was put on the market. It became an instant success, said Kagame.

In April 2014, they sold the product in transparent polythene bags in 500gm and 1kg packages. Over time, they realised that they needed better packaging. They approached General Printers Limited (GPL) Kenya which gave them a sitting package with a zip at the top.

When you open to eat and cant finish it, you can zip up, Kagame said. This means the snack maintains the original test and flavours.

The product has become a hit with school children, women and youths. Kagame said they make most of their sales when learners are going back to school. The 350gm package goes for Shs 4,500 at factory price and retails for Shs 5,500 to 6,000.

One can, however, get a 55gm pack for Shs 1,000.

NSENENE GAMBLE

In 2015, Kagame said, Lindemei gambled with packaging grasshoppers. The first attempt was disastrous, he said. When they fried them, they left them moist and they quickly went bad. We lost up to Shs 10 million, Kagame said.

They then bought cans with an aluminium foil inside, to prevent light from getting inside. An oxygen absorber was also included. So, the delicacy would stay dry and good to eat.

Even then, Ugandans reception to the product has been poor, Kagame said.

The boss has relatives in the UK who always take them. Out of the 1,000 cans we sell every month, half are exported.

Each can retails for Shs 6,000. Ugandans in Boston and parts of UK are the biggest customers. If Makerere University food science students succeed in their current study of growing nsenene all-year-round, prices may benefit from economies of scale.

For Lindemei, just like many small start-ups, regular cash flow is very important. The firm has resorted to firewood as a source of energy because they cant afford electricity. Uganda has the most expensive electricity tariff in the region.

The vending chain also needs to be sorted out.

The company lost money when retailers we had supplied like Nakumatt failed to pay, Kagame said.

Mid this year, Lindemei will shift to a new home on six acres in Migadde. The extra space will allow the company invest in a semi-automatic frying machine and other equipment to further exploit the snack market.

amwesigwa@observer.ug
MARCUS KWIKIRIZA was one of the trio that hosted the Big Breakfast show on Capital FM until late last year when he resigned to concentrate on other things including the rather controversial Another Round show that he co-hosts with Gaetano Kagwa on NBS TV. He recently shared a few things with Quick Talk.

Hello! Tell me about Marcus in one statement.

I am ambitious, [I] hate confrontation, [I] try to live life to the fullest and what you see is what you get.



Okay. Which word best describes you?

Jovial!



Yes, you are such a jolly person. Is there anything that angers you?

I try hard not to let anything anger me. I believe life is hard already; so, I try hard to only focus on the things I can change and if I can, I change them as soon as possible not to let me stay there enough to get angry. But yes, I cant stand hypocrites.



So, what time did this jovial guy wake up today?

Oh! I was up by 5:30am. Dont ask me why I was up at that time.



I get it. You are an early bird since you were a co-host for a morning show. Why did you leave?

I was already kind of busy and I am doing quite a number of things now. I work with [Uganda Breweries Limited] as a brand ambassador and I also have a show on NBS TV. I lead the best coffee brand team in Uganda, Imara African Coffee, and have an events company, Blackstar Ent Ltd.

Wow, thats quite a busy life. Whose idea was Another Round?

It was a sit down between Gae and myself; so, I cant really credit the idea to anyone in particular.



Your topics can be controversial. Is there a topic you cant discuss on the show?

I am almost certain there is nothing we cannot talk about, because its like being in a bar in real life. Is there anything you cant talk about when in a bar?



You are really good at mimicking several accents! How do you do it?

All I can say is its a gift from the Almighty.



Tell me about your family and how you find parenting.

I am divorced with two kids. In todays fast-moving world and its demands and pressure from the harsh economic times, some parents are slowly leaving the parenting to maids, their parents However, some are not letting the situation get the better of them. It is hard, I think, but I also think, if anything is important in life to you, you make time for it.



Describe your ideal woman.

My ideal woman should be loyal, funny and be able to take a bad joke about her. She should have no chip on her shoulder, be confident in her own skin and hard-working.



What do you enjoy cooking, Marcus?

I make the best omelettes in Uganda [Hahahaa. The ultimate bachelor startup meal. Add a chapatti to that and, voilaMarcus could be the best rolex guy in UG]

Do you have a tattoo or would you get one?

Not yet but Ive learnt to never say never.



When was the last time you cried?

Wow! I cant recall for sure, but I think when my son got admitted in hospital with pneumonia. He is well, though.



Pneumonia is scary. Tell me about your childhood.

I was born to Mr and Mrs Karake and raised in Uganda, although I spent many years in Mombasa as a child. I had a peaceful and basic childhood.



So, you also studied in Mombasa?

I attended Ganjoni Primary in Mombasa before sitting my Primary Leaving Exams in Kampala Parents School. I then joined Namasagali College in Kamuli for O and A-level [Hmm, visiting Namasagali today, it would be hard trying to imagine Marcus there! Sad.] I graduated with a bachelors degree in Mass Communication from Bangalore University in India.



What is that one thing we dont know about Marcus?

I am a better listener than I am a talker.

priscabaike@gmail.com
Reverend Captain Isaac Bakka, a veteran journalist, ex-soldier and clergyman was blindfolded from his first day of abduction in October last year until Wednesday last week when he was taken to Kireka police station.



According to Bakka, 68, who is currently being held in Luzira Upper Prison, he was received by three police officers at Kireka police who informed him that they had received him from Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI).

Rev Capt Isaac Bakka

He recounts that from Kireka, he was immediately driven to Nakawa Chief Magistrate's court where he was charged with treason and misprision of treason late in the afternoon.



"At the court, the chief magistrate whom I don't know told me that I was now in the right place and asked me to inform my people because there had been reports that I was missing." Bakka told URN journalists who paid him a visit at Luzira Upper Prison on Monday.



He further revealed that the chief magistrate asked him not to comment on the charges brought against him because they can only be tried by a higher court. Bakka says that he is to be returned to the Nakawa Chief Magistrate's court next week on February 28.



URN has since learnt that Bakka appeared before chief magistrate Jameson Karemani. Last week, the spokesperson of Uganda Prisons Service Frank Baine confirmed that they had received Bakka on February 14 and were holding him on charges of treason and misprision of treason.



Misprision of treason is an offence, committed where someone conceals knowledge of the mission of any treason against the state. It attracts a life sentence upon conviction.



Bakka's presence at Luzira was disclosed a day after Obongi County MP Hassan Kaps Fungaroo together with other MPs tasked government to explain the whereabouts of the journalist who was reported missing in October last year.



Bakka's abduction



The veteran journalist attached to Bornfree Technologies Network (BTN Television), a television broadcaster based in Arua, West Nile, narrated to our reporters that he was abducted from Seeta, Mukono alongside Jinja road as he walked back to his home.



Bakka went missing about four months ago and his whereabouts remained unknown for some time. Bakka's wife, Sylvia reported that she last saw her husband of 20 years on October 8, 2017.



"A Noah car stopped and three armed plain clothed men jumped out, grabbed, threw me inside and immediately blindfolded me and drove off to a destination I don't know. I had never seen day light again until at Kireka police last week." he recounted.



In a house whose location he does not know, Bakka slept on the floor since his abduction and was served porridge with no sugar as well as posho and beans with no salt. This, he says was his daily morning and lunch time meals and would feed with his blindfold on.



Bakka told our journalists that in the house, he was guarded by an armed person who could not allow him touch the blindfold.



"I could ease myself in a bucket that was provided in the room and to find it, I could always crawl in search for it," he painfully narrated.



Asked whether he was physically tortured, Bakka denied any form of torture while in the safe house and any form interrogation. He, however, revealed that he was directed by the armed men to accept that he had committed treason.



"Besides the directives to accept the treason charges, I got malaria while in the safe house and I was only given Panadol with the men telling me swallow it or leave it and die." he recounted.



Bakka said he was now happy being at Luzira Upper Prison describing his situation as 'safe'. He said that it's at the prison that he has tasted sugar and salt since his abduction last year.



Bakka said he is strong and not scared since he has always supported peace and tranquility. He dismissed the treason charges saying he was not aware of any treason offence committed by him. Bakka also said that he does not know the other people with whom he is being charged with.



Judiciary spokesperson Solomon Muyita recently confirmed media reports that the veteran journalist was arrested for allegedly being involved in the procurement of arms to overthrow the government.



"On the charge sheet, they were four people charged with treason and misprision of treason. They say they were procuring arms and other materials they intended to use to over throw the government and they conducted the acts in Kampala, Jinja and outside Uganda between January 2017 and January 2018," Muyita told NTV.



He further noted that Bakka and the others had been remanded by chief magistrate Jameson Karemani for two weeks when the case will come back for mention.
Eight people have died and more than 320 others are hospitalised in Hoima district following a suspected cholera outbreak.

The latest outbreak has been reported in Rwenyawawa village in Kyangwali sub-county and Sebigoro landing site in Kabwoya sub-county.

Congolese refugees in Hoima. Photo: @P4Tyouth

The two areas are home to hundreds of Congolese refugees fleeing tribal clashes between the Lendu and Bagegere in Ituri province in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The violence is believed to have pushed an estimated 43,000 Congolese refugees into Uganda.



Dr Fred Kugonza, the Hoima district disease surveillance officer, says the deceased suspected cholera victims were children below five years. According to Dr Kugonza, the children showed symptoms and signs of high fever, diarrhea and vomiting.



He explains that as part of their intervention, they have set up isolation centers in Rwenyawawa village in Kyangwali sub-county and another one at Sebigoro landing site in Kabwoya sub-counties along Lake Albert.



Dr Kugonza says samples from some of the patients have been dispatched to the central government analytical laboratory for testing. Hoima resident district commissioner (RDC), John Steven Ekoom advises residents to observe personal hygiene and embrace the use of pit latrines.



He blames the crisis on poor sanitary conditions in the refugee settlement camps, saying the situation is likely to worsen when rain sets in. Cholera is an acute infectious disease usually transmitted through the consumption of contaminated food and water.
The polices commandant for the Field Force Unit detachment in Kawempe, Nicholas Abitegeka, has been arrested as inquiries into the plain sight murder of two police officers last week gains momentum.

According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesman Luke Owoyesigire, Abitegeka is being held for negligence of duty since he was in charge of deployment of FFU personnel in Kawempe division that day.

He has been arrested and detained at Railway Ground in Kampala where they detain police officers under investigations. He is not charged for murdering these officers but with negligence on duty since he didnt supervise deployed officers and wasnt aware of the exact places where they were deployed, he said.

The two murdered police officers; Vincent Habiyaremye and Ambrose Otim were attacked by unknown assailants at 8pm on the night of February 16 in Kizza zone. The attackers took their two guns after killing them.

Habiyaremye was born in 1964 in Kigezi village, Nyawishenya Sub-county, Kisoro district. He joined police in 2011. While Otim was born in 1985 in Bung A village, Omito parish, Lira district and joined in 2010.

The FFU spokesman Samson Lubega said both men had been deployed around the country since FFU is a mobile police unit. They had spent less than three months in Kampala.

In the space of five months, four police officers have either been killed or injured by unknown assailants travelling on boda-bodas . In each incident the attackers have disappeared with officers guns.

In September 2017, two police officers and a civilian were killed following a shootout between police and suspected armed robbers who had attacked Denovo bread company workers at Kalerwe near Total Petrol station along Gayaza road.

On Sunday night (February 18) two assailants armed with guns attacked Sofia police post in Busia at 10.30pm. Police constable Starford Wlausansa suffered a head wound in the ensuing firefight and his loaded gun with 30 rounds of ammunition was stolen.

According to Police Spokesperson Emillian Kayima the suspects in the Busia attack were riding a motorcycle with Kenyan number plates. Kayima said no suspect has been arrested over these incidents but investigations continue.

Police is not under attack and we are not threatened by these attackers. Am sure we shall arrest them, he said.

Kayima said the Flying Squad Unit is hunting down the assailants. Last year police Flying Squad Unit released a report showing the unit recovered at least 48 guns and 143 ammunitions from different parts of the country.

More than six police officers were attacked last year, and their guns were stolen. In December 2017, Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura issued a directive for all armed police officers to always move in pairs and officers in charge of the personnel to provide transport for officers.

The ideal foot patrol is supposed to be made up of at least six police officers, two armed with AK-47 rifles and others armed with batons and night sticks.

zurah@observer.ug
With great dismay, the country has once again learned of President Musevenis altercation with the Church leadership over his sustained grip on power, albeit illegitimately, now spanning over three decades.

Visibly overcome with emotion rather than reason, the president particularly took offence with Bishop Reuben Kisembo of the diocese of Rwenzori allegedly for lecturing him on retirement and a peaceful transfer of power.

Museveni even mustered courage to call the cleric undisciplined and further lamented that he had endured enough provocation from the prelates whom he considers incompetent to lecture him on how to govern Uganda.

Typical of him, Museveni dictated that they should desist from doing so, henceforth. This happened on Saturday, February 10, 2017 during the commissioning of St Elizabeth Chapel at Kyebambe Girls School.

Martin Luther King, Jr. once observed: Our lives begin to end the day we keep silent about things that matter.

Thus, clerics like Bishop Kisembo must be lauded for having a thorough understanding of their calling and the power of their prophetic voice, as well as for their firm stand against the illicit amendment of the 1995 Constitution calculated to further extend Musevenis domineering and destructive rule.

Their aloof counterparts must be pitied and forced to leave office! They have been blinded by money for their diocesan and personal projects and by the esteem that comes with posing with the autocrat in pictures. Can they even tell the full significance of their robes and pectoral crosses?

In fact, the entire Church leadership seems to have put its conscience and prophetic voice on the back burner, appearing to acquiesce to the prevailing status quo by remaining almost mute.

Ironically, this is at a time when there is a persistent outcry and challenge by Christians and other Ugandans to religious leaders to abandon their shyness, and speak up, with one voice.

As day follows night, both the church and country will constantly need courageous and well-equipped leaders to speak against the excesses of any regime instead of flattering it with praises whilst the flock/citizenry continue to be subjected to gross exploitation and agony.

Clearly, a president who administers a country like their private property; claims personal interest in its assets and natural resources; feels obliged not to serve its citizenry; constantly views a country in guerilla terms; is unapologetic about the far-reaching impact of his manipulations; and is about to choke on his greed, needs more than just lectures. Now that Museveni has publicly expressed his ignorance about the mandate of bishops, he must be enlightened.

This is something he has purposely defrauded himself of, in spite of his regular attendance as chief guest at several of their consecration and enthronement ceremonies.

First, bishops, like all Ugandans, inalienably enjoy the inherent freedoms of speech and expression, thought, conscience and belief. These rights are not granted by the state and, certainly, not by any individual.

They are constitutionally guaranteed and provided for under other regional, continental and international legal instruments to which Uganda is party.

It behoves every organ or agency or person (the president inclusive), therefore, to come to terms that there is no conceivable alternative other than to respect, uphold and promote the same.

To this extent, his remarks run counter to both the spirit and letter of the law.

Secondly, they are duty-bound to respect, maintain and defend the rights, privileges and liberties of this Church and diocese, and to serve therein with truth, justice and charity, not lording it over Gods heritage, but showing in all things an example, to people [and for Christs sake, to be merciful to all persons, especially the needy and the outcast, and defend those who have no helper].

Third, they are reflectors of the radiant character of their Lord.

Bishop Festo Kivengere wrote: The pastor can neversympathize at a distance. There is no room for detachment in the pastors ministry. His place in this glorious ministry is as his Lord describes it in John 12:26, Where I am, my servant also will be The pastors relevance in the congregation and in the community is his identification with those among whom he serves.

And fourth, even when called provocateurs, they are mandated to speak out against unjust regimes and to pray for their downfall and to ask God to raise new righteous and just leaders.

They might even be required to pay the ultimate price like their Lord.

I lay down my life for the sheep (John 10:15). It is silly to view religious leaders as political opponents when they, in the most simplest of terms, remind you of your unequivocal duty to avert a potential reverse of the petite political, economic, and social progress; and cohesion attained.

A discussion on Ugandas political developments and their impact on both the region and continent can never be regarded as a subject over which tibuhaburwa (the president) and his cronies have monopoly.

We decry the escalation in tone and language used by Museveni, which have the potential to agitate or polarize the citizenry.

It is unfortunate that his remarks are because of a disconnect in his understanding on what the role of the Church and other religious bodies is.

To say the least, his remarks are ill-fated, ridiculous, and despicable and should, at best, be ignored.

jmwesigwas@gmail.com
Suchetha Satish, a 12-year-old Indian girl living in Dubai, recently shattered two Guinness World Records at the same time by singing songs in 102 different languages during an epic concert that lasted 6 hours and 15 minutes.

A seventh grade student at the Indian High School in Dubai, Suchetha only started preparing to break the world record for singing in most languages in a single concert just over a year ago. She already enjoyed singing in several Indian languages, like Hindi, Malayalam and Tamil, as well as English, but she had always been fascinated by foreign languages, and this was an opportunity to learn as many of them as she could and also leave her mark on the world. On January 25, 2018, she 12-year-old girl stunned the audience at the Indian Consulate in Dubai by singing in a whopping 102 languages, for 6 hours and 15 minutes.

Photo: YouTube screengrab

The talented young girl was born into a family of ardent music lovers and began learning Carnatic music when she was four years old. By age eight, Suchetha was already studying Hindustani music as well, but it was only in late 2016 that she started learning songs in foreign languages.

My first song in a foreign language was in Japanese, Suchetha told Gulf News, in November 2017. My fathers friend, a Japanese dermatologist, came to Dubai a year ago. When she came home, she sang a Japanese song. I liked it very much and learnt it.

The girl then started learning Arabic songs, since she was already studying the language at school, followed by Tagalog, a language spoken by many of the Filipino expats in Dubai, and there was no stopping her after that. She learned new songs in new languages every week, and as she hit double digits, the idea of going for a world record blossomed in her head.



Usually I take around two hours to learn a song. If it is easy to pronounce, I can learn it fast. If it is not a lengthy song, I can finish in half an hour, Suchetha said.

Once shes learned the lyrics to a song, the young record-holder keeps listening to it until she learns it by heart and no longer requires written lyrics to perform it. Songs in French, Hungarian, and German were apparently the most difficult to master, taking Suchetha about two days each. Her favorite songs are the ones in Maori, Armenian and Slovakian.

Suchethas original plan was to break the record of fellow countryman Dr Kesiraju Srinivas, aka Ghazal Srinivas, who sang in 76 different languages, back in 2008, by singing songs in 85 languages, in December of last year. That would have been impressive enough for a 12-year-old, but she apparently didnt think it was ambitious enough, because she spent two more months learning 17 more songs in different languages.



So on January 25, she spent 6 hours and 15 minutes on stage at the Indian Consulate in Dubai performing 102 songs in as many different languages. She thus set a new Guinness record for singing in most different languages in a concert, and for the longest live concert performed by a child, a record previously held by Romanian Andra Gogan, for a 3 hour and 20 minutes performance.

In case youre interested, here is the list of languages Suchetha Satish sang in during her successful record attempt: Maithili, Sanskrit, Afrikaans, Albanian, Assamese, Azerbaijani, Badaga, Balochi, Basque, Belarusian, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Bhutanese, Bulgarian, Cantonese, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dhivehi, Dogri, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, Garhwali, Georgian, German, Greek, Guarani, Gujarati, Haryanvi, Hebrew, Hungarian, Irish, Javanese, Kannada, Kashmiri, Kazakh, Khmer, Kinyarwanda, Kokborok, Konkani, Korean, Kyrgyz, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Malagasy, Malay, Maltese, Mandarin, Mongolian, Manipuri, Maori, Marathi, Nepali, Norwegian, Odia, Persian, Polish, Punjabi, Quechua, Rajasthani, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Sindhi, Sinhalese, Slovak, Slovenian, Somali, Swahili, Swedish, Tagalog, Tajiki, Tamil, Thai, Tibetan, Tulu, Ukrainian, Urdu, Uzbek, Vietnamese, Welsh, Xhosa, Yakut, Yoruba, Zulu, Italian, Japanese, Icelandic, Kurdish, Madurese, Pashto, Latvian, Turkish, Armenian, Spanish, Portugese, Malayalam, Arabic, Hindi.


Tara Chandra

Tara Chandra, who has managed foreign policy and PR programs across the Middle East and Africa, has joined FTI Consulting's strategic communications unit in Washington.

Experienced in national branding, diplomatic engagement and crisis management programs, Chandra most recently was VP at Podesta Group responsible for the firms foreign government clients and reputational work.

Earlier, she did stints at The Harbour Group, Rendon Group and Dept. of Defense.

At FTI, Chandra will support clients with cross-regional interests between the US, Middle East and Africa, according to Tom Crawford, senior managing director in FTIs strategic communications unit.
Three cheers for the Russian trolls, who meddled in the US election, for giving a huge boost to the reputation of the embattled FBI, which is Target No. 1 of our president.

One of the trolls listed in special counsel Robert Muellers 37-page indictment of Feb. 16, which charged 13 Russian nationals and three entities with meddling in the US presidential election, displayed far more respect for the FBI than our tweeter-in-chief.

The indictment includes an apparent confession from Irina Viktorovna Kaverzina, who posted social media content designed to undermine trust in the US political system.

She sent this email to 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.

Contrast Kaverzinas email to the actions of President Trump, who dismisses the FBI as the gang that couldnt shoot straight and bashes the service for conducting a witch hunt probe into his possible collusion with the Russians.

The president even had the moxie to use the high school massacre in Parkland, FL., as a platform to take a cheap shot at the FBI.

He tweeted on Feb. 17, Very sad that the FBI missed all of the many signals sent out by the Florida school shooter. 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 Economist magazine notes that Kaverzina, an alleged foot-soldier in Russias information war against America, regarded being busted by the FBI as a crisis. She recognized the FBI's investigative prowess.

No so, Donald. Our president is willing to take Vladimir Putins word that Russia had nothing to do with meddling in the US election over the combined testimony of the heads of US intelligence agencies. Trump belittled those spymasters as political hacks.

Muellers indictment makes it plain that the Internet Research Agency, which coordinated the election meddling, was all in for Trump. Its a slam dunk.

The Economist believes the indictment makes it harder for Trump to fire Mueller.

Word to The Economist: dont underestimate the audacity of the US president, especially when he is being squeezed.
Egypts petroleum ministry responded on Monday to news of a massive gas deal between Egyptian private company Dolphinus and Israeli gas firms, saying it makes "no comment on negotiations or deals involving private sector companies over importing or selling natural gas."

In press statements on Monday evening, Egypts petroleum ministry spokesman Hamdy Abdel Aziz said the ministry would deal with any permit or license requests by the private sector in accordance with applicable regulations, in light of Egypts strategy of becoming a regional hub for energy.

He added that the government has been taking measures to liberalize the natural gas market, putting in place a regulatory framework that allows private companies to use the national gas grid to trade within approvals and requirements laid down by the Gas Market Regulatory Authority.

The statements come hours after Israel's Delek Drilling company announced that Egyptian private company Dolphinus is set to import gas from Israel worth $15 billion, pending regulatory approval from both countries.

The partners in Israels Tamar and Leviathan natural gas fields, led by Israeli firm Delek and Texas-based company Noble, signed two deals on Monday to sell gas to Egyptian gas trading company Dolphinus over a ten-year period.

Total revenues from the Tamar and Leviathan projects are estimated to be $7.5 billion each.

The total quantity of gas contracted in the Leviathan and Tamar agreements is approximately 32 billion cubic metres (bcm) for each agreement, which corresponds to up to 3.5 bcm per year.

Israel hailed the agreement, announcing it as a "historic" one, in statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Egypt has repeatedly affirmed its aim of becoming a regional energy trading hub, especially following new gas discoveries and a new natural gas law last year that allows for competition in the market by granting licenses to import gas for private companies, ending a state monopoly on the sector.

In December, petroleum minister Tarek El Molla said that Egypt will achieve self-sufficiency in natural gas before the end of 2018.

Mammoth gas gield Zohr and the North Alexandria and Nooros fields are expected to increase Egypt's natural gas output by 50 percent in 2018 and 100 percent in 2020, the Ministry of Petroleum said in October.

Short link:


On Saturday 10 February, the Egyptian Ministry of Culture responded to an official invitation to contribute in the 32nd round of the Surajkund Mela Festival in Haryana State in India.

External cultural affairs director at the Ministry of Culture Hesham Mourad said that the Egyptian participation in the Indian festival  which involves the participation of 24 different countries  is a result of the intercultural relationship between Egypt and India.

The Oriental Folklore Arts troupe affiliated with the Egyptian Palaces association performed in the opening of the festival, and the handcrafts displayed in the Egyptian suit were produced by the Crafts Centre of the Applied Arts Department at the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, giving an experience representing the rich folklore and artistic Egyptian heritage.

Many attendees representing the Egyptian diplomatic and cultural community in India attended the Egyptian show and the opening of the festival. Attendees on hand were the Egyptian diplomatic mission and the Egyptian ambassador, who also visited the Egyptian suit in the fair that was held alongside the festival.

The Egyptian presence was publicly acclaimed, capturing the attention of the Indian media and Indian Ministry of Culture officials who expressed their admiration for the Egyptian folklore and handcrafts displayed.

Short link:


Head of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Shinichi Kitaoka has paid a visit to the Giza Plateau, where he saw the Great Pyramid of Giza and the boat of King Khufu, which an Egyptian-Japanese team is working to remove and restore from its original pit.

JICA has provided Egypt with two loans to enable the construction of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM).

Kitaoka, who was accompanied by Minister of Antiquities Khaled El-Enany, also toured the GEM, where he saw the King Ramses II colossus. He also attended a meeting of the GEM's board of directors.

Kitako was also accompanied by Japanese Ambassador to Egypt Takehiro Kagawa and GEM Supervisor Tarek Tawfik.

Eissa Zidan, director of restoration work on the second boat, told Ahram Online that Kitaoka expressed his happiness with the fruitful cooperation between the JICA and the Ministry of Antiquities.

Kitaoka also asserted that JICA will continue its support until the completion of restoration work on the second boat before its display at the GEM. The work is being carried out in collaboration with Higashi Nippon International University.

Mamdouh Taha, the head of the restoration project, said that 787 of the boat's wooden beams have been lifted from the pit, while 1,264 are still inside.

Short link:


Grocer Albertsons will buy drugstore chain Rite Aid in a deal that would accelerate the remaking of the U.S. retail and health-care industries.

The takeover serves several purposes. Rite Aid will get a buyer after a failed merger with another chain last year. Albertsons, headquartered in Boise, will add new locations and size amid increasing pressure from online competitors. And the grocer's private-equity owners will exit their 2013 investment without having to go through an initial public offering in a turbulent market.

The combined companies will have about 4,900 stores, including 4,350 pharmacy locations, in 38 states, they said in a statement. The Albertsons pharmacies will be rebranded under the Rite Aid name.

Albertsons, which is backed by private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management LP, last year put plans for an initial public offering on hold after Amazon acquired Whole Foods, according to people familiar with the situation.

Cerberus acquired Albertsons in a $3.3 billion deal with Supervalu in 2013. It later merged the business with Safeway, creating a grocery chain of 2,230 stores and 250,000 employees across the U.S.

Rite Aid has 73 locations in Oregon. Albertsons and Safeway have 125 stores in the state.

The combined company says it will have dual headquarters, in Boise and in Rite Aids current base in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.

Retailers have been under growing pressure from online competitors like Amazon.com, and the corner drugstore has been no exception. While the prescription drug businesses at pharmacies has been relatively stable, front-of-the-store sales have been in decline. Giant retailers like Walmart are also looking to play a bigger role.

The result has been consolidation. CVS Health Corp. agreed last year to pay about $68 billion for health insurer Aetna, while the Wall Street Journal recently reported that Walgreens Boots Alliance is in early talks to buy drug distributor AmerisourceBergen Corp. after its takeover of Rite Aid was scaled back last year for antitrust reasons.

Rite Aid shares rose 28 percent before U.S. markets opened on Tuesday. The companies said the deal is expected to close in the second half of the year.

Rite Aid shareholders will have a choice whether to take all stock or a combination of stock and cash. After it closes, Albertsons shareholders will own 70.4 percent to 72 percent of the business, the companies said.

The companies have a combined value of around $24 billion, including debt, according to the Wall Street Journal, which reported on the transaction earlier Tuesday.

The deal also comes after Rite Aid's failed attempt to sell itself to Walgreens. That merger fell apart amid scrutiny by U.S. antitrust authorities. Walgreens eventually won approval to buy 1,932 stores, three distribution centers and related asset for $4.4 billion in September.

Rite Aid CEO John Standley will serve as chief executive officer of the new company, the companies said, while his counterpart at Albertsons, Bob Miller, will be the chairman. The companies haven't decided on a name for the new company.

-- Bloomberg News
EUGENE -- On Monday night, Ruthy Hebard finally missed a shot.

But not before the Oregon Ducks sophomore forward made 33 consecutive field goals to set the NCAA all-time record.

Hebard, the national leader in field goal percentage, entered Monday's top-10 matchup with No. 10 UCLA having made her last 30 field goals to tie the all-time NCAA streak -- all divisions, men and women -- by Brandon Sherrod of Yale in 2016.

Her first bucket, a layup off an assist from Maite Cazorla, gave her that record all to herself before she added two more.

With 1:55 remaining in the first half, her streak ended on another short attempt off the backboard. Fans at Matthew Knight Arena gave her an ovation as she ran back on defense.

Follow live updates from Monday's game below:

-- Andrew Greif

agreif@oregonian.com

@andrewgreif
After a gunman killed 17 people at a high school in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 14, students across the country are once again facing the terror of hoping they aren't next.

"It's kind of scary," Emma Chamseddine, 16, a junior at Tualatin High School, said over the phone Monday. "I think there's a lot of fear of going to school and going to places in public."

Chamseddine will be speaking Monday night at a vigil planned by her mother, Becky Chamseddine.

The older Chamseddine, a mother of three, said a friend suggested the idea of a vigil as a way to mobilize the community.

"I just literally sent a message out on Facebook," Chamseddine said. "It has spread like wildfire."

The Facebook event invite currently has 110 people listed as going, with 156 more marked at "interested."

Chamseddine said she has another goal with the vigil, beyond mourning the deaths of those who died in Florida.

"The second one," she said, "is to talk about how we can stop this and take action so it will never happen again."

Chamseddine said she hopes students and parents respond with "action with passion," and decide how they can best make a difference, whether it is through supporting gun control legislation, school security or mental health resources.

According to a press release for the event, "This is not a political vigil, but it is about coming together as one to demand changes, and to make our world safer for our children."

Keeping politics out of the vigil doesn't mean the Chamseddines won't talk specifically about those issues.

"I don't see the need for anyone to own a gun that's so powerful," the younger Chamseddine said when asked what she thinks needs to change to make sure students stay safe in schools.

"I feel like mental health has a lot to do with it also," she added.

The vigil is scheduled for Monday night at 7 p.m. at the Tualatin High School turf field. Participants are asked to bring glow sticks or flashlights that "can be used as we form a heart to show the world hearts are broken each time lives are lost."

-- Lizzy Acker

503-221-8052

lacker@oregonian.com, @lizzzyacker
A 17-year-old Portland girl who summoned the courage last year to call 911 to report being sexually abused told a judge Friday she was angry her molester was convicted.

The girl repeated her testimony at trial: She had never been molested and had lied to investigators.

But the judge wasnt buying it, having found two months ago that the girl was the product of intense pressure from family and others in her Somali American community not to speak out.

In an emotional hearing Friday, Multnomah County Circuit Judge Leslie Roberts sentenced the molester -- 46-year-old Hassan Mohamedhaji Noor -- to 12  years in prison.

There is no point in arguing that it didnt happen, said Roberts, directing her comments to the girl and an audience of more than 30 Noor supporters. Some cried as Noor was sentenced.

After the four-day trial in December, the judge found Noor guilty of sexually abusing three girls in his tight-knit immigrant community, which numbers about 8,000 in Portland.

In the spring, victims told police and later a grand jury that Noor had asked them to give him leg massages, then directed them to work their way up to his genitals. They ranged in age from 11 to 16 years at the time of the abuse.

The girls also had explained how unsupportive their mothers, fathers, aunts or other adults had been after they confided in them about the abuse. The girls said those trusted adults warned them that if they reported the abuse to police, no one would believe them and no one would want to marry them. The adults also told them it was up to Allah to decide Noor's guilt, not a court of law, investigators said.

In the months leading up to trial, two of Noors victims recanted. The third -- who stuck by her story -- testified her parents had disowned her.

A fourth young woman also testified that she'd been disowned for coming forward about Noor's abuse of her. She was allowed to testify, even though the statute of limitations had already passed and Noor couldn't be convicted of molesting her.

Friday, prosecutor Amber Kinney told the judge that despite the 17-year-olds recantation, she admires her for calling 911 to stop Noor.

I have never met a stronger woman than when I met her at grand jury, Kinney said. She had no independence, yet she knew what was right. And she fought for what was right."

Kinney said the hardest part for the victims wasnt coming forward with their reports. Instead, it was the campaign of suppression from Noor and the people around them, Kinney said.

Friday, the 17-year-old girl sat next to Kinney, less than 10 feet from Noor. She said she didnt appreciate the prosecutors statement. She repeatedly insisted she wasn't an abuse victim but acknowledged she has been through a lot.

Ever since this happened, Ive been forced to grow up. Im 17, and I feel 35, she said.

Noor crinkled his face, frowned and cried during the hearing. But he declined to make any statements.

During recorded police interrogations, Noor defended himself by saying he couldn't have done such terrible things because he is a religious man who prays five times a day.

Oregon law allowed the judge to sentence Noor to as few as 6  years in prison and as many as 70 years.

Kinney asked the judge for 25 years. Kinney said Noor still claims hes innocent, which makes him unlikely to benefit from sex-offender treatment. A presentence investigator -- who delved into Noor's life history and mindset -- determined Noor was at high risk of offending again, Kinney said.

Noors defense attorney, Christopher McCormack, asked for 6  years. He said Noor has done a lot of good as a hard-working father of six.

Hes not a monster, McCormack told the judge. Hes a kind person who has won the hearts of the Somali community.

Noor immigrated to the United States more than 20 years ago. He was working full-time as a Lyft driver at the time of his arrest, according to court papers.

Noors wife spoke, saying life without her husband has been tough. She then started to scream Please! Please! at the top of her lungs, before collapsing onto the courtroom floor in tears, where she lay for a minute.

In sentencing Noor to 12  years, the judge said she was not giving him a lighter sentence than the prosecutor had asked out of lack of confidence in her verdict. Rather, Roberts said, she thought the sentence would be adequate in protecting society.

The judge also acknowledged that a defendants crimes affect a larger number of people than the victims. The harm ripples out in concentric circles through a family and throughout a community, the judge said.

-- Aimee Green
Rogue Venture Partners, a homegrown investment firm focused on Oregon startups, is raising $30 million for its third fund. That's triple the size of its first two funds.

Rogue's second fund tripled investors' money within 18 months, according to Tom Sperry, the fund's co-founder and managing director. So he said Rogue aims to do more this time out.

"We're able to write bigger checks and stay in deals longer," Sperry said Tuesday. The firm has already raised half of what it's seeking for the third fund.

Historically, Oregon entrepreneurs have struggled to raise funds locally. Rogue is among the largest of a small group of funds working to reverse that.

Oregon State University is the biggest investor in Rogue's third fund, according to Sperry, as it was with the second fund, which launched in 2016.

Prior Rogue investments include ID Experts, MobileRQ, and Sightbox, each of which have since sold to larger companies. Other promising startups in Rogue's portfolio include Indice Semiconductor, IOTAS and Streem.

-- Mike Rogoway; twitter: @rogoway; 503-294-7699
Hundreds of Kingwood residents learn of flood recovery initiatives

It was standing room only when more than 250 Kingwood residents crowded into the large public room of the Kingwood Community Center Tuesday night, Jan. 30, for a residents meeting called by Alan Potok.

Potok is a flooded-out Kingwood resident and one of many who are actively organizing to get the disastrous conditions addressed that made the Hurricane Harvey Flood even worse than it would have been otherwise. More than 16,000 homes and 3,300 businesses in the Lake Houston area were destroyed or damaged. The attendees were not only from Kingwood but also from Atascocita, Humble and Huffman. The one thing they have in common: all were affected and remain vulnerable.

The main objective of the meeting was to educate residents and enlist resident support. Residents were invited to sign a petition requesting immediate action by local, state and federal authorities to make changes regarding the San Jacinto River Authority to better mitigate flooding. In addition, the Lake Houston Chamber of Commerce Plea for Three Initiative for contacting responsible public officials was explained in detail. Its coordinating group is now meeting on a regular basis. Its next meeting will be in the Kingwood Community Center Feb. 16 at 11 a.m.

Potok, a retired engineer specializing in flood mitigation and regional water supplies for the City of Houston and in California, opened the meeting with a comprehensive overview of what led to the flood and what it is going to take to fix the situation.

All you have to do to satisfy Kingwood right now [about what happened] is go out and do bathymetric [the study of underwater depth of lakes, rivers and oceans] and topographic mapping and all the sediment areas. Compare that with 1994, which you already have records of, and subtract the two sets of elevations and that tells you the volume of that sediment deposit, Potok said.

Bob Rehak presents dozens of his aerial photos of massive river silting and damage.

He explained that if the river channel is dredged and that sediment volume is removed to have the channel able to be at its capacity while handling water releases from Lake Conroe, one has a relatively quick, albeit expensive, fix. Potok then addressed the longer-term solution. Seek an alternative process for getting your design consultants and contractors to design and build the long-term solution which will take you years, he said, noting that it may sound simple but it is not.

I want to share with you what you are up against when it comes to flood management and the Kingwood area, Potok said. He explained the myriad of different agencies that were involved, including the San Jacinto River Authority, Montgomery and Harris Counties and the City of Houston. In addition, there is intense interest in the Texas Congress, the governors office and in Washington D.C., all of which will be involved in the process and funding of what will likely be a massive expenditure over the long term.

Potok spoke mainly about the entire drainage area of the San Jacinto River Authority, which includes most, if not all, of Montgomery County, Lake Conroe and areas well to the north, east and west of Lake Conroe. He displayed a map of the entire 2,385-square-mile drainage area, of which Lake Conroe only accounts for 454 square miles. He focused on the narrow end of the map at its southernmost point where Lake Houston begins.

Look at how small that area is where it all funnels through the Kingwood area, Potok said.

Potok was followed by a slideshow of photos taken and presented by Bob Rehak, a retired Kingwood businessman long associated with the Kingwood Service Association Parks Committee and the community in general. The slides show in great detail the magnitude of the sand and silting problems on the San Jacinto (both forks), and the sizes of the accumulated sand bars in the river above Highway 69, along Forest Cove, Kingwood and especially River Grove Park.

At the end of the meeting the speakers all remained to answer individual questions informally with residents.

The next meeting will be in the Kingwood Community Center Feb. 16 at 11 a.m.

Potok, a retired engineer specializing in flood mitigation and regional water supplies for the City of Houston and in California, opened the meeting with a comprehensive overview of what led to the flood and what it is going to take to fix the situation.

All you have to do to satisfy Kingwood right now [about what happened] is go out and do bathymetric [the study of underwater depth of lakes, rivers and oceans] and topographic mapping and all the sediment areas. Compare that with 1994, which you already have records of, and subtract the two sets of elevations and that tells you the volume of that sediment deposit, Potok said.

He explained that if the river channel is dredged and that sediment volume is removed to have the channel able to be at its capacity while handling water releases from Lake Conroe, one has a relatively quick, albeit expensive, fix. Potok then addressed the longer-term solution. Seek an alternative process for getting your design consultants and contractors to design and build the long-term solution which will take you years, he said, noting that it may sound simple but it is not.

I want to share with you what you are up against when it comes to flood management and the Kingwood area, Potok said. He explained the myriad of different agencies that were involved, including the San Jacinto River Authority, Montgomery and Harris Counties and the City of Houston. In addition, there is intense interest in the Texas Congress, the governors office and in Washington D.C., all of which will be involved in the process and funding of what will likely be a massive expenditure over the long term.

Potok spoke mainly about the entire drainage area of the San Jacinto River Authority, which includes most, if not all, of Montgomery County, Lake Conroe and areas well to the north, east and west of Lake Conroe. He displayed a map of the entire 2,385-square-mile drainage area, of which Lake Conroe only accounts for 454 square miles. He focused on the narrow end of the map at its southernmost point where Lake Houston begins.

Look at how small that area is where it all funnels through the Kingwood area, Potok said.

Potok was followed by a slideshow of photos taken and presented by Bob Rehak, a retired Kingwood businessman long associated with the Kingwood Service Association Parks Committee and the community in general. The slides show in great detail the magnitude of the sand and silting problems on the San Jacinto (both forks), and the sizes of the accumulated sand bars in the river above Highway 69, along Forest Cove, Kingwood and especially River Grove Park.

At the end of the meeting the speakers all remained to answer individual questions informally with residents.
While Paris is known as the capital of chic, rich lady clothes, this season at Paris Fashion Week Mens we saw some pretty wild looks on the runway. We chatted with five designers who showed some of our favorite forward-thinking clothes: the visionaries behind Sacai, Facetasm, Namcheko, Angus Chiang and Henrik Vibskov.





CHITOSE ABE, DESIGNER SACAI

Sacai Fall '18

Tell us about your show and inspiration.



Being true to one's beliefs, and reiterating that I have always stuck to the Sacai identity I have built.

What music was the soundtrack?

Steven Reich and more modern pop versions of music like that with the finale by Femi Kuti.

Do you remember when you decided you want to be a fashion designer?

My mother was a seamstress, so I was always surrounded by clothes. When I was in elementary school, I discovered that there was such a profession as a fashion designer and I was determined to become one.

How would you describe the look of your collection?



The core of my collection has always been based on the concept of hybridization  juxtaposition of classic and traditional aspects of items that turns into something completely new. I also wanted to show that my work is always multifaceted.

Who would you most love to dress?

There isn't one specific person, but someone who has a strong sense of individuality.

With so many changes happening in fashion right now where do you see fashion's place in the world?

For me, this is why I was inspired by the New York Times campaign of the "Truth."  keeping it pure, and true to yourself and your beliefs.





HIROMICHI OCHIAI, DESIGNER FACETASM

Facetasm Fall '18

Tell us about your show and inspiration.

The title is "EMOTION." The feeling of aggravation enough to make your body shiver; the feeling of disappointment that rips out your soul; the feeling of sorrow beyond words; the feeling of profound bliss that slowly arises; the feeling of peace as a tear falls down your cheek. As we grow older, we begin to hide these pure emotions that we once so strongly felt as kids. Then suddenly, these emotions come pouring out, as if a flood hit a broken dam. We forget about logic, about ourselves, and like a raging storm out of control, these feelings whirl and swirl together within. These emotions, the types that even surprise ourselves, became the inspiration for this collection  one that represents the moment a strong heart rises or drifts. We wanted to capture that essence, and imprint that feeling directly onto the clothes.

What music was the soundtrack?

We used a soundtrack from Boredoms, which I have been a fan of for a long time. It's my music roots.

Do you remember when you decided you want to be a fashion designer?

I always like clothes, so I naturally started to want to become a designer.

How would you describe the look of your collection?



We were able to show our new face, which we have never shown.



Who would you most love to dress?

There is no-one particular.

With so many changes happening in fashion right now where do you see fashion's place in the world?

It changes people's emotion because clothes are most close-near to the body.





DILAN LURR, DESIGNER NAMACHEKO

Namacheko Fall '18

Tell us about your show and inspiration.



Our show had its base of inspiration in the venue building, Espace Niemeyer. For the collection, we wanted to create something futuristic but also romantic, as futuristic references usually can come out as very hard-edged and cold. So we started to look at these colors that the english artist Francis Bacon uses for the background of his painting and used the ones that we could translate into positive feelings.

What music was the soundtrack?

We used three different songs: "Lost City" by El Dorado, "Anticipation" by John Beltrand, "Utopia" by Affex Twin. As you notice by their names, they're already very relevant with our references and the sort of emotion we wanted to evoke with the collection. We wanted relaxing sounds, and wanted to make the audience comfortable. Those three songs were all very calm, which makes the audience focus on the garments. [That was] very important to us since we work a lot with details that you can only see on closer inspection.

Do you remember when you decided you want to be a fashion designer?



I was very interested in fashion, but I didn't plan to become a fashion designer. At age 27 I decided with my sister Lezan to do a small collection and short movie as a sort of homage to our cousins in Kirkuk Kurdistan, which is our birth city. It was not necessarily meant to start a label, but then we had a very positive feedback and felt that we had more stories to tell and more subjects to research into. Then you also have the rapid pace of fashion, which is very appealing [to me].

Who would you most love to dress?

I never really think about someone to dress specifically. However, as a very young label we are of course very curious to see for each collection how the final customer uses the pieces and wears the collection.

With so many changes happening in fashion right now where do you see fashion's place in the world?

I am myself kind of far removed from the fashion scene, so I cant really say that I feel changes. We, as a team, are in our own kind of space since we are a small team and we work into our research in a very intense way. As for fashions place in the world, I think that we are moving to a very individual-based fashion; trends do not necessarily exists anymore.





ANGUS CHIANG, DESIGNER ANGUS CHIANG

Angus Chiang Fall '18

Tell us about your show and inspiration.

Taiwan has a special nickname, "Island of Scooter," and it is our main inspiration for this season. The design concept illustrates a scooter rider's behavior  clothing style and color  while also integrating a scooter's contour lines and street signals. According to this concept, the collection also endows the freedom of riding through the wind, and pieces together with the imagery of "Dream Chasers." It documents the people who are chasing after their dreams on this piece of land, and reevaluates the value of scooters and the special feelings people have for them.

What music was the soundtrack?

The runway show music is by a Taiwan indie band, Sorry Youth. They mashed-up the songs "Route 17," "Friends," "Shouldn't Be Dreamless," and "Undercurrent." The track, "Shouldn't be Dreamless," was remixed for ANGUS CHIANG to interpret this season's core concept of dream and hard work. Let the diligent spirit of hardworking Taiwanese people be fully shown at the runway show.

Do you remember when you decided you want to be a fashion designer?

I didn't focus on fashion design at the beginning. I focused on computer graphics and media communication before college. Originally, I [wanted] to keep studying them in university, but accidentally needed to study fashion design at first in order to transfer my major to communication and media studies. [This] is how I started to understand the direction of my career.

How would you describe the look of your collection?



The collection involves the core concept of Angus Chiang: humor, colors, and fun.

Who would you most love to dress?

I would like to make our clothes to be dressed by American rock band, OK GO. Their lovely songs and creative music videos make me so impressed. I believe there are so many humorous and playful things that we can try and create.

With so many changes happening in fashion right now where do you see fashion's place in the world?

Maintaining our own direction and always doing the best are very important. No matter how the change would be, I think we all have to keep in mind the same faith and passion, so that we can easily understand the change in fashion and still keep on the path of our dreams.





HENRIK VIBSKOV, DESIGNER HENRIK VIBSKOV

Henrik Vibskov Fall '18

What music was the soundtrack?



In mid-December, I was watching a Norwegian killer serial drama called Monster up in the snow of Norway. About six hours into the movie, there was a two-minute long stretch of music made by a Norwegian composer called Magnus Beite I think the track is called "Soap Bubble." That was put together with music by a German Composer Nils Framh, and then we added extra strings to bring it together. It was edited by a guy called Bastian Zieselmair. We used a lot of time in the styling with the music. It fit with all of the strings, poetic, and the melancholic style of music.

Do you remember when you decided to be a fashion designer?

Yeah, but I didn't really decide. I ended up at [Central] Saint Martins. Then suddenly I was just finished 4 years later and there was a lot of press writing about my graduation. I met some people in France who asked me to join the Hyeres Festival, and at the festival I met some people from Paris who thought I should do something there. Suddenly, I was on the show schedule and have done about 30 shows in Paris. It's not because I had a masterplan, but it just happened somehow through meeting different people.

How would you describe the look of your collection?

For this season, we worked together with a Japanese stylist that we also used for a Tokyo show in October. He came up and did a bit of a different style with mixed layers, [and] sweaters outside of the jackets. We also worked with make-up lines  skin tapes [and] muscle tapes in different colors. So we used that for the make-up look.

Who would you most love to dress?



I think Christopher Walken is cool, or David Bowie would have been nice. I actually don't know and maybe don't care so much.

With so many changes happening in fashion right now, where do you see fashion's place in the world?

I think one of the reasons why I will still keep doing fashion is because it's one of the creative niches that reflects very fast. It's one of the strongest, compared to a musician that maybe works an album and it takes two years. With clothing, it's reflecting over six months. You can put a lot of thoughts, ideas, political attitude, or messages on culture, and religion. I think that is the strongest part of the fashion scene because it can quickly reply to all those movements. There is also a lot of ignoring things and bad attitude in the fashion industry, but mostly I meet good people that care a lot. [Just as] the world is changing, [so is] the industry.

Photos via Getty
On Wednesday, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz took a slight variation of America's sweetheart rifle, the AK-15, to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and murdered 17 students. This marks the latest school shooting in 2018, bringing the number up to 30. In response, many conservatives around the nation are using the typical trope: People kill, not guns. While it's true that guns don't pick themselves up and kill, they're still an integral part of today's violence epidemic.

Gun control in America is a mess.

In Florida, where Cruz committed his premeditated murders, there's only a three-day waiting period for buying a handgun. But according to the New York Times, if you don't have a felony record, domestic abuse conviction, or other exceptions, you just need to clear a background check in order to immediately walk out with an AR-style rifle and ammunition. You must be 21 to buy a handgun, but 18-year-olds can buy a semi-automatic rifle.

Related | 4 Things You Can Do to Help the Florida School Shooting Victims



No other country in the developed world has nearly as much gun violence as us. Let's look at the People's Republic of China, Australia, Japan, and our neighbor Canada:

In China, according to the Library of Congress, article 125 of the Criminal Law states that those who illegally manufacture, trade, transport, mail, or store any guns, ammunition or explosives will be sentenced to imprisonment of up to 10 years. If the circumstances are serious, the offender can face 10 plus years of imprisonment, life imprisonment, or death. Illegal possession, concealment, loaning, or leasing firearms, ammunition, or explosives can also result in police surveillance, criminal detention, or imprisonment for up to seven years. Unless you're a high-ranking military official, police officer, or somebody working in law enforcement, you're not going to get your hands on a gun in China.

On Western media, only two cases of gun-related violence were reported in China. One incident in Panzhihua, January 2017, and the other incident was in 2015. According to a chart by NPR and the IHME (Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation), out of 100,000 people in 2016, only 0.03 in China died because of gun deaths, whilst in America it was 3.85. That's approximately 123.333% more than China.

Related | Florida High School Shooting Survivors Organize Demonstrations



In Australia, after the horrific 1996 massacre in Tasmania, then-Prime Minister John Howard introduced intensive gun control measures. And debunking every N.R.A, gun-rights fanatic, and Donald Trump's insistence that mass shootings are due to mental illness and not guns, Australia hasn't had a mass shooting for 18 years.

Now let's talk about Japan, which has some of the strictest gun laws internationally, and our neighbor Canada where it is legal to purchase firearms. In Japan, obtaining a gun is a trek. According to a 2012 piece in the Atlantic, Max Fisher walks us through the process:

"To get a gun in Japan, first, you have to attend an all-day class and pass a written test, which are held only once per month. You also must take and pass a shooting range class. Then, head over to a hospital for a mental test and drug test (Japan is unusual in that potential gun owners must affirmatively prove their mental fitness), which you'll file with the police. Finally, pass a rigorous background check for any criminal record or association with criminal or extremist groups, and you will be the proud new owner of your shotgun or air rifle. Just don't forget to provide police with documentation on the specific location of the gun in your home, as well as the ammo, both of which must be locked and stored separately. And remember to have the police inspect the gun once per year and to re-take the class and exam every three years."

After the mayor of Nagasaki City was killed in 2007 by a member of the Yamaguchi-Gumi, Japanese gun laws have become increasingly strict. Illegal ownership of a gun results in 10 years of prison, while ownership of more than one goes up to 15, and the years keep racking up if you own matching ammunition. If you actually use the firearm in public? A life sentence.

The gun laws are so strict that even the yakuza, a blanket term for all organized crime groups in Japan, use fake guns to avoid the heavy fines. A police officer in Osaka's Crime Control Division commented: "In the de facto world of law enforcement, when a yakuza fires a gun, we're almost always going to charge them with attempted murder  which is a very heavy crime and serious time in 'the pig-house' [jail]. Guns kill people, so if you use one, intent to kill is right there. Toy guns? Not so much [] Unless you're an old gangster and wanting to stay in jail until you die because you got nowhere else to go, you don't use a gun. The crime isn't worth the time in jail."

According to the National Police Agency of Japan, in a country with more than 122 million people, Japan only had 12 shootings in the first half of 2017. Out of those 12 shootings, eight were believed to be in connection with organized crime.

It's only understandable that the Japan Times published an article, essentially astonished at recent U.S. laws regarding gun possession  specifically about how post-shooting in Las Vegas, Republicans approved a bill in December which makes it easier for gun-owners to carry concealed weapons across state lines.

And finally, let's look at our dear neighbor Canada, and specifically at the official laws listed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police:

"Individuals must be at least 18 to get a licence authorizing them to have restricted firearms. Individuals younger than 18 years of age can use restricted firearms only if they are under the direct and immediate supervision of a licensed adult.

Individuals who do not yet have a firearms licence, or who wish to change their licence privileges to include restricted firearms, must apply for a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL - form RCMP 5592).

Individuals must participate in the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course and pass the tests to be eligible for a PAL with restricted privileges."

The Human Development Index reports that America has six times the amount of gun-related homicides than Canada. Detroit suffered 302 homicides in 2016, according to the Detroit Free Press. In 2016, Canada suffered 0.48 per 100,000 gun related deaths. One might assume that Canada would suffer from a higher number of violence because of the close border proximity, but the statistics say otherwise.

So there you have it: Four countries with varying political practices, morals, and cultures all share one thing in common: Significantly less gun violence compared to America because of strict gun laws.

America was founded on democracy, but when a "privilege" such as gun ownership is facilitating the massacre of innocent individuals, we have to reevaluate our constitution.

Otherwise, we may as well start a countdown until the next mass shooting happens in 2018.
Growing up in Puerto Rico, Genesis Castro Cruz was teased for their facial hair, for being a girl with "too much of a mustache." Today, at 22 years old, they wholly embrace it: In personifying Molly Jo  a queer drag persona, the embodiment of Castro Cruz at their most extreme  they've come to love the fuzz.

"I just put a little mascara, and it looks beautiful," they laugh.

Molly Jo debuted just over a year ago as a leather-clad werewolf in a Halloween show, and from the start, it was all quite queer. For one, Jo didn't lip sync along to male vocals, instead opting for "You and I" as an homage to Lady Gaga, whose Jo Calderone character at the 2011 VMAs was an inspiration.

That was only two months after the first-ever all drag king show on the island, while the queer drag movement was developing with all-encompassing inclusivity of gender identities, sexualities, body types, and performance styles. The burgeoning scene represents what is truly great about queer drag  that literally anyone is welcome to participate.

Domme Darko

At any given event, you might see a cis gay man as a bearded queen in heels, or a cis queer woman donning chest hair and a push-up bra might pull audience members up for one-on-one lap dances. You might see a nonbinary artist engage the crowd in an emotive performance art piece. Blocking brows isn't a given for anyone (though plenty performers do it, and well), and looks run the gamut from avant-garde to casual-cool. Rhinestone-heavy, pageant-style gowns rarely make an appearance.



Originally concentrated around the University of Puerto Rico's flagship campus in Rio Piedras (many of the performers are students there), the queer drag scene has since expanded exponentially, and so has the drag king faction within it.

It's important to note that, while likeminded movements in Berlin, Atlanta, New York City, and elsewhere have flourished, sustaining a queer drag scene in a debt-addled island presents its own unique hurdles. The economic recession began a decade before Hurricane Maria, and has no doubt worsened. And though millennials and younger generations stand as proof of progress, and despite a growing LGTBQIA+ community, politics and social norms on the island tend to be oppressively conservative. (It is a predominantly Catholic society, after all).

Chris Korber, 29, better known onstage as Chris Griandher, has been a major facilitator in the growth of queer drag, and specifically, the drag kings movement.

Mel Rey

He was one of the first kings to emerge  simply because he wanted to see drag kings in the queer scene mix, and there weren't any.



"I'm like, I'm not gonna be a drag king. I remember I was like, uh-uh, no way," he scoffs. "But in time, I was like, god, there's no drag kings! Why don't I just do it?"

With a background in art (he's still currently studying at Puerto Rico's Escuela de Artes Plasticas) that includes performance, Korber began to see Chris Griandher as another way to use his body to deliver messages. But this happened over time, and simultaneously as several sides of Chris Griandher took shape.

Presented under the same name, there's a handful of recurring characters: The Ghoul King, a ghastly Papi Loco who laughs maniacally (a stealthy way to cover up nervousness, Korber divulges); el Fauno, created for a Bacchus themed night; the glammed-up, rock 'n' roll Chris, the original Papi, dressed in leather, leopard print, and a bare chests; and el Viejo Verde, a drunken elder who sells weed and inexplicably carries a baby Jesus.

Diamond Kings is Korber's weekly classy-jazzy themed night at Polo Norte Lounge in Old San Juan. There's also Dark Kings Vanquish, a monthly goth-leaning event that rotates venues. By creating these shows, Chris Griandher is undeniably at the forefront of the Puerto Rican drag king scene. He's helped propel the movement forward.

But at that inaugural performance at Kings of the '90s  an installment of De Show which, at the time, was the only queer drag monthly in Puerto Rico  Korber was overwhelmed. Hosted by Warhola Pop, a queen now relocated to NYC, the lineup featured all king newbies. Nobody had done this before. And hours before the show, Chris Griandher nearly bailed.

Nomi Latoken

"But I just ignored everything. I ran to the little [backstage] space that we had, and I tried not to listen to myself. I started doing the process. I'm like, you're already here, you're already putting the mustache, you're already doing this, so just go with it," he recalls. "The moment I got onstage... everything went away. I didn't feel anything. That was the most surprising part. I think I was smiling the whole time because I was like, I can't believe I don't feel anything, and I'm just having fun. I don't feel nervous... and it was packed! Packed, packed."



Some of the performers that debuted that August 2016 night, like Alex GoZer or Macho Chacon, aren't as active today (because of other commitments, and they're sorely missed). Po Rodil and Mel Rey, however, are still performing now, albeit at varying frequency and, for Rodil, not strictly in a drag king environment. Mel Rey, Korber says, is now in rotation for any Griandher-produced shindig.

Astrid Moscoso Cardenales missed that first show, but was soon encouraged to get involved by Nomi Latoken, a fluid queen, and Nansi Cotica and Anoma Lia, both queens (and all of them were critical to the foundation of queer drag in Puerto Rico). Her persona, Domme Darko, oscillates between king, faux queen, and burlesque, and sometimes blends qualities of each into a hyper-sexual, genderfluid character.

"I did not know there were drag kings," she says. "I thought about it, like, if I thought about it, it must exist. But I never saw them until I started going to shows here."

Chris Griandher & Molly Jo

The 24-year-old's background in theater and love of cosplaying (she models, too) helped her eek into drag performing, first in supporting roles alongside Chris Griandher, then on her own, as a burlesque faux queen for a Nansi Cotica show, then as a king at a cult film themed night, where Domme dragified Ash from Evil Dead. She was at the first-ever Dark Kings event in full king, too. Domme Darko's fluidity, Moscoso Cardenales says, mirrors her own.



"I've always felt that I'm really in the middle of everything, even when I was first discovering my sexuality. I was trying to figure it out because, you know, people say, oh, you're confused, you like one more than the other. I was trying to analyze; what do I like from this, what do I like from that? I'm like, sincerely, this is pretty even," she says. "I can't [choose], same with being more submissive or dominant. I like this from this, I like this from that side; I'm always in the middle ground. Same with gender. I like boy stuff and boy clothes just as much as I like the girl stuff."

While there's plenty mingling with the queer drag scene, there's a particular impact made by allowing for a kings-centric limelight. It's a place for women and nonbinary folks to see themselves represented. Trans men also find a welcoming environment in drag king spaces, Moscoso Cardenales adds.

Dingo Konpe

"It's our way of saying like, hey, I'm here. I'm with [the queer drag scene] also, and we're all part of the same," she says. "But I'm here, and you see me. You know I exist."



If there's any doubt that a kings-specific movement has empowered a wider variety of people to try drag themselves, the proof is in the rapid growth in performers. There's currently 15 kings involved with Kober's shows. He's collected 'em all together in a parody "Griandher App" format: Among them is Eros Edonista, a bio king; Otto Erotic, a brand-new fluid performer; Simon, a king, much beloved for his salsa soundtracks; and more.

Two are direct descendents of Chris Griandher: Mel Shagwel, an offspring shared with Anoma Lia, who recently won the Queer Title series hosted at Polo Norte; and Dingo Konpe, who does an incredible version of Walter Mercado, the iconically famous Puerto Rican astrologer.

Dingo Konpe  personified by Orquidea Maldonado, 31  is another performer with a background in theater. Beyond that interpretation of Mercado, her take on Mr. Trololo as Dingo, replete with a creepily stretched grin (using a mouthguard from the Watch Yo' Mouth board game), is a reliably silly-but-stunning iteration. Dingo dropped into queer drag first at De Show, then settled in as a mainstay performer with Griandher  but, like everyone else, still participates in queer drag events.

Chris Griandher

"In theater, there's a lot of competition. People are against each other all the time... so they can get ahead. I don't like that," she says. "I like working together. I'm a fan of Chris; there's no reason to compete. Right now, the group of kings we have, I like it because I haven't felt that kind of negative competition. We're all there, and what we want is to deliver a good show."



And there's still plenty room to grow. Korber is gradually expanding the drag king scene to other parts of the island; he's organized several shows already in Ponce, on the southern end, and is hoping the seeds of a brother scene are beginning there with a local king, Chris Pinga. Dingo, Molly, and Domme are on board to help, with the latter performer adding that they're actively trying to recruit more Afro-Latinx performers to ensure a truly diverse group.

"I never even saw myself going on with this," Korber says. "I'm talking about this month, like oh, I have so many shows. It's something that doesn't diminish. I tell Orqui, like, get ready. Because they're going to be wanting you more and more."

Photography: Carmencita Carmona
For young fashion designers, having the opportunity to win 300,000 and one year's worth of mentorship from the world's leading insiders would be a dream. For 20 young hopefuls, that grand prize could be a reality. Under Louis Vuitton's Delphine Arnault's supervision, the LVMH semi-finalists will meet with 48 experts, who will decide in March the eight finalists. The winner will join previous victors like Grace Wales Bonner (2016).

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From the classically elegant designs of Magda Butrym, to the vaguely-American-90's-streetwear pieces by OTTOLINGER, LVMH has chosen a range of international designers who largely all share one common thread of thought: gender-neutral style.

Related | Matthew Adams Dolan Twists, Tailors the American Closet

The innovation in the designs of these 20 nominees is consistent with the way fashion is changing: streetwear is having a breakthrough moment and is starting to be seen in wardrobes that play with genres, a wardrobe that is as much masculine as feminine," reports VOGUE Paris, quoting Arnault's views on the current pool.

Like semi-finalist Snow Xue Gao's collection last week, which showed masculine suiting juxtaposed with more classically feminine Qipao fabrics, it's clear that young design is fed-up with archaic theories of gender.

Related | Blurring Cultural Identities With Snow Xue Gao

Committee members and judges including Karl Lagerfeld, Nicolas Ghesquiere, Marc Jacobs, Maria Grazia Chiuri, Clare Waight Keller, Haider Ackermann, and Sidney Toledano will all no doubt bring invaluable insight. Is this the next big disruption of fashion? Let's see where LVMH takes fashion next.

Here is the complete 20 semi-finalists list:

- A-COLD-WALL by Samuel Ross

- AKIKOAOKI by Akiko Aoki

- BOTTER by Rushemy Botter & Lisi Herrebrugh

- CHARLES JEFFREY LOVERBOY by Charles Jeffrey

- DOUBLET by Masayuki Ino

- ECKHAUS LATTA by Zoe Latta & Mike Eckhaus

- EDDA by Edda Gimnes

- ERNEST W. BAKER by Reid Baker & Ines Amorim

- FAUSTINE STEINMETZ by Faustine Steinmetz

- GMBH by Serhat Isik & Benjamin Alexander Huseby

- KWAIDAN EDITIONS by Lea Dickely & Hung La

- LUDOVIC DE SAINT SERNIN by Ludovic de Saint Sernin

- MAGDA BUTRYM by Magdalena Butrym

- MARTA JAKUBOWSKI by Marta Jakubowski

- MATTHEW ADAMS DOLAN by Matthew Adams Dolan

- NIHL by Neil Grotzinger

- OTTOLINGER by Christa Bosch & Cosima Gadient

- ROKH by Rok Hwang

- SNOW XUE GAO by Snow Gao

- THE SIRIUS by Younchan Chung

Photo via Getty
Earlier this month, a lawmaker in Wyoming introduced a bill, HB 0167, that would have banned same-sex marriage (labeling it parody marriage). The bill, introduced by state representatives Lars Lone and Roy Edwards, was not considered and has since died, and was more of a statement than anything else.

It is encouraging that a bill of this sort, even in a red state, had only two sponsors and effectively died immediately upon introduction. Marriage equality is here to stay. What I found most interesting, though, was the twisted (and fascinating) logic Lone and Edwards employed in the text of their bill. In short, they attempted to flip the church/state narrative on its head and argue that affirming same-sex marriage is an establishment of religion, and that banning it is the secular and neutral option.

Here is how they begin:

(i) Parody marriages and policies that endorse parody marriages are nonsecular in nature for purposes of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution;

Lone and Edwards term same-sex marriage parody marriage and argue in their bill that such unions are nonsecular because (they assert) these unions are part of the secular humanist religion. Given that same-sex unions are nonsecular, Lone and Edwards argue, legalizing these marriages violates the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution. State affirmation of (and recognition of) same-sex marriage, they contend, amounts to an unconstitutional establishment of the religion of secular humanism.

Think about that for a moment.

While both are Christian (and clearly have religious motivations for their bill), Lone and Edwards do not mention God or the Bible or Christianity anywhere in their bill. Their argument is that it is same-sex marriage that is religious, while opposition to same-sex marriage is not religious. They claim that legalizing same-sex marriage constituted a religious establishment (of secular humanism) while a ban on same-sex marriage is secular (the result not of religious arguments but of nature and common sense).

In case you are beginning to wonder whether you have entered an upside-down world, you definitely have.

Have a look at this bit, for instance:

(ii) Marriages between a man and a woman and policies that endorse marriages between a man and a women are secular in nature for purposes of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution;  (iv) Marriage between a man and a woman arose out of the nature of things and is natural, neutral and noncontroversial unlike parody marriages;

To me it feels highly ironic that Lone and Edwards are lambasting secular humanism and labeling it a religion while simultaneously arguing against same-sex marriage based on secular naturalistic grounds. Secular humanism, in evangelical parlance, is any belief system that centers humankind (rather than God) and holds that the material world is all that exists. But isnt that exactly what Lone and Edwards are doing here when they make this argument from nature?

Lone and Edwards position themselves as guardians of the separation of church and state. They contend that states are bound to uphold the U.S. Constitution, and that states must therefore oppose same-sex parody marriages because these unions are religious in nature and are thus an establishment of religion and a violation of the Establishment Clause.

Have a look:

(viii) All forms of parody marriage and all nonheterosexualsexual orientations or self asserted sex based identify narratives that fail to check out with the human design are part of the religion of secular humanism; (ix) In Torcaso v. Watkins , 367 U.S. 488 (1961), and Edwardsv. Aguillard, 482 U.S. 578 (1987), the United States Supreme Court found that secular humanism is a religion for purposes of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution; (x) The state of Wyoming is prohibited from endorsing or favoring religion over nonreligion; (xi) The state of Wyomings decision to respect, endorse and recognize parody marriages and sexual orientation policies has excessively entangled the government with the religion of secular humanism, failed to accomplish its intended purpose and created an indefensible legal weapon against nonobservers;

The argument is as follows: Secular humanism is a religion; same-sex marriage is part of the religion of secular humanism; government is prohibited from favoring religion over non religion; therefore, the state of Wyoming cannot endorse or recognize same-sex marriage without violating the Establishment Clause.

Before I move further into why this is wrong, Lone and Edwards citation of Torcaso v. Watkins is absurd. In that case, Roy Torcaso brought suit after having his position as notary public revoked because he was an atheist. (At the time, Marylands constitution barred anyone who did not press a belief in God from holding public office.) The Supreme Court held as follows:

We repeat and again reaffirm that neither a State nor the Federal Government can constitutionally force a person to profess a belief or disbelief in any religion. Neither can constitutionally pass laws or impose requirements which aid all religions as against nonbelievers, and neither can aid those religions based on a belief in the existence of God as against those religions founded on different beliefs.

In a footnote, the Court added the following:

Among religions in this country which do not teach what would generally be considered a belief in the existence of God are Buddhism, Taoism, Ethical Culture, Secular Humanism and others.

The footnote cited two circuit or appeals court cases, both handed down in 1957, which found that ethical (case 1) or humanist (case 2) societies that had their own facility and congregation and practiced weekly meetings operated like a church for the purposes of tax exemption. Several circuit courts have since stated that the Courts footnote in Torcaso was not meant to suggest that secular humanism (a term not used in either decision) was a religion under the First Amendment or subject to the Establishment Clause.

Evangelicals frequently use Torcaso to argue that secular humanism is a religion. This is a mistake for two reasons. First, if you actually look up the cases mentioned in the footnote and put the reference to ethical culture and secular humanism in that context (which you are clearly meant to do, given that the first case was about an ethical society and the second about a humanist fellowship), you will see that at issue was the form of practice rather than the belief system. I very much suspect that Lone and Edwards did not bother to actually look up those citations.

Second, that the term secular humanism was used was a pure accident. The case referenced used only the term humanism (referring to a humanist fellowship) and not the term secular humanism. In writing the decision in Torcaso, Justice Black likely inserted the word secular to differentiate the humanism practiced in the case referenced from Christian humanism.

In the 1970s and 1980s evangelicals would begin to speak of a secular humanist plot to take over the public schools and turn children into atheists. They would reach back to Torcaso to claim that secular humanism was a religion (representing a religious establishment in the schools) despite the fact that they invented the term themselves, after Torcaso. Before evangelicals creation of the term, secular was an adjective. Afterwards, secular humanism was its own term, not an adjective and a noun.

Of course, theres another piece missingeven if secular humanism were a religion, what is the basis for Lone and Edwards claim that [a]ll forms of parody marriage  that fail to check out with the human design are part of the religion of secular humanism? The Humanist Manifesto does not mention same-sex marriage or LGBT identities. Also, what about the fact that over a third of white evangelical Protestants now support same-sex marriage? And what of Protestant denominations that affirm same-sex marriage?

Again, Lone and Edwards bill went nowhere, even in red-state Wyoming. Still, the text of the bill gives us a glimpse into the minds of those ultra-conservative legislators who arent quite willing to give up.

(i) Nonsecular state action means any state action that endorses, respects and recognizes the beliefs of a particular religion where the preeminent and primary force driving the state action is not genuine but is a sham that ultimately has a primarily religious objective;

Theres a whole lot of playing fast and loose with words like genuine here. Unless I very much miss my guess, Lone and Edwards would be first in line to vote for a bill to mandate official prayer in the states public schools. After all, such state action would presumably be genuine and not a sham. Also? This isnt how constitutional law works.
According to conservative news site TheBlaze:

Macys is offering a new Muslim-friendly fashion line that features hijabs and modest clothing, a move criticized by conservatives and womens rights activists who say it promotes an oppressive culture.

Oh no! Modest clothing! Conservatives hate modest clothing!

Wait

TheBlaze quotes from Macys website, which describes the new linethe Verona Collectionas follows:

Verona Collection was simply an idea, that was conceptualized by a single mom who had converted to Islam in 2011, the companys website states. After embracing Islam, she had a stark realization: modest and fashionable clothing were both hard to acquire and difficult to afford. After doing a bit of research, she realized that many other women, both Muslim and non-Muslim, felt the same way.

After growing up in a conservative evangelical homeschool community, this actually sounds very, very familiar. There was a lot of concern about modest clothing being difficult to find. In fact, in some cases evangelical, fundamentalist, or Mormon women created their own clothing lines to ensure that their communities had access to modest clothing.

Oh, but TheBlaze is concerned about more than just this clothing line.

Mattels hijab Barbie was modeled after Muslim Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad. Mattel promotes the doll as empowering for young girls. But Muhammad was hardly mainstream as she was growing up, the New York Post discovered. As a young woman in Maplewood, New Jersey, her parents forced her to keep covered at all times, even while participating in her schools volleyball and softball teams.

No girl or woman should be forced to wear clothing she does not want to wearand no girl or woman should be told that her clothing is to blame for mens actions or treatment of her. However, TheBlaze, as a conservative news site, is being highly disingenuous. Would TheBlaze be concerned about fundamentalist Christian and conservative evangelical girls who are required to wear shorts and shirts over one-piece swimsuits, or to special order modest swimsuits? I doubt it.

Conservative Muslims are far from the only religious group with a modest dress code that requires their girls and teens to cover up. Conservative evangelicals and fundamentalists do this too. But what do you want to bet that if an evangelical modest clothing line (and there are many of them) was picked up by Macys, TheBlaze would be praising the companys choice to honor religion and womens dignity and modesty, in the face of all the slut-dressing mainstream clothing lines?

TheBlaze intersperses its negative coverage of the Verona Collection with positive coverage of anti-hijab demonstrations in Iran, as though those protests invalidate Macys newest clothing line. What goes unsaid is that there is a big difference between mandatory hijab-wearing and voluntary hijab-wearing. Certainly, we can talk about coercion. But if we want to ensure that women are not coerced into wearing a hijab, we need to make sure women in every community have the means for financial independenceand that means welcoming women in hijabs into educational institutions in the workforce.

TheBlaze reported positively on Jewish actress Mayim Bialiks 2015 endorsement of modest dressing. The Blaze also offered positive reporting on two Muslim beauty queen contestants who convinced contest organizers to change the mandated outfits to accommodate their religions modesty requirements. In 2013, TheBlaze praised a modest swimwear line promoted by a Christian organization. And then theres Matt Walshs 2015 modesty screed, also on TheBlaze.

I took a look at the Verona Collections website. Many of the clothing items there are far more mainstream than the modest clothing I wore growing up. TheBlazes problem isnt modesty or covering up. Its problem is that its Muslims doing it.

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On Friday, February 16, 2018, I gave a talk titled If We Cant Get It, Shut It Down: MLK, BLM and the Rhetoric of Confrontation. Hosted by the History Department at the University of Memphis, I argued that King, near the end of his life, no longer believed that government officials would do the right thing, King called for a campaign of massive civil disobedience that would lead to economic boycotts and shut down entire cities. By doing this, King asked activists to bear witness to their suffering in hopes that the action could convict the government to do the right thing. In closing, I argued that BLM whether knowingly or not, have adopted many of the ideas that King argued during the last year of his life thus becoming the natural extension of Kings vision in the last year of his life. Below is a part of that presentation.

On July 10, 2016, more than 1,000 frustrated and fed up American citizens took to the I-40 Bridge connecting Arkansas and Tennessee in an act of mass civil disobedience to disrupt and shut down traffic. These American citizens were protesting the latest videos; the murders of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile that had gone viral causing another round of trauma and pain in the minds and bodies of African Americans. Television stations in Memphis broke away from regularly scheduled programming to cover the protest. The local newspaper provided live updates on its website while other media outlets offered live coverage of the event through social media.

People overheard one protester shouting, Were trying to get equal rights. We want things to be fair. We want our voices to be heard. Black Lives Matter activist Shahidah Jones called the protest something similar to a family reunion. She remarked, I saw people I hadnt seen in years. Activist Tami Sawyer reminded onlookers and the media that what was going on across the country where people saying enough is enough, She continued,

I think about this last year. People all over the city and the Commercial Appeal celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Selma march, where Dr. Martin Luther King and hundreds of African-Americans were hosed by water and attacked by dogs and beaten by police during a peaceful protest for their rights. Fifty years after that, were still fighting against the same injustices, and while it is true that blocking traffic could have some dire consequences, the chance of that happening here are still much more slimmer than a black person being faced with systematic racism and injustice.

Labor and wage activist Jayanni Webster, who was one of the last ones off the bridge that night remarked that taking the bridge so openly was the only opportunity that they would ever have in their life to even talk to a police officer in a way that wont get them killed. People in Memphis never have the opportunity to confront those in power who represent a failed state of the economy and the politics of this city that continually oppresses people.

Pastor and University of Memphis Department of Communication graduate student Earle Fisher were one of the ones on the bridge that night. He told independent journalist Wendi Thomas that he was happy as shit, about taking the bridge because he knew it would take a moment like that to change the trajectory of what the movement in Memphis would look like. Activist Keedran Franklin noted that A lot of people were crying together, but it was like tears of joy because a lot of people were hurt. Thats the only reason why we were up there, Not being heard, not being felt, not enough resources. While the protest inconvenienced motorists, some that night showed signs of solidarity. One trucker allowed demonstrators to climb on top of his truck to hold up signs and raised fists. Community activist Nour Hantouli, told a reporter that the incident was a very remarkable sign of solidarity from someone who is caught in the very inconvenient position of that demonstration, but further added, of course, that got turned into thugs trashing property, you know, the typical racist narrative.

City officials, on the other hand, had a different view. While claiming that he understood the protesters frustration, and promising an open dialogue toward effecting change, Interim Police Director at the time of the incident, Mike Rallings remarked that a bridge shutdown was not the proper way to protest. Claiming to stand with the protesters, Rallings commented, I dont want us to shut down a bridge, Im with you; Ill march with you. But we need to do it together; we need to have a dialogue, we need not be shutting down bridges.

Shelby County Commissioner Terry Roland said that while he was proud we didnt have any violence, a lot of those people werent even from Memphis, and they should not have blocked the roads, especially a federal highway. Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, while appreciating the fact that the protest remained peaceful, he cautioned that citizens must protest in a legal way. Stopping traffic on the interstate is not legal. A day before the I-40 bridge take over and protest, Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed, after citizens there shut down a major highway infamously proclaimed, Were the home of Dr. Martin Luther King. The only thing I ask is that they not take the freeways. Dr. King would never take a freeway.

Despite, as the Root writer Jeanne Theoharis notes Reeds claim is historically absurd, noting that King took many a highwaymost famously in the Selma-to-Montgomery march, people continue in speaking of protests, to use the wrong way; right way dichotomy to silence any activity. Especially when it comes to Black Lives Matter activists, some well-meaning and sympathetic supporters also have been guilty of policing the movements strategies. Some like Oprah Winfrey even questioned if BLM had any leaders that could affect real change. Others, such as Rev. Barbara Reynolds went even further in her essay published in the Washington Post.

Reynolds, herself active within the Civil Rights struggles of the 60s, wrote that while the baby boomers who drove the success of the civil rights movement want to get behind Black Lives Matter, the groups confrontational and divisive tactics make it difficult. She remembered that activists in the 1960s confronted white mobs and police with dignity and decorum, sometimes dressing in church clothes and kneeling in prayer during protests to make a clear distinction between who was evil and who was good. She further wrote that activists in her generation were trained in the tradition of Martin Luther King Jr., we were nonviolent activists who won hearts by conveying respectability and changed laws by delivering a message of love and unity. BLM seems intent on rejecting our proven methods. This movement is ignoring what our history has taught.

However well-meaning, these historical descriptions just are not accurate. This misremembering not from opponents but supporters of King lead many to believe he was just a utopian dreamer who led a few approved and sanctioned marches. In this presentation, I would like to challenge some of these contemporary embedded narratives by examining the more radical King. Specifically, I examine Kings rhetoric as a synecdoche or as representative of the Civil Rights movement most people profess to understand. Drawing from Robert Cathcarts notion of managerial and confrontational rhetoric when applied to social movements, Kings earlier rhetoric seeks to be non-confrontational and seeks persuasiona changing of hearts and minds in accompanying goals and objectives. However, as time went on, I argue that King begins a rhetorical project with the aim not necessarily to persuade but to bear witness through confrontation that would hopefully at best lead to conviction.

During the last year of Kings life, his ability to persuade and to gain a national consensus around issues of war, poverty, economic injustice, and the inequality suffered by blacks and all people of color had waned. Faced with increasing hostility to him and the movement along with the rising white backlash that eventually would give birth to Nixons silent majority coalition, King knew that moral suasion would not give him the results that he had hoped. Thus King begins a campaign, grounded in non-violence that aimed to force the government to act on behalf of the movement. No longer believing that government officials would do the right thing, King called for a campaign of massive civil disobedience that would lead to economic boycotts and shut down entire cities. By doing this, King asked activists to bear witness to their suffering in hopes that the action could convict the government to do the right thing. I conclude by arguing that BLM whether knowingly or not, have adopted many of the ideas that King argued during the last year of his life becoming the natural extension of Kings vision in the last year of his life.

To listen to this and the rest of the lecture, click here.

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Former President Jerry John Rawlings has maintained that the appointment of Martin Amidu as the Special Prosecutor is a strong indication of governments commitment to combat corruption.



He made the above pronouncement in a meeting with the new Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Tsutomu Himeno, where he called on Japan and other developed countries not to hold back on offering support to Ghana because of its willingness address the corruption canker.



Mr. Rawlings said, the appointment of Amidu as Special Prosecutor from outside his own party shows the President is serious. It vindicates some of us. No developed country should hold back in assisting our country to improve the lives of our people.



At the meeting on Friday, Flt Lt Rawlings praised Japan for its continued support for Ghana over the years but sought increased cooperation between the two countries especially in creating employable opportunities for Ghanaian youth.



Touching on international matters, the former President said while globalization has created much wealth it has also led to a great deal of impoverishment due the inequality in the distribution of wealth caused by the savagery of capitalism as stated by Pope John Paul II in one of his pastoral letters.



The inequalities created by capitalism and the impunity of political power may be leading to the emasculation and helplessness of the mass of people on the one hand and on the other it will no doubt and definitely be triggering outrage, anger and hatred which translate into acts of violence, suicidal tendencies, terrorism and pockets of political instability, Mr. Rawlings said.



Flt Lt Rawlings said though Japan is an advanced wealthy country, that wealth has not manifested into the kind of outrage you find in other places because the culture of the Japanese inhibits and prevents impunity.



Others need to learn a few lessons from countries like Japan, China, South Korea and a few others that have held on to the humility of power. The culture of respect for the people is what has helped to prevent the arrogance of power. Though our (Ghanas) culture of respect is not supposed to be any different, we have not been able to prevent impunity. It is about time we woke up to the negatives of the savagery of capitalism and tyranny of the misuse of wealth, the former President stated.



Ambassador Himeno informed the former President that Japan was involved in the construction of a flyover at the Tema motorway roundabout and also the drilling of boreholes in some deprived areas of the country.



The Japanese people, the ambassador stated, very much appreciate the relationship with Ghana and that is manifest in projects such as the Noguchi Memorial Institute, the role of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and several developmental projects supported by his country.



Former President Rawlings extended a message of health and good wishes from his family to Emperor Akihito and his family as well as Professor Hishashi Owada, former diplomat and currently a member of the International Court of Justice.





Source: 3news.com









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Audit and assurance firm, PricewaterhouseCoop ers (PwC), is seeking buyers for landed properties of the UT and the Capital banks to help mobilise funds to pay off their creditors.



The four properties situated in Tamale in the Northern Region and some suburbs of the Greater Accra Region were the only landed properties owned by the banks prior to their collapse on August 14.



One of the joint receivers at PwC, Mr Eric Nana Nipah, told the GRAPHIC BUSINESS on February 18 that the properties were one of four categories of assets owned by the two failed banks.



That is all that they have that was owned to them. Other landed properties are collateral that the borrowers are in default and we cannot just sell; we have to go through some process, including legal ones. So what we are selling are those that are owned by the banks, he explained in an interview.



Although not surprised, a banking consultant and former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Mr Emmanuel Asiedu-Mante, said the development showed that the operations of the two defunct banks were indeed not profitable partly due to the alleged misappropriation of funds by directors.



It means they could not generate enough profit to be able to put up their own houses. If you look at why they collapsed, based on the bits and pieces I read, where directors were taking money from the banks, going on overseas trips and things like that, then you realise that they were dissipating funds of the banks and those are some of the consequences.



If you start a business and you are not generating enough revenue yet the small that comes, you dissipate it, then you will not be able to create enough funds to be able to build your own house, he said.



He, however, added that renting was a normal occurrence among banks as most of them were always unable to put up their own buildings in the first years of operations.



Other asset classes



Although Mr Nipah declined to mention how much the banks assets and liabilities were at the time of their insolvency, he said at the time we came in, their assets were not sufficient to cover their liabilities. He mentioned the other asset class as loans, which constitute over 80 per cent of the entire asset base, office shuttle  furniture and fixtures  and motor vehicles.



To help realise some funds to pay off creditors, Mr Nipah said his outfit had been preparing the various asset classes to help put them in shape for sale. We have an obligation as receivers to first and foremost take control of these assets, secure them and prepare them for sale.



We need to make realisation in order to pay creditors and so what we did the first time was to tackle the loans, he said, referring to an earlier Expression of Interest (EoI) that requested debt recovery and collection agencies and other financial institutions to apply to purchase the loans of the defunct banks.



Right of refusal



The licences of the UT and the Capital banks were revoked by the Bank of Ghana on August 14 after they were found to illiquid and capital deficient.



Consequently, a purchase and assumption (P&A) agreement was signed with GCB Bank to assume ownership of selected liabilities and assets, with PwC as the receiver.



Mr Nipah, who is also a Partner and Deals Leader at PwC, explained that the four properties in Tamale in the Northern Region and Tesano, Abossey Okai and Cantonments, all in the Greater Accra Region offered for sale were leftovers after the receiving bank, GCB.



Bank, had selected what it wanted. Under the purchase and assumption (P&A) agreement that we signed with the GCB Bank, they have the right of first refusal over these assets.



So, they have picked the loans they want, they are not interested in any landed properties and motor vehicles belonging to the two banks but they have selected some office shuttle assets that they want, he said.



He explained that the office shuttle chosen by GCB Bank were to go hand in hand with the branches they want.



Earlier this month, GCB Bank said it was retaining some 22 branches out of a total of 53 branches of the two failed banks.



The joint receiver explained that none of the branches of the two banks belonged to them.



Response in loans



On the EoI on the loans, Mr Nipah said the response had been appreciable and both sides were now concluding discussions to help pave the way for the actual transfer to take place.



He said beyond the finance houses that had applied to purchase the loans, about two banks had also expressed interest.



We have reached a point that those properties that the GCB Bank is not interested in like the landed properties, the motor vehicles and other assets are now being advertised for sale.



We have also done a sales memorandum for the guidance of prospective bidders so that if they come, it will set out all the things about the asset, including the condition, he said.

Source: Daily Graphic









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The Drunkards Association of Ghana will be in Germany in October 2018 to represent Ghana in this years Beer Festival also called Oktoberfest.



The invitation, according to the President of the group, Moses Onyah popularly known as Drybone is due to their vibrancy in the country.



We are very elated for the recognition by the Germany government even though we have been condemned by Ghanaians, he stated in an interview on KOFI TV.



The Oktoberfest Munich is one of the largest festivals in the world and attracts some 6.4 million visitors a year. The beer festival held in Munich will run from September 22nd to October 7th 2018 and drunkards from our country are hoping to make Ghana proud.



Moses Drybone maintained that, their participation will not only attract investors but also strengthen Ghanas relations with Germany.



We will be going to Germany with some of our local liquors to promote them, he added.



Read PHOTOS: All the strange dressings at Ebonys memorial



Moses Drybone also appealed to President Akufo-Addo to promote Planting Palms for Drinks for them to get quality liquor to consume.



Watch video below-

Source: Kofi TV









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Deputy Minister for Health, Tina Mensah has attributed governments inability to clear nurses for their postings to inadequate funds.



Before you clear somebody, its the money; when the money is available, you clear. So today, if we take it to the Finance Ministry and then theres money available for us, then we clear. she told Citi FM.



The nurses who completed their studies in 2016 say they have held several meetings with the Minister for health with a view to address their concerns but to no avail.



Meanwhile, the unposted nurses who picketed at the premises of the Health Ministry have accused the Police of manhandling them on Monday night.



The Police who were dispatched to the premises to evacuate the agitating nurses were reportedly compelled to apply force after the health workers were unwilling to leave the yard.



According to the President of the unposted nurses association, Samuel Asante, the Police attacked them with teargas and other crowd control equipment.

Source: kasapafmonline.com









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Central Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Bernard Allotey Jacobs has refuted claims that Martin Amidu is an arrogant person.



According to Allotey Jacobs, he has "never seen Martin as an arrogant person, never".



He explained to host Kwami Sefa Kayi that Mr. Amidu only displayed his true character traits during his vetting before the Parliamentary Appointments Committee on Tuesday, February 13, 2018.



He noted on Kokrokoo on Peace FM that Mr. Amidu is one person who likes challenges and so will delightfully take up the take up gauntlet to rid the country of corruption.



Ive never seen Martin as an arrogant person, never. And never will I say that Martin is arrogant. Martin displayed his true character yesterday. That is Martin for youMartin is somebody who likes challenges. That is him. If you challenge him, he will come for it.



Allotey Jacobs sought to clarify reasons why some people, particularly within the NDC, think Mr. Amidu is arrogant explaining that he (Mr. Amidu) is embittered towards the party due to certain experiences.



To him, the NDC should have handled him in a better way when they found out about his bitterness and believed the issue could have been ironed out amicably.



The party should have sat down with Martin to find out the problem. The party should have sat him down. I believe that the party has failed in that angle for being unable to call Martin up and broach the subject. Yes, you cannot manage Martin. Martin is unmanageable. That's his beliefs, his principles; he will never compromise principles. He says it as it is. Sometimes, you might think he is cheekybut you see there are characters like that from the way they were brought up. So, sometimes, we need to infuse ourselves into their world, Allotey Jacobs stated.









Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Audio Attachment: Listen to Kwesi Pratt Jnr. on Peace FM's 'kokrokoo'

Former Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Dominic Ayine has petitioned the Supreme Court to challenge the qualification of Martin Amidu for the position of Special Prosecutor.



Dr. Dominic Ayine has raised constitutional concerns about the age of Mr. Amidu with regard to the Special Prosecutor's office.



In his suit, he argued that Mr. Amidu, being 66 years of age, is too old to hold public office and perhaps not constitutionally permitted and qualified to work in the capacity of the Special Prosecutor.



Despite the writ to court, Parliament vetted Martin Amidu and reports indicate he has won majority votes for Parliamentary approval.



Commenting on the issue on 'Kokrokoo' on Peace FM, seasoned journalist Kwesi Pratt raised eyebrows over the vetting of Martin Amidu by the Appointments Committee of Parliament.



He first made reference to the pending suit against Mr. Amidu in court and so wondered why the Appointments Committee ignored the court petition and went ahead to vet the Citizen Vigilante.



According to him, the Committee has set a precedent with their blatant disregard for the writ filed before the Supreme Court and was pessimistic the action will have dire future consequences for the nation.



Parliament, by its own rules, says that when a matter is before court; Parliament should not take any action or decision which will be prejudicial to the outcome. Its in the rules of Parliament, he stated.



He also alluded to a statement Mr. Amidu made regarding the Special Prosecutor bill which has been passed into an Act by the Akufo-Addo administration.



Mr. Amidu, before his nomination as Special Prosecutor by President Nana Akufo-Addo, had argued that the bill is constitutionally defective and should be amended.



Kwesi Pratt therefore expressed surprise that he decided to take up the position in spite of his stance on the bill.



He asked how Mr. Amidu would duly execute his duties when he's against the same bill that gives him the mandate.



Mr. Pratt further objected to certain amendments made to suit the Special Prosecutor Act in order to give Mr. Amidu power to prosecute corrupt officials.



He noted that due to the establishment of the office, the prosecution power of the Attorney General has been solely wielded to the Special Prosecutor which to him, is an illegality.



We have amended the constitution by legislation which is illegal. If that is the case, what you have done is to amend the constitution by legislation. Its not allowed anywhere. Its an illegality, clear illegality but now theres an euphoria; so everybody is jumped on the bandwagon. Me, I dont follow the crowd. Kwami, Ive never followed the crowd.



 . . We dey here . . . ibi here we dey . . . now, with the law; it doesnt matter. Nobody is interested in the law. Nobody is in interested in what the constitution is saying. Theres a certain euphoria . . . and everybody is following . . . mark it somewhere, isssues about it will not arise today, it will be in the future and we will see our smoothness level soon, Pratt concluded.



Only one MP on the 26-member committee voted against Amidu's nomination.



Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini has said although Mr Amidu is a man of good intentions and very competent, he is not suitable for the office.









Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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From a recent article in the Guardian, we learn that

A school district in Minnesota has pulled To Kill a Mockingbird and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from its curriculum, arguing that the classic novels use of racial slurs risked students being humiliated or marginalised.

The article noted that there had been no specific complaints raised from students (or, evidently, their parents) about the classic titles, but the school district was concerned that their use created an uncomfortable atmosphere in the classroom.

Discomfort is the whole point.

It is the role of quality literature to make readers uncomfortable. For that matter, the discomfort produced by focusing on a new or different perspective, or uncovering a truth that has been avoided, is what makes all the arts valuable windows into the human condition.

Afflicting the comfortable requires wrestling with unlovely aspects of our common life that most of us would rather not address or even acknowledge.

I was disappointed to read that the president of the local NAACP applauded the decision.

The Duluth move was supported by the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People, with president of the local chapter Stephan Witherspoon saying the books were just hurtful and use hurtful language that has oppressed the people for over 200 years. Its wrong. There are a lot more authors out there with better literature that can do the same thing that does not degrade our people. Im glad that theyre making the decision and its long overdue, like 20 years overdue, he said. Lets move forward and work together to make school work for all of our kids, not just some, all of them.

Distaste for the language is understandable, but efforts to suppress certain words are what give those words their power. Looking honestly at the ugliness of racismwithout efforts to convey it in a more abstract or polite fashionis intended to produce discomfort. The immediacy of the assault on our contemporary sensibilitieswithin the context of profoundly anti-racist storytellingis educational in a way that less offensive formulations that distance the reader from the reality of the ugliness is not.

That point was made by National Coalition Against Censorship.

While the NCAC said it was understandable that a novel that repeatedly uses a highly offensive racial slur would generate discomfort among some parents and students, the anti-censorship organisation argued that the problems of living in a society where racial tensions persist will not be resolved by banishing literary classics from the classroom. On the contrary, the classroom is where the history, use and destructiveness of this language should be examined and discussed. It is there that the books complexities can be contextualised and their anti-racist message can be understood, it said. Rather than ignore difficult speech, educators should create spaces for open dialogue that teaches students to confront the vestiges of racism and the oppression of people of colour.

Using these books in the classroom, where teachers can lead a discussion about why these words are so offensive, and why the attitudes they convey have been so destructive to our country, is far better than banishing them to an optional reading list, where students will read them without the historical context and explanation that classroom discussion can provide.

This effort to shield students from material deemed uncomfortable is not unlike efforts a few years ago (I believe in Oklahoma) to eliminate incidents from the history curriculum that showed the United States in an unfavorable light.

You dont produce patriots by lying to students about their countrys past, and you dont produce inclusive, anti-racist citizens by pretending that racists used nicer language.

[Originally published at SheilaKennedy.net on February 19, 2018]

Peacock Panache readers:

Sheila Kennedy is a former high school English teacher, former lawyer, former Republican, former Executive Director of Indianas ACLU, former columnist for the Indianapolis Star, and former young person. She is currently an (increasingly cranky) old person, a Professor of Law and Public Policy at Indiana University Purdue University in Indianapolis, and Director of IUPUIs Center for Civic Literacy. She writes for the Indianapolis Business Journal, PA Times, and the Indiana Word, and blogs at www.sheilakennedy.net. For those who are interested in more detail, links to an abbreviated CV and academic publications can be found on her blog, along with links to her books..

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Good Tuesday Morning, Fellow Seekers.

So here's what happens when you take one day off. On Sunday evening, we went to bed within the cozy confines of Pennsylvania's Fourth Congressional District.

Sometime on Monday afternoon, when we were about halfway through a repeat viewing of "Captain America: The First Avenger," the tectonic plates shifted, the state Supreme Court did something, and presto, there we were in the freshly renumbered and redrawn 10th Congressional District.

Confusing? No doubt.

So, as anyone would, we took to the Internetz and the Twitterz to find out what was going on. What we found there was a veritable republic of voices, a noisy and quarrelsome one, to be sure, but it did expand our knowledge (some) of what was going on.

1. Some people didn't take the news at all well.

We are in the midst of a Constitutional crisis in Pennsylvania. pic.twitter.com/eBU2pxHI35  Senator Jake Corman (@JakeCorman) February 20, 2018

David Wecht's campaign message was clear, and the Democratic @LWVPA heard, "file a lawsuit & regardless of facts, I will overturn the maps right away to take advantage of the mid-term elections."

When challenged, he took 20 pages to deflect that it took too long to call him out. https://t.co/V34rL23VwR  Stephen A. Miskin (@Sam1963) February 20, 2018

While others had a different view ...

Pennsylvanians are sick and tired of gerrymandering, which perpetuates gridlock, alienates citizens and stifles reform. I have stood for fairness and rejected a gerrymandered GOP map. I respect @SupremeCtofPA's effort to remedy PAs unfair and unequal congressional elections. https://t.co/84gOluSBmI  Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) February 19, 2018

And you can thank LG Mike Stack for saving democracy as we know it ...

The court preserved large parts of my map, which made a priority of keeping communities of interest and more counties intact. As I advocated, the new map does away with the contorted districts that impacted Montgo, Bucks, Chesco, and Delco. More:https://t.co/zM9jXcd3Fo pic.twitter.com/vw0KOrhzhc  Mike Stack (@LtGovStack) February 19, 2018

2. A Republican appeal to the federal courts seems pretty much guaranteed. After Justice Samuel Alito rejected the GOP's request for a stay last time, there was no shortage of skepticism that the GOP would prevail on the merits this time.

I've just completed my analysis---hard to see any path for GOP to successfully challenge these maps in federal court. https://t.co/cUwclTNzJ1  Rick Hasen (@rickhasen) February 19, 2018

Context alert: Hasen is a professor - and election law expert - at UC-Irvine.

Which doesn't mean that people weren't questioning his analysis.

3. So about those renumbered districts. In what we presume to be an effort to reinforce all that contiguity and compactness, the state Supreme Court re-numbered Pennsylvania's districts. The 11th and 12th are now right next to each other, for instance. Which makes sense. We never did understand why the 1st and 2nd districts were right next to each other in Philly, but you had to drive to Erie before you found the old 3rd District.

Still, it's going to take some getting used to.

Because things weren't confusing enough already, PA Supreme Court renumbered the districts? 7th would cover Lehigh/Northampton/part of Monroe County: pic.twitter.com/Ln83RvTq2v  Laura Olson (@lauraolson) February 19, 2018

Major change: Looks like York no longer in the 4th district, and joins Lancaster to create new 11th district https://t.co/naz0b2tXpp  David Weissman (@WeissmanMBO) February 19, 2018

4. Enjoy that special election while ye may, Conor Lamb and Rick Saccone: The redrawn 18th District, near Pittsburgh, appears to set up a spring primary clash (presuming that Democrat Conor Lamb beats Republican Rick Saccone in next month's special election to replace ex-Rep. Tim Murphy):

Does this put Mike Doyle and Conor Lamb in the same district? pic.twitter.com/2Vb7M1wf5V  Marc Levy (@timelywriter) February 19, 2018

5. In case you have forgotten the national implications of this debate:

Great news out of Pennsylvania today.



Redistricting is why the Midterms are must-win. What we can accomplish this fall will ripple through 2030.https://t.co/GMQfi9ACmP  James L. Schulman (@linwoodschulman) February 20, 2018

The rest of the day's news starts now.

PennLive's Charlie Thompson has a pretty thorough breakdown of where things stand with the new map, What It All Means, and what happens next.

PennLive's Wallace McKelvey has some additional elucidation on the state's remade political topography.

Rep. Dawn Keefer, R-York, has moved a seminar on concealed carry from a middle school to a local VFW in response to the Florida school shootings, PennLive's Jan Murphy reports.

Speaking of the 18th District, the two candidates met in a televised debate, The Post-Gazette reports.

U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans, D-2nd District, will hold a series of 'Impeach Trump' events with billionaire progressive activist Tom Steyer, PhillyMag reports.

The Inquirer takes a look at Philly phallout from the new map.

Here's some redistricting analysis from WHYY-FM, which concludes it does boost Democratic electoral chances in 2018.

And here's some more analysis for The Morning Call and the map's impact on the Lehigh Valley.

A former senior official in the state Democratic Party is taking aim at Gov. Tom Wolf and the #MeToo movement, PoliticsPA reports.

Politico goes deep on President Donald Trump's unusual public rebuke of National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster.

For those of you playing along at home, the RNC raised $12.4 million in January, Roll Call reports.

WolfWatch:

By the time most of you read this, Gov. Tom Wolf will have already done an 8:07 am. interview with KDKA-AM.

You Say It's Your Birthday Dept.

Best wishes go out this morning to our PennLive colleague, Chris Hopkins, who celebrates today.

Here's your #Harrisburg Instagram of the Day:

Heavy Rotation.

It's always a good day when there's new music from

Franz Ferdinand

in the world.

And now you're up to date.
It's a good day to be a Radiohead fan.

On Feb. 20, the alt-rock group announced a summer U.S. tour -- which includes three concerts in Pennsylvania.

Radiohead will be playing some headline shows in North America during July and August 2018, please visit https://t.co/ri8Ff5KEDy for full details. pic.twitter.com/PsNGZ4jwD4  Radiohead (@radiohead) February 20, 2018

The "Creep" group will be performing at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh at 7:30 p.m. on July 26. It'll then perform two 7:30 p.m. shows in Philadelphia at the Wells Fargo Center -- one on July 31 and the second on Aug. 1.

The Philadelphia shows will be the last for the U.S. tour.

Tickets for all three Pennsylvania shows go on sale at noon on Feb. 23. Fans will be able to purchase tickets on Ticketmaster, or, in the case of the Philadelphia performances, on the Wells Fargo Center website.

The Radiohead tour will be promoting the group's album, A Moon Shaped Pool, which was released in 2016. Last year, the band re-issued its album Ok Computer in honor of the album's 20th anniversary.

The individual members have been busy with various side projects. Most notably, Radiohead's guitarist Johnny Greenwood wrote the score for Oscar-nominated film "Phantom Thread." He's nominated for an Oscar for his work on the movie.

It's shaping up to be a busy summer for concerts in Pennsylvania. Irish rockers U2 will be performing two shows in Philadelphia on June 13 and 14. Country star Shania Twain has concerts on July 12 in Philadelphia and July 17 in Pittsburgh. Pop artist Taylor Swift will be playing Philadelphia July 13-14 and Pittsburgh on Aug. 7.

Radiohead Pa. Concert Details:
On Feb. 20, 1962, astronaut John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth.

Glenn rocketed into space aboard Mercury's Friendship 7 spacecraft.

The craft circled Earth three times in 4 hours, 56 minutes before splashing down in the Atlantic Ocean, 800 miles southeast of Bermuda.

According to NASA, this was "one of the most important flights in American history. The mission? Send a man to orbit Earth, observe his reactions and return him home safely. The pilot of this historic flight, John Glenn, became a national hero and a symbol of American ambition.

In 1958, John Glenn participated in a series of tests designed to select the first group of astronauts for the newly formed NASA Manned Space Program. Each astronaut candidate, from an original pool of 508, had to meet seven criteria.

They had to be test pilot school graduates in excellent physical shape, less than 40 years old, shorter than 5 feet 11 inches, qualified jet pilots, and they had to have at least 1,500 hours flying time and bachelors' degrees in engineering. Glenn met all the requirements.

He also had a reputation as one of the best test pilots in the country. In July 1957, he had set a transcontinental speed record by flying from Los Angeles to New York in 3 hours and 23 minutes. It was the first transcontinental flight to average supersonic speed.

In April of 1959, John Glenn was selected as a member of the first group of astronauts, the 'Mercury Seven.' He was joined by Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, Gus Grissom, Wally Schirra, Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton.



NASA Glenn's Multiple Axis Space Test Inertia Facility, or Gimbal Rig, was one of the many facilities where the seven astronauts trained for their missions.



After three years of training, John Glenn rocketed into space aboard the Mercury capsule Friendship 7. He became the third American in space and the first to orbit Earth. The historical flight was no easy feat. At the end of his first orbit, a yaw attitude jet clogged, forcing Glenn to abandon the automatic control system and use the manual electrical fly-by-wire system.



In 4 hours and 56 minutes, John Glenn circled the globe three times, reaching speeds of more than 17,000 miles per hour. The successful mission concluded with a splashdown and recovery in the Atlantic Ocean, 800 miles southeast of Bermuda.

John Glenn instantly became a hero. President John Kennedy awarded him the Space Congressional Medal of Honor. Schools and streets across the country were named after him. And a ticker tape parade in New York City celebrated his mission."

John Glenn resigned as an astronaut in January 1964. In October 1964 he was promoted to a colonel in the Marine Corps and retired on Jan. 1, 1965, according to NASA.

Glenn was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1974. He served four consecutive terms.

In 1998, he flew on the STS-95 Discovery shuttle flight, a nine-day mission.

Glenn died Dec. 8, 2016, in the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio.
Central York High School will have additional police on site Tuesday following a possible threat made on social media.

Officials became aware of the threat late Monday night and into Tuesday morning, according to a statement posted on the district's website.

Here is what the statement said:

"Late last night and into this morning, we received numerous reports of a social media post suggesting rumors of a possible threat to Central York High School school. Springettsbury Township Police and Northern York Regional Police have been investigating this post and the rumors since last night.

The police have said they cannot substantiate this threat and cannot verify it as a credible threat at this time. We will proceed with school as normally scheduled.

We will have additional police presence at our high school today as a proactive measure. If you are concerned for your child's safety and wish to keep him or her home from school today, that absence will be excused.

The safety and security of our faculty, staff and students is our utmost concern. If you have concerns or hear rumors, please do not hesitate to notify school officials. We treat all information received seriously and share with law enforcement officials so they may investigate fully."

No other details about the potential threat were released.

The incident comes after two students at Central York Middle School posted a photo on social media of one of them holding a BB gun in a school restroom on Thursday, a day after the deadly rampage at a Florida high school resulted in 17 people killed.
A Harrisburg mother who drank alcohol and smoked marijuana, then took a phone call and left her 1-year-old son unattended to drown in a bathtub was sentenced Tuesday to 2 to 6 years in state prison.

"We find that you have been grossly negligent in the care of this child," Dauphin County Judge Deborah E. Curcillo told 26-year-old Kathryn Jacoby. "And because of that, the life of your child is now gone."

Curcillo imposed that jail term, plus 5 years of probation, two months after Jacoby pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment charges for the August 2016 death of her son, William.

Police said Jacoby left the boy and his 2-year-old sister alone in the bathtub on the second floor of her Derry Street home while she went downstairs to take a 23-minute phone call. She also pleaded guilty to child endangerment for putting her daughter at risk.

Jacoby didn't have a deal regarding her sentence.

When Chief Deputy District Attorney Sean McCormack called the lead investigator, city Detective Kirk Aldrich, to testify, the detective told Curcillo, "I feel that whatever the maximum punishment is is just in this case."

Aldrich said Jacoby told police at least four conflicting stories about how her son drowned, then refused to allow them to search her home. Her blood-alcohol level tested at .15 percent, well into the intoxication range, "and that was several hours after the incident," the detective said. "There was also marijuana in her system."

He noted the 23-minute phone call was from Jacoby's mother-in-law, who asked why it was so quiet in the background and questioned Jacoby about the whereabouts of the children. Jacoby told her mother-in-law the kids were playing in her daughter's room, Aldrich said.

McCormack said what he found "glaring" is that Jacoby kept drinking and using marijuana after her son died and until just before she was interviewed for her pre-sentencing report.

"There is a case where a child died because of her negligence and her drinking and smoking pot and she's done nothing" to reform, the prosecutor said.

Defense attorney Shawn Stottlemyer said Jacoby is in counseling. He said she never really learned how to be a mom because her own parents abandoned her when she was a child.

"Kathryn's life has been tragedy after tragedy," Stottlemyer said. "She's never had any kind of support system."

He pleaded with Curcillo to allow Jacoby to be a mother to her surviving child. "It's not going to do her daughter any good to have her mom sitting in state prison," he insisted.

"Yes, Kathryn has made some mistakes, some tragic mistakes," Stottlemyer said. "She's paying every day of her life."

Jacoby sobbed when she addressed the judge.

"I do regret my decisions so much. I can't describe the pain and regret I have," she said. "My son didn't deserve that."
A federal judge has thrown out a suit brought by a Missouri man against The Hershey Co. over the amount of air in their packaging.

the man, Robert Bratton, had sued the Hershey Co. for $5 million in damages because his beloved boxes of Whoppers and Reese's Pieces were never full.

Bratton, who bought around 600 boxes of candy over a period of years, argued that while padding air is necessary for a bag of potato chips, it wasn't necessary for candy and his boxes should have been full.

On Friday Judge Nanette K. Laughrey rejected Bratton's claims, noting that he continued to buy the candy even though he was aware of the air in the packaging.

"Mr. Bratton testified that he initially expected the boxes to be full but at some point...(he) realized that they're not," Laughrey's ruling said. "Although Mr. Bratton claimed to have always clung to his hope that the boxes would be full, he acknowledged that he did not expect the box to be miraculously filled the next time he bought it."
Note: The headline line of this article was changed to reflect information from a church representative who said the blessings will go to people who are bringing their AK-15s, not the weapons. The representative said, "There will be no blessing of firearms. People are receiving a Blessing and are bringing their AR 15's."

A church in Wayne County in northeastern Pennsylvania has invited worshipers to bring assault weapons including AR-15-style rifles to a blessing ceremony, WNEP/ABC Newswatch 16 is reporting.



Area residents are uneasy about the fact that an elementary school is located near the church, and state police also have inquired about the ceremony set for next Wednesday morning, according to WNEP.



The church is run by the Moon family, and church leaders told WNEP they are expecting up to 600 people for the ceremony, with many likely armed with AR-15s.



WNEP said it interviewed a church leader who said, "This will be a big thing for us. It's a new stage for us because it incorporates the rod of iron, as it is in Revelations. Revelations talks about the returning Christ ruling with the rod of iron."



He said the AR-15 is the "rod of iron."



The blessing ceremony was scheduled before the mass shooting at a Florida high school last week.



According to WNEP, the Moon family also owns a nearby gunmaking company.
A Wilkes-Barre man pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to distribute heroin in Luzerne County from February through November 2014.

Charles Davis III, 46, pleaded guilty on Feb. 16 before Senior U.S. District judge James M. Munley, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

Davis admitted to transporting Desmond Mercer, the leader of the conspiracy, to more than 600 heroin transactions and to distributing heroin for Mercer, according to a news release.

Davis also admitted to involvement in the distribution of between 100 and 400 grams of heroin, the equivalent to between 4,000 and 16,000 retail bags of the drug, according to the news release.

Mercer previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

Davis, who was indicted by a federal grand jury in Feb. 2016, is scheduled to be sentenced on May 21. Munley also ordered a pre-sentence investigation be completed.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court offered up a new Congressional map Monday that easily bests the old one on traditional redistricting principles like geographic compactness and avoiding border splits.

But it also got some hard reminders that fairness is always in the eye of the beholder, as at least one independent analyst tagged the majority with making "conscious, pro-Dem mapping choices."

The new maps will, most observers reached Monday agreed, usher in an era of modestly greater competitiveness for the state's 18 U.S. House seats.

"Pennsylvanians are used to being at the center of the universe when it comes to presidential races," said J.J. Balaban, a media consultant for the Democratic-leaning, Philadelphia-based Campaign Group.

"Now we're going to be close to the center of the universe when it comes to control of Congress, too."

One early look, by Aaron Bycoffe of FiveThirty Eight.com, suggested the major-party breakdown of the state's delegation over the long-term would move from 12 Republican and six Democratic seats under the old map, to 10.5 R: 7.5 D with the new.

Important caveat: That's based on past voting history within the districts, and does not take into the actual candidate lineup this year. In real life, for example, Pennsylvanians elected 13 Republicans and five Democrats in 2016.

Reactions in the state broke mostly along party lines.

Republicans argued the new map is an absolute intrusion by a partisan court into legislative and executive branch functions, and promised a new challenge in federal courts this week.

"I'm here to say that it's very likely that we'll head to federal court,"said Drew Crompton, chief of staff to Senate President Pro Tempore Joseph Scarnati, R-Jefferson County.

The seminal question. he said, is "whether or not... the courts have the authority to draw a map under the United States Constitution."

Democrats, however, called the map fairer than the 2011 version that the court found unconstitutional last month.

"We are thrilled that the new map addresses our concerns and will make our votes actually count," said Robert Smith, a resident of Luzerne County who was one of 18 registered Democrat voters in whose name the suit was brought.

Smith and his fellow petitioners argued the gerrymandering that occurred in 2011, when Republicans held majorities in the General Assembly and the governor's office, amounted to "viewpoint discrimination" against Democrats.

They cited the repeated 13-5 split in the Congressional races over each of the last three cycles, a split that held whether Democrats or Republicans were winning races statewide.

Gov. Tom Wolf, also a Democrat, applauded the court's work, and said he would now concentrate his administration's efforts on making sure the state's elections officials are able to bring the new maps into use for the May 15 primary.

Make no mistake. This was not a tweak. Much in the new map is new, right down to a re-ordered, east to west numbering of the House districts.

At least one independent analyst, David Wasserman of the Washington D.C.-based Cook Political Report, tweeted that the court's decision was a "ringing endorsement of the partisan fairness doctrine: That (political) parties should be entitled to same proportion of seats as votes. However, in PA, achieving that requires conscious, pro-Dem mapping choices."

As an example, he pointed to the decision to add heavily Democratic Reading to a district anchored in neighboring Chester County, making it potentially one of the most competitive districts in the state.

Widener University political scientist J. Wesley Leckrone, meanwhile, noted that while the new plan does fit suburban Philadelphia districts more neatly along county lines, that can be too simplistic a check.

"The inner-ring suburbs of Philadelphia (those closest to the city line) have more in common politically with the city than they do with their county's exurbs," Leckrone stated in an email.

"For example, northern Montgomery County has more in common with their old district which included Bucks County than under the new plan. These districts maybe more competitive, but they aren't necessarily more representative," Leckrone said.

In the adversarial world of electoral politics, there were immediate winners and losers.

Balaban told PennLive he sees U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker, R-Lancaster County, as a big winner.

Smucker's seat, which will now encompass all of Lancaster County and part of southern York County, goes from pretty competitive to much-safer Republican based on recent voter history.

The freshman Congressman, Balaban said, is "safe as a baby in his mother's arms."

Those harmed, by Balaban and Wasserman's analyses, included incumbent Rep. Ryan Costello, R-Chester County, who saw his seat go from a slight Republican lean to a slight Democratic lean.

Costello also has a Democratic opponent, Chrissy Houlahan, who may draw a lot of support from national groups interested in helping the Democrats retake majority control of the House.

Another GOP incumbent, Rep. Keith Rothfus of Allegheny County, sees his "Hammerhead Shark" 12th District become one of the state's more politically competitive districts, swapping areas like Cambria and Somerset counties that went huge for Trump in 2016 with a deeper swath of Clinton-supporting Allegheny County.

In northeastern Pennsylvania, meanwhile, Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Lackawanna County, will have to seek re-election in a district that continues to lean Republican in recent presidential votes.

On the whole, though, other observers said it was hard to argue that the new maps aren't better than the 2011 version when considering factors like history, economic ties, geography and even media markets.

"I would say that these maps will likely serve the residents of Pennsylvania better than the previous maps; at least for the short run," said Thomas Baldino, a political science professor at Wilkes University.

The courts imposed their maps Monday by the same 4-3 majority that had ruled in a controversial Jan. 22 order - which itself was seen as highly-partisan - that new maps needed to be in place for this year's election cycle.

Working with Stanford University redistricting expert Nathan Persily, the new lines were endorsed by Justices Christine Donahue, Kevin Dougherty, Debra Todd and David Wecht.

All were elected to the court as Democrats.

The new version, the court said in its written order, was "superior or comparable" to the seven submissions it took from various parties to the case last week.

None of the justices, or Persily, made themselves available for questioning Monday about how they came to their preferences, or even why they chose to renumber the districts across much of the state.

That lack of accountability was not lost on critics of the process.

"These are political decisions that the U.S. Constitution gives to the legislative and executive branches," Crompton said. "And they (the court majority) made them all by themselves.

"In fact, one man made those decisions; one man from California."

Of course the justices, in their latest ruling, noted that the legislature and Wolf had essentially forfeited that right by failing to work together to pass a remedial map this winter.

If they stand, the new Congressional lines will be used by candidates starting next week as the template for getting nominating petitions signed to secure places on the primary ballot.

Some other first-day highlights:

* No incumbent edge here.

The winner of a March special election for the now-vacant 18th District - being run on the old district lines - will find himself immediately pitted against in incumbent in the fall 2018 election.

Democrat Connor Lamb resides in the new 17th, which means if elected he could face Rothfus in the fall. Republican candidate Rick Saccone, meanwhie, lives in the new 18th, a Pittsburgh-anchored seat held by U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle.

* Open Country.

The new map, barring some surprises in the next few weeks, could feature as many as six open seat races this fall. They are in the 4th, 5th, 7th, 9th, 13th and 14th districts.

That number could shrink to five if, for example, the winner of the special election in the 18th decided to move into the new 14th, its closest geographic replacement.

* Some incumbent respect.

None of the 12 sitting incumbent Congressmen that have announced plans to run for new terms in 2018 are pitted against each other, though, as mentioned above, Rothfus or Doyle could face a challenge from Lamb or Saccone this fall.

* The politics.

According to the FiveThirtyEight's Bycoffe, eight of the new seats would be considered safe Republican in an ordinary year (9,10,11,12,13,14,15 and 16); and five safe Democrat (2,3,4,5,18).

Five other seats would be rated as competitive (1,6,7,8 and 17), with three of them generally leaning Republican and two leaning Democratic.

The most competitive seat in the state, judging from the presidential elections of 2012 and 2016? The new 7th in Lehigh County, which Bycoffe gives a 53.9 percent chance of going Democratic in a typical election year.

A close second goes to the new 1st, comprised of Bucks County and a little bit of Montgomery County, with a 54.2 percent of going Republican, all else being equal.

* Dashed dreams?

While the court-imposed reset did for the most part honor incumbents, it may have dashed the Congressional dreams of current state House Majority Leader Dave Reed, a Republican from Indiana County.

Reed decided recently to seek the Republican nomination for a seat vacated by the retiring Rep. Bill Shuster. Under the new map, he finds his home moved into the district held by incumbent Rep. Glenn "G.T" Thompson, R-Centre County.

And Thompson, as far as we know, isn't going anywhere.

Reed is the most prominent of a slew of Congressional hopefuls who will find themselves forced into a quick re-evaluation of the political odds over the course of the next week.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth, second left, sits next to fashion editor Anna Wintour, third left, and Caroline Rush, chief executive of the British Fashion Council (BFC), left, as they view Richard Quinn's runway show before presenting him with the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design, as she visits London Fashion Week's BFC Show Space in central London, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (Yui Mok/Pool photo via AP)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with CEO of Infosys Salil Parekh in Mumbai, India on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. Some of India's biggest companies say they will invest more than $1 billion in Canada in the coming years in everything from pulp mills to pharmaceuticals and the IT sector.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
West Boca Raton Community High School students cheer after reaching Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. Hundreds of students from the high school walked out Tuesday and made their way to the site of a school shooting about 10 miles (16 kilometers) away in a show of solidarity for bringing an end to gun violence. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)
FILE - In this Oct. 22, 2017 file photo, Amal Clooney and George Clooney arrive at the premiere of "Suburbicon" in Los Angeles. George and Amal Clooney are donating $500,000 to students organizing nationwide marches against gun violence, and they say theyAoll also attend next monthAos planned protests. In a statement released Tuesday, Feb. 20, the couple says they are inspired by the Aucourage and eloquenceAu of the survivors-turned-activists from Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
ExxonMobil contract with Guyana is anti-Constitutionsays Ram By Kaieter News



GEORGETOWN

Petroleumworld 02 20 2018 Just imagine. A sovereign state is prevented from altering the Agreement either directly or indirectly by new laws or policies, but an arbitral tribunal can do so!



If Chapter 1:01 of the Laws of Guyana sets out the country's constitution, this Petroleum Agreement, signed AFTER the world's largest oil find in 2015, constitutes its anti-Constitution.



So said Attorney-at-law and Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram, as he spoke of the ills highlighted in Article 32 of the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) that the Government of Guyana signed with ExxonMobil.



This is not the first time Ram spoke of the Stability Clause. However, the commentator said that he becomes more sickened each time he takes another look at that particular clause in the contract.



Ram said, Every reading of the provision strikes the observer as breathtaking, crippling, terrifying and without parallel with more recent oil contracts in its scope and application.



By conceding on this Article, the Granger Government has not only emasculated itself but every succeeding Government up to the year 2056 and quite possibly later, depending on the rate of exploration and exploitation of what is possibly the largest petroleum area to have ever been granted to a foreign oil company by any sovereign state in the world in the post-colonial era.



Ram said that the clause is incomparable to other recent contracts without having a look at the CGX contact that the PPP/C Government signed which government only released three days ago.



The Stability Clause of the CGX contract is almost identical to that of ExxonMobil contract.



Ram had also noted that the companies making up the contractor which is the term used in the contract, enjoy water-tight protection against any changes proposed by the Granger and subsequent Governments.



They are exempted from any new or additional taxes passed by the Parliament for the several decades during which the Agreement can legally subsist.



And on a referral by the companies, an arbitral tribunal has the authority to modify the agreement to re-establish the economic benefits to the Contractor, or to award damages for past and future losses of economic benefits  direct and indirect  under the Agreement stemming from any government action.



Such action is defined to include changes in hydrocarbons law, the customs code or tax code, a moniker that is not common to our jurisprudence.



In previous commentaries, Ram noted the government's hands are tied and it is effectively prevented from exercising one of the most fundamental and sovereign duties of any state in relation not only to the oil companies but also to their successors and assignees.



Article 32 states that Except as may be expressly provided herein, the government shall not amend, modify, rescind, terminate, declare invalid or unenforceable, require renegotiation of, compel replacement or substitution or otherwise seek to avoid alter, or limit this agreement without he prior written consent of the contractor.



The drafters of the contract were very explicit in stating that under no circumstances should ExxonMobil have to submit to any new law or pay any new tax; no new taxes whatsoever were expressly included in the contract.



The contract reads, After the signing of this agreement and its conformance with Article 15, the Government shall not increase the economic burdens of the contractor under this agreement by applying to this agreement or the operations conducted hereunder any increase of, or any new petroleum related fiscal obligation, including but not limited to any new taxes whatsoever , any new royalty, duties, fees, charges, VAT or other imposts.



Also, the contract states that if at any time after the signing of this agreement, there is a change in the Laws of Guyana whether through the amendment of existing laws or the enactment of new laws or a change having the force of law in the interpretation implementation of application, ExxonMobil must not be affected.



Guyana agreed that despite whatever may change, ExxonMobil must receive the same economic benefit under the agreement that it would have received prior to the change in law.



The contract compels Guyana to resolve promptly and by whatever means may be necessary any conflict or anomaly between this agreement and any such new or amended legislation including by way of exemption, legislation, decrees and or other authoritative acts .

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German diesel carmakers in a spin ahead of polluting cars ban ruling





By Edward Taylor and Markus Wacket

FRANKFURT/BERLIN

Petroleumworld 02 20 2018

A court will decide on Thursday whether German cities can ban heavily polluting cars, potentially wiping hundreds of millions of euros off the value of diesel cars on the country's roads.

Environmental group DUH has sued Stuttgart in Germany's carmaking heartland, and Duesseldorf over levels of particulate matter exceeding European Union limits after Volkswagen's 2015 admission to cheating diesel exhaust tests.

The scandal led politicians across the world to scrutinise diesel emissions, which contain the matter and nitrogen oxide (NOx) and are known to cause respiratory disease.

There are around 15 million diesel vehicles on German streets and environmental groups say levels of particulates exceed the EU threshold in at least 90 German towns and cities.

Local courts ordered them to bar diesel cars which did not conform to the latest standards on days when pollution is heavy, startling German carmakers because an outright ban could trigger a fall in vehicle resale prices, and a rise in the cost of leasing contracts, which are priced on assumed residual values.

The German states concerned, where the carmakers and their suppliers have a strong influence, appealed against the decisions, leaving Germany's federal administrative court - the court of last resort for such matters - to rule on whether such bans can legally be imposed at local level.

The key question is whether bans can already be considered to be legal instruments, said Remo Klinger, a lawyer for DUH. It's a completely open question of law.

Paris, Madrid, Mexico City and Athens have said they plan to ban diesel vehicles from city centres by 2025, while the mayor of Copenhagen wants to ban new diesel cars from entering the city as soon as next year. France and Britain will ban new petrol and diesel cars by 2040 in a shift to electric vehicles.

DIESEL? NEIN DANKE

Evercore ISI forecasts a 5 percent fall in diesel residual values could result in a drop of 1.6 billion euros ($2 billion) in operating profit across eight European and U.S. carmakers.

Analysts at Bernstein Research have said that diesel bans in Europe would hit French carmaker Peugeot hardest, followed by Renault. Among German carmakers, Daimler's global fleet exposure to diesel is around 38 percent, BMW's 35 percent and VW's 26 percent, Bernstein said in a report from 2016.

Carmakers have sought to avert total bans by updating engine management systems to improve exhaust-treatment filters, a step only possible on vehicles equipped with software-based engine-management systems.

Environmental groups have called software updates insufficient and have lobbied for cars with Euro-6 and Euro-5 emissions standards to receive hardware updates of their exhaust treatment systems, costing at least 1,500 euros per vehicle.

Europe's love affair with diesel is already fading, with its market share in the European Union falling from 53.6 percent at the end of 2014 to 49.9 percent at the end of 2016, European automotive association ACEA's most recent data shows.

($1 = 0.8035 euros)






Oil and Venezuela likely to feature on Mexican min's Videgaray visit to Jamaica





By Gabriel Stargardter

MEXICO CITY

Petroleumworld 02 20 2018

Venezuela's political situation could well be on the agenda during a trip by Mexico's foreign minister to Jamaica next month during which Mexican oil sales are likely to be discussed, Jamaica's foreign minister told Reuters on Monday.

Last week, Reuters reported that Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray will travel to Jamaica and other Caribbean nations in March, as part of efforts to erode Venezuela's oil-based influence in the Caribbean.

Mexico has been looking at the possibility of replacing Venezuela's Petrocaribe program that provided cheap loans for oil to Caribbean nations and has helped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro retain diplomatic support in the region.

Jamaica buys (Mexican crude) ... on the spot market, so in terms of Jamaica having an energy relationship with Mexico, that exists, of course, and probably there will be discussions around that, Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson Smith said in a phone interview on Monday, when asked about Mexico's commitment to help improve energy security in the Caribbean.

Johnson Smith said she had invited Videgaray to Jamaica last October and they decided his visit should coincide with a regional conference of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), due to be held in Jamaica on March 5-8.

Videgaray's visit 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 largesse and have been unwilling to shun the country in regional diplomatic efforts.

It could be, Johnson Smith said, when asked if Venezuela would be on the agenda with Videgaray. Hemispherical matters will, of course, be on the agenda.

But the focus is very much on our bilateral cooperation, deepening trade and investment, she added.

Videgaray's 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.

Mexico's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A Mexican official told Reuters last week that Videgaray has sought to engage more with the Caribbean in the wake of a June meeting in which foreign ministers from the 34-nation Organization of American States (OAS) failed to reach agreement on a resolution criticizing Venezuela.






Argentina hope to change Bolivia's LNG contracts as Vaca Muerta output grows





By Luc Cohen

BUENOS AIRES

Petroleumworld 02 20 2018

Argentina wants to change the terms of a key gas import contract with neighboring Bolivia, which would allow it to reduce or even eliminate costly liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports while boosting its own production, an official said on Monday.

Bolivia is South America's largest natural gas exporter and depends on the resource for most of its export revenue, but rising output and contract re-negotiations in main customers Brazil and Argentina threaten its dominance at a time when its production and reserves are both falling.

Daniel Redondo, secretary of energy planning in Argentina's Energy and Mining Ministry, said the government wants to modify the take-or-pay contract with its northern neighbor, which expires in 2026, to permit seasonal shifts that could drastically reduce costly LNG imports in the Southern Hemisphere's winter.

We will need to import LNG during the winter unless we reach a deal with Bolivia where supply, instead of being flat throughout the year, peaks in the winter. It is something we want to do with Bolivia, he told a gathering of Japanese business leaders.

Representatives of YPFB, Bolivia's state-run oil company, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Bolivia's Energy Ministry said in response the country has an active contract with Argentina that YPFB fulfills and will continue to fulfill.

Argentina, once a net energy exporter, currently imports around 20 percent of its natural gas needs, Redondo said. Most comes from Bolivia, with the remainder coming from around 70 shipments of LNG per year and some re-gasified LNG piped across the border from Chile.

LNG suppliers to Argentina include Royal Dutch Shell , BP Plc and Vitol.

Rising natural gas output in its Belgium-sized Vaca Muerta shale play could let Argentina export excess gas to Chile in the summer, Redondo said.

We think that because of the development of Vaca Muerta, Argentina will be able to supply 100 percent of the country's demand in 2021, except the winter months, he said.

Since taking office in December 2015, President Mauricio Macri has sought to lower labor costs and improve infrastructure to attract foreign investment to the Patagonian shale formation.

But investment in the play has remained well below the $10 billion per year needed, Redondo said, leaving Argentina - home to the world's second-largest shale gas reserves - unable to cover demand that boomed under former populist President Cristina Fernandez, who implemented generous gas subsidies.






Ecopetrol oil reserves rise 3.8 pct in 2017





By Reuters

BOGOTA

Petroleumworld 02 20 2018

Colombian state oil company Ecopetrol on Monday said its net proven reserves rose 3.8 percent at the end of 2017 compared with the previous year as new sources of oil came into production.

Reserves rose to 1.7 million barrels of oil equivalent, up from 1.6 million barrels at the end of 2016, the company said in a statement. The average life of the reserves rose to 7.1 years from 6.8 years at the close of 2016.

The price used for the valuation of reserves in 2017 was $59.93 a barrel versus $44.49 a barrel in 2016.

Ecopetrol has said it plans to invest between $3.5 billion and $4.0 billion this year, the majority in exploration and production, to pump at least 715,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day.

Ecopetrol is the largest company in Colombia, generating most of the oil production of the South American nation. It owns the two main refineries and most of the network of pipelines.






U.S. oil exports go up a gear as VLCC supertanker loads in Louisiana Loop and set sail to China

Reuters



U.S. crude exporting previously made using smaller tankers

By Javier Blas and David Marino

LONDON/NEW YORK

Petroleumworld 02 20 2018

The flood of U.S. oil exports stepped up a gear on Monday after the first fully laden supertanker sailed from an American port, alleviating a bottleneck that's limited overseas shipments.

The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, or LOOP, the only deep water port in the U.S. able to handle the industry's biggest tankers, said in a statement it had successfully completed the first loading of a very large crude carrier. Shipping data compiled by Bloomberg show the tanker is the Saudi Arabian-owned Shaden, now heading to the Chinese port of Rizhao.

"There could not be a better time to offer this service as domestic production surpasses 10 million barrels per day in the ever-dynamic global crude oil market," said LOOP LLC President Tom Shaw.

\

LOOP has been a vital piece of U.S. energy infrastructure for more than 30 years, handling oil imports from across the world as well as gathering crude pumped from deepwater deposits in the Gulf of Mexico. Since it started receiving oil in 1981, it has offloaded 10,200 tankers.

The Shaden, which is owned by the National Shipping Co. of Saudi Arabia and carries the flag of the kingdom, was the first VLCC to load oil at the port rather than discharge it.

Pipelines and ports have become the biggest bottleneck in U.S. oil exports, with traders at times engineering logistically complex chains combining railways, trucks, pipelines, barges, and ship-to-ship transfers to get crude out of the country. As U.S. output surpasses the record high of 10 million barrels a day set in 1970, trading houses, pipeline owners and ports are investing in new infrastructure to ship more American crude overseas.

While U.S. crude has already been exported using supertankers, other ports are too shallow to allow full loadings, meaning smaller ships must shuttle multiple cargoes to the giant vessels as they wait to load offshore. LOOP, because it stands in deeper water about 18 miles off of the Louisiana coast, allows the industry's largest tankers to load in one go.

Using very large crude carriers will significantly cut shipping costs. The new export capacity at LOOP will allow the supertankers to deliver foreign crude into the U.S. and depart laden, known as back-hauling in the industry's jargon, rather than returning empty.

LOOP said the "shipper of record" was the trading arm of Royal Dutch Shell Plc. However, data compiled by Bloomberg showed the Shaden was booked last month by Unipec, China's biggest oil trader. a unit of the country's refining giant China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., or Sinopec.

LOOP didn't disclose what kind of oil the Shaden loaded, but traders said it was unlikely U.S. shale oil. It's more likely to be a mix of crude pumped out of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

Washington lifted a 40-year ban on most oil exports in late 2015, reshaping the world's energy map as U.S. crude was shipped to countries including Switzerland, China, Israel and even the United Arab Emirates. The de facto export ban, which only allowed a few exceptions, was imposed in the aftermath of a 1973 to 1974 oil embargo led by Saudi Arabia.

Even though the country remains a net oil importer, U.S. crude exports have surged to a record high of 2.1 million barrels since the ban was lifted. China and other Asian nations have become big buyers.




Guyana is about to open up Pandora's oil barrel

Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP



Expats hold the key to whether its big offshore oil deposits bring riches -- or ruin.

By Mac Margolis

RIO DE JANEIRO

Petroleumworld 02 20 2018

Wedged between Brazil and Venezuela, Guyana could easily go unnoticed. It has fewer than 750,000 people and a per capita income of $4,300, half the regional average, qualifying it as the hemisphere's third-poorest nation.

At the moment, Guyana also might be its luckiest. Having struck big oil offshore starting in 2015, industry experts reckon total reserves at around 2 billion barrels . That bounty could make Guyana immeasurably rich and Latin America's biggest producer in less than a decade  or just another Trump-hole.

History abounds with tales of raw-material bonanzas turned into, at best, a mixed blessing for poor countries. Dutch disease , corruption (think Venezuela and Nigeria ), life support for dictators : The gift of oil comes with many afflictions. A classic International Monetary Fund study found that living conditions in oil-rich nations in sub-Saharan Africa were no better or worse than countries without oil.

Equatorial Guinea comes to mind, Rice University energy scholar Francisco Monaldi told me, in reference to the Central African dictatorship which, after striking oil in the 1990s, went in a matter of years from desperately poor to desperately rich.

We know historically that if you're poorly managed when you received the windfall, you'll likely have difficulty capitalizing your bounty for development, said Monaldi.

The example is not lost on Guyana, which has a vibrant if flawed --  partially free , according to Freedom House -- democracy, but frail institutions and admittedly scarce human capital to manage the coming wealth. Guyana has almost zero capacity now for dealing with oil and gas, Jan Mangal, petroleum adviser to President David Granger, s aid recently at the University of Guyana.

While officials in Georgetown quickly disavowed Mangal, his comments were hard to ignore. With major oil set to flow as soon as 2020, authorities are bracing both for the shock of wealth and its attendant woes. The bounty will not come all at once: Exxon and other producers will use most of the early oil to pay down startup costs. But that will only delay the impact. It's like drinking from a fire hose right now, Vincent Adams, a Guyanese engineer who recently retired from the U.S. Department of Energy, told me.

One of the biggest challenges is who will manage the gusher. Guyana is a nation of emigrants. Some 463,000 Guyanese, or 60 percent of its population, live abroad, and the outflow continues apace. What's worse, the leavers have included roughly nine of every 10 graduates with higher education -- energy experts and oil engineers among them -- according to the World Bank. The cream of the crop migrated, said Adams. In terms of local capacity, we are at a serious disadvantage.

Guyana could attenuate the brain drain by reaching out to its diaspora. There are more than 100 reported expatriate organizations, and as a group overseas Guyanese consistently send more money back home than foreign investors plow into the economy every year, according to a recent study by Hisakhana Pahoona Corbin and Luis Eduardo Aragon of the Center for Advanced Amazonian Studies. We have a repository of knowledge outside of Guyana which is amazing, said Adams.

The government belatedly began to tap this talent pool, launching an official Guyana Diaspora Project in late 2012, but the effort has been criticized as timid. In spite of this potential, few institutional arrangements have been put in place to better engage the diaspora or to unlock their potentials as an alternative for accelerating development, Corbin and Aragon wrote last year.

Granted, Guyana will have some help. The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative is counseling officials on how to avert corruption. Multilateral lenders are training Guyanese to develop an investment plan and mitigate the fiscal risk of the oil boom. The sudden inflow of wealth could become a tsunami, and if it's not managed well, could leave a dire situation, Ramon Espinasa, general coordinator of the Extractive Sector Initiative at the Inter-American Development Bank, said in an interview.

Big Oil also knows the stakes. Despite the familiar criticisms -- Dem know wha Exxon do to govt all over de world, one marquee local columnist warned in a mock patois -- drillers have every reason to make sure their investment is safe.

The hardest part will be down to the host country, of course. Until recently, small countries like ours were sheltered by benefactors in the east or west. Now the Berlin Wall is gone and the protectors have become our competitors, and we're left to deal with the world markets, said Adams.
A decorative feature at Vista Peru, 20 S. Second St., on Feb. 19, 2018. Read more

Philly's Peruvian invasion commences this week.

Vista Peru, the Peruvian restaurant/bar filling the former Serrano and Tin Angel space at 20 S. Second St. in Old City, will open this weekend. A cocktail party/open house is set for 4 to 8 p.m. Friday. A rep for the restaurant says the hours will be 11 a.m. till midnight weekdays, till 2 a.m. on weekends.

Owner Miguel Toro, who with his family also owns El Balconcito and El Balconcito II in Northeast Philadelphia (two Peruvian-Portuguese hybrids), has set up a second-floor bar devoted to pisco, the South American brandy.

Vista Peru's first floor has a smaller bar and lounge, topped with a wooden fixture, that leads into a modest-size dining room.

Same deal at Chalaco's Ceviche & Pisco Bar, which has a March opening penciled in just up the street at 1030 N. Second St., the former Bar Ferdinand space at Liberties Walk in Northern Liberties.

Menu, overseen by chef Jose Luis Herrera, will include Peruvian ceviches and other favorites, such as the stir-fry dish lomo saltado and Peruvian char-broiled chicken. It will serve lunch, dinner, happy hour, and a late-night happy hour.

Co-owner Giovanni Delfino tells me that work is proceeding according to schedule.

His partners, Francisco Acevedo and Carmen Silva, are part-owners of five restaurants in Maryland under the brand of Lima's Chicken, which serve Peruvian-style char-broiled chicken.
Rachel Mazza (left) and Alyssa Hansen pet Lacy during a puppy yoga session at Amrita Yoga and Wellness in Fishtown. The session was cohosted with Morris Animal Refuge to promote the adoption of homeless dogs housed at the refuge. Read more

Yoga has been scientifically shown to reduce both stress and feelings of depression.

Now picture striking a downward dog as a real  and really adorable  dog nuzzles your nose from the edge of your mat. Unless you're allergic to pups, it's doubtful you won't react with a smile.

This takes yoga to the next level, with young pooches that stroll the floor as a teacher walks you through a session of poses for 45 minutes or longer.

It's part of a wider trend popping up across Philadelphia and beyond where animals, such as dogs, cats, and even goats(!), are incorporated into yoga classes to elevate the level of lighthearted fun and de-stressing powers of the practice.

"For a lot of people, being around pets automatically puts them at ease," says Stacia Nero, a yoga instructor at Fishtown's Amrita Yoga and Wellness and Queen Village's Three Queens studios. "Incorporating pets into yoga adds an extra playfulness element that can help make people feel comfortable, whether they've done yoga before or not."

Amrita is holding a puppy yoga class on Saturday but, alas, it's already sold out.

Recently, Nero began donating her time to lead cat yoga classes at PSPCA Fishtown, where experience levels span the spectrum. In February's class, Nero recalls several new-to-yoga participants who said they showed up primarily for the interchange with the kitties.

"It's great because people come to see the cats, but then they also discover what yoga can do for your mind and body," says Nero. "They get to see how the two work hand in hand."

When a friendly feline would wander toward an individual student's mat, Nero says she would see the student's face light up with added excitement and joy.

The insuppressible elation that stems from cuddly creatures is natural. Numerous studies show that human-animal interaction can reduce stress-related variables such as cortisol, heart rate, and blood pressure levels.

But it's not just humans reaping the benefits from the yoga classes.

"The dogs love it," says Sophie Samul, the event coordinator at Morris Animal Refuge. "They get to get out of the shelter for a handful of hours, run around, and interact with other people."

The Morris Animal Refuge currently hosts monthly puppy yoga classes at various locations throughout the city. Typically around three dogs are brought in for each studio class, and five volunteers oversee the program to make sure everything runs smoothly.

"Yes, bathroom issues do happen  it's just part of being a dog," says Samul. "But we try to walk them a number of times before and after the classes, and we clean up accidents right away when they occur."

Dogs are chosen based off of personality traits, meaning only behaviorally sound pups are invited to attend the classes. The hope of Morris Animal Refuge, as with many of the animal shelters that partner with yoga studios, is that the classes might inspire adoptions and also build awareness around animal rescue.

"Some folks, however, aren't necessarily in a position to adopt, but they want to give back," says Samul. "This allows them to do so in a capacity in which they're able."

All of the proceeds from the $25-per-person classes go to the Morris Animal Refuge.

Samul points out that the events help to build name recognition, noting that while participants might not adopt right away, the memories can remind people to return to the shelter if and when they do become ready for a pet. Samul also notes that students often tell their friends about the classes, which can inspire others to adopt.

Gillian Kocher, director of public relations and marketing of the Pennsylvania SPCA, says the classes at PSPCA Fishtown have significantly affected the rates in which its cats find homes.

"We always see a spike in adoptions after each class, which might be partially attributed to the social media surrounding them," says Kocher. "The cats don't typically get adopted the day of the class, but usually they will all be adopted within the week that follows."

In the PSPCA Fishtown classes, three to five kitties roam around during each session. Sometimes they'll walk beneath participants as they're arching into their first cat-cow pose of the morning. Other times, a cat will snuggle up on the corner of a student's mat and lend a soothing purr for the entirety of a session.

Participants are given treats, pipe cleaners, and other luring items. However, it's hard to predict how the free-spirited animals will behave during any given class.

"You never really know how it will go, but that's kind of the fun part," says Kocher. "We can count on the instructor to lead a great yoga class, but the cats are the X factor  they might run around and stretch out aside students or they might plop down and nap between mats."

Cat lovers that are lucky will get to attend a class with kittens, which Kocher says is more probable during warmer months when the little ones show up in greater numbers at the shelter.

"There's just something about a kitten coming up to you and brushing against your arm or leg when you're in a pose, or when a cat lets out a 'meow' while the whole group is meditating, that makes the experience that much more enjoyable," says Steven Pessagno, a regular attendee of the PSPCA Fishtown classes and owner to Nabi, a 15-pound gray tuxedo cat. "There's a novelty in it, and the cats provide these moments of cuteness you can't get when you practice elsewhere."

Want to give animal yoga a try? Classes are often seasonal, and tend to ramp up toward the spring. However, below are a few spots that are currently hosting regular sessions. Reservations are typically required in advance.

Cat yoga

PSPCA Fishtown: Select Sundays, once per month; 1546 Frankford Ave.; $15; 215-309-6851; pspca.org

Le Cat Cafe: 7-8 p.m. every Monday; 2713 W. Girard Ave.; $15; 267-800-7877; lecatcafe.org

Camden County Animal Shelter: Monthly, dates vary; 125 County House Rd., Blackwood, N.J.; $20; 856-401-1300; ccasnj.org

Philly PAWS: Select dates, including Saturday, April 7 at The Twisted Monkey, 501 Huntingdon Pike, Rockledge, Pa.; price TBA closer to date; phillypaws.org

Dog yoga

Morris Animal Refuge: Dates vary; $25; Locations vary per event; 215-735-9570; morrisanimalrefuge.org

Philly PAWS: Monthly class expected to return in late spring; Xfinity Live!, 1100 Pattison Ave; Dates and price TBA
Stop looking at maps. Think about broader implications of Pennsylvania's current conflict over congressional districts.

The bigger picture holds risks. Whatever happens with maps could play out not as a solution to a gerrymander problem, but as increased politics of division.

Democrats are bent on rushing to defy the authority of an elected Republican legislature and/or forcing protracted litigation over separation of powers.

Republicans cry "chaos" and constitutional crisis and claim Gov. Wolf is helping Nancy Pelosi steal congressional seats.

The issue has become like too many others  driven by partisanship and lacking common sense cooperation. And as leaders, judges and officials in both parties overreach, they push opportunity, compromise and maybe voters further away.

Republicans started it. In 2011, they drew maps for partisan gain because that's what is done when maps are drawn by the party in power. But they overreached.

Look at history. In 2006, we sent 11 Democrats and eight Republicans to Congress. In 2008, 12 D's, seven R's. Then President Barack Obama's first midterms drew a GOP wave that flipped the table. In 2010, we elected 12 R's, seven D's.

Why? Not gerrymandering. R's won with the same maps that D's won with.

Then we lost a seat after the 2010 census due to population decline. Republicans, sensing further opportunity, drew new maps. In 2012, they gained another seat: 13 Republicans, five Democrats. Been that way since.

But, remember, big GOP gains in 2010 didn't come from new GOP maps. They came from shifting political winds. Republicans were doing fine. Didn't need to overreach by drawing overly partisan maps.

Yet they did. GOP greed (with complicit Democrats) set the stage: for last year's lawsuit challenging the maps; this year's state Supreme Court ruling against the maps; and the helter-skelter we're in now.

Republicans are reaping what they sowed.

(Oh, and complicit Democrats? When the House, in December 2011, approved the GOP map, the vote was 136-61. It takes 102 votes for passage. Of the 136 "yes" votes, 36 were Democrats, many from Philadelphia. If they had voted "no," would we even be in this mess? Why'd they vote "yes?" Ask Bob Brady, though he denies involvement.)

Democrats overreach, as well.

If the 2011 GOP maps are, as our Democratic justices ruled, so "clearly, plainly and palpably" unconstitutional, why did it take until June 2017 for the League of Women Voters and citizen plaintiffs (or anybody) to challenge them in court?

The 2015 judicial elections giving Democrats control of the state Supreme Court come to mind. As does the 2016 election of Donald Trump, viewed from the get-go as likely leading to a Democratic year in 2018.

You maybe can see how litigation brought years after the fact, offered as pro-voter/pro-democracy, also serves as partisan Democratic political strategy.

And, of course, the Democratic court voted along party lines against the maps. Then set impossible deadlines for the legislature and Wolf to agree on new maps  which, given this legislature and governor, is a laughable notion in itself.

Finally, the court said if that failed (pretending, I guess, there was some possibility it wouldn't), the court would draw its own maps, with help from a hired expert, ignoring the legislature's redistricting authority established under the U.S. Constitution and subsequent case law.

Seems a tad overreachy, no?

Now various maps, none agreed to, none approved by the state House and Senate, have been sent to the court.

I suppose it's possible court-hired Stanford Law professor Nathan Persily, a former University of Pennsylvania law prof, who worked for other states on redistricting, produces a court map acceptable to all.

I also suppose Republicans, no matter the map, make good on their threat to return to federal court to further challenge the state court's authority.

And I'm pretty certain unnecessary political rifts caused by all this won't serve our government or politics well going forward.

Look, gerrymandering is real. Harmful in many ways. Needs to be addressed in a sensible fashion. Maybe all the tug-of-war attention it's getting helps. Maybe it spurs interest in bipartisan support for an independent redistricting commission.

But right now? The only bipartisanship we see is bipartisan failure to work, act and deliver in the best interests of all citizens.
Are these Pa. congressional districts really out for good? Read more

Talk about a teachable moment.

Pennsylvania's nationally watched gerrymander battle is proving to be a real education.

Not only are citizens, like never before, seeing how raw partisan politics can determine election outcomes. All of us are learning of constitutional issues and separation of powers and when (or not) they matter.

High-stakes stuff. With national implications.

On Monday, ironically a government holiday, our Democratic-controlled Supreme Court completely changed our congressional maps to favor Democrats. This after tossing maps the Republican-controlled legislature drew to favor Republicans.

The swap could give Democrats eight to nine, or more, of the state's 18 seats in Congress (they now hold five), which would greatly aid in Democratic lust for control of the U.S. House.

Party on, D's.

Unless, of course, irate R's can get federal courts to say, "Wait, yinz can't do that. The U.S. Constitution (Art. 1, Sec. 4) gives map-drawing power to legislatures, not courts."

(Spoiler alert: Federal courts are usually reluctant to mess with state issues except when the presidency's at stake  Bush v. Gore, 2000; which, I take it, D's ain't over yet.)

And pols' reaction to Monday's flip-o'-the-maps?

President Trump tweeted in pushing a GOP challenge: "Don't let the Dems take elections away from you so they can raise taxes & waste money!"

It wasn't in all CAPS, though. So.

Gov. Wolf seems to approve the state court action and maps.

Displaying his usual fire in the belly, Tuesday morning he told Pittsburgh's KDKA Radio: "I think the court is trying to make this as fair as possible."

Pretty fierce, eh?

Oh, and Lt. Gov. Mike Stack praised the court, especially for using "large parts of my submission," what he's called the "Stack map."

As I've noted before, his "submission" was a map neither he nor his staff drew. It was already in case evidence, from a University of Minnesota professor. But then, if a pol says something over and over, somebody will believe it.

Meanwhile, GOP Senate Leader Jake Corman says we're in a "constitutional crisis," which, if he's right, could really muck up this year's primaries, maybe more: candidate chaos, elections delayed, democracy deferred.

Or, if he's wrong, he ends up looking like Chicken Little.

Poli-sci teachers across the state are having a field day over all this.

Pitt's political communications prof Jerry Shuster says, "We've been having lengthy discussions," adding that his students "see some things a little differently" but are "far more cynical about elections and the process.  It's not unifying."

And Penn poli-sci assistant prof Marc Meredith says his class on the American political system is getting a full-metal view of an issue touching all three branches of government.

Meanwhile, in the category of there's-more-than-one-way-to-skin-a-cat, another Pennsylvania lawsuit is being appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The case is Agre v. Wolf. (Louis Agre is Philly's Democratic 21st Ward leader.)

A panel of federal district judges last month ruled gerrymander relief must come from the political process, not the courts.

But plaintiff lawyer Alice Ballard (great-granddaughter of national law firm Ballard Spahr's founder) says the suit seeks a different path, one not reliant on maps or on how much gerrymandering is too much gerrymandering.

Courts, she says, should not have to hire experts to study or redraw maps after every census or before every election.

"Forget evaluating maps," she says. "We're saying the issue is whether there's an even-handed process."

The suit seeks a court order to the executive and legislative branches to come up with a redistricting process less partisan and permanent.

The independent commission, proposed in pending state legislation and pushed by the grassroots group Fair Districts Pa, comes to mind.

Finally, Allentown map maven Amanda Holt finds the new court map lacking the court's own direction. She says the map has at least 79 "total splits," and asks, "What happened to the court order to not split counties, municipalities, and wards unless absolutely necessary?"

Good question. One of many. Which is why we live and learn.
Philadelphia nanny and organizer of Tuesdays with Toomey movement, Alexandra Gunnison (right), with Mimi Salazar, wearing a mask of Sen. Pat Toomey during a 2017 rally. Members of the group say some of their messages to the senator on Facebook get marked as spam. Read more

In the hours immediately after Wednesday's mass shooting in Parkland, Fla., Rosalind Holtzman of Elkins Park was angered to read a report that one of her U.S. senators, Republican Pat Toomey, had taken nearly $80,000 in donations from gun-rights groups in narrowly winning re-election in 2016.

It wasn't the first time that Holtzman, 59, has felt displeasure with Toomey. Since late 2016, she's taken part in the Tuesdays with Toomey movement that protests outside the senator's office in Philadelphia and elsewhere, urging the senator to reject conservative policies while pleading for an open, accessible town-hall meeting with him. When Toomey went on his Facebook page to express his thoughts and prayers for the victims in Florida, Holtzman posted an angry retort.

"While you're busy chest-thumping and fear-mongering about 'dangerous sanctuary cities.' children and adults are dying every day from gun violence," she typed. "The shooters in mass killings are overwhelmingly white American citizens. Yet you are content to do nothing, other than offer useless thoughts and prayers. The overwhelming majority of people in this country support common sense restrictions on guns."

But Toomey never saw Holtzman's Facebook plea. In fact, no one did. When the Montgomery County woman looked back at the senator's Facebook page, her post on gun control had been marked as "spam" and was not visible. And that wasn't a one-time occurrence, either for Holtzman or at least a half dozen other Tuesdays with Toomey activists who say their posts criticizing the Republican, or urging people to come to their protests, have been blocked for the same reason. Holtzman told me that "you're basically being erased."

Here's the thing: Toomey's staffers tell me that  while they're aware of the problem  they have nothing to do with it. They blame Facebook.

"There is no staff-led effort to delete posts that voice disagreement or those that are not obscene but are critical in nature," Toomey's spokesman Steve Kelly told me in an email. "If you do not believe me, take a look at the comments on Senator Toomey's various Facebook posts." He said Toomey staffers even reached out to Facebook and learned that the social media giant is simply trying to crack down on actual spam by flagging certain kinds of posts, with links. or when someone repeatedly writes the same message.

Welcome to the new paranoia in American politics.

The rise of social media  especially Facebook and Twitter  once seemed to offer a new opportunity for elected officials and other leaders to connect directly, and more frequently, with their constituents, but like many promises of the Internet age it hasn't exactly worked out that way. Increasingly, politically active citizens complain that officials who have been limiting old-fashioned in-person contact, like town hall meetings, are now embracing newfangled methods where voters find themselves electronically blocked  sometimes accidentally, sometimes intentionally.

In what until this week was Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District in Philadelphia's far western suburbs, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Pennsylvania has been probing multiple complaints that GOP Rep. Ryan Costello has been blocking constituents from the congressman's official Facebook page for fairly mundane political complaints, like calling out Costello's campaign contributions from Comcast. Costello's spokeswoman told my colleague Holly Otterbein that "his Facebook page has included a clearly stated policy of engagement."

Nationally, episodes of powerful pols blocking everyday citizens have been even more outrageous. Some constituents in Arkansas reported receiving actual "cease-and-desist" letters from Sen. Tom Cotton, whose spokesman acknowledged the letters but insisted they were rare and only sent in the case of a perceived threat. Even President Trump  whose preferred mode of communication is clearly Twitter  is under fire for blocking ordinary citizens who've dared to disagree with him. Seven Twitter users have sued the president, claiming he's violated their First Amendment rights by blocking their access to public communications from the commander-in-chief.

Witold J. Walczak, the legal director of the Pennsylvania ACLU, said blocking critics on social media is a growing problem, and that the group recently lodged complaints against a Pittsburgh city councilwoman and a Lackawanna County commissioner for that practice. He called it "a form of censorship  you can't just leave people up who love you, and then censor people who are critical."

It's especially important, he added, because increasingly members of Congress and other elected officials seem to be cutting back on what used to be the best way to get feedback from their constituents, in-person events such as town-hall style meetings. "Like every other aspect of our life," Walczak said, "social media has become not the dominant but one of the preeminent forms of communication."

In a way, the current climate of frustration, paranoia and ill will isn't that surprising. After all, this decade has seen two separate assassination attempts that seriously wounded members of Congress  including the 2011 shooting of Arizona's Gabby Giffords at a meet-and-greet event for her constituents. You certainly can't blame a representative like Costello  who just missed his ride or would have been on a Virginia softball field last summer when a gunman started firing, wounding his colleague Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana  for taking real threats seriously. But too often safety concerns seem to be an excuse for squashing legitimate discourse.

Facebook isn't really most citizens' top choice for talking to their representatives, anyway. One reason the Tuesdays with Toomey group has kept up its momentum is its fury with the senator for not having easily accessible town hall meetings  including never in Philadelphia during his seven-plus years in office. The options for direct interaction with a member of Congress  brief "telephone town halls" where callers can be screened, or invitation-only or lottery-limited public events  seem to keep dwindling.

In the end, whether it's Facebook or Toomey staffers marking messages as "spam" isn't as important as the fact that social-media democracy is a poor substitute for real democracy.
The sound of guitars in Matt Peitzman's tech-ed classroom at Pennridge High School isn't a wailing Hendrix-style solo or crushing power chords, but rather the steady grind of kids sanding, cutting, and clamping together pieces of maple or cherry wood, slowly hand-crafting the instruments of every teenager's musical dreams.

"It's hard at first if you don't know what you're doing, but once you get the hang of it, it's fairly easy," said 18-year-old senior Brian Kennedy, one of 18 students making their own guitars in a fast-growing, popular course at the Bucks County high school.

Before making a guitar, Kennedy crafted a ukulele in Peitzman's class two years ago, though the only string instrument he has ever played is the cello. But then, most of his classmates don't know how to play a guitar; nor does their teacher. And that's not really the point of the guitar-building class, unlike any other in the Philadelphia region.

The Pennridge class uses the STEM Guitar curriculum, developed by a group of college professors a decade ago to use guitar-making as a fun way to hook kids on learning the basics of science, technology, engineering, and math  the physics of the sound waves from a carefully crafted acoustic model, or the math behind hitting just the right notes.

"When you look at a guitar, it elicits an emotional response," said Peitzman, who three years ago joined a growing number of tech-ed teachers who learned the basics at a weeklong STEM Guitar workshop. " 'That is cool. I want to touch it. I want to be a rock star'  which is valuable, and which you can base a class on."

Indeed, Peitzman's students are becoming rock stars, in a sense, on the science education circuit in Southeastern Pennsylvania. The high school's STEM program just received a statewide Program of Excellence award from the Technology Education and Engineering Association of Pennsylvania and a team of five guitar-builders will represent Bucks County in May in the Governor's STEM Competition. They plan to donate the acoustic instrument they are building to a veteran.

The awards reflect the growing recognition that the hip allure of making guitars  in a program endorsed by the National Science Foundation with more than $3 million in grant money over the last decade and now in 47 states  hits the high notes as a scheme to get more students excited about learning the principles of science.

While Pennridge, in Perkasie, currently offers the only for-credit classroom program in the region, teachers from a number of districts  including Council Rock, Pennsbury, Rose Tree-Media, Hatboro-Horsham, and Upper Dublin  have trained at STEM Guitar workshops, laying the groundwork for future expansion of the concept.

Mike Aikens, who trained Peitzman at an advanced workshop at Butler Community College in Western Pennsylvania, where he recently retired from the engineering department, and who was one of the original creators of STEM Guitar, said this approach beats trying to teach science and math by writing fractions on a blackboard.

"There's a real basic algebraic equation that spaces the fret wire" on the instrument, Aikens said, "These kids are figuring out scale lengths, fret positions. They're really interested in the guitar, and they want the guitar to work." The students even get a whiff of chemistry when they use a swirl dip to create wild and sometimes psychedelic patterns on the body of an electric guitar.

Another founder of the nationwide program, Purdue University mechanical-engineering professor Mark French, said the guitar has proved to be a remarkable teaching tool. "What I'm teaching them is engineering," he explained. "You could just as easily teach them making pressure relief values, but nobody gets cranked up about making pressure relief valves."

The guitar, on the other hand, is a work of science and art. French said science can't exactly explain why a guitar like the Martin 000-42 that Eric Clapton played on MTV Unplugged  and that sold at an auction for $700,000  plays so much better than most other ones. "Guitars are kind of funny  they are really into 'mojo,' which is the name everybody uses," he observed. "Some guitars just play better than others."

In guitar-making classes like the one Peitzman teaches at Pennridge, assembling an acoustic guitar is a much harder task than the more basic electric versions, since the type of wood and the craftsmanship are more critical for shaping the sound. He said he's learned the best woods for guitars come from Central or South America or Africa, but the governor's STEM team decided to take on the more difficult task of using native wood from Pennsylvania.

Dave Cassel, a 17-year-old senior in Peitzman's class, said he's made jewelry boxes and sofa and end tables in other school woodworking projects, but nothing remotely like this. "It's kind of the most interesting and fun woodworking project that I've made," said Cassel. He said he ultimately wants to go into counseling, "but it's a fun hobby."

But Marcos Ramirez, a 17-year-old senior who plans to attend Pennsylvania State University and study aerospace engineering, said, "I would do this for a living," as he sanded the walnut and maple checkerboard body of his electric guitar.

Like most of his classmates, Ramirez can't play a lick  yet. He insists he will learn. "If I made it, I will use it," he said.

"Play?" said Purdue's French when asked about his own guitar habits. "A little, not a lot. To be a really good guitar player, you want to play more than you want to do anything else. I want to build more than I want to do anything else. If I have the choice between playing and building, I'll take building."
Crocs: Ancient Predators in a Modern World opens Feb. 3. at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Photo: Joe McDonald Read more

The big news for history and science museums this spring will be the reopening April 21 of the Penn Museum's fabled Middle Eastern Galleries, closed for six months to undergo a complete refurbishment and rethinking of their story line. The galleries will now explore life in the ancient land as part of a trajectory  increased settlement, increasingly complex social relations  that leads toward cities and urbanization.

Not to worry; exquisite artifacts, such as Ram Caught in a Thicket, the 5,000-year-old statuette from the royal city of Ur, will return. Over the next few years, the museum's Egyptian, African, and Mexican and Central American galleries will also be revamped, the entrance foyer and auditorium will be renovated, and other changes (air conditioning installed!) will transform the visiting experience.

Meanwhile, other museums are mounting eclectic explorations of ideas, historical moments, and stuff galore. A newly opened Academy of Natural Sciences exhibit brings in live crocodiles to explore the life and habits of this ancient reptile. In March, the Franklin Institute puts on a big show about video gaming. The National Museum of American Jewish History and the National Constitution Center have spring exhibitions on Leonard Bernstein and Alexander Hamilton, respectively.

Recent openings

Crocs: Ancient Predators in a Modern World (through May 6, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University). This exhibit features numerous live species, including a Siamese crocodile and an Albino American alligator. Visitors can test their strength in a simulator against a croc's bite, view skulls, and create a 3D animation of a long-extinct croc. (215-299-1000, ansp.org)

The Diamond Eagle of the Society of the Cincinnati (through March 4, Museum of the American Revolution). A jewel-encrusted medal owned and worn by George Washington went on display at the museum in December, the first time it has been shown in the city since it was presented to Washington here 233 years ago. The eagle features 200 diamonds, emeralds, and rubies. Also on temporary display (through Feb. 19) is a seven-foot-long panoramic watercolor of Washington's army  and his fabled tent, now in the museum's collection  camped on the bank of the Hudson River. Painted in 1782, it is the only known wartime depiction of Washington's headquarters tent in the field. (215-253-6731, www.amrevmuseum.org)

Woven Strands: The Art of Human Hair Work (through Sept. 16, Mutter Museum). Hair and jewelry sit at the heart of this exhibition, mounted in conjunction with Morbid Anatomy blog and research library. This unusual domestic craft employs human hair in four distinctive art and jewelry techniques: palette work, gimp work, table work, and dissolved human hair work. (215-560-8564, muttermuseum.org)

#GiltyPleasures (through April 6, Library Company of Philadelphia). The Library Company has taken its popular social-media outreach and turned it into a pop-up exhibition out here in the 3D world. #GiltyPleasures will be a showcase of greatest hits and curators' faves. (215-546-3181, librarycompany.org)

Coming in February

Black Pulp! (African American Museum in Philadelphia, Feb. 2-April 29). This exhibit gives an overview of work exploring the black experience  from black and non-black artists and publishers. Historical material is set against contemporary art to explore the use of printed media to challenge racist narratives and preconceptions. (215-574-0380, www.aampmuseum.org)

Of Two Minds: Creative Couples in Art and History (Feb. 7-Oct. 7, Rosenbach). Ferdinand and Isabella; Olivier and Leigh William and Catherine Blake; Violette Oakley and Edith Emerson  all bound as artists, craftspeople, and lovers. The exhibition explores the art and achievements of romantic couples. (215-732-1600, rosenbach.org)

Philadelphia Eddie (Feb. 8-Jan. 1, 2019, Independence Seaport Museum). From Brooklyn's Coney Island to the counterculture of 1960s South Street, Eddie Funk fought to make a name for himself, protect the freedoms of tattoo artists, and share his legacy with the world. This exhibit features rare tattoo "flash" designs, personal mementos, and other memorabilia. (215-413-8655, phillyseaport.org)

Treading on Toxicity: The Science, History and Implications of Philadelphia's Lead Soil Contamination (6 p.m. Feb. 28, Wagner Free Institute of Science). Philadelphia has a lead problem  in its dirt. How did it happen? West Chester University geologist Cynthia Hall discusses the history of lead contamination in Philadelphia, the data that she and her students have collected, and the wider implications of this grave problem in the city. (215-763-6529, wagnerfreeinstitute.org)

Next month and beyond

Changing Death: A Panel Discussion on Ritual and Acceptance (1 p.m. March 3, Laurel Hill Cemetery). The discussion and walking tour of the cemetery is held as part of the One Book, One Philadelphia program. Jacqueline Woodson's novel Another Brooklyn is the taking-off point. (215-228-8200, thelaurelhillcemetery.org)

Leonard Bernstein: The Power of Music (March 16-Sept. 2, National Museum of American Jewish History). On the occasion of the centennial of Bernstein's birth, NMAJH mounts the first large-scale museum exhibition to illustrate the conductor and composer's life, his Jewish identity, and his social activism. On view among the 100 historic artifacts: Bernstein's piano and conducting suit, family heirlooms, original films, and immersive sound installations. (215-923-3811, nmajh.org)

Hamilton: The Constitutional Clashes That Shaped a Nation (March 23-December, National Constitution Center). The center mounts an exhibition examining the personalities and constitutional rivalries that shaped the nation. Alexander Hamilton goes toe to toe with James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Aaron Burr. (215-409-6600, constitutioncenter.org)

Game Masters: The Exhibition (March 31-Sept. 3, Franklin Institute). The Franklin Institute showcases the work of more than 30 game designers and presents more than 100 playable games  including the Sims, Angry Birds, Donkey Kong, and Minecraft. The exhibit takes visitors through the evolution of gaming from arcade classics to console-based games. Games galore. (215-448-1200, fi.edu)

In Our Nature: Flora and Fauna of the Americas (April 9-July 30, Rare Book Department, Free Library of Philadelphia Central Library). This exhibiti centers on six centuries of wildlife and landscape illustration in the Western Hemisphere, everything from a 17th-century Greenlandic walrus to Rockwell Kent's 20th-century woodcuts of Tierra del Fuego. (215-686-5322, freelibrary.org)

Sami Reindeer People of Alaska (April 14-Aug. 26, American Swedish Historical Museum). In 1894 and 1898, hundreds of Sami  the indigenous peoples of northern Scandinavia  traveled 10,000 miles to Alaska to teach reindeer herding to native Alaskan peoples. This unusual story is told in a traveling exhibit sponsored by the Sami Cultural Center of North America. (215-389-1776, www.americanswedish.org)

Walking with Reindeer (April 14-Aug. 26, American Swedish Historical Museum). National Geographic photographer Erika Larsen's photographs, taken over four years with the Sami people in Norway and Sweden. (215-389-1776, www.americanswedish.org)

Philadelphia Science Festival (April 20-April 28, Franklin Institute, Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and citywide). Eighth straight Philadelphia Science Festival, featuring more than 75 events. The finale, Science Carnival, returns in 2018 to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway (after two years at Penn's Landing) on April 28. (215-448-1200, fi.edu)

Middle Eastern Galleries (April 21, Penn Museum). The Penn Museum reopens its Middle Eastern Galleries after a six-month closure for a complete refurbishing and rethinking of the exhibition story line. The reopened galleries, a first step in the museum's major renovation, will feature a journey through time. The royal city of Ur, the ancient city of Nippur, and the Iranian plateau of Rayy Plain are some stops on the way. A reopening gala kicks things off April 14. (215-898-4000, penn.museum)

William Russell Birch (May 1-Oct. 19, Library Company of Philadelphia). This exhibit explores the story of William Birch, who documented early Philadelphia in a work now known as Birch's Views of Philadelphia. Birch, probably more than anyone else, fashioned our sense of what Federal Philadelphia looked like. (215-546-3181, librarycompany.org)

Founder's Award: Jill Lepore (6 p.m. May 17, Independence Seaport Museum). The Historical Society of Pennsylvania presents its annual award to prize-winning Harvard historian and New Yorker writer Jill Lepore, author of many books, including The Secret History of Wonder Woman. The highlight will feature Lepore in conversation. (215-732-2680, hsp.org)
Brian Tracy first heard about Bikram yoga in 2005, when a graduate student approached the exercise scientist with an idea for studying the classes, which last for 90 minutes in a room heated to about 105 degrees.

To investigate, Tracy tried it. More than a decade later, the researcher still practices Bikram yoga sometimes  and not always for science. "It's one of the things I do for exercise, and it makes me feel really good," says Tracy, who studies neuromuscular physiology at Colorado State University in Fort Collins.

Casey Mace Firebaugh had the opposite reaction. A public health researcher at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Mace Firebaugh has long practiced more-traditional forms of yoga. Although she gave hot yoga a chance, it often made her feel lightheaded.

"I'm a relatively fit and active person," Mace Firebaugh says. "But hot yoga made me feel terrible when I did it."

More than 36 million Americans practice yoga, according to a 2016 survey. And although there are no firm statistics on how many do their poses in heated spaces, anecdotal evidence suggests that hot yoga has grown in popularity since it was introduced to the United States in the 1970s.

  

Franchises that offer hot yoga say its benefits include strengthening the heart, cleaning out the veins, cleansing impurities from the body and regulating metabolism and the immune system, and they often suggest that those benefits are greater than from unheated yoga. But most studies have been small, short or limited in other ways: relying on people's perceptions, for instance, or including only people who were healthy to begin with. Most studies lack control groups, making it hard to detect or explain effects.

Overall research suggests that hot yoga is probably safe for most people and might help improve balance, strength and other health measures, experts say. But risks exist, particularly for people with certain conditions. And plenty of questions remain.

"I'm a yoga lover by heart," Mace Firebaugh says. "But my skeptical scientific self says, 'Let's put some data on this.' "

The project that Tracy did with his graduate student turned into one of the earliest studies of hot yoga. Published in 2008, the study randomly assigned 21 healthy young adults to attend three Bikram classes a week for eight weeks or to do whatever activities they normally did. Overall, most participants were only minimally active before the study, and none had a history of yoga practice. After two months, the yoga group showed improvements in flexibility, leg strength and the ability to balance on one leg, with the biggest gains in people who had been most unsteady and least flexible at the beginning.

Since then, according to a 2015 review by Australian researchers, a few studies of healthy young adults have suggested that hot yoga may be good for the heart. That review turned up evidence that arterial stiffness decreased in one small group of young adults and that insulin resistance declined among a small group of older participants who did Bikram yoga. In a 2011 study of 51 adults, people reported less stress after doing Bikram classes for eight weeks.

People who like hot yoga say they feel better after doing it, though the benefits they report vary among people, who have differing motivations for taking the classes. Among 700 people whom Mace Firebaugh has surveyed in an ongoing study, 48 percent say that hot yoga improves their mood. Forty-seven percent report better flexibility, 34 percent feel less anxiety and 33 percent report clearer skin. Some have reported negative effects such as nausea, dizziness and dehydration, but those symptoms are usually mild.

  

The survey found another intriguing result: 43 percent of participants reported losing weight as a result of doing hot yoga, but that linkage might be a coincidence. Studies have yet to connect hot yoga with weight loss, the 2015 review found. And as sweaty as a hot-yoga session can be, it may not burn as many calories as people think.

In a 2014 study of 19 experienced Bikram practitioners during a single 90-minute session, Tracy and colleagues found that men burned an average of about 460 calories and women burned about 330. It's about the same number of calories you'd burn during a brisk walk for the same amount of time, Tracy says. And even though that's about 50 percent more than what people burn in a typical yoga class, it was much less than what people thought they had burned. (Heart rates peaked above 150 beats per minute during the toughest parts of class  a sign more of the body's response to heat than of a boost in calorie-burning.)

Even as research begins to point to some potential pluses of hot yoga, it's not clear whether heat has anything to do with those benefits. Studies on other types of yoga have shown good outcomes, too, including improvements in heart health, range of motion and balance.

Heat's effects on the body, meanwhile, are complicated. Exercising in the heat carries risks, including heatstroke and dehydration. But emerging evidence, including a long-term study published last year by Finnish researchers, suggests that regular sauna use can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease. A 2016 review found that raising body temperature might ease symptoms of depression. And applying heat directly to muscles can increase range of motion.

  

Whether hot yoga is dangerous remains a contentious question. There have been a few alarming incidents reported during and after hot-yoga classes, including the 2016 case of a 35-year-old woman who experienced sudden cardiac arrest during a session. And a 2015 study reported that people's core temperatures during Bikram classes could rise above 104 degrees. But that research was flawed, says Tracy, whose 2014 study showed a maximum core temperate of 101.6, with an average rise to 100.3. The danger zone, he says, begins at 102 degrees.

Tracy recommends lying down if you feel lightheaded during a class and giving your body several sessions to acclimate to the heat.

"My big piece of advice for people who want to try hot yoga is to take it slowly," Tracy says. "If you don't feel right, take it easy. If a yoga instructor starts yelling at you, remember you're a human being. You're not being held hostage."

People with pre-existing conditions  such as cardiovascular disease, back pain, asthma and diabetes  should consult a doctor before beginning a hot-yoga practice, adds Mace Firebaugh. Her own low blood pressure, she suspects, explains why hot yoga doesn't suit her.

Pregnancy is another time to be cautious, she says. In her survey, she found that nearly a quarter of women who had been pregnant continued practicing hot yoga during their pregnancies. But increased core temperatures in a pregnant mom can be dangerous to a fetus.

"In general, hot yoga is likely safe, and the risks are minimal and mild," Mace Firebaugh says. "If you love it, do it. If it doesn't work for you, there's probably going to be another type of yoga that is going to be fine. Hot yoga might not be for everybody."
Philadelphia Firefighters use water hoses to attack the latest fire in Old City, which started in an apartment building on the 200 block of Chestnut Street, Read more

Why does Old City keep burning?

The blocks between the Delaware waterfront and Independence Mall are home to one of the richest collections of architecture in all of Philadelphia, with buildings that track the nation's evolution from colonial settlement to industrial powerhouse. Now an upscale neighborhood of loft-style apartments, Old City hardly lacks for activity; its streets are thick with fine restaurants, vintage furniture stores, and clothing boutiques that lure locals and tourists alike. The neighborhood has become a magnet for creative businesses and tech start-ups. And yet, in the 15 years since the city declared the area a historic district, Old City has lost no less than five distinctive, 19th-century commercial buildings to fire and other unfortunate events.

Friedman's Umbrella went up in flames 2004. The Five Spot succumbed in 2007. The Shirt Corner and the Suit Corner were lost within a few weeks of each other in 2014, one to fire, the other to structural issues.

But the latest blaze, which swept through a trio of mid-19th century merchant buildings over the quiet holiday weekend, is the most devastating loss yet. Those five-story lofts virtually define the look of Old City. Designed to mimic Italy's Renaissance palaces, they are part of a stunning ensemble that stretches virtually uninterrupted along Chestnut Street from Second to Fifth Streets. At least one of the three buildings is said to be a goner. A second will require heroic efforts to repair.

It's not too much to say that this string of Chestnut Street buildings is the reason Philadelphia exists. Born as a trading city, Philadelphia grew from its port on the Delaware and then migrated up Chestnut and Market Streets. First came suppliers and shippers, warehouses and small manufacturing buildings, on the 200 block of Chestnut. They were followed on the 300 and 400 blocks by the stately banks that financed their activities.

The flames did their worst damage to 239 Chestnut, where the blaze began. But at least two floors of 237 were charred, and 241 sustained water damage.

The building at 237 is a particularly notable part of Philadelphia's history. Emblazoned with the name "Leland" on its massive granite cornice, it was designed in 1856 by Stephen Decatur Button and probably served as the headquarters for a wine and spirits manufacturer. It is such an elegant piece of work that when the famous Chicago skyscraper architect Louis Sullivan arrived in Philadelphia in 1873 to apprentice under Frank Furness, he singled out the design as a source of inspiration.

It's true that old buildings like these are prone to fires. Although we admire Old City's multi-story loft buildings for their imposing stone and cast-iron facades, their innards are made of weaker stuff. Erected before buildings rose on steel frames, they were constructed with thick timbers hewed from America's virgin forests. And while those muscled, 4-by-10 beams may make today's 2-by-4s look puny, they are no match for flames ignited by faulty electrical systems, old rags, or machine oil embedded in their wood floors.

While it will take some time for city fire marshals to determine the cause of Sunday's fire, that doesn't mean that the blaze, and the ones before it, couldn't have been prevented.

Despite being a desirable neighborhood, Old City is not always a well-kept one.

"Old City has a surprising number of blighted, poorly maintained buildings," said Paul Steinke, head of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia. You only have to stroll along Second or Third Streets to see buildings with stone peeling off the facades or wood that hasn't been painted in decades.

Yet even those that have been well-kept tend to lack a crucial form of fire protection: sprinklers.

After the 38-story One Meridian Plaza across from City Hall was destroyed in a 1991 fire, sprinklers became mandatory in high-rise commercial buildings  but not in smaller structures like those in Old City. While a few owners have voluntarily retrofitted their buildings, most have not been willing to invest in fire suppression systems.

The building at 239 Chestnut was one of those buildings without sprinklers, David Perri, commissioner of the Department of Licenses and Inspections, told me. Unlike its neighbors, its facade was primarily wood, coated with stucco. Only the ground floor was cast-iron, and that is the only part likely to survive.

Perri said it would have probably cost no more than $75,000 to equip the building with sprinklers. Now that federal tax programs allow owners to write off the investment, the out-of-pocket cost is much less. Putting in sprinklers would also reduce the cost of the owner's building insurance premiums.

So why don't more Old City landlords make the investment that could protect their property?

Unlike other parts of Center City, Old City is still dominated by small, single-building landlords rather than large property owners. Many have owned the buildings for decades. They've gotten by without doing much to improve their properties.

Thankfully, no one was killed in this latest Old City fire. But as architectural casualties pile up, we are losing more of our city's irreplaceable patrimony.
Some brands using #MeToo to market have gone as far as applying for trademarks and issuing press releases, whether their brand is related to sexual harassment or not. Read more

Some companies could pay out millions of dollars to victims of sexual harassment as a result of the #MeToo movement.

But others might actually make a buck off it.

Employment lawyers, insurance companies, motivational speakers, authors  even self-defense instructors  are finding ways to use the anti-harassment social movement to market a product or service. The particularly tone-deaf examples: a makeup company that applied to trademark #MeToo and a California children's adventure camp that used the movement as a launch point to market itself in a news release.

Branding and marketing experts agree: Companies should tread lightly. Even the most well-meaning brands run the risk of coming across as exploitative when they use sensitive issues for the purpose of marketing, said Cassandra Bailey, the CEO of Philadelphia-based Slice Communications.

"If fighting harassment is not core to the fiber and function of the business," she said, "you have no place in the public conversation about it."

Perhaps companies looking to capitalize on cultural moments is just the next phase of #MeToo. Started 10 years ago by former Philadelphian Tarana Burke as a way to empower survivors, the movement gained traction last fall with allegations of sexual assault against film producer Harvey Weinstein. It has since expanded to include "Time's Up" organizers in Hollywood. (Even former White House strategist Steve Bannon said recently that the "anti-patriarchy movement" is going to "unfold like the tea party, only bigger.")

Backlash for marketing such a sensitive topic for seemingly unrelated and superficial campaigns has been swift. The makeup company Hard Candy in January ended up withdrawing an application to trademark #MeToo for the purpose of cosmetics just a day after TMZ reported on the application. Even though the company later said it intended to donate the revenue, the branding didn't go over well with customers.

Federal records show several pending applications to trademark #MeToo, including one by a social-networking firm and another from a Virginia law firm. Last week, the federal Patent and Trademark Office denied a Georgia woman's application to trademark "metoo" to make bracelets because, among other reasons, the phrase "is a commonly used message that is used to help demonstrate the widespread prevalence of sexual assault and harassment."

Kate Allison, CEO of the Philadelphia strategic communications firm Karma Agency, said she would never recommend a client wade into a sensitive or controversial issue such as #MeToo unless its product or service is directly related to that issue. She said a company aiming to make money off of something such as #MeToo is "disturbing."

"It is doubtful these kinds of organizations are really looking at the issues with any true and deep understanding of them and really trying to figure out a way to help solve a problem," she said, "rather than just capitalizing on a problem."

Brands that seem as if they're taking advantage of a painful experience run the risk of facing significant resistance, particularly in the age of social media, which allows for outrage to quickly spread. Last year, Pepsi quickly pulled a commercial featuring model Kendall Jenner offering a Pepsi to a police officer at a protest after the company was widely accused on social media of appropriating the Black Lives Matter movement.

Jeff Jubelirer, vice president of Philadelphia-based Bellevue Communications, said brands must understand that, today, social media "leads" and "everything is instantaneous." So a lack of authenticity can be "very dangerous" and can lead to quickly spreading outrage, he said.

Jubelirer recommended that if a company believes it offers a product or service that's reasonably related to a controversial social moment such as this one, its marketers should test the ad or messaging with  at least  a subset of employees. Then, he said, those in decision-making positions should be prepared to listen and ensure that "those decisions aren't made in a closed boardroom."

Allison said there were certainly times when brands can appear opportunistic and get away with it. Take the Eagles' Super Bowl win, for instance. You'd be hard-pressed to find a local company criticized for aiming to make a buck off the Birds. There's a difference, she said, between being strategic and "unconscionable."

"Who among us didn't take the opportunity to get on the bandwagon and find a way to advance our own brand?" she said of the Super Bowl. "But in my mind, there should never be a time when a company capitalizes on an issue as universally negative as sexual harassment."

Jubelirer had a final tip for brands that still want to plunge into controversial social movements: When it's something such as #MeToo, a company had better be confident it's practicing what it's preaching. That means ensuring the company has a culture that allows for employees to feel comfortable coming forward with complaints about sexual harassment or gender-based inequality.

"If you're going to wade into something as sensitive as harassment," he said, "you'd better not have any skeletons in your organizational closet."
A side-by-side comparison of fatal doses of heroin, right, and the synthetic opioid fentanyl, shows that the latter is much more powerful. Read more

Two drugs with opposite effects  cocaine and the synthetic opioid fentanyl  are contributing to more overdose deaths in Philadelphia.

Cheap, potent fentanyl  which can be 10 times stronger than heroin  has long been found in heroin, often with fatal consequences to people who sometimes don't realize they are using fentanyl. Both of those opioid drugs, like prescription painkillers, are depressants that slow down messages between the brain and the body. Cocaine, however, is a stimulant that speeds up the system.

Exactly why fentanyl is turning up in cocaine overdose cases is unclear, though law enforcement and public health experts have come up with several theories. There's no doubt, though, that fentanyl has created a new unpredictability in the drug supply that's proving increasingly fatal.

"As we see this expansion of fentanyl and fentanyl analogs into the drug supply, the universe of people who might be at risk is much broader," said Christopher Jones, the director of the National Mental Health and Substance Abuse Police Laboratory at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. "That's why you see the really significant spikes in overdose deaths since 2015."

In a paper published last year, Jones noted a national spike in cocaine-related overdose deaths between 2000 and 2015  and that opioids appeared to be behind it, with more people overdosing with both drugs in their system. In Philadelphia, 280 people overdosed with cocaine and opioids in their system in 2016. More than half of the time, that opioid was fentanyl, according to the medical examiner's office. By June 2017, 262 people had overdosed on a combination of cocaine and opioids, and 85 percent of those deaths involved fentanyl.

Whether or not drug users realize they're ingesting that combination of drugs  generally a powder that is snorted or dissolved into a solution and then injected  is unclear. Speedballs, the colloquial term for a heroin-cocaine combination, have long been a popular drug cocktail, used together for what is said to be a unique euphoria. But a report issued to agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in January indicates that at least some people in addiction may be using  and dying from  the deadlier cocaine-fentanyl combination.

Of more than 30,000 cocaine samples from Pennsylvania that the DEA analyzed between 2015 and 2017, less than one percent contained fentanyl. But the number of samples that tested positive for fentanyl jumped 112 percent between 2016 and 2017, investigators found. And more than half the samples with fentanyl also contained heroin.

The DEA has theorized that a larger-than-average supply of cocaine in the area  coupled with a lower demand for that drug  may mean that cocaine is making its way into the heroin supply.

Investigators also looked at evidence from 73 death scenes where victims had overdosed on cocaine and fentanyl. About half of the scenes showed evidence of heroin use  syringes, stamped heroin bags, Narcan (the overdose rescue drug)  but not cocaine. Twenty showed evidence of only cocaine use.

"While it is not possible to conclusively associate drug paraphernalia with drug usage," the report reads, "scene evidence analysis supports the suggestion that heroin users may be purchasing cocaine and fentanyl packaged and sold as heroin."

Some accounts from drug users appear to support that theory: A woman from Northwest Philadelphia, who has been using heroin for 20 years, said in an interview with the Inquirer and Daily News that last year she bought a bag of what she thought was heroin. But blood work later showed she had been ingesting fentanyl and cocaine  neither of which she had sought out, she said, declining to be publicly identified because of a prior relationship with a dealer.

People in addiction could also be seeking out cocaine and heroin separately  but, instead of heroin, winding up with the deadlier fentanyl, the DEA wrote in last month's report. Even street dealers, the DEA said, are often unaware of what's in the product they're moving.

"People may not be aware of fentanyl being present [in cocaine], or they may assume it's not there, and mix it with heroin that also contains fentanyl," said David Metzger, an addiction researcher and director of the HIV/AIDS Prevention Research Division at the University of Pennsylvania. "It speaks to the fact that we need to talk to drug users more and more, and learn about what their perception is of what they're buying."

Jones said fentanyl has added a deeper complication to the overdose crisis.

"We have to think about the universe of people who might be at risk besides people who are knowingly using opioids," he said. "Law enforcement has to share information about what drugs are in the drug supply locally and give that information out to the public. People are using substances and they largely don't know what they're getting."
A "Miners for Trump" rally was announced in October 2016 by the @March_for_Trump Twitter account, which was identified by special counsel Robert Mueller as being run from Russia. Read more

The announcements went out about a month before the 2016 election  dozens of posts on social media advertising a series of simultaneous rallies for then-presidential candidate Donald Trump in cities across Pennsylvania.

Top Republican leaders, a former governor, and grass-roots GOP organizers were asked to lend their support. Reporters were solicited to cover the events. And like-minded locals were encouraged to distribute fliers  and to look past the stilted English.

"America has always been hinged on hard-working people," read one Facebook post from the Being Patriotic account, touting an Oct. 2, 2016, "Miners for Trump" rally in Philadelphia's "Marcony [sic] Plaza." "As far as Mr. Trump pursues the goal of creating jobs and supports the working class. He said he would put miners back to work. We could help Mr. Trump win Pennsylvania which is a battleground state."

It remains unclear how many people, if any, attended the events. But last week, Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel investigating Russia's interference in the 2016 election, revealed that this eleventh-hour show of Trump support in the Keystone State had been organized from 4,300 miles away.

Being Patriotic was just one of the accounts flagged in an indictment filed Friday detailing how Russia carried out its campaign to influence American voters over social media.

The 37-page document details for the first time how about 80 workers operating from an office in St. Petersburg, Russia, and backed by millions of dollars, used Facebook and Twitter to highlight discord, inflame divisions, and organize real-life demonstrations in American cities.

Many of the social media accounts used by the Russian trolls have since been shut down, and the indictment makes only scant mention of the disinformation campaign's efforts to target Pennsylvanians, whose votes would eventually make Trump the first Republican presidential candidate to carry the state since 1988.

But an archived cache of postings from several accounts flagged by the indictment shows an active Russian interest in the state and its voters.

"People are not always who they appear to be on the internet," Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein said in announcing the charges 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."

As they did elsewhere, the accounts sought to spread false news stories about election fraud in the state, highlight racial divisions, and organize shows of support such as the early October "Miners for Trump" demonstrations.

"Angry patriots are about to paint Philly red," one account, singled out in Mueller's indictment, tweeted on Sept. 29, 2016. "say no to lies, corruption and tyranny!"

Another breathlessly tweeted on Election Day: "BREAKING: Machine Refuses to Allow Votes For Trump in Pennsylvania!! RT the hell out of it! #VoterFraud #voted."

Even when the accounts strayed beyond the overtly political, the social media presence sought to provoke discord, such as when one account flagged by Mueller highlighted an October 2016 clash between a flash mob of 150 youths and police in North Philadelphia.

"Watch 150 black teens attacking white students & police at Temple University in Philly," one of them tweeted. "But deafening silence from the MSM."

It is difficult to ascertain the reach these posts had and how many Pennsylvanians may have seen or interacted with them. But the archived postings show that the accounts began to focus on Pennsylvania in late July 2016 as thousands of Democrats flocked to Philadelphia for their party's nominating convention.

"Looks like real chaos!" read one tweet by @TEN_GOP, an account masquerading as the official Twitter presence of the Tennessee Republican Party that the indictment unmasked as a Russian fraud. The July 27 message to its 140,000 followers highlighted clashes between demonstrators and authorities outside the Wells Fargo Center, where Hillary Clinton was set to accept her party's nomination.

But with the nation's eyes on the city, the account also sought to highlight videos and photos of purported Philadelphians rejecting the Democratic nominee.

"BOOM. Philly man says he switched from Democrat to Republican, calls HILLARY ROTTEN CLINTON a 'liar,'" the account tweeted as the convention opened. Two days later, @TEN_GOP followed up with: "WATCH: Black guy speaking about #DemsinPhilly He is no longer a Democrat!"

By late September, with the election a little more than a month away, a second suspect account had joined the effort.

According to Mueller's indictment, the @March_for_Trump account already had managed to inspire a series of successful rallies in South Florida, where some attendees allegedly were paid to portray Clinton in a prison uniform while standing on a flatbed truck.

In Pennsylvania, the account began putting out feelers for its "Miners for Trump" rallies  a series of coordinated demonstrations planned for early October 2016 in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Wilkes-Barre, and Erie.

Former Gov. Tom Corbett was asked to spread the word. "Please share," @March_for_Trump tweeted at him on Sept. 26, 2016. "It's time for PA residents to make the right choice."

The state Republican Party also got a solicitation. "Please DM us," @March_for_Trump tweeted Sept. 21 at the official Twitter account of the Pennsylvania GOP. "We're organizing some rallies in support of Mr. Trump in your state."

Neither Corbett nor his party appears to have responded to the entreaties.

Fliers were circulated on Facebook and Twitter  featuring the grim, coal-dust-covered visage of a miner straight from the shafts.

"How many PA workers lost their jobs due to Obama's destructive polices?" read one, touting demonstrations in Pittsburgh and in Philadelphia. "Help Mr. Trump fix it!"

Reporters, too, were asked to provide coverage. According to the archived postings, @March_for_Trump contacted nine reporters in the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre media market  all employees of WNEP-TV and WBRE-TV  a day before the planned rallies.

"Hey, Clay! Our community is holding a 'Miners for Trump' rally tomorrow if you're interested in covering it," the account wrote to WNEP reporter Clay LePard on Oct. 2, 2016. LePard tweeted back: "Thanks for letting us know!"

But despite the social media push, the archived postings suggest that unlike in other states, the effort to organize Pennsylvania rallies struggled to get off the ground.

Just hours before the purported Philadelphia rally was to take place in Marconi Plaza at Broad Street and Oregon Avenue, @March_for_Trump tweeted: "Guys, we're looking for a coordinator for our event in Philly. If you'd like to help, just DM us! #TrumpPence #MAGA."

Whether any of the events actually took place remains uncertain. No one ever applied to City Hall for a permit on the date the Philadelphia rally was supposed to have taken place, no news reports appear to have been published, and a search of Facebook and Twitter shows no photos or posts picturing the event or those in any of the other targeted Pennsylvania cities.

Neither Philadelphia GOP Chairman Mike Meehan nor Dave Majernik, vice chairman of Allegheny County's Republican Committee, was able to recall such a rally.

"It seems like they just created a presence on the internet without anything actually happening," Majernik said.
HARRISBURG  The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Monday imposed a new congressional district map that upends previous boundaries, renumbers districts across the state, and gives a potential boost to Democrats in the 2018 House elections.

Under the court's redrawn map, districts more closely align with county lines, and only 13 counties are split among two or three districts. By contrast, under the last map, enacted by the legislature in 2011, more than twice as many counties were split among multiple districts.

In striking down that map last month as unconstitutional, the justices said the new districts should be as compact and contiguous as possible. Their new map, they wrote in an order, is "superior or comparable" to proposals submitted by the participants and interested groups during the legal challenge that led to the historic ruling.

The reconfigured map prompted a sharp rebuke from top Republican legislators, who said honoring it would create a "constitutional crisis." Extending a political clash that has roiled the state for months, they said they might challenge the map  or the justices' authority to impose it  in federal court as early as Tuesday.

"This entire exercise, while cloaked in 'litigation,' is and has been nothing more than the ultimate partisan gerrymander  one brought about by the Democrat[ic] governor acting in concert with liberal politically connected litigants," Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R., Jefferson) and House Speaker Mike Turzai (R., Allegheny) said in a statement.

Drawn by redistricting expert Nathaniel Persily, a Stanford University law professor, and awaited by political observers across the country, it arrived after weeks of political and legal fighting, and a state high court ruling that the 2011 map was an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander.

Even with the new map, the state's congressmen will continue to represent the same constituents until January 2019, when the new House session begins. But voters will be expected to cast ballots on candidates representing the newly drawn districts. And experts said the new map could give Democrats a significant boost in their push to take control of Congress, adding several Democratic-leaning seats and making others that favor the GOP much more competitive.

Under the justices' order, Philadelphia remains divided into three districts, with most of it split between the Second and Third Districts. A portion of South Philadelphia is drawn into the newly configured Fifth District, based in Delaware County  a substitute of sorts for the First District, represented by U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, who announced last month that he would not run for re-election. The First moves north to Bucks County.

The redrawing could alter the political landscape in Southeastern Pennsylvania, where Democrats currently have three representatives from Philadelphia, while Republicans have three in the suburbs. Under the new plan, Democrats would be favored to win five of those seats, and the sixth would be a virtual toss-up, according to election analysts.

A Republican-controlled seat based in the Lehigh Valley is likely to become more competitive, and in Western Pennsylvania, where there is now one safe Democratic seat amid a sea of red, one new district is expected to be more politically balanced by incorporating more of Allegheny County.

If this map had been in place in 2016, President Trump would have won 10 congressional districts, two fewer than he actually won. Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton would have taken the remaining eight districts, although the tally in one district would be so close as to be essentially a toss-up.

In one win for local Democrats, the newly configured Fourth District is centered in Montgomery County. Critics of the 2011 map often pointed to the county, which was split into five districts and had no member of Congress living there. Bucks and Chester Counties also are now in districts largely formed by their boundaries.

"It's a big win for Montgomery County and Delco," said Philadelphia-based political consultant Larry Ceisler. "Montgomery County in the past few redistrictings has had three or four members of Congress." He adds that it "means a lot" for a county to have a "go-to member of Congress."

Gov. Wolf, a Democrat, said in a statement that he applauded the court's work "and I respect their effort to remedy Pennsylvania's unfair and unequal congressional elections."

Even before Monday's order, Republican lawmakers were vowing to challenge whatever map the court selected, saying the justices overstepped their authority.

The court appeared to recognize those attacks. "This court recognized that the primary responsibility for drawing congressional districts rested squarely with the legislature," its order read, "but we also acknowledged that" redrawing the map would fall to the court if the legislature did not pass one that Wolf would sign. Drawing a map, the court majority wrote, is "a role which our court has full constitutional authority and responsibility to assume."

Experts have said a Republican challenge to the map is unlikely to succeed. "It's really hard to see a path to success," Michael Li, a redistricting expert at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University, said Monday, adding: "I would bet that this is the map that Pennsylvania uses for the 2018 elections."

Last month, the state high court ruled the congressional map unconstitutional and ordered a new one drawn in time for the May 15 primary election. The previous map, the justices said, violated the state constitution's guarantee that "elections shall be free and equal" by discriminating against Democratic voters, reducing their voting power in favor of Republicans.
Uber and Lyft riders could face a new 50-cent surcharge under a proposal by the Philadelphia Parking Authority. Read more

The cash-strapped Philadelphia Parking Authority wants to add a 50-cent surcharge to every taxi, Lyft, and Uber ride in the city.

In a report Tuesday to the agency's board, PPA executive director Scott Petri said the new fee could raise up to $13.5 million a year, or nearly $10 million more than what it collects on rides now under a different tax structure. About two-thirds would go to the city School District. The rest would offset the climbing costs of regulating the 20,000 more vehicles and drivers that have taken to the streets since Pennsylvania legalized ride-hailing services in November 2016.

The fee, which would have to be approved by state lawmakers, would replace an existing 1.4 percent tax assessed on ride-hailing services that agency officials said was ineffective and too cumbersome to actually regulate and collect. Revenue from that tax totaled about $1.8 million in the first half of 2017.

Marty O'Rourke, a spokesman for the PPA, said Petri supports the 50-cent surcharge as a replacement for the existing 1.4 percent tax assessed directly on rides offered through services like Lyft and Uber.

Petri discussed the proposal with Republican caucus leaders during a trip to Harrisburg two weeks ago. But it is unclear if Harrisburg will have much of an appetite for revisiting Uber's and Lyft's taxation structure until closer to Dec. 31, 2019, when the current tax expires.

Uber spokesman Craig Ewer said in a statement that "it would be imprudent to rush through any major changes including new fees" without undergoing a deliberative process similar to the one that led to the 1.4 percent tax. In a similar statement, Lyft said the company was looking forward to "the continued implementation of the current law."

School District officials were also hesitant to react to the plan. "We are still getting an understanding of the proposal," said district spokesman Lee Whack.

The 50-cent fee, which Petri predicted would be passed to riders and uniformly assessed on cabs and ride-sharing apps, would alleviate the burden on PPA regulators, whose ranks have been depleted due to staff cuts and now have only eight inspectors responsible for monitoring between 22,000 to 25,000 ride-hailing vehicles across the city.

The rising popularity of Uber and Lyft has left a deep dent in one of PPA's main revenue-generating activities: the operation of taxi operating licenses, or medallions. Once highly sought cash cows  one was auctioned by PPA for $110,000 in May 2015  the medallions have become far less valuable since Uber and Lyft began operating in Philadelphia. A medallion auctioned off in July 2017 drew a bid of only $11,268.

Philadelphia would be far from alone among cities to have imposed surcharges on Uber and Lyft rides to support rising municipal costs and sinking revenues. A state task force in New York recently mulled the idea of a $2 to $5 fee per ride to support New York City's struggling public transit system. Chicago lawmakers tacked on a 15-cent surcharge for the city's 2018 budget, the latest of three fees that total a 67-cent charge per ride.

One potential hint at the future of Petri's proposal can be found in Portland, Ore., which assessed a 50-cent ride fee in 2016.

City officials there publicly said the surcharge didn't adversely impact transportation companies, but Noah Ernst, a spokesman for the Transportation Fairness Alliance, which advocates for cabdrivers in Portland, told the New York Times at least two taxi companies have gone out of business since the tax was first implemented.

"It's not an equal playing field at all," he said. "We were trying to tell them this the entire time they were rewriting the code."

Staff writer Jason Laughlin contributed to this report.
Not looking good, Phil; the groundhog saw six more weeks of winter, and May arrives this week. Read more

The mercurial and often strange winter of 2017-18 is about to take a turn for the almost unbelievable. Philadelphia's high on Tuesday, 72, beat the 70 set in 1939; by comparison, the temperature Tuesday afternoon in Los Angeles was struggling to reach 60.

Wednesday won't be quite the same in Philadelphia. It could be warmer, with highs perhaps in the mid-70s.

Other records that have stood since 1930 will be threatened throughout the region, routing any remnants of the weekend snowfall. These temperatures would be normal three months from now.

That's because the atmosphere is behaving like it thinks it's six months from now, said Paul Pastelok, the long-range forecast specialist at AccuWeather Inc. Just don't get used to it; in the last several weeks nothing has had staying power.

The impresario of the warm spell is a so-called Bermuda high-pressure system centered off the Atlantic coast, which is bearing mild air on winds from the south, part of the clockwise circulation around its center. Air descends in areas of high pressure, discouraging storms and favoring warmth.

"This is supposed to happen in August and September," Pastelok said. Boston hit a record 70 on Tuesday, and flood watches were up for most of Vermont and Upstate New York as the surge of warmth goes to town on the considerable snowpack.

As is often the case, mirror-opposite conditions are bedeviling the West, where snow fell in Denver on Monday afternoon with a temperature barely in the teens. In Los Angeles, highs on Tuesday and Wednesday won't get past the low 60s, about 10 degrees below normal.

All this evidently is being driven by conditions in the tropical Pacific. La Nina, a widespread cooling of surface waters over the tropics, has persisted. For now it is working in tandem with a circulation pattern over the North Pacific to drive up temperatures in the East, Pastelok said.

But the weather this winter has shown all the stability of the stock market, consistent only in its abnormality. Since Dec. 1, only 10 days have had readings within a degree of normal.

Since a two-week cold spell ended in early January, atmospheric traffic has been brisk, which is why temperatures have been so jumpy, and why up to 6 inches of snow fell in the region on the day after the temperature reached 60.

Systems have been moving because there are no "blocks" to stop them, Pastelok said.

Blocks are areas of high pressure that build in a given area and keep systems from moving west to east. Blocks can last a week or longer, and are responsible for prolonged warm and cold spells. And they can retard the movement of storms, like the weekend's quick-hitter.

When the flow is swift, meteorologists call it "progressive." Recently, it has been more like fast-forward.

But we're not done with snow around here. For the first time since December, a block appears to be developing in the North Atlantic that could lead to a return of cold in the East perhaps by early next week, along with storm potential.

"The best shot for snow is the first two weeks in March," Pastelok said.

Before that happens, records will need updating.

Tuesday's forecast high of 72 in Philadelphia would beat the nearly 80-year-old record of 70 set in 1939. Records set in 1939 are endangered in Atlantic City, Wilmington, Allentown, Reading, and the Poconos. On Wednesday, Philadelphia is almost certain to beat the 72 registered in 1930, along with setting a new mark for a record-high minimum temperature.

The latest monthly outlook from the Climate Prediction Center sees above-normal temperatures for March, and that forecast will be updated next week. Worth noting is that the updated February outlook, posted on Jan. 31, saw below-normal temperatures for the month.

This month is on track to become the eighth-warmest February on record, according to Walt Drag, meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, with an average temperature of about 41, better than 5 degrees above normal.

One thing is absolutely certain: This will be the warmest February since last year, which was the warmest on record.
Left: In Young Lee, a first-year Ph.D student at Penn, said a Taco Bell employee used a racial slur to describe him on a receipt. Right: The receipt in question, as provided by Lee. Read more

In the wee hours of the morning Saturday, In Young Lee was just trying to satisfy his hunger with a couple of Doritos Locos Tacos.

He got what he was after. But he says he also got a mouthful from two Taco Bell employees, one of whom described him with a racial epithet on a receipt.

Lee, who was born in South Korea, said he visited the Taco Bell at 1037 Chestnut St. in Center City around 1:30 a.m. after a night out with friends. When the cashier asked Lee's name for the order, he responded, "Steve." Lee, a first-year Ph.D. student at Penn Medicine, explained that he often uses a westernized name rather than spelling out his actual name, for the sake of "convenience."

When he looked at his receipt, he saw he'd been listed as "Steve Ch," a slur for Chinese people that was once part of a controversial name for a cheesesteak joint in Northeast Philly. It also got the Sixers' JJ Redick in the news over the weekend.

After ordering his food, Lee, 25, said he noticed the receipt and was immediately "very upset." He confronted the cashier, who Lee said initially was defensive and told him there were multiple "Steves" in the restaurant at the time, and he needed to differentiate among them. When Lee replied, "That's ridiculous," the cashier apologized, Lee said. It seemed the episode was over.

Lee snatched his tacos from another employee's hand and sat down with friends to eat. That's when he overheard a group of employees laughing behind the counter, and one used the slur again, he said.

Lee confronted the workers at the counter, and a manager approached. The man apologized for the situation, Lee recalled, but also told him the way he grabbed his food from another employee was "disrespectful." By this time, other customers got involved, standing up for Lee. The manager apologized again.

"Everyone was really upset," Lee said. "I don't understand how he expects me to be polite after this person just called me a derogatory slur."

Lee posted about the ordeal on Facebook less than two hours after it happened, prompting the Daily Pennsylvanian, Penn's student newspaper, to publish a story about the incident Sunday.

A spokesperson for Taco Bell Corp. said the franchisee was "looking into" the matter and "will take swift and appropriate action." The company did not respond to questions about whether the employee has been identified or has been disciplined.

Lee said he purposefully blurred out the name of the cashier on the receipt he posted to Facebook because he doesn't want the man to lose his job. Instead, he said, he just wants him to understand "that racial slurs have implications and the meaning behind things can really hurt people."

"I was just very surprised that people think about me that way," he said, "that they categorize me as this derogatory thing."
Tahirah Phillips was 4 when she was fatally shot by her father, Maurice Phillips, in April 2016 as she watched TV in their Kensington home. Read more

In simple words, 5-year-old Amisha Phillips described what happened to her younger sister on a tragic afternoon two years ago.

"My father was playing with the gun and he tried to shoot the TV and he shoot Tahirah," Amisha told a Philadelphia Children's Alliance worker during a videotaped interview six days after the shooting.

"I miss her," Amisha said of her younger sister.

Part of that interview  and that of three of her siblings  aired in a Philadelphia courtroom Tuesday as a judge ordered Maurice Phillips to serve 10 to 20 years in state prison for fatally shooting his 4-year-old daughter.

The sentence from Common Pleas Court Judge Diana Anhalt followed a three-hour hearing in which prosecutors argued for a stiffer sentence  up to 25 years in prison  while Phillips' defenders pleaded for a term half as long. In sentencing him, the judge said she found Phillips' actions "so egregious" and didn't believe he got the gun to protect his children, as his lawyers argued, but instead "to feel like a man."

As tragic as the death was, it was compounded by what authorities allege was Phillips' attempt to frame another of his daughters for the April 16, 2016, crime.

Seven children were gathered in the small upstairs bedroom of the family's Kensington home on the 200 block of East Mayfield Street that afternoon, watching SpongeBob SquarePants or sleeping, when Phillips aimed his .45-caliber gun at the television, authorities said. But the gun discharged and the bullet first hit Tahirah in the head before it went through the television and lodged in a back wall.

As the children screamed and cried, Phillips wiped Tahirah's blood on then 5-year-old Amisha's long-sleeved white shirt then punched her in the face when she began crying, authorities said.

After the shooting, Phillips moved Tahirah to another bedroom and didn't call 911. He called his girlfriend, the mother of the seven children who was visiting a neighbor, and told her to come home, investigators said. After she got home, he rode away on his bicycle to try to visit his two sisters before surrendering to police that evening.

In September, Phillips, now 32, pleaded guilty to charges of third-degree murder and related offenses.

His lawyers, public defenders Stephanie Fennell and Francis Carmen, told the judge that Phillips had legally purchased his gun and kept it in the house to protect his family.

The shooting was a "tragic accident," Fennell said. She said Phillips has been "intellectually disabled" all his life with an IQ of 60. He has a "childlike demeanor" and doesn't think like a rational adult, she said.

Assistant District Attorney Kristen Kemp saw things differently. "This is a man who pulled the trigger of a firearm in a room with seven children," she argued. She also said Phillips "tried to set up a 5-year-old child" and showed the judge part of his videotaped interview with homicide detectives in which he at first denied firing the gun.

Phillips, in a soft voice, briefly apologized for the shooting. His other children were not in the courtroom, but his two sisters and three cousins were there to support him.

In addition to the prison term, Anhalt ordered him to serve 20 years of probation upon his release.
Two men were killed in separate street shootings in the city Monday, police said.

In the first incident, an unidentified man, described as in his late 20s, was shot in the head and the right side of his abdomen shortly before 5 p.m. in the area of 13th and Pike Streets in Hunting Park. Police rushed him to Temple University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 5:21 p.m.

About 6:15 p.m, a 19-year-old man was shot once in the head in the 5800 block of North Seventh Street. He was pronounced dead at the scene by medics.

Police reported no arrests or motives in either case.
President Donald Trump speaks in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Monday during a meeting with state and local officials about infrastructure. Read more

President Trump is weighing in on the growing controversy surrounding Pennsylvania's newly-drawn congressional maps, urging state Republicans to fight against the reconfigured districts "all the way to the Supreme Court, if necessary."

"Your Original was correct! Don't let the Dems take elections away from you so that they can raise taxes & waste money!" Trump wrote in a tweet shortly after 8 a.m. Tuesday.

The president's remarks came less than 24 hours after Pennsylvania's high court imposed a new congressional map, after deciding that the one in place for the last eight years is unconstitutionally gerrymandered, favoring Republican candidates.

Top Republican officials in Pennsylvania have vowed to fight the court's move, which they assert usurps the legislature's authority and creates a "constitutional crisis."

Drew Crompton, the Senate's top lawyer and chief of staff to Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R., Jefferson), said Monday that Republicans will file legal action as early as Tuesday to stop the implementation of the new maps.
Pennsylvanias new congressional district map has upended the race to succeed U.S. Rep. and longtime Philadelphia Democratic Party boss Bob Brady. Read more

When the Pennsylvania Supreme Court imposed a new congressional district map on Monday, the closely watched race to succeed Philadelphia's longtime Democratic Party boss in the U.S. House was thrown into chaos.

The new map also cost the city a large chunk of one of its three congressional seats, on a day when Democrats across the state were celebrating a much more favorable political landscape for their party.

U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, chairman of the Democratic City Committee, announced last month that he would not run for reelection after serving in the House for 20 years. That set the stage for an expensive, crowded primary for a rare open congressional seat.

Under the new map, though, Brady's First District is no longer based in Philadelphia  and the two seats that remain firmly in the city are home to Democratic incumbents. Another district, the new Fifth, encompasses parts of South Philly, but is mostly situated in Delaware County.

Now, the candidates for Brady's seat face a difficult decision: They can drop out, run against an incumbent, or take a stab at campaigning in the Fifth District.

At least five Democrats had already launched campaigns for Brady's seat. Another candidate with ties to the city's powerful Electricians union, Richard Lazer, planned to launch his bid for the seat in the next week or so.

Lazer, a longtime aide to Mayor Kenney, resigned on Friday in anticipation of running in the First District, sources said. Political observers expected the well-funded Electricians union and its leader, John "Johnny Doc" Dougherty, to back Lazer.

On Monday evening, the South Philly resident appeared to be preparing to run in the newly configured Fifth District.

"The people in the newly drawn district are the same hard-working people I grew up with, who want better lives for themselves and their children," he said in a statement. "I have the experience and drive to run a winning campaign."

That could lead to a nasty political battle between South Philly Democrats and their counterparts in Delaware County.

David Landau, leader of Delaware County's Democratic Party, said the new Fifth District is "a Delaware County seat, and we believe someone from Delaware County should represent it."

The Electricians union had $5.5 million in its political action committee heading into 2018.

Another candidate who had challenged Brady jumped into a new race altogether. Willie Singletary, a former Traffic Court judge found guilty of lying to the FBI, said he would run against incumbent Rep. Dwight Evans, who lives in the newly configured Third.

"Our city needs a fresh perspective," said Singletary. "You don't wear the same eyeglasses you wore 10 years ago. You don't sleep on the same sheets as you did 10 years ago. You don't even keep the same laptop from five years ago."

Another declared candidate, Nina Ahmad, a former deputy mayor under Mayor Kenney who had been critical of Brady, said she would review the new map "and what it means for the area" before deciding her next steps. Ahmad had about $560,000 in her campaign account as of Dec. 31.

Some candidates weren't even sure which district they lived in under the new map.

"I don't think anyone had this on their bingo card," said Lindy Li, a Center City Democrat who'd been running to succeed Brady in the First District. She said she's now in either the Third or Fifth  and still intends to run. (Candidates aren't required to live in the district they represent, but face longer odds as an outsider.)

Kevin Johnson did not respond to repeated requests for comment. A spokesman for Michele Lawrence said she was running for Congress but didn't specify in which district. Both candidates had launched bids for Brady's seat.
An already-tough reelection campaign for U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello, a Chester County Republican, got even harder under the new Pennsylvania congressional maps unveiled Monday. Read more

WASHINGTON  Of the many Republicans who took a political blow from Pennsylvania's new congressional map, Chester County's Ryan Costello got hit the hardest.

The second-term congressman saw his already-tough swing district move from having a Republican-leaning constituency to a narrowly Democratic one, according to independent analysts.

Half of his old Sixth District was replaced by new territory where he might be a less familiar name. More of moderate Chester County was added, while more rural and conservative pieces of his district were excised. The Democrat-heavy city of Reading was tied in. And his highly touted Democratic challenger, Chrissy Houlahan, was left inside the new Sixth District's boundaries.

It all arrives in a year shaping up as a potentially strong one for Democrats.

"If you look at the context of this year and these candidates, this turns what was a bad dream for Ryan Costello into a nightmare," said J.J. Balaban, a Democratic consultant based in Philadelphia.

On Tuesday, two political handicappers  Dave Wasserman of the Cook Political Report and Kyle Kondik of Sabato's Crystal Ball  both moved the district from a "lean Republican" rating to "toss up."

"Chrissy Houlahan probably couldn't have asked for a better map," Wasserman said. Costello is "probably the incumbent most negatively affected by the new map, I think that's fair to say."

Representing the kind of moderate, suburban district where President Trump has proved unpopular, Costello, 41, who lives right outside West Chester, was already facing the most difficult race of any GOP incumbent in Pennsylvania. But he had a district that leaned right  until the state Supreme Court ruled that it was part of a map unfairly skewed toward Republicans and drew new districts it believes are more logical and compact.

Other districts swung further in terms of partisan balance, but in those places Republican incumbents are either not running for reelection or are still favored.

Democrats suggested Costello might be better off running in the new Ninth District, which includes part of his existing district, has no incumbent, and is strongly Republican.

Costello didn't answer directly when asked about that possibility Tuesday  "I haven't done any political evaluation," he said. Instead, the normally mild-mannered congressman lashed out at the state Supreme Court and said he would support impeaching the justices who imposed the map. The court is controlled by Democratic justices.

"They knew they had to rig it against me," Costello said, calling the map "1,000 percent partisan" intended to "disguise" a Democratic gerrymander.

"This isn't democracy, this is political corruption," he said, predicting that a federal court would block the new map's implementation.

Democrat Hillary Clinton won his old district by less than one percentage point. Under the new map, she would have won the newly configured district by nearly 10.

The previous, GOP-drawn map was one factor aiding Republicans as they held a firm grip on every competitive seat in the moderate Philadelphia suburbs.

Despite the change, most Democrats and Republicans said that the new Sixth District is no sure thing for Houlahan and that a strong GOP incumbent who created an independent identity could still win.

Sen. Pat Toomey (R., Pa.), for example, would have just barely carried the new district based on 2016 results, when he won reelection.

"A more suburban Republican" is "still viable," said Josh Novotney, a Republican consultant from Philadelphia.

Despite having significant new territory, he noted, Costello might be familiar to the new pieces of Chester County in the district, since he served two terms as a county commissioner.

Houlahan, a businesswoman who has never run for public office, now also has to introduce herself and campaign in areas that, days ago, were not part of the district. She said that the fractured nature of the old maps  which sliced Chester County into three districts  meant that she was already traveling outside the district to attend local Democratic events.

"The state itself is fair and drawn correctly," in the new map, Houlahan said in an interview. "As a result, the district is too."
Left: In Young Lee, a first-year Ph.D student at Penn, said a Taco Bell employee used a racial slur to describe him on a receipt. Right: The receipt in question, as provided by Lee. Read more

A Philadelphia Taco Bell cashier who served up a slur to an Asian American customer has lost his job.

A spokesperson for Taco Bell Corp. said Tuesday in a statement that the Center City cashier who referred to a customer as "Steve Ch" on a receipt "no longer works for the brand." The company didn't respond when asked to clarify whether the employee was terminated or resigned.

That isn't what the customer, In Young Lee, was aiming for when he posted early Saturday morning about his encounter with Taco Bell employees. Lee, a 25-year-old Ph.D. student at Penn, said Monday that he wouldn't publicize the name of the cashier and that he just wanted the cashier to understand "that racial slurs have implications and the meaning behind things can really hurt people."

Lee said he visited the Taco Bell at 1037 Chestnut St. in Center City around 1:30 a.m. Saturday. After he ordered two tacos and told the cashier his name was "Steve," Lee looked at his receipt and saw he'd been listed as "Steve Ch," a slur for Chinese people. He confronted the cashier about the slur, and Lee said the man initially defended himself, saying there were multiple "Steves" in the restaurant at the time, and he needed to differentiate them.

Taco Bell did not release the name of any of the employees involved. The company also said Tuesday that management apologized to Lee and that the franchisee is retraining its staff "to ensure this incident will not happen again."
The new congressional map released Monday by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Read more

Good morning, friends. It will be a strangely warm (for February) day today, so enjoy the nicer weather while you can. But before you do, join us for a deep dive into the new congressional map imposed on Pennsylvania, released yesterday, and a check in with the historic Old City buildings damaged by this weekend's fire. There's lots to discuss.

If you like what you're reading, tell your friends it's free to sign up for this newsletter here.

 Aubrey Nagle (@aubsn, morningnewsletter@philly.com)

 READ MORE: New congressional map for 2018 elections released; big changes ahead

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court revealed a new congressional district map for the state Monday. The new map renumbers districts across the state and gives a potential boost to Democrats in the 2018 elections.

The number of Republicans and Democrats sent to Congress would likely be close to an even split with this new map. There will also be newly competitive districts all over the state, and Philadelphia, Delaware County and Montgomery County will all see major changes.

But that's not all: the race to succeed Philadelphia's longtime Democratic Party boss Bob Brady in the U.S. House was thrown into chaos by the update.

 READ MORE: Building damaged by Old City fire, city hopes to save facade

An apartment building which caught fire in Old City Sunday has officially been declared "imminently dangerous" by city officials.

The commissioner of the Department of Licenses and Inspections said the building appears to be a "total loss" but that they hope to save its first floor cast iron facade.

The apartment building is one of the beautiful mid-19th century structures that define the look of Old City, writes architecture critic Inga Saffron. Yet, like many other nearby structures, the building lacked protection from preventable, damaging fires.

 READ MORE: How Russian trolls sought to influence Pennsylvania voters

An unknown number of Pennsylvanians were the targets of Russia's campaign to influence American voters via social media, according to an indictment filed Friday by the Justice Department's special counsel.

Thirteen individuals and three companies were charged with criminally interfering with the 2016 presidential election  including planning one October 2016 protest in Philadelphia from 4,300 miles away.

Fake accounts began to hone in on Philadelphia in July 2016 as the Democratic National Convention began. You can see some of their social media posts here.

What you need to know today

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We want to see what our community looks like through your eyes. Show us the park that your family walks through every weekend with the dog, the block party in your neighborhood or the historic stretch you see every morning on your commute to work.

Tag your Instagram posts or tweets with #OurPhilly and we'll pick our favorite each day to feature in this newsletter and give you a shout out!

Thats Interesting

Opinions

"I grew up as a hungry kid, and it was traumatic. I know that any cut like this will only traumatize people further."  Sherita Mouzon of Witnesses to Hunger explains how the SNAP program, which President Trump's proposed budget would cut funding from,  Sherita Mouzon of Witnesses to Hunger explains how the SNAP program, which President Trump's proposed budget would cut funding from, helped save her daughter.

Black History Month has failed its mission, writes Inquirer Editorial Page Editor Harold Jackson, and it's time for schools to make African American history part of their core curricula.

On the other hand, educator and entrepreneur Hakim Pitts writes that he has Black History Month to thank for fueling his life's work in activism and education.

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Your Daily Dose of | Downward Dog

Ever do cat pose with a real cat? Local yoga classes with puppies and cats wandering between the mats are bringing relaxation to a whole new level.
Patricia J. Kelly, 79, of Villanova, who began a career in law at age 49 and was the wife of senior U.S. District Judge Robert F. Kelly, died Saturday, Feb. 17, of dementia at Bryn Mawr Terrace.

Mrs. Kelly was born in Philadelphia, the youngest daughter of William and Catharine Henkel. She graduated first in her class from West Catholic High School and won a scholarship to attend Immaculata College, where she earned a bachelor's degree in English.

In 1963, she married Robert Kelly, at that time a lawyer in private practice in Delaware County. He became a Common Pleas Court judge in Delaware County before his 1987 appointment to the federal bench by President Ronald Reagan.

Mrs. Kelly was proud to be his wife. "There was this mutual respect that they shared," said daughter Johanna Kelly-Schwalm.

The couple raised four children, and while caring for her family, Mrs. Kelly earned a master's degree in English from Villanova University. She taught briefly at Merion Mercy Academy and Notre Dame Academy, both on the Main Line.

At the age of 49, Mrs. Kelly, who thrived on intellectual challenge, made an about-face from teaching and decided to go to law school.

After obtaining her degree from Villanova Law School, she embarked on a career as an attorney specializing in estate and tax law.

In the 2000s, she worked for Crawford, Wilson & Ryan in West Chester. She handled individual, not corporate, clients.

"She was a great person to work with and a terrific attorney," said her former law colleague Kevin J. Ryan. "She had an eye for detail."

"This was the ideal job because her sharp mind loved solving legal problems and her sociable nature loved working with people," said daughter Elizabeth Kelly-Penot.

Mrs. Kelly, who was known as "Pat," enjoyed reading detective stories, writing, touring Europe, and researching family history. She was an intrepid do-it-yourselfer, especially when it came to home decorating.

"She put wallpaper up, she took wallpaper down," said daughter Kelly-Schwalm. "If something had to be done, she learned to do it."

Despite not being a "math" person, as Mrs. Kelly liked to say, she taught herself how to troubleshoot her computer.

"We were the last in our neighborhood to get cable, but the first to get a computer," said Kelly-Schwalm. "My mom taught all of us how to use it. She was our IT person."

Most of all, Mrs. Kelly was devoted to family and loved creating memorable experiences for her grandchildren. "They were the light of her life," Kelly-Schwalm said.

In addition to her husband and daughters, Mrs. Kelly is survived by sons Robert Kelly Jr. and Owen Kelly; four grandchildren, two sisters, and many nieces and nephews. A sister died earlier.

A visitation starting at 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 23, will be followed by a 10 a.m. Funeral Mass at St. Thomas of Villanova Church on the Villanova University campus, Lancaster Avenue, Villanova. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, West Conshohocken.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner may have more in common with conservative criminal justice ideals than those on the other side of the aisle might expect. Read more

At a time when political party appears to be the most divisive label one can espouse, telling conservatives to stay positive about the election of a Democratic district attorney sounds like the setup to a bad joke. But new Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner may have more in common with conservative criminal justice ideals than those on the other side of the aisle might expect.

For instance, Krasner has promised to "stop prosecuting insufficient and insignificant cases," to "target the crimes that matter most," and to "end civil asset forfeiture abuse," a particularly controversial practice that allows district attorneys to seize individuals' assets without a criminal conviction. He also opposes illegal use of "stop-and-frisk"  thereby drawing attention away from low-risk individuals who commit minor infractions and focusing scarce government resources on the 6 percent of individuals in Philadelphia responsible for 60 percent of the most serious crimes. Finally, he has committed to "seek[ing] alternatives to incarceration" in order to "dramatically reduc[e] the number of prisoners held, saving millions of tax dollars."

Oddly enough, these are many of the same reforms that conservatives have been encouraging in communities nationwide to promote a limited government, personal freedom, and a fiscally responsible approach to our justice system.

Until recently, criminal justice reform was considered a "liberal" project, with little Republican input. But conservatives quickly realized that limiting government expansion through the prison system aligns with their principles more so than originally thought. Since then, progressive Democrats have found unlikely allies in conservative organizations and legislators who have joined initiatives to promote criminal justice reform, providing Republicans with a much-needed voice in the prison reform conversation.

The recent movement correctly characterizes our justice system as an extension of government power requiring the same caution and responsibility as any other government apparatus. Reformers are applying the conservative mantras of accountability, personal freedom, and fiscal responsibility to justice systems around the country to promote safety by concentrating police efforts  and taxpayer dollars  on combatting violent crime as opposed to minor, nonviolent offenses, and by providing offenders with the tools they need to become successful, contributing taxpayers.

These principles, when applied in the criminal justice context, lead to a conclusion that reformers on both sides of the aisle have long realized  that more prisons and more laws do not inherently provide more safety. For instance, a sample audit of the embattled stop-and-frisk program revealed 43 percent to 47 percent of stops were made without reasonable suspicion with a weapon recovery rate of only 1.1 percent. Moreover, pretrial incarceration has driven a 99 percent growth in jail populations in the last 15 years, meaning that the vast majority of prison expansion in America is a direct result of the incarceration of individuals who have not yet been found guilty. Few things should offend the limited-government conservative more than deprivation of liberty by the government without conviction.

With 31.5 percent of its jail population consisting of individuals awaiting trial with no other holds, combined with an average length of stay four times as high as the national average, Philadelphia recognized the need for a fresh approach to criminal justice reform three years ago. A collaborative group of criminal justice stakeholders spurred Philadelphia's participation in the MacArthur Foundation's Safety and Justice Challenge  a criminal justice reform initiative that supports local efforts to reduce over-incarceration and racial, ethnic, and economic disparities. The initiative is supporting Philadelphia's creation of a pre-arrest diversion program to keep low-level drug offenders out of jail, as well as a risk-and-needs assessment tool to identify individuals who can be better served with community-based alternatives to prison. Krasner's proposals provide hope that Philadelphia's concerted progress through initiatives like the Safety and Justice Challenge will continue to flourish and expand under new leadership. This trend is likely to spread across the United States.

Although it's clear from the rest of his platform that Krasner is no conservative, criminal justice reformers on the right should remain hopeful about his approach to over-incarceration, recognizing a wide array of shared goals. If he remains true to his word, Philadelphia will likely remain on a positive path to lower incarceration rates, less crime, and better use of taxpayer dollars. Good ideas are good ideas, wherever they come from  even when those ideas come from the other side.

Arthur Rizer is a former federal prosecutor and served as a law enforcement officer for 20 years. He is currently director of criminal justice and security policy with the R Street Institute. @arthurrizer Alyse Ullery is an associate fellow with the R Street Institute.
Heroin user Robert Johnson is reflected in a mirror inside the tent at the pop-up safe injection site at Moss Park in Toronto, Canada. Read more

In Toronto, harm reductionists distribute safer crack-smoking kits.

The kits are packed with Pyrex crack pipes, metal pipe screens, and mouthpieces. They also include lip balm, alcohol swabs, lighters, chewing gum, and condoms.

It's a compassionate response to crack addiction, the way clean needles and Narcan are to the opioid crisis. The kits reduce side effects and risks associated with smoking crack, including the transmission of hepatitis C.

Individuals who smoke crack often get sores, burns, and cuts on their lips and inside their mouths. They're also at high risk for developing respiratory problems, such as asthma, bronchitis, and pneumonia  issues worsened when they use plastic and copper pipes. Pipe sharing also puts them at risk for hepatitis C, so providing them with clean pipes and lighters decreases the chances that they'll share. And crack use often leads to unprotected sex, which puts them at risk for STDs like HIV  hence the condoms.

The distribution of these kits is often the only opportunity community outreach workers have to connect these individuals to harm reduction, health, and social services.

One pop-up facility in Toronto now provides a tent in which people can smoke.

But whether Philadelphia will allow individuals to smoke or inhale other drugs in its proposed comprehensive user engagement sites (CUES) remains unclear.

During a community meeting hosted by Solomon Jones in North Philadelphia on Feb. 9, Roland Lamb, deputy commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services, said that individuals who smoke crack would be welcome there. However, in a Feb. 14 commentary written by Mayor Kenney and District Attorney Larry Krasner, it sounded as if the site will only allow people to use drugs intravenously.

Allowing people to use certain illicit substances and not others is discrimination, and if city officials fail to include individuals who smoke crack in their plans for these sites, this response is as discriminatory as the height of the war on crack 30 years ago.

Black Americans are nine times as likely to be dependent on cocaine (which includes crack) within two years of first using it as whites, and weekly cocaine use among blacks increased by 138 percent between 2011 and 2015, presumably because cocaine is more available in black communities than it is in other places. Black Americans are also nearly six times as likely to be incarcerated on drug charges, even though whites equally sell and possess illegal drugs. If we don't provide them the space to use substances, this plan is racist.

Providing a safe space for individuals to use opioids is lifesaving for people of all complexions. In the last two years, Philadelphia has lost more black and brown individuals to overdose than to gun violence.

But creating this space will not atone for the war on crack and neither will allowing for only opioid use in CUES. Instead, it continues to discriminate against individuals based on the substances they use  just like the draconian crack-cocaine sentencing laws of the past.

If our government truly wants to right the wrongs caused by this country's racist drug war, this effort must first be tailored to our city's most marginalized  the poor, the black, and brown, and the Latino, non-English-speaking residents in Kensington who use or are affected by illicit drugs and their trade. The city must build this initiative around their needs, and the least marginalized and everyone else in between will benefit from that response. Not the other way around.

So what does this look like?

To start, individuals who use any drugs should be allowed to use them at CUES. In Toronto, people are allowed to smoke drugs outside in a smoking tent attached to a safe injection trailer. It provides them with a safe, warm, destigmatized space to smoke. Philadelphia's CUES should create and manage similar smoking spaces  not just in Kensington, but across the city in neighborhoods like Center City, Point Breeze, Mayfair, and Manayunk. No one neighborhood should bear the weight of all the city's drug use. And at those CUES, individuals should have access to safer crack smoking kits, in addition to clean needles.

And that's just the beginning. In the long run, we need pre-arrest diversion programs, investment in public schools, children, and substance-use prevention, and expungement for and investment in returning citizens with possession offenses who have been harmed most of all.

That's the vision for the future. Some may facetiously call it a leftist utopia; we call it slightly less racist drug policy. But for now, let's get tents and trailers up and running in neighborhoods across the city for people who use all illicit substances  not just opiates.

While overdose deaths are irreversible, many black and brown individuals incarcerated on drug charges have lost their lives, too.

Jillian Bauer-Reese is an assistant professor of journalism at Temple University, where she teaches a course called Solutions Journalism: Covering Addiction. She is also a person in recovery. jbr@temple.edu @thesmallpicture.

Sterling Keith Johnson is a geographer and a Sol Collective volunteer, a harm-reduction group. He is a person in recovery and an advocate for the rights and dignity of people with mental health conditions and substance-use disorders. sterling.k.johnson@gmail.com @Lb_Sterling.
At the beginning of the month, 74 young dancers from around the world gathered in Lausanne, Switzerland to compete in the 46th Prix de Lausanne. At the end of a packed week, eight candidates were named prizewinners, including 16-year-old California-native Aviva Gelfer-Mundl. One of seven Americans to enter the competition, Gelfer-Mundlwho trains both at V&T Classical Ballet Academy in Laguna Hills, CA and privately with Alla Khaniashvilli and Nazgul Ryskulova Shinnwas the only one to leave as a prizewinner. Pointe caught up with this nascent star to hear about her former career as a rhythmic gymnast, her time at the Prix and her plans to study at the Vaganova Ballet Academy in Russia next year.

Before ballet, you were a rhythmic gymnast. Why did you make the switch to ballet?



I started rhythmic gymnastics when I was around six or seven and I competed for several years. I was actually state champion and winner of the Junior Olympics in level 5. However at age 10 I got a really bad hamstring injury, and that caused me to reconsider if I really wanted to continue the sport. I wanted something easier on the body, so I started ballet and immediately fell in love with it.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=0EFS1xtAMOQ

Do you find that your experience with gymnastics helps with ballet?



Definitely. I learned the essentials in gymnastics, like how to pick movement up quickly and deal with transitions. But in ballet you have to be much more elegant and expressive with the music, where in gymnastics its more about the tricks.

What were your two variations at the Prix de Lausanne?

One variation was from Paquita. The second was Touch, Feel, Sense by Louise Deleur. They were totally different both in dynamics and artistry. In Paquita I felt I had to be very flirtatious and jumpy, but in Touch, Feel, Sense, like the name suggests, it was really about feeling the music.

What was the highlight of your time at the Prix?



The experience itself was a highlight. Also, working with the choreographers was really incredible because they gave me so many great corrections that Ill forever cherish.

What was the scariest part?



The rake! I fell a few times during the first few days, but as the week progressed it started to get better, and by the end I came to like dancing on it. It helped to adjust to it by keeping my back in place and having a good core.

What was it like to interact with other dancers from around the world?

I made a lot of friendships that I will for sure hold on to. It was really great to be in an environment with so many great dancers at a completely different level than anything Id ever experienced.

Backstage at the Prix de Lausanne. Photo Courtesy Gelfer-Mundl.

How do you manage your nerves before a competition?



I take three slow deep breaths to calm my heart rate and then Im ready. Sometimes I also watch meditation videos to relax my brain.

Do you know where the scholarship that you won at the Prix will take you?

Because Im in eighth place I had to wait for the Prix to accommodate the first seven candidates, but I can now announce that Ill be training at the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia next year. I know that I will miss my family and friends back home, but training at the school has been a dream of mine since I started dance. I have never been to Russia and Im excited to visit the historic landmarks in St. Petersburg.

Whats your dream company?



The Mariinsky Ballet.

Whats something that you like to do outside of ballet?



I like to cook and spend time my sister and my dog and my whole family, especially my grandparents.

Do you have any advice for dancers entering the competition circuit?



Enjoy every moment of the experience because you ever know if its going to happen again.
For Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, the anguish of Floridas worst school shooting remains raw. Families are still burying some of the 17 students and faculty members killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, victims of a deeply troubled ex-student armed with an AR-15 rifle.

For Miami Beach Police Chief Dan Oates, the scars are six years old but still deep. He headed the police department in Aurora, Colorado, when a mentally ill killer armed with an AR-15 rifle killed a dozen and injured 70 others in a movie theater.

These two South Florida law enforcement leaders want more gun control:

First, they want AR-15 rifles out of the hands of civilians. Second, they argue that lenient state and national gun laws and mental health privacy laws are hampering the mission of police to keep the public safe from gun violence, prohibiting officers from confiscating weapons  often even from people who have produced a trail of warnings like accused Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz.

Theyre not alone among top state law enforcement officers calling for lawmakers to tighten gun control. Florida Police Chiefs Association Kevin Lystad, Chief of the Miami Shores Police Department, told the Miami Herald his organization plans to offer gun legislation to state lawmakers in the coming weeks.

Congress messed up when they didnt renew the assault weapons ban [in 2004]. I think that was problematic, Lystad said. We need to deal with assault weapons, background checks. Its about finding common ground.

One immediate change that Oates and Israel want to see: Ban the legal sale of the AR-15s used in both massacres. In only one condition should you have an assault rifle, if youve joined the Marines and youre going to fight, Israel said.
Chili is definitely the "go-to" dish these winter days and likely one of the most popular soups or stews on the culinary scene. Wouldn't you like to know how many tons of it were served in homes during the Super Bowl?

Chili has a lot going for it: Most of us love it, it can be made ahead and there are hundreds of variations. If you don't like one there is surely another you would. Go to a chili cook-off  one of the more popular food competitions  and you'll get the idea.

One thing is certain  there is no right or wrong way to make it. We all have our own ingredients we put together to make it just right.

So what makes a good chili? There are a few essentials, meat, or a meat substitute, being one. Popular cuts are ground beef or beef cut into cubes, short ribs and brisket. If using ground beef, ask the butcher for a chili grind, which is a little coarser.

Lamb, pork and buffalo have also become popular and recently ground turkey and chicken have also become an ingredient. A vegetarian chili, which came onto the scene in the '70s, may substitute tofu for meat.

Cooks have almost come to blows over whether tomatoes should be included. True chili aficionados from Texas would say absolutely no tomatoes. It's meat, beans and chilies. End of conversation.

About the beans: Several local cooks said the more kinds you use, the better, whether they be red, black, white or pinto. Many recipes call for soaking dried beans, a process that takes time, then cooking for several hours. Purists will do that. However, using canned varieties is simpler and faster, and many of us wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

There are those who add V8 juice as a liquid, or red pepper soup from Trader Joe's. A few add coffee, others chocolate. Some also add sugar to counteract the acid of the tomatoes. Said one, "Chili is as personal as potato salad. Everyone has their favorite."

From its earliest days, chili's seasonings have been garlic, onions, cumin and a variety of chili peppers, all ground into a powder, the spicier and hotter the better. There are many serious chili cooks who grind their own chili powder rather than using the store-bought variety.

In fact, early cooks did just that  chili powder is probably the first American spice blend. There are some of us who look for the easy way out and buy  horrors  the packaged chili mix.

The history of chili itself is more colorful than most foods from the Southwest. The earliest versions were likely put together in the early 1800s by farmers trying to stretch their meat by adding suet, beans, chilies and water.

From there, it gradually progressed as cowboys and settlers came through and added to the mix. It stayed a Texas specialty until the 1893 Columbian Exhibition in Chicago, where the San Antonio Chili Stand introduced it to thousands.

Those were also the years in which chili wagons and chili queens sold the dish in Texas market squares. Vendors would make their version at home, then bring it to sell  sort of a fast-food operation. This kept up until 1937, when the health departments closed them down, citing unsanitary conditions. So ended a colorful tradition and part of Texas history.

An interesting sidelight is that chili became something of a status symbol for Texas prisons in the late 1800s. Inmates rated jails on the quality of the chili, and when released often wrote back for the recipe.

The way most of us enjoy a steaming bowl of chili is by topping it with cheese, sour cream, Fritos, maybe onions, but there are other ways. Cincinnati chili is eaten over spaghetti, others put it over rice. It can go on top of a hot dog (chili dog), hamburgers, French fries and a baked potato.

At most fairs you can get a Walking Taco  Fritos in a bag topped with chili.

However you enjoy it, chili  with tomatoes or without  holds an important and much-loved place in our culinary history.
I wrote here at length about The Subject Was Roses almost ten years ago after I saw playwright Frank Gilroys grandson Sam Gilroy on stage at the Moore Theater in Dartmouths Hopkins Center. Meeting up with Frank Gilroy when he visited Dartmouth in 1971 for a screening of Desperate Characters, a film he had produced and directed as well as adapted from Paula Foxs esteemed novel, was one of the highlights of my college experience.

Gilroy won the Pulitzer Prize for The Subject Was Roses in 1964. The play portrays the homecoming of Timmy Cleary from Europe to the Bronx after his military service in World War II. Timmys parents, John and Nettie Cleary, are trapped in a vividly drawn marriage full of hurt and hate.

The play appears to have been torn from Gilroys life, a nakedly autobiographical account of his family. On my way home from campus in 2009, I read the journals Gilroy excerpted in Writing For Love and/or Money. Gilroys journals confirmed my impression, or at least failed to dispel it.

One of the things I admire about the play (and the 1968 film) is the sympathy with which each of the three characters is portrayed. Watching the play and film as an adolescent, I naturally identified with Timmy. Over the years, as age and experience have changed my perspective, Ive also come to identify with Timmys parents.

The roses of the plays title refer to Timmys unsuccessful attempt to reconcile his parents with each other. Timmy needs to escape from his family. The play climaxes in Timmys announcement that he intends to leave home.

Timmys father begs him to stay. Timmy responds by telling his father of a recurring dream in which he learns his father is dead. In the dream Timmy runs crying into the street. He tells his father that in his dream someone would stop him and hed say, My father is dead and hes never said he loves me. He says he realizes that by the same token, hes never said those words to his father. I say them now, he says, I love you Pop.

I dont know what youre talking about, John says. Both finally in tears, John and Timmy embrace, yet the tears are quickly suppressed upon Netties appearance to make breakfast.

The play isnt performed very often and the film is rarely seen. It therefore seemed to me something of an event when the play was revived at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles with Martin Sheen, who had played Timmy on stage and in the film, now in the role of the father.

When the play was revived in 2010, Charles Isherwood reviewed it for the New York Times here. The Times also profiled Martin Sheen upon his return to the play here. The profile quoted Gilroy, then 84, on Sheens return. Its neither a perfect play nor perfect film  the films attempt to open out the play beyond the Clearys apartment is particularly awkward  but it cuts close to the bone in ways that have moved me from the time I first saw it.

The play and the movie have both become dated in certain respects. When I spoke to Gilroy on campus in 1971, he expressed tactful disappointment with the film. He made the point that he had seen the actors give better performances during the shows Broadway run.

My favorite Hollywood film is Cool Hand Luke. I missed my chance to tout it when it played on TCMs 31 Days of Oscar this past Sunday. The Subject Was Roses comes up tonight at 6:00 p.m. (Eastern). I wanted to take the liberty of drawing it to the attention of readers who might find it of interest.
Nina Burleigh is best remembered as the reporter who offered oral sex to Bill Clinton and recommended that other women do likewise. For her, Glenn Reynolds famous Democratic operative with byline doesnt go far enough. Today, Ms. Burleigh was back in action in defense of Al Franken. Her latest effort is the purest expression of left-wing paranoia we have seen in a long time: How an Alt-Right Bot Network Took Down Al Franken.

You really have to read the whole thing to grasp how fully Ms. Burleigh, Newsweek magazine, which originally published the piece, and Yahoo News, which republished it at the link, have descended into the fever swamp. But I will try to convey the flavor of the piece. She begins by smearing Leeann Tweeden, the woman who went on a USO tour with Al Franken and lived to regret it:

Analysts have now mapped out how Hooters pinup girl and lad-mag model Leeann Tweedens initial accusation against Franken became effective propaganda after right-wing black ops master Roger Stone first hinted at the allegation.

Because women who accuse powerful and famous men of sexual impropriety are always lying, especially when they have photographs. Right? Actually, Burleigh never does address the truthto use an apparently archaic termof Tweedens claims, nor does she mention the numerous other women who subsequently accused Franken of improprieties. Her interest lies elsewhere:

A pair of Japan-based websites, created the day before Tweeden came forward, and a swarm of related Twitter bots made the Tweeden story go viral and then weaponized a liberal writers criticism of Franken. The bot armyin tandem with prominent real, live members of the far right who have Twitter followers in the millions, such as Mike Cernovichspewed thousands of posts, helping the #FrankenFondles hashtag and the Franken is a groper meme effectively silence the testimonies of eight former female staffers who defended the Minnesota Democrat before he resigned last year.

***

On the same day, a developer named Atsufumi Otsuka registered a web domain in Japan called RealUSA.site, and a fake-news website soon emerged at that web address, according to research shared with the voting rights outfit Unhack the Vote.

Unhack the Vote is a scurrilous left-wing outfit that has been criticized by the Daily Kos(!) as an unreliable purveyor of fake evidence.

But Burleighs most sensational claim is that bringing down Al Franken was a Russian intelligence operation:

By November 17, the trending of Al Franken was officially also a Russian intelligence operation, according to the Alliance for Securing Democracy, an organization tracking Russian social media accounts, based on a sample taken that day of 600 of the fake accounts.

Is that big news, or what? But there is more:

That same day, Otsuka registered a second domain in Japan for another fake-news site, VotyUS.me. Both accounts used the same Google analytics account ID and Apple app ID, and the name of the servers and registration for both sites were virtually identical, researchers found. On December 7, just before Democrats started calling for Franken to step down, the freshly minted Japan-based fake sites went to work and re-published an article by Ijeoma Oluo, a liberal writer, urging women and activists to stop supporting Franken. Oluo had posted the opinion piece, titled Dear Al Franken, Ill Miss You but You Cant Matter Anymore, on a much smaller website, with a reach of 10,000 followers. Suddenly, thousands of apparently fake Twitter accounts were tweeting the title of the articlebut linking back to one of the two Japanese-registered fake-news sites created in conjunction with the right-wing anti-Franken campaign. The bot accounts normally tweeted about celebrities, bitcoin and sports, but on that day, they were mobilized against Franken. Researchers have found that each bot account had 30 to 60 followers, all Japanese.

So Al Franken resigned because he was being criticized in Japan? This is so confusing! Actually, Burleigh suffers a brief encounter with reality when she acknowledges that it was Senate Democrats, not the alt-right, whatever that is, who forced Franken out. But then the madness continues:

One question remains: Who is paying for this operation? The researchers believe that the operation was expensive. We estimate dozens of hours of initial development time and at least one person working full time to produce and distribute content, one of the researchers told Newsweek. Additionally, its likely that an existing bot farm of compromised computers is basically being rented as a distributed host for these accounts.

Dozens of hours, and one person working full-time! Obviously a cabal of billionaires must be funding the effort, or perhaps the Russian government.

Burleigh concludes by saying that the Democrats problem is that they are too nice, and they need to engage in black ops like the alt-right. I agree with her. I hope that in the next election cycle, the Democrats devote all of their resources to Japanese bots. That no doubt will sway the millions of voters who think the Democrats are hopelessly out of touch.

Sadly, though, the story doesnt end there. Apparently Burleigh herself was a victim of disinformation, or maybe she was just hallucinating. In any event, the Russian connection, the crown jewel of her conspiracy theory, didnt pan out, and her chronology was wrong, too. Newsweek, which famously once sold for a dollar and now is worth less, has deleted the Russians from Burleighs fever dream and added this correction:

This story is updated to remove reference to the Russian bots tracked by the Alliance for Securing Democracy and clarify the date of Democratic calls for resignation.

On the latter point, Burleighs story said that the major Japanese bot effort preceded Frankens resignation:

On December 7, just before Democrats started calling for Franken to step down, the freshly minted Japan-based fake sites went to work and re-published an article by Ijeoma Oluo, a liberal writer, urging women and activists to stop supporting Franken. Oluo had posted the opinion piece, titled Dear Al Franken, Ill Miss You but You Cant Matter Anymore, on a much smaller website, with a reach of 10,000 followers. Suddenly, thousands of apparently fake Twitter accounts were tweeting the title of the articlebut linking back to one of the two Japanese-registered fake-news sites created in conjunction with the right-wing anti-Franken campaign.

OnlyoopsBurleigh was wrong about the dates. The corrected paragraph states:

On December 7, a day after Democrats started calling for Franken to step down, the freshly minted Japan-based fake sites went to work and re-published an article by Ijeoma Oluo

So the whole Japanese bot thing is pretty much irrelevant.
Several former Miss Universe contestants allege that Donald Trump helped pick the finalists in the days leading up to the competition and made sure to note his business holdings in the nations being represented by his favorites. So reports Jeffrey Toobin in a long New Yorker article (warning: the article is more about Russia than about beauty).

According to Toobin:

Adwoa Yamoah, who participated in the competition after winning Miss Canada 2012, told [him] that Trump would drop by during rehearsals, chat up the contestants, and then note his preferences to Miss Universe Organization president Paula Shugart. He made comments about every girl, Yamoah told Toobin. Ive been to that country. Were building a Trump Tower there. It was clear the countries that he liked did well. Hed whisper to Paula about the girls, and shed write it down. He basically told us he picked nine of the top 15.

Yamoah, whose image appears in this post, is not the only former contestant who feels aggrieved:

Kerrie Baylis, Miss Jamaica 2013, added, the list [of Miss Universe finalists] looked like the countries that Donald Trump did business with, or wanted to do business with. And Shi Lim, Miss Singapore 2013, also told Toobin, The finalists were picked by Trump. He was really in charge. We called it the Trump card.

According to a Miss Universe spokeswoman, pageant rules allowed the companys staff, including Trump, to participate in naming the finalists. As Ronald Reagan once said, I am paying for this microphone.

It would be bad form, though, for Trump to select finalists based on whether he was doing business, or wanted to do business, in the country from which a contestant haled. Did he?

It is possible, I think, to determine whether a correlation exists between nations finalists represented and nations where Trump had business interests. This sounds like a good assignment for John.

Toobin does not appear to have performed such an analysis (he does say that finalists usually came from countries where Miss Universe had strong television ratings  a different and perhaps more plausible conspiracy theory for which he also presents no evidence). Thus, as good as Miss Canada looked, the allegations of the three former contestants may just be sour grapes.
In the wake of the Parkland school shootings, the Left has gone into overdriveits default mode these dayspushing for more gun control. Any gun control, apparently, as I havent seen any proposals emerge that are new, or that would have prevented the Parkland murders.

Ironically, the facts that have come out about Parkland and Nikolas Cruz do point the way toward possible reforms. But they lie in the realms of law enforcement and mental health, not more controls on firearms. The FBI has already admitted that it dropped the ball by not following upnot adhering to its own procedures, in factwhen it received a warning that Cruz was a potential mass murderer. Locally, law enforcement responded to his home on 39 occasions, and fellow students described him by saying, Like if there was someone to shoot up a school, it would be him. Cruz wrote multiple times on social media, and apparently told everyone who would listen, that he aspired to be a school shooter.

After all of this, nothing was done. To be fair, though, what should have been done? Even if the FBI had followed up properly, what could they have done other than interview Cruz? In the U.S., the standard for involuntary commitment is very high. There was no serious likelihood that someone like Nikolas Cruz would be locked away for the rest of his life, for fear that he may act on his expressed desire to be a mass murderer. Maybe this should change, but many on the Left (and right, for that matter) would fight dramatic expansion of involuntary commitment for mental illness on civil rights grounds.

Instead of addressing these mental health and law enforcement issues intelligently, the Left has peddled misleading statistics and outright lies in order to push its anti-gun narrative. CBS News, for example, absurdly claimed that it is easier to buy an assault rifle in Florida than to buy cold medicine:

In Florida, it's easier to buy an assault rifle than it is to obtain cold medicine https://t.co/VeimDiHEdq pic.twitter.com/s6ibiSLM49  CBS News (@CBSNews) February 19, 2018

Is CBS News seriously unaware that you have to pass a federal background check to buy a gun? Unlike cold medicine? I assume they do know better, and are just lying to promote their agenda.

Similarly, multiple bogus statistics about the frequency of school shootings have been peddled relentlessly. James Fox at USA Today does a good job of debunking them:

We were informed, for example, that since 2013 there has been an average of one school shooting a week in the U.S., and 18 since the beginning of this year. While these statistics were not exactly lies or fake news, they involved stretching the definition of a school shooting well beyond the limits of most peoples imagination.

***

Nearly half of the 290 were completed or attempted suicides, accidental discharges of a gun, or shootings with not a single individual being injured. Of the remainder, the vast majority involved either one fatality or none at all.

***

Since 1990, there have been 22 shootings at elementary and secondary schools in which two or more people were killed, not counting those perpetrators who committed suicide. Whereas five of these incidents have occurred over the past five-plus years since 2013, claiming the lives of 27 victims (17 at Parkland), the latter half of the 1990s witnessed seven multiple-fatality shootings with a total of 33 killed (13 at Columbine). In fact, the 1997-98 school year was so awful, with four multiple-fatality shooting sprees at the hands of armed students (in Pearl, Miss.; West Paducah, Ky.; Jonesboro, Ariz.; and Springfield, Ore.), that then-President Clinton formed a White House expert committee to advise him.

If better security is needed at public schools, lets have better security. But I dont see anyone on the Left talking about that, just as no one on the Left seems to be talking about failures of law enforcement or our mental health system.

The problem of attacks on schools by crazy and/or evil people goes back a long way. The worst attack on a school in our history occurred in Bath, Michigan in 1927. Andrew Kehoea school board member!killed 44 people, including 38 children. He didnt use a gun, however. He used a bomb made from dynamite and shrapnel.
We noted the case of Minnesota man Mahad Abdiaziz Abdiraham (or Abdirahman) this past November 14 and November 15. Abdiraham was charged with first-degree assault in connection with the stabbings of two customers at the Macys Mall of Americas Macy store on Sunday evening, November 12. The second of the two linked posts quotes the charges.

The stabbing victims were brothers Alexander Sanchez (19 years old) and John Sanchez (25). It was reported that the younger brother suffered injuries to his head that will leave scars, and cuts to his arms that went to the bone, according to the charges. His brother needed dozens of stitches, the court filing revealed.

The Star Tribune article on the charges noted that no motive for the stabbings was offered in the complaint, but that it did suggest Abdirahman has had psychological difficulties. In 2016, he was arrested on suspicion of stabbing two staff members with a pen at an inpatient psychiatric unit. That case apparently went nowhere.

In January Abdiraham pleaded guilty to the assault charges. The Star Tribune story by Paul Walsh continued to suggest that the motive for the assaults was psychological.

At the plea hearing, however, Abdiraham issued a statement clarifying the motive for his assaults. Abdiraham explained that he was waging jihad in support of ISIS. KSTP-TV Eyewitness News reported:

At the plea hearing Thursday, Abdirahams attorney read a statement  which is public record  to the courtroom, which explained why he attacked the two men. In the statement, Abdiraham said he went to the Mall of America to answer the call for jihad by the Chief of Believer, Abu-bakr Al-baghdadi, may Allah protect him, and by the Mujahiden of the Islamic State. The statement added, I understand that the two men I stabbed know and have explained the reason for my attack, and I am here reaffirming that it was indeed an act of Jihad in the way of Allah. Abdiraham also said in the statement that Americans will not be safe as long as your country is at war with Islam.

Eyewitness News reporter Beth McDonough didnt leave it at that. She also sought comment from interested parties. Twin Cities Somali community spokesman Omar Jamal suggested that Abdirahman is not simply the basket case presented by the Star Tribune. This is a widespread sentiment with Somali youth, he said. Jamal said the federal governments effort to make it difficult for would-be jihadists to travel abroad and join a terrorist group has had unintended consequences locally.

Translation: they are talking about waging jihad here in Minnesota. Lest there be any doubt of his meaning, Jamal explained: What is very concerning in this instance, is the fact that youth are exploring more How can I do something here, what weapons are accessible.'

If you didnt know about it, however, you wouldnt have found Abdirahams statement concerning. Readers of the Star Tribune could persist undisturbed in their blissful ignorance.

Last week Abdiraham was sentenced to 15 years for the stabbings. With good behavior in prison he could be out in 8 years. At the sentencing hearing Abdiraham flashed the 1 hand sign expressing his support of ISIS. I saw two of the defendants in the Minnesota men terrorism trial do the same thing following their sentencing before Judge Davis in 2016. Assistant United States Attorney John Docherty saw to it that their actions were made a part of the court record. It is not apparent to me that the Hennepin County authorities involved in Abdirahams case know what they are dealing with or have done the right thing handling it themselves.

The Star Tribune story covering the sentencing is here. Reporter Randy Furst quoted a Georgetown expert on extremism to explain what its all about. Based on his behavior at the plea hearing the expert explained: I think it means he supports the modern terrorist group ISIS.

Gee, thanks. As I say, it is not apparent to me that the Hennepin County authorities know what they are dealing with in this case.

Furst also quoted the statements submitted by the brothers injured by Abdiraham. The stabbings have devastated their lives. KSTP-TV Eyewitness News has pulled no punches in its coverage of the case. Its report on the sentencing is posted online here. The video is below.

Via Clarion Project.
My views on climate change deviate somewhat from those of John and Steve who, to be fair, know more about the subject than I do. So I might have favored remaining in the Paris Accord if I thought the rest of the world would comply with the promises made therein.

However, I had no such confidence. It seemed to me that only a fool would.

Now we learn that in the years since the global agreement was reached, world-wide emissions of carbon dioxide are rising after several years of remaining flat, as many nations, including some very big ones, are failing to fulfill the promises they made. The problem hasnt been the U.S., where emissions have declined since the Paris agreement, according to the Washington Post. The problem has been with much of the rest of the world. The Post explains:

Even as renewable energy grows cheaper and automakers churn out battery-powered and more efficient cars, many nations around the world are nonetheless struggling to hit the relatively modest goals set in Paris. The reasons vary. Brazil has struggled to rein in deforestation, which fuels greenhouse gas emissions. In Turkey, Indonesia and other countries with growing economies, new coal plants are being planned to meet the demand for electricity.

Now theres a surprise  countries with growing economies will use coal plants, not wind and other trendy sources, to meet electricity demand.

What about countries with highly developed economies?

The struggles of Germany, one of the globes most progressive nations when it comes to embracing renewable energy, illustrates the problem. The countrys Energiewende, or energy transition, aims to generate 80 percent of energy from renewable sources by 2050. The country also has set an aggressive near-term goal of cutting greenhouses gas emissions by 40 percent below 1990 levels by the year 2020. But Germany is struggling to meet its goals. The countys emissions actually rose slightly in 2015 and 2016 because of continued coal burning and emissions growth in the transportation sector. That failing trajectory wont change without massive and rapid efforts, according to the German Environment Agency.

Indeed, the entire E.U. is on track to fall short of promised reductions, according to the European Environment Agency. So are Japan and Australia. Mexico and South Africa are among the nations who, according to the Climate Action Tracker, are guilty both of promising insufficient reductions and of failing to meet even those promises.

But help is on the way:

This year, countries will officially begin to grapple with how off target they are through the Talanoa dialogue, which refers to a process used in Fiji and other Pacific islands for finding consensus and building trust without laying blame. Culminating at the December U.N. meeting in Poland, the dialogue will nudge world leaders to assess where they stand on the need to cut emissions and how far they have to go.

If that doesnt work, theres always a witch doctor.
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, dominated by Democrats, has redrawn the map for congressional districts in that state. It was assisted by a liberal law professor from Stanford.

According to Sean Trende, the new map follows reasonable principles  compactness, contiguity, and minimal jurisdictional splits  but within those confines repeatedly makes choices that increase the Democrats odds of winning districts. What a surprise!

The bottom line is that instead of gerrymandering by partisan legislators, Pennsylvania now has gerrymandering by partisan judges (Pennsylvania elects its Supreme Court judges), assisted by a partisan law professor.

We may have more to say about this matter. In this post, though, I want to discuss what almost certainly is Americas first gerrymander.

Its well-known that gerrymandering dates back to the early days of the Republic. Indeed, the name comes from Elbridge Gerry, an important Massachusetts politician of the 1790s early 1800s, and vice president of the United States for a time under James Madison. He performed the handiwork known as gerrymandering in or around 1812, while serving as governor.

Years before, however, Patrick Henry had gerrymandered at least one congressional district in Virginia. He did this shortly after ratification of the Constitution and shortly before the first congressional elections under the new Constitution.

Henrys gerrymander wasnt directed at a rival party (parties hadnt yet formed, though formation was in the works), but rather a rival politician: James Madison. The two had clashed bitterly during the proceedings that determined whether Virginia would ratify the Constitution. Madison of course supported ratification of the document he helped draft and then brilliantly defended in the Federalist Papers. Henry opposed ratification.

Madison prevailed narrowly, but Henry wasnt finished fighting. He began pushing for a second national constitutional convention to amend the Constitution and add a bill of rights. Madison, according to Noah Feldman in his biography of the fourth president, believed that Henry had in mind eliminating the federal governments power to tax, and thereby destroying the new federal system.

Madison desperately wanted to serve in the first Congress in order, among other things, to block a new convention. However, the state legislature, dominated by Henry, selected Richard Henry Lee and William Garrison as Virginias first Senators.

Madison figured handily to win a seat in the House, as he was the dominant political figure in his area of the state  Orange County. However, Henry managed to create a district in which Orange County was combined with heavily anti-Federalist counties.

To make matters worse, Henry recruited the formidable James Monroe, friend of Madison and disciple of Thomas Jefferson, to run for the seat. Monroe had opposed ratification of the Constitution.

Madison overcame the gerrymander and the Monroe candidacy only by vigorously campaigning  which he hated to do  and by supporting the addition of a bill of rights to the Constitution  which he had opposed. In the end, Madison lost two big counties heavily  Spotsylvania and Amherst  but won his home country almost unanimously. The total count was Madison 1,308, Monroe 972.

Madison went to Congress where he wrote the essence of what became the Bill of Rights. The rest is history.
An engineering professor who also served as provost and chief academic officer at the University of Delaware, has been selected as the next chancellor of the University of Michigan-Dearborn. His appointment is effective Aug. 1.

Domenico Grasso, who earned his doctorate degree in environmental engineering at U of M, currently is a professor in the School of Public Policy and Administration and in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Delaware. He stepped down as provost last October.

Following a recommendation from President Mark Schlissel, the Board of Regents unanimously approved the appointment during a public meeting Feb. 15.

Domenico Grasso comes to U of M-Dearborn with impeccable academic credentials and a track record of solid, proven administrative and academic leadership, Schlissel said. His career has been marked by thoughtful and creative initiatives and a strong commitment to the transformative nature of higher education.

Grassos appointment comes after an extensive search, led by a 14-member advisory committee made up of U of M-Dearborn faculty, students, staff, alumni and community leaders. The committee was co-chaired by Schlissel and Ghassan Kridli, associate dean of undergraduate education for the College of Engineering and Computer Science. The group hosted a number of town hall meetings and panels to solicit input from the campus and local community.

Grasso will be the sixth leader of the Dearborn campus and will replace Daniel Little, who held the position for 18 years. Little will step down from his chancellorship July 31 and will remain as a member of faculty.

Ive had the opportunity to witness firsthand just how well that campus has done under Dans leadership and vision, Regent Andrew Richner said. Im really excited about it. I see were going to continue the tradition of great vision and leadership on that campus under Dr. Grasso, so welcome aboard.

In addition to his academic and professional credentials and background, Grasso will bring his experience as a first-generation college student and as an Army veteran to his leadership of U of M-Dearborn.

I am thrilled to be here at one of the worlds great universities and am honored to lead one of its most exciting campuses, Grasso said. Im eager to begin working with the faculty, staff, students and the surrounding community to shape the next chapter in the campus distinguished history.

Throughout his extensive career in higher education, Grasso, 62, has led significant efforts in the areas of engineering education, enrollment management, diversity and community engagement. In his most recent role at The University of Delaware, Grasso led the campus through a variety of initiatives, including the creation of the Division of Enrollment Management, Cybersecurity Initiative, Financial Services Analytics Institute, and Community Engagement Initiative, as well as the development of university wide programs ranging from entrepreneurship to humanities, social science and arts programs.

Prior to his roles at The University of Delaware, Grasso served as both the vice president for research and dean of the Graduate College and dean of the College of Engineering and Mathematical Science at the University of Vermont. There he worked with the faculty to build university wide Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives or Spires of Excellence for selected and focused future resource investments.

Before joining UVM, Grasso was the Rosemary Bradford Hewlett Professor at Smith College and founding director of its Picker Engineering Program, the first engineering program at a womens college and one of the few in a liberal arts college in the United States.

Grasso earned his bachelors degree in civil engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and his masters degree in civil engineering from Purdue University. He is married to Susan Hull Grasso, a native of Troy, and a U of M engineering alumna. They have four children.

Source: The University of Michigan-Dearborn
High school students from all seven of Dearborns public and private high schools became month-long members of the Dearborn Rotary Club during Rotary Youth Month in February.

Based on their qualities of leadership and sound ethical conduct, students are selected by school counseling staff to participate in the annual Dearborn Rotary event.

The teens actively participate in weekly Rotary meetings and club programs during February and, in a fun twist, are expected to host the Rotary Club meeting on the first Thursday of March.

Special guest speakers participate each week to help the youth get in touch with their community, government, leadership opportunities and life commitments.

During the first week, U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-12th District) spoke with students about personal commitment and leadership in government.

In week two, Rotary District Governor Rick Caron gave a passionate address about the opportunities to serve local and global communities through Rotary.

Scheduled for the third and fourth weeks are Donald Guinn from the Michigan Attorney Generals Office and Kim Fix, community outreach and marketing coordinator for the Huron-Clinton Metroparks.

At the final Youth Month meeting, students will assume the clubs leadership roles and conduct the meeting. The teens use what they learned and experienced during the month to design a final youth month program.

Current Dearborn Rotary President Bob Gleichauf said that students from seven area high schools working together to host the final Rotary meeting mirror the work that Rotary does around the world to tackle global issues such as hunger, disease prevention and access to clean water.

The Rotary Club of Dearborn is the citys oldest service organization and is a proud member of Rotary International bringing 1.22 million members in more than 34,000 individual clubs together to live the motto of Service Above Self.

Dearborn Rotary meets weekly at Park Place in Dearborn. Visit dearbornrotary.org or call 313-278-7233 for more information.
KABUL, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Up to 28 Taliban militants have been killed in southern restive province of Helmand, the Afghan Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

"Twenty-eight terrorists were killed as a result of cordon operations and airstrikes in Dishu, Garmser, Marja, and Musa Qala districts of Helmand," the ministry tweeted.

Four heroin factories and a control and command center of the enemies were also destroyed during the fresh operations and airstrikes, it said.

Helmand, notorious for poppy growing, is also a known Taliban stronghold.

The Taliban insurgent group, which has been waging an insurgency of more than 16 years, has yet to make comments.
A J-10 fighter jet attached to an aviation brigade of the air force under the PLA Western Theater Command taxies on the runway during an aerial combat training exercise in Western China on Feb.13, 2018. Photo:eng.chinamil.com.cn

China is upgrading its Western Theater Command in order to confront any threat from India, a Chinese military specialist said after photographs of a J-10 jet flying over the high-altitude plateau in western China were released by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) during the Spring Festival holiday.

The pictures posted on the English version of the PLA website show a J-10 fighter jet and J-11 fighter jets conducting aerial combat training exercises in Western China on February 13, two days before Spring Festival.

The jets are attached to an aviation brigade of the air force under the PLA Western Theater Command, the post said.

The Western Theater Command is mainly responsible for mountain warfare at the border area with India. It is significant for China to strengthen control of airspace over the mountainous region, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

"Strengthening the 3.5-generation fighter jets or even stationing more advanced fighters in the Western Theatre Command has been urgent for the PLA," Song said, adding that such upgrades have been usually first conducted in south and east theatre commands.

Considering that India possesses 3rd-generation fighter jets, China's stationing of its 3.5-generation jets would be able to deal with any current threat from India, said Song. "With India importing new jets, China will continue strengthening its fighter jets in the Western Theatre Command," Song said.

During this year's week-long Spring Festival holiday, the PLA has not stop training. The PLA website reported that the PLA Air Force conducted training at the foot of the Qilian Mountains in Northwest China's Gansu Province, and a navy aviation regiment was on patrol in Jiaodong Peninsula, East China's Shandong province.

The PLA website also reported on Monday that the North China Sea Fleet of the PLA Navy on Saturday conducted training exercises in the Yellow Sea.

During Spring Festival, real combat trainings have been included in patrol, such as submarine ambush, enemy warship attacks and mine clearing and laying, in preparation to face any emergency situation, an officer with the fleet said.

A J-11 fighter jet attached to an aviation brigade of the air force under the PLA Western Theater Command deploys a drogue parachute to slow itself after finishing an aerial combat training exercise in Western China on Feb. 13, 2018. Photo:eng.chinamil.com.cn
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, in his speech during the 10th Biennial National Convention and 20th Founding Anniversary Celebration of the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI) at the Manila Hotel on February 19, 2018, insists that he has been doing what he can to fulfill his campaign promises. KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Source: mb.com.ph

President Duterte is planning to visit China again to seek more trade and investments for the Philippines.

The President recognized that China has been very good to the country, saying he was not ashamed to request more assistance for the country to sustain economic growth.

China has reportedly invited the Philippine leader to attend a conference although Duterte did not say the date of his upcoming foreign visit.

I like more investments for my place. Ill go there to argue my case. You have exceedingly been very good to us, but I have to find another world because I want more, I am very poor, Duterte said during a gathering of the Filipino-Chinese community at the Manila Hotel last Monday night.

Its the development, the progress on a high gear, kumbaga primera, segunda, naka-tercera na tayo [Its like weve gone on first, second and third gears]. We have to go to the fourth gear for a cruising So I need the help of China. Why should I be ashamed? he added.

He said China has shown good will not because they are afraid but because they want to maintain good relations with everybody  not only in the Philippines. Apart from the weapons given by China to the Philippine military, Duterte cited that Beijing has also offered to build two bridges in the country for free.

The President made the remarks before the crowd that included former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua attending the 10th biennial national convention and 20th anniversary celebration of the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. last Monday night.

Dutertes last visit to China was in May 2017 when he met President Xi Jinping and attended the One Belt, One Road summit. He also had a state visit to China back in October 2016.

Meantime, the President has pushed for friendly relations with China instead of waging war over the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea.

Duterte however made clear that the country would continue to assert ownership of the West Philippine Sea and the Philippine Rise

We can only be diplomatic. We can only be talking on friendly and civilized terms, he said.

I will not commit the lives of the Filipinos only to die unnecessarily. I will not go into a battle which I can never win, he added.
BANGALORE, India, February 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Borderless Access, a global Digital MR Solutions Company, brings diverse consumer behaviour, emotions, and micro-moments within easy reach of brands with its new revolutionary product 'TAPP ' This launch is in line with its vision to be the global leader in providing digital market research solutions for understanding consumer experiences and behaviours, in growth and developed markets of the world; driven by advanced Analytics and Technology.

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Commenting on the launch of TAPP, Ruchika Gupta, CEO of Borderless Access, said, "As smartphones, social media and other digital communication platforms usage grows, it offers extensive opportunities to understand consumer behaviour in real-time and greater detail than ever before. This can be a boon for brands that are always looking for ways to reach out to their customers at the right moment to offer their products and services. With our years of experience in understanding consumers across geographies, we built TAPP, which has been pilot tested with two major global brands, allowing them to understand life moments and experiences of consumers at different timeslots and locations."

The product TAPP identifies patterns and trends by looking into consumers' interactions and their emotional state and behaviour within their environment with its unique methodologies and machine learning algorithms for rich, easy to interpret, actionable insights for brands. With TAPP, marketers and researchers can understand consumers' micro-moments to develop communication, manage brand activation, test concepts, evolve products, and much more.

TAPP empowers marketers and researchers to target in-situ and efficiently develop content as per their stories.

About Borderless Access:

Borderless Access , a global digital MR solutions company, provides access to experiences and life moments of engaged consumers from hard-to-reach audiences (Consumers, B2B & Specialist Audiences, including Healthcare) in the emerging and developed markets, driven by Technology & Community Analytics to its global clientele of MR firms, Ad Agencies, Consultancy firms, and End Enterprises.

Its focus on innovation extends to providing market research products & solutions, such as Panel Solutions, SmartSight, HealthSight, and TAPP.

Media Contact:

Anshul Agarwal

[email protected]

SOURCE Borderless Access Panels Pvt Ltd.
The 4th edition, Egencia Business Travel and Technology survey found that half (50 percent) of business travellers prefer to self-serve versus having to call someone to manage their travel, unless they are experiencing a problem. With online air exchange, travellers have the choice to either make changes to their trips on their own, or with help from an Egencia travel consultant.

"Egencia aspires to meet its clients where they are and to deliver exceptional service where they expect it. When plans change, travellers turn to their devices - desktop or mobile - to find a solution. We make it easy for them to rebook the flight they need to close that deal, or make it home for the weekend," says Michael Gulmann, Chief Product Officer of Egencia.

In addition to the cost of changing a ticket, mobile and desktop users can also see available flight times within the same cabin class. The payment and previous seat preferences are automatically applied to new flights, eliminating those extra steps and making the overall process as effortless as possible. This design leads to a rate of touchless automation of over 80 percent for the new online exchange process.

Find out more about online air exchange on the Egencia website, or see a live demonstration of advanced corporate travel technology with Egencia at the Business Travel Show in London from February 21-22, 2018. Come by stand number B530 for more information.

About Egencia

Egencia makes every business trip count for travellers and travel managers. The travel management company's industry-leading technology platform simplifies the process of planning, booking and managing business travel. Relying on timely, data-driven insights from Egencia, businesses stay one step ahead by making choices that align with traveller preference and corporate policy. A dedicated team of travel consultants is ready to assist every step of the way, whenever and wherever needed. Egencia serves small, mid-cap and multi-national companies in more than 65 countries. To connect with Egencia, visit www.egencia.co.in or follow us on Twitter or LinkedIn. You can also follow along on our blog.

 2018 Egencia, LLC. All rights reserved. Egencia, and the Egencia logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Expedia, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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SOURCE Egencia
Connected car and 5G technology escalate market demand

SANTA CLARA, California, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivan's latest analysis, Radio Frequency (RF) Test and Measurement (T&M) Market, Forecast to 2023, finds that high demand from the connected car industry, advancements in wireless communication standards, and pre-5G and 5G technologies are driving industry expansion. The study provides a detailed assessment of key market dynamics, drivers and restraints, revenue forecasts by region, and market share and competitive analysis.

Frost & Sullivan expects Asia Pacific to be the largest and fastest growing region for RF T&M vendors, with estimated revenues of $1.99 billion by 2023.

"Asia has become the manufacturing hub of the world and holds special importance for vendors, but it is also making inroads in research and development (R&D), which will further increase its importance going forward," explained Jessy Cavazos, Measurement & Instrumentation Industry Director at Frost & Sullivan. "This region will also create significant opportunities for T&M vendors in the aerospace & defense industry."

Meanwhile, North America and Europe will benefit from wireless technologies. Growth in these regions will be bolstered by R&D activity around new wireless communications standards, the connected car and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). With lower activities in emerging regions, the Latin America, Middle East and Africa segment represents only about 5% of the total market revenues.

For further information on this analysis, please visit: http://frost.ly/28b

The five major growth opportunities in the RF T&M market, that are expected to generate over $30 billion in new revenues by 2023, include:

Connected car and autonomous driving: Infotainment systems have evolved tremendously and are now at the core of the value proposition of automakers. Adoption of wireless communications standards like LTE and Wi-Fi is driving demand for more RF testing, and important R&D investments are being made in automotive radar and target simulation. 5G: Extensive ongoing research on 5G technologies is increasing demand for RF T&M equipment and will continue to do so over the forecast period. Demand will go to higher frequencies in the long term to the detriment of the < 8 GHz market. Modular instrumentation: The penetration of modular electronic instrumentation is expected to continue to align with the multi-channel nature of upcoming end-user technologies; the CAGR from 2016 to 2023 for the modular RF T&M market is 14%. Asia Pacific : Asia Pacific is expected to witness higher growth than other regions, which will drive an increase in its share to 43.2% in 2023. IoT Devices: Market participants expect NarrowBand IoT and mobile IoT standards such as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), LTE-M and SigFox LoRa to create a new part of the market. This trend translates into an increase in parallel testing and generates a market for low-cost instrumentation.

"Market development is being impinged upon by RF instruments having a high price tag, especially high-end test equipment used in R&D applications," noted Cavazos. "Companies across industry verticals are facing customer and competitor pressures to reduce prices, which is spreading throughout the value chain."

Radio Frequency (RF) Test and Measurement (T&M) Market, Forecast to 2023 is part of Frost & Sullivan's global Test & Measurement Growth Partnership Service program.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Contact us: Start the discussion

Radio Frequency (RF) Test and Measurement (T&M) Market, Forecast to 2023

K120_30

Contact:

Francesca Valente

Corporate Communications  Americas

P: +54 11 4777 5300

F: +54 11 4777 5300

E: [email protected]

http://www.frost.com

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SOURCE Frost & Sullivan
Construction of a hangar and other support facilities was completed late last month, and support personnel have already arrived.

Twelve Gray Eagle/MQ-1Cs will arrive at an air base in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province in March and April. Their deployment coincides with joint South Korea-U.S. drills that will be staged in early April right after the closing of the Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang.

The U.S. is to deploy new attack drones in South Korea that could be used to kill North Korean leaders and launch pinpoint strikes on its missile launch pads.

The Gray Eagle is an improved version of the MQ-1 Predator, the leading U.S. medium-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle, and has both strike and reconnaissance capabilities.

With a 17 m wingspan, it is 8 m long and can fly at a maximum speed of 280 km/h for up to 30 hours. It is capable of non-stop surveillance missions and intelligence gathering in an area of a 400 km radius from an altitude of 7.6 km, which means it can target most parts of North Korea.

It could hit a vehicle carrying North Korean leaders, a missile launch site, or mobile missile launchers with four Hellfire anti-tank missiles or four Viper Strike small guided precision bombs. Each GPS-guided Viper Strike bomb weighs 20 kg and is accurate to within 1 meter so it can destroy even a fast-moving vehicle.

Last year, Beijing objected to the deployment plan, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying saying all sides concerned should "step on the brakes" if they want peace and stability in the region.

Beijing is worried because the Gray Eagle could carry out surveillance of China's Shandong Peninsula, which is about 400 km from Gunsan.


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Under the creative direction of Donald Schneider, the campaign was photographed by Pamela Hanson in Santorini.

The focus of the new collection is 'Pink Passion'. Key looks are floral prints on dresses and trousers and leather jackets in pink. A further highlight is relaxed leisure looks with embroidered jeans and sweaters, ponchos, as well as blouses in new shades of blue. Other must-haves include casual overalls, boucle blazers, and leather jackets in new striking colours. These consistent looks are finished with summer coats and trench coats.

GERRY WEBER will launch another limited-edition Capsule Collection on 16 March 2018, featuring contributions by Eva Herzigova.

The Spring/Summer Collection 2018 will be available worldwide from 7 March 2018.

Download film and image: https://app.box.com/s/2g6w00jw1f4ibziivdtq354uxasbhx8n

About the GERRY WEBER Group

Gerry Weber International AG, with headquarters in Halle/Westphalia, is a global corporation that combines five strong brand families under one roof: GERRY WEBER, TAIFUN, SAMOON, talkabout and HALL HUBER. It is one of the largest fashion companies listed on the stock exchange in Germany (as of April 2017). In the fiscal year 2015/16 (1 November 2015 until 31 October 2016), the GERRY WEBER Group generated revenues of 900.8 million EUR.

gerryweber.com

White Communications GmbH

Christine Jaksch

Phone: +49-89-360766-48

Mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Gerry Weber International AG
PORTLAND, Oregon and PUNE, India, February 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

According to a new report published by Allied Market Research, titled, "Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) Devices Market by Surgery, Target, Product, and End User: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2017-2023," the global minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) devices market was valued at $144 million in 2016, and is projected to reach $912 million by 2023, growing at a CAGR of 30.1% from 2017 to 2023. The glaucoma in conjunction with cataract surgery segment accounted for three-fifths share of the market in 2016.

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Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) devices are employed in the treatment of glaucoma to provide a safer and less invasive means of reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) as compared to conventional glaucoma surgery devices. MIGS devices are anticipated to become a preferred surgical modality in near future for the treatment of glaucoma as it reduces dependency on topical medications as well as gets rid of complications associated to traditional procedures. MIGS devices are most commonly employed in combined cataract surgeries through phacoemulsification. In addition, two prime approaches of IOP reduction by MIGS involve increase in trabecular outflow through bypassing the juxtacanalicular trabecular meshwork (TM), and rise in uveoscleral outflow via suprachoroidal pathways. These two approaches are most commonly used in the treatment of glaucoma as these approaches can reduce the IOP in eyes effectively while reducing post-operative complications.

Increase in focus on developing combination surgeries for treatment of glaucoma, high prevalence of open-angle glaucoma, and rapid rise in geriatric population are anticipated to drive the growth of the minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) devices market. In addition, increase in the changing demographics leading to obesity, diabetes, and varied eye disorders supplement the market growth. However, dearth of skilled professionals to perform minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries efficiently and high cost of the MIGS device hamper the market growth. Conversely, surge in investment by manufacturers in the emerging economies and rise in initiatives to reduce the burden of glaucoma globally are anticipated to offer lucrative opportunities for market expansion.

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The trabecular meshwork target dominated the global MIGS devices market accounting for half of the total market share in 2016, and is set to maintain the dominance throughout the forecast period. At present, there are a few MIGS devices used to treat glaucoma by targeting the TM, namely, Trabectome, iStent, Hydrus, gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy (GATT), and excimer laser trabeculotomy (ELT). Extensive use of aforementioned products in the treatment of glaucoma contributed to the dominance of trabecular meshwork segment in the global MIGS devices market. Whereas, suprachoroidal space target is anticipated to grow at the fastest pace, registering a CAGR of 33.7% from 2017-2023.

KEY FINDINGS OF THE STUDY

The MIGS stents generated the highest revenue in 2016, and is anticipated to do so throughout the forecast period, registering a CAGR of 27.1% from 2017 to 2023.

Eye hospitals dominated the market, accounting for maximum share in 2016 and is expected to witness a CAGR of 26.3% from 2017 to 2023.

North America dominated the global minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) market, accounting for maximum share in 2016 and is expected to retain the same trend during 2017 to 2023.

dominated the global minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) market, accounting for maximum share in 2016 and is expected to retain the same trend during 2017 to 2023. The MIGS shunts product segment is expected to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period.

Japan accounted for one-fourth share of the Asia-Pacific minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) devices market in 2016.

Asia-Pacific witnessed highest growth rate for the minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) devices market throughout the forecast period, owing to high population density and increase in geriatric population. In addition, rise in incidence of conditions such as moderate glaucoma and open-angle glaucoma in India and China boosts the market growth.

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The key players operating in the minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) devices market adopted product launch as one of their key developmental strategies. The major companies profiled in the report include Alcon Inc. (Novartis), Ellex Medical Lasers Ltd., Glaukos Corporation, Allergan Plc, Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Lumenis, Ivantis, Inc., SOLX, Inc, iSTAR Medical, and InnFocus Inc. Other players (profiles not included in the report) in the value chain analysis include, Bausch & Lomb Inc., Neomedix Corporation, IOPtima, Abbott Medical Optics, Inc., Topcon Corporation, New World Medical, Inc, Carl-Zeiss AG, and Optonol Ltd..

About Us:

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
BENGALURU, India, February 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Infosys (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in consulting, technology and next-generation services today announced the launch of a joint Center of Excellence (CoE) with PTC, a global provider of technology platforms and solutions, at the Infosys campus in Bengaluru. This CoE will focus on solutions for brownfield as well as greenfield industrial setups.

This CoE will build on Infosys' Industry 4.0 thought leadership, deep knowledge of traditional product engineering and industry domains, along with the understanding of clients' existing assets, products and production lines grounds up. On this strong foundation, Infosys will continue to make targeted investments in building vertical-specific solutions leveraging technologies of tomorrow, including an extensive Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem that leverages the PTC ThingWorx industrial innovation platform, to help customers realize the tangible benefits of Internet of Things (IoT).

Ravi Kumar, President & Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Infosys, said "PTC is a strategic global partner for us. Based on our strong foundation of product engineering excellence, we will be able to create applications like product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions, Augmented Reality (AR) experiences and service lifecycle management (SLM) solutions leveraging their ThingWorx IoT platform. Together we will accelerate digital innovation and drive significant business outcomes for our clients."

Catherine Kniker, Chief Revenue Officer, ThingWorx, PTC, said, "We have the most robust IoT technology in the world enabling organizations to improve the way that they design, manufacture, sell, operate, and service their products. Our joint Center of Excellence (CoE) with Infosys in Bengaluru will help enterprises transform and generate significant value in today's competitive business landscape."

PTC and ThingWorx are trademarks or registered trademarks of PTC Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.

About Infosys

Infosys is a global leader in technology services and consulting. We enable clients in 45 countries to create and execute strategies for their digital transformation. From engineering to application development, knowledge management and business process management, we help our clients find the right problems to solve, and to solve those effectively. Our team of 200,000+ innovators, across the globe is differentiated by the imagination, knowledge and experience across industries and technologies that we bring to every project we undertake.

Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise thrive in the digital age.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this press release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements regarding our future business expectations intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, industry segment concentration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks or system failures, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which Infosys has made strategic investments, withdrawal or expiration of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, and unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. In addition, please note that any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable as of the date of this press release. The company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the company unless it is required by law.

Media contacts:

Asia Pacific EMEA Americas Sarah Gideon Margherita Di Cerbo Chiku Somaiya Infosys, India Infosys, Europe Infosys, USA +91 80 4156 3998 +44 2075162748 +1 408 375 2722 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

This is a disclosure announcement from PR Newswire.

SOURCE Infosys Limited
The report " Mirror Coatings Market by Resin Type (Polyurethane, Epoxy, Acrylic), Technology (Solvent and Water-Based, Nano Coatings), Substrate (Silver, Aluminium), Application (Architectural, Automotive & Transportation, Decorative, Solar Power)-Global Forecast to 2022 " published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is estimated to be USD 618.4 Million in 2017 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.60% between 2017 and 2022 to reach USD 892.0 Million by 2022, in terms of value. The market includes mirror backing paints used in silver and aluminum mirrors. Mirror coatings are protective coatings used against abrasion, chemical corrosion, scratching, rusting, and others for mirror coatings products. Various applications of mirror coatings include architectural, automotive & transportation, decorative solar power, and others.

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Based on resin type, the polyurethane segment led the Mirror Coatings Market in 2016 and is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period

Polyurethane resins are made from reacting polyalcohol and organic di-isocyanate. Polyurethane resin-based coatings are easy to clean, highly durable, and are tough. Polyurethane resin coatings are preferred in various applications worldwide, owing to these properties. Polyurethane resin-based coatings are also used across various applications, such as architectural, CSP solar panels decorative mirror, and others. Polyurethane resins are used as topcoats in mirror coatings which are usually applied over the primer to attain a long-term protective coating.

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Based on technology, the nano coatings segment of the Mirror Coatings Market is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period

The nano coatings segment is projected to witness high growth in the next five years. The growing CSP solar power industry is expected to boost the nano coatings segment during the forecast period. Nano coatings protect substrates from corrosion, rusting, and microbial attack. These coatings are dirt or water repellent, scratchproof, temperature-resistant, and emit low VOC emissions.

The Mirror Coatings Market in Asia Pacific is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period

The Mirror Coatings Market in Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, due to the rising demand for mirror coatings from emerging economies, such as India, China, South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Singapore in this region. China is the leading market for mirror coatings in APAC. The growth of various applications, such as architectural, automotive & transportation, and CSP solar power is driving the Mirror Coatings Market in China.

Arkema (France), Fenzi (Italy), Ferro Corporation (US), Sherwin-Williams Company (US), Vitro Architectural Glass (Mexico), Sunguard (Guardian Glass) (US), Diamon-Fusion International (US), Pearl Nano (US) Mader (France), Tianjin Xin Lihua Color Materials (China), High Ding Industrial (Grincoat) (Taiwan), and Casix (China) are some of the key players operating in the Mirror Coatings Market.

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Epoxy Coatings Market by Technology (Solvent borne, Waterborne, and Powder-Based) and Application (Construction, Transportation, General Industrial, and Others) - Forecast to 2021

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/epoxy-coatings-market-260587393.html

Polyurethane Coating Market by Type (Solvent-borne, Water-borne, High Solids, Powder), End Industry (Automotive & Transportation, Wood & Furniture, Industrial, Textile, Construction, Electrical & Electronics) & Geography - Trends & Forecasts to 2018

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/polyurethane-coatings-market-108831606.html



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About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 5000 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions.

Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve.

MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets.



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SOURCE MarketsandMarkets
Rishikul Yogshala has revealed the final details about its upcoming yoga retreats for the year 2018. The highly-reformative retreats shall be offered in the very land of yoga and spirituality, India.

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With the divine purpose to help entities find inner peace, balance, and harmony in the mind, body, and spirit, along with the added experience of feeling pampered in the embrace of earth's most bountiful reserves, Yoga Retreats in India are organized by Rishikul Yogshala. With the revelation of their Yoga Retreat Calendar for the year 2018, this year shall be even more rejuvenating than ever. Wandering souls from across the globe seeking peace, relaxation, self-love, and inner bliss shall be welcomed to these retreats at the Yogshala. These retreats shall be held at the Yogshala's much-treasured southern wing in Kerala, and its headquarters in the North, also the yoga capital of the globe, Rishikesh, India. Owing to the amazing climatic conditions, the yoga retreats in the Ayurveda abode, Kerala, shall be held in the most exotic southern time zone during November, December, January, February, March, and April, whereas the ashram shall offer splendid retreats in the Himalayan town, Rishikesh, throughout the year.

The enthusiasts shall be able to choose from a variety of retreat options and packages - yoga retreat for the yoga enthusiasts, meditation retreats for the spiritualists, ayurveda retreats for the healing souls. However, each retreat at the Yogshala shall exhibit a subtle glimpse of the other categories for providing a holistic experience to the guests. The retreats shall cover various aspects of the sciences on a basic level including complementary Ayurveda massages and knowledge of detoxifying therapies. The addition of soulful site-seeing, excursions, and other activities in these historic and mesmerizing towns shall make up for highly wonderful and rehabilitating experiences.

The food and accommodation facility shall be provided to the guests on-site at the Yogshala's ashram facility for truly yogic acquaintances. The dwelling place at the Yogshala is akin to living in nature's haven which is only amplified by the addition of modern amenities so the guests can experience the Vedic life while feeling at home and at ease. Pure yogic food shall be served to the guests thrice a day comprising of clean, hygienic Vedic preparations, freshly sourced vegetables, and herbs. Each retreat shall be led and guided by the time-honored teachers of Rishikul Yogshala.

Rishikul Yogshala is recognized as the leading yoga school and retreat abode since its inception in 2010. Owing to the school's registered status and accreditation by Yoga Alliance, the school has maintained the finest quality in its programs and curriculum. The idealist foundation has a firm belief in offering the most authentic and rejuvenating experiences of yoga. The school strictly follows traditional teachings and system of the science with a penetrating focus on Hatha and Ashtanga Yoga, Pranayama Therapy, Shat-Kriyas (Yogic Detoxification Works), Yoga Philosophy, Anatomy, Meditation (particularly Yoga Nidra), and Adjustment and Alignment. With a range of RYT 200, 300, and 500 Hour programs, Rishikul Yogshala conducts specialized 7-Day and 15-Day Yoga, Meditation, and Ayurveda Retreats at its various locations in India, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam.

About Rishikul Yogshala

Rishikul Yogshala is an internationally acclaimed Yoga and Meditation school centered in Rishikesh with branches at several locations in India and neighboring countries since 2010. The school has been approved by Yoga Alliance USA and Yoga Alliance International. Rishikul Yogshala offers 200, 300, and 500 hour Yoga TTC courses along with exclusive 7 and 15 day Yoga, Ayurveda, and Meditation retreats. For more information, visit https://www.rishikulyogshala.org/.

Media contact:

Manmohan Singh

+91-7060-060-954

[email protected]

SOURCE Rishikul Yogshala
BANGALORE, February 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Today, in a venture to help enterprises gain the skills and strategies necessary to become digital-ready, edtech company Simplilearn announced the launch of the Simplilearn Digital Transformation Academy. Through a comprehensive online self-paced and instructor-led curriculum, Simplilearn's Digital Transformation Academy provides enterprises with the insights and training to guide their digital strategy, identify opportunities and correct skill deficits in emerging technologies, while quickly creating the platform for the entire organization, from employees to executives, to digitally transform themselves.

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Digital transformation is the process of 'transforming' the mindset of an organization and implementing strategies that use digital technologies in all stages of business. The Simplilearn Digital Transformation Academy covers all aspects of people, process and technology to achieve competency in digital technologies including Design Thinking, Big Data, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing and DevOps, Programming and Automation, Digital Marketing and more. The Digital Transformation Academy is designed to be customizable across a wide variety of industries and for all employee and management levels and roles while delivering on Simplilearn's outcome-centric, high engagement learning approach.

"Simplilearn began with the goal of helping professionals' upskill, become future job-ready and bridge industry skill gaps," said Krishna Kumar, Founder and CEO of Simplilearn. "In the last few years, the digital talent shortage has widened, threatening to create a bottleneck for enterprises that are struggling to achieve their digital transformation objectives. Our Digital Transformation Academy promises to bring these organizations' people, processes and technology skills up to speed for a successful digital shift."

Simplilearn's Digital Transformation Academy offerings include:

Up-to-date, in-depth content developed by industry leaders - The learning content is designed and updated by world-class, subject matter experts and industry thought leaders.

Comprehensive, outcome-centric curriculum - Offering more than 130 courses in 9 categories specific to topics essential to digital transformation, the Academy's curriculum focuses on developing proficiency in immediately usable skills. Each course is supplemented with applied learning projects and real-world case studies, with hands-on practice via Simplilearn's CloudLab online development environment.

Flexible learning approach - Simplilearn is the first online training company that provides a global, anytime, anywhere approach to employee training. So people can learn in the way they want to learn, the courses combine self-paced online content and instructor-led live virtual classrooms, backed by 24/7 global teaching assistants to enable learners to quickly resolve questions.

Progress tracking and assessments - The learning management system (LMS) is intuitive and has built-in tools for enterprises to track the learning progress of employees, including reports and alerts that help ensure high course completions. All learning programs come with pre- and post-course assessments as well as independent certifications.

"The rapid pace of technological change has triggered businesses to embrace evolving digital technologies or risk becoming obsolete," said Anand Narayanan, Chief Product Officer at Simplilearn. "We look forward to embarking on our Digital Transformation Academy to support organizations with our advanced learning approach, to create better outcomes in achieving a digital savvy workforce."

Simplilearn has partnered with leading Global System Integrators, FMCG, Banking and Telecom companies to support their digital transformation journeys. With integrated learning programs across key technology and business domains, Simplilearn continues to be the preferred training company for individuals, working professionals, and higher institutions of higher education.

For more information on Simplilearn Digital Transformation Academy, visit: https://www.simplilearn.com/digital-transformation-training/.

About Simplilearn

Simplilearn enables professionals and enterprises to succeed in the fast-changing digital economy. The company provides outcome based online training across digital technologies and applications such as Big Data, Machine Learning, AI, Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, Digital Marketing and other emerging technologies. Based in San Francisco, CA, Raleigh, NC and Bangalore, India; Simplilearn has helped more than 500,000 professionals and 1000+ companies across 150+ countries get trained, acquire certifications and reach their business and career goals. The company's high-engagement curriculum blends self-paced online learning, instructor-led live virtual classrooms, hands-on projects, student collaboration, and 24/7 global teaching assistants. Simplilearn is recognized by Training Industry as a Top 20 IT Training Company for 2017. For more information, visit https://www.simplilearn.com/

Media Contact :

Rushitha Samavedam

[email protected]

+91-9538207070

Simplilearn



SOURCE Simplilearn
According to the new market research report "Simulators Market by Type (Full Mission, Containerized, Fixed-Based, Desktop, Console), Technology (Live, Virtual, Constructive, Integrated), Application (Military, Commercial), Vehicle (Airborne, Land, Naval), Component, Region - Global Forecast to 2022" , published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is estimated at USD 16.62 Billion in 2017 and is projected to reach USD 20.99 Billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 4.78% from 2017 to 2022. The growing need to train new pilots across the globe and increasing adoption of virtual training to ensure safety are some of the key factors driving the simulators market.

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Based on application, the commercial application segment of the market is projected to grow at a higher CAGR during the forecast period.

The commercial segment is projected to grow at a higher CAGR the forecast period. The growth of this segment can be attributed to the increasing demand for commercial aircraft pilots and need for cost-cutting in training.

Based on technology, the integrated training environment segment of the simulators market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2017 to 2022.

Based on technology, the integrated training environment segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to the increasing adoption of integrated training environment to train military personnel and pilots across airborne, land, and naval vehicles.

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Based on vehicle class, the land vehicle class segment of the market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2017 to 2022.

Based on vehicle class, the land vehicle class segment of the market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The growth of this segment is driven by the increasing number of land vehicle orders for military applications, globally.

Based on type, the containerized simulators segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2017 to 2022.

Based on type, the containerized simulators segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to the increasing demand for simulator training in the shipping industry. Strong growth in international trade and tourism and crude oil exploration activities are also driving the containerized simulators segment.

Based on component, the software segment of the simulators market is projected to grow at a higher CAGR from 2017 to 2022.

Based on component, the software segment of the simulators market is projected to grow at a higher CAGR during the forecast period. The increasing adoption of LED and OLED display systems for virtual training purposes is one of the most significant factors projected to drive the growth of the hardware segment.

Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing market for simulators during the forecast period.

Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing market for simulators during the forecast period. The growth of the simulators market in Asia Pacific can be attributed to the growth in the aviation industry and increase in aircraft deliveries in the region.

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Major companies across the globe that provide simulators are CAE (Canada), L-3 Technologies (US), FlightSafety (US), Boeing (US), Thales (France), FAAC (US), ECA (France), and Lockheed Martin (US). These key players offer various products, such as full mission simulators, flight training devices, full flight simulators, fixed based simulators, and containerized simulators. New product developments, acquisitions, and contracts are main strategies adopted by these players to retain their position in the market.

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Flight Simulator Market by Application (Military, Commercial), by Type of Flight (Fixed Wing, Rotary Wing, Unmanned Aircraft), Military Component (FFS, FMS, FTD), Commercial Component (FFS, FBS, FTD), Geography - Global Forecast to 2021

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About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 5000 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions.

Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve.

MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets.

Contact:

Mr. Salgarkar

MarketsandMarkets INC.

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Northbrook, IL 60062

USA: +1-888-600-6441

Email: [email protected]



Visit Our [email protected] http://mnmblog.org/market-research/aerospace-defence

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SOURCE MarketsandMarkets
SINGAPORE, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Texcent Asia, Singapore based payments company announced today, that it has received remittance License from Monetary Authority Singapore (MAS).

"With this, Texcent will commence its much-awaited global payments and remittance business focusing first in Asia, Africa and Australian markets, followed by Europe, Russia, and Latin American countries," said Sumedha Goel, Founder and President at Texcent.

The company has future plans to connect its remittance network with its Hybrid Mobile Wallet 'Paycent'. Paycent is a global mobile dual E-wallet that can be funded by digital and fiat currencies within the same mobile application.

PayCent has come up with the PayCent card program that will help users instantly convert digital assets into local currencies for use or withdrawal from automated teller machines (ATMs) and liberate the consumers from the hassles of going to designated exchanges for converting digital assets to fiat currencies.

This is the first such payment solution that cuts across all barriers and instantly converts all digital currencies to fiat currencies.

"In reality, it is a mobile wallet for fiat and digital assets with a debit card and will include money transfer feature. It's a one-stop-shop for all financial needs of a consumer on the move," she says. "The Paycent debit card that will be available to customers in March this year, will solve these issues and make it easier for consumers using both currencies. We are issuing the card globally."

About Texcent

TEXCENT is a global payment platform solutions. We are dedicated to deliver fully integrated mobile applications and providing an unparalleled online experience to Asia and the world. Read more at https://paycent.com/

Texcent

Helen Laylo

Corporate Communications

Tel: +65-6439-2222

[email protected]

SOURCE Texcent Asia
To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8274651-implantcenter-hungarian-dental-service/

The area of the clinic has increased by ten-fold to approximately 1800 m2 during the years. Moreover, the oral surgery division was opened in 2015, so eight dental treatment rooms and four oral surgery rooms are now in place today. All of the surgery rooms can serve ambulatory oral surgery treatments. The ImplantCenter is unique in Hungarian private dentistry because they can implement more complex treatments in the framework of one-day oral surgery procedure. This is due to the big and fully equipped operating room opened in November 2017. As part of the service, the ImplantCenter offers one and two-bed private rooms with medical supervision to their patients after each surgery.

"In order to offer a solution to every patient's dental problem, it was very important to provide comprehensive services with diagnostics (X-Ray and CT), general and popular treatments (aesthetic dentistry), oral surgery, full smile rehabilitation with implantation, including ENT and dental laboratory," said Dr Attila Kaman, Founder and Head of the clinic.

Due to the outstanding innovations, expansions and developments, ImplantCenter has become an incomparable private dental and oral surgery clinic in Hungary offering quality services which could compete at an international level. The brand-new operating room suited for more complex treatments, the four cosy apartments to rest after treatments at the clinic, and the launch of its implant education facility from 2018 increases the level of their services. ImplantCenter clinic welcomes patients regardless of their age, language and now also of the complexity of their dental treatment. With 20 years' experience, the knowledge of the latest techniques and its fully equipped facilities, ImplantCenter believes there is no impossible case.

"With 27,000 successfully placed dental implants behind us, as the specialists of dental implantation, we have the opportunity to solve even more complex and 'hopeless' cases of our patients coming from all over the world every year," declared Dr Attila Kaman. "On the other hand, we have created an education center ready to welcome specialists willing to share their knowledge with the interested professionals. Our aim is again to facilitate the recovery of patients."

About the ImplantCenter

The ImplantCenter Dentistry and Oral Surgery clinic opened its doors in Budapest in 2004. The family business hallmarked by Dr Attila Kaman (Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Master of Implantology) and his wife, Dr Edith Kamanne Bankos, was designed long term as a major project. The guiding principle has been the use of world-class technologies and techniques, good quality materials and the employment of a highly qualified, widely and internationally experienced team.

IMPLANTCENTER

Dentistry and Oral Surgery

67 Margit krt., Budapest 1024, Hungary

+36-1-422-0808

http://www.budapest.implantcenter.com

[email protected]



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SOURCE ImplantCenter Dentistry and Oral Surgery Budapest
Cutting the Cost and Time to Densify Small Cell Networks for Operators Worldwide

BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS -- Ubicquia, the global leader in simply smart, simply connected network and IoT platforms for smart cities, announced today the launch of Ubimetro, the mobile industry's first streetlight-powered small cell. Ubimetro's omni-directional antenna and NEMA socket plug & play platform make it compatible with more than 300 million streetlights globally.

Ubimetro is designed to help operators more rapidly densify their networks, improve wireless network capacity and increase macro network efficiency. The product's Qualcomm FSM-based architecture delivers enhanced mobile broadband, supports fiber, ethernet, broadband powerline and wireless backhaul while leveraging features including LAA and V-RAN, that lay the foundation for ultra-dense 5G networks.



"We have overcome numerous design challenges to bring to market the first NEMA socket powered small cell that plugs into the top of a streetlight," said Tre Zimmerman Ubicquia CTO. "Integrating fiber, ethernet, PLC and wireless backhaul into Ubimetro means operators can deploy more quickly by leveraging a municipality's or utility's existing infrastructure. Ubimetro incorporates HeMS (HeNB Management System) software that provides Operational, Administration, Maintenance and Provisioning (OAM & P) for the distributed HeNB devices."

"Our goal was to bring Ubimetro to market at a price point that would make it more attractive for operators, utilities, municipalities and tower companies to create ultra-dense small cell networks," said Ian Aaron, Ubicquia CEO. "By leveraging the streetlight infrastructure and our plug & play installation, Ubimetro is able to give mobile operators a dedicated host and self-managed network with one of the industry's lowest total cost of ownership and fastest time to market."

The Ubimetro product, along with the recently announced Ubicell network and IoT router, will be demonstrated at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, February 26th through March 1st in Ubicquia's meeting room (Hall2  Stand #2C49MR), the Sercomm meeting room (Hall 2 - #2G3) and the LoRa Alliance (Hall 8  Stand #80D3). To find out more about Ubimetro or to request a meeting with Ubicquia at MWC 2018, please contact [email protected].



About Ubicquia



Ubicquia oers municipalities, utilities and mobile operators a cost-effective and expandable platform for deploying smart city, broadband and small cell services. The company's Ubicell product line is NEMA socket compliant and compatible with more than 300 million streetlights globally. To learn more about how Ubicquia can make your city simply connected and simply smart, contact us at [email protected].

Related Links

http://www.ubicquia.com



SOURCE Ubicquia
"The Handmaiden" directed by Park Chan-wook won the award for Best Film Not in English at the 71st British Academy Film Awards in London on Sunday.

It is the first Korean film to receive an award from the British Academy. The film was inspired by the British novel "Fingersmith."
NTT COMWARE is to provide the industry with a network orchestration service supporting an ecosystem of legacy and virtualized devices and functions to make operations more efficient and automated. NTT COMWARE has started implementing a Service Order Automation process using the MSActivator. The cornerstone of this design is a configuration abstraction layer for legacy devices and VNFs, exposing a unified northbound interface to the service orchestration layer. This architecture enables the onboarding of new devices and functions on the go and fosters an ecosystem-driven services strategy.

The MSActivator framework from UBiqube is NTT COMWARE's chosen technology to automate operations for the IT infrastructure market, empowering NTT COMWARE engineers with a DevOps framework to develop service automation for both SDN and non-SDN datacenters. NTT COMWARE provides consulting services to realize an orchestration environment from the enterprise to the carrier  by developing orchestrator applications, as well as offering deployment and operations services.

Satoshi Kurishima, President of NTT COMWARE comments: "NTT COMWARE concluded a partnership with UBiqube, the world's leading provider of orchestration software, in providing the SmartCloud Orchestrator. With this partnership, we will be able to provide the optimum orchestration environment for customers with the synergistic effect of integrated management of multi-device environments by the MSActivator, and an agile response by our DevOps driving force."

Nabil Souli, CEO of UBiqube, comments: "NTT COMWARE's choosing of the MSActivator to build their orchestration suite illustrates how critical multi-vendor, multi-domain orchestration has become. Domains, from WAN to LAN, from networking to security, and any other device-based function, will be crossed by one single automation process."

About NTT COMWARE

NTT COMWARE is a business integrator that has experience in system development and IT infrastructure provisioning for enterprises, mainly for the NTT Group. NTT COMWARE's wealth of business process knowledge and Information/network technology meets the complex and ever-changing needs of its customers.

About UBiqube

UBiqube is a global software supplier, providing vendor neutral, multi-domain end-to-end network and security orchestration solutions to service providers and large and medium enterprises. Leading the digitalization of the networking industry, UBiqube developed the MSActivator, a DevOps enabled open framework for the design, automation, and orchestration of services over hybrid communication infrastructures (legacy, SDN/NFV/IoT). UBiqube is headquartered in Dublin, with offices in France, India, UAE, Japan, and Silicon Valley, USA. For more information, visit www.ubiqube.com.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/642760/UBiqube_NTT_Comware_Infographic.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/561164/UBiqube_Logo.jpg



Related Links

http://www.ubiqube.com



SOURCE UBiqube
A week before the start of the XX Habanos Festival, everything is ready in Havana for the hosting of this international gathering dedicated to the world best tobacco. From 26th of February to 2nd of March, lovers of Habanos cigars from more than 50 countries will enjoy a full programme and new releases from the most prestigious brands for the 20th anniversary edition.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8274951-habanos-festival-20th-anniversary/

The Welcome Night on 26th of February will be held in the Salon de Protocolo El Laguito with the launch of Cohiba's 2014 Reserva Cosecha, a singular and exclusive run of 5,000 numbered boxes.

28th of February sees the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Festival del Habano in the Teatro Marti and the Gran Teatro de Habana function room.

The event will close with a Gala Night, dedicated to Partagas Linea Maduro, on 2nd of March in Pabexpo, with the performance from the renowned group Orishas. The Premio Habanos 2017 award will be presented, as well as the Humidors Auction. All funds raised will go to the Cuban public health system.

The Habanos Festival highlights the talent of the Habanosommeliers with the International Habanosommelier Contest, which celebrates its 17th edition. And for the first time, the Habanos World Challenge will be celebrated. The contest consists of two phases: in a first stage, each country will hold a local competition to select the winning pair to represent them and who will go to the grand final in the Cuban capital, where a jury of experts will choose the first Habanos World Challenge winner.

The programme features master classes and lectures, led by recognized experts in the Habanos world, and brought together at the International Seminar, which will be inaugurated on Wednesday 28th of February.

The Festival holds visits to tobacco plantations in Vuelta Abajo*, in Pinar del Rio*, considered as the world's best land for the cultivation of tobacco; as well as visits to the factories.

Carla Llado

[email protected]

Tel: +34-669-54-69-09

(Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/642583/HABANOS_SA_Tobacco.jpg )



Video:

https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8274951-habanos-festival-20th-anniversary/

SOURCE HABANOS SA
BENGALURU, India, February 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Infosys (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in consulting, technology and next-generation services today announced the launch of a joint Center of Excellence (CoE) with PTC, a global provider of technology platforms and solutions, at the Infosys campus in Bengaluru. This CoE will focus on solutions for brownfield as well as greenfield industrial setups.

This CoE will build on Infosys' Industry 4.0 thought leadership, deep knowledge of traditional product engineering and industry domains, along with the understanding of clients' existing assets, products and production lines grounds up. On this strong foundation, Infosys will continue to make targeted investments in building vertical-specific solutions leveraging technologies of tomorrow, including an extensive Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem that leverages the PTC ThingWorx industrial innovation platform, to help customers realize the tangible benefits of Internet of Things (IoT).

Ravi Kumar, President & Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Infosys, said "PTC is a strategic global partner for us. Based on our strong foundation of product engineering excellence, we will be able to create applications like product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions, Augmented Reality (AR) experiences and service lifecycle management (SLM) solutions leveraging their ThingWorx IoT platform. Together we will accelerate digital innovation and drive significant business outcomes for our clients."

Catherine Kniker, Chief Revenue Officer, ThingWorx, PTC, said, "We have the most robust IoT technology in the world enabling organizations to improve the way that they design, manufacture, sell, operate, and service their products. Our joint Center of Excellence (CoE) with Infosys in Bengaluru will help enterprises transform and generate significant value in today's competitive business landscape."

PTC and ThingWorx are trademarks or registered trademarks of PTC Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.

About Infosys

Infosys is a global leader in technology services and consulting. We enable clients in 45 countries to create and execute strategies for their digital transformation. From engineering to application development, knowledge management and business process management, we help our clients find the right problems to solve, and to solve those effectively. Our team of 200,000+ innovators, across the globe is differentiated by the imagination, knowledge and experience across industries and technologies that we bring to every project we undertake.

Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise thrive in the digital age.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this press release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements regarding our future business expectations intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, industry segment concentration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks or system failures, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which Infosys has made strategic investments, withdrawal or expiration of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, and unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. In addition, please note that any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable as of the date of this press release. The company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the company unless it is required by law.

Media contacts:

Asia Pacific EMEA Americas Sarah Gideon Margherita Di Cerbo Chiku Somaiya Infosys, India Infosys, Europe Infosys, USA +91 80 4156 3998 +44 2075162748 +1 408 375 2722 Sarah_Gideon@infosys.com Margherita.DiCerbo@infosys.com Chiku.Somaiya@infosys.com

This is a disclosure announcement from PR Newswire.

SOURCE Infosys Limited
- Patents in South Korea and Israel cover integration of an external DNA sequence into the chromosome of eukaryotic cells

- Merck continues to support research with genome editing under careful ethical and legal standards

- Merck to license its CRISPR-related patents to interested parties

DARMSTADT, Germany, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Merck, a leading science and technology company and leader in genome editing, today announced that the Korean Intellectual Property Office and the Israel Patent Office have each issued notices granting Merck's patent applications for the company's CRISPR technology used in a genomic-integration method for eukaryotic cells.

"These decisions mark the fifth and sixth patent allowances for our unique CRISPR technology to find new treatments for some of the toughest medical conditions faced today, including cancer, hereditary and rare diseases," said Udit Batra, member of the Merck Executive Board and CEO, Life Science. "These foundational integration patents recognize our significant contributions to the genome-editing field and reinforce our commitment to evolving CRISPR technology globally."

Merck also has patent filings for its insertion CRISPR method in the U.S., Brazil, China, India and Japan. In December 2017, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore awarded Merck a patent for this technology. Earlier, in June 2017, Merck was awarded a similar patent by the Australian patent office. The company has also received related patent awards by the European and Canadian patent offices.

Merck is licensing these patents for applications including basic science research, agricultural biotech and therapeutic use.

Merck recognizes the potential benefits of conducting properly defined research with genome editing because of the breakthrough therapeutic potential. Therefore, Merck supports research with genome editing under careful consideration of ethical and legal standards. Merck has established a Bioethics Advisory Panel to provide guidance for research in which its businesses are involved, including research on or using genome editing.

These forthcoming, fundamental patents in South Korea and Israel cover chromosomal integration, or cutting of the chromosomal sequence of eukaryotic cells (such as mammalian and plant cells) and insertion of an external or donor DNA sequence into those cells using CRISPR. Scientists can replace a disease-associated mutation with a beneficial or functional sequence  a method important for creating disease models and gene therapy. Additionally, the method can be used to insert transgenes that label endogenous proteins for visual tracking within cells.

CRISPR genome-editing technology, which allows the precise modification of chromosomes in living cells, is advancing treatment options for a variety of medical conditions. CRISPR applications are far-ranging  from identifying genes associated with cancer and rare diseases to reversing mutations that cause blindness.

With a 12-year history in the genome-editing field, Merck was the first company to offer custom biomolecules for genome editing globally (TargeTron RNA-guided group II introns and CompoZr zinc finger nucleases), driving adoption of these techniques by researchers all over the world. Merck was also the first company to manufacture arrayed CRISPR libraries covering the entire human genome, accelerating cures for diseases by allowing scientists to explore more questions about root causes.

All Merck news releases are distributed by email at the same time they become available on the Merck website. Please go to www.merckgroup.com/subscribe to register online, change your selection or discontinue this service.

About Merck

Merck is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 50,000 employees work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life  from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2016, Merck generated sales of 15 billion in 66 countries.

Founded in 1668, Merck is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed corporate group. Merck holds the global rights to the "Merck" name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials.





SOURCE Merck
Korea's Seo Young-woo and Won Yun-jong placed sixth out of 30 teams in the mens two-man bobsleigh at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang on Monday.

They recorded an overall time of 3:17.40 in four runs. Although they failed to win a medal, it was the best Olympic result by a Korean bobsleigh team.

Seo and Won will compete in the four-man event along with Jun Jung-lin and Kim Dong-hyun on Saturday and Sunday.


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 'RapeRoko' campaign launched by the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chairperson Swati Maliwal will now be taken to the streets of national capital through Nukkad Nataks (street plays), an official statement on Wednesday said.

Maliwal on Tuesday launched the campaign at Delhi University as a mark of protest against the sexual harassment of a DU student in a moving bus. With DCW's intervention into the matter, an FIR was registered in the Vasant Vihar Police Station.

According to DCW, the street plays will be conducted across Delhi until March 8 to raise awareness amongst the people and make them join the movement and fight sexual crimes against women and children.

"After the Nukkad Natak is performed, which is based on crimes against women, volunteers of 'RapeRoko' movement will speak to the crowd and discuss with them the demands of the movement," a statement by DCW said.

"Real change will happen when the government and society awakens against the evil of crimes against women and children. The Nukkad Nataks are a great way of reaching out to the people and raising awareness. We should no longer remain quiet. When people throng the streets on March 8, change is bound to happen!" Maliwal stated.
United Nations, Feb 15 : The UN special envoy for Syria on Wednesday stressed the need for the immediate de-escalation of violence in Syria.

"This is as violent and worrying and dangerous a moment as any that I have seen in my time as special envoy," Xinhua quoted Staffan de Mistura as saying.

"I strongly reiterate the appeal of the (UN) secretary-general to all concerned in Syria and the region and beyond to de-escalate immediately and unconditionally, and urge all stakeholders ... to use their influence to help reduce violence."

There has been a gradual return to back-and-forth competition over territory in Idlib and Hama provinces, and heavy and sustained airstrikes across the northwest and in besieged eastern Ghouta, said de Mistura.

Civilians has been killed on a horrific scale and strikes have continued to hit hospitals, schools and markets.

Reports suggest that more than 1,000 civilians lost their lives in the first week of February alone, he said.

There have been several allegations of chemical weapons attacks in Ghouta and Idlib, and in the Afrin district on the border with Turkey, he added.

Although those allegations cannot be verified as there is no independent investigation, they are extremely worrisome, said de Mistura.

At least 320,000 people have been displaced due to fighting in Idlib in just two months, an area that is already hosting over 1.2 million internally displaced people, he added.

The conflict is also further spilling over Syria's borders in more than one direction and there have been increased military intervention from multiple sources, de Mistura noted.
China is thumbing its nose at international sanctions against North Korea with plans for a new free economic zone along their shared border.

The Chinese city of Hunchun in Jilin Province said on its website that it wants to build the free zone on a 2.6 sq.km island on the Duman River in Kyongwon in North Korea's North Hamgyong Province.

The island is connected to Hunchun and and Kyongwon by a bridge and the zone will offer duty-free benefits worth 8,000 yuan per person a day.

According to Hunchun, North Korea proposed setting up the free zone in June 2016. The money will come from a Hong Kong company rather than the Chinese government, but China will refurbish a port in Hunchun and upgrade the bridge.

This is China's second free zone with North Korea. The first was set up in Dandong, Liaoning Province in October 2015, but North Korean businesses have been barred from investing in it under international sanctions.
New Delhi, Feb 15 : "Tomb Raider", based on a popular reboot of a video game with the same name, will release in India a week before it opens in the US.

The Warner Bros. Pictures project, featuring Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft, will release in India on March 9, read a statement.

In the film, audiences will see Croft going in search of her father's last known destination: a fabled tomb on a mystical island that might be somewhere off the coast of Japan.

"Tomb Raider" is directed by Roar Uthaug with Oscar-winner Graham King producing under his GK Films banner.

The film also features Dominic West, Walton Goggins, Daniel Wu and Nick Frost.
Thiruvananthapuram, February 15 : Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday refuted union minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijijus alleged statement that Kerala had asked the centre to outlaw muslim outfit Popular Front of India (PFI).

National daily The Hindu in a front-page report on Thursday had quoted Mr. Rijiju as saying that Kerala had called for a ban on the PFI and that the union government was examining the states request.

The report also has Mr. Rijiju saying that Kerala state police chief Loknath Behera gave a presentation on the criminal activities of the PFI at the annual DGPs meet held in Madhya Pradesh in January to the press the states case for banning the muslim organisation.

However, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan termed as baseless Mr. Rijijus alleged statement that the state asked the centre to have the PFI banned.

In a statement released to the media, the chief minister denied that the state made such a request to the centre either at the annual DGPs meet or on any other occasion.

It is not the policy of the LDF government to ban communal organisations or terrorist outfits. Past experiences show that neither the threat posed by such outfits nor their ideology can be fought by outlawing them, the statement said.

Taking a dig at the RSS, the ideological mentor of the BJP, the statement says that if organisations sowing communal divide in the society and inciting riots were to be outlawed, then the RSS should be the first to be banned.

The office of the state police chief also issued a statement denying the media report that Mr. Behera sought a ban on the PFI at the DGPs meet.
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 16 : The Congress in Kerala on Friday termed the reported settlement in Dubai of a controversial financial deal involving Left leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan's son as "mysterious".

Following the settlement, Binoy Balakrishnan, the elder son of the Secretary of the Communist Party of India-Marxist Kerala State Committee, the travel ban on him will be lifted.

Trouble started for Balakrishnan and his son when a three-page letter dated January 5, from sponsor of a Dubai-based company, H.I.A. Al Marzooqi, was made available to the media, which stated that Marzooqi has started legal proceedings against Binoy Balakrishnan for alleged fraud of Rs 13 crore.

Things changed fast after Marzooqi filed a petition against Binoy Balakrishnan over a cheque dishonour, to the tune of Rs 1.72 crore and the travel ban was imposed on the CPI-M leader's son in Dubai.

Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala told the media: "It was the Arab gentleman himself who said that he has not got back the money that he has given to Binoy.

"And he had informed the CPI-M party's top leadership. But yesterday we heard that the deal has been closed, by stating that it was a 'misunderstanding'. How can this happen? This clearly shows that there has been something mysterious as one fine morning the person who first said that he has to get money, suddenly says that there is no case at all."

Chennithala said when he came to know about the case he had immediately written to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to see that a probe is launched to find the truth.

"It was yesterday evening that Binoy speaking to a TV channel from Dubai said that the controversy arose because of a 'misunderstanding' and the case has been settled out of court."

"He also said he will apply to lift the travel ban imposed on him," the Congress leader added.
Jerusalem, Feb 18 : The Israeli military on Sunday announced that it carried out strikes against 18 Hamas targets in Gaza in response to an explosive device that injured four soldiers along the fence between Israel and the Palestinian enclave.

Palestinian medical sources said that at least two youths were killed in the strikes on Saturday night, reports Xinhua news agency.

An Israeli military spokesperson said the strikes that continued into the early hours of Sunday, were in retaliation to an explosive that denotated near the fence when a military patrol arrived to remove a "suspicious flag".

Four soldiers were injured.

Shortly later, the Israeli air force launched a large-scale attack.

"The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) views with great severity the incident.

"The Hamas terror organisation is accountable for this incident and its consequences, as well as everything happening in and from the Gaza Strip, above and below ground," the spokesperson added.
Panaji, Feb 19 : Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) leader and Goa PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar, member of the ruling coalition, has been chosen the leader of the House in the absence of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.

Parrikar is currently being treated in a Mumbai hospital for a pancreas-related ailment.

In view of the medical condition of the Chief Minister, the 33-day budget session of the Goa legislative assembly has been curtailed to four days, even as the Congress has protested against the shortening of the session.

"Dhavalikar has been chosen as the leader of the House in absence of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. BJP MLA Francis D'Souza has been chosen the leader of the BJP MLAs in the assembly," state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Vinay Tendulkar told reporters in Panaji.

The decision to curtail the duration of the budget session, was taken at a business advisory committee meeting on Monday.

"The decision to curtail the session was taken by the business advisory committee of the House in view of the health of the Chief Minister," Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo told reporters.

The Congress, however, said this amounts to derailment of public interest.

"It is incorrect to curtail the session. It is not the first time such a situation has arisen. Governments always run on alternative options," Congress spokesperson Girish Chodankar said.

"We have full sympathies and concern for health of Manohar Parrikar and sending good, healthy vibes for a speedy recovery," he added.
Jerusalem, Feb 20 : Israel's Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon met with Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah in the Palestine's West Bank city on Monday, and called on to renew the long-stalled peace talks.

The rare meeting was attended also by the Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) Major General Yoav Mordechai, and Deputy Finance Minister Itzik Cohen, Xinhua reported.

The meeting was focused on security and financial issues, including the activity of Palestinian banks, building new industrial zones in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and creating new jobs in the unemployment-stricken area.

Kahlon urged the Palestinians to return to the negotiating table with the United States as a mediator.

"The Americans are the only honest broker in the region," he said, adding that the talks should be restarted through the involvement of US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Jason Greenblatt.

The Palestinians denounced the White House as a biased broker following Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel on December 6.

The meeting marked a rare talk between Israeli and Palestinian officials, after the last round of peace talks reached an impasse in 2014.
Lima, Feb 20 : Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori has been ordered to stand trial for the 1992 killings of six farmers, the media reported on Tuesday.

The order on Monday night comes just over a month after he was released from prison, where he was serving 25 years for human rights abuses and corruption, reports the BBC.

The 79-year-old was given a pardon on health grounds but the court in the capital Lima says this does not apply to the new case.

Fujimori has said that he was innocent and would appeal against the court's ruling.

The court also wants to try 22 others for the death-squad killings.

When incumbent President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski granted the pardon in December, there were street protests in Lima.

Fujimori is a deeply divisive figure in Peru, respected by some and reviled by others for his government's crackdown on two violent insurgencies during his tenure from 1990-2000.

An estimated 69,000 people died in the conflict between left-wing insurgents and Fujimori's authoritarian government.
San Francisco, Feb 20 : Apple has released a new iOS 11.2.6 update that includes a fix for the bug that is causing iPhones and apps like Facebook and WhatsApp to crash when a Telugu single character is received via iMessage.

The bug was discovered last week and involves sending the character in Telugu to devices that crashes an iPhone and makes apps like Messages, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp inaccessible.

The bug also affects Safari and the built-in Messages app on macOS and the Apple Watch.

"Apple released updates for watchOS, tvOS, and macOS to stop the crash from happening on those platforms, too," The Verge reported on Tuesday.

When the Telugu character is sent in an iMessage, it can freeze up the entire Messages app on all of a person's Mac and iOS devices.

The Messages app will then refuse to function properly until the offending character is removed by deleting the conversation with the person who sent it.

In some situations, if the character is viewed through an iOS notification, it can cause the entire device to crash.

Apple announced last month that the upcoming Apple iOS 11.3 update will offer features that gives users power to control their batteries, Augmented Reality (AR) upgrade and Animoji.

"This spring, iOS 11.3 will deliver exciting new ways to experience Augmented Reality on iPhone and iPad, new Animoji on iPhone X and the ability to view health records in the Health app," Apple had said earlier.
Washington, Feb 20 : US President Donald Trump has endorsed former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who will run for a Senate seat from Utah state in November.

Despite their rivalry, Trump on Monday tweeted "all my support and endorsement" for Romney and considered him a "worthy successor" to Orrin Hatch, the current Utah senator who announced last month that he would retire after over four decades in office, reports Efe news.

"Mitt Romney has announced he is running for the Senate from the wonderful State of Utah. He will make a great Senator and worthy successor to Orrin Hatch, and has my full support and endorsement!!" Trump tweeted.

Romney, the Republican Party's nominee for President of the US in the 2012 election, has been an active critic of Trump since the 2016 presidential campaign, when he labelled the then Republican presidential candidate "a fraud".

However, following Trump's victory, Romney was considered a possible candidate for his secretary of state.

Romney responded later on Monday night, tweeting: "Thank you Mr. President for the support. I hope that over the course of the campaign I also earn the support and endorsement of the people of Utah," CNN reported.

The former Massachusetts governor announced on February 16 that he would run for the Senate seat.

In his announcement, Romney made a veiled critique of the President's tone on immigration.

"Utah welcomes legal immigrants from around the world -- Washington sends immigrants a message of exclusion," Romney said in a video on February 16 without mentioning Trump by name.
London, Feb 20 : A British university researcher has been sentenced to 32 years in prison for a litany of "warped and sadistic" crimes, including blackmail and sexual exploitation.

Matthew Falder, 29, admitted to 137 separate offences that when put together told "a tale of ever-increasing depravity," Judge Philip Parker said during the sentencing in Birmingham on Monday.

"Your behaviour was cunning, persistent, manipulative and cruel," CNN quoted Parker as saying.

Falder was accused of posing as a depressed female artist who would ask young adults and teenagers to send him naked pictures online.

He then used the photographs to blackmail them, according to the Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA).

Falder committed some of crimes on so-called "hurt core" forums on the dark web, where users discuss and share images of violent acts like rape, murder, sadism, torture, paedophilia, according to the NCA.

By the time he was arrested in June 2017 , Falder had approached more than 300 people across the world, CNN reported.

Prosecutors described Falder as a man living a double life; a Cambridge University graduate and Birmingham University researcher in geophysics by day and a sexual predator by night.

"In more than 30 years of law enforcement I've never come across an offender whose sole motivation was to inflict such profound anguish and pain. Matthew Falder revelled in it," said Matt Sutton, a senior investigating officer at the NCA.
President Moon Jae-in on Monday called on his government to implement "firm and resolute responses" against unfair targeting of Korean businesses in U.S. protectionist measures. The U.S. Commerce Department has recommended listing Korea among 12 steel-exporting countries subject to anti-dumping tariffs.

Moon told trade officials to check if the U.S. recommendation of a 53-percent tariff on steel imports from Korea violates the bilateral free trade agreement that went into effect in 2012.

Moon told senior advisers he is "concerned" about the potential impact on exports from U.S. protectionist measures targeting Korean steel, electronics, solar panels and washing machines despite their "internationally renowned quality."

He asked them to "look closely into the potential impact those steps may have on Korea's exports and come up with comprehensive measures," Cheong Wa Dae said.

Korea seems to be the only major U.S. ally to be singled out. Moon suggested taking the matter to the World Trade Organization if necessary, but that could take at least three years to adjudicate and would not save exporters from a severe blow.
Toronto, Feb 20 : Canadas first Cabinet minister of Indian origin, Herb Dhaliwal, says the focus of the on-going visit of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to India has been derailed by the Khalistan issue.

"It is very unfortunate that the media in India has overblown this Khalistan issue. This has shifted the focus away from trade -- which is what the two countries should be discussing," Dhaliwal, who in 1993 became the first Indian to be elected as an MP in the Western world, told IANS.

Dhaliwal, who served as Canada's Minister for Revenue and Natural Resources from 1997 to 2003, said the sticking issue between the two countries is "about human rights and not Khalistan".

He said, "When I was the Cabinet minister, I had met Prime Ministers (I.K.) Gujral, Manmohan Singh and (A.B.) Vajpayee and raised the issue of punishment for those behind the 1984 riots. I had told them it is about human rights and they had no objection."

Dhaliwal said the vast majority of Sikhs in Canada have nothing to do with Khalistan. All they want is that human rights must be respected and the culprits behind the 1984 killings should be brought to justice.

"There is only a very small proportion (of Sikhs) in Canada which is blowing up the issue of Khalistan for their own purposes. This issue is about human rights," said Dhaliwal, who was instrumental in the opening of the Canadian consulate in Chandigarh in 2003.

About Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh's charges against two Sikh ministers in Trudeau's cabinet, including Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, as being Khalistani supporters and denial of visa to him by Canada, Dhaliwal hoped that Trudeau will discuss these issues with him.

About denial of Canadian visa to Amarinder Singh in 2016, he said, "It was the result of some misunderstanding at the bureaucratic or some other level. It shouldn't have happened. Canada should apologise to Amarinder Singh for this error."

Urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trudeau not to let this issue divert their focus from trade, Dhaliwal said the economic interests of India and Canada are complementary.

"Canada is rich in oil and gas and we can help meet the energy security demands of India's fast-growing economy. We can also be a major supplier of agricultural products for India."

Despite all the issues between the two countries, Dhaliwal said, "The huge inflow of Indian students into Canada and direct air connections are big pluses which will help build future relationships. I think this is an important development which people should emphasise."
London, Feb 20 : The US and UK are in talks about the fate of two men from London who were detained in Syria last month on suspicion of terrorist activity, Home Secretary Amber Rudd said.

Late Monday, Rudd said the captured men, Allexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh, should go on trial, reports the BBC.

They are suspected of being members of an Islamic State (IS) cell that killed Western hostages.

The men have been stripped of their UK citizenship.

It has been suggested they could be sent to the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay.

Alternatively, they could be put on criminal trial in the US or at the International Criminal Court, The Hague, which can prosecute people for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and aggression, the BBC reported.

Rudd said: "We're absolutely committed to making sure that they are tried.

"These people should face the full force of the law. I can't be drawn at the moment into where that will take place. But I am certain, because we'll be working with the Americans to ensure this, that they will face justice."

The men are accused of being the last two of four UK IS members known as "the Beatles", so called because of their British accents.
New Delhi, Feb 20 : A war of words erupted on Tuesday between the AAP and the BJP over an alleged assault on Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash by Aam Aadmi party legislators in the presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vijender Gupta, who is also the Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly, alleged Kejriwal "in his dictatorial style" called the Chief Secretary at midnight on Monday and "berated" him in front of his MLAs, an allegation, AAP said was "ludicrous".

"Drunk on power CM (Chief Minister) was concerned about why more funds were not dispersed for advertisements. Such is the state of affairs under AAP," Gupta tweeted.

"In total, nine AAP MLAs were present at the CM's residence when the Chief Secretary was assaulted. They represent people of Delhi but are nothing short of urban naxalites. How utterly disgusting behaviour!" he said.

But Delhi government spokesperson Nagendar Sharma denied the allegation saying the Chief Secretary was making false accusation at the behest of BJP.

Sharma said during a meeting at Kejriwal's residence on the "faulty implementation" of Aadhaar that "deprived about 2.5 lakh families of ration", the Chief Secretary refused to answer questions saying he was not answerable to MLAs or the Chief Minister but only to Lt Governor Anil Baijal.

"He even used bad language against some MLAs and left without answering any questions.

"Moreover, it is false information that the meeting and the argument was about TV ads. The entire discussion was on how large number of families were not getting ration," Sharma said in a statement.

"Obviously, he (the Chief Secretary) is doing it at the BJP's behest. The BJP has stooped very low in disrupting governance in Delhi through the Lt. Governor and officers.

"If the Chief Secretary can make such wild allegations, one can imagine the kind of obstacles that are being created in AAP government's work by BJP through the officers."
Kathmandu, Feb 20 : UNICEF on Tuesday launched the "Every Child Alive" global campaign to demand and deliver affordable, quality health-care solutions for every mother and newborn.

Issuing a statement, UNICEF Nepal said that, in low-income countries, the average newborn mortality rate is 27 deaths per 1,000 births, reports Xinhua.

Newborns from the riskiest places are up to 50 times more likely to die than those from the safest places.

According to the Nepal's Demographic Health Survey 2016, one in 48 babies die in their first 28 days of life in the country, making up to 13,000 newborn deaths every year in the Himalayan nation.

More than 80 per cent of newborn deaths are due to prematurity, complications during birth or infections such as pneumonia and sepsis, according to the report.

"These deaths can be prevented with access to well-trained midwives, along with proven solutions like clean water, disinfectants, breastfeeding within the first hour, skin-to-skin contact and good nutrition," it said.

However, a shortage of well-trained health workers and midwives means that thousands do not receive the life-saving support they need to survive.

While in Norway there are 218 doctors, nurses and midwives to serve 10,000 people, that ratio is 2.3 per 10,000 in Nepal, the report said.

Through the new campaign, UNICEF is issuing an urgent appeal to governments, health care providers, donors, the private sector, families and businesses to keep every child alive.
New Delhi, Feb 20 : The Delhi Government Employees Welfare Association (DGEWA) on Tuesday demanded action against the AAP MLAs who allegedly assaulted Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash in the presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

DGEWA President D.N. Singh said the association met Lt. Governor Anil Baijal regarding the issue.

Singh also said that members of the association would go to office but won't work till action is taken against those who assaulted the bureaucrat.

The Chief Secretary was allegedly assaulted by the ruling party's MLAs during a meeting at Kejriwal's residence on Monday night.
Tokyo, Feb 20 : A Japanese company is planning to build a 350 metre high wooden skyscraper in Tokyo by 2041, making it the world's tallest wooden building.

The wood products company Sumitomo Forestry estimates that the cost of the building, which will have 70 floors, will be around 600 billion yen ($5 billion), almost twice the cost of a conventional building, a company spokesperson told Efe news on Tuesday.

However, Sumitomo Forestry believes that technological advances will see the projected costs fall by 2041, when the company will mark its 350th anniversary.

The W350 tower, which will be built in central Tokyo, will be 90 per cent wooden and 10 per cent steel and have greenery climbing through it to give it a more natural look.

Once it is completed, it will be the world's tallest wooden skyscraper.

Currently, the world's tallest wooden building is in Canada and stands at 53 metres, according to the architectural website Arch Daily.

The W350 will have a floor space of 455,000 square meters and will have apartments, offices and shops, all of which will be surrounded by abundant foliage to convert cities into forests, the company said in a statement.

The spokesperson said the company will first build a smaller building, about 70 metres high and with 14 floors, before getting into the larger project but did not confirm the completion date of the other building.

In addition to having a more natural look, the building will also use wood, enabling it to withstand fire for three hours, which together with the greenery, will prevent it from easily burning down.

Other projects of this kind have also been announced in other parts of the world, including in Chicago, which is planning to construct a 244-metre high tower.
New Delhi, Feb 20 : IAS Association Secretary Manisha Saxena on Tuesday said that Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash was "manhandled" and "mistreated" at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence here on Monday and termed it a "planned criminal conspiracy".

The Indian Administrative Service officers would work on Tuesday with a black band as a mark of protest, Saxena said Speaking to the media after a meeting with Lt. Governor Anil Baijal, Saxena said that the bureaucrat body have asked Baijal to take strict action. A police complaint had already been filed.

She also said that the association will meet Home Minister Rajnath Singh and President Ram Nath Kovind to highlight the issue.

"There should be criminal action against everyone involved," Saxena added.

Earlier in the day, Delhi Government Employees Welfare Association (DGEWA) President D.N. Singh told reporters that the Chief Secretary was assaulted by AAP legislators at Kejriwal's residence.

Saxena said that Prakash was called for a meeting around midnight on Monday where Kejriwal along with his deputy Manish Sisodia and 10 to 12 other MLAs were present.

Saxena said that the meeting was on "some advertisements by the Delhi government which were in violation of the Supreme Court's guidelines".

Discussions were already on and the meeting was called to resolve it, Saxena said.

Saxena said that when the Chief Secretary reached the meeting, he was "manhandled" and "mistreated".

"For the past couple of years, officers have been insulted and humiliated in public," she said. "The attack on the Chief Secretary is an attempt to intimidate the bureaucracy to toe the line by the powers that be."

Saxena, however, refused to name who exactly attacked the Chief Secretary.

However, the Delhi government spokesperson Nagendar Sharma denied the allegation saying the Chief Secretary was making false accusation at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Sharma said the meeting at Kejriwal's residence was on the "faulty implementation" of Aadhaar that "deprived about 2.5 lakh families of ration".

He said the Chief Secretary had refused to answer questions saying he was not answerable to MLAs or the Chief Minister but only to the Lt. Governor.

"He even used bad language against some MLAs and left without answering any questions," the spokesman said.

"Moreover, it is false information that the meeting and the argument was about TV ads. The entire discussion was on how large number of families were not getting ration," Sharma said in a statement.
Panaji, Feb 20 : The Congress will seek a proper explanation from Goa's BJP-led coalition government about the exact nature and severity of the ailment of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar said on Tuesday.

Talking to reporters at the state Legislative Assembly complex, Kavlekar said: "We will raise the issue of CM's health. People of the state need to know what has happened. A comprehensive statement will also put a halt to the rumours going around."

Parrikar was rushed to Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital on February 15 following stomach pain and was, according to the Chief Minister's Office, diagnosed with inflamed pancreas.

The Leader of Opposition also said that at the emergency Business Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on Monday, he was informed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders that Parrikar could even come to Goa to present the budget in the assembly on February 22.

Currently, the senior-most minister in the coalition government, Sudin Dhavalikar, who is a member of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party -- a constituent of the ruling alliance -- has been chosen as the leader of the treasury benches.
Los Angeles, Feb 20 : Fashion Designer Georgina Chapman says she is not a victim of her estranged husband and producer Harvey Weinstein, according to her close friend Keren Craig.

Craig, with whom she co-founded fashion brand Marchesa, said that the designer doesn't view herself as a "victim" of the producer, and is instead just trying to move on with her life away from him.

"She doesn't see herself as a victim. That's very important. She's just trying to get on with her life. You've got to realise George is such a strong woman. Don't get me wrong, it's a very hard time, but she's quite inspirational," Craig told Grazia magazine.

Craig also said she and Chapman are in the process of discussing the best way for the fashion brand to support the #MeToo and Time's Up movements which have risen from the allegations against Weinstein and other Hollywood executives.

She added: "We want to support them. We want to make a gesture. We need to properly process how it can be the most beneficial."

Chapman announced her decision to divorce Weinstein within days of the New York Times article in which several of his alleged victims first came forward, and Keren was stunned by how "incredibly strong" her fashion friend was.

Asked if she'd ever had an inkling about Weinstein's alleged behaviour, Craig said: "Absolutely not. No it was a total shock. It was upsetting and my heart was broken for George. I actually couldn't believe how incredibly strong she was. She threw herself in to work, she threw herself into protecting her kids. Marchesa is her life, it is her passion."
Kannur (Kerala) : Kannur (Kerala) Feb 20 (IANS) Even though the Kerala Police have arrested two people in connection with last week's killing of Shoaib, a young Congress worker, the party on Tuesday said the real culprits in the murder were being shielded.

The Congress leadership said that the arrests made so far were "wrong" and that the real accused were being shielded as "the murder was done by a criminal, who was given parole to commit it".

The police on Monday arrested Akash and Rijin Raj, both workers of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), which heads the state's ruling Left Democratic Front government. Photos of the two with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Kannur district CPI-M secretary P. Jayarajan have appeared in the local media.

Slain Youth Congress worker Shoaib, 30, was waiting at an eatery near Mattanoor around 10.45 p.m. on February 12, when four persons in a car hurled bombs and then fatally slashed him with a sword.

The Congress party's claim was echoed by Shoaib's friend, Naushad, who was present at the murder scene. Naushad said that Akash was not at the spot when the murder took place.

"There were three of them who came with swords and Akash was not there; I saw the three young men, all below 30, who did it."

He, however, added: "I do not know if Akash was the driver of the car or if it was he who first threw the bomb."

The friend said that he used a bench in the eatery to save himself from being killed, and managed to escape with a cut on his hand.

Senior Congress leader and Kannur strongman K. Sudhakaran, who began an indefinite protest strike here, said those arrested were just "dummy accused". He alleged that a hardcore criminal in jail was granted parole to carry out the murder.

"Some more things have been revealed and, in the coming days, we will reveal more. Both Vijayan and Jayarajan are aware of everything in this brutal murder," alleged Sudhakaran.

Sateeshan Pacheni, Kannur district Congress president, contended that the "police are lying".

"This is a well executed murder with the knowledge of the party leadership. Now, both the district CPI-M leadership and the local party leadership are trying to blame each other for the murder.

"Helping to thwart the probe as per the wishes of the top party leaders, the police is playing a double game, too. We suspect that the killers came from jail," said Pacheni.

Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chenithala was the first to reveal that 19 hardcore criminals attached to the CPI-M were given parole, while the parole of a few were extended by the state government in January.

Chennithala said the party had no faith in the ongoing police probe.

"The CPI-M has now turned into a terror outfit and is annihilating its political rivals. Now that the police has said that there was a conspiracy behind the murder, the real culprits have to be booked," said Chennithala.

Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who arrived in Kannur on Tuesday, said that the police probe was wanting on several grounds.

"The norm when such murders take place is, the police sanitises the area of crime and it is kept out of bounds. But that never happened here, which is a grave mistake.

"It has also come to light that a section of the police probing the case is working against the interest of the case," said Chandy.
U.S. President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka will meet women who escaped North Korea when she visits South Korea, sources said Monday.

The "first daughter" is coming for the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang on Sunday.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence also made a point of meeting four North Korean defectors when he was here for the opening ceremony, which was also attended by a North Korean delegation led by Kim Jong-un's sister Yo-jong, whom Pence refused to acknowledge.

The emerging pattern is that the U.S. is determined to call North Korea out on its human rights abuses even as the North continues its charm offensive toward Seoul.


New Delhi, Feb 20 : The second edition of Delhi Theatre Festival is set to host veteran theatre personalities like Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak, Paresh Rawal and Pankaj Kapur.

While Naseeruddin's directorial "Ismat Apa Ke Naam" will also have him in the cast including Ratna Pathak and Heeba Shah, Pankaj will showcase "Dopheri", which is his playwright and directorial.

The plays will be staged from March 9-11 at the Siri Fort Auditorium in Delhi and Orana Conventions in Gurugram, said a statement.

Pankaj said: "Delhi is where I began practicing theatre. It is always special to perform in the capital. Performing on the Delhi Theatre Festival stage is going to be a ride down memory lane. Also, I'm honoured to inaugurate the Gurugram venue."

The initiative is an exclusive venture by Alchemist Live, a sister company of Alchemist Marketing Solutions.

Manish Porwal, Managing Director of Alchemist Live, said: "Our vision for Delhi Theatre Festival is to create a global platform for theatre enthusiasts. In 2019, we plan to integrate international talent into the overall programming and also provide a platform where young theatre talent can be identified and honed."
Kolkata, Feb 20 : West Bengal's major opposition forces Congress and Left Front on Tuesday decided to move a no-confidence motion against assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee, accusing him of being partial to the ruling Trinamool Congress and not granting enough time to speakers from the opposition benches.

The leaders of the Congress and LF said they would send a letter to the assembly on the issue.

Leader of the Opposition Abdul Mannan, of the Congress, said the assembly in the parliamentary system is said to belong to the opposition, and so it was imperative that the Speaker should be neutral while conducting the proceedings.

On a number of occasions, the opposition MLAs have either not been allowed to speak or prevented from raising serious issues, he said.

Leader of Left Front legislature party Sujan Chakraborty said they, as also the Congress, have on a number of occasions boycotted all party meetings called in the assembly as the ruling party refused to give the due importance to the opposition.

However, the Trinamool denied the allegations, and called it "only a drama".

"The accusations levelled against the Speaker is totally baseless. The opposition is only interested in drama," said Parliamentary Affairs minister Partha Chatterjee.
Kolkata, Feb 20 : Taking a dig at the Centre, Trinamool Congress MP and the party's veteran leader Saugata Roy on Tuesday said the alleged $1.8 billion banking fraud showed how much the country's banking system failed to detect it early.

The Punjab National Bank had recently detected a $1.8 billion scam allegedly involving jeweller Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi.

"Nirav Modi's case showed how much the country's banking system failed to detect it. Despite the presence of Reserve Bank of India and Union Finance department, the fraud was not detected early. I think a renewed thought should be applied to revive the banking sector," Roy said here on the sidelines of the event -- "Infra-East" -- organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

The Central government has been recapitalising banks and infusing funds into the banking system but if huge capital is drained out, how can banks survive, he said.

"It is a matter of concern. There is a slippage from the government," he said, adding that the Central government must reveal how the alleged fraud was executed.

The banking fraud was unearthed when banks, particularly public sector lenders, are reeling under the growing non-performing assets, Roy said.

He indicated that lending to the infrastructure sector could be impacted in view of these problems.
New Delhi, Feb 20 : In the backdrop of several ponzi schemes duping gullible investors surfacing in recent years, the Union Cabinet on Tuesday decided to bring a bill in Parliament to ban unregulated deposit schemes.

Besides, the Cabinet also decided to make changes in the Chit Funds Act in a bid to enable greater financial access of people to other financial products, a Finance Ministry release said here.

"In a major policy initiative to protect the savings of the investors, the Union Cabinet has given its approval to introduce the... Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2018, and the Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill, 2018," it said.

"The bill is aimed at tackling the menace of illicit deposit-taking activities in the country. Companies/institutions running such schemes exploit existing regulatory gaps and lack of strict administrative measures to dupe poor and gullible people of their hard-earned savings," the release added.

A new comprehensive law would completely prohibit unregulated deposit-taking and provide for deterrent punishment for promoting or operating such schemes, besides introducing other changes, the government said.

On the proposal to make changes in the Chit Funds Act, the statement said the government aimed to facilitate orderly growth of the sector and remove bottlenecks being faced by the industry.

The amendment will enable "greater financial access of people to other financial products", it said.
Ghaziabad, Feb 20 : Two men died after accidentally coming into contact with a transformer in this Uttar Pradesh district, police said.

The incident took place in Loni town late Monday night when Shubham, 19, and Atul, 20, members of a brass band, were returning on a horse-driven carriage after an event, said an official from Loni border police station.

On the way, the carriage hit the transformer and current started flowing into it, killing both on the spot.

Two other persons on the carriage also sustained electric shock but they survived.

The two deceased were residents of the state's Hardoi district, said Superintendent of Police (Rural) Arvind Maurya, adding their families have been informed.

The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination, he said.
Madrid, Feb 20 : Villarreal defender Ruben Semedo was arrested by the Civil Guard of Valencia on Tuesday for assaulting and illegally detaining a person, sources related to the investigation told Efe.

Semedo, 23, had previously been taken into custody in November 2017 for his involvement in an incident at the entrance of a night club, reports Efe.

The Portuguese player arrived at Villarreal last summer, but since then has suffered several injuries and participated in only a small number of matches with the club.
Hyderabad, Feb 20 : Nasscom, in partnership with the Telangana government, will establish a Centre of Excellence for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence here, it was announced on Tuesday.

An MoU for this was signed by the state government and The National Association of Software & Services Companies (Nasscom) on Tuesday on the sidelines of the World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT).

To be established in public-private partnership mode, the CoE is the latest addition to Nasscom's 'hub-and-spoke' network of CoEs across major locations in the country, aimed at evangelizing new and emerging technologies, the computer industry's apex body said.

With an initial joint investment of Rs 40 crore, the centre will catalyze the growth of the deep tech ecosystem in Telangana, by providing the stimulus for innovation and in-depth research in the areas of data science and artificial intelligence.

Leveraging its partner and member ecosystem, Nasscom will work to enable industry-oriented research, augment citizen-centric solutions, promote data-driven decision making, enhance academic capacities, and support appropriate skills building and talent development through the CoE.

The CoE will serve as a platform for intelligence-sharing and technology collaboration between stakeholders to build collective capabilities for the industry and country in the cutting-edge areas of data science and artificial intelligence.

It will provide high-end technology, field expertise, and curated programs to augment capabilities across academia, enterprises, government, innovators and advanced start-ups.

The MoU was signed by Telangana's Information Technology Secretary Jayesh Ranjan and Nasscom President R. Chandrasekhar in the presence of Telangana IT Minister K. T. Rama Rao.

Jayesh Ranjan said the CoE will be temporarily come up in the campus of International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) and will be later shifted to Data Analytics Park to come up at Budvel on the city outskirts.

"The government is keen to create a robust Data Science & Artificial Intelligence ecosystem for the various stakeholders to thrive, by providing support, mentorship, and other capabilities. This CoE is in the direction for developing Telangana and India as global hub for DS & AI in the coming years," said Rama Rao.

"The vision behind this CoE is to consolidate and streamline efforts in this space by building state-of-the-art infrastructure to amplify the impact that India can indigenously create. With the opportunities that digital technologies present, this CoE-DS&AI is strategically placed to provide data-backed solutions to critical and complex problems across the country and globe," said Chandrashekhar.

Data science and artificial intelligence technologies allow harnessing complex, high volume, high speed data into insights for decision making, emerging as the one of biggest growth opportunities for India to capitalize on. In recent times, artificial intelligence has found applications across industries including financial services, automotive, healthcare, and retail.

It is expected that the data science and artificial intelligence industry in India will be worth $16 billion by 2025, and is likely to spur an additional employment of 150,000 professionals in the country.
New Delhi, Feb 20 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is probing 120 shell companies allegedly linked to jeweller designer Nirav Modi and Gitanjali Group chief Mehul Choksi even as Income Tax officials claimed to have found two companies linked to Modi that had received Rs 555 crore from companies in Cyprus, Mauritius and Singapore between 2013 and 2014.

"The agency is investigating 79 shell companies owned by Gitanjali Group chief and 41 companies owned by Modi in India," an ED official told IANS on condition of anonymity.

He also said that the agency is examining if the money taken from the bank was diverted to these shell companies.

Modi and his uncle Choksi, along with directors of the Modi and Gitanjali groups are under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the ED for allegedly committing fraud amounting to Rs 11,300 crore against PNB, whose Letters of Undertaking and Foreign Letters of Credit were illegally used to raise and rollover money. Both Modi and Choksi, along with other family members are said to have left the country in early January this year.

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 second CBI FIR for allegedly defrauding PNB of Rs 4,886.72 crore.

Based on the documents seized during searches last year, IT officials claimed to have found that Modi's Firestar International Pvt Ltd had received Rs 284 crore from two companies based in Cyprus and Mauritius between 2013 and 14 in the form of share capital and high share premium.

The department found evidence during searches that showed that documents claimed to be submitted by these foreign entities were prepared in Modi's office. The source of funds and creditworthiness of the overseas companies were not explained properly, the IT department said in its report.

Further, Firestar International had received foreign funds worth Rs 271 crore from Singapore-based company Islington International Pte Ltd, whose beneficial owner is stated to be Nirav Modi's sister Purvi Mehta. The IT department said the asssess had not been able to provide necessary supporting documents of creditworthiness of Purvi Mehta or Islington. "The source of funds also remains suspicious," the report by the investigative arm of income tax said.

Meanwhile, ED officials have hired experts to ascertain the value of the items seized during the raids. Till Saturday, diamonds, gold and jewellery said to be valued at Rs 5,674 crore had been seized. ED officials said the valuation was done by them based on stock value and market value at showrooms.

The ED had on four days from Friday conducted raids at 141 locations across India in connection with the PNB fraud. The agency officials said that soon it shall issue letter rogatories to other countries seeking information on Modi's transactions.

The agency also said it would look into the reports submitted earlier by the Income Tax department.

During a raid by the Director-General of Income Tax (Investigations) in January 2017, it was learnt that 2016-17, the Modi group had illegally diverted Rs 1,216 crore worth of diamonds meant for export from its special economic zone in Surat to the domestic market, selling them in cash.

It had found that the units in the SEZ diverted high quality diamonds imported for processing and export, to the domestic market for huge profit. Instead, low-quality diamonds were exported to associate units abroad to keep up the appearances.

"We have asked for the full details about the IT cases against Modi," the ED official added.

The IT department, in a appraisal report last year had also flagged several suspected irregularities on the part of the Modi group of companies.

In the report, IT sleuths mentioned that the group accepted cash from customers for sale of jewellery and diamonds that were over and above the sale consideration as recorded in the account books.

The IT authorities had confronted Modi with their findings but they did not get a satisfactory explanation.

It said that during the check period, the agency found cash receipts of over Rs 158 crore.

Latest updates on Howdy Modi Houston
Lucknow, Feb 20 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday flagged off 100 motorcycles for the 'UP-100' service, officials said.

This is the first lot of a total of 1,600 two-wheelers which will be provided to the police in due course of time, an official said.

The motorcycles have mobile data terminal (MDT) on which they will get instructions from the headquarters. That will enable the police personnel to reach the callers' destination directly.

Besides, the two-wheelers are also equipped with LED lights, sirens, Public Address (PA) system, crime scene kit, utility box, helmet, torch, mobile charging point, bottle holder and other facilities.

Adityanath also directed police officials to ensure they promptly respond to distress calls, try to reach the scene of the crime quickly and reduce the response time to 10 minutes.

He also asked the police personnel involved in the 'UP-100' service to be people-friendly.
Colombo, Feb 20 : The Chairman of the Association of SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians has written to Maldives Speaker raising concerns over the current political crisis in the Indian Ocean nation urging it to immediately take steps to restore normalcy and respect for the rule of law in the country.

Karu Jayasuriya, who is also the Sri Lankan Speaker, in his letter to Maldives Majlis (Parliament) Speaker Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed said that "democratic norms and parliamentary practices appeared to be in peril at this time in the country" and called for "finding peaceful solutions through dialogue."

The Colombo Gazette reported that Jayasuriya expressed concern over the declaration of Emergency and the arrests and the "disrespect of the Supreme Court rulings", which he said "threaten constitutional principles and undermine the rule of law and independence of the judiciary".

"The recent events impact negatively on credible and inclusive pre-elections processes with the full participation of all parties in the Maldives," Jayasuriya added in the letter.

The Maldives' parliamentary committee on national security, on a request of President Abdulla Yameen, passed a resolution on Monday extending the ongoing state of Emergency by an additional 15 days.

The President's office said the extension was warranted "as the threat to national security has not diminished and the constitutional crisis has not been resolved".

The state of Emergency was first declared on February 5 for 15 days after the Supreme Court issued an order on February 1 to release nine high-profile political prisoners, including exiled leader Mohamed Nasheed, and reinstated 12 unseated legislators.
Bengaluru: Students with Covid-like symptoms to be tested

Holding a meeting with members of the Paediatric Expert Committee, and the Technical Expert Committee about steps to be taken towards containing Covid-19, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Chief Commissioner Gaurav Gupta instructed authorities to check children with symptoms persisting for more than two days.
Male, Feb 20 : The Maldives' Parliament on Tuesday approved extending the state of Emergency by 30 days following a request by President Abdulla Yameen.

Only 38 MPs were present for the vote despite the requirement of 43 lawmakers as per the Constitution. All 38 MPs were from the ruling party, the Maldives Independent reported.

The opposition had boycotted the vote to ensure the vote could not take place, but the extension was granted anyway.

The new state of Emergency will end on March 22.
New Delhi, Feb 20 : Two new vaccines have shown promise in preventing tuberculosis, the world's leading infectious disease killer, results of new clinical trials show.

The findings showed that re-vaccination with the Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine and an experimental vaccine candidate named as H4:IC31, were effective in preventing sustained infections in high-risk adolescents.

Introduced in 1921, BCG is the only licensed tuberculosis vaccine available globally, while H4:IC31 is an investigative subunit vaccine candidate being developed.

"We have demonstrated that (this) vaccination has the potential to reduce the rate of sustained tuberculosis infection in a high-transmission setting," said lead author Mark Hatherill, Director of the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI) at the University of Cape Town.

"While neither vaccine proved to be statistically significant in preventing an initial tuberculosis infection, we are extremely encouraged by the signals observed for both vaccines in preventing sustained tuberculosis infections.

"The results will provide significant scientific benefit to the field in understanding tuberculosis infection, and we look forward to testing the potential of such vaccines to prevent tuberculosis disease among uninfected adolescents," Hatherill said.

According to the Global TB Report 2017, released by the World Health Organisation (WHO), India continues to have the highest number of tuberculosis (TB) cases in the world.

In 2016, there were an estimated 10.4 million new tuberculosis cases worldwide. Seven countries accounted for 64 per cent of the total burden, with India having the maximum number of tuberculosis patients, followed by Indonesia, China, Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria and South Africa.

In India, an estimated 27.9 lakh patients were suffering from tuberculosis in 2016 and up to 4.23 lakh patients were estimated to have died during the year, the report said.

The study, presented at the Fifth Global Forum on TB Vaccines in New Delhi, involved 990 HIV-negative, healthy adolescents (12-17 years of age) who had been vaccinated as infants with BCG.

All participants were randomised evenly into three study arms: placebo, H4:IC31, or BCG revaccination.

The data showed that both vaccines appeared to be safe and produced an immune response in the adolescents studied.

No vaccine-related serious adverse events were reported.

As per WHO, about one-third of the world's population has what is called a latent tuberculosis infection, which means people have been infected by tuberculosis bacteria but are not (yet) ill with the disease and cannot transmit the disease.

People infected with tuberculosis bacteria have a lifetime risk of falling ill with tuberculosis. People ill with tuberculosis can infect 10-15 other people through close contact over the course of a year.
Guwahati, Feb 20 : A day after the opposition Congress legislators in the Assam legislative Assembly demanded removal of actress Priyanka Chopra as the brand ambassador of Assam tourism, State Tourism Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma came to her rescue and said that a section of the Congress legislators are trying to get cheap publicity out of the issue.

Congress legislators including Nandita Das and Rupjyoti Kurmi recently raised objections during the ongoing session of the Assam legislative assembly to a photograph of the Bollywood star in 'minimal clothes' as featured in a calendar of the Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) and demanded that she be removed as the brand ambassador of Assam tourism.

The Congress legislators also showed a copy of the ATDC calendar where Priyanka was seen wearing a frock and not the traditional dress of Assam - Mekhela chador.

"A section of Congress legislators in Assam are trying to get cheap publicity out of the issue. When we receive felicitation in some stage do we go wearing dhoti, the traditional dress of Assam or wearing pants and shirts? If someone comes to Assam from abroad will he be felicitated after wearing dhoti?," said Sarma while answering a journalist outside the House on Tuesday.

Congress leader and Assam's Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia said that it would have been better if the brand ambassador had worn Assam's traditional dress during the photo-shoot for the calendar of ATDC.

"I think that (wearing an Assamese traditional dress) would have been appropriate for the actor to promote the culture and tradition of Assam," he said.

Saikia, however, said that the government should rather concentrate on improving the tourism infrastructure in Assam rather than spending funds on appointing brand ambassadors.

"The tourism infrastructure has been improved in past several years but it needs to improve further and government should concentrate on that," he added.

Saikia said the appointment of Priyanka as brand ambassador had failed to increase the tourist inflow to the state - be it domestic or foreign.

"The data placed in the House today revealed that while 28,419 foreign tourists visited the state during 2016-16, only 9,421 foreign tourists had visited the state in the current fiscal (till October 2018)," said Saikia.

Priyanka, who was appointed by the Assam government as the brand ambassador of the Assam Tourism Development Corporation in 2016, has drawn severe criticism as the film star remained silent even as the worst ever floods hit the state last year.

The "Quantico" star was also in a controversy last year for referring to Sikkim as an insurgency hit state while the fact remains that Sikkim is the most peaceful state in the northeast region.
New Delhi, Feb 20 : Senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Tuesday alleged that the government was harassing him and his family after his wife was served an Income Tax notice for an alleged purchase of diamonds from a store owned by jeweller Nirav Modi wanted in a multi-crore-rupees banking fraud.

The Congress leader said he would respond to the Income Tax department "questionnaire" in accordance with the law and submit all supporting documents needed for the purpose.

His wife is alleged to have bought diamonds worth Rs 6 crore from Nirav Modi and made the payment of only Rs 1.5 crore through cheque.

Singhvi denied his wife had purchased jewellery in cash. "All (Rs) 1.56 crore paid for fully in cheque and accounted for with receipts."

He, however, questioned if the Income Tax department would send notices to all those who were found on the list of those who purchased jewellery from Nirav Modi "or only one who happens to be in the Congress".

"Purchases in cheque of large amouts all reflected in accounts. Harassment, innuendo, insinuation must have its limits. First leak to friendly media, then issue notice to only one," the Congress leader tweeted.

Last week, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had accused Singhvi's wife and son of holding stocks in Firestar Diamond - a company run by Nirav Modi.

Singhvi reiterated the denial saying: "Neither my family, nor I nor any company of ours has the remotest lender borrowers' holder or director interest in any Modi/(co-accused Mehul) Choksi company.

"Hope alleged unaccounted payments for jewellery purchase is not government's best response to Rs 11,300 crore ghapla under its watch? And hope all customers and purchasers on this alleged list get same notices and same attention by government's favourite channel?" he added.
Mendipathar (Meghalaya), Feb 20 : Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday asked him to bring back absconding diamantaire Nirav Modi "when he returns from his foreign trips".

"I would like to request this Modi (Prime Minister), on behalf of all of us, to bring back the other (Nirav) Modi when he goes on another of his many foreign trips. We will all be very grateful as a nation to get our hard-earned money back," the Congress chief said while launching the second leg of his campaign ahead of the February 27 Meghalaya Assembly elections.

Gandhi also drew a comparison between the Prime Minister and Nirav.

"... Nirav Modi sold diamonds, which are the stuff he claims dreams are made of. In fact, one can say he sold dreams to many people, including the government which happily slept while (Nirav) Modi ran away with the public's hard-earned money," he said.

"A few years ago, another (Prime Minister) Modi also sold dreams to the people of India. Dreams of 'achche din', Rs 15 lakh in everyone's bank account, two crore jobs, and so on," the Congress leader said.

Gandhi noted that people had reposed faith in Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections because of their grand promises, thinking that Modi would give them jobs.

"Farmers thought their hard work would be respected and their produce get a fair price; tribals felt they would also get equal share and their land, traditions, and culture would be protected."

"But as this government's tenure nears an end," Gandhi said, "it is clear that instead of giving hope, security and economic growth they have dealt us only hopelessness, unemployment, fear, hatred and violence.

"And with (liquor baron) Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi scams we know this is a government that not only cannot remove corruption but is also actively participating in it."

Appealing to the 18.31 lakh electorate in Meghalaya not to vote for the National People's Party (NPP) headed by Lok Sabha member Conrad Sangma, the Congress chief claimed the NPP is "working to become the B-team of BJP".

"Don't fall in the trap of NPP," he said, as he reminded people how the NPP is a coalition partner in the BJP-led government in Manipur.

"They are running a government in Manipur with the BJP, which the BJP formed through ill-gotten money and power. Today, I promise you that we will not allow a repetition of Manipur in Meghalaya. On behalf of the Congress I assure you this," he said.

Voicing confidence that the Congress will retain power in Meghalaya, Gandhi said the Congress will unite each and every voice in Meghalaya that calls for justice.

Praising Chief Minister Mukul Sangma for what he said was ushering in an era of unprecedented growth and prosperity, the Congress chief said: "You have one of the most hardworking Chief Ministers in the country. Everyone can see the tremendous development here. Gone are the days of bandhs, strikes and violent activities."
Cairo, Feb 20 : An Egyptian court on Tuesday sentenced 20 people to 10 years in prison in a case of setting fire to a church in 2013, official news agency MENA reported.

The convicted were also accused of illegal gathering, violence, attempted murder and possession of unlicensed weapons.

Investigations showed that they broke into the church in Kerdasa, Giza, threw Molotov cocktails inside and prevented people from putting out the fire.

The incident took place after a government crackdown on two major sit-ins of supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi in August 2013.

After the Army-led removal of Morsi in response to mass protests against his one-year rule, violence started to spread nationwide.

Thousands of loyalists of Morsi and his currently outlawed Muslim Brotherhood were detained, with some sentenced to death for murder and terror activities.
Mumbai, Feb 20 : A special CBI court on Tuesday sent three Punjab National Bank officials arrested in connection with the Rs 11,300-crore fraud in police custody till March 3.

Those arrested on Monday are Bechhu Tiwari, Chief Manager in charge of Forex Department, Yashwant Joshi, a Scale II Manager in the same department and Praful Sawant, a Scale I officer in the Exports Section.

They were held three days after the first arrests were made in the sensational case on July 17 and presented in the CBI court this afternoon.

on Saturday, the CBI had arrested retired PNB officials -- former Deputy General Manager Gokulnath Shetty and single window Operator Manoj Kharat -- besides Hemant Bhat, an authorised signatory for the Nirav Modi Group. They are in police custody till March 3.

Tiwari was entrusted with supervising the work of Shetty and his team and to ensure entry of authorised SWIFT messages only into the system. Joshi was responsible for ensuring that daily reports of SWIFT and CBS entries were prepared, while Sawant was tasked with checking these SWIFT messages daily and reporting them to the bosses.

In the ongoing investigations, the Central Bureau of Investigation has interrogated around a dozen more PNB officials, mainly from the PNB's flagship Brady House Branch which has now emerged as the epicentre of the massive fraud.

The branch office was raided on Sunday and Monday and even sealed for a few hours on Monday to enable the CBI team to carry out its investigations.

A CBI team also swooped down on a farmhouse of absconding billionaire diamond trader Nirav Modi at the famed Kihim beach resort in Raigad.

The bungalow is constructed over nearly one-and-a-half acres, about two km from Alibaug, which houses bungalows, resorts and farmhouses of some of India's richest personalities, businessmen, film stars and others, accessible by an hour's catamaran ride from the Gateway of India.
Mumbai, Feb 20 : The Reserve Bank of India has asked banks to implement measures to strengthen the SWIFT operating environment within a deadline, even as it set up a committee to look into factors leading to increased number of frauds.

In a note to the banks, the RBI on Tuesday reiterated its "confidential instructions" and said these must be done within the stipulated deadline.

The apex bank further said in view of large divergences observed in asset classification and provisioning in the credit portfolio of banks as well as the rising incidence of frauds in the Indian banking system, it has been decided to constitute an Expert Committee under the chairmanship of Y.H, Malegam, a former member of the Central Board of Directors of RBI.

The committee would look into the reasons for high divergence observed in asset classification and provisioning by banks vis-A -vis the RBI's supervisory assessment, and the steps needed to prevent it; factors leading to an increasing incidence of frauds in banks and the measures (including IT interventions) needed to curb and prevent it; and the role and effectiveness of various types of audits conducted in banks in mitigating the incidence of such divergence and frauds, the apex bank said in a press release.

The members of the committee will be: Bharat Doshi, Member, Central Board of Directors, RBI; S Raman, former Chairman and Managing Director, Canara Bank and former Whole-Time Member, SEBI; and Nandkumar Saravade, Chief Executive Officer, Reserve Bank Information Technology Pvt Ltd (ReBIT).

A K Misra, Executive Director, RBI will be the Member-Secretary of the committee.

Keeping in view the $1.8 billion PNB fraud, the RBI said as part of its ongoing efforts for strengthening of the supervisory framework in the country, it has been issuing necessary instructions to banks from time to time on a variety of issues of prudential supervisory concern, including the management of operational risks inherent in the functioning of banks.

"The risks arising from the potential malicious use of the SWIFT infrastructure, created by banks for their genuine business needs, has always been a component of their operational risk profile. RBI had, therefore, confidentially cautioned and alerted banks of such possible misuse, at least on three occasions since August 2016, advising them to implement the safeguards detailed in the RBI's communications, for pre-empting such occurrences," it said.
Bhubaneswar, Feb 20 : An unidentified youth on Tuesday hurled two shoes at Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during his campaign for the by-poll in Bijepur assembly constituency of Bargarh district.

The shoe-thrower has been detained at the local police station.

Patnaik was campaigning in Kumbhari under Barpali block when he was attacked. One of the personal security officers (PSOs) blocked the shoes targeted at the Chief Minister.

The person who hurled two shoes in quick succession was reportedly seated in the front row.

Soon after, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) supremo was whisked away from the spot.

The BJD accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating the attack.

"The person who hurled shoes is a BJP worker. This is the handiwork of opposition BJP, which is doing all this apprehending defeat in the by-poll," said Bargarh BJD MLA Debesh Acharya.

However, the BJP refuted the allegation.

"I condemn the attack on the Chief Minister. This is not an act of the BJP. The youth is yet to be identified and the investigation into the matter is yet to be started. But the ruling party has started blaming us. It shows their desperation due to imminent defeat in the by-poll," said state BJP president Basant Panda.
New Delhi, Feb 20 : Day after a Dalit activist immolated himself in Gujarat, Amnesty International on Tuesday urged the state governments to ensure Dalit protestors are not denied their rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.

"Gujarat authorities have a duty to maintain public order, but they must ensure that peaceful Dalit protestors can have their voices heard," Asmita Basu, Programmes Director at Amnesty International India, said in a statement.

"Recent years have seen a welcome upsurge of Dalit women and men challenging violence and discrimination and claiming their constitutional rights. But instead of addressing these concerns, authorities have often either tried to stamp out protests, or looked away when Dalit protestors are attacked by others," she added.

The statement from the human rights body came in the wake of self-immolation of Gujarat Dalit activist Bhanu Vankar over alleged delays in alloting land to Dalits in the state. Vankar died of burn injuries on February 16 after he set himself afire in front of a government office in Patan.

Amnesty also cited several other cases, such as arrest of Dalit activist Chandrashekhar Azad and breakout of violence at Koregaon Bhima in Maharashtra's Pune to criticise the government for its apathy against incidents where Dalits are the principal victims.

Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd, a writer and Dalit activist, said: "The state has shown no intent in ending caste discrimination and untouchability. That's why, instead of listening to what the Dalit activists and protestors have to say, they are arresting and denying them the right to protest."

"Stifling peaceful protests and blocking Dalits from claiming their rights will only undermine the legitimacy of state governments in the eyes of their people. Authorities need to instead send a clear message that abuses against Dalits will never be tolerated," added Basu.
Ranchi, Feb 20 : The Jharkhand government has banned the Popular Front of India for its alleged links to the Islamic State, official sources said on Tuesday.

"The state has banned the Popular Front of India, which is active in Jharkhand, under the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1908. The Home Department had recommended the ban," a government statement said.

"The PFI is very active in Pakur district. The members of the PFI, which was set up in Kerala, are influenced by the IS. According to Home Department report, some PFI members have even gone to Syria from southern states and are working for the IS," the statement added.

The PFI has in the past taken out processions in favour of Mumbai-based absconding Islamic preacher Zakir Naik on several occasions.
Panaji, Feb 20 : Goa's Roman Catholic Church has asked its followers to fervently pray for the good health of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, hospitalised at Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital since February 15 for pancreas-related ailment.

In a statement here, Goa's Archbishop Filip Neri Ferrao asked Goa's Catholics to "pray for the fast recovery of our ailing Chief Minister".

He has also appealed to the community to raise fervent prayers for Parrikar's good health.

Catholics account for more than 25 per cent of Goa's 1.5 million population.

While the Chief Minister's Office and Lilavati Hospital have insisted that Parrikar, a former Defence Minister, is responding well to treatment, he failed to attend the ongoing Assembly Budget Session, giving rise to speculation on the severity of his ailment.
Mon (Nagaland), Feb 20 : Nagaland Chief Minister T.R Zeliang on Tuesday termed the newly- floated Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) as a party engaged in politics without any agenda.

He also came down heavily on NDPP Chief Ministerial candidate Neiphiu Rio.

"The manifesto of NDPP is T.R. Zeliang as Rio has been talking only about me and nothing more during his entire campaign across the State," Zeliang said addressing series of election rallies at Mon, Longwa and Aboi under Mon district ahead of the February 27 assembly poll.

Dubbing the NDPP, which has stitched an alliance with the BJP, as "unrecognized village" with a "global symbol" and a "nationalist name", Zeliang, who is the Naga People's Front (NPF) Chief Ministerial candidate, said that the newly-floated party was least bothered about the Nagas.A

While stating that Rio during his Chief Ministership for 11 years, declared International Trade Centres in Longwa, Pangsha, Avangkhu "without any road connectivity", he compared it to a "dried up river where the people of Mon District were sent for fishing".

On corruption during Rio's tenure as Chief Minister, Zeliang claimed that it was Rio who had "landed the state in a deficit of Rs 1,234 crore after which he left for Delhi".
New Delhi, Feb 20 : The Congress on Tuesday said that it would talk to other parties on raising the Rs 11,300-crore PNB fraud and the Rotomac fraud issue in the second leg of Parliament's Budget Session to seek answers from the government on the credibility of banking sector.

"The second part of the budget session is going to start and we will talk to other parties which are concerned about the country's banking sector. We will demand answers from the government on these issues," Congress leader Manish Tewari told media persons.

"Till the government addresses these issues, we are not going to leave it," he said.

"The political parties which are affected by the malgovernance of the government will come together in Parliament on these issues and will ask the government to break its silence.

"You must have seen how all political parties came together and met the President (Ram Nath Kovind) on the issue of Judge (B.H.) Loya's death case. We will seek answers from the government on these issues in Parliament," he added.
Bengaluru, Feb 20 : Ruling Congress legislator N.A. Haris on Tuesday apologised in the Karnataka Assembly for an assault by his son Mohammed Nalapad on a youth at a city cafe.

"I tender an apology if the incident involving my son has affected the dignity of the house and pride of its members," Haris said on the third day of the Assembly Budget Session.

Nalapad, 24, is in three-day police custody till Wednesday after he surrendered on Monday at the Cubbon Park police station, where he was booked for allegedly assaulting Vidvat, 24, at Fergi Cafe in the upscale UB City Mall in the city centre on Saturday night after an altercation.

An embarrassed Congress expelled Nalapad on Sunday and sacked him as state Youth Congress General Secretary after police belatedly filed an FIR (First Information Report) against him on the complaint of the victim's friend V. Praveen.

Regretting that "sometimes due to unusual circumstances, such incidents happen", Haris admitted that none was above the law and wrongdoers must be punished.

"But I object to the mudslinging by opposition parties against me and my party over the incident in view of the coming Assembly polls," the Congress MLA said.

Denying opposition Bharatiya Janata Party leader Jagadish Shettar's charge that he had put pressure on police to delay filing of the FIR and arrest of his son, Haris said he would have asked his son to surrender on Sunday itself but was not reachable or traceable.

"Nalapad surrendered on Monday after I conveyed my displeasure to him through his friends and told him sternly to do so, as a law-abiding member of this august house," Haris said.

Haris also apologised to the media for the alleged attack on media persons at the police station by Nalapad's supporters on Monday at the time of his surrender and where members of the BJP and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) were protesting against the assault.

"I admit that nobody, including legislators, is above law and wrongdoers must be punished as per the law," said Haris.

Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy told the legislators that a police officer was suspended for not acting against the accused swiftly.

In a statement earlier in the day, Haris also apologised to Vidvat and his parents for Nalapad's violent conduct and murderous assault on their son.
New Delhi, Feb 20 : The Congress on Tuesday said the purported letter written by jeweller Nirav Modi, who is allegedly involved in Rs 11,300 crore PNB scam, smacks of arrogance and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley that if the letter is authentic, what action would be taken against him.

It also asked if the government knew the whereabouts of Nirav Modi.

Claiming that banking sector is in serious trouble, the party also asked the Prime Minister and Finance Minister to direct all public and private sector banks to make all details about NPAs and bank frauds public.

"Nirav Modi has written a letter. If you analyse the letter, you will see it smacks of arrogance. Only that person can write such a letter who knows he will not face any consequences because of this. He knows people who are in power will always protect him," said Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari.

"Otherwise a person on whom there are serious allegations of indulging in a fraud of Rs 11,000 crore, can't write such an arrogant letter," he added.

Reading out portions of the letter, he said that Nirav Modi says that the seized assets "could have settled the amounts due to banks" but "now that stage appears to have passed and there is general panic..."

"...in the anxiety to recover your dues immediately despite my offer, your actions have destroyed my brand and the business and I have now restricted your ability to recover the dues leaving a trail of unpaid debts. Whatever may be the consequences, I may face for my actions, the haste was in my submission unwarranted," the letter states.

Tewari says: "This clearly means that he is saying that he is not going to return the money. It further says that 'as far as I am concerned you can go and climb a tall tree but you are not going to get your money.'

"We want to ask the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister if this letter is authentic, then what action are you going to take..."

The party further asked if the government knew the location or the whereabouts of Nirav Modi. "Is he in the US or in Belgium, in France, or is he in Hong Kong? Where is this gentleman who is writing these letters?" asked Tewari.

"This doesn't end here. There are also cases of Rotomac. Loans have been taken from banks in that case too and the amount is increasing each day. It all started in 2015," Tewari said.

Tewari also expressed concern over the conditions of the banks in the country. "Are there more scams happening in the public banks," he asked, adding that "nothing short of a full disclosure, a full and a complete disclosure, will now satisfy this country".
United Nations, Feb 20 : Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday presented a three-point peace plan centered on convening an international peace conference by mid-year to foster negotiations to resolve the intractable conflict with Israel.

Speaking at a Security Council meeting on Palestine, he said his peace plan "addresses the core problems that have undermined peace efforts across the decades".

The conference should lead to the formation of an international multilateral mechanism that helps both parties to hold negotiations with a timeframe for implementing agreements they reach, he said.

Palestine will push for full membership in the UN, where it now has only observer status, he said.

Reiterating Palestine's commitment to hold negotiations with Israel, Abbas said it "is our strategic choice for the sake of the coming generations in our region".

The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, warned the Council that "the enemies of peace are growing more confident by the day" because "every failure of the forces of moderation as a win for the forces of radicalisation".

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was at the session as also Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah Kuwait's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. Kuwait is the president of the Council for this month.

Speaking to the Council after almost nine years, Abbas said: "We will continue to extend our hands to make peace and will continue to exert efforts to bring an end to the Israeli occupation based on the two-State solution on the 1967 borders and international legitimacy as per the relevant resolutions in order to achieve our national aspirations."

While he accused Israel of shunning negotiations with Palestinians and ignoring UN resolutions, he also criticised Washington for creating a deadlock for the peace process by its decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

He recalled his four meetings with US President Donald Trump and asserted that his administration had not made clear if it stood by a two-state solution for the Palestine-Israel problem.

The other two elements of his peace plan, Abbas said, required all parties not taking any action that prejudges the outcome of the negotiations. These include an end to settlement activities by Israel, and halting transfer of the US Embassy to Jerusalem, and Palestine refraining from joining other organisations, he said.

"We are ready to undertake the longest journeys to the farthest places in the world in order to realize our rights," he said. "But we are not ready to move one inch if anyone wants us to forsake these rights."

Israel's Permanent Representative Danny Danon rejected the charges made by Abbas and accused Palestinians of refusing to negotiate with his country, citing as an example the walkout by Abbas as he began to speak.

He said that whenever they were close to a settlement - as with former Prime Minister Yehud Barak in 2001, Palestine walked away.

He accused Palestine of encouraging violence and anti-Semitism and said these were the barriers to peace.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in)
New Delhi, Feb 20 : Bureaucrats would not meet or talk over phone to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his ministers or MLAs till Kejriwal accepts and apologises for an alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash by two AAP MLAs, the IAS Association said here on Tuesday.

Prakash on Tuesday alleged that he was beaten up by AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan and another party MLA, whom he can identify, in front of the Chief Minister at Kejriwal's residence on Monday midnight, where he was called for a meeting.

"The three Associations of the Delhi government officers (IAS, DANICS and DASS) have decided that they will only maintain the formal written channels of communication with the political executive, till such time the Chief Minister admits and apologizes for the incident of physical assault on the Chief Secretary... and strong action is taken against the people responsible for it," an official statement by the officers read.

IAS Association Secretary Manisha Saxena told IANS that this meant that they would communicate with the Chief Minister, ministers and MLAs only through notes and files and not meet them or talk to them over phone.

Earlier in the day, the BJP and the Congress attacked the AAP based on the Chief Secretary's allegations, with the BJP demanding Kejriwal's resignation and the Congress asking for the AAP chief's apology.

The AAP hit back by stating that the Chief Secretary was making false allegations and said he was working at the "behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)".
Mawshynrut (Meghalaya), Feb 21 : Meghalaya's opposition National People's Party (NPP) on Tuesday accused the Mukul Sangma government for failing to take up the issue of coal mining with the Central government post the National Green Tribunal ban.

"People in Meghalaya largely depend on coal directly or indirectly but the Chief Minister has failed to ensure that mining is in the interest of the people," NPP chief Conrad K. Sangma said at an election rally in West Khasi Hills district.

He said that he had raised the issue in the Parliament several times and with the Central government because he was "really concerned for our people and their livelihood" but it was "surprising that the state government under the leadership of Mukul Sangma failed to take up the issue with the centre".

He opined that Mukul Sangma had an "ulterior motive" and the people of Jaintia Hills have realised it and branded the Meghalaya Mining Development Corporation (MMDC) as "Mukul Mining Dikkanchi Corporation", as the Chief Minister tried all effort to force the people to sign an agreement with MMDC.

He said that the Central government had asked Meghalaya to draft a mining policy but Mukul Sangma has failed the people "because he has no vision".

"NPP has a political will but no political power, if the people give their mandate, NPP would ensure that mining starts again in the state," Conrad Sangma said while specifying that mining is a thrust area as NPP believes in scientific approach to coal mining.

He also promised a slew of development initiatives for a new and resurgent Meghalaya, while claiming that the people had enough of Congress.
Jerusalem, Feb 21 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday threatened to attack the Gaza Strip with great force if fire incidents near the fence between Israel and the besieged Palestinian enclave continue.

The remark was made during an opening ceremony of a fortified emergency room in the Barzilai Medical Center in the southern city of Ashkelon. It followed an explosive device attached to the fence that injured four Israeli soldiers on Saturday.

"Any act of aggression by the terrorists will meet with a strong and determined response on our part, by the IDF (Israel's army) and the security sources," Xinhua quoted Netanyahu as saying.

"We will not accept trickles or bombs on the fence such as we saw last weekend," said the Prime Minister.

He vowed to aggravate Israel's response to such incidents.

"Whoever hurts us will himself be hurt. Whoever does not act to calm the situation but instead chooses to fan the flames will bear full responsibility," he said.

On Saturday and Sunday, Israel's air force attacked Gaza with 18 strikes, killing at least two 17-year-old Palestinians.

On Sunday night, Gaza militants responded with firing a rocket towards southern Israel, which was retaliated with an Israeli airstrike of a tunnel in Gaza that was built by Hamas, according to Israel.
Kampala, Feb 21 : The National Resistance Movement (NRM), Uganda's ruling party, has sacked all employees, officials said on Tuesday.

NRM Secretary General Kasule Lumumba made the announcement while addressing the sacked staff, numbering slightly more than 500 Xinhua reported.

The staffers work both at the party headquarters in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, and at the district level. The NRM has about 132 offices across the country.

"As we check on our policies, so many things are changing. So we also need to change the way we work," Lumumba told the workers.

All the workers were paid all their salary arrears as they wait for their contracts to expire on April 20.

Lumumba said the movement had to fire the workers because the party did not have enough money to pay them.

The NRM receives $2.208 million annually from the government to run party activities, but its current monthly payroll stands at $227,774.

The NRM's director of legal services, Oscar Kihika, said they had no choice but to terminate the employees' contracts in order to start with a clean slate.

A February 20 copy of the termination letter read in part: "This is to notify you that come April 20, 2018, your employment with the National Resistance Movement shall be terminated and this to give you notice of the same."

The employees, however, still have a chance to apply for the same jobs.

According to information made available on the website of Uganda's Parliament, NRM members occupy 294 of the House's 427 seats. President Yoweri Museveni is the party's chairperson.
: DAMASCUS, Feb.21, 2018 Smoke is seen in some areas in Damascus, capital of Syria, on Feb.20, 2018. Tens of people have been taken to the hospitals Tuesday due to the intensified ... Image Source: Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani/IANS

DAMASCUS, Feb.21, 2018 - Smoke is seen in some areas in Damascus, capital of Syria, on Feb.20, 2018. Tens of people have been taken to the hospitals Tuesday due to the intensified rebels' mortar ... Image Source: Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani/IANS

Beirut, Feb 21 : Pro-government militiamen on Tuesday entered the Kurdish enclave of Afrin in Syria in response to an ongoing Turkish military offensive, media reports said.

Images were aired of "popular forces" loyal to President Bashar Assad moving toward Afrin city in pick-up trucks equipped with anti-aircraft guns, Efe reported.

Shortly after the militias entered the enclave, Turkish planes carried out airstrikes around the city, Syrian state TV reported.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the Syrian militia units had already begun to withdraw from Afrin after a bombardment by Turkish artillery.

"A dozen or so pick-up trucks had come to advance toward Afrin. Only after an artillery barrage they turned around and left. This matter is closed," he said.

On January 20, Turkish forces and Syrian opposition fighters allied with Ankara launched an offensive in Afrin, which has more than 350 towns controlled by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), denounced by the Turks as terrorists.

The Turkish government claims that the YPG is an offshoot of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) which has mounted a smoldering insurrection against the state in mainly Kurdish southeastern Turkey for more than 30 years.
BVAccel chooses to implement Workarea for global retailers

Today, the team behind Workarea, the worlds most modern SaaS ecommerce platform for growing brands and retailers, announced that BVAccel, a disruptive ecommerce strategy and implementation agency, has joined its Solution Partner Network.

This union expedites and expands the access to Workarea for worldwide merchants. Brands are now able to work alongside BVAccel to develop superior site experiences on the ecommerce industrys only platform that unites commerce, content management, search and analytic insights in one user-friendly admin.

Adding BVAccel to the Workarea partner network is the perfect compliment to match the momentum our platform has seen, said Darren C. Hill, CEO and co-founder of WebLinc, parent company of Workarea. Having the experienced and innovative team at BVAccel choose Workarea to develop sites on further proves that it meets an ongoing market need. We respect their achievements in our space and know this partnership sets both teams up for incredible success.

Jonathan Poma, CEO of BVAccel, said, Partnering with Workarea is about BVAccel looking out into the future and ensuring that were aligned with platforms and partners whose values and ethics align with ours. Were investing in Workarea because its a platform that puts the power in merchants hands, enabling them to leverage all aspects of their brand and their content to deliver a memorable, engaging commerce experience to their customers.

Mutual Customers

AndyMark, a privately-owned robotics parts manufacturer and retailer, is the first retailer to benefit from the Workarea-BVAccel partnership. The fast-growing merchant evaluated Magento before selecting Workarea due to its versatility and built-in content management system.

Workarea allows our small group to do anything, said Jerry Budd, Director of Engineering at AndyMark. Since no one works solely on development or management of our site, having the user-friendly and centralized system of Workarea helps make it easy to accurately do tasks that are not frequently done by the same person. We hope to see Workarea help us integrate better and provide improved solutions to both our internal users and our customers.

To learn more about Workarea or join its growing family of partners, visit https://www.workarea.com/pages/partners.

About Workarea

Workarea is the modern SaaS ecommerce platform purpose-built for medium to large merchants to achieve their full potential online. A product of 20+ years experience at WebLinc, ecommerce, content management, search and analytic insights are built as one platform promising unmatched flexibility, constant product evolution, and empowered merchant teams. Workarea is the platform of choice for growing online retailers and merchants such as The Reformation, Sanrio, The Bouqs, Do it Best Corp., Lonely Planet, U.S. Polo Assn., Woodcraft, Costume SuperCenter, Lime Crime, and many others. To learn more, visit http://www.workarea.com.

About BVAccel

Brand Value Accelerator (BVAccel) is one of the fastest growing eCommerce agencies in the world. We work in the relentless pursuit of profit for our clients. We are innovative, data-driven experts from across the eCommerce sector and maintain impactful partnerships, with our primary focus being putting the power in merchants hands. With a best-in-class technology stack, we create valuable shopping experiences that serve as the foundation of revenue acceleration. We create mobile-first shopping experiences that are anchored in the three pillars of eCommerce: acquisition, conversion and retention. BVAccel is headquartered in San Diego, California with offices in New York, Los Angeles and Mexico. For more information visit, https://www.bvaccel.com.
We talked a lot about how traditional brokerages as we know it will be unrecognizable in the next five years.

One of Movoto Real Estates top real estate brokers, and the Head of the Los Angeles Movoto brokerage, Alexandra Tieu, was invited to lead a panel discussion at the inaugural Agent2021 conference in Miami. She was joined by Jeff Nicholson, Chief Media Officer at VaynerMedia; Jeff Lobb, CEO of Sparktank Media; Carlos Gil, President of Gil Media Co.; and Elizabeth Del Ricci, Client Partner at Facebook, to address an audience of real estate professionals.

We had such an enthusiastic response, Tieu says. Our panel really was a breath of fresh air. A lot of people came to see us specifically, and they were really excited and engaged.

The conference, in its first year, was started by entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk. Despite Vaynerchuks notoriety and rapid success in the world of digital marketing, his passion still lies in small businesses. He initially found success as a wine critic-turned-entrepreneur when he took the reins on his familys small independent wine business and grew it into a $60 million enterprise. That was why the cofounder of VaynerMedia, which counts General Electric and Pepsico amongst its portfolio of high-profile clients, decided to start Agent2021, dedicated to helping entrepreneurs in the real estate, insurance, auto, and travel sectors expand their business and personal brand.

"We were overwhelmed with the response and excitement coming out of Agent2021, says Kim Garcia, Senior Vice President of VaynerExperience. Attendees felt that the event delivered on the promise of providing tactical information on how to use social and digital marketing within these four industries. We were grateful for all of the speakers who presented and dedicated their time to make this inaugural event a success."

Gary is passionate about small businesses, Tieu explains. He could just service his big clients, but wants to help small companies thrive. And his reputation as a thought leader in digital marketing precedes himin just its first year, Agent2021 had over 1,500 attendees.

Tieus panel was focused on generating leads in the digital age with a particular focus on utilizing social media. The panel discussed strategies for generating leads using Facebook ads, the social media tools they rely on to market themselves and shape their personal brands, how to properly target audiences, measuring ROI, and unique ways theyve drawn attention to themselves in the crowded marketplace.

We talked a lot about how traditional brokerage as we know it will be unrecognizable in the next five years. The days of flyers and cold calls are over and agents have to add more to their arsenal to succeed, Tieu says. Traditional brokerages dont bring much to the table anymore aside from their brand name. You have to generate your own leads, build your own content, and do your own marketing.

Tieu was especially excited to represent Movoto at Agent2021 because they are changing how brokerages support their agents. It was important to me that Movoto be part of this event because we share in that philosophy: empower agents to build their own brand and their business. We utilize technology to generate leads for our agents and help make the human element of customer service excellent. It was such a privilege to be there and share how Movoto is cutting edge, outside-the-box, and puts agents first.

About Movoto

Movoto Real Estate is the second largest online real estate brokerage in the US and the only one licensed in all 50 states. With over 100 million people searching for homes annually on Movoto.com and over 30,000 properties sold, Movoto is one of the most influential online real estate platforms in the United States.

Movoto is expanding to click-and-mortar locations in California to provide their customers: home buyers and sellers, agents and brokers with unmatched services and technology solutions. For more information see our news and press resources and real estate market trends. Sell your home with Movoto or search for available homes for sale.
Travel Nurse Source - Nursing Scholarship This $2,000 came at a time when I was feeling so overwhelmed, and I'm so grateful for the money.

TravelNurseSource.com awarded a total of $4,000 in January to the recipients of the 2017 "Future U.S. Nurse Scholarship."

This years scholarship winners are Stephanie Eby and Laura Phillips Warner. Each student received a total of $2,000 toward their nursing education for the 2018 spring semester.

TravelNurseSource.com selected Eby and Warner as the winners after receiving more than 160 scholarship applications. A scholarship review panel of four people spent several weeks critiquing applications and narrowing down the list of applicants. The winners were chosen based on the quality of their applications, such as financial need, exceptional academic standing, and compelling and error-free essays. Eby and Warner wrote brilliant and personal essays describing their desires to become an RN, their plans to contribute to society as a nurse, and the personal struggles they overcame to get where they are today. They are both first time nursing students at accredited universities.

This $2,000 came at a time when I was feeling so overwhelmed, and I'm just so grateful for the money, Eby said.

Warner, who suffers from a chronic condition, is also very grateful to receive this scholarship.

"It really helped me because the extra $2,000 allowed me to pay for my health insurance for the year, and that was a big thing I was worried about," Warner said. "This is like a huge thing for me, because thats something that I cant lose. Its something I cant be without."

TravelNurseSource.com launched the "Future U.S. Nurse Scholarship" in 2017 and the scholarship initiative is part of TravelNurseSource.coms ongoing efforts to invest in the education and career pursuits of nurses across the country. The website has worked with travel nurses and nursing students for more than 10 years, and last year decided that it really wanted to do something more to help future nurses by starting a scholarship program.

These two scholarship winners will be the first of many to benefit from our efforts, as we plan to make the scholarship an annual tradition, TravelNurseSource.com president Oliver Feakins said. Keep an eye out for details on our 2018 scholarship!

TravelNurseSource.com is an industry-specific website that focuses on connecting healthcare staffing agencies with travel nurses through unique marketing and promotional opportunities. TravelNurseSource.com is operated by Track5Media, LLC, which is a privately-held technology company based in Lancaster, Pa. As a corporate holding company, Track5Media owns a network of industry-specific websites. Along with TravelNurseSource.com, it also maintains AlliedTravelCareers.com, LocumJobsOnline.com, AllPhysicianJobs.com, and AllTruckJobs.com. The brands are designed to help clients find a steady stream of highly qualified referrals. With a strong concentration in healthcare recruitment advertising, Track5Media is expanding into other verticals and seeking new partnerships. From referral generation to job boards to online advertising, Track5Media websites feature outstanding resources designed to complement and enhance existing marketing initiatives for its clients across the nation. Learn more at Track5Media.com.

Contact:

Margaret Colebeck

Margaret(at)track5media(dot)com

877-696-7482 x116
When undercarriages are not cleaned frequently, the lifespan of a vehicles engine and battery system can be cut short. When road grime accumulates on the undercarriage of work trucks, buses and new hybrid/electric vehicles, heat builds up and can decrease engine efficiency. That in turn necessitates more frequent washings to keep battery and engine systems cool.

The combination of extreme weather conditions and new engines that tend to run hotter has increased the demand across North America for vehicle lifts that are specifically engineered for wash bay conditions  this according to a new industry overview from Stertil-Koni, the leader in heavy duty vehicle lifts.

Heres whats fueling the change: When road grime accumulates on the undercarriage of work trucks, buses and new hybrid/electric vehicles, heat builds up and can decrease engine efficiency. That in turn necessitates more frequent washings to keep battery and engine systems cool and free from mud, salt and other contaminants, noted Peter Bowers, Stertil-Koni technical sales support manager.

Cleanliness is the answer. And, thats why municipalities, state agencies, corporate fleets, the U.S. Military, school bus fleets, transit agencies and corporate trucking groups are increasingly seeking a solution to keep the undercarriages of their vehicles free of debris.

One option that has gained strong recognition and usage is the Stertil-Koni SKYLIFT Wash Bay model. This heavy duty platform lift is water-resistant and features hot-dip galvanized platforms, three-layer mono-pox coated lift supports and a stainless steel, water-resistant, lockable control box to provide superior protection for the electronic controls. The products design includes two independent runways, no crossbeams, overhang or base frame and its modular design allows for flush or surface mounted. Flush mounting permits heavy duty vehicles with particularly low ground clearance to easily drive directly onto the SKYLIFT, thus facilitating quick and easy access to a vehicles undercarriage.

Space is another consideration for facilities. The SKYLIFT, a true vertical rise lift, generally takes up less room than a parallelogram lift and also has reduced foundation requirements. Whats more, added Bowers, its relatively easy to install, offers greater maneuverability for shop technicians from all angles of the vehicle, and requires minimal maintenance.

The SKYLIFTs platform lengths are available from 23 feet up to 48 feet and, depending on the model, can lift up to 78,000 lbs. in a standard version or up to 156,000 lbs. in a tandem configuration.

Naturally, durability and adaptability are key.

Providing additional flexibility, added Bowers, the Skylift Wash Bay is engineered for either outside vehicle service or for use in a steam-cleaning bay.

Concluded Dr. Jean DellAmore, president of Stertil-Koni, We pride ourselves in delivering the broadest range of safe, durable, ALI-certified heavy duty vehicle lifting systems for our customers. Its an approach we call Freedom of Choice and illustrates our ability to respond to customer needs with the very best in heavy duty lifting systems to meet their specific requirements. In the instance of ALI-certified, water-resistant vehicle lifts, our customers can rest assured that with the Stertil-Koni Skylift Washbay version, they have a safe, long-lasting solution to ensure that their vehicles can be serviced and cleaned efficiently and safely."

About Stertil-Koni:

Stertil-Koni is the market leader in heavy duty vehicle lifts, notably bus lifts and truck lifts, and proudly serves municipalities, state agencies, school bus fleets, major corporations, the U.S. Military and more. Stertil-Koni's breadth of products meets all ranges of lifting needs and includes portable lifts such as mobile column lifts, 2-post, 4-post, inground piston lifts, platform lifts, and its axle-engaging, inground, scissor lift configuration, ECOLIFT. The companys innovative, inground telescopic piston DIAMONDLIFT is now available with an optional Continuous Recess system, ideal for low clearance vehicles. Stertil-Koni USA is headquartered in Stevensville, Maryland with production facilities in Europe, The Netherlands, and in Streator, IL.

Contact: Paul Feldman, Paul.Feldman(at)Stertil-Koni.com, 410-643-9001
Pine Barrens American Single Malt "Bottled in Bond"

Long Island Spirits, one of the countrys most innovative barley-to-bottle craft distilleries, is celebrating it eleventh anniversary by announcing the release of Pine Barrens Bottled-in-Bond; the first ever American Single Malt Whisky that carries the Federal Governments highly coveted designation Bottled-in-Bond. Long Island Spirits named by Bar Business as American Single Malt Distillery of the Year in 2015; is offering 300 (750ML) bottles of this rare whisky in its first release. Long Island Spirits will be offering the Pine Barrens Bottled-in-Bond series as an annual release, which will retail for about $100 with each one of these highly sought after bottles having the release year hand written on the front label.

Bottled in bond refers to American-made whisky that has been aged and bottled according to a set of legal regulations contained in the United States government's Standards of Identity for Distilled Spirits. The regulations are codified in the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. In order to be labeled as "Bottled-in-Bond" or "Bonded," the whisky must be the product of one distillation season and one distiller at one distillery. It must be bottled and aged in federally bonded warehouses under the U.S. government supervision for no less than 4 years. The bottled product's label must identify the distillery by DSP number.

I am thrilled by the cult like following Pine Barrens has developed over the years and the lucky few who are able to secure a bottle of this first release, will delight in the enchantment of this whisky; Rich Stabile, Founder and Master Distiller of Long Island Spirits, adding; we will continue to expand our Bottle-in-Bond offerings to include our Rough Rider Bourbon and Rye Whiskies as well.

Long Island Spirits blazed new trails with Pine Barrens. It was a crazy idea, not only a hopped whisky, but one made from a carbonated finished and delicious beer! It was either going to be a train-wreck or a work of genius. Its extraordinary. The hops are woven in deftly to create a singular and complex whiskey. Whenever I travel to Ireland I used to gift a different bottle of American whiskey to friends & family there (whiskey experts all). Now every time its Pine Barrens. I await this bonded iteration with great excitement; praised Francis Schott, Renowned Top Restaurateur and Popular Radio Host.

This richly textured spirit has a cigar/cedar richness contains botanic-like qualities of eucalyptus & juniper. The decadent honey sweetness carries notes of cinnamon oatmeal, raisin & cherry skin in the everlasting finish. Bottled in Bond has an added richness to really stand out in a crowded field! added, Gene Charness, Founder of Warehouse Liquors.

Pine Barrens American Single Malt Straight Whisky is named after the central Suffolk County, New York pine and wetland area, which is over 100,000 acres of Long Island. The Pine Barrens forest preserve, serves as a watershed that protects the Magothy aquifer that was formed 21,000 years ago when the glaciers receded creating one of the most pristine water sources in the United States. These pure water sources are iron free and ideally suited for producing the worlds finest whisky.

Pine Barrens Whisky gets it start as a deliciously drinkable Barley Wine Ale beer that Long Island Spirits brews and ferments for about 3 weeks; rather than using a traditional beer wash or distillers beer that other single malts are produced from. Pine Barrens Bottled-in-Bond is then double copper pot distilled prior to being carefully aged in new American Oak casks for at least 4 years. Finally, this amazing whisky is then ready to be bottled at100 Proof.

About Long Island Spirits

Long Island Spirits established in 2007; is the first distillery on Long Island since the 1800's. Surrounded by centuries old of potato, corn and rye farms, the distillery is located on the North Fork of Long Island, in the heart of the acclaimed wine region. Long Islands acclaimed wine region boasts over 60 wineries that are blessed with a microclimate that is very similar to the Bordeaux region in France. The innovative distillery is rich in history and tradition, dating back to the early 1900's and its sorted role during prohibition. Today, the twin-cupola barn that was headed for demolition has been repurposed into to a state of the art Field to Glass Craft Distillery. Long Island Spirits is proud of its sustainable distillery practices and the innovative distilling techniques it has pioneered. Our brands include LiV Vodka, Rough Rider & Pine Barrens Whiskies, Deepwells Gin and Sorbetta Liqueurs, which are distributed nationally and in Canada.

Facebook.com/longislandspirits

Twitter.com/lispirits

Instagram.com/lispirits

About Francis Schott

Francis Schott co-owns three of New Jerseys top-ranked culinary destinations: Stage Left Steak, Catherine Lombardi Restaurant and The Cocktail Bar at Catherine Lombardi. His newest venture is StageLeftWineShop.com. He was co-host of The Restaurant Guys Radio Program (http://www.RestaurantGuysRadio.com), a popular show, geared to the industry and to hard-core foodies. He is a sought-after public speaker on issues of restaurants, wine and spirits, food and community. You can find his TEDx talk and several others on youtube. His restaurants, his activism and his advocacy have been an important part of the redevelopment of NJs most exciting city and the home of his restaurants, New Brunswick, NJ. He is a long-time director of the NJ Restaurant Association, which named him and his partner Restaurateur of The Year in 2011. Francis is third-generation Irish American and he maintains strong ties with Ireland, the spirits and restaurant community there and within the Irish-American community.

About Gene Charness

Gene is the founder and owner of the Warehouse Liquors, which has been in business for almost 35 years. This is a shop of finely curated whiskies & spirits that have over 900 Single Malt Scotches, 400 American Whiskies including a broad range of our own single barrels as well as a broad range of Japanese and Irish whisky as well. Warehouse Liquors is located in downtown, Chicago in a stately mutinously restored turn of the century building that dates back from 1892 with a 15 foot tin ceiling, maple floor, and Redwood fixtures. Gene has developed an international reputation in the whisky world for his extraordinary pallet as he hand curates every item in his store.
Galileo Performance Explorer, a leading infrastructure performance management suite created by The ATS Group, announces the release of a new technology agent to support Pure Storage products. As an increasing number of organizations move toward Pure Storage, it's imperative that IT administrators are able to glean critical insights about the performance and capacity of their Pure Storage FlashArray//M and FlashArray//X environments.

With Galileo Performance Explorer in place, admins are able to quickly and proactively identify any performance issues within their PureStorage products, as well as across their entire infrastructure. Galileo provides robust, cross-platform support for the most critical infrastructure elements, including servers, storage, database, SAN and cloud environments from a range of different vendors like IBM, Dell EMC, Oracle, VMware, NetApp, Infinidat and more

A shifting storage marketplace

The digital storage sector has seen considerable shakeups recently, particularly related to Pure Storage. The company has long been known for its low prices -its all-flash storage systems quickly became a cost-effective alternative to spinning disk storage. In a bold move, Pure Storage recently reduced their prices even further in order to more effectively compete in a considerably saturated market.

This has motivated organizations to shift away from traditional storage vendors like IBM and Dell EMC to Pure Storage to support reduced technology costs. Whenever data and workloads are migrated to a new storage environment, however, it's imperative that IT admins and decision-makers have granular visibility into the platform, it's overall capacity and performance level.

Technology abstract including opaque squares, bold blue and yellow lines, numbers and binary code on a black background. Admins and stakeholders must support the key performance and management of their critical data storage environments.

Galileo Performance Explorer ensures that no matter what type of environments a company has in place, technology stakeholders are able monitor critical performance while pinpointing and addressing any issues before they become large-scale problems impacting users.

Galileo allows admins to leverage performance alerting, management and monitoring for FlashArray//M, FlashArray//X, FlashBlade and FlashStack. These crucial capabilities help to isolate configuration issues, reduce problem resolution time, avoid downtime and improve overall performance.

Galileo supports users by enabling them to access performance and configuration information about the system, Volumes, and volumes by host. And with Galileo's Dynamic Tagging functionality, users can customize dashboard parameters, view and trend capacity usage over time in a way that provides the most value for the organization and its critical infrastructure performance.

In addition, Galileo provides critical metrics including:

1. System: Latency, IOPS, bandwidth, queue depth, transfer sizes, capacity, data reduction ratios, and configuration.

2. Volumes: Latency, IOPS, bandwidth, transfer sizes, capacity, and data reduction ratios.

3. Volumes by Host: Latency, IOPS, bandwidth, transfer sizes, capacity, and data reduction ratios aggregated by host.

As more organizations move toward Pure Storage for their data needs, it's imperative that the performance provided supports the value of this cost-effective solution. Galileo helps ensure that IT admins and stakeholders have everything they need to maintain and manage their critical infrastructure systems.

To find out more about the benefits Galileo can provide for your Pure Storage environments, or to seek information about the other platforms Galileo supports, connect with us for a demo or free trial today.
Shifters of the Black Moon: the tale of Will Kross, a man demoralized and disillusioned by the past he created and the beliefs of those who wanted so desperately to believe the worst in him. Shifters of the Black Moon is the creation of published author, William Kendall. William "Will" Kendall grew up in George West, Texas. As a young boy, he developed a love for ranching, writing, and drawing. Endeavors such as his were not, however, considered rational for a young man who graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration. In many ways, his life is very similar to the main character in his writing. Even when confronted by the need to discourage disillusionment, he finds encouragement.

Still, lightning strikes where it may to cleanse the air and often the souls of men. It is then that the essence of a man is reborn with brilliant shimmering light, birthing a warrior who trains all his life to do battle and live his entire life in but one day. --William Kendall

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, William Kendalls new book is the tale of Will Kross, a man beguiled by his own actions and choices.

It was a strange year for Will Kross with a winter as rare as the Black Moon. He was a man disenchanted by the past he created and the beliefs of those who wanted so desperately to believe the worst in him that they would spin a tale anyone who wanted him to fail would believe. That was before Benjamin, a Marshal named Collin Teale, and Texas. That was before Seven Wells and an alluring woman who gave him hope in a future not yet determined. That was before the battle with the Comanche War chief, who can only be described in a vision through a metamorphosis during the time of the Black Moon.

The brave raced through the starry black night. His feet left the Earth to reveal the light of the silver diamonds. His arms stretched and transformed into powerful wings that lifted him into the four winds as his mighty talons flared and his eyes took on the merciless red stare of the spectre, Stone Hawk. Through this battle would come a resurrection.

View a synopsis of Shifters of the Black Moon on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase Shifters of the Black Moon at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Shifters of the Black Moon, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Old Dominion University has announced a partnership with the College of The Albemarle in North Carolina for nursing students.

Students seeking an associate's degree in nursing at the college will be able to work toward their bachelor of science degree in nursing from ODU at the same time to expedite their studies.

This is the first articulation agreement of its kind between ODU's online nursing program and a college in North Carolina. Old Dominion sees this as another opportunity to help nursing students prepare for their careers in a field where bachelor's degrees are becoming increasingly necessary.

In fact, the program was triggered by one student's aspirations.

"A student was accepted to College of The Albemarle's nursing program and wanted to apply to ODU's online nursing degree concurrently, but College of The Albemarle was not a partner at that time," says Janice Hawkins, chief academic adviser of Old Dominion's School of Nursing. "I met with the program director, and we made it happen. The fact that it was student-driven really speaks to how ODU is meeting the academic needs of students."

This won't benefit just the nurses.

"Increasing the percentage of BSN-prepared RNs at the bedside has been associated with better patient outcomes and lower hospitalization costs," Hawkins says. "As a result, most hospital employers prefer to hire BSN graduates. Concurrent enrollment programs such as the partnership between ODU and COA offer an innovative, efficient and affordable pathway to the BSN degree."

For more information on this program, visit online.odu.edu/rn-bsn

Old Dominion University, located in the coastal city of Norfolk, is Virginia's entrepreneurial-minded doctoral research university and has been delivering distance learning programs for 30 years. We offer more than 100 programs through ODUOnline in a variety of formats, allowing students to complete degree programs across the world. ODU serves more than 24,600 students annually by providing the same rigorous academics online and on-campus. Learn more about ODUOnline's programs by visiting online.odu.edu.
Tatango, the industry leader in text message marketing software, is acquiring New York based Plyfe, which enables marketers to create interactive mobile optimized experiences.

Founded in 2011, the Plyfe team developed revolutionary mobile experience technology that gives marketers the ability to create personalized, simple mobile web experiences, without the need for a developer. With Plyfes software, marketers can easily create mobile optimized experiences such as a Personality Quiz, Swipe Left/Right (Tinder for anything), Trivia, Timed Trivia, Registration, Image Based Polling, Video Trivia, Video Polling, # Galleries, Sweepstakes, Leaderboards and more.

Driven by the mission to make mobile experiences as rewarding and engaging for consumers as they are easy for marketers to create, Plyfe amassed an impressive list of brands and digital agencies who have used the technology over the last several years. That client list includes IBM, USA Today, Ogilvy, Unilever, VaynerMedia, Toyota, Campbells and more.

Following the acquisition, Plyfes technology will be integrated into the Tatango platform. By integrating this technology, brands will be able to send interactive mobile web experiences, through SMS, MMS or RCS messaging, which boasts a 99% open rate.

Tatango is the most comprehensive enterprise text message marketing solutions for brands, said Derek Johnson, President and CEO of Tatango. Now it will include the mobile web, which is a vital component of a brand's text message marketing initiatives. Our customers will be very excited to have a complete mobile messaging suite to help them grow their businesses and enhance the customers mobile journey.

For years, brands have had to settle on using different sets of technologies to create a single mobile messaging experience for their customers. With Tatango's acquisition of Plyfe, brands will be able to create, send and track their mobile messaging campaigns all under Tatango's software platform.

"We are very happy that the team at Tatango identified the advantages of Plyfe's mobile optimized experience technology and the value it will bring to customers," said Jeff Arbour, CEO of Plyfe. "Tatango is full of fantastic and visionary people and I'm confident that with this acquisition the Tatango platform will further establish itself as the leading text message marketing platform."

About Tatango

Tatango provides text message marketing software, allowing marketers to build and manage their SMS, MMS and RCS marketing campaigns. Since founding the text message marketing software company in 2007, Tatango has powered some of the largest, and most well-known SMS, MMS and RCS mobile marketing campaigns in the world.

Tatango is a privately held corporation headquartered in Seattle, WA, with investments from the Seattle Alliance of Angels. For more information visit: http://www.tatango.com.

About Plyfe

Without the need for a developer, Plyfe gives marketers the ability to easily create mobile web experiences such as a Personality Quiz, Swipe Left/Right (Tinder for anything), Trivia, Timed Trivia, Registration, Image Based Polling, Video Trivia, Video Polling, # Galleries, Sweepstakes, Leaderboards and more. Founded in 2011, clients such as IBM, USA Today, Ogilvy, Unilever, VaynerMedia, Toyota, and Campbells have used the Plyfe platform to create simple, and engaging mobile web experiences

Plyfe is a privately held corporation headquartered in New York, NY, with investments from Initial Capital, General Catalyst Partners, Crosscut Ventures, Brad Harrison Ventures, and angel investors. For more information, visit http://www.plyfe.com.
This event also offers us the chance to formally launch and demonstrate OSSEC 3.0. Project contributors will share information on the 3.0 updates and we have invited users to demonstrate interesting capabilities they have added to OSSEC that you won't see elsewhere

Atomicorp today announced that it will host OSSEC Conference 2018 on April 5-6 outside of Washington, DC in Chantilly, Virginia. The conference will be led by OSSEC project manager and Atomicorp CTO Scott Shinn. He will be joined by speakers that are long-time OSSEC project contributors such as Dan Parriott and Jeremy Rossi and newer participants such as Virgil Security's Dmitry Dain who will discuss adding the next generation of crypto to any OSSEC installation. The conference will offer the first unveiling of the OSSEC 3.0 software.

"It has been over three years since the OSSEC community last gathered and we thought it was about time to get everyone together again. The OSSEC user base has grown tremendously during that time and we look forward to connecting with a new group of users who can share their experiences. This event also offers us the chance to formally launch and demonstrate OSSEC 3.0. Project contributors will share information on the 3.0 updates and we have invited users to demonstrate interesting capabilities they have added to OSSEC that you won't see elsewhere," said Scott Shinn, OSSEC project manager and Atomicorp CTO.

Conference Presenters Include

 Daniel Parriott (OSSEC contributor): OSSEC 3.0 Overview

 Scott Shinn (OSSEC project leader): Using OSSEC to Reduce SIEM Log Volume & Cost

 Dmitry Dain (CTO of Virgil Security): Adding Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) and NoiseSocket Cryptography to Your OSSEC Deployment

 Michael Shinn (CEO of Atomicorp): Implementing User Behavioral Anomaly Detection for OSSEC Using Machine Learning Modules

 Casey Priester (Vice President Prometheus Global): Using OSSEC for Compliance, including PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR and FISMA.

 And more...

About OSSEC

OSSEC is a scalable, multi-platform, open source Host-based Intrusion Detection System (HIDS). It has a powerful correlation and analysis engine, integrating log analysis, file integrity monitoring, Windows registry monitoring, centralized policy enforcement, rootkit detection, real-time alerting, vulnerability discovery, self-healing capability and active response to attacks. It runs on most operating systems, including Linux, OpenBSD, FreeBSD, MacOS, Solaris, HP-UX, AIX, Windows and more. You can learn about OSSEC here and can download free files here. The project was founded by Daniel Cid in 2004. Trend Micro is the current owner of the project through a 2009 acquisition and has previously committed to keeping the project open source and free.

About Atomicorp

Atomicorp provides automated endpoint protection and detection solutions for servers, web servers, client devices, IoT and containers. More than 1,000 organizations trust Atomicorp products to protect over tens of thousands of servers and IoT devices. Atomicorp is also the leading provider of enhanced OSSEC solutions for rootkit protection, vulnerability management, file integrity monitoring, logging, active response and PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR, and other compliance requirements. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in the Washington, DC area, Atomicorp provides security solutions for cloud, virtual and dedicated systems across large enterprise, mid-sized business, government and hosting providers. For more information, visit: https://atomicorp.com/
Graduating interns of Northrop Grummans HIP (High School Involvement Partnership) program and SBWIBs Aero-Flex Pre-Apprenticeship program. This is a substantial achievement for our Aero-Flex team and for workforce development...

The South Bay Workforce Investment Board (SBWIB) and the Aero-Flex team of employers and partners have successfully registered the first Aerospace Engineering Apprenticeship occupation in the United States, sponsored by Tooling U-SME, a non-profit dedicated to advance the manufacturing industry. This is also the first degreed registered apprenticeship in the U.S. in the engineering discipline. This new national apprenticeship, approved by the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) Office of Apprenticeship, aligns with the current nationwide effort to expand apprenticeship in America and creates an extended career pathway for anyone interested in becoming an Aerospace Engineer. This is a substantial achievement for our Aero-Flex team and for workforce development, not only in California, but to meet industry needs on a national level. It shows a commitment from the U.S. Department of Labor to support innovative apprenticeships that meet the needs of business. SBWIB is thankful for their assistance in streamlining this process for our employers and team, said Jan Vogel, Executive Director for SBWIB.

The Aero-Flex Aerospace Engineering Apprenticeship follows the implementation of Aero-Flex Pre-Apprenticeship, an innovative employer-centric earn and learn model for engineering. Aero-Flex was originally developed to meet the nationally recognized hub of aerospace and advanced manufacturing industries located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County. The Aerospace Engineering Apprenticeship allows employers to scale nationwide, applying the framework to workforce development wherever the company does business.

Furthermore, the Aero-Flex model was designed from conception to validation by industry partners and employers who appreciate a non-traditional model that would flex curriculum and program design to meet their business needs. Initially championed by Northrop Grumman Corporation, the Aero-Flex employer team, known as the Unilateral Apprenticeship Committee, now includes Impresa Aerospace, LLC; L3 Electron Devices; Magnetika, Inc.; Northrop Grumman Corporation; Space Vector Corporation; TEN TECH, LLC; Verisurf; and Zodiac Water and Waste Aero Systems.

The Aero-Flex program allows the student to gain real world experience exploring career tracks; from earning a certificate and becoming a technician, to earning a degree and becoming an engineer. The new Aero-Flex apprenticeship has created innovative employer-guided pathways of which one allows the student to combine earning their bachelor degree while receiving employer customized training and graduating employed.

The Aero-Flex Apprenticeship extends the career pathway to anyone interested in becoming an Aerospace Engineer including those open to exploring related occupations through the Aero-Flex Pre-Apprenticeship in Engineering. The Aero-Flex team will also soon be rolling out new Pre-Apprenticeship tracks linked to other advanced manufacturing roles and registered apprenticeships.

As the USDOL sees the benefits of an innovative employer-driven framework to create a registered apprenticeship within an important occupation, the partners behind Aero-Flex provided the technical, educational and workforce development expertise. In addition to the South Bay Workforce Investment Board (SBWIB), these partners include West Los Angeles College, El Camino College, Tooling U-SME, and Training Funding Partners (TFP), along with funding through the CA Apprenticeship Initiative of the CA Community Colleges Chancellors Office, the California Workforce Accelerator Fund, and AMP SoCAL (Advanced Manufacturing Partnership of Southern California).

For more information on Aero-Flex Pre-Apprenticeship or the Aerospace Engineer Apprenticeship, please contact Jessica Ku Kim at jkim(at)sbwib(dot)org, call (310) 970-7700 or visit http://www.sbwib.org
Truvid - Bridging the Gap Between Media Owners and Content Distributors By integrating our technology and publisher reach with Reuters - we're enabling media owners and content distributors to create new revenue streams in the face of increasingly sophisticated competitors

Truvid Inc, the boutique online video content platform, announced a unique partnership with Reuters news and media agency.

The partnership incorporates Truvids massive direct media reach and advertising technology with Reuters journalist articles video content, and is part of Truvids ongoing commitment to continually evolve its product and offerings to serve the needs of the video content and publishers communities.

Truvids CMS video solutions platform embodies a robust and seamless content management workflow while enabling video delivery to a global network of publishers. Content distributors can streamline their video management and get a 360 degree view of all content behavior, through real time analytics and data, while delivering their content to the end user at top speed and top quality.

Through the fully responsive and user friendly CMS interface, content distributors can fuel their audience engagement and extend their reach beyond traditional advertising video distribution currents.

Our content and media portfolio demonstrates our commitment to empowering content distributors. Reuters has a long standing reputation for delivering groundbreaking news and media stories to a global audience. By integrating our technology and publisher reach with Reuters media content, were not only able to make this type of video content available, but were also enabling publishers and content distributors create new revenue streams in the face of increasingly sophisticated competitors, says Roee Lichtenfeld, CEO of Truvid.

About Truvid:

Founded in 2015, Truvid has built a global video content powerhouse used by thousands of media owners and content distributors in over 100 countries, and includes over 500,000 videos in various languages.

Truvid reaches more than 500 million users worldwide, and has a proven track record of delivering innovative and scalable digital video solutions. Truvids mission is to create a haven for media owners and content distributors to interact, communicate and work in unity to deliver professional video advertising solutions.

Truvid a is trusted partner for global clients including Oath, Rubicon and Reuters.

Truvid is based in New York and Tel Aviv.

Visit http://www.truvid.com for more information or follow us on Linkedin for more updates

About Reuters:

Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the worlds largest international multimedia news provider reaching more than one billion people every day. Reuters provides trusted business, financial, national and international news to professionals via Thomson Reuters desktops, the world's media organizations and directly to consumers at http://www.reuters.com and via Reuters TV. For more information on Reuters News Agency, visit: http://www.reuters.com/newsagency
The biggest driver behind the project was Annette Athy, part of the Robinson PTO group, doing countless hours of research, grant writing, fundraisers, visits between Superintendent/school board and the elementary school parents/teachers/students, says Kate Shepard of Playscape Recreation.

Robinson Elementary is one of many schools in Augusta, KS, and the lowest income elementary school in the city. The Robinson Elementary PTA had been fundraising for a new playground for several years. The biggest driver behind the project was Annette Athy, part of the Robinson PTO group, doing countless hours of research, grant writing, fundraisers, visits between Superintendent/school board and the elementary school parents/teachers/students, says Kate Shepard of Playscape Recreation, She was relentless in turning every stone.

The school attended an education session on maximizing youth fitness, presented by PlayCore, and got excited about how their play area could help promote healthy lifestyles among children. Once they met with Kate Shepard, the local Playscape playground representative for Play and Park Structures, they took stock of what they could augment the current playscape with to provide a full play experience, and save some money in the process. They found that one structure needed some updates, and that the swings and a stand-alone slide were still in good shape. Utilizing the Play On! program guidelines to assess how to offer a well-rounded youth fitness experience, they realized what they needed was climbers, balancing apparatus, and spinners. Play and Park Structures offered a 100% matching grant and this program, coupled with utilizing what was still compliant, helped the school realize they could make a design attainable to get the kids what they needed now.

Annette then met with the Superintendent and asked if he would match the PTOs earnings to fix the equipment that needed to be up to safety code. The Superintendent gladly matched the PTO funds, then Annette received another 5K grant from Lowes to create shade for the play space. Other items that were purchased included outdoor music and a buddy bench. She is truly creating a healthy social, academic, and physical outdoor place for school! shares Kate Shepard.

With this new playground follows new excitement and renewed love for the playground. This project allowed Robinson Elementary to have new play equipment for the first time in 10 years and is enjoyable not only for the younger kids but for the older elementary students as well.

We wouldnt have been able to expand our playground without the help from Kate Shepard and our Superintendent, Dr. Black. It really helped us stretch our budget to better accommodate the playground for all ages to get active and enjoy play, added Annette Athy.

The new site recently opened in January 2018 and they are planning to celebrate this new playground by holding an official grand opening April 5th, 2018 at Robinson Elementary School in Augusta, Kansas. This playground demonstrates a communitys commitment to promoting youth fitness using the Play On! program.

PlayCore recognizes Robinson Elementary School as a Play On! National Demonstration Site following the research and programming of the Play On! Program, designed by PlayCore and partner SHAPE America, as it promotes physical activity through the six elements of play to create developmentally appropriate challenges and fun for all.

To continue to celebrate the Robinson Elementarys commitment to advancing play and recreation through best practices, the school will receive a certificate of recognition, become a part of a network of potential research sites, and will be promoted actively to other communities wishing to create recreation spaces using design and/or programming. To locate the new site, check out http://www.playcore.com/map/nds.

About PlayCore:

PlayCore is a purpose driven Company committed to building stronger communities around the world by advancing play and recreation. The company infuses scholarly learning, through its Center for Outreach, Research, and Education, into its comprehensive family of brands. PlayCore combines best-in-class educational programming with the most comprehensive portfolio of play and recreation products and services to create tailored solutions that match the unique needs of each community served. Learn more at http://www.playcore.com.
We were looking for a high-quality, comprehensive solutionone with a fully-tested play book that would guide us to quickly and correctly introduce this completely new platform to our valued customers and bank staff.

BSG Financial Group, a provider of revenue-enhancement programs and compliance solutions for financial institutions nationwide, announced today that McAllen, TX-based Rio Bank has selected the companys web-based CourtesyConnect/CourtesyLimit technology to manage its discretionary overdraft service.

According to bank officials, Rio Bank, with $328 million in assets, selected BSG Financial Group as its partner provider because of the companys extensive history with and knowledge of managing discretionary overdrafts. We were looking for a high-quality, comprehensive solution, said Craig Lewis, Executive Vice President and Cashier at Rio Bank. One with a fully-tested play book that would guide us to quickly and correctly introduce this completely new platform to our valued customers and bank staff.

The overdraft service encompasses NSF checks as well as ATM and one-time debit card transactions for those customers who opt-in, thereby providing short-term liquidity to purchase necessities when they are short on funds.

Lewis explained that the bank also selected the CourtesyConnect/CourtesyLimit software because of its ability to assign overdraft limits on a daily basis. These dynamic limits, which are determined based on a myriad of customer data points, align with a customers ability to repay the overdraft and corresponding fees, thereby helping the bank manage its charge-off risk and better serve its customers.

Finding a partner that is an expert in compliance was a mandatory requirement in our partner search, said Lewis. BSG Financial Group client banks have an excellent track record with regulatory examinations, said Lewis. We were impressed with the companys knowledge in this area, especially regarding Reg E opt-ins, as well as its willingness to provide ongoing guidance to clients long after implementation. The bank is also looking to the discretionary overdraft service to help improve its non-interest income.

BSG Financial Group provides comprehensive program training for bank personnel, as well as a detailed set of best practices to ensure compliance with all federal guidelines regarding overdraft management. Rio Bank plans to introduce the discretionary overdraft service to customers near the end of the first quarter of 2018.

About Rio Bank

Rio Bank opened its doors for business in February of 1985. It began as a retail oriented bank primarily catering to consumers for both deposit and loan business. In late April 1999, Ford Sasser, President and CEO, came to the bank and brought significant changes which resulted in Rio Bank now being a more commercial oriented bank. In 2002, the bank opened two new banking centers, bringing significant growth in its total assets.

Rio Bank is located in communities along the Mexican border in deep South Texas. Many of the bank's customers are from Mexico. The McAllen, Mission, Edinburg Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is one of the fastest growing MSA in the United States, and the Brownsville economy is also fast growing.

About BSG Financial Group

Louisville, Ky.-based BSG Financial Group is a group of independently organized companies that provides revenue-enhancement and compliance solutions for financial institutions nationwide. BSG Financial Group has been a provider of innovative overdraft programs since 1999, including the industry's first cloud-based overdraft management solution, Courtesy Connect/Courtesy Limit. The company's additional revenue-enhancing solutions include: Fee-Based Packaged Checking Accounts; Digital Lending Solutions; Vendor Management; Account Acquisition Strategies; Social Media Management; and CD Pricing and Selling Strategies.

BSG Financial Group includes the following companies: CourtesyCloud Management Solutions, LLC; BSG Financial, LLC; and IQ Development, LLC. For more information about the company, visit http://www.BSGfinancial.com.
July Business Services (JULY) recently announced that John Humphrey has been promoted to the role of President and CEO and will succeed Jim Hudson who is now stepping into the role of Board Chairman.

After co-founding JULY with Jim Hudson in 1994, John Humphrey has been a driving force behind the companys vision to be an innovator of services for small business retirement plans that are customized, cost-effective, and simple to operate.

Regarding his new role as CEO of JULY, Humphrey commented: I am excited to have the privilege to assume the CEO role and lead JULYs next chapter. One of the best decisions of my career was saying yes when Jim asked me to join him in founding JULY in 1994. His leadership, vision, and strong set of core values have been keys to JULYs success, and we will continue carry out our mission based on the solid foundation that he has provided. With his continued involvement as Chairman, and with the strong team of committed professionals we have been fortunate to assemble, JULY is well-positioned to accelerate service and technology innovation to advisors, employers, and participants in the small retirement plan space.

As Chairman of JULY, Jim Hudson will focus on ERISA, Technical, Legal and Tax matters. On the leadership transition, Hudson comments: I would like to express my confidence in John and his leadership. Im excited about our future.

About John Humphrey:

John co-founded JULY in 1994. As CEO, he is responsible for setting the firms vision and providing top-level leadership of the organization. This includes developing and implementing JULYs strategic plan, overseeing the companys financial plan, developing key advisor and institutional relationships, and creating high-level staffing plans to serve clients and achieve goals. John graduated from Baylor University with a Master of Taxation and Minor in Information Systems. Prior to joining JULY, John practiced as a CPA with several national accounting firms, including Ernst & Young in Dallas. He is a member of ASPPA (the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries), served as past President of the ASPPA Benefits Council of Central Texas, is an Alumni of Leadership Waco, frequently writes articles for JULY and outside industry publications, and provides thought leadership on several partner firm advisory councils.

About Jim Hudson:

Jim founded July Business Services in 1994, after practicing as a Certified Public Accountant and providing retirement plan services for more than 20 years. Along the way he acquired an expertise in designing and providing administration services to qualified retirement plans. He is an experienced veteran of the retirement plan industry with more than 35 years of experience. Jim leads JULYs ERISA technical services and works closely with retirement plans considering the IRS Correction Programs. Jim has a B.B.A. in Accounting from Baylor University; his background is in income tax planning and compliance. He is a member of ASPPA and a frequent speaker on retirement plan topics and ERISA technical topics for financial advisors and for industry organizations, including several locations of ASPPA Benefits Councils. He has been a past speaker at U.S. Department of Labor training sessions. It is Jims depth of knowledge and technical ERISA resource that has given him the foundation to lead JULY in the retirement plan marketplace.

About JULY:

July Business Services is a leading retirement plan provider that supports financial advisors and their clients by delivering successful retirement plan strategies through its fully independent, open-architecture retirement plan recordkeeping platform and plan administration services. JULY brings unbiased, expert knowledge to all facets of the retirement plan process including customized plan design, leading technology, and hands-on implementation and management of the plan. JULY supports clients with an expansive, conflict-free investment platform, including ETFs, collective trusts, professionally managed portfolios, and mutual funds.

Our team understands that retirement is the number one reason for individual investing, and for many investors, company-sponsored savings and investment plans are the foundation of their retirement savings strategies. Our role in assisting organizations to offer employee retirement plans is fundamental to our mission - Building Retirement Security. Please visit http://www.julyservices.com for more information.
It was immediately clear to us that ThinkRF offered a unique and compelling value with its compact, remotely-deployable and easily-upgraded spectrum analysis solutions.

ThinkRF Corp., the leader in software-defined spectrum analysis, today announced its expansion to India with the appointment of VigVen Tech Mark Pvt Ltd., an authorized reseller of electronic test equipment, as its channel partner for ThinkRF solutions in that region. This relationship will help ThinkRF quickly enter this rapidly growing market with a trusted provider of electronic test solutions.

A key element of our go-to-market strategy has been to work with resellers that have strong expertise in the spectrum analysis market as a complement to our direct sales team, said Jim Short, VP of Global Sales at ThinkRF. With the explosion of wireless devices in India, we see a unique opportunity to ride that wave and help companies address their rapidly evolving requirements. We are very excited to be working with VigVen to introduce the ThinkRF solutions and revolutionize that market.

To build upon their impressive portfolio of highly respected suppliers and products, VigVen Tech Mark partners with industry leading technology companies, like ThinkRF, to offer a wide range of electronic test solutions. They help customers in wireless communications, aerospace and defense, homeland security, and many others solve the challenges they face in spectrum monitoring and analysis. With its headquarters in Bangalore, VigVen also has offices in Hyderabad, Chennai, and Trivandrum.

We are continually looking for new and innovative solutions that will help our customers, says V Mahadevan, Managing Director of VigVen Tech Mark. Today, many are struggling with how to analyze complex waveforms across multiple applications. It was immediately clear to us that ThinkRF offered a unique and compelling value with its compact, remotely-deployable and easily-upgraded spectrum analysis solutions. I believe the ThinkRF platform combined with other products in our portfolio will allows us to help our customers lower their testing cost by making it easier for them to monitor, detect and analyze signals.

About ThinkRF

ThinkRF is the leader in software-defined spectrum analysis solutions that monitor, detect and analyze complex waveforms in todays rapidly evolving wireless landscape. Built on patented technology and quality by design principles, the ThinkRF platform offers greater versatility, better performance and additional capabilities for 5G, monitoring, signals intelligence (SIGINT), technical surveillance countermeasures (TSCM), and test and measurement applications. Aerospace and defense companies, spectrum regulators and wireless communications providers use the remotely deployable, PC-driven and easily-upgraded platform to replace traditional lab equipment for wireless spectrum analysis.

For more information, visit http://www.thinkrf.com, contact info(at)thinkrf.com or find us on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
CSG Government Solutions, a national leader in government program modernization, today announced that Mark Elliott has been reappointed by the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) as a Standardization Co-Chair.

Mr. Elliott is a Principal in CSGs Healthcare and Human Services practice and has been an NCPDP member since 1999. He has over 25 years of health information technology experience in the public and private sectors, providing state agencies with industry standards, regulation, and process guidance related to pharmacy benefits management, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Medicaid, and Medicare.

As a member of the Standardization Committee, Mark will help lead NCPDPs industry standards development activities and related guidance on best-practices to improve patient safety and health. The national standards developed by NCPDP have been incorporated into federal legislation including the HIPAA, the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA), the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, and Meaningful Use (MU).

We are pleased that Mark is continuing his service to NCPDP, providing valuable guidance and direction to our industry, says Robin Dufresne, Director of CSGs Healthcare and Human Services Practice. His dedication to NCPDPs collaborative, consensus-building process will help the organization reach its goals of improving patient data integrity, developing sustainable solutions to address patient safety challenges, and improving healthcare outcomes.

CSG Government Solutions deploys highly experienced teams and innovative methods, knowledge, and tools to help governments modernize complex program enterprises. CSG clients include 43 state governments, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Labor, and large municipal governments.

CONTACT:

Robin Dufresne

Director, Healthcare and Human Services Practice

CSG Government Solutions

180 N. Stetson Ave

Suite 3200

Chicago, IL 60601

312.444.2760 Fax: 312.938.2191

rdufresne(at)csgdelivers(dot)com

About CSG Government Solutions:

CSG Government Solutions is a leading government operations consulting firm helping states modernize critical program enterprises. We help governments leverage innovative technology and processes to meet the challenges of administering complex programs. Founded in 1997, CSG has established itself as a trusted adviser to government agencies across the U.S. For more information, visit http://www.csgdelivers.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Chicago Social Security Disability Attorney Jonathan L. Pearson Named to Super Lawyers Rising Stars List Pearson Disability Law, LLC, is proud to announce that managing attorney Jonathan L. Pearson has been selected to Super Lawyers 2018 Rising Stars list of outstanding Illinois lawyers. It is the third consecutive year that he has received the honor.

Pearson Disability Law, LLC, is proud to announce that managing attorney Jonathan L. Pearson has been selected to Super Lawyers 2018 Rising Stars list of outstanding Illinois lawyers. It is the third consecutive year that he has received the honor.

Super Lawyers is a nationally recognized rating service that annually selects the top attorneys in each state. Attorneys are eligible for Rising Stars if they are age 40 or younger or have been practicing law for 10 years or less. Only 2.5 percent of nominated attorneys are chosen for the Rising Stars list each year.

Chicago Attorney Jonathan Pearson practices Social Security disability law exclusively. He has witnessed the struggles that people with physical or mental disabilities face. He guides clients through the complex application process to obtain disability benefits and helps them appeal decisions to deny benefits.

Jonathan personally manages all the cases his office receives and takes cases on a contingency basis. Clients pay only when he wins their cases.

Pearson Disability Law, LLC, opened in 2014 and has offices in Chicago, Downers Grove, Evanston, Lake Forest, Orland Park, and Schaumburg, Illinois. The law office also accommodates clients who are unable to travel.

Jonathan is an active member of the Chicago Bar Association, the DuPage County Bar Association, and the National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives. He received his juris doctor from the New England School of Law in 2005 and was admitted into the Illinois State Bar Association in 2006.

About Pearson Disability Law, LLC:

Pearson Disability Law, LLC has helped thousands of disabled individuals in the Chicago area receive social security benefits. In addition to its Chicago office, the firm now assists clients from convenient office locations in Downers Grove, Evanston, Lake Forest, Schaumburg, and Orland Park, Illinois. If you are unable to travel, Attorney Jonathan L. Pearson offers accommodating consultation options to meet your needs, view the office visit page for more information.

If you need help with your Social Security disability application contact an experienced and knowledgeable Chicago disability lawyer at Pearson Disability Law, LLC today at 312-999-0999 or visit http://www.disabilitylawyerschicago.com.
Were keenly aware of the significant impact GDPR and global privacy concerns overall have on the pharmaceutical industry

MediSpend, the leading compliance cloud solution software provider for the life sciences industry will facilitate an interactive General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) workshop in advance of the Fleming Corporate Compliance and Transparency in the Pharmaceutical Industry Conference on February 21 in Zurich at 2:00 p.m. UTC. Michaeline Daboul, Chief Executive Officer will lead the working session through a series of topics key to the use of healthcare data with regard to privacy concerns.

The working session will feature insights from the MediSpend team focused on the changing GDPR landscape as its impact on managing data related to HCE interactions. The guided portion of the workshop will cover a variety of issues facing the pharmaceutical industry included among them, the evolution global compliance regulations and its impact on data privacy.

Topics will cover new data privacy laws around the globe; GDPR and the EU/US Privacy Shield Framework. The new roles and responsibilities of data processors and controllers; operationalizing a data privacy compliance program; risk mapping and risk-based approach will be on the first half of the agenda. The second part of the workshop will include interactive group work to identify best practices to managing transparency reporting, understanding of the impact of GDPR on international transparency reporting and how to build frameworks and timelines to ensure compliance with data privacy laws.

Were keenly aware of the significant impact GDPR and global privacy concerns overall have on the pharmaceutical industry, said Daboul. And we know the value that a single cloud-based end-to-end platform that covers the entire HCP engagement and management process can bring to an organization. Were looking forward to sharing best practices and expertise, as well as listening to concerns and issues facing the industry as we consistently enhance our solutions to meet every changing market needs.

MediSpends suite of solutions provides a framework for evaluation and assessment of GDPR readiness and a path for healthcare organizations around the globe to successfully manage data inventory. Specifically, the MediSpend Engagement Manager organizes the entire HCP engagement and management process from qualification through budget reconciliation and payment.

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About MediSpend

MediSpend is the first end-to-end compliance and business data analytics SaaS solutions technology provider for global pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device companies. Developed by a team of experienced attorneys and IT experts, the MediSpend Global Compliance platform is the market-leading, cost-effective and proven aggregate spend solution. Designed specifically to help life sciences executives make better-informed business decisions while ensuring compliance for global transparency and health care laws.
This donation will provide more than 15,000 meals to families and children facing hunger in the 27 counties we serve in Pennsylvania.

Imagine Learning, developer of the award-winning Imagine Language & Literacy and Imagine Math digital curriculum, announced today that students across the state of Pennsylvania have raised $2,500 for the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank during the Do Math! Pay It Forward contest.

Imagine Math is a vehicle allowing students across the state to increase their math understanding while making the conscious decision to give to charity. Last fall Pennsylvania students worked on Imagine Math lessons and earned a type of currency called THINK points. Students chose how to spend their points with options ranging from dressing avatars, contributing to class goals, or donating to a charity.

During the donation period, students solved more than 7.1 million math problems and donated more than 25 million earned math points. These points translate to $2,500 for the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. For every dollar donated, six meals will be provided to local families in need. This donation is a part of Imagine Learning's charitable giving program, which has raised more than $550,000 for local and national charities since its inception.

The Do Math! Pay It Forward celebration event will take place Wednesday, February 21, at Julia Reynolds Masterman Laboratory & Demonstration School. Julia Masterman was the school with the highest percentage of math lessons passed during the fall contest and has been named the Do Math! Pay It Forward Representative School for the entire state of Pennsylvania.

The amount of math work that translated into direct dollars to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank is amazing. We are extremely grateful for the support of Imagine Learnings Do Math! Pay It Forward contest and would like to thank students across the state of Pennsylvania for their selfless giving, said Joe Arthur, Executive Director of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. This donation will provide more than 15,000 meals to families and children facing hunger in the 27 counties we serve in Pennsylvania.

Studies show that providing kids the option to donate points to charity, instead of redeeming rewards for themselves, develops decision-making skills, boosts confidence, and lays the groundwork for a lifetime of philanthropic thinking and practice.

"Pennsylvania Imagine Math students opened up their hearts to help their community," said Lisa Wise, manager of motivation at Imagine Learning. "We are so proud of those students who have participated in this endeavor to help feed hungry families in Central and Eastern Pennsylvania. Math students across the state of Pennsylvania have embraced the charitable giving program throughout the years and turned their hard work into an act of giving and kindness.

About Imagine Learning

Imagine Learning delivers award-winning language, literacy, and mathematics solutions for K12 students, revolutionizing the way kids learn. Students and teachers love Imagine Language & Literacy, Imagine Espanol, Imagine Math Facts, and Imagine Math because they are research-based, data driven, instructionally differentiated, and incredibly fun to use. The Imagine Learning family is dedicated to changing lives and opening doors of opportunity for kids.

About Central Pennsylvania Food Bank

The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to reduce hunger in 27 counties across Pennsylvania. By working with more than 1,000 local agencies and partner programs, the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank serves nearly 150,000 people in need every month. For more information on the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and its mission to reduce hunger in Pennsylvania, visit centralpafoodbank.org or call 717.564.1700.
Chilly Goes to Peru by Michael Rosenberg This exceptional illustrated childrens book takes an exciting and educational trip to Peru. We are proud to be the publisher." - Robert Fletcher, CEO of Strategic Book Publishing and Rights Agency

Chilly the toy polar bear and his friend Douglas are heading out on an action-packed adventure to Peru. There they will learn about the native animals, including spectacled bears, which boast black rings around the eyes. These are the only bears native to South America and are far distant cousins to Chilly.

When the family takes a boat down the Amazon River, theyre warned to keep their hands out of the water because there are over 5,000 types of fish, including the flesh-eating piranha. Other swimmers include massive anaconda snakes and botos, river dolphins that grown to almost 8 feet in length!

On the two-day hike to the Incan ruins of Machu Picchu, way above the jungles below, Chilly meets a spectacled bear that takes the toy polar bear to meet his family, who live high up in the trees. Will Chilly ever get back to his own family, who are now far away from him in a strange country?

Watch the video book trailer at: https://youtu.be/94VVXQA_YKE

This exceptional illustrated childrens book takes an exciting and educational trip to Peru. We are proud to be the publisher, said Robert Fletcher, CEO of Strategic Book Publishing and Rights Agency.

About the Author: After growing up in North London, Michael Rosenberg spent his career as an entrepreneur specializing in the media and healthcare sectors. He traveled the world on business and acquired many stories along the way from his experiences in developing countries. He was awarded an OBE by Queen Elizabeth in 1994 for services in developing UK exports. He now serves as an adviser and director on several public listed companies, and is an adviser to the Princes Trust, where he helps mentor aspiring young people.

CHILLY GOES TO PERU (ISBN: 978-1-948260-06-0) is now available for $13.95 and can be ordered through the publishers website:

http://sbpra.com/MichaelRosenberg or at Amazon.com or Barnesandnoble.com.

WHOLESALERS: This book is distributed by Ingram Books and other wholesale distributors. Contact your representative with the ISBN for purchase. Wholesale purchase for retailers, universities, libraries, and other organizations is also available through the publisher; please email bookorder(at)sbpra(dot)net.
Ripl-logo Being accepted into the Facebook and Instagram Marketing Partner programs is a huge milestone for us.

Ripl, a mobile-only software company, announces that it has joined the Facebook Marketing Partner and Instagram Marketing Partner programs, a global community of software and marketing services companies known for delivering marketing excellence on the Facebook and Instagram platforms. Ripl is a free downloadable mobile application that helps small and mid-sized businesses easily create eye-catching animated videos that stand out on social media.

The Facebook Marketing Partner program matches marketers with partners across a range of specialities. Partners are vetted to ensure the program is a place where marketers can find the quality and performance they need. Ripl brings a proven track record of helping small businesses build customer awareness on Facebook and Instagram through engaging video content.

Being accepted into the Facebook and Instagram programs is a huge milestone for us, said Paul Ingalls, CEO and Founder of Ripl. Our goal is to design software that truly helps small and micro business owners. Being an official Facebook Marketing partner increases our ability to integrate the Ripl app with Facebook and Instagram, bringing the new features and updates that will continue to help our users look professional and reach new customers.

In other efforts to represent the voices of small businesses, Ripl joined a diverse group of businesses as a member of the United States Chamber of Commerce Technology Engagement Center (C_TEC). C_TEC promotes the role of technology in the U.S. economy and advocates for policy solutions that drive economic growth, spur innovation and create jobs.

Clay McDaniel, COO for Ripl, said: "With hundreds of thousands of small businesses already using Ripl software, we are always looking to elevate our advocacy for small business ingenuity and ambition on a larger stage. By joining the C_TEC initiative at the U.S. Chamber, we now have more opportunities to represent our customers through research and our contributions to their small business initiatives.

View our blog to read more about Ripls role in the Facebook Marketing Partner and Instagram Marketing Partner programs as well as membership in C_TEC at the United States Chamber of Commerce.

About Ripl

Ripl, Inc., is a privately-held mobile software technology company based in Bellevue, Washington. The company provides marketing software and premium subscription services to small businesses globally via its Ripl-branded iOS and Android mobile applications. For more information about Ripl, its apps or the Ripl Pro premium subscription service, please visit: http://www.Ripl.com or the Ripl Facebook Page.

Media Contacts

Bridget Benelisha, Public Relations Lead

Jon Aiken, Communications Lead
Lets face it, we are entering a new era in a different world," said Corra Group Co-Founder, Gordon Basichis." "The key for Corra Group is to understand that world and provide background checks that are both relevant and necessary for our clients. "

Corra Group recently attended the 2018 ATX Automation Technology Show, in Anaheim, California. The show is branded as the largest design manufacturing conference in North Americas, and a dont miss experience. Hundreds of exhibitors have on display and in demo mode products for automation technology, robotics, and 3 D Printing.

Corra Group is based in El Segundo, California, said Corra Group Co-Founder, Gordon Basichis. El Segundo is one of the premier centers for defense, aerospace, robotics, and advanced technology. In El Segundo, some of the major innovators in this space are our neighbors. Corra Group offers its employment screening services to these companies as well as to business entities national and globally. With all the changes in the working environment, automation and robotics are key components in the expanding modern industries.

The ATX Automation Technology Show was a major success, said Basichis. There were far more exhibitors than last year, and attendance had to be triple of what it was for the previous show. When I spoke to clients and other exhibitors, they told me business were coming to buy. Companies had extra financial allocations, based on the recent corporate tax cuts, and now they were looking to upgrade their manufacturing facilities.

Basichis noted that the technology has improved in just the past year. He pointed out that the robots were cheaper, faster, and more sophisticated. He cited how some didnt require their own power source but could run simply by plugging them into any standard electric outlet.

We are seeing a major change in manufacturing and industry in general, said Basichis. There may in the long run be fewer employees, but those whose jobs endure will have advanced skill sets that will need to be verified, before hiring. At Corra Group, we conduct education verification and employment verification, as well as criminal and civil records checks. We assist our clients with background checks so that employers feel secure when offering a job to a candidate. The more we learn about the automation and robotics industry, the better we can advise our clients.

Basichis pointed out that reviewing the exhibits enables greater insight into not only what technology is coming online but how it will be applied in a variety of industries.

Lets face it, we are entering a new era in a different world. The key for Corra Group is to understand that world and provide services that are both relevant and necessary for our clients. Our clients will be going through changes as automation expands in the workforce. And so will we. By going to conferences like the ATX, we have a better sense of where those changes will manifest and what services we can offer.

BACKGROUND: Corra operates as Corra Group and Corra Global Research and specializes in employment screening and corporate research and due diligence. It is one of the few companies that will answer the phone. You can review the website at http://www.corragroup.com.
Mark Morrison, who joins as COO, was previously with Novartis and had global and regional leadership roles based in Switzerland (Basel) and Indonesia (Jakarta). As a Global Brand Director Mark led global launches for Cardiovascular and Respiratory innovative pharmaceuticals. Within the Asia  Middle East  Africa region Mark was Franchise Head for the Primary Care Business and then, following this role, became COO for Novartis, Indonesia during which time he led and drove several launches and a major business restructure. Marks appointment as COO will further strengthen the capabilities of the GPI team to anticipate and fully understand the challenges and opportunities faced by their highly valued biopharmaceutical clients when launching treatment innovations globally.

GPI is also pleased to announce that Henrike Granzow is joining the GPI family as Associate Director, Pricing. In this role Henrike will lead and further develop GPIs innovative capabilities within pricing analytics and consultancy. She brings a wealth of experience across biopharmaceutical commercialization covering pricing, market access, HEOR and finance. Henrike joins GPI from ICON where she was a member of the senior leadership team for pricing and market access. Prior to joining ICON, Henrike held positions of increasing seniority with Deerfield Management where she was responsible for planning and managing research projects on pricing, reimbursement and regulatory due diligence within the healthcare investment arena. Henrike holds a BA in Economics from University College, Dublin and an MSc in International Health Policy and Health Economics from the London School of Economics.

Preeti Patel, CEO said, I am really pleased that Mark and Henrike are joining the GPI team. Mark will add International Pharma industry know-how and experience whilst Henrike will further deepen GPIs pricing expertise and knowledge base. This strengthening of, and investment in, the GPI team will enable us to provide even better service to our valued biopharmaceutical clients. Preeti also added GPI continues to support innovation for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. These appointments strengthen our capabilities and our ability to stay ahead of our competitors whilst continuing to deliver best-in-class innovation for our clients.

Mark stated: I am very excited to be joining GPI and to have an opportunity to further build the team and our operational capabilities. I know from my extensive Pharma Industry experience that price and access are the dominant drivers of launch success. I am very pleased to be able to contribute to further innovation within this field  for both GPIs clients and patients  by joining GPI as COO.

Henrike stated: GPI is perfectly positioned to add tremendous value for Pharma and Biotech clients through its unique combination of Pharma pricing and access expertise, intelligence and data analytics power. From here we can grow our bespoke and innovative consultancy services which are underpinned and strengthened by the GPI pulse data and analytics platform. I am delighted to be able to join GPI at this exciting time and so contribute to the next stage of the growth phase.

ABOUT GPI

Global Pricing Innovations (GPI) is a market leader in business intelligence, analytics and innovative solutions for the life science industry. GPI supports pricing decisions and strategies through a combination of robust data-driven insights and bespoke analytical solutions, helping companies achieve operational improvement and market access excellence. GPI tools and services optimizes clients price and value understanding for pre-and post-launch decision making.

As a global company, GPI has operating units and service partners throughout the world. GPI (http://www.globalpricing.com) is a privately held company headquartered in London, UK. For more information contact GPI at press@globalpricing.com or visit http://www.globalpricing.com or call: +44 (0) 203 874 3050
Today, CP&Y is announcing that it has officially closed its deal with national ADA accessibility rm Meeting the Challenge, Inc. (MTC), one of the nations preeminent accessibility compliance consulting rms. MTC will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of CP&Y and offer state-of-the-art federal disability law compliance services to CP&Ys future and current clients nationally. The merger went into effect on January 1, 2018 and adds MTCs incredibly talented team to the Dallas-based rms growing roster of services. MTC, based in Colorado Springs brings 28 years of experience for both public and private entities in all 50 states including:



Developing self-evaluation and transition plans

Public right-of-way assessments

Public and private facility surveys and audits

Park and recreation assessments

Pre-construction architecture plan reviews

Website accessibility reviews

ADA-based litigation support

Accessibility for all people in all places is not only mandated by federal law, but it is the correct way to treat one another, said Pete Patel, Chief Executive Ocer of CP&Y. Our organization prides itself on achieving great results for our clients within each industry we serve. The merger with MTC will allow CP&Y to leverage MTCs industry-leading accessibility technology, thought leadership, and specialized ADA services. We would like to welcome everyone from MTC to the CP&Y family and look forward to years of important work as we strive to make Americas roads, structures and public facilities accessible for each citizen.

As part of the merger agreement, MTC will remain based in Colorado Springs in addition to CP&Ys current office in the city. The two rms will work together to expand accessibility consulting services and MTC will continue to offer services to its current client base and new client relationships.

Today marks a signicant step forward in our companys ongoing strategy to accelerate our vision of creating a more accessible world for everyone, said Kent Kelley, President of Meeting the Challenge, Inc., A CP&Y Company. The combination of our companies brings together a broader suite of accessibility services to CP&Y clients and provides MTC direct access to CP&Ys deep pool of industry experts, resources, and clients.

About CP&Y & MTC

Celebrating 37 years in business, CP&Y, Inc. is an employee-owned, innovative, and progressive full-service engineering and architectural firm. With a staff of over 350 professionals in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado and Virginia, CP&Y receives industry recognition by providing cost-effective solutions without sacrificing needs.

Founded in 1989, Meeting the Challenge, Inc., A CP&Y Company is the leading accessibility compliance consulting firm in the United States having helped increase accessibility for over 23 million Americans through its work. The organization provides ADA accessibility consulting services for both public and private entities in all 50 states. Since 1991, MTC has also operated the Rocky Mountain ADA Center, one of ten regional technical assistance centers funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

To learn more about CP&Y or MTC, visit our websites or join the conversation online.

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Leveraging platform products and services to create powerful technology solutions and smarter, more efficient workforces, Hypergiant works with major brands to make every aspect of their business more intelligent.

Hypergiant, the office of machine intelligence for the Fortune 500, launched today, embarking on a mission to help major brands navigate and capitalize on the fourth industrial revolution of machine intelligence technologies. Hypergiant is comprised of three strategic divisions including Hypergiant Space Age Solutions, Hypergiant Applied Sciences, and Hypergiant Ventures.

Hypergiant is launching at a delicate time for the enterprise AI market. 91 percent of executive-decision makers anticipate significant barriers to adoption. In another study, Gartner claimed to believe that up to 85 percent of projects will not deliver due to data bias, poor team management, or unsuitable algorithms. Hypergiant, however, is applying a fundamentally different model and approach to the intelligence revolution.

The company launched today with over 10 Fortune 500 customers including TGI Fridays, Bosch, and Schlumberger and 5 major strategic partnerships, including GE and Adobe, within its Hypergiant Space-Age Solutions division. Company leadership attributes the early momentum to their multi-faceted approach of building products, services and venture capabilities concurrently from the very earliest days of the company.

Today Hypergiant blends new concepts, methods, and models in the implementation of machine intelligence. Leveraging platform products and services to create powerful technology solutions and smarter, more efficient workforces, Hypergiant works with major brands to make every aspect of their business more intelligent. Rather than selling technology-first intelligence in point-solutions, the company commits to business outcomes and seamlessly delivers products, solutions and services to achieve those goals.

Hypergiant is a completely new model for a new industry. Under old consulting models, businesses were over-promised AI and all they got was more data wrangling projects and empty vendor commitments. said Ben Lamm, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Hypergiant. Hypergiant solves the over-promise and under-deliver problem in AI by completely rethinking not just the process and delivery focus of AI products and services, but the entire company model itself. We are launching with in-production technology, mature service offerings, a high-pedigree venture operation and commercialization resources that accelerate the whole process. Its time to let business lead technology again.

Hypergiants three divisions in full operation include:

Hypergiant Space Age Solutions is the Fortune 500s AI outfitter, leveraging intelligent technology to upgrade systems and workforces. One of their first customers, TGI Fridays, is working with Hypergiant to deliver the first ever AI-driven mixologist for machine-driven cocktail creation.

Hypergiant Applied Sciences is the product innovation division focused on inventing and field-testing breakthrough machine intelligence-driven technologies. With proprietary patents, Hypergiant Applied Sciences researches, develops, and commercializes AI innovations, providing a unique advantage for the company and their customers.

Hypergiant Ventures is the venture arm of Hypergiant making investments in companies that are contributing to the rapid advancement of the machine intelligence industry. Some of the initial investments include Pilosa, Cerebri AI, and Clearblade.

Hypergiant was founded by Ben Lamm, John Fremont, and Will Womble and is headquartered in Texas.

Ben Lamm is a serial technology entrepreneur dedicated to making the impossible possible. He builds intelligent, disruptive software companies that help the Fortune 500 innovate with breakthrough technologies. Ben is the co-founder, Executive Chairman, and CEO of Hypergiant, the office of machine intelligence, and the founder and CEO of Conversable, the leading conversational intelligence platform. Previously, he was the founder and CEO of Chaotic Moon Studios, the global creative technology powerhouse acquired by Accenture and Team Chaos, acquired by Zynga.

John Fremont is an organizational leader, technology evangelist, influencer, and business strategist. He is the co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Hypergiant, and was previously a Managing Director and the Artificial Intelligence Lead for Accenture. He was also previously the Global Lead for Digital Product creation at Accenture Digital. John joined Accenture through the acquisition of Chaotic Moon, where he served as Chief Revenue Officer and partner.

Will Womble specializes in designing and deploying leading technologies to major brands. Will is a co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer of Hypergiant. Prior to Hypergiant, Will was a Managing Director and the Energy/Oil & Gas Go-To-Market Lead for North America at Accenture, as well as North America Lead for Design & Innovation across all sectors while at Accenture. Will first teamed up with Ben and John at Chaotic Moon, where he served as EVP of Sales and was responsible for building and maturing its Energy sector portfolio.

After an insanely productive stealth period, were thrilled to launch to the public today, said Ben Lamm, CEO of Hypergiant. Starting today, machine intelligence isnt a black box of magic tricks and empty promises, its purpose-built products and services that achieve business results. Were eager to partner with more best-in-class brands to help them achieve their goals through machine intelligence and help be the guiding light in the darkness that has been the AI industry.

Hypergiant is based in Texas, with offices in Austin, Dallas, and Houston. The company is backed by Mythic Ventures, Align Capital, and Beringer Capital and is revenue positive with Fortune 500 customers.

Learn more about how we can tomorrow your today at: http://hypergiant.com

About Hypergiant

Hypergiant is the office of machine intelligence. We help the Fortune 500 innovate with breakthrough machine intelligence-driven technology products and space-age solutions. The space where impossibility intersects reality. Where companies speed beyond norms and realize an exploded potential. Where light filters out the dark. And machine intelligence makes everything about your business more intelligent.

Leading brands leverage our platform products and advanced services to create powerful technology solutions and smarter, more efficient workforces.

Hypergiant was founded by Ben Lamm, John Fremont, and Will Womble and is headquartered in Texas.

Tomorrowing Today @ http://hypergiant.com
Fernando Botero, "A Lawyer" realized $150,750.

James D. Julias mid-winter auction launched the 2018 auction season in the most auspicious way possible, with bidders competing for the spectacular lots on offer. After the hammer finally fell silent, 48 lots made $10K or above. In addition, 9 lots realized $25K or more, and 10 lots broke the $50K mark!

James D. Julia's Fine Art, Asian & Antiques auctions enjoy a well-deserved reputation of offering only the finest selections of carefully curated paintings, and this auction did not disappoint on any level. The top lot in this event, Fernando Boteros A Lawyer, made it legal at $150,750 on a $125,000-175,000 estimate. This masterpiece features a portly, pensive looking man carrying a book and is signed Botero 98. It appears in Marc Fumarolis Botero Drawings, 1999. Happy New Year, a painting attributed to Frenchman Paul Emile Chabas, realized $24,200 - over six times its low estimate. This joyful work comes alive with two finely dressed, cherubic children and bouquets of peony flowers. Works by Haley Lever were well represented in this sale, with his Fishing Boats  Sunrise from 1904 reeling in $60,500. This handsome, signed painting is titled on a Clayton-Liberatore Art Gallery label. And Morris Graves War Maddened Bird Following St. Elmos Fire tempera on paper soared to $81,675, more than four times its low estimate.

Enthusiasts battled over this sales fine selections of exceptional powder horns from important collections. A group of 13 Revolutionary War-era powder horns, carved by the Folky Artist, sold for $27,225. This group represents 13 of about 30 known horns carved by this artist whose name has been lost to history. He is thought to be from the south, as southern icons, such as palmetto trees, long leaf pine sprouts, and a Spanish mission, are among the subjects engraved on his horns. A French and Indian War Pennsylvania map horn changed hands at $58,080 - almost four times its low estimate. This detailed example is illustrated starting in Philadelphia and moves north along the Allegheny and its forks depicted as Monagahny and Ohio to Lancaster, Carlisle, Shippensburgh, Fort Louden, Fort Lettelton, Fort Stony Creek, Fort Bedford, and Fort Ledgner, and features a great drawing of Fort Pitt flying a British flag on a pole. And a Charleston, SC map horn realized a whopping $78,650 on its $8,000-12,000 estimate. This museum quality artifact is carved with exquisite attention and shows a view of Charleston and its rivers branching into the Congarees, Saux Tee, Keeowee, and others.

This remarkable sale also made history with its once-in-a-lifetime offerings of antique archival materials, ephemera, and items associated with important people, places, and things. Four massive hand drawn and painted planning maps used by Morton L. Deyo, a World War II hero who commanded naval gunfire support at Utah Beach in the Normandy invasion - amongst other notable accomplishments - sold for $7,620. A Barbary Pirate flintlock pistol from the Stephen Decatur estate shot to $18,150 on its $1,000-2,000 estimate. Decatur led successful naval battles in both Barbary Wars, North Africa, the French Quasi War, and the War of 1812; family legend holds this pistol was a souvenir from the Barbary Coast wars. A solid gold Tiffany presentation snuff box presented by the citizens of Buffalo to Lt. John Worden made $48,400. Worden was the hero of the Victory of the Monitor Over the Merrimac. This handsomely decorated box is engraved with the battle scene between the U.S. Navy Ironclad Monitor and the Confederate Navy Ironclad C.S.S. Virginia (Merrimac), as well as other naval themes. Our catalogers noted that this is one of the most important American Civil War U.S. Navy artifacts to be presented for public auction. And a wonderful time capsule text, Manuscript Rules And Regulations of USS Congress And USS Constitution, 1817-1821 cruised to $62,920 on its $15,000-25,000 estimate.

Enthusiasts also saluted the fine offerings of flags on offer through this sale. An iconic 12-star Confederate 1st National Flag from the renowned Boleslaw And Marie-Louise Mastai collection made $76,230. This remarkable rarity was pictured on cover of the 1973 text The Stars and the Stripes: The American Flag as Art and as History From the Birth of the Republic to the Present by Mastai. And a Confederate Battle flag made $70,180. This incredibly rare example closely follows the pattern of ANV (Army of Northern Virginia) battle flags and is totally hand sewn.

Eye-catching Asian treasures gave this sale a touch of international intrigue. A Chinese silk embroidered robe sold for $7,260 on an $800-1,200 estimate. This early 20th century blue silk example is decorated with roundels of various figures within a landscape; its collar and seams are accented with ruyi and fastened with gilded buttons. And a Satsuma pottery vase by Yabu Meizan almost doubled its high estimate, realizing $11,495. This fine Meiji period beaker shaped vessel is exquisitely painted with a continuous waterfront landscape around the lower half and a procession of figures around the top.

Fine antiques from a wide array of specialty categories tempted collectors throughout this two day event. A cast iron The Yankee Schoolmaster (also known as The Alphabet Man) made $25,410. This toy was designed as an early educational vehicle to teach children the alphabet or various words; only a handful of these elaborately constructed rarities survived over the past 100+ years. A pair of massive, engraved walrus tusks signed by artist Nathaniel Finney blew away their $6,000-8,000 estimate to sell for $91,960. These c.1870 tusks are illustrated with vignettes of popular actors who worked in San Francisco during the 1860s-1870s, and include the founding members of the California Troup of Actors associated with the California Theatre. An outstanding solid gold Russian hinged box decorated with a micro mosaic top closed the deal at $50,820 on its $4,000-6,000 estimate. Its 2" x 3" scene shows a man on a horse crossing a river with others following, while women are seen on foreground with soldiers. And an important carved and polychrome painted tobacconist figure of Native American man, attributed to Thomas Brooks, was on fire... eventually realizing $26,015. This truly outstanding example has provenance to Danbury, Connecticut by descent to its current owner and was featured on a 1/2 page in color in National Geographic Magazine, September 1931, vol. LX, number three, illustration VII.

About James D. Julia, Inc.:

James D. Julia, Inc., a division of Morphy Auctions, is one of the top ten antique auction antique houses in North America as measured by annual sales. The company has routinely established new world records through three key divisions, including Rare Firearms; Fine Art, Asian & Antiques; and Rare Lamps, Glass & Fine Jewelry. Each division is regarded for its excellence and is staffed with world-class specialists to guarantee fair and professional authentication, identification, and valuation services. In December of 2017, James D. Julia, Inc. merged with Morphy Auctions of Denver, PA. Morphy Auctions and James D. Julia, Inc. share a common purpose of delighting collectors worldwide with aligned missions and unparalleled customer service standards. Joining forces creates a synergistic team of passionate staff members to better serve our customers and strengthen the antiques and collectibles industry. All future auctions after March 2018 will be held at Morphy Auctions in Denver, PA and Las Vegas. For more information, please click here.
We are excited to partner with Google for this event, and we look forward to sharing the latest storage search trends and insights to a packed audience of storage owners and operators. We cant wait to be a part of this one-of-a-kind event for the storage industry.

Go Local Interactive will host the first-ever Google Storage Summit -- an invite-only, educational marketing event exclusive to their clients and premier self storage operators. The Summit will take place at the Sprint Accelerator in downtown Kansas City, MO on February 22. Google will also be present at the event, providing insights about the companys recent search-related developments -- both in the storage industry and in general. The event aims to provide top storage owners and marketing professionals from across the country with networking opportunities and educational information on digital marketing insights and trends in their industry.

Go Local and Google have compiled research and marketing tactics from extensive experience in the storage industry, and they will be delivering keynote speeches at the Summit. Google will present their storage industry observations, statistics, and business opportunities. Along with educational materials, Go Local will also be giving a first look at its newest web product -- a unique offering that will transform the way storage companies do business online. Businesses will also have the chance to discuss and strategize their personal marketing programs with Go Local and Google in one-on-one meetings.

"Search behavior is always evolving and there is no one that understands it better than Google, said Michael Solms, SVP of Sales and Marketing at Go Local. We are excited to partner with Google for this event, and we look forward to sharing the latest storage search trends and insights to a packed audience of storage owners and operators. We cant wait to be a part of this one-of-a-kind event for the storage industry.

This years Summit attendee list has already been filled, but there are future Summits in the works for storage and other industries. For interest in future Summits, please email contact(at)golocalinteractive(dot)com

About Go Local Interactive:

Go Local Interactive is a digital marketing agency focused on new customer acquisition for national and regional brands. They provide customized solutions to answer the marketing needs of clients across a wide variety of industries including home services, retail, and financial services. They are experts in effectively implementing, managing, and tracking clients marketing efforts down to the local level  no matter the number of locations or size of the service area. Go Local specializes in website development, search engine optimization, local listings management, content, social media, and paid media services that provide added value for their many clients.
"The success of this program across the state of Pennsylvania, and the country, validates its design, which is to raise awareness about cool manufacturing career opportunities." Said Jack Pfunder, CEO of Manufacturers Resource Center.

Public voting for the Lehigh Valley's fifth annual Whats So Cool About Manufacturing? Student Video Contest will open Wednesday, February 21, 12:01AM and run until Friday, February 23, 11:59PM at the new http://www.WhatsSoCool.org website.

The video with the most votes will receive the Viewers Choice Award. The videos will also be reviewed by a panel of judges for awards in nine other categories, including Outstanding Educational Value and Outstanding Creativity.

Presented by Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC), the Student Video Contest: Whats So Cool About Manufacturing? (WSCM) gives students in Carbon, Lehigh, and Northampton Counties the opportunity to connect directly with local manufacturers, document their experiences and present them in an educational and cool way through documentary video production. The contest was created to generate excitement that draws students towards considering manufacturing career paths.

"The students and their teachers put an amazing amount of work into their projects, meeting with manufacturers, filming and editing their videos," said Jack Pfunder, President & CEO of Manufacturers Resource Center. "The success of this program across the state of Pennsylvania, and the country, validates its design, which is to raise awareness about manufacturing career opportunities for our students by letting them discover they are cool. Viewing their work online and voting supports the students, their schools, and manufacturing in the region."

Partnering with Manufacturers Resource Center for the project is PBS 39, Sahl Communications, Inc and EmpowerStar Marketing. Educational media resources, GoPro Camera kits, professional media training from PBS39, materials, and project costs were funded and made possible by the following: Platinum Sponsors; Air Products, J.G. Petrucci Co., Inc, Lehigh Valley Workforce Development Board, and PNC Bank. Gold Sponsors; Aerotek, Ametek , Inc, ATAS International, B. Braun Medical, Inc, Bracalente Manufacturing Group, Crayola LLC, Fromm Electric Supply Corporation, King, Spry, Herman, Freund, & Faul LLC, Mack Trucks, Inc., Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc, PATH, PBS39, Piramal Critical Care, Inc, PPL Electric Utilities, RETTEW, Sahl Communications, Inc, Stanley Black & Decker, and Zero. Networking Sponsor; Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba, PC. Silver Sponsors; Bosch Rexroth Corporation, Concannon, Miller & Co., Dynalene, Eastern Surfaces, Inc., EmpowerStar Marketing, ESPI, Feinberg Real Estate Advisors, LLC., First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union, FMI, Follett LLC, Gross McGinley, LLP, Just Born Quality Confections, Key Bank, Kreischer Miller, Lehigh Carbon Community College, Lehigh County, Lutron Electronics Company, Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, Northampton Community College, Northampton County, ProtoCAM, RER Energy Group, Santander Bank, and Victaulic. Bronze Sponsors; Atlas Machining & Welding, Inc, Bio Med Sciences, Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School, Carbon Career and Technical Institute, Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corporation, Career Institute of Technology, C.F. Martin & Company, Express Employment Professionals, GLVCC Manufacturing Council, HMK Insurance, Jim Thorpe National Bank, Lehigh Career and Technical Institute, National Museum of Industrial History, Provident Bank, and Smooth-On. Media Sponsors; WAEB, 99.9 Hawk, Adams Outdoor Advertising, Lehigh Valley Business, and PBS39. Cupcake Competitors; Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School, Carbon Career and Technical Institute, Career Institute of Technology, and Lehigh Career and Technical Institute. Cupcake Judge; Carlos Bakery.

For more information regarding the Whats So Cool About Manufacturing? Video Contest, please visit whatssocool.org, facebook.com/WSCMLV and Twitter: @WSCMLV.

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About Whats So Cool About Manufacturing:

Whats So Cool About Manufacturing (WSCM) is a manufacturing video contest for middle school students developed by a partnership directed by Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) in 2013 and shared through the Whats So Cool platform. Initial funds for the Lehigh Valley Skill Up effort were provided by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Developments Discovered in PA, Developed in PA program. WSCMLV is a partnership directed by MRC in Allentown, Pa and is dedicated to changing perceptions and attitudes in the Keystone State about advanced manufacturing careers. This years Lehigh Valley contest includes 30 teams representing 22 school districts from Carbon, Lehigh, and Northampton Counties and a pilot team from Bucks County.

About Manufacturers Resource Center:

Since 1988, the Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) has helped small and mid-sized manufacturers become more competitive, adopt lean and agile processes, strategically grow their companies and invest more effectively in their existing human capital. MRC is a nonprofit organization partially funded by the U.S. Department of Commerces NIST-MEP program, as well as the State of Pennsylvanias Department of Community and Economic Development. The MRC is dedicated to creating jobs and economic opportunity in eastern Pennsylvanias Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton, and Schuylkill counties.
Access One was named a Finalist in the Front-Line Customer Service Team of the Year - Technology Industries category in the 12th annual Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service and will ultimately be a Gold, Silver, or Bronze Stevie Award winner in the program for the fifth consecutive year.

The awards are presented by the Stevie Awards, which organizes several of the worlds leading business awards shows including the prestigious International Business Awards and the Stevie Awards for Great Employers.

The final results will be announced during a gala banquet on Friday, February 23 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. Finalists from the U.S.A. and several other nations are expected to attend.

More than 2,500 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were evaluated in this years competition. Finalists were determined by the average scores of more than 150 professionals worldwide, in seven specialized judging committees. Entries were considered in 89 categories for customer service and contact center achievements, including Contact Center of the Year, Award for Innovation in Customer Service, and Customer Service Department of the Year; 60 categories for sales and business development achievements, ranging from Senior Sales Executive of the Year to Sales Training or Business Development Executive of the Year to Sales Department of the Year; and categories to recognize new products and services and solution providers.

Access One is a finalist for Front-Line Customer Service Team of the Year, competing against Comcast (US), Active Digital (UK), and J2 Global (Canada). The Access One team is led by Lori VanDyke, a five-time Stevie Award Winner, including four wins for Front-Line Customer Service Team of the Year and a Gold Stevie Award win for Women in Technology. The quality of Loris team is a primary differentiator of Access Ones service and core to the vision of Access Ones ownership. Mark Jozwiak, President of Access One said, Congratulations to Lori VanDyke and her team for this recognition of their efforts. Throughout our 25-year history, weve differentiated ourselves on level of service. Lori is constantly training her team on the latest business technologies and world-class customer service to ensure that we exceed our customers expectations."

The 2018 judges were so impressed with the wide range of achievements detailed in the Finalist nominations, said Michael Gallagher, President and Founder of the Stevie Awards. We look forward to announcing the Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie placements in Las Vegas next month.

Access Ones CEO, Brian Barkley said, Were honored to be finalists for the Front-Line Customer Service Stevie Award for the fifth consecutive year. This is a great achievement for our Customer Service team and validation of our view that in a commoditized business technology environment, customer service and true client partnership define success in the marketplace.

Details about the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service and the list of Finalists in all categories are available at http://www.StevieAwards.com/Sales.

About Access One

Access One is a business technology services and communications provider, dedicated to world-class technologies and an award-winning client experience. Founded in 1993, Access One strives to provide businesses with seamless technology services that scale and evolve along with their business. Custom-tailored solutions can be delivered modularly, or as a complete, end-to-end service, providing an unrivaled level of accountability for clients communications, managed IT and cloud-based services. Access Ones services give businesses back their time and increase productivity. Access Ones clients success is their success. For more information, please visit http://www.accessoneinc.com or call (800)804.8333.

About The Stevie Awards

Stevie Awards are conferred in seven programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 10,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 60 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.

Sponsors and supporters of the 12th annual Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service include HCL Financial Services, Sales Partnerships, Inc. and ValueSelling Associates, Inc.
Monica Steffeck, Chief Talent Enrichment Officer Providing support to our community is an important part of who we are especially when it comes to students.

Clickstop is now accepting scholarship applications for their annual Dream Big! Scholarship program. Area high school juniors and seniors planning to attend a college or trade school are encouraged to apply.

The annual Dream Big! Scholarship honors the companys commitment to promoting students educational growth and development. Eligible individuals include juniors or seniors in the Vinton-Shellsburg or Center Point-Urbana districts. Clickstop employees or their children are also invited to apply. A minimum grade-point average of 2.7 is required.

Applicants must complete a short online questionnaire, along with submitting a photo or video that showcases their personality. In addition, applicants will need to explain how their principles align with Clickstops Core Values and/or Code The series of behaviors have been embedded into the companys culture to help guide business decisions, recruit top talent, drive employee development and create a great work environment.

Providing support to our community is an important part of who we are especially when it comes to students, said Monica Steffeck, Chief Talent Enrichment Officer at Clickstop. We are so excited to offer these scholarships and encourage the growth, development and dreams of students taking the next step in their journey.

For more information, visit clickstop.com/dream-big-scholarship. Application deadline is March 31, and recipients will be announced April 13.

About Clickstop, Inc.

Clickstop, Inc. grows business units of different sizes, serving multiple industries and markets by employing Business Unit Fanatics and supporting these individuals through shared services. Clickstop drives business unit growth through their alignment with their core values, an engaged workforce and sustaining an entrepreneurial environment designed to quickly and effectively navigate change. The company's reputation and commitment to great workplace culture and engagement has landed it multiple workplace focused awards including multiple first place finishes as the Coolest Place to Work in the region.
Nick Polce for Congress "We cannot continue to elect individuals who believe it is their job to rule rather than serve. In Washington since 1992, first as a staffer and then as a 10-term Congressman, Paul Ryan has changed. He no longer proves to represent the values of his fellow Americans."

Nick Polce, a Republican candidate for the 1st Congressional District of Wisconsin 2018 election, is part of the freedom movement sweeping the nation. Polce, along with fellow freedom candidates nationwide, is looking to restore the power to the American people by removing career politicians from office in Washington D.C.

Husband, father, business owner, former U.S. Army Green Beret and combat veteran: Nick Polce is no stranger to difficulty. This campaign against career politician Paul Ryan isnt going to be easy, but Polce is encouraged and looks forward to the challenge.

Polces philosophy is as follows: You get six years in the House and six years in the Senate. Thats it. This model is based off how Special Forces teams work and prepare the next generation of leaders. In Washington, we need to focus on the long term goals instead of the short term  getting re-elected. Less focus on me, me, me and more focus on how do I best take care of my constituents and prepare the next person?

Polce is looking to bring back the concept of the citizen statesman, where the individual that goes to Washington works to serve the interest of the citizens of his district, then returns to the private sector while another representative goes in their place. Mr. Polce believes in returning to the idea of the servant leader so that the decisions made in Washington are in the best interest of the American people.

We cannot continue to elect individuals who believe it is their job to rule rather than serve. In Washington since 1992, first as a staffer and then as a 10-term Congressman, Paul Ryan has changed. He no longer proves to represent the values of his fellow Americans. He makes decisions based off what is best for his political career instead of what is best for Americans and the 1st District.  Nick Polce

During his campaign, Polce has demonstrated that his intentions are to serve the citizens of the 1st Congressional District of Wisconsin. His campaign efforts have been focused on listening to their concerns and answering their questions. If you would like to meet Nick Polce and learn more about his campaign, visit one of his upcoming events. The events can be found on his Facebook page (Nick Polce For Congress).

Nick is kicking off a series of events called Pulse of the People that focus solely on listening to the concerns of the citizens. The next Pulse Of The People is 28 Feb @ 6:30 @ Kenosha Southwest Public Library.

To stay up to date with Nick Polces campaign, be sure to follow him on social media. To learn more about his campaign and to donate, visit http://www.nickpolceforcongress.com. To set up a meeting with Mr. Polce, send him an email or contact him via Facebook.

Facebook: Nick Polce For Congress

Twitter: @NicholasPolce

Instagram: @Nick_Polce

Snapchat: @NickoPolce

YouTube: Nick Polce For Congress

Email: Nick(at)nickpolceforcongress(dot)com

Website: https://www.nickpolceforcongress.com/
StoneGate Senior Living, LLC StoneGate Senior Living's network of eleven Oklahoma skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities deliver award-winning senior and post-acute care to the community. The contract agreement insures that state employees and their dependents will have reduced costs and improved facility access.

StoneGate Senior Living, LLC, an award-winning full spectrum senior care and housing facility, announces a new contract agreement with HealthChoice, which provides group health, dental, life, and disability insurance plans for Oklahoma's public-sector employees.

The contract provides access to all skilled nursing facilities within StoneGate Senior Livings Oklahoma market. The Oklahoma-based facilities offering the HealthChoice insurance plan include: Montevista Rehabilitation and Skilled Care, Medical Park West Rehabilitation, Accel at Crystal Park, The Villages at Southern Hills and Tulsa Nursing Center, Noble Health Care, Garland Road Nursing Center, Highland Park Manor, Meadowlake Estates, Ranchwood Nursing Center and Tuscany Village Nursing Center.

Our network of eleven Oklahoma skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities deliver award-winning senior and post-acute care to the community, says Mark Koch, StoneGate Senior Livings Regional Director of Business Development. The contract agreement with HealthChoice insures that Oklahoma state employees and their dependents will have reduced costs and improved access to StoneGate Senior Livings facilities and care solutions.

For more information, visit http://www.stonegatesl.com and https://www.ok.gov/sib/.

About HealthChoice

The Employees Group Insurance Division (EGID), formerly the Oklahoma State & Education Employees Group Insurance Board (OSEEGIB), provides group health, dental, life, and disability insurance plans for Oklahomas public sector employees. These plans are known as HealthChoice. EGID also manages health provider networks for the Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) and the Department of Corrections (DOC)

About StoneGate Senior Living

StoneGate Senior Living is an award-winning full-spectrum senior care and housing company with 44 properties across Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado. Recently ranked as the nations 31st largest transitional and long-term care company by Provider magazine, StoneGate is a fully-integrated post-acute health care company, with service-lines and business units that offer transitional care, long-term care, assisted living, memory care, rehabilitation, wellness, pharmacy, care navigation and post-acute analytical services.

Learn more at http://www.stonegatesl.com/.
We are honored to have Acting Chairman Buerkle as our keynote presenter, says Kelly Mariotti, JPMA executive director. Given our industrys commitment to product safety and interest in a strong and productive working relationship with CPSC, we believe Ms. Buerkles voice will be a valuable addit

Ann Marie Buerkle, acting chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, will offer the keynote presentation at the second annual JPMA Baby Show, a JPMA and Family Media Event. It will take place on Thursday, March 22, 2018 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, immediately prior to trade show exhibit hours.

Ms. Buerkle has served as a commissioner of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission since July 2013 and became the agency's acting chairman in February 2017. Nominated by President Donald J. Trump to be Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, her nomination has been twice voted out of committee and is awaiting full Senate action. Prior to joining the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Ms. Buerkle served New Yorks 25th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. During her congressional tenure, Ms. Buerkle sat on the Oversight & Government Reform, Foreign Affairs, and Veterans Affairs Committees. She also served as Chair of the Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health. While in Congress, Ms. Buerkle was also appointed by President Obama to serve as a United States Representative to the 66th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations.

We are honored to have Acting Chairman Buerkle as our keynote presenter, says Kelly Mariotti, JPMA Executive Director. Given our industrys commitment to product safety and interest in a strong and productive working relationship with CPSC, we believe Ms. Buerkles voice will be a valuable addition to the JPMA Baby Show.

Ms. Buerkles presentation will be part of the conference programming at the JPMA Baby Show, a JPMA and Family Media event, that will brings the juvenile products industry together for North Americas only trade event that combines conference, trade show, and consumer day programming under one roof at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Held from March 20-24, 2018, the JPMA Baby Show will host 200,000 sq. ft. of curated floor space featuring leading manufacturers in sleep and furniture, mobility, feeding, child restraint systems, health and safety, gear, and soft goods. The JPMA Baby Show will host professionals from around the world to discuss relevant safety issues; to educate the industry; to connect with consumers and to provide a modern showcase to launch and sell new products. For more information and to register for the JPMA Baby Show visit JPMABabyShow.org.

About the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association

The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) exists as the voice of the industry on quality and safety for products intended for babies and children. We do this by:



Advocating for safety through product certification programs and legislative and regulatory involvement;

Supporting a broad and diverse membership through member-only programming and industry promotion;

And by acting as a comprehensive source for baby product information and education.

JPMA members represent 95 percent of the prenatal to preschool products sold in North America. To find out more information about JPMA, our certification program and products certified, and for a complete listing of JPMA Members, please visit http://www.jpma.org. Follow JPMA on Twitter @JPMA and connect with us on Facebook to learn about additional safety tips and JPMA initiatives.

About Family Media, LLC.

Family Media produces the largest consumer show for new and expectant families in the country  the New York Baby Show. 2016 marks expansion to California and the first annual LA Baby Show held November 5-6. Lead by New York Family Magazine and NewYorkFamily.com, Family Media reaches over 120,000 families per month through print magazines, online platforms, and local community events including the New York Family Camp Fair Series and education recognition awards. More information is available at http://www.NewYorkFamily.com.
Veterans Empowerment Organization We are excited to partner with VEO as our charity of choice for 2018, said Jason Moss, CEO of the Georgia Manufacturing Alliance. They have had a tremendous impact on the lives of veterans and their families in the Atlanta community.

The Georgia Manufacturing Alliance has chosen the Veterans Empowerment Organization (VEO) as their charity of choice for 2018. VEO provides housing and resources for veterans in transition and helps their residents complete their Self-Sufficiency Model. This program focuses on taking the invisible veterans off the streets and providing housing, treatment and recovery for addiction, medical care, mental health counseling, life-skills training and workforce development support. To learn more http://www.veohero.org.

We are excited to partner with VEO as our charity of choice for 2018, said Jason Moss, CEO of the Georgia Manufacturing Alliance. They have had a tremendous impact on the lives of veterans and their families in the Atlanta community.

More than 300 guests attended their The Third Annual VEO Gala on February 17, 2018 at The Piedmont Driving Club in Atlanta. The Atlanta community showed their support of veterans who are working hard to overcome the barriers they face to gain housing and employment. Guests were inspired by Tyler Bowser, who found himself homeless after returning from his service in the Airforce. Mr. Bowser successfully completed VEOs Self-Sufficiency program and is now an ambassador for VEO.

VEO is privately funded so we can provide unconditional support for the underserved veterans in our community, said Mr. Bowser. At our Gala, we were overwhelmed by the generous community support of VEO and the contributions from the Gary W. Rawlins Foundation. It was a stunningly, successful evening and we were able to raise over $200,000 which will go to provide transitional support for our veterans.

The Georgia Manufacturing Alliance is continuing their support of Veterans through a page on their website that will help Veterans connect with other resources that are available in our community. https://www.georgiamanufacturingalliance.com/veterans-resources-and-programs Their first Veterans Initiatives Lunch & Learn, held at VEO on May 9th, will present a panel of speakers that will share some of these resources and bring awareness to VEOs mission.

ABOUT GMA: The Georgia Manufacturing Alliance (GMA) is a membership-based industry organization founded in 2008 to support Georgias manufacturing community. GMA provides monthly plant tours, educational sessions, tradeshows, and unique networking opportunities designed to help make profitable business connections for its members. The Georgia Manufacturing Directory, Georgia Manufacturing Summit, Georgia Manufacturing Calendar, and BuyFromGa website are additional resources produced by GMA. To learn more about the organization, membership, and upcoming events, please call 770-338-0051 or visit their website http://www.GeorgiaManufacturingAlliance.com.
Jamie Lemay, District Manager, Red Arrow Diner I am thrilled Jamie Lemay accepted the the newly-created district manager position, said Red Arrow Diner owner Carol Lawrence-Erickson. The dedication and enthusiasm she has for her job is very apparent and she is already a respected leader." Past News Releases RSS Spaulding Youth Center Honored with...

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Red Arrow Diner is excited to announce the promotion of employee Jamie Lemay to district manager, effective February 1, 2018.

In this role, Ms. Lemay will be responsible for maintaining consistency throughout each diner locations and will work closely with general managers to assure company policies and procedures are being met. She will also have a part in monitoring the diners budgets and expenditures.

Ms. Lemay joined Red Arrow Diner in 2012 as a third-shift server at the companys historic Manchester location. Due to her positive attitude, admirable work ethic and consistent enthusiasm she brought to each of her shifts, she was promoted to general manager of the location in 2015. As general manager, Jamie was responsible for managing employee scheduling, maintaining food and supply orders, regularly interacting with customers to assure the food and service was to their liking, and working closely with servers, cooks and other staff to make sure company procedures were being followed. Her hard work and success as a general manager led to her promotion to district manager.

I am thrilled Jamie Lemay accepted the the newly-created district manager position, said Red Arrow Diner owner Carol Lawrence-Erickson. The dedication and enthusiasm she has for her job is very apparent and she is already a respected leader. I am looking forward to her creative ideas and believe she will make a positive addition to our leadership team.

Jamie began her career in the hospitality industry as a host in a chain restaurant for five years before she began bartending at a Nashua banquet facility. She was recruited by a former Red Arrow Diner general manager to work at the diner as a third-shift server and then began her tenure at the Manchester landmark. Jamie currently lives in Nashua with her fiance and their five children.

ABOUT THE RED ARROW DINER

A privately-held company based in Manchester, New Hampshire, the Red Arrow Diner operates restaurants in Concord, Manchester, Milford and Londonderry, New Hampshire, United States. Each Red Arrow Diner location is a 24-hour diner and serves over 500,000 breakfasts annually. The Red Arrow Diner has been featured on various nationally-broadcasted television and radio shows, including the Food Networks Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and SiriusXM political channels Patriot (125) and Progress (127). Additionally, Red Arrow is an active community supporter with countless volunteer hours, pro bono promotions, and financial donations. For information about the Red Arrow Diner, visit http://www.redarrowdiner.com.
"Asset management professionals in the power industry are seeking better ways to minimize risk, manage resources, assure data security, and continue their successful NERC compliance programs."  Ann Broussard, Office of NERC Compliance Business Development Director.

Certrec, a leading regulatory compliance provider for NERC compliance, announced today its participation in the upcoming Solar Asset Management North America 2018 Conference to be held in San Francisco, California, from March 13-14.

Currently, Certrec provides NERC compliance support on an ongoing basis to several utility-scale U.S. solar facilities and has worked with these solar sites for a number of years. As the solar industry continues to grow, larger-scale installations are becoming more common. The utility-scale installations are often large enough to become NERC-registered entities. This factor is making NERC compliance a consideration that may be new to some entities.

The dynamics of the solar power industry  new technologies, customized systems, talented individuals, unique corporate cultures, and a changing regulatory environment  create challenges for the best-run organization. As a result, many discover that a standardized approach to NERC compliance, using a software application or cookie-cutter templates, does not result in successful NERC compliance programs.

Certrec Corporation is dedicated to regulatory compliance, exclusively, and has been since 1988. Certrecs approach is key to its successful client programs and growing NERC practice. Certrec understands that an entity that is dedicated to compliance operates every day in compliance. Every day, they are audit ready, and this is accomplished through an effective Internal Controls Process with periodic self-evaluations of effectiveness, coupled with a robust, corrective-action process.

CERTREC Asset management professionals in the power industry are seeking better ways to minimize risk, manage resources, assure data security, and continue their successful NERC compliance programs. Certrec enables these professionals to accomplish these goals with assistance from our experienced team.  Ann Broussard, Office of NERC Compliance Business Development Director.

Founded in 1988, Certrec is an engineering and technology-based organization providing regulatory support services in the electric power industry. With more than 1,000 cumulative years of direct industry experience (including wind, solar, nuclear, and fossil), Certrec has developed exceptional capabilities to support regulatory activities emanating from regulatory entities such as the North American Electric Reliability Corporation and Regional Entities (NERC), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and other regulatory agencies. Certrec's Office of NERC Compliance (ONC), Office of Licensing, and Compliance (OLC), Office of Assessment and Recovery (OAR), and Office of New Plant (ONP) services are used by utilities and entities across the United States to help manage the regulatory process to their advantage.
"RCN is working with our new power vendor, IGS Energy, to use green electricity in powering our services to our customers, said Jeff Carlson, RCN Boston SVP and General Manager.

RCN Boston announced today that it has chosen a new vendor that delivers green electricity to power the network to its residential and business customers. It is among the first telecom companies in the U.S. to use green electricity in this manner. The new power vendor, IGS Energy, will provide RCN the green electricity through wind power that is transmitted through the electrical grid. The partnership between RCN and IGS Energy was arranged by Mark Sterner of Sterner Energy, RCNs energy manager. The use of green electricity will significantly reduce the percentage of RCN Bostons carbon footprint.

RCN is working with our new power vendor, IGS Energy, to use green electricity in powering our services to our customers, said Jeff Carlson, RCN Boston SVP and General Manager. Green energy is the wave of the future and RCN prides itself on being at the cutting edge, and the new partnership with IGS Energy is in keeping with our commitment to excellence for our customers.

IGS Energy is excited about this partnership that will provide electricity used to power all RCN facilities, power plants, and the power supplies that bring services to their residences and businesses, said Doug Austin, Executive Vice President and Chief Sales Officer of IGS Energy.

When you see the gray boxes on the telephone poles outside of your home, that is what powers RCN services to its customers and it is now running with green electricity, said Sterner. This is a milestone in the industry as cable, broadband and phone services are all dependent on electricity to operate and none have moved to using green electricity until now, with RCN making the switch.

About Sterner Energy

Sterner Energy, LLC (http://www.SternerEnergy.com) is an energy management firm that specializes in

multi-location, multi-state businesses in the Telecom, Cable, Healthcare, Logistic, and Hospitality industries. Sterner Energy helps companies develop and implement plans to reduce energy costs, usage and provide alternative energy solutions. Sterner Energy is located in Center Valley, PA.

About the IGS Family of Companies

With almost 30 years of experience in the energy industry, the IGS family of companies provides the following to over one million customers across the country: natural gas, electricity, and home protection products; power generation solutions off the grid; clean, domestic alternative fueling options; and solar solutions. The company focuses on empowering consumers to make choices that best fit their energy needs. Their community investment program, IGS Impact, provides employees with opportunities to get involved with causes that are meaningful to both the company and to them personally. To learn more, visit http://www.igs.com.

About RCN Boston

RCN in Boston serves the communities of Allston, Arlington, Boston, Brighton, Brookline, Burlington, Charlestown, Dedham, Dorchester, Framingham, Hyde Park, Lexington, Milton, Natick, Needham, Newton, Roslindale, Somerville, Stoneham, Wakefield, Waltham, Watertown, West Roxbury and Woburn.

About RCN

RCN Telecom Services, LLC (http://www.rcn.com) provides industry-leading High-Speed Internet, all-Digital TV and Phone services for residential, small/medium and Enterprise business customers. PC Magazine recently released its annual Readers Choice Awards and named RCN one of the winners for best cable broadband ISPs in 2017  RCN ranks highest for overall satisfaction. RCNs affordably-priced advanced digital services are delivered through their proprietary, state-of-the-art fiber-rich network and supported by 100% U.S.-based customer service. RCN's primary service areas include Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Lehigh Valley (PA), New York City, Boston and Chicago.

Media Contact:

Ann Murphy

(617) 646-1031,

amurphy[at]oneillandassoc[dot]com
Fast, Reliable & Secure IT Solutions for Business and Government I want to give a special heartfelt thanks to the team of dedicated professionals at Verteks who are the real reason we are receiving this recognition. Im very proud to work with a team that continually delivers reliable and responsive support to our valued clients.

Verteks Consulting, a leading provider of IT solutions for business and government clients, announced today that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Verteks to its 2018 Managed Service Provider (MSP) 500 list in the Pioneer 250 category. This annual list recognizes North American solution providers with cutting-edge approaches to delivering managed services. Their offerings help companies navigate the complex and ever-changing landscape of IT, improve operational efficiencies, and maximize their return on IT investments.

In todays fast-paced business environments, MSPs play an important role in helping companies leverage new technologies without straining their budgets or losing focus on their core business. CRNs MSP 500 list shines a light on the most forward-thinking and innovative of these key organizations.

The list is divided into three categories: the MSP Pioneer 250, recognizing companies with business models weighted toward managed services and largely focused on the SMB market; the MSP Elite 150, recognizing large, data center-focused MSPs with a strong mix of on-premises and off-premises services; and the Managed Security 100, recognizing MSPs focused primarily on off-premise, cloud-based security services.

Verteks provides a comprehensive suite of managed IT services that help business and government clients throughout Florida maximize the value of their technology investments. The Verteks team has expertise in a wide range of business technologies, and has developed sound methodologies for providing proactive maintenance and highly responsive support. Verteks also serves as a trusted advisor to its customers, helping them leverage the latest IT solutions to meet their business objectives.

Managed service providers have become integral to the success of businesses everywhere, both large and small, said Bob Skelley, CEO of The Channel Company. Capable MSPs enable companies to take their cloud computing to the next level, streamline spending, effectively allocate limited resources and navigate the vast field of available technologies. The companies on CRNs 2018 MSP 500 list stand out for their innovative services, excellence in adapting to customers changing needs and demonstrated ability to help businesses get the most out of their IT investments.

We are very proud to have been recognized by CRN for our managed services capabilities, said Don Gulling, CEO, Verteks. Over the past 21 years, we have seen tremendous change in the IT industry, and have continued to adapt and refine our services to meet evolving business demands. But our core commitment remains the same. We help our customers maximize productivity and customer service by ensuring that their IT environments are fast, reliable and secure. I want to give a special heartfelt thanks to the team of dedicated professionals at Verteks who are the real reason we are receiving this recognition. Im very proud to work with a team that continually delivers reliable and responsive support to our valued clients.

The MSP500 list will be featured in the February 2018 issue of CRN and online at http://www.CRN.com/msp500.

Tweet This:

@TheChannelCo names @VerteksConsult to @CRN 2018 MSP 500 list #CRNMSP500 http://www.crn.com/msp500

About Verteks

Verteks Consulting provides leading-edge voice, video and data networks to business and government clients throughout the U.S. With a focus on fast, reliable and secure IT solutions including Unified Communications and advanced networking solutions that improve efficiency, reduce costs, increase competitiveness, and improve customer service, Verteks helps its business and government clients confront the challenges of todays dynamic marketplace. Verteks provides turnkey solutions that include project planning, installation, onsite training and 247 support services  including a managed IT service solution called Total System Care. that gives clients proactive IT support at a low monthly cost. For more information, visit http://www.verteks.com.
Monster Energys Donald Cowboy Cerrone Dominates Yancy Medeiros and Wins by First-Round TKO at UFC Fight Night 126 Inside the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas I didnt know there was only 10 seconds left in the round. I was just going for the finish - Donald Cerrone

Monster Energys Donald Cowboy Cerrone defeated Hawaiian Yancy Medeiros in the welterweight main event at UFC Fight Night 126 inside the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas.

Cerrone came in strong and ended a three-fight losing streak with a TKO win at the 4:58 mark of the first round over Medeiros. Cerrone (33-10) also made a little history with his 20th career UFC win, which ties him with Michael Bisping and Georges St. Pierre for the most wins in UFC. He is also tied for the most finishes in UFC history with 14 alongside Vitor Belfort and Anderson Silva. On the other hand, the loss for Medeiros (15-5) ended his three-fight win streak.

Friends outside the octagon, Cerrone and Medeiros put their bond aside and threw down throughout an entertaining and violent, albeit brief bout, even exchanging a high five in-between punches. Medeiros landed clean strikes early on, but Cowboy eventually found his range and timing, firing back with sharp counter strikes the second half of the round. Once Cerrone settled in, he quickly ramped up his offense, landing a crisp counter right hand and then finishing with a straight right to the temple, followed up with a wicked shot that finished the fight with just two seconds remaining in the opening round.

I didnt know there was only 10 seconds left in the round, said Cerrone. "I was just going for the finish.

Immediately after the fight, Medeiros jumped over the cage to hug Cerrones grandmother, who regularly attends Cerrones fights. This was a critical victory for Cerrone who broke the longest losing streak of his career.

When asked whats next for Cerrone, who could possibly return to the lightweight division and is always ready to fight, he said, They call me and I say, where are we going? That is all I need to know.

Donald Cowboy Cerrone, is amongst Monster Energys elite UFC team along with Conor The Notorious McGregor, Daniel Cormier, Dominick Dominator Cruz, Chris The All American Weidman, Tyron The Chosen One Woodley, Paige VanZant, Cain Velasquez, Yair Rodriquez and Max Blessed Holloway.

For more on Cerrone and Monster Energys MMA athletes visit http://www.monsterenergy.com. Follow Monster Energy on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

###

About Monster Energy

Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer and distributor of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock and roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports, athletes and musicians represent. More than a drink, its the way of life lived by athletes, sports, bands, believers and fans. See more about Monster Energy including all of its drinks at http://www.monsterenergy.com.
Day Room Stay - Hotel Rooms For The Day We offer an affordable way for travelers to relax in full comfort of a hotel without having to pay for an overnight stay.

Day Room Stay, (http://dayroomstay.com/). a hotel booking website specializing in day rooms, hotel rooms for the day, recently announced new rates and extended hours, for participating hotels in the Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood areas of South Florida, near the Port Everglades cruise port and the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL).

For 2018, Day Room Stay established rates of $69.99 per day room for up to 4 guests, with an additional $10.00 per guest up to 8 per room. To accommodate guests with late flights, Day Room Stay also offered extended hours. The standard hours of 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. can now be extended to 9:00 p.m. at $10.00 per hour.

Day Room Stay offers tourists, business travelers and cruise vacationers an excellent alternative to waiting at the airport or cruise port by offering hotel rooms for the day. Priced at a fraction of the cost of an overnight stay in a hotel, day rooms provide guests a place to relax and unwind before commencing with the next leg of their journey. Day rooms are especially convenient for guests traveling with children. All day room guests receive full use of all hotel amenities such as clean linens, swimming pool, restaurants and hotel transportation.

A Fort Lauderdale hotel featured on the Day Room Stay website even offers luggage storage and complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport, as well as to and from the local cruise port, making a day room even more affordable and convenient.

"Our new rates are a direct result of the overwhelming popularity of day rooms," states Izzy Fintz, Founder & President of Day Room Stay. "We offer an affordable way for travelers to relax in full comfort of a hotel without having to pay for an overnight stay. Guests can enjoy great food, or even an exciting tour adventure, all while waiting for their flight."

To feature your hotel on Day Room Stay, please contact ifintz(at)dayroomstay(dot)com.

About Day Room Stay

Day Room Stay is a hotel day stay booking website specializing in day rooms, hotel rooms for the day without an overnight stay. Starting from $69.99 per room, day rooms are offered between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., any day of the week depending on availability for up to four guests per room, and can be extended to 9:00 p.m. at some participating hotels. Day rooms can accommodate up to eight guests for an additional charge. Hotels currently featured on Day Room Stay are located in close proximity to popular South Florida tourist destinations such as Downtown Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale Beach, Broward Convention Center, Port Everglades cruise port, Hollywood Beaches, Hard Rock Casino and the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL). Day Room Stay website features a location search based on city or destination, hotel user reviews and rankings, and full booking and reservation interface. For more information on Day Room Stay, visit http://dayroomstay.com/ or follow the booking site on Facebook, Twitter and Google+. Day Room Stay currently serves participating hotels in the South Florida market, with plans to expand nationally.
Eze Castle Integration, Inc., a leading managed service provider to the investment management industry, today announced it was named the Best IT Consultancy Service in the HFM US Technology Awards 2018. The HFM US Technology Awards recognize technology providers that have exemplified world-class service and innovation in the hedge fund and investment industry over the past 12 months.

Eze Castle has also been named to the Elite 150 of CRNs 2018 Managed Service Provider 500. CRNs MSP 500 list shines a light on the most forward-thinking and innovative managed service providers. The MSP Elite 150 ranking recognizes large, data center-focused MSPs with a strong mix of on-premises and off-premises services.

We are honored to be awarded best IT consultancy service by the HFM US Technology Awards and recognized by CRN MSP 500 within the Elite 150. Our clients rely on Eze Castle Integration to be their trusted technology guide offering premier managed cloud solutions as well as cybersecurity and IT consulting, said Mark Coriaty, Chief Strategy Officer of Eze Castle Integration. Winning these awards is excellent validation of our efforts.

For more than 10 years, Eze Private Cloud services have delivered the high performance, applications and premier service demanded by the financial and investment industry worldwide. Eze Castles newest innovation, Eze Hybrid Cloud, was born of the companys years of private cloud experience, deep Microsoft partnership and award-winning service organization. Eze Hybrid Cloud draws layers of security and resiliency from the Eze Private Cloud, applications from the Microsoft Cloud and 24x7x365 expert support from the Eze global service team.

About Eze Castle Integration

Eze Castle Integration is the leading provider of managed IT services, complete cloud solutions and cybersecurity to more than 650 firms worldwide. The companys products and services include Cloud Services, Managed Cyber Security Solutions, Technology Consulting, Outsourced IT Support, Project & Technology Management, Professional Services, Telecommunications, Voice over IP, Business Continuity Planning and Disaster Recovery, Archiving, Storage and Colocation. Eze Castle Integration is headquartered in Boston and has offices in Chicago, Dallas, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, San Francisco, Singapore and Stamford.
TruBlue Total House Care President Greg Platz By giving back with TruBlue to the Rescue, we can help people in need as well as thank these communities for welcoming and supporting our local TruBlue businesses and franchisees. - TruBlue President Greg Platz

When Arthur Asesyan, the local franchise owner of TruBlue Total House Care of Mason, got a call from one of his regular clients, he was touched by the kindness of others. The clients neighbor, Tara Philhower, had just lost her husband to a brain tumor and the client wanted to pay for a few months of house cleaning.

My client said they wanted to pay for three months of house cleaning. They wanted to make sure, at least for a few months, there was one less thing for Tara and her children to worry about. I was so touched that I wanted to do something too, so TruBlue Total House Care of Mason donated an additional three months of cleaning, Asesyan said. I know its a small thing, but Im hoping that, if we can take that one stress off her shoulders, it will make her life a little easier right now.

Philhower was surprised by the gifts  both from her neighbor and from TruBlue  and said having the regular cleaning service has had a positive impact on their lives.

I try to keep my house pretty clean, but were busy and there are things that are hard to get to, like cleaning the glass doors and scrubbing the floors. Arthur and his team do a beautiful job and having them in come in once a month has been wonderful, Philhower said. I really appreciate what theyve done for me and my family.

In addition to the local efforts in Southwest Ohio, the TruBlue Total House Care Franchise System is in the process of rolling out a national philanthropic program called TruBlue to the Rescue. Through TruBlue to the Rescue, franchisees throughout the country will be encouraged to work with people in their community to give back to those in need  whether its through house cleaning, handyman repairs, lawn care or other TruBlue services. The details will be announced this Spring.

Our franchisees are already giving back to their communities in small ways throughout the year, so this is our way of better coordinating and taking those efforts to the next level for an even greater impact. By giving back with TruBlue to the Rescue, we can help people in need as well as thank these communities for welcoming and supporting our local TruBlue businesses and franchisees, TruBlue President Greg Platz said.

TruBlue Total House Care is the only national provider that specializes in complete house care, both inside and outside the home, for seniors and busy families. This property maintenance franchise based in Cincinnati, offers handyman services, maid and cleaning services, lawn care, emergency repairs, seasonal projects, a home watch program, a senior accessibility program and more. TruBlue offers affordable monthly care packages and assigns a Total House Care Manager to ensure each client enjoys hassle-free and carefree living. TruBlue also works with realtors, commercial clients and recently started offering a financing option for home repairs for qualified applicants.

Arthur Asesyan and his wife Ann launched TruBlue Total House Care of Mason in early 2015. The couple already owned a local restaurant, but they were looking for a more flexible business that would allow them serve in a different way. Their franchise serves Lebanon, Mason, South Lebanon, Middletown, Morrow, Monroe, Hamilton, Maineville and the surrounding areas. All TruBlue franchises are fully insured and bonded and all employees are background checked and certified.

To learn more about TruBlue Total House Care of Mason, call 513-814-399, email AAsesyan(at)TruBlueHouseCare(dot)com or visit http://www.TruBlueMason.com.

About TruBlue Total House Care

TruBlue Total House Care strives to provide affordable, worry-free living for seniors so they can age in place as well as provide hassle-free living for busy families so they can regain their sanity, free time and weekends. TruBlue provides full-service, convenient, trustworthy house care services on a year-round basis to fit any budget. . TruBlues services, covering both inside and outside the home, include maid services, household repairs, yard work, emergency repairs and seasonal work, all handled by a personal House Care Manger to ensure complete upkeep and total client satisfaction.
We encourage all of our students to invite their friends and family members to join us for this upcoming event.

Ecotech Institute today announced that it will host a special Bring-a-Friend Event on Wednesday, February 28 from 4:00 p.m. to 6 p.m. on campus located at 1400 S. Abilene St., Aurora, CO. A culmination of Ecotech Institute's month-long "We Love Our Students" campaign, the event will feature complimentary refreshments and special prizes.

WHAT: Bring-a-Friend student appreciation event at Ecotech Institute

WHEN: Wednesday, February 28, 2018 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. MST

WHERE: Ecotech Institute campus at 1400 S. Abilene St., Aurora, CO 80012

RSVP: For more information, contact Laura Leitner at 720.213.2601 ext. 4601.

"We are excited to announce this event dedicated to celebrating our student community" said Campus President Chris Gorrie. "Our students come from various backgrounds, but what they all have in common is an unwavering determination and passion to pursue their dreams. We encourage all of our students to invite their friends and family members to join us for this upcoming event."

The event will also allow attendees to explore a variety of programs and classes offered at Ecotech Institute, including Solar Energy Technology, Wind Energy Technology, Power Utility Technology, and Electronics Technology programs.

About Ecotech Institute

Ecotech Institute is a college solely focused on renewable energy education. Located in Aurora, Colo., Ecotech Institute offers an array of practical diploma programs that prepare students for careers in the energy industry, with an emphasis on the fields of renewable energy, sustainability and energy efficiency. Through flexible programs designed to meet diverse career goals, students get the hands-on training they need to be successful in these high-tech industries. Ecotech Institute is a division of Education Corporation of America. For more information about Ecotech Institute, visit ecotechinstitute.com or call (303)586-5290.
Kobie Marketing at the 2018 ADDY Awards Every day we strive to help our clients create differentiated experiences for their customers. Im thrilled that such a prestigious organization as the ADDYs recognized the outstanding work our team has done.

Kobie Marketing, a global leader in loyalty and customer experience, announced today that is has been recognized with five American Advertising Awards (ADDY) from the American Advertising Federation (AAF) Tampa Bay, including three gold awards and two silvers.

Kobies recognition spanned across multiple projects, clients and channels. The company received top honors in Integrated Branded Content Campaign, Data Driven Media and Tucker Digital Advertising Campaign. In addition, Kobie received the Silver ADDY for Out-of-Home & Ambient Media Event as well as Cross-Platform Online/Interactive Campaign.

Every day we strive to help our clients create differentiated experiences for their customers, stated Ingrid Lindberg, president of Kobie Marketing. Im thrilled that such a prestigious organization as the ADDYs recognized the outstanding work our team has done.

This body of work represents projects that appeared between January and December 2017 and is a combined effort of skills and capabilities including creative direction, copywriting, art direction, front end development, interactive UX/UI design, marketing and engagement strategy, project management and account coordination.

The first two months of 2018 have already been significant for Kobie. The ADDY Award wins come on the heels of a significant addition to Kobies c-suite, Disney veteran Larry Roos as Chief Information Officer. Next week, Chief Strategy Officer Dave Andreadakis will take the eTail West stage to discuss retail customer loyalty.

To learn more about Kobies services, click here.

About Kobie Marketing

Kobie Marketing is a loyalty marketing company that designs, enables and optimizes customer experiences for many of the worlds most successful brands. Kobie believe in building relationships by deepening the emotional and behavioral connections brands have with their customers. Their integrated and innovative loyalty solutions deliver the most impactful results for their clients bottom line. To learn more, visit kobie.com.

About the ADDY Awards With over 60,000 entries annually, the ADDY Awards are the world's largest and arguably toughest advertising competition. The ADDY Awards represent the true spirit of creative excellence by recognizing all forms of advertising from media of all types, creative by all sizes and entrants of all levels from anywhere in the world. The American Advertising Federation, a not-for-profit industry association conducts the ADDY Awards through its 200 member advertising clubs and 15 districts. It is the only creative awards program administered by the advertising industry for the industry aaf.org.
Dr. Nadine Burke Harris We are fortunate to have Dr. Harris visiting our campus to talk about her book and research on the powerful effects of childhood adversity."

Hanna Institute, a leading provider of trauma-informed care training in Northern California, today announced that Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, founder and CEO of the Center for Youth Wellness, will present at the Institutes March 8th Networking Breakfast on the campus of Hanna Boys Center. Dr. Burke Harris will speak about her first book, The Deepest Well: Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Adversity, an Amazon Best Seller and People Magazine "Book of the Week." The event is free and open to the public.

In The Deepest Well, Dr. Burke Harris takes readers along on a journey of discovery, from national research labs to her pediatric practice in San Francisco. The book represents important hope for preventing lifelong illness for individuals suffering from the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and those who care about them. Research from Dr. Harris indicates that ACEs deeply impact the human body, changing biological systems with effects that can last a lifetime.

In order to effectively prevent and treat serious health conditions like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and asthma, we need to understand what is causing them, said Dr. Burke Harris. And the science around toxic stress is telling us that for many people it starts in childhood. While I believe that it is critical that pediatricians understand and screen for ACEs in a primary care setting, enough kids had been sent to my clinic by teachers requesting a diagnosis of ADHD and medications that I knew that the doctors office wasnt the only place that needed fundamental understanding of toxic stress.

We are fortunate to have Dr. Burke Harris visiting our campus to talk about her book and research on the powerful effects of childhood adversity, said Brian Farragher, CEO of Hanna Boys Center. This discussion could not come at a better time for our community and our nation as we continue to deal with both private challenges and high profile events that will have lasting impacts on our children. We invite everyone who has an interest in the health of our children to attend.

Additional details about the event are available at https://www.hannacenter.org/event/hanna-institute-networking/. For questions or more information, contact Leslie Petersen at lpetersen(at)hannacenter(dot)org or 707.933.2555.

Author Bio

Nadine Burke Harris (born 1975, Vancouver, Canada) is an American pediatrician known for linking adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress with harmful effects to health later on in life. She is an advisory council member for Hillary Rodham Clinton's Clinton Foundation's Too Small to Fail campaign and the Founder and chief executive officer of the Center for Youth Wellness in San Francisco. Hailed as a pioneer in the treatment of toxic stress.

About Hanna Institute at Hanna Boys Center

The Hanna Institute is a leading provider of trauma-informed care training in Sonoma County and Northern California, raising awareness for child trauma and early adversity while promoting the resilience and recovery of children and adults. Hanna Institute supports parents and child-serving systems with resources that build resilience and hope. The institute also partners with leading trauma-informed care leaders such as International Trauma Center to provide training, events and outreach. For more information, visit http://www.hannainstitute.org.

About Hanna Boys Center

Since 1945, Hanna Boys Center has changed the lives of thousands of at-risk, motivated youth through faith, education and caring, helping them grow into productive members of society. Hanna exists to help at-risk teens overcome the effects of childhood adversityto become responsible, productive adults and realize their highest potential. We do this by providing a nurturing and therapeutic residential environment, a tailored educational model, and trained, caring adults who help kids create positive, permanent change in their lives. http://www.hannacenter.org

Contacts:

Chris Jones

Hanna Boys Center

707.933.2520

cjones(at)hannacenter(dot)org

Mary Kelly Persyn

Director

Hanna Institute

(617) 285-0842

mkpersyn(at)hannacenter(dot)org

Emily Tolos

Book Tour Contact

Center for Youth Wellness

etolos(at)centerforyouthwellness(dot)org

(415) 684-9520
This wearable technology provides wireless access to a distributed network of trained professionals.

The Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (MABVI) is the first employer in the nation to join the Aira Employer Network and offer Airas assistive technology service to its employees. MABVI and Aira are making a joint announcement to launch the initiative from Airas headquarters in La Jolla, CA with representatives from the National Federation of the Blind and American Foundation for the Blind. Using Aira smart glasses or smartphone cameras, MABVI blind and low vision employees will be able to stream live video of their workplace surroundings with Aira agents, on-demand. With this live view, trained Aira agents can provide real-time narrative of the workplace, and assist with job-related tasks.

Assistive platforms like Aira give our staff unprecedented improvements in productivity, says Sassy Outwater-Wright, Director of MABVI, speaking from the announcement event in La Jolla. By giving our blind and low vision employees this service, we aim to level the playing field for all staff, which, in the end, better serves the needs of our clients.

We are committed to expanding Aira in the workplace throughout the U.S. with the introduction of the Aira Employer Network, said Suman Kanuganti, Co-Founder and CEO of Aira. We are proud to announce its first member, MABVI, who has shown tremendous dedication to advancing work opportunities for people with vision loss.

According to the National Federation of the Blind, 62 percent of working-age adults who are blind are unemployed. With the aging of baby boomers, the number of Americans living with vision loss and blindness is expected to skyrocket. Most uncorrectable vision loss in this country is age related. More than 70% of the individuals becoming legally blind each year are seniors. By 2030, it is estimated that the population over the age of 65 will have doubled, and nearly 1 in 5 Americans will be over 65. As seniors become an increasingly larger portion of the population, the portion of individuals who are blind and visually impaired will grow correspondingly.

The benefits of these kinds of services, both directly and indirectly, have a tremendous positive impact on our entire society, says Barbara Salisbury, CEO of MAB Community Services, the umbrella organization that runs MABVI. We are showing that with the right support, people who are blind and visually impaired can do anything they set their minds to.

Through its Aira Employment Program, Aira is partnering with employers, schools, and public spaces to expand its service to meet this growing need. This wearable technology provides wireless access to a distributed network of trained professionals who assist users as needed. With assistive technologies like Aira, people with visual impairments can become more independent at home and in their communities, and better secure jobs by navigating employment websites, filling out application forms, building resumes, and traveling to prospective employers.

About MABVI

After more than a century, MABVI recognizes that vision loss doesnt have to mean the end of a full life. Their expertise lies in helping individuals adapt to vision loss and learn to live safely with limited or no vision. Their unique medical-social model combines vision rehabilitation with peer support, education, 1:1 volunteer assistance, and training on assistive technologies.

Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (MABVI) is the oldest social service organization in the country that serves adults and elders who are blind or visually impaired. They provide vision rehabilitation services and partner with community and medical groups to create high-impact, cost-effective services.

About Aira

Aira is AI + AR for the blind. Aira combines the power of Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality with wearable technologies, plus the interaction of its network of trained remote human assistants, to provide the 300 million blind and low vision people around the globe immediate access to information and assistance. Airas technology not only greatly enhances independence and mobility for those with vision loss, but also forms the basis of its endeavor to create smart cities that are accessible for all. Learn more at aira.io.
Special counsel Robert Mueller's office is investigating efforts by White House senior adviser Jared Kushner to raise foreign financing for his family's company's real-estate project during the presidential transition, CNN reported Monday.

Kushner, who is also President Donald Trump's son-in-law, has faced intense scrutiny over his attendance at a Trump Tower meeting with a Russian lawyer during the campaign; his conversations with the Russian ambassador to the US and the CEO of a sanctioned Russian bank during the transition; and irregularities with his application for security clearance.

But CNN's latest report indicates that Mueller may be moving his investigation beyond just Kushner's Russia ties.

In particular, prosecutors have been raising questions about Kushner's recent attempts to secure financing for an office building located at 666 Fifth Avenue in New York City, which Kushner Companies originally purchased in 2007. 666 Fifth Avenue has been a debt burden since its purchase  at the time of the original purchase, Kushner Companies $1.75 billion in

During the presidential transition when Kushner was the Trump campaign's main contact for foreign governments and said he spoke with "over fifty contacts from over 15 countries" also allegedly spoke with Chinese investors to shore up financial backing for the building.

That included executives of Anbang Insurance, a company that's closely tied to the Chinese government  so much so, in fact, that Anbang's attempt to purchase a hotel near a US naval base in San Diego in 2016 was reportedly called off after US national-security officials voiced their opposition to it.

In addition to raising questions about Kushner's conversations with potential Chinese investors, Mueller's office has also asked about the senior adviser's contacts with a Qatari investor about the embattled property.

The special counsel's team has not yet contacted Kushner Companies about the matter, CNN reported.

Mueller's focus on Kushner's business dealings will likely anger the president, who has said in the past that the special counsel would be crossing "a red line" if he ventured into the Trump family's finances.

He later added that such a move by Mueller would be a "violation" of his mandate

When asked by The New York Times last year if he would fire Mueller for looking at his family's finances, Trump was noncommittal.
 The 26-year-old began riding horses at a young age, and has become a top equestrian.

 She reportedly has her eyes set on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

You might say that Jessica Springsteen was born to ride.

The only daughter and middle child of rock-and-roll legend Bruce and his wife Patti Scialfa  who are worth around $75 million, according to Forbes  has been riding horses from an early age.

Springsteen, her parents, her older brother Evan, and her younger brother Samuel moved from Los Angeles to New Jersey in the early 1990s. According to John D. Luerssen's book "Bruce Springsteen FAQ: All That's Left to Know about The Boss," the couple wanted to give their kids "a more normal life experience" away from the paparazzi.

As a result, the Springsteen kids partly grew up on an East Coast farm. Spingsteen developed an interest in horseback riding, and the rest is history.

Here's a look at the life of Jessica Springsteen:

The family of the future equestrian settled down on a 300-acre estate dubbed Stone Hill Farm in the appropriately-named Colts Neck Township, New Jersey. Springsteen got her first pony at the age of six, and the family kept horses, as well as goats, chickens, pigs, and two "violent" ostriches.

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Springsteen's mom Patti Scialfa had always had an interest in horseback riding. She began taking lessons, and so did 5-year-old Springsteen.

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Springsteen attended the Ranney School in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, and graduated from Duke University, where she majored in psychology, in 2014.

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After college, she began to find success at major competitions, serving as an alternate for the 2012 US Olympics team at the age of 20. Springsteen won the American Gold Cup in 2014, and won a five-star Grand Prix jumping competition in 2016.

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As a kid, Springsteen would sometimes tag along with her parents while they were on tour. Now, the roles have largely flipped. "I'm incredibly lucky to have had them supporting my career for so many years," she told Noelle Floyd.

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Springsteen's rocker father even purchased a house in Wellington, Florida  the equestrian capital of the US.

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Springsteen also finds support in her polo-playing boyfriend Nic Roldan. She told Hola TV that it's nice to date someone "that does the same thing" because they "can really understand each other."

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She also takes the time to travel. Photos of her journeys to faraway places like Cannes, Barcelona, and Shanghai dot her Instagram.

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The United States Equestrian Federation now ranks Springsteen as the ninth-best show jumper in the country. Since 2010, she's won $1,255,443 in prize money.

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She also competes against other top show jumpers with famous connections, like Steve Jobs' daughter Eve Jobs, Bill Gates' daughter Jennifer, Michael Bloomberg's daughter Georgina, and Steven Spielberg's daughter Destry.

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Springsteen's best advice to young horseback riders is to not be "so hard on yourself." "You have to be confident and you have to know that you can compete against the best of them," she told Noelle Floyd.

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Springsteen's career hasn't solely been about horseback riding, though. She's been an ambassador for Gucci and Polo Ralph Lauren, too.

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And she's an animal welfare advocate and proud owner of rescue dogs. In 2014, she called on New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to sign legislation combatting puppy mills, as someone who had "adopted rescue dogs since childhood."

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So what's next for Springsteen? In 2016, she told Equnews that her focus was on the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

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And, Springsteen told CNN she'd continue to be grateful about getting to do what she loves every day: "I love working with horses, and I can't imagine not having them in my life."
Alhaji Yakubu said, "There is a lot of money in the cultivation of wee, and, so, the government must consider legalising its cultivation. We can grow wee to finance free SHS, it is better than going for loans to finance the programme.

Speaking on Accra FM, Alhaji Yakubu said he thinks the government has to emulate countries that have legalized the sale of indian hemp.

He contends that, "Research has shown that Ghana is the number one cultivator of wee in Africa and third in the whole world, and, so, we cannot pretend that the cultivation is not going on. The point is the government must legalise the cultivation and properly regulate it because other countries have done so and are benefiting from it.
He said the office of the Special Prosecutor will be provided with the names of celebrities and journalists who illegally acquired state cars from the Mahama administration and be prosecuted.

According to him, even though government has gain access to the actor's alleged stolen vehicle, he will face Martin Amidu for questions.

READ MORE: John Dumelo faces prosecution for allegedly stealing state vehicle

Speaking on Accra-based Neat FM, Odeneho Nana Oppong said "We now have enough evidence of his illegal acquisition of the cars. John Dumelo together with other journalists will face the Special Prosecutor."

It would be recalled that the 33-year-old sent one of the cars, black V8 Toyota Land Cruiser with registration number GE 8118-16 to a workshop in Abelempke, Accra for total rebranding when National Security Operatives pounced on it.

READ MORE: Social media trolls John Dumelo after government cars are collected from him

The vehicle is said to be one of the 200 vehicles the presidency said are missing.

According to reports, one of the vehicles is a Toyota Land Cruiser V8.

READ ALSO: John Dumelo allegedly gave out government car to his girlfriend
Africanfeeds.com reported that several other people sustained various degrees of injuries, while about seven houses got buried under the tall heap of garbage.

Officials reportedly said the heap of garbage distorted at around 01:00 GMT in Hulene neighbourhood, a rural community located 10 km away from the East African countrys capital, Maputo.

Government sources are reported to have said that the affected houses were among those built illegally at unauthorized places and owners had been asked to relocate, but they remained recalcitrant.

Despedida Rita who is a councillor for Ka Mavota Municipal District is quoted as confirming that Up to now 17 dead bodies were recovered. We fear more might be unaccounted for. So we will keep searching for bodies buried underneath the garbage pile.
45-year-old Chenchu Reddy whose farm is located in a village in Indias Nellore district in the southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh, placed the poster of Canadian-born Indian-American porn-star-turned-Bollywood-actor Sunny Leone, posing in a bikini at a vantage point which he said has achieved his aim of warding off people who might want to steal the cauliflower and cabbage crops.

Also on the poster reads an inscription written in local Telegu language, Hey, dont cry or feel jealous of me!

Explaining the aim behind the choice of nothing but the image of a porn star as scarecrow, Reddy is quoted by Hindustan Times as saying, This year, I have a good crop on 10 acres. This has been attracting unnecessary attention of villagers and passersby.
Reports say about 17 people lost their lives and more than fifty were injured in the attack.

According to Unilad.co.uk, the lawmaker was of the view that, in the era of unexpected attacks on schools, it had become imperative that a law is passed to enable teachers and administrators receive both training and authorisation carry hidden weapons while in school, for protection.

Will Ainsworth is quoted as saying, Our children are sitting ducks in gun-free schools and as the parent of three public school students, I believe we must act now in order to prevent another tragedy.

With roughly two-thirds of the regular session remaining, theres ample time to research, introduce, pass and enact this much-needed and potentially life-saving legislation.

They wanted to know what we could do

More gun control will not stop someone who is intent upon inflicting harm in our schools, but someone who is properly trained and armed with the right equipment certainly can.

It is my hope that passage of this legislation can be fast-tracked once it has been introduced.
A report by Starrfmonline.com indicated that the convict, Owusu Ansah was handed a 4-year jail term about two years ago for stealing, and he has been appealing the sentence.

Reports say the judge was so surprised that he did not mince his words when he described the prisoner as stupid in open court.

READ MORE: Prisoner escapes after replacing himself with identical twin brother who had brought him food

Starrfmonline.com said the said judge is known for giving convicts the opportunity to recite the Lords Prayer or the national anthem in order to be freed from prison and December 21 was no exception.

The high court presided over by Justice Wilson, reduced jail term from 4 years to 3 months, according to adomonline.com.
Ghana FX review

REVIEW TYPE

Online trading

REVIEW

Someone who engages in online trading like

Platforms such as ghanafx.com which serve as a hub with multiple tools for the trader. Online trading platforms are open to the public and anyone who wishes to trade can use them to try and make money. A wide variety of products is provided by internet based brokers. Products such as Forex, Commodities, Equities, Mutual funds, Shares and Indices. Forex trading has gained popularity over other financial products such as buying and selling commodities like gold and silver. So, is GhanaFX good for you or you should stay away from it?

Ghana FX is an internet based broker based in African owned by GFX Brokers Limited. Through their online platform, their clients have access to trade in over 50 Currency pairs, Oil, Stock indices from around the world, Gold and Silver. An independent broker committed to serving the needs of the African trader. They are regulated by the local Securities and Exchange Commission of Ghana.

READ ALSO: uniCredit and the story of microfinance in Ghana

Before you open an account on GhanaFX, they have packages suited for your level of expertise. The first group of people are called Explorers. These are beginners who need complete guidance to kick-off the learning process in the financial market. A basic and simple interface with helpful content to ease them into the world of trading. The next groups are the Learners. These are people who know the basics but would like to improve upon their financial knowledge. The use of free practice account to boost learning and zero risk. We then move on to the last group known as Pro Trader. GhanaFX provides this group of people with access to real market prices from multiple liquidity providers to trade on. Gives you all the leverage to manage your own account and put your strategies to test

Online forex trading has mutual benefits for both the trader and the broker. To boost trading over online platforms, brokers provide lower commissions on trades placed online as an incentive for people. As opposed to trades placed over the phone. These lower fees have also make the financial market accessible to all, as a lot of people were unable to afford the services of a personal advisor/broker. Brokers also benefit from saving cost which could have been invested into human representatives. So as the trades are dealt online fewer workers are needed. The speed at which an online trade is processed is also a welcomed advantage. Because there is no need for paper documents to be filed, copied and entered into electronic format as they were initial entered as such.

How does an online trading work? When a trade is placed online, the order is place in a data base. The database searches all the market exchange that trades in the investors preferred currency for the best price. The match with the best price is made with a seller. A confirmation is then sent to both the buyer and sellers brokers.

It is also the responsibility of a trader to conduct some checks on broker and online platform before opening an online trading account. The risk of you not being paid by your broker (known as counterparty risk) is very possible. The Securities and Exchange Commission is one of the agencies in dedicated monitor the financial service sector in Ghana. This agency requires brokers to keep their clients deposits in segregated accounts. Segregated accounts are special accounts which cannot be accessed freely, therefore preventing your broker from stealing your money. In essence your funds are relatively secure at GhanaFX.

RATING

Trading at GhanaFX should pose no problem once you are aware of the risks involved in online trading. You might make profit, break even or lose everything. Due to the unpredictable nature of the markets, past performance is not reflective of future results.

If you are looking to make some money through the exchange markets, I recommend GhanaFX as your broker. 7/10

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According to myjoyonline.com, the number of students who have failed completely and would have to repeat the entire course afresh is 206, while 177 students have been referred in one or two papers.

This mass failure has occurred as parliament is in the process of legalizing the Entrance Exams at the Ghana School of Law which has become a matter of controversy.

READ MORE: 797 failed law students threaten court action

While the General legal council maintains that the exams are meant to screen student to ensure high standard in the law profession, some are of the view that it is illegal. A US-based Ghanaian lawyer, Professor Kweku Asare is one of the vocal critics of the Entrance Exams at the Ghana Law School.

Meanwhile, there is currently a Legislative Instrument in Parliament going through a 21-day maturation period after which it becomes law, making it legal for the law school to continue conducting the Entrance Exams, unless two-thirds majority of parliament votes against the LI.
However, the ruling that saw him handed a three-year jail term has been now quashed following an appeal by his lawyers.

A court, presided over Justice Kofi Dogu, said the trial judge at the juvenile court erred in demanding a social enquiry report only after sentencing the accused, although it is required by law to do so before sentencing.

The court upheld claims by lawyers of the accused that the trial judge of the Juvenile court that first adjudicated the matter lacked jurisdiction.

The case has subsequently been quashed on grounds that here had been a miscarriage of justice because the Juvenile Court delivered a verdict without a social enquiry report.

In September 2017, the accused, then 16-years-old, was charged with manslaughter by the Accra Juvenile court for shooting his colleague in the abdomen.

The incident, which took place seven months prior, occurred after the teenager went in for his fathers gun, which was under a bed with the intention of firing shots into the air.

However, it went all wrong after the gun ended up killing his friend, Lily Donkor, a third-year student also of the Achimota Senior High school.

The accused explained that his actions were not intentional, saying all he intended to do was to fire the gun into the air.
In a statement signed by the duty forecaster, Raphael Boakye, the agency said: "A Rainstorm observed on the south-eastern border of the country is expected to move west to affect the Eastern Coast this morning, and further move west to affect the Central and Western Coasts later in the day. The storm is expected to be preceded by moderate winds."
Out of the total number of accidents recorded 12,166 sustained critical and minor injuries.

Chief Executive Officer of the National Road Safety Commission, May Obiri Yeboah addressing the press said, 180 persons lost their lives in January 2018, an increase of 14.3% from the same period in 2017.

She said over 1,181 people also sustained injuries in various accidents since the beginning of 2018.

The regional breakdown of persons killed from highest to lowest is Eastern  374; Ashanti  335; Accra  296; Brong Ahafo  253; Central  193; Northern  136; Tema  125; Western  125; Volta  120; Upper West  61; and Upper East  58.

The regional breakdown of pedestrian knockdownsare Accra  1,196; Tema  200; Eastern  404; Central  307; Western  161; Ashanti  652; Volta  150; Northern  47; Upper West  16; Upper East  29; and Brong Ahafo  138.

For the regional breakdown of pedestrians killed, the figures are Accra  238; Tema  61; Eastern  131; Central  91; Western  57; Ashanti  129; Volta  49; Northern  37; Upper West  eight; Upper East  12; and Brong Ahafo  66.

Meanwhile, Accra topped the regional breakdown of motor vehicle accidents with 8,893; Ashanti  3,551; Eastern  1,724; Tema  1,510; Central  1,422; Volta  823; Western  781; Brong Ahafo  722; Northern  467; Upper East  330; and Upper West  221.

Accident records in 2013 and 2014

In 2013, the Commission recorded 14,390 road crashes involving 22,208 vehicles, killing 2,095 people and injuring 12,655 people, recording a slight decrease compared with 2012.
The protesting nurses numbering about 200 have been picketing at the Ministry of Health in Accra since yesterday.

READ ALSO: Ankaful nurses strike again

However, they were forcefully ejected from the Ministry's premises by the police yesterday evening. They claim they police used force and fired tear gas at them.

The nurses who completed their studies in 2016 say they have held several meetings with the Minister for health with a view to address their concerns but to no avail.

Narrating their clash with the police, the President of the unemployed nurses, Samuel Asante said, "They asked us to move and we told them that we are not moving until our concerns are addressed. And they sprayed teargas in the air to get us to move."

READ ALSO: 4000 medical practitioners to be recruited
The event will spark new thinking on how to achieve Shared Prosperity and Common Good in Commonwealth Africa and how Africas growing youth population can transform the continent leveraging on their relationship with the commonwealth family of nations.

Organised by the Commonwealth Africa Initiative (CAFI) and supported by The Ghana Society, the three-day event kicks off on Commonwealth Day (12th March) - under the theme 'Common Good'.

The Summit aims to spark new thinking on how to promote collective action, achieve shared prosperity and common good for Africans.

Through a series of discussions the event will encourage dialogue on how to strategies and mobilise valuable African resources that are critical to shaping the continents emerging economies. The 5th in its annual series, the 2018 Commonwealth Africa Summit themed Common Good will have as Keynote Speaker former President John Dramani Mahama, Amina J Mohammed (UN Deputy Secretary General rep), Ashish Thakkar (founder of Mara Group and Mara Foundation, and co-founder of Atlas Mara).

The event, usually hosted in the past as part of activities to celebrate the Commonwealth Week in London, is organised by the Commonwealth Africa Initiative to provide a veritable platform for the generation of new ideas, trade agreements, business relationships and investments.

Under the theme: Common Good, the summit conversations seeks to promote the benefits and interests of all through improved collective action for the common good of humanity within and outside the commonwealth.

The Commonwealth Africa Summit provides an opportunity not just to contribute to re-imagining what the continent might be, but an opportunity to network, strategies and mobilise valuable resources so as to bring the Africa Dream to fruition.
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He was arrested together with with three persons for robbing the party's New Juaben South Constituency Secretary, Isaac Agyabeng.

The suspect, Obeng Manu doubles as the Assembly Member for the Koforidua Nsukwao electoral area.

Three suspects; Tanko, Wadoski, and Mafia, including Obeng Manu are currently in police custody assisting police investigations.

Obeng Manu and one Justice Peter Afful, alias Obo Yanki did not partake in the robbery but reportedly contracted the two other suspected robbers, and actually drove them to the residence of the Constituency Secretary at Koforidua to commit the crime.

According to the Eastern Regional police, the suspected robbers allegedly forced their way into the house, but unfortunately met the absence of the constituency secretary, but, his personal aide, Pious Tevi, fell victim to the attack.

The police said they blindfolded him and ransacked the room.

In the end, they made away with the NPP's constituency album and register intended for the partys upcoming constituency elections as well as an amount of GH4000.

According to the New Juaben Municipal Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Cosmos Alan Anyan, the robbers also stole four mobile phones among other things.

"This morning [Monday], at about 1:00 am, we received a report to the effect that one Pious Tevi who is an aide to the NPP constituency secretary, Isaac Agyabeng, was in Agyabengs residence when four armed men holding various implements, forcibly entered the room, they assaulted him, tied him up, blindfolded him and ransacked the room," he added.

"They took away, according to him, GHc4, 000 belonging to the constituency secretary, four mobile phones, a bag containing some personal documents and envelopes containing albums and other electoral materials meant for the impending constituency elections," the Police Commander said.

The Police Commander said the suspects confessed that they charged GHc1, 000 from Obeng Manu and Justice Afful, but the amount was reduced to GHc800 after negotiation.

Superintendent Anyan noted that the robbers also confessed receiving GH4000 on Sunday, February 18, 2018, with an assurance of getting the remaining amount after the work was done.

"They are still in custody and probably we will arraign them for robbery," Superintendent Anyan added.
Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Teddy Roosevelt respectively took the top four spots in the Boise State University Presidential Greatness Survey.

While Trump is the 45th President, one of his predecessors, Grover Cleveland, was elected two separate times, making him the 22nd and 24th President, who ranked as 24th on the survey.

Their rankings showed that Trump came in last place with an average score of 12.34.

Coming in first place, according to the survey, is Abraham Lincoln, who scored an average of 95.03 between both Democrats and Republicans surveyed while George Washington got a rating of 92.59.

Just over 57 per cent of those polled identified as Democrats while 13 per cent were Republican and 27 per cent were Independents.

The top seven presidents that have remained the same since the poll was last conducted in 2014: Lincoln, Washington, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson, Harry Truman, and Dwight D. Eisenhower.

In the latest round of survey, former president Barack Obama moved up in the rankings to 8th best president, compared to 18th he ranked in the 2014 survey.

Even Republican respondents rated Trump as the fourth worst president  40th of 44th while they placed Obama as the 16th.

Ronald Reagan, who also moved up from his previous ranking, trailed behind Obama in 9th place.

Bearing in mind that this was Trumps first year in office, the survey takers asked respondents to grade him on an A-F scale.

He was graded on the subjects: his presidency overall, legislative accomplishments, foreign policy leadership, embodying institutional norms, and communicating with the public.

Overall, scholars gave him failing grades  three Fs and two Ds  while he scored highest on communicating with the public and lowest on embodying institutional norms.

However, self-identifying Republicans graded the 45th president higher  three Ds and two Cs.

The higher marks awarded Trump were in communicating with the public and foreign policy leadership.

Trump was rated worse than President Richard Nixon, who quit under pressure from the Watergate scandal, ranking as 33rd.

Trump was also rated below William Henry Harrison who died after only a month in office  from March 4, 1841 to April 4, 1841.

Even Warren Harding, whose presidency was afflicted by the Teapot Dome corruption scandal and his dalliances with mistresses, rated higher than Trump at 39th.

Trump also won the most polarising President, ahead of Andrew Jackson who won the second position.
Election analysts said that the courts new map could result in Democrats picking up three or four more seats, based on 2016 voting patterns. Pennsylvania is a perennial battleground in statewide elections, with voters supporting the two parties in roughly equal numbers. Critics have pointed to the current imbalance in House seats to highlight the unfairness of the current map, which was drawn in 2011 by Republicans.

Republicans in the state Legislature said they would challenge the new maps in federal court.

Implementation of this map would create a constitutional crisis where the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is usurping the authority of the legislative and executive branches, the leaders of the state Senate, Joe Scarnati, and the House, Mike Turzai, said in a statement. This map illustrates that the definition of fair is simply code for a desire to elect more Democrats.

But some election law experts said Republicans legal options were narrow. Earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to block the remapping process.

The Pennsylvania high courts actions have unfolded in a monthslong challenge to the existing congressional maps begun by the League of Women Voters. The court based its rulings on the state Constitution. The U.S. Supreme Court typically respects such decisions.

Separately, the U.S. Supreme Court is considering two challenges to partisan gerrymandering in Wisconsin and Maryland. Those cases were brought through federal courts, unlike in Pennsylvania. A major decision is expected later this year.

In drawing its maps  in part with the advice of a Stanford law professor, Nathaniel Persily, known for his expertise in legislative districting  the Pennsylvania Supreme Court rejected two competing maps drawn by Republicans and Democrats. The court said that unlike the offerings from partisan mapmakers, the districts it drew follow the traditional redistricting criteria of compactness, contiguity, equality of population, and respect for the integrity of political subdivisions.

The courts maps split only 13 counties, compared with 28 counties that are divided under the maps currently in use, which were drawn in 2011 by Republicans in the Legislature. One of the current House districts is so tortured in its shape it earned the nickname Goofy Kicking Donald Duck.

Gov. Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania, a Democrat, who had exercised his power to veto a map offered by Republican lawmakers, welcomed the districts drawn by the court.

I applaud the court for their decision and I respect their effort to remedy Pennsylvanias unfair and unequal congressional elections, Wolf said in a statement.

Election law experts said the new map created an equal number of districts favoring Democrats and Republicans. It appears to be tilted toward neither political party, Michael McDonald, an associate professor of political science at the University of Florida, said. It looks more like a 9-to-9 division of the state.

David Wasserman, the House of Representatives editor of the Cook Political Report, wrote on Twitter that the map had not simply undone the Republican gerrymander. It also took into account the fact that Democrats tend to cluster in cities and college towns, actively helping Dems compensate for their natural geographic disadvantage.

Some Republican incumbents instantly found themselves on shakier ground. Rep. Ryan Costellos 6th District, which had been Republican-leaning territory in southeastern Pennsylvania, has morphed into a Democratic-leaning district, Wasserman wrote.

And some open seats, like those currently held by the retiring Republicans Charlie Dent and Patrick Meehan, are now more likely to end up in Democratic hands, Wasserman said.

The question now is whether the map, issued in a 4-3 opinion that split along partisan lines, will hold.

McDonald said opponents of the map have two potential legal avenues, although he described both as long shots. They could argue that under the Voting Rights Act the new map is unfair to minority candidates, particularly in the Philadelphia area  an argument that McDonald said would take a long timeto prove, if it were possible at all.

Or, he said, Republicans could challenge the map under the Elections Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which empowers state legislatures to set the rules for congressional elections.

This is an argument Republicans already brought to the Supreme Court, which rejected it. McDonald said challengers could seek to make the same case before a sympathetic federal judge, which would buy them time.

Delay actually works in the favor of the Republicans, McDonald said. They might be able to get the map held off till 2020.

Rick Hasen, a professor of law and political science at the University of California at Irvine, was also skeptical that there are plausible legal avenues for Republicans.

It is hard to see where Republicans go from here to successfully fight these maps, Hasen wrote on his blog.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Jones said: "It may not be the job that pays N500,000 per month, but nobody will be idle. There is no part of Nigeria you get that lacks tourist attractions. There is no place in Nigeria that does not have one form of tourism or the other. The federal government needs to assist in creating enabling environment, most especially security and infrastructure and allow people to come in and invest.

"But it won't be a good ideal for government to run it, rather, it should allow the private sector to be fully involved, because the federal government cannot run it well. The government can take share from it but they shouldn't be solely in charge.

Jones also explained that "There is place in Kabba village called 'Obangogo' every year we climb the mountain. Look at Olumo rock in Abeokuta. After the state government refurbished it and installed elevator there so that if you cannot climb, you enter the lift to go up. You pay money for that. Somebody put a fast food and other stuff, there, and they are earning a good income. It got their people employed.
According to her earlier post, the embattled driver, Henry Nnaemeka, has been arrested and would be facing prosecution very soon.

ALSO READ: Embattled Taxify driver is suing actress for N5m

However, Instablog9ja has shared video proof that Nnaemeka was not arrested and is going about his normal business.

In the video clip, a female voice can be heard in the background asking in this is the same person who was allegedly arrested.

Nnaemeka goes on to clarify that he is not in police custody while adding that "God is my strength."

Watch the clip below:

Dorcas Shola Fapson and the Taxify rape saga

On Tuesday, February 20, Dorcas Shola-Fapson revealed that the Taxify driver who allegedly assaulted her has been arrested and would be facing prosecution.

The beautiful actress who has been missing in action on social media since the incident posted on her Instagram page on Tuesday, February 20, 2018, a message where she talked about her ordeal.

A serious incident like this should never have become a war of class-pretty popular girl with foreign accent vs poor regular taxi driver. It should be based on TRUTH. We are all human regardless of social status. After going on the run Mr. Henry has been caught and arrested-see you in court, she wrote.

Dorcas Shola-Fapsons alleged rape claim

It would be recalled that on Thursday, January 25, 2018, Dorcas Shola-Fapson raised an alarm over what she called an alleged rape and molestation from a Taxify driver.

ALSO READ: All you need to know about the actress

According to the multi-talented OAP and actress, the driver of the cab, reportedly locked her in the car and drove her to a random house and tried to force her out of the car. Luckily for her, she had pepper spray with her which she emptied into his eyes.

Taxify driver tells his own side of the story

The driver in the center of the drama, Herny Nnaemeka in his own statement, also told his own side of the story. According to Henry, he was surprised when he woke up to calls from family and friends who were astonished to find his name on blogs and on social media and being addressed as a rapist.

Henry claims that he got a request from Ibrahim EletuWay which was close to where he resides. On getting there he picked Dorcas Shola-Fapson from the said location but found out there wasn't a destination. He then went on to ask her for the location which she didn't give. He also went to explain that she refused to tell him the exact location and upon his insistence, for the location she yelled at him.

ALSO READ:Uche Ogbodo speaks on how she was physically assaulted

Taxify's press statement

Taxify however, released a press statement where they said they have petitioned the Special Investigation Bureau and the Nigeria Police Force to persecute the driver in question.
Two among the deceased Aisha, 2, and Habiba, 4, were in a cheerful before the incident occurred according to their father identified as Baba Ilorin, who got the news concerning the death of his children after a visit to the hospital.

Though a sad event, the grieving dad considers the incident as a sad happening ordained by God in whom he has placed his faith.

They were picked up from school by their mother. However, they got missing shortly before the Jumaat prayer.

"My wife notified me on phone that they were missing. My wife and neighbours searched everywhere for the children, but could not find them.

"When I returned home, I was informed that four children were found in a vehicle and that three of them were dead.

"On getting to the hospital, I discovered that two of the deceased were Aisha and Habiba. That is what God destined for me and I accept it in good faith," Baba Ilorin revealed in a report.

DSP Magaji Musa Majia, the Police Public Relations Officer for Kano State, disclosed that the tragedy occurred in Sabon-Gari. He mentioned that the victims locked themselves in the vehicle which had been parked on a spot over a long period after gaining access.

Three of the girls reportedly died as a result of poor ventilation. The fourth victim has been confined to a hospital after falling into a state of coma.

Dad kills own daughter while driving car

A father in Katsina state is not likely to get over the shock that has welcomed a human error that has resulted in the death of his daughter who was crushed by his vehicle.

Abdullahi Darma, a Special Assistant on Religious Affairs to Katsina State governor, Aminu Masari has crushed daughter to death with his car in a freak accident.

ALSO READ: Truck with incomplete tyres is a thin line between life and death

The incident occurred on Friday, February 17, 2018, Punch News reports. The government official was reportedly reversing his vehicle when tragedy struck. The toddler who was obscurely behind was killed instantly according to a family source who spoke to Punch.
The assassination attempt which took place on Lagos Island on January 23, led to the death of his P.A, Ganiyu Ayinla alias Pinero.

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.

Pulse earlier reported that one Adeola Williams, a self-confessed serial killer, confessed to several assassinations, claiming to have killed four people in recent times.

The confessions of a serial killer

Ade was arrested alongside a former chairman of National Union Road of Transport Workers (NURTW), Lagos state branch, Alhaji Akanni Olorunwa.

Punch reported 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 GaniyuAyinlaalias 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 and 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.

He 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

Police statement

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.
Instablog9ja shared the video on social media, noting that the incident took place in the Ikorodu area of Lagos state.

ALSO READ: Meet the woman that lifts objects with her vijayjay

Watch the video clip below:

Strange occurrences

Over time, people have come out to shock the world with what seems like superhuman abilities. The same ability that allows a man to lift a big stone with his teeth.

Just last month, another man was recorded lifting a power generator with his teeth, and yes they were intact after the feat.

The young man was captured in a video as he lifted a heavy power generator with his teeth.

This inspired loud cheers from his friends who were heard singing praises in the background as he displayed his unique strength. He was able to achieve the remarkable feat by biting down on a towel.

To prove that his ability was not a fluke, the unidentified subject took brief steps while carrying the generator which firmly aligned with his chest.

Do not try this at home

In 2017, Erman Delic, a five-year-old boy who allegedly possesses magnetic powers was discovered in the village of Malesici, located in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Delic became an internet star when a video footage of him with metal objects on his body circulated the online space.

A man believed to be a relative of the little Magneto was seen putting cutleries and coins on him, and they stuck like they would when placed on a magnet.

Doctors have however diagnosed that there is nothing wrong him.

ALSO READ:Readers say only a powerful Pastor can deliver Dami

He reportedly found his super powers while watching a television programme, Daily Mail News reports.

A nine-year-old boy, Mehmet Sumbul, from undefined also shares this kind of ability.
The victims who were accused of witchcraft are aged 13, 5, and 3 years old respectively have reportedly lost their parents. They suffered streaks of torture from their guardian who reportedly invited their uncle to beat them.

Scars displayed on their backs appear indelible signs of their troubled past.

The oldest among the trio defended her siblings refuting claims that they are witches. She remarked in a chat with Vanguard News the meagre daily meal available to them, which often comes after an intense labour.

We are not witches, our grandmother made us to confess what we are not. We dropped out of school in 2016 when our mother died; we also lost our father in 2014.

"We do not belong to any witchcraft world. We are normal children; she made us to sell sachet water before we can eat once a day.

"She is our grandmother, she normally brings people like Uncle Aniekan to punish us with hot machete and he flogged us with it after it had been heated up in fire. They will use it to flog us to confess that we were responsible for her sickness," the eldest child mentioned.

According to reports, Barrister James Ibor, a counsel for the Child Protection Network and Basic Rights Counsel Initiative, confirmed the comments offered by one of the abused children.

He explained that the grandmother who is dealing with a terminal illness had refused to continue a dosage of the anti-retroviral drugs recommended for her and had blamed her wards for her deteriorating health.

Superstitions are inspiring murder

In neighbouring Akwa Ibom State, Edem Okon, a 53-year-old man was hindered in an attempt to murder his son who reportedly tried to kill him in a dream.

The father who has two children living at the Childs Right and Rehabilitation Network (CRARN) in Eket visited the facility with an intention to slaughter one of the offspring.

This was confirmed by CRARN's head, Sam Itauma.

Okon came with the sole aim of killing one of his two sons under our care.

"His reason, being a dream he had in which his 6-year-old son, Elijah, purportedly came to stab him to death while he was sleeping in the night," says Itauma.

According to reports, the youngsters had declined to go home with him after an invitation.

ALSO READ: Yahoo boys who reportedly killed their grandmother for money rituals arrested in Edo State

They reportedly suspected Okon might be up to something devious. This provided good motivation to turn down a fresh attempt to get them some gifts at a grocery store.

Feeling the sharpness from the moments of rejection, a frustrated Okon took to aggression to make his thoughts known.
The move was introduced to stop the distribution of notes containing solved problems during a test, officials told the BBC News in a report.

This law is expected to take effect from Wednesday, February 21, 2018.

It is being enforced around the time when students aged 15 years old, estimated around a sum of 1.8 million of India's population, will be writing Class 10 exams.

According to the BBC, Bihar is notorious as a location where examination malpractice has thrived over a long period.

To ensure compliance to exam rules, students should anticipate a thorough search as they attempt to enter an examination hall.

In addition, a video camera will be installed onsite to aid monitoring. Anyone who fails to comply with the order to have their shoes and socks removed will be made to wait outside the exam room report says.

Is examination malpractice a reason for corruption in Nigeria?

Nigeria has dealt with a share of problems relating to examination malpractice which is closely linked with corruption according to Prof Ike Onyechere, the Founding Chairman, Exam Ethics Marshal International.

The academician who spoke at the 20th anniversary ceremony of the organisation in Calabar, Cross River State, in the year 2017, blamed poor quality in education on dishonesty while has created room for the menace to blossom.

Education is the source code and character of a nation, when the source code (fundamental) is corrupt, everything that comes from it will surely be corrupt.

We want to create a platform that can produce citizens, workforce and leaders with credible characters as well as the capacity to shun corruption and have the competence to deliver.

Anyone could fall victim of a product of exam malpractices at any given time, it could be a quack doctor, nurse or even an accountant who sorted his or her way out during school.

Education is seriously being challenged my examination malpractice and academic dishonesty," says Onyechere in a report compiled by Vanguard News.
The two young men were reportedly arrested while trying to steal goats in Nsukka, Enugu state, Instagblog9ja reports.

ALSO READ:Suspected thieves forced to walk the streets naked

Following their arrest, the two goat thieves paraded and branded thieves for their crime. Their identity was yet to be revealed as at the time of the report.

They are among the lucky few who survived being caught carrying out a crime, where many others were killed by angry mobs for far less.

Hunger in the land

Stealing has become a common occurrence in Nigeria since the economy crashed and there have been more reports of petty thefts amongst other things.

Unfortunately, these thefts have given rise to jungle justice from the same members of the public who are frustrated by their living situations.
While Emmanuel Nwude was selling a fake airport to a Brazilian bank for the same amount, Foutanga Babani Sissoko, a Malian playboy with a distinct swagger, scammed the Dubai Islamic Bank of 242 million dollars with nothing more than empty promises and the illusion of black magic.

Born in the village of Dabia, not far from Malis capital, Bamako, little is known of Sissoko's early life.

The part that matters and has made him a reference in lectures of international banking fraud begins in August 1995.

One day, Sissoko walks into the office of the Dubai Islamic Bank to request for a car loan.

The bank manager, Mohammed Ayoub, agreed and Sissoko invited him for dinner. Over a meal, the Malian told his Emirati friend that he had powers of black magic. If Ayoub would come back again with some cash, he would show him his powers.

Most Westerners see black magic or voodoo as an African thing. But in the middle east, such practices are a lot more familiar.

Islam is as much a religion as a way of life in these parts and it frowns on the belief in and practice of black magic as paganism. Yet, for Ayoub, the allure was too strong.

"Djinns, Black Magic and Money Doubling"

On his return, after an encounter with a stranger who warned him of the presence of a spirit - a djinn, Ayoub stepped into the magic room and put his money forward.

He said he saw lights and heard strange sounds-phenomena easily associated with the supernatural. By the time the hoopla died down, his money was doubled.

Ayoub was ecstatic. He had found a way to double the money. As manager of a bank with millions of dollars at his behest, he could make millions in profits.

ALSO READ: How Emmanuel Nwude sold an imaginary airport for 242 million dollars

At the centre of the events that would define this incident, greed would sit comfortably in a green robe.

He believed it was Black Magic  that Mr Sissoko could double the money, says Alan Fine, a Miami attorney the bank later asked to investigate the crime.

So he would send money to Mr Sissoko  the banks money  and he expected it to come back in double the amount.

Over the next 3 years, Ayoub sent money to over 180 of Sissokos accounts in different locations around the world.

In 1998, news began to filter that the bank was in a cashflow crisis. The bank denied it.

They called it a little difficulty that did not lead to any financial losses either in the banks investments or depositors accounts.

But this was not the case.

Dubai Islamic Bank would have gone into bankruptcy, but for the government who stepped in to save the bank.

By this time, Sissoko was far away.

From Dubai to New York

Ever the smooth talker, in 1995, he had set the other part of his elaborate scheme in motion.

He walked into Citibank one day, no appointment, met a teller and he ended up marrying her, says Alan Fine. And theres reason to believe she made his relationship with Citibank more comfortable, and he ended up opening an account there through which, from memory, Im just going to say more than $100m was wire transferred into the United States.

Dubai Islamic Bank would later bring a case against CitiBank, claiming that more than $151m was debited by Citibank from DIBs correspondent account without proper authorisation. The case was later dropped.

His money and his social skills endeared Sissoko to many women for a variety of reasons. But while his harem grew, Sissokos eyes were set not on female bodies, but on the skies.

With the banks money rolling in, Sissoko could fulfil his dream of opening an airline in his home country.

He bought a used Hawker-Siddeley 125 and a pair of old Boeing 727s.

This was the birth of Air Dabia, named after his village in Mali.

His biggest mistake came when he tried to buy two Huey helicopters dating from the Vietnam War, for reasons that did not quick match up.

Huey Helicopters can be fitted with gunships and they needed an export license to be taken out of the country. But instead of paying the fees, Sissokos associates attempted to bribe the customs agencies.

One thing led to another and he was caught in Geneva where he was opening another account.

After he was extradited to the US, things took a different and amusing turn.

Painting a positive image

First, it was at his bail hearing where the judge and members of the prosecution were shocked by the number of American diplomats willing to vouch for him.

Against the wishes of the US government, Sissoko was bailed for 20 million dollars.

Then, now in Miami, waiting for the outcome of his trial for bribery, Sissoko began to throw money at the people of Miami.

He bought Mercedes Benz and Jaguar cars for the members of the defence team.

On one visit to a jewellery store, Sissoko is said to have spent over half a million dollars.

He would come in and buy two three four cars at the same time, come back another week and buy two three four cars at the same time. It was just, the money was like wind, says car dealer Ronil Dufrene.

Sissoko already had a bevvy of wives and concubines but he set to adding more of Miamis finest to his harem.

When one high-school band needed money to travel to New York for a Thanksgiving Day parade, he gave 300,000 ($413,000).

All of this was to serve one purpose. Sissoko was desperate for good publicity and a positive image.

Soon enough, the Miami media noticed; in a story by the Miami Herald, he is estimated to have given away over 14 million dollars.

After pleading guilty to the charge, he was sentenced to 43 days in prison and a $250,000 fine  paid, of course, by the Dubai Islamic Bank, though without its knowledge.

After serving only half this sentence, he was given early release in return for a $1m payment to a homeless shelter. The rest he was meant to serve under house arrest in Mali.

Sissoko was welcomed like a celebrity when he returned home.

By this time, the Dubai Islamic Bank was certain that it had lost hundreds of millions of dollars.

After Sissoko stopped answering his calls, Ayoub confessed to a colleague, who asked how much was missing. Too ashamed to say, Ayoub wrote it on a scrap of paper  890 million dirhams, the equivalent of $242m (175m).

He was convicted of fraud and given three years in jail.

Sissoko, on the other hand, has lived in Mali since, as a free man. In his absence, a Dubai Court sentenced him to three years for money laundering but he will never serve a day of that time.

For 12 years, between 2002 and 2014, Sissoko was a member of parliament in Mali, which gave him immunity from prosecution.

Since then, the fact that Mali has no extradition treaty with the US, the UAE or any other country has been his saving grace.

The Dubai Islamic Bank, nonetheless, is still pursuing him through the courts.

There seems little hope in that course.

After a long intense search, Sissoko was found, now aged 70, in the town of Dabia where he was born.
Marvel's blockbuster 'Black Panther' has already raked in a stunning worldwide haul of $218 million to become the biggest February opener ever and the fifth biggest opening in the world.

Chadwick Boseman as the franchise's first African American superhero can only have helped persuade yet more fans to go and see it when he posed topless for the cover of Rolling Stone's March edition complete with rippling abs.

The 41-year-old Black Panther star, who showed off his magnificent physique, told the magazine about the symbolism of the film for the community as he reveals more about himself and his home life.

Read an excerpt from the interview below:

"Chad gave a hell of a performance," says Michael B. Jordan, who co-stars as his archnemesis, Killmonger. "I couldn't imagine anybody else."A few weeks before the movie opens, Boseman is trying to lay low, sipping peppermint tea at the hipster L.A. coffee shop where he used to come to write, back when he was an aspiring screenwriter freshly arrived from New York. He's in head-to-toe black  cardigan, T-shirt, chinos, socks  except for some suede Valentino sneakers and a beaded necklace of Pan-African red, gold and green. He's tall and lean, with long, elegant fingers and the knuckles of a boxer. (Coogler says they would sometimes spar on set to get amped up.) One of his strengths as an actor is a quiet, intense watchfulness, and he's the same in real life, taking in the world with a skeptical half-squint. ("I see everything," Boseman says.) When he does speak, he's invariably thoughtful and thorough. "You're saying I'm long-winded!" he says, laughing.In some ways, Boseman is a funny fit for a blockbuster action star. He's "90 percent" vegan, casually name-checks radical black intellectuals like Yosef Ben-Jochannan and Frantz Fanon, and says he gets anxious onstage or in front of crowds. ("Going on a talk show? Oh, my God. Nah.") But he also knows he's a conduit for something bigger: "I truly believe there's a truth that needs to enter the world at a particular time. And that's why people are excited about Panther.This is the time."

It's a watershed moment for African-Americans and Hollywood. The cast is a murderers' row of talent  in addition to Boseman and Jordan, there's Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker and several actors of immediate African descent, including Star Wars' Lupita Nyong'o (who grew up in Kenya), ''The Walking Dead's' Danai Gurira (who was raised in Zimbabwe) and Get Out's Daniel Kaluuya (whose parents immigrated to England from Uganda). And it's not just the first superhero movie with a predominantly black cast  it's the first with a black director, black writers, black costume and production designers, and a black executive producer. Community groups are renting out whole theaters to screen it; people are running crowd-funding campaigns to buy tickets for black kids who might not be able to see it otherwise.
The Dahomey Amazons are the only documented all female official frontline combat military unit in modern history. They were a sub-Saharan band of female warriors who left enemies and their European colonisers fleeing. The army went by other names, including Mino, meaning Our Mothers in the Fon language.

Protecting their king on the bloodiest of battlefields, they emerged as an elite fighting force in the Kingdom of Dahomey, the present-day Republic of Benin. Described as untouchable, sworn in as virgins, swift decapitation was their trademark.

Origin

King Houegbadja (645 to 1685), the third King of Dahomey, is said to have originally started the group which would become the Amazons as a corps of elephant hunters called the "Gbeto".

Houegbadja's son King Agaja (1708 to 1732) established a female bodyguard armed with muskets. According to tradition, Agaja developed the bodyguard into a militia and successfully used them in Dahomey's defeat of the neighbouring kingdom of Savi in 1727. The group of female warriors was referred to as Mino, meaning "Our Mothers" in the Fon language, by the male army of Dahomey. While European narratives refer to the women soldiers as "Amazons," they called themselves "Ahosi" (king's wives) or Mino (our mothers).

Recruitment

Girls were recruited and given weapons as young as eight-years-old, and while some women in society became soldiers voluntarily, others were also enrolled by husbands who complained of unruly wives they couldnt control.

Other accounts indicate that the Mino were recruited from among the king's wives of which there were often hundreds.

During their membership, they were not allowed to have children or be part of married life. Many of them were virgins. The regiment had a semi-sacred status, which was intertwined with the Fon belief in Vodoo. The Mino trained with intense physical exercise. They learnt survival skills and indifference to pain and death, storming acacia-thorn defences in military exercises and executing prisoners.

Serving in the Mino offered women the opportunity to "rise to positions of command and influence" in an environment structured for individual empowerment. The Mino were also wealthy and held high status.

Ruthlessness and insensitivity was prevalent amongst them

The women learnt survival skills, discipline and mercilessness. Insensitivity training was a key part of becoming a soldier for the King. One recruitment ceremony involved testing if potential soldiers were ruthless enough to throw bound human prisoners of war to their deaths from a fatal height.

A French delegation visiting Dahomey in 1880s reported witnessing an Amazon girl of about sixteen during training. The records note that she took three swings of the machete before completely removing the head of a prisoner. She wiped the blood from her sword and swallowed it. Her fellow Amazons screamed in frenzied approval. It was customary in the region as warriors of the time to return home with their heads and genitals of opponents.

It was a chance to escape lives of forced domestic drudgery. Serving in the army offered women the opportunity to rise to positions of command and influence, taking prominent roles in the Grand Council, debating the policy of the kingdom. They all had slaves too.

Stanley Alpern, the author of the only full-length English-language study of them, wrote when Amazons walked out of the palace, they were preceded by a slave girl carrying a bell. The sound told every male to get out of their path, retire a certain distance, and look the other way.

The last surviving Amazon of Dahomey died at the age of 100 in 1979, a woman named Nawi who was discovered living in a remote village. In a 1978 interview with a Beninese historian, she claimed to have fought the French in 1892.
The president will present an address at the opening of the state's maiden Anti-Corruption Summit which will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 21.

The theme of the summit is titled "Performance Based Governance: Transparency, Accountability and Social Value" and will be chaired by Alhaji Ahmed Joda.

President Buhari was welcomed at the airport on Tuesday by Adamawa State governor, Jibrilla Bindow; Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai; and Bauchi State governor, Mohammed Abubakar.

The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu and the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, are expected to make presentations at the summit.

Second working visit in one week

The president's visit to Adamawa is his second working visit away from Abuja in the space of 5 days.

He was a Special Guest of Honour at an induction ceremony of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in Kaduna Stateon Thursday, February 15, 2018.
The plane with registration number 5N-SRI was said to have overshot the runway and ended up in the bush.

The incident occurred on the night of Tuesday, February 20, 2018.

Passengers aboard the aircraft are being evacuated from a nearby bush in Omagwa neighborhood where the Port Harcourt International airport is located.

According to Emergency officials in the state, no casualties as at press time.

Confirming the incident on Twitter, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said it may have been caused by bad weather.

FAAN also said all passengers were safely evacuated.

Dana Crashes

On February 7, 2018, the exit door of a Dana aircraft allegedly fell off upon landing at the Abuja airport.

According to a passenger, who recounted the ordeal on Twitter, the door had been rattling throughout the flight and eventually pulled off as the plane was taxing at the airport.

"Flew Dana. Exit door was unstable throughout the flight. As we touched down, it fell off. Scary stuff." the passenger identified as Ola Brown had tweeted via his handle - @NaijaFlyingDr.

Following the public condemnation that Brown's tweet generated, Dana responded in a press statement to clarify the reports, saying the emergency door could not have fallen off if it had not been opened by a passenger.

The airline is often criticised for the poor maintenance of its planes, which has caused the death of many passengers.

ALSO READ: 66 passengers dead as plane crashes in Iran

In June 2012, the airline's MD 83 jet navigating from Abuja crashed into a Lagos community killing all 153 passengers on board.

The aircraft, marked 5N-RAM, disappeared from the radar scope of the Lagos Air Traffic Control after communication from the tower to the pilot in command failed, before it crashed into the residential building on Tolulope Street, in Toyin area of Ishaga.

The aircraft hit a power line and subsequently crashed into the building which comprised of six flats.
According to a report by Daily Trust, the minister handed out the cheques to over 122 beneficiaries of the Next of Kin (NOK) scheme at a ceremony on Monday, February 19, 2018.

While addressing the beneficiaries, he said, "This is a clear demonstration of the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari's administration by making sure the welfare of our gallant troop is a priority particularly the family of our men, who died in active service is well catered for."

He explained that the Group Life Assurance Scheme for the Armed Forces originated from the Pension Reform Act 2004, which excluded members of the Armed Forces from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
A private investigator, Victor Uwaje, had accusedSenator Uba of forging his WAEC certificate.

Federal High Court sitting in Apo on Friday, June 30, 2017, dismissed the certificate forgery case filed against Uba by one Uchenna Nnedi.

But, documents seen by , showed that the inspector-general of Police, Ibrahim Idris stopped investigations into the certificate forgery case against Uba.

In a letter dated August 30, 2017, IGP Idris had ordered the Deputy Inspector-General, Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID), H.M Dagala, to transfer Ubas case file to him without any delay.

A move, Graylaw Solicitors, alleged to have scuttled investigations into the matter.

"Surprisingly, instead of allowing the FCIID to carry out their investigation to conclusion, you decided to scuttle same by ordering DIG Dagala to stop investigation forthwith and forward the file of Senator Uba to your office, the group said in a letter to IGP Idris.

"Following the receipt of the letter written by your office, the investigation ceased and Senator Uba stopped honouring police invitations. You also retrieved all the case files and investigation reports relating to Senator Uba's case, the letter added.

The group of lawyers, on behalf of Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum (ACIF) have also issued IGP a three-day-ultimatum to explain his role in the matter.
The government said in a statement on Tuesday in Kaduna that the building housing the factional secretariat was illegally erected.

Mr Ibrahim Husseini, the Director-General, Kaduna Geographic Information Service (KADGIS), said in the statement that the structure, situated at 11B Sambo Close, was removed for flagrant violations of land use and non-payment of ground rent since 2010.

This illegal violation of use had begun to distress neighbours who were being forced to endure an influx of thugs and blockage of the road, Husseini said.

Husseini, however, stated that the land would be used to provide a green area and a serene place for recreation in the residential neighbourhood.

The Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Agency (KAPSUDA) is currently undertaking operations across Kaduna metropolis in compliance with its mandate. In partnership with sister agencies, KASUPDA is clearingillegal structures, tackling street hawking and restoring order across Kaduna.

The Kaduna Geographic Information Service (KADGIS) issued a revocation notice of Statutory Right of Occupancy No. KD. 16712, that covers 11B Sambo Close in the Ungwan Rimi area.

The appropriate notice of revocation was delivered at 28 Inuwa Wada Road, the registered address of the company that held the title to the property.The notice was also delivered to the building in question, and sent by post to the registered address of the previous title holder, the statement read in part.

According to Husseini, the land has now been allocated to KASUPDA for the purpose of developing and maintaining a public park that will provide a green area and a serene place for recreation in that residential neighbourhood.

KADGIS wishes to remind all title owners to be fastidious in complying with the terms of their allocation.The purpose of allocation of land cannot be wilfully altered; neither can title holders lawfully neglect to pay their ground rents.

Since 2016, the government has been taking action on various land related matters, including revoking all undeveloped land titles in the state and directed that all abandoned buildings be developed within three months of the notice.

KADGIS as the government agency charged with ultimate responsibility on land matters in Kaduna State, calls for the utmost cooperation by the public with all our agencies, the statement added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the new secretariat, located at 11B, Sambo Road, was opened on Feb. 15, by the state Acting Chairman of the party (Wada).

Wada, who was the elected APC Deputy Chairman in the state, claimed that the secretariat was recognised by the partys national headquarters. He also claimed that the party opened a new secretariat due to lack of accessibility of members at the old state office as well as lack of security.

NAN learnt that the factional office was donated by Sen. Suleiman Hunkuyi (APC-Kaduna North).NAN recalls that the Wada-led faction, which claimed legitimacy of the party, had on Feb. 18, suspended Gov. Nasir El-Rufai from the party for a period of six months.

The Wada APC faction said in a statement that El-Rufai was suspended from the party following his refusal to respond to the query issued by the partys State Working Committee.

El-Rufai was earlier on Feb. 15 queried by the Wada-led faction over allegations of anti-party activities among other related offences.

The faction had equally suspended three of the governors aides, including his Adviser on Political Matters, Malam Uba Sani, and the State Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Suleiman Kwaru, for similar offences.

It would be recalled that the El-Rufai administration on April 6, 2017, ordered the same agency to demolish the Kaduna residence of Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir, the partys North-West Vice Chairman.
It said the demolition was not politically motivated, noting that it was part of an exercise to rid the state of illegal structures.

The building was brought to the ground on Tuesday, February 20, 2018, days after the faction of the party emerged and announced the suspension of Governor Nasir El-Rufai from the party.

The Director-General of the Kaduna State Geographic Information Service (KADGIS), Ibrahim Husseini, said the building was demolished for "non-payment of ground rent since 2010".

"This morning a building on 11B Sambo Close was removed for flagrant violations of land use and non-payment of ground rent since 2010.

"This illegal violation of use had begun to distress neighbours who were being forced to endure an influx of thugs and blockage of the road," Husseini said this in a statement.

He explained that due process was followed and that the state government only revoked the land on which the building was cited after the owners failed to pay land charges and comply with government directives.

Husseini added, "Since 2016, the government has been taking action on various land-related matters, including revoking all undeveloped land titles in the state and directed that all abandoned buildings be developed within three months of the notice.

"The Kaduna Geographic Information Service (KADGIS) issued a revocation notice of the statutory right of occupancy No. KD. 16712, that covers 11b Sambo Close in the Ungwan Rimi area.

"The appropriate notice of revocation was delivered at 28 Inuwa Wada Road, the registered address of the company that held the title to the property. The notice was also delivered to the building in question and sent by post to the registered address of the previous title holder."

ALSO READ: All you need to know about El-Rufai's suspension by APC

After revoking the land, Husseini said, the state government allocated it to the Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Agency "for the purpose of developing and maintaining a public park that will provide a green area and a serene place for recreation in that residential neighbourhood."

The government warned all title owners to comply with the terms of the allocation or risk suffering a similar fate.

Act of terror

The APC faction has described the government's actions as an "act of terror".

Last week Thursday, the faction opened the parallel office after the APC in the state suspended the Senator representing Kaduna North district, Suleiman Hunkuyi, and expelled of 28 other members for anti-party activities.

Speaking to Channels TV, a Chieftain of the APC loyal to the new faction, Mikaiah Tokwak, said the action has confirmed their views that their constitutionally guaranteed rights to free association is under attack.
This comes barely two weeks after the emergency door of another Dana aircraft reportedly fell off upon arrival at the Abuja airport.

The two incidents happening weeks apart has caused a public storm on social media, with many Nigerians calling for the revocation of Dana's license.

Although the airline has blamed the latest incident on bad weather, Nigerians are not having any of it.

The Nigerian Twitter is heating up with lamentations over the alleged negligence of Dana, with reference to the 2012 tragedy that claimed the lives of 153 people.

In June, 2012, a Dana aircraft crashed in Ishaga area of Lagos, killing all the passengers on board.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Joseph Kwaji, disclosed this in a statement issued in Maiduguri on Tuesday, February 20, 2018.

Kwaji said a lone suicide bomber was neutralised at the parapet of the University by the security personnel deployed to the area.

According to him, the suspect detonated explosive devices strapped to his body, killing only himself.

The police spokesman said, "On February 19, 2018, at about 19: 20 p.m, a male suicide bomber strapped with Improvised Explosives Device (IED), in an attempt to infiltrate the University of Maiduguri parapet, was promptly sighted by security operatives, who opened fire on the bomber.

"As a result, the IED strapped to his body exploded, killing the bomber alone, and no other casualties".

Kwaji added that the police EOD team has sanitised the scene and that normal activities have resumed in the area.

Last week, Abubakar Shekau, leader of the deadly sect, Boko Haram, released a video vowing to launch more attacks in the northeast while dismissing the claims by the Nigerian Army that the group has been completely defeated.

Shekau released the video shortly after the army said the terrorists have been completely flushed out of Sambisa Forest, the groups stronghold.

The army had also cited a captured Boko Haram commander, saying that Shekau fled to neighbouring Cameroun disguising as a woman.

Since it began in 2009, Boko Haram has killed tens of thousands and displaced over 2.3 million from their homes in the northeast.
THE GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER

FG queries Magu, Keyamo over graft charges against CCT boss

The Federal Government has queried the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, and an Abuja-based lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo.The reprimand followed corruption charges they filed against the Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Mr. Danladi Umar.

Emir of Kano, herders body back Ekitis anti-grazing law

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has endorsed the Ekiti State Anti-Grazing Law, saying the piece of legislation encourages peaceful co-existence.Also, the national president of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Muhammadu Kiruwa, commended Governor Ayodele Fayose for the enactment, noting that the law caters for all interest groups.

Niger ex-governor, Aliyu debunks FGs claim of 7000 electricity megawatts

A former Governor of Niger State, Muazu Babangida Aliyu, has debunked Federal Governments claim of generating 7, 000 megawatts of electricity.

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VANGUARD NEWSPAPER

Boko Haram attacks girls school in Yobe

Boko Haram jihadists launched an attack on a girls boarding school in northeast Nigeria but the students and teachers fled to safety, witnesses said Monday.

I paid DSS men, others N1m to bring in 661 rifles

Mamudu Hassan, one of the accused persons standing trial over unlawful importation of 661 sophisticated pump action rifles into the country last December, yesterday told a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, that he paid a sum of N1 million to officials of the Department of State Security, DSS, and other security agencies to smuggle the guns out of Apapa Ports.

Count me out of Obasanjos Third Force  Soyinka

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has said he should be examined by a psychiatrist, if he joins the Coalition for Nigeria Movement, CNM, spear-headed by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

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THE PUNCH NEWSPAPER

Middle Belt groups, Afenifere, others kick as ACF rejects state police

The Arewa Consultative Forum has rejected the proposal for the creation of state police, saying the privilege will be abused.

Emir Sanusi, Miyetti Allah back Fayoses grazing law

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Mohammed Sanusi 11 and the National President of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Muhammadu Kiruwa, have declared support for the Ekiti States anti-grazing law.

Abia couple sells own newborn baby for N400,000

After three weeks of investigation, the Monitoring Unit of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department of the Imo State Police Command has nabbed a couple for allegedly selling their daughter, Chinecherem, for N400,000, a few hours after delivery.

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THISDAY NEWSPAPER

Kachikwu: Nigeria Targets 50% Local Shareholding in Oil Industry in 10 Years

Nigeria will grow local investments and shareholdings of its oil and gas industry to 50 per cent within the next 10 years, the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, said on Monday in Abuja.

Adeosun Appeals for Global Cooperation against Tax-evading Multinationals

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, has called for the designation of tax malpractices by multinational corporations in Nigeria and other developing countries as 'foreign corrupt practices'.

Discord in Corruption War as Malami Queries Magu over CCT Chairman, Umars Prosecution

Signs that the discord in President Muhammadu Buharis war against corruption has deepened emerged on Monday as news broke of a query by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, to the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, asking him to explain his decision to file corruption charges against the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Mr. Danladi Umar.

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BUSINESSDAY NEWSPAPER

Asset replacement cost pushes insurance industry loss ratio to 80%

High cost of asset replacement, fuelled by dollar scarcity during the 2017 financial year has shut up insurance sector loss ratio from 35 percent to 80 percent.

Stakeholders worry as $1.53bn Lekki port project runs years behind schedule

Twelve years after it was publically announced that Tolaram Group in partnership with the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) and the Lagos State Government were partnering to build Nigerias deepest seaport at Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos, the project is yet to be completed largely due to financial challenges and delays on the part of the project.

Banks branch managers perch on N25bn diesel consumption to hold back
This was disclosed by the state's Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude, after a security meeting that involved Oyo governor, Abiola Ajimobi. He revealed that seven suspects have been arrested for the deaths.

He said, "The happenings in the last two weeks have been disheartening. We recorded killings of the officer in charge of SARS; a 70-year-old man, five unidentified people and another farmer, in Iseyin, Saki and Ile-Ido.

"So far, we have recorded death of nine people and we have arrested seven suspects.

"It is pathetic. We know that the cardinal programme of the state administration is to maintain peace and security. We are not going to allow such things to happen again. We have the men, the equipment and will to ensure that peace is restored. We must learn to live in peace."

Governor Ajimobi calls for calm heads

While speaking after the meeting, Governor Ajimobi directed security agencies to arrest and prosecute any armed cattle herder operating within the state.

The governor called for calm on all sides of the conflict and revealed that a surveillance unit, named Operation Burst, would be created under the Oyo State Joint Security Outfit, to curtail the menace of cattle rustlers, murderous herdsmen and farmers who may take the laws into their own hands.

He said, "The flagship of our administration's programmes and successes has been the maintenance of peace and security and we will not allow anybody to truncate this.

"Fulani people are good people; if not I will not allow my only son to marry a Fulani lady. We must separate criminals from the good people.

"Why will a herdsman be carrying gun? Henceforth, any herdsman found with guns should be arrested and prosecuted. Owners of cattle found grazing on farmlands and destroying crops should also be arrested and prosecuted. Any farmer that poison cattle should also be arrested and prosecuted.

"But, we must realise that some of these herdsmen come all the way from Niger Republic and Chad for grazing. Not all of these herdsmen are Nigerians.

"The people have their roles, while the government also have a role to play in finding lasting solutions to the menace. We must all participate in the security of our communities. Yes, it is the responsibility of government to guarantee the safety and security of the citizens, but we cannot do it alone.

"We must learn to live together in peace. A special surveillance unit will be created under the Operation Burst to curtail the excesses of those concerned and they will be adequately equipped and given necessary logistics."
According to a report by Premium Times, the budget review revealed that the office claimed to have fully utilised the sum of N64,855,875 on the website quoted as "OSGF WEBSITE". The budget performance record revealed that the procurement process is ongoing.

While defending the 2017 budget performance in January 2018, the SGF, Mustapha, had told a Senate committee that his office received 50% of its appropriation for capital projects.

"Performance for capital is N1.2 billion released as at end of December, 2017. It represents 50 per cent. We are hoping that the National Assembly will extend the lifespan of the budget so that we can handle other procurement processes," he said.

When he also met with the House Committee on Governmental Affairs in January, he reviewed the 2017 budget of his office to the committee and defended the estimates for 2018.

He had also informed the committee that N65 million would be spent in 2018 to build a government website.

When Premium Times contacted Mustapha's spokesperson, Mohammed Nakorji, he refused to comment on why the claims of amount spent on the site differs from the quality on offer.

Website has no special features

According to technological experts contacted by Premium Times, the claims of spending N65 million on the website are dubious.

After a review of the website, communications officer of Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN), Sodiq Alabi, said the OSGF has to provide more details to back its claim.

"We have reviewed the website, it is simply shocking that N65 million was spent on the website. It's implausible. OSGF must provide more details on what they did with the money. The website has no special features to justify more than a million naira budget.

"It doesn't look like they are even updating the website. The copyright is 2013. It looks very impossible and suspicious."

Another review by Cheta Nwanze, Head of Research, SBM Intelligence, said the N65 million could never be justified.

He said, "The website was built using the Joomla CMS, which is a free content management system. All of the media is hosted on YouTube, which is an external server. It uses Google Hosted Libraries for its content distribution. No way can it cost N65 million, unless I heard you wrong.
TheCable reports that the affected ruling party's faction, Kaduna Restoration Group, is that faction which suspended Kaduna state governor, Nasir el-Rufai, over alleged anti-party activities.

It was further reported that the building situated on Sambo road, GRA Kaduna, was demolished after the arrival of the team that were escorted by security personnel and suspected thugs at around 4am on Tuesday, February 20, 2018.

It was also reported that the demolition is coming few days after the group purportedly led by Alhaji Danladi Wada announced the suspension of the governor for six months.

APC suspends Kaduna Governor for 6 months

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna state has suspended Governor Nasir El-Rufai for six months.

According to Vanguard, the Governor was suspended for refusing to answer the query issued to him last week.

The faction, while unveiling its secretariat, asked El-Rufai to respond to the query within 48 hours.

The factional chairman, Alhaji Danladi Wada said This briefing is sequel to 48 hours ultimatum/query and warning issued to the state governor to explain and defend himself against the allegations leveled against him which he failed to respond.

ALSO READ: All you need to know about Gov's suspension by APC
Sumonu confirmed the attack in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said at about 5.30 p.m today, the suspected insurgents attacked Dapchi, headquarters of Bursari local government area.

 The details are not immediately available, we are still collating the details including the casualties he said.

The commissioner said security operatives have been reinforced in the area to ensure total security.

NAN gathered that the residents of Dapchi fled the town to seek for safety in the bush.

Alhaji Zanna Abatcha, chairman Bursari local government council told NAN that the suspected insurgents have already left the town and more security operatives have been deployed to maintain security.
Mahmud Hassan, one of five men being tried for alleged importation of guns into the country, made this allegation in a recorded video played by the prosecution in court on Monday, February 19, 2018.

Hassan said he and his group paid N1 million to security agents to smuggle in gun consignment through Apapa Port, Lagos.

In a report by TheCable, the video, was said to be recorded while Hassan gave his statement in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

The trial-within-trial

The presiding judge of the case, Ayokunle Faji, had ordered a trial-within-trial following claims that the accused made their previous statements under duress.

Yakubu Galadima, the accuseds counsel, argued he made the statement understand torture and Justice Faji ordered a trial-within-trial conducted to test the voluntariness of the statement.

Hassan's statement

I gave N1m to facilitate the moving of the container out of the port, but it is not because of the guns.

The examiners were given N200,000; C.I.O., N100,000; enforcement, N200,000; police, SSS, between N20,000, N25,000, and N30,000; the toll gates, N200,000, exit gate, N20,000, and final gate, N50,000, he said.

ALSO READ: 2 Customs officers declared wanted over seized rifles

In January 2017, customs seizes 661 pieces of pump-action rifles

In January, customs seized 661 pieces of pump-action rifles which came from China at the Lagos port. These guns were hidden with steel doors and other goods. The AK47 rifles were concealed in 49 boxes.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali, told journalists on January 30, 2017 the Federal Operations Unit intercepted the consignment which had left the port along Mile 2 Apapa Road, Lagos.

Three suspects were arrested in connection with the smuggling.

Hassan is being tried alongside Oscar Okafor, Donatus Achinulo, Matthew Okoye  reportedly at large  and Salihu Danjuma.

They were first arraigned by the federal government in June 2017, for allegedly importing 661 pump-action rifles from Turkey into the country illegally.

2 Customs officers declared wanted over seized rifles

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) declared two of its officers wanted for allegedly clearing a container loaded with 661 pump action guns at the Apapa Port in Lagos State.

ALSO READ: All the times illicit weapons were seized

In a statement released by the service, the officers, Abdullahi I, with service number 44483 ASC, and Odiba Haruna Inah, with service number 133386, reportedly fled after the weapons were uncovered inside a container loaded with steel doors by the operatives of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Ikeja.
In January 2018, the General Overseer of Freedom For all Nations Outreach (FANO), Prophet Samuel Akinbodunse, declared that President Muhammadu Buhari will die if he seeks reelection in 2019.

"The Lord said his tenure is once, not twice; if not, he'll not make the election. If he made (sic) a mistake to campaign for election, before the vote, he'll die," the South African-based Nigerian prophet frenetically announced to his enthusiastic congregation.

In January 2017, Prophet Emmanuel Chukwudi of King of Kings Deliverance Church said the president's definite death will spark a power tussle.

He said, "But towards 2019, the president's health shall fail him, and he shall go the way of all men. But VP Yemi Osinbajo shall wrestle with the soldiers. They shall try to seize power and Osinbajo shall prevail. He shall lead Nigeria into 2019."

In the months that followed, he doubled down on the prophecy, expressed dismay at the president's improved health at some point and suggested he can only escape death by reaching out to him.

"Long time ago, I asked all to pray for their master, that he needed urgent prayers to avert the calamity of death at Aso Rock, but they were lazy.

"No one has bothered to reach me, now see what is happening. They dont want to come for prayers. Things will get worse.

"He shall certainly die in office, says the Lord, unless I am not God, says the Lord," he said.

Also in January 2017, the founder of Glorious Word Ministry International, Prophet Isaac Owusu Bempah, predicted the "Death of Nigeria's president".

Even before Buhari became president early in January 2015, the spiritual leader of the Celestial Church of Christ, Elisha Parish, Marcus Korede Tibetan, prophesied that he would win the election and die before the end of his term.

"He will win the election; he may not even finish his term. He may die. He is going to die in between. That is what the Lord has revealed," he said.

With the number of prophecies out there predicting the president's death, it doesn't hurt to take a close look at what might be responsible for the trend.

ALSO READ: The politics of tragedy in Nigeria is a damaging distraction

History of dead presidents

In just under the past two decades, Nigeria has experienced the death of two presidents.

Military Head of State, Sani Abacha, died under mysterious circumstances on June 8, 1998; while democratically elected president, Umaru Yar'adua, died on May 5, 2010, after a protracted illness that created a power vacuum mess in government.

Yar'adua's death, most especially, has led to the focus of Nigerians on the health of candidates contesting for the presidency.

Buhari bore the brunt of this as a 72-year-old candidate in the 2015 presidential election as it was the stick with which many detractors beat him with.

One of them, Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, went as far as to take to the front page of a national daily newspaper to equate the choice of Buhari to the choice for death in a public show of shame.

For good reason, Nigerians are concerned about the state of health of the man who is leading a demanding nation; and much of the apprehension about Buhari was vindicated by the breakdown in his health that resulted in months of absence from the country in 2017 when he holed up in the United Kingdom treating an undisclosed illness.

The president has not helped ease the concerns with how he's been deliberately evasive about the state of his health especially throughout last year's crisis.

However, the obsession by so-called men of God to press the big red button over the president's continued survival needs to be addressed.

Why are men of God obsessed with Buhari's death?

Nigeria is, undeniably, a deeply religious country. This is responsible for why religious leaders enjoy a considerable amount of influence on the Nigerian public.

How they have decided to wield that influence has depended on whatever agenda they are pursuing because God's position over the president's death appears to not have a unanimous divine consensus.

For example, while there are parties that are strongly convinced of the president's eventual death in office, someone else, like the founder of Grace and Great Kings Christian Ministry, Obinna Omerie, is convinced those parties are spiritually blindfolded and speaking from revelations backed by satanic sources.

"God revealed to me as His prophet that Buhari will complete his tenure in 2019," he declared last year.

Buhari's old age has painted a large target on his back and made it easy for critics, whether they be ordinary bench warmers or pulpit merchants, to use the d-word to whip up sentiment.

The president's tenure has been divisive and public opinion has been wretched against him, and this, coupled with his old age, appears to be a thing that 'seers' are latching onto.

In contrast, during Jonathan's tenure that was just as divisive, there were not these many prophecies about him dying in office simply because it was very hard to believe due to his relatively young age.

Most of the prophecies circled around him being embarrassed out of the Presidential Villa, but his exit prophecies were usually missing a coffin.

I won't pretend to be absolutely sure of what the intention here is; but when you eliminate the fact that these prophecies might, in fact, be nonsense that's not 'divinely' moulded in God's seal of approval, all you're left with are men of great influence recklessly abusing their authority.

If there's a common thread between most of the seers mentioned, it is that they are largely unknown in the grand scheme of things so much that the only time people, outside of their congregations, hear from them is when they make outrageous prophecies.

Men of God of bigger stock, that don't need to be named, have largely held their influential roles with thoughtful grace and competence, enough to know not to threaten the country's highest political seat with fire and brimstone.

The most important thing to note here is that threatening the president's death by way of prophecy, as an apparent solution to whatever problem you think ails the country, adds absolutely nothing to the conversation on how to move the country forward.

If anything, it sets the course for a whole different conversation that detracts from the important one of seeking real political solutions.

President Buhari is 75 years old and will encounter health problems that are peculiar to his age, especially with the burden of Nigeria on his shoulders. If anything happens to him, it won't be because a man of God proclaims it, it'll be because these things happen.

There's really no need to engineer divine stamps to prop up what appears to be nothing but personal sentiments to titillate the country's disenchanted crowd.
He said that the decision for the poll was taken at a meeting of NWC and the party`s Cross River stakeholders, adding that democracy must be allowed to prevail in the partys chapter in the state.

Giedan said that the meeting was to get the buy-in of stakeholders to elect a new executive for the state.

He assured that the party`s leadership would provide a level-playing ground for all aspirants and ensure that the exercise was conducted in a peaceful environment.

He also said that the new chairman that would be elected for the state chapter must come from the same zone with the suspended one.

Former chairman of the party in the state, Mr John Ochalla, was suspended amid lingering crisis in the chapter.

The ugly situation led to forceful occupation of the partys secretariat in Calabar by some members, who allegedly broke into the building and vandalised.

The aggrieved members claimed that there was a change in the leadership of the executive committee of the party in the state.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Malam Bolaji Abudullahi, had while reacting to the development said that the perpetrators of the act would be investigated and prosecuted.
You only need to look at his body language these days and read between the lines of what he says.

After killer herdsmen left 73 persons dead in Benue in the first week of the new year, Ortom called out the Buhari led federal government for not doing enough to secure his people.

'Federal government has abandoned us'

Let me be frank. The federal government has not done enough.

"The leadership of Miyetti Allah called the law names; that it was draconian and had no place in the 21st century. We saw that as a threat to our existence and in June 2016, we reported to the then acting president and to our surprise, these people were not apprehended.

"When they saw that no one was going to apprehend them, they went further to issue more threats. In October 2016, we reminded the IGP, the DSS and the NSA of the potential violence that we faced in Benue State as a result of the threat from the Miyetti Allah.

We specifically demanded that the two officers of the Miyetti Allah, the secretary and the president, be arrested, but unfortunately, they were not arrested. I do not know why the federal government has abandoned us. If they had acted that time, we would not have gotten to where we are today, Ortom had said.

No visits

This week, Ortom told everyone who cared to listen that it is unfair that Buhari hasnt visited Benue in the face of the mindless killings of his people. As a consequence, he says, he wont be caught campaigning for Buharis re-electionat least for the moment.

When we visited, we even invited the president to come to Benue state and pay his condolences to his people Because we are members of the party, he is our president. If these people are attacking us, we expect him to give us security.

He has done a number of things. He directed NEMA to provide relief materials, he also asked for security to be beefed up but I am not satisfied with what the presidency is doing on this matter. There is no doubt about that.

I ask for justice for Benue people because we have not been treated fairly, Ortom said.

Those do not sound like the words of a man who is still loyal to his party or the president who is leader of his party.

Chemistry

When Governors Nyesom Wike and Ayodele Fayose visited Ortom after the latest bouts of killings, you could discern the chemistry among all three in there somewhere.

Asked if he was on the verge of dumping the APC, Ortom said; I am a member of the APC and about the issue of joining another vehicle, Benue people are here and they are hearing you. I cannot decide for Benue people, the people will decide, it is what they want that I will want. Anything Benue people say I should do, I will do.

For some background, Ortom was at home in the PDP until the eve of the 2015 general elections. He served as Deputy Chairman of the PDP in Benue; he was Director of Administration and Logistics of the Goodluck/Sambo Presidential Campaign Organization in 2011.

Ortom also served as national auditor of the PDP before his appointment as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the Goodluck Jonathan administration in July 2011.

He joined the APC after the PDP denied him the governorship ticket at the ward congresses. Ortom alleged that the congress election process was fraught with injustice and irregularities.

He promptly defected to the APC, picked the governorship ticket of his new party and was elected governor of Benue.

So, heres a PDP man through and through--a dyed in the wool one at that--who appears to have missed home and who seems as though he cant wait to return to the warm embrace of his folks.
Mallam Elrufai personally drove a bulldozer accompanied by armored tanks to destroy my house at 11B Sambo Road. This is a new low and fighting dirty with such low level of pettiness is indeed unprecedented in Kaduna State, Hunkuyi who represents Kaduna North in the senate, shared on Twitter.

Hunkuyi added that; It is on record that few months back, Mallam Elrufai marked another property of mine in Hunkuyi town for demolition but residents of the area prevented the officials from demolishing it. Today he came well prepared with military men to destroy my house at Sambo Road.

This is also the same way Mallam Elrufai destroyed the house of the APC deputy national chairman northwest, months back, which tells you that the Governor is reckless, petty and cant stand political pressure without resorting to being a ruthless dictator.

Political vendetta?

However, Pulse has been able to ascertain that Elrufai didnt personally drive a bulldozer to bring down the senators house as Hunkuyi had claimed.

The Governor was already in Adamawa, where he is special guest of honour at an anti-corruption summit, when the building came crashing down.

There are some pundits who believe that the demolition of the senators home has everything to do with the political in-fighting going on in Kaduna State.

El-Rufai's suspension

On Sunday, February 18, 2018, a faction of the APC headed by Hunkuyi (Restoration group), suspended Elrufai from the party for anti-human and anti-party activities.

Another faction of the APC in Kadunacalled the Akida factionwould go on to nullify the suspension of the Governor soon after.

The Akida faction of the APC in Kaduna State is loyal to Elrufai.

Some of the political bigwigs who attended the factional meeting where Elrufais fate was sealed were "an aspirant during the partys governorship primaries in 2015, Isa Ashiru; Chief of Staff to Senate President, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed; owner of Kaduna-based Liberty FM radio, Dr. Tijjani Ramalan; Senator representing Kaduna Central, Senator Shehu Sani; and his counterpart from the Northern Senatorial District, Hunkuyi", Punch had reported.

The demolished property also doubles as office of the APC faction which suspended Elrufai. It was in that building that Elrufai was pronounced suspended.

'Tyranny'

During plenary on Tuesday, Senator Shehu Sani who is a staunch critic of Elrufai and who has done his best to maintain a frosty relationship with the Governor, cited order 43 to bring up the demolition of Hunkuyis residence before lawmakers.

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu thereafter condemned the demolition in its entirety.

Democracy does not come with this I condemn this act and hope it doesnt happen again. There must not be abuse of power and office. Theres a limit to the patience of our people. I sympathize with the senator who lost his building, Ekweremadu said.

Kaduna responds

Pulse reached out to Elrufai for a reaction, but phone calls repeatedly placed to his mobile went unanswered. Text messages sent to the Governor were also not replied hours before this story was put together.

Samuel Aruwan who is spokesperson of the Governor, didnt pick up his phone, respond to text messages or call back, either.

However, in a statement made available to Pulse, the Kaduna State government denied that the demolition of Hunkuyis house had a political undertone.

The government said the demolished property violated the urban planning laws of Kaduna.

The Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Agency (KASUPDA) is currently undertaking operations across Kaduna metropolis in compliance with its mandate. In partnership with sister agencies, KASUPDA is clearing illegal structures, tackling street hawking and restoring order across Kaduna.

This morning, a building on 11B Sambo Close was removed for flagrant violations of land use and non-payment of ground rent since 2010. This illegal violation of use had begun to distress neighbours who were being forced to endure an influx of thugs and blockage of the road, the statement read in part.

The Kaduna State government also said it had issued a revocation notice concerning the Hunkuyi property.

The Kaduna Geographic Information Service (KADGIS) issued a revocation notice of statutory right of occupancy that covers 11B Sambo Close in the Ungwam Rimi area. The appropriate notice of revocation was delivered at 28 Inuwa Wada Road, the registered address of the company that held the title to the property. The notice was also delivered to the building in question, and sent by post to the registered address of the previous title holder.

The land has now been allocated to KASUPDA for the purpose of developing and maintaining a public park that will provide a green area and a serene place for recreation in that residential neighbourhood.

Since 2016, the government has been taking action on various land related matters, including revoking all undeveloped land titles in the State and directed that all abandoned buildings be developed within three months of the notice.

The Kaduna Geographic Information System (KADGIS) as the government agency charged with ultimate responsibility on land matters in Kaduna State, calls for the utmost cooperation by the public with our agencies.

Reputation

It wouldnt be the first time an Elrufai demolition exercise has stirred plenty of controversy. As minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from 2003 to 2007, Elrufai was accused of highhandedness and vindictiveness as a wave of demolitions swept through Abuja.
The lawmaker, representing Kaduna North senatorial district, made the sensational accusation on his Twitter account as he posted a video of the already demolished buildings with passersby standing around.

He posted, "In the early hours of today, the GovKaduna Mallam elrufai personally drove a bulldozer accompanied by armored tanks to destroy my house at 11B Sambo Road. This is a new low and fighting dirty with such low level of pettiness is indeed unprecedented in Kaduna State.

"It is on record that few months back, GovKaduna Mallam elrufai marked another property of mine in Hunkuyi town for demolition but residents of the area prevented the officials from demolishing it. Today, he came well prepared with military men to destroy my house at Sambo Road.

"This is also the same way, Mallam elrufai destroyed the house of the APC Dep National Chairman Northwest, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir months back, which tells you that the governor is reckless, petty & cant stand political pressure, without resorting to being a ruthless dictator."

While there is no evidence that Governor El-Rufai appeared at the scene of the demolition, he is currently in Adamawa State with President Muhammadu Buhari.

Kaduna APC crisis

The demolition of Senator Suleiman's house is connected to a brewing crisis within the All Progressives' Congress (APC) branch in the state.

Alhaji Shuaibu Wada had led a faction of the party to declare Senator Suleiman's house as its new secretariat and suspended Governor El-Rufai for six months for failing to respond to a query issued to him last week.

Wada was reportedly sidelined after the state APC chairman, Bala Bantex,was nominated to be the El-Rufai's running mate.

The faction, known as Restoration Group, is one of the three known factions in the Kaduna State APC.

Senate condemns El-Rufai's action

The Senate condemned the governor's conduct during plenary on Tuesday after Senator Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central) cited order 43.

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu said, "Democracy does not come with this type of tyranny and impunity. I condemn this act and hope it doesn't happen again. There must not be abuse of power and office, there's a limit to the patience of our people. I sympathize with the senator who lost his building."
Adamu, a former governor of Nasarawa state, made the allegation while reacting to the letter the ex-President wrote to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Adamu said: He (Obasanjo) knows, as well as I and other leading members of the PDP, that he badly wanted it and initiated the process of constitutional amendment. He bribed each member of the national assembly who signed to support the amendment, with the whopping sum of N50million.

The fresh mint money was taken in its original boxes presumably from the vaults of the Central Bank of Nigeria and distributed among the legislators.

The money was not his, and it was not appropriated by the national assembly, as required by law.

Obasanjo should be in court if Buhari wasn't selective - Adamu

The All Progressives Congress (APC) senator representing Nasarawa west, has also said President Buharis anti-graft war is selective, hence, it should have consumed ex-President Obasanjo.

Chief Obasanjo said President Buhari is selective in his anti-corruption war. I agree with him because if the president were not selective, Chief Obasanjo himself would be in the dock today on trial on charges of corruption arising from the corrupt practices in the pursuit of his third term gambit in the national assembly in 2006.

"I therefore, agree that in failing to make former President Obasanjo account for the money, President Buhari is waging his anti-corruption war selectively.

Nor should we forget that President Buhari has also not bothered to interrogate Obasanjos role in the Halliburton scandal for which some Americans are cooling their heels in jail. Perhaps President Buhari might wish to look in the Siemens affairs in which the Obasanjo administration was indicted, Adamu said.

ALSO READ: Your letter to Buhari is a distraction, Lai tells Obasanjo

Obasanjo attacks Buhari, asks him to step down in 2019

Ex-President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has savagely attacked President Muhammadu Buhari's performance and asked the incumbent to not seek reelection in 2019 for the good of the country.

The former president made his feelings about Buhari's administration known in a 13-page statement released on Tuesday, January, 23, 2018.

In the statement titled, "The Way Out: A Clarion Call for Coalition for Nigeria Movement", Obasanjo pointed out major failings of the Buhari administration, particularly in the area of economic prosperity.
President Donald Trump is due to speak at the convention on Friday. Other senior members of his administration are also scheduled to appear, along with Republican lawmakers, conservative media figures and veterans.

Brexit champion Nigel Farage will also be there, after receiving a warm welcome at CPAC last year, when he praised Trump's "quite remarkable" victory.

Each day of the convention, held at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center just outside Washington in Oxon Hill, Maryland, begins with a pledge of allegiance to the US flag and a prayer.

The appearance at the CPAC event of Marechal-Le Pen, who became the youngest member of France's national assembly aged just 22 in 2012, comes nearly a year after she announced she was temporarily quitting politics.

Her grandfather is Jean-Marie Le Pen, who founded the party and stood for the presidency five times.

For decades the party was a toxic brand in French politics, linked to anti-Semites, ex-colonialists and racists.

But under current leader Marine Le Pen, who took over the leadership from her father in 2011, the FN has worked to clean up its image.
In an interview with Switzerland's Le Temps newspaper published Tuesday, Anna Gabriel, a top member of the far-left separatist CUP party, said she had decided to leave as she would not have "a fair trial at home".

"I won't go to Madrid. I'm wanted for my political activities and the government press has already declared me guilty," she told the paper.

"As I wouldn't get a fair trial at home, I looked for a country that could protect my rights."

Gabriel, in her early 40s, is the latest separatist to leave the country after deposed Catalan president Carles Puigdemont and four former regional ministers went to Belgium shortly after a failed bid to break from Spain.

She was due to appear before a Supreme Court judge on Wednesday over her role in Catalonia's failed independence drive, which eventually prompted Madrid to impose direct rule on the region in October, sack its government and dissolve its parliament.

The Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP) held the balance of power in Catalonia's parliament during that time, as Puigdemont's ruling coalition lacked a majority and relied on the smaller party's 10 seats to pass legislation and advance his independence "roadmap."

It called for action on the street after a banned independence referendum on October 1 was marred by police violence.

Gabriel is the party's most famous member, hugely popular with CUP supporters for her fiery speeches in parliament in favour of independence.

Political asylum?

In another interview with Swiss television RTS, she said she could seek asylum in Switzerland.

The former university law professor said she was first going to try to settle in the country and possibly get academic work.

But "if I can't because there is an extradition request, I will ask for political asylum," she said in fluent French.

It is possible that a Spanish court will launch an arrest warrant when Gabriel fails to turn up at Wednesday's court hearing in Madrid.

In Le Temps newspaper, Gabriel said she has got death threats from far-right extremists, and charged that the government was not "doing anything to safeguard our security faced with fascists' violence."

Gabriel accused Madrid of "repression," likening the situation in Catalonia with "what is happening right now in Turkey".

More than 55,000 people have been arrested in Turkey following the failed 2016 coup, including journalists, MPs and activists.

Gabriel said close to 900 people in Catalonia were either under investigation or had been charged, among them "teachers, police officers, politicians and even mere voters".

So far, four separatist leaders have been detained pending a probe into their role in the separatist drive on charges that include rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds.

These include Catalonia's former vice president Oriol Junqueras.
"Under-nourishment appears to have increased from about 21 percent to nearly 23 percent between 2015 and 2016," Bukar Tijani, FAO's assistant director general for Africa, said at the regional conference that opened on Monday in Khartoum.

"Over the same period, the number of under-nourished rose from 200 million to 224 million in Africa. This is a cause of concern for all of us."

The rise in malnutrition and food insecurity was related to climate changes and disasters like floods, droughts and crop failures, Tijani later told AFP on the sidelines of the forum.

He said conflicts in countries like Somalia, South Sudan and the Central African Republic further increased food insecurity.

"When you look at those conflicts, it has also brought challenges because even when food is available it is not affordable and it cannot reach those conflict areas."

UN officials have warned that growing food insecurity was displacing more and more people across the region, with food needs being the main cause in countries such as South Sudan.

About one million South Sudanese have crossed borders to become refugees as they flee violence in the world's youngest country formed in 2011.

Soon after its secession from the north, South Sudan descended into war in December 2013 when President Salva Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar of plotting a coup.

On a positive note, Tijani said Africa's economy was improving and its food and agriculture market was estimated to reach one trillion dollars by 2030.

This created opportunities for new investments.
The draft law would impose a six-year prison term on anyone guilty of "removing part or all of the [child's] sexual organs", arguing the practice violates the child's rights.

Jewish and Muslim leaders however have called the bill an attack on religious freedom. Iceland would be the first European country to ban the procedure.

Freedom of belief

The country is thought to have roughly 250 Jewish citizens and around 1,500 Muslim citizens.

MP Silja Dogg Gunnarsdottir of the Progressive Party, who introduced the bill at the start of the month, said: "We are talking about children's rights, not about freedom of belief.

"Everyone has the right to believe in what they want, but the rights of children come above the right to believe."

Iceland passed a law in 2005 banning female genital mutilation, and supporters of this move have compared it to that law.

Attack on Jews

If it passes its first reading, the draft law will go to a committee stage before it can come into effect.

The Nordic Jewish Communities issued a statement condemning the ban on "the most central rite" in their faith.

"You are about to attack Judaism in a way that concerns Jews all over the world," the open letter reads.
National Assembly Majority leader Aden Duale has told Senate ICT committee chairman Gideon Moi to excuse himself from the would-be meeting to grill the CS for failing to comply with numerous court orders to restore the signals of Citizen TV, KTN News and NTV, a fortnight ago.

The Garissa Township MP, on Monday in a press conference at Parliament buildings in Nairobi, said that Mr Moi owns KTN, which is at the centre of the controversial shut down, should back off from the committee, as his business interests would conflict those of the parliament.

We expect to see the committee chairman Gideon Moi excusing himself. He owns one of the largest media stations in the country. You cant run your business using Parliament. In the same vein, Parliament cannot purport to discuss a matter that is pending before the Judiciary.

This is clearly outlined in the Standing Orders that a matter that is sub judice cannot be discussed in Parliament. We need to protect the independence of various arms of government, the Garissa Town MP said.

The three television channels were shut on January 30 for nearly eight days after they televised an event in which NASA leader Raila Odinga was taking an oath as the Peoples President.

Meanwhile, after the CS missed two consecutive summons, the embattled Committees vice-chair and nominated lawmaker Mr Halake Abshiro said that Mr Mucheru will be invited to appear before it on March 6.

Court orders

On Thursday, the Gideon Moi-led committee accused Mucheru of undermining Parliament after failing to appear. Moi had earlier asked the government to restore signals of TV stations, which had been off air for a week.

Senator Moi told the government to obey a court order by High Court judge Justice Chacha Mwita ordering it to restore the signals of Citizen TV, NTV and KTN.

Mr Mucheru, however, wrote to the Senate Clerk Mr Jeremiah Nyegenye, saying he was scheduled to attend a Cabinet meeting and would not be able to appear. Mr Mucheru, according to his PS Mr Henry Mungasia, had jetted out of the country on the material day.

Thursday is a day reserved for Cabinet meetings and the CS will not be available for this meeting. He is asking the committee to postpone the meeting to a later date, he said.

Members, however, including Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang, said they had written to the CS a week ago and he did not excuse himself in advance.
Orengo and businessman Jimi Wanjigi were finally returned their passports which had been earlier confiscated by immigration officials at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and allowed to board the plane to Zimbabwe at around 1.45pm.

Uncertain

The Senator however disclosed that he was uncertain they would be allowed back into Kenya.

"If we leave, are we going to be able come back? And if we come back, will we be able to live here? In Kenya, you never know, they may say you belong to another country," Orengo stated moments before leaving the country.

Orengo complained that they had been inconvenienced and humiliated by the immigration officials in what they termed as unlawful.

"No one has told us we are guilty. I feel really offended. If the Executive can deal with me this way, then the dignity of Parliament is emasculated. We are not criminals. I am a state officer. If you can deal with me this way it means the authority of Parliament is emasculated," Orengo complained.

The two were scheduled to fly out to Zimbabwe on a 9.20 pm flight on Monday night for Tsvangirai's funeral.

Passport confiscation

However after checking at the airport shortly after 9pm, an immigration official is said to have grabbed Wanjigis passport and walked away while talking to his phone saying that the businessmans passport was suspended.

However, the immigration officials remained adamant that they had received orders not to allow them use their passports.

The two NASA leaders later called Immigration Director Maj-Gen (Rtd) Gordon Kihalangwa over the incident after their plane left without them.

Kihalangwa later denied he had seen the orders regarding their passports.
The two pilots, Captain Frank Njoroge and Co-pilot Kennedy Shamalla were freed on Tuesday and were received at an elaborate ceremony presided over by newly appointed CS Monica Juma.

The release occurred after the Kenyan government engaged in a month-long negotiation ceremony with Sudan Peoples Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), which is controlled by rebel leader Riek Machar.

The two pilots were captured after their aircraft crashed on January 24, killing one person and some livestock.

Citizen TV reported that the families paid Sh11 million in ransom that the rebels demanded as compensation. rebels had initially demanded Ksh.20 million before negotiations.
The matatu operators were protesting over what they termed as harassment by county askaris.

The deceased, a matatu driver was allegedly shot on the chest by prison warders at the market.

The matatu operators had barricaded all roads and lit bonfires leading into the busy market.

The chaos ensued for over 10 hours leading to major traffic snarl up in the town.

According to Standard Digital, the irate matatu operators destroyed county revenue collecting tolls and offices forcing the revenue collectors to flee for safety.

The protests took a deadly turn after the operators blocked a Kenya Prisons bus which was transporting inmates from Siaya to Kisumuand tried to set free the prisoners.

The armed prison warders were forced to retaliate by opening fire that left one of the drivers dead and five others nursing bullet wounds.

The injured were rushed to Coptic Hospital in Maseno and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Hospital.

Here is part of the video of the chaos.
The two will be boarding a flight to Zimbabwe at 1.45 PM, where they will be attending the burial of Morgan Tsavingirai.

The duo will be joining National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga who is at Harare for the burial.

On Tuesday morning, Mr Orengo expressed disappointment after being blocked from traveling over claims that his passports had been revoked.
Four finalists for dean of the College of Education will be on Purdue's West Lafayette campus for two-day interviews in February and March, the search committee announced today (Feb. 20).

Chris Ladisch, dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences and chair of the search committee, said that as part of the process, each finalist will make a 30-minute public presentation and then take questions from the audience.

"We have four excellent candidates, Ladisch says. I encourage faculty, staff and students to take this opportunity to hear from each of them."

Feedback on the candidates is requested, and an online tool will be provided on the candidate website at https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aaBWuAyyl0URGIZ. The link will be live after the first candidate's presentation.

Purdue's next dean of the College of Education will succeed Maryann Santos, who will step down from her deanship effective June 30.

Finalists and their presentation times are below. The candidates' full curriculum vitae are available at https://www.purdue.edu/provost/education-search-committee/index.html.

* Donald R. Easton-Brooks, dean, School of Education, University of South Dakota  Feb. 27 (T). 10 a.m. Lawson Computer Science Building, Room 1142.

* Reagan Curtis, chair, Department of Learning Sciences and Human Development, College of Education and Human Services, West Virginia University  March 2 (F). 11 a.m. Wilmeth Active Learning Center, Room 1087.

* Stacey Neuharth-Pritchett, associate dean for academic programs, College of Education, University of Georgia  March 6 (T). 10 a.m. Lawson Computer Science Building, Room 1142.

* Nancy E. Marchand-Martella, chair, Department of Educational Psychology, Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education, University of Oklahoma  March 9 (F). 2 p.m. Lawson Computer Science Building, Room 1142.
Illness, repairs, weather cited for lower than expected participants.

The Cessna 182, center, flown by Jason Fiala of Littleton Colorado, departs Saturday from Tucumcari Municipal Airport as one of 24 fixed wing aircraft taking part in the first leg of the Route 66 Air Tour.

More than 20 fixed-wing aircraft landed at Tucumcari Municipal Airport on Friday for the first leg of the Route 66 Air Tour.

"We had half of the expected pilots cancel on us," said Richard L. Perry, tour coordinator. "Despite that, this was a successful run."

Perry said a combination of illness, repairs and weather was responsible for the low number of participants in the tour, the first since 2012. He said the tour brought in pilots from all across the country. We had interest from pilots as far away as Iowa and Illinois, Perry added.

"This tour gave my wife Terry and I an opportunity to tour a part of Route 66 we had not seen yet," said Jason Fiala.

Fiala, a resident of Littleton, Colorado, said he has been flying for 14 years. In that time he and his wife have toured the eastern portions of Route 66.

"We are a bit out of the way here in Tucumcari, but this tour was close to home," Fiala said.

The Air Tour kicked off Saturday with the 24 pilots departing Tucumcari with scheduled landings at airports in Santa Rosa, Las Vegas, Moriarty, and Grants before ending at Winslow.

The tour commemorated both the 90th anniversary of the establishment of Route 66 in New Mexico, and Gov. Susana Martinez's proclamation of February as Aviation Appreciation Month.

The Air Tour was organized by Chapter 179 of the Experimental Aircraft Association in Albuquerque, with the assistance of the Aviation Division of the New Mexico Department of Transportation and the New Mexico Pilots Association.

"I am a member of the EAA and wanted to bring out my Light Sport Aircraft to show my support," said Vicki Sensonig, Tucumcari resident.

Sensonig said she built the Challenger II Light Sport Aircraft that she flew and landed Saturday at the Airport. She said while she is not taking part in the tour, she would give rides to those spectators looking to get a "bird's eye view" of the tour.
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Suspension of case against Moscow 2012 riot case defendant Buchenkov upheld

 Lyudmila Klenko, RAPSI

11:26 20/02/2018

MOSCOW, February 20 (RAPSI)  The Moscow City Court has dismissed an appeal against a lower courts ruling to suspend proceedings against Dmitry Buchenkov, who stands charged with participation in the riots on Bolotnaya Square in Moscow on May 6, 2012, because of his disappearance, the courts press service has told RAPSI.

As reported earlier, the defendant, who was under house arrest, once failed to appear at the Bolotnaya case hearing. He was put on the international wanted list, and his house arrest was replaced with detention. The case was suspended.

Prosecutors believe that Buchenkov has fled to Europe.

In October 2016, final charges were brought against the defendant. He stands accused of participating in mass riots and attacking persons in a position of authority. There are 6 charge counts and 7 victims in the case against him, his lawyer Svetlana Sidorkina told RAPSI earlier.

Buchenkov pleaded not guilty. His attorneys insisted that he was out of Moscow on the day of riots. According to defense lawyers, Buchenkov has an alibi.

Initially, Buchenkov was put in jail. In March, the Moscow City Court replaced his detention with the house arrest.

Over 400 people were arrested, and scores were injured in the authorized Bolotnaya Square protest that turned violent in May 2012. Dozens were later charged with inciting mass riots and battery against law enforcement officers.

Riot organizers Leonid Razvozzhayev and Sergey Udaltsov were sentenced to 4.5 years in prison each. Other defendants in the case received prison terms ranging from suspended sentences to four years. Several defendants were pardoned; two activists were sent to compulsory mental treatment.

The convicts supporters believe that the riots were provoked by police.
Number of prison inmates in Russia drops nearly twofold since 2000  head of Supreme Court

 RIA Novosti, Ilya Pitalev

10:59 20/02/2018

MOSCOW, February 20 (RAPSI)  The number of inmates in Russian prisons has decreased 1.8 times during the last 17 years, Chairman of the Supreme Court of Russia Vyacheslav Lebedev has said at a seminar session of Russian courts chairmen.

According to Lebedev, in 2000, the number of inmates reached one million while today it is 602,000.

Lebedev noted that there is also a decrease in the number of crimes committed by children and teenagers. At the moment, correctional facilities hold 1,395 convicts, who did not reach the age of 18. Head of the Supreme Court suggested creation of special courts for this category of convicts.

At the seminar session Lebedev stated that in the last year the criminal liability was lifted from over 200,000 persons for various reasons. Overall, the number of sentences last year reached 740,000, the chairman added.

The seminar sessions goal is to summarize the work of courts of general jurisdiction and arbitration for 2017 and identifying the tasks facing the judicial system this year.
Prosecutor seeks to increase Nemtsov murder convicts sentence by 2 months

 press service of Moscow City Court

15:59 20/02/2018

MOSCOW, February 20 (RAPSI, Nikolay Merkulov)  A prosecutor on Tuesday asked Moscows Basmanny District Court to extend prison term for Temirlan Eskerkhanov, who had earlier received 14 years for killing Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, for 2 months on charges of insulting an investigator, RAPSI reported from the courtroom.

Eskerkhanov is charged with contempt of court expressed in an insult to the litigants.

The case was initiated because of Eskerkhanovs words heard by jurors. One of the words insulted the investigator; however, an expert evaluation has found no insult in the convicts speech, his lawyer Anna Byurchiyeva told RAPSI earlier.

The defendant has pleaded not guilty to insulting investigator Alexander Kamashev. Eskerkhanov insists that he is being tried unjustly.

In October 2017, sentence passed on murderers of Nemtsov took effect. The Moscow District Military Court gave the defendants prison terms varying from 11 to 20 years on July 13. The court ruled in accordance with the will of the jury panel founding all defendants guilty. Zaur Dadayev, Nemtsovs first-hand killer was sentenced to 20 years. Anzor Gubashev was sentenced to 19 years, Shadid Gubashev to 16 years, Temirlan Eskerkhanov to 14 years and Khamzat Bakhayev to 11 years. All defendants will serve their time in a high-security penal colony. The court fined defendants 100,000 rubles (about $1,700). Shadid and Anzor Gubashev, Eskerkhanov and Bakhayev were also subjected to additional restriction of freedom for two years.

In late June, jurors found all the defendants guilty of involvement in the politicians murder and illegal trafficking in firearms and ammunition. According to the verdict, they did not deserve leniency.

The jury panel stated that one of defendants, Dadayev, conspired with others, was stalking and collecting data on Nemtsov, prepared murder and killed the politician himself, shooting his victim at least six times from an unidentified gun.

Boris Nemtsov, 55, a prominent opposition politician, who held a number of high-ranking posts in the Russian government in the 1990s and in the 2000s joined the opposition, was shot down in the center of Moscow as he walked across a bridge near the Kremlin on the night of February 28, 2015.

Investigators believe that the conspirators had thoroughly prepared to commit this crime and spied on the victim.

Ruslan Mukhudinov, a former officer in Chechen Interior Ministry, is believed to be a mastermind of the murder. He was placed on the international wanted list in November 2015. Beslan Shavanov, who allegedly was also implicated in the crime, reportedly killed himself when police tried to arrest him.

Criminal prosecution of Shavanov was dismissed because of his death. Investigation into Mukhudinov is underway.
Russian Culture Ministry proposes to clarify procedure of blocking websites out of court

 Fotolia/ Stockdonkey

14:57 20/02/2018

MOSCOW, February 20 (RAPSI)  Russias Culture Ministry has prepared a bill clarifying a procedure of blocking websites out of court on the request of rights holders, the document published on the official website of judicial acts reads.

The bill specifies what information should be published on a website by its owner. If the website is owned by an individual, he or she has to disclose their full name and home address.

According to the bill, rights holders may send a note stating that their rights were violated not only to a website owner but also to an Internet hosting provider. Rights holders may also file a claim with the Russian media watchdog Roskomnadzor asking to restrict access to a website if neither a website owner nor a hosting provider took any measures to remove the contested information. Also, rights holders may file this claim if a website has no information that allows them to send a note to the abovementioned parties.

Roskomnadzor is to notify a website owner and/or a hosting provider within 24 hours after receiving a claim from a right owner, the bill reads. The agency is to take measures if neither a website owner nor a hosting provider takes any measures within 24 hours after receiving a notification from Roskomnadzor. After the website is blocked the agency is to notify the parties about it.
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Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE Winners Circle Resort Solano Beach, California FREE CLOSING!! Buyers First Year Available: 2019 Usage: Annual Fixed Week 27 Unit: Studio, 1 Bathroom, Partial Kitchen, Sleeps 2 Deeded As Unit # 172, Week # 27 Check In: Saturday Estimated 2019 Maintenance Fee: $760.00 Due December 1st, 2018 Special Assessments: $0.00 Estimated 2019 Property Tax: $69.00 - Owner Is Billed By County (First Payment Dec 2018) Deeded Perpetual Ownership All fees are due in ...

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Briana DeJesus gave an update Sunday following her latest plastic surgeries.

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The 23-year-old "Teen Mom 2" star showed off her "progress" on Twitter after undergoing a tummy tuck, breast lift and other procedures earlier this month.

DeJesus wore a bra and leggings in a series of photos of her body transformation. The star referred to herself as a "Skinny Minnie," saying she has "no more big butt" and "no more big boobs either."

"18 days post op! Progress!!!! Can't wait to hit the gym next month!" she captioned the post.

DeJesus' doctor, Dr. Miami, had detailed the star's procedures in an interview with E! News this month. He praised DeJesus for openly discussing her plastic surgeries on social media.

"I did a tummy tuck, a breast lift with an implant exchange because she did have implants from before," Dr. Miami said. "And we also did some contouring and reshaping of her booty of her shape overall."

"I am happy that she's sharing her journey with the world because there are a lot of moms that want mommy makeovers and they're scared," he added.

"Seeing somebody that they know, even if it's through social media, go through it is helpful as far as educating people about it."

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DeJesus is mom to 6-year-old daughter Nova, and welcomed her second daughter, Stella, in July.

She said in January that her split from Javi Marroquin, her co-star Kailyn Lowry's ex-husband, was in part due to a disagreement over her plastic surgeries.

"He doesn't want me to get my surgery for a breast lift, lipo and tummy tuck ... because it'll look bad on his name at work," the star told Blasting News at the time.

DeJesus came to fame on the MTV series "Teen Mom 3," and joined "Teen Mom 2" in Season 8. The show co-stars Lowry, Jenelle Evans, Leah Messer and Chelsea Houska.
USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue, second from left, visited Porterville Citrus on Wednesday, accompanied by California Citrus and Sunkist representatives. Perdue also visited with citrus laborers.
Limit your investment in cryptocurrencies and make sure you have current holdings in your own custody until the regulatory cloud blows over, experts tell Sanjay Kumar Singh.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

Cryptocurrencies are currently under regulatory fire from several directions. Until there is greater certainty about their status, investors need to exercise caution in dealing in this asset class.

Towards the end of December last year, the finance ministry said cryptocurrencies were not legal tender and had no regulatory permission or protection, and that investors dealing in them were doing so at their own risk.

The ministry added there was a real risk of an investment bubble in them of the type seen in ponzi schemes, with investors risking a sudden and prolonged crash.

The income-tax department has sent notices to thousands of people investing in cryptocurrencies, asking them to pay tax on capital gains, and reveal their holdings and source of funds.

The Registrar of Companies has stopped registering businesses that have names indicating that they will deal in cryptocurrencies.

Most recently, the Reserve Bank of India (asked banks to step up scrutiny of financial transactions by companies and exchanges dealing in cryptocurrencies. It did not explicitly ask banks to stop dealing in them, but its warning could cause many to close down their accounts.

Says Ashish Agarwal, founder of Bitsachs, a cryptocurrency exchange: "The regulators have to decide whether to allow cryptocurrencies. At present there is no clarity, so banks are uncertain about what to do."

One point in favour of Indian cryptocurrency exchanges is that many of those do complete KYC (Know Your Customer) before opening an account.

"We ask for Aadhaar, the PAN card, and a cancelled cheque from customers," says Agarwal. Hence, the fear that one can trade anonymously in cryptocurrencies does not exist for customers of these exchanges.

In the light of the RBI's warning, each bank is likely to do its own assessment.

The more risk-averse ones may stop dealing with cryptocurrency exchanges, but others may decide that if an entity does adequate KYC and is well-capitalised, the risk in dealing with it is acceptable.

The bigger risk, say experts, is for customers who trade on international exchanges.

According to Udbhav Tiwari, policy officer at the Centre for Internet and Society, Bengaluru, "Most of the trading in initial coin offerings (ICOs) happens on exchanges situated abroad. In future, banks may not allow money to go from your account to that of the exchange, or in the opposite direction."

"Since these exchanges are foreign entities," Tiwari adds, "Indian banks don't know what kind of KYC norms they follow. There is also a greater probability of illegal activities happening through them."

Investors need to tread with caution.

"Don't invest more than five per cent of your portfolio in cryptocurrencies at this juncture," says Agarwal.

Given the high risks in ICOs, which do operate like ponzi schemes -- promoters and early investors make money since there is a rise in prices.

Those who come later bear the losses when markets fall due to various reasons, including regulatory risks.

Risk-averse investors should encash their cryptocurrencies right away.

Any profits made should be reported and tax paid on them.

Those who have some risk appetite may hold on to their cryptocurrencies, but not buy more.

Only those with a high risk appetite should add to their positions.

"Since prices have fallen, this is a good time to enter bitcoin," says Agarwal.

Some promoters of exchanges may wilt under regulatory pressure and decide to shut down their business.

Investors who have stored their cryptocurrencies in their exchange's wallet should take possession of them.

"Have the private keys in your own custody. If your exchange closes down, you will be able to sell your holdings on another exchange," says Tiwari.

"But if you don't have the private keys and the exchange shuts down, you could well lose your holdings."
In its letter, finance ministry has pointed to sections 35, 35A and 36 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, to highlight the powers and functions of the RBI as regulator

The Union government has shot off a letter to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on the alleged Rs 11,400-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, asking whether at any stage the banking regulator had detected the fraud, involving letters of undertaking (LoUs) issued to foreign branches of Indian banks on behalf of companies promoted by Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi.

Under the Banking Regulation Act, the RBI has a major role related to inspection, regulation, audit and the oversight of banks. We have written to the RBI, asking how the alleged scam, which had been going on for years, went undetected, and whether the regulator exercised its role under the law, an official said on condition of anonymity.

The governments missive comes days after the chief economic advisor (CEA), Arvind Subramanian, raised questions over external controls of the RBI.

In its letter, the finance ministry has pointed to sections 35, 35A and 36 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, to highlight the powers and functions of the RBI as regulator.

The ministry has also asked the RBI whether it has inspected the banks involved in the alleged scam to secure compliance through Section 12 of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999.

It has further asked the central bank to review its present rules and regulations as a follow-up action so that such incidents do not recur, according to sources.

So far, the RBI has issued one public statement, blaming the internal controls of PNB for the alleged fraud.

The fraud in PNB is a case of operational risk arising on account of delinquent behaviour by one or more employees of the bank, and the failure of internal controls.

"The RBI has already undertaken a supervisory assessment of control systems in PNB and will take appropriate supervisory action, it said on February 16.

The government has said the RBI has the mandate to inspect any bank, its books and accounts under Section 35 of the Banking Regulation Act.

The RBI at any point of time can scrutinise a bank and its books. We have asked whether the regulator did so, and if it is planning to initiate any action under the law, the official quoted above said.

The government has also said the RBIs role is to caution or prohibit banks from entering into any transaction and give advice to the banks from time to time.

The regulator has to obtain reports from banks through its appointed officers in the manner in which affairs of a bank or its officer are being conducted. Has it sought any such report? the finance ministry has asked the RBI, according to sources.

The RBI needs to scrutinise the returns, statements and information furnished by banks under the BR Act, the ministry has said in the letter.

Referring to the PNB fraud, the CEA said on Saturday, If recent events have suggested that public sector banks internal controls are not strong enough, the question arises whether external controls in the form of regulation and supervision by the regulator have also been strong enough?

In an interview to Business Standard, the CEA asked why the RBI did not follow up on the recommendations of former deputy governor SS Mundra that asked for the integration of banks' core banking system with SWIFT - a global financial messaging system.

Photograph: Saumya Khandelwal/Reuters
Documents accessed by Business Standard show owners of suspected Hong Kong-based shell companies are spread across the globe.

Documents accessed by Business Standard show some of the Hong Kong-based entities to which at least $45 million was paid in less than a week this month at the behest of Nirav Modi with the connivance of Punjab National Bank officials have owners spread across the globe.

The places in question range from Surat in India to Taipei in Taiwan to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, and Hong Kong.

While much has been said about Modi and business associate Mehul Choksi in the multi-billion dollar fraud, there is little clarity on some of the entities to which these huge sums were paid by Hong Kong-based Indian banks.

These entities are under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation, in a global search to put together pieces of what is turning out to be the biggest financial scam in Indias corporate history.

A facsimile was sent to the offices of the company secretaries of these entities but no response was received till the time of publication. The responses of the individuals and entities will be published once received.

One of the companies is Aura Gems, from which Modis companies allegedly imported diamonds worth several million dollars. Though based in Hong Kong, this is owned by an Indian national named Shailesh Sonu Mehta. Documents show he operates the company from Dubai. His apartment is in a well-known residential area on the western side of the creek, in what is popularly known as Bur Dubai.

While Mehta is the sole shareholder in Aura, owning over 8.5 million shares, another man named Nareshkumar Divyeshkumar Gandhi is a director in the company. Gandhi is a Hong Kong national and currently at an apartment, LunaTowers, in the Kowloon district there. Aura Gems is located on the ninth floor of a building called Peninsula Square, a 10-minute drive from Gandhis residence.

Aura allegedly received millions of dollars from the Hong Kong branches of Allahabad Bank and Axis Bank, upon receiving dubious Letters of undertaking (LoUs) from an Indian branch of PNB. According to the CBIs FIR, along with other Dubai-based companies, Aura received close to $32 million as payments for exporting diamonds to Modis companies that included Solar Exports and Diamonds 4 US.

The second Hong Kong-based company in question that received money for exporting diamonds to Modis India-based companies was Sino Traders. Documents show a Taiwanese national named Min Tung Li is the owner. Min, based in Taipei, held eight million shares in Sino Traders. The company was operating out of a building in central Hong Kong and its office was barely a kilometre from the branches of Axis and Allahabad Bank.

The LoUs on the basis of which over $28 million was paid to Sino Traders, along with other Dubai-based companies, were also issued by PNB this month. On February 9, an LoU of almost $4.5 million was issued to Allahabad Banks Hong Kong branch, to be paid to Sino Traders, listed as one of the overseas exporters, On February 12, two LoUs of a little more than $12 million were received by the same branch for payment to Sino.

On February 14, two LoUs of almost $12 million were received by Axis Hong Kong branch. In some of these transactions, both Aura Gems and Sino Traders were to receive the money for exporting diamonds to Modis companies in India.

Documents also show a Hong Kong-based entity named Sunshine Gems, listed as one of the diamond exporters to Modis companies, can be traced back to the diamond hub of Surat in India. Although the company operates out of the seventh floor of a trade tower in Hong Kongs commercial Kowloon district, its owner is a Gujarati named Mohandas Ashishkumar Lad, residing in the Keshav Nagar locality of Surat.

Lad is the sole owner of Sunshine Gems, with eight million shares. Sunshine is one of the youngest companies named in the complaint filed with the CBI. Records show it was incorporated in 2013 in Hong Kong. Sunshine, along with other companies, were made payments to the tune of a little over $28 million by the Hong Branches of Allahabad Bank and Axis Bank, after receiving LoUs from the Indian branch of PNB.
Breaking his silence over the Rs 11,400 crore fraud at Indias second-biggest bank, Punjab National Bank, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday said the state will chase down cheaters to the end even as he took the management of the lender to task for its failure to check the delinquents.

Without naming either the alleged kingpin of the fraud, billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi, or Punjab National Bank, Jaitley questioned the ethics of some businesses in the country and asked as to why the banks internal and external auditors could not detect the fraud which had been going on for 7 long years.

It is incumbent on us as a state, till the last legitimate capacity of the state, to chase these people (fraudsters) to the last possible conclusion to make sure the country is not cheated, he said.

Modi, whose diamond creations have draped Hollywood stars such as Kate Winslet and Dakota Johnson, and firms linked to him are alleged to have acquired fraudulent letters of undertaking from one PNB branch in Mumbai between 2011 and 2017 to obtain loans from Indian banks overseas. Investigative agencies have raided Modis properties and arrested bank employees.

Jaitley said the government had been step by step addressing issues like high-level of bad debts and need for more capital, but the effort has been put to challenge with the unravelling of the fraud.

He reminded the public sector banks that Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave managements the autonomy they needed with none from the government calling.

When authority is given to the managements you are expected to utilise that authority effectively and in a right manner. Therefore the question for the management itself is were they found lacking? And on the face of it the answer seems yes they were, he said.

The lenders, he said, were unable to check who amongst them were delinquent.

He went on to ask what the auditors were doing.

Both internal and external auditors really have looked the other way or failed to detect, he said.

Chartered accountants and those who control the discipline should start introspection and say what legitimate actions are to be taken, he said.

And also there is an important challenge where the supervisory agencies are now to introspect as what are the additional mechanisms they have to put in place to ensure that stray cases dont become a pattern again, he said. And stray cases are nipped in the bud and an example be made out of people that these bad examples itself are never to be repeated.

Jaitley said frauds have a cost to the country as well as to the tax payer.

Its a direct cost and it has an indirect cost that it impinges on development, which impinges on the lending capacity of banks as an institution and therefore impinges upon developmental finance, he said.

On the banking sector, the finance minister said financing for trade and businesses increases when banks have the ability to lend.

This ability over the past few years has faced challenges in increased bad debt or NPAs. One of the direct consequences of this was that the ability of the state to spend and lend even for developmental activities itself will get curtailed, he said.

After struggling to find solution, the government finally hit upon the right point through the insolvency and bankruptcy code that provides for recovery of due amounts through sale of assets of defaulters.

Jaitley said initial response to the Code has been encouraging.

Also, he said, government is infusing an unprecedented Rs 2.11 lakh crore capital in the banks.

That decision itself as some of my friends in Parliament described also had moral issues because at the end of the day when NPAs become unacceptably high, you expect the taxpayer really to fund what unprincipled sections of the industry have been able to take out, he said.

Stating that though there is a moral hazard in that kind of solution, he said there was no other option and government had to take that difficult course itself.

As it seems, situation appeared to be coming on track (but) you have now again emerging challenges, he said. Therefore these emerging challenges eventually all strike at one of the big purposes, which is development and growth and the need for developmental banks itself. And the need for the increasing the capacity of the developmental finance itself. Any such system of banking really functions on trust.

That trust is inherent in the lender-creditor relationship. I think that relationship in India blurred itself out when a section, not so ethical a section perhaps thought that it was not its responsibility to pay back. And therefore we had to come back with hard solutions, he added.
In a major development in the Punjab National Bank-Nirav Modi fraud case, the Central Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday arrested president, finance, Firestar International Pvt Ltd, Vipul Ambani.

IMAGE: Searches and raids into the PNB-Nirav Modi scam continued for the sixth continuous day. On Tuesday, five other officials from Nirav Modi-related companies were arrested as well as some more PNB officials. Photograph: Shashank Parade/PTI Photo

The law enforcement body also arrested Kavita Mankikar, executive assistant and authorised signatory of the three accused firms.

Arjun Patil, senior executive, Firestar group; Kapil Khandelwal, chief financial officer, Nakshatra group, and Niten Shahi, manager, Gitanjali have also been detained.

Mumbais Special CBI court earlier sent Bechu Tiwari, Yashwant Joshi, and Praful Sawant to police custody till March 3.

Bechhu Tiwari, the then chief manager in the forex department; Yashwant Joshi, scale-II manager in the forex department; and Praful Sawant, scale-I officer handling the exports section, were arrested on Monday.

The CBI insisted that the present accused were not cooperating in the investigation and were shifting all the blame on Gokulnath Shetty, the retired deputy manager of Punjab National Banks foreign exchange department at the Brady House in Fort in Mumbai, and others in this case.

I-T raids 20 premises linked to Choksi

IMAGE: Punjab National Bank officials, arrested in connection with the multi-thousand crore rupees fraud involving diamantaire Nirav Modi, being produced at the Special CBI court in Mumbai on Tuesday. Photograph: Shashank Parade

The Income Tax Department on Tuesday raided 20 premises linked to Gitanjali Gems promoter Mehul Choksi and suspected shell firms in connection with an alleged tax evasion case against them, official sources said.

They said the searches, launched about 4 pm, were being conducted in Mumbai, Pune, Surat, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and a few other cities against 13 companies linked to Choksi, his jewellery firm Gitanjali Gems and others.

Sources said the action was being undertaken to check the activities of some shell firms allegedly routing funds in this case.

The I-T department found that in the context of these entities that are being searched on Tuesday, huge investments were made in assets from unaccounted sources, diversion and layering of funds was done after these were received as loans from sources having doubtful creditworthiness as no interest has been paid on loans, an official said.

Twenty premises are being raided by a team of over 110 I-T sleuths, the sources said.

The department had recently attached the bank accounts and other assets of Choksi and the Gitanjali group.

IMAGE: Enforcement Directorate seize cash, jewellery and bonds worth several crores after a raid at Gili jewellery store in relation to Nirav Modi-PNB scam in Thane. Photograph: PTI Photo

And the troubles for Nirav Modi continue to grow as the Income Tax department has slapped fresh charges under the new anti-black money law against him for allegedly holding an illegal asset abroad, official sources said.

According to them, this is the second overseas asset that the taxman suspects has not been disclosed to it by the diamantaire, who is suspected to have left India in January.

The Income Tax department had last week slapped sections of the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015 against Nirav Modi last week after it detected that a bank account in Singapore was allegedly held by him, which is not disclosed to the tax authorities.

The latest foreign asset is suspected to be a trust registered in Jersey, located near the coast of Normandy. The business trust is being probed for routing funds with alleged links to Modi.

The department is also probing two separate transfer of funds -- Rs 284 crore from Cyprus and Rs 271 crore from Singapore -- to a firm linked to the diamantaire in India.

The income tax department, on February 16, had provisionally attached 29 properties and 105 bank accounts of the diamond merchant, his family and firms as part of its tax evasion probe.

A total of 105 bank accounts of Modi, his family and companies have also been attached, they said.

The Punjab National Bank detected a $1.77 billion 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.

-- With inputs from ANI
'Jignesh Mevani has many strengths: Youth, articulation, fearlessness, proficiency with social media, political and ideological flexibility.'

'Also focus, as in targeting the BJP as the one and only enemy for now and using that justification to align with the rest,' says Shekhar Gupta.



IMAGE: Jigneesh Mevani, the firebrand Dalit leader from Gujarat. Photograph: PTI Photo

Is there a new Dalit factor unfolding in national politics?

Can what has lately been described as Dalit assertion disrupt politics in a heavily election-laden season?

And if so, does the rocket have the fuel to last until May 2019, or will it fizzle and burn out before that?

Further: Does Jignesh Mevani personify this new factor?

And next, who is he in political terms, a new Kanshi Ram, or a mere fizzle like Mahendra Singh Tikait or Colonel Kirori Singh Bainsla (retd)?

The Kanshi Ram phenomenon left a deep impact on heartland politics. The other two, despite wide Jat and Gujjar support at various points of time, faded away.

Dalits are approximately 16.6 per cent of the Indian electorate. That makes them a more powerful vote bank than the Muslims.

In the pre-1989 years, the Congress could pretty much take them for granted except in some states such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala and later West Bengal.

As with the backward castes and Muslims, the Congress started losing this vote there on.

Unlike the Muslims though, Dalits never voted strategically or with a singular purpose of electing one party or keeping another out of power.

This helped the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

In many key states, including Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the Dalit vote went to parties other than the Congress which suited the BJP.

Some, attracted to Narendra D Modi, started drifting to the BJP too.

Because the Dalit vote became so divided, it lost much of its weight.

Again unlike the Muslims, the Dalit vote is so widely scattered that it lacks the same ability to shift electoral fortunes in most states, barring Uttar Pradesh.

On paper, the Dalit voter percentage is the highest in Punjab (32 per cent) but a large number of these are Sikh and political contests in that two-party state aren't really on caste lines.

At the same time, if a bulk of this vote shifts to any one side in any state, it tilts the balance.

The list of questions we posed early on, therefore, distils neatly into one: Is today's Dalit assertion and its leadership, namely young Jignesh Mevani, capable of bringing about that consolidation? That will be Disruption.

The potential rise of Mevani can check one essential box: A charismatic leader with pan-state appeal.

Since Dalits are quite evenly spread across the mainland, a party needs a leader to rally them.

Until the mid-1970s, Babu Jagjivan Ram did that for the Congress party. Since then, the Congress' failure to produce and empower a Dalit leader is its biggest failure.

We know that its Leader of the House in the Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, is a Dalit, but he is neither empowered, nor charismatic. The BJP does even more poorly here.

India is at an interesting juncture when the minorities, Dalits and tribals do not have any key central ministries or chief ministerships, states such as Jammu and Kashmir and the north east and the symbolic Presidency excepted.

This is what creates Mevani's opportunity. The Modi-Shah BJP is astute enough to see this threat.

Further, they have the mindset of an all-conquering superpower, so they would like to finish a likely threat as early as possible.

Mevani rose in the wake of the Una atrocity, as a limited, local, Gujarat phenomenon.

Given that the Dalit population in that state isn't particularly large, wasn't taken seriously as a political player. His initial politics seemed overwhelmed by a JNU-ite ideology that abhors electoral politics.

This changed once he decided to contest. Then he aligned with a national party, in fact the most bourgeoisie party of all.

As an MLA in Gujarat, he counts for many more than one. It also gives him the legitimacy to take the message to other states. He began with Maharashtra earlier last month.

Mevani has many strengths: Youth, articulation, fearlessness, proficiency with social media, political and ideological flexibility.

Also focus, as in targeting the BJP as the one and only enemy for now and using that justification to align with the rest.

He also has some weaknesses. He comes from a smaller state, still carries the weight of a pronounced Left tilt that never works in the mainland outside of the Republic of JNU and a couple of other central campuses.

There is, however, a precedent of a Dalit leader like him hailing from a smaller state but building a formidable politics in India's largest: Kanshi Ram.

Kanshi Ram, a Punjabi (from Rup Nagar or Ropar district near Chandigarh) also appeared on the scene from an unconventional place.

He was a scientist in a Defence Research and Development Organisation lab, started reading Ambedkar and built a pan-national union of scheduled caste, backward and minority employees, BAMCEF (the All India Backward SC/ST/OBC And Minority Communities Employees Federation).

We saw him initially as a headline-hunter.

In the unstable late-1980s he brought together diverse groups, including Sikh separatists, on his platform and attracted crowds.

But nobody saw him as more than a nuisance. Soon enough he had outgrown and dropped them, much as Arvind Kejriwal dropped Anna Hazare, and Mevani, if his politics has to grow, might have to dump Umar Khalid.

As Kanshi Ram realised 30 years ago, there's no Dalit politics unless you are rooted in the heartland, and it can't grow in conflict with nationalism, or even religion.

Neither he, nor Mayawati dissed Hinduism or converted to Buddhism.

As he would tell us at his baithaks, his 'fight was not with Hindu gods, but with Manuwadis' who denied them to Dalits.

Why would we leave our gods to them, that's what they want, he would say.

And Gautam Buddha? The Manuwadis will simply put his busts in their temples as one more to their pantheon of 'teytees karod' (330 million). 'Kya farak padta hai ek aur se?' (How does one more make a difference?)

His first big political arrival was in the historic Allahabad by-election in the summer of 1988.

V P Singh had resigned from Rajiv Gandhi's Cabinet and the Lok Sabha, accusing him of accepting kickbacks in the Bofors deal and was seeking re-election from Allahabad, vacated by Amitabh Bachchan, in the wake of the same scandal.

It was our first exposure to his kind of plain-speaking Dalit politics.

'You've lived like animals for 40 years,' he would say, 'I have come to make you human.'

Three things, however, stood out in the campaign and the politics he constructed later, installing his protege Mayawati in power thrice in Uttar Pradesh.

One, he dumped anybody seen even vaguely to be a separatist, from Simranjit Singh Mann to Subhas Ghisingh.

Second, that he repeatedly stated the nationalist and martial credentials of his family: Eight ancestors in World War I, two in the second and two para commando cousins killed in Operation Bluestar.

His campaign was organised on military lines: Painting brigade, pamphlet brigade, even a begging squad whose members went to Dalit bastis with cans to collect small change as contributions.

The money doesn't matter, he told us. It's just that 'once a sweeper gives us a rupee, he will reject a thousand from the Congress to vote for them'.

The third, and the most important, he spread the tent wider, attracting other groups under the definition of Bahujan Samaj.

That's how he created the slogan, vote hamara, raj tumhara/nahin chalega, nahin chalega (Our vote and your rule? Won't work, won't work).

Later, he and Mayawati realised that to get power they had to co-opt the Muslims and some upper castes too.

This is what brought them power. It isn't an easy playbook, but it's a playbook nevertheless.

Kanshi Ram was a single-minded political genius, a kind of Dalit Kautilya with Mayawati as his Chandragupta.

Does Mevani have the same skills, talent, single-mindedness and ambition to shift to the heartland? We don't know yet, but it explains to you why the BJP and the conservative Hindu elites worry about him.

By Special Arrangement with ThePrint.
'Women were not allowed in the Territorial Army before January 5, 2018.'

'Girls are not allowed to be admitted to Sainik Schools and Rashtriya Military schools.'

'Women are not allowed in army education corps, and in engineering services' (as permanent commission).

'Women can't be religious preachers in the army.'

'There is a need to change with time.'



IMAGE: Women soldiers march in the Republic Day parade. Photograph: PTI Photo

Advocate Kush Kalra filed a Public Interest Litigation against the Territorial Army's discriminatory rule that prevented women from joining the TA, an organisation of gainfully employed, physically able Indian citizens for voluntary military service.

As a result of the PIL, the court paved the way for women's entry to the Territorial Army after 70 years.

Kalra 30, has also filed a PIL against the discrimination faced by married women being inducted into JAG, the legal branch of the army.

So far, he has filed six PILs on gender discrimination against the army and navy, including the bar on admitting girls into Sainik Schools, discrimination faced by women in the army education corps and engineering services -- and also in some branches of the navy.

Kalra tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih why he takes up the causes he does and why the military needs to change with the times.

It was because of a PIL filed by you that the high court made way for the entry of women in the Territorial Army. Is it correct that you filed this PIL because you saw the Centre's recruitment ad that only called for male candidates?

The Territorial Army Act, 1948 provides for the recruitment of only males in the Territorial army.

I found this clause to be discriminatory against the Constitutional provisions and the court on January 5, 2018, after 70 years, paved the way for recruitment of women in the Territorial Army.

The judgment can be read here (external link.

Have you met women who wanted to join the Territorial Army, but couldn't because of this rule?

I have met many women who wish to join the Territorial Army, but could not pursue their dreams because of the discriminatory rule. Now I am happy that all the women who are eligible to apply as per rules can apply for the same.

What made you file another PIL (Public Interest Litigation) against the discrimination faced by married women being inducted into JAG (Judge Advocate General), the legal branch of the army?

In the 2014, when I carefully read the JAG advertisement, I found that it provides for recruitment of only unmarried females in contrast to married/unmarried males leaving the married women behind.

I found this practice to be discriminatory as per article 14, 16 and 19(1)(g) of the Constitution. After carefully analysing all the legal angles, through advocate Jyotika Kalra (currently, a member of the National Human Rights Commission who appeared pro bono) I filed this PIL.

Why do you think there is such a rule -- because the military seems quite open to women in military service? Is it because it is an old rule in the books that has not been changed or has been overlooked?

Presently girls are not allowed to be admitted to Sainik Schools and Rashtriya Military schools.

Women were not allowed in the Territorial Army before January 5, 2018.

Women are not allowed in army education corps, which is a permanent commission and does not recruit women as of now.

Women are also not allowed in engineering services (as permanent commission).

Women can't be religious preachers in the army.

There is a need to change with time.

Were you approached by women who had been denied entry into JAG to file the PIL or you did it on your own volition?

I proceeded with this PIL as I found in this case that prohibiting the entry of married women is a clear violation of fundamental rights available to women under the Constitution.

I filed the PIL in the JAG case on May 6, 2016.

In your petition, you call it 'institutionalised discrimination' against women. What is the existing practice in JAG? Are only unmarried women appointed? Are they asked to leave on getting married?

The recruitment policy of the Indian Army to recruit married/unmarried males and only unmarried females has been termed 'institutionalised discrimination'.

From 2016 they only recruited unmarried/married males and only unmarried females, but the new advertisement of JAG 2018 clearly mentions that they have put a bar of marriage for (both) men and women.

Currently only unmarried males/females can apply for JAG. Now they have put a bar of marriage on both males and females.

Also before 2018 in JAG, 10 seats were available for men and only 4 were for women.

In the new advertisement, women have been given 7 seats and men have been given 7 seats, and the petition is still pending before the honourable Delhi high court.

Any law graduate can apply for JAG.

What is the JAG policy in other countries?

There is no discrimination on the basis of marital status in other countries while doing recruitment for JAG officers.

The Delhi high court has asked the army to present a legal stand rather than file an affidavit in response -- what does this mean?

When the army was not able to justify its stand for non recruitment of married women, they put a bar of marital status in current JAG advertisement. This needs to be clarified by the army before the court.

What difference have PILs made in the country?

PILs have been of great importance in India. It can be satisfactorily seen from 1960 till date that many important rights of the citizens of India were enforced by the courts through PILs.

When you file a PIL, what is the cost incurred?

PIL means public interest litigation. It has to be done without any monetary benefit.



IMAGE: Kush Kalra presents a book written by him to Attorney General K K Venugopal, under whom he interned for a month in 2012.

Kalra has received the Youth Award from the ministry of youth affairs and has published 13 books on law. He has practiced as an advocate in the Delhi high court for 5 years.

What have been some of the reactions/feedback you have received (from women and men) after the judgment cleared the way for women's entry into the Territorial Army?

My friends told me that it was a landmark judgment in the sense that it had highlighted the gender discriminatory practises prevalent in society even in the 21st century.

The judgment just came last month. By when do you think we will see women joining the Territorial Army?

Even I am waiting for that day.

As a result of another PIL by you, stating that girls are not admitted to Sainik Schools and Rashtriya Military Schools, which are run by the defence ministry, the Delhi high court has asked the Centre for a response.

What makes you take up causes for girls/women, especially in the military?

Our Constitution prohibits gender discrimination and I as a citizen of India feel my duty to raise issues where gender discrimination is involved.

Set up by the first defence minister, Sainik Schools have been around for over 60 years. Why do you think such a discrimination was not noticed/taken into account or corrected by the government?

Girls are always neglected when it comes to joining the army.

The case is pending before the court.

How many PILs have you filed?

Six on the issues of gender discrimination in the army and navy.

What, according to you, are the pluses and minuses of the Indian legal system?

Delay in justice is a cause of worry for all of us.

We need to fill the judges' vacancies at all levels.

Who are the legal luminaries you admire?

I admire our current Attorney General Shri K K Venugopal the most.

During the days of my internship under him I have learnt that age is just numbers and hard work can lead to success in life.

What are the leading high points of the Constitution that are unique and provide safeguards to its citizens?

I am trying to write a commentary on Constitutional law.

My love for the Constitution is based on the fact how our Constitution makers have separated the legislature, executive and judiciary under the Constitution.

That is the reason the Indian Constitution is the best workable Constitution around the world.
The Andhra Pradesh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party has suggested to its central leadership to break ties with the Telugu Desam Party before the latter does it, but felt the TDP was "not in a position" to walk out of the alliance now, a state minister said.

The state BJP also suggested that a public meeting be held in which Finance Minister Arun Jaitley would place "all facts" before the people about what the Centre did for the state in the last four years, he said.

"These were the two options we gave to our central leadership. The BJP loses nothing if it breaks the alliance with the TDP," state Endowments Minister P Manikyala Rao told reporters in an informal chat in Amaravati.

"The bond should be broken, if required, before the TDP does it," he said.

He, however, felt that the TDP was "not in a position" to sever ties with the BJP now.

The BJP and the TDP that share power both at the Centre and in the state have been at loggerheads ever since the Union Budget was presented on February 1.

The TDP, which is unhappy over the allocation of funds to the state, had attacked the Centre for doing "injustice" to AP.

The minister said efforts were on to hold the public meeting with Jaitley, possibly in Vijayawada, to explain the quantum of financial assistance the Centre has granted to the state.

"We are trying to do this before the state Budget session starts on March 5, the day when Parliament Budget Session, too, resumes," he added.

Rao, who is one of the two BJP ministers in the Chandrababu Naidu Cabinet, said they were ready to quit their posts if their central leadership directed them to do so.

"We have smartphones in hand and it will take only a couple of minutes to e-mail our resignation letters," he said.

Our allies in some states have left us. If one goes, another one is ready to join us," the minister said.

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday said that he was ready to move a no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government with the support of other parties to get "justice" for the southern state.

However, he said such a move will be the "last resort".

Earlier, Naidu had dismissed the demands made by the opposition YSR Congress and Jana Sena to consider bringing a no-trust motion.

TDP sources had said Naidu, who heads the TDP, was planning to convene an all-party meeting soon to discuss ways to build pressure on the Centre to secure the state's "rightful" due.

"But, a no-confidence motion should be the last resort. We will continue our fight for justice to AP. If that doesn't happen, we will muster support from other parties and move the no-trust motion," the Telugu Desam Party president announced at meeting of Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti in Vijayawada.

Naidu said protecting the interests of the state was of paramount importance for him.

"The Centre did nothing for us in the last four years. As Chief Minister, I will not tolerate if injustice is done to people. Whether they (the Centre) will help us with a special category status or a special economic package is up to them," he said.

The main opposition YSR Congress and the Jana Sena wanted the TDP to move the no-confidence motion demanding that the Centre grant special category status to AP.

While dismissing their demand, Naidu had said that the Modi government enjoys "full majority".

YSRC president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy announced that his party would move the no-trust motion if the TDP did not do so.

"Does he (Jagan) have head and tail? If you move a no-confidence motion, they (BJP) have majority. It will be defeated and you can't talk anything for six months on the issue," the chief minister told reporters at the Polavaram project site this afternoon.

"First there should be a debate...we have to muster support...Injustice was done (to AP) right inside Parliament..Now we are demanding justice from the same Parliament. When our Minister (Y S Chowdary) demanded in Parliament that justice be done to the state, they (YSRC) demanded his dismissal (citing rules and procedures). Now they are talking about no-confidence," he said.

Naidu had said that provisions of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, and the promises made by the then prime minister Manmohan Singh in the Rajya Sabha have not been implemented yet.

"We are also part of India. When I say that, they (YSRC) say we will run away by resigning (from Parliament) or moving a no-confidence motion," Naidu said.

He had accused Jagan of trying to gain an "upper hand" to corner the TDP on the special category status issue.

"Without understanding Parliamentary procedures and traditions, he (Jagan) wants to show he took an upper hand and cornered the TDP and the government. What is that you cornered? People are watching everything," he said.

The chief minister said his government would take the lead to secure the state's rights from the Centre.

"....Let them come with us and cooperate. But they are asking us to follow them. Who are they? What's their history," he questioned.

Following the protests by Andhra Pradesh MPs in Parliament, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said that a formula will soon be worked out to release funds under a special package to Andhra Pradesh.

The MPs belonging to the TDP, YSR Congress and Congress had protested "non-implementation" of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, and demanded a financial package for the bifurcated state.
India is in talks with Australia, the United States and Japan about setting up a regional infrastructure scheme as an "alternative" to China's multi-billion dollar Belt and Road Initiative, according to a media report.

Touted as Chinese President Xi Jinping's ambitious project, the One Belt One Road initiative focuses on improving connectivity and cooperation among Asian countries, Africa, China and Europe.

The Australian Financial Review quoted a senior US official as saying that the plan of the four regional partners was still "nascent" and "won't be ripe enough to be announced during the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's US visit this week".

The US official who was not identified described that the plan as an "alternative" to the Belt and Road Initiative rather than a "rival", the report said.

Notably, India was the first country to object to One Belt One Road, part of which passes through the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. India has said that the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) violates India's sovereignty. Last year, India had skipped China's OBOR summit held in Beijing.

Following India's objections, many countries, including the US, have come out openly against China's OBOR.

"No one is saying China should not build infrastructure," the official said, adding "China might build a port which, on its own is not economically viable. We could make it economically viable by building a road or rail line linking that port".

Turnbull will be leaving for Washington on Wednesday for a three-day visit during which he will meet the US President Donald Trump and will be leading a delegation of state and territory leaders and business executives.

Meanwhile, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on Monday said that China was the largest trading partner for Australia and the OBOR was one option whereby nations could access funds for critical infrastructure.

"Australian government is acutely aware that we need significant investment in infrastructure, particularly in our region in the Indo-Pacific and One Belt, One Road is one option whereby nations can access more funds for critical infrastructure,'' she said.

"It's early days for the One Belt, One Road initiative, and we are obviously monitoring it closely. We are already working with China on a development project in Papua New Guinea, so we hope that we will be able to work more closely with China in driving economic, sustainable economic growth in our region," she said.

"Our concerns are to ensure that Pacific nations are not burdened with debt they cannot repay, that all transactions are transparent and that there is an appropriate level of governance. So we hope to work with China to ensure that infrastructure in our part of the world, particularly in the Pacific, adds to the sustainable economic growth of those countries," she said.

India, the US, Japan and Australia last year held their first official- level talks in Melbourne with a focus on keeping the Indo-Pacific region "free and open", seen as a move to counter China's aggressive behaviour in the area.

Image: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US President Donald Trump at the gala dinner ahead of the 31st ASEAN summit. Photograph: @narendramodi/Twitter
It will be tough for the Congress leader to return to the Upper House from either Telangana or Andhra, where the partys presence has dwindled. But neither House will forget her.

She once shocked everyone by saying that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu looks like a pickpocket standing at a bus stand and described film star-turned-politician Jaya Prada as a bimbo. She had dared policemen to arrest her and waged a war against the media.

Telugu Desam Party founder and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N T Rama Rao, widely known as NTR, once described her as the only man in TDP. Rani Rudramma Devi, Revolver Rani and Rajni of Rajya Sabha are the titles that the people of Andhra Pradesh have bestowed on her. It was due to her devil-may-care attitude that she was expelled twice from the TDP.

Thats Renuka Chowdhury.

Born in Visakhapatnam in 1954 into the family of an air commander, she got the opportunity to live in different parts of the country, learn several languages and understand various cultures.

She did her schooling from Punjab, passed Class 10 from New Delhi and went on to study further in Chennai and Bengaluru. She holds a diploma in marketing management, public relations and advertising. At the age of 21, she married Sridhar Chowdary, a businessman from Hyderabad. The couple has two daughters.

Renuka began her political career as a corporator from Banjara Hills, a posh area in Hyderabad. She joined the TDP in 1984 and was a Rajya Sabha member for two terms -- 1984-89 and 1992-98.

In 1993, she fought a by-election from the Panyam assembly constituency when Congress leader and then chief minister Kotla Vijayabhaskar Reddy contested to fulfil the constitutional obligation. She could not succeed.

In 1994, she developed differences with NTR. When she campaigned against NTR in his Hindupur constituency, he expelled her from the party and wrote to the then Rajya Sabha chairman, requesting him to suspend her. From her expulsion to the end of the term, she remained a member of separate party TDP-2, formed by her.

After NTRs death in 1996, Renuka returned to the TDP and served as the minister for health and family welfare in the I K Gujral government at the Centre.

When she was denied a third term in the Rajya Sabha in 1998 and actor-turned-politician Jaya Prada was nominated in her place, she turned her ire on Chandrababu Naidu and questioned his decision to join hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Naidu expelled her from the TDP for indiscipline.

She then joined the Congress and contested from the Khammam Lok Sabha constituency in 1999. She was one of the only five Congress candidates from Andhra Pradesh to be elected to the Lok Sabha. She won from Khammam despite a three-corner contest.

When the Congress came to power at the Centre in 2004, she was first made the minister of state for tourism and then minister for women and child development. It was in this capacity that she announced, among other things, a Pub Bharo Andolan after fringe groups like Pramod Muthaliks Sri Ram Sene in Mangalore banned women from going to pubs.

In 2012, she was re-elected to the Rajya Sabha for a third term -- which ends in a few weeks. There is talk that she may decide to quit the House a month ahead of the end of her term on grounds that she was the victim of a sexist insult by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It will be tough for her to return to the Upper House from either Telangana or Andhra, where the Congresss presence has dwindled. But neither House will forget Renuka Chowdhury.

Photograph: Tanushree Punwani/Reuters.
H alf of the mass shootings since 1982 in the United States have involved high-capacity magazines. In addition to the Newtown and Tucson tragedies, high-capacity magazines were used in mass shootings at Fort Hood, Virginia Tech, Aurora, and Oak Creek.

The US Senate last month rejected a White House-backed strong gun control bill, with President Barack Obama slamming the decision as "shameful" and accusing the lawmakers of surrendering to the powerful firearms lobby.

So what explains this country's attachment to guns?

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When Hadiya

Standing her ground

In the courtroom was compelled to

beg:

'I want freedom'

I ceased to breathe

in my prison cell

Imprisoned in the Nagpur Central Jail's notorious 'Anda Cell' is a professor trapped in a wheelchair.

Diagnosed with permanent post-polio paralysis of the legs, he is 90% disabled, and needs help to perform necessary bodily functions.

Additionally, he has high blood pressure, spinal pain and a heart problem.

Professor G N Sai Baba of Delhi University was convicted in March 2017 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for having links with Maoists, and sentenced to life imprisonment by a sessions court in Gadchiroli.

You can read more about Professor Saibaba and the case in the Related Links alongside.

From the Anda Cell, Professor Saibaba sent his wife Vasantha Kumari a series of poems, the first of which was published last week:

Here's the second:

Now We Have More Freedoms

On that day

When Rohit Vemula

hanged himself

and declared:

'I can't be reduced to my identity'

my heart missed its beats

On that day

When Perumal Murugan

announced:

'the Writer in me is dead'

I was afflicted by sleep apnea

On that day

When Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar

pronounced:

'The Adivasi Will not Dance'

my muscles contracted

On that day

When Hadiya

Standing her ground

In the courtroom was compelled to

beg:

'I want freedom'

I ceased to breathe

in my prison cell

December 2017

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com
THE scale of child sex abuse in Rotherham may have been underestimated in the report which lifted the lid on the scandal, it was claimed today.

The National Crime Agency said Prof Alexis Jays estimate that 1,400 children from the town had been groomed and sexually abused in the town between 1997 and 2013 may fall short of the real total.

As part of the latest update on Operation Stovewood, its investigation into allegations of abuse over the 16-year period, the NCA said our analysis puts the potential number of victims and survivors at 1,510.

Senior investigating officer, Paul Williamson, said of the 1,510 victims and survivors 1,300 were female and more than 140 were male.

The NCA said the majority of victims were aged between 11 and 18 and 90 per cent of the victims were white females.

He added: We do have examples of Pakistani heritage victims as well, but its unclear what proportion that will be.

The NCA said it was uncovering trends in the methods of abuse used by the alleged attackers  including the use of drugs and alcohol to win over victims, convincing victims they were in a relationship and group attacks by multiple offenders.

Of the 1,500-plus potential victims identified by the NCA team, 260 have so far engaged with the inquiry, while 110 suspects - of which 80 per cent were of Pakistani heritage - have been identified and 18 charged.

The team of 144 officers were also pursuing 19,000 lines of enquiry and there were 34 ongoing investigations, Mr Williamson said.

Four people have been convicted in relation to the 6.9 million Operation Stovewood, the latest being former taxi driver Asghar Bostan, who was jailed two weeks ago for nine years for two counts of rape.

Six NCA crown court trials are due to take place this year.

Mr Williamson said the NCA was working with South Yorkshire Police, Rotherham Borough Council and the NHS to rebuild victims' confidence in Rotherham public sector agencies, adding: My aim is to make Rotherham a hostile environment for anybody that has committed CSE, and that work goes on after 2013 with South Yorkshire Police."

The Home Office is funding 85 per cent of the operation and the rest is funded by South Yorkshire Police.

Prof Jay (pictured above) said in her 2014 report that an estimated 1,400 children had been sexually exploited in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013, mostly by men of Pakistani backgrounds.
Private investor mulls $500mln investment in two Angola gold mines A Brazilian-Angolan national, Valdomiro Minoru Dondo, is set to invest $500 million to help jump-start gold mining in northern Angola. This comes three years after Luanda started issuing new licenses to explore precious metals.

Katoro Gold makes progress in Tanzania, SA Katoro Gold recorded significant progress across its project portfolio during the six months ended June 30 despite the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Indian diamantaires to head for rough diamond auction in Panna Diamantaires from Gujarat, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and other parts of the country are expected to participate in an auction in Madhya Pradesh's Panna district from September 21, where a total of 139 rough diamonds with an estimated value of $0.144...

Petra more than doubles FY 2021 revenue Petra Diamonds revenue for the fiscal year (FY) 2021 rose 65% to $402.3 million compared to $243.3 million, a year earlier driven by sales from exceptional stones contributing $62 million during the year.
The Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE) has signed a strategic partnership with Stargems, to host a series of rough diamond tenders in 2018. Stargems Group is an international diamond company that specializes in the sourcing and supply of the finest diamonds to customers across the world, according to a press note from DMCC, the worlds leading Free Zone for trade and enterprise.

The agreement enables international members, miners, and suppliers to trade and distributes rough diamonds at Stargems events hosted at DDEs state-of-the-art headquarters in Almas Tower, Dubai, the only World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) accredited exchange in the Middle East.

Dubai has fast emerged as one of the worlds top three diamond centres, and we are always looking at ways of nurturing and growing this footprint by connecting producers with buyers along the Dubai  Africa axis and beyond. The Stargems collaboration is, of course, a welcome initiative as it further underscores Dubai and DDEs position as the global destination of choice for the diamond industry, said Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman of DMCC.

This is an exciting chapter for Stargems and we are thrilled to partner with the DDE, a facility that is synonymous with the highest possible industry standards, said Shailesh Javeri, Chairman of Stargems Group.

Diamond tenders are an increasingly important sales mechanism for us, through these tenders, we hope to bridge the gap between the diamond producing nations and the manufacturing units in Asia. This partnership will guarantee a secure and transparent tendering process in a regulated environment provided by the DDE. Javeri added.



Aruna Gaitonde, Editor-in-Chief of Asian Bureau, Rough & Polished




What: In March, 500 community members of Watford City will rally to be a part of the hunger solution through the nonprofit Feed My Starving Children (FMSC).

Who: 500 volunteers will make a difference by packing 101,088 meals with their own two hands in just two days.

When: March 9-10, 2018

Where: Rough Rider Center, 2209 Wolves Den Parkway, Watford City, ND 58854.

How: Community members can support this MobilePack by making a donation to cover meal costs, or by volunteering to package food at the event. Donations may be given immediately. Volunteer registration is available at give.fmsc.org/watford.

About Feed My Starving Children

A Christian nonprofit founded in 1987, Feed My Starving Children tackles world hunger by sending volunteer-packed, nutritious meals to 70 countries, where theyre used to operate orphanages, schools, clinics and feeding programs to break the cycle of poverty. Last year, FMSC welcomed nearly 1.1 million volunteers to pack more than 284 million meals to feed more than 779,000 kids daily for a year. The Minnesota-based charity spends more than 90% of total annual donations directly on feeding kids. More at fmsc.org.

About MobilePack events

Volunteers just like you join hands with neighbors across the U.S. to pack and fund life-saving FMSC MannaPack meals through FMSC MobilePack events. Churches, businesses, community groups and schools host these food-packing events and make a real difference in the fight against world hunger.
The Pioneer Museum of McKenzie County will hold this seasons second Hygge event on Friday, February 23rd.

Hygge is a Scandinavian term, pronounced HOO-gah, which celebrates coziness, shared meals, and companionable interactions with friends and loved ones. Hygge is Danish perspective on life that emphasizes warmth, kinship and an appreciation for the little things, and is said to contribute to Denmarks consistently high rate of happiness.

The event features a candle-lit environment where adults can visit, enjoy a warm meal, and partake in relaxing activities. The Pioneer Museums Director of Outreach, Sandy Rieker, began hosting the event last year, and chose to continue the event based on feedback from participants. We had one last month and its turned out to be something that the people of the community look very forward to. People just generally like to visit, and then go shopping a little bit in the store. Everybody was so happy last time. Just very Scandinavian, she said. Its turned out to be a nice date night for parents, providing another fun thing to do in Watford City on a Friday night, Reiker explained.

This months event will feature local artist Arden Omlid, teaching pencil art lessons, as well as music and board games and door prizes. The Prairie Rose Quilt Guild has quilts on display at the museum to go with the warm and cozy theme. On the dinner menu will be Swedish meatball soups, Danish cheese and crackers, and hot cider and coffee.

The hygge begins at 6:30PM CST and runs until 8:30, though Reiker explains that lingering past 8:30 is common. Entrance to the event is free. The Pioneer Museum of McKenzie County is located at 100 2nd Ave SW, in Watford City. Parking is available on the east side of the street, and across the street. For more information about the hygge, contact the Museum at 701-444-2990.
Cornerstone Bank is proud to announce Vicki Monsen as the Watford City Market President. Originally from Watford City, Monsen not only brings local expertise to her new position, but she also brings a wealth of banking experience. She is committed to supporting the continued growth and success of the Watford City area.

When asked about her new role, Monsen said, "I look forward to continuing to provide our tradition of community banking to our customers and community along with our great team."

Monsen joined the bank while still in high school through a vocational program with the Watford City High School. She returned to the bank as a full time employee in January 1989. She has worked as a Customer Service Representative, a Real Estate Loan Officer and most recently in the Finance Department as the Controller. Monsen holds an associate degree from Interstate Business College and is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking in Boulder, Colorado. She is also a graduate of Rural Leadership North Dakota and has served on the Rural Leadership North Dakota Council.

Monsen is very active in the community through the Watford City Economic Development Corporation, Watford City Housing Authority, 4-H, along with the Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee. She has been recognized as an Outstanding Woman in Banking by NorthWestern Financial Review and Prairie Business Magazine. Monsen and her husband Clayton have four children: Ryan, Allison, Karissa & Kaylin. In her spare time, she enjoys quilting.

Scott Swenson, a Founder of McKenzie County Bank and Cornerstone Bank Corporate Board Member, said, "Jane and I have had the pleasure of working with Vicki for over 30 years. She has been successful in every area of the bank and in her many positions in the community. It is exciting and historic for Vicki, starting as a Vocational Office Education student here in 1986 and now moving into the Market President position. We know she will excel in her new role."

Since opening in Watford City 35 years ago, McKenzie County Bank has changed its name to Cornerstone Bank and has moved to a new location, but the bank's commitment to community has remained unchanged. Last summer Cornerstone Bank moved into their new Watford City location at 106 8th Ave SE (on Hwy 85 to the east across from Heggen Equipment) providing a welcoming environment, a drive up ATM that's available 24 hours a day, and convenient parking. McKenzie County Bank was started in Watford City in 1982 by the Darold Petersen family, who also owned and operated Lakeside State Bank in New Town, originating back to 1952. The Petersen family remains Cornerstone Banks' largest shareholder. McKenzie County Bank was formed on the premise of serving the community and helping customers, which remains true today at Cornerstone Bank.

Cornerstone Holding Company, based in North Dakota, is the parent company of Cornerstone Bank. One of North Dakota's ten largest financial institutions, Cornerstone Holding Company is an $820 million financial institution. Cornerstone Bank has 14 locations in North and South Dakota. Cornerstone Bank provides an expansive product offering while staying true to their mission of providing access to financial experts who give straight answers and the best possible financial options. Cornerstone's offerings include business and personal loans, deposits and cash management services, online and mobile banking.
Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said bitcoin has pretty much failed as currency as its value is unstable and it cannot be a useful way to buy things.

"It has pretty much failed thus far on ... the traditional aspects of money. It is not a store of value because it is all over the map. Nobody uses it as a medium of exchange," he told students at Regent's University in London.

But the underlying used by cryptocurrencies could help to verify financial transactions in a decentralized way.

Carney said policymakers cannot abolish financial crises but they can make them less likely to happen and less severe when they do occur. "Something will go wrong again even if we do not know exactly what or precisely when," he said.

"Accepting this means our best strategy is to create an anti-fragile system that can withstand potential shocks when they happen."

Talking on the topic, Reflections on Leadership in a Disruptive Age, he said not to confuse one's leadership role with oneself or become addicted to the status and privileges of power. Rather, recognize that all leadership is temporary, that one will be custodians of institutions and keepers of their flames.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Technology News
Bitcoin has staged a strong rebound from the $6,000 low it reached early this month and the sentiment in the cryptocurrency market remains bullish. More on regulation front, Switzerland, which hosts a "crypto-valley", has released new guidelines for initial coin offerings, while the UK central bank chief said Bitcoin failed as a currency. And a leading rating agency has warned that it will be retail investors who will bear the brunt of a cryptocurrency market collapse.

Here is a wrap up of the main news from the cryptocurrency market over the last 24 hours.

Bitcoin Looking For Support Above $11,000

The Bitcoin price has stabilized above $11,000 since Monday and is testing key support levels, boosting the sentiment in . As of 3.47 am ET on Tuesday, Bitcoin was up 6.02 percent at $11,365.01 on Coinbase. The top cryptocurrency steadily climbed after finding support around $11,400 level late Monday. Ethereum and Bitcoin Cash were each lower by 0.2 percent at $938.01 and $1,504.78, respectively. Litecoin was up 6.2 percent at $236.94. In the last 7 days, Bitcoin has risen nearly 34 percent, according to Coinbase. Read more...

Swiss Regulator Issues ICO Guidelines

The Swiss financial market watchdog has released guidelines to regulate the launch of Initial Coin Offerings, or ICOs, which are the initial sale of cryptocurrency tokens or coins. The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority, or FINMA, said the guidelines also define the information required to deal with such enquiries and the principles upon which it will base its responses, creating clarity for market participants. The regulator said it has witnessed a sharp increase in the number of ICOs planned or executed in Switzerland and a corresponding increase in the number of enquiries about the applicability of regulation. As the current legal and regulatory framework is with "partially unclear applicability", FINMA decided to release the new guidelines. Read more...

BoE's Carney Says Bitcoin Failed As Currency

Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said bitcoin has pretty much failed as currency as its value is unstable and it cannot be a useful way to buy things. "It has pretty much failed thus far on ... the traditional aspects of money. It is not a store of value because it is all over the map. Nobody uses it as a medium of exchange," he told students at Regent's University in London. But the underlying used by cryptocurrencies could help to verify financial transactions in a decentralized way. Read more...

Venezuela Begins 'Petro' Pre-sale

Venezuela has officially launched the pre-sale of its new cryptocurrency Petro, which President Nicolas Maduro hopes would help to ease the country's economic crisis, and circumvent U.S.-led sanctions. "Petro is born and we are going to have a total success for the welfare of Venezuela," the state-sponsored Telesur television network quoted Maduro as saying Tuesday.

Malaysia's HelloGold Secures Islamic Certification for GOLDX Cryptocurrency

Malaysian firm HelloGold has won an Islamic law, or Sharia, certification for its gold-backed cryptocurrency GOLDX. The token received the sharia certificaton from a Malaysia-based Islamic finance consultancy firm Amanie Advisors. HelloGold claims that its GOLDX token is fully backed by 99.99 percent investment grade gold that is stored in a vault in Singapore. 1 GOLDX is always tied to 1g of gold and is redeemable as physical gold in 1g increments, the firm said.

Telegram Raises $850 Mln To Develop TON Blockchain

Encrypted messaging app Telegram Group Inc. raised $850 million mainly to develop TON Blockchain, according to a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The initial raising is said to be the pre-sale stage of its planned $2 billion initial coin offering or ICO for its proposed Telegram Open Network or TON project. The document, filed on February 13, shows that the company intends to use the proceeds for the development of the TON Blockchain, the development and maintenance of Telegram Messenger, and certain other purposes. Read more...

Poland Central Bank Paid For Anti-Crypto Campaign On Social Media

Poland's central bank reportedly funded an anti-cryptocurrency campaign on social media, local media reports said. The National Bank of Poland allegedly doled out around 91,000 zloty to run a smear campaign on cryptocurrencies on social media websites such Facebook, Business Insider Poland said. The bank also paid Polish Youtube network Gamellon and a Youtube star Marcin Dubiel to produce anti-crypto videos and failed to disclose its sponsorship.

Current Prices

As of 6.14 am ET, Bitcoin was up 3.67 percent at $11,339.86, while Ethereum was down by 1.23 percent at $933.90 on Coinbase.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Forex News
Venezuela has officially launched the pre-sale of its new cryptocurrency Petro, which President Nicolas Maduro hopes would help ease the country's economic crisis, and circumvent U.S.-led sanctions.

"Petro is born and we are going to have a total success for the welfare of Venezuela," State-sponsored Telesur television network quoted Maduro as saying Tuesday.

The President added that it will be a "very busy" day since the government will be working on forging strategic alliances.

An official petro whitepaper Maduro unveiled last month said that the government would issue 100 million "oil-backed" Petro units, valued more than $6 billion.

Out of this, 82.4 million will be available for sale between February 20 and March 19. The government has set $60 as the pre-sale price of one petro.

The digital currency's initial price is based on the approximate cost of a barrel of oil produced in the country in mid-January, and the currency will be backed by the country's vast oil reserves.

The Petro's value will be subject to change, corresponding to fluctuations in oil price.

Venezuela, which has the world's largest proven oil reserves, has allocated five billion barrels of oil to back Petro.

Venezuela's has been reeling under pressure of the US sanctions, falling oil revenue and the plunging value of its currency, the bolivar.

Venezuela's ability to move money through international banks is limited due to the sanctions.

Carlos Vargas, who will manage the government's cryptocurrency, said the pre-sale and initial offer will be made in hard currencies and cryptocurrencies, but not in bolivars. "The Petro could be sold in exchange for local currency after the initial sale".

Cryptocurrency experts are skeptic about the success of Petro.

CNBC quoted Harry Colvin, director and senior economist at Longview Economics, as saying, "there will be trust and transparency issues."

Petro would probably be made illegal if Maduro loses the election in April or is forced out of power, according to him.

The Opposition-controlled Venezuelan National Assembly had declared the petro illegitimate and said it cannot be backed by oil, but the Constitutional Assembly stripped the National Assembly of its legislative powers.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Forex News
Malaysian fintech firm HelloGold Foundation announced Islamic certification for its gold-backed cryptocurrency GOLDX, which was launched on February 1. The company also plans to launch its online gold platform in Thailand later this year.

GOLDX is Ethereum ERC20 token backed by 99.99% investment-grade gold independently vaulted in Singapore.

The company said GOLDX got the shariah-compliant certification for its issuing process, transparent, and immediacy of transactions. The certificate is issued by the Shariah Supervisory Board members of Amanie Advisors, a Malaysia-based Islamic finance consultancy.

HelloGold on its website said, "All of our operations and processes are in line with the Shariah Standard on Gold. The Shariah Standard on Gold was developed together with the Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI), the World Gold Council and Amanie Advisors."

The shariah certification is expected to help GOLDX to be launched in several Islamic countries, particularly in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, due to transparency in issuance and auditing process which are the basis of Islamic financial contracts.

GOLDX is a fully operational, 100% audited gold-backed stablecoin. Purchased using either Bitcoin (BTC) or Ethereum (ETH), its main purpose is to provide cryptocurrency investors with the world's oldest stablecoin to help them manage their crypto portfolio.

It also provides cryptocurrency investors with quick and liquid access to physical gold as an investment class. GOLDX can be purchased within minutes and as an ERC20 token is transferable between Ethereum wallets. However, the transaction has to be completed within a defined period.

GOLDX, the world's first audited gold-backed token, is deemed as a fusion of blockchain , real world commodities and asset management. It allows the investor to diversify his cryptocurrency portfolio, whether as an option for asset diversification or as an alternative to converting cryptocurrencies into fiat currency.

"Our GOLDX token will help accelerate financial inclusion by providing Muslim customers with transparent and safe access to gold through a digital token, as well as the ability to use their stored gold as value that can be traded beyond the HelloGold system," Robin Lee, CEO and Co-founder of HelloGold said.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Report: Army kills, wounds Saudi soldiers, mercenaries on Monday [20/February/2018]

SANAA, Feb. 20 (Saba)  The army and popular forces have carried out military operations including artillery, missiles and snipping attacks on Saudi aggression soldiers and mercenaries' gatherings and sites over the past 24 hours, according to reports combined by Saba News Agency on Tuesday.



In Najran border province, artillery shelling targeted gatherings of Saudi-paid mercenaries in front of Boqea camp, while gatherings of Saudi soldiers shelled in Shrfa and Shabaka sites.



Also on Shabaka site, a Saudi soldiers was sniped, and a Saudi military vehicle was bombed by an explosive device in front of Alib mountains.



In Asir border province, two of the mercenaries were shot dead in front of Alb crossing.



In the border province of Jizan, two Saudi soldiers were sniped in Qewa and Hamidha villages.

Also in Jizan, Saudi soldiers' gatherings were targeted by artillery in Khashel-

tower, while Saudi military vehicle was bombed by an explosive device in Hathra site, killing all its crew.

In Yemen province of Jawf, an offensive operation was waged on Saudi-paid mercenaries' sites in Haija area of Mazlub district, killing and wounding dozens.

In Kub-washaaf district of Jawf, two mercenaries' military vehicles were destroyed in Khalivin area and Sabrin front, killing and wounding all their crews, while ISIS leader was killed by fires of the army and committees in the district.

In Ghail district of Jawf, Katyusha rockets were fired toward mercenaries' gatherings, killing and wounding many of them.

In Nehm district, mercenaries' gatherings were shelled by artillery beyond Fatm mountain of Harib-Nehm.

In Taiz province, an advance attempt of mercenaries was foiled in Salw district, killing and wounding numbers of them.

In Moazea front of Taiz, two mercenaries were sniped, while in Bir-Basha, the army and committees destroyed a mercenaries' military vehicle in Kadaha by artillery shells.

Also in Taiz, dozens of mercenaries were killed and injured during an offensive operation on their sites in Kasara-air defense



In Lahj province, the army and committees repelled an infiltration attempt toeward Shaznana area of Qubaidh, killing and wounding dozens and without any progress.

In Karsh district of Lahj, dozens of mercenaries were killed and injured during repelling their infiltration attempt toward Hamraa Hill.

In Bayda province, gatherings of mercenaries and their military vehicles were shelled by artillery in Mukairas, causing direct causalities.

In Hajjah province, a military bulldozer was bombed by a guided rocket in the north of Medi desert.

In Marib province, sniper unit of the army and committees shot dead 12 of Saudi-paid mercenaries in Serwah front.





Writing by Sameera al-Mahdi















Saba
By SA Commercial Prop News - Jones Land LaSalle

Direct commercial real estate Investment volumes in Asia Pacific have increased to around 10% year to date, according to the latest third quarter flash reports from consultants Jones Land LaSalle.

Preliminary figures suggest that volumes have now reached approximately US$67 billion year to date compared to US$61 billion for the same period last year.

The key country to watch was Japan where direct commercial investment volumes went back to over US$4.7 billion in line with the same quarter in 2010, as investors looked to see how the markets recovered following the tsunami and earthquake and the subsequent dramatic fall in volumes during the second quarter.

The resumption of this market is likely to support renewed international investor interest in the biggest market in Asia Pacific. The IMFs outlook for Japan next year is for growth of 2.3% based on reconstruction work following the disaster, says the report.

In China, Shanghai was a top location with the city being home to six out of the top ten biggest deals, four offices, one retail and a hotel. The deal volume for Chinas direct commercial property investments rose to approximately US$ 2.8 billion, up 13% year on year.

The landmark deal this quarter was Hong Kongs Festival Walk retail deal, which was sold by Swire Properties to Mapletree Investments for US$ 2.4 billion. This is the largest deal by far involving a single built asset since 2007, and the largest in Hong Kongs history.

In Australia, volumes stood at the US$3 billion mark, back to more usual transactional levels following the surge of overseas cash into the market last quarter which pushed volumes up to US$4 billion.

On the back of increased investment volumes most major markets saw either stable or increasing capital values. Across the region, the average quarterly increase in capital values was 2.6%, slightly higher than the 2.4% recorded in the second quarter.

Capital values in Jakarta and Beijing recorded the largest quarter on quarter increases of 14.2% and 11.8%, respectively, largely in tandem with rental growth. Sydney, Perth and Manila followed with quarterly increases of 4 to 6.5%. Growth in capital values in Hong Kong and Singapore slowed further to between 0.8% and 2.1%, as investors became more cautious.

Growing uncertainty on the global economy is placing downward pressure on capital values across some core markets in Asia Pacific. Many investors are shifting their attention to the less volatile office markets such as Australia and Japan, which is likely to continue to benefit from a flight to safety in the next 12 months, with investors attracted to the higher yield environment. There remains a solid interest in China Tier 1 Cities from domestic and international investors alike, said Stuart Crow, head of Asia Pacific Capital Markets.

Office leasing demand remained buoyant in across most of Asia Pacific, according to the Office Index also published by Jones Lang LaSalle. Corporates continued to expand in China, while relocations and expansions bolstered demand in other centres. Corporate hiring sentiment and leasing demand weakened in the major financial centres of Hong Kong and Singapore amidst recent market volatility and news of some corporates shelving relocation and expansion plans.

Of the 27 office markets featured in the report, 18 saw an increase in net effective rents, while for the remainder rents stabilised or recorded small residual declines. Aggregate rental growth was largely similar to the previous quarter, with an average quarter on quarter increase across the region of 2.5%, as stronger growth in some Australian cities helped offset weaker growth in Asia.

Rents in Jakarta, Beijing and Perth saw the largest quarter on quarter increases in the third quarter of between 10.5% and 13.6%, as vacancy levels fell rapidly in all markets. Among the major financial centres, net effective rents fell marginally by 0.9% quarter on quarter in Hong Kong Central and moderated to 0.6% quarter on quarter growth in Singapore Raffles Place, largely due to the slower expansion of financial institutions.

Leasing demand is still solid in most markets, especially China Tier 1 cities and most of South East Asia. We are seeing a slowing of decision-making in the more financially orientated markets of Hong Kong and Singapore which will translate into slowing rental growth but with more economic certainty this could be short lived, said Jeremy Sheldon, managing director of Markets for Asia Pacific.

Gross rents in Tokyo fell further by 0.4% though net effective rents were stable. Rental declines were seen in a few other Asian markets like Seoul, Osaka and Vietnam, due to weak tenant demand or new supply, but are close to bottoming out. Average rents in India generally increased by up to 3% during the quarter.

We expect overall leasing demand to remain solid for the remainder of 2011, particularly in the emerging markets. The regional office market continues to favour landlords although occupiers have become more reluctant to pay high rentals. Rental growth of up to 45% is expected across the region for the whole year, with the strongest growth likely to be seen in markets such as Beijing and Jakarta, said Jane Murray head of research for Asia Pacific.
The strong conditions experienced at the start of the RORC Caribbean 600 continued through the first night. At 06:00 AST on 20 February 12 yachts have officially retired from the race. Reports of wind speed in the region of 30 knots, with gusts of up to 40 knots are being reported by crew in the 600-mile race around 11 Caribbean islands.

Peter Aschenbrenner's Irens 63 Paradox is blasting along at the front of the fleet, but in their rear virtual view mirror provided by the YB Race Tracker, George David's American Maxi Rambler 88 is hunting the multihull down. Paradox is currently behind record pace for the multihulls, but only by 42 minutes. Rambler 88 continues at record pace for the monohulls and is expected to cross the finish line before midnight on Tuesday 20th February, well inside the race record.Rambler 88 is blasting around the course hitting speeds of close to 30 knots. At Tintamarre, the most northerly point of the course, Rambler 88 was nearly an hour ahead of the race record. At 06:00 AST on 20 February, Rambler had completed half the course and was blast reaching past Montserrat on the way to Guadeloupe. Peter Aschenbrenner's Irens 63 Paradox is enjoying a thrilling reach towards Guadeloupe, leading the multihull fleet by a handsome margin. Last night, the American trimaran sustained a boat speed of 30 knots or more for several hours. The crew of Greg Slyngstad's American multihull Fujin which capsized last night, have all been safely transferred to a French coast guard.In IRC Zero, after time correction Rambler 88 is estimated to have a lead of well over one hour in the class from The USMMA Sailing Foundation's American Volvo 70 Warrior. Ron O'Hanley's American Cookson 50 Privateer is estimated to be third after time correction. The majority of the retirements are in the big boat division: Ludde Ingvall's CQS, George Sakellaris' Proteus, Quentin Stewart's Maverick, Dixon 100 Danneskjold, Stephen Durkin's Bob, Clint Brook's Conviction and Oyster 885 Guardian Angel have all retired with crew reported safe and well. Bernie Evan-Wong's RP37 Taz has retired due to an injured crew member requiring hospital treatment for a hand injury.Eduardo Plass' Brazilian Soto 65 Camiranga has also retired with a ripped mainsail. Camiranga crewman Samuel Albrecht spoke about the conditions: "We had 30 knots of wind with gusts of 40 and a building confused sea. We damaged the main in one big gybe and then it tore in half when we were beating towards St.Barths. We are all okay but it is a great shame as we have really been looking forward to the race and it was amazing sailing. We hit a top speed of 27 knots, just fantastic. We hope to be back to race again."In the Class40 division all yachts are still racing. Catherine Pourre's Earendil has opened up a 10-mile lead on Louis Burton's BHB. Mathias Muller von Blumencron's German Class40 Red is in third position. The Class 40s have already had a taste of the exhilarating reaching conditions with Earendil hitting over 20 knots of boats speed yesterday. The Class40 fleet are negotiating the top of the course and after beating through the Anguilla Channel, the pocket rockets will pull the trigger to blast reach to Guadeloupe.In IRC One, the provisional top three boats are Philippe Frantz French NM43 Albator, Kevin McLaughlin's American J/44 Spice, and Lombard 46 Pata Negra sailed by Michael Wright with a team from the Howth Yacht Club, Dublin Ireland.At the top of the leaderboard in IRC Two a battle is ranging between three British charter boats, all skippered by close friends. Andy Middleton's Beneteau First 47.7 EH01 is estimated to be just five minutes ahead on corrected time from Ossie Stewart and Ross Applebey's Dufour 45 Scarlet Island Girl. Grand Soleil 43 Quokka 8 skippered by Christian Simpson is third. All three yachts are beating towards St.Barth's. Scarlet Island Girl has chosen to sail above the rhumb line to take advantage of the lee of St.Maarten and St.Barth's. EH01 and Quokka are side-by-side taking the more direct route, beating into punishing conditions.In IRC Three, Richard Palmer's JPK 10.10 Jangada, racing Two Handed with Jeremy Waitt is the provisional leader; a sterling effort from the British duo. Irish yachtsman of the year Conor Fogerty racing his Sunfast 3600 Bam representing the Howth Yacht Club in Dublin is second. RORC Commodore, Steven Anderson, racing with co-skipper Jane Anderson is third. Last year's class winner Jonty and Vicki Layfield's Swan 48 Sleeper 10 has retired with gear failure, as has Sapphire Knight, skippered by Michael Skeet.: For more information and to follow the race, please go to: http://caribbean600.rorc.org
MANILA, Philippines (AP)  The risks of a "miscalculation" and armed conflict have risen in the disputed South China Sea with a militarily stronger China now able to challenge the United States, which used to be the dominant power in the strategic waterway, the Philippine envoy to Beijing said Monday.

Ambassador Chito Sta. Romana said the balance of power was shifting with the two global powers vying for control of the waters, adding that the Philippines should not get entangled in the increasingly tense maritime rivalry.

China claims virtually the entire South China Sea, where the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also have overlapping claims, and it has built seven mostly submerged reefs into islands that reportedly can be used as forward air naval bases and have been installed with a missile defense system.

The U.S. Navy has sailed warships on "freedom of navigation" operations near the artificial islands, which China has protested as U.S. intervention in an Asian conflict.

"Whereas before the South China Sea was dominated by the U.S. 7th Fleet, now the Chinese navy is starting to challenge the dominance," Sto. Romana told a news forum in Manila. "I think we will see a shift in the balance of power."

"It is not the case that the South China Sea is now a Chinese lake, not at all," Sto. Romana said. "Look at the U.S. aircraft carrier, it's still going through the South China Sea," he added, referring to the USS Carl Vinson that recently patrolled the disputed waters and is currently on a visit to the Philippines.

He compared the two powers to elephants fighting and trampling on the grass and said, "What we don't want is for us to be the grass."

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's policy of befriending China has worked, Sto. Romana said, citing Beijing's decision to lift its blockade around Philippine-occupied Second Thomas Shoal, where the Philippine military can now freely send new supplies to Filipino marines guarding the disputed area.

China has also allowed Filipino fishermen into another disputed area, Scarborough Shoal, after Duterte visited Beijing and raised the issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Xi reportedly told Duterte, "Give me a few days, I'll take care of this," Sto. Romana quoted Duterte as saying about the meeting with his Chinese counterpart a few months after he won the Philippine presidency in 2016.

Duterte said in a speech late Monday that Xi promised him that China won't build any structure on Scarborough and added that the Chinese leader should be trusted because "he's a man of honor."

The president jokingly told an audience of mostly Chinese Filipino businessmen that the Philippines could solve its money problems by being turned into a province of wealthy China, though he erroneously referred to it as "the Republic of China," which is Taiwan's official name. China rejects any insinuation that Taiwan, which it considers a province, is an independent country.

China took control of uninhabited Scarborough Shoal off the northwestern Philipppines after a tense standoff in 2012.

In January, China accused the U.S. of trespassing when the guided missile destroyer USS Hopper sailed near Scarborough.

China has also relayed to Filipino officials its opposition to the Philippine military's deployment of a Japanese-donated Beechcraft King Air patrol plane in late January to Scarborough, a Philippine official said on condition of anonymity because of a lack of authority to discuss the issue publicly.

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has outlined a security strategy that emphasized countering China's rise and reinforcing the U.S. presence in the Indo-Pacific region, where Beijing and Washington have accused each other of stoking a dangerous military buildup and sought wider influence.

Washington has no claim in the South China Sea but has declared a peaceful resolution and freedom of navigation are in its national interest.

U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Tim Hawkins told The Associated Press on board the USS Carl Vinson on Saturday that the Navy has carried out routine patrols at sea and in the air in the region for 70 years to promote security and guarantee the unimpeded flow of trade and would continue to do so.

"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 brimming with F18 fighter jets and other combat aircraft.
The Government has failed to do its part to ensure clean drinking water reaches every family in Samoa.

Fili Iosefa, a mother of three who lives at Satapuala-uta, says she has been waiting for about 10 years for the Governments water supply.

We have been living here for about ten years and the water connection does not reach our area, he said.

We requested for a water connection or a water tank about six years ago and we are still waiting.

Living with children makes things even more challenging.

As you can see, I have three children and my eldest is a girl who is nine years old and we need water supply, Mrs. Iosefa said.

The impact of having no stable water supply is a daily struggle.

So my husband fetches water from the villages water tank and it is a daily chore, she said.

Sometimes my husband leaves to see his family in Siumu and we are stuck here with no one to fetch water. "

Its just inconvenient for us."

I would think that at this time and age, with a multimillion airport project, that the Government would consider getting us connected to the water."

All we need is stable water supply for our food, drinking purposes and for bathing."

The Government is investing in so many projects, so please could they try considering that water is a need and should be prioritised."

If they cannot assure water connection, can they at least get us water tanks?"

It is only common sense the need for them to live up to the governments motto and that is to serve for a better Samoa."

Not just a few, but for all, said the concerned mother.

How do they go about getting water? The village water tank is located far from our house and that is where my husband fetches water and when it rains its like winning the lotto.

My concern is that why are other families in Satapuala getting water and yet we cannot connect to the governments water supply."

I just want the government to give us a little help, if not stable water supply, can they please give us water tanks?"

Mrs. Iosefa and her family live off money they get from what they sell at the market.

If its a good week, we collect about $200 and sometimes less."

And even that is never enough because of the high cost of living and for the life of me, our family cannot even afford the price of a water tank, she said. We sell taro, cabbage, bananas and that is never enough, she said.

The Samoa Water Authority (S.W.A.), Corporate Manager and Media Spokesperson, Kolone Tikeri said for the specific area, there are issues with the borehole in Faleolo.

It is the low pressure with the boreholes that is the problem and because the said family live inland they are in a high elevation area and due to the low pressure, the water cannot reach that specific area, said Mr. Tikeri.

He explained that as much as the S.W.A. wants to install water systems everywhere, it depends on the source of water.

So you see, water cannot be pumped from underground in all parts of the country, unless there is aquifer."

Only certain areas and some aquifer are reliable and some are not."

So you see for Vaitele and Leulumoega, it is catered by the river Fuluasou in Ululoloa."

That is the extent that borehole can reach, but sadly it stops in Leulumoega, again as much as we want to install water systems, it is just not possible without a water source."

This is the same issue with Faleasiu and Fasiutoo Uta, specifically families who live inland, the low pressure is the problem and we are working on alleviating that issue.

How they are doing that, Mr. Tikeri did not specify.

He also pointed out that for Satapuala they have their own water system, however last year the Village Council have requested for water connection to the governments water supply.

Their request came from the Minister and it is quite a massive project and very expensive, however the S.W.A. has included it in our proposed projects to be funded under our water schemes, said Mr. Tikeri.

You can reach Mrs. Iosefa on 725-3439 if you want to help her family with a water tank.
Caritas Samoa is one of the many humanitarian organisations and agencies who have been lending a helping hand to families affected by Tropical Cyclone Gita.

Programme Manager, Fuatino Muliagatele-Ah Wai, said they have already started distributing to families that were badly affected, especially families living in areas such as Vaimoso, Taufusi, Togafuafua, Moataa, Fugalei and so forth.

The whole purpose is to lend a hand to those in need, she told the Samoa Observer.

We have teams in Savaii as well and in the rural areas that are distributing products such as tarpaulin, hoses, pots, blankets and much more to those families."

We are also working together with the Disaster Management Organization, and the Samoa Red Cross Society in identifying families that we have already helped."

Its good to work together and sharing information so that we dont duplicate the distributing of the stuff."

A total of 182 families in Upolu and Savaii have received assistance from Caritas Samoa.

She added that before they give out any assistance, they have to carry out assessments to identify families badly affected.

All our volunteers have been trained in doing assessment and handling assistance, not only that they are well trained on what to do and where to go when disaster hits, she said.

All our assistance is from New Zealand and Australia and every year we receive supplies and tools as well as resources to be distributed when a disaster hits."

These are stored in containers located in some parts of Savaii as well as Upolu.

She also said not only did Caritas Samoa gave out assistance; they also provided an evacuation center in Vaoala for the people who needed accommodation during natural disasters.

There were people in the evacuation center during the cyclone and they all returned to their homes.
The Ministry of Police has launched an investigation into the death of a 29-year-old mother of three, who was buried two weeks ago.

This was confirmed by the Media Spokesperson and Police Superintendent, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo.

There is an investigation ongoing right, he said.

Pressed whether the Police will seek a Court Order for an autopsy and dig up the corpse, Auapaau declined to comment.

There will be no further comment from the Police at this point.

Police sources say the investigation started last week when investigating officers started interviewing family members of the deceased.

The mother gave birth to her daughter and a week later she died, the Samoa Observer was told.

The investigation followed a complaint filed by the family of the deceased although they have already had the funeral. "

Shes a mother of three.

The Samoa Observer reached out to the husband of the deceased.

But he declined to comment, noting that their family is still trying to come to terms with the sudden passing of his wife.

He confirmed that the Police are investigating his late wifes case.

The 29-year-old mother is from Luatuanuu.

She is survived by her three daughters and husband.

Efforts to get comments from the hospital were unsuccessful as of press time.
Not many people in Samoa reach the ripe old age of a hundred years.

Yet today at Saina in Upolu, centenarian Anaseini Tupou Mafoe, is celebrating her 100th birthday.

The matriarch of the family, Tupou, is joined by close to 200 relatives from all over the world, comprising her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, for a weeklong celebration.

Tupou was born on 21 February 1918. She is the mother of 13 children, three of whom have passed away. Nine are present in Samoa for her big day.

Tupou was married to the late Mafoe Tupu of Saina. Her eldest daughter is 82 and lives in New Zealand. The youngest of her 13 children is 60-year-old prominent Pastor, Apostle Viliamu Mafoe, of the Worship Centre Church.

Born in Tonga, she was brought to Samoa at the age of five after her father, Hagafili Tupou, passed away.

I cannot thank God enough for blessing me with 100 years to live on this earth, she tells the Samoa Observer.

I am happy that me the masta is still alive, she said laughing during the interview with the Samoa Observer at her residence in Saina.

I am also thankful to have all my children and their children's present for my birthday, said Tupou.

Despite her age, Tupou does not like it when her children try to help her get out of bed.

I dont like things being handed to me I want to get it on my own, because I can, she said.

Tupou was excited to share the news of her new guest house located behind her residence.

Have you seen my guest house? This is what I have always wanted and my children came through and built it for me, so I am one lucky mum.

She also has a message for those who wish to reach the age of 100.

Not everyone can reach 100 years old like me, because I am the masta and as a prayer warrior even at my age, I pray and pray for good health and for my many seeds.

Tupou is ecstatic about staying at Taumeasina Island Resort for week as part of her birthday gift from her children.

I cannot wait to go to the hotel, sleep on the nice comfortable big bed in the air conditioned room and eat all the food that is available there.

Asked why Taumeasina, she said: Because I can afford it, she said laughing.

You see at my age, all I need to do is ask, my children will always make sure I get what I want and luckily Im at the age where I dont really want much.

Tupou was surrounded by some of her children during the interview and she turned to them and asked them can you guys reach my age? I dont think so.

Losaline Mafoe-De Bakker, who looks after Tupou, said her grandmother is feisty.

So tomorrow (today) she turns 100 and she was counting the days up until today.

Shes got a sharp memory and we are forever grateful for the abundant life that she has lived to see.

Dont let 100 years old fool you. My grandmother is sharp as a tack and when its just us, she always tells the most amazing stories.

And I love it when she tells her stories because I want to share it with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, as well as many generations to come.

So this week is all about her.

Inspiration comes in many ways. My grandmother has always inspired me. I am truly honoured and privileged to be the one to look after her, my sister and I.

I left my family behind so I can come here to help her.

I guess being a Samoan and taking care of our elders is in our blood and I know that is why we are the way we are.

Grandma was grateful for every day and even though some days were better than others, she saw each one as a gift. Growing up, grandma never remarried and understood just how precious life was and how easily it could be taken away, said Losaline.

She said the old lady is very bossy and refuses to take any medication.

When she has a headache, or a stomach ache, shell endure the pain just because she refuses to take the medicine.

Last year, Tupou told the Samoa Observer that she came to Samoa in 1922. And so their family stayed at Saoluafata.

I don't recall why we left, but back then there were no cars, so when my mother was upset about something, she packed our bags and we walked all the way from Saoluafata to Saina.

Along the way we were hungry, thirsty and tired, but we had no choice, mum was determined that we were not going back to Saoluafata.

We reached Saina at night and the first thing we did with my sister and two brothers was ate all the food we could find, she said giggling.

Tupou said this was where she met the love of her life, Mafoe Tupu who was her neighbour.

She paused for a while and then said Mafoe was a fisherman.

Mafoe was a loving and caring father who always put his family over everything. I miss him until this day, she said.

Tupou shared that shes never held a formal job.

Im a housewife; I tend to the daily chores, cook the food and look after my children. Its really an easy daily routine and I loved every bit of it, being a mother and taking care of my children keeps me going.

So what is the secret to Tupous longevity?

I pray for my son who is a pastor, my children, grandchildren and all of my children, its all I do, pray and eat during the day.

Last years Mothers Day celebration, Tupou was given the honour of speaking on behalf of all the mothers at church.

Im going to say the masta is back and I will be back next year and the year after next, she laughed clapping her hands.

Bossy and independent as ever, Tupou says while it takes a long time to walk to the bathroom, kitchen or to her bed, she does not need anyones help.

I tell my children, I can do it, I will not be carried by anyone, I am able to do what I want, when I want on my own."

According to Losaline, the family has planned a week-long celebration to commemorate her grandmothers birthday.
The Government has given the Tauvalaau family of Satapuala an ultimatum. They have a week, Wednesday 28 February 2018, to move.

The order was confirmed by Tuaato Tauvalau Salausa, of Satapuala.

But the family is not moving. She said that unless the Government pays them $1million, they are not going anywhere.

She also called on Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi to reconsider the Governments decision.

We will not leave our family land; this is where my father and our family members are buried, she said.

I will not leave this land. This is my fathers (Tauvalaau Fasio) land.

She claims the Government intends to extend the Faleolo International Airport runway across their family land.

This is where I was born and grew up and I cannot fathom how the Samoan Government can just hand out only $34,000 to my daughter, yet our family land is worth far more than the lousy money they gave us."

I live in American Samoa and prior to moving back in 2005, I had my daughter stay here at our land."

I was only informed that my daughter accepted the $34,000. That is not enough to compensate the value of our land. How can the Samoa Government pay us peanuts?

Asked whether the family will move come 28 February 2018, the mother is determined that will not happen.

I am not moving out of my family land and I dont care who will come, I will not move, she said.

Salausa also has a message for Prime Minister Tuilaepa.

Lands and chiefly titles are treasured by families and being that you Tuilaepa are a Chief, a leader of this country, you should know what we are fighting for."

Why cant the government extend the airport towards Mulifanua, yet they have to pick on our family land?"

I am 73 years old, and my sister Aiava Johnson is 75 years old, we were born here and weve lived here all our lives."

What hurts the most is the heartless move by the Government."

There are three acres that is utilised by our family and for the Government to just come and evict us; it is just unbelievable how much they gave my daughter a lousy $34,000.

The mother was emotional noting that her father is buried on their land.

Satapuala Village Mayor, Vaili Mimita told the Samoa Observer that the families in question have been informed by the Village Council.

I can confirm that the Government has given the family until next week to leave this specific part of Satapuala."

The Village has allocated a specific space for the four families to move to, but if the families refuse to move, that is their prerogative and the government will step in, but the Village Council has already played their part, said Vaili.

We informed them the eviction is effective next week, he said.

Efforts to get an interview with Chairman of the Government Land Committee, Patea Setefano, have been unsuccessful.

A personal visit to the office and phone calls were answered by the Secretary and A.C.E.O, Joslyn Mariner, who said Setefano was in a meeting.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa is in New Zealand for a climate change conference and his Office has cancelled all his media appointments this week, until further notice.
The Minister of Prisons and Correction Services, Tialavea Tionisio Hunt, said he is reviewing the case of prisoners who have been removed from Tafaigata Prison and placed under Police custody in Apia.

The prisoners are Tagaloasa Filipaina and Ovalegi Poli.

The two men have been identified by the Police as suspects in a failed mass prison break plot on the day when Cyclone Gita was heading towards Samoa.

During a brief interview, the Minister told the Samoa Observer he wants to find out more details about the case before he could comment further.

He said he had just arrived in the country and that he did not have the full details.

The Prime Minister has already responded to media queries on this matter, he said.

But I will look into it this matter.

Pressed as to why he has not been informed by the Prisons in regards to the issues coming out of the prison, Tialavea said he was overseas.

Last week, Police Superintendent and Media Spokesperson, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo, confirmed that an investigation over claims that drugs, mainly marijuana, are being sold inside the Tafaigata Prison, is underway.

The investigation follows a failed plot by prisoners to stage a mass prison break while the nation was preparing for Tropical Cyclone Gita.

The plan was apparently concocted by the senior hierarchy among the prisoner population.

Police were tipped off and 90 officers turned up at the Prison.

During the raid, marijuana joints and a stash of cash were discovered, Auapaau said. The Police are now investigating the discovery.

When the news surfaced, Prime Minster Tuilaepa, who is also the Minister of Police, praised the Police response.

When a natural disaster is about to strike the country, often criminals find that this is the right time to strike too, Tuilaepa said. However the Police have always acted in accordance with keeping the peace and the situation has been sorted.

Tuilaepa said the threat was minimal. The Prime Minister said his priority at the time was to ensure the nation was prepared for the cyclone.

He revealed that when the issue was brought to his attention, as the Minister of Police, he instructed the Police to do what they needed to do.

Asked about the possibility of the Prisons being transferred back under the umbrella of the Ministry of Police, Tuilaepa said: The governments policies will not change over this. We have to remember that with any changes, there are also teething problems.
The California Public Utilities Commission wants a federal judge to issue sanctions of $1,000 each against San Diego attorneys Michael Aguirre and his law partner Maria Severson.

The move is related to a lawsuit Aguirre and Severson filed in connection to San Diego Gas & Electrics conduct during the 2007 wildfires that scorched San Diego County.

The utilities commission says the suit is a waste of time since its members have already rejected SDG&Es request to bill ratepayers $379 million for costs related to the fires.

Aguirre says the commission is trying to intimidate him and will not withdraw the suit until it is clear the commission will not reverse its decision.

The sanctions flap between the CPUC and Michael Aguirre. Heres the full story:

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and former San Diego City Attorney Michael Aguirre have been at odds with one another when it comes to the 2007 wildfires that blistered parts of San Diego County 11 years ago.

Now lawyers for the commission are calling on a federal judge to issue $1,000 sanctions on Aguirre and the partner in his law firm.

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The source of the CPUCs action? The refusal of Aguirre and law partner Maria Severson to withdraw a lawsuit on the behalf of their client, San Diego County resident Ruth Henricks, in connection to actions by San Diego Gas & Electric during the 2007 fires.

SDG&E wanted to recoup $379 million from ratepayers in costs associated with the wildfires but the CPUC on Nov. 30 rejected the utilitys request.

That, the CPUC lawyers say, means the issue has been resolved and Aguirre and Severson should dismiss their suit.

Yet Aguirre and Severson press on, the motion before U.S. District Court Judge Michael Anello said. That wastes the time and resources of the Commission and the Court and justifies sanctioning the two attorneys.

But Aguirre said he and Severson will not withdraw the lawsuit since SDG&E has filed an application with the CPUC to have commissioners re-hear the case, thus leaving open the possibility the utility may win the case on a reversal.

Two other investor-owned utilities in California, Pacific Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison, have also filed for a rehearing on the case.

Aguirre said his firm wont withdraw its lawsuit until any prospects for a reversal are eliminated.

What you see is not necessarily what you get from the CPUC, Aguirre said. This (lawsuit) is an insurance policy that protects utility customers  Theyre using intimidation tactics instead of reasoning.

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The Henricks suit was filed before the CPUC ruled against SDG&E.

The Union-Tribune wanted to talk to any of the attorneys calling for fines against Aguirre and Severson but a public information officer for the CPUC said, We have no comment on the matter outside of our motion.

In its filing with the court, the CPUC said the sanctions are warranted under Federal Rules for Civil Procedure, since in the commissions opinion the complaint is now moot and, therefore, frivolous.

The suit was brought to harass the Commission, or force it to incur litigation costs, the motion said.

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CPUC attorneys said the $1,000 fines would go to the court, not to the commission, and would appropriately deter future frivolous litigation without inappropriately chilling the meritorious.

Last month, it was announced Aguirre and Severson are slated to receive attorney fees of just over $5.4 million after challenging a CPUC decision regarding costs related to the closing of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.

Under a new agreement that still requires CPUC approval, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric will take on a larger percentage of the costs, resulting in savings of $775 million for ratepayers through February 2022.

So why not pay the $1,000?

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This is the first time in nine years weve received any compensation in connection with any PUC case, Aguirre said. These are not money makers. They are high-risk and long shots.

The commissions ruling on the 2007 wildfires case was unanimous, with all five commissioners voting against the SDG&E request.

But CPUC president Michael Picker and commissioner Martha Guzman Aceves expressed reservations. Picker went so far as to say that a record could support a finding that SDG&E acted prudently in most decisions, given the information available.

Two months earlier, Aguirre lashed out at Picker during a rare CPUC meeting in the San Diego area  at the Chula Vista city council chambers.

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During the public comment period, Aguirre called Picker a hypocrite and a fraud.

Its clear you do not have the leadership capacity to lead the CPUC, Aguirre said.

Picker and Aguirre talked over each other and as Aguirres allotted time expired, an officer approached him.

After the meeting, Picker said he was not bothered by Aguirres comments.

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We dont do things that people always like, they say things, Picker said with a shrug.

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rob.nikolewski@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1251 Twitter: @robnikolewski

ALSO

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SDG&E wants another shot at billing customers $379M for 2007 wildfire costs

CPUC rules against SDG&E in 2007 wildfire case

Why does it take so long for the 2007 wildfire case to be resolved?
Qualcomm has raised its offer to acquire Dutch Automotive chipmaker NXP Semiconductors to $43 billion, which may help the San Diego companys case for remaining independent ahead of its hostile takeover showdown with rival Broadcom.

Qualcomm announced Tuesday that it had increased its offer for NXP from $110 per share to $127.50 per share. NXPs shock had been trading around $120 per share last week.

More importantly, nine shareholders who own 28 percent of NXP stock and have been advocating for a higher price pledged to sell their shares to Qualcomm at the new price.

They include Elliott Advisors, which has led the charge for Qualcomm to increase its original $38 billion bid. Elliott had been seeking $135 per share.

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NXP makes chips used in keyless entry, infotainment and radar in cars, secure payment cards and many other technologies. It is a key cog in Qualcomms argument for remaining a standalone company.

Not only would a deal with NXP boost Qualcomms profits by $1.50 per share by 2019, it also would diversify Qualcomms business beyond smartphones, where sales have slowed.

Without NXP, Qualcomms growth prospects from the expansion of cellular technologies into cars, Internet of Things gadgets and other new industries likely would be hamstrung.

NXP is a highly strategic and attractive acquisition for Qualcomm that enhances the value of our leading 5G technologies, said Chairman Paul Jacobs in a statement. We also believe the revised agreement provides certainty for both Qualcomm and NXP shareholders.

The NXP acquisition has been approved by eight global competition regulators but is still awaiting approval from China, which is on holiday until Feb. 24 for Chinese New Year.

How the higher price plays into Broadcoms $121 billion hostile takeover effort for Qualcomm remains unclear. But it does make its acquisition more costly and possibly adds to the regulatory hurdles facing the deal.

From the Qualcomm-Broadcom merger perspective, the deal makes Qualcomm a relatively less attractive target for Broadcom, said Morningstar analyst Abhinav Davuluri.

Broadcom Chief Executive Hock Tan has said his $82 per share best and final offer for Qualcomm was conditioned on the NXP deal closing at $110 per share or not at all. He hasnt said exactly what Broadcom would do if Qualcomm pays more for NXP.

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We will see what Broadcom does now, said Bernstein Research Analyst Stacy Rasgon in a note. While their current offer is premised on NXP going at $110, they would, of course, not necessarily be precluded from making a new offer premised on the new NXP price.

Broadcom said early Tuesday that it was evaluating its options.

In a statement, Broadcom said the revised price for NXP is well beyond what Qualcomm has repeatedly characterized as a full and fair price. We believe any responsible board would have seriously engaged with Broadcom regarding Broadcoms value-maximizing offer and the terms of the NXP acquisition, particularly in light of the recent recommendations from ISS and Glass Lewis. Broadcom believes the price increase demonstrates the Qualcomm boards disregard for its fiduciary duty to maximize value for Qualcomm stockholders.

Broadcom has proposed six alternative nominees to Qualcomms 11 member board of directors to push the $121 billion hostile takeover through. Qualcomm shareholders will vote to support either Broadcoms candidates or the existing board at the companys annual meeting on March 6.

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Broadcom got some good news recently when Institutional Shareholder Services, an influential investor advisory firm, recommended that Qualcomm shareholders vote to install four of Broadcoms six nominees for the Qualcomm board.

Another proxy adviser, Glass-Lewis, recommended on Tuesday that Qualcomm shareholders support all six of Broadcoms alternative nominees.

Recommendations from Glass Lewis and ISS are important to big index funds and mutual funds, which own a significant percentage of Qualcomms stock.

Qualcomm noted that NXPs financial results last year were better than expected when the two companies entered into a merger agreement in October 2016. Operating income jumped 20 percent year over year, and automotive sales rose 11 percent.

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In addition to hiking the price, Qualcomm also negotiated revised terms to its tender offer. Now shareholders owning 70 percent of NXP shares must pledge to sell their stock for the acquisition to close, down from 80 percent previously.

Qualcomm will fund the increased price for NXP with existing cash and new debt. It has extended the deadline for NXP shareholders to pledge their shares to 9 p.m. Pacific Time on March 5.

Qualcomms shares ended trading Tuesday down 1 percent at $63.99. Broadcoms shares were up slightly at $249.62.

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mike.freeman@sduniontribune.com;

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Twitter:@TechDiego

760-529-4973
Santee is done being the place where El Cajon, San Diego and Lakeside residents leave their recreational vehicles parked for days, weeks and sometimes months without being moved.

In the near future, the Santee City Council will be approving revisions to the citys current ordinance about the parking and storage of RVs in the public right of way.

Current state law says RVs must be moved every 72 hours, but as was noted during a workshop centered on RVs at last weeks City Council meeting, that is not always the case in Santee.

Because other areas around East County have stricter regulations and tighter enforcement, Santee has become a storage ground for RVs on the streets, Santee Development Services Director Melanie Kush said.

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El Cajon has a permitting system for people who leave their RV parked and unattended for an extended period or overnight. RVs, trailers and commercial vehicles parked on city streets are ticketed if they are without a valid on-street parking permit. The citation for parking without a permit is $104.50 a day.

In Santee, the cost of a ticket for overstaying 72 hours in one location is $52. The City Council may raise that rate in order to make a statement.

The city also wants to keep pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists safe, while stopping its own residents from taking advantage of busy San Diego County Sheriffs Department officers who dont always have time to ticket or tow RVs that are in violation.

Changes coming will include:

Prohibiting the parking of RVs and large vehicles within 50 feet of an intersection or marked crosswalk. The sizes referred to are: 8 feet wide, 8 feet tall, or heavier than 10,000 lbs. gross vehicular weight rating.

Requiring that RVs parked on public streets move a minimum of 300 feet every 72 hours. Santee currently makes no stipulation of a minimum distance a car must move. Other jurisdictions have set rules beyond the state code.

Authorizing city code enforcement staff to properly mark, document and issue administrative citations for RVs that remain in the same location for more than 72 hours. That would free up Santee sheriffs deputies, who currently enforce the law by marking a vehicle, noting the date and time, and then returning to the RV after 72 hours to determine if it was moved.

Updating the citys zoning law to allow for the establishment of new RV storage facilities in certain parts of Santee.

Santee residents concerns have also centered around dangers posed to walkers, cyclists and drivers. Others say they have grown weary of RVs blocking private driveways and the roadway. The RVs considerable volume means the obstruction of sight lines along streets.

Santee is looking at making it easier for people to keep their RVs in storage areas around the city, like this one at Santee Lakes. (Karen Pearlman/San Diego Union-Tribune )

Resident Aaron Townsend brought photographs he recently took of offending vehicles in his neighborhood.

For over five years Ive had the challenge of navigating around 32-foot behemoth of an RV that has been permanently stored on Woodside Terrace ever since the road was built in 2008, said Aaron Townsend. Ive called the sheriff many times to issue a 72-hour ticket but its futile because (the RV owners) move it a couple of feet then there it stays for another two months.

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Townsend said he went to his neighbors with a petition about adopting a no-overnight parking ordinance on city streets. He showed the City Council three pages of 60 names and addresses.

I would gladly shut up and sit down if I thought we were the only neighborhood affected by this plight, Townsend said, but unfortunately every single community of Santee has been infested by these road roaches. Public streets are not private storage and its time we come up with a solution.

At both workshops, RV owners told the city they have little choice but to park on the street. Some said they have either no driveway or cannot fit their RV onto their property. Others lamented that there are too few storage lots for them to pay to park, but the new ordinance will make it easier for new lots to open.

Santee resident Wally Husted was looking for Santee to let RV owners find solutions on their own. He said he remembered when the city had a discussion about the same issue in 1992 and that he recalled that word of mouth was enough to bring about changes.

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Husted said he believes communication and education would be enough to get RV owners to step up and do the right thing to remedy the current RV quandary.

We dont have to reinvent the wheel, Husted said. If we educate RV owners, we can do better without regulations. Before we try restrictions or put in place new mandates, lets educate through our community outreach.

But the City Council wholly disagreed.

Mayor John Minto noted that the last mayor was not interested (in updating the RV code), he didnt want to upset the voting public, but sometimes you have to take a stand.

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karen.pearlman@sduniontribune.com
Tyler Johnson looked across the Scripps Ranch shopping mall parking lot through his new glasses and stared at the purple, dark blue and yellow Taco Bell sign across the way.

It looks a lot different than I thought, the 32-year-old quality assurance professional said. I always thought it was just red.

During a promotional media event held inside Scripps Poway Eye Care & Optometry Monday evening, Johnson and three others had just been given special glasses designed for the color blind.

All have had great trouble throughout their lives differentiating red from green. Pink looks gray to them. Red looks dull and brown as does green.

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Twelve-year-old Jake Rasmussen of El Cajon kept taking the Enchroma glasses off and on while staring at a vase full of multi-colored flowers.

Everything looks the same, but everything looks a lot more there, the Fletcher Hills Elementary School sixth-grader said. The pink surprises me. Its very, very pink. The green does, too, and the red.

Michael Quan, a 31-year-old aircraft project engineer, stood next to Johnson staring into the parking lot. Holy cow, Quan said. That red car!

The Enchroma glasses help the color blind see colors. They were developed with the help of three National Institutes of Health research grants and 10 years of research and development. They have been on the market a couple years but only now is the company making a big marketing push.

The glasses are not a cure for color blindness and are designed only for those who have the red/green type of condition, the most common of four types of color blindness. The glasses boost and improve color vision, but do not correct it completely.

Red-green color blindness affects 1 in 12 men (8 percent) and 1 in 200 women (.5 percent)  about 13 million in the United States and 300 million worldwide, according to Enchroma.

Color blind celebrities include Bill Clinton, Prince William, Mark Zuckerberg, Howie Mandel, Eddie Redmayne, Rod Stewart, Jack Nicklaus, Marco Rubio and Nicholas Cage.

All four recipients of the glasses Monday said they didnt know what to expect. The men, including Ricardo Solano, 29, a laboratory research assistant, said they were excited to try the glasses, but it was Jakes mother who seemed the most pumped.

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I think Im more excited than he is, Alison Rasmussen said. I dont think he knows what hes missing. It bothers me that there is a whole dimension that he cant see.

Jakes father, Mark, said he, too, was very excited. Im curious to see how he sees things, he said.

Jake said hes looking forward to viewing Christmas lights, which have always looked kind of the same to him.

The glasses are only sold at four businesses in the San Diego area, including Scripps Poway Eye Care & Optometry.

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What these glasses will do is actually help separate the pigment within peoples eyes so they can see better, said Optician Cory Ulz. What were hoping to do today is give color to those who need it.

The Enchroma glasses sell anywhere from $259 to $349, Ulz said.

Santiago discovered he was color blind when he was in high school. Im looking forward to it. Im trying to see how everybody else sees the world.

After trying them on, he looked at the green leaves in the vase. Usually this looks brown, he said.

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Jake, the sixth-grader, looked at the flowers. Wow, he said. Everything is a lot more intense. Everything is a lot brighter. Its going to take time getting used to this.

For more information about the glasses go to enchroma.com on the web.

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jharry.jones@sduniontribune.com; 760/529-4931; Twitter: @jharryjones
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More North County community news

CARLSBAD

GOP group president

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to speak at meeting

Carlsbad Republican Women Federated will host Rosalia Zamora, the newly elected president of the San Diego County Federation of Republican Women, as the keynote speaker at the clubs next meeting at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 27 at the Green Dragon Tavern and Museum, 6115 Paseo del Norte. Zamoras presentation, You Count ... I Count ... We All Count, will focus on the role of Republican women, and how members contribute to outreach and the community. She is a member of the Lake San Marcos Republican Women Federated and serves on the membership committee for the National Federation of Republican Women. Doors open at 11 a.m. followed by the program. Cost is $30 for members and $35 for nonmembers. Reserve by Wednesday at (760) 415-7006 or annie13035@yahoo.com.

ESCONDIDO

Queen of Hearts luncheon on tap

The Hidden Valley Vista City Council of Beta Sigma Phi International will hold its Queens Court Luncheon: Queen of Hearts at 11 a.m. Feb. 24 at the Sundance Mobile Home Park Clubhouse, 2250 N. Broadway. All Beta Sigma Phis who are active, inactive, on leave or transferees as well as guests are invited to attend. Cost is $5 per guest by Tuesday. Beta Sigma Phi is a social, cultural and philanthropic international sorority. Reserve at (858) 692-0222.

FALLBROOK

Spring art show kicks off March 2 at gallery

The Fallbrook Art Association will hold its spring show from March 2-30 at the Brandon Gallery, 105 N. Main St. All themes are welcome, but a prize will be awarded for the special theme Spring is Bustin Out All Over. Intake for the show will be from noon to 3 p.m. Feb. 23-24. A reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. March 3. This years judge is Sally Pearce who was awarded a fellowship grant to the Vermont Studio Centers Residency Program to study with Michael Goldberg and Hugh ODonnal. She currently teaches and works in Oceanside, and has been painting for more than 24 years. Pearce will be awarding Best of Show, first through third places, eight Judges Choice merit awards as well as the Bev Thordarson Memorial Theme and Plein Air Awards. Membership is not required to enter this show. For information and entry forms, visit fallbrookartassn.org.

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NORTH COUNTY

Italian club offers student scholarships

The North County Italian Association is offering $1,000 scholarships to deserving high school seniors of Italian descent. This is a nonprofit that promotes an appreciation and understanding of the Italian culture and heritage through civic and social events. The deadline to submit applications is March 9. Visit northcountyitalianassociation.org.

OCEANSIDE

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Library offers ESL classes twice a week

The Oceanside Public Library holds its English as a Second Language (ESL) Conversation Class from 10 to 11:35 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays through May 17 in the second-floor Foundation Room at the Civic Center Library at 330 N. Coast Highway. New students are enrolled in the class every Tuesday. The class is a free noncredit course offered in partnership with MiraCosta College. Visit oceansidepubliclibrary.org. For more information on MiraCosta College classes and programs, visit miracosta.edu/continuinged or call (760) 795-8736.

SAN MARCOS

Submit artwork for

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city-sponsored show

The city of San Marcos is sponsoring a juried art and photography show from March 1 to April 30 at the San Marcos Community Center, 3 Civic Center Drive. Art submissions will be accepted from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday. Oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, drawings and mixed media/collage will be accepted. Original prints and prints on aluminum from film, digital camera or iPhones will be accepted for the photography division. Cost is $10 per entry (max two entries per person, per category). The diagonal dimension including frame is not to exceed 54 inches. Each entry must have a wire across the back to accommodate the hanging system. Cash and ribbons will be awarded to winning entries in each division. Entry forms are available at san-marcos.net or call (760) 744-9000, ext. 3503.

VISTA

History center to help you find your roots

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The Vista Family History Center will present a free class on Researching African-American Roots from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at 1310 Foothill Drive. In celebration of African-American History Month, the public is invited to learn how to use different records to discover ones own family history. Also, discover how history from the Colonial period until after the Civil War may have affected ones ancestors. Visit familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Vistafhc.
National City has laid out rules to govern the practice of using volunteers to serve as city council representatives.

The volunteers are meant to serve as liaisons between council members and the public. They might attend events, give presentations to community groups or help council members research agenda items.

Council representatives were bound by the same general guidelines that apply to unpaid interns and other volunteers, but there had been no rules specific to them until the City Council approved a policy at a Feb. 6 meeting.

Under the set of rules, council representatives are not allowed to:

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Attend a meeting on behalf of a council member when the city leaders presence is required,

Represent their own opinions and interests in city-related communications, and

Represent the interests and opinions of the city or City Council.

Last-minute revisions to the policy  before the City Council voted  caused tension among board members and resulted in a 3-2 vote.

Councilman Jerry Cano put forward the changes. His motion called for the policy to keep council representatives from having access to confidential information and to eliminate language that would have allowed the volunteers to use name badges with the city logo and name of the council member they serve.

Councilwomen Mona Rios and Alejandra Sotelo-Solis  the two council members who have council representatives  objected to Canos motion.

It seems very personal, very petty, Rios said before the vote.

She said name badges are important for community members to identify the volunteers as aides.

I take it very seriously to have my name associated with the badge they wear, Rios said.

In regards to confidential information, Sotelo-Solis said she didnt believe that needed to be spelled out in the policy.

As soon as the policy was approved, Rios asked her council representative to walk up to the dais and turn in her badge  a move Cano said was rude.

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Rios said she wanted it to be on record that her aide turned in her badge.

The City Attorneys Office was instructed to revise the policy to include language that defines confidential information.

Deputy City Manager Stacey Stevenson said she is not aware of other cities in the county who use volunteers to serve as council representatives. She said National City doesnt have the money to hire aides for council members.

Were a small organization with fiscal constraints, she said.

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Stevenson said a receptionist does clerical work for the offices of the city manager and city attorney, as well as the City Council.

The idea to recruit volunteers to serve as council representatives came from Rios in 2016. She became the first to use a council representative that year. In an interview, Rios said she was interested in having someone serve as her eyes and ears in the community.

She said her two council representatives havent had access to confidential information and spend most of their time out in the field with constituents.

She said name badges for council representatives served as a safeguard.

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I wouldnt want anyone to walk up to someone and say they are representing me, she said.

She said she took issue with the lack of explanation behind the last-minute changes to the policy. Other council members did not respond to requests for an interview.

Under the rules that apply to all city volunteers, a council representatives must:

Have an application on file with the human resources department.

Be at least 15  years old (Teenagers must obtain a work permit or parent or guardian signature).

Undergo a background check if he or she volunteers 20 or more hours. Students engaging in community service must undergo a background check if he or she volunteers 35 or more hours.

Log days he or she volunteers  and include the date and start and end time. The log must be sent to the human resources department monthly.

Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com

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Phone: (619) 293-1876

Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez
The San Diego Public Library is holding its first-ever short story contest, with the winner receiving $300.

Online registration opens March 1. Only 50 stories will be accepted.

Library officials said the goal is to nurture and foster local writing talent and to promote short-form fiction in San Diego.

Most short stories remain unpublished due to the competitiveness of the business and the few rare opportunities offered by prestigious literary publications such as the New Yorker or Camera Obscura, according to a library website detailing the contest. Stories by authors who are not well known or firmly plugged in the literary scenes in New York or San Francisco rarely see the light of day.

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The contest is open to county residents age 16 and older. Stories must be original, published or unpublished, and cannot exceed 3,000 words. Stories that have won or placed in other writing contests are ineligible. They should be suitable for a general audience, with one story per author.

There is no fee to enter.

Top prize is $300 and publication on the librarys website for one month. Second prize is $125, third prize is $75, and honorable mention is a gift certificate to the Library Shop in the Central Library.

Judging will be done by a committee of librarians with expertise in fiction, writing, publishing and literary studies, officials said. Winners will be announced in May.

A live reading of the winning stories is scheduled for May 25.

The contest is part of the librarys ongoing efforts to support local authors through book discussions, workshops and meet-the-writer events. Its annual Local Authors Showcase, now in its 52nd year, highlights books recently penned by area writers. This years exhibit, at the Central Library, runs through Feb. 28.

Last fall the library held a different kind of short-story contest, open to stories that could fit on the inside of a matchbook cover (roughly 40 words). It drew more than 210 entries.

The winner was Tara Gilboy, a San Diegan who teaches creative writing and has a novel due out later this year. She played off the matches theme, using the titles of short stories by Jack London (To Build a Fire) and Hans Christian Andersen (The Little Match Girl) in her story.

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She won $50 and received 50 matchbooks with her story inside.

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john.wilkens@sduniontribune.com
When Luis Eduardo Valencia was caught at the border last summer with a tiger cub riding shotgun on the floorboards of a Camaro, he held himself out to be a naive 18-year-old who had bought the wild animal on impulse after seeing one being walked on a leash on the streets of Tijuana.

But prosecutors say the smuggling scheme was not just an ill-advised pet purchase.

His cellphone records unveiled what appears to be an established cross-border wildlife smuggling business, according to court records filed by the U.S. Attorneys Office.

[T]he monkeys I get them for 2500 and the white tigers for 6k, I mean regular tigers, the white one goes for 10k, reads one text message he is accused of sending a fox vendor who was in the market for a tiger. The jaguar goes for 8k and panthers too and the lions go for 5k.

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 Luis Valencia of Perris was sentenced in San Diego federal court to six months in prison for smuggling border tiger.

On Tuesday, Valencia  who had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to illegally import tigers  was sentenced to six months in prison for smuggling the 6-week-old Bengal cub.

This is a crime against nature, as well as the laws of man, and it requires punishment if were going to send a message to the public that were not going to tolerate this, said U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Battaglia during the sentencing hearing.

Lawyers for Valencia tried to paint the defendant as a wildlife enthusiast who impetuously purchased the wild cat with the intention of making it a pet.

He had a lapse in judgment, allowing his passion for animals and youth to overcome obvious common sense, Robert Schlein, attorney with Robert Schlein & Associates, told the judge. He now knows that having wild animals as pets is just not something thats possible.

The prosecution, however, said Valencia never intended to keep the animal, providing text messages obtained from the defendants phone of conversations about selling a number of federally protected species.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Melanie K. Pierson also outlined a family history of drug sales and money laundering, which included Valencias father and grandfather.

The defendants history and characteristics are far more consistent with a junior member of a smuggling organization rather than an innocent young man who made a youthful error in judgment, Pierson said.

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As for the cub, thats a happier ending. Named Moka, which means chance, the cub became a media darling and popular addition to the San Diego Safari Zoo Park. His seizure prompted the Smithsonians National Zoo in Washington, D.C., to send an orphan Sumatran tiger cub to be his companion. He is named Rakan, or friend.

Moka could grow to weigh as much as 600 pounds.

Illicit wildlife trafficking is estimated to be a $7 billion to $23 billion global industry, with the U.S. being the second-largest market behind China, according to experts. The ports of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border are a major thoroughfare for such black-market animals.

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Valencia was stopped at the San Ysidro Port of Entry on Aug. 23, driving a Camaro with no license plates. When the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer spotted a small animal at the feet of his passenger, Eriberto Paniagua. The passenger said at first it was just a cat, but a closer inspection found otherwise.

Paniagua produced paperwork indicating the tiger was shipped via Aeromexico Cargo from Mexico City to Tijuana and stated  falsely  that the species is not covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, or CITES. Under CITES, a license is required to import such animals.

Valencia first told agents that hed bought the cub for $300 that same day after he saw a man walking a larger tiger on a leash in Tijuana. But agents found text messages on his phone and made him acknowledge that he made the purchase arrangements days earlier.

A further probe of his cellphone revealed Valencia had intended on smuggling a second cub that day, according to court records. In a conversation with the seller, Valencia discussed giving the cub anesthesia for the trip and fitting it into a truck.

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it cant be sedated. At that age it will die, the vendor wrote about a 5-month-old cub.

Valencia responded: What can we do so it doesnt make any noises? and Can it be given a little bit of anesthesia?

The vendor answered that the cub would fall asleep after it ate.

A photo was then sent of Paniagua, appearing to measure a secret non-factory compartment under the back seat of a vehicle. Do you think the big one will fit? Valencia asked.

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The vendor gave the price of $9,500 for the white one and warned Valencia to stay away from the parking lot at the Tijuana airport to avoid federal law enforcement there.

Valencia asked his girlfriend to bring a Camaro to him in Tijuana, so he could drive it into the U.S. He told her money and keys could be found in the cars gas tank.

Crossing records show the same Camaro had traveled between the U.S. and Mexico at least three times, driven by different people.

Investigators found another conversation on the phone, a series of text messages between Valencia and a person in Sherman Oaks who sells foxes.

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Text messages between Luis Valencia and a wildlife vendor discuss the sale of foxes, according to court records. (Courtesy of U.S. Attorneys Office )

Valencia was apparently trying to buy a fox or monkey and told the vendor, I used to have a tiger but I sold it to my big brother.

The vendor then became interested in buying a tiger and asked Valencia about his business. I got it from Mexico when it was a baby and I crossed him by the border in the car. I got it for 2k over there, Valencia said.

Valencia sent the vendor several photos of tigers and bragged that his source in Mexico could get all kinds of animals, including jaguars, lions, panthers and monkeys.

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A text conversation between Luis Valencia and a wildlife vendor in Sherman Heights discussed transactions of foxes, monkeys and tigers, according to court records. (Courtesy of U.S. Attorneys Office )

After Valencias arrest, investigators with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife got a hotline tip that he had another baby tiger at his home in Perris. They served a search warrant there but found no tigers. Valencias mother told investigators that Valencia was not home and had stayed the night at his girlfriends house. It is not known if her home was subsequently searched.

However, a horse was found living on the family property. In a brief interview after his arrest, defense attorney Robert Schlein said Valencia worked training Andalusian horses.

He is not part of any ring or organized smuggling of tigers, Schlein said. He added: Its just a serendipitous story.

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Valencia has several family ties to drug-trafficking organizations, prosecutors noted. His father was convicted in 2011 of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in Colorado.

A grandfather was indicted on accusations of laundering money for a drug organization in 1995 and was eventually arrested in 2011 on separate charges of distributing heroin and meth and money laundering. The grandfather was arrested in that case at the family home in Perris, where 9.5 kilograms of heroin were also found.

Valencias aunt was also charged in the case, and another aunt is married to a person wanted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for extradition to the U.S.

Luis Valencia is shown with a rifle on his Facebook account, according to court records. (Courtesy of U.S. Attorneys Office )

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Valencias Facebook shows signs of some of that influence. Investigators found videos of cockfighting and photos of him posing with various guns and making gang signs, according to court records.

The material is more consistent with the life of a junior member of a drug trafficking organization, rather than an innocent young man who made a youthful error in judgment, Pierson wrote.

Valencias passenger, Paniagua, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy and is set to be sentenced next Monday.

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kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com

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Twitter: @kristinadavis
Educators from the Vista Research-Practice partnership  a collaboration between Vista Unified School District educators and UC San Diego  will be part of a project that recently was awarded a five-year, $2.5 million research grant.

The grant, from the James S. McDonnell Foundation, went to a team led by Carnegie Mellon University assistant professor Amy Ogan to study teacher learning in high-need settings.

Ogans team comprises faculty from Carnegie Mellon and UC San Diego, as well as educators from the Vista Research-Practice partnership; a scientific advisory board; and a Distinguished Educator Advisory Panel.

Studies have shown that when teachers lead students in classroom discussions that encourage shared reasoning, the students show steep increases in learning. But such discussions are rare, especially in science classrooms, said the foundation. As a result, interest is growing in using technology to give feedback to teachers about how they instruct classes.

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Using a sensor system called ClassInSight, Ogans project will examine how high school science teachers learn to improve classroom communication.

ClassInSight gathers anonymous data about teaching methods, and offers this information in a way that lets teachers assess their performance. For example, do they wait long enough for students to answer questions, or do they jump in to answer questions themselves? ClassInSight can give feedback on interactions like that as well as other basic measurements, such as talk time vs. silence, or how much time students spend with their hands raised.

The McDonnell foundation grant provides funding to continue to develop the ClassInSight sensor technology and expands the work to high school classroom settings, such as in the Vista district.

The district is partners with UC San Diego in the International Center for Educational Research and Practice. Matt Doyle, VUSDs assistant superintendent of innovation, is executive director of the center, teamed with Gerri Burton of New York-based educational consultancy New Learning Ventures.

Doyle explained in an email, UCSD is the research component of the research/practice partnership. Our district will be involved in the grant, but UCSD will be in charge of the funding.

He added that the educators have not yet worked out how many Vista teachers and classrooms will be part of the project. Those details will be worked out in the coming months, he said.

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laura.groch@sduniontribune.com
A former top aide to Donald Trumps presidential campaign will plead guilty to fraud-related charges within days  and has made clear to prosecutors that he would testify against Paul Manafort, the lawyer-lobbyist who once managed the campaign.

The change of heart by Trumps former deputy campaign manager Richard Gates, who had pleaded not guilty after being indicted in October on charges similar to Manaforts, was described in interviews by people familiar with the case.

Rick Gates is going to change his plea to guilty, said a person with direct knowledge of the new developments, adding that the revised plea will be presented in federal court in Washington within the next few days.

That individual and others who discussed the matter spoke on condition of anonymity, citing a judges gag order restricting comments about the case to the news media or public.

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Gates defense lawyer, Thomas C. Green, did not respond to messages left by phone and email. Peter Carr, a spokesman for special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, declined on Saturday to comment.

Mueller is heading the prosecutions of Gates and Manafort as part of the wide-ranging investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and whether Trump or his aides committed crimes before, during or since the campaign.

The imminent change of Gates plea follows negotiations over the last several weeks between Green and two of Muellers prosecutors  senior assistant special counsels Andrew Weissmann and Greg D. Andres.

According to a person familiar with those talks, Gates, a longtime political consultant, can expect a substantial reduction in his sentence if he fully cooperates with the investigation. He said Gates is likely to serve about 18 months in prison.

The delicate terms reached by the opposing lawyers, he said, will not be specified in writing: Gates understands that the government may move to reduce his sentence if he substantially cooperates, but it wont be spelled out.

One of the final discussion points has centered on exactly how much cash or other valuables  derived from Gates allegedly illegal activity  that the government will require him to forfeit as part of the guilty plea.

Gates, 45, who is married with four children, does not appear to be well positioned financially to sustain a high-powered legal defense.

He cant afford to pay it, said one lawyer who is involved with the investigation. If you go to trial on this, thats $1 million to $1.5 million. Maybe more, if you need experts to appear as witnesses.

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The Oct. 27 indictment showed that prosecutors had amassed substantial documentation to buttress their charges that Manafort and Gates  who were colleagues in political consulting for about a decade  had engaged in a complex series of allegedly illegal transactions rooted in Ukraine. The indictment alleged that both men, who for years were unregistered agents of the Ukrainian government, hid millions of dollars of Ukraine-based payments from U.S. authorities.

According to the indictment, Gates and Manafort laundered the money through scores of United States and foreign corporations, partnerships and bank accounts and took steps to evade related U.S. taxes.

If Manafort maintains his not-guilty plea and fights the charges at a trial, the testimony from Gates could provide Muellers team with first-person descriptions of much of the allegedly illegal conduct. Gates testimony, said a person familiar with the pending guilty plea, would place a cherry on top of the governments already formidable case against Manafort.

The same individual said he did not believe Gates has information to offer Muellers team that would turn the screws on Trump. The president has repeatedly called the special counsels investigation a witch hunt.

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In addition to the charges pending against Gates and Manafort, Mueller has secured formal guilty pleas from three people. Michael Flynn, the retired lieutenant general who campaigned for Trump and served as the presidents first national security advisor, and George Papadopoulos, who was a foreign policy advisor to his campaign, have pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.

On Friday, a Justice Department official announced the guilty plea on identity theft charges of a computer specialist from Santa Paula, Calif., Richard Pinedo, whose illicit services  unbeknownst to Pinedo  were used by Russian operatives who tried to influence the 2016 election. The intrigue was spelled out in an indictment, also made public Friday, of 13 Russian nationals and three Russian entities on charges of interfering with the election by exploiting counterfeit identities of individuals and entities.

Gates joined Trumps presidential campaign in June 2016 when the candidate hired Manafort as its chairman. At the Republican National Convention the next month, Gates directly handled the campaigns operations as Manaforts top aide.

Perhaps the most controversial step taken by Trumps campaign at the convention concerned how the U.S. should deal with the tense relations between Russia and Ukraine, which repudiated Moscow in a 2014 revolt.

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When a delegate proposed that the Republican platform call for providing lethal defensive weapons to Ukraines military in its struggle against Russia-backed armed forces, the Trump campaign defeated the effort. Instead of U.S. weaponry, the convention platform committee accepted the campaigns substitute language, which offered Ukraine appropriate assistance.

In mid-August 2016, Trump fired Manafort following reports of possibly improper payments he had received from a pro-Russia political party aligned with his longtime client Viktor Yanukovych, who was Ukraines president from 2010 to 2014.

Gates, however, remained with the Trump campaign through the election, serving as a liaison to the Republican National Committee. He also assisted Trumps inaugural committee.

david.willman@latimes.com
The mystery surrounding strange symptoms of illness experienced by at least two dozen U.S. diplomats stationed in Havana has still not been resolved.

More than a year after the symptoms were first reported, and the U.S. government blamed them on attacks against the diplomats, a new report by U.S. medical experts can find no explanation for the cause.

The study by a team from the University of Pennsylvania, published last week in the Journal of the American Medical Assn., concluded the diplomatic personnel suffered brain injuries without evidence of head trauma.

The Americans reported a range of symptoms including hearing loss, headaches, dizziness, nausea and loss of concentration. Initially, the U.S. government blamed the symptoms on sonic or acoustic attacks, but has since backed off those labels.

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Yet the Penn group could not determine a cause, saying that any sensory phenomena was of unclear origin.

These individuals appeared to have sustained injury to widespread brain networks without an associated history of head trauma, the study said.

Nonetheless, the JAMA added in an attached report, the similarities among the 21 cases merit consideration of a common medical, environmental, or psychological event as the potential cause.

The State Department has said a total of 24 people reported symptoms after hearing strange, high-pitched sounds, or a kind of pressure on their ears, at their diplomatic homes in Havana or in hotels. The studys authors said they only looked at 21 cases of people who submitted to multidisciplinary evaluation.

The symptoms were first reported in late 2016 but not disclosed by the State Department until August. In response, Washington expelled 17 Cuban diplomats from Washington, and ordered most of its own diplomatic personnel from Havana back to U.S. soil and restricted travel there to emergency personnel.

The two governments at first said they were cooperating in the investigation but soon fell into mutual recrimination. The government of President Raul Castro condemned the purported attacks and denied any involvement but later called into question the veracity of the incidents.

The Trump administration, after first welcoming Havanas cooperation, later blamed Castros government for failing in its duty to keep foreign diplomats safe on the island as per international treaty.

The chill in diplomatic relations followed a major opening between Washington and Havana under President Obama, which ended half a century of Cold War hostilities. The U.S. reopened its embassy in Havana, and Cuba did the same in Washington, in 2015.

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Trump had pledged to roll back that opening but so far has taken only limited steps to restrict some travel to and trade with Cuba by U.S. citizens.

And despite the tension over the embassy illnesses, the two governments have been meeting regularly on law enforcement, money-laundering, immigration and similar technical issues, according to officials from both sides.

But the meetings, which once alternated locations between Havana and Washington, are now held exclusively in Washington because of the illness fears.

The continued talks are aimed at promoting democracy and human rights in Cuba, the State Department says, in keeping with Trumps stated focus for the communist-ruled island.

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Cuban officials argue that the embassy restrictions hurt ordinary Cubans, whom the administration claims to want to help. Cubans, for example, who seek visas to travel to the U.S. to visit relatives or participate in academic programs now must go to Colombia to apply, an expensive and time-consuming task.

tracy.wilkinson@latimes.com

For more on international affairs, follow @TracyKWilkinson on Twitter
In a new poll, Democrat Doug Applegate and Republican Rocky Chavez lead a packed field in the coastal congressional district being vacated by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista.

Thirty-two percent of voters who said President Donald Trump is their biggest issue are backing Applegate, 9 percent are backing Chavez.

Thirty percent of voters who said the economy was their biggest issue are backing Chavez, but just 3 percent of economy-centric voters are backing Applegate.

In a congressional district that includes Camp Pendleton, two former Marines running for the House of Representatives lead in the latest poll. The same survey, however, shows that their supporters are looking for very different things in their next legislator.

Democrat Doug Applegate and Republican Rocky Chavez lead a pack of 12 candidates with support of 18 percent and 17 percent of voters, respectively  a difference thats within the margin of error. The San Diego Union-Tribune/10News poll was conducted by Survey USA and reached 510 people.

Both candidates are retired Marine Corps colonels and had significant advantages over the second-most popular candidates from their respective parties.

While Chavez and Applegate share a common history, their political bases have very different interests. According to the telephone survey conducted from Feb. 10-13, 30 percent of voters who said the economy is their most important issue are backing Chavez. No other issue of the five topics other pollsters asked about brought Chavez as much support.

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Three percent of economy-centric voters are backing Applegate, less than the five other issues pollsters asked about.

Thirty-two percent of Applegates supporters said that President Donald Trump is their biggest issue, the most common priority for his base. Conversely, the president was the least important issue for Chavezs supporters.

With one exception, voters also preferred the two frontrunners over all other candidates in their respective parties on all the other issues the poll addressed. When it came to the wall at the United States border with Mexico, voters backed Board of Equalization Member Diane Harkey, R-Dana Point.

Harkey polled behind Chavez at 10 percent, while lawyer Mike Levin, a Democrat from San Juan Capistrano, was next with 8 percent. The poll was conducted with about a month until the filing deadline passes, so the field could see more candidates. At least 12 candidates are running, including five Republicans, five Democrats and one each from the Libertarian and the Peace and Freedom parties.

The field is crowded in part because incumbent Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, announced on Jan. 10 that he would not run for re-election, a move that drew out Republican candidates. Democrats became interested in the seat after Applegate narrowly lost to Issa in 2016 by 1,621 votes, the closest federal race in the country.

The fact that the frontrunners are both retired colonels who are trying to represent a district with the largest Marine base on the West Coast makes sense, Applegate said. The service members vote in the congressional district of their hometowns across the country, but they end up making North County their home when they retire, he said.

There are 50,000 veteran households, he said by phone. And then start counting partners, spouses, children, grandchildren, extended family and friends, this a very unique district.

He said he had no idea why he and Chavezs supporters have such different priorities.

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Chavez said he suspects his supporters back him on the economy because his Assembly district, an area that includes Encinitas, Vista, Carlsbad and Oceanside, is economically diverse, and he has had to represent constituents with different needs.

The economy has always been one of the central points since I ran my first election, Chavez said by phone. When you look at the quality of life, and equity, and the diverse community that Ive represented, its about jobs.

He has focused on education, including vocational training while in Sacramento, so he understands the role education plays in economic development, and he suspects voters like that too, he said.

Applegate said hes not running entirely as an anti-Trump Democrat and has focused on the economy, so the poll findings were a little surprising.

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Whenever I talk to anybody, one of the first things out of my mouth is, Hey, we are polarized because of income disparity, he said.

Down in the rankings, San Diego Supervisor Kristin Gaspar, R-Encinitas, polled at 7 percent, while former non-profit CEO Sara Jacobs, a Democrat, polled at 5 percent.

San Juan Capistrano Councilman Brian Maryott and patent attorney Joshua Schoonover, both Republicans, polled at 2 percent. Businessman Paul Kerr and attorney Christina Prejean, Democrats, polled at 1 percent, as did Peace and Freedom Party candidate Jordan Mills. Libertarian Joshua Hancock polled at zero.

While Chavez and Applegate lead, 27 percent of voters have not yet decided who they want to represent them in the 49th District, a coastal seat that stretches from La Jolla to Dana Point.

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Among undecided voters, health care and immigrants who entered the United States illegally as children were the most important issues. Democrats polled highest on both those matters.

Chavez said hes going to use coalitions to make inroads with undecided voters. He recently launched one to work with veterans, and hes a part of two other bipartisan groups that deal with health care and education.

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Twitter: @jptstewart

joshua.stewart@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1841
Less than half of voters in Rep. Darrell Issas coastal congressional district approve of their representative in the House and President Donald Trump.

Results of a San Diego Union-Tribune/10News poll earlier this month by Survey USA found that 44 percent of voters approve of how Issa is doing in Congress, while 46 percent approve of the job Trump is doing. Its a reversal of opinion from the 2016 election, where Issa fared better at the polls than Trump.

Issas spokesman, Calvin Moore, said he suspects that the change is due to Republicans who are upset that their congressman is not running for re-election. Last month Issa announced that his current term representing the district, his ninth, will be his last.

While the congressmans approval rating is lower than the president, the poll found that 49 percent of likely voters disapprove of Issas job performance, while 51 percent disapprove of Trumps work. Four percent were also unsure about the president, while 8 percent were unsure about Issa.

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No other polls about Issas performance were publicly available, but other measures show that Trumps ratings in the 49th District are on par with national averages. One by Rasmussen Reports released Friday show that 47 percent approve of the president while 52 percent disapprove.

One by Gallup released on Wednesday found that 81 percent disapprove of Congress performance, while 15 percent approve.

In 2016 in Issas district, 43.2 percent of voters supported Trump, while 50.7 percent backed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Issa, however, fared better and received 50.3 percent of the vote, besting Democrat Doug Applegate, who received 49.7 percent. It was the closest margin of any federal race in the country.

The poll involved 510 likely voters who were reached by either a landline or cellular telephone. It was conducted from Feb. 10-13. Questions about Trumps job performance has a 5.46 margin of error, while the questions about Issa had a 5.44 margin of error.

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Twitter: @jptstewart

joshua.stewart@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1841
El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells announced Tuesday he is running for Congress, challenging long-time Republican incumbent Rep. Duncan Hunter for a hotly-contested district that encompasses much of East County.

Wells, who has held the mayoral position since 2013, is seeking to take over the 50th Congressional District, which serves more than 730,000 constituents, including those in the North County communities of Fallbrook, San Marcos, Valley Center and Escondido.

Making the announcement at the Ronald Reagan Community Center in El Cajon, Wells said he aims to bring conservative, Republican values to Washington, D.C.

Heres what I stand for: limited government, the sanctity of life, property rights, a strong national defense and a secure border, he said. I will dedicate my time in Washington, D.C., to reducing the national debt, reject tax increases and unburden workers and small business owners to realize their full potential.

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After his announcement for his candidacy for the 50th Congregational District, Bill Wells posed for photos with friends and supporters. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune )

Wells acknowledged he faces a strong incumbent in Hunter.

I am up for the challenge, he told a room full of supporters. My life has been all about impossible dreams that Ive somehow achieved, again and again.

He said his impossible dreams included earning a doctorate in psychology, starting his own behavioral health services business and getting into public office.

Hunter is well-known among constituents and has significantly more name recognition because of his father  the districts former representative  but an ongoing criminal investigation into his political spending has led many to believe that the otherwise safe seat will be up for grabs in the June primary election.

The FBI began looking into his campaign spending after reports that he used money from donors for his own personal expenses, from family vacations to oral surgery and private school tuition. Hunter denies all intentional wrongdoing and said he has paid back all funds that were spent by mistake.

As for the allegations against Hunter, Wells said, I am not part of that investigation and know only what other members of the public know.

Earlier this month, Politico reported that Republicans are worried about Hunters prospects for re-election. Some encouraged him to end his career in Congress by not seeking a sixth term.

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Upon hearing that Wells was throwing his hat into the ring, Hunter minced no words.

Im a Marine who was elected to represent my constituents in Congress, he said. Wells and others are politicians. Politicians are constantly running for higher office, thats what they do. I fight for my beliefs and principles every day, and thats what I will keep doing no matter how many politicians run against me.

Carl DeMaio, a member of the San Diego City Council from 2008-12, and also a Republican, has also expressed interest in the seat.

DeMaio lost to Bob Filner in a run for San Diego mayor in 2012 and also made a failed run for the 52nd Congressional District in the 2014 election, losing to incumbent Scott Peters.

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I appreciate all the San Diegans who have reached out to me to encourage me to run for Congress, DeMaio wrote in a media release. If we want better results from government, we must first start by fixing Congress and holding them accountable when they violate the publics trust. I expect to make a decision in the next week.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has been targeting the seat, and a political action committee was formed largely to attack the incumbent.

According to Federal Election Commission data, Wells and Hunter will face at least five Democratic rivals, including two who have raised more than $400,000 as of December. Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar, a small business owner who formerly served as a White House intern and public affairs officer for the U.S. Department of Labor, has raised more than $520,000.

Every congressional office has many community leaders interested in serving, Wells said. This race is not likely to be different. I will run on my record as a proven conservative leader and problem solver.

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Wells, 55, was also at the center of controversy earlier this year after the city placed a ban on feeding the homeless in public spaces.

The ban was meant to help prevent the spread of hepatitis A, which has killed 20 and sickened more than 500 people countywide  most of them homeless  but critics called it a punitive measure to dehumanize and criminalize the homeless population.

International media, including the BBC, picked up on the ban after about a dozen volunteers were arrested for staging a food-sharing event in one of the citys most popular parks.

San Diego County officials ended the health emergency declaration in late-January and the city of El Cajon followed suit by lifting the ban.

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Wells said if the city had to do it again, it would.

This was always about preventing people from contracting hepatitis, Wells said. I will always do what must be done to protect the public health, even if it might be controversial.

A doctor of clinical psychology, Wells owns and operates Broadwell Health, Inc., a behavioral health facility in El Cajon. He has a wife, three children and four grandchildren.

He entered politics as an advocate for a hospital employer at both the local and state level. He served on the El Cajon Planning Commission and in 2008 was elected to the City Council. In 2013, former Mayor Mark Lewis resigned and Wells was appointed to serve out the rest of his term. He was re-elected in 2014.

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Wells told the crowd that he grew up in a family that was poor and struggling. He recounted that when he was 8, he lost his father to alcoholism, carrying some shame after that happened.

But Wells said despite the early challenges, he was able to make his way into college, marriage, family and career.

I have found that the tough times in my life made the joyful ones that much sweeter, he said.

Wells said he has been endorsed by former Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, other regional elected officials and community leaders.

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It is my deeply held belief that holding public office is one of the greatest, most sacred jobs in America, Wells said. And I find it so incredibly American that even a kid like me from a broken and impoverished family can dare to dream of service in Washington.

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A Southcrest man was arrested Monday for allegedly carrying out armed holdups at a Midway-area adult bookstore and, less than 24 hours later, a convenience store in City Heights.

San Diego police arrested the 27-year-old man at his home, San Diego police Lt. Eric Hays said.

A search of the residence yielded evidence linking (the man) to the robberies, including a .22-caliber rifle,' Hays said.

The lieutenant said information from the public lead to the identification of the suspect in the two cases. Police had made an appeal asking the public for help last week.

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The man allegedly brandished a long-barreled gun while robbing Adult Depot on Pacific Highway, about an hour before sunrise Feb. 8, and during a subsequent heist early the next day at a 7-Eleven on University Avenue.

The robber fled the scenes of the crimes in a dark-colored Nissan Sentra or similar car with black wheels and a broken drivers-side window, police reported.

The man was being held on $50,000 bail pending arraignment, scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
School officials found a graffiti threat at High Tech High Media Arts in Point Loma early Tuesday and police were called to investigate.

Officers were dispatched to the charter school campus on Farragut Road near Rosecrans Street in the Liberty Station area of Point Loma, a police spokesman said.

A woman who answered the phone at the campus said a graffiti threat was found at one of the High Tech High schools and police were notified. She didnt provide any more details.

According to CBS News 8, the school sent an email to parents. It said that graffiti containing a threat of action was written on a wall in a girls bathroom at one of the schools.

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The letter says the school will be open with a police presence on campus.

karen.kucher@sduniontribune.com
Sheriffs deputies are posted at San Marcos High School Tuesday after school officials detected social media rumors of a possible shooting threat at the campus.

Sheriffs officials early Tuesday said they had determined there was no specific threats targeting the school.

San Marcos Unified School District Superintendent Melissa Hunt posted a message on Facebook and sent an email to parents on Monday night saying school officials were taking the unsubstantiated rumors seriously.

In a follow-up message posted early Tuesday, she said there was no evidence of a credible threat.

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While we believe there is no threat, sheriffs deputies will be posted at San Marcos High School. You may also notice a more visible presence of officers around other sites out of an abundance of caution, she wrote.

Sheriffs officials said a rumor that circulated via Snapchat on Monday included images and wording related to a recent arrest in South Carolina regarding a school shooting threat.

There was no specific threats targeting San Marcos High, sheriffs Sgt. Daniel Deese said in a statement. But an increased law enforcement presence in San Marcos was planned anyway.

The threat comes less than a week after a 19-year-old opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, killing 17 and wounding several others.

Earlier this school year, a student at Poway High School texted friends that ``there would be a shooting at the school and posted an image of the conversation on social media, though authorities investigated the claim and ultimately said the threat was unfounded.

Roughly two weeks after that threat, near the end of October of last year, students at Meadowbrook Middle School in Poway were found on consecutive days to be carrying ``hit lists containing the names of classmates and faculty at the school.

City News Service contributed to this report.

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karen.kucher@sduniontribune.com

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UPDATES:

8:15 a.m.: This article was updated with additional details.

This article was originally published at 6:45 a.m.
A Vista man is in custody on suspicion of attempted murder, though that charge could change to a more serious homicide case as the victim is not expected to survive, sheriffs officials said.

Deputies in Vista began investigating the case just before 9:30 p.m. Sunday when a man arrived at a hospital with a gunshot wound, according to Lt. Rich Williams of the San Diego County Sheriffs Department.

The victims name was withheld pending identification and family notification.

After initially responding to the hospital, deputies determined the shooting occurred in an apartment at 320 Pomelo Drive in a mixed business and residential area just west of the Vista Detention Center and Vista courthouse,Williams said.

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At the scene, deputies detained 27-year-old Vista resident Fredy Sixto, who was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. He was not yet listed as an inmate in jail records Monday morning but was expected to be booked into the San Diego Central Jail later in the day.

Because of the likely fatal wound suffered by the victim, sheriffs homicide detectives were called to the scene, took over the investigation and searched the apartment after obtaining a warrant, Williams said. Sheriffs Crime Lab personnel also helped process the scene for evidence.

Anyone with information about the shooting was asked to call the homicide unit at (858) 974-2321 or San Diego County Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. Tipsters may remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

Earlier in the day, deputies in Vista responded to a reported stabbing about 1:30 p.m. in the 1200 block of North Santa Fe Avenue that left at least one person injured.

Roughly 30 minutes prior to that, sheriffs officials received a 911 call regarding a possible shooting in the 800 block of Warmlands Avenue, where deputies arrived to find a man and woman dead inside the home. Those people are believed to be the parents of the man who called 911.

There was no apparent connection in any of the violence, and sheriffs officials said they were not looking for any outstanding suspects in the double slaying. It wasnt immediately clear if homicide detectives investigating that case believe the deaths may have been the result of a murder-suicide.
President Donald Trump on Monday night threw his full support behind Mitt Romneys bid to be the next U.S. senator from Utah, writing on Twitter that he would be a worthy successor to retiring Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.

The endorsement is significant because Trump had previously encouraged Hatch to seek another term, and Romney had been among the most vocal Republican critics of Trumps presidential aspirations, once calling him a phony and a fraud.

Mitt Romney has announced he is running for the Senate from the wonderful State of Utah. He will make a great Senator and worthy successor to @OrrinHatch, and has my full support and endorsement! Trump wrote on Twitter on Monday night after returning to Washington from a long weekend in Florida at his Mar-a-Lago estate.

Shortly after Trumps tweet, Romney wrote on Twitter: Thank you Mr. President for the support. I hope that over the course of the campaign I also earn the support and endorsement of the people of Utah.

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 Trump.

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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, 70, 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.

A Salt Lake Tribune poll last month showed Romney with the support of 85 percent of Utah Republicans  and 18 percent of Democrats.

Despite his harsh criticism of Trump during the 2016 election cycle, Trump considered Romney for his secretary of state but passed him over for Rex Tillerson.

In a March 2016 speech, Romney said Trumps promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University. Hes playing members of the American public for suckers: He gets a free ride to the White House, and all we get is a lousy hat.

Former White House chief strategist Steve 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. Several little-known Republicans have announced Senate campaigns ahead of Romney.

The Washington Posts Robert Costa contributed to this report.
While Russian officials scoff at a U.S. indictment charging 13 Russians with meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, several people who worked at the same St. Petersburg troll factory say they think the criminal charges are well-founded.

Marat Mindiyarov, a former commenter at the innocuously named Internet Research Agency, says the organizations Facebook department hired people with excellent English skills to sway U.S. public opinion through an elaborate social media campaign.

His own experience at the agency makes him trust the U.S. indictment, Mindiyarov told the Associated Press. I believe that thats how it was and that it was them, he said.

The federal indictment issued Friday names a businessman linked to President Vladimir Putin and a dozen other Russians. It alleges that Yevgeny Prigozhin  a wealthy restaurateur dubbed Putins chef, paid for the internet operation that created fictitious social media accounts and used them to spread tendentious messages.

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The aim of the factorys work was either to influence voters or to undermine their faith in the U.S. political system, the 37-page indictment states.

Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Monday that while the indictment focuses on Russian nationals, it gives no indication that the Russian government was involved in this in any way. Peskov reasserted that Moscow did not interfere in the U.S. election.

Mindiyarov failed the language exam needed to get a job on the Internet Research Agencys Facebook desk, where the pay was double that of the domestic side of the factory. The sleek operation produced content that looked as if it were written by native English speakers, he said.

These were people with excellent language skills, interpreters, university graduates, he said. Its very hard to tell its a foreigner writing because they master the language wonderfully.

The English test he took asked for a writing sample about Democratic candidate Hillary Clintons chances of winning the U.S. presidential vote, Mindiyarov recalled.

I wrote that her chances were high and she could become the first female president, he told the AP.

Mindiyarov said he took a job at the troll factory in late 2014 because he was unemployed and curious. At the time, about 400 people occupied four floors of an office building and worked 12-hour shifts, he said. Most of the operation focused on the separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine and Western sanctions against Russia, not political races in the West, he said.

The trolls received their wages in cash and operated in teams as they tried to foment public interest with fake discussions, according to Mindiyarov.

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We worked in a group of three where one played the part of a scoundrel, the other one was a hero, and the third one kept a neutral position, he said. For instance, one could write that Putin was bad, the other one would say it was not so, and the third would confirm the position of the second while inserting some picture.

After only a couple of months, Mindiyarov quit. He says he hated the work.

The world in those comments was divided into black and white: America was bad, Putin was good, he said. They praised whatever had to do with Putin and criticized anything related to America, gay Europe, and so on. That was the principle of the work.

Another former worker at the St. Petersburg workshop, Lyudmila Savchuk, also described it as an efficient venture that churned out posts around the clock.

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Like Mindiyarov, Savchuk was employed in the domestic department of the troll farm, not the international division. Nevertheless, she said her experience there corresponds with what she knows of the allegations made by American authorities.

The posts and comments are made to form the opinion of Russian citizens regarding certain issues, and as we see it works for other countries, too, Savchuk told the AP.

Paid trolls used carefully crafted fake identities that made them come across like real people, she said.

The most important principle of the work is to have an account like a real person, Savchuk said. They create real characters, choosing a gender, a name, a place of living and an occupation. Therefore, its hard to tell that the account was made for the propaganda.

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Prigozhin, a.k.a. Putins chef, owned restaurants and catering businesses that hosted the Russian leaders dinners with foreign dignitaries. He used his relationship with Putin to expand his business to include services for the Russian military.

Im not at all upset that Im on this list, Prigozhin said of the indictment in comments carried by Russias state RIA Novosti news agency. If they want to see the devil, let them see him.

Along with producing social media supporting Donald Trumps candidacy and disparaging Clinton, the Internet Research Agency purchased online advertisements using identities stolen from Americans and staged political rallies while posing as American political activists, the indictment alleges. The agency also paid people in the U.S. to promote or ridicule the candidates, the document states.

All of the trolls knew that its Prigozhin who stands behind this all, said Mindiyarov, the ex-commenter who left the organization in early 2015. But nobody had any evidence.

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He said that the employees disliked Prigozhin, in part because he didnt set up a cafeteria or canteen in the troll factory building even though he owned a sprawling catering business.

People had to bring food boxes from home, Mindiyarov said. Prigozhin did not treat the trolls well. He could at least feed them.

While the U.S. indictment mentioned 13 people, many more must have been involved in the effort, according to Savchuk.

Here they laugh about the news that 13 people could influence the elections in the U.S., but there were many more people doing that, she said. These technologies are unbelievably effective.

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She added that she learned how effective the troll farms work was when she saw regular people sharing opinions and information that she knew were planted by trolls.

They believed it was their own thoughts, but I saw that those thoughts were formed by the propagandists, she said.

The Internet Research Agency has reportedly changed its name and location, moving to another business center in the northern part of St. Petersburg.

Andrey Zakharov, an investigative journalist with Russian RBC outlet who co-reported an investigation of the troll factory, said the list of indicted Russians looked quite random to him.

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They simply included in it all the names they could find, Zakharov told the AP. According to our information, some of these people dont work at the factory now and did not even work there during the [U.S.] elections. This does not look like a result of a solid investigation.

Although the U.S. indictment is detailed, it makes assertions without providing evidence outright. Russian officials have seized on that, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who dismissed the charges as just blabber.
Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez, R-Lake Elsinore, finally won passage this month of a bill offering whistle-blower protection to state legislative staffers who report sexual and ethical misconduct  after the measure was shelved in the Senate Appropriations Committee for four years in a row without explanation. Even after her triumph, Melendez is right to worry whether legislative leaders will continue to quietly kill good-government bills. Thats why last week she proposed a state constitutional amendment that would require a vote on every bill referred to a legislative committee.

This is sure to be seen as be too cumbersome for a Legislature that deals with thousands of bills every session  especially when some measures are introduced not with any expectation of passage but as ways of showing political allegiance to a cause or special interest, or to bring attention to a pet issue. But on truly important, far-reaching legislation, state legislative leaders should understand that stealth bill-killing is no longer acceptable.

If that seems on the Pollyannish side, consider what happened last week when suspended state Sen. Tony Mendoza, D-Artesia, filed a lawsuit against the Senate over how it was probing allegations he had sexually harassed three staffers, blasting a constantly evolving and secretive investigative process.

Christine Pelosi  chair of the California Democratic Partys Womens Caucus and a leader of the #MeToo movement  told the Los Angeles Times that Mendoza needs to stay gone, and he should respect the process that does exist and the law that his colleagues did pass to put him on leave.

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But she also said Mendoza was right  the investigation should be more open. If this becomes the new default view in the Capitol  of course we need transparency  that would be great news.

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American soldiers fought their first pitched battle of the Vietnam War here. One of the survivors recalls how it was  the blood, the agony, and the fear.

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This article and other features about America in Vietnam can be found in the Posts Special Collectors Edition, The Heroes of Vietnam. This edition can be ordered here.

Originally published January 28, 1967.

Spc. 4/c Jack P. Smith was a supply clerk in the 1st Air Cavalry Division in South Vietnam. Smiths company  Charlie Company of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry (Regiment)  had never been in action, and Smith, who was 20 years old, had come to believe that it never would. We thought we were a sham, Smith recalls today. We dug and walked and looked for an enemy who was never there.

In November 1965, units of the 7th Cavalry began to make the first American penetration in force of a communist stronghold near the Cambodian border. On November 15, Smiths battalion was ordered in to help the 1st Battalion, which was meeting strong resistance. This was the beginning of the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley, the first pitched battle fought by American soldiers in the war for Vietnam, and the bloodiest engagement of the long and divisive struggle.

After a day of marching into the jungle, Smith and the 500 other men of the 2nd Battalion came upon a clearing, known on the maps as Xray, where the 1st Battalion was fighting. The names of the soldiers have been changed, but in all other respects, this is what happened.

The 1st Battalion had been fighting continuously for three or four days, and I had never seen such filthy troops. Some of them had blood on their faces from scratches and from other guys wounds. Some had long rips in their clothing where shrapnel and bullets had missed them. They all had that look of shock. They said little, just looked around with darting, nervous eyes.

Late that morning, the Cong made a charge. About 100 of them jumped up and made for our lines, and all hell broke loose.

Whenever I heard a shell coming close, Id duck, but theyd keep standing. After three days of constant bombardment, you get so you can tell from the sound how close a shell is going to land within 50 to 75 feet. There were some wounded lying around, bandaged up with filthy shirts and bandages, smoking cigarettes or lying in a coma with plasma bottles hanging above their stretchers.

Late that morning, the Cong made a charge. About 100 of them jumped up and made for our lines, and all hell broke loose. The people in that sector opened up with everything they had. Then a couple of our Skyraiders came in. One of them dropped a lot of stuff that shimmered in the sun like green confetti. It looked like a ticker-tape parade, but when the things hit the ground, the little pieces exploded. They were anti-personnel charges. Every one of the gooks was killed. Another group on the other side almost made it to the lines. There werent enough GIs there, and they couldnt shoot them down fast enough. A plane dropped some napalm bombs just in front of the line. I couldnt see the gooks. But I could hear them scream as they burned. A hundred men dead, just like that.

My company, Charlie Company, took over its sector of the battalion perimeter and started to dig in. At three oclock another attack came, but it never amounted to anything. I didnt get any sleep that night. There was continuous firing from one until four, and it was as bright as day with the flares lighting up the sky.

The next morning, the order came for us to move out. I guess our commanders felt the battle was over. The three battalions of PAVN (Peoples Army of Vietnam  the North Vietnamese) were destroyed. There must have been about 1,000 rotting bodies out there, starting about 20 feet from us and surrounding the giant circle of foxholes. As we left the perimeter, we walked by them. Some of them had been lying out there for four days. There are more ants in Vietnam than in any place I have ever seen.

We were being withdrawn to Landing Zone Albany, some 6 miles away, where we were to be picked up by helicopter. About noon the column stopped and everybody flopped on the ground. It turned out that our reconnaissance platoon had come upon four sleeping PAVN who had claimed they were deserters. They said that there were three or four snipers in the trees up ahead  friends of theirs who did not want to surrender.

The head of the column formed by our battalion was already in the landing zone, which was actually only 30 yards to our left. But our company was still in the woods and elephant grass. I dropped my gear and my ax, which was standard equipment for supply clerks like me. We used them to cut down trees to help make landing zones for our helicopters. The day had grown very hot. I was about one-quarter through a smoke when a few shots cracked at the front of the column.

I flipped my cigarette butt, lay down, and grabbed my M-16. The fire in front was still growing. Then a few shots were fired right behind me. They seemed to come from the trees. There was firing all over the place now, and I was getting scared. A bullet hit the dirt a foot to my side, and some started whistling over my head.

This wasnt the three or four snipers we had been warned about. There were over 100 North Vietnamese snipers tied in the trees above us  so we learned later  way above us, in the top branches. The firing kept increasing.

Our executive officer (XO) jumped up and said, Follow me, and lets get the hell out of here. I followed him, along with the rest of the headquarters section and the 1st Platoon. We crouched and ran to the right toward what we thought was the landing zone. But it was only a small clearing  the L.Z. was to our left. We were running deeper into the ambush.

The fire was still increasing. We were all crouched as low as possible, but still keeping up a steady trot, looking from side to side. I glanced back at Richards, one of the companys radio operators. Just as I looked back, he moaned softly and fell to the ground. I knelt down and looked at him, and he shuddered and started to gurgle deep in his stomach. His eyes and tongue popped out, and he died. He had a hole straight through his heart.

I had been screaming for a medic. I stopped. I looked up. Everyone had stopped. All of a sudden all the snipers opened up with automatic weapons. There were PAVN with machine guns hidden behind every anthill. The noise was deafening.

Then the men started dropping. It was unbelievable. I knelt there staring as at least 20 men dropped within a few seconds. I still had not recovered from the shock of seeing Richards killed, but the jolt of seeing men die so quickly brought me back to life. I hit the dirt fast. The XO was to my left, and Wallace was to my right, with Burroughs to his right. We were touching each other lying there in the tall elephant grass.

Men all around me were screaming. The fire was now a continuous roar. We were even being fired at by our own guys. No one knew where the fire was coming from, and so the men were shooting everywhere. Some were in shock and were blazing away at everything they saw or imagined they saw.

The XO let out a low moan, and his head sank. I felt a flash of panic. I had been assuming that he would get us out of this. Enlisted men may scoff at officers back in the billets, but when the fighting begins, the men automatically become very dependent upon them. Now I felt terribly alone.

The XO had been hit in the small of the back. I ripped off his shirt and there it was: a groove to the right of his spine. The bullet was still in there. He was in a great deal of pain, so a rifleman named Wilson and I removed his gear as best we could, and I bandaged his wound. It was not bleeding much on the outside, but he was very close to passing out.

Just then Wallace let out a Huh! A bullet had creased his upper arm and entered his side. He was bleeding in spurts. I ripped away his shirt with my knife and did him up. Then the XO screamed: A bullet had gone through his boot, taking all his toes with it. He was in agony and crying. Wallace was swearing and in shock. I was crying and holding on to the XOs hand to keep from going crazy.

The grass in front of Wallaces head began to fall as if a lawnmower were passing. It was a machine gun, and I could see the vague outline of the Congs head behind the foot or so of elephant grass. The noise of firing from all directions was so great that I couldnt even hear a machine gun being fired three feet in front of me and one foot above my head.

As if in a dream, I picked up my rifle, put it on automatic, pushed the barrel into the Congs face and pulled the trigger. I saw his face disappear. I guess I blew his head off, but I never saw his body and did not look for it.

Wallace screamed. I had fired the burst pretty close to his ear, but I didnt hit him. Bullets by the thousands were coming from the trees, from the L.Z., from the very ground, it seemed. There was a huge thump nearby. Burroughs rolled over and started a scream, though it sounded more like a growl. He had been lying on his side when a grenade went off about three or four feet from him. He looked as though someone had poured red paint over him from head to toe.

After that everything began getting hazy. I lay there for several minutes, and I think I was beginning to go into shock. I dont remember much.

The amazing thing about all this was that from the time Richards was killed to the time Burroughs was hit, only a minute or two had elapsed. Hundreds of men had been hit all around us, and the sound of men screaming was almost as loud as the firing.

The XO was going fast. He told me his wifes name was Carol. He told me that if he didnt make it, I was to write her and tell her that he loved her. Then he somehow managed to crawl away, saying that he was going to organize the troops. It was his positive decision to do something that reinforced my own will to go on.

Then our artillery and air strikes started to come in. They saved our lives. Just before they started, I could hear North Vietnamese voices on our right. The PAVN battalion was moving in on us, into the woods. The Skyraiders were dropping napalm bombs a hundred feet in front of me on a PAVN machine-gun complex. I felt the hot blast and saw the elephant grass curling ahead of me. The victims were screaming  some of them were our own men who were trapped outside the wood line.

At an altitude of 200 feet, its difficult to distinguish one soldier from another. Its unfortunate and horrible, but most of the battalions casualties in the first hour or so were from our own men, firing at everything in sight.

No matter what you did, you got hit. The snipers in the trees just waited for someone to move, then shot him. I could hear the North Vietnamese entering the woods from our right. They were creeping along, babbling and arguing among themselves, calling to each other when they found a live GI. Then they shot him.

I decided that it was time to move. I crawled off to my left a few feet, to where Sgt. Moore and Thompson were lying. Sgt. Moore had been hit in the chest three times. He was in pain and sinking fast. Thompson was hit only lightly in the leg. I asked the sergeant to hold my hand. He must have known then that he was dying, but he managed to assure me that everything would be all right.

When a man is hit in the belly, he screams an unearthly scream. Something you cannot imagine; you actually have to hear it.

I knew there wasnt much chance of that. This was a massacre, and I was one of a handful not yet wounded. All around me, those who were not already dead were dying or severely wounded, most of them hit several times. I must have been talking a lot, but I have no idea what I was saying. I think it was, Oh God, Oh God, Oh God, over and over. Then I would cry. To get closer to the ground, I had dumped my gear, including the ax I had been carrying, and I had lost my rifle, but that was no problem. There were weapons of every kind lying everywhere.

Sgt. Moore asked me if I thought he would make it. I squeezed his hand and told him sure. He said that he was in a lot of pain, and every now and then he would scream. He was obviously bleeding internally quite a bit. I was sure that he would die before the night. I had seen his wife and four kids at Fort Benning. He had made it through World War II and Korea, but this little war had got him.

I found a hand grenade and put it next to me. Then I pulled out my first-aid pack and opened it. I still was not wounded, but I knew I would be soon.

At that instant, I heard a babble of Vietnamese voices close by. They sounded like little children, cruel children. The sound of those voices, of the enemy that close, was the most frightening thing I have ever experienced. Combat creates a mindless fear, but this was worse, naked panic.

A small group of PAVN was rapidly approaching. There was a heavy rustling of elephant grass and a constant babbling of high-pitched voices. I told Sgt. Moore to shut up and play dead. I was thinking of using my grenade, but I was scared that it wouldnt get them all, and that they were so close that I would blow myself up too.

My mind was made up for me, because all of a sudden, they were there. I stuck the grenade under my belly so that even if I was hit the grenade would not go off too easily, and if it did go off I would not feel pain. I willed myself to stop shaking, and I stopped breathing. There were about 10 or 12 of them, I figure. They took me for dead, thank God. They lay down all around me, still babbling.

One of them lay down on top of me and started to set up his machine gun. He dropped his canister next to my side. His feet were by my head, and his head was between my feet. He was about six feet tall and pretty bony. He probably couldnt feel me shaking because he was shaking so much himself.

I thought I was gone. I was trying like hell to act dead, however the hell one does that.

The Cong opened up on our mortar platoon, which was set up around a big tree nearby. The platoon returned the fire, killing about half of the Cong, and miraculously not hitting me. All of a sudden a dozen loud crumph sounds went off all around me. Assuming that all the GIs in front of them were dead, our mortar platoon had opened up with M-79 grenade launchers. The Cong jumped up off me, moaning with fear, and the other PAVN began to move around. They apparently knew the M-79. Then a second series of explosions went off, killing all the Cong as they got up to run. One grenade landed between Thompsons head and Sgt. Moores chest. Sgt. Moore saved my life; he took most of the shrapnel in his side. A piece got me in the head.

It felt as if a white-hot sledge hammer had hit the right side of my face. Then something hot and stinging hit my left leg. I lost consciousness for a few seconds. I came out of it feeling intense pain in my leg and a numbness in my head. I didnt dare feel my face: I thought the whole side of it had gone. Blood was pouring down my forehead and filling the hollow of my eyeglasses. It was also pouring out of my mouth. I slapped a bandage on the side of my face and tied it around my head. I was numbed, but I suddenly felt better. It had happened, and I was still alive.

I decided it was time to get out. None of my buddies appeared able to move. The Cong obviously had the mortar platoon pegged, and they would try to overrun it again. I was going to be right in their path. I crawled over Sgt. Moore, who had half his chest gone, and Thompson, who had no head left. Wilson, who had helped me with the XO, had been hit badly, but I couldnt tell where. All that moved was his eyes. He asked me for some water. I gave him one of the two canteens I had scrounged. I still had the hand grenade.

I crawled over many bodies, all still. The 1st Platoon just didnt exist anymore. One guy had his arm blown off. There was only some shredded skin and a piece of bone sticking out of his sleeve. The sight didnt bother me anymore. The artillery was still keeping up a steady barrage, as were the planes, and the noise was as loud as ever, but I didnt hear it anymore. It was a miracle I didnt get shot by the snipers in the trees while I was moving.

came across Sgt. Barker, who stuck a .45 in my face. He thought I was a Cong and almost shot me. Apparently I was now close to the mortar platoon. Many other wounded men had crawled over there, including the medic Novak, who had run out of supplies after five minutes. Barker was hit in the legs. Caine was hurt badly too. There were many others, all in bad shape. I lay there with the hand grenade under me, praying. The Cong made several more attacks, which the mortar platoon fought off with 79s.

The Cong figured out that the mortar platoon was right by that tree, and three of their machine-gun crews crawled up and started to blaze away. It had taken them only a minute or so to find exactly where the platoon was; it took them half a minute to wipe it out. When they opened up, I heard a guy close by scream, then another, and another. Every few seconds someone would scream. Some got hit several times. In 30 seconds, the platoon was virtually nonexistent. I heard Lt. Sheldon scream three times, but he lived. I think only five or six guys from the platoon were alive the next day.

It also seemed that most of them were hit in the belly. I dont know why, but when a man is hit in the belly, he screams an unearthly scream. Something you cannot imagine; you actually have to hear it. When a man is hit in the chest or the belly, he keeps on screaming, sometimes until he dies. I just lay there, numb, listening to the bullets whining over me and the 15 or 20 men close to me screaming and screaming and screaming. They didnt ever stop for breath. They kept on until they were hoarse, then they would bleed through their mouths and pass out. They would wake up and start screaming again. Then they would die.

I started crying. Sgt. Gale was lying near me. He had been hit badly in the stomach and was in great pain. He would lie very still for a while and then scream. He would scream for a doctor, then he would scream for a medic. He pleaded with anyone he saw to help him, for the love of God, to stop his pain or kill him. He would thrash around and scream some more, and then lie still for a while. He was bleeding a lot. Everyone was. No matter where you put your hand, the ground was sticky.

Sgt. Gale lay there for over six hours before he died. No one had any medical supplies, no one could move, and no one would shoot him.

Several guys shot themselves that day. Schiff, although he was not wounded, completely lost his head and killed himself with his own grenade. Two other men, both wounded, shot themselves with .45s rather than let themselves be captured alive by the gooks. No one will ever know how many chose that way out, since all the dead had been hit over and over again.

All afternoon we could hear the PAVN, a whole battalion, running through the grass and trees. Hundreds of GIs were scattered on the ground like salt. Sprinkled among them like pepper were the wounded and dead Cong. The GIs who were wounded badly were screaming for medics. The Cong soon found them and killed them.

All afternoon there was smoke, artillery, screaming, moaning, fear, bullets, blood, and little yellow men running around screeching with glee when they found one of us alive, or screaming and moaning with fear when they ran into a grenade or a bullet. I suppose that all massacres in wars are a bloody mess, but this one seemed bloodier to me because I was caught in it.

About dusk a few helicopters tried landing in the L.Z., about 40 yards over to the left, but whenever one came within 100 feet of the ground, so many machine guns would open up on him that it sounded like a training company at a machine-gun range.

At dusk the North Vietnamese started to mortar us. Some of the mortars they used were ours that they had captured. Suddenly the ground behind me lifted up, and there was a tremendous noise. I knew something big had gone off right behind me. At the same time I felt something white-hot go into my right thigh. I started screaming and screaming. The pain was terrible. Then I said, My legs, God, my legs, over and over.

Still screaming, I ripped the bandage off my face and tied it around my thigh. It didnt fit, so I held it as tight as I could with my fingers. I could feel the blood pouring out of the hole. I cried and moaned. It was hurting unbelievably. The realization came to me now, for the first time, that I was not going to live.

With hardly any light left, the Cong decided to infiltrate the woods thoroughly. They were running everywhere. There were no groupings of Americans left in the woods, just a GI here and there. The planes had left, but the artillery kept up the barrage.

Then the flares started up. As long as there was some light, the Cong wouldnt try an all-out attack. I was lying there in a stupor, thirsty. God, I was thirsty. I had been all afternoon with no water, sweating like hell.

I decided to chance a cigarette. All my original equipment and weapons were gone, but somehow my cigarettes were still with me. The ends were bloody. I tore off the ends and lit the middle part of a cigarette.

Cupping it and blowing away the smoke, I managed to escape detection. I knew I was a fool. But at this stage I didnt really give a damn. By now the small-arms fire had stopped almost entirely. The woods were left to the dead, the wounded, and the artillery barrage.

At nightfall I had crawled across to where Barker, Caine, and a few others were lying. I didnt say a word. I just lay there on my back, listening to the swishing of grass, the sporadic fire and the constant artillery, which was coming pretty close. For over six hours now, shells had been landing within a hundred yards of me.

I didnt move, because I couldnt. Reaching around, I found a canteen of water. The guy who had taken the last drink from it must have been hit in the face, because the water was about one third blood. I didnt mind. I passed it around.

About an hour after dark there was a heavy concentration of small-arms fire all around us. It lasted about five minutes. It was repeated at intervals all night long. Battalion Hq. was firing a protective fire, and we were right in the path of the bullets. Some of our men were getting hit by the rounds ricocheting through the woods.

I heard the guys coming. They were shooting as they walked along. I screamed into the radio, Dont shoot, dont shoot.

I lay there shivering. At night in the highlands the temperature goes down to 50 or so. About midnight I heard the grass swishing. It was men, and a lot of them too. I took my hand grenade and straightened out the pin. I thought to myself that now at last they were going to come and kill all the wounded that were left. I was sure I was going to die, and I really did not care anymore. I did not want them to take me alive. The others around me were either unconscious or didnt care. They were just lying there. I think most of them had quietly died in the last few hours. I know one  I did not recognize him  wanted to be alone to die. When he felt himself going, he crawled over me (I dont know how), and a few minutes later I heard him gurgle and, I guess, die.

Then suddenly I realized that the men were making little whistling noises.

Maybe these werent the Cong. A few seconds later, a patrol of GIs came into view, about 15 guys in line, looking for wounded.

Everyone started pawing toward them and crying. It turned me into a babbling idiot. I grabbed one of the guys and wouldnt let go. They had four stretchers with them, and they took the four worst wounded and all the walking wounded, about 10 or so, from the company. I was desperate, and I told the leader I could walk, but when Peters helped me to my feet, I passed out cold.

When I regained consciousness, they had gone, but their medic was left behind, a few feet from me, by a tree. He hadnt seen me, and had already used his meager supply of bandages on those guys who had crawled up around the tree. His patrol said they would be back in a few hours.

I clung to the hope, but I knew damn well they werent coming back. Novak, who was one of the walking wounded, had left me his .45. I lost one of the magazines, and the only other one had only three bullets in it. I still had the hand grenade.

I crawled up to the tree. There were about eight guys there, all badly wounded. Lt. Sheldon was there, and he had the only operational radio left in the company. I couldnt hear him, but he was talking to the company commander, who had gotten separated from us. Lt. Sheldon had been wounded in the thighbone, the kneecap, and the ankle.

Some time after midnight, in my half-conscious stupor, I heard a lot of rustling on both sides of the tree. I nudged the lieutenant, and then he heard it too. Slowly, everyone who could move started to arm himself. I dont know who it was  it might even have been me  but someone made a noise with a weapon.

The swishing noise stopped immediately. Ten yards or so from us an excited babbling started. The gooks must have thought they had run into a pocket of resistance around the tree. Thank God, they didnt dare rush us, because we wouldnt have lasted a second. Half of us were too weak to even cock our weapons. As a matter of fact, there were a couple who did not have fingers to cock with.

Then a clanking noise started: They were setting up a machine gun right next to us. I noticed that some artillery shells were landing close now, and every few seconds they seemed to creep closer to us, until one of the Cong screamed. Then the babbling grew louder. I heard the lieutenant on the radio; he was requesting a salvo to bracket us. A few seconds later there was a loud whistling in the air and shells were landing all around us, again and again. I heard the Cong run away. They left some of their wounded a couple of yards from us, moaning and screaming, but they died within a few minutes.

Every half hour or so the artillery would start all over again. It was a long night. Every time, the shells came so close to our position that we could hear the shrapnel striking the tree a foot or so above our heads, and could hear other pieces humming by just inches over us.

All night long the Cong had been moving around killing the wounded. Every few minutes I heard some guy start screaming, No, no, no, please, and then a burst of bullets. When they found a guy who was wounded, theyd make an awful racket. Theyd yell for their buddies and babble awhile, then turn the poor devil over and listen to him while they stuck a barrel in his face and squeezed.

About an hour before dawn the artillery stopped, except for an occasional shell. But the small-arms firing started up again, just as heavy as it had been the previous afternoon. The GIs about a mile away were advancing and clearing the ground and trees of Cong (and a few Americans too). The snipers, all around the trees and in them, started firing back.

When a bullet is fired at you, it makes a distinctive, sharp cracking sound. The firing by the GIs was all cracks. I could hear thuds all around me from the bullets. I thought I was all dried out from bleeding and sweating, but now I started sweating all over again. I thought, How futile it would be to die now from an American bullet. I just barely managed to keep myself from screaming out loud. I think some guy near me got hit. He let out a long sigh and gurgled.

Soon the sky began to turn red and orange. There was complete silence everywhere now. Not even the birds started their usual singing. As the sun was coming up, everyone expected a human-wave charge by the PAVN, and then a total massacre. We didnt know that the few Cong left from the battle had pulled out just before dawn, leaving only their wounded and a few suicide squads behind.

When the light grew stronger, I could see all around me. The scene might have been the devils butcher shop. There were dead men all around the tree. I found that the dead body I had been resting my head on was that of Burgess, one of my buddies. I could hardly recognize him. He was a professional saxophone player with only two weeks left in the Army.

Right in front of me was Sgt. Delaney with both his legs blown off. I had been staring at him all night without knowing who he was. His eyes were open and covered with dirt. Sgt. Gale was dead too. Most of the dead were unrecognizable and were beginning to stink. There was blood and mess all over the place.

Half a dozen of the wounded were alive. Lord, who was full of shrapnel; Lt. Sheldon, with several bullet wounds; Morris, shot in the legs and arm; Sloan, with his fingers shot off; Olson, with his leg shot up and hands mutilated; and some guy from another company who was holding his guts from falling out.

Dead Cong were hanging out of the trees everywhere. The Americans had fired bursts that had blown some snipers right out of the trees. But these guys, they were just hanging and dangling there in silence.

We were all sprawled out in various stages of unconsciousness. My wounds had started bleeding again, and the heat was getting bad. The ants were getting to my legs.

Lt. Sheldon passed out, so I took over the radio. That whole morning is rather blurred in my memory. I remember talking for a long time with someone from Battalion Hq. He kept telling me to keep calm, that they would have the medics and helicopters in there in no time. He asked me about the condition of the wounded. I told him that the few who were still alive wouldnt last long. I listened for a long time on the radio to chitchat between medevac pilots, Air Force jet pilots, and Battalion Hq. Every now and then I would call up and ask when they were going to pick us up. Im sure I said a lot of other things, but I dont remember much about it.

I just couldnt understand at first why the medevacs didnt come in and get us. Finally I heard on the radio that they wouldnt land because no one knew whether or not the area was secure. Some of the wounded guys were beginning to babble. It seemed like hours before anything happened.

Then a small Air Force spotter plane was buzzing overhead. It dropped a couple of flares in the L.Z. nearby, marking the spot for an airstrike. I thought, My God, the strike is going to land on top of us. I got through to the old man  the company commander  who was up ahead, and he said that it wouldnt come near us and for us not to worry. But I worried, and it landed pretty damn close.

There was silence for a while, then they started hitting the L.Z. with artillery, a lot of it. This lasted for a half hour or so, and then the small arms started again, whistling and buzzing through the woods. I was terrified. I thought, My Lord, is this never going to end? If were going to die, lets get it over with.

Finally the firing stopped, and there was a ghastly silence. Then the old man got on the radio again and talked to me. He called in a helicopter and told me to guide it over our area. I talked to the pilot, directing him, until he said he could see me. Some of the wounded saw the chopper and started yelling, Medic! Medic! Others were moaning feebly and struggling to wave at the chopper.

The old man saw the helicopter circling and said he was coming to help us. He asked me to throw a smoke grenade, which I pulled off Lt. Sheldons gear. It went off, and the old man saw it, because soon after that I heard the guys coming. They were shooting as they walked along. I screamed into the radio, Dont shoot, dont shoot, but they called back and said they were just shooting PAVN.

Then I saw them: The 1st sergeant, our captain, and the two radio operators. The captain came up to me and asked me how I was.

I said to him: Sorry, sir, I lost my  ax.

He said, Dont worry, Smitty, well get you another one.

The medics at the L.Z. cut off my boots and put bandages on me. My wounds were in pretty bad shape. You know what happens when you take raw meat and throw it on the ground on a sunny day. We were out there for 24 hours, and Vietnam is nothing but one big anthill.

I was put in a medevac chopper and flown to Pleiku, where they changed dressings and stuck all sorts of tubes in my arms. At Pleiku I saw Gruber briefly. He was a clerk in the battalion, and my Army buddy. We talked until they put me in the plane. I learned that Stern and Deschamps, close friends, had been found dead together, shot in the backs of their heads, executed by the Cong. Gruber had identified their bodies. Everyone was crying. Like most of the men in our battalion, I had lost all my Army friends.

I heard the casualty figures a few days later. The North Vietnamese unit had been wiped out  over 500 dead. Out of some 500 men in our battalion alone, about 150 had been killed, and only 84 returned to base camp a few days later. In my company, which was right in the middle of the ambush, we had 93 percent casualties  one half dead, one half wounded. Almost all the wounded were crippled for life. The company, in fact, was very nearly annihilated.

Our unit is part of the 7th Cavalry  Custers old unit. That day in the Ia Drang Valley, history repeated itself.

After a week in and out of field hospitals, I ended up at Camp Zama in Japan. They have operated on me twice. They tell me that Ill walk again, and that my legs are going to be fine. But no one can tell me when I will stop having nightmares.

Postscript: Jack Smith did recover from his wounds and was sent back to his unit in Vietnam, where he served as a supply clerk from January to July 1966. He did not see any more action. He finished up his military career training recruits at Fort Dix, New Jersey.

Death in the Ia Drang Valley, January 28, 1967
Ashamed of my cancer diagnosis, I at first tried to hide it. Then, I decided to tell the world  and go on living.

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No one was yukking it up in the lung ward except me. The anesthesia was wearing off and, while still in the twilight zone, I didnt believe I was really in a hospital. I knew people pretending to be nurses werent nurses at all. They were actors. One of them in uniform took my blood pressure. Who are you? I asked.

Do you know where you are?

I looked around. This is a stage set and youre an actress.

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Im a nurse, she insisted. Youre in Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; youve just had an operation. Look. She pointed to her badge. Do you see what that says?

Anyone can have a phony badge, I replied. I tried to move, but there was a tube attached to me. Then I realized I really was in a hospital, and theyd just removed the lower right lobe of my lung. Normally they would have cut out a small slice, but the lousy little cancer cell was in an impossible spot, so they had to take out an entire lobe.

Three years ago, doctors found an errant cell in my pancreas, so they did what they call a Whipple, which I thought was what nuns wore on their heads. Wrong. It was a 6-hour operation in which they cut off the head of my pancreas and rewired six other organs. Two years ago, they found another cancer cell, so they removed my pancreas, turning me into a type 1 diabetic. I felt shame  me, the athlete who did mixed martial arts and ran triathlons, was suddenly sticking herself with needles, barely able to get out of bed.

Im a freelance journalist, and I thought if I told my editors, theyd stop giving me work, afraid I might die before completing a deadline. My hair didnt fall out from chemo, so no one had to know. When I canceled appointments, I claimed flu. Still, I was sure people were whispering behind my back, She has cancer. It was humiliating because I was less than perfect. But after six months of long walks, I was back to spin classes and martial arts.

After that, every scan was perfect. I thought I was home free until, a year later, they discovered an abnormal cell in my lung. Lung cancer? My mother had a double mastectomy, then the cancer spread to her bones. She stayed alive. Soon after it spread to her lungs, she went into a coma and died. I expected the same, so I wrote up instructions in the event I didnt make it. Still, I told no one.

My hair didnt fall out from the chemo, so no one had to know. When I canceled appointments, I claimed flu.

Id divorced my husband after the pancreatectomy (nothing to do with the operation) and told only my sister about the lung. Until then, she had refused to listen to me play blues harmonica or come to my weekly jams. Now she had no choice. When she took me to the hospital, before the nurses came to get me, I whipped out my harmonica and played Amazing Grace. She cried. I cried. We both thought it was the last song Id ever play. I was 73, had traveled to 134 countries (and won awards for writing about them), and had good friends. I accepted the fact that my life might be over.

But I didnt die. I woke up, and in spite of being in a thoracic ward where everyone was either coughing or crying, I was alive. My side ached because of the chest tube, but I could breathe. I started walking laps around the hallway. And more laps. And more. Not just to heal, but because my roommates large family yakked all day. I took my harmonica to the patient lounge to see if I could still blow a note. When I finished the song, I opened my eyes and the music therapist was standing there with his guitar. Want to jam? he asked. We played a slow blues shuffle. I wasnt great, but considering the circumstances, I was Stevie Wonder. Doctors and nurses stood in the doorway applauding.

Six months later, Im back to jamming on the harmonica regularly. My blues harmonica teacher says Ive never played better because Im playing softer. Having a lung removed, I can no longer blow hard. Im back to my martial arts and spin classes, and while I cant yet run fast, I can jog. Big deal that they took out a lobe of my lung. Im still here kicking butt.

Margie Goldsmith has published articles in Travel + Leisure, Robb Report, American Way, and Business Jet Traveler, among others. For more, visit margiegoldsmith.com.

This article is featured in the March/April 2018 issue of The Saturday Evening Post. Subscribe to the magazine for more art, inspiring stories, fiction, humor, and features from our archives.
How will humans react to the discovery of alien life? Speculation on this topic abounds, but empirical research is practically non-existent. In a paper published online January 10 in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, Arizona State University researchers report the results of three empirical studies assessing psychological reactions to extraterrestrial life discoveries.

If we came face to face with life outside of Earth, we would actually be pretty upbeat about it, said Arizona State Universitys Dr. Michael Varnum.

So far, theres been a lot of speculation about how we might respond to this kind of news, but until now, almost no systematic empirical research.

In a pilot study, Dr. Varnum and co-authors analyzed language in newspaper articles about past potential extraterrestrial life discoveries.

Through the work, they aimed to address the nature of reactions to alien life by analyzing reactions using a software program that quantifies emotions, feelings, drives and other psychological states in written texts.

We identified five relevant discovery events: (i) the 1967 discovery of pulsars which were initially thought to be potential extraterrestrial broadcasts; (ii) the 1977 Wow! signal, which was also thought to be potential extraterrestrial broadcasts; (iii) the 1996 discovery of potential fossilized extraterrestrial microbes in a meteorite of Martian origin; (iv) the 2015 discovery of periodic dimming around an unusual star called KIC 8462852 (Tabbys star) which was thought to potentially indicate the presence of an artificially constructed Dyson sphere; and (v) the 2017 discovery of numerous Earth-like exoplanets in the habitable zone of a star, the authors said.

They found that language in the coverage of these events showed significantly more positive than negative emotions.

In a separate study, they asked more than 500 different participants to write about their own hypothetical reactions and humanitys hypothetical reaction to an announcement that extraterrestrial microbial life had been discovered.

Participants responses also showed significantly more positive than negative emotions, both when contemplating their own reactions and those of humanity as a whole.

I would have some excitement about the news. It would be exciting even if it was a primitive form, one participant said.

In another study, the scientists presented an additional sample of more than 500 people with past news coverage of scientific discoveries and asked them to write about their reactions.

The participants were divided into two groups. In one group, participants read a 1996 article from The New York Times describing possible evidence of ancient microbial life on a Mars meteorite.

The second group of participants read a 2010 article from the same newspaper describing the claimed creation of synthetic human made life created in the lab.

Here too, the team found evidence of significantly more positive than negative emotions in responses to the claimed discovery of extraterrestrial life, and this effect was stronger in response to reading about alien life than human made synthetic life.

This discovery shows that other planets have the ability to have life on them. Its a very interesting and exciting finding that could be only the beginning, a participant said.

In unpublished results, the researchers analyzed recent media coverage of the possibility that 1I/2017 U1 Oumuamua, the first asteroid of extrasolar origin identified in our Solar System, might actually be a spaceship.

Here too, they found evidence of more positive than negative emotions, suggesting that we may also react positively to the news of the discovery of evidence of intelligent life from elsewhere in the Universe.

These studies show that taken together, this suggests if we find out were not alone, well take the news rather well, Dr. Varnum said.

_____

Jung Yul Kwon et al. How Will We React to the Discovery of Extraterrestrial Life? Front. Psychol, published online January 10, 2018; doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02308
La voz del trade en las Americas
SMOU said in a press release that the TNTA and TETA cadet training programmes, will receive funding support from SSG, MPA and SMOU, providing opportunities for Singaporeans to develop themselves through progressive and fulfilling career pathways.

The three-year funding commences this year and aims to groom a pool of 200 Singaporeans to become deck and marine engineer officers, who will contribute to building the Singapore manpower core in the maritime sector.

The funding announcement was made by Singapore Minister for Education (Schools) and Second Minister for Transport Ng Chee Meng, who was guest-of-honour at the annual SMOU & Wavelink Lunar New Year Luncheon and Hong Bao Presentation at Raffles City Convention Centre on Tuesday.

SMOU is also contributing SGD5,000 to shipping companies it has collective agreements with, for every training placement they offer to Singaporean cadets under the TNTA and TETA initiatives.

MPA ce Andrew Tan said: Building a future ready maritime workforce is one of the key thrusts of the Sea Transport Industry Transformation Map. MPA is pleased to cement our tripartite partnership with SMOU further by co-funding both training programmes to provide good jobs to Singaporeans through multiple pathways.

NTUC president and SMOU general-secretary Mary Liew said: We are pleased that SSG and MPA are onboard with us to train the next generation of seafarers. Together with the shipping companies who are providing training placements to the cadets, we are sending out a strong message that tripartism remains the right way to go even as we navigate towards the future of maritime.

In addition, starting from 2018, SMOU will contribute $120,000 over a period of three years to The Mission to Seafarers Singapore (MTSS) to improve the welfare and general well-being of seafarers.

This contribution will serve to benefit seafarers who visit the International Drop-in Centre at Jurong Port operated by MTSS. The facilities at the centre offer seafarers a cosy environment to relax, free Wi-Fi and interaction with fellow seafarers among others.

Chairman of The Mission to Seafarers Singapore, Captain Robert Francis Walker said: We are absolutely delighted and extremely encouraged that SMOU has stepped up and provided a significant contribution to assist in our work caring for Seafarers in Singapore.
Press Release

February 20, 2018 Ethics complaints' dismissal proves accusers wrong - De Lima Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima today welcomed the decision by the Senate Committee on Ethics to dismiss the three complaints lodged against her for lack of jurisdiction. De Lima, who will soon mark her first year of illegal arrest and unjust detention on Feb. 24, lauded her Senate colleagues for allowing a "high sense of fairness and objectivity" to finally triumph in handling the preposterous ethics complaints filed against her. "I thank my colleagues for standing up for reason and the clear provision of the rules. It is now evident, as I've always maintained, that the cases filed against me were frivolous and were merely filed to harass me," she said. "I hope that somehow I have proven my doubters and detractors wrong. From the very start, I have always kept my innocence and in due time, hopefully soon, I will be vindicated from all the fabricated charges, especially the drug cases, filed against me," she added. Headed by Senate Majority Leader Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, the Senate Committee on Ethics unanimously approved to dismiss the ethics complaints against De Lima, citing lack of jurisdiction. Based on news reports, Sen. Panfilo Lacson backed the dismissal, saying De Lima "did not violate any Senate rule" while Sen. Gregorio Honasan seconded the decision "in the spirit of humanity." The Senator from Bicol maintained the three complaints against her were "politically-motivated, unsubstantiatedm and filed in bad faith," as these were filed by known Duterte allies. It may be recalled that lawyer Abelardo de Jesus filed an ethics complaint against De Lima sometime in September 2016 based on unsubstantiated allegations made by the President that she was involved in the illegal drug trade. House leaders also filed another ethics complaint against De Lima in December 2016 for purportedly advising her former security aide/driver not to attend the House inquiry on the Bilibid drug trade, while former Kabayan Partylist Rep. and now Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque accused the Senator of conspiring with Kabayan Rep. Ron Salo to hide their purported involvement in the narcotics trade at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP). "Malinaw naman na ang lahat ng akusasyon laban sa akin ay batay lamang sa kasinungalingan at paghihiganti ng rehimeng Duterte dahil sa pagtuligsa ko sa kanilang madugong kampanya laban sa ilegal na droga," she said. The dismissal of the ethics complaints against De Lima came on the heels of the Ombudsman's decision dismissing the graft and terrorism complaint against her that originated from an unfounded allegation that she aided in freeing suspected Abu Sayyaf terrorists. "With truth on my side, I know that I will be vindicated in time. Sa paglipas ng mga araw, lalong lumilinaw na inosente ako, biktima ng matinding panggigipit. Sa huli, tiwala akong malilinis ang aking pangalan mula sa lahat ng imbentong paratang sa akin ng rehimeng ito," she said.
Press Release

February 20, 2018 GORDON CAUTIONS PUBLIC TO FOCUS ON REAL ISSUES SURROUNDING DENGVAXIA MESS Senator Richard J. Gordon has cautioned the public to focus on the real issues and the accountabilities of the personalities who pushed for the procurement and roll out of the nouvelle vaccine which was still half-baked at that time. Gordon urged the people not to be swayed by public Relations (PR) tactics employed by French manufacturer Sanofi Pasteurs of provoking arguments between doctors and government agencies to sway attention from their own liability. "Focus on the criminals who made Dengvaxia happen here, criminals in procurement, those who are conflicted. The fight is against the criminals. Ang dapat alamin, paano ba nangyari ito? Namili sila ng hindi kailangan. They engaged in mass vaccination when it was not ready yet. They stampeded everybody to approve it," the chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee stressed. "This big corporation has so much money that they can manipulate issues. They managed to flip it kaya ang nag-aaway na doctors against doctors, agency against agency. Sanofi's PR people have managed to make it a fight between doctors. That is not the fight we are talking about. I caution everybody to focus on the investigation and punish the right people," he added. Gordon assured that while the Blue Ribbon Committee remains four-square in seeking accountability from top to bottom, the health of the people, mostly children, who were administered with the vaccine is still paramount. "Cases should be filed against officials who, in manipulating the procurement and rollout of the vaccine, may have violated laws and rules. For example, based on the Certificate of Product Registration issued by the Food and Drug Administration, Dengvaxia is a prescription drug, yet it was used on a mass vaccination scale, without prior consultation with and prescription from a doctor," the senator said. "Likewise, we are also ensuring that the government, particularly the Department of Health (DOH), provides prompt and necessary medical assistance to the people inoculated, in the event that they develop adverse side effects. We need to calm the people down. This Dengvaxia controversy has caused parents panic, serious anxiety and mental anguish, even sleepless nights. The issue has put a bad name to vaccination, triggering a vaccine scare. The DOH should allay this fear and restore public trust and confidence in the government's public health programs.
Press Release

February 20, 2018 "Muhon" Exhibition Regional Tour Starts in Bacolod The Philippine Pavilion exhibition at the 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale titled Muhon: Traces of an Adolescent City opens in Bacolod City on February 22 at the University of St. La Salle. The exhibition will run until March 28, 2018. The opening day features a lecture with the curators, artists and architects in order to initiate a discussion on the future of the country as we continue to build our towns and cities. The talk and the exhibit also aim to elicit views and opinions that discuss the vectors of progress and permanence in relation to corresponding notions of modernity and an emerging identity. The public is invited to be part of the lecture and discussions. From its run in Venice, Italy in 2016, Muhon had a homecoming exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila in 2017. Negros is the first province where the Muhon regional tour begins. Its next destination will be in Mindanao. Muhon and the Philippines' participation in both art and architecture exhibitions at the Venice Biennale are under the auspices of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Office of Senator Loren Legarda. The project is supported by the Metropolitan Museum of Manila. Senator Loren Legarda, the visionary and principal advocate behind the Philippine participation in the Venice Biennale said, "All the participations are meant to have many lives after its debut so that we reach as many people, especially Filipinos. It is important that we bring home the exhibition that was in Venice so that we nurture appreciation of art among Filipinos." NCCA Chairman Virgilio Almario stated, "Our commitment is that all those interested in seeing the exhibition will get chance to be part of it. If they cannot go because of distance, we bring it to them. It is important that people from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao are able to see the Muhon and participate not just by seeing the exhibition but also analyzing the realities it presents and reflecting on it in a critical way." Muhon's curatorial team is composed of Sudarshan Khadka, Jr., Juan Paolo de la Cruz and Leandro Locsin, Jr. of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP). The architects featured are Eduardo Calma, LIMA Architecture, Man~osa & Company, Inc., 8x8 Design Studio Co., C S Design Consultancy, Inc., and Jorge Yulo. They are joined by contemporary visual artists Poklong Anading, Tad Ermitan~o and Mark Salvatus. The nine participants selected and surveyed buildings, structures, landmarks, boroughs, and urban landscapes. Evaluating their cultural merit and analyzing their potential within the national heritage, they created three sets of abstracted models built for each of the subjects corresponding to their original state, their current condition, and projected future. Bacolod as the venue Negros was selected because its cities, such as Silay and Bacolod, have shown strong community and government support for heritage preservation and conservation. Silay's 29 surviving ancestral houses have been classified as national treasures. And many of these structures are accessible to the public. Several have been rehabilitated and turned into museums, like the Balay Negrense, Don Bernardino Jalandoni Ancestral House, and Manuel Hofilena Heritage House. Bacolod, the capital city of the province of Negros Occidental, is also known for its well-preserved structures including churches that have historical, spiritual and religious meaning to its people. The venue in Bacolod, the University of St. La Salle, was selected because the location of the exhibition at Miguel Hall was designed by an LVLP alumnus, Ar. Francis delos Reyes. It is also beside the Dona Corazon L. Montelibano Chapel which was designed by LVLP founder and Philippine National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsin in 1966.
Press Release

February 20, 2018 'Filipino consumer is king' with mobile number portability measure and introduction of third telco--Koko

20 February 2018 Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III on Tuesday welcomed the Senate's unanimous approval of Senate Bill No. 1636 or the "Lifetime Cellphone Number Act," saying the measure complements the Duterte Administration's efforts to introduce a third player in the country to break the telecommunications duopoly "that has limited the options of Filipino consumers who are dissatisfied with the current state of telco services." "Competition is really the driver that will force these telco companies to improve their services. Absent this, they really have no motivation to address persistent issues like slow data speeds, dropped calls, and missing prepaid loads," explained Pimentel. SB 1636 require telcos to provide consumers with "mobile number portability (MNP)," the option to retain one's existing mobile number even if a subscriber moves from one telco provider to another, or when one changes the nature of one's subscription from prepaid to postpaid, or vice-versa. According to the Senate chief, "the passage and operationalization of this measure, together with the long-overdue introduction of a third player, will pave the way for real competition and will ensure that where telecoms services are concerned, the Filipino consumer is king." The measure penalizes telcos with fines of up to one million pesos should they delay, withhold, refuse or otherwise not deliver the benefits of mobile number portability to a mobile subscriber 24 hours from the time a subscriber completes his or her porting application. The bill would also mandate the elimination of "interconnectivity" fees imposed by telecommunications entities on subscribers for calls and messages across different networks. The senator from Mindanao said that President Rodrigo Duterte's repeated insistence on the introduction of a third telco player "reflects the President's concern for long-suffering telco subscribers, as well as a keen understanding of the steps necessary to address their problems." The President has said that a third player should be operational in the country by this year. The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has set the bidding for a new telco player for May 2018. The DICT estimates that a new player could spend anywhere from 150 billion to 300 billion pesos in its first five years of operations. Among groups that have shown interest are companies such as Now Corp., Philippine Telegraph & Telephone Corp., Converge ICT Solutions Inc. and G. Telecoms. DICT officials have said that telco companies from China, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea have also showed interest. However, they would be required to partner with local groups given the 40% foreign ownership limit set by the Constitution.
Press Release

February 20, 2018 If we can buy P18 B ships, we can afford PH-made Pasig River ferry boats, hospital ships, coastal patrols For a fraction of the P18 billion price tag of two Navy frigates, the country can buy locally-made Pasig River ferry boats, floating hospitals, environmental patrol boats, and other ships needed by a disaster-prone archipelago where half of the towns lie along the coast. The call was made by Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto who said that the deficit in ships is not only in the Navy, but also in civilian activities such as coast guard patrol, calamity response and tapping Manila's main waterway as an alternative to its car-choked streets. "If we were able to find the means to buy our Navy more ships, then we should also be that resourceful in meeting the needs of other agencies for more floating assets," Recto said. And in acquiring these ships, the government can "buy Filipino" by tapping the vibrant shipbuilding industry in President Duterte's home province of Cebu, as well as Navotas and Subic, where Duterte last month led the launch of a half-kilometer-long megaship which can carry 20,950 40-foot container vans. He also cited the two Navotas-made research ships commissioned by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources--the Lapu-Lapu and Francisco Dagohoy--which have been on research and enforcement patrol since their launch two years ago. "P250 million lang ang halaga ng bawat isa. Katumbas lang ng downpayment natin doon sa mga Dalian trains ng MRT na hindi naman nagagamit," Recto said. Recto said the Philippines has been recognized as the fourth largest shipbuilder in the world. "If other nations find our ships exceptional, then we should, too." He said local shipbuilders can build the "country's humanitarian fleet." "We need a hospital ship. Kahit maliit lang. Or two all-purpose mercy ships which can be used as floating headquarters when all land structures have been destroyed. We are an archipelago. And when there's a typhoon and the roads are destroyed, the only way to reach the victims is by sea," he said. "At kung mga barko lang for coastal or river patrol, then our local shipyards make them. The weaponry can come from abroad pero siguro yung barko pwede na dito. How can we keep our rivers and seas clean when our ecological police cannot set out to sea for lack of boats?" he said. Recto said government should also reach out to local shipbuilders "in optimizing the unused resource that is the Pasig River in solving Manila's traffic." One of the solutions, Recto said, "is that body of water in between the President's office in Malacanang and the President's bedroom in Bahay Pangarap. He can see and smell the solution." Recto said the cost of reviving Pasig River as a people mover is less compared to the expensive land-based solutions like trains and elevated expressways. "This nautical highway is wider than the widest road. It is toll-free, ready to use, and doesn't have right-of-way issues. Unlike roads, its rehabilitation won't cause traffic jams. The missing link are the boats, and that can be supplied by domestic shipbuilders," Recto said. Before the 10-boat Pasig River ferry service stopped operations in 2011, it served 17 stations along a 15-kilometer route from Plaza Mexico in Intramuros, Manila to Nagpayong in Pasig City.
Lun 19 de febrero de 2018

A new and unique five star resort in Antigua was announced by the Ayre Group today. The development is located on the Valley Church beach and design work is already underway, with works scheduled to commence on site in late summer of 2018. The construction cost of the resort is expected to be in excess of USD $100m and will be entirely funded by profits made through the appreciation of Bitcoin Cash (BCH).

The announcement was made by His Excellency Calvin Ayre, the Chairman of The Ayre Group, who also acts as Special Economic Envoy for the Government of Antigua and Barbuda. Hon. Ayre warmly thanked the Prime Minister, The Hon. Gaston Browne, and all of the Government departments which have offered valuable support to the development in its progress to date.

Hon. Ayre said, "In my discussions with Government about the project we agreed that the new resort was very much in keeping with the government's strategy for further upscale tourism development. This resort will attract a totally new market segment of tourism on the island - successful wellness seekers who also want to have fun. The property will not be an all-inclusive destination, instead, its amenities will be available to residents of Antigua and Barbuda and visitors alike. I am confident that the type of guest we will attract will wish to explore Antigua - its culture and history, as well as all of our many diverse attractions and activities. We are focused on creating for a very special market, a world-class resort and unforgettable experience, but also one which benefits the broader economy across the whole island."

Prime Minister, the Hon. Gaston Browne welcomed the new development and said, "We expect the resort's novel and exciting concept to broaden Antigua and Barbuda's tourism product and bring a new category of tourists to our islands. Furthermore, the additional resort rooms will help drive an increased number of airline seats to Antigua, further boost the island's tourism profile, and expand our economy. We look forward to working with Mr. Ayre on this resort and the many other investments he has made in Antigua."

The resort is envisaged as the first of several similar Ayre Resort branded properties to be developed around the world. These will all incorporate an Ayre Wellness Centre and Spa and a Bodog Casino Club, in addition to other more common resort facilities. The Antigua property is designed with multiple bars and restaurants, as well as a convention centre and lively beach club. The resort's hotel accommodations is planned to consist of 80 oversized studio suites and 30 luxurious one bedroom suites. In addition, 8 luxury condominiums, 8 spacious town houses and 3 stunning villas will be offered for sale.

All of the Ayre Resorts will accept Bitcoin Cash (BCH) at point of sale terminals on the properties and through its online booking engine. Bitcoin Cash (BCH) has been selected as the exclusive cryptocurrency of the Ayre Resorts because it is the only cryptocurrency that has low transaction fees and unrestrained scalability.
A2 Milk shares spiked 16 percent to a record after the company announced it had more than doubled first-half profit on strong infant formula sales and has aligned itself with Fonterra Cooperative Group which will see the two companies partner up on a range of products.

Net profit rose to $98.5 million in the six months ended Dec. 31 from $39.4 million a year earlier as sales climbed to $434.6 million from $256 million, Auckland-based, Sydney-headquartered a2 said. The shares jumped to a record $10.80 in the first two minutes of trading this morning.

The milk marketing firm used its first-half result to unveil a strategic partnership with Fonterra, with the world's biggest dairy exporter agreeing to exclusively supply a2 with A1 protein-free milk products in bulk powder and consumer packaged forms, in exchange for an exclusive licensing agreement to produce, sell and market a2 branded fresh milk for end sale in the New Zealand market.

The two companies will establish an A1 protein-free milk pool in New Zealand and a new A1 protein-free milk pool in Australia, and Fonterra also gets exclusive supply rights for some products in new markets for a2 in South East Asia and the Middle East up to a specified volume. The companies are also evaluating selling new a2-branded products such as butter and cheese in Australia, New Zealand and China.

On a media conference call this morning, A2 managing director Geoff Babidge said the Fonterra deal had come after the two companies had been in talks for some time. A2's board had looked at a number of different options to introduce its branded fresh milk to the local market, something which shareholders have been asking about as the product is available in Australia, but he was satisfied it was "the optimum model to introduce our brand in a meaningful way across all of New Zealand moving forward."

"It's the start of a journey moving forward, and a number of these things will take time to flow through," Babidge said. "We're extremely satisfied with our supply agreement with Synlait but we also have to look to the future and make sure we have sufficient capability to supply products."

Despite this, Synlait's shares dropped 6.7 percent to $6.58 in the first four minutes of trading, while Fonterra Shareholders Fund units were up 0.3 percent to $6.02.

The a2 milk will have a premium farmgate price, Babidge said, though he said the detail of how this is put in place in conjunction with Fonterra in Australia and New Zealand is subject to further discussion.

Babidge said the geographic diversification of production Fonterra can offer was seen to be a benefit, though said the company doesn't have an issue of limitation by supply in any of its markets. It sources locally for its fresh milk in Australia, the UK and US, and gets supply for its formula from Synlait in the South Island.

"The available pool of a2 cows internationally is certainly not a limiting factor for the growth of our business, or over time to Fonterra," he said. "We will work with Fonterra in building herds and farmer relationships, and that will start to further develop in the next 12 months."

Over time, Babidge said he expects a2 fresh milk will take share from products such as almond milk because of nutritional benefits and naturalness of the product. A2 milk is credited as being easier to digest for people with lactose intolerance.

In the results commentary, Babidge said he expects continued revenue growth in nutritional products in Australia, New Zealand and China in the second half, along with further growth in fresh milk in the United States. He said gross margin will be broadly consistent with the first half's 49.8 percent, and earnings growth in the second half will be in the range of $35 million to $40 million.

A2's board didn't declare an interim dividend, and said it was continuing to consider implementing a dividend policy along with an on-market share buyback as it evaluates the best use of its available capital. The board is also reviewing opportunities to invest directly in blending and canning capability as part of its longer-term nutritional products sourcing plan, it said.

(BusinessDesk)

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ASX-listed Super Retail Group has bought outlook equipment chain Macpac Holdings for $144 million, more than twice the $68.7 million paid by Australia's Champ Private Equity in 2015.

The deal adds 54 stores across Australia and New Zealand to Queensland-based Super Retail's suite, and is expected to generate sales of $95 million and pro-forma earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of $16 million in the year ending March 31. Super Retail will consolidate its Rays outdoor equipment brand under the Macpac badge, which will focus on small format stores reliant on apparel, large format stores offering an extensive range of apparel, footwear, equipment and accessories, digital channels offer the complete range and access to services, and a commercial channel.

"The Macpac business has performed extremely well over recent years, yet there remains a significant opportunity to grow the business in the near future through opening new stores and growings its digital and commercial channels," managing director Peter Birtles said in a statement to the ASX. "The integration of the business with Rays provides an opportunity to position Macpac as the leading outdoor adventure specialist across Australia and New Zealand providing a much broader range of quality products, information and services than any other retail business."

Super Retail will fund the deal from existing debt, and has got its banking partners to increase that credit line by A$150 million to give the retail group headroom to pursue a broader omni-retailing strategy. The ASX-listed shares dropped 15 percent to A$7.

The acquisition is expected to be completed on March 31, and generate mid-single digit earnings per share gains for the ASX-listed firm.

Super Retail, which operates the BCF, Rays, Rebel and Super Cheap Auto retail brands, will take over the outdoor equipment chain after about two years in private equity ownership. Champ bought a majority stake using its Champ Ventures 7 Funds vehicle to acquire the retailer, which targets equity investments of between $20 million and $80 million.

At the time of the sale to Champ, Macpac cornerstone shareholder and Kathmandu Holdings founder Jan Cameron kept a small stake with her former husband and Kathmandu co-founder Bernie Wicht, and Macpac chief executive Alex Brandon. Cameron owned about 58 percent of Macpac, having bought into the company for a reported A$20 million in 2011 after her non-compete clause with Kathmandu ended.

Financial statements for holding company MP Finco show Champ paid $68.7 million for Macpac, of which $62 million was in cash and $6.8 million in scrip. In the five-month period covered to March 31, 2016, the company generated an operating loss of $362,000 on revenue of $10.6 million at a gross margin of 55 percent. The retail carried bank debt of $25 million, with a 2019 maturity.

Super Retail reported a 3 percent decline in first half profit to A$72.2 million on a 2.2 percent gain in revenue to A$1.32 billion. The board declared an interim dividend of 21.5 Australian cents per share, payable on April 3.

(BusinessDesk)

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A2 Milk more than doubled first-half profit on strong infant formula sales and has aligned itself with Fonterra Cooperative Group which will see the two companies partner up on a range of products.

Net profit rose to $98.5 million in the six months ended Dec. 31 from $39.4 million a year earlier as sales climbed to $434.6 million from $256 million, Auckland-based, Sydney-headquartered a2 said.

The milk marketing firm used its first-half result to unveil a strategic partnership with Fonterra, with the world's biggest dairy exporter agreeing to exclusively supply a2 with A1 protein-free milk products in bulk powder and consumer packaged forms, in exchange for an exclusive licensing agreement to produce, sell and market a2 branded fresh milk for end sale in the New Zealand market.

The two companies will establish an A1 protein-free milk pool in New Zealand and a new A1 protein-free milk pool in Australia, and Fonterra also gets exclusive supply rights for some products in new markets for a2 in South East Asia and the Middle East up to a specified volume. The companies are also evaluating selling new a2-branded products such as butter and cheese in Australia, New Zealand and China.

"Fonterras high quality milk pools, our global supply chain, our manufacturing capabilities and knowledge, and our in-market sales and distribution expertise is being combined with a2MCs brand strength to unlock new opportunities in a wide range of international markets," Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings said in a separate statement. "We continue to see a strong future for dairy based on our existing range of products, including recent additions such as organic, low-lactose and high protein milk choices that consumers seek out for a premium. The a2MC products promoted by this partnership sit well within our overall portfolio of products."

The tie-up comes as a2 benefits from strong Chinese demand for its infant formula products, which has seen it repeatedly upgrade its earnings outlook and pushed its share price soar by 270 percent to $9.29 over the past 12 months.

A2 managing director Geoff Babidge said he expects continued revenue growth in nutritional products in Australia, New Zealand and China in the second half, along with further growth in fresh milk in the United States.

Gross margin was 49.8 percent in the first half, which he said was higher than expected "primarily due to the higher proportion of infant formula sales, currency movements and favourable net selling prices relative to plan. This was partially offset by product cost increases and margin mix within nutritionals. Subject to currency movements and realisation of throughput efficiencies, the company expects the gross margin percentage to be broadly consistent in the second half."

"As advised at the annual meeting in November 2017, earnings growth in the second half will be tempered by a higher marketing expense, with a half-on-half increase now likely to be in the range of $35-$40 million given the timing and scope of marketing programmes in China and the United States. This increased brand investment will further support future growth in these key markets."

Babidge said the company launched a formula for children aged over three years in Australia and China in August 2017, which "has performed above expectations", and another new milk powder product will be launched by the end of financial year, with others planned for calendar 2018. The company began selling a2-branded fresh milk in Singapore in the year, and is now making weekly shipments and considering broadening the product range in that country.

In the first half, a2 settled a court case in Australia with its rival Lion Group over the science behind health-related claims about its milk. Babidge said the company "expects broader interest in the A1 protein-free category over time", and "given its pioneering heritage, its comprehensive suite of intellectual property and a business model focused solely on products free of the A1 protein type, the company is well positioned to respond."

A2's board didn't declare an interim dividend, and said it was continuing to consider implementing a dividend policy along with an on-market share buyback as it evaluates the best use of its available capital. The board is also reviewing opportunities to invest directly in blending and canning capability as part of its longer-term nutritional products sourcing plan, it said.

(BusinessDesk)

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The Ministry for Primary Industries has introduced new measures to reduce the risk of brown marmorated stink bugs arriving in used vehicles and machinery from Japan, but any impact on domestic importers will be "relatively short term," says the Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association.

"What is most important is making sure that our biosecurity system is absolutely intact. We fully endorse the actions being taken by MPI, the steps they have taken and the reviews they are conducting," David Vinsen, chief executive of the Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association, told BusinessDesk.

The stink bug is considered a major biosecurity threat as it would attack grapes, kiwifruit, apples, citrus and stone fruit, corn and many other valuable crops. Stink bugs have always been on the MPI watch list but efforts have been stepped up recently due to the unprecedented spike in their numbers. Within the wine industry alone, research indicates the industry could lose around $600 million in export revenue over the next 20 years if the stink bug were to take up residence in New Zealand.

MPI has directed three bulk carriers carrying around 10,000 to 12,000 new and used vehicles and machinery to leave New Zealand this month due to excessive contamination and today said all used vehicles - cars and trucks - will now be required to undergo inspection and cleaning at an MPI-approved facility in Japan prior to export.

Vinsen said the immediate impact of the stinkbug threat is "severe" and businesses and jobs are already being affected. However, he downplayed any longer term cost, saying "whatever requirements MPI puts in place for the long term will affect all vehicle importers equally, and quickly become part of the process."

He underscored his association supports "whatever steps are necessary" to ensure biosecurity and said it has a preference that all biosecurity procedures, both treatment and inspections, are conducted overseas.

"We don't want to bring the biosecurity risks to New Zealand and then try and contain them. We don't want them coming here in the first place. So, we support this idea that everything will be inspected and cleared before it leaves its port of origin," he said.

MPI new measures mean any used machinery or other types of used vehicles from Japan will require certification proving it has undergone cleaning by an appropriate provider, said Paul Hallett, MPI Biosecurity and Environment Manager.

"Nearly 95 percent of used vehicles from Japan already go through approved facilities that are designed to eliminate the risk of biosecurity threats like seeds and hitchhiking organisms such as Asian gypsy moth. The requirement will now be compulsory for all imports," said Hallett.

An MPI spokesman confirmed the initial changes only affect used vehicles but "MPI is also working with the new vehicle industry and will look to implement changes across this pathway as well."

Vinsen confirmed the three bulk carriers that were turned away were also carrying new vehicles and said there is no reason a stink bug would differentiate between a new or used vehicle.

"Currently, we have stringent procedures in place for used vehicles anyway. And there is a concern that if there are vehicles which have been cleared and cleaned on a vessel with vehicles that have not been, there is a risk of cross-contamination," he said. Those issues are currently being addressed with MPI, Vinsen said.

(BusinessDesk)

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Insurer CBL Corp says its European subsidiary's lawyers are opposing an order from the Central Bank of Ireland instructing it to stop writing new business immediately.

CBL, whose shares are suspended from the NZX as the stockmarket operator investigates concerns over its continuous disclosure obligations, said its subsidiary CBL Insurance Europe Dac (CBLIE) is continuing to otherwise operate normally and existing policies continue to remain in force. The Irish central bank has also required CBLIE to write to all appointed insurance brokers and distribution partners to inform them of the direction and to inform policyholders, it said.

"CBLIE has sought legal advice in Europe and has instructed its European legal counsel to request the CBI to withdraw this direction," the company said. "Failing this, CBLIE reserves its rights to take any action it deems necessary in order to protect its interests."

Trading in the stock was halted before the suspension, with details eked out over subsequent days that prudential regulators in New Zealand and abroad questioned the adequacy of reserves for its French construction insurance division, prompting a credit rating downgrade and prospective capital raise.

Last week, the company said it would hire advisers to sell the French construction insurance division that's seen it fall foul of regulators over solvency concerns, and is pursuing legal action against the vendors of the business. As part of that decision, it will stop writing new French construction business from April and all renewals will end from June.

CBL gave no update today on its plans for a capital raising, which will raise cash to fund a mandated increase to its reserves from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and CBI.

The share last traded at $3.17 on the NZX before they were halted.

(BusinessDesk)

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New Zealand shares fell in light trading ahead of a busy day of earnings tomorrow, with Heartland Bank and Fletcher Building dropping while Sky Network Television and Air New Zealand rose.

The S&P/NZX50 Index dropped 16.98 points, or 0.2 percent, to 8,098.27. Within the index, 21 stocks fell, 18 rose and 11 were unchanged. Turnover was $84.4 million.

"The volumes are appallingly light, if you look at a lot of stocks the volume is just tiny," said David Price, broker at Forsyth Barr. "On balance, we have seen a bit of slowdown, the market has reached a level where it needs direction - whether that's from the reporting season or from offshore."

"We've had a couple of little confessions so far - Fletcher Building, Evolve out yesterday, but tomorrow is when we start to get the chunky stuff," Price said. "It really needs a result season with good solid results and strong outlook to push it forward, otherwise it will sit in a holding pattern for a while longer."

Companies set to report tomorrow include A2 Milk Co, Fletcher Building, Spark New Zealand, Meridian Energy and Ebos Group. Today, A2 gained 0.1 percent to $9.29; Fletcher fell 1.4 percent to $6.86, Spark dropped 0.7 percent to $3.455; Meridian declined 0.2 percent to $2.845; and Ebos dipped 0.4 percent to $17.15. Evolve fell 9.8 percent to 55 cents.

Heartland Bank led the index lower today, down 2.1 percent to $1.90. It boosted first-half profit 7 percent to $31.1 million as an expanding loan book underpinned all lines of business and strong reverse mortgage growth in Australia whetted its appetite to do more business across the Tasman.

Sky Network Television was the best performer, rising 2.6 percent to $2.80, with Air New Zealand gaining 1.4 percent to $2.98.

Outside the benchmark index, Veritas Investments fell 10 percent to 4.5 cents. ANZ Bank New Zealand has extended its debt deadline for the third time as Veritas seeks shareholder approval to sell the Mad Butcher master franchisor business and continue discussions on other asset sales.

Vista Group International dropped 2.3 percent to $2.60. It has bought back 7.9 percent of its Chinese entity for $7.7 million, leaving it with 47.5 percent of the business and allowing it to treat the division as a controlled entity within the group.

Promisia Integrative slumped 44 percent to 1 cent. Medsafe warned its Arthrem product could cause potential liver damage, though the company said the number of reported cases is "extremely small" and it stands by its product.

(BusinessDesk)

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Mark Tume will rejoin Ngai Tahu Holdings board this month after almost nine years and will take over the chair later this year, putting him at the helm of two iwi corporate entities.

Tume will become a director on Feb. 26 and will take over the role from August 1, with the appointment as chair lasting three years. He will work with Trevor Burt until he finishes his third term as chair on July 31 to ensure a smooth transition of leadership, Ngai Tahu Holdings said. The iwi's corporate entity manages $1.3 billion of assets.

"We are thrilled to have someone of Marks calibre and experience leading the Ngai Tahu Holdings board in the next phase of our tribal journey", said Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu kaiwhakahaere (chair) Lisa Tumahai. "Mark is a highly respected director whose governance and professional experience closely align with the values and inter-generational vision of Ngai Tahu."

Tume was previously a Ngai Tahu Holdings director between 2005 and 2009 and currently chairs of Infratil. He was a director of New Zealand Oil and Gas until last year, and is currently a director of New Zealand Refining and chair of Te Atiawa Iwi Holdings LP. He has been on the board of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, and Transpower.

"I am humbled by the opportunity to return to Ngai Tahu Holdings Corporation at this time," Tume said. "Its an honour to be able to serve Ngai Tahu whanau again and Im looking forward to working with the teams at Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu and Ngai Tahu Holdings."

(BusinessDesk)

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Fisher & Paykel Healthcare's long-serving chief financial officer Tony Barclay will retire from the medical device maker at the end of May.

Barclay, who has been with the firm for 22 years, will continue to support the company in a consulting role for 12 months after he steps down at the end of May, Auckland-based Fisher & Paykel said in a statement. Andrea Blackie, the company's general manager finance, has been appointed acting chief financial officer from June 1 and Fisher & Paykel said it has started a formal process to appoint a replacement for Barclay.

Having made a huge contribution to the growth of Fisher & Paykel Healthcare over the past 22 years, Tony has decided to step away from his role to allow him to have more time for family, personal travel and consider areas of future interest, said managing director Lewis Gradon. We would like to thank Tony for the dedication he has shown and his commitment to the company throughout his time with Fisher & Paykel Healthcare."

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare has flourished since it split from its sister company Fisher & Paykel Appliances in 2001, and it is now the second-biggest local company on the benchmark S&P/NZX50 Index behind Auckland International Airport, with a market capitalisation of $7.41 billion. The company sells its products into 120 countries around the world and generates 99 percent of its revenue from outside of New Zealand.

Barclay's departure follows that of long-serving company head Mike Daniell who stepped down as managing director in 2016, and is now a member of the board.

Blackie has been with Fisher & Paykel Healthcare since January 2017. She was previously executive director within PwC Assurance New Zealand and has over 15 years experience in New Zealand and the United Kingdom working with a number of listed global manufacturing and technology businesses.

The company has commenced a formal process to appoint Tonys successor and we will update the market in due course," said Gradon. "We thank Tony for all of his many years of loyal service and commitment and wish him all the very best. He will be greatly missed and difficult to replace."

Shares in Fisher & Paykel Healthcare slipped 0.6 percent to $12.90.

(BusinessDesk)

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Fonterra Cooperative Group may lift its farmgate milk price payout to farmers this season following increases in Global Dairy Trade auction prices, according to brokerage OMF.

New Zealand's dominant milk processor has said it expects to pay its farmer suppliers $6.40 per kilogram of milk solids for the 2017/18 season, however OMF said in its monthly New Zealand Dairy Report published today that strengthening dairy prices have pushed up the expected payout in its modelling to $6.78/kgMS.

"Based on season-to-date GDT prices and assuming that prices remain unchanged through to May, our milk price model points to a payout of $6.78/kgMS," OMF said in the report. "Fonterra has around 22 percent of product left to sell over this period, and we estimate that Fonterras current guidance would be consistent with prices falling 18 percent on average (which would be highly unlikely). We look for Fonterra to announce a conservative 25 cent increase in the milk price."

OMF said hiking its milk payout to farmers would allow the farmer-owned cooperative to recognise losses and impairments relating to its investment in Chinese infant formula producer Beingmate Baby & Child Food, without harming farmer incomes.

"We believe Fonterra is likely to partially write-down its 18.8 percent stake in Beingmate, reflecting the downward revision in its earnings forecast to CNY800-1,000 million (NZ$174-217 million) and the latest downturn in its share price," OMF said. "In particular, Beingmates poor performance has a direct impact on Fonterras profitability  Fonterras share of Beingmates net loss was reported at NZ$42 million in FY2017  and we expect losses this year to weigh on Fonterras earnings and dividend payments."

OMF noted recent rainfall in New Zealand had improved pasture growth and suggested the country's milk production may not be hurt by dry conditions as much as Fonterra expected. It expects prices to be flat in tonight's auction after three successive gains.

In late December, Fonterra said it expects its New Zealand milk collection to fall 3 percent to 1,480 million kgMS this season from 1,525 million kgMS last season as dry weather stunted grass growth.

"In order to achieve this level of output, Fonterra is implicitly assuming that milk collections will be 6.5 percent lower between January-May compared to the previous season," OMF said. "We maintain our view that while risks to production remain, we are more sanguine as current weather conditions and outlook appear supportive and we see scope for production in coming months to be more or less in line with the previous season, bringing total collections to 1,520 million kgMS for 2017/18.

"As we believe that the latest rebound in dairy prices can be at least partly attributed to concerns around New Zealand production, should upcoming production statistics surprise on the upside, pricing support could dissipate and we may observe a correction," OMF said.

The brokerage noted that global dairy production remained in expansion, led by Europe.

"We continue to see downward pressure on prices, particularly for cheese and butter, although we are wary that this view has been largely priced in," OMF said.

For the 2018/19 season, OMF said its model suggests a Fonterra milk payout of $6.94/kgMS, ahead of the NZX Milk Futures price of $6.01/kgMS.

"This suggests that there is considerable upside risk to market expectations although we acknowledge that downward pressures remain," OMF said.

Auckland-based Fonterra is the world's largest milk processor and the biggest exporter of dairy products.

(BusinessDesk)

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Heartland Bank says it would be happy to grow the size of its $1 billion reverse mortgage loan book after the business delivered "strong" earnings, especially in Australia.

The Auckland-based bank, formed through the merger of Marac Finance with the Canterbury and Southern Cross building societies, got into home-equity release in 2014 when it bought Seniors Money International for $87 million, acquiring a $760 million loan book.

At the time, Heartland said the deal would give the lender access to an expanding 65-plus age demographic keen on tapping the majority of their wealth tied up in residential property, something chief executive Jeff Greenslade says is still happening today. That demographic is "asset rich and income poor" and typically wants to stay in their own home, Greenslade said.

"We were attracted to that story and it's certainly coming through," Greenslade told BusinessDesk. "It's been rewarding - there are a lot of really good stories coming out of Australia and New Zealand, particularly New Zealand where we get customers saying 'I never knew you could do this and that's exactly what I wanted'."

The bank's reverse mortgage customers are typically in their 60s to early 70s, putting them on the continuum of retirement, with village residents usually in their mid-to-late 70s, Greenslade said. About 70 percent of their customers are mobile and will usually move into smaller accommodation, meaning the product facilitates "staged retirement rather than necessarily the end solution."

The opportunity is big. Reserve Bank figures show housing and land value equated to $773 billion as at June 30, more than half the nation's $1,386 billion net wealth.

Heartland's reverse mortgage loan book has grown to $1.03 billion, of which $598 million is in Australia and $430 million in New Zealand, and was a standout in the latest first-half result, with a 26 percent gain in net operating income to $18 million in the six months ended Dec. 31, outpacing a 10 percent gain in the bank's household division to $50.3 million.

Greenslade said the bank sees "definite potential" expanding the book as a percentage of Heartland's total book, with net receivables sitting at $3.78 billion.

"I'd be very comfortable with that. It's a very diverse risk by geography and particularly with the way reverse mortgages work, unlike normal mortgages, if you've got a residential mortgage book you're exposed to the property market every day," he said. "We're only exposed to cohort maturing, which is maybe a tenth of the book as opposed to the total market."

Heartland dominates the reverse mortgage market in New Zealand, and while it has more competitors in the more mature Australian market, it grabbed about 60 percent of total sector growth, which deputy chief executive Chris Flood attributes to the lender's use of brokers across the Tasman.

"What we've done since we owned the business, and which is not something the previous owners did, is focus on the broker market," Flood said "We now have accredited 330 brokers around Australia to sell reverse mortgage product. That's driven a lot of the growth."

A further 20-to-25 percent of new business comes online, which Flood says is due to the more mature market and greater knowledge.

(BusinessDesk)

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Ram Gopal Varma on Saturday was questioned by Hyderabad police in a case related to his adult filmfor four hours. They confiscated his passport. It is said that the police have gathered enough evidence to prove that he has not the shot the film in Poland or London as he had earlier claimed. They reportedly have found enough documents to prove that the film was shot in India.

RGV didnt leave India for Europe in the recent times.
South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce has reiterated that there is no change in the proposed strike of South Film Industry against the digital service providers for the exorbitant charges.





"The Joint Action Committee of the Southern Indian Film Industry and Digital Service Providers have met on 16-02-2017 at 11.00 a.m. in the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce, Chennai to sort out the various issues pertaining to the Film Industry. It was decided to meet again on 23-02-2018 (Friday) to arrive at a Final Conclusion. There is no change in the decision of stopping of Screening of the films in all Theatres of South India from 1st March 2018 and stands as it is, until further notice", read an official statement from the representatives of South Film Industry.




Priya Prakash Varrier has moved the Supreme Court seeking to put stay on the criminal proceedings by Hyderabad police.

A group of young men in Hyderabad filed the case against her and her Malayalam film Oru Adaar Love claiming that the lyrics of the film's teaser song had hurt the religious sentiment of Muslims. The actress says this song is popular folk song in Kerala.

"The song is a folk song and has been in existence for the last 40 years and cherished by the Muslim community of more than one crore in Kerala. People misunderstood the song in non-Malayalam-speaking states," she said in the petition.

Kerala-based Priya shot to fame by raising her eyebrows...and winking. It has gone viral.

Images: Twitter


He is an ardent campaigner for the self determination of the Sri Lankan Tamil people and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and its leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. He is an advocate of the rule of Tamils in their homeland, Tamil Nadu and to spread the importance of Tamil language, only by which unity of Tamil people is possible.

Seeman, a controversial figure in Tamil politics, is the chief-coordinator of the political party, Naam Tamilar Katchi in Tamil Nadu.

: Kamal Hassan, who's all set to launch his political party Wednesday, met Naam Tamilar Katchi chief coordinator Seeman earlier in the day.

Prior to his involvement in politics, Seeman has worked as a filmmaker and actor.

Swarajya Magazine has called Seeman, as 'a curious combination of many strands.'

'He not only propounds a separate racial and linguistic identity for Tamils but also a separate religious identity. He also wears his Luddite cap, so to speak, when he opposes the Neutrino project. Yet, he threatens eco-activists were they to oppose the imaginary dams he would build in Tamil Nadu to deny water to Kerala - he would have them deported or worse. He also believes strongly in Illuminati conspiracies and asks his cadre to familiarise themselves with Illuminati conspiracies against Tamils,' a Swarajya profile on the man claims.

Seeman is known campaigner for the rights of the Sri Lankan Tamil people and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam braving several counts of intimidation and detention and was an acquaintance of its leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran.

In fact November 2014, Seeman and Naam Thamizhar Katchi observed the 60th birth anniversary of Velupillai Prabhakaran.

On 24 October 2008, Seeman was arrested after taking part in a rally condemning state atrocities against Tamils in Sri Lanka, organised by director Bharathiraja, also a Tamil activist, and other prominent Tamil directors, actors, and producers.

The rally was part of statewide protests across Tamil Nadu in 2008 condemning the Government of Sri Lanka's role in the Sri Lankan Civil War.

During the rally, Seeman and fellow director Ameer Sultan made speeches criticizing the Indian government and expressing support to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, a Tamil separatist group on the island which has been alleged as a "terrorist group" by India and many other countries.

The two were later released on bail with the help of their assistant directors, Bharathiraja, and actor R. Sarath Kumar.

Upon his release from a five month detention at the Vellore prison, Seeman actively campaigned for the defeat of the Congress party in the State Assembly elections for their role in the genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka

Seeman attended several Maaveerar Day events in Toronto, Canada on 27 November 2009 and delivered an anti-Sinhalese and pro-Tamil Tiger speeches and also announced the launch of a new movement called "We are Tamils" (Naam Thamizhar Iyakkam).

The RCMP (The Royal Canadian Mounted Police) arrested him after he delivered a hate-speech against the Sinhalese ("not a single Sinhalese should live") in a speech to the Canadian Tamil Youth and deported him back to India.

Following Seeman's deportation was the fire-bombing of the residence of E. V. K. S. Elangovan by a few individuals, including an unnamed assistant film director.

During the parliamentary elections in 2014, Seeman has stated that the Naam Tamilar Katchi would campaign for the defeat of the candidates fielded by the Congress, BJP and the DMDK where they are contesting.

The three parties lost all the constituencies they contested in Tamil Nadu with the exception of BJP who managed to win their only seat in Kanniyakumari.

In September 2016, Seeman was among some 176 people arrested after "attempting to lay siege to Srivaikuntam dam, where desilting works [were] under way as per a directive from the National Green Tribunal".
Reports said Delhi's top bureaucrat was manhandled and abused at CM Arvind Kejriwal's home by two lawmakers of the ruling AAP late last night.

: In a shocking development in the national capital, Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash claims he was physically assaulted by Aam Aadmi Party MLAs at the residence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal late Monday night.

Prakash alleges he was attacked in the presence of Kejriwal after being summoned for discussions on the government's plan to deliver key services to citizens' doorsteps.

Read: Attack on Delhi Chief Secretary is criminal conspiracy, says IAS body

The IAS officers' association has called an emergency meeting to discuss a response to what they call the assault on a bureaucrat. The officers' body is reportedly demanding a police case against the Chief Minister and the two AAP lawmakers.

AAP denies allegations

However, according to an IANS report, Delhi government spokesperson Nagendar Sharma denied the allegation saying the Chief Secretary was making false accusation at the behest of BJP.

Sharma said during a meeting at Kejriwal's residence on the "faulty implementation" of Aadhaar that "deprived about 2.5 lakh families of ration", the Chief Secretary refused to answer questions saying he was not answerable to MLAs or the Chief Minister but only to Lt Governor Anil Baijal.

"He even used bad language against some MLAs and left without answering any questions.

Hearing reports that #AAP may plan some drama to play victim and divert attention from manhandling and heckling of a senior bureaucrat and Delhi Chief Secretary last night. Divide within #AAP clearer than ever. Is this the kind of governance Delhi deserved and voted for?  Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) February 20, 2018

"Moreover, it is false information that the meeting and the argument was about TV ads. The entire discussion was on how large number of families were not getting ration," Sharma said in a statement. "Obviously, he (the Chief Secretary) is doing it at the BJP's behest. The BJP has stooped very low in disrupting governance in Delhi through the Lt. Governor and officers.

"If the Chief Secretary can make such wild allegations, one can imagine the kind of obstacles that are being created in AAP government's work by BJP through the officers."

Ties between AAP and Delhi bureaucrats have been strained in the backdrop of an incessant tussle over who controls the capital.

AAP's plan for the doorstep delivery of services was stalled recently by the Lieutenant Governor, who has been criticised by Kejriwal and his ministers as an "agent" of the ruling BJP at the centre

Centre seeks report on assault of Delhi Chief Secetary

The Union Home Ministry has sought a report from Lt Governor Anil Baijal on the alleged assault incident. "The LG has been asked to submit his report by today evening," IANS quoted a Home Ministry official as saying.

Reactions to the alleged assault

It will be a very dangerous situation if Delhi goes towards administrative paralysis. LG should immediately meet Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. Confidence should be restored among administrative officers : Ajay Maken on incident of alleged assault of Delhi Chief Secy Anshu Prakash pic.twitter.com/cLoSPV0qrF  ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2018

I have known the Delhi Chief Secretary, ANSHU PRAKASH for a while now. He is a fine officer with impeccable manners and a high sense of devotion to duty. What has happened with him is reprehensible.  SUHEL SETH (@suhelseth) February 20, 2018

One of the nicest human beings and IAS Officer Anshu Prakash, CS of Delhi assaulted by @AamAadmiParty goons at their CMs residence. @KapilMishra_IND @TajinderBagga @raghav355  Sanjay Dixit (@Sanjay_Dixit) February 20, 2018
Arun J Sanyal and Parthik Naidu are among six people selected by Virginia Governor Ralph Northam for the prestigious prize.

: Two Indian-American researchers have been selected for Virginia's 2018 Outstanding STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Awards for their contribution towards the amelioration of human health.

While Sanyal has developed training programmes in liver disease diagnosis and treatment, Naidu, who is only 18, has developed a machine learning software to study 3D interactions of the cancer.

"Celebrating the academic excellence and entrepreneurial spirit of these Virginians helps showcase how STEM innovations tie in to our everyday lives," said Governor Northam.

"It also highlights the profound contribution that STEM makes to Virginia families and our economy. I thank these extraordinary awardees and everyone who works hard to make Virginia a leader in these important fields," the Governor added.

Sanyal is a pioneer in identifying the mechanisms, clinical outcomes and management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome, a disease of increasing prevalence and global consequences.

To address this, he has developed training programmes in liver disease diagnosis and treatment, and works to incorporate them in primary care settings.

He was selected for the Virginia Outstanding Scientist award for his deep commitment to the betterment of human health globally via science, education and public policy.

Naidu was selected as a STEM Phenom for his sharing of knowledge with others to inspire those around him to become change makers in addition to his application of STEM principles, a statement said.

He developed a machine learning software to study 3D interactions of the cancer when he was 17 years old.

The computational tool called DNALoopR is faster, less expensive and more accurately analyses the biological patterns of cancer DNA than laboratory tools that currently exist.

DNALoopR gives unprecedented insight into the inner workings of cancer, thus helping doctors create personalised treatments for millions of patients.

Naidu is currently a freshman at Stanford University studying computer science.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Following the Parkland, Fla., mass shooting, a group of Staten Island politicians urged Mayor Bill de Blasio to put an NYPD officer in every city public school.

Councilman Steven Matteo, Councilman Joe Borelli and Staten Island Borough President James Oddo wrote a letter to Mayor de Blasio on February 16 calling for officers to be placed in the city's 1,700 public schools during operating hours and "whenever they might be open for school-related activities after this week's winter break.

"The safety of our children is undoubtedly paramount, and the reality is the larger issues that are the subject of a national debate are unlikely to be resolved soon," the letter reads. "That puts the responsibility on local government to do whatever it can to safeguard the students for whose safety it is directly responsible."

The letter was sent only two days after last Wednesday's mass shooting -- 17 students and teachers were gunned down by suspect Nikolas Cruz, 19. Cruz used an AR-15 style rifle, to carry out the attack, renewing calls for gun control from activists and Democrats.

The Island lawmakers acknowledged de Blasio's opposition to having police officers in every public school, but cited the Florida mass shooting in hopes of changing de Blasio's mind.

"While we heard you were not considering an across-the-board NYPD presence in schools as an option based on recent public comments, we hope that you will reconsider," they wrote in the letter.

Matteo acknowledged that the call for officers wasn't ideal and told the Advance that it would likely function as an interim measure.

"I don't think this is a perfect solution nor should it be permanent," said Matteo in a statement. "But this would be the most immediate way to provide additional security at our schools while we look into long term measures."

A spokesperson for Mayor de Blasio told the Advance that the NYPD decides which schools to station police officers.

"The NYPD makes these deployment decisions based on real school-by-school safety evaluations," said Eric Phillips, de Blasio's spokesperson, in a statement. "We aren't going to second guess those NYPD decisions, nor will we force NYPD deployment where the police department doesn't believe it's needed."

The Florida shooting has already led to calls for political action on Staten Island. On Monday, more than 100 demonstrators gathered outside of Rep. Daniel Donovan's district office in New Dorp, calling for him to take action on gun control.
CITY HALL -- Weeks after Mayor Bill de Blasio promised to establish a commission to come up with a property tax reform plan, Staten Island lawmakers rolled out several new proposals in a bid to make the current system more fair.

The measures include reinstating the property tax rebate; freezing property tax bills for eligible senior citizen; passing legislation that would reset the state-mandated assessment cap when a property is sold, and putting together a commission to study and propose reforms to the city's property tax system.

Minority Leader Steven Matteo (R-Mid-Island), Councilman Joseph Borelli (R-South Shore) and Borough President James Oddo on Tuesday rolled the proposals at a press conference.

Their announcement came after de Blasio said last month said that both reforms to the property tax system and the creation of a property tax commission that would look at inequities in the system -- which he vowed to undertake if elected -- were coming "soon."

However, the mayor provided few details on what to expect and when the announcement was coming.

Here's a look at reforms proposed by the Island officials:

PROPERTY TAX COMMISSION

The commission would look at "inequities and irregularities" in the way property values are assessed and taxes are levied and also provide a analysis of the property tax system and recommend potential changes.

They said the commission would need at least a year to work and make final recommendations. After that process, public hearings would be held and any proposed changes to the property tax system the city wanted to adopt would need to be drafted into legislation; approved by both the City Council and the State Legislature and their respective committees; then signed into law by the mayor and the governor before they could take effect.

PROPERTY TAX REBATE

Under the administration of former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, city homeowners received a $400 property tax rebate check from 2004 to 2009. The Island lawmakers recommended bringing a similar program back.

They said the rebate would require the State Legislature to pass enabling legislation, which is currently being sponsored by State Sen. Andrew Lanza of Staten Island and Assemblyman Michael Benedetto of the Bronx. The rebate would then need to be agreed upon during the city's fiscal 2019 budget negotiations, voted on by the City Council and then signed into law by the mayor.

PROPERTY TAX "FREEZE" FOR SENIOR CITIZENS

The lawmakers also proposed the city study and implement a property tax "freeze" for those Class 1 homeowners who are senior citizens that meet specific criteria including age, income, residency in New York City and time period of home ownership.

As part of the program, eligible homeowners would have their property taxes frozen at a base year level. They said that until title passes to a new owner or an heir, either all subsequent tax bills would contain a deduction equal to the difference between what is owed for the current tax year and the base year.

Current year property taxes would have to be paid in full, but the homeowner would then apply for and receive a reimbursement equal to the difference between what is owed for the current tax year and the base year.

RESET ASSESSMENT CAP WHEN PROPERTY SOLD

Under their proposal, the current property tax assessment cap would reset when the property sold so that the assessment of a newly-purchased home would be calculated based on the current market value from the new sale price.

In order to accomplish the resetting, the lawmakers said it would require amending New York State Real Property Tax Law (RPTL) 1805, which they said they are requesting through a resolution in the City Council. In addition to providing property tax equity for Class 1 properties in the city, they said the change is could potentially provide more than $100 million in new city revenue without raising taxes, and without harming the property tax protections of families who remain in their homes.

Under the city's current property tax system, the assessed value of properties with one-, two- and three-family homes -- known as class one -- can't go up more than 6 percent every year or 20 percent over five years.

Therefore, homeowners in less popular neighborhoods where home values slowly increase will generally have higher property taxes than those with homes in more desirable areas like where de Blasio lives in Brooklyn.

CONDEMNING THE CURRENT SYSTEM

"The strange thing about New York City is that the mayor and many of our progressive friends like to tout our progressive property tax system or our progressive tax system overall where people get taxed at a higher rate depending on how much income they have, and traditionally the higher the income the higher the rate," Borelli said. "When you look at property taxes you're actually looking at the exact opposite, where New York City actually taxes its richest citizens, its richest property owners at lower effective property rates, than middle class people."

Island lawmakers have been fighting current property tax system for years. Two years ago, Borelli and Matteo threatened to sue the city after an independent review confirmed that Staten Island homeowners face higher tax burdens relative to actual property values compared to the other boroughs.

Matteo vowed to fight for their reform proposals, especially the property tax rebate, over the next four months during the upcoming budget negotiations and make them a priority. He also said he had a great relationship with the new City Council speaker and already spoken to him about the reforms.

"We have long term solutions but for me in this budget, as a member of the finance committee as a member of the budget negotiation team and leadership, I am going to work with the speaker and my colleagues and the mayor to try and institute a property tax rebate," Matteo said. "Obviously it's going to cost some money and our point here is that it's time for the City Council, it's time for the administration to give back to those who continue to pay into the city's coffers."

Earlier this month, de Blasio announced a $88.67 billion preliminary budget proposal for fiscal 2019, a spending plan up about $4 billion more than what was proposed in last year's preliminary budget.

In that budget, the amount of money the city plans to collect in property taxes over the course of the remainder of the mayor's time in office is slated to go from $26 billion to $30.7 billion -- an 18 percent increase.
Rev. Robert Aufieri(Courtesy Holy Rosary Church)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Rev. Robert (Bob) Aufieri, the former pastor of Holy Rosary R.C. Church in South Beach, died Friday. He was 69.

Born in the Bronx, Father Aufieri graduated from Salesian High School in New Rochelle and received his bachelor's degree from St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers. He later obtained two master's degrees from the University of Notre Dame.

Father Aufieri was ordained a priest on Dec. 7, 1974. From that point on, he devoted his life to God.

"He was called to God at a very young age," said his sister, Joan Aufieri Tretta. "It truly was his calling."

On Aug. 1, 2008, Father Aufieri was appointed the seventh pastor of Holy Rosary Church.

During his time on Staten Island, he was dedicated to helping the community.

"His life was his services to God and his services to his people. That's just who he was," his sister said.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Father Aufieri led a tour which included Cardinal Timothy Dolan through the devastated South Beach community to secure funding from Catholic Charities for Staten Islanders in need.

It was also during that time that the old Holy Rosary Mission Church on Sand Lane was used as a Hurricane Sandy relief station, where affected residents could go for crucial supplies.

"He was very kind and compassionate, especially in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, in organizing the church to help those in need," said the Rev. Michael Martine, the current pastor of Holy Rosary Church.

During his time at Holy Rosary, Father Aufieri made a conscious effort to engage all members of the community; the church even began offering masses in Polish and Spanish.

Father Aufieri left Holy Rosary Church in 2013 and was serving as pastor of St. Clare of Assisi R.C. Church in the Bronx at the time of his death.

"I was always impressed with his pastoral care of the people of the parish. He even came back to visit some of the sick parishioners after he left," said Father Martine.

Like many Bronx natives, Father Aufieri was an avid fan of the New York Yankees, and often referenced the team during his sermons.

In addition to his sister, Joan, surviving are his nephew, Joseph Tretta Jr.; his uncle, Nick Testa, and his aunts, Marie Testa, Elisa Cannava and Cecille Greco.

Visiting hours will be Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 5 to 7 pm. in St. Clare of Assisi Church. A mass celebrated by Bishop Gerald Walsh will follow at 7 p.m.

The funeral will be Saturday with a mass at 10 a.m. in St. Clare of Assisi Church. Cardinal Dolan will officiate. Burial will follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, N.Y.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. Joseph's Seminary, 201 Seminary Ave., Yonkers, N.Y. 10704.

Arrangements are being handled by the Beecher Flooks Funeral Home in Pleasantville, N.Y.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Fog has resulted in speed restrictions on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and the Outerbridge Crossing during the Tuesday morning rush hour.

An accident was cleared on the upper level of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge around 7 a.m. The crash occurred around 6:15 a.m., according to Total Traffic NYC.

Drivers have been asked since Monday evening to slow down as they cross the bridge between Brooklyn and Staten Island, according to the MTA.

The speed limit on the Outerbridge has been reduced to 35 mph, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
COMMENTARY BY MICHAEL REILLY, COMMUNITY EDUCATION COUNCIL 31 PRESIDENT

The recent school shooting in Parkland, Florida was horrific and a terrible tragedy that has happened far too frequently.

Are we doing enough to secure our New York City Schools?

Community Education Council 31 has been advocating for several enhancements since December 2012.

Unfortunately, both former Mayor Bloomberg and current Mayor de Blasio refuse to implement the security measures CEC 31 proposed, even though the New York State Legislature and Governor Cuomo passed laws based on the plan. Several municipalities across New York State and the country have incorporated CEC 31 plan.

In addition, Community Education Council 31 has also continually advocated for City Hall and Tweed to incorporate metal detectors into school security plans. All other NYC Government buildings have metal detectors and armed security, including Tweed, the New York City Department of Education's central office, as well as City Hall and each Borough Hall.

Community Education Council 31's Comprehensive Safety and Security Proposal was passed in 2013 and submitted to the DOE, the state legislature and the New York City Police Department. The proposal suggested several security enhancements for NYC school buildings;

* Locking ALL doors, including the main entrance

* Installing buzzer entries and video capture. technology on the main entrances to school buildings,

* Improving School Building Response Team training

* Updating School Building Public Address systems (Resolution submitted in 2011) and,

* Designating retired police officers as special patrol officers to supplement school security

In 2014 the NYS Legislature and Governor Cuomo included the CEC 31 plan into laws. They created grant funding for schools to improve safety, which included cameras and buzzer entry systems.

The laws also expanded professional development opportunities focused on safety and security, mandating more training drills for Building Response Teams.

Additionally, the laws enacted authorized School Districts in New York State to hire retired police officers as school resource officers. This measure provides an opportunity for school districts to employ trained retired officers to supplement school security operations.

NYC DOE has adopted some of CEC 31's proposals by agreeing and moving forward with updating the Public Address systems in schools that have defective or outdated systems.

In 2011 CEC 31 identified 35 schools with defective public address systems. That is approximately half of the schools in Disyrict 31. During this year's survey CEC 31 submitted requests for the 7 remaining schools that need Public Address System upgrades. The DOE has also increased Building Response Team training.

Although we are grateful DOE's partnering with us to get every Public Address System working properly and increasing Emergency Response Training we are disappointed that the Mayor and Chancellor have been reluctant to lock ALL doors and install buzzer entry systems with photo capture camera technology at the main entrance of every school.

DOE to this point has also turned away from the opportunity to utilize the resources of a select number of retired police officers that could add a valuable layer to school security. This can be a proactive measure to deter and minimize a potential threat like an active shooter.

DOE should create a pilot program, employing retired police officers who will perform duties associated with protecting the students and staff from a possible threat from a person with a weapon. The retired officers would NOT be part of general student discipline procedures. These special patrol officers would only be utilized to monitor access to school buildings and deter violent threats. The city can install signs on school buildings that advise the presence of an armed special patrol officer.

I believe the New York City Department of Education needs to be proactive and implement these safety measures to help secure all NYC Schools.

You can read more about Community Education Council 31's Comprehensive School Safety & Security Plan in the link below and the attached Resolution requesting fixing the Public Address Systems.
By Michele Corelli

New Springville

In August 2017, President Trump reluctantly approved new sanctions against Russia for its interference in the 2016 election after Congress sent him a bill with strong bipartisan backing, but to date Trump still has not implemented them. Why not? His silence, other than "No Collusion" after Special Counsel Robert Mueller's indictment of 13 Russian nationals, and his twitter rampage, is telling.

It's always about him, blaming others, including Oprah Winfrey, and not about protecting our country. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, in announcing the indictments, said that there was "No allegation in this indictment that any American had any knowledge . . ." (other than "unwitting" Trump associates) because this particular indictment focuses on the social media posts of the investigation, including the Russian troll farm and propaganda and using Facebook and Instagram.

To that extent, those anti-Hillary posts reached 126 million Americans, some of whom may have been on the fence about voting for her. By 77,000 votes in the states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, she lost the Electoral College. There is still the focus on potential financial crimes, obstruction of justice and hacking in particular.

It was common knowledge from our intelligence community that Russia and WikiLeaks were working together to support Trump. It was a known fact that Putin hated Hillary Clinton. In July 2016, speaking to a crowd in Doral, Texas, candidate Trump said: "Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 [Clinton] emails that are missing."

On Oct. 7, 2016, within two hours of the Access Hollywood video breaking and the intelligence community warning about Russian election meddling, WikiLeaks published a trove of emails stolen from Clinton campaign manager John Podesta. On Oct. 10, 2016 at a rally in Wilkes Barre, Pa., Trump said: "WikiLeaks. I love WikiLeaks." Coincidence?

What does Russia have over this president? Could it be the salacious allegations in the Christopher Steele dossier, including, but not limited to, what happened in a certain room, once shared by President Obama and his family in the Ritz-Carlton and visited by Trump and others during the 2013 Miss Universe pageant? Could it be something in his tax returns, which he refuses to release? It is safe to assume that Robert Mueller already has them. But, on the other hand, Trump could be completely vindicated.

In the situation at hand, the very idea that a foreign power attacked our democratic process is horrifying, but not to this president and, at the present time, there does not appear to be any attempt to counter a repeat performance in future elections, which our intelligence chiefs agree will happen again.

Like any other investigation, there has to be evidence to prove wrongdoing. So far, as National Security Advisor H.R. McMasters has said: Evidence of Russia interference is "incontrovertible." But the Tweeter-in-Chief responds: "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!"
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Acting Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Cornelius de Weever, is encouraging interested persons and young people to apply for the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Scholarship Foundation for study grants and scholarships.





The scholarship foundation is accepting applications for the aforementioned from Caribbean nationals in CTO member countries. Sint Maarten is a member of the CTO.





The main aim of the CTO Foundation is to provide opportunities for Caribbean nationals to pursue studies in the areas of tourism, hospitality and language training.





The Foundation selects individuals who demonstrate high levels of achievement and leadership both within and outside the classroom and who express a strong interest in making a positive contribution to Caribbean tourism.





The Foundation offers the following types of assistance and the various forms are downloadable from the Caribbean Tourism Organization website http://www.onecaribbean.org/our-work/scholarship-foundation/scholarships-grants/





Scholarships of up to US$12,000 to individuals wanting to study tourism or hospitality at the Masters (post graduate) level. Download 2018 Scholarship Application Form





Study grants of up to US$2,500 to individuals pursing tourism/hospitality studies at the certificate, diploma, associate degree or first degree level, and to industry personnel who want to gain proficiency in a second language to assist them in their job. Download 2018 Study Grant Application Form





A scholarship of up to US$2,500 is offered in the name of CTOs former Director of Research and Information Management, Mr. Arley Sobers, for persons working in local tourism organizations such as the Ministry of Tourism or the Board of Tourism, who wish to strengthen their skills in the areas of research and statistics. Download 2018 Arley Sobers Scholarship Application Form





Studies can be pursued both within and outside the region.





Interested persons must fill out the forms, supply all of the necessary information and return them directly to the Caribbean Tourism Organizations headquarters, 7th Floor, Barbados Tower, Warrens, St. Michael, Barbados, Tel: 246-427-5242; Fax: 246-429-3065 by the deadline date of April 15, 2018.





PHOTO CUTLINE: Acting Minister of TEATT Cornelius De Weever.




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On February 23rd the 16th OCTA  EU Forum will be held in Brussels, leading up to the forum there will be political and technical meetings with the European Commission and other Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) of the EU. The Sint Maarten delegation headed by Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin, attended 2 meetings on Monday. The first meeting was held at the EU Directorate of Development Cooperation and consisted of a trilateral discussion on the ongoing progress of EU funded programmes. The second meeting consisted of discussions among the Kingdom Partners on the relationship between the EU and the other Dutch OCTs after 2020 and was held at the office of the Permanent Representative of the Netherlands in Brussels.





During the trilateral meeting Prime Minister Romeo Marlin had the opportunity to present four points. The 10th EDF Territorial Project, which confirms the finalization of the programming of a Dutch Quarter sewerage and public infrastructure project. The contract for the works will be signed on Wednesday, February 20th to the tune of 4.7 million Euro. This signing ensures that the execution phase will begin in 2018.





Second on the agenda was the 11th EDF Territorial Cooperation Project that consists of three joint projects between the Governments of Sint Maarten and St. Martin. These 3 projects include a waste water treatment plant to be established on the Dutch Side with waste water pipes running from both sides of the island to the plant. The second project will entail a cleanup and economic development of the Simpson Bay Lagoon. The third project will cover the connecting of a drainage system runoff to the French Belle Plaine area to avoid possible flooding in those low lying areas.





Agenda point three addressed 11th EDF  B Envelope which is a request by the Government of Sint Maarten in relation to the recovery after hurricanes Irma and Maria. A request for 10 million euro to build adequate, affordable and sustainable housing is pending and was further explained to the European Commission. Beneficiaries of this housing will include vulnerable groups such as the elderly, single parent families and low income earners that may have been displaced after the passing of Hurricane Irma. Locally, the Council of Ministers has signed off on the Housing Project which will lead to the project being prepared and ultimately proposed to the European Union. This housing project will aid in the reconstruction efforts.





The final and fourth agenda targeted unused funds of the 10th EDF Regional Programme. An amount of 2-3 million euros has not been used and the European Commission is looking in to the possibility to reactivate this sum for a sub-regional project to aid Small & Medium Enterprises. These are considered the backbone of the economic prosperity in most islands, and it is intended





to use the funds for building resilience across the small business sector. The project will be a shared effort by the OCTs that are suffering damages from the 2017 hurricane season.





The meeting at the Permanent Representation of the Netherlands highlighted the debate on the relationship of the Dutch OCTs with the EU after the end of the current financial framework of the EU. The discussion centered around how The Netherlands can include the OCTs in the negotiations on the future financial cooperation between the Kingdom Partners and the EU. Important was the issue of Brexit and how this affects the position of the Dutch OCTs in the post 2020 negotiations. Politically, the Prime Minister of Curacao, Eugene Ruggenaath, spoke on behalf of the Dutch OCTs by presenting a unified position among the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in looking for a mutually beneficial partnership between the latter and the EU.





Photo caption  L to R  Marc Arnold-Head of BAK, Dagmar Daal-Legal Counsel, Carol Voges-Cabinet Plenipotentiary, Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin, Olivia Lake-BAK, Thijn Laurensse-BAK at the trilateral discussion meeting.




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A 17-year-old girl required medical care after overdosing on MDMA. The only firefighting resources were used to turn the dance floor into a "bog-hole", and punters were encouraged to bring their dogs, which attacked and killed neighbouring stock and were allowed to roam in the Namadgi National Park next door. Another festival over last year's Easter long weekend, Entropy, required police to change their rosters in order to provide roadside drug and alcohol breath testing around the event. A third of all drug drivers caught over that period originated from the Entropy Festival. Licence checks showed the majority of attendees came from the Newcastle and Sydney regions and a large number of attendees delayed their return home to avoid the testing. Several people were fined for public urination and cocaine and cannabis were seized.

The police report also said "open source intell" suggested "low level sexual assaults" were occurring at the event, although no official reports were made to police Nearby residents have raised "significant" concerns about the events, exacerbated by the lack of mobile phone reception and poor accessibility. Mandy Curtis said the festivals were in clear breach of Caloola Farm's rural lease, but she was told they were allowed to go ahead because they were private events. "We've been fobbed off left, right and centre," Ms Curtis said. "The lease has got a lot of holes in it."

The farm is on a 99-year concessional lease and is to be used as a conference camp to benefit the disadvantaged. Its former owners, not-for-profit training providers Auswide, went into liquidation in 2014 and Deloitte were appointed administrators. Ralph Hurst Meyers is listed in White Pages as the occupant of the farm, although Auswide were still listed on the title as of Tuesday. Mr Hurst Meyers and Deloitte did not respond to requests for comment. As well as the noise and the impact on the Naas River, Ms Curtis had grave concerns about what could happen to festivalgoers if anything went wrong

She said if there was a medical emergency, it was a 30-minute ambulance trip out there then 40-minutes to Canberra Hospital. She also said if there was a fire, the only way out was a thin dirt track or a four-wheel-drive track through a neighbour's property. "Caloola Place is not the farm for bush doofs, the access isn't good enough. We're concerned about the safety of people attending," Ms Curtis said. Natalie Hogan said before the latest festival, locals would "get wind" of events about 48 hours out. She found festivalgoers were found lighting fires on her property in December 2016, and had to cancel her holiday last Easter when she learnt another 1500 people were on the way for another festival.

"There's no way we're leaving our property, if a fire starts, we need to defend our property," Ms Hogan said. Even police reports released under freedom of information sympathised with the frustration of local residents. "If they'd known the Caloola lease could be used to generate significant revenue from illegal events they would simply have obtained the lease themselves and done so," one report reads. "They see no reason why they shouldn't now breach their own leases and otherwise do whatever they wish with impunity. The reality is that their reasoning cannot at this time be contradicted." A spokesman for Psyfari Festival said the event had a zero drugs policy but there would be first aid staff and harm minimisation group Dancewize onsite to ensure patron safety.

He said festival organisers had met with the ACT Ambulance Service and the Rural Fire Service to discuss concerns about accessibility in case of an emergency. The spokesman also said entry conditions explained neighbouring properties were not to be entered, and security would enforce the policy. "We always strive for keeping locals happy, and welcome them to attend or become involved in our events," he said. "Our relationship with the neighbours and the local community where we previously held the event in NSW was so great in fact, that several families from there are travelling down to the ACT to attend at the new location. The spokesman also said they had offered tickets to locals.

"There are eight households in the valley and six have expressed interest and accepted tickets. Four of these families are allowing their teenage kids to attend, including the same neighbours who are making these complaints." An Access Canberra spokeswoman said private events on private property did not require government approval, but the government was "committed to Canberra being an event friendly city". "The organiser of the event has been proactively working closely with all areas of government and agencies including, but not limited to: Access Canberra, ACT Policing, Emergency Services Agency, Health and Protection Service and the Environment Protection Authority. This cooperation commenced in August 2017," she said. "All agencies on the working group have expressed a high level of confidence that risks have been identified and managed by the organisers - including reducing disruption to neighbouring residents." An ACT Policing spokesman said police would be focusing on road safety around the event, as well as responding to any incidents.
The fire that gutted a house and led to the grim discovery of three bodies in Canberra's north was deliberately lit, police say.

ACT Policing also confirmed on Tuesday they released a man after questioning on Monday, but no charges have been laid.

Police have yet to formally identify the bodies, which were discovered after fire crews rushed to the Bonner house as it was engulfed in flames just after 9am on Monday.

Neighbours said a mother and two children lived at the Peter Coppin Street house, but Detective Superintendent Scott Moller said the formal identification process would take some time yet.
A move by the countrys largest superannuation fund, Australian Super, to dump the fund run by high-profile stock-picker John Sevior underscores the challenges facing professional money managers on many fronts.

Fund managers are fending off low-cost index-tracking funds, which are gobbling up market share and crunching margins at the same time.

In addition, active managers like Mr Sevior's Airlie Funds Management must deal with other challenges created by the rapid growth in Australia's $2.5 trillion superannuation pool.

John Sevior, director of Airlie Funds Management, which was recently bought by Magellan. Credit:Chris Pearce

To be sure, the rise of the super system has been lucrative for fund managers, who can make millions from being good stock-pickers.
Oil Search has signalled a proposed LNG expansion that would double gas exports from Papua New Guinea has moved a step closer as it delivered a threefold increase in profit and almost tripled its dividend.

Oil Search drill site at Kutubu Southern Highlands in PNG. Credit:Rowan Callick

Oil Search and its partners Total and ExxonMobil were "broadly aligned" over the development concept, which would now require PNG government and other approvals, it said. It expected negotiations over cost sharing and government gas agreements to start shortly.

There were likely to be three new production units, or trains - two supported by gas through Total's Elk-Antelope project, and the other through ExxonMobil's P'nyang project - which would add about 8 million tonnes a year to PNG's oil and gas capacity and potentially cost about $13 billion.

"There's no doubt that keeping it simple is one of the great advantages of the concept that is presently on the table," Oil Search managing director Peter Botten told analysts after delivering a $US302.1 million ($382 million) full-year net profit.
At the same time, the Joyce affair threatens the cohesion of the government. As we reported yesterday, Nationals MPs are accusing Liberal colleagues of leaking against their leader, and are making veiled threats to follow suit. It has been a simple fact of Australian political life for 70 years that a national conservative government cannot survive without a strong and stable Coalition. This Coalition is in crisis and, as a result, the government is bleeding to death.

The controversy surrounding Mr Joyce's private life has become a distraction that is sucking the air out of anything resembling an agenda for the government. Instead of talking about tax reform and energy policy, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his colleagues are talking about a "bonking ban" in ministerial offices.

If only it were so simple. Mr Joyce's refusal to see the writing on the wall reflects both the best and the worst of his qualities. It shows the resilience that has made him a formidable representative for rural Australia. It also shows he struggles to understand the broader consequences of his actions.

Barnaby Joyce is digging in. As the Herald reported yesterday, he likens voter distaste with his behaviour to a diner who suffers food poisoning after eating a piece of fish, and swears off seafood: "Within a month or so you're sitting down and having barramundi with him."

But it goes deeper than that. Voter disenchantment with Canberra politics and the major parties has been growing since at least the middle of the last decade, when the current dysfunction appeared to set in. Our politicians spent most of the summer talking about their citizenship status, and now it's all about sex in Parliament. Could anything be calculated to turn even more people away from rational mainstream politics?

It is not hard to have sympathy for Mr Joyce. Nothing has been proved against him more serious than a lapse in judgment (though it is a lapse that would not be tolerated in any corporate office in Australia). And in some ways, Mr Joyce has been more sinned against than sinning. Mr Turnbull's claim that Mr Joyce had humiliated his new partner, Vikki Campion, was uncalled for. It is Ms Campion's former tabloid media bosses who have done that.

For these reasons, it is more in sorrow than anger that we have to say it is time for Mr Joyce to go. He has a contribution to make, but for now it should be made from the backbench. If he follows this advice, then, relieved of his ministerial responsibilities, he could become a powerful advocate for the government in the run-up to the next election.

Clues for Mr Joyce on the best course of action are littered everywhere. One is the fact he cannot perform his appointed role as acting Prime Minister from this evening, when Mr Turnbull heads for Washington. Another is that, on Monday, one of his senior Nationals colleagues, Michael McCormack, had to be asked the question seven times before he would declare Mr Joyce enjoys his support.

It would be a harsh judge indeed who deemed Mr Joyce's lapse in judgment so serious that it precludes a return to cabinet at some point. This, in fact, is the right way for Mr Joyce to test his barramundi thesis. It is not by digging in and letting this distraction consume the government for weeks on end.
The NSW government intervened to urge the purchase of water rights from a large irrigator on the Darling River that delivered a one-off $37 million profit to its owner while leaving downstream users struggling with stagnant flows.

Gavin Hanlon, the senior NSW water official who resigned last September amid multiple inquiries into allegations of water theft and poor compliance by some large irrigators, wrote to his federal counterparts in the Agriculture and Water Resources Department, then headed by Barnaby Joyce, in late December 2016 urging the buyback of water from Tandou property to proceed.

The Tandou water purchase proposal "should be progressed...given the high cost of the alternative water supply solution" for the property south-east of Broken Hill, Mr Hanlon wrote, according to a document sent on December 23, 2016 and obtained by Fairfax Media.

The federal government's purchase of Tandou's water entitlements in the Lower Darling created a $37 million one-off profit for owner Webster. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Early in 2017, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences estimated the property's annual water entitlements of 21.9 billion litres to be $24,786,750 "based on recent trade values", according to another document listed as "Commercial in Confidence".
North Koreas nuclear threat will dominate security talks between Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and United States President Donald Trump despite the rogue regimes Winter Olympics charm offensive raising hopes of rare diplomatic progress.

The United States top envoy in Australia has also vowed ahead of Mr Turnbulls visit to Washington that the world will continue tightening the screws on the regime of Kim Jong-un.

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Acting ambassador James Caruso told Fairfax Media talks across the demilitarised zone were encouraging but until North Korear was prepared to signal a willingness to abandon its nuclear ambitions, the US and its allies would raise the pressure through sanctions and other economic and diplomatic measures - a view he said was shared in Seoul.

Its fine for the two Koreas to talk, he said. We agree with our [South] Korean ally that even while the talks may go on, the economic pressure will not only continue but will be heightened until denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula is achieved.
It should be easier and not harder to have a China policy based on pragmatic engagement compared with the challenge of Whitlams time.

But, as Bob Hawke points out, its people have vastly more freedom. They can change jobs and buy their own houses. One hundred million a year travel overseas. Public sector employment in China as a percentage of the labour pool is smaller than Australia, even including state-owned enterprises.

When Labor statesman Gough Whitlam opened relations with China it was a Maoist tyranny, more like todays North Korea than todays China. It was sunk in poverty. Its people could not travel overseas. They couldnt move from village to village without party permission. It was illegal to own a small business. And China ran revolutionary movements in Southeast Asia.

Of course, the Labor Party cant claim to own China policy. Since Whitlam recognised China there has been a consensus that is embraced by both sides of Australian politics. After all, it was Tony Abbott who ignored a request from Barack Obama and led Australia into the Chinese-sponsored Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. The Coalition government has ignored hints by US admirals Australia should run American-style freedom of navigation operations within the 12 nautical mile radius of Chinese structures in the South China Sea. The governments preferred to make our argument through diplomacy. My Diary of a Foreign Minister spelt out how I bluntly disagreed with then-foreign minister Yang Jiechis criticism of the rotation of US marines in Darwin. I told him the US alliance was in Australias DNA.

The Coalition government has resisted US pressure to undertake freedom of navigation operations in response to Chinese territorial expansion in the South China Sea. Credit:US Navy

But the rapidity and scale of Chinas rise has traumatised some in Australias defence and security establishment. Its easy to imagine their anxiety last year, for example, when they read the poll of the ASEAN Studies Centre in Singapore that showed that 74 per cent of opinion leaders in Southeast Asia see China as the most influential country in their future, only three percent the US.

Perhaps the worst part of the recent China panic was the demonisation of Chinese students as spies and bullies. One writer, with no evidence, said they were espousing racial chauvinism. There are 131,355 Chinese university students in Australia and a sober survey of the stories showed the evidentiary base for the raft of inflammatory headlines was a mere four incidents.

That is, a mere four incidents of Chinese students disagreeing with a lecturer. In no case did they close down discussion. No university told their lecturers to apologise. When students at the University of Newcastle told their teacher he was wrong to imply Taiwan was a separate country they were expressing Australias effective diplomatic position, not just Chinas.
Lindsay Lohan has been spotted wearing a black hijab, reigniting speculation that she has converted to Islam.

The actor was attending London Modest Fashion Week, a two-day event during London Fashion Week which showcases modest fashion designers from around the world.

Lohan, 31, posed for pictures with fans, which were posted to social media.

"Fashion doesn't always have to be so naked and can be adventurous and still beautiful with a strong group of women behind it," she told BBC Minute.
Queen Elizabeth has made a surprise appearance in the front row at a fashion catwalk, to watch a show by emerging designer Richard Quinn.

On Tuesday the 91-year-old monarch, dressed in a pale blue suit, sat next to Anna Wintour, editor in chief of American Vogue magazine, as models displayed a series of bold and brightly coloured designs at the end of London Fashion Week.

Queen Elizabeth sitting between Vogue editor Anna Wintour and her dressmaker Angela Kelly at a London Fashion Week show. Credit:AP

She was joined by Angela Kelly, her dressmaker and personal assistant since 2002.

Despite London Fashion Week running since 1984, this is the Queen's first appearance at the event. According to the Guardian, fellow attendees reached for their phones to take snaps of the monarch, who sat in the front row on a special cushion.
Anna Ciccarelli, of Adelaide, still remembers trying to get her 16-year old daughter to sleep as a baby. "Your heart breaks just listening to them cry, and you want to go in there but you're told not to. You just stand at the door, and you're crying with them."

Anna is one of many parents advised to adopt "controlled crying", a method that advocates leaving babies to cry unattended  gradually or cold turkey  so they get used to sleeping on their own. The method is commonly used to reduce nighttime crying in western societies where babies sleep separately from their parents.

Controlled crying is not for everyone. Credit:Yuko Hirao/Stocksy

When Anna visited a residential facility, she observed how controlled crying works for some parents. For her it was the total opposite. "My pediatrician said it starts off really bad the first night and gets less and less every night. But by the end of the week she was crying all night long."

Dinah Fear, from Newcastle in NSW, tried it with her baby but gave up. "I lasted seven minutes outside her room before I ran in to comfort her  never did that again, too traumatic for both of us."
If you're taking out insurance to cover the vet bills for a dog or cat, at first glance it looks like a hotly contested market. The Productivity Commission last week reported there are 22 different brands of pet insurance out there.

But here's the catch: 20 of those brands are underwritten by the same insurer, the Hollard Insurance Company.

There is an "illusion of choice" in the consumer market for insurance, the Productivity Commission found.

That is an extreme, but telling, example of what the Commission calls the "illusion of competition" in financial services: where companies fool us into thinking competition is more fierce than the reality, by bombarding us with different brands owned by the same businesses.

And it is not just an issue that affects fringe products like pet insurance.
"There was laughter, people were actually interacting and socialising."

McKinnon students Xavier Verdnik (16), Catherine Braniska (14) and Louisa D'Ambra (13) have to lock their phones away in their lockers. Credit:Joe Armao

The schoolyard became much louder during recess and lunch.

While many schools have banned mobile phones during class time, the high-performing state school in Melbournes south-east decided to go one step further.

From the start of term 1, McKinnon students have had to store phones in their lockers and are not allowed to touch them until they leave school, even during breaks.

It had really impacted on the learning opportunities for children, Ms Binnion said.

I dont think they were making use of every lesson as effectively because they were constantly distracted.

Mobile phones may have been around for years but educators and policymakers are still tackling their use in schools.
More than a third of principals in Australian public schools are experiencing physical violence and bullying at work and more than half are being threatened with violence, a new survey has found.

Principals across government and non-government schools are also working an unhealthy number of hours, with more than a quarter working over 61 hours per week. They are also far more likely than the general population to experience burnout, sleeping troubles and stress symptoms, according to the latest Principal Health and Wellbeing Survey of about 5000 school leaders, released on Wednesday.

More than 40 per cent of principals in public primary and secondary schools experienced physical violence at school, compared with about 24 per cent of principals in Catholic primary schools, 18 per cent of Catholic high school principals, and more than 7 per cent of principals at independent schools.

Students were the main perpetrators of violence, although about 8 per cent of principals experienced violence from parents, according to the survey led by associate professor of educational leadership at the Australian Catholic University Philip Riley.
Up to 1200 doctors are deeply distressed by the Royal Australian College of Physicians appalling handling of an IT meltdown that wiped out a crucial, high-stakes examination on Monday.

Senior physicians have raised serious concerns for the mental health and wellbeing of the registrars now forced to resit the test after months of gruelling study regimen, hospital workloads and personal sacrifice.

Registrars who will be forced to re-sit a high-stakes exam say the ramifications on their mental health and wellbeing will be long term. Credit:Wolter Peeters

A technical fault abruptly shut down the basic training exam. The test cost each candidate $1800 to sit and is a requirement for doctors aspiring to specialise as physicians or paediatricians.

The college is facing mounting criticism from its membership, with calls for its president and others responsible for the incident to resign.
Waverley mayor John Wakefield said Bondi Pavilion had been "neglected for too long". Credit:Jessica Hromas

A contentious proposal to redevelop the Bondi Pavilion at a cost of $38 million is likely to be dumped in favour of a cheaper refurbishment that gives priority to community and cultural uses over shops and restaurants.

A report submitted to Waverley Council on Tuesday recommended the withdrawal of a development application that proposed building a new theatre and adding space for restaurants and cafes in the heritage-listed building on Bondi Beach.

The Bondi Pavilion Stakeholder Committee report recommended the uses and functions of the top floor remain basically unchanged, while the existing theatre should be refurbished and the seagull and dolphin rooms should remain predominantly for community use.

Commercial activity would be restricted to the beach side, while also accommodating a first aid room and access to a visitor centre.
Less than 500 of the promised 800 reverse vending machines in the state government's cash for cans scheme have been rolled-out, with more than half of Sydney without a machine.

A "Return and Earn" station in Gladesville. Credit:Daniel Munoz

The 800 machines were due to be installed by the end of February but the container deposit scheme, launched in December and known as Return and Earn, is significantly behind schedule.

The scheme has collected more than 100 million bottles, cans and plastic containers since its launch but data shows more than half of Sydney's state electorates including Vaucluse - the seat held by Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton - do not have a vending machine.

Coogee - which Ms Upton visited in July last year to announce the tenderers to run the collection points - does not have a machine, along with Manly, Pittwater and Maroubra, according to data analysed by the opposition.
A Brisbane man has pleaded not guilty to the cold-case murder of his uncle, who disappeared in January 1999.

Robert James Wagner denied killing 61-year-old Gerhard Wagner on the opening day of his trial in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Tuesday.

The jury will now be empanelled, with the case set to go for three weeks.

AAP
An electrical worker died in the basket of a cherry picker with emergency services helplessly watching on below because his employer had not trained him in his new role, a coronial inquest has found.

Danny George Cheney, understood to be aged in his early 30s and originally from the Gold Coast, died in 2009 after being electrocuted while working on power lines between two supporting towers in north Queensland.

Mr Cheney (top) and his colleague Macquin Parungao (below) moments before the fatal electrocution.

His colleague, who was also in the cherry picker basket, received four electric shocks as he tried to save his fellow worker, but survived his injuries.

A coroner found Mr Cheney and his team did not take the appropriate equipment with them to the worksite and the victim deviated from the Activity Method Statement (AMS), which was a detailed plan to carry out the work safely.
Investigators have ruled the cause of a light plane crash on the Sunshine Coast last year was incorrect weight distribution, which increased the chance of a mid-air stall and destabilised the aircraft.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau released its crash report on Tuesday after the South African-designed Sling 4 piston-engine kit plane crashed on landing at Caloundra Airport on August 12.

Emergency service crews surrounded the crash scene. Credit:RACQ LifeFlight Rescue

The aircraft flipped and crashed into bushes, trapping 49-year-old amateur pilot Ben Berg for more than an hour before he was airlifted to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital in a critical condition.

Mr Berg and three passengers survived, despite suffering serious injuries in the crash.
The Sunshine Coast is among the worst-hit regions in the state by the savage collapse in the value of taxi licences.

And the pain was not only felt in cities where ride-sharing app Uber was available.

Taxi licences have taken a hit in cities across Queensland, with the rise of companies such as Uber. Credit:Nicole Emanuel

Fairfax Media analysis revealed Brisbane standard taxi licences were selling, on average, for more than $503,000 in 2014.

That dropped to $113,003 in 2017, a decrease in value of 78 per cent.
The mother of slain WA teenager Hayley Dodd wrote a heartfelt letter to her daughter's alleged killer in jail in 2014, just several months after police began a fresh search of his old property for evidence.

Margaret Dodd posted the letter in full on social media on Monday, shortly after news broke that Francis John Wark, 61, would be appealing his murder conviction.

Hayley Dodd and Francis Wark. Wark was sentenced to 21 years.

Mrs Dodd sent the letter to Wark, who was in a Queensland jail at the time, in January 2014.

"Are you going to tell us the location of Hayley, so we can bring our daughter home...surely that is not to much to ask of you," the letter read.
Jersusalem: The mushrooming corruption scandal plaguing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took a surprising new turn on Tuesday, with an allegation that one of his closest advisers had sought to bribe a judge into dropping a criminal investigation involving the Prime Minister's wife.

At the same time, Israeli police said they had arrested several of Netanyahu's friends and confidants, as well as top executives of Bezeq, the country's biggest telecommunications company, in a widening inquiry into whether Netanyahu had traded official favours for favourable news coverage.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, delivers a speech during the International Security Conference in Munich. Credit:Sven Hoppe

The new allegations significantly raise the level of political and legal peril the Prime Minister faces, suggesting that he or some in his camp could be exposed to charges of obstructing justice.

Netanyahu was already embattled after police recommended a week ago that he be prosecuted for accepting what they said were bribes worth nearly $US300,000 from wealthy businessmen seeking government favours.
Bogota: A space program for Bolivia might seem a low priority given the South American nation's internal challanges of poverty, inequality and lack of infrastructure.

Enter China, with the know-how, launch facilities and an established hunger for Latin American raw materials.

Australia boasts five Optus communications satellites (comsats) and recently launched three other satellites, but Central and South American countries have traditionally lagged behind in this area.

China has been busy building up space contracts with nations in the region. Venezuela launched its third satellite from Chinese soil in October and Bolivia is expected to get a second comsat from China by 2022.
BEIRUT: A surge in attacks by the Syrian government and its allies killed 94 people in the rebel pocket of eastern Ghouta in the space of 24 hours, a war monitoring group said.

Air strikes, rocket fire and shelling on the besieged suburbs of Damascus also wounded another 325 people, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Monday.

There was no comment from the Syrian military. The Damascus government says it only targets militants.

Syrian government air strikes have hit Eastern Ghouta, near Damascus, Syria. Credit:AP

Factions in Ghouta fired mortars at districts of Damascus, killing a child and wounding eight others, Syrian state media said. Troops and allied forces struck militant targets there in response, the state news agency SANA said.
Under pressure from angry, grieving students from a Florida high school where a gunman killed 17 people last week, US President Donald Trump ordered the Justice Department on Wednesday to issue regulations banning bump stocks, which convert semi-automatic guns into automatic weapons like those used last year in the massacre of concertgoers in Las Vegas.

A day earlier, Trump signalled that he was open to supporting legislation that would modestly improve the national gun background check system, and on Wednesday, he posted on Twitter that Democrats and Republicans "must now focus on strengthening Background Checks!"

But Trump's first embrace as president of any gun control measures was dismissed by gun control supporters as minor. The National Rifle Association supports the background check legislation and also backs bump stock regulation, although not an outright ban.

Speaking at the White House days after a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Trump said he had directed Attorney General Jeff Sessions to develop the regulations.
Los Angeles: America should follow Australia's example on gun laws, says a US congressman from the state that suffered the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre.

Representative Jim Hines, a Democrat from Connecticut, will join teenage survivors from last week's school shooting in Florida in a new campaign for stricter gun control measures.

Alessandra Mondolfi holds a sign against AR-15 weapons as she yells, "No More" during a protest against guns on the steps of the Broward County Federal courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Credit:AP

Last Wednesday 17 students and teachers were killed in a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, with a 19-year-old former student charged with the deadly rampage.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's Washington DC visit with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday will likely see media and activists point to Australia's response to the 1996 Port Arthur massacre as a model for tougher gun control.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On Monday, February 26, 2018, the citizens of St. Maarten will go to the polls to elect a new parliament. The different political parties contesting the elections will try to obtain as many votes as possible to be represented in the new parliament.

Participating in the elections is an important acquired right that in some parts of the world does not come automatically. Free and fair elections where the vote is cast anonymously, form the basis of the democratic rule of law. The importance of this is anchored in the Constitution and in international treaties. A voter has the right to cast his vote without being influenced and to keep this decision to himself.

An example that elections do not always proceed in a fair manner is the buying or selling of votes, be it for cash or other personal favors/promises. Contrary to electoral promises to the population as a whole, promises to individual citizens are not allowed.

Bribery in suffrage is punishable under Article 2:44 of the Penal Code of Sint Maarten (previously article 132 of the Penal Code of the Netherlands Antilles). Recently the penalization has been increased to imprisonment of two years. It is also possible that a person convicted of bribery can be deprived of certain rights. This may include that a convicted person may no longer vote or that he may not stand for election.

To proof this offense it is sufficient that parties agree on not voting or voting in a particular way by accepting a gift or a promise. It is as if people (verbally) reach an agreement. Both the person making the gift or promise as the one who accepts the offer are punishable. That afterward the gift or promise is not redeemed or that the actual voting occurs differently than agreed upon, does not matter.

An attempted bribe is also punishable by the law of Sint Maarten. This is the case when a gift or promise is offered, but the other party does not wish to cooperate.

Both the completed offense as the attempt thereto must be based on an individual 'favoring' of the voter or his representative. It is needless to say that campaign material such as pens, buttons, t-shirts etc. with the logo of a political party are not considered as commitments to any individuals.

Around every election, however, the Prosecutors Office of Sint Maarten receives indications that voters are bribed to cast their vote for a particular party or person. This affects the free and fair conduct of the elections. The Prosecutors Office(OM) Sint Maarten and the National Police of Sint Maarten (Landsrecherche Sint Maarten) will, therefore, be extra vigilant during the period until the elections for indications of bribery and the buying of votes and will investigate these in accordance with the law.

Prosecutor's Office Press Release
BRUSSELS:--- On February 23rd the 16th OCTA  EU Forum will be held in Brussels, leading up to the forum there will be political and technical meetings with the European Commission and other Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) of the EU. The Sint Maarten delegation headed by Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin attended 2 meetings on Monday. The first meeting was held at the EU Directorate of Development Cooperation and consisted of a trilateral discussion on the ongoing progress of EU funded programmes. The second meeting consisted of discussions among the Kingdom Partners on the relationship between the EU and the other Dutch OCTs after 2020 and was held at the office of the Permanent Representative of the Netherlands in Brussels.

During the trilateral meeting, Prime Minister Romeo Marlin had the opportunity to present four points. The 10th EDF Territorial Project, which confirms the finalization of the programming of a Dutch Quarter sewerage and public infrastructure project. The contract for the works will be signed on Wednesday, February 20th to the tune of 4.7 million Euro. This signing ensures that the execution phase will begin in 2018.

Second on the agenda was the 11th EDF Territorial Cooperation Project that consists of three joint projects between the Governments of Sint Maarten and St. Martin. These 3 projects include a wastewater treatment plant to be established on the Dutch Side with wastewater pipes running from both sides of the island to the plant. The second project will entail a cleanup and economic development of the Simpson Bay Lagoon. The third project will cover the connecting of a drainage system runoff to the French Belle Plaine area to avoid possible flooding in those low lying areas.

Agenda point three addressed 11th EDF  B Envelope which is a request by the Government of Sint Maarten in relation to the recovery after hurricanes Irma and Maria. A request for 10 million euro to build adequate, affordable and sustainable housing is pending and was further explained to the European Commission. Beneficiaries of this housing will include vulnerable groups such as the elderly, single-parent families and low-income earners that may have been displaced after the passing of Hurricane Irma. Locally, the Council of Ministers has signed off on the Housing Project which will lead to the project being prepared and ultimately proposed to the European Union. This housing project will aid in the reconstruction efforts.

The final and fourth agenda targeted unused funds of the 10th EDF Regional Programme. An amount of 2-3 million euros has not been used and the European Commission is looking into the possibility to reactivate this sum for a sub-regional project to aid Small & Medium Enterprises. These are considered the backbone of the economic prosperity in most islands, and it is intended to use the funds for building resilience across the small business sector. The project will be a shared effort by the OCTs that are suffering damages from the 2017 hurricane season.

The meeting at the Permanent Representation of the Netherlands highlighted the debate on the relationship of the Dutch OCTs with the EU after the end of the current financial framework of the EU. The discussion centered around how The Netherlands can include the OCTs in the negotiations on the future financial cooperation between the Kingdom Partners and the EU. Important was the issue of Brexit and how this affects the position of the Dutch OCTs in the post-2020 negotiations. Politically, the Prime Minister of Curacao, Eugene Ruggenaath, spoke on behalf of the Dutch OCTs by presenting a unified position among the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in looking for a mutually beneficial partnership between the latter and the EU.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Former Prime Minister William Marlin says the recent trip to Europe by Minister of Finance Michael Ferrier and Interim Prime Minister Leona Marlin Romeo was a total waste of taxpayers monies as the 50 million guilders loan agreement signed days ago between St. Maarten and the Netherlands, was already brokered by the National Alliance-led government, while it had been in office.

It was nothing but a pleasure trip for public relations purposes, wasting taxpayers monies while taking credit for the hard work put in by the National Alliance-led government, Marlin said in a press release on Monday.

Marlin said the 50 million guilder loan agreement that Minister of Finance Michael Ferrier and State Secretary Raymond Knops signed off on had been brokered by former National Alliance Minister of Finance Richard Gibson Sr.

The trip was not necessary as Finance Minister Richard Gibson was the one who negotiated for that loan for St. Maarten, but nowhere is this being mentioned, Marlin said. The government ministers are making PR trips to make it appear as if they are working on getting things done. Interim Prime Minister Romeo-Marlin is calling from the Netherlands to say that they have accomplished something, while it was already in place waiting for them to just finalize the process.

Marlin said the Parliament of St. Maarten just needed to approve an amended budget before the loan agreement could have been signed off on, but before this could have occurred, the former government left office.

"The current government had no hand in this. The meeting was held while our government was still in office.

He urged government to stop the PR stunts just because its an election season.
GREAT BAY(DCOMM):--- Everything is set for Tuesdays evening information exchange session regarding the prevention of mosquito-borne diseases. The aim is to build a stronger, smarter and more collaborative approach to eliminate mosquitos.

Interested persons, business owners, community councils/leaders, institutions, and organizations, are invited to attend the Community Stakeholders Meeting for Health, Recovery & Development, on February 20 about the elimination of mosquito-borne diseases such as Zika, Chikungunya, and Dengue.

The community stakeholders meeting will take place in the Conference Room at the Government Administration Building from 7.00PM to 8.30PM.

The outcome of stakeholder sessions would contribute to the initiative designed to provide various vector control, education, community engagement, and mosquito monitoring efforts to Sint Maarten.

CPS (Collective Prevention Services) is proud to have played a role in this initiative, which represents a positive, proactive, and cohesive effort to include residents, civil societies, experts, businesses, and policymakers to help rebuild and strengthen normal vector control operations and preventing current and future public health challenges.

In this spirit, CPS has already consulted with the relevant bodies relating to the techniques, technologies, and chemical usage currently deployed on Sint Maarten and/or proposed by initiative partners during this initial deployment.

The opportunity is being provided for community stakeholders to share their views regarding a concerted community effort to eliminate mosquito breeding sites in the country.

The meeting is also relevant for healthcare providers, agriculturists/farmers, contractors, travel agencies, tourism, and hospitality sector businesses, the media, garbage contractors/collectors, pest exterminators, and tire repair shops and garages.

The stakeholders meeting is a collaborative effort of the Vector Control Program of the Section General Health Care within the Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department within the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA), the Netherlands National Institute for Public Health (RIVM) from the Dutch Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sport, and the emergency vector-response network VectorStars.

For additional information, you can call: 542-1122, 542-1222, 542-1322 or 542-1570.
POND ISLAND:--- Acting Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Cornelius de Weever, is encouraging interested persons and young people to apply for the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Scholarship Foundation for study grants and scholarships.

The scholarship foundation is accepting applications for the aforementioned from Caribbean nationals in CTO member countries. Sint Maarten is a member of the CTO.

The main aim of the CTO Foundation is to provide opportunities for Caribbean nationals to pursue studies in the areas of tourism, hospitality and language training.

The Foundation selects individuals who demonstrate high levels of achievement and leadership both within and outside the classroom and who express a strong interest in making a positive contribution to Caribbean tourism.

The Foundation offers the following types of assistance and the various forms are downloadable from the Caribbean Tourism Organization website http://www.onecaribbean.org/our-work/scholarship-foundation/scholarships-grants

 Scholarships of up to US$12,000 to individuals wanting to study tourism or hospitality at the Masters (postgraduate) level. Download 2018 Scholarship Application Form

 Study grants of up to US$2,500 to individuals pursuing tourism/hospitality studies at the certificate, diploma, associate degree or first-degree level, and to industry personnel who want to gain proficiency in a second language to assist them in their job. Download 2018 Study Grant Application Form

 A scholarship of up to US$2,500 is offered in the name of CTOs former Director of Research and Information Management, Mr. Arley Sobers, for persons working in local tourism organizations such as the Ministry of Tourism or the Board of Tourism, who wish to strengthen their skills in the areas of research and statistics. Download 2018 Arley Sobers Scholarship Application Form

Studies can be pursued both within and outside the region.

Interested persons must fill out the forms, supply all of the necessary information and return them directly to the Caribbean Tourism Organizations headquarters, 7th Floor, Barbados Tower, Warrens, St. Michael, Barbados, Tel: 246-427-5242; Fax: 246-429-3065 by the deadline date of April 15, 2018.




iStock/Thinkstock(NASHUA, N.H.) -- First responders in Nashua, New Hampshire, completed the final phase of a yearlong project last Tuesday, equipping their vehicles with active shooter kits.



The idea, Chris Stawasz, the regional director for American Medical Response in New Hampshire, told ABC affiliate WMUR, is for EMT, fire and police units to be able to deploy the necessary tools as quickly as possible in the event of a mass casualty shooting incident.



"The most important piece of these active shooter events, which are generally over very quickly, is to get inside and rescue anybody who still has an opportunity to be saved," Stawasz said.



Shooting injuries are always serious; however, in mass casualty incidents like the one in Parkland, Florida, last week that killed 17, injuries tend to be much more dangerous. School shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz used an AR-15-style rifle, the bullets of which travel at around 3,200 feet per second, depending on their weight, or about three times as fast as the bullets in a 9mm handgun, according to Time.



"Typical gunfire from a .22 or something is a very small hole. Some of these things are just massive destruction to the human body," Stawasz said.



The high-caliber weapons usually used in mass shooting events can cause a tremendous amount of damage and bleeding. With that in mind, the active shooter kits in Nashua all come equipped with tourniquets, bandages and specialized clotting material that help blood clot more quickly than it normally would.



This is a kit that where we can deploy it really quickly, throw it into a scene and, if there's multiple casualties, you can use that kit as your primary source of equipment to go out and save these people, Stawasz told WMUR.



Nashua police were the first to get the kits, then the fire departments and finally the primary ambulances. The EMT go-bags even have quick roll-out stretchers, like reinforced sheets with handles, so that victims who are unable to walk can be dragged away from the scene.



"Unfortunately, these events are becoming far too common, and we want to be prepared in the city and respond to them if they do happen here," Stawasz said.

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Mission unclear in Brazilian army takeover of Rio security



Rio de Janeiro, Feb 20 (AFP) Feb 20, 2018



The takeover of Rio de Janeiro's security by army generals was meant to bring clarity to a city mired in chaotic crime, but three days later the exact mission remains unclear.

President Michel Temer signed a decree Friday putting the police in Rio under military command, the first such measure since the end of a two-decade military dictatorship in 1985.

Temer said it was "an extreme measure" aimed at getting a grip on runaway violence by organized gangs.

The military is widely admired in Brazil. In fact it's seen by many as just about the only institution that works properly and is not corrupt.

But does Temer really think the generals can resolve Rio's deep-rooted problems?

Critics are asking why the government is not, for example, sending more teachers to the impoverished neighborhoods where crime thrives.

"Without quality education we won't get anywhere. Nothing is done to help the young in the favelas to join the job market," said Marcos Valerio Alves, who coordinates residential associations in the Complexo do Alemao group of favelas, among the most dangerous in Rio.

"Children only go to school in the morning or in the afternoon and the rest of the time they're in the street, where they watch other young people walking about with assault rifles. What future can they have?"



- Playing politics -







Sociologist Julita Lemgruber, who specializes in security issues at the Candido Mendes University, said the army intervention "could serve as Temer's political project."

The bid to aid Rio has given Temer a welcome break in news coverage from a near constant stream of corruption scandals and his failure to push through controversial cuts to the pension system.

Although he is the most unpopular president on record, there have been growing whispers that Temer may be considering running for re-election in October.

He has previously indicated he would not try but an improving economy, after two painful years of recession, may give him new confidence.

"His popularity is rock bottom and he is trying to change the tendency to see if he could manage to be a candidate," Lemgruber said.

The problem for him, she said, is that there'll be no quick, convincing fix in Rio.

"You can get short term results but it will be difficult to reorganize the police in that period."



- Favelas in firing line -



In the favelas, where most of the violence is concentrated, many unanswered questions also remain over what military control of security will mean on the ground.

Shootouts between rival gangs or between gangs and police are daily events in these neighborhoods. In some cases, the police are themselves accused of working with the criminals.

Can residents trust in the generals more?

"People are afraid. The decree may be nothing more than politics, but people there are in the firing line," said Anderson Franca, author of the book "Rio in Flames" and a frequent poster on social media about the situation in the favelas.

"Military intervention in Rio's security has always been violent, aggressive, repressive. I don't think the army will come to promote dialogue," he said.

"The army is not answerable to anyone and soldiers can only be tried before military tribunals, which weakens the ability to denounce police abuses."

Defense Minister Raul Jungmann raised new questions by suggesting that authority should be given for "collective arrest warrants," which would apparently allow searches for suspects to extend far beyond a single address.

At the Supreme Court, Justice Marco Aurelio Mello aired "serious doubts" in an interview with Estado de Sao Paulo newspaper about Temer's plan.
US fighter jet drops fuel tanks in Japan accident



Tokyo, Feb 20 (AFP) Feb 20, 2018



Japan's defence ministry demanded explanations Tuesday from the US military after a fighter jet experiencing an engine fire dropped two fuel tanks into a lake in the country's north.

The incident, which caused no injuries, is the latest in a string of accidents involving the US military that have prompted concern from Japanese officials and renewed criticism of the US military presence in the country.

"We are asking the US side to explain what happened and its cause, and we fully demand the US side take prevention measures," Japan's Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera told a press conference.

The F16 took off from the Misawa Air Base in northern Japan's Aomori region early on Tuesday morning and immediately experienced an engine fire, Onodera said.

"The US military has told us that it discarded two exterior tanks on Lake Ogawara just north of Misawa Air Base and landed back at Misawa Air Base," Onodera said.

In a statement, the US military confirmed that one of its F-16s had been forced to "jettison two external fuel tanks into an unpopulated area" after an engine fire broke out.

"The safety of our airmen and our Japanese neighbours is our number one priority during flying operations," said Colonel R. Scott Jobe, the 35th Fighting Wing commander.

"We will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the root cause of this incident."

The case follows a string of accidents involving US military aircraft, for which US Secretary of Defense James Mattis apologised to Onodera last month.

US military helicopters made at least three emergency landings in the southern region of Okinawa in January alone.

In December, a window from a US military helicopter fell onto a school ground in Okinawa, and in October a US military helicopter burst into flames after landing in an empty field on Okinawa.
Another Marawi possible, Philippine rebel chief warns



Manila, Feb 20 (AFP) Feb 20, 2018



The chief of the Philippines' main Muslim rebel group warned Tuesday that jihadists loyal to the Islamic State group, flush with looted guns and cash, could seize another Filipino city after Marawi last year.

Murad Ebrahim has billed his Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which has made peace with the government, as a rival to IS for the hearts and minds of angry young Muslims in the impoverished south of the mainly Catholic nation.

Murad said the MILF was battling pro-IS groups for influence in schools as the jihadists worked to infiltrate madrasas (Islamic religious schools) and secular universities.

At the same time IS gunmen were making their way into the southern Philippines from Malaysia and Indonesia, he added, but gave no estimates.

A five-month siege flattened the city of Marawi on the southern island of Mindanao, the Philippines' main Islamic centre, and claimed more than 1,100 lives.

Murad told reporters conditions on the ground were still ripe for another Marawi-style siege.

"This ISIS group continues to penetrate us because they are being displaced in the Middle East and they want to have another place," Murad said, using an another name for IS.

"The chances of having another Marawi cannot be overruled."

The Marawi attackers found and looted stockpiles of munitions, cash and jewellery from homes -- some owned by MILF members -- before the city was retaken by US-backed Filipino troops in October, he said.

"When they (MILF members) fled from Marawi they (could) not bring their vaults. That is where the ISIS was also able to get so much money and now they're using it for recruitment," he added.

"It's very sad. In our country some people say buying weapons and ammunition is just like buying fish in the market."

The combination of weak central government authority, the presence of rebel groups and long-running blood feuds means Mindanao is awash with weapons, he added.

Manila signed a peace deal with the 10,000-member MILF in 2014 after decades of Muslim rebellion in Mindanao for independence or self-rule that had claimed more than 100,000 lives.

Murad urged President Rodrigo Duterte's government to speed up the passage of a Muslim self-rule law to flesh out the peace accord, warning pro-IS militants were recruiting for a new attack.

"If the (self-rule law) will not be passed now I think it will develop a situation where these extremist groups can recruit more adherents, because it will prove their theory that there is no hope in the peace process," he said.

"Since they have the capability also to supply money and then they also have the ability to make explosives, bombs, they can just use these young recruits to work out their plan."
Nearly 200 dead in Syria enclave as UN warns situation 'out of control'



Arbin, Syria, Feb 20 (AFP) Feb 20, 2018



Air strikes hit Syria's Eastern Ghouta for a third straight day on Tuesday, bringing the civilian death toll to nearly 200 as the UN warned the situation in the rebel enclave was spinning "out of control".

Air strikes and rocket and artillery fire have battered the rebel-held enclave since Sunday in apparent preparation for a government ground assault on the besieged region.

At least 194 civilians have been killed, among them 57 children, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

On Monday alone, 127 civilians, including 39 children, were killed in the bombardment -- the single bloodiest day for Eastern Ghouta in four years.

Fresh air strikes on Tuesday morning killed at least 50 civilians, including 13 children, the Britain-based war monitor said.

Held by rebels since 2012, Eastern Ghouta is the last opposition pocket around Damascus and President Bashar al-Assad is keen to retake it with an apparently imminent ground assault.

The UN's regional humanitarian coordinator for Syria Panos Moumtzis has warned that the targeting of civilians in the enclave "must stop now".

"The humanitarian situation of civilians in East Ghouta is spiralling out of control. It's imperative to end this senseless human suffering now," Moumtzis said on Monday.

The UN has repeatedly called for a month-long ceasefire across Syria's front lines, from Eastern Ghouta to the Kurdish enclave of Afrin in the northwest, which Turkey threatened on Tuesday to lay siege to in the coming days.



- 'No words' -



"February 19 was the one of the worst days that we've ever had in the history of this crisis," said an exhausted doctor in a hospital in Eastern Ghouta.

Identifying himself as Abu al-Yasar, he described treating a one-year-old brought into the Arbin hospital with blue skin and a faint pulse, rescued from under the rubble.

"I opened his mouth to put in a breathing tube and I found it packed with dirt," Abu al-Yaar told AFP.

He pulled out the dirt as fast as possible, put in the breathing tube and managed to save the baby's life.

"This is just one story from among hundreds of wounded."

The bloodshed prompted the UN children's agency UNICEF to issue a largely blank statement on Tuesday to express its anger.

"We no longer have the words to describe children's suffering and our outrage," the agency said in a brief postscript beneath the empty space on the page.

"Do those inflicting the suffering still have words to justify their barbaric acts?"

More than 400,000 people live in Eastern Ghouta, which has been surrounded by government troops since 2013. Food, medicine, and other basic necessities are nearly impossible to obtain.



- Imminent ground assault -



Eastern Ghouta is mostly held by two hardline rebel groups -- Jaish al-Islam and Faylaq al-Rahman -- though jihadists have a smaller foothold.

The factions often fire rockets and mortar rounds into residential neighbourhoods of east Damascus.

On Tuesday, at least four people were killed and 15 wounded by rebel fire on the capital, state television reported.

Al-Watan newspaper, which is close to the government, said on Tuesday that the bombing campaign "comes ahead of a vast operation on Ghouta, which may start on the ground at any moment."

Both Al-Watan and the Observatory had earlier reported ongoing negotiations for the withdrawal of jihadists from the enclave.

But the escalating bombardment suggests the regime will likely opt for a ground assault.

It already waged a ferocious five-day air assault on Eastern Ghouta earlier this month that left around 250 civilians dead and hundreds wounded.

More than 340,000 people have been killed since the civil war erupted in 2011 when protests against Assad's government were brutally crushed.

An array of rebels, some of them jihadist, have since carved out zones of control as have the Kurdish minority, and the government and its allies.

Turkey has been waging an air and ground offensive against the Kurdish-controlled enclave of Afrin just across the border for the past month.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday defended the operation's slow progress, saying it was to avoid putting the lives of both Turkish troops and civilians needlessly at risk.

He told parliament Turkish troops and their Syrian rebel allies would lay siege to the town of Afrin "in the coming days."

Ankara says the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which controls Afrin, is a "terrorist" offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged an insurgency in southeastern Turkey since 1984.
Lebanese president makes landmark visit to Iraq



Baghdad, Feb 20 (AFP) Feb 20, 2018



President Michel Aoun led a delegation Tuesday to Iraq on the first visit by a Lebanese head of state to the war-scarred country, for talks that included ways to eradicate terrorism.

Aoun held talks with Iraqi President Fuad Masum and was due to meet Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and other key officials before travelling to Armenia on Wednesday.

"We had constructive talks which reflect the historical and brotherly ties that link our two countries and our people," Aoun told a joint news conference with Masum.

"I would like to take advantage of this occasion to congratulate the Iraqi people for their firmness, patience and determination in the face of adversity... and terrorism," he said.

Iraq has been scarred by decades of conflict.

After an eight-year war with neighbouring Iran in the 1980s, and the 2003 US-led invasion, Iraq was targeted by the Islamic State group which seized swathes of the country following a 2014 offensive.

In December, Abadi declared "the end of the war" against IS and complete control of Iraq's borders with neighbouring Syria, where the jihadists still control pockets of territory.

Aoun told reporters that Lebanon, too, had suffered from the jihadists but succeeded in pushing them back from a border region with Syria.

He said Arab states and the international community must build "joint efforts to fight against terrorism in an efficient and radical way, to eliminate them and end the factors that favour terrorist ideology".

Aoun, a Christian, also visited a church in Baghdad where Islamists killed 55 worshippers in 2010.

The attack on Our Lady of Salvation church in the capital's main commercial district of Karrada was claimed by the Iraqi branch of Al-Qaeda.

At the start of the visit, Masum surprised Aoun, a former general and army chief, with a birthday cake decorated with the Lebanese and Iraqi flags. Aoun turned 83 earlier this week.

Aoun was accompanied by cabinet ministers including the minister of industry, interior and tourism.
Syria regime pounds rebel enclave, sends fighters to face Turkey



Arbin, Syria, Feb 20 (AFP) Feb 20, 2018



Regime air strikes Tuesday pushed the death toll from three days of bombing in Syria's rebel Eastern Ghouta to over 200 as Damascus pitched pro-government forces into the fray against Turkey in a Kurdish-held border region.

The pro-regime fighters came under bombardment from Turkey after entering the northern Afrin region, escalating a month-long offensive by Ankara in another major twist for Syria's complex near-seven-year war.

To the south on the outskirts of Damascus, air strikes and rocket and artillery fire have battered the Eastern Ghouta enclave since Sunday in apparent preparation for a government ground assault on the besieged region.

More than 200 civilians have been killed, among them 57 children, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

On Monday alone, 127 civilians, including 39 children, were killed in the bombardment -- the single bloodiest day for Eastern Ghouta in four years.

Air strikes on Tuesday morning killed at least 66 civilians, including 15 children, the Britain-based war monitor said.

Held by rebels since 2012, Eastern Ghouta is the last opposition pocket around Damascus and President Bashar al-Assad is keen to retake it with an apparently imminent ground assault.

The UN's regional humanitarian coordinator for Syria, Panos Moumtzis, said the targeting of civilians in the enclave "must stop now".

"The humanitarian situation of civilians in East Ghouta is spiralling out of control. It's imperative to end this senseless human suffering now," he said on Monday.

The UN has repeatedly called for a month-long ceasefire across Syria's front lines, from Eastern Ghouta to the Kurdish enclave of Afrin in the northwest, which Turkey threatened on Tuesday to lay siege to in the coming days.



- 'No words' -



"February 19 was the one of the worst days that we've ever had in the history of this crisis," said an exhausted doctor in a hospital in Eastern Ghouta.

Identifying himself as Abu al-Yasar, he described treating a one-year-old brought into the Arbin hospital with blue skin and a faint pulse, rescued from under the rubble.

"I opened his mouth to put in a breathing tube and I found it packed with dirt," Abu al-Yasar told AFP.

He pulled out the dirt as fast as possible, put in the breathing tube and managed to save the baby's life.

"This is just one story from among hundreds of wounded."

The bloodshed prompted the UN children's agency UNICEF to issue a largely blank statement on Tuesday saying it "we no longer have the words to describe children's suffering."

Syria's main opposition group condemned the government onslaught as a "bloodbath" and a "war crime", saying it may pull out of UN-backed peace talks in protest.

More than 400,000 people live in Eastern Ghouta, which has been surrounded by government troops since 2013. Food, medicine, and other basic necessities are nearly impossible to obtain.



- Imminent ground assault -



Eastern Ghouta is mostly held by two hardline rebel groups -- Jaish al-Islam and Faylaq al-Rahman -- though jihadists have a smaller foothold.

The factions often fire rockets and mortar rounds into residential neighbourhoods of east Damascus.

On Tuesday, at least four people were killed and 15 wounded by rebel fire on the capital, state television reported.

Al-Watan newspaper, which is close to the government, said on Tuesday that the bombing campaign "comes ahead of a vast operation on Ghouta, which may start on the ground at any moment."

Both Al-Watan and the Observatory had earlier reported ongoing negotiations for the withdrawal of jihadists from the enclave.

But the escalating bombardment suggests the regime will likely opt for a ground assault.

It already waged a ferocious five-day air assault on Eastern Ghouta earlier this month that left around 250 civilians dead and hundreds wounded.

More than 340,000 people have been killed since the civil war erupted in 2011 when protests against Assad's government were brutally crushed.



- 'Warning shots' -



An array of rebels, some of them jihadist, have since carved out zones of control as have the Kurdish minority, and the government and its allies.

Turkey has been waging an air and ground offensive against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia in the Afrin enclave for the past month but on Tuesday the stakes were ratcheted up.

Hundreds of Syrian pro-government forces entered the region for the first time since 2012 to face off against Turkey alongside Kurdish forces that Ankara views as an offshoot of its own internal insurgency.

But they quickly came under shelling by Turkish forces, who said they had fired "warning shots" at the "pro-regime terrorist groups".

In a statement on Tuesday, YPG spokesman Nuri Mahmud said the Kurdish forces had called on the Damascus government to help fend off Turkey's assault.

"The Syrian government responded to the invitation, answered the call of duty and sent military units today, February 20, to take up positions on the borders, and participate in defending the territorial unity of Syria and its borders," the statement said.

AFP correspondents said the forces did not appear to have entered Afrin city itself.

The YPG has controlled Afrin since Syrian government forces withdrew from Kurdish-majority areas in the country's north in 2012.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday defended the operation's slow progress, telling parliament that Syrian rebel allies would lay siege to the town of Afrin "in the coming days."
Charities condemn 'abhorrent' Syria enclave bloodshed



London, Feb 20 (AFP) Feb 20, 2018



Humanitarian groups around the world expressed their outrage on Tuesday after Syrian regime air strikes left more than 200 civilians dead in three days in the rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta.

Here are some of their reactions:



- 'No words' -



The bloodshed prompted the UN children's agency UNICEF to issue a blank statement.

"No words will do justice to the children killed, their mothers, their fathers and their loved ones," UNICEF's Geert Cappelaere said in a footnote.

"We no longer have the words to describe children's suffering and our outrage. Do those inflicting the suffering still have words to justify their barbaric acts?"



- 'Flagrant war crimes' -



Amnesty International accused the Syrian government of intentionally targeting its own people.

"People (in Eastern Ghouta) have not only been suffering a cruel siege for the past six years, they are now trapped in a daily barrage of attacks that are deliberately killing and maiming them, and that constitute flagrant war crimes," Amnesty researcher Diana Semaan said in a statement.

"It is imperative for the (UN) Security Council to send a strong message that there will be no impunity for those who commit war crimes and crimes against humanity."



- 'Children dying by the hour' -



Save the Children called the situation "absolutely abhorrent".

"The bombing has been relentless, and children are dying by the hour. These families have nowhere left to run -- they are boxed in and being pounded day and night," said Sonia Khush, the organisation's Syria response director.

"We urgently need a ceasefire so that the killing and maiming stops."



- 'Humanitarian catastrophe' -



CARE International said the escalating violence has made it impossible for humanitarian agencies to reach people in need.

"Civilians are deprived of food and medicine and are facing hunger and death" said Wouter Schaap, the group's Syria director.

"If a ceasefire is not reached now, we will be facing a humanitarian catastrophe."



- 'Cannot let history repeat' -



The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said "this cannot go on".

"Families trapped, with no safe place to hide from shelling. Dozens of mortars in Damascus cause civilian casualties and spread fear. We cannot let history repeat itself," the group said on Twitter.
Russia blamed as key clinic in Syria enclave bombed out of service



Beirut, Feb 20 (AFP) Feb 20, 2018



A key hospital in Syria's rebel-held Eastern Ghouta was put out of service on Tuesday, a medical group said, with a monitor blaming Russian air strikes.

"The Arbin hospital was hit twice today and is now out of service," said Moussa Naffa, country director in Jordan for the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS), which supported the clinic.

The news came as the United Nations said six hospitals had been hit in Eastern Ghouta in the past 48 hours, in addition to the one reported by SAMS.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Arbin hospital was hit by a pair of Russian air strikes, in what would be the seventh hit in the past two days.

According to the Britain-based war monitor, it is the first time in three months that Russia has conducted raids on Eastern Ghouta, which it had designated last year as a "de-escalation" zone.

An AFP photographer in Arbin saw a Russian Sukhoi Su-34 fighter jet soaring overhead on Tuesday.

The United Nations said Tuesday that six hospitals have been struck in the past 48 hours in Eastern Ghouta, putting three out of service and killing several people.

"I am appalled and distressed by reports of the horrifying attacks against six hospitals in East Ghouta over the past 48 hours," said Panos Moumtzis, the UN's regional humanitarian coordinator for the Syria crisis.

At least 81 civilians were killed on Tuesday, including 15 civilians, in a fierce regime bombing campaign on the rebel-controlled enclave that began on Sunday.

The total civilian deaths since then, according to the Observatory, number at least 225 with hundreds more wounded.

Eastern Ghouta is the last rebel bastion on the capital's outskirts and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad appears more determined than ever to capture it.

An estimated 400,000 people live in the besieged region.
Colombian police die in clash with 'FARC dissidents'



Bogota, Feb 20 (AFP) Feb 20, 2018



Two policemen were killed in a gunbattle in southern Colombia with alleged FARC dissidents, the defense minister said Tuesday.

The clash happened in San Vicente de Caguan in the Caqueta department when the police stopped and tried to search two men, who opened fire, Luis Carlos Villegas told a press conference.

He said a grenade was also used against the police but it did not explode. The two police officers died after being taken to a hospital, where one of their attackers also died.

The minister said "everything points" to the men being dissident members of the FARC, which disbanded last year and became a political party after signing an historic peace deal with the government of President Juan Manuel Santos.

However the government estimates that around 1,100 FARC members rejected the deal and formed a breakaway group, supported by drug trafficking and illegal mining.

On Monday, two Ecuadoran soldiers were wounded in an attack by dissidents in an area close to the border with Colombia, the second such incident in the area in weeks.

A bomb blast outside a police station on January 27 injured 28 people, including police. Ecuadoran authorities blamed FARC dissidents for the attack.
Lebanese president makes landmark visit to Iraq



Baghdad, Feb 20 (AFP) Feb 20, 2018



President Michel Aoun led a delegation Tuesday to Iraq on the first visit by a Lebanese head of state to the war-scarred country, for talks that included ways to eradicate terrorism.

Aoun held talks with Iraqi President Fuad Masum and Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi before he was due to travel to Armenia on Wednesday.

"We had constructive talks which reflect the historical and brotherly ties that link our two countries and our people," Aoun told a joint news conference with Masum.

"I would like to take advantage of this occasion to congratulate the Iraqi people for their firmness, patience and determination in the face of adversity... and terrorism," he said.

Iraq has been scarred by decades of conflict.

After an eight-year war with neighbouring Iran in the 1980s, and the 2003 US-led invasion, Iraq was targeted by the Islamic State group which seized swathes of the country following a 2014 offensive.

In December, Abadi declared "the end of the war" against IS and complete control of Iraq's borders with neighbouring Syria, where the jihadists still control pockets of territory.

Aoun told reporters that Lebanon, too, had suffered from the jihadists but succeeded in pushing them back from a border region with Syria.

He said Arab states and the international community must build "joint efforts to fight against terrorism in an efficient and radical way, to eliminate them and end the factors that favour terrorist ideology".

With Iraq also looking to raise tens of billions of dollars to help reconstruct the country after the fight against IS, Aoun said Lebanese firms "with their extensive expertise" and investors were ready to get involved.

Abadi said talks had focused on "strengthening bilateral relations in the areas of economy, trade and reconstruction".

Aoun, a Christian, also visited a church in Baghdad where Islamists killed 55 worshippers in 2010.

The attack on Our Lady of Salvation church in the capital's main commercial district of Karrada was claimed by the Iraqi branch of Al-Qaeda.

At the start of the visit, Masum surprised Aoun, a former general and army chief, with a birthday cake decorated with the Lebanese and Iraqi flags. Aoun turned 83 earlier this week.

Aoun was accompanied by cabinet ministers including the minister of industry, interior and tourism.
US academy honors would-be soldier killed in school shooting



Washington, Feb 20 (AFP) Feb 20, 2018



A top US military academy gave an honorary letter of acceptance Tuesday to a Florida teen who was killed during last week's mass shooting at a high school.

Fifteen-year-old Peter Wang, an Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadet at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, was among the 17 people killed in the Valentine's Day attack.

Wang's dream had been to go to the prestigious US Military Academy at West Point, which instructs officers-in-training.

According to local media, he died after holding a door open to help schoolmates escape before him as a gunman prowled through the school and opened fire on students and teachers.

"One of USMA's priorities is to develop leaders of character who are committed to the values of Duty, Honor & Country," the academy wrote on Twitter.

"Peter Wang's actions on February 14 are an example of those principles & the academy honors his dream of being a West Point cadet with a 2025 letter of acceptance."

West Point officials announced they were giving Wang a letter of acceptance because of his "heroic actions."

The academy posted pictures of Wang's letter, as well as a photo of the young student standing at attention in a blue cadet's uniform.

West Point said it has given posthumous offers of admissions only in very rare instances.
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Interview with Poland's Prime Minister 'Europe Has Run Out of Gas'

In an interview, new Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki discusses his country's reputation problems, EU proceedings against Warsaw, Poland's controversial refugee policy and the heated debate over history.
No Peace after Islamic State Foreign Powers Compete for a Slice of Syria

Islamic State has largely been defeated, but peace in Syria has not been achieved. On the contrary, without a common enemy, parties involved are now pursuing their own interests, with each wanting a slice of the country.
London, Feb. 20, 2018 (SPS) - The Human Rights Organization, Amnesty International (AI), has called on Moroccan authorities to respect the rights of defense of the group of prisoners in Gdeim Izik after the ban on entering the.Morocco of two of their lawyers.



Two lawyers, Ingrid Metton and Olfa Ouled, from the group of Saharawi political activists in Gdeim Izik, detained in Morocco for more than seven years, were banned last Monday from entering Morocco.



In a tweet posted after the expulsion, the NGO stressed that the Moroccan authorities "must respect the rights of the prisoners of Gdeim Izik, which include the choice of lawyers".



AI also urged the Moroccan authorities to ensure that "immigration policies are not discriminatory, including on the basis of political considerations".



The organization noted that "the two French lawyers expelled from Morocco were going to visit the Sahrawi detainees of Gdeim Izik, sentenced in July 2017 to heavy prison terms in a manifestly unfair trial".



The two lawyers wanted to visit their clients following reports of ill-treatment in prison. They were stopped by plainclothes agents at the airport and expelled without reasons or explanations.



it should be recalled that 19 Sahrawi activists of the Gdeim Izik group were heavily convicted on 19 July 2017, after a trial based on evidence that was only confessions extracted under torture.SPS

125/090/TRA








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Feb. 20, 2018 The U.S. Should Not Expect Israel to Crush Iran's Imperialist Aggression Alone Dear Friend of FLAME: Israel's forceful response to an Iranian drone that recently invaded Israeli air space from Syria certainly sent a message both to Syria and Iran. Some reports claim Israel destroyed fully half of Syria's air defense capability and almost certainly killed a few Iranian drone operatives. But despite some strong "attaboys" from the U.S. State Department, which defended Israel's right to defend itself from acts of aggression, the Trump White House seems to have no firm strategy for countering increasing Iranian imperialism. While the Obama administration was exceedingly lax in dealing with Iranparticularly in the face of its negotiations of the benighted Iran Nuclear DealPresident Trump has thankfully talked tougher . The Trump administration has declared Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist entity and imposed new sanctions on it. U.S. ambassador Nikki Haley has consistently condemned the Islamic Republic at the U.N. All well and good. But since Iran continues to increase its fortifications on the ground in Iraq, Yemen, Syria and Lebanon, it's time for Mr. Trump to back his strident words with military action against Iranian interests. The U.S. and other allies must join Israel in raising the stakes and the out-of-pocket costsfor Iran's headlong hegemonic drive from Teheran through Baghdad and Damascus to Beirut. In August 2017, Russia warned Israel not to attack Iranian military positions in Syria, yet Israel has persisted in defending itself . Indeed, Israel has bravely and consistently blocked Syrian and Iranian attempts to arm Hizbollah terrorists on its bordershaving flown dozens of successful bombing sorties over Syria in 2017. Unless the U.S. joins the fray, Israel and Iran are destined for major conflict. It's one thing for Israel to provide a first line of defense against Iran, but it's unfair, unwise and unnecessary for Israel to carry out the battle singlehandedly. The U.S. and Europe have every interest in stopping Iran's march to the Mediterranean and every interest in protecting their ally Israel. Moreover, the U.S. has the military might to stop Iran instantly in its tracks, preventing serious destabilization of the Middle East and the rest of the world. A few sharp-elbowed U.S. attacks on select Iranian assets in Syria would do the trick. This week's FLAME Hotline-featured article analyzes how tensions between Israel and Iran are likely to explode into a regional conflagration and what role the U.S. should play. Authors Tony Badran and Jonathan Schanzer of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies also explain how the complex American-Russian relationship affects U.S. options. I hope you'll forward this concise, but insightful email to friends, family and fellow congregants to help them understand why the U.S. must stand up to Iran (and Russia) and continue to support Israel in the world's most dangerous neighborhood. I hope you'll also quickly review the P.S. immediately below, which describes FLAME's latest hasbarah campaign to directly urge the President and U.S. Congress to back up their rhetoric on Iran with definitive action. I hope you agree with and will support this message. Best regards, Jim Sinkinson

President, Facts and Logic About the Middle East (FLAME) P.S. As you know, Iran has become the largest state sponsor of global terrorism and the most dangerous enemy of the U.S. What's worse, the Islamic Republic continues to spread its jihadist tentacles throughout the Middle East, and now has armed forces on Israel's borders in Syria and Lebanon. No wonder FLAME has created a new editorial message"We Must Stop Iran Now"which is about to start running in mainstream magazines and newspapers, including college newspapers, with a combined readership of some 10 million people. In addition, it is being sent to every member of the U.S. Congress and President Trump. If you agree that this kind of public relations effort on Israel's behalf is critical, I urge you to support us. Remember: FLAME's powerful ability to influence public opinionand U.S. support of Israelcomes from individuals like you, one by one. I hope you'll consider giving a donation now, as you're ablewith $500, $250, $100, or even $18. (Remember, your donation to FLAME is tax deductible.) To donate online, just go to donate now. Now, more than ever, we need your support to ensure that the American people, the U.S. Congress and President Trump stay focused on and take actions againstIran's threat to our country, Israel and the entire world. As of today, more than 15,000 Israel supporters receive the FLAME Hotline at no charge every week. If you're not yet a subscriber, won't you join us in receiving these timely updates, so you can more effectively tell the truth about Israel ? Just go to free subscription . The Iran-Israel War Flares Up The fight is over a Qods Force presence on the Syria-Israel border. How will the U.S. respond? By Tony Badran and Jonathan Schanzer, Wall Street Journal, Feb. 11, 2018 The conflict between Israel and Iran may be heating up after a half-decade simmer. On Friday night Iran dispatched a drone from Syria that penetrated Israeli airspace in the Golan Heights. Israel destroyed it with an Apache helicopter. Then on Saturday Israel sent eight F-16s across the border to strike the airfield in the Homs governorate, called the T-4 base, where the drone originated, as well as a handful of other Iranian targets. Although the mission was a success, one F-16 was shot down by Syrian antiaircraft firethough the pilot made it back to Israel, where he and his navigator ejected successfully. This was the most significant clash to date between Israel and the so-called Axis of ResistanceIran, Syria's Assad regime and Hezbollahsince Iran began deploying soldiers and proxies to Syria six years ago. Israel insists its response was limited and its intent is to contain this conflagration. Its critics worry that the skirmish could explode into one of the worst wars the Middle East has ever seen. The Iranians have been exploiting the chaos of the Syrian civil war to build up military assets there that target Israel, all the while sending advanced weaponry to Lebanon by way of Damascus, also under the fog of war. The Israelis have been vigilant; they have destroyed some of this hardware in Syria with one-off strikes. In December they struck an Iranian base southwest of Damascus, some 30 miles from the Golan Heights. But they had never entered Syria with the kind of overwhelming force seen on Saturday morning. What prompted this level of response is still unclear. Israeli military officials won't say whether the Iranian unmanned aerial vehicle was armed. It would be a surprise, though, if Israel's reprisal was prompted by an unarmed UAV. Indeed, this was not the first drone incursion into the Golan Heights. Last year, Israel's missile defenses intercepted several Iranian-built drones, operated by Hezbollah, attempting to enter Israeli airspace from Syria. The Israel Defense Forces had warned that the T-4 base was crawling with fighters from Iran's Qods Force, an arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had paid multiple visits to Moscow hoping to convince President Vladimir Putin to curb the threatening activities of Iran and its proxies. Mr. Putin has established a formidable presence in Syria since 2015, when his forces entered the country ostensibly to combat Islamic State. The Israelis took a significant risk Saturday of rankling the Russians, especially since they reportedly did not warn Moscow of the attack in advance. Russian personnel sometimes embed with Syrian air-defense units and are sometimes present at the T-4 base. Thus the strike might have been intended as a message to the Russians as much as to the Iranian axis. Whether Russia had advance knowledge of the Iranian drone operation isn't clear. Nor do we know whether Russia was involved in unleashing the Syrian surface-to-air missiles that downed the Israeli F-16. What we do know is that after many Israeli airstrikes in Syria over many months, this was the first time Syrian antiaircraft weapons managed to hit a target. That points toward Russian involvement. Even so, the Israelis were not deterred from launching, within hours, a second wave of airstrikes against additional Iranian and Syrian targets, including air-defense sites, many of which likely had been monitored for months. According to Israeli sources, the second wave was the largest aerial attack against Syria since the Lebanon war of 1982, when the Israeli Air Force hammered Syria's Soviet-built surface-to-air missile batteries in the Bekaa Valley. Now all eyes are on Israel as it mulls its next moves. For Jerusalem, the status quo is unsustainable. The Iranians are clearly willing to absorb tactical strikes so long as they are able to consolidate their strategic position, which will prepare them for a future conflict with the Jewish state. So while Israel's political leaders are eager to avoid conflict, the military brass may soon determine that postponing it would be the riskier course. The Israelis also are working the phones with the Trump administration, which has affirmed Israel's right to defend itself. That declaration will carry significance as Israel considers its options. Washington continues to tweak its new policy of targeting Iran with multiple instruments of American power. But this policy is encumbered somewhat by the White House's agreement with Russia to maintain a "de-escalation zone" in southwest Syriaan agreement that clearly benefits Iran and the status quo. The Pentagon and State Department have already condemned Iran and thrown their support behind Israel. The question now is whether the Trump administration will go further. In a speech last month unveiling the administration's strategy for Syria, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson affirmed that the U.S. seeks not only to ensure its allies' security but to deny Iran its "dreams of a northern arch" from Tehran to Beirut. A good way to achieve both objectives would be to back Israel's responses to Iran's aggression-now and in the future. Mr. Badran is a research fellow and Mr. Schanzer senior vice president for research of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

HOME SUBSCRIBE DONATE PR FOR ISRAEL HOTLINE ARCHIVE ABOUT CONTACT US THIS MONTH'S AD APPEARED IN PUBLICATIONS REACHING 10 MILLION READERS IF YOU SUPPORT PUBLISHING FLAME'S BOLD PR MESSAGES, PLEASE HELP US!! FLAME is the only organization that defends Israel with paid editorial hasbarah messages placed in media nationwide every month: The dire threats from Iran, Hamas and Hizbollah, the injustice of BDS, Palestinian anti-Semitism and more. If you support a bold voice that tells the truth about Israel in American media, please donate now. FLAME'S WEEKLY HOTLINE E-NEWSLETTER FLAME's Hotline e-newsletter keeps you up to date on the most important pro-Israel advocacy issues and features our choice of the week's most informative and thought-provoking article on Israel and the Middle East. If you only subscribe to one pro-Israel news service, make it the FLAME Hotline.
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ForFarmers N.V.: ForFarmers extends European leadership position by creating joint venture with Tasomix in Poland

Lochem, 20 February 2018

ForFarmers extends European leadership position by creating joint venture with Tasomix in Poland

('ForFarmers') signed a share purchase agreement with the owners of the Polish company Tasomix to acquire 60% of their shares. Tasomix is a large and innovative feed company, mainly active in the poultry sector. Through this transaction, ForFarmers adds its fifth country of operation and takes another step in strengthening its position as the leading feed company in Europe.

This step is in line with ForFarmers' Horizon 2020-strategy to grow both organically and through acquisitions in Europe and surrounding regions. Tasomix provides access to a European market with an above average growth rate in the attractive poultry sector. In recent years, Poland has become the largest broiler producing country in Europe, servicing the local market and exporting to mostly EU countries.

Yoram Knoop, CEO of ForFarmers: 'We are pleased to be making the first step into Poland. We see opportunities to benefit from the expertise within Tasomix and to leverage our capabilities in Poland. This step also strengthens our poultry proposition. We are looking forward to joining forces with the strong local management team that will remain in place, to make Tasomix an even stronger, leading, player in the Polish market'.

Through this transaction, ForFarmers acquires a business with two operational production facilities and one new facility, which is under construction. The operational mills are located in Biskupice Oloboczne (some 250 km south-west of Warsaw) and Mysliborz (some 200 km west of Warsaw). Their joint capacity is approximately 450kT. These mills mainly produce feed for poultry farmers, but also serve the ruminant and pig farmers. The head office of Tasomix is located in Biskupice Oloboczne, next to the mill. The feed mill being constructed in Pionki (approx. 100 km south of Warsaw) has a maximum capacity of approximately 350kT, and is scheduled to open later this year. This mill is destined to manufacture feed for a dedicated poultry integrator, which is linked to the owners of Tasomix. A supply agreement has been put in place with this integrator. The mill will also serve non-integrated poultry farmers and pig farmers.

In 2016, Tasomix sold 395kT of feed, manufactured in its two operational mills, with a revenue of PLN 429 million (currently approximately 103 million) and a normalised EBITDA of approximately PLN 34 million (currently approximately 8 million). Tasomix has 180 employees. Based on these results, Tasomix currently ranks number 4 in the Polish feed market.

At closing of the transaction, ForFarmers will make a first payment of PLN 234 million (currently approximately 56 million) in cash and will receive 60% of the shares. The second payment will be made in 2021 and is dependent on achieving specified targets, relating to future operational results of Pionki. The agreement includes the possibility for ForFarmers to over time obtain the remaining shares. ForFarmers plans to fully consolidate the Tasomix results, but shall run the company as a true joint venture cross leveraging the strengths of both companies. Tasomix is expected to contribute to the 2018 earnings per share.

Closing of the agreement is expected to take place within approximately three months after today, subject to obtaining the required approval of the Polish Competition Authorities.

Ireneusz Sobczak, Managing Director of Tasomix: 'We are excited about this agreement. It means that we will have access to a very professional and financially solid organization with international operations and be able to benefit from the large pool of knowledge and experience. This will enable us to enhance our growth ambition of becoming a leading Polish feed company.'

Tasomix will become part of the ForFarmers cluster Germany, Belgium and Poland, managed by Adrie van der Ven (COO). Tasomix will continue opeRating under the Tasomix brand whilst adding 'Grupa ForFarmers' to its logo, indicating the close cooperation between ForFarmers and Tasomix.

This press release contains information, which qualifies as inside information within the meaning of article 7, paragraph 1 of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.



Note to the editor / For additional information:

Caroline Vogelzang, Director Investor Relations and Communications

T: 0031 573 288 194 M: 0031 6 10 94 91 61

E: caroline.vogelzang@forfarmers.eu Please find attached a PDF of the press release and a PDF of the logo of Tasomix



ForFarmers Company profile

ForFarmers N.V. ('ForFarmers', Lochem, the Netherlands) is an internationally operating feed company that offers total feed solutions for conventional and organic livestock farming. ForFarmers gives its very best "For the Future of Farming": for the continuity of farming and for a financially secure sector that will continue to serve society for generations to come in a sustainable way. By working side-by-side with farmers ForFarmers delivers real benefits: better returns, healthier livestock and greater efficiency. This is achieved by offering tailored and Total Feed solutions and a targeted approach with specialist and expert support.

With sales of approximately 9.3 million tons of feed annually, ForFarmers is market leader in Europe. ForFarmers has approximately 2,300 employees and production facilities in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom. In 2016, revenues amounted to over 2.1 billion.

ForFarmers N.V., Postbus 91, 7240 AB Lochem, T: +31 (0)573 28 88 00, F: +31 (0)573 28 88 99

info@forfarmers.eu, www.forfarmersgroup.eu.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including those relating to ForFarmers legal obligations in terms of capital and liquidity positions in certain specified scenarios. In addition, forward-looking statements, without limitation, may include such phrases as "intends to", "expects", "takes into account", "is aimed at", ''plans to", "estimated" and words with a similar meaning. These statements pertain to or may affect matters in the future, such as ForFarmers future financial results, business plans and current strategies. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, which may mean that there could be material differences between actual results and performance and expected future results or performances that are implicitly or explicitly included in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may result in variations on the current expectations or may contribute to the same include but are not limited to: developments in legislation, technology, jurisprudence and regulations, share price fluctuations, legal procedures, investigations by regulatory bodies, the competitive landscape and general economic conditions. These and other factors, risks and uncertainties that may affect any forward-looking statements or the actual results of ForFarmers, are discussed in the last published annual report. The forward-looking statements in this press release are only statements as of the date of this document and ForFarmers accepts no obligation or responsibility with respect to any changes made to the forward-looking statements contained in this document, regardless of whether these pertain to new information, future events or otherwise, unless ForFarmers is legally obliged to do so.

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: ForFarmers N.V. via Globenewswire


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The Gibraltar government announced this week that there has been significant progress in its massive project to update local schools.

Construction of Notre Dame School at Laguna Estate is advancing well, and it is due to open this year. At that time the present Notre Dame school will be demolished and building will start on the new St Anne's School. Users of the area where the two new comprehensive schools will be built are currently being reallocated. Demolition is expected to commence in March, and construction there is due to begin in April.

The project, which the government announced last October and described as revolutionary, involves creating eight new schools including two purpose-built comprehensives in Waterport, and refurbishing four others. The entire project is due to be completed by September 2019.

The president of the Gibraltar Teachers Association, Victor Gonzalez, recently told local media that staff at Westside Comprehensive School, Governor's Meadow, Bishop Fitzgerald and St Martin's were unhappy about the government's project to revolutionise education in Gibraltar, and the GTA claimed that teachers had not been consulted about the new schools. However, some senior teachers have refuted this and in a statement issued earlier this week the government stressed that staff are being fully involved in the discussions and plans. The Chief Minister and the Minister for Education will also be visiting the schools over the coming days and weeks to engage with teaching and support staff, discuss concerns and clarify issues.
Grocery giant Albertsons plans to buy the drug store chain Rite Aid in the latest sign that retailers of all kinds are scrambling to deal with changing shopping habits and an expanding Amazon.



The chief executives from both companies told The Wall Street Journal that the deal is the best way for them to compete with Amazon and Walmart. Amazon is pushing hard into the grocery business with its Whole Foods acquisition and Walmart has been investing heavily in e-commerce lately.



"We know that scale matters," Albertsons CEO Bob Miller said. "We continue to grow to compete with all competitors, not just Amazon."

The Journal was the first to report the deal.



Rite Aid tried previously to sell all of its 4,600 locations to Walgreens, but the government blocked the full deal. Walgreens is now buying about 2,000 Rite Aid locations.



Albertsons will get the rest. The newly combined company will have 4,900 locations, including over 4,300 pharmacy counters and 320 clinics across 38 states and Washington, D.C., according to CNBC.



Albertsons currently has about 2,300 locations. In addition to Albertsons stores, the company's brands include Safeway and Shaw's.



The Journal noted that all three of the biggest pharmacy chains in the U.S. are pursuing deals of various kinds as more customers continue to shop online. CVS previously announced plans to buy the health insurer Aetna and Walgreens is in talks to buy drug distributor AmerisourceBergen Corp., in addition to moving forward with the scaled back Rite Aid deal, the Journal said.



The new Albertsons-Rite Aid company will be based in Boise, Idaho and Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, according to the Journal. A new corporate name will be decided later.



The deal is expected to close by the summer, according to the Journal.

Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Google + | 315-454-2112
Syracuse, NY -- A Syracuse dentist was sentenced to six months in jail today after pleading guilty to vehicular assault in the Feb. 14, 2017 crash that badly injured a teen boy.

James Draveck, 56, voluntarily began his jail term a month early after pleading guilty to the crash on West Bear Street that injured a 15-year-old boy near Destiny USA.

Draveck's lawyer, Emil Rossi, had pushed for a shorter jail term, while prosecutor Chris Bednarski had asked for some jail time.

County Court Judge Matthew Doran sentenced Draveck today to six months in jail and five years on probation, the most likely scenario under a plea agreement reached in late December.

Draveck has sought inpatient treatment, attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and received counseling for his alcohol addiction, defense lawyer Emil Rossi said.

Doran noted that Draveck had survived a life-threatening illness himself and had also endured serious illnesses in his family. Professionally, Draveck had done a lot of good as a dentist, the judge added.

But that was weighed against Draveck's "incredibly bad decision" to drink and drive the night he struck the boy, who was on foot, the judge added.

The boy would "suffer for the rest of his life probably" after head trauma and orthopedic injuries, the judge said.

So far, the boy has received more than $40,000 in medical care and it's unclear what the lasting ramifications of the crash will be.

Draveck, who was brought to court in jail garb, will spend a few more months in jail before he's eligible for release.

The victim's family did not speak in court, instead relying on letters written beforehand.
A woman blows her nose.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

As the flu batters New York, government statistics show less than half of state residents 65 and older on Medicare received flu shots as of Feb. 1.

People in that age group are at greater risk than young people of developing serious complications from the flu.

The statistics, based on federal Medicare flu vaccination claims data collected since September, also reveal big geographic variations in flu vaccination rates among older people across the state.

A Medicare beneficiary who lives in Cayuga County, for example, was about 1 1/2 times more likely to get a flu shot this season than a Medicare beneficiary in the Bronx.

As of Feb. 1, 47.5 percent of New Yorkers over 65 enrolled in the Medicare fee-for-service program had gotten flu shots. Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people over 65 and the disabled.

Public health officials recommend everyone over 6 months of age get an annual flu shot. There is a high-dose vaccine designed specifically for people 65 and older.

Here are the New York counties with the highest and the lowest flu vaccination rates among this population. The slideshow begins with counties with the highest rates of people over 65 who got flu shots.

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Cayuga County

Cayuga County

Number of Medicare enrollees: 9,102

Percent vaccinated: 56.48 percent

NY average: 47.50

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Onondaga County

Onondaga County

Number of Medicare enrollees: 41,346

Percent vaccinated: 54.98

NY average: 47.50

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Hamilton County

Hamilton County

Number of Medicare enrollees: 924

Percent vaccinated: 54.98

NY average: 47.50

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Lewis County

Lewis County

Number of Medicare enrollees: 3,292

Percent vaccinated: 54.56

NY average: 47.50

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Tompkins County

Tompkins County

Number of Medicare enrollees: 9,445

Percent vaccinated: 54.11

NY average: 47.50

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Nassau County

Nassau County

Number of Medicare enrollees: 160,857

Percent vaccinated: 53.52

NY average: 47.50

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Schenectady

Schenectady County

Number of Medicare enrollees: 13,822

Percent vaccinated: 53.38

NY average: 47.50

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Essex County

Essex County

Number of Medicare enrollees: 5,579

Percent vaccinated: 52.84

NY average: 47.50

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Westchester County

Westchester County

Number of Medicare enrollees: 98,781

Percent vaccinated: 52.56

NY average: 47.50

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Rockland County

Rockland County

Number of Medicare enrollees: 36,545

Percent vaccinated: 52.02

NY average: 47.50

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Associated Press

NY counties with lowest vaccination rates

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Clinton County

Clinton County

Number of Medicare enrollees: 12,385

Percent vaccinated: 44.67

NY average: 47.50

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Cattaraugus County

Cattaraugus County

Number of Medicare enrollees: 7,883

Percent vaccinated: 44.18

NY average: 47.50

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Greene County

Greene County

Number of Medicare enrollees: 6,106

Percent vaccinated: 44.12

NY average: 47.50

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Montgomery County

Montgomery County

Number of Medicare enrollees: 5,616

Percent vaccinated: 44.02

NY average: 47.50

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Orleans County

Orleans County

Number of Medicare enrollees: 3,151

Percent vaccinated: 42.72

NY average: 47.50

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Queens County

Queens County

Number of Medicare enrollees: 135,061

Percent vaccinated: 42.13

NY average: 47.50

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Richmond County

Richmond County

Number of Medicare enrollees: 40,240

Percent vaccinated: 42.06

NY average: 47.50

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Bronx County

Bronx County

Number of Medicare enrollees: 54,326

Percent vaccinated: 36.01

NY average: 47.50

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Kings County

Kings County

Number of Medicare enrollees: 153,405

Percent vaccinated: 35.59

NY average: 47.50

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Washington County

Washington County

Number of Medicare enrollees: 6,863

Percent vaccinated: 34.93

NY average: 47.50

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More about the flu

See more of our recent flu coverage

2018 flu shot report: Vaccine not working well during this winter's epidemic, CDC says

State's record flu season shows no sign of letting up

Flu symptoms: When should you go to an emergency room?

Flu symptoms: How to tell if it's a cold or influenza (video)
Syracuse native Ben Burtt, Jr. is the genius behind R2-D2's voice, lightsaber sounds and countless audio effects for a galaxy far, far away. So why wasn't he part of "Star Wars: The Last Jedi?"

A new documentary explores the sound design behind the latest "Star Wars" movie, but Burtt is noticeably absent. A trailer for "The Force of Sound," premiering Tuesday on ABC News, only shows archival footage of him from the 1970s.

Burtt, who grew up in Jamesville and graduated from Nottingham High School in 1966, worked on the sound for every "Star Wars" movie, from the 1977 original ("Episode IV - A New Hope") to J.J. Abrams' 2015 film "The Force Awakens." He's been nominated for 10 Academy Awards in his career, winning four Oscars -- including two special achievement awards.

Burtt notably created the sound of Darth Vader breathing with a scuba mask; blaster shots by hitting metallic wire with a hammer; Chewbacca's Wookiee language from snippets of several real animals; and the lightsaber hum from recordings of film projectors mixed with a crackle created when he brought a live microphone too close to a TV set. The popular droid R2-D2 also uses Burtt's actual voice, mixed with synthesizers, to bleep and bloop in a computer language.

Yet he wasn't involved in 2016's "Rogue One" or Rian Johnson's "The Last Jedi," released in December -- and still doesn't know why.

"I don't know if there's bad blood," he told Vanity Fair magazine recently. "I was just never consulted or hired to do any of them. No one's ever told me why. No, I was told--on the new regime, I was just told, 'Just stay in your room and make sounds and just send stuff to us. We'll decide what to do.'"

Sound designer Ben Burtt accepts a special achievement award at the Academy Awards with "Star Wars" droids R2-D2 and C3PO.

Burtt also worked as an editor and second-unit director in addition to the sound department for George Lucas' prequels, so the "new regime" -- which began with "The Force Awakens" -- was a demotion. He also said being forced to go through more people to discuss ideas would "doom the whole process."

"It wasn't always easy working with George, but at least it was one voice. And you could get his attention and have your say and present something and get a yes or a no. But it was just one person you had to get past. Not banks of different people who want to have a say," he told Vanity Fair.

Lucas handed over the franchise to Disney when he sold Lucasfilm for $4 billion, and is no longer part of the filmmaking process. His only credit in "The Last Jedi" is for creating original characters like Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and Princess/General Leia.

Burtt's credits also include the "Indiana Jones" movies, "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," Pixar's "Wall-E," and Abrams' "Star Trek" films. He's used sounds recorded everywhere in his movies, including from Central New York.

"Birds and frogs and natural sounds I recorded at our home on Smokey Hollow Road years ago were used for Indiana Jones," Burtt told The Post-Standard in 2011. "The whole opening sequence of 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' of Indiana Jones running through the jungle feature highly enhanced birds and frogs from our 16 acres in Jamesville, N.Y."

Burtt also told Ain't It Cool News in 2000 that he also used sounds of walking through the snow in Syracuse for Hoth battle scenes and an echo effect created when people "stomp" on the edge of the Carrier Dome's outer wall for various space scenes in "Star Wars." (His father, Ben Burtt, Sr., was a Syracuse University professor for more than three decades.)

The sound design for "Star Wars" has since been taken over by Matthew Wood, Burtt's protege and supervising sound editor for the last three films in the franchise. Wood and sound designer Ren Klyce's team have been nominated for two Academy Awards for their work on "The Last Jedi."

"On 'The Force Awakens' we had veterans from previous Star Wars films work with the new generation of talent and in many cases the new talent then took the baton and ran with it on 'The Last Jedi,'" a Skywalker Sound representative told Vanity Fair in a statement. "Ben will always be a treasure at Lucasfilm but we also want to give the new generation of talent an opportunity to shine as well."

Sound Designer Ben Burtt works in his office on WALL*E in Soundhedge on February 14, 2008 at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif.

Burtt, 69, told the magazine that he doesn't expect to be invited to Abrams' "Episode IX" or any other future "Star Wars" film, though he did contribute to the "Forces of Destiny" series and a "Star Wars" video game. One possible reason for being pushed out of the big show, though, may be his own exhaustive work in collecting sounds may have contributed to his demise.

"They know there are big [audio] libraries that people can just click and drag things out of and make a lot of noise," he said.

"The Force of Sound" begins streaming on ABCNews.com/features on Tuesday. "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on March 27.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry professors and staff want to bring in outside experts to help settle their feud with the school's president, Quentin Wheeler.

ESF's academic governance committee has voted to ask a SUNY agency which represents 33 SUNY colleges statewide to send a committee of campus governance experts to ESF to analyze the situation and help resolve the dispute.

Wheeler, who became ESF's president in 2014, is expected to block the effort.

The faculty has criticized Wheeler for not consulting with them on his plans to increase enrollment and other issues.

The dispute boiled over last month when Wheeler abruptly ousted three highly-respected long-time department chairs three days before the start of the spring semester.

Of the 130 members of the ESF academic governance committee who voted, 84 percent said they want SUNY to intervene. The committee represents ESF faculty and staff.

The request for help to SUNY's University Faculty Senate is supposed to come from both faculty and Wheeler.

But Wheeler doesn't want the SUNY agency's help.

"I want to exhaust the on-campus good will efforts to generate that understanding before asking someone who does not belong to this community to come in and simply tell us how to do that," he said at a recent meeting with graduate students.

The SUNY agency, however, could decide to intervene anyway, according to Kelley Donaghy, a chemistry professor and ESF's representative on SUNY's University Faculty Senate.

If SUNY Chancellor Kristina Johnson finds merit in the faculty's request, she could pressure Wheeler to go along with it, Donaghy said.

In a 2016 vote, a majority of ESF faculty said they did not have confidence in Wheeler's leadership.

"The idea then was if we had enough time we could work out our differences," Donaghy said. "Fast forward two years and it hasn't happened yet."

Contact James T. Mulder anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-470-2245
Interested in the status of Lake Ontario's fishing scene?

The state Department of Environmental Conservation recently announced three "State of Lake Ontario" meetings being held in March at locations across the state.

Staff from DEC, the United States Geological Survey, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will give presentations, including updates on the status of trout and salmon fisheries in the lake and its tributaries, forage fish and stocking programs. The meetings will provide time at the end of the scheduled program for the audience to ask questions.

The times, dates and locations of the meetings are:

*Monday, March 12: 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) campus (Student Alumni Union - Room 1250), Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester. The meeting is co-hosted by RIT and the Monroe County Fishery Advisory Board.

*Wednesday, March 14: 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Building, 4487 Lake Avenue, Lockport, Niagara County. The meeting is co-hosted by Niagara County Cooperative Extension and the Niagara County Sportfishery Development Board.

*Thursday, March 15: 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. at the Pulaski High School auditorium, 4624 Salina Street, Pulaski, Oswego County. The meeting is co-hosted by the Eastern Lake Ontario Salmon and Trout Association.

According to the DEC, "Lake Ontario and its embayments and tributaries support thriving populations of fish, including a variety of trout and salmon, bass, walleye, yellow perch, and panfish.

"New York's Lake Ontario waters comprise more than 2.7 million acres. The estimated value of these fisheries exceed $112 million annually for local economies."

For further information contact Steven LaPan, New York Great Lakes Fisheries Section Head at the Cape Vincent Fisheries Research Station, (315) 654-2147.
NEW YORK CITY -- Lawyers for a top former Cuomo aide and three businessman are expected to get their chance this week to make a case in the ongoing New York corruption trial.

The trial heads into its fifth week resuming with testimony this morning.

Former top governor's aide Joseph Percoco stands accused of accepting bribes from Syracuse developers Steven Aiello and Joseph Gerardi, and Hudson Valley energy project executive Braith Kelly.

The men are accused of arranging bribes through a "shell company" set up by lobbyist Todd Howe. Howe pleaded guilty to eight felonies in connection with the alleged schemes. He took the witness stand for seven days over two weeks.

With Howe's testimony coming to an end last week, the U.S. Attorney's Office expects to call its final witnesses before resting its case. Many of the final witnesses are expected to testify about the Hudson Valley power plant portion of the case.

The defense lawyers will then have their opportunity to call witnesses and present evidence. The lawyers have signaled that they are prepared to put on a case, but they aren't obligated to do so.

Syracuse.com is covering the trial from New York City. Check back for updates.

Read our continuing coverage of the trial

Public Affairs Reporter Julie McMahon covers courts, government and other issues affecting taxpayers. She can be reached anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1992
NEW YORK CITY -- Cor Development CEO Steven Aiello may take the witness stand to defend himself against corruption and bribery charges.

Aiello was one of 23 possible witnesses mentioned by the defense this morning in the trial against Aiello, fellow Cor executive Joseph Gerardi, former top governor's aide Joseph Percoco and Hudson Valley energy executive Braith Kelly.

The list discussed in court wasn't comprehensive -- the defense isn't committing to call any of the people mentioned, and can also add to the list. The lawyers were simply discussing potential witnesses for planning purpose.

Yet Aiello's lawyer Steve Coffey mentioned the possibility of his client testifying multiple times.

Coffey indicated he was still weighing the pros and cons. The biggest question is whether Aiello would have to answer questions from prosecutors about other charges he is facing, which are scheduled to go to trial this spring.

Aiello and Gerardi are the only defendants who face charges in both trials. They are accused of "bid rigging" in connection with state development projects.

The judge did not say whether Aiello would be subject to questions about those charges. Coffey said he would likely not put his client on the stand if he had to answer those questions.

This week is the fifth week of testimony in this case. Prosecutors said they have a handful of witnesses to call before they rest their case.

The defense today indicated it plans to put on a potentially lengthy case of its own. The lawyers still have time to change strategies or opt not to call witnesses.

Syracuse.com is covering the trial from New York City. Check back for updates.

Read our continuing coverage of the trial

Public Affairs Reporter Julie McMahon covers courts, government and other issues affecting taxpayers. She can be reached anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1992
Special Counsel Robert Mueller has charged Alex van der Zwaan, the son-in-law of a Russian oligarch, in his ongoing investigation.

NBC reports Mueller charged Van der Zwaan with lying to his office about communications with a former Trump campaign aide. The charges were dated Feb. 16 but unsealed Tuesday, hours before he is expected to plead guilty in court.

Van der Zwaan, an attorney and the son-in-law of Russian billionaire German Khan, allegedly failed to disclose conversations with Rick Gates, who was indicted last fall, and another person. Van der Zwaan also allegedly deleted emails sought by Mueller's office.

Business Insider reports Van der Zwaan has been accused of "willfully and knowingly" making "false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements and representations" to federal investigators about his work for a law firm hired by the Ukraine Ministry of Justice in 2012 to compile a report about the trial of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. Van der Zwaan is reportedly close with Gates and Paul Manafort, whose daughter Andrea Manafort Shand also worked for the law firm.

Tymoshenko was convicted of abuse of power in 2011.

Gates, the former deputy manager of President Donald Trump's campaign, is pleading guilty in cooperating with Mueller's investigation into allegations of collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign. Others who have pleaded guilty include former Trump aide George Papadopoulos and former national security advisor Michael Flynn.

Last week, Mueller's office also charged 13 Russian individuals, and three Russian companies, with crimes related to an attempt to interfere with the 2016 presidential election.

President Trump has repeatedly denied all allegations of collusion.
Posted on Monday, February 19, 2018

The 72nd Annual Meeting of the Subtropical Agriculture and Environments Society was held on February 9 at Rio Farms, Inc. in Monte Alto, Texas.

The societys objective is to advance and develop subtropical plant sciences, animal sciences and environmental sciences. This year, over 300 participants attended, including several professors and students from Javelina Nation.

Dean of the Dick and Mary Lewis Kleberg College of Agriculture, Dr. Shad Nelson, was an invited speaker, and gave a presentation on the topic Advancing Student Learning Opportunities in the Agricultural and Biological Sciences through Hispanic Serving Institutional Collaborations.

Dr. Randy Stanko was also an invited speaker, whose topic was Utilization of Hair Sheep as an Alternative Small Ruminant in South Texas.

Several additional accolades for A&M-Kingsville include plant and soil Science student, Ruby Saldana, receiving 2nd place in the student poster competition, and Dr. John da Graca receiving the Arthur T. Potts award, which recognizes outstanding work in the horticulture industry.

-TAMUK-


In the latest episode of HiHos Kids Try series, a group of kids from Seattle, Washington taste and share their thoughts on popular Australian snack foods, including Vegemite on toast, Burger Rings, Picnic chocolate bars, and more.

Previous episode: Indian Snacks
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inevitability

Authored by Senator Win Gatchalian, the Lifetime Cellphone Number Act aims to facilitate convenient transfer of mobile subscribers from one service provider to another while retaining usage of their existing prepaid or postpaid cellphone numbers -- free of charge .

Lifetime Cellphone Number Law

It involves having to send your new number to your work or business contacts, friends, family members, and loved ones through SMS or Messenger -- and hoping that they'd actually bother to edit your profile in their smartphones' contacts list.(In some cases, changing one's mobile number can even lead to lost business opportunities or even to inability to stay in touch with people who are important to us.)It's an inconvenience that many of us have already grown to accept as an--This seamless movement of subscribers among telco players should make it easier for consumers to get improved services with better deals from the network they prefer without having to go through the trouble of changing numbers.On Monday - February 19, 2018, on Third Reading, the Senate of the Philippines formally approved this Act - also known as- with a20 affirmative votes.The bill, which mandates telecommunications networks to provide mobile number portability to subscribers within 24 hours of approved transfer, will then be forwarded to Malacanang and oncesigns it, it will be implemented as a law.
Nokia 10 fan render courtesy of NokiaPowerUser

According to "insiders", HMD Global is poised to release a flagship-level cameraphone with a re-imagined camera module that features seven rotating lenses crafted by ZEISS housed in a circular module.

Nokia smartphones to feature ZEISS optics. Together, we look forward to an exciting journey into the future of smartphone imaging. pic.twitter.com/GNWwuMAveK July 6, 2017

From watching the short video, it appears that the rotating lenses will have different focal lengths - from wide-angle to telephoto, giving users maximum flexibility needed to take the best shots across various settings and conditions.

I'm just hoping that the imaging software will be good enough to bring to life and maximize what this rumored hardware is capable of

During its heydays in the 2000's up until it was acquired byduring the early 2010's,has always been known to create great cameraphones -- thanks to its solid partnership with legendary lens-maker. Some of the epic Nokia handsets that take amazing photos include the, andFast forward to today,- the new home of Nokia phones - has yet to come up with an imaging-centric Android smartphone that's good enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with the legendary Nokia cameraphones of the past.from 2017 is a good Dual Camera smartphone but in terms of imaging prowess, I don't think it's right up there yet.But I believe all that is about to change this year.In fact, on July 6, 2017, ZEISS posted this tweet that gives Nokia fans a glimpse of this never-before-seen imaging innovation.Already being called "Nokia 10" by fans - which means that they already regard it as the natural follow-up to the legendary, this new Android smartphone donning top-notch technical specifications both inside and out will most likely be launched this year.
When two people with common backgrounds come together, share ideas and dreams, that's usually when startups form. At least, that's what happened when Pelu Tran, Chief Product Officer at Augmedix, and Ian Shakil, Chief Executive Officer at Augmedix, met as students at Stanford.

"Ian was in the business school and I was in the medical school. We connected over a class project in a class called Biodesign," Tran told Tech Times.

Shakil and Tran both came from medical device backgrounds.

"Ian previously worked at Edwards and I developed and patented medical devices for minimally invasive surgery as an engineering undergraduate at Stanford," said Tran.

Wearing Google Glass Inspired Augmedix, A Live Transcription Service For Doctors

Shortly after, the two tried Google Glass and came up with the idea for Augmedix, a live transcription service that uses Google Glass. Shakil quit his job and then Tran stopped pursuing his MD degree with only four months left.

Other people in the industry were approaching Google Glass by creating business models that required breakthroughs in complex technologies, such as facial recognition or speech recognition in wearable technology.

That's why the two entrepreneurs decided to develop a simple solution for doctors that can be measured and used from day 1, which meant they needed a human as a scribe.

"We're confident that was the right path forward now that we are serving millions of patients per year on our platform and unlocking incredible additional value through automation and expanding our offerings," said Tran.

Challenges Of Building Augmedix

"Before Google Glass, the role of smartglass developer or smartglass designer didn't really exist. Similarly, our users didn't know how they wanted to interact with the technology or which features made sense to build," said Tran. "We had to work extensively with our early doctors to iterate on the smartglass form factor to create an intuitive and enjoyable user experience."

How Augmedix Works

Since then, the company has inspired hundreds of doctors within major Health Care providers to use Augmedix and changed the way doctors interact with their patients.

When health care professionals walk into the clinic, they will simply log into their glass and connect to their Augmedix scribe.

"We're with them for the entire day, and for every patient, they'll see we're completing their notes in real time so that by the end of the visit, the medical record is complete and the doctor can move on to the next patient," said Tran.

Building A Product Like Augmedix

"The most inspiring part of building a product that helps doctors and patients at the point of care is that our doctors are always thinking of new ways to use the service to improve the care they provide," said Tran.

The company has also been asked by doctors to assist with chronic care management, revenue cycle, and other administrative tasks, such as patient messages in the inbasket, and are now offering those services to providers.

Augmedix And Privacy

"Patient empowerment is an important part of the Augmedix patient experience, and we work with our clinics to ensure patients are educated at the front desk about what we do and why their doctor is using us," said Tran.

"From a privacy perspective, the only people interacting with the patient are the members of their care team. Our patient acceptance is at 97 percent nationwide, regardless of age, gender, or demographics, for those reasons," he said.

"Now that Augmedix is serving millions of patients every year, we've become a platform for the patient visit and are helping our doctors and patients with much more than scribing. Given our unique position embedded in the patient visit, we're working closely with our doctors and technology companies like Google to deploy machine learning and automation technologies to improve service quality, accelerate growth, and expand our service offerings," said Tran.

In the past few months, the company has deployed speech and natural language processing technologies that help make their scribes even more efficient, allowing them to take on more tasks that usually keep providers and the care team occupied.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Google recently rolled out a built-in ad blocker for Chrome, but it's not good news for everyone involved.

For the average user, the new feature is a welcome addition to their everyday lives in browsing the web, as it aims to get rid of annoying ads such as full-page pop-ups and auto-play videos. Some might even be persuaded to stop using third-party ad blockers that typically cut down revenues, making some ad-reliant websites and advertisers glad of the move.

However, the way Google handled things may have sparked concern among other players in the industry.

Chrome's Native Ad Blocker Causes Worry

The Coalition for Better Ads, a group where Google is a member of the board, has set a standard that publishers have to abide by, otherwise they face the risk of getting stripped of all their ads, not to mention that they have to go through a couple of hoops to get their ads restored. They're not the ones who are the most vocal in speaking up against the changes, though.

In a bit of an ironic twist, those who are worried the most about the implementation are members of the coalition itself, according to The Wall Street Journal (paywall). That's because Google basically established the standards by leading the research carried out to decide which ads are invasive and which ones are OK.

More than that, Johnny Ryan, the head of ecosystem at PageFair, which is a company that aims to reestablish "a fair deal between users and content creators" by keeping websites safe from ad blockers, points out that YouTube ads that pop up before a video plays were excluded from the research.

"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 tells CNBC.

Total Control Over What Users See

Chrome is one of the most-used web browsers across the desktop and mobile platforms. As evidence to that, StatCounter has it pegged at 56.31 percent market share for overall usage. Meanwhile, Google's online ad business is the largest around.

This huge lead and power in the competition allows the company to have near-complete control over what the majority of users worldwide can and cannot see on the internet, which has caused advertising companies to worry.

To boil things down, Google has reportedly more or less determined the standards for ads online and left out some of its own to save them from scrutiny. This is said to have occurred as the company continues to hold a dominating position in the industry in terms of browser market share and online ads, giving it a strong, tight grasp on the internet.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The latest mobile OS from Apple is now rolling out, and the accompanying release notes stated that iOS 11.2.6 chiefly contains emergency fixes for the Telugu character bug.

The glitch that was detected last week seemed fairly simple but powerful enough to crash an iPhone or iPad. Affected devices that received messages with the Indian character experienced series of crashes that rendered apps such as Messages, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp unusable. Also, the bug caused problems of the same nature on watchOS, tvOS, and macOS platforms, prompting Apple to accelerate the deployment of the fixes across the board.

In the case of iOS, the original plan was for the release of version 11.3, but 11.2.6 had to be sent out first, specifically to make the Telugu bug go away.

"This update ... fixes an issue where using certain character sequences could cause apps to crash," Apple said on its update notes, adding the same patch will resolve a related problem also blamed on the Indian character bug.

When installed, iOS 11.2.6, which weighs around 42 MB, will likewise correct an issue, "where some third-party apps could fail to connect to external accessories," the company explained.

Feature Upgrades Not Included

It was clear that the patch was rushed out to stop the Telugu bug on its tracks, and in so doing, Apple had to bypass the inclusion of other improvements. As a result, the latest iOS version is not packing anything in excess save for the solution to Telugu. No feature upgrades and security updates were included.

It's also worth noting that Apple has had to deal with crashing issues on the iPhone three times in a row. In January, a message loaded with a malicious link caused some iPhones to hang, and Apple responded by stuffing iOS 11.2.5 with a corrective measure. Before that, several cases of the iPhone suffering crashes were reported in December 2017 that the company was forced to bump up iOS 11.2 in haste.

New Update Strategy For iOS 12

With iOS 11 apparently plagued by numerous stability issues, a careful rethink of Apple's update deployment strategy seems to be in order. In the face of criticisms that the company is compromising quality control in order to deliver impressive feature upgrades, Apple is likely to take on a different approach for the release of iOS 12.

If true, the change of strategy could be in full play as Apple transitions to focus on iOS 12, which is expected to be introduced at the 2018 WWDC in June.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Will Sony introduce its upcoming Xperia flagship phone via the MWC 2018 on Feb. 26? That appears to be what the company just teased about on Twitter.

The tweet from Sony was accompanied by a puzzling 23-second video clip with the invite line, "Join us." It was clear, though, that the company points to the direction of the MWC trade show in Barcelona, Spain, where the event will kick off Monday next week.

It was a giveaway, likewise, that the announcement turned up on the Sony Xperia Twitter page, strongly suggesting that whatever the Japanese company plans to present on Feb. 26, it has to do with an Xperia handset. However, everything on Sony's Xperia 2018 release plans remains wrapped in mystery at the moment, and the latest hints on the matter only highlighted the prevailing state.

Notwithstanding, the clues that Sony has allowed to leak out so far served to jumpstart the speculations on what the next flagship package, which is rumored to take the name Xperia XZ Pro, will deliver once it slides out of the box.

Making Sense Of The Twitter Hints

If indeed the new Xperia will include major revisions, one area that has been the subject of intense discussions among fans is the industrial design. Sony's short video prominently showed waves bouncing off a palm, and almost immediately, the symbolism attracted wild interpretations.

The guesses range from a new haptic technology to the latest audio features that the 2018 Xperia flagship would unpack with. However, many would want to believe that Sony is working on something bigger and more exciting. It is hoped that the next Xperia bet from the company will have a design overhaul as evidenced by the appearance of the waves, which seems to suggest of a fresh curvy look.

If true, the change is welcome considering that most, if not all, Android flagships make use of the rounded device design language. Sony departing from its angular or blocked construct will certainly excite a segment of the Android crowd still convinced the brand can compete in equal terms with the likes of Samsung and emerging Chinese device makers.

Realistic Expectations

There appears, however, to be no solid assurances that the next Xperia flagship will undergo a radical transformation in terms of structure, design, and general look. If the planned intro will indeed happen via the MWC 2018, then time is not in favor for a design overhaul. At best, the XZ Pro will impress with a dual-camera setup and a 5.7-inch OLED display with an 18:9 aspect ratio and trimmed down bezels but short of the rumored fresh look, preferably the curved build.

Likely to complete the Xperia XZ Pro specs and features is the Snapdragon 845 SoC that will be supported by 6 GB of RAM, 128 GB of internal storage, and IP68 certification that assures of resistance to water and dust.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which was launched in 2005 and has been orbiting Mars since 2006, was placed on a "precautionary standby mode," which signals that there might be a bit of trouble with the over-a-decade-old spacecraft.

What exactly is the problem with NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and is it in danger of being lost in space forever?

What's Wrong With The NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

According to an official statement from NASA, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter placed itself in a "precautionary standby mode" because the spacecraft sensed an unexpectedly low battery voltage.

NASA explains that the spacecraft runs on both solar power and a pair of rechargeable nickel-hydrogen batteries, with the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter depending on the latter whenever it is in the shadow of the Red Planet. The two power sources are used together and maintain almost identical charges.

However, after detecting low battery voltage, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter suspended its scientific observations and service as a communications relay. The spacecraft, however, remained in constant communication with NASA and was able to maintain safe and stable levels of power and temperature.

The normal battery voltage has now been restored, but NASA is still monitoring the spacecraft to make sure that everything is really back to normal. If everything goes well, the service of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter as a relay will be restored in about a week, followed by the resumption of scientific observations.

Achievements of NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has been delivering data from the Red Planet for 12 years, more than any other mission sent to Mars.

The spacecraft, which celebrated its 10th anniversary of being in space in 2015, can observe features on the surface of Mars that are as small as a table. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter also relays data between the small rovers and landers that have been released on Mars and the controllers back on Earth.

In March 2017, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter completed its 50,000th orbit of the Red Planet. Back then, mission officials from NASA said that the spacecraft was still working perfectly, even after sending over 300 terabits of scientific data collected from Mars to Earth.

One of its more recent discoveries was a dark spot on the surface of Mars, which scientists determined was a deep hole that led to an underground cavern. Researchers believe that a cave that goes deep enough into the Red Planet may support warmer temperatures and stable forms of liquid water. This could mean that life may exist inside these Martian holes, or that humans may one day live inside them.

Hopefully, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter solves its issues so that it can keep sending back valuable information on the Red Planet.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Sony is planning to launch a smart ride-hailing service in its home country, Japan, leveraging artificial intelligence to handle demand and ensure proper operations.

The company announced on Tuesday, Feb. 20, that it will launch an AI-powered ride-hailing system in partnership with six Japanese taxi companies.

Sony AI-Powered Ride-Hailing Service

With the help of AI, Sony's service will intelligently handle taxi dispatches and anticipate demand and operations based on various aspects such as local events, traffic or weather.

By taking all of those factors into account, the algorithmic system should be able to dispatch taxis more effectively. For instance, if a popular concert is about to end soon, the service could send a fleet of cars so that concertgoers can find rides easily.

Sony did not announce a specific date for when it plans to launch the service, or whether it will eventually expand its availability outside of Japan.

Sony Challenging Uber In Japan

Uber's new CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, is currently in Asia and announced that Uber also plans to team up with taxi companies in Japan. Khosrowshahi took over as CEO last August, replacing former CEO Travis Kalanick amid a series of scandal and turmoil.

Uber's announcement came shortly after Sony's announcement, and the two companies are expected to go head to head in this sector of the Japanese market.

Khosrowshahi says that Japan looks like an "incredible opportunity," but Uber's approach has failed to yield the desired results. The new approach might hold more promise, but Sony will likely pose some serious competition.

Sony Ride-Hailing Partners In Japan

For its ride-hailing system, Sony teamed up with Daiwa Motor, Kusumi Transportation Corporation, International Motor, Hinomaru Transportation Corporation, Checker Cab Group, and Green Cab. Sony's services and apps, however, will also be available to other Japanese taxi operators, so the business could be even larger. The AI-powered ride-hailing system should launch sometime this spring.

In addition to Uber, Sony's upcoming service will also go up against another AI-powered ride-hailing system that Toyota made in collaboration with JapanTaxi. This market is heating up and it holds great opportunity, so it makes sense that more companies want to join the party.

Japan doesn't allow the use of private vehicles for ride-hailing services, so the ridesharing model doesn't quite work as it is, forcing companies to find taxi partners to do business. The Japanese taxi app market is fiercely competitive already, but the newly-announced services will take things to the next level.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Recently Alcatel has unveiled the latest tablet in the Indian markets which has been dubbed the A310. Priced at just Rs. 6,999, the tablet will be up for sales through the most popular e-commerce website: Flipkart.

The Alcatel A310 Tablet comes with a 10-inch HD IPS display which gives a support for a screen resolution of x 800-pixel resolution. The device measures 9.5 thick, reports Gizbot. Under the hood, this Alcatel tablet houses the quad-core MediaTek MT8127 processor which is clocked at 1.3GHz and is paired with 1GB RAM + 16GB of internal storage. The 16GB storage capacity is further expandable to up to 32GB via a microSD card.

The Alcatel A310 tablet runs the Android 7.0 Nougat operating system and also offers split-screen functionality in order to proceed with multitasking. The Alcatel A310 tablet comes with a 2MP front-facing camera while on the other hand, there is a 5MP rear-mounted camera on the rear panel. Powering the device, theres a 4060mAh battery reservoir.

Alcatel earlier was rumored to launch three new smartphones in the market. Dubbed the Alcatel 3V, Alcatel 5, and Alcatel 1X these smartphones are expected to come just ahead of the Samsung Galaxy S9 duos launch day and one day before the MWC 2018. The company has officially announced the event date scheduled for February 24. These Alcatel smartphones have recently been doing rounds in the newer rumors and leaks.

Renders of all the upcoming Alcatel handsets alongside the alleged specs have been leaked furthermore. Instantly, the Alcatel 5 is expected to debut with a 5.7-inch full-screen display and a screen resolution of 720 x 1440 (HD+) + an aspect ratio of 18:9. The smartphone is expected to be powered by the octa-core MT6750 chipset which will be clocked at 1.5GHz speed. Accompanied by Mali-T860 MP2 GPU, the device is further believed to come with a 3GB of RAM as well as 32GB of native storage.
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LIVINGSTON  The police chief of French Settlement has agreed to hold off on restricting his officers' use of their patrol cars until the state Attorney General can issue an opinion.

Police Chief Harry Brignac consented in court Tuesday to a preliminary injunction that will allow the village's two officers to keep driving their units to and from work.

French Settlement officials seek legal opinion on police chief's wife's use of patrol car When the wife of French Settlements chief of police was seen driving his patrol car in the villages annual Christmas parade last month, it r

The village leadership asked for the restraining order in order to stop the chief from taking away the unit. They fear it will count as an adverse employment action against the Police Officer's Bill of Rights if the village takes away their ability to drive the cars home.

But appealing to the court had the effect of stopping the process with the AG opinion, since the AG's office will not issue opinions when litigation appears imminent, according to a letter from the AG's office.

Village attorney Tim Pujol told the court Tuesday that he will ask the AG's office to resume its consideration of the case, because the litigation is at a standstill. Pujol and Brignac said they would abide by any ruling issued by the AG.

French Settlement weighing GPS trackers amid dispute with police chief about use of patrol cars FRENCH SETTLEMENT  The board of alderman in this Livingston Parish village is considering outfitting its police cars with GPS trackers amid a

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The case is before Judicial District Judge Jeff Johnson.

The dispute over the police cars dates to a December 2017 village meeting when the police chief said he wanted to park the officers' patrol cars at the police station as a way to save money spent on gas. The board of alderman have opposed doing so, saying that it allows officers to respond more quickly and safely if they can bring their cars home.

After the hearing Tuesday, Brignac defended his authority to pull the officers' cars.

"I'm in charge of the equipment, because I'm the elected chief," he said. "She (Mayor Toni Guitrau) is making me look like a bad guy, because they're going broke. But I'm not the bad guy. I'm going to show them how to save money."

Guitrau told the Board of Aldermen last week that the Village has about $430,000 in the bank, down from $500,000 before the flood.

The village has also asked for an AG opinion on whether Brignac's wife can drive his patrol car.
The oft-feuding Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards and Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry agreed Tuesday that Landry's office will represent the state in the Edwards administration's opioid lawsuit against 17 pharmaceutical companies.

The agreement, relayed to state District Judge Wilson Fields during a short court hearing, resolved a dispute over who should press the states claims that pharmaceutical firms are responsible for Louisiana's deadly opioid crisis.

The state Department of Health, with the governor's backing, filed the suit in September in Baton Rouge state court. Landry filed a motion the following month asking Fields to allow the attorney general to "supersede" the health department.

Chief Deputy Attorney General Bill Stiles III and Matthew Block, the governor's executive counsel, told the judge Tuesday they jointly agreed to substitute the attorney general for the governor's lawyers as counsel of record in the case.

+3 Latest Edwards-Landry dispute centers on who has control over La.'s opioid lawsuit Louisiana Attorney General moved late Monday to take control of the Edwards administration lawsuit claiming pharmaceutical companies are resp

"I am confident that the Attorney General's office will be able to pursue these claims vigorously and will hold the opioid manufacturers responsible for flooding our state with these highly addictive drugs and misleading the public about their addictive nature," Edwards said later in a written statement.

Landry thanked the governor for "putting his faith in our office's leadership on this issue."

"We will work hard to hold drug companies accountable for contributing to the opioid abuse, misuse, and addiction that has destroyed so many Louisiana families," the attorney general stated.

The agreement announced by Edwards and Landry, who have butted heads on many issues since both took office in early 2016, calls for the Attorney General's Office to take over primary responsibility for the suit. The pact also says Landry's office will lead the efforts with other state agencies and departments to pursue all opioid crisis-related claims.

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Louisiana Department of Health files suit against opioid manufacturers Louisiana joined a growing list of state and local governments Wednesday by taking legal action claiming drug manufacturers purposely escalate

"A coordinated effort from the State will produce the best results for the families who have lost loved ones to this epidemic," the governor said. "Justice for them is our number one priority."

Landry described the opioid epidemic as "one of the most challenging and complex problems" facing the state.

"Tackling this problem will take a concerted effort on many fronts and joining together to coordinate this legal effort is in the best interest of the people of Louisiana," he said.

The state's lawsuit alleges drug makers tried to maximize profits through an orchestrated campaign to flood Louisiana with opioid-based prescription painkillers, such as hydrocodone and oxycodone.

The Attorney General's Office has estimated opioid-related costs to the state at about $160 million annually.

Fields also presides over an opioid suit filed in November by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana. Fellow 19th Judicial District Judge Mike Caldwell has been assigned another such suit filed earlier this month by the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office and the East Baton Rouge Parish Law Enforcement District.

+10 Baton Rouge files lawsuit against opioid manufacturers, says they spurred addiction crisis Joining a growing number of municipal and state governments, Baton Rouge filed federal a lawsuit Tuesday blaming drug makers and distributors 

In addition, the city of Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish filed an opioid suit in January in Baton Rouge federal court. Baton Rouge had 89 deadly overdoses related to opioids in 2017, officials said when the suit was announced.

The city-parish suit claims pharmaceutical companies knew all along how problematic opioids could be, but they pressured doctors to prescribe them and reaped the benefits through sales.
Less than two years after his graduation from Glen Oaks High School, Tr'markus Taylor was shot and killed Sunday night just blocks from his grandmother's house in the Brownfields area of north Baton Rouge, leading family to suspect he was shot while riding in a car and then pushed out into the street.

One person dead in double shooting in Brownfields area Sunday evening One person is dead and another wounded after a double shooting Sunday night in the Brownfields area of East Baton Rouge Parish, authorities said.

His body was found near the side of the road in a quiet subdivision lined with tidy houses and manicured lawns. Taylor died on the scene, said East Baton Rouge Sheriff's spokeswoman Casey Rayborn Hicks.

Another person was wounded in the shooting and transported to the hospital for treatment. Hicks said that person was in critical condition late Sunday but had been upgraded to stable condition by Monday afternoon.

No one has been arrested and investigators have not yet identified any suspects.

Authorities could not provide additional details about the incident but Taylor's family said he left his grandmother's house in a car with three other people just minutes before the shooting. His body was found two blocks from the home where he lived with his grandmother.

Tabitha Taylor-Stevens called her son on Feb. 7 to tell him she loved him, never suspecting it would be the last time they spoke. She now lives in Tampa, Florida, but received a call from her own mother late Sunday telling her what had happened.

She drove to Baton Rouge from Tampa overnight and arrived Monday morning. Several family members and close friends had gathered Monday afternoon outside her mother's house to mourn their loss. They remembered Taylor most of all for the unwavering generosity he displayed during his 20 years of life.

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"My son was such a giving person. He took care of the people around him," Taylor-Stevens said. "I'm not saying he was the perfect child  but he gave so much of himself while he was here. He brought so much joy."

Taylor helped care for his mother while she was recovering from serious injuries after having been brutally attacked on her way to work one morning in 2012. He also was close to his two little goddaughters, frequently buying them presents and anything else they needed.

Taylor-Stevens said in some ways Tr'markus  the middle child of her three sons  had "been grown his whole life" and displayed an "old spirit" wiser than his age would suggest. She said she had been concerned about him recently because of the people he was hanging around and because "he made some poor decisions, but what teenager doesn't."

Taylor had been working for an upholstery business owned by his godfather and studying to become a pipe fitter. His godmother Takschkia Wright said Taylor loved working at the shop but recently had been taking on fewer hours.

His mom said she had warned her son to stop whatever he was doing because "fast money is not good money." She said he had lots of bright potential. School had always been easy for him and he developed a penchant for fixing anything, from cars to computers.

"He lived a large life in such a short time," his mother said. "They took away a brilliant man who could have changed this world."

Family seeks answers as they grieve shooting death of 15 year old Raymond 'TJ' Phillips Family and friends of Raymond Phillips said Friday the 15-year-old died far too young when he was shot and killed Thursday outside of Tak's Fo

+7 Man, 19, found shot dead in Baton Rouge's Cadillac Street Park on Saturday The discovery of a Baton Rouge man lying dead in at Cadillac Street Park on Saturday morning, hours after he was shot, led top law enforcement
An influential task force Tuesday recommended a hike of about $40 million in basic state aid for public schools.

The assistance has been frozen for nine of the past 10 years amid state budget problems, and Gov. John Bel Edwards has endorsed another freeze for the 2018-19 school year.

Another freeze in school aid sparks resignation, worry among Louisiana superintendents After nine freezes in the past 10 years, news that basic state aid for public schools may be frozen yet again is sparking both resignation and

But a panel of state and local education leaders, key lawmakers and others, including the governor's education adviser, said it is is vital the Legislature understands the financial plight of public schools.

"I know it is a difficult position for the Legislature, but I don't represent the Legislature," said Debbie Meaux, president of the Louisiana Association of Educators and chief sponsor of the request.

"I represent children and schools, I represent teachers who are in the classrooms and the communities that need the money to educate their children," Meaux said.

The request is a long shot amid recurring state budget problems.

The Legislature began a special session on Monday to grapple with a roughly $1 billion shortfall for state services starting July 1.

The regular session begins on March 12, which is where the debate will play out on public school funding.

Task force members said their job is to spell out the needs of public schools even amid recurring financial problems.

Debra Schum, executive director of the Louisiana Association of Principals, said the state faces a huge shortage of teachers while teacher pay has slipped about $1,700 below the regional average.

"And I understand we are trying to be fiscally conscious," Schum said. "But I don't know how we communicate to our legislators how important it is for us to have adequate funding for education if we don't ask for it."

The request was approved on a voice vote by the 27-member Minimum Foundation Program Task Force. The MFP is the formula used by the state to allocate $3.7 billion for the current school year.

Louisiana public schools face another aid freeze Gov. John Bel Edwards is unlikely to recommend a hike in basic state aid for public schools, an aide to the governor said Tuesday.

The money helps finance teacher salaries and a wide range of day-to-day school operations, including textbooks and supplies.

About 700,000 students attend public schools in Louisiana.

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Among those supporting the request was Donald Songy, the governor's education policy adviser and task force member.

Louisiana's school aid plan clears final hurdle in legislature; here's what it includes Legislation that would authorize spending $3.7 billion for public schools for the 2017-18 academic year won final legislative approval Monday.

Songy said after the meeting that the Edwards administration would love to get behind such a hike if state dollars are available.

The motion to boost state aid  it would be a 1 percent increase  was made by Meaux as a substitute for one that recommended another freeze in state assistance.

The increase would raise state spending per student from $3,961 to about $4,000, according to officials of the state Department of Education.

Among the few opponents of the request was Brigitte Nieland, who follows education issues for the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.

Nieland said in the current budget environment, public schools are lucky they have avoided outright cuts in state aid. "I think the Legislature is keenly aware that schools would like to have extra dollars," she said.

Senate Education Committee Chairman Blade Morrish, R-Jennings, endorsed the request.

"I really think the idea of asking for more could be very important," Morrish told the group.

"I think it could be important to legislators who today are looking for reasons to change our budgeting process, the way we raise our revenue, and the revenue we need.

"It could be a very good tool in the tool chest. For us to just say we don't need any more money is probably not the right thing to do."

The lawmaker will be the Senate sponsor of any MFP request that Board of Elementary and Secondary Education sends to the Legislature next month.

State lawmakers can only accept or reject BESE's request but cannot change it.

Before the state was plagued by yearly budget problems public schools traditionally got a 2.75 percent increase, and sometimes more.

Caroline Roemer, executive director of the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools and a task force member, suggested that the panel request a 2.75 percent boost again, which she called reasonable.

Others said such a request would be dead on arrival.
Average public school teacher salaries in Louisiana finally reached the regional average in 2007, a breakthrough that was celebrated by politicians, education groups and others.

But now teachers are paid $1,705 less than their peers in the region, another casualty of Louisiana's seemingly endless cycle of budget problems.

The Louisiana Legislature on Monday began its latest special session to grapple with budget problems, this time a roughly $1 billion shortfall.

However, even a budget breakthrough by Gov. John Bel Edwards and the Legislature is unlikely to generate enough dollars to change things on the salary front.

"At this point in time, until we get the budget stable, I don't think there is going to be a push to raise teacher salaries," said Rep. Franklin Foil, R-Baton Rouge, vice chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

The state had an abundance of dollars in 2007 when the Legislature approved pay raises of $2,375 per year, the biggest such increase in state history and one that allowed the Louisiana to reach the regional average.

Now the average pay for teachers is $49,244 compared to the $50,949 average compiled by the Southern Regional Education Board, according to 2015-16 figures, the latest comparison available.

The national average is $58,064.

Not only did state budget problems start mounting shortly after the state hit its salary target.

What used to be the routine yearly hike in basic state aid for public schools  2.75 percent  has all but disappeared from the legislative landscape.

That aid has been frozen for nine of the past 10 years, and Edwards is expected to recommend another freeze for the 2018-19 school year.

Another freeze in school aid sparks resignation, worry among Louisiana superintendents After nine freezes in the past 10 years, news that basic state aid for public schools may be frozen yet again is sparking both resignation and

Half of those increases have to be used for teacher salaries, which means teachers lost their key source of revenue to help salaries keep pace with other Southern states.

Louisiana Supreme Court upholds state's teacher tenure law In a victory for Gov. Bobby Jindal, the Louisiana Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a hotly debated state law that makes it harder for public 

Both teacher unions and other educator groups say the slip in funding teachers carries consequences.

Shane Riddle, legislative and political director for the Louisiana Association of Educators, said pay problems make it hard to keep teachers from taking off for Texas and other better-paying border states.

"This is a really serious problem, we believe, and very well could be a serious problem if we don't maintain the salary above or at the Southern average," Riddle said.

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He said he expects the current, $1,700 salary gap between the state and region to widen.

The controversy that erupted in Vermilion Parish last month stemmed from a teacher's complaint that she and others had gone years without a pay raise, while the superintendent there was in line for a $30,000 per year boost, to $140,000.

Keith Courville, executive director of the Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana, said teacher salaries have failed to keep up with those of their other, college-educated peers.

"I hear from a lot of teachers who love the profession but they leave after three to eight years into it because they have to make more money for their family," Courville said in an email.

The state is about to launch a campaign to attract more students to the profession.

State Superintendent of Education John White, Holly Boffy, vice-president of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and Brusly High School's Kimberly Eckert, state Teacher of the Year, plan to spell out details of the effort on Wednesday at 8 a.m.

Raises for public school teachers used to be an annual legislative topic.

In 2006 salaries shot up $1,500 per year.

In 2007 up to 7,000 educators rallied at the State Capitol for higher pay, and later an increase of $2,375 cleared the Legislature.

The state has around 47,000 public school teachers.

Mike Faulk, executive director of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents, said the best hope for teachers to boost their paychecks is through their local districts.

"It is a vicious cycle," Faulk said of state budget problems.

Larry Carter, president of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, said teachers understand state leaders face big budget problems, especially since 2016.

After 13 years, Louisiana Federation of Teachers gets new leader in Larry Carter The interim president of one of Louisiana's two teachers unions is a veteran New Orleans educator said to know his way around the hot-button i

That and other reasons means a rally at the State Capitol, like the one in 2007, makes little sense.

However, Carter said teachers and other school employees around the state raise the topic regularly.

"It is something that bubbles up in a lot of parishes around the state," he said.
Gov. John Bel Edwards called on Louisiana legislators to come together in the next two weeks of their latest special session to finalize a pla
Gov. John Bel Edwards called on Louisiana legislators to come together in the next two weeks of their latest special session to finalize a plan to address the state's looming billion-dollar budget shortfall.

"Business leaders and local officials are tired of the endless financial battles," Edwards said during his special session-opening address Monday. "They want us to stabilize our budget once and for all, reform our tax code so that it is predictable and fair for all Louisiana citizens and businesses, and create a structure that grows with our economy so that we can get out of our own way."

Legislators made their way back to the State Capitol earlier in the day for their fifth special session in two years  all tied to the state's seemingly never-ending cycle of budget shortfalls.

"If we all work together, Im actually optimistic this could be the last," Edwards said.

The special session must end by March 7, and lawmakers will enter the regular session on March 12. State law bars them from taking up most revenue-generating measures during regular sessions held in even-numbered years.

"Every step we have taken in preparation for this session is to ensure that we get the job done  and that we get it done right. And that we get it done now," Edwards said. "I am optimistic that we can do it."

Edwards, a Democrat, has argued that the state needs to replace some of the $1.3 billion in tax measures set to expire June 30.

So far, lawmakers haven't reached a consensus on how to do that. Some want an extension of all or part of the one-cent sales tax hike approved in 2016. Some are pushing for the state to collect sales taxes on items that have previously been exempt.

Those proposals, or some variation of them, are expected to be heard in a committee meeting Tuesday.

Two items that Edwards has suggested  compressing state income tax brackets and charging sales taxes on some services  have been met with resistance among House Republican leaders and are unlikely to pass.

Meanwhile, the GOP-controlled House is also pushing a series of spending control measures  the creation of a transparency website, changing how the state calculates how much money lawmakers can spend each year and three items related to the state Medicaid health care program  to be linked to any revenue-generating measures that pass in the special session.

"For the next 17 days, I am asking you not to think only as Democrats or Republicans, but as Louisianans. We all want the same things," Edwards said. "There is only one 'side' to be on here and that is on the side of the people of our great state who are tired of hearing about the same problems year after year with no resolution."

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House GOP Caucus Chair Lance Harris, R-Alexandria, said he felt that the special session got off to a "good start."

"I'm optimistic," he said, heading into a House leadership meeting after Edwards' speech.

Sen. Bodi White, R-Central, said some legislators are still concerned about how much money is needed to fill the shortfall. The state is expecting to reap a windfall that hasn't been factored into projections yet, thanks to Congress' federal tax rewrite. The state's economic outlook update will take place next month.

"We want to fill the gap and not go over the cliff, but how much is the gap," White said. "I don't want to raise too many taxes."

White described the mood on Monday as "somber."

"It's kinda like Groundhog Day," he said. "Every February we are back at the Capitol."

Edwards presented an executive budget proposal last month that included nearly $1 billion in cuts to higher education and health care that would threaten safety net hospitals and college campuses to reflect the shortfall.

If lawmakers fail to pass a budget by the June 4 end of the regular session, there would be another special session in June. Special sessions cost the state about $70,000 a day.

Big question as special session begins: Can Speaker Taylor Barras unite House GOP caucus? The 144 members of Louisianas Legislature will convene Monday in a special session that will mark their fifth attempt in two years to solve t

Edwards said that failure to shore up the state's finances in the current special session could threaten the state's economy.

"If we wait until June, our economy too will take a hit. The rating agencies that have downgraded our credit over the last several years will again consider whether we will ever have a stable budget," he said. "Businesses are going to have to move forward as if the worst case scenario is the only scenario. That means organizations that provide essential health care services for some of our most vulnerable populations will have to start laying people off. Our partner hospitals, with thousands of private sector employees, would be forced to issue layoff notices because of this uncertainty."

Kelly Monroe, executive director of the Arc of Louisiana, a group that provides support and personal care assistance for people with developmental disabilities and their families, was among Edwards' guests for the speech. He said Monroe told him that as many as 60 percent of the people they serve would lose their waiver services that funds their care, prompting the layoff of about 2,000 Arc employees, more than half the group's staff.

"These organizations and the fellow Louisianans they serve cannot wait to know if they have to lay off their workers or, in some cases, close their doors," Edwards said. "We talk a lot about running government the way we would run a business. No prudent business person would choose to wait."
Rep. Pat Smith, D-Baton Rouge, left, and Rep. Raymond Crews, R-Bossier City, right, bow their heads along with the rest of the House and Senate for a moment of silence for the 17-victims of the Florida high school shooting as the legislature convenes in special session to fix the budget deficit Monday Feb. 19, 2018, in Baton Rouge, La.
Advocate staff photo by TRAVIS SPRADLING -- La. Department of Public Safety and Corrections Secretary Jimmy LeBlanc, right, addresses members of the Louisiana Justice Reinvestment Task Force at the State Capitol on Friday, June 17, 2016. Angela Whittaker, Executive Management Advisor in the Secretary's office, is at left.
Paperwork has been distributed and extra chairs have been set up in the Louisiana House chamber ready for Gov. John Bel Edwards' address to legislators at 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 17, 2018. The 17-day special session aims to address a $1 billion deficit in the state budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
House Republicans spurned tradition and elected one of their own, New Iberia Republican Taylor Barras, shown here at center, as speaker after Gov. John Bel Edwards won election. The House GOP caucus has promised to push for fiscal and tax reform, but leaders have been hesitant to put out their own comprehensive blueprint, drawing criticism from Edwards. Barras is flanked here by Rep. Lance Harris, R-Alexandria, who chairs the House Republican Caucus, and Rep. Polly Thomas, R-Metairie.
When Iris Carter heard that the Shell Chemical plant near her childhood home in Norco had been ordered to spend $10 million on pollution control equipment to resolve decades of allegations that the plant was violating the federal Clean Air Act, she felt a variety of emotions.

She was frustrated, she said, and angry. But she wasnt surprised. As Carter sees it, this should have happened more than 20 years ago, when she and her family first helped start a campaign to abandon an area she said had become too polluted to live in.

"The stink in the air was so strong it knocked you back," Carter, now 66, remembers. "It was terrible."

Federal regulators this month accused Shell in a lawsuit of violating pollution laws since 1997, alleging that the energy giant failed to properly control industrial flares at the facility.

The company allowed chemicals capable of causing cancer and other ailments to permeate the air around the plant, according to the suit filed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice.

Then, a week ago, a settlement reached in federal court resolved those allegations through a consent decree. It commits Shell to putting in new controls designed to eliminate more than 150 tons of pollutants that had been released into the air every year.

But Norco has been the site of tension over the issue for decades, as chemical plant and oil refinery representatives, residents and environmentalists debated the extent of the pollution coming from the plant and the health ramifications various chemicals could have on the local community.

Ray Fisher, a Shell spokesman, said the agreement is "consistent" with the company's "objectives and ongoing activities to reduce emissions at the site and upgrade our flaring infrastructure."

"Shell Norco has a record of continuous improvement in environmental performance achieved through significant investment in emission reduction projects and heightened employee attention on preventing operational incidents," Fisher said. "Shell shares the goal of improving air quality, and our top priority is to protect the health and safety of community residents, our workers and the environment."

As news of the settlement spread, neighbors had mixed reactions. Many have been Norco residents for years, living through at least one major explosion at the plant and all too aware that the plant at times emitted some bad-smelling fumes.

At the same time, many residents also depend on the plant for their livelihoods.

Sal Digirolamo, the president of the Norco Civic Association, said he trusted the state and federal regulators to oversee Shell, as well as the company that gives many locals their paycheck.

As proof of Norcos safety, he pointed to himself: At 88, he has lived in the area all his life, worked at Shell for 40 years and has never experienced health problems, he said.

I wouldnt move out of Norco for nothing in the world, said Digirolamo. How can I ever support the idea that the fumes are bad? You cant. You gotta prove it to me.

Federal and state government officials, too, touted their work and the consent decree, a compromise they said proved agencies could work together to keep residents safe.

"Todays agreement demonstrates EPAs dedication to working with states to pursue violations of laws that are critical to protecting public health and bring companies into compliance," EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said in a news release announcing the consent decree.

But critics of the agency and of Shell sided with local environmentalists, who have been protesting the company for decades. They say it hasnt done nearly enough to protect residents, many of whom have complained of health problems ranging from respiratory issues to cancer.

"The regulatory system was and is utterly broken," said Anne Rolfes, the founding director of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, an environmental group.

Rolfes pointed to the small civil penalties in the consent decree, which ordered Shell to pay $350,000. Of that, $87,500 will go to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.

The final amount was far less than the maximum federal law allowed: $302 million in federal civil penalties and $251 million for the state.

"Thats less than the healthcare bill for some families," Rolfes said of the penalties. "Its completely pathetic, and that alone shows how toothless this consent decree is."

Carter agreed. She said that for decades she and others lived in fear of chemical exposure or worse from the plant and an adjoining oil refinery.

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And, while state health officials say it's difficult to measure the effects of chemical exposures on populations over time, Carter attributes her family's various ailments to Norco's air pollution.

One of her sisters has cancer, another died of the autoimmune disease scleroderma, and she has been diagnosed with environment-caused asthma, she said.

"We were suffocating," Carter said. "It was agony."

Norco, short for New Orleans Refining Co., was established in 1916 when a 366-acre sugar cane field was turned into a marine petroleum supply terminal.

Norco began refining oil in 1920 and was bought by the Shell Petroleum Corp., a forerunner of Shell Oil Co., in 1929. The chemical plant, the part of Shell's operations named in the lawsuit and consent decree, was added in 1955.

In 1998, a merger with Texaco and Saudi Aramco made the refining and chemical businesses officially separate, as the oil company became part of Motiva Enterprises. Shell then assumed full ownership of Norco again last year.

Carter traces tensions over the plant to 1973, the first time there was a big explosion near it. Sparked by a 16-year-old starting a lawnmower above a leaking underground pipeline, the blast killed two people and left the community shaken.

Afterward, a group of residents formed the Concerned Citizens of Norco, which began to document chemical emissions data in the area and bring attention to abnormalities  like frequent chemical flares  happening at Shell.

Thats what really started it all, Carter said. That really stirred people up. It was horrible.

More than a decade later, there was another explosion.

Margie Richard, 76, another former member of the Norco citizens group, said she'll never forget the day seven Shell workers were killed, homes were destroyed and 159 million pounds of chemical waste were released by an explosion at the refinery one morning in 1988.

"Everybody saw it," Richard recalled. "That's why I became an advocate  this affects everybody."

The disaster sparked more action. By 2002, with the help of the environmental group the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, residents eventually pressed Shell into relocating several residents of the Diamond neighborhood, a largely African-American section of Norco.

Shell has bought out hundreds of properties over the past 15 years.

In addition to the buyout program, the company also agreed to reduce its toxic emissions by 30 percent and to contribute $5 million to a community development fund.

Since then, though, local workers and community members have continued to complain, as environmentalists pointed out risks associated with the company's emissions of volatile organic compounds and the chemical benzene.

In recent years, Shell has been named in multiple lawsuits, including one filed in 2015 by contract welder Raymond Gaubert.

In his complaint, Gaubert alleged that his regular exposure to benzene at Shell Chemical and other facilities led to his diagnosis of multiple myeloma in 2014. He worked for Shell and other companies from 1968 through 1985.

The health hazards of benzene have been recognized for over one hundred years, the lawsuit said, adding that the chemical's risk has been "widely known" since 1948. Benzene has been recognized as a carcinogen."

In the past three years, EPA data show 12 instances of "noncompliance" with federal regulations at Shell.

But members of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade and the Louisiana Environmental Action Network say the number likely was higher, as both frequently reported flaring to the EPA over the past decade.

Looking to the future, St. Charles Parish Councilman Paul Hogan said he was "somewhat concerned" about the new consent decree, particularly because the civil penalty was on the "low side."

It "probably will not act as a big deterrent to others who may be polluting our air," he said.
if the people of Biafra want Republic of Biafra, it will be a reality during my administration. ----Donald Trump Donald Trump I wi...
Former reporter wishes her 1980s sexual harassment story was irrelevant todayCanadian PressMore from Canadian PressPublished:February 19, 2018Updated:February 19, 2018 5:15 PM ESTKathryn Young, a former Canadian Press reporter who received backlash after sharing her experience of harassment on Parliament Hill, is shown in Ottawa on Friday, Feb. 9, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin TangOTTAWA  Kathryn Young remembers the anger growing within as she listened to their laughter.On the floor of the House of Commons, they were snickering and chortling as a New Democrat MP mentioned a newspaper story about how the press secretary to the prime minister had told a female reporter she would get her interview once she agreed to a date.The politicians were shaking with laughter and, she realized, so were many of the reporters seated with her in the press gallery overlooking the scene.She went home and told her husband something she had never shared with him before.Eighteen months earlier, she had been sexually assaulted by Michel Gratton, press secretary to prime minister Brian Mulroney.Clearly, he just kept on his merry way doing what he was doing and nothing had changed, Young said in an interview with The Canadian Press.I felt that somebody had to stand up and say, This isnt right. You cant go on. You cant treat people like that.It was time to finally tell her story.Michel Gratton, a former press secretary for Brian Mulroney, is pictured in this file photo. (Chris Mikula/The Ottawa Citizen)The arrival of the #MeToo movement on Parliament Hill feels like a watershed moment to many of the women who have walked its halls.They are coming forward, often anonymously, to tell their stories of sexual harassment, assault and the everyday sexism that has long pervaded the male-dominated culture where loyalty to party is often seen as a virtue that trumps all others.The #MeToo movement, when you get all those voices together telling essentially the same story, thats when you get a groundswell of support that forces change, Young said.But for Young, who shared her own experience more than three decades ago, it goes far beyond the stories told.It is about the storytellers, finally, being believed.Young was 24 years old when she joined the Ottawa bureau of The Canadian Press in 1983, a junior reporter who felt as if she was beginning her journalism career right at the top.She worked the night shift, meaning she had to rely heavily on the good graces of Gratton for the details she needed to do her job.There was a social aspect to the professional relationship too, as Gratton would often drink and trade gossip with reporters late into the night at the National Press Club.As Young was heading home from there one night, Gratton asked if they could share a cab. She agreed, thinking it a sign that he accepted her as a colleague.Once inside the taxi, Gratton began kissing her, ignoring her protests.Out of a desire to set things straight for the sake of their professional relationship  and her ability to do her job  Young decided to invite him up to her apartment for a drink.It was a split-second decision, she said.Young did not want to revisit what happened next in her interview with The Canadian Press, but she shared the story with the CBC radio show As it Happens in 2014.It was the first time anyone published the details in full.She sat him down and began to explain that she was engaged to be married, but he leapt on top of her and ripped open her shirt, prompting Young to think this was it  she was going to be raped.She remembers yelling No! repeatedly and turning her head from side to side, until he finally stood up and left.Gratton died in 2011.All these years later, Young said she still blames herself for inviting him up, even though she knows she did not invite what happened next.I still feel embarrassed and stupid for having done that, she told The Canadian Press.Society tends to blame victims. I think thats slowly changing, but there is victim blaming and then you internalize it, she said. Whatever people say about you, you kind of tend to take in.That night, she called a male colleague from the bureau, who came over to comfort her and then pushed Gratton into delivering what she remembers as a half-hearted apology over the telephone.She thought it was over.She needed to keep working with him and she wanted to move on with her life and her job.The laughter that day in November 1986 let her know it was far from over.It was happening to others, too.She told her story to the Toronto Sun.Then she felt the old doors of Parliament Hill  and many in the mostly male press gallery  shut her out, ridiculing her both in person and in the pages of their newspapers.There was no haven in her own newsroom, either, as the Ottawa bureau chief at the time, Gordon Grant, was drinking buddies with Gratton.That old boys club just closed ranks against me.Meanwhile, the wire service had offered to cover the cost of meeting its lawyer for advice, but then mailed her a cheque for only half the amount.She said she sent it back to head office.That did not go over well, said Young.She believes her career at The Canadian Press, where she remained in the Ottawa bureau until 1993, suffered.Still, Young said she does not regret coming forward.My whole reason for going public in the first place was to shed light on this sordid underbelly of Parliament Hill, she said, and I think Ive helped.She said the courts, the media and society at large have evolved in their understanding of consent and sexual assault.She thinks she would be treated differently today.Still, she wishes there was no longer a reason to share her story.In an ideal world, it would be, Ah, thats history, weve all moved on, its not relevant, she said. But sadly, it is relevant.
I don't agree with this law, but I think I can see where it's coming from. The government wants to ban female circumcision so to make it look gender neutral, bans it all.The difference though is that male circumcision does have certain medical benefits whereas female circumcision doesn't.
Tomatin Distillery releases Metal and Water

Tomatin Distillery has announced the release of the final two whiskies in its Five Virtues series.

The series draws inspiration from the elements of nature  Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water  with each single malt expression enjoying a limited run of 6,000 bottles and a focus on the effects of different cask maturations.

The Metal edition is said to take its character from the distillery's 12 copper stills. Metal has matured in first fill Bourbon barrels, demonstrating the definitive Tomatin style.

Completing the series is Water, inspired by the water from the Alt-na-Frith burn; Tomatin's private water source. The water is drawn year round but this particular edition employs a winter-distilled spirit and Sherry butts to enrich the final flavour.

Jennifer Masson, Tomatin marketing manager, says: "After the tremendous success we experienced when we released our first three expressions in the Five Virtues series last year, we are incredibly excited to see how the public receive the final two elements in the collection: Metal and Water.

"The Five Virtues series was inspired by global concepts and the growth we've experienced as a brand, so it is incredible to have the series so well received by customers that know us or who are only just hearing about Tomatin."

Graham Eunson, distillery general manager, says: "During the cold winter months at Tomatin, the spirit vapours have less contact with the condensers during the distillation process and are therefore turned back into liquid form far quicker. In the Water expression, a winter distilled spirit, this results in a slightly heavier and fuller spirit, which when combined with its Sherry cask maturation, gives a great, full-bodied whisky. The Metal expression meanwhile uses bourbon barrels, which really accentuate Tomatin's house style; light, sweet and fruity."

The first expressions released early last year, Wood and Fire sold out within six months. Earth, a peated release from the distillery, was released in September 2017 and sold out in January 2018.

Each whisky in the series has been packaged in cartons featuring the work of contemporary artist, Eva Ullrich, who represented each expression with abstract art.

Tomatin won Distiller of the Year 2016 and Brand Innovator of the Year 2017 at the Icons of Whisky Scotland Awards.

The Metal and Water expressions are available specialist retailers, from 49.99.

19 February 2018 - Sam Coyne The Drinks Report, news editor
The annual Big Bad Wolf (BBW) book sale is set to return to Jakarta next month.

The event is slated to take place between March 29 and April 9 at the Indonesian Convention Exhibition (ICE) in BSD, South Tangerang, Banten.

According to an announcement posted on Instagram, BBW this year will sell more than 5.5 million books throughout the 24-hour, non-stop sale, offering discounts of 60 to 80 percent for imported titles.

Read also: Bulk buyers cause long lines at Big Bad Wolf book sale

Last years BBW attracted around 300,000 visitors, with organizers providing 60 cashiersfrom the 32 in 2016in an effort to avoid long lines.

Nevertheless, long lines were unavoidable on some days. During an invitation-only pre-sale event, bulk buyers dominated came in droves, forcing customers to stand in line for up to four hours to pay for their books. (liz/kes)
Internet literacy among Indonesians is said to have increased by more than half or up to 54.68 percent, according to a survey released by the Indonesian Internet Service Providers Association ( APJII).

The number of internet users in Indonesia reportedly reached 132.7 million in 2016 and 143.26 million in 2017.

"This number continues to grow. Next year, the APJII will provide live data through our big data service, hence the number could be seen real time," said APJII secretary-general Henri Kasyfi Soemartono in Jakarta on Monday as quoted by Antara.



According to the survey, which involved 2,500 respondents across Indonesias six-biggest regions, Java remained at the top the list with internet user penetration of 58.08 percent, followed by Sumatra (19.09 percent); Kalimantan (7.97 percent); Sulawesi (6.73 percent); Bali, West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara (5.63 percent); and Maluku and Papua (2.49 percent).

Read also: 5 safety tips for browsing the internet

The users are said to be dominated by young people age 13-18 years old, reaching up to 75.5 percent, of which most were male users (51.43 percent).

The survey also revealed that the highest penetration was found in regions that have higher-educated populations.

"This also applies to penetration at the economic level; the higher the economic status, the higher the penetration. At the highest social class economy, for instance, the penetration reached 93.1 percent," said Henri.

Gadgets are said to be the most popular devices used to access the internet, the survey stated, reaching up to 44.16 percent, followed by a computer or laptop (4.49 percent) and both (39.28 percent).

Henri added that among the things that needed attention related to the survey was the fact that people had not yet maximized the use of internet in the field of health, such as to consult health issues with health experts.

Additionally, the use of the internet in the field of economics had only been applied by 16.83 percent, in the form of online selling and purchasing. The use of local apps was also still small, as up to 56.79 percent of internet users said they rarely used local apps. (kes)
Jakarta Sneaker Day (JSD) will return on March 1-March 3 in The Hall of the Senayan City shopping center, the event's chairman announced at a press conference on Monday.

JSD chairman Andrey Noelfry Tarigan said this year's JSD would feature the exclusive release of five new sneaker designs, reported kompas.com. One of these will be the re-release of Vans x Metallica footwear collection, designed in collaboration with the legendary heavy metal band.

"There will be many other releases," Andrey said, in comparison to the collection's earlier Indonesian release.

Read also: Hotness alert: Vans X Metallica sneaker series

This year's JSD takes on the "Back to the Roots" theme and will have 40 stalls, slightly less than last year's event. According to the organizer, only quality footwear will be on offer, as all participating the vendors had been vetted through rigorous screening.

Andrey could not confirm whether the vendors would display rare shoes. However, he assured that the JSD would feature many good shoes from branded lines.

"We want more members of the Indonesian general public to wear sneakers, from young children to adults," Andrey said. (liz/kes)
Legend has it that the origin of margarita began in the 1930s when a bartender named Johnny Durlesser in Los Angeles made a drink to impress a girl he liked. Mainly consisting of tequila, the drink has evolved with the addition of other ingredients, such as peppers and fruit juice.

Frozita Margarita is no exception. Served in a cocktail glass, the drink consists of Jose Cuervo Especial Reposado tequila, triple sec liqueur, lime, passion fruit sorbet and red rose petals on top. It boasts a sweet and sour taste, while the soft sorbet makes it even more refreshing.

Amelia "Amel" Izzai gives the final touches to a Frozita Margarita. (JP/Ni Nyoman Wira)

Created by mixologist Amelia Amel Azzai, the aforementioned margarita can be found at Publik Markette in the Grand Indonesia shopping mall, Central Jakarta. Amel was inspired by Valentines Day and chose Reposado because she often used it in her drinks. Meanwhile, similar to what's found in many desserts, the fresh rose petals are more than just a decoration.

Read also: Have you tried a Coronarita lately?

"They are edible, but not many people know [it], Amel told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Frozita Margarita is one of the drinks served in line with the country's first Cuervo Margarita Festival, held for two weeks from Feb. 12 to 25. The event involves eight culinary establishments in Jakarta and Bali, which include Por Que No, De Luca, Savoi, Superloco, Lucy in the Sky, Wilshire and Publik Markette in Jakarta as well as Rock Bar in Bali.

During the event, the establishments offer special margarita drinks. Por Que No, for instance, offers a chocolate margarita.

The spicy and strong jalapeno margarita. (JP/Ni Nyoman Wira)

Founded in 1758, Jose Cuervo is said to be the oldest tequila brand in the world. According to its official website, it has a long history, even before Mexico became an independent republic, but it still maintains the same recipes that have been inherited from one generation to the next.

Meanwhile, those who prefer to get a little kick in their throat when enjoying a glass of margarita can sample jalapeno margarita, which is made of Jose Cuervo Especial Reposado tequila, slices of jalapeno, triple sec liqueur, lime and apple.

According to Amel, this drink also offers a hint of rujak (Indonesian fruit salad) because people will taste different flavors in it, sweet, sour, spicy and salty.

Its not that difficult to create one recipe, said Amel, who has 10 years of experience in the industry, adding that inspiration could come from everywhere: trends, travel and what people like. Especially if were behind the bar, there are many flavors that we can try [] If Im in the mood, it can be done instantly. (kes)
The Saint Yosep Singkawang Group has submitted another achievement for the Indonesian Museum of Records (MURI) by making the highest number of dragon displays for the celebration of Chinese New Year and the Cap Go Meh Festival.

The West Kalimantan-based group has made nine dragons in total.

Bong Sin Fo, the group's dragon-making chairman, said Saint Yosep Singkawang Group had previously broken an MURI record in a similar field in 2017, when it had created the longest dragon in Indonesia, measuring 178 meters.

Bong Sin Fo explained that the MURI certificate this year was set to be bestowed on Feb. 28 at the Mulia Singakwang College of Economics (STIE) in West Kalimantan. "Two of the dragons are already placed inside the Kridasana Stadium; meanwhile, the remaining seven will be placed inside the multipurpose building inside the STIE-Mulia," Bong Sin Fo said, as quoted by Tempo.co.

All nine dragons were supposed to be placed at the Krisdana Stadium. However, because the roof of the stands to be used for dragon placement was deemed inadequate, it was decided that two dragons should suffice.

Read also: Thousands of lanterns light up Singkawang for Chinese New Year

Separately, Singkawang's Chinese New Year and Cap Go Meh committee chairman, Tjhai Leonardi, said the city had also made history this year by installing 15,000decorative lanterns, surpassing a previous MURI record.

"Furthermore, as for the tatung (the Hakka Chinese word for a person who is possessed by the gods or by the spirits of ancestors), there were 850 tatung as of Feb. 14. This is also a terrific record," Tjhai Leonardi said.

The celebrations in Singakawang this year were also commemorated with ornaments of the 12 shiau (Chinese zodiac signs), as well as artistic lanterns, such as the God of Fortune, which measures 4.5 m in height and is installed in the Tri Dharma Bumi Raya temple in the city center.

Singkawang Mayor Tjhai Chui Mie said the city's residents should be proud, as Singakawang's Chinese New Year and Cap Go Meh celebrations were the biggest in Indonesia.

"Chinese New Year and Cap Go Meh in Singkawang have become a permanent event at the Tourism Ministry," Tjhai Chui Mie added.

The citys past MURI records related to the annual celebrations include the greatest number of lanterns (10,895 lanterns) in 2009 and the highest number of tatung in a parade (777 tatung) in 2010.

Furthermore, records also include the creation of the largest lantern in 2011, the largest kue keranjang (basket cake made from glutinous rice) in the same year and a replica of China's Great Wall in 2012.

"Some achievements are certainly the pride of the entire Singkawang's community, because we made it happen together," Tjhai Chui Mie said. (liz/wen)
As an artist, Yoes Rizal is internationally renowned and a text book expressionist.

Yoes rejects the notion that art artwork can be explained in relation to a single message or story, believing such explanations to be posturing.

My work is not final, thats the problem. The idea is not ending at this size. It has to be continued, its a process,Yoes told The Jakarta Post during his exhibition opening at the National Gallery in Central Jakarta on Feb 9.

Titled Pop-up/Meletup, the exhibit features 25 paintings of Yoes and will run until Feb. 22.

Exhibition curator Mahmud Dzafce described Yoes paintings as being comparable to what he imagined it would be like to see a loud voice or speech in physical form.

Dzafce described the subjects of Yoes paintings as thoughts [] presented in lines, spots, and colors, always clashing each other like the reflection of sound vibes in a room.

Scribbles N Massive Forms by Yoes Rizal (JP/Reuben Wylie)

Yoes said art was art, adding that its not a medium for social or political or cultural problems. He believes that visual art as a medium is primarily an expression of an artists appreciation for colors and shapes as dictated by their eyes and motivated by internal feelings.

I think the best art comes from your heart. It is very direct, there is no handicap to express yourself by the abstractionist style, especially the expressionism style, Yoes said.

The explanations Yoes gives his paintings are always short and told only in relation to the aesthetic processes he was following while painting, such as a specific shape or squiggle that caught his eye.

Born in Palembang, South Sumatra, on April 24, 1956, Yoes embedment as an artist in the ideologies of abstract expressionism could be tied to his time spent studying at the Bandung Institute of Technologys (ITB) School of Art, from which he graduated in 1985.

Back then, the artists of Bandung, West Java, were greatly appreciative of abstract art. The practices and especially the ideals of Bandungs abstract art traditions were contrary to the modernist art traditions of Yogyakarta artists, many of which were embedded in leftist and anti-regime ideals.

Meet the collector: Painter Yoes Rizal (left) chats during his solo exhibition opening with House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Fadli Zon from the Gerindra Party at the National Gallery. Fadli is a well-known enthusiastic art collector. (National Gallery/File)

The two cities have been associated with a bitter rivalry partly owing to their conflicting ideals concerning art and artist the profession, in which the Yogyakarta modernists perceived visual art to be a definite medium for political protest and that artists had a responsibility in representing their society truthfully or even onto itself.

Yoes himself believes his artwork to be unsuitable to many modern Indonesian audiences, claiming that Indonesian audiences prefer art work with simplistic ideas or to have ideas readily explained to them.

In the Indonesian market, I think now mostly they like to see something clearer, something solid and final, he said.

I think people who view my paintings are very quiet. I dont think the audience likes to ask me questions because I have already given them the answer. There are no stories behind my paintings.
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Linkedin Brian KNOWLTON (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States  Tue, February 20, 2018 07:20 1304 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c65df18 2 World trump,gun-control Free

US President Donald Trump signaled support Monday for a bipartisan effort to improve a national system of background checks for gun purchases, as urgent calls for reform swell in the wake of the Florida school shooting.

"While discussions are ongoing and revisions are being considered, the president is supportive of efforts to improve the Federal background check system," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement.

Trump has come under intensifying pressure to act after a teenage gunman, identified by police as Nikolas Cruz, went on a rampage at a high school in Parkland, Florida on Wednesday, killing 17 people.

Angry students who survived the attack have called for a march on Washington to demand changes in US gun laws, calling out Trump and the powerful National Rifle Association (NRA) at rallies.

Sanders said Trump had spoken to Senators Chris Murphy, a Democrat, and John Cornyn, a Republican, the joint sponsors of a bill to fix a national database by requiring states and federal agencies to report more often on offenses that would bar an individual from buying a gun.

The legislation amounts to a narrow, technical fix, leaving unaddressed the broader, divisive issue of permissive gun laws under a constitutional amendment that protects the right to bear arms.

- A major weakness -

Normally on opposite sides of the gun debate, the lawmakers teamed up in November after a gunman stormed a church in Texas, killing 26 people in one of the nation's deadliest mass shootings.

That gunman, Devin Kelly, was able to buy guns despite a domestic violence conviction while serving in the air force that should, by law, have prohibited him from purchasing or possessing firearms.

The conviction was never reported by the air force, however, exposing a major weakness in the background check system.

After earlier mass shootings, Trump has said little about guns, focusing instead on the mental health of shooters. Following the Oct. 1 attack in Las Vegas that left 58 people dead, he said only that "we'll be talking about gun laws as time goes by."

After the Parkland shooting he emphasized the need to deal with mental-health issues, while castigating the FBI for missing warning signs about the shooter.

He initially made no mention of guns, drawing an angry reaction from Democrats and angry Floridians. Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic leader, noted that Trump's proposed 2019 budget would actually cut spending on the background-check program.

Even one of the most shocking mass shootings of recent years -- the 2012 attack on a Connecticut elementary school that left 20 young children and six adults dead -- brought little legal change, though Connecticut and a handful of other states toughened their gun laws.

- 'A real, genuine effort' -

But there are some indications that the limited steps Trump backs might succeed. The NRA said last fall that it "has long supported the inclusion of all legitimate records in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System."

Gun-control advocates also back the Cornyn-Murphy bill.

"This is a real, genuine effort from people who couldn't be further from each other on the other side of the aisle," an official with the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence told the Atlantic magazine.

And the impassioned calls for change from Parkland shooting survivors -- photogenic young people who say they can no longer put up with the inaction of older generations -- have kept the issue alive.

"We need to do something," 17-year-old David Hogg, a shooting survivor, told CNN. "Congress needs to get over their political bias with each other and work toward saving children's lives."

CNN is holding a town hall meeting on Wednesday with the victims' classmates, parents, community members, and some Florida politicians.

The students' cries for action would appear to enjoy broad support.

A Quinnipiac University opinion survey in November found that backing for universal background checks had reached an all-time high, with 95 percent of voters favoring such checks.
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Linkedin Abdulmonam Eassa (Agence France-Presse) Hammuriyeh, Syria  Tue, February 20, 2018 08:09 1304 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c65eb69 2 World Syria,war Free

Heavy Syrian bombardment killed at least 77 civilians in rebel-held Eastern Ghouta on Monday, a monitor said, as regime forces appeared to prepare for an imminent ground assault.

The escalation came as pro-government forces were also expected to enter the northern Kurdish-controlled enclave of Afrin, to take a stand against a month-old Turkish assault there.

Held by rebels since 2012, Eastern Ghouta is the last opposition pocket around Damascus and President Bashar al-Assad has dispatched reinforcements there in an apparent concerted effort to retake it.

As the United Nations decried the "senseless human suffering", a barrage of air strikes, rocket fire and artillery slammed into several towns across Eastern Ghouta on Monday.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 20 children were among 77 civilians killed in the assault, while around 300 other people were wounded.

"The regime is bombing Eastern Ghouta to pave the way for a ground offensive," said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman.

The main opposition National Coalition, which is based in Turkey, denounced the "war of extermination" in Eastern Ghouta as well as the "international silence".

In a statement, it also accused regime ally Russia of seeking to "bury the political process" for a solution to the conflict.

Residents of Hammuriyeh could be seen rushing indoors in panic as soon as they heard the sound of jets.

Alaa al-Din, a 23-year-old Syrian in Hammuriyeh, said civilians were afraid of a potential government offensive.

"Ghouta's fate is unknown. We've got nothing but God's mercy and hiding out in our basements," he told AFP. "There's no alternative."

- Wailing children -

Shelling also hit the town of Douma, where an AFP correspondent saw five toddlers brought to a hospital, covered in dust and wailing uncontrollably.

The hospital was full of distraught civilians: one father slapped his forehead after finding his two dead children, another erupted into tears as he discovered the body of his newborn on a purple sheet next to a pool of blood.

Eastern Ghouta is held by two main Islamist factions, while jihadists control small pockets including one directly adjacent to the capital.

The Observatory and Syrian daily newspaper Al-Watan had said negotiations were under way for the evacuation of jihadists from Eastern Ghouta.

But escalating military pressure indicate that the regime would opt for a ground assault instead of talks, the monitor said.

Government troops carried out a relentless five-day bombing campaign earlier this month that killed around 250 civilians in the enclave and wounded hundreds.

Around the same time, the monitor said, the regime began dispatching military reinforcements to Eastern Ghouta.

After days of relative calm, the government sent more than 260 rockets crashing into Eastern Ghouta on Sunday.

The regime is keen to regain control of Eastern Ghouta to halt the deadly salvo of rockets and mortars that rebels fire on Damascus.

The United Nations said Monday that the targeting of civilians in Eastern Ghouta "must stop now".

"It's imperative to end this senseless human suffering," Panos Moumtzis, the UN's Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis said in a statement.

About half a dozen rockets hit the capital Sunday night, AFP correspondents said. State news agency SANA reported that one person was killed.

More than 20 civilians have been killed by rebel fire this month alone in regime-held Damascus.

- Regime to enter Afrin? -

All was quiet in the capital on Monday but since rumours of an imminent assault on Eastern Ghouta started spreading, people living close to the rebel enclave started packing their bags.

Jawad al-Obros, 30, said he was looking to move to a hotel in the western sector of the city to escape his home in an east Damascus neighbourhood that has been regularly hit by rockets from Ghouta.

"We're tired of this situation. It seems that there's no solution but a full-blown military one," he told AFP.

More than 340,000 people have been killed since Syria's conflict erupted in 2011 with protests against Assad's government.

It has since evolved into a war that has carved up the country into rival zones of influence among the regime, rebels, jihadists and Kurdish forces.

The Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) control the northwestern region of Afrin, target of a month-old assault by the Turkish army and allied Syrian rebels.

Turkey sees the YPG as a "terror" group linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), outlawed by Ankara, and wants to clear it from its southern border.

The YPG has controlled Afrin since 2012, when Syrian troops withdrew from it and other Kurdish-majority areas.

Syrian state media said Monday that pro-regime forces were preparing to enter the area to "join the resistance against the Turkish aggression".
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 20, 2018 18:19 1303 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c6760d2 1 City #Jakarta,#thief,#motorcycle,#begal Free

West Jakarta police shot dead a motorbike theft suspect and arrested three others in Kembangan on Monday.

The dead suspect identified as HR was allegedly part of a begal (violent thief) group from Lampung who always carried guns.

The three arrested suspects were identified as Tamrin, M. Apipudin and Zaenal Abidin.

Police chief Sr. Comr. Hengki Haryadi said HR had resisted arrest when the police shot him in Kembangan, West Jakarta.

The [alleged] perpetrators can steal at least 10 motorbikes per day and they will not hesitate to shoot their victims, Hengki said Tuesday, as quoted by tribunnews.com.

According to Hengky, the group often carried out their alleged crimes in the middle of the night in West Jakarta and sold the stolen motorbikes outside Jakarta.

They usually steal [motorbikes] from midnight to 6 a.m. But recently they did that during working hours, he said.

The police seized seven motorbikes, assembled firearms, .38 caliber bullets and a T-key.

They each face a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, Hengki said. (wnd)
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Linkedin Bambang Muryanto (The Jakarta Post) Yogyakarta  Tue, February 20, 2018 11:06 1304 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c6630f7 1 National Catholic,CatholicChurch,attack,Yogyakarta,terrorism,sleman Free

Bishop Robertus Rubyatmoko said he had forgiven Suliyono, the alleged attacker of congregation members at St.Lidwina Church in Sleman, Yogyakarta, on Feb.11. Four congregation members and one police officer were injured in the incident.

We call on all parties to avoid any revenge and instead, we should pray for his happiness in his afterlife, Rubyatmoko told journalists during his visit to Muhammadiyah leader Buya Syafiis house on Monday.

The bishop said he visited Syafii to express his gratitude for the latters visit to the church after the attack.

Buyas visit helped calm us. What emerged after the incident was instead a strong sense of brotherhood, said Rubyatmoko.

Syafii said he was happy to welcome Rubyatmoko to his home. Im only a small screw that is striving to promote logic and healthy thinking in this country, he said.

After visiting Syafii, Rubyatmoko held a Mass at his church. He said the Mass was aimed at easing congregation members minds following the attack.

We want all Catholics and members of society traumatized by the incident to immediately recover, said Rubyatmoko. (ebf)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 20, 2018 18:35 1303 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c676825 1 City diphtheria,Depok Free

The Depok Health Agency in West Java has launched an epidemiology investigation on the latest case of diphtheria in the area, following the death of 10-year-old Faiz Juliansyah on Friday.

A team is currently following up on the people who were in close contact with Faiz during his illness.

Were giving them erythromycin  antibiotics for bacterial infections, Depok Health Agency head Lies Karmawati told kompas.com on Monday. Were also cooperating with the district administration and the victims school, as well as the local police to ensure that everyone in the area has been vaccinated to prevent a further outbreak.

Faiz, a student of Mekarjaya Depok state elementary school, was reportedly rushed to the Sukmajaya Health Center last week after experiencing four continuous days of high fever.

The next day, as his chin and neck became swollen, he was admitted to Hasanah Graha Afiah Hospital, which then was transferred him to the Sulianti Saroso Infection Center in North Jakarta on Feb. 16.

Unfortunately, Faizs condition was far too severe and he was unable to recover.

Depok declared a health emergency (KLB) following a diphtheria outbreak in December, which killed two people and infected 12 others. (vla)
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Linkedin Bambang Muryanto (The Jakarta Post) Yogyakarta  Tue, February 20, 2018 09:56 1304 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c6617e0 1 National Ombudsman,ORI,Yogyakarta,State-Land-Agency,BPN,Chinese-descent,Chinese-descents,land-ownership Free

The Yogyakarta Indonesian Ombudsman (ORI Yogyakarta) says a 1975 Yogyakarta deputy gubernatorial instruction cannot be used as a legal basis for the State Land Agency (BPN) to reject the registration of land ownership status transfers requested by Chinese-Indonesians.

This is in line with a Supreme Court ruling issued in 2015 that declared the instruction invalid, said Budhi Masthuri of ORI Yogyakarta on Monday.

He said ORI Yogyakarta had issued the decision on Friday after it investigated reports submitted by Ida Cholidah from the Yura law office, Zealous Siput Lokasari, Kus Sri Antoro and Peoples Movement against Discrimination (Granad).

They reported BPN heads in Bantul and Kulon Progo regencies, as well as Yogyakarta city for reportedly rejecting land ownership transfer requests submitted in 2016.

The agency heads in the three areas said their decisions had been based on a circular issued by BPN Yogyakarta on a 1975 Yogyakarta deputy gubernatorial instruction that stated an Indonesian citizen of Chinese descent did not have land ownership rights in Yogyakarta.

ORI Yogyakarta said the move contravened land registration regulations. (ebf)
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Linkedin Severianus Endi (The Jakarta Post) Ketapang, West Kalimantan  Tue, February 20, 2018 13:51 1304 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c665cea 1 National organic-agriculture,organic-farming,OrganicFertilizer,organic-fertilizers,Ketapang,West-Kalimantan,Sinarmas,Sinar-Mas Free

Farmers in Nanga Tayap district, Ketapang regency, West Kalimantan, have intensively carried out organic farming over the last two years as part of their efforts to reduce their dependence on imported products, such as chemical-based fertilizers and insecticides.

Using materials available in their surroundings, the farmers have produced by themselves organic fertilizers and insecticides for their fields.

Bambang Riatmojo, 34, a farmer from Lembah Hijau 2 village, said he could produce organic fertilizer by mixing chopped wild plants and homemade micro-organism liquid.

Previously, I opened vegetable fields by employing the slash-and-burn method, after which I used chemical fertilizers and insecticides. Now, to open a vegetable field, I have maximized the use of locally made compost and natural insecticides, Riatmojo told The Jakarta Post.

By using compost and natural insecticides, he said, chili plants could live longer and have crop yields. Chili plants grown with chemical fertilizer could survive only around six months, he added.

In organic farming, farmers must be more patient and clear their plants of pests, such as caterpillars, which can be removed easily by natural methods, including by growing certain plants in their surrounding areas to attract natural predators, said Riatmojo.

Zukri Saad, the national stakeholder engagement division head of Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food, said farmers in eight villages in Nanga Tayap had participated in organic farming training provided by the company to improve their capacity and productivity.

It is hoped they will no longer depend on imported fertilizers and insecticides, said Zukri. (ebf)

Free from chemicals: Farmers in Lembah Hijau 2 village in Nanga Tayap district, Ketapang regency, West Kalimantan, use compost and chemical-free insecticides for their crop fields. (JP/Severianus Endi)
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 20 2018

State prosecutors demanded on Monday that the East Jakarta District Court sentence hate speech suspect Jonru Ginting to two years in prison.



The suspect deliberately spread information [through social media] that incited hatred in society, prosecutor Zulkipli said during the trial. He added that, according to witness reports, the information carried negative connotations.



According to language experts and reporters, the suspects posts about President Jokowis parents contained hatred, said Zulkipli.



Jonru has been charged under Article 28 of the Information and Electronic Transaction (ITE) Law, which carries a punishment of two years imprisonment and a Rp 50 million (US$3,690) fine.



Jonru, a social media personality, was reported by lawyer Muannas Al Aidid in August last year after appearing on a TV talk show, during which he admitted to...
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 20, 2018 17:59 1303 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c673f5c 4 Business forest-land,conversion,Environment-and-Forestry-Ministry Free

Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar said on Tuesday that the government this year planned to hand over 2 million hectares of forest land to local residents to be used for other functions.

It is a large number and the progress is fast. The handover of the 2 million hectares of land must be completed in 2018, Siti said in Jakarta as reported by kotan.co.id.

About 900,000 hectares of forest land was ready for verification, the minister said, adding that her ministry had deployed a large number of workers to speed up the process.

Siti added that about 1.4 million hectares of forest was ready for to be converted  both in Java and outside Java, including 100,000 hectares of customary land.

As part of the land reform, President Joko Jokowi Widodo has implemented a land certification program to distribute land certificates to Indonesian citizens. The government claimed to have certified 4.2 million plots of land last year from the total target of 5 million.

Land status issues continue to pose a challenge to the implementation of the land certification program. The conversion of forests is expected to contribute to the government's target to issue 7 million land certificates this year. (bbn)
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Linkedin Winda A. Charmila (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 20, 2018 20:31 1303 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c67919e 1 City MRT-Jakarta,trains,arrival Free

Two MRT trains will be delivered from Japan and arrive in the capital next month, according to mass rapid transit developer PT MRT Jakarta.

The trains were tested at Nippon Sharyos Toyokawa Plant in Japan, which was witnessed MRT president director William Sabandar.

What is most important is to ensure that the components work perfectly based on the required technical specifications, William said in a statement. We also tested the trains performance on a track located within the factory.

The trains will be delivered from Toyokawa Plant to Toyohashi city port next week and then shipped to Indonesia on March 7. They are predicted to arrive at Tanjung Priok port in North Jakarta by the end of March.

They are the first MRT trains to be sent to Jakarta.

William said he was satisfied with the trains as all of their features worked well and met his expectation. He hoped that Nippon Sharyo would be able to maintain the same level of quality for the next shipment of MRT trains.

MRT Jakarta plans to operate 16 trains, each of which will comprise six cars.
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Linkedin Nethy Dharma Somba (The Jakarta Post) Jayapura, Papua  Tue, February 20, 2018 19:03 1303 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c676e20 1 Politics Lukas-Enembe,Papua,Papua-elections,Papua-gubernatorial-election,KPUD Free

After days of postponement, the Papua Elections Commission (KPUD) announced on Tuesday that incumbent pair Lukas Enembe - Klemen Tinal and the pair of John Wempi Wetipo - Hebel Melkias Suwae would compete in the province's gubernatorial election in June.

The Papuan People's Assembly (MRP) declared that both pairs were indigenous Papuans, a necessary requirement to run in the election.

The Lukas-Klemen pair is endorsed by the Democratic Party, the Golkar Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB), the United Development Party, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the NasDem Party, the Hanura Party, the Crescent Star Party (PBB) and the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI).

John and Hebel, meanwhile, are supported by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and the Gerindra Party.

"The MRP conducted a factual verification to check whether the four people originate from Papua. They all passed the verification process," KPUD Papua chairman Adam Arisoi said in a plenary meeting in Jayapura.

The national date to announce candidates was initially set for Feb.12, however the countrys easternmost province was late to confirm its election candidates, as the MRP was late to submit the verification documents to the election offices of the four candidates home regions.

Article 12 of the 2001 Special Autonomy Law stipulates that all candidates in the Papua election must be native Papuans, and that the MRP has the authority to determine whether or not the applicants meet the requirement. (foy/ebf)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 20, 2018 17:55 1303 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c673363 1 City #Jakarta,#culturalheritage,#tourism,#culture Free

The number of registered cultural heritage buildings in Jakarta has been increased to 600 this year, Jakarta Tourism and Culture Agency head Tinia Budiati has said.

A total of 600 buildings in Jakarta are included in the revised Governor Decree No.475 of 1993 [on historical buildings in Jakarta], Tinia said, as quoted by kompas.com

She added that in the previous decree, only 132 buildings were categorized as cultural heritage sites.

Many of them are house and offices spread out in Kebayoran Baru and Menteng [in South Jakarta] and Jatinegara [in East Jakarta], basically all mayoralties, Tinia said.

The agency is still collecting information and historical data on 300 buildings, as the cultural heritage team will not only designate the sites heritage buildings but also provide written backgrounds on the sites for the public. It is hoped that the managers or owners of the cultural heritage buildings will be able transform them into tourist attractions.

There are three types of cultural heritage; A, B and C. Type A buildings could not be changed at all, while Type B categorization allowed for the interior structure of the building to be changed and Type C allowed for total renovation so long as the atmosphere remained the same, Tinia added. (wnd)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 20, 2018 16:52 1303 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c66fa74 1 City online-prostitution,Bekasi Free

Police have busted an alleged prostitution and human trafficking ring on Jl. Kalimalang in Bekasi, West Java, after receiving reports from concerned citizens.

A suspect had been arrested on Saturday at a hotel after police conducted a stakeout, Bekasi Police crime division chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Dedy Supriadi said on Monday.

Dedy said the suspect had been seen with two women.

After an investigation, we found that the two women were prostituted online via Facebook, where their services were offered for Rp 1 million (US$73) to Rp 1,5 million, said Dedy, as quoted by kompas.com, adding that the suspect had admitted to running the illicit activity for six months.

Police are investigating the possibility of other suspects being involved in the ring.

The suspect has been charged under the Human Trafficking Law, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. (jlm)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 20, 2018 19:36 1303 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c677626 1 City liquid-waste,Bekasi,permit,factories Free

Three of 14 factories established along a riverbank in Bekasi, West Java, do not have permits to dispose of liquid waste, an official has said.

Bekasi Environmental Agency pollution department head Agung Adiputra said four other factories, which already had the permits, had failed to evaluate their waste treatment and report it to the local administration for the last two years.

Meanwhile, two of the factories without permits have submitted proposals to the administration, which is currently in the process of the verifying them.

However, the other factory has yet to submit a permit application to the administration, Agung said on Tuesday, as quoted by wartakota.tribunnews.com.

The 14 factories are engaged in various industries including food and beverage, garment and metal production and laundry.

The two factories that have submitted permit proposals are still without proper waste water treatment plants (IPAL). Therefore, the city administration had ordered these factories to address this in order to obtain the disposal of liquid waste permit, Agung added. (wnd)
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Linkedin Rizal Harahap (The Jakarta Post) Pekanbaru, Riau  Tue, February 20, 2018 18:13 1303 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c675d4b 1 National Riau,illegal-logging,land-and-forest-fires,land-fires,forest-fires Free

As authorities in Riau crack down on illegal logging and slash-and-burn practices, two residents have been arrested in separate locations after reportedly being caught red-handed clearing land for oil palm plantations.

A resident of Kepenuhan Baru village identified as S. was arrested by Rokan Hulu Police and Kepenuhan Police personnel for allegedly setting fire in the village of Sei Air Hitam in Central Kepenuhan last Friday.

The arrest of the suspect began with hotspot information released by the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). After coordinating with Kepenuhan Police, we searched the fire spot using coordinates from satellite data, Rokan Hulu Police criminal investigation division head Adj.Comr. Harry Avianto said on Tuesday.

Police later apprehended the suspect, who was hiding in a hut not far from the burned land. He is currently detained by Rokan Hulu Police for questioning.

(Read also: Riau ups wildfire alert status)

In Pelalawan regency, a joint team for peatland and forest fire prevention comprised of police and military personnel, Environment and Forestry Ministry officials and rangers of the Tesso Nilo National Park detected illegal logging in a conservation area on Sunday.

The team confiscated an excavator. The 28-year-old operator of the equipment, identified as LH, a resident of Air Molek in Indragiri Hulu regency, was straightaway taken into custody, because the excavator had entered the national park without permit, said Pelalawan Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Kaswandi. (ebf)
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Amman, Jordan  Tue, February 20, 2018 20:15 1303 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c678d1f 2 World Syria,war,children Free

The UN children's fund on Tuesday expressed "outrage" over the killings of children in Syria by issuing a blank statement, adding in a footnote that "no words will do (them) justice".

The statement came after a ferocious Syrian regime bombing campaign pounded the rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta on Monday, killing 127 civilians, 39 of them children.

"No words will do justice to the children killed, their mothers, their fathers and their loved ones," said Geert Cappelaere, UNICEF regional director for the Middle East and North Africa.

.@UNICEF statement on the slaughter in #Ghouta. Except it is not a statement, but a blank page of horror. pic.twitter.com/b9bo9CY7fU  Imogen Foulkes (@ImogenFoulkes) February 20, 2018

Those words were followed by a blank page.

UNICEF voiced its anger in a postscript at the end of the news release, entitled "The War ON Children in Syria. Reports of mass casualties among children in Eastern Ghouta and Damascus."

"UNICEF is issuing this blank statement," it said. "We no longer have the words to describe children's suffering and our outrage. Do those inflicting the suffering still have words to justify their barbaric acts?"

The United Nations on Monday demanded an end to the targeting of civilians in Syria.

But on Tuesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said at least 50 civilians, including 13 children, were killed in a second day of air strikes on Eastern Ghouta.

Held by rebels since 2012, Eastern Ghouta is the last pocket of opposition-held territory around Damascus and the regime of President Bashar al-Assad appears to be preparing a ground assault to retake it.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 20, 2018 16:02 1303 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c66ea57 4 Business YLKI,accident,infrastructure-project Free

The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) has criticized the poor construction site safety of infrastructure development projects, as indicated by several incidents connected to several projects in Greater Jakarta.

YLKI chairman Tulus Abadi said in Jakarta on Tuesday that the government should focus not only on the acceleration of infrastructure projects, but also on adequate safety measures at construction sites.

The implementation of accelerated infrastructure development is akin to a reckless angkot [public minivan] driver pushing to make a deposit. The important thing is to make [the deposit], without prioritizing the safety, security and comfort of the passengers, Tulus said as quoted by kompas.com.

He was referring to the practice among public minivan operators, which require its drivers to deposit a certain amount of money each day to pay the vehicle's rental fee.

On Tuesday morning, a section of the Bekasi-Cawang-Kampung Melayu (Becakayu) toll road collapsed in Kebon Nanas, East Jakarta, injuring seven workers.

It was the latest accident that followed several others, including the collapse of an underpass retaining wall near Soekarno-Hatta International Airport that caused one death, the collapse of a crane on the double-track railway in Jatinegara, killing four people, and the collapse of six girders on the Antasari-Depok toll road under development along Jl. TB Simatupang in South Jakarta, which damaged an empty truck.

Tulus said that the accidents showed that safety measures were not a high priority in the construction of infrastructure projects. These accidents are partly due to construction failure. The accidents also indicate that the infrastructure projects were not well-planned or that they lacked rigorous and consistent supervision, he said.

He added that such accidents could result from failures during either the planning or construction phase.

Tulus thus called on the government to establish a team to carry out forensic engineering to investigate the cause of the accidents. (bbn)
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, February 21 2018

Despite Indonesia having the lowest beer consumption in Southeast Asia, micro brewing, like third-wave coffee in Jakarta, has become serious business.



Following suit from countries such as the United States, New Zealand and Japan, Jakartas craft beer market has been expanding among both locals and foreigners.



Indonesians consume an average of 0.6 liters of pure alcohol a year, compared to around 9.7 liters a year consumed by our neighbors in Australia.



For Ade Putri Paramadita, co-founder of the online community Beergembira, the mission is to educate Jakartans about how to enjoy craft beer in a responsible way.



Our campaign is to know your limit, Ade says, The hashtag is #TahuBatasnya, so were actually helping the government to educate people about drinking.



Ade created the website with her drinking buddy in 2015, with the ...
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 20, 2018 06:10 1304 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c65cd26 1 News university,scholarship,Indonesia,Education,students Free

In a commitment to contributing to Indonesian education, Sampoerna University has announced its scholarship program for the 2018-2019 academic year.

In a statement released on Monday, Sampoerna University said it had made available scholarship funds of up to US$2 million for its Best and Brightest Merit Awards in the upcoming academic year. The scholarship will be available across all courses at the institution for outstanding students who aspire to contribute to society and the country.

"Sampoerna University recognizes the need for quality, international-standard education in Indonesia to create a better future for the people of Indonesia," Sampoerna Schools System president Marshall Schott said in the statement.

According to the statement, the university is the only one in Indonesia where all courses are taught in English, allowing students to strengthen their English-language competence.

Read also: Cambridge, Sampoerna link up on teacher training

The scholarship is open to Indonesian citizens living in Indonesia who have already or will graduate from high school, or the equivalent, at the end of the 2017-2018 academic year.

The university will grant each applicant achieving in the top 30 percent of College Readiness Test results a one-year tuition fee at Sampoerna University American College, worth US$7,500.

Meanwhile, the 18 people with the highest cumulative scores on the College Readiness Test will each receive four years' worth of tuition fees at Sampoerna University, worth $41,000 each. (liz/kes)
Posted Monday, February 19, 2018 11:00 pm

After nearly 40 years of practicing at Litchfield Family Practice, Dr. Jerome Epplin has had what he likes to call it - a change - as he's shifted his focus to mainly supportive living, nursing home and homebound patients.

"Some people say I'm semi-retired, but I'm really not, I've just changed. I like changes, and mainly because of interest, but also because it is less stress and it does take less time. It's something I really like," he said.

He began his change in career several years ago by seeing patients 50 years and above. Three years ago, he would only see his patients who were 80 years and above, and did mostly nursing home calls and some office work.

As of Dec. 14, Dr. Epplin shifted once again as he follows his passion by solely caring for his geriatric patients.

Currently, he travels to eight different nursing homes and supportive living facilities in Litchfield, Hillsboro, Nokomis, Gillespie, Staunton and Carlinville.

"Over the last ten years, I've been changing a lot, which I know drives my patients crazy. I've just followed my interests, and I've not been afraid to change," he said.

Dr. Epplin spent 30 years writing questions for the American Board of Family Medicine, and for 16 of those years, he concentrated on the geriatric portion of the study.

In continuing to show his love for the elder generation, he currently serves on the board of directors for the American Geriatrics Society. In that capacity, he is part of a committee that works on appropriate drug use in the elderly, otherwise known as Beers criteria.

He also served on the Alzheimer's Advisory Committee of the Illinois Department of Public Health for 25 years.

A native of Pinckneyville, he earned his bachelor of science degree from the University of Illinois in Champaign, and then graduated from medical school in Chicago. Dr. Epplin would complete his three years of residency in Rockford before coming to Litchfield in 1978.

"I chose Litchfield because at the time, it was one of the few small communities that had full-time emergency room coverage," he said.

"It is a small community, but it's close to a few large cities. Close enough to utilize without spreading yourself thin."

He would be joined by a few familiar faces including Dr. Roger Wujek just a year later, followed by Lonnie Laughlin and Phil Johnson.

Three of his former students in which he taught during his tenure at Southern Illinois University as a clinical professor for the Department of Family Medicine, Tim Ishmael, Dan Wujek and Keith Cochran, would later join the practice, along with Elaine Fisher and Laura Watt.

"When we started this practice, Dr. Roger Wujek and I had no clue it'd get this big," said Dr. Epplin.

Epplin, along with Wujek, has shown his service to the community by his efforts in continuing the supply of physicians to meet the needs of area residents.

The practice now cares for roughly 23,000 patients, and up to 400 people each day, and currently houses eight physicians, with a few more expected to join over the next few years.

Dr. Epplin recalls moving into their current building in 1997 or 1998, and the changes he's witnessed such as the number of physicians in the group and the electronic record which took effect around 13 years ago.

He added that the growth of insurance companies with various rules and regulations is also different, along with the obvious changes in practicing since his journey began.

"Over the years, I've had a lot of good nurses and nurse practitioners that have worked with me for quite awhile, and a physician needs good support staff like that," said Epplin. "Cindy Watters has been with me for almost 30 years and such experience is hard to find."

He also spoke of a former physician's assistant, Sheila Thomas, whom he worked with for 23 years, went back to school, and now works as a psychiatrist at the office two days a week, in addition to her work in Jacksonville.

In 1994, Dr. Epplin was named the Illinois Family Physician of the Year, and in 2010, he was honored as the 2010 National Clinician of the Year from the American Geriatrics Society.

"Although some changes have been difficult, the most difficult is letting go of patients, some of which I have taken care of for 35 plus years," he said. "I still have my list of patients I saw my very first day of practice, and I was still seeing some of these people. In that regard it was bittersweet, but I felt like it was what I needed to do."

He and his wife Renee reside in Litchfield, and share three children, Katie of Springfield, Luke of New York City, NY, and Rachel of Edwardsville, and four grandchildren.
Posted Monday, February 19, 2018 11:00 pm

Just before noon on Tuesday, Feb. 13, volunteers of the Witt Fire Department rescued an individual stranded on top of a roof during a house fire at 312 North Second Street in Witt. There were no injuries.

The fire department responded at 11:22 a.m. with 16 firefighters, three engines and a rescue truck, and were on the scene for roughly four hours.

Additionally, Witt received mutual aid from the Nokomis Fire Department, Nokomis/Witt Area Ambulance Service, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and Illinois State Fire Marshal's Office.
Posted Monday, February 19, 2018 11:00 pm

About 150 parents, teachers and local officials filled the Litchfield Middle School cafeteria for a presentation on the school district's goals and visions by Superintendent Debbie Poffinbarger.

The presentation was part of the regular monthly meeting, and all board members were in attendance.

"It's awesome you came out tonight to support our schools," Poffinbarger told the crowd.

Before starting the presentation, she shared a little bit of her family history and her passion for education.

"I have this passion, and sometimes I get in trouble for it," she said. "My job is my hobby, and sometimes I become too passionate about it. My hope every morning when I get up is that I get to help somebody."

She presented a four-minute audio clip from Denzel Washington talking about rising up from failure, and falling forward to succeed. Poffinbarger said she hopes to embed that message in the district's staff and students.

"Kids tend to be coddled," she said. "But they have to fail to get better. I have failed many times in my life. I choose faith not fair, and the mindset that I can do it. That's my message here tonight."

She encouraged the crowd to be partners in the district's endeavor to educate students in the 13 years they are there. The board will begin a book study with district teachers and staff called "The Energy Bus" by Jon Gordon, and Poffinbarger invited the community to join them.

In a ten-minute video presentation, including student testimonials, Poffinbarger outlined some of the district's goals, including becoming a connecting community, ensuring student success, improving facilities and infrastructure, being fiscally responsible and providing effective teachers and administrators to students.

"It's been a pleasure to move to Litchfield," Poffinbarger said.

"It's a phenomenal community. We have work to do in our schools, but we have phenomenal teachers and awesome custodians, secretaries and cafeteria workers. There are some phenomenal things going on in the Litchfield School District."

Poffinbarger asked the community to fill out a survey on things they think the district is doing well and things that could use some improvement. She asked local residents to give the district some time, adding she's committed to stay in Litchfield. The board approved a five-year contract for her earlier this year.

"My dream is to see every kid here as an individual learner," she said. "We have to teach kids to care for themselves and to be problem solvers. These kids will learn to care, love and be compassionate to others."

She encouraged community residents to invite others to meet her or step inside the buildings to see the things going on in the district.

"Litchfield is a good place to live, and I'm glad I get to live here," she said.

Citizens Agenda

Prior to the presentation, the board heard two updates under the Citizens Agenda. Litchfield High School Student Council President Breanna Seely told the board the school had seven wrestlers qualify for the state tournament over the weekend. She also told them it was National FFA Week, and members were celebrating with a canned food drive for the local food pantry.

In other news, Seely said the annual National Honor Society induction would be Thursday, Feb. 22 at 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria, and that the Fellowship of Christian Athletes is encouraging students to thank a teacher or staff member. The cast for this year's production of Once Upon a Mattress has been set, and the performances will be held the last week of April. In a final news item, she told the board of a new percussion ensemble.

After Seely's report, music teachers Ellis Henley and Cassie Lord-Remmert-McKorkle presented a group of middle school students in a new guitar class, who performed two songs for the board. Henley gave special thanks to the Baker Trust for providing the guitars, and said it was a wonderful opportunity for the students.

Other Business

During the consent agenda, the board approved the monthly list of volunteers who have completed their paperwork and approved three high school students for early graduation. All three students are planning to attend college upon early graduation.

Poffinbarger reported $156,172 in bills during the month of February, including $88,000 in the education fund, from which all day-to-day operating expenses are paid. She added the district currently has a balance of $4.5 million, and that the district had received $150,000 in early childhood and $44,880 in special education categorical grants from the state.

In new business, the board unanimously approved $262 in mileage reimbursement to Jeff Seabaugh for attending the school board conference in Chicago last November. Board members do take on personal expenses to attend the conference, but mileage is reimbursed by the district.

Board members also unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Regional Office of Education for the Safe Schools program.

Information Items

In addition to the strategic vision presentation, Poffinbarger presented the monthly enrollment report, noting 1,298 students in the district, as well as the administrators' reports.

She called on two board members to give committee reports. Meg Wertin said the newly formed Building and Grounds Committee had begun touring district school buildings, and thus far had toured all the elementary schools. Wertin said the buildings have no room for pupils or storage. The committee, which was formed to lead the discussion on use of the 1 percent sales tax for capitol improvement projects, plans to tour the middle school and high school next. Poffinbarger said the district has already received $332,000 in the county-wide 1 percent sales tax.

New board member Julie Abel reported on the Finance Committee meeting, where they reviewed the district's projected revenues and expenses through June. They also looked at the monthly inflows and outflows, and the committee was formed to make sure the district operates within its budget.

The next meeting of the Litchfield School Board will be held on Thursday, March 15, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Radius Room at Litchfield High School.
Posted Monday, February 19, 2018 11:00 pm

Members of the Litchfield City Council met very briefly for a regular meeting on Thursday evening, Feb. 15, at Corwin Hall.

All members were present for the meeting, which was held an hour later than its usual time, as many council members attended the Litchfield School Board meeting and strategic vision presentation.

After calling the meeting to order, Mayor Steve Dougherty introduced David Crocks, the new street superintendent.

Crocks, a lifelong resident, said he had a busy first few days working for the city with three water main breaks and two ice storms.

"I'm excited to work with you," he told the council. "I have a lot to learn, but I also have a lot to offer."

"We know you'll do a great job," Mayor Dougherty said.

The council met for only five minutes in open session and unanimously approved three agenda items.

The board approved up to $2,150 with Curt's Towing for the repairs on a transmission to a 2008 Chevrolet police department vehicle.

They also approved $2,140 per 100 cubic-yards of engineered wood fiber from Stillwater Enterprises in Effingham for a total of $4,280. Dougherty said the material would be used for the playground at the lake.

In a final motion, the board approved the purchase of a replacement gearbox for one of the oxidation ditch drive motors from Illinois Electric Works. The purchase is not to exceed $3,117.50, and will be used at the wastewater treatment plant.

After finishing in open session, the council members met for about ten minutes in closed session to discuss a personnel item, and no action was taken after closed session.

Members of the Litchfield City Council will meet next on Thursday, March 1, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Corwin Hall.
The U.S. premiere of POLLOCK, currently running in the underground theater at Abrons Arts Center, is a New York Times Pick! Read the glowing review here.

In the play, acclaimed French playwright Fabrice Melquiot, highlights how it is impossible to fully understand the brilliance and madness of Jackson Pollock without studying his marriage to artist Lee Krasner. POLLOCK explores the charged empty space between Pollock (performed by Jim Fletcher) and Krasner (performed by Birgit Huppuch); between his genius and her spirit; between the inhibitions of the former and the frustrations of the latter.

The show is co-presented by the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in New York and Abrons Arts Center.

It closes this Sunday, Feb. 25 so buy your tickets today!

*This is a paid advertisement.
There was a vigil held in Chinatowns Kimlau Square today for Peter Wang, the 15-year-old student who died holding the door open for classmates during last weeks Florida school shooting.

Wang, a JROTC cadet, was born in Brooklyn. He dreamed of returning to New York to attend West Point. Todays vigil was organized by the United Fujian Association. Thanks to Karlin Chan for sending along this photo.

Wang was one of 17 victims in the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. A White House petition to give him a full honors military burial has more than 68,000 signatures. The U.S. Military Academy at West Point announced that Wang has been posthumously admitted to the Class of 2025.
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A Southgate man has been charged with a misdemeanor after allegedly leaving a threatening email at a Riverview church over its controversial sexual identity workshop that some people equate to conversion therapy.

Brian Carl Begin II was arraigned Feb. 15 in Wyandotte before 27th District Magistrate Elizabeth DiSanto on a single charge of misuse of telecommunications services. The charge is a six-month misdemeanor, with a fine and penalty of up to $1,000, or both.

Metro City Church, 17760 Fort St., has drawn statewide attention over a program that was scheduled to have begun earlier this month titled Unashamed Identity Workshop for young girls struggling with their sexual identity.

Hosted by the church in partnership with Forge Ministries, the workshop is for those born as girls, between the ages of 12 and 16, who are struggling with thoughts that theyre transsexual, bisexual, gay or any other orientation. Many of those who attend the church deny the program offers conversion therapy, instead saying the workshops offer counseling to those who seek it. Those against the practice say they firmly believe the workshop is a conversion therapy program.

Protesters lined up outside the churchs Riverview campus Feb. 8 and 15 to protest having unlicensed people serving as therapists to children they say are at a fragile age in their emotional development. Many of the protesters also say they dont believe this type of program can change a young persons sexual or gender identity.

In a recent interview on the radio program Washington Watch with Tony Perkins, Metro City Church Pastor Jeremy Schossau discussed threats made against his church and mentioned that police had made an arrest.

Riverview Police Chief Clifford Rosebohm confirmed that officers met with church elders on Feb. 7 regarding threats of violence they received as voicemail messages. Police say the threats were related to the churchs sexual identity workshop.

The workshop has gained so much negative attention on social media and news outlets that the church has canceled the workshop, fearing that protest may turn violent, police stated in their report. The church is receiving approximately 40 voicemail messages a minute from critics of the Unashamed Identity Workshop.

According to police, two messages stood out from the rest. Both messages were received in the afternoon hours of Feb. 6 from a phone number registered to Begin.

In the first message, a male voice simply asks about enrolling a female in the conversion therapy workshop. The second voicemail message came from the same phone number, but this time police said the caller had a deep aggressive tone of voice and yelled into the phone.

The first portion of the message is inaudible because the male is yelling so loud, police state in the report. In the middle of the voicemail the male states if the church goes through with the gay conversion therapy class in the state of Michigan, I promise every member of the Antifa will show up armed and ready. This is not a joke.'

Police say the caller then repeatedly yelled God is dead prior to hanging up the phone.

Antifa is short for anti-fascists. The term generally refers to leftist individuals and groups who actively oppose fascism.

Begin acknowledged leaving a message for the church, but said it had nothing to do with Antifa. He declined to elaborate any further.

The church elders told police Metro City Church took the threats seriously and thought they were credible enough that they needed to make a police report.

After meeting with church officials, police located Begin and took him into custody for questioning.

Rosebohm said a warrant request was sent to the Wayne County Prosecutors Office for review on that same day.

After 48 hours the Police Department released the suspect pending charges, as the warrant request was under review by county prosecutors, he said. A person where it has been alleged they have committed a felony may be held for a minimum of 48 hours, no longer than 72 hours.

Rosebohm said if a police department wishes to hold a suspect longer than 72 hours, it has to show a continuous investigation. He said in this matter, the warrant was submitted and not received in time, due to the review process.

On Feb. 13, the Wayne County Prosecutors Office recommended a one count misdemeanor warrant and Begin was arraigned two days later.

He was released on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond.

His next court date is scheduled for 9 a.m. March 1.
RALEIGH, N.C., Feb. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In keeping with SECU Foundations longstanding commitment to education, the members of State Employees Credit Union (SECU) have once again renewed their funding for the People Helping People High School and Community College scholarship programs, allocating nearly $5 million toward the educational goals of college-bound students for the 2018 award year. Since 2004, SECU members have provided over $50 million in scholarship funding for North Carolina students!



The high school program provides a four-year scholarship to eligible graduating public high school seniors who are either members of the Credit Union or eligible for membership through a parent or guardian. The $10,000 scholarship is awarded to graduating seniors from regular public high schools and three charter high schools in North Carolina who will be attending one of the 16 constituent campuses of the University of North Carolina System. SECU Foundations two-year scholarship program provides each of the 58 community colleges in the North Carolina Community College System with two $5,000 scholarships to help students achieve academic success.

Students interested in applying should contact his or her high school guidance counselor or community college financial aid office. Recipients are selected by the scholarship selection committee of the school district or community college based on a candidates embodiment of the credit union philosophy of People Helping People, recognizing leadership, excellence of character, integrity, and community involvement, along with an overall academic grade point average of 2.5 or higher.

Forestview High School graduate Meredith Andrews was the recipient of a $10,000 scholarship in 2017. In her note of thanks to SECU members she said, I am honored to be awarded the People Helping People Scholarship. My plans are to acquire a higher level of education at Appalachian State University, double majoring in Public Relations and Advertising. This grant has helped alleviate the financial burden of college and Im extremely grateful to the SECU Foundation for helping me pursue a college degree!

About SECU and the SECU Foundation

A not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by its members, SECU has been providing employees of the State of North Carolina and their families with consumer financial services for over 80 years. The Credit Union also offers a diversified line of financial advisory services including retirement and education planning, tax preparation, insurance, trust and estate planning services, and investments through its partners and affiliated entities. SECU serves over 2.25 million members through 263 branch offices, nearly 1,100 ATMs, 24/7 Member Services via phone and a website, www.ncsecu.org. The SECU Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization funded by the contributions of SECU members, promotes local community development in North Carolina primarily through high impact projects in the areas of housing, education, healthcare and human services. Since 2004, SECU Foundation has made a collective financial commitment of more than $130 million for initiatives to benefit North Carolinians statewide.

Contact: Jama Dagenhart, Executive Director

Office: 919-839-5562 | secufoundation@ncsecu.org
Posted Tuesday, February 20, 2018 6:51 am

UPDATE 2/22: Teriyaki Thai in Ridgefield has been under new ownership since June 2016 according to information filed with the Washington State Department of Revenue. Records for the business then owned by Jumroon show the account expired Nov. 30, 2015  a new account with the same business name opened June 1, 2016, but lists owners as Vilaivan LLC.

The former owner of Teriyaki Thai, a Ridgefield restaurant, has pled guilty in a federal court to charges of forced labor, visa fraud and failing to file a federal income tax return, the U.S. Department of Justice stated in a news release last week.

Paul Jumroon, also known as Veraphon Phatanakitjumroon, 54, of Depoe Bay, Oregon, and a naturalized citizen originally from Thailand, pleaded guilty Feb. 14 in a U.S. District Court in Portland, Oregon, to the charge, the release stated. He ran the restaurant Teriyaki Thai in Ridgefield, located at the Interstate 5 junction.

According to the defendants plea agreement and admissions in court, between 2011 and 2014, the defendant and his associates fraudulently obtained E-2 visas to bring Thai nationals into the United States to provide cheap labor at his restaurants which included Teriyaki Thai as well as Curry in a Hurry in Lake Oswego, Oregon, according to the release.

Those visas are granted to foreign nationals who invest substantial money in a U.S. business and direct its operations, and to employees who have special qualifications that make their services essential to that business.

Jumroon was able to entice four forced labor victims to come to the United States with the fraudulently obtained visas, the release stated, making false promises to them.

Court documents showed the first victim arrived in the United States in June 2012, and the second victim arrived in April 2013. Jumroon used a variety of tactics to compel laborers to forced work, the release stated, which involved 12-hour days for six or seven days a week for minimal pay which included threats of deportation, control over identification documents and serious financial and reputational harm among other means. The first two victims were able to leave their employer in October 2013 and 2014, respectively.

Jumroon agreed to pay all four victims a combined $131,392 as part of his guilty plea, paid out in restitution for their unpaid labor in connection with his forced labor scheme, according to the release.

Further admissions by Jumroon included filing multiple false tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service and failing to report cash income earned from his restaurants between 2012 and 2015, the release stated. As part of the plea agreement, Jumroon agreed to pay tax due and owing in the amount of $120,384 to the IRS.

Combating human trafficking is a priority for Attorney General Sessions and the Justice Department, Acting Assistant Attorney General Gore of the Civil Rights Division stated in the release. Securing a guilty plea today is just another example of this commitment and the work of the Civil Rights Division, in coordination with the U.S. Attorneys Office, to hold those who choose to exploit vulnerable individuals accountable for their actions.

Jumroon faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for forced labor, five years in prison for visa fraud conspiracy, and three years in prison for filing a false tax return, the release stated. His sentencing is scheduled for May 24 before United States District Judge Anna J. Brown.

Jumroons prosecution is the result of the joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and Department of States Diplomatic Security Service, the release stated, with assistance from the Department of Labors Wage and Hour Division and Portland Police Bureau.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The original version of this article had Jumroon listed as simply "owner" of Teriyaki Thai in Ridgefield  the article was corrected and updated to show Jumroon had formerly owned the establishment which came under new ownership in 2016.
Posted Tuesday, February 20, 2018 2:44 am

A bill to eliminate the death penalty in Washington state is a step closer to being signed into law.

SB 6052 passed by a slim majority vote 26-22 that came just before the cutoff deadline, Wednesday, Feb. 14 at midnight to move bills out of their legislative chamberof origin.

I have no sympathy for people who kill people, that is not why Im doing this, said Senator Maureen Walsh, R-Walla Walla, one of the bills sponsors during floor debate. My motivation is simply that this is flawed policy.

As justification for the bill, Walsh pointed to inequality between large and small counties in their ability to pursue death penalty cases and instances where innocentpeople who were wronglysentenced have been put to death. She also argued that some families of victims do not receive vindication from capital punishment.

Before the final vote, the bill went through dramatic procedural gymnastics. Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane introduced an amendment that would have allowed the voters to decide whether or not the death penalty should be repealed. Senators ultimately voted against this amendment.

Two other amendments by Padden and Sen. Ann Rivers, R-Battle Ground, were rejected during the bills discussion.

Lieutenant Governor and Senate President Cyrus Habib ruled that the amendments werent relevant to the bill, and therefore couldnt be voted on.

One amendment brought by Padden would have made an exception to keep the death penalty for those who kill a law enforcement officer. Another amendment brought by Rivers would have allowed the person, once found guilty of aggravated first degree murder, to choose whether or not they want to die.

Several Republicans argued that maintaining the death penalty for those who kill police officers is necessary to maintain the rule of law. Sen. Tim Sheldon, DPotlatch, cited four officers who were killed in a shooting in Lakewood in November, 2009, while Sen. Randi Becker, REnumclaw, said that officers are increasingly at risk in rural counties. Its open season on officers, she said.

Sen. OBan argued that with eliminating the death penalty there would be a loss of order and respect for the rule of law.

The decision garnered bitter reactions from some Republicans. Senator Mark Schoesler, R-Spokane objected to Habibs ruling to not hold a vote on the latter two amendments.

Im disappointed our debate on this issue was stifled today, he said.

Schoesler also raised concerns over the judiciarys ability to maintain sentences. I have no trust in the judiciary that life without parole means life without parole.

Lt. Gov. Habib and Senator Mark Miloscia, R-Auburn both wore a cross on their foreheads to mark Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent in Catholicism.

Coincidentally this is Ash Wednesday when we are supposed to reflect on our sins, Miloscia said. I firmly believe that despite the evils people commit to each other, we must forgive them.

Bills to eliminate the death penalty have been introduced in the legislature over recent years, but have never made it far.

In 2014, Governor Jay Inslee placed a moratorium on capital punishment, sparing eight people.

There has been growing, bipartisan support for ending Washingtons death penalty, and the Senate today voted to do just that, Inslee wrote in a press release. I hope Washington joins the growing number of states that are choosing to end the death penalty.

It is unfairly administered; expensive; and unavailable in wide swaths of our state, Chair of the Senate Law and Justice Committee and co-sponsor of the bill, Senator Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle said of capital punishment in a press release. Those convicted of aggravated first-degree murder should die in prison with no hope of parole. The taxpayers do not need to spend millions of dollars to hasten that death.

As former Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Pedersen held the first hearing on a death penalty elimination bill in the House of Representatives in 2013, according to the release.

The bill now moves over to the state House, where it has until Feb. 23 to get passed out of committee.

One of the legislations sponsors, Sen. Reuven Carlyle, DSeattle, said after the vote that he is optimistic that it will be approved by the House. I think there's substantial support, he said. Many Republicans are openly advocating this position and I think the votes are there  I'm optimistic that it's going to floor.
Posted Tuesday, February 20, 2018 2:46 am

While state Democrats push a set of labor-union backed bills, Republicans decry the effort as special-interest politics.

Some Republicans object to two bills. The first, SB 6199, would restructure how the state Department of Social and Human Services works with tens of thousands of home health care workers by contracting them under a private vendor. The bill would also create an administrative board made up of agency employees, union representatives, and staff from the governors office, which would set the rate paid to the contractor, and, thus, the workers.

The legislation was requested by the Social and Human Services Department, which argues that it will simplify its relationship with home-health care workers, remove time spent on administrative paperwork, and improve patient care.

Another bill Republicans dislike, SB 6079, would exempt public employees from public disclosure requests. Senate Democrats and Democratic Governor Jay Inslee claim that the bill aims to protect the privacy of public employees from harassment or identity theft.

However, Senate Republicans argue that both bills were requested by SEIU 775an labor union representing around 30,000 home-health care workers in Washington. They say the requested policy changes are an effort by the union to maintain its membership base in the face of a 2014 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that invalidated laws requiring public employees to pay union fees even if they are not a member.

The 2014 rulingresulting from the controversial Harris v. Quinn casestated that mandatory union fees imposed on non-members violate First Amendment rights.

Republican critics argue that SB 6199 is a way for the union to get around the court mandate by getting the healthcare workers classified as technically privately employed, and therefore, still required to pay union fees.

They also characterize SB 6079 as a way to prevent the conservative Olympia-based Freedom Foundation think tank from informing home health care workers of their rights under the 2014 court rulinga continuation of a years-long fight between SEIU 775 and the Freedom Foundation over access to workers for canvassing purposes.

Following 2014 court ruling, the Freedom Foundation sued SEIU 775 for the contact information of its members to inform them of their right not to pay fees. The union responded by fielding a ballot initiative in 2016 to change state law to shield home-care providers personal information from public disclosure. The initiative passed 70 to 30 percent.

I think this is interest group pressure, said Sen. Joe Fain, RAuburn in a phone interview of the Democrats efforts. He also said that SB 6199, the measure that would put union officials on a board to serve as the states hiring contractor for home health workers, was crafted specifically in response to what the union asked for.

In a newsletter, Sen. John Braun, RCentralia, thrashed SB 6199 as the most disingenuous and cynical bill in Olympia.

In addition to several Democrats, two Republicans, Sen. Mark Miloscia, RFederal Way, and Sen. Phil Fortunato, RAuburn, signed on to SB 6199 as co-sponsors.

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling later this year in another caseJanus v. AFSCMEdealing with mandatory union fees. The court will ruleon if public employees are required to pay dues regardless of their membership status. Republicans have argued that this coming ruling is also a factor in the Democrats effort to move both bills.

SEIU 775 is a major financial contributor to the state Democratic party, donating thousands to Democratic candidates in recent years, according to the Public Disclosure Commission. Some Republicans, such as Sen. Fortunato, have received recent donations from the union as well.

Last week, Senate Republicans circulated a 2014 briefing memo authored by staff at the state Office of Financial Management for Gov. Jay Inslee that stated that SEIU President David Rolf had requested statutory and agency policy changes in response to the Harris v. Quinn caseincluding contracting with a third-party to make home healthcare providers private employeesas evidence that the bill was getting shepherded along at the request of labor interests.

A spokesperson for the Office of Financial Management confirmed the authenticity of the memo, writing in an email that the memo speaks for itself in outlining various requests from the union.

Inslees Chief of Staff, David Postman, told the Seattle Times that the governors office discussed ideas about the bill with SEIU 775 representatives, and acknowledged that bill benefits both the interests of the union and home health care workers.

Both bills were brought up for a floor vote late in the evening on Feb. 7, and floor debate on the legislation lasted until 1 a.m. with Republicans levying fierce criticism.

Its being run in the dark of the night for a purpose, said Sen. Michael Baumgartner, RSpokane, at the Feb. 7 floor debate. He contended that the legislation is really an attempt to subvert recent Supreme Court decisions.

The two bills were held until Saturday, Feb. 10, where they passed after passionate floor testimony.

Leading up to the Feb. 10 vote, Sen. Doug Ericksen, RFerndale, said: If the unions cant go out and convince those people to be members, then maybe they arent offering a good product.

This truly is the ugly underbelly of politics, he added.

Sen. Annette Cleveland, DVancouver, the sponsor of SB 6199, said at the Feb. 10 floor vote that the legislation would improve the quality of care for patients and that it was requested of her by the Department of Human and Social Services. She also called her Republican colleagues criticisms of unions offensive.

The sponsor of SB 6079, Sen. Patty Kuderer, DBellevue, she said on Feb. 10 that her bill to exempt public employee birthdays from disclosure was necessary to protect their personal information from cyber thieves before it was voted off the floor.

An SEIU 775 spokesperson directed requests for comment to the Department of Social and Human Services.

Gov. Jay Inslee is openly supportive of the bill to exempt public employee birthdates from disclosure. We think it is appropriate to protect them because these particular employees are the ones who are at risk of having their privacy violated. There has been a clear, concerted effort to do that. Its been ongoing. Its been funded by millions of dollars that are trying to reduce the ability of working people to have family wage jobs and have their organizational rights protected, he said, referring to the Freedom Foundation. I think this is the right approach.

Director of Labor Policy at the Freedom Foundation, Maxford Nelson, said that the new Democratic majority has emboldened labor unions to intensely lobby state Democrats to push their agenda.

I think labor unions are looking to take as much action as possible in this session that will help them preserve their cash flow and membership, Nelsen said in a phone interview. Weve seen SEIU 775 work very closely with Gov. Inslees administration to circumnavigate that court decision and implement every scheme they can think of to keep those caregivers paying dueswhether they like it or not.
WILMINGTON , Del., Feb. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Andrews & Springer LLC, a boutique securities class action law firm focused on representing shareholders nationwide, is investigating potential breach of fiduciary duty claims against the Board of Directors of Nationstar Mortgage Holdings Inc. (Nationstar Mortgage or the Company) relating to the sale of the Company to WMIH Corp. (WMIH formerly known as Washington Mutual, Inc.). On February 13, 2018, the two parties announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which WMIH will acquire Nationstar Mortgage in a merger worth approximately $1.9 billion. As a result of the merger, Nationstar Mortgages shareholders are only anticipated to receive $18.00 per share in cash or 12.7793 shares of WMIH in exchange for each share of Nationstar Mortgage.



Our Firm's investigation so far has discovered that the process leading up to the announcement of the merger appears to have significant conflicts of interest, thus making the process and consideration unfair.

Andrews & Springer is also investigating whether Nationstar Mortgages directors are breaching their fiduciary duties by failing to adequately shop the company and maximize shareholder value. Our investigation is also looking into whether Nationstar Mortgages top executives were conflicted and acted in their own self-interest when approving the merger.

If you own shares of Nationstar Mortgage and want to receive additional information and protect your investments free of charge, please visit us at http://www.andrewsspringer.com/cases-investigations/nationstar-mortgage-class-action-investigation/ or contact Craig J. Springer, Esq. at cspringer@andrewsspringer.com, or call toll free at 1-800-423-6013. You may also follow us on LinkedIn  www.linkedin.com/company/andrews-&-springer-llc, Twitter  www.twitter.com/AndrewsSpringer or Facebook - www.facebook.com/AndrewsSpringer for future updates.

Andrews & Springer is a boutique securities class action law firm representing shareholders nationwide who are victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty or corporate misconduct. Having formerly defended some of the largest financial institutions in the world, our founding members use their valuable knowledge, experience, and superior skill for the sole purpose of achieving positive results for investors. These traits are the hallmarks of our innovative approach to each case our Firm decides to prosecute. For more information please visit our website at www.andrewsspringer.com. This notice may constitute Attorney Advertising.
Posted Tuesday, February 20, 2018 3:30 am

Washington State lawmakers introduced a multitude of bills early this 2018 session on issues of gun regulation to address the multiple incidences of gun violence in the nation.

More than 10 firearm bills were introduced and led to heated debate throughout January. Four still have a chance to become law, having passed the cutoff deadline, Wednesday, Feb. 14.

We are not doing nearly enough to regulate access to weapons designed to cause mass casualties. We can do better if we choose to do better, Governor Jay Inslee wrote in a press release on Thursday, Feb. 15, the day after news broke about a 19-year-old who opened fire at a high school Florida killing 17 people.

Thoughts and Prayers are not enough, Senator David Frockt, D-Seattle, sponsor of two gun regulation bills that missed their deadline in the senate, wrote in a press release.

Representative Dan Kristiansen, R-Snohomish at a press conference on Thursday, Feb. 15, held his view that placing more laws on guns was not going to make schools any safer. The Legislature, he said, should instead focus on funding school programs for armed guards at schools, training teachers to handle weapons, and allowing school districts to decide for themselves what policy works best for them.

This is not a gun issue, this is a mental health issue, Senator Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver said at the conference, suggesting that lawmakers focus more on comprehensive mental health bills than gun regulations.

Washington state had three notable deadly shootingsin recent years; one in October, 2014 at Marysville Pilchuck High School when a student killed four other students and himself. Another was in September, 2017 when a student from Freeman High School killed a classmate and wounded three others. The shooting at the Cascade Mall in Burlington in September, 2016 drew national attention when a man opened fire killing five people.

On Friday, Feb. 16, Highline College in Des Moines reported hearing shots fired. In a scare after the shooting in Florida, students hid in classrooms until police arrived. They found no evidence of shots fired or weapons on campus.

Four gun bills passed one chamber before the Wednesday, Feb. 14 deadline to keep the bills chances of becoming law.

Nearly two-thirds, or 62 percent, of firearm deaths in the U.S. are suicides, according to data from Everytown for Gun Safety. SB 5553, sponsored by Senator Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, wouldallow a person at risk of suicide to voluntarily give up their rights to own a firearm. The bill allows a person to restore their firearm rights after a period of seven days.

Amid concerns that the waiver could be used against someone in employment or health services, lawmakers added amendments. The bill now prohibits employers or healthcare providers from using the waiver as a term of employment or service. The waivers are also exempt from the Public Records Act and they must be destroyed after someone restores their firearm rights.

The bill passed the Senate unanimously on Jan. 24. It is currently being considered for a vote in the House of Representatives.

SB 5992, sponsored by Senator Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, bans bump-fire stocks or the use of a firearm containing a bump stock. The bill makes a owning, selling, or manufacturing a bump stock in Washington state a felony.

Two survivors of a shooting at a country music concert in Las Vegas in which the shooter reportedly used bump stocks, Emily Cantrell and Kyle Helms, gave emotional testimony during the bills public hearing in January.

Several people opposed the bill on the grounds that bump stocks help people with disabilities protect themselves by enabling them to use a weapon.

The bill passed the Senate on Jan. 25 with a 29-20 vote. It is currently being considered for a vote in the House of Representatives.

SB 6298, sponsored by Senator Manka Dhingra, D-Redmond, adds convictions fordomestic violence harassment to the list of crimes for which someone can be prohibited from owning a firearm.

This really ensures that we are holding all perpetrators of domestic violence equally accountable, Dhingra said during floor debate on Feb. 9. It is a crime where we see a lot of lethality for women involved.

Senator Mike Padden, R-Spokane, said during the debate that he is concerned that domestic violence harassment is too broadly defined and someone could be too easily accused of the crime.

The bill passed the Senate with a 34-13 vote on Feb. 9. It is scheduled for a public hearing in the House Judiciary Committee on Feb. 21, and for an executive session in that committee on Feb. 22.

HB 2519, sponsored by Representative John Lovick, D-Mill Creek would require law enforcement agencies to delay returning a concealed weapon permit that has been taken or surrendered until they run a background check and decide the person meets requirements of the license.

Current Washington State law requires law enforcement to return a surrendered firearm in a timely manner but also requires officers to run a background check and allows a delay of up to four days.

Captain Greg Lineberry oversees property and evidence functions at the Everett Police Department. He said at the bills hearing in January that this legislation is simply a technical fix to ensure the Concealed Pistol License return law is the same as the firearms return law.

Current law says that if someone applying for the license is subject to a court order, they are ineligible to obtain a firearm or to receive one that has been taken until the order expires. The proposed bill would include Concealed Pistol Licenses to this statute.

The bill passed the House of Representatives with a 94-4 vote on Wednesday Feb, 14. It awaits a hearing in the Senate.

Five gun bills that were highly discussed this session did not make it past the cutoff deadline but could be reintroduced in the 2019 legislative session.

SB 6415, sponsored by Senator Sam Hunt, D-Olympia and its companion bill in the House, HB 2738, would have prohibited a person from carrying concealed firearm on private property without permission.

SB 6049, sponsored by Senator David Frockt, D-Seattle and its companion bill in the House, HB 2422, would have banned large capacity magazines of more than 10 rounds. Opponents argued that most standard capacity guns already have that capacity and the ban is overbroad.

SB 5444, also sponsored by Frockt, and its companion bill in the House, HB 1387, were both introduced last year by request of the Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson. This bill would have enhanced background checks for assault weapons to make them consistent with current laws for purchasing a handgun. That requires background checks with both state and federal agencies.

SB 5463, sponsored by Senator Guy Palumbo, D-Maltby, and its companion in the House, HB 1122, would have mandated rules for safe storage of firearms and would require a seller to offer to sell or give someone who buys a gun, a locked storage case.

SB 6146, sponsored by Senator Rebecca Saldana, D-Seattle, and its companion in the House, HB 2666 would have given cities and counties the ability to regulate their own gun laws.
Posted Tuesday, February 20, 2018 6:23 am

It might seem strange to be reading about kindergarten readiness in February, but soon (March 1) Battle Ground Public Schools will be asking parents to enroll their children in kindergarten for the fall of 2018.

Getting an accurate count of potential kindergarten enrollment is crucially important for a school district. Having a clear picture of student headcount lets us know how many kindergarten classrooms each primary school will need next fall andmore importantlyhow many teachers, education assistants, and reading and math specialists each school will need to hire.

We begin this forecasting process in the spring for all grades as a starting point for creating next years budget. For grades other than kindergarten we can get a pretty good picture of next years enrollment by rolling up the numbers at each grade level. For example, looking at this years third grade class gives us a pretty good idea of next years fourth grade enrollment. Predicting kindergarten enrollment is much more difficult, as there is not a prior years class to go by. Consequently, it is crucial that we get an accurate prediction of kindergarten headcount from parents who enroll their children in the spring.

Another crucial component of kindergarten enrollment is a parents decision as to whether their child is ready. Washington State law says that any child who turns five by August 31 is eligible for kindergarten, yet schooling is not mandatory in this state until a child turns eight.This creates a fairly large window of time for parents to decide when their child should enter the public school system.

Fortunately, there are many resources available to parents to help them make the decision as to whether their child is ready for kindergarten. One particular guide we suggest parents use comes from Support for Early Learning and Families, or SELF (selfwa.org). This brochure, developed by the Clark County School Readiness Task Force and further refined by the Southwest Washington Early Learning Regional Coalition, lists several categories of development such as Communicating (Literacy); About me and my family and culture; Building relationships; Touching, seeing, hearing and moving around; Growing up healthy; and Learning about my world. Each category includes specific skills as indicators of kindergarten readiness. In addition, there are suggested activities parents can try with their child to better prepare them for kindergarten or perhaps create a smoother transition from home to school.

The brochure also contains information about resources parents can access to help make the transition to kindergarten a little easier. The brochure aligns with the Washington State Early Learning and Development Guidelines for children ages 4 to 5. A downloadable copy of these guidelines is online at www.k12.wa.us/EarlyLearning.

Ultimately, the decision about whether a child is ready for kindergarten is up to each parent or guardian. Once you determine that your child will attend kindergarten, experienced kindergarten teachers recommend talking with your child about the first day of school. Address any fears or concerns your child may have and reassure him/her that everything will be alright. Keep a positive attitude. If you as a parent are excited about the first day of school, chances are your child will be too.

Kindergarten enrollment will soon be available online for all Battle Ground primary schools. If you are unsure of which school your child will attend, please contact our district office and someone will help you determine your attendance area. As with all districts in Washington, you will need copies of your childs birth certificate and required immunizations to complete the enrollment process. Each of our primary schools will have informational open houses in the spring for parents of kindergartners, so be sure to visit our district website or call your local school to find out dates and times.

We know that sending a child to school for the first time can be a stressful experience for both students and parents alike. Let me allay your anxiety. We have some amazing teachers and school administrators in our district who can help you get through the process and make it a positive one for you and your child. Battle Ground Public Schools is committed to providing a quality learning experience where the safety and well-being of every student is our priority.

If there is anything we can do to help make the decision of kindergarten readiness less stressful, please do not hesitate to contact our schools or district office and speak to someone about your concerns. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your familys educational journey. It is a mission we consider vitally important and second to none in creating great communities and future productive citizens.
English Japanese

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Feb. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Orbital Insight, the leader in geospatial analytics, today announced the opening of a sales office in Tokyo, Japan. The office will meet the growing demand for Orbital Insights products and services throughout the APAC region.



Japans early adoption of innovative technologies and interest across industries in our geospatial analytics products makes it an ideal location for Orbital Insight, said Chief Business Officer Kevin E. OBrien.

Tokyo is a strategic choice for the company because of its role in global innovation. Orbital Insights products continue to see robust interest and adoption across the financial services, energy and insurance industries. APAC customers have started using geospatial analytics to serve a variety of business, environmental and humanitarian scenarios, including flood detection, commodities monitoring for oil, steel and coal, deforestation and large-scale infrastructure projects.

Orbital Insights connection with Japan started with Geodesic Capital and ITOCHU Corporations participation in its Series C financing round. In late 2017, Orbital Insight announced reseller partnership agreements with ABeam Consulting and ITOCHU and SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation.

About Orbital Insight

Orbital Insight develops geospatial analytics to help its clients unlock societal and economic trends at a global scale. The company sources petabytes of satellite, drone, balloon and other unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) data. Using computer vision and machine learning technologies, it processes and transforms this data to create intelligence enabling businesses, governments and NGOs to make better decisions.






LOS ANGELES, Feb. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reign Sapphire Corp. (OTCQB: RGNP) ("Reign" or the "Company"), a direct-to-consumer, custom and branded jewelry company operating jewelry sales, jewelry technology and blockchain divisions, today announces that it has signed an agreement with StarShop to promote ION Collection by Jen Selter.

StarShop is an innovative, celebrity-driven mobile commerce app launched through a collaboration between Sprint and its Pinsight Media+ subsidiary. Per the marketing agreement, Reign will work with StarShop to promote the ION Collection to a target audience of millennial and Instagram-savvy consumers.

We are delighted to partner with StarShop in marketing ION Collection by Jen Selter. This partnership significantly expands our reach and enables us to raise brand visibility while leveraging our expertise to promote Jen Selter and her brand to new audiences, commented Reign Sapphire CEO Joseph Segelman.

Jen Selter is one of Instagram's most followed social media mega influencers, with a combined following of over 33 million followers. Selter has consistently been ranked as one of Forbes Top Ten Fitness Influencers, with @jenselter currently at 11.8 million international followers and @couplegoals at 4.5 million followers. Selter is one of the most recognizable Instagram influencers with global reach and engagement.

About Reign Sapphire Corp.:



Reign Brands operates through four key divisions: Reign Sapphires, which offers ethically produced, millennial-targeted sapphire jewelry; Coordinates Collection, a provider of custom jewelry inscribed with location coordinates to commemorate life's special moments; and Le Bloc, which offers classic customized jewelry and the athleisure jewelry brand, ION Collection by Jen Selter.

The Companys portfolio also includes Reign Ventures, a joint-venture platform for investment and development of jewelry technology related products; and Reign Blockchain to authenticate sapphires as conflict-free. Entries on the digital record can include attributes for each sapphire including the color, carat and certificate number.

For more information, visit www.ReignSC.com



About StarShop:

StarShop is a new and innovative celebrity-driven m-commerce app launched through a collaboration between Sprint and its Pinsight Media+ subsidiary. StarShop utilizes celebrities to present, demonstrate and describe various consumer products in categories spanning fashion, beauty, home, food, fitness and electronics via exclusive, entertaining video content created by award-winning producers. The app will enable users to take immediate action to purchase while watching video demos with their favorite stars. Several top celebrities like Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, Adam Levine, Paula Abdul, Eli Manning, Jen Selter and many more will be launching their brands on the platform. The celebrity-curated marketplace is available for download in the iTunes App Store and Google Play. For more information, visit www.StarShop.com



Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws, which statements may include information regarding the plans, intentions, expectations, future financial performance, or future operating performance of Reign Sapphire Corporation ("Reign" or the "Company"). Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations, estimates, or projections of the Company's management as of the date of this press release. Although Reign's management believes these expectations, estimates, or projections to be reasonable as of the date of this presentation, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to significant business risks, economic and competitive uncertainties, or other contingencies, which could cause the Company's actual results or performance to differ materially from what may be expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause Reign's actual results or performance to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include those set forth in the "Risk Factors" sections in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risks set forth in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, which is available for viewing on the SEC's EDGAR website. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and, except as required by law, Reign specifically disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.
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Indianapolis, IN, Feb. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ***Replaces original release sent Feb 19***

Primaria Health provider partners are now engaged with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to continue to improve quality and reduce costs for its approximately 30,000 aligned Medicare beneficiaries. Primaria Health will continue to provide its physician partners with the solutions and services they need to improve outcomes, enhance patient and physician satisfaction, and lower the total cost of care.

We are committed to finding ways to improve the health and wellness of our aging population, and this new Medicare program is a great step forward in doing just that. said Doug Stratton, Chief Executive Officer, Primaria Health.

Primaria Health initially formed a Medicare Shared Savings Program Accountable Care Organization (ACO) in 2017 and is the largest group of primary care physicians in Central Indiana with 400 provider partners. Moving to a Medicare Next Generation ACO Model in 2018, the group can expand its care coordination tools and resources to address the needs specific to seniors as well as support them in achieving performance metrics for value-based contracts.

In a little over two years, the providers at Community Health Network have demonstrated what is truly possible in terms of improving clinical outcomes while reducing the cost of healthcare. I am thrilled that we are now applying our model to a broader section of the Medicare population," said Tim Barry, Chief Executive Officer, VilllageMD, a national provider of primary care and a Primaria Health partner.

Primaria Healths provider partners will be building upon their demonstrated clinical improvements in the areas of diabetes, congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other complicated health conditions. Primaria Health brings sophisticated data analysis to identify beneficiaries at most risk for a variety of health conditions and complications, as well as those living with chronic conditions.

We are honored to be selected to participate in this program, said Patrick McGill, M.D., Senior Vice President, Clinical Strategy, Community Health Network. Improving lives in our Medicare population is so critical because this growing population has a greater risk for health issues.

Primaria Health is a joint venture between VillageMD, a national provider of primary care management services, and Community Health Network, a healthcare system based in Indianapolis.

About Primaria Health:

Primaria Health is a primary care-focused management services organization that helps physicians transform to a primary-care led model for care and achieve success in the new value-based reimbursement environment. Our goal: to be the largest, highest performing primary care-led network in central Indiana. Primaria Healthwas formed through a partnership with VillageMD and Community Health Network and is headquartered in Indianapolis. Primaria supports a rapidly growing group of primary care partners throughout the 38 counties of central Indiana. The Primaria leadership team is comprised of experienced clinicians and dedicated experts in primary care, health plan management, and population management.

About VillageMD:

VillageMD is a leading provider of management services for healthcare organizations moving toward a primary care-led, high-value clinical model. The VillageMD solution provides the tools, technology, operations, and staffing support needed for physicians to drive the highest quality clinical results across a population. VillageMD works with physician groups, independent practice associations, and health systems to improve quality, deliver a first-rate patient experience, and lower costs in the communities they serve.

About Community Health Network:

Ranked among the nations most integrated healthcare systems, Community Health Network (Community) is Central Indianas leader in providing convenient access to exceptional healthcare services, where and when patients need themin hospitals, health pavilions and doctors offices, as well as workplaces, schools and homes. As a non-profit health system with over 200 sites of care and affiliates throughout Central Indiana, Communitys full continuum of care integrates hundreds of physicians, specialty and acute care hospitals, surgery centers, home care services, MedChecks, behavioral health and employer health services. To learn more, visit eCommunity.com or call 800-777-7775.

For questions regarding Primaria Health, please call us toll-free at 844-367-1619. For questions regarding ACOs you can call 1-800-MEDICARE and tell the representative youre calling to learn more about ACOs, or visit Medicare.gov/acos.html.

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/837b9128-11f4-4173-a74f-2ba2a8eaea7a
1 Sea Star Festival

Where: Umag, Istria, Croatia

When: May 24th to May 27th

Why: Sea Star Festival, put together by same team behind EXIT Festival (see below), is set to return to beautiful Stella Maris laguna in Umag on May 25th and 26th for the second time. The opening day will take place on May 24th and the after party on Sunday, May 27th.

With six stages in a stunning location and more than 70 world-renowned artists and outstanding productions the festival is set to be a stunner.

Umag is a beautiful Istrian town, rich in Mediterranean spirit, historical baroque and renaissance buildings and narrow streets that lead to numerous authentic restaurants making it the perfect place to chill out after dancing all night.
Job Title: Driver

Organisation: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

(UNHCR)

Position No.: TA001

Vacancy Notice: 004/2017

Reports to: Administrative Assistant

Duty Station: Kyangwali, Uganda

Post Grade: GL2

About UNHCR:

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was

established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly.

UNHCRs mandate under the Statute of the Office of the United Nations High

Commissioner for Refugees is to lead and co-ordinate action for international

protection to refugees; seek permanent solutions for the problems of refugees

and safeguard refugee rights and well-being. UNHCR has an additional mandate

concerning issues of statelessness, as it is given a designated role under

Article 11 of the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.

Job Summary: The Driver is mainly responsible for up keep

and maintenance of the assigned UNHCR vehicle(s) as per technical guidance and

specifications established by the organisation. The incumbent will be required

to follow strict instructions and security guidance provided by the supervisor.

While the basic function of a driver is to drive the official vehicles of

UNHCR, he/she may be called upon to perform minor maintenance and repair of

UNHCR vehicles. The incumbent has regular contacts with staff within UNHCR

office and with service providers outside UNHCR involving a limited exchange of

information .

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Drive UNHCR vehicles

for the transport of authorized passengers and delivery and collection of

mail, documents, UNHCR pouch and other items.

Meet official

personnel at the airport and facilitate immigration and customs formalities

as required.

Carry out the

day-to-day maintenance of the assigned vehicles; check oil, water,

battery, brakes, tyres, etc. and ensure that the assigned UNHCR vehicles

are road worthy and maintained up to the established security standards.

Conduct minor repairs

and arrange for other repairs and ensure that the vehicle is kept clean.

Ensure that the steps

required by rules and regulations are taken in case of involvement in

accident.

Log official trips,

daily mileage, gas consumption, oil changes, greasing, etc.

Perform any other

related duties as required by the Administrative/Finance Associate

Key Performance Indicators:

Assigned UNHCR

vehicles are properly maintained and equipped as per technical guidance

and specifications established by the Organisation.

Local traffic rules

and regulations are strictly observed.

Instructions and

security guidance provided by the supervisor and security focal point are

strictly followed by the Driver and the passengers during the journey









Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

The ideal candidate

for the United Nations UNHCR Driver job vacancy should have completed

Primary Education or equivalent technical or commercial school.

At least two years of

previous job experience relevant to the function.

Driving licence, knowledge

of driving rules and regulations and skills in minor vehicle repair.

All applicants should be Uganda

nationals preferably with place of origin as Hoima/Kyangwali and working

knowledge of Runyakitara.

Good mechanical skills

are desired

Ability to work in

remote areas.

How to Apply:

All interested Ugandan nationals who wish to join the United Nations

High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the aforementioned capacity are

encouraged to click on the link below and follow the application instructions after

reviewing the job details.

Deadline: 21st February 2018
All candidates should sendtheir applications via Email. (Please do not attach academic credentials to theemail). The complete applications should include a Microsoft Wordformatted letter of interest, resume, names and contacts information for threereferences which should be sent to: applications@ug.peacecorps.gov. Pleaseclearly indicate ONLY the POSITION applied for on the subject line of yourcover email as well on all the attachments. For example Katungu Bonita_HIV/AIDS Coordinator for the HIV /AIDS Coordinator Vacancy. Do not writeany other words in the subject line of your mail. Submitted documents becomethe property of the Peace Corps and will not be returned.
TheRegistration Associate is a member of the Registration team and is supervisedby the Registration Officer. The Registration Associate is responsible forsupporting all activities related to registration, and ensuring thatregistration is effectively used for the identification of specific protectionneeds, for the management of operations, and for the achievement of durablesolutions. The Registration Associate provides day-to-day supervision,direction and support to UNHCR staff engaged in registration and relatedactivities (including Reception, Filing and Data Management staff), andmonitors the efficiency and quality of registration processes, identity andentitlement documentation activities and population data management. TheRegistration Associate collaborates closely with Protection, Programme,Operational Data Management and Information Management colleagues as well aswith Government authorities and partners on the provision of quality populationdata for the delivery of registration activities
If anything happens to me, please tell my story. This was...
PORTERVILLE, Calif., Feb. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GreenPower Motor Company Inc. (TSXV:GPV) (OTCQX:GPVRF) (GreenPower) has received an order for two of its Synapse 72 all-electric school buses for the Rialto Unified School District (Rialto). The order was placed through School Bus Sales of California, Inc. GreenPower expects to deliver the two buses by the summer of 2018.



Rialto operates a fleet of 68 school buses to support the transportation needs for students attending 29 elementary, middle and high schools.

Commenting on the new, all-electric school buses, Mohammad Z. Islam, Associate Superintendent of Business Services said: The Rialto Unified School District is excited to add alternative fuel vehicles to our fleet. Our partnership with GreenPower and with the South Coast Air Quality Management District, who provided grant funding, will enable our District to serve our students needs in an environmentally friendly manner.

There is an opportunity to accelerate Rialtos electrification strategy with deployments of GreenPowers Synapse 72 school bus, said GreenPowers President Brendan Riley. This is a strategic win for GreenPower as our new Los Angeles sales office is located near the Rialto Unified School District so well be able to show customers our products in action.

About GreenPower Motor Company Inc.

GreenPower Motor Company Inc. develops electric powered vehicles for commercial markets. GreenPower offers a range of electric powered buses deploying electric drive and battery technologies with a lightweight chassis and low floor or high floor body. GreenPowers bus is based on a flexible clean sheet design and utilizes a custom battery management system and a proprietary Flex Power system for the drive motors. GreenPower integrates global suppliers for key components such as Siemens for the two drive motors, Knorr for the brakes, ZF for the axles and Parker for the dash and control systems. This OEM platform allows GreenPower to meet the specifications of various operators while providing standard parts for ease of maintenance and accessibility for warranty requirements. For further information go to www.greenpowerbus.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking statements relating to, among other things, GreenPowers business and operations and the environment in which it operates, which are based on GreenPowers operations, estimates, forecasts and projections. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections about future events, and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as may, should, will, could, intend, estimate, plan, anticipate, expect, believe or continue, or the negative thereof or similar variations. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict or are beyond GreenPowers control, such as the regulations and requirements in different jurisdictions. A number of important factors including those set forth in other public filings (filed under the Companys profile on www.sedar.com ) could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Consequently, readers should not place any undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. In addition, these forward-looking statements relate to the date on which they are made. GreenPower disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For further information contact:

GreenPower Motor Company

Brendan Riley

President

(510) 910-3377

John Reed, Media Relations

Elevator Communications, LLC

(415) 846-4862

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.  2018 GreenPower Motor Company Inc. All rights reserved.
The Maldives situation presents a profound dilemma for the Modi government, but it can also be turned around as a rare opportunity to engage with China. To the core constituency of the Modi government, the Maldives becomes a test case of muscular diplomacy. But, an Indian intervention to bring about regime change in the Maldives will constitute a blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter, and is fraught with risks and unforeseen consequences.

The good thing is that India has a new foreign secretary and Vijay Gokhale is an authentic China hand with credentials to conduct a rational conversation with Beijing. Chinas stance on the Maldives has five key templates. One, China regards the situation strictly as that countrys internal affair, which should be resolved through dialogue and negotiation by the parties who have the wisdom and capabilities to cope with the current situation independently.

Two, the international community should respect the Maldives sovereignty and territorial integrity, and any interference may complicate the situation. Three, Chinas cooperation with the Maldives focuses on economic ties, and Beijing has no intentions to impair that countrys sovereignty and independence or undermine the security of the Indian Ocean region. Four, China will not interfere in the Maldives, albeit supporting Male government in resolving differences with relevant parties as well as upholding the independence, sovereignty, and legitimate rights and interests of the nation. Finally, and importantly, Beijing exhorts the international community to play a constructive role by extending assistance and convenience for the Maldivian sides to hold talks.

Clearly, a unilateral Indian intervention in the Maldives on whatever pretext, in the absence of a mandate from the United Nations or invitation by the established government in Male, would almost certainly meet with Chinese opposition. On the other hand, what emerges could be sufficient common ground for Delhi and Beijing to have strategic communication. Indeed, if China has no intentions of creating new facts on the ground impacting the security of the Indian Ocean region, Indias core concerns and vital interests are not in jeopardy.

Illustration: Bhaskaran

However, the real problem lies elsewhere. The subversion of democracy in the Maldives really began in 2013 when the Barack Obama administration sought to secretly negotiate a Status Of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with Male leading to the establishment of an American air base. But the November 2013 elections brought in a new leadership in Male that didnt pursue the SOFA negotiations. During the past three-year period, given the injection of Sinophobia into the Modi governments foreign policy narrative, Delhi and Washington began coordinating their approaches vis-a-vis the geopolitics of the Maldives. This is where India needs to reassess where its self-interests lie. The narrative that China is on a land grab in our neighborhood has been a convenient alibi for sections of the establishment to align Indian policies with the USs regional strategies. Whereas, the tenacity of small countries such as the Maldives (or Sri Lanka and Nepal) to safeguard their independence should never have been in any serious doubt.

Modi finds himself grappling with a paradigm strikingly similar to what Atal Bihari Vajpayee encountered in 2003 when the US was assembling a coalition of the willing to invade Iraq and sought Indian participation in that enterprise. In generic terms, the neocons in the Indian establishment, interest groups and lobbyists, who argued for an army contingent to be dispatched to Iraq 15 years ago, seem to be once again rooting for intervention in the Maldives. Of course, Vajpayee viewed the paradigm exclusively through the prism of national interest and that wise decision made all the difference. It is Modis call now.

editor@theweek.in


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.

Illustration: Bhaskaran

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.

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


The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is investigating the whereabouts of Nirav Modi's financial transactions, said it has attached properties worth Rs 5,716 crore of the diamantaire.

Official sources at the ED headquarters at Indira Bhavan in Delhi said agency sleuths searched Modi's flat in the Samudra Mahal apartments in Worli. The central probe agency also conducted searches at 38 other locations in several cities, including Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad, Thane, Kolkata, Delhi, Jammu, Lucknow, Bengaluru and Surat.

An ED spokesperson said the agency had seized fresh assets worth Rs 22 crore, including precious stones, cash and gold from the premises of Modi, his uncle and business partner Mehul Choksi and others on Monday. So far, the agency has seized diamonds, gold jewellery and items made of other precious stones worth Rs 5,716 cr in the case. On Monday, the Ministry of External Affairs also summoned Mehul Choksi and Nirav Modi to explain why their Indian passports should not be suspended.

The raids are still ongoing and I can tell you that we will recover more of his wealth going ahead," said the ED spokesperson. The ED move to seal eight bank accounts fo Mehul Choksi and Nirav Modi earlier yielded limited results because funds from these bank accounts were cleared in a systemic manner before the agency acted upon.

The ED is also focusing on investigating higher officials of the Punjab National Bank as to how Letters of Understanding (LoUs) were issued and other bank operations were done without reflecting these transactions in the Core Banking System (CBS).

"We have obtained more information from a Bangalore-based whistleblower in this case, who claimed he raised a red flag in 2013. The focus of the ED investigation is now on securing the proceeds of the crime, the spokesperson said.

The agency suspects that the payments made with the LoUs were done to three firms in particular that are based in Hong Kong, Singapore and the UK. "We have reasons to believe that these could have been shell companies of one of the accused," said an ED official who has joined the probe.

Also joining the probe was ED Director Karnal Singh, who flew to Mumbai on Monday to take stock of the anti-money laundering investigation in this case. "He will be coordinating with our special team in Mumbai investigating the case," said an ED spokesperson.

A number of computers, hard drives and documents have been seized by the ED since it started conducting raids on Nirav Modi, his wife, partner and brother's residence, office and some business partners since February 15.

In the coming days, the ED is likely to attach more than 29 properties across the country, belonging to Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and their related parties (companies and relatives in business with them).

The agency is also under pressure from the finance ministry, its parent, to bring in results in this investigation. In the recent past, the agency was not able to bring up enough shreds of evidence to establish before a CBI special court the trail of money in coal asset allocation scam.

It is also yet to make any major breakthrough in the former Kingfisher Airlines chairman Vijay Mallya's case as well. A senior ED official informed that they are coordinating with at least four senior finance ministry officials on an hourly basis regarding the findings of investigations into Nirav Modi and others.
PHOENIX, Feb. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PDX Partners, Inc. (OTC PINK:PDXP) ("the Company"), today announced 2017 financial accomplishments and 2018 operational highlights interview on Uptick Newswires Stock Day podcast with Everett Jolly.



PDX Partners made some significant changes in 2017, starting with new leadership, under Patrick Johnson, said Jolly. The company also acquired another business, whose revenues should be realized here in the next quarter.

PDX Partners is primarily a telecom company focused on advertising for iPhone applications, that has also stepped into some other revenue producing business models. The company is prepared for a positive year with the built-in advantage of very low overhead and a debt free balance sheet.

We have worked hard on getting our story out and increasing stock volume, so it has been very rewarding to see the positive results, Johnson said. The company has also acquired 7,160 trust units of AAA rated, NVC Fund, valued at approximately $350 million. We are excited for what we will accomplish this year, and are pleased with the condition of our balance sheet.

To listen to the full interview please click here to the following link: https://upticknewswire.com/featured-interview-ceo-patrick-johnson-of-pdx-partners-inc-otc-pdxp/

About PDX Partners

PDX Partners, Inc. (OTC PINK:PDXP) is a Telecom company dedicated to creating revenue and shareholder value by marketing Telecom products and acquiring other long-term growth assets. The company was founded in 1997.



For more information go to: www.pdxpartners.net

Safe Harbor Statement

This release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E and/or 27E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are based upon assumptions that in the future may prove not to have been accurate and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including statements as to the future performance of the company and the risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in reports filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain. Although the company believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations or any of its forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Factors that could cause results to differ include, but are not limited to, the company's ability to raise necessary financing, retention of key personnel, timely delivery of inventory from the company's suppliers, timely product development, product acceptance, and the impact of competitive services and products, in addition to general economic risks and uncertainties.

PDX Partners, Inc.

Patrick J. Johnson

Chief Executive Officer

(971) 258-8003

patrick@pdxpartners.net

About Uptick Newswire and the Stock Day Podcast

Uptick Newswire is a private company reaching out to the masses keeping investors and shareholders up to date on company news and bringing transparency to the undervalued, undersold, micro-cap stocks of the market and is the sole producer of the Uptick Network Stock Day Podcast. The Uptick Network Stock Day Podcast is an extension of Uptick Newswire and has recently launched the Video Interview Studio located in Phoenix, Arizona with its new host Kathryn Donnelly.
While most celebrities at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) wore black to express solidarity with the Time's Up Movement, Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton stood out with her sartorial choice. Kate, pregnant with her third child, wore a dark green dress with a black ribbon belt.

The empire line dress in a deep shade of green, which was complemented by an emerald necklace and earrings. Her choice to step away from the dress code has sparked a debate in Twitter. While some slammed her for not supporting the cause of women, there are others who supported her right to choose what to wear.

Experts, however, pointed out that royals only wear black at funerals, so supporting the cause would be a breach of protocol. Bethan Holt, fashion news and features director at The Telegraph, told the publication: "The Royal Family very rarely get involved in political messaging, so perhaps it's not such a surprise that she didn't join in with the rest of the women and wear black tonight."
The ruling BJP in Gujarat on Monday retained its hold over majority of the 75 municipalities, polling for which was held on February 17. Their numbers, however, decreased.

The municipalities are spread in 22 out of the 33 districts.

The results indicate that the electorate maintained the mood shown in December 2017 assembly elections, which the BJP won, but its tally stood at only 99 seats in the 182-member assembly.

In three municipalities there was a tie between the opposition Congress and the BJP. Six semi-urban bodies went to independents and others.

Out of the 59 municipalities controlled by the BJP in 2013, it managed to win only 44 this time. Congress, on the other hands, increased its number from six to 22.

After state BJP president and MLA Jitubhai Vaghani challenged the Congress to release details about the numbers of municipalities it has captured, the Congress released the list.

Among the important victories for the BJP include the win in Vadnagar municipality in 27 out of the 28 seats.

A major embarrassment for the opposition Congress was in Amreli district from where leader of opposition Paresh Dhanani hails. The BJP won three out of the four municipalities. In December 2017 assembly elections, the Congress had won all the assembly seats in the district.

Another setback for the Congress was in Chhotaudepur municipality, a tribal belt. Here, Sangram and Manju, son and wife respectively, of former Congress Union minister Narayan Rathwa lost.
It was perhaps former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's first meeting at the state Congress office after her former loyalist and now protege Ajay Maken took over as the PCC chief. Dikshit, who has rarely visited the office since 2014 when the party was routed in the Assembly elections, stepped into Rajiv Bhawan on Monday for a high level meeting of Delhi Congress.

The meeting, which gave an indication to the enhanced role to be played by Dikshit in the affairs of Delhi Congress, was attended by Maken, AICC in charge of Delhi P.C. Chacko, former PCC chiefs, former MPs and ministers from Dikshit's erstwhile cabinet.

The idea is to present a united face, and remind the people about the work done during the 15-year-rule of the Dikshit government.

In a surprise move, Dikshit and Maken shared stage last week to launch a united assault on the Arvind Kejriwal government on its completion of three years. On Sunday, both the leaders were present at a workers' convention in Jangpura constituency of Delhi. The new-found bonhomie comes at a time when a mini-Assembly election is expected soon in the national capital, with bypolls looming large in 20 constituencies after disqualification of AAP MLAs for holding office of profit.

The Congress effort is described as a soft launch of the party's campaign for the bypolls.

According to sources, Congress president Rahul Gandhi asked Maken to get Dikshit on board, giving her more space in the affairs of the party in Delhi.

It is learnt that in his report on the Congress' dismal presence in the Delhi political scenario, Chacko has noted that the divisions in the state unit of the party, with the Maken and Dikshit camps being seen as unbridgeable, are not helping it make a comeback. The party has no MLA in the Delhi Assembly, and its performance in the municipal corporation elections in early 2017 was extremely poor. The report spoke for a more aggressive ownership of the work done by the Dikshit government.

Maken had tweeted on February 6 after meeting Dikshit, Met Mrs Sheila Dikshit and requested her for more active role in Delhi Congress. Delhi now remembers her for a sane and development oriented governance. Sheila ji had a great role in mentoring me as her cabinet minister. We will all work together to regain the glory of Delhi.

On the third anniversary of the Kejriwal government, Maken waxed eloquent about the achievements of the Dikshit government, comparing the work done during her chief ministership with the 'failures' of the AAP dispensation.

The veteran leader looks set to make her presence felt yet again in Delhi.
Canada's first cabinet minister of Indian origin says the focus of the ongoing visit of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to India has been derailed by the Khalistan issue.

"It is very unfortunate that the media in India has overblown this Khalistan issue. This has shifted the focus away from tradewhich is what the two countries should be discussing," Herb Dhaliwal, who in 1993 became the first Indian to be elected as an MP in the Western world, told reporters.

Dhaliwal, who served as Canada's minister for revenue and natural resources from 1997 to 2003, said the sticking issue between the two countries is 'about human rights and not Khalistan'.

He said, "When I was the cabinet minister, I had met prime ministers (I.K.) Gujral, Manmohan Singh and (A.B.) Vajpayee and raised the issue of punishment for those behind the 1984 riots. I had told them it is about human rights and they had no objection."

Dhaliwal said the vast majority of Sikhs in Canada have nothing to do with Khalistan. All they want is that human rights must be respected and the culprits behind the 1984 killings be brought to justice.

"There is only a very small proportion (of Sikhs) in Canada, which is blowing up the issue of Khalistan for their own purposes. This issue is about human rights," said Dhaliwal, who was instrumental in the opening of the Canadian Consulate in Chandigarh in 2003.

About Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's charges against two Sikh ministers in Trudeau's cabinet, including Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, as being Khalistani supporters and denial of visa to him by Canada, Dhaliwal hoped that Trudeau will discuss these issues with him.

About denial of Canadian visa to Amarinder Singh in 2016, he said, "It was the result of some misunderstanding at the bureaucratic or some other level. It shouldn't have happened. Canada should apologise to Amarinder Singh for this error."

Urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trudeau not to let this issue divert their focus from trade, Dhaliwal said the economic interests of India and Canada are complementary.

"Canada is rich in oil and gas and we can help meet the energy security demands of India's fast-growing economy. We can also be a major supplier of agricultural products for India."

Despite all the issues between the two countries, Dhaliwal said, "The huge inflow of Indian students into Canada and direct air connections are big pluses, which will help build future relationships. I think this is an important development, which people should emphasise."

-IANS
It will be no surprise if Tamil Nadus Deputy Chief Minister and the ruling AIADMK coordinator O. Panneerselvam launches yet another Dharma Yudham to save his party. The EPS-OPS honeymoon seems to be wading away and the power struggle in the ruling camp became apparent when the latter admitted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi negotiated him to merge with Chief Minister Edappady Palaniswamy's camp.

Off late, Panneerselvam, who seems to be the most disturbed lot in the pack of ministers in the EPS cabinet, has been dropping hints on the discomfort and the differences within the ruling AIADMK camp. Speaking at a party office-bearers meeting at Theni on February 16, he said that it was on the behest of the prime minister that he merged his faction with that of Palaniswamy. He (Modi) said that you could join to save the party, the deputy chief minister said, without specifying exactly when the conversation took place.

Sources close to Panneerselvam say that the statement was an outcome of the ongoing tussle among the senior ministers hitting a feverish pitch. The sources were more specific when they said OPS was finding it hard to get his lucrative positions for his supporters. It is an outcome of the differences in appointing members of the steering committee which was announced on the day of merger. They also confirm that the expulsions and re-organisation of the party is the bottom of these differences.

Sources also claim that the Theni remarks by OPS was to send out strong signals to the EPS camp of his discomfort at being in the ruling party and bring pressure on the chief minister and the two ministers close to him to accommodate his supporters during the restructuring of the party. He said: PM asked me to merge. But stronger than this was the next statement where he said the cabinet berth was forced on him.

I said I dont want to be part of the government as a minister. I wanted to take care of the party. But PM insisted that I be part of the cabinet. And our local administration minister S.P. Velumani, too, insisted that I be part of the cabinet, he said. In fact, this was to earn the sympathy of a portion of the AIADMK supporters who are unhappy with EPS. If anyone else had been in my position and faced such crisis, he would have committed suicide, he said at the same meeting. This, in fact, was aimed at the partymen who have expressed angst for not being accommodated in senior positions in the newly merged AIADMK.

A businessman politician in his camp made it clear that the discomfort and displeasure within the EPS-OPS camps were over the appointment of office bearers to the party which has not happened for the past six months. He told us a week before that the steering committee will be constituted and a new office bearer list will be out in a day or two. But that has not happened and he doesnt foresee it anymore. This statement is the fall out of the discomfort, he says.

An astute politician who is known to play his cards close to his heart and much safe every time, OPSs statement is also being looked at the backdrop of the 18 MLAs disqualification case pending in the Madras HC, in which the verdict is likely to be out anytime soon. It may be recalled that OPSs famous meditation at the beachside grave happened just a week before the crucial Supreme Court verdict that convicted V.K. Sasikala in a DA case. Sources close to him read this statement, too, in the backdrop of the pending case in the Madras HC. Party insiders are of the opinion that the EPS camp had been negotiating with the Sasikala camp to save the government if anything adverse happens in the MLAs disqualification case.

Known to be a politician who never makes any statement without any plan, OPSs revelation in Theni makes it obvious that EPS has gone back in his promises and that BJP was behind the merge. However the visit of Prime Minister Modi on February 24, Jayalalithas 70th birthday, for distributing free scooters to women, an election promise given by Jayalalitha, has thrown open the jukebox. Free scooters to women was a welfare scheme and one of the pet schemes announced by Jayalalithaa in AIADMKs 2016 manifesto and a prime minister need not come down to launch a state governments welfare scheme. Sources say that in the garb of launching the welfare scheme, the PM is likely to make the last ditch attempt to keep the two together.
On December 29 of last year, a 27-year-old woman, Ji-in Gu, was killed while she was being held captive at a secluded recreational lodge in Hwasun, Jeonnam, South Korea. On January 18, the parents of the woman were held responsible for the murder. According to the police department of Hwasun, they bound and gagged their daughter, leading to suffocation. The autopsy revealed a high possibility of cardiopulmonary arrest due to hypoxic hypoxia. The death has ricocheted from a family matter to a national issue, with more than 1,20,000 people gathering in Seoul and the other major cities of South Korea on January 28 to protest against coercive conversion, of which the woman was a victim.

Coercive conversion is apparently a wide-spread phenomenon in South Korea. It is conducted by the Counselling Centre of Cult, which was established under the leadership of Pastor Yong-Shik Jin. Its pastors are from the Protestant churches in the country. They try to forcibly convert people from what they call cult churches, like the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, established in 1984, which Ji-in Gu was a member of. They allegedly enlist the aid of the family members of the person to kidnap her and take her to secluded places, where she is forced to undergo coercive conversion education, often through violent means.

The victim had earlier, in July 2016, been confined at a Catholic abbey in the city of Jangseong for 40 days. She had said that although she had escaped from the abbey, she lived in constant fear of being kidnapped again and could no longer trust her family who had colluded with the pastors to kidnap her. After that, she had sent a formal petition to the President of the Republic of Korea asking for the closing down of the Counselling Centre of Cult and to legally punish coercive conversion education pastors. Please help innocent people by legislating a new law that does not discriminate against religions, she had written.

I used to occasionally see her in church, says Sun Woo Kim, another member of the Shincheonji Church. She was a very bright girl. More than anything, she wanted peace in her family. Thats why she returned to them even after being kidnapped and made to undergo forcible conversion.

He says that these pastors go to various churches and conduct seminars. They corrupt the family members and demand money in exchange for converting to Protestantism their children or spouses who have joined other churches.

More than a conflict between two churches, this is a case of human rights violation, says Kim. The politicians consider these pastors as vote banks and hence take no action against them. The police say that conversion is a private matter to be settled within the families and hence refuse to interfere. Ten years ago, a similar case had taken place in which a woman was killed by her husband. While the husband was imprisoned, the pastors went scot-free.

He says that the pastors use brutal methods to indoctrinate the victims, who are mostly women. They use sleeping pills to kidnap you, he says. Then with duct tape and handcuffs, they subdue you. The victims will be kept close watch over. Theyre not even allowed to close the door while using the washroom to prevent them from escaping.

Sun Woo Kim, another South Korean who vociferously opposes coercive conversion, gives some figures. More than 1,000 people have come out as being victims of these programmes, with 663 claiming to have been kidnapped and 541 beaten. So, this is more serious than simply being a family matter, she says.

Who gave these pastors the authority to confine, shackle, beat, and murder people for their faith? reads a petition by the Association of Victims of Coercive Conversion Programmes. Their disguise is holy and pious, but their actions show that they are willing to commit murder to arbitrarily convert peoples beliefs. The authorities must face reality and take appropriate action against this practice. We should thoroughly investigate the recent death and reveal the true facts. We should root out the real culprit and cause for destruction of this family. Justice should be served, and conversion pastors must be held accountable for their actions. The constant violation of people's universal human right to freedom of religion through abduction, confinement, suffocation and many other forms of physical abuse and violence must come to an end.
The pavement in the desert along the Mexico-US border is hot enough to fry an egg on. Chewing gum will melt in its package if left in the heat and just touching the metal on a seat belt can render a second-degree burn. I personally, and rather stupidly, accomplished all of these rites of passage during my seven-year penance of living in the Arizona desert, where an average day in July hovers around 117 degrees Fahrenheit or 47 degrees Celsius. Avoiding death is a part of life in the desert.

Yet people continue to traverse through some of the most extreme conditions on earth to cross the Mexico-US border. Earlier this month, nearly 200 people from Central America were found cramped in unsanitary and unventilated conditions in the back of a truck en route to the US. Last July, 10 people died while hiding in a lorry carrying 200 people outside of Laredo, Texas.

Official numbers from the US Department of Border Control and Protection show that current illegal border crossings are nearly equal to numbers in similar months in 2014-16, with a notable rise just prior to the election and steep drop in the few months just after inauguration. How the numbers remain steady to those in years past is a mystery to many, because, lets be honest, it really is not the best time in the US history to migrate into the country.

The anti-immigrant sentiment, spoken freely and frequently from the mouths of the nations top leaders has emboldened the average American racist, who, sadly, would not know an Iraqi from an Indian or from a Mexican. Violence and harassment against immigrants and people of colour has grown exponentially since Trumps inauguration, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). Deemed the Trump Effect, the center tallied almost 900 incidences of harassment and violence in the first 10 days alone after the inauguration. Theres a virus in this country, SPLC President Richard Cohen told the LA Times, a virus called hate.

The laundry list of immigration policy changes put forth by the current US administration in the past year also means that daily life for those who have migrated to the countrylegally or illegallyis unsettling, if not terrifying. From H1B changes to the big beautiful wall, from the leveraging of DACA youth to the removal of Temporary Protected Status, from immigration raids, detention of all asylum seekers to an outright ban of refugees. The Department of Homeland Security has even gone so far as to threaten passing policy to forcibly separate children from their parents at the border if caught without documents. It is a pretty scary time to live in the US as an immigrant. There must be a good reason why people continue to try it.

The number one reason we hear about is cartel violence, stated the director of a program for unaccompanied children, who declined to give her name due to reasons of confidentiality. The mara salvatrucha [MS-13] and calle 18 [18th street gang] and other cartels in Central America almost completely dominate parts of those countries. Sexual violence affects most of the girls we see. It is basically a war zone in many of those communities.

Honduras and El Salvador have been named repeatedly among the most dangerous countries to live or travel outside a warring nation, with homicides rates and gun violence the highest in the world. According to Honduras Center for Womens Rights, one woman is murdered every sixteen hours. According to El Salvador's government organisation, Instituto de Medicina Legal, there was nearly one homicide per hour in El Salvador in the first three months of 2016. Honduras has a murder rate 22 times that of the US.

There are few options for those seeking safety from these countries. Most of the neighboring countries are equally dangerous. To claim asylum at the US border means living in immigration detention for an indefinite period of time, a practice condemned by the United Nations. Until safer options are created, people will continue to risk the dangerous migration into a country that doesnt want them. But to those fleeing, the US seems both safe and friendly in comparison.
JACKSON, Miss., Feb. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Smithfield Foods, Inc. joined forces with Food Depotparent company, Potter and Sims Foodsto donate more than 33,000 pounds of protein to the Mississippi Food Network. Smithfields contribution was part of the companys 2018 Helping Hungry Homes donation tour. Now in the programs 10th year, Helping Hungry Homes is Smithfields signature hunger-relief initiative focused on alleviating hunger and helping Americans become more food secure. The donation, equivalent to more than 135,000 servings, will help families fight hunger across the state of Mississippi.



Each week, we serve thousands of Mississippians who struggle to secure a wholesome meal, said Charles H. Beady, Jr., CEO of the Mississippi Food Network. Todays donation from Smithfield and Food Depot allows us to provide nutrient-rich protein, a vital element of a healthy meal, to many of our neighbors in need who might otherwise find it difficult to obtain it for themselves and their families.

Smithfield and Food Depot representatives presented the donation to the Mississippi Food Network at an event at the food bank this morning. Members of all three organizations discussed food insecurity in the local community and the significance of this donation, which will provide protein to much of the Mississippi Food Networks expansive service area, which includes more than 150,000 individuals across more than 55 counties in Mississippi who face hunger each day.

Food Depot is honored to work with Smithfield and provide food assistance to those in need, said Marc Sims, supervisor for Potter and Sims Foods. Today, were helping provide thousands of servings of protein to those who need it the most.

This is the sixth large scale protein donation made by Smithfield to food banks across the country during its 2018 Helping Hungry Homes tour. Since the programs inception in 2008, Smithfield has provided nearly 100 million servings of protein to food banks, disaster relief efforts, and community outreach programs nationwide.

At Smithfield, we can do more to end hunger when we partner with like-minded organizations, said Dennis Pittman, senior director of hunger relief for Smithfield Foods. It is our hope that this donation will inspire others to support this cause and their local community.

For more information about Smithfield Foods Helping Hungry Homes initiative and a list of upcoming donation events, visit helpinghungryhomes.com.

About Smithfield Foods

Smithfield Foods is a $15 billion global food company and the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield, Eckrich, Nathan's Famous, Farmland, Armour, Farmer John, Kretschmar, John Morrell, Cook's, Gwaltney, Carando, Margherita, Curly's, Healthy Ones, Morliny, Krakus and Berlinki. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com.

About Mississippi Food Network

Mississippi Food Network is a food bank headquartered in Jackson. We are a Feeding America affiliate and serve 56 counties in the central part of Mississippi. We accumulate, store and distribute food and household items to more than 430 member agencies in our service area. Member agencies are either churches or 501c3 nonprofit agencies and are Emergency Food Pantries, Day Care Centers, Emergency Shelters, Group Homes, Soup Kitchens, Teen Centers, Alcohol and Drug Rehabs, Afterschool Programs, Homeless Shelters and Senior Citizen Programs. We serve more than 150,000 people each month through our member agencies and distributed 21.4 million pounds of food in 2017. To learn more about Mississippi Food Network, visit our website at www.msfoodnet.org, www.facebook.com/MSFoodNetwork @MSFoodNet.

About Potter and Sims Foods

Potter and Sims Foods is a Supermarket retailing company based in Kosciusko, MS. Founded in 1983 by Owners Roy Sims and Harrell Potter, Potter and Sims Foods has maintained a strong presence from the Mississippi delta to the Jackson metro area markets. Potter and Sims Foods is committed to supermarket retailing but also strives to become part of the fabric of the communities it serves, staying invested in the people and providing the highest quality supermarkets in these areas, as well as providing much needed job opportunities in the supermarket industry. We look forward to serving you in one of our Food Depot, Sunflower, SuperValu or Sav A Lot locations soon.

Media Contacts:

Dalton Agency for Smithfield

Jana Beasley

(904) 534-8568

jbeasley@daltonagency.com Mississippi Food Network

Marilyn Blackledge

(601) 260-8728

mblackledge@msfoodnet.org Food Depot

Mike Rosamond

(601) 321-0562

fd2199.2198@gmail.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f79ea7f5-1056-4716-ac35-588a9259ebea
Chinese warships have entered the Indian Ocean amidst constitutional crisis in the tropical island of Maldives. The entry into the ocean is being seen as a move by China to muscle India away from its "sphere of influence" in Maldives.



Reports say that 11 Chinese warships, including a modern destroyer, a frigate, a 30,000-tonne amphibious transport dock and a support tanker, entered the East Indian ocean this month, new portal Sina.com.cu said.

India has had a longstanding tie with the island which is only 400 kms away from it. The Muslim country was often supported by India for its political and security needs. The competition for influence in the archipelago between India and China became evident when President Abdulla Yameen signed up for China's One belt one road initiative.

While Maldives opposition leaders have been calling for Indian intercession in the current crisis in the country, the government has been keeping India at an arms length and seems to have allied itself with Beijing.

President Yameen imposed emergency in the country on February 5 in order to quash the Supremem Court order which had annulled the conviction of nine opposition leaders in a terrorism case. The top court had also ordered him to release those in prison. The court had also quashed the conviction of former president Mohammed Nasheed, who was the first democratically leader of the Indian Ocean country.

Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and another judge were arrested. There were other political arrestes the hours before. Yameen has sought for parliamentary approval for extending the emergency by another 15 days.

Nasheed has been calling for intervention from the US and India ever since the declaration of emergency.

As China's interest in Maldives becomes more and more pronounced, India is yet to make any move.
Flautist Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasias Vrindaban Gurukul in Mumbais upscale neighbourhood of Versova, seems to be completely detached from the citys chaos. Enter the gurukul, and you are greeted by the soothing strains of the bansuri, a transverse bamboo flute. One of the two golden retrievers lounging inside the spacious bungalow gets up to greet visitors while the other watches indifferently.

Chaurasia's face lights up as The Beatles guitarist and songwriter George Harrisons name is mentioned. We were very close friends, or, at least, that is what I believe. He used to come to India every year, especially to go to Vrindavan. And, whenever he came, he would come to my Bandra residence at times, with his then-girlfriend, Olivia. Every time we met, we used to play music together, says Chaurasia.

Chaurasia and Harrison met in 1971 for the first time. Harrison had invited Chaurasia and a group of musicians, including Ravi Shankar, to his castle in Henley-on-Thames. Chaurasia fondly recalls their stay in a hotel, a stones throw away from Harrisons castle and how all of them would get together, play music and rehearse every day. He was a great host and saw to it that Indian food was always made available. And, though we spoke in different languages, we always understood each other, says Chaurasia.

The Indian maestro spent a month in England, performing live with Harrison and other renowned musicians. That was when the friendship blossomed. Over the years, they went on to tour the US and Europe together. One of the best musicians I ever met, George loved Indian music and had a deep understanding of it. He made an attempt to learn the sitar, and though he played it for himself, he did not want to play it in front of an audience says Chaurasia.

When asked what Harrison was like as an individual, the maestro was quick with his response: George was a great human being. He treated everyone equally, irrespective of his or her race or nationality. I remember George would always remove his shoes or chappals before entering anyones house, he says.

The long conversations the duo had, mainly revolved around music. Occasionally George would write songs, and then go on to discuss the meaning of the song. For him, it was very important for people to fully understand the lyrics, says Chaurasia. The friends also discussed Harrison's love for India.

Harrison loved everything Indianculture, traditions and food. So much so that he that he wanted to be born in India in his next life. He used to go to the Lord Krishna temple at Mathura, with his face covered with a shawl to avoid recognition. He enjoyed going to the temple alone and collecting prasadam. He loved listening to the dholak and the singing and dancing. His favourite place in India was Vrindavan and said that he could never find such an environment anywhere else in the world, says Chaurasia.

During his trips to Vrindavan, Harrison used to enjoy dhaba food. Some of his favourite Indian dishes were puri bhaji, and khichdi with ghee and pickles. Even though Chaurasia never got the chance to accompany Harrison on his many trips to Vrindavan, as he was busy working on many projects in the film industry, Harrison would always come back and share his stories and experiences.

Harrison loved listening to the dholak and the singing and dancing. His favourite place in India was Vrindavan and said that he could never find such an environment anywhere else in the world. - Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, flautist

Chaurasia says all the concerts that they performed together were memorable for him. I will never forget the kind of massive following he used to have. There was such a craze that there would be extremely long queues for tickets, even a week before the concert. And, even while running around to get everything right and in place before the concert, George would also make sure that those who were backstage were getting tea and coffee, he says.

Chaurasia says touring with Harrison was always a learning experience, on how to make melodies and beautiful harmonies with those melodies. The arrangement was such that the musical instruments would be tuned even before we reached the venue. Immediately after landing at the airport, we would be taken to the hotel and then to the concert venue where we would find our Indian clothes waiting for us. He always put a lot of thought into everything and planned everything so perfectly that the arrangements were meticulous, says Chaurasia. Performing with Indian musicians was a dream come true for George.

Chaurasia also reveals his friend's child-like nature. Sometimes he would play ball or go for a run, or at other times he would just want to share stories.

After Harrison passed away in 2001, Chaurasia had received a message from Olivia. The last time he had met Harrison was in 1999 in Londons Logan Hall. At the time, Chaurasia was busy setting up his gurukul in Mumbai. It was shocking to me. I just couldnt believe that he was no more and back then, I didnt even ask Olivia about the cause of death, says Chaurasia.

When asked about the Indian bansuri and how it fits in with a Western ensemble, Chaurasia says the Indian bamboo flute is highly versatile and very popular across the world. The Indian bansuri is the oldest musical instrument. It is a dry piece of bamboo, but still you get the most beautiful sound. It touches your soul. Lord Krishna is known for playing the bansuri and enjoying the divine music with gopis, says Chaurasia. Bansuri can be used in any kind of music, be it devotional, classical, jazz, or even rock.
Perspiration was starting to show through my navy blue uniform. At the insistence of my friends, I was about to meet my first schoolboy crush, a dainty doe-eyed little thing that occasionally glided through my seventh grade corridors. I had no illusions. Far removed from the hustle and bustle of the nearest town, my school was a military camp of sanskaari values and repressed testosterone. The best I could expect was to drop some heavily misspelled love letters into her distinctly red 'Scooby Doo' backpacks and wait for either a notification on Orkut or a painful whipping from my father. I was sure she would burst out crying if I tried to speak to her in private. That would mean a half-an-hour in the invisible chair in the class teacher's room.

The worst happened. My father was summoned to the principal's office, where he was subjected to hours of tongue lashing, while I stood outside the revolving doors, head hung in shame. Was it February 14? I have no clue. But I could hear the head of my school shouting, "Barely two years into the puthuvarsham (New Year) and this devil spawn is already ruining the institution's repute."

Years passed. Facebook became the locus of a million teen egos, flooded with photo-shopped images, #wanderlusts, and the trendy 'it is complicated' relationship statuses. Barely into my first year of college, Imtiaz Ali's Rockstar starring Ranbir Kapoor released. In my circle, dominated by musicians of little to no talent, the movie was something of a revolutionfinally, a proof that their all-suffering girlfriends were the reason why they could not get any gigs (or sing in key). In that summer of a million breakups, my girlfriend and I were in that six-month sweet spot. And with the untimely demise of the landline and the Nokia 1100 with charming free sms combo, WhatsApp became our greatest boon. There were no more firewalls to be negotiated. I did not have to ring up her home land-phone and make her father believe that I was actually requesting for chemistry notes; there was no longer the bane of an extension receiver crackling with the stifled breath of a spying mother.

The holidays arrived. I was lying plonk in bed, the phone a few inches from my face. A grunt informed of another living presence in the vicinity. Impatience was writ large over the face of my father (practically Red Forman from The Seventies Show). "Your mother and I are concerned by your excessive use of phone. (Translation: My money, my rules, my home. Get that thing away or I will throw it out myself)," he said, with a herculean attempt to suppress his rage and remain civil. He was hesitant for a while. "If there is something you need to tell me, do so. We have all gone through these phases (Translation: If there is a girl on the side, I swear to god)." If I wasn't fully sure that he could kick my 19-year old behind, I would have let out a derisive laugh. No thank you, we don't engrave love letters on stone tablets, or present wolf pellets and tiger-skin to the father-in-law for his daughter's hand in marriage. That reminded me, I hadn't bought her a gift for Valentine's Day.

Half a decade later, I had made my entry into the real world, with a career that would leave me no space for "airy-fairy things like work-life balance". It was at a friend's party, incapacitated by booze, swirling colours and loud music, that I caught sight of a shape that winked and smiled at me. The next morning I got the name of my host friend, found her on Facebook and hit her up. I had sneaked past her Snapchat, and finally made it to the final frontierpersonal phone number. After a month of nothing but texts, we met up near a multiplex and exchanged a few casual greetings and awkward small talk. In the darkness of the movie hall, we found a much better use for our mouths. So what if we spoke less than the number of syllables in a Rupi Kaur poem on our first date? There was still time, or so I thought. For the first time in my self-proclaimed young, hip life, I felt like an old man, hit with constant refrains of "Can't talk, text". Was there something I was missing?

It was a moment that I was waiting for. My young cousin, barely 13, on an extended visit to our home, approached me sheepishly. There was this girl in his school, he said. I beamed with pride. Here was my chance to be the cool uncle, doling out gyan from a personal life of limited successes and extended failures. I ranted on about the best ways to write a proper "letter of endearment", how to negotiate with a cranky father on a home phone and that the best plan to properly talk was to join the same after-school tuition centre as hers. A strange look passed over face. And then came the expression I dreadedderision. He was just wondering if I could lend him cash to buy a proper Valentine's Day gift. You can see her on my WhatsApp profile picture, he said, pulling out a brand new Samsung, clicking pictures of me and grumbling about the low-resolution camera. I could see myself with a clown filter on his Snapchat account.
Estimados amigos,

Les doy cordialmente la bienvenida a este Blog informativo con articulos, analisis y comentarios de publicaciones especializadas y especialmente seleccionadas, principalmente sobre temas economicos, financieros y politicos de actualidad, que esperamos y deseamos, sean de su maximo interes, utilidad y conveniencia.

Pensamos que solo comprendiendo cabalmente el presente, es que podemos proyectarnos acertadamente hacia el futuro.

Gonzalo Raffo de Lavalle

Las convicciones son mas peligrosos enemigos de la verdad que las mentiras.

Quien no lo ha dado todo no ha dado nada.

Helenio Herrera

History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.

Karl Marx

If you know the other and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.

Sun Tzu









We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share.This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity.



Paulo Coelho
Some 30 countries from around the world will be represented at the Conference for Heads of Parliamentary Administration, which will take place at the Knesset from TuesdayThursday, 5 to 7 Adar.

The conference, the largest ever held in the Knesset Building, will be attended by some 50 senior members of parliamentary administrations and will be hosted by the Director-General of the Knesset, Albert Sakharovich, and the Secretary General of the Knesset, Yardena Meller-Horovitz.

Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, who will open the conference, said, The Knessets initiative to host such a large conference, and the fact that we are among the few parliaments in the world who have done so demonstrates the high regard in which we are held by parliaments around the world. People are coming from around the world to hear about the work of the Knesset and discuss how to advance parliaments around the world. This is a great honor to the Knesset and its capabilities, as well as to the State of Israel in its seventieth year of independence.

The guests will receive a special welcome and will attend panels headed by Director-General Albert Sakharovich, Secretary-General Yardena Meller-Horovitz, and senior Knesset officials on accessibility and the Knesset initiative to establish an inter-parliamentary forum on the subject, transparency, parliamentary oversight, the Green Knesset project, the Knesset Guard, media and public affairs, the Knesset Visitors Center, and more. In addition, the guests will tour the Kosel and Yad Vashem in Jerusalem and Beit Hatfutzot in Tel Aviv, among other sites, and they will meet with Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Zeev Elkin.

During the conference, Knesset Secretary-General Yardena Meller-Horovitz will discuss parliamentary transparency at the Knesset: This is a hot topic that is of interest to many parliaments. The public wants to know what its elected officials are doing and how it is being represented. We will show the attendees the many activities that earned the Knesset the governmental prize for transparency, including live broadcasts from the Knesset Plenum and committees, online portals with full details of the work of the Knesset committees, a personal web page for each Knesset Member on the Knesset website, which contains details of his or her parliamentary work, online details of Members presence in the Building and their voting record, watching an audio-visual file of the Knessets work alongside written minutes, and more.

The list of countries and organizations represented (in alphabetical order): Armenia, Belarus, Brazil, Canada, Cyprus, the Council of Europe, the Czech Republic, the European Parliament, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Rwanda, Sweden, Switzerland, Uganda, and Ukraine.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman announced on Monday, 4 Adar, that among the targets hit by the air force during the night was underground infrastructure, stating specifically he was referring to a Hamas terrorist tunnel in the area of the Kerem Shalom Crossing.

The IAF during the night was operating over Gaza again as fighter jets targeted terrorist objectives in retaliation for another day of rocket fire from Gaza into southern Israel.

Israel has stated that it holds the Hamas regime in Gaza responsible for any and all rocket fire over the border, and that it will retaliate as Israel sees fit.

The senior minister added the IDF remains prepared for any and all scenarios.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Swedish furniture giant Ikea has partnered with a collective energy switching firm to encourage households to sign-up to a 100 per cent renewable tariff.

Ikea is not launching a tariff, rather nudging people to switch to a greener energy supplier, joining forces with the Big Clean Switch.

The latter is a 'profit for purpose' firm that helps people move to renewable energy providers.

The pair say that switching to a tariff with them could save households around 300 a year through lower electricity and gas bills.

Bright idea? Swedish furniture Ikea has teamed up with the Big Clean Switch to help households secure a cheap green energy tariff

Households can register their interest for the collective switch from today. Big Clean Switch will then look to negotiate the best deal possible with green suppliers.

The firm will only consider tariffs where 100 per cent of the electricity is guaranteed to come from renewable sources, such as solar and wind.

Collective switches have become popular in recent years. They work by clubbing people together in order to haggle down a better tariff to those who have registered.

This is Money has had a several successful collective switching events in the last few years.

Big Clean Switch says the more people who've registered, 'the better the deal could be'.

However, there is no guarantee that the switch will lower your bills  or beat the best tariffs already on offer.

Furthermore, if you are on a fixed tariff with a current supplier, you may be charged an exit penalty, which could outweigh any potential savings.

The tie-in with Ikea is likely to drive up publicity of renewable tariffs  both in stores and with enhanced coverage.

The firm is committed to improving sustainability, as This is Money found out in a recent trip to Almhult, Sweden.

The prices will be announced on 6 March.

Listed on the Big Clean Switch website are suppliers such as Bulb, Bristol Energy, Ecotricity, Good Energy, Octopus and Tonik.

Some people may be nervous about switching to a lesser known supplier.

The Big Clean Switch says: 'Smaller suppliers make up a growing part of the UK energy market.

'We review the customer service and environmental credentials of every supplier we work with, so that you can switch with confidence.

'We make a simple promise to all our users: if you have a problem that you can't resolve directly with your new supplier, we'll take it up with them on your behalf.'

Hege Sbjrnsen, sustainability manager at Ikea UK, said: 'Our commitment to sustainability goes beyond minimising the impact of our own operations to having a positive impact on the world around us.

WHAT IS 'RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY' Different types of renewable electricity sources include wind power, solar power, hydro power, bioenergy, tidal and wave power. Electricity that comes from renewable sources is kinder to the environment compared to traditional fossil fuels that can cause air pollution and contribute to climate change.

'We want to provide our customers with innovative solutions that will help them live a more sustainable life at home and save money in the short and long-term.

'By partnering with the Big Clean Switch, we hope to make switching to renewable electricity simple, accessible and affordable to everyone.'

Big Clean Switch is funded through the commission it receives from a supplier whenever someone switches to clean electricity through the campaign.

For every switch, Big Clean Switch will pass 40 per cent commission it receives onto Ikea which will then be used to support local community initiatives.

The Big Clean Switch says that when the tariff is chosen, in order to ensure the supplier can maintain customer service levels, there will be a limit on the number of households that can switch.

It says it will confirm how many households can switch when the tariff goes live. You can register your interest on its website.
You'd be hard-pressed to find a more idyllic countryside scene than Richard Bunning's 15th-century thatched farmhouse in Devon.

At one end of his farm, rare-breed cattle graze in a lush paddock. At the other, a dilapidated mill dating back to the 11th century looms large.

It's quiet, serene and totally without mobile phone signal: perfect for a weekend retreat from the hustle and bustle of modern life.

But for Richard and his wife Alison, who live here all-year round running their farming and architecture businesses, that's far from ideal.

They love the countryside, but the immense difficulties with their broadband connection have come to threaten their livelihoods.

Guy Cashmore and his partner Liz Parks, pictured with their son Joseph, were paying 40-a-month for a broadband service that took up to a minute to load a web page and often cut out

On a good day, they can send a few emails. But loading a simple webpage  such as Google or Amazon  takes up to half-an-hour. Downloading music or streaming Netflix is completely out of the question.

So the Bunnings started an 'email run'  writing emails, then driving to Wetherspoons in the nearest town with their laptop to use its wi-fi hotspot and send them all in one go.

BT engineers have visited the farm more than 30 times in 18 months to try to improve their broadband, but without success.

You might expect the Bunnings to be paying just a few pounds for this terrible service.

But their connection  100 times slower than the level deemed necessary for modern internet use  costs 70 a month, more than double the price of superfast fibre broadband elsewhere in the country, which can cost less than 30.

More than a million 'forgotten homes' still get broadband speeds of less than 10 megabits per second (Mbps), according to the telecommunications watchdog Ofcom.

This is the speed experts say is required for modern life. But even 10 Mbps can become sluggish if several people use iPads or laptops at the same time.

Costly solution: Guy and Liz were forced to install a 4g box on their cottage roof

Richard's broadband is so slow that when he tried to check his speed on the BT website, it wouldn't load.

He tried the regulator's version and it showed he received 0.1 Mbps. One of his, and many other sufferers', biggest grumbles is about the frequent drops in connection. At one stage, a storm left Richard without the internet for three months.

Under a new compensation scheme that, unfortunately for Richard, does not come into effect until February 2019, he would have received 8-a-day compensation for the loss of service  or about 700.

Richard says: 'I feel like I've been defrauded for ten years because BT has charged me for a service that it knows I'm not able to use.

'It continues to charge at the same rate and say it's going to fix it when it knows full well that it can't improve it at all.'

Around 300,000 people in rural areas get less than 2 Mbps, making basic Google searches or online shopping difficult. And many on slow speeds feel exploited because the price they pay does not reflect the service they get.

Typically, broadband providers' cheapest packages are so-called standard deals. These cost around 20 a month for speeds of 'up to' 17 Mbps. There's rarely a discount if you get less. But for people in rural areas, there is little to no competition, so prices are higher.

Sky and TalkTalk don't provide a service in the most isolated parts of the country.

Dominic Baliszewski, of Broadbandchoices.co.uk, says: 'It's doubly unfair on some rural customers who pay more for a much worse service just because there is no competition.'

Richard's main problem is that he lives almost eight miles away from the nearest telephone exchange in Oakford. And BT is the area's only service provider.

Even if other companies offer alternatives, they often rely on BT Openreach for the quality of the connection.

More than a million 'forgotten homes' still get broadband speeds of less than 10 megabits per second

Openreach is the arm of BT that owns and maintains the telephone wires, ducts, cabinets and exchanges that connect nearly all homes and businesses in the UK to the national broadband network.

Some of this network is made up of old, unreliable telephone copper wires that have been in place for more than 50 years, with little sign of being upgraded.

Rivals to BT typically rent this equipment to supply broadband.

But it's driving some homeowners to take extreme measures.

Guy Cashmore and his partner Liz Parks moved to Bridestowe, also in Devon, in 2015 to raise their 18-month-old son Joseph and let out a holiday home. They soon discovered loading a website took up to a minute and their broadband, which cost 40 a month, often cut out.

The couple began to get complaints  and comments in online reviews  from guests paying to stay in their cottage next door.

Guy was repeatedly told by BT that he was too far from the telephone exchange for a better connection: copper wires struggle to maintain high speeds over long distances.

By the time the broadband reached his house, it had slowed to 1 Mbps.

So, as holiday bookings dwindled, Guy decided to bypass BT's ageing network altogether. He cancelled his account and installed a 4G mast on top of his cottage.

The white, plastic box on his roof is the size of a regular broadband modem and is an advanced radio system to send and receive data.

The mobile internet delivers speeds comparable to normal home broadband packages  but it's pricey. His EE package costs 70 for 100GB of data.

If Guy goes over his monthly allocation, he has to buy more data at a higher price. For instance, using his 4G connection as much as the average broadband user would cost 220 a month.

'The poor connection was seriously damaging our business,' says Guy. 'Our reviews were all focused on the terrible internet access  it was putting off prospective guests.

'Most people don't come to rural Devon to spend the whole trip looking at a laptop. But the internet is such an integral part of life now.

People need a decent connection to do online banking or send work emails and, if it's raining, guests often want to curl up and watch Netflix  but video streaming was a total no-go here.'

He says that while 4G has saved his business, the costs are a bind: 'Some guests cost us more in top-up data payments than they're spending to stay here. In our own home, we can't afford to use BBC iPlayer for more than an hour or two a month.'

Internet masts are catching on in hard-to-reach areas, despite the expense, because it's often the only way to improve broadband speed.

The Bunnings have put up their own mast now, too.

Miriam Gard, 69, and her husband Robert, 75, moved to Kent 17 years ago, which then had broadband speeds of just 0.61 Mbps, yet heir service has barely improved

We only live just outside Ashforrd

Almost 300 miles from the two couples in Devon, Miriam Gard, 69, and her husband Robert, 75, have similar problems.

The couple moved to Kent 17 years ago, which then had broadband speeds of just 0.61 Mbps.

Despite huge advances in technology, their service has barely improved  Miriam's speed checks show she often gets just 0.67 Mbps. One thing that has been on the up, though, is their BT bill, which now stands at 37.99 a month.

'People who get superfast broadband pay the same or less than us. It's terribly unfair,' says Miriam.

'It knows our service is dire, but refuses to give a discount and persists in putting its prices up.'

Miriam's underlying problem is with the Openreach network  she's also been told the exchange is too far away  so another supplier will make no difference.

Miriam finds this strange because she lives just six miles from Ashford, a sizeable market town. Her village, Shadoxhurst, is quiet  but sprawling housing estates are being planned and built around it.

Like the Bunnings, Miriam and Robert drive to their nearest wi-fi hotspot  the Tesco cafe three miles away  to use the internet.

'We normally find at least five other people doing the same thing,' says Miriam.

Until December, she worked part-time for an online estate agent, showing homes to prospective buyers.

Much of her time was spent setting up appointments, arranging for keys to be collected and keeping in touch with clients.

But her BT internet service was so slow that it just became too much. 'I lost years of my life trying to keep on top of things,' she says. 'It's stressful being cut off from the world and trying to do work that depends on an internet connection.

'I loved my job, but I couldn't do it because of our service.'

The Government has promised broadband speeds of at least 10 Mbps for everyone by 2020. But experts say it is unlikely that this will be achieved.

As it stands, Britain is the world's sixth-biggest economy  but only 31st in terms of broadband speed.

'My blackspot in Salford'

Even urban areas are not immune to blackspots.

Barbara Guest, for example, received speeds of 1.2 Mbps when she moved into a new-build townhouse on an estate in Salford two years ago.

Despite being just four miles outside central Manchester, the 60-year-old says she still only gets 4 Mbps and can only use the internet in one room.

BT engineers blame the wiring in her house, but she says neighbours are also struggling.

Barbara has yet to get answers as to why a property built in 2012 near the country's third-largest city can't get decent broadband.

'It's baffling,' she says. 'I could understand why someone in the middle of nowhere might have a slow connection, but I assumed I would be safe somewhere so built-up and populated.'

Barbara, who runs a therapy business from home, says she is worried about how she'll cope as more services move online.

'I can't help thinking BT hasn't invested in the system enough, and that's where the real problems lie.'

Grant Shapps, chair of the British Infrastructure Group of MPs (BIG), says: 'Nowadays, people rely on the internet in the same way families need electricity and running water.

'It cannot be right for people to still suffer snail's-pace speeds. It's high time that everyone in the UK actually received the Universal Service Obligation of 10 Mbps, but we shouldn't stop there.

'BIG is calling for the higher standard of 24 Mbps to be made official. Only then will the UK be fit to stand on its own two feet in the post-Brexit world we're entering.'

An Openreach spokesman says: 'Our fibre broadband network is available to 27.4 million homes and businesses, so we encourage anyone experiencing slow speeds to seek an upgrade if it's available  only 9.2 million have chosen to so far.

'The average UK broadband line can stream seven simultaneous HD videos and, last week, the Government said 95 per cent of the country can now access superfast speeds of 24 Mbps and above, but it's still 5 per cent short of good enough.

'We're determined to deliver decent broadband to everyone, so we're working hard to address the remaining not-spots across the country.'

A BT spokesman says: 'We aim to give customers the best possible speeds their line can achieve. There are many factors at play here  some of which are outside the supplier's control.

'We base broadband prices on various factors, including usage limits, security features and speed, not just speed alone.'

s.smyth@dailymail.co.uk
Britain may not be the industrial giant it once was, but our factories are thriving.

Manufacturing output has risen for the past eight months, marking the longest run of expansion for nearly 30 years and confounding predictions of decline.

Overall, factory output rose by 2.3 per cent in the last three months of 2017, according to the Office for National Statistics.

So how can you take advantage of the revival to give your Isa a boost?

Top picks: Johnnie Walker whisky and Hellmann's mayonnaise are part of Britain's success story

Britain's pharmaceutical sector is booming and is home to some of the world's biggest drug companies.

The sector employs more than 61,500 people and exports nearly 30 billion of medicines each year, according to the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations.

In December, drug-makers were the second-fastest growing area of British manufacturing, according to the ONS.

For savers wanting to profit, Darius McDermott, of fund supermarket Chelsea Financial Services, tips Threadneedle UK Equity Alpha Income.

It invests nearly 13 in every 100 of your cash in drugs giants AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline.

Cambridge-based AstraZeneca, which rebuffed a 70 billion takeover bid from US rival Pfizer in 2014, was given a boost this week by the U.S. drug regulator's decision to grant approval to one of its key new cancer medicines.

The Food and Drug Administration approved Imfinzi for treating stage three lung cancer patients who have had chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Analysts believe the move could be worth up to $2 billion (1.4 billion) in annual sales to Astra, which employs 6,700 people at seven sites in the UK.

This month, GlaxoSmithKline reported a 3 per cent rise in annual turnover to 30.2 billion, with profits rising 5 per cent to 8.5 billion.

It is hopeful new treatments for lung conditions, HIV and shingles will help it continue to grow. It employs 16,000 people at 18 UK sites.

Threadneedle UK Equity Alpha Income has turned 10,000 into 14,904 in five years.

Britain's pharmaceutical sector,spearheaded by drugs giants AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline, is booming and is home to some of the world's biggest drug companies

Britain's food, drink and tobacco manufacturers are also growing strongly, up 0.9 per cent in December, according to figures.

Food and drink is the UK's biggest manufacturing sector, employing more than 400,000 people and generating more than 112 billion for the economy, according to trade body Food & Drink Federation.

Ben Yearsley, of adviser Shore Financial Planning, believes Troy Trojan Income is one of the best ways to profit from the sector and resurgence of manufacturing as a whole.

The second biggest holding in the fund, which has turned 10,000 into 14,727 in five years, is Unilever, which makes a range of foods such as Flora margarine, Hellman's mayonnaise as well as household brands such as Dove.

It claims its products are in around 98 per cent of UK homes and used by two billion people globally each day.

The London-based firm, has three UK research centres and multiple factories. Its share price has risen 41 per cent in five years, and it is the world's second largest advertising spender.

Mr Yearsley says: 'Despite all of the doom and gloom about British manufacturing, we have actually got some world-class companies here.'

Britain is also home to the world's largest drinks producer, Diageo, maker of Johnnie Walker whisky. Last month it announced better-than-expected half-year results, with profits rising 6 per cent to 2.2 billion in the six months to December 31.

Sophie Kennedy, of adviser EQ Investors, says savers can take advantage of the firm's success by investing in Newton Global Income, which puts 3.27 in every 100 in Diageo. It also has a large stake in Unilever. The fund has turned 10,000 into 16,580 in five years.

Machinery and equipment manufacturers was the third-fastest-growing sector in the three months to December, growing by 4 per cent.

Jason Hollands, of fund supermarket Bestinvest, says savers can cash in by investing in Liontrust UK Smaller Companies, which has turned 10,000 into 23,040 in five years. The fund invests 3.30 in every 100 in Renishaw, one of Britain's leading engineering groups.

Renishaw, based in Gloucestershire, makes precision machinery used in jet engines, wind turbines and even brain surgery.

It is also a world leader in 3D metal printing, has more than 70 offices in 35 countries and employs more than 4,000 people, 2,800 of which are based in Britain. It's expecting to earn profits of up to 156 million this year.

p.thomas@dailmail.co.uk
My mother worked in the NHS in Scotland for around 46 years and retired in 2005. She was in a final salary scheme which was contracted out in the 1980s.

Our question is what was the benefit of contracting out? And secondly where did her contributions go  did they go into the final salary scheme?

If so then this wouldnt have made a difference to her pension as it was based on her final salary. Why does the Department for Work and Pensions make a deduction in respect of the period she was contracted out from her state pension?

SCROLL DOWN TO FIND OUT HOW TO ASK YOUR PENSION QUESTION

How are NHS pensions funded? This years contributions from nurses, doctors and other NHS workers are added to money from NHS employers and used to pay the pensions of this years retired NHS workers, explains former pensions minister Steve Webb

Steve Webb replies: My recent column on the state pension generated a lot of questions on the subject of contracting out which continues to cause a great deal of confusion.

Here, I'll run through how contracting out worked and what impact it has on your state pension, as well as explaining in passing how pension schemes like the NHS pension scheme are funded.

Back in 1978, the government introduced an additional element to the state pension system. On top of the basic state pension, people were able to build up a second, earnings-related state pension.

This quickly became known as SERPS  the state earnings-related pension scheme.

Steve Webb: Find out how to ask the former Pensions Minister a question about your retirement savings in the box below

Whilst SERPS was a great boost for those workers who did not have access to a workplace pension, it duplicated existing provision for those, such as your mother, who were already in a pension. So the government allowed pension schemes to contract out of SERPS.

The deal was that the employer and the employee were allowed to pay a reduced rate of National Insurance contributions and in return for this, the pension scheme had to promise to at least match the SERPS pension she would otherwise have built up.

So, in answer to your first question, the advantage of contracting out was that you paid a lower rate of National Insurance contributions than someone else on the same wage who was not contracted out.

Your second question was about where your mothers contributions went. In the case of the NHS scheme, there is no pension fund.

This years contributions from nurses, doctors and other NHS workers are added to the money paid in by NHS employers and used to pay the pensions of this years retired NHS workers. Since your mother retired, her NHS pension has been funded by todays generation of NHS workers.

Most public sector pension schemes run on this basis, including those for teachers, civil servants and military personnel. The main exception is the Local Government Pension Scheme where there is a fund being built up every year.

When it comes to retirement, the system used to be that people who had been contracted out all of their life would in most cases only get a basic state pension plus their workplace pension.

However, usually the value of the workplace pension was very substantially in excess of the SERPS pension they might otherwise have received.

Although the worker was putting some money in to their pension, the employer was often putting in much more, and as a result people in such schemes got a very decent pension relative to what they had put in.

This goes for both public sector and private sector workers. When it came to company pension schemes that contracted out, these were also generally well-supported and tended to have a good outcome for staff.

There are also people who contracted out into personal pensions that they saved into privately, and here the outcome depends on how well these performed - and it might fall short of what the Government estimates on state pension forecasts, as I have discussed previously.

Meanwhile, the move to the new state pension for those who reach state pension age after 5 April 2016 has created some additional complexity for a time.

People who were extensively contracted out will have a pension entitlement as at 2016 based on a full basic pension - if they have 30 years or more in the system - and perhaps a few pounds of SERPS for any years when they were not contracted out.

Has Steve answered your question? To browse pension topics Steve Webb has already tackled, check out his previous columns here.

The good news for these workers is that if they have one or more year from 16/17 onwards before they reach state pension age, they can add to this 2016 starting amount by subsequent contributions or credits.

Instead of being limited only to the old basic pension (a little over 120 per week at the moment), they will be able to build up a higher pension as well as drawing their workplace pension in full.

They may not reach the full flat rate pension of around 160 per week, but they are no longer capped at the old basic pension level.

Although it may not feel like it, this group are the main gainers from the new system because they still get the same workplace pension as before but have the chance to build a bigger state pension than under the old rules.
MBABANE  He is one of the oldest artists in the country and will be celebrating the 50 years of Independence and His Majesty King Mswati IIIs birthday with an album.



Local Mbhaqanga artist Mshikishi Mdzebele is working on releasing his ninth album which has songs honouring the country and the King for turning 50 this year.

Mshikishi said the album would be ready at the end of March as his intention was to have the album released in April, during the double celebrations.

This album comes after Mshikishis very successful eighth album titled Overtime. The album contains the hit song titled Monarchial Democracy, and it was the artists first album to make it to the SBIS and Ligwalagwala Top 20 charts.



Mndzebeles song, which has lyrics talking about the beauty of the countrys governing system Tinkhunda, received a lot of attention in South Africa radio stations. It is the same song that made Mshikishi sell over 5 000 copies for the first time.

 I have since realised that songs that have meaning to the country and myself are best .

That is why even now I have focused on the 50/50 celebrations and I hope it will be received well, said Mshikishi. The new album will be recorded at STM Studio in Durban and he is expected to spend E14 000 for the recording.



He has already booked the studio and the recording is scheduled in two weeks time.

I am currently preparing for the recording of my new album. I have been working hard to make sure I produce the album which will reflect my experience in the music industry, he said.

He thanked all those who have supported him in all the years, adding that he still needs more support.
MANZINI  After spending about two hours with the umbilical cord still intact and not breastfeeding, a newborn would be best described as a miracle baby.



This comes after a 20-year-old woman experienced a rather unfortunate incident after the Emergency Medical Services Department (EMS) failed to live up to expectation. *Zethu was at kaNdlunganye at the homestead where she rents a flat when she suddenly went into labour last Friday.



According to eyewitnesses, the EMS personnel, also known as 977, were called at around 1:30pm and 2pm; just after Zethu showed signs of being in labour. The source said on the first call, the officer who answered the phone promised that an ambulance would come to ferry her to hospital.



However, after some time passed without the ambulance in sight, the good Samaritans who were with Zethu when her water broke called again but this time, the response they got was unfavourable.



The good Samaritans said the officer who answered told them that there was no ambulance available as all vehicles went for service hence they should explore other options of getting the woman to hospital. At this point, the sources said it was around 3pm and that Zethu had already given birth to her daughter.



The person who answered the phone said we should try the Fire and Emergency Services Department but when we called, we were told that the department was not equipped to deal with such cases, one of the women stated. The sources said Zethus water broke while she was inside a salon that is situated in the same compound where she lived. There, she was in the company of others when she complained of being nauseous.



Just when she was about to go out, her water broke and soon thereafter, she gave birth to her child, a source said.

Not knowing what to do with the crying baby who was still dangling from the umbilical cord, the sources said they opted to find vehicles to get the mother and child to hospital but efforts to that effect proved futile.
MBABANE - Senate President Gelani Zwane has confirmed that due to tradition, she will not go to Parliament.

Zwane said this during an interview yesterday.



The senate president said it was Swazi tradition that a widow had to mourn her husbands death for about two years before she could take up her duties. Zwane said she was not sure whether that had changed. She confirmed that at the moment she would not attend parliamentary business as tradition did not allow that. She said she would do so when the time came.



When asked whether this meant she would not attend Parliament for the two-year mourning period, Zwane said only the countrys authorities would know that. She stated that it would be difficult to force things that would be against tradition. Speaking like a person well versed in the local tradition, she said it had to be appropriately observed.



Zwane clarified that she knew what tradition dictated in terms of what had to happen now that she had lost her husband. The Swazi Observer yesterday reported that it was over for Zwane and was told not to set foot in Parliament. I will not be told by them what to do as I know very well; I am a Swazi by birth, Zwane said.



Zwane recently lost her husband, Michael Zwane and his service was reportedly conducted at Mbabane Burial Society. The debate of widows serving in Parliament not attending the august House was sparked when the Deputy Prime Minister, Paul Dlamini, allegedly informed the Minister of Labour and Social Security Winnie Magagula that she could not attend the official opening of Parliament last Friday because she was in mourning. This matter sparked much public debate as there were reports that Magagula would not be able to attend to Parliament business for the next two years.
MBABANE  Being kept in solitary confinement without access to a toilet is one of the restrictions murder suspect Sipho Shongwe has to endure on a daily basis.



As I am in solitary confinement, it is even worse. They close at 3pm for meals and I have no access to a toilet from 4pm until 8am the following day, submitted Shongwe.



Solitary confinement is a form of imprisonment in which an inmate is isolated from any human contact, often with the exception of members of prison staff.

Shongwe, who stands charged with the murder of prominent businessman Victor Gamedze, disclosed the hardship he was facing in prison in his court papers where he is fighting for his release from custody.



He averred that there were a number of restrictions on when and where he might have food.

Shongwe further submitted that the facility at Matsapha was not conducive for a meaningful consultation with his legal team.

According to Shongwe, he was separated by a fence from his legal representatives.



We are not accorded sufficient privacy as the guards stand by the windows and attempt overtly to listen to the conversations between me and my legal team, submitted the murder suspect.

He insisted that he was in solitary confinement and the cell had no toilet.



Shongwe also alleged that he was a sickly person who needed constant medical attention which was not available in prison.

Shongwes submissions are in contrary to those that were made by the Principal Investigator of the matter, Senior Superintendent Sikhumbuzo Fakudze.

In his opposing affidavit, Fakudze alleged that the correctional services had officers who looked after the health of inmates.
MBABANE  Police are on a major crackdown on the Victor Gamedze murder case as a third suspect has been arrested.



Soon after the murder incident that took place in January 14, 2018 at Ezulwini Galp Filling Station, the police stated that they had four suspects who were wanted in connection with the incident.



Within a month of Gamedzes death, three suspects have been arrested.

Two of these suspects are from the Republic of South Africa and they are in the South African police custody while they wait to be extradited to the kingdom to face their alleged crimes.



The third suspect to have been arrested is Siphiwe Ntjebe Tata Ngubane, who was on the police wanted list for some time.

He was arrested over the weekend, soon after Mbuso Ncaza Nkosi was also arrested.

Both suspects have been reported to be from Soweto.



The duo joins businessman Sipho Shongwe, who is currently kept at the Matsapha Maximum Prison.

One suspect in Sicelo Dzodzo Zikalala/Luthango is still on the run and wanted by the police.

According to the National Commissioner of Police, Isaac Magagula, Ngubane and Nkosi will be extradited to the country but it would take long since there were legal procedures to be followed.



Magagula stated that when Ngubane was arrested, he was found in possession of a gun which they were still to investigate if it was the one used to kill Gamedze.

He said they had warrants of arrest for the suspects who were not in their custody.



A team of our officers went to South Africa on Thursday and they returned empty handed on Friday. Upon their return, while we were discussing a way forward, they received a call from our counterparts in SA that they had captured Nkosi. Currently, the two suspects are in police custody but they also have to appear in court in South Africa for the extradition, Magagula stated.
[February 20, 2018] Anaplan brings connected planning to Germany with new office and data center

Connected planning platform in the cloud will enable German-based companies to connect data, people, and plans for better decision making FRANKFURT, Germany, and SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Anaplan, a leading platform provider driving a new age of connected planning, opened an office in Frankfurt, Germany today. Under the leadership of Managing Director for the DACH region Yuri Rotmanov and Christian Thiede, Sales Leader for Germany, Anaplan's Frankfurt office demonstrates the company's commitment to bringing connected planning to German organizations to help them succeed in a rapidly changing environment. Anaplan also announced the opening of a data center in Germany, hosted by Equinix, for its German customers. To serve customers in the European market, Anaplan also has offices in the U.K., Russia, France, Austria, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland.



Customers worldwide are using the Anaplan platform, including AccorHotels, AXA, Barclaycard, Deloitte, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, HP Inc., Intel, Louis Vuitton, and United Airlines. "Speed and agility are essential for German companies in today's fast-moving environment," said Anaplan Founder Michael Gould. "The Anaplan platform enables companies to quickly and accurately address the challenges they face. We see enormous potential for Anaplan in the German market and are eager to help businesses here succeed through connected planning."

"Our experience shows that CFOs need fast information, more transparency, and better insights into the overall performance of the companies they manage," said Thomas Klingspor, Partner and Head of the Competence Center for Business Finance at Deloitte in Germany. "They need to be able to plan and simulate the impact of their decisions on business across the entire organization in real time." Together, Anaplan and Deloitte are committed to helping their joint customers maximize the business value of the Anaplan platform. To learn more about how customers are leveraging the Anaplan platform for connected planning, register for Hub 2018, Anaplan's annual connected planning conference at the Aria Hotel in Las Vegas from March 5-7. About Anaplan

Anaplan is driving a new age of connected planning. Large and fast-growing organizations use Anaplan's cloud platform in every business function to make better-informed plans and decisions, and to drive faster, more effective planning processes. Anaplan also provides support, training, and planning transformation advisory services. Anaplan is a privately held company based in San Francisco with 18 offices and over 150 expert partners worldwide. To learn more, visit anaplan.com. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/482892/Anaplan_Logo.jpg

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[February 20, 2018] KC International Airlines Selects airRM as its Revenue Management System

SEATTLE, Feb. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Revenue Management Systems, an Accelya Group Company (RMS), is proud to announce that it has been selected to provide Cambodias newest airline, KC International Airlines with its state-of-the-art revenue management, inventory control, and reporting tools. airRM will enable KC International Airlines to identify sales opportunities, maximize passenger revenues, closely control pricing, and analyze performance.

Based on the evaluation of our experts who have more than 10 years RM experience, we have decided to choose airRM as our RM system, said Jesper Teng, Commercial Manager, KC International Airlines. We are also honored to become the first RMS customer in Cambodia. The powerful and comprehensive functionality of airRM, and the professional consulting service provided by RMS, will empower us to meet passengers needs and gain a big competitive edge in the market. They will support our growth into a leading regional airline in Southeast Asia. There is enormous potential for Cambodias aviation sector to soar in the coming years, said Landie Qiu, Manager of Sales and Support  APAC. KC International Airlines is RMSs 17th customer in Southeast Asia, and the very first in Cambodia. Adding KC International Airlines is a great opportunity for RMS to bring the latest RM technology and best practice techniques  which have been so effective throughout Southast Asia  to KC International Airlines and the Cambodian market. Our all-star airRM system and our teams industry-leading expertise will help accelerate KC International Airlines growth and success.



About KC International Airlines

KC International Airlines Co., Ltd. is established by Chinese and Cambodian investors with $100 million registered capital. The HDQ of KC International Airlines is in Phnom Penh international airport. Siem Reap and Port Sihanouk are operational bases. KC International Airlines focus on the major markets of mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and Southeast Asia region. KC International Airlines is a full-service airline operating popular business routes. The vision of KC Airlines is to become the safest and most popular local airline in Cambodia and a leading regional airline in Southeast Asia region. More information can be found at http://job.carnoc.com/list/2933.html About RMS

Revenue Management Systems (RMS), an Accelya Group Company, is a global leader in revenue management solutions for the aviation, rail, and cargo industries. Our software helps more than 90 airlines, rail operators, and cargo carriers worldwide make faster, smarter and more profitable decisions, driven by innovation and foresight. RMS is headquartered in Seattle, Washington (USA) with offices in Australia, Great Britain, The Netherlands, Spain, and Singapore. More information about airRM and RMS may be found at www.revenuemanagement.com.

About Accelya

Accelya is a leading provider of financial, commercial and analytics solutions to the airline and travel industry. Accelya helps airlines integrate and simplify their financial processes; to better manage costs, risks, revenue leakages, cash flows, profitability and overall business performance. Accelya partners with airlines right from the time a ticket or an air waybill is issued, all the way through its entire financial lifecycle and until the data is converted to actionable intelligence. Accelyas commercial solutions help airlines steer sales and strengthen their business relationship with travel agents. It provides insights on airline sales performance, agent performance, route performance and instantly identifies potential for growth. It also helps airlines manage agent incentive program for higher agent satisfaction. Backed by solid data, Accelyas analytics and consulting services enable airlines to take informed decisions by forecasting market trends, identifying revenue opportunities and optimizing costs. With over 250 airline customers, Accelyas operations are spread across 19 countries and employs over 3000 professionals worldwide. For more information please visit www.accelya.com. Contacts

Martin Kaduc at +1 206 518 5198 / mkaduc@revenuemanagement.com.



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Suriname Telecoms Market Analysis and Outlook Report 2018 - Revenues, Investment and Infrastructure Details - ResearchAndMarkets.com

The "2018 Suriname Telecom Market Analysis and Outlook Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The research work strategically analyzes Suriname telecommunications market, examining the recent trends, drivers and challenges across diverse dimensions such as growth, demand, pricing, competition, consumer behaviour, infrastructure, policies and others.

The study also provides in-depth analysis of segment wise telecommunications including mobile, fixed line and fixed broadband services. The number of subscribers and penetration rates are forecast for each of the sub-segment including mobile, fixed landline and broadband segments from 2005 to 2025.

Suriname telecommunication revenues, investment and infrastructure details are also covered in the report. Futher, emerging business environment in Suriname together with comparison to five competitive benchmark countries are included, to assess the country's prominence on regional front.







On the competitive analysis front, leading companies along with their market shares are identified. Further, key business strategies of market leaders, their tariffs and SWOT profiles are included. In addition, the research work forecasts the demographic and economic drivers of Suriname that enable strategy planners to formulate their pricing and branding strategies.

The report also includes latest telecommunication market developments, mergers, acquisitions and launches, spectrum availability, tenders and other aspects are analyzed.

Key Topics Covered:

Executive Summary Suriname Telecom Market-Strategic Analysis Suriname Telecom Market Outlook Suriname Telecom Competitive Environment Suriname Telecom Industry Benchmarking Suriname Economic Outlook to 2025 Suriname Demographic Outlook to 2025 Competitor Analysis Recent Industry Developments

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/zgmsrd/suriname_telecoms?w=4

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180219005493/en/
Patient Monitoring Device Market Global Briefing 2018 - North America Trailed Asia-Pacific by 1% Market Share in 2017 - ResearchAndMarkets.com

The "Patient Monitoring Device Market Global Briefing 2018" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Technological advances in wireless communications have enabled the development of small, intelligent and cost-effective medical sensor nodes. These nodes can be strategically placed on a patient's body to create a wireless medical body area network (MBAN). This network can continuously monitor various physiological signs and provide real-time feedback to the user and medical staff through SMS/E-mail. MBAN are particularly useful in large-scale in-field medical and behavioral studies and for patient monitoring in mass-casualty disasters.

Asia Pacific was the largest region in the patient monitorng devices market in 2017, accounting for around 33% market share. North America was the second largest region accounting for around 32% market share. Africa was the smallest region accounting for around 3% market share.







Scope

Markets Covered: Multi-parameter vital sign monitors, wireless ambulatory telemetry monitoring, telehealth monitoring, intracranial pressure devices, electromyography (EMG) devices, electroencephalography (EEG) monitors, cerebral oximetry devices, fetal and neonatal monitors, pulse oximetry devices, cardiac output monitoring devices and blood pressure monitors.

Time Series: Five years historic and forecast.

Data: Market value in $ billions.

Data Segmentations: Regional breakdowns, market share of competitors, key sub segments.

Companies Mentioned

Siemens Healthineers

GE Healthcare

Philips (News - Alert) Healthcare

Dragerwerk

Medtronic Plc

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/s2mq5c/patient?w=4

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180219005645/en/
[February 20, 2018]

360-degree Virtual Reality Videos Launched to Experience Charms of Tokyo and Hiroshima Prefecture

TOKYO, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to encourage individual foreign travelers in Tokyo to venture on to the Chugoku and Shikoku regions with little stress, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has mapped out sightseeing routes originating from Tokyo and is promoting public relations featuring the diverse characteristics of these destinations in western Japan.

It is pleased to announce the launch of 360-degree virtual reality videos, which provide immersive experiences, as an initiative to further strengthen the information dissemination of "CHUGOKU+SHIKOKU x TOKYO," a website that introduces recommended tourist routes.

360-degree VR videos:

"360-degree CHUGOKU+SHIKOKU x TOKYO" is a project to introduce the charms of Tokyo and the regions of Chugoku and Shikoku as a combination of must-see wonders.

This edition consists of the "Grill/HIROSHIMA" and "Day walk/HIROSHIMA" segments.

- Grill/HIROSHIMA: Teppanyaki grill (Tokyo) / Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki

(Japanese ayered pancakes) (Hiroshima)









HIROSHIMA

Tokyo

Hiroshima

URL: http://www.chushikokuandtokyo.org/virtualtour/

Recommended tourist route:

WATERSIDE BEAUTY

After taking in the metropolitan sights of the Tokyo Bay coastal area, take a journey to the Itsukushima Shrine, a World Heritage Site looking like floating in the sea. Then head to Onomichi, at the crossroads of the Seto Inland Sea. A trip to experience a Japan encompassed by the sea as the gentle ocean breeze blows around you.

URL: http://www.chushikokuandtokyo.org/route_13/

(Photo: http://prw.kyodonews.jp/opn/release/201802050613/?images)

The website presenting the diverse charms of Tokyo and the regions of Chugoku and Shikoku to audiences worldwide: http://www.chushikokuandtokyo.org/

The website presenting tourism information about different regions of Japan to audiences worldwide: http://www.tourism-alljapanandtokyo.org/?lang=en

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/360-degree-virtual-reality-videos-launched-to-experience-charms-of-tokyo-and-hiroshima-prefecture-300600908.html

SOURCE Tokyo Metropolitan Government
[February 20, 2018] ingage and Taylor Rafferty Launch Cross-border IR Service Partnership

NEW YORK and LONDON, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Taylor Rafferty, the largest and longest established independent cross-border capital markets consulting and investor relations firm, has joined forces with ingage, the leading corporate access and IR software solutions provider. The two firms will offer seamless cross-border IR support to managements, IROs, institutional investors and asset owners, providing efficient and effective corporate-investor communications and collaboration through ingage's software and solutions. Michael Hufton, ingage Founder and Managing Director commented: "The trend towards direct corporate access unleashed by MiFID II is quickly globalising amongst both institutional investors and quoted corporates. ingage's approach has always been to combine state-of-the-art software with first class client service. Combining our capabilities in software and in European capital markets with Taylor Rafferty's unparalleled experience in North American capital markets enables us to offer our clients best-in-class solutions. Brian and his team's long track record of client success combined with a clear alignment to ingage's philosophy and operating principles make this collaboration possible." "Taylor Rafferty's excellence in client service is built on decades of successfully helping management achieve their capital markets and IR goals. Since the early days of US investment in non-US securities through the rise and fall of the conflicted corporate access models, we have remained committed to represent client inerests first and foremost, with transparency and without conflict," said Taylor Rafferty Founder and Chief Executive Brian Rafferty. "I met Michael four years ago shortly after ingage was launched, and was immediately enthusiastic about his plans for ingage's software and solutions to improve management and IRO interactions with their institutional investor marketplace and IR CRM. Now ingage and Taylor Rafferty can provide capabilities to clients that they cannot find anywhere else."



Corporates based outside the US have huge opportunities to attract high quality institutional investors onto their registers. Post MiFID II, available resource is under increasing pressure. Taylor Rafferty and ingage will work together to help clients seize those opportunities, efficiently and effectively connecting managements and IROs with hundreds of high quality but often undiscovered institutional investors. Likewise, institutional investors and asset owners are increasingly looking to internalise a direct corporate access capability. The ingage platform helps them do this easily and efficiently, with automatic regulatory standard record keeping and reporting built in.

Contact ingage: Michael Hufton

Phone: +44 (0) 20 7118 2288

info@ingage.com Taylor Rafferty: Brian Rafferty

Phone: +1 212 889 4350

info@taylor-rafferty.com About Taylor Rafferty Taylor Rafferty is the world's leading global investor relations firm. For over 35 years, we have enabled our clients to achieve their capital markets goals by delivering a full range of advisory and operational support in the world's major capital markets. Taylor Rafferty's service teams blend decades of capital markets expertise, incisive IR program implementation experience and insightful research and analysis to give our clients a clear advantage in the competition for capital. Taylor Rafferty is headquartered in New York City. For more information, please visit www.taylor-rafferty.com. About ingage ingage is the industry leading investor relations CRM and corporate access software platform which enables quoted corporates and institutional investors to connect directly, easily and efficiently. Founded in 2013, ingage was built by investment and software specialists to provide state-of-the-art solutions for corporate access and IR CRM, specifically designed to manage regulatory change. Headquartered in London, the ingage platform operates globally. For more information on ingage, please visit www.ingage.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/340902/Taylor_Rafferty_Logo.jpg

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[February 20, 2018] Protiviti Hosts Global Leader Bob Hirth in a Session on Emerging Risks for Business in 2018

NEW DELHI, February 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Protiviti India Member Firm recently organized an interactive session with Global business leader and an expert on Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework, Bob Hirth around the theme of 'Emerging Risks for Business in 2018 and the New COSO ERM Framework' at the Leela Ambience Hotel, Gurgaon. Bob Hirth, Immediate Past COSO Chair and Senior Managing Director, Protiviti speaking during the session said, "The updated COSO ERM Framework offers a fresh perspective on current and evolving concepts and application of ERM to meet the ever growing business needs. It clarifies the importance of the connection between risk, strategy and enterprise performance, and focuses on preserving and creating enterprise value with an emphasis on managing risk within the entity's risk oversight." The session led by Bob emphasized the importance of having a sound ERM framework in strategic and operational planning to counter the effect of risks emanating from geopolitical and regulatory changes, promulgation of new accounting standards rapid technological advancements like blockchain, emergence of crypto currencies, and proliferation of cyber threats. Sanjeev Agarwal, Managing Director, responsible for member firm operations in India & Middle East said, "Resistance to change is perhaps the most pertinent risk that the organizations face today. While the wave of disruptive technologies promises to transfom our personal lives, business models and organizational practices, it also brings along with it new challenges for risk professionals. Advances in analytics, machine learning and technological capabilities can prove effective to not only to manage emerging risks but also to bring about efficiency and effectiveness in the way we look at more traditional risks. Protiviti's Data Analytics and Digital Transformation Solutions open up various paths for Risk and Internal Audit Leaders to transform the way they identify, evaluate and manage risks."



Interacting with business leaders at the event, Subrata Bagchi, Senior Managing Director, Protiviti India Member Firm stated, "ERM is not a function or a department. It is as an aggregate of culture, capabilities and practices that integrate strategy with tactics to protect, create and realize value in any organization." To emphasize the need of ERM in today's business environment, Protiviti recently published survey on Executive Perspectives on Top Risks for 2018 in collaboration with the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Initiative in the North Carolina State University Poole College of Management. The detailed report can be accessed from the link below:

https://www.protiviti.com/IN-en/insights/protiviti-top-risks-survey

About Protiviti Protiviti is a global consulting firm that delivers deep expertise, objective insights, a tailored approach and unparalleled collaboration to help leaders confidently face the future. Through its network of more than 70 offices in over 20 countries, Protiviti and its independently owned Member Firms provide clients with consulting solutions in finance, technology, operations, data analytics, governance, risk and internal audit. Protiviti has served more than 60 percent of Fortune 1000 and 35 percent of Fortune Global 500 companies. The firm also works with smaller, growing companies, including those looking to go public, as well as with government agencies. In India, Protiviti's Member Firm (Protiviti India Member Private Ltd.) is a leading provider of business consulting, internal audit, risk management, technology, tax and regulatory, financial reporting and IFRS advisory, forensic and fraud investigation, information management, managed business services, digital transformation and transaction services. Protiviti is a wholly owned subsidiary of Robert Half (NYSE: RHI). Founded in 1948, Robert Half is a member of the S&P 500 index.

For more information:

Tushar Singh

tushar.singh@protivitiglobal.in

+91-8800511577





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[February 20, 2018] UK Tech Executives See Challenging Hiring Environment Ahead

Research from CompTIA Finds Many Industries Competing for Tech Talent LONDON, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Information technology (IT) industry executives in the United Kingdom see another year of challenges ahead on the hiring front, according to research from technology industry trade association CompTIA. About one-third of UK tech executives surveyed by CompTIA think 2018 will be moderately more challenging than 2017 when it comes to recruiting new technology workers. Another 43 percent of executives say 2018 will probably be on par with last year. "With employer demand for tech talent routinely outstripping supply, the year ahead will force more organisations to rethink their approaches to recruiting, training and talent management," said Graham Hunter, CompTIA's vice president for skills certification in Europe and the Middle East. The data on hiring challenges is included in CompTIA's recently published "IT Industry Outlook 2018." Even with the uncertainty over hiring, UK tech executives are generally optimistic about business prospects for the year. CompTIA forecasts a UK industry growth rate of 5.1 percent for 2018, with upside potential of 7.2 percent. That's in line with CompTIA's global forecast of 5 percent growth. "In the report, we can see year-on-year growth in the UKIT workforce and this is matched in the growth we've seen amongst our membership," says Estelle Johannes, director, member communities at CompTIA. "This is set to increase as the influence of emerging tech such as blockchain, AI and AR/VR revolutionises the way the industry conducts business, which is why we are putting our core focus into helping our members transition to new ways of working and help the sector grow."



Among the hiring challenges technology companies face is competition for tech talent from other industries, according to a separate CompTIA analysis of the IT employment scene in the UK. Beyond the information and communication sector, strong demand for tech workers is present among employers in manufacturing; professional, scientific and technical pursuits; human health and social work; and finance and insurance.

Postings for core IT jobs across the UK surpassed 290,000 in Q4 2017, accounting for 13 percent of all jobs posted (2.3 million during the last three months of 2017. It also represented a 14-percent increase in core IT jobs postings from Q4 2016 to Q4 2017. "For the full year in 2017 more than 1.3 million job postings for core IT positions were placed by UK employers, a 6-percent increase from the prior year," said Amy Carrado, senior director, research and market intelligence, CompTIA. "The number of IT workers in the UK also increased last year, to an estimated 1.23 million." The top five job categories for core IT workers in the UK are: Programmers and software development pros (242,020) IT specialist managers (216,918) IT and telecommunications pros (other) (173,426) IT operations technicians (114,266) IT business analysts, architects and systems designers (107,154) The top locations for IT jobs, based on the number of workers in 2017, include London, Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey, and Manchester. CompTIA's "IT Industry Outlook 2018" report is based on a December 2017 survey of 674 IT industry executives, including 107 in the UK. The complete report is available at https://www.comptia.org/resources/it-industry-trends-analysis. The "CompTIA UK IT Employment Snapshot" report is available at https://www.comptia.org/resources/comptia-uk-it-employment-snapshot-2017-q4. About CompTIA

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is a leading voice and advocate for the $4.8 trillion global information technology ecosystem; and the more than seven million technology professionals, who design, implement, manage, and safeguard the technology that powers the U.S. economy. Through education, training, certifications, advocacy, philanthropy, and market research, CompTIA is the hub for advancing the tech industry and its workforce. Visit www.comptia.org to learn more. Contact:

Mike Cheng

AprilSix Proof (for CompTIA)

mike.cheng@aprilsixproof.com

+44 (0)20 3141 2975 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/320820/comptia_logo.jpg

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[February 20, 2018] RiskIQ Announces New Digital Footprint Risk Reporting to Improve Digital Defense

SAN FRANCISCO and LONDON, Feb. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RiskIQ, the leader in digital threat management, today announced updates and enhancements to its Digital Footprint product to improve digital defenses and help organizations understand their exposure to digital risk from outside the safety of their firewall.

New capabilities within Digital Footprint provide a holistic Risk Report to an organization, as it relates to their external risk exposure on the internet. Utilizing RiskIQs industry-leading internet reconnaissance, security defense teams can dig deep into the factors that contribute to their risk to establish a plan to remediate the most critical security exposures. As part of our commitment to helping our customers tackle the persistent threats against them, we continue to invest in our platform to provide actionable insights, visibility, and control over risk and threats outside the firewall, said Lou Manousos, CEO of RiskIQ. Organizations are managing an unprecedented level of risk by simply having a digital presence online. RiskIQ provides the visibility and intelligence, along with the broadest and deepest internet data, to help an organization understand and reduce their risks. RiskIQ Digital Footprint, the companys attack surface visibility product, provides a real-time inventory of all internet-facing assets, including the components running on assets that may expose the organization to vulnerability risk. In addition to the new Risk Reporting capability, Digital Footprint now automatically correlates newly discovered vulnerabilities with internet-exposed components and assets, immediately highlighting those at risk to inform patching and remediation planning. RiskIQ looked at Risk Reports for 25 of the 50 largest banks in the U.S., which returned a average risk score of 74 out of 100. The average bank had 30 domain configuration issues, 42 SSL configuration issues, 87 IP reputation issues, and 81 threat indicators across their digital footprints. These results go to show that even some of the biggest institutions, with likely the most sizable security budgets, have room for improvement and gaps in security outside the firewall.



"Being able to quantify your risk and understand precisely what contributes to it is essential to managing your digital attack surface," said Ed Amoroso, CEO of TAG Cyber, a global cybersecurity advisory company. "Risk reporting and scoring should be the first step companies take to address their external risk exposures and something they continue to monitor as they manage a healthy security posture." RiskIQ has recently released more than 25 new features for the rest of its Digital Threat Management platform and products, including updates to its user interface to speed up the process of validating and triaging digital threats such as phishing, brand abuse, social imposters, and rogue mobile applications. RiskIQ has also introduced single sign-on (SSO) capability to integrate the platform authentication to existing enterprise account and user management tools. Other new enhancements improve threat detection and investigation capabilities, help organizations maintain their inventory of all official social media profiles and mobile applications, and provide an understanding of open ports exposed on their organizations IP footprint. These updates are all available to customers today.

To learn more about Risk Reporting and the other recent product enhancements, visit: https://www.riskiq.com/products/ and https://www.riskiq.com/products/digital-footprint-risk-reporting/. About RiskIQ RiskIQ is the leader in digital threat management, providing the most comprehensive discovery, intelligence, and mitigation of threats associated with an organizations digital presence. With more than 75 percent of attacks originating outside the firewall, RiskIQ allows enterprises to gain unified insight and control over web, social, and mobile exposures. Trusted by thousands of security analysts, RiskIQs platform combines advanced internet data reconnaissance and analytics to expedite investigations, understand digital attack surfaces, assess risk, and take action to protect business, brand, and customers. Based in San Francisco, the company is backed by Summit Partners, Battery Ventures, Georgian Partners, and MassMutual Ventures. Visit RiskIQ.com or follow us on Twitter.



Try RiskIQ Community Edition for free by visiting https://www.riskiq.com/products/community-edition/. Contact:

Stephanie Karcher

Montner Tech PR

skarcher@montner.com

203-226-9290

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[February 20, 2018] Paragonix Technologies, Inc., Announces European Conformity ("CE") for the SherpaPak Cardiac Transport System and SherpaPerfusion Cardiac Transport System

Paragonix Technologies, Inc. today announced European approval for Paragonix SherpaPak Cardiac Transport System1,2 and SherpaPerfusion Cardiac Transport System3,4 for application of a CE mark following review of a Technical File submission by The British Standards Institution (BSI). Paragonix was issued a CE Certificate by BSI for the design and manufacture of organ transportation devices for hearts and kidneys. This includes the Paragonix SherpaPak and SherpaPerfusion family of products. The SherpaPak Cardiac Transport System consists of a single-use, disposable device for the hypothermic static preservation and transport of donor hearts. The SherpaPerfusion Cardiac Transport System consists of a single-use, disposable device for hypothermic oxygenated perfusion preservation and transport of donor hearts. In 2017, over 2,000 donor hearts were transplanted in Europe5. In spite of significant advances in surgical technique, tissue typing, and immunosuppression, maintenance of organ quality during transport has largely been overlooked. The current standard of care for donor heart preservation and transportation involves placing a heart in a series of fluid-filled sterile bags that are placed on crushed ice contained within a conventional ice chest. Unfortunately, this leads to temperatures below 2oC which significantly increase the risk of cold injury and frostbite. Additionally, the current standard of care for donor heart transport limits the time an organ can be outside the body. To overcome these limitations and ensure optimal organ health following transportation, Paragonix Technologies has developed the Paragonix Sherpa platform of donor heart preservation devices as a powerful new technology ensuring superior organ quality during transport. Dr. Steven Tsui, Director of Transplantation & Mechanical Circulatory Support and Consultant Surgeon at the Royal Papworth Hospital, UK, commented "I am excited about the European availability of Paragonix's two innovative donor heart preservation devices. I believe that the SherpaPak Cardiac Transport System addresses the shortcomings of current cold storage by improving temperature maintenance and monitoring of the donor heart during transport. As a heart transplant surgeon with over a decade's experience of ex-vivo donor heart perfusion, I also welcome the addition of SherpaPerfusion Cardiac Transport System to the clinical community, utilizing oxygenated hypothermic perfusion for improved donor heart quality. I look forward to both products entering the clinic." Dr. Andreas Zuckermann, Director of the Cardiac Transplantation Program at the University of Vienna, Austria, commented, "Having followed the extensive research and product development activities at Paragonix Technologies over the past few years, I am impressed by the intuitive designs of both SherpaPak and SherpaPerfusion Cardiac Transport Systems. They directly address all relevant issues of improving donor heart preservation at hypothermia." Dr. Zuckermann continued, "We look forward to incorporating both donor heart preservation systems at our transplant center." Dr. Lisa Anderson, President & COO of Paragonix, said "We are thrilled to have reached this milestone and anticipate significant clinical interest for both SherpaPak and SherpaPerfusion Cardiac Transport Systems. Following our commercial launch of SherpaPak in the United States, we look forward to introducing our novel donor heart preservation devices to transplant centers across Europe." Previous Announcements

Paragonix previously announced August 8, 2017 Extension of Product Portfolio with the Addition of SherpaPak Lung Transport System. Paragonix previously announced April 24, 2017 Presentation of the SherpaPak Organ Transport Systems at the American Transplant Congress (ATC) (Chicago, April 29 - May 3, 2017). Paragonix previously announced March 27, 2017 Presentation of the SherpaPak Organ Transport Systems and SherpaPerfusion Cardiac Transport System at the 37th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (San Diego, 5 - 8 April 2017). Paragonix previously announced February 7, 2017 an exclusive distribution agreement with MBA Medical to market Paragonix Technologies' SherpaPak Cardiac and Kidney Transport Systems, in the Southern United States. Paragonix previously announced January 9, 2017 a Presentation of the SherpaPak Organ Transport Systems during the ASTS 17th Annual State of the Art Winter Symposium January 26 to 29, 2017 in Miami, FL. Paragonix previously announced January 4, 2017 an exclusive supply agreement with Sanbor Medical for the Manufacture and Assembly of SherpaPak Organ Transport Systems. About the CE Mark

The CE mark (Conformite Europeenne, meaning "European Conformity,"6 formerly EC mark7) according to the European Medical Directive (MDD) is a mandatory conformity mark for medical devices placed on the market in the European Economic Area (EEA). With the CE marking on a medical device, the manufacturer ensures that the product conforms to the essential requirements of the applicable EC medical device directives.8 About Dr. Steven Tsui

Mr Tsui graduated from the University of Cambridge and underwent cardiothoracic surgical training in Cambridge, Oxford and Duke University Medical School, USA. He was appointed Conultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Papworth Hospital in 1998 where he is the Director of Transplantation & Mechanical Circulatory Support. His research interests include donor optimisation and ex-vivo donor organ perfusion. He is Chairman of the Cardiothoracic Advisory Group at NHS Blood & Transplant (NHSBT), UK and Chairman of the Specialty Training Committee for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Health Education East of England.



About Dr. Andreas Zuckermann

Dr. Andreas Zuckermann, M.D. is a Staff Surgeon in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Director of the Cardiac Transplantation Program at the University of Vienna in Austria. Dr. Zuckermann is also a Director at the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. About the Paragonix SherpaPak and SherpaPerfusion Cardiac Transport System

Currently, the availability of heart and lung transplantation is governed by the "ischemic time", that being, the elapsed time from heart donation to recipient implantation. According to The International Society Of Heart and Lung Transplantation ("ISHLT") guidelines9 for the care of heart transplant recipients, the projected ischemic time should not exceed 4 hours10,11, limiting the distance available to transport a donor heart. Paragonix SherpaPak Cardiac Transport System is fully disposable, eliminating problems associated with maintenance, device transport and contamination. The Paragonix SherpaPerfusion Cardiac Transport System combines innovative oxygenated perfusion of organs and safe organ storage with the ultimate goal of extending ischemic time to 12 hours, significantly altering the transportation range of donor hearts.

About the Heart Transplantation Market

Cardiac transplantation is considered the gold standard therapy for patients in end-stage heart failure12. With over 6.5 million Americans currently diagnosed with heart failure (HF)13, 10% of which are diagnosed with end-stage heart failure14, there is a persistent need to provide end-stage heart failure support to this expanding population. Estimates of the prevalence of symptomatic HF in the general European population are similar to those in the United States15. The annual US economic burden of treating heart failure exceeds $34.4 billion16, over 50% of which is due to the cost of hospitalization17. The financial demands associated with transplantation are considerable. The estimated first year costs for heart transplant are $997,700, and subsequent annual costs can easily exceed $30,00018. In the United States, around 30,000 people die annually from end-stage heart disease. As of February 2018, 3,990 patients in the United States are on the waiting list for a heart transplant19 and close to 4,000 patients in Europe are on the waiting list for a heart transplant every year20. In 2017, 3,244 patients in the United States21 and over 2,000 European patients received a live-saving heart transplant19. These data, however, only seem to represent the tip of the iceberg. Assuming that up to 157,000 people with end-stage heart failure are candidates for transplantation22, maximization of donor organ utilization has enormous potential in cardiac transplantation. About Paragonix Technologies, Inc.

Based in Massachusetts and founded in 2010, Paragonix Technologies, Inc., is a privately held medical device company innovating the Paragonix SherpaPak and SherpaPerfusion Cardiac Transport System, a novel, single-use organ preservation device to improve donor organ quality. Paragonix has established a pipeline of donor organ transport devices that address the current donor organ shortage by maximizing donor organ utilization, improving donor organ quality and extending donor organ transport throughout the entire United States. 1 The SherpaPak Cardiac Transport System is protected by patents, both issued and pending. 2 The SherpaPak Cardiac Transport System has received FDA 510(k) pre-market clearance for heart storage and transport. 3 The SherpaPerfusion Cardiac Transport System is protected by patents, both issued and pending. 4 The SherpaPerfusion Cardiac Transport System is not approved for sale in the United States at this time. 5 http://www.transplant-observatory.org 6 http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/faq/index_en.htm#09012624859cd715 7 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31993L0068:en:HTML 8 http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/single-market-goods/cemarking/faq/index_en.htm 9 ISHLT Guidelines for the Care of Heart Transplant Recipients, Task Force 1: Peri-operative Care of the Heart Transplant Recipient (Aug. 4, 2010) 10 J Heart Lung Transplant 2001; 20(2):212. 11 J Am Coll Cardiol 2004; 43(9):1553-1561. 12 Datamonitor senior cardiovascular analyst Dr. Sergey Ishin. "Cardiac transplantation continues to be the gold standard for the treatment of end-stage heart failure. However, the number of potential transplants far exceeds the number of donors." http://about.datamonitor.com/media/archives/314 13 http://newsroom.heart.org/news/latest-statistics-show-heart-failure-on-the-rise;-cardiovascular-diseases-remain-leading-killer 14 http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartFailure/LivingWithHeartFailureAndAdvancedHF/Advanced-Heart-Failure_UCM_441925_Article.jsp#.WosY7GNLPjI 15 http://about.datamonitor.com/media/archives/314 16 Circulation 2011;123(8):933-944 17 Circulation 2007;115(5) 18 http://www.transplantliving.org 19 http://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov 20 https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/blood_tissues_organs/docs/ev_20141126_factsfigures_en.pdf 21 https://unos.org/data/transplant-trends/#transplants_by_organ_type+year+2017 22 J Heart Lung Transplant 2011;30:1078-94 View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180220005551/en/

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[February 20, 2018] The Technology Headlines Selects Razorthink as one of 10 Artificial Intelligence Solution Providers to Watch in 2018

BURLINGAME, Calif., Feb. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Razorthink, Inc., a leading Enterprise AI Systems Development company, today announced that it has been named one of 10 Artificial Intelligence Solution Providers to Watch in 2018 by The Technology Headlines, a magazine that brings together CIOs, CXOs, and other technology decisions makers to speak on the evolution of technology and industry trends.

Among the listed companies, we are delighted to honor Razorthink as a key player in the AI industry, said Carlos Chavez, editor-in-chief of The Technology Headlines. Razorthink has been on our radar for quite a long time and this year it became clear that enterprises of all sizes alike trust the company for its incredible innovations and services in the industry. We are pleased to be acknowledged for our contributions to the AI market, said Gary Oliver, Chairman and CEO of Razorthink. While AI Data Science has been primarily focused on algorithms, we found that enterprises want to go the last mile and achieve real business impact from AI systems. We help our customers become AI-driven enterprses by rapidly assembling purpose-built intelligent systems that quickly deliver a unique competitive advantage.



Our editorial team has selected the companies on account of their products and services, as well as on their abilities to transform the user-experience of customers, added Nicole Anderson, senior editor at The Technology Headlines. While The Technology Headlines reviews key players in the AI industry, it also sheds light onto how these companies have created a loyal customer-base, sound marketing strategies, and innovative products and services over the years. To acknowledge such companies, their CEOs and efforts, the editorial team at The Technology Headlines has come out with a list of 10 Artificial Intelligence Solution Providers to watch in 2018. The Technology Headlines editorial team hopes that the proposed list and valuable insights by these industry leaders will help customers gain a new perceptive on the AI industry.

About Razorthink, Inc.

Razorthink, Inc. is a leading Enterprise AI Systems Development company that powers organizations with Deep Learning intelligent systems that drive superior decisions, highly efficient processes and ideal outcomes. The companys flagship product, Razorthink BigBrain, enables enterprises to rapidly create Expert AIs that solve data analysis challenges impossible using traditional analytics or data science technologies. Razorthink BigBrain can generate Expert AIs in the areas of customer predictions and recommended actions, intelligent process automation, fraud detection, risk management and AI-assisted customer service. Razorthink is privately held with headquarters in the San Francisco Bay Area and Research Labs in Bangalore, India. For more information, visit www.razorthink.com and follow @razorthinkInc. About The Technology Headlines

The Technology Headlines covers major industry trends in the U.S. and APAC markets, and is working alongside leading players to document the opinions and the expectations of the global tech community. It also supports the established players in the market to unveil a commercial launch of their new products through its content-marketing platform. Media Contacts:

Barbara Reichert, VP Marketing

Razorthink, Inc.

barbara.reichert@razorthink.com

650-548-1002 Anthony Thomas

The Technology Headlines

editor@thetechnologyheadlines.com

972-696-0086 All trademarks and registered trademarks in this document are the properties of their respective owners.

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[February 20, 2018] Remine Is Coming To The Chicagoland Area

FAIRFAX Va., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) has signed a multi-year license to offer Remine's big data platform as a core offering to its customers. "MRED was named a finalist for the 2017 Inman Innovator Award. We pride ourselves in providing our members with the best and most innovative technology. We see Remine as paramount to continuing these efforts," said Rebecca Jensen, MRED President/CEO. "We are excited to provide MRED customers with this transformative business tool that allows agents, for the first time, to access merged consumer and property data visualized on a map. We can't wait to launch!" Jonathan Spinetto, Remine COO and Co-Founder said, "We are thrilled to partner with MRED as they continue to provide forward-thinking technology that empowers their customers. MREDagents are joining an emerging agent base that now has the data and tools to find new, off-market opportunities to grow their business right within Remine's unique Platform."



About Remine

Remine is the fastest-growing MLS platform in history. Many of the nation's most influential MLSs have signed to include Remine as core functionality for their 600,000 agents. Remine leverages big data solutions to empower the agent of the future. Visit Remine.com or contact press@remine.com

About MRED

Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) is the real estate data aggregator and distributor providing the Chicagoland multiple listing service (MLS) to more than 40,000 brokers and appraisers and over 7,300 offices. MRED serves Chicago and the surrounding "collar" counties and provides property information encompassing northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin, and northwest Indiana. MRED delivers over twenty products and services to its customers. MRED is the 2013 Inman News Most Innovative MLS/Real Estate Trade Association, and for eight consecutive years the MRED Help Desk has been identified as one of the best small business centers in the United States and Canada by BenchmarkPortal. For more information please visit MREDLLC.com. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/remine-is-coming-to-the-chicagoland-area-300601148.html SOURCE Remine

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[February 20, 2018] First Sikorsky Combat Rescue Helicopter Enters Final Assembly

STRATFORD, Conn., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) company, is beginning final assembly of the first HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter, which will bring unprecedented capability enhancements to the U.S. Air Force rescue mission. The timing of final assembly supports the program's accelerated schedule and positions the aircraft's first flight for the end of this year, two months ahead of schedule. "Final assembly of this first HH-60W helicopter marks a significant milestone for Sikorsky, our workforce and the U.S. Air Force," said Tim Healy, director of Sikorsky Air Force Programs. "We are on track to deliver this significant capability enhancement ahead of schedule, ensuring the U.S Air Force continues its mission 'That Others May Live.'" The final assembly process includes installation of the new Tactical Mission Kit (TMK) delivered from Lockeed Martin's Owego, New York, facility. The integration of sensors, radar and multiple defense systems will bring added intelligence into the cockpit, giving pilots more information to make split second decisions to complete the mission.



"The HH-60W will be the most thoroughly networked and connected vertical lift platform ever produced, bringing unrivaled capability in high-threat environments," said Healy. "The modern battlespace is an unforgiving place, no one survives on their own, and the HH-60W allows the entire suite of air and space power to be linked and employed in support of combat rescue operations, even in deep and denied territory." The final assembly process also involves installation of a new fuel system that features duel internal fuel tanks totaling 660-gallons, nearly doubling the capacity of the internal tank on a UH-60M Black Hawk. This enhanced capability gives the U.S Air Force crew greater range and more capability to rescue those injured in the battle space.

This Engineering Manufacturing Development (EMD) aircraft is the first to be assembled at the Sikorsky headquarters in Stratford, Connecticut. A total of nine aircraft will be built in Connecticut during the EMD phase of the program ? four EMD aircraft and five System Demonstration Test Articles (SDTA). The U.S. Air Force program of record calls for 112 helicopters to replace the Air Force's aging HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, which perform critical combat search and rescue and personnel recovery operations for all U.S. military services. The $1.5 billion EMD and SDTA contract includes development and integration of the next generation combat rescue helicopter and mission systems, including delivery of nine HH-60W helicopters as well as six aircrew and maintenance training devices, and instructional courseware designed specifically for the HH-60W aircraft. Sikorsky successfully conducted the training systems design review in September. For additional information, visit our website: https://lockheedmartin.com/us/products/hh-60w.html 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. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-sikorsky-combat-rescue-helicopter-enters-final-assembly-300601155.html SOURCE Lockheed Martin

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[February 20, 2018] TempWorks Software Welcomes Allan Brown as Senior Vice President

EAGAN, Minn., Feb. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TempWorks Software, a premier staffing software provider for more than 20 years, is pleased to welcome Allan Brown as Senior Vice President. Formerly the president of AllStaff Staffing & Recruiting in Chicago, Brown brings more than 20 years of experience in the staffing industry leading large staffing companies that utilized software to streamline process and facilitate growth.

Browns leadership experience with large staffing agencies will enable our team to keep pace with the significant growth of our clients, says David Dourgarian, CEO of TempWorks Software. Many of our clients have experienced substantial growth in recent years, in some cases growing from 50 employees to more than 300 employees in a short timeframe. As their trusted oftware provider, we constantly strive to innovate our technology solutions and services to support client success.



Browns leadership experience and expertise fill a crucial role in the management team at TempWorks, where many members have more than 10 years of tenure in the staffing software industry. Browns insight into the staffing industry will help TempWorks to anticipate the needs of its clients as their growth journeys lead to expansion. I am eager to actively listen to our clients dynamic needs and begin to make improvements to their client experience. I look forward to helping TempWorks align its business, technology development, and client relationship management strategies to better support our clients growth goals, says Brown.

About TempWorks Software

Based in Eagan, Minnesota, independently-owned TempWorks Software has been a leading provider of staffing software solutions for more than 20 years. With an emphasis on exemplary client service, TempWorks consistently delivers innovative and cutting-edge technology to hundreds of temporary staffing agencies across the nation. Media Contact

Brenna Kruger

Brenna.Kruger@tempworks.com

651-287-8356

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[February 20, 2018] Fast Company Announces Most Innovative Companies For 2018

NEW YORK, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Fast Company today announced its annual ranking of the world's Most Innovative Companies (MIC) for 2018, honoring leading enterprises and rising newcomers that exemplify the best in business and innovation, which includes the LEGO Group at number six on the Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Consumer Electronics list. Editors noted that the iconic toy brand made the list for boosting children's coding skills. In 2017, The LEGO Group introduced two significant innovations to further bridge the divide between physical and digital play: LEGO BOOST and LEGO Life. LEGO BOOST is a super-charged LEGO set that lets children as young as seven years old bring their LEGO creations to life through a simple, app-based coding language. Embracing a "fun-first" vision, LEGO BOOST empowers kids in both the physical and digital creation of the outcome  first by building a model, then by coding its behavior and personality. The coding language was developed specifically to be fun and accessible to children, making it easy to experience instant success, master basic commands and move on to more complex coding and behaviors in a continuous cycle of build, code and play. LEGO Life, a safe, app-based social network for kids inspires builders to connect with a community of like-minded peers to express their creativity, share their LEGO creations, interact with LEGO characters, and inspire one another to build. LEGO Life bridges physical and digital play experiences, innovating on the best of today's social network features to add a social layer to LEGO play. After seeing millions of kids share their pride of creation in the "Cool Creations" section of LEGO Magazine, a richer, more dynamic social media experience was a natural next step in the evolution of digital LEGO engagement. Since launch, the app has recruited nearly six millionkids from 26 different countries who share a love of building.



Julia Goldin, Chief Marketing Officer at the LEGO Group said: "The LEGO brand is synonymous with play experiences that develop future innovators, and last year, LEGO BOOST and LEGO Life expanded that reputation, capturing the imaginations of girls and boys alike around the world, inspiring them to build, code and share. We are constantly exploring new ways to bridge the physical and digital play worlds, while continuously innovating around the core LEGO brick. Sharing platforms like LEGO Life provide us with great opportunity to be inspired by the amazing ideas that children share with us and with each other." Fast Company's 2018 Most Innovative Companies recognize pioneering companies across 36 categories, from consumer electronics to artificial intelligence to wellness. More than three dozen Fast Company editors, reporters, and contributors surveyed thousands of companiesmany of which were identified by a new MIC submission processto create these lists.

Most Innovative Companies is Fast Company's signature franchise and one of its most highly anticipated editorial efforts of the year. It provides both a snapshot and a road map for the future of innovation across the most dynamic sectors of the economy. "This year's MIC list is an inspiring and insightful window into how many companies have embraced innovation and are working to make meaningful change," said Fast Company deputy editor David Lidsky, who oversaw the issue with senior editor Amy Farley. Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies issue (March-April 2018) is now available online at www.fastcompany.com/MIC, as well as in app form via iTunes and on newsstands beginning February 27. ABOUT FAST COMPANY

Fast Company is the world's leading progressive business media brand, with a unique editorial focus on innovation in technology, ethical economics, leadership, and design. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, one of the U.S.'s leading media companies. ABOUT THE LEGO GROUP

The LEGO Group is a privately held, family-owned company with headquarters in Billund, Denmark, and main offices in Enfield, USA, London, UK, Shanghai, China, and Singapore. Founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen, and based on the iconic LEGO brick, it is one of the world's leading manufacturers of play materials. Guided by the company spirit: "Only the best is good enough", the company is committed to the development of children and aims to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow through creative play and learning. LEGO products are sold worldwide and can be virtually explored at www.LEGO.com. LEGO, its logo, the Minfigure and the brick and knob configuration are trademarks of the LEGO Group. 2018 The LEGO Group. MEDIA CONTACT:

Michael McNally

michael.mcnally@lego.com / 860.830.5885 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fast-company-announces-most-innovative-companies-for-2018-300601194.html SOURCE The LEGO Group

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[February 20, 2018] Newly Published Data Highlight Moderna's mRNA Platform in Advancing Prophylactic Vaccine for Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Infections

Moderna Therapeutics, a clinical stage biotechnology company that is pioneering messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines to create a new generation of transformative medicines for high unmet medical needs in patients, today announced the publication of new data in the scientific journal Vaccine that demonstrate the versatility of its mRNA vaccine platform in developing novel prophylactic vaccines to potentially prevent human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections and associated disease burdens, both for pregnant women and in transplant patients. Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the leading cause of infection in newborns, and can lead to deafness, microcephaly (small, not fully developed heads) and severe disabilities, including vision loss and mental deficiencies, among other serious complications. It is also the most frequent viral disease in transplant recipients, often leading to transplant failure. At this time, there are no approved vaccines for CMV. Moderna currently is conducting a Phase 1 study in CMV in the U.S. with its clinical development candidate mRNA-1647. The newly published data showed that Moderna's mRNA encoding CMV glycoproteins gB and pentameric complex (PC), encapsulated in its delivery system, produced potent and durable neutralizing antibody titers in immunized mice and non-human primates. The mRNA delivered six mRNAs -- including the five subunits encoding the pentamer protein, which then correctly assembled within the cell to make the pentamer protein. "Using mRNA, we have shown the ability to induce very precise copies of even complex antigens in-vivo, that in turn induce robust immune responses in mouse and non-human primate models. This gives us real hope that we will eventually see similar results in humans," said Dr. Mike Watson, SVP Vaccine Partnerships & Health Impact. "These data highlight the ability of the platform to effectively, rapidly and precisely induce complex antigens that have proved so challenging to other vaccine approaches. For CMV, these platform characteristics give us the opportunity to potentially tailor the vaccine to target different CMV-related diseases, such as those associated with congenital CMV infections and transplant-associated CMV infections." The two dominant glycoproteins of CMV, gB and PC, play different roles in the infection of different cells. When brought together in a multi-valent vaccine, it may be possible to neutralize infection across a wide variety of cells, including fibroblasts, endothelial, epithelial and myeloid cells - with the majority of neutralizing antibodies in CV seropositive individuals directed against PC. Moderna researchers also developed a pp65 mRNA/LNP that was used with gB and PC to broaden T cell responses. Neutralizing antibodies against envelope glycoproteins and cellular responses targeting a variety of viral proteins, particularly pp65, are believed to help control CMV infection and re-activation.



Moderna began dosing patients in November 2017 to assess the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of mRNA-1647. Additional clinical trial information can be found here. Notes for editors

"Multi-antigenic human cytomegalovirus mRNA vaccines that elicit potent humoral and cell-mediated immunity," by Dr. Shinu John, Ph.D; Dr. Olga Yuzhakov, Ph.D; Angela Woods; Jessica Deterling; Dr. Kimberly Hassett, PhD; Dr. Christine A Shaw, Ph.D; Dr. Giuseppe Ciaramella, Ph.D. DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.01.029. Copies of this paper are available to credentialed journalists upon request; please contact Elsevier's Newsroom at newsroom@elsevier.com or +31 20 485 2492. About Vaccine Vaccine is the pre-eminent journal for those interested in vaccines and vaccination. It is the official journal of The Edward Jenner Society and The Japanese Society for Vaccinology, and is published by Elsevier. www.journals.elsevier.com/vaccine About Moderna's mRNA Prophylactic Vaccines Messenger RNA (mRNA) plays a fundamental role in human biology, directing protein production in cells. When used as a drug, mRNA can direct cells to produce therapeutic proteins (mRNA therapeutics) to fight disease or antigenic proteins (mRNA vaccines) to prevent disease. Moderna's mRNA vaccines encode for viral antigenic proteins associated with viruses. The mRNA directs cells to produce and express the proteins, much like a native infection would do, but without the ability to cause disease. As a result, the immune system recognizes the antigenic proteins as foreign to the body and produces antibodies that have the potential to neutralize the virus and to prevent infections in the event the vaccinated person is exposed to the actual virus in the future. About Moderna Therapeutics Moderna pioneers the discovery and development of messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines, an entirely new class of medicines that directs the body's cells to produce intracellular or secreted proteins that can have a therapeutic or preventive benefit for both patients and healthy individuals. With its breakthrough platform, Moderna is creating mRNA medicines for a wide range of diseases and conditions, in many cases by addressing currently undruggable targets or underserved areas of medical need. Moderna is developing its innovative mRNA medicines for infectious diseases, immuno-oncology, rare diseases, and cardiovascular diseases, through solely controlled programs and collaborations with strategic partners. Headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., privately held Moderna currently has strategic relationships with AstraZeneca, Plc. (AZ), Merck, Inc (MRK) and Vertex (News - Alert) Pharmaceuticals (VRTX), as well as the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Defense; the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), a division of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In 2017, Moderna was ranked a top biopharma industry employer by Science Magazine and a Top Places to Work by the Boston Globe. To learn more, visit www.modernatx.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180220005339/en/

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[February 20, 2018] Capella University Renews Its Commitment to the Nurses on Boards Coalition

As a founding strategic partner of the Nurses on Boards Coalition (NOBC), Capella University (News - Alert) proudly announces another year of continued support and advocacy for the appointment of nurses to the highest level of governance in health care organizations and policymaking bodies. Nurses have an incredible impact on healthcare and the wellbeing of our nation. As such, Capella and NOBC are heading into 2018 reaffirming their shared dedication and mission. While currently the NOBC reports that around 4,000 nurses have registered as serving on boards, the goal of 10,000 still looms as a strategic objective for both organizations. "As we enter our second year of partnership, NOBC is delighted to continue our work with Capella enabling us to reach even more nurse leaders and help prepare them for board appointments and service," says NOBC Chair-Elect Kimberly Harper, RN, MS. "Our collaborative approach toward improving the health of our communities through the voice of nursing at the tabls where decisions are being made is resulting in healthier communities all across America."



"We believe the nurses of our nation must encourage changes in healthcare in order to advance health systems, influence policy, and improve patient care," says Jennifer Dixson Hoff, MS, vice president and general manager of Capella's College of Nursing, Health and Behavioral Sciences. "This issue has been discussed and championed as well by our School of Nursing and Health Sciences Advisory Board, made up of individuals from leading healthcare employers across the United States. As a university steadfastly dedicated to the nursing profession, we feel it is an imperative to continue our partnership with NOBC on this transformative mission." "Nurses positioned at the highest level of organization governance supports better health for all. Capella is honored to carry on as a strategic partner of the NOBC in assuring that nurses are at the table," says Patrick Robinson, PhD, RN FAAN, dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Capella University.

NOBC announced Capella University as a founding strategic partner in March, 2017. About Capella University Capella University (www.capella.edu) is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Founded in 1993, the university is dedicated to providing flexible, professionally aligned online degree programs designed to help working adults advance in their careers. As of September 30, 2017, about 37,200 students were enrolled in Capella's bachelor's, master's, doctoral and certificate programs. Known for its commitment to learner success, academic quality and innovations in online education, Capella pioneered competency-based direct assessment programs allowing students to learn at their own pace. For more information, call 1.888.CAPELLA (888.227.3552). View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180220005968/en/

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[February 20, 2018] C Spire tests leading edge 5G technology for first time in Mississippi today

RIDGELAND, Miss., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- C Spire conducted the first test in Mississippi today of a new, patented 5G technology that promises to revolutionize how ultra-fast fixed wireless service is deployed to consumers and businesses with unprecedented capacity and coverage at a fraction of the cost of traditional fiber optic cable. FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, who has been designated as the agency's lead on wireless infrastructure deployment, visited C Spire's Ridgeland, Mississippi headquarters to witness the first in-state demonstration of Cohere Technologies' new 5G turboConnectTM fixed wireless access solution and tour a wireless internet trial site in Pelahatchie. The Santa Clara-based Cohere Technologies developed the 5G turboConnectTM fixed wireless access solution, which is based on its groundbreaking Orthogonal Time Frequency and Space (OTFS) wireless modulation technology, to help broadband companies and wireless providers meet the growing demand for advanced services and the timely development of 5G standards. "C Spire's demonstration validates how OTFS wireless modulation technology helps carriers overcome the traditional challenges deploying wireless services," said Cohere Technologies CEO Shlomo Rakib. "C Spire's dedication to deliver on the promise of true 5G is strategically aligned with Cohere's efforts, making it an ideal partnership, and a win-win for the industry and customers served by C Spire." The test at the Ridgeland-based technology firm's corporate offices relies on sub-6GHz lower band spectrum  3.65 GHz  which provides better 5G coverage inside buildings and in rural areas. "We're working aggressively to bring consumers and businesses the benefits of 5G as part of our suite of broadband solutions," said C Spire President Stephen Bye. Bye and Rakib said 5G is expected to pave the way for wider adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT), self-driving cars, smart cities, artificial intelligence and robotics and broader deployment of technology-enabled telehealth and telemedicine applications. Cohere Technologies' OTFS technology improves coverage, spectral efficiency and cost savings. With a variety of 5G technologies and massive deployment of new sites needed to meet the future technology demands of consumers, business and industry, Carr will discuss with C Spire how streamlined permitting across all levels of government and efficient spectrum policy can help accelerate availability of advanced broadband. "5G will require a 10-to-100-fold increase in small cells and millions of miles of new fiber and other high-speed connections," Carr said. "We need to drive out unecessary regulatory costs and speed the timeline for obtaining permits so that companies can build and deploy the infrastructure that will power our digital economy."



C Spire is continuing to conduct 5G technology trials using high-band millimeter wave spectrum in the 28 GHz and 60 GHz ranges in addition to this week's mid-band testing and demonstrations. "A widely supported 5G ecosystem is critical to achieve the necessary economies of scale that will unlock the promise of this technology," Bye added. Bye said broadband expansion is a key part of the C Spire Tech Movement initiative, an outgrowth of the firm's 2013 groundbreaking Fiber-to-the-Home program, one of the first of its type in the U.S. and the fastest to connect thousands of consumers in nine Mississippi communities to Gigabit speed internet, digital streaming TV and home phone services.

One of the company's central Tech Movement goals is massive expansion of broadband and 5G fixed wireless internet access to more than 250,000 consumers and businesses across the state, including availability of ultra-fast Gigabit internet service to one out of every five of the state's 250,000 businesses. The high-tech firm has been on a mission to expand broadband availability and boost average mobile and fixed broadband speeds in Mississippi. The company operates over 8,000 route miles of fiber optics across the state and has deployed more wireless spectrum in the region than any other communications provider. In recent years, C Spire's continuing technology investment has played a central role in state gains for average mobile and fixed broadband speeds. The company became the state's fastest internet service provider in 2014 and more than quadrupled speeds following its successful FTTH program. About C Spire

C Spire is a leading technology company committed to transforming Mississippi through the C Spire Tech Movement, which includes the massive deployment of broadband internet to homes and small businesses, a state-of-the-art digital experience for its customers and team members, technology innovation leadership and the creation and retention of a 21st century technology workforce in its region. The company provides world-class, customer-inspired wireless communications, 1 Gigabit consumer Internet access as well as a full suite of dedicated Internet, wireless, IP Voice, data and cloud services for businesses. This news release and other announcements are available at www.cspire.com/news. For more information about C Spire, visit www.cspire.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cspire or Twitter at www.twitter.com/cspire. About Cohere Technologies

Cohere Technologies is solving the most pressing challenges in wireless communications with its groundbreaking Orthogonal Time Frequency and Space (OTFS) technology. This new patented 2D modulation scheme will revolutionize the industry as it prepares to deliver on the promise of 5G with 100 percent coverage, 10x spectral efficiency and a 50 percent cost savings over existing solutions. Founded in 2009, Cohere Technologies is headquartered in Santa Clara, California. For more information visit www.Cohere-Technologies.com or find Cohere on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/cohere-technologies, Twitter at https://twitter.com/CohereOTFS, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cohereotfs/. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/c-spire-tests-leading-edge-5g-technology-for-first-time-in-mississippi-today-300601222.html SOURCE C Spire

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[February 20, 2018] Petrosoft Partners With Saint Vincent College To Accelerate Growth And Help Students Meet Their Professional Goals

PITTSBURGH, Feb. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Petrosoft, a global provider of end-to-end retail solutions, announces it has partnered with Saint Vincent College, an innovative provider of higher learning and an SAP University Alliance member. The partnership helps to accelerate the growth of the companys Petrosoft Enterprise powered by SAP Business Ones implementation and support team. Students enrolled in the Alex G. McKenna School at Saint Vincent Colleges SAP Business One program obtain real-world business experience by completing an internship with Petrosoft.

With Petrosofts technology, retailers obtain real-time information by automating the collection, distribution, and analysis of facility-level data from transactions, equipment, and sensors. Students will learn how these solutions can solve complex business problems through hardware, software, cloud-platforms, and ERP solutions . Students will also learn how the industry is being transformed by the Internet of Things (IoT). The Alex G. McKenna School at Saint Vincent College certification in SAP Business One  helps students broaden their business understanding by providing real-work experience. As a member of the SAP University Alliance, Saint Vincents program offers students a combination of classroom training, hands-on experience, and an internship so they can be prepared to contribute their knowledge of and experience with this integrated management solution.



We are impressed by the program offered by Saint Vincent College and the enthusiasm of its students. Petrosoft is proud to help these students gain experience with a product that we know will help to transform the retail industry, said Sergei Gorloff, CEO and President of Petrosoft. The Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics and Government at Saint Vincent College is honored to add Petrosoft as another partner in conjunction with our 10-year participation in the SAP University Alliance program, commented Robert A. Markley Jr., Carpenter Technology  Latrobe Specialty Metals Sponsored Lecturer in Business Administration. We are excited to offer our students this excellent opportunity for internships which will likely lead to high-paying, full-time careers in the SAP ecosystem. Its yet another win-win for our students!

ABOUT PETROSOFT

Petrosofts true-cloud platform and partnerships provide innovative business solutions for the retail and downstream petroleum industries. Beginning in 2002, Petrosoft transformed the convenience store industry when its founder, a retail operator and engineer, introduced C-Store Office, its cloud-based back-office software solution. Today, the company designs, develops, and markets end-to-end SME retail technology, enabling a seamless connection between manufacturers, suppliers, sites, back-office, and enterprise systems. The company continually strives to find innovative ways to enable retail operators to manage their forecourt, in-store and back-office operations. The company supports its product line from its headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA. Find out more at www.petrosoftinc.com . ABOUT SAINT VINCENT COLLEGE

Saint Vincent College is a Catholic, Benedictine, liberal arts and sciences college in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, which offers majors in more than 50 fields of study plus pre-law, pre-med and pre-health professions. Saint Vincent Colleges quality educational programs have earned national recognition by U.S. News and World Report (top tier of Best National Liberal Arts) and many others. Saint Vincent graduates achieve success with 98% of last years graduates who responded to a recent survey enrolled in graduate or professional school or employed professionally within one year of the completion of their degrees. Media Contact:

Melanie Widmann

Petrosoft Inc.

290 Bilmar Drive

Pittsburgh, PA 15205

412-306-0640 ext. 2107

m.widmann@petrosoftinc.com Don Orlando, Director, Public Relations

Saint Vincent College

300 Fraser Purchase Road

Latrobe, PA 15650-2690

Office Phone 724-805-2010

don.orlando@stvincent.edu

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[February 20, 2018] M3AAWG Commends U.S. Homeland Security for Adopting Online Anti-Abuse Technologies to Protect Users

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Providing increased protection for people who use email and websites to communicate with the U.S. government, most federal civilian agencies have begun to adopt additional anti-abuse technologies outlined in a recent U.S. Department of Homeland Security directive. The DHS will be recognized for this progress when its chief cybersecurity official presents the keynote address at the M3AAWG 42nd General Meeting in San Francisco tomorrow.

Over two-thirds of agencies have taken critical steps in enhancing email security and protecting users against email spoofing, up from less than 20 percent on the day the directive was issued, said Jeanette Manfra, assistant secretary for the Office of Cybersecurity and Communications, DHS. It is crucial for U.S. citizens to trust that an email from a government agency is legitimate. M3AAWG Chairman of the Board Severin Walker said, We estimate that only about 35 percent of Fortune 500 companies are using DMARC today so this high adoption rate is a significant accomplishment, along with implementing the other security measures in the directive. Several of the major data breaches we've seen recently have started from phishing emails, which can be hard to identify, but these steps can help prevent these fake messages from getting to users and are important in protecting American citizens. DHS issued the directive in October 2017 calling for civilian agencies within the federal government to adopt proven industry standards over the course of a year that can help safeguard the confidentiality of internet-delivered data, minimize spam and protect against phishing. Binding Operational Directive 18-01 requires agencies to: Enable STARTTLS for better email security. This opportunistic TLS protocol supports encrypted email as it moves across the internet and helps protect against man-in-the-middle attacks where criminals eavesdrop on email communications without the users knowledge. (See TLS for Mail: M3AAWG Initial Recommendations for background informaion.) Improve email authentication by using SPF (Sender Policy Framework), DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) and DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance), making spam and phishing emails easier to identify and block. Improve web security with HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) so that users browsers select the more secure HTTPS address option when navigating to a government agencys website.



3AAWG over the last several years and are often referenced in the best practices documents it publishes to help the industry fight online abuse and crime. This includes Operation Safety-Net, Best Practices to Address Online, Mobile and Telephony Threats, which M3AAWG co-published with UCENet (Unsolicited Communications Enforcement Network, formerly the London Action Plan), describing exploitations aimed at businesses and governments with expert advice on how to protect against them, according to Walker. A M3AAWG certificate of merit will be presented to the DHS on February 21 during the keynote for the work by the National Protection and Programs Directorates CS&C Office in implementing these standards across its civilian agencies. The M3AAWG 42nd General Meeting is expected to attract over 500 security experts, public policy advisors, law enforcement personnel and researchers during the February 19-22 event. It will offer over 50 sessions with authorities sharing information on email and text messaging, mobile and telephony threats, malware, Internet of Things security, hosting and cloud services, and DNS abuse.

About the Messaging, Malware and Mobile Anti-Abuse Working Group (M3AAWG) The Messaging, Malware and Mobile Anti-Abuse Working Group (M3AAWG) is where the industry comes together to work against bots, malware, spam, viruses, denial-of-service attacks and other online exploitation. M3AAWG (www.m3aawg.org) members represent more than one billion mailboxes from some of the largest network operators worldwide. It leverages the depth and experience of its global membership to tackle abuse on existing networks and new emerging services through technology, collaboration and public policy. It also works to educate global policy makers on the technical and operational issues related to online abuse and messaging. Headquartered in San Francisco, Calif., M3AAWG is driven by market needs and supported by major network operators and messaging providers. Media Contact: Linda Marcus, APR, +1-949-887-8887 (U.S. Pacific), LMarcus@astra.cc, Astra Communications M3AAWG Board of Directors: AT&T; Cloudmark, Inc.; Comcast; dotmailer; Endurance International Group; Facebook; Google; LinkedIn; Microsoft Corp.; Oath (Yahoo and AOL); Orange; Proofpoint; Rackspace; Return Path; SendGrid, Inc.; Vade Secure and Verisign. M3AAWG Full Members: 1&1 Internet AG; Agora, Inc.; Akamai Technologies; Cisco Systems, Inc.; CloudFlare; Cyren; ExactTarget, Inc.; IBM; iContact/Vocus; Inteliquent; Internet Initiative Japan; Liberty Global; Listrak; Litmus; McAfee Inc.; Mimecast; Oracle Marketing Cloud; OVH; PayPal; Rackspace; Spamhaus; SparkPost; Splio; Symantec; USAA; and Valimail. A complete member list is available at http://www.m3aawg.org/about/roster.

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[February 20, 2018] HPE Helps U.S. Department of Defense to Advance National Defense Capabilities

PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE) today announced it has been selected by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to provide new supercomputers for the DoD High Performance Computing Modernization Program (HPCMP) to accelerate the development and acquisition of advanced national security capabilities. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville, Alabama, awarded the contract. As part of the agreement, HPE will deliver HPE SGI 8600 systems and services to the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) DoD Supercomputing Resource Center (DSRC) and the Navy DSRC at a combined total contract value of $57 million. The four HPE SGI 8600 systems, to be located at the AFRL DSRC at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, will support research including hypersonics and computational modeling of current and advanced air, naval, and ground weapon systems and platforms. The three systems to be installed at the Navy DSRC will support advanced weapons capabilities and provide high reliability for the Navy's global weather modeling requirements. In our data-driven world, supercomputing is increasingly becoming a key to stay ahead of competition  this applies to natinal defense just as to commercial enterprises, said Bill Mannel, vice president and general manager, HPC and AI, Hewlett Packard Enterprise. The DoDs continuous investment in supercomputing innovation is a clear testament to this development and an important contribution to U.S. national security. HPE has been a strategic partner with the HPCMP for two decades, and we are proud that the DoD now significantly extends this partnership, acknowledging HPEs sustained leadership in high performance computing.



Introduced in 2017, the HPE SGI 8600 is a sixth-generation system designed to solve the worlds most complex problems in areas ranging from life, earth, and space sciences, to engineering, manufacturing and national security. Powering some of the fastest supercomputers in the world, it offers petaflops speed and scalability to thousands of nodes in an efficient and easy to manage architecture. The system features an extremely efficient liquid cooling solution which does not exhaust heated air into the data center. The four HPE SGI 8600 systems delivered to the AFRL DSRC are running with 24-core Intel Xeon Scalable Processors on an Intel Omni-Path Architecture fabric. These systems will provide more than 7.3 petaflops of compute capability and more than 12 petabytes of usable storage, leveraging DDN EXAScaler technology, a high-performance parallel distributed file system based on Lustre.

The three HPE SGI 8600 Systems delivered to the Navy DSRC are also running with 24-core Intel Xeon Scalable Processors on an Intel Omni-Path Architecture fat-tree fabric. These systems will provide 6.8 petaflops of compute capability and more than 12 petabytes of usable storage, based on DDN EXAScaler. As part of the contract awards, HPE will also provide five years of 24/7 system support, including on-site system administration and applications support personnel from HPE. About Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Hewlett Packard Enterprise is an industry leading technology company that enables customers to go further, faster. With the industrys most comprehensive portfolio, spanning the cloud to the data center to workplace applications, our technology and services help customers around the world make IT more efficient, more productive and more secure. Editorial contact Patrik Edlund, HPE

patrik.edlund@hpe.com

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[February 20, 2018] Lockheed Martin Launches Unmanned Vehicle Control Software that Can Simultaneously Control Multiple UAV Types, Operating Anywhere on Earth

CALGARY, Alberta, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) software has been simultaneously flying, on average, at least six unmanned aircraft during every hour of the last 25 years, completing missions as diverse as reconnaisance, inspection, mapping and targeting. Today, Lockheed Martin is launching VCSi, a new vehicle control software, as the culmination of more than two decades of experience and 1.5 million hours of operational use. Lockheed Martin will unveil VCSi  commercial software that enables operators to simultaneously control dozens of unmanned vehicles and conduct information, surveillance and reconaissance missions  during the Unmanned Systems Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi this month. "VCSi is a safe and reliable software platform that can be adapted to any vehicle  from one you can hold in your hand, to a 50,000-pound machine; from a vehicle that flies for a few minutes, to a vehicle that flies for months at a time," said John Molberg, business development manager, Lockheed Martin CDL Systems. "The user can integrate as many vehicles as required to complete their missins, including boats, quadcopters, fixed-wing aircraft or even high-altitude pseudo satellites. Across commercial or military missions, VCSi is adaptable to the challenge and further extends the power of the human-machine team."



VCSi's major enhancements include: Multi-Vehicle: Control interfaces to allow for true 1:n control of dissimilar vehicles anywhere on earth

Control interfaces to allow for true 1:n control of dissimilar vehicles anywhere on earth Intuitive: Lockheed Martin further advanced its fly-by-mouse interface to enable easier training and reduce operator/analyst task loads

Lockheed Martin further advanced its fly-by-mouse interface to enable easier training and reduce operator/analyst task loads Affordable: Priced competitively with all unmanned systems in mind, customers can buy essential modules for their mission set

Priced competitively with all unmanned systems in mind, customers can buy essential modules for their mission set Modular: Offers a robust plug-in architecture, which allows for custom content to be added by the user or selected from pre-existing modules

Offers a robust plug-in architecture, which allows for custom content to be added by the user or selected from pre-existing modules International: Commercial software, made in Canada and free of export restrictions VCSi is designed around the NATO Standardization Agreement known as STANAG 4586, which supports unmanned vehicle interoperability. Customers can build attachments or plug-ins beyond 4586 to customize the VCSi software, which also supports multiple languages and non-Latin scripts. VCSi provides advanced 3D visualization of vehicles and airspace, and it is at the forefront of integration into unmanned traffic management systems.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the VCS unmanned control product family, which has accumulated more than 1.5 million flight hours by operators controlling 40 different vehicles across several dozen companies. Lockheed Martin has five decades of experience in unmanned and autonomous systems for air, land and sea. From the depths of the ocean to the rarified air of the stratosphere, Lockheed Martin's unmanned systems help militaries, civil and commercial customers accomplish their most difficult challenges. For additional information, visit our websites: https://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/cdl-systems/VCSi.html and www.lockheedmartin.com/unmanned 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. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lockheed-martin-launches-unmanned-vehicle-control-software-that-can-simultaneously-control-multiple-uav-types-operating-anywhere-on-earth-300601355.html SOURCE Lockheed Martin

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[February 20, 2018] Abattis Announces CannaNUMUS Achievement of Second Milestone

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Abattis Bioceuticals Corp. (the "Company" or "Abattis") (CSE:ATT) (OTC:ATTBF) is pleased to announce that CannaNUMUS Blockchain Inc. ("CannaNUMUS"), a company in which Abattis has a 49% ownership interest, has entered into an agreement to acquire (the Investment) a 10% stake in Gabriola Green Farms ("Gabriola") for $2.5 million. Through the Investment, Gabriola will participate in CannaNUMUS's blockchain portfolio of cannabis companies.

Gabriola is a privately held British Columbia company that has applied for a licence to produce under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR) on Gabriola Island, one of the gulf islands located in the Strait of Georgia off the coast of British Columbia. Gabriola Island has a consistent temperature and humidity level, which makes it well suited to greenhouse growing. Gabriola's current facility has a production capacity of approximately 2,000 kilograms. Through the agreement with Gabriola, CannaNUMUS has satisfied the second milestone under the Investment Agreement dated January 31, 2018 between Abattis and CannaNUMUS. "We are very impressed with the progress and execution at CannaNUMUS," stated Rob Abenante, President and CEO of Abattis. "We believe the collaboration between the two companies will be extremely beneficial for both entities." About Abattis Bioceuticals Corp. Abattis is a life sciences and biotechnology company which aggregates, integrates, and invests in cnnabis technologies and biotechnology services for the legal cannabis industry developing in Canada. The Company has successfully developed and licensed natural health products, medicines, extractions, and ingredients for the biologics, nutraceutical, bioceutical, and cosmetic markets. The Company is also seeking to acquire exclusive intellectual property rights to agricultural technologies to be employed in extraction and processing of botanical ingredients and compounds. The Company follows strict standard operating protocols, and adheres to the applicable laws of Canada and foreign jurisdictions. For more information, visit the Company's website at: www.abattis.com



ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF

ABATTIS BIOCEUTICALS CORP., "Rob Abenante"

Robert Abenante, President & CEO

For more information, please visit the Company's website at: www.abattis.com or www.northernvinelabs.com For inquiries, please contact the Company at (604) 674-8232 or at news@abattis.com. Certain information set out in this news release constitutes forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements (often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "expect", "may", "could", "anticipate" or "will" and similar expressions) may describe expectations, opinions or guidance that are not statements of fact and which may be based upon information provided by third parties. Forward-looking statements are based upon the opinions, expectations and estimates of management of the Company as at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or outcomes to differ materially from those anticipated or implied by such forward-looking statements. Those factors include, but are not limited to statements regarding the expected benefit to CannaNUMUS and Abattis of their collaboration, risks, uncertainties and other factors that are beyond the control of the Company, risks associated with the cannabis industry in general, rules and regulations relating to the cannabis industry, operational risks associated with development and production operations, delays or changes in plans and unanticipated costs and expenses, among others. In light of the risks and uncertainties associated with forward-looking statements, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon forward-looking information. In particular, there is no assurance that CannaNUMUS and Abattis will benefit from their collaboration as expected or at all. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements set out in this news release are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. The forward-looking statements of the Company contained in this news release are expressly qualified, in their entirety, by this cautionary statement. Except as required by law, we do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement contained in this news release. NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATIONS SERVICES PROVIDER HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

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[February 20, 2018] Mavrx Opens Satellite Platform to Entire U.S. Farm Economy - Rapidly Advancing Digital Farming Practices

Mavrx Inc. this week announced it is opening up its proprietary satellite-powered agricultural management platform to all members of the farm economy, empowering all agriculture stakeholders to bring cutting-edge technology to their fields at no cost. Over four years, Mavrx has built a platform that enables farm managers to optimize operations through a bird's eye look at yield, planting, and equipment application data that incorporates in-season and historical satellite information. Mavrx is now the largest aerial imagery and analytics provider in agriculture, monitoring over 14 million acres. The company provides yield enhancing services to 30 different major crops - including corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, sugarcane, and potatoes - in farmland across the U.S., Canada, Brazil, South Africa, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina. "This is a momentous step forward in our journey toward creating a more secure and flexible agricultural economy," said Mavrx CEO Max Bruner. "By removin barriers to entry, we can expand platform access to those who can benefit, while rapidly increasing our technological capabilities and coverage. Ultimately, we will be able to offer affordable yield-enhancing services to every acre of agriculture in the world."



The following tools will now be available to all Mavrx users at no cost: Satellite imaging

Daily satellite based crop health tracking

Management zone creation and prescription writing integrated with John Deere, SST, EFC, and other industry leaders

Mavrx Scout Mobile app (iOS and Android (News - Alert) ) for scouting, tissue and soil sampling - with reporting and lab integration Those seeking more granular field information will still be able to purchase premium aerial imaging services through Mavrx, leveraging the world's largest manned aircraft imagery network.

About Mavrx Mavrx provides field monitoring and farm stakeholder engagement services using a proprietary national imaging network, geospatial data science, and historic yield analysis to monitor crop production and help farms and all agriculture service providers optimize profits. The Mavrx platform supports agriculture service providers, farmers, insurance companies, and financial services touching over 100 million acres of U.S. and international farmland. For more information please contact Max Bruner at max@mavrx.co or visit www.mavrx.co. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180220005931/en/

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[February 20, 2018] Facebook 3D Feed Enables 3D Content Created by Scansite3D; 3DaaS Asset Creation Service to be Displayed on Social Media

Scansite3D 3DaaS(3D-as-a-Service) is an integrated process for creating

high resolution, photorealistic, 3D digital assets from a clients existing objects

for Retail, E-Merchandising, AR/VR, and the Experience Economy Figure 1: Different Styles Created from a Single Scansite3D  3DaaS 3D File - Not Photographs







SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Feb. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Scansite3D's pioneering 3DaaS 3D assets can now be seamlessly shared as 3D posts on Facebook. With their compelling and lifelike qualities, 3DaaS assets provide the impactful, emotion-driven storytelling that's needed to capture the attention of consumers. Specifically designed for retail, e-merchandising, AR/VR and the experience economy, 3DaaS assets are agile, flexible and can adapt quickly to companies ever-changing needs.

The new feature, which allows people to intract with 3D objects free from the confines of a headset, will introduce Facebooks users to the delight and surprise of the 3D experience. With todays update, Scansite3Ds 3DaaS assets in 3D posts will give merchandisers a universal and powerful tool to interact with their audience through 3D content without having to revamp their workflow.



Merchants need a flexible approach to showcase their goods across all media channels including print, web, mobile and social, without having to bear the burden and expense of creating multiple 2D images for each purpose. Consumers expectations of digital experiences that are tailored to their interests and needs are higher than ever before. A seamless, omni-channel marketing program is the new reality for retail. The Scansite3D - 3DaaS "create once, use again and again" approach allows merchandisers to repurpose 3D images for all applications and greatly reduces the need to photograph or graphically re-create the same item simply to change the color, material, viewing angle, etc. 3DaaS assets created by Scansite3D are also dimensionally accurate and can be used in all consumer-facing shopping tools such as 3D catalogs and websites, animations, touch screen interactives and virtual floor planning.

Combining patent-pending 3D scanning, photogrammetry, CAD, and proprietary techniques, 3DaaS is an end-to-end service that creates rich, optimized, and complex 3D assets for use in any 3D application on any media. Products ranging from household goods to works of art and anything that physically exists can now be beautifully created digitally in 3D with life-like, stunning detail! "The world is moving to photorealistic 3D digital images and away from 'flat' 2D photography across all media types," said Lisa Federici, CEO of Scansite3D. "We are very excited about using Facebooks latest technology to bring forth this enhancement to the user experience." Facebooks easy to use 3D posts, combined with Scansite3D - 3DaaS assets, lets retailers forget about the technology and focus on sales. Scansite3D is now offering 3DaaS as an end-to-end service to merchant customers. Depending on volume, 3D digital capture service can also be implemented at the customers site or warehouse. For more information, please visit: https://www.scansite-3daas.com/. About Scansite3D

Scansite3D is a San Francisco Bay Area 3D technology company that helps Retailers, E-merchandisers, VR/AR companies and others digitize their business strategy by creating photorealistic, high value, repurpose-able 3D assets made from physical merchandise. Specifically designed for the Experience Economy, Scansite3Ds pioneering 3D-as-a-Service (3DaaS) is an integrated end-to-end process for creating stunningly, life-like 3D assets for use in any 3D application on any media. Products ranging from household goods to works of art and virtually anything that physically exists can now be beautifully created in 3D with life-like, stunning detail! CONTACT: Lisa Federici

pr@scansite.com

(1) 415 488-9500

www.scansite3d.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at //www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8d8421e1-9b8e-4c15-899a-997bcc0c7a9f

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[February 20, 2018] Come Discover the Canadian Francophonie!

Discover the Canadian Francophonielaunch of the new Francophone Heritage, Culture and Tourism Corridor GATINEAU, QC, Feb. 20, 2018 Today, the Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, officially launched the new Francophone Heritage, Culture and Tourism Corridor, a tourism website and mobile app showcasing over 150 heritage and cultural topics in all provinces and territories. The Canadian Francophonie has a great deal to offer all across the country. This tool invites visitors to enjoy experiences that showcase our Francophone heritage and discover local products. It also highlights small and medium-sized businesses that are already the pride of their community. The Corridor is intended for both English- and French-speaking Canadian and international tourists. The online tool showcases tourist attractions related to Canada's Francophone heritage and culture, and offers users an innovative classification system for the level of French-language services they can expect to receive. The project emerged from the 2015 Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie in Toronto, which brought together the provincial and territorial ministers responsible for Francophone affairs. The Reseau de developpement economique et d'employabilite (RDEE Canada), whose mission is to promote the economic development of Canada's Francophone and Acadian communities, is responsible for its implementation. Quotes "The Corridor is a major Canada 150 project developed to promote the Canadian Francophonie, ad it will leave a major legacy for our country's Francophones and Francophiles. This project acknowledges and celebrates our Francophone heritage, and offers unique experiences and local products. It presents an innovative showcase of Canada's Francophonie to the rest of the world."



The Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage "Many countries around the world offer tourist circuits that are popular with travellers. This corridor adds an experience like nothing else in the world by showcasing a major element of Canada's character internationally. The Canadian Francophonie, in addition to being a source of pride, will be a tourist attraction that visitors will love. As we celebrate Canada's best year ever for international tourism, I hope this project will inspire more visitors to come and experience everything our country has to offer."

The Honourable Bardish Chagger, Minister of Small Business and Tourism "The project design phase will continue until March 31, 2018, as scheduled. Given the enthusiastic and eager response of the partners to whom we presented the Corridor, we will be launching the project this year. In so doing, we hope to capitalize on the potential of the 2018 tourism season and provide a tangible benefit to partners interested in participating in the project. The adventure is just beginning." Jean-Guy Bigeau, President and CEO, RDEE Canada Quick Facts The Francophone Heritage, Culture and Tourism Corridor showcases over 150 heritage and cultural topics in all provinces and territories. The Corridor provides an innovative and engaging classification of French-language services. The Corridor will be fully operational in English and French as of April 1, 2018. In 2017, the year of Canada 150, international tourists made 20.8 million trips of one or more nights to Canada, up 4.4 percent from 2016 and a new annual record, surpassing the previous record of 20.1 million set in 2002. Related Products Launching a Major Project for Canada's Francophone Community Associated Links Francophone Heritage, Culture and Tourism Corridor Reseau de developpement economique et d'employabilite Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie Travel between Canada and other countries SOURCE Canadian Heritage

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A crowded race for the Republican nomination for governor in Kansas has candidates looking for ways to stand out. At a forum held over the weekend in Wichita, the hopefuls signaled how they hope to separate themselves from the field. Secretary of State Kris Kobach wants primary voters to see him as the true conservative in the contest.
KCMO STREETS ARE EXCEPTIONALLY SLICK THIS MORNING WITHOUT MUCH HELP TO DE-ICE OVERNIGHT!!!

KMBZ: The National Weather Service issued an Ice Storm Warning for a large portion of the Kansas City area until 6 p.m. Tuesday. The forecast calls for freezing rain and a slight chance for thunderstorms, with a low of about 30 degrees.





Here's a word of caution today for commuters and anybody who must trek through treacherous conditions today with no help from City Hall.To wit . . .Check the damage and take it slow . . .Developing . . .
"We are gathering at Mill Creek Park in Kansas City on Saturday, March 24 at 1 pm as part of the nationwide effort to advocate for weapons reform. It is past time elected officials put the lives of Americans above the donations from the NRA.





Let's join together to make a change for our future!"

Kansas City March For Our Lives organized by PeaceWorksKC and co-hosted by Heartland Coalition Against Gun Violence a program of Grandparents Against Gun Violence, Kansas City Veterans For Peace. We will meet every Saturday from Noon to 1:00 PM at JC Nichols Memorial Fountain in Miller Park at Plaza leading up to the March 24th March.

Here's another somewhat local call for action in the aftermath of a horrific shooting that seemingly hopes to supportTake a look:And then, there's this protest as well . . .Developing . . .
From the EditorFriday Reflections Courting Disaster Patriarchy & the Violence of Fatherless Men Tweet



February 16, 2018

On Tuesday I served on jury duty. About 2 PM, along with several dozen prospective jurors, I was ushered into an Illinois State criminal courtroom. The judge was seated. On the left side sat the defendant, a young man, with his defense attorney. Directly in front of us, at a table facing the judge, were seated two men and one woman, in black, from the state's attorney's office. Three state prosecutors? It looked like trouble to me.

Sure enough. The judge instructed us that we were to judge the guilt or innocence of the defendant on one count of first-degree murder and on three counts of assault with a deadly weapon.

It was a grim courtroom. This was not television. One man was dead, three injured (one paralyzed, one blinded). The life of the accused man might be over. I did feel pity for him, if found guilty, a young wasted life, in a far country, estranged from the heavenly Father.

In reply to the judge's interview questions, I affirmed that I have a family member who is a policeman, I know other policemen, and I have been the victim of armed robbery. The judge accepted me as a juror, but the defense objected. I was sent home.

As soon as I turned on my car radio in the courthouse parking lot, I heard about the killing of Chicago Police Commander Paul Bauer that had occurred about an hour earlier.

In another Illinois State government building downtown, Cdr. Bauer had earlier attended a seminar on responding to "mass shootings." On his police radio, he heard a description of a dangerous armed suspect nearby. He saw the man in flight and confronted him in a stairwell, where the two struggled and fell; the suspect then shot Bauer6 timeskilling him.

The next day, Valentine's Day, we heard of a "mass shooting" of high school students in Florida. The 19-year-old killer escaped the scene of the murders, but a clear description of him went out to the police. The Chicago Tribune reports:

Officer Michael Leonard spotted [Nikolas Cruz]. . . . But Leonard said he hesitated, just for a moment. "He looked like a typical high school student," said Leonard. Leonard called out. The young man didn't run. He laid down on the grass, and the handcuffs went on.

Senior Editor Robert P. George commented on Facebook:

. . . These crimes are almost always committed by men, frequently young men (and sometimes even boys). So the very first question I want to know the answer to is this: What do we know about the perpetrator's father and the young man's relationship with him? . . . [T]ime after time the answer has been that the father is (and was) absent (for one reason or another) from the boy's life or had virtually no relationship to the son or effective authority over him. . . . The question of the perpetrator's father and the relationship between father and son is not the only question. But for me it is the first one.

I would be surprised if fatherlessness were not the number one predictor of criminality. I recall hearing a veteran Texas prison chaplain saying he often asked prisoners if they were raised by their biological fathers. The vast majority-well over 90 percentwere not.

This is one reason why patriarchy is important for the health of a society. Read that carefully. I did not say male chauvinism or male dominance or male privilege or misogyny, which some assume is meant by the "code word" patriarchy.

Patriarchy is based on the word pater, father, and I am particularly thinking of fatherhood and not mere maleness: young men are supposed to be formed not by a flood of male hormones or dangerous masculine bravado or the oppression or sexual use of women, but by the prospect of fatherhood.

Patriarchy is about fatherhood. It is where fathers raise boys and young men to become fathers. A whole generation, or neighborhood, of boys without fathers will succumb to the chaos and violence of Beelzebub, Lord of the Flies. Where you find lots of fatherless young men not being trained for fatherhood you will find most of today's violent crime. Victims may only hope policemen will protect them.

Next time you hear the word patriarchy, remember Ephesians 3:14: "For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father [Pater], from whom every family [patria] in heaven and on earth derives its name. . . "

Patria is often translated nation and is the root of patriotism, love of one's country. But where there are fewer and fewer fathers, there can be no enduring patria, no homeland, no security.

Yours for Christ, Creed & Culture,



James M. Kushiner

Executive Director, The Fellowship of St. James

James M. Kushiner is Executive Editor of Touchstone: A Journal of Mere Christianity, and Executive Director of The Fellowship of St. James.




Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) has announced the appointment of Dr Abdulla Habib Ahmed as the acting chief operations officer (COO) with immediate effect.



Dr Ahmed joined Alba in 1995 as a trainee engineer. During the last 22 years, he has held various supervisory and management roles in Alba -- superintendent Reduction Line (2002); R&D manager (2009); Reduction Lines manager (2011); customers technical support manager (2013); director of Reduction Lines and Services (2015) and director of Reduction Line 6 Start-up (2017).



Albas chief executive officer Tim Murray, said: At Alba, we believe that the key to our success is to develop and promote our people from within the Company then harness their true potential.



Abdulla has more than 20 years of diversified operations experience in Alba and showed great mettle during the Line 5 Recovery situation. His appointment as the acting COO of Alba comes at a notable time as we progress on the Line 6 Expansion Project and I am confident the Executive team will greatly benefit with Abdulla in the new position.



Dr Ahmed attained PhD. degree in Chemical Engineering - Aluminium Smelting from University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia in June 2016. He has an MBA from French Arabian School/ESSEC in addition to B.Sc.in Chemical Engineering.  TradeArabia News Service
Bahrain-based Ahmed Mansoor Al Aali Group said its structural and mechanical division (AMD-SMD) marked a major construction milestone last week by delivering the first potshell equipment for Aluminium Bahrain's (Alba) Potline 6 expansion project.



Under a contract from International Bechtel Company (Bechtel), the engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) contractor for the project, AMA-SMD is manufacturing and supplying core packages for potline equipment for the Potline 6 expansion.



The Bahraini group is manufacturing 427 pot shells (each weighing 44 tonnes) for the project, the first of which was delivered on February 12, said the company in a statement.



In addition, AMA Group along with its partner Alucor (UAE) is manufacturing 424 cathode ring busbars (each weighing 47 tonnes), the first of which was delivered on February 14.



The AMA-Alucor joint venture company is also executing the potline mechanical installation package at site, it added.



The Alba project involves supplying of pot-shells and cathode ring busbars, stretching a total of 2.6 km length of the potline, remarked Haresh Patel, the general manager of AMA-SMD.



This major smelter equipment is among the largest ever manufactured in the aluminium smelting Industry, he added.



The design of the potshells are based on DX+ Ultra technology from Dubal-Emirates Global Aluminum (Ega) supplied to Alba for the Line 6 expansion project, which enables the Bahraini firm to be the largest aluminum smelter in the world.



Already some 50,000 tonnes of aluminium, steel and stainless-steel equipment have been produced at AMA facility in the past one year. Of this, some quantity has been stored at its factory and seaside storage facility in the Askar area of Bahrain, ready for delivery.



This AMA facility is one of the largest manufacturing facility of its kind in the region.



We are looking to complete the project ahead of schedule, stated Patel.



The Alba Potline 6 expansion is the ninth aluminium smelter project awarded to AMA and its group companies by the global aluminium industry, and the seventh consecutive project from Bechtel Corporation.-TradeArabia News Service
The number of five-star hotel spas in Dubai is on track to increase by a compound annual growth rate of 11 per cent to 2021, according to data released by Colliers International.



According to the report, Spa and Wellness Travel - produced exclusively for Arabian Travel Market - the number of five-star hotel spas in Dubai will increase from 107 in 2017 to 157 in 2021, in close correlation with the emirates hotel pipeline.



High profile openings over recent months include The Spa at Palazzo Versace Dubai and The Bulgari Spa, which will contribute to projected annual spa revenues in the emirate of $495million, by 2019, according to Visit Dubai.



Simon Press, senior exhibition director of Arabian Travel Market, said: "Regionally, the spa sector is multi-faceted and sensitive to events and developments in many other sectors, including global health, beauty and wellness trends. In 2017, we saw focus increase across these areas and Dubai was quick to capitalise and innovate, with the debut of a number of luxury-branded hotel spas.



"However, spas are no longer associated exclusively with the luxury market. As a result, we see more choice at various price points, a diversification in treatments, competitive marketing techniques and an increase in the number of spa management courses available to professionals. In 2018 and beyond, we expect to see these trends converge, further cementing Dubai and the regions reputation as a leading medical, wellness and health destination," Press added.



In the report, Colliers analysed data from spas representing 369 treatment rooms across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, highlighting nuances in demand and revenue trends. In Abu Dhabi, the average treatment rate is Dh348 ($94.7), compared to Dh394 ($107.2) in Dubai, with approximately 17 and 22 treatments sold per day, respectively. In terms of the guest profile, spas in Abu Dhabi welcome more male and walk-in guests at 53 percent and 67 percent, whereas in Dubai, 58 percent of spa guests are female and 55 percent of guests pre-book treatments.



In 2015, wellness trips to the GCC increased 44 per cent compared to 2013, while the number of spas increased 27 percent, with Oman and Bahrain leading growth.



The report concluded that such performance indicates a mature market capable of absorbing new supply. Testing this, the UAE will welcome 83 new hotels in 2018, many featuring spa and wellness amenities and, across the Middle East, a further 500 new properties are due to open by 2020.



"The predicted growth in spa inventory is closely tied to the regions hotel pipeline. Yet, unlike hotels, the report shows spas enjoy a level of resilience to increased competition and, in part, this is due to their growing appeal to different demographics and income groups  from millennials to local residents. While this has been good for the sector, preserving the trend in 2018 and 2019 will require spas to offer a strong brand, unique treatments and continued focus on enhancing the guest experience. We are likely to see some performance fluctuations in 2018 due to the introduction of VAT, however, the regions spas are poised for another strong year," Press continued.



According to figures from the Global Wellness Institute, three key sectors drive the $3.7 trillion global wellness industry: wellness Tourism, which generates $563 billion; beauty and anti-aging, generating $999 billion; and the spa segment, which contributes $99 billion.



Detox regimes, gold facials and app-based on-demand booking services are just some of the innovations to re-define wellness in the GCC over recent years. However, in 2018, it is expected the industry will shift to offer more tangible health benefits with an increased focus on medical spa services, lifestyle make-overs and sleep therapies. - TradeArabia News Service
House Votes to Require SEC Subpoena for Traders Source Code

This article originally appeared on Bloomberg

The House voted last Wednesday to ensure the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission would continue to have to seek a subpoena before accessing proprietary source code from high-frequency traders, the secret sauce that fuels profits.

The bill, passed 271-145, applies to proprietary trading algorithms from broker-dealers, hedge funds, and other SEC-regulated entities. The Senate hasnt scheduled a vote on the legislation.

Supporters say the bill, H.R. 3978, would protect intellectual property of high-frequency traders and funds. Jeb Hensarling, a Texas Republican and chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, said on the floor that source codes are "the crown jewels" of electronic trading firms and transferring them to the government would expose companies to "obvious dangers" of cybersecurity risks.

Opponents, including Democrat Maxine Waters of California, said the measure would allow hedge funds and high-frequency traders to avoid regulatory oversight. Waters, the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, said it would undermine the SECs ability to respond quickly in the event of a sudden market drop.

The bill comes after the Commodity Futures Trading Commission proposed in December 2015 allowing staffers or the Justice Department to inspect source code. After facing objections, the CFTC amended the rule with a requirement for subpoena or approval by CFTC commissioners. The measure wasnt adopted.

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ON THE MOVE: Goldman Nabs Hibbert; Weingarten CEO at SageTrader

Goldman Sach has hired a veteran U.S. sales trader as it looks to strengthen its equities sales and trading business. Mark Hibbert, co-head of U.S. sales trading and the head of U.S. special situations at Deutsche for the last four and a half years, has joined Goldman Sach as a managing director in New York. Hibbert comes with 13 years of experience. Prior to Deutsche, Hibbert worked at UBS for 9 years, most recently as its Head of Special Situations.

Dan Weingarten was named Chief Executive Officer at SageTrader. Prior, he was Head of Sell Side at ITG where he spent the last 7 years. Before that, Weingarten was Senior Vice President, Co-Head of Sales and Strategy at Pension Financial where he spent 4 years. Earlier in his career, he was with NYFIX and The Island ECN.

If you have a new job or promotion to report, let me know at jdantona@marketsmedia.com

Deutsche Bank lost its U.S. Head of Transaction Banking Paul Saltzman. Deutsche hired Saltzman to manage the processes around the Federal Reserves comprehensive capital analysis and review (CCAR) stress tests in May 2015. Known as a CCAR Czar, his official title was vice-chairman and executive sponsor of the CCAR. He was previously president of the Clearing House Association.

CME reported it expanded its international client development and sales efforts with two senior sales appointments in Europe and Asia.Michel Everaert has been named Head of Sales, Europe, where he will be responsible for developing and executing CME Group's sales strategy and growing its client base throughout Europe. Everaert has served as International Head of Sales for CME Group's commercials team since August 2015. He joined CME Group in March 2011, with responsibility for OTC pre- and post-trade products and services. He will replace Kevin Collins, who is retiring from CME Group in April 2018.

Tim Smith has been appointed Head of Sales, Asia, where he will be responsible for leading and executing the company's sales strategy throughout Asia. Smith has more than 20 years of experience in trading and sales roles across various financial institutions, and he joins CME Group from Deutsche Securities Asia Limited where he was Head of Listed Derivatives for Hong Kong. Smith's role previously had been filled on an interim basis by Christopher Fix, CME Group's Head of Asia Pacific.

Everaert will be based in London and Smith in Hong Kong. Both will report to David Hartney, CME Group Global Head of Client Development and Sales.

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The State of Play on Derivatives Regulation

Now more than a year since a new Presidential administration took residence on Pennsylvania Avenue, consequential changes to derivatives laws are beginning to be introduced and gather steam. As part of Chathams ongoing efforts to have a positive impact on our clients and markets more broadly, we have put together this update to keep you informed regarding the state of play, as well as to share ways we are engaging to help bring about this positive impact.

At the regulatory level, CFTC Chairman Giancarlo has called for Reg Reform 2.0, and has emphasized the need for greater regulatory simplicity, more flexible trading rules, and better cross-border cooperation, among other priorities. The US Treasury Department released a report in October proposing changes to derivatives and other capital markets in response to a Presidential executive order. The Oval Office took a peek into the derivatives market again just last week, when Chairman Giancarlo visited President Trump to update him on concerns about the potential for a more aggressive regulatory posture towards US registrants from Europe. Speaking of which, European regulators have proposed amendments to its derivatives law, and European Parliament is poised to debate these amendments in the near term.

While many of the contemplated changes could provide meaningful relief to some market participants, the limited nature of the changes largely implies an endorsement of the G20s reform blueprint. That is, the changes do not fundamentally challenge the core of todays derivatives regulatory architecture  central clearing, reporting, trading, margin, and conduct rules. However, we believe the atmosphere is ripe for targeted changes beneficial to end users and smaller banks, and so we have remained engaged with policy makers to share ongoing pain points and solutions to address them.

Amidst the considerable array of policy initiatives and actions in the derivatives market, we wanted to call attention to several that we believe have the potential to positively impact some or all of our clients.

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editorial@tribune.com

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 20

Municipal Corporation sanitation workers union today gave a 72-hour ultimatum to MC officials to fulfil their long-pending demands or else they will go on strike.

A meeting of sanitation workers was held under the presidentship of union president Vinod Kumar Mali. At the meeting, discussion on their long-pending demands was held, after which a decision was taken to give an ultimatum to the MC and if they did not fulfil their demands in the given time frame, then they would go on strike.

The union gave a memorandum in the name of MC Commissioner. In the memorandum, they had given 72 hours to MC officials to fulfill their demands and if no attention was paid to their demands, they would intensify their stir and would go on strike, for which the MC, the administration and the state government would be responsible.

Talking to mediapersons, union president Vinod Kumar Mali said their demands were: keeping in view the rising population of Bathinda city, around 1,500 sanitation workers should be recruited, sanitation workers old pension scheme should be implemented as while filling the forms they make many mistakes, employees Seventh Pay Commission allowance instalment should be released at the earliest, office should be made for each attendance point, educated sanitation workers who are working in the office for a long time should be promoted, 15 sanitation workers should be regularised, employees who have completed the training period should be regularised and various other issues as well.

Vinod Kumar Mali warned the MC that if their demands were not fulfilled, the union would intensify its stir.

Sanitation workers Bikram, Rajesh Kumar, Magan Bharti, Om Parkash, Vinod Rana, Sikander, Rajinder Kumar, Vinod Kumar, Sunny, Haripal, Sanjay, Suresh Kumar, Krishna, Desraj, Raju, Poorna, Lala, Vijay, Dalip Kumar, Rakesh Kumar, Ram Singh and others were present.
editorial@tribune.com

Nitin Jain

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 20

Sandeep Goyal, an alumnus of St Johns High School, Sector 26, Chandigarh, has gifted his alma mater a whopping sum of Rs 1 crore for the embellishment and greater glory of the school. A presentation ceremony will be held at the school on Wednesday morning.

Christened The Sandeep Goyal St Johns Endowment of Rs 1 crore, it will be the first-of-its-kind gift for the school, which started way back in 1960, when the then Chief Minister of Punjab, Pratap Singh Kairon, had invited the Christian brothers to set up a top quality missionary school in the new capital city.

I am what I am today for the strong values instilled in us at St Johns, where the accent was always on smart thinking and hard work. St Johns has always had a limited intake of students, which made for a very close interaction with teachers and fellow students. As a result, you grew up with a well-rounded, well-informed personality, the Mumbai-based 55-year-old Sandeep Goyal told The Tribune here today.

He said, Through the endowment, I want the school to start an annual oration. There are so many famous alumni of St Johns and so many Chandigarhians who have achieved fame and fortune. I would also like to help create an all-India school debate and an all-India school declamation. If more funds are needed, we will support the endowment further.

Tanya Goyal, a former banker and wife of Sandeep Goyal, who will head the advisory board of the endowment fund, said, We will work with the school authorities in identifying areas in which we can enrich the school and its students. St Johns is a premier institute, not lacking in facilities or infrastructure, but there is always scope for betterment.

Goyals lawyer daughter, Carol, will also serve on the advisory board along with Prof Avanindra Chopra and school principal Kavita Das.

Goyal passed out from St Johns in 1977. He did his BA (Honours) in English Literature, topping Panjab University and winning a gold medal. He then went onto pursue his MBA from the FMS, Delhi. Sandeep has also successfully completed the three-year OPM programme from Harvard Business School. He is currently in the process of completing his PhD in Management.

Sandeeps first job was with a paint company, Goodlass Nerolac, but he soon moved to advertising where he spent the next 30 years. Sandeep was president of the iconic advertisement agency, Rediffusion, in the late 90s. He then became the group CEO of Zee Telefilms. In this assignment, Goyal became Indias highest paid professional CEO. He then went onto turn entrepreneur bringing Dentsu Inc, the worlds number one advertisement agency, into India as a joint venture partner.

Over the years, Goyal has handled advertising for big clients like Maruti Suzuki, Nestle, Glaxo Smith Kline, Toyota, Honda, Sony, Canon and many more. The high point of Sandeeps career, however, has been the launch of Airtel, a brand he helped create and launch from scratch and take to market leadership.

Goyal was the first Indian on the global jury of the prestigious Emmy Awards. Over the years, he has been on the governing bodies of the AAAI, IBF, INS, MRUC, ASCI and more.Goyal has written three books while two more are in the pipeline this year.

His parents, however, continue to be in Chandigarh.Goyal is also the sponsor of the Ranvijay Singh Award at St Johns for the past 10 years. It is an award given to the nicest boy at St Johns and is popular among both students and teachers.

I hope the way shown by Sandeep Goyal will be emulated by other St Johns alumni as well as other schools. For Goyal, this is a gift of gratitude and a meaningful statement in terms of a real giveback, says his daughter Carol.

The endowment fund will be professionally managed and administered by Julius Baer, global Swiss wealth managers, to ensure that the returns on the corpus are optimal, yet risk-free.
Hasan Suroor

Hasan Suroor

WAY back in 1997, in a rare undiplomatic public outburst, the then Prime Minister, IK Gujral, dismissed Britain as a third rate power after its foreign secretary Robin Cook gratuitously offered to mediate in the Kashmir dispute, apparently at Pakistans instigation. At the time, for all its long-faded imperial glory, Britain still enjoyed a modicum of international standing and goodwill. Its true decline has begun now; more than half a century after it lost the empire, the sun has really started to set on the British Isles, with Brexit marking the last straw on an exhausted camels back. British economy continues to struggle after a decade of harsh austerity following the 2008 financial crash which led to millions of job losses and widespread impoverishment. Last year, it registered its worst performance since 2012; ironically, the EU, which it is leaving, grew at its fastest rate in a decade.

In addition, Britains chronically poor productivity levels remain the lowest among advanced European economies; and manufacturing has all but disappeared. Essentially, Britain is running on empty, propelled only by its services industry concentrated mainly in Londons financial hub called the City. And now the Citys future too hangs in the balance with a number of big international corporations threatening to move their headquarters to Paris or Frankfurt after Brexit if a future UK-EU deal deprives them of the advantages of being in London.

Things are equally bleak in other areas: cash-starved public services are at breaking point; social mobility is in free fall; the generational divide is widening; and social tensions are boiling over after the xenophobic Brexit campaign. In the 1970s, Britain was dubbed the sick man of Europe after a long and crippling industrial crisis. Today, the crisis is of a different nature but no less threatening for it raises troubling questions about its future after Brexit, which some have called a form of controlled suicide. In a withering farewell critique, the New York Times outgoing London bureau chief, Steven Erlanger, quoted puzzled experts and Britains friends as describing it as a hollowed-out country, ill at ease with itself, deeply provincial, and engaged in controlled suicide. His own verdict on a country where he lived for nine years was that it was akin to a modest-size ship...heading to nowhere, while on deck, fire has broken out and the captain  poor Theresa May  is lashed to the mast, without the authority to decide whether to turn to port or to starboard.

At best of times, any external criticism tends to bring out the hidden nationalist in us, so Erlangers piece has made even liberal Britons  otherwise extremely critical of the state of their nation  rush to rally round the flag. Brits dont deserve to be damned by a Yankee, read the headline of a comment piece in The Times by its columnist Alice Thomson. But, after bravely attempting to challenge Erlangers verdict, even she ended up admitting that the country was going through a bad patch though it doesnt want anyone else (read, foreigner) to start pummelling it gratuitously. In their more dispassionate moments, most Britons acknowledge the mess the country is in  and the fact that the mess is most likely to get worse, post-Brexit. A leaked official study, which considered several post-Brexit scenarios ranging from the best to the worst, found that in every possible situation  including the best  Britain will be worse off for many years to come.

Meanwhile, the Brexit process itself has got mired in a series of controversies over a lack of clarity in London about the precise nature of the deal it wants in terms of its future relationship with the EU. The self-proclaimed British deadline to leave the EU is March 29, 2019, but nothing is settled amid almost daily rows with Brussels. The ruling Tory party is split down the middle between those who want a hard Brexit, which means pulling out altogether from the European single market and the tariff-free zone called the Customs Union, and soft Brexiteers who believe Britain should continue to retain some sort of access to both the single market and the custom union. Theresa May, whose own job is on the line after last years election debacle, is both unable and unwilling to assert her authority over the warring factions. Her own lack of vision has made her a figure of ridicule in Europe.

Apparently, Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, likes to tell with much relish a joke to convey her frustration with the British PMs robotic style and absence of ideas. Every time we meet, I ask her what kind of Brexit deal does Britain want so that we can move the negotiations forward. To which her reply is always the same: Make me an offer. To which I say: But its you who have decided to leave and must tell us what you want. But she doesnt seem to get it. At home, too, May is facing criticism with one commentator calling her a black hole that is sucking the life out of the government. Her post-Brexit roadmap called Building a Britain fit for future has been dismissed as pathetic and anaemic. Theres no vision, no plan. Its just about survival, one minister is reported saying, adding: Theres a whiff of death about it all. If someone texted me now that she had resigned, I wouldnt be that surprised. The New Statesman described her premiership as a joyless act of managing decline alienating both Remainers and Brexiteers.

But Brexit is a symptom of a deeper anxiety about Britains place in a rapidly changing world as it finds itself increasingly marginalised with even its much-vaunted special relationship with America running out of steam. Indeed, even its right to continue to sit at the top table at the UN is being questioned by new emerging powers, including India. Attempts to revive Britains old buccaneer spirit through stunts like Brexit is a nationalist fantasy. The reality is that it has fallen off the top league but cant quiet come to terms with its reduced circumstances. Britain is at a historic crossroads and fits Antonio Gramscis description of a crisis that consists precisely in the fact that the old is dying and the new cannot be born; in this interregnum a great variety of morbid symptoms appear.

At a less philosophical level, the crumbling Palace of Westminster  the seat of British Parliament  has become a metaphor for a crumbling Britain.

The writer is a London-based commentator
Roopinder Singh

Roopinder Singh

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be welcomed warmly at Darbar Sahib, Amritsar. He joins the growing list of Heads of State who have made the Golden Temple an important part of their itinerary while visiting India.

Gurdwaras have traditionally opened their doors to everyone, and hundreds of thousands of visitors walk into the portals of the Golden Temple every day. They come from all over the country, and from many parts of the world, to see, pay obeisance and pray. They all admire the architecture and what it signifies  the four open doorways, signifying that all are welcome  and partake of langar, which again is served to everyone.

Inclusion has been the focus of the Gurus' teachings, and of the institutions that they built. Indeed, the first gathering places of their followers were the dharamshalas, where they would meet regularly, as 'sangats', to sing praise of the Lord and to discuss matters of common concern. These were places that served the sick and the needy and provided shelter to travellers. In short, they were spaces where dharma was practised. From the 17th century, after the installation of Guru Granth Sahib at the Golden Temple, the word 'gurdwaras', abode of the Guru, started being used for what were dharamshalas.

The institution of gurdwara has an inclusive core, which has, sometimes, been eroded. Mahants, who were considered the custodians of institutions, started regarding these as their hereditary property, and over a period of time, caste discrimination and other practices, inimical to Sikhism, crept in.

It was in response to these ill-practices that the Gurdwara Sudhar Lehar or Gurdwara Reform Movement gained impetus. Gurdwara Babe-di-Ber in Sialkot, associated with Guru Nanak Dev, was then administered by the widow of a mahant. In 1920, it became the first gurdwara whose administration was transferred to an elected committee, headed by Baba Kharak Singh. Other gurdwaras followed suit; sometimes the reformists were resisted violently. The massacre of protesters by Mahant Narain Das at Nankana Sahib solidified the support for the movement and after many confrontations, many negotiations and some violence; the control of historical gurdwaras was handed over to elected bodies of Sikhs. This is the genesis of the formation of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee in 1925.

Naturally, historical gurdwaras form only a part of the vast network of gurdwaras that exists in India and abroad. Such gurdwaras are independent bodies, but they are expected to take guidance from the SGPC in the conduct of various religious ceremonies. Sometimes, local matters are escalated to the SGPC and Akal Takht for resolution.

The Australian High Commissioner to New Delhi, Harinder Sidhu, is a Sikh of Indian origin. She had performed sewa at the langar of the Darbar Sahib last week. The Canadian Prime Minister and his entourage, that also has Sikh ministers, are the next VIPs at Harmandar Sahib. This time, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is on board, something that was conspicuously missing earlier when Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan visited Punjab. However, at that time also, Sajjan was welcomed with open arms by the SGPC, even as the CM refused to meet him.

The inclusive character of the most important gurdwara of the Sikhs, which extends to visitors sitting together for a common langar and some of them performing sewa, is a feature that has found admirers among those of other faiths, too, and, indeed, is often held as an exemplar. This is where the discordant note is sounded by organisations that seek to ban the entry of Indian diplomats in gurdwaras in foreign lands, including Canada and Australia. It is not a coincidence that some gurdwaras, whose names were announced in the original ban statement, subsequently distanced themselves from it.

Gurdwaras are, and should be, open to all. Gurdwaras abroad should take their cue from the SGPC and keep their doors open even to those with whom the management committees have differences.

The moment one crosses Darshani Deori and enters the precincts of the Golden Temple, there is a sense of peace. The mellifluous notes of kirtan sung by Hazuri Raagis envelope every visitor, as the tumultuous temporal affairs recede into the background. This is the atmosphere one seeks in all gurdwaras: that of spirituality where everyone is welcome. Bans mark boundaries, and feed discord. They have no place in a place of worship.

singhroopinder@gmail.com
sanjiv@tribunemail.com

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 20

Dubbing the alleged manhandling of Chief Secretary as urban naxalism, the BJP today demanded Arvind Kejriwals resignation while the Congress, describing the incident as administrative and constitutional crisis, demanded an apology from the Chief Minister.

Led by state unit chief Manoj Tiwari, party workers protested outside Kejriwals residence at Civil Lines and Tiwari demanded a high-level inquiry against the Chief Minister and suspension of the legislators involved in the last nights incident at Kejriwals residence.

On the issue veteran, Congress leader JP Agarwal sought Lt Governor Anil Baijals intervention and said an all-party meeting should be called in this regard.

ArvindKejriwal and his Goon MLAs misbehaved and threatened the Chief secretary of NCT Delhi Government last night... another shameful act of @AamAadmiParty Goons... an act of Urban Naxalism... #UrbanNaxaliteKejriwal must Resign (sic), Tiwari tweeted.

Cong wants CMs apology

Lashing out at the AAP government, sate Congress president Ajay Maken accused it of complete failure and demanded an apology from Kejriwal for the unruly behaviour.

Kejriwal should apologise for this hooliganism which took place before him-AAP Govt is unable to deliver-Beating of Chief Secretary by MLAs in front of CM is another low & is aimed to divert attention from Govt failures! AAP does not know Governance and has failed miserably (sic), Maken tweeted.

Kejriwal must explain

Condemning the incident, the Swaraj India said the Chief Minister must explain to the people over the allegations of misbehaviour by his party MLAs and suggested the LG should immediately speak to the Chief Minister and sort out the matter.

It termed the ongoing controversy between the AAP and Chief Secretary as shameful and avoidable. Party leader Anupam said it is not the first time that such an incident has come to light and that Kejriwal seems to be running a circus instead of sarkar while referring to previous such instances of tussle between the ruling party and bureaucrats during appointments of Shakuntala Gamlin and Ashish Joshi, among others.
sanjiv@tribunemail.com

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 20

Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash was allegedly roughed up by AAP MLAs during a meeting at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals residence on Monday late night, said a police official.

The police have filed an FIR on a complaint from Chief Secretary under various sections, including 120B (criminal conspiracy), 186 (obstructing a public servant from performing the duty) and 353 (assault on public servant) against AAPs Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan and others, said Special Commissioner of Delhi Police and chief PRO (Delhi Police) Depender Pathak.

The Civil Lines police station today received a complaint from Anshu Prakash against around 12 AAP MLAs and we have sought legal opinion before initiating any action, said Pathak.

A senior Delhi Police officer (Central) also confirmed that AAP leader Ashish Khetan made a call to the police control room (PCR), saying that he was mandhandled. Police are checking the veracity of his claims.

Another AAP MLA Imran Hussain has also filed a complaint at the Indraprastha Estate police station alleging that staff threatened and thrashed him and snatched his mobile phone also, said the official.

Khetan said, There was a riot like situation at the Delhi Secretariat. Slogans of maro, maro were heard, he claims. Environment Minister Imran Hussain has filed compliant after both of us were attacked at the Secretariat.

However, Imran and Khetan denied that the Chief Secretary was assaulted by his party MLAs.
sanjiv@tribunemail.com

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 20

Chief Secretary Anshu Prakashs allegations of being manhandled by a bunch of ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs in the presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia last night clearly indicated a renewed confrontation between the Kejriwal government and the BJP-led Centre; Lieutenant Governor office and the bureaucrats at the latters side.

The AAP dispensation today rubbished the allegations absurd and politically-motivated, hours before its Environment Minister Imran Hussain accompanied by party leader Ashish Khetan was mobbed by scores of officials and staff at the Delhi Secretariat prompting it in turn to allege the Centre was using the government officials to destabilise the Delhi Government.

It was utter chaos at the Secretariat with almost the entire work of the government coming to a standstill due to the developments the entire day.

Earlier, officials and staff of the government agitated over the Secretarys allegations raised slogans and prevented Hussain from taking the elevator to his office. The police had to come to his rescue and escort him to his office on the sixth floor office.

Hussain later lodged a complaint with the IP Estate police station alleging that he was assaulted. The Kejriwal government also released a video showing Hussain being roughed up while his assistant Himanshu Singh assaulted by the protesting staff.

Agitating government staff gathered on the second floor of the Secretariat demanding that FIR be lodged against AAP MLAs for allegedly assaulting the Chief Secretary.

Prakash is understood to have been allegedly manhandled inside Kejriwals residence late last night while several AAP lawmakers, including AAP MLA Ajay Dutt, who also attended the meeting at the CM house yesterday, countered accusing Prakash of using casteist remarks against him and another MLA, Prakash Jarwal.

In an email to Commissioner of Police Amulya Patnaik, Dutt also alleged that Prakash misbehaved with him when he asked him about the complaints regarding ration distribution in his constituency (Ambedkar Nagar). Dutt demanded an FIR against the Chief Secretary.

AAP leaders want to meet HM

The AAP today countered the allegations by Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash by claiming the alleged attacks on its minister and staff at the Secretariat were orchestrated at the behest of the BJP.

The Kejriwal-led party has sought time for a meeting with Home Minister Rajnath Singh to discuss the matter but he is yet to grant it, AAP leader Ashish Khetan told reporters while hoping that Singh shows the same promptness in meeting the AAP leaders as he did in meeting the IAS association.

Khetan said, Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash was asked about the problems in delivery of PDS to people, to which he replied that he was not answerable to the people's representatives, and only to the Lieutenant-Governor.

Several AAP MLAs lashed out at the LG and the BJP over the developments. It is obvious that these 200-odd BJP workers got inside the Delhi Secretariat with the help of government officers following orders of the LG or GoI (Centre), tweetedAAP MLA Adarsh Shastri.
vinaymishra188@gmail.com

There can be valid arguments to introduce students in colleges and universities to political and democratic processes, and thence the concept of student elections, which Haryana now proposes to restart in the state. Besides striving to improve campus life and education, student elections would presumably encourage debate and discussion. But there is a fundamental challenge here, which is the vote itself. It is something that compels everyone to conclude a debate with a black and white decision, for or against, if not friend and foe. Essentially, that precipitates difference of thought to the level of tribal divisions. And, that is antithetical to any academic process, which is more about exploring and experiencing, rather than concluding.

That is in theory. In practice, the worldly experience of how elections are conducted is far from elevating. Take the Panjab University student elections, in one of the most sophisticated cities in the region. Ever since elections in the university restarted in the nineties, there has been rarely a poll without ugly violence. Barring a couple of student leaders, none has gone on to make any contribution of note to society; some have turned out to be criminals. Campus welfare bodies of students can be created even without elections. The only other matter student unions contribute towards is not allowing increase in fees, which is approaching a policy matter from the wrong end. A number of public institutions face destruction because of that, as education funding is a matter that has to be addressed at the legislative end. As for political debate, what Delhi saw over the past couple of years would be remembered for years to come.

But what makes student elections the most redundant is the fact that young adults can now vote at the age of 18, and therefore participate in the national political process directly, influencing everything from policy to execution. Educational institutions may, thus, best be preserved as spaces for letting young minds grow without debilitating acrimony, and the real world outside may be the ground for real and purposeful democratic action.
vinaymishra188@gmail.com

Five days after the PNB scam broke, all that we have now are frantic stabs by all the singed parties to disown responsibility. The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), with a hand-picked chief and a former bank chairman as a member, should have ideally doubled down to uncover how a whistleblowers plaint against a massive fraud by the Nirav Modi-Choksi duo was permitted to languish uninvestigated. Instead, the CVC has adopted a two-pronged strategy to wriggle out of the tight spot: turnaround to ask PNB what it was doing all these years and second, clarify to anyone who pays heed, that it had not feted the bank repeatedly for surpassing any matrix for watchfulness but to simply raise public awareness against corruption.

The Reserve Bank also has a lot of explaining to do, especially when it had the institutional memory of Harshad Mehta having similarly exploited banking loopholes and employee greed for personal aggrandisement. The minions are taking their cues from South Block where a similar attempt is underway to whitewash any association with Modi-Choksi. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has disowned the till-then uncontroverted reports about his leading an India Inc delegation to the Davos jamboree that featured Nirav Modi. The PMOs spin managers too had first tried to talk off Nirav Modis inclusion in a Davos group photo with the PM by suggesting that his was an accidental walk-in.

As the high and mighty airbrush all association and culpability, the governments political machinery is attempting an extremely dangerous diversion by manufacturing a clamour for banks privatisation. The subtext is clear: inept government management of banks led to the scandal and it is time they were handed over to, presumably, more conscientious private bankers. The suggestion is as brazen as it is untrue. The pinning of responsibility this time, especially under a government self-avowedly fixated on rooting out corruption, must begin right from the top, instead of the clutch of clerks currently arraigned. The suggestion to privatise banks to check embezzlement simply flies in the face of the responsibility that devolves on the government as the custodian of a public good and citizens interests.
editorial@tribune.com

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Rewari, February 20

Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala today blamed the state BJP government for famers and youths plight and neglecting south Haryana.

The state government has followed a negligent attitude towards the Bawal segment and has not launched any big project in south Haryana, he said while addressing the Adhikaar Rally organised by Rao Arjun Singh in Bawal town here to mark the birth anniversary of former CM late Rao Birender Singh.

Despite being an industrial hub, Bawal neither had a polytechnic nor an Industrial Training Institute. Thus, local youths had to go to other places for training while the outsiders managed to get jobs in local industries, Surjewala said.

The BJP had promised to give jobs to youths in the state every year. But it has snatched 42,000 jobs since forming the state government. Merely 7,000 youths have been given jobs, he said.

The Congress leader said the farmers were neither being given minimum support price (MSP) for crops nor being awarded adequate compensation for the crop loss. Not only farmers, all sections of society are facing hardships due to anti-people policies of the BJP government, he added.

He called upon people to give a befitting reply to the BJP in the coming elections for misleading them by making hollow promises. He also announced to set up a women college in Bawal town, if the Congress came to power.

State women Congress chief Sumitra Chauhan attacked the BJP government for deteriorating law-and-order situation in the state. The government is raising slogans of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, but it is making no serious effort to curb the rising crime against women, she said.
editorial@tribune.com

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, February 20

A committee, headed by Additional Chief Secretary AK Khachi, today visited McLeodganj and its adjoining areas to verify action being taken by officials in illegal felling of trees.

The committee was formed by the Himachal High Court after local resident Gazalla Abdullah complained of large-scale felling of green trees by hoteliers.

Sources said the Additional Chief Secretary pulled up officials of the Municipal Corporation and the Revenue and Forest Department for shifting blame on each other on complaints of illegal felling of trees.

He directed them to adopt a standard procedure in case of such complaints, so that action could be taken against the violators.

According to information, revenue, forest and municipal corporation officials keep on blaming each other for inaction against the violators. In case of non-forest areas under corporation, the Forest Department maintains that it has no jurisdiction to take action. However, corporation officials maintain that only the Forest Department could act in such cases. Now forest officials have been posted in the corporation to assist in taking action in the cases of illegal felling of trees.

Gazalla Abdullah said she had informed the Additional Chief Secretary about the illegal practice still taking place in McLeodganj and its surrounding areas.

Sources said the Additional Chief Secretary had directed officials to take action against illegal constructions still underway in the McLeodganj area. Action would also be taken against those hoteliers who had been running their establishments even after their power and water connections were snapped following the court orders.
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 20

Mohammad Yusuf Mir, who was posted as Srinagar Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in 1995, was today acquitted by a special court here in the Jammu and Kashmir sex scandal.

Mir was booked under Section 376 of the Ranbir Penal Code, Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and Section 67 of the Information and technology Act in July 2006. He was accused of sexually exploiting a minor for money via a brothel run by the prime accused, Sabeena, and her husband in 2004. However, the victim turned hostile in the court and did not support the prosecutions case, leading to his acquittal.

The original case, naming many person, including ministers and influential men, had been filed in March 2006. During the investigation, Mirs role came under the scanner and an FIR was filed in July 2006. The investigation was handed over to the CBI in May. During interrogation, it was found out that Mir was one of the customers who came to Sabeenas residence-cum-brothel in Srinagar in 1995. He was then serving as the DSP in Srinagar.

As per the CBI chargesheet, after the brothel was raided in 2004, Sabeena and her husband shifted to another area. There also, Mir visited the brothel and in September 2004, he procured the victim from Sabeena. He took her to his house in Police Colony, Bemina, exploited her and paid her Rs 7,000.

It was also alleged that Mir continued to exploit her even after the scandal became public. As per the chargesheet, Mir made the victim give an interview in 2006 wherein she was told to name two other persons but not him.

The scam came to the light in 2006 after the police found two video CDs showing Kashmiri women being sexually exploited. The police questioned two girls, including the prosecutrix and Sabeena. After grilling them, they got the names of 56 people allegedly involved in the racket. Later, the case was shifted by the Supreme Court to Chandigarh.

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BOX

2006 case

The scam came to the light in 2006 after the police found two video CDs showing Kashmiri women being sexually exploited. The police questioned two girls, including the prosecutrix and main accused Sabeena. After grilling them, they got the names of 56 people allegedly involved in the racket. Later, the case was shifted by the Supreme Court to Chandigarh.
shalender@tribune.com

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between Manav Rachna University (MRU) and Xebia, a Dutch specialised global IT Consultancy and Services Company. Under this collaboration, MRU will offer two new-age digital programmes: BTech in Computer Science & Engineering with specialisation in Data Science & Machine Learning and BTech in Computer Science & Engineering with specialisation in Digital Transformation Engineering. Xebia will support MRU in curriculum design, provide internships and placements for students. The programme on Data Science & Machine Learning will focus on enhancing Mathematical Foundations, Statistical Foundations, Machine Learning, and Applied Artificial Intelligence.

GRIHA Trophy

Singhad College of Architecture, Pune's design was awarded first prize for designing sustainable structure for Experion Developers in Gurugram last week. GRIHA Council presented the coveted GRIHA Trophy to Singhad College of Architecture on the inaugural day of the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) 2018 organised by TERI. The GRIHA Trophy is awarded by The GRIHA Council in partnership with the National Association of Students of Architecture (NASA). Speaking on the occasion Sanjay Prakash, Principal Consultant, Shift, said, "It is of utmost importance to inculcate a sense of sustainability in the architectural students as they are the future of the construction industry. The GRIHA Trophy encourages students to explore climate responsive design, which is the foundation of green buildings."

Considering the recent growth in the residential, commercial real estate and their inclination to get GRIHA rating, this year students were required to design a multi-purpose complex for Experion Developers. The intent was to incorporate the latest thinking on sustainable design with capabilities to improve thermal and visual performance by using massing, solar orientation, wind movement... to suit the climatic conditions of Gurugram.

The competition this year witnessed participation from 55 colleges. Besides Singhad College of Architecture, Pune, three institutes namely, MBS School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi; Gateway College of Architecture and Design, Sonepat; and School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi,received special mentions for their respective designs.
shalender@tribune.com

S.S Pabla

A 16-year-old student in Switzerland is choosing his career path immediately after three mandatory years in lower secondary school. Later moving on to upper secondary level, he has the choice of going to Vocational Education and Training (VET) or to pre-university courses. Two-thirds of them take the path of vocational training in a skill of their choice and get into industrial jobs based on this training. They can rise to top jobs in the industry with this VET background.

In India, on the other hand, majority of the students prefer to go to universities for formal education degrees. Since they come out of the universities with degrees which have provided them with only theoretical knowledge and no or very little hands-on training in any particular skill, they are not industry ready. The resume reflects masters degree but the student remains unemployed because of skill gap. A great chunk of Indian youth remains unemployed after graduation and masters because they are not job-ready. On the other side it is estimated that India will need about 70 crore skilled workers by 2022 to meet the demand of the Indian economy.

Even after graduating from commerce, arts and science streams, students struggle to go for higher education or for masters degree which again does not ensure 100 per cent placement.

Although, Government of India is trying hard to generate employment, it is equally important for students to fill the skill gap in the country. It will be better for the students to look for education in skills if they are keen to navigate careers at an early age through apprenticeship or on-job training, because there is no shortcut to acquiring the skills.

Here are the top five Bachelor of Vocational (B. Voc) courses for Plus II students, which can give direction to their careers:

Institute watch

1. Bhartiya Skill Development University, Jaipur, works on the Swiss Dual System of Skills Education with the concept of one student on one machine. This is the only university in the country offering purely skill courses starting from Certificate, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Bachelor of Vocation, Master of Vocation and Ph.D in different skill areas.

2. Rajasthan ILD Skills University Jaipur is another university which is likely to offer only skills programs.

3. There are six more skills universities in the country that offer skill programmes alongwith formal courses like BTech, BBA, etc.

(a) Team Lease Skills University Ahmedabad.

(b) Symbiosis Skill and Open University Pune.

(c) Haryana Vishwakarma Skill University Gurgaon.

(d) Seacom Skills University Calcutta.

(e) Centurion University Bhubaneswar.

UGC has allowed all regular universities to offer BVoc and MVoc programmes.

Electrical

Skills to acquire: The BVoc programme generally aims at equipping students with sound technical knowledge and practical skills of electrical engineering. Vocational modules include Engineering Science, Electrical Theory, Electrical Installation, Motors and Transformer, Single Phase & 3 Phase Circuit, Electrical Control Circuit, Programmable Logic Controller Programming etc.

Under this skill learning, students learn basics and global standardssolutions being used in various industries. Students will look for highly interactive and application-based courses that teach troubleshooting of all types of electrical circuits and equipment from basic to advanced concepts.

Opportunities: BVoc in electrical skills enables students to be employed as office maintenance electrician, electrical installation electrician, electrical services fitter and supervisor. They may also join MVoc programme.

Polymechanic

Skills to acquire: All the skills involved in the manufacturing processes like machining, turning, milling, grinding, hand skills, assembly, pneumatics, programming and operation of CNC machines, etc. Students skilled in Polymechanic can produce and install parts for production machinery and equipment. The profession requires skills in logic and automation control and the related basic electrical and circuitry work.

Manufacturing skills require maximum exposure to illustrated training and a rich manufacturing environment. Students, who have a passion for machines, should opt for the BVoc in Polymechanic. A wide range of technical skills including the elements from electrical installation, mechanical engineering, hydraulics and pneumatics as well as mechanical and maintenance fitting, are required to excel in this profession.

Opportunities: Degree holders in this field are trained in multiple manufacturing skills and are capable of working hands on all machines in the industry and are capable of shouldering responsibilities as supervisors and managers as they grow in the industry. They get hired by a large range of industrial sectors and production plants as technicians, practitioners and supervisors, depending on their work experience and the needs of the concerned industry.

Carpentry

Skills to acquire: BVoc in carpentry prepares a student to high level of competence in carpentry, cabinet making, interior woodwork and design and manufacture of furniture. Besides learning to work on woodworking tools and materials, the students also acquire skills of constructing and fixing hatch lining, fixing architraves and skirting, fitting locks and latches, fitting and designing false ceilings, carving doors and windows and fitting them, etc.

Opportunities: With the lifestyle change, the demand of modern furnishing is increasing nationally and globally. Not only will the BVoc degree holders have ample opportunities as supervisors and managers in woodworking industry, but they will also have the option to start own business since e-commerce has created a large market space for the innovative furnishing products. Another opportunity is working with manufacturing with furnishing brands which are into bulk production of wooden furnishings.

Automotive

Skills to acquire: Under the BVoc in Automotive Skills, students learn all the major elements of automobiles such as mechanical, electrical, electronic, software and safety engineering as applied to the design of the automotive products, manufacturing and operation of motorcycles, automobiles and trucks and their respective subsystems. The advanced version of such courses are learning the engines and modifying the vehicles. Repair and maintenance of all types of automobiles are covered in detail.

Opportunities: Working in an automotive workshop or starting own auto workshop are the two most attractive options for holders of degree of Automotive BVoc degree. Work opportunities are also there in manufacturing plants of various automotive companies as machine operators, supervisors and managers. The BVoc degree holders can also pursue opportunities in auto manufacturing sector, auto ancillary sector.

IT and Networking Hardware

Skills to acquire: Students can acquire training in the field of information storing, processing and communication, using computers under BVoc in IT and Networking Skills. Networking is the construction, design and use of a networks, including the hardware (cabling, hub, bridge, switch, router, and so forth), the selection and use of telecommunication protocols and software, for use and management of the network and the establishment of operation policies.

A network architect has to have skills to work with a companys computer network, using information technology, to make network systems for all employees to use. These networks can include local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), intranets and extranets.

Opportunities: Skills in these areas are very important today, looking at the upward trend in digitisation, IT, smart cities and industrial automation. Student can pursue opportunities as Network Specialist or Network Service Technician, Network Administrator, Network Engineer, Network Analyst / Programmer, Network Manager and Network Solution Architect who all works to either operate or manage or create the network solutions as per the organisation requirement.

 The writer is President of Bhartiya Skill Development University, Jaipur
Nonika Singh

Nonika Singh

THESE days, each time I search the Net, the face of one of my favourite actresses, Priyanka Chopra, pops up. Indeed, she is a world icon and right now the toast of the rich and famous. Besides her numerous Oscar presences, she is likely to make it to the select invitee list of Britains royal couples impending wedding.

So why am I stressing over the face the world has a crush on? Well, for right now, her face is appearing in a rather infamous context. As most of us are trying to decode the gargantuan fraud committed by the absconding Nirav Modi, her beaming smile, which never fails to dazzle us, is taking a beating of sorts. The jewels she once endorsed belong to the man in the eye of a massive financial embezzlement. Can celebrities be held accountable for the products (or, more importantly, the deeds of men behind them) they endorse? That is a debate on which the jury is still out.

But on Nirav Modi, the stance is all too clear. The whole world, including our PM, caught in the wrong frame with Nirav in Davos, is busy disassociating himself from Chhota Modi, as the Opposition has dubbed him, rather venomously. Priyanka too is contemplating legal action to wriggle out of her association with his brand. This puts me in the confession box too. I stand guilty of polishing brand Nirav by interviewing him during one of Indias best-known art fairs in New Delhi. Shall I (and there are many like me) too seek legal recourse on how to remove my byline?

Its not just celebs, but mere mortal journos like us too who often forget the axiom  He who sups with the devil should have a long spoon. But how are we to know behind which face lurks a potential fraudster? Perhaps, we need to be more cautious of the razzle-dazzle of the glitterati. But what to do often noble causes can blind us too.

Early on in my journalistic career, I had the good fortune (now misfortune it seems) of meeting this nobler-than-thou social worker. Taken in by his good deeds, I recall writing not one, but several glowing articles on him and his NGOs activities. Today, as he cools his heels in a jail as a paedophile, I cant help but wonder; did I contribute to the making of....

Fellow journalists, meanwhile, are busy throwing uncomfortable questions to handsome actor Sidharth Malhotra. They are not curious about his performance in the just-released Aiyaary. Since he too modelled for Brand Nirav, the inquisition is of a different kind. His reply makes sense  Yes, I endorsed Nirav Modis diamond brand. But I didnt know he was a scamster.

Can I too borrow his words and use them as an alibi of my innocence/ ignorance? I, however, cant shake off the niggling doubt: are we journalists complicit, gullible or cussed foolish? Guess, the jury is out on that too.
vinaymishra188@gmail.com

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Rajpura, February 20

Three persons were killed and 11 injured after an ammonia gas cylinder exploded at Himalaya Fresh Protein Factory on the Ghanaur-Shambhu road in Sandharsi village this morning. Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has announced a magisterial probe into the incident.

Those killed were identified as Surinder Kumar (42) of Sogalpur village and Charanjit Singh (22) and Gurjinder Singh (19) of Baghora village  all of them factory workers. The injured have been admitted to Government Rajindra Hospital  six of them in the ICU. All injured were also factory workers. They were sleeping in the unit when the blast occurred.

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As a precautionary measure, residents of nearby villages were evacuated after many of them complained of uneasiness in breathing.

The CM has directed the civil and police administration to extend all assistance to the victims and support the joint team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and chemical experts from the National Fertilisers Limited (NFL).

The blast occurred in the factory wing dealing with frozen peas and potatoes around 1.30 am.

The pungent smell of ammonia is still emanating from the factory unit, villagers said.

Patiala Deputy Commissioner Kumar Amit said, We have ordered a probe by an SDM-level officer, who would submit the report in a week. We will then see if the factory owner had obtained all requisite permissions to store gas cylinders and whether all norms and safety regulations were being followed.

Capt Amarinder has also ordered the Patiala Deputy Commissioner to personally oversee the rescue and relief operations, said a statement from the CM office.

The CM has announced an ex gratia of Rs 1 lakh each to the next of kin of those killed and free treatment to the injured.

The police have registered an FIR at the Shambhu police station under Sections 304, 336 and 280 of the IPC against the directors of the factory unit.

Probe ordered
vinaymishra188@gmail.com

New Delhi, February 20

With Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash lodging an FIR for an alleged assault on him by ruling Aam Aadmi Party MLAs at the residence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal late last night, where he had gone for a meeting, the issue appears to have snowballed into a major controversy.

AAP legislator Prakash Jarwal, who along with MLA Ajay Dutt alleged that Anshu Prakash abused and made casteist remarks against them, was detained tonight in connection with the alleged assault, police said. He was picked up from his house at Deoli. There is a possibility he will be arrested later, sources said.

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The BJP has demanded Kejriwals resignation, while the Congress termed the incident an administrative and constitutional crisis and sought an apology from the Chief Minister.

Anshu Prakash alleged the premeditated assault on him was a conspiracy of those present at a meeting. He alleged that Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and 11-12 AAP MLAs present at the meeting threatened to implicate him in false cases if the issue of releasing TV advertisements about the AAP governments achievements was not resolved. He was roughed up, he alleged.

The CMs office has, however, termed his allegations bizarre and baseless. Sisodia said the allegations were ludicrous.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sought a report from Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal. After meeting a delegation of officers, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, Civil servants should be allowed to work with dignity and without fear. I am deeply pained... justice will be done.

Members of the IAS officers association met Baijal and later said they would boycott all meetings convened by Kejriwal and his Cabinet colleagues till the CM apologised.

In an email to the Commissioner of Police, Dutt demanded an FIR against Anshu Prakash. He said he had asked the CS about complaints regarding ration distribution in his constituency (Ambedkar Nagar), but the latter misbehaved and left the meeting.

The Delhi secretariat reportedly witnessed chaos as Environment Minister Imran Hussain was mobbed by the staff. The police had to escort the minister to his office. The minister later filed a complaint alleging assault. Meanwhile, the IAS officers associations of Punjab and Haryana have condemned the assault.  TNS/PTI
uttara@tribuneindia.com

Shiv Kumar

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, February 20

Mumbais coastal road project faces a major security hurdle after the Shiv Sena-BJP run Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation allowed a Chinese state-owned company, China Gezhouba Group Company Ltd, to be pre-qualified for the bidding process.



A section of the Maharashtra Government has objected to presence of CGGCL on the grounds that it is carrying out construction of defence infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. The company is also involved in several projects associated with the controversial China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.



Allowing Chinese state-owned companies to operate along Mumbais coastline poses immense security risks since a number of defence establishments and the countrys nuclear infrastructure are based here, says a state government official. The contractors building the coastal road will have unfettered access to the area and obtain

sensitive siesmic data of the citys coastline, say sources here.



For now, the BMC has announced that it would proceed as usual and date for beginning construction on the eight-lane coastal road has been fixed for the last week of April. We have received five price bids and it will take a month to issue work orders, Mumbai

Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta told reporters here at the Magnetic

Maharashtra Summit.



However, source said the state government would have to obtain individual security clearances from the defence ministry for the contractors engaged in the project.



Beijing had protested in the past when Chinese companies were prevented from participating in projects such as the Bandra-Worli Sea link and the Mumbai Trans Harbour link.
monicakchauhan@gmail.com

Chennai, February 20

Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan on Tuesday said that he was entering into politics only because the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party is bad.

"I am entering politics only because the ruling AIADMK party is bad, that is why I am not meeting any of them," he said to the media.

Haasan will launch his political party in Tamil Nadu's Madurai on Wednesday .

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal would be attending Haasan's party launch in Madurai.

According to reports, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar are also invited to attend the launch although their participation has not been confirmed yet.

In November last year, Haasan had confirmed his political entry by announcing the launch of a whistleblower app. ANI
vinaymishra188@gmail.com

Balasore (Odisha), Feb 20

India today test-fired its medium range nuclear-capable Agni-II missile with a strike range of 2,000 km from Abdul Kalam Island off Odisha coast, defence sources said.

The trial of the surface-to-surface missile was conducted from a mobile launcher at the Launch Complex-4 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at 8.38 am, the sources said.

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The Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) has already been inducted into the services and todays test was carried out by the Armys Strategic Forces Command (SFC) with logistic support provided by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), they said.

The state-of-the-art missile, already a part of the countrys arsenal for strategic deterrence, was launched as a training exercise by the armed forces, a DRDO scientist said. Agni-II, a two-stage missile, equipped with advanced high-accuracy navigation system and guided by a unique command and control system, was propelled by solid rocket propellant system, he said. The entire trajectory of the trial was tracked by a battery of sophisticated radars, telemetry observation stations, electro-optic instruments and two naval ships located near the impact point in the down range area of the Bay of Bengal.

Agni-II was developed by the Advanced Systems Laboratory along with other DRDO laboratories and integrated by the Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hyderabad, sources said.

The missile is part of the Agni series of missiles, which includes the Agni-I with a 700-km range, Agni-III with a 3,000 km range, Agni-IV and Agni-V, both having long range capabilities.  PTI
rchopra@tribunemail.com

Bhubaneswar, February 20

India on Tuesday test-fired its indigenously developed intermediate range ballistic missile Agni II from the Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast.

The trial of the surface-to-surface missile was conducted from Launch Complex-4 of Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Balasore district at about 8.38 am, said a Defence Ministry official.

The trial was conducted by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of the Army as part of its user training exercise, he added.

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Agni II missile has already been inducted into the Army.

The two-stage missile equipped with advanced high accuracy navigation system, which is guided by a novel scheme of state-of-the-art command and control system was propelled by solid rocket propellant system.

It has a strike range of more than 2,000 km, is 20 metres long, weighs 17 tonnes and can carry a payload of 1,000 kg. IANS
vinaymishra188@gmail.com

Madurai/Chennai, Feb 20

Actor Kamal Haasan arrived here to a rousing welcome on the eve of the launch of his political party on Wednesday even as DMK working president MK Stalin appeared to take a dig at film personalities taking a plunge into politics saying paper flowers which do not have fragrance will bloom during a season but they will wither very soon.

Kamal will begin his political journey from his birth place Kamuthi in neighbouring Ramanathapuram district on Wednesday and reach Madurai in the evening. The party flag will be hoisted in the evening in Madurai when the idea behind the flag will be detailed, he told reporters on arrival in Madurai.

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Earlier in the day, actor Seeman, who strongly opposes Rajinikanth on the basis of his non-Tamil origin, met Kamal at his home in Chennai. He told reporters that Kamal had expressed a wish to meet him, but he felt that he should come to his residence because he was elder to him. Seeman also recalled that he also hailed from Ramanathapuram district.

Meanwhile, in a letter to party cadre, Stalin wrote: The DMK is like a banyan tree which has strong roots and branches. It cannot be shaken by anyone. Parties may come during a season, but they are just like paper flowers which dont have flagrance. They will wither soon. Kamal called on DMK president M Karunanidhi at his Gopalapuram residence to seek his blessings. Stalin was also present then.  IANS
amansharma@tribunemail.com

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 20

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday sought detailed report from Lieutenant-Governor of Delhi Anil Baijal on an alleged assault on Anshul Prakash, the chief secretary of the city government, even as, Home Minister Rajnath Singh is most likely to meet a delegation of IAS officers of the Delhi government later in the day.

A senior MHA official said, in a communication, the ministry has asked the LG to submit a detailed report on the alleged attack on the bureaucrat at the residence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal last night. The MHA is aware of the development and closely monitoring the situation, he added.

Chief Secretary (CS) Prakash was manhandled by a few AAP MLAs at Kejriwals residence, an IAS officer alleged today.

There was a heated exchange at the meeting last night. During the argument, two or three AAP MLAs manhandled him... The CS spectacles also got broken, the senior IAS officer, who did not wish to be named, claimed.

According to agencies report, the chief ministers office, however, dismissed the accusation as bizarre and baseless. Quoting a senior official in the Chief Ministers office, the report said, The allegation of assault is totally bizarre and baseless.

It is learnt that after the last night incident, Prakash met Baijal and apprised him of the incident.
rchopra@tribunemail.com

Islamabad, February 20

Pakistan on Tuesday summoned Indias Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh here to condemn the unprovoked firing by Indian troops across the Line of Control which killed an 8-year-old boy.

Pakistans foreign ministry claimed that the boy, Ayan Zahid, was killed after Indian troops opened fire on Monday in Khuiratta sector in the PoK.

Pakistan Army on Monday claimed that at least two Indian soldiers were killed when it destroyed an army post that was used to kill the minor across the Line of Control, a claim rejected by the Indian Army as baseless.

Director General (South Asia and SAARC) Mohammad Faisal summoned Singh and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations by Indian forces, the Foreign Office said in a statement.

The deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas, especially children, is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity, international human rights and humanitarian laws, Faisal said.

He alleged that India committed more than 335 ceasefire violations along the LoC and the Working Boundary in 2018, resulting in the deaths of 15 civilians and injuries to 65 others.

This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India is continuing from the year 2017 when the Indian forces committed more than 1970 ceasefire violations, he said.

Faisal said the ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and might lead to a strategic miscalculation.

Faisal urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement and investigate the repeated incidents of ceasefire violations, the statement said.

He also urged the Indian side to allow the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions.

India maintains that UNMOGIP has outlived its utility and is irrelevant after the Simla Agreement and the consequent establishment of the Line of Control. PTI
vinaymishra188@gmail.com

New Delhi, February 20

The SC will hear a plea seeking an SIT probe and jeweller Nirav Modis deportation in the over Rs 11,000 crore PNB fraud case on Wednesday.

A Bench comprising CJI Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud today considered lawyer JP Dhandas submission that the scam was of enormous magnitude and the plea be listed for urgent hearing.

On mentioning, the matter is taken on board. List the matter on February 21 before the appropriate Bench as per the roster, the court said.

The PIL, filed by lawyer Vineet Dhanda, has made PNB, RBI and the ministries of finance and law and justice parties. It has sought a direction for the initiation of deportation proceedings of Nirav Modi and others allegedly involved in the banking fraud, preferably within two months.

Issue an apt writ, order or direction directing the Finance Ministry and the RBI to frame guidelines in granting loan of Rs 10 crore and above to ensure safety and recovery of such loans, the PIL said. PTI

ED probing 120 firms linked to Modi, Choksi

The Enforcement Directorate is probing 120 shell companies allegedly linked to jewellery designer Nirav Modi and Gitanjali Group chief Mehul Choksi even as Income Tax officials claimed to have found two companies linked to Modi that had received Rs 555 crore from companies in Cyprus, Mauritius and Singapore between 2013 and 2014

The agency is investigating 79 shell companies owned by Gitanjali Group chief and 41 companies owned by Modi in India, an ED official said on condition of anonymity

Police custody for PNB officials
vinaymishra188@gmail.com

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 20

Breaking his silence over the Rs 11,400-crore fraud detected in Punjab National Bank (PNB), Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today blamed lack of ethics in a section of business, auditors and bank management for the challenges being faced by the banking system. The state will chase down wrongdoers who cheat the banking system, he added.

Edit: The Nirav Modi malfeasance

Amid the PNB fraud, the Reserve Bank said it had cautioned banks thrice since August 2016 on the risks arising from potential misuse of SWIFT infrastructure, which was created by banks for their business needs.

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Without naming Punjab National Bank or the alleged kingpin of the scam Nirav Modi, Jaitley referred to these as stray cases. With regard to lack of ethics that a faction of Indian business follows, it is incumbent on us as a state, till the last legitimate capacity of the state, chase these people to the last possible conclusion to make sure that the country is not cheated.

Speaking at an event, Jaitley said the system of banking depends on trust, the relationship of borrower and the lender. He added that the bank management did not live up to their task as it failed to detect the delinquent. He added that the government has given authority to bank managements to work with autonomy but with greater accountability to discharge this authority with responsibility.

The FM went on to blame auditors for being unable to detect irregularities, who he said were either looking the other way or failed to detect the irregularities.

He also asked the supervisory agencies to assess the system requirement to detect such frauds. He said supervisory agencies should ensure that stray cases are nipped in the bud and are never repeated.

The RBI said in a statement that the risks arising from the potential malicious use of the SWIFT infrastructure, created by banks for their genuine business needs, has always been a component of their operational risk profile.

The RBI had, therefore, confidentially cautioned and alerted banks of such possible misuse, at least on three occasions since August 2016, advising them to implement the safeguards detailed in the RBIs communications, for pre-empting such occurrences. Banks have, however, been at varying levels in implementation of such measures, it said.

Further, in view of large divergences observed in asset classification and provisioning in the credit portfolio of banks as well as the rising incidence of frauds in the Indian banking system, the RBI said it has been decided to constitute an expert committee under the chairmanship of YH Malegam, a former member of the Central Board of Directors of RBI.

CBI arrests Niravs top gun Vipul Ambani
vinaymishra188@gmail.com

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, February 20

The CBI on Tuesday took Rotomac group directors Vikram Kothari and his son Rahul in custody in the close to Rs 4,000 crore loan default case.

Sources said the father-son duo was brought to Lucknow in their own Skoda car along with three cars containing a stockpile of documents relating to the case.

Arriving at the Kotharis plush Tilak Nagar residence in Kanpur on Tuesday morning, the CBI team took Vikram Kothari, wife Sadhna, son Rahul and daughter-in-law Archana along to search various factories, business establishments and bank accounts in their presence and continued with their questioning on the second consecutive day.

They are all directors in the Rotomac Global Pvt Ltd and were presented before the National Company Law Tribunal. The bank account of the Kotharis in Kotak Mahindras Mall road branch was frozen and their passports seized to prevent them from fleeing the country.

The CBI had filed an FIR against Kothari and his family after a complaint was filed against them by the Bank of Baroda. Vikram Kothari had taken loan from seven banks for various projects. The highest amount of Rs 755 crore was from Bank of India. The Bank of Baroda had loaned Rs 457 crore and after default it lodged a complaint on which the CBI filed the FIR.

Kothari had taken Rs 771 crore from Indian Overseas Bank, Rs 459 crore from Union Bank of India, Rs 97.47 crore from Oriental Bank of Commence, Rs 49.83 crore from Bank of Maharashtra and Rs 330 crore from Allahabad Bank.

Interestingly, he had mortgaged property worth Rs 20 crore with the Allahabad Bank for a loan of Rs 330 crore. On evaluation the property was found to be worth not more than Rs 12 crore!

I-T dept attaches 14 bank accounts
uttara@tribuneindia.com

New Delhi, February 20

Breaking his silence over the Rs 11,400 crore loan fraud at India's second-biggest bank, PNB, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday criticised auditors for their failure to detect the scam, and said his government would track down those who cheated the banking system.

Without naming Punjab National Bank or billionaire diamantaire Nirav Modi, Jaitley said bank management did not live up to their task as it failed to detect the delinquent.

He went on to blame auditors for being unable to detect irregularities and asked supervisory agencies to assess the system requirement to detect such frauds.

He said supervisory agencies should ensure that stray cases are nipped in the bud and they are never repeated.

Jaitkeys statements come at a time when the central government is facing the heat for two bank fraud scandals that came to light within a week of one another.

The first one involves Modi, who has been accused of defrauding Punjab National Bank of loans that currently stand at Rs 11,400 crore. Investigating agencies have booked Modi, his wife Ami Modi, his uncle Mehul Choksi and three officials of the Punjab National Bank in the case. Although some officials of the bank have already been arrested, Modi and Choksichairman on Gitanjali Group, which is also named in Central Bureau of Investigations FIRare currently untraceable.

The second case involves another business tycoon. Kanpur-based Vikram Kothari of Rotomac Global Private Ltd. has been accused of defaulting in loans that currently stand at over Rs 3,000 crorea sum that includes interest.

Investigating agencies have registered FIRs in both cases and conducted searches. PTI/Agencies
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Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 20

Top private hospitals in Delhi and National Capital Region have been clocking profit margins ranging from 200 to over 2000 per cent on drugs, diagnostics and consumables being billed to patients.

In the first-ever analysis of drug, diagnostics and devices procurement and billing data of four private hospitals, the National Pharmaceutical and Pricing Authority (NPPA) revealed that all hospitals prescribed non-scheduled branded medicines to patients instead of scheduled medicines in order to expand their profit margins. Scheduled drugs are much cheaper since these are part of price control under the National List of Essential Medicines.

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The total cost on scheduled medicines is only 4.10 per cent compared to 25.67 per cent on non-scheduled formulations. For higher margins, hospitals preferred prescribing non-scheduled branded medicines though scheduled medicines under NLEM are supposed to cover all essential medicines, the apex drug pricing authority said, calling for a policy intervention.

The NPPA revealed that all these top hospitals charged patients at shockingly high profit margins on scheduled drugs, branded non-scheduled drugs, consumables and medical devices.

Picture this  67 units of disposable syringes (without needles) which cost the hospital Rs 15.29 each were billed to patients at Rs 13,400 (a margin of 1208 per cent). Profit margins in 18 intravenous infusion sets were also found to be very high. These cost the distributor Rs 5.20, the hospital Rs 8.39 but the patient was billed Rs 2,070.

A similar story is seen across segments  be it scheduled drugs or branded ones. Scheduled Adrenor injections (12) cost the hospital Rs 13.44; the MRP was Rs 52.35 and the patients were billed Rs 628.

Among non-scheduled formulations, hospitals charged patients Rs 42,476 for 10 EMTIG injections bought for Rs 442 each. The profit margin works out to be 856 per cent.

Hospitals even made profits on three-way stop cocks. While they bought 39 units for Rs 5.77 each, they billed these to patients at Rs 4,134.

The NPPA found diagnostics constituted more than 15 per cent of the total cost to patients in hospitals, which were not named. Diagnostics services do not come under the NPPA and can only be regulated by states through the Clinical Establishments Regulation Act, the NPPA said.

The authority also said that profit margins in non-scheduled devices used in syringes, cannula and catheters were exorbitant. The NPPA said that most drugs, devices and disposables were sold by hospitals from in-house pharmacies, making huge profits.

The analysis came after two Delhi-based private hospitals were caught overcharging patients. Fortis Gurugram had charged the family of a dengue death victim exorbitantly. Max Shalimar had recently wrongly declared a newborn dead.
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New Delhi, February 20

United States President Donald Trumps son Donald Trump Jr, who is on a week-long visit to India, arrived here on Tuesday.

During the week-long trip, Donald Trump Jr will not only endorse his luxurious residential project, Trump Towers, but is also scheduled to deliver a speech on foreign policy in India.

Trump Jr will meet Indian investors and business leaders in Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune and Gurugram, The Washington Post reported.

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The eldest son of Donald Trump has already advertised himself prior to his visit.

Full-page advertisements in Indian newspapers on Monday invited prospective investors to buy into the Trump Organisations project in Gurugram to join Donald Trump Jr at a dinner later this week.

Trump has arrived. Have you? read the advertisement, inviting buyers to book their apartments in Trump Towers by Wednesday for a conversation and dinner with Trump Jr on Friday. An advertisement in newspapers on Sunday read, Trump is here. Are you invited?

Trump Jr will also deliver his maiden speech in India where he will speak on Reshaping Indo-Pacific Ties: The New Era of Cooperation at a global business summit on Friday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will also be present, will speak at the summit on the topic of Preparing India for the Future.

In the US, some experts have pointed out the conflict of interests during Donald Trump Jrs India visit.

The planned speech by Trump Jr has renewed conflict of interest concerns, with some questioning why the US Presidents son will be lecturing on foreign policy while simultaneously trying to hawk his family businesss lavish new condominiums, The Washington Post reported.

News that the Trump Organisation would be offering buyers in the Trump Tower the chance to meet the Presidents son sparked criticism of potential conflict of interest, and the fact that Trump Jr will be giving a foreign policy speech while on a private business trip complicates the matter further, The Washington Post quoted ethics expert as saying.

Trump Jr will also visit Kolkata, where the construction of a project with 137 luxury units will begin soon.

Talking about his trip earlier this month, Trump Jr said, India is such an incredible country and our brand has enjoyed tremendous success in the region for many years. This trip is a celebration of all we have achieved, including the launch of the Trump developments in Kolkata and Delhi which have been under way for many months.

According to business partners in India, many units in the Trump Towers are selling about 30 per cent per square foot higher than the current market rates. Trump Jrs visit to India is expected to reinforce the trend.

India is Trump Organisations biggest international market, with four real estate projects under way in Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata and Gurugram.

Trump Jrs visit to India comes after his sister, Ivanka, visited Hyderabad in November last year to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES). ANI
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New Delhi, February 2

Air India on Tuesday resumed non-stop flights between Amritsar and Birmingham after a gap of eight years.

The flight will operate twice-a-week on Tuesday and Thursday with a Boeing 787 aircraft.

According to an Air India official, the airline had suspended its direct operations on this route in 2010.

Another official said with Air India resuming the service it is the only airline to offer direct flights between Punjab and the UK.

The flight AI 117 will take off from Delhi at 11.20 am and reach Amritsar at 12.25 pm. The flight will then depart from Amritsar at 1.55 pm and reach Birmingham at 5.15 pm local time, according to an Air India statement.

The return flight AI 118 will take off from Birmingham at 6.45 pm and reach Amritsar the following day at 7.45 am. For its onward journey to Delhi, the flight will leave from Amritsar at 9.15 am and arrive in Delhi at 10.30 am, the statement added.

The inaugural flight was flagged off from Amritsar by Union minister Vijay Sampla, MPs Shwait Malik and Gurjeet Singh Aujla and Director-Commercial, Air India Pankaj Srivastava.

Former civil aviation minister Praful Patel had inaugurated Air India's maiden flight on this route back in 2005.  PTI
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Chandigarh, February 19

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will hold a one-on-one meeting in Amritsar on February 21. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has allocated a 30-minute slot for the meeting which will be held at a private hotel after Trudeaus visit to the Golden Temple. The latter will be received by Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu at the Partition Museum. The CM will not accompany Trudeau to the Golden Temple, clarified an official spokesperson.

Capt Amarinder said Punjab had deep roots in Canada, where a large Punjabi community

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is settled and has always striven to strengthen the connect. He also referred to Trudeaus apology, two years ago, in the Canadian parliament over the Komagata Maru incident. Hundreds of Sikh, Muslim and Hindu passengers who arrived in Canada on a Japanese steamer in 1914 were denied entry into Canada and forced to return to India.

Instructions have been issued to roll out the red carpet for the visiting dignitary and to ensure best facilities to the Canadian PM, his family and the entourage.

There had been reports of behind-the-scene efforts by the Canadian Government for a meeting with the Punjab CM, who had earlier accused some ministers in the Trudeau government of supporting Sikh separatists.

It is learnt that Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, whom Capt Amarinder had refused to meet during his India visit in April last year, played a key role in paving the way for the meeting.

Ahead of Trudeaus visit, Capt Amarinder, in a statement earlier this month, had hailed Sajjan and his fellow minister Amarjit Sohis denial that they were sympathetic to the Khalistan cause.  TNS
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 20

As the UK commemorates the centenary of womens suffrage, Sikh princess Sophia Duleep Singh is featuring in London Mayor Sadiq Khans series celebrating women behind some of the greatest achievements and discoveries in Britains capital.

Every week this year, the Mayor is telling a womans story from his Instagram account. This week is dedicated to Sophia, daughter of Duleep Singh, the last Sikh Maharaja. She was one of the major suffragettes of the movement that secured British women the right to vote.

Her 1910 march, which was led by her along with Emmeline Pankhurst, to the House of Commons, where her comrades were attacked and molested by the police, is legendary. On another occasion, Sophia had thrown herself before the Prime Ministers car holding a placard saying, Give women the vote.

Yesterday, Sadiq Khan wrote on his Instagram account: Princess Sophia was a member of the Womens Social and Political Union, and campaigned for womens votes nationally as well as locally in Richmond and Kingston-upon-Thames. She was often seen selling newspaper The Suffragette outside Hampton Court, and led a 400-strong demonstration to Parliament on Black Friday in 1910.

A committed campaigner to womens rights more broadly, Sophia also belonged to the Womens Tax Resistance League. #HiddenCredits #BehindEveryGreatCity.

Sophias name will also be etched on the statue of feminist Millicent Fawcett, to be unveiled in Parliament Square.
editorial@tribune.com

Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 20

Non-resident Indians (NRIs) today alleged that the rates of bribe becomes double when the government officials know about their NRI status. They have come to Jalandhar to attend the first NRI meet organised by the Congress government since it came to power in the state.

We have to hide our identity of an NRI in front of officials as they double their sewa rates immediately after knowing our status. Despite charging us repeatedly and enormously, they put our jobs on hold for many years, NRI GS Gill from Canada told Deputy Commissioner Varinder Sharma, who was chairing the meeting.

To this, Sharma asked the NRIs present there to name the officials who had sought money from them. He also asked the NRIs to refrain from offering bribe to officials as it amounted to crime on their behalf as well.

The NRIs accused the state government of being unable to address any of their concerns in its one year of rule. Some NRIs also accused the state government of hijacking the Punjab NRI Sabha and its property.

According to the sabhas former president Jasveer Singh Gill, it has been three years since the sabha is running without a president. The sabha was created by NRIs to constitute a platform to address their concerns back home. The spacious office of the sabha was constructed from the NRIs money collected as membership fee but some caretaking officials are using it and the vehicles for purposes other than the welfare of NRIs, claimed Gill.

Another NRI Harsimrat Kaur from the UK, too, supported the demand of holding the NRI Sabha elections and to hand over the sabha back to NRIs. We have demanded the state government to immediately call a general house meeting to constitute an executive team, which will immediately take over the reins of the sabha in its hands, said Harsimrat.
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 20

After his visit to the Golden Temple, Trudeau will meet Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. An official said: It will be a 20-minute meeting. The focus area would be trade and business avenues.

Tight security arrangements have been made in and around the holy city. Security agencies and SGPC officials were on their toes to ensure the high-profile visit doesnt face any glitch or controversy.

Sources said their biggest challenge would be to keep the separatist forces at bay and ensure that they did not raise pro-Khalistan slogans. Earlier during Canadas Defence Minister Harjit Sajjans visit, hardliners had managed to sneak into the Golden Temple in the guise of devotees and had raised slogans, leading to a clash with the security personnel.

SAD (Amritsar) general secretary Jarnail Singh Sakhira said they would hand over a memorandum to the Canadian PM regarding Sikh issues in his country. We dont rely on Amarinder or Sukhbir to raise Sikh issues genuinely. We will try to approach Canadian PM at the Golden Temple complex, he said.

Meanwhile, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said Trudeau and his team had been doing remarkable job in the interest of the Sikh community in Canada and he would be duly honoured, if he visited Akal Takht.

Jassi case victims plea

Chandigarh: Sukhwinder Singh Mithu, who has been seeking justice in the 18-year-old honour killing of his Canadian citizen wife Jassi, has sought a meeting with Trudeau. The Canadian government is yet to take a decision on the extradition of Jassis mother Malkiat Kaur and uncle Surjit Singh Badesha. TNS

Why the snub: GK

New Delhi: Manjit Singh GK, president, DSGMC, criticised the Centre for giving the cold shoulder to Trudeau. GK said attempts were being made to wrongly project Trudeau, who has four Sikh ministers in his Cabinet, as a separatists sympathiser. He asked the Modi government to show warmth towards the visiting dignitary. TNS
laxmi@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 20

A delegation of senior Army officers from Sub Area (Dehradun) today met Chief Secretary Utpal Kumar Singh. The meeting came in the backdrop of the claims made by the officers in the Chief Ministers security that obstacles were put up at the site of landing of Chief Minister TS Rawats helicopter at the GTC helipad.

The Uttarakhand officials remained tight-lipped about the issues discussed during the meeting, though unofficially a top official said that the obstacle incident was also discussed.

There were also doubts if the government would follow up with the complaint lodged against the Army men at the Cantonment police station on Sunday. A senior officer in the department of home said that the government was awaiting the report by the police in the matter.

Significantly, as the Army and the civilian area is not properly demarcated, instances of the army men protesting against the entry of civilians have been on the increase. No effort has been made to sort out these issues so far.
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Lahore, February 20

A Pakistani lawyer allegedly shot dead his two cousins in Lahores sessions court on Tuesday over a property issue, police said, the second shooting incident in a month within the premises.

Lahore Senior Superintendent of Police Mubashir Makan told reporters that three cousin lawyers, Kashif, Nadim and Awais, had appeared in a property case before a sessions judge.

After the hearing they started exchanging harsh words that led to a physical brawl between them. Before police intervened Kashif took out a pistol and opened fire on his cousins--Nadim, 35, and Awais, 26,--leaving them seriously injured, Makan said.

They were shifted to Mayo Hospital where they were pronounced dead, he said, adding that the alleged killer lawyer had been apprehended by police.

SSP Makan said the cousin lawyers had a property dispute in Shahdara area. They had been in litigation for the last one year or so. He said police were investigating as to how the suspect managed to bring a weapon in the court.

Lahore Bar Association president Malik Arshad condemned the incident and demanded improved security in the courts.

Following the incident, security at the court was tightened. A heavy contingent of police reached the site of the firing, cordoned off the area and conducted a search within the court premises.

This is the second incident of firing at the Lahore sessions court in this month. In the first week of February an undertrial prisoner facing murder charges and a policeman were shot dead by the complainant of the case in the session court. The killer in this case is still at large.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has ordered authorities to provide fool-proof security for the courts.

The firing incident exposed the security lapses on the premises of the sessions court where a number of undertrial prisoners were brought daily for hearing of the cases. PTI
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Arbin (Syria), February 20

Air strikes hit Syrias Eastern Ghouta for a third straight day today, bringing the civilian death toll to nearly 200 as the UN warned the situation in the rebel enclave was spinning out of control.

Air strikes and rocket and artillery fire have battered the rebel-held enclave since Sunday in apparent preparation for a government ground assault on the besieged region.

At least 194 civilians have been killed, among them 57 children, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

On Monday alone, 127 civilians, including 39 children, were killed in the bombardment  the single bloodiest day for Eastern Ghouta in four years.

Fresh air strikes this morning killed at least 50 civilians, including 13 children, the Britain-based war monitor said. Held by rebels since 2012, Eastern Ghouta is the last opposition pocket around Damascus and President Bashar al-Assad is keen to retake it with an apparently imminent ground assault.

The UNs regional humanitarian coordinator for Syria Panos Moumtzis has warned that the targeting of civilians in the enclave must stop now. The humanitarian situation of civilians in East Ghouta is spiralling out of control. Its imperative to end this senseless human suffering now, Moumtzis said yesterday.

The UN has repeatedly called for a month-long ceasefire across Syrias front lines, from Eastern Ghouta to the Kurdish enclave of Afrin in the northwest, which Turkey threatened today to lay siege to in the coming days.

February 19 was the one of the worst days that weve ever had in the history of this crisis, said an exhausted doctor in a hospital in Eastern Ghouta.

Identifying himself as Abu al-Yasar, he described treating a one-year-old brought into the Arbin hospital with blue skin and a faint pulse, rescued from under the rubble. I opened his mouth to put in a breathing tube and I found it packed with dirt, Abu al-Yaar told AFP. He pulled out the dirt as fast as possible, put in the breathing tube and managed to save the babys life. This is just one story from among hundreds of wounded. The bloodshed prompted the UN childrens agency UNICEF to issue a largely blank statement today to express its anger.

Eastern Ghouta is mostly held by two rebel groups  Jaish al-Islam and Faylaq al-Rahman  though jihadists have a smaller foothold. Al-Watan newspaper, which is close to the government, today said that the bombing campaign comes ahead of a vast operation on Ghouta, which may start on the ground at any moment.  AFP
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Arbin (Syria), February 20

Air strikes hit Syria's Eastern Ghouta for a third straight day on Tuesday, bringing the civilian death toll to nearly 200 as the UN warned the situation in the rebel enclave was spinning "out of control".

Air strikes and rocket and artillery fire have battered the rebel-held enclave since Sunday in apparent preparation for a government ground assault on the besieged region.

At least 194 civilians have been killed, among them 57 children, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

On Monday alone, 127 civilians, including 39 children, were killed in the bombardment the single bloodiest day for Eastern Ghouta in four years.

Fresh air strikes this morning killed at least 50 civilians, including 13 children, the Britain-based war monitor said.

Held by rebels since 2012, Eastern Ghouta is the last opposition pocket around Damascus and President Bashar al-Assad is keen to retake it with an apparently imminent ground assault.

The UN's regional humanitarian coordinator for Syria Panos Moumtzis has warned that the targeting of civilians in the enclave "must stop now".

"The humanitarian situation of civilians in East Ghouta is spiralling out of control. Its imperative to end this senseless human suffering now," Moumtzis said on Monday.

The UN has repeatedly called for a month-long ceasefire across Syria's front lines, from Eastern Ghouta to the Kurdish enclave of Afrin in the northwest, which Turkey threatened on Tuesday to lay siege to in the coming days.

"February 19 was the one of the worst days that weve ever had in the history of this crisis," said an exhausted doctor in a hospital in Eastern Ghouta.

Identifying himself as Abu al-Yasar, he described treating a one-year-old brought into the Arbin hospital with blue skin and a faint pulse, rescued from under the rubble.

"I opened his mouth to put in a breathing tube and I found it packed with dirt," Abu al-Yaar told AFP.

He pulled out the dirt as fast as possible, put in the breathing tube and managed to save the baby's life.

"This is just one story from among hundreds of wounded." The bloodshed prompted the UN children's agency UNICEF to issue a largely blank statement on Tuesday to express its anger.

"We no longer have the words to describe children's suffering and our outrage," the agency said in a brief postscript beneath the empty space on the page.

"Do those inflicting the suffering still have words to justify their barbaric acts?" More than 400,000 people live in Eastern Ghouta, which has been surrounded by government troops since 2013. Food, medicine, and other basic necessities are nearly impossible to obtain.

Eastern Ghouta is mostly held by two hardline rebel groupsJaish al-Islam and Faylaq al-Rahmanthough jihadists have a smaller foothold.

The factions often fire rockets and mortar rounds into residential neighbourhoods of east Damascus.

At least four people were killed on Tuesday and 15 wounded by rebel fire on the capital, state television reported.

Al-Watan newspaper, which is close to the government, said that the bombing campaign "comes ahead of a vast operation on Ghouta, which may start on the ground at any moment".

Both Al-Watan and the Observatory had earlier reported ongoing negotiations for the withdrawal of jihadists from the enclave.

But the escalating bombardment suggests the regime will likely opt for a ground assault.

It already waged a ferocious five-day air assault on Eastern Ghouta earlier this month that left around 250 civilians dead and hundreds wounded.

More than 340,000 people have been killed since the civil war erupted in 2011 when protests against Assad's government were brutally crushed.

An array of rebels, some of them jihadist, have since carved out zones of control as have the Kurdish minority, and the government and its allies.

Turkey has been waging an air and ground offensive against the Kurdish-controlled enclave of Afrin just across the border for the past month.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday defended the operations slow progress, saying it was to avoid putting the lives of both Turkish troops and civilians needlessly at risk.

He told parliament Turkish troops and their Syrian rebel allies would lay siege to the town of Afrin "in the coming days".

Ankara says the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG), which controls Afrin, is a "terrorist" offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged an insurgency in southeastern Turkey since 1984. AFP
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Dhaka, February 20

Former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia on Tuesday challenged the five-year prison sentence handed out to her in a corruption case, claiming that the verdict was politically motivated to debar her from contesting the general elections in December.

The 72-year-old three-time former prime minister and main opposition leader was sentenced by Dhaka's Special Court on February 8 in connection with the embezzlement of 21 million taka (about $250,000) in foreign donations meant for the Zia Orphanage Trust, named after her late husband Ziaur Rahman, a military ruler-turned-politician.

The verdict simultaneously sentenced Zia's "fugitive" elder son and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP's) senior vice president Tarique Rahman as he was tried in absentia. Rahman and four others have been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Legal experts said the verdict may jeopardise Zia's career as she may be disqualified from contesting polls, including the general elections slated for December unless she could obtain a different direction from the Supreme Court.

A day after receiving a copy of the trial court's verdict, her counsels filed an appeal in the High Court challenging the verdict.

The 1,223-page dossier, which mentions Abdur Rezak Khan as the filing lawyer, cited 25 grounds for Zias acquittal alleging that the verdict was politically motivated to debar her from contesting elections, an allegation denied by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government.

"As soon as the court schedules the hearing, we will file a bail petition," Sagir Hossain, one of the defence counsels, told the media.

Court officials said a two-judge bench is expected to hear the appeal prayer on February 22.

The corruption case is one of dozens pending against Zia, who has been a rival of Hasina for decades. The charges against her had already led to her boycotting polls in 2014, which triggered widespread protests at the time.

Zia, however, appears to be seeking to contest the polls this year.

BNP's secretary general Mirza Falhrul islam Alamgir earlier this week told a protest rally that the party would not take part in polls without Zia. He said, "No national elections will be held without BNP Chairperson Zia."

However, Hasina yesterday said her government could do nothing if the main Opposition outside parliament, BNP decides to boycott the polls. She said the elections will be held in due time whether the BNP takes part or not.

"What we could do if they want to abstain from the elections...the court has awarded her the imprisonment, we did not and (so) we can't withdraw it either, she told a press conference.

Hasina said the case against the ex-premier was lodged in 2008 by the past military-backed interim government led by Zias confidantes while the independent Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) carried out its investigation.

Zia, who served as the premier thrice since 1991, faces 30 more charges, ranging from corruption to sedition.

The BNP installed Zia's son Rahman as the acting party chief after her conviction, drawing massive government criticism. Hasina said it reflected the partys "moral poverty".  PTI
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Dhaka: Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia on Tuesday challenged the five-year prison sentence handed out to her in a corruption case, claiming that the verdict was politically motivated to debar her from contesting the general elections in December. The 72-year-old three-time former PM and main Opposition leader was sentenced by a Special Court on February 8 in connection with the embezzlement of $250,000 in foreign donations meant for the Zia Orphanage Trust. PTI

Ex-Catalan MP spurns Spain SC summons

Madrid: A former member of Catalonia's Parliament who has fled to Switzerland from Spain says she will not attend a Spanish court summons over her alleged role in the region's declaration of independence last year. Anna Gabriel, a member of the far-left Catalan party CUP, told the Swiss newspaper Le Temps that she planned to stay in Switzerland and would not travel to Madrid to face Supreme Court charges which include rebellion and sedition. CUP confirmed her comments. Reuters
A study that played a key role in a recent EPA proposal to roll back glider kit restrictions has come under fire by the faculty of the Tennessee unversity that conducted it. Photo: Tom Berg

A Tennessee Technical University study that was funded by Fitzgerald Glider Kits and played a key role in reintroducing a glider kit loophole to the 2017 greenhouse gas regulations is being called into question by the faculty of TTU, who say that the questionable study hurts the reputation of the university.

After the Environmental Defense Fund attacked the studys credibility earlier this year, the faculty of TTU requested an investigation into the study from the university president Phil Oldham that would submit the study to peer review, according to a report in the Herald Citizen. The study was conducted by TTUs associate vice president of research Tom Brewer, who the faculty asked to be suspended pending the investigations outcome.

In addition to funding the research, Fitzgerald announced around the same time period in late 2017 that it would be building a new academic research center for TTU.

In the TTU facultys request to investigate the Universitys study, it stated, Our reputation and integrity as an institution and, by extension, the faculty, staff and students, are two of the most valuable assets of the university. Our reputation has recently been damaged because of a study funded by Fitzgerald Glider Kits and used to influence federal policy.

The study in question purported to show that glider kits would not have a significant environmental impact and may actually pollute less than modern engines, going against an Obama-era EPA study that determined the opposite. The TTU study was used by Fitzgerald when it petitioned the EPA for the repeal of regulations restricting the use of glider kits under GHG Phase 2.

The study was also featured prominently in a recent Trump administration EPA proposal to repeal the glider kit restrictions, seeming to indicate that the agency, now led by Scott Pruitt, agreed with Fitzgeralds reasoning.

During the Obama administration, the EPA capped the number of glider kits produced by any one company at 300 per year after a surge in production following the latest greenhouse gas emissions regulations. Some truck owners have found putting older pre-emissions engines in new glider kits offers both up-front price savings and maintenance savings over later engines with troublesome emissions aftertreatment gear.

Undue political influence?

In a recent New York Times report, the newspaper examined the relationships between Fitzgerald Glider Kits with political figures that may have allowed it to curry favor with the EPA. The Times found that Fitzgerald donated $225,000 to Rep. Diane Black's (R-TN) campaign for governor. Black unsuccessfully pushed to keep the glider kit loophole intact in 2015 and also reportedly played a role in introducing the TTU report to Scott Pruitt prior to the EPAs proposal to rollback restrictions.

A spokesperson for Black told the Times that she was not influenced by the campaign contributions and was merely supporting her constituents. Tommy Fitzgerald, the owner of Fitzgerald, also characterized Blacks actions as "good public policy" because of the number of jobs at stake as a result of the EPAs decisions.

In addition to environmental interest groups, the glider kit loophole is opposed by some truck and engine manufacturers, such as Cummins, Volvo and Navistar, who say that the loophole unfairly favors groups that are skirting the official emissions regulations and may encourage more dealers to enter the glider business, further compounding the issue.
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| By Patricia Fanning

Researchers from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP) have been awarded a three-year, $500,000 grant from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) Foundation to establish a new Center of Excellence for Patient-Driven Value Assessment at the school.

Led by Susan dosReis, PhD, professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research (PHSR), the team will include researchers from PHSR and the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science (PPS). The team has invited stakeholders to a kickoff meeting at the school on Feb. 20. Topics include building partnerships with Hispanic and under/uninsured communities and expanding value assessment training.

Susan dosReis, PhD, professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.

The center will strive to promote the inclusion of diverse patient voices in research to help uncover the elements of value in health care that are most important to patients. It is one of only two centers funded by the PhRMA Foundation to lead the development of transformative strategies to better assess the value of medicines and health care services while improving patient outcomes and reducing inefficiency in health care.

All of the health services and drug-related research conducted by faculty in our department is motivated by one goal: to improve health among diverse populations, says C. Daniel Mullins, PhD, professor and chair of PHSR and a co-investigator on the grant. Through the establishment of our new Center of Excellence for Patient-Driven Value Assessment, our research team will employ a multidisciplinary, collaborative approach that leverages an established patient engagement infrastructure, an extensive network of partners, and a solid foundation of patient-centered outcomes research, education, and dissemination expertise to promote value-based decision-making in health care.

He adds, I am excited to be part of this project, which will further strengthen our schools reputation as a national leader in value assessment in health care.

In a Jan. 10, 2018, press release announcing the award, the PhRMA Foundation noted that concern over rising U.S. health care costs has increased interest in promoting high-quality care, while avoiding low-value or inefficient care. Although a number of initiatives aiming to drive value in health care have recently emerged, few have offered transformative solutions that reflect patient preferences and real-world clinical practice, leaving many issues in methodology and patient engagement unresolved.

Previous research has shown that an insufficient focus on patient-driven value assessment in health care limits our ability to fully evaluate the cost-effectiveness of available treatments, dosReis says. Our Center of Excellence is founded on the fundamental premise that value in health care must be defined by patients. We are tremendously grateful to the PhRMA Foundation for their support of our efforts to have patients and other stakeholders work together to co-produce reliable and meaningful value assessments that further support patient-centered health care decision-making.

To help fill gaps in existing value frameworks  economic evaluations that assess the value of medical tests, treatments, and other health care services  researchers in the schools Center of Excellence for Patient-Driven Value Assessment will incorporate patients perspectives of value in their work and ensure that value in health care is defined by factors identified as important by a diverse range of patients. In addition to dosReis and Mullins, the centers core faculty includes Joey Mattingly, PharmD, MBA, assistant professor in PPS; and Wendy Camelo Castillo, PhD, and Julia Slejko, PhD, both assistant professors in PHSR.

The team will be aided by collaborators from the National Health Council, including Eleanor Perfetto, MS, PhD, who also serves as a professor in PHSR, and by local hospitals and health clinics, the pharmaceutical industry, insurance companies, and patient stakeholders.

The researchers aim to expand patient and other stakeholder engagement partnerships, educate patient and research communities about the importance of patient engagement in research, support patient-driven value assessment research, and disseminate patient-driven value assessment principles and methods.

The centers long-term research goal is to produce and disseminate findings that value framework developers can use to improve their methodology to capture and include patient input.

Capturing the diversity of the patient voice in value assessment will be a major strength of our center, dosReis says. The research that we conduct will elicit the meaning of value in health care from diverse patient groups and allow us to develop a core set of patient-driven value elements, prioritize those value elements, and test those elements with existing frameworks. Our teams expertise in qualitative and mixed methods research, pharmacoeconomics, predictive modeling, and stated preference methods well positions us to undertake this research.

Research conducted by the center is expected to lead to additional opportunities for both national and international collaboration, dosReis says.

The School of Pharmacy will become the hub for cutting-edge research and training in patient-driven value frameworks, she adds. Research from our center will change the landscape for the economic evaluation of medicines and other therapies. Our findings will have an indelible impact on medical decision-making by patients, health care professionals, policymakers, and regulatory agencies.
Jean Kiza Kambi, 58, finally arrives at the Kalunga site for internally displaced people.  UNHCR/Colin Delfosse

KALEMIE, the Democratic Republic of the Congo  Jean Kiza Kambi is soaked to the skin. He has walked for 14 hours through forests and rolling hills in heavy rain. He crossed a river which almost swept him away.

With him he carried an old mattress and a plastic bucket containing his belongings. Now the 58-year-old man is standing on a hill, overlooking hundreds of makeshift shelters at the Kalunga site for internally displaced people in Tanganyika province, in the south-east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

As a deputy village chief, he is worried about the fate of some villagers. He lost track of them in the woods. Some are still in the forest, they have machete wounds, he said. Others have made it to an army base. When I ran, I saw at least five dead bodies.

Like Jean Kiza Kambi, more than 4.5 million people in the province have been displaced inside their own country, making the DRC the African country with the highest number of internally displaced people.

DRC: Hundreds of thousands flee as displacement crisis in Tanganyika worsens (Vania Turner producer-editor / Junior D. Kannah, camera)

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, says a humanitarian disaster of extraordinary proportions is about to hit Tanganyika Province as it plunges further into violence, triggering spiralling displacement and human rights abuses.

At a news briefing in the Palais des Nations in Geneva, UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic said there had been atrocities and mass displacement in several areas of the province as a result of intercommunal conflicts between ethnic groups.

Jean Kiza Kambi said his village was attacked by members of a rival ethnic group.

Armed groups threaten to wreak more havoc.

Mahecic continued: Moreover, fierce clashes between the Congolese armed forces and militias continue since the end of January, while newly-emerged armed groups threaten to wreak more havoc in the province.

People fleeing for their lives near the provincial capital Kalemie share stories of horrific violence during attacks against their villages, including killings, abductions and rape.

In 2017, UNHCR teams documented more than 12,000 reports of human rights violations in Tanganyika and the nearby area of Pweto, where the conflict had spread, he added.

However, UNHCR fears that the number of those affected could be much higher since many areas were too dangerous to reach.

Many of the victims of the violence are forced to live in large displacement sites. One of them is Katanika, which comprises small huts made of grass and branches, spread over a valley and adjacent hills.

Deputy village chief Jean Kiza Kambi said his village was attacked by members of a rival ethnic group.  UNHCR/Colin Delfosse

One of the huts belongs to Prosper Kamona Kabwe, 59, who arrived In December 2017. His family was away when the village was attacked and he is desperate to find them.

My wife and our four daughters were in the field when the attack happened, he told UNHCR. Our two boys were out on the lake, fishing. As soon as the security allows, I will go and look for them. I feel bad every time I think of them. I dont feel at peace, I dont sleep well.

There is hunger and sickness, malaria, anaemia.

He said living conditions at site were poor. There is hunger and sickness, malaria, anaemia. And through my roof, water is coming in. You can see it. The floor is still wet.

He said he hoped to find work in nearby fields or to collect firewood to survive.

Single women and widows without appropriate shelter were at particular risk of sexual abuse and violence in the displacement areas, UNHCR said.

Tundwa Kissimba, 32, with her five-month-old baby. She lives in a makeshift shelter with her five children. Her husband was killed during an attack.  UNHCR/Colin Delfosse

Tundwa Kissimba, 32, lives in a makeshift shelter with her five children in the town of Kalemie. The shelter has no door, just a piece of cloth, to protect her and her children. Her husband was killed during an attack.

When I ran, I could not take anything with me except for my children, she said. I asked people in the city for building materials. They gave me some cloth and bags. The rain is pouring inside and the kids get sick. I feel insecure. Wind can destroy the shelter.

The violence in Tanganyika Province, which is three times the size of Switzerland and had a population of 3 million, has created more than 630,000 internally displaced people, almost twice as many as in December 2016. UNHCR is appealing for increased assistance to help the population cope, Mahecic said.

Last year, UNHCR received less than a dollar per person in donor contributions for its programmes for those displaced internally in the DRC.

UNHCR is seeking a total of US$368.7 million for the Congolese situation. A total of US$80 million is required to support the internally displaced populations inside the DRC.

Most are less fortunate than Jean Kiza Kambi. After a few hours sleep, he went to look for his wife and children and found them safe with relatives.
Group of Congolese women showing the number of their children who have been abducted from their families during the conflict in Tanganyika province.  UNHCR/Colin Delfosse

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, warned today that a humanitarian disaster of extraordinary proportions was about to hit the southeastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as the province of Tanganyika plunges further into violence, triggering spiraling displacement and human rights abuses.

Several areas of the province have seen atrocities and mass displacement, due to entrenched intercommunal conflicts between the Twa, the Luba and other ethnic groups. Moreover, fierce clashes between the Congolese armed forces and militias have continued since the end of January, while new armed groups threaten to wreak more havoc in the province.

People fleeing for their lives near the provincial capital Kalemie have shared stories of horrific violence during attacks against their villages, including killings, abductions and rape. UNHCR partners documented some 800 protection incidents in the first two weeks of February in Tanganyika, marking an upwards trend.

Throughout 2017, UNHCR partners documented over 12,000 reports of human rights violations in Tanganyika and the nearby area of Pweto in the Haut Katanga province, to where the conflict has spread. However, UNHCR fears that the number of the people affected by the violence could be much higher since many areas were too dangerous to reach.

While the majority of the incidents concerned violations of property rights including extortions, plundering and destruction, some 4,700 of these incidents referred to physical abuse, torture, murders, arbitrary arrests, forced labor, rape and forced marriages.

Sexual violence is of particular concern. Despite access challenges and the prevailing stigma for those affected, UNHCRs partners managed to record 523 cases of sexual and gender based violence in Tanganyika and in Pweto, referring survivors to medical services, judicial assistance and psychosocial support. About half of them were children.

Overall, already vulnerable displaced populations most often fell victim to the latest atrocities. These were not only committed in the context of the ethnic conflict, but also by the soldiers deployed to fight the renegade militias.

UNHCR calls on the Congolese authorities to ensure the protection of the civilian population, to effectively follow-up any reports of crimes attributed to the armed forces and to put an end to the perception of impunity related to human rights abuses.

The violence spreading across Tanganyika, which is three times the size of Switzerland with a population of some three million, has now internally displaced over 630,000 people. This number is almost double the 370,000 who were displaced within Tanganyika in December 2016. UNHCR is working with partners to redress this calamitous situation, but is appealing for increased assistance to help the population cope.

Last year, UNHCR received less than US$1 per person in donor contributions for its programmes for the internally displaced in the DRC. This has left many displaced in Tanganyika receiving hardly any humanitarian aid. In Kalemie, thousands of families lack the plastic sheeting which could protect them from the rain. People often suffer from hunger and lack of medical support. Single women and widows without appropriate shelter run an even higher risk of sexual abuse and violence in the displacement areas.

For 2018, UNHCR is appealing for US$368.7 million for the Congolese situation. A total of US$80 million is required to support the internally displaced populations inside the DRC.

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Several engineering projects are underway in Kutupalong to build bamboo-reinforced footpaths and stairs, raised bridges, and bamboo and brick walls for soil stabilisation and better drainage.  UNHCR/Caroline Gluck

UNHCR, UN Refugee Agency, is following the situation of several thousand Rohingya who have been living in a so-called no mans land near the border between Myanmar and Bangladesh since the end of August 2017.

We estimate there are some 1,300 families, approximately 5,300 men, women, boys and girls living in the area near Tombru canal. Several representatives of this group have indicated that they fear returning home and wish to seek safety in Bangladesh.

UNHCR reiterates that everyone has the right to seek asylum, just as they also have the right to return home when they deem the time and circumstances right. People who have fled violence in their country must be guaranteed safety and protection, and must be consulted on their future. Any decision to return must be voluntary, based upon a free and informed choice.

Meanwhile in Bangladesh, together with the authorities, UNHCR and partners continue to step up preparations to ensure that refugees are as well-protected as they can be ahead of the monsoon season. To date, we have distributed over 33,000 upgraded shelter kits for refugee families, including biodegradable sandbags to help anchor the structures.

Small engineering projects continue in the settlements where UNHCR operates to build bamboo-reinforced footpaths and stairs, raised bridges, and retaining walls for soil stabilization and drainage networks. We are also pre-positioning 35 containers of post-storm relief items at distribution points across Kutupalong and Nayapara camps.

Families most at risk of floods and landslides will be encouraged to relocate to other areas.

Given the limited land available in the settlements, strict prioritization on relocations will need to be undertaken.

Today, we began relocating the first 50 families living in one flood prone area to a new and safer part of the site. They will be among 381 households who will be relocated over the next week. Other families will be relocated by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

We continue consultations with the Bangladesh government about additional land that might be made available for relocation. This would allow us to increase the number of refugees we can relocate who are currently living in locations at risk of landslides or flooding in the coming weeks.

UNHCR staff are facilitating community engagement in preparedness efforts, in particular on appropriate messaging to communities likely to be affected by landslides, floods or cyclones, and analysing community coping mechanisms and preparedness plans.

For more information on this topic, please contact:
Congolese refugee child during the registration process in Kyangwali reception centre.  UNHCR/Michele Sibiloni

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, announced today new measures to support the government of Ugandas refugee programme, including through a major biometric data verification exercise.

We are taking extremely seriously recent developments in Uganda. The refugee programme in this country is of critical importance, given the scale of the emergency and the role model played by Uganda in welcoming and receiving so many people seeking international protection, said UNHCRs Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, George Okoth-Obbo.

On 1 March, in support of the Ugandan government, we together with our partners are launching a massive biometric verification exercise of all refugees in Uganda. This nation-wide re-enrolment and verification process will be key to help the government in fixing discrepancies in refugee data, added Okoth-Obbo.

UNHCR has already deployed staff, with partner emergency teams, to start the exercise. In total, more than 400 staff will register refugees.

The data verification exercise is scheduled to be completed by September 2018  including introduction of biometric checks at food distribution sites. The tried and tested UNHCR biometric system has already been used in 48 countries across the world and helped register some 4.4 million refugees.

In parallel, UNHCRs independent Inspector Generals Office is rigorously pursuing its own oversight and due diligence measures, including investigations of several serious allegations received in 2017 on fuel embezzlement, one allegation of sexual exploitation and abuse, irregular tendering of water trucking, and fraud in procurement and food distribution.

Uganda initiated a probe in January after reports received by UNHCR and the World Food Programme (WFP) alleged corruption and grave misconduct by government officials involved in refugee assistance.

Let me be crystal clear: the allegations reported so far are not focused on UNHCR. Our investigations aim at supporting the recently launched probe by the Ugandan prime minister to fight corruption and grave misconduct by its officials, said UNHCRs Okoth-Obbo.

At UNHCR, we have zero tolerance for misconduct, abuse and exploitation. Every possible report or allegation is thoroughly assessed, stressed Okoth-Obbo.

Allegations concerning other UN agencies or implementing partners have been referred to the respective organizations for internal investigation, and those concerning government staff or entities have been referred to authorities in Uganda. UNHCR is closely monitoring the outcomes of these investigations and is closely cooperating with the Ugandan authorities and other partners.

UNHCR is also strengthening its monitoring and oversight to prevent a reoccurrence of the events, including the deployment of more senior staff to help put in place additional safeguards.

These new measures are being implemented as the current Representative is reaching the end of his term and a more senior replacement is about to arrive.

Throughout his time in Uganda, Mr Bornwell Kantande has demonstrated deep commitment, steering the UNHCR operation in a particularly challenging environment characterized by multiple refugee influxes, with Uganda now hosting the largest number of refugees of any country in Africa. After almost three years as Representative, he will shortly move to a new assignment and in the meantime continues to enjoy my full support and trust," said UN High Commissionner for Refugees Filippo Grandi.

Uganda provides protection to well over one million refugees, keeping an open-door policy for people fleeing conflict and persecution.

We need a strong and collective response which aims at strengthening the refugee programmes in Uganda, while drawing lessons from the current situation, concluded UNHCR's Okoth-Obbo.





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Kathmandu, Feb 20 (UNI) Newly appointed Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that a historic opportunity to achieve the gold of building a prosperous and happy Nepal has started.

Addressing a programme organised in Tundikhel on the occasion of 68th Democracy Day on Monday, he said that the era has begun to materialise people's long cherished dream of witnessing development, political stability and prosperity in the nation, The Kathmandu Post reported.

Saying that the country has entered into the phase of government formation after the conclusion of three-tier of election, he said that the government would work under its jurisdiction by adhering to the standards set by the government.
UN agency calls for fair labour migration governance

United Nations, Feb 20 (UNI) Many migrant workers end up trapped in low-pay, unsafe and unhealthy jobs, the head of the United Nations labour agency has warned, calling for the adoption of fair labour migration governance frameworks at the global, regional and national levels.

Most migration today is linked, directly or indirectly, to the search for decent work opportunities, said UN International Labour Organisation (ILO) Director-General Guy Ryder in his message for World Day of Social Justice, which is annually observed on 20 February.

But many migrant workers end up trapped in jobs with low pay and unsafe and unhealthy working conditions, often in the informal economy, without respect for their labour and other human rights. They often have to pay high recruitment fees to get a job, on average over a years wages  this makes them highly vulnerable to forced labour and child labour, he added.
UN urges LA to continue to protect people on move

United Nations, Feb 20 (UNI) Recognising Latin American and Caribbean countries as pioneers in the protection of refugees and asylum seekers, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees urged the region to bolster its standards even further given the global increase in number of people being driven from their homes.

I encourage those States who have not yet done so, to accede to the refugee and statelessness instruments, and to move forward with extending pragmatic protection responses to those in need, said High Commissioner Filippo Grandi, speaking at a regional consultation on the Global Compact for Refugees, in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil.

In his remarks, Mr Grandi drew attention to the gaps in the international refugee protection regime and how these could be overcome. He also highlighted the need to support the displaced both at the places of origin and reception.
Undergraduate degree program at UTSA considered one of the largest in the country.

(Feb. 20, 2018) -- Baccalaureate programs in medical humanities are rapidly growing in popularity across the United States. With 613 currently enrolled students, the Medical Humanities program at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) is one of the largest undergraduate degree programs of its kind in the nation.

UTSAs interdisciplinary B.A. in Medical Humanities draws on the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities and arts. The major has a pre-medicine concentration and a health careers concentration to prepare students for a wide variety of health-related occupations.

The social science and humanities component of our curriculum provides students with a broader understanding of the ways economic and psychosocial factors influence health, said Abraham Graber, assistant professor and director of the UTSA Medical Humanities program. It also gives students opportunities to practice communicating about health care.

Graber says the combination of knowledge and skills offered by the undergraduate program are allowing UTSA alumni to effectively and empathetically communicate with patients, physicians, nurses, social workers and hospital administrators.

Students graduate with a thorough understanding of the history of medicine, the importance of the relationship between a physician and patient and the need for strong social competence in health care. They also learn how to interpret human factors related to illness and wellness such as the biology of aging, the psychology of health, the social context of drug use, health care systems, medical sociology and more.

Graber says students in this unique UTSA program are positioned to pursue a wide variety of careers in health careand related fields such as health administration, medicine, dentistry, medical sales and pharmacy.

Parnaz Daghighi, a UTSA junior in the medical humanities degree program and founder of the Medical Humanities Student Organization, says the program has made her marketable while allowing her to learn about health-related topics that interest her.

As an applicant for medical school, this program will help me stand out, because I can speak about things other applicants cant address, said Daghighi. Its the norm to focus on hard sciences but learning about social sciences through this degree program enables me to learn about topics such as ethics and medical sociology that will help me work with patients from different backgrounds.

Daghighi said the program helped her gain admittance to the competitive Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP) which helps economically disadvantaged Texas students pursuing a career in medicine. Students admitted to the JAMP program, funded by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, are guaranteed admission to participating medical schools in Texas.

Technical skills are only a part of what it takes to be a successful health care provider, said Graber. By helping students empathize with patients and recognize economic and psychosocial variables relevant to health, were providing students with the skills they need to address the lived realities of their patients.

COLFA is one of UTSAs most academically diverse colleges and largest with nearly 6,500 students in 11 departments in the arts, humanities and social sciences. COLFA offers 38 degree programs, including doctorates in anthropology, psychology and english.

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) is a public urban serving university specializing in health, cybersecurity, energy sustainability, and human and social development. With nearly 31,000 students, it is the largest university in the San Antonio metropolitan region. UTSA advances knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. The university embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual propertyfor Texas, the nation and the world.

UTSA is ranked among the top four universities in the nation under 50 years old, according to Times Higher Education.
Students Encouraged to Attend UW Career Fair and Lunch Panel Feb. 28

University of Wyoming students are encouraged to join employers from the hospitality, tourism and outdoor recreation industries for a career fair and afternoon lunch panel featuring top industry leaders Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 10 a.m.

The career fair will take place in the College of Business Building atrium until 2 p.m., and the lunch panel will be in Room 123 of the College of Business Building from noon-1 p.m.

Employers representing multiple hotel properties, summer camps, a brewing company, dude ranches and tourism destination organizations will be at the career fair. More than a dozen employers have signed up to attend the event. Students are encouraged to attend, meet and learn about these organizations.

In addition, select industry leaders will provide a lunchtime talk about careers in their respective industries. Top leaders from Wyoming State Parks, the National Outdoor Leadership School, Little America and the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce will give presentations. The event will be moderated by representatives of the Wyoming Office of Tourism. Free food will be provided to students in attendance.

The event is co-sponsored by the College of Business, Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Wyoming Office of Tourism.

For more information, call Dan McCoy, associate lecturer with the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, at (307) 766-5009 or email dmccoy@uwyo.edu.
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By: Dezan Shira & Associates

Editor: Koushan Das

Vietnam has issued Decree 09/2018/ND-CP (Decree 09) regarding conditions on the establishment of retail outlets by a foreign-invested enterprise (FIEs). Effective as of 15 January 2018, the decree aims to provide a more transparent framework for foreign investors in the retail sector.

RELATED: Pre-Investment Advisory Services from Dezan Shira & Associates

Establishing the first outlet

FIEs have to meet certain conditions with regard to the establishment of the first retail store.

Have a financial plan to set up the first retail outlet;

No overdue tax debts if they have been established in Vietnam for one or more years;

Location of the retail outlet should comply with the local planning schemes.

RELATED: Vietnam: FDI Strategy for 2018-2023

Economic needs testing

Economic needs testing (ENT), a test that conditions market access upon the fulfillment of certain economic criteria, will be applicable for the establishment of the second and subsequent outlets, as per Decree 09.

ENT does not apply for retail outlets less than 500 m2, located at commercial centers and not categorized as mini-supermarket or convenience store. ENT also does not apply to the first retail store, which only requires a store establishment license.

ENT criteria includes:

The effect of the retail outlet on the scale of the geographical area;

Number of retails outlets operating in the geographical market area;

Impact of the outlet on the market stability and operation of other retail outlets and traditional markets in the geographical area;

Impact on traffic, environmental sanitation and fire prevention in the geographical market area;

Contributions of the retail outlet to the regions socio-economic development in creating local jobs, development of the regions retail sector, improvement of environment and living conditions for local people, and contributions to the State budget.

RELATED: Vietnam to Implement Multiple FTA Tariff Cuts in 2018

ENT Timeline

The provincial peoples committee in the locality of the retail store will establish an ENT Committee (ENTC) within 07 business days from the date of receipt of the request for the establishment. The outcome of ENT will be issued within 30 days from the date of establishment of ENT Committee.

Once the evaluations are complete, the provincial Department of Industry and Trade (DoIT) will need to submit the results to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) within 03 working days. The MoIT will have to respond within 10 working days from the date of receipt of application.

The store establishment license required will be granted within 03 working days from the date of receipt of the MoITs response.

RELATED: TPP Revived as CPTPP: What it means for Vietnam

Retail Industry

In 2017, retail sales of consumer goods and services reached VND 3934 trillion (US$ 130 billion), increasing by 10.9 percent, compared to 2016. Retail sales of goods accounted for 74.7 percent of the total sales, while accommodation, catering, and travel services accounted for the rest.

The modern trade channels grew by 7.7 percent, while traditional retail grew by 6.1 percent from April 2016 to March 2017. Vietnams retail market is projected to reach US$ 179 billion by 2020, driven by a growing economy, urbanization, young population, and rise in incomes.

As per the 2017 Global Retail Development Index (GRDI), released by A.T. Kearney, Vietnam ranks sixth amongst the 30 most attractive retail markets in the world. The rise in rankings is attributed to the rapid expansion of convenience stores and mini-marts and the increase in the use of technology in the industry.

RELATED: Growing Food & Beverage Sector in Vietnam

Convenience stores  fastest growing segment

Convenience stores in Vietnam are one of the fastest growing segments in the industry, along with mini-marts. As of 2017, there were 1,765 convenience stores in Vietnam, with over 70 percent owned by foreign enterprises.

In spite of the rapid growth, convenience stores account for only two percent of the retail market, providing much room for growth. As per a recent study by the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD), Vietnam will be Asias fastest growing convenience store market by 2021, growing by a compounded rate of about 37.4 percent in the next four years.

RELATED: Vietnam: Consumer Confidence Hits Record High

Going forward

For the next two to three years, foreign retailers have major investment and expansion plans in Vietnam. Lotte Mart is planning to open 60 stores by 2020, while FamilyMart will open 800 franchised stores in the same period. South Koreas GS25 will be opening 2,500 stores in the next decade, while VinMart, the largest retail chain in Vietnam will open 100 stores in 2018. The retail industry, especially the convenience stores segment, will continue to remain one of the most attractive options for foreign investors.

Dezan Shira & Associates Brochure

Dezan Shira & Associates is a pan-Asia, multi-disciplinary professional services firm, providing legal, tax and operational advisory to international corporate investors. Operational throughout China, ASEAN and India, our mission is to guide foreign companies through Asias complex regulatory environment and assist them with all aspects of establishing, maintaining and growing their business operations in the region. This brochure provides an overview of the services and expertise Dezan Shira & Associates can provide.

An Introduction to Doing Business in Vietnam 2017

An Introduction to Doing Business in Vietnam 2017 will provide readers with an overview of the fundamentals of investing and conducting business in Vietnam. Compiled by Dezan Shira & Associates, a specialist foreign direct investment practice, this guide explains the basics of company establishment, annual compliance, taxation, human resources, payroll, and social insurance in this dynamic country.



Managing Contracts and Severance in Vietnam

In this issue of Vietnam Briefing, we discuss the prevailing state of labor pools in Vietnam and outline key considerations for those seeking to staff and retain workers in the country. We highlight the increasing demand for skilled labor, provide in depth coverage of existing contract options, and showcase severance liabilities that may arise if workers or employers choose to terminate their contracts.
Pamela Phua says innovative paint can help save energy

Pamela Phua, director of research, development, and innovation of AkzoNobel with more than 20 years of experience in the paint industry, has driven new technology development and product implementation across the Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Middle East regions. She took part in the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2017 (COP23), which was held in Bonn in Germany on November 6, 2017. She was also be the guest of honour at the G7/G20 international forums  mainly focused on challenges people have to face every day such as climate change and the economic crisis  to share innovative paint solutions.

Challenges for construction and paint solutions

At the COP23, Phua mentioned some challenges construction projects are encountering due to global warming and citizen migration from provinces to cities. On the occasion, she shared innovative paint products to help meet these challenges.

Specifically, she said, global warming will affect construction materials and heat up walls. Research shows that when infrared radiation from the sun strikes the surface of a building, some of it is reflected and some is absorbed in the form of heat. The heat increases and is subsequently transmitted to the interior of the building, leading to an increase in energy consumption in order to cool down the building. Therefore, Phua shared, the group has developed and carefully managed the pigments in paints to come up with Keep Cool technology, which creates striking colours while significantly increasing the amount of infrared radiation reflected by building facades. The result is that the surface can be kept five degrees cooler than without this technology, leading to a potential 10-15 per cent in energy savings for the building.

To maintain the quality of construction in the wake of the increasing population in cities as well as air pollution, AkzoNobel has developed an extremely water-repellent coating with inherently low surface energy, enhanced by multi-scale surface topography, Phua said. In essence, water beads form and roll off easily or simply do not stick at all on the coating. Owing to its extreme resistance to rain, mud, stains, and dirt, the coated surface will stay dry and clean. This new technology will help urban communities reduce their environmental footprint through a significant reduction in the energy and chemical detergents used in building maintenance.

Aside from leading AkzoNobels global research and laboratories in the Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Middle East regions, Phua is also concerned with the quality of construction in Vietnam. She often spends time finding solutions for challenges of construction in

Vietnam. Therefore, before officially taking the position of general manager of AkzoNobel Paint Vietnam, she joined in many workshops as well as architecture and construction forums in Vietnam to share innovative features in the field of interior and exterior paint products.

Innovative paint products for Vietnamese market

Phua said that Vietnam is a country partly in a tropical climate, so most buildings suffer from certain impacts of the climate, such as cracking, colour fading, erosion, flaking, dirt, fungal growth, and absorption of water by the walls. Therefore, in 2017, AkzoNobel Vietnam launched the exterior paint product Dulux Weathershield, which uses new technology and boasts innovative features such as the afore mentioned Keep Cool technology, which can reduce wall temperature by up to five degrees; Alkali-Guard technology, which provides better alkalinisation resistance; ColourLock technology to effectively prevent colour fading; and Dirt-Guard technology with anti-stain features.

The climate in the south of Vietnam is always characterized by erratic features that create severe impacts on the wall surface. Dulux Aquatech Effective Waterproofing provides innovative waterproofing

solutions for vertical wall surfaces. With superior Hydroshield technology that enhances the chemical bonding of the compound, Dulux Aquatech increases the waterproofing ability, helping to keep the surface dry, Phua said.

In her role as general manager of AkzoNobel Paint Vietnam, Phua said she would like to bring more innovative paint products to Vietnamese customers, aiming to make peoples lives more liveable.
Startups like GotIt! leverage the opportunities Industry 4.0 brings, but many youths still have trouble to deal with the changes

Farmer Nguyen Thi Hue has been making a living by planting banana trees under Long Bien bridge in Hanoi for the past two decades. Her daily work is to take care of the banana orchard and harvest bananas for sale at the end of the day. She is fond of surfing the internet on her five-inch Asus smartphone. She is also a Facebook user, with an account opened for her by her nephew.

Instead of enjoying the South Korean films she used to love, Hue is now keen on logging into her Facebook account in order to read the posts of joy, anger, and love from her children, nephews, and relatives. Such posts make her smile and, on occasion, tear up. That is why she prefers Facebook.

Aside from going online, she often joins in idle talk with her friends, including vendors selling iced tea on Long Bien bridge and workers doing repairs on the historical bridge. It seems that the Fourth Industrial Revolution or Industry 4.0 has yet to affect Hue and her friends. They just own a smartphone to take selfies and souvenir photos for their relatives, and then share them on their Facebook accounts.

They do not know what deep impacts Industry 4.0 has on the world economy. A lot of industries have seen fundamental changes with newly-emerged business models. Cutting-edge technologies enable startups to gain advantages over those using now-obsolete solutions.

They cannot make sense of the cloud, driverless automobiles, robots, and cryptocurrencies like bitcoin. In their eyes, cutting-edge technology is associated with the appearance of Grab and Uber drivers in green and blue clothes. Grab and Uber bikers work just like traditional motorbike taxi drivers who normally cool off their heels here, but they look somewhat posh in their uniforms, says Hue.

26-year-old Phan Phuong Duc, a maths teacher at the combined primary and secondary Ngoi Sao Hanoi School, is not well-grounded in Industry 4.0 either. He felt the changes in technology when his colleagues began to use powerpoint presentations in their lectures instead of writing on the blackboard. But working as an online tutor with the mobile app GotIt! has enabled him to touch technology and change his life over the past two years. The app was designed by Tran Viet Hung in the US tech capital Silicon Valley.

Duc graduated from the University of Science under the Hanoi-based Vietnam National University. He studied maths in English. Working for the online app helps him reinforce his knowledge in maths and English. Duc maintains a tutorship to earn $100 per month.

According to founder and CEO Tran Viet Hung, Vietnam now has some 300 Vietnamese experts registered for the GotIt! system. Like Uber and Grab apps, GotIt! brings potential job opportunities to hundreds of thousands of experts. Tens of thousands work very actively on the system, half of them reported making their main income from GotIt!.

GotIt! inspires people all over the world to earn more money by sharing their knowledge on the system, regardless of where they are.

Learning about technology platforms in Industry 4.0 costs Hue, Tuan, and others a lot of time and effort. Currently, not every Industry 4.0 platform can become useful in Vietnam. For instance, self-driving vehicles would become powerless in the face of heavy traffic congestions in Vietnams big cities. Miners seem to pay no attention to cloud computing services and the development of a sharing economy, while tailors are not concerned with how Industry 4.0 benefits the fast fashion boom. What they pay the most attention to is the risk of losing their jobs.

Instead of thinking about the products they want to buy for the Lunar New Year or the destinations they want to visit, workers at Canon Vietnam in the northern province of Bac Ninh raised inconclusive discussions about the factorys installation of new automated machines and robots for production. We could lose our jobs, Le Anh Tung, a Canon worker, said and turned his eyes to his two sleeping children. Both Tung and his wife work for Canon Vietnam. The couple plans to return to their hometown to open a small-scale business once the automated machines and robots take their current jobs.

Canon Vietnam has been accelerating the automation process of its production in the past years. As a result, automation helped slash the firms total number of labourers from 13,000 recorded seven years ago to the existing figure of 8,000. Various positions and jobs are now being undertaken by robots.

Canon Vietnam often purchases only specialised equipment, not expensive completely-built robots. Canon engineers then assemble the specialised equipment with others to create finished machines for production, thus helping to save on the total costs, a Canon Vietnam representative said.

Apart from Canon, other firms, especially those in the sectors of garments, textiles, and footwear, are considering the installation of automated equipment and robots. As many as 86 per cent of workers in the sector of garments and textiles will be replaced by automated production lines and robots in the upcoming decades, according to a recent ILO report.

In countries with an abun dant labour supply like Vietnam, technological applications could make a number of manual labourers jobless. In the wake of the movement of of applications and technologies toward Industry 4.0, Vietnam needs to set forth employee support policies in a timely manner, to aid those vulnerable to the adverse impacts of Industry 4.0.

Running a small-scale business in the homeland is a final solution for Canon worker Tung. He now desires to benefit from Industry 4.0 by learning to improve his technical skills. But where I can learn to better my skills remains a problem, Tung said.

Google Trends show that Industry 4.0 has become the most searched-for keyword in Vietnam in the recent past. It can be said that Industry 4.0 urges enterprises to think about ways to satisfy customer demand, better productivity and quality, reduce production costs, and further meet environmental requirements. For intellectuals, Industry 4.0 means a tool to enjoy a better and convenient life and ease their access to and information gathering on the internet.

Technology is changing lives. This rings true, at least for Uber and Grab drivers. Technology not only changed their business, but also brought in a main source of income. Interestingly, Vietnam quickly acknowledged the value of applications like Uber and Grab and approved the pilot execution. This could help facilitate co-operation opportunities between local and foreign firms, while encouraging local technology startups to deal with social issues.

GotIt! set a goal of establishing a system of thousands of experts, including tens of thousands from Vietnam, but it failed to reach the goal for Vietnam. Just 5 per cent of Vietnamese experts applying for jobs on GotIt! met the requirements.

It seems that local youths are not ready for Industry 4.0, while those in other countries are keen on the global trend thanks to their advantages in qualification, foreign language skills, and industriousness, said the founder of GotIt!, elaborating that younger Vietnamese generations should not put high hopes on opportunities emerging from Industry 4.0.
Luc Remont, executive vice president for international operations at Schneider Electric

Can you tell us the purpose of your visit to Vietnam?

Asia in general and Vietnam in particular are new and rising stars for us. My trip to Vietnam showcases Schneider Electrics (SE) commitment to the country, which is to continue bringing innovation in energy solutions as well as assisting Vietnamese companies in maximising their business performance. The potential here is huge. During this trip, I am meeting many stakeholders in Vietnam to discuss how our technologies can benefit different industries and enable power automation.

What is your view of Vietnams economic growth and its prospects as a fast-growing consumer of electricity?

Vietnam is one of the rare countries which can still keep its economic growth rate higher than the world average. The economy is consistently and sustainably growing, reflecting the overall development of Vietnam. We see a lot of key developments taking place and the Vietnamese economy is diversifying to cover the needs of the countrys young and growing population. We are already investing in our manufacturing capacities here and we are very happy to contribute to Vietnams economic development. We see Vietnam not only as a market, but as a place to continue developing our own know-how and manufacturing capacity. We believe that Vietnams dynamic growth will continue in the future. To support this growth, there will be higher demand for efficient energy management, not only for large corporations, but also for small- to medium-sized enterprises. SE is happy to provide our EcoStruxure solutions to improve safety, reliability, efficiency, sustainability, and connectivity for our customers.

This trip must have given you a closer look at Vietnams electricity shortage issue. What is your view on this matter?

Vietnams energy shortage is characteristic of a fast-growing economy. We are not an operating network and we do not generate power ourselves, but what we can bring are technologies that can promote energy efficiency and improve power distribution. There are several types of technology that can address this problem. Firstly, advanced distribution management systems can help operators organise distribution and operate the grid more efficiently. SE is the global leader in this kind of software.

Secondly, some countries like India have developed their own local storage capacities. This means that energy is deployed directly to households for storage, and this stored power can be used later. Vietnam has the potential to do the same.

The key to solving a power shortage is balancing demand and supply. We are working with all sides to achieve this. For example, we are showing consumers how to use energy more efficiently. We are also working with suppliers and distributors to facilitate this balance via both centralised and decentralised sources.

On a regional level, SE will continue our annual competition called Go Green in the City in 2018, to encourage young people to come up with innovative solutions for smarter and more energy-efficient cities. Also, SE will continue its Light it up campaign to bring access to lighting and energy to vulnerable communities across East Asia and Japan.

Schneider Electric has been performing quite well in Vietnam, especially in recent years. Would you like to tell us about your performance in Vietnam and how is the new factory at Saigon Hi-Tech Park doing?

SE introduced many solutions in various industries such as EcoStruxure SecurityExpert, EcoStruxure Solution, EcoStruxure Building, and others; we received positive feedback on our products from large Vietnamese corporations.

Among other means, SE will continue to promote EcoStruxure through thought leadership, events, webinars, and social media. SE will also continue the Bold Idea campaign, combining world-class content partnerships with the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, and The Economist with a sponsored programme from CNBC including thought leadership and content marketing outreach.

We have recently built a new factory in Saigon Hi-Tech Park. SE Manufacturing Vietnam was put into operation in early 2017. The company has delivered on its promise to bring new high-tech products to Vietnams market. This new factory carries all technologies for smart buildings. All technologies are connected inside the buildings to make it more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. It is an example to show to customers in Vietnam. Recently, most of our premium switches such as dimmers have been produced by SE Manufacturing Vietnam, for the domestic market and for export to other international markets in Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and Africa.

Schneider Electric has been active in promoting power efficiency in Vietnam. How do you see the trend of power efficiency in Vietnam going forward?

Vietnam is moving from being an energy exporter to an energy importer due to the countrys fast growth. The change of energy mix in the country means the future of energy will embrace a more decentralised generation capacity. The way you connect generation with users is another technology to achieve with new solutions. We are providing this connection capacity and a way to work with decentralised generation. As a fast-growing country, there are plenty of infrastructure developments from water systems to lighting, airports, and data centres still needed. All of these are called critical infrastructure, because they cant afford to be turned off. Thus, they deserve specific monitoring, specific surveillance, and specific automation to avoid outages during operation. We provide energy with high reliability to ensure no outage for hospital surgeries. The same goes for data centres and for airports, where we cant afford even one second of power loss.

With regards to digital capacity, our technology connects all the points of the power system. It eases data treatment and enables the use of smart infrastructure. We are employing it in airports, hospitals, and other critical infrastructure in emerging markets.

All of the solutions we are providing are part of EcoStruxure. It is an open architecture, an ecosystem of technology where you can find products connected to the Internet of Things, to automation, to both hardware and software, and to data centres. We provide a full suite for all infrastructure sectors. There are some outstanding cases in which SE has implemented its solutions. Real estate projects that successfully utilised SE solutions are Rivera Park Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, in which Long Giang Land  our local partner  chose SEs electrical devices, which meet the criteria of being safe, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly.

Another success story is DTS Data Centre. Using outstanding infrastructure solutions from SE, DTSs data centres achieved a 99.99 per cent readiness.

In green construction, SE has signed co-operation deals with market leaders in the field, such as Phuc Khang Corporation. This is an important step towards building green cities in Vietnam.

Does Schneider Electric have any plan to co-ordinate its activities between Vietnam and other markets in the region?

We are a global business with focused regional management, so we have already co-ordinated between Vietnam and other markets. Most notably, we are manufacturing in Vietnam to serve Southeast Asia as well as Australia. As expected from our strong regional co-operation, Vietnam-based operations have received support from other markets. Similarly, our Vietnamese business will take on new responsibilities to develop SEs business in Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.
Sunseap International co-operates with InfraCo Asia to develop solar project in Ninh Thuan

Accordingly, InfraCo Asia will take a minority stake alongside Sunseaps existing partner, CMX RE Canada, while Sunseap International will continue to hold a majority stake in the project.

InfraCo Asia will bring its leadership expertise and provide funding for the development phase of the project. The project is expected to reach commercial operation by June 2019. During the construction phase, the solar power project will be able to create jobs for more than 200 local workers. Approximately 30 long-term jobs will be sustained when the project is in operation.

We are delighted to have received the support of InfraCo Asia for our first project in Vietnam. We see huge potential for solar energy development in Vietnam and are excited to bring affordable and reliable clean energy to the country.

Lawrence Wu, co-founder and director of Sunseap, said, We are delighted to have received the support of InfraCo Asia for our first project in Vietnam. We see huge potential for solar energy development in Vietnam and are excited to bring affordable and reliable clean energy to the country.

Sunseap International remains focused on developing innovative solar energy solutions that benefit communities in the region while saving the environment. We hope that our solar power project will help to promote green energy investment in Vietnam and in the Indochina region, Wu added.

As the opportunity for renewables in Vietnam continues to grow, we are excited to partner with Sunseap on a project that will serve as a catalyst for further private sector investment. It will support Vietnamwhich is currently reliant on coalin creating a cleaner energy mix for the future, said Allard Nooy, CEO of InfraCo Asia.

The initial investor of the project was CMX Renewable Energy Vietnam Co., Ltd., a joint venture of Sunseap International and CMX RE Canada. The project covers an area of 200 hectares with a total investment capital of VND4.39 trillion ($193.4 million).

In October 2017, the Ninh Thuan Peoples Committee approved the investment planning of the investor.

Being one of the first large-scale solar projects to go online in Vietnam, the Ninh Thuan solar project will tap into Vietnams significant solar potential, generate employment opportunities, and contribute to a cleaner energy mix for the country.

Electricity demand in Vietnam is growing by 12 per cent annually. According to the Vietnamese governments targets, solar power is expected to become the main new renewable energy source in the future, with installed capacity to be increased from around 6-7MW at end of 2017 to 850MW by 2020, accounting for 1.6 per cent of the countrys power generation, and 12,000MW by 2030 or 3.3 per cent of the countrys power generation.

In April 2017, Vietnam fixed the price of solar power at 9.35 US cents/kilowatt hour. The government set a June 2019 deadline for solar power plants to be built and connected to the grid to receive this guaranteed solar feed-in tariff price.

Sunseap is one of the largest and most established players in the solar energy industry in the region. It has a pipeline of projects in Cambodia, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Australia.

InfraCo Asia is an infrastructure development and investment company which aims to stimulate greater private sector investment in infrastructure in the low-income developing countries of South and Southeast Asia.

It funds pre-financial close, early stage, and high-risk infrastructure development activities by taking equity stakes in socially responsible and commercially viable infrastructure projects that contribute to economic growth, social development, and poverty reduction.
Eleanor Langhoff, age 95, of Villard, formerly of St. Paul, died Monday, September 6, 2021. A memorial service will be held at 11 AM, Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at First Lutheran Church in Alexandria. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 AM Wednesday at the church. Arrangements are with the A
The United Arab Emirates, a member of the Saudi coalition against Yemen, wants to create a new state that will allow it to control the Yemen region of Aden. At the time we are writing this article in French (16 Feb 2018), the strategic port of Aden is being exploited by the company Dubai Ports World.

The plan to divide Yemen into a Yemenite faction supported by Saudi Arabia and a Yemenite faction which would be pro-Iranian, could lead to re-establishing peace. However, it would also cement the failure of Yemens President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi. Today President Hadi is a refugee in Saudi Arabia. It would also challenge the plan conceived by Israel and Saudi to exploit the energy resources in the desert of Rub al-Khali and the authority of the Crown Prince Mohamed Ben Salman.

To support the division of Yemen, the United Arab Emirates is actually crossing over to Saudi Arabias camp in the confrontation between Riyadh and Teheran that is today unfolding in Yemen.

The new state of Yemen would be created on the territory of what was formerly South Yemen  the pro-Soviet Peoples Democratic Republic of Yemen (1967-1990), subsequently converted into the Democratic Republic of Yemen before the reunification of Yemen.

For its part, Saudi Arabia would re-establish the former Arab Republic of Yemen  also known as North Yemen (1962-1990) before the reunification.

However, alliances dating back to the Cold War, have been rocked at the foundations not for political reasons but for tribal ones. In recent years a number of former Marxists have joined Al-Qaeda while those who before supported the West have shifted to Irans side.
Gib Delegation Attends International Petroleum Week and International Bunker Industry Association Gala Dinner in London

A delegation of GPA personnel, together with a large number of members of the port community are currently in London to attend International Petroleum (IP) Week and the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) Gala Dinner, which marks the start of IP week.

International Petroleum (IP) Week is a renowned and highly respected event where leaders from the global oil and gas industry share their wealth of knowledge and experience. Over the years, IP Week has established itself as one of the most important events in the global oil and gas calendar, attracting over 1,500 senior executives from all around the world every year and offers a platform where decision makers gather to debate, learn, discuss, share knowledge on current issues and helps to shape the future direction of the industry.

Manuel Tirado, CEO and Captain of the Port is also taking the opportunity to meet with members of the global shipping community during his visit, as part of the Governments strategy to continually reinforce the Ports status as the regions principal bunker port.

Minister for the Port, the Hon Gilbert Licudi MP, stated that it was important for Gibraltar to attend events such as this and was delighted to see that Gibraltar was also being supported and represented by the largest contingent of local operators in recent times.
Photo: Marvel

The best villains are the ones who have a point of view you can relate to, says Joe Robert Cole, the co-writer of Marvels massive new movie Black Panther. To judge from the reception given to Michael B. Jordans Erik Killmonger, who vies with chosen one TChalla (Chadwick Boseman) to rule the Afro-futurist country of Wakanda, Cole and director Ryan Coogler have crafted one of Marvels greatest screen adversaries. Jordan plays the hell out of the role, bringing pain and swagger in equal measure, but the crucial ingredient here is that Killmonger is rooted in more provocative real-world issues than any Marvel villain thus far, and many viewers are finding his plan all too persuasive.

An antagonist hell-bent on arming all the black people in the world, Killmongers rage and rashness are more coherent than TChallas rote Edenic promises, wrote The New Yorkers Doreen St. Felix. Cole likens the characters to X-Men adversaries Professor X and Magneto, who were themselves based on civil-rights leaders Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. Like Professor X, TChalla is the peace-keeper who is concerned for the welfare of his people and only relies on his superpowers when traditional diplomacy has stalled. Killmonger, by contrast, is a firebrand who growls the truths that soft-spoken TChalla dare not say, and is unafraid to hasten violent revolution. Orphaned as a child in Oakland, then sent as an adult on bloody military missions to reshape the world, Killmonger has never known paradise, and he can barely believe that a black utopia like Wakanda will not intercede on the behalf of its oppressed brothers and sisters the world over.

In a lot of ways, what TChalla and what Erik want are the same things, but Erik is coming at it from a place of pain, and TChalla ultimately finds a place of empathy, Cole recently told Vulture. With Killmonger, the idea was to take the thematic idea of what it means to be my brothers keeper, and to find a way to personalize being African, being African-American, and the relationship between black people in the diaspora.

The result is a character whose cold-eyed view of history is hard to argue with  the hashtag #KillmongerWasRight trended over Twitter this past weekend  though his eagerness to murder his collaborators, the peaceful guardians of Wakanda, and the children of those who oppose him suggest that Killmonger sees no real future beyond burning it all down. With Erik, its not what he wants that makes him the villain, its how he goes about trying to get it, and how far he takes it, says Cole. Thats where he crosses the line into almost becoming the thing he hates the most, and the thing that created him: That kind of colonial, slash-and-burn approach of destroying someones culture. But what hes talking about is something that I think TChalla and all of us can relate to, where youre wondering what has happened to our world and equality.

Killmonger was so compelling in his righteousness that for Cole and Coogler, the bigger hurdle was to make TChalla interesting enough to go head-to-head with his adversary. It was tough, confesses Cole. That was a big challenge, to find the warts in him. What is it about TChalla that we can latch onto? Whats the human frailty? Hes a character who does not easily get in his own way, so we had to find interpersonal struggles: Losing his father, finding his identity, his wanting to please and appease everyone. Its hard because we rooted ourselves in the canon, and the way hes written in the comic books, he really doesnt have any flaws. Hes a hard person not to like, and he shows nobility in the face of sacrifice.

To stay faithful to the comic-book version of TChalla but also give him enough to wrestle with, Cole and Coogler decided to complicate his past: Our hero reveres his father TChaka, the assassinated former ruler of Wakanda, but comes to find out that the dead kings motives and methods may not have been so noble.

Hes taking on the burden of history, of what Wakanda has done, and he tries to right that wrong, says Cole. Its more about that than him righting his own personal wrong, although at the beginning of the movie, he fundamentally believes in the Wakanda principle of isolation from the outside world. But Chadwick as an actor brings a certain humanity to it, so in there, somewhere, you always can see this thought of, Maybe we should be doing more. The arc is that ultimately he finds his way there and challenges the new paradigm. He takes Wakanda into a new place.

Throughout, Cole says he was amazed what Marvel allowed him to get away with, from the colonizer punchline given to TChallas sister Shuri to the final, provocative lines spoken by Jordan as Killmonger. Marvel was very supportive of the vision of the movie, says Cole, and the importance of that different voice. Some of Eriks speeches and positions, we really tried to calibrate that to land the way we wanted it to land. And land, it clearly has. Says Cole of the reaction to Black Panther and its tortured antagonist, You just pour your heart into it, and keep your fingers crossed.
The crew behind the Oscar-nominated documentary Last Men in Aleppo are continuing their fight to attend next months ceremony, according to TMZ. Producer Kareem Abeed, assistant director Hassan Kattan, and cinematographers Fadi Al Halabi and Thaer Mohamad are trying a new last-ditch effort to get approval from the Syrian government to travel to the United States. The filmmakers behind the first Oscar-nominated Syrian film are collecting as many after-party invitations as possible to show local consulates in Europe that they have a legitimate business need to travel to the U.S. Last week, the Syrian government refused to expedite the visa process for Abeed and White Helmets founder Mahmoud Al-Hattar to travel to Hollywood.

This isnt the first time foreign nominees have had to contend with travel barriers. Last year the Oscars ceremony took place immediately following the presidents travel ban, and the nominated directors in the Foreign Language Film categories issued an unprecedented joint statement condemning Donald Trump and the travel ban. The Salesman director Asghar Farhadi won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film but declined to attend the show, instead sending a blistering statement to be read in his absence: My absence is out of respect for people in my country, he wrote, and those of other six nations that have been disrespected by the inhumane law that bans entry of immigrants to the U.S.

Correction: A previous version of this post misidentified Hassan Kattans job title.
Marilyn Manson. Photo: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images

Its been a rough few days for Marilyn Manson. In the past week, the shock-rocker has found himself on the receiving end of accusations of racist insults and sexual harassment from actress Charlyne Yi as well as boos from his own fans, who didnt take well to a show in New York cut short by a meltdown from the artist, who performed only six songs, noodled around aimlessly on the guitar, and begged the crowd for love. Manson would recover the night after by punctuating his show in New Jersey with a cover of Patti Smiths Rock n Roll Nigger as well as by mooning the crowd.

Manson has shocked many an audience before; at this point hes probably better known for the controversies surrounding his music than for the music itself. No one is surprised that a performer who trafficked in Satanic imagery for a decade, dressed to impress upon viewers the image of a ghoul, declared in a rock song that rock was dead, got falsely accused of inspiring the Columbine massacre, made a song whose title nodded at Lolita, shot a music video for the song where he and his then 19-year-old girlfriend (roughly half his age) appeared to have sex, claimed that the intercourse in the video was real, headlined the Rape the World Tour, shot another music video after breaking up with said girlfriend where he beat an actress resembling her to death, and has been sued many times by musical collaborators for cheating them out of royalties  no one is surprised that some shit is going down around Marilyn Manson. His aesthetic posturing has always been difficult to distinguish from just being a huge asshole, all the time.

Hes not alone. The 90s, during which Manson made his reputation, were a spawning ground for musicians with antagonistic public attitudes. Oasis was defined by the Gallagher brothers inveterate rudeness; their rivals Radiohead cultivated a sullen exterior that stood in for aesthetic seriousness; Trent Reznor, Mansons mentor and occasional enemy, has never been known as a nice dude; Courtney Love was Courtney Love; Tupac Shakur could be a dick; so could Eminem. What redeemed it all, or seemed to at least, were the two things: first, that a lot of the music that emerged from these people was new and great; second, that there was some inkling of a liberatory politics, whether of class, race, gender, or culture, embedded in being a jerk. When so much hierarchy is masked by being nice, being mean can often signify doing the right thing. What drew Manson and Reznor together originally was a visceral hatred of right-wing cultural conservatives, whose censorious sanctimony was amplified by real political power. The bleakness, sacrilege, and violence that throbs in their music were middle fingers aimed at pious busybodies eager to deny arts freedom of expression.

But times change, tastes shift, and bad people put on different masks. After the war on Iraq and the tortures at Abu Ghraib, transgression stood for something bigger and more reactionary than the dour musicians of the 90s could express. Combined with the usual aesthetic wear-and-tear, it was enough to ensure their decline; newer, cheerier acts emerged who barked little and bit less. At this point, outside of rap, its become increasingly difficult to frame being an asshole as anything but socially regressive. The leading reactionaries of today arent churchgoing prudes who want to censor art; theyre the kind of people who abuse free speech to the fullest extent possible. When Manson, last fall, pointed a fake rifle at a concert audience in San Bernardino, the act was cringeworthy not just because terrorists had massacred 14 people in the same city three years ago, but because it was exactly the same kind of antic one would expect from a second-tier troll.

In this context, finding out that he doesnt mind throwing racial slurs around or harassing lots of women sexually just confirms the fact that his grip on reality, and his place within it, is collapsing in ways that he cant imagine. Aesthetically or politically, disrespect is no guarantee of integrity; it might even predict strongly for its absence. If Manson believes in anything beyond gratifying his own vanity by pissing off everyone around him, hes free to say so. He has always been free to say so, and more free than most. But theres not much glory left in crossing lines just to prove you exist, let alone any excellence. When the commander-in-chief is guaranteed to top you in the art and politics of dishonoring everything, it might be time to do something else.
It was fun while it lasted. Photo: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Alt-right loudmouth Milo Yiannopoulos has decided to drop his $10 million lawsuit against his former publisher Simon & Schuster. He filed papers in New York State Supreme Court on Tuesday asking that the lawsuit be dismissed without any costs incurred by either party. Yiannopoulos sued the publisher last year after it canceled the release of his eventually self-published memoir, Dangerous, when a video surfaced of him condoning pedophilia. Simon & Schuster had previously asked for the lawsuit to be dismissed but a judge allowed the case to proceed, leading to the publication of some rather colorful comments from Yiannopouloss editor. In January, Yiannopouloss legal team quit, which then led to him trying and immediately failing to represent himself in court.

Full disclosure: New York Media has a four-book publishing deal with Simon & Schuster.
Natalie Portman. Photo: Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Vulture Festival

In September 2009, Roman Polanski was arrested by Swiss police on a warrant for his 1977 sexual-abuse case. Though he was released from custody by July 2010, over 100 members of the film industry signed a petition in support of the controversial filmmaker. Filmmakers, actors, producers and technicians  everyone involved in international filmmaking  want him to know that he has their support and friendship, read the petition, signed by Natalie Portman, Darren Aronofsky, Michael Mann, Tilda Swinton, and more. As an early member of Times Up, the legal defense fund founded by Hollywood agents, executives, and actresses, Portman now wishes she hadnt supported Polanksis release. I very much regret it, she said, when BuzzFeed News asked her about signing the Polanski petition. I take responsibility for not thinking about it enough. Someone I respected gave it to me, and said, I signed this. Will you too? And I was like, sure. It was a mistake. The thing I feel like I gained from it is empathy towards people who have made mistakes. We lived in a different world, and that doesnt excuse anything. But you can have your eyes opened and completely change the way you want to live. My eyes were not open.
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Sunny along with a few clouds. High 94F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear skies. Low around 70F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
The Great Comet. Photo: Chad Batka

Though it may have burnt out on Broadway in the wake of a casting controversy last September, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 will soon reappear overseas. The boundary-pushing musical is getting a new life in Tokyo starting January 2019 thanks to production company Toho. According to Variety, there are also discussions of productions in London and Korea, as well as interest in China and the Philippines. The original Broadway run of The Great Comet closed before it could recoup more than 20 percent of its more than $12 million capitalization, so these international productions would allow investors to slowly recover more of that investment. There are also plans for a national tour of sorts, though it is reportedly likely to take the form of a series of longer sit-down runs in various cities. Given the musicals trademark site-specific staging, its also easier for the show to find venues, Variety notes, as it could be performed in a nightclub, a tent, or your apartment right now.
Tomm El-Saieh, Walking Razor, 20172018. Photo: Courtesy the artist and CENTRAL FINE, Miami Beach.

There are 26 artists and artist collectives between the ages of 26 and 36 in the New Museum triennial Songs for Sabotage. As is the case with most biennials these days, all are said to be making art that addresses profound social and political upheaval. Thus Songs is a pro forma biennial, name-checking the heady litany of issues shows like this always address: systemic oppression, Western hegemony, economic injustice, migration, homophobia, racism, sexism, colonialism, and postcolonialism. The bugaboo most maligned by the co-curators  the New Museums Gary Carrion-Murayari and Alex Gartenfeld, deputy director and chief curator of the Institute for Contemporary Art in Miami  is something called late liberalism, which is IDd as the illusion of the seamless flow of capital through global networks via mechanisms of surveillance and control.

This is all really just curator code for Im more woke than you. A better definition of late liberalism in the art world may be tenured and professional curators and academics ignoring the emergencies and needs of artists in their backyards (95 percent of whom could use a break) and instead traveling the world to troubled hot spots like concerned anchormen and anchorwomen to bring back interventions and art that supposedly sabotages things. At some point, of course, this kind of engagement would be exciting to discover in the insular, well-off bubble of the art world. But by now this international style is an expected, depressing, safe, self-congratulatory tautology that keeps people employed in the the flow of capital through global networks while patting participants on the back for being engaged with corrective methodologies. I call it being strung out on privileged bullshit. What out there is actually being corrected by this work?

The catalogue has words in it that I didnt know. The show is about the precariat and geontopower. I looked them up. The first word is about a generation born during a period of the greatest accumulation of wealth in the history of the world but who nevertheless live in unstable economies. Its worth pointing out that 99 percent of all artists have always lived like this. Needless to say most of the artists included here are relatively well-off either schooled, degreed, living in more than one city (thats a nice racket), recipients of important grants and residencies where they do interventions with the local communities. This is not to say, of course, that no beneficiary of art-world largesse should feel qualified to make work involving social critique. Quite the opposite. But I want to see them walking the walk, not just posing the pose.

To define the second word, geontopower, the catalogue offers a dodge: a set of discourses. You cant win with these people! Words like undercommons, hypercapitalism, networked mediascapes, and anarcho-syndicalists are tossed off. Theres lots of usual art-speak about art that interrogates, leading us to conclude that in the last 15 years the art world has gone from being undertakers proclaiming mediums dead to becoming lawyers taking depositions. In an old neo-Marxist tip of the hat, the approved word for artists is now cultural producer. No artist can rise to these levels of activism. Especially not very very young ones. (And these are the same people who end up writing the histories, curating the shows, teaching the courses, editing out impurities from bibliographies, reviewing one anothers shows, hiring colleagues for jobs.) Meanwhile, a claque of critics lauds every show and demonizes all those who dont. Its airtight.

Dalton Paula, Enfia a faca na bananeira, 2017. Photo: Courtesy the artist and Se Galeria, Sao Paulo.

But we must not blame artists for this curatorial belaboring. Or even the New Museum  one of the best institutions of its kind anywhere. Its a nonproductive self-replicating curatorial/academic pathogen in the system that I think needs to die. Still, the pleasant surprise of Songs is that the stated prohibition against formal and technical progress bears enough fruit that we may generously say that Songs is a glass one-quarter full rather than three-quarters empty and annoying.

Everything in the show is done in recognizable styles, idioms, and genres  be they traditionally figurative and expressionist painting, assembled constructions, digital art, neo-conceptual sculpture, and of course, gathered, found, and altered objects. But painting is the standout medium. Songs demonstrates that there is new life being breathed into old isms by artists from all over the world and that movements arent simply over when white male European and North American artists and art historians no longer engage them. Gresham Tapiwa Nyaudes canvasses depict freakish Francis Baconish scenes with screaming figures (who are said to represent President Robert Mugabe). His wild colors suggest that Zimbabwe may be a hothouse for new pictorial ideas about painting. The subtle symbolist paintings of Brazils Dalton Paulas recall Mexican retablos and images are meant to be devotional and healing. Claudia Martinez Garay, of Peru, channels way too much of Walid Raad but manages to present propaganda symbols separated out from their more modernist frames that at least makes this formula an engaging good beginning.

Tomm El-Saieh, Tablet, 20172018. Photo: Courtesy the artist and CENTRAL FINE, Miami Beach.

The best artist in Songs is Haitis Tomm El-Saieh who makes dreamy, subtly colored dot-and-dash-scapes, mapping abstract Chinese-like landscapes that evoke iridescent magnetic fields, incessant waves of water, and remind us of a more abstract Chris Ofili. Keep your eye on him; theres real vision here. Cian Dayrit, of the Philippines, makes captivating but overthought maps of his country on what look like painted carpets and charts dotted with references to colonialism, U.S. military operations, former plantations, and current open-pit mining. His best is a Boshian apocalyptic world with demons, hellfire, flying dragons, packed towns, and swooping eagles. Russias Zhenya Machneva might rightfully be called a tapestry artist but her careful renditions of banal factories and mechanical equipment suggests shes tapping into mid-20th-century Precisionism and the great under-known German painter Konrad Klapheck. On a personal level my heart broke a little with Manuel Solanos outsider-ish paintings of figures strapped in beds, crying, standing alone in landscapes and against city walls. This artist went legally blind in 2014, at the age of 27, is transgender and HIV-positive and also produces elaborate music and performance pieces.

On the sculptural side of the tracks, the mysterious, sexual, threatening sculptural objects of Julia Phillips made me feel like I was seeing the beginning of a very good artist. Similar feelings struck me around the work of Violet Dennison, Matthew Angelo Harrison, the collective known as KERNAL, and Daniela Ortiz  who fashions playful ceramic oddities meant to replace monuments to various conquistadores.

On the other hand, there are works that purport to be about things  or rather, that demonstrate the precariat and geontopower merging in the undercommons to interrogate the ways that cultural workers intervene in hypercapitalism. Or something. Haroon Gunn-Salies gallery-filling sculptural installation of 17 headless, crouching figures is said to reference protesting South African miners who were mercilessly gunned down by police in 2012. Its a poignant story. Theres a soundtrack of guns. But this display would work better as a public work within the right context, and here has already become little more than a photo op. This artist has been better in the past. Ditto Diamond Stingilys ionized aluminum swing set with a ladder, hanging barbell weight, and a swing with a brick attached on the overhead crossbeam. One of the curators told me he thought it represented the contested space of violence perpetuated against black American children in public space. Really its just a surreal swing set brought indoors. Explications of this work are forced. Curators and academics need to stop telling us that all this art disrupts or sabotages anything. It doesnt.

I believe that artists all over the world and in our own backyards are violating any resistance to formal and technical progress. LaToya Ruby Fraziers straight documentary photography has reignited this sleeping form and made it into a raging beast; Louis Fratinos personal, painterly depictions of everyday gay life raise the bar of figurative-visionary painting, as do the stitched, painted, and sewn works of Tschabalala Self; ditto Katherine Bernhardt. Cynthia Talmadge is actually advancing appropriation in works that are infinitely odd, as is Al Freeman  a woman who sometimes only compares photographs, and on my Instagram has gotten 5,000 people upset. Meanwhile, 1990s pathetic-aesthetic progenitor Cary Leibowitz (a.k.a. Candy Ass) is still working at top form; Cameron Rowland revives what should be the dead conceptualism of art that is only in the labels by having a feel for objects that is almost as formalist and striking as Donald Judds. When biennials dont have to be politics all on the exact same tribal page, shows like this and art in general will again be allowed the complexity, autonomy, and strangeness of all of its possible structures.
A DeKalb County man is being held for mental evaluation after some disturbing posts on social media.

According to the DeKalb County Sheriffs Office, 21-year-old Cole Barnes, was arrested for walking into a school with a pellet gun last week. He is still being held for a mental evaluation after investigators looked at his social media pages.

WAAY 31 reached out to community on Monday to see what they thought about the mans posts and law enforcements response to them.

Everyone WAAY 31 talked to agreed social media can be dangerous, but they say theyre just thankful that local law enforcement is paying attention to it.

Its very scary. It feels like no one is monitoring anythingnot even their parents," said DeKalb County resident, Kristal Almond.

Almond is a teacher in DeKalb County and says, after the school shooting in Florida, shes become extra worried about her students and what they may be posting on social media.

I wish there was some kind of regulation where they couldnt post any and everything," Almond said.

Social media is probably like the biggest thing right now. I mean, its where you can learn about people," said Ty Brooks a DeKalb County.

Thats exactly why officials with the DeKalb County Sheriffs Office say, they always check social media pages for anyone who may be under investigation.

This includes 21-year-old Cole Barnes, who was arrested last week after officials say he took a pellet gun into Sylvania High School, after hours, while students were inside.

Officials say a mental evaluation has been ordered for Barnes after they found some disturbing social media posts, including pictures of guns and knifes on his Facebook page.

It shocks me because its Alabama, not Florida. I mean, I dont expect that here," Brooks said. "Its scary because it can happen anywhere.

Brooks says hes still worried about the future because he thinks another scary part of social media are the people who like to imitate others.

I hope theres not too many people out there that want to do exactly what he did, actually bring a gun in," Brooks said. "I mean, it puts a lot of fear in everybody. Its not a good thing.

They should be held accountable," Almond added.

Officials with the Dekalb County Sheriffs Office told WAAY 31 social media helps them do their job by giving them a better understanding of who theyre dealing with.

The sheriffs office also wants to remind everyone that if you see anything that poses a threat or some sort of danger on social media, please report it to law enforcement immediately.
Tuesday, was Colbert County students first day back at school after the flu and other illnesses caused the school system to shut down for a few days.

Last Friday, they already had a scheduled teacher work day and Monday was a Holiday so students only missed one day of class. Colbert County School offcials told WAAY31 last Wednesday, 23% of their student body was absent and today only 9%.

While students were out of class last Thursday teachers and school administrators spent the day cleaning all buses and schools with Clorox to get rid of any flu germs. School officials tell us they believe the break and deep cleaning helped because more students are in class this week.

"The flu season has been worse than normal," said Deputy Superintendent, Wade Tuberville."I think the break and getting kids away from one another helped calm that down."

School officials have submitted paperwork to the Alabama State Department of Education to see if they will have to make up the sick time. They might not have to because Governor Ivey declared a state of emergency involving the flu.
An Alabama lawmaker pushing a bill to arm teachers in all state public schools. However, one county in North Alabama already has the right to do that.

Representative, Will Ainsworth from Guntersville is introducing a bill to arm teachers after they go through extensive training, in the wake of the mass school shooting in Florida. Franklin County teachers here in North Alabama can already do that.

In 2013, Representative Johnny Mack Morrow introduced HB116. HB116 would have given teachers in Franklin County the option to arm themselves while at school, but Governor Bentley vetoed the bill.

Morrow then introduced the same bill, with slight changes as HB404. That bill passed and was signed into law. Morrow told WAAY 31, he introduced the bill after the Sandy Hook shooting, which killed 26 people. Morrow said, Franklin County is rural and he didn't feel like telling students to run and hide would be enough to protect them from a mass shooter. Also because of budgets, the Franklin County Sheriff said, they don't have school resource officers. The sheriff said HB404 has given them the option of safety measures they can take without it costing a lot.

Any teacher in Russellville City Schools, or Franklin County Schools can be armed after HB404 became law five years ago. Parents told WAAY31, it gives them piece of mind.

"I think it's good because if anything happened like that the teachers need to be armed to take down that person," said Whitney Granada, who has two children that will be in the Franklin County School System.

Franklin County is the only county that allows teachers to be armed in the state. This is how the law works for Franklin County, each superintendent can go to the Franklin County Sheriff and tell them which teachers need to be trained and armed. The teachers can store guns in safe areas, and go through mental evaluations, and gun training. The school board and sheriff must approve each teacher to be armed.

"I feel like one county can make a change," said Freddy Vargis, who is also a parent in Franklin County. "Other schools will be able to look at Franklin County Schools and they will be able to implement from that."

Vargis told WAAY 31, he thinks having teachers armed is a good thing and he trusts local teachers.

"People should trust them enough to be armed and keep their kids safe," said Vargis.

Whether or not teachers are armed is a secret according to the superintendent of Franklin County Schools. He told WAAY 31, they work closely with the sheriff's office but cannot comment on how many teachers are possibly armed for safety reasons.

Representative Morrow will hold a news conference on Friday to discuss how this law is working in Franklin County. He told us this local law could be a model statewide.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) - A judge has ruled that jurors will not hear testimony that a Tennessee school bus driver charged in a fatal crash cursed at students and had other issues.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Don Poole wrote the order Feb. 13. However, it says if prosecutors believe testimony about prior driving by 25-year-old Johnthony Walker is relevant, they can request an out-of-jury hearing in his Feb. 27 trial.

Six Woodmore Elementary School children died in the 2016 crash. Walker's defense attorney said the testimony was not related to the wreck, while prosecutors said it could show a pattern of behavior.

Authorities say Walker was speeding when the bus crashed with 37 children on board. He was charged with 34 offenses, including vehicular homicide.

___

Information from: Chattanooga Times Free Press, http://www.timesfreepress.com

(Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

2/20/2018 10:55:04 AM (GMT -6:00)
A bipartisan bill that would reward states for reporting to the national database used to do background checks when buying a gun is now being proposed.

The newly introduced gun legislation is getting attention in Washington in the wake of the Parkland school shooting. Two senators, on both sides of the aisle, are sponsoring the bill that would tighten the federal background check process for purchasing guns.

The bill would offer direct financial incentives to states that report infractions into the federal background check system and those states would also receive priority access to other federal assistance programs.

Currently federal agencies are required to report various felonies, indictments and other crimes into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System [NICBCS], but Congress has no power to compel states to do the same.

The White House indicated that President Trump was open to supporting such a bill in the wake of the Parkland shooting.

In the past five months the country has experienced two of its deadliest mass shootings, that being Las Vegas and Parkland, Florida just last week, sparking a national movement called "Enough is Enough."

Young adults held a protest in Washington, D.C urging congress to take action on gun violence Monday. Students are also planning a national walk out in March.

Its unclear whether the legislation, which is still being amended, will go forward or be up for a vote in the near future.
Monday night, parents addressed the Muscle Shoals City Council. They asked them to step in, and fix problems they claim, are happening within the Muscle Shoals City School System.

The city council appoints board of education members in Muscle Shoals, and have done that since the school system was formed.

"This city council appoints them and then steps away," said Muscle Shoals parent, Amanda Hollander.

Hollander took to the podium during Monday night's city council meeting. She expressed her concerns with the Muscle Shoals Board of Education and how they handled an investigation into former McBride Elementary school teacher, Blake Jarmon.

"It was frustrating the day I went and spoke with the principal and he would give me no information. It was frustrating when no one from administration reached out to me, my husband, or any of the parents involved," said Hollander.

Hollander tells us her son was one of dozens interviewed by the principal at McBride Elementary School concerning Jarmon's behavior. The board of education voted to terminate Jarmon after an internal investigation. Hollander said, parents were left in the dark over the whole situation.

"A lot of people see the need for change. This whole situation has really shed light on how these boards work and how no one is held accountable," said Hollander.

Hollander and other parents claim the board of education violated Alabama's Open Meetings Law, because they claim Board of Education members discussed how to handle the Jarmon investigation outside of a meeting.

"They made decisions based solely on Dr. Willingham's inappropriate and vague questioning that was then relayed to Dr. Lindsey. They then took those facts and discussed them outside of executive session," said Hollander. "We ask you gentlemen to step in and hold your appointees accountable. When a school board and administration that you appointed breaks the law."

Muscle Shoals Mayor, David Bradford, told WAAY 31, there isn't much they can do because the board of education is their own entity.

"If they feel like the board violated some type of ethics law they would be to file that," said Bradford. "This council is not prepared to hear anything like that unless we have to remove someone for a particular reason."

WAAY 31 has filed an open records request with the Muscle Shoals City School Board about the investigation into Blake Jarmon, but we have no recieved those documents yet. WAAY 31 was told by the superintendent that their attorney's were handling the request.

Muscle Shoals Superintendent, Dr. Brian Lindsey, told WAAY 31 they deny accusations that they violated Alabama's Open Meeting Law.

Parents tell us they will not give up on this until they see change.
The American Red Cross is in need of blood donations.

WAAY 31 learned the blood supply is about 20,000 units short nationwide. That's enough blood to help around 60,000 people.

The Red Cross is hosting a blood drive that will continue through the end of February because it's in need of blood.

"We'd come to blood drives and you'd have a more than usual amount of individuals that couldn't donate because of the flu and the sickness. We even had schools that completely shut down and because of that we'd have to cancel blood drives," said Kevin Reid with the Red Cross.

The Red Cross told WAAY 31 Monday, they're looking for all types of blood but O+ and O- are needed the most.

If you're worried that you've been sick and can't donate, Reid told us donation centers will give you a quick physical before your donation.

"You have to be off antibiotics 48 hours before you can donate blood so we want good healthy donors. You certainly don't want to donate blood if you're not feeling well. Once you're over the flu and feeling well we look forward to seeing you, " he said.
WRITTEN BY JOHN GROBLER AND KHADIJA SHARIFE

Major gaps between South African and Namibian legislation that regulates the endangered species trade allowed for the sale of at least 13 white rhino bulls from a South African game park to a Russian big game hunting outfit in Namibia. Nine of these rhinos were found to have died.

The sale was part of a controversial 2013 deal -- which raised an outcry at the time -- that saw a total of 260 of the endangered rhinos sold from South Africas Kruger National Park.

By itself, selling white rhinos is not an unusual practice. Its a conservation strategy intended to raise money for parks, reduce poaching, and diversify the genetic pool by creating satellite populations in better-protected areas.

But a new investigation by Oxpeckers and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) reveals that, in this case, something went dramatically wrong.

The fate of the rhinos that ended up in Namibia, the deaths of dozens more that were sold to South African breeding farms, and irregularities in the approval of the sale point to serious problems in how the conservation of endangered species is regulated -- and highlight the ability of powerful individuals to skirt the rules to their benefit.

Worth More Dead Than Alive?

Once on the brink of extinction, the South African population of white rhinos numbers about 22,000 (about 90 percent of the world total) as of 2010. Of these, some 75 percent are based in reserves such as Kruger National Park, while the remainder are housed on private land.

The recovery is thanks, in part, to the policy of SANParks, the countrys national parks agency, of sustainably selling rhinos to the commercial breeding industry to maintain genetic diversity.

Thats why, though the hunting of the animals for sport has a long and controversial history, many acknowledge that it has its place in conservation.

In short, if there are no financial incentives for the private sector to breed white rhino, there might be a lot less investment overall, explained Namibian rhino specialist Dr. Pierre du Preez.

But the hunting industry has recently been infiltrated by a set of actors with a different agenda -- killing the animals only in order to obtain and sell their horns.

Its sad, but rhinos are often worth more dead than alive, says Namibian rhino breeder Jaco Muller.

Thats because the horns are worth more than the actual rhino. Each kilogram can fetch as much as US$ 100,000 -- ultimately, as much as $300,000 per horn. The destination is China, where the horns are used to carve ornamental libation cups denoting superior social standing, or to Vietnam, where they are used as a hangover cure by the super-rich. The left-over bits are used in traditional Chinese medicine to cure everything from high blood pressure to rheumatism.

About 1,000 rhinos have been killed every year in South Africa in resurgent poaching -- illegal hunting -- since 2009. Most of these deaths take place in areas that straddle transnational borders, such as Kruger National Park.

Traditionally, such poaching has been carried out by organized crime cartels, which earn profits on the horns and use them for portable wealth.

But, as this investigation reveals, its not just illegal poachers that are the problem. People charged with protecting the animals are sometimes able to make use of gaps in legal regulations to profit from selling the animals, which in some cases leads to their deaths.

A number of rules govern the cross-border trade in rhinos between Namibia and South Africa, including local regulations in each country. Both countries are also party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the oldest international conservation agreement that legally binds the voluntary participants.

South Africa has an additional set of Threatened or Protected Species (TOPS) laws that oversee the trade in endangered species.

These regulations prohibit the export of rhinos for anything but breeding or broader conservation purposes, and also prohibit hunting any rhino within three years of its being moved from an open to an enclosed area. But, as du Preeze explains, such regulations are not legally enforceable in neighboring Namibia, which does not have a large indigenous rhino population. This is the loophole that has been exploited for the sake of handsome profits for South African and Russian billionaires.

It has also brought to light a fundamental problem in commercial breeding of white rhinos: Half of every annual cohort are males, for which there are no real markets except to be sold to the hunting industry as trophies.

Krugers Rhino for Krugers Rand

With an area of nearly two million hectares, the Kruger National Park in South Africas northern region is one of the continents largest game reserves. It is also where the most white rhinos have been poached since 2008.

In 2013, SANParks made a controversial decision to sell 500 white rhinos (later reduced to 260) to South African private game farms that were involved in the sports-hunting industry. Oxpeckers reported at the time that a SANpark official, Dr. Hector Magome, had acted improperly in overseeing the deal, and that he had been suspended as a result.

Selling excess rhino bulls to be hunted is nothing new in the trophy hunting industry. Through special auctions and carefully curated and regulated sales, parks such as Kruger are allowed sell rhinos explicitly for hunting.

But thats not what happened in this case.

According to documents obtained by OCCRP from a private investigator who specializes in rhino protection, the deal with the breeders appears to have been personally negotiated by Magome, rather than proceeding through the SANParks board, as is required for sales of over R10 million ($860,000).

Among the three South African breeders who were offered preferential access to the Kruger Park rhinos were South African billionaire Christo Wiese and his game-breeding partner Jacques Hartzenberg, co-owners of a farm called Kalahari Oryx. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Wiese and Hartzenberg bought an unknown number of rhinos on the cheap, at prices of R50,000 (US $4,300) or more below average market-value.

The is despite the fact that prices for rhino hunting at private game reserves have been on the rise since 2014, as hunting quotas were reduced as a result of the increased poaching. Fees range from R825,000 ($70,000) to over R1 million ($85,000) for a trophy-quality bull, depending on the size of the main horn.)

Wiese then made a deal to sell some of the rhinos to the Marula hunting farm, a 29,500 hectare private reserve owned by Russian billionaire Rashid Sardarov near Namibias capital of Windhoek. Sardarov is a keen hunter, boasting trophies that include a critically-endangered black rhino.

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Asked why BHP had not agreed to Elliott's request for an independent review of the DLC structure, Mr Mackenzie told reporters after the results were released that BHP had "a fresh look all the time". Mr Mackenzie said he was open to listening to ideas about how to add value for the benefits of shareholders, and acknowledged that on some calculations the possible "upside prize" from collapsing the dual listing structure looked to be quite large. But he also added a note of caution: "For every study that points to some large prizes, there are other studies which suggest this is a very risky venture indeed. We of course know that there's about a billion dollars of costs that we would incur if we were to unify." Mr Mackenzie insisted that there was "huge uncertainty" about the impact of collapsing the dual listed structure. "In the language of projects we have a questionable return, with high risk," he said. While shareholders will receive a cash splash from BHP, and the miner's half year profit jumped significantly, it came in below analysts' expectations.

According to figures collated by Vuma, the consensus figure among analysts was for an underlying profit of $US4.25 billion. The global miner reported earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for the half of a whopping $US11.23 billion, up 14 per cent on the prior corresponding period. Significantly stronger prices for copper, LNG and oil, and a slightly stronger iron ore price, helped propel BHPs earnings. BHPs operational review for the December half, released in mid-January, showed that the miners average realised price for copper was up a healthy 33 per cent in the half, compared with the prior corresponding period. Loading

Average realised prices for LNG were up 18 per cent, and oil up 20 per cent. Iron ore prices were also up, but by a more subdued 4 per cent. Iron ore contributed a massive $US4.3 billion to BHPs EBITDA. UBS had predicted the key commodity to contribute $US4.53 billion to EBITDA. Mr Mackenzie said BHP was on track to "deliver further productivity gains of $US2 billion by the end of the 2019 financial year". On the decision to introduce a DRP, which BHP has had in the past, Mr Mackenzie said the company had listened to its retail shareholders and valued them highly. "We have a lot of interest in having one from our retail shareholders, who would like to be able to convert their dividends into shares, and therefore efficiently increase their stake in the company rather than receiving cash," he said. "We've listened to them, we really value our retail shareholders, they're a very important part of the register," he said.

Mr Mackenzie was also asked about the decision to pay shareholders well above the company's 50 per cent minimum payout amount, which is equivalent to $US900 million, or US17 cents per share. "We are keen to get the right balance, between cash that we return to our very patient and decent shareholders, and money that we invest in the business," he said. Mr Mackenzie also suggested that returns to shareholders could increase in future, as the company's net debt was reduced further. Other highlights from the results include a fall in net debt of almost $1 billion to $US15.4 billion. Analyst Peter O'Connor, from Shaw and Partners, said that while BHP's net profit was up substantially, its net profit and EBITDA were about five per cent below market expectation.
Illustration: Andrew Dyson

For Malcolm Turnbulls sake lets hope hes never had an affair. Thats not a nasty insinuation  certainly not after Sunday nights serendipitously-timed 60 Minutes interview with Malcolm and wife Lucy, their close and enduring partnership again on public display.

But the Prime Ministers unprecedented excoriation of Barnaby Joyce over his personal life arguably opened the door, as they say in the courts, to scrutiny of his own moral character. Frankly after Turnbulls spray against his deputy, his moral character looks questionable, even if hes never glanced sideways at another woman.

Malcolm Turnbull and his wife Lucy on 60 Minutes. Credit:60 Minutes/Channel Nine

I am not here to moralise, Turnbull declared, with a Brutus-like flourish on Thursday. I have no interest in prying into peoples personal or private affairs at all, he said, while announcing a moralising and intrusive bonking ban between ministers and staff, and raking over the already utterly exposed private life of his deputy.
The Prime Minister was announcing a ban on sexual relationships between ministers and their staff members to make sure that such a thing would never happen again, he said. He had encouraged Joyce to take leave. "He has to consider his own position, obviously." A reporter asked Turnbull: "Why would you not urge Barnaby Joyce to resign now?" This was the key political question. If it was so grave a misjudgment, why hadn't Turnbull demanded Joyce's resignation already? Turnbull answered that it was a matter for Joyce to reflect on. In fact, Turnbull knew full well in advance that there was no chance of Joyce resigning. How did he know? He had not asked Joyce if he had considered resigning, according to informed sources. He had not suggested that he consider resigning.

However, he had taken some indirect soundings through ministerial colleagues, informed people said. Those soundings told him that Joyce had not the least intention of considering his position. None. Now, two days later, the Nationals leader told Turnbull not to air his concerns about his personal life in public again. And Turnbull accepted this point without demur. So before and after his public denunciation of Joyce, the Prime Minister knew that Joyce was not going anywhere. Turnbull told reporters on Sunday: "Now the important thing is Barnaby and I are working closely together as we always have, hes obviously taking leave coming this week and we look forward to him returning from that at the end of the week." So much for taking leave to consider his position. In his private exchange with Joyce on Saturday, Turnbull defended his right to be concerned about his personal conduct. The story had rocked the government and dominated the media.

Joyce agreed. But, he said, Turnbull had chosen timing and volume that were over the top. It had looked like he was vilifying Joyce. In future, Turnbull should put his concerns in private. So what was all the prime ministerial fuss about? Turnbull knew that his public shaming of Joyce would not force him out. In fact, Joyce considers the story to be a passing event that he likened to food poisoning.

"It's like asking people when they've had food poisoning from fish whether they'd eat fish again. They always say no. "But within a month or so you're sitting down having barramundi with them," he tells Fairfax Media. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announces his ban on ministers having sexual relationships with their staff. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Joyce thinks that the tide on the matter has already turned. Faced with a Newspoll on Monday showing that 65 per cent of respondents thought he should resign as Nationals leader or retire from Parliament altogether, he says that support in his electorate is strong and that the people of New England can see through the media storm: "Once people get a sense that they're just sticking the slipper into someone, opinions change. And they change in favour of the person getting stuck into. It's no longer reporting, it's malice. For a while it's interesting and salacious, now they are saying 'they're just trying to get stuck into you'." His electorate and the people in the regions know that he has delivered for them: "I have never stood in the pulpit or the podium as a saint. I stand on my record."

So fish sales are down. But Joyce seems robustly confident that they'll bounce back. Joyce answers to his own party and his own electorate. The leader of the Nationals is deputy prime minister automatically under the Coalition agreement because it suits both parties, with their separate constituencies, to pool their numbers. Without the Nationals, the Liberals would be out of power. And without the Liberals, the Nationals would never get their hands on the national Treasury again. Talk of a "divorce" is bizarrely ill-informed. Turnbull is powerless to move against Joyce. He knew it then and he knows it now. His public assault was performance art. It was designed to impress religious and social conservatives with his high standards, and younger voters and women were supposed to admire him for correcting the power imbalance between male bosses and their female employees. But Joyce was never going to budge. "My life has been a huge fight. This is just another one," he says.
Even when some effective antibiotics remain available, they are often difficult to deliver and very expensive. Often there will be no oral tablets and a patient will have to have their antibiotics through a drip - like Jane did. More importantly these remaining antibiotics can be much more toxic, with sometimes more frequent and serious side effects.

Superbugs are bacteria that are resistant to most, and sometimes all antibiotics. They are now causing many common infections in what is a major and growing international problem. Some of these infections have very limited options for therapy and will result in death.

When Jane returned from her holiday in Thailand, she brought with her something far worse than a bout of traveller's diarrhoea. She brought home a superbug. And it landed her on my list of patients.

After her holiday, Jane developed a urinary tract infection. She needed three courses of a last line antibiotic (meropenem) to beat it. At least that drug was effective and relatively non-toxic. But the problem with her superbug was that even after we got rid of it from her bladder, it still lived in her bowel and came back repeatedly to cause more urinary tract infections.

Superbugs cause pain, suffering, time off work and interference with normal life - you are sick for longer and you have a greater chance of ending up with a disability. The worst case scenario is when an untreatable infection leads to death. We need to remember the times before antibiotics were available e.g. the 1920s, when a person had a Golden Staph bloodstream infection, there was an 80 per cent chance they would die. With antibiotic therapy, this mortality rate is now five times lower. But we dont want to return to the days of the 1920s where although we have antibiotics, they dont work.

The most rapid rise and often the worst type of superbugs occur in developing countries. In India, about half of all community-onset urinary tract infections caused by E.coli are for practical purposes now untreatable. These untreatable bugs can pass to people by many routes. Its not only person to person, but via foods and water. In some countries, even when the water supply is chlorinated, untreatable E.coli remains present.

In Australia, we often worry about a post-antibiotic era full of superbugs; for practical purposes a large proportion of the worlds population is already in a post-antibiotic era.

Australia does have some very difficult to treat bacteria which can cause problems both in hospitals and in the community, but these are still relatively rare. Travellers are at increased risk of introducing superbugs into Australia because they pick them up through foods and water while overseas.
Brisbane taxi licences have plummeted in value by 78 per cent in just three years.

In 2014, standard taxi licences in the city were selling, on average, for more than half a million dollars.

The value of taxi licences has dropped by almost 80 per cent in Brisbane in just three years. Credit:Michelle Smith

Last year, that figure dropped to $113,003, as the dominance of ride-sharing service Uber sounded a near-death knell for Brisbane taxi licence owners.

The value of wheelchair-accessible maxi-taxi licences nosedived 60 per cent in three years to $111,179, on average, in Brisbane in 2017.
The mother of a young man who died a hero off a South West beach in 2012 has made a heartbreaking plea for the return of her son's bike.

Kane Nelson lost his life while trying to rescue a drowning man at Redgate Beach.

Kane Nelson died a hero. Now his mum desperately wants his bike back.

He was 22 at the time of the tragedy, and his body was never recovered.

Kane's mother, Christine, kept sentimental items belonging to her son as mementos of her much-loved child.
"Not for more than 15 minutes a month. That's true for me, and I'm more privileged than most." She said constant balance was not only impossible but undesirable. Some of the most rewarding and exciting times of a woman's life, or the times that caused the most growth, were inherently "unbalanced": being promoted at work, having a baby or getting married were naturally all-consuming. "You don't get to decide when you might lose your job, or have a divorce, or when your parents ageing might become an issue," she said. "This idea we can control our lives, achieve this mythical balance, is damaging." It's doing women a real disservice to say we can't question aspects of our own behaviour ... none of us make choices in a vacuum.

While the publisher talked her into abandoning her working title, "Balance is Bullshit", Freedman got her way on the cover image, a composite of various portraits depicting her varying "faces". "Women compare our real lives to other women's highlight reels," she said. "It gives rise to this idea that everyone else is somehow doing life right and you are doing it wrong." Freedman's desire to tell the whole story continues inside the covers as she candidly recounts experiences with marriage breakdown, eating disorders, anxiety, abortion, miscarriage, career challenges and disasters, working motherhood and its ever-attendant guilt. The stories roll naturally, in the tone of a friend sitting cosily beside you with a cup of tea in full flight, making you laugh inappropriately while discussing deadly serious topics.

"I never read about these things when I went through them," she said. "When it happens to you, you feel like the only person who messes this stuff up. "It's always meant a lot to me to own my successes but also own my failures and vulnerabilities and flaws and mistakes. I feel like the way women learn is through stories of other women." Freedman casts a wide net, however, going beyond personal history to cover numerous topics women routinely grapple with, but often escape analysis from a feminist perspective. She gives a grand tongue-lashing to what she terms the "gratitude platitude", in which women photograph themselves, their children, a new possession or milestone and caption it "gratitude" or "blessed".

"They mean proud," Freedman said. "Proud of my kids today. Proud of how my hair looks today. Proud of this achievement at work; this award I've won, this thing I've done," she said. "Instead of owning achievement with the active word, 'proud', we use words like blessed and grateful and glad." Freedman referenced the body of scientific research profiled in Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In, showing that women face distinct social penalties for doing things that lead to success. Freedman argues women internalised this knowledge early and the result is self-deprecation. "We emphasise humility, acceptability... we don't take responsibility for the success. It's disingenuous, full of shame," she said.

"To be up ourselves in Australia is the worst thing you can be, and the accusation or perception is flung at women more readily than at men. We try to pre-empt it by using these words." Freedman applies the same critical analysis to subjects from Botox to selfies, porn to parental leave, in the same breathless rush. "As I get older I get less interested in writing a hot take on whatever the news of the day is, and more in having the space to explore the nuances," she said. "It's doing women a real disservice to say we can't question aspects of our own behaviour, that that's betraying feminism. "For example, no judgement for anyone who has Botox  I reserve the right to have it myself one day  but does that mean we can't ask why men largely aren't doing this while women are? You can ask these questions in a way that doesn't attack women. None of us make choices in a vacuum. There is a feminist context."

She said that as an employer of 85 women she saw firsthand how women of all ages struggled to achieve work-life balance. No matter what their career achievements, they tended to remain the primary caregivers and every day she spoke to someone who needed to pull back because of the needs of children, parents or partners. This took a toll. "This idea that balance is possible and there is a secret magic formula; the older I get the more I realise this is not the case," she said. "It's like the hokey pokey. You lean in, you lean out, fall down, have a glass of wine, get up. "We must become more comfortable with being unbalanced. Be kinder to yourself and lower your expectations of yourself. It is the path to a happier, less anxious life." Mia Freedman joins a stellar line-up at Perth Festival Writers Week, including Maggie Beer, Michelle de Kretser, Robert Dessaix, Cory Doctorow, Robert Drewe, Helen Garner, Peter Goldsworthy, AC Grayling, Alan Hollinghurst, Tony Hughes-d'Aeth, Alex Miller, Di Morrissey, David Whish-Wilson, the most recent Miles Franklin winner Josephine Wilson and Tim Winton.
A woman has fallen from a balcony on the fifth floor of a apartment complex in East Perth on Wednesday morning.

Police and emergency services rushed to the building next to the Aldernay serviced apartments on Hay Street about 3am to retrieve the woman.

A witness said two men were running around frantically following the fall, saying "did she jump?"

The woman, believed to be 21 years old, landed on a ledge above the ground and suffered multiple injuries, according to the ABC's Graeme Powell.
Following the National Mercator Plan for Sudan, designed to provide multi-year, interactive and results-oriented capacity building support to enable effective implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), the WCO facilitated a workshop to strengthen Sudan Customs capacities on post-clearance audit (PCA). The workshop was held in Khartoum, Sudan from 11 to 15 February 2018, and was delivered in the framework of the HMRC-WCO-UNCTAD Programme, financially supported by the Government of the United Kingdom through Her Majestys Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

In total, 20 Sudan Customs officials from PCA and other Customs directorates and departments, including Port Sudan, Khartoum airport, Sub dry port containers, Finance, Risk management, Policies and Procedures, Training benefited from participating in the workshop. The participants were introduced to the WCO PCA concept of measuring and improving compliance, and gained an increased understanding of the importance of PCA as an integrated part of the Customs risk management strategy and processes, in order to increase the efficiency of controls and promote trade facilitation.

The workshop also provided an opportunity for participants to practically implement PCA using systems based audit approach focusing on targeting methodologies, data and information gathering methods. Through role-play and case study examples, participants were able to practice interview techniques to better understand auditable business processes and systems used by large multinationals.

Participants displayed enthusiasm to pilot PCA techniques in line with WCO Guidelines and international best practices. The WCO looks forward to continuing its collaboration with Sudan Customs in line with the tailor-made track of the Mercator Programme.
STACEY CASKEY ANNOUNCES FOR SCHOOL BOARD SEAT

FOR ONE OF THREE SEATS UP FOR ELECTION THIS YEAR ON THE COUNTY'S SCHOOL BOARD

Stacey Caskey, Mills River resident, educator, small-business owner and college counselor, became the latest candidate to announce an intention to run for School Board.

In a news release Monday, Caskey said she hopes to use her experience to benefit Henderson County and its students.

Caskey, who hasnt yet filed paperwork with the county Board of Elections, said in the release that with her more than 28 years of educational experience, she can bring the kind of fresh ideas, solid experience and practical knowledge that will benefit Henderson Countys students and the community.

That experience includes being recognized as Teacher of the Year by two school systems and a nomination in 1997 for Microsoft Teacher of the Year that prompted a visit from New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani to Caskeys classroom.

Caskey said she has a strong background in educational technology. She has an undergraduate degree in Developmental Psychology and began teaching in 1990 in New York City. She has since earned a masters in Education and two masters certificates in mathematics and college counseling.

I was very lucky to move to Western North Carolina in 2001, where I taught at Claxton Elementary School for nine years, Caskey says in the release, noting that she was named 2007 Teacher of the Year there.

Her experience also includes grant writing, the release states, saying that Caskey has filed grant applications that have netted more than $3 million in donations from corporations to be used for technology in the classroom.

Caskey is committed to a nonpartisan partnership with other school board members. We must make better curriculum and fiscal decisions because these directly impact our kids, she added.

An 18-year resident of Western North Carolina, Caskey, with her husband, Brian Caskey, a Mills River councilman, opened Biltmore Tutoring eight years ago, where they have worked with more than 1,000 students to improve their grades and college admissions test scores. Caskey also volunteers with Path to College, mentoring high school students in Henderson County and helping them bridge the gap between high school, college and career.

She looks forward to introducing a new voice to the school board. Now is the time for the board to focus on the needs of our young men and women, to ensure that they aspire to have the best possible future. We need people with real educational experience and practical know-how to enable our kids to reach their dreams.

Caskey maintains professional friendships with many former students, celebrating their successes as they move into adulthood, the release notes. She also said shes dedicated to the preservation and continued educational use of Henderson Countys historic landmarks, like the Stillwell Building at Hendersonville High.

Although 93 percent of Henderson County students graduate from high school, only 28 percent go on to achieve a college degree and that is a huge disconnect, Caskey says in the release. Strengthening our focus on college as well as vocational tracks will benefit not just our students, but everyone who lives here. A school board that understands and promotes that vision is imperative to Henderson Countys future.

For more information, visit www.staceycaskey.com or facebook.com/staceycaskeyforschoolboard/ or https://twitter.com/staceycaskey4nc.
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Ramaphosas moment of hope is built on a fragile foundation

Cyril Ramaphosas first state of the nation speech restored dignity and decorum to parliament, and pressed all the right buttons.

He was gracious to all (even giving thanks to Zuma for facilitating what the African National Congress (ANC) has termed the transition), before launching into the delivery of a peroration which proclaimed the breaking of a new dawn. South Africas moment of hope, which was to be founded on the legacy of Nelson Mandela, had returned.

Ramaphosa combined extensive tribute to the heroes of the ANCs liberation struggle with the gospel of social inclusion according to the Holy Writ of the Freedom Charter. This was time to move beyond the recent period of discord, disunity and disillusionment.

The speech was delivered with panache and confidence. It had style, declaring to the nation and the world that he, Cyril Ramaphosa, was in charge.

But along with the style, there was the solid substance. The overall impression was that Ramaphosa intends to impose a new coherence and efficiency on government. Although acknowledging the calamity of the dismally low rate of economic growth, he was upbeat about the future, about the reviving fortunes of the commodities market, and the upturn in the markets.

Deservedly, Ramaphosa was to be allowed to enjoy the applause, as opposition members rose to their feet alongside the ANC MPs to give him a standing ovation which went far beyond ceremonial ritual. After the disaster of Zuma, it would seem to have given a massive fillip to South African pride and confidence.

It also gave the opposition parties a problem. With Zuma gone and a credible ANC president in place, they are facing an uphill electoral battle.

The substance

The new President committed to ensuring ethical behaviour and leadership, and to a refusal to tolerate the plunder of resources by public employees or theft and exploitation by private businesses. Critically, this would entail a transformation in the way that state-owned enterprises such as the power utility Eskom would be run.

There would be a new beginning at state-owned enterprises. They would no longer be allowed to borrow their way out of their financial difficulties. Competent people would be appointed to their boards, and there would be an appropriate distancing of their strategic role from operational management. And board members would be barred from any involvement in procurement.

This would be all part and parcel of a much wider reconfiguration of government, presumably a code for the reduction in the number of departments and a reduction in the size of ministerial ranks.

Ramaphosa also committed to hands-on government, promising that he would be visiting each department over the forthcoming year.

The forging of a social compact between government, business and labour would define the new era. A part of it would come from a new presidential economic advisory council. There would be summits for jobs and investment; convening of a youth working group to promote youth enterprise and employment and a summit for the social sector to forge a new consensus with NGOs and civil society.

This would add up to the construction of a capable state to foster much needed economic recovery. There would be concerted efforts to promote and aid small and medium business and revive manufacturing. Stress was laid on the importance of arriving at consensus around a mining charter, a document designed to guide transformation in this industry.

Due reference was made to preparing South Africa to embrace the fourth and fifth industrial revolutions and the encouragement of scientific innovation and new technology. And there was an explicit undertaking from Ramaphosa that he would take personal responsibility to ensure that social grants would get paid. And no individual person in government would be allowed to obstruct social grants delivery, a brutal albeit indirect put down of the minister concerned.

The one aspect of the speech which would have raised eyebrows among the Davos crowd was Ramaphosas re-iteration of the ANC governments commitment to the expropriation of land without compensation as part of radical economic transformation. This highlighted the ANCs proposed change to the constitution adopted at its recent national conference.

But that commitment was also fudged by linking any expropriation to ensuring agricultural production and food security. Cynics may argue that this was simply a form of words. In the context of Ramaphosas general investment seeking demeanour, agricultural capital and international business are unlikely to be unduly alarmed. But if they are wise, they will take it as a warning to come to the party of social transformation.

A long game

Ramaphosa has played a long game since he was passed over for president in the mid-90s in favour of Thabo Mbeki. After playing a key role in crafting the constitution, he left politics, made a lot of money by spearheading the first round of black economic empowerment, and then returned to politics to play what must at times have been a mortifying role as deputy president under Zuma. He suffered a great deal of criticism for being complicit in the Zuma-era corruption because of his silence  silence he would have reckoned was necessary to secure his rise to the top.

Clearly, Ramaphosa is not above criticism. He is no saint. He lives in the shadow of the massacre of miners at Marikana. Only towards the end of the ANC leadership race did he let fly against corruption and state capture.

Yet it could so easily have been so different. What would the mood have been now if Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma had won the ANC leadership? Few would have been convinced that she would have been able or willing to leave the legacy of the corruption of the Zuma years behind. In contrast, although there is extensive acknowledgement that Ramaphosa will meet considerable opposition from within the ANC patronage machine if he is to realise his ambitions, he has indeed provided hope.

Yet the irony is that we need to pay due deference to David Mabuza, Premier of the province of Mpumalanga. If it had not been for his last moment tactic of throwing his provincial delegates votes behind Ramaphosa at the ANC conference to thwart a Dlamini-Zuma victory at the ANC national conference, South Africa would be having to face a very different future.

In true ANC style, the irony is that the moment of hope was facilitated by someone who has been portrayed, even from within the party, as a political hoodlum.

Roger Southall, Professor of Sociology, University of the Witwatersrand. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
David Wolff - Patrick/Redferns via Getty ImagesFounding Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler is writing the music and lyrics for a new stage musical based on the award-winning 1983 film Local Hero. It's scheduled to open at the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh, U.K., in the spring of 2019.

Knopfler also composed and produced the soundtrack to the movie, which was written and directed by Scottish filmmaker Bill Forsyth.

Local Hero tells the story of a young American oil-company rep who is sent to northern Scotland to negotiate the purchase of a small seaside town where his firm plans to build a refinery. Forsyth is co-writing the book for the stage production with David Greig, The Lyceum's artistic director.

"Local Hero is one of those great Scottish stories that has captured the imaginations of people across the world, it has been one of my favorite films since I first saw it as a teenager," says Grieg in a statement. "To have the chance to revisit these wonderful characters to help create a musical is an absolute delight, but to be working alongside Bill Forsyth and Mark Knopfleris a dream come true."

After its run at The Royal Lyceum Theatre, the Local Hero musical will move to London's famed West End venue The Old Vic.

As previously reported, Knopfler will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Dire Straits on April 14 in Cleveland.

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
A pesky insect known as the "stink bug" is preventing thousands of Japanese cars from being delivered to New Zealand.

Three cargo ships carrying imported cars and machinery were refused entry at New Zealand ports this month after they were found to have hordes of the bugs aboard, according to New Zealand authorities.

Stink bugs are a major threat in New Zealand, a remote island nation that goes to great lengths to protect its natural ecosystem from foreign pests.

The critters could wreak havoc across the country's farms. They tend to reproduce quickly, eat a broad variety of crops and resist most pesticides.

Protecting agriculture and the environment is coming at a cost to the auto industry. The three ships from Japan that were refused entry were carrying more than 10,000 new and used cars, according to David Vinsen, CEO of New Zealand's Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association.

"In my 15 years in this role, and probably 30 years involved in this industry, I have not seen anything which is as serious as this," said Vinsen, who flew home early from a family vacation to deal with the crisis.

The delays aren't just affecting the cars stuck out at sea. As many as 8,000 more vehicles are still awaiting shipment in Japan, Vinsen added.

Related: 3-way fight for global auto sales crown

New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries said Tuesday that the country has experienced "an unprecedented spike in the number of stink bugs arriving," particularly from Japan.

It's not clear exactly how the contamination happened. The ships were carrying thousands of new and used vehicles "of every Japanese make and model," Vinsen told CNNMoney. Japan's biggest carmakers are Toyota, Nissan and Honda.

He said the problems have already disrupted his industry for more than a week, forcing workers who typically help process the vehicles "to take early holidays" or have their working hours cut back.

"People are concerned about their jobs," he said. "So we need to get this matter resolved as quickly as possible."

If the situation isn't resolved soon, employers will start imposing temporary lay-offs "in a matter of weeks, rather than months," he warned.

New Zealand stopped manufacturing cars in the late 1990s and now relies on imports from other countries. Japan was its biggest supplier of auto vehicles and parts in the year through June 2017, with sales worth $1.7 billion.

Japanese car shipments have brought the threat of pests before. For example, eggs of the Asian gypsy moth, another potentially destructive insect, were found on imported vehicles from Japan in 2012.

Importers and government officials are now scrambling to get the cargo moving again.

Related: Investment in the British car industry is plummeting

Authorities will try treating one of the affected ships this week to get rid of the bugs before determining whether its cargo can enter New Zealand, a spokesperson from the Ministry for Primary Industries told CNNMoney.

The stink bug crisis has already prompted the New Zealand government to introduce new rules.

On Tuesday, it said it would start requiring all used vehicles from Japan to be cleaned and inspected at an approved facility before being shipped to New Zealand. Exporters of used machinery from Japan will have to prove their equipment has been adequately cleaned as well.

"Nearly 95% of used vehicles from Japan already go through approved facilities," the Ministry for Primary Industries said. "The requirement will now be compulsory for all imports."

Vinsen acknowledged that the safety of New Zealand's huge farming industry must come first. It accounts for three of the country's top five exports: fruit, dairy and meat.

"Biosecurity is absolutely paramount to us," said Vinsen. "We need to do whatever we need to do to make sure that we're not exposing any of our agricultural industries to this sort of risk."
After the shooting at a Florida High school on February 14, many parents, students and teachers in Western Montana are struggling with how to cope or help others deal with this tragedy.

Communication is a significant topic of conversation among professionals and parents after the school shooting that left 17 dead.

"We want to really listen, listen and listen some more," said Dr. Robert Velin, a neuropsychologist. "Now, having said that, we also want to be honest because a lot of these things don't make sense and it's important for them to see that we can struggle with this and we can provide honest answers. And sometimes those answers are even 'I don't know. I don't know why bad things happen in the world all of the time.'"

Dr. Velin said to look carefully for changes in behavior, mood, appetite or sleep habits in your kids. Ask yourself, are they withdrawing from activities they would usually love? Are they having nightmares? Are they anxious? And then ask yourself the same things. Adults will exhibit the same symptoms as children, but Dr. Velin said the only difference is they tend to hide it better.

Before starting the conversation, parents should do their research.

"Often times the most important thing a parent can do is also help a child learn to think more critically about the information that they are receiving to make sure that they can separate the true information from the misinformation, because that misinformation can be particularly frightening," said Dr. Velin.

He said that choosing a good time to talk can be extremely important. Dr. Velin says to select a time when you and your kids would communicate, like during breakfast, on the car ride home, after dinner, before bedtime or other times you would usually catch up. Make sure that when you do begin the conversation that you have a few hours to talk.

Talking to your kids may result in helping to prevent these horrific events from occurring in the future.

"We want kids to feel empowered to communicate about their fears or if they hear something that makes them fearful," he said. "We want them to know that there are resources, that there are people that they can go to, to both communicate about their fear but if they think something is going on we want them to know that they are empowered to pass that information. And that information can go into hands that can do something with it."

If you or someone you know are struggling to cope Dr. Velin encourages you to seek professional help.
Oneida County District Attorney Scott McNamara says charges wont be pressed against a local man who was the center of an investigation into Facebook threats.

Utica police were investigating recent Facebook threats made against Uticas planning board, which were posted by a user to the #NoHospitalDowntown Facebook page. The threats were posted after it was announced the planning board would be the lead agent in the downtown hospital plan.

One of the comments read, The politicians just want to line their pockets with your tax money its time to kill most of them

McNamara says that what the Facebook user did is not against the law, and he will not face charges. Utica police say the man is not considered to be a threat.

Spokespersons for the No Hospital Downtown group, Jim Brock and Brett Truett, posted the following statement opposing violence on their page:

To all who participate in the #NHD group, we appreciate your passion, your frustration and even your anger towards those that want to destroy this neighborhood and a third of our downtown. However that being said we do not in any way condone violence towards those we oppose. Please refrain from any postings that would advocate harm towards anyone on the other side.

The Mohawk Valley Health System and The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties also issued a joint statement that read:

Friday's Facebook posts have brought to light growing community concern about the No Hospital Downtown group's behavior, on social media and throughout the public process. Having an opposing viewpoint is one thing, bullying and intimidation that threaten people and disrupt the community's right to open discourse is quite another. Leaders across our community need to take a stand against such behavior.
DAVENPORT  A Delaware County teen is facing a felony charge after he allegedly made a threat against the Charlotte Valley Central School, according to New York State Police.

The 15-year-old male teen from Davenport, Delaware County, was arrested Feb. 16 and charged with felony making a terroristic threat.

Police say the teen, who is a student at Charlotte Valley Central School in Davenport, made threats aimed at the school. Police say he was arrested without incident and an investigation found there was no danger to the school or public.

The teen was issued a ticket for Delaware County Family Court and turned over to a family member.
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - New York is bringing together ecologists, biologists and local and state officials to fight the growing problem of algae blooms in upstate ponds and lakes.

Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced four regional summits over the next six weeks that will focus on the blooms and efforts to prevent new ones.

The blooms can affect water quality and are seen as a threat to recreational opportunities and tourism.

The summits are scheduled for New Paltz on February 27, Syracuse on March 6, Ticonderoga on March 20 and Rochester on March 26. The public is invited.

Cuomo has proposed a $65 million initiative to combat the blooms.

(Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
Utica, N.Y. - New York State Police are continuing to look into whether a Utica man sold a deadly combination of heroin and fentanyl that may have caused the deaths of a number of local individuals.



How many individuals are we talking? State Police Troop D Spokesperson Jack Keller says that is part of the ongoing investigation.

Keller says investigators are continuing to look into whether 35 year old Jesse Brown of Utica sold a mix of heroin and fentanyl to area residents who ultimately died from overdoses of a heroin/fetanyl mix.

The individuals who have died from the heroin/fentanyl combination are from both Oneida County and Herkimer County.

Keller says no further information on the case will be released until the investigation is complete.

The investigation started on Friday after the New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team executed a search warrant at 10 Johnson Park in Utica.

Police arrested 35 year old Jesse Brown and charged him with criminal possession of a controlled substance, and officers says they seized 26 grams of a heroin/fetanyl mix.

Utica Police Chief Mark Williams says even though the raid was made in Utica, this case is a State Police case so he can't comment on the investigation, but he does say people need to be very aware of the very real dangers of fentanyl which he says is becoming a bigger and bigger problem, "We know people are dying in Oneida county and theres quite a bit of overdoses that are occurring, but yes quite often we see fentanyl either sold in pure form, or mixed with heroin."

Fentanyl is a painkiller commonly used in hospital operating rooms. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration says fentanyl is 30 to 50 times more potent than heroin and 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.

Williams says sometimes people don't know the heroin they are using actually has fentanyl in it, while others know it's in there but don't realize how much more potent the mix of the two drugs is than just the potency of heroin alone, "Sometimes when the addicts are aware that it is mixed with the fentanyl, they want it that much more because theyre seeing that ultimate high. So they dont look at it from a danger standpoint, they look at it as a means to get the ultimate high."

In her 40-plus years working at the Insight House in Utica, Insight House President Donna Vitagliano says the current problem with people using a mixture of heroin and fentanyl may be one of the worst she's seen, "A lot of times people dont know what it (fentanyl) is, or some people feel like 'We'll Ill give it a try', but have no idea of what to expect."

Like Chief Williams, Vitagliano is also warning people to be aware of the dangers of fentanyl, "I think its a different kind of high, I think its a substance thats available, and honestly people are using everything and anything, they dont know what the combination consists of."

Vitagliano says she has heard that cocaine is even being used in a mixture with heroin, and in some cases cocaine is being mixed with both heroin and fentanyl, "Its cocaine mixed with heroin, possibly some fentanyl. You just dont know. You dont know what the mix is, so the people using it dont know. Theyre expecting just heroin and in fact its a combination of one or two. Its that much more potent."

Brown is due to appear in Utica City Court on Thursday.
FOWLER, Ind. (WLFI) A major cleanup is underway in Fowler after the wall of a downtown building suddenly collapsed

The owner of Local Bar, Ed Clark, said the front wall on the upper level of the building just collapsed on Monday. It closed his business and totaled his car.

Police responded within minutes to block off the road before Clark even had a chance to call. Engineers have yet to assess restructuring, which means no decision has been made on whether to tear down or rebuild.

However, wind and rain are suspected to be factors of the damage.

Clark said the community has motivated him to get the bar open as soon as possible.

"There have been a hundred people in here so far today so, yeah I didn't have to call anybody they were here before I needed to. The first responders, the law here in town, the city and the county police they were right on the spot," said Clark. "Local is going to be open. Whether it's going to be in this building, there's going to be a local bar in Fowler, Indiana."

Clark is optimistic about the building and hopes to have the bar open in the same space within the next week.
CLINTON COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - Democratic candidates vying for the Congressional House District 4 seat took the stage to debate Monday night. Some issues they discussed included healthcare, the environment and education.

Monday night wasn't just about learning more about the five candidates, it was also about getting millennials involved. That's why it was held at Clinton Prairie High School.

Senior Jacob Hamilton helped put together the debate. He said it was all about keeping the younger generation in the know.

"Whether they're Democratic or whether they're Republican, it didn't matter to me. I was just hoping to change some minds," said Hamilton. "I thought it was a really good idea to get millennials to get out and get involved in something like this."

Hamilton and many others had the chance to learn more about the candidates.

Candidate Tobi Beck is an Army veteran, foster mother and security and tech professional.

Candidate Joseph Mackey is from Lafayette and is retired from Caterpillar. He runs a children's cancer foundation.

Candidate Roger Day is also retired. He used to be the regional vice president at Nationalcare Marketing.

Candidate Darin Griesy has been a lobbyist, executive director and business owner.

Candidate Veronikka Ziol is a woodworker who cares passionately about the environment.

Republican Congressman Todd Rokita has filed to run for Senator Joe Donnelly's seat.

The primary election is on May 8.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  Candidates in Indiana's raucous Republican U.S. Senate primary are set to participate in their first debate.

U.S. Reps. Luke Messer and Todd Rokita, as well as former state Rep. Mike Braun, will be at the Tuesday evening event in downtown Indianapolis.

The debate is being sponsored by the Indiana chapter of Americans for Prosperity, a national political operation funded by billionaire industrialist brothers David and Charles Koch. It will be moderated by conservative WIBC radio commentator Tony Katz.

Indiana's GOP primary has been marked by bitter feuding between Messer and Rokita. Braun, who is also an independently wealthy businessman, has also gone on the attack in recent weeks.

The winner of the May primary will go on to face Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly in the November election.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.




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Russia's Rostov 4 enters pilot operation

20 February 2018

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Russian regulator Rostechnadzor has issued a licence for the final stage of the start-up procedure - pilot operation - at unit 4 of the Rostov nuclear power plant, which is near the city of Volgodonsk.

Rostov 4, near the city of Volgodonsk (Image: Rosatom)

Announcing the final regulatory approval today, state nuclear corporation Rosatom said the unit will contribute RUB 1 billion ($18 million) a year to the federal budget, and in its first year of commercial operation about RUB 1.7 billion in property tax.

Russian President Vladimir Putin participated in the grid connection of the country's latest reactor on 1 February. The same day, the unit was brought to 300 MWe, or 40%, of its capacity for four hours before being stopped for equipment tests and to confirm the design characteristics of safe operation.

Svyatoslav Chukavin, deputy chief engineer for the unit's pilot operation, said in today's Rosatom statement that power capacity would now gradually be increased to 100%, with further tests conducted at each stage.

Preparations for the physical start-up of unit 4 began on 6 December, with the loading of nuclear fuel into the reactor. Within five days, all 163 fuel assemblies were installed and on 29 December the unit was put at the minimum controlled power level. Rosatom announced on 23 January that Rostechnadzor had issued a permit required for start-up operations at the unit.

Four 1000 MWe VVER pressurised water reactors have been planned at the Rostov site since the early 1980s. Construction of units 1 and 2 began promptly, but progress faltered. Units 1 and 2 eventually entered commercial operation in 2001 and 2010, respectively. Unit 3 was connected to the grid in 2015.

Rosatom has not given a date for the start of commercial operation at Rostov 4, but it is expected before that of unit 1 of the Leningrad II nuclear power plant, which is in Sosnovy Bor. The corporation said last week that Leningrad II-1, which is a VVER-1200 unit, had successfully completed tests required at the minimum controlled power level in preparation for start-up this spring.

Researched and written

by World Nuclear News

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Canadian big business is increasingly impatient with Justin Trudeaus Liberal government over its as yet unrealized pledge to bring Alberta tar sands oil to tidewater. While the immediate trigger for the complaints is the stalled Canadian $7.9 billion Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain oil pipeline project, powerful sections of the corporate elite are complaining that investment in Canada is at risk of becoming uncompetitive.

Since the beginning of the year, the conflict between the provincial Alberta and British Columbia governments over Trans Mountainwhich would transport untreated bitumen from northern Alberta to Vancouver, on BCs Pacific coasthas intensified.

The Trudeau government approved Kinder Morgans plans to triple the capacity of an existing pipeline in late 2016, but construction has yet to begin and company officials are now saying that no oil will move through the expanded pipeline till 2020.

John Horgans minority New Democratic Party (NDP) government in BC, which came to power last July, has vowed to do all it can to block the project. A key reason for this is that the Green Party, which is sustaining the NDP in office, has made its support conditional on opposing the pipeline expansion.

Albertas NDP government, led by Premier Rachel Notley, meanwhile, has emerged as the most strident advocate of the interests of the provinces big oil corporations and their demand that they get increased access to tidal water for their product.

The spat has seen tensions escalate between the two provinces, with some observers suggesting Canadas national unity could soon be at risk.

Citing the risk of an oil spill on BCs coast and other environmental dangers, Horgan announced last month that his government would not allow any increase in the amount of bitumen travelling through British Columbia, pending a review of plans and procedures to deal with bitumen spills.

Notley responded by slapping a ban on the import into Alberta of BC wine, a major export for the province. And she has threatened to take other retaliatory measures if Horgan does not soon back down.

Hundreds of billions are at stake for the oil companies. At present, Canada ships 99 percent of its oil to the United States, where it is sold for a knockdown price. Currently there is a $28 per barrel gap between the price Canadian producers get in the US market and the world oil price. Frank McKenna, a former New Brunswick Liberal Premier who is now an oil executive with Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. and an adviser to Notley, complained bitterly that the oil-price gap has cost the industry $117 billion over the past seven years.

Although US and Canadian imperialism have arguably formed the worlds closest bilateral military-strategic partnership for the past seven decades, the two countries are increasingly economic rivals in the sphere of energy and resources. US President Donald Trumps avowedly protectionist agenda, coupled with the shale oil and gas boom in the United States, have fueled concerns among Canadian bankers and businessmen that they are missing out on huge profit opportunities.

Trudeau has repeatedly pledged that the Trans Mountain project will go ahead and Canada will gain access to Asian oil markets. Im not going to opine on disagreements between the provinces in this case, Trudeau stated February 1. Were just going to reiterate that the decision we made was in the national interest and were going to move forward with that decision, which means were going to get the Trans Mountain pipeline built.

However, Big Oil is demanding that Trudeau go further and ensure a speedy resolution of the pipeline dispute, by invoking constitutional powers not used in decades that empower Ottawa to impose transportation projects, deemed in the national interest, over the objections of a province or provinces.

Whether the federal government proposes a compromise, bringing the BC NDP government on side, overrides Victorias objections, or Horgan manages to stall the project long enough to force investors to pull out, the pipeline dispute is fueling increased political instability.

The social-democratic NDP, one of Canadas major capitalist parties, is deeply divided over the pipeline issue and could even potentially split over it. The national party leadership carefully avoided taking a stance on the Alberta-BC pipeline feud at last weekends federal party convention in Ottawa. Horgan and Notley, for their parts, both choose not to attend the biennial party meeting.

Horgans acceptance of the pipeline would almost certainly spell the end of his government and a new election in BC. Moreover, it would likely provoke a radicalization of public protests against the pipeline and raise the danger, from the standpoint of the ruling class, that the NDP would no longer be able to contain and control the popular anger.

If Trans Mountain fails to go ahead, hard-right United Conservative Party leader Jason Kenney will almost certainly defeat Notley in next years provincial election. Kenney, a former Harper government minister, has deliberately stirred up Anglo-chauvinist and anti-Quebec sentiments since the formation of the UCP, encouraging sentiments in favour of greater autonomy and even outright separation of Alberta from Canadas federal state.

Notwithstanding Trudeaus attempts to pose as a progressive prime minister, his government is just as determined as its Conservative predecessor to push through socially and environmentally destructive resource projects. Even the language employed by the Trudeau and Harper governments when discussing the importance of increasing oil exports and gaining access to Asian markets is similar, with both referring to the industry as critical to Canadas national interest.

During the 2015 federal election campaign, Trudeau pledged that Trans Mountain would be subject to a full federal review before it was approved. When the Liberals took office, they instead pressed ahead with the approval of the project under the Conservatives National Energy Board. The Tories regulatory system is widely discredited and has provoked popular opposition to energy projects across the country. A number of First Nations communities, across whose land the expanded Trans Mountain pipeline would flow, are firmly opposed.

When the Trudeau governments 2016 approval of Trans Mountain triggered substantial protests, Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr told a closed-door meeting with business executives that the Liberals would be ready to call in the army to break up demonstrations or acts of civil disobedience aimed at stopping the pipelines construction.

Aware that Stephen Harpers explicit support for resource development, denial of climate change and cozy ties to big oil served as lightning rods for popular opposition, the Liberals are attempting to sell multi-billion resource development projects in progressive packaging. On February 8, Carr and Environment Minister Catherine McKenna released new guidelines for the approval of major energy projects and claimed that the new system would allow all Canadians to be heard.

Carrs and McKennas proposals are aimed at integrating a wealthy layer of indigenous chiefs and businessmen into the consultative process, a development which is being marketed as part of the governments bogus reconciliation efforts with native peoples. Similarly, the plan would seek to incorporate environmental groups so as to provide a veneer of public legitimacy to the approval process and help identify profitable business opportunities in the rapidly expanding renewable energy sector.

All of these initiatives are geared towards allowing big business to cash in. As Carr and McKenna acknowledged in a joint op-ed published in the Financial Post, hundreds of energy projects worth a combined $500 billion are planned across Canada in the coming decade.

Carrs and McKennas announcement proved insufficient, however, to staunch criticism of the Liberals from business circles. Business lobby groups have expressed mounting disquiet with the Trudeau government since it moved last year to close a tax loophole used by businesses and well-paid professionals to slash their tax bills.

In the end, the Liberals not only shredded virtually all of their plans to reform the taxation of Canadian Private Corporations (CPCs). They implemented an across-the-board tax cut for CPCs and all other small businesses.

Now the corporate media and financial elite are demanding that the Trudeau government match the Trump administrations massive tax handouts to big business and the rich, saying urgent action is required to keep Canada competitive.

As important as the expansion of oil exports is, Paul Wells pointed out in Macleans magazine that more is at stake in the current impasse than Trans Mountain. [T]he question is bigger: Is Canada a place where any project that crosses provincial borders and traverses an array of unceded territories can happen? People with deep pockets are watching, he wrote.

Wells noted the complaint of Suncor CEO Steve Williams that Canada has just become too hard a country to invest a few billion dollars in. The Trudeau Liberals vaunted but still embryonic Canada Infrastructure Bank is designed to lure big international investors for big projects, added Wells, referring to Trudeaus initiative to privatize large swathes of Canadas public infrastructure. Months after the Bank announced the names of its board, it still has no CEO and the only project publicly known as a candidate for CIB investment, Montreals audacious regional rail network, looks like its costing more and arriving later than planned.
Maintenance workers at the Griffin Coal mine in Collie, Western Australia, returned to work on February 14 after accepting a new enterprise agreement (EA) pushed by the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU). The workers had been on strike for 180 daysthe longest stoppage in the history of the states coal mining industry.

The strike erupted after the Fair Work Commission (FWC) on June 9 last year authorised the company to terminate the enterprise agreement. This forced workers onto an inferior industry award, resulting in a 43 percent reduction in pay and the loss of entitlements and conditions.

The courageous stand taken by the workers was undermined throughout by the AMWU, which was determined to prevent the emergence of a broader movement of miners and other workers.

The terms of the new agreement are in line with a deal proposed by the FWC last December, based on workers accepting pay rates demanded by the company and changes to shift allowances.

The pay cut goes far deeper than one proposed in an agreement brokered between the company and AMWU mid-last year. Workers overwhelmingly voted down that deal, which the union had recommended. It would have slashed pay by 8 percent from $139,301 a year, based on a 42-hour working week, to $128,000 annually for a 49-hour week.

The latest EA delivers the company pay cuts of 18 to 20 percent, reducing annual wages to $100,000 for a 42-hour week.

AMWU state secretary Steve McCartney admitted last week that workers were not happy about the pay cut, but claimed they were prepared to cop it to maintain family-friendly rosters. Throughout negotiations, the company reportedly pushed for significant changes to rosters, including the introduction of swing shifts that changed from week to week. Any minor concessions on rostering, however, would be more than offset by the massive reduction in pay.

Moreover, the term family-friendly rosters being bandied about by AMWU is designed to cover up the real conditions confronting workers at Griffin Coal and throughout the mining industry.

Since the late 1980s, with the direct assistance of the unions, the mining companies have introduced around-the-clock operations through notorious 12-hour rotating shifts, hot seat shift handovers and other odious conditions, along with fly-in fly-out working arrangements that keep employees away from home for prolonged periods.

The maintenance workers have had to cop the attacks on their pay and conditions in the new EA because they had a gun put to their head in the form of the threat of the total closure of the mine. Both the company and union used the financial difficulties claimed by Griffin Coal to pressure workers to accept a regressive agreement.

Indian-based Lanco Infratech bought Griffin Coal for $740 million in 2010 from the administrators of the previous operator, Griffin Energy, which collapsed. Griffin Coal claims to have experienced annual losses of around $50 million since the buyout. Infratech was itself placed in administration last year and is under the control of the Indian bank ICICI.

Throughout negotiations for new EAs for both maintenance and production workers, Griffin Coal stated that unless labour costs were substantially cut, ICICI could refuse to continue to fund the operation.

In line with this demand, the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) pushed through a three-year EA covering Griffin Coal production workers last November, slashing pay rates by 25 percent. Combined with a reduction in other conditions, these workers annual earnings plunged 35 percent, from about $140,000 a year to just $90,000.

The AMWU used the CFMEUs sell-out as a benchmark, and a means of applying pressure on the maintenance workers. The huge wage reductions will now become a benchmark for cost-cutting across the mining industry.

During the dispute, the AMWU did everything it could to isolate and wear down the maintenance workers. It did not raise a levy to support the strikers, forcing them to rely on voluntary donations from other workers.

The AMWUs operation took its toll. One media report claims that during the strike, the number of participants fell from 89 to 26. Cynically, the AMWU has now said it moved to end the strike because it was no longer possible to keep morale up as the workers have been treated really poorly by their employer.

The union is also attempting to divert from its own role by demagogically and hypocritically denouncing the FWC. McCartney declared last week that the FWC, in the form it is in now takes democracy away from workers, takes outcomes away from the workers and puts it in bosses hands.

McCartneys comments form part of a campaign by the Australian Council of Trade Unions, the national union federation, claiming that the laws are broken and will be fixed by the election of a Labor government.

In reality, the last federal Labor government introduced the draconian Fair Work laws in 2009, with the full support of the unions. They contain a barrage of anti-strike provisions and FWC powers to terminate existing agreements and ban industrial action. The unions have used these measures in disputes ever since to straitjacket workers and deliver employers demands.

Workers across the mining industry must now draw the sharpest lessons from the bitter experiences at Griffin Coal and all the betrayals of the unions. The record shows that any struggle in defence of jobs and conditions is possible only if workers break decisively with the unions and the big business Labor Party that they support.

This means establishing new organisations of struggle, including independent rank-and-file committees, tasked with unifying workers in a combined industrial and political struggle against the offensive of the corporate elite. These organisations must be guided by a socialist program, aimed at establishing a workers government that would place all key industries, including the mining, oil and gas corporations, under public ownership and democratic workers control.
Since a federal investigation exposed rampant corruption within the upper echelons of the United Auto Workers (UAW), there has been near silence on the part of the various organizations that compose the pseudo-left in the United States.

This is hardly surprising, since groups such as the International Socialist Organization (ISO), Socialist Alternative, Jacobin magazine, Labor Notes and others serve as craven apologists for the corrupt US trade union bureaucracy, hailing every new sellout as a stunning victory. At the same time, members of these fake left organizations have found a career path and lucrative salaries through obtaining leading positions in the union apparatus.

The exposure of the UAW as a bribed tool of management confirms the assessment by the World Socialist Web Site that the unions are not workers organizations. On the contrary, they long ago broke any connection with the class struggle and serve as enforcers of management dictates inside the factories.

Nothing can revive these organizations, and class-conscious workers must expose their role and fight for the building of factory committees to assert the will of rank-and-file workers against the dictatorship in the plants overseen by the UAW and the auto bosses.

Last week Labor Notes broke its silence on the UAW corruption scandal. It published a piece based on an interview with former UAW Local 1700 President Bill Parker conducted by Joe Richards, a writer and a member of the International Socialist Organization (ISO).

Parker offers no serious analysis of the scandal, which has created an existential crisis for the UAW, an organization that is already widely despised by autoworkers for its collaboration with corporate management and suppression of workers struggles. Instead he offers an apologia for the UAW, insisting that the company payoffs amounting into the millions of dollars between 2009 and 2015 had no impact on contract negotiations.

Among those implicated were the late General Holiefield, UAW vice president for Fiat Chrysler, and his successor Norwood Jewell. Holiefields widow recently pleaded guilty to hiding hundreds of thousands of dollars paid out to her companies from money siphoned off from the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center (NTC).

In his interview, Parker echoes the lying claim by UAW President Dennis Williams that the bribery of top UAW officials had no impact on contract negotiations because they were based on pattern agreements, which was accepted by the entire UAW leadership, including Williams predecessor Bob King.

He writes, At the national level, I think it largely didnt impact them. The negotiations by and large follow the pattern established at the target company, and in 2011 the UAW picked GM as the pacesetter. He continues, It would be hard to say theres any direct correlation between the corruption at FCA and the poor wages and benefits in that contract because the same thing occurred at GM and Ford. In the national agreements, the UAW president negotiates the wages and benefits, not the VPs like Holiefield.

The fact that the entire UAW leadership backed contracts, which sanctioned two-tier wages, 10-hour workdays, the expansion of temporary part-time employees and other rollbacks, only underscores the fact that the entire UAW apparatus is rotten to the core.

The payoffs to the UAW bureaucracy have not only taken the form of cash payments and credit card purchases of designer clothes, air travel and luxury hotels for Holiefield & Co. The auto bosses have literally funneled billions to their UAW partners over the last four decades through labor-management training centers and other corporatist schemes, as well as the multibillion-dollar retiree health care trust fund.

Parker asks rhetorically if UAW Vice President Norwood Jewells role in seeking to ram through the 2015 sellout agreement at Fiat Chrysler was the result of collusion, concluding, We may never know.

Parker knows full well that Jewells charity, Making Our Children Smile Foundation, received illegal training center payments, and that when Jewell was named Holiefields successor in 2014, FCA executives spent $30,000 in training funds to throw him a lavish party at the UAW-Chrysler World Class Manufacturing Academy.

A year later, Jewell was trying to ram a sellout contract down the throats of FCA workers at a stormy union meeting at Chrysler Sterling Heights Assembly Plant (SHAP), Parkers former plant.

Labor Notes, whose conferences draw hundreds of local level union officials, operates as a faction of the US trade union bureaucracy. With lawsuits filed against the UAW increasing, along with demands by rank-and-file workers to declare the current contracts null and void, the union executives and their pseudo-left apologists see the growing signs of a rebellion against the UAW and are running to its defense.

Parker has long played the role of a loyal oppositionist, promoting illusions in the possibility of reforming the UAW, insisting that workers never challenge the authority of this anti-working class organization, let alone break free from its stranglehold.

In his interview, Parker, who was a member of the now defunct New Directions group in the UAW, presents the UAWs corporatist, pro-company orientation as though it was a case of the flu that the union caught in the 1980s.

But the degeneration of the UAW, like other unions throughout the US and internationally, was rooted in fundamental economic changes in the 1980s and 1990s and the failure of these nationally based and pro-capitalist organizations to respond in any progressive way to the global integration of capitalist production. Faced with transnational corporations, which could shift production anywhere in the world, the unions abandoned any resistance to the employers and joined their own capitalist class to drive down wages and increase competitiveness.

New Directions, which shared the nationalist, pro-capitalist orientation of the UAW officialdom, and its political alliance with the Democratic Party, provided no alternative and its leaders were either co-opted into the Solidarity House bureaucracy or faded away after betraying local struggles.

Parker played a key role in allowing the UAW to force through the 2007 agreement, which first established the hated two-tier wage system and handed control of the retiree health care trust fund to the UAW. After offering tepid opposition to the deal, Parker dropped his opposition after Holiefield held a meeting with the rest of the local leadership and claimed the UAW had obtained job guarantees for the Sterling Heights plant. Two years later the value of these bogus promises was revealed when GM and Chrysler declared bankruptcy and the Obama administration axed tens of thousands of jobs and halved the wages of new hires.

Parker pathetically suggests autoworkers pin their hopes on the upcoming UAW constitutional convention. However, he concedes that the convention is a difficult body to influence.

In opposition to this bankrupt perspective, the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter calls for the formation of rank-and-file factory committees independent of the UAW to serve as the genuine voice of autoworkers. Elected by all factory workers, these committees should demand the overturning of all the contracts negotiated by the UAW and fight for their own demands, including a twenty five percent wage increase, the restoration of cost of living, the abolition of tiers and the hiring of all part-time and temporary workers as full-time.

These committees must forge links with autoworkers in Canada, Mexico and globally to coordinate their struggles with the transnational auto companies. The resurgence of the class struggle poses the necessity of building a powerful political movement of the working class, based on a socialist and internationalist perspective, to put an end class oppression, inequality and war once and for all. We urge workers to subscribe to the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter and take up this fight.
Fifteen years ago, on February 5, 2003, against the backdrop of worldwide mass demonstrations in opposition to the impending invasion of Iraq, then-US Secretary of State Colin Powell argued before the United Nations that the government of Saddam Hussein was rapidly stockpiling weapons of mass destruction, which Iraq, together with Al Qaeda, was planning to use against the United States.

In what was the climax of the Bush administrations campaign to justify war, Powell held up a model vial of anthrax, showed aerial photographs and presented detailed slides purporting to show the layout of Iraqs mobile production facilities.

There was only one problem with Powells presentation: it was a lie from beginning to end.

The World Socialist Web Site, in an editorial board statement published the next day, declared the brief for war the latest act in a diplomatic charade laced with cynicism and deceit. War against Iraq, the WSWS wrote, was not about weapons of mass destruction. Rather, it is a war of colonial conquest, driven by a series of economic and geo-political aims that center on the seizure of Iraqs oil resources and the assertion of US global hegemony.

The response of the American media, and particularly its liberal wing, was very different. Powells litany of lies was presented as the gospel truth, an unanswerable indictment of the Iraqi government.

Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen, who rushed off a column before he could have examined Powells allegations, declared, The evidence he presented to the United Nationssome of it circumstantial, some of it absolutely bone-chilling in its detailhad to prove to anyone that Iraq not only hasnt accounted for its weapons of mass destruction but without a doubt still retains them. Only a foolor possibly a Frenchmancould conclude otherwise.

The editorial board of the New York Timeswhose reporter Judith Miller was at the center of the Bush administrations campaign of liesdeclared one week later that there is ample evidence that Iraq has produced highly toxic VX nerve gas and anthrax and has the capacity to produce a lot more. It has concealed these materials, lied about them, and more recently failed to account for them to the current inspectors.

Subsequent developments would prove who was lying. The Bush administration and its media accomplices conspired to drag the US into a war that led to the deaths of more than one million peoplea colossal crime for which no one has yet been held accountable.

Fifteen years later, the script has been pulled from the closet and dusted off. This time, instead of weapons of mass destruction, it is Russian meddling in the US elections. Once again, assertions by US intelligence agencies and operatives are treated as fact. Once again, the media is braying for war. Once again, the cynicism and hypocrisy of the American governmentwhich intervenes in the domestic politics of every state on the planet and has been relentlessly expanding its operations in Eastern Europeare ignored.

The argument presented by the American media is that the alleged existence of a fly-by-night operation, employing a few hundred people, with a budget amounting to a minuscule fraction of total election spending in the US, constitutes a a virtual war against the United States through 21st-century tools of disinformation and propaganda (New York Times).

In the countless articles and media commentary along this vein, nowhere can one find a serious analysis of the Mueller indictment of the Russians itself, let alone an examination of the real motivations behind the US campaign against Russia. The fact that the indictment does not even involve the Russian government or state officials is treated as a nonissue.

While the present campaign over Russian meddling has much in common with the claims about weapons of mass destruction, the implications are far more ominous. The war on terror is exhausted, in part because the US is allied in Syria and elsewhere with the Islamic fundamentalist organizations it was purportedly fighting.

More fundamentally, the quarter-century of invasions and occupations that followed the dissolution of the Soviet Union is rapidly developing into a conflict between major nuclear-armed powers. The effort of the American ruling class to offset its economic decline using military force is leading mankind to the brink of another world war. As the National Defense Strategy, published less than a month before the release of the indictments, declared, Inter-state strategic competition, not terrorism, is now the primary concern in US national security.

Russia is seen by dominant sections of the military-intelligence apparatus as a principal obstacle to US efforts to control the Middle East and to take on Chinaand it is this that has been at the center of the conflict between the Democratic Party and the Trump administration.

There have already been a series of clashes in recent weeks between the worlds two largest nuclear-armed powers. On February 3, a Russian close-air support fighter was shot down by al-Nusra Front fighters, which are indirectly allied with the United States in its proxy war against the government of Bashar Al-Assad. Then, on February 7 and 8, Russian soldiers were killed in US air and artillery barrages in Deir Ezzor, in what survivors called a massacre. Both the US and Russian governments have sought to downplay the scale of the clash, but some sources have reported the number killed to be in the hundreds.

Even as US and Russian forces clashed in Syria, representatives of the Kremlin and the Pentagon sparred at the Munich security conference this weekend over the deployment and development of nuclear weapons. While accusing Russia of violating the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, Washington this month issued a nuclear posture review envisioning a massive expansion of the deployment of battlefield nuclear weapons.

The Mueller indictment is intended to provide an appropriate narrative for military aggression motivated by different aims. At the same time, it serves as a ready-made pretext for censorship and domestic repression that goes far beyond the extraordinary measures adopted under the framework of the war on terror. Russia, the American people are supposed to believe, uses domestic social opposition to weaken the United States, rendering political dissent effectively treasonous.

Already, this campaign has led the major US technology firms to implement far-reaching measures to censor political speech on the Internet. Google is manipulating its search results and Facebook is manipulating its news feeds, while seeking to turn the social media platform it has developed into an instrument of corporate-state surveillance.

Even more extreme measures are being planned and implemented, motivated by the basic principle that the greater the lie, the more aggressive the methods required to enforce it. The target of the repressive measures is not Russia, but the American working class. The ruling elite is well aware that as it plots war abroad, it stands upon a social powder keg at home.

The working class must draw the necessary conclusions from its past experiences. In 2003, the Democratic Party supported the Bush administrations invasion of Iraq and provided it with the necessary political cover. Now, the Democrats, along with their appendages among the organizations of the upper-middle class, are at the forefront of the campaign for war, employing neo-McCarthyite tactics to criminalize opposition while seeking to subordinate all popular opposition to the Trump administration to its right-wing and militarist agenda.

The urgent task is to mobilize the working class, in the United States and internationally, against the entire apparatus of the capitalist ruling elite. The fight against war and dictatorship is at the same time the fight against inequality and exploitation, for the overthrow of capitalism and the establishment of a global socialist society.
French President Emmanuel Macrons government has begun a first series of talks on the French National Railways (SNCF) with management and the trade unions, a few days after Jean-Cyril Spinetta, a former CEO of Air France-KLM, delivered his report on the SNCF. The content and negotiating calendar are reportedly to be announced on February 26.

Macron is moving to privatise the SNCF, citing a European directive mandating the opening of the French railways to private competition. It aims to destroy railworkers social rightsincluding a standard salary schedule, a retirement age of 52 for train drivers and 57 for other workers, and guaranteed lifetime employmentestablished after World War II.

Spinetta submitted his 127-page report, commissioned by the government in October, on Thursday. While it claims to be modernising the SNCF in the interests of travelers, the report in fact calls for liberalising railway transport and transforming the SNCF into a private company ( soci e t e anonyme ), which has had disastrous consequences elsewhere in Europe. It would also allow the SNCF to hire large numbers of short-term contract or temporary labour. The report defends the decision to dismantle the public enterprise by claiming this is the only way to deal with the SNCFs debts.

It declares, Within the framework of the law, it could be possible to end the hiring of workers with the [railworkers] statute, while strictly preserving the individual rights of staff who still benefit from it. The new recruits could be hiredon the basis of contracts whose contents is still to be fully determined. The report also proposes that the SNCF could make use for two years of plans for voluntary departures. The number of workers who would be expected to take a voluntary departure could be around 5,000.

The report proposes to concentrate rail transport on the areas where it is pertinent and declares, The decision to maintain lines inherited from a time when rail transport was the only means of transportation must be reconsidered. To speak plainly, the state plans to shut down smaller, less profitable lines as well as many smaller train stations.

This policy, which aims to free up vast sums of money for the banks and the state, is a reactionary absurdity. During the 2008 Wall Street crash, the French state found from one day to the next the cash to make a 360 billion guarantee to the banks, whic had crashed the financial system. But it denounces the living standards of railway workers making 1,800 a month as an intolerable burden. Everything indicates that privatising the SNCF would lead to a collapse in working conditions and the quality of travelers experience.

Le Monde, which supports privatising the SNCF, compares it to the privatised British railways and writes: faster, cheaper, the superiority of the French railway network is well established. It admits that British regional private franchises are far from being a systematic success and even that calls for renationalising the British railways to improve their performance are very popular. But it nonetheless endorses privatisation, peddling illusions that it might improve service on French regional lineseven though the Spinetta report plans to eliminate them outright.

According to the Spinetta report, the state would acquire the SNCFs debt to free up the privatised entity to make profits for its new owners. The treatment of the debt is a necessary prior condition for a return to financial equilibrium of the entity overseeing rail infrastructure, the report states.

The media and the political establishment will no doubt cite this report to try to divide the workers, attacking train drivers right to retire at 52, when the retirement age in the private sector is 62.

Workers in the public and private sector should reject such attacks on the rail workers, and all the other socially regressive measures Macron is negotiating with the trade unions.

The immediate target may be the rail workers, but all workers in France and across Europe are targeted by the political forces arrayed behind Macron. Having imposed labour decrees allowing bosses and unions to negotiate contracts that contain exceptions, that is, violate the Labour Code, facilitating mass sackings and the imposition of salaries less than the minimum wage, Macron aims to smash the public service. He aims to crush all the social rights established by the workers in the twentieth century and return it to the conditions it knew prior to the October 1917 revolution in Russia.

The goal of this policy, which has no democratic legitimacy whatsoever, is to finance a massive military build-up and the development of the Berlin-Paris axis as a militarist power capable of mounting aggressive interventions around the world.

Macron wants to spend 300 billion on the French armed forces by 2024. Draconian cuts in living standards and social services would be required to finance the construction of a military machine on such a scale. According to the French Observatory of the Economic Conjuncture (OFCE), the wealthiest 2 percent of French society would obtain 42 percent of the gains linked to Macrons social policies, while the poorest households would see their living standards collapse.

Deep opposition exists among workers to the attack on the SNCF and Macrons broader austerity drive. Le Monde points to the memory of the major [railworkers] strikes of 1995, which have continued to haunt all the governments over the past two decades.

The Stalinist General Confederation of Labour (CGT) has called railworkers to protest on March 22, together with public sector workers protesting Macrons calls to end the statute of the public sector. If were attacked, we defend ourselves, CGT chief Philippe Martinez told France Inter.

But workers opposition cannot find meaningful expression in the straitjacket of symbolic trade union protests, directed by bureaucracies that are, at the same time, negotiating austerity policies with Macron. Today, they are sitting down with SNCF management, while at the same time admitting that the SNCF has issued a declaration of war to the workers.

To oppose the draconian measures being prepared at the SNCF and elsewhere, the struggle has to be taken out of the hands of the trade unions, and be waged as conscious political fight against Macron and the European Union. Workers need rank-and-file organisations of struggle, created and run independently of the trade unions, on a European scale. These organisations would oppose the drive to war and austerity and coordinate opposition to the repression of strike activity being prepared under the terms of the state of emergency and the anti-terror law.

It is critical to draw the lessons of previous strugglesabove all, the need for a revolutionary perspective and leadership. When, in November 1995, Juppe announced his planned cuts to pensions, railworkers had to take strike action independently of the unions in order to begin the struggle. Over 1 million people joined strikes and protests, bringing France largely to a halt, for the first time since the May-June 1968 general strike.

Petty-bourgeois groups like the Workers Struggle (LO) party and the Revolutionary Communist League (LCR), terrified by the strike, went into strike assemblies to shut them down. Refusing a struggle for power, they saved the Chirac presidency and much of Juppes reactionary agenda.

A confrontation between the working class and these old political machines is being prepared. In this, the Parti de legalite socialiste fights to connect growing militancy in the working class to a socialist, internationalist and anti-war political movement to take state power and reorganise economic life across Europe on the basis of socialist policies.
Here's a look at Venezuela, an OPEC member state that has the largest proven reserves of oil in the coalition.

About Venezuela:

(from the CIA World Factbook)

Area: 912,050 sq km, about two times the size of California

Coups and attempted coups Elections and campaigns Elias Jaua Energy and utilities Henrique Capriles Radonski Hugo Chavez Latin America Nicolas Maduro Oil and gas industry Politics Referendums South America Unrest, conflicts and war Venezuela Business and industry sectors Government and public administration Political Figures - Intl Government bodies and offices Mayors Fast Facts Business, economy and trade Banking, finance and investments Commodity markets Energy commodities Financial markets and investing Oil prices Civil unrest Protests and demonstrations Embargoes and sanctions International relations International relations and national security International trade International trade law Nontariff barriers Trade and development Trade regulation and policy US federal government White House Economic policy Economy and economic indicators Caracas Legislative bodies Voters and voting North America United States Military Continents and regions The Americas Election fraud Election results Political corruption Arrests Crime, law enforcement and corrections Criminal law Law and legal system Law enforcement

Population: 31,304,016 (July 2017 est.)

Median age: 28.3 years old

Capital: Caracas

Ethnic Groups: Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African and indigenous groups

Religion: Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%

GDP (purchasing power parity): $389.4 billion (2017 est.)

GDP per capita: $12,400 (2017 est.)

Unemployment: 26.4.5% (2017 est.)

Other Facts :

Venezuela is located on the northern coast of South America, sharing a border with Colombia, Brazil and Guyana.

The country's formal name is the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

Venezuela has proven oil reserves of approximately 302.81 billion barrels.

Despite being one of the world's top oil-producing countries, more than 30% of Venezuelans live below the poverty line as of 2015.

Timeline :

1520s - First settlement by Spanish explorers.

July 5, 1811 - Venezuela declares its independence from Spain, leading to more than ten years of war for independence.

1821 - The Spanish Army is defeated and Venezuela becomes part of the Republic of Gran Colombia.

1829 - Venezuela breaks away from Gran Colombia to become an independent republic.

1958 - After decades of political instability and military rule, a coup leads to democratic reforms that culminate with a presidential election. Romulo Betancourt is elected president.

February 1992 - A coup led by Hugo Chavez is defeated. Chavez spends two years in prison before the charges against him are dropped.

December 1998 - Chavez is elected president.

1999 - Chavez introduces a new constitution that extends his term and strengthens the executive branch while reducing the influence of National Assembly. Voters approve of the changes via a referendum.

July 30, 2000 - Chavez is re-elected.

April 2002 - Chavez is briefly ousted during a coup. He returns to power after two days of violent clashes.

December 2, 2002 - A national strike begins to protest against Chavez. The strike lasts more than two months and affects oil prices worldwide.

February 2, 2003 - Opposition leaders launch a petition drive, collecting signatures endorsing several demands including the immediate removal of Chavez.

June 3, 2004 - The National Electoral Council announces that the opposition has collected enough valid signatures to call for a referendum against Chavez.

August 15, 2004 - Initial results in the recall referendum show about 59% of Venezuelans voted to keep Chavez in office. The next day, observers led by former US President Jimmy Carter announce that they found no fraud in the recall election.

December 3, 2006 - Chavez wins re-election.

February 15, 2009 - A constitutional referendum passes allowing Chavez to run for another term in 2012.

May 24, 2011 - The United States imposes sanctions against seven companies, including the state-run oil company, for supporting Iran in the energy sector.

May 2012 - Chavez, battling cancer, appoints 10 people to a commission called the Council of State. The move prompts speculation about who will succeed him.

October 7, 2012 - Chavez is re-elected.

March 5, 2013 - Chavez dies of cancer at the age of 58. Vice President Nicolas Maduro becomes the interim president.

April 14, 2013 - Maduro narrowly wins the presidential election, with 50.8% of the vote, defeating opposition candidate Henrique Capriles.

September 30, 2013 - Maduro announces on state-run TV that he is expelling three US diplomats. He claims they were involved in acts to destabilize the country.

February 12, 2014 - Protests are held as the economy sputters and crime increases. Some demonstrations turn violent. At least three protestors die amid the unrest.

February 18, 2014 - Opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez is arrested. He is charged with conspiracy and murder in connection with the demonstrations. He is later convicted and sentenced to more than 13 years in prison.

December 18, 2014 - The Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act is signed into law by US President Barack Obama. The measure directs the United States to impose sanctions against Venezuelan officials who engage in human rights abuses.

February 20, 2015 - The mayor of Caracas is arrested and accused of being involved in a plot to overthrow the government. The opposition says the mayor's arrest is an attempt to divert attention from the country's economic woes.

March 9, 2015 - Obama issues an executive order meant to address the human rights crisis in Venezuela, with sanctions against seven individuals.

December 6, 2015 - Venezuela's opposition party wins the majority of seats in elections to the National Assembly, a repudiation of Maduro. It is the first major shift in power in the legislative branch since Chavez took office in 1999.

January 15, 2016 - Maduro declares a state of "economic emergency." The country's economic issues are rooted in falling oil prices, plummeting currency rates, power struggles within the government, the looming possibility of default and ongoing food shortages.

March 4, 2016 - Obama renews sanctions against Venezuela, declaring that the situation hasn't improved since his last executive order.

March 9, 2016 - In response to the sanctions, Maduro announces he's recalling Maximilien Arvelaiz, Venezuela's top diplomat in Washington.

August 1, 2016 - The government certifies a petition to begin the process of recalling Maduro. A top election official calls for an investigation into irregularities on the signature list.

October 2016 - The recall referendum to oust Maduro is halted amid allegations of voter fraud. Opposition lawmakers meet for a special session to discuss the possibility of impeaching Maduro. Pro-government protestors break into the assembly hall to disrupt the meeting.

March 29, 2017 - The Supreme Court strips the National Assembly of power. Opposition leaders say that the move is comparable to a coup. After several days of protests, the court reverses its ruling.

April 7, 2017 - Capriles announces via tweet that the government has barred him from holding public office for 15 years.

April 17, 2017 - Maduro orders armed forces into the streets following weeks of deadly, anti-government protests.

April 20-21, 2017 - At least 13 people are killed in a single 24-hour period as protests continue.

May 1, 2017 - Maduro announces that he has signed an executive order paving the way for changes in the constitution that will reshape the legislature and redefine his executive powers.

June 27, 2017 - A stolen police helicopter, allegedly piloted by an officer from Venezuela's investigative police force, circles around several high-profile buildings in Caracas, including the Ministry of the Interior and the Supreme Court. Photos show an occupant holding a banner that says, "Article 350 libertad," referring to an article in the Venezuelan constitution that allows citizens to oppose the government should it subvert democratic principles.

July 5, 2017 - On the anniversary of the county's independence, Maduro supporters storm the National Assembly and attack opposition lawmakers. At least seven legislative employees and five lawmakers are injured.

July 16, 2017 - Nearly 7.2 million voters participate in a non-binding referendum organized by the country's opposition parties. More than 98% of voters reject Maduro's proposed constitutional changes. The government condemns the referendum as illegal and calls for a July 30 vote to elect a special assembly to rewrite the 1999 constitution.

July 26, 2017 - Steve Mnuchin, the Treasury Secretary for US President Donald Trump, announces sanctions on 13 government and military officials tied to Maduro. Mexico and Colombia follow with sanctions on the same individuals.

July 30, 2017 - An election is held to replace the National Assembly with a new pro-Maduro legislative body called the National Constituent Assembly. Amid clashes between police and protestors, at least six people are killed. Although Maduro claims victory, opposition leaders say the vote is fraudulent.

July 31, 2017 - Mnuchin announces that all of Maduro's assets that are subject to US jurisdiction will be frozen and all US citizens are barred from dealing with him.

August 2, 2017 - The CEO of the company that provided technology for the July 30 election says there is a discrepancy of at least one million votes. A spokesman for the government's election council denies that any manipulation took place. During an interview with CNN en Espanol, the attorney general says she has initiated an investigation into potential voter fraud.

August 5, 2017 - The Constituent Assembly holds its first session and issues its first order of business: firing the attorney general who is investigating allegations of voter fraud. A Maduro ally is sworn in as the interim attorney general.

September 24, 2017 - The Trump administration announces new travel restrictions on certain foreigners in eight countries, including Venezuela.

February 8, 2018 - A prosecutor from the International Criminal Court says a preliminary investigation will examine allegations of excessive force and other abuses by the government during anti-regime protests dating back to 2017.

May 20, 2018 - During an election denounced by opposition leaders and the international community, Maduro wins another six-year term. Voter turnout falls to 46%, down from an 80% participation rate in 2013.

August 4, 2018 - Several drones armed with explosives fly towards Maduro in an apparent assassination attempt during a military parade. The next day, the interior minister announces that six people have been arrested in connection with the attack. Maduro is not injured.

August 18, 2018 - Peru and Ecuador announce new restrictions on migration, as Venezuelans try to flee to neighboring countries. A mob of Brazilians destroys a migrant camp and several Venezuelans are attacked after a shop in a border city is robbed, according to Brazil's state news service.

August 20, 2018 - A new currency is issued to jumpstart the economy amid a warning from the International Monetary Fund that the inflation rate could hit one million percent by the end of the year.

September 8, 2018 - A report is published in the New York Times detailing secret meetings between US officials and Venezuelan military officers planning a coup against Maduro. CNN confirms the report, which describes a series of meetings over the course of a year. Ultimately, the US government decided not to back the coup.
Two aid workers were killed and one kidnapped over the weekend in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Nations reported Monday.

The three humanitarian workers were from the French nongovernmental organization Hydraulique Sans Fronti-res.

Two aid workers killed, one kidnapped, in eastern DRC. Humanitarian workers must never be targeted, UN says.

"The humanitarian country team condemns, with firmness, the latest attack that led to the tragic loss of colleagues engaged in emergency humanitarian assistance and calls for immediate and unconditional release of the person held hostage," said the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which is known as OCHA.

Hydraulique Sans Fronti-res is based in Chamb-ry, France, and supports technical projects in developing countries. The nongovernmental organization focuses on clean drinking water, irrigation, sanitation and electrical generation, its website says.

According to OCHA, the attack was carried out by unidentified armed men in the Rutshuru territory of North Kivu, an eastern province that borders Rwanda and Uganda. The area has been embroiled in violence since 1994, when Hutu forces crossed the border from Rwanda fearing reprisals after the genocide there.

"Security conditions are very worrying in North Kivu and represent a major obstacle for humanitarian organizations to access the thousands of people who are in need," OCHA added in its statement.

In December 2017, 15 UN peacekeepers were killed and 53 others injured in North Kivu in what the United Nations said constituted a war crime. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the attack, which was carried out by the rebel group Allied Democratic Forces, the worst offensive on peacekeepers in recent history.

The various armed conflicts and insecurity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have created one of the "world's most complex and longstanding humanitarian crises," OCHA stated on its website. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, with a population of over 80 million, remains OCHA's largest operation in the world.

"This is an opportunity to make it clear that humanitarian workers must never be targeted," the OCHA statement added.
Turkey's deputy prime minister has warned Syria of "disastrous consequences" should the Syrian government send forces to support Kurdish militias Ankara considers terrorist groups linked to an insurgency inside its own borders.

Bekir Bozdag made the comments following reports Monday by Syrian news agency SANA that forces loyal to the Syrian government would be deployed to the Kurdish-held region "within hours."

Bozdag called the reports "unconfirmed" and "unrealistic," according to Turkey's Anadolu state news agency, but added that "any decision by the Syrian regime to send forces in Afrin to support PYD/YPG terror organizations or any step taken in this direction will have disastrous consequences for the region."

Three Kurdish militia -- the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), the People's Protection Units (YPG) and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) -- have borne the brunt of a month-long offensive Turkey launched in Afrin to clear the border of the Kurdish groups it considers to be terrorist organizations, along with ISIS militants still remaining on the battlefield.

On Monday, it appeared that the Kurdish factions had forged a new alliance with forces loyal to the Syrian government.

The potential deployment of pro-regime forces to Afrin to support the Kurdish militias in their fight against Ankara complicates an already fraught conflict in the Kurdish regions of northern Syria.

It essentially places the YPG -- allies with the US in the fight against ISIS -- on the same side as forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who the US opposes.

It was not immediately clear where or what type of forces the Syrian regime is deploying. Kurdish official Badran Jia Kurd said "army troops" would be deployed along the border based on an agreement between Damascus and Syrian Kurdish fighters, Reuters reported Sunday.

YPG officials refused to comment on the purported deal when contacted by CNN.

Turkey is staying put

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Monday Turkey has no intention of suspending operations in Afrin, and questioned the value of any Syrian government deployment to the area.

"If they do go in, what are they [the Syrian forces] going in to do? That is what is important. If the regime goes in to clear the PKK/YPG then there is no problem. But if the regime is going to protect the PKK/YPG then we, Turkey and Turkish soldiers, cannot be stopped," Cavusoglu said at a news conference in Amman.

Afrin has sustained relentless attacks from Turkey since January 20, when Ankara launched a campaign called Operation Olive Branch.

Turkey sees the quest by the Kurds -- who are spread out in Turkey, Syria, Iran and Iraq -- to establish an independent homeland as an existential threat to its territorial integrity. And Turkey has long warned that it will not tolerate YPG control of much of its border with Syria.

An estimated 16,000 people have been displaced by the fighting, which has been punctuated by relentless airstrikes and shelling, according to the United Nations.

A US announcement in mid-January that it would form a 30,000-strong Kurdish-led border force in northeastern Syria also sparked this heightened period of US-Turkey tension.

Pushing peace talks on the phone

According to a readout from the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the Turkish operations in Afrin, but offered few details on Monday's call.

It also said that the Russian and Turkish leaders continued to promote their own Syrian peace talks effort -- together with Iran -- in Astana, Kazakhstan, over anything the UN-sponsored talks in Geneva might produce.

Noting the "positive dynamics in the development of Russian-Turkish cooperation," the Kremlin said that "special attention was paid to the further strengthening of the interaction in the Astana format."

"The readiness for close coordination of the efforts of Russia, Turkey and Iran was confirmed with a view to ensuring the effective functioning of the de-escalation zones and the promotion of the political process," the Kremlin statement said.

Last month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was heckled during his speech at a Russia-engineered peace conference at the Black Sea resort of Sochi. The conference was snubbed by many opposition figures, and some of those who actually attended walked out during Lavrov's address.

Organizers of the summit had hoped the talks would lead to a new draft constitution for Syria and bring an end to sanctions imposed on the state.
Wittingly or not, President Donald Trump spent the Presidents Day weekend doing the Kremlin's work.

It may be months before Americans learn whether special counsel Robert Mueller will validate or reject allegations that Trump's 2016 campaign colluded with Moscow's election meddling operation.

But Trump's three days of Twitter venting against the FBI, his political opponents and the Russia investigation from his Mar-a-Lago resort are likely to further incite mistrust in the institutions of democracy and government, which the Russian intervention was designed to foment.

In addition to lashing out against perceived political foes, Trump rejected the congressional and governmental investigations taking place under the checks and balances of the US system and undermined his own national security adviser's warning to Russia at a key international forum.

At the same time, Trump failed to condemn the audacious "information warfare" effort alleged in a comprehensive indictment against 13 Russians that Mueller unveiled on Friday. He also failed to promise to protect future US elections -- even though intelligence chiefs have warned that an attempt to disrupt November's midterms may already be underway.

That reluctance is consistent with a pattern of unexplained conduct by the President involving the Russia question. People in his orbit have, for instance, repeatedly lied about the campaign's contacts with Russians and the President is under investigation for possible obstruction of justice for firing FBI Director James Comey, who had been overseeing the election interference investigation.

Trump has also often been strangely solicitous of Russian President Vladimir Putin, praising his strongman ethos and gravitating toward him at international summits.

But Mueller has not so far announced any findings that prove that the campaign colluded with Russia nor alleged that the President is compromised in any way or indicated whether Trump has anything to fear from the special counsel's investigation.

Friday's indictment noted that Russian representatives interacted only with "unwitting" Trump campaign aides -- a statement that the President's supporters used to inaccurately claim he had been absolved of any wrongdoing by Mueller.

There are several scenarios that do not include collusion, starting with Trump's obsessive sensitivity to claims that his election win was illegitimate or concern that his personal finances may be in Mueller's sights, that could also explain his bitter antipathy towards the probe.

But that said, this past weekend did reveal a remarkable continuity of interest between Trump and the Russians who plotted the operation, and it shows how his reaction to its exposure is perpetuating the goals that Mueller's indictment says Russia hoped to achieve.

Moscow's goal seems to have been to undermine public trust in the institutions of politics and government, which have made the United States a beacon of democracy.

"The defendants allegedly conducted what they called information warfare against the United States, with the stated goal of spreading distrust towards the candidates and the political system in general," Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein told reporters on Friday.

Some experts go further and argue that the indictment lifts the lid on an expansive Russian operation to undermine the fabric of US public life.

"More than anything it was to sow discord in our political process ... to degrade trust in our political institutions and then as well to agitate so that we would be at each other's throats over this," said Daniel Hoffman, a former CIA agent stationed in Moscow, on CNN's "Smerconish" on Saturday.

Trump and Russia have similar targets

But Russia is not alone in actively seeking to tarnish the institutions of American democracy -- Trump has acted in a similar way during his presidency, from his jibes at the judiciary to his feuds with intelligence agencies and declaration that the media is an enemy of the people.

His willingness to take on the establishment was an elemental part of his appeal in 2016 and it helps explain his enduring bond with his supporters.

Before Trump became President, it would have been a major shock to see repeated, public attacks on the FBI from the occupant of the Oval Office. Now it happens so often that it is almost old news.

The President took his assault on the bureau to a new level over the weekend by squarely blaming Florida FBI agents for the failure to stop the high school shooting in Broward County last week.

"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!" Trump wrote on Twitter on Saturday.

While the President's constant assault on the FBI is obviously motivated by his anger at the Russia investigation and doesn't necessarily indicate that he has something to hide, it comes with a bonus for Moscow.

Any ebbing of public trust in the bureau as a result of Trump's assaults can only be good news for Russia, since the FBI is responsible for detecting and preventing Russian espionage in the United States and depends on public support for its legitimacy.

A recent Quinnipiac University poll found that only 48% of Americans approve of the way the FBI is handling its mission, while 53% of Republicans do not approve of the job the bureau is doing.

Trump's weekend tweets also included attacks on the structure of the constitutional system set up to oversee a President's power.

"If it was the GOAL of Russia to create discord, disruption and chaos within the U.S. then, with all of the Committee Hearings, Investigations and Party hatred, they have succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. They are laughing their asses off in Moscow. Get smart America!" Trump tweeted.

The tweet mirrored a statement by the President on Friday night, in which he maintained that distrust in the US system was in fact rooted in attempts to examine the extent of Russian meddling in 2016.

"It's time we stop the outlandish partisan attacks, wild and false allegations, and farfetched theories, which only serve to further the agendas of bad actors, like Russia, and do nothing to protect the principles of our institutions," Trump said.

Trump's former campaign adviser Michael Caputo on Tuesday bolstered this argument, maintaining that the Russia intervention was real but putting the blame for the post-election discord on the President's political enemies at home.

"I think a lot of the dissension that's been sown since the election was entirely the responsibility of the Democrats," Caputo told CNN's "New Day." "I think the Democrats have fed this bogus Russian collusion narrative to the media, (and) the media have gleefully swallowed it because it's really good for ratings."

But Trump, in firing off a volley of tweets critical of his predecessor Barack Obama on Tuesday, ensured that the acrimony stirred by Russia's operation will exacerbate the scars of an election that still haunts US politics.

The President quoted Obama's call last year for him to stop "whining" -- when Trump claimed that the election could be "rigged" against his Republican ticket.

"The President Obama quote just before election. That's because he thought Crooked Hillary was going to win and he didn't want to 'rock the boat.' When I easily won the Electoral College, the whole game changed and the Russian excuse became the narrative of the Dems," Trump tweeted.

Undermining McMaster in Munich

Since an iconic speech at the Munich Security Conference in 2007, in which he previewed a shift in policy toward the United States by complaining it acted as the world's sole "master" and "sovereign," Putin has emerged as a challenger to US global power.

So it was significant that national security adviser H.R. McMaster chose this year's Munich event to deliver a strong warning to Moscow.

He said the Mueller indictments on Friday showed that evidence of a Russian election-meddling effort was "really incontrovertible," but he warned that the operation had been counterproductive.

"All that has done is appeal to those big fringes while uniting all of our politics actually against Russia and Russian interference," he said.

Trump quickly contradicted McMaster, raising new doubts about the level of confidence that the President retains in his national security adviser and undercutting his message that Americans were united against Russia.

"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," Trump tweeted.

It was not the first time that Trump has appeared at odds with his own senior national security staff, which has largely taken a hawkish position toward Russia amid a plunge in relations between the former Cold War foes.

Defenders of Trump often point to a decision by the administration to allow Ukraine to buy small arms and light weapons from US manufacturers to counter the narrative that the President is overly sympathetic to Russia.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders is seizing on complaints, even by some Democrats, that the previous administration did not do enough to punish Russian election subversion.

"Unlike Obama, @POTUS isn't going to be pushed around by Russia or anybody else," she said on Twitter on Saturday.

But Obama personally warned Putin against messing with the election, imposed sanctions on Russian individuals and entities, kicked out 35 Russian diplomats and closed two of the Kremlin's compounds in the United States.

While Obama's critics demanded more, his action still far exceeds the steps Trump has taken in response to much more detailed and public accusations of interference by Russia. The President still has not imposed sanctions designed to punish election meddling by Moscow.
A Thai court has given a wealthy Japanese businessman sole custody of 13 children he fathered through surrogates in Thailand.

Mitsutoki Shigeta, 28, made a headlines in 2014 for what became widely known as the "baby factory" case. It was one of several cases that led to the country banning foreigners using surrogate mothers in Thailand.

The children were seized by Thai authorities in a raid and sent to a government orphanage as part of a crackdown on suspected illegal surrogacy. Ranging in age from newborns to one year olds at the time of the raid, they cared for by seven women in a Bangkok apartment. Police at the time said the babies were well taken care of.

Shigeta, who allegedly wanted to start a "big family," has been providing the children English and Japanese tuition while they've been in government care these past few years. The children's grandmother, who lives in Japan, visits them every month.

"He's very, very happy," Shigeta's lawyer, Kong Suriyamontol, told CNN after Tuesday's ruling. The process would now begin to arrange the children's return to their father, he added.

Shigeta won custody Tuesday after taking the Thai government to court for the paternal rights to the children.

Thailand's Central Juvenile and Family Court heard Tuesday that Shigeta is CEO of a company listed on Japan's stock exchange, a shareholder in many companies and earns more than $3 million dollars (100 million Thai baht) in dividends from a single company.

Shigeta had no wife but provided his semen and eggs from unnamed donors to be planted into nine Thai surrogates, from whom 13 children were born, court documents said.

The court was told Shigeta now plans to take the children to Japan, where he and his family have already bought a piece of land near a big public park in Tokyo to build a house. He has promised to provide enough carers and professional nurses to look after them, and plans to send them to a nearby international school when the time comes.

Vitat Techabun, the Director-General of Thailand's Department of Children and Youth, told reporters that government officials would help ease the children's transition to their new living arrangements, and conduct regular checks to safeguard their welfare.

Shigeta fathered 17 children in total via surrogacy in Thailand before 2015. Four of the 17 children he fathered had previously been placed in his custody, and weren't part of the raid or included in this court case. He has another two children by surrogates in India, according to his lawyer.

Thailand introduced the Protection for Children Born Through Assisted Reproductive Technologies Act (ART Act) in 2015, after the government crackdown on the thriving industry.

One of the other cases that led to the enactment of the law was of Gammy, a male twin born with Down Syndrome, who became the center of a custody dispute and caused international outrage.
Along with over $400,000 other expenditures on behalf of Liberty Principles PAC-backed candidates, the report mistakenly says a mailing Proft made in Madigan's 22nd District was on behalf of Madigan, causing a bit of an uproar among Illinois political insiders Monday afternoon.

CHICAGO - On a day when Speaker Mike Madigan is once again in hot water due to allegations of sexual misbehavior among his campaign staffers ( SEE HERE ) - a simple clerical error mistakenly seemed to tie Liberty Principles PAC and its originator Dan Proft to a $12k mailing supporting Madigan.

And one that Rauner's campaign could easily - albeit deceitfully - use to mislead voters into thinking Ives' associate Proft is working behind the scenes to assist the Democratic Party Chairman.

It was a clerical error that has since been corrected or is in the process of so being, Proft told Illinois Review.

"RHA Marketing is a direct mail fundraising firm I use. A clerical person who works for my election attorney (and doesn't know IL politics) made a data entry mistake because the direct mail fundraising letter in question mentioned Mike Madigan--as in winning the 9 seats we need in the House to depose Mike Madigan as Speaker--so she thought it was on his behalf," he explained.

"No mailing was sent out on behalf of Mike Madigan. Again, in fact, it was a letter to raise money for my PAC for the explicit purpose of defeating Mike Madigan-backed House candidates and removing him as Speaker. It was an innocent, clerical error. That's all," Proft said in an email.

The Illinois State Board of Elections report that grabbed attention of Illinois politicos showed:

At the same time, Governor Rauner is running ads dubbing his primary opponent Jeanne Ives as "Madigan's favorite Republican." Proft has been featured at several fundraisers for Ives and has reportedly been serving as a campaign advisor.

He has also been a longtime vocal critic on his radio show of Speaker Madigan - seeing Madigan's defeat as the only way to direct the state out of its financial crisis.
I almost died after giving birth to my daughter, Olympia.

Yet I consider myself fortunate.

While I had a pretty easy pregnancy, my daughter was born by emergency C-section after her heart rate dropped dramatically during contractions. The surgery went smoothly. Before I knew it, Olympia was in my arms. It was the most amazing feeling I've ever experienced in my life. But what followed just 24 hours after giving birth were six days of uncertainty.

It began with a pulmonary embolism, which is a condition in which one or more arteries in the lungs becomes blocked by a blood clot. Because of my medical history with this problem, I live in fear of this situation. So, when I fell short of breath, I didn't wait a second to alert the nurses.

This sparked a slew of health complications that I am lucky to have survived. First my C-section wound popped open due to the intense coughing I endured as a result of the embolism. I returned to surgery, where the doctors found a large hematoma, a swelling of clotted blood, in my abdomen. And then I returned to the operating room for a procedure that prevents clots from traveling to my lungs. When I finally made it home to my family, I had to spend the first six weeks of motherhood in bed.

I am so grateful I had access to such an incredible medical team of doctors and nurses at a hospital with state-of-the-art equipment. They knew exactly how to handle this complicated turn of events. If it weren't for their professional care, I wouldn't be here today.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, black women in the United States are over three times more likely to die from pregnancy or childbirth-related causes. But this is not just a challenge in the United States. Around the world, thousands of women struggle to give birth in the poorest countries. When they have complications like mine, there are often no drugs, health facilities or doctors to save them. If they don't want to give birth at home, they have to travel great distances at the height of pregnancy. Before they even bring a new life into this world, the cards are already stacked against them.

Here's the reality of one woman, as documented by UNICEF. In Malawi, Mary James walked hours to reach the closest health center while she was in labor. Exhausted, she made it to the facility and gave birth, only to lose her child later that day. She picked a name for him, but he never opened his eyes. He never cried. She kept the name to herself. Sadly, Mary's nameless son was not the only one. That same day, approximately 2,600 babies died on their first day of life.

According to UNICEF, each year, 2.6 million newborns die, tragically before their lives even really get started. Over 80% die from preventable causes. We know simple solutions exist, like access to midwives and functional health facilities, along with breastfeeding, skin-to-skin contact, clean water, basic drugs and good nutrition. Yet we are not doing our part. We are not rising to the challenge to help the women of the world.

Mary's baby died because there weren't enough doctors or nurses to save him. This is a chronic problem plaguing the most impoverished countries. But what if we lived in a world where there were enough birth attendants? Where there was no shortage of access to health facilities nearby? Where lifesaving drugs and clean water were easily available to all? Where midwives could help and advise mothers after birth? What if we lived in a world where every mother and newborn could receive affordable health care and thrive in life?

That world is possible. And we must dare to dream it for every black woman, for every woman in Malawi, and for every mother out there.

Across the globe, organizations like UNICEF are committed to delivering simple solutions on behalf of every mother and newborn. These solutions include recruiting and training more doctors and midwives, guaranteeing clean and functional health facilities, making the top 10 lifesaving drugs and equipment available, and most importantly, empowering adolescent girls to demand quality care.

Every mother, everywhere, regardless of race or background deserves to have a healthy pregnancy and birth. And you can help make this a reality.

How? You can demand governments, businesses and health care providers do more to save these precious lives. You can donate to UNICEF and other organizations around the world working to make a difference for mothers and babies in need. In doing so, you become part of this narrative -- making sure that one day, who you are or where you are from does not decide whether your baby gets to live or to die.

Together, we can make this change. Together, we can be the change.
SULLIVAN COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - We've received phone calls and emails into our newsroom from concerned parents wondering why there were police officers at North Central High School in Farmersburg.

Right away, we went digging for answers.

News 10 obtained this letter sent home to students, parents, and staff.

School officials say they contacted police to investigate a possible threat from a student at the school.

Police launched an investigation, where they say the student's parents fully cooperated, allowing detectives to search the home.

The letter says there were no confirmed threats found.

You can read the full letter below:



"Dear NESC Students, Parents and Staff,

Over the weekend the school was made aware of a possible threat at North Central High School. Upon notification the school immediately called the Sullivan County Sheriff's Department and the Indiana State Police to report the possible threat. A detective went to the students home to investigate. The detective was able to speak with the student and parents who cooperated fully with the investigation. The parents allowed the detective to conduct a search of the home for possible threats. None were confirmed.

Officers were also on campus Monday morning to meet with the parent, student and administration involved in the situation. Officers will have a presence in the building over the course of the week to help ensure safety of all students and staff.

We want to stress that this situation is being taken very seriously by the NESC administration and the Sullivan County Sheriff's Department. We will continue to work together to provide a safe environment for our students and staff.

Thank you,

NESC Supt. Mark Baker"
KNOX COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - The Knox County Sheriff's Department is putting out an internet fire, after social media posts emerged that students in the county were being threatened with violence.

Knox County Sheriff, Mike Morris said Monday that the social media post originated in Knox County, Kentucky and no credible threats were ever received in Knox County, Indiana.

Morris stated, "We received information from a Knox County (IN) School Resource Officer that a threat had been posted on social media."

Within 20 minutes of receiving the initial report, Detective Mike Fisher was able to discredit the threat. Morris further confirmed, authorities in Kentucky had arrested at least two people in connection with the incident.

"Detective Mike Fisher made contact with Kentucky authorities, who confirmed this," Morris said, "As of right now there is no threat in Knox County, Indiana."

Morris added that even with the threat being out of state, his department continues to work with county schools to ensure student safety.

"By no means is the Sheriff's Department dropping its guard," he stated.
SULLIVAN COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - A 12-year-old female was arrested at 12:41 Tuesday morning after making online threats towards students and staff at Dugger-Union Community School.

Sullivan County Sheriff Clark Cottom says he, along with Deputy Eric Valdez and Dugger Town Marshal Justin Todd, worked through the evening sorting through tips.

Those tips helped track down the juvenile at a home in Shelburn.

Investigators believe the juvenile is responsible for writing and transmitting multiple threats via snapchat. Investigators did not find any weapons or credible means to carry out the threats.

The juvenile has been charged with intimidation and was taken to the Sullivan County Sheriffs Office.

She will then be taken to Southwest Juvenile Detention Center in Vincennes.

Sheriff Cottom says to ease minds, security were beefed up Tuesday at Dugger-Union Community School.
INDIANA (WTHI) - A non-profit group has donated 90 defibrillators to Indiana State Police; a tool Troopers can use to save a life.

Last week, the group Bolt for the Heart gifted the devices. They'll help people suffering from cardiac arrest.

Since 2014, the group has donated 305 AEDs statewide.

State Troopers will keep the devices in their patrol cars.

Troopers will also place stickers on their patrol car windows showing who's equipped with the portable machines.
BLOOMINTON, Ind. (AP)  Bloomingtons police department is facing criticism for buying an armored truck that opponents argue will militarize the college towns police force.

Residents who oppose the new $225,000 truck thats being built for the departments critical response team questioned Police Chief Mike Diekhoff about the purchase last week.

Protesters halted Mayor John Hamiltons annual State of the City address two days later by shouting and using a megaphone to voice their unhappiness about the vehicle, which will be outfitted with metal plating and have bulletproof glass designed to stop high-powered rifle rounds.

Vauhxx Booker, an organizer for Black Lives Matter Bloomington, stood and interrupted the mayors speech on Thursday. He was joined by dozens of other audience members, who shouted as Hamilton tried to continue speaking. The protesters argued that the armored truck would militarize police in the city of 85,000 residents thats home to Indiana Universitys main campus.

We dont want that in our community, Booker told The Herald-Times following the protest.

Hamilton said during his speech that local government didnt air enough of those questions and concerns publicly early enough and laid out plans for community meetings on the issue.

Bloomington police have been without an armored vehicle since 2012, when its truck became too unreliable to use and maintain. The new civilian-grade armored vehicle is being built to the departments specifications.

Diekhoff said last week that his department is very cognizant of the perceptions of being militarized but stressed that it needs the new vehicle and it will only be used by specially trained officers who respond to high-risk calls involving firearms.

Ive never had to go and tell the spouse, the significant other, of a police officer that theyve been shot and killed. I dont ever want to do that. In my mind, this is insurance, Diekhoff said. The fact that I can take a step to protect my police officers, to protect people they are responding to who have been under fire . its based on our experience that our officers have been fired at when they are trying to provide a safe alternative.

The critical response team, which responded to 19 incidents in 2017 and 15 incidents in 2016, currently travels in two 15-passenger vans that have had the seats removed to make room for guns and other equipment.

___

Information from: The Herald Times, http://www.heraldtimesonline.com
LONDON (AP)  Fast-food fans were in a flutter Monday after most of the 900 KFC outlets in the U.K. and Ireland were forced to close because of a shortage of chicken.

The company apologized to customers, blaming teething problems with its new delivery partner, DHL.

FILE - In this Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012, file photo, a close-up of a sign with a picture of Colonel Sanders is shown on the wall of a combination Kentucky Fried Chicken, Taco Bell in Doral, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File) FILE - In this Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012, file photo, a close-up of a sign with a picture of Colonel Sanders is shown on the wall of a combination Kentucky Fried Chicken, Taco Bell in Doral, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)

KFC first apologized for the problems on Saturday. In an update Monday, it listed almost 300 stores as open, but did not say when the rest might join them.

It said those branches that remained open were operating a limited menu or shortened hours.

We know that this might have inconvenienced some of you over the last few days, and disappointed you when you wanted your fried chicken fix  were really sorry about that, the company said in a statement.

DHL, which recently took over the KFC contract from Bidvest Logistics, said that due to operational issues a number of deliveries in recent days have been incomplete or delayed.

When DHL announced in October that it had won the KFC contract alongside logistics firm QSL, it promised to re-write the rule book and set a new benchmark for delivering fresh products to KFC in a sustainable way.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WTTV)  A bill clearing the way for Sunday alcohol sales in Indiana moved one step closer to becoming law Tuesday.

The Indiana House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 1 on a final vote. The Senate will need to concur with changes to the bill, including making the law active as soon as its signed by Gov. Eric Holcomb.

After the Senate approves the changes, it will go to Holcombs desk for final approval.

SB 1 allows Sunday alcohol sales from noon to 8 p.m. at grocery stores, package liquor stores, convenience stores, drug stores and restaurants. If the bill becomes law, Sunday sales could start as soon as March 4.

The Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers Chairman Jon Sinder released this statement:

The Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers congratulates the Indiana House of Representatives for passing Senate Bill 1 on third reading. This is the latest step in the legislative process that we hope will end with Hoosiers being able to purchase alcohol for carryout on Sunday for the first time since prohibition. We will continue to work directly with policy makers to ensure that we achieve this result for our loyal customers.

If successful, this legislation will take immediate effect once it is signed by Governor Eric Holcomb. Indianas small business package liquor stores are already preparing for this eventual conclusion by updating work schedules and when necessary hiring, training, and licensing new employees that attain our strict safety standards per Indiana law. We are excited for Sunday sales and will be ready to open our doors.

*This story was originally published by WTTV in Indianapolis.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - The Vigo County School Board will hold a "public work session" on Thursday afternoon. This will be the board's first action in trying to find a new superintendent since Dr. Danny Tanoos announced he will retire at year's end. An executive session advertised for Tuesday afternoon has been cancelled.

The board has hired the University Placement Team to assist in finding a replacement for Dr. Tanoos. Dr. Terry McDaniel of Indiana State University is one of four members of that team. He says it's paramount the board hire the right person as superintendent.

"The most important job a school board has is the select their superintendent," Dr. McDaniel said.

It's a job the Vigo County School Board hasn't had in 20 years.

"That's the voice for you as a school board," Dr. McDaniel said. "The public's elected you and made you responsible for finding that key person that's going to administrate the school corporation."

We expect at the board's public work session that they'll use public opinion to help outline the qualities the board and constituents want in the next superintendent. Dr. McDaniel feels Vigo County will attract a number of good, qualified applicants.

"It's the fifth largest school corporation in the state of Indiana," Dr. McDaniel said. "People are looking for those big jobs so they can make a big difference."

The University Placement Team says there are at least 13 school corporations in the state who are in search of a new superintendent. He expects a different kind of candidate to apply for Vigo County's job as opposed to smaller school districts.

"Being a big corporation, they're probably going to someone who has a lot of superintendent or central office experience," McDaniel said.

McDaniel said it's not just a big job due to the large numbers of personnel at VCSC. He says Vigo County's superintendent must be visible in and a liason to the community VCSC serves. McDaniel feels good about Vigo County being able to find a good fit.

"When the school board gets the opportunity to sit down and select someone, they're going to have some really good choices," said Dr. McDaniel, "and knowing the school board, they're going to make a good decision."

The public workshop will take place at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 22nd. It will take place in the central office building in the conference room on the main floor.
SULLIVAN COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - A local school corporation denies doing anything wrong after being sued by two students.

On Friday, we first told you that two sisters filed a federal lawsuit against the Northeast School Corporation in Sullivan County.

They both attended North Central High School.

One of the sisters said she was raped.

Both sisters said they became victims of bullying due to the situation.

The federal lawsuit alleges the school didn't do enough to respond.

The Northeast School Corporation sent News 10 a statement on Monday.

It reads in part:

"The school corporation denies all allegations that engaged in wrongdoing of any kind."

The superintendent told us school leaders will not comment further at this time for privacy reasons.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - The time is always right to do what is right. It was this year's theme of the Martin Luther King Junior Youth Summit.

Although school wasn't in session Monday, students attended the summit on their day off.

Community leaders spoke to students about leadership, diversity, and how to prepare for their future.

"Wonderful speakers who come who have a passion for service and caring for oppressed and under-represented groups and wanting to place that vision into their minds," said Mary Howard-Hamilton, key note speaker at the event.

Several students came to participate and re-visit the history of Doctor Martin Luther King Junior.

Alyssa Conrad is a sophomore at South Vigo High School.

She says the things she learned today will change the way she thinks in the future.

"Learning that only three percent of people would stand up for what they believe in and what is right, instead of going with the flow and doing what people tell them to," said Conrad.

Indiana State University students also attended the event, giving younger students the opportunity to interact with them.

"We do a lot of outreach in the community, so I know a lot of kids come out here, so we wanted to have a helping hand with that," said Ell Arnold, ISU student.

Conrad says she has taken away more knowledge than she had expected.

"You can learn a lot from it. Not just about other people, but about yourself," said Conrad.

She encourages more students to attend next year.

"The next time this place holds one of these, a lot more people should come," said Conrad.

This was the twelfth year for the event.

Organizers say each year, they hope for an even bigger turn out.
PARKLAND, Fla. (AP)  A hundred Stoneman Douglas High School students are busing 400 miles to Floridas capital Tuesday to urge lawmakers to act to prevent a repeat of the massacre that killed 17 students and faculty last week.

The students plan to hold a rally Wednesday in hopes that it will put pressure on the states Republican-controlled Legislature to consider a sweeping package of gun-control laws, something some GOP lawmakers said Monday they would consider. Shortly after the shooting, several legislative leaders were taken on a tour of the school to see the damage firsthand and they appeared shaken afterward.

I really think they are going to hear us out, said Chris Grady, a 19-year-old senior who is going on the trip. He said he hopes the trip will lead to some commonsense laws like rigorous background checks.

The attack last Wednesday seemed to overcome the resistance of some in the states leadership, which has rebuffed gun restrictions since Republicans took control of both the governors office and the Legislature in 1999. However, there is still strong resistance by many in the party to any gun-control measures, leaving the fate of new restrictions unclear.

Students also have vowed to exert pressure on Congress as the aftermath of the rampage resonates beyond Florida and from coast to coast. Hundreds of chanting protesters converged Monday on a downtown Los Angeles park, demanding tougher background checks and other gun-safety measures after the shooting. Some signs held up by the California demonstrators read, Your Children Are Counting On You.

Sen. Bill Galvano, a Republican and the incoming Florida senate president, said the state Senate was preparing a package that would include raising the age to purchase any firearm to 21, creating a waiting period for purchasing any type of firearm, banning bump stocks that can allow semi-automatic guns to spray bullets quickly and creating gun-violence restraining orders.

Authorities said suspect Nikolas Cruz, 19, had a string of run-ins with school authorities that ended with his expulsion. Police also were repeatedly called to his house throughout his childhood. Cruzs lawyers said there were repeated warning signs that he was mentally unstable and potentially violent. Yet he legally purchased a semi-automatic rifle.

We need to make sure everything is working and to learn from the experience, said Galvano, who was among those who visited the school.

The Senate is also considering boosting spending on mental health programs for schools and giving law-enforcement greater power to involuntarily hold someone considered a danger to themselves. The body will also look at a proposal to deputize a teacher or someone else at school so they are authorized to have a gun.

Galvano said senators want to examine ways to protect schools that do not have resource officers  often armed law enforcement officers  on site.

State House leaders and Gov. Rick Scott also are considering possible changes to firearms rules but have not given any details. Scott planned meetings Tuesday on school safety, and said he would announce proposals on mental health issues later in the week.

Still, some Republicans questioned whether additional gun restrictions are the answer.

I really dont want to see this politicized into a gun debate, Republican Sen. Dennis Baxley.

Referring to gun-control advocates, he said: Sometimes I wish they were right, that this would fix it, but it wont  We have a terrible problem with obesity, but were not banning forks and spoons.

Democrats believe raising the age limit and creating a waiting period to buy rifles isnt enough.

Thats unacceptable. Thats a joke, said Democratic Sen. Gary Farmer of Broward County. I dont see that as a restriction. It never should have been that an 18-year-old could buy an assault weapon. No Floridians should be able to buy an assault weapon.

Cruz legally purchased at least seven long guns, including an AK-47-style rifle he bought less than a month ago, a law enforcement official said Monday. The official is familiar with the investigation but isnt authorized to discuss it and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Federal law allows those 18 and over to buy rifles, and Cruz passed background checks necessary to obtain the weapons.

Cruz made his first appearance in court Monday. Wearing a prison jumpsuit, he kept his head down and did not appear to make eye contact with the judge or others in the courtroom, though he responded briefly to someone on the defense team. A previous appearance was by a video connection from jail.

His lawyers have said he will plead guilty if prosecutors agree not to pursue the death penalty. No decision has been made on that.

Since the attack, students from the school have become increasingly vocal in their demands for gun-control measures. Many have pointed out politicians who take financial support from the National Rifle Association, and some have lashed out at President Donald Trump, saying he was busy blaming Democrats for failing to pass gun restrictions while taking no action of his own.

After staying largely mum in the last few days about the massacre and the escalating debate about weapons, Trump said Monday that he was supportive of a bipartisan effort to strengthen federal background checks for gun purchases.

Students are also calling for anti-gun violence demonstrations in Washington and other cities March 24.

Organizers behind the anti-Trump Womens March called for a 17-minute nationwide walkout by teachers and students on March 14, and a gun-control group was calling for a rally to ban assault weapons Wednesday at the Florida Capitol.
Poland's Jewish organizations say the country's controversial new Holocaust law has led to a "growing wave of intolerance, xenophobia, and anti-Semitism," leaving many within the community feeling unsafe.

An open letter on the Union of Jewish Communities in Poland website signed by several communal bodies says threats to the Jewish community have risen since the government announced the law, which makes it illegal to accuse the Polish nation of complicity in crimes committed by Nazi Germany, including the Holocaust.

The law also bans the use of terms such as "Polish death camps" in relation to Auschwitz and other camps in Nazi-occupied Poland and carries a three-year prison sentence.

"The current wave of anti-Semitism arose in response to an amendment to the Act on the Institute of National Remembrance," the statement from the Jewish groups says.

"We believe this law to be poorly constructed and detrimental to open discussion of history. If Poland's government believes that even sporadic mentions of 'Polish Death Camps' must be criminalized, certainly the rising intolerance and anti-Semitic hatred in our country should be subject to similarly serious measures. Our government possesses the legal instruments to combat hatred but lacks political will. We call upon our politicians to change course."

Polish President Andrzej Duda signed the legislation earlier this month ahead of it being assessed by the country's Constitutional Tribunal. It has sparked fury from Jewish organizations, Israel, the United States and France.

Tensions were exacerbated Saturday when Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki caused outrage at a security conference in Germany with comments that Jews were among the perpetrators of the Holocaust.

A Polish government representative sought to clarity Morawiecki's remarks, insisting they were not "intended to deny the Holocaust, or charge the Jewish victims of the Holocaust with responsibility for what was a Nazi Germany-perpetrated genocide."

Morawiecki's comments sparked fury in Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu phoning his Polish counterpart to register his disgust.

They also unnerved many Jews in Poland, where an estimated 10% of its 3.5 million Jews survived the Holocaust.

Opinion: Poland's Holocaust law should terrify you

Many of those who survived and their family members were then deported in 1968 in the midst of an "anti-Zionist" campaign in which the communist government blamed the Jewish community for economic problems. Many lost their jobs, were attacked in the press and had their citizenship revoked, losing the right ever to return to Poland.

It was only until 1989 and the fall of communism that Polish Jews were allowed to return home.

Anti-Semitism 'is a dangerous, growing problem'

"On the eve of the fiftieth anniversary of the anti-Semitic events of March 1968 and 75 years after the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, Polish Jews do not feel safe in Poland," the statement from Poland's Jewish groups says.

"In significant ways, present threats to Poland's Jewish community are different from those we experienced in the past. Unlike many of Europe's Jews today, we do not now face direct physical threats. Despite a lack of physical violence, however, our situation is far from normal.

"It is unacceptable for Poland's leaders to merely state that anti-Semitism is wrong without recognizing publicly that it is a dangerous, growing problem in our country today.

"We receive authorities' inaction as tacit consent for hatred directed toward the Jewish community and call upon Polish leadership to punish those whose actions threaten our well-being. As representatives of Polish Jewish organizations, we call on public institutions, police, media outlets, schools, and members of the Polish public to combat anti-Semitism, and we are eager to cooperate with them in this critical mission."

'Deafening silence by the leadership'

Poland's chief rabbi, Michael Schudrich, told CNN on Tuesday that the fallout from the new law has been so fierce it has left many members of the Jewish community wondering if they are still welcome in Poland.

Schudrich said the open letter was not a political move but more of an opportunity to show how the community is feeling.

"This is one of the most devastating effects of the past few weeks," Schudrich said.

'It is devastating that such questions are asked and speaks to the fragility of the situation. It's not just the new law but the tone of the discussion with almost no reaction from leadership to that tone. A deafening silence by the leadership."

During the Holocaust, 30,000 to 35,000 Polish Jews were saved with the help of non-Jewish Polish citizens, according to Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem.

Yad Vashem has honored more Poles as Righteous Among the Nations -- non-Jews who helped Jews during the Holocaust -- than those of any other country, but there is a consensus among historians that certain Poles and groups collaborated with the Nazi occupiers. Recent Polish governments have sought to challenge that narrative.

Earlier this month, Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Bartosz Cichocki told CNN that the new law was "not meant to revise the history whatsoever; this is meant to guard the truth about the Holocaust."

"We have to realize that when he or she says that the Polish state or the Polish nation is responsible for the Holocaust, they diminish the responsibility of the real perpetrators," Cichocki said.
"Condemn," "deplore" and "denounce." Words that are heard almost daily -- from the United Nations and western governments -- about the atrocities being committed against thousands of civilians in Eastern Ghouta, outside Damascus.

But those words are not accompanied by threats of retribution nor deadlines to ceasefire.

The UN's pleas for ceasefire are falling on deaf ears.

There is, apparently, nothing that can be done to stop the Assad regime from pulverizing the area, in which about 400,000 people live under siege without access to medical care, or adequate food and water.

To the many human rights groups shouting from the rooftops about Eastern Ghouta's suffering, this inaction amounts to a moral abdication. The world's most powerful stand apparently helpless as evidence mounts that the regime has targeted hospitals and continues to use chlorine as a weapon of terror.

On 23 January, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, said: "The recent attacks in East Ghouta raise serious concerns that Bashar al-Assad's Syrian regime may be continuing its use of chemical weapons against its own people."

He warned those who used such weapons: "You will face a day of reckoning for your crimes against humanity." And he blamed Russia for not restraining the Assad regime.

On February 1, the State Department said it was "extremely concerned about yet another report of the use of chlorine gas by the Syrian regime to terrorize citizens" in Eastern Ghouta, the third reported in a month.

But the tough language of the Trump Administration last year has evaporated. After accusing the Syrian regime of using chemical weapons in April 2017, President Trump ordered cruise missile strikes against a Syrian airbase, saying: "Years of previous attempts at changing Assad's behavior have all failed, and failed very dramatically."

In June, the White House warned that Assad "and his military will pay a heavy price" if they use chemical weapons again.

But the regime and its backers in Moscow and Tehran evidently feel they now have carte blanche to finish the job of retaking the parts of Syria still held by rebel forces.

And to the people of Eastern Ghouta -- whether they are targeted by chemical weapons or barrel bombs -- the result is much the same. Ahmad al-Dbis of the Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations, says it is simply "the mass killing of people who do not have the most basic tenets of life."

The West now has few options because it effectively handed Russian President Vladimir Putin the job of finishing the Syrian conflict. The US and its allies over time steadily withdrew support for rebel groups and toned down on their insistence that Assad must go as part of a settlement. They allowed the Russians to drive the resolution of the conflict through a well-calibrated mix of siege tactics, local truces and "de-confliction zones."

Russia and its allies -- Iran and Turkey -- even declared Eastern Ghouta to be one of those four "de-confliction zones," just as the US signed up to be the guarantor of another of the assault on Eastern Ghouta. This is a watershed moment, comparable with other critical moments for human rights in the last 25 years. After three years of horror in Bosnia, it took the 1995 massacre of Srebrenica -- in which some 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed in cold blood -- to galvanize the west to action against the Bosnian Serbs. Srebrenica was a UN "safe haven" just as Ghouta is a "de-confliction zone." Both became killing zones.

In 2011, western powers used cruise missiles and airstrikes against the forces of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi to avert what would likely have been a terrible massacre in Benghazi.

The US began bombing ISIS in the summer of 2014 as the terror group tried to annihilate the Yazidi minority of northern Iraq.

In 1994, the world turned its back on Rwanda. After a week in which 10,000 people were killed, the UN peacekeeping force was reduced from 2,100 troops to 270, who were left "standing knee-deep in mutilated bodies," in the words of Rom-o Dallaire, its Canadian commander.

The Clinton administration, scarred by the chaotic failure of the peacekeeping mission in Somalia, had no desire for a similar entanglement. The then-senior US diplomat for Africa, Prudence Bushnell, said much later: "For all of the reasons that make sense for rational policy analysis, we did nothing, and watched as hundreds of thousands of people were massacred by other people."

800,000 Rwandans were killed in little over 100 days. The horrors of Rwanda and Bosnia led the international community to adopt a new principle in 2005: "the responsibility to protect."

President Obama stated in 2011 that the prevention of genocide and atrocities was "a core national security interest and a core moral responsibility of the United States." But in 2013, after the regime first used chemical weapons in Ghouta, the Obama Administration decided against a military strike -- instead signing up to an international effort to strip the regime of its chemical weapons

Since then more than 400,000 people in Syria have lost their lives.

In a desperate plea a week ago, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein drew a comparison between Bosnia and Syria. At least, he said, "the conflict in Bosnia was brought to a halt by the international community after four years." After "seven blood-soaked years," the Syrian conflict goes on, he said -- "and the failure to end it marks an epic failure of global diplomacy."
According to AMR WNY Regional Director Thomas Maxian, a new model ambulance was undergoing routine maintenance when the vehicle caught fire.

The fire spread rapidly causing the oxygen tanks on board to explode. There were a series of explosions --two small ones, one large one.

After the explosions, some of the fire spread to the AMR headquarters building. About 20-40 people inside were quickly evacuated. Firefighters were able to contain the fire.

Officials say two AMR (American Medical Response) employees had minor injuries that were treated at the scene by fellow AMR employees. They were then taken the ECMC.

Three ambulances were damaged by the fire. Officials have not confirmed what caused the original fire.

AMR Headquarters are located on William L. Gaiter Parkway in Buffalo.
PONTOTOC, Miss. (WTVA) - Aldermen in Pontotoc voted 4-1 Monday to fly the state flag again at City Hall.

The flag came down after an executive order by Mayor Bob Peeples, who said he made the decision because the banner is divisive.

Pontotoc Mayor Bob Peeples showing the Mississippi state flag that had been taken down (Daniella Oropeza) Pontotoc Mayor Bob Peeples showing the Mississippi state flag that had been taken down (Daniella Oropeza)

Mississippi's flag has the Confederate stars and bars, which some find offensive while others say recognizes history.

People filled the board meeting room for the board meeting with others being forced outside due to the lack of space.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - How would you feel if someone at your child's school carried a gun?

A group that keeps track of school shootings says, since 2013, there have been at least 290, an average of almost one school shooting a week. A school shooting is classified as any incident where a gun is fired on school grounds, whether or not someone is hurt/killed.

This issue is hitting home for folks in Florida after a 19-year-old shot and killed 17 people in Parkland.

That fear has students, parents, school employees and lawmakers desperate for solutions, no matter how controversial they appear.

Florida lawmakers are considering a proposed bill that would let some school employees have firearms. Senate Bill 1236 has now been withdrawn from consideration by a senate committee, but the bill could still move forward.

"This could be the difference between whether we have an incident or we have a massacre," said Sen. Dennis Baxley (R-Ocala.) Baxley sponsors SB 1236, simply called "School Safety."

Right now, it's illegal to carry a gun on school property in Florida. This bill would allow school officials to let trained armed volunteers like teachers bring their concealed carry weapons into the classroom.

"It seems unfair to me that we ask school administrators and teachers to be responsible for the safety of our children, yet we totally eliminate any opportunity for there to be an armed response to an armed intruder," said Sen. Baxley.

Being responsible means not letting just anyone bring a gun into a school. Under SB 1236, employees would have to get approval from the principal or district superintendent before carrying a gun on campus. Sen. Baxley believes having guns in classrooms could stop a violent situation sooner.

"There's always a time delay, particularly when you get to more rural schools," said Sen. Baxley. "It might be 45 minutes before someone could actually be there to help you.

Sen. Baxley believes concealed carry permit holders have enough training to handle serious situations like a school shooting.

"What we find with studying these permit holders is that they don't shoot people. What they do is demonstrate to a violent person that they will resist and they leave. So we avoid a violent conflict," said Sen. Baxley.

Bills similar to SB 1236 have been filed in four other states, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Laura Cutilletta, the center's Legal Director, says the idea of a "hero" stopping a shooter sounds good in theory, but rarely works in real life.

"The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI have advised that, in an active shooter situation, untrained civilians should not engage the shooter," said Cutilletta. "They tend to put themselves or others in more danger. In the past, civilians trying to respond to such events have missed and injured innocent bystanders."

Eighteen states already allow adults to carry a loaded gun on school grounds, with certain permissions.

It's just not just about safety; it's also about cost. Sen. Baxley says arming teachers that are already on the payroll is cheaper than hiring special armed guards. Cutilletta worries it's not as effective.

"When you're a law enforcement professional, you spend every day focused on keeping the public safe. If you're a teacher or a principal, your main job is something completely different. So to arm them and expect them to do the job of a law enforcement officer is completely nonsensical," said Cutilletta.

We reached out to local school districts to see what they think about the bill. Gadsden County Superintendent Roger Milton tells WTXL he would not be comfortable with anyone except law enforcement carrying a weapon at his schools. He worries a gun could get into the wrong hands if it's not properly secured.

We also asked parents what they thought about this issue. Dozens left comments on our Facebook page.

Kimberly Bartlum wrote: "Why is this a debate? Armed guards should have already happened and absolutely teachers should be able to protect our children and themselves."

Rose Wood says, in part: "Armed? No. What needs to happen is funding and talks against bullying, isolation, and hate."

"More guns in the street is never the answer," said Florida resident Natasha Goodley. "If you look at the countries that do not experience the number of mass shootings we do, they have very strict gun laws. The more guns that we have will not protect us."

Sen. Baxley admits there's a long way to go before a bill like SB 1236 can pass. First, he says he's focusing on a bill that would let people concealed carry at churches and other places of worship. If that passes and goes well, he hopes it might ease some of the concern around letting guns on school campuses.

If you have a story idea for the Insiders, you can email us at abc27news@wtxl.tv, attention "The Insiders."
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The Tallahassee community gathered to join a candlelight vigil for the Parkland school shooting victims.

The vigil, held at the Centre of Tallahassee, is one of more than 20 across the state organized by the Florida Parent Teacher Association.

Forty students from Broward County schools attended the vigil.

A Capital City resident shares how this tragedy is affecting her.

"The time is now to be a voice, to pull together for mental health services," Tina Reason said. "Address those needs. We have to, we cannot continue to ignore them. There is going to be more shootings, there are going to be more violent acts."

Tuesday the Florida PTA is honoring the Stoneman Douglas students with action. They are fighting to change gun control laws as part of the "Never again" campaign.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A candlelight vigil for the Parkland school shooting victims is set in the Capital City.

The vigil starts at 7 p.m. at the Pavilion at the Centre of Tallahassee.

The vigil in Tallahassee is one of over 20 across the state happening Monday night in honor of the Parkland shooting victims.

The Florida PTA coordinated the state-wide vigils so every community in Florida can stand in solidarity. Forty students from Broward County schools are attending the vigil.

A recent graduate from Stoneman Douglas who went to school with the suspect is reading the names of the shooting victims. Florida PTA is encouraging all Floridians to stand together Monday night as one family.

"It's important to remember the 17 lives we lost that day. And it's important that we say never again," said Angie Gallo, who's a legislative chair for the Florida PTA. "No more, we're done. No more blood shed, no more heart ache, no more children lost. We've lost enough. Today, it's time to remember and it's time to grieve."

Senator Gary Farmer and pastor Scott Hunter with Genesis Church will also be speaking.

Tuesday, the Florida PTA is honoring the Stoneman Douglas students with action. They are fighting to change gun control laws as part of the 'Never Again' campaign.
WAKULLA COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - An 18-year-old who admitted to posting a Snapchat video threatening Wakulla County Schools with an assault rifle will make his first appearance in court Friday.

As of Thursday, Kane Watson remains in jail and has been there since his initial arrest.

WAKULLA COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - An 18-year-old is facing felony charges after admitting to posting a Snapchat video threatening Wakulla County Schools with an assault rifle.

Kane Watson was arrested on Monday.

According to the Wakulla County Sheriff's Office, Watson posted a video "deemed to be a threat" by Wakulla County Schools on Snapchat.

In the video, an unidentified subject can be seen opening a case containing an assault rifle. The video shows the rifle being removed from the case and loaded with a magazine.

The rifle is then picked up by the subject and a caption is displayed underneath that reads, Dont go to school.

After receiving an anonymous complaint about it Monday afternoon, deputies quickly determined that Watson posted the Snapchat video.

When deputies went to Watson's Crawfordville residence, he admitted that he posted the video and voluntarily turned over his cellphone and the assault rifle. When interviewed, Watson stated he posted the video "as a means to deal with stress through humor."

Detectives charged Watson with violating the following Florida Statutes and booked him into the Wakulla County Jail:

F.S. 836.10, Written Threats to Kill or do Bodily Injury, a second degree felony.

F.S.790.163, False Report concerning planting a bomb, an explosive, or a weapon of mass destruction, or concerning the use of firearms in a violent manner, a second degree felony

As a follow-up, detectives have notified the North Florida Fusion eXchange, a collaborative effort between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies working in partnership to share resources, expertise and/or information to better identify, detect, prevent, apprehend, and respond to criminal and terrorist activity utilizing an allcrimes/all-hazards approach.
(WTXL) - Students from Stoneman Douglas High School are preparing to head to the Capital City to speak with state legislators.

Three bus loads of students will be arriving in Tallahassee tuesday night and will be greeted by local students at Leon High School.

On Wednesday, the students will hold a rally at the Capitol from noon until 1 p.m.

Absences will be excused for any Leon County students wanting to attend the events at the Capitol.
SACRAMENTO, CA (KOVR/CNN)  Authorities are crediting an airline employee who trusted her gut instincts for preventing two teenage girls from getting on a flight to meet an online predator.

It was just a typical day for American Airline agent Denice Miracle when two girls, 15 and 17, came to her ticket counter. The two had a number of small bags but no ID.

"I think the way they kept looking back-and-forth at each other, like they weren't really sure. And then they were texting someone on the phone, and that person was giving them answers, Miracle said.

Miracle noticed the ticket from Sacramento to New York was purchased online, and the credit card used was in a different name.

The agent says the whole situation didnt feel right.

"It was a first-class ticket. It was very expensive. I told a supervisor, 'I'm going to call the sheriff. It just doesn't feel right to me, she said.

When deputies arrived, the teenagers told them they met a man called Drey on Instagram, who invited them to New York for the weekend to earn $2000 for some modeling in music videos.

The girls had each told their parents they were spending the night at the others home.

Deputy Todd Sanderson says the ticket had no return, but the teens didnt know that.

"They were somewhat flippant about  No, that can't be true  and I said, No, the airline says you have a one-way ticket, and in my belief, you're going back there not to do the things that you think you were going to be doing.' And they said, 'I wouldn't let anything happen that I didn't want.' And I said, Well, you probably wouldn't have a choice in the matter, Sanderson said.

Authorities quickly investigated Drey on Instagram, but it was too late.

"We attempted to look him up on Instagram. Just a few minutes after our contact with him, he erased all of his profiles on social media, Sanderson said.

Authorities believe this person is an expert at befriending potential victims online and luring them away. They believe the girls would most certainly have become victims.

Sanderson says Denice Miracles name suits her.

"She probably really was their miracle that day, whether they want to believe it or not, he said.

Deputies say when they notified the teenagers parents, they were in shock. They hope the story is a good lesson for parents to make sure they are keeping a close eye on their childrens social media accounts.

Copyright 2018 KOVR via CNN. All rights reserved.
MIDWAY, Fla. (WTXL) - Midway city councilman Charlie Smith passed away on Monday, according to mayor Wanda Range.

Range issued the following statement:

Charlie accomplished many things for our city as a business owner, public safety ex official, and volunteer citizen on patrol. All who knew Charlie knew of his passion for our city and the well-being of its people. He will truly be missed. Our prayers are with his wife Jeneice and sons Milo, Demarcus and daughters Keeva and Sarah. May God comfort them through this incredibly difficult time.

Born and raised in Midway, the Havana Northside High School grad was first elected to the Midway City Council in 2007 and was re-elected in 2011 and 2015.

Smith had also had strong ties to Tallahassee.

Officials say he was previously employed by Florida State University in the electrical shop and by Strickland Electric Company of Tallahassee for 14 years as a journeyman and a master electrician.

He attended Miami-Dade Junior College, Lively Vocational Technical School and Tallahassee Community College.
Bill to privatize Pioneer Home and Retirement Center moves ahead in the Senate

CHEYENNE  State File 112, sponsored by the Wyoming Joint Appropriations Committee and moving forward through the Legislature, would effectively put two elderly care facilities, the Wyoming Pioneer Home in Thermopolis, and the Wyoming Retirement Center in Basin, currently managed by the State Department of Health, on the auction block, for privatization, with proceeds going to state general f...
CHEYENNE  As a single father of an eighth-grader, Mark Miller relies on the generosity of his parents and neighbors to help out during long work weeks.

CHEYENNE  As a single father of an eighth-grader, Mark Miller relies on the generosity of his parents and neighbors to help out during long work weeks.

Miller, who has had full custody of his son, Cody, since he was 19, is a server at a local chain restaurant on the outskirts of Cheyenne. He typically works 10- to 12-hour days taking orders, serving food and cashing out customers. He handles...
Joint Resolution wrong idea on school financing

I caught an article in the Daily News this past Saturday (Feb. 17), addressing school financing. It stated that Affie Ellis, a state senator from Cheyenne, had filed a Joint Resolution that would amend Wyomings constitution to specify that the Legislature has the right to determine how much money it gives to school finance based on revenue

February 20, 2018
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-14 21:50:53|Editor: Mengjie

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Chinese President Xi Jinping (L), also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, shakes hands with Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith during their meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Nov. 14, 2017. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

VIENTIANE, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met here Tuesday with Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, exchanging views on further consolidating bilateral relations.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said the two countries are friendly neighbors bonded by land and waters, with deep-running traditional friendship between the two peoples.

During the meeting, Xi told the prime minister that he and Bounnhang Vorachit, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and president of Laos, both believe that the two countries should build a community of shared future with strategic significance.

China attaches great importance to developing bilateral relations with Laos, and will continue to adopt friendly policies to the Lao side, Xi said, adding that he believes the Lao people will achieve greater success in their pursuit for reform and renewal.

The Chinese president noted that the two countries need to keep high-level contact, deepen exchange of experience in governance of the parties and countries, and enhance cooperation in defense, law enforcement and security, so as to promote friendly feelings between their peoples and further enrich their comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation with a high level of mutual trust, mutual support and mutual benefit.

He urged the two sides to explore their economic complementarity, steadily push forward the China-Laos economic corridor and China-Laos railway, and expand cooperation in such fields as energy, resource, electricity, finance, education, health care and poverty alleviation, in order to allow the two peoples to enjoy the benefits of cooperation as early as possible.

China supports Laos as the co-chair of the 2018 Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, Xi said, while calling for closer multilateral coordination and continuous mutual support on issues of common concern.

Thongloun, for his part, congratulated Xi on his re-election as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, saying he believes that under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Xi at the core, the Chinese people will achieve new success in their new journey to realize a great strategic goal, which will also be an inspiration for Laos' socialist cause.

Noting that the Lao people have long expected Xi's visit, the prime minister said he believes the historic visit will greatly promote the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation.

The Lao side is ready to work with China to faithfully implement the results of the visit, deepen bilateral all-round exchanges and cooperation, and build an unbreakable community of shared future, he said.

Vientiane is the final leg of Xi's first overseas trip after the 19th CPC National Congress, which was held last month in Beijing.

Prior to the Laos visit, Xi attended the 25th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting in Vietnam's central city of Da Nang and paid a state visit to the country.
by Valentini Anagnostopoulou

ATHENS, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- This February, art lovers in Athens have the chance to peek into one of the richest and most important private collections of ritual masks and artifacts not only in Greece, but worldwide according to experts.

Some 75 impressive masks and accessories, such as musical instruments, jewels and hats from 5 continents, all belonging to Fotis Kaggelaris' 1,000-item collection, are on display until next weekend in the showroom of the Athens School of Fine Arts.

"[The artifacts] make part of ceremonies that mark important events of the tribe, of the community, or of people's personal lives. For example, they are part of hunting ceremonies, circumcision ceremonies in Africa and other places, or more personal rituals that help dispel a disease or make a labour safer, for example," Kaggelaris told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Contrary to the West's perception, a mask is not only an accessory put on the face: some of them resemble full-body outfits, some are worn on other parts of the body or are meant to be simply held, hung on a tree or displayed in prominent positions of the private or public space.

"The mask serves the personification of magical, supernatural powers that are materialised through it and are used in order to either bring a blessing to the community or chase away the evil," Kaggelaris explained. It is the enforcement of human desire upon nature, against which he feels powerless, the collector added.

Made of all sorts of natural materials, such as wood, stone, paper, shells and clay, each item is unique, bears a special symbolism and is often designed to naturally decompose after its ceremonial use, explained Kaggelaris, who has devoted decades of his life in tracking down and rescuing the masks.

Kaggelaris, who is a doctor of Psychopathology and comes from a background of psychoanalytic studies, recounts that his love of masks began in his student years in Paris, where he had the chance to admire ethnic artifacts from all over the world at the Museum of Vincennes. But the actual collection started by mere coincidence, when one of his African classmates offered to sell him a mask he had brought from Africa in order to gain some much-needed money. Kaggelaris gave him the money without taking the mask, but in a gesture of appreciation, the classmate returned from his next summer vacation in Africa with a talisman mask as a gift for him. This mask hit a sensitive chord and clicked with Kagelaris' passion for modern art movements, which were in a constant, fruitful dialogue with the Primitive Arts.

But, apart from his artistic pursuits, the mask collection was fueled by Kaggelaris' passion for travels, as it is the fruit of a painstaking quest around the globe. His main motive has been collecting not only objects, but also travels and unique experiences.

"If I didn't travel, I wouldn't get the masks. I was never interested in buying or trading masks at bazaars or online. What I wanted was to go to their birthplace, to negotiate the masks and feel that I am entrusted with them. Apart from the narrative a mask bears in itself, I wanted there to be a narrative of my own story of how I acquired it," he highlighted.

From his part, the Athens School of Fine Arts (ASFA) Dean Panos Charalambous, who is also the exhibition's curator, underlined the significance of the event. As he explained, ASFA is a neoclassical type of School, meaning that its students mainly get their creative stimuli from Western art, and exhibitions like this one are potentially game-changing.

"This is an exceptional chance for [our students] to get acquainted with forms and rituals that can nourish and enrich the learning process," he stressed.

"Folklore art and different cultures in general can fuel a more educated, finer or higher -so to speak- culture, which leads to the conclusion that there are not high and low cultures, but only different cultures," Charalambous concluded.
BERLIN, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Germany's largest supermarket chain Edeka is leading a wider charge in the European retail industry against Nestle in an escalating dispute over prices, the newspaper "Sueddeutsche Zeitung" (SZ) reported on Monday.

SZ cited an internal report compiled by Edeka in which the firm complains of preferential treatment for its German rivals Aldi and Rewe, and hence threatens to remove 163 Nestle products from its aisles unless the Swiss-based foodstuffs giant offers better purchasing terms.

Nestle is the world's largest food producers, recording combined revenue of 90 billion euros (111.4 billion U.S. dollars) in 2017.

In threatening to boycott Nestle, Edeka is acting in unison with its partners in the European retail alliance Agecore, which includes the French Intermarche chain and Coop stores in Switzerland.

Although Agecore members only account for just over 1 percent of Nestle's global revenue, this would still amount to potential loss of 9 billion dollars for the foodstuff corporation.

Given the small number of major chains which dominate the German retail market, the SZ argued on Monday that Agecore's leverage in the dispute should not be underestimated.

The newspaper also noted, however, that Nestle could soon face new demands if it gave in to calls for better purchasing terms to avert a boycott of its products.
MALE, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen on Monday requested the parliament to extend the state of emergency by 30 more days as the threat to national security has not diminished, his office said in a statement.

Yameen said the National Security Council had advised for the extension of the state of emergency as the constitutional crisis brewing in the country has also not been resolved.

If the request is approved, the state of emergency which was announced on Feb. 5 for 15 days, will be in effect till March.

The parliament convened for a special session to discuss the president's request earlier Monday.

Thirty nine legislators out of the 85 parliament members were present and decided to submit the issue to the parliament's National Security Committee for further deliberation.

The parliament's National Security Committee, after consulting its members, approved the extension and a final vote on the extension is likely to take place by legislators in parliament on Tuesday.

The Maldivian president declared a 15-day state of emergency on Feb. 5, after a surprise Supreme Court ruling ordering the release of nine opposition leaders including self-exiled former President Mohamed Nasheed.

The Supreme Court ruling was, however, rescinded shortly after the announcement of the state of emergency.
BUJUMBURA, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- At least eight fishermen drowned while fishing in Lake Tanganyika in a storm on Sunday night, Burundi's fishermen federation told Xinhua on Monday.

The fishermen operating at different ports died after drowning in Lake Tanganyika, said Gabriel Butoyi, chairman of the federation of fishermen and fish producers in Burundi.

Several boats and other fishing equipment were damaged during the storm, said Butoyi.

"The drowning was caused by a violent wind that capsized fishermen's boats in the lake. The fishermen had gone too far from the lake shores and it was hard for them to swim up to the shores," said the chairman.

The death toll might increase as the exact number of fishermen who were in the lake during the storm was unknown, he said.

According to him, by 11 a.m. Monday, boats had been sent into the lake in a rescue operation.

Lake Tanganyika is the world's second deepest lake with over 350 species of fish.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 03:15:06|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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GENEVA, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Fair treatment for the world's 150 million migrant workers is in everyone's interest and requires labor migration to be well-governed, International Labor Organization (ILO) Director-General Guy Ryder said Monday.

In a statement for World Day of Social Justice on Feb. 20, he said the ILO is focusing on the world's 150 million migrant workers, many of whom face exploitation, discrimination and violence and lack even the most basic protections.

This is particularly true for women, who make up 44 percent of migrant workers, said the ILO head. "Most migration today is linked, directly or indirectly, to the search for decent work opportunities," said Ryder.

But he noted that many migrant workers end up trapped in jobs with low pay and unsafe and unhealthy working conditions, often in the informal economy, without respect for their labor and other human rights.

Migrant workers often have to pay high recruitment fees to get a job, on average over a year's wages and this makes them highly vulnerable to forced labor and child labor, said Ryder.

"Migrant workers like all workers are entitled to fair treatment and fair treatment for migrant workers is also key to preserving the social fabric of our societies and to sustainable development," he said.

If labor migration is well-governed, fair and effective, it can deliver benefits and opportunities for migrant workers, their families and their host communities, says the ILO.

It can balance labor supply and demand, help develop and transfer skills at all skill levels, contribute to social protection systems, foster business innovation, and enrich communities both culturally and socially, said Ryder.

He said that good governance will foster strong cooperation across migration corridors and regions.

It should be guided by international labor standards, in particular, the fundamental principles and rights at work and the relevant ILO and UN Conventions.

The ILO is encouraging the adoption of fair labor migration governance frameworks at all levels -- global, regional and national.

ILO said that in 2016 the UN General Assembly decided to develop a Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration to improve the governance of migration, to address the challenges and to strengthen the contribution of migrants to sustainable development.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 03:25:08|Editor: Liu

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CHICAGO, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- A study of middle-aged women by the University of Illinois (UI) found that sleep problems vary across the stages of menopause, yet are consistently correlated with hot flashes and depression.

UI researchers used data from the Midlife Women's Health Study, which followed 776 women aged 45-54 in the greater Baltimore area for up to seven years. The women provided annual surveys and blood samples so that the researchers could track sleep disruptions, other menopausal symptoms and hormone levels as women transitioned from pre- to post-menopause.

To track poor sleep, the surveys asked questions about the frequency of insomnia, restless sleep and sleep disturbances.

The study found no correlation between the likelihood of reporting poor sleep before menopause, during menopause and after menopause. This means that for many women in the study, their reported sleep problems changed as they transitioned to different stages of menopause. In other words, women who had insomnia during menopause were not more likely to have insomnia after menopause.

In analyzing the surveys for any other symptoms or factors that might be associated with poor sleep, the researchers found that hot flashes and depression were strongly correlated with poor sleep across all stages of menopause.

Those two risk factors vary in reported frequency across menopausal stages, which might help explain why poor sleep also varies across the stages, the researchers said.

The findings suggest that addressing those risk factors may also address sleep disruptions, as well as give women hope that their sleep symptoms may not last past the menopausal transition, said Rebecca Smith, a UI professor of pathobiology. Smith conducted the study with Jodi Flaws and Megan Mahoney, professors of comparative biosciences at Illinois.

The study has been published in the journal Sleep Medicine.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 04:35:20|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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RIYADH, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia on Monday banned a local writer for negative remarks on "Azan," the Islamic call to worship, Sabq local online news reported.

The writer, Mohamed Al Suhaimi, would be banned from writing and media activity.

Al Suhaimi told Dubai-based MBC channel recently that the loud sound of Azan could disturb children and those who are sleeping, calling to reduce the number of mosques in neighborhoods.

The ministry tweeted the decision that also includes referring him to an investigation committee.

Saudi Arabia have been taken new steps to ease its strict and conservative society with more women empowerment initiatives and the organizing of various concerts.
DUBLIN, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Irish government on Monday reiterated its opposition to direct rule in Northern Ireland (NI)following a recent collapse of talks between two major political parties in NI to revive the functions of its devolved government.

A statement released by the Irish Government Press Office said that Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar spoke with his British counterpart Theresa May by phone on Monday evening following a meeting to review the recent developments in Northern Ireland with the leaders of Sinn Fein, a political party which has presence both in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The Taoiseach (prime minister in Irish language) emphasised the Irish government's full commitment to the Good Friday Agreement, and its determination to secure the effective operation of all its institutions, said the statement.

As co-guarantor to the agreement, the Irish government will continue to engage with the parties in Northern Ireland and the British government to support the urgent formation of a new Executive by the mandated political parties, it added.

The statement said that the Irish government's firm position is that the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent Agreements must be implemented in full, and in this context the Taoiseach reiterated that the Irish government does not want to see the introduction of direct rule in Northern Ireland.

Good Friday Agreement is a multilateral agreement signed among the British and Irish governments as well as political parties of Northern Ireland in Belfast, the regional capital city of Northern Ireland, on April 10, 1998. The agreement provides the basis for the present devolved system of government in Northern Ireland.

Fears of possible direct rule in Northern Ireland arise following a last week breakdown of talks between Sinn Fein and Democratic Unionist Party (DUP),another NI political party, over the restoration of the NI devolved government which has ceased functioning for over 13 months due to their disputes over a renewable energy scheme.

In the latest round of talks between the two parties in a bid to restore the power-sharing system in Northern Ireland, the two sides again failed to reach an agreement due to differences over a number of issues including the passage of an Irish language act insisted by Sinn Fein but refused by the DUP.
ROME, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Three Tunisian nationals were arrested in Italy on suspicion of being migrant traffickers, local media reported on Monday.

Aged 32, 24, and 19, the three men were brought to jail in Ragusa, Sicily, on charge of favoring irregular immigration, according to AGI news agency.

They had reached the Sicilian port of Pozzallo on Saturday on board of a rescue ship of Italy's finance police operating within EU new border control mission Themis in the Mediterranean.

Overall, some 86 people were saved in that operation, and all of them were believed to have started their journey towards Europe from the coasts of Tunisia.

Each of them would have paid some 1,500 euros (about 1,860 U.S. dollars) for the Mediterranean crossing, AGI also reported citing testimonies of the migrants.

The three suspects arrested would have been directly linked to the ring managing the trafficking in Tunisia, police in Sicily said.

In a separate episode early on Monday, a Nigerian woman gave birth to a baby on board of a coast guard ship, after being rescued along with other migrants and asylum-seekers.

Shortly after the birth, the woman and her baby were evacuated on board of a patrol vessel, and immediately transferred to the hospital in Siracusa, the Italian coast guard said in a statement.

Italy has seen a consistent decrease in migrant and refugee arrivals since mid-2017, after signing a controversial deal with Libyan authorities and factions to curb departures of people heading to Europe.

Italy registered 4,864 arrivals between January 1 and February 19, over 72 percent of which from the Libyan coasts, statistics by the Italian Interior Ministry showed. The figure marked a 51.6 percent decrease against the same period of last year.
ROME, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- An Italian married couple were detained and put under house arrest in Italy on Monday, for forcing their 9-year-old daughter into prostitution, local media reported.

Both parents were charged with sexual violence and exploitation of the prostitution of a minor, Ansa news agency said.

Two men aged 68 and 73 were put under house arrest as well, for having paid to have sex with the child.

The family lived in Partinico, a small town in Palermo province, northwest Sicily, in what reports described as a "severely deprived" environment.

The investigation was sparked by a man who reported to police after seeing the girl in a car with male adults in a rural area, according to state RAI News TV channel. The witness also told police the father was present while the daughter was being abused, RAI News also said.

The girl was moved to a protected house, and confirmed the abuses. She said the clients would have paid around 25 euros for staying with her.

Investigators suspected the mother to have organized some of the abuses at home.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 08:00:51|Editor: Liu

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Representatives from 36 countries are meeting in Brasilia from Monday to seek a solution to refugee issues in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The summit includes an evaluation of how refugees are received and protected, and finding new ways to help them.

Organized by the Brazilian government and the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), the meeting is being held at the Itamaraty Palace, home to the foreign ministry.

The summit is expected to see the signature of an agreement about the setting up of the Brazilian office of the UNHCR.

The meeting is also to review Brazil's Action Plan for refugees, approved by regional countries in 2014 about how to provide assistance to refugees and stateless people. It guarantees that the region will welcome refugees, especially poorer ones, and provide them with help to establish and build new lives.

The UNHCR will also discuss the Global Compact for Refugees, which is set to be approved at the UN General Assembly in Sept. 2018.

Speaking at the meeting, UNHCR High Commissioner Filippo Grandi called on "those States who have not yet done so, to accede to the refugee and statelessness instruments, and to move forward with extending pragmatic protection responses to those in need."

Grandi also congratulated Latin America and the Caribbean for "innovative" practices in handling refugees, such as humanitarian visas.

The UNHCR estimates that the region is home to 16 percent of the 65 million refugees worldwide.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- One man was killed in a shooting with police Monday morning after a chase and car crash in Seattle, Washington state, on the U.S. northwest coast, police authorities said.

"This is a fatal officer involved shooting. The suspect has died of his injuries. No officers are injured," the Seattle Police Department tweeted.

The incident occurred when the police responded to a report of home-breaking in and car theft near the 6000 block of 34th Avenue in Seattle, and found the male suspect out of a car and fled on foot, the local TV outlet KomoNews reported.

While the police were chasing the suspect, the man turned around and fired a shot at the police officers who were not hit.

A moment later, police said that they received a report that a suspect was stealing a vehicle at a nearby area.

The suspect was escaping in the stolen vehicle while the police who were trying to arrest him opened fire.

The suspect was struck by the police fire and killed instantly. Police said they are still investigating the incident.
ABUJA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Local police in Nigeria on Monday confirmed the arrest of three people suspected to have masterminded an attack which led to the killing of at least 36 villagers in the northwestern state of Zamfara last week.

Zamfara police chief Kenneth Embrimson told reporters in the state capital of Gusau that the three principal suspects had confessed to the killing.

Embrimson said police detectives were still on the trail of other suspects who are still at large.

Last Wednesday, the gunmen had ambushed a group of local hunters in Birani village located in Zurmi area of Zamfara, leading to the fatality on both sides.

A total of 36 people were buried last Friday amidst outrage in the country following the massacre.
ABUJA, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria will soon begin the sales of all unclaimed looted assets which include lands and houses recovered by the government, President Muhammadu Buhari said on Monday.

Buhari said proceeds will be deposited into government treasury as many suspected looters had been denying the ill-gotten assets.

According to him, it was not surprising that the number of those disclaiming the properties traced to them by the country's anti-corruption agencies had increased, because the government was following the right process to recover all looted assets.

"And we are still following the process, you know (in) democracy you have to follow due process and respect the rule of law," Buhari told some of his local political allies in Daura, his homestead in Nigeria's northern state of Katsina.

The most populous African nation has so far dealt with endemic corruption, especially in government circles, using preventive measures and asset recovery as key areas of focus, among other measures taken.

"If the money is in the government treasury, I will see who will come back after we leave office and reclaim them," he added.

The Nigerian government has promised more efforts toward strengthening the whistleblowing policy in the country, saying this has hugely contributed to the breakthrough recorded in the war against corruption and unaccounted wealth.

Last year, the country's minister of justice and attorney general Abubakar Malami said the government was ensuring that various policies that were put in place to fight corruption bring back sanity in every sector.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 09:26:05|Editor: Liu

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CHONGQING, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- In an abandoned house in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Zhou Zhihou and his peers carefully cut pictures on wood.

The walls in the house are full of woodcut paintings. In the middle, a wood bucket for rice-steaming stands on a long table, and paintbrushes are squeezed in the bucket's holes.

Zhou, 72, is busy preparing a special gift for relatives and friends for this year's Spring Festival: a woodcut painting featuring a dog, to coincide the Year of the Dog.

Zhou, a farmer in Shangchang Village, only picked up painting last year.

"I am kind of famous in the locality these days," Zhou said. "I even have my own studio."

Zhou is among a dozen successful farmer painters who made their name by drawing rural life on woodcut paintings in Shangchang, about 100 km away from downtown Chongqing.

Woodcut painting originated during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Painters cut pictures on wood blocks, put colors on them, before pressing paper against the blocks to make paintings. A piece of block can help print scores of pictures.

The painting business has been good in Shangchang, with tourists coming to admire the craft and buy paintings. Government authorities are planning to promote woodcut painting in other rural localities in Chongqing to boost local tourism.

Zhou's teacher Li Yili, a woodcut painting master, came to Shangchang in August to help teach the craft. "I just told them to draw whatever they saw," Li said.

Peng Shuzhen, another farmer in Shangchang, said that she drew many aspects of rural life.

"I drew what I saw: playful children getting bitten by crabs by the river, people drinking home-made wine with reed straws," said Peng, 69. "It's not that complicated: a circle is the head, and two dots are the eyes."

The idyllic beauty of the countryside, dancing elderly, left-behind children, and building new houses are all good content for the paintings.

"The farmers' paintings are not restricted at all," said Li Yili. "The colors are bold, and the images are simple and fun."

The paintings soon became a fad among visitors to Shangchang Village. In just half a year, Zhou, who made ends meet by selling eggs in the village, made almost 7,000 yuan (1,110 U.S. dollars) by selling his paintings.

"Woodcut paintings not only transformed the fortunes of Shangchang, but also enriched people's lives," said Cai Chunqi, the village Party chief. "In the past, pasttime for locals mainly meant playing poker, but now the very thing on everybody's lips is woodcut painting."
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 10:06:15|Editor: Xiang Bo

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TRIPOLI, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Members of the Libyan eastern-based House of Representatives (Parliament) Monday rejected the constitution drafting assembly, calling for the formation of a committee of experts to amend the 1951 Libyan Constitution instead.

"The ruling of the Supreme Court is not valid on the constitution. Therefore, we, the deputies, decided not to recognize the constitution drafting assembly," said 18 parliament members representing eastern Libya in a statement, adding that they call on their fellow members to introduce a limited amendment to the independence constitution.

The members also refused to issue a referendum law on the draft constitution, until a committee of experts is formed to "verify the authenticity of the Libyan identity."

Last week, Nooh Abdallah, the head of the Libyan Constitution Drafting Assembly, called on the Parliament to issue the referendum law.

The Assembly last July 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.

Most pro-federal legislators in eastern Libya demand a return to the political system of the 1950s, when the country was divided into three provinces, Tripolitania, Fezzan and Cyrenaica.
YANGON, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's First Vice President U Myint Swe has called for cooperation to eradicate child labor and implement it as a national duty, saying that the project of its kind involves everybody, Myanmar News Agency reported Tuesday.

All are to actively coordinate and discuss the setup of future work of the project to eradicate child labor in Myanmar, U Myint Swe told a coordination meeting of the Myanmar National Committee on Child Labor Eradication, led by himself, in Nay Pyi Taw Monday.

U Myint Swe pointed out that child labor issue is not only a big challenge to Myanmar but also a global issue related to poverty and natural disaster.

The 37-member National Committee on Child Labor Eradication was formed on Feb. 5 to implement the national level program of child labor eradication, while cooperating with local and international organizations.

There are nearly 1.3 million child labors in Myanmar, 80 percent of them are from rural areas, according to survey.

Myanmar signed International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 182 for prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labors in 2013 and submitted the implementation report in 2015.

ILO has implemented a four-year program on the elimination of child labor in Myanmar since 2013.
MANILA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Ten people, including an 11-month infant, have so far died in a diarrhea outbreak in Balabac, an island town in Palawan in southern Philippines, health authorities said on Tuesday.

Balabac town was hit by a diarrhoea outbreak for nearly two months now, initially downing some 200 residents.

Authorities blamed the outbreak on contaminated drinking water that tested positive for coliform and poor sanitation due to the presence of E. coli, or Escherichia coli bacteria from human and animal waste, in the town's water table.

"Almost all of the water sources in Balabac proper are not fit for drinking after they tested positive for coliform," provincial health officer Mary Ann Navarro said in an interview with local newspaper Palawan News.

In September 2017, a diarrhea outbreak also hit Quezon town in Palawan for the same cause. It is reported that four people died and over 600 were hospitalized at that time.
MANILA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- At a gathering of Filipino-Chinese businessmen Monday night, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte lauded the Chinese community in the Philippines for their generosity in helping the country's poor.

Duterte also thanked the Filipino-Chinese businessmen for their assistance and support to his administration.

"I'd like to thank the Filipino Chinese, especially, community for their untiring toil to help the entire nation in the so many catastrophes and crises that we had faced in the past," Duterte said in his speech during the 10th Biennial National Convention and the 20th Founding Anniversary celebration of the Chinese-Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI).

The CFBCI celebrates its anniversary with the theme of "Partnership for Unity, Prosperity and Love of Country."

The highlight of the event was the presentation of miniature housing model of Bahay Pagasa (meaning houses of hope) Phase II, a housing project of CFBCI that was inspected by President Duterte in Marawi City on January 30, 2018 shortly after the turnover of Bahay Pagasa I on October 2, 2017.

The CFBCI in cooperation with the Tarlac Heritage Foundation threw its support to the government through its Bahay Pagasa Phase II project. This project provides immediate shelter and accomodation for residents displaced by the conflict in Marawi.
HELSINKI, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Finnish Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintila said Monday that the state-owned arms firm Patria had suffered "a loss in its reputation" after a businessman of the company was found dead in Uganda on Feb. 6.

Now the company must continue to improve its operations, Lintila said in an interview with Finnish national broadcaster Yle.

Patria announced Friday the resignation of two executives of the company's land division, following revelations that they had written a letter of recommendation for a middle-aged Finnish salesman who was found dead in his hotel room in Uganda's capital Kampala two weeks ago. The reasons for the death of the salesman remained unclear.

Patria brochures were found in the dead man's possession, raising the question whether the company had erroneously allowed the salesman to market the products of the state-owned defense contractor in Uganda.

The Finnish state holds a controlling 50.1 percent stake in Patria. Military arms exports from Finland always need government approval and arms are not allowed to be sold to countries that are in conflict.

Lintila, who is in charge of state-owned companies, said he believed Patria's top management would not have let it happen "had they known" the fact. Patria said it has no ongoing plans to sell arms to Uganda.

Media reports said former Finnish Minister of Communications Suvi Linden accompanied the man on the trip, but both Patria and Linden have denied any association with the marketing.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 11:11:28|Editor: Xiang Bo

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's government said Monday it was shelving a proposed welfare reform bill it had considered key to getting the public deficit under control.

"We had to conclude that in effect we could not begin the debate we had programmed for the 19th (of February), the debate of the social security reforms, and that we could not start the vote," said Chief of Staff Eliseu Padilha at a press conference.

The unpopular social security reform package has been criticized by unions and social groups for raising the retirement age, among others.

As a constitutional amendment proposal, the reform bill needs to be approved in two rounds in both the House and the Senate. The government has been working to convince congressmen for months to support the bill, which needs 308 votes to pass, but is said to have garnered only about 270 votes in favor of the reform.

Padilha said instead of the controversial bill, Brazilian President Michel Temer's administration will present 15 economic proposals to the nation's Congress for approval.

The economic proposals include simplifying tax regulations, capping public-sector salaries, and privatizing the state-owned electricity company Eletrobras.
NEW DELHI, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- At least seven people were killed and two dozen others injured, some of them critically, after the bus had an accident in eastern Indian state of Bihar, police said Tuesday.

The accident took place Monday night in Patna, the capital city of Bihar.

"In a tragic road accident that took place here at Kandap village last night, seven members of a marriage party were killed and 24 others injured after the bus carrying them overturned," a senior police official posted in Patna said.

According to the police, the bus overturned after its driver lost control over it and fell into a roadside ditch.

Following the accident, locals and police teams rushed to the spot and took the injured to Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) for treatment.

Following the accident, the driver escaped and agitated locals set the bus ablaze.

The police have registered a case and ordered investigations to ascertain the cause behind the accident.

Deadly road accidents are common in India, often caused by overloading, bad condition of roads and reckless driving.

According to an official report released recently, on an average, India witnessed over 400 deaths in road accidents every day in 2016.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Supreme Court of the U.S. State of Pennsylvania on Monday released a new congressional district map, which has generated a gerrymandering debate because it may sway results in the upcoming midterm elections.

The new map is a reversal from a 2011 version. Thirteen instead of 28 counties are featured on the new map, making the congressional districts less fractured.

"The Remedial Plan is superior or comparable to all plans submitted by the parties, the intervenors, and amici, by whichever Census-provided definition one employs," the court wrote in its order.

The new map came weeks after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that the 2011 map was "unconstitutional partisan gerrymander," and was developed to the effect that each district has the same number of constituents.

The changes in the new map were generally in favor of the Democrats, so the Republicans have vowed to take the case to federal courts.

The Democratic Party may capitalize on the new electoral map and gain ground in the House of Representatives during the midterm elections. Analysts says clutching the House majority is not an unrealistic goal.

The practice of gerrymandering involves restructuring electoral maps to gain an advantage for one particular party. A party may try to unite regions where it enjoys support to form one district, or to split regions that support the opposing party into different districts.

Gerrymandering is considered by many countries as an infraction of the voting system. In the United States, each state has its own regulations to restrict the practice.
MANILA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez on Tuesday underscored the need for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to "reinvent" itself by pursuing new development programs to spell wider economic inclusion across the Asia-Pacific region.

Dominguez, who chairs the ADB Board of Governors this year, said that between now and its 51st annual meeting in May, the ADB will be holding a series of forums and conferences meant to examine the changing global and regional realities and challenges.

The meetings, more importantly, will determine how the bank can play an "even more effective role" in helping attain inclusive growth for the poorest communities in its member-economies, as the Asia-Pacific evolves into the "center of gravity" of the global economy.

He said these upcoming discussions on inclusive growth are in sync with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte administration's strategy on how to hurdle this kind of challenge.

President Duterte has announced massive investments in infrastructure projects that will link communities to the mainstream of wealth creation, and higher spending on social services such as healthcare and education to liberate millions from poverty at the soonest possible time.

"Over the past five decades, the ADB poured over 250 billion U.S. dollars into the Asia-Pacific region. The programs of the bank no doubt helped transform this region into one of the most progressive and dynamic regions of the world. Notwithstanding, the Asia-Pacific continues to be home to some of the poorest communities. There is a challenge for inclusiveness here," Dominguez said in launching of the Philippines' hosting of the 2018 ADB annual meeting.

He said the Philippines itself has benefited immensely from its strong partnership with ADB, which has been one of the country's biggest sources of official development assistance (ODA) over the past five decades.

"The regional bank has financed some of our most important infrastructure projects and given us grants to study many facets of our development," Dominguez said.

As this year's host, the Philippines will lead the discussions around the 2018 theme "Linking People and Economies for Inclusive Development," and will invite "some of the world's best and most influential minds to enrich our deliberations."

Dominguez expressed confidence that these preliminary discussions to be held before the annual meeting of the ADB Board of Governors on May 3-6 will help enlighten the agenda of this year.

He also said the Board is intent on crafting more inclusive modes of development in the course of its deliberations in response to several global trends, among them the Asia-Pacific's rise as the "center of gravity of the global economy and its most important growth driver," the increasing hostility to free trade in some of the countries in the West, and the emergence of new multilateral institutions such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

The event will be attended by the finance and development ministers and central bank governors of the Bank's 67 members, of which 48 are from the Asia-Pacific region.

Several host-country events have also been organized to discuss the Philippines' economic directions and promote its business, trade and investment prospects.
NEW DELHI, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump's son Donald Trump Jr arrived here Tuesday on a week-long visit to India.

Apart from attending the Global Business Summit in the Indian capital, Trump Jr is scheduled to visit four Indian cities to cover the sprawling Trump portfolio. In fact, he will launch two real estate projects -- one in Gurgaon near Delhi and the other in the eastern city of Kolkata.

During his trip, Trump Jr will also meet Indian investors and business leaders in the cities of Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune and Gurgaon.

Sources, however, said that the Indian government is treating Trump Jr's trip to India as a "private visit". "This is a private visit of the U.S. President's son. So, we are treating it accordingly," sources said.

Commenting on his upcoming visit, Trump Jr said: "India is such an incredible country and our brand has enjoyed tremendous success in the region for many years."

"This trip is a celebration of all we have achieved, including the launch of the Trump developments in Kolkata and Delhi which have been underway for many months," he said in the statement issued earlier this month.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 13:57:00|Editor: Mengjie

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Cars wait to cross the Qiongzhou Strait at Xiuying harbour in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, Feb. 20, 2018. A heavy fog has disrupted ferry services on the Qiongzhou Strait in south China, stranding passengers in over 10,000 cars in Haikou city, capital of Hainan Province, local authorities said Tuesday. As fog started to disperse Tuesday morning, ferry services resumed in two ports in Haikou, but local government advised travelers against heading to the ports before 3 p.m., as avenues leading to them remained heavily congested. (Xinhua/Zhao Yingquan)

HAIKOU, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- A heavy fog has disrupted ferry services on the Qiongzhou Strait in south China, stranding passengers in over 10,000 cars in Haikou city, capital of Hainan Province, local authorities said Tuesday.

As fog started to disperse Tuesday morning, ferry services resumed in two ports in Haikou, but local government advised travelers against heading to the ports before 3 p.m., as avenues leading to them remained heavily congested.

The government has also asked the city's civil servants to join volunteers to provide essential services to stranded passengers.

Hainan, known for its tropical climate and clean air, is a popular destination for Chinese tourists during the Lunar New Year holiday.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 14:02:01|Editor: Xiang Bo

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LIMA, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) called on Monday for more infrastructure investment in the region to unlock its trading potential and improve integration.

The executive president of the CAF, Luis Carranza, said in Lima that increased investments in infrastructure, logistics corridors, as well as digital and institutional transformations would be crucial "to achieve the relevance and scalability the Latin American market requires to compete amid winds of protectionism."

He added that trade policies developed across the region in recent decades have made it easier for Latin America to integrate itself into global markets, although exports have not significantly increased.

"Logistical deficits, along with other obstacles, affect the speed required by trade flows," said Carranza at a conference on the Pacific Alliance and regional immigration, where he pointed out that global value chains should spur greater regional integration through trade.

"We could increase the productive powers of the economies through a stronger insertion with global value chains, driving production changes and intra-regional trade of final and intermediate products," he added.

Carranza also said that given how important productivity is, the current infrastructure gap in Latin America offers a great opportunity to take a leap forward in quality.

He added that the CAF is pushing for the "driving of logistics corridors of integration ... in areas such as infrastructure, quality services, customs processes, and international shipments."
HERAT, Afghanistan, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan government has beefed up security ahead of the inauguration of a major gas project in western city of Herat, local media reported Tuesday.

Afghan leaders and foreign guests from regional countries will participate in the groundbreaking ceremony of the mega project which will mark start of the construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) Gas Pipeline Project in the Afghan terrain.

Police personnel have been deployed in all sensitive areas of the city, 640 km west of Kabul. They are strictly checking all vehicles entering the city, reported local on-line media News Vim.

The construction of the first phase of the major project that takes Turkmenistan gas into Pakistan and India through Afghanistan has reportedly been completed on Turkmenistan's soil.

Local observers and ordinary Afghans have been looking with optimism towards the TAPI and supporting it as a "national project".

A breakaway group of the Taliban insurgents has also announced its support to the development project.

Leader of his own faction of the Taliban outfit, Mullah Rasul Akhund, whose men are operating in western Afghan region and challenging Taliban main faction leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, has reportedly stated that his men will do whatever they can to provide security for the TAPI project.

Abdul Manan Niazi, a deputy to Rasul Akhund told local journalists that the project is "a national project and people of Afghanistan are obliged to support it."

According to Niazi, the supporters of Rasoul Akhund have been "working hard to convince people to support the TAPI project," saying it is a national project and all people will benefit from it.

TAPI is one of the biggest projects in the region which transits gas from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. According to the initial agreement, Afghanistan will get about 500 million U.S. dollars as royalty every year, and it is believed that more than 10,000 Afghans will have job opportunities to work in the construction of the project as well as providing security for it.

The ceremony is expected to be held within coming days.

According to officials, the TAPI pipeline, once completed, is expected to export up to 33 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year to the three neighboring countries over the next 30 years.

At the same ceremony, the Turkmenistan railway network will also be linked to Torghondi township in Herat, and the power substation of Guzara district of the province is also expected to be inaugurated, according to local officials.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 14:12:06|Editor: Xiang Bo

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KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The crude palm oil (CPO) prices fail to be lifted as the present La Nina has only caused little damage to palm oil production, analysts in Malaysia said Tuesday.

Maybank KimEng's analyst Ong Chee Ting said in a report that although the La Nina that disrupts normal weather patterns did hurt Argentina's soybean production, no major floods were reported in the world's two largest palm oil producer -- Indonesia and Malaysia.

While there were occasional floods reported in parts of Sabah, Sarawak and East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia in late 2017 and early 2018, Ong believed it was nothing beyond the usual, and he suggested that the situations were under control with minimal damages.

"CPO price has failed to be lifted thus far given its ample stockpile and recovering production prospects post 2015-16's strong El Nino (the opposite effects of La Nina)," he added.

He also believed the higher-than expected palm oil production and stockpile in 4Q2017 had curbed CPO prices.

Malaysian Palm Oil Board indicated earlier that Malaysia palm oil output may hit 20.8 million tonnes this year.

Having said that, Ong does expect a little more seasonal upside to CPO prices as the market enters low crop months in February to March.

Thus, he holds a neutral view on the plantation sector, with regional average CPO price this year falling to 2600 ringgit (668 U.S. dollar) per tonne, from 2792 ringgit last year.
NEW DELHI, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- India Tuesday testfired its medium-range, nuclear-capable Agni II missile from a military island off the coast of eastern state of Odisha, sources said.

"The home-made, surface-to-surface missile was testfired this morning from the Integrated Test Range in Odisha's Balasore district as part of Indian Army's training exercise," sources said.

The two-stage Agni II missile, with a strike range of over 2,000 km, has already been inducted into the Indian Army. It can carry a payload of 1,000 kg.

Agni is a family of medium to intercontinental range ballistic missiles developed by India, named after one of the five elements of nature - fire.

The first missile of the series, Agni I was developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program and successfully testfired in 1989.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 15:02:15|Editor: pengying

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Afghan security force members take part in a military operation in Sarkanay district of Kunar province, Afghanistan, Feb. 19, 2018. At least three Islamic State (IS) fighters have been killed and five others injured during a cleanup operation by security forces in Sarkanay district of Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province, district police chief Mohammad Shuaib said Tuesday. (Xinhua/Emran Waak)

ASADABAD, Afghanistan, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- At least three Islamic State (IS) fighters have been killed and five others injured during a cleanup operation by security forces in Sarkanay district of Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province, district police chief Mohammad Shuaib said Tuesday.

"Security and defense forces launched a cleanup operation against IS militants in Sarkanay district on Monday and so far three rebels have been killed and five others injured," Shuaib told Xinhua.

The operation will continue until the area is cleansed of insurgents, the official asserted.

IS insurgents who are active in Kunar and the neighboring Nangarhar province have yet to make comment on the report.
KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- A total of four people including a civilian were killed as they came under Taliban attack in Qala-e-Zal district of Afghanistan's northern Kunduz province on Monday, district governor Abdul Momin Omarkhil said Tuesday.

A group of Taliban militants, according to the official, stormed Sakhsa Kol area in Qala-e-Zal district on Monday afternoon killing four people including one civilian and three pro-government militias.

Taliban militants, however, claimed responsibility and in contact with media asserted that all those killed in the attack were police personnel.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 15:27:19|Editor: pengying

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UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to address the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, demanding the implementation of the two-state solution between his country and Israel,including opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.

Diplomats said Monday Abbas will bring up the Palestinian request for establishing an independent sovereign Arab state on the 1949 Armistice lines known as the "1967 borders".

The Security Council will convene Tuesday for its monthly meeting. The item on the agenda is the Middle East situation, including the "Palestinian question".

Nickolay Mladenov, special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, is expected to brief the Security Council, providing an update on the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, the Israeli settlement construction, and the intra-Palestinian agreement.

In his briefing to the Security Council last month, he referred to plans by the Israeli Government to approve construction of additional settlements and said the construction is illegal under international law. He called it one of the major obstacles to peace.

There is heightened tension on the Israel-Palestine issue, following the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and the Security Council's subsequent vote on a draft resolution, reaffirming that any decisions and actions that purport to have altered the status of Jerusalem are null and void.

The text was vetoed by the United States. Following the veto, a nearly identical text was adopted at the General Assembly with 128 votes in favor, nine votes against, 35 abstentions and 21 absences.

In a speech before the Central Council of the Palestine Liberation Organization in January, Abbas vowed to reject U.S. involvement in any peace talks and strongly criticized Trump.

In response, the Trump administration announced it would cut the 125-million-U.S.-dollar funding it had planned to provide the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East this year by 65 million dollars.

During the Security Council's quarterly open debate on the issue on Jan. 25, the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Nikki Haley, harshly criticized Abbas, questioning his will to pursue peace.

On Thursday, Security Council President Kuwait, joined by Bolivia, France and Sweden, is expected to host an Arria-formula meeting on "Prospects for the two-state solution for peace".
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 15:27:20|Editor: Mengjie

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SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Education Office of the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco said Monday it has been ready to accept scholarship applications from students of the U.S. state of Alaska for study in China.

The 20 scholarships, announced by Alaska Governor Bill Walker on Friday, were made available for Alaskans who are interested in seeking continued education in China.

The recipients of the scholarships "will explore higher education through a variety of academic programs in science, engineering, agriculture, medicine, law, economics, management, education, liberal arts, philosophy, history, and fine arts," said a statement released by Walker's office.

The scholarships are part of a series of Chinese Government Scholarship programs that sponsor international students, teachers and scholars to study and conduct research in a total of 279 designated Chinese universities, according to a separate announcement on the website of the governor's office.

In September 2017, China announced that it would offer 100 scholarships in five years for young students from Alaska to study in degree programs or conduct long-term research in China.

The offer is part of Chinese efforts to boost its exchanges and cooperation with Alaska in a wide range of sectors, including trade, investment, energy, fisheries and tourism.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 15:32:20|Editor: pengying

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SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Troops of India and Pakistan Tuesday exchanged heavy fire and targeted each other's positions on Line of Control (LoC) dividing Kashmir, officials said.

The two sides exchanged fire in Uri sector of frontier Baramulla district, about 117 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Indian officials said the Pakistani side violated cease-fire Monday late evening and targeted military posts and civilian areas, during which three civilians were wounded.

"Three civilians were wounded after Pakistani army resorted to unprovoked firing along the LoC in Churanda-Silikote area of Haji Peer Sector in Uri," a police official said.

"Indian army also fired in retaliation and the exchange was going on until early Tuesday."

According to Islamabad's state-run broadcaster -- Radio Pakistan, Indian firing along the LoC killed an eight-year-old boy on Monday.

"Earlier, an eight-year old boy Ayan belonged to Jajot village was killed due to unprovoked firing by Indian forces along the LoC," Radio Pakistan said.

The broadcaster quoting military's Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said Pakistani troops also fired upon Indian positions.

Continued skirmishes earlier this month led to killings of troops as well as civilians on both sides, and also triggered migrations of the civilians living close to the frontier.

The skirmishes on the LoC and International Border (IB) in Kashmir between Indian and Pakistani troops are going on despite an agreement between them in 2003 to observe a cease-fire.

Both India and Pakistan accuse each other of resorting to unprovoked firings and violating cease-fire agreements. And both sides maintain that their troops give befitting replies.

The two countries are currently at loggerheads with each other. There has been no considerable improvement in the relations of the two countries or resumption of bilateral relations ever since Narendra Modi became the Indian prime minister in 2014.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 15:37:22|Editor: pengying

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KATHMANDU, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- UNICEF launched a worldwide campaign "Every Child Alive" on Tuesday, to demand and deliver solutions on behalf of the world's newborns, along with a new report on newborn mortality.

Issuing a statement, UNICEF Nepal said in low-income countries, the average newborn mortality rate is 27 deaths per 1,000 births. Newborns from the riskiest places are up to 50 times more likely to die than those from the safest places.

According to the Nepal's Demographic Health Survey 2016, 1 in 48 babies die in their first 28 days of life in the country, making up to 13,000 newborn deaths every year in Nepal.

More than 80 percent of newborn deaths are due to prematurity, complications during birth or infections such as pneumonia and sepsis, according to the report.

"These deaths can be prevented with access to well-trained midwives, along with proven solutions like clean water, disinfectants, breastfeeding within the first hour, skin-to-skin contact and good nutrition," said the statement.

However, a shortage of well-trained health workers and midwives means that thousands do not receive the life-saving support they need to survive. While in Norway there are 218 doctors, nurses and midwives to serve 10,000 people, that ratio is 2.3 per 10,000 in Nepal, as per the report.

Through the new campaign, UNICEF is issuing an urgent appeal to governments, health care providers, donors, the private sector, families and businesses to keep every child alive.

According to UNICEF Nepal, the campaign will complement the Nepali government's commitments and efforts to reduce newborn deaths and stillbirths through its 20-year Every Newborn Action Plan launched in 2016.

The Nepali government aims to reduce newborn mortality to below 11 deaths per 1,000 live births and a stillbirth rate of less than 13 per 1,000 total births by 2035 from the current rates of 23 and 18.4 respectively.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 15:47:24|Editor: pengying

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KABUL, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- A Taliban local commander named Mullah Abdullah has been arrested in Afghanistan's western Herat province, local news agency AVA reported Tuesday.

According to the news agency, Abdullah was arrested from Kahsan district on Monday and police had discovered 28 pieces of telecommunication radio sets, pistols and some more documents used in subversive activities.

Taliban militants have not commented on the report.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 15:47:25|Editor: pengying

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COPENHAGEN, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Europe saw a 400-percent increase in measles cases in 2017 compared to the previous year, affecting more than 21,000 people and causing 35 deaths, the World Health Organization (WHO)'s regional office for Europe said in a press release Monday.

The spike included large outbreaks, meaning 100 or more cases, in 15 of the 53 countries in the region. It came as a blow, following a record low 5,273 cases in 2016.

Romania, Italy and Ukraine reported the highest number of people affected, together accounting for over 70 percent of the entire number in Europe.

In recent years, overall routine immunization coverage in those countries has declined and there were interruptions in vaccine supply, The Guardian reported.

"Every new person affected by measles in Europe reminds us that unvaccinated children and adults, regardless of where they live, remain at risk of catching the disease and spreading it to others who may not be able to get vaccinated," WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr. Zsuzsanna Jakab said in the press release.

Measles, a highly contagious viral disease, can cause long-term damage or even kill patients. The most serious complications include blindness, encephalitis -- an infection that causes brain swelling and can lead to deafness or learning difficulties, severe diarrhea and severe respiratory infections such as pneumonia.

The Global Vaccine Action Plan targets to eliminate measles and rubella in five WHO regions by 2020. On Tuesday, the health ministers of 11 countries will meet to discuss working together to achieve the goals set out in the European Vaccine Action Plan by 2020.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 16:07:31|Editor: Mengjie

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HEFEI, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Xie Junying's profession pays her according to the size of a wardrobe. She is a wardrobe master.

Her daily routine is to reorganize customers' wardrobes, helping them throw away unsuitable clothes and give advice on their dressing style.

She used to work at a dry-cleaning company, but when delivering laundry realized many people had no idea how to keep their clothes tidy and well ordered.

To become a wardrobe master, Xie went to Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province for training and was taught of how to perfectly fold a T-shirt, sweater and trousers, and sort them by color, texture and season.

Most wardrobe masters are paid by the width of a closet -- 100 yuan (16 U.S. dollars) or more for each meter. The job is flexible, with no requirements or educational background needed.

Experienced wardrobe masters can be promoted as consultants and take charge of the training and certification of new practitioners.

The market turned much larger than Xie had imagined. Her company makes 300,000 yuan a year by cleaning out wardrobes for customers. She even became an online celebrity and obtained a role in a movie.

As society develops, jobs serving niche markets are on the rise in China. Sensitive job seekers and investors can quickly find the new change and grasp business opportunities.

While studying at the Beijing Language and Culture University, Sun Zan took sign language as an elective course, believing it would broaden her career possibilities as more services are needed for the hearing-impaired in China.

About 30 million people suffer from hearing loss in China, according to the World Health Organization. They need interpreters to see a doctor, consult lawyers and run errands.

"Sign language interpretation is a very promising job," Sun said.

The silver-haired generation are also finding new life in a new era. In January, Taobao, China's biggest online marketplace, said it was looking for elderly user-experience specialists. The specialists were said to be responsible for the testing and market survey of products designed for older consumers. The annual salary was up to 400,000 yuan.

Taobao said the applicant should be over 60 years old, have many elderly friends and at least one year experience in online shopping. "Active members in square dancing and local residential committees are preferred," the job advertisement said.

The company hired 10 people from more than 3,000 applicants.

The flourishing of new jobs has helped ease employment pressure in recent years, according to the China Association of Employment Promotion. "But these jobs also pose threats as practitioners lack social security and stable income and may lose jobs quickly once the market changes," it said.

"Gaming masters" that help clients upgrade to higher levels of online games have been criticized, and other jobs such as "expressway guides" -- referring people who lead the way for drivers at expressway exits -- have died out with the expansion of the 4G network.

"A new need in society, a new technological breakthrough and a change in economic structure can all give birth to new jobs," said Zheng Lanxiang, professor at Anhui University. "The labor department should be sensitive to these new changes and carry out training to help people take advantage of the new opportunities."
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 16:17:34|Editor: Lu Hui

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Munich Security Conference Chairman Wolfgang Ischinger makes the closing remarks during the 54th MSC in Munich, Germany, on Feb. 18, 2018. The 54th Munich Security Conference (MSC) closed on Sunday, leaving "a lot more work ahead" in addressing global security issues. (Xinhua/Luo Huanhuan)

MUNICH, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- China has called for lasting peace and common security for all while reiterating the notion of building a community of shared future for mankind at the just concluded 54th Munich Security Conference in southern Germany.

Efforts to this end, most urgently, include a peaceful settlement of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula through talks, it said at the annual global forum that was held on Feb. 16-18 to discuss security policies.

In this regard, either common security or absolute unilateral security at the cost of others is the core issue when it comes to discussing a denuclearization of the Peninsula, it said.

The ideas reflected China's consistent efforts to safeguard world peace and the postwar international order. Its call for an improved global governance on nuclear security deserves more attention and deliberation. Therefore it came as no surprise that the high-level Munich forum saw support for China's larger role on global security issues.

Meanwhile, allegations by some officials and experts from Western countries that China's peaceful rise is a threat to the postwar world order are ill-founded and a distraction from what is really at stake: global security.

The world today is facing growing uncertainties and destabilizing factors from emerging challenges such as climate change, extremism, terrorism and cyber security. The security challenges today are faced by all countries; many of them cannot be effectively tackled by one country alone. It is critical that the international community make joint efforts to address these challenges that are hampering the globalization process.

A rise in unilateralism, as first seen in trade and economy, is thus becoming a factor that is negatively affecting the global security situation, and must be addressed.

Meanwhile, economic globalization calls for corresponding global security governance in order to boost development worldwide, which is urgently needed to reduce poverty and marginalization, which in turn create hotbeds of violence and extremism.

China's proposals to achieve common security for all and lasting peace at the Munich forum offer a welcome alternative for countries to seek development, growth and prosperity. Its efforts to safeguard world peace and the postwar international order should not be discredited.
ISLAMABAD, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Two lawyers were killed in a firing incident between two rival groups within premises of a court in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore on Tuesday, local media reported.

According to local reports, the incident occurred in the Lahore session court when two groups opened fire at each other, killing one lawyer on the spot while injuring another, whom later succumbed to injuries on his way to the hospital.

Following the incident, a heavy contingent of police reached the court premises and cordoned off the area. Security was tightened in and around the court building and a search operation was launched, with both entry and exit points closed off.

This is the second incident of firing in less than a month at the session court in Lahore, capital city of Pakistan's east Punjab Province.

On Jan. 31, unknown number of gunmen opened fire outside the premises of session court in Lahore. A police officer and under-trial prisoner were killed while another police officer was injured in the firing incident.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 16:47:40|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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Tourists enjoy lanterns and decorations for the Chinese Lunar New Year at Yuyuan Garden in east China's Shanghai, Feb. 17, 2018. Various celebrations were held all over China, to embrace the Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year, which fell on Feb. 16 this year. (Xinhua/Zhuang Yi)

BEIJING, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Tuesday marks the fifth day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, when people traditionally set off fire crackers, eat dumplings and clean their homes for good fortune.

New year taboos, which ban people from cooking with uncooked rice, sewing, cleaning and doing business during the first days of the Spring Festival, are removed on the fifth day.

However, the most important tradition for the day is sending off the God of Poverty and inviting the God of Wealth, who Chinese believe was born on this day.

According to tradition, setting off firecrackers and dumping trash drives away bad luck and poverty, while opening doors and windows and preparing banquets pleases the God of Wealth.

Long-standing as they are, these traditions touch upon reality for Chinese people this year, as the country is determined to win the battle against poverty, improve people's lives and build a great modern socialist country.

Over the last five years, decisive progress has been made in the fight against poverty: more than 60 million people have been lifted out of poverty, and the country's poverty rate has dropped from 10.2 percent to less than 4 percent.

The report at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has pledged to ensure that by the year 2020, all rural residents living below the current poverty line will be lifted out of poverty, and poverty will be eliminated in all poor counties and regions.

It also vowed to finish the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects by that time.

During his inspection tour to southwest China's Sichuan Province days ahead of the Spring Festival, President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, pledged to "exorcise the evils of ignorance, backwardness and poverty."

He visited families of the Yi ethnic group living in a poor mountainous area and discussed poverty alleviation with local officials and villagers.

"Not a single ethnic group, family or person should be left behind," Xi said. "To build a moderately prosperous society, the most difficult task lies in regions with extreme poverty."

"But we will fight and must win this war," he added.

At a symposium on poverty alleviation in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan, Xi said the battle against poverty should be firmly carried forward without any pause or laxity, stressing quality of poverty reduction work with a focus on areas in deep poverty.
KATHMANDU, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Nepal's National Assembly, also known as the Upper House of the Federal Parliament, has got full shape on Tuesday, as President Bidhya Devi Bhandari appointed three parliament members as recommended by the government.

Spokesman at the President's Office Kul Prasad Chudal said in a statement on Tuesday that the president appointed Yubaraj Khatiwada, Bimala Paudyal and Ramnaraya Bidari as the members to the 59-member National Assembly in accordance with Article 86 (2) of the Nepali Constitution.

The three newly appointed National Assembly members hold expertise in their respective fields. Khatiwada is a former vice president of National Planning Commission, Paudyal is a former member of National Planning Commission and Bidari is a senior advocate.

In the National Assembly, Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist) has 27 seats, Nepali Congress has 13 seats, Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has 12 seats, Rashtriya Janata Party has two seats and Federal Socialist Party has two seats.

Those 56 members of the National Assembly were elected by an Electoral College comprising assembly members of the seven provinces and chiefs and deputy chiefs of municipalities and rural municipalities, on Feb. 7.

This is the first time the country will have a bicameral parliament in 11 years. Nepal had a unicameral legislature after the Interim Constitution came into implementation on Jan. 15, 2007 until the dissolution of Legislature-Parliament on Oct. 14, 2017.

The Constitution of Nepal promulgated by the Constituent Assembly in 2015 envisaged a bicameral parliament in the country.

Earlier on Monday, the Nepalese president summoned the first session of the Federal Parliament for March 5.

The first session of the Federal Parliament will be held more than two months after the Himalayan nation successfully accomplished crucial provincial and federal parliament elections simultaneously in two phases in November and December.

These elections were crucial steps to implement the landmark new Constitution in Nepal.

Authorities said Nepal will also choose a new president and a vice president on March 5.

People now hope for an end to the ruinous instability that plagued the country since 2008 after the country became a federal democratic republic abolishing the 240-year monarchy.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 16:47:42|Editor: pengying

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ISTANBUL, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Turkish prosecutors on Tuesday issued detention warrants for 170 people over their suspected links with a failed coup in 2016, state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

The police launched operations in 38 provinces to arrest the suspects including soldiers, noting that 22 of them were captured in the morning.

The wanted soldiers include those who have retired, been suspended and in service.

All those have reportedly contacted imams, who are believed to be senior figures in a network led by the U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, by payphones and landlines.

Ankara accuses the Gulen network of orchestrating a failed coup in July 2016 which left 250 dead.

More than 150,000 have been dismissed or suspended from their posts while over 55,000 others arrested in the ongoing investigation and crackdown, press reports said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 16:52:43|Editor: Mengjie

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PYEONGCHANG, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Beijing eight-minute show at the closing ceremony of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics will convey warm greetings from the 2022 hosts to the world in a high-tech way, producer Sha Xiaolan told Xinhua here on Tuesday.

As the host city of the next Winter Games, Beijing will present a show for the handover at Sunday's closing ceremony in the PyeongChang Olympic Stadium, where the performers from Beijing have rehearsed since arrival.

"The eight-minute show is very different to the show at Athens 2004, which showcased China's history with traditional elements like red lantern and jasmine," Sha said.

"China has such a long history and our director Zhang Yimou said it was difficult to demonstrate China's history in only eight minutes.

"So we have gone a different way this time, not focusing on China' s 5,000-year civilization, but using high-tech measures to illustrate Chinese people's sincere welcome to the world," he added.

Zhang, a well-known Chinese film director, directed the Beijing eight-minute show in Athen as well as the opening and closing ceremonies of Beijing 2008, which received considerable international acclaim.

Zhang said earlier that this time he would like to demonstrate "the new achievement of contemporary China, like modern technology, rather than repeat the story long before" .

While the low temperature is a challenge to the equipment in the outdoor Olympic Stadium, the Beijing team has tested all the machines in extreme conditions and made contingency plans, according to Sha.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 16:57:44|Editor: Lu Hui

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ISLAMABAD, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Tuesday summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner J.P. Singh and lodged formal protest over the recent ceasefire violations, resulting in the killing of an eight-year-old boy along the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed Kashmir region.

Director General for South Asia at the foreign ministry Mohammad Faisal condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations by Indian forces in Khuiratta sector in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on Monday, the foreign ministry said.

Pakistan and India had declared ceasefire along the LoC and the Working Boundary in 2003. Both, however, routinely accuse each other of violating the ceasefire.

"Despite calls for restraint, India continues to indulge in ceasefire violations. In 2018, the Indian forces have carried out more than 335 ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary, resulting in the shahadat (martyrdom) of 15 innocent civilians and injuries to 65 others," the ministry in a statement said.

It said the unprecedented escalation in "ceasefire violations" by India is continuing from the year 2017 when the Indian forces committed more than 1,970 ceasefire violations.

The director general urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement; investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations; instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC and the Working Boundary.
SEOUL, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's government on Tuesday unveiled measures to tackle GM Korea's decision to shut down one of its five domestic factories in Gunsan, a port city some 270 km southwest of the capital Seoul.

Kim Eui-kyeom, spokesman for President Moon Jae-in, told a press briefing that the labor ministry decided to take emergency measures to designate the Gunsan region as an employment crisis area under the order of the president.

The designation will enable Gunsan to receive comprehensive government support for job security. Kim said relevant regulations will be revised, if necessary, for the designation as the region does not meet all the requirements.

Meanwhile, the industry ministry will designate Gunsan as a special industrial crisis zone, which entitles the region to a wide range of financial support such as low-rate loan and capital injection, the presidential spokesman said.

The measures came after the South Korean unit of U.S. carmaker General Motors announced a plan to close down its assembly factory in Gunsan by the end of May.

It may reportedly endanger the job security of up to 12,000 laborers, including some 2,000 employees hired by GM Korea and others working for the suppliers of the automaker that has four assembly factories and one transmission plant in South Korea.

According to local media reports, the GM Korea management was denounced by its employees for causing losses to the company by changing low-rate loans into high-rate ones, offered by the parent company in the United States.

The loans requiring higher lending rate benefitted the parent company, incurring hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars in losses to GM Korea in recent years.

The GM Korea management was also accused of providing cars to the parent company at a price even lower than the production cost. It led GM Korea to amass losses in recent years, according to local media reports.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 17:23:00|Editor: Lu Hui

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ULAN BATOR, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- A visa-free travel agreement between Mongolia and Argentina came into force on February 19, the Mongolian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday.

The two governments signed the document on August 31, 2017 in Busan, the Republic of Korea, in a bid to enhance bilateral relations.

Under the agreement, Mongolian citizens will be allowed to stay up to 90 days in Argentina without a visa.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 17:28:00|Editor: Lu Hui

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by Yuan Liang

SARAJEVO, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- She was born in Brcko,a district in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but Jelena Vujicic has a Chinese name as well -- Wu Yali.

She acquired the name when she started learning Chinese in 2012, following an agreement between the University of East Sarajevo (UES) and China's Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban) in the previous year to set up a Department of Sinology at UES, the first such department in a Bosnia and Herzegovina university.

One of the first postgraduate students from the department, Vujicic is now a teacher. In April 2017, she was appointed as a Chinese language teacher in her own department for her excellent performance.

Talking of the high unemployment rate in her own country, she said, "It's very hard for young people to find a job here. I am glad that through Chinese language learning, I found a decent job."

Now her brother is following in her footsteps.

Because of the high unemployment rate, young people should plan their future better, Vujicic added, giving his example.

"My younger brother was confused when he had to choose his major in university. I advised him to choose Chinese because by learning Chinese, he would understand a country that has a rich history and culture, He would also find a good job," she said.

Her brother accepted her advice and took admission in her department.

"I am one of his teachers," Vujicic said.

In September 2017, he went to Xi'an International Studies University in northwestern China, where she too had studied for a year.

"(He) just came back and told me he would go to China again for his postgraduate study," she said.

Bojana Pavlovic, director of the Department of Sinology, told Xinhua there is another case of two siblings learning Chinese together at the university. The older of the pair, Jovanka Elek, is currently studying in China, while her younger sister is a junior student at the department.

Keeping the high unemployment rate in mind, Pavlovic said as the director, she must consider the future of her graduates.

"So far, graduates from the department can generally find a job," Pavlovic said. "Some work in the Chinese embassy, some work with Chinese enterprises, and others like Vujicic work as Chinese language teachers."

With the Belt and Road Initiative progressing and cooperation between her country and China advancing fast in various areas, her department is ready to cultivate more talents to further the cooperation.

Cui Xiuzhong, a Chinese language teacher from China in the department, told Xinhua that under the framework of the initiative, Chinese language learning is flourishing in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Department of Sinology is one of the departments with the most students at the UES.

Besides the Department of Sinology, there are also two Confucius Institutes in the country. While the first one in the University of Sarajevo was inaugurated in 2015, which was also the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the second one at the University of Banja Luka opened on Jan. 21 this year.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 17:48:04|Editor: Lu Hui

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People watch a robot painting demonstration during the 19th China Hi-tech Fair in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Nov. 16, 2017. Over 3,000 exhibitors participated in the hi-tech fair displaying a lot of robot and artificial intelligence projects. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian)

LONDON, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- China's technology industry has been catching up with the United States far faster than expected, with e-commerce and mobile payments already overtaking America, The Economist reported.

For example, China's venture capital funding was less than 10 percent of the United States' five years ago. But the latest data shows it to be more than 80 percent.

China's artificial intelligence papers cited by third parties grew to some 90 percent of that of the United States, a sign that it's catching up in hard science, the report noted.

China's e-commerce transaction level was already neck and neck with that of the United States five years ago. According to latest data, it's about 175 percent of the United States'.

China's mobile payments totaled 81 trillion yuan (about 12.77 trillion U.S. dollars) as of October 2017, the world's largest volume, according to the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. It was much more than the volume for the whole of 2016, which stood at 58.8 trillion yuan.

However, despite the rapid growth, the article noted China's weaknesses in the technology industry, saying China's tech companies are worth only about one third of America's, and they generate relatively little revenue abroad.

China is still 10 to 15 years away from reaching tech parity with the United States, the report said.
NAIROBI, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The following are the news highlights in Kenya's major media outlets on Tuesday.

-- Security officers in Nairobi were on Monday piecing together details of a plot to bomb the city, and cordoned off a room in a prime hotel where the would-be terrorists booked since Feb. 9.

The terror plot was foiled by police officers in Merti, Isiolo County, on Thursday last week, but the possible scale of devastation is just emerging.

It is not clear where the suspects were planning to attack but anti-terror police officers said improvised explosive devices and grenades recovered from the suspects would have been powerful enough to bring down more than one multi-storeyed building. (Daily Nation)

-- Kenya's total public debt has hit 46 million U.S. dollars as at December 2017 and still rising with each passing day pushing the country to a debt trap. Experts have warned that Kenya is hurtling towards Greece-like debt crisis. (The Standard)

-- South Sudanese rebels have released two Kenyan pilots they were holding after receiving 107,920 U.S. dollars compensation for the family of a civilian killed when their plane crushed. (The Star)

-- Power bills will remain unchanged in February after hitting an all-time high last month due to an increase in the intake of expensive diesel-generated electricity to compensate for drop in hydropower. (Business Daily)
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 17:58:07|Editor: Lu Hui

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HANOI, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Experts from the Vietnam Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources have found a unique complex of fossilized coral, believed to date back to 4,000 to 6,000 years ago, on the coast of Ly Son Island, 30 km off central Quang Ngai province.

Nguyen Xuan Nam from the institute said a group of researchers and scientists found the population of palaeontological coral reefs over an area of 20,000 square meters extending 400 meters along the coast, northeast of the island, Vietnam News Agency reported on Tuesday.

The coral reef complex, which was named Coi Xay (meaning a manual rice mill seen in rural areas in the old days) coral, includes a heap of coral blocks scattered on the beach.

Nam said the discovery was part of the initial research to recognize Ly Son Island as a global geo-park. Samples of the coral reefs have been sent for examination at international laboratories to establish their age and structure as well as scientific name.

He said the province should enact special protection for the coral reef complex, as well as the islands, to prevent them from being destroyed by human activities and overloaded with tourism and construction.

Local geologist Vu Cao Minh warned that the exploitation of beach sand and coral reefs for farming garlic and onions could result in damage to coral reefs around the island, while the boom in hospitality services could lead to a mass collapse of the underground water structure of the island. Enditem
SUVA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Fiji's Ministry of Health declared on Tuesday an outbreak of dengue fever in Nadi and Ba in the Western Division where 312 confirmed cases were recorded since the beginning of this year.

According to a statement by the ministry on Tuesday, the number of confirmed cases has continued to rise above expected levels for the Western Division at this time of the year. The ministry is also closely monitoring an increase in cases from other subdivisions in the west.

The ministry is especially concerned with the high number of confirmed dengue patients requiring admission and the majority of admissions have been in Nadi and Ba, with each receiving approximately 10 per week.

A total of 862 confirmed dengue cases have been recorded in the South Pacific Island state from the period of Jan. 1 to Feb. 16, giving an incidence rate of 48.5 per 100,000 population.

Central division has recorded 41 confirmed dengue cases and Northern has recorded 509 confirmed dengue cases and Western division has recorded 312 confirmed dengue cases.

The ministry urged Fijians to see doctors if they have dengue fever.

Ministry of Health and Medical Services clean-up campaigns were launched with their municipal partners from November 2017. During that time they strongly urged people to continue conducting weekly clean-ups and removal of water carrying containers from homes, yards, and workplaces. The elimination of mosquito breeding places needs to become a routine activity for all of them.

"We urge the people of Fiji to take heed of this advice to prevent yourselves and your loved ones from getting dengue fever," the ministry said.

Last year, Fiji reported more than 3,000 dengue fever cases.

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms, which typically begin three to 14 days after infection, may include a high fever, headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash.
MANILA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Tourism is booming in the Philippines with 6.62 million tourists visited the Philippines in 2017, an 11 percent growth from last year, Philippine presidential spokesman Harry Roque said on Tuesday.

"Indeed, it's more fun in the Philippines," Roque told a news conference at the Malacanang presidential palace, citing the slogan that can be seen now and then in scenic spots of Manila.

Roque reported that the number of international tourist arrivals for 2017 has reached an all-time high at 6,620,908, up from 2016's arrival of 5,967,005.

"The 6.6 million tourism milestone is a parlayed growth in the country's tourism industry," Roque said.

He said the government expects the number of tourists "to further improve with the Department of Tourism's agenda to promote new and underrated destinations through an expanded marketing plan, better human resource capacity and service standards."

According to data of tourism department, South Korea remained the country's top source market for 2017, accounting for 1.6 million arrivals or an increase of 9 percent from the previous year.

Following South Korea, 968,447 Chinese visited the Philippines last year, up 43 percent.

For this year, Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo said her department was expecting 2 million Chinese arrivals.

The Philippine government announced in January that it is increasing the number of flights between the Philippines and China to lure more Chinese tourists.
LONDON, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Oxfam's chief executive Mark Goldring made an apology on Tuesday for the damage the charity has done to the people of Haiti and the wider efforts of aid workers.

"I make no excuses, I make an apology. My first concern is the women of Haiti and anyone else who has been wronged," he said before the MPs of the parliament's international development committee.

The head of Oxfam's global operation Winnie Byanyima has also apologised, saying the scandal is "shameful," Sky news reported.

Goldring is under investigation for his handling of a sex abuse claim as MPs are questioning him about Oxfam's aid work in Haiti, amid allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation by staff.

Oxfam has offered its "humblest apologies" to the Haitian government over allegations of sexual exploitation by its staff.

The apology was made as Oxfam on Monday published its 2011 internal investigation report into allegations of sexual misconduct and other inappropriate behaviour in Haiti.

A leaked version of the report was the centre of The Times' news story on Feb. 9, which sparked the ongoing media frenzy surrounding the charity.

The 10-page report concluded charities should be warned about "problem staff" - only for several accused of abuse to successfully take up future posts in the aid sector.

"We are making this exceptional publication because we want to be as transparent as possible about the decisions we made during this particular investigation and in recognition of the breach of trust that has been caused," the charity said in a statement.

"We are also meeting with the government of Haiti to apologize for our mistakes and discuss what more we can do, including for the women affected by these events," it said.

Earlier this month, the Times published allegations that Oxfam aid workers in Haiti had used prostitutes.
PYONGYANG, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Tuesday blasted South Korean conservatives for trying to thwart attempts at inter-Korean reconciliation.

The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a commentary that "conservative groups in South Korea have gone desperate" in trying to undermine the rapprochement between Pyongyang and Seoul since the beginning of the year.

It said the Liberal Korea Party (LKP) of South Korea blamed the government of President Moon Jae-in for cooperating with the DPRK on the PyeongChang Winter Olympics and taking measures to ease tensions on the peninsula.

The KCNA further quoted Hong Jun Phyo, president of the LKP, as saying that Moon's possible trip to the DPRK would be "tantamount to congratulating" the DPRK's nuclear development.

The DPRK's official media frequently blasts South Korean conservatives for collaborating with the United States in an attempt to derail any detente between the north and south.

South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo told a parliamentary defense committee Tuesday that he and his U.S. counterpart, James Mattis, will announce plans for a postponed joint military exercise. South Korean and U.S. militaries regularly hold joint drills in March and April in moves that Pyongyang sees as preparations for invasion against it.

The decision by Seoul and Washington to postpone the drills until the end of the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games being held in PyeongChang, South Korea, led to the DPRK sending its athletes to the event.

The DPRK's official daily Minju Joson on Tuesday accused the conservative forces of supporting the resumption of U.S.-South Korean joint military drills.

"In case tensions rise again between the north and the south and cause irrevocable consequences, the U.S., Japan and the puppet conservative forces must bear all blame," said the daily.
CAIRO, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- An Egyptian court on Tuesday issued a ruling enlisting 16 persons including head of Strong Egypt Party and former presidency candidate Abdel-Moneim Aboul-Fotouh on the lists of terrorists, official news agency MENA reported.

Investigations revealed that the 16 persons had joined an outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group that is seeking to undermine the interests of the Egyptian State, the prosecution said.

Aboul-Fotouh has already ordered detention for 15 days pending investigation over accusations of spreading rumors that harm national interests and leading a banned group that is seeking to block the rulings of the constitution and laws along with hampering the State institutions from undertaking their work.

The group is also seeking to harm national unity and societal peace, according to the prosecution memorandum.

Aboul-Fotouh and several other politicians have called for a boycott of next month's presidency election.

Aboul-Fotouh said he quit the Brotherhood in 2011, following the ouster of veteran President Hosni Mubarak, and ran in the 2012 presidential election as an independent candidate.

Egypt starts its 2018 presidential elections scheduled for late March, where incumbent President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is expected to make an easy win for a second term due to the lack of strong rivals in the race.
JAKARTA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian banks' non-performing loan in mining sector has declined as rising global demand and subsequent stronger coal price.

Non-performing banking credits at major banks in the country was down 3.91 percent last year compared 4.75 in the previous year, according to a survey by Kontan media.

For this year the banks were upbeat over decline of their non-performing loan ratio in mining sector due to the rising global commodity demand and price.

However, the banks did not mention precise target of the decrease.

"The decline of non-performing loan in mining sector is in line with the projection of global economy," President Director of Bank Mayapada Haryono Tjahjarijadi said.

Indonesia is the world's largest exporter of thermal coal and home to the world's second-biggest copper mine.
COLOMBO, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Colombo Port handled 564,155 containers in January 2018, up 16.4 percent from a year earlier, Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) said in a statement on Tuesday.

Transhipment volumes had risen 20.4 percent to 436,303 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in January, the SLPA added.

The containers at the Colombo Port are handled by the state-run Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) and Colombo International Container Terminals operated by China's CM Ports group and South Asia Gateway Terminals owned by Colombo listed John Keells group.

The Colombo Port reached new heights when it handled its 6 millionth TEU in last December, making it a record for the South Asian port.

In 2016, Colombo Port's volumes grew 10.6 percent to 5.734 million TEUs, helping it overtake Bremen/Bremerhaven in Germany and Tanjung Priok in Indonesia, in a ranking of top 100 container ports by Lloyd's List.

Subsequently, in 2017 the Colombo Port moved up two places to become the 25th busiest container port, next to Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City.

Sri Lankan Ports Minister Mahinda Samarasingha said that it was commendable to witness the Colombo Port had achieved great feats through public-private collaboration.
ARUSHA, Tanzania, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- An outbreak of cholera in central Tanzania's Dodoma region of has left 18 dead in four months, a health official said on Tuesday.

Since last October, 470 cholera cases have been recorded in the region, Dodoma Regional Medical Officer James Kiologwe said.

In December and January, cholera cases were low, but the number went up this month, he said.

According to Kiologwe, Mpwapwa and Chamwino are the districts hit harder with cholera, an infectious disease that causes severe watery diarrhea and leads to dehydration and even death if untreated.

Cholera is caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with a bacterium called Vibrio cholerae.

"Until Monday, this week, there were about 26 new cases in Mpwapwa and Chamwino districts," he said, noting that 22 of the 26 have been discharged after treatment.

Efforts are underway to contain the disease, particularly in the harder hit areas, including educating people to observe general hygiene.

"A team of health practitioners has been dispatched in those areas to educate people on the effective use of latrines or other sanitation systems, like chemical toilets, and encourage them to ensure that they wash hands with soap and safe water after toilets," the official said.

According to the World Health Organization, from Aug. 15, 2015 to Jan. 7, 2018, 33,421 cholera cases, including 542 deaths, have been reported across all 26 regions of Tanzania. Children under five years old accounted for 11.4 percent of the cases.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 20:08:37|Editor: Mengjie

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LONDON, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- London and two of Britain's largest cities joined forces Tuesday to jointly promote English tourism in China, India and the Gulf region.

The partnership, which will see the British capital, Birmingham and Manchester collaborate on tourism for the first time with a focus on increasing the number of visitors arriving in one city and then travelling across the different regions.

The target areas are seen as three of the world's fastest growing markets.

CHINESE VISITOR NUMBERS SOARING

In 2016, London welcomed 165,000 Chinese visitors, a 105 percent increase on 2011. According to the Tourism Vision for London report, Chinese visitors to the capital are expected to increase by 103 percent by 2025. In the same period, visitor spend from China is also expected to go up by 129 percent.

The project, called "Experience England" is being led by London & Partners, the Mayor of London's official promotional agency. The campaign is being backed by Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, Birmingham mayor Andy Street and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham.

It will be financed by a 1.7 million U.S. dollar grant as part of a number of successful projects to receive funding from a 56 million U.S. dollar fund administered by VisitEngland designed to ensure that England stays competitive in the rapidly growing tourism industry.

A spokesperson for London & Partners said: "The project will create and promote a new England tourism experience, making it easy for customers from China, India and the GCC (Gulf region) to visit the great cities of London, Manchester and Birmingham, and then go on to explore the beautiful English countryside and villages.

"Our research shows that fewer than a third of visitors staying overnight in the capital go on to stay overnight elsewhere in the country. Yet the same research shows that levels of visitor satisfaction increase significantly when people do visit other destinations."

TOURISM VITAL FOR MAJOR CITIES

London mayor Khan said: "London is home to the 10 most popular tourist attractions in the UK and we're proud to welcome millions of visitors every year. But it's important that they have the chance to see what's on offer in other parts of the country too and I'm committed to working with other cities and regions to use the capital's reputation to drive tourism across the nation."

Birmingham Mayor Andy Street, said: "By working in partnership with locations across the UK, this project will highlight how seamless exploring the full breadth of the UK's leisure offering can be".

Manchester's mayor Burnham, said: "Greater Manchester is not only a vibrant, exciting region but it is also a gateway to explore the north of England, including places such as the Yorkshire Dales, the Lake District, the Peak District and so much more."

Sally Balcombe, CEO at VisitEngland, said: "It's great to see the innovative way this project is getting visitors exploring the country and twin-center holidays will make more of England accessible. The tourism and hospitality sector is a vital, and growing industry for major cities. In the UK tourism makes up 9 percent of GDP. In London, the figure is higher at 11.6 percent."
A herder stands in a water pool to collect water for his cattle in the drought-hit Laikipia County, Kenya, on March 1, 2017. (Xinhua/Pan Siwei)

NAIROBI, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Several towns across Kenya, including the capital Nairobi, are facing an acute water shortage following a prolonged dry spell in the East African nation.

While Kenya has been facing water supply challenges, especially in Nairobi, where residents for years have had water rationed, the dry spell has worsened the situation as the crisis spread to towns that never had the problem.

Affected towns include Nairobi, Nakuru, Kakamega, Mombasa, Kericho, Migori, Bungoma, Murang'a and Eldoret.

Some of the residents in the towns have not received water through their taps for months, and resort to buying from vendors at exorbitant prices.

Most parts of Kenya last received rains in October 2017, and this followed an erratic rainy season between March and May in that year, according to the Meteorological Department.

The East African nation has experienced the erratic rains for the past three years due to the effects of climate change that have not only affected water supply but also food production.

"The last time I received water through my tap was six month ago," John Kuloba, a resident of Donholm on the east of Nairobi said Monday. "I have been buying water from vendors for domestic use and it is really expensive," he added.

Kuloba said the Nairobi water company released a schedule and his area is supposed to be getting water every Saturday.

"But this has never happened in the larger Donholm. Some areas located on the lower part get water but not us. I buy 20 litres of water at 0.30 dollars, which is expensive considering that I have a family of four," he said.

Moses Mwangi, a resident of Kahawa in Nairobi, shared the same predicament, noting that he is spending huge sums of money on water.

"A 20-litre container is being sold at between 0.20 dollars and 0.50 dollars. The price goes up at the weekend when demand rises since most people are usually at home. This is a huge crisis that we pray for the rains to come soon," he said.

Athi Water Services Board, which manages water resources in various urban areas, notes 75 percent of Nairobi residents do not get regular supply of piped water.

Kakamega town, one of the regions where residents never had water shortage, is currently gripped in a major water crisis, with residents going for weeks without the crucial commodity.

The level of water in Isiukhu, a major river where water is tapped and treated before it is supplied to the over 30,000 residents ,has hit an all-time low.

"For the first time since I started staying in Kakamega some 20 years ago, we receive water once a week, and it only comes for a few hours. For the rest of the weeks, we have to buy the commodity where a 20 litre can is being sold at 0.20 dollars," said Doris Injendi, a resident.

The crisis is compounded by the fact that several rivers where a majority of residents used to turn to for their water supply have dried.

"We used to draw water from a nearby river but it dried last year in November, and it is not only here, even in other places in the county, streams have dried," she said.

In Nakuru, Kericho and Mombasa, residents are buying 20 litres of water at an average of 0.30 dollars as the crisis bites.

"Water is scarce in Nakuru and the surrounding areas. You have to buy at a high price from vendors who are doing a booming business yet you are not even assured of the quality and the source," said resident Steven Kamau on Monday.

In Murang'a, the main source of water for Nairobi, taps have run dry for the last two weeks as rivers too dry up. Residents said it is the first time rivers have dried and they have faced a water crisis in their adult lives.

Analysts have blamed the water crisis on climate change that has seen rains disappear, destruction of forests, poor management of the resource and a bulging population.

"Kenya has brought this problem on itself because little has been done to protect forests and other water catchment areas. Destruction of forests is going on unabated even as the country faces a major crisis. We cannot destroy forests and expect rains," said Henry Wandera, an economics lecturer.

Wandera noted that regions like Murang'a and Kericho, which host many rivers and forests never used to suffer water shortages, but the fact that they have been hit shows how dire the situation is.

James ole Kiyiapi, a professor of environment and former principal secretary in the government, blamed the water shortage on destruction of forests, including the Mau, the biggest water catchment area in Kenya.

Kiyiapi noted that Kenya is a water scarce country, therefore the government must integrate water and forestry policies.

"We can only have water on our taps if we engage in massive reforestation and afforestation in mountain and hill areas at county and national levels. We should take the re-greening Kenya agenda to a new level, allocate funds for about 10-20 years for positive results," he noted on his Twitter handle, where the issue has been a hot debate in the last two weeks.

Kenyans on social media were unanimous that the East African nation is caught in the current predicament due to politicization of environment and water conservation efforts.

"If you fly over the Mau Forest, you will be shocked by the wanton destruction yet you cannot evict people doing the mess because you will face a political backlash. The government must stand up and act," said David Mugoli on Twitter.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 20:38:46|Editor: Mengjie

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JINAN, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- It used to be trendy for Chinese to dress in clothes of foreign brands, but now China is helping shape the latest trends in the fabric and apparel world.

At first glance, the blue and gray sportswear in the showroom of this fabric and garment maker in east China's Longkou City doesn't appear to be anything special. However, its advantage lies in its cloth, which is made from fine wool.

The process of turning wool into wind- and water-proof fabric comes from Nanshan Zhishang SCI-TECH Co., Ltd., the world's only supplier of such fabric for global sportswear giants.

The company is a rags-to-riches story. It was started by business-minded villagers to produce cheap towels shortly after China launched its reform and opening up drive in 1978.

By constantly changing its designs according to market research, the company's towels, pillowcases and other products sold so well that it became one of China's largest fabric mills in the late 1990s.

Market-sensitive Nanshan took one bold move in 1996. It decided to venture into the spinning and high-end garment business. The company saw huge market potential as increasingly affluent Chinese wanted to wear better, more stylish clothing.

After about two decades of expansion, the company is now famous for its fine wool suits. The company controls the whole value chain, from the sheep's back to the finished suits.

Nanshan started to buy farms for producing superfine wool in Australia in 2009 to ensure high-quality raw materials. The wool is shipped to China where Nanshan combs, dyes and weaves it into fine cloth. It is then made into suits and other items with the help of global designers using the latest German, U.S. and Japanese processing equipment.

The company has launched a wool innovation center in partnership with the International Wool Secretariat, and has offices in Milan and New York. Now about half of Nanshan's products are exported overseas and some of them go to global apparel brands.

Nanshan's transformation from making cheap towels to producing high-end wool suits is the story of modern China, whose success was made possible by the reform and opening of the past 40 years.

"We used to copy from the market in the beginning, but after years of development, we now manage to lead the market with our own technological innovations," said Liu Gangzhong, chief engineer of the company's fabric business. Liu has worked for the company for 16 years.

Nanshan now plans to invest in high added-value products by upgrading its production technology, and it is considering building factories in Indonesia as well as investing in global clothing brands to further promote its name overseas, according to Zhao Liang, board chairman with the company.

China aims to shift its textile industry to focus more on quality, rather than quantity, with high-tech and green products, according to the industry's development plan for 2016 to 2020.

"Continuous reform and opening up made us what we are today and will continue to shape our future," Zhao added.
DAMASCUS, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- At least five people were killed and over 20 others wounded on Tuesday by intensified rebels' mortar attack on the capital Damascus, the state news agency SANA reported.

SANA said the rebels' shelling is ongoing, targeting several residential neighborhoods mainly east of Damascus, close to the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta countryside.

Meanwhile, the opposition activists said the Syrian warplanes and artillery are relentlessly targeting the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta region, killing tens of civilians and wounding hundreds of others.

People in the capital have been hearing the intense shelling by both sides since Sunday evening when the Syrian forces started paving the way for a wide-scale ground offensive on Eastern Ghouta by heavy fire cover.

The anticipated attack hasn't started, but the shelling and airstrikes are the preludes to the attack, amid heavy mortar attacks by the rebels against the residential areas in the capital.

The situation in the Eastern Ghouta has flared up over the past two months, when the rebels, including the al-Qaida-linked ones, unleashed a massive offensive against a key Syrian military base in the Harasta city in Eastern Ghouta.

The rebels' mortar attacks have rained down the capital Damascus, while the Syrian military's shelling and airstrikes hit several areas in Eastern Ghouta.

However, the situation has become calm over a few days before a new escalation on Sunday evening.

Syrians in the capital have for long been calling for the elimination of the rebels' mortar attacks, which, in many cases, paralyzed the lives of the people in the eastern Damascus neighborhoods.

Four key rebel groups are positioned inside Eastern Ghouta such as the Islam Army, Failaq al-Rahman, Ahrar al-Sham and the Levant Liberation Committee (LLC), otherwise known as the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 20:43:47|Editor: pengying

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LONDON, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Plastic particles have been found in almost three quarters of fish living in the ocean depths in northwest Atlantic, one of the highest frequencies of microplastic in fish worldwide, according to a study.

Many had consumed multiple tiny pieces of plastic, with one spotted lanternfish, which is 4.5 cm long, found to have 13 particles in its stomach, according to the study carried out by scientists at the National University of Ireland Galway, published Tuesday in Frontiers in Marine Science.

Scientists examined 233 fish in a polluted area of the northwest Atlantic at depths of up to 600 meters and ranged in size from 3.5 cm to 59 cm.

They found that 73 percent had consumed plastic, "making it one of the highest reported frequencies of microplastic occurrence in fish world."

The species examined provide an important food source for many large predators such as dolphins, seals and tuna as well as sea birds.

Microplastics commonly break down from larger plastic items entering oceans but also originate from waste water effluents carrying plastic fibers and micro beads from clothing and personal care products. Due to their low density, most of these microplastics float at the sea surface.

The authors of the study said the contamination could pose a threat to human health because it worked its way up the food chain.

They said that the fish also absorbed chemical pollutants that had either accumulated on the plastic while in the sea or been added to it during production.

The pollutants include polychlorinated biphenyls, which were used in flame retardants, paints and sealants.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 20:43:47|Editor: pengying

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CAIRO, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Arab League (AL) Secretary General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit warned Tuesday that the Syrian government attacks on the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta could cause a humanitarian crisis in the region.

"The attacks don't differentiate between the military personnel and the civilians," Aboul-Gheit said in a statement.

The Syrian government forces use weapons that don't suit the nature of the highly-populated areas, he noted, demanding to "stop attacks immediately for humanitarian reasons.

There is no alternative but the political solution to maintaining the independence of the country and the unity of its territories, the AL chief pointed out.

Dozens of people were killed or wounded in government shelling on several areas in Eastern Ghouta on Monday, according to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopia Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said Tuesday it is working to repatriate 57 Ethiopian nationals currently jailed in Sudan.

In a statement posted on Facebook, MoFA said Mulugeta Zewdie, Ethiopian ambassador to Sudan discussed the issue of incarcerated Ethiopians with Hamid Manan, Sudan Minister of Interior.

The 57 Ethiopians are serving prison terms ranging from 10 to 20 years for crimes including money laundering and human trafficking.

Manan said Sudan is working to expedite their repatriation and promised to give a response within two weeks to Ethiopia's request for the detainees to finish their prison terms in their country of origin.

Zewdie said nationals engaged in illegal activities do not represent the bulk of the Ethiopian community and his embassy is willing to work with Sudan to identify nationals engaged in illegal activities.

However, he called for Ethiopians living in Sudan to be given foreign residents identity cards that allow them to get jobs.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 20:53:51|Editor: pengying

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CAIRO, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Egypt and France have launched the "Cleopatra 2018 joint naval exercise" to boost security in the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, the Egyptian Armed Forces announced in a statement on Tuesday.

The exercise comes within the Armed Forces' annual framework of joint drills, said military spokesman Tamer al-Refaay in a statement.

Military ties between Egypt and France have enhanced recently. In October 2015, Egypt and France signed contract worth 1 billion U.S. dollars on the purchase of two French Mistral warships, which were delivered to Egypt in June and September 2016.

The Egyptian armed forces also received two Rafale fighter jets from France as the fourth batch of a deal signed in February 2015 and worth over 5.2 billion euros (about 6.1 billion dollars).

The pair raised the number of Rafale warplanes delivered to Egypt to 11 out of a total of 24 stated in the deal. The first nine Rafale jets were handed to Egypt in three batches in July 2015, January 2016 and April 2017 respectively.
WELLINGTON, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand government is hosting the D5 ministerial meeting to discuss digital rights, trade and identity, the country's Digital Services Minister, Clare Curran, said here on Tuesday.

New Zealand, Estonia, Israel, the South Korea and Britain make up the D5 and the delegations are here to "share ideas, identify challenges and solutions, and discuss important global issues such as digital rights, digital trade and digital identity," Curran said.

This is the fourth annual gathering of D5 countries and New Zealand is hosting it for the first time, Curran said, adding that the conference will showcase the best digital innovations New Zealand has created.

New Zealand aims to close the digital divides by 2020, and to make the information and communication technology the second largest contributor to GDP by 2025, she said.

The minister encourages all New Zealanders to "access digital technologies, take advantage of the opportunities they offer and use them to get more involved in the decision-making processes of government," the minister said.

There will be 14 exhibits on display with virtual reality experiences, the world's first Artificial Intelligence (AI) politician and online gaming designed to improve mental health, Curran said.
Source:Xinhua| 2018-02-20 21:16:00|Editor: Mengjie

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Citizens visit a fair to greet the God of Wealth in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, Feb. 20, 2018, the fifth day of the Chinese lunar New Year which is believed to be the birthday of the God of Wealth. The "God of Wealth" is believed to bring fortune to people. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)
CAIRO, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- An Egyptian court on Tuesday sentenced 20 people to 10 years in prison for burning a church, official news agency MENA reported.

The convicted were also accused of illegal gathering, violence, attempted murder and possession of unlicensed weapons.

Investigations show they broke into the church, threw Molotov cocktails inside and prevented people from putting out the fire.

The incident came after a government crackdown over two major sit-ins of supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi in August 2013.

After the army-led removal of Morsi in response to mass protests against his one-year rule, violence started to spread nationwide.

Thousands of group loyalists of Morsi and his currently outlawed Muslim Brotherhood were detained, with some convicted of death over murder and terror activities.
KABUL, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan security forces have killed 28 militants in crackdown operations across the country, Defense Ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said on Tuesday.

The spokesman told a press conference that aggressive operations were going on in 12 of the country's 34 provinces and 28 militants had been killed over the past 24 hours.

The security forces were chasing and targeting militants in the restive areas of troubled provinces, including the militancy-plagued and poppy-growing Helmand province, Waziri said, adding that the operations backed by air power would last until the insurgents are killed or captured.

The Afghan soldiers have also discovered and defused 37 anti-personnel and anti-vehicle mines in the country over the past 24 hours.

Describing the ongoing operations against armed groups in the troubled areas of Nangarhar, Khost, Ghazni, Helmand, Herat, Zabul, Uruzgan, Farah, Takhar, Nimroz, Faryab and Laghman provinces as "successful" Waziri said the security forces would continue to target the "enemies" elsewhere in the country.

The government troops also raided a detention center of the Taliban insurgents in Alinegar district of the eastern Laghman province late Monday night and after killing eight rebels released 30 civilians "who were held there illegally," the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Taliban fighters have intensified activities and according to the outfit's sources, dozens of security personnel have been killed over the past two days in the conflict-hit Afghanistan.
KIEV, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The possible deployment of the UN peacekeeping troops in Ukraine's eastern region of Donbas will take at least six months, local media reported on Tuesday, citing Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin.

"If a political decision is taken, it would take between six months and ten months for the UN to deploy the mission, because this is a quite large-scale mission," Klimkin said in an interview to local TV channel ICTV.

Klimkin said he did not rule out that the deployment of the blue helmets in Donbas can take even more time given the differences between Ukraine and Russia over the format of the UN patrol.

The armed confrontation between Ukrainian government troops and pro-independence insurgents in Donbas region has been underway since April 2014, claiming about 10,000 lives.

On Sept. 5, 2017, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow will ask the UN Security Council to send peacekeepers to patrol the contact line in eastern Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Kiev said it would agree to the deployment of a UN patrol only if the troops would be stationed across the whole area controlled by the rebels, including the Ukrainian-Russian border.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 21:59:14|Editor: Mengjie

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NANCHANG, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Jiang Chongyang, 79, thinks the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday is the worst time of the year.

Jiang has spent nearly 60 years living in an isolated leprosy prevention and treatment center in east China's Jiangxi Province.

At the age of 16, Jiang was diagnosed with Hansen's disease, as leprosy is more formally know. He was sent to the center by his family four years later.

"When you passed through the door, you know that you are never going to come back out," said Jiang.

"I still remember the last big dinner I had with my family on New Year's Eve 60 years ago," Jiang said.

About a month ago, Jiang's wife, 89, passed away. She was taken to the center by her ex-husband in the 1960s.

"No one ever came to visit her," Jiang said. "Leprosy was more frightening than cancer at that time."

"The neighbors, even your family, would keep their distance once you had the disease. Your family was forced to send you away," he said.

Jiang and his wife lived together most of their lives at the center, but never married. According to China's marriage law at the time, people with leprosy were not allowed to marry. It was not until 1980 that the law was amended.

At the center, a marriage certificate was of no importance, but companionship was, said Jiang.

Like Jiang, 82-year-old Huang Tianxiang and his "wife" were never formally married. Huang was sent to the "leprosy village" as it was called by outsiders, when he was 23.

Huang was born in Ganzhou in Jiangxi. Both his father and older brother are traditional Chinese medicine practitioners. Huang said he would have gone to college and become a TCM doctor like his father if he had not been diagnosed with the disease at 16.

"I still do not know how I caught the disease," said Huang.

Huang tried various medicines without telling his family. His skin began to fester, which even scared his sister, a nurse, who would not even give him an injection.

Jiang and Huang are among the 500,000 leprosy patients reported in China since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

According to the China Leprosy Association, nearly 480,000 people have been given free treatment and cured over the past half century, and now only 6,000 people suffer from the disease in the whole country.

In 2011, Chinese authorities announced plans to eradicate the disease in the country by 2020.

The center, founded in the late 1950s, is the largest prevention and treatment facility in Jiangxi, housing more than 500 people at a time. Now only 74 people, aged 70 on average, live there.

"The incidence of leprosy in Jiangxi has shrunk in recent years. Only 10 to 20 new cases are reported each year," said Xu Genbao, head of the center.

"As the disease eradicated, we hope people's fears and discrimination will also disappear soon," said Xu.

"When I was cured and went back home, I found my family quite indifferent to me. They thought they would catch the disease if I lived together with them," Huang said. "So I came back to the treatment center again."

"A dozen years ago, a bus driver asked me to get off the bus even though I told him I was cured and not contagious," Huang recalled. "Until now, no taxies are willing to drive patients at the center."

The discrimination stem from a lack of knowledge of leprosy, said Xu.

The vast majority of people know leprosy only from books, films and television, which are often full of frightening descriptions, according to Xu.

"Leprosy is the same as many common bacterial infections," Xu emphasized. "Leprosy can kill nerves, ulcerate skin and dissolve bones, but, with the advent of antibiotics, it now can be controlled and cured."

"Many volunteers come to help take care of us," Huang said. "I plan to write a book to help people know about more leprosy."

During this Spring Festival, Xu said 20 people had been taken home by their families to celebrate the most important holiday of the year.

"I hope the suffering will come to an end, with the eradication of the disease," said Xu.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 21:59:15|Editor: pengying

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DAMASCUS, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Pro-government Syrian forces started moving towards Kurdish-controlled Afrin enclave in northern Syria, according to the state TV.

The move came just a day after the Syrian government media outlets said the pro-government forces will enter Afrin to support the people in the face of the Turkish-led military operation.

The forces are moving toward Afrin, in the northern countryside of Aleppo province, from Aleppo city, according to the report.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 22:09:55|Editor: pengying

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An artist paints floral motif on a street leading to Bangladesh's national monument in capital Dhaka on Feb. 20, 2018 for the observance of International Mother Language Day. Bangladesh prepares to celebrate the International Mother Language Day on Feb. 21. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization declared Feb. 21 the International Mother Language Day on Nov. 17, 1999 to honor the supreme sacrifice of language martyrs. (Xinhua/Salim Reza)
MALE, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Maldivian parliament on Tuesday approved extending the state of emergency by 30 days following a request by President Abdulla Yameen, local media reported.

The crucial vote was held in the parliament on Tuesday evening in the 85-member chamber.

President Yameen on Monday requested the parliament to extend the state of emergency by 30 days due to the present threat to national security and a constitutional crisis following the Supreme Court's ruling on Feb. 1 ordering the release of detained opposition leaders, including self-exiled former President Mohamed Nasheed.

Opposition legislators boycotted the parliamentary sessions on Monday when the matter was taken up, which led to those present forwarding the issue to Parliament's National Security Committee for further deliberation.

The Maldivian president declared a 15-day state of emergency on Feb. 5 after the surprise Supreme Court ruling.

The Supreme Court ruling was, however, rescinded shortly after the declaration of the state of emergency.
MAPUTO, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The government of the Mozambican capital said Tuesday it will assume all responsibilities for the garbage dump collapse on Monday, which killed 17 people and injured another seven.

Maputo Municipality's President, David Simango, told the press that searches in Hulene garbage dump for bodies or survivors will end later on Tuesday, based on statements by residents that no more bodies are expected.

"We assume all the responsibilities for the Hulene accident. We will not try to justify ourselves with the closure or the resettlement, otherwise we would be evading our responsibilities," said the mayor.

"At this point ... the number of accommodation in the host center has increased from 32 to 80," he said, adding that the families of the victims resettled are receiving psychological treatment.

"We are securing meals for the resettled families," he said. "And the funeral of the victims depends on the availability of the families concerned. The government has everything ready to take on."

The mayor also revealed that emergency work in the city of Maputo has resulted in the closure of some flooded schools.

On early Monday morning, an overnight downpour caused part of the Hulene garbage dump to collapse and bury five houses nearby, killing 17 people and injuring others.
TOKYO, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- An F-16 fighter jet belonging to the U.S. Misawa Airbase in northeastern Japan caught fire shortly after take-off on Tuesday forcing the pilot to dump its two fuel tanks in a nearby lake, adding to rising concerns about the safety of U.S. military aircraft in Japan after a spate of mishaps.

Citing reports from the U.S. military, Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said that a fire in the plane's engine broke out as soon as the F-16 jet took off from the Misawa Airbase in Aomori Prefecture.

The plane was forced to dump its two external fuel tanks in a nearby lake, with the tanks splashing down just 400 meters from where fishing boats were operating, Japanese governmnet and local officials said.

The F-16's fuel tanks were reportedly 4.5 meters in length and about 1 meter in diameter and weighed at least 200 kg when empty.

The U.S. Air Force said in a statement that the fighter jet had confirmed that the area, Lake Ogawara, in which 10 clam boats were operating, was "unpopulated" before dumping both tanks.

"The aircraft was recovered safely on the installation airfield, and there were no injuries to the pilot or personnel on the ground. We will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the root cause of this incident," the statement said.

Misawa base Commander Col. R. Scott Jobe reportedly apologized for the incident and said that all F-16s have been checked and no problems were detected.

Tensions have been growing in Japan recently, particularly in Japan's southernmost prefecture of Okinawa due to a series of U.S. military aircraft-linked accidents and mishaps.

In January, three helicopters based at the controversial U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa made emergency "off base" landings, sparking local and national indignation and fear.

A month earlier, a window fell off a CH-53E large transport helicopter and fell on the grounds of an elementary school just meters from where more than 50 children were taking physical education classes.

"Ensuring the safety of local residents is the basic premise in base operations. We strongly urge the U.S. side to see that safety is ensured, the cause is investigated and measures are taken to avoid the same thing from happening again," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said at a parliamentary committee of the latest incident Tuesday.

The jet took off at around 8:39 a.m. local time, Onodera said, with the fire forcing the pilot to dump the plane's two external fuel tanks into the nearby Ogawara Lake.

The lake is located to the north of the airbase and the fighter jet returned to the base at 8:42 a.m.

The dumping of the fuel tanks is one of the standard procedures in response to an engine fire to ensure the tanks, themselves loaded with fuel, don't explode.

The releasing of the tanks also greatly lightens the weight of the plane so it can be better maneuvered under duress.

Onodera said there have been no reports of injuries or damage on the ground or in the lake where the tanks were jettisoned.

Local police said, however, they closed a road to vehicles near the lake until it could be confirmed that the tanks weren't containing any toxic materials.

While the full details of fuel leakage in the lake are being confirmed, the Lake Ogawara fishery association decided to completely halt fishing in the lake until the fuel oil is retrieved.

Aomori Gov. Shingo Mimura was quoted as saying that it is "regrettable" that the tanks hinder clam boat operations. He urged the U.S. forces and the Japanese government to look into the cause of the incident and compensate the affected fishermen.

As the number of U.S. military aircraft-linked accidents and mishaps continues to rise at a disproportionately high rate, Onodera said he will seek explanations from the U.S. side as to why this latest incident occurred and demand that measures be taken to prevent the recurrence of such mishaps.
MANILA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Defeated Islamic State militants from the Middle East are seeking refuge in the southern Philippines hoping to open a Southeast Asian front in the region, a rebel leader said on Tuesday.

Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chair Al Haj Ebrahim Murad told a forum that his group has received reports that "a Canadian-Arab" man recently arrived in the southern Philippine Mindanao region.

"We see that the coming in of the extremists, either individual or group, is continuing. They are coming in from the porous borders in the south," Murad said.

"Based on our own intelligence information, foreign fighters who were displaced from the Middle East continued to enter into our porous borders and may be planning to take Iligan and Cotabato," Murad said, referring to the two cities in the southern island of Mindanao.

Murad said suspected terrorists from Indonesia and Malaysia were also sneaking into the country using southern backdoor region.

"We observe that there are some Middle Eastern people coming in and we just received report there was even a Canadian-Arab Muslim who came in just recently," he said, adding the man in his mid-20s even visited Patikul, Sulu, a known lair of the Abu Sayyaf group, last month.

Mindanao continues to be under martial law. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire Mindanao under martial rule after local terrorists, with the help of their foreign comrades, attacked Marawi City in May last year, triggering a five-month intense fighting that ruined the city and claimed the lives of more than 1,200 people.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 22:39:29|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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JERUSALEM, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- A confidant of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is suspected of attempting to bribe a judge in return for closing a corruption case against Netanyahu's wife, the police said Tuesday.

Nir Hefetz, also a former spokesman of Netanyahu, is suspected of offering a retired judge, Hila Gerstel, the position of the attorney general if she would drop a corruption case against Netanyahu's wife Sara.

The police confirmed the details without naming the suspects, who were identified by local media earlier in the day.

According to the police, the incident took place in 2015, when Gerstel was the Ombudsman of the State Prosecutor's Office and a major candidate for the attorney general position.

"A senior public servant was approached with a proposal to help promote her appointment to the position of attorney general, allegedly in exchange for a future promise by the candidate regarding her future decision in a certain criminal case," the police said in a statement.

"This rapprochement to the candidate did not succeed," the police added.

Gerstel reportedly rejected outright the offer proposed to her by a mutual friend of her and Hefetz.

Gerstel did not report the alleged bribe attempt to the police but she shared it with a colleague Esther Hayut, who was then a justice on the Supreme Court and now is the President of the Supreme Court.

Both Gerstel and Hayut are expected to be questioned by the police, local media reported.

Hefetz, who served as Netanyahu's spokesman between 2014 and 2017, denied the allegations, according to Hadashot TV news.

Netanyahu also released a response statement denying the existence of the deal.

"Hefetz never made this absurd offer in front of the prime minister and his wife. He was never asked to make such an offer, and we cannot believe Hefetz even considered such a thing," the statement read.

Earlier in the day, a court remanded Hefetz in custody until Thursday.

The suspicions were the latest development in a corruption affair, dubbed by the police as "case 4000," which involves Shaul Elovitch, the owner of Bezeq, Israel's largest telecom company, and Shlomo Filber, who was the director of the Communication Ministry under Netanyahu.

The suspects, all close associates of Netanyahu, were first arrested on Sunday.

They are suspected of promoting a deal to give Netanyahu and his wife favorable coverage in Walla, a news site controlled by Bezeq, in return for the promotion of regulations worth hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars to the telecom company.

Netanyahu, who was the Communications Minister until 2017, is currently not a suspect in this affair, according to the police, but local media widely reported that he is expected to be questioned in the recent days.

The new developments come less than a week after the police said there was sufficient evidence to indict Netanyahu on charges of corruption.

According to the police, Netanyahu and his family received goods, including jewelry, cigars, and Champaign, worth about one million shekels (282,800 dollars) from Israeli businessman and Hollywood tycoon Arnon Milchan and Australian businessman James Packer.

In return, Netanyahu allegedly helped Milchan to protect his investments in the Israeli media, including Channel 10 TV.

In another case, dubbed as "case 2000," Netanyahu allegedly received bribes from Arnon Mozes, the publisher of Yedioth Aharonoth, one of Israel's largest newspapers, in return for positive coverage in the newspaper.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 22:39:31|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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GAZA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Commercial establishments including banks in the Gaza Strip staged a general strike on Tuesday in protest of worsening living conditions in the coastal enclave.

In response to the request made by the Palestinian factions, the strike began at 12:00 a.m. local time (1000 GMT) and is expected to last six hours.

Banners were posted on the doors of these institutions, declaring their protest against economic deterioration and demanding the lift of siege on Gaza.

Meanwhile, traffic in the Gaza City's main intersections was halted for 15 minutes.

It is the third time in the past month that the private sector in Gaza has suspended operations in protest of the difficult living conditions in the Israeli-blockaded region.

"This urgent move comes as a last resort, after the catastrophic economic and living conditions of the Gaza Strip reached the point of zero," Secretary-General of al-Ahrar Movement Khaled Abu Hilal said at a joint press conference on behalf of the factions.

Abu Hilal pointed out that Gaza has been suffering a massive siege and collective punishment since 2007, when Hamas violently seized control of the enclave after weeks of fighting with Abbas' security forces.

It also underwent three devastating wars, the last of which took place in 2014, he added.

The secretary general also called for the cease of Israeli policies and measures against businessmen in Gaza, and the unconditional entry of building materials for its reconstruction.

The unemployment rate in Gaza stands at 46 percent, the rate of poverty exceeds 65 percent, while the rate of food insecurity for households reaches 50 percent, according to the Gaza Businessmen Association.

In a previous strike in January, local truck drivers said the quantity and quality of the imported goods had reduced owing to the difficult economic situation in the Gaza Strip.

Only 350 trucks of goods now enter Gaza per day, figures show.

The Gaza Strip has been under Israel's land, naval and air blockade for more than 11 years, while Egypt has aggravated the siege by controlling the Rafah border crossing in the south, the only gateway to the rest of the world for the over two million Gazans.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 22:39:32|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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TEHRAN, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Iran's rescue and relief chief and a spokesman of the military both confirmed on Tuesday that the wreckage of a plane carrying 66 people on board have been found, two days after it disappeared from radar in a mountainous area.

The Aseman Airlines flight bound for Iran's southwestern city of Yasuj disappeared from the radar screen 50 minutes after takeoff from Tehran on Sunday. None of the 66 passengers and crews on board was believed to have survived.

Morteza Salimi, head of Rescue and Welfare Organization of Iran's Red Crescent Society, confirmed Tuesday that the wreckage of the ill-fated plane had been spotted by a military helicopter near the Nogol village at about 4,000 meters in the Dena mountain in central Iran's Isfahan province.

"The Revolutionary Guards' helicopters this morning found the wreckage of the plane on Dena mountain," Ramezan Sharif, spokesman of the Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) told state broadcaster IRIB on Tuesday.

The helicopter's pilot, identified as Soheli, told IRIB that he saw from above some large parts of the plane's fragmented pieces labeled with Aseman company's logo. He also said he saw "scattered bodies around the plane."

There have been conflicting messages as to whether the debris was located. The latest confirmation came one day after the Civil Aviation Organization of Iran (CAOI) denied media reports citing deputy governor of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province as saying the debris had been discovered Monday near Dengezlu village in Isfahan province.

The provincial emergency center in Isfahan and Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi, Iran's Minister of Information and Communications Technology, both said on Tuesday that the mobile phone of one of the passengers had remained on and sent out signals from the crash site.

Rescue teams, however, were previously unable to reach the scene due to bad weather and mountainous terrain. IRIB said some 100 rescue personnel were climbing to reach the location where the wreckage was found.

A CAOI official said that the pilot of the crashed jet had not declared a emergency situation and that the plane's emergency locator transmitter had not transmitted signals following the crash.

The plane, a twin-engined turboprop ATR-72, was built in 1993 and just returned to service three months ago after being grounded for six or seven years, according to media reports citing technical sources.

Iran has suffered a number of air disasters in past decades partly due to its aging planes still being used, especially on domestic routes.

Tehran blamed the United States for sanctions over its nuclear program that prohibit it from acquiring new aircraft.
LUSAKA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Anti-drug authorities in Zambia said Tuesday they had arrested a Bolivian national for trafficking 2.1 kilogram of cocaine wrapped in condoms.

Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) Spokesperson Theresa Katongo said the 27-year-old Bolivian was arrested at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka, the country's capital.

Katongo said the drugs were found wrapped up in condoms and concealed in 55 bottles of roll-on.

The Bolivian national was intercepted at the airport upon arrival from Rio de Janeiro via Angola aboard an Angolan Airlines flight, she added.

The suspect is expected to appear in court soon.
MANILA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine announced on Tuesday that Kuwait has agreed to extend its amnesty for overstaying Filipino workers a few days after Manila made the request to allow it to accommodate more workers who want to return to the Philippines.

In his report to Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Villa said the amnesty program was extended by two months until April 22.

The decision came less than a week after Cayetano formally conveyed the extension request to the Kuwaiti side.

Cayetano said the extension is being requested to allow the Philippine embassy in Kuwait to accommodate more of the 10,800 Filipinos believed to have overstayed their visas or ran away from their employers as only close to 3,000 of those qualified have applied so far.

Cayetano said the Philippine Foreign Ministry remains in close coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment to ensure a successful outcome of negotiations with the Kuwaiti government to improve protection mechanisms for the more than 250,000 Filipinos working there.

The Philippines have so far repatriated a total of 1,796 distressed Filipino workers from Kuwait.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered a ban of new Filipino workers to Kuwait after reports that some of the workers suffer abuse.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-20 22:54:34|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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JERUSALEM, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to attack the Gaza Strip with great force if fire incidents near the fence between Israel and the besieged Palestinian enclave will continue.

The remark was made during an opening ceremony of a fortified emergency room in the Barzilai Medical Center in the southern city of Ashkelon. It followed an explosive device attached to the fence that injured four Israeli soldiers on Saturday.

"Any act of aggression by the terrorists will meet with a strong and determined response on our part, by the IDF (Israel's army) and the security sources," Netanyahu said.

"We will not accept trickles or bombs on the fence such as we saw last weekend," said the hawkish prime minister.

He vowed to aggravate Israel's response to such incidents. "Whoever hurts us will himself be hurt. Whoever does not act to calm the situation but instead chooses to fan the flames will bear full responsibility," he said.

On Saturday and Sunday, Israel's air force attacked Gaza with 18 strikes, killing at least two 17-year-old Palestinians. On Sunday night, Gaza militants responded with firing a rocket towards southern Israel, which was retaliated with an Israeli airstrike of a tunnel in Gaza that was built by Hamas, according to Israel.
MOSCOW, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Russia's Foreign Ministry admitted Tuesday that several dozens of Russian citizens were wounded in "a recent clash" in Syria without specifying the exact location and other details of received injuries.

"They have been provided with assistance for the return to Russia where, to our knowledge, they are receiving treatment in various medical institutions," a ministry statement said.

On Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said five Russian nationals were preliminarily confirmed to have been killed in Syria in the clash with the U.S.-led coalition.

The ministry denied the relation of the killed and the wounded with the regular Russian armed forces.

"There are Russian citizens in Syria, who went there on their own accord and with different goals," the statement said, adding that it was not the task of the ministry to assess the legitimacy of such decisions.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement earlier this month that a pro-Syrian government militia unit conducted a reconnaissance and search operation on Feb. 7 in the vicinity of an oil refinery in the province of Deir al-Zour to identify and destroy a bandit group responsible for shelling government troop positions, and came under fire from the U.S.-led coalition and its local allies.

The coalition claimed that it carried out airstrikes against "Syrian pro-regime forces" that launched an "unprovoked attack" on Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces' headquarters and killed an estimated 100 militia.

Russia started participating in the anti-terrorist operation in Syria in September 2015 at the invitation of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, predominantly with missile strikes in support of the Syrian army.

The military began a partial withdrawal from Syria in December on orders by President Vladimir Putin, soon after Syrian troops completed the destruction of the main Islamic State terrorist forces in the war-torn country.
Palestinians wait for travel permits to Egypt at Rafah Crossing, southern Gaza Strip, on Feb. 7, 2018. (Xinhua/Wissam Nassar)

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to address the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, demanding the implementation of the two-state solution between his country and Israel,including opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.

Diplomats said Monday Abbas will bring up the Palestinian request for establishing an independent sovereign Arab state on the 1949 Armistice lines known as the "1967 borders".

The Security Council will convene Tuesday for its monthly meeting. The item on the agenda is the Middle East situation, including the "Palestinian question".

A Palestinian youth holds a banner in Gaza City on Feb. 20, 2018 during a general strike to protest the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The writing in Arabic reads, "Gaza's children are dying, can anyone help?" (Xinhua/AFP)

Nickolay Mladenov, special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, is expected to brief the Security Council, providing an update on the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, the Israeli settlement construction, and the intra-Palestinian agreement.

In his briefing to the Security Council last month, he referred to plans by the Israeli Government to approve construction of additional settlements and said the construction is illegal under international law. He called it one of the major obstacles to peace.

There is heightened tension on the Israel-Palestine issue, following the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and the Security Council's subsequent vote on a draft resolution, reaffirming that any decisions and actions that purport to have altered the status of Jerusalem are null and void.

The text was vetoed by the United States. Following the veto, a nearly identical text was adopted at the General Assembly with 128 votes in favor, nine votes against, 35 abstentions and 21 absences.

A Palestinian protester uses a slingshot to hurl stones at Israeli troops during clashes near the border between Israel and east Gaza Strip, on Feb. 16, 2018. A total of 40 Palestinian demonstrators were wounded in clashes with Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank on Friday afternoon, local sources said. (Xinhua/Wissam Nassar)

In a speech before the Central Council of the Palestine Liberation Organization in January, Abbas vowed to reject U.S. involvement in any peace talks and strongly criticized Trump.

In response, the Trump administration announced it would cut the 125-million-U.S.-dollar funding it had planned to provide the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East this year by 65 million dollars.

Palestinian employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) take part in a protest against the Washington's decision to reduce the fund provided to UNRWA in Gaza City on Jan. 29, 2018. (Xinhua/Wissam Nassar)

During the Security Council's quarterly open debate on the issue on Jan. 25, the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Nikki Haley, harshly criticized Abbas, questioning his will to pursue peace.

On Thursday, Security Council President Kuwait, joined by Bolivia, France and Sweden, is expected to host an Arria-formula meeting on "Prospects for the two-state solution for peace".
MADRID, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Spanish Interior Ministry on Tuesday confirmed that a suspected jihadist was arrested on Tuesday in the small town of Torre Pacheco in the province of Murcia in southeast Spain.

The 31-year-old Moroccan is accused of indoctrination and openly supporting jihadist terrorism by posting videos produced by the Islamic State (DAESH) on his social network sites and of spreading a message of hate against those he described as "the enemies of Islam."

The ministry said that the detainee had undergone a "radicalization process" over the past three years and he had "evolved dangerously" over that period to being "on the point of participating in violent terrorist actions."

The arrest means that 269 suspected jihadists have been arrested in Spain since the start of 2015.

Tuesday also saw three people arrested in a joint operation between French police, Spanish Civil Guards and the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan regional police).

The three were detained in the French regions of Gard and Tarn and are suspected of being closely associated with Dris Oukabir, who is currently in prison for his role in the terrorist attacks which claimed 16 lives in Barcelona and Cambils, in Spain, on Aug. 17 and 18, 2017.
LONDON, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- British Brexit Secretary David Davis during a speech given in Vienna dismissed fears Tuesday that Britain's exit from the European Union (EU) would be a "race to the bottom."

In a keynote speech to business leaders in Vienna, of which a copy was obtained by Xinhua, Davis said Britain will not be plunged into a "Mad Max" style world borrowed from dystopian fiction.

He was delivering the second of six speeches by senior British front-bench ministers as part of Prime Minister Theresa May's "Road to Brexit" strategy.

"RACE TO TOP IN GLOBAL STANDARDS"

Davis described Britain's plan as its blueprint for life outside of the EU, saying it is a race to the top in global standards.

He added: "Fears about a race to the bottom are based on nothing, not our history, not our intentions, nor our national interest."

"Frankly, the competitive challenge we in the UK and the European Union will face from the rest of the world, where 90 percent of growth in markets will come from, will not be met by a reduction in standards," he added.

Explaining why government ministers were embarking on a tour of Europe, Davis said next month Britain will start detailed discussions on exactly how the new relationship with the EU will look.

Brexit, he said, will inevitably mean a change in the way British, Austrian and other European Union companies do business.

Davis added: "The future trade talks will be a negotiation like no other. We start from a position of total alignment, with unprecedented experience in working with one another's regulators and institutions."

"The agreement we strike will not be about how to build convergence, but what we do when one of us chooses to make changes to our rules. Neither side should put up unnecessary barriers during this process," he said.

He stated a crucial part of any such agreement will be the ability for both sides to trust each other's regulations and the institutions that enforce them, with a robust and independent arbitration mechanism.

REMARKS FROM OTHERS

Keir Starmer, Brexit Shadow Secretary for the main opposition Labour Party, hit out at promises made by Davis in his speech about workers' rights and environmental protection, commenting: "it simply isn't worth the paper it is written on."

Tim Roache, general secretary of one of Britain's biggest trade unions, the GMB union, said: "If the best this government can do is promise Britain will not turn into a 'Mad Max' nightmare -- it's no wonder people are worried about their post-Brexit lives."

Allie Renison from the Institute of Directors Allie Renison welcomed an acknowledgement by Davis about the importance of keeping a level playing field on state aid and competition policy.

"Minimizing trade barriers can and should go hand in hand with a future deal with the EU," said Renison.
NEW DELHI, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- At least four people have died and 11 hospitalized following a gas leak in the northern Indian state of Punjab Tuesday, police said.

"Ammonia gas leaked from a food processing plant at Shambhu in Rajpura. While four local residents died after inhaling the gas, those injured have been admitted to a local hospital," a police official said.

A probe has been ordered into the incident, he added.

Gas leak incidents are not uncommon in India, the notable being the Bhopal gas tragedy.

Some 4,000 people were killed when methyl isocyanate gas and other chemicals leaked from the U.S.-based Union Carbide's pesticide plant in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh's capital Bhopal in 1984. The incident was considered the world's worst industrial disaster.
WINDHOEK, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Namibia launched a mobile Cab App service in Windhoek on Tuesday, in response to the national concern of the alarming rate of intoxication-related road accidents and fatalities on the country's roads.

The application, called LEFA (Oshiwambo word for lift), is supported and powered by the Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) and is designed to help keep drunk drivers off the roads by allowing them to call the services of a registered driver to ferry them to their desired destination at a stipulated fee.

"Road fatalities in Namibia are a national concern and touches each and every one of us. Sadly, drunk driving is one of the major causes of road accidents in the country," said founder of LEFA, Melkisedek Ausiku.

Ausiku said that LEFA could play a significant role in curbing drunk driving if it is well embraced by the public.

NBL Managing Director, Wessie van der Westhuizen at the launch said the app hopefully achieves the aim of addressing the country's catastrophe of intoxication related road crashes.

"It is my hope therefore that LEFA would become every bit as much a part of your daily routine as a morning cup of coffee or a glance at your Facebook/Twitter or Instagram feeds," he added.

The App is officially available for download and ready for service, but at the moment only covers the capital city, Windhoek with plans in the pipeline to spread its footprint to other towns in the country.

Meanwhile, Ausiku aims to increase the number of registered drivers and vehicles from 11 to 50 over the next month.
MOGADISHU, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Somali military court on Tuesday sentenced a senior army official to death after finding him guilty of murdering chief commander of the Somali marines in Mogadishu on Jan. 18, officials said.

Chairperson of the military Court, Hassan Ali Shute, said Abdinasir Hosh committed the crime deliberately and he killed the official at his office at Mogadishu seaport.

"The Court sentenced Col. Abdinasir Hosh Mohamed (54) to death after finding him guilty of killing the Somali Marines chief, Gen. Said Aden Yusuf at his office at Mogadishu Seaport on Jan. 18," Shute said.

He added that there had been an argument between the two before the accused opened fire on the deceased. Shute said the court also stripped Hosh of his rank in the army and sentenced him to death.

The military court often carries out sentences and executions to Al-Shabaab militants and government soldiers who commit crimes despite condemnation from human rights groups including the European Union.
by Muhammad Tahir

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- As Pakistani Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has left for Moscow Monday for a more enhanced bilateral coordination, foreign and defense experts believe the growing relationship between the two sides is key to peace, security and stability in the region when the United States insists on military option in Afghanistan.

Political commentators believed that the cold-war era rivals are now heading towards a new realignment in the region as both countries and important regional players are directly affected by the instability in Afghanistan and need to have come up with a unanimous approach to support a political solution to the Afghan conflict.

The emergence of the so-called Islamic State (IS), or Daesh, in the region has further complicated the situation in the war-ravaged Afghanistan as the militant group is also seen as a destabilizing factor for regional nations.

Senior Pakistani defense expert Said Nazir Mohmand argued that there are several factors that have brought Pakistan and Russia closer, including U.S. quest for longer presence and continuation of war in Afghanistan, and U.S. President Donald Trump's aggressive posture against Pakistan.

"President Trump has now publicly ruled out talks with the Taliban which means the U.S. intends to keep troops for long time and to keep on continuing war. This approach is a worrisome development for all regional countries, including Pakistan and Russia, which oppose military solution and emphasize on political solution," Mohmand told Xinhua.

He said the growing threat of the IS in Afghanistan, especially its activities in northern parts of Afghanistan, is a matter of serious concern for Russia as the group could create problems for the Central Asian states as well as Russia.

"As the U.S. has adopted a hostile attitude towards Pakistan, the country will try to find out more trusted friends in its neighbor and the region. It is diplomatic principle and power game to search for more friends," he said.

Besides political cooperation, Pakistan and Russia have increased relations in defense and economic fields. They conducted joint military exercises in 2016 for the first time since they have established diplomatic relations and also similar drill in 2017. Russia had also delivered four advanced attack gunships last year.

In October 2015, Pakistan and Russia had inked an agreement to build a 2-billion-U.S. dollar pipeline that will transport gas from the city of Karachi in southern Sindh to Lahore in the central Punjab.

Pakistan foreign affairs expert Ayaz Wazir said Pakistan's enhanced relationship with Russia is important in the wake of deterioration of relations between Pakistan and the United States as Washington has almost given up Pakistan despite its unmatched sacrifices in the war against terrorism.

"In such a situation Pakistan will have other friends and Russia is one of the possible allies. Pakistan and Russia have similar objectives and that is peace and stability in Afghanistan and to promote political process and reconciliation," Wazir, who served as Pakistan's ambassador to Qatar and Counsel General in Afghanistan's Mazar-e-Sharif, told Xinhua.

He pointed out that Pakistan and Russia have not only joined hands to work for stability in Afghanistan but they are also partners to counter the threat of the IS in the region.

"I foresee the threat of Daesh could further increase in Afghanistan and the region. Daesh posses threats to Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Central Asia and Russia and cooperation between Pakistan and Russia is required to check the emerging threat," he said.

Pakistan and Russia insist they give priority to relationship in their foreign policy.

"Today, we can state that cooperation with Pakistan features prominently on the list of Russia's foreign policy priorities," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said last week in Moscow. For its part, Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Faisal said that Russia enjoys a special place in Pakistan's foreign policy.
Tuesday, February 20, 2018 Martinez Passes On Pearce Endorsement; A Snub or A Blessing? And: "Dr. No" Says He's Not Going Away Anytime Soon Pearce and Martinez Was it a snub or a welcome surprise? That's the question in the wake of GOP Gov. Susana Martinez



Martinez is headed toward the exits this year with record unpopularity--in the low 30's in the last public poll--and maybe even lower in private surveys, say some consultants. And after two terms of beating up not only on Dems, but rivals within her own party, Republicans have also lost that lovin' feeling.



So Pearce not getting her endorsement--at least in the early going--is not a bad deal. One of his biggest problems is actually convincing the electorate that he is not a carbon copy of his fellow R. He already has overwhelming GOP support but is desperately searching for conservative Dems and independents to get him in a competitive position. Having Martinez snub him could actually help with that task.



It almost makes you wonder if the duo--who have long disliked each other--worked this one out behind closed doors.



SMITH TILL 85?



A statement from conservative Democratic State Senator John Arthur Smith, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, is sure to send shudders through the bones of backers of a constitutional amendment that would allow a portion of the state's $17 billion Land Grant Permanent School Fund to be used for very early childhood education.



The 76 year old Deming lawmaker, who single-handedly killed the amendment this year and who many Roundhouse observers speculate might not seek re-election in 2020, is not only indicating he will run in 2020 but



He has no plans to step aside, health and elections permitting. (Ike) Smalley, the cigar-chomping senator from Deming who was Smiths patron and mentor, served for more than three decades and didnt quit until he was 85 years old.I was schooled by a good doctor that said, You know, hard work has killed damn few, but lack of work has killed a lot more, Smith said. My attitude is, Im planning on working until my last day.



Sen. Smith The constitutional amendment passed the state House and the Senate Education Committee this year but Smith refused to give it a hearing in Senate Finance.



His stubbornness in the face of growing support for the amendment raises the question of whether a new Democratic Governor would apply pressure on him to support the amendment and/or a compromise? And can "Dr. No" keep all his members in line under the growing political pressure? For how long?



Smith has earned a legacy as an effective budget hawk but could he really hold sway over the state's fiscal policies into his 80's? After all, his mentor Ike Smalley was largely a symbolic figure in his last years in the Senate, not a powerhouse.



Smith doesn't have to worry much about 2020 and getting re-elected but he does have to fret about "aging out" as happened to Smalley. His biggest fear in the years ahead has be to be that his staunch opposition to the early childhood amendment will be overridden and all that he has worked for and accomplished will be forgotten and that one moment of defeat will be his legacy. Ultimately, that possibility is what could bring "Dr. No" to the negotiating table.



FOR THE RECORD



By the way,



The point being that the amendment's support has grown and Smith did his fellow Senators a favor by not forcing them to take a public vote. As we blogged above, how many more years can that act run?



HO HUM SESSION?







Former longtime ABQ Dem Senator Dede Feldman, author of



Was it just me or did the 2018 session seem rather ho-hum? The extra money seemed to damp down underlying controversies, and the Governor and the Legislature seemed to be largely on the same crime-fighting page. Sensible tax generators like the Internet tax and the hospital tax that the hospitals dont object to (!) once again seem destined for the chopping block and the use of a small fraction of the huge permanent fund for desperately needed early childhood education is running into the same old roadblock in the Senate Finance Committee. . .



The only controversial item seems to be the decommissioning of the San Juan coal plant. The Sierra Club has put on an admirable lobbying campaign there. But apart from that, legislators are eager to get back to the campaign trail and even the reporters seem eager to go home. Am I missing something?



THE BOTTOM LINES



Crosswinds. The growth of the Internet



This is the home of New Mexico politics.







Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.



( c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2018 Was it a snub or a welcome surprise? That's the question in the wake of GOP Gov. Susana Martinez refusing to give soon-to-be GOP Guv nominee Steve Pearce her political blessing. But if she did endorse his candidacy, it may have been a curse.Martinez is headed toward the exits this year with record unpopularity--in the low 30's in the last public poll--and maybe even lower in private surveys, say some consultants. And after two terms of beating up not only on Dems, but rivals within her own party, Republicans have also lost that lovin' feeling.So Pearce not getting her endorsement--at least in the early going--is not a bad deal. One of his biggest problems is actually convincing the electorate that he is not a carbon copy of his fellow R. He already has overwhelming GOP support but is desperately searching for conservative Dems and independents to get him in a competitive position. Having Martinez snub him could actually help with that task.It almost makes you wonder if the duo--who have long disliked each other--worked this one out behind closed doors.A statement from conservative Democratic State Senator John Arthur Smith, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, is sure to send shudders through the bones of backers of a constitutional amendment that would allow a portion of the state's $17 billion Land Grant Permanent School Fund to be used for very early childhood education.The 76 year old Deming lawmaker, who single-handedly killed the amendment this year and who many Roundhouse observers speculate might not seek re-election in 2020, is not only indicating he will run in 2020 but well beyond The constitutional amendment passed the state House and the Senate Education Committee this year but Smith refused to give it a hearing in Senate Finance.His stubbornness in the face of growing support for the amendment raises the question of whether a new Democratic Governor would apply pressure on him to support the amendment and/or a compromise? And can "Dr. No" keep all his members in line under the growing political pressure? For how long?Smith has earned a legacy as an effective budget hawk but could he really hold sway over the state's fiscal policies into his 80's? After all, his mentor Ike Smalley was largely a symbolic figure in his last years in the Senate, not a powerhouse.Smith doesn't have to worry much about 2020 and getting re-elected but he does have to fret about "aging out" as happened to Smalley. His biggest fear in the years ahead has be to be that his staunch opposition to the early childhood amendment will be overridden and all that he has worked for and accomplished will be forgotten and that one moment of defeat will be his legacy. Ultimately, that possibility is what could bring "Dr. No" to the negotiating table.By the way, a newspaper editorial that asserted "Lawmakers were right to reject a proposal to tap into the states largest permanent fund to pay for early childhood programs" was not quite accurate. As we mentioned the measure passed the full House 36 to 33--hardly a rejection--and won the approval of the Senate Education Committee on a 5 to 3 vote. It died only when Senator Smith acted unilaterally and refused to give the amendment a hearing.The point being that the amendment's support has grown and Smith did his fellow Senators a favor by not forcing them to take a public vote. As we blogged above, how many more years can that act run? While corners of the press that cherish the status quo regaled the recent 30 day session as a bipartisan paradise that produced significant legislation, most of us in Alligator land--including observers of decades-long experience labeled it a "low energy" session in which lawmakers main goal was to avoid an election year fight.Former longtime ABQ Dem Senator Dede Feldman, author of Inside the New Mexico Senate: Boots, Suits and Citizens came with this: Word comes to us of the passing of Steve Lawrence who from 1995 to 2006 was the publisher of the popular ABQ/Santa Fe alternative newspaperThe growth of the Internet put a halt to the endeavor but it made its mark. Lawrence was also a frequent guest on KNME-TV. He lived in Sherman Oaks, California. Lawrence was 75.This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (jmonahan@ix.netcom.com)
KIEV, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine and the European Union (EU) will jointly finance the "Go highway" project, which would establish a new transport corridor on the Silk Road, Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan said on Tuesday.

"The EU is ready to partially finance our 'Go highway' project that will connect the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea," Omelyan told reporters after meeting with Henrik Hololei, the European Commission's director-general for mobility and transport.

Last year, Ukraine has launched the project to connect four Black Sea ports in southern Ukraine and two Baltic Sea ports in northern Poland.

The new transport corridor stretching for 1,746 km will cost about 2 billion euros (about 2.4 billion U.S. dollars). It is set to be completed within three years.

The Ukrainian Infrastructure Ministry said earlier that the project will boost Ukraine-Europe trade by reducing the cargo delivery costs.

According to the ministry, it will also contribute to developing China-EU trade and to strengthening Ukraine's transit positions on the China-proposed modern Silk Road.
MADRID, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- French police, in collaboration with Spanish police, have made three arrests in connection with Catalonia's terrorist attack, which occurred last August in Barcelona and Cambrils.

These three men are suspected of being linked to Driss Oukabir, who is now in custody due to his alleged membership to the terrorist cell perpetrator of the attacks. The detentions were made in the southern French regions of Tarn and Gard.

After the terror attacks, one of the main lines of investigation was to identify possible connections of the members of this terrorist cell outside Spanish borders.

Since June 26, 2015, when the Spanish Ministry of Interior raised the terror alert level to four out of a maximum of five, some 227 "jihadist terrorists" have been arrested by the Spanish armed forces, both in Spain and abroad, the ministry said.

Investigators expect that these three arrests will help clarify connections between these three men and the terrorists involved in the August 2017 attacks, when a van mowed down people on Barcelona's famous Las Ramblas street.
BRUSSELS, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The European Border and Coast Guard Agency, or Frontex, said Tuesday that the number of illegal border crossings into the European Union (EU) had dropped to its lowest number in four years in 2017.

According to Frontex's 2018 report released Tuesday, a total of 204,700 migrants entered the EU last year, which marked a significant decrease compared to recent years.

The fall in migration was due to the number of people reaching Europe via the Eastern, the Central Mediterranean, and Western Balkan routes having drastically decreased.

In contrast with the declines in crossings of the three major migratory routes, the number of migrants through the Western Mediterranean route has doubled since 2016, reaching a new high of more than 23,000.

As a result, the irregular migration into the EU has not returned to the situation before 2014, when figures ranged between 72,000 and 141,000 detections, the report said.

In total, African nationals accounted for almost two-thirds of irregular migrants arriving at the shores of the EU in 2017.
JUBA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan rebels have freed two Kenyan pilots following payment of about 108,000 U.S. dollars to the family of a civilian killed when their plane crashed in Greater Akobo region in late January, the rebels' spokesman told Xinhua on Tuesday.

Lam Paul Gabriel, the deputy rebel spokesman, said by phone that the deal was sealed late Monday after the team from Kenya met with the local authorities in Akobo region.

"The two Kenyan pilots have been released after the compensation fee of 108,000 dollars agreed by the two sides was honored," Lam said.

He disclosed the family of the deceased and the owners of the properties finally accepted to set free the two pilots.

"It was not ransom from the rebels as purported instead the rebel leaders in the region only provided security and facilitated the negotiation process," he added.

Earlier this year, Cessna Caravan with registration number 5y-FDC, crashed in the area and killed one civilian and destroyed property.

Later on, the Sudan people's Liberation Army- in Opposition (SPLA-IO) demanded a sum of 200,000 dollars as compensation for the death of a woman and 11 cows in the accident.

Lam said the two Kenyan pilots identified as Captain Pius Frank Njoroge and co-pilot Kennedy Shamalla were handed to government officials on Monday.

Last week, Kenyan Pilots Association threatened to suspend commercial and chartered flights to war-torn South Sudan in an effort to seek release of their detained colleagues in Akobo.

Meanwhile, the two Kenyan pilots - Captain Frank Njoroge and Co-pilot Kennedy Shamalla - landed in Nairobi on Tuesday afternoon following month-long negotiations between South Sudan and Kenyan government officials.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma who received the two pilots termed the abduction of the two pilots as unfortunate, saying that the two pilots were illegally detained.

"The pilots of the two families have suffered emotional and psychological distress during the period in which they were abducted. We condemn the capture and detention of the pilots in the strongest terms possible," said Juma who received the two at the airport.

South Sudan descended into violence in December 2013 after political dispute between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar led to fighting between mostly Dinka ethnic soldiers loyal to Kiir against Machar's Nuer ethnic group.

The 2015 peace agreement to end the violence was again violated in July 2016 when the rival factions resumed fighting in the capital forcing Machar to flee into exile.

The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions that have sought refuge in neighboring countries.
NAIROBI, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's total exports grew slower in 2017 as the value of imports surged on industrial supplies and machinery goods, widening the country's trade imbalance.

Latest economic data received Tuesday indicated that the east African nation's exports rose 3 percent last year to around 5.89 billion U.S. dollars, from 5.72 billion dollars in 2016.

On the other hand, imports accelerated 20.5 percent to stand at 17.1 billion dollars in 2017, from 14.2 billion dollars in 2016, Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) data showed.

Kenya's main exports during the period are listed as food and beverages (coffee, tea, cut flowers and horticulture produce) and consumer goods, while imports were mainly industrial supplies (non-food), fuel and lubricants, and machinery.

The main destinations of exports were Pakistan, Britain, Netherlands and Uganda, while imports mainly came from China, India and the United Arab Emirates.

Kenya's imports have been on the rise steadily since 2014 when it started major infrastructure projects that include the standard gauge railway.

Others include the Lamu Port Project at the Coast, expansion of various local and international airports, including Jomo Kenyatta, and the rehabilitation of key roads.

In the energy sector, exploration of oil and coal is taking place in Turkana and Kitui respectively. Several electricity generation projects are also ongoing. All these projects require heavy machinery.

The oil import bill had largely remained low in 2016 but was seen rising in the second half of 2017 as prices started to rise in the global market.

Pakistan emerged as the top destination of Kenyan exports in 2017, beating Uganda, which for years was at the helm.

According to a recent World Bank report, Uganda and Tanzania are losing out as top destinations of Kenya's goods due to cheap imports in the region, mainly from Asia.

Analysts noted that Kenya's trade imbalance would continue, especially as the country loses traditional trading partners like Uganda and Tanzania.
ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Germany on Tuesday urged the Ethiopian government to exercise restraint during the martial law period which was implemented on Friday.

Ethiopia imposed martial law for a period of six months after a crippling strike last week in Ethiopia's central Oromia regional state and increasing reports of ethnic clashes across the country.

"We are concerned about recent domestic developments in Ethiopia. The institution of martial law allows for massive restrictions on civil rights, we hope the government will be extremely cautious in exercising its powers," said the statement from the German Foreign Office.

"The Federal Foreign Office calls upon the government of our friend and partner state, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, to continue its recent efforts to create more space for political dialogue," further said the statement.

The statement from Germany hailed the release of numerous opposition activists but urged Ethiopian government to carry out more reforms to bring lasting peace and stability to the east African country.

"In our opinion, only inclusive and comprehensive dialogue with all relevant political actors can lead to peaceful change and the necessary reforms that can bring lasting peace and stability to Ethiopia," the statement read.

Germany, the EU's largest economy, is a key development partner to Ethiopia both through the continental body and as a bilateral donor.
BRUSSELS, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, published a report on Tuesday saying that 39 percent of children aged 12 or below in the block received formal childcare services in 2016.

Childcare and support to children is one of the 20 key principles of the European Pilllar of Social Rights.

The report said 29 percent of children paid full or reduced price and 10 percent used cost free services in 2016.

According to the report, the situation of children in urban, suburban and rural areas receiving paid services was similar in 2016.

While as for the free services, there was a slight difference among cities, suburbs and rural areas, which were 11 percent, 10 percent and 6 percent respectively.

In EU, among the households that have at least one child aged 12 or under, 68 percent were satisfied with the usage of formal childcare services, said the report.

At the same time, the reasons that some households did not use these services were financial concerns, lack of places, not suitable opening hours, distance and dissatisfaction of services quality.

Within the bloc, the highest figure of children received such services in 2016 was seen in Denmark, which was almost 86 percent. It was followed by Sweden (70 percent), the UK (65 percent) and Germany (64 percent).

On the contrary, Latvia registered the lowest figure, which was just 1 percent. It was followed by Croatia (2 percent), Slovakia (3 percent), Estonia and Spain (both 4 percent).

With regards to the satisfaction with the access to formal childcare services, 94 percent of households in Denmark with at least one child aged 12 or less expressed that they were satisfactory, ranking the highest. Croatia ranked the second with 92 percent, Bulgaria and Sweden (both 89 percent) ranked the third.
NEW YORK, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- American classical music composer Andy Akiho's concerto for ping pong which combines the rhythm of sport and music will have its American premiere on Tuesday as part of the New York Philharmonic's Lunar New Year gala.

The Philharmonic's violinist Elizabeth Zeltser and percussionist David Cossin will stage Akiho's Ricochet, Concerto for Ping Pong, Violin, Percussion, and Orchestra at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in downtown New York City Tuesday evening, and the performance will be joined by ping pong players Ariel Hsing and Michael Landers, the youngest-ever U.S. Women's Singles Champion and Men's Singles Champion, respectively.

Ricochet is a playful concerto which perfectly combines the rhythm of sport and music, and juxtaposes an intricate polyrhythmic score for violin and percussion with the comparably random sounds of an actual ping pong match, said Columbia Artists Music LLC (CAMI Music). Two ping pang players volley along in approximate tempo, first with paddles, then tambourines and glasses, and - as a cadenza - against a bass drum and a gong.

The piece was premiered in Shanghai, China, on July 18, 2015 at Shanghai Symphony Hall by Shanghai Symphony Orchestra conducted by conductor Huang Yi with Zeltser, Cossin, Landers and Hsing. It was commissioned by 2015 Beijing Music Festival and 2015 Shanghai's MISA Festival.

Akiho, an acclaimed musician and steel drum player, has written numerous celebrated works of contemporary classical music. He was awarded Underwood Commission prize by American Composers Orchestra in 2014.
KATHMANDU, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Three Indian nationals were arrested in Rautahat of southern Nepal for smuggling weapons into the country, a senior police official said on Tuesday.

Superintendent of Police Yagya Binod Pokharel told the media that the Indian nationals were arrested during a raid by the Nepal Police from a local hotel in Gaur Municipality of Rautahat District acting on a tip-off.

The arrested Indian nationals are from the Indian State of Bihar. Pokharel said that the investigation is underway putting them into the police custody.

"We have seized automatic pistols, arms and ammunition from the Indian nationals. Investigation is underway," the police official added.

The Indian side has not not made any comments over the arrest of Indian nationals so far.
JUBA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's warring parties should be given more time to talk rather than being pushed hard by mediators amid international and regional pressure to reach settlement to end over four years of conflict, experts said on Tuesday.

Augustino Ting Mayai, political analyst at the Juba-based Sudd Institute, said the warring parties should be given more space to negotiate, instead of being pressured by the influential troika group, the U.S., Britain and Norway, to reach agreement on contentious issues.

"The Troika and regional mediators applying a lot of pressure on the parties to talk... will be forcing them to commit to what they don't like," Mayai said."The parties should be left to discuss and reach agreement."

His remarks came after the mediators sent both the government and rebels into recess with little headway at the second round of the peace revitalization talks in Adds Ababa.

Mayai criticized the fact that the warring parties did not discuss addressing the root causes of the conflict that broke out in December 2013, but rather focused much more on government restructuring to accommodate more members from the various opposition groups.

"They need to move away from creating jobs for themselves and address the root causes of the war," he said.

South Sudan's warring parties signed the Cessation of Hostilities (CoH) last December, but immediately resumed fighting, prompting the U.S. to impose an arms embargo on South Sudan to up the pressure on both parties.

Mayai said the government and the 14 opposition groups should ditch their hard stances and reach a compromise agreement.

Jacob Chol, a political science lecturer at Juba University, said the warring parties should be allowed to contribute more to the talks rather than relying on draft proposals by mediators without their input.

"What we are hearing in Addis Ababa is that there are no discussions. Mediators are just giving them (draft proposals) papers," Chol said. "That is not the best way for mediation. A lot of work has been done by mediators, which is not helping."

He suggested moving the venue of the talks to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and new mediators be found, given the historical failure of past talks.

South Sudan descended into violence in December 2013, after political disputes between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar led to fighting that pitted mostly Dinka ethnic soldiers loyal to Kiir against Machar's Nuer ethnic group.

A 2015 peace agreement to end the violence was again violated in July 2016 when the rival factions resumed fighting in the capital, forcing Machar to flee into exile.

The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and forced millions of others to seek refuge in neighboring countries.
MAPUTO, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Mozambican Ministry of Health through its Department of National Program for Malaria Control told Xinhua in an interview on Tuesday that the authorities have doubled their efforts nationwide to fight malaria in prevalent season.

According to Baltazar Candrinho, Director of National Program for Malaria Control, the present December-April period overlapping the rainy season is considered by the authorities as the prevalent season when a rise in cases of malaria is registered in hospitals and health unities. More efforts are being made in distribution of mosquito nets, house spraying and education campaigns.

The damp and muggy climatic condition in rainy season makes Mozambique more vulnerable to the disease, one of the main killers particularly for children under five years old in the southeastern African country.

"Before the peak season we did house spraying so that mosquitoes can hardly stay indoors, and we also distributed mosquito nets last year so that people can protect themselves from bites and stings. The intensified education campaigns were conducted as well throughout the period," said Candrinho.

The director emphasized that people need to change their careless behavior and take the prevention measures seriously.

"If we ask anybody how we catch malaria, they know the answer, but if confronted what they do to prevent it, they do nothing. At some point, people are not afraid of malaria because they know they will get treatment from the hospital or health unity, so they easily neglect it," said the director.

The northern Nampula and Zambezia are the country's most vulnerable provinces to malaria, with their large number of population, the climate conditions and humidity.

The director also expressed concern over families that refuse to have their houses sprayed, as the houses can be a center for mosquito breeding, and end up compromising other houses that were sprayed.

On the other hand, the ministry of health saw the fact as a matter for rejoicing that malaria treatment can be found in hospitals and health unities all over the country.

"There are no risks of patients walking into a hospital or health unity and find it without malaria drugs. When the disease cannot be treated it's only because the patients seeks for medical help too late," added the director.

Health authorities are now intensifying the educational campaigns to see if patients can commit to the treatment as recommended, to avoid disease progression and eventually fatalities.

"Bad treatment can lead to death. When the patient has malaria at an early stage and is prescribed a 3-day treatment, normally he will be feeling better in the second day, what happens is that they interrupt treatment after feeling better and this can make the disease become more serious," said the director.

As recommended by the WHO, Mozambique conducts studies every two years to monitor the efficiency of the drugs against malaria, and the latest study indicated that the treatment continued to be efficient and one more study has been scheduled for this year.

Despite the measures taken, the national program still battles for more resources to address one of the country's major concerns in health.

"Resources are hardly enough, there are always gaps. We have established priorities to drugs availability, test for diagnosis but there are deficits to do house spray. So we have to look at those districts with highest vulnerability to spray first," said the director.

Mozambique has been attending regional and world forums against malaria as part of its strategy to cooperate with different stakeholders to battle the disease.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-21 01:20:17|Editor: huaxia

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PARIS, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- French shares edged up on Tuesday, with the benchmark Paris CAC 40 up 0.64 percent, or 33.68 points, to close at 5,289.86 points.

30 of the 40 selected large companies gained in the day.

Saint-Gobain SA, a building and high-performance material company advanced 2.95 percent, the top gainer of the blue chips. STMicroelectronics, a French-Italian multinational electronics and semiconductor manufacturer rose 2.53 percent, followed by European multinational aerospace and defence corporation Airbus Group, who gained 2.21 percent.

French retail giant Carrefour went down by 1.86 percent, the top loser of the blue chips. French multinational information technology consulting corporation Cap Gemini lost 1.29 percent. French multinational car manufacturer Renault edged down 1.13 percent. Enditem
LISBON, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Port of Leixoes, outside Porto in Portugal's north, is to receive 510 million euros (630 million U.S. dollars)of investment, Portugal's Minister for the Sea, Ana Paula Vitorino, announced on Tuesday.

"The Leixoes Terminal is one of the top ports in the national system," said Vitorino, "and is rightly, therefore, one of the ports where we make the biggest investment."

Vitorino was speaking to local journalists in the town of Matosinhos where the Port of Leixoes is located. She was attending the launch of the Blue School Project, a scheme designed to encourage interest in the sea among school children.

According to Vitorino, 60 percent of the port investment would be financed by the private sector.

"The aim is to not only increase the capacity and efficiency of the existing port terminal, but create a new terminal with the capacity to receive bigger ships," she said.

Besides building a new terminal, there are plans to extend the breakwater and deepen the access channel and turning basin.

Some of these projects are already underway and ought to be finished by 2021. Others are at the engineering study stage or awaiting environmental impact assessments. The whole project should be completed by 2026.

According to figures released by the Mobility and Transport Authority (AMT), the Port of Leixoes enjoyed a record year in 2017, handling 19.47 million tonnes of cargo.

This made it the second busiest port in Portugal, after Sines, some 160 km south of Lisbon, accounting for 20.3 percent of the total volume.

In 2016, the Leixoes terminal closed for six months as its mooring buoy was upgraded. (1 euro = 1.23 U.S. dollars)
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-21 01:30:22|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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AMMAN, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Jordan on Tuesday signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with 23 companies and consortia to implement a 40 million U.S. dollars project to store electricity generated by power plants.

The electrical storage project, which will be located in Ma'an some 220 km south of the capital, will have power capacity of at least 30 megawatts, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said in a statement on Tuesday.

"The project is important to Jordan and it will maintain stability in the electric supply system," said the ministry.

Electricity generated by solar and wind power plants at the end of 2017 reached 500 megawatts and is expected to reach 2,700 megawatts by 2021, according to the MoUs.

Under the MoUs, the companies and consortia have six months to submit their technical and financial offers to the ministry after which the selection will be made.

The project is expected to be completed by mid 2019.

Some of the companies with which the ministry signed the deals are Germany's Innogy SE, UAE's EMA Power Investment Limited, Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power, Netherlands' FRV Solar Holdings IX B.V., China's TBEA Xinjiang Sunoasis Co.,Ltd, Japan's Marubeni Corporation and EP Global Energy Ltd. of Cyprus.

Jordan, which imports about 97 percent of its energy, is implementing an energy strategy to boost renewable energy contribution to the overall energy mix from three percent to 10 percent by 2020.
KAMPALA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Government of Uganda has endorsed a Chinese firm, Xinlan Group in establishing a smartphones factory in Uganda.

Bemanya Twebaze, the chief executive officer Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) said on Tuesday, a delegation from Xinlan Group is expected in Uganda next month to officially ink the 10 million U.S. dollars deal.

The development comes a few weeks after President Museveni directed managers of Uganda Telecom Ltd (UTL), a government telecommunication company to expeditiously finalize talks and ensure that a smart phone factory is quickly established in Uganda.

The plan to establish a cell phone factory in Uganda was hatched in July, 2017 when a government delegation that visited China asked Chinese authorities to give Uganda a comprehensive cyber-security solution, including technical capacity to monitor and curb increasing social media misuse.

"Once the project kicks off, a total of 5,000 Ugandans are expected to get jobs and the project will also help enhance access to internet in the country," Twebaze said.

The Chinese company is expected to use local minerals such as coltan to manufacture the telephones.

Xinlan is the overseas investment arm of the Amoi Group.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-21 02:10:31|Editor: Yurou

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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Front) addresses a United Nations Security Council meeting on the Middle East situation at the UN headquarters in New York, on Feb. 20, 2018. Abbas told the UN Security Council on Tuesday that "Israel shut the door on the two-state solution." (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told the UN Security Council on Tuesday that "Israel shut the door on the two-state solution."

"Israel is acting like a state above the law," Abbas said in his address to the Security Council, adding that the Israeli government caused the failure of all past efforts to reach peace.

The Security Council convened Tuesday for its monthly meeting. The item on the agenda is the Middle East situation, including the "Palestinian question."

Abbas also warned that the "U.S. administration took an unlawful decision" when it decided to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

U.S. President Donald Trump formally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel on December 6, 2017 and set in motion a plan to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which has drawn strong criticism from Arab and European countries.
TIRANA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Albanian government and the Royal Dutch Shell, an international leading hydrocarbon company, signed here on Tuesday an oil exploration deal which foresees major investments in Block 4 in southern Albanian mountain of Shpirag, Berat.

Under this deal, Shell plans investments worth 42.5 million euros in oil and gas explorations over the next seven years while the contract will have duration of 25 years.

The deal was signed by Albania's Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Damian Gjiknuri, and the general supervisor Shell Albania for Shell International Exploration and management, Jon-Henk van Konijnenburg who stressed importance of such development for Albania.

Speaking at a signing ceremony, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama noted that Albania offered resources, transparency and ensured justice between the government and foreign investors.

Rama noted that the presence of a multinational company like Shell in Albania was an additional reason for other international companies to see Albania as a country where everyone else could invest too.

The prime minister highlighted that planned investment were slated to have a major impact on the country's economy.

According to the prime minister, the company also has a social investment plan that includes investment in vocational education, health, road safety and supporting development of small businesses in the area.

The Royal Dutch Shell announced the commencement of the hydrocarbon explorations in Shpirag-4 oil well.

Preliminary data show that cost of new operation is estimated at around 72 million U.S. dollars, with drillings at a depth of over 6,101 meters.

Official statistics show that Albania has oil reserves of 220 million barrels and natural gas reserves of 5.7 billion cubic meters. (1 euro = 1.23 U.S. dollars)
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-21 02:40:38|Editor: Yurou

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The UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process Nikolay Mladenov (Front) addresses a United Nations Security Council meeting on the Middle East situation at the UN headquarters in New York, on Feb. 20, 2018. Mladenov warned on Tuesday that tensions in the Middle East are taking "an increasingly perilous turn." (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process Nikolay Mladenov warned on Tuesday that tensions in the Middle East are taking "an increasingly perilous turn."

Fighting in Syria is increasing, endangering de-escalation arrangements and regional stability, as well as undermining efforts for a political solution. Despite the positive news from Iraq and the defeat of the Islamic State terrorist group, much of the Middle East continues to be in the grips of an ongoing human tragedy of immense proportions, Mladenov told the Security Council.

Against this backdrop and after over a century of hostilities, including 50 years of continued military occupation, Israelis and Palestinians are still no closer to peace, he said.

"The enemies of peace are growing more confident by the day. They see every failure of the forces of moderation as a win for the forces of radicalisation. They believe the political odds are turning in their favor. Day after day they are emboldened."

"None of this will bring us closer to resolving the conflict. None of it will respond to the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to statehood or the Israeli longing for security. It will only drive us further down the road of confrontation, suffering and a one-state reality of perpetual occupation," he said.
NAIROBI, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- A Kenyan economic analyst on Tuesday urged Kenya to avoid short-term debt in order to promote macroeconomic stability.

Churchill Ogutu, Research Analyst at Genghis Capital Investment Bank, told Xinhua in Nairobi that currently 46 percent of government revenue in the current financial year will be devoted to debt repayment and this figure is expected to reach 50 percent next year.

"Kenya should have preference of long-term debts in order to reduce the percentage of government revenues that goes to debt repayments so that more resources are devoted for development expenditure," Ogutu said.

He said that the average maturity of the country's domestic debt stands at less than seven years.

"This means that more public funds need to be set aside to settle debts at the expense of other priorities such as education and health," he added.

The research analyst noted that short-term commercial debt that was virtually nonexistent prior to the 2011/2012 financial year has gathered momentum in recent financial years.

"More and more debt is being contracted from commercial entities and this poses significant refinancing risk," Ogutu said.

He noted that with the classification of Kenya as a middle-income country, concessional borrowings from World Bank will be on slightly stringent conditions.

"Kenya therefore needs be to employ innovative methods in order to access cheap loans for its development needs," he added.
ZAGREB, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The latest data released by Croatian Bureau of Statistics showed only 36,647 children were born in the country last year, the lowest in the last 100 years, daily newspaper Jutarnji list reported on Tuesday.

This is the first time the number fell below 37,000, which is almost twice less than in 1960 when 76,156 children were born.

The southeastern European country now has approximately 4.16 million citizens.

"There are two reasons for such tragic numbers. First is the inadequate population policy and the second is the growing emigration of the younger population," demographer Andjelko Akrap from Zagreb's Faculty of Economics and Business told Xinhua on Tuesday.

He warned that the economic system in Croatia could collapse because of the negative demographic trend.

"The government must do more than it is doing right now. Current measures are not enough. It has to create security for its citizens and such conditions for people that would keep them in the country," Akrap explained.

According to Croatian Bureau of Statistics, 36,436 Croatian citizens migrated from the country last year.

The state secretary for demography at the Ministry of Demography, Family, Youth and Social Policy, Marin Strmota, resigned on Tuesday in the middle of a news conference after Minister of Demography Nada Murganic presented new demographic measures that journalists regarded the same as the one that was presented three months ago.

"I, as a demographer, don't believe these measures are enough," the state secretary said and announced his resignation, to the surprise of the minister.
MOGADISHU, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The United States military confirmed Tuesday no American soldier was killed or injured in southern Somalia as claimed by the Islamist militant group, Al-Shabaab.

The U.S. Africa Command (Africom), which oversees American troops on the continent, dismissed the report as incorrect that the insurgents killed the American soldier on the outskirts of Kismayo during a gun fight early Tuesday.

"We are aware of the reports, but they are incorrect. No U.S military were killed or injured in Somalia, as alleged in the reports," Africom spokesperson Samantha Reho told Xinhua.

The militants through their radio station, Andalus had reported that the American soldier was killed in a gun battle that took place outside Kismayo town on Tuesday morning.

The allegations came amid intensified security operation by the African Union peacekeeping mission (AMISOM) backed by Somalia National Army (SNA) on Al-Shabaab controlled areas in the Lower Shabelle region, destroying several militant bases, checkpoints and explosives including an FM station run by Al-Shabaab.

The allied forces have ramped up offensives against the militants as the African Union forces continue with the drawdown which started with 500 troops last December.
TRIPOLI, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Charge D'affaires Wang Qimin on Monday reaffirmed China's commitment to a comprehensive political settlement of the division in Libya.

Wang made his remarks at a press conference following a meeting with Libyan Foreign Minister Mohamed Sayala in the capital Tripoli.

He highlighted the importance of the upcoming Libyan elections to complete the transitional phase in the war-torn country.

He added that the Libyan people should be allowed to shape their future, as they're capable of solving the current difficulties and crisis.

"I have discussed with the foreign minister the bilateral relations and close cooperation between Libya and China, especially as our relationship is 40 years old and has developed very well over the past few years," the Chinese diplomat said.

He also expressed the hope that the situation in Libya would improve, so that the Chinese embassy can return to Tripoli, and the related Chinese companies can complete their projects in Libya which have been suspended since 2011.

"We will follow the situation in Libya closely. When the time is right, the embassy will return to its permanent headquarters," Wang said, when asked about the date of the return of the Chinese embassy to Libya.

For his part, Sayala announced that he had accepted the invitation to attend the Chinese-Arab foreign ministers meeting in Beijing in July.

He said that Prime Minister Fayez Serraj had also accepted the invitation to attend the China-Africa summit to be held in Beijing in September.

Wang is the first senior Chinese official who has visited Libya since the Chinese embassy left the country in 2014 due to the armed conflict.

On Monday, he met with Abdurrahman Swehli, head of the Libyan Higher Council of State, in Tripoli to discuss the latest political developments in Libya as well as future cooperation between the two countries.
TIRANA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Albanian President Ilir Meta declared Tuesday that he had refused the government's request to authorize continuation of negotiations with Greece over the two countries' Ionian Sea maritime border.

Speaking at a news conference, President Meta told reporters here that he needed more transparency and information on what and how the Albanian government would negotiate.

According to the president, the government's request didn't clearly define the object of negotiations for which the authorization was requested.

"Every solution needs to comply with the principles of the Constitution of the Republic of Albania and to uphold the interests of the state," Meta said.

Albania signed an agreement with Greece in 2009 after two years of negotiations, but the Albanian Constitutional Court annulled it in 2010 after finding it in breach of the constitution and international norms.

The negotiating group didn't get the president's authorization for talks was the reason that the agreement was turned down by the Court.

Therefore, the current government sent a letter to President Meta asking for his authorization to continue the talks, which could lead to an agreement.

The delimitation of sea border is deemed by both sides as an unresolved issue. During the last year, Albanian authorities and their Greek counterpart have intensified efforts to reach a deal.

But the renewal of talks has been under pressure, as Albanian opposition and some organizations here have been accusing Greece of trying to take several miles of sea from Albania.

Following the president's refusal, Albanian ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs reacted, saying that it had already received the president's letter and that it would reply soon in an institutional way.

The ministry further stressed that the process which it had started with Greece was a complex process, therefore it required maturity and institutionalism.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-21 03:20:46|Editor: ZD

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Iranian rescuers search for the wreckage of a passenger plane that crashed on Sunday at Dena mountain, central Iran, on Feb. 19, 2018. Iran found the wreckage of the crashed Aseman Airlines ATR-72 plane on Monday and received condolences from Chinese, Russian and United Nations (UN) leaders for the victims of the incident and their families. (Xinhua/Arya Jafari)



TEHRAN, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Iran on Tuesday located the wreckage of the ATR-72 passenger plane which crashed into the mountains in central Iran two days ago.

Morteza Salimi, chief of Rescue and Welfare Organization, said that the debris of the plane was spotted near Nogol area on the 4,000-meter heights of Dena Mountain, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Ramezan Sharif, spokesman of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), also said the IRGC helicopters found the wreckage on Tuesday morning.

Based on the photos taken by the IRGC helicopters, the logo of the crashed plane was clearly visible on a broken piece, Sharif said.

The incident occurred at latitude 30 degrees 42 minutes 8 seconds north and longtitude 51 degrees 41 minutes 93 seconds east, Sharif added.

Official reports have confirmed that all 66 on board, including six crew members, were killed in the air crash.

Rescue teams have been dispatched to the area, Sharif said, advising locals to avoid moving to the site of the incident.

Meanwhile, the state IRIB TV said some 100 mountaineers were climbing to the location of the accident.

A helicopter pilot who spotted the debris said the plane crashed close to the tip of the mountain, IRIB TV reported.

On Tuesday, Isfahan Province's emergency center said the mobile phone of a passenger had transmitted signals from a location near Mount Dena where helicopters did not manage to reach the previous day due to bad weather.

Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi, Iran's minister of information and communications technology, also confirmed that the mobile phone of one of the passengers was on after the crash and was sending signals from an area near the village of Kohangan.

An official of Iran Civil Aviation Organization said the pilot did not declare an emergency situation and the plane's Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) did not transmit signals after the incident.

After locating the crashed plane, the search teams of the army, IRGC and Red Crescent Society started searching for the bodies of the passengers and the plane's black box in the area, Salimi told IRIB.

So far, 30 bodies had been found, the IRIB TV reported.

Required equipments were sent to the mountain top to collect bodies, said Mohsen Mehralizadeh, the governor of Isfahan Province.

The professional mountaineers will carry the corpses down on Wednesday as it is impossible for the helicopters to land in the area, he added.

Mehralizadeh also said the operation might continue until Friday due to the rough and dangerous geographical condition of the mountainous terrain.

In addition, meteorological reports said the weather condition would be unstable in the next few hours and might turn worse in the following days.

Over the past two days, the international community, including Chinese, Russian, Turkish and UN leaders, has offered condolences to the victims and their families.

The Iran Aseman Airlines plane took off from the capital Tehran at 8:00 a.m. local time (0430 GMT) on Sunday and disappeared from the radar screen 50 minutes later in an area which is about 22.4 km from its destination Yasuj city.

Iranian aviation officials said the cause of the crash will be examined and announced after the black box is recovered.
VIENNA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese tourists visiting Austria in 2017 spent the most on shopping compared to other foreign guests, according to a Der Standard report.

Citing new figures from Premier Tax Free Austria, the report said Chinese visitors spent an average of 555 euros (685 U.S. dollars), a 32-euro increase over 2016.

The average spent by all foreign guests on shopping was 486 euros.

Chinese shoppers most commonly purchased items such as watches, jewelry, clothes and cosmetics, as well as local products.

Guests from Russia and Switzerland were the second and third biggest spenders respectively.

Premier Tax Free Austria said the positive trend in money spent by tourists for 2017 was anticipated to carry over into the current year, noting that spending by Chinese guests would continue to be an important measure in assessing the state of the industry. (1 euro = 1.23 U.S. dollars)
BUDAPEST, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Hungarian parliament on Tuesday adopted a resolution to support Poland in its feud against the European Commission.

The resolution, presented to the parliament by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz party, was adopted by 114 votes in favor and 13 against.

On Dec. 20 last year, the European Commission took an unprecedented step by triggering Article 7, the first time in its history, and launched an unprecedented censure against Poland over a judicial reform dispute.

"The Commission has today concluded that there is a clear risk of a serious breach of the rule of law in Poland," the European Commission said in a statement.

Dubbed so-called "nuclear option", Article 7 has never been triggered against any EU member state before. The procedure could eventually lead to Poland losing its voting rights in the 28-member bloc.

At issue in Poland was what critics described as two years of legislation which put the judiciary under the control of the ruling Law and Justice party, compromising independent courts and the rule of law.

"Within a period of two years, a significant number of laws have been adopted -- 13 in total -- which put in serious risk the independence of the judiciary and the separation of powers," European Commission vice president Frans Timmermans told reporters in Brussels.

On the same day, the Hungarian government dismissed the European Commission's decision, saying Hungary would veto any EU's sanctions on Poland in the future.

In its resolution adopted on Tuesday, the Hungarian parliament said it considers the European Commission's announcement against Poland as being inadmissible.

The European Union, according to the resolution, is a community empowered to establish international law and treaty on its on behalf, as defined by the founding member states, therefore, the procedure under Article 7 can not be an instrument of political witch hunt.

"The Hungarian Parliament sees a dangerous precedent in the proceedings against Poland, as by its decision the European Commission goes beyond the mandate of the guardian of the treaties as laid down in the EU Statutes," it said.

"Therefore, the parliament calls on the government of Hungary to stand by Poland, and let it preserve its legally guaranteed rights under the Treaty, and also demands the government to refrain from supporting any proposals aimed to limit the exercise of Poland's EU membership rights," according to the resolution.
A wounded child is seen in a hospital in Damascus, capital of Syria, on Feb.20, 2018. Tens of people have been taken to the hospitals Tuesday due to the intensified rebels' mortar attack that targeted several parts of Damascus as part of an ongoing military showdown between the rebels and the government forces. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani)

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process Nikolay Mladenov warned on Tuesday that tensions in the Middle East are taking "an increasingly perilous turn."

Fighting in Syria is increasing, endangering de-escalation arrangements and regional stability, as well as undermining efforts for a political solution. Despite the positive news from Iraq and the defeat of the Islamic State terrorist group, much of the Middle East continues to be in the grips of an ongoing human tragedy of immense proportions, Mladenov told the Security Council.

A picture taken on Feb. 20, 2018 shows smoke plumes rising following a reported regime air strike in the rebel-held town of Hamouria, in the besieged Eastern Ghouta region on the outskirts of the capital Damascus. (Xinhua/AFP)

Against this backdrop and after over a century of hostilities, including 50 years of continued military occupation, Israelis and Palestinians are still no closer to peace, he said.

"The enemies of peace are growing more confident by the day. They see every failure of the forces of moderation as a win for the forces of radicalisation. They believe the political odds are turning in their favor. Day after day they are emboldened."

Israeli border policemen stand on a road during a protest against U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, near the Jewish settlement of Beit El, near the West Bank city of Ramallah Dec. 15, 2017. (Xinhua/REUTERS)

"None of this will bring us closer to resolving the conflict. None of it will respond to the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to statehood or the Israeli longing for security. It will only drive us further down the road of confrontation, suffering and a one-state reality of perpetual occupation," he said.
People get a wounded man into ambulance in Damascus, capital of Syria, on Feb.20, 2018. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani)

MOSCOW, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Russia's Foreign Ministry admitted Tuesday that several dozens of Russian citizens were wounded in "a recent clash" in Syria without specifying the exact location and other details of received injuries.

"They have been provided with assistance for the return to Russia where, to our knowledge, they are receiving treatment in various medical institutions," a ministry statement said.

On Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said five Russian nationals were preliminarily confirmed to have been killed in Syria in the clash with the U.S.-led coalition.

The ministry denied the relation of the killed and the wounded with the regular Russian armed forces.

"There are Russian citizens in Syria, who went there on their own accord and with different goals," the statement said, adding that it was not the task of the ministry to assess the legitimacy of such decisions.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement earlier this month that a pro-Syrian government militia unit conducted a reconnaissance and search operation on Feb. 7 in the vicinity of an oil refinery in the province of Deir al-Zour to identify and destroy a bandit group responsible for shelling government troop positions, and came under fire from the U.S.-led coalition and its local allies.

The coalition claimed that it carried out airstrikes against "Syrian pro-regime forces" that launched an "unprovoked attack" on Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces' headquarters and killed an estimated 100 militia.

Russia started participating in the anti-terrorist operation in Syria in September 2015 at the invitation of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, predominantly with missile strikes in support of the Syrian army.

The military began a partial withdrawal from Syria in December on orders by President Vladimir Putin, soon after Syrian troops completed the destruction of the main Islamic State terrorist forces in the war-torn country.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-21 03:40:54|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Kenya will soon begin mapping her mineral wealth through an airborne mineral survey so as to create a scientific data base for extractives in an effort to strengthen the mining industry, a government official said on Tuesday.

John Munyes, the new Cabinet Secretary of Ministry of Mining and Petroleum, said the country's mining sector has remained largely unexploited due to a lack of updated information on the size of the country's mineral wealth.

"Kenya needs to know the exact size of its mineral wealth so that it can become a mineral hub," Munyes told journalists in Nairobi when he took over the ministry from his predecessor Dan Kazungu who has been appointed ambassador to Tanzania.

According to the ministry, there are five mineral mining blocks in the country-- the Coast, Eastern Western Northern and Rift mining blocks.

A 2017 survey released by Fraser Institute, a Canadian research organization, shows Kenya moved 16 places up to position 86 from 102 as a mining destination.

Currently the country's mineral wealth includes limestone, soda ash, diatomite, fluorspar, zinc, and gypsum. Recently, the country discovered oil deposits in Kerio Valley in the northern Kenya, according to the ministry.

Munyes promised to work with proactive people in the industry to sensitize communities on different matters related to mining, urging legislators including government officials to take part in the sensitization.

Among Munyes' priorities is to empower small scale miners and artisans so that they can contribute effectively to the industry. According to the government official, communities play a big role in the mining sector.

Munyes also called on Parliament to approve the Mineral Royalty Fund Bill so that communities in mineral rich counties such as Kwale in the coastal region can receive the benefits of their natural resources.

He noted that in Kwale, several mining activities are occurring including mining of titanium while prospecting of Niobium is also on-going.

Citing lack of training and skills for youth interested in mining, the new cabinet secretary promised to facilitate capacity building to ensure the country produces more skilled personnel to drive the sector.

On his part, Kazungu urged him to continue with the reforms and reorganize the ministry for better performance. Enditem
YEREVAN, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Trade turnover between Armenia and Russia has increased by over 26 percent in 2017, Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan announced Tuesday.

He made the remarks while meeting with Co-Chair of the Armenia-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation, Russia's Transport Minister, Maxim Sokolov, according to a press release from the Armenian government's website.

Armenia has met all its economic targets for 2017 with a remarkable 44.6 percent increase in exports, 19.1 percent increase in imports and observed growth in almost every economic realm, according to Karapetyan.

"In January of 2018, we have a 10.2 percent increase of economic activities in relation to the same period of last year," said the Armenian Prime Minister.

"We are in a development trend now and we are very much interested in our Russian friends and colleagues partaking in it," he added.

According to the Russia's transport minister, the relations between Armenia and Russia have always been on a high level and they have been reflected in economic aspects as well.

"We link this not only to the steady development of both Armenian and Russian economies, but also to the deepening of integration within the Eurasian Economic Union," Sokolov highlighted.

During the meeting, the parties have agreed to hold regular and active meetings of the intergovernmental commission.

Armenia has been a full member of the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union since January 2015.
HARARE, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The visiting African Union Commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat on Tuesday concluded his three-day visit to Zimbabwe and said the AU will offer technical support to help Zimbabwe conduct polls set for mid this year.

"The AU stands ready to support Zimbabwe in the electoral process. A team from the AU will be coming to Zimbabwe to work with the organization responsible for elections," Mahamat said at a joint press conference with foreign affairs minister Sibusiso Moyo.

He said the AU will mobilize partners to offer financial and technical support for the elections which come after a peaceful transition of power last November.

Former President Robert Mugabe resigned in November last year after a military intervention and was replaced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Mahamat hailed the peaceful transition and said as part of its responsibilities, the AU will offer technical support to the transitional government to ensure peace and stability in the country.

"The transition was publicly supported by the people of Zimbabwe so we are here to support the authorities," he said.

During the visit, Mahamat, who was accompanied by the AU commissioner for political affairs Minata Samate Cessouma, met Mnangagwa, some cabinet ministers and paid a courtesy call on Mugabe. Cessouma held discussions with officials from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

Mahamat said he exchanged views with Mugabe who explained to him the reasons why he resigned after 37 years in power. Mugabe, he said, told him that he had resigned to ensure peace and development of Zimbabwe.

Mahamat said he had taken stock of the situation in Zimbabwe as well as assessing the country's preparedness to hold the upcoming elections.

"I am generally satisfied with the visit and discussions we have had and also the authorities of Zimbabwe have committed themselves to various actions to open up the political and democratic space to ensure that free, fair, transparent and credible elections are organized in the country," he said.

Moyo said the AU chair noted that the successful holding of free and fair elections would help end Zimbabwe's isolation and unlock assistance from the international community.
ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The United Kingdom said on Tuesday it's disappointed with the decision of Ethiopian government to impose martial law to combat sporadic protests and rising ethnic conflicts.

Ethiopia on Friday imposed martial law for a period of six months after a crippling strike last week in Ethiopia's central Oromia regional state and increasing reports of ethnic clashes across the country.

Harriett Baldwin, UK Minister for Africa, said the decision to impose martial law discourages foreign investors and risks reversal of Ethiopia's recent moves towards reform.

"The institution of martial law sends a discouraging signal to the international community and foreign investors. We strongly hope that the announcement does not signal a reversal in Ethiopia's recent moves towards reform, and that it will be in place for as short a time as possible," said the statement from the minister.

"In implementing martial law, we urge the Ethiopian government to ensure that human rights and the constitution are respected. Widespread use of detention powers and internet blockages should be avoided," further said the statement.

The statement nevertheless hailed Ethiopia's efforts at political reform and orderly process of political change.

"We welcome the commitment to an orderly process of political change in line with the constitution, as well as the Ethiopian government's repeated support for a continued reform process," said the statement.

It also assured the Ethiopian government of the UK's long-term commitment to the East African country and support to Addis Ababa's progressive reform agenda.

The UK and Ethiopia have diplomatic relationship that goes back to 1896 and the UK is one of the largest development partners to Ethiopia in the EU.

Private British investment in manufacturing and renewable energy sector is rising rapidly in Ethiopia, one of Africa's fastest growing economies.

The UK also has close security and military cooperation with Ethiopia, especially in efforts to combat terror groups such as the Somali militant group Al-Shabaab.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-21 04:06:02|Editor: Yurou

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Palestinians wait for travel permits to cross into Egypt through the Rafah border crossing, in the southern Gaza Strip on Feb. 21, 2018. Egypt decided to open the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip for four days starting from Wednesday, the Palestinian embassy in Cairo said in a statement on Feb. 20, 2018. (Xinhua/Wissam Nassar)

CAIRO, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Egypt decided to open the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip for four days starting from Wednesday, the Palestinian embassy in Cairo said in a statement Tuesday.

"The Egyptian authorities decided to open Rafah border crossing for four days, starting from Wednesday and ending on Saturday, for the travel and return of Palestinian citizens in both directions," the statement said.

It is the second time for Egypt to open the border crossing in 2018, after it kept it open for three days from Feb. 7, during which Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh crossed the border to travel to Cairo for talks with Egyptian officials.

Egypt opens the crossing for a few days every month or two for stranded travellers, including Palestinian patients seeking overseas treatment, students studying abroad, people with work permits or residencies in other countries, people with relatives outside Gaza and Palestinians with foreign passports.

The Gaza Strip has three major border crossings linking it to the outside world. Israel controls two of them - one for the movement of people and another for commercial activities - while Egypt controls the Rafah crossing.

The seaside enclave has been besieged by Israel since 2007, after Islamic Hamas movement, which overwhelmingly won the parliamentary elections a year earlier, routed forces loyal to the Palestinian Authority and seized control of the territory by force.
The 1,000th freight train linking China and Europe this year departs from the Yiwu West Railway Station in Yiwu, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 13, 2017. (Xinhua/Gong Xianming)

KIEV, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine and the European Union (EU) will jointly finance the "Go highway" project, which would establish a new transport corridor on the Silk Road, Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan said on Tuesday.

"The EU is ready to partially finance our 'Go highway' project that will connect the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea," Omelyan told reporters after meeting with Henrik Hololei, the European Commission's director-general for mobility and transport.

Last year, Ukraine has launched the project to connect four Black Sea ports in southern Ukraine and two Baltic Sea ports in northern Poland.

The new transport corridor stretching for 1,746 km will cost about 2 billion euros (about 2.4 billion U.S. dollars). It is set to be completed within three years.

The Ukrainian Infrastructure Ministry said earlier that the project will boost Ukraine-Europe trade by reducing the cargo delivery costs.

According to the ministry, it will also contribute to developing China-EU trade and to strengthening Ukraine's transit positions on the China-proposed modern Silk Road.
ROME, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- On a global level, 2017 was the year of fake news and Italy was no exception, national communications regulator AgCom warned in a report out Tuesday.

"Worldwide, 2017 was the year of the emergence of pathological phenomena such as fake news, and ...the increasing spread of disinformation through online platforms," the report said.

AgCom found that while a majority of Italians still rely on traditional media such as TV, radio and newspapers, a growing number of people are turning to social media for information.

The report, based on a 2017 survey of 14,000 people, found that 80 percent of respondents check the news every day. Of these, 70 percent rely on TV, 42 percent go on the internet, 25 percent turn to the radio, and 17 percent read a newspaper on a daily basis.

Of the Italians who go online, a growing segment is relying on so-called "algorithmic sources" -- such as search engines, blogs, and social media -- rather than consulting established news organizations, according to the report.

That segment rose from 62 percent in June 2015 to 70 percent in April 2017, AgCom found.

Relying on online algorithms for news is dangerous because it leads to "pathological forms such as polarization, which sparks the formation of ideological bubbles on the web leading to the spread of fake news, hate speech and disinformation", the report said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-21 04:36:13|Editor: Yurou

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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (C, Front) addresses a UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East situation at the UN headquarters in New York, on Feb. 20, 2018. Antonio Guterres reiterated the UN's commitment to supporting the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday reiterated UN's commitment to supporting the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"I am here to reiterate my full personal commitment, and the commitment of the United Nations, to supporting the parties in their efforts to achieve a two-state solution," he said while addressing a UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East.

The UN chief expressed the hope that the solution would result in "two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders."

He also hoped that the two-state solution would address "all final status issues on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions, international law and mutual agreements."

"There is no Plan B," Guterres stressed.

The UN chief warned that after decades of support, "the global consensus for a two-state solution could be eroding."

"Obstacles on the ground have the potential to create an irreversible one-state reality," he said.

"It is simply impossible to square the circle of a one-state reality with the legitimate national, historic and democratic aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians," said the UN chief.

Speaking of the situation in Gaza, the secretary-general said that "conditions for Palestinians in Gaza, which has been under the control of Hamas for a decade, are dire."

Shortfalls in the funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) "are a matter of international concern," he said.

The secretary-general called on the international community to step up its generous support.

"At this moment of grave consequence, I appeal for effective concerted action by all parties. It is more important than ever," he said.

The Security Council convened Tuesday for its monthly meeting, mainly focusing on the Middle East situation, including the "Palestinian question."
A relative of a 16-year-old Palestinian cries during his funeral at the village of Bureen near the West Bank city of Nablus Jan. 12, 2018. (Xinhua/REUTERS)

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process Nikolay Mladenov on Tuesday voiced concern over the escalation of violence between Israelis and Palestinians.

"As the peace process falters and the gulf between the two sides widens, Palestinians and Israelis continue to suffer the violent consequences on the ground," Mladenov told the Security Council in a briefing.

Seven Palestinians were killed by Israeli security forces in various incidents across the occupied Palestinian territory and one Israeli civilian was stabbed to death by a Palestinian in the West Bank, he said.

Three of the Palestinians died during violent clashes with security forces. One of them, a 16-year-old, was shot near Ramallah. He was the fourth child killed in such circumstances since the beginning of the year, said Mladenov.

Palestinian demonstrators take cover during clashes with Israeli troops, near the border with Israel in the southern Gaza Strip Feb. 16, 2018. (Xinhua/REUTERS)

"I once again emphasize that the use of force must be calibrated and that lethal force should only be used as a last resort, with any resulting fatalities properly investigated by the authorities. I urge Israeli security forces to exercise maximum restraint to avoid casualties under such circumstances."

He called on all sides to reject violence, condemn terror, ensure accountability and work to reduce tensions.

Mladenov also expressed concern over the "dangerous security incidents" in and around Gaza.

On Saturday, four Israeli soldiers were wounded by an improvised explosive device placed at the Gaza fence. This was followed by Israeli airstrikes on some 18 Hamas targets, while Palestinian militants fired two rockets into Israel -- one causing damage to a house. Two Palestinian teens were killed by Israeli security forces while reportedly attempting to approach the fence, said Mladenov.

Prior to this latest flare-up during the course of the past month, three more rockets were fired toward Israel, with two Israeli retaliatory airstrikes, all without injuries, he said.

"I encourage the international community to join the United Nations in calling on militants in Gaza to refrain from such provocations and end the building of tunnels and the firing of rockets toward Israel. Such actions, and the response they elicit, only risk the lives of Palestinians and Israelis, undermine peace efforts and increase the likelihood of another devastating conflict."

Mladenov highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. "Month after month, we have raised the alarm about the humanitarian, economic and ecological calamity under way. It bears repeating that the situation is unsustainable."

A Palestinian girl fills bottles with drinking water from public taps at the al-Nusirat refugee camp in the Gaza strip, on Feb. 10, 2018. Water situation has been deteriorated since Israel imposed a blockade on the Gaza strip. (Xinhua/Wissam Nassar)

Continuing power cuts of up to 20 hours per day severely undermine the provision of basic services. Without additional immediate fuel deliveries, the situation could deteriorate with dramatic consequences, he said.

As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza escalates, the implementation of the Egyptian-brokered intra-Palestinian agreement has stalled, he said.

"It is time to break this cycle. It is time to return Gaza back to the control of the legitimate Palestinian Authority, for there can be no Palestinian state without Palestinian unity," said Mladenov. "Those who stand in the way of reconciliation hurt the Palestinian national cause and the price will be paid by generations of ordinary people."

He urged the international community not to give up on support for the moderate Palestinian leadership or on building up the institutions that will increase the chances of success.

"Our window of opportunity is closing and, if we do not seize it quickly, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be engulfed in the whirlwind of religious radicalization that remains present in the region," he warned.
LISBON, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Portuguese government is to spend one million euros (1.22 million U.S. dollars) on destroying decommissioned munitions and explosives, the Ministry of Defense announced on Tuesday.

The disused arsenal belongs to the Portuguese armed forces and is in a state that represents a "high degree of risk and degradation," according to a ministry dispatch seen by the Lusa Portuguese News Agency.

The materials will be destroyed using methods that "fulfill legal requirements and regulations concerning safety and environmental risks, and protect the health of workers handling the materials".

The task will be performed by the Platform for National Defense Industries (idD), which was awarded the commission without recourse to public tender. The government has previously described the idD as the only entity in Portugal with the operational capacity to perform such work.

The budget was agreed following consultation between the Ministry of Defense and the idD.

The exact amount budgeted is 975, 523 euros, plus VAT. This is marginally less than the 975,524 euros plus VAT agreed by the ministry and the idD in 2017. In 2016, the bill came in at 975, 538 euros, according to the Dinheiro Vivo website.
KIGALI, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda's Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente Tuesday said the government is committed to ending malnutrition in the country by putting more effort in various initiatives.

Ngirente said this while appearing in the senate to brief lawmakers on the government measures to fight malnutrition. The senate summoned Ngirente after senators' country tour showing that malnutrition is one of the main problems in rural areas.

"We are working hard to end this problem and we will continue to do so. The National Early Childhood Development Program addresses a lot of challenges that we faced in fighting malnutrition, especially coordination," said Ngirente.

The initiatives include distributing free fortified flour to vulnerable children and expectant mothers, engaging community health workers to mobilize parents to treat malnourished children and awareness campaigns on breastfeeding, which form an integral part of the National Early Childhood Development Program, said Ngirente.

Other initiatives he recounted include maintaining focus on cattle stocking program dubbed one-cow-per poor family, educating parents on how to prepare balanced died for their children and hygiene campaign.

Ngirente also urged Rwandans, especially parents on the need for collective efforts to end child malnutrition.

The prevalence rate of stunting stands at 38 percent among children under five in Rwanda, according to the statistics of the ministry of agriculture.

There is a significant burden of malnutrition in 140 countries across the globe, calling for more actions if the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals are to be met, according to the Global Nutrition Report 2017 conducted by Development Initiatives, an international development organization.
ALGIERS, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The lower house of the Algerian Parliament on Tuesday adopted a bill on electronic commerce, local media reported.

In order to ensure the security of e-commerce process, the bill defines not only the obligations of both e-suppliers and e-customers, but also the provisions that should be included in the e-contract between the two parties.

It also sets conditions for conducting cross-border e-transactions, stipulating that some services, materials and goods should be prohibited from being purchased online, such as gambling, lotteries, alcoholic drinks, tobacco, medicines, products infringing on intellectual property rights, as well as those that may harm national security.

Meanwhile, fines will be imposed on the offenders, depending on the nature of the offenses, as specified in the bill.

Last week, Algerian Minister of Post, Information and Communication Technologies and Digital Economy Iman Houda Faraoun said his country won't open the e-market to foreign e-commerce companies, citing concerns over national economy and sovereignty.

"We recognize the weak control of technology in Algeria, and this is a reality, but we will not sell the country to foreign traders over suspicious suggestions, which will likely jeopardize national sovereignty and economy," said Faraoun when answering lawmakers' questions about the e-commerce bill.

Having been approved by the government and the lower house, the e-commerce bill will now be submitted to the upper house of the parliament for approval before going into force.

Once published in the Official Journal, natural and legal persons already engaged in e-commerce will have six months to comply with the new provisions.

Experts say the e-commerce bill would improve the economic environment in the North African nation by increasing the contribution of sectors such as tourism, handicraft, information technologies and communication, and creating more job opportunities.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-21 05:06:26|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday agreed on the importance of carrying forward the Middle East peace process and underlined their shared commitment to the two-state solution as the only viable option to sustainable peace.

In a readout of a meeting between Guterres and Abbas, Guterres' press service said the UN chief expressed his concern about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and the funding shortfall of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees as a result of a dramatic steep cut by U.S. President Donald Trump in his country's contribution to the agency's funding.

Guterres stressed the importance of continued humanitarian and development assistance to the Palestinian people from the international community.

Abbas was at UN Headquarters in New York for a monthly debate at the Security Council over the Middle East situation.

In his speech, Abbas called for the convening of an international conference by mid-2018 that would result in the recognition of Palestine's statehood within the 1967 borders.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-21 05:31:30|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday mourned the death of Ambassador Necton Mhura of Malawi to the United Nations.

Calling Mhura "a skilled diplomat and a person of great learning," Guterres offered condolences to the late ambassador's family and loved ones as well as to the people and government of Malawi.

Mhura, 61, died of cancer on Monday in the U.S. state of New Jersey, a spokeswoman for the Malawi Mission to the United Nations, told Xinhua.

"Mhura will be remembered for working tirelessly for the universal goals of peace, human rights and sustainable development," the UN chief said. "He did so with inspiring dedication, as demonstrated by his active role as vice chair of the Group of Least Developed Countries. His loss will be keenly felt by peers and colleagues in New York."

Mhura represented the Republic of Malawi at the United Nations since September 2016. Funeral arrangements were not immediately known.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-21 05:36:32|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Nikolay Mladenov, on Tuesday voiced concern over the escalation of violence between Israelis and Palestinians.

"As the peace process falters and the gulf between the two sides widens, Palestinians and Israelis continue to suffer the violent consequences on the ground," Mladenov told the Security Council in a briefing.

Seven Palestinians were killed by Israeli security forces in various incidents across the occupied Palestinian territory and one Israeli civilian was stabbed to death by a Palestinian in the West Bank, he said.

Three of the Palestinians killed died during violent clashes with security forces. One of them, a 16-year-old, was shot near Ramallah. He was the fourth child killed in such circumstances since the beginning of the year, said Mladenov.

"I once again emphasize that the use of force must be calibrated and that lethal force should only be used as a last resort, with any resulting fatalities properly investigated by the authorities. I urge Israeli security forces to exercise maximum restraint to avoid casualties under such circumstances."

He called on all sides to reject violence, condemn terror, ensure accountability and work to reduce tensions.

Mladenov also expressed concern over the "dangerous security incidents" in and around the Gaza Strip.

On Saturday, four Israeli soldiers were wounded by an improvised explosive device placed at the Gaza fence. This was followed by Israeli airstrikes on some 18 Hamas targets, while Palestinian militants fired two rockets into Israel -- one causing damage to a house. Two Palestinian teens were killed by Israeli security forces while reportedly attempting to approach the fence, said Mladenov.

Prior to this latest flare-up during the course of the past month, three more rockets were fired toward Israel, with two Israeli retaliatory airstrikes, all without injuries, he said.

"I encourage the international community to join the United Nations in calling on militants in Gaza to refrain from such provocations and end the building of tunnels and the firing of rockets toward Israel. Such actions, and the response they elicit, only risk the lives of Palestinians and Israelis, undermine peace efforts and increase the likelihood of another devastating conflict."

Mladenov highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. "Month after month, we have raised the alarm about the humanitarian, economic and ecological calamity under way. It bears repeating that the situation is unsustainable."

Continuing power cuts of up to 20 hours per day severely undermine the provision of basic services. Without additional immediate fuel deliveries, the situation could deteriorate with dramatic consequences, he said.

As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza escalates, the implementation of the Egyptian-brokered intra-Palestinian agreement has stalled, he said. "Absent immediate steps to address the humanitarian crisis and to revive the economy, we will face a total institutional and economic collapse in Gaza. This is not an alarmist prediction, this is a fact."

For a decade, 2 million people have lived in Gaza under the full control of Hamas with crippling Israeli closures and movement and access restrictions. Throughout this period the international community has provided aid and humanitarian assistance to alleviate the suffering and to rebuild what was destroyed in three devastating conflicts, he noted.

"It is time to break this cycle. It is time to return Gaza back to the control of the legitimate Palestinian Authority, for there can be no Palestinian state without Palestinian unity," said Mladenov. "Those who stand in the way of reconciliation hurt the Palestinian national cause and the price will be paid by generations of ordinary people."

He urged the international community not to give up on support for the moderate Palestinian leadership or on building up the institutions that will increase the chances of success. "Our window of opportunity is closing and, if we do not seize it quickly, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be engulfed in the whirlwind of religious radicalization that remains present in the region," he warned.

He reported that Israel's illegal settlement-related activities continued unabated in the past month. In response to last month's killing of a resident of the illegal Havat Gilad outpost, Israel on Feb. 4 approved the establishment of a new settlement to absorb its residents. "I strongly denounce the expansion of the settlement enterprise as compensation for Israeli deaths. Settlement construction is not a morally appropriate way to respond to murder."

On Feb. 12, Israel also advanced two settlement plans for some 85 housing units near Bethlehem, he noted. "I reiterate the long-standing UN position that all settlement-related activities are illegal under international law and are a substantial obstacle to peace. And I call on Israel to cease and reverse such policies."

Demolition and seizure of Palestinian-owned structures also continued, with 31 structures affected, resulting in 33 Palestinians displaced, he said. Particularly concerning was the demolition of two donor-funded classrooms serving Palestinian children in the Bedouin community of Abu Nuwar. This is the sixth demolition or confiscation in the school since February 2016, said Mladenov.

Overall, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 44 schools in the occupied West Bank are currently at risk of demolition, he said. "I urge Israel to cease this practice."

Maintaining support for Palestinian refugees is fundamental to the pursuit of peace and stability in the region, he said.

"I reiterate my ongoing concern over UNRWA's sizeable funding shortfall despite the welcome flexibility of some member states in accelerating the disbursement of their funding commitments," he said, referring to a sudden cut by the United States in its contribution to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
HOUSTON, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The consumption and exports of ethane in the United States will increase over the next two years, and by the end of 2019, the product may reach China's market, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said Tuesday.

According to the EIA, the Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) projected that growth in U.S. consumption of ethane in the petrochemical industry would exceed increases in the combined consumption of all other petroleum and liquid products, such as motor gasoline, distillate and jet fuel.

The agency also projected that ethane exports would continue increasing, as ethane is exported both by pipeline to Canada and by tankers to more distant destinations.

Ethane is separated from raw natural gas at natural gas processing plants along with other hydrocarbon gas liquids such as propane, normal butane, isobutane, and natural gasoline.

Ethane is mainly used as a petrochemical feedstock for the production of ethylene, which is a building block for plastics, resins, and other industrial products.

As U.S. natural gas production has increased, the amount of ethane contained in raw natural gas production streams has exceeded domestic demand or the ability to export it abroad.

Nonetheless, ethane is increasingly being recovered from the natural gas stream, and U.S. ethane consumption is increasing as existing ethylene crackers have expanded and new plants have begun operating.

In addition, expanding pipeline networks and two new ethane export terminals have allowed U.S. ethane exports to increase.

In 2017, construction was completed on the first three of a series of new ethylene crackers -- two early in the year and a third in late December, all on the Texas Gulf Coast. These crackers expanded the capacity to consume ethane in the United States by 210,000 barrels per day.

EIA expected annual U.S. ethane consumption to grow from an estimated 1.2 million barrels per day in 2017 to 1.4 million barrels per day in 2018 and 1.6 million barrels per day in 2019, as these new plants and related infrastructure ramp up operations.

EIA also projected continued growth in ethane exports, with average annual exports increasing from 180,000 barrels per day in 2017 to 290,000 barrels per day in 2018 and 310,000 barrels per day in 2019.

Ethane exports by pipeline to Canada are expected to increase in early 2018.

Ethane shipments from these facilities currently supply petrochemical feedstock to countries including the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, India, and Brazil. By the end of 2019, ethane exports from the United States may also reach China when a new ethylene plant there begins operation.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-21 05:46:35|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- One U.S. soldier had been killed in a non-combat-related incident in Baghdad, Iraq, the U.S. Department of Defense said on Tuesday.

The service woman, who was supporting Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq, was killed on Monday in Baghdad as a result of a non-combat-related incident, said the Pentagon in a statement, without giving details of the incident.

The soldier was assigned to the 89th Sustainment Brigade, Wichita, Kansas, according to the statement.

The incident is still under investigation.

The Operation Inherent Resolve is the U.S.-led military campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-21 05:51:37|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Brazilian police on Tuesday arrested at least 40 people in two large operations against child pornography in Sao Paulo, official sources said.

All the arrests were made after police had seized their computer and found pornographic material involving minors. An assortment of toys was also seized.

One of the operations was in Taboao da Serra, a town in the metropolitan region in Sao Paulo.

The investigation began six months ago, when the police received an anonymous tip-off, and led to the arrest of at least 28 people on Tuesday morning.

The other operation happened in Sao Paulo itself, with 29 search and arrest warrants and with at least 12 people being arrested.

The police tracked the suspects by investigating computers which were regularly used to access child pornography.

Police spokesperson Marcio Fruet said "one of our suspects worked in a playground. Therefore, he had contact with children. Another suspect worked in a kindergarten."

"Therefore, these suspects will be watched with greater caution ...(to see) if they also produced and practiced this violence against children themselves," Fruet added.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-21 06:06:40|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Security forces in eastern Libya on Tuesday busted a gang that smuggles arms and ammunition in the city of Marj, the Libya News Agency reported.

"Information was received from the criminal investigation department of Tocra (some 20 km east of Marj) about persons selling and smuggling ammunition and weapons," said Daw Mismari, spokesman of Marj, which is some 94 km east Benghazi.

Mismari confirmed that five people were nabbed in an ambush, and two vehicles carrying heavy ammunition and hundreds of weapons were also seized.

He said that the gang members arrested had been interrogated and all legal proceedings would be taken against them before appearing at the court.

Reports said that there are more than 20 million pieces of weapons in Libya outside the control of the authorities.

Since the fall of the Muaamar Gaddafi regime in 2011, the Libyan authorities have been struggling to prepare and form a security service capable of countering the armed militias, which outgun the regular forces. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-21 06:36:46|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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JERUSALEM, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Supreme Court's Chief Justice Esther Hayut gave an open testimony to the police on Tuesday over a corruption case involving one of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's confidants.

The testimony concerns a new corruption allegation that emerged on Tuesday, in which the police accused Nir Hefetz, Netanyahu's close associate and his former media adviser, of attempting to bribe a judge, Hila Gerstel.

Hefetz allegedly offered Gerstel the position of the attorney general if she will, in return, drop a corruption case against Netanyahu's wife, Sara.

Gerstel, a former president of the Central District Court and an Ombudsman of the State Prosecutor's Office, was a candidate for the position of the attorney general in 2015.

She never informed the police about the alleged bribery attempt, according to the police. However, she privately divulged some of the information to her colleague and friend, Esther Hayut, who was at the time a judge in the Supreme Court.

In her testimony, Hayut confirmed that Gerstel told her that during her candidacy period, a close associate of Netanyahu approached her through a mutual friend and asked her what she should do with the prime minister's wife's investigation if she would be nominated as attorney general.

"Gerstel expressed dismay to the president over the incident," Hayut told the police investigators.

Hayut said she did not report the incident to the police because Gerstel told her about it only in retrospect, after another candidate was appointed to the office.

Netanyahu said that he did not believe Hefetz made such an offer, while accusing certain forces of trying to topple him through a "crusade."

It was the latest in a number of criminal allegations about Netanyahu and some of his closest associates.

Also on Tuesday, Hadashot TV news reported that Shlomo Filber, who was the director of Communication Ministry under Netanyahu, is in "advanced stages" of inking a deal with the prosecution to become a state witness in the so-called "case 4000."

Filber is suspected of granting regulatory and financial benefits to Bezeq, Israel's largest telecom company. In return, Shaul Elovitch, the owner of Bezeq and Netanyahu's associate, instructed the Walla news site, controlled by Bezeq, to give Netanyahu and his wife favorable coverage.

Elovitch, Hefetz, Filber, and other senior executives with Bezeq have been arrested since Sunday.

Netanyahu is not yet a suspect in this case, but Filber, a 55-year-old father of children, is expected to incriminate Netanyahu as part of his state witness deal.

Last week, the Israeli police recommended charging Netanyahu with corruption in two separate cases.

In the first one, dubbed by the police "case 1000," Netanyahu is suspected of receiving expensive jewelry, cigars, and champaign in return for promoting the interests of Israeli businessman and Hollywood tycoon, Arnon Milchan.

In the second case, dubbed "case 2000," Netanyahu allegedly received bribes from Arnon Mozes, the publisher of Yedioth Aharonoth, one of Israel's largest newspapers, in return for promoting a law to limit the distribution of Israel Hayom, Yedioth's main rival.
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...
KIEV, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine's southern Odessa region, known for its Black Sea beach resorts, will develop green tourism, the state-run Ukrinform news agency reported Monday.

The report cited Svitlana Shatalova, deputy head of Odessa regional administration, as saying that a rural and ecological tourism center will be established in Tarutino district, which lies on the border with Moldova.

The tourism center will offer visitors tours to authentic Ukrainian villages and farms, as well as sightseeing in grain and lavender fields.

"This project will support the development of agriculture and livestock farming. Besides, it will incentivize small businesses and tap into the resource, economic and social potential of the region," Shatalova was quoted as saying.

Odessa is a coastal region to the north of the Black Sea and one of Ukraine's most celebrated tourism destinations.

About 5.7 million tourists from Ukraine and abroad visited the region in 2017, up 43 percent from a year ago.
New Delhi: United States President Donald Trump's son Donald Trump Jr, who is on a week-long visit to India, arrived here on Tuesday.

During the week-long trip, Donald Trump Jr. will not only endorse his luxurious residential project-Trump Towers, but he is scheduled to deliver a speech on foreign policy in India.

Trump Jr. will meet with Indian investors and business leaders in Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune and Gurugram respectively, The Washington Post reported.

The eldest son of Donald Trump has already advertised himself prior to his visit.

Full-page advertisements in Indian newspapers on Monday invited prospective investors to buy into the Trump Organisation's project in Gurugram to join Donald Trump Jr at a dinner later this week.

"Trump has arrived. Have you?" read the advertisement, inviting buyers to book their apartments in Trump Towers by Wednesday "for a conversation and dinner" with Trump Jr on Friday. An advertisement in newspapers on Sunday read, "Trump is here. Are you invited?"

Trump Jr. will also deliver his maiden speech in India where he will speak on "Reshaping Indo-Pacific Ties: The New Era of Cooperation" at a global business summit on Friday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will also be present, will speak at the summit on the topic of "Preparing India for the Future."

In the US, some experts have pointed out the conflict of interests during Donald Trump Jr.'s India visit.

"The planned speech by Trump Jr. has renewed conflict of interest concerns, with some questioning why the US President's son will be lecturing on foreign policy while simultaneously trying to hawk his family business's lavish new condominiums," The Washington Post reported.

"News that the Trump Organisation would be offering buyers in the Trump Tower the chance to meet the president's son sparked criticism of potential conflict of interest, and the fact that Trump Jr. will be giving a foreign policy speech while on a private business trip complicates the matter further", The Washington Post quoted ethics expert as saying.

Trump Jr. will also visit Kolkata, where the construction of a project with 137 luxury units will begin soon.

Talking about his trip earlier this month, Trump Jr. said, "India is such an incredible country and our brand has enjoyed tremendous success in the region for many years. This trip is a celebration of all we have achieved, including the launch of the Trump developments in Kolkata and Delhi which have been underway for many months."

According to business partners in India, many units in the Trump Towers are selling about 30 percent per square foot higher than the current market rates. Trump Jr.'s visit to India is expected to reinforce the trend.

India is Trump Organisation's biggest international market, with four real estate projects underway in Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, and Gurugram.

Trump Jr.'s visit to India comes after his sister, Ivanka, visited Hyderabad in November last year to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit.(GES). (ANI)
New Delhi: International icon Priyanka Chopra is quite busy shooting for her superhit American televisions series 'Quantico 3'. The desi girl has seen successful two seasons making a smooth way for her third season to be an equally kickass experience.

Back home, the latest buzz doing the rounds is that Piggy Chops might be seen in the sequel to her hit film 'Aitraaz'. The movie released in 2004 and won her accolades and awards for portraying a negative character with much conviction on-screen.

'Aitraaz' was directed by Abbas-Mustan and produced by 'showman' Subhash Ghai. According to Mumbai Mirror, Ghai is keen on making a sequel to the romantic thriller and wants Priyanka to play the lead.

The report quotes a source as saying, Its a new story with a new title. Subhash Ghai has already had a word with Priyanka Chopra and the two have discussed the film. She loves the idea of a sequel to a film which won her accolades for her performance in a negative role and is excited to feature in the second instalment of the franchise. She is keen to collaborate with Ghai again and has even told him that she will try working around her dates.

Looks like once Priyanka is back to Mumbai city, there's going to be a lot of work knocking at her door.

'Aitraaz' starred Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra in the lead and was hailed as an interesting watch at that time. The film had a unique storyline where the actors' performances were appreciated. The screenplay was written by Shyam Goel and Shiraz Ahmed while Himesh Reshammiya composed the soundtrack.
Chennai: Kamal Hassan, who's all set to launch his political party Wednesday, met Naam Tamilar Katchi chief coordinator Seeman earlier today.

The meeting took place at Hassan's home in Chennai.

Kamal Haasan who begins his political innings on February 21, has reportedly been meeting several top political leaders and well-wishers, inviting them for the launch tomorrow.

On Monday, Haasan met Krishnasaamy Bhagyaraj and D Rajendran.

Earlier today, Haasan claimed that his entry into politics was motivated by AIADMK's poor governance.

I am entering politics only because the ruling AIADMK party is bad. That is why I am not meeting any of them, said the veteran actor in Chennai, reported ANI.

Naam Tamilar Katchi, a Tamil nationalist party, opposes Dravidian politics.

Earlier, Haasan claimed that his Dravidian brand of politics will succeed.

"You will know when I make it a success," he told reporters when asked about the presence of Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu and how he could succeed with the same ideology.

The top actor has time and again expressed his appreciation of the Dravidian ideology.

Last month, he had batted for unity among Southern states under the "Dravidian" tag to leverage ties with the Centre.

"It (Dravidian) is our identity, and it will give the southern states a leverage with the Centre," the actor had said.

Yesterday, the veteran actor had visited DMK President M Karunanidhi and superstar Rajinikanth, saying he was calling on those "whom I like" before the formal launch of his party.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is also expected to attend the party launch.

(With agency inputs)
xMumbai: Absconding diamantaire Nirav Modi, who is under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Department for allegedly committing fraud amounting to Rs 11,300 crore against Punjab National Bank, wrote a letter to the bank's management stating that its overzealousness has shut the doors on Modi's ability to clear the dues.

In the letter Modi wrote on February 15-16 to the PNB management, he pegged the amount his companies owes to the bank under Rs 5,000 crore.

Here are 10 things that Nirav Modi wrote in his letter to Punjab National Bank

1. Modi said PNB's erroneously cited liability resulted in a media frenzy which led to immediate search and seizure of operations, and which in turn resulted in Firestar International and Firestar Diamond International effectively ceasing to be going-concerns. This thereby jeopardised the company's ability to discharge the dues of the group to the banks.

2. In the anxiety to recover the dues immediately, despite his offer, he said, PNB's actions have destroyed his brand and the business and have now restricted the bank's ability to recover all the dues leaving a trail of unpaid debts.

3. Valuing his domestic business at around Rs 6,500 crore, he said "this could have helped reduce/discharge the debt to the banking system," but quickly added that this is not possible as all his bank accounts have been frozen and assets have been sealed or seized.

4. He goes on to state that PNB had time and again acknowledged that "the buyers credit facility has been extended by it to the three partnership firms since several years; that there has been no default on the part of any of these firms over all these years; that money has gone through PNB over all these years for the repayments of the advances given by the overseas bank branches under the buyers credit.

5. Firestar International and Firestar Diamond International have never been in default to any bank, and the bankers are fully secured, he said.

6. He also states that PNB has over the years been earning bank charges to the tune of crores of rupees on the buyers credit facility extended by PNB to the three partnership firms and that PNB has extended the money to the firm's buyers as well from where also it has been receiving full payments, with interest and on time all, these years.

7. On the valuables that CBI/ED searches yielded Rs 5,649 crore, he said "these, and other assets of the group and the three firms could have settled all the amounts due to banks. However, now that stage appears to have passed."

8. He requested the bank to be fair, and support my efforts to make good all the amounts that are found due by my group to all banks.

9. Owning up everything, he said the bank has wrongly named his brother, who is not at all concerned with the operations of the three firms or other companies.

10. "Whatever may be the consequences I may face for my actions, the haste was, in my humble submission, unwarranted," Modi conluded and requested the bank to permit payment of salaries to 2,200 employees from the balance lying in the current accounts.

With PTI Inputs
New Delhi: Binani Industries has approached the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) seeking permission to participate in the decision making process for the sale of its debt ridden subsidiary Binani Cement Ltd by the Committee of Creditors.

It has approached NCLT "seeking permission to fully participate" in insolvency resolution process of Binani Cement "to ensure that the resolution process adequately protects and preserves the rights and interests" of its stakeholders including Binani Industries, the company said in a regulatory filing today.

In July last year, NCLT had admitted the insolvency petition against Binani Cement after it failed to repay its debtors.

Binani Industries, which holds 98 per cent share capital of Binani Cements, has also raised questions over appointment of Vijaykumar V Iyer as Interim Resolution Professional (IRP) in the application filed before the Kolkata bench of NCLT.

In the plea, Binani Industries has also sought permission to interact with the bidders and financial creditors and other stakeholders of Binani Cement.

"The applicant (Binani Industries) be allowed to interact with or meet the bidders, financial creditors and other stakeholders of the corporate debtor (Binani Cement) from time to time," said Binani Industries in the application.

Besides, it has also requested NCLT to "evaluate the bids submitted by the resolution applicants."

"The applicant be allowed to provide its comments and suggestion on the insolvency resolution process to the resolution professional and the committee of corporate debtor," it added.

It has also requested the tribunal to direct committee of creditors not to proceed ahead till its plea is decided by the NCLT.

"Pending the hearing of the present application, that the resolution professional or the committee of creditors shall not approve any resolution plan for the corporate debtor," it added.

Besides cement, Binani Industries has presence in segments such as fibreglass, infrastructure and energy.
New Delhi: The CBI raid at the residence of Rotomac owner Vikram Kothari has been underway for more than 20 hours. Two teams of CBI on Tuesday conducted raid at the Kanpur residence of Kothari.

Days after the Nirav Modi-PNB scam, the banking sector took another big hit with Rotomac pen promoter Vikram Kothari allegedly swindling Rs 3,695 crore from banks, prompting central probe agencies to register cases, question him and carry out searches at his residence.

The banks involved in Rotomac's case, in which the CBI as well as the ED have registered separate cases, with the defaulted loan amount in brackets were Bank of Baroda (Rs 456.53 crore), Bank of India (Rs 754.77 crore), Bank of Maharashtra (Rs 49.82 crore), Allahabad Bank (Rs 330.68 crore), Oriental Bank of Commerce (Rs 97.47 crore), Indian Overseas Bank (Rs 771.07 crore) and Union Bank of India (Rs 458.95 crore), the CBI said.

It alleged the accused had cheated a consortium of seven banks by siphoning off bank loans to the tune of Rs 2,919 crore without interest and bank charges and total outstanding amount along with liabilities were pegged at Rs 3,695 crore.

The CBI case, which was registered after receiving a complaint from Bank of Baroda, names Kanpur-based Rotomac Global Pvt Limited, its director Vikram Kothari, his wife Sadhana Kothari, and son Rahul Kothari and unknwon bank officials.

They have been booked under various sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC) related to cheating and forgery as well as Prevention of Corruption Act.
New Delhi: The residential address of one of the directors of Gili India, owned by Mehul Choksi, will come as a shock for many. Can the director of a company, involved in fraudulent activities to the tune of hundreds of crores, stay in a Chawl?

Zee Media reporters tracked down one of the directors of Gili India, Mihir Joshi, to Dahir locality in Mumbai. His address mentioned in the FIR is a one-room-kitchen in Owari Pada's Mahangu Prasad Chawl.

People in the neighbourhood told Zee Media that Joshi has rented out the chawl while he lives in a flat in the same locality.

A vegetable vendor in the locality said that Joshi shifted out from the Chawl four years ago. However, another neighbour said that the person staying in the Chawl is a 24-year old boy who has just started his job. He must have been falsely framed in the case, the neighbour added.

Punjab National Bank "in view of fraudulent activities" has asked Gitanjali Group companies including Nakshatra Brands and Gili India to pay "outstanding" dues amounting to Rs 1,045.88 crore.

PNB has demanded Rs 645.12 crore from Gitanjali Gems, Rs 187.52 from Gili India, Rs 110 from Nakshatra Brands, and Rs 103.24 crore from Asmi Jewellery.

Investigating agencies, including Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation and Income Tax Department, has launched probe into the alleged fraud.

Gitanjali Gems promoter Mehul Choksi along with main accused diamantaire Nirav Modi have reportedly fled the country. The government has suspended their passports.
New Delhi: After the CBI and the ED, the Income Tax Department has stepped up action against the Rotomac group and its promoters.

Attaching 11 bank accounts in connection with an alleged tax evasion probe against them, officials said today.

The accounts in various bank branches in Uttar Pradesh were attached last night. The provisional attachment action has been carried out to "recover outstanding tax demands", understood to be about Rs 85 crore, the officials said. Three bank accounts of the group were attached in January last year by the department, they said.

The Kanpur-based group is being probed by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate in connection with an alleged bank loan fraud of Rs 3,695 crore, given by a consortium of seven banks. The CBI had registered a criminal case against Rotomac Global Pvt Limited, its Director Vikram Kothari, his wife Sadhana Kothari and son Rahul Kothari and unidentified bank officials on a complaint received from Bank of Baroda and conducted raids against them yesterday.

It was alleged in the complaint from the Bank of Baroda that conspirators cheated a consortium of bank loans to the tune of Rs 3,695 crore including the interest component, CBI officials said. The principal amount involved was Rs 2,919 crore. The ED subsequently registered a money laundering case against them.

The ED will probe if the allegedly defrauded bank funds were laundered and these proceeds of crime subsequently used by the accused to create illegal assets and black money. This is the second major financial scam to break out after the sensational Rs 11,400 crore fraud allegedly committed by billionaire jewellery designer Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi, who is a promoter of Gitanjali group of companies.

Both left the country before the Punjab National Bank realised the seriousness of the alleged crime.
NEW DELHI: The CBI has refused to share details of expenses incurred to bring back to India fugitive businessmen Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya, claiming immunity from disclosures under the RTI Act.

Pune-based activist Vihar Dhurve had approached the agency seeking details of expenses incurred by the government to bring back Mallya, wanted in India on charges of Rs 9,000-crore fraud and Modi, who is facing a money laundering probe.

Both Modi and Mallya have denied allegations of wrongdoings.

Mallya had fled the country in March 2016 after the CBI diluted its lookout circular against him.

The agency has sent its team multiple times to London to pursue an extradition case against the embattled liquor tycoon.

The RTI application was forwarded to the CBI by the Finance Ministry. The agency transferred it to the Special Investigation Team looking after these cases.

In its response to the RTI plea, the CBI said it is exempt from making any disclosures under the RTI Act through a government notification of 2011.

According to Section 24 of the RTI Act, a few organisations are exempt under the transparency law.

However, the Delhi High Court had earlier underlined that organisations listed under Section 24 cannot claim exemption from disclosure if the information pertains to "allegations of corruption and human rights violations"
New Delhi: The government has discussed with farm experts and stakeholders practical solutions for doubling farmers' income by 2022 and they will be presented before Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday.

Modi, who is scheduled to attend the final session of the two-day national conference being organised by the agriculture ministry, will address on farmers issues.

The recommendations will also benefit the government's inter-ministerial panel on doubling farmers income.

At the inaugural session, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh called for "implementable solutions" from various stakeholders while sharing that the government has already reoriented its initiatives to transform farm sector from production centric to income centric.

The government has enhanced budget allocation for the farm sector to Rs 58,080 crore for the 2018-19 fiscal, from Rs 51,576 crore in 2017-18, and sufficient funds have been made available for programmes aimed at raising farmers income, he said in a statement.

The conference deliberated on seven themes: agriculture policy and reforms for higher and sustained farmers income; trade policy; marketing and agri-logistics; R&D and start ups in agriculture; capital investments and institutional credit; promotion of allied farm activities like dairy and poultry; and sustainable and equitable development and efficient delivery of services.

Himachal Pradesh Governor Acharya Devvrat and Junior Agriculture Ministers Parshottam Rupala Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Krishna Raj, NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar and Agriculture Secretary S K Pattanayak were among others present at the event.

Senior officials from the central and state governments, scientists, economists, trade industry, professional associations, representatives of corporate and private sector companies & farmers, NGOs and academics were also present.
New Delhi: In a boost to the Indian Railways, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday approved doubling and electrification of many lines. It also okayed several new line projects.

Here are the list of electrification, doubling and new lines projects

Bhatni-Aurnihar Line Doubling with Electrification

The CCEA has approved 116.95 Km long Bhatni-Aurnihar line doubling with electrification at a completion cost of Rs 1300.9 crore. The project is likely to be completed by 2021-22. It will cover the districts of Deoria, Ballia, Mau and Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh.

Jhansi-Manikpur and Bhimsen-Khairar lines Doubling with Electrification

Under the project, 425 Km long Jhansi-Manikpur and Bhimsen-Khairar lines doubling and electrification would be completed at cost of Rs 4955.72 crore. These are likely to be completed by 2022-23. The projects will cover the districts of Jhansi, Mahoba, Banda, Chitrakut Dham in Uttar Pradesh and Chhatarpur in Madhya Pradesh.

Jeypore-Malkangiri New Line Project

The CCEA has approved 130 Km long Jeypore-Malkangiri New Line project at a completion cost of Rs 2676.11 crore. It is is likely to be completed by 2021-22. The project will cover the districts of Koraput and Malkangiri of Odisha State.

Muzaffarpur-Sagauli & Sagauli-Valmiki Nagar lines Doubling with Electrification

CCEA has approved the 100.6 Km long Muzaffarpur-Sagauli & 109.7 Km Sagauli-Valmiki Nagar lines Doubling projects with electrification at completion costs of Rs. 1347.61 crore, Rs. 1381.49 crore respectively. These projects will cover the districts of Muzaffarpur, East Champaran (Motihari) and West Champaran (Bettiah) in Bihar.

India-Morocco Cooperation Agreement in Railway Sector

Cabinet has given its ex-post facto approval to the Cooperation Agreement between India and the Moroccan National Railways Office (ONCF) to develop long-term cooperation and partnership in different areas of railway sector. The Cooperation Agreement was signed on 14th December, 2017. The Cooperation Agreement will enable technical cooperation in training and staff development; expert missions, exchange of experience and personnel; and mutual technical assistance, including exchanging of experts.
NEW DELHI: Breaking his silence over the Rs 11,400 crore fraud at Punjab National Bank, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday said the government will chase down cheaters to the end.

Without naming either the alleged kingpin of the fraud, billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi, or Punjab National Bank, he questioned the ethics of some businesses in the country and asked as to why the bank's internal and external auditors could not detect the fraud which had been going on for 7 long years.

"It is incumbent on us as a state, till the last legitimate capacity of the state, to chase these people (fraudsters) to the last possible conclusion to make sure the country is not cheated," he said addressing the annual meeting of Association of Development Financial Institutions in Asia and Pacific (ADFIAP).

Jaitley added that the government had been step by step addressing issues like high-level of bad debts and need for more capital, but the effort has been put to challenge with the unravelling of the fraud.

He reminded the public sector banks that Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave managements the autonomy they needed with none from the government calling.

"When authority is given to the managements you are expected to utilise that authority effectively and in a right manner. Therefore the question for the management itself is were they found lacking? And on the face of it the answer seems yes they were," the FM said, PTI reported.

The lenders, he said, were "unable to check who amongst them were delinquent". Jaitley went on to ask what the auditors were doing. "Both internal and external auditors really have looked the other way or failed to detect," he said.

Chartered accountants and those who control the discipline, should start introspection and "say what legitimate actions are to be taken", the minister said.

"And also there is an important challenge where the supervisory agencies are now to introspect as what are the additional mechanisms they have to put in place to ensure that stray cases don't become a pattern again. And stray cases are nipped in the bud and an example be made out of people that these bad examples itself are never to be repeated," he said.

Jaitley further said that frauds have a cost to the country as well as to the taxpayer. "It's a direct cost and it has an indirect cost that it impinges on development, which impinges on the lending capacity of banks as an institution and therefore impinges upon developmental finance," he said.

Addressing the Annual Meeting,the FM @arunjaitley said that system of banking depends on trust , the relationship of borrower and the lender.  Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) February 20, 2018

Finance Minister,Shri @arunjaitley said that the Govt has given authority to bank managements to work with autonomy but with greater accontability to discharge this authority with responsibility.  Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) February 20, 2018

The Union Finance Minister,Shri @arunjaitley addressing the 41st Annual Meeting of ADFIAP in national capital here today. pic.twitter.com/UZ2nDd42KJ  Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) February 20, 2018

Nirav Modi and firms linked to him are alleged to have acquired fraudulent letters of undertaking (LoUs) from one PNB branch in Mumbai between 2011 and 2017 to obtain loans from Indian banks overseas.

PNB had on February 14, 2018, intimated stock exchange BSE about the "fraudulent and unauthorised" transactions in one of its branches in Mumbai.

"The bank has detected some fraudulent and unauthorised transactions in one of its branch in Mumbai for the benefit of a few select account holders with their apparent connivance," India's second-biggest state-run bank had said in a regulatory filing.

PNB had also cautioned other banks about the modus operandi of the scam.

"It has been reported through a preliminary investigation that the suspected fraud has been carried out by the perpetrators in collusion with the staff of one of our branches in Mumbai," PNB had said in a letter sent to various banks, including those from the private and public sector as also to foreign lenders.

The companies were maintaining only current accounts with the branch and none of the transactions was routed through the Centralised Banking System, it had said.

Meanwhile, Nirav Modi has virtually wrung his arms in the air saying PNB's overzealousness has shut the doors on his ability to clear the dues, which he claimed is much lower than the bank has gone public with.

In a letter he wrote on February 15/16 to the PNB management he pegged the amount his companies owes to the bank under Rs 5,000 crore.

"The erroneously cited liability resulted in a media frenzy which led to immediate search and seizure of operations, and which in turn resulted in Firestar International and Firestar Diamond International effectively ceasing to be going-concerns. This thereby jeopardised our ability to discharge the dues of the group to the banks," Nirav Modi, who left the country along with his family in the first week of January 2018, wrote in the letter, as per PTI.

"In the anxiety to recover your dues immediately, despite my offer (on February 13, a day before the public announcement, and on 15,) your actions have destroyed my brand and the business and have now restricted your ability to recover all the dues leaving a trail of unpaid debts," he added.

The letter also refers to the extended discussions between him, and between his representatives and the bank officers and also his emails on February 13 and 15, 2018.

(With PTI inputs)
NEW DELHI: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has said it had warned banks of the potential that the SWIFT messaging system could be misused at least thrice in the last 18 months. The central bank also announced that it is setting up a high-level committee to study the prevention of fraud in the Indian banking system, in light of the recent Rs 11,400 crore scandal involving Punjab National Bank (PNB) and diamantaire Nirav Modi.

In a statement on Tuesday, RBI said it had issued repeated warnings to banks on the possibility that the SWIFT system could be misused. "The risks arising from the potential malicious use of the SWIFT infrastructure, created by banks for their genuine business needs, has always been a component of their operational risk profile. RBI had, therefore, confidentially cautioned and alerted banks of such possible misuse, at least on three occasions since August 2016, advising them to implement the safeguards detailed in the RBI's communications, for pre-empting such occurrences," read the RBI statement.

"Banks have, however, been at varying levels in implementation of such measures," the statement added. It said the warnings had been made as part of its supervisory efforts to offset against operational risks.

The RBI also issued instructions to all banks to implement a slew of steps it has recommended to improve security of SWIFT transactions, and said it has now given them deadlines to complete this in light of the PNB fraud.

The RBI had earlier said it has not instructed PNB to meet its commitments to other banks, and blamed the scandal on 'delinquent behaviour' of the banks employees and 'failure of internal controls'.

The central bank also announced the setting up of an expert committee to be headed by former RBI board member YH Malegam to look into the factors contributing to the rising cases of systemic fraud in the Indian banking system. The committee has been tasked with making recommendations aimed at preventing fraud. Other members of the committee would include RBI board member Bharat Doshi, former Canara Bank CMD S Raman, ReBIT CEO Nandkumar Saravade, and RBI executive director AK Misra.
New Delhi: Condemning the alleged manhandling of the Delhi chief secretary by a few AAP MLAs on Monday night, two IAS bodies on Tuesday met Lt Governor Anil Baijal to lodge their protest over the matter.

Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash was allegedly manhandled by a few AAP MLAs at the CM's residence in presence of Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia, it has been claimed.

According to an official, Prakash was called by Kejriwal regarding the issue of advertisements, which were not being released. But, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) claimed that he had been called for a discussion on rations.

IAS, DANICS associations, along with the Delhi Administration Subordinate Services (DASS), alleged that the meeting was called on Monday night to put pressure on the chief secretary to release publicity material regarding achievements of the AAP government, in violation of the Supreme court guidelines.

The meeting was devoid of any emergency or public interest, they claimed.

"The incident which has happened at the official residence of the chief minister clearly appears to pre-planned, pre-meditated and absolutely without any provocation on the part of the chief secretary in view of the fact that the meeting was called at midnight... The meeting had been called to put pressure him to release publicity material regarding achievements of the government," the associations said in a joint statement.

Delhi: Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash's complaint letter to Police over yesterday's incident pic.twitter.com/zvdsNGatIN  ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2018

We stand by the resolution of Delhi IAS Association and demand immediate action against the perpetrators of this shameful act. pic.twitter.com/GZfLdtbTO0  IAS Association (@IASassociation) February 20, 2018

Meanwhile, the Home Ministry on Tuesday sought a report from Baijal on the incident. In a communication, the ministry asked the LG to submit a detailed report on the alleged attack on the bureaucrat.

The MHA has sought a report on the incident from the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. Justice will be done. A delegation of IAS DANICS & Subordinate Services of Delhi Government met me today and apprised me of the prevailing situation.  Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) February 20, 2018

However, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has claimed he had been called for a discussion on rations. "The allegation of assault is totally bizarre and baseless," added a senior official of the CM's office.

AAP's response to false allegations by Chief Secretary pic.twitter.com/dl3M2MrXW6  AAP (@AamAadmiParty) February 20, 2018

"There was a heated exchange at the meeting last night. During the argument, two-three AAP MLAs manhandled him... The CS's spectacles also got broken," alleged a senior IAS official, who did not wish to be named, PTI reported.

After the incident, the chief secretary met Lt Governor Anil Baijal last night (Monday) and apprised him of the incident, he added.

The IAS officers association met Baijal on Tuesday and lodged a protest over the issue. Sources said, the association decided not to go on strike as "it will make people suffer".

AAP countered the allegation with a statement that about 2.5 lakh families were deprived of rations last month due to faulty Aadhaar implementation and party MLAs were under tremendous pressure from the public.

"There was a meeting of MLAs at the CM's residence. The CS refused to answer questions, saying that he was not answerable to MLAs and the CM, and that he was answerable only to the LG. He (Prakash) even used bad language against some of the MLAs and left without answering any questions," the party claimed in a statement.

It described as "false information" claims that the meeting and the argument was about TV ads. The entire discussion was on a large number of families, who were not getting their rations, it said.

"Now he (CS) is making such ludicrous allegations. Obviously, he is doing it at BJPs behest. The BJP has stooped very low in disrupting governance in Delhi through the LG and officers. If the CS can make such wild allegations, one can imagine the kind of obstacles that are being created in AAP governments work by the BJP through the officers," it said.

(With PTI inputs)
A quick glance at the top news of the day:

1. No Chinese warships near Maldives: Indian Navy refutes Chinese reports

The Indian Navy has said there are no Chinese warships in the Indian Ocean close to Maldives. The clarification is aimed at refuting Chinese media reports that five warships were headed to the region. Read full report

2. I am a Muslim and wish to remain one, Hadiya tells SC in Kerala 'love jihad' case

In a new turn in Kerala's 'love jihad' case, Hadiya has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating that she is a Muslim and wanted to remain one. Read full report

3. Too 'revealing': Priyanka Chopra's picture in Assam Tourism sparks controversy

Actress Priyanka Chopra is in the middle of a controversy for her 'revealing' pictures on a calendar recently launched by the Assam Tourism Development Corporation. Read full report

4. Pub brawl: Karnataka Congress MLA apologises in Assembly for son's behaviour

Ruling Congress MLA NA Haris on Tuesday apologised to the state Legislative Assembly on behalf of his son who assaulted a youth at a pub in Bengaluru. Read full report

5. AAP leaders, Delhi govt officials trade manhandling charges; MHA seeks report

Condemning the alleged manhandling of the Delhi chief secretary by a few AAP MLAs on Monday night, two IAS bodies on Tuesday met Lt Governor Anil Baijal to lodge their protest over the matter. Read full report
The Supreme Court will hear a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam on Friday. The PIL filed by lawyer Vineet Dhanda will be taken up by a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra.

The PIL, seeking a Special Investigation Team for probe into the scam involving billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi, was filed in the apex court on Monday.

While the scam has reached the top court, the Central Vigilance Commission has also taken cognisance of it, asking officials of PNB to explain how an otherwise fool-proof system put in place by the bank allowed lapses to occur. The CVC also summoned senior bank officials.

The CVC sought an explanation from the PNB officials on vigilance lapses which led to a loss of Rs 11,400 crore to the lender at the hands of Nirav Modi-and Mehul Choksi-linked firms.

The anti-corruption watchdog asked PNB and the Finance Ministry officials to submit a report on how the scam took place despite monetary regulations being in place. A deadline of 10 days has been set for the submission of the report.

The watchdog also sought the names of officials who were allegedly involved and sought identification of officials who could have taken action and prevented it.

The commission, which looks at preventing corruption at government-owned companies, banks and regulatory bodies, also issued a guideline to all PSU lenders.

CVC has issued a guidance note to PSU lenders to transfer senior bank officers who have been at the same post for three years and clerical staff who have been at the same post for five years, a report quoting a source closed to the ongoing probe into PNB scam said.

So far, the PNB has suspended 18 employees, including general manager-level officers in connection with their alleged role in the scam.

Two former PNB officers have so far been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) for causing a loss of Rs280 crore to the bank.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is in fresh trouble. According to sources, the Chief Secretary of the Delhi government, Anshu Prakash, was allegedly manhandled by two MLAs of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

The chief secretary was allegedly manhandled by AAP MLAs in the presence of Kejriwal, said sources.

Angered by the incident, the Chief Secretary convened a meeting of all bureaucrats in the national capital at the Delhi Secretariat on Tuesday morning. It was decided in the meeting that an FIR would be registered in this regard. Reports said that he also made a complaint about the incident to Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal.

Reacting to reports, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has denied any attempt by AAP MLAs at his residence to assault Delhi Chief Secretary. Terming the claims of the senior bureaucrat as bizarre. Kejriwal said that there was a heated exchanged but Anshu Prakash was never manhandled.

The Aam Aadmi Party dismissed the allegations by issuing a detailed statement on what allegedly transpired at the residence of the Delhi Chief Minister. The ruling party has alleged that the bureaucrat used bad language against AAP MLAs and refused to give answers to them on issues of importance to common man.

AAP's response to false allegations by Chief Secretary pic.twitter.com/dl3M2MrXW6  AAP (@AamAadmiParty) February 20, 2018

About 2.5 lakh families deprived of rations last month due to faulty implementation of Aadhaar. MLAs were under tremendous pressure from public. There was a meeting of MLAs at CM residence. CS (Chief Secretary) refused to answer questions saying that he was not answerable to MLAs and CM and that he was answerable only to LG. He even used bad language against some MLAs and left without answering any questions, said the party in a statement.

Terming the claims of the bureaucrat as ludicrous allegations, the AAP claimed that the allegations were made at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Obviously, he is doing it at BJPs behest. BJP has stooped very low in disrupting governance in Delhi through LG and officers.

Reacting to it, the Delhi Administrative Subordinate Services has decided to go on a strike with immediate effect, demanding arrest of those who allegedly manhandled the senior bureaucrat.

Delhi Administrative Subordinate Services president DN Singh told mediapersons, "We are going on a strike with immediate effect, we are with our Chief Secretary, until they (those at fault) are not arrested we will not get back (to work)."

He further said that the body has urged the Lt Governor to take legal action against those responsible. Terming the situation as "Constitutional crisis", he said that such a thing has never happened in past many years.

Meanwhile, politics has already started on the issue. While former AAP leader Kapil Mishra tried to get public attention towards by the reports by tweeting "What happened at 12 last night at Kejriwal House?", Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken has said that he would address a press conference on the issue on Tuesday.

(With agency inputs)
New Delhi: AAP legislator Prakash Jarwal was detained on Tuesday night in connection with the alleged assault on the Delhi chief secretary at the chief minister's residence, police said.

He was picked up from his house at Deoli and detained. There is a possibility he will be arrested later, sources said.

Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash has alleged that he was assaulted by AAP MLAs Amantullah Khan and others during a meeting at the Chief Minister's residence on Monday night.

The Delhi Police has registered an FIR against Khan and others on the basis of Prakash's complaint.

Earlier, Jarwal and Ajay Dutt, AAP MLAs from Deoli and Ambedkar Nagar respectively, had claimed the bureaucrat made casteist remarks. They have lodged a complaint against him with the Delhi Police and the National Commission for Scheduled Castes.

AAP Delhi unit's chief spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed that Jarwal was "arrested" based on a "frivolous" complaint.

"Delhi Police arrested elected MLA without any evidence. What about arrest of IAS Officers who can be seen beating Minister in Secretariate? There is FIR by Minister as well as video evidence, but no arrests," Bharadwaj tweeted.

Utter chaos unfolded inside the Delhi Secretariat this morning as Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain was mobbed by officials and staff, hours after Prakash was allegedly manhandled at the chief minister's residence.
The Northeast is a key area of focus for the BJP, Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju has said. He said his party's goal is to have a footprint in all the states in the region. In an exclusive interview with WION News's Kartikeya Sharma as election fever rises in three states in the region, Rijiju said the BJP intends to change the nature of political discourse and put development on the agenda instead of just identity and regionalism.

Here are excerpts from the interview:

Q: How important is North East for BJP?

A: Any election is important but NE is important because PM has set the agenda of Act East policy which can only be implemented by an honest government. Many governments in this region in past indulged in corruption. This time BJP has gone full steam to rest the power from the Congress. We are not giving a token fight. We have made an arrangement with newly formed NDPP. We have a seat sharing arrangement with them. I'm overseeing the entire election and response has been tremendous.



Q: Earlier there was an impression that BJP was primarily focused on Tripura?

A: Tripura came into focus by the national media because it has been ruled by the Left party for decades and BJP unexpectedly took CPM head on. When BJP picked up, it became a big news. In Nagaland, the talks are also going on and it is a 70 year-old political problem. We need to tell the people that we are committed to solving the Naga problem. As a minister from NE, I'm right now concentrating on Nagaland.



Q: In NE BJP did not show leap of faith which it showed in Maharashtra and Haryana?

A: In the context of Nagaland, we could have gone alone but we took sensitivities into account. We wanted a regional party to be part of 'us' to implement the Naga Accord as and when it is signed which we are expecting soon. If we had gone alone, it would have given the impression that we are only interested in wresting away power. In Meghalaya, we are going alone. We only have an understanding.



Q: When do you intend to announce the Naga Accord? The term of the government would expire next year?

A: It is not a question of tenure. It is a question of commitment. PM from the day one has said that he wants to solve the issue. The talks are progressing smoothly and nearing the agreement which we are looking forward too. I feel that it should not take too much time. Some critical issues remain and they need to be settled and once they, we can implement it.



Q: There is lot anxiety about the details of the draft agreement or what would the accord look like?

A: It was not an agreement. It was a framework agreement on which the talk would progress. It was a confidence building measure. It is on that basis the talks have progressed. Some political parties like Congress tried to give a spin but did not work.



Q: Are you saying that by this year it could be announced?

A: If you give a timeline, the problem starts. It is not the question of how soon. It is a question of commitment, and we are committed to it.



Q: NBCC wrote a letter to various political parties referring to BJP and Hindutva. Your response on it?

A: Nagaland would be governed by Nagas. It is a Christian state. The CM, elected representatives and ministers are all Christians, so where is the question of imposition? The Constitution would guide us. No one can be discriminated on the basis of identity. Everyone is an Indian. Bringing religion in politics is not at all appreciated. If you target BJP, then someone benefits. I have said that we are secular party functioning under a constitution which is secular in nature and there is no question of imposing faith on other people. Nagaland would be ruled by Naga people and there would not be any bearing on adverse impact on faith.



Q: Are you saying that Church has become a political player in Nagaland?

A: We do not blame the church as not all the churches are of the same opinion. May be one or two people have raked up the issue to benefit a political party but we have effectively communicated to people that politics is about governance and has nothing to do with faith which is about an individual choice. No one should interfere in people's faith.

Q: Lot of people would say that BJP becomes another person when in North East? Unlike what it is in mainland?

A: Obviously, India is a large country and every community has its own say in its domain area. If someone from JK goes to Tamil Nadu to say that their customs should be followed, the people will not listen. People in Nagaland have different food habits and lifestyle and they are entitled to it.



Q: Is Congress still a force in North East?

A: Congress is paying a price for its misrule. They have been in Meghalaya for a long time. In Nagaland, Congress was strong, but today they are not at all in the fight.



Q: Is your Mission North East in line?

A: Yes, it is. One day we will be there in all the states.



Q: Elections in North East are about everything but development why? It takes 3 hours to reach Kohima from Dimapur which is only 70 km away.

A: Yes, I know. It is pathetic. Development has never been the agenda in election and it was always about identity, regionalism and emotions. We are bringing back the agenda of good governance.

Q: Should North east have a separate time zone? What are you doing on this front?

A: This is an issue which has been raised many times. There is a concern that 1.5 hour difference leads to daytime loss. I handle a ministry which looks into this issue, so I would not like to comment on it but as a member from NE I would say that if all the CMs from NE come forward with a coherent plan then we can think about it. But it needs to be discussed. It will have to be managed. Bhutan is half hour ahead of Indian time and AP is on east of Bhutan still goes with Lucknow time.

Q: Has PNB bank scam affected BJP's election campaign?

A: These are the scams which have genesis in Congress regime. If something stumbles out from our tenure then we would be responsible. It is having a positive impact on us as it did not happen during our tenure.

(This interview was originally published on WION)
US President Donald Trumps son Donald Trump Junior, who arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday, kickstarted his India visit with a business meeting at a five star hotel in the national capital. He met a group of real estate developers at the Oberoi Hotel in New Delhi.

Apart from his meetings in national capital, the son of the US President is also slated to meet Indian investors and business leaders in Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune and Gurugram, reported The Washington Post.

The prime agenda of Donald Trump Jrs visit to India is likely to hold business meetings to endorse his luxurious residential project  Trump Towers.

Full-page advertisements in Indian newspapers on Monday had invited prospective investors to buy flats in Trump Organisation's project in Gurugram and join Donald Trump Jr at a dinner later this week.

"Trump has arrived. Have you?" read the advertisement, inviting buyers to book their apartments in Trump Towers by Wednesday "for a conversation and dinner" with Trump Jr on Friday. An advertisement in newspapers on Sunday read, "Trump is here. Are you invited?"

Trump Jr is also expected to deliver a speech in India on "Reshaping Indo-Pacific Ties: The New Era of Cooperation" at a global business summit on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will also be present, will speak at the summit on the topic of "Preparing India for the Future."

Meanwhile, in the US, some experts have pointed out the conflict of interests during Donald Trump Jr's India visit.

"The planned speech by Trump Jr has renewed conflict of interest concerns, with some questioning why the US President's son will be lecturing on foreign policy while simultaneously trying to hawk his family business's lavish new condominiums," The Washington Post reported.

"News that the Trump Organisation would be offering buyers in the Trump Tower the chance to meet the president's son sparked criticism of potential conflict of interest, and the fact that Trump Jr. will be giving a foreign policy speech while on a private business trip complicates the matter further", The Washington Post quoted ethics expert as saying.
India on Tuesday said it expects that the Maldives government will not extend the state of emergency in the island nation. The statement to this effect from the Ministry of External Affairs came shortly before the period of Emergency declared by Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen was set to come to a close.

The statement also underlined the difference in New Delhi's view with Yameen, who moved on Monday to have the emergency extended by 15 days.

"The State of Emergency declared in Maldives on 5 February 2018 comes to an end this evening. It is our expectation that the Government of Maldives will not be seeking extension of the State of Emergency so that the political process in Maldives can resume with immediate effect," read the statement from the External Affairs Ministry.

"After the revocation of the Emergency, democratic institutions including the judiciary should be allowed to function independently and in a fair and transparent manner in accordance with the Constitution. The order issued by the Supreme Court of Maldives on 1 February 2018 should be implemented in letter and spirit."

"It is important that Maldives quickly returns to the path of democracy and the rule of law so that the aspirations of Maldivian people are met and the concerns of the international community are assuaged," the statement said.

The ongoing political crisis in Maldives has pressed New Delhi into a balancing act. It has had to repeatedly clarify that it does not intend to militarily intervene in the crisis, like it did in 1988.

India's possible role in bringing the crisis to a close has also been complicated by China's newfound toehold in the Maldives. Yameen has taken Maldives into China's influence, having signed up to be a part of the 'maritime silk road' as part of Chinese President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative.
New Delhi: In a new turn in Kerala's 'love jihad' case, Hadiya has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating that she is a Muslim and wanted to remain one.

She has also stated that she wants to remain the wife of Shafin Jahan.

Earlier also in November 2017, Hadiya had said that she was not forced to convert to Islam. "I am a Muslim. I want to go with my husband. Nobody forced me to convert," she had said.

Meanwhile, on November 27, 2017, the top court had said that Hadiya could pursue her homoeopathy studies under her previous Hindu name at Salem medical college.

A Hindu by birth and named as Akhila Ashokan, she is said to have converted to Islam several months before her 'marriage'.

An SC bench headed by CJI had given its direction after interacting with Hadiya even as she had pleaded that she should be allowed to go with her 'husband'.

The bench had directed the college and the university to re-admit Hadiya and grant her hostel facilities.

Hadiya was in the custody of her parents for almost six months after the Kerala High Court had on May 29, 2017, annulled her 'nikah' with Shafin Jahan.

Hadiya's father had welcomed the apex court decision allowing her to continue her studies.

He had said that she had wanted to go to Syria after converting to Islam. "Hadiya does not have any idea about Syria, where she wanted to go after converting to Islam," he had said and had added, "I cannot have a terrorist in the family."

(With PTI inputs)
The Indian Navy has said there are no Chinese warships in the Indian Ocean close to Maldives. The clarification is aimed at refuting Chinese media reports that five warships were headed to the region.

The Chinese reports of the movement of the naval vessels was reported by news portal Sina. This had caught the attention of international news agencies considering the high-voltage posturing that Beijing has adopted over the ongoing political crisis in the Maldives.

Irrespective of the fact that New Delhi has categorically ruled out military intervention in the island nation, China has repeatedly issued warnings to India against sending troops to sort out the crisis, like it had done in 1988.

China's warnings against intervention are rooted in its need to back Maldives President Abdulla Yameen, who had just months ago signed agreements with China to allow military ships to dock in Maldivian ports. Yameen had also signed his country on to become part of China's Belt and Road Initiative.

However, the Indian Navy has said there is no question of Chinese warships lurking around close to the Maldives. "We have a very robust surveillance system and we have a clear maritime domain awareness picture round the clock in the Indian Ocean Region," Navy spokesperson Captain DK Sharma told news agency ANI.

Sources in the Navy also said that the five Chinese warships in question were on a routine navigation deployment between the Lombok Strait and the Sunda Strait, thousands of kilometres away.

The Navy sources said the Chinese ships had entered the eastern part of the Indian Ocean Region through the Sunda Strait - that lies between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra - and exited through the Lombok Strait - that lies between the Indonesian islands of Bali and Lombok.

Such deployments are routine for navies around the world. As they pass through choke points like straits, the ships gather hydrological data such as depth and sea floor features. This data is then used in planning strategies to ensure access to sea lanes of communication in times of need.

(With inputs from ANI)
It is rare when a minister joins the common man to know the real issues and concerns facing them on the ground. And such a move by a minister in the Narendra Modi government is making headlines today. The minister in news is Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal, who boarded a train himself to ascertain the plights of a regular train traveller.

Goyal travelled on Kaveri superfast express train, which plies between Tamil Nadu capital Chennai and Mysuru in Karnataka.

The minister also reportedly met travellers in the train and interacted with them to know about the problems they face. He asked them about the condition of the services provided inside the train.

Piyush Goyal had visited Mysuru along with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate a new express train at Mysuru Railway station.

The new train flagged off by the Prime Minister was Palace Queen Humsafar, which will run on a newly electrified Mysuru-Bengaluru railway line. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was also present on the occasion at Mysuru station.
The Indian Railways on Monday relaxed the age criteria to apply for Railway Recruitment Control Board exams.

Changing the upper age limit for assistant loco pilots and loco pilots, the Railways said candidates in the unreserved category can apply till 30 years, OBCs till 33 years and SC/ST category till 35 years. Earlier, the upper age limit for the unreserved category was 28 years, OBCs 31 years and SC/ST category 33 years.

Similarly, in Group D exams for the unreserved category, the upper age limit has been fixed at 30 years from 28 years. For OBCs, the age limit has been revised to 36 years from 34 years, for SC and STs it has been hiked from 36 years to 38 years.

The changes were made after candidates from Bihar protested over the reduction of age limit.

The Indian Railways further announced that the recruitment exams will soon be available in regional languages which will include Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Odia, Telugu, Bangla.

"It has also been decided that the questions in regional languages like Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Odia, Telugu, Bangla and others will be available for candidates to take the exam," the statement said.

Online applications were earlier invited in January and February for nearly 90,000 posts in Group C Level (Erstwhile Group D) like track maintainer, points man, helper, gateman, porter and group C Level II categories like assistant Loco Pilots (ALP), technicians (Fitter, Crane Driver, Blacksmith, Carpenter) through Railway Recruitment Boards website.

This recruitment drive is open to candidates who have passed Class X and ITI for Group C Level I posts and Class X and ITI or diploma in engineering or a graduation in engineering.
A major train tragedy was averted in Jharkhand on Monday because of an alert driver of Udyan Abha Toofan express. The incident occurred near Kumardhubi station. Soon after the train proceeded from the station, passengers in the train realised that something was burning.

As soon as the smell of the smoke reached the driver of the train, he stopped it to check where the smoke was coming from.

The driver then discovered that the smoke was coming from the parcel bogie, which was at the end of the train. Acting swiftly, the driver, along with others, disconnected the parcel bogie from the train.

Some passengers in the bogie next to the parcel wagon jumped out of the train to escape any damage due to the fire.

Fire tenders reached the spot only after an hour, following which the fire was doused. Train services on the route were disrupted because of the incident.

Reports said that the train was taken back to Mugma in Jharkhand after the incident. The driver and other staff of the train have reportedly been given cash reward for their alertness.
London: US fast-food chain KFC had to shut hundreds of stores in UK stores after the breakdown of a new supply contract for chicken with German delivery supplier DHL.

KFC had to shut down more than 700 of its 900 UK-wide chicken shops since the weekend, while some outlets were offering a downsized menu or shorter opening hours.

"We've brought a new delivery partner onboard, but they've had a couple of teething problems -- getting fresh chicken out to 900 restaurants across the country is pretty complex," KFC said in a statement.

"We won't compromise on quality, so no deliveries has meant some of our restaurants are closed, and others are operating a limited menu, or shortened hours.

KFC UK & Ireland has tweeted:

The Colonel has an update More info - https://t.co/mLELSs6TaY pic.twitter.com/WEOz6jExHC  KFC UK & Ireland (@KFC_UKI) February 19, 2018

DHL blamed the delivery delays on operational issues. In a separate statement the company has said that it was working to resolve the problem.

With Agency Inputs
SRINAGAR: A group of terrorists on Tuesday attacked an Air Force Station in Jammu and Kashmir's Malangpora.

The armed men opened fire upon guards at the Air Force Station. No reports of casualties or injuries have been reported yet.

Earlier this month, two soldiers were killed after a group of heavily armed terrorists attacked an Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir's Sunjwan area.

Six others, including women and children, were also injured in the firing by the terrorists.

The gunmen hurled grenades and used a heavy volume of automatic gunfire to enter the military station.
BENGALURU: Narendra Modi is unfit to be the Prime Minister of India, said Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

PM Modi is not speaking like a prime minister. There are so many issues concerning the state and the country but he has not opened his mouth, said Siddaramaiah.

The veteran Congress leader, who's eyeing a second chief ministerial tenure in poll-bound Karnataka, was speaking to media persons on Tuesday.

He is making politically motivated and irresponsible statements. He is unfit to continue as PM, he added.

Taking to Twitter, the Karnataka Chief Minister further accused the PM Modi of making common men stand in queues during demonetisation while Nirav Modi is on the run with country's money.

Dear PM @narendramodi , since you are fond of talking about commission let me ask you- You made common people stand in queues to deposit their money in the Banks & then let #NiravModi run away with over 12,000 cr of peoples money. What percent of peoples money is that? pic.twitter.com/whvsOIFYEi  Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) February 20, 2018

Dear PM Narendra Modi, since you are fond of talking about commission let me ask you- You made common people stand in queues to deposit their money in the Banks & then let #NiravModi run away with over 12,000 cr of peoples money. What percent of peoples money is that? he asked.

This is not the first time that the Karnataka CM spoke out openly against the Prime Minister.

Earlier this month, Siddaramaiah had said Modi is morally not right to be the Prime Minister of the country. His comment came a day after PM Modi vowed to wipe Congress out of Karnataka at a rally in Bengaluru. He had further targeted BJP president Amit Shah, saying he is involved in murder case and attacked former Karnataka CM and BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa for being arrested in the past.

Both the Congress and BJP has been targetting each other on the social media and political rallies over the last two months ahead of the Karnataka Assembly polls, scheduled to be held later this year.
KOLKATA: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday hit back at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for cornering the Centre in connection with the PNB bank fraud case and questioned the proximity between state finance minister Amit Mitra and Mehul Choksi, the co-accused in the 11,300 crore scam.

West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh told ANI and clarified that Nirav Modi was invited by an organisation to Davos and was not a part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s delegation, as alleged by the Opposition."Nirav Modi was invited by an organisation to Davos.

He wasn`t part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s delegation.

The Chief Minister (Mamata Banerjee) is writing a letter to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley about it when her own minister Amit Mitra knows Mehul Choksi. He was invited to Bengal Business Summit 2017-18. What right do they have to blame BJP?" he said on Monday.

Earlier, Ghosh uploaded some pictures of Mitra with Choksi on social media which led to a major slugfest between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Opposition parties.

In three of the photographs, Mitra and the Geetanjali Jewels owner are seen along with others at a meeting.
Shillong/Mendipathar: Congress president Rahul Gandhi will address a public meeting at Jrisalein playground in Jowai in Meghalaya on Wednesday. He will also attend a jan sampark programme in Shillong.

Rahul is on a two-day campaign trail in the north-eastern state.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi returns to Meghalaya today for the Assembly election campaign. #OneMeghalaya pic.twitter.com/tMir5Az1Fu  Meghalaya Congress (@INCMeghalaya) February 20, 2018

Congress President Rahul Gandhi returns to Meghalaya to campaign for the Assembly Elections. #OneMeghalaya pic.twitter.com/M4v0BMabAc  Meghalaya Congress (@INCMeghalaya) February 19, 2018

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, on his second visit to the poll-bound state, the Congress president hit out at the BJP-led central government, alleging that it ''actively" participated in corruption by allowing bank-loan defaulters Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi to escape the country.

He also criticised the Centre's offer to beautify the churches and religious institutions in the Christian-majority state and claimed that of late, there had been a ''tremendous increase" in the discrimination towards and humiliation of the north-east people.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi greets people during a roadshow in Tura, Meghalaya #OneMeghalaya pic.twitter.com/GRuhZ5M8oY  Congress (@INCIndia) February 20, 2018

''With the Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi scandals, we know that the government not only cannot remove corruption, but it is also actively participating in it,'' Rahul said.

''This government has, instead of giving hope, security and economic growth, dealt us only with unemployment, fear, hatred and violence,'' he added, PTI reported.

Continuing his attack against the BJP, the Congress president said, ''I know they (BJP) have lots of money as some of the richest Indians, including perhaps those who have run away with money stolen from Indian banks, are their supporters,'' and urged the tribals of Meghalaya to teach the saffron party ''a lesson'' in the February 27 state Assembly polls.

Lauding the work of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, he said, ''He (Sangma) ushered in an era of unprecedented growth and prosperity and by being one of the most hardworking chief ministers in the country, one can see tremendous development.''

Referring to the ruling BJP-NPF-NPP alliance in neighbouring Manipur, the Congress president accused it of running the state with ''ill-gotten money and power''.

(With PTI inputs)
New Delhi: Viral sensation Priya Prakash Varrier became an overnight star after a clip from her debut Malayalam film 'Oru Adaar Love' went viral. What followed was a nationwide frenzy and some legal hassles too.

'Oru Adaar Love' filmmaker Omar Lulu and Priya Prakash moved the Supreme Court recently seeking a stay on an FIR filed against them by the Hyderabad Police in connection with a controversy over the lyrics of the song Manikya Malaraya Poovi from the film Oru Adaar Love.

Reportedly, the complaint alleges that the song hurts religious sentiments. According to ANI, the Apex court is likely to hear the plea today.

Earlier on February 16, the Raza Academy had penned a letter to Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani seeking a ban on internet sensation Varrier's song 'Manikya Malaraya Poovi' from her debut movie 'Oru Adaar Love'.

The academy alleged that the Malayalam song insulted Prophet Mohammad and his 'pious wife'.

Asif Sardar, President, Rehmani Group, urged Smriti Irani to, therefore "immediately issue instructions to the censor board and the filmmaker to cut the song and spare the nation from yet another controversy."

The academy also held a protest in Mumbai in front of the Minara Mosque, where they held placards with messages like, "Stop misuse of sacred personalities."

The first song of Malayalam movie 'Oru Adaar Love' became viral on social media within a few hours of its release because of Varrier's articulations. Since then, the 18-year-old has become the talk of the town.

(With ANI inputs)
New Delhi: Viral sensation Priya Prakash Varrier became an overnight star after a clip from her debut Malayalam film 'Oru Adaar Love' went viral. What followed was a nationwide frenzy and some legal hassles too.

'Oru Adaar Love' filmmaker Omar Lulu and Priya Prakash moved the Supreme Court recently seeking a stay on an FIR filed against them by the Hyderabad Police in connection with a controversy over the lyrics of the song Manikya Malaraya Poovi from the film Oru Adaar Love.

Reportedly, the complaint alleges that the song hurts religious sentiments. According to PTI, the Apex court will hear Priya's plea seeking a stay on criminal proceedings against her over her viral wink video.

On February 16, the Raza Academy had penned a letter to Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani seeking a ban on internet sensation Varrier's song 'Manikya Malaraya Poovi' from her debut movie 'Oru Adaar Love'.

In her plea, Varrier, a student of B.Com from a college in Thrissur district of Kerala, sought protection from an FIR lodged on complaints alleging that the lyrics of the song 'Manikya Malaraya Poovi' from the movie 'Oru Addar Love' was "offensive" or has "violated the religious sentiment of a particular community". In her plea, she has said that an FIR has been lodged against her on February 14 at Falaknama police station at Hyderabad on a complaint that alleges that the song hurt the religious sentiment of a particular community.

She said that on the same day, a criminal complaint was also filed by the Secretary of Raza Academy, Mumbai, with the Commissioner of Police to take appropriate action against the petitioners, taking down the video and prevent it from being broadcast.

"The present petition has been filed as a result of multiple criminal proceedings which have been instituted against the petitioners in the states of Telangana and Maharashtra. The complaint filed is against the song titled 'Manikya Malaraya Poovi' which was released on Youtube as a song of the film. In Telangana, an FIR has already been registered against the Petitioner no.2. (director of the movie).

"The criminal complaints have been instituted by various fringe groups based on a distorted and incorrect interpretation of the song in the states of Telangana, Maharashtra and similar complaints are likely from other non-Malayalam speaking states as well," she had said in her plea filed through advocate Pallavi Pratap. She said the entire controversy has resulted in the filing of several criminal complaints, while the FIR arises from the lyrics of the song, which is a Mappila song or a traditional number from the Malabar region of Kerala.

The plea said the claims that it hurt religious sentiments of the Muslim community are "without any basis and what is hard to fathom is that a song which has been in existence for the past 40 years, which was written, sung and cherished by the Muslim community in Kerala is now being treated as an insult to the Prophet and his wife."

"It is submitted that a song, which ...Has been cherished by more than one crore Muslim population of Kerala, cannot suddenly offend the religious sentiment of the Muslim community," the plea said.

It stated that criminal complaints and registration of FIRs in multiple states on the basis of complaints by "fringe elements who have misunderstood the lyrics of the song which they claim allegedly offended their religious sentiments and that of their community has adversely affected the petitioners right to life, liberty and freedom of expression under the Constitution."

The plea had said the movie is yet to be completed and an amount of Rs. 1.5 crore has been spent on it but such "flimsy and baseless" complaints and FIRs cause nothing but a hindrance to freedom of speech and expression granted under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution and was an outright abuse of the process of law.

"Such acts only result in curbing the freedom expression of people and have also resulted in dragging the Petitioner No.1, who is a young college student, into a criminal case for merely acting in a movie," it had said.

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.

(With PTI inputs)
New Delhi: Lakhs of central government employees, eagerly waiting for the implementation of enhanced pay scale and fitment factor hike under 7th Pay Commission, may hear some good news in April.



As per media reports, the Finance Ministry has set up a panel that will take a final call on demands of these employees by April this year.

Reports have also added that the central government is working on a strategy to accomodate the concerns of lower-level employees of pay matrix between level 1 and 5 with reports coming in that it is contemplating hike in pay with fitment formula 3.00 times of basic pay of 6th pay commission.

The new scales of pay provide for entry-level basic pay going up from Rs 7,000 per month to Rs 18,000, while at the highest level i.e. Secretary, it would go up from Rs 90,000 to Rs 2.5 lakh. For Class 1 officers, the starting salary will be Rs 56,100.

However, the central government employees unions had demanded for hiking minimum pay of Rs 18,000 to Rs 26,000. They also demanded that fitment factor be raised from 2.57 times to 3.68 times.

The Union Cabinet had in June approved recommendations of the CPC with 34 modifications, which will mean an additional annual burden of Rs 30,748 crore on the exchequer.

All allowances are given effect from July 1, 2017.

The recommendations benefit over 1 crore employees. This includes over 47 lakh central government employees and 53 lakh pensioners, of which 14 lakh employees and 18 lakh pensioners are from the defence forces.

The Narendra Modi government has vowed to resolve all the payment, arear, hiked allowances and fitment formula related issues rising out of the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission.
New Delhi: After a six-member team from NASA completed an 8-month-long simulation activity of living on a Mars-like habitat in Hawaii in 2017, another six-member team of Israeli researchers on Sunday ended a four-day Mars habitat experiment in Israels Negev desert where they simulated living conditions on the Red Planet.

The experiment was held near the isolated Israeli township of Mitzpe Ramon, whose surroundings resemble the Martian environment in its geology, aridity, appearance, and desolation, Israels Science and Technology Ministry said.

With American space agency NASA's preparations for a Mars probe already underway and SpaceX chief Elon Musk being extremely vocal about his plans for his own mission, the Martian landscape awaits human domination.

While we wish it were that easy, it isn't really. There are numerous challenges that scientists face on a daily basis, but they know that giving up is not an option and numerous studies and experiments are underway to bring the Martian dream to fruition.

From landing sites to human housing on Mars, everything has been taken into account. However, one of the main concerns of the mission is human survival in the Martian atmosphere and in every aspect, experimentation is key.

The participants were investigating various fields relevant to a future Mars mission, including satellite communications, the psychological effects of isolation, radiation measurements and searching for life signs in the soil.

Participant Guy Ron, a nuclear physics professor from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, said the project was not only intended to look for new approaches in designing a future mission to the Red Planet but to increase public interest.

D-Mars is half about the research, and the other half is about the outreach. A major part of this project is getting public interest and getting students interested in space, he said.

The D-Mars project was being held in Israel for the first time in cooperation with the Israel Space Agency. It is one of a number of Mars simulation projects taking place worldwide.

(With inputs from Reuters)
CHENNAI: Veteran Tamil film star Kamal Haasan is all set to launch his political party in Madurai on Wednesday. The actor-turned-politician will start his day by visiting Rameswaram. In the evening, he will unfurl the party flag and declare the ideas and ideology of his political journey.

Earlier today, Haasan took to Twitter and said, "Our long journey is set to begin tomorrow. I am set to hoist our party flag at 6 pm a huge public meeting at the Othakadai Ground in Madurai. I am about to unveil the name of the party and also explain our political ideology. All are welcome to the creation of a new epoch. #maiam."

On Tuesday, he arrived in Rameswaram and was given a rousing welcome by his supporters.

Haasan is scheduled to set out on a yatra from this island and launch the political party in Madurai, which is about 170 km from Rameswaram.

On his arrival at his native Ramanathapuram district in southern Tamil Nadu, his supporters raised slogans 'Hail Varungala Muthalvere"(future chief minister) Hail Kamal Haasan'.

The 62-year old superstar greeted the gathering outside the hotel where he was staying and said he would speak about everything on his political journey tomorrow.

On Wednesday, he is expected to address the fishermen after visiting former president APJ Abdul Kalam's house and getting blessings from the late leader's elder brother. Haasan would also visit the memorial of Kalam.

Later in the day, he would leave for Madurai and address public meetings in Ramanathapuram, Manamadurai and Paramakudi - his hometown.

While announcing his political tour last month, 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 had said.

(With agency inputs)
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the twoday Uttar Pradesh investors summit in Lucknow on Wednesday. The summit is aimed at showcasing investment opportunities and potential across various sectors in the state.

The mega event is being organised to bring together heads of states and governments, ministers, leaders from the corporate world, senior policymakers, heads of international institutions and academicians from around the world to further the cause of economic development in the state and promote cooperation to pave way for better investments, according to an official statement, PTI reported.

More than 5,000 delegates are scheduled to attend the two-day summit and over 100 speakers will be addressing gatherings.

Speaking to reporters, state industries minister Satish Mahana had on Monday said, "PM Modi and CM Yogi want to make UP a dream destination for investors, who are very excited to attend the summit. We want to make it a history. We have already signed 900 MoUs."

Ahead of Summit govt signs over 900 MoUs with investors. #AreYouInUP #UPInvestorsSummit2018 pic.twitter.com/EXJUhomJfb  Government of UP (@UPGovt) February 20, 2018

Refusing to elaborate on the amount of investment, the minister said the event will provide an opportunity to showcase the potential and promise that the state holds for industrial development.

On the other hand, UP CM Yogi Adityanath said, "The government is organising this for the betterment of the public. Through this event, UP will get an opportunity to change its image. Hence, it is the responsibility of every department that it should strive for its success."

"The state government has implemented policies for various sectors. The respective ministers, principal secretaries and their subordinate staff must go through the policies, so that the investors can be given correct information about the policies," he added.

There are a total 30 sessions scheduled to be held in two days, during which representatives from Mauritius, Japan, the Netherlands, Finland, Czech Republic, Thailand and Slovakia will also be participating, Industrial and Investment Development Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey said.

Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitaraman, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Smriti Irani, Piyush Goyal and Dharmendra Pradhan, along with others, will be present during the sessions, he said.

Top industrialists, including Gautam Adani, Mukesh Ambani, Subhash Chandra, N Chandrashekharan, Anand Mahindra, KM Birla, Shobana Kamineni, will also be addressing various sessions.

(With PTI inputs)
LUCKNOW: An Uttar Pradesh-based government teacher forced a minor to strip on the pretext on taking measurements for her school uniform.



The incident took place in a government school in Kannauj's Jalalpur Katri Banger village.

The teacher called the student in a room and asked her to take off her clothes. He said that he needed to take the girl child's measurements for school uniform. Scared, the student complied with the teacher's orders.

Several classmates of victim, who witnessed the incident, later reported it to the authorities.

A teacher of a government school in Kannauj's Jalalpur Katri Banger village allegedly stripped a Class 8th student on pretext of taking her measurements for new uniform, allegations confirmed by other students of the school. Case registered, accused arrested. (19.02.2018) pic.twitter.com/MjK869GcUk  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) February 20, 2018

A case has been registered and the accused arrested, said the police.
UTTAR PRADESH: The Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) has announced to start their recruitment drive for over 2800 posts on their official website.

Eligible candidates can apply for the position of Accounts Officer, Assistant Account and Technician.

For online submission of forms, the portal will open on 21st February 2018. Applicants can submit the application on or prior 13th March 2018. Exam for selection of the candidates will be conducted in the second week of April.

To check more details candidates can go through the details of the job available online on the official website of UPPCL @www.uppcl.org

Eligibility criteria for the applicant :

-Accounts Officer: Applicants are required to have qualified the final exam of CA (ICAI) or Cost Accountant (ICWAI).

-Assistant Accountant: Candidates between the age group of 21-40 years with Bachelor's degree in Commerce are eligible to apply.

-Technician: Candidates between the age group of 18-40 years holding Class 10 pass qualification and NCVT/ SCVT certificate in Electrician, Electrical trades are eligible to apply.

Exam pattern :

-Accounts Officer: First a written exam will be conducted of 200 marks following the interview of 25 marks.

-Assistant Accountant: The exam will cover varied topics ranging from computer knowledge, general English, General Hindi, Arithmetic, Accountancy, Auditing and Income Tax.

-Technicians: The exam will broadly cover General English, General Hindi and General knowledge.

Estimated Pay Scale :

-Accounts Officer: Hired candidate will get monthly salary of around Rs 56,100

-Assistant Account: Hired candidate will get monthly salary of around Rs 29,800

-Technician: Hired candidate will get monthly salary of around Rs 27,200
In a startling revelation, a report has claimed that China is in talks with terrorists in Balochistan to protect projects which are part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). According to Financial Times, China has been in talks with the terrorists for more than five years.

Pakistans close ally China has engaged its officials in talks with terrorists in south-west part of Balochistan, which houses several vital projects that are part of the high-stake economic corridor.

The Financial Times report quoted an anonymous Pakistani official as saying that Beijing has made a lot of progress with regard to convincing terrorists to not target projects under CPEC.

The revelations come almost two months after China issued an advisory for its nationals in Pakistan, warning them against imminent terrorist attacks on projects that are part of the $57 billion CPEC.

"It is understood that terrorists plan in the near term to launch a series of attacks against Chinese organisations and personnel in Pakistan," the Chinese embassy in Pakistan had said in a statement on its website.

The embassy warned all "Chinese-invested organisations and Chinese citizens to increase security awareness, strengthen internal precautions, reduce trips outside as much as possible, and avoid crowded public spaces".

It also asked Chinese nationals to cooperate with Pakistan`s police and the military, and to alert the embassy in the event of an emergency.

Later, in February, the Pakistani establishment raised an alarm fearing an attack by India on CPEC installations in the country.

According to Pakistan-based media agency Dawn, the Pakistan government had written to Gilgil-Baltistan home department in this regard.

Dawn quoted an official of the home department as saying that a recent directive by the countrys Interior Ministry warned of a possible attack on the CPEC route.

According to the report, the letter sent by Pakistan Interior Ministry said that India had sent a group of 400 Muslim youth to Afghanistan to get training, following which they would be used to attack CPEC installations in Pakistan.

The targets of India include bridges at Karakoram Highway, mentioned the letter.
MALE: The Maldives Parliamentary Standing Committee on Tuesday voted to extend the state of emergency by 30 days. The island nation has been in Emergency since Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom had declared it on February 5.

The development comes shortly after India issued a statement saying that it expects that the Maldives government will not extend the state of emergency. The statement also underlined the difference in New Delhi's view with Yameen, who moved on Monday to have the emergency extended by 15 days.

The ongoing political crisis in Maldives has pressed New Delhi into a balancing act. It has had to repeatedly clarify that it does not intend to militarily intervene in the crisis, like it did in 1988.

India's possible role in bringing the crisis to a close has also been complicated by China's newfound toehold in the Maldives. Gayoom has taken Maldives into China's influence, having signed up to be a part of the 'maritime silk road' as part of Chinese President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative.

Massive protests had erupted in the island nation after President Gayoom refused to follow the Supreme Court's ruling to release the key political prisoners and reinstate the 12 MPs.

Earlier this month, 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, 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.
Indias two neighbours  Pakistan and China  seem to have just got closer. After getting together on big-bang projects like China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), news that the Pakistani Senate has a motion to declare Mandarin as one of the official languages of the country caused a furore online. However, it emerged that the snafu was a result of incorrect reporting by a Pakistani news channel.

Pakistani media reports suggested that the country's Senate had okayed the move. It turns out a Senator had moved a motion to promote the teaching of Mandarin in a bid to remove communication bottlenecks for CPEC.

The incorrect report however sparked off a round of criticism.

Pakistan's Ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani tweeted: "In a short span of 70 years, Pakistan has flirted with promoting four languages that were not the mother tongue of many people in the country- English, Urdu, Arabic, and now Chinese  ignoring native languages.

Punjabi, which is widely spoken in Punjab province of Pakistan, Pashto and many other native languages have not been declared official languages of the country.

According to Dawn News, Pakistanis are more interested in learning the Chinese language than ever as they see the tides changing and expect that knowing Mandarin would mean more job opportunities in Pakistan and China.

(With agency inputs)
The results of the conference are rather disappointing for Ukraine: due to other numerous world problems, the solution of the "Ukrainian issue" looks less urgent to the international community

Read the original text at 112.ua.

One of the most important world informal forums has come to its end in Germany. About 30 leaders of states and government, as well as more than 100 foreign and defense ministers, took part in Munich International Conference on Security Policy. Of course, no key decisions are made at such events, but it is a good platform for discussing urgent political problems concerning the balance of forces in the world, strengthening the system of international law and a democratic world order. Accordingly, for Ukraine as a state involved in an armed conflict, this is another opportunity to attract attention, to hold additional negotiations with the allies and to outline further steps to resolve problematic issues. Let us try to sum up, what was said about our country at the Munich Conference.

Ukraine: shield and sword of Europe

This year Ukrainians were expecting at the Munich International Conference on Security Policy at least three events: statements by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, presentation of the report of former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on the introduction of the peacekeeping mission to Donbas, and the negotiations of the Foreign Ministers of the Normandy Four.

The first event took place on Friday, February 16. Like a year earlier, Poroshenko spoke about Russian aggression and globalization. The president not only said that Russia had attacked Ukraine and continues to wage a hybrid war in Donbas, he noted that these actions are "gradually turning into a full-scale World Hybrid War" and there are countless indications of this: interference in the internal affairs of countries, attempts to influence elections, fake news, cyber attacks and increasing military capabilities, including nuclear capabilities.

Poroshenko stressed that the Russian government is not interested in absorbing Donbas, its goal is Europe and revenge for the collapse of the Soviet Union. Therefore, in his opinion, European countries should unite and show Moscow that blackmailing and aggression on the continent are over. Namely, they should provide all-round support to Ukraine and say "no" to the recognition of the Russian presidential elections in the occupied Crimea, restoration of Russia's powers in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, visits to Moscow in search of economic benefits, and to the "Northern stream-2".

"Today, Ukraine is the main battleground for the European order and security architecture. In fact, Ukraine is the shield and sword of Europe, so do not miss the chance to build something more than just an order in Europe by supporting us. Defending Ukraine, you protect your sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of your countries," Poroshenko noted.

However, there was no significant effect from these words. Although the conference organizers announced Poroshenkos speech as one of the most anticipated on the first day of the forum, probably for the first time Poroshenko delivered his speech before a half-empty hall. And this is a signal that the international community is losing interest in the "Ukrainian issue."

Peacekeepers in Donbas

The previous thesis might be confirmed by a narrow discussion of the report on the introduction of the UN peacekeeping mission to Donbas, which was presented on Saturday, February 17. On the margins of the Munich conference, those directly involved in the relevant negotiations were interested in this issue.

So, the report on UN peacekeepers in Donbas was presented by the former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who at the moment is an adviser to the president of Ukraine. According to him, the organization must send to the occupied territories of Ukraine at least 20 thousand peacekeepers and 4 thousand police officers. To prevent Russia from blocking the UN mission, all peacekeepers should not belong to the countries of the alliance. They could be from Finland, Sweden, Austria or Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Belarus.

"Several months ago, Putin himself proposed a peacekeeping mission for the east of Ukraine, but he projected it to be small and without a clear mandate. He suggested that the peacekeepers could control only the contact line between free Ukraine and occupied Ukraine. It means a frozen conflict. The peacekeepers need a mandate, which includes the control of the present international border between Russia and Ukraine," Rasmussen said.

At the same time, the NATO ex-secretary general added that he does not believe that the issue of introducing UN peacekeepers to Donbas would be compromised before the presidential elections in Russia.

The current head of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, also considers that the idea of UN peacekeepers in the Donbas is quite far from realization, but Rasmussen's position on the mandate of peacekeepers to the entire occupied territory is supported. In addition, on the margins of the Munich Conference, Sweden and Finland stated about their readiness to participate in the operation in Donbas.

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Ordered by Rasmusen, the report on the expediency and methods of applying the 20,000-strong contingent of "blue helmets" has already been handed to the US Department of State special representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker. "If the peacekeeping mission in Ukraine can help realize the Minsk agreements, finally reach peace and restore Ukraine's territorial integrity, it is up to Russia to decide if they want peace and security for the Russian-speaking population, then let them explain why peacekeepers are a bad idea," the US special envoy noted.

It is important to note that Russia does not really support the idea of introducing UN peacekeepers in Donbas, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has once again confirmed it in Munich. He marked the peacekeeping mission almost a military monster.

The failure of the "Normandy Four"

But the biggest fiasco for Ukraine at the Munich International Conference was the cancellation of the Normandy Four meeting. Initially, it was scheduled on February 16; later the negotiations were postponed to February 17, and then they were canceled at all.

The formal reason for canceling the meeting was the change in plans of German acting Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel. He interrupted his participation in the Munich conference and flew to Berlin to meet Deniz Yuzel, a journalist from Die Welt, who spent a year in a Turkish prison and was released on Friday.

Open source

However, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Pavlo Klimkin, still managed to talk with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. The talks lasted for about an hour, but after the meeting, nothing new was said. "We have to continue the discussion, so far we have not agreed on anything, the Russian viewpoint is different," Klimkin noted. The head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry added that he also discussed the question of SCCC and how the center could resume work after the Russians left it.

US assistance, cooperation with NATO

Along with this, important bilateral meetings between the President Poroshenko and officials took place in Munich. So, the head of the Ukrainian state discussed cooperation in the military-technical sphere (in particular, on Javelin deliveries) with the US Secretary of Defense James Mattis. At a meeting with a delegation of the US Congress, the issue of strengthening sanctions against Russia was raised.

Poroshenko discussed the resumption of cooperation with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. "I have got the full support of the bill on national security, the bill on reforms that are part of our NATO plan, we said that we should do everything possible to unblock cooperation with the alliance," the president said.

During the meeting with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, Poroshenko spoke about carrying out reforms and further rapprochement with the EU.

In addition, Poroshenko also met with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Moravetski. They have discussed the recent amendments to the sensational law "On the Polish INP" in Poland and a statement assessing the activities of the Ukrainian hetman Bogdan Khmelnytsky.

However, for the international community, perhaps the most interesting topic related to Ukraine remains the implementation of reforms in the country. The best thing about Ukraines reforms was voiced by Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland in her speech at the "Ukrainian Lunch". "Do not make reforms for us, Ukrainians need changes for themselves and for Ukraine. This is not some kind of favor that Ukrainians should do for the West," the minister stressed.

Having read all this, an ordinary Ukrainian might think that things are very bad. But this is a false idea. Donbas conflict does not look so horrific for Europe today, but the threat of a nuclear war does. This topic was central at this year Munich conference.
Open source

Since Tuesday morning, illegal armed units of Russian militants attacked positions of Ukraine's government troops eight times. One Ukrainian serviceman deceased, another three sustained combat injuries.

The enemy used 82 and 120 mm mortars, infantry fighting vehicles, AA guns and grenade launchers to shell Troitske, Krymske, Lomakyno and Katerynivka (all in Luhansk region).
The Foreign Ministry also noted that Ukraine makes it clear to the Russian Federation that "no one will play by its rules"

Open source

Belarus cannot participate in the UN peacekeeping mission in Donbas, since it is a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). This was announced by Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine for European Integration Olena Zerkal on the air of 5 TV Channel.

"As far as I know, Belarus has not withdrawn from the CSTO and is a member of this organization, and if we exclude NATO, it is very logical that we do not say that the CSTO countries are also participating in the mission," Zerkal said.

Zerkal also commented on the talks about the peacekeeping mission. In particular, she stressed that the "DNR" and "LNR" are not parties to the negotiations, therefore, the efforts of Ukraine and its Western partners are aimed at making Russian Federation understand that "no one will play by its rules."

The organization of the Collective Security Treaty (CSTO) is a military-political international organization that includes Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan. The organization is considered as the main interstate tool designed to counter regional challenges and threats of military-political and military-strategic nature, including combating illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

As it was reported earlier the Foreign Minister of Belarus Vladimir Makei said that the country is ready to send its peacekeepers to Donbas to settle the situation in the region. Makei stressed that there is no place for sanctions in the international relations.

As it was reported earlier the military-technical cooperation between Ukraine and Belarus has decreased due to the status of Minsk as a platform for peaceful resolution of the Donbas conflict, as head of State military-industrial committee of Belarus Oleg Dvigalev said.
Foreign Minister specified that it will take six to nine months for the staged deployment of the mission

Pavlo Klimkin, the Foreign Minister of Ukraine expressed the confidence that it is impossible to withdraw the occupation authority from Donbas without the deployment of the UN peacekeepers as ICTV broadcasted.

I sincerely think that if we do not deploy the international element in Donbas that it will be impossible to withdraw the occupation administration. We need two things for this: the first one is the permission of the president of Russia and the second is the way of the deployment of the peacekeepers to make it work. There will be no progress without this, he said.

According to Klimkin, the Ukrainian side thinks that the mission should cover the whole occupied territory the minimal level of the security should be provided. He specified that it will take six to nine months for the staged deployment of the mission.

Earlier Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the former NATO head, adviser to the president of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko expressed the opinion that with the help of sanctions, it is possible to force the Russian Federation to show flexibility in the issue of the UN peacekeeping mission in Donbas. Poroshenko claimed that currently, Russia has a chance to show some readiness for consensus and agree to UN peacekeepers.

As it was reported earlier the draft resolution of Russia, which provides for the deployment of peacekeepers in Donbas only along the line of conflict, is unacceptable for the United States and the United Nations, since it will not guarantee security, but will deepen the conflict. Special Representative of the United States for Ukraine Kurt Volker stated this.
OSCE SMM also recorded the presence of armored combat vehicles, anti-aircraft guns and other signs of military presence

OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine recorded 643 explosions in Donbas in the period from 19:30 of February 16 to 19:30 of February 18. This was reported on the website of the organization.

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, between the evenings of 16 and 17 February, including about 530 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 120 explosions). Between the evenings of 17 and 18 February, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including about 90 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours, the message says.

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including 16 explosions, between the evenings of 16 and 17 February, compared with the previous reporting period (about 70 explosions). Between the evenings of 17 and 18 February, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including seven explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours.

On 18 February, the SMM saw freshly dug trenches extending for about 800m along a road 2.5km south of Krasnohorivka (government-controlled, 21km west of Donetsk). About 1.3km north-east of the north-eastern edge of the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, the SMM saw for the first time barbed wire blocking one of the lanes of road P-22.

As it was reported earlier Ukraine's armed forces have advanced in the western part of Luhansk region, pushing the enemy away from the area of Novooleksandrivka village. Alexander Hug, the first deputy head of OSCE SMM in Ukraine reported this at the breifing on February 16.

OSCE also reported frequent use of the Minsk-banned weaponry in Luhansk region since Wednesday; over 3,000 ceasefire violations were reported over one day, which is the worst index of violence per one day in the entire combat area since March 2017.
Roman Sushchenko, the Ukrainian reporter illegally detained in Russia, has examined all 12 volumes of the criminal case against him. Mark Feygin, Sushchenkos lawyer reported that on Tuesday. He added that he and the defendant plan to look into the evidence now, which would take the rest of the week.

Suschenko was detained in September 2016 at an airport in Moscow. He was charged with espionage in favor of the Ukrainian intelligence. Since then, Sushchenko has been kept in jail. Ukraine has repeatedly appealed to the Russian Federation with a demand to immediately release the journalist.
Production growth is linked to the increased acreage under sugar beet and the launch of four more sugar refineries.

Open source

Ukraines sugar refineries have completed the current sugar production season, having produced 2.14 million tons of sugar, which indicates a 6.5% increase from the figure observed a year earlier. The Ukrainian National Association of Sugar Producers press service informed about this citing the head of the analytics department Ruslana Butylo, UNIAN reports.

According to Ruslana Butylo, this growth took place thanks to the increased acreage under sugar beet and the establishment of four brand new sugar refineries/

The Ukrainian leader in terms of sugar output within the period was Vinnytsia region (Western Ukraine), where 445,600 tons of sugar were produced. Khmelnytsky region (Western Ukraine) came second with over 290 thousand tons of sugar having originated from there. Ternopil region (Western Ukraine) produced a total of 283,500 tons of sugar and became third largest in terms of sugar output in Ukraine.

Furthermore, planned upgrades of sugar refineries provided for a boost the output of sugar of the first category accounted for 50% of the total production structure against last years 30%, - Butylo said.

During the 2017 spring sowing campaign, Ukrainian farmers sowed sugar beets on an area of 313,000 hectares, according to the agrarian ministry.

Over the past season of sugar refining, which went on between 20 August 2016 and 11 January 2017, Ukrainian enterprises processed a total of 13.7 million tons of sugar beets, which resulted in the production of 2.01 million tons of sugar. On the other hand, the demand on the Ukrainian market was estimated at 1.54 million tons.

In 2016, the output of raw sugar materials rose by 30% compared to the figure exhibited in 2015, whereas sugar production grew by 40%.
When we talk about the current state of Polish-Ukrainian relations, first we must abandon the logic that "the Poles think so" and "Ukrainians think differently." In fact, both in Polish and in Ukrainian societies, different groups think differently - and, accordingly, refer differently to the Polish law on the Institute of National Memory (hereinafter - INM). As among the Ukrainians and among the Poles there are large groups that hate Bandera, and those who joyfully support what the Polish Sejm did because they believe that it is to their advantage. And it's not only separatists in Crimea or Donbas, but I suppose that many Ukrainians in the East and the South of Ukraine think so as well. But there are many Poles (in particular, among those I know) who believe that these laws are bad, stupid and even criminal. It is very important to understand: there is no "wall to wall" - there are different groups. The worst thing in this situation is that it weakens positions of those groups on both sides who are in favor of Ukrainian and Polish reconciliation because with the growth of antagonism the field for compromise and consensus is narrowing. This is the first thing.



Secondly, when the Poles talk about Ukrainian nationalism, and we talk about the national liberation struggle, then we use two different terms to mean the same thing - nationalism as a phenomenon. Nationalism in the modern world is notorious - because it is associated primarily with bloody conflicts and genocides. But this is a journalistic or political understanding. The scientific understanding of nationalism is much broader and more neutral: any movement and any ideology are nationalistic when it believes that every nation must have its own state. And since two neighboring nationalisms often struggle for common territories, the victory of one of them inevitably means the defeat of the other. And the winner, of course, will resort to his rhetoric: we were patriots - and our enemies are bloody nationalists.



And the main tool for creating such a noble image of their nation and denigrating the stranger is a historical memory. We must understand one simple rule: historical memory is not history. It is rather a distorted image of the past. As the great nationalist theorist Ernst Rennan said: "misunderstanding of history is part of the nation's being." That is, if we correctly understand history, we cease to be a nation. This applies to Americans, French, Poles, Ukrainians, and Jews alike.



The misunderstanding of history is that we want to forget those moments from our past that are unpleasant to us. Therefore, strange as it may sound, historical memory is not so much a memory as a forgetting. We try to forget about those things that show our ancestors in an unattractive light. And vice versa, to highlight the history that is convenient for us. Which makes us great, honest, moral, and the like. This is a general universal rule. Ukrainians and Poles did not invent anything new.

Talking about Bandera. The recent polls that we conducted have shown that in Ukraine a significant part of those Ukrainians who support Bandera are friendly to the Poles. Even greater surprise: the number of those who support the erection of the monument in his city or village, among Poles in Ukraine is almost twice more as much as among the Ukrainians. That is, it confirms what many of us said before: the Bandera myth in Ukraine does not have a definitely anti-Polish direction. It is rather anti-Russian, it is especially active in the conditions of Russian aggression. But many Poles in Poland do not think so. In their understanding, the Bandera myth is an anti-polish myth. Because they connect Bandera with Volyn. Although we all know that Bandera did not have a direct relationship with this because he was at that time in a German concentration camp. Perhaps he would have done such deeds if he was free, but he did not lead the Bandera movement at that time - that's a fact. Conventionally, Polish historical memory is built on a wrong, very selective, schematic, biased choice or interpretation of certain historical details. And the trouble is that the present Polish government is now actually promoting this kind of memory.



My advice on what to do about it will be very simple: do not pay attention. I think that the statement to the Polish Foreign Ministry to the Ukrainians was quite an adequate response. Because the Polish government has caused such a flurry of attacks, primarily from Israel and Europe, that personally, I would not want to be in its place. This is a law that completely compromised the very idea of historical politics. The irony is that Ukraine looks attractive enough in the context of this law. As one Polish publicist wrote: "We wanted to teach Ukrainians how not to be nationalists, and now they showed the world that we are still bigger nationalists than Ukrainians."



Important, if not decisive, is the position of Kaczynski himself - the leader of the party and, as a matter of fact, the unofficial leader of that wing of Poland, which now requires revision of the historical policy. It should be noted that his brother when he was president, was never a patron of any conference that dealt with the Volyn massacre. This was a principled position. The current Kaczynski did not occupy this position for a long time. We remember that both Kaczynski were on Maidan: the first - on the first one, and the second - on the second one.



What happened then? It's just that Yaroslav Kaczynski after the Dignity Revolution had a certain scheme. And it cannot be overcome because it is a scheme of not quite an adequate person. It says that his brother did not just die - he was killed by Putin for Ukraine. Because Lech Kaczynski very strongly supported Ukraine. And how did Ukraine thank? With heroization of Bandera!

Why Ukraine needs Bandera? It's very simple - it's the myth of a nation that fights. He has a strong anti-Russian and anti-Soviet context, despite the fact that Ukraine is now fighting against Russia. And this myth is very strong, although it is not the main one. We also know as much about real Bandera as Poles know. My thesis is that Bandera is credited with crimes he did not commit, as well as achievements to which he has no relation. At least because since 1939 he has never been in Ukraine. The movement that acted on his behalf during and after the war had no direct relationship to him. Conversely, those people who created this movement after they were in exile, entered into a very acute conflict with Bandera. Because Bandera did not understand what happened during the war, and how far the evolution of the Bandera movement had been over the years of his absence in Ukraine.



That is, Bandera is an extremely complex figure that requires a good biography. And not the one that would make him a bandit or a hero, but a real biography that would allow you to conclude who he really was and what he really did.



About the situation around Bandera in Polish-Ukrainian relations. It is hardly possible to expect the same attitude of the British and Irish to Cromwell (ed., Lord Protector of England in the middle of the 17th century, who was a military leader during the Civil War and considered an English national hero, despite the ambiguity of his actions). In such a situation, one must try to reconcile around conflicting symbols. I think that under the present government of Poland this is impossible. The Poles themselves say that "the Pole is wise after harm." The damage has already been done, and now we will see whether the government will become wiser. I repeat: here I am more a skeptic. I think that the changes can occur only with the coming to power of a new opposition. But when this happens, it's hard to predict. Because this government, thanks to its populist politics, remains popular. And historical politics is part of this populism. Even more: we do not expect that the changes will occur immediately after the arrival of the new government. Therefore, we must be ready for a long enough difficult period in relations with Poland. But we must not stop working for Polish-Ukrainian reconciliation. For this reconciliation, there is no another alternative.



And last but not least. I really would not want us to adopt the present Polish experience as an example for imitation. The postwar European model is built on two pillars: reconciliation between peoples and the recognition of common responsibility for crimes, even if they were committed by a minority of a particular society. By its policy, the current government deliberately shakes this model - because it works to weaken, not strengthen the European Union. But our strategic interest is strong, not divided West. And if our European integration intentions are serious, we must overcome history, and not get stuck in it more and more.
Read the original text at 112.ua.

Open source

When people describe the business in Turkey, they usually laud its small and medium business. Definitely, about 96% of all Turkish enterprises belong to small and medium businesses. At the same time, the share of small and medium-sized businesses in Turkey's exports is 55%. It is great, but let us look at the details.

Turkey has a large number of small and medium-sized enterprises, but if we compare the economic performance of these enterprises, we can say that the Ukrainian small and medium business is very similar to Turkish. Judge for yourself. A share of workers in small and medium-sized enterprises in Turkey is 73%. 63% of all employees are involved in small and medium-sized enterprises in Ukraine.

About 54% of wages in Turkey are paid to workers in small and medium businesses. In Ukraine, this figure is 62%. The share of small and medium businesses in Turkey's GDP is 54%, in Ukraine, this figure reaches 61%. Turkish small and medium-sized businesses are engaged in trade, just like in Ukraine.

In Turkey and Ukraine, small and medium-sized businesses do not like to pay taxes and is the main source of "illicit economy", although it is formally believed that there is less "illicit economy" in Turkey than in Ukraine (45% in Ukraine, 38% in Turkey). In general, the economy of Ukraine, and especially the economy of small and medium business is very close to the economy of Turkey. But there are also a number of significant differences, for example, in Turkey in 2016 (this is their latest data), the average salary was about 1,000 US dollars, and in Ukraine - only about 220 US dollars.

In Ukraine, there is no data on how much exports small and medium-sized businesses do. Most likely, the share is small. In Turkey, the share of small and medium-sized businesses in exports is very significant. Maybe that is why Turkey's exports exceed Ukraines export by several times? Indeed, if Ukrainian small and medium business also joined the export sphere of Ukraine, then it would be possible to actually increase exports from Ukraine. And here is useful Turkish experience.

The main buyer of products of Turkish small and medium enterprises is the EU. In 2016, the EU share in the export of small and medium-sized enterprises from Turkey was 55%. What does the Turkish business export to the EU? First of all, these are the products of machine building and light industry (chemical and food industry). Basically, these are products that are produced in Turkey under tolling schemes from EU countries.

Ukraines "Motor Sich" and "Antonov" are competative enterprises, but they have no place on the EU market. They are competitors for that market rather than their business partners. And that is why European businessmen do not want to deal with them. Moreover, any businessman understands that for an industrial cooperation it is easier to build a small workshop or plant with new equipment and logistics than to use an old Soviet inefficient equipment that remains at large enterprises. Therefore German, English, and even Chinese businesses conclude contracts with the Turkish small enterprises. In this case, Turkish companies receive a guaranteed sale, which always has problems in the modern world economy. At the same time, Turkish companies do not only sew panties and bras for Italian fashion designers but have long made high-tech equipment in a form of various components for European and global TNCs. "Mercedes" and "Boeing" companies use spare parts produced by Turkish small and medium business. As well new developments are used very often.

About 16% of small and medium-sized businesses in Turkey are high-tech enterprises, which not only twist the wires but also make sophisticated electronic equipment. Of course, it was a very long process, and at first, European companies placed orders for low-technology work in Turkey. And now many small and medium-sized Turkish enterprises perform such work for European companies, but there are also small Turkish manufactures that are in no way inferior to the leading European ones.

That is how we need to develop small and medium-sized businesses. And for this, we need to talk less about the growing investment attractiveness of Ukraine and create freer economic zones in Ukraine, as Turkey did. This is how the new technologies and investments will come to Ukraine.

Most of the small and medium-sized businesses that cooperate with the EU work in free economic zones. Since it is very important to remove the effect of double VAT payment, to make conditions for imports and exports under a simplified scheme, and not to interfere with inspections and quibbles, then even an enterprise employing ten people will be able to export products for millions of dollars. While Ukraine is dealing with smug complacency, our small and medium-sized business will stay "illicit", thinking how to earn more money rather than about development or new technologies.

As for the small and medium business trade in Turkey, it is clear that trade in Turkey is very dependent on tourists. In addition, very many small and medium-sized companies operate in the tourism sector. This is also a good support for the development of real small and medium businesses. But a powerful tourist area, it is, first of all, the world's networks of famous hotels and good transport infrastructure. This is how it works.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or 112.International and its owners.
These cases are examples of political persecutions of Ukrainians in the Russian-annexed peninsula

Ukraine's foreign ministry decisively condemns the fact that the Russian court considers cases against six Ukrainian citizens, residents of Crimea; they are accused of membership in Hizb-Ut Tahrir, the Islamist movement that is banned in Russia as the 'extremist organization'.

'The ministry expressed a decisive protest against the consideration of the trumped-up cases against Ukrainian citizens, - Muslim Aliyev, Emir-Usein Kuku, Vadym Siruk, Enver Bekirov, Refat Alimov, Arsen Dzhepparov'. The ministry demands that the Russian side immediately stop the politically motivated persecution of Crimean Tatars,' reads the statement, released on Tuesday evening.

Ukraine's foreign ministry urged the international community to condemn the illegal actions of the judiciary authorities of the Russian Federation and increase pressure on the aggressor so as to release the detained Ukrainians, illegally detained in Crimea.

Four of the six detainees were detained in February 2016 under accusations of being involved in Hizb Ut-Tahrir, the infamous terrorist organization. The four faced charges of involvement in the pan-Islamic terrorist organization that aims to wipe out the other religions and nations that cherish these religions. They are to stay in detention until late May.
The service should become the only body for the fight against the financial crimes against the state

The Finance Ministries of Lithuania and Ukraine agreed on the creation of the Coordination Committee for the implementation of the reform of the Ukrainian State Fiscal Service and creation of the Financial Investigations Service on February 19 as the press service of the Ukrainian Financial Ministry reported.

The representatives of the Finance Ministries of Lithuania and Ukraine who form the policy in the proper spheres will enter the membership of the Committee. At the suggestion of the Lithuanian side, the Ukrainian Finance Minister will head the Coordination Committee to coordinate the cooperation with the EU within the mentioned reforms, the message said.

It is noted that the service will be created within the EU program on the support of the implementation of State Finances Management Strategy and it should be the only body for the fight against the financial crimes against the state.

Earlier the representatives of Ukraine and Lithuania signed the number of the documents on the bilateral cooperation, particularly the protocol of the 10th session of the Council of the Presidents, a Memorandum of Understanding between Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine and the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania and the Agreement on Cooperation between the State Migration Service of Ukraine and the Migration Department of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania in the presence of leaders Petro Poroshenko and Dalia Grybauskaite.
Open source

Four Russian actors got listed in Myrotvorets database after they performed in annexed Crimea. Myrotvorets reports this.

Anatoly Vasilyev, Anna Bolshova, Egor Barinov, Olga Volkova got into a legal limbo. All the actors performed in a theatrical performance Family dinner at half past one in annexed Simferopol and Sevastopol.

These people consciously violated Ukraines state border with the intention to get in annexed Crimea.

As 112.international reported earlier, Volodymyr Bystriakov, the Ukrainian composer, was added to the database of the Myrotvorets Center for the public support of the Russian aggression in Ukraine.

He was not able to see the so-called purgatory and see the Russian military criminals that kill his compatriots. We decided to help and put him among them, the Myrotvorets wrote.

Since August 2014, Myrotvorets has been publicly posting personal data of thousands of people, including media professionals, NGO activists, labeling them as supporters of armed groups and terrorism.
The new rail tracks will be extended to Prague; countries are discussing technical questions now

Slovakia plans to expand railway communication with Ukraine. The representatives of the country inspected infrastructure to launch a railway route Uzhhorod-Kosice. Tomas Kovac, the speaker of the Railways of Slovak Republic, said it in the interview for Mukachevo.net.

He stated that there are two solutions to the problem for now.

Ukrzaliznytsia and Slovak Republic Railways are negotiating about launching the passenger border crossing point in destinations Matiovtse-Pavlovo and Kosice-Uzhhorod, with a further extension to Kyiv-Uzhhorod-Matiovtse-Kosice-Bratislava/Prague.

Slovak Rail, which constructs railroad infrastructure in the country joined the project.

The fact that the width of Ukrainian and Slovakian railroads are different should be considered, Kovac explained.

The first project presented by the countries is the construction of a special infrastructure in Matiovtse to adapt carriages to narrower rail tracks. Trains will arrive from Uzhhorod by wide tracks, then they will be moved on different rails and continue their way on European railroads.

Another option is to build 11 km of railways under European standards to Uzhhorod.

Slovak Republic Railways inspected the Matiovtse station and met with the representatives of the financial administration and the border police, Kovac stressed. Negotiations between Slovak Rail and Railways of Slovak Republic that concern the construction of new infrastructure sections and the status of the Matiovtse-Pavlovo crossing point is the most significant thing for us now, he said.
The Prosecutor Generals Office of Ukraine (GPU) put 102 people on the case of the Revolution of Dignity on the international wanted list. Serhy Horbatyuk, the Head of the Special Investigation Department of the GPU claimed this at the briefing as 112 Ukraine broadcasted.

Firstly there are 102 people on the wanted list. The following measures were assumed: the inner state detections, then the appeal to the Interpol with the request to put them on the international wanted list, he said.

According to Horbatyuk, the Interpol did not put the officials and law enforcers involved in the shooting during the revolutions on the international wanted list as it considered this as the political prosecution.

At the same time, Interpol assumed a position toward the accusations of the involvement of the officials and law enforcers, governance of the state in the events in Maidan; they expressed their categorical position and we tried a few times to talk around them. They see there the signs of the political prosecution because these events took place against the background of the change of power. This position was not changed despite our attempts to make clear that the investigation is based on the gathered evidence but not the political elements, Horbatyuk emphasized.

According to the official, the majority of the escapees are in Russia and in all cases, Russia refused to extradite the Ukrainians or hand them the charges.

The majority of these law enforcers, the governance of the state who escaped without the Interpol are in Russia according to the received information. It allows to file the request on the extradition and we did it. Each time the Prosecutor Generals Office of Russia refused. The part of them is ordinary officers of Berkut and we get the refusal as they have the citizenship and the Prosecutors Office claims that they will not extradite the citizens of Russia, however, these people did not appeal for the revoking of the Ukrainian citizenship and they were not deprived of it. The Russian Prosecutor Generals Office even refuses to serve them with charge papers, question them referring to the threat to the national security, Horbatyuk noted.

He said that the official refusal of Russia is based on the political motive of the court cases against them.

In such circumstances, there is the only way to bring these persons to the responsibility  the absentee procedure, the official noted.

Yuriy Lutsenko, the Prosecutor General of Ukraine informed that 380 people have been given notice of suspicion in the cases related to the Euromaidan. According to him, 2017 was the most effective in the investigation.

Earlier the Department of special investigations of General Prosecutors Office of Ukraine reported about the change and addition of suspicions to former high officials of Yanukovych regime on crimes committed against protesters on Maidan Nezalezhnosti on February 12-20.

New charges were pressed against Viktor Yanukovych, former Internal Minister Vitaly Zakharchenko, former Deputy Internal Minister Viktor Ratushnyak, former SBU head Oleksand Yakymenko, deputy head of the SBU  ex-head of Anti-Terrorist Center of SBU Volodymyr Totsky, deputy head of police - head of the public security police Petro Fedchuk. They are accused of organizing and committing a number of serious and particularly serious crimes being a part of organized criminal group.
Polish authorities did not condemn acts of vandalism, as director of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance informs

Open source

15 acts of vandalism in Ukrainian memorial places, on graves in particular, happened in Poland during 2014-2017. Volodymyr Viatrovych, the director of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance wrote this on his Facebook page.

At first, the unknown people did it, and then some of the public associations took responsibility for that. Despite this, Polish law enforcement authorities did not find the offenders, the monuments were not rebuilt, the authorities did not condemn the vandalism, he said.

According to him, four acts of desecration of Polish monuments happened in Ukraine in 2017. Viatrovych assures that both the authorities and social and political forces (including nationalistic) condemned all of the offenders.

And all the four places, including those, which were not legalized, were restored by the Ukrainian side, he noted.

As 112.international reported earlier, Ukraine canceled the permission of Polish Institute of National Remembrance to search and exhume Polish, buried in Ukraine, and did not agree to restore them. This worsened relations between two countries. It happened in April, after the monument to Ukrainian Insurgent Army in Hruszowice (Poland) was toppled. Countries discussed the issue a few times, though unsuccessfully  the sides were just trading accusations.

Viatrovych was requested to hold the historical talks with Warsaw. Deputy Prime Minister Glinski of Poland visited Ukraine in late October, 2017. After a meeting with Ukrainian authorities, he said that Poland wants to take negotiations with Ukraine on exhumation and historical monuments to a higher political level. However, the Polish politicians called Viatrovych an irresponsible person with obtrusive anti-Polish ideas after the negotiations.
However, the identities of the officers who committed the crime are not established

Horbatyuk Open source

The Prosecutor Generals Office of Ukraine (GPU) established the police units, the officers of which murdered the first heroes of Heavenly Hundred  Serhy Nigoyan and Mykhailo Zyzniewski. Serhy Horbatyuk, the Head of Special Investigation Department of the GPU reported this at the briefing as 112 Ukraine broadcasted.

The cases of the first murders are not solved for today or in other words the identities of persons who committed them are not established. At the same time, the investigation does not stop, it moves and there is a progress in the narrowing down the suspect pool, including the establishment of the police unit the officers of which are suspected in the weapon employment according to the results of the additional expert studies, special investigation activities, and covert investigative activities. This work gives a hope that the crime will be solved, he said.

The opposition between the protesters and security officials began after the adoption of the draft law on January 16. According to the official data, Serhy Nigoyan and Mykhailo Zyzniewski died on January 22 and Roman Senyk was fatally wounded.

Earlier the Prosecutor Generals Office served some persons with charge papers on the murder of the law enforcers in Maidan with the employment of the firearms.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine to 104 Heavenly Hundred Heroes. Three foreigners, Mykhailo Zyzniewski from Belarus, Zurab Khurtsia and David Kipiani from Georgia were awarded the orders of Heavenly Hundred Heroes.

The Heavenly Hundred is the collective term for those who died in the confrontation with Yanukovych-times forces during the Euromaidan. Feb.18-21, 2014, were the most tragic times of the Revolution of Dignity when 73 protesters died. At that time, special forces officers and snipers shot at people on Maidan. Snipers were placed on the rooftops of the buildings in downtown Kyiv and Berkut forces had AK-47 assault rifles.
Open source

US Department of State called on Ukraine to redouble its redouble their efforts to implement the reforms. This was stated on the website of the department on the fourth anniversary of Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity.

Four years ago, Ukrainians from all walks of life and all regions of the country came together on the Maydan, Kyiv's central square, to demand their government recognize the choice of the citizens of Ukraine to join Europe. Scores of Ukrainiansthe Heavenly Hundredgave their lives on the Maidan for the dream of a better Ukraine. The United States will continue to stand by Ukraine as it faces ongoing Russian aggression, which has claimed over 10,000 lives and displaced more than 1.6 million Ukrainians, the message says.

It was also noted that Ukraine has taken important steps over the past four years, yet there is still more work needed to fulfill the promise of the Maidan and unlock Ukraines potential. The United States calls on Ukraines leaders to redouble their efforts to implement the deep, comprehensive and timely reforms that are necessary to build the stable, democratic, prosperous, and free country Ukrainians deserve. We are proud to work with the people of Ukraine to honor the sacrifices made four years ago for Ukraines European choice.

As it was reported earlier On Sunday, Feb. 18, Kyiv commemorates the heroes of the Heavenly Hundred - those who were murdered during the Euromaidan protests in the fall and winter of 20132014. About 500 people gathered to commemorate the victims.

The Heavenly Hundred is the collective term for those who died in the confrontation with Yanukovych-times forces during the Euromaidan. Feb.18-21, 2014, were the most tragic times of the Revolution of Dignity when 73 protesters died. At that time, special forces officers and snipers shot at people on Maidan. Snipers were placed on the rooftops of the buildings in downtown Kyiv and Berkut forces had AK-47 assault rifles.
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!)
The cargo airline revealed its plans to begin shipping internationally in May by launching flights between the United States and Mexico.



Southwest Airlines Co. plans to begin shipping cargo to select international destinations starting in May, subject to requisite government approvals, the airline revealed Monday.

The first international destinations Southwest Airlines Cargo expects to serve are Mexico City, Cancun, Cabo San Lucas/Los Cabos, and Puerto Vallarta.

A Southwest Airlines spokesperson told American Shipper the company will be able to offer cargo services between the U.S. and Mexico in both directions.

We will offer our customers the ability to ship between most of our U.S. destinations and Mexican destinations, the spokesperson said. We anticipate adding more international destinations to our cargo route map by the end of 2018.

The company expects the flights will transport various commodities, including e-commerce goods, perishables, fresh cut flowers and some pharmaceuticals, the spokesperson said.

Although cross-border trucking challenges continue to persist between the U.S. and Mexico, air transport between the two nations has encountered tailwinds, thanks to a new air transport agreement that entered force back in 2016. The agreement allowed for increased market access for passenger and cargo airlines between the two nations.

Southwest Airlines setting its sights on the cross-border market between the U.S. and Mexico is just another example of how the logistics industry does not seem to be bogged down by the foggy future of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

The seventh round of NAFTA talks will be held Feb. 25-March 5 in Mexico City.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed documents establishing Khibiny National Park in the Murmansk Region.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Khloponin, the park's area will total 84,000 hectares where conservation efforts will be undertaken to preserve unique animal species such as wild reindeer. The territory covers areas where small indigenous people do business, and those areas will not be exempt, the deputy prime minister said.

"We are also planning to complete work shortly on establishing two more protected areas  Lenskiye Stolby National Park in the Republic of Yakutia and the Novosibirsk Islands Nature Sanctuary, he reported.

The Khibiny Mountains are the largest mountain massif on the Kola Peninsula. Its geological age is estimated at about 390 million years. The highest peak, Yudychvumchorr Mountain, stands at 1,200.6 meters above sea level.
A Russian delegation, including representatives from Chukotka, took part in a meeting of member-states of the Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears. The meeting took place in Fairbanks, Alaska.

The head of the Russian delegation, the Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Irina Fominykh, said the meeting was a success and even more productive than expected. In her opinion, it encouraged optimism and gave hope for further cooperation in developing uniform standards and approaches to recording and analyzing information.

Ms. Fominykh also expressed appreciation for the report by the head of the Wildlife Conservation and Usage Section at the Regional

Department of Industrial and Agricultural Policy of the Chukotka

Autonomous Area Yegor Vereshchagin, which was given during the meeting.

"This document contains relevant and valuable information on the conflicting situation between people and polar bears. This information is extremely important for working out a joint strategy on polar bear conservation," the head of the Russian delegation said.

Mr. Vereshchagin presented a report in Fairbanks that reviewed the long-term observation of polar bears in Chukotka, including the base of conflicting situations, which was proposed for keeping and maintaining in other Arctic countries for a consistent analysis and comprehensive view of the overall situation.

"Representatives of other Arctic regions and the scientific community were more concerned about climatic change and its negative effect on polar bears, but these issues do not loom large with us. Both scientific data and traditional knowledge prove that nothing threatens our bears. During spring counts of dens we often find female bears with three cubs, which proves that the population is in good shape and there is no danger of a decrease in the population," Mr. Vereshchagin said.

It was also pointed out that no evidence of poaching had been found on Chukotka lately. Experts, who followed web sites for illegal trade in skins and other derivatives, discovered about 40 advertisements and passed the information along to the Ministry of the Interior. None of those bears were hunted on Chukotka.

One of the main goals today is to organize and support patrol organizations. At present, paperwork for the Umka-Patrol's official registration is being completed. Its volunteers help with watching the animals and preventing conflicting situations between people and polar bears.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan sent a congratulatory message on the Artsakh Revival Day on February 20, the Artsakh Presidential Office told Armenpress.

The message runs as follows:

"Dear compatriots!

On behalf of the Artsakh authorities and personally myself I extend the most heartfelt congratulations to you on the Artsakh Revival Day.

30 years have passed since the day when our people stood up jointly and unanimously, voicing their determination to struggle for human rights protection. This was a peaceful and just demand, to which Azerbaijan responded with massacres and brutal deportations of the Armenian population from Baku, Sumgait and other places, thousands of people fell victims of that criminal policy.

This unequal and bloody war imposed on by Azerbaijan forged our people's will even more, united the entire Armenian nation around the cause of defending our ancestral land and becoming its true masters. Due to this unity and consolidation, our people's patriotism and freedom-loving spirit we were able not only to deter the unrestrained opponent but also to mark great victories.

And today, 30 years later, we can proudly claim that our people chose the right path, that there was no alternative. Together with our sisters and brothers from Mother Armenia and the Diaspora we heroically defended our Fatherland, restored the ruined economy and created a firm basis for its development

The Defense Army was formed, which has been the guarantor of stability and peace not only of our country but the entire region as well. A new generation, for whom the freedom and independence of the Motherland are cherished and exclusive values, was born and raised.

Dear friends,

I am more than convinced that our people will translate into reality all their goals and aspirations.

I once again congratulate all of us on this most significant public holiday, wish peace and great success to our Homeland and its people".
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. The visit of Lebanons President to Armenia will open a new chapter in the relations of the two countries, ethnic Armenian MP of Lebanon Mr. Hagop Pakradouni told ARMENPRESS in an exclusive interview. Mr. Pakradouni is among the delegation of President Aoun for the upcoming Yerevan visit.

The lawmaker said that regardless of the fact that the state relations of the two countries are on a quite high level - active work is done on the economic, tourism, scientific, educational and parliamentary levels, nevertheless the presidents visit will boost the relations.

The relations between the peoples of Lebanon and Armenia were always on solid grounds and with this visit this relation will be strengthened even more. New horizons will be opened in the relations of the two countries with the visit of the Lebanese president. Armenias Ambassador to Lebanon Samvel Mkrtchyan is actively working, he is making extra efforts in terms of developing the relations of the two countries even more, Mr. Pakradouni said.

He noted that the president of Lebanon does not like to make many foreign trips especially when currently Lebanon is preparing for the parliamentary elections, and on the other hand under Israeli threats. And the visit of the president to Armenia at this stage proves a rather deep respect.

I believe the two countries have great potential for cooperation which isnt used sufficiently. Cooperation should be activated in the economic arena, political sector. There are great opportunities in the tourism sector which must be used. By the way, let me mention in this context that the presidents delegation includes tourism minister Avetis Kitanian, he said.

Mr. Pakradouni stressed that the Armenian community plays an important role in the close relations of both countries. Armenians of Lebanon are the continuation of Armenians who found refuge in the country in different periods of times. Many were survivors of the Armenian Genocide. The Armenian community of Lebanon is one of the 7 main communities of the country with its rights and duties. Mr. Pakradouni noted that the Armenian community had its participation in the countrys political, economic, educational, cultural and other sectors in the last decades. Six ethnic Armenian lawmakers are in the parliament, two ethnic Armenian ministers are in office in the government, and many other ethnic Armenians are involved in various state structures.

The countrys Constitution provides all necessary conditions for preserving our culture, our language and having church freedoms. In this regard I can say that Lebanon is the best environment. 130-150 thousand Armenians live in Lebanon today. Parliamentary elections will be held soon, Armenian political parties of Lebanon will have their participation, and will try to have the best representatives of the Armenian community of Lebanon elected to parliament, who arent only representatives of the community, but lawmakers of all Lebanon, he said.

President of Lebanon Michel Aoun will visit Armenia February 21.

Aouns delegation will include Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq, Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, Industry Minister Hussein Hajj Hassan, Tourism Minister Avedis Kedanian, State Minister for Combating Corruption Nicolas Tueini and MP Hakob Bagratuni.

President Aoun will have meetings in Yerevan with President Serzh Sargsyan, Parliament Speaker Ara Babloyan, Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan, and the Lebanese community of Armenia.

Issues related to economic and political cooperation will be discussed.

The sides will discuss possible ways to help advance economic partnership and strengthen diplomatic relations.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. Not only the Armenian, but also some Turkish politicians see the necessity to normalize the relations between Armenia and Turkey without any precondition. Turkish politicians state that the position of official Ankara on the protocols should be revised.

Ufuk Uras, former lawmaker of the Turkish parliament, commented on the speech of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan at the Munich Security Conference on the Armenian-Turkish protocols in an interview to ARMENPRESS.

From the very first moment of the signing of the protocols there was no talk about preconditions. The relations between Armenia and Turkey should normalize without preconditions. This issue should be discussed in-detail in the Turkish parliament and should be revised, he said.

The former MP considered unacceptable the fact that Turkey frozens the issue by often linking it with the relations with Azerbaijan, whereas the other Turkic states have normal relations with Armenia and have their embassies in Yerevan.

According to Ufuk Uras, not only the state officials should express their opinions on the protocols. Intellectuals, NGOs should mutually present initiatives. I think it would be useful if the intellectuals of both sides come up with a joint declaration over the signing of the protocols, the politician said. He added that they launched an initiative on this matter, but the military operations launched by the Turkish armed forces in Syrias Afrin focused the entire attention and agenda on this issue.

During his speech at the Munich Security Conference on February 17, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said Armenia does not resort to the language of preconditions, but equally, Armenia will never accept preconditions put forward by anyone. The President noted that 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. He stated that it seems that the clock stopped ticking there.

Araks Kasyan
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. Three flights bound to Istanbul, Munich and Tehran have been cancelled in the Tbilisi International Airport in Georgia due to bad weather conditions.

The airport told Sputnik News that dense fog was the reason of cancelling the flights.

In addition to the cancelled flights, two planes which took off from Kiev en route to Tbilisi were forced to land in the Kutaisi airport. One of them has already arrived in Tbilisi, while the second one will take off in a few hours form Kutaisi, the airport said.

The flights from Kiev were operated by Georgian Airways and Ukraine International Airlines.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan addressed a message on the Artsakh Revival Day and the 30th anniversary of the Karabakh movement, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

The message reads:

Dear compatriots,

On February 20, 1988 the extraordinary sitting of the regional council of Nagorno Karabakh adopted a decision which expressed the will of the Artsakh people to free self-determination. Three decades ago all Armenians joined Artsakhs fair demand and fight. Today we celebrate the 30th anniversary of this historic turning event which was declared by the Republic of Artsakh as the Artsakh Revival Day.

Moreover, it became the revival day of the Armenian people. Monte was right when he insisted that if we have lost Artsakh, we would have turned the last page of the Armenian history. February 20 of 1988 was the moment of unity, determination and national awakening of the Armenian people.

Azerbaijan responded to the peaceful and legal steps of our people by massacres organized in Sumgait and other places. During those days it was already clear that the people of Artsakh are doomed to physical extermination or victory.

We were forced to wage war. The war initiators were confident that they have a great advantage, by eliminating Armenians and depopulating Artsakh, they will close the Karabakh issue quickly and permanently. From the distance of three decades today we already can confidently state that the Karabakh movement saved hundreds of thousands of lives.

The Armenians of Artsakh, having the support of all Armenians, managed to overcome this difficult experience with honor. Today those, who call us enemy, accuse us on everything, but the only fault of the Artsakh people is that they were not defeated and were not exterminated in that war.

Dear compatriots,



The Karabakh movement should have faced a transformation at certain stage of history. By the proclamation of the statehood, the movement didnt shrink, rather, it became a state policy. The crown of pan-national outburst and awakening are our two Armenian states.

We celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Karabakh movement by hearing the same threats as 30 years ago. The anti-Armenian propaganda continues for 30 years. It seems nothing has changed. But we have changed. The free Artsakh, which shook off the Azeri yoke 30 years ago, is developing at a progressive pace both economically, politically, or culturally.

Perhaps there is a justified perception in our public consciousness that what has been done is not enough. Thus, we constantly need to raise the bar of our demands and expectations.



As a people and state we still have much to do. Huge steps must be taken in all spheres, but what we have done jointly over the past 30 years, sometimes, in the most difficult conditions, is really not a little. Its obvious, this is the most important thirty years of the Armenian history of the past centuries. We will do much more and will again think that it is not enough.

Non-freedom has no justification, and freedom has no alternative. We are building modern and democratic states in the Republics of Armenia and Artsakh. We unconditionally respect the fundamental human rights since for the entire Armenian people freedom and human dignity are absolute values.

Long live the Republic of Armenia!

Long live the Republic of Artsakh!

Long live the leaders of the Karabakh movement!
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. Foreign minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian will pay a working visit to Brussels on February 21, the ministry told Armenpress.

During the visit the minister will deliver speech at the plenary session of the foreign affairs committee of the European Parliament.

The Armenian FM will meet with Federica Mogherini, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the European Commission, in Brussels.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyans speech at the Munich Security Conference on the absence of political will within the Turkish leadership to normalize the relations with Armenia is still under the spotlight of Turkish intellectuals.

In an interview to ARMENPRESS, famous Turkish historian, professor Baskin Oran said the only guilty one for the failure of the Armenian-Turkish protocols is current Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

In the current situation Armenia has no fault. Erdogan is the only guilty. Gul signed the protocols [Turkish President at that time], after which Erdogan visited Azerbaijan and made everything to zero, Baskin Oran said, adding that by this Erdogan didnt want to anger Azerbaijan, but the research done within that public showed that he was losing votes.

After this the situation further worsened since after the crisis of December 17-25, 2013 [Erdogans involvement in major corruption processes was disclosed], Erdogans only goal was to hide that scandal. As a measure to do that he chose creating tension inside and outside the country, the Turkish professor said. He brought as an example the current military operations of the Turkish forces in Syria, as well as the tension with Greece concerning the Aegean islands.

I once again repeat  all this aims at creating tension, provoking nationalistic sentiments. In this sense Armenia has no role. The only problem is that Erdogan wants to remain in power by creating tension, Baskin Oran said.

He stated that the same they witnessed during the Kurdish reconciliation process, but after a short period of time the process was frozen, and the option to solve the issue by military means was used, the same as happened in 1937-1938.

During his speech at the Munich Security Conference on February 17, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said Armenia does not resort to the language of preconditions, but equally, Armenia will never accept preconditions put forward by anyone. The President noted that 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. He stated that it seems that the clock stopped ticking there.

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, the President said in Munich.

Araks Kasyan
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. The absence of an adequate reaction from the international community on Azeri President Ilham Aliyevs statements uttering territorial claims for Armenia has encouraged Azeri defense minister Zakir Hasanov to reiterate the threat of use of force, Armenian foreign ministry spokesman Tigran Balayan said.

Absence of adequate reaction of international community after Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev voiced territorial claims towards Armenia encouraged defense minister Hasanov to reiterate the threat of use of force, Balayan said on Twitter.

At a February 19 meeting with EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia Toivo Klaar, the Azeri defense minister didnt rule out a re-start of war at any moment.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. French-Armenian filmmaker Arnaud Khayadjanian , whose Stony Paths film was named as the best documentary in the Armenian Panorama competition of the 13th Gold Apricot International Film Festival, is going to shoot a movie about Artsakh.

In an interview to ARMENPRESS, Arnaud Khayadjanian said he hopes to present the film to the public until the end of 2019.

ARTSAKH is a feature film about love, war and freedom. At the moment Im looking for funding in Armenia and France. Last year, I had the honor to make a documentary about people of Artsakh. I was so fascinated by the bravery and the cheerfulness of people. Despite their unstable situation and the trauma of the past they are standing proudly. I was also very impressed by the dynamism and modern mind of people from all generations. For all these reasons Ive decided to make this new film called ARTSAKH, he said.

The film will tell about the stories of several characters, and by this choice, the filmmaker says he can talk about several topics solidarity, humanism, patriotism, friendship, mourning and cultural heritage.

ARTSAKH is a universal movie about a unique country. About the casting I want to reunite famous Armenian actors with non-professional people from Artsakh. Hopefully I will finish the movie by the end of 2019. I want to broadcast ARTSAKH in International Cinemas, Festivals and TV Channels. As an French-Armenian filmmaker, its my duty to show ARTSAKH country to the international audience, he said.

Arnaud Khayadjanian was born in 1987 in Valence, France. He is a graduate of cinema from Sorbonne University in Paris. He is interested in fiction, documentary and music video projects while themes of identity, landscape and memory are the heart of his work. In 2014, Arnaud Khayadjanian adapted a French play by Laura Desprein into a short film entitled BAD GIRL which has been viewed 1.3 million times by streaming. BAD GIRL has been selected in 23 international festivals including Oscar Qualifying UPPSALA and it won both Vimeo Prize and Jury Prize in Sundance Channel Contest. In September 2015, Arnaud Khayadjanian has released STONY PATHS, a documentary inspired by the story of his Armenian great-grandparents. The film was honored by the French critics and was selected in 24 international festivals. STONY PATHS received the Jury Prize from Ismailia Festival in Egypt, the Best Documentary Prize in Yerevan Film Festival, and it was broadcasted on Armenian Shant TV. Last summer, Arnaud Khayadjanian has directed his second documentary WE ARE OUR MOUNTAINS produced bay Stanoz Films about the unknown and extraordinary people of Artsakh. In September 2017, Arnaud Khayadjanians new short film DEAF HEARTS, produced by Envie de Tempete is broadcasting on TV channel ARTE. Currently, he is developing NO MORE HEROES a short film produced by Good Fortune about French greasers written with Maite Sonnet. Arnaud Khayadjanian is also preparing his first feature A FINAL BURST.

Syuzi Muradyan
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. Human rights protection is a significant agenda issue in the Armenia-EU cooperation, Justice Minister Davit Harutyunyan told a press conference.

The 2017-2019 action plan under the national strategy of human rights protection was approved in 2017. The program itself was developed as a result of close cooperation with the civil society, he said.

The minister said the EU will provide 17 million Euros in assistance to Armenia.

It is the sum planned for the total years and related to 5 sectors  improvement of the electoral system, prevention of torture, gender equality, fight against discrimination and protection of childrens rights, he said.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. Armenia Aircompany has announced unprecedented discounts for the Yerevan-Tel Aviv flight from March 8 to March 11.

Armenia Aircompany set the price for Yerevan-Tel Aviv round trip flights at 199 Euros.

The airline has selected the time period taken into account that March 8  March 11 are non-business days in Armenia  March 8 is celebrated as Womens Day, and under a governmental decision the following day, Friday, is also declared a non-working day, followed by Saturday and Sunday.

Yerevan-Tel Aviv flights are operated twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. Major General Tiran Khachatryan, deputy Chief of Staff of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia, head of the tactical department of the general staff, departed to Moscow, the defense ministry said.

During the visit the Armenian delegation will participate in the negotiations on preparations for the upcoming Search, Partnership and Indestructible Brotherhood military exercises within the framework of the February 19-22 CSTO Combat Brotherhood 2018 tactical strategic joint drills.

The delegation will also participate in the discussions on the 2019 joint readiness plan of CSTO bodies and the list of 2025 joint actions.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. The EBRD will provide Armenia 2 million USD loan for the improvement of irrigation system. ARMENPRESS reports the issue of approving the loan agreement between the Republic of Armenia and the EBRD Additional Financing for the Irrigation System Improvement Project signed on November 20, 2017 is on the agenda of February 22 Cabinet meeting.
This article originally ran in the February 2018 issue; click here to see the digital edition.

Business owners in the adult industry are familiar with the long history of regulatory entanglements that government entities create in the name of protecting certain aspects of society. Now a new law titled the Digital Economy Bill of 2017 is going into effect in the United Kingdom, aimed at verifying the age of every adult browsing online, and the ramifications are quite serious. Understanding the way this law will be governed and the entities vying to become the predominant verification solution is essential to doing business in the UK now, and may become crucial to your global success as these kinds of policies are enacted and enforced by more nations in the near future.

This new age verification law may sound similar to past incarnations of governmental oversight like 2257 documentation to ensure performers are all over 18 years of age; Visa regulations that include eliminating certain words like forced to avoid any perception that consent was lacking in a porn scene; and so many other examples dating back long before the Internet even existed, when blue laws and obscenity standards were often cited as ways to allegedly make society more wholesome.

What makes this legislation very different is the fact that while the Digital Economy Act is focused on pornographic content, other legislation coupled with this act make the framework much broader, covering all aspects of adult online consumption, including porn, gambling, alcohol and everything else reserved from minors offline already. The law also has very sharp teeth and adapting to it now is the best way to protect your assets from significant harm.

What If I Ignore Age Verification Law Entirely?

Simply put, this law cannot be ignored by anyone in the UK because it calls for all adult content to be blocked at the ISP level and only to be accessible to customers who opt-in to see it while verifying their age via one of a handful of approved methods. So, failing to be an Age Verified compliant merchant means youll get a total of zero legal sales in the entire UK. It is true that a small fraction of consumers might circumvent the law with a VPN or take other measures but the vast majority will not and thats a significant revenue stream to consider.

Section 15(1) of the bill requires pornographic material not be published online with any commercial basis unless precautions are in place to ensure it is not normally accessible by those under 18.

Furthermore, if your company operates in the UK you may be subject to fines that can be enforced internationally. The law allows government enforcement officials to serve injunctions and force compliance. Financial penalties are also legislated as up to 5 percent of all company annual revenue or 250,000 (roughly $329,000). These are serious penalties and the UK has expressed the intention of collecting fines internationally while blocking all content from any merchant that fails to become fully compliant.

On the flip side, there is definitely a cost to becoming compliant. At least initially there will be additional clicks and steps a potential customer must follow at the point of sale, potentially weakening conversion ratios. Furthermore, depending which age verification system you choose, you are either facing an increase expense consumers must pay to become verified as a barrier to entry, or you are accepting an additional expense the merchant will pay as a cost of doing business.

One bright note to all this is that an age-verified customer who does jump through the hoops necessary to access adult content will ONLY be able to do so from an age-verified merchant, so becoming compliant may quickly allow you access to millions of consumers with far less competition as other vendors opt out and are blocked out entirely.

However, the most important reason to become compliant is the simple fact that many in government have already made it clear that this UK provision is seen as a test balloon, and if the system is effective, it will be adopted in some form by many other countries rapidly.

How Exactly Is Age Verification Supposed to Work?

First, its important to keep in mind that the legislation is not intended to prevent highly skilled techies from circumventing it. They do understand that some people will find ways to skirt the requirements or share a password and so on. The purpose of the law and the ancillary legislation is to prevent children or those who find porn, gambling, vaporizers, alcohol and other adult activities abhorrent from stumbling across it over and over by accident. So, questions of couldnt I sell access to my age-verified account to someone who isnt age verified are misguided because those eventualities are accepted as a given, but are only applicable to a tiny fraction of consumers in the UK market.

The law allows for different methods of age verification to be used to verify the age of a consumer, and the ID may be verified in person by a store clerk or online with a simple document check at the point of sale. Once a person is age verified they receive a unique ID number that they can use on all of their devices, and once a device is verified it can access adult materials online without the need to re-certify it again.

That does create a major amount of friction at the point of sale for any first-time consumer, but once a consumer and their device are verified the shopping experience online will work essentially the same way it did before age verification became legally necessary.

Who Determines The Process Consumers Will Use To Become Verified?

Section 17 of the Digital Economy Bill outlines creation of age-verification regulator services. These are certified third-party solutions must comply with a number of qualification requirements and will act much like a bouncer outside a club checking IDs and turning away everyone who is underage or unable to prove they are adults.

While the law itself provides only a basic framework for how verification is to be handled, the UK government has yet to establish a regulatory body to enforce the bills provisions. The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) had been nominated as the regulator, but the BBFC will have a third-party manage the actual mechanisms of the age verification process. So far it appears the certified age verification service providers seeking to manage the day-to-day processing each have a somewhat different vision of how the system should function. Presently there are three major competitors vying for dominance in this new field of online consumer security. Below is a focused look at each service, their leadership and their vision for how the process will be handled.

AgeChecked

Alastair Graham founded AgeChecked and remains the CEO of the company. You may have met Alastair recently at one of the major adult trade shows, but he is somewhat of an outsider in the porn world. An entrepreneur with more than 20 years experience launching business solutions in heavily regulated markets prior to founding AgeChecked, he was deeply involved in the payments industry for more than a decade and co-founded a prepaid card company while also heading up a financial institution. Regarding age verification in the UK, Graham has been directly involved with the development of the legislation itself. He is part the Digital Policy Alliance Age Verification Working Group and the British Standards Institutes Steering Committee for the Publicly Available Specification on age checking.

Online alcohol, tobacco and gambling all have restrictions that apply now, explained Graham. The gambling guys have identity requirements, but the lottery folks are lagging behind. Really, everyone is looking to what will become the adult content solution as a guide for their own industries. Pressure is now mounting on these industriesthe Department of Culture, Media and Sport recently published a green paper on age restrictions online. As a general theme it suggests that if its age-restricted offline, it should be age-restricted online. So, Im already starting to see some doubling down on the Digital Economy Act, even before it comes into full effect.

The primary distinction of the AgeChecked solution is that it is entirely free for consumers to use. An interstitial security page is added to an adult paysite at the point of sale requesting that the consumer enter their verification ID number, or enabling them to quickly acquire one by choosing one of several methods and providing the legally required documentation online.

AgeChecked merchants will incur a small service fee based on the volume of customers that need verifying. The company is banking on the idea that the small fee per customer billed to a merchant will be far more appealing to consumers than any additional expense charged to them directly at the point of sale. Merchants also are able to simply raise their price a small amount to compensate for the expense in order to remain revenue neutral while continuing to give consumers the most frictionless path to converting without the perception of any additional fees.

AVSecure

Owned and operated by Steve Winyard, AVSecure is no stranger to the adult industry or large-scale regulatory changes. For the last seven years, Winyard has been a main board director and vice president of ICM Registry with responsibility for the companys global sales and strategy. ICM Registry is the company responsible for the creation of the .XXX domain name extension. Winyard has been active at adult shows for years and ushered in the .porn and .adult TLDs as well, during what has become a wide field of new extensions seeking mass appeal. Prior to his work with ICM, Steve founded Oneview.net PLC and Destiny PLC in other verticals. In addition, he has been a Council member and advisor to the UK Government with the Digital Policy Alliance that meets in the House of Lords in Westminster, frequently.

AVSecure intends to distribute age verification cards available at 30,000 local shops throughout the UK, which can be purchased, for a fee during a face-to-face transaction with a store clerk by consumers. Each card will use a blockchain-encrypted age verification ID number that can later be entered on the AVSecure website, separating the verification process from the point of sale adult site in an attempt to secure the anonymity of the consumer online. The blockchain system of AVSecure also enables consumers to manage access on their local devices, without an unrelated remote network. The consumers browser becomes the central point in the process, rather than the server or network of content providers or identity providers. Buying a card will cost the consumer 10 as a one-time fee if they want the additional identity protection. Consumers will also be able to choose to verify their age via other methods that leave a footprint, but would be able to do so absolutely free.

With AVSecure the only thing anyone can pay for is a blockchain-protected

age verification card at a retail shop, Winyard said. Other than that we dont charge merchants or consumers anything. We assume a percentage of the 50 million people will opt for that rather than enter any personal data and for us

its all about giving people as much choice as possible. Ninety-five percent may choose personal data with only 5 percent buying the card and we would be fine with that. Even if nobody buys the card we are fine. AVSecure has a very long-term view and we believe having millions of users will always be valuable

somewhere somehow at some point.

On the plus side AVSecure promises to be entirely free for the merchant and intends to provide free options for consumers. The downside of course is that it does create some friction if consumers mistakenly believe a paid card is required, and merchants may see the its all free so we can acquire millions of members to be monetized somehow at a later point in time as a problematic hypothetical as well.

AgeID

AgeID is an authentication platform and age verification solution, built by MindGeek, the same company famous for its massively successful tube sites that include Pornhub, RedTube and YouPorn along with a long list of other properties well known to everyone working in adult online. For starters, the AgeID system is already operable in Germany restricting adult content for the German audience.

When the UK government announced its pledge in 2015 requiring age verification for pornography sites, MindGeek formed a distinct unit housed in the UK to develop and manage a solution designed to meet regulatory guidelines, online adult business needs, and the viewing publics demand for seamless browsing.

The involvement of Mindgeek in the process has stoked a lot of interest beyond the confines of the adult industry. In a recent Engadget article, adult site owner Pandora Blake was quoted as saying that the UK government has written Mindgeek a blank check, claiming smaller sites like mine will effectively have to pay a Mindgeek tax to our biggest competitor. Blake, who calls herself The Kinky Feminist Pornographer on her website, also published her opinion about AgeID in an extensive blog post on her website.

Catherine Dunn, VP of global communications for MindGeek, explained, site owners will pay a flat monthly fee based on an estimate of their UK traffic. It will be charged on a sliding scale to ensure its affordable for sites of all sizes. Its critical that everyone in the adult community comply with the regulations in any manner that will have minimal impact on their users.

While some have voiced concerns about a consolidation of power, Mindgeek does not anticipate that sort of outcome and sees the age verification process offered by AgeID as the best path for porn to take because it would be the simplest and most direct method thanks in large part to the market share Pornhub has already attracted.

When interviewed by Engadget, Pornhub VP Corey Price remarked, We do not believe that age verification costs should be passed on to customers, as he expressed AgeIDs intention to be completely free to all users. He also reiterated that Mindgeek plans to license AgeID to all adult content providers in a fair, cost-effective manner, based on the size of their UK traffic.

The possibility of AgeID becoming dominant is bolstered by the fact that, other than platforms like Facebook, Amazon and NetflixPornhub is probably the most popular destination on the Internet, with an undeniable global brand presence. The company has also repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to use its enormous financial capital to make things happen. However, the countervailing pressure in this particular endeavor is also palpable, due to a large number of transgressors within the porn world and the fact that age verification law will extend to other sectors like gambling, alcohol and others who may be less accepting of a porn company handling all age verification methodology.

Given the fact that a pool of many millions of potential adult consumers are at stake and the widely held belief that the UK is just the first of many countries who will soon adopt some form of age verification laws, the stakes are extremely high and the outcome will impact every aspect of the adult industry in one way or another eventually. Getting to know the people involved, comprehending the legal requirements and adapting to the new paradigm as early as possible may be the only way to secure the audience you already have, and to build momentum for your brands on a global stage in the future.
LONDONAdult boutique Vibez teamed up with Lovehoney for a Fifty Shades Freed Sextravaganza.

The store in Aylesford, Kent, pulled out all the stops with a fun event featuring a hog roast, a lingerie catwalk and butlers in the buff. Customers were also treated to pamper sessions in the salon, free goodie bags and musical accompaniment by a saxophonist.

The event was such a success that Vibez erected marquees outside the store to accommodate all the guests. Vibez sells all the official Fifty Shades Freed pleasure products from Lovehoney and the online sex toy retailer backed the promotion to drive sales ahead of Valentines.

Tracey Whitmore, owner of Vibez, said, Fifty Shades fever is back and it was great to capture the excitement around the new movie with a huge party for our customers.

We offered a 10 percent discount on the day and free prosecco and we were swamped with customers looking for some fun and great bargains ahead of February 14."

Laura Wood, Lovehoney sales consultant, added, We love supporting retailers with their events. It's great to have lovely people like Tracey and her son Chris supporting our brand. The store looked amazing.

For more information, visit lovehoneytrade.com.
MICHIGANMojoHost on Tuesday announced the official launch of the Mojo Content Delivery Network service aptly named MojoCDN.

In today's web environment of big websites and bigger bandwidth bills, the new Content Delivery Network (CDN) offering from the prolific hosting company is welcomed by new and existing clients of MojoHost, the company said.

To celebrate the launch of MojoCDN, the company is offering a spring special for small and large bandwidth needs. Setup fees are being completely waived and the company is offering bandwidth for everyone, even clients not hosted with MojoHost.

"In the spirit of the Olympics and celebrating inclusion as well as diversity, it does not matter where you are currently hosted," said Brad Mitchell, CEO and founder of MojoHost. "We are spreading the good mojo and giving this deal to everyone. We believe that everyone who tries it will discover the MojoHost difference."

In the United States, 1000 GB of CDN with support included will cost $10 per month, with overages at $0.01 per GB. The offer is located here

The pricing is similar from the new European center. You will receive 1 TB of CDN with the same famous MojoHost support with the cost of 10 with overages billed at 10 per additional TB. This offer is located here

Content Delivery Networks (CDN) are an excellent way not only to reduce bandwidth costs, but to also increase website load speed. They utilize data centers located around the world to deliver content faster than is possible at a single origin where the website may be hosted. The MojoCDN offering is possible through partnerships with leading companies to bring high quality bandwidth at low prices.

"As one of the world's largest advertising networks, we use a lot of bandwidth," stated Juicy Jay, JuicyAds CEO and founder. "Even as a MojoHost client, we were reluctant to switch our CDN service. We made the choice and the MojoHost team delivered, and delivered big for JuicyAds. They helped save us an enormous amount of money with no loss in service quality."

The launch of MojoCDN goes hand-in-hand with other recent MojoHost announcements, showing a strong progression in their strategy to become a more global force in hosting. Late in 2017 the company announced the official launch of its data center location in Amsterdam, plus the hiring of Natalie Pannon as Business Development Manager, both located in Europe. MojoHost is still offering a 149 special on servers located in Europe, which can be purchased alongside the new offering.

"We have high traffic and big virtual reality data so we need a great CDN partner. We researched all the options and Mojo is the best. They set up custom integrations with us and are always by our side to help out," as told by Nathan Brockman, VRPorn.com Engineering.

The MojoCDN service represents not just CDN from leading bandwidth providers, but also Content Delivery with MojoHost pricing and the same dedication to customers for which it is known.

"We started with hosting the MojoHost way," Mitchell said. "We have grown into so much more than that since then, and proud to now deliver quality CDN at lower prices, done the MojoHost way as well."

MojoCDN will offer its special until April 17th, 2018. Brad and Natalie are both available to discuss your CDN and hosting options at all the upcoming industry conventions this winter and spring.
HORSHAM, Pa.Fredericks of Hollywood has added two new vibrator styles to their collection, and Xgen Products has them in stock and ready to ship.

New to the collection are a g-spot vibrator and straight vibrator, both six inches in length, rechargeable, and made of a dual density texture thats spongy, silky-smooth and pliable to the touch for a lifelike feel. The ten-function g-spot vibrators tip is curved to target the g-spot effortlessly. When it comes to the straight vibrator, which also has ten functions, users will enjoy the deep, powerful stimulation that is ergonomically designed.

The Fredericks of Hollywood line has really done well since its release last year, said Andy Green, president of Xgen Products. These two new styles are great additions to the collection!

Also, each of the two new styles comes in three popular colors, pink, purple, and black.

As with every Each Fredericks of Hollywood item, these two include discreet storage cases, and comes ready to gift with wrapping paper, a card, decorative ribbon and a foil sticker.

Additionally, each item is backed by a one-year warranty.
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.
Contact: White House

White House



Press Office

My fellow Americans, today I speak to a nation in grief. Yesterday, a school filled with innocent children and caring teachers became the scene of terrible violence, hatred, and evil.Around 2:30 yesterday afternoon, police responded to reports of gunfire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida - a great and safe community. There, a shooter, who is now in custody, opened fire on defenseless students and teachers. He murdered 17 people and badly wounded at least 14 others.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.Each person who was stolen from us yesterday had a full life ahead of them - a life filled with wondrous beauty and unlimited potential and promise. Each one had dreams to pursue, love to give, and talents to share with the world. And each one had a family to whom they meant everything in the world.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.To law enforcement, first responders, and teachers who responded so bravely in the face of danger: We thank you for your courage. Soon after the shooting, I spoke with Governor Scott to convey our deepest sympathies to the people of Florida and our determination to assist in any way that we can. I also spoke with Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel.I'm making plans to visit Parkland to meet with families and local officials, and to continue coordinating the federal response.In these moments of heartache and darkness, we hold on to God's word in scripture: "I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you."We trust in that promise, and we hold fast to our fellow Americans in their time of sorrow.I want to speak now directly to America's children, especially those who feel lost, alone, confused or even scared: I want you to know that you are never alone and you never will be. You have people who care about you, who love you, and who will do anything at all to protect you. If you need help, turn to a teacher, a family member, a local police officer, or a faith leader. Answer hate with love; answer cruelty with kindness.We must also work together to create a culture in our country that embraces the dignity of life, that creates deep and meaningful human connections, and that turns classmates and colleagues into friends and neighbors.Our administration is working closely with local authorities to investigate the shooting and learn everything we can. We are committed to working with state and local leaders to help secure our schools, and tackle the difficult issue of mental health.Later this month, I will be meeting with the nation's governors and attorney generals, where making our schools and our children safer will be our top priority. It is not enough to simply take actions that make us feel like we are making a difference. We must actually make that difference.In times of tragedy, the bonds that sustain us are those of family, faith, community, and country. These bonds are stronger than the forces of hatred and evil, and these bonds grow even stronger in the hours of our greatest need.And so always, but especially today, 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.Thank you. And God Bless you all. Thank you very much.
In my 45 years of teaching I have never filed an academic complaint against another faculty member-nor has one ever been filed against me. I have long believed that this demonstrates the overwhelming integrity of the teaching profession.But in 2012, as a professor and former chair in film studies at the University of North Carolina in Wilmington, I became involved in a bitter controversy. It was the consequence of a process alternately so Byzantine, so nonchalant, so ineffective-meaningless, even-that my faith in the academy has been shaken.It began innocently enough in May 2012. A junior faculty member from another department asked for my help. Chad and Carey Hayes, two top-notch screenwriters known for films such as The Conjuring, were interested in turning a chapter of her book into a screenplay. She wrote to me that she was "out of her league." Though I was busy with other projects, I told her I would help. It is not uncommon for a senior faculty member to help a more junior one. Our correspondence increased because of her questions, and she asked that we develop a "transparency agreement." We put in writing that neither of us would contact the Hayes brothers without the other's prior knowledge or consent.The Hayes brothers wanted to film in Wilmington, and so I introduced my colleague to leaders in the local film industry and administrators at UNCW. She did not know any of these people, but I felt it was politically important to have as many people on board as possible to ensure the screenplay's success. All were enthusiastic about the Hayes brothers and a Wilmington tie-in. I continued my mentoring, recommending film texts to her and responding to her frequent questions.At a meeting I had set up with the provost, we learned of an "artist-in-residence" program at the university. Such a program would give the Hayes brothers a paid residency on campus to work with faculty and students. We were also told that UNCW's University Innovation Council had money and might want to invest in such a project. We had to hurry; their next meeting was coming up.I began writing the proposal immediately. My colleague gave input on the drafts, but I provided the bulk of the information and documentation. Between July 9 and 12, we exchanged 14 emails and seven iterations of the proposal. I was working most of the night on the 12th draft when my colleague informed me, via email on July 13, that she "was going into business with the Hayes brothers!" It was a violation of our transparency agreement. Unknown to the Hayes brothers, she was also pursuing a business partnership with me.I was shocked and told her I did not want the proposal to go forward in any "shape, manner or form." But not long afterward, UNCW's General Counsel informed me that she had taken my name off the proposal's cover sheet, claimed to have excised any of my input, and was about to resubmit the proposal under her name. General Counsel told her to provide me with a copy immediately.Violations of UNCW's ethics policies were evident. I wrote the committee, explaining that I had partnered on the proposal and asked that they delay before making a decision. The violations included intellectual dishonesty, failure to report information accurately and thoroughly, and failure to abide by the highest standards of integrity. The committee agreed to table the matter.This was serious. According to UNCW's ethics policy,To address these types of problems, UNCW has a Faculty Professional Relations Committee (FPRC), which handles disputes between faculty. As I was gathering evidence for my case, my colleague filed a grievance against me. She claimed I had libeled her. However, my complaint included documented proof of her ethics violations.The faculty at large elects members to the FPRC. No particular training or experience in legal matters is required-nor did I find that members seek such advice when appropriate. There is nothing in writing about the actual process. We learned details just before the hearing began. Changes would still take place after the process started. An example: General Counsel told me I would be able to question others, including my colleague. After the process began, I learned this was not allowed.The FRPC proceeded as if the concept of due process were as yet undiscovered. I was surprised and upset that I could not face my accuser-a fundamental American right. I was also not allowed to have an attorney present, which seems routine. Questions were given out beforehand and answers, including mine, were rehearsed.I offered to pay for a camera or recorder so testimony could be taped. My request was refused. I learned that no transcripts of hearings are ever kept. This lack of a transcript is no small matter. Should a legal case arise from a hearing, which it did, a transcript would be extremely important.After the hearing concluded, the FPRC informed us both in writing that it had judged my colleague to be "untruthful," to having failed "to report information accurately and completely," and that she did not abide by "the highest standards of integrity." These were euphemisms designed to soften the blow; mute the alarm. The ruling meant she lied to an autonomous faculty committee. Thewas a euphemism for having, among other wrongdoing, committed plagiarism. It is the death knell for any professor. For my part, I was charged with failing to go through the proper chain of command. I had not reported my complaint to the dean first.In the 300 emails and 12 written proposals, there were numerous instances where she lied. One indisputable example of plagiarism: she listed the experts she consulted in "her" proposal, but my name was not among them. This is blatant. My charge of failing to go through the proper chain of command would be true if the University Innovation Council were a pure faculty committee. But it was not. The UIC is composed of professors and administrators. Moreover, time was of the essence; "her" proposal was being submitted soon. Something that I also worked in my favor: the provost, UNCW's highest-ranking academic officer, co-chaired the UIC.The charges against each of us were treated as equally severe; the punishment invoked strangely feeble. Each of us was asked to write letters of apology to those who may have been harmed in the dispute. Nothing was to be done about the lying and plagiarism. But then came the knockout punch. The dean informed me there was "no mechanism" for even carrying out the punishment, such as it was.I did not think it could get any worse, but it did. The FPRC declared the findings confidential and ordered all evidence destroyed. Nothing was to be put in our personnel files either. This meant that a faculty member who violated ethics policies could conceivably rise in the ranks as department chair or university administrator. Nobody would know the faculty member's past. It is also possible that such a faculty member could violate ethics policies more than once. Because of these conditions, there is no way of knowing how many UNC faculty may have been involved in academic wrongdoing.In my colleague's grievance, I was also accused of being professionally inappropriate. The FPRC declined to look into this serious allegation, and it remains without an investigation or a finding. UNCW insists such charges be reported immediately to Human Resources. HR informed me in writing that no such claim was ever made. I was also accused of posing a physical threat to my colleague. She told her supporters that campus police had been alerted, and extra security would be added for events she would attend. But the UNCW chief of police informed me in writing that there had been no such complaint, nor was extra such security ever added. My colleague filed a civil suit against me but dropped it one day before "discovery." That's when questions are answered under oath.Over the course of the next several years, I attempted to resolve this matter within the UNC system. I sent certified letters to the UNC president, key representatives on its Board of Trustees, and each member of the UNCW Board of Trustees. After waiting for extended periods and following up, I did not receive a response from anyone. The faculty senate president and chancellor claimed there was nothing wrong with the current grievance process. The president would not permit me to speak to the Faculty Senate, even though I had once been its vice president.My colleague in this dispute has not had similar problems. On the contrary: she received "exemplary" status in her post-tenure review, the best evaluation a professor can receive. She also became chair of her department. The "consulting" gig on The Conjuring of which she boasts? She is not listed in the credits to the film. The Hayes brothers? They know nothing about this. The last I heard from Chad Hayes was that I had cost him and his brother "thousands of dollars."I am both grateful and humbled to have received every scholarly and teaching award given by UNCW and the UNC system. These include the Award for Faculty Scholarship, the J. Marshall Crews Distinguished Faculty Award, the Distinguished Teaching Professorship Award, the Chancellor's Teaching Excellence Award, and the UNC Board of Governors Award for Teaching Excellence. I have returned all these in protest; UNCW and the UNC system have violated my rights as a faculty member and citizen.I am confident that when my colleagues and students at UNCW hear about this, they could very well feel betrayed, even outraged. They are stand-up people. Administrators, too-including two distinguished chancellors with whom I worked. They may be disappointed in an institution to which they dedicated their professional lives.UNCW ethics policy states that itThe public, more so today than ever before, needs to be able to trust what academia does and says. That begins with holding faculty accountable to
In the United States, The HSUSs Rural Area Veterinary Services program has been providing free veterinary services in underserved rural communities, including several Native American reservations. Photo by Melissa Rubin/The HSUS

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So many of you, like so many of us within the HSUS family, care about dogs and their well-being. Im proud of the work were doing to help dogs here and abroad, and wanted to share some news of our activities in this arena.

The HSUS and Humane Society International work hands-on each day to care for animals in underserved communities in the United States, and for street dogs around the world. From Native American reservations stateside to the streets of India, Bolivia, Guyana, and the Philippines, we are spaying and neutering animals, vaccinating them, and providing veterinary care, even as we work to build out humane infrastructure in those communities.

Most street dogs worldwide live in deplorable conditions. They are unsterilized, competing for food, at risk of starvation and dehydration, and suffering from diseases and injuries. On average, they die before theyre four years old. All too often, street dogs are beaten to death, poisoned, or euthanized using unacceptable methods of population control.

HSI has more on-the-ground dog population management projects in motion than any other animal protection or non-governmental organization. In addition to our direct care work, we are supporting the expansion of local, state, and national capacity in other nations to enable them to better respond to animal welfare problems. Were also training veterinarians and veterinary technicians in high-volume and high-quality spay/neuter surgery, so the good work we have started can continue in the future.

I was in India last month to take a first-hand look at the great work our team is doing there. India has 35 million streets dogs and accounts for 36 percent of all human rabies deaths in the world. It was inspiring to watch the work done by our team in providing spay/neuter surgeries to the animals, and working with local communities to educate them about the dogs who live in their neighborhoods. It was also immensely moving to watch the communities welcome the dogs back into their neighborhoods after the surgeries.

I am especially pleased about the work done in the northern state of Uttarakhand, where we have sterilized more than 10,000 dogs in just over a year, working with community volunteers. In the south Indian state of Kerala, where dogs are culled mercilessly, we have been educating locals about street dogs so that any fears and misconceptions about the animals are allayed, even as we sterilize the dogs to control their numbers.

We are also working in Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Philippines, and Nepal to help street dogs. HSI just today signed an agreement with Mauritius to begin a pilot project to sterilize 10,000 street dogs there. The Mauritius government estimates there are 57,000 roaming dogs in the country, and is open to approaches to humanely and sustainably reduce this population.

In Latin America, where we sterilized and vaccinated more than 12,000 dogs in 2017 alone, we are working in Bolivia, Chile, Puerto Rico, and Guyana. In La Paz, Bolivia, the third most populous city in the country, nearly 60 percent of the pet owners who visit our spay/neuter clinics had never taken their pet to a veterinarian before. In the outskirts of Georgetown, Guyana, 73 percent of pet owners had never visited a veterinarian with their companion animal before.

Here in the United States, The HSUSs Rural Area Veterinary Services program (RAVS) has been providing free veterinary services in underserved rural communities, including several Native American reservations.

This month, we have been working on the San Carlos Apache reservation in Arizona, doing door-to-door outreach to help the neediest animals and by working side-by-side with tribal partners in the community to address large-scale animal and community health and welfare challenges.

In 2017 alone, RAVS staff and more than 350 volunteers provided life-saving veterinary care to 9,000 animals through 28 clinics spread out over 136 days. This included spay/neuter and wellness clinics for dogs and cats, and equine clinics.

In addition, our Pets for Life program brings services to people and pets in underserved communities. Through direct care in two cities  Philadelphia and Los Angeles  and mentorship, training, and support to local shelters, animal services agencies, rescue groups and spay/neuter clinics in 35 markets to date, PFL has provided pet wellness resources to more than 151,000 animals nationwide. PFL is creating a paradigm shift in companion animal welfare  by honoring the love people have for their pets, and by working with Americans to make the point that a lack of financial means does not equate to lack of love for a pet.

Our companion animal programs at home, and our global street dog management initiatives worldwide, stand at the core of what your HSUS does. Well do even more to help dogs in the United States and elsewhere, with your continued support. Please learn more about these programs, and help us grow them in the future.
Wed like to share some upcoming Alzheimers Association events and activities that are specifically intended for caregivers of those who suffer from Alzheimers and dementia.

All conferences and events listed below are located in the Chicago-area or other Illinois city and are hosted by the Greater Illinois Chapter of the Alzheimers Association.

The Savvy Caregiver: A 2 hour per week, 6 week FREE course designed to give confidence and knowledge to those taking care of someone with Alzheimers or age-related dementia. Upcoming courses take place in Rockford, Bloomington, Joliet, Eureka, Crystal Lake, and Peoria. For more information or to register, please visit the Alzheimers Association  Greater Illinois Chapter website here. Alzheimers Support Groups: According to the Alzheimers Association, A support group is a regularly scheduled in-person or virtual gathering of people with Alzheimers disease or another dementia, family, friends or caregivers who interact around issues relating to dementia. Groups can have social, educational and/or support components and are facilitated by individuals who have received training from the Alzheimers Association. For more information, please click here. Alzheimers Association Annual Conferences for both Professional and Family Caregivers: This one day conference, held on April 13, 2018 at the Par-a-Dice Hotel and Casino in East Peoria, is designed for both professional and family/personal caregivers for those with Alzheimers or age-related dementia. The Annual Family Caregiver Conference session goes from 7:30 a.m.  12:30 p.m. and this years topic is Expanding Care Strategies. The conferences promises to offer useful tips to help strengthen relationships, take care of those you love, and stay confident and hopeful during one of the most difficult challenges one can face. Registration will open soon (exact date not yet announced). For questions, please call the Alzheimers Association Central Illinois Chapter at (309) 681-1100.

About Levin & Perconti

Levin & Perconti is one of the first law firms in the country to represent loved ones of those who have been harmed as a result of elder abuse. We are located in Chicago, Illinois and represent families all over Chicagoland, as well as throughout the state of Illinois. As part of our commitment to ensuring the best possible care for the elderly, we routinely share information and news that caregivers and loved ones may find helpful.

If you suspect elder abuse of any kind, please contact us for a free consultation with one of our elder abuse attorneys. Together we will help determine if you have a case, notify the proper authorities if necessary, and vigorously pursue justice for you and your loved one. There is a statute of limitations for filing elder abuse cases in the state of Illinois, so please contact us now. We can be reached by phone: 312-332-2872, by email: questions@levinperconti.com, via our online contact form, or by sending a message through our website live chat operator.
From their inception, California's state colleges and universities were free or nearly free for in-state students, but since the 1970s, the state systems have been ratcheting up tuition and originating loans that impose crippling debt on students, leading to delayed fertility, late home-ownership, reduced retirement savings, and dampening entrepreneurial risk-taking.



College for All California is a ballot initiative modeled on Bernie Sanders' proposal for free nationwide tuition; it would impose an inheritance tax (12-22%) on the 0.2% of Californians with a net worth of more than $3.5m ($7m for couples), raising about $4b/year to reduce or eliminate tuition for state colleges and universities.





California had a similar inheritance tax until 2005, when the GW Bush administration killed inheritance taxes on the very wealthiest Americans and the state (which had piggybacked on the federal inheritance tax system) never set up its own made-in-California collection system. This inaction has cost the state an estimated $16b in total.





4,000 Californians would be subject to the tax, and the 2.6 million students in the California systems would benefit from it.

The initiative will be on the 2018 midterm ballot if 585,407 sign the petition to the state attorney general. Signature-gathering events are being held across California; you can volunteer to help with them, and donate to the cause.



"This issue of free college will mobilize young voters and boost turnout for 2018," said Angad Singh Bhalla, a coordinator of the California College for All campaign. "By putting something bold and exciting on the ballot, we will pull young people out and have all sorts of impacts." "One lesson from the 2016 campaign is you can only go so far saying our opponent is a monster," said Bhalla. "You need to have a compelling progressive vision." "By restoring the California estate tax, we are capturing lost revenue and directing it to something that changes lives in our state," said Bhalla. "The estate tax is a fundamentally fair tax. Why should someone be born with so much unlimited wealth at a time when social opportunity is declining for the large masses of people?"

A Serious Push for Free College in California [Chuck Collins/The Nation]
Until recently, under Canadian law, prison administrators could confine their charges to an indefinite period in solitary confinement. Thanks to a pair of high profile court rulings, this could change in a big way, provided the Federal government can get its shit together.

Last month, the Supreme Court in the Canadian province of British Columbia struck down a law that allowed prisoners to be kept indefinitely in solitary confinement. It was a huge win for prison inmates and society: long-term solitary confinement does nothing to rehabilitate or condition an individual to become a more productive member of society. Worse, as humans are social animals, being locked away from our peers for long periods of time can cause psychological traumathat's not something you want to do to someone who'll eventually be released back into society. Human rights activists in BC applauded the court's decision. Unfortunately, a similar case, heard in a different region of Canada, is keeping the verdict from changing the country's confinement laws.

This past December, a Superior Court Judge in the province of Ontario handed down a verdict that found that solitary confinement lasting any longer than five days is absolute bullshit, according to the Canadian constitution. But, as the CBC details, the practice of doing so does not violate the constitutional rights of the individual being thrown into solitary.

Both verdicts have merit, but which has more weight?

It's a question that the Canadian government has decided can only be answered by another run through the legal system. As such, it has appealed the Supreme Court of British Columbia's decision, looking for 'judicial clarity.' At the same time, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association has appealed the ruling of the Ontario ruling.

In the meantime, inmates in Canadian prisons and, eventually, our society once those prisoners are released, will pay for all the legal foot dragging. As the acting litigation director for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association puts it:

prisoners continue to spend weeks, months and even years in small cells without human contact. She called the federal appeal "another example of justice deferred" for the vulnerable and marginalized.

Image via Flickr, courtesy of jmiller291
According to The Hong Kong Free Press, Apple is set to hand over the keys to the the accounts of iCloud users in China to a company owned by the surveillance and censorship-happy Chinese government.

Guizhou-Cloud Big Data (GCBD) will take over the operation of Apple's Chinese data center at the end of February, making GCBD responsible for all legal and financial transactions between the Apple and China's iCloud users. Once GCBD is running the show, Apple will be responsible for investing one billion USD to build a new server farm in Guiyang and to provide technical support in the interest of preserving data security.

Apple's doesn't like telling folks what iCloud user data they're able to read. The information could be limited to the size of uploaded files and where those files were uploaded, or as comprehensive as being able to browse through the photos taken with an iPhone. That China's communist government, which is big on watching the digital doings of its citizens, censorship and political activism could will soon have access to the iCloud account information of every iPhone, iPad or Mac user in China pretty troubling.

This isn't the first time that Apple has bowed to pressure from the Chinese government, either. At the ass end of 2017, they happily removed close to 700 VPN apps from the Chinese iTunes App Store, making it extremely difficult for iOS users to view uncensored content. So, say good bye to news stories about China and the rest of the world that hasn't been approved by Chinese state censors.

It feels like a real dick move for a company that refused to provide U.S. authorities with a back door to iPhones, iPads and Macs and makes me wonder if concessions in the name of selling more hardware in other locales can't be far behind.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia Commons.
In this new article for SyFy Fangrrls, writer Clare McBride makes a compelling argument that Daisy Ridley's Rey isn't a parallel for Luke in the original Star Wars trilogy, she's a parallel for Anakin in the prequels.

McBride points out that both Anakin and Rey have trauma-filled childhoods that include being exploited for their labor on desert planets. But the two characters are put on different paths because of the respective support systems around them. Here's how McBride puts it (spoilers for The Last Jedi follow):

Unlike Anakin, Rey actually has a support system who understands her greatest fears and can allay them instead of aggravate them. One of the most touching moments in The Force Awakens is when Finn finds Rey on Starkiller Base, trying to rescue her while she's in the middle of rescuing herself. "We came back for you," he tells her, and the script tells us, "She is speechless  this is all she's ever wanted anyone to do." At the end of The Last Jedi, when Rey despairs of the tatters of the Resistance and a broken lightsaber, she has Leia to inspire and reassure her.

And just as importantly, she can see and think outside of the binary system of the Jedi and the Sith, the powerful and the powerless, in a way that Anakin could never do. When Kylo Ren attempts to pull a Palpatine on Rey, he fails, because he fundamentally misunderstands what Rey wants. (Also, I'm not sure how negging works, but I know he's doing it too hard.) He asks her to leave the past behind and join him on the throne, but he's talking in the eternal manner of young men who want to overthrow the system just to recreate it and put themselves on top. You can change the names of the players all you like, but it's still the same power hierarchy. Kylo Ren, like Anakin before him, has decided that the answer to his problems is unlimited power. If you were strong enough, their fears and manipulative masters tell them, you could stop anything bad from happening to you.

But Rey isn't interested in acquiring power in order to make others kneel and herself mighty. What Rey want is to find where she belongs. She's hoped her whole life that knowing the truth about her parents (or, given her denial, knowing a better truth about her parents) would fill in all of the gaps, even after she's counseled to stay in the present by Maz Kanata. But no matter how desperate she is, she understands intuitively what Rose says at the end of The Last Jedi: "We're going to win this war, not by fighting what we hate, but saving what we love." Anakin and Kylo Ren have been taught to hate their fears and struggle against them constantly, to everybody's detriment; Rey ultimately accepts her fears and embraces what she loves.
News / National

by Simbarashe Mwandipendaa

South Africa's Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema, has sent his condolences to the people of Zimbabwe for the lose of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai who died last week after a battle with cancer."We say to the people of Zimbabwe, the Tsvangirai family, the friends and his colleagues in the MDC, please receive our revolutionary condolences."We may not have agreed with the politics of Morgan Tsvangirai, but we fully admit that indeed he won the elections and the regime did not allow him to become the leader of the people of Zimbabwe," said Malema."We want to say to Morgan Tsvangirai that will never happen in South Africa ,here we do not allow nonsensical things like those that happened to you to in Zimbabwe to happen."We say to the people of South Africa we must learn from the mistakes of Zimbabwe and in honour of Morgan Tsvangirai not allow those who are in power to want to stay in power even when the will of the people indicate otherwise," he said.Tsvangirai will be buried in Humanikwa village in Buhera tomorrow next to his late first wife Susan.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

People's Democratic Party deputy Secretary General George Mkhwanazi has said the ban of MDC-T Acting President from his late leader Morgan Tsvangirai's funeral by the late's mother could have not been political motivated but otherwise.Tsvangirai's mother Lydia said she will commit suicide if her son's widow Elizabeth and Chamisa attend.Mkhwananzi said Tsvangirai's mother's threats were possible with any mother who has lost a child through death."I'm convinced beyond doubt that Honourable Nelson Chamisa's prevention from participation in the funeral processes of the late MDC T President, Morgan Tsvangirai, has absolutely nothing to do with politics. You only get that kind of emotional outburst from a dead person's mother when you have had something to do with her child's death or invaded their family private space; not politics," reads Mkhwananzi's Facebook post.MKhwananzi said the family's aversion to Chamisa is most likely linked to his relationship with Elizabeth, not addressing mourners at Harvest House, not wanting to succeed his boss.He said Chamisa could have invaded Tsvangirai 's most private space. He probably did a "Dali Mpofu act" by tampering with the "family's key points.Mkhwananzi said there is no way the family could target Chamisa for wanting to succeed Tsvangirai but still entertain Elias Mudzuri and Thokozani Khupe's bids for the same position."Those who believe that the family members were captured by MaKhupe and Mudzuri are superstitious. Chamisa must have offended the family in a peculiar way and God knows how," he added through a Facebook post.Tsvangirai died in South Africa at a medical centre on Wednesday and will be buried at his rural home in Buhera on today.
News / National

by Staff Reporter

There are reports that vice president of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Thokozani Khupe and the party's secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora have been allegedly chased from their late leader Morgan Tsvangirai's funeral in Buhera.According to Zim Media review Khupe and Mwonzora had to be escorted by police."MDC-T leaders Mwonzora and Khupe under police escort. MDC-T supporters have reportedly chased them away from Tsvangirai's funeral in Buhera," @ZimMediaReview said via Twitter.Zimbabweans on social media have accused the party's Acting President Nelson Chamisa of hiring thugs to chase Khupe and Mwonzora away.
News / National

by Staff Reporter

The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) says it is well prepared to defend the nation as they continue to train in more personnel in preparation of any eventualities that may arise to destabilise peace in the country.The ZNA said trying is the cornerstone of imparting skills and knowledge to its troops so that it can deter any form of aggression.In an interview with the ZBC News on the sidelines of 2 Infantry Brigade administration seminar in Harare, Chief of Staff Quartermaster Staff Zimbabwe National Army, Major General Hlanganani Dube said the ZNA has never failed in any operation conducted since its inception.The brigade administration exercise is conducted by ZNA annually to keep troops abreast with a number of operations which include the recently carried out Operation Restore Legacy.
News / National

by Staff Reporter

Former Prime Minister and MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai has been buried in his rural home in Humanikwa Village, Buhera this afternoon.Speakers at the burial ceremony described the late Mr Tsvangirai as brave and shrood tactician who fought against all odds to bring a democratic dispensation in Zimbabwe.Zanu PF National Chairperson Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri who spoke on behalf of the ruling party and government said the nation has lost a man who was instrumental in bringing a new constitution and democracy.Mr Raila Odinga of the Orange Democratic of Kenya said both Kenya and Zimbabwe have lost with the passing on of Mr Tsvangirai.MCD-T acting president Nelson Chamisa called on the MDC leadership to be united.Several people from the Democratic Alliance of South Africa, ZCTU from Zambia, Moleise Mbeki who is young brother to Thambo Mbeki attended the burial ceremony of Mr Tsvangirai.Mr Tsvangirai who was given a state assisted funeral succumbed to colon cancer last Wednesday at a private hospital in South Africa.His body was air lifted to his rural home yesterday.Meanwhile, thousands of people who included politicians, MDC-T party supporters, representatives from the Zambian Congress of Trade Unions and the leader of the popular Democratic Movement of Namibia thronged the Robert Mugabe Square in Harare to bid farewell to Mr Tsvangirai yesterday.
News / National

by Ndou Paul

The secretary-general for MDC-T Douglas Mwonzora has said the attack on the party's vice president Thokozani Khupe was was "tribal, sexist and totally unacceptable."Mwonzora said: "The attack on @DrThoko_Khupe by a gang of sponsored and drunken goons at Dr Tsvangirai's funeral was outrageous and sadistic. It was tribal, sexist and totally unacceptable.""The politics of hate and violence should not have any place in our society. Really sad developments at Dr. Tsvangirai's funeral. The physical attack on @DrThoko_Khupe was cowardly and sadistic.""That some people could try burn the hut in which @DrThoko_Khupe was taking refuge from violent brought memories of the works of Chopangano. Why should anyone employ these tactics on fellow party members?"
The specific goal of this paper is to show the impact of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the way this family speaks Arabic today in America.

Updates throughout the day at http://calevbenyefuneh.blog spot.com. If you enjoy "Love of the Land", please be a subscriber. Just put your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the upper right-hand corner of the page.Twitter updates at LoveoftheLand as well as our Love of the Land page at Facebook which has additional pieces of interest besides that which is posted on the blog. Also check-out This Ongoing War by Frimet and Arnold Roth. An excellent blog, very important work.

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..Israel Diaries..19 February '18..What can I say! It looks like every topic of scholastic endeavour can be used to vilify Israel. Who cares if the work makes sense? The main thing is to make Israel look bad.How can you make something normal into something pathological? Easy. Watch!The paper is called  and it was presented at the Western Conference on Linguistics, 2017. I have no idea how it got accepted for presentation, nor how the students co-author faculty member was not humiliated to have her name on it.In the introduction, we read:being:
Policy

Online Initiative Not the Answer to STEM Gaps in California

A proposed budget by California's governor would allocate $10 million to set up a new online "intersegmental" higher education initiative. The project would fund competitive grants for intersegmental teams of faculty to create new and redesign existing STEM courses  both online and hybrid  in a program titled the "California Education Learning Lab." However, state analysts aren't keen on the idea.

Jerry Brown's proposal stipulates that teams would need to have faculty representation from at least two of the three public higher education segments in the state  the University of California system, the California State University system and the California Community College system. The courses they'd develop would be required to include learning science and adaptive learning technologies. The overall goal: to increase college STEM participation, persistence and completion rates of historically underrepresented groups of students.

While the Legislative Analyst's Office found Governor Brown's goal of improving student outcomes "laudable," this approach isn't the answer, the office wrote in an analysis of the proposal. First, the analysis noted, the proposal doesn't address "the root causes of STEM disparities among student groups"; and second, it overlaps with other online initiatives already underway.

Among the funding the state already provides to the three institutional segments are these online projects, according to the report:

The community college system received $20 million for an online education initiative that covers faculty training to help design online courses; a common technology platform for delivering online courses; and the Online Education Initiative (OEI) Course Exchange, a pilot that helps students find, enroll in and get credit for online courses delivered by other colleges that are part of the exchange.

California State received $10 million specifically to fund development of online course in lower-division subjects with high enrollment demand.

The University of California system received $10 million for funding development of online undergraduate courses that any UC student can access. So far, that initiative has resulted in the creation of 250 online and hybrid courses.

The lab idea doesn't address the underlying gaps in STEM outcomes, according to the analysis. Those are a result of many factors, among them: a higher level of attendance at K-12 with less qualified math and science teachers; less access to advanced STEM courses in high school; lack of exposure to STEM role models and mentors; and perceptions of an unwelcoming academic culture in science and math departments.

"Given these underlying causes, it is unclear how the Governor's proposed program would achieve its stated goals in a meaningful way," the analysis pointed out. For that reason, the office recommended that the California legislature reject the proposal. The budget for 2018-2019 is expected to be passed sometime this summer.


The theme of institutional corruption has become recognised as a mainstay of the Romanian New Wave, but Ioana Uricarus debut Lemonade, the story of a Romanian womans attempt to obtain a United States green card, suggests things arent much better in the Land of the Free.

Arriving almost a decade after her contribution to 2009s portmanteau Tales from the Golden Age, Uricaru has finally delivered her feature debut, an empathetic portrait of the difficulties of navigating between authoritarianism and survival in the US immigration system. But as the films title suggests when life gives you lemons you just need add a little fizz. Lemonades sparkle comes from Mara (Malina Manovici) a nurse and single mother who has come to America on a temporary work visa. We first meet her as shes receiving a flu vaccine, but theres nothing that can prepare her for the Kafkaesque absurdity of the corruption and degradation shes about to experience.

Shortly before her visa expired, she married Daniel (Dylan Scott Smith), a former patient of hers who she met five weeks prior. Her son, Dragos (Milan Hurduc) will soon be joining them from Romania, and she plans to sell her apartment in Bucharest to finance their move to a bigger home in the States. All she needs to do now is pass the green card interview. But its not that simple, and before long the immigration officer responsible for her case exploits her situation, accusing her of marriage fraud and leaving her in a seemingly hopeless situation.

Romanias cinematic upsurge remains the most vital and important national film movement of the current century and its refreshing to see its next generation of directors creating their own stories in the US, rather than being poached to regurgitate the same old studio narratives. Mara, superbly played by Manovici, delivers a sensitive and convincing performance, and is often followed by Friede Clauszs inquisitive camera as she emerges from shadowy hallways in to brightly lit rooms, a clear metaphor for the migration experience she initially hoped to experience. I thought America was different, see laments to her Serbian lawyer, but sat there, faced with having to either sleep with her immigration office or face deportation, its clear shes already realised that corruption is an international language.

Despite some heightened contrivance and a relentless adherence to its single overarching theme, Uricarus steady pacing and sympathetic eye ensures that Maras downbeat journey is a consistently intriguing and watchable one. Thankfully, its not all hopeless miserablism, and theres a legitimate reason for her to sport a hesitant but genuine smile in the films final shot. Her lawyer informs her that there are some things that are different in the States: In America victims have rights, and despite facing the same abusive patriarchy, savage individualism and extortion weve grown to expect from Romanian cinema, Lemonade suggests an optimistic future is in store for both Mara, and Uricaru.

The Berlin Film Festival runs from 15-25 February. Follow our coverage here.

Patrick Gamble | @PatrickJGamble
TUESDAY, Feb. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- An opioid addiction treatment program for Rhode Island prison inmates appears to have significantly reduced overdose deaths among those who are released, researchers say.

The program screens all inmates for opioid addiction and provides medications to treat the addiction. It was launched in 2016 and is the only program of its kind in the United States, according to the Rhode Island Department of Corrections.

To see whether the program was working, researchers from Brown University compared overdose deaths among former inmates during the six months before the program started and the same period a year later.

The researchers found a 61 percent drop in overdose deaths among former inmates. There was also a 12 percent decrease in overdose deaths statewide.

The findings suggest that this type of program, combined with access to treatment after inmates are released, could help reduce the opioid epidemic across the United States, the study authors said.

"This program reaches an extremely vulnerable population at an extremely vulnerable time with the best treatment available for opioid use disorder," study co-author Dr. Josiah Rich said in a university news release.

Rich is a professor of medicine and epidemiology at Brown and director of the Center for Prisoner Health and Human Rights at The Miriam Hospital in Providence.

Opioid addicts "may have stopped using while incarcerated, but nothing has been done to change the pathways in the brain responsible for addiction," Rich said. "So when they get out, people are likely to relapse, and with their tolerance gone, they're at high risk for overdose."

Simple detox -- going "cold turkey" -- fails 90 percent of the time, Rich added. However, decades of research have shown that treatment with medication is the best path to recovery for people addicted to opioids.

According to the study's lead author, Dr. Traci Green, "People have been searching for some way to stop overdose deaths. Here we have a program that's shown to work, and it's absolutely replicable in other places."

Green is an adjunct associate professor of emergency medicine and epidemiology at Brown and a senior researcher at Rhode Island Hospital.

"Not only do we see that a statewide program treating people using medications for addiction treatment is possible and reduces deaths, but also this approach intervenes on the opioid epidemic at its most lethal and socially disrupting point -- incarceration -- to give hope and heal communities," Green said.

The study findings were published online Feb. 14 in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.

More information

The American Academy of Family Physicians has more on opioid addiction.
MONDAY, Feb. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- Women with a family history of breast cancer remain at higher risk for breast cancer even after age 65, a new study suggests.

The findings could influence screening recommendations for older women, said researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center, in Washington, D.C.

Age is the strongest risk factor for breast cancer. But having a mother, sister or daughter with the disease -- a "first-degree relative" -- can double the risk, the study authors said.

"Family history of breast cancer does not decline as a breast cancer risk factor as a woman ages. The relationship didn't vary based on whether a first-degree relative's diagnosis was made in a woman age 50 or younger, or older than age 50," said study leader Dejana Braithwaite.

This means women with that first-degree family history should consider this risk factor when deciding whether to continue mammography screening as they age, said Braithwaite, an associate professor of oncology at Georgetown.

The researchers examined records on more than 400,000 women included in a breast cancer registry from 1996 to 2012. They looked at family history of breast cancer among women between 65 and 74 and those aged 75 and older.

Overall, a first-degree family history leads to an absolute increase in five-year risk of breast cancer of 1.2 to 10.3 percentage points, the study found.

However, the actual increase depends on age and breast tissue density, the researchers noted. For example, the five-year risk for breast cancer among women 65 to 74 with dense breast tissue jumped from 15 percent among those with no family history of the disease to nearly 24 percent among those with a close relative with breast cancer.

Similar odds were seen among women 75 or older with the same breast density.

"The goal of our work is to provide evidence that helps inform breast cancer screening guidelines for older women," Braithwaite said in a Georgetown news release. "Older women who are in good health and have a first-degree family history may consider a screening mammogram even as they age beyond the screening recommendations for average risk women."

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force now recommends that women between 50 and 74 have mammography breast cancer screening every two years. The task force says the benefits of screening aren't as clear for women 75 and older.

The American Cancer Society advises all healthy women between the ages of 45 and 54 to have a yearly mammogram. These screenings can occur every two years after 55 if a woman is otherwise healthy, the group advises.

Breast cancer screening guidelines are evolving, said the study's senior author Dr. Karla Kerlikowske.

"As breast cancer screening guidelines change from age-based to risk-based, it is important to know how standard risk factors impact breast cancer risk for women of different ages," said Kerlikowske.

The findings were published Feb. 12 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

More information

The American Cancer Society provides more information on breast cancer.
TUESDAY, Feb. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- A contagious cancer has put Tasmanian devils at risk for extinction in the wild, researchers say.

The contagious cancer, known as facial tumor disease, is found only in Tasmanian devils -- notoriously cantankerous animals now found in the wild only on the island of Tasmania. The cancer is spread through biting, which is common among devils during mating and feeding.

It kills infected animals within 6 to 12 months. There's no known vaccine or cure.

Since the disease emerged, devil populations in the wild have declined by about 80 percent, according to the researchers.

"We are now dealing with very small and potentially isolated groups of devils across Tasmania," lead researcher Billie Lazenby, a wildlife biologist with the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, said in a new release from San Diego Zoo Global.

"The ongoing impact of [the disease], which continues to cause high mortality in devils, could make them vulnerable to other threats," she said.

The researchers also found that remaining wild populations of Tasmanian devils are showing some reproductive changes, possibly in response to the disease.

"Devils in diseased areas are now breeding younger and having more pouch young, which has allowed them to persist at low levels in the wild," Mathias Tobler, a population sustainability scientist with San Diego Zoo Global, said in the news release. Tasmanian devils are marsupials -- animals that carry their young in pouches.

"This research has shown the structure of the wild devil populations in diseased areas has shifted dramatically, with devils over the age of 2 being very rare, compared to sites before [the disease] emerged," Tobler said. "Earlier breeding in young devils means that they are contracting [the disease] younger, often as 1-year-olds."

Though breeding at an earlier age has enabled wild populations of devils to continue, their low numbers make extinction more likely.

"Such large reductions in their numbers and the change in their age structure means their populations are impacted more by other threats," David Pemberton, program manager for the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, said in the news release. Those threats, he said, include "roadkill, bushfire, loss of genetic diversity, variation in food availability caused by drought and changes in the ecosystem as it responds to the loss of devils in the wild."

"Efforts to manage the devils, such as the development of an immunotherapy, are ongoing, but remain in a research-and-development phase," he said.

The research was published online recently in the Journal of Applied Ecology.

More information

The Tasmania Parks & Wildlife Service has more on the Tasmanian devil.
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Recently proposed amendments to Jordans 2015 cybercrime law, including a vague and broad definition of hate speech, will further stifle press freedom on the pretext of protecting the countrys citizens, and could result in further self-censorship, several Jordanian journalists told CPJ.

Jordans Legislation and Opinion Bureau released a proposed bill sponsored by the Justice Ministry in late September that, if passed, will criminalize hate speech online and on social media and toughen the penalties for cybercrime, including increased fines and raised jail terms, according to news reports.

Although no date has been set for its discussion in Parliament, Jordanian journalists with whom CPJ spoke said they are concerned that the hate speech amendment would further shrink press freedom and lead to a selective application of the law, which could muzzle independent media and lead to further prosecutions of journalists who dare to address controversial issues.

CPJ has found that successive amendments and laws passed since 2012 have already curtailed press freedom in Jordan, including a 2012 amendment to the Press and Publications Law that requires outlets to register with the government, and a restrictive cybercrime law that, according to the pro-government Jordan Press Association and Freedom House, overrides the Press and Publications Laws ban on jailing journalists and allows for criminal defamation charges to be brought against journalists and news websites. Government trade bodies and the countrys bar association have also accused press freedom groups and non-profits of failing to register properly.

If passed, the hate speech amendment could further add to this restrictive legislative web of contradicting laws and regulations governing Jordanian media and put more journalists at risk of detention and legal prosecutions.

Reem al-Masri, the internet governance and digital rights editor for the Jordanian news website 7iber, told CPJ that the broad definition of hate speech in the proposed bill could give authorities another tool to impose restrictions on press freedom, under the pretext of protecting citizens.

Article 2, Section 4 of the draft bill defines hate speech as any statement or act that would incite discord, religious, sectarian, racial or ethnic strife or discrimination between individuals or groups.

She added that while authorities say the law would protect Jordanians, by charging journalists, officials risk creating an atmosphere where violence and threats are directed at the person charged.

Al-Masri pointed to the case of leftist journalist and commentator Nahed Hattar, who was shot dead by an extremist on September 26, 2016, outside an Amman court where he was standing trial for blasphemy over a Facebook cartoon he had shared.

The state charged Hattar with blasphemy for sharing a cartoon, thus playing a role in positioning him as a criminal and creating an environment where calls inciting to his murder were tolerated. If the state had been serious about reducing damages caused by hate speech, it should have gone after the speech that eventually led to his crime, rather than after the solution that got them popular support. None of those who directly called for Hattars murder were persecuted, al-Masri said.

Jordanian cartoonist Emad Hajjaj told CPJ he also became the target of hate speech after publishing a cartoon on his Facebook page and on the London-based news website Al-Araby al-Jadeed in October 2017.

Hajjaj said that he published the cartoon in response to reports that the Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem had allegedly sold land to Israeli settlers and offshore companies at low prices to pay off church debt, but a wave of angry reactions forced him to delete it and issue an apology on his personal website. [CPJ was unable to determine if authorities ordered Al-Araby al-Jadeed to remove the content.]

The atmosphere after the publication of the cartoon was very aggressive. I was surprised by the hostile comments on my social networking platforms calling for my death and accusing me of infidelity and heresy, the phone calls from angry people, and to top it all, the campaign against me for insulting religion, Hajjaj said.

A lawsuit was filed against Al-Araby al-Jadeed and Hajjaj at the request of Father Rifat Bader, head of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media, a Catholic think tank based in the Middle East, for insulting Christianity, according to news reports. Hajjaj said he was summoned for questioning by the electronic crimes unit and the prosecutor, who released him after two days. Since then, Hajjaj, said, he has been waiting for a decision in his case or to hear if he will face charges.

Hajjaj said that when he notified police that he was receiving death threats via Facebook and in the mail he was advised to file a complaint under the cybercrime law, but he refused.

I am a cartoonist. I couldnt see myself causing somebody to be imprisoned, because I am against the cybercrime law, which restricts freedom of expression. I couldnt resort to it to silence my fellow citizens, Hajjaj said.

This tightening of the legal grip on Jordanian media comes hand-in-hand with an increase in state censorship, with certain political and religious issues becoming off limits, and a crackdown on press freedom groups and civil society organizations.

CPJ has found that state censorship comes in the form of gag orders on issues authorities deem controversial, including murder investigations and issues of counter-terrorism or national security, and reporting bans on covering religious authorities such as the Grand Mufti Abdul Karim Khasawneh, or royal family without prior approval from the Media Commission, a government agency responsible for enforcing press laws and regulations.

And last month CPJ documented how Shadi al-Zinati, editor-in-chief of the independent news website Jfranews, and the websites editor, Omar Sabra al-Mahrama, were charged under the existing Cybercrime Act and Press and Publications Law after Jordanian Finance Minister Omar Malhas filed a complaint over an article that allegedly accused him of tax evasion. The journalists were released on bail two days later, but still face charges, according to reports.

The Jordan Press Association and the Media Commission did not immediately reply to CPJs requests for comment.

Ramsey George, co-founder of 7iber, told CPJ, that the complex web of laws means journalists are forced to spend more time making sure they have not broken any regulations, which leaves outlets struggling for survival.

The result of this restricted press environment is self-censorship, with over 90 percent of local journalists saying they self-censored in 2016, especially on issues concerning the Royal Court, the Armed Forces, and security services, according to news reports citing a survey from a regional press freedom group. A journalist, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal, told CPJ, In Jordan, some issues are never discussed in the media, including the Royal Family and Court and the military and security services. Editors know whats publishable and whats not, what the limits are and what red lines should not be crossed. Self-censorship is how they achieve it.

[Reporting from Amman]
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The only way Abdalaziz Alhamza and his fellow citizen journalists could get out news from the Islamic States self-declared capital in Syria to a global audience was by posting materials on Facebook and YouTube. They were the only way to spread news since many militias and governments prevented most, if not all, the independent media organizations to work in the conflict areas, explains Alhamza, one of the co-founders of the group Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently. Without the social media platforms, the Arab Spring would be killed on the first day.

Internet intermediaries are increasingly playing the role that publishers and editors once played. From selecting sources to curating trending news to deciding which news is real or fake, companies like Facebook and Google are at the forefront of how much of the world receives its news. Taken together, these internet giants are 10 times the size of the largest media organization 15 years ago, according to media expert Robert McChesney.

The Reuters Institute 2017 Digital News Report found that more than half of all online users across the 36 countries surveyed said they use social media as a source of news each week, ranging from 76 percent in Chile to 29 percent in Japan and Germany. The report found Facebook and its subsidiary WhatsApp, in particular, played an increasingly significant role in news distribution, with 44 percent of people using Facebook as their news source and WhatsApp rivaling its parent company in several markets.

Far fewer respondents were able to recall which outlet provided the news, however, a problem for an industry that is increasingly forced to adapt to the logic of the social media platforms that are central to modern journalism. Theyre kind of our frenemies, because they carry our content, but weve been disintermediated from the relationship, says Danielle Coffey of the News Media Alliance, which represents 2,000 US publications. And theyre making up now the rules on whats appropriate, whats effective, what people should not get access to.

The success of misinformation, counterfeit news, and computational propaganda on social media platforms has highlighted the economic incentives embedded in social media platforms that not only helped fake news flourish but may even work against quality journalism. In seeking to combat the proliferation of fake news, Google and Facebook launched partnerships with fact-checking organizations, but also tweaked their algorithms and sought ways to surface more authoritative content. The signals they use, however, may end up marginalizing those on the outer edges of the ideological spectrum or freelance journalists in favor of larger, more established, and mainstream outlets.

The World Socialist Web Site noticed a massive drop in Google search referrals following the announcement of Project Owl in mid-2016, according to its editorial chairman. The site also found a significant drop in traffic to other leading socialist, progressive and anti-war web sites, including Democracy Now.

There does appear to be a correlation between some of the updates Google has released and a drop in traffic on some of those sites, says Eric Richmond, president of Expert SEO Consulting, which counts several media organizations among its clients. Can I say that drop is due to a particular site or class of sites being targeted? No. Google doesnt target specific sites with algorithmic changes.

Google said in December that its trust and safety teams had manually reviewed nearly 2 million videos for violent extremist content in the previous five months to help train its machine-learning technology to identify similar videos in the future, and that it aims to hire 10,000 human moderators in 2018.

Facebook, meanwhile, has said that it provides human review of all content flagged for removal. With 2 billion monthly users worldwide, this involves tens of thousands of reviewers in 40 languages who, according to a Facebook spokesperson, comprise native speakers and people with market-specific knowledge. But there is no way to independently audit the content removed by the platform, and Facebook often cites privacy concerns when researchers ask for greater access to data.

Facebook had a human team of editors curating Trending Topics. Leaked documents showed editorial intervention at several stages of the trending news operation, from decisions about injecting and blacklisting topics from the trending feed to which sources were authoritative and trustworthy. But accusations that it was suppressing conservative news led to a backlash against the internet behemoth. In response, Facebook tweaked its approach and switched to algorithmic curation.

In September, The Daily Beast reported that Facebook accounts reporting on or documenting what the UN has termed a textbook case of ethnic cleansing of the Muslim-minority Rohingya population in Myanmar were also being shuttered or removed. The company has not responded to questions about the political or ethnic makeup of the moderators deciding on content related to the crisis in Myanmar.

In late 2016, Facebook revised its community guidelines to allow graphic content that is newsworthy, significant, or important to the public interest, which would include both the conflicts in Syria and Myanmar. But weeks before the plethora of one-sided removals came to light, Facebook had placed the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, a designated terrorist group in Myanmar that claims to comprise freedom fighters, on its list of dangerous organizations that are prohibited from using the platform. Google also prohibits violent extremism.

The largest internet firms have banded together to create a shared database of terrorist images and videos that theyve removed from their platforms. Google News, which is entirely algorithmically generated, recently updated its guidelines to prohibit misrepresentation of ownership or country of origin, or the deliberate misleading of users.

But policymakers are not satisfied with the self-regulatory measures. Germanys new Network Enforcement Act, known as NetzDG, requires major online platforms remove, within 24 hours of notification, obviously illegal content or face fines of up to 50 million. And the UK prime minister in September called for companies to remove extremist content shared by terrorist groups within two hours and develop technology to prevent it from being shared from the outset.

[EDITORS NOTE: This article first appeared in Columbia Journalism Reviews Winter 2018 Issue, published in partnership with CPJ.]
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Myanmar: Saudi Arabia suspends fish imports from Myanmar

by THIHA KO KO

February 20,2018 | Source: Myanmar Times

Saudi Arabia has temporarily suspended fishing imports from Myanmar, according to the Myanmar Fisheries Federation. Saudi Arabias general authority for food and medicine suspended aquaculture products from Bangladesh , India, Myanmar and Vietnam, according to the Saudi Aquaculture Society.



This suspension is made in accordance with the regulatory procedures issued by the Food and Drug Authority (FDA). An delegation from several regulators from Saudi Arabia conducted an inspection tour last month targeting Vietnamese facilities that export to the country. The delegation found that only nine facilities met the national hygiene requirements, according to Vietnam news reports.



The fisheries exporters in Myanmar and the fisheries department have questioned this suspension. The exporters do not understand this suspension because it was Vietnam which had problems. Why suspend fish imports from Myanmar? Daw Toe Nandar Tin, vice president of Myanmar Fisheries Federation, said. Myanmar exports about 60,000 tonnes of fisheries annually, and 20,000 tonnes to Saudi Arabia specifically, she added.
India: Seafood exports likely to cross $10 billion by 2022

February 20,2018 | Source: The Hindu

Efforts are on to increase seafood exports, which will cross $6 billion this fiscal and $10 billion by 2022, Export Inspection Council director S.K. Saxena has said. In an interview to The Hindu here, Mr. Saxena said the production of vannamei (whiteleg shrimp) was growing phenomenally among aquaculture farmers of Andhra Pradesh and a few other coastal States.



Stating that Andhra Pradesh was accounting for 70% of aquaculture exports, Mr. Saxena said the Union government in the Budget proposals for 2018-19 laid emphasis on raising exports from food and agriculture sector seeing huge potential to be explored in the years ahead. The seafood export is increasing at 20 to 25% despite emergence of new players in South East Asia. For India, Korea has emerged as a new market after the United States, European Union and Japan. Admitting that value addition was still lacking, he said Visakhapatnam, despite being a leading fish landing centre, lacked awareness among the fish farmers on stopping juvenile fishing and ensuring sustainable fishing.



Quality compliance



He said food processing facilities would come up for tapping the potential for value addition and improving exports of tuna from the East Coast. Underlining the importance of adhering to quality compliance, he said the importers were laying down stringent conditions due to heavy competition in seafood exports. The thrust was on increasing value of addition with minimal processing.



He said the United States had remained the largest market for Indian exporters with South East Asia poised to take over No. 2 slot from the European Union. Black tiger captured in West Bengal and Odisha was getting a very good response in the export market. Besides seafood, basmati rice and bovine meat had huge potential for exports, he added.
An Iraqi court ordered the release and deportation of a suspected French jihadist sentenced Monday to seven months in prison for entering the country illegally, saying she had already served her time.





Melina Boughedir, 27, was arrested last summer in former Islamic State group stronghold Mosul with her four children, three of whom have been repatriated to France.





Wearing a black dress and purple headscarf, she entered the courtroom holding her other child, a boy with blond hair.





Speaking in Arabic, she said that she had been a housewife in Mosul.





"I entered Syria with my French passport but Daesh (IS) took it from me. I stayed in Syria for four days and then came to Mosul with my husband and four children".





She said that her French husband Maximilien, whom she said had been a cook for IS, was killed as Iraqi forces battled to oust the jihadist group from Mosul, which was recaptured last July.





Asked her if she regretted what she did, she replied: "Yes".





Iraq in December declared victory against IS after a years-long battle to retake large swathes of territory the extremists had seized in 2014.





An Iraqi court last month condemned a German woman to death by hanging after finding her guilty of belonging to IS, the first such sentence in a case involving a European woman.





And a German teenager was sentenced to six years in prison on Sunday for membership in IS, a judicial source said, adding that she was 17 years old.





After last month's death sentence, lawyers for Boughedir and another French woman awaiting trial in Iraq for allegedly joining IS wrote to French President Emmanuel Macron warning that they could face the same penalty.





But Boughedir also faces an arrest warrant in France, where she is wanted for alleged "association with criminals and terrorists", a judicial source in Paris said.





She is expected to be detained and interrogated by anti-terrorist judges if she returns to France, a source close to the case said.





Several dozen French citizens suspected of links to the jihadist group are believed to be in detention camps or prisons in Syria and Iraq.





French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in Baghdad last week that suspected jihadists should be tried in the countries where they committed their "crimes", while reiterating France's opposition to the death penalty.





Britain has also taken a firm stance against repatriation, as has Belgium which denied a request by one of its nationals to be sent home from Iraq in exchange for cooperating with the authorities.





Several hundred foreigners, both men and women, are thought to have been detained in Iraq for alleged links to IS.





In December, a Swedish man of Iraqi origin was among 38 people executed after being convicted of "terrorism".





And on Sunday an Iraqi court sentenced a Turkish woman to death and 11 other foreign widows to life in jail for belonging to IS, despite their pleas that they had been duped or forced by their husbands to join them in Iraq.





A total of 509 foreign women, including 300 Turks, are being held in Iraq with 813 children, according to a security source.

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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

Agence France-Presse, February 19, 2018
Ukraine to assess damage inflicted by Crimea occupation after UN Tribunal rules on jurisdiction

The Ukrainian foreign ministry did not speculate on the exact amount reaching billions of U.S. dollars.

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Ukraine's agri-food exports to EU increase to EUR 5.52 bln in 2017

In general, the value of EU agri-food exports reached EUR 137.9 billion in 2017.

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Ukraine authorities on EU's decision to scrap border project: Early and wrong to talk about it

The scheme aimed to help integrate Ukraine's economy with those of its EU neighbors by building or modernizing checkpoints at crossings with Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania.

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From 1984 to 2000, energy exports grew from 264 million barrels to 380 million barrels. This rate of growth would be impressive in its own right, if it were not so dwarfed by the massive increase that followed. From 2000 to 2016, exports grew from 380 million barrels to 1.9 billion barrels in 2016. Put another way, total exports finally broke through the 500 million barrel in 2007, and they might reach 2 billion a decade later.

Moving to the individual destination countries offers yet more insight into how the U.S. energy sector has developed. U.S. neighbors Canada and Mexico were the top two destinations for crude oil and petroleum product exports. In the early years of the 2000s Mexico accounted for more than 34 percent of these exports, and Canada another 11 percent. Even as the total number of exports increased significantly over time, Mexico and Canada only accounted for 35 percent of these exports in 2016. Canada finally surpassed Mexico to become the biggest destination for these exports in 2013 and remains there today.

Below the top two spots, the rest of the top 10 countries for exports showed a higher variation. In part this dynamic is due to the substantial total growth. The second-largest export destination in 2000, Canada with about 40 million barrels would be 13th in terms of export amount in 2016. Looking at the top 10 destinations for 2016 reveals the truly global reach of U.S. crude oil and petroleum product exports. Aside from the two U.S. neighbors, the list is rounded out by the Netherlands, Brazil, Japan, China, Chile, Colombia, Singapore, and India. The mixture of emerging and developed countries around the globe underscores the importance of trade agreements that open those markets to U.S. energy exports, and the corresponding development of energy transportation infrastructure that will help domestically-produced oil and petroleum products get to their final destination.

While the growth of the U.S. energy industry is a success story, it is easy to look to other countries and see the price of mismanagement and poor public policy. Venezuela, which has some of the most abundant natural resources in the world, has seen its oil production decline to the lowest point in three decades, aside from a brief dip during a failed coup attempt disrupted operations in 2002. The country has had to resort to importing crude oil from Russia for its refineries due to a lack of domestic production.

U.S. domestic energy production and exports have recently seen a period of unprecedented growth. These developments have helped American consumers maintain access to abundant, affordable energy, and generated millions of direct and indirect jobs and billions of dollars in investment. Maintaining a regulatory and policy framework that allows for development and innovation in the energy industry is vital to its continued success.

The interactive below allows you to see how U.S. crude oil and petroleum product exports have evolved since 2000. You can also select a year and highlight selected countries. The top 10 export destinations are displayed for each year.
The nations space program often entails sucking billions of taxpayer dollars into black holes. The Presidents FY 2019 Budget, released on February 12, gives taxpayers a pleasant break from space oddities. The Budget proposes the removal of government funding for the International Space Station (ISS) by 2024, turning the project over to the private sector. Already this proposal is receiving criticism from some fiscal hawks blindsided by their love for federal forays into space.

Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) called ISS privatization backers numbskulls, reasoning that As a fiscal conservative,...one of the dumbest things you can to is cancel programs after billions in investment when there is still serious usable life ahead. Senator Cruz is normally no fan of federal funding, but Texas is home to Houstons Johnson Space Center, which oversees the Space Station. All politics is local.

Senator Cruz and others suggest that privatizing the ISS would mean squandering the $80 billion to $100 billion already invested in the Space Station over the past few decades. But just because the government invests in basic research does not mean that it has to fund and manage the project forever. By privatizing its share of the Space Station the government could save the approximately $3 billion spent in annual upkeep by NASA. NASA dubiously justifies the drain on its budget by pointing to a myriad of scientific advancements coming from research conducted at the Space Stationeven though those could be undertaken by private companies.

Many scientific experiments are limited by the Earths gravity, making microgravity conditions in space a better alternative. A widely-touted application is drug development, which often relies on examining the proteins in human bodies. Researchers often crystalize these proteins to get a three-dimensional look, but the size is often too small for a thorough examination. Microgravity allows protein crystals to grow larger than on Earth, leading ISS backers to claim that Space Station experiments are critical for life-saving drugs.

This sort of narrow thinking, however, closes the door on cheaper ways to enlarge crystals down on Earth. Researchers at the University of Bristol discovered that strong magnetic fields can mimic the impact of microgravity in preliminary drug research. Researchers confining their work to Earth have a more viable path forward, due to intellectual property protections in countries such as the US and the UK. The Space Station, and outer space in general, does not have patent protection. As space lawyer Constance Gall Rhebergen points out, the collaborative international nature of the Space Station makes any sort of patents and enforcement tricky. That, and a lack of dispute resolution in space makes most companies unlikely to undertake major research endeavors beyond the stratosphere.

Other touted sources of innovation stem from current public-private collaborations. Technology from the Canadarm, developed for the U.S. Shuttle Program, helped researchers back on Earth create robots capable of operating inside MRI machines.

These spillovers will undoubtedly save lives, but cannot be used as a primary justification for a government-owned Space Station. Canadarm and similar robots cost hundreds of millions of dollars to develop and acquire. Successor technology has since saved the lives of under 100 cancer patients. While every life saved is a cause for celebration, it is possible that more lives could be saved if those resources were controlled by private companies.

That is not to say that there are no scientific activities worth pursuing beyond Earth. The status quo, however, forces taxpayers to subsidize research and innovation that could be done far more efficiently by private individuals in space or on Earth. If officials at NASA were truly interested in figuring out which space experiments were truly worth the cost, they would let companies and research organizations foot the bill for operational expenses at ISS.

Already, there are plans for other private space stations, and efforts are underway by other countries to build their own stations. These developments will lead to lower hub rental costs in outer space, and make truly worthwhile endeavors even more affordable. Private stations will make patent enforcement easier, and NASA can contribute by defining patent and copyright terms in space.

Privatization, however, will not necessarily be easy. The Space Station is internationally owned, and the United States would be limited to handing off the areas of the U.S. Orbital Segment (USOS) not managed by the space agencies of the EU, Japan, and Canada. America does have a lot of leverage, though, since it has contributed to the bulk of maintenance funding. Other powers would likely be unwilling to pick the tab in Americas absence, and thus sell off their own areas to other private actors. At worst, the other Western countries would make up the shortfall without privatizing, demonstrating that NASA funding was unnecessary to begin with.

Former NASA White House Liaison Greg Autry summed up the Space Station situation well, observing that, Depending on who you talk to, ISS is either an incredibly valuable, fully depreciated piece of critical space infrastructure or an orbital sunk cost trap.

Justifying ISS presence as a prerequisite to Lunar or Martian missions wrongly assumes only the federal government can oversee this research. Privatization will allow the burgeoning private space industry to foot the bill for its own risky endeavors.

Ross Marchand is the director of policy for the Taxpayers Protection Alliance.

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Maritime security in Senegal got a boost this month with the addition of two patrol boats provided by the United States. In a ceremony at the Dakar Naval Base, U.S. Ambassador to Senegal Tulinabo Mushingi noted that the true prosperity of a maritime nation requires good maritime stewardship.

The illicit trafficking of people and narcotics causes harm to our societies. Illegal fishing, and the illicit traffic of goods and marine pollution are causing damage to our societies, said Ambassador Mushingi.

Solutions to these ills cannot be implemented by a single government entity or even by a single country. Maritime insecurity in strategic places such as the Gulf of Guinea can affect us all. In addition, those engaged in illicit activities in the maritime field will use borders to avoid prosecution. For these reasons, we must work together in the maritime domain. We all benefit from efforts to help build the capabilities of our maritime partners.

To assist Senegal in maritime protection, the United States turned over to Senegals Marine Nationale, two 38 foot, DEFIANT class Metal Shark patrol boats.

The vessels delivered this month are the fourth and fifth patrol boats turned over to the Senegalese Navy as part of a six-vessel package valued at five million dollars.

Through annual exercises and training engagements, Senegal and the United States continue to strengthen each others maritime forces, the Ambassador noted. Through a sustained commitment to the annual Africa Maritime Law Enforcement Program engagement, OPERATION JUNCTION RAIN, Senegal stands out in its capability to counter maritime threats such as illegal fishing, illicit trafficking, and piracy, and as a regional leader in training neighboring partners in these capabilities.

As we have seen with recent maritime activities with Senegals neighbors, Marine Nationale professionals have a challenging and dangerous job, said Ambassador Mushingi.But they do it well, day in and day out  always on watch to protect Senegal and its regional partners.

The United States, he said, looks forward to continued engagement with our maritime partner, the Marine Nationale.
The United States is committed to supporting Afghanistans government in its efforts to achieve peace, security, and prosperity for their country. As part of this support, we are working to undermine the Taliban and the Haqqani network terrorist organizations.

One of the best ways to hinder any terrorist groups activities is to disrupt the activities of its high-level operatives. To this end, the U.S. Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC, designated under Executive Order 13224, four members of the Taliban and two from the Haqqani network.

Abdul Samad Sani is involved in financing the Taliban, and procuring supplies for them. In recent years, he has on numerous occasions raised or collected funds for the Taliban, purchased supplies and ammunition for Taliban commanders and fighters engaged in combat in Afghanistan, and appointed special representatives to serve as Taliban fundraisers abroad.

Abdul Qadeer Basir Abdul Baseer, a member of the Taliban Finance Commission, has provided Taliban commanders with tens of thousands of dollars to fund their operations, and disbursed funds directly to Taliban shadow governors.

Hafiz Mohammed Popalzai is one of four individuals responsible for all Taliban financing, including foreign financing and money from the narcotics trade. He also invests the Talibans money.

Maulawi Inayatullah has operated as the overall Taliban member responsible for attacks against Afghan and Coalition Forces in Kabul, and provided financial support and other materials for the attack planners.

Faqir Muhammad has for many years been a major fundraiser for the Haqqani Network.

Gula Khan Hamidi facilitated communication between a Haqqani network official and a Haqqani network contact in Syria. He also facilitated the transfer of funds from the Haqqani network to Haqqani-affiliated extremists.

We are targeting six individuals related to the Taliban or Haqqani Network who have been involved in attacks on Coalition troops, smuggling of individuals, or financing these terrorist groups, said Sigal Mandelker, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. This action supports the Presidents South Asia Strategy by disrupting these terrorist organizations and publically exposing individuals who facilitate their activities. The Pakistani government must work with us to deny the Taliban and the Haqqani Network sanctuary and to aggressively target their terrorist fundraising.
Agni Kharel appointed Attorney General

President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Tuesday appointed former Minister Agni Kharel as the Attorney General. Kharel is a senior advocate.
Secretary of Irans Expediency Council, Mohsen Rezai has said on February 20 that Iran will level Tel Aviv to the ground if Israel takes any measure [against Iran].

He was speaking at an official Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) ceremony.

The statement by Rezai, a former commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), was made as a reaction to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who had said on Sunday February 18: Israel could act against Iran if necessary.

Netanyahu made the statement at a security conference in Munich while showing a piece from an Iranian drone downed in Israel.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in his address at the same conference characterized Netanyahus speech as a cartoonish circus, which does not even deserve a response.

Israel had expressed serious concern about the establishment of Irans military presence in Syria several months ago, when it accused Tehran of setting up a factory to manufacture precision missiles for the Lebanese Hezbollah.

Damascus and Tehran have said that Irans military presence in Syria is legitimate and based on mutual agreements.

Ali Akbar Velayati, Iranian leader Ali Khameneis senior adviser for international affairs said last week that Irans military presence in Syria would continue based on those agreements.

According to a Mehr News Agency report, Rezai in his reaction to Netanyahus statement said: We tell Israelis that they cannot do a damn thing.

If you decide to do anything, we would level Tel Aviv to the ground, and you will not have time even to escape, Said Rezai.

Rezai was also a presidential candidate twice; in 2009 and 2013.

Iranian officials, including a former president, members of the Parliament and the commander of IRGC have repeatedly threatened to totally demolish Tel Aviv; a threat that led Israel to view Iran as an enemy of its existence.

Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani said on Wednesday February 14 at a commemoration ceremony in Tehran marking the death anniversary of Lebanese militant Imad Mughniyeh: The revenge for Mughniyehs blood will not be firing a missile or killing one individual. The revenge would be the eradication of Israel.

Days later even the foreign minister of Russia, Irans ally in the region, reacted negatively to this comment.

Sergey Lavrov said on Monday in the presence of his Iranian counterpart in Kremlin sponsored conference that Soleimanis comment about Israels eradication was unacceptable.
Deputy Chairman of parliaments Legal Commission says he has met a teenager in Hamadan province who has received a five-year sentence for bringing down a flag during recent protests in Iran.

Mohammad Kazemi, who represents the city of Malayer in western Iran, told Etemad Online that during his visit to a detention center he met a 15-year old, who pulled down an Islamic Republic flag in one of Malayers squares during the recent turmoil.

Kazemi added that the teenager received the sentence in a lower court and has appealed.

Earlier, several Iranian officials had spoken of school students being arrested during widespread protests that rocked Iran in late December, early January. An Internal Affairs Ministry official admitted that more than 90 percent of those arrested were teenagers or young people.

In his remarks to Etemad, Kazemi also said that according to Director General of Hamadan province prisons, around forty protesters had been arrested. It is not clear whether he was referring to those still in detention or the total number of arrested individuals.

According to Kazemi, many of the detainees have rejected the bail set for them and have demanded lower bails and a faster legal process to deal with their cases.

The International Campaign for Human Rights has said that most of protesters who were arrested during recent unrests were not given a chance to be represented by lawyers or to meet with their families while in custody. The ICHR added that inmates could face the charges of fighting God and the saints which could lead to death sentences.
Russias Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has condemned remarks by Iranian officials calling for the eradication of Israel.

In a conference organized by Valdai Club, a research institute sponsored by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Lavrov said, "We have stated many times that we won't accept the statements that Israel, as a Zionist state, should be destroyed and wiped off the map. I believe this is an absolutely wrong way to advance one's own interests."

On February 14 during a ceremony in Tehran, the commander of Irans Quds force, General Qassem Soleimani remarked that Israels eradication would be the best revenge for the killing of Imad Mughniyeh, a Hezbollah militant killed ten years ago in Damascus.

It was not the first time that Iranian officials have uttered such remarks. Irans leaders have repeatedly called for the destruction of Israel. Three years ago, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Israel would not last for another 25 years.

But Lavrov added, "By the same token, we oppose attempts to view any regional problem through the prism of fighting Iran," he noted. "This is happening in Syria, Yemen and even the latest developments around the Palestinian issue, including Washington's announcement of its decision to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital, are largely motivated by this anti-Iranian stance,"

Both Lavrov and Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif spoke on Monday during the opening session of the conference devoted to Russia's role in the Middle East.

Answering a question from an Arab media reporter, and referring to Soleimanis remark, Lavrov also said that he does not accept calls for wiping a country off the map.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

By Nigar Guliyeva - Trend:

Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev may pay an official visit to Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani ambassador to Uzbekistan Huseyn Guliyev said.

Guliyev made the remarks during the Uzbekistan-Azerbaijan business forum in Tashkent, Sputnik Uzbekistan reported Feb. 20.

"Presently, it is difficult to name the exact date of the visit. Most likely, it will be in spring, perhaps, the end of May," he said.

Guliyev noted that a wide range of issues, namely, cooperation in the oil and gas sector, agro-industrial complex, building materials industry, food industry, are planned to be discussed during the visit.

The issue of increasing the number of direct flights between the two countries may be resolved, according to him.

The ambassador added that the sides will also discuss the strengthening of transport and logistics relations in the context of the newly-launched Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway.

In 2017, the trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $ 31.2 million, exports - $26.2 million and imports - $ 4.9 million.

Some 84 Azerbaijani enterprises operate in Uzbekistan, including 71 joint ventures and 11 enterprises with 100 percent foreign capital.

Two Uzbek enterprises have been established in Baku, including the representative office of Uzbekistan Airways and the Uzavtosanoat dealer company Uzavto Baku LLC.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

By Leman Zeynalova - Trend:

Saudi Minister of Interior, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz and Azerbaijan's Interior Minister Ramil Usubov signed a protocol for cooperation between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan in the field of combating crime.



The signing ceremony was held following a series of official talks between the two sides in Riyadh on Feb.20.



The sides also discussed ways of enhancing the prospects of joint cooperation between the security services in both countries as well as the developments in the regional and international arenas.



The meeting was attended by Saudi Arabia's State Security Chief Abdulaziz al-Huwairini, Interior Ministry Undersecretary Dr. Nasser al-Daoud, Assistant Interior Minister for Operations and Public Security First Lieutenant Saeed al-Qahtani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior for Security Affairs Maj. Gen. Mohammed al-Muhanna in addition to a number of officials from both countries.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

By Taleh Mursagulov - Trend:

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan and the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations of Azerbaijan have signed an agreement on cooperation, Uzbek media reported on Feb. 20.

The agreement was signed as part of the Uzbek-Azerbaijani business forum.

More than 20 representatives of big Azerbaijani companies, as well as more than 50 representatives of big facilities from all regions of Uzbekistan took part in the forum.

During the event, issues of partnership to strengthen cooperation between entrepreneurs of the two countries were discussed.

In 2017, the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan amounted to $31.2 million, Azerbaijani exports amounted to $26.2 million, imports stood at $4.9 million.

As many as 84 Azerbaijani facilities operate in Uzbekistan.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

Trend:

The OSCE is expected to monitor the border of Azerbaijan and Armenia Feb. 21, said Azerbaijans Defense Ministry Feb. 20.

The monitoring will be held under the mandate of the OSCE chairperson-in-office personal representative in the direction of Azerbaijans Gazakh district.

On the Azerbaijani side, the monitoring will be held by Andrzej Kasprzyk, personal representative of the OSCE chairperson-in-office, and his field assistants Mikhail Olaru and Simon Tiller.

On the Armenian side, the monitoring will be carried out by field assistants of the OSCE chairperson-in-office personal representative Gennady Petrica and Ognyen Yovic.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

Turkeys Aydin Province opened a park dedicated to Khojaly Tragedy and the Karabakh Park.

Azerbaijani MP Ganira Pashayeva and Turkish MPs participated in the parks' opening ceremony.

On Feb. 25-26, 1992, the Armenian armed forces, together with the 366th infantry regiment of Soviet troops, stationed in Khankendi, committed an act of genocide against the population of the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly. As many as 613 people, including 63 children, 106 women and 70 old people were killed in the massacre. Eight families were totally exterminated, 130 children lost one parent and 25 children lost both. Some 1,275 innocent residents were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 people still remains unknown.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
All eyes on Oli-led government over its possible move on HPE Act

All eyes are trained on the new government over its move on the Health Profession Education (HPE) Act that bars establishment of medical schools inside Kathmandu Valley for the next 10 years.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

Trend:

Azerbaijan's Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov will pay a working visit to Minsk on Feb.22 upon the invitation of his Belarusian counterpart Andrei Ravkov, the Defense Ministry told Trend.

During the visit, Hasanov will attend a solemn ceremony on the 100th anniversary of the Armed Forces of Belarus, hold meetings with the country's military and political leadership and visit several defense industry facilities.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

The Khojaly massacre is the bloodiest tragedy the world has seen, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Feb. 20.

Turkey has not forgotten this bloody tragedy and won't ever let it be forgotten, President Erdogan added. The perpetrators of this bloody crime must answer for it.

On Feb. 25-26, 1992, the Armenian armed forces, together with the 366th infantry regiment of Soviet troops, stationed in Khankendi, committed an act of genocide against the population of the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly. As many as 613 people, including 63 children, 106 women and 70 old people were killed in the massacre. Eight families were totally exterminated, 130 children lost one parent and 25 children lost both. Some 1,275 innocent residents were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 people still remains unknown.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

In Western circles, Azerbaijan is geopolitically an increasingly important state, one with a vital role as an energy supplier and as the key hub along the largely Azerbaijan-conceived and built, New Silk Road that facilitates growing trade between China and Europe and beyond, said an article by Maayan Hoffman, vice president of marketing and brand strategy for a social startup in Israel, published in The Daily Caller.

Greater partnership between Washington and Baku is a win-win for both in terms of geopolitics and geo-economics, Hoffman, also former international journalist, said.

Speaking about the need for closer partnership between the two countries, Hoffman said that the ideal partner for Azerbaijan is the United States, whose interest in serious partnership with Baku should be mutual and obvious.

It is in Americas best interests to not only support Azerbaijan but to protect it and facilitate this endeavor, she said.

But impediments exist, she added. A primary hindrance is Congresss affinity for all things Armenian, in large part due to the significant population of Armenian-Americans and stemming from that communitys political generosity.

Hoffman added that the conflict over Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh region is a self-defeating endeavor for Armenia.

Armenias occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and refusal to relinquish this territory that is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan serves nothing but to alienate Armenia from the regions bountiful and lucrative projects, including the New Silk Road, she said.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:

Ankara will host a tripartite meeting of the Azerbaijani, Turkish and Georgian foreign policy committees, the Azerbaijani parliament said in a statement on Feb. 20.

In this regard, Azerbaijani MP Sahiba Gafarova will visit Turkey from Feb. 23 to March 1, the message said.

At the meetings, the sides will exchange views on bilateral relations between the countries, interparliamentary ties, mutual fruitful cooperation as part of international parliamentary organizations.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

Trend:

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov received outgoing Ambassador of Egypt to the Republic of Azerbaijan Susanne Gamil Nouh, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend Feb. 20.

The sides expressed gratification with the comprehensive development of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Egypt based on historical and traditional friendly relations.

Ambassador Susanne Gamil Nouh expressed her gratitude for the support rendered for her diplomatic activities and noted that she spared no efforts to further enhance friendship between Azerbaijan and Egypt during her diplomatic mission.

The sides mentioned that the forthcoming meeting of the Intergovernmental Joint Commission is a positive step. The sides also expressed hope that the activities of Commission will make a substantial contribution in promotion of bilateral economic-trade relations.

The sides describing Egypt as one of the founding States of Non-Aligned Movement exchanged views on Mid-Term Ministerial Conference of NAM to be held in Baku on April 5-6 and the Chairmanship of Azerbaijan to NAM in 2019-2022.



Mammadyarov wished Ambassador Susanne Gamil Nouh every success in her future activities.
Details added (first version posted on 18:32)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

Trend:

Armenia's military dictatorship should recognize that aggressive Armenian separatism, which began in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, and the military occupation of Azerbaijani territories have conditioned Armenia's current strategic failure, spokesman of Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, Hikmat Hajiyev told Trend Feb. 20.

He made the remarks commenting on the congratulatory message of the Armenian president to the separatist regime created in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

"The Armenian president's proudly quoting the Armenian terrorist organization ASALA member and the international terrorist, Monte Melkonian, who has been involved in murder of innocent people in terrorist attacks, in the letter addressed to the illegal regime proves the true essence of the Armenian government and the aggressive separatist movement that began in late 1980s in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan," he said.

He said the Armenian president, who started as a field commander together with the terrorist Monte Melkonyan and still adheres to this thinking, presents results of terror against Azerbaijan, military aggression, bloody ethnic cleansing, war crimes and criminal acts against humanity as "a success".



"Instead of deceiving itself and the Armenian people, the military dictatorship regime of Armenia must recognize that today's strategic failure of Armenia is conditioned by aggressive Armenian separatism that began in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and the military occupation of Azerbaijani territories," Hajiyev said.

The temporary and tactical occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia, which caused Armenia's geopolitical, geo-economic isolation and strategic defeat, left it aside from regional projects, and this exhausts the political, military, economic, social and demographic resources of that country, Hajiyev noted, adding that Armenia also put its existence as a sovereign state under a serious question.

Excluding Armenia, the entire international community recognizes and supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan within the internationally recognized borders, Hajiyev said.

This position is reflected in the well-known resolutions of the UN Security Council, statements, resolutions and decisions of the OSCE, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Council of Europe, the EU, NATO, the Non-Aligned Movement and other international organizations, as well as in statements of other states and bilateral documents, he added.

Armenias attempts to legitimize the military occupation of Azerbaijani territories and present it as the right to self-determination failed, he noted.

The international community didnt recognize and will never recognize the consequences of the occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia through military aggression with the use of force, Hajiyev said.

The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs and the entire international community consider the current status quo based on aggression unacceptable and require its change, he noted.

Changing the status quo primarily involves elimination of the fact of aggression, he said.

The political and legal bases for a phased settlement of the conflict are known to the entire international community, Hajiyev noted. They include withdrawal of Armenian troops from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan within the internationally recognized borders, the return of Azerbaijani refugees and internally displaced persons, including the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh region, to their native lands and the joint residence of the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of Nagorno-Karabakh region within Azerbaijans borders. This is based on the norms and principles of international law, well-known resolutions of the UN Security Council and the Helsinki Final Act.

As a result of exposure of Armenias aggression against Azerbaijan, the predatory policy and the policy of ethnic cleansing, as well as terror, military and criminal acts committed at the state level in Armenia and in the occupied territories against the peaceful Azerbaijani population, Armenian lies were demonstrated and moral principles as well as image of Armenia as a state were thoroughly undermined at the international level, Hajiyev added.

Clear opinion was formed in the international community regarding the aggressive policy of Armenia and the Armenian lie, he said. The sooner the Armenian leadership understands this reality and puts an end to the occupation of Azerbaijani territories, the sooner peace and stability will be restored in the region, and the population of Armenia will be able to use the opportunities of regional cooperation.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

Trend:

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order to increase the amount of presidential pension for the families of servicemen who were killed, went missing and declared dead while performing international duty as part of the Soviet troops in Afghanistan.

According to the order, the monthly amount of pension will be increased by 10 percent from March 1, 2018.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

Trend:

The 3-rd Made in Azerbaijanbusiness idea competition among the students organized jointly by the Ministry of Education, the Youth and Sport Ministry, Kapital Bank OJSC and UNEC is being launched.

The goal of the contest is to support the decree signed by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev On the Additional Measures to Promote the Export of Non-oil Products at the level of higher education istitutions and promote the enterpreneurship activity among the students.

The students from all higher education institutions of Azerbaijan can participate in the competition. The students who took the first three places in the competition, along with valuable gifts, will also be able to study the experience of successful startups in the leading universities of Turkey within one week.

The business plan should be developed individually, adapted to the decree and mission of the competition. At the same time, the approach to the subject should be modern, original, creative and topical. The real opportunities for the implementation of the project in the internal market should be taken into account.

The adoption of business ideas will continue until March 31. The presented business ideas will be evaluated by the expert council from April 1 to 20 and the finalists will be announced. The final stage of the competition will be held in April-May.

Those wishing to particiapte in the competition can send their business plans to this e-mail: [email protected]. While registering, the word biznesideya2018 should be indicated in the subject section of the e-mail.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

Trend:

Student of Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS) became a winner of 10th X Grant competition of the Youth Foundation under the President of Azerbaijan Republic. Fourth-year Chemical Engineering student Vusal Guluyev has successfully realized his project entitled Entropy as the Cause of Greenhouse Effect Increase with the organizational support of BHOS.

At the meeting dedicated to the start of the training, Vusal Guluyev gave detailed information about the project. Then BHOS Vice-rector for general affairs Rashad Hasanov welcomed the participants and said that he was very pleased to see bachelor and master students from leading national universities as well as representatives of various companies. Professor of the BHOS Petroleum Engineering department Fuad Valiyev and senior engineer of Provitaz MMC alternative energy company Emin Mammadov shared their knowledge and experience in this field.

The project included five training sessions and a poster competition in order to test the level of the subject knowledge by the participants. Trainings were held at the BHOS conference hall. Over 100 students representing various national universities were involved in the project. In addition, SOCAR representatives joined the project along with the students. In particular, the participants were informed about issues related to the global warming and the greenhouse effect, its impact on the environment and their connection with the entropy.

During the poster competition, the participants divided in groups described problems based on the information they gained and offered solutions to the problems. Upon the project completion, they were awarded certificates and presents.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

By Elchin Mehdiyev  Trend:

The next meeting of the Pardon Issues Commission under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan will take place on Feb. 20.

More than 300 appeals were considered at the meetings of the Commission regularly held since late January 2018.

In total, the Commission has received about 1,000 appeals.
Between rock & hard place

The National Planning Commission (NPC), the apex body that frames the countrys development plans and policies, has recommended that the government shelve its plan to graduate from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category on non-income criteria for the time being.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

The Sarp checkpoint on the Turkish-Georgian border will be put into operation in late March - early April 2018, the Turkish Ministry of Customs and Trade told Trend Feb. 20.

The work on modernization of the Sarp checkpoint completed at the end of 2017.

"The territory of the checkpoint was expanded from 37,000 square meters to 46,000 square meters," the ministry said.

The modernization project of the Sarp checkpoint costs approximately 120 million Turkish liras.

The Sarp checkpoint was built in Turkey in 1989.

(3.75 TRY = $1 on Feb. 20)

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Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Details added, title changed (first version posted on 09:46)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

By Ali Mustafayev  Trend:

A delegation of the Netherlands will arrive to Azerbaijan to discuss expansion of cooperation in agriculture, Dutch ambassador to Azerbaijan Onno Kervers said during a briefing in Baku on Feb. 20.

Trade turnover between the countries is currently increasing within the cooperation in numerous important spheres, he noted.

Cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Netherlands is at a high level. The Netherlands participates in the diversification of Azerbaijans economy. We closely cooperate in agriculture, water management and a number of other spheres, Kervers said.

According to the ambassador, MOBILAZE (Support to the Implementation of the Mobility Partnership with Azerbaijan) is among the important projects in Azerbaijan with Dutch participation.

We were one of the first to express willingness to cooperate and support Azerbaijan in this sphere as soon as the project had been launched. Such projects increase contacts between our countries and positively affect other spheres of our cooperation. We work on decreasing the risks of illegal migration, as well as the risks for individuals visiting the EU states with economical goals, and the risks for security of our countries in general, Kervers said.

Representatives of Azerbaijans state organizations, a delegation of the Council of Europe, experts from the Netherlands and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development will participate in the three-day meeting of MOBILAZE, which will be held on Feb. 2023 in the framework of EU-Azerbaijan cooperation.
The largest development organisation in the Muslim world, the Islamic Development Bank, is set to ramp up its fundraising activities and form a partnership with the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to address a yawning infrastructure gap in African and other developing countries, Financial Times reports.

The plan to join forces with the AIIB to co-lend to projects in the Islamic world would boost the international footprint of the China-led development bank that was launched in spite of US opposition in 2015.

We will partner with the AIIB, Bandar Hajjar, IDB president, said in an interview with the Financial Times. We will co-finance many projects [with AIIB] in the future in Africa. Africa needs . . . about $150bn a year to finance infrastructure and there are about 650m people in Africa without access to electricity.

Co-operation between the AIIB and the IDB, which are capitalised at $100bn and $150bn respectively, is set to create a new force in development finance for a swath of developing countries. Many of the IDBs 57 member countries overlap with the AIIBs approved membership of some 80 nations.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

By Anvar Mammadov - Trend:

Azerbaijani insurance companies need to expand sales of voluntary types of insurance, Azer Aliyev, Chairman of the Board at Ateshgah Insurance, told reporters in Baku Feb. 20.

For this purpose, it is necessary to conduct an extensive awareness and advertising campaign, he added.

I must admit that insurance companies were somewhat late in taking this step, he noted.

Earlier, Azer Aliyev said in an interview with Trend that Azerbaijani insurance companies need to develop cross-selling.

Today, it is obvious that compulsory types of insurance are no longer profitable, he said. I am sure that after a while, insurance companies will realize how important it is to seriously develop cross-selling by offering voluntary types of insurance to customers who already have compulsory types of insurance.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

Trend:

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is considering participation in the planned privatization of International Bank of Azerbaijan (IBA), Ivana Fernandes Duarte, EBRD manager in Azerbaijan, told Reuters in an interview.

The EBRD is in contact with IBA and the Azerbaijani authorities to discuss the privatization options, she said.

We will definitely consider this once its ready for privatization, she said, but declined to elaborate on the possible format or timing of the sale.

It remains to be seen ... whether we are talking about a sale to a strategic investor that we could support as a financial investor or another type of entry of private capital, Fernandes Duarte said.

The EBRD usually acquires minority stakes in a range between 5 and 25 percent, she added.

Earlier, EBRD President Suma Chakrabarti said that the EBRD would be happy to help in restructuring and refocusing of the IBA.

Chakrabarti said that in case of reforming the corporate governance system in IBA, EBRD may consider an opportunity of becoming a shareholder of the Azerbaijani bank.

The International Bank of Azerbaijan is at the stage of recovery since July 2015, which is related to preparations for privatization of the bank's state-owned shares.

To restore the bank's financial position, the distressed assets of the bank were transferred to state-owned Aqrarkredit non-bank credit organization. Aqrarkredit provides IBA with liquid assets in exchange for distressed assets.

Restructuring of IBAs foreign liabilities has been recently completed.

Azerbaijan has been a member of EBRD since 1992. Since then, the bank has invested about $2.8 billion in Azerbaijans economy.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

By Anvar Mammadov  Trend:

A compulsory real estate insurance oversight mechanism has to be created in Azerbaijan, first deputy chairman of the board of Azerbaijani Ateshgah Insurance company Akbar Madatli told reporters in Baku.

Even though the real estate insurance is compulsory, its penetration in the market is about 5 percent, according to Madatli.

The control over the insurance policy purchase is carried out only during the notarial registration of the property purchase and sale or transfer. That is not enough for full control over the sphere. We repeatedly offered various regulation mechanisms for compulsory insurance, but unfortunately they werent accepted by the regulation bodies. This market has a great potential, but to realize it a real estate insurance oversight mechanism has to be created urgently, Madatli said.

According to the data of Azerbaijans Financial Markets Supervision Chamber, fees on compulsory real estate insurance amounted to 27.93 million manats in 2017, with premiums totaling 2.83 million manats.

Currently, 13 insurance companies operate in the country in the field of compulsory insurance of real estate (OJSC Ateshgah Insurance, OJSC Standard Insurance, OJSC AtaInsurance, OJSC Xalq Insurance, OJSC PASHA Insurance, OJSC AXA MBASK, OJSC AzInsurance, State Insurance commercial company AzerInsurance, OJSC Meqa Insurance, OJSC Silkway Insurance, OJSC Azerbaijan Senaye Insurance, OJSC Qala Insurance, OJSC Gunay Insurance).

Compulsory real estate insurance covers all types of buildings including apartments, houses belonging to natural and legal entities and state property. Damage done to the property by a fire, an explosion, a short-circuit in electricity network, crash of sewerage or water supply systems, natural disasters etc. is considered an insurance case.

Tariff on this variety of insurance is 0.2 percent of insurance amount.

Maximum real estate insurance amount in Baku is 25,000 manats, in Ganja, Sumgayit and Nakhchivan  20,000 manats, in other settlements  15,000 manats. The price of the insurance is 50, 40 and 30 manats correspondingly.

The Compulsory Insurance Bureau of Azerbaijan (ISB) includes 16 companies, 13 of which are authorized to sell policies of compulsory insurance of real estate.



(1.7001 manats = 1$ on Feb. 20)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

By Huseyn Valiyev  Trend:

RUN Construction and Investment Company will construct STELLA Residence hi-tech building in the Baku White City area in Azerbaijan's capital, director of the company Ramil Kerimli told reporters in Baku on Feb. 20.

The project is at the final stage of planning and will be implemented with foreign investments, he said.

The building is currently being designed. A creative approach is being used. The building will be able to fully supply itself with pure water and electric power thanks to the extraordinary and technological design. The electric power will be produced by wind energy. The sea water will pass several stages of filtration, thus fully meeting the buildings demand in industrial water, Kerimli said.

The formation of operating contours will take some time due to the project being technically complex, Kerimli noted.

Specialists from Korea and China were attracted to the project, the company director said, while presenting the STELLA Residence project in the framework of the conference organized by RUN Construction and Investment Company.

The 54-storeyed building will consist of three complexes: an hotel, a residential complex and a business center. The project aspires to become a new brand of Azerbaijan. Recently, we have signed a memorandum with Chinese Kunming & Swiss Company, willing to invest to the project, Kerimli said.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @h_veliyev
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

By Anvar Mammadov  Trend:

An auction for placement of the third tranche issuance of registered interest-bearing mortgage bonds worth 10 million manats of the Azerbaijan Mortgage and Credit Guarantee Fund will be held at the Baku Stock Exchange (BSE) Feb. 22, the Fund said Feb. 20.

The nominal value of each bond is 1,000 manats. The bonds will be put up for sale at the price of 1.006 million manats.

The turnover of bonds is 18 years.

(1.7001 manats = $1 on Feb. 20)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

Trend:

An experienced Dutch consulting company Advision Finance is implementing the MAGA (Make AccessBank Great Again) project in AccessBank. The companys expert Diana Cazacu described the purposes and advantages of the project.

First, we would like to ask you to share the details about the MAGA (Make AccessBank Great Again) project.

As you all know, that after 2015 situation on the market profoundly changed. The crisis affected all spheres of economy and of course, influenced customer behavior as well.

All organizations started to focus more on the expenses side, hugely lay-offs in the finance market reflected on the customer service. In such conditions, AccessBank decided to revise all processes from the customer perspective and tried to make adjustments in customer-involved processes inside the bank. For that purpose in 2017, ABA collaborated with Advision Finance, an experienced consulting company in the Netherlands, in order to improve the banks operational processes and drive the digitalization of customer transactions. The project lasts 8 months and had three main objectives: (1) strengthen the IT capabilities to respond to business needs, (2) improve the branch processes to provide a better customer experience and (3) improve the efficiency of the reporting and key performance measurements within the bank.

The project involved most of the banks staff and was based on the Lean and Kaizen philosophy and methodology. Lean is a method by which an organization aims to eliminate any step in their work that does not add value to their customers. Kaizen is a Japanese word for continuous improvement and is used by many reputable organizations in the world.

Advision finance consultants did Lean projects in more than ten countries and have seen that the banks that adopt a continuous improvement culture become agiler and are able to respond to the market changes and customer needs much faster. I am very happy to see that AccessBank has committed to continuously bring value to their customers with better services.

How does AccessBank benefit from the project implementation? What would be the main differences between AccessBank before and after MAGA?

As the continuous improvement, as the terminology implies, is not a one-time project, Access bank will have a dedicated change agents team that will continue to drive improvements of the banks business processes with the focus on bringing new and technology-driven customer experience this year and next. ABA after the project is more focused on the efficiency of the processes, especially the ones that involve customers. We tried to analyses each minute that customer spends in the bank and tried to eliminate the stages, which do not add value to the customer. Off course, for such a short period I cannot say that all customer involved processes revised with the Kaizen methodology, but at least the trigger has been activated and few processes already changed.

From the staff perspective, I hope that KPI Matrix and KPI dashboards that were delivered during the project will be a very helpful tool and will help middle managers track the progress on the KPIs on the daily base.

Now we understand what the bank benefits from MAGA. In addition, what will our customers gain from this project?

The program had a very positive impact on the banks staff and processes as well as on its customers. Following the process improvement in the branches, we noticed that the banks customer service officers have more time to spend on customer related transactions and not on back-office transactions. All branch staff is knowledgeable about all banks products and a customer will be able to get information from anyone in the branch and not only from specific frontline staff. Additionally, the customers embraced the digital tools and the number of transactions via digital channels increased by 10% in the last eight months. Now 72% of all transactions go online. As a result, customers will spend less time in the bank and staff will spend less time on the processes that do not add value to the customer. Even though the automation of reports is still ongoing, we believe that the implementation of the cutting-edge technology on reporting will increase staff efficiency who will be able to spend more time in innovating for customers. In other words, customers would benefit from it, because the final goal of this project is increasing the level of customer satisfaction.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

By Ali Mustafayev  Trend:

AGRI project has the potential of becoming an important instrument for ensuring EU energy security in the long term, and the project is moving forward.

Romania, Azerbaijan and Georgia work on the development of AGRI LNG project, in order to complete the assessment stage and start the implementation process, Deputy Minister of Energy of Romania Iulian Tudorache told Trend.

"The Romanian side has completed the feasibility study and we are currently in the process of jointly assessing, together with our partners, the opportunity of transforming the Project Company into a Company of Development of the Project," said Tudorache.

He added that the AGRI (Azerbaijan-Georgia-Romania Interconnector) LNG (liquefied natural gas), which Romania currently develops with the Azerbaijani partners is of high importance in terms of energy cooperation and security of gas supplies between the Caspian region and Europe.

AGRI project envisages transportation of Azerbaijani gas to the Black Sea coast of Georgia via gas pipelines. Azerbaijani gas delivered to Georgia's Black Sea coast will be liquefied at a special terminal and following this, it will be delivered in tankers to a terminal at the Romanian port of Constanta.

Further, it will be brought to the gaseous state and sent via Romanian gas infrastructure for meeting the demands of Romania and other European countries.

The project is the first of its kind to be developed in the Black Sea, aiming the transport of natural gas from Caspian region to Europe. In 2017, the cost of the project was estimated to be between 1.2 billion euros to 4.5 billion euros.

The participants of the AGRI project are SOCAR, Georgia's Oil and Gas Corporation, as well as MVM (Hungary) and Romgaz (Romania). The parties established the SC AGRI LNG Project Company SRL in February 2011 for the implementation of the project.

According to the AGRI project's official website, the forecasts say that at the EU level there will be a growing dependence on imported natural gas from 57% currently to 84% in 2030. Considering this, AGRI LNG project is gaining more and more value as another energy diversification route.
Citizens have the power to fight

Corruption has been the subject of increased public dialogue over the last few months. This is heartening because, in a democracy, citizens must address issues of public concern.
Details added (first version posted on 9:54)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

By Ali Mustafayev  Trend:

Azerbaijan plays an important role in ensuring the energy security of the Czech Republic, Czech ambassador to Azerbaijan Vitezslav Pivonka said.

Pivonka made the remarks at the event dedicated to the partnership between Azerbaijan and the EU in Baku Feb. 20.

The ambassador said that Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic are closely cooperating in the energy sector.

Azerbaijani oil supplies are an integral factor of the Czech Republics energy security, Pivonka said.

He added that the MOBILAZE project (Support to the Implementation of the Mobility Partnership with Azerbaijan) has great importance within bilateral cooperation.

The project promotes the exchange of experience, the strengthening of bilateral contacts, as well as the countries' contribution to security and reducing the risks of illegal migration, as well as forgery documents on the borders of the EU countries and Azerbaijan, Pivonka said.

The Czech Republic is happy to share experience in the field of migration and contribute to the security of Azerbaijan and the EU countries, the ambassador said.

The representatives of the Azerbaijani state institutions, the EU delegation, experts from the Netherlands and the International Center for Migration Policy Development will participate in the three-day MOBILAZE session within the Azerbaijan-EU cooperation in the field of mobility, to be held February 20-23.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb.20

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) plans to allocate loans worth up to 1.2 billion euros for the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) in 2018, Bruno Balvanera, EBRD Director for the Caucasus, Moldova and Belarus, told Reuters.

The amount expected will be in the range of up to 500 million euros in a direct loan and up to 700 million euros in a syndicated loan, subject to final internal approvals. Its expected to be approved towards the middle of the year, he said.

TAP, worth 4.5 billion euros, 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.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

Trend:

Belarus will use the legislative experience of Azerbaijan on usage of the blockchain technology in the preliminary registration of equity participation contracts in construction, BelTA reported quoting Chairman of the State Property Committee of Belarus Andrei Gaev.



He stressed that the use of blockchain technology is among the promising areas in the activity of the Committee.

"We plan to move on in this direction and this year we will try to realize the work with the use of blockchain technology in preliminary registration of equity participation contracts. In this regard, the experience of Azerbaijan was carefully studied," he said.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

In 2017, 2.5 million Iranian tourists visited Turkey, the Turkish Hotel Association said in a message Feb. 20.

According to the message, the number of Iranian tourists who visited Turkey in 2017 is 50.2 percent more compared to 2016.

The main flow of Iranian tourists to Turkey will be observed during Novruz holiday.

Turkeys tourism revenues increased by 18.9 percent and totaled $26.283 billion in 2017 as compared to 2016.

Meanwhile, 77.4 percent of total volume of revenues accounted for the share of foreign tourists, and 22.6 percent  for the share of Turkish citizens living abroad.

The number of tourists who visited Turkey in 4Q17 rose by 23.1 percent as compared to the same period of 2016.

In the fourth quarter of 2017, 8.2 million tourists visited Turkey, 83.2 percent of them are foreign tourists, and 16.8 percent are Turkish citizens living abroad.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev signed the Decree On Amending the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan of October 26, 2017, No. 569 on the Switch of the Kazakh language from Cyrillic to the Latin-based alphabet, Kazinform refers to the press service of Akorda.

The Decree approves the new version of the Latin-based alphabet of the Kazakh language.
Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic Sapar Isakov met with European Union (EU) Special Representative for Central Asia Peter Burian, Kabar with reference to the the press service of the Kyrgyz Government reported.

The Kyrgyz prime minister thanked the European Union for the continued support of reforms in the country, in particular in the electoral system, education and the rule of law.

"The government has identified priorities in reforming for the near future. First of all, the reforms will be aimed at increasing the revenue side of the budget, creating an open and transparent system of public administration, including the availability and transparency of public procurement, effective state office, fair taxation and collection of customs duties and preventing corruption in all areas of interaction between the state and citizens," Sapar Isakov said.

From his part, Peter Burian noted the high level of presidential elections in the Kyrgyz Republic in 2017, and also dwelled in detail on the Government's 40 Steps to a New Era and Taza Koom programs.

"We watched with delight the presidential elections and praised the entire process. Dozens of countries still dream of such a system of elections using electronics. However, you could achieve this result in less than three years. We are ready to build and deepen partnership within the framework of government programs. These programs are a good ground for bilateral cooperation and serve for us as a direction to support. We, in turn, are ready to work to create friendly environment for Taza Koom in the training of relevant personnel within the Erasmus + program, to provide additional capacities in the development of trade and access to justice," Peter Burian added.

The sides also discussed the preparation of a new Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the Kyrgyz Republic and the European Union, the second round of negotiations which will be held in late February of this year.

"We attach great importance to the development of the new Agreement. The government is ready for intensive negotiations. We are confident that the signing of the Agreement will allow us to take our relations to a new, higher-quality level," Sapar Isakov said.

"The European Union also confirms its readiness for more accelerated development of the Agreement. Much work has already been done on both sides. We attach great importance to regional cooperation and the issues of the country's digital agenda. Digitalization will create a transparent management system, this is what business and investors need today," the EU Special Representative said.

At the end of the meeting, the sides discussed in detail projects related to access to safe drinking water, education and the justice system.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

Trend:

Tajik government plans to draw in $35 million of grant money from the international financing organizations for the budget support, local news agency TajikTA reported.

The money will be spent on covering the state budget deficit, Tajik Finance Ministry said.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) allocated more than $50 million for the budget support of Tajikistan in the framework of the program aimed to expansion of the economical capacity, development of the private sector and attraction of investments.

The total volume of the state budget deficit for 2018 is set at 0.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), what amounts to 334.3 million somoni (about $38 million).

Tajikistan plans to cover the budget deficit for 2018 by the income from privatization and use of the state property, as well as by loans and grants from the international financial organizations.

According to forecasts, the income from privatization and use of the state property will amount to 26 million somoni ($2.9 million)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 18

By Gazenfer Hamidov  Trend:

The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) investigated the proposals submitted by Austrian OMV and Iranian Ghadir Investment Company and Pasargad Energy Development Company (PEDC) for development of three oil fields.

The proposals for development of Sepehr, Jofeir and Band-e-Karkheh oilfields were discussed in two recent meetings of the NIOC special advisory committee for management of the countrys oil reservoirs, Integrated Planning Department of NIOC said in a statement.

Last year OMV, the international, integrated oil and gas company based in Vienna, signed an MOU with NIOC to study Band-e-Karkheh oil field.

OMV entered Iran in 2001 as the operator of the Mehr exploration block in western Iran, leading to discovery of Band-e-Karkheh in 2005. The company left Iran as international sanctions were tightened against the Islamic Republic. As a result, all development activities that it had to carry out on Band-e-Karkheh were halted.

Band-e-Karkheh is located 20 kilometers northwest of Ahwaz, the provincial capital of Khuzestan. The field is 35 kilometers long and 5 kilometers wide, and is estimated to hold more than 4.5 billion barrels of crude oil in place with an API gravity of 24. The field is forecast to have a production capacity of 7,500 bpd of crude oil.

Ghadir Investment Company, a major Iranian conglomerate, also signed a non-disclosure agreement with the NIOC last April to study development of four oil and gas fields including Sepehr and Jofeir and submit the study results to the NIOC within six months.

Sepehr Oilfield is a reservoir in the West Karoun oil block in Khuzestan province. According to estimates, the field holds 800 million barrels of in-situ reserves.

Jofeir field is located at 50 kilometers west of Ahwaz city and also contains some gas deposits. Latest NIOC data show the combined output of Jofeir and Sepehr fields is below 2,000 barrels per day.

Jofeirs development is aimed at extracting 25,000 bpd of crude.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

By Gazenfer Hamidov  Trend:

Iran and South Korea started 2018 with a significant fall in their bilateral trade.

The bilateral trade witnessed a fall by 25.6 percent in January 2018 and stood at $827.714 million, according to the latest data released by the Korean Customs Service.

South Korea exported $307.6 million worth of goods to Iran in January 2018, which is less by 6 percent compared to the same period of 2017.

Meanwhile the countrys imports from Iran hit $520 million in the one-month period, indicating a fall by 33 percent compared to January 2017.

Iran-South Korea trade in January (1,000 USD)

2018 2017 Export change % Import change % Export Import Trade balance Export Import Trade balance 307,666 520,048 -212,382 327,842 785,219 -457,377 -6.15% -33.77%

The trade fall between the two countries comes after experiencing a huge rise in 2017. The Iran-South Korea trade volume hit $12 billion last year, witnessing a rise by 43.6 percent compared to 2016.

South Korea imported $7.99 billion worth of commodities, including oil, from Iran in January-December 2017, which is more by 58 percent compared to the same period of 2017.

The country also exported $4 billion worth of goods to the Islamic Republic in the 12-month period, registering a 92 percent rise compared to 2016.

Iran-South Korea trade (1,000 USD)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

By Gazenfer Hamidov  Trend:

The Islamic Republics official statistics indicate that Irans non-oil exports to Azerbaijan has witnessed significant fall during the current fiscal year (started March 20, 2017).

Iran exported 517,000 tons of goods to Azerbaijan, worth $245 million during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year(March 20-Jan. 21), according to the data released by the countrys Trade Promotion Organization (TPOI).

Irans exports to Azerbaijan registered a fall by 23 percent in terms of value year-on-year.

Meanwhile the volume of the exports witnessed a fall by 47 percent in the same span of time.

Irans exports to Azerbaijan accounted to 0.7 percent of the Islamic Republics overall non-oil exports in terms of value during the 10-month period.

The latest data released by Tehran Chamber of Commerce, indicates that Iran has imported 47,000 tons of goods, worth $16.1 million from Azerbaijan during the first eight months of the current fiscal year.

Irans export to Azerbaijan in last fiscal year (March 2016-2017)

Export value (million USD) Export volume (1000 tons) Price ($/kg) value growth (%) volume growth (%) Price growth (%) 358.57 1,049 0.34 54.7 100 -22.7

Irans imports from Azerbaijan in last fiscal year (March 2016-2017)

Import value (million USD) Import volume (1000 tons) Price ($1/kg) value growth (%) volume growth (%) Price growth (%) 46.8 151 0.31 199.9 297.2 -24.5

Azerbaijan exports to Iran were in decline in recent years after experiencing the record high figure of $322 million in Iranian fiscal year, which falls to 2007-2008.

The value reached the lowest level under the sanctions in 2014 to 2016, experiencing $15 million, but then sharply revived to $46.8 million after removal of the sanctions in 2016, registering a growth by some 200 percent.

Irans exports to Azerbaijan reached to highest level in the fiscal year to March 2013, when accounted to $493 million. But it sharply decreased in the two years of the sanctions against Tehran and reached the lowest level in the fiscal year to March 2016, standing at $231.8 million.

The figure revived by 55 percent (to $358 million) next year, when the Iranian economy was free of international sanctions.
Constable, journalist injured as IED goes off in Pokhara

Two persons were injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off near Bijaypur River in Pokhara, Kaski on Tuesday.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

By Khalid Kazimov  Trend:

A helicopter of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) has located the wreckage from an Iranian airplane that reportedly crashed on Sunday, after three days of search.

IRGC spokesman Brigadier General Ramezan Sharif has said that the footage captured by the helicopter show the wreckage from the plane and logo of Aseman Airline, local media reported.

Aseman Airlines' flight EP3704 with 66 people on board went missing on February 18 in Iran's Central Province.

According to the reports, rescue workers have been dispatched to find and transfer the bodies of the victims.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

By Azer Ahmadbayli  Trend:

In early February Deputy Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty organization (CSTO) Valery Semerikov told Interfax News that the IS militants are moving by thousands from Syria to Afghanistan.

According to Semerikov, just recently about 7,000 IS (Islamic State terrorist organization) fighters have crossed into Afghan territory. This figure, as noted by Semerikov, causes serious concern.

It is noted that the majority of the terrorists who moved from Syria to Afghanistan are of Central Asian origin. There is also information that several hundred militants are from the Muslim-populated regions of Russia. Uyghur gangs, which had been boarded up earlier in the northwestern provinces of China, were also seen in Afghanistan, the Chinese media reported earlier.

To prevent Uyghurs fighting in Syria from penetrating back home - the Xianjiang autonomous region in Northwest China - Beijing is encouraging the Afghan government to jointly establish a military base in the narrow Wakhan Corridor of northeastern Afghanistan leading to China.

But this is only part of the threats China might face. The presence of IS militants in the triangle between Tajikistan, China and Pakistan is a factor that threatens the multibillion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

The Gwadar port is the end point of the economic corridor, to where China is laying the highway and railway across the whole territory of Pakistan from North to South. It will allow China to have direct access to the Indian Ocean without making a huge detour through the Malacca Strait.

The project is considered a top priority for China. Hundreds of Chinese specialists are being involved in construction activities on the territory of Pakistan.

If the jihadists start arranging terrorist attacks and the situation destabilizes, the project may be put at risk.

Another IS target may be the Central Asia, primarily Tajikistan, that would entail Russias involvement.

Recruiting young Afghans from the marginalized segments of Afghan society as well as from Central Asian republics wont be so difficult, given the Syrian experience, and can quickly swell the damaged ranks of jihadists.

The Afghan witnesses say: They are present in many provinces. They are already in Sari-Pul, Mazari-Sharif, Maimana, Badakhshan, Nangarhar, Zabul and Helmand. They have a lot of money. We don't know where this money comes from. They have no problems with the local population and gradually establish relations with them.

The IS can also strengthen its presence in Afghanistan if it can control at least part of the drug trade and drug trafficking.

Also, the IS supporters have been seen in disputed territory of Kashmir, which makes already fragile relationship between the two nuclear states  India and Pakistan  more unpredictable.

But the worst is that neither the Afghan government nor anyone else can prevent the Islamic States growing strong again.
Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze has announced that his body will have a new structure to further enhance Georgia-EU ties, Agenda reports.

The minister stated that the name of the structure will be the General Directorate for European Integration.

Janelidze explained that the new structure will unite some departments of the foreign ministry and former departments of the Ministry for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, which was merged with the Foreign Ministry last year.

Janelidze stated that the structure will bring together professionals to further enhance Georgia-EU positive relations.

The minister claimed that the structure will be "very stable and various political reshuffles will not have an influence on it.
Britain does not want to undermine the European Union after it leaves the bloc, instead it wants to become a respectful partner in driving new standards for a changing economy, Brexit minister David Davis said on Tuesday, Reuters reports.

In a speech in Vienna, which Davis called one of the truly global cities, the minister tried to ease concerns in the EU that Britain will use Brexit as a way to deregulate its economy and lower standards to attract new investment.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20,

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

The information about terrorists in Afrin giving in to to Syrian governmental forces is not true, Turkish VP Bekir Bozdag said on Feb. 20 according to Turkish media.

He said that Syrian forces won't enter Afrin.

"The information hasn't been confirmed by the Syrian side," he concluded.

Syrian National Defence Forces (NDF) militants will quarter in Syrian Afrin to counter Turkish Armed Forces, was reported earlier.

Turkey wont stop the Olive Branch military operation if Syrian government forces enter Afrin to support terrorists, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Feb. 19 according to Turkish media.

On Jan. 20, the Turkish Armed Forces, together with the Free Syrian Army, launched the Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, Syria.

Earlier, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim announced that about 8,00010,000 PYD/YPG terrorists are supposed to be hiding in Afrin, Syria.

Turkey began drawing its military to the Syrian border from the late June, 2017. The forces were being concentrated in Turkish Kilis province bordering the Syrian territory controlled by YPG/PYD.

On Aug. 24, 2016, Turkish Armed Forces, with the support of the Syrian opposition, launched the Euphrates Shield operation against the IS militants and liberated the city of Jarabulus as well as the city of Al-Bab in northern Syria.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

PYD/YPG terrorists are leaving Qamishli city bordering Turkish Mardin province in northern Syria, Turkish media reported referring to a source in the Turkish military intelligence.

Terrorists group can be seen leaving the city during the last two days, the media added.

On Jan. 20, the Turkish Armed Forces, together with the Free Syrian Army, launched the Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, Syria.

Earlier, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim announced that about 8,00010,000 PYD/YPG terrorists are supposed to be hiding in Afrin, Syria.

Turkey began drawing its military to the Syrian border from the late June, 2017. The forces were being concentrated in Turkish Kilis province bordering the Syrian territory controlled by YPG/PYD.

On Aug. 24, 2016, Turkish Armed Forces, with the support of the Syrian opposition, launched the Euphrates Shield operation against the IS militants and liberated the city of Jarabulus as well as the city of Al-Bab in northern Syria.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

Since the beginning of Operation Olive Branch, 1,715 terrorists were killed in Syrias Afrin district, the Turkish General Staff said in a message Feb. 20.

In particular, 74 members of Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), Peoples Protection Units (YPG) and the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organizations have been recently killed in Afrin.

On Jan. 20, the Turkish Armed Forces, together with the Free Syrian Army, launched the Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, Syria.

F-16 fighters of the Turkish Air Force are involved in the operation, inflicting strikes on the positions of PYD/YPG on the Syrian-Turkish border.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20,

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

Countries that supported Turkey in the fight against Islamic State terrorist organization (ISIS) dont support Ankara in its struggle against PYD/YPG terrorists in Syrian Afrin, Turkeys EU Affairs Minister Omar Celik said on Feb. 20 according to Turkish media.

The EU states and some other countries dont want to recognize the PYD/YPG terrorist threat, according to him.

There is an anti-Turkish propaganda alleging that the operation in Afrin is aimed against ethnic kurds, the minister noted.

Turkey fights terrorists, not ethnic groups, Celik said.

On Jan. 20, the Turkish Armed Forces, together with the Free Syrian Army, launched the Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, Syria.

Earlier, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim announced that about 8,00010,000 PYD/YPG terrorists are supposed to be hiding in Afrin, Syria.

Turkey began drawing its military to the Syrian border from the late June, 2017. The forces were being concentrated in Turkish Kilis province bordering the Syrian territory controlled by YPG/PYD.

On Aug. 24, 2016, Turkish Armed Forces, with the support of the Syrian opposition, launched the Euphrates Shield operation against the IS militants and liberated the city of Jarabulus as well as the city of Al-Bab in northern Syria.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

The center of Syrias Afrin, which is a stronghold for terrorists, will be encircled by the Turkish army in the coming days, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, the countrys media reported Feb. 20.

He noted that once Afrin is encircled, the terrorists will be completely isolated from the support from other regions of Syria.

Turkey will completely eliminate terrorists in Syria, Erdogan added.

On Jan. 20, the Turkish Armed Forces, together with the Free Syrian Army, launched the Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, Syria.

F-16 fighters of the Turkish Air Force are involved in the operation, inflicting strikes on the positions of PYD/YPG on the Syrian-Turkish border.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

Turkish Armed Forces have cleared some 15 percent of Syria's Afrin district from terrorists, since the beginning of the Operation Olive Branch, Turkish media reported Feb. 20.

A total of 81 settlements were cleared of the terrorists during the operation, according to the report.

A total of 32 Turkish soldiers were killed for the whole time of the operation, the report said.

On Jan. 20, the Turkish Armed Forces, together with the Free Syrian Army, launched the Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, Syria.

F-16 fighters of the Turkish Air Force are involved in the operation, inflicting strikes on the positions of PYD/YPG on the Syrian-Turkish border.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Democracy Day observed

The 68th Democracy Day was observed across the country by organising various programmes on Monday.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

The border of Turkeys Kilis province with Syrias Afrin district has been completely cleared of terrorists, Turkish media reported Feb. 20 citing military sources.

A total of 82 settlements were cleared of the terrorists during the Operation Olive Branch, according to the report.

A total of 32 Turkish soldiers were killed over the entire period of operation, the report said.

On Jan. 20, the Turkish Armed Forces, together with the Free Syrian Army, launched the Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, Syria.

F-16 fighters of the Turkish Air Force are involved in the operation, inflicting strikes on the positions of PYD/YPG on the Syrian-Turkish border.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
KYODO NEWS - Feb 20, 2018 - 15:08 | World, All

A Thai court on Tuesday granted a Japanese man custody of 13 children he had fathered using Thai surrogate mothers and who are now being cared for by the Thai government.

The Central Juvenile Court determined the 28-year-old man is the biological father of the children and found him capable of raising them because he is the founder and president of a company listed on a stock market.

"It is clear that my client has nothing to do with human trafficking and no criminal charges have been pressed against him," the man's lawyer said, thanking the court for giving the utmost consideration to the children's happiness and welfare during its deliberations.

The court also found that the man, who currently lives in Japan, plans to bring all his children -- now around 4 years old -- to his home country where it says he plans to enroll them in an international school and open bank accounts for them.

He reportedly hired many Thai women to bear his children in 2014. The man's lawyer had said his client wanted to have dozens of babies because he desired a large family and hoped that they would inherit his fortune in the future.

Thirteen babies were taken into care in 2014 and have been watched over by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security. The man filed a lawsuit in 2015, seeking custody of them.

(Press conference by the Thai police in August 2014)

The man appeared in court via video conference earlier this month to testify in the case, which has drawn widespread attention in Thailand.

Previously, surrogacy was not strictly regulated in Thailand, but it became a hot issue following this case and another involving an Australian couple who abandoned a surrogate baby born with Down's syndrome and took home only his healthy twin sister.

In 2015, the law was changed to make commercial surrogacy illegal.
By Gus Fielding, KYODO NEWS - Feb 20, 2018 - 14:43 | Sports, All, News

Canadian ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir held onto their lead from the short dance to capture the gold medal with a sensational free dance at the Pyeongchang Winter Games on Tuesday.

The Vancouver Olympic champions performed another sensual routine to the soundtrack from Moulin Rouge for a season-best free score of 122.40 points and a total of 206.07. Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron of France took the silver and Alex and Maia Shibutani of the United States the bronze.

"I am thrilled with this competition. That performance was really special and truly memorable. The gold medal is the cherry on the cake," said Virtue.

"We are so grateful to our team for having prepared us for this. We are taking in every single moment."

Moir said it was difficult to compare their victory here to their gold medal win on home soil in Vancouver.

"Extremely different this time," he said. "Obviously, 2010 we were in our own country. Those are moments we will never forget. But eight years later we're completely different people, we're completely different athletes."

"We still love what we do. It's personal this time. It was for each other, we skated with each other in mind the whole way and we skated with our hearts. It's extremely fulfilling."

Three-time world champions Virtue and Moir have only been beaten once since coming out of retirement in late 2016 and helped Canada win the team competition here last week.

Asked about going back into retirement, Moir said, "If it is the end we are extremely pleased with that. We'll probably make an announcement in the coming days, but for us we just want to enjoy this right now and let the dust kind of settle and figure out what's next."

Papadakis and Cizeron, the world silver medalists, took second on their Olympic debut with 205.28 and the Shibutani siblings scored 192.59.

"We knew it was possible and we wanted it (the gold). But we did our best and we have nothing to regret," said Papadakis.

"I am very moved right now. I think I'd start to cry if you tell me now that the dog of your grandmother died. There are lots of emotions coming out right now."

Kana Muramoto and Chris Reed scored 160.63 for 15th place, matching Japan's best Olympic performance in ice dance turned in by Nozomi Watanabe and Akiyuki Kido at the 2006 Turin Games.

Muramoto and Reed, who were 15th after the short dance, delivered a clean, graceful skate to Ryuchi Sakamoto's "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence."

"I thought we delivered one of the best programs to date for a long program," said three-time Winter Olympian Reed. "It's one of my favorite free dances to skate so this performance here at the Olympics is a dream come true."

Muramoto said, "I think it is the most composed we have been this season and were able to nail all our elements so I am really satisfied."

"We were really disappointed about the short skate but we have really practiced hard and we just wanted to skate with confidence."

More on the Olympics:

Olympics: Japanese ice dancers Muramoto, Reed target top 10 at worlds

Olympics: Back-to-back Olympic champ Hanyu's next goal is quad axel

GALLERY: Figure skating gold medalist Hanyu and rivals
KYODO NEWS - Feb 20, 2018 - 17:02 | Urgent, All, Japan

A U.S. fighter jet that developed an engine fire Tuesday shortly after takeoff from Misawa Air Base in northeastern Japan jettisoned a pair of fuel tanks into a lake near the base, the U.S. military said.

While no injuries were reported, the F-16's external fuel tanks fell into the lake with a huge splash some 400 meters from where clam boats were operating, according to Japanese government officials and local fishermen.

The incident led the Japanese government to urge the U.S. military to take thorough measures to ensure safety during its operations. Japan is home to around 50,000 U.S. military personnel, dispersed among facilities nationwide, including Okinawa.

"Ensuring the safety of local residents is the basic premise (in base) operations. We strongly urge the U.S. side to see that safety is ensured, the cause is investigated and measures are taken to avoid the same thing from happening again," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said at a parliamentary committee.

The F-16 fighter jet developed the engine fire around 8:40 a.m. and returned safely to Misawa base in Aomori Prefecture about three minutes later after discarding the two tanks.

Fuel tanks of this type are generally about 4.5 meters in length and about 1 meter in diameter and can weigh at least 200 kilograms even when empty. The two tanks are believed to have been attached to the underside of the wings.

The U.S. Air Force indicated in a statement that the fighter jet had confirmed that the area was "unpopulated" before jettisoning the tanks.

"The aircraft was recovered safely on the installation airfield, and there were no injuries to the pilot or personnel on the ground," the statement said, adding, "We will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the root cause of this incident."

Misawa base Commander Col. R. Scott Jobe was quoted as telling a senior official of the city hosting the base that he was sorry that the incident sparked concerns among locals. Jobe also explained to the official that other F-16s have been checked and no problems were detected.

At the time of the incident, around 10 clam boats were on Lake Ogawara near where the fuel tanks fell. The splashes reached as high as 15 meters, according to Masahiko Yamada, a 52-year-old fisherman who was on the lake from around 7:30 a.m.

"I was surprised to see a big splash. Imagine being hit by one of those. It was good that no one was hurt," he said.

Hiroki Numata, an official of the local fishery association who visited the site, said he saw a 10-meter hole on the frozen lake surface. Metal fragments were scattered across the ice. "The area was filled with a strong smell of oil," he said.

A city road near the lake was closed to traffic just in case the tanks should contain a toxic substance, police said.

Details of fuel leakage in the lake are being confirmed, according to the Japanese Defense Ministry. The Lake Ogawara fishery association decided to completely halt fishing in the lake until the fuel oil is retrieved.

Aomori Gov. Shingo Mimura said it is "regrettable" that the tanks hinder clam boat operations and urged the U.S. forces and the Japanese government to look into the cause of the incident and compensate fishermen.

It follows a series of mishaps and accidents involving U.S. military aircraft in Japan, mostly taking place in the southern prefecture of Okinawa, which hosts the bulk of U.S. military facilities in the country.

In January alone, helicopters based at U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa made one emergency landing and two precautionary landings -- as the military refers to them -- in the prefecture.

In December, a window fell off a CH-53E large transport helicopter as it was flying over an elementary school just outside the Futenma base. Nobody was injured in the incident, but locals were shocked as the window landed only a dozen meters from where more than 50 children were taking physical education classes.

"We are seeing U.S. military aircraft accidents happening too often. A serious accident can happen at any moment. This abnormal situation is unacceptable," Satoru Oshiro, a member of Okinawa's antibase civic group, said.
KYODO NEWS - Feb 19, 2018 - 17:32 | All, Japan

Foreign tourists visiting Japan may be able to use the Uber ride-hailing app in more areas of the country later this year as Uber Technologies Inc. is in talks with a major taxi service operator on a business tie-up.

Daiichi Koutsu Sangyo Co. said Monday it plans to join hands with the U.S. transportation network company in providing rides for its app users in major Japanese cities with international airports, including Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka and Okinawa.

While Uber has been providing ridesharing services involving private vehicles in limited locations in rural Japan, it currently has no major taxi service partner in metropolitan areas, it said.

Daiichi Koutsu Sangyo, headquartered in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, is separately in talks with Chinese ride-hailing app provider Didi Chuxing as well.

It said it is hoping the expansion of Uber's service in Japan will help the country address a rising number of unlicensed taxis in big cities.
KYODO NEWS - Feb 20, 2018 - 12:18 | All, Feature

The government committee preparing rituals related to Emperor Akihito's abdication announced Tuesday that a ceremony to be held on April 30, 2019, the day he steps down, will be a state occasion.

The panel headed by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga also agreed to stage a ceremony celebrating 30 years of the emperor's reign on Feb. 24 next year ahead of his relinquishment of the throne -- the first by a Japanese monarch in more than 200 years. His elder son Crown Prince Naruhito is set to ascend the throne on May 1, 2019.

The committee also decided to hold an event in 2020 to commemorate the promotion of the emperor's younger son Prince Akishino to "koshi," the title given to the first in line to the throne.

These points will be incorporated into the panel's basic plan on the staging of a series of imperial succession events to be compiled by mid-March, Suga said in a press conference.

At the abdication ceremony to be held at the Imperial Palace, the emperor will give a message to the general public, while the event to mark his 30 years of reign will be staged at the National Theater in Tokyo.

The top government spokesman added, however, the group did not discuss when and how the enthronement ceremony for Crown Prince Naruhito will be conducted.

The current emperor, 84, ascended the throne on Jan. 7, 1989, following the death of his father Emperor Hirohito, posthumously known as Emperor Showa.

The emperor, who has had heart surgery and underwent treatment for prostate cancer, expressed his desire to retire in a rare video message televised in August 2016, citing concern about his advanced age and weakening health. He will be 85 when he abdicates.

Japan's parliament enacted a one-off law last June enabling him to pass the throne to his 57-year-old son. The special legislation had to be worked out as the Imperial House Law lacks a provision on the emperor's abdication.

On Dec. 8, the Cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe approved the date for the abdication of the emperor.
BOSTON -- (Feb. 19, 2018) -- Every cell in your body responds to the hormone insulin, and if that process starts to fail, you get diabetes. In an unexpected finding, scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center have identified four viruses that can produce insulin-like hormones that are active on human cells. The discovery brings new possibilities for revealing biological mechanisms that may cause diabetes or cancer.

"Our research may help open up a new field that we might call microbial endocrinology," says Emrah Altindis, PhD, a Joslin research fellow and lead author on a paper in the journal PNAS on the work. "We show that these viral insulin-like peptides can act on human and rodent cells. With the very large number of microbial peptides to which we are exposed, there is a novel window for host-microbe interactions. We hope that studying these processes will help us to better understand the role of microbes in human disease."

"Indeed, the discovery of the viral insulin-like hormones raises the question of what their role might be in diabetes, as well as autoimmune disease, cancer and other metabolic conditions," says C. Ronald Kahn, MD, Joslin's chief academic officer and senior author on the paper.

The key idea for the investigation came when Altindis, whose previous research focused on creating vaccines against bacteria, attended a Joslin seminar that discussed potential causes of the autoimmune reaction that drives type 1 diabetes. He began to hypothesize whether bacteria or viruses could create insulin-like peptides (small versions of proteins) that could help to trigger the disease.

By analyzing large public research databases that hold viral genomic sequences, he and his colleagues at Joslin found that various viruses can produce peptides that are similar in whole or in part to 16 human hormones and regulatory proteins.

"What really caught our attention were four viruses that had insulin-like sequences," says Kahn, who is also the Mary K. Iacocca Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

These viruses were from a family of viruses known to infect fish. To find out if they could be active in mammals, the Joslin team collaborated with Richard DiMarchi, professor of chemistry at Indiana University, whose lab chemically synthesized these viral insulin-like peptides (VILPs).

Experimenting in mouse and human cells, the scientists studied whether the VILPs could act like hormones. Their experiments proved that the VILPs could indeed bind to human insulin receptors and receptors for a closely related hormone called IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1). These are the critical proteins on the cells that tell them to take up glucose and to grow. Additionally, the peptides could stimulate all of the signaling pathways inside the cells that were stimulated by human insulin and IGF-1. And mice injected with the viral peptides exhibited lower levels of blood glucose, another sign of insulin action. Moreover, analysis of databases of viruses found in the human intestine showed evidence that humans are exposed to these viruses.

"These viruses are definitely known to infect fish and amphibians, but they are not known to infect humans," Kahn points out. "However, it's possible that humans get exposed to these viruses through just eating fish. Nobody has checked directly whether under some conditions the viruses could either infect cells or be at least partly absorbed through the gut intestine."

The scientists now will broaden their search for other viruses that produce human-like hormones. "This finding is the tip of an iceberg," Kahn says. "There are thought to be more than 300,000 viruses that can infect or be carried in mammals, and only 7,500 or so of these, or about 2.5%, have been sequenced. Thus, we certainly expect to find many more viral hormones, including more viral insulins, in the future."

"This research also opens up a new aspect to study in type 1 diabetes and autoimmunity," he says. "It may be that these or similar microbial insulin-like molecules could be an environmental trigger to start the autoimmune reaction in type 1 diabetes. On the other hand, you could also imagine that this might desensitize the immune response and could be protective."

A similar question is open for metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity, in which the body fails to respond properly to insulin. "You could envision that these viral peptides could either protect from or contribute to insulin resistance," Kahn says.

These or similar viruses might also be a factor in certain human cancers. "If these viruses are inside the gut, could the VILPs they produce stimulate growth of gut cells so that you get polyps or tumors of the gut?" Kahn asks. "Or if they're absorbed or become infectious, could they infect any organ in the body?"

Analyzing such viral peptides may eventually help drug companies to design new forms of synthesized human insulins. "We might be able to learn something, for example, about making insulins that don't need refrigeration and can be stored for long periods of time, or insulins that are absorbed more quickly or degrade more slowly," he suggests.

Given Altindis's earlier research on infectious disease rather than in endocrinology, "our discovery gives an example of how work in one field can stimulate thought in another field," Kahn adds. "It really underlines the importance of cross-fertilization in the scientific discovery process, which is so valuable but so underappreciated."

###

Joslin's Weikang Cai, Masaji Sakaguchi, Wang Guoxiao and Hui Pan also contributed to the research. Other coauthors included Fa Zhang, Fa Liu, Richard DiMarchi and Vasily Gelfanov of Indiana University in Bloomington; and Pierre De Meyts of de Duve Institute in Brussels, Belgium. Lead funding was from the National Institutes of Health and the Iacocca Family Foundation.

About Joslin Diabetes Center

Joslin Diabetes Center is world-renowned for its deep expertise in diabetes treatment and research. Joslin is dedicated to finding a cure for diabetes and ensuring that people with diabetes live long, healthy lives. We develop and disseminate innovative patient therapies and scientific discoveries throughout the world. Joslin is an independent, non-profit institution affiliated with Harvard Medical School, and one of only 11 NIH-designated Diabetes Research Centers in the U.S.

For more information, visit http://www.joslin.org or follow @joslindiabetes
Description

Nassau Chapter # 718, Invite our friends and the community to participate in our educational and entertaining eventfrom music and the arts to speakers and vendors. Celebrating the many Cultures that make up our chapter in honor of Black History Month.



Please join Nassau Chapter No. 718 to Celebrate Cultural Heritage in Honor of Black History Month



Tuesday, February 20th

Doors Open 8 PM

Program Begins at 8:30 PM



Baldwin Masonic Temple

Baldwin, NY 11510

(Event Entrance is on rear of building)



An evening of Food tastings from around the world.

Special Guest Speaker: Honorable Maxine Broderick



Live Performances

Amazing Vendors

Raffles Galore





Cash Bar


Robert W. Merry

History,

Who would you pick?

These Are the 6 Best U.S. Presidents of All Time

What do they have in common? They all emerged at times when the country needed a new direction, and all set the country upon that new, needed course. Lincoln broke the nations political logjam, saved the nation from disintegration and ended slavery. Washington ensured that the delicate flower of American democracy could take root in the New World soil. FDR transformed the nation in the face of its worst economic crisis, then transformed the world in the face of a dark global crisis (placing America at the heart of world power). Jefferson expunged from American politics the aristocratic tendencies of the Federalists and initiated his countrys westward expansion. Jackson fashioned a political ethosgovernmental restraint, low taxes, strict construction of the Constitutionthat became a significant part of the American debate up to our own time. And TR injected progressivism into the body politic to address some of the contradictions and dislocations of the nineteenth century industrial revolution (and thus created a healthy counterweight to the Jacksonian ethos).

Who are the greatest American presidents, and what can they tell us about our own time? How do we define greatness in the presidency, anyway, and who gets to pick the executives included in that hallowed circle? Or is it all just a mystery, fodder for those intermittent academic polls on presidential performance and animated discussions of political and historical junkies?

We take up this discussion with a purpose. Seldom has the American republic been more acutely in need of truly effective presidential leadership than it is right now. The country is in drift, beset by seemingly hopeless political clashes that are gumming up the gears of democracy. Its foreign policy lacks definition and coherence, while domestic issues kick up controversies of such intensity that the country can hardly move. This isnt all Obamas fault, though his philosophical adversaries would have us blame it all on him. But his job is to effectively address the nations ills, and he has proved himself incapable of doing that.

Story continues

(This first appeared in 2014.)

We must not lose sight of the fact that we live under a presidential system, which means that great crises get solved through presidential leadership or not at all. So, with that in mind, lets play the Great White House Rating Game and identify, say, the six greatest presidents of all time.

Some will be included in that category with hardly a serious murmur of dissent, though certain minority outlooks will always generate naysayers against the consensus judgment. And thats just fine, because the Great White House Rating Game is open to all and has no rigid rules.

But we can discern historys consensus judgment on the greats and near-greats because those occasional academic polls have generated, over time, a body of survey information on the matter. And those polls suggest that the greats and near-greats are Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Franklin Roosevelt (usually in that order), followed in various rank order by Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, James Polk, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and Harry Truman.

But lets not just take the historians word for it because they may harbor prejudices that could skew the results. So lets crank in the contemporaneous judgment of the electorate and toss out those presidents who ultimately found themselves seriously crosswise with the American people during their times in office. In the above list, that would eliminate Wilson and Truman (and possibly Polk, but with him its difficult to tell because he had vowed, when accepting his partys nomination, not to run for a second term).

Wilson and Truman did some great things, particularly Truman. But Wilsons second term was a disaster. The war into which he pushed his country never produced the results he had promised with such dreamy idealism. He leveraged the war to push federal intervention into American life far more than anyone had ever done beforeand far more than the country was prepared to accept. His policies produced a horrendous recession, with a 6.5 percent decline in GDP in two years. The American people, at the next election, gave Wilsons Democratic Party one of its most severe repudiations in American history60.3 percent victory for a nonentity Republican opponent, a loss of sixty-three seats in the House and eleven in the Senate.

Truman is a tougher call. His inherited term was nothing short of heroicending the war with Japan; relatively smooth transition from wartime to peacetime economy; emergence of the containment policy against the Soviet Union; Marshall Plan; National Security Act of 1947; Berlin airlift. But his second term was mediocre. Though NATO came into existence during this term, it was more significantly characterized by a war that the president couldnt win and couldnt get out of (political poison for any president); a faltering economy; and petty corruption on the part of presidential cronies from Kansas City, who were given jobs for which they werent qualified.

Thus, we shall eliminate presidents whose records, however laudatory at certain times, also sputtered at other times. That leaves us with a top six of Lincoln, Washington, Franklin Roosevelt, Jefferson, Jackson and Theodore Roosevelt. Here we have a circle of presidents who not only get constant plaudits from the historians but who also were revered by large electoral majorities during their times in power. A good index here: a two-term president succeeded by a president of his own party.

What do they have in common? They all emerged at times when the country needed a new direction, and all set the country upon that new, needed course. Lincoln broke the nations political logjam, saved the nation from disintegration and ended slavery. Washington ensured that the delicate flower of American democracy could take root in the New World soil. FDR transformed the nation in the face of its worst economic crisis, then transformed the world in the face of a dark global crisis (placing America at the heart of world power). Jefferson expunged from American politics the aristocratic tendencies of the Federalists and initiated his countrys westward expansion. Jackson fashioned a political ethosgovernmental restraint, low taxes, strict construction of the Constitutionthat became a significant part of the American debate up to our own time. And TR injected progressivism into the body politic to address some of the contradictions and dislocations of the nineteenth century industrial revolution (and thus created a healthy counterweight to the Jacksonian ethos).

In doing these things, all of these presidents altered the American political landscape, scraped away deadlock issues, and provided national momentum that lasted well beyond their presidential tenures. In each instance, their views and basic governing philosophies dominated the political scene for significant periods of time.

It should be noted, though, that not every president needs to rise to this level of greatness. Indeed, not every era calls for new directions, new political paradigms, bold new thinking to bust up the encrustations stifling the American democracy. The first challenge for any president, therefore, is to understand the times in which he was elected.

But today we are living in such times, desperately in need of effective presidential leadership and fresh new thinking to propel it out of its current doldrums.

It might get Jeb Bush or Hillary Clinton, as the polls and pols are suggesting these days. But neither is likely to fill that bill (although another important lesson from our presidential history is that we never really know how any new president will govern). But politicians such as Bush and Clinton seem to be thoroughgoing products of their time, and the country doesnt need products of our time. It needs figures like the ancient greats, who shed the thinking of their times in leading the country toward entirely new eras.

Robert W. Merry is political editor of The National Interest and the author of books on American history and foreign policy. His most recent book is Where They Stand: The American Presidents in the Eyes of Voters and Historians .

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Dr KC refuses to accept hearing date on contempt of court case

Senior orthopedic surgeon at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) Dr Govinda KC, who has been facing a contempt of court case, has refused to accept the hearing date.
(Refiles to fix media packaging code with no change to text)

Feb 20 (Reuters) - U.S. grocery chain operator Albertsons Companies Inc plans to buy the part of Rite Aid Corp that is not being bought by Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc , the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.

The drug store operator and Albertsons together are valued at around $24 billion, including debt, WSJ said. http://on.wsj.com/2EIx9gY

If the deal goes through, the agreement would create a company with revenue of $83 billion. It would also make way for Albertsons to go public following a more than a decade-long ownership by private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management LP, according to WSJ.

Rite Aid and Albertsons did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Rite Aid, which sells prescription drugs, has been struggling with eroding profits in its pharmacy business as increases in branded drug prices have slowed while reimbursement pressures for generics has intensified.

Rite Aid has regulatory approval to sell 1,932 stories to Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc for $4.38 billion. Under the deal, Rite Aid has the option of joining Walgreens' group purchasing agreement to negotiate discounts on generic drug prices. (Reporting by Shalini Nagarajan in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)
What's in the Cards for Geron (GERN) This Earnings Season? With no approved product in Geron's (GERN) portfolio, investor focus is likely to remain on its sole pipeline candidate, imetelstat, in the Q4 release.

Geron Corporation GERN is expected to report fourth-quarter 2017 results on Mar 7.

In the last reported quarter, the company delivered a positive earnings surprise of 20%.

Gerons shares have outperformed the industry in the past year. The stock has gained 8.2% while the industry witnessed a decline of 1.9% in the said time frame.

Pipeline in Focus

Gerons revenues solely comprise license fees and royalties as it has no approved product in its portfolio. Moreover, it has only one candidate in its pipeline, imetelstat. Hence, investor focus will remain on any updates related to it.

Geron is developing imetelstat in collaboration with Johnson & Johnsons JNJ for treating patients with hematologic myeloid malignancies like myelofibrosis (MF), myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).

Two late-stage studies for imetelstat are ongoing  IMbark (phase II) for the treatment of MF, and IMerge (phase II/III) for the treatment of MDS.

Following second internal review of data from IMbark and IMerge in April last year by J&J, the studies continued unmodified. In November 2017, Geron initiated dosing in the expanded part 1 of the ongoing phase II/III IMerge study. The expanded part is being conducted to confirm the clinical benefit and safety observed earlier.

Janssen will decide on continuation of part 2 of IMerge based on data from expanded part 1.

Janssen is expected to evaluate maturing data from the IMbark study in 2018, including an assessment of overall survival. An internal review of the data is expected in the first quarter of 2018. However, the continuation of the study will depend on a protocol-specified primary analysis, which will be done in the third quarter of 2018 or on reaching a pre-specified number of deaths.

We expect the company to provide an update on the path forward for imetelstat development on the fourth-quarter conference call.

Story continues

Surprise History

Gerons performance over the last four quarters has been fairly decent, with the company surpassing expectations thrice and meeting the same once. The average positive surprise over the last four quarters is 14.17%.

Earnings Whispers

Our proven model does not conclusively show that Geron is likely to beat estimates this quarter. This is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) to be able to beat estimates. But 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 0.00%. This is because both the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate stand at a loss of 4 cents. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Zacks Rank: Although Gerons Zacks Rank #3 increases the predictive power of ESP, its 0.00% ESP makes surprise prediction difficult.

Note that we caution against stocks with a Zacks Rank #4 or 5 (Sell rated) going into an earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions.

Geron Corporation Price and Consensus

Geron Corporation Price and Consensus | Geron Corporation Quote

Stocks That Warrant a Look

Here are a couple of health care stocks that you may want to consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter.

Exelixis EXEL is scheduled to release results on Feb 26 after market close. The company has an Earnings ESP of +8.94% and a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Exact Sciences EXAS has an Earnings ESP of +7.32% and a Zacks Rank #3. The company is scheduled to release results on Feb 22 after market close.

Can Hackers Put Money INTO Your Portfolio?

Earlier this month, credit bureau Equifax announced a massive data breach affecting 2 out of every 3 Americans. The cybersecurity industry is expanding quickly in response to this and similar events. But some stocks are better investments than others.

Zacks has just released Cybersecurity! An Investors Guide to help Zacks.com readers make the most of the $170 billion per year investment opportunity created by hackers and other threats. It reveals 4 stocks worth looking into right away.

Download the new report now>>



Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report



Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Geron Corporation (GERN) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Exelixis, Inc. (EXEL) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Exact Sciences Corporation (EXAS) : Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
On Feb 20, Applied Materials, Inc. AMAT was upgraded to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).



The company reported robust first-quarter fiscal 2018 results, wherein both the top and the bottom line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Notably, the company outperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in the trailing four quarters, with an average beat of 4.76%.



Non-GAAP earnings of $1.06 per share increased 14% sequentially and 59% year over year. The growth was primarily attributed to strong revenue growth, up 5.9% sequentially and 28.2% year over year, to $4.2 billion. Robust demand for the companys products across all regions provided an impetus to the top line.



The impressive results are driving earnings estimates upward. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 earnings has increased almost 7% to $4.33 per share in the last seven days. Earnings estimate for 2019 has also increased 4.1% to $4.55 per share over the same time frame.



The stock has returned 56.0% over a year, outperforming the industrys rally of 50.9%.





Strong Product Portfolio: Key Catalyst



Applied Materials well-differentiated product portfolio is the primary growth driver. Moreover, mobile OLEDs and large screen televisions are opening up new growth opportunities for the company. Further, the companys efforts to expand the display business are likely to drive the top line.



Further, technological innovation and advancement is a solid growth driver. Strengthening 3D NAND, DRAM, 10nm logic processes and patterning are leading to significant market share gains. Also, increase in cloud computing application has led to growing demand for NAND in the market.



Additionally, the semiconductor companies are trying to improvise the process of wafer fabrication. This is boosting the demand for Applied Materials fabrication equipment.



We also note the company remains well positioned in China. Growing investments from Chinese domestic manufacturers have been encouraging.



Other Stocks to Consider



Investors can also consider Lam Research Corporation LRCX, ASML Holding ASML and Advanced Energy Industries AEIS from the broader technology sector. While Lam Research Corporation and ASML Holding sport a Zacks Rank #1, Advanced Energy Industries carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



Long-term earnings growth for Lam Research Corporation, ASML Holding and Advanced Energy Industries are currently pegged at 14.85%, 18.65% and 9.0%, respectively.



Can Hackers Put Money INTO Your Portfolio?



Earlier this month, credit bureau Equifax announced a massive data breach affecting 2 out of every 3 Americans. The cybersecurity industry is expanding quickly in response to this and similar events. But some stocks are better investments than others.



Zacks has just released Cybersecurity! An Investors Guide to help Zacks.com readers make the most of the $170 billion per year investment opportunity created by hackers and other threats. It reveals 4 stocks worth looking into right away.



Download the new report now>>



Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report



ASML Holding N.V. (ASML) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Lam Research Corporation (LRCX) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. (AEIS) : Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
- By John Engle





After flying high for several years, Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) has had a rather ugly fall. In the past two years, shares have fallen more than 40%. Disease outbreaks at restaurants across the country battered Chipotle's reputation and bottom line. Rising competition in the fast casual sector, and increasing cost for raw materials such as avocados, have also contributed to the company's woes.





Chipotle spent 2017 in turnaround mode, and had little to show for it by year's end. With its first attempt at returning to greatness foiled, the company is now pinning its hopes on a change at the top. Brian Niccol has been appointed as the new CEO. Niccol is leaving his post as chief executive of Taco Bell, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands (YUM). In that role, he led a successful turnaround that has seen Taco Bell's fortunes change for the better. Now Chipotle investors are pinning their hopes on the idea that lightning can strike twice.

Today, we take a look at whether a change of leadership will be enough to reverse the burrito restaurant chain's failing fortunes.

Track record bodes well

Brian Niccol has already proven himself capable of turning around a struggling Mexican restaurant chain. At Taco Bell, his leadership saw the fending off of the class action lawsuits and other impediments that had been a distraction and drain on the bottom line. After getting the house in order, he has led Taco Bell into a new era, cultivating partnerships with Lyft and Grubhub to facilitate deliveries, taken out many of the artificial ingredients that were a turn-off to more health-conscious consumers, and expanded its breakfast offerings.

The results speak for themselves. Younger consumers have returned, margins have picked up, and Taco Bell has surged into first position as the best-performing chain in the Yum! Brands stable, which includes such household names as KFC and Pizza Hut. It is understandable, given that track record, that Chipotle investors would be cheered by the arrival of Niccol at the helm. Taco Bell has nearly three times the number of locations as Chipotle, so it is certainly no monumental step for the new CEO. He is a known quantity and tested turnaround leader. But will that be enough?

Story continues

Man with a plan?

Can the new boss turn things around at Chipotle? The market seems to think so, with shares up 20% since the announcement. Chipotle's founder, Steve Ells, had many positive things to say about Niccol:





"His expertise in digital technologies, restaurant operations and branding make him a perfect fit for Chipotle as we seek to enhance our customer experience, drive sales growth and make our brand more relevant."







But it will be a great challenge to reverse the problems facing Chipotle. The market reaction has been overwhelmingly positive since the announcement, yes, but that can only be sustained if the new chief executive can actually deliver on meaningful changes. That may prove difficult in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Specifically, Chipotle, despite having fallen badly from its past highs, is still priced as a hot growth stock. Yet the company's own guidance for 2018 calls for a decline in new store openings. As the fast casual restaurant market matures, and as Chipotle's own footprint continues to expand, the possibilities for high growth and margin expansion start to taper off.

There is still plenty of room for Chipotle to grow, but its share price, which is nearly 50 times earnings, means that Niccol cannot simply deliver healthy financial performance and growth. He has to keep the fast-paced engine moving for quite a long time. That may prove more challenging than a conventional turnaround, where expectations are usually not as high.

The Verdict

So, can Niccol deliver as shareholders now hope? That is hard to say. But, even at its current compressed valuation, Chipotle is no value stock opportunity. For those hunting for hot growth stocks, Chipotle is definitely one to watch in 2018. But again, that growth story will need some new justification if the share price is going to hold up in the year ahead.

Disclosure: I/We own no stocks discussed in this article.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.






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Justice Clarence Thomas (2013). Credit: Diego M. Radzinschi / ALM [/caption] Against the backdrop of a nation struggling again with the tragedy of a school shooting and a debate over guns, Justice Clarence Thomas, in a blistering dissent Tuesday, accused the U.S. Supreme Court of making the right to keep and bear arms "a constitutional orphan." The high court declined, without comment, to review a challenge to California's 10-day waiting period for the purchase of firearms. In the case Silvester v. Becerra, two lawful gun owners and two nonprofits challenged the constitutionality of the state's 10-day waiting period as applied to "subsequent purchasers" who already own a firearm or have a license to carry a concealed weapon, and who clear a background check in less than 10 days. The waiting period, according to California, is necessary to conduct background checks and to provide a "cooling off" period for individuals who might use a weapon to harm themselves or others. The challengers specifically questioned the state's interest in the cooling off period for individuals who already owned firearms. In his 14-page dissent from the denial of review, Thomas focused his unhappiness with that decision at both his colleagues and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which had upheld the waiting period. The Ninth Circuit, Thomas wrote, applied the wrong standard of review in weighing the constitutionality of the waiting period. Instead of applying a heightened review standard, known as intermediate scrutiny, he said, the appellate court applied the lowestand least rigorousstandard to the state's regulation: rational basis review. That review was nothing more than a ruling on the basis of that court's "own common sense," he said. "If a lower court treated another right so cavalierly, I have little doubt that this court would intervene," Thomas wrote. "But as evidenced by our continued inaction in this area, the Second Amendment is a disfavored right in this court." Thomas noted that the high court had not heard argument in a Second Amendment case in nearly eight years, despite a number of challenges reaching the justices during that period. And, he said, the court had not clarified the standard for reviewing gun regulations for almost 10 years. Thomas, Justice Samuel Alito Jr., and the late Justice Antonin Scalia had dissented many times from the high court's denials of review in Second Amendment cases since the landmark 2008 decision in District of Columbia v. Heller. "If this case involved one of the courts more favored rights, I sincerely doubt we would have denied certiorari," Thomas wrote. "I suspect that four members of this court would vote to review a 10-day waiting period for abortions, notwithstanding a states purported interest in creating a 'cooling off' period. I also suspect that four members of this court would vote to review a 10-day waiting period on the publication of racist speech, notwithstanding a states purported interest in giving the speaker time to calm down." Thomas continued: "Similarly, four members of this court would vote to review even a 10- minute delay of a traffic stop. The court would take these cases because abortion, speech, and the Fourth Amendment are three of its favored rights. The right to keep and bear arms is apparently this courts constitutional orphan. And the lower courts seem to have gotten the message." The challengers were represented by Erik Jaffe of Washington, D.C. California Deputy Attorney General Jonathan Eisenberg represented California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. The Supreme Court's order is posted in full below: [falcon-embed src="embed_1"] Read more:Clarence Thomas's Confirmation Faces #MeToo MicroscopeWeapons of War And Other Thoughts from Judges About AR-15 RiflesJustices Sidestep Firearms Challenges and Mississippi's Embrace of Confederate EmblemJustices, Shying From Second Amendment, Won't Touch California's Gun Restrictions
By Julia Payne and Dmitry Zhdannikov

LONDON (Reuters) - Congo Republic is set to become the latest African country to start debt relief talks with trading houses after borrowing $2 billion (1.43 billion pounds) from merchants such as Trafigura and Glencore (GLEN.L) but now finding its debt levels unsustainable, sources familiar with the matter said. Trading houses regularly lend money to resource-rich clients in financial distress - be it countries such as Congo, Chad, Morocco or Iraq's Kurdistan region - when other lenders walk away. But traders often charge heavy interest on loans and require access to resources. Congo has recently appointed investment bank Lazard (LAZ.N) as an advisor to help it renegotiate debts with the traders, three banking and oil industry sources said.

Lazard declined to comment. The move is similar to Chad which has appointed Rothschild as an advisor in talks with Glencore and four bank lenders.

The development in Congo is similar to the situation in Chad, which borrowed $1.45 billion from Glencore guaranteed by crude cargoes at a time of high oil prices. The central African country was forced to seek a restructuring because it had to channel most oil revenue towards debt repayments instead of its own budget when oil prices fell.

Negotiations to restructure the loan for a second time have been on-going since mid-2017 and became fraught after Chad said it would cut off some of the oil going to Glencore when the two sides clashed over the terms. Like Chad, Congo Republic has come under pressure from the IMF to restructure its debt, which trade sources fear may result in painful and prolonged talks with the traders unwilling to unilaterally improve credit terms. "The Republic of Congo's overall debt, including loans from oil traders, is unsustainable and the authorities are planning measures to restore medium-term debt sustainability," a spokesman for the IMF said. Glencore and Trafigura declined to comment. Congo Republic's finance ministry declined to comment.

Story continues

Congo is seeking an IMF bailout and, as in the case of Chad, the IMF has laid out tough terms before releasing the funds. Congo is regularly singled out by anti-corruption groups for the opaque management of its oil sector.. In December, the country pledged to cut its 2018 spending by 9 percent in a bid to win the IMF's support.The IMF said in October that Congo's public or publicly guaranteed debt totalled $9.14 billion or around 110 percent of its GDP as of the end of July. Out of this total, the debt to traders represents about $2.3 billion, the country's prime minister said in October, without providing a breakdown. He also said the country was weighing a moratorium on payments with private creditors.

Trafigura has lent the country around $1 billion together with banks. In the case that Congo defaults, the trading house is fully responsible for the debt, although it has insured it with re-insurers, according to two trade sources.

Glencore, backed by a syndicate of banks, lent Brazzaville about $850 million between 2015 and 2016, according to the company's annual accounts, to be repaid with future oil deliveries over 5 years. At the end of 2016, Glencore was directly owed $336 million, while the banks were still owed about $500 million."All in all, we don't think the government is in a desperate situation and requires a massive restructuring. Some sort of restructuring with a four to five-year timeframe would probably be acceptable," said a source at one of the trading houses who asked not to be identified because the issue cannot be discussed in public.Congo produces close to 280,000 barrels per day (bpd) and is heavily dependent on its oil sales revenue.

It said last June that it aimed to increase production by 25 percent to 350,000 bpd.Unlike Chad, Congo has a wider set of creditors. Glencore and its bank lenders accounted for nearly all of Chad's external commercial debt.

(Additional reporting by Karin Strohecker in London, Joe Bavier in Abidjan and Christian Elion in Brazzaville; Editing by David Evans)
Fancy a conversation and dinner with Donald Trump Jr.?

The presidents oldest son is offering just that to investors in a luxury Trump Tower development in India, near Delhi.

Read: Steve Bannon Apologizes For Controversial Comments About Donald Trump Jr.

Ahead of a trip to India planned this month to launch a number of Trump properties, Trump Jr. ran a full-page advertisement on the front page of several Indian newspapers. The ad featured a picture of Trump Jr. with text reading, Trump has arrived. Have you? or Trump is here. Are you invited?

The ads then promised whoever bought a Trump property before Feb. 21 would have the chance to meet the presidents son for a conversation and dinner in India before the end of the month. India is the Trump Organizations largest market outside of the U.S. with the family earning up to $3 million in royalties in 2016, according to a financial disclosure report.

Read: President Trump Says His Infrastructure Plan Would Empower States. But Some Argue It Would Hurt Them

The possible conflicts of interest inherent in the intersection of real estate investments and political power have been a repeated issue for members of the Trump family. The presidents son-in-law and White House advisor Jared Kushner came under criticism last year when the family real estate firm he used to run  Kushner Companies  used his name at an investment promotion event held at a Ritz Carlton in Beijing.

Then, in January, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Kushner Companies was being investigated by the SEC over its use of the EB-5 visa program. The program offers foreign investors the chance at a green card in exchange for a $500,000 investment in a U.S. business.

The Trump Organization, too, has come under scrutiny since Trumps election to office. Despite handing the organization over to his two sons, many have argued that Trump could nevertheless use his presidential power for commercial gain.
Draft in a member from dentistry on HPEC: Dr KC

Dr Govinda KC has urged the government to include a member from dentistry on the Health Profession Education Commission (HPEC).
By Krishna N. Das, Aditya Kalra, Devidutta Tripathy and Tom Lasseter

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI (Reuters) - The Punjab National Bank branch in south Mumbai sits just down the road from both the Bombay Stock Exchange and the Reserve Bank of India, at a physical centre of one of the world's fastest growing major economies.

The branch, clad in a stately colonial edifice, is now also at the heart of a fraud case linked to billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi that has shaken confidence in a state banking sector that accounts for some 70 percent of India's banking assets.

It was here, according to accounts from Punjab National Bank executives and government investigators, that a lone middle-aged manager, later aided by his young subordinate, engineered fraudulent transactions totalling about $1.8 billion from 2011 to 2017.

The bank says it is still investigating how they were able to do so and go undetected for so long. The accounts given by current and former executives who spoke to Reuters suggest an answer as simple as it is alarming: no one was paying attention.

The still unravelling story of how the fraud happened - which includes the alleged misuse of the SWIFT interbank messaging system and incomplete ledger entries - points to a breakdown in checks and balances, and standard banking practices, they said.

The apparent failure of anyone to notice the largest fraud in Indian banking history until this January reveals a "rot" in the state financial sector that goes beyond one lender, said Santosh Trivedi, who spent nearly four decades at Punjab National Bank before retiring in 2016 as a senior manager of audit and inspection in the New Delhi head office.

"Unless this rot is controlled at this stage, to the satisfaction of the international community, it is dangerous for the Indian system," Trivedi said.

JEWELLER TO THE STARS

Last month, Punjab National Bank, known as PNB, filed an initial criminal complaint with the country's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) accusing celebrity jeweller Nirav Modi and others of defrauding the bank and causing it a loss of 2.8 billion Indian rupees (more than $43 million).

Story continues

The allegations against a man whose diamond creations have draped Hollywood stars such as Kate Winslet and Dakota Johnson generated a flurry of coverage across India's TV screens and newspapers. Modi has not publicly commented on the case. He and his family left the country in early January, according to Indian officials, and a call on Sunday to a corporate spokesperson who has handled media for Modi in the past went unanswered. No charges have been filed against him.

But as more details surfaced about what is alleged to have happened at the state-run bank, which was founded in 1894, the stakes have gotten higher.

A review of bank and government documents related to the case - and interviews with current and former PNB executives, bank auditors and experts - points to a lack of accountability and standards in the country's public banking system.

As of last September, those banks held about 87 percent of the Indian banking system's 9.46 trillion rupees (about $147 billion) of soured loans that are non-performing, restructured or rolled over.

A preliminary investigation by the nation's tax authority said of the PNB fraud that "the hit Indian banks would take in the end may well exceed" $3 billion, according to an internal note seen by Reuters.

"Yes, there is a problem. We have recognised it," bank Chief Executive Officer Sunil Mehta said during an investor call on Friday. "We are in the process of fixing it up. We'll see wherever the loopholes are there. The people-related risk, we are going to mitigate."

But despite that promise of action, one current senior executive at the bank's headquarters in New Delhi said further problems could not be ruled out.

"In Indian banks, we don't work under ideal situation," the executive, who declined to be identified, said during an interview at his office. "We are in the business of risk, you can't say there won't be road accidents."

FRAUDULENT GUARANTEES

According to court documents filed on Saturday by the CBI, branch deputy manager Gokulnath Shetty issued a series of fraudulent Letters of Undertaking  essentially guarantees sent to other banks so that they would provide loans to a customer, in this case a group of Indian jewellery companies.

These letters were sent to overseas branches of banks, thought to be almost all Indian, that would then lend money to the jewellery firms.

Shetty did so using the bank's SWIFT system to log in with passwords that allowed him, and in at least some instances a more junior official, to serve as both the person who sent messages and as the person who reviewed them for approval, according to court documents and interviews with bank executives.

"The involvement and connivance of more staff members and outsiders at this stage cannot be ruled out," said a CBI document submitted to the court in Mumbai.

Shetty is now in custody and he has not publicly responded to the allegations. Calls to a cell phone listed for his wife on court documents were not answered.

Asked about the password sharing, the senior Punjab National Bank executive said it was not best practice but in the everyday bustle of Indian banks it happens.

"When you are flooded with customers in the morning, with 101 demands, you look for shortcuts," he said. "You do somebody else's work, somebody else does your work. You are not working in an ideal situation."

A second senior executive at the bank's headquarters, who also asked that his name not be used, echoed that sentiment.

After entering the transactions on SWIFT, the CBI documents said, Shetty  who worked at the same branch from 2010 to 2017 despite normal bank practices of regular rotations - did not record them on the bank's internal system.

Because PNB's internal software system was not linked with SWIFT, employees were expected to manually log SWIFT activity. If that was not done, the transactions did not show up on the bank's books.

A SWIFT spokeswoman said in a statement last week that the company does not comment on individual customers.

All together, there were at least 150 such fraudulent Letters of Undertaking during a seven-year period, according to a CBI official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

In addition to detaining Shetty and the junior employee, the CBI has arrested a man who it described in court documents as both being "aware about the modus operandi of the entire scams" and serving as a director in "15 to 16 companies of Nirav Modi Group".

An older brother of the man, Hemant Bhatt, said outside a courtroom on Saturday that he was innocent and the allegations were the result of a "media trial". The brother did not give his name.

An uncle of the junior bank employee, Manoj Kharat, told a Reuters reporter outside the court that his nephew was "just following orders of superiors" and added "he wasn't aware of what he is doing".

All three are to be held in custody until March 3. No charges have so far been laid against them.

Police searched the bank's south Mumbai branch on Sunday and have also questioned five more Punjab National officials, the CBI official said, taking the total number bank staff who have been questioned so far to 11.

FINANCIAL HIT

A Feb. 12 note seen by Reuters, sent from PNB to other banks and marked "confidential", said: "None of the transactions were routed through the CBS system" - the bank's internal network  "thus avoiding early detection of fraudulent activity."

The Reserve Bank of India did not respond to a request for comment about whether it had earlier detected any anomalies in Punjab National Bank's operations or whether it would take additional action in auditing banks.

In a statement late on Friday the central bank called the fraud at PNB "a case of operational risk arising on account of delinquent behaviour by one or more employees of the bank and failure of internal controls". It also said the central bank "has already undertaken a supervisory assessment of control systems in PNB and will take appropriate supervisory action".

The CBI paperwork says the fraudulent Letters of Undertaking are likely to add up to "the vicinity of" 60 billion rupees, or more than $930 million. Bank executives say the amount tallied by working back through internal records is $1.77 billion.

With assets of about $120 billion as of December, according to bank filings, PNB will be able to cover any associated losses, though it is still a huge hit for a bank whose stock market value was only $6.1 billion before it revealed details of the alleged fraud last week. It has since seen $1.4 billion wiped off that market capitalisation.

The mechanics of how the fraud happened, and what it says about the underlying industry culture, are worrying, said Abizer Diwanji, national leader for financial services in India at accounting firm Ernst & Young.

"Checks and balances are there in public banks as well but they are not followed earnestly," said Diwanji, who has tracked India's financial services industry for more than two decades.

"This is where the discipline, the culture is not there. I always believe that we don't have the culture to manage risks, even operational risks. PNB is not an outlier in this."

To control such risks, most private sector banks require branches to route SWIFT messages through their central offices, Diwanji said. They also usually integrate their own software systems and SWIFT, meaning that activity such as a Letter of Undertaking being sent would get automatically recorded.

Neither is the case at PNB or most state-run banks in India, Diwanji said.

Representatives of two of the external audit firms listed on PNB's annual report for the 2016-17 fiscal year said they could not have known what happened.

"It was off-books, so auditors will not be in a position to detect it," said Sudesh Punhani, a partner at Chhajed & Doshi.

Asked whether the bank's failure to integrate its software system and SWIFT was a cause of concern, Neeraj Golas, a partner at R. Devendra Kumar & Associates, also an external auditor of the bank, said: "True, true - we have to really get into it and understand what all these things are."

($1 = 64.2400 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Krishna N. Das, Aditya Kalra, Devidutta Tripathy and Tom Lasseter; Additional reporting by Abhirup Roy, Rafael Nam and Rajendra Jadhav in Mumbai and Manoj Kumar in New Delhi; Writing by Tom Lasseter; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Over the past few years, U.S. ultra-low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines has tried to carve out a new niche for itself by focusing on less-than-daily service to small and midsize cities. This strategy is allowing Frontier to grow rapidly without engaging in too many head-to-head battles with larger rival Spirit Airlines (NYSE: SAVE).

On the other hand, Frontier's entry into less popular markets is increasingly putting it into competition with legacy carriers like United Continental (NYSE: UAL). It will be interesting to see how these new competitive dynamics impact airline industry pricing in the next year or two.

Frontier announces another round of expansion

Frontier Airlines has aggressive growth targets. The company plans to triple in size by 2026 or 2027. As a result, it is adding new routes at a breakneck pace.

Frontier announced more than 40 new routes just in the first two weeks of this month, mainly from three key markets: Austin, Philadelphia, and Raleigh-Durham. Most of these routes will start up this spring and will operate seasonally.

A Frontier Airlines plane landing on a runway

Frontier Airlines has announced dozens of new routes this month. Image source: Frontier Airlines.

For many of its new routes, Frontier Airlines will be the only airline offering nonstop service. The carrier believes that it can successfully operate in markets that larger airlines like United have passed over because it is willing to fly those routes just two or three times a week. Frontier is betting that plenty of travelers will prefer its low fares and nonstop flights over the flexibility offered by legacy carriers that offer more flight options via their hubs.

Spirit Airlines' growth in midsize cities is different

Some readers might recall that top ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines has also made a move into midsize cities in the past two years. That said, Spirit's route strategy is quite different from what Frontier Airlines is trying to do.

Whereas most of Frontier's new routes will operate just two or three times a week, Spirit Airlines primarily tries to find markets where it can offer daily service. There aren't many destinations capable of attracting that much traffic from small and midsize cities. As a result, Spirit's new routes are heavily concentrated in warm-weather leisure destinations: Florida, the Caribbean, Las Vegas, Cancun, New Orleans, and Myrtle Beach.

Story continues

By contrast, Frontier Airlines is experimenting with niche markets that don't have lots of natural demand, such as Austin-Omaha, Raleigh/Durham-Buffalo, and Des Moines-San Francisco. The advantage of this strategy is that there is little or no nonstop competition on these routes. On the other hand, it could be harder to stimulate demand. Moreover, it's unclear whether there will be any competitive reaction by legacy carriers.

A new competitive dynamic

The biggest challenge faced by ultra-low-cost carriers like Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines in recent years has been the move by legacy carriers like United Continental to match their prices where they compete directly. United's management sees price-matching as a winning strategy -- and far better than the alternative of losing market share in its hubs.

Most of Frontier Airlines' new routes won't present this kind of direct challenge to the legacy carriers. However, they could undermine an equally lucrative part of the legacy carrier business model: high-yield connecting traffic from small and midsize cities.

For example, in early June, Frontier will start flying three times a week between Des Moines and San Francisco. Today, nobody offers nonstop service on this route, and traffic is dominated by the three legacy carriers, which charge high fares. Few business travelers will use Frontier because of its cramped seating and infrequent service. However, plenty of leisure travelers have flexible schedules and would choose a nonstop Frontier flight over a significantly more expensive connecting ticket on one of the legacy carriers.

Individually, none of Frontier's new routes will have a material impact on rivals like United. But collectively, they will gradually skim off high-margin revenue from the legacy carriers. Thus, the legacy carriers will have to decide in the next few years whether to extend price-matching tactics to connecting routes. Their response will likely determine whether Frontier's expansion in small and midsize cities pays off.

More From The Motley Fool

Adam Levine-Weinberg owns shares of Spirit Airlines. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Spirit Airlines. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The company, whose Les Paul and SG instruments have been played by generations of musicians, including stars such as Slash, Bob Marley and Carlos Santana, was founded more than 100 years ago in Michigan.

CEO Henry Juszkiewicz is thought to be in a race against time to decide whether to exchange the company's debt, look to try and pay it off using his equity or try to declare the company bankrupt.

Iconic guitar brand Gibson could be on the brink of bankruptcy, according to a report.

The company, whose Les Paul and SG instruments have been played by generations of musicians, including stars such as Slash, Bob Marley and Carlos Santana, was founded more than 100 years ago in Michigan.

Gibson's Chief Financial Officer Bill Lawrence recently left the firm just six months before $375 million of senior secured notes were due to mature, according to a report by the Nashville Post earlier this month. He had been working for the company for little over a year before departing.

Gibson, which has annual revenues of more than $1 billion, has another $145 million in bank loans that will be due immediately if those senior secured notes are not refinanced by mid-July, the report said.

CEO Henry Juszkiewicz is thought to be in a race against time to decide whether to exchange the company's debt, look to try and pay it off using his equity or try to declare the company bankrupt.

The U.S.-based company has hired investment bank Jeffries to help with its current financial situation.

On Thursday, Gibson issued a statement that said an ongoing streamlining strategy would soon help it record the "best financial results the company has seen in its history within the next year." It also said the firm would have the ability to pay back the company's debt in whole within seven years.





More From CNBC


Japan's chief negotiator for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), Kazuyoshi Umemoto, attends a news conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo, Japan, February 20, 2018. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

By Kaori Kaneko and Ami Miyazaki

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan welcomes a positive stance by the United States toward an Asia-Pacific trade pact, but indicated that altering the agreement at this point would be very difficult.

Japan's chief negotiator for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), Kazuyoshi Umemoto, told Reuters that an agreement among the remaining 11 member nations, set to be signed next month, may have had an impact on the United States.

"We have been working, motivated by hopes that the United States would return to the trade pact soon. We welcome it becoming positive toward the TPP," Umemoto said on Tuesday.

Japan took the lead in forging the revised trade pact after President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of an earlier 12-nation version last year, saying he wanted to seek one-on-one deals that would be more beneficial to the U.S.

Eleven countries finalised the pact in January and are expected to sign it in Chile on March 8.

Last month, Trump told the World Economic Forum in Switzerland that it was possible Washington might return to the pact if it got a better deal.

"It probably was high-profile that we reached the agreement among the 11 nations since it was right before the Davos meeting. That probably had a certain impact," Umemoto said.

The final text of the revised TPP, now called Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement For Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), is expected to be published on Wednesday.

The new deal does not make changes in the area of market access agreed on by the original 12 members and minimised the number of rule-related items that are frozen, he noted.

"Still, it took us half a year to reach the agreement (for the TPP 11) with intensive talks," he said, when asked whether there was room to reopen talks to lure Washington back.

Asked about suggestions Britain might join the trade bloc after it leaves the European Union, Umemoto said any country which endorses the agreement and is interested in joining would be welcome regardless of its geographical location.

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Later on Tuesday, Umemoto told a news conference he hopes the TPP 11 will become effective during the first half of 2019 after at least six member nations complete their domestic procedures.

Asked about Canada, which showed resistance to a final agreement in November when ministers from the 11 countries gathered in Vietnam, Umemoto said he expects Ottawa will sign the deal in March.

"From my experience, I wish I could say 100 percent. But maybe 99.99999 percent sure. I'm sure Canada will sign... Mr. (Justin) Trudeau talked about the TPP in Davos and he sounded very committed," he said.

(Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Richard Borsuk)
Kong Suriyamontol, the Thai lawyer for Japanese national Mitsutoki Shigeta, speaks to the press after his client was granted paternity rights to his 13 children fathered through Thai surrogate mothers (AFP Photo/LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA)

Bangkok (AFP) - A wealthy Japanese man was Tuesday granted "sole parent" rights to 13 children he fathered through Thai surrogate mothers, in a court ruling that paves the way for him to take them to Japan.

Mitsutoki Shigeta, 28, became the centre of a "baby factory" scandal in 2014 after Thai police found a plush Bangkok apartment packed with infants under the care of 24-hour nannies.

A probe later found he had fathered 19 children in total, 13 surrogate babies living in Thailand and six others living in Cambodia and Japan, according to an official from Thailand's Social Development and Welfare Department.

Four of the six children living in Cambodia and Japan were from Thai surrogates.

Shigeta's bizarre case threw a spotlight on the kingdom's unregulated rent-a-womb industry, prompting authorities to bar foreigners in 2015 from paying for Thai surrogates.

Shigeta, reportedly the son of a Japanese IT tycoon, left the country in the wake of the scandal and has never directly explained why he fathered so many children.

But he later took Thailand's Ministry of Social Development and Human Security to court to seek custody of the children.

On Tuesday a Bangkok court granted him legal rights to take the children, saying he had ample money to care for them and had prepared nurses and nannies at a safe residence in Japan.

"For the happiness and opportunities the 13 children will receive from their biological father -- who does not have a history of bad behaviour -- the court rules them to be the plaintiff's legal children," the Central Juvenile Court said in a statement which did not mention Shigeta by name for privacy reasons.

Shigeta, who did not attend the trial, was deemed "sole parent" of the children after the Thai surrogates had signed away their rights, the court added.

His lawyer Kong Suriyamontol said he would contact Thai authorities about the next steps to transfer the children from state custody, adding that the timeline would depend on the "readiness" of the youngsters -- most of whom are aged around four.

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Thai officials had visited Shigeta's homes in Japan as well as in Cambodia and deemed the children would be able to adapt to new surroundings.

"The foster homes will seek my authorisation to release the children to their father's custody... it won't take more than 10 days," Vitat Tachaboon of the Social Development and Welfare Department told reporters.

Shigeta's mother has also been visiting the children in Thailand and "they have got used to her", he added.

- Legal tussles -

Shigeta hired the Thai surrogates before the ban on foreigners. Police said he paid them between $9,300 and $12,500 each.

Thailand's rewriting of its surrogacy laws sparked a series of legal tussles, including a 14-month custody war between a same-sex couple and a Thai surrogate who was eventually forced to give up the baby girl.

Another high-profile case saw a Thai surrogate lose a court battle to bring back a baby after learning the Australian father was a convicted paedophile.

Sam Everingham, director of the Australia-based consultancy Families Through Surrogacy, said Shigeta's case was an "abuse of surrogacy" services that had helped give the controversial industry a bad name.

After Thailand clamped down on the trade surrogacy agencies quickly migrated to neighbouring Cambodia, which followed suit and barred the industry in 2016.

In recent months there have been signs the business is growing in Laos, an opaque communist country with no restrictions on surrogacy.

Some surrogacy agencies are now offering to carry out the embryo transfer in Laos and then provide pregnancy care for the surrogate in Thailand, a wealthier country with vastly superior medical facilities.
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's steel industry said on Monday the U.S. Commerce Department proposal to President Donald Trump to impose curbs on steel imports violate the principles of free trade, calling for Washington to make a careful and appropriate decision. The U.S. Commerce Department recommended on Friday that Trump impose steep curbs on steel and aluminum imports from China and other countries, ranging from global and country-specific tariffs to broad import quotas. "The recommendations violate the principles of free trade, which are the foundation for development and prosperity of the global economy," Japan Iron and Steel Federation Chairman Kosei Shindo said in a statement. "We hope Trump would make a careful and appropriate judgement," said Shindo, who also heads Japan's biggest steelmaker Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp <5401.T>. Yasuji Komiyama, director of the metal industries division of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, on Monday declined to comment on the U.S. Commerce Department's proposal, saying a U.S. final decision has not been reached. "But Japan believes any steel and aluminium imports by the U.S. from Japan do not pose any threat to the U.S. national security," he said. Japan exports about 2 million tonnes of steel products a year to the United States, only about 5 percent of its total steel shipments abroad, but the nation's steelmakers are concerned over the U.S. trade policy. "My biggest fear is how far President Trump will close down trade," Eiji Hayashida, president of JFE Holdings Inc <5411.T>, Japan's No.2 steelmaker, said last week. "If the U.S. takes action (to curb imports), it may trigger retaliation by other countries. What is most troublesome is to see the world heading to protectionism," he said. Nippon Steel's senior executive also said the company is worried that U.S. trade action could flood Asia with steel products as there is nowhere else for them to go. "I don't know if a U.S. move would really make U.S. steelmakers, steel users and consumers happy," Kiyoshi Imamura, Managing Director at Tokyo Steel Manufacturing <5423.T>, Japan's top electric-arc furnace steelmaker, said on Monday. Some U.S. lawmakers and steel and aluminum users have urged caution in taking any trade actions that could cause disruptions or price spikes in raw materials that are found in everything from autos to appliances and aircraft and construction. (Reporting by Yuka Obayashi; Editing by Tom Hogue)
The ECB put its banking supervisory foot down in Latvia after money laundering accusations The ECB put its banking supervisory foot down in Latvia after money laundering accusations (AFP Photo/DANIEL ROLAND)

Riga (AFP) - Latvia's financial sector was left reeling Monday after anti-corruption officials arrested its central bank chief over an alleged bribe and the country's third-largest bank's payments were frozen amid accusations of money laundering.

While the Baltic eurozone member's government held an emergency meeting Monday to address governor Ilmars Rimsevics's weekend arrest, the European Central Bank (ECB) dealt an unrelated blow to the sector by announcing it was freezing payments by the private-sector ABLV bank.

The ECB said the ABLV's finances had deteriorated after Washington took action against the bank earlier this month over concerns about money laundering and activities linked to North Korea's weapons programme.

A source familiar with the case told AFP there was no connection between the ABLV case and the arrest of the Bank of Latvia governor, who also sits on the ECB's Governing Council, along with his heavyweight eurozone counterparts.

Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis said there was no sign of danger to the financial system after Rimsevics was detained by the Corruption Prevention Bureau (KNAB) on Saturday.

On Monday, KNAB chief Jekabs Straume announced an investigation had been launched into suspected bribery involving an unnamed individual.

"The senior official is suspected of having extorted and received a bribe of at least 100,000 euros ($125,000)," KNAB Straume told reporters.

He added that the allegations "made it impossible for the official to continue to perform his duties".

The Baltic News Agency (BNS) and other local media reported that the official in question was Rimsevics, who was appointed governor in 2001.

Rimsevics was freed on bail late Monday after a friend posted the 100,000-euro sum.

Kucinskis had said earlier that restrictions would be imposed on Rimsevics were he released on bail.

"He will be prevented from carrying out his functions," Kuncinskis told reporters after an emergency cabinet meeting.

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- Urged to resign -

Rimsevics was questioned for seven hours on Saturday before being taken to another location on Sunday.

Anti-corruption officers also raided the Rimsevics's residence and his offices at the Bank of Latvia.

LTV public television reported that businessman Maris Martinsons, who operates in the construction and credit industries, had also been arrested by KNAB.

The head of the parliament's national security committee, Inese Libina-Egnere, on Monday urged Rimsevics to resign. Otherwise parliament would seek other legal avenues to dismiss him, she told reporters.

Also Monday the ECB announced in a statement that "temporarily, and until further notice, a prohibition of all payments by ABLV bank on its financial liabilities has been imposed, and is now in effect."

It is the first time the ECB has used its power to impose a moratorium since taking on eurozone-wide banking supervision responsibilities in 2014.

The US Department of the Treasury last week named ABLV "an institution of primary money laundering concern" and accused it of connections to North Korea's weapons development programme.
* ABLV Bank denies claims of sanctions busting, money laundering

* CEO says liquidity, capital levels adequate

* All payments at the bank stopped, support provided

* Central bank governor detained on suspicion of bribery

* Central bank chief Rimsevics denies allegations (Adds ABLV Bank, central bank governor comment)

By Gederts Gelzis

RIGA, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Latvia's ABLV Bank sought emergency support on Monday after U.S. officials accused it of helping breach North Korean sanctions while the country's central bank chief faced bribery allegations, turning up the spotlight on its financial system.

The Baltic country, which is a member of the euro zone and shares a border with Russia, has come under increasing scrutiny recently as a conduit for illicit financial activities.

Last year, two Latvian banks were fined more than 2.8 million euros ($3.26 million) for allowing clients to violate sanctions imposed by the European Union and United Nations on North Korea. Three others received smaller fines.

ABLV said it had sought temporary liquidity support from the central bank after depositors withdrew 600 million euros, about 22 percent of total deposits, following a warning by the United States that it was seeking to impose sanctions on the bank.

Latvia's third-biggest lender denied wrongdoing.

"We don't participate in any illegal activities," ABLV Bank Deputy CEO Vadims Reinfelds told a news conference. "There are no violations of sanctions."

The bank said it would not look for a bailout from the government and that it had adequate liquidity and capital.

The European Central Bank had earlier stopped all payments by ABLV, citing the sharp deterioration in its financial position in recent days and saying a moratorium was needed to allow the bank and Latvian authorities to address the situation.

A source close to the matter said the moratorium would be short, giving ABLV just a few days to assess its situation.

Only solvent institutions may receive emergency liquidity support and should the ECB determine that ABLV cannot meet its financial, liquidity and capital obligations, it could start proceedings that may lead to the bank being wound down.

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Latvia's own central bank said it had agreed to provide 97.5 million euros worth of funding to ABLV but that the bank has yet to receive the money.

The U.S. Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) said on Feb. 13 that ABLV "had institutionalized money laundering as a pillar of the banks business practices".

It linked some of the alleged activities to North Korea's ballistic missiles program, saying bank executives and management had bribed Latvian officials to cover up their activities.

CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR

Separately, Latvia's anti-corruption authority released central bank Governor Ilmars Rimsevics, an ECB policymaker, who was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of having solicited a 100,000 euro bribe. Rimsevics denied the allegations.

The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau said its investigation was not connected to the probe into ABLV.

"(Rimsevics' arrest)... is about demanding a bribe of no less than 100,000 euros," the bureau's head Jekabs Straume told reporters at a news conference on Monday.

Neither the police nor the anti-corruption authority gave details of the alleged request for a bribe.

A lawyer for Rimsevics, who was arrested after police searched his office and home, said he would hold a news conference at 11:00 a.m. (1000 GMT) on Tuesday.

"I disagree with it categorically," Rimsevics told Latvian news portal Delfi following his release, referring to the bribery allegations.

Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis had earlier called on the central bank chief to quit, saying: "I can't imagine that a governor of the Bank of Latvia detained over such a serious accusation could work."

Latvia joined the European Union in 2003 and adopted the euro currency at the start of 2014, a move that gave its central bank governor a seat on the ECB's interest-rate-setting Governing Council.

The European Commission said on Monday that Rimsevics' detention was a matter for Latvian authorities.

BOOM TIME

The economy of Latvia, which gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, has boomed in recent years. Its commercial banking sector is dominated by Nordic banks alongside a number of privately-owned local lenders.

In its document detailing the allegations against ABLV, the FinCEN said the reliance of some parts of the Latvian banking system on non-resident deposits for capital exposed it to increased illicit finance risk. It said such deposits amounted to roughly $13 billion.

"Non-resident banking in Latvia allows offshore companies, including shell companies, to hold accounts and transact through Latvian banks," FinCEN said, adding that criminal groups and corrupt officials may use such schemes to hide true beneficiaries or create fraudulent business transactions.

"(Former Soviet Union) actors often transfer their capital via Latvia, frequently through complex and interconnected legal structures, to various banking locales in order to reduce scrutiny of transactions and lower the transactions' risk rating."

(Reporting by Gederts Gelzis in RIGA and Balazs Koranyi in FRANKFURT; Additional reporting by Simon Johnson in STOCKHOLM, Silvia Aloisi in LONDON and Jan Strupczewski and Alissa de Carbonne in BRUSSELS; Editing by Toby Chopra and Catherine Evans)
Editorial freedom credited to Post, Kantipurs success

As the Kantipur Publications marked its 25th anniversary on Monday, editors said the Kantipur Media Group outlets thrived on editorial freedom they enjoyed in the post-1990 period and the management that trusted their ability to make judgments.
According to the UN health agency, cholera infects 1.3 million to four million people every year and kills an estimated 21,000-143,000 -- mainly in poor countries, including Malawi, which has been facing an outbreak since late 2017 (AFP Photo/AMOS GUMULIRA)

Mangochi (Malawi) (AFP) - A cholera outbreak in Malawi described as "very difficult to contain" has claimed nine lives and affected a total of 541 people nationwide, health officials said on Tuesday.

The outbreak began in November near the landlocked southern African nation's northern border with Tanzania and has since spread to other regions of the country.

UNICEF's representative to Malawi Johannes Wedenig told local media that "as long as people in Malawi don't change the behaviour of using unsafe water, it'll be very difficult to contain".

He urged Malawians to follow strict sanitation rules and stressed the importance of hand-washing before eating or preparing food.

Cholera is a water-borne diarrhoeal disease that can kill within hours if left untreated, but is easily cured with oral rehydration, intravenous fluids and antibiotics.

Clean water and hygiene standards are critical to controlling transmission.

The country has also received 216,000 oral cholera treatment packs from the World Health Organization which are being distributed in the badly-affected northern region, health ministry spokesman Joshua Malango told AFP.

Another 450,000 doses are expected to arrive soon for distribution in the rest of the country, added Malango, confirming the current toll.

Health officials have begun a media blitz to educate people about the risk of cholera and what steps they can take to avoid contracting it.
(Refiles to add chief executive's full name and title in paragraph 4)

* PNG LNG expansion to double capacity

* Plan to add 2 trains for Total's gas, 1 for Exxon's gas

* Plan makes expansion easier to finance, Oil Search says

* Oil Search 2017 profit nearly triples, as expected

By Sonali Paul

MELBOURNE, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Global giants ExxonMobil Corp and France's Total SA have reached broad agreement on plans to double gas exports from Papua New Guinea, their partner Oil Search Ltd said on Tuesday.

The plan to expand the ExxonMobil-operated Papua New Guinea liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant to around 16 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) would see it rival Australia's biggest LNG projects, at a cost of around $13 billion, according to analysts.

Oil Search said the companies plan to add three new LNG units, or trains, with two underpinned by gas from the Elk-Antelope fields, run by Total, and one underpinned by existing fields and the new P'nyang field, run by Exxon.

"There's no doubt that keeping it simple is one of the great advantages of the concept that is presently on the table," Managing Director Peter Botten told analysts after the company reported a near threefold rise in annual core profit.

"It also allows a smart way of both marketing gas and financing."

The partners aim to start engineering and design work in the second half of this year, but first need to agree terms with the PNG government, Botten said. These include domestic gas supply requirements, local content and landowner agreements.

The companies also need to sign off on cost-sharing and phasing the timing of their gas field developments.

"Joint venture alignment challenges remain, and shouldn't be underestimated," said Saul Kavonic, an analyst with consultants Wood Mackenzie.

Botten was confident ExxonMobil and Total are committed to the project, which is aiming for a final investment decision in 2019.

"I know they all have other interests around the world. But in no way do I see any blinking or any reluctance to move these projects forward. They're good, economic solid projects," he told reporters.

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COSTS TO FALL

The expansion is expected to be much cheaper than the original $19.5 billion cost of building the PNG LNG plant. Botten said, declining to comment on the cost estimate ahead of further engineering work.

Bernstein analysts estimate the 8 mtpa of new capacity could be added for between $12 billion and $14 billion, or around $1,600 a tonne.

That would be less than half the per tonne cost of Chevron Corp's Gorgon LNG plant in Australia, which is slightly smaller than the expanded PNG LNG plant would be.

Australia's other major LNG plant is the Woodside-operated North West Shelf, which has annual production of around 16 mtpa.

"This is the big shift in the next cycle of the PNG-Australian LNG story. It's very much about lower cost, brownfield, backfill developments," Bernstein analyst Neil Beveridge said.

The partners in Papua New Guinea are racing to start producing from the new trains by around 2023 or 2024, when the LNG market is expected to need new supply due to rapidly growing demand in Asia and a lack of other new projects.

"We believe we're marketing at a perfect time for PNG LNG and Papua LNG to secure these markets," Botten told analysts.

He was speaking after Oil Search reported core profit for 2017 rose to $302.1 million from $106.7 million a year earlier, on the back of sharply higher oil and gas prices and higher sales.

(Reporting by Sonali Paul; Additional reporting by Ambar Warrick in Bengaluru and Henning Gloystein in Singapore; editing by Richard Pullin)
empty strip of birth control pills on a pink background

For nearly 50 years, family planning has been regarded as a public health matter. From George W. Bushs term as a Texas representative, to Nixons presidency, to our recent Obama administration, the push for birth control coverage has been instituted as ever-present in American politics.

On August 1st, 2011, this debate was put to rest by then-president Barack Obama when he added the contraception mandate to the Affordable Care Act. Under this mandate, insurance companies were required to offer and cover birth control for all consumers. Yet, in todays political situation, this mandate is under fire yet again. In October of 2017, President Trump declared his intention to roll back this mandate, allowing employers to decide whether or not their employees will receive birth control as part of their insurance policy. While this was a breath of fresh air for companies such as Hobby Lobby, who had been lobbying against this policy for years due to religious affiliation, the looming repeal caused a panic among many American women.

Related: How the Body Positivity Movement Has Helped Me Accept My Chronic Illnesses

According to the National Survey of Family Growth, only 42 percent of women use contraceptives exclusively for contraception purposes; this indicates that 58 percent of women surveyed use birth control for a separate, health-related reason. I am a part of that 58 percent of women who use contraceptives for other uses. Looking at common reasons why many women I know use birth control, this makes perfect sense.

Birth control can solve many problems for women that were deemed previously unsolvable. From managing acne to controlling reproductive (and other) health conditions, the true scope of birth controls positive effects is hard to grasp. My freshman year, I became chronically ill with a connective tissue disorder called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a rare and under-diagnosed disorder with no true treatment. It affects all aspects of my health, and I soon came to develop an autonomic nervous system condition called POTS, hemiplegic migraines and celiac disease. As if this was not enough, my hormones spiraled out of control along with my health.

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Related: We Are in the Midst of an Ehlers-Danlos Revolution

Meeting with numerous doctors, it became clear that I needed to get my hormones under control. I fainted all the time, I was plagued with stroke-like symptoms and my joints dislocated at any simple touch, all because my sky-high hormones were not compatible with my faulty connective tissue. Then, my doctor prescribed the Depo-Provera shot. With this simple shot every three months, I was able to control my hormones, and I began to get better. My headaches appeared less frequently, my joints were somewhat sturdier (although try to avoid running into me) and my passing out became less frequent; overall, I was healthier.

I am part of the 58 percent. I am a disabled American who relies on birth control to maintain my quality of life. I am the portion of the population that this administration disregards when it comes to the birth control debate. There are millions of people out there just like me. Birth control is a necessary part of our healthcare system. While it may seem unnecessary and clashes with the foundational beliefs of some religions, more than half of the women in America that utilize contraceptives use them for alternative purposes. What would happen if these medications were suddenly unaffordable?

Related: If You Want There to Be a Limit on Pain Medication

Therefore, I argue that birth control must be at least somewhat covered by insurance companies in order to protect that 58 percent of women that does not even use birth control for birth control. Just as antipsychotics are sometimes used to treat migraines, birth control can be used for other purposes, and people often lose sight of this reality.

The next time you hear about the looming birth control debate, remember this: it is a necessary part of millions of American womens lives. It prevents pregnancy in those who are not ready to have a child, but it can also give many Americans a better quality of life. No insurance company should deny a person a better quality of life simply because they cannot look past the surface-level purpose of a medication; if even a portion of that 58 percent of women speaks up, we can continue that quality of life in the future.

We want to hear your story. Become a Mighty contributor here.

Getty Image by Toeps

Read more stories like this on The Mighty:

To the Doctor Who Dismissed My Pain Because I Appeared 'Normal'

Please Don't Congratulate Me For 'Getting Better'

14 Photos That Show the Different Ways Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Can Manifest
After Donald Trumps election in 2017, widespread protests took place on Presidents Day in dozens of cities across the US (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Presidents Day is an annual American holiday that began in honour of the first president of the United States, George Washington.

Every year, on the third Monday in February, US citizens enjoy a three-day weekend to mark the federal holiday.

How did it start?

The tradition began in honour of President Washington, the countrys first leader whose birthday falls on 22 February.

It became a national holiday in 1968, when the US Congress passed a measure known as the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.

The day is also understood to celebrate Abraham Lincoln, America's 16th President, who was born on 16 February.

Although it is commonly referred to as Presidents Day, the federal government still recognises it as Washingtons Birthday.

How is it marked?

Carnivals and parades usually take place across the country, although this years will be affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

It is also traditionally a big shopping day, as Americans hit the sales that take place over the bank holiday weekend  although schools, banks and government agencies tend to be closed.

Despite its direct link to Washington and association with Lincoln, the day is popularly viewed as an opportunity to celebrate all US presidents past and present.

Read More

Which US presidents have been impeached and has anyone else been impeached twice?

Biden unites with all past presidents - apart from Trump - to call for end to political extremism

Almost half of Americans think Trump was worst president ever, with Obama named best, poll finds
Qualcomm chairman Paul Jacobs said sealing the deal for Dutch chipmaking rival NXP is an important strategic step for the California giant (AFP Photo/David Becker)

Washington (AFP) - US mobile chipmaking giant Qualcomm on Tuesday raised its bid for Dutch rival NXP to an estimated $43 billion as the California-based firm moved to fend off a hostile offer from Singapore's Broadcom.

The new bid amounts to $127.50 per NXP share and aims to satisfy NXP shareholders who had expressed concern the Qualcomm bid was too low.

By moving closer to a tie-up with NXP, Qualcomm could make it more difficult for Broadcom, which is pressing ahead with a record $121 billion offer despite opposition from Qualcomm's board.

Qualcomm called the offer an "amended definitive agreement" with NXP which includes the support of hedge fund shareholders of the Dutch firm. With NXP debt, the deal's value is over $50 billion.

Adding NXP would give a broader array of products including sensors and microprocessors for connected "internet of things" devices to Qualcomm, which is the dominant maker of chips for smartphones.

"NXP is a highly strategic and attractive acquisition for Qualcomm that enhances the value of our leading 5G technologies," said Qualcomm chairman Paul Jacobs, referring to the fifth generation of wireless technology which is being deployed around the world.

"We also believe the revised agreement provides certainty for both Qualcomm and NXP stockholders."

Qualcomm's move comes after it rejected for a second time last week the Broadcom bid, with the Singapore-based firm indicating it will press its case to the Qualcomm shareholders' annual meeting next month.

In rebuffing Broadcom, Qualcomm executives have said the offer undervalues the US firm in light of its growth potential for 5G products and failed to consider the value of NXP. It also said a Broadcom-Qualcomm tie-up could face a difficult regulatory path with antitrust authorities.

Qualcomm has faced antitrust probes in several countries over its dominance of the mobile chip market.

According to Qualcomm, the acquisition of NXP has received antitrust clearance from eight of the nine required government regulatory bodies around the world, with the matter still pending in China.

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Qualcomm said it was optimistic it will receive clearance "in the near term" from Chinese authorities.

Responding to the news, Broadcom said the new offer effectively transfers $6.2 billion of Qualcomm value to the Dutch firm.

"Broadcom believes the price increase demonstrates the Qualcomm board's disregard for its fiduciary duty to maximize value for Qualcomm stockholders," the firm said in a statement.

"In light of Qualcomm's decision to transfer value from its own stockholders to NXP stockholders, Broadcom is evaluating its options."

Qualcomm said it would proceed with the deal if it is approved by 70 percent of NXP shareholders by March 5 -- the day before the Qualcomm annual shareholders' meeting.
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 Sonam Rai

(Reuters) - U.S. semiconductor company Qualcomm Inc (QCOM.O) on Tuesday unveiled a sweetened $44 billion agreement to acquire NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI.O), its most defiant move in its defense against a hostile $121 billion bid from Broadcom Ltd (AVGO.O).

The new deal puts pressure on Broadcom to decide if it will stick with a stipulation in its bid that Qualcomm does not raise its offer for NXP. It could strengthen Qualcomm's defenses because it allows its shareholders to better assess the standalone value of Qualcomm as an alternative to a deal with Broadcom.

Qualcomm shares fell 1.3 percent to $63.99, significantly below Broadcom's latest $82 per share cash-and-stock offer unveiled on Feb. 5, as investors saw the new NXP deal as increasing the chances of Qualcomm repelling Broadcom.

Broadcom said on Tuesday it was evaluating its options in response to Qualcomm's move and noted that the revised price for NXP was well beyond what Qualcomm has repeatedly characterized as "full and fair." It called the new deal a transfer of value from Qualcomm shareholders to NXP shareholders.

In an interview with Reuters, Qualcomm's presiding board director Tom Horton argued that the revised deal with NXP represented value for Qualcomm shareholders irrespective of the outcome of the takeover battle with Broadcom.

"It makes Qualcomm stronger and more profitable and diversified if there is no deal with Broadcom, and if we do decide to pursue a sale the same is true, more value would accrue to the Qualcomm shareholders," Horton said.

Qualcomm raised its offer for NXP from $110 to $127.50 per share in cash. In exchange, it received binding agreements from nine NXP stockholders that collectively own more than 28 percent of NXPs outstanding shares to support the deal. These include hedge funds Elliott Advisors (UK) Ltd and Soroban Capital Partners LP, which had spearheaded opposition to the NXP deal.

NXP's shares rose 6 percent to $125.56. The stock had traded above the original offer price for nearly seven months, reflecting expectations among investors that Qualcomm's offer would be raised.

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NXP shareholders have to tender their shares in an offer that is currently set to expire on March 5, though Qualcomm has repeatedly pushed back this deadline as it awaits clearance from China's MOFCOM, the only regulator globally needed to approved the deal that has yet to do so. The Chinese New Year holiday this month has delayed this review.

Under the new terms agreed with NXP's board, the deal with Qualcomm is contingent on 70 percent of NXP's shares being tendered, instead of the 80 percent threshold required in the earlier agreement signed in October 2016. Once this threshold is reached, Qualcomm can take over the entire company through a "second-step" transaction mechanism.

The new NXP deal came less than a week after Broadcom and Qualcomm executives met face-to-face for the first time to discuss the differences between the two sides. Qualcomm called the meeting constructive but reiterated it had several concerns over price and regulatory risk.

BOARD CHALLENGE

The acquisition of NXP will help Qualcomm to expand in the fast-growing market for chips used in automobiles and reduce its dependence on the competitive smartphone market.

The takeover battle between Qualcomm and Broadcom 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 lower chip prices.

Singapore-based 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.

To put pressure on Qualcomm, Broadcom has put forward six nominees up for election at Qualcomm's March 6 shareholder meeting to replace the majority of the company's eleven-member board of directors.

Proxy advisory firm Glass Lewis on Tuesday recommended Qualcomm shareholders vote for all six director nominees Broadcom has put forward.

Last week, Institutional Shareholder Services Inc (ISS) had recommended for the election of four Broadcom nominees. While this recommendation would fall short of Broadcom's nominees winning a majority on Qualcomm's board, ISS said such a vote by Qualcomm shareholders would offer a reasonable path to a negotiated deal that would deliver value.

"ISS and Glass Lewis only influence a minority of our shareholders. They belie the fact that the Qualcomm board is doing everything it can in the furtherance of the interests of its shareholders. The ISS and Glass Lewis reports are also dated because they came out before certainty was secured on the NXP deal," Horton said.

(Reporting by Greg Roumeliotis in New York and Sonam Rai in Bangalore; Additional reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Bangalore; Editing by Patrick Graham and Meredith Mazzilli)
Qualcomm is best known for mobile phone network chips - AP

The US microchip giant Qualcomm has sweetened its bid for the Dutch chipmaker NXP to $44bn (31bn), potentially derailing Broadcoms mammoth attempt to buy Qualcomm itself.

The move threatens Broadcoms proposed $146bn takeover of Qualcomm, whose mobile network chips are used in billions of smartphones, because the offer is void if Qualcomm increases its bid for NXP.

Qualcomms raised bid, announced on Tuesday, is the latest gambit in a complex series of events that could ultimately create the worlds third largest microchip company and the biggest technology acquisition of all time.

The company has already rejected two bids from its US peer Broadcom, but the takeover may still go ahead if Qualcomm shareholders choose to unseat its board at a meeting in March. However, Broadcom has said the offer will no longer stand if Qualcomm increases its offer for NXP.

Qualcomm agreed 16 months ago to pay $38bn for the Dutch company, an attempt to reduce its reliance on the flatlining smartphone industry and push it into new areas such as connected cars. But regulatory approvals have slowed down the deal and shareholders had agitated for Qualcomm to increase its offer. The European Union only approved the takeover last month and Chinese regulators are yet to rubber-stamp it.

Qualcomm is locked in a dispute with Apple over royalty payments Credit: AFP

On Tuesday, Qualcomm said it had secured agreements with powerful NXP shareholders, including those who had publicly pushed for more money, to accept the new offer.

Last week the company rejected the second of two bids from Broadcom, described as the final offer. It claims a deal would struggle to get past regulators, although Broadcom has promised an $8bn break clause if it is rejected, and is designed to take advantage of the company as it battles Apple over royalty payments.

Broadcoms $146bn bid, which includes $25bn of debt, would not only be by far the biggest technology sector deal of all time, but one of the biggest business deals on record.

While far from a household name, the company, run by the prolific Malaysian dealmaker Hock Tan, would fall behind only Samsung and Intel among the worlds biggest microchip companies if it completes the Qualcomm takeover.

Qualcomms shares fell by as much as 4.6pc after it raised its bid while NXPs were up 6pc.
Here are the charts of the day for Tuesday February 20, 2018.

Rite Aid (RAD): Shares soaring in early trade. Privately-held Albertsons plans to buy the rest of Rite Aid that isnt being sold to Walgreens Boots Alliance. The combined companies would be worth around $24 billion.

NXP Semiconductors (NXPI): Shares are jumping in midday trading. Qualcomm announced today it has reached a deal with NXP to raise its bid for the chipmaker to $127.50 a share, or $44 billion.

Walmart (WMT): Shares are getting hit in early trade. Despite reporting holiday sales that beat expectations, the worlds largest retailer missed on earnings. Walmart blamed rising promotional costs in an effort to stave off rivals like Amazon.

For more on todays big stock movers check out the Final Round, live at 3:55 p.m. Eastern, right here on Yahoo Finance.
Fed Parliament to convene on March 5

President Bidya Devi Bhandari has summoned the first session of Federal Parliament on March 5.
NASA has had an incredible streak of good luck as of late with spacecraft that have far outlived their expectations. Cassini at Saturn, the Opportunity rover on Mars, and several other pieces of high-tech space hardware have performed for much longer than was initially expected of them. Unfortunately, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which was launched in 2005 and has delivered more data on the Red Planet than any other Mars mission, is starting to cause some headaches.

According to NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the spacecraft has been put into precautionary standby status after it alerted its handlers of low battery voltage. The craft is equipped with solar panels that power its instruments, but when it swings to the dark side of the planet it relies on rechargeable batteries to keep it up and running. Now, NASA has to figure out exactly what is wrong, and do so from over 30 million miles away.

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Were in the diagnostic stage, to better understand the behavior of the batteries and ways to give ourselves more options for managing them in the future, MRO Project Manager Dan Johnston explains. We will restore MROs service as a relay for other missions as soon as we can do so with confidence in spacecraft safety, likely in about one week. After that, we will resume science observations.

NASA is optimistic that they can iron out whatever issues are leading to the spacecrafts battery woes, but its not exactly shocking that the hardware is having problems when you consider its age. Launching in 2005, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbit was slated to have a two-year mission window which it completed with flying colors. Following that success, NASA has issues extended missions five times, allowing the orbiter to continue gathering and relaying a treasure trove of data about the planet. According to NASA, the MRO has delivered over 317 terabits of data thus far, which is more than all other Mars mission combined.

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In just a couple of years, NASA is slated to launch its Mars 2020 mission which will feature the delivery of a new rover to the Red Planet. The rover will be a cutting-edge piece of scientific hardware capable of making advanced observations about the composition of the Martian surface.

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Sysco Corporation SYY has acquired Doerle Food Services  a Louisiana-based food service distributor  to widen its US distribution network. This buyout is expected to capitalize on Syscos growth opportunities, thus strengthening its core business and maximizing customers value. However, the financial terms of the deal remained under covers.



Doerle Food Services, which generates nearly $250 million as yearly revenues from foodservice distribution, is a family-owned business serving parts of Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Also, this distributor has to its credit a solid reputation of serving customers with the top-class quality products. Notably, Doerle Food Services business executive management team will be retained by Sysco. Furthermore, Doerle Energy & Marine will not form part of the deal.



Meanwhile, Sysco has been carrying out various acquisitions over the years to grow its distribution network and customer base, and boost long-term growth. These acquisitions are expected to boost the companys revenues as well as enhance its presence in international markets. In the long term, management expects to achieve 0.51% sales growth through acquisitions.



Recently, Sysco also inked a deal to buy Kent Foods (a leading foodservice provider in the U.K.), which is expected to bolster its U.K. and European business bandwagon. In an earlier development, the company acquired Hawaii-based HFM FoodService to add it to its U.S. Foodservice segment. Again, Sysco bought the remaining 50% stake in Mayca Distribuidores of Costa Rica, which should enhance its international business.



Stock Performance



In the last six months, shares of this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company have rallied 17.3% against the industrys decline of 2.3%.

This outperformance can be attributed to Syscos solid brand portfolio, digital initiatives and focus on buyouts. Also, the company is on track with its cost-savings plan and key goals for 2020.



Looking For Solid Consumer Staples Stocks? Check These



The Boston Beer Company, Inc. SAM with a long-term earnings growth rate of 5% has pulled off an average positive earnings surprise of 63.4% in the last four quarters. Also, it flaunts a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



McCormick & Company, Incorporated MKC has a long-term earnings growth rate of 9.4% and a Zacks Rank #2. It has delivered an average positive earnings surprise of 4.3% in the last four quarters.



Church & Dwight Co., Inc. CHD, a Zacks Rank #2 stock, has a long-term earnings growth rate of 10.4%. Further, the companys earnings have surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate with an average beat of 6.6% in the trailing four quarters.



Can Hackers Put Money INTO Your Portfolio?



Earlier this month, credit bureau Equifax announced a massive data breach affecting 2 out of every 3 Americans. The cybersecurity industry is expanding quickly in response to this and similar events. But some stocks are better investments than others.



Zacks has just released Cybersecurity! An Investors Guide to help Zacks.com readers make the most of the $170 billion per year investment opportunity created by hackers and other threats. It reveals 4 stocks worth looking into right away.



Download the new report now>>



Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report



Boston Beer Company, Inc. (The) (SAM) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Sysco Corporation (SYY) : Free Stock Analysis Report



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Apple has been hesitant to admit that it is losing relevancy in its Greater China region, but the company's market share is slipping, the iPhone X didn't help.

With the iPhone X described as the biggest step forward for smartphones since the original iPhone, the release of the special-edition device was supposed to be a watershed moment for Apple AAPL. The Cupertino-based the behemoth would reclaim its status as the top smartphone trend setter, and its competitors would fall back in line once again.

But the iPhone X never made that kind of impact. During the companys fiscal first quarter, Apple sold about 77.32 million total iPhones, down about 1% year-over-year and well below our consensus estimates (also read: Apple's First-Quarter iPhone Sales Drop 1%, Miss Estimates).

Apples decision to dual announce the iPhone 8 and iPhone X was considered a gamble at the time, and given its sales figures in the ever-important holiday quarteralong with the myriad of reported production issues related to the Xthat gamble does not seem to have paid off.

Analysts and investors were quick to point the finger at a number of causes for the iPhone Xs weak performance, but the prevailing theory is that the $1,000 smartphone simply costs too dang much.

More specifically, the higher-priced device does not seem to be making an impact in some of Apples key international regions, including Greater China. That point was hammered home in a recent report from The Wall Street Journal, which argued that the growing number of domestic competitors in China means shoppers in Asias largest markets are less willing to fork over more cash for iPhones.

People dont have to stretch their budget to buy a top-end [smartphone] anymore, IDC analyst Kiranjeet Kaur told WSJ. [Chinese vendors] now boast features which compete with the top-end in the market.

The report goes on to highlight the fact that Apples market share in China has slipped from 13% in 2015 to just 8% today. The iPhone makers market share in India has remained a stagnant 2% since 2013, and its share of the Indonesian smartphone market has slipped to 1% from 3% in 2013.

Story continues

Meanwhile, Apples competitors in the regionincluding Chinese firms Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivohave all gained market share in these major Asian markets over the past several years.

But up to this point, Apple has been hesitant to admit that it is losing relevancy in its Greater China region. In the companys most recent earnings conference call, CEO Tim Cook mentioned that he was very happy to generate double digit revenue growth for the second quarter in a row in Greater China, neglecting to clarify that this is likely due to the iPhone Xs higher price tagand ignoring the companys slipping market share altogether.

Cook would later field a question centered specifically on the fact that Apples sales in China seemed sluggish on a quarter-over-quarter basis when considering the timing of the iPhone X release. Citing valid points about the length of the quarter and the growth of the iPad and Mac in the region, Cook ultimately concluded that he could not be more pleased with how Apple is doing in China right now.

Of course, no one expects a top tech CEO to be particularly critical of their companys performance all the time, but Cooks overt optimism on this subject is curious. Is it possible that Apple management is out of touch, or is the company simply dodging legitimate concerns about its relevancy in China?

Want more analysis from this author? Make sure to follow @Ryan_McQueeney on Twitter!

Can Hackers Put Money INTO Your Portfolio?

Just last year, credit bureau Equifax announced a massive data breach affecting 2 out of every 3 Americans. The cybersecurity industry is expanding quickly in response to this and similar events. But some stocks are better investments than others.

Zacks has just released Cybersecurity! An Investors Guide to help Zacks.com readers make the most of the $170 billion per year investment opportunity created by hackers and other threats. It reveals 4 stocks worth looking into right away.

Download the new report now>>



Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report



Apple Inc. (AAPL) : Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



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Comtech Telecommunications (CMTL) Outpaces Stock Market Gains: What You Should Know Comtech Telecommunications (CMTL) closed the most recent trading day at $26.47, moving +1.26% from the previous trading session.

United States Steel Corporation X was a big mover last session, as the company saw its shares rise nearly 15% on the day. The move came on solid volume too with far more shares changing hands than in a normal session. This breaks the recent trend of the company, as the stock is now trading above the volatile price range of $33.95 to $41.15 in the past one-month time frame.

The move came after the U.S. Department of Commerce recommended metal import tariffs for the federal government.

The company has seen two negative estimate revisions in the past few weeks, while its Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter has also moved lower over the past few weeks, suggesting there may be trouble down the road. So make sure to keep an eye on this stock going forward, to see if this recent move higher can last.

U.S. Steel currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) while its Earnings ESP is 0.00%.

United States Steel Corporation Price

United States Steel Corporation Price | United States Steel Corporation Quote

Another stock worth considering in the Steel  Producers industry is Angang Steel Company Limited ANGGY which carries a Zacks Rank #1.You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Is X going up? Or down? Predict to see what others think: Up or Down

Can Hackers Put Money INTO Your Portfolio?

Earlier this month, credit bureau Equifax announced a massive data breach affecting 2 out of every 3 Americans. The cybersecurity industry is expanding quickly in response to this and similar events. But some stocks are better investments than others.

Zacks has just released Cybersecurity! An Investors Guide to help Zacks.com readers make the most of the $170 billion per year investment opportunity created by hackers and other threats. It reveals 4 stocks worth looking into right away.

Download the new report now>>



Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report



United States Steel Corporation (X) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Angang Steel Co. (ANGGY) : Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
dara khosrowshahi

Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Uber is reportedly planning to sell its business in Southeast Asia to rival Grab.

It's likely to receive equity in Grab as part of the deal.

Uber's CEO said last week that operating in developing markets is an "optional investment" for the company.



Uber is reportedly preparing to sell its business in Southeast Asia to rival taxi company Grab, according to a report from CNBC. Uber would reportedly receive a "sizeable" stake in Grab as part of the deal, CNBC said.

Bloomberg wrote in 2017 that Uber was struggling to compete in Southeast Asia as Grab launched security features and took credit card payments, both things that Uber lacked. Uber, however, "feels like it's pushing a business model and an app designed in and for wealthier markets," Bloomberg wrote.

This wouldn't be the first time that Uber sold off one of its international businesses. In 2016 it merged its Chinese division with local competitor Didi. Didi agreed to make a $1 billion (713 million) investment in Uber at a $68 billion (48 billion) valuation, and Uber China's investors ended up owning 20% of the merged Chinese company, which was valued at $35 billion (24 billion).

This could be a new route to profitability for Uber

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference in San Francisco last week that Uber could sell off underperforming parts of its business in order to improve its finances ahead of an IPO in 2019.

"Where we are now as of Q4 is the developed markets, the contribution from the developed markets, essentially pays for the overhead of the business, alright," Khosrowshahi said.

"Now, I include two things. And they're a lot of money for those two things: One is the amount that we are investing in developing markets, that's a significant negative but that is an optional investment for us. By the way, we think it should be on, it's going to be on for a while, right? That gets us negative," he said.

Story continues

"And the big bets, autonomous etcetera also increase the negative. But if you just said, if someone says, 'Forget about all this stuff, all I want is the core and just sell all the stuff or stop investing all the stuff,' you would have a business that for a quarter was cash flow breakeven."

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Wyoming House Unanimously Approves Two Pro-Blockchain Bills





In a watershed moment for United States blockchain and cryptocurrency law, Wyomings House of Representatives unanimously voted aye to pass two blockchain bills  HB 70 the utility token bill and HB 19 the bitcoin bill  sending them to the State Senate for consideration. HB 70 defines utility tokens as neither traditional money nor securities; HB 19 exempts cryptocurrency from the 2003 Wyoming Money Transmitter Act (passed in the state before Bitcoins invention in 2008).

In an interview with Bitcoin Magazine, Wyoming Blockchain Coalition co-founder, and 22-year Wall Street veteran, Caitlin Long, attributed much of the bills successes so far to teamwork between Wyoming banking and security regulators and the efforts of House of Representatives member Tyler Lindholm, who is a co-sponsor and advocate of all five blockchain-related bills. Wyoming aims to set the standard for blockchain-friendly regulation in the U.S. and to become a hub for blockchain-based innovation with these two bills. Long explained, There are already bitcoin miners setting up shop because of [Wyomings] cheap electricity, no income tax and no franchise tax. HB 70: Utility Token Definition The Wyoming HB 70 defines a utility token, or open blockchain token, as neither traditional money nor a security if it meets the following conditions: Similarly, people who facilitate the exchange of an open blockchain token are not deemed traditional broker-dealers of securities. HB 19: Cryptocurrency Exemption HB 19 exempts cryptocurrency from the Wyoming Money Transmitter Act. A 2015 interpretation of this act by the Wyoming Division of Banking made it impractical for cryptocurrency exchanges to operate in the state. As a result, Coinbase suspended operations in Wyoming indefinitely in June 2015. The passage of HB 19 moves Wyoming one step closer to cryptocurrency-friendly exchange regulation. Should the bill receive a majority vote in the Senate, exchanges such as Coinbase could resume operation in Wyoming. Other Bills in the Pipeline The Wyoming House of Representatives is also reviewing bills HB 101 and HB 126 in the House and SF 111 in the Senate. HB 101, the blockchain filings bill, promises to update Wyomings Business Corporations Act to authorize the creation and use of blockchains to store records, the use of a network address to identify a corporation's shareholder and the acceptance of shareholder votes signed by network signatures. At a high level, HB 101 specifies requirements for all corporations using electronic network or (blockchain) databases. HB 101 has passed the first reading in the House. HB 126, the series LLC bill allows for the creation of series LLCs. This type of LLC structure is favorable towards decentralized protocols, as it enables LLCs to establish a compartmentalized series of members/managers, transferable interests or assets, and distributions to members. HB 126 has also passed the first reading in the House. SF 111, the crypto property tax exemption bill, has already been approved in the House, and its goal is to exempt cryptocurrency from Wyoming state property taxes. The bill is now awaiting consideration in the Senate. Nothing Is Carved in Stone While HB 70 and HB 19 have both passed in the House by a vote of 600, they must also pass in the Senate to be recognized as official acts. Long expressed her optimism, while acknowledging the difficulties that lie ahead: Should the bill pass in the Senate and become an act in Wyoming, federal regulation and the SEC Howey Test could still nullify all of the advocates blood, sweat and tears. However, Long believes that Federal Law with regards to utility hasnt been established yet  and, that there are people in the blockchain/cryptocurrency industry flush with cash, interested in litigating this issue. Long and other Wyoming blockchain proponents hope for a final Senate outcome on HB 70, the utility token bill, and HB 19, the Bitcoin bill, as early as the middle next week.

Story continues

The token has not been marketed by the protocol developers as an investment opportunity.

The token is exchangeable for goods or services. (This implies that protocols must offer a working product or service before tokens are issued, similar to Switzerlands recent ICO framework.)

The protocol developer has not entered into a repurchase agreement of any kind or entered into an agreement to locate buyers for the token.



I dont want to sugar-coat that it wont be difficult. The Senate is a more uncertain chamber. But, we have incredible momentum, and all we need [for the bills to become acts] is a majority vote in the Senate.

This article originally appeared on Bitcoin Magazine.
Govt cannot stop issuing licences to new companies

The government has said it cannot stop granting licences to new foreign employment recruitment agencies as demanded by the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA).
Amsterdam, the Netherlands - 20 February 2018 - Intertrust N.V. ("Intertrust" or "Company") [Euronext: INTER], a leading global provider of high-value trust, corporate and fund services, today announces that it has repurchased 85,433 ordinary Intertrust shares at an average price of EUR 17.3939 per share in the period from 12 February 2018 up to and including 16 February 2018.

The aggregate consideration for this repurchase was EUR 1.49 million. This repurchase was made as part of the Company's share repurchase programme, which was announced on 13 November 2017.

The total number of shares repurchased under this programme up to and including 16 February 2018 is 1,647,582 shares for a total aggregate consideration of EUR 24.88 million.

Approximately 850,000 shares will be used for employee stock ownership and incentive plans vesting in 2018 and 2019, with the remainder of the repurchased shares to be cancelled (after approval by the general meeting of shareholders). Further details on the share repurchase transactions can be found on the Company's website.

This press release contains information which is to be made publicly available under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No 596/2014.

For further information

Intertrust N.V. marieke.palstra@intertrustgroup.com

Marieke Palstra Tel: +31 20 577 1157

Director of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications

About Intertrust

Intertrust is a leading global provider of high-value trust, corporate and fund services, with approximately 2,500 employees located throughout a network of 39 offices in 28 jurisdictions across Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Middle-East. The Company delivers high-quality, tailored services to its clients with a view to building long-term relationships. Intertrust's business services offering is comprised of corporate services, fund services, capital market services, and private wealth services. Intertrust has leading market positions in selected key geographic markets of its industry, including the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Jersey, and the Cayman Islands. Intertrust works with global law firms and accountancy firms, multi-national corporations, financial institutions, fund managers, high net worth individuals and family offices.
CORONA, Calif, Feb. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acology Inc. (OTCMARKETS:ACOL) confirmed today that its signature product, the MedTainer, is compliant for the entire North American market, and specifically for the growing Canadian cannabis market, for child-resistance and material composition. By meeting these statutes Acology had positioned its multi-functional container and fulfills the requirements that Canadas Licensed Producers(LPs) must maintain for legal cannabis packaging and retail sales. Acology already does business with several of these LPs. The net effect of this announcement means that the MedTainer, an FDA approved #5 polypropylene container that is water-proof, smell-proof, certified child-resistant and includes a built-in grinder, is now in a position to do business with ALL of the Canadian LPs. The MedTainer now sits at the top of the cannabis packaging market. Including North America, the MedTainer is now certified in Great Britain, Europe and Asia. (See attached)



The confirmation comes from the prestigious Child Related Research, Inc. in Murray, Utah. The company confirmed that the MedTainer meet(s) the child test protocol (Canadian) requirements of CSA-Z76.1 or 16CFR 1700.20. The testing protocols that the MedTainer was subjected to were extremely rigorous, exceeding testing protocols used by other compliancy companies.

It also signifies that, as more states pass legislation legalizing cannabis sales, that the MedTainer will become the primary packaging resource for growers and manufacturers throughout North America. Acologys reach is global, with distributors in North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa.

For investor or sales information please visit Acology Inc. and D&C Distributors online or by phone. The company is located in their production and distribution facility at 1620 Commerce St. Corona, California, 92880.

Acology trades on the OTC under the call letters ACOL. The companys websites are www.Acologyinc.com for the hospice and palliative care industry and www.themedtainer.com for the recreational and medical marijuana industry. Orders for Acology products can be taken online and by phone. Custom orders are especially welcome. Please send all inquiries to info@acologyinc.com or call (844) ACOLOGY (844-226-5649). Ask for Jack Rein, National Services Director. Acology can also be accessed through Twitter and Instagram at @Acologyinc

This press release includes statements that are covered by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Because such statements deal with future events they are subject to risks and uncertainties and actual results for fiscal year 2016 and beyond could differ materially from the companys current expectations. Forward-looking statements are identified by such words as anticipates, projects, expects, planned, intends and believes estimate targets and other similar expressions that indicate trends and future events. It is understood that investment entails risk on the part of the investor and could result in the loss of some or all of his or her investment.

A PDF accompanying this announcement is available at http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/6b449667-bf3f-433f-821c-dd61fb7166a9
HICKSVILLE, NY, Feb. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canbiola, Inc. (OTC PINK: CANB) is pleased to announce the hire of Mr. David Posel as the Chief Operations Officer.

We are excited that Mr. Posel is joining the Canbiola team. Mr. Posel is a pioneer in the CBD industry and his many years of experience in Operations and Manufacturing will allow our company to better manage our growth, said Marco Alfonsi, Canbiola CEO. David has the perfect background, having participated in the industry since its early stages.

I am really excited to come aboard and work with Canbiola, a fantastic and robust company. Our goal at Canbiola will be to formulate new products and to continuously improve our product quality. We will be focusing on natural products that symbiotically work with the bio-absorption and bio-delivery systems within the human body and we are poised to deliver the most advanced CBD products across the board, said Mr. Posel.

As the Chief Operations Officer of Canbiola, David will expand the companys product lines across the board, engage market leaders and produce first-to-market products for CBD industry worldwide.

David Posel started his earliest years as a metallurgical engineer at AGCO Metalex, a large precious metals refinery in Washington State. The son of a Ph.D. chemist, Boeing engineer and mathematics major, he quickly went on to the Semiconductor manufacturing industry for nearly a decade as a metallic silicon coatings engineer, leaving to attend ASU West in Arizona. With an engineering and metallurgical chemistry background, David switched gears to Organic agricultural production for an additional eight years. David was farm director and chief environmental scientist for what was once the oldest Organic farm in the state of Colorado before moving into the more advanced world of CBD, hemp production and custom product development. David has spent years earning the respect of CBD market leaders and forming solid business relationships both in the US and abroad. His career began by making the first CBD infused consumer product offered in the US with 99% isolate, CrystalPure CBD which is now sold under the Canbiola brand.

Canbiola will be attending the Integrative Healthcare Symposium Annual Conference on February 22-24, 2018 in New York City. Come join us and learn about the benefits of our products. (Booth # 638)

About Canbiola, Inc.

Canbiola, Inc. is a public company trading under symbol CANB.

Canbiola, Inc. is a US Company embarking in the sale of a variety of Cannabidiol (CBD) based products. Canbiola is in the process of developing its own line of proprietary products as well as seeking synergistic value through acquisitions in the CBD and the medical cannabis industry. Cannabis is currently federally illegal and has legalized for medical purposes in some form in a limited number of states. The company has already launched several products found at www.canbiola.com.

The company also owns two technological solutions, WRAPmail (US Patent 8,572,275), which turns traditional email into a powerful marketing and branding tool, as well Prosperity Systems and the Bullseye platform of document management and compliance targeted at broker-dealers, public companies, and governmental agencies providing a flawless all-in-one solution for document management, retention and compliance.

Forward-looking statements and risks and uncertainties Matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "may," "intend," "expect," and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Expected, actual results, performance, or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed, or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with, among other things, the impact of economic, competitive, and other factors affecting our operations, markets, products, and performance. The matters discussed herein should not be construed in any way, shape or manner of our future financial condition or stock price.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Panoro Minerals Ltd. (TSXV:PML) (Lima:PML) (Frankfurt:PZM) ("Panoro", or the "Company") is pleased to announce the commencement of the Companys 2018 drilling program at the Cotabambas Project in Peru. Panoro Minerals has contracted Lima-based drilling contractor, Bradley-MDH, to conduct the proposed 2018 drilling campaign. Two diamond drill rigs are being mobilized with drilling expected to begin on February 22, 2018.



The 2018 drilling program will commence at the Maria Jose and Petra-David targets at Cluster 1 and continue until April 2018 with 5,000 m of drilling budgeted. The drilling program will then expand into the Chaupec Skarn Target in Cluster 2 in August with an additional 5,000 m budgeted for completion by the end of 2018.

Drilling at the Maria Jose Target will focus on the further delineation of oxide and sulphide copper zones identified during the 2017 drill program, where 15 drillholes confirmed continuity of mineralization over an area of 400 m by 1200 m, and to over 450 m depth.

In 2017, 8 drillholes were completed at the Petra-David target confirming copper oxides mineralization continuity over an area of 600 m by 150 m along a structural control in northeast direction, hosted in quartz monzonite porphyries and diorite rocks.

The Chaupec target is an area of skarn and porphyry mineralization exposed at surface along approximately 3 km by 1km. The copper grades sampled at surface are some of the highest grades sampled to date at the Cotabambas Project. The area has never been drilled.

The mineralization at the Maria Jose Target consists of quartz monzonite porphyry dikes hosted within andesite volcanics. Drillholes CB-161 and CB-165 intercepted near surface copper oxides mineralization intervals of 39.7 m averaging 0.54% Cu and 13.2 m averaging 0.41% Cu, respectively. Drillhole CB-183 intercepted 127.6 m of hypogene copper mineralization grading 0.41% Cu, 0.06 g/t Au and 2.0 g/t Ag, including intervals with 0.67% Cu and 0.74% Cu, with mineralization open below 477 m depth. Drillhole CB-157 intercepted 195.2 m of hypogene copper mineralization averaging 0.34% Cu 0.06 g/t Au and 1.6 g/t Ag, including intervals with 0.42% Cu and 0.51% Cu, with mineralization open below 468 m depth. The drillholes of the 2017 campaign and the geochemistry and geophysics signatures at surface indicate the mineralization to be open to the northeast and north where the 2018 campaign will be focused.

The principal results at the Petra-David Target included Drillhole CB-171 intercepting 25.0 m averaging 0.32% Cu, including 10.8 m grading 0.44% Cu, 0.12 g/t Au and 12.2 m grading 0.40% Cu, 0.09 g/t Au. Drillhole CB-173 intercepted 61.4 m averaging 0.38% Cu, including 27.1 m with 0.58% Cu and 0.14 g/t Au. Drillhole CB-172 intercepted 78.8 m grading 0.32% Cu including 20.4 m averaging 0.48% Cu, 0.12 g/t Au and 10 m grading 0.57% Cu and 0.14 g/t Au. Drillhole CB-175 intercepted 87.6 m averaging 0.20% Cu, including intervals with grades of 0.29% Cu to 0.39% Cu. The 2018 drilling campaign will target expansion to the north and south.

The Chaupec Target includes exposures at surface of different skarn type mineralization, such as pyroxenes, garnets and magnetite, containing mineralization of bornite, chalcopyrite, minor pyrite, and expanded copper oxides. The quartz-monzonite porphyry outcrops in the south part of the Chaupec Target with potassic alteration and quartz stockwork also contain hypogene/oxides copper mineralization. The mineralization at the Chaupec Target is similar to the skarns at the Las Bambas Copper Mine, located 40 km to the south, specifically with the skarn exposed in the Ferrobamba open pit. A team of geologists will start the predrilling works at Chaupec by the end of February.

We look forward to continuing the drill program at our flagship Cotabambas Project, following up on the delineation of near surface mineralization at the satellite targets in Cluster 1 during 2017. The proximity to surface, potential of higher grades and presence of oxide mineralization can add more value to the Cotabambas Project. Stepping out into the Chaupec Skarn Target in Cluster 2 is scheduled for the middle of this year, after the approval of the expanded EIA. The Chaupec Skarn Target has the potential to further expand the already significant growth potential and value of Cotabambas during 2018. The growth potential is significant with multiple targets to be drilled in 2018, all of which is funded. Additional funding is in place to expand the 2018 drill program and/or continue through 2019. We look forward to announcing results of the drilling program as results are received, stated Luquman Shaheen, President & CEO.

About Panoro

Panoro Minerals is a uniquely positioned Peru focused copper exploration and development company. The Company is advancing its flagship project, Cotabambas Copper-Gold-Silver Project and its Antilla Copper-Molybdenum Project, both located in the strategically important area of southern Peru. The Company is well financed to expand, enhance and advance its projects in the region where infrastructure such as railway, roads, ports, water supply, power generation and transmission are readily available and expanding quickly. The region boasts the recent investment of over $US 15 billion into the construction or expansion of four large open pit copper mines.

Since 2007, the Company has completed over 80,000 m of exploration drilling at these two key projects leading to substantial increases in the mineral resource base for each, as summarized in the table below.

Summary of Cotabambas and Antilla Project Resources

Project Resource

Classification Million

Tonnes Cu (%) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Mo (%) Cotabambas Cu/Au/Ag Indicated 117.1 0.42 0.23 2.74 0.001 Inferred 605.3 0.31 0.17 2.33 0.002 @ 0.20% CuEq cutoff, effective October 2013, Tetratech Antilla Cu/Mo Indicated 291.8 0.34 - - 0.01 Inferred 90.5 0.26 - - 0.007 @ 0.175% CuEq cutoff, effective May 2016, Tetratech

Preliminary Economic Assessments (PEA) have been completed for both the Cotabambas and Antilla Projects, the key results are summarized below.

Summary of Cotabambas and Antilla Project PEA Results

Key Project Parameters Cotabambas Cu/Au/Ag Project Antilla Cu/Mo Project Mill Feed, life of mine million tonnes 483.1 350.4 Mill Feed, daily Tonnes 80,000 40,000 Strip Ratio, life of mine 1.25 : 1 0.85 : 1 Before

Tax1 NPV 7.5% million USD 1,053 491 IRR % 20.4 22.2 Payback years 3.2 3.3 After

Tax1 NPV 7.5% million USD 684 225 IRR % 16.7 15.1 Payback years 3.6 4.1 Annual Average Payable

Metals Cu thousand tonnes 70.5 36.8 Au thousand ounces 95.1 - Ag thousand ounces 1,018.4 - Mo thousand tonnes - 0.9 Initial Capital Cost million USD 1,530 603 Project economics estimated at commodity prices of; Cu = US$3.00/lb, Au = US$1,250/oz, Ag = US$18.50/oz, Mo = US$12/lb

The PEAs are considered preliminary in nature and include Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative to have the economic considerations applied that would enable classification as Mineral Reserves. There is no certainty that the conclusions within the updated PEA will be realized. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Luis Vela, a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release.

On behalf of the Board of Panoro Minerals Ltd.

Luquman Shaheen. PEng, PE, MBA

President & CEO

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Panoro Minerals Ltd.

Luquman Shaheen, President & CEO

Phone: 604.684.4246 Fax: 604.684.4200

Email: info@panoro.com

Web: www.panoro.com Renmark Financial Communications Inc.

Laura Welsh

Tel.: (416) 644-2020 or (416) 939-3989

blwelsh@renmarkfinancial.com

www.renmarkfinancial.com

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: Information and statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and involve risks and uncertainties.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation:

risks relating to metal price fluctuations;

risks relating to estimates of mineral resources, production, capital and operating costs, decommissioning or reclamation expenses, proving to be inaccurate;

the inherent operational risks associated with mining and mineral exploration, development, mine construction and operating activities, many of which are beyond Panoros control;

risks relating to Panoros ability to enforce Panoros legal rights under permits or licenses or risk that Panoros will become subject to litigation or arbitration that has an adverse outcome;

risks relating to Panoros projects being in Peru, including political, economic and regulatory instability;

risks relating to the uncertainty of applications to obtain, extend or renew licenses and permits;

risks relating to potential challenges to Panoros right to explore and/or develop its projects;

risks relating to mineral resource estimates being based on interpretations and assumptions which may result in less mineral production under actual circumstances;

risks relating to Panoros operations being subject to environmental and remediation requirements, which may increase the cost of doing business and restrict Panoros operations;

risks relating to being adversely affected by environmental, safety and regulatory risks, including increased regulatory burdens or delays and changes of law;

risks relating to inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance;

risks relating to the fact that Panoros properties are not yet in commercial production;

risks relating to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and tax rates; and

risks relating to Panoros ability to raise funding to continue its exploration, development and mining activities.

This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the forward-looking information and statements contained in this news release. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forwardlooking information. The forwardlooking information contained in this news release is based on beliefs, expectations and opinions as of the date of this news release. For the reasons set forth above, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Panoro does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and statements included herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.




NEW YORK, Feb. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SmartMetric, Inc. (OTCQB:SMME)  SmartMetric, the developer of the biometric credit card and multi-function biometric security card, is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Hogier Gartner CIA S.A. headquartered in Bogota, Colombia. The agreement appoints Hogier Gartner CIA S.A. as Distributor for SmartMetrics Biometric Security Cards within South America.



SmartMetric has created a miniature biometric fingerprint scanner that fits inside credit cards and security cards providing high level biometric security for chip based credit cards, enterprise and government cyber security and access control cards. The intellectual property of the SmartMetric biometric card is protected by five (5) recently issued patents.

SmartMetric is the developer of the in-the-card biometric fingerprint activated and secured credit card and multi-function security card. The company took over a decade of research and development to create the advanced miniaturized electronics that comprise the extremely thin fully functional self-powered fingerprint scanner that is embedded inside credit and security cards.

HOGIER GARTNER CIA S.A. is an established Visa and MasterCard certified credit card manufacturer that specializes in advanced high-quality credit card production for card issuing Banks throughout Central and Latin America. The company is a leader in the credit card industry using the most updated equipment and technologies in their secure accredited Visa and MasterCard credit card production and personalization facility.

HOGIER GARTNER CIA S.A. was founded 60 years ago. They have extensive relationships with prominent card issuing Banks across South America. Being a respected and established large scale credit card manufacturer, they provide not only card production but as well card personalization of banks credit card customers information. This includes printing and encoding of individual credit card customers details onto the credit card, at their secure Visa/MasterCard accredited facility in Bogota, Colombia for major banks throughout South America.

For more information concerning the new biometric secured credit and security card from HOGIER GARTNER CIA S.A. please contact Alvaro Gartner Valencia at alvaro.gartner@hogier.com.

To contact the representative for the SmartMetric biometric credit/security card within the USA please contact PROTEC Secure Card, Tracey Breckenridge at traceyb@protecsecurecard.com. To view their website, www.protecsecurecard.com

Safe Harbor Statement: Forward-Looking Statements in this press release, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Also such forward-looking statements are within the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Our actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as may, could, expect, intend, plan, seek, anticipate, believe, estimate, predict, potential, continue, likely, will, would and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by us and our management, are inherently uncertain. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among others, if we are unable to access the capital necessary to fund current operations or implement our plans for growth; changes in the competitive environment in our industry and the markets where we operate; our ability to access the capital markets; and other risks discussed in the Companys filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which filings are available from the SEC. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are made as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any of these forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, new information or future events, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable laws. If we update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

CONTACT INFORMATION



SOUTH AMERICA REPRESENTATIVE

HOGIER GARTNER & CIA. S.A.

Alvaro Gartner Valencia

Gerente Comercial & Financiero

Carrera 65, No. 80-16

Bogota D.C. 11121, Colombia

Tel: +57. (1) 4378484

alvaro.gartner@hogier.com



USA REPRESENTATIVE

Protec Secure Card, LLC

80 Corbett Way

Eatontown, NJ 07724, USA

+1-732-542-0700

Sales: Tracey Breckenridge

www.protecsecurecard.com
Prashant10692 wrote:





I chose D.

chesstitans



For the reason that the many computer owners in the United States have enough leisure time that spending significant amounts of time on the computer still leaves ample time for watching television.



So if they are not watching tv some other reason is there i.e. other than computer use because of which they are not interested in watching television. Could anyone correct my logic?I chose D.For the reason that the many computer owners in the United States have enough leisure time that spending significant amounts of time on the computer still leaves ample time for watching television.So if they are not watching tv some other reason is there i.e. other than computer use because of which they are not interested in watching television.

ucb2k7 wrote:





Please explain as to why (D) or (E) is wrong. Hi mikemcgarry Please explain as to why (D) or (E) is wrong.

Quote:

Which of the following most logically completes the argument?



The growing popularity of computer-based activities was widely predicted to result in a corresponding decline in television viewing. Recent studies have found that, in the United States, people who own computers watch, on average, significantly less television than people who do not own computers. In itself, however, this finding does very little to show that computer use tends to reduce television viewing time, since _______.



(A) many people who watch little or no television do not own a computer.



(B) even though most computer owners in the United States watch significantly less television than the national average, some computer owners watch far more television than the national average.



(C) computer owners in the United States predominately belong to a demographic group that have long been known to spend less time watching television than the population as a whole does.



(D) many computer owners in the United States have enough leisure time that spending significant amounts of time on the computer still leaves ample time for watching television.



(E) many people use their computers primarily for tasks such as correspondence that can be done more rapidly on the computer, and doing so leaves more leisure time for watching television.

Quote:

(D) many computer owners in the United States have enough leisure time that spending significant amounts of time on the computer still leaves ample time for watching television.

Quote:

(E) many people use their computers primarily for tasks such as correspondence that can be done more rapidly on the computer, and doing so leaves more leisure time for watching television.

reduce

Quote:

(C) computer owners in the United States predominately belong to a demographic group that have long been known to spend less time watching television than the population as a whole does.

cause

We are told that people who own computers watch significantly less television than people who do not own computers. But does that mean that computer use tends to REDUCE television viewing time? According to the author, it does not.In other words, the author's conclusion is that the findings from the study do "very little to show that computer use tends to reduce television viewing time." We need an answer choice that supports this conclusion:Choice (D) tells us that the computer users are not interested in watching television. But would those people be MORE interested in watching television if they did not own computers? Perhaps they would not, and that would support the author's point of view. But perhaps they WOULD watch more television if they did not own computers, and that would go against the author's argument.Choice (D) may or may not support the author's conclusion, so it is not the best answer.Choice (E) suggests that computer use leaves more time for television watching. But we already know that people with computers watch less television that people without computers.Sure, (E) suggests that computer users would have less time for television if their computers were taken away. But we have no way of knowing whether computer owners would actually watch more or less television if their computers were taken away.If people with computers watch less television, why can't we conclude that computer use tends totelevision watching time? Choice (E) does not answer this question, so it should be eliminated.Choice (C), on the other hand, does answer this question. (C) tells us that computer owners belong to a group that spends less time watching television. So these people have always watched less television. It just so happens that these people also tend to own computers, but computer use did notthem to watch less television. They've always watched less television, so the finding is not related to the growing popularity of computer-based activities.(C) is the best answer._________________
I just replied to a similar post: isb-vs-goizueta-vs-smith-210025.html My thoughts would be that if you can get into ISB, you should be able to break through the top 20 in the US. Georgia Tech is a top 30-40 school graduating 75 people per year. Most of them stick around the South, which nothing is wrong with that but you have to like it to stick around it you won't fit in is the biggest issue. Fitting in will be an issue. I would recommend talking to some of the current Indian students at Georgia Tech or even UNC to check how they like it. I would do the same with ISB - pick their brains about your concerns.Obviously if you are interested in the US, then you should pursue a school in the US. It is a pretty reliable and straightforward way for moving to the states but again, I think you can do better. Am I too optimistic?I personally know a few folks who got into top 20 with full scholarship in the US while getting rejected from ISB..._________________
LColumbia wrote:





I'm 24, female, Russian (but was born and raised in Central Asia - Kyrgyzstan).



Graduated with B.A. in Business Administration from American University of Central Asia:



- GPA 3,41/4,0

- 4-year merit-based scholarship

- Received presidential award for high academic achievements



Moved to Moscow to earn M.A. in International Business & Strategy at Moscow State University:



- GPA 3,9/4,0

- With honors

- Autumn Business school winner (received award for the best consulting project)

- Developed the project for Samsung on Smart Home Technologies



Worked for 2 years in Marketing & Communications of one of the world-famous luxury goods brand in Moscow, Russia. Currently working in CRM of other international luxury goods brand and responsible for Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. Also, I have 2 years of experience as a Marketing Manager in a small privately-owned jewellery company.



Extra-curriculum activities include:



- Volunteering (member of charitable organization)

- Horse-riding

- Art



My GMAT score is 750.



Could you, please, evaluate my profile?



Any feedback will be highly appreciated, thank you in advance! Hello!I'm 24, female, Russian (but was born and raised in Central Asia - Kyrgyzstan).Graduated with B.A. in Business Administration from American University of Central Asia:- GPA 3,41/4,0- 4-year merit-based scholarship- Received presidential award for high academic achievementsMoved to Moscow to earn M.A. in International Business & Strategy at Moscow State University:- GPA 3,9/4,0- With honors- Autumn Business school winner (received award for the best consulting project)- Developed the project for Samsung on Smart Home TechnologiesWorked for 2 years in Marketing & Communications of one of the world-famous luxury goods brand in Moscow, Russia. Currently working in CRM of other international luxury goods brand and responsible for Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. Also, I have 2 years of experience as a Marketing Manager in a small privately-owned jewellery company.Extra-curriculum activities include:- Volunteering (member of charitable organization)- Horse-riding- ArtMy GMAT score is 750.Could you, please, evaluate my profile?Any feedback will be highly appreciated, thank you in advance!

Nisha Trivedi

mbaMission Senior Admissions Consultant

35 positive reviews on GMATClub, 2020 Top 20 of admissions consultants across the industry per P&Q: https://poetsandquants.com/2020/08/26/best-mba-admission-consultants-of-2020/



Sign up for a free 30-minute consultation at https://www.mbamission.com/consult/mba-admissions/

Read our Insider's Guides to the top b-schools: http://www.mbamission.com/guides.php?category=insiders Signature Read More

Hi, and thanks for writing! It looks like you have a solid academic profile. Other things that the AdCom will be looking for:1.) your career progression to date and the impact you've made in your marketing roles thus far (which seem very interesting!). While I can't gauge this from what you've written, the AdCom will be able to discern this from your resume, interview, and recommendations2.) your passions outside of work. It's good that you have volunteer experience -for how long, and what's been your impact on the organization? Be sure to highlight this in your resume (and essays, as appropriate). If you're regularly involved in horseback riding and art, highlight these in your application/resume as well.For a strong application, you'll also need to clarify your ST/LT goals (why are you interested in an MBA now - what do you want to do post-graduation?), what drives these goals, the transferrable skills you'll bring to your post-MBA roles, and how an MBA from each program will help you achieve them.I hope this helps a bit! If you want to discuss your profile in more detail, I suggest signing up for a free 30-min consultation here: https://www.mbamission.com/consult/?dis ... admissions _________________
Kailali, Kanchanpur emerge as new poultry-farming hub

Kailali and Kanchanpur districts are emerging as the new hub for poultry farming, signaling growing demand for meat and eggs in far-western Nepal, which is less prosperous than other parts of the country.
New York State Health Department Announces Package of Innovative State Regulatory Initiatives That Will Improve Access to Health Care and Reduce Overall Costs

Bold Regulatory Modernization Initiative will update existing regulations and policies to better leverage advances in technology and New York's evolving health care needs

New regulatory measures will increase quality, reduce costs and improve the health of New Yorkers

ALBANY, N.Y. (February 20, 2018) - The New York State Health Department today announced a series of sweeping recommendations that will improve the delivery of health care in New York State. Major recommendations include measures to integrate primary care, behavioral care and substance abuse treatment in a single setting; and deliver telehealth to patients at any location, including their homes.

The recommendations announced today are the result of the first phase of the State Department of Health's Regulatory Modernization Initiative (RMI) and can be found in thereport, entitled "Spurring Health Care Innovation Through Regulatory Modernization: Putting Patients First".

Regulatory reforms will include:

Integrating primary and behavioral health services. A growing body of evidence confirms that the integration of primary and behavioral health services can improve the quality of care and lower costs. And yet, while many patients face both physical and behavioral health care needs, care is often provided in silosimpacting patients, providers, and payers alike. New York State will propose regulations to allow for an innovative new licensure category in order to allow providers to more readily offer integrated serviceswith a streamlined licensure application and approval process, and standard requirements across all relevant State agencies.

A growing body of evidence confirms that the integration of primary and behavioral health services can improve the quality of care and lower costs. And yet, while many patients face both physical and behavioral health care needs, care is often provided in silosimpacting patients, providers, and payers alike. New York State will propose regulations to allow for an innovative new licensure category in order to allow providers to more readily offer integrated serviceswith a streamlined licensure application and approval process, and standard requirements across all relevant State agencies. Allowing patients to access care more conveniently by expanding the use of telehealth services. The ability of telehealth to remotely connect patients and healthcare providers can be an important tool in ensuring access to health care, improving care and patient outcomes, enhancing patient satisfaction, and reducing health care costs through improved population health. Yet, health care providers and systems in New York State have identified a number of challenges to the adoption and delivery of telehealth services, including financial, statutory and regulatory barriers. New York State will take a landmark step forward to expand access to telehealth services through a series of measures, including expanding the list of eligible originating sites so that patients can receive telehealth services in any setting, including their own homes.

The ability of telehealth to remotely connect patients and healthcare providers can be an important tool in ensuring access to health care, improving care and patient outcomes, enhancing patient satisfaction, and reducing health care costs through improved population health. Yet, health care providers and systems in New York State have identified a number of challenges to the adoption and delivery of telehealth services, including financial, statutory and regulatory barriers. New York State will take a landmark step forward to expand access to telehealth services through a series of measures, including expanding the list of eligible originating sites so that patients can receive telehealth services in any setting, including their own homes. Putting patients at the center of a coordinated, cohesive health care system by easing care transitions. Health care stakeholders have long agreed on the importance of supporting the delivery of services across an integrated system of care; for post-acute care in particular, achieving care coordination is critical to reducing readmissions and improving patient outcomes, while slowing the growth in costs.To allow for the delivery of new, innovative models that allow for more seamless care transitions, and improve access to high-quality post-acute care that keeps New Yorkers healthy and well, New York State will take a series of steps to reform the post-acute regulatory landscape. That includes proposing legislation to expand the scope of practice of certified Emergency Management Technicians in order to expand access to care.

Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said, "Updating our regulations and policies is a major step forward in building a health care system that puts the patient at the center. I want to commend the members of the RMI workgroups who worked so hard to produce this report. The end result will be a health care system that better meets patient needs."

The RMI was launched by NYSDOH in 2017 to overhaul the policies and regulations that govern the licensure and oversight of health care facilities. Six workgroups comprised of subject matter experts solicited ideas from health care providers, consumers, and payers on ways to streamline and improve policies, regulations and statute. The workgroups were: Integrated Primary Care and Behavioral Health; Telehealth; Post-Acute Care Management Models; Cardiac Services; Off-Campus Emergency Departments; and Long-Term Care Need Methodologies and Innovative Models. The Long-Term Care workgroup is continuing to meet and will submit its recommendations at a later date.

Each workgroup also included staff from NYSDOH, Office of Mental Health, Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services and Office of People with Developmental Disabilities. Members of the Public Health and Health Planning Council also joined many of the RMI workgroups.

OASAS Commissioner Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez said, "For people struggling with substance use disorder, receiving addiction treatment in conjunction with care for any additional conditions is central to their recovery.Governor Cuomo's Regulatory Modernization Initiative is moving New York State toward a system where integrated care is more common and easier to access, which will result in better outcomes and increased efficiency."

OMH Commissioner Anne Marie Sullivan said, "Increasing access to behavioral healthcare is essential to our goal of helping people recover from mental illness. By integrating primary and behavioral health services and better utilizing technology, we can help more people receive the healthcare they need more quickly and efficiently.These regulatory changes will have a very positive impact on the lives of New Yorkers."

Acting OPWDD Commissioner Kerry Delaney said, "The regulatory changes resulting from this collaboration across multiple agencies will enable us to provide increased flexibility, improved access and, most importantly, choice of providers to the people we support. Expanding the use of secure telehealth services is incredibly important for thousands of people who have difficulty accessing specialists or who live in remote areas where simply accessing routine health care services can be difficult. We look forward to the improved access to quality care that these changes will provide to people with developmental disabilities."

NYSOFA Director Greg Olsen said, "These are incredibly important regulatory changes that place people at the center of care and further brings systems together to assure that the diverse needs of people can be addressed in one place. I applaud members of the RMI for recommending these common-sense reforms that will improve lives as well as outcomes."

Greater New York Hospital Association President and CEO Kenneth E. Raske said, "I applaud the state's commitment to modernizing the health care regulatory landscape. The landmark steps announced today will move us towards a more innovative health care system that delivers the highest quality care for patients. Thanks to the Governor, New York State's health care delivery system is at the forefront. We look forward to working with the RMI workgroups on additional topics and recommendations in the future."

Hospital Association of New York State President Bea Grause said, "We were very pleased to work with the Governor on this critical initiative. The proposals outlined today will help hospital and health systems across the state to deliver coordinated, valued-based care. We applaud this important first step and look forward to a continued partnership with the state to improve healthcare for all New Yorkers."

Community Health Care Association of the State of New York President & CEO Rose Duhan said, "At the Governor's direction, the Regulatory Modernization Initiative set the New York State Department of Health on an important path to modernize and harmonize health care regulations across State agencies. The proposals outlined in today's report will allow community health centers across the State to better serve the millions of New Yorkers who depend on them today. We applaud Governor Cuomo's commitment to moving the health care delivery system to one that delivers high quality care, at lower costs, for all New Yorkers."

Iroquois Healthcare Alliance President and CEO Gary Fitzgerald said, "Today's announcement is an important step in our continued work to deliver high quality, coordinated care for New Yorkers, especially those in our Upstate communities. Iroquois Healthcare Alliance applauds Governor Cuomo's commitment to meeting the unique needs of our rural and Upstate urban communities."

NYS Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare Executive Director Lauri Cole said, "Governor Cuomo is committed to making reforms that better enable the health care system to deliver on its promises for the millions of New Yorkers that rely on it every day. These proposals are an important step as we work to ensure that every New Yorker has access to integrated primary care and behavioral health services."

The RMI is the latest in a series of initiatives designed to transform health care in New York. The process began in 2011 when just days after his inauguration, Governor Cuomo created the Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT). Changes to Medicaid generated by the MRT led to significant savings and the creation of the Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) Program. DSRIP, now in its fourth year, relies on networks of providers known as Performing Provider Systems that work collaboratively in communities, with the goal ofreducing avoidable hospital use by 25 percent over five years. A separate initiative known as the New York State Health Innovation Plan (SHIP) serves as the roadmap to achieving the Triple Aim -- improved health, better health care quality and lower costs  and centers on an advanced primary care model.Taken together, these initiatives are breaking down service silos and fostering collaborations among health care sectors.
We all have heard of the growing pressure related to immigrant labor recently. That comes as the economy is providing full employment and the number of jobs in sectors like health care, construction, and manufacturing are in a full growth mode. All of those factors are making it that much more difficult for dairy farmers to retain good employees.

On top of that, the demand for labor among dairy farms has kept equal pace. The economic conditions are still fueling consolidation of the dairy sector. Tight profit margins and economies of scale have favored larger enterprises that rely heavily on hired labor.

Since 2012 the number of dairy farm workers in the U.S. has increased by 2,500 employees per year, and Wisconsin accounted for almost 25 percent of that total. In Wisconsin, there previously was one hired employee for every 200 cows in 2003 . . . now there is one employee for every 90 cows.

What can you do about it?

First, if you have employees make sure you are fulfilling your legal obligations as an employer. Second, weve all heard of the cost of employee turnover. Every time you lose an employee you face productivity loss, as well as recruitment, hiring, and training costs.

There is clearly a value in being a good boss!

As the competition for labor intensifies, among farms and with other sectors, the value of being a good boss should grow. Recently, a producer in Wisconsin told me that he succeeded in retaining one of his good employees despite paying a salary that was $3 per hour lower than the nonfarm job the employee was offered. Thats because he offered good working conditions and was considered a good boss.

If being a good boss could save you just $1 per hour in retaining your good employees, would that be valuable to you? Between reducing the cost of employee turnover and having the ability to retain your good employees for less, I will let you assess the value of good human resource management skills on your farm.

To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com.

(c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2018

January 29, 2018
Lets save our newborn babies

For almost every mother, the first days with her new born baby are precious memories to be cherished forever. They are surely some of the most challenging and at the same time fulfilling days we will experience as women.
Washington, Feb 20 (IBNS): A blinding flash, a loud sonic boom, and shattered glass everywhere. This is what the people of Chelyabinsk, Russia, experienced five years ago when an asteroid exploded over their city the morning of Feb. 15, 2013.

The house-sized asteroid entered the atmosphere over Chelyabinsk at over eleven miles per second and blew apart 14 miles above the ground. The explosion released the energy equivalent of around 440,000 tons of TNT and generated a shock wave that blew out windows over 200 square miles and damaged some buildings. Over 1,600 people were injured in the blast, mostly due to broken glass.

The Chelyabinsk event drew widespread attention to what more needs to be done to detect even larger asteroids before they strike our planet, said NASA Planetary Defense Officer Lindley Johnson. This was a cosmic wake-up call.

Coincidentally, on the same day as the Chelyabinsk event, the United Nations Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space Working Group on Near-Earth Objects was meeting in Vienna to finalize a recommendation to the U.N. on how to defend Earth from possible asteroid impacts. One result of this meeting was an endorsement by the U.N. General Assembly for the establishment of an International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) for worldwide collaboration on the detection and tracking of potential impact hazards and a Space Missions Planning Advisory Group (SMPAG) as a forum for the national space agencies to collaborate on plans for preventing any possible asteroid impact. In January 2014, the IAWN steering committee held its first meeting, and SMPAG met for the first time later that year.

Thanks to upgraded telescopes coming online in recent years, the rate of asteroid discovery has increased considerably, said Kelly Fast, manager of NASAs NEO Observations Program. Over 8,000 of these larger asteroids are now being tracked. However, there are over twice that number still out there to be found.At the same time, NASAs Near Earth Object (NEO) Observations Program was growing in response to increased awareness of asteroid impact risks. The program focuses on finding asteroids 460 feet (140 meters) and larger that represent the most severe impact risks to Earth. The goal of the program is to find at least 90 percent of these asteroids early enough to allow deflection or other preparations for impact mitigation. By January 2018, discovery of near-Earth objects of all sizes had surpassed the 17,500 mark  an 84 percent increase since January 2013.

In January 2016, NASA established a Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO), tasked with ensuring the early detection of potentially hazardous objects  asteroids and comets whose orbits can bring them within about 5 million miles (8 million kilometers) of Earth, and of a size large enough to reach Earths surface. PDCO is responsible for tracking and characterizing any potentially hazardous objects, issuing warnings about potential impacts, and providing timely and accurate communications about any actual impact threat while leading the coordination of U.S. Government planning for a response. The NEO Observations Program, a primary element of the PDCO, provides data from projects supported by the program to fulfill these responsibilities.

NASA works with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to lead U.S. Government planning for response to an actual impact threat. Weve conducted a series of tabletop exercises with FEMA and other U.S. government agencies to simulate the events of an impending catastrophic asteroid impact with Earth to increase our emergency preparedness for it, and were planning more, said Johnson. We also work closely with our international colleagues in the International Asteroid Warning Network and the Space Missions Planning Advisory Group.

Going beyond simulations, NASA also is undertaking the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), a space-flight mission designed to demonstrate the kinetic-impact technique for nudging an asteroid off a predicted impact course with Earth. Launch is tentatively set for early to mid-2021. The Planetary Defense Coordination Office also is supporting development of concepts for a space-based asteroid search, detection and tracking mission.

In 2017, the first test of a global asteroid-impact early-warning system took place. The observation campaign was conceived and organized by NASA-funded asteroid observers, overseen by NASA, and included participants from the International Asteroid Warning Network and other international partners. The target of this observing campaign was an asteroid known as 2012 TC4. While scientists knew enough from the short period of discovery observations back in 2012 that it would safely pass Earth this last October, its precise path was uncertain, so it was an ideal target for a planetary defense exercise.

This early-warning-system test went well. Fast noted, This was a successful real-life exercise for NASA and for the International Asteroid Warning Network, with smooth recovery of the object, precise prediction of the orbit and tracking of the asteroid as it passed about 27,000 miles from Earths surface on October 12th.

While no known asteroid is predicted to be on an impact course with Earth for the next 100 years, the search goes on, and preparations for planetary defense continue. Said Johnson, We must keep looking for what we know is still out there to be found.

Image Credits: Alex Alishevskikh


NA defuses bomb in Nuwakot

A Nepal Army team has defused a pressure cooker bomb at Bidur Municipality in Nuwakot district.
On February 15, 2018, 20 Islamic State (IS, formerly, Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham, also Daesh) terrorisms were killed in air and ground attacks conducted by the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) in Pacheragam, Kot, Heska Mina and Rawodat Districts of Nangarhar Province.

On February 13, 2018, 43 Taliban terrorists were killed and another 20 were injured in clashes with ANDSF in the Nish District of Kandahar Province.

On February 12, 2018, 20 IS terrorists were killed in air and ground attacks conducted by ANDSF in Rodat, Hasaka Mina and Achin Districts of Nangarhar Province.

On February 11, 2018, 11 Taliban terrorists, including a local commander identified as Mawlavi Mir Wali, were killed and another five were injured during the Pamir-18 Operations conducted by ANDSF in Darqad District of Takhar Province.

On February 7, 2018, 10 IS terrorists were killed in air-strikes conducted by B-52 Bombers of the United States (US) in the Sar Dara area of Darzab District in Jowzjan Province.

On February 6, 2018, 28 IS terrorists were killed in an air-strike conducted by the US Forces in the Sarud area of Darzab District in Faryab Province.

According to partial data compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), at least 1,562 terrorists have already been killed in Afghanistan since the beginning of 2018 (data till February 18, 2018). 10,798 terrorists were killed in 2017 and 11,469 in 2016.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), which began systematically documenting civilian casualties on January 1, 2009, in its Annual Report released on February 15, 2018, documented a total of 10,453 civilian casualties (3,438 deaths and 7,015 injured) in 2017 as against 11,418 civilian casualties (3,498 civilians deaths and 7,920 injured) in 2016. Although the figure represents a decrease of nine per cent compared with 2016, the report highlights the high number of casualties caused by suicide bombings and other attacks using improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The combined use of suicide bombings and non-suicide IEDs caused 4,151 civilian casualties (1,229 deaths and 2,922 injured) comprising 40 per cent of all civilian casualties in 2017.

According to the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR)s 36th Quarterly Report released on July 30, 2017, between January 1, 2017 and May 8, 2017, there were 2,531 ANDSF service members killed in action and an additional 4,238 wounded in action. However, the Quarterly Reports of SIGAR subsequently released on October 30, 2017, and January 30, 2018, did not provide ANDSF casualty figures, and so there is no data available for the rest of 2017. The US Department of Defense (DoD) instructed SIGAR not to publish data on "fundamental metrics of ANDSF performance as casualties, attrition, and most capability assessments" in its reports. It similarly "instructed SIGAR not to release to the public data on the number of Districts, and the population living in them, controlled or influenced by the Afghan government or by the insurgents, or contested by both." SIGAR had consistently reported ANDSF casualties since January 2015, when ANDSF took over operational control. According to SIGAR, 6,785 ANDSF members were killed between January 1 and November 12, 2016 as against 5,000 ANDSF fatalities recorded during the same period in 2015 (no data is available for the remaining period of 2015 and 2016).

Disturbingly, on November 19, 2017, lawmakers raised concerns over the reluctance of young people to join ANDSF and asserted that this was rooted in Governments failure to address the problems facing soldiers. According to lawmakers, not paying salaries on time, no days off, the lack of equipment, and threats by insurgents against families of soldiers, were some of the reasons preventing youth from joining ANDSF. Taliban pressure is taking a serious toll, with officials in some Provinces reporting recruitment down by as much as 50 per cent. Admitting a partial drop in recruitment, General Mohammed Ibrahim, the Commander of the Afghan Armys National Recruitment Center in Kabul, stated on November 18, 2017, In the first six months of this year (2017), we recruited 13,000 personnel, but we are planning to recruit 25,000 in the second six months. We do face challenges in recruiting enough personnel, I cannot hide that. The Force had recruited 37,000 men in 2016 and 42,000 in 2015. Taliban pressure includes fines on families of soldiers, physical punishment of soldiers who return home, and even confiscation of land and homes.

More distressingly, insurgent control of Afghanistan has slowly increased. SIGAR in its 38th Quarterly Report released on January 30, 2018, revealed that, as of October 2017, 57 per cent of the countrys 407 Districts were under Afghan Government control or influence, 30 per cent remain contested, and 13 per cent were under insurgent control or influence. In November 2015, 72 per cent were under Afghan Government control or influence, 21 per cent remain contested, and only seven per cent were under insurgent control or influence. Meanwhile, the Global Terrorism Index 2017 which was released on November 15, 2017, ranked Afghanistan the second worst country, out of 163, in terms of terrorism in the world. The Index put Iraq at number one and Afghanistan at number two, followed by Nigeria, Syria, Pakistan and Yemen  in that order.

Another profoundly alarming trend in Afghanistan was the revelation of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on November 15, 2017, in its Afghanistan Opium Survey 2017, that the cultivation and production of opium in Afghanistan had increased by 87 per cent compared to 2016. According to the latest figures released by UNODC, in addition to an 87 per cent jump to a record level of 9,000 metric tonnes in 2017, the area under opium poppy cultivation also increased to a record 328,000 hectares in 2017, up 63 per cent compared to 201,000 hectares in 2016. The number of Provinces affected by cultivation also increased accordingly from 21 to 24. The record 2017 levels of opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan create multiple challenges for the country. The significant levels of opium poppy cultivation and illicit trafficking of opiates are likely to further fuel instability, insurgency and increase funding to terrorist groups in Afghanistan. According to Afghan and Western officials, the drug trade profits the Taliban, constituting at least 60 per cent of their income.

Afghanistans principal problem, however, remains Pakistan. Exposing Islamabads role, on December 17, 2017, the US Department of Defense, in its report to the US Congress, observed,

Although Pakistani military operations have disrupted some terrorism sanctuaries, certain extremist groups such as the Taliban and the Haqqani Network retain freedom of movement in Pakistan. The United States continues to convey to all levels of Pakistani leadership the importance of taking action against all terrorist and extremist groups.

Similarly, Afghanistans National Directorate of Security (NDS) Chief Mohammad Masoum Stanikzai noted, on January 28, 2018, that Afghanistans war was complicated and that insurgent groups were backed by foreign countries, especially Pakistan. Further, President Ashraf Ghani, in an address to the nation on February 2, 2018, declared, Pakistan is the center of the Taliban. We are waiting for movement. Word and process are the words on paper; the Afghan nation wants clear practical action.

Presently, according to a survey entitled Peace Stalemate and Solutions conducted in six Provinces including Kabul, Herat, Kandahar, Balkh and Kunduz, by the Center for Strategic and Regional Studies (CSRS), most Afghans see an Afghan-led peace process as the only solution. The survey result released on December 2, 2017, revealed that 90.2 per cent of the respondents believe that an Afghan-lead peace process can bring peace the country. Amid ambiguity in the peace talks between the Afghan Government and the Taliban, on December 25, 2017, the High Peace Council (HPC) opened a two-day conference of religious scholars in Kabul in an effort to pave solid grounds for peace with the insurgents. The HPC invited more than 700 religious scholars from across the country. At the end of the conference, on December 26, 2017, a number of religious scholars suggested that President Ashraf Ghani should consider allowing the Taliban to open a political office in Kabul.

To pave the ground for official talks between the two sides on January 14, 2018, Afghan Government representatives held the third round of unofficial talks with five Taliban members in Turkey. Humayun Jarir, a representative of the Afghan Government in the talks, disclosed that the Taliban members represented the Quetta Shura, Haqqani network and other factions of the Taliban. Meanwhile, Mawlawi Abdul Rauf, the Taliban leader who headed the peace talks delegation in Turkey, told Tolo News on January 15, 2018, We represent the overall Taliban of the Islamic Emirate except some of individuals who are not willing to opt for intra-Afghan peace talks and who want to talk through Americans. I want to say that we represent the Taliban in this meeting and this is the third peace talks meeting here in Turkey. It is a fundamental meeting. The first and second rounds of Government-Taliban negotiations were held in Turkey in 2017.

Crucially, following the announcement of US President Donald Trumps new South Asia strategy on August 22, 2017, the number of airstrikes against insurgents has increased significantly. According to the US Air Force figures, 4,300 bombs have been dropped by US troops in Afghanistan in 2017, targeting Taliban and other terrorist groups in various parts of the country. The number of airstrikes in 2017 was twice the cumulative strikes carried out over the preceding two years  2015 and 2016. Further, as part of the US Administration's broader efforts to disrupt terrorist fundraising, on February 8, 2018, the US Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions against three individuals, Rahman Zeb Faqir Muhammad, Hizb Ullah Astam Khan and Dilawar Khan Nadir Khan, for allegedly having connections with Pakistan-based terror outfits operating in Afghanistan. In 2015, Hizb Ullah Astam Khan was involved in sending shipments of improvised explosive device (IED) chemicals from Pakistan to Afghanistan to terror groups, including Taliban and Jamaat ud Dawa al-Quran. In mid-2014, Rahman Zeb Faqir Muhammad was involved in operations of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in Afghanistan. In 2013, Dilawar Khan Nadir Khan provided financial and material support to LeT and the Taliban.

Under pressure from a stepped-up Trump administration military campaign, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid released a 10-page letter in several languages, on February 14, 2018, declaring: If you want peaceful dialogue with the Afghans specifically, and with the world generally, then make your president and the war-mongering congressmen and Pentagon officials understand this reality and compel them to adopt a rational policy towards Afghanistan. The new letter by the Taliban group has been issued almost a month after President Trump rejected the possibility of early talks with the Taliban, following a series of deadly attacks in Kabul and other parts of the country.

On January 29, 2018, Trump stated,

I dont see any talking taking place. I dont think were prepared to talk right now. Its a whole different fight over there. Theyre killing people left and right. Innocent people are being killed left and right. Bombing in the middle of children, in the middle of families  bombing, killing all over Afghanistan. So we dont want to talk with the Taliban. There may be a time, but its going to be a long time. Were all out, and thats taking place right now, and its a whole new front. And its a whole new set of principles that were being governed by.

Significantly, on January 14, 2018, a 15-member delegation of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) held talks with the Afghan Government leadership, where they reportedly discussed a wide range of issues, including security and ongoing developments on the political front. Meanwhile, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg observed, on February 13, 2018, At least twenty-eight allies and partners are increasing their troop contributions to our training mission in Afghanistan. We are aiming to have close to 16,000 Personnel there this year, up from around 13,000 last year. Further, on February 15, 2018, Stoltenberg asserted that the Taliban had to understand that they will never win on the battlefield and urged them to come to the negotiating table and agree to a political solution.

After the withdrawal of an overwhelming proportion of NATO Forces by end 2014, Afghan Forces have been reeling under escalating Taliban attacks. It is difficult, at this early stage, to assess whether Trumps Afghan strategy will actually achieve its promised ends. Nevertheless, Washingtons renewed commitment to stay the course, add additional resources, take the fight to the enemy, and end Pakistans double game, represent a qualitative shift of potentially great importance. If implemented aggressively, adjusted as necessary and sustained over time, this strategy improves probabilities of an acceptable resolution to Afghanistans unending troubles.
Lima, Feb 20 (IBNS): Peru's former President Alberto Fujimori will be tried for the killings of six farmers in 1992, reports said.

Earlier, triggering a massive protests in the national capital on Christmas Day in 2017, Peru's President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski announced his decision to pardon former President Alberto Fujimori of his crime.

However, the court said that the pardon does not apply to the new case.

Reacting to the order, Fujimori said he'll move court against the ruling.

The court is expected to try 22 others for squad killings.

Fujimori headed the South American nation for a decade from 1990 to 2000, during which his government violently tackled two insurgencies.

The senior politician suffers from low blood pressure and irregular heartbeat and was earlier pardoned on 'humanitarian grounds'.

However, the protesters had none of it, who shouted, "no to the pardon".

Protesters even claimed that the former President has been pardoned after a deal was reached with the incumbent government, which has been refuted by the latter.



While announcing his decision, Kuczynski had said, "I am convinced that those of us who consider ourselves democrats cannot allow Alberto Fujimori to die in prison. Justice is not vengeance. All pardons are by nature controversial. There is an important number of Peruvians who are opposed."

"My decision is especially complex and difficult, but it is my decision. I can not only be the president of those that voted for me, I need to be it for all Peruvians," he added.



Image: Wallpaper
Iran has tactical advisers from its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) across Syria and they will lead the battles, often from the front line. Iran is also training thousands of fighters in Syria from many of its militias and proxy groups. Furthermore, Iran is introducing drones and other new technologies to keep its eye on its enemies.

If there is a war between Iran and Israel, it will be a regional one. Iran will continue to use Syria and it will likely be the front for a war between the two nations. Anti-Israel ally of Iran, Hezbollah, will no doubt be fighting alongside Iran.

Leaders of the Iranian regime have spoken about its axis of resistance against Israeli and American influence. Iran is using local forces, enticing them with expertise, training and financial backing, to help it in its quest because it knows that the Israeli military is far superior and will have no trouble bombing Irans military hardware and territory.

Central to Irans launch towards regional hegemony is the land corridor from Iran to the Mediterranean via Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. Iran plans to transport weapons across the corridor and it is likely that it has intentions to build weapons factories along the way.

The United States and other nations are extremely concerned that Irans use of proxy groups and militias is getting out of hand. President Trumps National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster recently said: So the time is now, we think, to act against Iran.

Without Irans intervention in Syria, Bashar al Assads forces would have quickly collapsed.

Iran relies heavily on its militias and it is counting on their support for future conflicts. Iran is trying to give the appearance of being strong and a force to be reckoned with, but this is all false bravado.

The Iranian regime in actually in a position of extreme weakness. At the end of December, the people of Iran took to the streets to protest their economic situation. However, the protests quickly turned into anti-government demonstrations and the leadership, in a state of panic, responded by arresting thousands of protesters.

The regimes biggest failure is that the young people of Iran who have grown up under the current dictatorship and know no other leadership are even rejecting the regime. Faced with its failures at home, the Iranian regime is trying to save face by exporting the crisis.

However, the people of Iran are right  regime change is the only solution. Not only will the people of Iran finally be able to enjoy human rights and freedom, but the whole of the region will benefit from regime change in Iran.
Despite widespread repression, mass arrests, and suspicious deaths of detainees, the uprising remains active. What was especially significant is that the demonstrations occurred during celebrations for the thirty-ninth anniversary of the 1979 revolution, a time when security forces were on full alert.

According to an article by Struan Stevenson, formerly a Conservative Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Scotland, and currently President of the European Parliaments Delegation for Relations with Iraq and President of the Friends of Free Iran Intergroup, there are three confessions by senior officials of the Iranian regime that clearly demonstrate that the regime has entered its final stage.

Stevenson calls Fear of suffering the same fate as the Shahs dictatorship  The first confession.

He explains that just before the February 1st uprising, on January 31st, President Hassan Rouhani warned that the regime might suffer the same fate as the Shahs regime, should it fail to listen to the voice of the people.

Rouhani is viewed as a moderate in the West, but conversely, he is responsible for imposing the forced wearing of the hijab, and was a member of the Majlis who called for opponents of the regime to be hanged in public during Friday prayers to have a greater deterrent effect on the people, according to Stevenson.

Stevenson says Fear of the peoples deep anger against the regime  is the The second confession.

Regarding the uprising in Iran, Senior mullah Ahmad Khatami, vice chairman of the Assembly of Experts and Friday Prayer Imam of Tehran, has said, Do not think that the (risk of) overthrow is over. No, the enemies will not give up thinking about the overthrow even for a moment. We must be alert. You saw the rioters attack some seminaries, worse than the Shahs regime attack on Faizia seminary.

At the Friday prayer in Hamadan two weeks ago, Ghias al-Din Taha Mohammadi, said that during the uprising, about 60 offices of the Friday Prayer Imams were attacked. The Friday Prayer Imams are representatives of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and are appointed by him. Many crimes, robberies, moral and financial corruptions are connected to the Friday Prayer Imams and their offices. Attesting to this, on January 17th, Mullah Dorri Najaf Abadi, Friday Prayer Imam of Arak and another member of the Board of Directors of the Assembly of Experts and former minister of intelligence, said, Our house was attacked and I was at home. In recent events, the age of the protesters was very low. The people who attacked our home, although they had covered their faces, were under 30 years of age and even under the age of 18.

Lastly, Stevenson points out that Admitting the role of the main opposition, PMOI, in the uprising is  The third confession.

Following the initial protests in Mashhad on December 28th, theFriday Prayer Imam of that city said, Why have you come to the streets after a call by the PMOI whose leader is a woman? A counter-demonstration staged by the regime, where a slogan was repeated, Supporters of the Green Movement are supporters of Rajavi.

According to the news agency AFP, that same day, President Rouhani, asked French President Emmanuel Macron in a phone call, to take action against the PMOI. He allegedly told Macron, We criticize the fact that a terrorist group has a base in France and acts against the Iranian people and we await action from the French government against this terrorist group, in reference to the exiled Iranian opposition who are based in Paris and called the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq (PMOI).

The response from an Elysee Palace Spokesperson was that all political refugees are welcome in France and will be provided security by France.

Supreme Leader Khamenei, has identified the leading Iranian opposition the Mujahedin-e Khalq (PMOI or MEK) as a main contributing factor. They were prepared months ago. The media of the PMOI admitted to this. They said, recently, that they were in contact with Americans some months ago, to carry out U.S. orders, to organize riots, meet with this or that person, find individuals inside the country to help them fan out to the people. And that it was they who initiated this. The PMOI is popular inside Iran, appealing to the younger generation, women, and many ordinary Iranians.

Khamenei described it as part of a triangle of enemies that had planned, financed, and carried out the latest uprising, and blamed the US, Zionism and Saudi Arabia as foreign stimulators of the uprising. Further, he declared that those arrested who are linked to the PMOI would be severely punished.

Brig. Gen. Rasoul Sanai Rad, IRGC deputy commander, said on January 27th, The leader and provocateurs of the protests in Tuyserkan are from the PMOI who have come from other cities to not be identified  A number of women were arrested who are middle-aged; in the 1980s, those who led the street protests of the PMOI were mostly women, and now the women were the main cause of the provocation and the starter. For example, four of these women dragged Ilam into chaos those who were from Karaj were arrested in Kermanshah, or those who were from Bandar Abbas were arrested in Shiraz; these were the PMOI who showed up in the cities in an organized manner and directed the slogans.

These remarks are indicative of the regimes deepening concern of the growing role of the PMOI, who believe that the only solution for Irans problems is regime change. And in an assertion of this belief, Stevenson writes, These three significant confessions by senior Iranian officials, for the first time, simultaneously and in such a scale, clearly represent the final phase of this theocratic dictatorship.
2018 California Democrats State Convention Programming Announcement

Feb.23-25

The California Democratic Party annual convention will meet in San Diego on the weekend of February 23-25, 2018. Convention Delegates will decide CDP endorsements for U.S. Senate, Governor, state Constitutional offices and Legislative/Congressional candidates.

Delegates will also be adopting the Party Platform.

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California Democratic Party Annual Convention

San Diego Convention Center

111 W. Harbor Drive, San Diego 92101

Friday, February 23, 2018 to Sunday, February 25, 2018

For all Convention-related inquiries, unless otherwise noted, please contact Mike Roth at 916.813.1554 or [email protected]

General sessions of the convention will be streamed live on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/cadems/

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List of confirmed speakers:

U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris*

U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)*

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi*

Rep. Maxine Waters*

Tom Steyer*

Jon Lovett, co-founder of Crooked Media, host of Lovett or Leave it and co-host of Pod Save America

Mayor Eric Garcetti*

Rep. Barbara Lee

Rep. Ted Lieu

Rep. Ro Khanna

Rep. Zoe Lofgren

Rep. Nanette Barragan

Fmr. Sheriff Lupe Valdez, (D-Dallas County, Texas) and Candidate for Governor of Texas*

State Sen. Toni Atkins

State Sen. Holly Mitchell

State Sen. Josh Newman

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher

Assemblymember Dr. Shirley Weber

Assemblymember Todd Gloria

Assemblymember Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer, Sr.

Assemblymember Laura Friedman

Myrtle Cole, San Diego City Council President

Michael Tubbs, Mayor of Stockton

Lisa Middleton, Palm Springs City Council (first openly transgender City Council member in California)

Robert Garcia, Mayor of Long Beach

Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers

Teferi Gebre, Vice President, AFL-CIO

Roxanne Sanchez, President, SEIU California and SEIU Local 1021

Yvonne Walker, President, SEIU Local 1000

Art Pulaski, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, California Labor Federation

Doug Moore, AFSCME International Vice President, Executive Director, United Domestic Workers

David Dayen, Journalist

*Denotes Keynote Speaker

List of Candidates Speaking:

U.S. Senate (Saturday afternoon)

 Kevin de Leon

 Dianne Feinstein

 Pat Harris

Governor (Saturday afternoon)

 Gavin Newsom

 Antonio Villaraigosa

 John Chiang

 Delaine Eastin

Lieutenant Governor (Saturday afternoon)

 Jeff Bleich

 Ed Hernandez

 Eleni Kounalakis

NOTE: The Lt. Governor Candidates will be participating together in a candidates forum on stage, with Vice Chair Daraka Larimore-Hall moderating and asking questions submitted through social media and our mobile messaging service.

Secretary of State (Saturday Morning)

 Alex Padilla

 Ruben Major

Attorney General (Saturday Morning)

 Xavier Becerra

 Dave Jones

State Treasurer (Saturday morning)

 Fiona Ma

State Controller (Saturday Morning)

 Betty Yee

Superintendent of Public Instruction (Saturday Morning)

 Tony Thurmond

 Marshall Tuck

Insurance Commissioner

 Ricardo Lara

 Asif Mahmood

CDP Thematic Programming Blocks

CDP Chair Eric C. Bauman and the Statewide Officers have instituted a policy of devoting a portion of General Sessions at Executive Board meetings and Convention to Celebrating the core communities and values of our Party. For our General Sessions, we will be featuring the following Programs:

 Mobilizing Women to Run, Vote, Lead: featuring CDP Vice Chair Alexandra Alex Gallardo-Rooker, Senator Holly Mitchell, Assemblymember Laura Friedman, CDP Womens Caucus Chair Christine Pelosi, Planned Parenthood California CEO Crystal Strait, Emerge California Executive Director Maimuna Syed, and special guest musical performance.

 Celebrating Black Voters: featuring Assemblymember Dr. Shirley Weber, Assemblymember Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer, Sr., CDP African American Caucus Chair Darren Parker, California/Hawaii NAACP President Alice Huffman, SEIU Local 1000 President Yvonne Walker, and a special video.

 The Millennial Mindset: featuring CDP Secretary Jenny Bach, City of Walnut Councilmember Andrew Rodriguez, City of Lemoore Councilmember Holly Andrade-Blair, Legislative Staffer and former CSUF Student Body President Pedro Ramirez, Orange County Young Democrats Chair Danielle Serbin and featured speaker Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs.

 Labor & I am 2018: featuring American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, AFL-CIO Vice President Tefere Gebre, SEIU California and SEIU Local 1021 President Roxanne Sanchez, California Labor Federation Executive Secretary-Treasurer Art Pulaski, United Domestic Workers Executive Director Doug Moore, and a special video.

Luncheon and Dinner Programs

Our Luncheon Program will feature CDP Chair Eric C. Bauman, remarks by national politics and policy journalist David Dayen and Jon Lovett, co-founder of Crooked Media, host of Lovett or Leave it and co-host of Pod Save America.

Our Dinner Program, All Politics is Local will feature a line-up of Democrats serving in municipal offices discussing the innovative and progressive policies they have implemented. The program will be emceed by San Diego City Council President Myrtle Cole, and will feature Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, Garvey Unified Trustee Henry Lo, and Palm Springs City Councilmember Lisa Middleton, the first transgender person elected to a city council in California. Our featured speaker, Representative Barbara Lee, will close out the program by offering insights on the interplay between city government and the federal government.

The luncheon and dinner programs will also feature musical performances from the San Diego Womens Chorus and Duy & Justin Nguyen-Amigo.

PLEASE NOTE: Out of respect for our Delegates and Activists who purchase tickets to attend these events, the Luncheon and Dinner are closed to the press. However, subject to staff availability, we will make every effort to facilitate interview requests with speakers at these events.

Platform & Endorsement Process

General information on the CDP endorsement process can be found here. Specific questions about the endorsement process can be e-mailed to CDP Communications Director John Vigna, [email protected]

For information on the CDP platform, including the draft submitted by the Platform Committee, please click here.

The Platform and endorsement consent calendar (for Congressional, Senate and Assembly races) will be adopted on Sunday.

Endorsements for statewide candidates and Board of Equalization will take place on Saturday and will be conducted through paper ballots. The results are final  there is no appeal, and to win the endorsement, a candidate must receive 60 percent of the vote. Due to the record number of candidates seeking the CDP endorsement in statewide contests, we anticipate vote counting will not conclude until late in the evening on Saturday, but we will announce the results when they are confirmed.
Ethiopia Resignation Met With Worry, Anger And State Of Emergency

(GIN)  The Ethiopian government has given itself sweeping new powers  from restrictions on freedom of assembly and free expression to the deployment of combat-ready troops in civilian centers. The newly-imposed state of emergency is expected to last six months.

The harsh new limits on democratic expression may have blindsided those in the international community who were expecting an opening for reforms with the surprise resignation of Hailemariam Desalegn, prime minister.

Under Desalegn, government forces turned against the majority ethnic Oromo and Amhara peoples, killing hundreds during anti-government protests to demand wider political freedoms.

The Oromo and Amhara make up about 61 percent of the population and have been demonstrating since 2015 demanding greater political inclusion and an end to human rights abuses. The ruling EPRDF coalition controls all the seats in parliament.

Mulatu Gemechu, deputy secretary of the opposition Oromo Federalist Congress, said: Ethiopians need a government that respects their rights, not one that keeps beating and killing them.

Journalist and blogger Eskinder Nega was among the 746 prisoners just released as part of a government pardon. A newspaper editor, he was convicted in 2012 of publishing an article about the Arab Spring in which he asked whether a similar grassroots movement for democracy could take hold in Ethiopia. Convicted of providing support for terrorists, he was sentenced to 18 years behind bars.

Recalling his experience in Addis Ababas infamous Kality prison, Nega said grimly: Ethiopia is one large prison. I say this because there is no democracy in the country. This is a dictatorship. We have to change this prison into a democratic state.

As Americans marked Presidents Day on Feb. 19, Ethiopians marked Martyrs Memorial Day and the 81th anniversary of the brutal killing of Ethiopians by Benito Mussolinis troops during the second-italo war in 1937.

The war was a race by European colonial powers to expand their territories in Africa. The Italian Fascist army massacred over million Ethiopians in this invasion.

On Feb. 18, the Ethiopian Community Mutual Assistance Association of NY, NJ &CT in collaboration with Global Alliance for Justice for Ethiopians held a ceremonial event at the State Office Building in Harlem. There was a minute of silence and prayer for those who died on Yekatit 12 and for all Ethiopians who died during the invasion between 1935 -1941. Panelists were Professor Getatchew Haile and Dr. Habtamu Tegene. w/pix of Oromo protestors signaling with crossed hands above head

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Former Zimbabwe Leader to Receive State-Assisted Burial in Home Village of Buhera

(GIN)  The mortal remains of veteran opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai were returned to Zimbabwe from South Africa where he died last week of colon cancer at a Johannesburg hospital.

A memorial attended by thousands of Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporters all clad in red, the partys colors, thronged Robert Mugabe Square in Harare, prior to the late prime ministers departure for Buhera, his home village, where he will be interred.

A Mountain Has Fallen was the headline in the privately-owned daily The Daily News.

The nation has lost an icon. We have lost our father, Lilian Timveos, an MDC senator told the AFP French news service, while battling to hold back tears.

Tsvangirai, 65, founded the MDC in 1999. He was among the most prominent critics of Robert Mugabe, the long-time controversial leader who was ousted from power in November.

Zimbabwes new President Emmerson Mnangagwa praised his partys arch-rival as a strong trade unionist and opposition leader.

We remember him for his insistence on free, fair and peaceful elections which we must validate in the forthcoming elections in tribute to him and to our democracy, said Mnangagwa.

But barely hours after his demise, a fierce struggle for succession in the party ws underway, with his three deputies all seemingly at loggerheads and each attacking the other.

An editorial in the local NewsDay of Zimbabwe wrote: This is unnecessary and uncalled for, as it is tantamount to desecrating his legacy.

What the MDC-T need to do now is smoke the peace pipe, bury their leader first and then seek to address the succession question.

The paper scolded: MDC-T deputy presidents, Nelson Chamisa, Thokozani Khupe and Elias Mudzuri ought to see the bigger picture and realize there is a party and a country that needs leadership, that they cannot all be presidents of their organization and more importantly, that life needs to go on after Tsvangirais death.

Meanwhile, the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) has predicted violent elections this year after the former chief of staff for the National Army and national commissar of Zanu-PF, Engelbert Rugeje, recently warned that the country will slide into mayhem if people do not vote for the ruling party.

Elections are scheduled to take place in four to five months while former President Mugabe has kept a conspicuous silence over his long time rivals death.

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Obiang Revives Death Penalty in Bid to Save Unpopular Regime

(GIN)  Equatorial Guinea, under President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, is reviving the odious death penalty against 147 opposition activists accused of rebellion, attacks on authority and public disorder  a sign of deepening desperation under President Obiang.

The activists include leaders of Citizens for Innovation (CI), many of whom were rounded up after a purported coup plot discovered near the countrys border with Cameroon. Malabos security minister accused citizens of Chad, Sudan and the Central African Republic of taking part in the attempted putsch but his version of events could not be confirmed.

Activists said they were detained and tortured at Guantanamo  the name given to the central police station of the capital, Malabo.

CI charged: The prosecutor wants to hide or to silence the atrocities and the brutality of the crimes of torture we shall go to the international courts and the ICC (International Criminal Court) for crimes against humanity.

U.N. envoy Francois Louceny Fall is reportedly being dispatched next week to confirm the claims made by the regime.

President Obiang has ruled Equatorial Guinea for more than three decades, making him one of Africas longest-serving leaders. Rights groups label his administration as one of the worlds most corrupt.

According to the U.S. State Dept., in reports filed prior to the Trump administration, abuses by the Obiang regime have included: the limited ability of citizens to change their government; unlawful killings by security forces; government-sanctioned kidnappings; systematic torture of prisoners and detainees by security forces; arbitrary arrest and incommunicado detention.

Last year, President Obiang issued a temporary moratorium on capital punishment but according to the opposition Convergence for Social Democracy, some eight death row prisoners were secretly executed by firing squad.

The Obiang clan is also in the spotlight for a judgement against Teodorin Obiang, the vice-president and presidents son, who was accused in a French court of embezzling $180 million of public funds to finance his jet-set lifestyle.

Teodorin was tried in absentia and sentenced to a three-year suspended judgment for corruption. He was also given a suspended fine of $35 million for money laundering, corruption and abuse. His lawyer said he will take the case before the International Court of Justice in The Hague, the U.N.s top court, since, he claimed, Teodorin had immunity as a government official.

The suspended sentences mean that Obiang will only face jail or have to pay the fine if he is found to have re-offended in France. w/pix of Pres. Obiang

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Uruguay: Uruguays President Tabare Vazquez has announced a number of tax reductions for the agricultural sector, at a meeting between government authorities, rural associations, and agricultural producers at the headquarters of the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries. Although he was not scheduled to attend the meeting, Vazquez announced a series of support measures, including an 18% discount on Rural Land Contribution tax for owners of less than 1,000 hectares, and an extension of VAT refunds on diesel for livestock breeders. The livestock sector has suffered recently from a water deficit affecting much of north-western Uruguay, which may worsen in the coming winter months. Vazquez declared that these measures are displays of the governments desire to consider the situation and work with producers to move forward, adding his praise of the good working climate of the first meeting.
The head of Oxfam says the British aid group is investigating 26 new reports of sexual wrongdoing by its workers.

Mark Goldring spoke before Britains parliament Tuesday. He answered questions about the behavior of Oxfam workers on the Caribbean island of Haiti.

He said, I am sorry, we are sorry, for the damage Oxfam has done both to the people of Haiti but also to wider efforts for aid and development by possibly undermining public support.

Goldring said 26 cases have come forward. He said 16 of them were linked to the groups international programs. He also said Oxfam wants people to report abuse wherever and whenever it took place.

British lawmakers questioned Goldring about accusations against the Oxfam workers. They have been accused of paying Haitians for sex in 2011. Oxfam was involved in aid operations there following a hugely destructive earthquake on the island. At least 100,000 people were killed and even more displaced by the event.

Oxfam released a report on the issue on Monday. It said seven people were accused of paying for sex at a home provided by Oxfam. The report did not release the names of the accused. However, it said three of them had threatened a witness in the investigation.

Four staff members were dismissed for gross misconduct. The Oxfam director in Haiti, Roland Van Hauwermeiren, resigned along with two others.

Last week, Oxfam formally apologized to Haiti. The organization also announced a plan to fight sex abuse.

Oxfam said Friday it would set up an independent commission to study the groups methods and culture.

British lawmakers also questioned officials from Save the Children UK. They voiced concerns that sex criminals were targeting such aid organizations.

Oxfam says it plans to develop a new system for vetting possible workers.

The reports of sexual wrongdoing have caused Britain and the European Union to reconsider support for Oxfam.

Haitian President Jovenel Moise has called for investigations of other charitable organizations on the island.

Oxfam is among the worlds biggest aid organizations.

Im Mario Ritter.

Wayne Lee reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English with additional material from AP and Reuters. Caty Weaver was the editor.

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

undermine v. to make something weak or less effective in a hidden way

gross adj. very great, very large

misconduct n. bad behavior

vet v. to investigate someone to see if they can be approved for a job

charitable adj. related to charity, giving to the poor, sick or needy

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section and visit our Facebook page.
NC accuses Prez of violating constitution

The main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) has raised objection to President Bidya Devi Bhandaris role in recommending three names for nomination to National Assembly (NA).
Students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are pressuring state lawmakers in Florida to consider gun control laws. The move comes after 17 students and teachers were killed in last weeks shooting.

The students have organized a demonstration for Wednesday in the state capital of Tallahassee to put pressure on the Republican-controlled legislature.

I really think they are going to hear us out, said Chris Grady, a senior who plans to attend the demonstration. He said he hopes the trip will lead to some commonsense gun laws like rigorous background checks. Background checks are short investigations of people who seek to buy weapons.

Shortly after the shooting, several legislators visited the school to see the damage. They appeared shaken afterward.

Some Republican Party lawmakers said Monday that they would consider new gun laws. However, there is still strong resistance by many Republicans to any gun control measures.

Senator Bill Galvano is a Republican and the incoming Florida senate president. He said the Florida Senate was considering several measures, including raising the age to buy guns to 21. He also said it was considering a waiting period for gun purchases, creation of gun violence restraining orders, and banning bump stocks. These are devices that permit much quicker repeat firing of a rifle.

Officials said Nikolas Cruz, the 19-year-old suspect in last week shooting, had shown warning signs of psychological problems that could lead to violence. Last year, he legally purchased the semi-automatic rifle he used in last week's attack.

The Senate also is considering increasing spending for mental health programs in schools and giving police greater powers to detain someone considered a danger to themselves. The Senate will also look at a proposal to deputize a teacher or someone else at school to permit gun possession.

Still, some Republicans questioned whether additional gun restrictions are the answer.

Republican Senator Dennis Baxley said, I really dont want to see this politicized into a gun debate. He added, We have a terrible problem with obesity, but were not banning forks and spoons.

Democrats believe raising the age limit and creating a waiting period to buy rifles is not enough.

Democratic Senator Gary Farmer called such proposals a joke. He said, I dont see that as a restriction. It never should have been that an 18-year-old could buy an assault weapon. No Floridians should be able to buy an assault weapon.

U.S. federal law permits those 18 and over to buy rifles. Cruz passed the required investigations to buy the AR-15 he used in the attack as well as at least six other rifles.

Since the attack, students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School have become increasingly vocal about their demands for gun control measures.

Many are publicly naming the politicians who take financial support from the National Rifle Association. Some criticized President Donald Trump for blaming Democrats. The critics say Trump has taken no action.

Trump announced on Tuesday that he has directed the U.S. attorney general to create rules that would ban bump stocks.

The high school students are also calling for anti-gun violence demonstrations on March 24 in Washington, D.C. and other cities.

The Associated Press reported this story. Hai Do adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

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Words in This Story

rigorous - adj. very strict and demanding

fork and spoon - n. eating tools used to pick up food

vocal - adj. expressing opinions in a public and forceful way
Ziad Doueiri's film The Insult has been nominated to receive the Academy Award for best foreign language film.

The film explores the cultural, religious and political divides that have existed in Lebanon since 1948.

The story is rooted in a dispute between two men from different ethnic and religious backgrounds in Beirut, Lebanon.

Through the film, Doueiri shows a country he believes is broken because it has not dealt with its painful history.

"Beirut, Lebanon had a rough past," Doueiri said. "We had a lot of conflict with the Syrians, the Palestinians, the Lebanese, the Left, the Right, the Conservatives, the Liberals. The pro-West, the pro-East. Lebanon is such a tiny place, but it really absorbs all those kinds of things. He addes, "So, whenever you have that many conflicts and such a tiny place surrounded by so many countries we are on a hotbed of problems.

The Lebanese filmmaker said the effects of his countrys civil war can still be felt.

Things can get out of hand because since the end of the civil war the Lebanese never sat down with each other to say, 'ok the war is over, let's talk about it.' There is stability, but it can explode any time," he said.

The Insult brings to life Lebanons difficult political climate.

Two men in Beirut have a small dispute. As the disagreement sharpens, it comes to represent a much larger problem.

Tony is a Christian, who works as a car mechanic. Yasser is a Palestinian. He heads a building project.

A leaking pipe leaves Tony wet. Yasser fixes the pipe only to see Tony destroy it. He is angry that a Palestinian came so close to his property. Yasser becomes angry, too and insults Tony.

Tonys pregnant wife tells Tony to let it end there. But Tony ignores the advice and goes to Yassers employer. He demands that Yasser apologize and be fined for his behavior.

Like most Palestinian refugees who live in Lebanon, Yasser does not have a work permit. His boss pressures him to apologize or face dismissal.

When Yasser meets with Tony, their argument intensifies. This time it is Tony who insults Yasser. Yasser hits Tony and breaks some bones. Tony takes legal action.

Doueiri said the idea for his film came from personal experience.

"Just like the film starts, I was watering my plants. It's an old apartment so the water leaked and fell on one of the construction workers and he yelled because the water fell on him and we had a heated exchange of words and we ended up yelling at each other."

Doueiri said his argument was settled. Later, he said, he imagined what might happen if such a small incident was not settled. Could it develop into a national crisis in Lebanon, he wondered.

In The Insult, the two men take the dispute all the way up to the country's Supreme Court.

Doueiri said his latest film has caused mixed reactions in Lebanon.

"When the film came out, it split the country in a way because the Christian population flooded the movie and it became #1. But certain part, and I want just to be accurate, a certain part, a big part of the Muslim community boycotted the movie."

As a filmmaker, Doueiri has been at the center of controversy before. His earlier film, The Attack, was banned in 22 countries, including Lebanon, because he had shot it in Israel.

He said some Arab countries, including Jordan and the Palestinian territories, have also boycotted The Insult.

Doueiri said his film offers a balanced study between Christian Lebanese and Muslim Palestinians.

Im Caty Weaver.

Penelope Poulou wrote this story for VOA News. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor.

Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

background  n. the experiences, knowledge, education, etc., in a person's past

hotbed  n. a place where something grows or develops easily : a place where something happens very commonly

out of hand  expression uncontrolled; wild

stability  n. the quality or state of something that is not easily changed or likely to change

controversy  n. argument that involves many people who strongly disagree about something : strong disagreement about something among a large group of peopl

scene  n. a part of a play, movie, story, etc., in which a particular action or activity occurs
On a recent program, we told you the stories of English words borrowed from other languages. Today, we will tell you about words that English has taken from Chinese.

Many of the Chinese words that are now part of English were borrowed long ago. They are most often from Cantonese or other Chinese languages rather than Mandarin.

Lets start with kowtow.

kowtow

The English word kowtow is a verb that means to agree too easily to do what someone else wants you to do, or to obey someone with power in a way that seems weak.

It comes from the Cantonese word kau tau, which means knock your head. It refers to the act of kneeling and lowering ones head as a sign of respect to superiors  such as emperors, elders and leaders. In the case of emperors, the act required the person to touch their head to the ground.

In 1793, Britains King George III sent Lord George Macartney and other trade ambassadors to China to negotiate a trade agreement. The Chinese asked them to kowtow to the Qianlong Emperor. As the story goes, Lord Macartney refused for his delegation to do more than bend their knees. He said that was all they were required to do for their own king.

It is not surprising, then, that Macartney left China without negotiating the trade agreement.

After that, critics used the word kowtow when anyone was too submissive to China. Today, the usage has no connection to China, nor any specific political connection.

gung-ho

Another borrowed word that came about through contact between two nations is gung-ho.

In English, the word gung-ho is an adjective that means extremely excited about doing something. The Chinese characters "gong" and "he" together mean "work together, cooperate.

The original term -- gongye hezuoshe -- means Chinese Industrial Cooperatives. The organizations were established in the 1930s by Westerners in China to promote industrial and economic development.

Lt. Colonel Evans Carlson of the United States Marine Corps observed these cooperatives while he was in China. He was impressed, saying all the soldiers dedicated themselves to one idea and worked together to put that idea over.

He then began using the term gung-ho in the Marine Corps to try to create the same spirit he had witnessed. In 1942, he used the word as a training slogan for the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion during World War II. The men were often called the Gung Ho Battalion. From then, the word gung-ho spread as a slogan throughout the Marine Corps. Today, its meaning has no relation to the military.

typhoon

In English, a typhoon is a very powerful and destructive storm that occurs around the China Sea and in the South Pacific.

The word history of typhoon had a far less direct path to the English language than gung-ho. And not all historical accounts are the same.

But, according to the Merriam-Webster New Book of Word Histories, the first typhoons reported in the English language were in India and were called touffons or tufans.

The word tufan or al-tufan is Arabic and means violent storm or flood. The English came across this word in India and borrowed it as touffon.

Later, when English ships encountered violent storms in the China Sea, Englishmen learned the Cantonese word tai fung, which means great wind. The words similarity to touffon is only by chance.

The modern form of the word  typhoon  was influenced by the Cantonese but respelled to make it appear more Greek.

kumquat

A kumquat is a fruit that looks like a small orange. It is native to South Asia and the Asia-Pacific.

The word kumquat comes from the Cantonese word kam-kwat or gam-gwat, meaning golden orange. Gam means golden and gwat means citrus fruit or orange. The word also refers to the plant that carries this fruit.

In 1846, a collector for the London Horticultural Society introduced kumquats to Europe. Not long after, the fruit found its way to North America.

chow

Another food-related word from Chinese is chow. The English word chow is slang for food. American English speakers also use the phrasal verb chow down, which can mean to eat something quickly and without good manners.

It comes from the Cantonese verb chao, which means to stir-fry or to cook.

The American English usage of the word chow as food dates back to 1856 in California. Chinese laborers built the railroads in that state. Back then, the word mainly referred to Chinese food. Today it refers to all kinds of food.

ketchup

Most Americans would have a hard time believing that ketchup was not created right here in the U-S-A.

Ketchup is Americas most popular condiment. But, as VOA Learning English reported last year, the story of ketchup began more than 500 years ago in Southeast Asia.

The word ketchup most likely comes from the word ke-tsiap, from a Chinese dialect called Amoy. The word originally referred to a type of sauce made from mixing pickled fish with spices.

And, historians say, the sauce was probably first created in a Chinese community in northern Vietnam. Later, this sauce would reach Indonesia and be called kecap.

The word first met the English language in the late 17th century, when a British colony in Indonesia came into contact with this sauce.

Back in England, the English first used the word to refer to many types of sauces.

Later, English settlers brought ketchup with them to the American colonies, but the condiment did not contain tomatoes until the mid-19th century.

Join us again soon to learn the history of English words borrowed from other languages.

Im Pete Musto. And Im Alice Bryant.

Alice Bryant wrote this story for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

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Quiz

Now, test your understanding by taking this short quiz.

Quiz - Some Very American Words Come From Chinese Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

kneel  v. to be in a position in which both of your knees are on the floor

superior  n. a person of higher rank or status than another

submissive  adj. willing to obey someone else

original  adj. happening or existing first or at the beginning

promote  v. to help something happen, develop or increase

dedicate  v. to use time, money, energy or attention for something)

slogan  n. a word or phrase that is easy to remember and is used by a group or business to attract attention

horticultural  adj. related to the science of growing fruits, vegetables and flowers

pickled  adj. preserved with salt water or vinegar

condiment  n. something (such as salt, mustard, or ketchup) that is added to food to give it more flavor

sauce  n. a thick liquid that is eaten with or on food to add flavor to it
Wall Street analysts have given Enel Generacion Chile 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 Enel Generacion Chile wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys.

View MarketBeat's top stock picks here.
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Tesla builds 1st store on tribal land, dodges state car laws

NAMBE, N.M. (AP)  Carmaker Tesla has opened a store and repair shop on Native American land for the first time, marking a new approach to its yearslong fight to sell cars directly to consumers and cut car dealerships out of the process. The white-walled, silver-lettered Tesla store, which opened last week, sits in Nambe Pueblo, north of Santa Fe, on tribal land that's not subject to state laws.

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Nepal begins second Trade Policy Review

The government has started work on the Trade Policy Review (TPR), a mandatory component for members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), which it has to submit to the secretariat of the multilateral organisation by the end of 2018.
Brookfield Asset Management, Inc. engages in the management of public and private investment products and services for institutional and retail clients. It operates through the following segments: Asset Management, Real Estate, Renewable Power, Infrastructure, Private Equity, Residential Development, and Corporate Activities. The Asset Management segment includes the management of its listed partnerships, private funds and public securities. The Real Estate segment is comprised of the ownership, operation and development of core office, core retail, LP investments and other properties. The Renewable Power segment encompasses the ownership, operation and development of hydroelectric, wind, solar, storage and other power generating facilities. The Infrastructure segment consists of the ownership, operation and development of utilities, transport, energy, data infrastructure and sustainable resource assets. The Private Equity segment refers to the broad range of industries, and is mostly focused on business services, infrastructure services and industrials. The Residential Development segment represents homebuilding, condominium development and land development. The Corporate Activiti

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Protesters demanding probe into CJs citizenship arrested

Around a dozen protesters demanding investigation into the citizenship of Chief Justice Gopal Prasad Parajuli have been arrested from Kathmandu District Administration Office.
Kuwaits ruling emir has reportedly invited Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte to his country to resolve tensions after a Filipina maid was found dead in a freezer.

Thats according to a report yesterday by Kuwaits state-run KUNA news agency, which quoted Kuwaits Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled al-Jarallah announcing the proposed visit in March. Its unclear if Duterte has accepted the invitation from Kuwaits emir, the 88-year-old Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah.

Some 250,000 Filipino workers are in Kuwait. Many work as domestic help.

Dutertes government banned workers from going to Kuwait after the Filipinas body was found Feb. 6 in a Kuwait City apartment that had reportedly been abandoned for more than a year. Duterte has criticized Kuwait over other Filipino killings and abuse there.
Rape accused man on the run

Police is after a 27-year-old man from Dharan accused of raping a 22-year-old woman in a forest in Dhankuta district on February 10.
Several gaming operators have rented public buses to accommodate for the surge of Chinese New Year (CNY) tourists waiting for the casino shuttles at the border gate.

According to a report by Macao Daily News, public buses were spotted at the Border Gate working as casino shuttles to pick up passengers last Sunday, the third day of CNY.

The Transport Bureau (DSAT) revealed that due to the large number of tourists during the CNY holiday, gaming operators rented vehicles from the three Macau bus companies to ease the demanding crowds at the border gate. Three bus companies already reported the situation to DSAT.

According to DSAT, this is not the first year that gaming operators have resorted to such a measure, as last year they did the same. All payments were made by the gaming operators themselves, noted DSAT, without using public money.

DSAT will make an announcement regarding the number of public buses hired and the number of passengers picked up once the statistics have been collected.

During the CNY holiday, more tourists were seen queuing up at the border gate trying to get on a casino shuttle bus than a normal shuttle bus.

Casino employees working on the border gate shuttles, said that it sometimes would take two hours for tourists to get on a bus due to the large number of tourists.

The casino shuttles were also operating at a higher frequency on Sunday to speed up the process.
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 4-year-old male, and 3-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. 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.

China to impose annual fishing ban in Yellow River

China will ban fishing in the Yellow River, the second longest river in the country, between April 1 and June 30 each year starting from 2018, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. The fishing ban aims to protect aquatic organism resources and biodiversity as excessive fishing threatens fishery resources. It will cover the main stream, three major lakes, and 13 tributaries linked to the Yellow River, the ministry said in a statement. Fishing for scientific studies, taming and breeding purposes during the ban period should be approved by authorities of provincial or higher levels. China has already imposed a fishing ban along the Yangtze River, the longest river in the country. The annual ban, which runs from March 1 to June 30, covers the spawning season for most of the rivers aquatic life. It includes the entire river as well as key tributaries and lakes.

Adoption helps keep old buildings alive in Shanxi

Last March, Shanxi began allowing individuals to adopt old buildings that had fallen into disrepair, channeling private capital into the protection of antiquities. Most of the buildings up for adoption are not old enough to be eligible for government protection. Under the deal with the local authority, adopters have the right to use the building for 30 years after committing 1.2 million yuan (about USD180,000) to its renovation. Shanxi has more than 28,000 old buildings of historic value, the most among Chinas provincial-level localities. But only about 3 percent of them are covered by government protection grants, despite recent increases in funding. Nearly a year into the program, 34 old buildings have been adopted and 14 of them renovated.
Sands China welcomed the Year of the Dog with traditional cultural ceremonies at its properties on Saturday, with company executives participating in the annual tradition.

The gaming operator held worship rituals, eye-dotting ceremonies, and traditional lion and dragon dance performances at Sands Macao, The Venetian Macao, Sands Cotai Central and The Parisian Macao on the second day of the Lunar New Year to attract good luck and blessings to the properties and the region.

Sands China said in a statement that company executives will celebrate the New Year with team members later next week at back-of-house events at the four properties, featuring games, lucky draws and roast pig carving ceremonies.

Leading up to the Lunar New Year, team members were invited to participate in two activities for a chance to win gifts and prizes, one of which was a design competition that called for team members to submit creative designs for festive Chinese New Year banners.

Wynn macau lights a total of 800,000 firecrackers



Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace Cotai celebrated the arrival of the Year of the Dog with a series of festive activities, beginning with the dragon and lion dance and continuing with the lighting of 800,000 firecrackers at the resort on the third day and fourth day of the Lunar New Year.

Ian Michael Coughlan, president of Wynn Macau, led the management team in officiating the lion eye-dotting ceremony, which symbolizes good luck and fortune for the coming year, according to a statement from the gaming operator.

Wynn has commissioned local illustrator Un Chi Wai to design Chinese New Year greeting cards for the God of Fortune to hand out during the festive period, as well as in-room postcard sets as souvenirs for guests at Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace Cotai this year.

Uns illustration this year conveys a theme of festive gourmet and family reunion, demonstrating the rich tradition of how locals celebrate the Chinese New Year.
The Soviets have opened a new phase in space exploration with the launch of the worlds biggest space station, Mir.

The successful launch of Mir comes just over three weeks after the American space shuttle Challenger disaster, in which seven astronauts died.

At next weeks Communist Party congress in Moscow the Mir project is likely to be hailed as proof that the Soviets are leading the peaceful exploration of space.

Mir, which means both peace and world in Russian, is intended to provide a base for a permanently manned complex orbiting the Earth.

It succeeds the Soviet Salyut models, the last of which, Salyut 7, was launched in April 1982 and is still in orbit.

The Americans also had a space station, Skylab, which suffered damage on its initial launch and eventually proved too costly to maintain and fell back to Earth in 1979.

Soviet officials say their new craft represents the transition from research to large-scale production activities in space.

The station has six docking stations, which means other modules or laboratories can be added to it, expanding its size and capability.

The deputy head of the Soviet cosmonaut training centre, Alexei Leonov, said it would only be possible to determine how long Mir would remain in orbit after it had completed its first flight. He said the cosmonauts, now taking part in a special training programme, would have separate cabins with windows and even individual desks and armchairs. Mr Leonov explained that Salyut 7 was too small for the plans now being implemented by Soviet experts.

It has only two docking stations and can support a crew of only three, whereas Mir can carry between six and ten people. The main work of the first cosmonauts on board Mir will be to continue with the experiments in materials processing, begun on Salyut 6 and 7.

Other activities will include observation of the Earth using high-powered cameras, as well as helping locate mineral deposits on Earth and monitor the seas for trawlers.

Courtesy BBC News

In context

The first crew arrived on board Mir on 15 March 1986 and it remained more or less continuously occupied until November 2000. Crew member Valeri Polyakov stayed up a record 439 days. The end of the Cold War marked a new era of space co-operation.

In September 1993 US Vice-President Al Gore and Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin announced plans for a new space station, which would later be called the International Space Station, or ISS. In preparation for this new project, the US became more closely involved with Mir.

From March 1995 seven US astronauts consecutively spent 28 months on Mir, during which time the spacecraft suffered a number of emergencies included a large fire on 23 February 1997 and a collision with an unmanned cargo ship on 25 June 1997. Mounting costs contributed to the decision to bring down Mir.

While Mir contributed little in the way of scientific advances, it did allow scientists to learn more about how astronauts can survive in space for long periods of time.

Mir remained in space until 23 March 2001, during which time it orbited the Earth more than 86,000 times.

It re-entered the Earths atmosphere near Nadi, Fiji, and what remained of the 135-tonne craft fell into the South Pacific Ocean.
The third season of the documentary A Bite of China, which depicts Chinese culture via food, will air every night starting yesterday.

For some foreigners who love Chinese food, however, watching a documentary or tasting Chinese food is not enough; they also want to learn to cook Chinese cuisine.

Dumplings are my favorite Chinese food, and Im so happy that I learnt the secret to making dumplings ahead of my first Spring Festival in China, said Deandri Botha, who came to Beijing from South Africa 10 months ago.

She joined a dumpling- making party last week at The Hutong, a cultural hub for foreigners and locals alike to experience Chinese culture in a courtyard at one of Beijings hutongs, or traditional alleys.

Holding the Chinese New Year Dumpling Making Party is an annual tradition for The Hutong and this year it was attended by over 50 foreigners.

This is my second time here, and my husband and our two sons came along to enjoy holiday fun, said Lawrence Coradini from France who works as a teacher at an international school in Beijing.

The Hutong, founded by two Australians in 2007, offers workshops on tea appreciation, traditional Chinese medicine, and cuisines from across China.

Mark Thirlwall discovered the courtyard while working as a tour guide 11 years ago, and decided to rent it with his friend Stacey Shine to organize educational and cultural events.

Shine and Thirlwall knew well that many of those who visit China are interested in taking back more than just pictures of the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, said Chen Yuxian, manager of The Hutong.

The Hutong provides various cooking classes from hand-pulled noodles and steamed buns to homemade tofu on a daily basis.

It has over 30 staff, half of whom are from outside China, said Chen.

I decided to work at The Hutong after I studied Yunnan cuisine here five years ago, said Marissa Kennedy, who worked with the Peking University Press when she first came to China from the United States in 2007.

According to the 2016-2017 China National Image Global Survey released last month, foreigners believe Chinese cuisine is the factor that best represents Chinese culture.

The survey interviewed people from 22 countries, with 500 respondents from each country.

Among the 11,000 people surveyed, 52 percent picked Chinese cuisine as representative of Chinese culture, with almost 80 percent saying they had tried it, 72 percent of whom spoke highly of it.

I planned to stay in China for one year, but this year marks my fifth year in China, said Mona Potter from Ireland.

She came to the event with her husband, two-month-old daughter, and her parents-in-law. MDT/Xinhua
Indonesia will hold roadshows in the U.S. and Europe later this month to lure investments from the worlds top energy companies as the former OPEC member seeks to reverse a decline in oil and gas production.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry is seeking bids for 24 oil and gas blocks, 1 coal-bed methane block and 1 shale block, it said in statement yesterday. The government expects to get investors for at least half of the offered blocks, Deputy Minister Arcandra Tahar said, adding that the next round of offers may be in six months.

The areas being offered will include onshore and offshore assets and those not sold in tenders in the past three years, Tahar had said in an interview in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Indonesia is trying to lure billions of dollars of investments into its oil industry to reduce dependence on imports as production slumps from its aging fields. The path has not been easy. The country, once a major crude oil shipper in Asia, only managed to sell five blocks out of 10 offered in a tender last year. The government is targeting industrys big boys such as Chevron Corp., BP Plc and Exxon Mobil Corp., said Tahar, an oil and gas professional who lived in the U.S. for 20 years.

Tahar and ministry officials plan to meet oil company executives within a week after the auction announcement. Their first stop will be Houston, followed by Paris and Singapore.

We will try to show them we have a new policy, a new fiscal regime, thats going to be much better than the previous one, Tahar said in the interview. If you come and invest, the process will be simple and transparent. The message need to be conveyed clearly and loudly.

The former member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries has switched to a so-called gross-split scheme for explorers from a production-sharing contract. The new regulation provides more certainty, flexibility and transparency for oil investors, Tahar said. His ministry has scrapped more than 50 regulations related to employment to refinery permits this year as it targets $200 billion in new investments over the next decade.

With gross split, there is a certainty that you yourself count the split, Tahar said. If you are in early production, we are going to give better incentives, and phasing out over the cumulative production. Explorers will get greater incentives if crude price is low and it will be reduced when prices move higher, he said.

Chevron, the second-biggest U.S. oil explorer, which has been operating in Indonesia for more than 90 years, is the countrys largest producer of crude oil, delivering approximately 40 percent of the national production from its operations in Sumatra and Kalimantan, according to its website. Exxon runs the Cepu block in Java.

Investors can access bidding documents from Feb. 19 to March 27 for direct offers, and until June 7 for regular tenders, the ministry said in yesterdays statement. The submission deadline for direct offers is April 4, and on June 19 for regular tenders, it said. Bloomberg
Iranian search and rescue teams yesterday reached the site of a plane crash the previous day that authorities say killed all 65 people on board, Irans Press TV reported.

The Aseman Airlines ATR-72, a twin-engine turboprop used for short-distance regional flying, went down on Sunday in foggy weather, crashing into Mount Dena in southern Iran.

The airliner said all on board Flight EP3704 were killed, including six crew members.

The crash of the aircraft, brought back into service only months ago after being grounded for seven years, was yet another fatal aviation disaster for Iran, which for years was barred from buying necessary airplane parts due to Western sanctions over its contested nuclear program, forcing Iranians to fly in aging aircraft.

Press TV said search teams reached the crash site before dawn yesterday. The station said the weather had improved though it was still windy.

The TV broadcast footage of a helicopter joining the search and showed ambulances and rescue vehicles preparing to reach the site on Mount Dena, which is about 4,400 meters tall.

Other Iranian news outlets and officials did not confirm that the crash site had been reached. State radio said five helicopters and five drones are active in the search operation. The site is reportedly at a height of 3,500 meters.

Following the landmark 2015 nuclear accord with world powers that lifted international sanctions on Tehran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear enrichment program, Iran is allowed to purchase airplanes and airplane parts and has made deals worth tens of billions of dollars for new aircraft.

However, President Donald Trumps refusal to recertify the deal has injected uncertainty into those sales.

The ATR-72 went down near its destination of the southern city of Yasuj, some 780 kilometers south of the capital, Tehran, from where it took off.

It wasnt immediately clear what caused the crash, although weather was severe. Dense fog, high winds and heavy snow in the Zagros Mountains made it impossible for rescue crews in helicopters to reach the site in the immediate aftermath, state television reported.

Aseman Airlines spokesman Mohammad Taghi Tabatabai told state TV that all on board Flight EP3704 were killed. The plane had 59 passengers and six crew members, the state-run IRNA news agency reported late Sunday, lowering the initially reported death toll of 66. Nasser Karimi, Tehran, AP
Police in western Germany have freed two men who became entangled with a mannequin and a large, remote controlled car.

Officers were called after cries were heard from an apartment in the city of Mainz in the early hours of Saturday.

Police found the 58-year-old tenant and a 61-year-old visitor hopelessly locked together with the toy car and the mannequin  which was dressed in a knights costume.

Officers were able to free the men, who were too drunk to explain how their unfortunate predicament had come about.

According to a police statement, the whole thing would have remained a funny episode but the younger man was more than impolite and now faces a charge of insulting officers.
The risks of a miscalculation and armed conflict have risen in the disputed South China Sea with a militarily stronger China now able to challenge the United States, which used to be the dominant power in the strategic waterway, the Philippine envoy to Beijing said yesterday.

Ambassador Chito Sta. Romana said the balance of power was shifting with the two global powers vying for control of the waters, adding the Philippines should not get entangled in the increasingly tense maritime rivalry.

China claims virtually the entire South China Sea, where the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also have overlapping claims, and it has built seven mostly submerged reefs into islands that reportedly could be used as forward air naval bases and have been installed with a missile defense system.

The U.S. Navy has sailed warships on freedom of navigation operations near the artificial islands, actions China has protested as U.S. intervention in an Asian conflict.

Whereas before the South China Sea was dominated by the U.S. 7th Fleet, now the Chinese navy is starting to challenge the dominance, Sto. Romana told a news forum in Manila. I think we will see a shift in the balance of power.

It is not the case, that the South China Sea is now a Chinese lake, not at all, Sto. Romana said. Look at the U.S. aircraft carrier, its still going through the South China Sea, he added, referring to the USS Carl Vinson that recently patrolled the disputed waters and is currently on a visit to the Philippines.

He compared the two powers to elephants fighting and trampling on the grass and said: What we dont want is for us to be the grass.

Philippine President Rodrigo Dutertes policy of befriending China has worked, Sto. Romana said, citing Beijings decision to lift its blockade around the Philippine-occupied Second Thomas Shoal, where the Philippine military could now freely send new supplies to Filipino marines guarding the disputed area.

China has also allowed Filipino fishermen into another disputed area, the Scarborough Shoal, after Duterte visited Beijing and raised the issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Xi reportedly told Duterte: Give me a few days, Ill take care of this, Sto. Romana quoted Duterte as saying about the meeting with his Chinese counterpart a few months after he won the Philippine presidency in 2016.

China took control of the uninhabited atoll off the northwestern Philipppines after a tense standoff in 2012.

In January, China accused the U.S. of trespassing when the guided missile destroyer USS Hopper sailed near Scarborough.

President Donald Trumps administration has outlined a security strategy that emphasized countering Chinas rise and reinforcing the U.S. presence in the Indo-Pacific region, where Beijing and Washington have accused each other of stoking a dangerous military buildup and fought for wider influence.

Washington has no claim in the South China Sea but has declared a peaceful resolution and freedom of navigation are in its national interest.

U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Tim Hawkins told The Associated Press on board the USS Carl Vinson on Saturday that the Navy has carried out routine patrols at sea and in the air in the region for 70 years to promote security and guarantee the unimpeded flow of trade and would continue to do so.

International law allows us to operate here, allows us to fly here, allows us to train here, allows us to sail here, and thats what were doing and were going to continue to do that, Hawkins said on the flight deck of the 95,000-ton warship brimming with F18 fighter jets and other combat aircraft. AP
Former Associated Press photographer Max Desfor, whose photo of hundreds of Korean War refugees crawling across a damaged bridge in 1950 helped win him a Pulitzer Prize, died Monday. He was 104.

Desfor died at his apartment in Silver Spring, Maryland, where hed been living in his retirement, said his son, Barry.

Desfor volunteered to cover the Korean War for the news service when the North invaded the South in June 1950. He parachuted into North Korea with U.S troops and retreated with them after forces from the North, joined by the Chinese, pushed south.

He was in a Jeep near the North Korean capital of Pyongyang when he spotted a bridge that had been hit by bombing along the Taedong River. Thousands of refugees were lined up on the north bank waiting their turn to cross the river.

We came across this incredible sight, he recalled in 1997 for an AP oral history. All of these people who are literally crawling through these broken-down girders of the bridge. They were in and out of it, on top, underneath, and just barely escaping the freezing water.

Desfor climbed a 50-foot- high section of the bridge to photograph the refugees as they fled for their lives.

My hands got so cold I could barely trip the shutter on my camera, he remembered. I couldnt even finish a full pack of film. It was just that cold.

The Pulitzer jury in 1951 determined that Desfors photos from Korea the previous year had all the qualities which make for distinguished news photography  imagination, disregard for personal safety, perception of human interest and the ability to make the camera tell the whole story. The Pulitzer board honored his overall coverage of the war, based on a portfolio of more than 50 photos, and cited the Taedong River bridge shot in particular.

A native of New York, Desfor was born in the Bronx on Nov. 8, 1913, and attended Brooklyn College. He joined the AP in 1933 as a messenger. After teaching himself the basics of photography and moonlighting as a baby photographer, he began shooting occasional assignments for the AP. He became a staff photographer in the Baltimore bureau in 1938 and moved to the Washington bureau a year later.

During World War II, Desfor photographed the crew of the Enola Gay after the B-29 landed in Saipan from its mission to drop an atomic bomb on Hiroshima in August 1945. He was with the first wave of Marines at Tokyo Bay shortly after Japans surrender that month and photographed the official surrender ceremony aboard the USS Missouri on Sept. 2, 1945.

Desfor worked for the AP in the Philippines and in India, where he photographed Mahatma Gandhi and later covered the assassinated leaders funeral in 1948. He also worked in the APs Rome bureau and was set to return to the U.S. when war broke out in Korea.

After the war Desfor served as supervising editor of Wide World Photos, the APs photo service, and returned to Asia in 1968 as photo chief for the region. He retired from the AP in 1978, then joined U.S. News & World Report as photo director.

Desfor and his wife, Clara, raised a son, Barry, of Wauconda, Illinois. She died in 2004.

In January 2012, when he was 98, Desfor and his longtime companion, Shirley Belasco, surprised guests at a party celebrating her 90th birthday by marrying in front of their guests. They had been friends since the 1980s when the Desfors and Ms. Belasco lived in the same Silver Springs apartment building and became a couple a few years after his wifes death.

A photo Desfor took during his long career that had particular meaning to him also came from the Korean War. Walking near a field he spotted two hands, blue from cold, sticking up in the snow and photographed them. The hands, which had been bound, belonged to one of several civilians taken prisoner and executed, their bodies left to be covered by snowfall.

I labeled that picture, later on, Futility, because its always been  Ive always felt that its the civilians caught in the crossfire, the civilians, the innocent civilians, how futile it is for war, he said for the oral history. That epitomized it to me. Douglass K. Daniel, Washington, AP
TIA to add 4 parking bays

Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) is planning to bring four new aircraft parking bays into operation in the next six months to manage air traffic congestion at the countrys only international airport.
Qian Yongqiang, who made his fortune in Chinese education and tech startups, is starting a USD100 million hedge fund with his own money.

Singapore-based QQQ Capital Fund will start trading in April, Head of Operations Ye Yichen said in an interview. The long-short fund will trade education, tourism and technology stocks and is targeting an annual return of 15 percent, according to a presentation obtained by Bloomberg. The firm will use fundamental research and have a concentrated portfolio of bets on up to 30 stocks listed in Hong Kong and the U.S.

Qian has seeded the fund with $100 million of his own shares. Among his long positions are Elon Musks Tesla Inc., according to the presentation. The shares were bought in February 2016 at an average price of $160 and have since more than doubled.

A short bet on U.S. airline United Continental Holdings Inc. has also paid off, with the shares declining about 12 percent since the fund initiated the position in May.

Qian co-founded Chinese tutoring company New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. at the age of 21 in 1993, according to the presentation. The firm, which started with 20 students, listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2006, and now boasts a market capitalization of $14.7 billion.

In 2004, he started mobile phone company Atop Century, which was acquired two years later by U.K. mobile content company Monstermob Group Plc for $100 million. In 2005, he invested about 2 million yuan ($316,000) in Chinese online-dating company Jiayuan.com International Ltd., which was listed in the U.S. in 2011 and taken private in May 2016 at a valuation of $210 million, according to the presentation. Bloomberg
FAO Schwarz, whose famous New York store closed more than two years ago, is setting its sights on China as part of an expansion begun late last year.

The toy retailer said Thursday it will open locations in Beijing and Shanghai this year through a collaboration with Chinas largest toy distributor, Kidsland. Kidsland will also open 30 smaller FAO Schwarz stores and shops in 200 department stores across China over the next five years.

FAO Schwarz also signed an agreement with Hudson Group, one of the largest travel retailers in North America, to open a chain of FAO Schwarz-branded airport shops in the U.S. and Canada. The first will open later this year.

Last year, FAO Schwartz said it would open nearly 190 shops opened this week inside department stores run by Bon-Ton Stores Inc., with more than half of them having a nearly 6-foot-long piano mat so shoppers could play a tune with their feet like Tom Hanks in the 1988 movie Big. But Bon-Ton has since filed for bankruptcy protection and is closing stores.

FAO Schwarz also plans to open a new 20,000-square-foot store in New Yorks Rockefeller Plaza in time for the holiday 2018 season.

The expanded moves could hurt Toys R Us, which used to own FAO Schwarz. Toys R Us filed for bankruptcy reorganization last year and is closing 180 stores, or about one-fifth of its store count. AP
Uber Technologies Inc. isnt ready to give up the world.

Dara Khosrowshahi, in his first trip to Asia since becoming chief executive officer, made it clear that the ride-hailing company isnt about to scale back its business to just countries where it already has a strong market position. During his first stop in Japan, he said hes willing to forge partnerships with taxi companies in order to succeed, even though Uber has less 1 percent market share and only offers limited services there.

I saw Japan as an incredible opportunity, and when I asked the team why wasnt our Japan business larger, I started learning the history of our approach to Japan, and it was an approach that frankly didnt work, Khosrowshahi said in Tokyo. Its clear to me that we need to come in with partnership in mind, and in particular a partnership with the taxi industry here.

Its the clearest sign yet that ride-

hailing giant will redouble efforts to take a piece of Japans USD16 billion taxi market, even amid signs of pressure from its biggest shareholder, SoftBank Group Corp., to focus on core markets. Amid heavy operating losses, Uber has retreated from some markets, including China and Russia. Its also said to be considering a sale of its Southeast Asian business. After Japan, Khosrowshahi is scheduled to visit India, where Uber is competing against local ride-hailing startup Ola.

Last month, Rajeev Misra, a SoftBank executive joining Ubers board, suggested in an interview with the Financial Times that Uber focus on core markets such as the U.S., Europe, Latin America and Australia. Khosrowshahi pushed back against that notion in an interview he gave at Davos, saying the company would be leaning forward to expand. Moreover, Uber is aiming to hold an initial public offering as soon as next year, making it even more important for the CEO to highlight potential areas of future growth.

While Khosrowshahi didnt announce any specific deals during his visit to Japan, he made clear that Uber would make a renewed push to expand in the country. Although Uber has clashed with taxi rivals and regulators around the world, it has played by the rules in the archipelago, relegating its business to car hires and a ride-sharing program for the elderly in a small rural town.

Uber still faces an uphill battle in Japan. Local rivals such as Nihon Kotsu Co., Tokyos largest cab company, have already released popular taxi-hailing apps. Ubers Chinese rival Didi Chuxing last year began partnership talks with taxi operator Daiichi Koutsu Sangyo Co., with the discussions facilitated by SoftBank, a person familiar with the matter told Bloomberg in October. Uber is also said to be in talks for a venture with Daiichi Koutsu.

And yesterday, just an hour before Khosrowshahi spoke, Sony Corp. unveiled an alliance with six taxi operators in Japan, which have a combined fleet of more than 10,000 cabs in the greater Tokyo area. Sony is aiming to develop a ride-hailing app powered by artificial intelligence and also provide payment services.

Read about the Taxi Prince fighting Uber in Japan

Ubers CEO said Japans taxi utilization rate is 30 percent, while Ubers is more than 50 percent. By combining Ubers brand, technology, along with demand from tourists and partnerships with the taxi industry, he said the result would be a win-win for Uber and the taxi industry.

Khosrowshahis enthusiasm echoes comments from Ubers Asia head Brooks Entwistle, who told Bloomberg this year that Japan will be a major focus for the company in 2018. Thats a turnaround from previous boss Travis Kalanick who largely left the country in the hands of a local manager.

Asked about SoftBank, which in January became Ubers biggest investor, Khosrowshahi said the Japanese telecoms and investment company is simply the smartest money in the transportation space.

They have invested in many other ride-hailing and ride-sharing companies around the world, which has allowed them to be incredibly smart about what it takes to succeed, he said. Were very early in our relationship, but were already having very good dialog, both about the Japanese market and the ecosystem that SoftBank has created.

Khosrowshahi said he wasnt bothered by SoftBanks announcement this month that its partnering with Didi to target ride- hailing in Japan. If youre going to do business with SoftBank, you have to get used to the way that they do business with your competition, he said. And thats OK. Yuji Nakamura, Bloomberg
U.S. forces are undeterred by Chinas military buildup on man-made islands in the South China Sea and will continue patrolling the strategic, disputed waters wherever international law allows us, said a Navy officer aboard a mammoth U.S. aircraft carrier brimming with F-18 fighter jets.

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 in the air in the region for 70 years to promote security and guarantee the unimpeded flow of trade thats crucial for Asian and U.S. economies.

International law allows us to operate here, allows us to fly here, allows us to train here, allows us to sail here, and thats what were doing and were going to continue to do that, Hawkins said Saturday on the flight deck of the 95,000-ton warship, which anchored at Manila Bay while on a visit to the Philippines.

When President Donald Trump came to power, Southeast Asian officials were uncertain how deep the U.S. would get involved in the overlapping territorial claims involving China and its Southeast Asian neighbors. Trumps predecessor, Barack Obama, was a vocal critic of Chinas increasingly aggressive actions, including the construction of seven man-made islands equipped with troops, hangers, radar and missile stations and three long runways.

China claims the South China Sea almost in its entirety and has challenged the U.S. naval supremacy in the western Pacific.

Were committed, Hawkins told reporters. Were here.

The Trump administration has outlined a new security strategy that emphasized countering Chinas rise and reinforcing the U.S. presence in the Indo-Pacific region, where Beijing and Washington have accused each other of stoking a dangerous military buildup and fought for wider influence.

Washington stakes no claims in the disputes but has declared that their peaceful resolution and the maintenance of freedom of navigation are in its national interest. U.S. officials have said American warships will continue sailing close to Chinese-occupied features without prior notice, placing Washington in a continuing collision course with Chinas interests.

In January, China accused the U.S. of trespassing when the U.S. guided missile destroyer USS Hopper sailed near the Chinese-guarded Scarborough Shoal, which Beijing wrestled from the Philippines in 2012, despite its proximity to the main northern island of Luzon. After voicing a strong protest, China said it would take necessary measures to protect its sovereignty.

The nuclear-powered Carl Vinson patrolled the sea prior to its Manila visit but did not conduct a freedom of navigation operation, Hawkins said. Thats not to say that we wont or we cant, but we have not, up to this point, he said.

There are reports that the Carl Vinson will also make a port call in Danang in Vietnam  another critical rival of Chinas ambitions in the South China Sea  as the first American aircraft carrier since the Vietnam War ended in 1975, but Hawkins declined to provide details of future trips.

China has also opposed the Philippine militarys deployment of a Japanese-donated Beechcraft King Air patrol plane in late January to Scarborough, a Philippine official said on condition of anonymity because of a lack of authority to discuss the issue publicly. Chinese officials have relayed their objection to their Philippine counterparts, the official said.

China and Japan have their own territorial rifts in the East China Sea.

There was no immediate comment from Philippine military officials about Chinas opposition to the surveillance flights at Scarborough.

U.S. and Chinese officials have said they have no intention of going to war in the disputed sea, but their governments have projected their firepower and clout in a delicate play of gunboat diplomacy and deterrence.

Were prepared to conduct a spectrum of operations, whether thats providing humanitarian assistance, disaster relief in the time of an emergency, or whether we have to conduct operations that require us to send strike fighters ashore, Hawkins said. We dont have to use that spectrum, but were ready to, in case we need to.

The U.S. Navy invited journalists Saturday on board the 35-year-old Carl Vinson, which was packed with 72 aircraft, including F-18 Hornets, 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 countrys treaty ally to continue while reviving once-frosty ties with China in a bid to bolster trade and gain infrastructure funds.

China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei have long contested ownership of the South China Sea, where a bulk of the trade and oil that fuel Asias bullish economies passes through. Jim Gomez, Philippines, AP
INDONESIA The eruption of Indonesias Mount Sinabung that shot ash 5 kilometers high also blew away much of the mountains summit. Before and after images from Indonesias Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation show an enormous chunk missing from the peak, which it called completely annihilated.

THAILAND A court yesterday granted legal custody of 13 babies carried by surrogate mothers to a secretive Japanese millionaire who is their biological father, reviving a bizarre tale that captured tabloid headlines four years ago, but leaving some basic questions unanswered.

PHILIPPINES Islamic State group-linked militants planned but failed to attack another southern Philippine city shortly after troops crushed their siege of Marawi last year, the leader of the countrys largest Muslim rebel group said yesterday.

MYANMAR Rights groups are urging authorities in Myanmar to investigate and release information about two ethnic Kachin civilians believed to be held by soldiers in the countrys north, where fighting has raged between government forces and armed Kachin rebels.

INDIAs federal investigating agency said yesterday it has arrested six people in an alleged USD1.8 billion bank fraud case that continued for six years.

TURKEY-SYRIA Pro-government Syrian fighters begin entering Kurdish enclave of Afrin despite threats from Turkey saying it would hit back at the troops if their goal is to protect the Kurdish fighters.

EGYPT A court yesterday added a detained Islamist politician to a list of wanted terrorists over his alleged links to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group.

SERBIA Eight foreign citizens, including two Americans and two Ukrainians, have been arrested in Serbia on suspicion that they tried to photograph and enter military facilities without authorization, officials said.

GERMANY Members of Germanys center-left Social Democratic Party have started voting on whether to accept the coalition agreement negotiated by their leaders with Chancellor Angela Merkels conservative bloc on forming a new government.

BRAZIL Leaders said that the use of the military to combat rising violence in Rio de Janeiro could serve as a model for other violent areas of Brazil. The armed forces officially took over Rios police on Friday under a decree signed by President Michel Temer.

VENEZUELA has become the first country to launch its own version of bitcoin, a move it hopes will provide a much-needed boost to its credit-stricken economy.
A termination agreement released Friday between embattled casino mogul Steve Wynn and the company bearing his name leaves him without any severance or compensation and prohibits his involvement in any competing gambling business for two years.

The Las Vegas billionaire resigned as chairman and CEO of Wynn Resorts this month amid sexual misconduct allegations. Matt Maddox, a long-time Wynn lieutenant was appointed chief executive officer in his place.

As part of the agreement, Steve Wynn also agreed to cooperate with any investigation or lawsuits involving his time with the company, which experts have said are likely to keep mounting.

Wynn has vehemently denied the misconduct accusations and attributed them to a campaign led by his ex-wife. The allegations surfaced last month, when the Wall Street Journal reported that a number of women said Wynn harassed or assaulted them and that one case led to a USD7.5 million settlement.

An attorney for Elaine Wynn has denied that she instigated the news report.

Wynn is facing scrutiny by gambling regulators in Nevada and Massachusetts, where the company is building a roughly $2.4 billion casino just outside Boston. Regulators in Macau are also inquiring about the accusations.

In addition, groups of stockholders have filed three lawsuits in state court in Las Vegas in the wake of the scandal. The groups, including Pennsylvania-based Operating Engineers Construction Industry and Miscellaneous Pension Fund, have accused Wynn and the companys board of directors of breaching their fiduciary duties.

The lawsuit filed Thursday by the pension fund of the operating engineers argues that the companys unwaveringly loyal board turned a blind eye to reports of sexual harassment and coercion. The shareholders claim that the board through its action and inaction allowed Wynn to repeatedly coerce his female employees in sexual conduct.

Wynn Resorts has created a committee to investigate the allegations. On Monday, the group announced it was expanding its scope to review the companys internal policies and procedures to ensure a safe and respectful workplace for all employees.

The termination agreement also stipulates that Wynns lease of his private residence at one of his luxury casino-resorts on the Las Vegas Strip will end no later than June 1. He will have to continue to pay rent at fair market value until the end of the lease. His health care coverage will end Dec. 31 and the administrative support he receives will terminate May 31.

Wynn remains the largest shareholder of the company. The agreement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission Thursday states that in the event that he is permitted to and elects to sell any shares he owns, the company has agreed to enter into a so-called separation of rights agreement with Wynn to list the shares publicly.

That agreement would restrict him to selling no more than one-third of the shares in the company in a given quarter. Wynn would have to reimburse the company for expenses.

Joe Schmitt, an employment attorney with Minneapolis-based firm Nilan Johnson Lewis, said the termination agreement is very unusual because it does not include severance pay, its benefits like health care are quite limited, and it creates ongoing obligations for the billionaire to the company. He said a reason for the restrictive agreement is that the company probably foresees more lawsuits.

I would be surprised if we didnt see more lawsuits in the weeks to come, Schmitt said. MDT/Agencies

Company moving to cut ties to its founder

The filing shows Wynn Resorts is moving to cut ties to its founder, whose name remains on its properties and whose voice still welcomes callers seeking reservations. Wynn had long lived in a villa at the Wynn Las Vegas, often greeting guests and chatting with staff.

We found the language in the release to be straightforward and stern, Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli said in a research note Friday.

The company also said Friday it may have to pay bondholders USD10 million to amend change- of-control provisions in its 4.25 percent notes due in 2023.

Executives of public companies are typically entitled to severance and accelerated vesting of equity awards if theyre dismissed before their contracts expire, or if they leave for reasons including a pay cut or a reduction in responsibilities.

Wynns employment agreement entitled him to as much as $330 million if he was fired without cause, a regulatory filing shows. But if the termination was based on a failure to follow policy or comply with the lawful directions of the company, the board had the right to give him nothing.
Multivariable-adjusted incidence curves of ischemic stroke in blacks and whites. The Kaplan-Meier curves represent the incidence of ischemic stroke after adjustment for age, sex, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, heart failure, coronary heart disease, chronic kidney disease, vascular disease, and aspirin and warfarin use. AF = atrial fibrillation. Credit: HeartRhythm

Blacks have a higher incidence of stroke and stroke-associated disability than whites. However, few studies have evaluated racial differences in stroke before a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF). A new report published in HeartRhythm examined stroke risk in the short term prior to a diagnosis of AF. Investigators determined that, although blacks have a lower risk of developing AF, blacks with AF have a significantly higher risk of stroke during this period compared with whites with AF.

Investigators assessed racial differences in ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes using data on more than 3,500 patients from the Penn Atrial Fibrillation Free (PAFF) study with incident AF and without any history of stroke. This enabled them to evaluate strokes that occurred in a short window of time prior to the clinical diagnosis of AF, as well as ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke risk after the diagnosis of AF. PAFF consists of nearly 57,000 patients from the University of Pennsylvania Health System who were free of AF or atrial flutter at the beginning of the study.

"Our study design was unique because we have a time point that represents the initial diagnosis of AF," explained senior author Rajat Deo, MD, MTR, Associate Professor of Medicine, Section of Electrophysiology, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. "A better understanding of the burden of AF before and after an ischemic stroke is important. Anticoagulation with newer agents such as novel oral anticoagulant (NOAC) medications could help mitigate the risk of a first stoke and recurrent events."

The study showed that nearly half of the ischemic strokes in this population (254/538) occurred within six months before the diagnosis of AF. In many cases stroke was the presenting symptom of AF. Analysis demonstrated that blacks with a new diagnosis of AF were 62 percent more likely to have had an ischemic stroke prior to AF diagnosis than whites who developed AF. In strokes that occurred after the diagnosis of AF, blacks had 67 percent higher and independent risk of developing an ischemic stroke compared with whites with AF.

"The clinical implications of these findings indicate that a more rigorous effort to identify individuals from the community with AF, for example by using mobile and wearable technologies, may result in a reduction in overall stroke burden. Further, any effort to enhance AF management across diverse populations is a critical area of public health importance. A widespread screening effort to diagnose subclinical AF may help to reduce the racial disparities observed in the incidence of stroke," commented Dr Deo.

In an accompanying editorial, Sumeet S. Chugh, MD, FHRS, from the Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, observed that an earlier study into reasons for geographic and racial differences in stroke reported a significantly lower awareness of AF and anticoagulation in blacks. The same study also showed that self-reported AF is a strong predictor of stroke that can be used interchangeably or in combination with electrocardiogram-detected AF in stroke risk prediction models.

"Dr. Deo and colleagues are to be congratulated for successfully bringing together the electronic data repositories of several hospitals to study their PAFF cohort," stated Dr. Chugh. "Their findings provide a strong impetus for implementing community-based efforts that address racial disparities in AF and stroke. Given what we already know, it is time to act on these disparities, while continuing to investigate other factors such as differential access to preventive healthcare and compliance with prescribed medications"

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More information: "Race and Stroke in an Atrial Fibrillation Inception Cohort: Findings from the Penn Atrial Fibrillation Free Study," "Race and Stroke in an Atrial Fibrillation Inception Cohort: Findings from the Penn Atrial Fibrillation Free Study," DOI: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2017.11.025
Evidence supporting the use of a complex government-mandated hospital performance measure does not hold up to scientific rigor. Findings from a systematic evidence review are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

The Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock Early Management Bundle (SEP-1) is a hospital performance measure introduced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). It requires clinicians perform up to 7 interventions, and as many as 141 tasks and 3 hours to document for a single patient. Hospitals will be forced to fully adopt this complex performance measure or jeopardize reimbursement and accreditation. CMS uses published criteria to grade the evidence supporting its performance measures. To be considered high- or moderate-level evidence, studies must be free of confounders and have low risk of bias.

Researchers from the National Institutes of Health searched databases for all available scientific evidence and examined whether moderate- or high-level evidence shows that SEP-1 or five of its hemodynamic interventions improve survival in adults with sepsis. They found 20 published studies addressing this question. These were mostly observational studies (n=15) subject to selection bias and not randomized controlled trials. Only one single-center, observational study reported lower in-hospital mortality after implementation of the SEP-1 bundle. Sixteen studies, again mostly observational (n=14), reported increased survival with serial lactate measurements or 30-mL/kg fluid infusions, which are part of the mandate. None of these 17 studies were free of confounders or at low risk of bias. No studies showed that other investigated hemodynamic interventions improved survival.

According to the researchers, these findings suggest that CMS should examine its performance measure approval process to determine how it adopted interventions lacking evidence meeting the agency's own criteria and how it can improve this process in the future.

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Every morning, Prasart Songsorn used to wake before dawn to head out to the fields before the tropical sun and oppressive humidity made it impossible to work. Prasart, who spent all his 56 years on his family's small rice farm in north-eastern Thailand, worked barefoot in the warm mud. Boots amplified the heat and humidity, and he didn't want to buy something that would only add to his misery.

Although diagnosed with diabetes in his mid-40s, Prasart seemed healthy and never missed a day of work. So when he started having difficulty breathing and ran a high fever in early June 2017, he tried to push through it. When he couldn't, he travelled a few miles to a local community hospital, where he was diagnosed with kidney disease due to his untreated diabetes. He was so ill by then that the doctors transferred him to Sappasithiprasong Hospital in the city of Ubon Ratchathani, nearly two hours away.

His younger sister, Aroon, didn't trust the diagnosis. "If you cannot breathe, how could that be a problem with your kidneys?" she thought. But she figured the more experienced physicians in the city would soon figure out what was wrong. They didn't.

For more than a week, Prasart suffered without really knowing what was wrong. Only after her brother had died did Aroon learn that he'd actually had an infection called melioidosis. Although it's one of the leading causes of pneumonia in this part of Thailand, especially during the rainy season, it remains a mystery to most people.

"We had never heard of melioidosis," says Prasart's brother, Sompurn. "After he died, we got a brochure about how it came from the soil and how to protect yourself."

Since 2002, when he began researching melioidosis at the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU) in Bangkok, Direk Limmathurotsakul has found official recognition of the disease to be similarly low. "Melioidosis is so neglected that the World Health Organization doesn't even list it as a neglected tropical disease," he said at the 2017 'Biothreats' conference in Washington, DC.

Melioidosis is a bacterial infection that can cause a range of symptoms, including fever, muscle aches, abscesses and cough, leading researchers to call it "the great mimicker". It's hard to diagnose, requiring a skilful process that can take more than a week  time that patients like Prasart often don't have.

This, coupled with a general lack of awareness, meant that no one knew how many cases of melioidosis there were in Thailand  or anywhere else around the world. Limmathurotsakul made it his life's mission to change that and get melioidosis recognised as one of the world's more important neglected tropical diseases.

His greatest battle proved not to be against the disease itself, but a much more formidable enemy: the stasis and indifference of government bureaucracies. He knew melioidosis was a big problem; the question was whether he could get anyone to take notice.

In the 1910s, British physician Alfred Whitmore and assistant surgeon C S Krishnaswami noticed a gruesome trend among the patients at Rangoon General Hospital in Burma (in what is now the city of Yangon in Myanmar). A steady stream of young men, either dead or nearly so, were showing up with blistering fevers, malnutrition and track marks from injecting opium. Initially, Whitmore suspected the opium was the cause of their illness, but the speed of their decline and the location of abscesses far from injection sites caused him to rethink.

When they grew bacteria from the men's abscesses, they discovered that "cultures from both lungs and spleen gave luxuriant growths in pure culture of the bacillus under investigation". They named this bacteria Bacillus pseudomallei, but without antibiotics there was little to be done for these malnourished, sickly and vulnerable patients.

Not much changed in the 80 years between Whitmore and Krishnaswami's discovery and Limmathurotsakul's graduation from medical school. The disease had been formally named melioidosis in 1932, and scientists had discovered the bacteria (renamed Burkholderia pseudomallei in 1992) in soil and water throughout South-east Asia, although the disease was found mainly in Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos.

Learning to treat melioidosis was a trial by fire. Limmathurotsakul had read about it in textbooks, but had never treated a patient until he arrived at Sappasithiprasong Hospital in Ubon Ratchathani. Although he now had antibiotics at his disposal, few worked against this disease. And by the time his patients arrived, some were too ill for antibiotics to be of use. "About half the patients I treated died. It was like a coin toss," he says.

During the rainy season, from July to October, torrential downpours stir up the bacteria living in water and soil. Scientists still don't know exactly why  one idea is that the rain aerosolises the bacteria, which are then inhaled. This season is also when rice farmers like the Songsorns spend long days in the fields, their bare limbs immersed in melioidosis-laden soil and water. The result is a surge in disease that leaves the melioidosis wards in Ubon Ratchathani overflowing.

During his first rainy season, Limmathurotsakul's days in the sweltering melioidosis ward took on a grim routine. "You walk around and you see melioidosis, melioidosis, melioidosis, melioidosis. Within two or three days, each dies," he says. New patients quickly replaced those who didn't make it.

That year, more than 100 people died of melioidosis at Sappasithiprasong alone. Despite the drudgery, Limmathurotsakul knew those under his care had a major advantage over most other melioidosis patients, because they had sought treatment at a hospital that could diagnose and treat them.

The illness's array of symptoms makes it difficult to diagnose. The same bacteria can cause pneumonia in one person, septicaemia in another, an abscess in the elbow for another. In one small hospital study, over half the children with melioidosis had come in with local infections, many in the parotid glands (salivary glands in front of the ear), whereas in Australia, where melioidosis often turns up in isolated areas of the Northern Territory, older men are disproportionately likely to have prostate abscesses.

As in Whitmore's day, diagnosing melioidosis involves culturing bacteria from abscesses, urine, sputum, blood or wherever else a physician thinks the disease might be found, explains Vanaporn Wuthiekanun, a soft-spoken microbiologist who has worked with melioidosis at Sappasithiprasong for more than 30 years.

"It's easy if you have experience, but it's challenging for those who don't do it much," she says. It's also time-consuming, and like Prasart Songsorn's family, many people don't know what has affected their relative until after they have died, if they ever find out at all.

Even knowing what it is in time doesn't make treating melioidosis easy. The bacteria's waxy outer membrane makes it resistant to most antibiotics. Drugs like gentamicin, used to treat pneumonia and sepsis, don't work on melioidosis. Instead, treating the disease requires two to four weeks of intravenous ceftazidime in hospital, followed by three to five months of oral antibiotics as an outpatient.

The sooner doctors can start this regimen the better, says Wuthiekanun, but prompt treatment is still no guarantee. Mortality rates for melioidosis in Thailand hovered at 50 per cent when Limmathurotsakul began his work and haven't budged much since. In northern Australia, at least 10 to 20 per cent of patients die.

By most infectious disease standards, explains Patrick Harris, an infectious disease physician in Australia, that number is astronomical. Compare it to other, better-known neglected tropical diseases: malaria (mortality rate 0.2 per cent), dengue (1 per cent, higher in severe cases), Chagas disease (less than 5 per cent) and leptospirosis (515 per cent).

"On a global scale, the disease burden is still quite dramatic, probably because people present late. They can't get to a hospital quickly. It's very often more prevalent in poor communities, rural farmers, people who may be a long way away from a big city or a major hospital. There's a lot of other societal factors," Harris says.

Limmathurotsakul knew that the parade of patients coming through his melioidosis ward could only be a small fraction of the country's total melioidosis burden. Plenty of patients died before they could get to the hospital; others sought care from a hodgepodge of community health providers, who prescribed everything from penicillin to herbal remedies to massage. Thailand, he realised, had a major melioidosis problem. If he was seeing 100 melioidosis deaths in a single hospital in just the rainy season, tens of thousands of people must be dying each year.

Yet ever since 1947, when Thailand reported its first case of melioidosis, the official annual number has been tiny  even in the mid-2000s, it was approximately one case of melioidosis per 100,000 people. Laos didn't document any melioidosis cases until 1999. The only cases from Burma/Myanmar since 1945 have been in travellers. The poor data created a circular problem: funding agencies wouldn't give money to do research on a disease that didn't appear to be present, but Limmathurotsakul couldn't get data to show it was present without money.

"The major question that everyone tries to ask is how many die of the disease, because if we cannot tell, the policy makers don't move," he says.

The fever started in February. Pailat Ganjanarak found it increasingly difficult to ignore the fatigue, chills and vomiting, so he went for a massage, a common cure-all for mild illnesses in this part of Thailand. It didn't help. Then, the 55-year-old, who owns a small grocery store off the main road running south from Ubon Ratchathani, went to the doctor, who diagnosed an inflammatory problem and prescribed steroids. After a week, Ganjanarak was sicker than ever. Twelve days of antibiotics didn't help, either. He just kept getting worse.

"I was so sick, I couldn't even walk," he says.

His wife drove him to Sappasithiprasong Hospital, hoping that doctors there could identify her husband's mysterious ailment. It took until mid-March, more than a month after Ganjanarak first became ill, for the blood cultures to return the answer. Despite living nearly all his life in the part of the world where it is most prevalent, Ganjanarak had never heard of melioidosis. Neither had most of his friends. "Most people didn't believe me because they had never heard of it," he says.

Everyone knows about leptospirosis  a bacterial infection that can cause kidney disease  meningitis and pneumonia, but it's rare for someone to know about melioidosis, says Pornpan Suntornsut, a microbiologist at the MORUSappasithiprasong melioidosis research unit. She reckons that only about 2 per cent of people in Ubon Ratchathani know what it is. Physicians aren't always more knowledgeable, either.

To Suntornsut, this reflects the official attitude towards melioidosis. Patients don't know to ask about melioidosis, doctors can't give a quick diagnosis and the government doesn't have enough data  or enough political will  to do anything about it.

Another problem is the disease-reporting system in Thailand. After World War II, Limmathurotsakul says, the government wanted a method to discover and contain cholera outbreaks. At first, all it took was a phone call to the Ministry of Public Health to have people sent to investigate.

Over the next 60 years, however, more and more diseases were added to the list  the current total is 78. But in most of Thailand's hospitals, including 1,000-bed hospitals that might treat upwards of 200,000 patients each year, there's still only one person who is responsible for reporting all these diseases, according to Limmathurotsakul.

He says this makes the system susceptible to shifts in priorities: "This year, we are in a panic of dengue, so the Ministry of Health says report dengue. We will report. We need the data to tell the people in the country. Whether panic of influenza, panic of bird flu, Ebola, cholera whatever panic of this year, they will say, OK, this year this is the priority."

Melioidosis isn't a disease that causes large outbreaks or pandemics, and it doesn't capture media headlines or government attention  it just causes infections at a steady rate. It's not usually spread from person to person, either, which decreases its priority level further. It also tends to affect poor, rural rice farmers in Thailand, another strike against it in terms of getting official attention.

Across the border in Laos and Cambodia, there are similar challenges. At the Angkor Hospital for Children in Siem Reap, Paul Turner sees around 40 to 50 diagnosed cases of melioidosis each year. He estimates Cambodia must have thousands of cases each year, but the disease's endemic nature means the government doesn't require reporting for it.

The ultimate outcome is that melioidosis is vastly underreported, both in South-east Asia and elsewhere around the world. Physicians have reported cases in Brazil and across Africa  cases not linked to travel, which means the sick person must have picked it up in their own backyard. Limmathurotsakul and David Dance, a British doctor working on melioidosis in Laos, suspect this represents only a fraction of the disease burden, since melioidosis looks like so many other tropical diseases and remains difficult to diagnose. And the burden looks set to increase due to two factors in particular: climate change and diabetes.

Across the Indian Ocean in Sri Lanka, infectious disease physician Enoka Corea put a call out to her colleagues to be on the lookout for melioidosis cases a decade ago. For the first few years, they found only a case or two. Now, the trickle has become a steady stream.

"We suddenly found that we were seeing maybe 10 cases a year, then you went up to 23, then to 65, then to a hundred and something. This year we are already three-quarters of the year through and we are almost on 60, 70 cases already," Corea says. She expects the number to keep rising, thanks to climate change bringing more extreme weather events that will aerosolise more bacteria from the soil, as well as increasing the areas of the world where B. pseudomallei can thrive.

The effects of climate change are already beginning to be felt in Australia. Climate models predict that more parts of the country will become hospitable for melioidosis. Rising numbers of people with diabetes will likely push the melioidosis numbers even higher. Although no one knows exactly why, diabetes increases the risk of developing melioidosis, and seems to make it more likely that someone will develop more serious forms of the illness, such as sepsis or pneumonia, that increase the chance of dying from it.

"Both [diabetes and climate change] will almost certainly lead to increased incidence in the future," Dance says.

Even as his colleagues were predicting rises in melioidosis cases, Limmathurotsakul was struggling to convince his own government to document the current disease burden. Everywhere he went, he found a different type of resistance. At the bottom level, they lacked time and resources, or feared that their higher-ups would think they had made a mistake by not reporting all these cases sooner. Upper management, however, didn't want to cause a panic and didn't believe the data was that important.

"I had to fix every stage," he says. The process involved years of meetings with government officials, from the staffs of small community hospitals to the head of the Ministry of Public Health.

At the same time, Limmathurotsakul and his team began to gather data and develop computer models to estimate the true disease burden. In 2016, they published the first ever global estimate of melioidosis prevalence, and the numbers were far higher than anyone anticipated. Their work showed that approximately 165,000 people develop melioidosis each year and 89,000 of them die as a result. Importantly, their work revealed overlooked melioidosis hotspots outside of South-east Asia, including India and Sri Lanka.

"That paper was the beginning of it, really," says Dance. "To try and raise awareness of the disease and raise awareness of the fact that if the predictions from that modelling are correct then it's a much bigger killer of humans than some other diseases that are much better known."

Combined with Limmathurotsakul's years of tireless groundwork convincing government officials to improve disease reporting, this high-profile report has led to changes to the official attitude towards melioidosis. In Ubon Ratchathani province alone, estimates of melioidosis prevalence surged from 4.4 cases per 100,000 people in the early 1990s to 21.0 cases per 100,000 in 2016, thanks to improved reporting. As more hospitals report more cases, Limmathurotsakul hopes it will encourage other hospitals to step up their game, too. He also hopes the data will spur new research.

Stopping melioidosis will require more than just data. While others have their eyes on the long-term development of a vaccine or the construction of new health facilities, Limmathurotsakul says less splashy initiatives are needed, like providing safe drinking water. In Ubon Ratchathani, Pornpan Suntornsut and her team are trying possibly the simplest approach of all.

Across the region's lush rice paddies, people stoop over to tend their fields, muddy brown water up to their mid-calves as they tend their crops. Most work barefoot. Arriving in the midday tropical heat, I quickly understand why.

Sweat instantly begins oozing from my pores. In less than five minutes, I am drenched, my hair plastered to my forehead. Even in sandals, my feet feel absurdly hot. The thought of putting on boots seems laughable. But boots are exactly what the MORU team have come to advise.

Long hours working barefoot in the soil is a major path of melioidosis transmission. But the brutal heat means that protective rubber boots are a tough sell. With few official cases of melioidosis, the hassle of working in boots just didn't seem worth it to most people, Suntornsut says. But now that the disease is gaining recognition, they are here to provide information and talk about the importance of wearing boots and boiling drinking water to kill bacteria. Although it's still too early to have conclusive data, Suntornsut feels the team's efforts are paying off.

Limmathurotsakul may have changed the government's attitude about disease reporting, but his battle is far from over. Sitting behind his desk back in Ubon Ratchathani, he pauses after nearly two hours of rapid-fire chatter and leans back.

"You just need to keep pushing," he says. "Because if you don't, and you just disappear, no one else will push. You cannot hope that someone will do the work for you."

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Provided by Mosaic

This article first appeared on Mosaic and is republished here under a Creative Commons licence.


An analysis of recent Medicare billing records for more than 3,000 hospitals across the United States shows that charges for outpatient oncology services such as chemo infusion or radiation treatment vary widely and exceed what Medicare will pay by twofold to sixfold.

A report of the findings, published in the American Journal of Managed Care on Feb. 17, emphasizes the need for fair and transparent pricing of cancer-related medical services to protect patients from unpredictable financial burdens at a time when they are most vulnerable, according to researchers who conducted the analysis.

"Unwarranted price markups contribute to the skyrocketing cost of health insurance and out-of-pocket costs to patients. We found some cancer centers bill fairly while others engage in outright price gouging of insurers, patients and their employers. Hospital differences in quality or charity care do not account for these dramatic price differences," says Martin Makary, M.D., M.P.H., a cancer surgeon and professor of health policy at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and the paper's senior author. Makary has published extensive research focused on health care costs and vulnerable populations.

For the study, Makary and his team obtained all Medicare billing records for 3,428 hospitals from all 50 states in 2014 to determine how much hospitals and their various departments that offer cancer-related outpatient services billed for services compared with the Medicare allowable amount, which is the set amount Medicare will pay for a specific service.

Using the American Hospital Association database, the research team identified size, nonprofit status, rural location and academic status for each hospital whose billing data were made part of the analysis. The researchers also identified a subgroup of prestigious hospitals listed among the 2014 U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals Honor Roll.

For each oncology specialty service within a hospital, the researchers calculated a markup ratio, defined as the ratio of the billed charges relative to the Medicare allowable amount. For example, a markup ratio of 4.0 means that for a service with a Medicare allowable amount of $1,000, the hospital charged $4,000, or 300 percent over the Medicare allowable amount. Services included lab tests, PET scans, and chemo infusion and radiation services.

The research team found that of the 3,428 hospitals, specialty departments charged anywhere from a middle range of 2.4 to 4.1 times more than what Medicare paid for those services.

By that measure, radiology departments treating cancer patients charged an excess of 3.7 times more for services; hematology/oncology 2.3 times more; medical oncology 2.4 times more; pathology 4.1 more; and radiation oncology 3.6 times more.

"Cancer patients shouldn't be put into household bankruptcy just because a hospital inflates a bill well above what an insurance company would pay for the exact same service," says Makary.

Some states have taken up legislation aimed at protecting patients from collection agencies that hold patients responsible for the portion of the bill that is in excess of what the highest paying insurance company would pay. "While Medicare is not the gold standard, it's a benchmark of the varying degrees of markups occurring in the market. More price transparency is needed to end the most egregious price gouging practices and ensure that cancer centers fulfill their moral and not-for-profit mission to communities," he adds.

Cancer care can cost $50,000-$500,000, depending on the services rendered and their local markup rates. "The victims of price variation are the out-of-network patients who do not realize they are paying double, triple or quadruple what insurers pay for the identical services," adds Makary.

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Time to propel Nepal towards prosperity

Newly appointed Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that a historic opportunity to achieve the goal of building a prosperous and happy Nepal has started.
Credit: stock.adobe.com

While in the United States heart disease is the leading cause of death, in China it is stroke. People have speculated for years about why the Chinese are predisposed to stroke to a greater extent than heart disease. Some have believed that there is a genetic predisposition, and others have thought that environmental factors might be responsible.

A new study by Yale investigators has proposed, however, that a difference in the prevalence of risk factors might account for the disparity between frequency of stroke and heart disease in China versus the U.S.

Researchers know that hypertension has a stronger relationship to stroke, while cholesterol is more strongly associated with heart disease. Given this knowledge, the Yale investigators found what they expected in the data: China and the United States had different cardiovascular risk factor profiles, with hypertension being more common in the United States, but China having higher blood pressure levels due to more people not being treated or being inadequately treated.

"Although China does not yet have as high a prevalence of hypertension as the United States, because of under-treatment and poor control, the percentage of Chinese people with high blood pressure in the population is worse. The poor treatment of hypertension is likely responsible for China's higher stroke prevalence," said Harlan M. Krumholz, Yale cardiologist and senior author on the study.

Therefore, the key to addressing the leading cause of death in China may lie in the detection and effective treatment of this risk factor, said the researchers. "You do not need to go beyond the risk factor profile to explain the high risk of stroke," said Yale research scientist Yuan Lu, the first author. "What is unfortunate is not that hypertension levels are higher in China compared with the United States, but that the treatment for hypertension in China is inadequate. Fortunately, with this new insight comes a great opportunity to reduce the burden in stroke in the country."

More information: Yuan Lu et al. Comparison of Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in China and the United States, Journal of the American Heart Association (2018). Journal information: Journal of the American Heart Association Yuan Lu et al. Comparison of Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in China and the United States,(2018). DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.117.007462
TCF-1 is like an icebreaker ship that initially opens the ice (condensed, closed chromatin) and keeps a path available for other ships (other transcription factors that work in later stages of development) to steam through the now-open water (unwound chromatin). Credit: Stacie Leigh Bumgarner

Almost all cells in the human body have identical DNA sequences, yet there are 200-plus cell types with different sizes, shapes, and chemical compositions. Determining what parts of the genome are read to make protein and which are silenced is orchestrated by proteins called transcription factors. These regulate the availability of distinct stretches of DNA to be expressed as opposed to others that remain buried in tightly coiled structures called chromatin.

Researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, describe this week in Immunity the role of a transcription factor called TCF-1 in targeting the condensed chromatin and regulating the availability of genome sequences in T-cell development. The new connection between TCF-1 and chromatin will aid in developing new therapies using epigenetic drugs to alter T-cell fate in cancer, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases.

Senior author Golnaz Vahedi, PhD, an assistant professor of Genetics, brings her multidisciplinary training in computational biology, epigenetics, and immunology to bear on the question of T-cell identity. She leads a multidisciplinary team integrating computational and experimental approaches to develop an understanding of gene regulation in immune cells. Vahedi is also a member of Penn's Institute for Immunology and Epigenetics Institute.

She likens TCF-1 to an icebreaker ship that initially opens the ice (condensed, closed chromatin) and keeps a path available for other ships (other transcription factors that work in later stages of development) to steam through the now-open water (unwound chromatin). TCF-1 ultimately opens chromatin so that DNA can be read to make proteins, and it also keeps chromatin open so that subsequent factors can access DNA to make protein that guide a maturing T cell to its final identity.

TCF-1 opens chromatin so that DNA can be read to make proteins, and keeps chromatin open so that subsequent factors can access DNA to make protein that guide a maturing T cell to its final identity. Credit: The lab of Golnaz Vahedi, PhD, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Although the functional importance of TCF-1 in T cells has been known for more than 25 years, the mechanism by which this protein controls T-cell identity remained unknown. The team generated a profile of open and closed areas in eight stages of T-cell development and found an abundance of the transcription factor TCF-1 at regions along the genome that were open at the earliest stages of development.

"Our lab is interested in understanding how T-cell identity is established," Vahedi said. "We chose to study T cells because of their all-important role in patrolling the body to clear it of germs and such other dangers as cancer cells."

They established the identity-making role for TCF-1 by deleting it in a mouse model and found that most open sites closed, becoming inaccessible in tightly wound chromatin. On the other hand, when they added TCF-1 to a type of common skin cell, it "broke the ice" and opened closed regions by removing chemical groups that tighten chromatin. The elongated fibroblasts reprogrammed to become more T-cell-like in shape and hundreds of T-cell genes were also expressed in these skin cells.

Using computational and epigenomic methods, the team found that TCF-1 behaved in a similar manner on the chromatin of individual T cells. Because of the consistency among many cells, they concluded that TCF-1 control of T-cell fate is fundamentally important in determining what a cell will become.

"We showed how TCF-1 controls T-cell fate through its ability to target closed chromatin and establish the identity of developing T cells," Vahedi said. "TCF-1 is the focus of many immunology and oncology studies, especially those dealing with checkpoint inhibitors and sick immune cells. We think that the 'ice-breaking' ability of TCF-1 can be selectively harnessed to reset 'old' T cells to a 'younger' state so they can fight invaders again."

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A new academic paper looks at the role of gender in cardiovascular health. Credit: University of Melbourne

The role of gender has been largely neglected despite playing a critical role in cardiovascular health, University of Melbourne academics have highlighted in Circulation.

The paper, which appears in a special "Go Red for Women" edition, details how socialisation affects the trajectory of girls," boys," women's and men's health behaviours and ultimately their cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.

"In the context of the #metoo movement, there is renewed focus on gender specific issues such as sexual harassment at work and violence against women," said lead author and University of Melbourne academic Dr. Adrienne O"Neil.

"Yet these are rarely considered in the context of CV disease prevention."

Citing numerous studies, the paper argues that gender can interact with biological and social determinants such as ethnicity and socioeconomic position to shape cardiovascular health from conception. This continues through childhood, when health behaviours and CVD risk factors are shaped, and into adulthood.

"While it is estimated that up to 80 per cent of CVD is preventable, public health efforts have tended to focus on individual level risk factors such as reducing cholesterol and blood pressure," Dr. O"Neil said.

"While important, there has been little recognition of how biological risk factors interact with social, economic, cultural, political and psychological factors to shape women and men's CV health over the life course."

The paper notes that:

The paper calls for more targeted awareness campaigns and gender equity strategies to reduce the burden of CVD: "It is indeed plausible that equality-based initiatives that focus on gender would have other positive effects on the cardiovascular health of both genders and further generations."

Dr. O"Neil, University of Melbourne's Melbourne School of Population Health Senior Research Fellow and a Heart Foundation Future Leader, said CVD was the biggest killer of men and women, and killed more women than all cancers combined.

"There is also evidence that reductions in the incidence of CVD are greater for men than women; meaning that we may need to tailor public health strategies somewhat differently for men and women," Dr. O"Neil said.

"On the flip side, the way that boys are socialised can also negatively impact their CV risk and outcomes," she said.

"Teaching boys to be more stoic and less articulate with their emotions compared with girls can place them at greater risk of becoming socially isolated in adolescence and later life; this in itself is a stronger risk factor for death than smoking.

"It may also place them at risk of self-medicating with drugs and alcohol or partaking in risk taking behaviours which can further confer disease risk."

Dr. O"Neil wants greater consideration of gender specific issues in CVD prevention, treatment and public health generally.

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More information: Adrienne O'Neil et al. Gender/Sex as a Social Determinant of Cardiovascular Risk, Circulation (2018). Journal information: Circulation Adrienne O'Neil et al. Gender/Sex as a Social Determinant of Cardiovascular Risk,(2018). DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.117.028595
Caregivers of patients surviving a prolonged critical illness experience high and persistent rates of depression.

Losing a partner can be especially stressful for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.

Resident physicians experience moral distress when they administer futile treatments to patients at the end of life.

These are among nine major findings from the latest research on hospital palliative care, according to a study published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine, an official publication of the Society of Hospital Medicine. Loyola Medicine hospitalist Aziz Ansari, DO, SFHM, FACP, is corresponding author. (A hospitalist is an inpatient physician who works exclusively in the hospital.)

Dr. Ansari was part of a nationwide panel of leading palliative care experts who reviewed and ranked 55 studies about hospital palliative care published in 2016. Palliative care treats pain and other symptoms of serious illness, with the goal of improving quality of life for the patient and family.

From the list, the panel selected the nine most significant studies, based on scientific rigor, relevance to hospital medicine and impact on clinical practice.

Here are the studies' findings:

Caregiver depression: More than half of patients with prolonged critical illnesses need support from a caregiver a year after hospitalization. A study that followed 280 caregivers for a year found that many experienced high and persistent rates of depression.

"Hospitalists should be attentive to factors associated with caregiver vulnerability and offer support," Dr. Ansari and colleagues wrote. "Improving caregivers' sense of control and social support may be targets for intervention."

LGBT partner loss: A study found that grieving LGBT people face additional barriers and stressors, including homophobia, failure by healthcare workers to acknowledge the relationship, additional legal and financial issues and the shadow of HIV/AIDS.

Moral distress among doctors: Moral distress occurs when a clinician feels powerless to take what he or she believes to be the ethically correct action. A study of resident physicians found they experience significant moral distress with futile treatments, such as feeding tubes for patients with advanced dementia. Many said they felt obligated to provide end-of-life care that was not in the patient's best interest and caused the patient to suffer.

Treating delirium: Antipsychotics are widely used to treat symptoms of delirium. But a study found that patients receiving the antipsychotics risperidone and haloperidol had higher delirium scores than patients who received non-drug treatments for delirium.

Treating cancer pain: One study found that low-dose morphine was superior to weak opioids such as codeine and tramadol for treating moderate cancer pain. Another study found that methadone used as an adjunct pain medication can improve moderate cancer pain.

Inappropriate use of antimicrobials: When a patient is nearing the end of life, a physician may write a comfort care order, which is meant to ensure that the final hours or days are tranquil and pain-free, without prolonging life. But a study found that among 711 patients still alive 24 hours after a comfort care order was written, 15.6 percent still were receiving antimicrobials (antibiotics or antifungals).

Educational videos effective: Advance care planning is making decisions about the care you would wish to receive if you became incapacitated. A study found that using educational videos increased the percentage of hospital patients who did advance care planning.

Palliative care consultations: A study examined the effectiveness of an intervention program for family members of patients with prolonged critical illnesses. The intervention included supportive conversations and information about the illness and prognosis. The team met with family members seven days after the patient went on a ventilator and again 10 days later. The study found that family members who received the interventions had similar rates of anxiety and depression and higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder than family members who did not receive the interventions. The study did not evaluate routine specialty palliative care consultation in the ICU. Also, the palliative intervention used in the study was more informational, rather than driven by clinical considerations as in standard consultations.

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More information: "Update in Hospital Palliative Care: Symptom Management, Communication, Caregiver Outcomes and Moral Distress."Journal of Hospital Medicine (2018). Journal information: Journal of Hospital Medicine "Update in Hospital Palliative Care: Symptom Management, Communication, Caregiver Outcomes and Moral Distress."(2018).
The ATLAS dataset, which took more than 500 hours to create, is now available for download. This image depicts the distribution of lesions in the dataset; the redder the color, the more patients had lesions in that region. Credit: USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute / Tyler Ard

A USC-led team has now compiled, archived and shared one of the largest open-source data sets of brain scans from stroke patients via a study published Feb. 20 in Scientific Data, a Nature journal.

The data set, known as Anatomical Tracings of Lesion After Stroke (ATLAS), is now available for download; researchers around the world are already using the scans to develop and test algorithms that can automatically process MRI images from stroke patients. In the long run, scientists hope to identify biological markers that forecast which patients will respond to various rehabilitation therapies and personalize treatment plans accordingly.

Stroke is the leading cause of disability in adults, affecting more than 15 million people worldwide each year, according to the World Health Organization. During a stroke, blood flow to part of the brain is cut off. Without oxygen, brain cells die and cease to function. The damaged area, known as a lesion, is what researchers and clinicians study as they design, test and implement recovery programs. Typically, neuroanatomy experts manually draw boundaries around the lesions - in a process called segmentation - but researchers hope to automate this practice so they can examine more images.

"One of our goals is to meta-analyze thousands of stroke MRIs from around the world to understand how the lesions impact recovery," said Sook-Lei Liew, lead author of the study and assistant professor with joint appointments at the Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute (INI) within the Keck School of Medicine of USC, the Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, the Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy and the USC Viterbi School of Engineering.

"We can't do it by hand at the scale of thousands, so we are really interested in helping find better automated ways, using machine learning and computer vision, to identify the lesions and have machines draw those boundaries."

"Dr. Liew's team is making great strides toward improving patient outcomes following stroke," said Provost Professor Arthur Toga, the INI director. "Several other faculty from the institute and across the university have applied their expertise in machine learning, data visualization, informatics and neuroradiology to deliver a valuable set of open-source MR images."

A collaborative effort

The ATLAS team represents a collaborative effort both within USC and beyond. Hosung Kim, assistant professor of neurology at INI, used a neuroimaging analysis pipeline he developed to help standardize the images in the data set. The institute's Tyler Ard, assistant professor of research, created custom software for advanced visualization of the lesioned data set, rendering it into several extremely high-resolution videos and images. Seventeen other co-authors across the university assisted with analysis, clinical characterization, and the collection and storage of data.

Data from the project are stored by the International Neuroimaging Data-Sharing Initiative (INDI), housed at the Child Mind Institute, and by the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), housed at the University of Michigan. So far, 33 research groups around the world, including from Finland, Iran and Australia, have downloaded the ATLAS data set, which contains 304 manually-segmented MRI scans.

Liew and Kim, along with PhD student Kaori Ito, have already started putting the data set to work. They're testing all of the existing algorithms that attempt to automate the lesion segmentation process to determine which perform the task with greatest accuracy. They presented their work at the annual meeting of the American Society for Neurorehabilitation in November and currently have a paper under review.

The long-term goal

As predictive algorithms improve, a long-term goal is for clinicians to use MRI to inform decisions about stroke patients' treatment and recovery.

"Ultimately, we would run their data through an automated pipeline that would give us some measures of their likelihood of recovery, or more importantly, their likelihood of responding to different types of therapies," Liew said. "We could then personalize their rehabilitation therapy based on their MRI results and, hopefully, improve their recovery."

Stroke researchers who wish to access the data can download a normalized subset (n=229) from INDI or the full dataset (n=304) from ICPSR.

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Artist's rendering of amyloid-beta plaque (beige clumps) outside of neurons and neurofibrillary tangles (blue) inside of neurons. Credit: National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health. Credit: Georgia Institute of Technology

The mass pursuit of a conspicuous suspect in Alzheimer's disease may have encumbered research success for decades. Now, a new data analysis that has untangled evidence amassed in years of Alzheimer's studies encourages researchers to refocus their investigations.

Heaps of plaque formed from amyloid-beta that accumulate in afflicted brains are what stick out under the microscope in tissue samples from Alzheimer's sufferers, and that eye-catching junk has long seemed an obvious culprit in the disease. But data analysis of the cumulative evidence doesn't back up so much attention to that usual suspect, according to a new study from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Though the bad amyloid-beta protein does appear to be an accomplice in the disease, the study has pointed to a more likely red-handed offender, another protein-gone-bad called phosphorylated tau (p-tau). What's more, the Georgia Tech data analysis of multiple studies done on mice also turned up signs that multiple biochemical actors work together in Alzheimer's to tear down neurons, the cells that the brain uses to do its work.

Suspect line-up: P-tau implicated, plaque not so much

And the corrupted amyloid-beta that appeared more directly in cahoots with p-tau in the sabotage of brain function was not tied up in that plaque. In the line-up of the biochemical suspects examined, principal investigator Cassie Mitchell, an assistant professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University, said the data pointed to a pecking order of culpability.

"The most important one would be the level of phosphorylated tau present. It had the strongest connection with cognitive decline," Mitchell said. "The correlation with amyloid plaque was there but very weak; not nearly as strong as the correlation between p-tau and cognitive decline."

Mitchell, a biomedical informaticist (and Olympics medalist), and first author Colin Huber statistically analyzed data gleaned from 51 existing lab studies in mice genetically augmented with a human form of Alzheimer's. They published their analysis in the current edition of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health.

The crime: eviscerating the brain

One look at an image of an Alzheimer's afflicted brain is unflinching testimony to the disease's cruelty: It destroys of up to 30 percent of a brain's mass, carving out ravines and depositing piles of molecular junk, most visibly amyloid plaque.

The plaque builds up outside of neurons, while inside neurons, p-tau forms similar junk known as neurofibrillary tangles that many researchers believe push the cells to their demise. But many biochemical machinations behind Alzheimer's are still unknown, and the fight to uncover them has vexed researchers for decades.

Since the first patient was diagnosed by Dr. Aloysius Alzheimer between 1901 and 1906, little medical progress has been made. Though some available medications may mitigate symptoms somewhat, none significantly slow disease progression, let alone stop it.

Alzheimer's mostly strikes late in life. Longer lifespans in industrialized countries have ballooned the caseload, advancing the disease to a major cause of death.

Meet the syndicate: assassin, accomplices, stooges

Even though p-tau showed the strongest correlation with cognitive decline, and amyloid-beta only a slight correlation, that doesn't mean that p-tau is committing the crime inside cells all by itself while amyloid loiters in spaces outside of cells in large gangs, creating a distraction. Mitchell's data analysis has pointed to dynamics more enmeshed than that.

"Though the study had clear trends, it also had a good bit of variance that would indicate multiple factors influencing outcomes," Mitchell said. And a particular manifestation of amyloid-beta has piqued the researchers' ire.

Little pieces are water soluble, that is, not tied up in clumps of plaque. The data has shown that these tiny amyloids may be up to no good. After p-tau levels, the study revealed that those of soluble amyloid-beta had the second-strongest correlation with cognitive decline.

"Lumpy amyloid-beta, the stuff we see, ironically doesn't correlate as well as with cognitive decline the soluble amyloid," Mitchell said. "The amyloid you don't see is like the sugar in your tea that dissolves and hits your taste buds versus the insoluble amyloid, which is more like the sugar that doesn't dissolve and stays at the bottom of the cup."

Some Alzheimer's researchers have cited evidence indicating that free-floating amyloid helps produce the corrupted p-tau via a chain of reactions that centers around GSK3 (Glycogen synthase kinase 3), an enzyme that arms tau with phosphorous, turning it into a potential biochemical assassin.

Incidentally, Mitchell's study also looked at un-phosphorylated tau and found its levels do not correlate with cognitive decline. "That makes sense," Mitchell said. "Regular tau is the backbone of our neurons, so it has to be there."

Also, p-tau is a normal part of healthy cells, but in Alzheimer's it is wildly overproduced.

Massive dataset: 528 mice rat out P-tau

One advantage of data mining 51 existing studies versus doing one new lab experiment, is that the cumulative analysis adds the sample sizes of so many studies together for a whopping grand total. Mitchell's analysis encompassed results from past experiments carried out on, all totaled, 528 Alzheimer's mice.

A previous study Mitchell led had already indicated that amyloid-beta plaque levels may not be the most productive target for drug development. Separate reports by other researchers on failed human trials of drugs that fought plaque would seem to corroborate this.

Mitchell's prior analysis examined lab studies that used an Alzheimer's lab mouse model that did not allow for the study of p-tau. Mitchell's current analysis covered studies involving a different mouse model that did allow for the observation of p-tau.

Mitchell's latest findings have corroborated the prior study's findings on amyloid, and also added p-tau as a key suspect in cognitive decline.

Principal investigator: my take on possible treatments

To arrive at the 51 studies with data suitable for inclusion in their analysis, Mitchell's research team sifted through hundreds of Alzheimer's research papers, and over time, Mitchell has examined a few thousand herself. She has gained some impressions of how biomedical research may need to tackle the disease's slippery biochemical labyrinth.

"When we see multifactorial diseases, we tend to think we'll need multifactorial treatments," Mitchell said. "That seems to be working well with cancer, where they combine chemotherapy with things like immunotherapy."

Also, Alzheimer's diagnosticians might be wise to their adopt cancer colleagues' early detection stance, she said, as Alzheimer's disease appears to start long before amyloid-beta plaque appears and cognitive decline sets in.

Above all, basic research should cast a broader net.

"I think p-tau is going to have to be a big part," she said. "And it may be time to not latch onto amyloid-beta plaque so much like the field has for a few decades."

Explore further Alzheimer's drug targeting soluble amyloid falls short in a large clinical trial

More information: Colin M. Huber et al. Cognitive Decline in Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease: Amyloid-Beta versus Tauopathy, Journal of Alzheimer's Disease (2017). Journal information: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease Colin M. Huber et al. Cognitive Decline in Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease: Amyloid-Beta versus Tauopathy,(2017). DOI: 10.3233/JAD-170490
Using a new machine learning approach, researchers at Brown's Center for Computational Molecular Biology found adaptive mutations in metabolic genes in a group of African hunter-gatherers. One mutation the software found is closely linked to a protein-altering mutation that is virtually absent in populations around the world, but has a frequency of 27 percent in the hunter-gatherer genome data. Credit: Ramachandran lab / Brown University

Researchers from Brown University have developed a new method for sifting through genomic data in search of genetic variants that have helped populations adapt to their environments. The technique, dubbed SWIF(r), could be helpful in piecing together the evolutionary history of people around the world, and in shedding light on the evolutionary roots of certain diseases and medical conditions.

SWIF(r) brings several different statistical tests together into a single machine-learning framework. That framework can then be used to scan genomic data from multiple individuals and compute the probabilities that individual mutations or regions of a genome are adaptive.

"These individual statistical techniques are useful, but none of them is particularly powerful on its own," said Lauren Alpert Sugden, a postdoctoral researcher at Brown who led the technique's development. "The method we've developed combines those techniques in a way that's careful and that produces an output that's easy to interpret."

Alpert Sugden works in the lab of Sohini Ramachandran, an associate professor and director of Brown's Center for Computational Molecular Biology. The researchers describe their work in the journal Nature Communications.

Exploring adaptation

The vast majority of mutations that commonly occur in the genomes of humans and other animals are neutral, meaning they neither help nor hurt an individual's survival. But every once in a while nature hits on a mutation that's beneficialone that aids in an organism's survival or reproductive success. These adaptive mutations can spread quickly (evolutionarily speaking) through a population in subsequent generations, a process known as a selective sweep.

SWIF(r) looks for the statistical signatures of selective sweeps in genomic datasets. It does so using machine learning and a combination of four established statistical tests measuring different signatures of adaptation. One test checks if a particular mutation appears in a population more frequently than it does in other populations. Others measure genetic variation in a region of the genome, with the idea that strong selection would tend to reduce variability.

This isn't the first technique that brings multiple tests into one composite framework. But part of what's new about SWIF(r) is that it controls for correlations that arise between those tests, which can throw off the results. The acronym SWIF(r) stands for "SWeep Inference Framework (controlling for correlation)," a lowercase "r" being the mathematical notation for correlation.

SWIF(r) has several advantages over other composite techniques, the researchers say. While most techniques identify only regions of the genome likely to contain adaptive mutations, SWIF(r) can also identify the particular mutations themselves. And while other techniques return results that can be difficult to interpret, SWIF(r) returns a simple probability that an individual mutation or genome region is adaptive.

To show that the technique works, the researchers validated it on a simulated dataset in which known adaptive mutations were included, as well as on canonical adaptive mutations that have been identified in human genomes through multiple molecular experiments. SWIF(r) was shown to outperform both individual statistical techniques and other composite techniques in picking out those adaptive mutations, while producing a lower rate of false positives.

Real-world data

Having demonstrated that SWIF(r) works, the researchers used it on a real genomic data from the Khomani San, a group of hunter-gatherers living in southern Africa.

"The Khomani San have the largest genetic diversity of any living population," Alpert Sugden said, "which is interesting from our perspective because there's a lot of opportunity for adaptive mutations to arise."

Among other findings, SWIF(r) identified several adaptive mutations in a set of genes responsible for energy and fat storage. That's interesting from the perspective of what's known as the "thrifty gene" hypothesis, the researchers say.

The hypothesis suggests that because hunter-gatherers often experience an inconsistent food supply, they're likely to have a genetic predisposition to storing energy in the form of fat. However, those genes could be a liability in agricultural societies where food supply tends to be more consistent, potentially contributing to obesity and complications like type 2 diabetes. A deeper dive into the functions of the adaptive genes identified by SWIF(r) may be helpful in further exploring the thrifty gene idea.

Ramachandran says the way in which they used SWIF(r) on the Khomani San data is instructive for how the technique might be used moving forward. The researchers say they didn't start with the notion that they'd find adaptations in genes for metabolism, they simply popped out of the data as it was analyzed. That's a contrast to how such research is currently done, Ramachandran says.

"They way we study genetic adaptation now is we start by looking at a particular trait or phenotype, and then we work backward to identify the associated genes and mutations," she said. "This new approach uses data-driven machine learning to start in the genome, searching for adaptive signatures that we can then follow up with more study. So we think this is a way of generating new and interesting hypotheses to test."

The researchers have made the SWIF(r) code open-source, and they hope that other research groups will use it to explore genomic data from populations worldwide.

Explore further New algorithm can pinpoint mutations favored by natural selection in large sections of the human genome

More information: Lauren Alpert Sugden et al. Localization of adaptive variants in human genomes using averaged one-dependence estimation, Nature Communications (2018). Journal information: Nature Communications Lauren Alpert Sugden et al. Localization of adaptive variants in human genomes using averaged one-dependence estimation,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03100-7
David Ramsey, a Medicaid patient who suffers from chronic pain after falling off a cliff in 2011, receives acupuncture treatment in Warrensville Heights, Ohio on November 13, 2017. Long derided as pseudoscience, acupuncture is increasingly being used by doctors and officials seeking a new weapon in the nation's struggle with opioids. Ohio's Medicaid program is the latest to start covering the cost of acupuncture for low-income patients in pain, following similar programs in California, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Rhode Island. (AP Photo/Dake Kang)

Marine veteran Jeff Harris was among the first to sign up when the Providence VA hospital started offering acupuncture for chronic pain.

"I don't like taking pain medication. I don't like the way it makes me feel," he said.

Harris also didn't want to risk getting addicted to heavy-duty prescription painkillers.

Although long derided as pseudoscience and still questioned by many medical experts, acupuncture is increasingly being embraced by patients and doctors, sometimes as an alternative to the powerful painkillers behind the nation's opioid crisis.

The military and Veterans Affairs medical system has been offering acupuncture for pain for several years, some insurance companies cover it and now a small but growing number of Medicaid programs in states hit hard by opioid overdoses have started providing it for low-income patients.

Ohio's Medicaid program recently expanded its coverage after an opioid task force urged state officials to explore alternative pain therapies.

"We have a really serious problem here," said Dr. Mary Applegate, medical director for Ohio's Medicaid department. "If it's proven to be effective, we don't want to have barriers in the way of what could work."

The epidemic was triggered by an explosion in prescriptions of powerful painkiller pills, though many of the recent overdose opioid deaths are attributed to heroin and illicit fentanyl. Many opioid addictions begin with patients in pain seeking help, and acupuncture is increasingly seen as a way to help keep some patients from ever having to go on opioids in the first place.

For a long time in the U.S., acupuncture was considered unstudied and unprovensome skeptics called it "quack-u-puncture." While there's now been a lot of research on acupuncture for different types of pain, the quality of the studies has been mixed, and so have the results.

Federal research evaluators say there's some good evidence acupuncture can help some patients manage some forms of pain. But they also have described the benefits of acupuncture as modest, and say more research is needed.

Among doctors, there remains lively debate over how much of any benefit can be attributed simply to patients' belief that the treatment is workingthe so-called "placebo effect."

"There may be a certain amount of placebo effect. Having said that, it is still quite effective as compared to no treatment," said Dr. Ankit Maheshwari, a pain medicine specialist at Case Western Reserve University, who sees it as valuable for neck pain, migraines and a few other types of pain problems.

Many doctors are ambivalent about acupuncture but still willing to let patients give it a try, said Dr. Steven Novella, a neurologist at Yale University and editor of an alternative medicine-bashing website. He considers acupuncture a form of patient-fooling theater.

Acupuncturists and their proponents are "exploiting the opioid crisis to try to promote acupuncture as an alternative treatment," he said. "But promoting a treatment that doesn't work is not going to help the crisis."

Ankit Maheshwari, an anesthesiologist at University Hospitals, speaks about acupuncture in Cleveland, Ohio on November 13, 2017. Long derided as pseudoscience, acupuncture is increasingly being used by doctors and officials seeking a new weapon in the nation's struggle with opioids. Maheshwari, who formerly treated pain patients at a Department of Veteran affairs, says acupuncture is gaining broader acceptance in the military and civilian practice. (AP Photo/Dake Kang)

Acupuncture has been practiced in China for thousands of years, and customarily involves inserting thin metal needles into specific points in the ears or other parts the body. Practitioners say needles applied at just the right spots can restore the flow of a mystical energycalled "qi" (pronounced CHEE)through the body, and that can spur natural healing and pain relief.

In government surveys, 1 in 67 U.S. adults say they get acupuncture every year, up from 1 in 91 a decade earlier. That growth has taken place even though most patients pay for it themselves: 2012 figures show only a quarter of adults getting acupuncture had insurance covering the cost.

The largest federal government insurance program, Medicare, does not pay for acupuncture. Tricare, the insurance program for active duty and retired military personnel and their families, does not pay for it either. But VA facilities offer it, charging no more than a copay.

Jeff Harris signed up for acupuncture two years ago. The 50-year-old Marine Corp veteran said he injured his back while rappelling and had other hard falls during his military training in the 1980s. Today, he has shooting pain down his legs and deadness of feeling in his feet.

Acupuncture "helped settled my nerve pain down," said Harris, of Foxboro, Massachusetts.

Another vet, Harry Garcia, 46, of Danielson, Connecticut, tried acupuncture for his chronic back pain after years of heavy pain medications.

Acupuncture is "just like an eraser. It just takes everything away" for a brief period, and keeps pain down for up to 10 days, said Garcia.

About a decade ago, the military and Veteran Affairs began promoting a range of alternative approaches to pain treatment, including acupuncture, yoga, and chiropractic care.

In 2009, former Army Surgeon General Dr. Eric Schoomaker chartered a task force to re-evaluate the Army's approach to pain, which had centered on opioids. The focus was understandable"nobody who has his leg blown off screams for acupuncture," said Schoomaker, who is now a professor at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, a military medical school in Bethesda, Maryland.

But he added there was also openness to acupuncture and other approaches among soldiers and sailors who, while overseas, had tried non-drug approaches for chronic pain. Schoomaker said he was inspired to seriously consider alternative approaches by his wife, a yoga instructor.

Now two-thirds of military hospitals and other treatment centers offer acupuncture, according to a recent study.

The military's openness to alternatives is "because the need is so great there," said Emmeline Edwards of the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, a federal scientific research agency. "Perhaps some of the approaches have been used without a strong evidence base. They're more willing to try an approach and see if it works."

Her agency is teaming up the Pentagon and the VA to spend $81 million on research projects to study the effectiveness of a variety of nondrug approaches to treating chronic pain.

While research continues, insurance coverage of acupuncture keeps expanding. California, Massachusetts, Oregon and Rhode Island pay for acupuncture for pain through their Medicaid insurance programs. Massachusetts and Oregon also cover acupuncture as a treatment for substance abuse, though scientists question how well it reduces the cravings caused by chemical dependency.

 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
A survey developed by physicians and researchers at Emory University about organ donation and transplantation found that misperceptions about the lifesaving process are the most common deterrents for donating organs. The survey responses and findings were recently published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

Having concerns over getting inadequate medical care following an illness or accident, if registered as a donor, was the strongest independent predictor of willingness to donate overall, the survey found. Some other less concerning factors or myths that impeded willingness in the study included thinking there was an increased cost for the donor family when donating organs and thinking a famous person would get higher priority on the waitlist than others.

The researchers developed the survey addressing attitudes and factual knowledge about organ donation and transplantation. The survey was placed in paper format in four healthcare provider waiting rooms in Georgia and distributed online (Survey Monkey). The survey's primary purpose was to determine the association between answers to seven specific knowledge-based questions regarding organ donation/transplantation and willingness to (1) be an organ donor and (2) donate a deceased family member's organ.

"We wanted to look at variables in a multivariate way  ones previously shown to deter donation in a univariate way  to find if there were any that strongly and independently predicted (un)willingness to donate," says Marty T. Sellers, MD, MPH, assistant professor of surgery, Division of Transplantation, Emory University School of Medicine.

Univariate analysis is the simplest form of data analysis that contains only one predictor variable. Multivariate analysis is the analysis of three or more variables and more accurately identifies the variable(s) that independently predict an outcome by adjusting for other variables.

"The myths chosen to evaluate in our survey were known from prior studies to be reasons people cite that interfere with their willingness to donate," says Sellers. "These myths were the focus of this publication, since they represent things that are 'correctable' through outreach and education."

Surveys were returned by 772 respondents, with 766 (99.2 percent) answering the primary questions of whether they wanted their organs donated upon death "if doing so would save someone else's life." Of the respondents, 84.6 percent were willing to donate, 76.2 percent were female, 79.7 percent were Caucasian and 16.5 percent were African American. The respondents represented 37 states.

Having concerns over getting inadequate medical care from paramedics or physicians if registered as an organ donor was the strongest concern of willingness to donate overall. African Americans were more likely than Caucasians to have this concern (20.2 percent vs. 9.5 percent).

"Medical teams in charge of caring for the sick and/or injured are not part of a transplant team, and their focus is entirely on the person who comes in under their care," explains Sellers. "People awaiting transplants are completely off their radar screen. It is only when certain clinical 'triggers' are met signifying that a potential donor exists in a hospital that the organ procurement organization or OPOLifeLink of Georgia in our caseis notified by the hospital staff that they have a potential donor."

The survey also found that willingness to donate a family member's organs depended on whether a discussion about a donation had previously occurred: 61 percent would donate with no prior discussion, while 95.2 percent would donate if the family member had said "yes" to donation, 11 percent if "no."

While solid organ transplantation saves the lives of thousands of people each year, many patients die while waiting on transplant waitlists. According to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), in 2017, 34,796 organs were transplanted in the U.S., with 28,587 organs coming from deceased organ donors. A single donor can provide lifesaving organs for up to eight or nine recipients.

With more than 115,000 people on waitlists for a lifesaving organ transplant, better understanding of the common donation myths and misperceptions is crucial.

"Educating the public regarding these and other misperceptions is desperately needed," says Sellers. "With education, we believe this would convert more eligible donors into actual donors, which would shorten waiting times and allow transplantation earlier in a disease process. It would also lead to less pre- and post-transplant mortality; many living donors would be spared the risks associated with donating; and overall costs associated with transplantation would decrease."

Explore further Educational video may increase public willingness to become face transplant donors

More information: Marty T. Sellers et al. Deterrents to Organ Donation: A Multivariate Analysis of 766 Survey Respondents, Journal of the American College of Surgeons (2018). Journal information: Journal of the American College of Surgeons Marty T. Sellers et al. Deterrents to Organ Donation: A Multivariate Analysis of 766 Survey Respondents,(2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2017.12.029
Salmonella Typhi in Pakistan have developed greater drug resistance by acquiring a DNA plasmid encoding further antibiotic resistance genes from another bacteria. Credit: Dave Goulding, Wellcome Sanger Institute

The genetic cause behind a strain of typhoid's resistance to five classes of antibiotics has been uncovered by scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and their collaborators at Public Health England and Aga Khan University, Pakistan. There is currently a major outbreak of typhoid fever in Pakistan, and there was a case in the UK following air travel, which has been isolated and treated. This study shows the typhoid strain causing the outbreak acquired an additional piece of DNA to become resistant to multiple antibiotics, including a third-generation antibiotic.

The results, published today (20 February) in mBio suggest that treatment options are running out for typhoid, and there is an urgent need for preventative strategies including vaccines.

Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi. It is highly contagious, and spreads through the human population in areas with poor water sanitation when contaminated food or water is consumed. Symptoms include fever, stomach pain, headache and constipation or diarrhoea and, if left untreated, it can become fatal.

Currently, an outbreak of drug-resistant typhoid is spreading through Pakistan and an emergency vaccination campaign is underway.

The outbreak began in November 2016, and was immediately recognised and reported to provincial public health authorities in Pakistan, where investigation into possible sources and control measures including use of a vaccine are ongoing. Public health alerts helped physicians recognise cases of typhoid that were resistant to ceftriaxone, an antibiotic reserved to treat multidrug-resistant infections. This strain was resistant to five antibiotics in total, a higher level of resistance than previously seen. The doctors treated the infections with the few remaining antibiotic options.

Clean water provision in Sindh, Pakistan. Currently there is an outbreak of extensively drug resistant (XDR) typhoid spreading through the region. Credit: Vicki Francis, Department for International Development

In the spring of 2017, collaborators Professor Rumina Hasan and Dr Sadia Shakoor from the Aga Khan University in Pakistan contacted the Wellcome Sanger Institute to genetically analyse the outbreak. Sanger Institute scientists performed whole genome sequencing of typhoid samples from Pakistan to investigate the genetic cause behind its high level of antibiotic resistance.

The team discovered that the typhoid outbreak was caused by strain H58, a strain known to be associated with multidrug resistance. When researchers looked further, they found this strain of H58 had gained an extra strand of bacterial DNA  a plasmid  that encoded for additional antibiotic resistance genes. The typhoid possibly picked up the plasmid from E. coli.

Scientists at Public Health England identified a strain of typhoid with the same high levels of resistance from an individual in the UK who had recently returned from Pakistan. Genomic comparison revealed that it was identical to the outbreak strain, meaning the outbreak had reached the UK, where it has been isolated and treated.

Explore further Typhoid vaccine for infants 'safe': study

More information: Elizabeth J. Klemm et al. Emergence of an Extensively Drug-Resistant Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi Clone Harboring a Promiscuous Plasmid Encoding Resistance to Fluoroquinolones and Third-Generation Cephalosporins, mBio (2018). Journal information: mBio Elizabeth J. Klemm et al. Emergence of an Extensively Drug-Resistant Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi Clone Harboring a Promiscuous Plasmid Encoding Resistance to Fluoroquinolones and Third-Generation Cephalosporins,(2018). DOI: 10.1128/mBio.00105-18
An interesting year lies ahead in the South African ICT market, considering the ever-changing legislative landscape.

This is according to Ahmore Burger-Smidt, director at Werksmans Advisory Services and a specialist on media, communications, and technology.

Burger-Smidt told MyBroadband there are currently several pieces of legislation that presents challenges to the IT and telecommunications sectors.

The most important pieces of legislation which will impact the local market are below, as explained by Burger-Smidt.

Electronic Communications Amendment Bill

The Electronic Communications Amendment Bill that was approved by Cabinet towards the end of 2017 has been criticised in various quarters since it publication. The Bill seeks to implement and give effect to the policy points set out in the ICT White Paper, published in October 2016. It is deemed that there are risks associated with this Bill that are extensive and significant. It has also been said that this Bill will discourage investment in the sector. A slowdown in capital investment in our mobile networks will degrade the service and quality of the networks. This will have serious and unintended consequences, including the hindering of economic growth with a negative impact on job creation. Also, the Bill does not address the single biggest issue facing the local telecommunications industry, which is the serious spectrum crunch. The withholding of spectrum will result in mobile operators needing to scale back plans for continued growth into rural areas. Operators will have no option but to re-farm the spectrum and to further densify the network at increased cost, to cope with the ever-growing urban demand for data. As a consequence of this, data costs will not be driven down with the impact being worst felt by South Africas most economically marginalised communities. The ongoing demand for spectrum is an important consideration for 2018. While some progress has been made in facilitating access to high-frequency spectrum, there is a very pressing need to speed up the allocation of spectrum, particularly the 2,600MHz frequency. The release of spectrum will create much-needed capacity that will be operated using existing infrastructure. Importantly, the release of additional spectrum will further drive down data pricing, helping to further democratise access to the Internet. It is well known that mobile connectivity continues to be a powerful driver for social change. Together, government, policy makers and the industry must find a way to bridge the digital divide, helping to deliver economic stability and inclusion for all. Public comments have been invited and will be taken into consideration prior to finalising the process.

The Competition Amendment Bill

There is no doubt that the Competition Amendment Bill will impact the IT and telecommunications sectors significantly. The amendments seek to strengthen the hand of the competition authorities to address economic concentration and transformation. While some of the proposed amendments are relatively benign and do not introduce any real change to current legislation application, certain other proposed amendments speak to potentially far-reaching implications for IT and telecommunications firms doing business in South Africa. The Bill constitutes a significant policy shift by government, to introduce economic concentration as a specific consideration in all competition matters. In short, dominant firms may be at greater risk of being found guilty of excessive pricing, exclusionary conduct and price discrimination. This clearly indicates that IT and telecommunications firms will have to further scrutinise the way they do business to mitigate their legal risk in terms of the competition act going forward. The majority of South Africans have little or no access to fixed connectivity. By contrast, mobile connectivity gives millions of South Africans access to information, by providing extensive geographic and population coverage, and affordable costs to connect. Mobile connectivity is the pathway by which most people conduct business, and receive education, banking and financial services, government services and healthcare. Mobile connectivity is a vital contributor to economic growth, employment and the alleviation of poverty and inequality. Fierce competition amongst mobile network operators has driven continuous and significant investments that have resulted in nearly universal coverage. The delivery of data volumes has grown exponentially, network quality has constantly improved, and pricing has fallen dramatically year after year. Even though the average South African consumer regularly bemoans the cost of data, it is often forgotten that operators have invested hundreds of millions in capital expenditure over more than 20 years. Operators have long achieved over 98% coverage of the population with 2G technology, 3G coverage has grown to over 95%, and 4G or LTE services have expanded to over 60% of the population. Data speeds have improved by more than seven times over the past decade. The volume of mobile data handled has grown 18 times in the past five years, while data prices have fallen by approximately 80-85% over this same period, and 4G LTE handset prices have fallen by 86% over the past three years. Within this context, and mindful of the ongoing debate regarding the cost of data, the country awaits the outcome of the Competition Commission market inquiry.

POPI

We expect that the Information Regulator will finally promulgate the POPIA regulations and announce the POPIA commencement date during the first half of 2018. The need for compliance with POPIA is real and companies need to be prepared. In addition, in a fast-changing world of cybersecurity, specific areas affecting data security of any business must be assessed. Amongst others, companies have to plan for and empower a security team in order to secure information, prevent leaks and data breaches. In this regard, one has to understand the impact of the Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Bill on business. Indeed, it is expected that this Bill also be will be enacted during 2018. Not only South African specific legislation requires attention. The European General Data Protection Regulation seeks compliance by 25 May 2018. The question IT and telecommunications firms has to ask themselves is whether they have considered the obligations in terms of these regulations and if applicable, have implemented the necessary controls.

The year 2018 will definitely present the IT and telecommunications sector with significant and real compliance challenges, said Burger-Smidt.

The legislative landscape certainly looks like a potential minefield.
Armenia economy minister: Our healthcare system may not be able to withstand coronavirus patients pressure

Armenia Special Investigation Service chief is appointed Anti-Corruption Committee chair

Health minister on COVID-19 situation in Armenia: We have increase in ratio of deaths, severe course

764 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Archbishop of Prague: Armenia is surrounded by enemies, question of its existence is raised even now

Russias Putin to attend CSTO leaders meeting, via video link

Sotk-Vardenis motorway of Armenia blocked

UK woman amputates leg to save unborn daughter

Armenia PM, Tajikistan President discuss bilateral relations, CSTO

Turns out killing of about 1,500 dolphins in Faeroe Islands was pointless

Newspaper: Armenia FM punishing CSTO?

Newspaper: Armenia ruling power wants to push vetting to fore again

Another fallen soldiers remains found in Artsakh search operations

Armenia's Pashinyan: Armenian villages of Syunik Province haven't been and won't be encircled, even though there is risk

Armenia PM: Armenian government will not change its political course

Armenia's Pashinyan arrives in Dushanbe on working visit

Prosecutors of Armenia and Russia attend discussions devoted to fight against corruption and cybercrimes

Pashinyan: Refusing to pull out troops based on borders of Soviet era would have been disastrous for Armenia

Israel defense minister says Iran will be able to produce one nuclear bomb soon

Armenia PM clarifies spending of funds donated to Hayastan All-Armenian Fund during 44-day war

Armenia Deputy PM: There won't be surprises in terms of natural gas price in the near future

EU Special Representative, Azerbaijan FM discuss situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border

UEFA Champions League: Borussia Dortmund defeat Besiktas, Sheriff outscore Shakhtar

Armenia health minister: Authorities have the right to adopt restrictive measures to maintain public health

Armenia PM: Azerbaijan has always declared that it plans to resolve Karabakh conflict militarily

Husband of Armenian pregnant woman who died from COVID-19 shares true story about wife's death

Armenia culture minister: Authorities raise issue of state of Armenian monuments on all platforms

Armenia PM: Specialists will explore issue of Azerbaijan's failure to recognize borders of USSR

Lautaro Martinez reaches agreement with Inter Milan

Armenian PM: Panels and footholds were placed since Goris-Kapan road is beyond Armenia's border

Azerbaijan Internal Affairs Ministry confirms detention of two Iranian truck drivers

Armenia PM: Government is ready to consider signals coming from Ankara

Pashinyan: Armenia and Karabakh will do everything possible to make sure route through Lachin corridor remains unchanged

Armenia Ararat Province ex-deputy governor appointed chief of Penitentiary Service

Armenia PM to leave for Tajikistan on working visit

Deputy Mayor of Armenia's Goris: Armenian drivers told me Azerbaijanis had stopped their trucks and checked them

Armenia MOD holds discussion devoted to planning of budget for 2022, makes certain adjustments

Armenia PM refutes news about secret negotiations with Baku

Digest: US doesn't consider issue of Nagorno-Karabakh issue resolved, latest on COVID-19

Armenia army's General Staff chief receives newly appointed US Military Attache

Armenia PM states reason why he used Azerbaijani toponyms to describe situation in Syunik Province

Lithuania Ambassador to Armenian official: Lithuanian experience will be interesting for Armenia

Deputy Mayor of Armenia's Goris: Azerbaijani police detained 2 Iranian drivers in Vorotan

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

Armenia Labor and Social Affairs Ministry to carry out new social support program for displaced citizens of Artsakh

Armenia finance minister receives Japan Ambassador

Bayern score goal in 78th consecutive game

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

Rebel Wilson shared hot bikini photos

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

Model Emina Tsunmulai and Armenian millionaire have a son

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

Kanye West re-follows Kim Kardashian on Instagram

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

Britney Spears deletes her Instagram

Ronaldo: Wasn't the result we wanted

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

Koeman: Very difficult to accept this situation but we have to wait

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

Champions League: Matches of the day

Champions League: Match results of the day

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

Ronaldo repeats Messi's record

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
YEREVAN.  Even though the Armenian parliamentary delegation that visited Israel has announced that Israeli Knesset Speaker Yuli-Yoel Edelstein will come to Armenia, the sources of Hraparak (Square) newspaper say the visit is under a doubt.

Edelstein will come to Armenia on the occasion of the centennials of the proclamation of the First Republic of Armenia and of the Heroic Battles of May, but in September.

Both the [Armenian] genocide and the Knesset chairmans visit is of geopolitical importance to the Israeli side, said the source of Hraparak. The once again raising of the genocide matter by the Knessets opposition force () was a message from Israel addressed to Turkey, which is stuck in [Syrias] Afrin.

The next is the corruption scandal linked to [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu; it is unknown how it will end. The head of the [Israeli political] force raising the matter of [Armenia] genocide is among the likely candidates for Prime Minister.
President of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic/NKR), Bako Sahakyan, on Tuesday issued a congratulatory address on the Artsakh Revival Day.

Dear compatriots!

On behalf of the Artsakh authorities and personally myself I extend the most heartfelt congratulations to you on the Artsakh Revival Day.

Thirty years have passed since the day when our people stood up jointly and unanimously, voicing their determination to struggle for human rights protection. This was a peaceful and just demand, to which Azerbaijan responded with massacres and brutal deportations of the Armenian population from Baku, Sumgait and other places; thousands of people fell victims of that criminal policy.

This unequal and bloody war imposed on by Azerbaijan forged our peoples will even more, united the entire Armenian nation around the cause of defending our ancestral land and becoming its true masters. Due to this unity and consolidation, our peoples patriotism and freedom-loving spirit we were able not only to deter the unrestrained opponent but also to mark great victories.

And today, 30 years later, we can proudly claim that our people chose the right path, that there was no alternative. Together with our sisters and brothers from Mother Armenia and the Diaspora we heroically defended our Fatherland, restored the ruined economy and created a firm basis for its development. The Defense Army was formed, which has been the guarantor of stability and peace not only of our country but the entire region as well. A new generation, for whom the freedom and independence of the Motherland are cherished and exclusive values, was born and raised.

Dear friends,

I am more than convinced that our people will translate all their goals and aspirations into reality.

I once again I congratulate all of us on this most significant public holiday, wish peace and great success to our Homeland and its people, reads the address by the President of Artsakh.
The President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, on Tuesday issued an address on the occasion of Artsakh Revival Day and Karabakh Movement 30th anniversary.

Dear Compatriots,

On 20 February 1988, the Nagorno-Karabakh Regional Council met in an extraordinary session to adopt a resolution expressing the Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)] peoples will for free self-determination. Three decades ago, Armenians all over the world joined the fair demand and struggle of Artsakh.

Today, we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of that historic turning point, which the Artsakh Republic has rightfully proclaimed as the Artsakh Revival Day. Moreover, it became the day of revival of the Armenian people. Monte was right to insist that if we were to lose Artsakh, we would have turned the last page of Armenias history. February 20, 1988 was the moment of unity, determination and national awakening of the Armenian people.

Azerbaijan responded to our peoples peaceful and legitimate demarche by massacres in Sumgait and other places. In those days it became clear that people in Artsakh were doomed to physical extermination or victory.

We were forced to wage war. Those who unleashed the war were convinced that they had a great advantage, and the Karabakh issue would be resolved swiftly and permanently by exterminating the Armenians and depopulating Artsakh. From the distance of three decades we can confidently state that the Karabakh movement saved hundreds of thousands of lives.

Strong with the backing of the whole Armenian nation, the Armenians of Artsakh managed to cope with that severe trial with honor. Today, those who are calling us enemy, accuse us in everything, but the only fault of the people of Artsakh is that they did not lose and were not exterminated in that war.

Dear Compatriots,

The Karabakh movement was supposed to be transformed at a certain stage. With the proclamation of statehood, the movement did not shrink, but became a State policy. The pan-national outburst and awakening was crowned by the reinstatement of our two Armenian States.

We can hear the same threats as 30 years ago as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Karabakh movement. The anti-Armenian propaganda has continued for 30 years now. It seems that nothing has changed. But we did. The free Artsakh, which shook off the Azeri yoke 30 years ago, is developing at a progressive pace both economically, politically, or culturally.

In our public consciousness there may be a justified perception that what is done is not enough. Therefore, we must constantly mark up the bar of our requirements and expectations. As a nation and a State, we still have a lot to do. There is a great deal of work to be done in all fields, but what we have done together over the past 30 years, sometimes in most difficult circumstances, is actually quite enough. Obviously, this is probably the most important thirty-year in Armenias history of the past few centuries. We can do much more, and yet we will think it insufficient.

Subjugation does not have an excuse, while freedom has no alternative. We are building modern and democratic statehoods in the Republics of Armenia and Artsakh. We fully respect the fundamental human rights, since freedom and dignity are absolute values for the Armenian people.

Long live the Republic of Armenia!

Long live the Republic of Artsakh which emerged as a result of the Karabakh Movement!

Long live the pioneers of the Karabakh movement! reads the address by the President of Armenia.
The Vice-Chancellor of Zimbabwes oldest university has been arrested over the suspected fraudulent awarding of a doctoral degree to former first lady, Mrs. Grace Mugabe.

The degree was awarded when ousted president, Robert Mugabe was the university chancellor.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe, Levi Nyagura was arrested on Friday by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission following an investigation into the controversial PhD.

Grace, whose husband resigned in November under pressure from the military, received a doctorate in 2014 amid allegations that she just spent months of study whereas doctorates typically require several years of full-time research and writing.

Anti-Corruption Commission spokeswoman, Phyllis Chikundura, said the university should provide the paper trail showing Grace Mugabes registration and academic progression but Sociology department lecturers said they had no records of Mugabes work.

A copy of the 226-page doctoral thesis, titled The Changing Social Structure and Functions of the Family was only published last month following public calls for the 52-year-old to be stripped of her PhD.
Uchechi Kanu, wife of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), says if Nigerians had allowed an Igbo person to rule, Chukwuemeka Ojukwu would not have failed.

Ojukwu led the Biafran army that unsuccessfully tried to secede from Nigeria in 1967.

In an interview with BBC Igbo, Uchechi said the Igbo deserve more than they are getting from the country.

Nigerians will not allow an Igbo person lead the country but if they had allowed, Ojukwu wouldnt have failed, she said.

Uchechi also said she is not aware of the whereabouts of her husband, adding that she is not sure if he is alive or dead.

She said the last time she spoke with him, via a telephone conversation, was when the army raided their Abia residence in October.

Uchechi insisted that her husband is in the custody of the army.

The IPOB people are not sleeping. The army is going to tell them where their leader is. Keeping Nnamdi Kanu does not mean that IPOB is asleep, Uchechi said.

I dont know where my husband is. If he is dead or alive, I dont know. People that are supposed to answer these questions are the army.

The last time I saw him was when the army came to shoot in our house. He called me and asked if I was hearing the gunshots. I heard the gunshots and started shouting and asked him what was wrong.

He said they are shooting and he is inside the house. That was the last time we spoke.

Making reference to an interview granted by Lai Mohammed, minister of information, Uchehi said government had arrested her husband twice and released him when people mounted pressure on them.

Ojukwu inspecting a parade mounted in hi s honour

Of course, that is what they will say, that they dont know where he is. Lai Mohammed said he is not in their custody. That is what happened in another part of Africa that IPOB people were showing the world when they held him at first in 2015, she said.

I also asked them where he was and they claimed not to know. They released him afterwards. They have done it the first and second time, now they are lying about it for the third time. So, when they have done it twice and still claimed not to be the ones, would you believe?

She said it was untrue that her husband was trying to divide the country.

Asked if Kanu regrets his action given the situation, Uchechi said her husband can never say had I known.

This is what everybody is seeing that we want. My husband is not alone. He is fighting for the Biafrans. He wants togetherness. He is not coming out to be enemies with anybody. Our own ways are different, we do things differently, she said.

The way they are treating us is different from the way they are treating other people. The Hausas act differently to each other than the way they act to Igbos. We want to leave. It is not a bad thing. So many other cities are leaving.

If you dont have a strong mind, you cannot fight a strong battle. They are with Nnamdi Kanu and they think the battle is over but it is not over. People have been asking questions. Our people are angry.

I hope he is alive in their custody. I know who I married, he can never say had I known. There is no way.
Home | News | General | Buharis aide Ojudu distances self from alleged defection plan

- President Buhari's aide, Babafemi Ojudu has debunked defection rumour from his party APC

- He described the alleged defection as a plan only existed in the imaginations of idle politicians and rumour merchants

- He said he would not leave APC for another political party to achieve his political aspirations

A special adviser to the President on political matters, Babafemi Ojudu, has dismissed as mischief purported plans by him to leave the All Progressives Congress (APC) for another political party.

NAIJ.com gathered that Ojudu said that he would not leave APC for another political party to achieve his political aspirations.

READ ALSO: Buhari congratulates Awolowo's daughter, Dosumu at 70

Ojudu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, February 19, in Abuja that such a plan only existed in the imaginations of idle politicians and rumour merchants.

The purpose of the insinuation is to distract us from serious task of engaging stakeholders strategically in the bid to rescuing Ekiti state from political rascals.

We are not going to submit to such misleading antics. Rather, we will accelerate efforts in achieving our goals.

The task before us is the rebirth of Ekiti, no amount of distractions from whatever quarters will stop our march to put back Ekiti where it truly belongs.

Everyone knows that in the last couple of years, this state has become a shadow of what the world used to know it for and returning it to where it belongs is long overdue.

Without any shred of doubt, I am submitting myself for the governorship primary under the platform of the APC to actualising our collective agenda for a born again Ekiti.

We are not going to any political party. Whether Alliance for Democracy (AD) or any other party.

This rumour does not even deserve any response, but for those who may not know Babafemi Ojudu well enough.

I suspect many of such deliberate misinformation is on the way. After all, we are in the age of fake and malicious news, he said.

Ojudu, who represented Ekiti central senatorial district from 2011 to 2015, stressed that he remained a governorship aspirant under the APC for the July 14, gubernatorial polls in Ekiti.

Ojudu, who has not officially declared his intention to run for governorship election in Ekiti, said the misleading news could not distract him from the race.

He vowed to officially declare his ambition very soon in the interest of the public.

The man with the much needed ideas to make Ekiti a better state will be in the race on the platform of the APC and will win by the race Gods grace, he said.

According to the calendar released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), governorship election in Ekiti is slated for July 14.

However, activities leading to the election will commence on April 4, with the issuance of election notice, while campaigns by political parties are scheduled between April 15 and July 12.

Forms for the election will be made available for aspirants on April 16, while primaries will be conducted between April 16 and May 14.

However, disputes arising from the primaries will also be resolved between April 15 and May 14.

The INEC timetable states that campaigns can only start on April 15.

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app

NAN reports that Ojudu will be prosecuting his political campaign on the platform of Ekiti Rebirth Organisation, a socio-cultural movement campaigning for the renowned journalist to become a governor of Ekiti state. (NAN)

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had previously reported that President Buhari is currently addressing his mind to surmounting myriad of challenges confronting the nation and as such is not yet interested in 2019 presidential election.

This was disclosed by the president's special adviser on political affairs, Senator Babafemi Ojudu in an interview with the Daily Sun newspaper.

Are Nigerians truly tired of President Buhari? - on NAIJ.com TV

[embedded content]

Source: Naija.ng

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Home | News | General | Count me out of Obasanjos Third Force  Soyinka

LAGOSNobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has said he should be examined by a psychiatrist, if he joins the Coalition for Nigeria Movement, CNM, spear-headed by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Obasanjo recommended the coalition in a letter he wrote to President Muhammadu Buhari last month.

The elder statesman had asked Nigerians to rally round the movement, saying neither the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, nor the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, could give Nigeria the leadership it deserved.

But speaking in an interview with BBC Yoruba yesterday, Soyinka said the coalition was not meant for someone like him.

Me? Obasanjo would establish a group and I will become a member of such group? That means they should get a psychiatrist to examine me, Soyinka said.

He also spoke about the letters which Obasanjo and former military President, Ibrahim Babangida, addressed to Buhari, saying people should get suspicious when these soldiers speak because there is the possibility that what they have in mind is different from what we have in mind.

Soyinka said nonetheless, the content of the message should be examined, even though the messengers were not trustworthy.

He said: When these soldiers begin to speak, we are supposed to get suspicious and ask what exactly do they have in mind? It is possible that what they have in mind is different from what we have in mind.

You can look at it from two perspectives, the messenger and the message. The message should be examined closely. We should not look at the misdeeds of the messenger alone. Lets start by asking, is he saying the truth or telling lies, or is he being tricky?

If he is saying the truth and talking about things that are beneficial to the masses, we would allow that be. After that, we would now look at the person speaking, what is in his mind? even if its a little child who is speaking, as far as that child is saying the truth, we wont ask the child to keep quiet.

We wont ask the child what do you know? We would listen. It is the same situation with those who have presided over the affairs of this nation without making significant progress.

We have seen their weaknesses, we have seen their nakedness in public, if they now want to be covered by saying that they have turned a new leaf, we would examine that, too. What I am saying in essence is that what they have said should also be examined.

He urged the youth to come together and present a candidate to represent them, adding that the older generation would support them.

We have a lot of them. It is the turn of the younger ones. If they come together, as we speak, if they can start now and bring out one individual among them, we will work with him.

We are going to give them the support they need to transform the country. People like us are supposed to sit somewhere, Soyinka said.

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Home | News | General | Air Peace lands in Freetown, Banjul, Dakar

Banjul  The Chairman of Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema, says seamless air connectivity is pivotal to the socio-economic development of countries within the Economic Community For West African States (ECOWAS) sub-region.

Air Peace

Onyema made the assertion on Monday during the airlines inaugural flight operations to Freetown , Sierra Leone ; Banjul, The Gambia; and Dakar in Senegal.

He said the airline was committed to unlocking the economies of Africa, offering air travelers on business and leisure trips seamless connectivity, as well as creating jobs for the people.

The launch of our Freetown, Banjul and Dakar services today brings our regional network to four routes and a total of 16 domestic and West Coast destinations with more than 80 daily flights.

In the next few weeks, we hope to add five more services to expand our regional route network to a total of nine destinations.

This broad route network ,we believe, will form a solid base to link African nations and connect the continent to the rest of the world by air, Onyema, who was represented by the airlines Corporate Communications Manager, Mr Chris Iwarah, said.

According to him, the airline is resolute in its determination to end the challenges of air travel on the West Coast of Africa and will soon begin flight operations to many international destinations.

He said the destinations include Dubai, Guangzhou-China, London, Houston, Mumbai and South Africa, stressing that Air Peace had expanded its fleet size to 24 aircraft towards actualising this feat.

Receiving the Air Peace delegation at the Freetown International Airport, Lungi, Mr Balogun Koroma, the Minister of Transportation, Sierra Leone, commended the airline for extending operations to the country.

We are looking for in-flight quality service, on-time service and adherence to our local content laws in terms of employing our people; and Air Peace has given us the assurance that they would adhere to that, Koroma said.

At the Banjul International Airport, Mr Abdoulie Colley, Director of Operations, Gambian Airport Authority, assured Air Peace of the needed support to ensure hitch free operations in the country.

Similarly, Prof. Oluwasegun Ibidapo-Ope, Nigerian Ambassador to the Gambia, said the coming of Air Peace would strengthen bilateral relations between both countries.

The ambassador noted that the country had a lot of potential that was waiting to be tapped by Nigerians, and expressed optimism that the connectivity being provided by Air Peace would help in improving the situation.

In Dakar, Mr Xavier Mary, who spoke on behalf of the operators of Aeroport International Blaise Diagne , said it was a good opportunity for improving businesses between Nigeria and Senegal.

Also, Mr Lot Egopija, Minister in the Embassy of Nigeria, Dakar, said one of the main agenda of ECOWAS was to bridge the gap among its member states.

Egopija said: Air Peace coming into Dakar is to create access to the people of both countries and also to further the ECOWAS agreement.

Nigeria has Bi-lateral Air Service Agreements (BASAs) with many nations, and having a population of 180 million people, it is a good way of ensuring Nigerians have access to these people and also their businesses.

Many people have preconceived notions about Nigeria, and I hope that Air Peace will be able to allay their fears by connecting them to the country to see our vast potentialities.

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Home | News | General | Job prospects in ALSCON thrill AIbom youths

By Chioma Onuegbu

EKET  YOUTHS of Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, are excited at the projections of fresh job opportunities, following the plan by the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria, (ALSCON), located in the area, to commence full operations after Russian Aluminium Company, RUSAL and BFIG settled their contentious bid controversy out of court.

unemployment

FG resolves BFIG, RUSAL court battle

NDV learned that the process to privatise ALSCON started since 2001, but the highest bidder, BFIG, in2004, dragged the Bureau of Public Enterprise, BPE and RUSAL to court.

It was gathered that the Federal Government subsequently gave RUSAL, the second highest bidder, a go-ahead after BFIG failed to pay the money it offered to take over the company.

Immediate past president of Ukpum Ete Clan, who expressed confidence in RUSAL restoring ALSCON to its former glory, said: When our people heard that the Federal Government had intervened in the lingering court matter between BFIG and RUSAL towards the ending of 2017, we were very excited. Even foremost socio-cultural groups like Mboho Ikot Abasi were optimistic that once ALSCON commenced full operations, Ikot Abasi will come alive again.

Outstanding past

When ALSCON was functional, there were lots of job opportunities and our people, especially youths, benefitted a lot from the company. Apart from the constant and free electricity supply enjoyed by our communities, there were programmes for youths of the five clans in Ikot Abasi, including payment of certain amount of money to each clan for youth development.

The Americans that managed ALSCON then did a lot for us and that was responsible for the peaceful coexistence between the company and its host communities of Ikot Abasi, he said.

RUSAL wins hearts

His words: We have also observed that since RUSAL took over ALSCON before the court case, they have demonstrated that they would toe same path. For us, it is a good sign that once they start full operations, Ikot Abasi people will smile again.

And for convincing RUSAL and BFIG to settle out of court, we the youths cannot thank the Federal Government enough for that effort. We specially thank this administration for considering ALSCON among nonfunctional industries in the country, he added.

Similarly, Chairman Ikot Abasi Clan Youth Leaders Forum, Akparawa Mfreke Usoro said: For many years now, nothing had been happening in Ikot Abasi. No development, no job opportunities, the youths are idle because they have nothing to do and that is why there is rise in criminality.

And what Ikot Abasi youths want now is for RUSAL to start production immediately; no more court matter or anything that will bring problem or impede development of our communities. And I believe that RUSAL will accommodate our youths very well, he said.

No more litigation

An activist, Innocent John, said: I want to advise that RUSAL and BFIG resolve the matter once and for all because we do not need any more court case. We need progress and development in Ikot Abasi We value ALSCON so much because it is the only Federal Government presence in our communities.

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Home | News | General | Bayelsa residents groan under protracted power outage

State government moves to salvage situation

By Samuel Oyadongha

YENAGOA- BAYELSANS who had waited for relief from the lingering power outage in Yenagoa, the state capital and environs, have expressed disenchantment at the persistent blackout, which has crippled their businesses.

Power

Residents in some parts of the city had electricity supply last on Christmas and New Year day and are perplexed at the decision of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, PHED, to stay moot on the sustained blackout

The high cost of premium motor spirit, PMS, in the predominantly riverine state where the filling stations dispenses a liter of fuel at N200, except the NNPC mega station that sells at N143 per liter, has further compounded the woes of residents.

PHEDC issues bills for unsupplied electricity  Inhabitants

A resident of Biogbolo, Ebiowei Jones asserted: It has been a trying period for us since after the yuletide celebration. We have not had power supply in the last five weeks, yet bills are being distributed by PHED for electricity not supplied.

A welder, simply identified as Adi, said: The power situation is affecting our business. We have been relying on generator and you can imagine the cost of buying fuel. If only we can return to those days when our state generates its power independently through its Imiringi Gas Turbine and transmit same free to her citizens,

ABBEC bemoans darkness

Few days ago, the Association of Bulk Bill Electricity Consumers , ABBEC, Yenagoa, expressed concern over the sad turn of event in the state, calling for government intervention to save members businesses from incurring further losses due to lack of power supply.

The group, in a statement, lamented: Few months after 50 per cent tariff increase by the PHEDC, power supply has dwindled to an all-time low. Yet, at the end of the month, you expect the people to pay for electricity which they did not consume, how can that be possible?

ABBEC chair, Mr. Ebi Ozegbe, stated that members were losing the confidence to face residents of the state to demand for electricity bills when the people were wallowing in darkness.

Commissioner assures residents

Though the lingering power outage blamed on the activities of vandals in neighbouring Rivers State had been restored in some parts of the state, most parts of the capital are still in darkness.

Commissioner for Power, Chief Partner Jim-Ogbolo, has, however, assured residents of better days, following ongoing government efforts to light up the state.

Chief Jim-Ogbolo said the state government is carrying out 48 projects out of which 23 have been completed and 25 ongoing with a view to improving the power situation in the predominantly riverine state.

He said the government had constructed a new 33 KVA sub- transmission line from Ogbia to Nembe, Ikibiri-Angiama 33 KVA and upgrading of electricity supply in Akipelai community.

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Home | News | General | Ogbe-Ijoh cut off from access road, electricity by Aladja, Monday alleges

By Emma Amaize

WARRINATIONAL Coordinator, Niger Delta Scholars, Chief Keme Monday, yesterday, said since 2016, residents of Ogbe-Ijoh, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, have been prevented from passing the only link road to their community allegedly by neighbouring Aladja community in Udu Local Government Area of the state.

Chief Monday, in a statement, said: The governor of Delta State is aware that the only access road to the headquarters of Warri South-West had been blocked by Aladja people since March 24, 2016, depriving the council workers, school teachers and others access to the road.

The headquarters of Warri South-West and Isaba communities were disconnected by Aladja people from the national grid in the past two years and government of Delta State has not done anything about it, he lamented.

The Ogbe-Ijoh leader, who flayed the handling of the crisis between the two communities by the state government, said: The state government cannot claim to be ignorant of the existence of boundary law which government in the past had consistently maintained as evidenced in the present maps of Udu and Warri South- West councils.

First was Public Notice No 28 of 1946 enitled Southern Nigeria Protectorate which created the boundary line between the Urhobo and Warri divisions and demarcated the boundary to be the creek by Delta Steel Company, which the company converted to drainage.

Then in 1955, the above mentioned boundary law was amended via Gazette No 176 of 1955, which shifted the boundary between the then Urhobo and Warri divisions to the present roundabout in Aladja town.

The above referenced law was applied to resolve the boundary dispute between Ekpan in Uvwie Local Government and Ubeji in Warri South Local Government on one hand and Oghara in Ethiope West and Koko in Warri North councils.

Any attempt to share the entire land in Ogbe Ijoh, which Aladja claimed to be disputed land equally, to the two communities and to shift the council boundary to the new point of division by the Okowa-led state government is strange and unknown to the law as the state government lacks such powers, he added.

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Home | News | General | AGF queries Magu, Keyamo over charges against CCT chairman

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, has given Acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, 48 hours to explain why the agency filed corruption charges against Chairman of Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Mr. Danladi Umar.

Malami, Danladi and Magu

Malami, in his letter dated February 16, with reference No DPP/ADV:368/15, said the clarification was necessitated by the fact that EFCC under Magu, had on two occasions, cleared the CCT boss of complicity in the N10 million bribery allegation upon which the charge was based.

The AGF said the EFCC chairman should, in his response to the query, clarify whether he, indeed, gave instruction or directive for the charge to be filed, and if in the affirmative, explain the compelling basis for the action.

Magu was specifically directed to submit his response to the query, which was signed by Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary at Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Dayo Apata, before Tuesday, February 20.

Keyamo, too

In a related development, the AGF, in a separate letter with reference No DPP/ADV:369/15, asked Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, to confirm whether indeed he was engaged by EFCC to prosecute the charge against the CCT Chairman.

Keyamo was also given till Tuesday to furnish the Office of the AGF in writing, detail of who gave him the FIAT (authority) to file the charges.

The AGFs letter to Keyamo read: The attention of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation was drawn to news report that you have filed charges of corruption against the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Hon. Justice Danladi Umar, before the FCT High Court.

The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation hereby requests that you kindly furnish this office with the details of the instruction or authorization upon which you instituted the case under reference. Kindly accord this letter top priority while your prompt response on or before Tuesday, February 20, 2018 is solicited in this regard

Group asks court to sack CCT Chairman

Meanwhile, a group under the aegis of Kingdom Human Rights Foundation, yesterday, approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, asking it to order the CCT chairman to vacate his office pending the determination of the charge against him.

The group, in its originating summons marked FHC/ABJ/CS/172/2018, insisted that the CCT boss has breached the code of conduct for public officers and should, henceforth, stop presiding over the tribunal.

More so, the plaintiff, through its lawyer, Mr. Okere Nnamdi, filed motion ex-parte for leave of court to apply for an order of mandamus to compel President Muhammadu Buhari and National Assembly to commence the process of removing Umar as the CCT Chairman.

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Home | News | General | Grazing Law: Emir Sanusi, Miyetti Allah boss thumb up Fayose

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Mohammed Sanusi 11 and the National President of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Muhammadu Kiruwa, have commended the Ekiti State Governor, Chief Ayodele Fayose, for the enactment of the Anti-Open Grazing Law in the state, saying it is for the protection of all interest groups.

Fayose

The duo said the law caters for the well-being of the parties involved, especially the herders, farmers, host communities among others.

Also, amnesty has been declared for any armed herder who surrenders such arms to security agencies in the state.

They spoke in Ado-Ekiti on Monday during a stakeholders meeting held at the Government House Grounds.

In a statement by the governors Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, the Emir, who is a patron of the MACBAN, was represented by former Kano State Governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, who is also the Sarduana of Kano.

Emir Sanusi also frowned at the situation whereby some criminal elements would hide under grazing of herd to perpetrate crimes.

My mission is not politics and it is about peace and peaceful coexistence of our nation

I am standing in here for the Emir and I am the Sarduana of Kano. The Emir mandated me to come over here with the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association and find out how we can work amicably. He feels that as a patron of the group he must ensure peace and lauded Governor Fayose for promoting peace.

The law Governor Fayose enacted is the best to defend the rights of farmers and cattle breeders. Whoever crosses the red line should be dealt with as the law provides. That breeders should obey the rules of the communities they reside, he said.

In his comment, the MACBAN President, Muhammadu Kiruwa, described the meeting as a great eye opener and one that would put an end to incessant clashes between farmers and herders.

I am really impressed with the governor for organising this meeting. Some state governors would just sit in their offices and not being proactive like Governor Fayose. Some misconception that I personally had against the governor have been cleared now.

 I can say it categorically that Governor Ayodele Fayose is a true leader of his people. He is definitely a lover of all groups including the Fulani people I can say he is the Sarkin Fulani of Ekiti State. He is a peaceful leader and represents hope for all.

We align ourselves with the grazing law as made by Ekiti State Government because it protects the interest of all parties, he said.

Speaking in the same vein, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe Aladesanmi 111, said Fayose, being a visionary leader, ensured the enactment of the law following the killing of some people in Irele-Ekiti about two years ago.

Some people thought he wanted to create problems with the law but as a visionary leader, he only took a proactive step and that was what helped prevent bloodshed like we had in some states. We need to tackle the issue before it gets out of hand. We are toying with danger if care is not taken. I would suggest that traditional rulers from across the country move round to meet and interact with the people, he said.

In his speech, Governor Fayose said the essence of the meeting was to find peaceful means of resolving issues instead of beating the drums of war.

A criminal is one and should be so treated. Our interest is peace. As we are interested in the welfare of everybody and we must not allow criminal elements to go free. Our relationship goes beyond cows. We must respect each other and we will cooperate to achieve result. We want Ekiti to be a shining example and anybody that needs to be charged to court or fined will be so disciplined, he said.

Fayose also said herders in government forest reserves must come out and register with local government authorities or they would be treated as those causing trouble in the state.

He also accepted the invitation by Kiruwa to be part of the teams to mediate in the crises in Benue and Taraba states.

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Home | News | General | Ekeremor people commend Agip over road project

By Samuel Oyadongha

EKEREMOR INDIGENES of the coastal town of Egbemo Angalabiri in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have commended Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC, over the construction of a road in their community.

The road with two side drains, spanning 500m is one of the several projects being carried out in the predominantly swampy area by the oil company under the memorandum of understanding it entered into with the community.

Speaking on behalf of the elated indigenes during the commissioning of the project the Community Development Committee, Chairman, Mr. Pumokumo Gabice, said it was gratifying to the community to see the completion and commissioning of the road project by NAOC and its joint venture partners.

He noted that the manifestation of the project was a dream come true for the people of Egbemo Angalabiri community.

Gabice thanked the company for fulfilling the terms of the memorandum of understanding with the community and urged other oil companies operating within Egbemo Angalabiri territory to emulate NAOC and its JV partners.

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Home | News | General | March 15 for ruling on Abubakar Tsavs forgery case

By Peter Duru

MAKURDIA Makurdi Chief Magistrates Court, presided over by Justice Dennis Ingya, yesterday, fixed March 15 for ruling in the forgery case preferred against the Public Complaints Commissioner in charge of Benue State, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, and his Personal Assistant, Torkuma Uker, by Benue State government.

They were accused of forging government documents which they relied on in writing petitions against Governor Samuel Ortom and his administration.

At the hearing, counsel to the defendants, Mr. Anthony Agadah, informed the court that the several sections of the pleadings in the fundamental right action pending before a Makurdi Federal High Court and the case of injurious falsehood also pending before a Makurdi Magistrates Court against the first defendant (Alhaji Tsav) were replicated in the case before the court.

He said: Our submission is that the court has the powers to check the abuse. What we have here is a multiplicity of actions, which amounts to an abuse of court processes and the only remedy is a strike out.

But counsel to the state government, Mr. Andrew Wombo, accused defence counsel of misleading the court, insisting that the substances of the two cases pending before the Federal High Court and Magistrates Court were completely different from the matter before the court.

Justice Ingya granted bail to Alhaji Tsav on grounds of self-recognition, while his aide, Torkuma Uker, was granted N500,000 bail, with a surety who must be a top civil servant.

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Home | News | General | Lack of electric power grounds Awoyaya

By Elizabeth Uwandu

For years now, residents of Awoyaya in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, have struggled with the effects of epileptic power supply caused by a bad transformer, in spite of several entreaties to Eko Electricity Distribution Company, EKEDC.

Consequently, economic and social activities in the area have been grounded, as several small and medium scale businesses have closed shop.

A resident, Madam Folashade Ogunwusi, expressed her frustration to Vanguard: What these people are doing to us is unfair. The transformer in question has been serving this area for a very long time, when about 20 percent of the present population lived here.

What we need is a replacement, because each time they come to repair the transformer, it normally does not work for more than two days. I had to shut down my hair dressing saloon business, when I could no longer cope with using generator to run the shop.

Another resident, Ugochukwu Nzube, said Power Holdings Company of Nigeria, PHCN, was making arrangements to change the transformer before it was privatised.

His words: Since then, we have heard nothing about the planned replacement. Nobody is talking to us. They are actually expecting us to buy the transformer for them. But that cannot happen.

Reacting, the General Manager, Corporate Communications, EKEDC, Godwin Idemudia, appealed to the residents to be calm.

He said the company is putting in place structures to tackle the problem.

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Home | News | General | Fuel hike: Imo monarch plans protest at NASS

By Chinonso Alozie

OWERRIFOLLOWING reports of increase in pump price of petrol, a traditional ruler, Eze Desmond Ogugua of Eziudo in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area, in Imo State, said he would demonstrate against the increase to the national assembly.

Ogugua who spoke at his palace yesterday, added that states should be allowed to establish refineries.

He said: Nigeria crying over shortage of fuel is unfortunate. Shame to the leadership. Why cant states establish their own refineries? How can they think that three refineries can serve Nigeria with millions of people?

If the government is sincere, they should allow states to own their own refineries. I remember when David West was the minister of petroleum, he invited me to his office in Lagos.

I challenge the minister of petroleum and the NNPC to tell the country why we should have three refineries in Nigeria. I am begging President Buhari, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara to look into the petition I wrote to them. If not, I will lead a self protest to the National Assembly.

K. O. Mbadiwe, Chief A. K Hart, Obafemi Owolowo and myself Eze Desmond Ogugua,among others should be appreciated for letting this country know the secret of how many barrels of oil produced daily in Nigeria.

The Imo monarch recalled that, the people who worked for the interest of this country were not appreciated. It is on record that without us, Nigeria might not have established the NNPC.

Nigeria government got facts from us.

Why should we stay in this country and start to cry for petroleum. And this happens, during the festivals, Christmas, that was when we suffer for scarcity of petroleum.

In the Southeast region, we can float over twenty refineries, because we have individuals who can build a refinery. New Jersey in United States of America, have over one hundred and thirty refineries.

Enough is Enough Nigeria. This matter, I brought it up when Buhari, was minster of petroleum, that was when he visited Washington.

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Home | News | General | Osanebi, Ezechi hail Okowa over award

By Tare Youdeowei

Deputy Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Friday Osanebi, has described the Governor of the Year Award bestowed on Dr Ifeanyi Okowa by Independent Newspapers as a reward for hard work, dexterity and prudence.

Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (left) receiving an Award as Governor of the Year 2017 from Chairman, Bulet International Limited Abuja, Alhaji Ismaila Isa Funtua, during the Celebration of Outstanding Nigerians Independent Award 2017 at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island Lagos

Also, a DESOPADEC Commissioner, Nnamdi Ezechi, has applauded the award on Okowa for his passion and commitment towards the holistic development of the state, noting that the award has shut the mouth of critics.

Ezechi in a chat in Lagos, said: Within the space of two years, Governor Okowa has demonstrated an unparalleled passion and zeal to the holistic development of Delta State and the SMART prosperity of Deltans across board.

On his part, Osanebi in a congratulatory message said the award has once again shown that the developmental strides of Governor Okowa are being appreciated by the people of the state and Nigerians at large.

He described the awards as a reward for excellence, adding: Your Excellency, through diligence and prudent management of resources, you have practically demonstrated that you are a leader with strange abilities. This award today is indeed a reward of excellence.

Osanebi noted that Governor Okowa, who was recognised for uncommon wealth creation and infrastructure in the state, has demonstrated rare virtues of frugality and industry in the discharge of his duty as governor.

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Home | News | General | I paid DSS men, others N1m to bring in 661 rifles

By Innocent Anaba and Onozure Dania

LAGOS  Mamudu Hassan, one of the accused persons standing trial over unlawful importation of 661 sophisticated pump action rifles into the country last December, yesterday told a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, that he paid a sum of N1 million to officials of the Department of State Security, DSS, and other security agencies to smuggle the guns out of Apapa Ports.

Director-General of Department of State Service, DSS, Mr Lawal Daura

Mamudu, a retired Assistant Comptroller of Customs, stated this in a recorded video during his interrogation by men of the DSS.

The video, recorded on March 27, 2017, between the hours of 2p.m., and 2.45p.m., was tendered by an operative of DSS, Jaiye Emmanuel at the resumed trial-within-trial, as Mamudu gave a breakdown of how the N1 million was shared among DSS and other security agencies.

He said: I gave N1 million to facilitate the moving of the container out of port, but it is not because of the guns.

When Mamudu was asked how the N1 million was shared among security agencies, he said:

The examiners were given N200,000; C.I.O. N100,000; Enforcement N200,000; Police, SSS  between N20, 000, N25, 000, and N30, 000; the two gates  N200,000; Exit gate, N20,000, and final gate N50,000.

Mamudu also told the investigators in the video that he first agreed with the importer of the guns for N3.8 million, when he was first told that the consignments were steel doors, but raised the cost of clearing the consignment to N4 million, when he was told that the consignment included 661 pump action guns.

The video recording was admitted in evidence, while further hearing continues today.

It will be recalled that the Nigeria Customs Service had on June 14, 2017, arraigned two Customs officers, Mamudu Hassan and Salisu Danjuma, alongside Oscar Orkafor, Donatus Achinulo and Matthew Okoye, before Justice Ayotunde Faji on charges of illegal importation of fire arms, conspiracy, forgery and altering of documents, offering of graft to government officials and importation of prohibited goods.

They were arrested January 30, 2017.

The offences, according to the prosecutor, Mr. Julius Ajakaiye, are contrary to and punishable under Sections 3(6),1(14)(a)(I) 1(2) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and Section 98(1) (b) of the Criminal Code Act.

Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF in charge number FHC/L/190c/17, alleged that all the accused persons conspired with one another to illegally import into Nigeria 661 Pump Action Rifles.

They were also alleged to have forged the documents which include: two Bills of Lading, one reads Shanghai China, as Port of Loading, instead of Istanbul.

One of the counts reads: Steel Doors, as the contents of the container instead of Customs Form M, Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) used in smuggling the said 661 rifles into the country.

In particular, one of the Customs officials, Mamudu Hassan, was alleged to have corruptly offered the sum of N400,000 to one Aliu Musa, the Examination Officer of the Federal Operations Unit of the Customs Service with an intent to prevent one hundred percent search on a container marked PONU 825914/3, which was used in bringing the arms into the country.

He was also alleged to have corruptly given the sum of N1 million to government officials at Apapa Ports through his colleague, Danjuma Abdulahi, in order to prevent the searching of the said container used in bringing in the 661 illegally imported Pump Action rifles.

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Seven persons were injured yesterday in an accident involving a passenger car and about 20 cows at Omi-Adio in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, end of the Ibadan-Abeokuta expressway.

Nobody died in the mishap.

Also, the police averted a bloody clash between Fulani settlers and some residents of the surrounding villages (host communities) on the scene of the accident.

The policemen were on the scene to convey the injured.

A blue Toyota car bus loaded with 10 passengers, it was gathered, was heading to Ibadan from Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, when the accident occurred between Aba-Teacher and Aba-Oke village at Omi Adio.

Those who sustained injuries, the driver and six others were said to have been taken to a private hospital for treatment.

One of the cows with a knee injury was removed from the expressway to prevent it from causing more accident on the highway.

An eyewitness said immediately the accident occurred, a young Fulani man, who was directing the cows, called the cows and ran into the bush without caring for the injured passengers in the wrecked Toyota car bus.

The eyewitness said: It was a terrible scene. This is not the first time we have witnessed accidents by herdsmen. They never listen to the warning that they should not take their cows near the expressway.

God has been so kind to these passengers. They could have died. The vehicle was badly damaged. But instead of making effort to save life, the Fulani man just called his cows in his language. Immediately, all the cows ran after him, except the injured one on the expressway.

This is very bad. Something urgent must be done to avoid this problem on the highway.

The cows were said to have sped off with the herdsman into the bush.

Sympathisers, mostly people from the surrounding villages, pursued the Fulani man but could not trace him.

Some residents, who participated in the rescue to remove the trapped passengers from the wrecked vehicle, started mobilising for a manhunt for the Fulani herdsmen.

It was learnt that while the villagers were about to unleash mayhem on the herdsmen, the driver of the vehicle arrived the scene with two policemen from nearby Omi-Adio Police Station.

The policemen urged the angry residents to avoid making trouble with the herdsmen, adding that the matter had been reported at the station.

A police source at the station confirmed the incident, assuring the people that normalcy had returned to the area.
Consul-General of Nigeria in Guangzhou, China, Mr. Wale Oloko has admonished young Nigerians aspiring to travel to China for employment purposes to look elsewhere.

Oloko told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that it had been and would continue to be difficult for unskilled Nigerians to secure even menial jobs in China.

The consul-general, however, said it was only exceptionally skilled Nigerians in artificial intelligence, Information Technology and other areas that could be considered for employment in China.

Nigerians wanting to travel to travel to China for employment must appreciate the fact that China currently has a population of about 1.4 billion people.

And the Chinese government has to first be able to provide employment for the Chinese.

And besides that, there is the language barrier for Nigerians wanting to get employment in China to contend with.

Let me, therefore, say that there are not many employment opportunities for Nigerians or other foreigners, who want to travel to any part of China to do menial jobs, he said.

Oloko, who was visiting Nigeria so as to strengthen China and Nigeria relations, said China was presently favourable to Nigerians who would be visiting for studies, tourism and business purposes.

He said the over 70, 000 Nigerians that travelled to the Guangdong Province in 2016, had visited the Chinese province for business, tourism, education and healthcare issues.

The bilateral relations between Nigeria and the Peoples Republic of China have expanded on growing bilateral trade and strategic cooperation.

China is considered one of Nigerias closest allies and partners. China is also one of Nigerias important trading and export partners, with trade relations hitting the 2.7 billion dollar mark in 2017.
Home | News | General | Group writes IGP, accuses police of scuttling certificate forgery investigation of Andy Uba

- A group has accused the police of moves to scuttle investigation on the certificate forgery case against Senator Andy Uba

- The group said the police and the inspector general of police have allegedly dabbled into the investigation

The group further gave the IGP three days to file in an explanation on the 'stalled' investigation

A civil society organisation has petitioned the inspector general of police, Ibrahim Idris, over ongoing investigation of the certificate forgery case against the Senator representing Anambra south, Andy Uba.

The group Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum (ACIF) said the police and the IGP have allegedly dabbled into the investigation.

In the petition signed by Graylaw Solicitors on behalf of the group, the lawyers said they were seeking explanations from Idris over the delayed investigation which was already heading for success.

They gave the police boss three working days to file in his explanation.

READ ALSO: Boko Haram launches deadly attack on government girls secondary school in Yobe

Among issued raised on the petition, was another letter written by Victor Uwajeh, a lawyer to Uba who had accused the senator of forging his certificate.

Also, it was gathered that Uwajeh's petition was forwarded to a deputy inspector general of police with the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID), H.M Dagala for investigation.

The group said: "Surprisingly, instead of allowing the FCIID to carry out their investigation to conclusion, you decided to scuttle same by ordering DIG Dagala to stop investigation forthwith and forward the file of Senator Uba to your office.

READ ALSO: How my husband was sidelined after APC won 2015 election - Oluremi Tinubu

"Following the receipt of the letter written by your office, the investigation ceased and Senator Uba stopped honouring police invitations. You also retrieved all the case files and investigation reports relating to Senator Uba's case.

"It is on record that you then turned around to use your Monitoring Unit to invite Chief Uwajeh to make statements concerning the case and he complied and made available all necessary documents. Suddenly, you somersaulted and prompted the filing of a four-count charge dated September 19, 2017 against Chief Uwajeh, with which he was served only on February 1, 2018," the group said in its petition.

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In an earlier report by NAIJ.com Uwajeh had said he would not be intimidated by the Senator over his refusal to pay his legal fees.

Uwajeh, a former consultant and investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accused Uba of using Anambra state machinery and the police to intimidate him.

He said he wondered why a serving senator of the Federal Republic will make attempts to use the police to silence justice.

Forgery scandal: Protesters insist Senator Andy Uba must go - on NAIJ.com TV

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Home | News | General | Some persons are planning to attack me because of grazing law - Governor Ortom cries out

- Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state says he has informed security agencies about threats to his life

- He expresses the belief that life belongs to God and not in the hands of any person who is not happy with the open grazing prohibition law

- Nine killed as herdsmen and farmers clash in Oyo state

The Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, has said some unknown persons are threatening his life because of the open grazing prohibition law enacted by his administration.

Vanguard reports that Ortom made the disclosure in Makurdi, the Benue state capital on Monday, February 19. The governor said he had informed the matter to security agencies so that those behind the threats could be arrested.

He said: There are threats to my life because of the grazing law we enacted in the state to ensure peaceful coexistence between our local farmers and herdsmen.

It is on record. I have also reported the matter to the security agencies that some persons were planning to attack me."

Ortom expressed the belief that life belongs to God and not in the hands of any person who is not happy with the open grazing prohibition law, 2017.

If they are not happy, that is not my problem. They cannot take away my life because life belongs to God and not man no matter his position.

Whether these threats are real or not, they are threats and I have reported it to the Police, and the security agencies are doing the needful. I believe that those behind the threats will be apprehended and brought to book, he said.

The governor maintained that the grazing law enacted in Benue was backed by the people of the state, noting that the law was meant to stop the killings in rural communities and was not targeted at any group, persons or individuals.

Meanwhile, the Oyo state governor, Abiola Ajimobi, on Monday, February 19, ordered the arrest and prosecution of armed herdsmen as well as herders destroying people's farm by grazing on it.

The governor's order came after nine people, including a police officer had been killed a clash between herdsmen and farmers in the state.

The governor gave the orders at a stakeholders meeting attended by the representatives of farmers, Fulani herdsmen, security agencies and other stakeholders, at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan.

Victims of Herdsmen killing buried in Benue State on NAIJ.com TV

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Home | News | General | How my husband was sidelined after APC won 2015 election - Oluremi Tinubu

- Senator Oluremi Tinubu says her husband was sidelined despite his efforts towards ensuring that APC won the 2015 poll

- She insists President Buhari remains the candidate to beat in the forthcoming presidential election

- Bola Tinubu commences his mediator role with Sokoto being his first port of call

Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the wife of the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has said her husband was sidelined by the ruling party after it won the 2015 presidential election.

Speaking on Your View, a breakfast show of Television Continental, the senator alleged that Tinubu was sidelined despite his efforts towards ensuring that APC won the poll, The Punch reports.

READ ALSO: Jubilation as Nigerian Catholic bishop resigns after pressure

Oluremi said though she raised concerns over her husbands continued loyalty to the party after been sidelined by the presidency and the APC, she said the party leader was always talking about the development of the country.

He was campaigning, I did too. We were running three campaigns in my house. And for him to be trashed like that? But I saw somebody who has love for this country. I hate to speak because when I stand in the front of God, I dont want, because of this man, go to hell.

Occasionally, I would chip in and I would say, Youre still helping out? Why are you helping out? He would say, This country matters to me more, she said.

Oluremi however insisted that President Buhari remained the candidate to beat in the 2019 presidential election despite the fact that the current administration was now under massive criticisms,

She said: Change takes only one person to champion. And you need leadership. For me, Buhari is still the candidate to beat. Leadership is inspirational. Management is technical. If you have all the degrees and youre smart and savvy, it is not about leadership. How many people are you inspiring?

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And Buhari, how many years has he been there? I am not campaigning for him. I am not; because I have looked at the dynamics; the poor still trust him. I will tell you: when it comes to integrity, Buhari has it. I dont know about now.

Meanwhile, the national leader and head of the presidential reconciliation committee of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Saturday, February 17 visited Sokoto, where he met with Governor Aminu Tambuwal and his predecessor, Senator Aliyu Wamakko.

Tinubu, accompanied by APC chieftain Alhaji idi Farouk, held a two-hour closed-door meeting with his hosts at both the government house and Wamakkos residence.

The meeting was later expanded to include deputy governor Ahmed Aliyu and national vice chairman of APC (northwest), Malam Inuwa Abdulkadir.

Speaking briefly to reporters after the meeting, Tinubu said he was in Sokoto for a family meeting.

APC official tells why his party could be voted out in 2019 on NAIJ.com TV

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Home | News | General | Oyo governor orders armed herdsmen arrest after police officer, 8 others die in clash

- Governor Ajimobi of Oyo state has ordered the arrest of herdsmen carrying weapons in his state

- The governor also ordered security operatives to arrest and prosecute owner of cattle destroying people's farm

- The order came after a herdsmen/farmers clash that resulted to the death of nine people

Oyo state governor, Abiola Ajimobi, on Monday, order the arrest and prosecution of armed herdsmen as well as herders destroying people's farm by grazing on it.

The governor's order came after nine people, including a police officer had been killed a clash between herdsmen and farmers in the state.

The governor gave the orders at a stakeholders meeting attended by the representatives of farmers, Fulani herdsmen, security agencies and other stakeholders, at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan, Premium Times reports.

READ ALSO: South-south PDP leaders meet, vow to vote out APC in 2019

He said: The flagship of our administrations programmes and successes has been the maintenance of peace and security and we will not allow anybody to truncate this.

Fulani people are good people; if not I will not allow my only son to marry a Fulani lady. We must separate criminals from the good people.

Why will a herdsman be carrying gun? Henceforth, any herdsman found with guns should be arrested and prosecuted. Owners of cattle found grazing on farmlands and destroying crops should also be arrested and prosecuted. Any farmer that poison cattle should also be arrested and prosecuted.

But, we must realise that some of these herdsmen come all the way from Niger Republic and Chad for grazing. Not all of these herdsmen are Nigerians.

The people have their roles, while the government also have a role to play in finding lasting solutions to the menace. We must all participate in the security of our communities. Yes, it is the responsibility of government to guarantee the safety and security of the citizens, but we cannot do it alone.

We must learn to live together in peace. A special surveillance unit will be created under the Operation Burst to curtail the excesses of those concerned and they will be adequately equipped and given necessary logistics.

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NAIJ.com previously reported that Afenifere, a Yoruba socio-political organisation, has thrown its weight behind Professor Wole Soyinkas call for the use of hunters and vigilante groups to tackle the menace of herdsmen in Ogun state, in collaboration with other security outfits.

The secretary general of Afenifere, Chief Sehinde Arogbofa, on Saturday, February 17, said all states in the southwest should embrace the idea.

Victims of Herdsmen killing buried in Benue State on NAIJ.com TV

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Home | News | General | Boko Haram launches deadly attack on government girls secondary school in Yobe

- Suspected Boko Haram members have attacked Government Girls Secondary School, Dapchi, in Burasari local government area of Yobe state.

- The attack was confirmed by the commissioner of police, Yobe state command, Abdulmaliki Sunmonu

- Security operatives have been mobilized to the location

Suspected Boko Haram members have attacked Government Girls Secondary School, Dapchi, in Burasari local government area of Yobe state.

The attack was confirmed by the Yobe state commissioner of police, Abdulmaliki Sunmonu.

Sumonu confirmed the attack in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Boko Haram continues its attacks in the northeast despite heavy military presence. Source: Twitter

READ ALSO: Shehu Sani disagrees with federal government on defeat of Boko Haram

He said: At about 5.30 p.m today, the suspected insurgents attacked Dapchi, headquarters of Bursari local government area.

The details are not immediately available, we are still collating the details including the casualties.

A teacher in the school, who escaped the attack, told Daily Trust that the attackers stormed the school around 7:00pm through the eastern part of the town.

They shot sporadically and forced the school food store opened. We (staff) and the students ran into the bush for safety, he said.

When asked, whether there was abduction of the girls he said its too early for him to comment on it.

For now, we can't say anything until all the students returned tomorrow morning, he said.

A resident, Alhaji Ibrahim, said the attackers stormed the village in six Hilux vans through the eastern part while shooting sporadically.

They forced some shops opened and stole food items. We are yet to know if there are casualties because, everyone in the town has scampered for safety. Some fled to bush, others into their homes.

They also attacked military location at the town entrance bridge. But we cannot tell if there are casualties there, he added.

The commissioner however said security operatives have been reinforced in the area to ensure total security.

Alhaji Zanna Abatcha, chairman Bursari local government council told NAN that the suspected insurgents have already left the town and more security operatives have been deployed to maintain security.

The details are not known yet because its already night, we will get the comprehensive details tomorrow he said. (NAN)

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The attack happened on the same day the terrorists launched a deadly attack at the University of Maiduguri, two weeks after they released three lecturers of the institution following months of captivity.

A Boko Haram bomber detonated his explosive in the evening on Monday, February 19 near a students hostel, but was gunned down before he could unleash mayhem.

Survivors of Boko Haram - on NAIJ.com TV

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Home | News | General | Onnoghen urges use of ADR in conflict situations

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA-Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, yesterday, called for more application of Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR, mechanisms in peace building efforts across the federation.

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen,

The CJN said it would better serve the ends of justice if lawyers would inculcate the habit of first encouraging their clients to explore ADR options before resorting to legal actions.

Justice Onnoghen insisted that adversarial system of resolving conflict was no longer fashionable.

Consequently, he urged Nigerian Law School to only post their students to law firms with ADR facilities for their chambers attachment, saying it was imperative for law firms in the country to make provisions for out-of-court methods of promoting peace and harmony in the society.

The CJN spoke at the inauguration of the Bar and Bench House, a law firm in Abuja.

In his speech presented by Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Justice Ishaq Bello, the CJN said: People are now moving away from adversarial system of dispute resolution to Alternative Dispute Resolution; this promotes peace and harmony in the society.

The Law School should only send students to law firms with ADR facilities like we have seen in this edifice of the Bar and Bench House.

The CJN lauded the principal partner of the Bar and Bench Publishers, Chief Ogwu Onoja, SAN, for erecting a world-class edifice for providing training resources for both judges and lawyers.

He said: This edifice represents a congenial atmosphere for judges and lawyers. It represents world-class in terms of standards. Chief Onojas calmness represents diligence and high sense of articulation.

The Bar and Bench House is a meeting point for judges and lawyers, and we will seek the firms collaboration in the training of lawyers.

Speaking on behalf of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Mr. Israel Olorundare, SAN, commended Chief Onoja, whose 50th birthday coincided with the inauguration of the building, for the huge investment he has made in furtherance of legal jurisprudence in Nigeria.

Meantime, in his address of welcome, Chief Onoja said expressed concerns over what he termed archaic laws of antiquities in our statutes book.

He said: These laws are not only prejudicial to effective justice system, they are contrary to good reason and conscience. They are anachronism and abandoned legal relics in our statutes books begging for repeal by the parliament.

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Home | News | General | El-Rufais suspension laughable  Kaduna APC

By Ben Agande

KadunaAll Progressives Congress, APC, in Kaduna State has dismissed the purported suspension of Governor Nasir el-Rufai by the Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi-led faction of the party, saying it was illegitimate, laughable and should be disregarded.

Briefing newsmen on the outcome of the state executive council meeting at the party secretariat in Kaduna, yesterday, Acting Secretary of the party, Yahaya Baba Pate, said the so called chairman of the faction, Danladi Wada, was an impostor who lacked the power to suspend any member of the party.

El-Rufai

He said: The authentic chairman of the party is Alhaji Shuaibu Idris. He is the chairman recognised by the national leadership of the party.

Last week, he received an invitation letter from the national secretariat, signed by National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, inviting him for National Executive Committee meeting next week.

The Senator Hunkuyi-led group is illegitimate. As far as we are concerned, most of them have been expelled, including the so-called factional chairman, Danladi Wada.

As for Senator Hunkuyi, he is on six months suspension, because we cannot expel him. Only the national leadership can expel him, because he is a political office holder.

The acting secretary also revealed that the meeting adopted the recommendations of the State Working Committee on local government elections and commended the ongoing registration of party members.

According to Pate, the party is set to roll out the timetable in a few days for the party primaries, ahead of the local government elections.

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Home | News | General | Be ready to make sacrifice, Buhari tells Nigerians

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

ABUJAPRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, has told Nigerians to get prepared to make sacrifice as a foundation for national growth and development.

Buhari

The President, who made the appeal in his country home in Daura, Katsina, State, when he met with senior citizens of the state, led by Governor Aminu Masari, said in the life of a country, there were occasions when citizens must forgo personal pleasures or pay the ultimate price for the progress and unity of the nation.

President Buhari in a statement signed by his Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said: The Nigeria of our time is in need of sacrifices by all citizens to free it from corruption, poverty, crime and underdevelopment.

While commending members of the forum for complementing his administrations efforts at national development, Buhari assured them that the security of lives, property and prosperity of all Nigerians would continue to receive priority attention.

In his remarks, Governor Masari said the delegation was in the Presidents country home to condole with him on the death of two members of his extended family.

Masari also extended the forums commiseration with the President over the recent auto-accident involving his son, Yusuf, and thanked God Almighty for his survival and subsequent discharge from the hospital.

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The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) Monday called former President Olusegun Obasanjo a pathological liar, betrayer and deceiver who hates Igbos.

MASSOB in a statement issued in Abakaliki by its leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu attacked Obasanjo for not attending the burials of the two Igbo elder statesmen  Late Odumegwu Ojukwu and Dr. Alex Ekwueme or sending condolence messages over their demise, which it said, confirmed his hatred for Igbos.

The statement reads: Obasanjo knows the truth that General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was right in all his activities that involved Biafra, he knows the truth that Ndigbo were schemed out of political reality in Nigeria,

Obasanjo knows this truth that he hates Biafra and her people, he also knows the truth that all his dealings with Ndigbo are all camouflaged and hypocritical.

Olusegun Obasanjo openly without shame proved his pathological hatred and sadisms on Ndigbo when Eze Igbo Gburugburu died, Obasanjo did not attend the burial of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu and he did not send condolence.

He always sees Ojukwu as his enemy even in death and whosoever that hates Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu hates Ndigbo; such a person can never be a friend to the people of Biafra, Ndigbo can never enter into alliance with such a hater.

Again, Olusegun Obasanjo did not attend the burial of Dr Alex Ekwueme, former vice president of Nigeria, his absence during the week-long national burial of most distinguished national leader again proved his pathological hatred of Ndigbo. Obasanjo hates everything concerning Ndigbo.
There were fears on Monday over the safety of students of the Government Girls Secondary School, GGSS Dapchi, in Bursari local government area of Yobe State, northeast, Nigeria, over the reported presence of insurgents in the area.

Ahmed Danladi, a civil servant in the local government said that residents, including the students, scampered for safety when they saw trucks and motorcycles carrying Boko Haram fighters entering the town and shooting sporadically.

According to him, For now, the shooting has stopped, but we are still indoors as we speak. There is a re-reinforcement of soldiers; may be by tomorrow (today) we will know the extent of attack, but everybody is indoor now only the soldiers can be heard moving in their trucks.

A security source, who disclosed that none of the girls was abducted, said the attack in Dapchi was not unconnected with the fleeing Boko Haram fighters who were displaced by troops in Sambisa forest.

According to him, there was a red alert on Saturday that some terrorists in three vehicles were seen heading towards Damaturu, and all check points were asked to be on alert.

They were sighted moving towards Mafa  Sasawa villages in Yobe state. Perhaps they may have taken another route and appeared in Dapchi today or it could be another group since they are all in disarray, he added.
Home | News | General | Suspected soldier, 3 others reportedly killed in Akwa Ibom attacks

- A suspected soldier and three others have been reported killed in Akwa Ibom attacks

- Suspected gunmen were said to have engaged a combined team of soldiers, DSS during a raid of militants hideout

- The incident happened in Obon Ebot village on Sunday, February 18, when the JTF stormed the community to arrest wanted militants leader

A suspected soldier and three other persons have been reported killed in a gun battle when a pandemonium broke up in Etim Ekpo local council of Akwa Ibom state on Monday, February 19.

Guardian reports that the gunmen, suspected to be militants, engaged a combined team of soldiers, Department of State Services (DSS) and police officers during a raid of militants hideout in the council area.

READ ALSO: 2 days after cows invaded Akure runway, FAAN suspends airport security head

NAIJ.com gathered that the Commander of the JTF team in Etim Ekpo, Ukanafun, Oruk Anam, Ika and Ikot Abasi local councils who led the operation, Major Muhammed Hussaini, confirmed the incident but denied that a soldier died in the shootout.

He said: The deceased person was just an informant whom we gave a military camouflage to wear so that he can lead us to the camp.

They were three and we gave them military uniforms so as to lead us to their camp to capture some of the suspects, who escaped from the Ikot Ekpene Prison, but when he heard gunshots, he attempted to escape out of fear and I think bullets caught him.

The Guardian learnt that the incident happened in Obon Ebot village on Sunday, February 18, when the JTF stormed the community to arrest wanted militants leader, popularly called Aboy Ikpor and his gang, who led the Ikot Ekpene jailbreak in which no fewer than 40 inmates escaped last month.

Giving a version of the incident, a resident of Ikot Unna village, Akpan Udotim told reporters that: They ambushed the soldier in a military fatigue, captured and killed him. They chopped off his head and later dumped his headless body at the Urua Obo Inyang market.

Besides, three other civilians including a woman were allegedly killed in separate attacks by suspected cultists in Udianga Enem, Ikot Obioma and Uruk Ata 11 in Etim Ekpo local council.

In a related development, the militants, said to be loyal to their deceased leader, Akaniyene Jumbo, alias Iso Akpafid, who was ambushed and killed by the military last month, also kidnapped one Ekikere Hanson Ukpekpe, a teacher at Saint Joseph primary school, Iwukem.

Ukpekpe who hails from Ikot Obioma village, was taken by the Red boys on his farm, after returning from his base in Ukanafun to prepare his piece of land farming season. A family source said his abductors were asking for N1million ransom.

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When contacted through the telephone, the assistant director, public relations at the Two Brigade, Nigerian army, Major Shuaib Umar, replied through text message, I am in a meeting.

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had earlier reported that suspected Boko Haram members attacked Government Girls Secondary School, Dapchi, in Burasari local government area of Yobe state.

Survivors of Boko Haram - on NAIJ.com TV

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Home | News | General | Nigeria is on path to anarchy over reckless use of social media - Sanusi

- Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II has lamented over the usage of hate speech in the social media

- Sanusi said Nigeria is on the path to anarchy because of the reckless use of hate speeches on social media platforms

- He, however, called on the relevant authorities to checkmate the menace before it drags the country into the anarchy

Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II on Monday, February 19, faulted usage of hate speech in the social media and called on relevant authorities to checkmate the menace before it drags the country into anarchy.

The Nation reports Sanusi who made this known through the district head of Rogo, Alhaji Muhammad Muhammad Muaraz said political leadership across board must arise and fight against the usage of hate speech.

READ ALSO: Boko Haram launches deadly attack on government girls secondary school in Yobe

He further said that Nigeria is on the path to anarchy because of the reckless use of hate speeches on social media platforms.

The monarch made this in his remarks during the opening session of the 2nd NUJ National Conference Kano 2018 with the theme, Hate Speech: Halting the Tide before It Is Too Late.

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According to him, ''Indiscriminate use of words that are provocative posses the danger of leading the country towards anarchy.''

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Emir of Kano said intelligent debate on restructuring must start to end ethnic agitations across Nigeria.

Speaking at the Union Banks centenary event in Lagos state, the Emir Sanusi said there is need for federal government to interact and bring lasting peace in the country.

Emir said the current constitution which states the country must have governors and deputies in all the 36 states, president and vice president, ministers from every state, over 109 senators and over 360 House of representatives, 774 local chairmen are not sustainable.

Do you prefer a restructuring of Nigeria or should we just split-up? - on NAIJ.com TV:

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Home | News | General | Ortom, Suswam settle political feud, promise to work together for good of Benue state

- Governor Samuel Ortom and his predecessor, Gabriel Suswam hold, reconciliation meeting in Benue state

- He says he and Suswam have agreed to work together for the overall development of the state

The Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom and his predecessor, Gabriel Suswam have settled their political differences and agreed to work together for the common good of the state.

The reconciliation meeting between both politicians took place at the palace of the paramount ruler of the Tiv nation, Tor Tiv, HRM Professor James Ayatse in Gboko, Leadership reports.

The newspaper states that the meeting which began about 5pm on Sunday, February 18, spanned to 2am on Monday February 19.

READ ALSO: My husband was sidelined after APC won 2015 presidential election - Oluremi Tinubu

NAIJ.com learnt that the parley was attended by the six first class chiefs in Tiv land and traditional rulers from both Suswams Sankera axis and their counterparts from Ortoms Minda axis.

Speaking on the outcome of the reconciliation meeting, Governor Ortom said he and his predecessor have actually agreed to sheathe their swords and work together for the overall development of the state.

The meeting was a reconciliatory meeting. I was there with former Governor, Suswam. The Tor Tiv said he noticed that the relationship between myself and the former governor was not good and that we should sheathe our swords for the common good of the people."

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Meanwhile, Samuel Ortom has said some unknown persons are threatening his life because of the open grazing prohibition law enacted by his administration.

Vanguard reports that Ortom made the disclosure in Makurdi, the Benue state capital on Monday, February 19. The governor said he had informed the matter to security agencies so that those behind the threats could be arrested.

Ortom expressed the belief that life belongs to God and not in the hands of any person who is not happy with the open grazing prohibition law, 2017.

Victims of Herdsmen killing buried in Benue State on NAIJ.com TV

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Home | News | General | 2019: Battle intensifies as Arewa youths choose candidate to support for presidency

- The Arewa Concerned Youths and Development (ACYD) has urged Senator Ahmed Makarfi to run for the presidency in 2019

- The group convened a conference to highlight Makarfis accomplishments in the political sphere

- The ACYDs chairman stated that the conference will be the first one it would hold to call for Makarfis candidature for the presidency

Senator Ahmed Makarfi, former Chairman, National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been urged to run for the presidency in 2019, by the Arewa Concerned Youths and Development (ACYD), Daily Trust reports.

The chairman of the group, Ibrahim Suleiman, who addressed a news conference comprising representatives from the 19 northern states and the Federeal Capital Territory on Monday, February 19, stated that they had agreed unanimously, to back Makarfi for the nations top political office.

READ ALSO: SGF faces criticisms from experts over N65 million spent on website

NAIJ.com gathers that the conference was convened to highlight Makarfis various strides in the political field.

Suleiman stated: We are here to officially kick-off call for the candidature of Senator Ahmed Makarfi for the top job of the nation, and this conference is the first one we are having, which I find symbolic.

Suleiman recalled that Makarfi, who was a former governor of Kaduna, introduced reforms that left the state more unified when he left office.

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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that the Peoples Democratic Party said it would defeat any presidential candidate presented by the All Progressives Congress (APC), including President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 general election.

Senator Ahmed Makarfi stated that his party would wait for the APCs presidential candidate to emerge before presenting a strategy to defeat the individual.

Speaking on the socio-political and economic challenges in this country, Makarfi said the federal government was overwhelmed.

The next president of Nigeria. Who will win the 2019 elections? - on NAIJ.com TV:

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Home | News | General | President Buhari speaks about Tureta as Nigeria mourns late Islamic scholar

- President Muhammadu Buhari describes the late Abubakar Tureta as one who preached peaceful co-existience

- He says the the best tribute Turetas followers, fans and students owe him is to live by his good examples

- The president wants Islamic scholars to emulate the late Tureta's humility

President Muhammadu Buhari has joined other Nigerians in paying tribute to late Islamic scholar, Abubakar Tureta, describing him as "a man of remarkable erudition and character who spent his life promoting peaceful co-existence among people of different faiths."

Garba Shehu noted in a condolence message to the family of the late scholar that President Buhari said the deceased lived an incredibly humble life, will be long remembered for staying above controversy throughout his impressive life of scholarship, abhorring divisive statements.

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The President described Tutela's death as "a major depletion of the forest of knowledge, a defoliation of a big branch on the tree of learning whose contributions to Islam are immeasurable. He urged other Islamic scholars to emulate his humility."

The statement said the president said the best tribute Turetas followers, fans and students owe him is to live by his good examples.

He also prayed Allah to forgive his gentle his virtuous deeds with paradise and comfort his family in their moment of grief.

NAIJ.com earlier reported that President Muhammadu Buhari recently joined other Nigerians in mourning the late Lawal Kaita, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The president described Kaita as a complete gentleman who served his people and the nation with total commitment and devotion.

Through his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, the president extended his deepest condolences to the bereaved family, the government and the people of Katsina and Kaduna states over the incident.

How late Sir Alex Ekwueme was laid to rest in Anambra - on NAIJ.com TV

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Home | News | General | Treasury Single Account saves Nigeria N24.7 billion monthly - FG

- The federal government has revealed that the Treasury Single Account policy has continued to save the the country N24.7 billion

- A professor of economics from Nassarawa State University, Uche Uwaleke, said that the TSA has been able to tackle corruption by tracking illicit funds through multiple accounts

- He also said that the implementation of Bank Verification Number has been able to achieve the same purpose

The federal government on Monday, February 19, said it has continued to save up to N24.7 billion monthly as a result of Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy.

READ ALSO: Boko Haram attacks Dapchi in Yobe state

According to the government, within the last two and half years in office, about N108 billion has been saved from removal of maintenance fees payable to banks before the advent of TSA, Vanguard reports.

NAIJ.com gathered that a professor of economics from Nassarawa State University, Uche Uwaleke stated that the sudden and unexpected drop in crude oil price from a peak of US$114.6-O/bbl in June 2014 to under US$30] bbl by February 2016 created financial crises for the government

Professor Uwaleke made this statement in Abuja at the week-long leadership training programme organised under the auspices of the National Committee of Buhari Support Groups, NCBSG, for its coordinators nationwide.

The professor said that in spite of the dwindling economy, the Buhari led administration has expended over N1.2 trillion on capital/infrastructure projects nationwide.

He added: Effective implementation of the Treasury Single Account, entrenching transparency and accountability, N108 billion has been saved from removal of maintenance fees payable to banks before TSA.

The nation is being saved N24.7 billion monthly with the full implementation of the TSA and implementation of the Bank Verification Number (BVN), thus tackling corruption by plugging loopholes for siphoning of public fund and tracking of illicit funds through multiple accounts

Improvement in transport infrastructure, rail and road; construction work ongoing on the Lagos-lbadan Expressway, renovation of Abuja international Airport runway, completion of Abuja Kaduna Railway among others.

Support to states: Bailout of cash crunch states; about N689 billion to 27 states of the federation to pay salaries in 2015. Complete refund of Paris loan deductions to states (unprecedented) played a part.

Ongoing Government Enterprise and Empowerment (GEEP) Scheme; commenced in November 2016 in collaboration with the Bank of industry, where soft loans ranging from N10, 000 to N100, 000 have been given to over 189,000. Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme, under which about 25,000 less privileged Nigerians so far are now being funded with the monthly N5,000 stipend in 9 pilot states (Bauchi, Borno, Cross Rivers, Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Osun and Oyo). More beneficiaries are expected to be added in more states.

Nigeria successfully issued two Eurobonds (US$4.5bn), a Sukuk Bond (100 billion Naira), a Diaspora Bond (US $300m), and the first Sovereign Climate Bond in Africa, raising billions of dollars for infrastructure spending. This is testimony to investors confidence

The federal government launched a Tax Amnesty scheme (VAIDS) designed to increase tax awareness and compliance, and reduce incidence of tax evasion. The Voluntary Income and Asset Declaration Scheme is expected to ramp up non-oil before it closes in March 2018.

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that when the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari announced it would implement the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy immediately after the government came into power, many Nigerians doubted the policy would make any difference in the nation.

The government went on to initiate the policy despite pockets of protests from various stakeholders and some economic analysts.

What must President Buhari do to regain the trust of Nigerians? - on NAIJ.com TV

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Home | News | General | Malabu oil scandal: Sagay faults Malami on withdrawal of charges against accused persons

- Professor Itse Sagay (SAN) declared that $1.1 billion Malabu oil scam is a criminal matter

- Sagay faulted attorney general of the federation Abubakar Malami for advising the government to drop all the charges filed against individuals and firms implicated in the matter

- He also faulted Malamis claim that there was not enough evidence to prosecute the accused people

The chairman, presidential advisory committee against corruption, Professor Itse Sagay (SAN), accused the attorney general of the federation Abubakar Malami (SAN) of telling the federal government to drop all the charges filed against individuals and firms implicated in the $1.1bn Malabu oil scam.

Sagay made this known during an interview with Punch on Monday, February 19.

The PACAC chairman declared that the matter was criminal in nature and should therefore not be treated as a civil matter.

READ ALSO: My husband was sidelined after APC won 2015 presidential election - Oluremi Tinubu

He said: ''My view is that this is not a civil case or breach of contract or negligence. This is an offence against the country, a criminal act. Although the AGF is empowered to withdraw even criminal cases filed by the federal government, this is supposed to satisfy the interest of the country at large.

''This is a case in which Nigeria was defrauded of about $1.1bn and it was perpetrated mainly by those who were supposed to act in the interest of the nation.

''For me, such breach of trust involving colossal fraud is a very serious thing. It is not something you negotiate. It is criminal. The only thing that can happen is for the accused people to plead guilty and opt for plea bargain.''

Sagay also faulted Malamis claim that there was not enough evidence to prosecute the accused people.

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The PACAC chairman added, ''On this same case, people are being prosecuted in Italy and in Britain a lot of money has been recovered. So, it is strange to say that in the home turf, where it all originated and where all the evidences exist, there is no evidence. It is strange.

''It is also a problem because we know without any iota of doubt that past attorneys general have made money from this Malabu scandal. I am not talking of the current one. They have made money which is documented.

''For him to say the case should be withdrawn will look as if there is some form of solidarity or espirit de corps with previous AGFs. If the evidence is not enough, let the charges be withdrawn and they go do more investigations, gather more evidence, and then file charges again. But to say Nigeria should drop the case completely after losing over $1bn is unacceptable.''

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that there were indicates that Malami wrote a letter to President Buhari advising the president on the need for Nigeria to have a stake in the prolific OPL 245.

According to the report, the oil block, considered to be the richest in Africa, was awarded to Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd in 1998 and after a series of controversy, Malabu sold 100% to Eni (Agip) and Shell.

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Muhammadu Sanusi II, emir of Kano, says herdsmen should obey the anti-open grazing law in the states where it has been enacted.

Sanusi said this on Monday while speaking at a meeting with Ayodele Fayose, governor of Ekiti, security agencies and interest groups, in the Ado-Ekiti.

The emir was represented by Ibrahim Shekarau, a former governor of Kano who said his mission to the state was not about politics but for peaceful coexistence among the people.

He also commended Fayose for promoting peace in the state.

My mission is not politics; it is about peace and peaceful coexistence of our nation. I am standing here for the Emir and I am the sardauna of Kano, Shekarau said.

The emir mandated me to come here with the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) and find out how we can work amicably.

He feels that as a patron of the group, he must ensure peace. He praised governor Fayose for promoting peace.

The law governor Fayose enacted is the best to defend the rights of farmers and cattle breeders. Whoever crosses the red line should be dealt with, as the law provides. Breeders should obey the rules of the communities they reside.

On his part, Fayose said the state is interested in the welfare of everyone.

Our interest is peace. As we are interested in the welfare of everybody, we must not allow criminal elements to go free, the governor said.

Our relationship goes beyond cows. We must respect each other and we will cooperate to achieve results. We want Ekiti to be a shining example. Anybody who needs to be charged to court or fined will be so disciplined.

Also speaking, Muhammadu Kiruwa, national president of MACBAN, said he was impressed that the governor called for a meeting.

I am really impressed with the governor for organising this meeting. Some state governors would just sit in their offices and not being proactive like governor Fayose. Some misconceptions that I personally had against the governor have been cleared now, Kiruwa said.

I can say it categorically that Governor Fayose is a true leader of his people. He is definitely a lover of all groups, including the Fulani. I can say he is the Sarkin Fulani of Ekiti state.

He is a peaceful leader and represents hope for all. We align ourselves with the grazing law, as made by the Ekiti state government because it protects the interest of all parties.
Wife of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Uchechi, has declared that election wont hold in the South East in 2019.

Uchechi warned that failure to produce the separatist leader, would lead to election boycott in the South East, come 2019.

Speaking with BBC Igbo, Uchechi said, In the next coming election, we need to have that in mind that for us to ever be better, we need to stand up.

Yes, Nnamdi Kanus issue should be the number one thing. Where is he? You need to provide him, at least tell us where he is.

You need to at least do something before you run an election, otherwise were not going to vote.

She also dismissed insinuations that Kanus conduct as the leader of IPOB was illegal.

What makes it illegal? Why should that be treasonous? One asking for self-determination. Why is that a crime? Its not a crime, she said.

Uchechi, who is based in London, had earlier maintained that her husband is in custody of the Nigerian Army.
Home | News | General | US, other countries set to cut importation of Nigeria's oil by 2022

- Some countries including US are set to cut importation of Nigeria's oil by 2022

- This was contained in Energy Information Administration (EIA)'s recent report

- It stated that the transition from net energy importer to net energy exporter will not take place until 2050

There are indications that the United States and other nations will soon abandon Nigerias oil, which may negatively affect the nations revenue generation.

Vanguard reports that the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said the US may drastically reduce its import of crude oil from Nigeria by 2022, going by its projection of becoming a net energy exporter in four years.

READ ALSO: Suspected soldier, 3 others reportedly killed in Akwa Ibom attacks

NAIJ.com gathered that oil pipe in the newly released annual energy outlook for 2018, EIA stated that the transition from net energy importer to net energy exporter will not take place until 2050 in some sensitivity cases.

The transition of the United States to a net energy exporter is fastest in the high oil price case, where higher crude oil prices lead to more oil and natural gas production and transition the United States into a net exporter by 2020.

In that case, higher crude oil prices also result in higher petroleum product prices and lower consumption of petroleum products, driving decreases in net petroleum imports.

In the high oil and gas resource and technology case, with more favourable assumptions for geology and technological developments, the United States becomes a net exporter in 2020, and net exports increase through the end of the projection period.

In cases with relatively low oil prices or less favourable assumptions for geology and technological developments, US net energy trade still decreases, but the United States remains a net energy importer through 2050.

Meanwhile, India, Nigerias largest importer of crude, which reduced its demand in 2017, started importing from the US.

However, speaking on the implication of this development to the Nigerian economy, the chairman of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Bank Anthony Okoroafor, stated that: we should be looking for alternative buyers, build refineries/upgrade and maintain our existing refineries to focus on adding value to our crude oil which will also create more jobs and more revenue to the country. We can be supplying refined crude to the whole of Africa.

Also, we should change from been a net importer of crude oil to net exporter of refined petroleum products.

He stated: We import over 80% of products consumed. This is a shame. There is a big gap in the supply of refined products in Nigeria and West Africa region.

This shows great potential for domestic refining of petroleum products. With oil price hovering between 60 to 70 dollars per barrel, we should focus on refining.

Our local refining capacity is 445,000 bpd but they have never operated above 15% capacity which is a real shame. We consume about 17 billion litres of PMS annually, 2.9 billion litres of AGO annually and 390 million litres of aviation fuel annually.

Commenting on downstream activities, he added that: We must privatise the refineries, deregulate fully refined products and allow demand and supply to regulate price. Deregulation will be a key driver for growth within the refining sector. We really need bold and decisive reforms to attract investors.

Government should focus on providing enabling environment for business to prosper. If you want the refineries to work, you will require financial independence; people who will be able to take decisions, carry out their maintenance without seeking higher layers of approval.

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This is the only way to be bullish. There is need to have KPIs for the managing directors of the refineries and let it be self-funding. It should be financially independent; in that way our refineries will be working. Lets change from crude oil exporter to refined product exporter in 5 years time.

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had previously reported that the the minister of state of petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu said the secretary general of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Mahammed Barkindo, will be visiting Nigeria soon.

Fuel scarcity: This is getting too much for us - Nigerians lament - on NAIJ.com TV

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Home | News | General | Wastes have taken over Lagos homes and streets - Community leaders cry out

- Community leaders in Lagos mainland appealed to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to intervene in the waste crisis currently witnessed in the state

- They appealed to Governor Ambode to bring back the local PSP waste operators

- They said the new company brought by the governor is not effectively handling the waste collection

Community leaders from across the mainland area of Lagos have called on the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to urgently intervene in the ongoing misunderstanding between the local PSP waste operators and the Lagos state government to save Lagos from imminent waste disaster.

The community leaders, under the aegis of Community Development Associations (CDA) from across the Mainland, Lagos, said they cannot keep silent again as people are choking from piles of wastes in their homes and streets, Vanguard reports.

They said that without urgent intervention, the state would face disastrous health consequences from built-up wastes in homes, drainage channels and streets.

READ ALSO: Boko Haram launches deadly attack on government girls secondary school in Yobe

NAIJ.com gathered that the community attributed the current waste crisis to the decision of the present government to stop the PSP operators from the domestic waste collection.

Read their statement: We are faced with the possible twin problem of massive flooding and outbreak of diseases with current situation in Lagos. The waste dumps that once lived with us until the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration came and battled strenuously to consign them to history are again sprouting all over the place.

As community leaders, our people are asking questions but we are unable to give them satisfactory reasons we have to return to this path. We were paying the waste operators, we didnt complain and they were coming to remove the waste from house to house. Our environment was clean and tidy, then we decided to change a winning team, knowing that if you make such a change mid-way, what you get is what we are experiencing now. Our environment is fast deteriorating, it is clear now that the new company His Excellency, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, has brought to replace the PSP operators, who were deployed to manage domestic waste collection from ward to ward, cannot effectively cope with the collection of the huge volume of waste daily generated across Lagos.

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We appeal, therefore, that Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, known for his undiluted love for the people of Lagos, intervenes and prevails on Governor Ambode to kindly overlook whatever wrong the PSP operators may have done in the interest of the people, temper justice with mercy and find a way to bring them back to work side by side and hand in hand with the new waste managers to take Lagos out of the looming waste disaster.

NAIJ.com previously reported that Governor Ambode banned all cash payment to civil servants in revenue collection across the state with effect from March 1, 2018.

The governor issued the ban order on Monday, February 19, after paying his Land Use Charge at the Opebi branch of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Ikeja, Lagos, in the presence of top management staff of the bank.

He said the measure is aimed at improving on service delivery to residents of the state and to block revenue leakages.

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Home | News | General | Amnesty International accuses Nigerian military of unlawful detention of Boko Haram insurgents

- International rights group has accused the federal government and the Nigerian military of gross violations of human rights in the prosecution of the war against Boko Haram

- The group alleged that military arbitrarily arrested and held thousands of young men, women and children in detention centres around the country

- It maintained that the military detained hundreds of women unlawfully, without charge

International rights group, amnesty international said at least 340 detainees arrested in the course of the war against the insurgent group died in military detention facility in Maiduguri due to disease, dehydration and starvation in 2017.

SaharaReporters reports that the group blamed the federal government and Nigerian military of gross violations of human rights in the prosecution of the war against Boko Haram.

Amnesty International said: "Reports continued of extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, and torture and other ill-treatment, which, in some cases, led to deaths in custody. Conditions in military detention conditions were harsh. Communal violence occurred across the country. Thousands of people were forcibly evicted from their homes.

READ ALSO: Boko Haram attacks Dapchi in Yobe state

"The military arbitrarily arrested and held thousands of young men, women and children in detention centres around the country. Detainees were denied access to lawyers and family members.

The group said the 340 detainees died in the Giwa Barracks detention facility due to disease, dehydration and starvation in 2007.

Amnesty said: "At least 200 children, as young as four, were detained in an overcrowded and unhygienic childrens cell. Some children were born in detention.

"The military detained hundreds of women unlawfully, without charge, some because they were believed to be related to Boko Haram members.

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''Among them were women and girls who said they had been victims of Boko Haram. Women reported inhuman detention conditions, including a lack of health care for women giving birth in cells."

Amnesty also noted that a special board of inquiry to investigate allegations of gross violations of human rights, established by the chief of army staff, found that Giwa barracks was extremely overcrowded, with poor sanitation and insufficient ventilation, factors which resulted in detainees deaths.

It also noted that the board cleared senior military officers, alleged to have committed crimes under international law, of wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that the Nigerian armed forces resettlement centre Oshodi on Sunday, November 26, commenced a two-week entrepreneurship and management training programmes for 40 senior military officers of the general cadre.

The officers comprise of 15 from the Nigerian army, 10 from the navy, 10 from the Nigerian Air Force and 5 from NAFRC.

They are expected to within two weeks, come up with viable business plans that would be scrutinised by the training facilitators, Empretec Nigeria Foundation.

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Home | News | General | El-Rufai reacts to demolition of factional APC secretariat

- Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai speaks on the demolition of a building used by a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC)

- El-Rufai in a tweet said that building was removed for flagrant violations of land use

Governor Nasir El-Rufai on Tuesday, February 20, reacted to the demolition of a building located at Sambo road which was used by a faction of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna state.

The Kaduna state governor in a statement on his Facebook page signed by the spokesperson of Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Agency (KAPSUDA) stated that the parastatal in partnership with sister agencies, is clearing illegal structures, tackling street hawking and restoring order across the state.

He added that the land has now been allocated to KASUPDA for the purpose of developing and maintaining a public park that will provide a green area for recreation.

READ ALSO: Melaye calls for Senator Omo-Agege's probe for allegedly denigrating his colleagues

Read the full statement below:

"The Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Agency (KAPSUDA) is currently undertaking operations across Kaduna metropolis in compliance with its mandate. In partnership with sister agencies, KASUPDA is clearing illegal structures, tackling street hawking and restoring order across Kaduna.

This morning a building on 11B Sambo Close was removed for violations of land use and non-payment of ground rent since 2010. A notice of demolition was delivered at 28 Inuwa Wada Road, the registered address of the company that held the title to the property. The notice was also delivered to the building in question.

The land has now been allocated to KASUPDA for the purpose of developing and maintaining a public park that will provide a green area and a serene place for recreation in that neighbourhood.

KASUPDA wishes to remind all title owners to be fastidious in complying with the terms of their allocation. The purpose of allocation of land cannot be wilfully altered; neither can title holders lawfully neglect to pay their ground rents."

Meanwhile, the Senate condemned the demolition of a factional secretariat of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna state.

Speaking during the plenary session on Tuesday, February 20, the lawmaker representing Kaduna central at the Senate, Shehu Sani, while citing order 43, said that El-Rufai personally led and supervised the demolition of the APC factional office.

In a previous report by NAIJ.com, the head office of the All Progressives Congress (APC) faction which suspended Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, has been demolished.

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The Cable reported that the demolition was done under the supervision of armed security officials and some suspected hoodlums on Tuesday, February 20.

The faction, known to be Kaduna Restoration Group, is led by Suleiman Hukunyi, the senator representing Kaduna north central. An aide of Hukunyi simply identified as Abdulraham told newsmen that soldiers blocked the two entrances of the building as the destruction was done.

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Home | News | General | Lassa fever: VC of private university in s/west says his institution has capacity to eliminate disease

- The VC of Redeemers University, Prof Debo Adeyewa, says the institution has the capacity to contain and eliminate Lassa fever

- Adeyewa stated that the institution was the only university addressing the issue scientifically, and that it was providing solutions behind the scenes

- He however chided the federal university for not supporting the institutions research activities

Professor Debo Adeyewa, Vice Chancellor of the Redeemers University, has stated that the tertiary institution possesses the capacity to curb Lassa fever, Guardian reports.

The VC made the remarks at the universitys 13th matriculation exercise in Ede, Osun state.

READ ALSO: Woman dies in childbirth after Jehovahs Witness husband refused to permit blood transfusion

NAIJ.com gathers that Adeyewa stated that through its research activities, the university could contain and eliminate the disease.

He however, accused the federal government of insincerity as he said the government did not support the schools World Bank-sponsored African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases.

According to Adeyewa, despite spending millions of naira to carry out research related to infectious diseases, the federal government had not encouraged the schools efforts.

He stated: We are the only university that has been addressing the issues scientifically. We have done research on Lassa fever. We are behind the scene, providing solutions to Lassa fever in the country.

Our centre of excellence is currently supporting the containment of the Lassa fever scourge which is being managed at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Edo State.

Professor Christian Happi, the director of ACEGID, also confirmed that the university had the capacity to conduct research to contain the disease.

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Recall that NAIJ.com previously reported that some scientists at the Redeemer's University patented two rapid diagnostic test kits for Ebola virus disease and Lassa fever virus.

The test kits were patented by scientists at the schools African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID).

The test kits, according to the university are so fast, the disease can be detected in the human system within 10 minutes.

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Home | News | General | Breaking: Nigerian senator in trouble for criticising electoral amendment by his colleagues

A Nigerian senator, Ovie Omo-Agege, is to face a probe from his colleagues at the upper legislative chamber for allegedly heavily criticising the recently passed electoral amendments and claiming they are to frustrate President Muhammadu Buhari.

One of those who argued in favour of the probe, Senator Dino Melaye, cited order 14, and declared that Ovie Omo-Agege, representing Delta central senatorial district in Delta state, made a statement to the press among other things.

Melaye alleged that Omo-Agege said the decision taken by the Senate was targeted at President Muhammadu Buhari and that he would not be a part of it.

READ ALSO: My husband was sidelined after APC won 2015 presidential election - Oluremi Tinubu

NAIJ.com earlier reported that the Nigeria Senate insisted on embarking on the order of election that is to be adopted in 2019, irrespective of the pressure coming from different quarters for it to have a rethink.

The senator for Abia central senatorial district Theodore Orji said the reordering of the pyramid for the poll is not aimed at anyone but to deepen democracy in the country.

The Leadership reported that Senator Orji who is the immediate past governor of Abia state, maintained that it aims to fight corruption in elections in the country.

According to him, "The present government is fighting corruption and in the National Assembly because we want to lend our voices, we must do so through laws and amendments and that is what we have done.

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"It is corruption if because a particular party has produced the President then every other candidate of that party receives a boost, to the chargrin of the electorates.

"That method breeds corruption because those prepared to serve the people will miss the opportunity and those who had other thoughts get elected and anything happens. We have looked at the situation and said no, something needs to be done."

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Home | News | General | India, Pakistan troops in serious gun battle

India and Pakistan troops on Tuesday exchanged fire and targeted each others positions on Line of Control (LoC) dividing Kashmir, officials said.

India and Pakistan in serious gun duel

The two sides exchanged fire in Uri sector of frontier Baramulla district, about 117 kilometres north-west of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Indian officials said that Pakistani side violated cease-fire on Monday when they attacked military posts and civilian areas, during which three civilians were wounded.

Three civilians were wounded after Pakistani army resorted to unprovoked firing along the LoC in Churanda-Silikote area of Haji Peer Sector in Uri.

Indian army also fired in retaliation and the exchange was going on until early Tuesday, a police official said.

According to Islamabads state-run broadcaster, Radio Pakistan, Indian firing along the LoC killed an eight-year-old boy on Monday.

Earlier, an eight-year old boy, Ayan, who belonged to Jajot village, was killed due to unprovoked firing by Indian forces along the LoC, Radio Pakistan said.

The broadcaster quoting militarys Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said Pakistani troops also fired Indian positions.

Continued skirmishes earlier this month led to killings of troops as well as civilians on both sides, and also triggered migrations of civilians living close to the frontier.

The skirmishes on the LoC and International Border in Kashmir between Indian and Pakistani troops are going on in spite of an agreement between them in 2003 to observe a cease-fire.

Both countries accuse each other of resorting to unprovoked firings and violating cease-fire agreements.

They also maintain that their troops give befitting replies. The countries are currently at loggerheads with each other.

There has been no considerable improvement in the relations of the two countries or resumption of bilateral relations ever since Narendra Modi became Indian Prime Minister in 2014.

NAN

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The senate has mandated its committee on ethics to probe the amended timetable for the 2019 elections.

The resolution of the upper legislative chamber was sequel to a motion sponsored by Dino Melaye, senator representing Kogi west.

While moving the motion on the floor of the senate on Tuesday, Melaye said he did not want to be part of any move targeted at President Muhammadu Buhari.

Melaye said Buhari is not only a party man but someone he laboured for.

I rise this morning, heavily disturbed that we took a resolution in this house last week and the aftermath of the resolution had a very serious effect on me as a politician, he said.

Mr President, PMB, president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not only my partyman, but is also a man we all labored and voted for.

My brother and colleague, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege addressed the media, and I saw it on Channels and NTA last week, where he said the decision taken by this senate is targeted at Mr. president.

I cannot be part of a group or group of persons; I swore an oath on the 9th of June 2015, with a Bible on my right hand and the constitution of the federal republic on my left. And I swore that I was going to do good to all manner of men including the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

If decisions in this senate is now being teleguided and targeted at any particular person, then that is no longer democracy. That statement to me is wary. I personally campaigned and followed the president to 35 states of the federation; the only state I did not follow him to is Yobe state, where we didnt even go to.

Mr President, when I was campaigning with the president, Ovie Omo-Agege was busy labouring in Labour Party. Today, to take the integrity of the senate and say that it was tailored towards targeting a particular person, its unheard of, it is in bad taste and I do not want to be part of that.

This, among other statements, was made by Omo-Agege. I want to ask that the committee on ethics and privileges investigate this matter and find out if truly our decision was targeted at the president among other issues raised by him.

That was enough, another interview was granted. And I think I will want to state categorically that I will not be part of any group of decisions that will be targeted at any particular character talk less of the president of the federal republic of Nigeria.

The motion was referred to the committee on ethics after it was put to a voice vote by Ike Ekeweremadu, deputy senate president.

On Wednesday, nine senators opposed the amended timetable, saying it might be targeted at the president.

The senate had adopted the reordered sequence which the house of representatives passed earlier.

If approved by the president, election of the federal lawmakers will hold first, next will be state lawmakers and governors, with the last being the presidential election.

In 2015 and since 2003, the presidential and national assembly polls held first, followed by governorship and state legislative polls.
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has, on Tuesday, dismissed the corruption charges against a former governor of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani.

The ruling delivered by the judge, Chuka Obiozor struck out the charges against the former governor for lack of proper charges before it.

The judge gave the ruling after saying that the affidavit filed by Mr. Nnamani showed that the court had entered judgement in the same suit on July 5, 2015, by another judge, Mohammed Yunusa.

Rickey Tarfa, counsel to Mr. Nnamani, had informed the court that the defendant filed a motion disclosing the facts that this case has been put to rest by Mr. Yunusa in his judgement suit no FHc/L/09c/07.

According to Mr. Tarfa, a senior advocate of Nigeria, parties in the suit had entered a plea bargain before Mr. Yunusa and there is no valid pending charges before the Judge, Obiozor, as the court cannot sit on appeal for the case of another judge of concurrent jurisdiction.

However, the EFCC prosecutor, Kelvin Uzozie, argued that he had looked at the affidavits filed by the defendant in the case and was applying that the entire proceedings be expunged to enable him file fresh charges against Mr. Nnamani.

But the judge ruled saying, I agree that in view of the plea bargain judgement of this court delivered on the 7th of July, 2015, that there is no valid charge before me and I thereby expunge the entire proceedings before me.
Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris on Tuesday disclosed that after the period of skirmishes and confrontation between herdsmen and farmers over grazing activities as well as that of border communities in Nasarawa and Benue States, the security situation has returned to normal.

Speaking at a reconciliation meeting of top government functionaries and traditional rulers from both states he summoned to ensure peace and security in Border Communities of Benue and Nasarawa States, the IGP said information reaching him from the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge Operations, DIG Habila, who is presently in Benue state, showed that the security situation has normalized.

While praying that the security challenges that resulted in the crisis never occur again, the IGP commended both political and traditional rulers of both states for their contributions towards the existing peace.

This meeting should be conducted as a kind of reconciliation meeting. We are not here to apportion blame. We are out here for peace within the border communities of Benue and Nasarawa states. We must have peace and sanity in these areas that we are experiencing crisis.

In his address, leader of Benue State delegation and Deputy Governor, Engr. Benson Abonu said, We from Benue state are here for a meeting of brothers aimed at bringing peace to the ordinary people of Benue and Nasarawa states.

Both states were created from the Benue Plateau state. We have lived together as brothers and sisters from time immemorial. The best is to maintain peace so that cordiality reigns and for the sake of our children.

We cannot afford anything less than peace. But the peace must be founded on justice, equity, equality. Benue state is 100% for peace. We will do everything to ensure peace.

On his part, Special adviser to the Nasarawa state Governor of Security, Brigadier General Muhammad Umar Adeika disclosed that the people of Benue and Nasarawa states are not at war.

Nasarawa state and its people do not have any problem with Benue State we have public resolutions mechanisms which we employ in time of crisis. We can share it with our brothers from Benue state.

The problem we are having is the ripple effects of the open grazing law of Benue state. We dont have anything against the law because it is Benue state legitimate law. But the effect has affected us seriously.

All those running away from Benue state are running to Nasarawa. Though it is tough but we are trying as much as possible to accommodate them to the best of our abilities.

So regarding this meeting, we are here with all sincerity. I am happy that our Benue state counterpart have expressed the same feeling for peace and we are in total support.

The meeting later went into closed door with the Commissioners of Police for Benue state and Nasarawa states in attendance.
Home | News | General | Just in: NSCDC officials reportedly shoot local vigilante in Bayelsa over argument

- A team of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) reportedly shot a local vigilante twice after arresting the wife of a resident

- The incident resulted in anger as youths took to the streets in protest

- Orukari Udoji, whose wife, Deborah, says he was carrying out his business when the security agents stormed his house

There was tension in the Ikarama area of Yenagoa local government area of Bayelsa state as youths protested following the alleged killing of a local vigilante member by a team of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident happened on Tuesday, February 20 when the NSCDC team arrested a woman in place of her suspected husband and an argument with the local vigilance group broke out.

The report quoted Ben Warder, a youth leader in the area, as alleging that the victim, Perekurofa Odoyibo, was shot twice in the arm and leg by the NSCDC men whom had taken custody of the lady when the husband was not available.

READ ALSO: Kogi west youths get replacement for embattled Dino Melaye

The local vigilance team noticed the NSCDC van at about 3am and was trying to find out why they had to take away a woman who has children, for an offence supposedly committed by her husband.

They shot one of the vigilance team members and sped off with the woman they had arrested.

They came from the oilfield in Ikarama operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company, and that is why the youths mobilised and blocked the road to the Okordia manifold.

So, this morning, the youths mobilised to protest the use of security men to molest oil communities, this is because we learnt that the arrest is linked to an oil spill incident, the youth leader said.

The report said the youths from the area commenced a protest and barricaded the access road to the manifold chanting solidarity songs while the wife to the victim, Rebacca Odoyibo, regretted that her husband was shot and left in a pool of his own blood and had been in pains for hours.

Odoyibo reportedly said that the incident had thrown his entire family and dependants into confusion.

Orukari Udoji, whose wife, Deborah, was taken away by the NSCDC personnel, explained that he was out in the forests for his timber lumbering work when they stormed his residence and took away his wife.

I am at a loss as to what to do because I do not even have an idea of where they took her to, and as we speak I dont even have money to pay transport to go and search for her.

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Everybody in this community knows that I do timber work and at the time they came I was in the bush working and they claimed that there was an oil spill in the bush near where I felled some timber, he said.

Godwin Nwachukwu, Bayelsa commandant of the NSCDC, said he had received a report of the incident and immediately assigned his men to find out what exactly happened.

As we speak, the matter is being investigated, the preliminary investigation will guide us on the next step to take, Nwachukwu said.

NAIJ.com earlier reported that men of the Nigeria Police Force recently killed a notorious armed robber and kidnapper terrorising Imo state and environs in Imo state.

The criminal who was identified as E Money is the chairman of a notorious group of criminals and he is responsible for different criminal activities in the state.

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Home | News | General | It is God that gives power, Governor Ben Ayade's aide says as he defects to APC

- Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River state has lost one of his aides to the APC

- The special adviser to the governor on job placement, Jesse William, decamped from the PDP and also resigned from his position

- William said it was time to move on after being a member of the PDP since 1999 and contributing his own quota to the growth of the party in the state

An aide to Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River state, Jesse William, has decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

William, who was a special adviser to the governor on job placement, also resigned from his position immediately, Premium Times reports.

NAIJ.com gathered that he wrote to the chairman of PDP, Agwagune/Okuri Ward, Agwagune, in Biase local government area, informing him that he was resigning his membership of the party with immediate effect.

READ ALSO: WHO laments unnecessary C-section for women around the world

In the letter dated February 14, William said he had contributed to the growth of the PDP in the state since his membership of the party in 1999, adding that due to personal reasons he felt the time had come to move on. William, who said he joined the APC on Saturday, February 17, said he had been under pressure to run for the House of Representatives, but that he was yet to make up his mind.

He added: Power is transient. It is God that gives power. The calibre of people that have left PDP in Cross River state, you can see. If these people come together in 2019 they will win the state. Before now, PDP used to be so strong."

However, Inok Edim, the chairman of PDP in the state, said he was unaware of Williams defection.

He said: Anybody can take his decision at any time, but if the person does not inform the party theres nowhere we can know about it."

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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that no fewer than 17 chieftains of the PDP and their supporters defected to the APC on Saturday, February 17, ahead of President Muhammadu Buharis visit to Adamawa on Tuesday, February 20.

The PDP chieftains were Ahmed Gulak, the special adviser to former president Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Felix Tangwami, Chief Medan Teneke, Alhaji Sahabo Aliyu and Alhaji Saidu Aliyu.

Other defectors were Chief Lazarus Gugu, Alhaji Mustafa Maigari and Alhaji Yusuf Dan-Umma, among others.

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Home | News | General | Opinion: Judges, the law and our democracy by Reuben Abati

Editor's note: In this article, a former spokesperson to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, Reuben Abati, talks about how Nigeria despite operating a democratic system of government seems to be organizes itself for military conflict by those at the centre.

To expand the democratic space in Nigeria and to ensure the legitimacy and stability of our democratic process, the rule of law, perhaps the supremacy of the law, anchored on constitutionalism and a progressive, liberal and developmental construction of the law, may be our best bargain, the latter in particular in the face of a seeming conversion of the democratic dispensation to a military regime. The judiciary, I mean the judex, is at the centre of this proposition.

In more direct language, what I am trying to draw attention to is how in recent times, despite the fact that we are under a democratic dispensation, there has been a seeming militarization of the political space, by the incumbent political administration at the centre. The scope for human freedom has been reduced, the government of the day complains about hate speech but it is, ironically, the main author of hate language against the same people whose welfare and security it is supposed to safeguard.

It is a government that is intolerant of the opposition and which has shown an inordinate capacity for malice, hypocrisy, and intimidation. This more or less sets the tone for everything else. This is the reason it has lost so much goodwill and why many of its committed supporters who dreamt of its potential messianism are regretting their own initial optimism.

READ ALSO: Nigerian army commences new operation in Benue over constant clashes

The last time Nigerians found themselves under this kind of siege was under military rule, and particularly under the rule of the same man who is now Nigerias incumbent President, a soldier turned civilian President. The militarization of the state in whatever form, compromises democratic ethos. We are in a democracy but the relevant institutions seem to be in disarray. The executive is at loggerheads with the legislature in Abuja. The judiciary has been harassed so much many of its members have been accused of corruption and thrown into the dock or disgraced out of service.

We are therefore, in a local season of McCarthyism whereby every possible opposition figure is labeled a witch, a thief, and harassed or blackmailed. The only saints in Nigeria at the moment are those who join the ruling party, or who go to great lengths to heap the blame for all problems on the immediate past administration. In this typical season of opportunism and sycophancy, saints may become devils and vice versa, throwing the country into the vortex of a moral turpitude.

But I single out the judiciary for qualified praise. The countrys judiciary has not escaped the harassment by an Executive wielding near-monarchical powers, even beyond the letters of the Constitution. Its members have been targeted for intimidation and harassment, and whereas it is true that there are bad eggs in every sector and that there are indeed rogue judges, the pattern of intervention in the judiciary on the grounds of the anti-corruption campaign smacks of a witch-hunt.

But whereas legislators are divided, politicians are rushing to the ruling party in search of protection, and the civil society has been weighing its options, and everyone else seems to be seeking protection, the judiciary in spite of its travails remains, in our estimation, the only institution that is still relatively standing firm. When a proper stock-taking of this period in Nigerian history is done, it may well be discovered, that the judiciary was foremost in standing firm against intimidation.

I once wrote a Man-of-the-Year piece in which the judiciary was specially commended for its efforts in protecting Nigerian democracy and the rule of law. This was during the tumultuous season of the protest against the annulment, by military fiat, of the outcome of the 1993 Presidential election, and the aftermath. Before then, the Nigerian judiciary during the Fatayi-Williams-Eso-Irikefe-Oputa-Karibi-Whyte era had spoken the truth from the Bench and sought to protect Fundamental Human Rights against assault by the then military establishment. Under the present dispensation, we may well be facing the third critical era of the judiciary in terms of its willingness or otherwise, to resist military-era like intimidation.

Our emphasis is on the appellate courts, and the principle: judicia posteriori sunt in lege fortiori, that is the later decisions are the strongest in law. Whereas the High Courts of Nigeria have acquired a reputation for recklessness, and lack of thoroughness, the appellate courts have most recently served as a good advertisement for the appellate structure of the Nigerian judicial system.

For a fact, the most celebrated cases relating to the nation-building and democratic system in recent times have been cases dealing with corruption and the travails of politically connected and exposed persons. Many of these cases, perfunctorily treated at the inferior courts level, have been thrown out at the appellate level, and in most instances what is projected is the supremacy of the law, even if the grounds may be technical.

A rigorous review of such cases may slip into the error of pedantry and seem unsuitable for journalistic commentary but I find particularly interesting a recent case at the Court of Appeal, Lagos Judicial Division, re: Adaoha Ugo-Ngadi vs Federal Govt of Nigeria, presided over by their Lordships: Mohammed Lawal Garba JCA, Joseph Shagbaor Ikyegh, JCA, and Yargata Byenchit Nimpar, JCA.

The appellant had been charged before and tried by the High Court of Lagos State, along with two others on an eight-count charge including conspiracy to obtain by false pretence, obtaining by false pretence, conspiracy to forge documents, forgery, altering a false document, conspiracy to alter a false document and so on.

On January 13, 2017, the applicant, who was 2nd defendant, along with the 1stdefendant, was convicted of the offences charged while the 3rd defendant was discharged and acquitted. They were sentenced to a total of 69 years imprisonment to run concurrently in respect of each term for the respective offences.

They were also required to return to the Federal Government of Nigeria the sum of N754.9 million being an overpayment for oil subsidy, purportedly due to their company, Ontario Oil and Gas Limited.

The gravamen of this case is in relation to the right to fair hearing, as guaranteed in Section 36(1) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution. The right to fair hearing is a fundamental right in court proceedings and a major plank of our constitutional order. The apex court had however since ruled that it is nonetheless not a right that can be resorted to in a frivolous manner or as a magic wand. Having taken this into consideration, the Court of Appeal Lagos Division, in determining the merit of other issues in the case, upheld the rulings of the lower court on Counts 2-4, and duly found the applicant guilty, but the court raised a major constitutional issue when it turned the eyes of the law on the propriety of proceedings, and whether or not this constituted a breach of the Appellants right to fair hearing.

Delivering the lead judgment, concurred to by his brother Justices, Mohammed Lawal Garba, JCA, observed: The issue of the right of a party to fair hearing in a case is so fundamental and crucial in the conduct of all judicial proceedings of a court of law and the administration of justice generally because of its constitutional guarantee and so a substantive issue of law that can be raised in an appeal against the final and interlocutory decision of a High Court, sitting at first instance, as of right by dint of the provisions of Section 241(1) (a) and (b) of the Constitution as altered.

The key issue in this instance about the propriety of proceedings and fair hearing is whether or not a defendant must be present in court throughout the whole of his trial, and whether his or her absence in the event of a joint defendant would amount to a breach of the principle or right of fair hearing. The applicant argued that the absence of her co-defendant at the lower court throughout the whole trial amounted to a denial of her right to fair hearing.

The Court then held, relying on the decided cases of Adeoye vs State; State vs Lawal, Asakipiti v. State and Ogujubu v. State as well as Section 208 of the ACJL, 2011 to the effect that it is mandatory that a Defendant shall be present in court throughout the whole of his trial including the delivery of judgement and sentence by a trial court.

Our take is that their Lordships in this case have taken a courageous stand in defence of the purity of the law, and in upholding the spirit of the law, and the constitution as the controlling force of state actions. Emotional and moralistic responses are beyond the purview of the law. When the judex insist on legal purity, especially under the prevailing circumstances in Nigeria, the standard response is for them to be exposed to blackmail and name-calling.

But the judex would fail in their duty, in the face of routine assault on fundamental rights, if they submit to the logic of the herd. Where fundamental rights are involved, it is better and more useful for the purpose of expanding the democratic space to intervene on a positive note. The case cited is not the only one of its type under the present dispensation; consider for example, the Orubebe case, the El Zakzaky case and the Dasuki case.

Here as in other cases, we see the judiciary, as the Third Estate of The Realm, resisting the attempt to cage and intimidate it by a partisan Federal Establishment. The grant of bail in the last two cases for example have been recklessly ignored nonetheless, and this is one other reason I speak of qualified praise.

It is the duty of judges to always stand up against the pretensions of the King, particularly as the prosecutorial agencies appear to be busy dancing to the body language of the King.

While the judiciary may be making some effort, more at the appellate level, in reaffirming its independence, even if through the protection of the purity of the law, the same cannot be said of the lawyers in the court of law. Every lawyer is expected and enjoined to be an officer in the temple of justice.

But sadly, Nigerian lawyers either due to lack of diligence or slavishness to other interests beyond equity and justice, compromise the propriety of proceedings. It is the reason judges must remain vigilant, to avoid interpreting the law after the fashion of the moment and to state the general principles of the law in accordance with the facts of every case and to refuse to be intimidated.

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They must be mindful all the same of the boundaries between equity and the threshold of substantial justice. The case under review sheds more light on the existing jurisprudence on the constitutional right to fair hearing. It remains to be seen whether or not the Federal Government will further challenge it at the apex court.

Whatever happens, our qualified praise need not be limited to the Appellate Courts, it is the entire judiciary despite the limitations of the moment, that must rise above the routine handling of cases, narrow-mindedness and other constraints to fully demonstrate its independence, on the Bench and away from it. Elections are around the corner; certainly there will be Constitutional issues ahead that will seriously test the integrity of our courts.

The ordinary man will expect that our judges will deliver justice without being intimidated by anyones body language.

The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of NAIJ.com.

Your own opinion articles are welcome at info@corp.naij.com drop an email telling us what you want to write about and why. More details in Naij.coms step-by-step guide for guest contributors.

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Contact us if you have any feedback, suggestions, complaints or compliments. We are also available on Twitter.

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Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, yesterday raised the alarm over an alleged fresh plot by a group of herdsmen under the auspices of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) to attack and kill him.

The governor, who disclosed this while speaking with journalists in his office at the Government House, identified former MACBAN Coordinator in the state, Alhaji Garus Gololo, as the alleged leader of the killer herdsmen, which he said have been threatening his life.

Ortom said he had reported the planned attack on him to security operatives. He expressed optimism that the killer herdsmen will not succeed as God who gives and takes life is with him and cannot die in the hands of Fulani herders who are against him for promulgating the anti-open grazing law.

There are threats to my life and I have reported that to the security agencies that one Gaurus Gololo and his team, who are members of MACBAN, are planning to attack me. But I always said life belongs to God. It is God that gives and takes life. So, my life is not in the hands of any Fulani man who is not happy with the promulgation of the anti-open grazing law in the state he said.

Herdsmen recently attacked and destroyed Ortoms farm house in Gbajimba, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

Meanwhile, the governor yesterday reconciled with his predecessor, Dr. Gabriel Suswam, whom he has not seen eye-to-eye with since assumption of office about three years ago. The gesture, according to the governor, is for the common good and development of the state. This followed a reconciliatory meeting convened at the instance of paramount ruler of the Tiv nation, the Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, to mediate in the protracted face-off between the two politicians of Tiv extraction.
Home | News | General | Dont politicise herdsmen-farmers class - Governor Yahaya Bello

- The Nigerian army launched Operation Cat Race in Benue

- Governor Yahaya Bellow said the clashes should not be politicised

- Governor Ortom applauded President Buhari for the new move

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi appealed to Nigerians not to give political colouration to the recurring herdsmen/farmers clashes in Benue and some other states across the country.

Bello made the appeal when the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai formally launched the Exercise Ayem Akpatuma  Cat Race at Guma Local Government Area of Benue,.

The exercise, intended to address the clashes began on Feb. 15, was also being conducted in Nasarawa, Kaduna, Taraba, Kogi and Niger States.

READ ALSO: Anti-corruption summit - President Buhari applauds Adamawa government

It is expected to come to an end on March 31.

The governor, who dressed in army camouflage along with his Benue counterpart, Samuel Ortom, urged the people of the state to cooperate with the military on the exercise.

Please, do not politicise this state of insecurity. If you politicise it we wont be able to make head way. Let us be safety conscious, Bello said.

Orton thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for deploying troops to address the classes.

He expressed confidence that with the deployment of troops, peace will soon return to the state, and the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) would be able to return to their communities.

The chief of army staff explained that the exercise was not targeted at any tribe or religious group but criminal elements behind the attacks and other forms of criminality.

Buratai assured that the rules of engagement would be applied to the letter, while the exercise lasted..

We will not tolerate any act that will destabilise the peaceful atmosphere that has been prevailing in these areas, Benue, Kaduna, Taraba and Nasarawa states that have been most affected.

Anyone found to be involved in this act of insecurity the rules of engagement will take its course, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that shortly before the launch of the exercise, the army chief said the governors visited one of the camps accommodating 15, 000 IDPs at Bajimba in Guma Local Government Area.

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According to the Executive Secretary of Benue State Management Agency SEMA, Mr Emmanuel Shior, there are 169, 000 IDPs in eight camps across the state due to the clashes.

NAIJ.com also earlier reported that Governor Ortom and his predecessor, Gabriel Suswam settled their political differences and agreed to work together for the common good of the state.

The reconciliation meeting between both politicians took place at the palace of the Tor Tiv, Professor James Ayatse, in Gboko, Leadership reports.

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Home | News | General | We sold our new born baby for N400,000 - Couple

- A couple has admitted to selling their a day old baby for N400,000

- The couple are indigenes of Amakpu- Umuba, in the Isiala Ngwa north local government area of Abia state

- Police say the couple had given birth to seven children but the whereabouts of two were still unknown

For allegedly selling their daughter, Chinecherem, for N400,000, a few hours after delivery, the monitoring unit of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department of the Imo state police command has arrested a couple, 35-year-old Ifeanyi and 30-year-old Emmaculata Elijah, 30.

The couple who are indigenes of Amakpu- Umuba, in the Isiala Ngwa north local government area of Abia state are residents of Irete, in the Owerri west LGA of Imo state.

Punch reports that Grace Mezu, 55, of Umuoba Uratta, in the Owerri north LGA; Fedalia Ariri, 55, also of Umuoba Uratta; and Amarachi Obiekwe, 49, of Osina, in the Ideato North LGA were also arrested for their involvement in the act.

We sold our new born baby for N400,000 - Couple

READ ALSO: Police arrest Alhaji Laggi, leader of herdsmen responsible for Benue killings

The police public relations officer, Andrew Enwerem who paraded the suspects on Monday, February 19, at the command headquarters in Owerri said the couple conspired on January 26, 2018, to sell the child to Obiekwe, through Mezu and Ariri, a few hours after she was delivered.

He said the couple had given birth to seven children but the whereabouts of two were still unknown.

The woman delivered the baby at home while the waiting buyers paid immediately to take possession of the newborn baby, the police spokesperson said.

Going further, he revealed that the baby was recovered on February 17 in Lagos state.

The innocent baby was denied love and parental care immediately she was given birth to. The parents conspired to take N400,000 instead of their daughter.

The Commissioner of Police, who is pissed off with this act of wickedness and crime against humanity, has ordered that the wheels of justice and investigation be accelerated so that the matter would be charged to court.

Having found out that the mother of the child was part of the conspiracy, the CP has ordered that the innocent baby be taken from her and handed over to the Imo state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare.

The suspects have made confessional statements and we are working to ensure that justice is served. The commissioner of police advised that those who are in need of children should go through legal means to adopt them.

In his confession, the father of the baby said that he traded his daughter for money, and that the crime was planned and hatched by himself and his wife.

The wife, however, said she was not aware of the deed.

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that the World Health Organisation (WHO) expressed displeasure over unnecessary caesarean section that pregnant women are subjected to in the course of child birth.

WHO stated that women are pushed into unnecessary C-section because they are not given enough time to give birth.

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NAIJ.com gathered that the agency on Monday, February 19, issued new childbirth guidance removing the emphasis on a timescale over which a normal labour should take place.

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Home | News | General | Court dismisses corruption charges against former governor Nnamani

- A court in Lagos dismissed the charges brought against former governor, Chimaroke Nnamani

- The court said there were no proper charges against him

A Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed the corruption charges brought against former governor of Enugu state, Chimaroke Nnamani.

The ruling was delivered by Justice Chuka Obiozor on Tuesday, February 20.

READ ALSO: Army launches Operation Cat Race

Vanguard reports that the judge noted that the case was dismissed for lack of proper charges.

The judge said the affidavit filed by Mr. Nnamani showed that the court had entered judgement in the same suit on July 5, 2015, by another judge, Mohammed Yunusa.

Rickey Tarfa who is the counsel to the former governor said the defendant filed a motion disclosing the facts that this case has been put to rest by Mr. Yunusa in his judgement.

He said since a plea bargain has been entered before another judge, there was pending case before Justice Obiozor.

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Kelvin Uzoziewho is the EFCC judge however argued that he was applying that the entire charges against the defendant be expunged as he was filing new charges.

The judge in his reaction said: I agree that in view of the plea bargain judgement of this court delivered on the 7th of July, 2015, that there is no valid charge before me and I thereby expunge the entire proceedings before me.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari applauded the Adamawa state government for its fight against corruption with the establishment of an anti-corruption summit.

The president gave this commendation during his visit to the state on Tuesday, February 20.

The president noted that although his administration was not meddling in the affairs of states, he was impressed with the state for agreeing with the fight against corruption.

He commended the people of the state for their support and praised the state for its transparency and fairness.

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NBC continues to be trash and make trash decisions. What are you guys afraid of?

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Insiders say Andy Lack, NBC top exec, is behind the banning and still fuming over Farrow's claim that NBC tried to kill the Harvey Weinstein probe.



when ya got something to hide...

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he should jump ship to HBO or some other network. what the fuck NBC

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He signed a three year deal with HBO last month. As did his boyfriend with Pod Save America.

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https://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2018/02/16/lead-ronan-farrow-live.cnn



Andy Lack is in the bag for Trump. He's the one sitting on those Apprentice tapes that show Trump being a racist and sexist. It never ends. He thinks he can shut Farrow up by banning him from NBC/MSNBC. Just gonna get more viewers for CNN. This is why I saw him on CNN three days ago. I thought it was odd he was on CNN and not MSNBC. He was detailing the systematic manner in which allies of Donald Trump have helped bury stories about infidelity that could hurt Trump.Andy Lack is in the bag for Trump. He's the one sitting on those Apprentice tapes that show Trump being a racist and sexist. It never ends. He thinks he can shut Farrow up by banning him from NBC/MSNBC. Just gonna get more viewers for CNN.

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Trump supporting trash company so it doesn't surprise me. Their Olympics coverage is a joke while we're at it.

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Their Olympic coverage is pathetic.

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NBC continues to be absolute trash.

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When did NBC start sucking so badly, or have they always been awful? I used to like their some of their programming, but the Olympics coverage is a joke, I don't care for any of the shows on primetime and they hired Megyn Kelly. What gives?

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theyre a huge corporation, what do you think.

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mte

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they've really gone down hill since they cancelled MILF island

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oh idk milf island was a revelation imo

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Lol I love it!

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when Jeff Zucker took over

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They were bought out by Comcast.

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when they cancelled Passions

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what a stupid decision, this ban speaks louder than ronan's claims

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Damn thats just a testament to how far people will go to conceals truths. >:||||

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way to do more damage to your public image

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The network that allowed Trump's Apprentice to flourish banned a guy who's happy to talk shit about Trump? Quelle shock.

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Don't forget Matt Lauer.

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ikr

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What a dumbass thing to do

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Right? Surly the best thing to happen was have him on and if you're so adamant have someone there from the network to dispute/discuss his claims.



Edited at 2018-02-20 12:49 am (UTC)

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Pathetic little babies omg

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they don't deserve ha

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hm

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People calling this "shade" were so embarrassing.

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Had to go find her comment but...it doesnt seem like a snub. Or anything to blast her over. 

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i don't really understand the initial "inside joke" but this seems overblown regardless.

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LOL mean girl

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'She's a national treasure - who even are you?'



Did someone actually say this to Jennifer Lawrence about some British nobody?



Britons stay deluding themselves that it's the 18th century and they still matter culturally in the least.

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Speaking of delusional...

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Harry Potter ended ten years ago and now everyone hates the author. Who was SCOTTISH anyway, half of whom want out of the ~United Kingdom~



IT'S OVER. You can either accept that, or you can keep making remakes of Sherlock Holmes.

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Joanna Lumley is not some nobody. She is - among a million other things - Miss PATSY STONE! And that makes everyone else a nobody.

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Mmm hmm, it's a tightrope walk every time she's interviewed, almost always by someone who'd love for her to fall.

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For real. This is literally nothing.

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as the First Amendment provides!



Well... in the United States.

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As much as I'd love for women to be encouraged to speak their minds more, that's not what the first amendment is about at all.

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yeah that was actually embarrassing and painful to watch.

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Lawrence says in her annoying ass Jennifer Lawrence voice.



lol u ok OP?

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mte

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Yeah what was going on there?

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I said it in the other post about this but honestly, I'm still baffled as to how the British of all people missed the self-deprecating humor.

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right? that's... odd. are you alright UK?

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Narrator: They weren't.

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Honestly, we've had better days.

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lol this is a good point. Every time I see someone comment about how british humour is ~dry wit~ I just roll my eyes but this joke should have been right up their alley.

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lol at the Mean Girls reference, but saying 'thank you' to someone complimenting you doesn't mean you agree, it's just being polite.

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omg but what if she did agree lmao would that be such a crime?

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lol, no, she should have just said "I know, right?"

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idk i think a lot of women have been taught since birth that accepting compliments = being an egotistical bitch. we're supposed to be baffled and put ourselves down

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Wait, all she said was "That was a bit much"? That's what this whole thing is about?? British people need to chill, jfc.

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btw, though, JLaw's hair looks absolutely frightful here. Should have used one of her dollar-store "Red Sparrow" wigs instead.

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yeah this is not her best hair. She looks lovely when her hair is loose.

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Doesn't think Daniel Day-Lewis needs yet another Oscar



this is dumb



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Are you voting for Mystery of Love though?!

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From reading the full ballot, it sounds like they are.

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split between Lesley Manville and Allison Janney for supporting actress





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That Oscar should be Laurie's and it makes me so mad that she's being disrespected like this!

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entertainment weekly recently placed her ahead of allison janney and they almost always predict the main six categories so I'm that gave me some hope for Laurie!



Fingers crossed allison gets all the awards up to it but Laurie still snags the oscar, it can happen!

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Your icon <3 I wish CMBYN would have a better chance to win for BP.

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Not voting for Meryl or Frances since they're already Oscar winners. Will either vote for Margot Robbie and Sally Hawkins.



The fucking disrespect to Queen Saoirse.

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Really though, these anonymous voters have been ignoring Saoirse, like I could honestly be convinced that shes actually 4th or last not second behind Frances.



Edited at 2018-02-20 07:31 pm (UTC)

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how can Margot be ahead?

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Ill be your non-anonymous Oscar voter: I voted mostly for Get Out and in some categories for The Shape of Water. I did not get Lady Bird or Billboards. Im delighted we finally have a first woman DP nominee but I voted for Deakins because how the fuck can I not?  Lexi Alexander  (@Lexialex) February 13, 2018





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This would be me for Get Out, I loved it!



CMBYN, I think it was too hyped before I seen it cause i felt like I was missing something! Lady Bird I didn't get either, all that "my name is ladybird" crap urgh, Laurie was the movies saving grace!

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lol I love this. I hope we get mote non anonymous oscar voters

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Guessing they're like everyone else in the Academy and didn't see any of the animated nominees.

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Phantom thread was boring tbh. A couple walked out 30 Mins in.

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reminds me of call me by your name, this couple walked out maybe 20 minutes into it and I was like wtf kind of movie were you expecting lol



this was before any of the gay stuff too so I think they were just bored lol

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the post was a snooze as well

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I loved Phantom Thread. Vicky Krieps was snubbed tbh. Tho Lesley Manville was lowkey the mvp.

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She was really good in it

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I finally saw this over the weekend and it's crazy to me that Vicky Krieps didn't get a nomination. She owned that movie, imo.

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HAHAHAHA

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I have all of my Meegan/Peele GIFs prepped for Oscar night.

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Have you guys been following Sasha Stones borderline mental breakdown over people liking Lady Bird? Shes always been OTT and stupid but man, this is a new level of insane.

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what is she saying?

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She's created conspiracy theories around it's success. She really liked Mudbound and is convinced that Lady Bird trampled on it's potential success.

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she hates that movie so much

she was on the awards watch podcast some time ago and went on and on and on about Lady Bird being nothing special

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Christ, what's she done now?

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I'm mostly baffled by her antics because on the one hand she usually pushes so hard for anything directed or written by a woman during awards season (and then blames sexism when it doesn't get nominated) and yet she's blaming the fact that it's directed and written by a woman to explain why it's gotten as much acclaim as it has.

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no, but lol @ her taking this shit WAY too seriously.

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I personally didn't much care for it either, but she is soooo OTT on twitter about it!

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I thought the Call Me By Your Name fans were vicious but you know, the Lady Bird fans are worse. They really are people who will find you, hunt you down, and inflict their hurt feelings at you any way they can. It's bizarre. It's just a movie?  Sasha Stone (@AwardsDaily) February 20, 2018



Lmao she's so damn salty about Lady Bird and CMBYN. I love it when people constantly bitch about certain films all season and pretend like they're not just as annoying as the stans (*cough* Clayton Davis and his band of idiots *cough*). Lmao she's so damn salty about Lady Bird and CMBYN. I love it when people constantly bitch about certain films all season and pretend like they're not just as annoying as the stans (*cough* Clayton Davis and his band of idiots *cough*).

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Lmao, yes. Her weird contrarian stance compared to her initial warm reception of the film is jarring but hilarious

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Her attitude towards Lady Bird and black journalists who ~dare to criticze 3BB is incredibly bizarre.

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it will be interesting to see if there are any oscar voters who sniff that they can't be bothered with CMBYN bc they dgaf about the plights of rich white men

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and is befuddled by the preferential voting (says just pick one winner and call it a day, not a list).



IA tbh. I really don't see why they complicate things so damn much -- five nominees per category! One pick from those five! Not that hard!



(Have we talked about the other voter who didn't understand Dunkirk and didn't get that it was set in France? I'm gonna lose my fuckin' mind.)

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was that the second anon voter from indiewire? i haven't checked for that one yet

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lmaooo theres literally a line in the movie like where are we going? France Jesus Christ people

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And also, like, DID YOU PASS EIGHTH GRADE (or "grade eight" or whatever the shit you wanna call it)?!?? JFC

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"won't vote for ddl"

"split between lesley manville and allison janney for supporting actress"

"new anonymous oscar voter loves phantom thread""won't vote for ddl""split between lesley manville and allison janney for supporting actress"

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That scene with Lesley will be the one people remember the most, but my favorite is when he goes to her to complain about Alma and she's basically going "shut the fuck up, you manbaby" in her head. This movie is so much funnier than I expected.

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It was hilarious! I saw it with a good crowd and there were so many moments where we all laughed, really reinforced the vibe of it being a dark comedy of sorts.

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It was hilarious! I loved that scene as well b/c I expected her character to stay loyal to Raymond and baby him for the rest of his life, but she turned around and sided with Alma to put him in his place, mwahaha

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Phantom Thread is iconic. Vicky Kreips was robbed! DDL should win actor! And if I cant have a Metcalf win then Ill take a Manville win!

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Well good for her for owning up to her mistake.

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SHEs STILL FUCKING TRASH FOR SIGNING IN THE FIRST PLACE

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1. Don't yell at me.



2. I don't know why anyone signed that shit, but at least she admitted she was wrong and she regrets it. That's better than never changing your mind or admitting you were wrong. It's called growth and learning to be a better person.



Or are you being sarcastic? lol



Edited at 2018-02-20 09:40 pm (UTC)

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you sound reasonable

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Eh, she's still using the crutch of "someone influenced me" .. not taking full responsibility tbh



but w/e at least she tried

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Some people will complain but at least she admits it was a mistake.

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Ontd doesn't know accountability

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gur u know ontd aint got time for words with more than 4 syllables...

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Ontd: I really wish people would see the error in their ways and change their shitty opinions.



Also ontd: oh you changed your shitty opinion? Well DIAF for having had those opinions in the first place. Never forget!

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The thing is, so many of these people loved Polanski just a few months ago, and while I'm sure some have genuine remorse, others are only doing what's popular atm, what they think will help their careers. Kate Winslet was defending Woody Allen as recently as 2 months ago, then last month she suddenly had a change of heart. Look at how so many people wanted to have their pics taken with Kobe Bryant at the Oscar nominee luncheon. There are so many examples, but I'll stop because I'm getting pissed off.



Edited at 2018-02-20 10:26 pm (UTC)

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ONTD won't forgive anyone for signing that damned petition. I don't know how they think petitions get a lot of signatures, but the best way is to not get into the details of the petition, you want a signature, that's it, you don't want someone to think about why they're signing it or if it's a good idea.



When people own up to their mistakes, that says a lot about them imo.

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So many  quotes from Natalie Portman in this Q&A with @KateAurthur. Like, what it's like for so many female actors who are used to being the ONLY woman in a movie to suddenly be working together with Time's Up. https://t.co/X6xSd1uPdf pic.twitter.com/AX8Het2gHA  Adam B. Vary (@adambvary) February 20, 2018





And this, about whether we should care that Woody Allen's directing career may now be over. https://t.co/X6xSd1uPdf (via @KateAurthur) pic.twitter.com/WpPEe8Bsd6  Adam B. Vary (@adambvary) February 20, 2018



Well better late than never and I am glad she addressed it. The interview/thread was good

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I do agree with her saying about lets not be sad for the person who can't make movies anyone. Thats essentially what the Roman Polanski's list was about.



Instead of continuing to fund some abuser, how about opening doors to other talents.



Edited at 2018-02-20 09:03 pm (UTC)

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natalie you bitch cut it out i wanna go back to hating you

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(I'm J/K I just wanted to use that GIF lolz.) (I'm J/K I just wanted to use that GIF lolz.)

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remembering that she compared eating meat to rape usually helps, for me lmao

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The first paragraph is so true... And then they have the nerve to throw a fit when women want to organise amongst our self, they won't even let us have an all female film screening smh

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these answers are amazing, good for Natalie for speaking up!

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Damn, go IN on that second quote Natalie!

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Natalie wow making up for lost time.

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i like that

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Love it.

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love ha!

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IDG the Bill Cosby reference

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asking "Where's the female version of Bill Cosby" though? you couldn't think of any other name? Neta-Lee Hershlag remains the queen of foot-in-mouth syndrome

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damn what woman of color has been educating ha (because that's pm always the case when a white woman suddenly comes to her senses)

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what would a female Bill Cosby's career or place in culture even look like? this was a good answer but that part was really weird

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does she regret working with him as well?

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I'm assuming they're talking about a perfume ad he did in like 2008.

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MTE.



Like this is nice and all and I appreciate the sentiment, but working with him is a much bigger step than not thinking about a petition you signed.

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not for ONTD, no.

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Nothing is ever good enough for ONTD. You have to be absolutely perfect at every moment of every day and never make any mistakes ever.

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Pretty much. Which is just ridiculous. :RME:

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the charm of ontd, hope she never changes #bless

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I just had an idea. there should be a link in every celeb post to a list of ONTDs grievances re:this celeb in particular since the beginning of time, and the comments listing them would be banned.

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i think some pp job here keep reciept on all celebrities, and they dont ever forget

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So what was the reasoning behind the petition? Why were people (mostly liberals) signing it?

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because he's "talented" or something, probably.



Edited at 2018-02-20 09:02 pm (UTC)

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I've seen quite a few people go "Someone I liked shoved a piece of paper in front of me and said 'sign it', so I did."





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Yeah Emma Thompson said the same thing iirc

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I need to get ahold of checks from these people if they sign that haphazardly.

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ngl this is the dumbest shit I've ever heard tho lol I refuse to believe a single person who uses it as their excuse.

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lol i just feel like these are such bad excuses??

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Honestly, if celebs want to pass off responsibility like this, I want names. Who is the person who allegedly took advantage of you? Who do you trust so much that you didn't bother reading or thinking about your actions before you took them?

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Because he makes Oscar bait movies and it was signed by a bunch of people who wanted to win awards.

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bc for all that liberals criticize conservatives for not caring about women & sexual assault (and don't get me wrong, i think conservatives are worse in this respect) there are a lot of liberals who also don't care about sexual assault if it inconveniences them. people can be stunningly selfish & self-absorbed regardless of political affiliation.

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~art~



And especially years ago, social liberals extended that liberalism to sexual liberalism, which is fine and in fact healthy. But they never included the important caveat: "AMONG CONSENTING ADULTS." Girls and women were, and are, thought to be temptresses among whom men couldn't control their passion. Girls were considered sexual way younger than the law said they were, and plying them with drugs and alcohol didn't seem like a big deal, and certainly not something that stripped them of the ability to consent. It was just free love, baby.



The idea was that puritanical maniacs were seeking to ~silence an artist's voice~ because of their hang-ups about sex.

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Fwiw, there was a point in time when I was a ~mature 17 year old~ and I totally would've signed it based on some documentary I watched.

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the original petition talked about some shit like film festivals should be a ~free and ~neutral space and welcoming to films/filmmakers in opposition to ~the state (barf), as if Polanski's arrest at a film festival was some big crime against Art Itself, and i can imagine some pretentious-ass actors (*cough* Tilda Swinton *cough) going along with that sort of reasoning

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Glad she did this.

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she should.

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I'm glad she talked about the petition. I appreciate her support of Dylan and her calling out only men directors getting nominated.

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She also had her name removed a long, long time ago but it's brought up every Natalie Portman post.

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She should.



As should everyone else who signed it and who worked with him. now someone needs to ask guillermo about it since he's everywhere

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I mean,



Meanwhile Jennifer Lawrence said "that was a bit much, but thank you" to an overwrought introduction, and she's a fucking bitch whose schtick is fake and her voice is fucking obnoxious, etc etc. He's a man, and better still, a powerful director. He'll never get bugged about it.I mean, a literal child rapist who spent an entire fifteen months in jail for RAPING A CHILD (and having child porn!) is still making B-horror movies and no one seems to care, so like, GDT signing a petition is nothing.Meanwhile Jennifer Lawrence said "that was a bit much, but thank you" to an overwrought introduction, and she's a fucking bitch whose schtick is fake and her voice is fucking obnoxious, etc etc.

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Of course, she's a female.

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jlaw's bafta "controversy" is so mind boggling... especially all the people saying she threw shade at joanna, like...? if anything she was shading herself? people are so stupid.

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Good for her

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Good on her. I know people dislike her for other reasons or think this apology isn't good enough, but she's been walking the walk to support women and women-fronted projects for a long time. And so far, the people who have expressed regret for signing this thing have been overwhelmingly women.



So: uncancelled.

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Well the first reason ontd hates her is bc she's a woman.

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lol, who said ontd hates her? most of the comments in here are positive...

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And worse, a successful woman. But further excuses have been made long ago.



Also, am I going there? I'm going there. She also happens to be Jewish. I'm talking to YOU, weirdo user who keeps PMing me lists of Jewish actors in Hollywood INCLUDING the dead ones.



Edited at 2018-02-20 10:15 pm (UTC)

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also she's from israel. that's enough for ontd to hate her.

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I think this is a really good answer. She owned up to the fact that she made a mistake and explained the circumstances without trying to excuse it.



And while I can hold a grudge like no other, I do agree that if someone makes a mistake and takes the steps to correct that mistake and walks the walk going forward that it's okay to forgive that person. (Or not if that is how you feel too since no one is actually owed forgiveness.)

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Credit: Northern Rangelands Trust

Aerial surveys in northern Kenya have confirmed the existence of a large population of beisa oryx, otherwise known as the East African oryx. The surveys, which took place in 2016 and 2017, covered the south-eastern parts of the area occupied by conservancies within the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT)  a community-led NGO whose mission is to develop resilient community conservancies that transform people's lives and conserve natural resources.

The surveys revealed that Nakuprat-Gotu Conservancy, which buffers Shaba National Reserve, hosts the largest known remaining concentration of oryx within the NRT conservancies. The total number of oryx recorded in September 2016 was 618, increasing to an estimated 631 individuals by June 2017. The survey data, especially the consistent numbers recorded in the last two years, is extremely encouraging for beisa oryx conservation when compared to the 180 individuals estimated to be in the area during the surveys led by the Kenya Wildlife Service back in 2012.

The 2016-17 figures highlight the national importance of this sub-population of beisa oryx, which could represent up to 10% of the Kenyan population of this subspecies. Although these antelopes are widespread across northern Kenya, their numbers have been declining due to poaching and habitat loss caused by growing human settlements and overgrazing of livestock. Little is known about the range and movements of this species and, to date, it has not benefited from dedicated conservation action. Recognising this, NRT (one of Fauna & Flora International's long-standing partners in Africa), developed a programme supported by FFI through a grant from Fondation Segre, aimed at safeguarding the population of beisa oryx found within NRT conservancies.

An orxy during the collaring exercise. Credit: Northern Rangelands Trust

As part of the conservation programme, a population of beisa oryx is being introduced into one of NRT's protected sanctuaries inside Sera Conservancy, which also harbours critically endangered black rhinos. This will offer protection from poaching and avoid competition with livestock for resources, enabling oryx numbers to increase more rapidly. As the population grows, the plan is to reintroduce oryx into the wider protected landscape of Sera outside the sanctuary where there is room for further expansion. The sanctuary is strategically located close to the sub-population identified in the aerial surveys, which will allow for complementary conservation activities in the long term.

The introduction of beisa oryx to Sera Conservancy also provides further opportunities for research and dedicated conservation actions for this species. This additional research, the continued Sera Conservancy programme, and a complementary collaring programme  which is improving our understanding of the oryx's range and movements  will make a vital contribution to the conservation of this species, helping to develop a wider oryx recovery programme in Kenya in order to safeguard the future of these beautiful animals.

Explore further National Zoo scimitar-horned oryx going into the wild
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

An employee receives significantly more praise if his actions result in positive consequences than his superior. An experiment conducted by a team of researchers from Bochum and Cologne has demonstrated that, unlike previously assumed, the acting person's social status plays an important role when it comes to the distribution of praise and blame - rather than the extent to which an individual has influenced a given situation. The findings are described by philosophy scholars Prof Dr Albert Newen and Pascale Willemsen from Ruhr-Universitat Bochum together with Prof Dr Dr Kai Kaspar from the University of Cologne in the journal Philosophical Psychology.

"In the field of ethics, it is typically assumed that the degree of praise or blame a person deserves is determined by three factors: what he did, how bad the consequences of his action are for other people, and what his intentions were," says Pascale Willemsen. "But this is not how it works in real life." A boss receives considerably more blame for the negative consequences of his actions than an employee.

Causal influence versus social role

Theories to date had assumed that praise and blame were determined by the extent to which an individual is able to exercise causal influence over something. "That means the reason why the boss is criticised more severely than the employee is because it was he who made the decision and, therefore, his causal influence over the situation was more significant," explains Kai Kaspar. According to this theory, his social role as the boss is irrelevant.

Willemsen, Newen, and Kaspar tested this assumption in an online study with 209 test participants from the USA. The participants were asked to state their position on the following situation: rather than the boss, an employee makes an important decision in the company. Both employee and boss are aware that, while the decision is in the best interest of the enterprise, it will have a negative impact on the environment as a side-effect. Both explicitly state that they do not care about this side-effect.

Social role more significant than previously assumed

In the experiment, the boss received more criticism than the employee, even though he did not personally make the decision. "We now have ample reason to assume that the social function plays a significant role in determining how much praise or criticism we allocate to a person for any negative consequences of their actions," concludes Albert Newen.

"In the field of philosophical ethics, the social anchorage of ethical judgements has so far been disregarded," points out Newen. "Even though empirical findings clearly indicate that humans make moral judgements in a way that does not comply with the ideas of moral philosophers."

Explore further Brain processes social information at high priority

More information: Pascale Willemsen et al, A new look at the attribution of moral responsibility: The underestimated relevance of social roles, Philosophical Psychology (2018). Pascale Willemsen et al, A new look at the attribution of moral responsibility: The underestimated relevance of social roles,(2018). DOI: 10.1080/09515089.2018.1429592
Credit: Roberto Trombetta. Shared under a Creative Commons license.

New research finds that altruism - and social media - can help corporations cultivate trust with consumers on mobile devices during and after natural disasters, such as hurricanes.

"Companies that engage in corporate social responsibility efforts during and after a disaster can build strong relationships with consumers," says Yang Cheng, an assistant professor of communication at North Carolina State University and first author of a paper on the work. "This is particularly true if companies are communicating their efforts through social media aimed at mobile device users - but only if their efforts appear altruistic."

For the study, researchers conducted an online, nationally representative survey of 1,433 U.S. adults. Questions focused on why people use social media during and after a natural disaster; how frequently they've used social media to seek or share information during a crisis; the extent to which they've shared information on crisis-related corporate social responsibility efforts; how they perceive the motives of relevant companies; and how they feel about the companies themselves.

The researchers found a strong link between how social media users viewed corporate social responsibility motives and how they viewed the companies engaged in those efforts. If users felt the efforts were focused on the public good, they were more likely to trust the company. But if users felt the efforts were profit-driven, they were more skeptical of the company.

The researchers also found that users who frequently used social media to find and share information were more likely to trust companies engaged in corporate social responsibility efforts.

"These findings provide good advice for corporations," Cheng says. "If companies use their social media presence to provide useful information and resources during crises - with a clear focus on the public good - they can nurture meaningful, authentic relationships with consumers.

"What organizations can do is understand and value public perspectives; utilize the organization's various social/mobile media platforms; show care and empathy; be honest; be open and transparent in providing useful and timely information; and engage in actual dialogue with stakeholders both during and post crisis."

Explore further Companies being responsible on social media

More information: "Engaging Social Media Users on Mobile Devices in Crises: An Examination of Gratifications, CSR Motives, and Relationship Outcomes" Presented: May 24-28, 2018, 68th Annual International Communication Association Conference, Prague, Czech Republic
Uncountable numbers of drink containers end up in the ocean every year. Credit: Shutterstock

Plastic waste in the ocean is a global problem; some eight million metric tonnes of plastic ends up in the ocean every year.

One possible solution  paying a small amount for returned drink containers  has been consistently opposed by the beverage industry for many years. But for the first time our research, published in Marine Policy, has found that container deposits reduce the amount of beverage containers on the coasts of both the United States and Australia by 40%.

What's more, the reduction is even more pronounced in areas of lower socio-economic status, where plastic waste is most common.

Plastic not so fantastic

There have been many suggestions for how to reduce marine debris. Some promote reducing plastic packaging, re-purposing plastic debris], or cleaning beaches. There has been a push to get rid of plastic straws, and even Queen Elizabeth II has banned single use plastics from Royal Estates! All of these contribute to the reduction of plastics, and are important options to consider.

Legislation and policy are another way to address the problems of plastic pollution. Recent legislation includes plastic bag bans and microbead bans. Economic incentives, such as container deposits, have attracted substantial attention in countries around the world.

Several Australian jusrisdictions, including South Australia, the Northern Territory, and New South Wales), already have container deposit laws, with Western Australia and Queensland set to start in 2019. In the United States, 10 states have implemented container deposit schemes.

But how effective is a cash for containers program? While there is evidence to suggest that container deposits increase return rates and decrease litter, until now there has been no study asking whether they also reduce the sources of debris entering the oceans.

In Australia, we analysed data from litter surveys by Keep South Australia Beautiful, and Keep Australia Beautiful. In the US, we accessed data from the Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup.

We compared coastline surveys in states with a container deposit scheme to those without. In both Australia and the US, the proportion of beverage containers in states without a deposit scheme was about 1.6 times higher than their neighbours. Based on estimates of debris loading on US beaches that we conducted previously, if all coastal states in the United States implemented deposit schemes, there would be 6.6 million fewer containers on the shoreline each year.

Keep your lid on

But how do we know that this difference is caused by the deposit scheme? Maybe people in states with container deposit schemes simply drink fewer bottled beverages than people states without them, and so there are fewer containers in the litter stream?

To answer that question, we measured the ratio of lids to containers from the same surveys. Lids are manufactured in equal proportion to containers, and arrive to the consumer on the containers, but do not attract a deposit in either country.

If deposit schemes cause a decrease in containers in the environment, it is unlikely to cause a similar decrease in littered lids. So, if a cashback incentive is responsible for the significantly lower containers on the shorelines, we would expect to see a higher ratio of lids to containers in states with these programs, as compared to states without.

That's exactly what we found.

We were also interested in whether other factors also influenced the amount of containers in the environment. We tested whether the socio-economic status of the area (as defined by data from the Australian census) was related to more containers in the environment. Generally, we found fewer containers in the environment in wealthier communities. However, the presence of a container deposit reduced the container load more in poorer communities.

This is possibly because a relatively small reward of 10 cents per bottle may make a bigger difference to less affluent people than to more wealthy consumers. This pattern is very positive, as it means that cashback programs have a stronger impact in areas of lower economic advantage, which are also the places with the biggest litter problems.

Ultimately, our best hope of addressing the plastic pollution problem will be through a range of approaches. These will include bottom-up grassroots governance, state and federal legislation, and both hard and soft law.

Along with these strategies, we must see a shift in the type of we products use and their design. Both consumers and manufacturers are responsibility for shifting from a make, use, dispose culture to a make, reuse, repurpose, and recycle culture, also known as a circular economy.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
ESA astronaut Roberto Vittori on the International Space Station in 2011 with the air quality control and monitoring system NADIR developed to check for possible anomalies in the internal atmosphere on the station. NADIR was part of the IENOSE Experiment. Credit: NASA

A start-up company from an ESA business incubator is offering affordable air-quality monitors for homes, schools and businesses using technology it developed for the International Space Station.

"We realised that the problem astronauts face with limited of exchange of air inside the International Space Station is also the case for many people inside buildings that have little or no ventilation," explains Ciro Formisano from Airgloss, hosted at ESA's Business Incubation Centre in Lazio, Italy.

"So we adapted the sensor system we had designed for the Station to work on Earth in a variety of settings, with web-based controllers to give timely warnings wherever you are."

The products were designed and developed by Ciro and his team, and tested on the ISS in collaboration with University of Rome Tor Vergata to check the air quality aboard the orbiting complex to check the air quality aboard the orbiting complex. There, it was tested by ESA astronaut Roberto Vittori during his third flight to the station in 2011.

The patented sensor acts like an 'electronic nose', sniffing the air and applying artificial intelligence to match the patterns it detects to the chemical signatures of a wide range of chemical compounds in its database. It then alerts users to deteriorating air quality and the presence of pollutants.

To adapt it for terrestrial use, Ciro and his team set up Airgloss in 2013. With support from ESA Business Incubation Centre Lazio, where the company was based from 2014 to 2016, Airgloss gathered input from potential distributors and customers on what customers needed, to help develop a product line with three ranges.

The ProSense professional units are suitable both for use in existing buildings, such as schools, offices and factories, and new constructions. They are designed to be combined with heating, ventilation and air conditioning units and help to improve energy efficiency as well as air quality.

The air quality control and monitoring NADIR system, part of the IENOSE Experiment, were installed on the International Space Station in 2011 by ESA astronaut Roberto Vittori. It consisted of 3 sensor units to be positioned in different locations on the station. Credit: NASA

Airgloss ComfortKit is designed for domestic consumers, combining thermostat functions with air-quality monitoring. A version has already been incorporated into devices such as cooking hoods, air purifiers and handheld detectors.

The second generation of the professional units will be launched in January at CES in Las Vegas, US, and the ComfortKit product will go on sale mid 2018.

From space to Earth

Sensor on ISS

Three separate sensor units were used around the Space Station over three weeks to monitor air quality and detect any problems caused by the failure of the air purification systems or contamination from the astronauts' activities, such as laboratory experiments.

"Developing devices for space was good training, because it taught us how to make low-cost units that were robust enough to reach the Station and then survive in a critical environment, but also easy to use," explains Ciro.

"Another benefit is that users have confidence in our product because of its space heritage and because we have worked with ESA and NASA. They trust space technology and are very impressed when they see the ESA space solutions logo on the units and the packaging  even in the US."

AirGloss ComfortKit. AirGloss is a start-up from ESA Business Incubation Centre Lazio. Credit: AirGloss

When Airgloss moved into ESA's incubation centre, the company had four employees. It now has 12 and growing, and has international distribution agreements in the US and Europe, with more planned in Canada and the Gulf area.

ESA's 18 Business Incubation Centres have fostered more than 500 start-ups across Europe. Each year, more than 140 new start-ups are supported to develop companies and jobs in Europe, introducing new systems and services for terrestrial use based on the transfer of space technology and the use of satellite date.

"Without the incubation programme, I don't think we could have successfully followed up on our idea to develop this technology commercially," emphasises Ciro.

"They helped us think about the market and not just the technology. We had a lot of technical expertise but we learned a lot from a business point of view, such as how to develop proposals, identify distribution channels, partners and establish a plan.

"The fact that we were based in the incubation centre also helped us to be trusted by customers and distributors when we were still a new company."

Airgloss wants to widen its product range. Ciro sees many opportunities for the space sensing technology in the medical field and in many more commercial devices, such as units for children's rooms and sensor attachments for smartphones.

He adds, "My ultimate dream is to send a new generation of sensors back up onto the Space Station and repeat the success of the project that began our business."
Women are more likely to experience workplace incivility  low-intensity deviant behavior with ambiguous intent to harm  at the hands of other women, according to new research by UA professor Allison Gabriel. Credit: University of Arizona

The phenomenon of women discriminating against other women in the workplaceparticularly as they rise in seniorityhas long been documented as the "queen bee syndrome." As women have increased their ranks in the workplace, most will admit to experiencing rude behavior and incivility.

Who is at fault for dishing out these mildly deviant behaviors? Has the syndrome grown more pervasive?

"Studies show women report more incivility experiences overall than men, but we wanted to find out who was targeting women with rude remarks," said Allison Gabriel, assistant professor of management and organizations in the University of Arizona's Eller College of Management.

Gabriel and her co-authors set out to answer that question across three studies. Men and women who were employed full time answered questions about the incivility they experienced at work during the last month. The questions were about co-workers who put them down or were condescending, made demeaning or derogatory remarks, ignored them in a meeting or addressed them in unprofessional terms. Each set of questions was answered twice, once for male co-workers and once for female co-workers.

"Across the three studies, we found consistent evidence that women reported higher levels of incivility from other women than their male counterparts," Gabriel said. "In other words, women are ruder to each other than they are to men, or than men are to women.

"This isn't to say men were off the hook or they weren't engaging in these behaviors," she noted. "But when we compared the average levels of incivility reported, female-instigated incivility was reported more often than male-instigated incivility by women in our three studies."

Participants also were asked to complete trait inventories of their personalities and behaviors to determine if there were any factors that contributed to women being treated uncivilly. The research showed that women who defied gender norms by being more assertive and dominant at work were more likely to be targeted by their female counterparts, compared to women who exhibited fewer of those traits.

The researchers also found that when men acted assertive and warmin general, not considered the norm for male behaviorthey reported lower incivility from their male counterparts. This suggests men actually get a social credit for partially deviating from their gender stereotypes, a benefit that women are not afforded.

Gabriel, whose co-authors are Marcus Butts from Southern Methodist University, Zhenyu Yuan of the University of Iowa, Rebecca Rosen of Indiana University and Michael Sliter of First Person Consulting, said the research is important not only from the standpoint of individual employee health but also in terms of organizational management.

Evidence emerged in the three studies that companies may face a greater risk of losing female employees who experience female-instigated incivility, as they reported less satisfaction at work and increased intentions to quit their current jobs in response to these unpleasant experiences. Paired with estimates that incivility can cost organizations an estimated $14,000 per employee, this presents a problem for organizations.

Gabriel noted that the findings are an opportunity for companies to re-evaluate their cultures and how they address this issue.

"Companies should be asking, 'What kinds of interventions can be put in place to really shift the narrative and reframe it?'" Gabriel said. "Making workplace interactions more positive and supportive for employees can go a long way toward creating a more positive, healthier environment that helps sustain the company in the long run. Organizations should make sure they also send signals that the ideas and opinions of all employees are valued, and that supporting others is crucial for business successthat is, acting assertively should not be viewed negatively, but as a positive way for employees to voice concerns and speak up."

The study, "Further Understanding Incivility in the Workplace: The Effects of Gender, Agency and Communion," is forthcoming in the Journal of Applied Psychology.

More information: Allison S. Gabriel et al. Further Understanding Incivility in the Workplace: The Effects of Gender, Agency, and Communion., Journal of Applied Psychology (2017). Journal information: Journal of Applied Psychology Allison S. Gabriel et al. Further Understanding Incivility in the Workplace: The Effects of Gender, Agency, and Communion.,(2017). DOI: 10.1037/apl0000289
Innuendo and hinting at fake information in news coverage is enough to fuel belief in conspiracy theories, new research shows.

Implication alone can significantly increase belief in false facts, according to a new study.

Experts have said the results show news outlets should be quicker to correct inaccurate information published or broadcast, and be more cautious about who they invite to provide analysis.

University of Exeter academics Benjamin Lyons, Vittorio Merola and Jason Reifler conducted the study with around 1,000 participants last month. The findings were presented at the AAAS conference in Texas.

Professor Reifler said: "This study shows it is easy to spread conspiracy theories. Debunking appears to workbut only up to a point. As a result, media companies need to be cautious about the guests they invite on air or feature in their publications. When guests imply a conspiracy, journalists should push back to the extent they can. Having lived in both the US and the UK, my experience is that UK journalists do a better job at this than their US counterparts. But, there is always room for improvement."

Participants were asked to read a mock newspaper article. They were divided into five groups: one received information which explicitly promoted a conspiracy theory, another was given the same information together with the facts which debunked this myth. Another group was given information which implicitly hinted at a conspiracy theory, and another had the same facts which debunked it. There was also a control group. All respondents received debunking information at the conclusion of the study.

The participants in the group with "explicit conditions" read an article with explicitly false information - the Zika epidemic in Brazil was caused by the release of genetically modified mosquitoes by a subsidiary of a pharmaceutical company that was hoping to profit from a future vaccine.

In reality, genetically modified mosquitoes were released after the outbreak as a way to control the spread of Zika, and the company involved does not stand to gain from selling Zika-related pharmaceutical products. The article attributed this false information to "concerned citizens" and said the motive was profit from the vaccines developed by pharmaceutical parent company.

The implicit information given included a quote from a Brazilian politician rhetorically asking "who benefits?" from the sale of the pharmaceutical products.

Professor Reifler said: "The results of the study are intriguingboth explicit and implicit information without debunking increases conspiracy beliefs, compared to the control conditions. While explicit information leads to a greater increase in conspiracy beliefs, implying a conspiracy also leads to an increase, albeit a smaller increase. Fortunately, the debunking information brings conspiracy levels back to the same level as the control. Unfortunately, the debunking information does not reduce conspiracy beliefs below the level found among participants in our control group."

The research was funded by the European Research Council as part of the Horizon 2020 funding scheme.

Explore further Belief in conspiracy theories associated with vaccine skepticism
A single oak tree measured with the Salford Advanced Laser Canopy Analyser. Credit: University of Salford

New laser scanning technologies developed at the University of Salford are being used to map forests in more detail than ever before.

The technology could help give earlier and better data on the impacts of climate change on nature.

In two new papers published this week by the Royal Society, researchers at Salford, UK Forest Research and the Universities of York St John, University College London, Newcastle and Tampere, Finland, described the impacts of terrestrial laser scanners on mapping plant life.

Mark Danson, professor of geography at the University of Salford said: "Climate change has led to earlier spring growth in forests in many part of the world but measuring the amount of leaves present in a forest canopy through time is currently almost impossible.

"Our research is testing new methods to map three-dimensional leaf growth in forests, so that rather than rely on an 'observer' spotting growth in a forest on a given day, we can map the spatial and temporal changes in leaf development remotely."

Prof Danson has developed the Salford Advanced Laser Canopy Analyser (SALCA), the first operational scanner capable of distinguishing between leaf and wood and also capable of creating three-dimensional maps of leaf distribution for both single trees and complete forest stands.

The approach promises to revolutionise the measurement of leaf dynamics in forests providing key information that can be related to climate change.

To check the accuracy of leaf maps, the team counted the leaves on three large oak trees in Hampshire, and estimated their weight and total area.

In this paper, three dimensional models of the same three trees were then derived from scans acquired in 'leaf-off' condition and 'virtual' leaves added to these trees in the same proportions as the measured leaves. The virtual 'leaf-on' tree was then compared with the distribution of leaves derived from manual sampling and found to correspond very well.

Measuring the leaf area manually took fifteen volunteers three whole days; the laser scanner reconstruction took just a few hours.

Prof Danson added: "Rapid and accurate measurements of the spring growth of leaves in forests will be key to understanding the link between climate change and vegetation growth, and these Royal Society papers confirm the vital role that laser scanners will play in understanding and monitoring these environmental changes ."

The two papers are part of a special issue of the Royal Society's interdisciplinary journal Interface Focus. The issue "The terrestrial laser scanning revolution in forest ecology" was the result of a Royal Society Theo Murphy Scientific meeting held last year and organised by Professor Danson and colleagues. The issue has eleven papers from a stellar line-up of world-leading researchers in the field and the work described is likely to have a deep impact of the developing applications of laser scanning in forest ecology.

Explore further Study shows gully wildlife refuges have high bushfire risk

More information: F. Mark Danson et al. The terrestrial laser scanning revolution in forest ecology, Interface Focus (2018). F. Mark Danson et al. The terrestrial laser scanning revolution in forest ecology,(2018). DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2018.0001
Danish scientists combined their expertise in biophysics and biochemistry to gain a better understanding of how food preparation affects jellyfish from the inside out, turning it in to a crunchy chip. They will present their work during the 62nd Biophysical Society, held Feb. 17-21. Credit: Mie T. Pedersen

Our brains weave together inputs from sight, taste and smell to determine whether food is safe and enjoyable to eat. Though it is often overlooked, texture also has a powerful effect on how we perceive and enjoy food. Mathias P. Clausen, a postdoctoral fellow at University of Southern Denmark in Odense, Denmark, became intrigued by jellyfish when he bit into the marine delicacy and experienced an unexpected crunch.

"Tasting jellyfish myself, I wanted to understand the transformation from a soft gel to this crunchy thing you eat," Clausen said.

Clausen and a team of other Danish scientists combined their expertise in biophysics and biochemistry to gain a better understanding of how food preparation affects jellyfish from the inside out. Clausen and his team will present their work during the 62nd Biophysical Society Annual Meeting, held Feb. 17-21, in San Francisco, California.

Jellyfish have been a staple in Asian cuisine for centuries, but remain an oddity to the western palate. Traditionally, the bell or body of a jellyfish is marinated in salt and potassium alum for several weeks to produce a crunchy, picklelike texture. The Danish research team developed a new technique that produces the same results in only a few days.

"Using ethanol, we have created jellyfish chips that have a crispy texture and could be of potential gastronomic interest," Clausen said.

The research team further investigated how the long fibrous filaments in the gelatinous jellyfish bell are transformed during the curing process to produce the crunchy texture. "Little is known about the molecular anatomy of the jellyfish," Clausen said. "We are still not completely sure which structures we are visualizing."

Overfishing and climate change have diminished (traditional) commercially available fishing stock. Jellyfish have filled in this gap and now, their booming populations are producing swarms. As a result, the fishing industry is looking to jellyfish as a viable food source for the expanding global population. Furthermore, jellyfish have numerous health benefits; they are rich in vitamin B12, magnesium, phosphorus, iron and selenium.

According to Clausen, the team hopes to delve deeper to understand the structures within the jellyfish bell and what eating them would feel like inside your mouth. This new scientific approach may affect future commercial viability of jellyfish, as well as other foods not commonly found on the dinner plate.

"As this is pioneering work, I think using tools available to us to tackle the science of good eating can open peoples' eyes for a completely new scientific field," Clausen said.

Explore further Anyone for crispy jellyfish?

More information: 2662-Pos, Board B678 "The microscopic structure of crunchy and crispy jellyfish" is authored by Mie T. Pedersen, Morten Christensen, Lars Duelund, Per L. Hansen, Jonathan R. Brewer and Mathias P. Clausen. It will be displayed on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, in the South Hall ABC of the Moscone Center, South. Abstract: 2662-Pos, Board B678 "The microscopic structure of crunchy and crispy jellyfish" is authored by Mie T. Pedersen, Morten Christensen, Lars Duelund, Per L. Hansen, Jonathan R. Brewer and Mathias P. Clausen. It will be displayed on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, in the South Hall ABC of the Moscone Center, South. Abstract: plan.core-apps.com/bpsam2018/a  1290aae09439cc2cc95a
The Weyl semimetal state is induced when the opposing motions of the electrons cause the Dirac cones to split in two (illustrated on the left by outward facing electrons, opposite the inward facing electrons on the right). The abnormal state enables greater electrical flow with minimal resistance. Credit: ORNL/Jill Hemman

The observation of an abnormal state of matter in a two-dimensional magnetic material is the latest development in the race to harness novel electronic properties for more robust and efficient next-generation devices.

Neutron scattering at the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) helped a multi-institutional team led by Tulane University investigate a graphene-like strontium-manganese-antimony material (Sr 1-y Mn 1-z Sb 2 ) that hosts what researchers suspect is a Weyl semimetal phase.

The properties of Weyl semimetals include both magnetism and topological semimetal behavior, in which electronsor charge carriersare nearly massless and immune to conduction defects. The team's results were published in the journal Nature Materials.

The neutron scattering measurements at the High Flux Isotope Reactor, a DOE Office of Science User Facility at ORNL, and magnetic field studies at Florida State University's National High Magnetic Field Laboratory uncovered key mechanistic behaviors underpinning the quantum material's relationship between electron transport and magnetism.

"Weyl semimetals are kind of the Holy Grail in physics right now," said Alan Tennant, chief scientist at ORNL's Neutron Sciences Directorate. "Some of these types of materials are showing quantum behavior at room temperature, which is precisely what has to be achieved to provide a path toward quantum electronics."

Significantly stronger than steel, and an excellent conductor of heat and electricity, graphene is a highly desirable building material for electronics. However, it lacks traditional magnetic properties necessary to achieve greater control over electron transport. That's why researchers are searching for Weyl semimetals, says Qiang Zhang, a visiting scientist from Louisiana State University (LSU) working in ORNL's Shull Wollan Centera Joint Institute for Neutron Sciences.

"Weyl semimetals are rare, and most of them are nonmagnetic. We found one that is magnetic," Zhang said. "If we can better understand the electronic behaviors we found in this material, it could significantly speed up computer and smart phone technologies."

The electrons in graphene have a famous property: They form a "Dirac cone", in which their momentum and energy are related in much the same way as happens in light.

Unlike graphene, the team's material exhibits traditional magnetism, or ferromagnetism, meaning the electrons align in a parallel arrangement like the north and south poles of a typical bar magnet. But it also exhibits antiferromagnetism, in which the electrons point in opposite directions to their neighboring electrons.

The magnetism has a profound effect, Tennant explains. The opposing motions of the electrons cause the Dirac cone to rip apart or split in two, so that two new cones are formed. This breaks a principle known as time reversal symmetry, meaning the system would not be the same if time were rewound. "Think of a spinning top going in reverse," he says.

When the two cones break the time reversal symmetry, they induce a Weyl semimetal state in which the electrons lose mass.

The significance is that electrons, like many particles, have mass. Because of thatin addition to increasingly smaller sizes of transistors and similar charge-carrying materialselectrons have a tendency to bottleneck, or create traffic jams. In Weyl semimetals, the electrons are more like charge carriers that behave as if they are nearly massless, which makes them highly mobile.

Examining a small, high-quality crystal grown at Tulane University, the team was able to determine the magnetic structure of Sr1-yMn1-zSb2, using neutrons at the Four-Circle Diffractometer instrument at the High Flux Isotope Reactor.

Neutrons are ideal tools for identifying and characterizing magnetism in almost any material, because they, like electrons, exhibit a flow of magnetism called "spin."

"We discovered two types of ferromagnetic orders and found the experimental proof of the time-reversal symmetry breaking, likely creating a Weyl state in Sr1-yMn1-zSb2. This makes this system a wonderful candidate to study the effect of the time-reversal symmetry breaking on the electronic band structure," said Zhang.

Explore further Current generated when light hits a material reveals electrons behaving like an elusive particle

More information: J. Y. Liu et al, A magnetic topological semimetal Sr1yMn1zSb2 (y, z < 0.1), Nature Materials (2017). Journal information: Nature Materials J. Y. Liu et al, A magnetic topological semimetal Sr1yMn1zSb2 (y, z < 0.1),(2017). DOI: 10.1038/nmat4953
Getting people involved in local community projects can help them engage with how the oceans are changing. Credit: Avalonas5673, licensed under CC-BY-SA-4.0

Hundreds of kilometres away from any sea, ocean or sandy beach, students from countries such as the Czech Republic have been discovering their connection with the marine world.

While Europe's landlocked states are understandably not so preoccupied with seas and oceans, camps run by members of Ecsitethe European network of science centres and museumshave helped interpret video stories about the oceans in local, often-beachless contexts.

And although the topics they're discussing are, to many, as distant as the deep blue, this is something that advocates of ocean literacyknowledge about the role and importance of the oceansare hoping to change.

Researchers from a project called Sea Change want to fundamentally change the relationship between Europeans and the ocean by empowering them to take direct and sustainable action as ocean-literate citizens.

Jon Parr, deputy director of the UK's Marine Biological Association, who coordinates the project, gives the example of the Europe-wide Crab Watch initiative, which encourages people to search for crabs on beaches to help them engage with how the oceans are changing, and how it could impact them.

'Crab Watch has been great in getting people involved and aware that they can help by reporting invasive crab speciesnow with the Crab Watch appand other innovative ideas have also arisen, bottom-up, with people inputting ideas,' he said.

As the project comes to an end after three years of research and action aimed at public, government, and educational behavioural change, Parr says Sea Change has reaped some useful insights into how to engage people.

'We've had clear results working with the networks like Ecsite, which have all run quite successful citizen engagement programmes,' said Parr. 'But what has also been very effective is having partners taking concrete local action on the ground that communities can (become) involved withand that this is also something that media also pick up on locally.'

Galway

Sea Change came about as a result of 2013's Galway Statement, an agreement which launched the Transatlantic Ocean Research Alliance between the EU, the United States and Canada to better understand the Atlantic Ocean, and to support the sustainable management of its resources.

Dr. Olga Mashkina, an environmental economist with French consultancy ACTeon and coordinator of another Galway spin-off project, ResponSEAble, says ocean literacy needs to better capture the links between human activity and the sea, combining this with actions each person or sector needs to take.

'It's not just knowledge about the state of the oceans but a deeper understanding of our individual and collective responsibilities to take care of the oceans that take care of us,' said Dr. Mashkina.

'In the past, the main efforts of ocean literacy were in targeting mainly young people through education programmes. Now we feel that to change behaviours we have to target all components of society, all actors directly or indirectly linked to the status of marine ecosystems.'

In contrast to Sea Change's broad strokes, ResponSEAble is developing targeted communication tools that focus on six distinct marine issues as key stories. The format of these tools ranges from computer games and films to training programmes, with each one aiming to raise awareness of a specific ocean challenge and targeting the people who can best address each issue.

'For example, one of our partners, ProSea, started to carry out training courses in the fisherman academies in the Netherlands, where they are trusted,' explained Dr. Mashkina. 'They have developed various techniques to give the fishermen knowledge that can change their practices in a way that you can't achieve by just sending a scientist in there.'

The project's researchers believe literacy is only one of the factors behind individual or collective action.

'Many other things like social pressure, emotions, prices and costs drive the acts and decisions we make regarding our seas, but ocean literate people are in a position to take more informed decisions.'

Big hitters

Sea Change's Parr says the fact that the public is starting to get its head around the need to take care of marine environments is thanks in a big way to groundwork laid by heavy-hitters like Blue Planet and the United Nations.

'I wouldn't say that this comes down to Sea Change but we're part of this movement. A lot of people have bounced off us in talking about issues like ocean litter, and we're involved in talks with the UN programme on thisand that's the kind of sea change we've been working for.'

The Issue

Last year Carlos Moedas, the EU Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, launched the Belem Statementan agreement uniting research in the North and South Atlantic through enhancing cooperation between Brazil, South Africa and the EU.

To support this agreement, the EU has also allocated more than 60 million towards Atlantic Ocean research between 2018-2019 as part of the EU's Horizon 2020 funding programme.

At the Our Ocean conference in Malta in October 2017, another 250 million from Horizon 2020 was pledged for marine and maritime research, part of the 2.8 billion of funding for sustainable ocean action committed by the EU, its Member States and the European Investment Bank.

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Credit: ACS Sensors (2018). DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.7b00825

Sheets of folded paper, printed with wax, could be the key to developing very low cost diagnostics to improve the health of livestock in in low- to middle-income countries.

In a paper published in the journal ACS Sensors, biomedical engineers, veterinary scientists and bacteriologists from the UK and India describe how disposable diagnostic technology that uses paper folding, akin to origami, to process complex biochemical tests has helped farmers in India identify three separate reproductive infections in cattle.

The new technique provides a new method for identifying Brucella, Leptospira and bovine herpes virus-1 infections, which are particularly prevalent in India, along with many other countries in Asia, Africa and South America. All three infections can affect livestock's reproductive organs, reducing fertility and resulting in loss of milk production, with a significant impact on agricultural output.

However, reproductive infections are difficult for farmers to diagnose through simple observation during the early stages, meaning infection can spread quickly during breeding season. Once infected cattle are identified, they must be destroyed, leading to disruptions in milk supply and incurring significant costs for farmers.

While there are molecular diagnostics tests currently available for these infections, they are time-consuming, expensive and require skilled technicians to administer them, meaning the tests cannot be undertaken in areas far from specialised facilities.

The new diagnostic technology, developed by researchers from the University of Glasgow uses a commercially-available printer, which coats the paper in patterns made from water-resistant wax. When the paper is folded  like in origamithe sample fluid is directed into channels in the pattern.

The folded-paper device enables the DNA of the pathogens to be detected, thus providing the ability to diagnose infections. The technology was tested during two field trips to Izzatnagar in India, where the diseases have a particularly high prevalence.

Dr. Zhugen Yang, biomedical engineering research fellow at the University of Glasgow, is the paper's lead author and undertook the trips to India. Dr. Yang said: "These folded pieces of wax-printed paper, which can be made using a standard printer, may look simple, but the unique properties of folded paper give us a highly reproducible method to capture samples and prepare them for testing.

"The tests we conducted on farms and showed excellent results which were as good as similar reproductive disease tests conducted in laboratory conditions. It's a very encouraging result which shows future promise for veterinary medicine."

Professor Jonathan Cooper, the University of Glasgow's Wolfson Chair of Bioengineering, added: "Being able to quickly and affordably identify the most common reproductive diseases in cattle could help support agriculture in low- to middle-income countries. It could be of particular benefit in India, which is now the world's largest dairy producer, contributing around 125 billion litres each year. We're very pleased with these results, and keen to move forward in making this technology available for vets and farmers in Asia, Africa and South America."

The paper, titled "Rapid Veterinary Diagnosis of Bovine Reproductive Infectious Diseases from Semen using Paper-Origami DNA Microfluidics," is published in the journal ACS Sensors.

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More information: Zhugen Yang et al. Rapid Veterinary Diagnosis of Bovine Reproductive Infectious Diseases from Semen Using Paper-Origami DNA Microfluidics, ACS Sensors (2018). Journal information: ACS Sensors Zhugen Yang et al. Rapid Veterinary Diagnosis of Bovine Reproductive Infectious Diseases from Semen Using Paper-Origami DNA Microfluidics,(2018). DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.7b00825
On this image of Niger, size and brightness of the glow of cities at night, photographed by orbiting satellites, has been converted into colored spikes indicating the approximate human population of those sites. Niger's capital, Niamey, is represented by the tall spike at left. Seasonal changes in the size of the spike indicate movement of thousands of people into or out of the city. The blue-gray shape across the top of the image is the Mediterranean Sea. Credit: Andrew Tatem

Each autumn in the Sahel, a vast band of grasslands just south of the Sahara desert, seasonal farmers and their families move from their farms when the long dry season begins. Many travel long distances to large towns and cities where they squeeze into already crowded districts, finding spaces in extended family compounds or temporary sites on the city's edges.

In places like Niamey, capital of the West African nation of Niger, the dry season also brings measles. Every autumn, a fresh outbreak. When the rains come in spring and the people return to their farms, measles cases drop off abruptly.

Was the virus itself affected by weather? Or, as researchers suspected, were the outbreaks related to the influx of seasonal migrants? Measles, after all, is highly infectious; it flourishes under crowded conditions. But with no good way to track the changing population in a densely populated place like Niamey, they had little chance to test their hypothesis.

Nita Bharti, now an assistant professor of biology at Penn State, began working on this problem as a postdoc at Princeton. "We knew these places had very important and predictable fluxes in population," she says, "but no one had ever found a way to measure those changes."

Bharti first looked at infectious disease as an anthropologist, with a focus on the role of behavior on epidemiology. When she began her Ph.D. research in biology at Penn State, she found that human behavior, especially long-distance movements, had been somewhat neglected as an important driver of infectious diseases.

She and geographer Andrew Tatem, who was then at the University of Florida, devised a novel method to measure fluctuating populations. They used satellite images of nighttime lights, a data source that had been previously used to create composite images over large periods of time in order to study urbanization and economic development, but had never been analyzed across shorter time scales or applied to predicting disease outbreaks.

When large numbers of migrants moved into Niamey, they reasoned, the nighttime city would appear both brighter and larger in satellite imagery, reflecting the increased number of cooking fires and electric lights associated with a swollen population. When seasonal migrants left the city to return to agricultural areas, the nighttime images of the city would dim to reflect a reduced population size. By comparing satellite images over time, they were able to estimate population changes, and then correlate those changes with public-health records of measles outbreaks. This provided a more precise understanding of the links between human movement and disease, and could in turn help them to more accurately predict future outbreaks.

As a graduate student, Bharti had begun collaborating with fellow biologist, Matthew Ferrari, who was then a post doc and is now an associate professor at Penn State. Ferrari, a specialist in quantitative epidemiology, developed a way to estimate transmission rates of measles at different times, including during the spikes in urban populations which Bharti could now measure.

"I count thingsthat's what I do," says Ferrari. "I count people because we need to know where populations are, how large those populations are, how often they move, and where they are going. When are places experiencing high population density, at which times? These factors not only influence the incidence of infectious disease but also the effective functioning of the health system."

Biologists Nita Bharti and Matt Ferrari are using satellite images to track seasonal changes in population in African cities, in order to predict outbreaks of measles and estimate how many children will need to be vaccinated in particular areas. Bharti wrote a program to convert the brightness of nighttime lights, as recorded by satellite, into population density, shown here as spikes above cities and towns in Niger. The tallest spike is over the capital, Niamey. Credit: Patrick Mansell

Populations at risk

"Because measles is so infectious and potentially deadly, it's an important disease for aid and development organizations to study," he adds. "Measles is relatively easy to diagnose, and easy to see in health surveillance data. Because it's so transmissible and visible, it is a bit of a 'canary in the coal mine' if you see a place that is having measles outbreaks, then you know their immunization system is not working."

Migrant families frequently live beyond the reach of conventional health care; the Sahel is no exception. Many children are malnourished, unvaccinated, and suffering from weakened immune systems. When these families move into the cities, public health authorities often don't know how many have come and which urban districts they are staying in.

Migrant families are also often overlooked by population censuses, health surveys, and vaccination campaigns. The small villages where they spend the growing season can be difficult to reach and sparsely populated, making them strategically low risk or low priority. However, these families may, for at least part of the year, constitute a significant portion of the population in nearby cities. "These are the kinds of places where vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles persist. They are also places where well-timed interventions may do the most good," says Bharti.

In a 2016 study, Bharti, with Ferrari and other colleagues, developed a model that combined the population estimates they derived from satellite imagery with health care datasuch as the timing of measles cases, deaths, and vaccinationsfrom three municipal districts of Niamey in the winter of 2003-2004. During that outbreak the city experienced 10,880 measles cases and 397 deaths from the disease.

Bharti's previous work using satellite imagery had conclusively shown that measles outbreaks in Niger's big cities were not driven by some characteristic of the measles virus itself or some other physical or biological cause. Instead, outbreaks spread rapidly because of those predictable seasonal spikes in population.

In the 2003-04 event, Niamey's public health authorities had undertaken a vaccine campaign during the dry season, when measles cases typically take off. But the campaign did not work as effectively as expected. Public health officials had calculated that the vaccination effort, together with existing measles immunity, would reach 57 percent of the combined seasonal and resident population of children under five, a high enough coverage to halt the outbreak. But they had underestimated the total size of the target population.

Reviewing the satellite data, the research team found that there were 11,000 to 17,000 more young children present in the city during the outbreak than had originally been estimateda result of the influx of migrant families. That meant only 50 percent coveragetoo few children vaccinated to effectively slow the spread of disease. The team's retrospective estimates matched actual measurements of campaign coverage made following the outbreak.

Now that they've proven their method works, they are eager to use it to better target public health interventions for other highly communicable diseases where fluctuating populations play a role. Rather than seeing times of high population density only as a time of high risk, Bharti suggests, public health officials could take advantage of them.

"We could use migrants' time in the city as an opportunity," she says. "That's when immunization and health care are most accessible to them and easier for governments to provide."

Africa and Europe at night, as seen from an orbiting observatory. Sizeable towns and cities emit enough light to be visible from space, and the bigger the city, the larger and brighter the spot of light. Credit: NASA Earth Observatory/NOAA NGDC

A phone call away?

Satellites are an established technology, and satellite images are especially good at offering insights from the past to predict large-scale population movements. Bharti and other researchers are also exploring a much newer technologymobile phones to track finer-scale movements of small groups of people across remote regions in order to be able to reach them with vaccines and other health care interventions.

In sub-Saharan Africa, many people carry cell phones. Each time an individual places a call or text, that usage, along with the location of the routing tower, is recorded by network operators for billing purposes. Researchers can analyze sequences of calls or texts and their locations for large numbers of individuals with their identities concealed.

Phone data are great for big cities, Bharti says. But will they work in underserved, under- resourced areas where data and health care are scarce? That's why she is studying pastoral villages in the desert of Namibia, whose inhabitants migrate with their herds of livestock in pursuit of suitable grazing land. These pastoralists live and roam across vast desert areas beyond the reach of government health services.

Mobile call traces could be useful to track this population, but phone data have inherent biases, Bharti says, and these must be factored in.

"We've found that less than one third of the adult population in these villages has ever used a phone, and far fewer own a phone. Additionally, very few locations in the large desert have network coverage," she says. Moreover, "Men are far more likely to own and use phones, and they are more likely to be the herders. Women are more likely to work near their homes."

In other words, "Mobile phone usage data do not provide an accurate picture of this population, so we can't use them assuming that they're representative. But they're a great resource and we don't want to throw out a data source that we could use if we could simply interpret it better."

Bharti is currently using video footage shot by drone and household survey data she has collected to compare against phone records, in order to account for the biases in the phone data and interpret it accurately.

As researchers like Bharti and Ferrari work towards the global elimination of measles and other scourges, they rely on remote technologies to pinpoint the last stubborn reservoirs of disease, the areas that are the most difficult and expensive to reach. These reservoirs, says Bharti, "persist in populations that we're not measuring accurately, or where we're using remote technologies without understanding their biases.

"We need to develop better tools and better understanding of these cultures to learn what we're missing."

Explore further Using satellite images to better target vaccination
The pick-and-place system consists of a standard industrial robotic arm that the researchers outfitted with a custom gripper and suction cup. They developed an object-agnostic grasping algorithm that enables the robot to assess a bin of random objects and determine the best way to grip or suction onto an item amid the clutter, without having to know anything about the object before picking it up. Credit: Melanie Gonick/MIT

Unpacking groceries is a straightforward albeit tedious task: You reach into a bag, feel around for an item, and pull it out. A quick glance will tell you what the item is and where it should be stored.

Now engineers from MIT and Princeton University have developed a robotic system that may one day lend a hand with this household chore, as well as assist in other picking and sorting tasks, from organizing products in a warehouse to clearing debris from a disaster zone.

The team's "pick-and-place" system consists of a standard industrial robotic arm that the researchers outfitted with a custom gripper and suction cup. They developed an "object-agnostic" grasping algorithm that enables the robot to assess a bin of random objects and determine the best way to grip or suction onto an item amid the clutter, without having to know anything about the object before picking it up.

Once it has successfully grasped an item, the robot lifts it out from the bin. A set of cameras then takes images of the object from various angles, and with the help of a new image-matching algorithm the robot can compare the images of the picked object with a library of other images to find the closest match. In this way, the robot identifies the object, then stows it away in a separate bin.

In general, the robot follows a "grasp-first-then-recognize" workflow, which turns out to be an effective sequence compared to other pick-and-place technologies.

"This can be applied to warehouse sorting, but also may be used to pick things from your kitchen cabinet or clear debris after an accident. There are many situations where picking technologies could have an impact," says Alberto Rodriguez, the Walter Henry Gale Career Development Professor in Mechanical Engineering at MIT.

Rodriguez and his colleagues at MIT and Princeton will present a paper detailing their system at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, in May.

Building a library of successes and failures

While pick-and-place technologies may have many uses, existing systems are typically designed to function only in tightly controlled environments.

Today, most industrial picking robots are designed for one specific, repetitive task, such as gripping a car part off an assembly line, always in the same, carefully calibrated orientation. However, Rodriguez is working to design robots as more flexible, adaptable, and intelligent pickers, for unstructured settings such as retail warehouses, where a picker may consistently encounter and have to sort hundreds, if not thousands of novel objects each day, often amid dense clutter.

The team's design is based on two general operations: pickingthe act of successfully grasping an object, and perceivingthe ability to recognize and classify an object, once grasped.

The researchers trained the robotic arm to pick novel objects out from a cluttered bin, using any one of four main grasping behaviors: suctioning onto an object, either vertically, or from the side; gripping the object vertically like the claw in an arcade game; or, for objects that lie flush against a wall, gripping vertically, then using a flexible spatula to slide between the object and the wall.

Rodriguez and his team showed the robot images of bins cluttered with objects, captured from the robot's vantage point. They then showed the robot which objects were graspable, with which of the four main grasping behaviors, and which were not, marking each example as a success or failure. They did this for hundreds of examples, and over time, the researchers built up a library of picking successes and failures. They then incorporated this library into a "deep neural network"a class of learning algorithms that enables the robot to match the current problem it faces with a successful outcome from the past, based on its library of successes and failures.

"We developed a system where, just by looking at a tote filled with objects, the robot knew how to predict which ones were graspable or suctionable, and which configuration of these picking behaviors was likely to be successful," Rodriguez says. "Once it was in the gripper, the object was much easier to recognize, without all the clutter."

Elliott Donlon (left) and Francois Hogan (right) work with the robotic system that may one day lend a hand with this household chore, as well as assist in other picking and sorting tasks, from organizing products in a warehouse to clearing debris from a disaster zone. Credit: Melanie Gonick/MIT

From pixels to labels

The researchers developed a perception system in a similar manner, enabling the robot to recognize and classify an object once it's been successfully grasped.

To do so, they first assembled a library of product images taken from online sources such as retailer websites. They labeled each image with the correct identificationfor instance, duct tape versus masking tapeand then developed another learning algorithm to relate the pixels in a given image to the correct label for a given object.

"We're comparing things that, for humans, may be very easy to identify as the same, but in reality, as pixels, they could look significantly different," Rodriguez says. "We make sure that this algorithm gets it right for these training examples. Then the hope is that we've given it enough training examples that, when we give it a new object, it will also predict the correct label."

Last July, the team packed up the 2-ton robot and shipped it to Japan, where, a month later, they reassembled it to participate in the Amazon Robotics Challenge, a yearly competition sponsored by the online megaretailer to encourage innovations in warehouse technology. Rodriguez's team was one of 16 taking part in a competition to pick and stow objects from a cluttered bin.

In the end, the team's robot had a 54 percent success rate in picking objects up using suction and a 75 percent success rate using grasping, and was able to recognize novel objects with 100 percent accuracy. The robot also stowed all 20 objects within the allotted time.

For his work, Rodriguez was recently granted an Amazon Research Award and will be working with the company to further improve pick-and-place technologyforemost, its speed and reactivity.

"Picking in unstructured environments is not reliable unless you add some level of reactiveness," Rodriguez says. "When humans pick, we sort of do small adjustments as we are picking. Figuring out how to do this more responsive picking, I think, is one of the key technologies we're interested in."

The team has already taken some steps toward this goal by adding tactile sensors to the robot's gripper and running the system through a new training regime.

"The gripper now has tactile sensors, and we've enabled a system where the robot spends all day continuously picking things from one place to another. It's capturing information about when it succeeds and fails, and how it feels to pick up, or fails to pick up objects," Rodriguez says. "Hopefully it will use that information to start bringing that reactiveness to grasping."

Explore further Robots learn to pick up oddly shaped objects

More information: Robotic Pick-and-Place of Novel Objects in Clutter with Multi-Affordance Grasping and Cross-Domain Image Matching. arXiv:1710.01330 [cs.RO] Robotic Pick-and-Place of Novel Objects in Clutter with Multi-Affordance Grasping and Cross-Domain Image Matching. arXiv:1710.01330 [cs.RO] arxiv.org/abs/1710.01330
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Peaking global CO2 emissions as soon as possible is crucial for limiting the risks of sea-level rise, even if global warming is limited to well below 2 degrees C. A study now published in the journal Nature Communications analyzes for the first time the sea-level legacy until 2300 within the constraints of the Paris Agreement.

Their central projections indicate global sea-level rise between 0.7m and 1.2m until 2300 with Paris put fully into practice. As emissions in the second half of this century are already outlined by the Paris goals, the variations in greenhouse-gas emissions before 2050 will be the major leverage for future sea levels. The researchers find that each five year delay in peaking global CO2 emissions will likely increase median sea-level rise estimates for 2300 by 20 centimeters.

"Man-made climate change has already pre-programmed a certain amount of sea-level rise for the coming centuries, so for some, it might seem that our present actions might not make such a big differencebut our study illustrates how wrong this perception is," explains lead author Matthias Mengel from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). "Every delay in peaking emissions by five years between 2020 and 2035 could mean additional 20 cm of sea-level rise in the endwhich is the same amount the world's coasts have experienced since the beginning of the pre-industrial era."

Global sea-level rise is driven by warming and expanding ocean water, as well as the melting of mountain glaciers, ice caps, and the vast Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. These contributors respond in different ways and within different timescales to a warmer climate, ranging from centuries to millenniaa delayed response to today's atmospheric warming. To analyze the sea-level rise under the Paris Agreement and the legacy of delayed mitigation, the scientists used a combined climate-sea-level model. They fed it with a set of scenarios of emission reductions in line with the Paris goals that span different reduction rates and emission peak years.

Large ice loss from Antarctica seems possible even under modest warming

The model represents the sea-level contributors individually and can thus reflect their different responses to a warming world. The authors incorporate new scientific insights pointing to an Antarctic ice sheet very sensitive to atmospheric warming. "Indeed, the uncertainty of future sea-level rise is at present dominated by the response of Antarctica. With present knowledge on ice sheet instability, large ice loss from Antarctica seems possible even under modest warming in line with the Paris agreement", says Matthias Mengel. "Even a sea-level rise of up to three meters until 2300 cannot be ruled out completely, as we are not yet fully certain how the Antarctic ice sheet will respond to global warming."

"The Paris Agreement calls for emissions to peak as soon as possible," adds co-author Carl-Friedrich Schleussner from PIK and Climate Analytics, a non-profit research and policy institute in Berlin. "This might sound like a hollow phrase to some, but our results show that there are quantifiable consequences of delaying action. So even within the Paris Agreement range, swift climate mitigation is crucial to limit additional risks. For millions of people around the world living in coastal areas, every centimeter can make a huge differenceto limit sea-level rise risks immediate CO2 reduction is key."

Explore further More ambitious climate targets could save coastal ecosystems

More information: Matthias Mengel et al, Committed sea-level rise under the Paris Agreement and the legacy of delayed mitigation action, Nature Communications (2018). Journal information: Nature Communications Matthias Mengel et al, Committed sea-level rise under the Paris Agreement and the legacy of delayed mitigation action,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-02985-8
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.

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The two brothers joined forces after Ludi, the younger of the two, left University and took on the marketing role at Hop King. With a shared love of skateboarding stretching back to their teens, the duo decided that it made perfect sense to create a marriage between these two passions of beer and skateboarding to give the brand its own USP, (thats unique selling point to the acronym uninitiated amongst you).

John Connolly  backside tail in the pouring rain during his maiden voyage to London

Photo: CJ

As Ludi puts it:

Energy drinks have long been aligned with skateboarding so we thought why not with beer? There are definite crossovers through the music, art and social aspects of both beer and skateboarding and we felt that the lack of pretension and snobbiness that skate culture represents perfectly matched our approach to brewing.

The pair then embarked on the process of putting a skate team together comprised of skaters from across the country who they felt best represented the brand.

With three salaried pros in the form of Scottish ripper John Connolly and two London-based heads, Brazilian chef Marcos Baines and the currently injured Carla Calero signed up in December, the plan finally came to fruition.

After spending the day chatting to the Hopkinsons in Bens bar Beer Rebellion in Peckham, the initial plan was to meet up with the team and session Royal Oak which acts as the spiritual home of the brand to a certain degree, and the home spot to two of their paid riders.

It came as no surprise however when January intervened and torrential rain forced a relocation to the only remotely dry (and I use dry loosely) skate spot in the capital, namely, the venerable Southbank.

All praise must go out to the dynamic duo of Marcos Baines and John Connolly here for going in and flinging themselves down the SB 7 whilst the rain hammered down.
Why remote Antarctica is so important in a warming world

Posted on 21 February 2018 by Guest Author

Chris Fogwill, Professor of Glaciology and Palaeoclimatology, Keele University; Chris Turney, Professor of Earth Sciences and Climate Change, UNSW, and Zoe Robinson, Reader in Physical Geography and Sustainability/Director of Education for Sustainability, Keele University

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Ever since the ancient Greeks speculated a continent must exist in the south polar regions to balance those in the north, Antarctica has been popularly described as remote and extreme. Over the past two centuries, these factors have combined to create, in the human psyche, an almost mythical land  an idea reinforced by tales of heroism and adventure from the Edwardian golden age of heroic exploration and pioneers such as Robert Falcon Scott, Roald Amundsen and Ernest Shackleton.

Recent research, however, is casting new light on the importance of the southernmost continent, overturning centuries of misunderstanding and highlighting the role of Antarctica in how our planet works and the role it may play in a future, warmer world.

wiki

What was once thought to be a largely unchanging mass of snow and ice is anything but. Antarctica holds a staggering amount of water. The three ice sheets that cover the continent contain around 70% of our planets fresh water, all of which we now know to be vulnerable to warming air and oceans. If all the ice sheets were to melt, Antarctica would raise global sea levels by at least 56m.

Where, when, and how quickly they might melt is a major focus of research. No one is suggesting all the ice sheets will melt over the next century but, given their size, even small losses could have global repercussions. Possible scenarios are deeply concerning: in addition to rising sea levels, meltwater would slow down the worlds ocean circulation, while shifting wind belts may affect the climate in the southern hemisphere.

In 2014, NASA reported that several major Antarctic ice streams, which hold enough water to trigger the equivalent of a one-and-a-half metre sea level rise, are now irreversibly in retreat. With more than 150m people exposed to the threat of sea level rise and sea levels now rising at a faster rate globally than any time in the past 3,000 years, these are sobering statistics for island nations and coastal cities worldwide.

An immediate and acute threat

Recent storm surges following hurricanes have demonstrated that rising sea levels are a future threat for densely populated regions such as Florida and New York. Meanwhile the threat for low-lying islands in areas such as the Pacific is immediate and acute.

R Bindschadler / wiki

Multiple factors mean that the vulnerability to global sea level rise is geographically variable and unequal, while there are also regional differences in the extremity of sea level rise itself. At present, the consensus of the IPPC 2013 report suggests a rise of between 40 and 80cm over the next century, with Antarctica only contributing around 5cm of this. Recent projections, however, suggest that Antarctic contributions may be up to ten times higher.

Studies also suggest that in a world 1.5-2C warmer than today we will be locked into millennia of irreversible sea level rise, due to the slow response time of the Antarctic ice sheets to atmospheric and ocean warming.

We may already be living in such a world. Recent evidence shows global temperatures are close to 1.5C warmer than pre-industrial times and, after the COP23 meeting in Bonn in November, it is apparent that keeping temperature rise within 2C is unlikely.

So we now need to reconsider future sea level projections given the potential global impact from Antarctica. Given that 93% of the heat from anthropogenic global warming has gone into the ocean, and these warming ocean waters are now meeting the floating margins of the Antarctic ice sheet, the potential for rapid ice sheet melt in a 2C world is high.

In polar regions, surface temperatures are projected to rise twice as fast as the global average, due to a phenomenon known as polar amplification. However, there is still hope to avoid this sword of Damocles, as studies suggest that a major reduction in greenhouse gases over the next decade would mean that irreversible sea level rise could be avoided. It is therefore crucial to reduce CO? levels now for the benefit of future generations, or adapt to a world in which more of our shorelines are significantly redrawn.

This is both a scientific and societal issue. We have choices: technological innovations are providing new ways to reduce CO? emissions, and offer the reality of a low-carbon future. This may help minimise sea level rise from Antarctica and make mitigation a viable possibility.

Given what rising sea levels could mean for human societies across the world, we must maintain our longstanding view of Antarctica as the most remote and isolated continent.
Im obsessed with a particular musical cue from the Annihilation trailer, and as it turns out, Im not alone. Since announcing my fascination with the weird little melody, Ive had several people tell me that they, too, have been haunted by the sound, and the YouTube comments beneath the trailer are full of comments singling it out.

I wanted to find out what makes this noise so compelling, so I called Ben Salisbury, one of Annihilations two composers, who explained that the melody I like so much is part of a much longer segment of the score known as The Alien. (The sound in question can be heard at the 2:40 mark.)

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During our conversation, Salisbury also recounted how he and Geoff Barrow approached Annihilations score, how those few notes came to be part of the movies trailer, and why theyre so much more powerful when you hear them in the theater.

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This interview has been edited and condensed.

Am I the first person to tell you how obsessed I am with this particular musical cue?

Youre not the only one, actually. It seems to have weirdly grabbed people. In fact, I remember way back when we were making the film, people in the editing suite would say they heard people doing this weird little hum, and it was always that same refrain, under their breath.

Its the only part of our music thats actually on the trailer. The rest of it is sort of trailer stuff, and then for some reason, theyve literally just picked that little phrase out, one of the stems from our score, and it seems to have affected people. I dont know if youve seen, but theres a YouTube channel where two guys and a girl respond to trailers. Its hilarious. They watch the thing for the first time and they really pick up on that little melody. It freaks them out. I dont know whether they like it or hate it, but its very funny.

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People do seem to be divided over whether they like it or find it kind of disturbing, but they definitely notice it. How did this theme come to exist in the first place?

Its part of a bigger cue that Geoff did, so Im quite free to talk about it in glowing terms without having to be embarrassed. It was originally a very simple four-note theme that represented The Shimmer [the mysterious area being investigated in the film]. We worked on the film for a very long time and there were probably about five different versions of our score, but at one stage, those four notes of that theme existed throughout the score in an orchestral version. At that point, we werent using any synths.

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In the final incarnation, its still used harmonically throughout in orchestral themes that I did, and it has a sort of musical cousin in a guitar theme, so youll hear echoes of it throughout the film. But for the most part, the sound you hear in the trailer now only appears in a very specific part of the film toward the end. Theres an incredibly trippy standout part of the film in the third act that needs to stand apart from the rest of the film, and we thought, lets bring out the synths and put it through various processes and stuff. That was the result.

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Does it have a name? Ive just been calling it that weird little sound from the Annihilation trailer.

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It started life as the Shimmer theme, but then we decided that The Shimmer would be led by sound design instead, and then the sound got placed on a different part of the movieif I said too much it would be a spoiler, but its where it all comes together and Natalie Portmans character, Lena, finally comes face to face with what weve been searching for.

It went through lots of names, but in that particular incarnation in the trailer, its called The Alien, actually.

Thats intriguing.

[Director Alex Garland] said, look, this segment is music from start to finish, theres not a single word spoken, and it goes from strange orchestral pulses into this sort of very involved and heavy electronic workout into a choral thing. And the central piece of it is this strange little sound that youve picked up on. Hopefully when you see the movie itll make sense. Its one of the few examples where the use of that music in the trailer could actually benefit your appreciation of the sound when it lands in the film.

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What exactly am I hearing in this melody, in terms of instruments?

You are hearing synths, and as I said, its the only time in the score that synths and electronics make an overt appearance. They do so purposefully in this part of the film so that it stands apart. It wouldve been done on Oberheim Two Voice and put through various secret ingredients, but it is essentially as simple as it can be. Its four notes. Sometimes the most arresting things are the simplest things. Theyre sort of mangled in the version you hear, but its just four notes. Its the production of it that does it, which obviously Geoff is a master of.

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Did you know this sound would wind up in the trailer?

No, I had no idea. Trailers are a funny thing. If Im being honest, and I think Alex Garland would agree with me and Geoff certainly would, trailers are a mixed blessing for people who work on a film. The studios are in charge of producing them, and they can do what they want. In an ideal world, I think wed want people to come to the film and not know anything about it. But thats unrealistic, because youve got to sell a film.

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As far as trailer music goes, its quite rare for the score, or even elements of the score, to be used in a trailer. In Ex Machina, which Geoff and I did, there was a version of the trailer that did use quite a lot of our music, but its often farmed out to companies who specialize in doing trailers, and thats probably why they all sort of sound the same. Its no fault of the people working on these things, who produce some great sounds, its just the expectations of the studios. You know in the trailer when theres going to be a big rush or a big boom and then a cut to silence. Itd be interesting if trailers used score more oftenalthough often score is still being written when trailers come out. But that was certainly lucky for us that they grabbed that bit.

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These few notes are probably the only part of the score that audiences have heard at this point, and theyve already earned a big reaction. Whats that like for you as a composer?

Its really gratifying. It comes from the most impactful bit of the score, the part where youre supposed to notice whats going on musically and be affected by it. And its nice to hear even from the people who dont like it, who are disturbed by it, because thats its purpose. Its nice that it works in the trailer, but Id love for people to see the whole film and hear if they think it works in the film itself.

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Its a slightly nerve-racking time before a film is released, and we spent a long time on it. It was a massive creative challenge. Its a real shame that it doesnt seem to be coming out in cinemas in the U.K.

Oh no.

Yeah, Netflix have bought it and are distributing it. Itll likely go straight to streaming, which is a shame, because the impact visually and aurally of the film, especially in the bit weve been talking about, is designed to be immersive, which I think you can really only get the full impact of on the cinema screen.

Its funny that you mention that, because when I talk to people who have seen Annihilations trailer in the theater, they know exactly which musical cue Im raving about. But people who have just seen the trailer online dont seem to understand what the big deal is.

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We did spend a long time mixing it in a studio in London, that particular part of the film, especially. We really went to town on the surround, because the music is really the only thing guiding you in that part of the film.

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Anything else to add?

Only that Ive never been interviewed about four notes before.

Well, Ive never interviewed anyone about four notes before either. Waitthis cue sounds like its five notes to me, but youre saying its actually four?

Its four plus three, actually. Another one of its names was the four-note theme, but I think you can call it five notes, if you want. As I say, its been so processed. If you listen to that video of the trailer reaction, they all sing it back to each other, and it ends up just sounding like some sort of demon opera. Maybe thats what it should be called. The demon opera theme.

Read more in Slate about the weird Annihilation noise.
This article originally appeared in Vulture.

In 1971, Don McGregor was a proofreader at Marvel Comics, and one particular thing was driving him nuts. There was a series with the cringe-inducing name of Jungle Action, and its contents were primarily reprints of 1950s tales about white peopleJann of the Jungle, Lorna the Jungle Queen, Tharn the Magnificenthaving adventures in ill-defined African locales. I kept saying to them, I cant believe you guys are printing this racist material in the 1970s, the 72-year-old McGregor says in his stout Rhode Island brogue. Finally, it was decided to put some new material in, and I said something like, It needs to have a black jungle character. Something.

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Marvel really only had one such property at the time. His name was TChalla and he was the superpowered monarch of hidden Wakanda, an African nation made technologically advanced thanks to the presence of a rare metal called vibranium. He was best known by his nom de guerre: Black Panther. TChalla had been created in 1966 by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, but honestly, he hadnt done a whole lot of note since then. Hed pop up occasionally to pal around with the Fantastic Four or the Avengers, but that was about it. So second-rate was the Panther that when McGregor made his plea, he didnt have the guy in mind.

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I wasnt even thinking of the Black Panther at the time, and certainly not that I was gonna get a chance to do it, McGregor swears. Imagine his surprise, then, when he, a 20-something with virtually no comics-writing experience, was asked to put his money where his mouth was and write new Panther stories for Jungle Action, starting in 1972. I read every book hed been in, and I started making notes about what I thought really worked and what needed to be looked at, because we really didnt know how it worked.

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Nearly 50 years later, its safe to say that people have figured out how Black Panther works. TChalla just made his big-screen debut in an eponymous Marvel Studios film directed and co-written by Ryan Coogler. The response to it has been astoundingits been regarded as a major cultural moment for months, if not years. It broke ticket presale records. It spawned massively popular hashtags. Reviews have been overwhelmingly positive. The character and his film are already cultural icons. And its entirely possible that none of it would have happened without McGregor.

In the pages of Jungle Action, he and a trio of pencilersRich Buckler, Billy Graham, and Gil Kanedreamed up Black Panthers first solo saga. It was an operatic two-year tale of death, love, and revolution with the sizzling title Panthers Rage. In it, the character came into full flower for the first time, and it gave birth to TChallas greatest foe: a rival to the Wakandan throne named Erik Killmonger. One can debate McGregors influence on the Black Panther movie versus that of other Panther writers like Christopher Priest, Reginald Hudlin, and Ta-Nehisi Coates. But its undeniable that the picture wouldnt have its much-praised, Michael B. Jordan-played bad guy if not for McGregor and the late Buckler.

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The two men were unknown quantities at Marvel. McGregor, born in Providence, had held a wild array of jobs over the course of his young adulthood: security guard, bank and movie theater employee, even an MP in the National Guard during the riot-prone late 1960s. In that latter gig, McGregor saw raw bigotry firsthand and was repulsed. You have to be careful about reporting racists in a Military Police Unit, ignorant bastards who talk big-mouthed, small, bitter-minded, violent racist thoughts of what they would do to blacks if the unit were called into action, he would later write. Combating racism would go on to be a central passion for him. A fan of pulp storytelling, he got his first comics-writing gig in 1971 (a horror story for Warren Publishing) and right around then landed the Marvel proofreading job. Bucklera Detroiter by birthhad been in the industry a few years longer, but had done little of note and had only started working for Marvel in early 1972.

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So when the higher-ups paired them up to do Panther stories in Jungle Action, no oneincluding themcould have predicted what theyd come up with. They had considerable editorial freedom due to the fact that no one was really reading the series at the time. The two men quickly became close. We worked side by sideI mean, literally, McGregor recalls. Rich actually found me a place to live in the Bronx so that we could be close by each other. So I literally would go to Richs apartment after work from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., and wed sit and I would do Panther poses for him, or we would discuss design.

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It was in that Bronx apartment that Killmonger was born. McGregor wanted to situate the Jungle Action stories in Wakanda, which TChalla had recently departed to go on American adventures. That meant an all-black castsomething never before seen in mainstream comics. And an all-black cast meant another rarity: a black bad guy. I did not want any more white people stumbling into Wakanda to go steal the vibranium. I mean, how many times can you do that? McGregor says. So my first thought when looking at it was, Well, hes been away from Wakanda and is coming back, and what makes sense? Politically, things could be happening. I started working on the idea of a revolution within Wakanda because hes been away for so long.

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Every revolution needs someone at the vanguard, so McGregor and Buckler set out to decide who that would be. The former contributed a startling name. By that time in comics, so many names had been used for villains and heroes, McGregor says. I think every noun, just about. I wanted a name that was striking and that would kind of reflect their personality, give you some indication of a strong visual trait about them. Suddenly, a moniker appeared in his brain: Erik Killmonger. He has no idea where it came from. I dont think I struggled a long time with the name, he says with a laugh.

Buckler, sitting at McGregors side, concocted an equally startling look for this nascent rival. He would be a bare-chested, towering mountain of a man, clad in white tights and red-and-white spiked wrist straps and boots, bearing a massive spiked whip, and adorned with a curly mullet. McGregor says he and Buckler wanted to subtly convey a racial and historical component with the straps and the whip. As he puts it, I liked the idea of the spikes, and it really just gave not just a sense of power, but a sense of the legacy of violence from slavery.

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No sooner had theyd created Killmonger than they decided to make him a central figure on the cover of their first chapter in Jungle Action No. 6. McGregor lauds Marvel for allowing him to present such a richly fleshed-out black cast, but recalls pushback on the covers front. We had him on the first cover, and then I was told that he could not appear on the covers, he says. Im not sure they were that comfortable with having a black villain of that strength and ferocity that Killmonger had, going against the Panther.

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But whatever editorial tentativeness there may have been, it didnt show in the pages of Panthers Rage, which presented a tale about black Africans unlike any other that comics had seen. Indeed, it was a story unlike any before seen in that medium. Although it was serialized throughout 13 issues, it has sometimes been called the first graphic novel, due to the fact that it was an uninterrupted, cohesive comics narrative stretched over an unprecedented length. In it, TChalla returned to Wakanda with his African-American love interest, musician Monica Lynne, only to find that something was deeply wrong in his kingdom.

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In the opening scene, TChalla leaps through the air to save an elderly Wakandan being held captive by two other Wakandans. The first two lines of dialogue, spoken by one of the captors, immediately establish that someone sinister has appeared in the country: Come, wizened one, spare yourself pain! Youll answer Killmongers questions! The Panther defeats them easily, but is confused about whats happening. Back at his palace, he asks his closest adviser, WKabi, whats up. What tears at us is a whispered threatthat leaves terror in his wake! WKabi replies. Erik Killmonger! Perhaps if youd spent more time here, you would not have had to ask!

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TChalla, appropriately guilted, ventures to a village destroyed by Killmonger and the villain suddenly appears and attacks him. They tussle and Killmonger gets the upper hand. You could not have hopedto win! he cries as his pet wildcat, Preyy, pins TChalla down. Wakanda became a toy to youa bright shining gemand on the day that happened, you lost your kingdom! He tosses the Panther over a waterfall and assumes him dead. It was an alarmingly intense first issue, showing our hero at the receiving end of physical and moral defeat.

Over the course of the subsequent installments, a pattern emerged. TChalla would attempt to track down Killmonger (who we learned was born as NJadaka of Wakanda, but spent time in the U.S., where he adopted his alternate name). Along the way, the Panther would battle one new villain after another. McGregor had a talent for off-kilter names and granted them to these baddies: King Cadaver, Baron Macabre, Lord Karnaj, andperhaps most delightfully nutty of them allSalamander KRuel. One by one, the Panther would beat them, but his long, exhausting journey wore on him. Meanwhile, wed get interludes in which the eternally grinning Killmonger would march his way toward the palace, expecting to easily take over the country with his violent mandate.

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The tale was an aesthetic feast. Buckler left after the first three issues, but was replaced by the immensely talented Billy Graham, one of the only black creators in the industry. Legendary penciler Gil Kane would pop in and out, as well, but Graham was the real star. His intricate layouts and graceful action were unlike anything in comics at the time, and they synced well with McGregors famously elaborate prose.

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Take, for example, the title page of Jungle Action No. 11. Ostensibly, all thats happening is TChalla leaping down from a rocky hilltop. There isnt even any dialogue. But Graham fills half the page with the title of the storyONCE YOU SLAY THE DRAGON!in the form of massive carved stones along the hills side. He depicts the Panthers descent by constructing four circular panels within the main panel, each circle containing a new pose during the leap. Inker Klaus Janson provides vivid textures and colorist Glynis Wein offers up rosy-fingered dawn. For his part, McGregor writes a kind of lush, dense narration that, still to this day, is rarely found in superhero comics:

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For one moment, he is free! For one moment, there is only the molten dawn sun lighting the sky a poet red and the air racing cooly past him as he drops in free form flight. For this one moment, he does not have to be the Black Panther! As he leaps with graceful precision, a human paragon of the animal he is named after, he does not have to be TChalla, king of the Wakandas, eitherand as he flexes and springs fluidly from one rocky outcropping to the next, the burdens of nobilityare fleetingly lifted. And then he lands at the bottom of the precipice and the moment ends and he is once more all of those things.

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This approach powered the lengthy narrative and its explorations of everything from the complexities of the romantic relationship between TChalla and Monica to the responsibilities of a leader. When TChalla finally gets his rematch with Killmonger, he muses that his path to this moment had been a challenge not just due to the physical battles, but because he was plagued by all the guilts I left unvoiced! Nevertheless, he concludes that, while I have yet to conquer themI am no longer their slave! This idea of TChalla facing a serious crisis of confidence in the face of an uprising is a key component of the film, and owes a notable debt to McGregor and his dialogue. Panther ultimately tosses Killmonger over a waterfall and leaves him for dead, but it is a Pyrrhic victory. The subsequent narration notes that the only survivors  are victims themselves!

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Panthers Rage was an artistic high-water mark for early-70s superhero fiction, but it didnt sell particularly well at the time. Nor was it regularly reprinted in the decades that followed. However, many who did get their hands on it over the years were awed by it. This overlooked and underrated classic is arguably the most tightly written multi-part superhero epic ever, wrote the late comics and animation writer Dwayne McDuffie. Its damn-near flawless, every issue, every scene, a functional, necessary part of the whole. Panthers Rage was the first great Black Panther story, combining a thrilling saga with a series of great stand-alone tales, declared comics journalist Tom Speelman.

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As such, McGregor has come to be known as one of the small handful of people who fundamentally shaped this months biggest movie star. He would go on to write a few more Panther stories after Panthers Rage, including one where TChalla fights the Ku Klux Klan and another where he grapples with South African apartheid (the latter of those two introduced another film character, Angela Bassetts mother figure Ramonda). He stopped writing comics regularly in the late 1990s, but is returning to TChalla for a short story called Panthers Heart in this months Black Panther Annual No. 1.

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Even though his comics career is mostly over at this point, McGregor still gets to revel in the fruits of his labor. Panthers Rage is back in print, and he attended the premiere of Black Panther a few weeks ago. Though he didnt meet Jordan, he did chat with TChalla actor Chadwick Boseman and was impressed by both mens performances. Michael collected a dynamism and an emotional quality that Killmonger should have, he says. TChallas the guy who, when he steps into the room, he really doesnt have to raise his voice. You just can sense from him the inner strength that he has, and the clear-cut sense of purpose that he has, but also the physical strength as well. I think Chadwick captured all of that.

And as for his own legacy? McGregor seems happy to be recognized, but is quick to point out that he was never thinking about any of that when Panthers Rage began and the seeds were planted for a megablockbuster. When I was writing books, he says, the only thing I was thinking about was, Whats the next page?

See also: The Man Who Made Black Panther Cool
Better Life Lab is a partnership of Slate and New America.

A majority of Americans believe men and women are fundamentally different in their physical abilities, how they express their feelings, and their personal interests and hobbies, a recent Pew Research Center survey found. And while women and Democrats are more likely to say differences are the result of social and environmental factors, a majority of men and Republicans believe they are biological. Beliefs about sex differences and gender roles remain very much a flash point in American cultural and political controversies today, from the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment, the persistent pay gap, the conspicuous absence of women from positions of leadership and power, and men from the playground, kitchen and carpool pick up, or the controversial Google manifesto.

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The nature vs. nurture question has divided not only the general public, but also scientists themselves. British science journalist Angela Saini digs into those divisions and what they mean for what we think of as normal or proper behavior and life choices for men and women in her new book, Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong  And the New Research thats Rewriting the Story.

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This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Brigid Schulte: You write that, throughout history, mostly male scientists, including Charles Darwin, created studies or speculated that women were less intelligent than men, the weaker sex, and so forth based on their own biasesfailing to see that if women werent scientists, perhaps not being admitted to universities could be a reason why, rather than an innate biological imperative. Is this what got you started digging deeply into the science of sex difference?

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Angela Saini: I came to it by accident almost. When I went back to work after I had my son, the Observer newspaper here in London asked me to write a story about menopause. I come from an engineering background, and Id always written hard, physical science stories. I tended not to do biology. The approach I took was looking at the explanations in evolutionary biology for why menopause happens. And what astounded me was that different people had different theories, and that they could sometimes run along gender lines.

There were groups of male scientists saying that women experience menopause because older men dont find them attractive. And there were womenand some menon the other side, saying the reason we live such long and healthy lives after were unable to have children is because grandmothers are so crucial to the survival of families.

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Now, why would it be the case that men tend to have one view, and women tend to have another view? Thats very strange. Because if science is free of bias, it shouldnt make any difference. Its science. And that fascinated me.

Sex differences are still one of the hottest topics in scientific research. Some of the research reinforces what you call the myth that the gaps between men and women are hugethat women are more empathetic, that men are better at math and spatial reasoning, as well as more promiscuous, that men and womens brains are structurally different, and so on. How different, really, are women and men, and where do those differences come from?

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One of the important things that biology has taught us over the last 50 years is that nature and nurture cant necessarily be separated. And there is biological feedback that happens as a result of the environment. So, for instance, if you give a very young child mechanical toys to play with, stuff that exercises their ability to build things and make things, they will be better, biologically better, at making and building things because of the experiences theyve had. So a social interference produces a biological effect.

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That goes a long way in explaining the sex differences that we do see. When parents say to me, My girls prefer dolls, and my boys like to play with trucks. Well, you have to ask them, what kind of toys did you give them growing up? Because I have a son. And when he was growing up, he didnt receive a doll until he was 4. So, of course, for those four years, he didnt play with dolls. We forget the kind of input we have as were raising children produces a profound effect in gender disparities that we see later on.

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We assume everything we see is biological, when in fact the social and cultural inputs are huge. Im not saying that they account for everything in terms of gender difference. But as far as we can tell, they certainly account for a lot more than we thought they did.

The amount weve been socialized, the amount that weve been affected by teaching and education and upbringing in the course of our lives, mean we will exhibit differences as adults, obviously, because we live in a very gendered society. So its very difficult to disentangle biology from the effects of society, culture, and the environment when were studying sex difference.

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I was so struck by an influential study you mention by a researcher named Simon Baron-Cohen. He purported to find that women were empathizers and men systematizers, and that these sex differences show up on the first day of life. Yet you wrote about the way he came to that conclusion: by having a postgraduate student stand over the bassinet of newborn babies in a maternity ward and see whether the babies looked at her face, which would somehow mean they were more empathetic, or whether they looked at a mobile with lots of little pictures of her face, indicating some kind of systematic preference. The study showed a large proportion of the babies showed no preference at all. And yet the study has been cited and written about as evidence of deep biological sex differences. Im not a scientist, but can babies even see at that age? That study just seemed ludicrous to me.

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Studies like Baron-Cohens are already so difficult to trust because of the nature of the experiment. Its very difficult to gauge where babies are looking. Can they even see? There is a multitude of ways that study could be flawed. We cant rely on it. And thats one of the big takeaways for me after having done this research: Dont take everything you read at face value, because single studies are not enough.

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And there is an issue with some researchers wanting to see sex differences, and going out of their way to see it. This happens in the realm of speculation. So even if they have a study that may show, for example, small structural differences between the brains of men and women, thats one thing. To then infer from that, that that women are better at multitasking, or are more empathetic, or that men are more rational. We cant do that. The newer science just isnt there yet. The brain is such a complex organ. That kind of speculation is dangerous. All it does is build on stereotypes. Its very unscientific. You need a lot more data to be able to draw such big, grand, sweeping conclusions.

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You write about how some of the best research now is taking on some of these older and more biased studies. Like Angus Bateman, the geneticist, who in 1948 studied the mating habits of fruit flies and became the inspiration for Batemans principle, which, when applied to humans, suggests that men, with their millions of sperm, are more promiscuous and will mate widely in order to reproduce, while women, with their limited supply of eggs, have to be, as you wrote pickier and more chaste. That principle has had enormous influence on the lives of men and women.

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Theres some really good research coming out of a frustration with the lazy research that happened in the past. And thats very encouraging. Patricia Gowaty, an evolutionary biologist in California has replicated Batemans famous fruit fly experiment that was initially done in the 1940s that seemed to show that females are less promiscuous than males. She showed that it was flawed. She went back, did the exact same experiment and showed Bateman must have gotten it wrongthat female fruit flies went toward males as often as males went toward females. And when I called scientists like Robert Trivers, who popularized Batemans idea, he said she was probably right. And thats quite amazing. Because if we think of the body of work built on Batemans principle, its incredibly influential, and it really does shore up our stereotypes about men and women.

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Im not saying [Gowatys work] unravels the principle. It certainly doesnt overturn it completely. There are many species who do follow Batemans paradigm. But humans may not be one of them. And if theyre not, then we may need to fundamentally rethink human sexual behavior and these Darwinian ideas we have around male and female sex roles and male and female roles in society.

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The question of sex differences, and whether theyre biological have such enormous implications. There is a school of thought that, if differences are biological, if women are just genetically wired for nurture and caregiving, and men to go out into the world and build things, why bother changing workplace cultures, social policy, or gendered caregiving norms? If biology is destiny, men should go to work, women should stay home, and we should be done with it.

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I think approaching that question of who should do what in society in a biologically deterministic way is very dangerous. We have decided as a species that were all equal and we deserve equality irrespective of our abilities. That is a good thing. Its a sign of moral progress as a civilization. So in that sense, legally and morally, the science actually makes no difference, really.

Where I think the science matters, and the reason I wrote Inferior is because there are still people who claim that, biologically, what were fighting for, equality, is impossible. That were never going to see it and we shouldnt push for it because its in our makeup, our nature, that were cognitively different, psychologically different. They imply that we should give up on campaigns and policies to help drive equality forward.

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And thats where I think having good science is important. Because, actually, the science doesnt say that. Its actually quite emphatically ambiguous. If were going to read anything into the science, its that we dont really know very much right now. And what we do know suggests that the psychological differences between the sexes are really small, and that cognitively, in intelligence terms, they are almost nonexistent. Biology certainly cant account for the great gender disparities we see in many societies.

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We forget that in hunter-gatherer societies, historically, people tended to live relatively egalitarian lives, where women were able to do everything that men did, there wasnt always this sharp divisions in roles. As long as some women are denied the chance to do what all men can do, then there is still a fight to fight.

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Even in the armed forces. One of the reasons that women have been prevented from taking on combat roles in the armed forces roles is a strength issue, that women have half the upper body strength of men. But thats an average. Again, we may never see parity, but that doesnt mean the women who are strong enough to do that job should be barred from it, when men who are weaker than these women are still allowed to do it. That isnt fair.

So the message of my book isnt that we should have equality because science says its possible. No. The message is, theres no reason why we cant have equality if we want it. Science doesnt say that equality is impossible. We are adaptable and plastic as a human species. We can have society any way we want.
Better Life Lab is a partnership of Slate and New America.

While the American Academy of Pediatrics has publicly called for Congress to enact laws that ensure that parents of new babies have access to at least 12 weeks of paid leave to help bond with and care for their children, many physicians in the U.S. dont themselves have access to the amount of leave their own colleagues recommend. And even if they have it, they dont take it, according to a new paper in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Not only are these policies variable, but often the policies themselves are unclear or left up to a supervisor to decide how much leave a person will actually receive. As Dr. Christina Mangurian, one of the studys authors, noted, One of our main findings is that these are policies that are extraordinary difficult to interpret and understand. And then they have all these funny things, which disadvantage women, like your leave is up to your chair or your supervisor. Talk to your supervisor to see if you can do this. Or you have up to this many weeks of leave. All of this flexibility in interpretation of leave policies can make new parents feel like good doctors dont take the full amount of leave theyre entitled to, assuming they can even determine how much that might be according to their institutions policies.

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A team of physicians and researchers led by Nicholas Riano tracked down the family leave policies at 12 of the top U.S. medical schools and discovered that birth parents are offered 8.6 weeks of leave on average and that nonbirth parentssometimes just including fathers, sometimes nonbirth parents in same-sex couples, or families that gain children through adoption or surrogacywere offered extremely variable amounts of leave, from two weeks to a year.

All the evidence points to better outcomes when parents are able to take leave to recover from birth and bond with their newborns, including greater retention of female employees, leading to a more diverse workforce and better health outcomes for babies. Were doctorswe know data. We like data, said Mangurian. Lets try to work together and use this data to help ourselves.

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All these inflexible requirements meant that with her first child, Baird ended up front-loading all her overnight call time into the first half of her year, while she was pregnant.

Dr. Stacy Wang Baird was one of the lucky ones. A cardiologist at Columbia University Medical Center, she had her first son, who is now 5, while finishing up her training. She had her second son, now 1 years old, as an attending physician. She was able to take 14 weeks with her first and 12 weeks with her second. And she felt that her program and colleagues were incredibly supportive. But still, taking leave wasnt without its challenges.

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Navigating the experience as a fellow was challenging in that there were so many policies that governed my training and I had to make sure that I was fulfilling all the requirements, said Baird. I also had to be aware that my training needed to be completed by a certain date in order to be eligible to take my subspecialty boards that year I finished training, otherwise she risked extending her training time by an additional year.

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All these inflexible requirements meant that with her first child, Baird ended up front-loading all her overnight call time into the first half of her year, while she was pregnant, because, she said, As a first time mom with little prior experience taking care of babies, I had no idea what to expect. And she believed it would be easier to work these punishing shifts while pregnant than with an infant at home. But it took a toll on her health. Related or not, I do wonder if I may have overdone that and whether being so heavily front-loaded might have been a factor leading to my developing shingles on one of my overnight calls during this period, Baird said.

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The culture for physician fathers, even those who work in pediatrics, can be even less forgiving. Dr. Josh Bonkowsky, a father of four, had children with his physician-wife during all stages of their training. While his wife had 12 weeks fully paid at the University of Utah for each birth, Bonkowsky didnt take a single day of leave with his kids. Bonkowsky admitted he wasnt sure exactly what the policy even was for new fathers. (The University of Utah School of Medicine has not yet responded to a request to confirm this policy.) I can think of one male colleague who took leave for the birth of a child. Its not commonly done among male physicians here, he said. While he might have liked to take paternity leave, Its not encouragedthe entire cultural setup has to change to make it happen, said Bonkowsky.

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But for some physician dads outside of academia, the culture may already be changing. Dr. Hans Pohl, a pediatric surgeon specializing in urology at Childrens National Medical Center in the District of Columbia, has a 4-year-old son with his husband, born by surrogate. Everybody was absolutely thrilled that I had a son on the way, he said. He found that figuring out what leave he was entitled to was simplehe applied for it and was granted a month of leave. Pohl believes that the culture within medicine is changing. It did not occur to him to check the leave policy when he first started at the hospital more than 15 years ago, but now he believes it is becoming more common and its what many fathers and mothers want. Still, Pohl echoed many of his colleagues in that he felt he could not have taken a longer leave because of his duty to and the concern he felt for his patients, and insufficient redundancy among providers to avoid burdening other physicians.

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And things are starting to change at the institutional level too. Even since the JAMA study went to press, some institutions have updated their policies, including the University of California, San Francisco,* which announced it will double childbearing leave to 12 weeks, fully paid for faculty at the medical school, beginning July 2019.

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Mangurian says that the paper shines a light on areas that need improvement and that she fundamentally believes institutions want to improve. All health providers can step up by expanding access to the AAP-recommended 12 weeks paid leave for all parentsmothers, fathers, birth, or adoptiveand by changing the structures within their institutions to allow for more redundancy to accommodate the caregiving responsibilities that affect them just as much as they affect their patients and their families. Medical training programs can help change the culture by building in more flexibility to accommodate childbirth, parental, and family leaves so that these policies are actually used and medical students and residents arent forced to extend their training by a full year or engage in scheduling heroics to meet training and licensing requirements.

Ultimately, doctors should be entitled to the same happy, healthy family lives they want for all of us.
Every couple has one core fight that replays over and over again, in different disguises, over the course of their relationship. In this series, couples analyze the origin and mechanics of their One Fight. To pitch your own One Fight (well also accept pseudonyms, if necessary), email humaninterest@slate.com.

Baird Campbell and Victor Ancheta have been married for just over a year and live in Houston.

Victor Ancheta is an artist and decorator.

Baird Campbell is a Ph.D. candidate in anthropology at Rice University.

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Baird Campbell: Our relationships core fight is definitely about what our house looks like. Because we are gay stereotypes, we are both very particular about the aesthetic we do and do not like, which is honestly usually fairly similar. You, however, really cant handle it when I want to make any decisions about what goes where in our house.

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Victor Ancheta: Right. We do have very similar aesthetics, like our love for Latin America and colorful art. But you only barely tolerate my desire to be surrounded by carved saints with missing limbs and accusatory faces. Im really surprised that you dont find them comforting. I love you so much, but I do judge your taste sometimes.

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Baird: This became an issue as soon as we moved in together, I think literally while we were still getting all our possessions into the house. Part of it was that I had no idea how much stuff you were hiding in your tiny apartment, and part of it was that it seemed like whenever we had to choose between your stuff or mine, mine pretty much ended up in the donation pile without fail. Some of that was definitely because many of your things were just straight-up nicer, but it started to feel pretty quickly like it was about more than that. Everything from my silverware, to my plates, to my towels were quickly either donated or relegated to if we need extraland.

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Victor: I remember our first foray to Ikea together when wed just started dating. That trip did not end up in disaster; we were successful and even boasted about it on Facebook.

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Baird: That Ikea trip went smoothly, though, a) because we were shopping for things for your bachelor pad and b) we hadnt been dating that long and I felt it would be rude to lose my mind at you in a public location, even though we had to figure out how to fit the pieces of an entire couch into my early 2000s Toyota Camry.

Victor: Fast-forward to moving in together and fighting about where to position furniture, what things to keep, which artwork to hang and where.

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Baird: We also listened to a lot of Sia. I have some weird feelings about Sia now.

You only barely tolerate my desire to be surrounded by carved saints with missing limbs and accusatory faces.  Victor Ancheta

We fought for so many days on end that it got to the point where I thought moving in with you had been a terrible mistake, because I absolutely felt like I was arguing with a stranger who was somehow agreeing with me that he was being irrational but still being super irrational.

I just remember it kept bubbling up over and over again, and I felt like we couldnt move past it. I will also admit to getting upset about things I actually didnt even want to keep because I was so frustrated with feeling like I had somehow agreed to move into a bigger version of your own former apartment.

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Victor: It started with an old turquoise Ikea Lack side table. To be fair, I did like its color but I just hated its size, how cumbersome and how rickety it was, and that it was made of MDF [medium-density fibreboard]the bane of my existence. That table was designed to be thrown in the trash; I was just itching to get rid of it. Anyway, you wanted to keep it and it ballooned from there. There was a lot of screaming and crying. I recognize that I really should not care if you keep furniture that I do not like especially after making you get rid of a good portion of your belongings, but I just couldnt be diplomatic about it. I think we can definitely say that Ikea can ruin relationships even outside of its labyrinth.

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Baird: This table. I did not like this table. It immediately became apparent that it had super weird dimensions and did not fit in any space in our house. But I demanded to keep it simply because I felt like I needed to win a round.

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I would say we have this fight every few months when our house reaches peak knick-knackery and you are forced to part with items so that you can display new acquisitions. This argument is a real classic waiting to be dusted off at unexpected times, or when we have started a fight about something else and run out of ammunition but are still angry.

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Victor: This fight plays out about all sorts of physical objects in our lives, outside of furniture. There was the Giant Chicken Pot Debacle of Spring 2017. Baird, you came home from a conference and there, sitting on the corner of the living room, was this giant clay chicken pot planter welcoming you. Now, I admit that this pot is one of the ugliest things in the world but I have a soft spot for it because it was entirely made by hand. Someone actually took the time to make a giant coil pot, apply clay feathers all over it, and then stick a chicken-esque head to the clay body. Your reaction was immediate disdain. You wanted it out of the living room, you wanted it gone. Now, I didnt like the chicken that much either. But instead of agreeing with you, I dug my heels in and said that that chicken filled that space well. We went back and forth arguing about the chickens merits and still I was stubborn enough to fight for a thing that I too find ridiculous. The chicken was moved. It now sits in front of our main door greeting visitors to our place.

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Baird: Youre forgetting one detail. You specifically asked me if you should get that pot before I left for that conference, and I directly told you that I hated it. I dont hate a lot of things. But I hate that damned chicken.

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We are both extremely stubborn and opinionated, but I am more expressive. In some ways, I feel like this fight is you expressing your feelings through stuff. You also definitely have a different relationship to things in general than I do, and I think this has to do with our vastly different upbringings. When you emigrated from the Philippines, you had the experience of putting your life into a few suitcases, so I get why things are important to you in a way that they are not for me. I, on the other hand, grew up middle class and white, in the same house for my whole childhood. I was never concerned about having to choose which possessions to keep and which to give away. And especially in my 20s, I lived out of two suitcases for about a decade, so it never even occurred to me that there could come a day when I wouldnt buy all my furniture at Ikea and then inevitably throw it away after a year or two without feeling bad.

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I also do think this fight has to do with you feeling like, since my personality is bigger and louder than yours, this is a domain in which you can exert some control. I get this, but I also dont want to live in somebody elses house for my entire life.

Victor: Youre right about my experience as an immigrant. It was hard to leave behind generations worth of existence in belongings and memories, and I started hoarding new possessionscue the twang from Hoarders: Buried Alive. This was my response to that trauma. But the main thing that propels me now to be too particular about how our home looks is that I am an artist and a collector. Aesthetics is a way of living to me, just like activism and anthropology are to you. And when you get in the way of my plans to arrange the house in a way I imagine it, it can feel like a personal attack, or that you do not understand me.

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I also feel a strong connection to how things are made. As a sculptor, I appreciate the craft, time, and sweat that goes in to creating objects. I can relate to people who make things and I value their work. I know that as an anthropologist, you understand the relationship between humans and objects. I recognize that you have your own opinions about how to display these objects, and I need to respect that.

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We listened to a lot of Sia during that fight. I have some weird feelings about Sia now.  Baird Campbell

Baird: Right from the start, you do know when you are being unreasonable. So I think, over time, that has at least helped make this fight shorter, if not more pleasant, since I find it basically impossible to actually diffuse it. It has to run its course.

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Victor: I think that being increasingly conscious that a fight might happen over furnishings helps to diminish the fight itself. For me, knowing that we might fight over a table makes me start to have a conversation in my head with you and think about what you might say. I find it to be helpful not just when it comes to acquiring things, but in many aspects of our relationship. So, theres now a mini Baird head in my mind that makes me see things from your perspective.

Baird: I think you logically know that neither of us makes enough money for our house to look exactly the way you want it, and even if we did, you are actually way too cheap to spend that kind of money. You have a very strong sense of fair and unfair, which is normally great. Every time I make you watch a true crime documentary (so basically every night) you get irrationally angry when the murder happens, even though murder is the whole point of the documentary. And when you perceive that something is unfair in our lives (say, the fact that weve both worked really hard for a long time and are still lower middle-class at best), your sense that it isnt fair can prevent you from accepting that its a reality we have to live with nonetheless. As much as my upbringing was more privileged than yours, you were able to transition into adulthood much more gradually than I was, living at home while you got your degree. That meant that your disposable income was actually disposable. Ive been paying rent and student loans since I was 18, and I do think this has allowed me to accept my financial circumstances as they are in a way that youre learning to. Incidentally this is why, when you met me, all of my furniture was made of particle board.

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Victor: Youve always been about what is right and fair and I love that about you. You get upset when people dont tip servers well because youve been on the other end. You fight for equality and you are vocal about it. Youve even helped me find a voice in a world where I thought my voice was too quiet.

All of this is to say: I think it makes sense that we fight over furnishings, since we manage to treat furnishings as a reflection of our deeply held individual values. Also, its worth noting that when we work as a team, we are able to do great things. We pulled off a fun, boozy, colorful, and memorable wedding with over a hundred guests! Though, that journey too had several fights leading up to italso about decor.

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Baird: At the end of the day, this fight to me is about control on your end, and feeling valued and heard on my end. In typical me fashion, this argument really makes me spin out and start imagining us 20 years from now living in a house full of statues of saints whose names I dont know surrounded by zero pictures of our children and/or cats because you decided our children and/or cats do not match the aesthetic that we (you) are currently going for. And even though I try to explain what is (to me) a very clear connection between you hating our coasters and hating our unborn children, as of yet you dont seem to see it.

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On your end, I think your personal biography has helped shape a person who really wants and needs to be in control at all times, because it seems like you spent a lot of your early life not in control of your own circumstances. This is hard for me, No. 1 because obviously I would also like to be the boss, but No. 2 because it often seems like your perception of a constant battle for power keeps you from seeing us a unit, which is definitely something were still working on this early in our marriage.

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Victor: I think theres a lot of truth in that. Even talking about this fight has made me examine how I can be selfish and what my flaws are as a partner. I think our relationship is strong in that our fight is mostly superficial. In many ways, we are already like an old couple because our fights mostly revolve around the same things again and again, and I find that oddly comforting. At the end of the day, we have a beautiful home together, one that you and I will continue to fill with love regardless of what it looks like or where it is, for years to come. Giant chicken pot, limbless saints, Ikea furniture, cats, children, and all.

Read the other entries in Slates Our One Fight series.

 Fast vs. Slow

 The Sharer vs. The Withholder

 Order vs. Chaos
Many more Americans believe that mass shootings result from inadequate mental health care than those who think lax gun laws are to blame, according to a new poll from ABC News and the Washington Post.

In the poll conducted in the wake of last weeks Parkland, Florida, school shooting, respondents were asked if this event could or could not have been prevented by more effective mental health screening or treatment; stricter gun control laws; and allowing teachers to carry guns. Fifty-eight percent of the 808 respondents said stricter gun laws could have prevented the shooting, but a larger portion, 77 percent, said better mental health monitoring and treatment would have averted it.

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The poll did find that attitudes have shifted slightly in the past couple years. As compared to results from a 2015 ABC and Post survey, slightly fewer blame mental health screening, and slightly more blame the lack of adequate gun control laws.

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The poll did find that public opinions about assault rifles have not substantially changed in the past year, however, as reflected in a poll conducted after the Orlando Pulse Nightclub shooting, according to ABC. Roughly half of Americans would still oppose a ban on assault weapons.

The idea that teachers could be trained to carry guns, validated by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos as a legitimate opportunity and option, was less popular. Forty-two percent said arming teachers could have prevented the shooting.

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The poll found that women and people of color, more so than white men, favor gun control over mental health screenings; it also found women more often support banning assault weapons. And 80 percent of Republicans who responded blamed mental health, while only 33 percent of Democrats did the same.

The Trump administration falls in line somewhat with the public on the matter of mental health versus gun control. In the responding to the tragedy, Trump spoke almost exclusively of mental health (and the failure of the FBI), and Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced he would put together a committee to study the intersection of mental health and criminality and violence. (Slates Ben Mathis-Lilley pointed out that this research would be particularly ironic given a policy, in place since 1996, that blocks federal funding for research that would advocate or promote gun control.)

As Slates Susan Matthews wrote after the shooting, evidence suggests that anger, not mental illness, much more often drives those who commit mass violence. The argument for mental illness as the root of these problems instead allows politicians to avoid responsibility, she writes, as though these shootings are acts of nature.

A large majority of Americans already are angry about politicians skirting responsibility, however. Seventy-seven percent said in the poll that Congress is not doing enough to address school shootings; 62 percent blamed Trump.
What should the police of a democratic country do if the security forces of a visiting despot threaten a local politician because he has publicly criticized their boss?

I can think of a few possible responses: They could expel the security forces from the country, for example. They could charge them with threatening bodily harm. Or they could, at the very least, give the politician the protection he needs to go about his day in the way he had planned.

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This is the choice German police faced over the weekend, when the Munich Security Conference put up Binali Yildirim, the Turkish prime minister, in the same hotel as Cem Ozdemir, a leading German politician.

Ozdemir is a celebrity in Germany: The first German of Turkish descent to be elected to the Bundestag, he was the leader of the Greens until the last election and remains a regular presence on radio and television. And as a staunch defender of liberal democracythe German Greens thankfully have little in common with their sorry American counterpartshe has unambiguously criticized autocratic regimes from Russia to, yes, Turkey.

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Evidently, the Turkish security forces know him as well. When they spotted him checking in, they complained about the presence of a terrorist so vehemently that the German police concluded he might be in danger and promptly put Ozdemir under protection.

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The assessment of the underlying threat seems reasonable: If Turkish security forces were willing to beat up peaceful protestors in downtown Washington last year, they might just be willing to beat up a leading German politician in his own country this year. And yet, the resulting situation was totally absurd. As Ozdemirwho has long needed protection at public events because of his public recognition of the Armenian genocideput it, that I should need security at a security conference is a novelty even for me.

But what is even more absurd is that, instead of putting the visiting thugs in their place, German authorities restricted Ozdemirs freedom of movement: When he wished to have breakfast in his hotel, the police insisted that he skip the meal to avoid provoking the Turkish security guards. In other words, the henchmen of a foreign dictatorship now got to determine what a leading German politician could or couldnt do in his own country.

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There is a clear line between negotiating with an adversary in a distantly respectful manner and treating him like a friend.

In the immediate sense, none of this seems especially significant. Ozdemir was not beaten up by the security guards. His inability to have breakfast at his hotel is hardly the greatest injustice known to man. But when we look not at what damage was done in the moment, but rather at what the melodrama of the missed breakfast shows about larger political developments, it starts to take on a much greater significancefor it is only the latest in a series of incidents that showcase the ease with which both individuals and countries are selling out their democratic principles to extremist and autocratic leaders.

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Examples range from small to big and from thoughtless to deliberate.

There is the fact that the deputies of Fidesz, the party of the increasingly autocratic leader of Hungary, still remain a part of the mainstream European Peoples Party in the European Parliament. There is the fact that Germany is pushing ahead with Nord Stream 2, an oil pipeline that would allow Russia to deliver gas directly to Western Europe, making it much easier for Putin to apply military pressure on Ukraine. And there is the fact that, in return for assurance that they will do what they can to stop refugees from setting out across the Mediterranean Sea, European nations are propping up dictatorships in Turkey, Libya, and beyond.

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Nor is the bad behavior limited to national governments. When I was in New York City for a big international conference a few months ago, I stared in horror as the assembled crowd of politicians and businessmen politely applauded Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkeys president, when he called the journalists he has jailed for criticizing his regime by the same moniker that his security guards later applied to Ozdemir: terrorists. And at the Munich Security Conference itself, the audience was mostly impassive as Mateusz Morawiecki, the Polish prime minister, dismissed a critical question about his countrys recent restrictions on talking about ways in which Poles had been complicit in the Holocaust by saying that there had been Jewish as well as Polish perpetrators.

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There is something to be said for being civil in the face of deep disagreement. The nature of international politics requires some amount of cooperation even with despotic regimes. If we are to contain the proliferation of nuclear weapons, or deal with climate change, to weaken jihadi terrorism, or broker an end to the worlds bloodiest wars, we will at times need to be able to sit across the table from people whose valuesand behaviorwe find abhorrent. When an important cause demands it, there is no shame in shaking a dictators hand.

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But while it would be foolish for top politicians to denounce members of the illiberal international each time they encounter them, there is a clear line between negotiating with an adversary in a distantly respectful manner and treating him like a friend. Though we must at times engage with people like Yildirim, that is, we should never go so far as to hide or to subvert our own principles. And if that means anything, it must, at the very least, require us to make it absolutely clear that we will not accept any limitations on the freedom of speech or movement of democratic politicians, especially in their own countries.

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In the United States, Donald Trump has focused the mind on what is lost when our political leaders seem to have a preference for autocrats over democratically elected allies. For good reason, the extent of his complicity with the Russian regime has been headline news nearly every day for the past year: A president who at best admires a dictator for his repressive tendencies and at worst is actually in his pocketor at his mercyis clearly a present threat to the survival of democratic institutions.

But the cartoonish nature of Trumps penchant for authoritarianism also conceals a much broader threat. For as the recent behavior of perfectly moderate European leaders and institutions shows, our freedoms arent just imperilled when politicians openly side with the enemies of democracy; they can also be lost when we are willing to sell out our principles to make a quick buck, to keep immigrants off our shoresor to avoid an embarrassing scene.
The Democrats are the minority party in Congress and they dont hold the presidency. They cant, on their own, pass legislation. What they can do is make noise. And while Im not a highly compensated political consultant who gets paid to come up with great slogans like Pokemon Go to the Polls, I do think that there might be some political and substantive benefit to making noise about how Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell did a solid for what we now officially know to have been an effort carried out by specific Russian operatives to destroy American power and credibility by screwing with the 2016 election. (It was a successful effort!)

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Here, if youve forgotten, is how a June 2017 Washington Post story describes McConnell having reacted when the Obama administration asked him in September 2016 to participate in a bipartisan announcement about what intelligence agencies already knew to be a Russian-directed propaganda and hacking attack:

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The Dems were, Hey, we have to tell the public,  recalled one participant. But Republicans resisted, arguing that to warn the public that the election was under attack would further Russias aim of sapping confidence in the system. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) went further, officials said, voicing skepticism that the underlying intelligence truly supported the White Houses claim.

An earlier Post piece reported, in fact, that McConnell 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. In other words, McConnell not only refused to condemn a foreign spy operation, he threatened to retaliate against his countrys efforts to defend itself. (McConnell has argued that a letter he later co-signed with other congressional leaders constituted an appropriate reaction to Russian meddling, but the letter in question literally did not use the word Russia.)

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Barack Obama deserves blame for deciding not to go forward with an aggressive response to Russia on his ownand honestly, for believing there was any chance in the first place that McConnell would have any interest in undermining foreign support for the Republican presidential candidate. But Mitch McConnell also deserves a lot of blame for being a craven hack who didnt defend his country when he had the chance. One might even argue that what he did was unpatriotic, and that it should disqualify him from continuing to serve as one of the governments most powerful figures.

But its doubtful that youll hear anything like that from the current, perpetually cautious class of Democratic leaders, who are at the moment paralyzed by the discovery that Donald Trump isnt participating honestly in bipartisan negotiations regarding DACA. The more things change 
Mitt Romney is finally going to Washington.

And Romney is going there on a mission: to bring Utahs values to the nations capital, he explained in a video last Friday kicking off his campaign to replace the retiring Orrin Hatch in the U.S. Senate.

A Senate campaign launched from Utah is neither the starting point, nor the D.C. destination that Romney had long envisioned. A decade ago, the former governor of Massachusetts had hoped to make a trek to the White House south from Boston, where he built his sizable fortune and national profile.

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But as Romney, the most famous Mormon in the world, might say, Heavenly Father had other plans. In the sleekly-produced video he released on Fridayfilled with sweeping scenes of Utahs rugged landscapeRomney defined the Utah values that he believes Washington lacks: balanced budgets and global entrepreneurism, personal responsibility, civility, and openness to (legal) immigrants.

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When Utah politicians speak of Utah values, they mean Mormon values. Romneys Mormon faith was certainly a liability during his two presidential campaigns. Now, as President Trump co-opts traditional conservatives and evangelicals, even some non-Mormons are hopeful that Romneys abiding faithwith its principles of religious tolerance and reverence for the Constitutionwill serve as a check on Trump and a bulwark to shore up democratic principles.

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For Romney, though, the Senate mission is personal. Service is a key component of Mormon missionary culture. And political service is a trait Romney inherited from both his father, George, who ran for president, and his mother, Lenore, who ran for the Senate. As the most prominent Mormon politician of his generation, Romney is running, in part, to safeguard his own legacy. That requires saving his church and his partythe two institutions Romney has dedicated his life tofrom the dangers of Trumpism.

Romney is fundamentally a Republican Party guy, a true believer in its principles, which he also truly believes are the best principles by which to govern the country, said Russell Arben Fox, a Mormon and political science professor at Friends University. Other Mormon politicians have been cowed by Trumps combative style and popularity with the Republican base. Romney assumes that with his reputation and talents hell be able swoop into Utahas he did in 2002 with the Salt Lake Olympicsand save the Republican Party from a total-Trump takeover.

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Before Trump, Mormon values also meant Republican values. As a presidential candidate, Romney seemed to embody both, calling for robust international engagement, a hard line on Russia, conservative political and personal comportment, broad deregulation of industry, and empathy and identification with the religiously marginalized and immigrants. Both strains of thought traced their roots to the exceptionalism of the American Constitution. When he said in 2012 that the Constitution was either inspired by God or written by brilliant people, or perhaps a combination of both, Romney was echoing Mormon teaching. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) has a deep and doctrinal devotion to the U.S. Constitution, which it considers to be divinely inspired.

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The first rumors of a possible Senator Romney, which began to swirl in April 2017, brought new life to the long-whispered White Horse Prophecy that combines this messianic constitutionalism with Mormon politics. Depending on whom you ask, the White Horse Prophecy holds either that Mormons will one day save the American constitutional system in its darkest hour, or that Mormons will overthrow American democracy to create a latter-day theocracy. The prophecy is attributed to Mormonisms founder, Joseph Smith Jr. In 1843, Smith purportedly told his followers that on the day when the Constitution of the United States is almost destroyed hang[ing] like a thread, out of the Rocky Mountains the great and mighty Mormon people will, like the White Horse of the Book of Revelation, rush east to save the Constitution.

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While the White Horse Prophecy itself is almost certainly apocryphal, Mormon leaders in the nineteenth century consistently taught, as Joseph Smiths successor Brigham Young did in 1868, if the Constitution of the United States is to be saved at all it must be done by this [Mormon] people. Likewise, in the twentieth century, LDS Church leaders as well as Mormon politicians continued to invoke the spirit of the prophecy, if not the prophecy itself. During his own presidential run, in 1967, George Romney explained that what Smith, Young, and other early LDS Church leaders meant in their prophecies about the Mormons special role in American political history: Sometime the question of whether we are going to proceed on the basis of the Constitution would arise and at this point government leaders who were Mormons would be involved in answering that question. Forty years later, as Mitt Romney positioned himself for a White House bid in 2007, he denied that the prophecy had anything to do with his own political aspirations or religious beliefs.

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Romneys forceful denunciation came in response to the virulent anti-Mormonism that helped derail his first presidential bid. After all, the negative attention Romneys campaign generated for the church, the LDS Church officially repudiated the prophecy in 2010. Mormon scholars downplay the prophecy as no more than a fun bit of Mormon folklore, as political scientist Russell Arben Fox put it to me. But like all folklore it reveals something about the culture from which it emerges. And for that reason, the prophecy has long functioned as a kind of metaphor, Fox said, helping to organize Mormon aspirations and ambitions for political service.

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The metaphor has taken on a new meaning in the Trump era. In the summer of 2016, Fox posted a tongue-in-cheek open letter to the Mormon Voters of the American West on the popular Mormon blog By Common Consent. Fox called on Mormon voters in Utah and Arizona to become the White Horse weve been waiting for by rejecting Trump. In October 2017, in a letter in the White Mountain Independent, the Navajo County Chair of the Democratic Party Eric Kramer wrote that Arizona Senator Jeff Flake had unsaddled his mount by not seeking reelection as a forceful voice against Trumpism. Others see a more literal opportunity to fulfill the prophecy. If the House were to impeach the president, then Romney could be in a position to marshal Republican opposition during a trial against him, including, hypothetically, a crucial bloc of Mormon senators.



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In the meantime, though, Romney has a more urgent mission. Much to the chagrin of leaders like Flake and Romney, a recent Gallup survey indicated that Mormons currently support Trump at higher rates than any other religious group in the country. Sixty-one percent of Mormons now approve of Trumps job performance. Thats up considerably from the 45 percent Trump won in Utah in 2016thanks in large part to the third-party candidacy of Never Trumper Evan McMullin. Mormon support for Trump may be soft and malleable, as Justin Dyer, a political scientist from Brigham Young University, recently wrote, and it may have more to do with Mormons loyalty to the GOP brand and its politics than it does with affinity for Trump.

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But those numbers also point to a softening in Trumps favor, too, one that follows the lead of some prominent Mormon leaders. Like other elected Republicans, Mormon officials have largely caved after some initial opposition to Trump, including former Never Trump Mormons like John Curtis, who replaced Jason Chaffetz in the House, as well as the man Romney seeks to replace in the Senate, Orrin Hatch. Hatch, who backed Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio during the 2016 primary, predicted in December that the Trump presidency will become the greatest we have seen, not only in generations, but maybe ever.

Romney, who once referred to the future president as a phony, a fraud, and said his promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University, has been quieter in the run-up to his Senate campaign. In his kick-off video on Friday, Romney never mentioned Trump by name. The most direct jab at Trumpism, which doubled as a reference to Mormonism, was Romneys declaration, Utah welcomes legal immigrants from around the world [while] Washington sends immigrants a message of exclusion. Since Romneys campaign launch, McKay Coppins and other Romney watchers have reported that, at least as a candidate, Romney plans to avoid direct confrontations with Trump. Trump seems to be trying to mend fences too. After he failed to convince Hatch to stay in the Senate, the president offered Romney a Twitter endorsement on Monday night, saying he will make a great Senator and worthy successor. Romney thanked him for the support.

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Romneys anti-Trumpism may be dormant, but it isnt dead. The fact that Romney is at once Americas most famous Never Trumper, the worlds most recognizable Mormon, and the face of the pre-Trump GOP, has won him support across the political spectrum in Utah. The number of Mormons in Utah who have celebrated Mitt Romneys criticism of President Trump in the past, and who have publicly taken similar stands themselves, seems to suggest that they will welcome that kind of independence from Romney, said J.B. Haws, a history professor at Brigham Young University. According to Haws, Romney and other Mormons find in the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, as well as semi-canonical proclamations from church authorities clearly-explicated reverence for the Constitution and for ideals that stress that good government hinges on peoples choices, on the involvement of honest-hearted people.

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To Romney, his mere presence in the Senatemore than any policy issuewill set an example for what Mormon politics, and the Republican Party, could and should be in the era after Trump. Perhaps, as Romneys own father suggested in 1967 and others have echoed since, the saving of the republic comes not from some dramatic act but the steady commitment of those committed to protecting American democracy. I have faith that the Constitution will be saved as prophesied by Joseph Smith, said then-church president Ezra Taft Benson in 1987. It will be saved by the righteous citizens of this nation who love and cherish freedom. It will be saved by enlightened members of this Churchamong othersmen and women who understand and abide the principles of the Constitution.
Jared Kushners business dealings have drawn the attention of special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, according to a report CNN made Monday.

Muellers probe, which includes any matters that arose or directly may arise from his inquiry into Russian election meddling, previously focused on Kushners contacts with Russia. However, the CNN report says the special counsels team has been asking as of late about Kushners interactions with Chinese and Qatari investors during the presidential transition, when he was soliciting financial support for 666 Fifth Ave. The Manhattan property, which Kushner Companies purchased in 2007, is more than $1.4 billion in debt. However, CNN reported that neither Mueller nor his team had reached out to Kushner Companies for interviews or information.

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Kushner, who is a senior adviser in the White House, divested from 666 Fifth Ave. in January 2017. Following the publication of the CNN scoop, his lawyer, Abbe Lowell, stated, In all of Mr. Kushners extensive cooperation with all inquiries, there has not been a single question asked nor document sought on the 666 building or Kushner Co. deals. Nor would there be any reason to question these regular business transactions.

The new angle from which Mueller is examining Kushners meetings with foreigners isnt the only one of the first son-in-laws problems. Kushner still has interim security clearance, likely due to the numerous revisions he made to his security clearance questionnaire to include foreign contacts. But beginning this week, White House chief of staff John Kelly will cut off access to top-secret information for some employees whose security clearances have been pending since June 1 or longer, per a Washington Post report. This change in policy could impact Kushners array of duties in the White House. But should Kushner lose access, dont mourn too much: He wasnt qualified for his job in the first place.
Robert Muellers special counsel office has indicted a former employee of the high-powered New Yorkbased law-firm Skadden Arps for lying to investigators, a document filed in federal court indicates. The attorney, Alex Van Der Zwaan, is expected to plead guilty to the chargeswhich concern statements he made regarding his work on a 2012 report for Ukrainian clients that former Trump campaign staffer Rick Gates was also connected toon Tuesday afternoon. (Gates has been in the news recently because he is reportedly preparing to plead guilty to charges Mueller has already filed against him related to the work that he and former Trump campaign director Paul Manafort did in Ukraine.) Little else seems to be known at this point about Van Der Zwaan or his case; the initial CNN and New York Times pieces about his indictment were only four and three paragraphs long, respectively. More to come, presumably!

Update, 12: 15 p.m.: Both outlets now have more detail, reporting that Manafort and Gates employed Skadden attorneys, including Van Der Zwaan, in order to produce a report about a rival of their client Victor Yanukovych, who was at the time the president of Ukraine. Van Der Zwaan is accused of lying to investigators about 2016 conversations he had with Gates and another unnamed individual about the report and of seeking to hide emails exchanged with the unnamed individual.
On this weeks episode of my podcast, I Have to Ask, I spoke to Steven Pinker, a professor of psychology at Harvard and author of the new book Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress. It follows up on his controversial best-seller The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined, which offered a sweeping account of why Pinker believes the present is better than the past.*

Below is an edited transcript of the show. In it, we discuss why people have so much trouble with the notion of progress, whether global warming and nuclear weapons invalidate his thesis, and just how much of a threat Donald Trump and other demagogues are to our future.

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You can find links to every episode here; the entire audio interview is below. Please subscribe to I Have to Ask wherever you get your podcasts.

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Isaac Chotiner: What is it that you think we misunderstand about our current moment in relation to our past?

Steven Pinker: The heart of the book is a set of graphs showing that measures of human well-being have improved over time. Contrary to the impression that you might get from the newspapersthat were living in a time of epidemics and war and crimethe curves show that humanity has been getting better, that were living longer, we are fighting fewer wars, and fewer people are being killed in the wars. Our rate of homicide is down. Violence against women is down. More children are going to school, girls included. More of the world is literate. We have more leisure time than our ancestors did. Diseases are being decimated. Famines are becoming rarer, so virtually anything that you could measure that youd want to call human well-being has improved over the last two centuries, but also over the last couple of decades.

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What do you want to get across other than, Things are better? Are you just trying to set the record straight, or are you trying to get us to think differently about the way things are now?

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No, Im absolutely trying to get people to think differently.

I put the facts of progress in the context of the ideas that made it possible, because one has to ask, Why have things been getting better? Does the universe contain some mystical force or arc bending toward justice or dialectic that just make things better and better over time? The answer is, Surely not. I attribute it to particular ideas and values that came in around the time of the Enlightenment and the second half of the 18th century, and when they were embraced, they made progress possible in the past, and therefore if we embrace them now, theyll make future progress possible.

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These ideals I boil down to reason, science, and humanism. Reasonthat we should apply rationality to analyzing our situation and our problems as opposed to dogma, authority, charisma, gut feelings. Sciencewe should consult our best understanding of reality rather than superstition and folklore. And humanismthat we should prioritize the well-being of sentient beings, especially human beings, rather than the glory of the nation or the spread of the faith or the triumph of a race or ethnic group.

One critique of your book and your last book is essentially that its a way of making people who are in positions of power or wealthy people now feel good about where we are. Your book has gotten great praise from Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg. A friend of mine proposed I ask that, if we were looking back 115 years, and someone said that the richest people in the countrythe Rockefeller typeshad said that some book about our current moment was really speaking to reality and what was correct and so on, we would probably look back on that with a certain bit of a jaundiced eye. There is something that we should be skeptical of the fact that people like Gates or Zuckerberg would feel so positively about this book that its somehow understating aspects of reality, maybe, that we dont want to pay attention to.

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It doesnt seem like much of an argumentthat is, if Bill Gates likes it, then that suggests that maybe its not right. I dont really see the logic of the objection, and Gates does deserve credit because unlike philanthropists of the past, he didnt just use his fortune to get the naming rights of concert halls, but applied a humanistic ethic, namely, How would this fortune go the furthest in making the most people better off? He decided that combating infectious disease in the developing world would bring the greatest human life and happiness for the amount of money that was available. There are a lot of other things he could have done with the money.

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Im not trying to say that Gates is a bad person. You write in the book, for example, Notwithstanding the habitual self-flagellation by Western intellectuals about Western racism, its non-Western countries that are the least tolerant. It does seem that one of the things that youre trying to do in the book is say that self-flagellation is something that is not great, that were maybe too hard on ourselves.

This gets to the Gates and Zuckerberg question. Wherever you think we are in relationship to where we were 100 years ago or 1,000 years ago, it does seem you can take two approaches to that. One is that things are getting better and we should celebrate it, and the other is that no, we really should be flagellating ourselves no matter what the circumstances were 100 years ago, because there are still so many problems with the world.

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There are problems with the world, but self-flagellation doesnt make the problems any better. If I feel guilty about poverty in the developing world, and I flagellate myself, I havent saved any lives. I havent fed any children. We should analyze problems and solve them. I think the mindset behind the question is: Arent rich people bad, and arent we compelled to condemn rich people and condemn the status quo? I do argue against that because that doesnt make anyone better off.

I was not trying to imply that what Zuckerberg or Gates likes means its not good or that we should be going after rich people for liking a book or for being rich in and of itself. I was trying to get at the larger attitude that we take to these things. Its interesting that you said that you dont think self-flagellation brings things about. Im not sure that thats not true. I think that the self-flagellation that we see in Western societies, because the quote I was reading was about Western societies, about racism or misogyny probably has had a role in helping ameliorate them.

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Certainly, just as individuals, we have to be self-critical. As a society, we must be self-critical as well  which, in practice, means flagellating other people in your society. There arent that many people who say, Im a racist or a sexist. Theyre basically condemning all the other guys in their society, but simply confessing, flagellating, putting on hair shirts, making conspicuous sacrifices, that helps our social capital in our peer group. It doesnt make other people better off. It doesnt cure disease. It doesnt topple tyrants. The point of propelling moral progress is obviously not to accept the status quo, but its to identify problems and identify the solution to the problems, not to identify villains and flagellate the villains. That is a difference.

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By the way, the comment about the self-flagellation of the West pertains specifically to a set of worldwide opinion polls where the citizens of various countries were polled in terms of whether they believe in gender equality, whether they believe in rights for religious and racial minorities, and it was simply the fact that its actually the Western societies that are the least prejudiced, and there are actually countries like India where people have contempt for those of other faiths. Its not an excuse for the racism and ethnocentrism that remains, but a diagnosis that says that this is a peculiar problem of the West is just factually wrong. This is, I think, part of human nature that we tend to disrespect groups other than our own, and it is one of the gifts of the Enlightenment that we are pushing back against that. By the way, its all countries that are improving. Just some have gone further than others.

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A lot of people think the two biggest threats to the steadily improving (even if insufficient) progress weve been making are nuclear weapons and global warming. Nuclear weapons are something that weve made via scientific ingenuity, and global warming is a result of many things, but one of them is economic growth and modernizing societies. I think that you and I would both agree that theyre both existential threats to everyone. How do you fit them into your larger idea about science and progress and what theyve offered the world?

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All countries are improving. Just some have gone further than others.  Stephen Pinker

The extraction of energy, mainly via fossil fuels, has until now been an enormous boon to humankind. It has led to the abolition of slavery, to the emancipation of women, to the education of children, to lengthening lifespans, to richer experiences, but obviously it cant continue in the way it has through massive burning of fossil fuels. Its true that if, in 100 years time, the planet is despoiled because no one did anything to curb greenhouse gas emissions and just continued with business as usual, then at that point you can raise the philosophical question: Would we have been better off if we stayed in a lifestyle of the middle ages, had a life expectancy of 30, and a literacy rate of 10 percent, but at least we wouldnt have had global warming? I dont know how you would answer that question, but were not at the point at which that question has to be answered.

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Likewise, if there was a nuclear holocaust, then whoever survived it, looking back, can raise the question: Was it all worth it? But I dont think were at the point where we have to pose the question in that way. I think were at the point where we have to say: Having enjoyed the benefits of science and technology, how do we avert these potential catastrophes? How do we decarbonize? How do we denuclearize? [We should] put our rhetorical energy into correcting a course that we could go on if were not sufficiently aware of it.

It seems to me that the threat of global warming, even if it hasnt realized its worst potential yet, is scary enough and bad enough and theres a possibility that it could lead to such catastrophic outcomes that it does feel like even if we dont want to judge individual people 100 or 1,000 years ago, it does seem like maybe we should change how we think about the notion of progress a little bit.

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It clearly requires some changes, but the change that it requires, at least so I argue in the fairly extensive discussion of climate change that I have in the book, is that we have to figure out how to get the greatest human benefit with the least environmental cost. In particular, the least emission of greenhouse gases. In fact negative emission [of greenhouse gases], because weve got to pull some of that CO2 out of the atmosphere at some point during this century. The way to deal with it is not to say, Was progress a big mistake? because I think that just doesnt give us a way to go forward. It leads to what are probably imponderable questions, but rather, how do we continue a process that has already begun of extracting energy from the universe with less carbon emissions?

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To turn to nuclear weapons, I dont know what the odds are of a full-scale nuclear war. I dont know if India and Pakistan are going to go to war, or the United States and North Korea, but it does seem like, again, that weve put ourselves in a position where the unthinkably awful is possible, and that whether the contingency plays out, its worth thinking about how we think about what progress is, because weve put ourselves in such a huge threat. It does seem like that should call into question a little bit how we think about progress.

It does. I would say that the invention of nuclear weapons has been our species biggest blunder, and probably occurred as a result of a number of historical contingencies surrounding World War II. Namely, we rushed to develop them before the Nazis did, and its quite possible that if there was no Hitler, thered be no nuclear weapons today. But at the extreme end of the unpleasant-to-think-of contingencies, there is the fear of nuclear winter or at least nuclear autumn. I mean, that would be close to the existential threat. There are horrific but not species-ending scenarios, such as an exchange of a few nuclear weapons, which would be unspeakably awful but not even necessarily worse than some of the atrocities that our species has gone through in the past, like the European wars of religion and the conquests of Genghis Khan. So yes, at the extreme end, theres a kind of damage that we never had to deal with in the past that is nuclear winter, and then there are a number of other possibilities that are horrific but not existential and clearly we ought to prioritize avoiding.

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In that regard, Im not saying that we should accept the historical course or the trajectory that were on, particularly the trajectory that has recently been bent by the current Trump administration, that this very much should be publicized more than it is. In the last presidential election, for example, it figured pretty much not at all, and instead there was enormous discussion of relative trivialities like terrorism, police shootings, email servers, economic inequalityall of which are issues, but compared to the threat of nuclear war, theyre less consequential. I would like to see a greater discussion of our nuclear strategy, our nuclear posture, our nuclear weapons trajectory.

What would falsify your argument in your mind? If nuclear war broke out, and the conditions were horrific everywhere, would you say, Oh, I attribute part of that to Enlightenment thinking and our focus on science? Or would you say that that was actually a betrayal of it?

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Its some of each. The knowhow to wreak that destruction was clearly a product of science, but the value system that allowed it to happen would be the most flagrant contradiction one could imagine of humanism. That was certainly the historical genesis in the ideology of Nazism, which is pretty much the opposite of humanism, and seeking the glory of the race over the interests of individual people and of the various escalations and saber-rattling and conflicts over territory and ideology that would have taken the world to that place.

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We are a country that likes to think that it was impacted by Enlightenment ideas and has used those ideas to prosper and become the richest, most powerful country on Earth. Has Trumps election shaken you in any way about how you view America and our embrace of those ideas? I ask about Trump specifically because he himself is such a rejection of them in so many ways in terms of who he is as a person, almost to an unimaginable degree, which I think is part of the reason why people were so shocked, myself included, that he won.

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Yes. In many ways, the United States is not at the forefront of the Enlightenment project, even though the American Declaration of Independence and Constitution were the earliest and greatest gifts of the Enlightenment. The United States was conceived as an Enlightenment nation, but it always entertained counter-Enlightenment forces of cultures of honor; of manly self-defense; of a kind of millennial, quasi-religious, messianic role of the United States in particular as the indispensable nation, the city upon the hillboth very counter-Enlightenment notions. Trump himself is quite obviously an exponent of counter-Enlightenment ideas. This was most obvious when he was influenced by Steve Bannon, who explicitly cited some crackpot European fascists of the first decades of the 20th century who almost set themselves in opposition to the Enlightenment. Many of Trumps themes, such as nationalism, such as the racialism that is always lurking behind his comments, such as a withdrawal from international cooperation, such as protectionism as opposed to international commercethese are all deeply counter-Enlightenment ideas.

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Trump himself is quite obviously an exponent of counter-Enlightenment ideas.  Stephen Pinker

It was for me in the course of writing the bookand the Trump election occurred in the middle of the process. It certainly represented a bigger pushback of counter-Enlightenment forces than I would have liked to see in terms of the progression of history. It didnt shock me in the sense that I didnt believe that the West or the United States had ever been all in for Enlightenment values. There had always been a tension between Enlightenment and counter-Enlightenment values, but I have to admit that I did not expect him to be elected, and I did not expect the counter-Enlightenment pushback to be as successful as it was.

The sort of counter-Enlightenment pushback, as you call it, which we see with Trump and we see varieties of it throughout Europe, and we see varieties of it through the Middle East and South Asia and East Asia and all around the world, to what extent are you worried about that as a serious, long-term threat to the progress that youre detailing? Or do you see it as unlikely to be more than a hiccup?

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I think I would see this somewhere between a hiccup and a reversal. The fact that authoritarian populists have gained control of a number of countries, including the United States, is certainly worrisome, and indeed, real damage could be done. The nuclear war being the most obvious example, but also a corroding of the system of international norms that deserves much of the credit for reducing warfare, a pushback against democracy, and all of the other threats that were all too well-aware of. The long-term trajectorythere are some forces that are pushing back against it. One of them is sheer demographics. Authoritarian populism is far more popular among old people than young people. It drops off like a cliff. I have a graph in the book that plots support for Trump, for European populism, and for Brexit, and all three curves are kind of cliff-shaped, where millennials just have not fallen in love with populism in the way that aging baby boomers and silent generation types have.

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Thats one reason to suspect that over the long term, this is not the wave of the future. The other is that there really has been a process spanning many decades, at least 50 years, of liberalization across the world. This is something thats visible in the World Values Survey, where every generation has become more tolerant than the one that preceded it. The progress has been uneven across regions of the world. Theres just no question that Western Europe is more liberal than the Middle East and North Africa, but the tide has lifted all the boats so that a twentysomething in the Arab world today is in many ways more liberal than a Swede in the early 1960s, as hard as that is to believe. Now, thats a force that has been pushed along by affluence, by education, by connectivity, by mobility, but all of the cosmopolitan forces of modernity, to the extent that this is a real process, its unlikely to go into reverse overnight.  In general, younger people, more connected people, better educated people just dont subscribe to the same kind of racism and sexism and homophobia and nationalism as their elders.

You dont think thats a change that will happen with generations in the sense that when the millennials become 75, theyre going to be complaining about immigrants coming over or whatever it is?

Yes, right, like the old saying that if youre not a socialist at 25, then you have no heart, and if you are a socialist at 55, you have no head. No one knows who said it first, but its attributed to many people. It turns out to be false as a demographic fact about attitudes. It is not the case that as people get older, they get steadily more conservative. So its much more likely that people carry their values with them as they age and that as one cohort replaces another, the population as a whole shifts.
After neglecting to mention guns in his remarks on the Parkland school shooting, President Trump signaled his support for legislation that would strengthen background checks. The president had previously suggested mass shootings could be resolved primarily through addressing mental health.

The president is supportive of efforts to improve the federal background check system, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders wrote in a statement reported by the Washington Post. She added that on Friday, Trump had spoken with Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn about legislation the Texas senator had introduced in the wake of the Sutherland Springs shooting.

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Cornyn cosponsored The Fix NICS Act of 2017 with Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat who is an outspoken advocate for gun control. While Sanders said revisions are being considered, the bill in its current form would create incentives for states to report criminal infractions to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, hold federal agencies accountable for submitting criminal records to NICS, and create a Domestic Abuse and Violence Prevention Initiative to encourage states upload domestic violence records. (Many mass shooters have a history of domestic abuse.)

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Interesting morning. Two quick thoughts: 1/ Trump's support for the FixNICS Act, my bill with @JohnCornyn, is another sign the politics of gun violence are shifting rapidly. 2/ No one should pretend this bill alone is an adequate response to this epidemic.  Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) February 19, 2018

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Its no coincidence that Cornyn, who received more money from the National Rifle Association during the 2014 election cycle than any other Republican senator, supported this bill after Sutherland Springs; Devin Kelley, the gunman responsible for the church shooting, had a domestic violence record that should have barred him from buying a rifle in the first place, but the Air Force had failed to enter his court-martial into the federal database. The NRA even tweeted support for Cornyns bill, but at the time of the shooting, Trump opposed the idea of vetting would-be gun buyers, arguing that mental health, and not access to firearms, was the underlying issue.

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Trumps support of background check legislationwhich passed in the House when merged with the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, an NRA darlingcomes after a weekend of sustained activism from the student survivors of the Parkland shooting, who have been speaking out on social media, making appearances on Sunday television, and announcing a March for Our Lives protest. It was a smart strategy to reach our cable news-loving president, whom the Washington Post reports asked Mar-a-Lago guests what stance he should take on gun control and told them hed been watching the students television appearances.

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Florida shooting survivors announce March For Our Lives on March 24 in support of gun control: "We've been hearing is that it's not the yet time to talk about gun control...so here's the time we're going to talk about gun control, March 24." pic.twitter.com/jWG9ZbXoy2  BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) February 18, 2018

While Murphy and Cornyns bill has bipartisan backing, gun control efforts have stalled after other mass shootings. And while it doesnt erase his widely lambasted initial response to the shooting, from turning the tragedy into yet another attempt to criticize the FBIs Russia probe to thumbs-up photo-ops, at least Trumps support of improved background checks is an incremental step towards progress. In the words of Parkland student David Hogg, speaking on NBC News Meet the Press, This is not the time for inaction and debate.  By this point, its unacceptable.
After special counsel Robert Mueller charged 13 people associated with the Russian troll farm known as the Internet Research Agency with conspiracy to interfere in the 2016 election, it didnt take long for known Russian Twitter bots to try to muddy the news cycles watersjust as they helped do as part of the very propaganda campaign Mueller describes in his indictment.

By early Saturday morning, seven of the top 10 trending topics of a collection of 600 Twitter accounts that are known to be linked to Russiaincluding openly pro-Russian users, accounts that take part in Russian disinformation campaigns, and automated bot accounts that parrot Kremlin messagingwere about Muellers indictment. Those topics included Indictment, Rosenstein, Rod, Rod Rosenstein, allegation, 13, and meddling, according to a dashboard maintained by the Alliance for Securing Democracy, a project of the German Marshall Fund, that monitors these accounts. Mueller was the top hashtag on Saturday, and by Tuesday morning, the top trending hashtag had evolved to trumpcolluded.

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Russian bots and fake accounts are tweeting furiously about the Mueller indictment right now, because of course they are pic.twitter.com/araRXYVG9k  april glaser (@aprilaser) February 17, 2018

Why is this still happening? With Russian troll accounts continuing to attempt to influence American political conversationseven after the company claims to have purged nearly 4,000 Russia-linked disinformation accounts and more than 50,000 bots total from its platformit appears Twitter still hasnt adequately dealt with its bot problem. Twitter and peers like Facebook and YouTube have focused on accounts from one troll operation, the Internet Research Agency, the same one at the heart of Muellers indictment. The accounts that are continuing to tweet could either be IRA accounts that Twitter hasnt identified as such, or could come from a different operation. Wherever they come from, theyre not taking a break, even when ostensibly under the microscope of the U.S. government.

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Twitters had a bot problem for years, but since Donald Trump won the presidency, calls for the company to do something about it have grown louder as politicians began to zero in on the role social media companies played in unwittingly facilitating Russian attempts at meddling in the 2016 election. And while Twitter says it has taken measures to start to rein in its bot infestation, like by detecting coordinated tweet timing and updating its CAPTCHA-like system for ensuring a human is in control of accounts, recent research from Indiana University and the University of Southern California estimates as much as 15 percent of Twitter accounts are bots.

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Though the indictment is largely focused on how operatives from the Internet Research Agency instrumentalized U.S. social media companies to attempt to stoke divisions in relation to the 2016 election, theres no doubt that Russia-backed agents have a much broader interest in trying to amplify social and political discord across the countrys most contentious issues. After the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, the same dashboard revealed Russia-linked accounts had pivoted to tweeting with the hashtags Guncontrolnow and ParklandShooting. Likewise, after the deadly white nationalist Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, last August, Russian bots and troll accounts joined the conversation, too.

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Its not easy to tell if an account is real or automated or controlled by a foreign agent on Twitter. According to the indictment, the Internet Research Agency regularly made social media accounts with real peoples photos and names and included content penned by large teams of writers. In other words, these troll accounts are designed to deceive. So while its true that American social media users probably need to start learning some telltale signs for spotting trolls, the companies that give them a place to thrive, like Twitter and Facebook, need to toughen up too. If they dont, the confusion that dogged the 2016 election may well make an unwelcome return this November.
Getting a leg up on the competition in the home improvement business can be tough. Small Business Trends spoke with Dave Yoho, the Founder and President of Dave Yoho Associates, a consulting company thats been representing small businesses since 1962.

Differentiating Your Home Improvement Business

Yoho shared some tips on how a small home improvement contracting business can stand out in any crowded marketplace.

Talk with Clients

Theres more to being different than offering free estimates and the lowest price, Yoho says. One of the ways that contractors can differentiate themselves is to establish a personal connection by talking with clients about their specific needs.

If someone doesnt recognize the value people put on their personal time, theyre going to do what everyone else does, he says suggesting this kind of connection adds a personal touch that adds depth to advertising and special offers.

Contractors need to be able to deal with the people that contact them so they can get something out of it, Yoho says, adding the example of roofing contractors telling a prospect about the average lifespan of shingles in their area.

Listen to Clients

Of course, listening to any prospects is just as important. When they start talking about remodeling a basement and you interrupt them to talk about the high-quality drywall you use, theyll lump you in with all the others who use high pressure sales tactics.

When youre listening to them talk, youll get to understand what their needs are.

Pay Attention to Cycle Times

You need to give customers accurate estimated completion times for jobs. In the home improvement industry, there are many variables like weather that can affect this. Yoho stresses contractors need to be organized so they have accurate cycle times to get the job done on time. That way, the client is happy, everyone gets paid and the business gets a great reputation.

He uses the example of a window replacement project.

It might take six weeks from the day you sell it to the day you complete it, he says. The work year might have 48 weeks with holidays and bad weather.

Dividing those numbers gives you a cycle timethe number of days you need to complete the project factoring in all your operating costs.

Its a simple formula to make your business more efficient and credible.

See Also: 4 Powerful Marketing Tips for Your Small Business

Find a Smaller Target Market

Narrowing down the area you work in as a home improvement contractor is a great way to separate yourself from the competition. One way to do this is to geographically tag any of the keywords you use on your website or in social media.

For example, if you use a keyword like bathroom renovations you can narrow down your market by adding a location so it reads Philadelphia bathroom renovations. Using a technique like this helps you to build stronger client relationships in a more condensed area.

Look at Your Structure

If youre bogged down with an inefficient supply chain or bookkeeping system thats not right for your home improvement business, youll have no time to work on differentiating yourself.

Thats why Yoho suggests a smaller firm in this space standing head and shoulders above the competition always needs to be looking toward improvements across the company.

That goes for the installation crew, the sales crew and even the people working in the office, Yoho says, cautioning against just using tried and true methods because they work.

Keeping open minded can give you an edge. Getting employee input at a weekly meeting is a good start.
As a philanthropist and award winning television host of shows like Trading Spaces and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Ty Pennington has a proven track record of motivating people. Thats why Small Business Trends was happy to interview him and learn what he thought was the biggest challenge facing a small business.

People who have small businesses are focused on what their passion is. They dont always know what its like to try and market or the best way to accomplish that goal with their brand, he said. Pennington will be co hosting the third season of the web series Small Business Revolution  Main Street. He says finding a team that can focus on branding for you can revolutionize the way you look at your business and help to revitalize a small town thats struggling at the same time.

Small Business Revolution-Main Street

Business Services

Small Business Revolution  Main Street is sponsored by Deluxe, a company that offers a variety of small business services. The show brings small town community leaders, experts and business professionals together to help small towns and smaller enterprises there. Over the first two seasons, small businesses in Indiana and Pennsylvania got help with business and marketing advice as well as physical improvements totaling $500,000.

Voting for the third seasons winner in underway here

Amanda Brinkman stars in Small Business Revolution  Main Street and shes also the executive producer of the show. She told Small Business Trends shes seen a few areas that challenge small businesses success.

Know Your Numbers

Weve seen two things. First is their finances. Knowing their numbers and what their numbers are telling them is important, she says adding the second big challenge is staying on top of and understanding the technology curves that help small business owners get the most from digital innovations.

A lot of people didnt start a business because they couldnt wait to build a website or use email marketing to stay in front of their customers, she says.

As well as working on the upcoming season of Small Business Revolution  Main Street, Penningtons flagship show, Trading Spaces, is set to come back on air on the TLC network in April.
Robert Gilpin, R.I.P. - The Washington Post : His greatest book was written in 1981, but the main theory in it is perhaps more trenchant now...
Art train to connect Bratislava and Vienna

The project recalling the legendary tram connecting the two capitals lying closest to one another in Europe, allows the Slovak and Austrian art scenes to join forces aboard trains.

More information about travelling in Slovakia

Please see our Please see our Spectacular Slovakia travel guide

The Slovak and Austrian art scenes will come together via the TRAM project. The art will be displayed in the railway carriages of regular trains travelling between Bratislava and Vienna from February until November with the aim of rousing passengers from the banality of the everyday and leading them towards critical thinking.

The regular train connection between the Main Railway Stations of Wien (Vienna) and Bratislava, travelling 11 times a day, will show interesting art groupings or performers (theatre-makers, musicians, writers), the TASR newswire wrote on February 11.

The name of the project, TRAM, aims to remind people of the old electric tram which connected the Slovak and Austrian capitals from 1914 onwards. Vienna inhabitants travelled to Bratislava to have a coffee or to visit the opera. Bratislavans rode to Vienna for the same purpose, spokesman of the Slovak railway company Zeleznicna Spolocnost Slovensko (ZSSK) Tomas Kovac informed TASR.

Trains connecting art and people

The railway provided not just culture but was also an ideal means to connect people, Austrian Ambassador to Slovakia Helfried Carl said, as cited by the organisers. In the commemorative year 2018, the TRAM project should remind passengers traveling between Bratislava and Vienna that we have a common memory, and a common European future.

The mission of TRAM is to support cultural mobility, but also to offer non-traditional art events to passengers, enriching them with surprising encounters with contemporary art, the organisers suggest. It should also boost the ties between the Austrian and Slovak art scenes. Artists of both nationalities were asked to create positive obstacles for passengers, to shake them out of the humdrum and make their train ride something special, according to the curator of the project and head of the Curatorial Studies Institute, Juraj Carny.

What is planned for the TRAM project

Not just the interior and the contents, but also the exterior of the art train will be changed by the Train Cover Project, created by Polish artist Marta Kopyt.

TRAM will bring provide exhibitions of contemporary art, a music festival performed by buskers, a theatre festival or a festival of performance, as well as debates, presentations and lectures, including non-hosted debates between the passengers.

Presidents meet on the train

Slovak President Andrej Kiska and his Austrian counterpart Alexander Van der Bellen in Vienna launched the TRAM project on February 19, the unconventional gallery of contemporary art featured on the train line.

The two presidents signed the trains carriages and agreed that the project is a symbolic expression of the friendly relations and strong ties between Austria and Slovakia.

Forging even closer bilateral ties, the position of the Visegrad Four (V4) Group (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia), its perception in Austria and Austrian family benefits were issues discussed by both presidents.

The presidents also touched on the Austrian governments plan to cut benefits for the children of foreigners working in Austria when the children live abroad.

In terms of indexing family benefits, we consider it unfair to have people working in Austria and contributing to its social system without being able to enjoy the same benefits of that social system, Kiska said, as quoted by TASR.

The project was initiated by the Austrian Embassy in Bratislava and implemented thanks to cooperation between Slovak and Austrian rail companies.

video //www.youtube.com/embed/sRmQLJAwOYA

20. Feb 2018 at 23:07 | Compiled by Spectator staff
It is encouraging that more and more companies based in Slovakia are starting to realize that it is also possible to shape EU policies from a small country like Slovakia and use the services of government affairs specialists for this purpose.

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When Slovakia became independent 25 years ago, it was just a matter of time before the profession of government affairs appeared. However, it took some years for this to happen. The necessary environment for professional government affairs services was formed during the first government of Mikulas Dzurinda (1998-2002), which launched an ambitious reform agenda. The privatization process started to attract the interest of multinational companies in investing in Slovakia. This period was very hectic and many new laws were passed in a relatively short period of time.

Another important milestone for further development of government affairs services came with the EU pre-accession process, which was characterized by adoption of a massive volume of new EU legislation and the creation of new regulatory authorities.

It was the multinational companies which first started to use the services of government affairs professionals. They were familiar with these services from their headquarters and, as many of them were listed on stock exchanges, they had to behave ethically and do business professionally.

When Slovakia joined the European Union, the business sector was full of expectations. Many companies created specialized EU Affairs Departments. Some even opened offices in Brussels. A number of companies invested in training their staff on EU-related matters. It was believed that working with the Slovak government would not make sense any more as most of the legislation would just be adopted at the EU level and simply translated to Slovak.

However, as time has passed, a growing euro-scepticism became noticeable as did criticism of Brussels in the business community in Slovakia. Much of this was rooted in an inability to understand how Brussels works and how to influence or even communicate with EU institutions. One of the most challenging aspects was to understand how to influence Brussels from Slovakia via the Slovak government. We are entering a new period in which the member states are more influential than ever before in the decision-making processes in the EU.

What has changed for government affairs professionals in Slovakia?

Twenty-five years later the clients of government affairs firms are still largely multinational and international companies entering the Slovak market. They understand and value these services, as they realize that they are critical for a companys efforts to set the right expectations and strategy in the new market. Clients of government affairs firms are mostly interested in political and regulatory monitoring and political/business intelligence gathering.

On the other hand, as government administration is becoming more professional, there is also a growing interest from Slovak companies, particularly from heavily-regulated sectors, in such professional services. For them, the most desired service is legislative lobbying. Unfortunately, many of them still only turn to a professional government agency at the very last stage of the legislation process (often during the second or third reading), when it is impossible to assist them in a professional and meaningful way.

It is encouraging that more and more companies based in Slovakia are starting to realize that it is also possible to shape EU policies from a small country like Slovakia and use the services of government affairs specialists for this purpose. Slovakia has the same voice as any other member state, and, at expert level meetings at the Council, our government representatives, assuming they have the necessary skills and knowledge, can have a real influence on the final versions of legislative proposals. They are also starting to realize that one Slovak member of the European Parliament (of 13), assuming they are a rapporteur/member of a relevant parliamentary committee and have the necessary political skills to gain support from fellow members, can influence the final outcome of legislation.

According to a recent study conducted at companies using government affairs services at the EU level, demand for these services will increase by around 50 percent over the next two to three years. As EU and national decision-making is becoming more complex, the need for professional management of stakeholders increases. The growth of political instability and populism will strongly influence this business in the future.

Patrik Zoltvany is Co-founder & Senior Partner at FIPRA Slovakia

Originally published in Connection, the magazine published by AmCham Slovakia

20. Feb 2018 at 12:30 | Patrik Zoltvany
Slovakia to slacken drug legislation

Possession of a small amount of narcotics may become a minor offense under certain conditions.

An amount specified by law of a drug intended for personal consumption could be penalised as a minor offense in Slovakia in the future. The Justice Ministry is proposing this change in its draft bill that defines individual narcotics and specifies quantities, along with psychotropic substances, plants and fungi containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

The cabinet is to discuss the draft bill on Wednesday, February 21 but the junior ruling party, the Slovak National Party (SNS), has a serious problem with the draft bill.

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The Justice Ministry is proposing that the possession of narcotics would only be considered a minor offense if someone is found in possession just once in 12 months.

The maximum fine in infringement proceedings would be 165. In the case of marijuana, for example, the specified tolerated amount would be one gram, for pervitin and amphetamines it would be 0.2 grams, and for heroin 0.5 grams. Such amounts were determined based on recommendations of the Forensic Institute of the Police Corps, based on practical experience.

The currently valid legislation in Slovakia concerning the prosecution of drug offenses, including penalties for illegal possession of drugs, is one of the strictest with regard to sentences in the EU, the Justice Ministry writes in its accompanying report to the draft bill. The current system leads to criminalisation of drug users, mostly in the category of persons under the age of 30, focusing in particular on consequence in the form of a criminal penalty and not sufficiently addressing the causes that lead to this crime. The current state does not reflect a sufficiently widely accepted requirement to primarily penalize illicit drug trafficking over penalizing drug users themselves, which results in the ineffective waste of human resources of the entire criminal justice system.

SNS not in favour

Tibor Bernatak, head of the SNS parliamentary faction, informed that the SNS will not support this draft in its current form.

The leaders of the ruling coalition parties will still discuss it and then we will adopt our position, but we rather think that the justice department should focus more on excessively lengthy court proceedings and better law enforcement, Bernatak said. He added that the SNS wants to focus on prevention, and according to them, this is way to go. Not decriminalisation of drugs, especially of cocaine and heroin.

20. Feb 2018 at 1:16 | Compiled by Spectator staff
Audit authority found violations of law at Foreign Ministry

In general, Slovakia handled the EU Presidency well, assessed the Supreme Audit Office.

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Slovakias Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2016 (SK PRES) was successfully managed. However, auditors have revealed shortcomings in accounting, public procurement, and in the publication of addenda to contracts in the Central Register of Contracts, the spokesperson for the Supreme Audit Office (NKU) Daniela Bolech Dobakova informed on Monday, February 19. The ministry announced that in response to the findings it has already implemented measures in order to remove the shortcomings and ensure they are not repeated in the future.

The Accounting Act was violated when several invoices and relevant documents regarding the scope and prices of services provided were not attached, the NKU wrote in its press release, as cited by the SITA newswire. Auditors found at the Foreign and European Affairs Ministry, among other things, shortcomings in transparency of awarding contracts.

In two cases, contracts for work worth 9,000 euros were concluded only verbally, which harms transparency and influences the accuracy of outlining the duties of the contracted parties.

In organising the event Europe in Slovakia, the presentation of the SK PRES logo, it was necessary to conclude several contracts, which could have had a negative impact on the total amount of funds spent on the event, according to the NKU.

When examining this event organised by the Evka agency, the NKU was not able to ascertain why it was this agency that won the order.

Submitted concepts elaborated by three companies could not be objectively evaluated as these were proposals of varying idea solutions for this event, the NKU wrote.

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It further notes that the Foreign Ministry has failed to prove unequivocally that it adhered to the principles of transparency and cost-effectiveness when handling public finances, by failing to provide detailed documentation from the contractors for some of the events.

Several invoices did not specify prices for actual delivered services which concerned the Slovak National Theatre (SND) and the companies KINEMATOGRAF and La Idea, some contracts were not concluded sufficiently in advance, some lacked detailed specification of the subject of the contract, or the content of the contract was not clear. The NKU published its complete final report from the audit of SK PRES on Monday 20th February.

The Foreign and European Affairs Ministry fully cooperated with the Supreme Audit Office during its audit of Slovakias 2016 Council of the EU presidency and has been implementing its findings in its activities, ministry spokesman Peter Susko told the TASR newswire.

The ministry provided full cooperation with the NKU while the audit was being carried out, including the submission of relevant documents and the elucidation of individual activities, said Susko. Based on the NKU recommendations, the ministry approved, within the given deadline, appropriate measures that are due to be introduced into its internal processes in order to prevent future recurrences of formal and administrative shortcomings discovered in the audit.

20. Feb 2018 at 1:24 | Compiled by Spectator staff
Suspicious "rural entrepreneurs" involved with Smer emerge in Nitra

Successful businesspeople from the village of Babindol who have received subsidies from EU funds worth millions have connections to the ruling Smer party.

A group of entrepreneurs from the village of Babindol in Nitra Region is very successful but hardly anything reveals the key to success at first sight: some are very young and all of them own agricultural companies that win every tender for subsidies from EU funds, for the development of agriculture. It seems they even found the key on how to build or operate businesses in regional cities from these agricultural funds, the Sme daily wrote on February 16.

Since 2015, in the time of the Smer partys government, seven companies received a total of 27 million from EU funds, the contracts signed by the Slovak Agricultural Payment Agency (PPA).

Several millions of that will end up, or has already ended up in the Zlaty Klucik (Small Golden Key) Hotel in the regional capital of Nitra. However, this money should be used solely for the development of the countryside and its agriculture.

Why Babindol?

The successful entrepreneurs from the village of Babindol (with 700 inhabitants) know each other, do business with each other and all have connections to the ruling Smer party and its cronies, in one way or another: names like ex-agriculture minister Lubomir Jahnatek, businessman Miroslav Bodor and Police President Tibor Gaspar appear here.

Two independent sources confirmed for Sme that the local businessman Robert Durica, who has good ties to Jahnatek and Gaspar, knows all Babindol locals and is behind their successful enterprise.

The Babindol Group used to win every tender and competition for the EU subsidies they participated in, OLaNO MP Veronika Remisova found out.

The Zlaty Klucik hotel in Nitra, which has been renovated by the companies Horagro and Agro Ladzany for 2.4 million, points to Smer in another way: its top representatives  and cronies  tend to celebrate or give parties in the hotel.

Ministry hestitates, promises audit

The Agriculture Ministry has so far not given the subsidies to the companies and noted it would perform some audits before doing so, but when asked by Sme about the purpose of the subsidies and their real use, it answered that since Horagro and Agro Ladzany are agriculture companies they can use the subsidies even for urban projects; although this goes against the original goal and probably also against the EU rules. The ministry also reported it would take a closer look at the case. Jahnatek, then-agriculture minister, refused to comment for the daily, citing work duties.

The small group of Babindol businesspeople already received 20 million through agricultural subsidies. The rural development programme offered 2.1 billion between 2014 and 2020, of which 1.5 billion comes from EU budget and 534 million from the Slovak state. Most Babindol subsidies went to the construction of stalls for livestock, haylofts, farm equipment, combine harvesters, etc. However plans for future use include a car wash in Sebechleby and the renovation of an old building in downtown Nitra, of the Zlaty Klucik Hotel, etc.

The Supreme Audit Office (NKU) has already started investigating the allocation of EU funds. It found that the projects were assessed in a biased way by the committee, and really bad applications proceeded to the second round. Although NKU published these deficiencies back in March 2017, nothing has changed so far. Police found no reason for prosecution and the Prosecutors Office's motion is still open but without any progress.

NKU head Karol Mitrik sent to investigators a personal letter lacking the due necessities for a criminal complaint. When asked to fill in the necessary information, Mitrik failed to react, Sme wrote, citing Jana Tokolyova of the General Prosecutors Office.

PPA has a long-term problem with transparency in subsidies.

20. Feb 2018 at 13:52 | Compiled by Spectator staff
More foreigners have applied for a stay in Slovakia

This reflects the increased demands of employers, especially due to new or expanding investments, the Border and Foreigners Police points out.

This January, authorities recorded a 37-percent increase in the number of applications by foreigners for residence in Slovakia, said Ladislav Csemi, the head of the Office of the Border and Foreigners Police (UHCP) of the Slovak Police Presidium, on February 19.

The UHCP reported an increase in stays allowed for the territory of Slovakia and ongoing police checks by the Foreigners Police.

In January 2018, 12 departments of the Foreigners Police received 2,855 more applications for residence in Slovakia compared to beginning 2017, the TASR newswire reported.

Reasons behind the rise

Investing in Slovakia brings about an automatic increased demand in the employment of foreigners, Csemi noted, adding that by the end of 2017 they registered 7,715 approvals for residence in the country. As for nationalities, most of those granted a stay permit were Ukrainians (2,677), followed by Serbs (2,323) and the Vietnamese (659).

We expect this trend to continue, Csemi stated, as cited by TASR.

The Foreigners Police has been criticised by employers for procrastination and excessive red tape. Csemi expressed hope that the increased number of foreigners applications will also mean higher numbers of police officers being assigned for the task, especially in areas where the most applications are filed.

Checks on illegal employment continue

Police have boosted the checking of illegal employment and illegal labour in Slovakia. First deputy of the UHCP head, Robert Gucky, informed about a recent case from Kosice, in which 62 illegal foreign workers were discovered February 15 on the construction site of a business centre in Sturova Street in Kosice. 38 were from Moldova and 24 from Ukraine, he specified. They were detained and deported, Gucky told TASR.

The employer will be investigated by the Labour Inspectorate.

Last year, 3,228 people were checked through 340 checks by the Foreigners Police and Labour Inspectorate, out of whom 1,773 were foreigners. The UHCP cooperates with other state bodies, including the legislative ones, in adapting the legislation to current needs, while respecting the applicable legislation, Csemi summed up.

20. Feb 2018 at 13:58 | Compiled by Spectator staff
Slovak railway company opens tender for purchasing rails

It plans to spend some 18 million excluding VAT.

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The state railway operator, Zeleznice Slovenskej republiky (ZSR), plans to purchase rails. It has announced a tender with an estimated price of 17.95 million, excluding VAT (21.6 million with VAT), the Sme daily wrote on February 20.

ZSR also announced a public tender for welding works on a railway transport road and connected activities for a duration of two years, worth an estimated 12 million without VAT.

The deadline for the first tender is March 19, March 15 for the second. Both must be effective at least until the end of 2018. The suppliers are supposed to come from an electronic bidding, Sme wrote.

This stems from an announcement published in the Public Procurement Bulletin.

20. Feb 2018 at 14:05 | Compiled by Spectator staff
Did Labour Partys chair have links to Czechoslovak secret agent?

British MPs might ask Jan Sarkocy to provide evidence on his meetings with several Labour politicians.

British MPs want to ask former member of the Czechoslovak communist secret police StB, Jan Sarkocy, to provide evidence that he collaborated with the current chair of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, in the past.

Sarkocy, who is currently living close to Bratislava, has said that Corbyn knowingly cooperated with StB in the 1980s and received money for it. Moreover, the two men allegedly met several times while Sarkocy worked in London, the TASR newswire reported.

However, the archive documents do not prove any wilful cooperation between Corbyn and StB, the Novinky.cz website reported.

Suspicions surrounding Corbyn started in mid-February, after several British tabloids published stories about the collaboration. The Labour Partys chair rejects any cooperation with StB and says Sarkocys claims are fabricated.

Experts claim Corbyn, a critic of capitalism, did not have to know that he was actually meeting a communist agent, while StB could use him as a useful idiot to receive information on British intelligence service.

Meanwhile, the Daily Telegraph daily reported on its website that MPs intend to call Sarkocy to give evidence in parliament of his meetings with several Labour politicians, as part of an inquiry into the influence of foreign powers on British democracy.

It is possible they will also invite Corbyn to explain the situation.

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20. Feb 2018 at 21:09 | Compiled by Spectator staff
Slovakias construction sector drops the most in the EU

However, in the following months, construction in Slovakia should benefit from new projects like the Bratislava ring road project.

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Slovakia reported the highest monthly drop in construction output in the European Union. This stems from the data provided by the European statistics office, Eurostat.

Seasonally adjusted construction output of the eurozone strengthened by 0.1 percent month-on-month in December 2017 and by 0.6 percent in the entire 28-member EU.

In annual terms, the construction production in the eurozone increased by 0.5 percent and across the EU by 1.5 percent. Over the past year, the eurozone construction boosted by 2.4 percent and across the EU by 3.5 percent, the SITA newswire reported.

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In Slovakia, the construction sector fell by 5.5 percent in December 2017 compared to the previous month, which was the steepest month-on-month decline among the countries from which Eurostat had data available.

The second steepest drop was reported by Spain (4.4 percent), followed by Bulgaria (3 percent).

The output might slightly increase this year

As for Slovakia, the construction output dropped in both monitored areas: the construction of buildings and the infrastructure.

Despite weak December numbers, the increase in both industry and construction accelerated in the final quarter of 2017, Lubomir Korsnak, analyst with UniCredit Bank Czech Republic and Slovakia, wrote in a memo.

The construction field has reported the strongest annual growth since early 2016, when it was still impacted by the EU funds, he added.

Korsnak opines that in following months, construction will benefit from the boom in the buildings construction segment, as well as the launch of some infrastructure construction, like the Bratislava ring road project.

Conversely, no new highway section will probably be put in use this year, Korsnak continued, adding this might slightly decrease the construction output. Overall, the construction will keep a moderate annual increase in output this year.

20. Feb 2018 at 21:18 | Compiled by Spectator staff
Unemployment rate hits new low

The unemployment rate in Slovakia has been declining since summer 2016 while the number of economically active people has grown.

The unemployment rate in Slovakia in January stood at 5.88 percent, reflecting a decline of 0.06 percentage points (p.p.) from 5.94 percent in December 2017.

The number of jobseekers immediately able to take up a job was 163,075 in January, an increase of 1,160 individuals month-on-month and a decline of 72,380 y-o-y, the Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family (UPSVaR) general director, Marian Valentovic, told the TASR newswire on January 20.

The unemployment rate calculated from the total number of jobseekers amounted to 7.12 percent in January, down by 0.06 percentage points month-on-month and 2.93 year-on-year, he added. The total number of jobseekers reached 197,268 in the first month of 2018, down by 76,626 y-o-y.

Regional disparities and vacancies

As for individual regions, six out of the eight Slovak regions recorded cuts in their unemployment rates in January, with Kosice Region experiencing the most significant drop.

In terms of districts, the unemployment rate declined in 52 of them, while 26 districts posted a growth in unemployment.

A total of 74,963 job vacancies were available to jobseekers in late January, representing a year-on-year increase of 5,588, said Valentovic at a press conference with Labour Minister Jan Richter in attendance, as quoted by TASR.

Valentovic added that the highest number of jobs were available in Bratislava Region, while the lowest were in Banska Bystrica Region.

Analyst: decline is a matter of statistic tools

The decline was merely the matter of statistics, Lubomir Korsnak, macroeconomic market analyst of the UniCredit Bank Czech Republic and Slovakia, wrote in a memo, explaining that the number of economically active people is recorded and compared just once a year, in the beginning.

This year, their number has been increased to 46,000 people which then automatically pushed the unemployment rate down by 0.10 p.p. Thus, the unemployment rate declined at the beginning of 2018, but the absolute number of jobless people grew slightly.

It is still true, though, that the winter seasonal fluctuation has been reduced in recent years, as the tense situation on the labour market forces employers to keep at least some seasonal workers outside of high season, thus avoiding recruitment troubles, according to Korsnak.

Reasons behind decline in unemployment

The current decline in unemployment is mostly the result of cyclic revival of the economy, while the current economic growth demands increased labour. In the past decade, unemployment rates were affected differently by mass investments in modernisation of the economy.

After taking into account the usual seasonal factors (seasonal employees, lower activity during winter), the unemployment rate in Slovakia fell to 5.76 percent in January, according to a UniCredit Bank calculation. This confirmed that the decline in unemployment rate has slowed down slightly in recent months; it is now almost half the speed of last summer and spring.

Unemployment does not quite overlap with the demand for labour, Korsnak wrote, while adding that this is proven by the figures of vacancies and imports of workers from abroad. A bigger problem than the inapt education of the jobless is the unsuitable regional distribution of the unemployment.

Vacancies and foreign workers

The number of vacancies has been growing to almost 75,000, two-fifths of which can be attributed to the traditional restart of new job offers at the beginning of each year, which is reflected in the decline of the unemployment rate in the following months.

After taking into consideration the traditional season, the number of free jobs increased by four percent (i.e. 3,300). Compared to the same period last year, there were twice the numbers of job vacancies (95%). There are only 2.2 unemployed  who can immediately start working  per one job vacancy. However, the vacancies are mostly concentrated in the south-western part of the country, where there are not enough jobless people to fill them. Unsuitable education may not be such a big problem anymore, as the employers eager to hire new people are reducing their requirements and expectations.

The number of foreigners working in the country has been stabilised in the last months (due to traditionally lower winter activity on the labour market) at slightly under 50,000 (around 2 percent of all unemployed in Slovakia) but it has grown y-o-y by more than one-third (37 percent). Foreign employees are, again, concentrated mostly in the west of the country and come from countries outside of the European Union, mostly from Serbia, and more recently Ukraine.

The outlook is optimistic, as the growing economy should be able to generate new jobs and thus push the unemployment rate to new historical minimums.

The potential decline is hampered in most regions (especially in the west) by a lack of resources for the unemployed rather than the number of job vacancies.

20. Feb 2018 at 22:48 | Compiled by Spectator staff
In ambulances, doctors have become more scarce

Doctors are replaced by rescuers with lower education instead.

The biggest medical rescue service in Slovakia, Falck, has replaced the Emergency Doctors Service in five cities and towns across the country with the Emergency Medical Service, starting in February. In the latter, only paramedics operate instead of doctors with full education.

The company mentions that this is attributed to a lack of doctors, as the Sme daily reported on February 20. Slovak doctors, mainly those specialised in emergency medicine, are more attracted to the new emergency admission wards introduced last year.

Experts opine that this recent trend in Slovakia merely follows the Europe-wide trend, the daily wrote. Currently, of the total 274 stations of rescue medical service, only 89 have a doctor.

But even a crew without a doctor can handle most health complications, experts argue, adding that a crew of the Emergency Doctors Service should handle serious health issues which require the care of a specialist during transport to hospital. A trained specialist decides at the operation centre whether an Emergency Doctors Service, or an Emergency Medical Service should be dispatched.

Reasons for the move

A lack of doctors is the problem, according to the head of Falck, Ivo Krpelan. This is especially case of those specialising in anaesthesiology and emergency medicine, Maria Levyova, head of the Association for Protection of Patientss Rights, adds.

Ambulances fighting for emergency doctors must compete with the new emergency services in hospitals, announced by Health Minister Tomas Drucker last year. The salary and the type of work in the ambulance service may be unattractive compared to the past, too, rescuer Viliam Dobias told Sme. Unlike doctors in a hospital who have colleagues for consultations and help, emergency doctors in ambulances are left on their own.

However, the ambulances are stripped of doctors for economic reasons as well; ambulances without doctors are simply cheaper, Dobias and Levyova agree.

Cities and towns fight the decision

In some towns or cities, councils and municipalities fights against this new trend, like Kysucke Nove Mesto. There, but also in Tornala, Rajec, Levoca and Sabinov, the health ministry has to approve the change.

The ministry itself assures through its spokesperson Zuzana Eliasova that patients will not experience a change in the quality of medical services offered.

20. Feb 2018 at 23:00 | Compiled by Spectator staff
The following companies are subsidiares of Occidental Petroleum: 1PointFive Inc., 1PointFive P1 LLC, APC Aviation Inc., APC International Holdings LLC, APC Midstream Holdings LLC, APC Venezuela Srl, ARCO Long Beach, Altura Energy, Amarok Gathering LLC, Anadarko 20-25 Company, Anadarko 20-36 Company, Anadarko 20-47 Company, Anadarko 20-48 Company, Anadarko 20-49 Company, Anadarko Algeria Block 403 c/e Company, Anadarko Algeria Block 406B Company, Anadarko Algeria Company LLC, Anadarko Algeria Oil & Gas Company, Anadarko Brazil Investment I LLC, Anadarko Brazil Investment II LLC, Anadarko Canada E&P Limited, Anadarko China Holdings 2 Company, Anadarko Colombia Company, Anadarko Consolidated Holdings LLC, Anadarko Cote d'Ivoire Block 103 Company, Anadarko Cote d'Ivoire Company, Anadarko DBMOS Operator LLC, Anadarko Development Company, Anadarko Development Holding Limited, Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC, Anadarko Egypt Holdings Company, Anadarko Energy Holding Limited, Anadarko Energy Services Company, Anadarko Exploracao e Producao de Petroleo e Gas Natural Ltda., Anadarko Finance Company, Anadarko Gabon Company, Anadarko Ghana Mahogany-1 Company, Anadarko Global Energy S.a.r.l, Anadarko Global Funding 1 Company, Anadarko Global Funding II Ltd., Anadarko Guyana Company, Anadarko Holding Company, Anadarko International Development S.a.r.l, Anadarko International Energy Company, Anadarko International O&G Company, Anadarko International Trading Corporation, Anadarko Jordan Company, Anadarko Kenya Company, Anadarko LMM S.a.r.l, Anadarko Land Corp., Anadarko Mexico B.V., Anadarko Mexico S.a.r.l, Anadarko Midkiff/Chaney Dell BR Corp., Anadarko Midkiff/Chaney Dell LLC, Anadarko Natural Gas Company LLC, Anadarko New Zealand Company, Anadarko OGC Company, Anadarko Offshore Holding Company LLC, Anadarko Offshore Well Containment Company LLC, Anadarko Oil & Gas 5 LLC, Anadarko Peru B.V., Anadarko Petroleum, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, Anadarko Realty LLC, Anadarko Rockies LLC, Anadarko Royalty Holdings Company, Anadarko UK Corporate Limited, Anadarko US Offshore LLC, Anadarko USH1 Corporation, Anadarko Venezuela Company, Anadarko Venezuela LLC, Anadarko Venezuela Srl, Anadarko WCTP Company, Anadarko West Texas BR Corp., Anadarko West Texas LLC, Anadarko Worldwide Holdings C.V., Atlantic Rim Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Aventine LLC, Baseball Merger Sub 2 Inc., Bear Branch Exploration LLC, Big Island Trona Company, Bitter Creek Coal Company, Bravo Pipeline Company, Cain Chemical, Cain Chemical Inc., Carbon Finance Labs LLC, Concord Petroleum Corporation, Conn Creek Shale Company, D.S. Ventures LLC, DMM Financial LLC, Deerwood Exploration LLC, Downtown Plaza II, Elk Hills Field, FLAG Development LLC, FP Westport Commodities Limited, FP Westport GmbH, FP Westport LLC, FP Westport Limited, FP Westport Services LLC, FP Westport Trading LLC, Fosters Mill Exploration LLC, Glenn Springs Holdings Inc., Globrep Representaciones S.A., Grand Bassa Tankers Inc., Grupo OxyChem de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Headwater II LLC, Houndstooth Resources LLC, INDSPEC Chemical B.V., INDSPEC Chemical Corporation, INDSPEC Chemical Corporation, INDSPEC Chemical Export Sales LLC, INDSPEC Holding Corporation, Ingleside Cogeneration GP LLC, Ingleside Cogeneration Limited Partnership, Interore Trading Ltd., Joslyn Partnership, KERR-McGEE TT E&P LTD., KM BM-C-Seven Ltd., KM International Insurance Ltd., Kerr-McGee Corporation, Kerr-McGee Natural Gas Company Inc., Kerr-McGee Oil & Gas Onshore LP, Kerr-McGee Shared Services Company LLC, Kerr-McGee Stored Power Corporation, Kerr-McGee U.K. Energy Corporation, Kerr-McGee Worldwide Corporation, Kerr-McGee do Brasil Ltda., Kerr-McGee of Canada Northwest Ltd., Laguna Petroleum Corp., Laguna Petroleum LLC, Liwa Oil & Gas Ltd., MC2 Technologies LLC, Mariana Properties Inc., Marico Exploration Inc., Miller Springs Remediation Management Inc., Moncrief Minerals Partnership L.P., NGL Ventures LLC, Natural Gas Odorizing Inc., New OPL LLC, OEVC Energy LLC, OEVC Midstream Projects LLC, OIH LLC, OLCV CE Holdings ULC, OLCV CE US Holdings Inc., OLCV Net Power LLC, OLCV Services LLC, OOG Partner LLC, OOOI Chem Holdings LLC, OOOI Chem Sub LLC, OOOI Chemical International LLC, OOOI Chile Holder LLC, OOOI Ecuador Management LLC, OOOI Oil and Gas Sub LLC, OOOI South America Management LLC, OPM GP Inc., OPM Holdco LLC, OTCF LLC, OTH LLC, OXY CV Pipeline LLC, OXY Campus LLC, OXY Inc., OXY LPG LLC, OXY Libya E&P Area 103 BR4 B.V., OXY Libya E&P Area 35 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P Concession 103 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P EPSA 102 B.V., OXY Libya E&P EPSA 1981 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P EPSA 1985 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P NC 143 144 145 150 B.V., OXY Libya Exploration SPC, OXY Libya LLC, OXY Little Knife LLC, OXY Mexico Holdings I LLC, OXY Mexico Holdings II LLC, OXY Middle East Holdings Ltd., OXY Oil Partners Inc., OXY PBLP Manager LLC, OXY Support Services LLC, OXY Tulsa Inc., OXY USA Inc., OXY USA WTP LP, OXY VPP Investments LLC, OXY West LLC, OXY of Saudi Arabia Ltd., OXYCHEM (CANADA) INC., OXYMAR, Oakwood Exploration LLC, Occidental (Bermuda) Ltd., Occidental (East Shabwa) LLC, Occidental Advance Sale Finance Inc., Occidental Al Hosn LLC, Occidental Angola Holdings Ltd., Occidental CIS Services Inc., Occidental Canada Holdings Ltd., Occidental Chemical Asia Limited, Occidental Chemical Belgium B.V.B.A., Occidental Chemical Chile Limitada, Occidental Chemical Corporation, Occidental Chemical Export Sales LLC, Occidental Chemical Far East Limited, Occidental Chemical Holding Corporation, Occidental Chemical International LLC, Occidental Chemical Investment (Canada) 1 Inc., Occidental Chemical Receivables LLC, Occidental Chemical de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Occidental Chile Investments LLC, Occidental Chile Minority Holder LLC, Occidental Colombia (Series G) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series J) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series K) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series L) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series M) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series N) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series O) Ltd., Occidental Crude Sales Inc. (Canada), Occidental Crude Sales Inc. (International), Occidental Dolphin Holdings Ltd., Occidental Energy Marketing Inc., Occidental Energy Ventures LLC, Occidental Exploradora del Peru Ltd., Occidental Exploration and Production Company, Occidental Hafar LLC, Occidental International (Libya) Inc., Occidental International Corporation, Occidental International Exploration and Production Company, Occidental International Holdings Ltd., Occidental International Oil and Gas Ltd., Occidental International Services Inc., Occidental Joslyn GP 2 Co., Occidental LNG (Malaysia) Ltd., Occidental Latin America Holdings LLC, Occidental Libya Oil & Gas B.V., Occidental MENA Manager Ltd., Occidental Middle East Development Company, Occidental Midland Basin LLC, Occidental Mukhaizna LLC, Occidental Oil Asia Pte. Ltd., Occidental Oil Shale Inc., Occidental Oil and Gas (Oman) Ltd., Occidental Oil and Gas Corporation, Occidental Oil and Gas International Inc., Occidental Oil and Gas International LLC, Occidental Oil and Gas Pakistan LLC, Occidental Oil and Gas of Peru LLC, Occidental Oman (Block 27) Holdings Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 51 Holding Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 51 LLC, Occidental Oman Block 65 Holding Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 65 LLC, Occidental Oman Block 72 Holding Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 72 LLC, Occidental Oman Gas Company LLC, Occidental Oman Gas Holdings Ltd., Occidental Oman North Holdings Ltd., Occidental Oriente Exploration and Production Ltd., Occidental Overseas Holdings B.V., Occidental PVC LLC, Occidental Peninsula II Inc., Occidental Peninsula LLC, Occidental Permian Ltd., Occidental Permian Manager LLC, Occidental Permian Services Inc., Occidental Peruana Inc., Occidental Petrolera del Peru (Block 101) Inc., Occidental Petrolera del Peru (Block 103) Inc., Occidental Petroleum (Pakistan) Inc., Occidental Petroleum Corporation, Occidental Petroleum Corporation Political Action Committee, Occidental Petroleum de Venezuela S.A., Occidental Petroleum of Nigeria, Occidental Petroleum of Oman Ltd., Occidental Petroleum of Qatar Ltd., Occidental Power Marketing L.P., Occidental Power Services Inc., Occidental Qatar Energy Company LLC, Occidental Red Sea Development LLC, Occidental Research Corporation, Occidental Resource Recovery Systems Inc., Occidental Resources Company, Occidental Shah Gas Holdings Ltd., Occidental South America Finance LLC, Occidental Specialty Marketing Inc., Occidental Tower Corporation, Occidental Transportation Holding Corporation, Occidental West Texas Overthrust Inc., Occidental Yemen Ltd., Occidental Yemen Sabatain Inc., Occidental del Ecuador Inc., Occidental of Abu Dhabi (Bab) Ltd., Occidental of Abu Dhabi (Shah) Ltd., Occidental of Abu Dhabi Holdings Ltd., Occidental of Abu Dhabi LLC, Occidental of Abu Dhabi Ltd., Occidental of Bahrain Ltd., Occidental of Bangladesh Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Chipiron) Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Cosecha) Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Medina) Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Putumayo) Ltd., Occidental of Colombia (Teca) Ltd., Occidental of Colombia PUT-36 LLC, Occidental of Dubai Inc., Occidental of Iraq Holdings Ltd., Occidental of Iraq LLC, Occidental of Oman Inc., Occidental of Russia Ltd., Occidental of South Africa (Offshore) Inc., Occidental of Yemen (Block 75) LLC, Oceanic Marine Transport Ltd., Opcal Insurance Inc., Oryx Crude Trading & Transportation Inc., Oxy BridgeTex Limited Partnership, Oxy C & I Bulk Sales LLC, Oxy Canada Sales Inc., Oxy Carbon Solutions LLC, Oxy Carbon Storage LLC, Oxy Climate Ventures Inc., Oxy Cogeneration Holding Company LLC, Oxy Colombia Holdings LLC, Oxy Colombia TopCo Ltd., Oxy Delaware Basin LLC, Oxy Delaware Basin Plant LLC, Oxy Dolphin E&P LLC, Oxy Dolphin Pipeline LLC, Oxy Energy Canada Inc., Oxy Energy Services LLC, Oxy Expatriate Services Inc., Oxy FFT Holdings Inc., Oxy Holding Company (Pipeline) Inc., Oxy International Ventures Ltd., Oxy LPG Terminal LLC, Oxy Levelland Pipeline Company LLC, Oxy Levelland Terminal Company LLC, Oxy Low Carbon Ventures LLC, Oxy Midstream Strategic Development LLC, Oxy Oleoducto SOP LLC, Oxy Overseas Services Ltd., Oxy Permian Gathering LLC, Oxy Permian Plaza LLC, Oxy Petroleum de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Oxy Renewable Energy LLC, Oxy Salt Creek Pipeline LLC, Oxy TL LLC, Oxy Taft Hub LLC, Oxy Technology Ventures Inc., Oxy Transport I Company LLC, Oxy Vinyls Canada Co., Oxy Vinyls Export Sales LLC, Oxy Vinyls LP, Oxy Westwood Corporation, Oxy Y-1 Company, OxyChem Ingleside Ethylene Holdings Inc., OxyChem do Brasil Ltda., OxyChile Investments LLC, Oxychem Shipping Ltd., Permian Basin JV Tax Matters Member LLC, Permian Basin Limited Partnership, Permian VPP Holder LP, Permian VPP Manager LLC, Phibro, Placid Oil LLC, Ramlat Oxy Ltd., Rio de Viento Inc., Rodeo Midland Basin LLC, San Patricio Pipeline LLC, Scanports Shipping LLC, SequestCo LLC, Stetson Exploration LLC, Sun Offshore Gathering Company, Swiflite Aircraft Corporation, Transok Properties LLC, Troy Potter Inc., Turavent Oil GmbH [in liquidation], Tuscaloosa Holdings Inc., UP Petroleo III Ltd., Upland Industries Corporation, Venezuela US SRL, Vintage Gas Inc., Vintage Petroleum, Vintage Petroleum Argentina Ltd., Vintage Petroleum Boliviana Ltd., Vintage Petroleum International Finance B.V., Vintage Petroleum International Holdings LLC, Vintage Petroleum International LLC, Vintage Petroleum International Ventures Inc., Vintage Petroleum Italy Inc., Vintage Petroleum South America Holdings Inc., Vintage Petroleum South America LLC, Vintage Petroleum Turkey Inc., WGR Asset Holding Company LLC, WGR Canada Inc., Wardner Ranch Inc., Western Gas Resources Inc., Western Gas Resources-Westana Inc., Western Midstream Holdings LLC, Woodlands International Insurance Ltd., and YT Ranch LLC.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. is a financial holding company. It provides financial and investment banking services. The firm offers a range of investment banking products and services in all capital markets, including advising on corporate strategy and structure, capital raising in equity and debt markets, risk management, market making in cash securities and derivative instruments, and brokerage and research. It operates through the following segments: Consumer and Community Banking, Corporate and Investment Bank, Commercial Banking, and Asset and Wealth Management. The Consumer and Community Banking segment serves consumers and businesses through personal service at bank branches and through automated teller machine, online, mobile, and telephone banking. The Corporate and Investment Bank segment offers a suite of investment banking, market-making, prime brokerage, and treasury and securities products and services to a global client base of corporations, investors, financial institutions, government and municipal entities. The Commercial Banking segment delivers services to U.S. and its multinational clients, including corporations, municipalities, financial institutions, and non profit

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Ingredion, Inc. manufactures and sells sweetener, starches, nutrition ingredients, and biomaterial solutions derived from the wet milling and processing of corn and other starch based materials. Its activities include turning corn, tapioca, potatoes and other vegetables and fruits into value added ingredients and biomaterials for the food, beverage, paper and corrugating, brewing, and other industries. The firm operates through the following geographical segments: North America, South America, Asia-Pacific and Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). The North America segment includes businesses in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The South America segment involves businesses in Brazil, the Southern Cone of South America (which includes Argentina, Peru, Chile, and Uruguay), Colombia, and Ecuador. The Asia-Pacific segment pertains businesses in South Korea, Thailand, China, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, India, and Vietnam. The EMEA segment focuses businesses in Pakistan, Germany, the United Kingdom and South Africa. The company was founded in 1906 and is headquartered in Westchester, IL.

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Travelport Worldwide Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates a travel commerce platform that offers distribution, technology, payment, mobile, and other solutions for the travel and tourism industry in the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It facilitates travel commerce by connecting travel providers, such as airlines, hotel chains, and car rental companies with online and offline travel buyers in a business-to-business travel platform. The company provides distribution and merchandising solutions for hotel, car rental, rail, cruise-line, and tour operators; Virtual Account Number payment solutions that automatically generate unique MasterCard numbers that are used to process payments; advertising solutions; and other platform services, such as subscription, processing, and business intelligence data services, as well as marketing-oriented analytical tools to travel agencies, travel providers, and other travel data users. It also offers critical IT solutions and other services to airlines, such as shopping, ticketing, departure control, business intelligence, and other solutions. Travelport Worldwide Limited was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Langley, the United Kingdom.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Jones Lang LaSalle: 225 Fitness Inc., 360 Commercial Partners, ACREST, AGL, AMAS Limited, AVM Partners, Advanced Technologies Group Inc., Alaska UK (GP) Ltd, Alkas Consulting, Aoyama Holding Limited, Australian Valuation Solutions, Avenue9, BRG, BRG International LLC, BRG Resource Group ULC, BRG WORKPLACE MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS (EUROPE) LIMITED, BRG Workplace Management Solutions (India) Private Limited, BRG Workplace Management Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Beijing Dazheng Zhongheng Enterprise Consulting Co. Ltd., Beijing Guotai Zhongheng Enterprise Consulting Co. Ltd., Beijing Jones Lang LaSalle Property Management Services Co. Ltd., Big Red Rooster Flow LLC, Bill Goold Realty, Bradford McCormack & Associates, Brune Consulting Management GmbH, Building Services Network Inc., Business Products Group Inc., Business Resource Holdings Inc., CIG III Technoparc Nominee II Inc./Fiduciaire CIG III Technoparc II Inc., CMM Projekt & Office Solutions GmbH, COBERTURA - SOCIEDADE DE MEDIACAO IMOBILIARIA S.A., CTH, Capital Realty LLC, Carolyn House (General Partner) Limited, Charter Oaks Financial Services Inc., Churston Heard Ltd, Claygate Residential (General Partner) LLP , Claygate Residential (Nominee) Limited, CoR Advisors, Cobertura, Colliers Baltimore, ComRef LIM Co-Invest LLC, Corporate Concierge Services Inc., Corporate Concierge Services of Hawaii Inc., Corporate Realty Advisors, Corrigo, Corrigo Incorporated, Credo Real Estate (Singapore), Creston Residential (General Partner) LLP, Creston Residential (Nominee) Limited, DST International Property Services, Dalian Jones Lang LaSalle Services Limited, ECD Energy and Environment Canada, ECD Energy and Environment Canada Ltd., EID (General Partner) LLP, ELPF Lafayette Manager Inc., Eleven Eleven Construction Corporation, Environmental Governance Ltd, Europe Fund III Alberta GP Inc., Europe Fund III GP LLC, FACILITY ASSOCIATES RECRUITMENT LIMITED, FIVE D PROPERTY MANAGEMENT (NSW) PTY LTD, FIVE D PROPERTY MANAGEMENT (NT) PTY LTD, FIVE D PROPERTY MANAGEMENT (QLD) PTY LTD, FIVE D PROPERTY MANAGEMENT (SA) PTY LTD, FIVE D PROPERTY MANAGEMENT (TAS) PTY LTD, FIVE D PROPERTY MANAGEMENT (VIC) PTY LTD, FIVE D PROPERTY MANAGEMENT (WA) PTY LTD, Five D Holdings Pty Limited, Five D Holdings Pty Ltd, Five D Property Management (ACT) Pty Ltd, Fox RPM Corp., GFN Property Investments L.L.C., Guangzhou Jones Lang LaSalle Property Services Company Limited, Guardian Property Asset Management, Guardian Property Asset Management Limited, H Park Germany LP GmbH, H Park Germany Verwaltungs-GmbH, HALL AND KAY FIRE HOLDINGS LIMITED, HFF, HFF Holdings Limited, HFF InvestCo LLC, HFF Partnership Holdings LLC, HFF Real Estate Limited, HFF Securities L.P., HFF Securities Limited, HG2 Limited, HUB PROFESSIONAL SERVICES LIMITED, Halcyon Real Estate, Hall & Kay Fire Services Ltd, Harry K Moore, Hentschel & Company LLC, Hercules Property Manager (Jersey) Limited, Holliday Fenoglio Fowler L.P., Holliday GP LLC, Hunter Facilities Management (HFM), Huntley Mullaney Spargo & Sullivan Inc., Huntley Mullaney Spargo & Sullivan LLC, IFM Services Finland OY, INTEGRAL UK HOLDINGS LIMITED, Inmobiliaria Jones Lang LaSalle Limitada, Integra Realty Resources, Integra Realty Resources - Dallas, Integral, Integral Facility Services Limited, Integral UK, Integrated General Administration Services K.K., J P Sturge Limited, J.L.W. Nominees Limited, J.L.W. Second Nominees Limited, JLL 2002, JLL 2003 Limited, JLL CAMBRIDGE LTD, JLL CMG LLC, JLL Capital Markets AB, JLL Chile Asesorias Inmobiliarias Limitada, JLL Corporate Solutions - Servicos De Conservacao e Manutencao de Imoveis Ltda, JLL Corporate Solutions AB, JLL Corporate Solutions Holdings Inc., JLL Corretagen e Trasacoes Imobiliarias Ltda., JLL Expertises SARLAU, JLL Infrastructure Advisory Pty Ltd, JLL Ingenierie, JLL Investment Scottish Limited Partnership II, JLL Kapitalmarkand Holding AB, JLL Kapitalmarknad AB, JLL Ltd, JLL Macau Limited, JLL Mall Management K.K., JLL Marketplace LLC, JLL Morii Valuation & Appraisal K.K., JLL Mortgage Services Pty Limited, JLL Nevada Inc., JLL Properties LLC, JLL Public Sector Valuations Pty Ltd, JLL Puerto Rico Realty & Co. S. en C., JLL Real Estate Capital Pte. Ltd., JLL Scottish II G.P. L.L.C., JLL Singapore Capital Pte. Ltd., JLL Transaction Services AB, JLL Treasury Support AB, JLL Valuation & Advisory Services LLC, JLL/BWXT Naval Facility Experts LLC, JLLBRR LLC, JLLINT Inc., Jones Lang LaSalle & Compania Limitada, Jones Lang LaSalle (ACT) Pty Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle (B) Sdn Bhd, Jones Lang LaSalle (Barbados) Ltd., Jones Lang LaSalle (Beijing) Consultants Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle (China) Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle (Fiji) Pte Ltd, Jones Lang LaSalle (Geneva) SA, Jones Lang LaSalle (Luxembourg) Secs, Jones Lang LaSalle (NSW) Pty Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle (PNG) Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle (Philippines) Inc., Jones Lang LaSalle (Portugal) - Sociedade de Mediacao Imobiliaria S.A., Jones Lang LaSalle (Puerto Rico) Inc., Jones Lang LaSalle (QLD) Pty Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle (S E) Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle (SA) Pty Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle (Shenzhen) Commercial Consultancy Company Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle (VIC) Pty Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle (WA) Pty Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle (pty) ltd, Jones Lang LaSalle - Central Texas LLC, Jones Lang LaSalle - Front Range LLLP, Jones Lang LaSalle - Northeast Inc., Jones Lang LaSalle - Texas Inc., Jones Lang LaSalle -Sociedade de Avaliacoes Imobiliarias Unipessoal Lda, Jones Lang LaSalle 1. Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Jones Lang LaSalle AG, Jones Lang LaSalle Acquisition Corp., Jones Lang LaSalle Administration B.V., Jones Lang LaSalle Advisory Services Pty Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Americas (Illinois) L.P., Jones Lang LaSalle Americas Inc., Jones Lang LaSalle Arizona LLC, Jones Lang LaSalle Asia Holdings Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Asset Management GmbH, Jones Lang LaSalle Australia Pty Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle BV, Jones Lang LaSalle Bangladesh Private Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Beihai Holdings L.L.C., Jones Lang LaSalle Belgium Holdings LLC, Jones Lang LaSalle Billion Management Services Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Brokerage Inc., Jones Lang LaSalle Building Operations Private Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Bulgaria EOOD, Jones Lang LaSalle Capital Investments Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Charities, Jones Lang LaSalle Co-Investment Inc., Jones Lang LaSalle Co. Ltd., Jones Lang LaSalle Constructions K.K., Jones Lang LaSalle Corporate Appraisal and Advisory Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Corporate Finance Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Corporate Property (VIC) Pty Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Corporate Property Services Pty Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Dorchester Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Ecuador S.A. JLL ECUADOR, Jones Lang LaSalle Electronic Sarl, Jones Lang LaSalle Espana S.A., Jones Lang LaSalle Europe Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle European Holdings Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle European Services Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Expertises SAS, Jones Lang LaSalle Facility Services S.L., Jones Lang LaSalle Finance BV, Jones Lang LaSalle Finance Europe, Jones Lang LaSalle Finance Luxembourg Sarl, Jones Lang LaSalle Finland Oy, Jones Lang LaSalle French Co-Investments Inc., Jones Lang LaSalle Gayrimenkul Hizmetleri Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Jones Lang LaSalle German Holdings B.V. & Co. KG, Jones Lang LaSalle Global Finance Luxembourg Sarl, Jones Lang LaSalle Global Finance UK Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Global Finance US LLC, Jones Lang LaSalle Global Holdings BV, Jones Lang LaSalle GmbH, Jones Lang LaSalle Great Lakes Corporate Real Estate Partners LLC, Jones Lang LaSalle Group Finance Luxembourg Sarl, Jones Lang LaSalle Group Holdings BV, Jones Lang LaSalle Group Holdings SNC, Jones Lang LaSalle Group Services spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Jones Lang LaSalle Guatemala Sociedad Anonima, Jones Lang LaSalle Gutland S.a.r.l., Jones Lang LaSalle Haiti S.A., Jones Lang LaSalle Holding AB, Jones Lang LaSalle Holding BV, Jones Lang LaSalle Holding SAS, Jones Lang LaSalle Holdings Cyprus Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Holdings Inc., Jones Lang LaSalle Holdings Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Holdings Y.K., Jones Lang LaSalle Holdings spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels (NSW) Pty Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels Participacoes Ltda., Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels S.A., Jones Lang LaSalle IP Inc., Jones Lang LaSalle Innovation Development L.L.C., Jones Lang LaSalle Insurance Services Ltd, Jones Lang LaSalle International Holdings Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle International Inc., Jones Lang LaSalle International Properties Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Investments LLC, Jones Lang LaSalle Israel Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Jamaica Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle K.K., Jones Lang LaSalle KFT, Jones Lang LaSalle Kenya Ltd, Jones Lang LaSalle LLP (Kazakhstan), Jones Lang LaSalle Lanka (Private) Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Laser Ltd, Jones Lang LaSalle Limitada, Jones Lang LaSalle Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Limited Liability Company, Jones Lang LaSalle Lithuania UAB, Jones Lang LaSalle Ltd (Ireland), Jones Lang LaSalle Ltd., Jones Lang LaSalle Ltda., Jones Lang LaSalle Luxembourg Star Sarl, Jones Lang LaSalle Malta Holdings Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Malta Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Management Services Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Management Services Taiwan Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Michigan LLC, Jones Lang LaSalle Midwest LLC, Jones Lang LaSalle Misr LLC, Jones Lang LaSalle Multifamily LLC, Jones Lang LaSalle Multifamily Member LLC, Jones Lang LaSalle New England L.L.C., Jones Lang LaSalle Northwest LLC, Jones Lang LaSalle Pension Trustees Ltd, Jones Lang LaSalle Procurement Funding Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Procurement Ltd., Jones Lang LaSalle Property Consultants (India) Private Ltd, Jones Lang LaSalle Property Consultants Pte Ltd, Jones Lang LaSalle Property Fund Advisors Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Property Management Pte Ltd, Jones Lang LaSalle Property Management Services LLC, Jones Lang LaSalle Real Estate Advisory Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Real Estate Brokerage Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Real Estate Services Inc., Jones Lang LaSalle Receivables Holdings LLC, Jones Lang LaSalle Residential Development GmbH, Jones Lang LaSalle Resources Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle S. de R.L., Jones Lang LaSalle S.R.L., Jones Lang LaSalle S.p.A., Jones Lang LaSalle SAS, Jones Lang LaSalle SE, Jones Lang LaSalle SEA Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle SSC (Philippines) Inc., Jones Lang LaSalle Sarl, Jones Lang LaSalle Saudi Arabia Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Secs, Jones Lang LaSalle Securities L.L.C., Jones Lang LaSalle Services (Jersey) Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Services (Malta) Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Services (Private) Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Services AB, Jones Lang LaSalle Services AS, Jones Lang LaSalle Services ApS, Jones Lang LaSalle Services B.V., Jones Lang LaSalle Services Bahrain S.P.C., Jones Lang LaSalle Services Gmbh, Jones Lang LaSalle Services LLC, Jones Lang LaSalle Services Lebanon S.A.R.L., Jones Lang LaSalle Services Limited (Nigeria), Jones Lang LaSalle Services Ltd, Jones Lang LaSalle Services S.r.l., Jones Lang LaSalle Services SA/NV, Jones Lang LaSalle Services SAS, Jones Lang LaSalle Services SRL, Jones Lang LaSalle Services Sarl, Jones Lang LaSalle Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, Jones Lang LaSalle Sociedad Comercial de Responsabilidad Limitada, Jones Lang LaSalle South Africa (Proprietary) Ltd, Jones Lang LaSalle Strata Management Pty Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Surveyors (Shanghai) Company Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Taiwan Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Technology Services Pte Ltd, Jones Lang LaSalle Trinidad Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle UAE Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle UK FC, Jones Lang LaSalle UK Hanover, Jones Lang LaSalle Vietnam Company Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle d.o.o. (Croatia), Jones Lang LaSalle d.o.o. (Serbia), Jones Lang LaSalle de Venezuela S.R.L., Jones Lang LaSalle of New York LLC, Jones Lang LaSalle of Pennsylvania Inc, Jones Lang LaSalle s.r.o, Jones Lang LaSalle s.r.o., Jones Lang LaSalle sprl, Jones Lang LaSalle spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Jones Lang Wootton Ltd, Jones Lang Wootton Property Management Services Ltd, KHK Group Limited, Kensington CA LLC, Keystone Partners, King & Co Limited, King Sturge, King Sturge Holdings Limited, King Sturge Management SPRL, LAOF V (General Partner) LLP, LASALLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT BV, LAVA (General Partner) LLP, LIC II (General Partner) Limited, LIC Lafayette Manager Inc., LIM Advisory Services S.a r.l., LIM Asia Co-Investments Pte. Ltd., LIM Associates L.L.C., LIM Consejeros S. de R.L. de C.V., LIM Management Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., LJPF Co-Investments GK, LMF Investments LLC, LPI (Australia) Holdings Pty Ltd, LRA MKP TRS L.P., LREDS II PF L.P., LREDS III Carry Partner L.P., LUKSS I Carry Partner L.P., LUKV Carry Jersey Limited, LUKV/CPP Co-Investment L.P., LaSalle (Shanghai) Industrial Co. Ltd. [ () ], LaSalle - VA Industrial GP LLC, LaSalle AIFM Europe S.a r.l., LaSalle Acquisitions Corp., LaSalle Asia Opportunity II GP LLC, LaSalle Asia Opportunity II Investors GP LLC, LaSalle Asia Opportunity III GP Ltd., LaSalle Asia Opportunity IV GP LTD, LaSalle Asia Opportunity Investors III GP Ltd., LaSalle Asia Opportunity V GP Ltd., LaSalle Asia Recovery L.L.C., LaSalle Asia Venture Co-Investment Trust, LaSalle Aureum Verwaltung GmbH, LaSalle Blooms General Partner Limited, LaSalle CAVA Industrial Carryco LLC, LaSalle CIG III GP Inc., LaSalle CIG IV GP Inc., LaSalle Canada Core Real Property GP Inc., LaSalle Canada Property Fund GP Inc., LaSalle China Logistics Venture GP Ltd, LaSalle China Logistics Venture GP S.a r.l., LaSalle China Logistics Venture SCSp, LaSalle Co-Investment L.L.C., LaSalle Co-Investment Management (General Partner) Limited, LaSalle Direct General Partner Limited, LaSalle EMEA (Scots) Investments GP LLP, LaSalle Euro Growth II S.a.r.l. , LaSalle European Co-invest (Scotland) LLP, LaSalle European Investments L.L.C., LaSalle European Recovery III (GP) LLP, LaSalle French Fund II Co-Investment GmbH, LaSalle French Fund II G.P. L.L.C., LaSalle Fund Management B.V., LaSalle Funds General Partner Ltd, LaSalle Funds Management Limited, LaSalle GPS Holdings LLC, LaSalle Genco G.P. L.L.C., LaSalle German Income and Growth G.P. L.L.C., LaSalle German Retail Venture GP L.L.C., LaSalle Global Partner Solutions Limited, LaSalle GmbH, LaSalle Income & Growth Fund VI Carry L.L.C., LaSalle Income & Growth Fund VI GP L.L.C., LaSalle Income & Growth Fund VI L.P., LaSalle Income & Growth Fund VII Carry L.L.C., LaSalle Income & Growth Fund VII GP L.L.C., LaSalle Income & Growth Fund VIII Carry L.L.C., LaSalle Income & Growth Fund VIII GP L.L.C., LaSalle Investment (Luxembourg) SARL, LaSalle Investment Limited Partnership II-A, LaSalle Investment Management, LaSalle Investment Management (Canada), LaSalle Investment Management (Canada) Inc., LaSalle Investment Management (Jersey) Limited, LaSalle Investment Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, LaSalle Investment Management Asia Pte Ltd, LaSalle Investment Management Australia Pty Ltd, LaSalle Investment Management Co. Ltd., LaSalle Investment Management Distributors LLC, LaSalle Investment Management Espana S.L.U., LaSalle Investment Management Hong Kong Limited, LaSalle Investment Management Inc., LaSalle Investment Management K.K., LaSalle Investment Management Kapitalverwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, LaSalle Investment Management Korea Yuhan Hoesa, LaSalle Investment Management Luxembourg SARL, LaSalle Investment Management SAS, LaSalle Investment Management Securities B.V., LaSalle Investment Management Securities LLC, LaSalle Italia SRL, LaSalle Japan Logistics II GP Ltd, LaSalle Japan Logistics III GP Ltd, LaSalle Japan Logistics Investors II GP Ltd., LaSalle Japan Logistik-Immobilienfonds GP SARL, LaSalle Japan Property Fund GP Limited, LaSalle LIC II A G.P. Ltd., LaSalle LIC II A UK LLP, LaSalle LIC II B G.P. LLC, LaSalle Land General Partner Limited, LaSalle Land Trustee Limited, LaSalle Logistics GP LLC, LaSalle Mariner Co-Investment Fund Carryco L.L.C., LaSalle Mariner Co-Investment Fund G.P. L.L.C., LaSalle Medical Office Fund III GP LLC, LaSalle Mexico Advisors Inc., LaSalle Mexico Fund I Investors A G.P. LLC, LaSalle Mexico I (General Partner) LLC, LaSalle Mortgage Real Estate Investors Inc., LaSalle North American Holdings Inc., LaSalle Paris Office Venture General Partner L.L.C., LaSalle Partners (Mauritius) Pvt Ltd, LaSalle Partners International, LaSalle Partners S. de R. L. de C. V., LaSalle Partners Services S. de R.L. de C.V., LaSalle Property Fund GP Holdings LLC, LaSalle Property Fund GP LLC, LaSalle Property Fund REIT Inc., LaSalle RECC GP LLC, LaSalle REDS GP Inc., LaSalle REDS III GP Sarl, LaSalle REDS TSA GP LLC, LaSalle REIT Advisors K.K., LaSalle Ranger Co-Investment Fund G.P. L.L.C., LaSalle Ranger Co-Investment Fund II G.P. 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L.L.C., LaSalle Ranger II Carry L.L.C., LaSalle Ranger III Carry L.L.C., LaSalle Real Estate Debt Strategies II (GP) LLP, LaSalle Real Estate Investment Strategies GP S.a r.l., LaSalle Residential Finance Fund GP Inc., LaSalle Residential Fund III GP Inc., LaSalle Retail Japan-Immobilienfonds GP S.a r.l., LaSalle Salt River Carry L.L.C., LaSalle Special Situations Carry GP LLC, LaSalle Special Situations II Venture GP S.a r.l., LaSalle Student Housing L.L.C., LaSalle Transpennine GP (Scot) LLP, LaSalle UK Property Services Limited, LaSalle UK Ventures (General Partner) Limited, LaSalle UKSS I GP Ltd., LaSalle UKV Co-Investor GP LLC, LaSalle UKVA GP LLC, LaVA Carry (Scotland) L.P., LaVA Feeder (Scotland) LP, Lava II GP S.a r.l., Lead Fast Investments Limited, Lee & Klatskin Associates, Leechiu & Associates, Lexington MKP Management L.P., Light bluu Limited, LodgeTax, MSCI's Global Occupiers business, Maloney Field Services, Martin Potts & Associates, Means Knaus Partners, Merlin UK Property Venture GP Limited, Merritt & Harris Inc., Midosuji Management GK, Morii Appraisal & Investment Consulting, Neo-Swiat, New England - Jones Lang LaSalle LLC, Nextport, Nima Mountaineer AB, Oak Grove Commercial Mortgage, Office Blocks Pte. Ltd., Opex Consulting, Orchid Insurance Limited, Oxford General Partner Limited, P.1 Administracao em Complexo Imobiliarios Ltda., P.2 Administracao em Complexo Imobiliarios Ltda., P.3 Administracao em Complexo Imobiliarios Ltda., PDM International, PDM International (Beijing) Limited, PDM International (Chengdu) Limited, PDM International China Limited, PDM International HK Limited, PDM International Limited, PMX, PT Jones Lang LaSalle, PT. Procon Indah, Pacific Real Estate Partners, Peloton Commercial Real Estate, Primary Capital Advisors, Prime Property Consultants Limited, Procofin, Propell National Valuers Pty Ltd., PropertyLinx Pty Ltd, Quadrant Realty Finance, Rogers Chapman UK Ltd, SBR Continental Europe GP LLC, Sage Capital, Salt River Investors GP LLC, Sandalwood Mall Management Private Limited, Shelter Bay Retail Group, Sovereign Asian Properties Inc., Spaulding and Slye Federal Services LLC, Stessa Inc., Strategic Advisory Group, TETRIS ARQUITECTURA SL - SUCURSAL EM PORTUGAL, TETRIS Arquitectura S.L, Tansei Mall Management Co. Ltd., TeTriSolutions LLC, Tenzing AB, Tetris Amenagement SARL, Tetris Design & Build BV, Tetris Design & Build Romania SRL, Tetris Design & Build Sarl, Tetris Design & Build sprl, Tetris Design and Build (Pty) Ltd, Tetris Design and Build S.R.L (Italy), Tetris Design and Build Sarl, Tetris Poland spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Tetris Projects GmbH, Tetris Projects Ltd, Tetris SAS, Tetris Tasarm ve Insaat Hizmetleri A.S, The Apartment Group, The Horizon Management Services Limited, The Spargo Corporation, The Standard Group LLC, The Staubach Company, Travis Commercial Real Estate Services, Triangle General Partner Limited, Trinity Funds Management, Trussard Property Consultants, Tetris Design & Build Servicos de Arquitetura Ltda., Tetris Design & Build s.r.o., Utrillo Ltd, ValuD Consulting, Veronique Nocquet, W A Ellis LLP, Washington Partners, Whitetail GP LLC, Wilson Retail Group, Wonderment BV, YY Property Solutions, bluu City Limited, bluu Projects Limited, bluu Regions Limited, bluu Solutions Limited, and bluuco limited.
The following companies are subsidiares of Aptiv: A.E. Enterprises LLC, APTIVPORT SERVICES S.A., Alambrados y Circuitos Electricos S. de R.L. de C.V., Antaya Technologies, Antaya Technologies Asia Ltd., Antaya Technologies Corp., Aptiv (China) Holding Company Limited, Aptiv (China) Technology Company Limited, Aptiv (Shanghai) International Management Company Ltd., Aptiv (UK) Holdings Limited, Aptiv Asia Pacific Holdings (UK) LLP, Aptiv China Holdings (US) LLC, Aptiv Components (Shanghai) Company Limited, Aptiv Components India Private Ltd., Aptiv Connection Systems (Nantong) Ltd., Aptiv Connection Systems (Shanghai) Ltd., Aptiv Connection Systems Holding Deutschland GmbH, Aptiv Connection Systems Holding Hong Kong Limited, Aptiv Connection Systems Holdings (US) LLC, Aptiv Connection Systems Hungary Kft, Aptiv Connection Systems India Private Limited, Aptiv Connection Systems Korea LLC, Aptiv Connection Systems Services Austria GmbH, Aptiv Connection Systems Services Italia S.P.A., Aptiv Connection Systems Services Japan Ltd., Aptiv Contract Services Ciudad Juarez S. de R.L. de C.V., Aptiv Contract Services Matamoros S. de R.L. de C.V., Aptiv Contract Services Noreste S. de R.L. de C.V., Aptiv Contract Services Nuevo Laredo S. de R.L. de C.V., Aptiv Contract Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Aptiv Contract Services Sweden AB, Aptiv Contract Services Tamaulipas S. de R.L. de C.V., Aptiv Contract Services Tijuana S. de R.L. de C.V., Aptiv Contract Services Zacatecas S. de R.L. de C.V., Aptiv Contract Services d.o.o. Leskovac, Aptiv Contract Services de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Aptiv Corporation, Aptiv Electrical Centers (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Aptiv Electronics (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Aptiv European Holdings (UK) Limited, Aptiv Financial Holdings (UK) LLP, Aptiv Financial Investment Services (UK) Limited, Aptiv Financial Management LLC, Aptiv Financial Services (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Aptiv Financial Services (UK) Limited, Aptiv Global Financial Services (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Aptiv Global Financing Limited, Aptiv Global Holdings (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Aptiv Global Holdings (UK) Limited, Aptiv Global Holdings 2 (Luxembourg) S.ar.l, Aptiv Global Holdings Limited, Aptiv Global Investments UK LLP, Aptiv Global Investments UK LLP Luxembourg Branch, Aptiv Global Operations Limited, Aptiv Global Real Estate Services (US) LLC, Aptiv Holdfi (UK) Limited, Aptiv Holding Company LLC, Aptiv Holdings (Austria) GmbH, Aptiv Holdings (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Aptiv Holdings (UK) Limited, Aptiv Holdings (US) LLC, Aptiv Holdings Asia Pacific (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Aptiv Holdings Deutschland GmbH, Aptiv Holdings France SAS, Aptiv Holdings Limited, Aptiv Holdings Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Aptiv Holdings US Limited, Aptiv International Company LLC, Aptiv International Financial Services (UK) LLP, Aptiv International Holdings (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Aptiv International Holdings (UK) LLP, Aptiv International Holdings (US) LLC, Aptiv International Holdings 2 (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Aptiv International Holdings UK Two LLP, Aptiv International Operations Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Aptiv International Services Company LLC, Aptiv Korea LLC, Aptiv Latin America Holdings (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Aptiv Latin America Holdings (UK) LLP, Aptiv Luxembourg Financial Services S.a r.l., Aptiv Luxembourg Holdings (UK) Limited, Aptiv Luxembourg Holdings S.a r.l., Aptiv Malta Holdings Limited, Aptiv Manufactura e Servicos de Distribuicao Ltda., Aptiv Manufacturing Management Services S.a r.l., Aptiv Medical Systems LLC, Aptiv Mexican Holdings (US) LLC, Aptiv Mobility Services Austria MAT GmbH, Aptiv Mobility Services Deutschland GmbH, Aptiv Mobility Services Japan Ltd., Aptiv Mobility Services d.o.o. Novi Sad, Aptiv Properties Management Services (US) LLC, Aptiv S&P Mobility Services Spain S.L., Aptiv S&P Solutions Holdings (Spain) S.L., Aptiv Safety & Mobility Services Singapore Pte. Ltd., Aptiv Safety Services Deutschland GmbH, Aptiv Services 2 France SAS, Aptiv Services 2 US Inc., Aptiv Services 3 (US) LLC, Aptiv Services 4 US LLC, Aptiv Services 5 US LLC, Aptiv Services Austria GPD. GmbH & Co KG, Aptiv Services Belgium N.V., Aptiv Services Czech s.r.o., Aptiv Services Deutschland GmbH, Aptiv Services Honduras S. de R.L. de C.V., Aptiv Services Hungary Kft., Aptiv Services Italia S.r.l., Aptiv Services Macedonia DOOEL Skopje, Aptiv Services Netherlands B.V., Aptiv Services Poland S.A., Aptiv Services Tunisia Sarl, Aptiv Services UK Limited, Aptiv Services US LLC, Aptiv Services Ukraine LLC, Aptiv Technologies Limited, Aptiv Technology Services & Solutions S.R.L., Aptiv Trade Management Services (US) LLC, Aptiv Turkey Teknoloji Hizmetleri Limited Sirketi, Aptiv UK Pension Trustees Limited, Aptiv US Operations Holdings LLC, Aptiv US Services General Partnership, Arcomex S.A. de C.V., Arneses Electricos Automotrices S.A. de C.V., Auburn Enterprises LLC, Autoensambles y Logistica S.A. de C.V., Cablena S.L., Centro Tecnico Herramental S. de R.L. de C.V., Control Tec LLC, Control-Tec LLC, Cordaflex Espana S.A., Cordaflex S.A. de C.V., Daehan Electronics Yantai Co. Ltd., Delphi Automotive Systems Maroc S.A., Delphi Connection Systems Morocco S.A.S., Delphi Packard Kenitra S.A., Delphi Packard Meknes, Delphi Packard Moldova Noua S.R.L., Delphi Packard Tanger SA, Falmat Inc., Gabocom Ltd, Gabocom Sarl, Gabriel de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Harwich Holding GmbH, Harwich Holdings LLC, Harwich Holdings SAS, HellermannTyton (Proprietary) Limited, HellermannTyton (Wuxi) Electrical Accessories Company Limited, HellermannTyton AB, HellermannTyton AB Branch Office, HellermannTyton AS, HellermannTyton Alpha S.a r.l., HellermannTyton Australia Pty Ltd, HellermannTyton BV, HellermannTyton Beta S.a r.l., HellermannTyton Canada Inc., HellermannTyton Co. Ltd, HellermannTyton Corporation, HellermannTyton Data Limited, HellermannTyton Engineering GmbH, HellermannTyton Espana SL, HellermannTyton Finance PLC, HellermannTyton GmbH (Austria), HellermannTyton GmbH (Germany), HellermannTyton Group PLC, HellermannTyton Holdings AB, HellermannTyton Holdings Limited, HellermannTyton Kft, HellermannTyton Limited, HellermannTyton Limited Branch Office, HellermannTyton Ltda, HellermannTyton Manufacturas S. de R.L. de C.V., HellermannTyton Maroc S.ar.l., HellermannTyton OOO, HellermannTyton Private Limited, HellermannTyton Pte Limited, HellermannTyton Rohvel SL, HellermannTyton S. de R.L. de C.V., HellermannTyton SAS, HellermannTyton Services GmbH, HellermannTyton Services SARL AU, HellermannTyton Srl, HellermannTyton YH, HellermannTyton sp. z.o.o., Hellermanntyton Group, Hellermanntyton Morocco SARL AU, Inmobiliaria Marlis S.A., Inmuebles Wagon S.A., Interessengemeinschaft fur Rundfunkschutzrechte GmbH, Interessengemeinschaft fur Rundfunkschutzrechte GmbH Schutzrechtsverwertung & Co. KG, KUM Co. Ltd., KUM LLC, KUMAP Co. Ltd., Movimento (Shanghai) Co Ltd., Movimento Europe GmbH, Movimento Group, Movimento Group AB, Movimento Inc., Movimento International S. de R.L. de C.V., Noteco Comercio e Participacoes Ltda., On-Site Limited, Ottomatika, Ottomatika Inc., PT Aptiv Components Indonesia, Phoenix Assets Holdings Ltd., Pipe Holding GmbH, Potio Holding GmbH, ProSTEP Produktions Technologie AG, Productos Delco de Chihuahua S. de R.L. de C.V., PureDepth, PureDepth Inc., PureDepth Incorporated Limited, PureDepth Limited, Rebafin GmbH, Rio Bravo Electricos S. de R.L. de C.V., Staeng Limited, Tyson Intermediate Holdco Corp., Tyson Upper Intermediate Holdco Corp., Unterstutzungsgesellschaft mbH Delphi Deutschland, Unwired Holdings Inc., Unwired Technology, WF Global (BVI) Limited, WF Global (HK) Limited, Winchester Holding Inc., Winchester Interconnect, Winchester Interconnect (M) Sdn. Bhd., Winchester Interconnect (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Winchester Interconnect (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Winchester Interconnect CM Corporation, Winchester Interconnect Cable Assemblies LLC, Winchester Interconnect Corporation, Winchester Interconnect Hermetics LLC, Winchester Interconnect RF Corporation, Winchester Interconnect Ruggedized Corporation, YanCheng SeMyung Electronics Co. Ltd., gabo Systemtechnik, gabo Systemtechnik GmbH, nuTonomy, nuTonomy Asia Pte. Ltd., and nuTonomy Inc..
A man who was sexually abused by a Catholic brother when he was six says a 33-year-jail sentence for the paedophile is not long enough.

The convicted sex offender Bernard McGrath preyed on children in New Zealand and Australia where hes just been sentenced to decades in prison.

Darryl Smith was just six years old when Bernard McGrath began sexually abusing him in the 1970s at Christchurchs Marylands school for boys.

McGrath was a St John of God brother when he abused at least nine boys at the school. He eventually served two prison sentences in New Zealand - released most recently in 2008.

Now 54, Darryl Smith is still angry.

"I got my life totally stolen from me. I had no childhood because of this monster, I lost everything.

"He is responsible majorly, yes, because he did the crime, but also St John of God hid the crime. They knew these sorts of things were happening to us children and they allowed it to happen."

But McGraths abuse didnt end there.

Despite the accusations at Marylands, St John of God made him headmaster at Kendall Grange boys home in New South Wales where he subjected boys to years of sexual assaults through the 80s.

In 2012, Australian authorities laid more than 250 charges and after a lengthy two year legal battle he was extradited from New Zealand to stand trial.

Last week, at the age of seventy, he was sentenced to 33 years jail, with 21 years without parole.

Mr Smith says it was justice and he should never be allowed out.

"As a survivor of this monsters abuse, life is not long enough for him. My message to the Australian government is to lock him away, lock him away and just throw away the key.

"Dont even feed the monster, give him nothing."

He says it was appalling how long the legal process had taken.

"The predator seems to have more money and people behind him than the victims ... in his case hes got the might of the Catholic Church behind him."

Murray Heasley is a spokeperson for the Network for Survivors of Abuse in Faith Based Institutions.

He said the fact that McGrath would spend the rest of his life in prison was some justice for his victims but he it took far too long to get there.

"Many of the people that Bernard McGrath attacked will be dead now, and a good number of them will be dead by their own hand. So the longer that this injustice was drawn out, the more horrific the effect was on survivors. Theyre the survivors, the victims are the ones that didnt make it. So my response is this is unconscionable. "

Mr Heasley says he hoped the government would allow abuse carried out in religious orders to be part of the the Royal Commission on historical abuse in state care.
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.

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In the United States, flu-related deaths are not very common, though they do occur. Typically, the only people who die from complications related to the flu are those with weakened immune systems (babies, the elderly, and chronically sick people). A new study, though, warns that when it comes to pediatric deaths, those with the flu probably died because they were not vaccinated.

Or, to put it another way: a simple flu shot probably could have spared most (if not all) of those infants.

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These findings greatly underscore the vaccination debate (that vaccines only work if everyone gets themsomething called herd immunity). However, this is the first real study to demonstrate that flu vaccination can significantly reduce the risk of a child dying from an influenza infection.

According to researchers, These results reinforce the need to increase influenza vaccination coverage, especially among children at increased risk of influenza-related complications and death.

The study followed 358 children (between the ages of 6 months and 17 years) over four seasons. 291 of these children had vaccination statuses, but only about 26 percent had actually received their vaccinations. Flu-related deaths were reported across 43 US states.

In a CDC news release, Influenza epidemiologist and lead study author Brendan Flannery, PhD, notes, Every year CDC receives reports of children who died from the flu. This study tells us that we can prevent more of these deaths by vaccinating more.

In September, US health officials had expressed new concerns over new flu vaccine recommendations which could result in fewer children receiving their vaccinations.

Indeed, CDC Director Tom Frieden reports, Were concerned that vaccination rates could be lower this year because the mist isnt available. A lot of kids prefer the mist to the shot.

So far, the vaccination coverage estimates from last influenza season (2015-2016) showed that vaccination rates among children remain steady. However, the data also shows that there has been a notable decline in vaccinations among adults older than 50 with influenza-related hospitalizations increasing for those older than 64 percent.

Essentially, the study concludes that the results suggest vaccination reduces the risk for influenza-associated death among children and adolescents and add to the evidence of benefits of influenza vaccination for children. Thus, the researchers, conclude, annual vaccination is an important strategy to prevent influenza and influenza-associated complications and deaths.
A brand new study out of the University of Alberta, in Canada, suggests that exposing very young children to pets, early in life, might improve their eventual health outcomes down the road. While some existing studies have certainly encouraged the adoption of pets to improve range of allergies, this new research says that the introduction of pets could also help some children avoid developing obesity later in life.

The latest research shows that when babies are born to families who have pets, they grow to be healthier. For the study, the research team analyzed more than 700 people children in Canada. The team found that if a baby is exposed to pets even while in the womb (or within the first three months of birth) they have an abundance of ruminococcus and oscillospira bacteria in their physical makeup; the latter of which has been associated with leanness, lower body mass index.

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University of Alberta epidemiologist Anita Kozyrskyz led the team. She says that these two types of bacteria increase twofold when you introduce a pet to a household with a baby (or is expecting a baby). The research team intimates that, perhaps, this works because exposing a child to these bacteria allows them to develop resistance.

Kozyrskyz notes that exposure to a pet can indirectly affect the microbiome of the gut: dog to mother to fetus.

In addition, the study also found that when pets are present in the house, it results in a reduced the transmission of vaginal group B strep (GBS) during birth and that can will normally cause pneumonia in newborns.

Kozyrskyz comments, Its not far-fetched that the pharmaceutical industry will try to create a supplement of these microbiomes, much like was done with probiotics.

Indeed, the researchers suggest that it is widely believed that exposing a child to dirt and bacteriajust like the ones you might find on a household poochcan simply produce early immunity. At the same time, though, they still need to conduct more research in order to completely understand the benefits of the bonding between a child and their canine pal.

The results of this study has been published in the journal in Microbiome.
We can expect the White House to release, this coming Wednesday broad principles and priorities of their new plans to overhaul federal taxes in the US, according to a White House. This downplays expectations that the Trump administration will reveal crucial details at the foundation of the new plan.

Visiting the US Department of the Treasury, on Friday, President Trump commented, Well be having a big announcement on Wednesday having to do with tax reform. The process has begun long ago but it really formally begins on Wednesday.

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An anonymous White House official made sure to note that while there will certainly be an announcement on Wednesday, we can expect that it will be broad in nature.

This anonymous officials said, [W] e will outline our broad principles and priorities. We are moving forward on comprehensive tax reform that cuts tax rates for individuals, simplifies our overly-complicated system and creates jobs by making American businesses competitive.

Trump, himself, has said, This is really the beginning of a whole new way of life that this country hasnt seen in many, many years. Weve lifted one terrible regulation after another at a record clip from the energy sector to the auto sector.Essentially, we might also be able to speculate that, under President Trumps new tax plan, the corporate tax rate would fall to 15 or 20 percent; some argue that, perhaps, it may not fall any lower than 28 percent (as a means for avoiding a tax revenue shortfall).

Manhattan Institute senior fellow Diana Fuchgott-Roth notes, Were up in the air on tax reform, so its a good idea to repeal [the tax inversion ban in the interim].

She goes so far as to argue that even if a US company were to move abroad, its lower tax tab would allow for higher overall earnings. Fuchgott-Roth contends, then, that this might actually translate to more available money for expanding US capacity, which coul then lead to more jobs.

Finally, some officials with the Trump administration said they will propose putting some limits on the tax breaks, but it is not expected to be a major part of the bigger plan. Instead, the officials say, the plan will assume future economic growth resulting from these tax cuts will generate several trillion dollars in new revenue.
Proposed plans on how the medical marijuana industry in California will be regulated have been unveiled. The proposed regulations lay out the standards that have to be met by marijuana enterprises seeking to be licensed by the state. Three different agencies in the state were involved in drafting the proposed regulations.

Some of the rules get down to the specifics including determining what quantities of marijuana a weed shop can sell to consumers with medical conditions in one day, how big a marijuana farm can be and how late into the night a weed shop can remain open. The proposed regulations are contained in a 211-page document.

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Public participation

In the course of the next 45 days public hearings will be held in the state. Feedback can be offered by residents either by appearing at the public hearings or giving an oral presentation or by providing a written statement. The final regulations are expected to be in place by early next year.

The proposed licensing regulations for medical cannabis are the result of countless hours of research, stakeholder outreach, informational sessions and pre-regulatory meetings all across the state, Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation chief, Lori Ajax, said.

2015 Act

Plans to provide better oversight and regulation on Californias unchecked week market were started in 2015 after the states governor, Jerry Brown, gave authorization to the Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act. The Act strives to have all pot businesses in the state issued with licenses early next year. With the Act, the Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation was created and the position of the chief handed to Ajax who previously worked as a regulator in the alcohol industry.

Besides the Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation which came up with its own set of proposed regulations aimed at marijuana retailers, laboratories, transporters and distributors, the Health Department also had its own input. The Health Department developed a 95-page document that contained proposed regulations that would be applied in the manufacture of cannabis products including concentrates and edibles.

Marijuana cultivators

The third department to be involved in the drafting of proposed regulations for the marijuana industry was the Food and Agriculture which concentrated its focus on cultivators of the marijuana crop.

Coming up with regulations for three agencies was easier when they were only dealing with medical marijuana but the legalization of recreational marijuana in California last year in November now means regulations will be developed for that market too. Proposed regulations for the recreational marijuana market are expected to be released in fall.
The president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, and the president of the United States, Donald Trump, talked on the phone on Tuesday, marking the first instance the two leaders were speaking since the U.S. military fired missiles into a Syrian airbase. In the telephone call, the Syrian civil war was discussed besides the North Korean situation.

According to officials at the Kremlin, the two leaders will allow their top diplomats, the U.S. Secretary of State and the Russian Foreign Minister, to continue discussions on a cease-fire strategy for the conflict in Syria that has been going on for six years now.

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President Trump and President Putin agreed that the suffering in Syria has gone on for far too long and that all parties must do all they can to end the violence, a statement from the White House said.

In an initiative that is being led by Russia, talks in a cease-fire will start in Astana, Kazakhstan on Wednesday. Among the countries that are expected to participate include Turkey and Iran. The United States will also send a representative.

In the proposal by Russia that is expected to be tabled in Astana, forces drawn from countries such as Iran, Turkey and Russia will be used to patrol the lines that will be dividing the forces loyal to the Syrian government and opposition or rebel forces. The patrolling forces will be put up in some Damascus suburbs, Homs, and in Idlib Province. A condition would, however, be imposed on the rebels as they would have to isolate jihadist groups such as those belong to the Nusra Front and ISIS.

North Korea crisis

This is not the first time that such talks are being held. The Obama administration jointly with Russia organized a similar effort though no breakthrough was achieved. Regarding North Korea, the Kremlin disclosed that Putin urged restraint and called for a reduction in the level of tensions. The two leaders also explored the possibility of holding a meeting during the G20 summit that will be held in Hamburg, Germany in July.

Besides having a telephone conversation with Trump, Putin on Tuesday also met with German Chancellor, Angela Merkel in the resort city of Sochi. After the meeting, Putin denied that the Russian government has been meddling with elections in the West with the latest allegations having arisen in France. The current U.S. government administration has also had to constantly refute claims that there was a conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 U.S. presidential election campaign period.
Blue KC, or Blue Cross of Kansas City, has announced that it can no longer handle losses that it has had to bear by providing individual Obamacare plans. The insurer that is based in Kansas City disclosed that in 2018 it will not renew or offer healthcare plans under the Affordable Care Act. Currently the number of counties across Missouri and Kansas that Blue KC serves are 32. Around 67,000 members will be affected by the move.

According to information on state websites, Blue KC was among four insurers that offered healthcare plans via the Missouri Exchange in 2017. It was also one of the three that offered healthcare plans via the Kansas exchange this year.

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Huge losses

The chief executive officer of Blue KC, Danette Wilson, admitted that since 2016 over $100 million has been lost by the company in the Obamacare health plan markets.

This is unsustainable for our company, said Wilson in a statement. We have a responsibility to our members and the greater community to remain stable and secure, and the uncertain direction of this market is a barrier to our continued participation.

Nonprofit insurer

Blue KC is a nonprofit insurance company and has members totaling over one million. By pulling out of Kansas City, it means the area might be left with just one insurer for the individual health plans. Earlier in the year another insurer, Humana, indicated that it was withdrawing. This move left Missouri with only one payer  Cigna. In counties such as Johnson and Wyandotte, there is only one insurer on the Obamacare exchanges and this is Medica. However, Medicas enrolment is capped at 10,000.

The problem of insurers exiting the Obamacare exchanges has been blamed partly on uncertainty in the markets. Earlier in the month, Republicans in the House of Representatives passed a bill meant to repeal Obamacare even before the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office had scored it. The bill introduced new government assistance and coverage rules for consumers. Senators, however, revealed that they would not consider the bill and would instead draft their own bill. No time frame was given though.

New legislation

After the announcement by Blue KC, lawmakers from Kansas and Missouri immediately reacted. The Democratic Senator for Missouri, Claire McCaskill, revealed that she had introduced legislation which would let consumers residing in countries that lack insurers who are participating in the Obamacare exchanges to get access to insurance plans that are similar to what the members of the U.S. Congress get.
A meat processing company has filed a lawsuit in South Dakota over claims that an ABC News Reporting story qualifies as libel. In this report, the news agency called a product made by Beef Products Inc (BPI) pink slime.

The fast food industry calls this stuff lean, finely-textured beef.

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BPI is now saying that the ABC should be considered a disinformation campaign, and that this effort has resulted in the meat processors revenue dropping by 80 percent. As such, BPI is suing ABC for upwards of $5.7 billion, in damages.

At a hearing in January, a BPI lawyer told the judge that the ABC story is fake news. And in this report, court documents list that ABCs Jim Avila actually spoke the term pink slime 137 times.

But what, exactly, is pink slime?

BPI explains that the productwhich, again, they call lean, finely-textured beefcontains beef trimmings which have been placed in a centrifuge. This process serves to separate the lean meat from the fat; after which, the lean meat is treated with ammonia to remove any bacteria. The term was first coined by Gerald Zimstein. The former US Department of Agriculture scientist originally used the term in an email to his colleagues, in 2002.

These processed trimmings were once commonly found in fast-food beef patties served at franchises like Burger King, McDonalds, and Taco Bell. It was also common to beef products sold in grocery stores, many of which stopped selling the products after the initial airing of the ABC report. And, after the report, BPIwhose primary revenue comes from manufacturing and selling the beef trimmings productclosed three of its four production facilities.

Of course, ABC lawyers argue that the report is protected under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, which ensures freedom of speech and, more importantly, free press. The networkwhich is owned by the Walt Disney Company, if you didnt knowis arguing that BPI has to prove that ABCs reporters acted deliberately, with actual malice in order to harm the companys reputation.

Cattle Buyers Weekly publisher, Steve Kay, opines that ABCs story by most standards of responsible journalism [appears] to be distorted and biased and extremely unreasonable.

In response, ABC lawyer Kevin Baine comments, We believe in the principle that people deserve to know whats in the food they eat and are confident that when all the facts are presented in court, ABCs reporting will be fully vindicated.
Reports indicate that social networking giant Facebook has handed over information on Russia ad spending to Robert Muellers team. Mueller is the Special Counsel investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign team. The information that Facebook provided to the Special Counsel included details of the purchases, targeting criteria employed to get to the voters as well as copies of the ads.

Earlier in the month Facebook disclosed that $100,000 worth of advertising had been purchased in the course of the 2016 U.S. presidential election cycle and a few months after by phony accounts whose origins appeared to have been Russia. According to the Palo Alto, California-based social media giant, around 3,000 adverts that had connections with 470 accounts which were inauthentic went live on Facebook.

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Privacy policy

It is understood that Facebook turned over the detailed information because a warrant had been issued. The policy of the social media company is to hand over information concerning an account only when a warrant has been presented. That a warrant was issued has led to the conclusion that the Special Counsel has obtained enough evidence that a crime took place and it took place on the Facebook platform.

He would have to sort of lay out evidence showing that this crime had occurred, not just merely say so, but records that he had obtained, testimony that had been given, or interviews that people gave, Renato Mariotti, a former U.S. federal prosecutor, said in an interview with CBS News with regards to what Mueller had done to obtain the warrant.

Troll farm

While testifying before Congress last week some representatives of Facebook revealed that they believed the fake accounts which were associated with the suspect ad buys possibly had links with a troll farm that is based in St. Petersburg, Russia. The troll farm is commonly known as Internet Research Agency and it has been associated with online propaganda campaigns that are pro-Kremlin. According to intelligence agencies in the United States, the troll farm is sponsored by people who have close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The disclosure by Facebook about the Russian ad buys mark the first time the social media giant was admitting that the platform was used to sway voters during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Previously Facebook had denied there was any such activity on its platform.
U.S-based chip manufacturer Qualcomm has found itself in a conundrum after it was fined $774 million by Taiwan for violating antitrust regulations.

The Taiwan Fair Trade Commission announced on Wednesday that it would impose a $774.14 million fine on the chip maker for anti-competitive practices. The Asian watchdog stated that Qualcomm had been exercising monopoly power through its cellular modems business. The latter provides cellular chipsets that are used in smartphones. The commissionaccused chipmaker of refusing the license the technology for those cellular chipsets to other manufacturers in the industry.

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Qualcomms illegal actions have seriously affected the (market) competitionto ensure, maintain or enhance its dominance in the market, stated the FTC.

The FTC claims that the fine imposed upon the company is as a result of investigations that it has been carrying out on the matter. Some of the chipsets involved in the antitrust violation report include the WCDMA (3G), CDMA and LTE chipsets. Qualcomm will be required to submit a report on its negotiations with other firms twice every year on top of the $774 million fine.

Qualcomm has also released a statement saying that it does not agree with the decision and that it plans to file an appeal in court once the FTC issues its final decision over the next few weeks. The U.S-based manufacturer argues that the figure presented as the fine does not align with Qualcomms activities or revenue in Taiwan.

The Commission however argues that the company has been carrying out the anticompetitive practices for at least seven years. It also stated that the chip maker made more than $30 billion in baseband chip sales and royalty fees worth roughly 13.33 billion.

Unfortunately, the new fine by the Taiwan Fair Trade Commission adds on to the numerous other fines and legal battles that have burdened the chip manufacturer. Korean regulators imposed an $854 million fine on Qualcomm in December 2016 for anticompetitive practices and Chinese regulators also slapped the company with a $975 million penalty for in similar anticompetitive claims in the previous year.

Qualcomm has also been involved in a nasty legal battle with software and tech giant Apple over patent infringement. The iPhone maker also filed a lawsuit accusing the chip maker of using its dominant position to demand unfair royalties. Meanwhile, Qualcomm continues to be the dominant chip manufacturer for smartphones owing to its superior quality. However, this dominant position has attracted a lot of legal battles and fines from antitrust regulators.
Portugal is considering a plan of setting up free zones which will be governed by special regulations for the testing of emerging technologies such autonomous cars and drones. This is with the aim of spurring the development of such technologies in the country and also attracting investment.

One of the areas we are working on has to do with technological free zones and drones is one of the areas we want to promoteanother is autonomous vehicles, Ana Lehmann, the Industry Secretary, said in an interview with Reuters.

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In the last few years, there has been a sharp increase in the number of technology startups and this has been attributed to low wages, highly educated engineers and cheap property following the debt crisis that occurred between 2011 and 2014.

The flow of investment into the technology sector has led to the highest level of economic growth this year in over ten years and the government is hopeful that new regulations will attract more investments. Various countries across the globe are experimenting with how they can permit the testing of new technologies within their jurisdiction.

In the United Kingdom for instance, online retail giant Amazon is testing a special parcel delivery system. Alphabet is also conducting trials of making deliveries using drones in Australia. The government of the United States also granted approval for the expansion of drone testing on its soil last week.

According to Lehman the government of Portugal was being careful with regards to the laws that would be enacted for the free zones. Earlier in the year the Portuguese government restricted drone use owing to public security concerns. The law in Portugal also currently doesnt allow autonomous cars to be tested on public roads.

Wireless network system

Some of the companies that are likely to benefit from the free zones includes Veniam, one of the leading tech firms in Portugal. Veniam has created a wireless network for use in public transport and this know-how is expected to be used with regards to driverless cars. The wireless network system was initially developed for Porto, a city in Portugal.

German luxury car firm Mercedes-Benz also recently unveiled a digital center which is located in Portugals capital, Lisbon. The center is involved in the development of self-driving car technology. Another German car firm, Volkswagen, also operates a huge motor vehicle assembly plant in the country. And with Portugal boasting some of the largest reserves of lithium in Europe it is also pitching to have Tesla locate a factory there.
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and Royal Dutch Shell have signed a 15-year deal to import natural gas in order to meet the growing domestic energy needs of the oil-exporting country. The sales purchasing deal was inked with a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell, Shell International Trading Middle East Ltd, and will commence in 2020.

Since 2010 Shell has been supplying the gulf country with natural gas. The new contract does not however specify the quantities of natural gas that are meant to be supplied. According to Kuwait Petroleum Corporation there is an ongoing effort to boost local production of natural gas but in the meantime there is an urgent need to meet immediate requirements.

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Air conditioning

With the liquefied natural gas Kuwait will be able to meet domestic demand for the power required to operate air conditioners during the hot summer months. This power could have been generated from burning crude oil but the crude oil will instead be exported for profit.

The big issue for Kuwait is they burn a lot of oil, most of their power generated is from oil, and so importing LNG for them is cheaper and frees up oil for export, said Qamar Energys chief executive officer, Robin Mills.

Additionally Kuwait is eyeing energy sources that are cleaner in order to cut down on carbon emissions and thus improve the quality of air. This includes natural gas. According to sources between two million and three million tons of natural gas per year will be covered by the contract. It is understood that the contract prices the supplies at 11% below the Brent benchmark.

Energy supplier

The deal between Royal Dutch Shell and Kuwait Petroleum Corporation comes less than a week since the former announced that it would be acquiring UKs energy supplier First Utility. The energy supplier currently has a customer base of about 825,000 households in the United Kingdom.

Shell and First Utility have had a business relationship since 2013 when the former began selling the latter energy on a wholesale basis. Two years ago First Utility also inked a licensing deal with Shell which allowed it to use the Anglo-Dutch oil giants brand name to trade in the household energy sector of Germany.

According to analysts the intended acquisition of First Utility by Shell is a threat to the market share of the big-six energy suppliers. This includes Eon, SSE and British Gas which have been losing customers to smaller and newer players.
Reports indicate that Qualcomms Snapdragon 855 chip will be produced by TSMC  Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. According to the reports the next-generation mobile processor from Qualcomm will be produced on a mass scale using the latest 7nm technology of TSMC.

Qualcomms choice of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company will be viewed as a blow to South Korean conglomerate, Samsung, a giant in the sector. One of the reasons cited for the ditching of Samsung by Qualcomm is the fact that the South Korean firm will be unable to manufacture 7nm chipsets next year. This is not the first time though that Qualcomms mobile processors are being produced by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Both Snapdragon 808 and Snapdragon 810 were produced by the Taiwanese firm.

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10nm technology

The latest mobile processor from Qualcomm is Snapdragon 845 and it will be produced using the 10nm technology by Samsung. It is expected to be featured in Samsung Galaxy S9+ as well as Samsung Galaxy S9 which will be released next year during the yearly Mobile World Congress. Samsung also produced the Snapdragon 835 processor.

The decision by Qualcomm to turn to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company for the production of its next-generation mobile processor coincides with the chip maker obtaining a permit allowing it to test driverless cars on Californian public roads. The Department of Motor Vehicles in the state of California issued the permit authorizing the testing of one car and three drivers. This comes in the midst of the chipmakers efforts to establish itself in the driverless car market.

We certainly expect to be a key player in the autonomous space, said Nakul Duggal, a vice president at Qualcomm for automotive.

Driverless car chipset

Three months ago Qualcomm unveiled the 9150 C-V2X chipset that allows vehicles to communicate with each other as well as with infrastructure including traffic lights. According to Duggal such technology would work well with chips to improve safety.

Already field trials have been conducted by Qualcomm in conjunction with Ford in Californias San Diego County. Other field trials are expected to take place in Japan, Italy, Germany, China as well as the U.S. state of Michigan.

Other chipmakers that have been allowed to test autonomous car technology in the state of California includes Nvidia, which was issued with a permit more than a year ago, and Samsung, which was issued with a permit earlier in the year. Nvidias automotive partners include Volvo, Tesla and Toyota.
Investigations are underway involving an oil heist at the biggest refinery of Royal Dutch Shell in Singapore. So far eleven men have been charged in court while six others were being investigated over the theft that took place over the weekend.

According to the city-states police, the age of the 17 men who have been detained ranges between 30 and 63. Police have also seized cash totaling millions of dollars as well as a small tanker after the heist which occurred at an industrial site in Pulau Bukom.

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Illegal oil trading

In the last few decades the shipping and refining of oil have contributed immensely to the rising wealth in Singapore. The oil sector in the city-state however faces challenges as it has become an illegal oil trading hotspot with the stolen fuel finding markets in Southeast Asia. Per the police the investigation started last year in August after they were contacted by Shell and the arrests came after the Police Coast Guard, Police Intelligence Department and Criminal Investigation Department launched simultaneous raids spread across Singapore.

Among the nine Singaporeans who were arrested and charged, eight were employed by Shells Singapore subsidiary. There were also two Vietnamese nationals who were arrested and charged for being in possession of stolen property on the small tanker referred to as the Prime South. Shipping data showed that the small tanker had been operating as an oil shipper between Singapore, Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City in the last 30 days.

Main refining hub

Besides being the main refinery hub in Southeast Asia as well as the largest marine refueling stop in the world, Singapore is also one of the most important trading hubs of oil in the world. Most of the crude oil from the Middle East passes through Singapore before it is delivered to consumers in countries such as South Korea, Japan and China.

The development comes in the wake of the chief executive officer of Royal Dutch Shell, Ben van Beurden, indicating that most of the growth in oil and gas for the Anglo-Dutch giant in the next decade will come from shale production. Beyond that van Beurden indicated that the power segment would play a significant role.

 the power segment is going to be a very dominant part of the total energy system. At the moment its only 18 per cent but it will be more than 50 by the time this century is over, said van Beurden.
Airbus has predicted that it will regain the pole position in the market for commercial planes by 2020. According to a top executive of the aircraft maker, Airbus will achieve its goal by outproducing Boeing, its U.S. rival. Fabrice Bregier, the chief operating officer and president of planemaking at Airbus, said that the prediction was informed by the fact that the European firm posted higher orders as well as deliveries last year. The last time Airbus was in the leading position was seven years ago.

Per Bregier, this year will see 800 airplane deliveries which will be an increase of 11%. Last year the plane maker saw a gain of 8% while in 2016 the annual gain was 4%. Last year Boeing delivered 763 planes while Airbus delivered 718. The chief operating officer of Boeing also said that he was confident that Pratt & Whitney, an engine maker, would overcome previous delays and maintain aircraft production plans.

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A380 superjumbo jet

This comes in the wake of Airbus warning that the production of A380 double-decker jet might have to be shut down as there havent been any new orders in the last two years. Two months ago Airbus had been expecting to get a massive order from Emirates, the main client, but the Gulf-based airline instead ordered 40 Boeing Dreamliners.

We are still talking to Emirates, but honestly  if we cant work out a deal with Emirates there is no choice but to shut down the programme, said John Leahy, the sales director of Airbus.

The A380 has a seating capacity of 853 and the superjumbo jet was introduced at a time when Boeing was making a bet on Dreamliner which is more efficient and can tackle both long-distance and medium-distance flights. One disadvantage with the A380 is that airlines have to ensure each flight is fully booked in order to operate profitably.

Falling demand

The 2018 list price for the A380 is $446 million. By the end of last month 317 orders of the plane had been made from 18 airlines and 222 of those orders have been delivered. The last order was made by ANA of Japan, which wanted three jets. Before that the last order had been made by Emirates in 2013 when it ordered 50 jets. In order to ensure viability of the program, Airbus needs to build a minimum of six A380s. Last year Airbus delivered 12 A380s a decline from the 27 jets that were delivered in 2015.
Go-Jek, Indonesias ride-hailing service firm, has received an investment from Google. According to the Mountain View, California-based tech giant the investment is part of the firms goal to grow the start-up scene and digital economy of Indonesia. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

Go-Jek is led by a strong Indonesian management team  This investment lets us partner with a great local champion in Indonesias flourishing startup ecosystem, while also deepening our commitment to Indonesias internet economy, Caesar Sengupta, a Google vice president, said.

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Fundraising round

Earlier in the year reports had surfaced indicated that the internet giant had participated in a fundraising round that netted $1.2 billion for Go-Jek. Others who participated in the fundraising round then include Meituan-Dianping, a Chinese internet firm, and Temasek Holdings, the sovereign wealth fund of Singapore. It was also reported late last year that Go-Jek had purchased three fintech startups with a view to dominated the digital payments sector of Indonesia.

Googles investment in Go-Jek comes in the wake of the internet behemoth officially closing an acqui-hire deal worth $1.1 billion with HTC. The deal will see Google adding over 2,000 smartphone specialists and experts in Taiwan as the online search giant tries to carve a niche in the high-end handset market that is dominated by Apple and Samsung. Google is expected to delve deeper into special-purpose chips and consumer hardware design just like its rivals.

Pixel devices

The most recent Pixel smartphone features a specially-designed processor which is aimed at improving the camera. According to Rick Osterloh, the hardware chief of the internet giant, more of these custom-made hardware and chips will appear in upcoming Pixel phones.

Previously Googles focus was on software and the tech giant allowed hardware manufacturers such as HTC and Samsung Electronics to handle the hardware. With the designers and engineers who have been brought on board from HTC, Google will now have more control over hardware design and production. This is in light of the fact that modern smartphones which come with advanced features such as augmented reality as well as services that are based on artificial intelligence will require a close integration of hardware and software.

The move by Google to design and build more of its hardware in-house is likely to reduce business for suppliers. In the recent past suppliers who have been overly dependent on tech firms such as Apple have suffered when the design of components they used to provide is moved in-house. Shares of Dialog Semiconductor fell for instance when Apple disclosed it would begin designing chips used in power management.
"A little fill here and there may seem to be nothing to become excited about. But one fill, though comparatively inconsequential, may lead to another, and another, and before long a great body may be eaten away until it may no longer exist.

Our navigable waters are a precious natural heritage, once gone, they disappear forever," wrote the Wisconsin Supreme Court in its 1960 opinion resolving Hixon v. PSC and buttressing The Public Trust Doctrine, Article IX of the Wisconsin State Constitution.
An administration established in Da Lat by Vietnams last king boasts lasting historic significance and provides inspiration for the citys future expansion.

>> Untold stories of Da Lat  P7: Pioneering veggie growers

>> Untold stories of Da Lat  P6: Cherry blossom valley

>> Untold stories of Da Lat  P5: Billeting army officers wives

>> 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

Da Lat is an idyllic resort town and capital of Lam Dong Province in the Central Highlands.

Within the first half of the 20th century, the French had built Da Lat into a romantic French town on the Lang Biang Plateau with hallmark European-style villas.

Throughout geo-political conflicts and financial downturns, including two world wars and global economic recession, Da Lat endured as Frances capital of Indochina, often garnering favors from the government and playing a key role in development policies.

Following his abdication in 1945, the former King Bao Dai (1913-1997), the Nguyen Dynastys and the countrys last monarch, ruled the town for a short period of time.

Heart of the regal realm

King Bao Dai was sent back to Vietnam by the French government in 1949, four years after his abdication, to serve as the chief of the State of Vietnam.

One year later, he released an edict, mandating that Da Lat would be the capital of his Hoang Trieu Cuong Tho (Domaine de la Couronne-Regal Domain), comprised of five Central Highlands provinces, including Lam Dong.

Each of Bao Dais decisions was approved by the French Resident Superior in central Vietnam.

A few months later, Bao Dai appointed French Colonel Didelot as his representative to the Central Highlands localities, including Buon Ma Thuot, Dak Lak, Kon Tum, Pleiku, Lam Vien, and Dong Nai Thuong (Upper Dong Nai).

Ngo Dinh Diem (1901-1963), a former official of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), was named Prime Minister of the State of Vietnam by Bao Dai in 1954.

In October 1955, after winning a heavily rigged referendum, he deposed Bao Dai and became the president of the first Republic of Vietnam, a state he established himself.

In the end, Hoang Trieu Cuong Tho lasted a mere four years and 11 days.

Orderly society

Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters recently interviewed Nguyen Huu Tranh, a former employee at the Lam Dong Department of Science and Technology.

Tranh himself lived through the Hoang Trieu Cuong Tho era and has dedicated over 30 years to research on Da Lat.

As a 13-year-old in 1952, Thanh would attend school in downtown Da Lat.

Outstanding students in the city were granted the privilege of attending Bao Dais longevity cerebrations and receiving gifts presented at the palace by the king himself.

Tranh recalls life under Bao Dai as orderly and idyllic, particularly as anyone wishing to visit the town was expected to seek permission from the Public Security Department under the Head of State Office in Hanoi and Saigon (known now as Ho Chi Minh City).

Migrants wishing to start new lives in the town needed guarantors already living in Da Lat with decent jobs.

The laws in Da Lat were quite different and stringent compared to the overall legal system, Tranh noted.

A view of a market on Vanvollenhoven Street (Phan Boi Chau Street, Da Lat City now) in 1955. Courtesy of the Lam Dong Museum

Thefts and robberies were only occasional incidences, while panhandling and violence were also kept to a minimum. Public gambling and drinking were also extremely rare, Thanh shared.

Streets and public areas in the city were kept spotless and the beauty of the city was maintained by local residents, including vendors at Da Lat Market who gave their stalls and the surroundings a thorough cleaning around 4:00 pm every day.

He added that residents were required to adhere to common construction patterns on designated streets and construction permits were hard to come by during the Hoang Trieu Cuong Tho period.

For instance, Duy Tan Street, now 3-2 Street, was home to only three-floor semi-detached houses, while Phan Dinh Phung Street boasted only two-story residences.

Vo Tanh Street (now Bui Thi Xuan Street) was lined with wooden houses, while Hai Ba Trung Street was home to condominiums inhabited by civil servants from state agencies.

Residents had to seek consent from local authorities regarding details as small as the shape or paint colors of their fences.

Nguyen Van Ky, now 91, worked as a Morse code communicator for Bao Dai.

Migrants of Kinh descent, who make up the majority of Vietnamese population, encountered immense difficulty settling down in the localities as the Hoang Trieu Cuong Tho administration focused on fostering the welfare of ethnic minority communities and current Kinh inhabitants.

As with life under the French rule, felling trees to build houses in forests or even picking flowers on the streets was strictly prohibited.

After the Hoang Trieu Cuong Tho came to an end, Diems administration allowed Kinh migrants to move freely to the Central Highlands and scrapped many of the laws credited with maintaining order during the French and Hoang Trieu Cuong Tho eras.

Preserving the vestiges

In mid-2014, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung approved a zoning adjustment project for Da Lat City until 2030 with a vision toward 2050.

The future Da Lat will cover an area nearly 10 times the current size.

The zoning plan was determined by identifying lands with optimal soil conditions, climate, and grounds to foster economic growth.

The plan thereby aims to expand the citys and neighboring areas investment climate, build satellite urban areas to aid Da Lats growth, and safeguard the current city by preserving its rich cultural and tourism values.

The project will be carried out by architect Thierry Huau and his French associates under strict supervision from competent Vietnamese agencies.

Speaking with Tuoi Tre, Huau stressed the importance of erecting a heritage axis in the existing and prospective Da Lat to best preserve its relics.

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Here are todays leading news stories:

Society

-- The Vam Cong Ferry Station, which provides transportation service between Dong Thap and An Giang in Vietnams Mekong Delta, was severely congested on Monday afternoon, the fourth day of the Lunar New Year festival, due to a large number of vehicles traveling back to Ho Chi Minh City following the holiday.

-- A serious traffic jam occurred along the Phap Van-Cau Gie Expressway in southern Hanoi on Monday evening as many people were rushing back to the capital after the Lunar New Year holiday.

-- As a large number of commuters were heading back to Ho Chi Minh City on Monday, the tollgate of the Rach Mieu Bridge, which connects the Mekong Delta provinces of Tieng Giang and Ben Tre, was forced to shut down to alleviate gridlock.

-- A total of 231 traffic accidents happened across Vietnam during the six festive days of the Lunar New Year, from February 14 to 19, killing 179 people and injuring 186 others, according to the National Committee for Traffic Safety.

-- Police in the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh on Monday arrested a 35-year-old man for injuring his wife and killing her lover with a knife. The couple was separated prior to the incident, according to officers.

-- A 15-year-old girl and her 23-year-old cousin in the north-central province of Nghe An have gone missing since Saturday after going out with a friend they had met on social media.

-- Ho Chi Minh City police captured a 32-year-old man on Monday for murdering his wife after discovering her Facebook messages with an alleged lover.

Lifestyle

-- Managers of the Quang Trung Kings Temple, located in Vinh City in Nghe An Province, announced on Monday they will not be issuing the temples seals, which are often given to visitors as lucky charms on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year.

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A foreign passenger, who was supposed to get on a flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Myanmar, somehow ended up on an aircraft en route to Singapore on Tuesday morning.

The incident happened on the flight VN 651 operated by national carrier Vietnam Airlines, which was scheduled to leave Tan Son Nhat International Airport for Singapore at 9:10 am on Tuesday.

According to a source close to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, who was also a passenger on the flight, the plane was about to take off when the cabin crew was informed that a passenger had got on the wrong aircraft.

At 9:05 am, a flight attendant announced that the departure would be delayed, the source stated.

A foreign man then exited the plane along with his backpack and suitcase.

Several stewardesses were tasked with making sure none of his belongings were left on the aircraft.

An employee of Vietnam Airlines escorted the passenger back to the airport terminal after his entire luggage was collected.

Flight attendants make sure none of his belongings are left on the aircraft. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Meanwhile, all passengers on the flight were asked to remain at their seats in order for the flight attendants to count the number of flyers.

The plane was still not able to take off as of 10:00 am that morning.

According to Vietnam Airlines' schedule, the flight VN 943 took off from Ho Chi Minh City to travel to Yangon, Myanmar at 9:25 am, while the flight VN 651 left for Singapore at 9:10 am on Tuesday.

The foreign passenger was supposed to board the flight VN 943.

Following the incident, he was still able to get on the correct plane in time, as the flight VN 943 had been delayed.

Regarding the flight VN 651, passengers were first asked to board at gate No. 17 but were later told to head to gate No. 27.

In accordance with protocol, every passenger has to undergo several checks, which are performed by a member company of Vietnam Airlines, before being allowed to enter their flights.

It is unclear how the passenger could board the wrong plane.

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Scandi-noir drama The Bridge returns for its fourth and final season next week on SBS.

This debuted in Europe in January.

Saga Noren is imprisoned in a womens prison in Ystad under the conviction that she killed her mother. Henrik tries to visit her as often as he can, but with her incarceration, the crime- solving friendship is put to the test.

However, the gruesome crimes havent stopped, and Henrik is back on the field with his confidante Jonas Mandrup. Meanwhile, Henrik is still searching for his missing children.

Season Four, Episode One:

A woman is found brutally murdered on Pepparholm Island at the base of the bridge. Henrik seeks out an imprisoned Saga, and he wants her to help him with the new case, but Saga points to the fact that she isnt a police officer anymore and cant help him.

Thursday, 1 March at 10.25pm on SBS.
Seven West Media and Southern Cross Austereo have extended their regional television affiliation

agreement for Tasmania, Darwin, Spencer Gulf, Broken Hill, Central & Eastern Australia and

Mt Isa.

The agreement will see SCA continue to broadcast Seven for another three years with an option for each party to extend for a further fourth year.

SCA, which will continue to produce its local news bulletin, will pay Seven an affiliation fee of 50 per cent of its television revenue.

SWM CEO Tim Worner said This is a great outcome for Seven and SCA. We are confident that, together, we will continue our very successful and long standing relationship and offer a premium viewing experience for audiences and a unique platform for advertisers.

Welcoming the extension of the agreement, SCA CEO Grant Blackley said Im excited SCA is continuing its long term agreement with Seven. Our partnership enables us to deliver a strong line-up of programming, particularly in Tasmania where we enjoy an almost 60% of audience share.
The man appeared suddenly and out of nowhere. Jeremy Windsor exchanged a few words of encouragement with a fellow alpine climber who introduced himself as Jimmy, then they slowly walked on uphill, side by side. At an altitude of over 8200m on the southeastern slope of Mount Everest, one has no desire to spend precious oxygen on small talk. For the rest of the day Windsor, an experienced American mountaineer, kept seeing his companion's silhouette a few steps behind his right shoulder. Later, during the descent, Jimmy vanished just as suddenly as he appeared hours earlier.

Only when Windsor made it to the base camp, did he realise there was no 'Jimmy' or any other companion who'd walked beside him that day.

Study of climbers' experiences conclusive of yet unknown mental condition

It is not uncommon when climbers' senses are deceived by some strange illusions at ultra-high altitudes. These can range from seeing and talking to phantom companions to food smells and car noise, or even seeing an alpine hut appearing out of nowhere. According to Katharina Hufner, a neurologist and psychiatrist at the university clinic in Innsbruck, the account of Jeremy Windsor is typical. Together with Hermann Brugger, head researcher of the Institute of Highland Emergency Medicine in Bolzano, they investigated 83 reports by climbers from across the world.

Published by Psychological Medicine, the joint study by Eurac Research and the Medical University of Innsbruck examined descriptions of this phenomenon which included such accounts of renowned climbers like Hermann Buhl and Reinhold Messner, the detailed testimony by writer Jon Krakauer, as well as the stories told by many other climbers.

Hallucinations syndrome differs from high altitude sickness

Until now, medical science explained such hallucinations as the "third person syndrome," different from the most studied high-altitude sickness. The latter is associated with conditions such as the life-threatening cerebral oedema, or brain swelling, caused by a rapid rise in altitude, as well as dehydration and infections.

Early symptoms of acute altitude sickness are a severe headache, dizziness, or imbalance. In about a quarter of all reports studied to date, however, climbers described only signs of Psychosis without any accompanying physical symptoms. Physicians now consider these hallucinations a psychosis of a specific kind, different and independent from the classic high altitude sickness. Mr Brugger and his team named this phenomenon "an altitude-induced isolated psychosis." According to Katharina Hufner, this mental condition usually manifests itself at altitudes of 7,000 m, yet sometimes it can also develop at a "normal Alpine" height of 4,000 m.
A very bad mistake

A father has been branded as a 'paedophile' after checking into a Travelodge with his 14-year old daughter.

Staff at the Travelodge in Macclesfield, Cheshire, raised the alarm when Karl Pollard arrived with his daughter, Stephanie, last month.

Pollard had no choice but to book the only remaining double room at the budget hotel, whilst on their way to visit the girl's ill grandmother in hospital.

Unbeknown to them, staff tipped off the police accusing the doting father of being a 'sex offender'.

Sudden realisation

Pollard reports being given 'funny stares' from the receptionist but, due to the innocent nature of what happened, thought nothing of it.

It was only when the police knocked on the hotel room door, the sudden realisation of what was going on kicked in.

The family were completely shocked by these accusations, admitting that this had already been a very emotional trip for them, only to be made worse by being branded as a 'paedo'.

The pair made the 4-hour trip from their home in South Wales to visit Pollard's cancer-stricken mother in hospital, who has also been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Shock and confusion

Whilst brushing his teeth, Pollard was greeted with a knock on the door only to be confronted by a policewoman. The policewoman accused him of being a 'paedophile' and grooming underage girls.

This was met by absolute shock and confusion, whilst the two were swiftly separated.

After being interrogated by the policewoman, in order to prove he was really Stephanie's Dad the matter was dropped straight away.

However, teenager Stephanie was traumatised by the event and left in floods of tears after believing her dad was going to be taken away from her.

Hotel issues apology

Pollard has accused Travelodge of treating him disgustingly and reported that he did not receive an apology at the time.

However since the incident, Travelodge has apologised for any distress caused to Mr Pollard and his daughter.

The hotel chain issued a statement acknowledging its responsibility towards young and vulnerable people, as well as justifying its actions to phone the police and NSPCC if made suspicious, for any reason.

However, the hotel admits that in this instance they got it wrong, as well as refunded his 150 stay.

Cheshire Police also released a statement, saying that Travelodge did the right thing by reporting what they believed to be suspicious activity involving a minor.

However, thankfully this turned out to be a misunderstanding.
US Vice President Mike Pence is in Jerusalem meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, Palestinian leaders have refused to meet with Mr Pence because of Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Ever since Mr Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital riots and clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian protestors have become a daily occurrence. Mr Netanyahu, however, said during his meeting with Mr Pence that the US-Israeli alliance had never been stronger.

Mr Netanyahu criticised his Palestinian opposite number rebuking Mahmoud Abbas for not meeting with Mr Pence.

Mr Netanyahu was critical of the Palestinians rejecting the US as an honest broker for peace. Mr Pence meanwhile said it was an honour "to be in the Israeli capital".

Mr Abbas in Brussels

Mahmoud Abbas will be meeting European Union foreign ministers to get recognition for the state of Palestine, and also hoping to breathe new life into the two-state solution. It is apparent that Mr Abbas will be looking for a counter-weight to use as a bulwark now he feels he cannot trust the US anymore to deliver peace.

The European Union it seems has always had close relations with the Palestinians so Mr Abbas will be looking to them to replace the US as an honest broker for peace. Of course, suggesting this is one thing but whether or not this comes into practice is another.

It is quite possible you may end up with the EU speaking for the Palestinian side and the US for the Isreali side.

As with everything in the Middle East nothing seems to go as planned particularly where Israel and Palestine are concerned.

Is the two-state solution dead in the water?

Many pundits would say with Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital the peace process is dead - it is not even on life support it is no longer with us.

Certainly, the Palestinians and the Israelis have not negotiated with each other in what seems like many years. Obviously, when it comes to security on the West Bank there is co-operation between the Israeli government and Palestinian Authority. There will be some inter-government talks on a low-level basis but as for peace talks a definite no.

What clout the European Union has with the Israelis as regards to influencing them to come to peace talks is uncertain. The Israelis will know that the EU appears to be even-handed in any peace talks but seem to be more pro-Palestinian. Same for the Palestinians who feel the US is always more towards Israel in proposed or actual peace talks.

Are we being a little hard on Trump though? Could it be he really does have a solution for peace between the two sides? Are the Palestinians jumping out of the frying pan into the fire when they should be staying calm and seeing what develops with Trump?

If any President of the US or even the EU could bring everlasting peace between the two sides that indeed would be a miracle. It would be a defining moment in history and no doubt in the career of a US President and also for the EU.
JEREMY CORBYN has come under the attack from the UK media after they claimed that he was contacted by now former Czech Spy, Jan Sarkozy, who further claimed that he was spying on Britain on behalf of the soviet union. Theresa May encouraged Corbyn to release the file that is claimed to contain the evidence for the suggested meetings with Soviet spies during the Cold War. The files revolve around meetings with Jan Sarkozy, who was working in the Czech embassy at the time.

Ben Bradley showed his colours when he parroted the same accusations on twitter at another user, Corbyn instructed his lawyers to get Mr Bradley to remove the libellous claim from Twitter and subsequently, the tweet has now been deleted

Fake news or not?

If you look further into the details of the claims then they begin to unravel quickly, firstly, the file claims that Corbyn was registered as a contact and on the payroll of the defunct security services, the StB.

The claim was very quickly denied by him. The claims are debunked further when the head of the Czech Security Forces archive categorically stated that he was never on their payroll. The Czech PM has described Jan Sarkozy as untrustworthy and questioned why their media considers him a relevant and reliable source. This is where we step into the realms of absurdity.

During an interview on Czech TV he made claims that he was instrumental in a political rock concert at Wembley, he said, We finally made a concert in Wembley. It was funded by Czechoslovakia. When pressed on whether he was talking about Live Aid he simply said, I did that. However, he was more likely referring to the 1988 concert for Nelson Mandela's 70th birthday as he claimed that he made contact to Mandela through Corbyn.

There is one issue with many of these claims, there is absolutely no link to Czech funding for any of the concerts mentioned.

Further to the point of Corbyn denying being a spy, he has admitted to meeting with Jan Sarkozy in 1984, when he was fresh into his career as a politician after being elected just a year earlier. With Sarkozy a low-level intelligence gatherer in the Soviet, exaggerating any conversation was hugely beneficial because it meant he could keep his high pay and large expense account.

But he isnt the only politician to have met with a spy without knowing, its kind of their job to not be found out as a spy.

Boris Johnson was described by Sergey Nalobin as a good friend, who works for the Russian embassy and is suspected of being a spy within the programme that is meant to deepen Russias relationship with Conservative MPs.

When Ukrainian PM, Volodymyr Groysman, was welcomed to Downing Street by Theresa May, he brought along his translator, Stanislav Yezhov, who was detained after suspicions were raised that he was sending information to the Kremlin.

Propaganda to discredit a credible opposition

The only reason reports like this get any traction is because they are designed to be slightly absurd, to be believable because sometimes life can be more ridiculous than any drama on TV or in a book. But its plainly obviously a lie, why on Sarkozys part, I do not know, hes not exactly respected in the Czech Republic. Nonetheless, the Conservatives have a significant amount to gain from the slur getting any traction. Ironically, Theresa May also announced recently that she was setting up a government department to tackle fake news yet has immediately jumped on the bandwagon of this falsehood.

This is the problem with the political system and media, the latter has too much of a vested interest in who is in Downing Street because the big media outlets use tax havens. Politicians are meant to be public servants but continually peddle these kinds of slurs to suit their own personal aims, people like Ben Bradley should be stepping out of the party politics and saying that this lie is wrong but he wont because he represents exactly what the Conservatives are trying to do and peddle lies and propaganda so the public continue to vote them into power and eventually they can begin to slowly chip away at the rights and democratic processes we rely on as a population and a nation.
Exploration company African Battery Metals updated the market on its exploration programme at its recently-acquired cobalt-copper interests in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Tuesday, confirming that field exploration and mapping at Kisinka had now begun.

The AIM-traded firm also reported the completion of a satellite imagery remote sensing report, identifying a number of targets which were being followed up with ground exploration activities.

It also started a cost effective and efficient augur drilling programme, adding that several areas of stunted vegetation had been noted on the Kisinka licence, which could be a strong indicator of potential mineralisation.

A grab sampling programme had also commenced.

Additionally, African Battery Metals said the deadline to exercise its option to acquire a second licence in the country at Sakania had been extended from 31 January to 30 April.

We are excited to be on the ground and exploring at Kisinka, starting with a cost effective systematic exploration programme which I am confident will deliver encouraging results, said chief executive Roger Murphy.

Kisinka provides us with our first exposure to cobalt-copper projects in the centre of the world-class Katangan Copperbelt, which hosts approximately 50% of the world's known cobalt resources.

Murphy explained that the area surrounding Kisinka was home to at least seven mines, where the cumulative cobalt output represented a significant proportion of cobalt production globally.

We believe that Kisinka is well placed to add to this and look forward to updating the market upon initial results of our exploration programme in the near-term.

Whilst we continue to carry out due diligence on the Sakania option, I am pleased to report we are reviewing additional cobalt-copper licences, some of which are closer to Kisinka.

He added that in his view, there was no other area globally with the cobalt resource and non-arsenic metallurgy to supply the strong demand for cobalt forecast by most experts, noting that some were calling for a tripling in demand over the next ten years.

We strongly believe ABM is well positioned to be a part of this future demand.
ECR Minerals update the market on its gold exploration in central Victoria, Australia on Tuesday, which is being carried out by its wholly owned Australian subsidiary Mercator Gold Australia .

The AIM-traded fim said all prospects within MGAs four exploration licence areas had now been reviewed and re-prioritised by Dr Rodney Boucher, with geological mapping completed in selected zones, and geochemical surveys underway.

It added that a drilling programme, to include multiple target areas, was now being planned.

MGAs on-the-ground activities in Victoria are now being led by Dr Rodney Boucher, who has extensive geological experience in Victoria, including many years of involvement with Perseverance Corporation, the original developers of the million-ounce Fosterville gold mine which is now owned by Kirkland Lake Gold, the board said in its update.

The Fosterville mine is located in the same district as MGAs Bailieston and Moormbool licences.

ECR said Dr Boucher had completed a review of all available data regarding MGAs four exploration licences, visited most of the known prospects and carried out geological mapping in key zones.

A programme of geochemical sampling at the higher-priority prospects began earlier in February - the purpose of which was to augment existing data and help define drill targets.

A drilling programme to commence in the first half of 2018 is being planned and will include multiple target areas.

MGA currently intends to drill in the HR3 area and at the Blue Moon and Black Cat prospects within the Bailieston licence, at the Monte Christo and Bung Bong prospects within the Avoca licence, and to drill test the magnetic anomaly within the Moormbool licence.

Drilling in each area would be subject to satisfactory results from the geochemical surveys which began earlier in the month, as well as receipt of all necessary government and landowner consents, the board said.

All required consents had already been obtained for drilling in the HR3 area and at the Black Cat prospect within the Bailieston licence.

The company will announce the final composition of the drilling programme and the intended start date after the planning has been finalised.
Brexit secretary David Davis tried to reassure UK citizens and the rest of Europe in a speech in Vienna on Tuesday that the UK will not be plunged into a Mad Max-style dystopian fiction after leaving the European Union.

Addressing Austrian business leaders in Vienna, Davis aimed to shed some light on the details of the future relationship Britain wants with the EU.

Davis speech was been released overnight and showed he was insistent on making clear Brexit will not lead to an Anglo-Saxon race to the bottom with Britain plunged into a Mad Max-style world borrowed from dystopian fiction.

The Brexit secretary said Britain will not lower legal regulatory standards to be able to compete with the European market.

"We will continue our track record of meeting high standards after we leave the European Union," he will say.

"Now, I know that for one reason or another there are some people who have sought to question that these really are our intentions.

Fears about a race to the bottom in employees rights and environmental measures, he insisted, were based on nothing, not history, not intention, nor interest. Davis said the ideal scenario would involve close co-operation between the UK and the EU on regulations and standards.

"A crucial part of any agreement is the ability for both sides to trust each other's regulations and the institutions that enforce them, will say the Brexit secretary.

"Such mutual recognition will naturally require close, even-handed co-operation between these authorities and a common set of principles to guide them, he concluded.

The UK's financial sector has also commented onf Davis' speech, Chief Executive of UK Financie Stephen Jones has said the UK and the EU start from a unique position post-Brexit with a highly integrated market and similar standards.

It should be entirely possible to use this as the basis for an ambitious Free Trade Agreement that benefits businesses and consumers on both sides of the Channel.

Any system of mutual recognition must include services, which account for almost a third of total trade between the EU and UK.

The UK finance sector does not want to see any weakening of current regulatory standards, which are a key source of competitive strength. The UK is and should always seek to be the safest and most transparent place for banking and other financial service providers to do business," he concluded.

Davis has already been in Paris this week for talks with French foreign minister Nathalie Loiseau about international cooperation especially post-Brexit.

Although the UK expect to have a common set of regulations and standards with the EU, chief negotiator Michel Barnier said it would be impossible for the UK to take back control to create its own system of regulations and at the same time have them recognised in the EU.

Last month Barnier said the UK would have to abide by the bloc's rules in full during the proposed post-Brexit two-year transition deal. The EU wants the transition period to run from March 29, 2019, when Britain leaves, to December 31, 2020.
The European Parliament wants the EU to soften its stance on Brexit and negotiate an agreement that would give the UK special access to the single market, according to a report.

The parliament, led by chief negotiator Guy Verhofstadt, is compiling a 60-paragraph document putting the case for an associate agreement with the UK, Business Insider reported. The declaration would be a break from the hard-line position taken by the EUs chief negotiator Michel Barnier.

Under the plan, after Britain leaves the EU it would have privileged access to the single market and membership of EU agencies. The Parliament intends to put the resolution to its Brexit steering group around 8 March before it is approved by in mid-March.

Verhofstadt wants to concentrate on overall structures instead of referring to existing models such as the Canada option, the report said. Such an approach would be a more pragmatic line from Verhofstadt and deviate from Barniers use of past deals to show Britains case for a special arrangement is not viable.

The pound rose against the euro in response to the report and was worth 1.1331 at 12:52 GMT.

Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, said: This kind of bespoke deal is exactly what the pair (the EU and UK) need, an acknowledgement of their shared history and mutual dependency, and the fact it comes from arch-federalist Verhofstadt gives it extra weight. Is sanity about to prevail?"

The parliaments plan, shown to UK MPs in recent days, emerged as the Brexit secretary, David Davis, said Britain would not scrap regulatory standards to compete with the EU after Brexit. He said Brexit would not plunge Britain into a Mad Max-style dystopian free for all.
US chip giant Qualcomm upped its bid for NXP Semiconductors to roughly $44bn on Tuesday as part of its efforts to win shareholder support for the acquisition and further its expansion into the fast-growing motor vehicle chip market and reduce its reliance on smartphones.

Qualcomm, itself fending off a $121bn takeover approach from Broadcom, raised its offer for the company that supplies Android and Apple phone makers with their chips, to $127.50 per share.

Qualcomm stated that it now has the support of a major NXP shareholder group led by hedge fund Elliott Management, which had previously opposed the proposed acquisition.

The proposal, which came less than a week after Broadcom and Qualcomm execs came face-to-face to talk over their differences, sees Qualcomm chase a minimum of 70% of NXP's outstanding shares in a tender offer, down from the 80% outlined in the previous agreement, as the California-based firm could then force the remaining shareholders to sell out without further negotiations.

Qualcomm claimed to have entered into agreements with nine NXP stockholders, who together hold around 28% of NXP's issued share capital, including top shareholders Soroban Capital Partners and Elliott.

Elliott, the activist hedge fund which had vehemently opposed Qualcomm's previous $110 per share offer as it "undervalued" NXP, said it was glad the firm's true value had been recognised in the updated transaction terms.

Qualcomm extended its tender offer until March 5, a day before its shareholder meeting.

"Our preference is to close NXP, but not at all costs," Qualcomm's chief financial officer George Davis said in January.

As of 1420 GMT, Qualcomm shares had lost 2.85% in pre-market trading to $64.85 each, while NXP had gained 6.24% to $118.50 a share.
The Balearic Islands regional government has fined Airbnb 300,000 for advertising homes whose owners didn't hold a licence for vacation rentals, a legal requirement since August 2017.

Authorities on the island had previously warned Airbnb on at least two occassions that they risked falling afoul of the law, but the company had flouted those warnings, continuing instead to promote unlicensed apartments.

The Balearic government notified Airbnb in August and November 2017 that it was in breach of tourist laws in the Balearics, which were overhauled that very same year, forbidding renting out holiday apartments without the required license.

Airbnb was also notified that if they did not ammed their practices, the fine could reach between 40,000 and 400,000.

The final sum of the penalty was notified on 1 February, following an investigation into 20 Airbnb apartments that were still operating illegally. Now, the company had two weeks to present allegations.

The Balearic minister for tourism, Bel Busquets said "The government is doing what it must. A law was planned regarding the regulation of holiday renting that also guaranteed the right to housing. The law is effective and its contemplating the sanction that the company has received."

She also emphasised that all tourist platforms were informed last summer of the upcoming changes to the local legal requirements for the industry.

Last year, Airbnb claimed it generated 500m for the islands' economy, predicting the new legislation would cost families on the archipelago up to 100m in lost revenues.

According to Reuters, 24,000 apartments and houses were available through Airbnb in the region, which in total hosted 590,000 people in 2017 for an average stay of 5.5 nights.

However, the rise of Airbnb apartments had led to a dramatic increase in rents for residents of the main island, Palma de Mallorca, forcing numerous tenants out of their homes because they couldn't afford their apartments any longer.

It was not the first fine that Airbnb had been slapped with a fine by a regional Spanish government, having been forced in June 2017 to cough up 600,000 by the Barcelona city council.
Thomson Reuters reported on Tuesday that chief executive Jim Smith is set to make a full recovery after being hospitalised following an arrhythmia incident on 12 February.

Smiths condition is stable and, although he remains under observation in a Toronto hospital, he is expected to be released within the next two weeks, followed by a period of recovery.

The former journalist was appointed as chief executive in 2012 and began his career at Thomson Corp in 1987 as head of its North American newspaper business before moving into other executive roles at the company.

Last month, Smith oversaw the companys largest transaction since Thomson Corp bought Reuters in 2008, supervising the sale of a majority stake in the companys financial and risk business to private equity firm Blackstone Group.

The deal, which is expected to close late in 2018, valued the unit at around $20bn.

According to a company statement, the Smiths responsibilities are currently being overseen by chief financial officer, Stephane Bello, in line with company practice.
Mike Pence has called on the US Congress to reach an agreement on immigration reform and funding for an extension of the border wall with Mexico just days after lawmakers' latest attempt at reaching a deal fell through, leaving the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program ever so close to expiring on 5 March.

In an interview on 19 February, Vice President Mike Pence said that border security was a priority and Congress needed to reach a deal on funding it "as soon as possible".

But on the other side of the aisle, Democrats on Capitol Hill were not only fighting to keep DACA alive, but also to block the White House's push for an assortment of other changes to the country's immigration laws, including limits on legal migration and the abolition of the so-called visa lottery.

Hence, the fate of funding for Trump's border wall - one of his key campaign promises - and that of DACA were now seemingly tied at the hip.

Against that backdrop, on 15 February the upper house of Congress shot down a White House proposal for $25bn of funds, alongside the elimination of legal US immigrants' ability to sponsor siblings, parents and adult children for green cards.

In particular, Trump was refusing to support bipartisan measures unless "this chain migration" was cut.

Despite his insistence, the proposed measure failed to garner the necessary support.

Also on Thursday House Speaker Paul Ryan had been adamant that only legislative proposals which enjoyed the full backing of President Trump should be discussed, while avoiding committing to bringing any proposals to the floor for a vote.

Following that vote, Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer said he was confident both sides would reach an agreement: "Democrats and Republicans are laboring to find a bill to protect the Dreamers and provide border security, and garner 60 votes. It won't be easy, but we are all going to try because of the issues at stake."

However, he blamed Trump for tweeting moments before the Senate voted on one of the bipartisan plans on Thursday, saying it would be a 'total catastrophe' that faced the threat of a veto.

"If he would stop torpedoing bipartisan efforts, a good bill would pass," Schumer said.

Highlighting the difficulty of reaching an agreement, talks had broken down a number of times over the previous two months, and in the course of just one hour on Thursday, four different proposals were voted down.

That deadlock on the Hill meant that roughly 800,000 'Dreamers', immigrant children who had been illegally brought into the country, could be deported after Donald Trump decided to end the DACA program last September.

Some of the proposals put forth by Republican Senators included giving Dreamers legal residency status, without citizenship, or granting them work permits for three years.

One small glimmer of hope was that the Supreme Court might allow the deadline for DACA to slip to June, allowing Congress more time to reach an agreement.

But Democrats like Adam Jentleson, who had worked for former Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, weren't holding their breath.

"People need to be very clear in their minds that this issue is not going to get fixed as long as Republicans control Congress. This is just the way it is."
The US Treasury auctioned $28bn in two-year notes at a yield of 2.255%, attracting a bid-to-cover ratio - an indication of how many times it was oversubscribed - of 2.72.

The bid-to-cover ratio was lower than the average seen in the prior six sales and the 3.22 fetched the last time around.

At the previous such auction, the yield on offer had been 2.066%.

Earlier, the Treasury had also sold $51bn in 91-day bills at a yield of 1.63% with a bid-to-cover ratio of 2.74, $45bn of 182-day bills at 1.82% with a bid-to-cover ratio of 3.11 and $55bn in 28-day bills at 1.38% with a bid-to-cover ratio of 2.48.

On Wednesday, the Treasury was set to sell $64bn of notes maturing in five years' time, followed by $29bn of seven-year notes on Thursday.

In reaction, as of 1859 GMT the yield on the benchmark two-year US Treasury note was ahead by four basis points to 2.23% and that on the 10-year note by three basis points to 2.91%.
Stocks in London eked out gains in early trade amid a flurry of M&A activity, as investors looked ahead to a parliamentary vote on Brexit later in the day.

At 0825 GMT, the FTSE 100 was up 0.2% to 7,360.00, with heavily-weighted mining stocks providing much of the upside.

There are no major UK data releases due, but market participants will be eyeing a vote in the House of Commons later, with MPs likely to overturn amendments made by the House of Lords relating to the rights of EU nationals living in the UK and parliament having a say on the final exit deal.

Spreadex's Connor Campbell said: "The Prime Minister is currently trying to remove the amendments voted for by the House of Lords  if successful the official Brexit starting gun could be fired as early as tomorrow."

"Itll be interesting to see how much the pound reacts to the news if it is indeed activated on Tuesday: on one hand the currency knows it is coming; on the other, Britain is far from in the best place to begin negotiations."

On the corporate front, M&A news was in full swing. Housebuilder Bovis Homes surged as it said it was in merger talks with Galliford Try, after it rejected a 1bn offer from Redrow.

Meanwhile, shares in Amec Foster Wheeler rocketed as it agreed the terms of an all-share offer from oilfield services company Wood Group that values the engineer at around 2.2bn.

Under the terms of the deal, Amec shareholders will receive 0.75 new Wood Group shares for each of their shares. This represents a value of around 564p per Amec share and a premium of around 15.3% to the closing price of Amec's shares on Friday.

HSBC was in the black after saying it has hired ex-Prudential boss Mark Tucker to replace Douglas Flint as chairman after 22 years at the world's fourth largest bank.

Packaging company RPC Group edged higher as it completed the acquisition of Letica Group, a US plastics packaging manufacturer, for up to 511m in order to expand its reach in North America.

Allied Minds retreated as its co-founder and chief executive Chris Silva stepped down with immediate effect, to be replaced in the short term by non-executive director Jill Smith.

Saga was in the black after UBS upgraded the stock to 'buy' but Homeserve was hit by a downgrade to 'underperform' from Jefferies.

Standard Life was weaker after Berenberg cut the stock to 'hold', while Domino's Pizza fell after a downgrade by Citigroup.

On Thursday, the Bank of England's latest rate announcement is due, although no changes are expected, while the Fed is due to make its rate decision a day before amid expectations it will raise the funds rate by 25 basis points to between 0.75% and 1.00%.

Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior market analyst at London Capital Group, said: "Although the Fed rate hike is priced in at 100%, the Fed watchers will be focused on the dot plot to catch any hints regarding the future of the Fed policy.

"The Fed could steepen the rate normalisation in 2017 and hike rates more than three times as anticipated until the beginning of March. The consensus shifts toward an overall 100 basis points hike via four actions in 2017."

Market Movers

FTSE 100 (UKX) 7,360.00 0.23%

FTSE 250 (MCX) 19,044.62 0.44%

techMARK (TASX) 3,470.48 0.20%

FTSE 100 - Risers

Anglo American (AAL) 1,182.00p 3.64%

Rio Tinto (RIO) 3,273.50p 2.99%

Antofagasta (ANTO) 769.50p 2.87%

Glencore (GLEN) 318.95p 2.70%

Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 7,025.00p 2.63%

Fresnillo (FRES) 1,394.00p 2.50%

BHP Billiton (BLT) 1,275.00p 2.45%

HSBC Holdings (HSBA) 676.70p 1.50%

Barratt Developments (BDEV) 543.50p 1.21%

Taylor Wimpey (TW.) 194.80p 1.19%

FTSE 100 - Fallers

BP (BP.) 463.70p -1.49%

Standard Life (SL.) 375.70p -1.13%

Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) 242.90p -0.86%

Barclays (BARC) 230.15p -0.73%

Tesco (TSCO) 187.65p -0.61%

Pearson (PSON) 672.50p -0.59%

Standard Chartered (STAN) 737.80p -0.47%

WPP (WPP) 1,693.00p -0.47%

Royal Dutch Shell 'B' (RDSB) 2,200.50p -0.41%

Royal Dutch Shell 'A' (RDSA) 2,105.50p -0.38%

FTSE 250 - Risers

Amec Foster Wheeler (AMFW) 576.50p 17.85%

Bovis Homes Group (BVS) 898.00p 8.45%

Wood Group (John) (WG.) 802.00p 6.65%

Hochschild Mining (HOC) 248.00p 4.20%

Hunting (HTG) 551.50p 2.80%

Vedanta Resources (VED) 810.00p 2.79%

Acacia Mining (ACA) 469.00p 2.72%

Rentokil Initial (RTO) 243.80p 2.61%

National Express Group (NEX) 368.10p 2.39%

Petrofac Ltd. (PFC) 938.00p 2.29%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Nostrum Oil & Gas (NOG) 480.00p -4.38%

Homeserve (HSV) 537.50p -4.02%

Domino's Pizza Group (DOM) 334.10p -3.61%

Indivior (INDV) 334.10p -3.05%

Sophos Group (SOPH) 274.90p -1.79%

Evraz (EVR) 209.30p -1.74%

GCP Infrastructure Investments Ltd (GCP) 127.40p -1.47%

Keller Group (KLR) 895.00p -1.05%

AA (AA.) 269.00p -0.92%

Allied Minds (ALM) 390.00p -0.86%
HSBC s annual profit fell short of expectations as Stuart Gulliver reported his final set of results as leader of the global bank.

Adjusted pre-tax profit for the 12 months to 31 December rose by $2.1bn (1.5bn) to $21bn as adjusted revenue increased 5% to $51.5bn and bad debts eased. But analysts said the numbers were disappointing and the bank's shares fell.

Statutory pre-tax profit more than doubled to $17.2bn from $7.1bn as big restructuring costs in 2016 dropped out of the numbers. The 2017 result was less than the $19.7bn average estimate in a Reuters poll of analysts. The annual dividend was unchanged at 51 cents a share.

HSBC shares, which had risen 15% since May, fell 3.7% to 7732.7p at 13:27 GMT. Shore Capital analyst Gary Greenwood said the results were disappointing because profit was slightly weaker than expected and there was little news about returning cash to shareholders.

Greenwood said: "The dividend was maintained but there is no indication as to when growth may resume. The group is signalling further share buybacks will be considered when appropriate but nothing concrete in this announcement. All mildly disappointing, which is not good given the lofty rating it is trading on."

The results, complicated by a $1.3bn US tax charge that some analysts did not include in their estimates, mark the last day as chief executive for Gulliver, who has led the bank through a turbulent seven years. The former investment banker hands over to John Flint, his former chief of staff and recently head of retail banking, on 21 February.

Gulliver has sold or closed businesses to make HSBC less sprawling and more focused on its core operations. He has dealt with the after-effects of rapid expansion that caused the bank to lose its grip on activities in Mexico, where it was used to launder money by drug gangs, and Switzerland, where it admitted aiding aggressive tax avoidance.

Gulliver said: These good results demonstrate the strength and potential of HSBC. All our global businesses grew adjusted profits and we concluded the transformation programme that we started in 2015. HSBC is simpler, stronger, and more secure than it was in 2011.

HSBC said it would issue between $5bn and $7bn of tier one capital during the first half of 2018. The banks common equity tier one capital ratio increased to 14.5% at the end of 2017 from 13.6% a year earlier.

Analysts at Credit Suisse, led by Claire Kane, said the core tier one ratio was well ahead of HSBC's 13% target and the planned capital issuance could thwart hopes for buybacks. "This could mark a change in capital return strategy for new management" under Flint and Chairman MarkTucker, she said.

Flint said: "These results and the achievements of the last couple of years give us a great platform to build on. The fundamentals of HSBC will remain the same as they always have - strong funding and liquidity, strong capital, and a conservative approach to credit."

Adjusted loan impairment charges fell to $1.8bn from $2.6bn, mainly due to the healthier state of the oil and gas industry in North America. Adjusted operating costs rose 4% to $31.1bn, driven by investment in growth programmes and higher performance-related pay.

Gulliver, who worked at HSBC for 37 years, will leave with a payout of 6.1m for 2017. On top of his 3.9m salary and allowance and 2.1m bonus he will receive 4m of shares. HSBC said Gulliver warranted his pay because he hit most of his targets, including scaling back HSBCs business and keeping a grip on risk and regulatory compliance.
Playtech founder Teddy Sagi is to sell 113m of shares in the gambling software company to London-based hedge fund Boussard & Gavaudan.

Brickington Trading, a Sagi vehicle and the largest shareholder in the company, has agreed to sell 13m Playtech shares to Boussard at a price of 872.5p each, which is equivalent to 4.1% of Playtechs issued share capital.

B&G, which is run by ex-Goldman Frenchmen Emmanuel Boussard and Emmanuel Gavaudan, has agreed to a lock-up until 29 May.

Following the sale, Brickington's stake in Playtech will be reduced to about 56.58m shares, which represents 17.8% of the voting rights in the company.

In order for Boussard to investment in Playtech, broker UBS has released the Sagi vehicle from a 180-day lock-up arrangement put in place when he sold shares last December.

Like B&G, Sagi has now agreed not to sell any Playtech shares until 29 May, subject to consent from UBS.
Arizona State University is renowned for many aspects of their student life, one mostly including of nightlife shenanigans and drunken binges strolling down the infamous Mill Ave. in downtown Tempe. However, with administration scrambling to create a new image for the university, the W.P. Carey School of Business seems capable of helping the party school stigma change face. Venture Devils is a program held by the universitys Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation and allows students to gain firsthand experience and valuable resources while starting their own business or organization.

What do students gain from joining the program?

Venture Devils starts as a workshop-styled business club, allowing students to attend educational meetings focused on various aspects of entrepreneurship. One week could be about legal procedures and documents, with the following week following accountancy and financial reporting. Each week offers new resources to the student entrepreneurs, and by the end of the seven-week program, they have a virtual and physical toolkit of various documents, informational packets, and contacts to rely on while moving forward.

Outside of the meetings, students are partnered with a business mentor. These mentors come from various industries, and specialize in a particular business operation, whether it is finance, marketing, human resources, or business development.

The mentor and the business owners are able to meet as much as they deem fit, which typically starts around once or twice a week. Many of these entrepreneurs start close-knit relationships with their mentors, and these relationships tend to last even after the program is over.

Lastly, and the most appealing portion of the program, is the Pitch Deck Day hosted at the end of the program.

This day revolves around the selection and presentation of premier ventures of the program while offering the chance for each venture to receive funding from investors and grants provided by the university. Many ventures viciously compete for a spot on stage, for it typically relates to some generous funding to kick-start the companys growth.

Also, if a company is not invited to pitch their business during the program, they can always reapply the next semester for equal opportunity to gain funding.

What can other universities learn from the Venture Devils program?

In a country driven by entrepreneurialism and invention, it seems only logical that universities gear their students to become innovators. Many of these institutions host various entrepreneurship clubs, but very little seem to compare to what Arizona State University is offering its students.

Not only are these individuals gaining material knowledge on running a business, but they gain networking skills, marketing skills, templates for creating a pitch deck and executive summary, and the chance to gain considerable amounts of funding. All in all, there is no reason for any start-up to ignore this opportunity to work with ASUs Office for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
From February 18 through March 3, Sony is giving you the holiday deal of dreams. For only $200, PlayStation lovers can get the Psvr headset for a limited time only. Sony made this exciting announcement on February 15 by giving fans a delightful deal too good to pass up.

Surprise! PlayStation VR now starting at $199 USD for a limited time: https://t.co/09WYg5AZWq Big discounts on Skyrim VR and Doom VFR bundles too! pic.twitter.com/rrAMVFZD3R  PlayStation (@PlayStation) February 15, 2018

According to Sony's official site, "Our playstation vr holiday deal was such a popular promotion, were bringing it back to our fans."

The bundle starting at $200 only includes the headset, meaning you will still have to purchase the PlayStation camera which goes with it.

However, Sony has plenty of great holiday bundles that do include the camera and a little something special on the site. Deals such as their PlayStation VR Doom VFR Bundle going for $299.99 or their PlayStation VR Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR Bundle going for $349.99 are excellent deals which also includes the camera needed to play.

Time to get hyped

If you've ever wanted to get the PSVR system, now's definitely your chance. Other loyal Sony consumers are certainly excited at the comeback of this beloved holiday deal and are looking forward to partaking in it.

Pick it up pick it up pick it up.. pic.twitter.com/xceo6UrwNd  NonsenzeMusic (@NonsenzeMusic) February 15, 2018

Virtual Reality systems growing in popularity

The PSVR has been a huge point of topic for techies and gamers alike as the new world of virtual reality brings us unknown perspectives.

While there are definitely challenges to using this equipment, as there is with many new technologies, virtual reality systems are growing in popularity. Sony has also been much more courteous with their prices in comparison to their competitors, the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. According to The Verge, "Even at nearly $500, PSVR is still cheaper than the Rift and Vive, which respectively cost $599 and $799 plus the cost of a PC."

About time y'all dropped it to $199. Now I can go buy one. + I'm upgrading to a pro  KingzCrown (@Kingzcrown18) February 15, 2018

The Verge also warns that this may be because the PSVR isn't trying to be the top competitor, which may be because it's made specifically for gaming purposes.

Other VR systems can be used for a variety of things, but the PSVR in specific is growing in popularity the more accessible it becomes. With deals such as Sony's holiday bundle, it's a gamer's dream.

The official Sony site notes that there are some other reasons this sale is particularly useful. According to them, "This deal comes at such an exciting time for PS VR, with recent launches such as "The Inpatient" and "Accounting +", and upcoming titles like "Moss," "Bravo Team," and more!"

If you've got cash burning a hole in your pocket and you've been aching to try the PSVR system, now is definitely your time to shine and hop on the virtually real train.
The message from the White House over the government shutdown is clear. Donald Trump is putting full blame on the Democratic Party, but at least one host on Fox News is not letting the administration get away with it.

Fox News on Trump

Once the calendar flipped at midnight last Friday, the government shutdown was in full effect. For the first time since 2013, Republicans and Democrats were unable to strike a deal on time to fund the government, leaving many questions unanswered. In the current debate, Democrats have pushed to extend the DACA program which allows illegal immigrants brought to the United States as children the right to remain in the country.

On the Republican side, the president and Congressional lawmakers are calling for increased border security, as well as additional money allocated to help fund the president's favorite pet project in the form a southern border wall. Following the shutdown, both sides have pointed fingers, with many calling Trump and the GOP out over their apparent hypocrisy for putting the blame on former President Barack Obama during the aforementioned 2013 shutdown. These issues and more were discussed during a Fox News interview on January 21.

Joining Fox News host Chris Wallace on Sunday morning was White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney who did his best to spin the blame for the government shutdown onto the Democrats, but not before being called out on his talking point.

"If President Obama was responsible then, isnt President Trump responsible now?" Wallace asked, in reference to Republicans blaming the previous shutdown on the sitting president at the time.

OMB Director Mick Mulvaney tells Chris he believes that theres a chance the government shutdown gets solved... https://t.co/G5G1eaeiCl  FoxNewsSunday (@FoxNewsSunday) January 21, 2018

Mick Mulvaney replied that Barack Obama was rooting for a shutdown back in 2013, but insisted that Donald Trump has worked hard to put a deal together.

"He didnt have a bipartisan meeting with congressional leaders yesterday," Wallace pointed out, contradicting Mulvaney's narrative about the commander in chief.

Double down

"You are blaming the Democrats," Chris Wallace went on to add, before calling Mike Mulvaney out on his hypocrisy by saying, "you supported holding the government hostage (in 2013) over the issue of Obamacare." Wallace then ran a video clip to back up his criticism of the White House over Mulvaney's comments during the last shutdown.

After Mulvaney attempted to clarify, Wallace set the record straight and said, "Both them then and you now are willing to shut down the government because they support or oppose a policy."

Mulvaney never saw it coming and accused Wallace of "splitting hairs." It didn't go over well. https://t.co/Ec2a0epBbu  Raw Story (@RawStory) January 21, 2018

Where America stands

As both Democrats and Republicans blame each other, recent polling shows where the American people stand on the government shutdown. According to the most recent POLITICO/Morning Consult poll, 41 percent of Americans blame Republicans for the shutdown, with 36 percent putting the blame on the Democrats. The results were partisan based on the party affiliation of those polled, but among independents, 34 percent thought it was Republican fault for letting the government shut down, compared to just 24 percent who pointed a finger at the Democrats.
The Syrian war has brought in foreign nations from around the world into one of world's worst quagmires. There are nearly a dozen countries conducting military operations within Syrian borders and they are starting to draw battle lines for the next conflict in the region.

The original intent of the foreign assistance was to destroy the terrorist group ISIS. The Islamic State, or Daesh as they are called in Arabic, quickly took over a vast amount of territory between Iraq and Syria. Their brutal regime could not be tolerated and became a unifying enemy to be destroyed.

Now that ISIS has been all but defeated, those same foreign armies should be packing up and going home. Of course, that is not happening as multiple nations strive to carve their own spheres of influence in the region. The recent attack on the Conoco oil field in Syria shows that there are already new targets on the battlefield.

Did Russia attack the United States?

On the surface, the 200 or so strong force that attacked the Syria Democratic Forces and their U.S. allies appear to be Russian soldiers. The reality is that while they are from Russia, their motives were as mercenaries. The Wagner Group is known to supply Russia with contract fighters throughout the globe. This type of paid mercenary allows Russia to act with a degree of ignorance as their mercenaries can be disavowed whenever convenient to the Kremlin.

The goal of the attack was simple, taking over the Conoco oil field. The sudden attack caught the Syrian and American forces off guard. However, coordinated airstrikes decimated the attacking forces and there were reportedly no casualties on the defending side.

What was the end goal?

For Russia to outright attack the U.S. all in an attempt to take over one oil field seems foolish.

Risking the start of a potential nuclear war for such a small prize does not really benefit anyone.

It was refreshing to hear that when the Russians gave their usual "see no evil, hear no evil" explanation for the attack, the United States quickly agreed. Seeing that it was important to correct the truth that the two world powers are not directly fighting is noteworthy.

Had there been any indication that the Kremlin was behind the attack, the United States would have pushed back much harder for answers.

https://t.co/5sA5QieqHi



"The location of the two attacks reveals the real motives underlying the military confrontations. Both took place near the Omar oil field, the Hashim gas field and the former Conoco gas refinery."  soapy (@soapy1936) February 14, 2018

The sloppy execution of the bungled plan paints another harrowing picture, though. Rumors are swirling that the mercenaries were actually paid by Syrian businessmen looking to take over the oil field for profit. There is reportedly a signed contract that would grant their employer, presumably Wagner, a 10% cut of the profit for securing the oil field.

This makes more sense as to why the mercenaries were effectively sent on a death mission. The real worry now is how many more businessmen are paying for contract killers in the region. The potential for disaster is ripe as one could potentially pay to have a false flag operation performed that could pull these nations into another world war.
After it was announced that 13 Russian nationals had been indicted by Robert Mueller for meddling in the 2016 election, the White House attempted to use the news to defend the president. For Sarah Huckabee Sanders, she decided to take a shot at the former president in the process.

Unlike Obama, @POTUS isnt going to be pushed around by Russia or anybody else. As he said yesterday: Its time we stop the wild and false allegations that further the agendas of bad actors like Russia & unite as Americans to protect the integrity of our democracy & our elections  Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) February 17, 2018

Sanders and Obama

For over a year, the hottest political story has involved Russia's hacking of the 2016 presidential election, and whether or not Donald Trump's campaign had been in cahoots with the Kremlin.

Despite Trump constantly denying the allegations, repeating the phrase "no collusion" on a routine basis, reports and evidence say otherwise. Following the indictments of the 13 Russian nationals last week, the president and his team have used the story to back their own talking points, though it appears their defense is misleading.

Robert Mueller has charged 13 Russian nationals and 3 Russian organizations with illegally using social media platforms to meddle in the 2016 presidential election https://t.co/0Qt2VZqfsT  The New York Times (@nytimes) February 16, 2018

In addition to Donald Trump defending himself on Twitter, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders doubled down on the president's talking points while taking a shot at Barack Obama in the process.

"Unlike Obama, POTUS isnt going to be pushed around by Russia or anybody else," Sanders tweeted. Not stopping there, the press secretary went on to quote the president, referring to the Russian investigation as "false allegations" that was only helping the "bad actors" in Russia from hurting American democracy.

Twitter checked

After Sarah Huckabee Sanders posted her social media defense of Donald Trump, those who oppose the administration wasted no time firing back. "Russia has the pee tape, they're calling the shots with you and Donnie," one tweet read.

Why won't he enforce the sanctions against Russia? Why has he not called for punitive action for their election tampering? Why was Russia helping him?  Dave Hogg  (@Stareagle) February 17, 2018

The have worse than the peectapes. Much worse.  Ravishing (@RavOrig) February 18, 2018

"The truth is Donald Trump has been pushed around more by Russia in one year than any other President in American history," Dave Hogg tweeted out, while adding, "Why won't he enforce the sanctions against Russia?

Why has he not called for punitive action for their election tampering? Why was Russia helping him?" "Why wont he implement the sanctions? He is Putins puppet," a social media user noted.

You really think that she has a soul at this point?  Mark Landes (@usmagrad87) February 18, 2018

tho tempting. *bite hard  Paul Johnston (@Paul1Johnston) February 18, 2018

Youre so blatantly blind to reason and facts its almost tragic. Almost because youd have to have some integrity to qualify for a tragedy and youve proven you dont.  Brittany Artus (@brittany_artus) February 18, 2018

"Of course Russia wont push Donald Trump around. You dont push someone whos in the middle of fellating you; thats just rude," a follow-up tweet read.

"Sometimes, when you are alone, do you miss your soul?" a Twitter user sarcastically wondered. As the backlash and fact-checking continued to pour in, it was clear that critics of the White House would not be backing down or holding back at any point in the near future.
Javi Marroquin is fed up with Briana DeJesus' attention-hungry behavior and is vowing to stay silent about their dramatic breakup earlier this month. As DeJesus continues to share details about what is going on between her and the men in her life, including Marroquin and her ex-boyfriends, Devoin Austin and Dre, Marroquin is blasting his "Teen Mom 2" co-star for her recent claims of harassment.

I have full conversations but we dont have to go there," Marroquin wrote to his fans and followers, according to a report by Radar Online on February 19.

"I dont need to belittle or disrespect anyone," he continued. "I made that mistake once. Ive lived and learned. Marroquin continued on about his ex-girlfriend's latest comments, saying that he would stay silent and allow those who continue to "make noise" to get the attention they so desperately want.

What did Briana DeJesus say about Javi Marroquin?

Over the weekend, after revealing details about the nature of her relationships with Dre and Devoin Austin, DeJesus spoke to Blasting News and accused Marroquin of harassing her. She then threatened to leak text messages from him if he didn't stop the alleged harassment. I dont want nothing to do with [Javi Marroquin], Briana DeJesus explained.

I am completely over it and ready to move the f*** on. If he continues to harass me, I will leak all texts and info.

DeJesus and Marroquin began dating one another at the end of last year and seemed to be having a lot of fun together as they maintained a long-distance relationship for months. Then, after a brief split in January and a reunion in early February, DeJesus shocked fans when she was seen online with Devoin Austin.

A short time after the social media post was shared, Marroquin, who flew to Miami to be with DeJesus as she recovered from her plastic surgeries, returned home to Delaware. He also made it clear that he was not happy with DeJesus, nor was he open to a reconciliation at that point.

Briana DeJesus claims she's single

While the "Teen Mom 2" star continues to spend time with her ex-boyfriend Dre and is currently living with Devoin Austin, the father of her five-year-old daughter Nova, she has insisted on numerous occasions that she is not dating anyone at the moment. That said, with her ongoing outings with Dre, the latest of which took place on Valentine's Day, rumors continue to swirl in regard to which of her former boyfriends she's currently dating.
Tyler Baltierra has been gushing over Catelynn Lowell since visiting her in Arizona at the rehab center. Tyler has been Cate's rock, which is a big deal considering how much he's been going through himself.

The "Teen Mom OG" dad has been very open with fans about his struggles recently. He's not only dealing with Catelynn's depression and taking care of Novalee while she deals with another stint in rehab. Baltierra has also been trying to help his dad get through his own rehab and keep an eye on his sister.

With constant drama surrounding him, Tyler has recently admitted that he's dealing with his own darkness but has said that he has to be strong so he can help his wife and his daughter,

Tyler gets encouragement from 'Teen Mom' producer

After visiting Catelynn Lowell in rehab, Tyler Baltierra shared his commitment to marriage and all the hard work that it takes. Telling his followers, "Marriage & relationships aren't always sunshine & rainbows," Tyler spilled his heart about his commitment to his wife.

Marriage & relationships arent always sunshine & rainbows. I believe love is not a feeling, its a choice. A choice to sacrifice for that person, a choice of dedicated commitment to another & understanding the selfless acts that are required from both to maintain serenity  https://t.co/KD62kduCXB  Tyler Baltierra (@TylerBaltierra) February 17, 2018

It didn't take long for 'Teen Mom OG" producer Kiki Malone to respond to Tyler's tweet and she was nothing but supportive of Tyler, letting him know that despite everything he's been going through lately, he's been doing a great job.

"Youre strength and wisdom beyond your years never ceases to amaze me," Kiki wrote."Im so proud of you ty and so honored to have you in my life. And so happy my God-daughter will grow up with a real example of what a man, father and husband can be at their best."

The love fest continued on Twitter as Tyler Baltierra shared how he's been feeling lately.

He's clearly been struggling and still is.

"Thanks Kiki. Im trying to fight this hollow feeling in my soul," Tyler responded. "Im trying to fight these thoughts in my head. Im trying to fight for Cate, my dad, & most importantly my daughter. Like I said before...just because Im strong enough to handle pain, doesnt mean I deserve it."

Kiki Malone continues to support Tyler

The "Teen Mom OG" producer chatting back and forth with Tyler on Twitter also happens to be the godmother of Novalee.

She's been a part of the show and because of that, a part of Tyler Baltierra and Catelynn Lowell's lives for years.She clearly cares about Tyler's well being and continued to support him and offer words of encouragement. After Baltierra admitted to his own "hollow" feelings, Kiki offered more encouragement.

"And you will keep on fighting because youre a fighter," Kiki wrote. "But no matter what youre fighting, you deserve the right to feel how you feel and express it. Dont deny yourself that ever. And know how you FEEL is NEVER wrong! I love you kiddo!"

Tyler wrote back to Kiki, thanking her for always being there. There's no denying that Kiki Malone has been involved in or at least accused of causing plenty of "Teen Mom OG" drama over the years.

After all, the MTV series wouldn't be a hit without shock and drama to pull viewers in.

However, when it comes to Tyler Baltierra and Catelynn Lowell, it looks like she definitely has a soft spot for the couple and that Tyler has someone to lean on when the things he's dealing with just get too heavy. Hopefully, he'll also be able to do some healing and find some peace after all the ups and downs lately.
News

Oracle to Quadruple Datacenter Operations

In a move widely seen as a direct challenge to current cloud-infrastructure leaders Amazon Web Services Inc. (AWS), Google Inc. and Microsoft, Oracle Corp. announced plans this week to quadruple its current datacenter operations across Asia, Europe and the Americas.

Oracle announced its plan on Monday at the Oracle CloudWorld event New York. "The future of IT is autonomous," said Oracle CEO Mark Hurd in a statement. "With our expanded, modern datacenters, Oracle is uniquely suited to deliver the most autonomous technologies in the world. As we invest, our margins will continue to expand. And with our global datacenter expansion, we are able to help customers lower IT costs, mitigate risks and compete like they never have before."

The company's expansion plan comprises new locations in Asia, including China, India, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and South Korea; Europe, including Amsterdam and Switzerland; and North America, including two in Canada and two new U.S. locations to support U.S. Department of Defense workloads.

Tim Beerman, CTO of Ensono, an Illinois-based hybrid IT services provider, sees Oracle's announcement as "a bold move" necessary to establish itself as a "fourth contender" in a market currently dominated by three players. "Succeeding and [leading] in the public cloud requires a significant commitment," he said in an e-mail, "so Oracle will need to participate fully and invest; these new datacenters lay the foundation for that. Only time will tell whether or not this move is enough to gain momentum in the uber-competitive cloud market."

AWS commands a huge lead in the cloud infrastructure market with a 44 percent share, according to analyst firm Gartner. Its closest competitor, Microsoft, currently accounts for a mere 7.1 percent.

Rob Enderle, president of technology research firm The Enderle Group, sees Oracle's announcement as less a bold move and more sleight of hand.

"This is mostly smoke and mirrors, because they haven't even really started building the needed datacenters yet," Enderle said. "What Oracle is doing is trying to raise consideration and stall the market, at least with their customers, until they can get something built and implemented. They realized way too late that if Microsoft and IBM in particular capture these customers on Azure or SoftLayer, those firms have a far stronger competitive migration argument to get those customers off Oracle entirely. Oracle is working desperately to make sure that this doesn't happen, but they likely started about four years too late."
M&A

Siemens' federal arm shapes portfolio with sale to Curtiss-Wright

Siemens U.S. federal subsidiary is selling a naval manufacturing business to Charlotte, North Carolina-based industrial company Curtiss-Wright for $212.5 million in cash.

Both companies expect to close the transaction in April, Curtiss-Wright said Tuesday. The move aims to allow Siemens to focus on more core high-tech solutions for federal agencies.

The Dresser-Rand Government Business employs almost 150 people and builds reciprocating compressors, steam turbines and steam system valves for Navy aircraft carriers and submarines. Curtiss-Wright said the business expects to record $95 million in revenue at the end of its current fiscal year.

Siemens acquired Dresser-Rand in 2015 for $7.6 billion. The Siemens Government Technologies business is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

For SGT, the sale allows us to apply greater focus on core strengths and leverage Siemens significant expertise in electric propulsion for naval applications, product lifecycle management and energy and infrastructure; while Curtiss-Wright similarly extends their expertise through the acquisition as an essential supplier of nuclear propulsion equipment for the Navy, Siemens Government Technologies President and CEO Barbara Humpton told Washington Technology in a statement.

The Navy is a large customer with a broad spectrum of requirements that SGT is uniquely positioned to address, and, we look forward to delivering innovative technologies and solutions centered on electric propulsion, energy and lifecycle management needs now and in the future.

Dresser-Rand is the sole supplier of steam turbines and main engine guard valves for Navy aircraft carriers.

Siemens Government Technologies looks forward to supporting Curtiss-Wright through its acquisition of the Dresser-Rand government business and services portfolio. We believe the sale to Curtiss-Wright represents the best interests of all parties involved, which importantly includes our employees and our Navy customer, Humpton said.
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Remember when, in 2015, Tony-winning actress Patti LuPone became so fed up with an audience member texting during her performance in "Shows for Days" at Manhattans Lincoln Center that she actually reached down and plucked the phone out of the spectators hands?

Shes not the only one who has expressed displeasure at a customer's behavior. A wide range of actors  everyone from Hugh Jackman to Ben Kingsley to Lin-Manuel Miranda  have publicly chastised a patron for using their phone during a performance.

It seems that no matter how many times a loudspeaker edict implores audience members to shut off their devices before a live performance, there are those who just dont listen.

But now theres at least one segment of the population that no longer has to adhere to rules requiring people to put away their cellphones: those who have some degree of hearing loss.

New technology has been unveiled that allows deaf and hearing-impaired people to better enjoy shows with the help of a free smartphone app, GalaPro, that was created by a Tel Aviv-based tech startup called GalaPrompter.

The services that we provide are either captions or subtitles which are written on a black screen, CEO Yonat Burlin told NPR. And weve developed the app in a way that that black screen doesnt disturb anyone else around [the hearing-impaired patrons]. Theres no backlight, theres no flashing, theres no messages coming in because the phone is on airplane mode.

Due to the apps voice-recognition software, if an actor suddenly stops speaking or skips his or her lines, the app will do the same. Captions are made available four weeks after the opening night of a show. And theaters have the ability to translate the closed captioning into other languages for foreign patrons.

Before GalaPro, hearing-impaired customers could attend only select performances that required them to sit in specific sections of the theater near caption monitors. But now, every Broadway theater is on track to offer the app by July. In addition to closed captioning, GalaPro also will provide audio descriptions of scenes and songs for patrons who are blind or visually impaired.

To find out which shows currently offer the app, go to the Theater Access New York City website.

About 20 percent of Americans  or 48 million people  report some degree of hearing loss. At age 65, one out of three people have some kind of hearing-related deficiency.
BSIP/UIG via Getty Images

A virus that mimics the symptoms of the flu and may be just as dangerous, especially to older people, is being misdiagnosed and underreported.

The bugs are adenoviruses, and an outbreak can cause symptoms similar to influenza: fever, headache, body aches and breathing problems. Unlike the flu, adenoviruses arent seasonal. They thrive in places where people are close together, such as long-term care facilities, says a report in Emerging Infectious Diseases, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Many respiratory infections transmit easily in this kind of environment and can take a toll, said the reports lead author, Adriana Kajon of the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute in Albuquerque, N.M.

In 2006, three people at a long-term care facility in Boston died from an adenovirus. But the CDC says that for people with healthy immune systems, the viruses arent usually dangerous. A vaccine has been licensed for military use, but it isnt available to civilians. Kajon said it should be more widely available. This is a vaccine-preventable disease.
En espanol | AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins is being honored by Clear Channel Outdoor as part of its Black History Month tribute to prominent African Americans.

Throughout the month of February, Jenkins will be featured on 1,200 digital roadside billboards and urban transit shelters in 28 major cities, as well as in public service announcements on social media. In addition to todays influential leaders, Clear Channel is also celebrating historical icons such as Rosa Parks and Frederick Douglass.

As CEO of AARP, Jenkins leads the worlds largest nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization, harnessing the power and passion of almost 2,000 staff members, 60,000 volunteers and numerous strategic partners. Since joining the organization in 2010 and heading it since 2014, she has transformed AARP into a leader in social change, dedicated to empowering people to choose how they live and age.
Your work at NASA beginning in the 1950s made you a pioneer for African American women as well as for the space program. How did you cope with the discrimination common in America in that era?

My colleagues and I were committed to the work. We found different ways to deal with the segregation.

In the cafeteria, we just ignored the sign [for segregated seating]. But at some point, we started eating at our desks. When we left work, our lives were definitely separate  separate communities, separate schools for our children, separate grocery stores and churches. But then wed be back with our colleagues on the job. People are people. My fathers advice helped. He said, Youre no better than anybody else, but nobody is better than you.

What caused your love for math?



I was always interested in math. I counted everything as a child  the number of steps up the stairs, the dishes, the steps to church. Those thoughts just came naturally. While I skipped grades in school, my parents made sure I stayed grounded.

Explain what math means to you.



Its just there. You cant do anything without it. Its in everything. I like to work problems. If you do your best, nobody can ask you to do it over again. I never had to repeat what I did.

Hidden Figures has scenes about you and John Glenn, the first astronaut to fly around the Earth. Were they accurate or just Hollywood embellishment?



I did the calculations to put him into orbit. NASA began using computers, but [the astronauts] were used to somebody doing the calculations. John Glenn said, What did the girl get? If she agrees with the computer, then Ill trust the computer.

I was able to work out the calculation several places past the decimal point, and he said OK to the mission.
Driver in crash that killed motorcyclist admits to vehicular homicide

An Aberdeen man has admitted to vehicular homicide in connection to a fatal crash this summer in which a motorcyclist was killed.
SAN ANTONIO  A masked shooter opened fire on a family waiting to be seated at a San Antonio restaurant, wounding a 6-year-old boy and four of his relatives, police said Monday.

Police Chief William McManus said shortly after the Sunday night shooting that the boy was shot in the leg and was expected to survive, but that two of the adults injuries were life-threatening. He said investigators dont believe the shooting was random.

The child, two men and two women were sitting on a bench outside a Texas Roadhouse when they were struck by gunfire around 8:40 p.m., according to a preliminary police report released Monday

The suspect walked up to a nearby parking lot and fired multiple rounds from a handgun before fleeing, according to the report. Police said the suspect was about 15 feet (4.6 meters) from the front of the restaurant when he opened fire.

Police said the suspect hasnt been identified and remains at large.

The child and four adults were taken by emergency responders to University Hospital in San Antonio, while the fifth victim, a 27-year-old man, was later discovered at the hospital after transporting himself, according to the report. Police said the adults ranged in age from 22 to 50.

Police said Monday that they had no immediate updates on the victims conditions. Citing hospital policy, a spokeswoman for University Hospital said Monday that she couldnt confirm whether the victims were being treated at the facility.
The mentally ill man who was charged with killing his mother, a New Mexico State Police officer, in 2007 was released from the custody of the New Mexico Department of Health on Sunday, his mothers widower told the Journal.

Patrick Kuchma said the 3rd Judicial District Attorneys Office in Dona Ana County told him Monday that Justin Quintana had been released to a halfway home in Albuquerque. Quintana was charged with shooting and killing his mother, Susan Kuchma, in Las Cruces in December 2007.

In August, he was found not guilty by reason of insanity and remanded into the custody of the New Mexico Behavioral Health Institute at Las Vegas for treatment or until he is no longer dangerous, according the online court records.

The case involving Quintana made headlines recently when the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General said it opposed his release from the institute.

Paul Rhien, a NMDOH spokesman, said he could not comment on the case or Quintana.

Patient privacy laws, including HIPAA, prohibit the Department from commenting about the healthcare provided to a patient  including details of their release, Rhien wrote in an email.
SANTA FE  About 15 people, most of them wearing red or maroon, gathered outside Santa Fe District Court Monday morning to show support for Alicia Stewart, an 18-year-old Madrid native who died in her Baltimore dorm room of an epileptic seizure in October.

Alicias father, 61-year-old Geoffrey Stewart of Madrid, faces five counts of criminal sexual penetration, one count of criminal sexual contact and one count of bribery of a witness for allegedly raping Alicia when she was between the ages of 3 and 7.

But his lawyer has filed a motion seeking dismissal of the charges, arguing that because of Alicias death, Stewart no longer has the constitutional right to confront his accuser.

The motion was supposed to be heard Monday, but prosecutors were granted a two-month continuance due to a large amount of additional evidence that was presented earlier this month.

Alicia, a New Mexico School for the Arts graduate, was a talented painter whose pieces have been displayed in local galleries since she was 13 years old. She told a school counselor about her fathers alleged abuse in February 2015, according to State Police reports. Geoffrey Stewart was indicted about a year later.

Lilly Whiteswan, a 69-year-old Madrid resident who came to the courthouse Monday morning, said shed known Alicia since she was a baby, and now she sees her art in a new light.

At first you look at it just as artwork, but then when you know that theres something behind it that you can look further into, the soul and the eyes of her art and really understand what it was about, said Whiteswan. I think it becomes even more important that we understand whats going on because its not just Alicias heart thats ripped out.

Whiteswan, who said shes lived in Madrid since 1973, said she has also known Geoffrey Stewart for years. It made it twice as shocking because hes an old friend, Whiteswan said. You have no idea what hes doing behind his own doors. Its very hard to see him and not talk to him.

More than 1,500 people have signed a Justice for Alicia Stewart an online petition. Organizers of Mondays gathering supported a delay in court proceedings to have more time to bring the fight to a bigger platform. The Journal was the first to report on the case late last year.

In a motion, prosecutor Krista Garcia asked District Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer to postpone the case because two new witnesses were interviewed Feb. 8 and provided 250 pages of messages between themselves and Alicia on social media or personal cell phones.

Copies have been disclosed to Defense but neither party has had time to authenticate the messages or determine their admissibility or evidentiary value, the motion states. The State anticipates that an additional two months would be sufficient to disclose the new witnesses and complete all interviews.

Ray Twohig, Stewarts lawyer, did not oppose the motion and said he, too, needs time to go over the new evidence.
SANTA FE  The wife of an Espanola city councilor and mayoral candidate indicted on 13 voter fraud charges is declaring her innocence and calling into question the motives of the state Attorney Generals Offices in seeking the charges from a grand jury.

In a brief telephone interview Monday, Laura Seeds said last weeks indictment, coming not long before the March 6 city elections, is part of a witch hunt to force her husband Robert Seeds out of the race for mayor.

She and former campaign assistant Dyon Herrera are facing multiple charges stemming from Robert Seeds 2016 District 4 City Council race which he won by two votes. Laura Seeds is facing 10 counts of unlawful possession of absentee ballots, two counts of making false statements in relation to the election code and one count of conspiracy to violate the code.

They waited two years, and two weeks before a major election, to come up with stuff, she said.

In a written statement, Laura Seeds said the recent grand jury proceedings and charges were undertaken for Attorney General Hector Balderas own personal political purposes and affecting the results of the upcoming election.

She took aim at Balderas use of the word corruption in a statement about the charges last week. That word does not define my activities in the 2016 election, it defines the use of the powers of the Atty. Gen.s office to bring belated charges against me in 2018 at the perfect time to smear Robert by his association with me, she wrote.

She also said the AGs Office may have a favored candidate in the Espanola race for mayor but if so, Mr. Balderas is welcome to Espanola to participate in the election process.

A Monday statement from Sharon Pino, Balderas deputy attorney general for criminal affairs, reiterated that the charges against Laura Seeds came after a Rio Arriba County grand jury determined probable cause. Attorney General Balderas is committed to ensuring all New Mexicans are able to exercise their constitutional right to vote, and that our election laws are followed across the state to preserve the integrity of our elections, she stated.

Robert Seeds is running for mayor against restaurant manager Javier Sanchez and fellow Councilor Adrianna Ortiz. Sanchez told the Journal he has no affiliation with Balderas and he staying focused on his own campaign. Ortiz did not return a message for comment.

State District Court Judge Sarah Singleton last year dismissed a civil case in which Cory Lewis, Robert Seeds 2016 council opponent, alleged that several absentee ballots were fraudulent. The only thing Im guilty of is encouraging people to get out and vote, she said Monday over the phone.
LOS ANGELES  Nearly two months after recreational marijuana became legal in California, less than 1 percent of the states known growers have been licensed, according to a report released Monday by a pot industry group.

The 38-page report from the California Growers Association says 0.78 percent, or 534, of an estimated 68,150 marijuana growers were licensed by the state as of Feb. 7. The association cited such obstacles to licensing as cost and regulatory barriers.

A study published last year by the University of California Agricultural Issues Center estimated the newly created state market for recreational marijuana should produce $5 billion in taxable revenue this year.

At the same time, it estimated the market for medicinal marijuana, which has been legal in California since 1996, would decline from an estimated $2 billion last year to $1.4 billion in 2018, while about 30 percent of pot sales would continue through the black market.

If more of the smaller, independent growers are not licensed by the state, taxable revenue of recreational marijuana is likely to be lower than anticipated as the black market continues to flourish, according to the new report.

The current system will not achieve its goals without fundamental and structural changes that allow small and independent businesses to enter into compliance, the growers association report concluded.

An after-hours message left with the state Department of Food and Agriculture, which regulates the growers, was not immediately returned.

The growers association, which identifies itself as the states largest association of marijuana businesses, said it hopes to work with officials in getting more growers licensed.

We must develop a regulatory framework that will effectively curb the environmental and public safety impacts of cannabis by providing pathways to compliance for businesses currently operating in the unregulated market, said Hezekiah Allen, the groups executive director.

If they are unable to comply, the unregulated market is likely to persist and there will be an unnecessary strain on law enforcement resources, he said.
Health care can be challenging for anyone these days, but getting the right services is especially daunting for the LGBTQ community, which has faced decades of discrimination and misunderstanding.

The creation last month of a Conscience and Religious Freedom Division in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is raising concerns among some health care and legal experts who fear the new division will have a negative impact on LGBTQ patient care.

My best advice is to keep Lambda Legal on speed dial, said Ulysses W. Burley III, a physician and founder of UBtheCURE, a social justice consulting company with a particular focus on HIV and AIDS awareness. They are committed to fighting any cases of discrimination related to the establishment of this new division in court, he said.

The Conscience and Religious Freedom Division was created to restore federal enforcement of our nations laws that protect the fundamental and unalienable rights of conscience and religious freedom, according to an HHS news release. In that same news release, Roger Severino, director of the departments Office for Civil Rights, said, No one should be forced to choose between helping sick people and living by ones deepest moral or religious convictions, and the new division will help guarantee that victims of unlawful discrimination find justice.

As The Washington Post noted in a recent story on the new HHS division,  Conscience protections have become a flash point in culture war debates, especially about contraception and LGBT rights, in recent years.

Burley said it is still unclear how this new division will play out in public, but he noted, All fingers point to protections for the health care providers beliefs over that of the care and safety of women, members of the (LGBTQ) community, and people living with HIV.

Andie Baker, vice president of Howard Brown Healths Center for Education, Research, and Advocacy, said the Chicago-based health care organization is concerned that the new HHS division may encourage some health care providers to deny essential health care to LGBTQ patients and that it will lead to increased stigma and discrimination.

People are definitely scared because of the uncertainty of the situation, said Scott A. Schoettes, counsel and HIV project director at Lambda Legal, a civil rights organization that works on behalf of the LGBTQ community and people living with HIV/AIDs.

Schoettes and Burley were members of the Presidents Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS until last June, when they and four others resigned in protest over the Trump administrations position on health issues.

While noting people are fearful because of what theyre seeing in the federal government, Schoettes said in a recent interview that people should not panic. There are, he said, good people still in the federal government and HHS who know what needs to be done to combat the HIV epidemic. They will, he predicted, keep pushing back and implementing programs.  A lot of people are fighting on your side.

While people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual or pansexual, and their allies, are watching what develops with health care on a federal level, decisions made by state and local governments can also affect health care options and legal protections.

There is a tremendous difference between living in a progressive state with support and multiple health care choices and living in a state where there are fewer options, said Brian Mustanski, director of Northwestern Universitys Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing.

Do what you can to support organizations that work to advance LGBTQ health and LGBTQ rights, he said.
CHICAGO  The student newspaper of the University of Texas at Austin recently asked its readers to select a favorite term to describe people of Latin American descent.

Which term are you supposed to use? wrote Daily Texan reporter Maria Mendez. Well, it depends.

It sure does.

Theres Hispanic, person of color, Latino/a, and the en vogue Latinx, which purports to de-genderize the identity label. All are codes used for virtue-signaling and for interpreting a persons politics, depending on age and geography. We can throw Chicano/a and Chicanx in for our southwestern and California friends.

In response to this call for a universal identifier, Angelo Falcon, the president of the National Institute for Latino Policy, wondered in his organizations newsletter: Is there a need for a Jesse Jackson-type intervention to finally resolve this issue of what to call ourselves, or are we happy to leave this up to the eye of the beholder?  How should we be dealing with this recurring pan-ethnic question? Or is it really a pan-racial question?

These are the kinds of issues that make for Latino-centric clickbait and elicit intergenerational side-eyes when woke millennials and their old-school elders gather for family occasions and not-so-silent judgment of each others life choices.

In reality, however, there will never be an adequate umbrella term for all people of Latin American descent or their increasingly monolingual, intermarried children and grandchildren. This is evidenced by the fact that what to call ourselves has been debated since the U.S. government started using the term Hispanic in the 1970s, and there are now more identifiers, rather than fewer.

In this age of individuality, the issue is truly not how one wishes to identify oneself  you can call yourself anything you want  but how willing you are to put up with very few others knowing/agreeing/remembering to refer to you by your chosen category.

People tend to label you what they want, not what you want.

When I was a kid, it baffled me when someone referred to me as Spanish, since none of my family even knew anyone in Spain. Ditto for Latin, since it was better known to me as a language, not a specific country of origin. My response was to ignore these naming conventions until they eventually went away. Sure enough, nowadays its rare to hear people use these terms.

Same thing with Latina  a label that makes my skin crawl. Though it has yet to start its extinction process, I dont go around demanding people not refer to me this way because it isnt worth the bother.

Lifes hard enough without having to get right the identity-label preferences of the more than 300 million people in America, many of whom were raised to believe their defining characteristic is that they are special and unique.

People will see you, describe you and define you in their own minds according to their own beliefs, politics and ideals, regardless of what you tell them you think about yourself.

Last summer, on his podcast Revisionist History, author Malcolm Gladwell aired a decades-old interview of Walter Gadsden, who is portrayed in a statue that memorializes a 1963 civil-rights march in Birmingham, Ala. The statue itself is based on a famous photo in which a very young Gadsden appeared to be terrorized by a policeman and his vicious-looking dog.

In the interview, Gadsden refutes the premise of the photo and statue and wishes his picture had never been in the paper and the statue had never been erected.

That statue doesnt look like me,  that looks like an African boy, Gadsden says. Well, Im still wondering why, after all the information that I had given  all that does is establish me as being a young African boy, which Im not.

This shocks the interviewer. She asks, You prefer being called a negro?

I prefer being called what I am, a colored.  (Thats what) I am, Gadsden replies.

Now, no one in their right mind is going to call even a reluctant civil-rights icon colored, but that was definitely Gadsdens preferred label.

What to do?

Grin and bear instances of uncomfortable identity-related cognitive dissonance.

This label issue may never go away. In the meantime, call people whatever they ask you to call them or simply refer to them by their name.

If all else fails, just be nice. Most people use identity labels as a proxy for what they really want  which is to be treated with respect.

E-mail: estherjcepeda@washpost.com. Copyright, Washington Post Writers Group.
Reaction to the latest school shooting in Parkland, Fla., that left 17 people dead and many more wounded begins at the wrong end. Its not about passing more gun laws, which people intent on breaking existing laws will not obey; rather, it is about heeding warning signs and doing something before it is too late.

In the case of 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, who has been charged with premeditated murder, the signs were like a flashing red light. Former classmates offered a profile in danger to the media. They called Cruz, who had been expelled from the school for disciplinary reasons, a loner and weird.

In a YouTube video by someone named Nikolas Cruz there is this comment: Im going to be a professional school shooter. Law enforcement reportedly flagged the comment last September, and YouTube removed it.

With all of these previews of coming destruction, why wasnt any action taken? Could Cruz have been helped? He was reportedly receiving mental counseling, but clearly it was not enough to prevent this tragedy. Cruz is reportedly an orphan, but was there no one close to him who might have been helpful to him?

We are constantly told by law enforcement, If you see something, say something. With Cruz, there was plenty to see and also plenty to say. Did anyone speak up? The Florida campus reportedly had an armed officer onsite, though this officer never encountered Cruz during the shooting. Could there have been a quicker response? Could anyone have acted pre-emptively to force Cruz to get some help? Could he have been committed to a mental health facility for his own protection and for the protection of others?

Metal detectors, armed guards and security passes for students, staff and teachers have all been proposed, and in some cases tried, as ways to discourage shooters from entering schools where unarmed students are trapped like fish in a barrel. School shooters and terrorists  and this was an act of terror no matter the motive  look for soft targets, and there are few targets softer than a school full of kids.

Lawmakers in Florida and in Congress need to consider legislation that would give mental health professionals a way to intervene in cases of disturbed individuals who need psychological help, but arent getting it. For those who seem most dangerous  like Cruz  perhaps laws could be enacted that would forcibly commit them to treatment, thereby cutting down on the number of mass shootings.

Social workers can intervene on behalf of young children they believe are being abused or neglected. In extreme cases, they can even remove the child from its home if the child is in need of protection. Could something like this be done with the mentally disturbed without violating their constitutional rights? Dont we have the constitutional right to live free of the threat of mass shootings? Shouldnt the rights of the innocent be paramount?

To paraphrase a certain commercial about identity theft, no law can prevent all mass murder, or someone acquiring a gun, legally or illegally  Cruzs AR-15 was apparently legally acquired  but the mayor of Broward County, Fla., Beam Furr, told the Miami Herald the shooting could have been prevented. We missed the signs, said Furr, a former teacher, adding, We should have seen some of the signs.

The signs were there for everyone to see. The problem with this shooting, as well as all the others, was the refusal to act. Action just might have prevented this tragedy.

Email: tcaeditors@tribpub.com. Copyright, Tribune Content Agency LLC.
Our hearts broke in December of 2012 when 20-year-old Adam Lanza shot and killed 20 children and six staffers at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

If ever there was a case that should have galvanized every American to action, this was it: 6- and 7-year-olds murdered in their school just days before Christmas.

Yet those reforms never came.

Instead, we moved on, pausing each time another school or mass shooting dominated the news cycle.

A dozen people murdered with a shotgun and handgun at the Washington Navy Yard. Nine people murdered with handguns at Umpqua Community College. Fourteen people murdered with semi-automatic rifles in San Bernardino. Forty-nine people murdered with a semi-automatic rifle at an Orlando nightclub. Twenty-six people murdered with a semi-automatic rifle at a Sutherland Springs church. Fifty-eight people murdered with semi-automatic rifles while attending a country music festival in Las Vegas, Nev. Two people shot and killed at a library in Clovis. Two students shot to death at Aztec high School two months ago.

And last week, 17 staff and students murdered with a semi-automatic rifle at Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida.

How many more Sandy Hooks and Stoneman Douglases need to happen before we say enough? How many more nightclub and concert massacres need to occur before we demand that Congress and the president stand up to the National Rifle Association and institute common-sense gun reforms? How many more innocent people have to die before we, the voters, hold elected officials accountable for failing to act?

We acknowledge that no reform will completely stop the carnage. We realize that instituting any gun reforms is a Herculean task in the best of circumstances, let alone in the current dysfunctional climate in Washington. And we acknowledge the importance of the Second Amendment to the Constitution  that the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

But we cant stand by and do nothing. Some common-sense fixes Congress and the president should agree on include:

 Guns are inherently dangerous products. So lets start with raising the minimum age to purchase all firearms, including long guns or rifles, to 21. Under federal law, dealers are currently allowed to sell long guns and ammunition to those 18 and over. Unlicensed people are allowed to sell long guns to people of any age.

 Lets require background checks for all firearm purchases, even if that means private individuals need to go to licensed third-party sellers to unload their firearms. The required background checks should extend to gun shows, as well.

 Lets institute a waiting period for all firearms purchases.

 Lets explore ways to make it more difficult for firearms to end up in the hands of mentally ill people.

 And lets have an honest debate about whether certain weapons/accessories pose too great a risk.

We understand most gun owners are responsible, law-abiding people who dont deserve to be painted as villains, but theres a crisis unfolding in our country. We all have a moral obligation to rise up and demand Congress take action on this heart-breaking issue.

The Washington Post has outlined startling statistics:

 On average, two dozen children are shot every day in the U.S.

 In 2016, 1,637 kids were killed by gunfire, more than during any previous year this millennium.

 More than 150,000 students attending at least 170 primary or secondary schools have experienced a shooting on campus since the Columbine High School massacre in 1999 that left 13 innocent people dead.

We can no longer afford to sit back and act surprised when the next tragedy strikes, then offer up thoughts and prayers. Opponents of gun reform are fond of saying that guns dont kill people, people kill people. But guns are the weapon of choice for these mass tragedies, and that cliche is of little comfort to the families of those grieving in Florida. We can no longer afford to brush off the consequences of gun violence with platitudes.

Our nation, and its leaders, need a dose of courage to tackle this issue head on.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.
Copyright  2018 Albuquerque Journal

The Albuquerque police union raised concerns Monday that a proposed tax increase is flying the banner of public safety with no guarantee that the revenue will provide additional money for the understaffed police department.

Shaun Willoughby, president of the Albuquerque Police Officers Association, asked city councilors in a letter Monday to amend the legislation to guarantee that part of the revenue generated from the tax increase would go to the police department as additional money until the department is fully staffed.

Last week, Councilors Trudy Jones and Ken Sanchez introduced a bill that would increase Albuquerques gross receipts tax by 0.375 percentage point, or three-eighths of a cent per dollar. Sanchez said the increase is expected to bring in about $55 million annually.

Although the bill says public safety is a priority for the city and the City Council and that additional funding is necessary to attract more police officers to Albuquerque, it doesnt specifically say how much of the tax revenue would go to police. The bill says revenue from the tax would be used for general municipal purposes.

Sanchez said the City Council has prioritized public safety, but he doesnt want to put a percentage on what portion of the tax money would go to police.

Our No. 1 priority is public safety, and (the police union) has to trust that were going to do the right thing, Sanchez said. Ive said that the Albuquerque Police Department staffing is on life support and we have to get the numbers up. But you dont want to set a specific amount (for police) when (the police) could potentially cost more.

Willoughby said in an interview that he thinks Sanchez and Jones bill should be amended so that it specifies that 60 percent of the revenue from the tax will be new revenue for public safety and for the police department to recruit more officers.

The Albuquerque Police Department has about 850 officers, but it is authorized for 1,000, and Mayor Tim Keller has suggested the city may need even more than that.

They are flying the banner of public safety, and everyone who lives and works in this community knows how bad (crime) is, Willoughby said. But theres nothing in the bill that locks the city into doing so.

Willoughby said in the letter to councilors that the police union wouldnt commit its support to the bill without a specific earmark.

A very large percentage will go to public safety, but to put a specific percentage on it is almost impossible, Sanchez said. We dont know what the exact cost is going to be.

The city has the authority to raise the gross receipts tax by 0.375 percentage point, without taking the proposal to voters, under changes to the states tax policies signed into law in 2013. For years, the state had been providing local governments with hold harmless subsidies to offset the loss of local tax money for not collecting gross receipt taxes on food, medicine and medical service. But those payouts started being phased out in 2016.

Albuquerque is going to lose an expected $2.45 million per year in hold harmless payments. By the time the phaseout is complete, Albuquerques revenue will have dropped about $37 million, according to Sanchez and Jones legislation.

Councilors are expected to consider the ordinance at their March 5 meeting.

We know that our backs are against the wall. This is about hold harmless, Sanchez said. Weve been challenged by revenues that we are losing year after year.

Albuquerques gross receipts tax rate is 7.5 percent this year, according to the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Departments website. Rates vary around the state and are as low as 5.5 percent in unincorporated parts of Lincoln and Lea counties to more than 9 percent in Espanola, according to the website.
Copyright  2018 Albuquerque Journal

Six Albuquerque Rapid Transit buses traveling in a convoy made the nearly 800-mile drive from Lancaster, Calif., to their new home in Albuquerque this weekend, arriving late Sunday night.

Four more are still due from bus manufacturer Build Your Dreams.

All 20 of the electric, articulated buses had been scheduled to be received by Oct. 4 of last year, but an order backlog at the California BYD plant and other issues delayed the deliveries.

Its a win, said BYD spokesman Joshua Hernandez at the citys Daytona Bus Terminal, where the citys 16 ART buses are parked.

Hernandez said the trip took around two-and-a-half days to complete, with the buses stopping every 210 miles to charge batteries.

One of the buses side-swiped a pole soon after leaving the plant, requiring two exterior panels to be replaced, but Hernandez said that bus was delayed only a couple of hours and was soon able to catch up with the other five.

City spokesman Rick DeReyes said the six new buses will now undergo an inspection by the city for any flaws they may have that werent discovered at the plant.

DeReyes said the city is still working to resolve issues identified on the other 10 buses.

Past problems identified have included leaking fuel axles, which a BYD senior vice president said last month have already been corrected, and inconsistent placement of wheelchair restraint belts onboard.

Problems with charging stations for the buses also were reported.

A third-party inspector was previously unable to certify them due to non-standard components.

The parts have been changed out and Hernandez said the 20 charging stations at the Daytona Bus Terminal will begin the certification process today.

In the meantime, the buses have been charged using large generators.

Hernandez said the company expects another bus to arrive in Albuquerque by the end of the week.

DeReyes and Hernandez offered few other details about the projects status, such as when the rest of the buses will arrive or when the rapid transit service that will run along Central will be operational.

DeReyes said Mayor Tim Keller is planning on holding a news conference later this month to provide a status update.

On the construction end, work to address critical issues and knock out punch list items continues.

A problem involving the platform at Washington and Central was resolved a couple of weeks ago by repainting the roadway.

Work on a second issue at the platform at Atrisco and Central began last week, and is expected to last three to four weeks, causing intermittent lane closures.

Westbound traffic will have a lane closure, ART spokeswoman Joanie Griffin said in an email. We also may have some closures for turns going southbound and northbound as we work on the intersection.

The roadway on the north side of the platform was constructed at a slight angle, making it difficult for wheelchair-bound riders to board buses.

There are also upcoming lane closures expected at First and Central due to construction of the Alvarado Transportation Center station.
BEIRUT  Government forces bombed the northeastern suburbs of the Syrian capital for a second straight day on Tuesday, killing more than 100 people and raising the specter of a full-scale offensive that could spell catastrophe for the nearly 400,000 residents trapped under siege.

Rescuers raced to reach survivors in the devastated Damascus suburbs known as eastern Ghouta as warplanes and helicopter gunships circled overhead, bombing hospitals, apartment blocks, markets and other civilian targets. The suburbs are the last major stronghold for rebels in the capital region.

At least 250 civilians were killed during the 48 hours of unrelenting onslaught that began Monday, including 58 children, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group. Another 1,000 people were wounded, it said.

We no longer have the words to describe childrens suffering and our outrage, the U.N. childrens agency said in a terse statement about the carnage.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov appeared to endorse the unrestrained assault, which he said was backed by the Russian air force. In keeping with the existing agreements, the fight against terrorism cannot be restricted by anything, he said.

Russia has been an unwavering ally of Syrian President Bashar Assads forces and was instrumental to the all-out assault in late 2016 that ejected rebels from their enclave in eastern Aleppo, Syrias largest city before the war  an outcome that Lavrov said could serve as a model for eastern Ghouta.

Pro-government forces have been amassing since the weekend on the perimeter of the rebel-held region, a collection of towns and farmland that once provided grain and fruit to the capital before nearly five years of warfare turned it into a landscape of havoc and despair.

The towns of eastern Ghouta were among the first to organize into self-governing collectives and shake off government rule after popular demonstrations against Assad swept through the country in 2011, eventually leading to civil war. They are also among the last to resist Assads determined campaign to bring every last rebellious corner of the country to heel. Assad and his allies maintain they are fighting a war on terrorism.

Monther Fares, spokesman for the Ahrar al-Sham rebel faction operating in eastern Ghouta, said densely populated residential areas were bearing the brunt of the attacks, a hallmark tactic of the government and its allies to devastate civilian areas and infrastructure before launching a final ground assault.

The battle for rebel-held east Aleppo culminated in the evacuation of tens of thousands of civilians from their homes, with many unable to return. A subsequent U.N. investigation charged that the campaign amounted to forced displacement of a population and rose to the level of a war crime.

That outcome could still be a while coming in eastern Ghouta, which is considerably larger than east Aleppo.

It is also divided between two rebel factions that deeply distrust each other, as well as a small presence of al-Qaida-linked fighters and a handful of other militias that could lead to the fragmentation of the enclave, according to Aron Lund, a fellow at the New York-based Century Foundation. That, at least, could spare civilians some of the devastation of an all-out ground assault.

Its perhaps more likely that government offensives develop into a patchwork of partial surrenders, cease-fires, interim deals and carve-ups that wont end the conflict but change the way the enclave looks and functions  on the road to final defeat, Lund said.

At least 10 hospitals in eastern Ghouta were damaged by airstrikes or shelling since Sunday night, according to Ahmad al-Dbis, the security manager for the Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations, which runs hospitals and clinics in Syria. Ten medical staff and rescue workers were among the dead.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said in a statement that it was receiving distressing reports of dozens killed and wounded every day in eastern Ghouta, with families trapped, with no safe place to hide from shelling.

Nasr al-Hariri, who heads the committee representing the Syrian opposition at the U.N., said the opposition was ready to facilitate the withdrawal of al-Qaida-linked fighters from eastern Ghouta to halt the assault.

But a spokesman for Failaq al-Rahman, one of the largest militant groups in eastern Ghouta, charged that Russia had obstructed an initiative to eject the al-Qaida fighters in November, to keep a pretext for an assault.

Russia was going along to buy time and give Assad an opportunity to pursue the military solution, said spokesman Wael Olwan, who confirmed intensive contacts with the Russians in November.

Russia was supposed to guarantee security and aid access to eastern Ghouta as part of an agreement it reached with the rebels in August. But the Syrian government blocked all but a handful of aid convoys, plunging the region into a spiraling humanitarian crisis. Child malnutrition rates are in the double digits, according to the United Nations, and patients are dying of treatable illnesses and wounds while waiting for medical evacuations.

As the death toll climbed in eastern Ghouta, the rebels retaliated on Tuesday by hitting some Damascus neighborhoods with mortar shells, killing eight people, including three children, and wounding 15 others, according to the state news agency SANA.

Its a bloody day, said Abdelrahman Shahin, a 31-year-old Damascus resident who was walking on the street when a shell landed on a nearby taxi, killing the driver and a passenger.

They both died, he said, visibly shaken. The driver was out for his livelihood. His family will be waiting for him.

Syrian state TV later reported live from the streets of Damascus to show what it called the peoples steadfastness in the face of the shelling. The TV reporter said residents expressed hope that the Syrian army would retake eastern Ghouta.

In northern Syria, meanwhile, pro-government gunmen crossed into the Kurdish enclave of Afrin in an agreement with the main Kurdish militia there to defend against a Turkish offensive intended to uproot the main Kurdish militia from the area.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the pro-government fighters had been warned to stay out of Afrin, where Syrian state television showed they were immediately targeted by Turkish shelling.

Unfortunately, these kinds of terror organizations, as you know, make decisions and take wrongful steps. Of course it is impossible for us to allow this. They will pay a heavy price, Erdogan said.

Despite the warning, video taken inside Afrin late Tuesday showed the pro-government gunmen rallying with Kurdish militiamen underneath an arch welcoming visitors to the area, as they chanted Syrian unity slogans and waved the national flag and the flag of the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units, or YPG.

Ankara considers the YPG a terrorist group linked to the Kurdish insurgency within Turkeys borders. On Jan. 20, it launched a major air and ground offensive, pounding the Afrin enclave with airstrikes and artillery on a daily basis.

Turkey has threatened Syrian troops not to help YPG fighters, warning that it will fight its backers.

______

Associated Press writers Zeina Karam in Beirut; Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey; Jamey Keaten in Geneva; Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow, and Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria, contributed to this report.
Albuquerque police officers will be on alert Tuesday after two West Side schools  Tony Hillerman Middle School and Volcano Vista High School  received threats.

But officer Simon Drobik, an APD spokesman, said they believe the threats were made against schools with the same initials in Virginia instead.

This was vetted and it turns out theres a school in Virginia with the same initials that got mixed up, Drobik said.

He said officials in Virginia took someone into custody for those threats, although he did not know anything else about the incident.

Drobik said the Albuquerque Public Schools police and APD will have more officers in those schools Tuesday.

Right now its uber sensitive, he said. Thats fine, please call in, let us know. The whole goal here is to get the word out.
Forty-nine dollars and 20 cents.

Thats all seven thieves got from an armed robbery which left an Edgewood gas station attendant dead last week.

On Tuesday, State Police laid out the details of the Feb. 11 robbery, which was calculated, planned, and executed by seven people and ended in the slaying of 62-year-old Michael Pelkey.

Lt. Elizabeth Armijo said police arrested the shooter, and last of those suspects, 30-year-old Daniel Martinez at a Southeast Albuquerque home just after 1 a.m. Tuesday.

He is charged with murder, armed robbery and tampering with evidence alongside Daniel J. Gonzales, 29, Morgan Ramirez, 30, Donald Herbert Gregory, 46, Veronica M. Martinez, 30, Eileen G. Sandoval, 48 and Misty Roseanne Nevarez, 29.

Gonzales and Daniel Martinez also face a charge of possession of a firearm by a felon.

On the day of the shooting, Armijo said Sandoval and Veronica Martinez staked out the Smiths gas station for a potential robbery.

She said Sandoval determined the booth that Pelkey worked in was unlocked and the women called Gonzales, Daniel Martinez, Ramirez, Nevarez and Gregory.

When the others arrived, Armijo said Gonzales covered his face and armed himself before entering the fuel booth.

She said Gonzales stole $49.20 from the register while Pelkey had his back turned.

Pelkey chased Gonzales outside and the two fought.

Thats when Martinez, who was in a waiting vehicle, shot Pelkey and all seven fled. Pelkey died on the way to the hospital, according to police.

Police arrested Gonzales, Ramirez, Gregory, Veronica Martinez, and Sandoval on Friday, hours after the community held a vigil for Pelkey.

Nevarez was taken into custody on Saturday.

All seven suspects are from Albuquerque except Gregory, who is from Edgewood.
Xcel Energys plans to build two massive wind farms in New Mexico and West Texas have hit a potential project-killing road block at the Public Regulation Commission.

PRC hearing examiner Elizabeth Hurst wants commissioners to reject a proposal that would allow the utility to recover lost earnings that accumulate during the time that lags between when the wind farms actually come online and when the commission eventually approves new rates for cost recovery and profits on its project. That lag could take up to two years, during which time Xcel subsidiary Southwestern Public Service Co. would have to write off any earnings because new rates would not yet be approved, even though customers would be benefitting from the electricity generated by the facilities.

Usually, utilities estimate those costs and earnings for incorporation into a future rate case. But in this case, SPS wants current rates paid by customers to immediately become interim rates once the wind farms begin operating, allowing it to collect lost earnings through a surcharge on customers bills after new rates take effect.

That eliminates uncertainty over the accuracy of projecting costs, since the surcharge would reflect actual operations and profit margins recorded during the time it takes the commission to set new rates.

But Hurst said it would violate legal principles that prohibit retroactive rate making, since it establishes an interim rate for the wind farms before the commission has actually approved new rates.

The interim rate design, however, is a key part of a settlement agreement SPS negotiated with other parties in the case, without which the utility might abandon its $1.6 billion project, said David Hudson, Xcel president for New Mexico and Texas.

It will be extremely difficult to proceed because of financial uncertainty, Hudson told the Journal. We wouldnt know when we would start earning a return, and the longer new rates are delayed, the bigger the financial damage is to the company.

All parties in the settlement agreement  including the PRC utility division staff, the Attorney Generals Office and environmental groups  support the interim rate clause given the projects expected benefits. SPS estimates customer will save about $2.8 billion over the next 30 years as the wind farms offset higher fuel costs from natural gas and other sources.

In addition, under the settlement, SPS agreed to cap cost recovery for the project at $1,675 per kilowatt, or 102.5 percent of expected installed costs for the wind farms.

If approved, SPS will build a 522-megawatt facility in eastern New Mexico, and a 478-MW wind farm in Texas. That, combined with the purchase of 230 MW of wind energy from a nearby facility owned by NextEra Energy, would provide enough electricity to power about 440,000 average homes annually.

But the commission must rule on the case by March 22 for SPS to meet federal deadlines to receive full federal tax benefits.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has launched a new program to encourage volunteer Campground Ambassadors to assist state campground staff at six locations in the Adirondacks.

An announcement from DEC said they hope the Ambassadors will help introduce new campers to state facilities and outdoor activities such as hiking and fishing. Its also hoped Ambassadors will help connect campers and day users to nature via environmentally themed activities and programming.

Ambassadors will serve a minimum of two, and a maximum of four weeks, between July 1st and Labor Day. In consideration for services provided, a campsite will be provided for the duration of their stay at one of the following participating Adirondack campgrounds:

Cranberry Lake Campground

Fish Creek Pond / Rollins Pond Campgrounds

Lewey Lake Campground

Moffitt Beach Campground

Nicks Lake Campground

Rogers Rock Campground

Ambassador programs are also running at two campgrounds in the Catskills. For more information on the Campground Ambassador program, or to apply, visit DECs website or call (518) 457-2500 extension 1.

Applications must be received by March 30, 2018.

DEC operates 52 campgrounds and five day-use areas in the Adirondack and Catskill forest preserves. The summer camping season runs through the summer, with a few facilities remaining open during fall foliage and hunting season.

For more information on DEC-operated campgrounds, including a list of campgrounds and schedules, visit DECs website, or call DECs Bureau of Recreation at (518) 457-2500.

To make reservations at any of these camping facilities, call ReserveAmerica at 1-800-456-CAMP (2267) or visit ReserveAmericas website.

Photo courtesy DEC.
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Washington's role in the Middle East topped the agenda in Moscow during talks Feb. 12 between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

The head of the Palestinian Authority (PA) had originally been due to meet with Putin in Sochi. However, following the crash of a Russian civilian aircraft that claimed 71 lives, the meeting had to take place in Moscow. Just a few minutes ahead of the meeting, US President Donald Trump phoned his Russian counterpart. The formal reason was to express condolences over the plane crash, but the two politicians also touched upon other topics, including the Palestinian-Israeli settlement process. Putin passed Trumps best wishes to Abbas as the two leaders started the conversation. Naturally, we talked about the Palestinian-Israeli settlement process. I would like to convey his best wishes, the Russian leader said to Abbas. Later, Washington clarified that Trump had emphasized the need to start working out an enduring peace agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

The statement came amid the Palestinians active rejection of US mediation in the Middle East. Abbas did not come empty-handed, as he brought the proposals to set up a new settlement mechanism for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Should any international conference or any international event take place, we ask for the ultimate creation of a mechanism in which the United States would be part of a group of mediators rather than the sole intermediary, the Palestinian leader told Putin.

Al-Monitor asked Nabil Shaath, Abbas adviser on foreign affairs and international relations, whether he was surprised that the Abbas-Putin meeting included greetings from Trump. He said, President Putin made it clear that Russia does not exclude the United States from the Middle East settlement process  we do not do it either. We are just unwilling to see the United States as the sole mediator.

Shaath also said that Abbas spoke at length at the Kremlin talks on why the Palestinians felt ill at ease about US mediation in the conflict. The sides also discussed the Palestinian proposals to create a new settlement mechanism  a new peace formula for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

While Shaath noted that the Moscow negotiations did not produce any agreements, in fact the talks had not aimed to do so. Most importantly, Russia reaffirmed its commitment to the two-state solution one more time and voiced its eagerness to work with the Palestinian proposals.

The Palestinians seek to expand the ranks of the Middle East Quartet of international mediators, which came into existence in 2002. Currently, these mediators include Russia, the United States, the European Union and the United Nations, but over the past few years, the latter has not initiated a single step aimed at conflict resolution. The Palestinians believe that Washington opted for managing this process unilaterally.

The Palestinians propose a negotiation format similar to the P5+1 (United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, China and Germany) that addressed the Iranian nuclear issue. This implies that the permanent members of the UN Security Council plus several other states are viewed as future mediators. The list of the additional countries is yet to be discussed. The Palestinians are considering Japan, India, Brazil, South Africa and some Arab states. Their main objective is to ensure that Washingtons voice is one of many, but not the only one. As the Palestinians believe, international deliberations may produce a new mechanism. Thus they perceive Russia, which maintains ties with all the regional stakeholders, as an ideal venue for the meeting.

Shaath expressed hope for the prompt start of such negotiations, saying that Moscow does not oppose it, but did not give any concrete promises at the bargaining table.

Both Russia and Palestine really need international support on the issue. On his way to Moscow, Abbas paid a visit to Brussels and many other world capitals to hold negotiations with their leaders, which would culminate in his Feb. 20 address to the UN Security Council. As sources close to Kommersant argued, the Russian president had provided Abbas with much sound advice on his future speech. Although Putin is not the only adviser here, the Palestinians hope that Russia will play a key role in the Middle East peace process.

However, Moscow understands that any conference or new mechanism will not be effective unless the two parties are back at the negotiating table. As early as last year, Moscow proposed hosting direct talks between Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, the Israelis turned down the offer. Moreover, they do not trust international formats, realizing that they have no allies but the Americans. At the same time, the United States is not ready to condone Israeli behavior.

In a recent interview with Israel Hayom, the US president voiced an opinion that neither Palestine nor Israel was looking to make peace. We are going to see what goes on, said Trump when asked about when the United States would unveil its much-heralded peace plan. The statement can be described as a bombshell, as the president used to deem only the Palestinians unready to embrace peace.

If the course of events were conditional upon Israeli actions, nothing would take place. As Putin mentioned in his conversation with Abbas, he had discussed the Arab-Israeli conflict with Netanyahu during his visit to Moscow two weeks earlier. Yet the negotiations resulted in neither Russia nor Israel touching upon the matter and instead focusing on the Syrian issue and Iran.

The Middle East peace process has been gradually returning to the worlds agenda one way or another. Although Russia supports the Palestinians, it will not overemphasize its importance in the process. Conflict resolution, if at all possible, requires joint efforts of the mediators. Despite Moscow considering the recent US steps toward the goal dangerous, it deems a dialogue with Washington necessary.

Putin demonstrated to the Palestinian side that the United States remains the key party to the Middle East peace process. It is no coincidence that Putin started his conversation with Abbas with greetings from Trump.

During his stay in Moscow, the leader of the PA also visited the Moscow Cathedral Mosque where he met Ravil Gainutdinov, the head of the Council of Muftis. He said that for Russian Muslims the route of pilgrimage includes stops at Al-Aqsa and the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Abbas also reminded everyone of Russian support for the Palestinian stance on East Jerusalem. Preserving the special status of Jerusalem was also discussed at the meeting between Abbas and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and Sergei Stepashin, the chairman of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society.
CAIRO  Col. Tamer al-Rifai, the spokesman for the Egyptian army, announced in a televised statement Feb. 9 that the Egyptian army, in cooperation with the police, launched a comprehensive anti-terrorism operation in the Sinai Peninsula under the name Operation Sinai 2018. This called into question the timing of the campaign, which comes one month ahead of the presidential elections in which Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will be running for a second term.

Sisi praised the operation and said on his Facebook page Feb. 9, I proudly follow up the heroic acts of my sons in the armed forces and the police to purge the precious land of Egypt of terrorist elements who are enemies of life.

The operation was warmly welcomed by the government, the parliament, Al-Azhar and the Egyptian Church. The Civil Democratic Movement, which includes liberal and left-wing political parties, voiced support for the army. Hamdeen Sabahy, a leader in the movement and a former presidential candidate, said in a Feb. 9 statement on his Facebook page, We endlessly support all actions aimed at defeating the black terror that has claimed the lives of several civilians and martyrs in the armed forces and the police.

The operation comes three weeks before the end of the three-month deadline Sisi set for army Chief of Staff Gen. Mohamed Farid Hegazy to restore security and stability in Sinai. During Prophet Muhammad's birth ceremony held Nov. 29, Sisi told Hegazy, In cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, you shall restore security and stability in Sinai within three months using brute force.

Bassam Radi, the spokesman for the Egyptian presidency, told the local TEN TV on Feb. 9 that the operation comes upon the instructions of the president in the wake of the attack on Al-Rawdah Mosque on Nov. 24, 2017. The attack in the Bir Al-Abed area in the northern Sinai city of el-Arish killed 309 people, including 27 children.

The Egyptian army set the stage for the military operation by taking unprecedented medical measures in three governorates  the north and south of Sinai and Ismailia. The Directorate of Health Affairs in Ismailia sent a circular putting governorate hospitals on maximum alert. The circular, which Al-Monitor reviewed, called on hospital workers, doctors, pharmacists, nurses, technicians, administrators and workers to cancel any vacations they had planned. It also called for the evacuation of 30% of the beds of hospitals included in the decision.

Maj. Gen. Samir Farag, the former director of the Egyptian armys Department of Morale Affairs, linked the military operation to the presidential elections, as he told Al-Monitor that it was a pre-emptive strike against terrorist groups ahead of the elections.

Farag added that intelligence information revealed in October that extremist groups were planning to carry out terrorist attacks across Egypt during the presidential elections, which start in mid-March, to erode citizens trust in the states ability to secure the country and to prevent citizens from casting their votes.

According to Farag, after such information was received, Sisi gave Hegazy three months to confront those groups. He added that since Hegazy was tasked with the mission, information was gathered to plan for the operation in areas where the armed groups were concentrated in northern and central Sinai.

Three days into the operation, the Islamic State in Sinai broadcast Feb. 12 a video on Telegram under the name Houmat al-Shariah (Arabic for Protectors of al-Sharia) in which it threatened to target polling stations.

Farag explained that the operation differs from previous operations launched by the army since 2014 in that it involves air, land and naval forces as well as police forces spread across Egyptian governorates. The forces have a specific task to accomplish, and there is no specific time frame for the mission, he said.

Hossam Rifai, a member of the Egyptian parliament for north Sinai, told Al-Monitor that both the actions taken and the number of forces executing the operation show that it is the largest since the beginning of the war on terrorism four years ago.

The field developments there indicate that the state is adamantly seeking to eradicate extremism, and this is what people are expecting, he added.

With the start of the operation, classes have been indefinitely suspended in all schools of north Sinai. The roads linking north Sinai to the other governorates and the governorate cities to each other were also closed, forcing residents to stay home and rendering it difficult for university students to travel for education.

Rifai explained that the people faced several communication and movement obstacles because of the tight measures imposed in the governorate, and parliament members and tribal sheikhs are mediating with the army to ease the pressure on the people.

A journalist covering the developments in Sinai told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that the current military operation has received great media attention and was remarkably promoted by the army, which is issuing daily statements about its achievements.

The journalist added that the army is focusing its strikes on areas where the armed groups were active in the south of north Sinais three main cities, Rafah, Sheikh Zuweid and el-Arish, deep in the desert.

Chairman of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation Makram Mohammed Ahmed said in his daily column in the state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper Feb. 12 that Operation Sinai 2018 comes in response to reports whereby Israel launched airstrikes in Sinai. He added that the operation aims to prove that the Egyptian army is capable of confronting terrorists alone. Also, the operation came in response to claims whereby army leaders were divided following the arrest of former Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Sami Annan.

On Jan. 20, Annan announced his intention to run for the elections, but two days later he was arrested following an army statement accusing him of committing violations and attempting to sow rift between the army and the people.

Hassan Nafea, a professor of political science at Cairo University, told Al-Monitor that the military operation has political goals that Sisi is seeking to achieve, and added, Sisi spent four years in power and was commissioned by the people to fight terrorism but has thus far failed to do so. The operation is both a message from Sisi to the people that he is serious in the fight against terrorism and an attempt to save his reputation and credibility.

Nafea believes that the military operation will play out in favor of Sisi in the presidential elections for two main reasons: The first is that it shows the people that they need to support the regime to confront the dangers threatening the country. This would divert citizens attention away from the elections and the exclusion of strong candidates, which only left one candidate competing with Sisi, namely El Ghad Party leader Moussa Mostafa Moussa. The second reason is that the operation shows Sisi as a loyal person worthy of a second term.

Despite the many gains Sisi would make in the event the military operation succeeds, observers remain uncertain as to whether the period of three months that was set by the president would be sufficient to eradicate terror in Sinai in the absence of an integrated counterterrorism strategy.
A recent series of events send a clear signal that Hamas is losing its grip on the Gaza Strip. According to a security source in the Palestinian Authority (PA), these events may bring down Hamas rule. Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said that although it is too early to make an educated guess as to how long the dying process might take, it is, indeed, occurring on two levels: in the deterioration of the humanitarian situation, and in the weakening of Hamas security control and the deterrent edge of its military wing over the other armed groups.

On Feb. 19, the aid convoy led by Mohammed al-Emadi, chairman of Qatar's Gaza Reconstruction Committee, was attacked. Emadi was on his way to a press conference he had arranged at the Shifa Hospital to announce a Qatari financial contribution that would ease the severe shortage of equipment and medications, at least in the near future. Emadi never imagined that he would be confronted by furious Gaza residents, even before entering the hospital.

Once inside the hospital, Emadi was again attacked, this time by the cleaning staff, who threw shoes at him to protest not having received their salaries. The show of fury continued after Emadi left the hospital. His convoy of cars was stoned by protesters, who called on him to stop providing assistance indirectly  that is, to institutions and organizations  and to instead give directly to the people, for the benefit of the hungry residents in Gaza. The protesters dared not say out loud what many Gaza residents whisper to one another lest they be overheard by Hamas: They fear that the money will never reach them because it will end up in Hamas pockets.

A journalist in Gaza who witnessed the protests near the hospital told Al-Monitor that although the Qatari envoy needed the Palestinian security apparatus to protect him, he wasnt the real target of the people's anger. They took out [their anger] on him because they want him to understand the message that they cant say publicly, lest they come to harm, he said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The journalist explained that Gaza residents are still too intimidated, at this stage, to protest against Hamas' leaders, but in his opinion its only a matter of time. They have nothing to lose, he said.

In January 2017, during the electricity crisis in Gaza, thousands of people demonstrated against Hamas, confronting its security apparatus, which dispersed them by force, including gunfire. The present crisis is not only over electricity shortages, but the severe crisis affecting all aspects of life: Unemployment is rampant; the health system is falling apart; businesses are going bankrupt; and even UNRWA, the UN Relief and Works Agency, cannot meet the populations basic food needs. If demonstrations erupt again, they may not be as limited as in the past, and Hamas may not be able to break them up as easily.

The activities of the other armed organizations in the Gaza Strip also testify to the weakening of Hamas' control there. On the afternoon of Feb. 17, an explosive device was detonated against Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers near the border fence. Four soldiers were wounded, two of them severely. Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman said that Israel knows that those responsible for the attack belong to the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC). Senior Hamas members recently in Cairo informed Egyptian intelligence that they were not responsible for the explosion and that neither was Islamic Jihad. Their assessment as well was that the perpetrators were from the PRC. Hamas made it clear to Egypt that they have no interest in escalating the conflict with Israel at the moment.

While it is generally believed that Islamic Jihad coordinates its actions with Hamas and submits to the dictates of the leaders of the ruling movement in Gaza, the PRC is viewed as a recalcitrant organization that is always trying to get loose of Hamas tight grip. Its members placed an explosive device on the border fence because they know that residents are furious at the controlling leadership, but primarily because they realize that Hamas would have to turn a blind eye to their action. At this stage, Hamas would not dare enter into an armed confrontation with other organizations.

For the time being, Hamas wants to maintain united armed forces lest its leadership be harmed. Should widespread, angry protests erupt that are directed at Hamas and threaten its control, it might try to initiate a limited military confrontation against Israel to distract attention from internal problems in Gaza. According to the Palestinian source, this is the reason that Hamas encourages demonstrations by Gaza residents close to the border fence with Israel. It allows them to let off steam generated by their frustration.

That is exactly what worries the IDF, and that is the reason that Maj. Gen. Yoav Mordechai, head of Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories, on Feb. 19 issued a warning to Gaza residents against protests near the border fence. He emphasized that the IDF would begin to escalate its response from that moment going forward. The IDF is aware that the more Hamas loses its grip in the Gaza Strip, the more Hamas will target the border with Israel.

The astonishing thing is that although Hamas leaders are aware of the danger and understand their situation, they are not operating any differently in order to protect their position. The movements leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, announced last year that Hamas was willing to relinquish civil rule to the PA, but didnt understand that his organization would not have the privilege of then operating only in a military capacity.

About 2 million people live in todays Gaza Strip, and their fury at the Hamas leadership constitutes a very significant threat to the organizations continued rule.
In response to the Feb. 13 police announcement of sufficient evidence to indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on charges of bribery and breach of trust, Education Minister Naftali Bennett said, Receiving gifts so extensively for so long does not meet the expectations of the citizenry of the State of Israel. Polls conducted since then suggest that Bennett is wrong. According to a survey by the pollster Yossi Sarid for Reshet TV, although only 29% of Israelis surveyed believe the prime minister is innocent, more Israelis want him to stay in office than want him to resign or take time off, 49% versus 43% respectively.

An advance copy of Bennetts speech distributed to reporters accused Netanyahu of accepting gifts from billionaires. This is not the way to instill values in the young generation, and this is not the way we were taught, it read. When delivering his speech, Bennett omitted this sentence. Successive Israeli governments, chief among them the current Netanyahu-Bennett government, have taught the countrys young Jewish citizenry that taking gifts consisting of tens of thousands of acres snatched from under destitute Palestinian shepherds and cave dwellers is nothing short of a national-religious-historical mission.

For more than 50 years  since the 1967 occupation of the West Bank  Israelis have had it drummed into them that no one would stand in the way of their state collecting more and more of these gifts. Neither Israeli law nor international law, neither the greatest power in the world nor Jewish morality, has prevented Jews from settling on Palestinian lands and enjoying the bounty of their natural and water resources. Even if Netanyahu manages to avoid prosecution in his small gifts affair  allegedly receiving benefits from businessmen  he will leave behind a legacy of the major gifts that he has distributed over his lengthy tenure.

Netanyahu has instilled a profound sense of entitlement in Israelis. Israel deserves to control another people because Israeli Jews are the only victims of the conflict with the Palestinians. Israelis deserve to settle in the heart of Palestinian lands because the Palestinians dont want to make peace. Israel deserves to jail thousands of people without trial through so-called administrative detention, as it has done for decades, because their leaders want to throw Israelis into the sea. Israelis deserve to have dozens if not hundreds of nuclear bombs, according to foreign media reports, without international supervision because the Nazis annihilated 6 million Jews.

Speaking with Al-Monitor, political psychologist Daniel Bar-Tal says Netanyahu has succeeded in imbuing Israelis with a simplistic and dichotomous perception that totally negates all other views. He did so by making use of basic Jewish symbols and catchy language appealing to Jews. For example, he has referred to a unified Jerusalem, the Western Wall tunnels being the bedrock of our [the Jewish peoples] existence and the Jews as the chosen people and has invoked fate with God willing.

Bar-Tal, who has studied Israeli society for decades, compares Netanyahu to Roman and Byzantine emperors and to absolute monarchs and dictators from modern times. They, too, surrounded themselves with mediocre ministers and advisers compared to whom he looks like a beacon shining in the dark, Bar-Tal said.

In a June 2014 interview with Yedioth Ahronoth, Orit Galili-Zucker, a former Netanyahu media adviser, attributed the prime ministers success to his ability to constantly keep security on center stage on Israels agenda and constantly brand himself a supreme authority on this matter. A poll conducted last year by Mina Tzemach for the right-wing Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs indicated that Israeli views on a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are driven by feelings of fear and insecurity. According to the poll, 57% of Jewish Israelis have adopted Netanyahus demand that a future Palestinian state be under full Israeli security control. An overwhelming majority, 71%, also backs Netanyahus position that agreement with the Palestinians is dependent on their recognition of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people.

The explanation for the contradiction between the public's belief about the police findings against Netanyahu and support for his continued tenure stems from those Israelis who are contemptuous of the Netanyahu familys hedonism also being captive to the fear with which the prime minister has infused them. They fear another Holocaust, Irans nuclear weapons, a Palestinian state which offers free land for terror, threats by Islamist Hamas' leaders in Gaza, the missiles of the Islamist Lebanese Hezbollah militia, Israeli Arabs coming out in droves to the polls as Netanyahu warned on election day in 2015, and leftists who give Israel a bad name abroad. As Netanyahu told the hundreds of thousands of Israelis who protested the cost of living in 2011, life itself is more important that the quality of life. Many view Netanyahu as the elixir of Israels life. Accepting various gifts from rich business people falls under the heading of quality of life.

Israelis have also come to believe that the gifts they take for themselves in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are free of charge in the international arena. The prime minister shuttles among presidential palaces around the world, and foreign leaders seek his company. The last time Israelis paid for the gifts was in the early 1990s, when US President George W.H. Bush punished their right-wing government for refusing to freeze settlement construction. In response, Bush suspended $10 billion in US guarantees that Israel had requested to help absorb immigrants from the disintegrating Soviet Union.

These days, even as Israel continues to build houses for Jews in the settlements and to demolish the houses of Palestinians in the West Bank, President Donald Trump rewards him by recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The punishment that awaits Netanyahu if he is tried and convicted of illegally accepting gifts will be far more severe than the punishment that he and his right-wing settlement friends are imposing on Israels citizens with their criminal land policies toward the Palestinians.

The police in Israel can recommend indicting a prime minister for accepting gifts from billionaires in return for promoting their business interests. The attorney general might be able to translate the recommendations into an indictment, and a court might even send a prime minister to jail. A recent amendment to Israeli law, the so-called Regularization Law, allows the taking of territorial gifts from Palestinians and bestowing them on their Jewish neighbors, in violation of the national strategic interest in ending the bloody conflict. This has been going on for more than 50 years under the auspices of law enforcement authorities, with the cooperation of successive attorneys general, with the blessing of the Supreme Court and the support of most Israeli citizens.
NABLUS, West Bank  Northwest of Barqa, about 18 kilometers (11 miles) from Nablus, lies a private museum that brings together more than 5,000 historical objects that were collected by a Palestinian family over a period of nearly half a century.

The History Museum of Palestine, or the Barqa Museum as city residents call it, houses everyday items once used by Palestinians, such as old coins, pottery and manuscripts that date back to Canaanite, Roman, Byzantine, Greek, Islamic, Mamluk and Ottoman eras.

It also houses a library that includes over 1,200 books on the ancient civilizations of Palestine.

The two-story museum founded over 40 years ago is 150 square meters [1,614 square feet], Muntasser Salah, the owner of the Barqa Museum, told Al-Monitor.

Salah said the museum contains 5,500 items, from the Canaanite period to objects used in daily life in Palestine in the past century.

Salah added, The [items] in the museum were collected over 35 years ago by my father and before that by my grandfathers. Then I continued collecting and buying historical pieces from other amateur collectors and Palestinian families at my own expense and exhibited them in the house that was turned into a museum. The collection includes banknotes, old Palestinian coins and keys of old houses forcibly abandoned by their dwellers following the 1948 Palestinian exodus.

Salah said the museum is a tourist attraction for West Bank residents, Israeli Arabs, foreign tourists and students.

He called for financial support from government authorities to protect the rare and fragile pieces such as banknotes, coins and clay pottery. [These] need to be stored in protective glass [display] cases like those used in international museums. I hope that a large historical museum will be constructed with the help of international and governmental institutions. I would like the museum to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Salah said.

Youssef Tbaileh, a researcher and expert on archaeology and Islamic history, told Al-Monitor, The Barqa Museum houses metal items as well as clay and copper pottery that date back to the fourth and fifth centuries. Moreover, there are archaeological items dating back to the different eras that Palestine has witnessed in the past, such as bronze and copper coins from the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman eras.

He added, Most archaeological and heritage sites in the West Bank are under constant Israeli attacks and Israel doesn't allow the Palestinians to engage in any restoration or rehabilitation works of those sites under the pretext that they fall within the territories controlled by Israel, not to mention stealing these archaeological items and claiming that they belong to the Israel Antiquities Authority and that they do not belong to the Palestinians.

Tbaileh stressed the need for the Ministry of Education, in coordination with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, to organize cultural visits for high school and college students to educate them about Palestinian heritage and museums.

The Barqa Museum is located in Area C, which is under Israeli control. This area constitutes 61% of the land of the West Bank, according to the administrative division set out in the Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip known as the 1995 Oslo II Accord between Israel and the PLO.

Anwar Oudeh, a student at the Faculty of Tourism and Archaeology at An-Najah University in Nablus, told Al-Monitor, The Barqa Museum is an important center of education and knowledge. It is also rich in rare archaeological and historical items that show the greatness of the ancient eras and civilizations that Palestine witnessed centuries ago.

Oudeh added, The museum preserves many Palestinian archaeological items and tools, such as khabeya [a container that resembles an amphora used in the past to preserve olive oil, wheat and barley] and other tools that show how people used to live in Palestinian villages.

Mohammed Jabber of the village of Bizzariya in the northern West Bank near Nablus told Al-Monitor, The museum is a cultural and civilizational achievement and source of pride to Nablus in particular and Palestine in general, with its wide collection that promotes Palestinian culture and history.

He said, Whoever visits the museum remembers the old houses of their father and grandfathers. The construction and design of the building and the collections [create a very authentic atmosphere] and reflect the history of the great Palestine," adding that the collections carry this heritage to the present.

There are 31 museums in Palestine, including 26 in the West Bank and five in the Gaza Strip.

The number of visitors to those museums in 2016 was 206,046, including 159,261 Palestinian visitors and 46,785 visitors from foreign countries. Heritage museums had the lions share of visitors, 61,762, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.
The Trump administrations budget proposal for next fiscal year no longer carves out dedicated payments for peshmerga salaries even as the Pentagon aims to continue training the Kurdish force.

The Department of Defense had requested $365 million in stipends for the year that ends Sept. 30 but did not spend the money after negotiations to extend an expiring memorandum of understanding broke down in September. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi had reportedly agreed to pay the peshmerga wages in October, but a US Inspector General report released earlier this month said the Kurdish fighters still hadnt been paid.

Those documents do not specifically refer to training/stipends for the peshmerga, Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon told Al-Monitor in an email today. Lawmakers have yet to weigh in on the $716 billion Pentagon request for fiscal year 2019.

Instead, President Donald Trumps budget request for the year starting Oct. 1 seeks $850 million to train and equip Iraqi troops with a focus on bolstering the Iraqi Security Forces with Ranger brigades. As part of that amount, the peshmerga force of about 150,000 could still be eligible for up to $290 million in so-called operational sustainment funds aimed at preventing the Iraqi government from becoming more reliant on Iran and Russia, according to budget language.

The shift in focus by the United States comes as the Iraqi Kurds have been marginalized by Baghdad following the Kurdistan Regional Governments (KRG) controversial independence vote in September. As a result, US and peshmerga officials are at odds over how much assistance is actually getting through to Erbil since Baghdad has to sign off on any weapons shipments to the Kurdish troops.

Right now, the Iraqis are stopping a lot of stuff, said Michael Knights, a researcher at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

Though the Pentagon acknowledges that the peshmerga proved helpful to the US-backed coalition until the beginning of the Mosul fight in 2016, the Kurdish force has faced difficulties in assimilating US equipment, experts say, in part because the peshmerga relies on its own training structures and tactical formations. The US-led coalition said in December that 5,200 American advisers in Iraq had stopped advising the peshmerga as the Pentagon appears set to draw down its presence.

Over the past year, the United States also sold the Iraqi government nearly $300 million worth of military equipment to outfit two infantry brigades with M-16 rifles, .50 caliber machine guns, up-armored Humvees and mine-resistant vehicles. That was cut down from an initial effort to outfit four peshmerga brigades  each typically between 4,000 to 8,000 troops  including a border unit.

Peshmerga brigades didnt fit a US brigade set, Knights told Al-Monitor. A lot of the German equipment went everywhere. Gucci German assault rifles got given to commanders and bodyguards.

The US-led force has trained 26,000 peshmerga over the course of the anti-IS mission that began in 2014. Even though the funding stream appears to be in a winnowing process, the United States and the KRG remain engaged in high-level dialogues, with the peshmerga still playing an important role as the Pentagon aims to curb the influence of Iran-backed Shiite militias that are enmeshed in the Iraqi Security Forces.

In meetings in Washington in November, the head of the KRGs Department of Foreign Relations called for the United States to do more to encourage talks with Baghdad and keep tenuous supply lines open on the border, including the Fish Khabur crossing, a critical lifeline for the 2,000 US troops serving in Syria. Peshmerga forces, Falah Mustafa told Al-Monitor in a November interview, are already integrated with the Iraqi border force and taking directions from Baghdad.

We already have border guards, Mustafa said. Border guards are wearing Iraqi uniforms, they are on the payroll of the Iraqi government, they are getting instructions and directives from the Iraqi government in Baghdad.
Jordanian King Abdullah visited Russia last week for the 20th time in 18 years, but this trip was far from a routine encounter with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The countries' ties have been strong for decades. If the frequency of diplomatic gestures is an indication, Jordan appears to be Moscow's strongest ally in the Middle East. Yet despite a solid record of cooperation, as well as a certain chemistry between Abdullah and Putin, Amman never really played a prominent role in Russias Mideast strategy, including in Syria. This approach, however, got a review last year when Russia was faced with the challenge of implementing de-escalation zones in Syria, specifically the one along Jordan's border. Along with the old challenge of an Israeli-Palestinian settlement  which recently became even more complex  the need to settle Syria's civil war took center stage at the Abdullah-Putin meeting Feb. 15.

Russias and Jordans interests in the region are uniquely aligned at the moment, allowing the two to explore opportunities for cooperation that go beyond routine interaction. Jordan essentially became a linchpin of Russian policy toward southern Syria when the kingdom played a key role in negotiating a de-escalation zone that spans across Quneitra and Daraa provinces and borders Israel and Jordan. During his visit to Moscow, Abdullah boasted about the two countries active dialogue on Syria  and the southern de-escalation zone is where this dialogue is most visible. Since 2015, the two countries have operated a joint center in Amman to share intelligence on the situation in southern provinces and coordinate military action. The agreement between Russia and the United States on the de-escalation zone at Jordan's border became possible thanks to the king's participation.

Russia and Jordan do not necessarily see eye to eye on the Syrian conflict, but since the de-escalation zones were announced, Amman has been gradually adjusting its position regarding the Syrian government. Jordanian officials no longer see Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as a threat and even go as far as to claim their relations are back on track. The perceived improvement of ties between Damascus and Amman was arguably facilitated by a new understanding in the south, where Amman no longer saw a threat to Jordanian borders.

The Russian plan to give Jordan an active role in settling the Syrian conflict was part of the strategy to create an environment  or the illusion of one  of a Sunni Arab power normalizing relations with and accepting Assad. It is not surprising that Abdullah was susceptible to Russias plan: The West hasn't acknowledged Jordan's accommodation of Syrian refugees and has failed to nurture a strong resistance to Assad in the south. These omissions led Amman to look for alternative partners, and Russia was readily there. Abdullah's realignment with Russia resulted in his dwindling support for training Syrian opposition on Jordanian soil, and prevented a much-anticipated US-led push against the Islamic State (IS) from Jordanian territory in 2017.

The most recent round of escalation between Israel and Iran in Syria caught both Russia and Jordan off guard. Irans attempts to test its opponents capabilities in the south, and Israels ambition to expand its buffer zone in Syria, threaten the de-escalation zone. This situation was the central topic of the Putin-Abdullah meeting, since renewed instability in the south not only threatens to erase the political progress of last year but also presents a far more complex security challenge to both Russia and Jordan. What for a long time was a battleground between the Syrian army and the opposition might now morph into a full-on turf war between Israel and Iran.

The ongoing offensive of the Syrian government and Iran in Eastern Ghouta  in clear violation of the agreements  may also bode ill for the de-escalation zone in the south, as both the southern front and Israel now see another land grab as Damascus' next possible step. Because of this, Israel is seeking to establish a buffer inside Syria through financial and military support to opposition groups inside the de-escalation zone. The zone is already on the brink of collapse, with several rebel factions there calling for attacks on government-controlled territory in retaliation for the Eastern Ghouta campaign. Israel and the United States will consider any military action by the Syrian government in the south to be crossing a red line.

It was this sense of urgency to prevent the derailing of an agreement co-sponsored by Russia and the United States  a crucial element in Moscows plan to settle the conflict  that brought Abdullah and Putin together. The de-escalation zone in the south was designed to help Russia gradually disengage in the area militarily (despite keeping observation posts on the zone's border) and act as a sponsor of talks on a new modus vivendi between Israel and Iran. This, however, is unrealistic without a working de-escalation zone that is respected by all parties.

Moscow feels comfortable acting as a go-between in Iranian-Israeli talks, but being militarily sandwiched between the two would put Russia at odds with both of them. To prevent another spiral of violence in the south, Russia hopes Jordan will project its influence on the southern front to act as a buffer between Israel and the Iranian-backed forces while Moscow seeks a workable path to their coexistence in Syria.

Jordans capacity to influence Syrian rebels has significantly diminished as training programs and foreign funding have decreased. Russia needs to be extra careful about the extent of its partnership with Iran in southern Syria, which ultimately affects Moscows relationship with Israel as well as its standing with Sunni Arab powers. In this context, Jordan becomes a tested partner that is accepted by Iran and Israel, but also brings with it a degree of recognition of Russian efforts by the US and Arab powers, something Russia has been struggling to earn in Syria.
Turkey opened fire on hundreds of fighters loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The fighters arrived in the Kurdish-controlled Syrian province of Afrin on Feb. 20, news reports said, as Damascus disregarded Ankaras warnings against coming to the aid of the Syrian Kurdish militia fighting a Turkish military assault.

The confrontation came just hours after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he had prevented any such incursion by Syrian government forces after speaking to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Syrias benefactors, and that Turkish troops and their allies in the Free Syrian Army (FSA) would besiege the provincial capital in a matter of days.

Later, Erdogan said that the groups, which he described as Shiite militias in a few pickup trucks, had acted independently and that Turkish artillery fire had repulsed the fighters. CNN Turk cited unidentified sources as saying the pro-Assad militias would not attempt such a show of force during daylight hours. Other reports could not confirm the militias had turned back.

In my calls with Mr. Putin and Mr. Rouhani, we had already reached agreement on this," Erdogan said at a televised news conference. "Unfortunately, terrorist groups like these sometimes make missteps according to their own decisions. It is not possible for us to allow this. They will pay a heavy price for this."

The foray threatens to pit adversarial neighbors Turkey and Syria in outright conflict in a country already fractured by seven years of war that has ensnared regional powers, as well as the United States and Russia.

Last month, Turkey invaded Afrin, in an operation it dubbed Olive Branch, to repulse the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) from its border and block it from consolidating territorial gains and the political autonomy it has carved out in northern Syria since 2011.

Kurds being supported by Shiite militias is but the latest twist in Syrias complex maze of alliances.

Ankara said the YPG is an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party, which it deems a terrorist organization for taking up arms against the Turkish state in 1984 at a cost of more than 40,000 lives. An autonomous Kurdish entity on its borders would pose the gravest of security threats, Turkey said.

Assad agreed to send forces to the YPGs aid in Afrin, Syrian state news agency SANA said on Feb. 19, after the Kurds had appealed for help to protect the border. Syria has repeatedly blasted the Turkish incursion as a violation of its territorial sovereignty, even if the Kurds administer Afrin outside of Damascus control.

In response, Turkey warned Assad that his war-town country could face dismemberment.

The Kurds being supported by Shiite militias is but the latest twist in Syrias complex maze of alliances. Much to Turkeys ire, the YPG has fought with the United States to expel the Islamic State from much of Syria. Yet it has at times cooperated with pro-Assad forces and enjoys strong historical links with Moscow, which built a military facility in Afrin to train Kurdish forces before withdrawing ahead of Turkeys entry.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visited Ankara last week to rescue battered ties between the NATO partners, severely tested by the Pentagons support of the YPG since 2014. Clashing objectives in Syria even had Turkey warning that its forces could come into contact with US soldiers.

Tillerson spent three hours huddled with Erdogan on Feb. 15 in what was a productive and open conversation, a State Department official said. The US-Turkish detente unnerved both the YPG, worried about flagging US support, and Moscow, which has exploited the rift with Washington to pull Turkey into its orb, Posta newspaper reported.

But Aaron Stein, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council in Washington, noted that the YPG had been in talks with the Syrian government on working together in Afrin well before Tillersons visit.

This isnt the US zone of influence in Syria; this is the Russian and Turkish zone. This is their mess to deal with.  The Americans dont really have a vote, Stein told Al-Monitor.

The Syrian regime has decided to send in official militias who will make life extremely difficult for Turkey and, I think, for the Russians too, he said, because it could undermine Turkish support for de-escalating fighting in neighboring Idlib province, the largest anti-Assad bastion left in Syria, an arrangement brokered by Moscow.

Earlier on Feb. 20, Erdogan said plans by Assad to send fighters to Afrin were halted in a serious sense  after the talks with Putin. In their telephone call, Erdogan warned Putin that serious consequences would emerge should Assad deploy forces to Afrin, Hurriyet reported.

Operation Olive Branch will continue with determination. If the regime enters Afrin, it will be taking a risk and serious consequences will occur, the newspaper quoted Erdogan as telling Putin. In response, Putin told Erdogan, We remain committed to the agreement we reached, Hurriyet said.

Turkeys push into Afrin relies on the consent of Russia, which controls Syrian airspace and allows Turkish jets to provide air cover to soldiers and the FSA faction helping it battle the YPG. When Moscow restricted access to the skies above Afrin earlier this month, Turkey suffered its heaviest losses in the monthlong campaign.

Erdogan said on Feb. 20 that 32 Turkish soldiers and 715 terrorists have been killed in Afrin. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights puts the death toll at 205 FSA fighters and 39 Turkish soldiers, as well as at least 219 YPG members. It has also documented 112 civilian deaths.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillersons Feb. 16 visit to Ankara, against the backdrop of unprecedented tensions between the two countries, appears to have averted a train crash in ties, as one Turkish analyst put it. That the sides are talking now instead of hurling open or barely shrouded threats at each other is a positive development, seasoned diplomats say.

In an article for Hurriyet, retired ambassador Oguz Celikkol pointed out that Tillerson was immediately preceded by US national security adviser H.R. McMaster, who met President Recep Tayyip Erdogans chief adviser Ibrahim Kalin in Istanbul, as well as talks between US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and his Turkish counterpart Nurettin Canikli in Brussels on the sidelines of a NATO gathering.

A better atmosphere has emerged in both capitals, compared to a week ago, for ties to be repaired and normalized, and for trust to be reinstated in relations, Celikkol wrote.

Nevertheless, Tillersons extended talks with Erdogan and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu appear to have produced few if any concrete solutions to contentious issues. They resulted instead in a general understanding of the need to normalize ties. The sides agreed to establish what they are referring to as a set of mechanisms that will start working by mid-March to address outstanding issues.

Pro-government analysts have been quick to argue that tough talk from Erdogan and the dire warnings from Cavusoglu forced the American side to seek to solve its problems with Ankara.

Erdogan reacted angrily last week to a US general who threatened to respond robustly to any Turkish move on Manbij in northern Syria that might endanger American forces or fighters from the US-supported People's Protection Units (YPG) there.

Those who say that they would respond if they are hit have never tasted an Ottoman slap, Erdogan said, using the Turkish idiom for a deadly or incapacitating slap.

Cavusoglu said before Tillersons visit that Turkish-American ties were at a point where they would either improve or break completely and added that Turkey would no longer tolerate empty promises from the United States.

Mehmet Acet, a pro-government columnist for Yeni Safak, listed two reasons Tillerson had come to Ankara. The first, he contended, was the determination Turkey displayed with its operation against the YPG in Afrin, and the second was Ankara's declaration that the Afrin operation would be extended to Manbij and beyond, as far as the Iraqi border, to regions held by the YPG with US backing.

When Turkey showed its power in the field, its shadow fell on the diplomacy table and Washington had to act according to the new situation, Acet argued.

Others reasoned that Washingtons continuing need for Turkey, given Turkeys strategic location and its hosting of vital US military assets, forced the Donald Trump administration to try to resolve issues that have clouded ties.

Whatever it was that brought Tillerson to Ankara, major hurdles, especially regarding Syria, remain if ties are to be normalized.

Turkey has a long list of demands, which include the thorny issue of the extradition of Fethullah Gulen, the Islamic preacher residing in Pennsylvania who Ankara says masterminded the failed coup against Erdogan in 2016.

Turkey also wants the United States to end its alliance with the YPG, which Ankara says is a Kurdish terrorist organization, and take back the weapons the group was supplied.

Ankaras immediate concern, though, is to rid Manbij and territories east of the Euphrates River of the YPG. US forces backing the YPG are also deployed in those regions. Erdogan has been warning that if the United States doesnt take the actions Ankara wants, Turkey will.

Hurriyets Washington representative Cansu Camlibel said in her assessment of Tillersons visit, We should now expect Ankara to hold off on a possible attack on Manbij while Turkish and American officials sit down to narrow the gap between them in the coming weeks and months.

During his press conference with Cavusoglu in Ankara, where both men went out of their way to underline the continuing importance of maintaining their strategic partnership, Tillerson said Manbij would be a priority issue. Its one of the first areas were going to work on. The United States made commitments to Turkey previously. Weve not completed fulfilling those commitments, he said.

His remarks appeared to suggest that an accommodation could be arrived at over Manbij, which is different from what Washington has been saying.

Cavusoglu said the first aim would be to push the YPG out of Manbij, east of the Euphrates. He nevertheless expressed Turkey's lack of trust in the United States during his opening remarks at the press conference.

There were certain promises that were not kept, and there were certain issues that we could not resolve. So from this point on, we want to focus as to how we can take solution-oriented steps so that the issues are not just on paper, he said.

Few specifics emerged during the press conference, but Reuters reported while Tillerson was in Ankara that Turkey had proposed a joint deployment of Turkish and US forces in Manbij. Such a deployment could take place only if YPG fighters first withdrew from Manbij to positions on the opposite bank of the nearby Euphrates River, an unnamed Turkish official was quoted as saying.

Camlibel questions this proposal, given the continuing US reliance on YPG fighters. The reported Turkish proposal to push the YPG out of Manbij and in their place station Turkish troops together with US troops will be a hard one for the Trump administration to sell to US commanders on the ground, she said.

What happens east of the Euphrates, even if an agreement is reached over Manbij, is another unanswered question. Washington has indicated that it plans to remain in Syria for the foreseeable future. It is unlikely, therefore, to compromise its hold over territories east of the Euphrates held by the YPG with support from a large US military contingent.

The question of Manbij still remains an unsolved problem, too. Some are suggesting that Washington is merely playing for time with Tillersons remarks on the topic because it sees that Turkeys operation in Afrin is going to take months to succeed, during which time the overall situation may change for Ankara.

As matters stand, the situation in Afrin has already gotten more complicated for Turkey, following reports that the regime is sending forces there in response to a call from the YPG. If true, few believe it could have happened without Russian approval.

That these reports emerged immediately after Tillersons visit also begs the question of what the Russian response will be if Ankara and Washington reach an agreement over any part of northern Syria. Moscow could interpret it as another case of Turkish vacillation that ultimately makes it an unreliable partner for Russia. Turkeys dilemma is that it cant afford to anger Russia at the moment.

Meanwhile, the continuation of the uncertain political and military environment in Syria and the very real potential for unexpected developments could threaten any progress made in resolving differences between Turkey and the United States, two supposed strategic partners that act more like adversaries today than friends. The animosity will ensure that their ties remain fragile.

So while a crash may have been averted in Turkish-American ties for now, there is no guarantee that new tensions will not emerge if their new mechanisms cant produce viable solutions.
Turkey's confrontation with an Italian drilling ship in the eastern Mediterranean Sea could quickly reach crisis proportions. As I noted in an Al-Monitor story Dec. 26, developments were warning of growing tension between Turkey and the Greek Cypriots over newly discovered hydrocarbon reserves south of the island.

Indeed, the first hot military standoff of 2018 started Feb. 9 between the Turkish navy and the Saipem 12000 drilling ship of Italy's ENI SpA, which is licensed by the Greek Cypriot administration to explore hydrocarbon reserves south of the island. As the Saipem 12000 was sailing from the area known as Block 6 southwest of the island toward Block 3, Turkish naval vessels approached within 5 miles of it. The Saipem 12000 halted some 15 nautical miles from its destination in Block 3, an area 70 kilometers (43 miles) off the coast of Cape Greco on the southeastern tip of the island.

On Feb. 8, just a day before the reported standoff, ENI announced it had made a lean (residual) gas discovery in Block 6 off Cyprus. According to ENI, the well  which was drilled in water 2,074 meters (1.3 miles) deep, reaching a final total depth of 3,827 meters (2.4 miles)  has excellent reservoir characteristics.

The Turkish naval detachment that blocked Saipem 12000 has been in the region for about three months.

The Turkish General Staff issued a Feb. 14 statement that a frigate, a corvette (small warship), a fuel tanker and two assault boats have been conducting surveillance missions in the area as part of Turkey's ongoing maritime security protocol to ensure safe oil transportation and deter potential threats.

Although the statement did not mention it, there are reports that at least two Turkish submarines are part of the Turkish force. Also, the presence of a Turkish navy fuel tanker means the flotilla could stay there for weeks and operate in international waters without needing port services.

Ankara thinks the tensions in the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean Sea aren't coincidental. Ankara feels the natural gas alliance of Greece, Greek Cypriots, Israel and Egypt  being aware of the Turkish military's capacity shortcomings since the July 2016 coup attempt, its military involvement in Syria and its increasing isolation  is scheming for diplomatic, economic and military faits accomplis.

Nobody was surprised when Turkish Chief of Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar made a high-profile, well-publicized visit Feb. 9 to the Aegean and Mediterranean areas, accompanied by commanders of the Turkish navy, air force and land forces, with the stated objective of monitoring and inspecting the current posture of Turkey's military.

During that visit, Akar told journalists the Turkish military can handle it all: maintain its offensive in Afrin and de-escalation efforts around Idlib in Syria, while conducting counterterror operations against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) inside Turkey and intervening in developments in the Aegean Sea and eastern Mediterranean.

"We are watching closely the developments in the eastern Mediterranean region, Akar said.

From Akars remarks, it was easy to understand that the dangerous proximity of Turkish naval elements to the Saipem 12000 near Block 3 was not accidental. It was meant as a "diplomatic" message to Greek Cypriots, Italy and the European Union. The EU had stepped up its diplomatic efforts to transport the hydrocarbon reserves off Cyprus to Europe with its eastern Mediterranean pipeline project.

How far will Turkey escalate the confrontation in the eastern Mediterranean Sea?

With Ankaras risky blocking of the Saipem 12000, exploration work has temporarily ceased. As of noon Feb. 14, the ship was still stationary.

According to its schedule, the Saipem 12000 has to complete its exploration in Block 3 before March. Ankaras plan, for the time being, appears to be to disrupt the vessel's navigation plans and delay its activities instead of igniting a regional crisis.

Actually, to understand whether Ankara will escalate the situation, we also have to keep an eye on the Diliskelesi Port near Istanbul, where Turkey's recently purchased Deepsea Metro II drilling ship is still moored after arriving at the beginning of January.

That ship is now undergoing its final maintenance while the crew completes orientation training. The vessel's departure date and final destination are of vital importance and will indicate whether Ankara wants an escalation. If Turkish naval elements accompany the ship to the eastern Mediterranean Sea, that will be a strong indicator that Ankara defines the crisis as a military problem.
Valbrun-Pope was referring to what an article by Jeffrey Benzing in Public Source calls the " Broward County Solution ." As Benzing relates, Broward County used to lead the state of Florida in sending students to the state's juvenile justice system. County leaders responded with a perfectly progressive solution: "lower arrests by not making arrests."

"We're not compromising school safety. We're really saving the lives of kids," boasted Michaelle Valbrun-Pope, executive director of Student Support Initiatives for Broward County Public Schools, in August 2017.

Authorities agreed to treat twelve different misdemeanor offenses as school-related issues, not criminal ones. The results impressed the people who initiated the program. Arrests dropped from more than a thousand in 2011-2012 to less than four hundred just four years later.

One particular motivation behind programs like Broward County's was the pressure from multiple sources to reduce the statistical disparity between black and Hispanic student arrests on one hand and white and Asian student arrests on the other. Benzing writes, for instance, how a Denver organization called "Padres & Jovenes Unidos" successfully advocated for a program like Broward's to help achieve "racial and education equity" in Denver schools.

By virtue of his name alone, Nikolas de Jesus Cruz, the adopted son of Lynda and Roger Cruz, became a statistical Hispanic. As such, authorities at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland had every reason not to report his troubling and likely criminal behavior to the police.

According to a source who spoke to the Miami Herald, Cruz had been suspended from Stoneman Douglas High for fighting and also for being caught with bullets in his backpack. This was apparently at least one of the reasons why administrators reportedly emailed a warning to teachers against allowing Cruz on the campus with a backpack. He was later expelled for reasons that have not been disclosed, but he was apparently not arrested.

This is not the first time that this "solution" to school crime has produced lethal results. An earlier case in the nearby Miami-Dade County public school system should have been a warning, but unfortunately, the media conspired to suppress the details of the case. The victim in Miami-Dade was one Trayvon Martin.

Miami-Dade schools have their own police department. The exposure of the department's practices began inadvertently with the Miami Herald story on Martin's multiple suspensions. The article prompted M-DPD's police chief to launch a major internal affairs investigation into the possible leak of this information to the Herald.

As the investigation began, the officers realized immediately that they had a problem on their hands. "Oh, God, oh, my God, oh, God," one major reportedly said when first looking at Martin's data. He could see that Martin had been suspended twice already that school year for offenses that should have gotten him arrested. In each case, however, the case file on Martin was fudged to make the crime seem less serious than it was.

As one detective told investigators, the arrest statistics coming out of Martin's school, Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School, had been "quite high," and the detectives "needed to find some way to lower the stats." This directive allegedly came from the police chief. At least a few officers confirmed that the chief was particularly concerned with the arrest rates of minority males in the Miami-Dade system.

In July 2012, the Obama administration formalized the pressure on school districts with an executive order warning school districts to avoid "methods that result in disparate use of disciplinary tools." The White House focused on black students in particular and headlined the press release announcing this dubious stroke of racism "President Obama Signs New Initiative to Improve Educational Outcomes for African Americans."

Like Cruz, Martin was frequently suspended, three times in his final school year. In one case, Martin had been found with stolen jewelry and burglary tools in his backpack. Had he been arrested and not merely suspended, his parents and his teachers would have known how desperately far he had gone astray. Instead, Martin was "diverted" into nothing useful. Just days after his last non-arrest, he was allowed to wander the Retreat at Twin Lakes high and alone, looking, in George Zimmerman's immortal words, "like he's up to no good or he's on drugs or something."

The media's larger motive in suppressing the facts of this story was to protect the narrative of innocent black youth killed by white cop wannabe George Zimmerman. A secondary motive was to protect Obama's misbegotten quest to achieve racially statistical "equity" for youthful offenders by not arresting them for very real crimes.

Cruz had to have done something more troubling than carry bullets in his backpack. Before even talking about gun control, Republican leaders should demand a complete audit of Cruz's school records and the rethinking of the "Broward County Solution" wherever it is applied.
There is a reason why the massacre at Marjory Stoneman High School in Parkland, Florida could never have happened in an Israeli school. Israel does not consider its schools gun-free zones, where armed predators can freely roam the campus and hallways, picking targets at will. Whether it be terrorists or armed loons, we all live in a war zone these days, and the fact is that the best way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.

Americans intent on ensuring a school massacre like the one in Newtown, Conn., never happens again could learn a lot from Israel, where the long menu of precautions includes armed teachers. The Jewish state, which has long faced threats of terrorist strikes in crowded locations including schools, takes an all-of-the-above approach to safety in the classroom. Fences, metal detectors and armed private guards are part of a strategy overseen by the country's national police. And the idea of armed teachers in the classroom, which stirred much controversy in the wake of the U.S. attack, has long been in practice in Israel Oren Shemtov, CEO of Israel's Academy of Security and Investigation, noted that attacks typically happen in a matter of minutes, and said gun-toting teachers could, at the very least, buy time for kids to escape while police race to the scene. "Two (armed) teachers would have kept (the Newtown shooter) occupied for 45 seconds each," said Shemtov, who is one of 16 people in Israel authorized to train those who instruct school guards. Shemtov, a veteran of Israel's security services who has been teaching security methods for 22 years, praised the Newtown teachers who gave their lives trying to protect children, but lamented the fact that they weren't able to shoot back when gunman Adam Lanza opened fire, killing 20 children and six adults before shooting himself in the head as police converged on Sandy Hook Elementary School.

As much as Americans are reluctant to turn their schools into what critics might call armed camps, it would be a better situation than the free fire zones that exist today. Would allowing guns in school be dangerous? We allow guns in schools right now by not having secure entrances; by not heeding warnings from those who did see something and did say something; and by not having adequate armed security on campus, including armed teachers.

The well intentioned student-survivors of the Parkland are planning a march on Washington to protest the shooting galleries other well intentioned people have created:

Cameron Kasky, another Douglas High student who started the #NeverAgain movement, announced Sunday that on March 24, students are organizing rallies across the country to demand that lawmakers reject money from the NRA and say "never again." "My message for people in office is: You're either with us or against us. We are losing our lives while the adults are playing around," Kasky said in an interview Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union." "We don't need you. On March 24, you are going to be seeing students in every single major city. We have our lives on the line here. "This isn't about the GOP, this isn't about the Democrats, this is about us creating a badge of shame for any politicians accepting money from the NRA and using us as collateral," he said.

Shooter Nikolas Cruz was not a member of the NRA, an organization that supports enforcement of existing gun laws and safeguards designed to protect us from predators. Any nerd still living in their parents' basement could have tracked Cruz down. Blame the FBI, not the NRA.

At Parkland, there were warning signs, enough red flags to have a parade in Moscow. Many did see things and say things, as the mantra goes, but the FBI, which was notified of the killer's intention posted on social media, was busy chasing Russians and fighting Trump. The kids in the high school expected that the killer who was expelled would one day return. Yet the doors were not secured. In a society awash with cameras and surveillance, no one saw him waking in with a gas mask, smoke grenades, and a weapon.

Your local convenience store has better security. The question to be asked is not how could this happen, but why is the killer still alive. Why was there no one in the building able to shoot back? Why are off-duty cops guarding junk food and soft drinks rather than in these schools, guarding children? We have enough retired cops and returning veterans to put more than a few in every school. Critics say that, like guns in the home, would be dangerous. More dangerous than what, exactly? The number of armed guards that have engaged in mass shootings remains stuck at zero. Rush Limbaugh recently commented on the folly of schools not having armed security:

During the February 18 airing of Fox News Sunday Rush Limbaugh referenced the Florida shooting and observed that gun-free school zones mean that attackers are the only ones who are armed Limbaugh noted how bewildering it is that "we have armed security at virtually every public entity in this country, except schools. For some reason, they are a gun-free zone and everybody that wants to shoot up a school knows that they are going to be the only one armed." ... This gun-free scenario led Limbaugh to observe that school shootings will not end until we "get serious" about stopping them, and he painted a distressing picture of what our future holds until we do get serious: "The next shooter probably has the gun he is going to use. The next shooter is known by many people in his community who are concerned that this guy may do what everybody is afraid he's going to doWe can wish that it weren't this way. We can wish that Congress could legislate it away. But they can't." He observed that student marches and "prayers and condolences" are not going to prevent another shooting either."

No, they are not. But armed citizens can.

As Investor's Business Daily editorialized after the Aurora, Colorado theater massacre:

Few Americans are aware that in an October 1997 shooting spree at a Pearl, Miss., high school that left two students dead, assistant principal Joel Myrick retrieved a gun from his car and immobilized the shooter until police arrived, preventing further killings. Or, in another school shooting in January 2002 at the Appalachian School of Law in Virginia, a disgruntled former student killed Law Dean L. Anthony Sutin, associate professor Thomas Blackwell and a student. Two of the three Virginia law students who overpowered the gunman were armed, preventing further deaths.

Not only would armed security in the schools do more than kumbaya-singing wishful thinking, but the mere uncertainty of whether the shooter would face return fire might deter such crimes. Killers love gun-free zones, which is why the shooter at an Aurora Colorado movie theater picked a particular one:

John Fund, writing in National Review, notes that the Aurora shooter had a choice of seven movie theaters within a 20-mile drive of his home that were showing the Batman movie he was obsessed with. The Cinemark Theater he chose wasn't the closest, but it was the only one that banned customers from carrying their guns inside, otherwise allowed under Colorado law.

Instead of guarding our convenience stores with off-duty cops, how about our schools and our children? Allow concealed carry in schools. The response time of a bullet from a defender's firearm is a lot quicker than the response time for a 911 call.

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.
The Feminist Delusion of Toxic Masculinity

Just as the phrase "climate change" fails to capture the fundamental nature of a theory that was originally labeled "global warming," the commonly heard phrase "toxic masculinity" substitutes similarly imprecise language for the more explicit notion that the biologically ordained striving by men to achieve dominance is bad. Many women nowadays wish to bury the fact that their female ancestors sought protection by attaching themselves to dominant males; they suffer under the illusion that the cave man days are over and that as a result, men must now change their biology. These women presume that civilization protects them sufficiently that they no longer need seek out protection by a loyal male. They are delusional. They think themselves capable of achieving the sort of competitive dominance needed to maintain their own autonomy because they view the abstract concept of society  or civilization  as an imperishable item largely immune from destruction.

In fact, both society in general and civilization in particular are fragile things that have in the past collapsed with surprising suddenness. One could look to ancient times for examples (e.g., the dissolution of the Roman Empire in the face of invasion by Germanic barbarians or the sudden disintegration of Mayan culture due to unknown causes), but modern examples might be more convincing. For example, late in the 20th century, the Soviet empire fell apart when nobody expected such a thing. In the aftermath, it was men, not women, who emerged as the power-brokers  often as tyrannical dictators. As for Russia herself, those who amassed power and wealth from the break-up were almost exclusively men. This happened only thirty years ago, when Western women already had achieved a great deal of independence and ought to have been able to seize possession of at least a few valuable scraps of power or wealth during the ensuing chaos. Nothing of the sort happened: men grabbed it all. This was at a time, incidentally, when the Soviet enterprise prided itself on the degree to which its women were encouraged to be doctors, lawyers, and Indian chiefs. It was a Soviet conceit that their revolutionary movement had at last put women on an equal footing with men, and yet Russia's post-communist regime was a man's world. That example is not recent enough? The feminine ascendance to "equality" is more recent than that? Well, then, let us consider the current trend in the world that sees radical Islam  a male-dominated culture if there ever was one  challenging the West. Many choose to ignore the threat and pretend the challenge is insignificant, but anybody who examines the situation carefully will be hard pressed not to conclude that radical Islam is waging a remarkably effective war. The ISIS caliphate has crumbled, but at the global scale, the West remains on the defensive. This example is particularly ironic since many feminists ignore the degree to which women in even moderate Islamic societies are under the protection of men. If the jihadis succeed in their avowed agenda to topple the West and replace it with a society based on Islamic values, the women of the West will be subjected to a rude awakening. Jihadis do not respect women's rights; they will use force to enact a system that puts women in their place  their Islam-designated place. Female politicians and female heads of corporations and respected female professionals will suddenly discover that they cannot not go to work without permission from their husbands. Women will be categorized as less reliable than men in courts of law. They will have lesser rights of inheritance than men. In short, the great advances achieved for women in the West will be swept away and replaced by a religious code that idealizes childrearing and homebound duties as perfect feminism. Sharia law does not look kindly on the hopes and aspirations of Western feminism. If feminists succeed in eradicating toxic masculinity in Western men, then the jihadis will surely win the war. Neither hardened Western women nor emasculated Western men will be sufficient to thwart jihadi aggressiveness. In the aftermath, Western women will likely resort to practicality: they will scorn the Western male and attach themselves to those more highly competitive Muslim men who will have risen to dominant positions. Most likely, the plight of the Western women will be less deadly than that of the emasculated Western men, but female survival will nevertheless require brutal compromises. Women will become property once again. Biology has dictated that on average, women are smaller and weaker than men. For this reason, little girls grow up with a natural tendency to rely on deception to survive. They often avoid direct confrontation with men for the same reason men always avoided direct confrontation with lions: the odds for survival are bad. Even in this modern era of assertive feminism, most women have no problem doing everything in their considerable (sexual) power to maintain the idea that men need to shelter and protect them. In childhood, the great majority of little girls quickly learn that the best way to offset the physical superiority of little boys is to pretend pain whenever disadvantaged by greater strength. This ruse usually diminishes with adulthood, but it rarely disappears completely. By abjuring stoicism in this sort of circumstances, women reinforce the notion that they need to be protected. According to Jordan Peterson, the Canadian psychologist, studies have confirmed that men are more confrontational than women and that women are wired to be more accommodating than men. He claims that this was unavoidable because women  but not men  had to cater to the outrageous demands of helpless infants. Men did not have to develop such an accommodating nature, but if they were to have any chance of passing on their own genes to a new generation, they had to protect and defend both the mother and the child, a task that required confrontational skills. According to Peterson, these differing life imperatives contributed to the biological evolution of psychic differences between men and women. Of course, feminists who proclaim the toxicity of men most likely reject the idea that male aggressiveness is a biologically governed trait: they are pretty much obliged to do so if they wish to eliminate the patriarchy. To counter the biological explanation for male dominance, they often invoke a mythical golden era of cooperation when women were not subservient and may indeed have been dominant. There is little support for the theory: primitive groups brought into contact with the outside world during the age of discovery showed few traces of any such societal order. In virtually all of them, men were dominant over women. Feminists would insist that this is pure injustice, but cultural anthropologists think more in terms of survival than justice. Societies compete with other societies and either through war or cultural absorption only the successful ones have passed on their traits. If cultural anthropologists think culture patterns are shaped mostly by the drive to survive, and cultures dominated by women have been the exception, then perhaps male dominance is needed.
The answer is obvious. This is neo-McCarthyism, straight up. After all, when was the last time that the nation was all in a tizzy about underhanded Russian meddling in U.S. politics? It was back in the immediate post-WWII era, when Richard Nixon and Joe McCarthy and other Republican worthies made their bones with accusations that the Russians were Up to Something.

Now that Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller has indicted the Russians for meddling in "our election," let us think about what it all means.

But why? Why McCarthyism then, and why the neo-McCarthyite Russia collusion narrative now?

It really is pretty simple. Back in 1948, the Republicans lost a presidential election they had expected to win, as in the famous picture of President Truman displaying the headline "Dewey Defeats Truman." The Truman win meant that the Republicans had lost five presidential elections in a row. We humans have a thoughtful way of processing such an event, which suddenly and catastrophically destroys all our hopes and expectations. We yell, at the top of our voices: "We was robbed! It's a conspiracy!"

The same is true about the supporters of Hillary Clinton on the fateful day of November 9, 2016. It could not be  it was impossible that the American people had elected an orange-haired ape from Queens. All the right people, all the intelligent people had agreed that Clinton had it in the bag, and that the queen's vulgarian didn't have a hope of winning. Besides, First Female President!

So it had to be a conspiracy.

Now, if the United States were still a rough, tough, manly democracy, we would have tied the Russian internet up in knots to teach Putin a lesson and told the loser Democrats to go put it where the sun don't shine. But that was then; this is now. Millions of voters were in tears after the Trump win. Social science professionals were reporting another outbreak of Post-Election Stress Disorder, similar in virulence to the outbreak of November 2000. Well born women from all over the United States cashed in their airline miles and rallied to protest the inauguration of the vulgar Trump. It was obvious; the Hillary loss had to be handled more gently than in olden times. Because women.

Years ago, I read German sociologist Georg Simmel and his prediction, a century ago, about the consequence of women coming into the public square. I wrote:

Obviously, Simmel wrote, the public sphere, the world outside the home, in the short term would still be defined by men for men, but in the long term women would transform the public square to suit "a more feminine sensibility."

Now, I don't know what your experience may be, but my experience is that you do not tell a woman to "suck it up" after a setback. That is not what a feminine sensibility expects when something has gone wrong. Instead, the proper thing to do is to endlessly rehearse and "share" her feelings about the traumatic event, and soften its sharp edges with a spot of chardonnay until the tears fade away.

And so now we have the Russian indictments. Oh, no! I can't believe it! The Russians were trying to disrupt "our democracy" and were backing the comb-over guy right through the election cycle! We must expose these toxic abusers and bring them to justice!

Okay, I get it. The way we resolve political disputes from here on out in the United States is to "share" the distress of the helpless victims of the Trumpocracy using a nice, kind special prosecutor therapist who will kindly ruin the lives of half a dozen second-tier political operatives but will help us all get to closure.

Of course, in this brave new world, only the liberal mean-girls clique get the special snowflake treatment. If you are outside the liberal bubble  a man, a Christian, a pro-life woman, a gun-owner, an alt-right white supremacist  or if you are a former "little darling" of the liberals now cast aside like the white working class -- if you are one of those, then suck it up, pal.

But don't forget, liberals, that there is no such thing as justice  only injustice.

You see, liberals, when you spend your lives giving you and yours special privileges and free special prosecutor therapy to ease the pain of post-election stress disorder, it may all seem like the right and sensitive thing to do. But other folks may think that all this special therapy for liberals spells I-N-J-U-S-T-I-C-E. And there is nothing like injustice to get people out to the polls.

Anyway, shouldn't the proper response to nefarious Russian election interference be to sic the fabled FBI Counterintelligence Division on the Russkies?

Maybe after we all get to closure.

Christopher Chantrill @chrischantrill runs the go-to site on U.S. government finances, usgovernmentspending.com. Also get his American Manifesto and his Road to the Middle Class.
Serious as these threats are, in addition the U.S. faces an immediate additional hazard as a result of its participation in the continuing imbroglio in Syria.

The country has been warned on two occasions in February 2018 by Dan Coats, Director of National Intelligence, of various threats to the United States. China and Russia, great powers, both seek spheres of influence and endeavor to check U.S. appeal to regions. The terrorist organization ISIS has experienced a number of military setbacks, yet defeating it resembles killing an octopus. It is not only a terrorist organization, but also an ideology, and perhaps a theology, and may outlast defeats on the battlefield.

The brutal war in Syria seems endless. So far, 465,000 people have been killed, one million injured, and 12 million, half of the pre-war population, are displaced. A war that began as a result of a peaceful demonstration in the Arab Spring of March 2011 led to violence by the regime of Bashar al-Assad that killed thousands of protestors. Most Syrians are Sunnis, but government and security control in the country is in the hands of Alawites, a minority religious group that supports President Bashar al-Assad.

Following the murders by the Assad forces, in July 2011 defectors from the military announced the formation of the Free Syrian Army to overthrow the Assad regime, and the civil war began.

That civil war, involving Sunnis, Shiites, and Kurds in Syria and spreading to Iraq, is now multidimensional and regionalized, with the entrance of outside powers and Syrian groups acting as proxies for some of them. Countries and groups which are majority Shia, Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon-based Hizballah, are pro Assad, while majority Sunni countries, Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, support anti-Assad rebels.

Turkey entered the war in 2011, seeking influence in the region, as well as supporting the rebels. Russia entered into the conflict in 2015 to help the Assad regime. It launched a bombing campaign against "terrorist" groups which include anti-Assad rebel groups backed by the U.S. as well as against ISIS. Russia, along with China, has vetoed all UN Security Council Western introduced resolutions critical of Syria.

The U.S. has armed anti-Assad rebels, backed the Free Syrian Army, and led an international coalition in bombing areas held by ISIS. On April 7, 2017 the U.S. carried out its first direct military action against Assad, with the attack of 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles from the Mediterranean Sea at a Syrian air force base. It was a direct response to the Syrian chemical attack on April 4, and was aimed at the base Khan Sheikhoun, the base for the aircraft that carried out the chemical weapons attack. At the time, President Donald Trump stated it was in the vital national security interest of the U.S. to prevent and deter the spread and use of deadly chemical weapons.

Memories are still vivid of the unfilled warning by President Barack Obama in April 2012 that the use of chemical weapons by Syria was a "red line" that would change government "calculus," with the possibility of more direct U.S. intervention in the Syrian conflict. Now, French President Emmanuel Macron on February 13, 2018 issued a similar warning of his red line. He said that France will strike against Assad if proof emerges that chemical weapons are being used against civilians in Syria. France will strike the bomb factories where chemical weapons are made or where they are organized. Macron already in May 2017, when he met Russian President Vladimir Putin at Versailles, talked of a very clear line on the use of chemical weapons, though the Russians considered this to be Western propaganda.

The problem for the U.S. is danger of escalation, miscalculation by the players, Russia, Turkey, Iran, in this Syrian drama, and particularly a rift between the U.S. and Turkey, a NATO member, and differences with Russia, which is supporting Assad.

Those difficulties were made manifest when a U.S. fighter jet destroyed a Russian T-72 tank in an air raid to protect rebel fighters. In the war, at least 644 Russian mercenaries, whom Russia refuses to acknowledge as such, have been killed, as have 200 Russian military contractors. The mercenaries are probably employed by a private army that has close ties to the Russian defense ministry.

Syria is not the only issue on which the U.S. and Turkey differ. One is the charge that the U.S. Central Command and the CIA sided with the plotters of the failed coup in July 2016 to topple the government, which in fact was carried out by a faction in the Turkish armed forces. But the Syrian dilemma is the most pressing and ominous issue.

The U.S. and Turkey differ over operations in Syria, increasingly because of the Turkish offensive by aircraft and ground troops against the area of Afrin in northern Syria held by Kurds, intended to push Kurdish militias, with whom the U.S, is friendly, away from Turkish borders. The issue stems from events in 2014. As ISIS was gaining strength in Syria and Iraq, Turkey refused the call by the U.S. to help check them, and thus the U.S. turned to Kurdish militias.

The U.S. wants Turkey to focus on fighting and destroying ISIS, but Turkey is primarily concerned about the influence of Syrian Kurds on its border. The U.S. has been supporting the main Syrian Kurdish group, YPG (Syrian Democratic Forces). However, Turkey regards YPG as linked to PKK (Kurdish Workers' Party), which it considers a terrorist group. The U.S. says the Turkish fight against the Kurds is lessening the fight against ISIS.

Discussions between Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara in February 2018 reached no agreement. Both sides want to defeat ISIS, end terrorism, and achieve peace in Syria. But the Turks are advancing into west Syria, and want to move the main Syrian Kurds, YPG, that liberated the town of Manbij, former ISIS stronghold, where U.S. Special Forces and military advisers are deployed, to east of the Euphrates River.

Iran is increasingly present. It has been using Afghanistani and Pakistani Shia militias, Hizballah, and its own Revolutionary Guards, headed by Major-General Qasem Soleimani. It has been building an underground factory in Lebanon that will provide Hizballah with long range, precise missiles. Israel is confronted with an existential threat. To prevent this, in December 2017 Israel destroyed Iranian-built military facilities at al-Kiswab, near Damascus.

This month an Iranian drone flew into Israel, which responded on February 10, 2018, by attacking Syrian positions and Iranian targets in Syria. The danger remains. For the first time, an Israeli F-16 fighter plane was shot down by Syrians.

The Trump administration is faced with a number of difficult and complex foreign policy problems, but it is crucial to tackle the Syrian issue and to reach accommodation on it with both Russia and Turkey.
Did the Russians really spend 'millions' trying to swing the election?

The effort to explain away Hillary Clinton's loss to Donald Trump began as a propaganda operation the morning after the election results came in. Defense of the Russia collusion hoax requires a sinister foe that might have swung the election. There is every incentive for the propaganda masters to present information in ways that lends itself to exaggeration. So skepticism is warranted toward everything you hear from the media and even from the Mueller probe itself; it is, after all, the spawn of Hillary's campaign-sponsored Steele dossier and staffed by rabid partisans who donate only to Democrats. Ever since the 13 indictments were announced last Friday, exactly in time to distract public attention from the FBI's bungling that cost 17 people their lives in Parkland, Florida, we have been hearing about "millions" of dollars spent by the Russians "per month." It's become a major talking point. For example, the staid magazine Foreign Policy [i]:

The endeavor, at one point, had a budget of $1.25 million a month, allowing it to pay hundreds of operatives to engage in a surreal campaign meant to interfere in American democracy that appears to have been financed in part through a catering company (one that reportedly treats workers poorly, at that). But what is the source of this contention? Even if you credit the figure with six zeroes, how many months does it apply to? The Mueller indictment offers scant evidence. The indictment (full text here) mentions "million" in connection with "dollars" just two times. The first mention: The ORGANIZATION's annual budget totaled the equivalent of millions of U.S. dollars. The ORGANIZATION in question is earlier described in the indictment as: Defendant INTERNET RESEARCH AGENCY LLC is a Russian organization engaged in political and electoral interference operations. In or around July 2013, the ORGANIZATION registered with the Russian government as a Russian corporate entity. Beginning in or around June 2014, the ORGANIZATION obscured its conduct by operating through a number of Russian entities, including Internet Research LLC, MediaSintez LLC, GlavSet LLC, Mixlnfo LLC, Azimut LLC, and Novlnfo LLC. Starting in or around 2014, the ORGANIZATION occupied an office at 55 Savushkina Street in St. Petersburg, Russia. That location became one of the ORGANIZATION's operational hubs from which Defendants and other co-conspirators carried out their activities to interfere in the U.S. political system, including the 2016 U.S. presidential election. So the annual budget of an organization that long predates the election, and which encompasses many arms, is in the millions of dollars. What portion of that was expended on the election is a mystery. The second mention of "million": b. By in or around September 2016, the ORGANIZATION's monthly budget for Project Lakhta submitted to CONCORD exceeded 73 million Russian rubles (over 1,250,000 U.S. dollars), including approximately one million rubles in bonus payments. Project Lakhta is earlier described as: ...a larger CONCORD-funded interference operation...referred to as "Project 'Lakhta." Project Lakhta had multiple components, some involving domestic audiences within the Russian Federation and others targeting foreign audiences in various countries, including the United States. What fraction of Project Lakhta's expenditures related to the 2016 presidential election is a mystery. Does the allegation of "hundreds of operatives" include the Project Lakhta staff working "within the Russian Federation and others targeting foreign audiences in various countries, including the United States"? Or maybe the entire all-caps ORGANIZATION? We just don't know. I've never had a security clearance, but it seems to me that the operation described in the indictment was the 2016 edition of the sort of dezinformatsiya black ops that the Russians have been conducting here since the Bolshevik Revolution. They were experimenting with social media, but most of the effort was their usual approach of scouting sources of information, talking with people, recruiting dupes, and sponsoring demonstrations or rallies intended to further along the polarization of American society (in Soviet days, this was called "heightening the contradictions"). That's why they sponsored pro- and anti-Trump rallies on November 12. At today's Trump Tower protest. He wouldn't come down. Here's my Facebook Live coverage: https://t.co/FzxOyljoK5 pic.twitter.com/PxjoALcyn8  Michael Moore (@MMFlint) November 13, 2016 My skepticism is shared by superstar attorney Cleta Mitchell, the reigning authority on election law and a hard evidence-driven skeptic. Last night, she appeared on Tucker Carlson's show and pointed out the lack of sourcing for these claims, further pointing out that the only thing on sworn evidence is the $46,000 that Facebook testified it has been paid by Russians. The first minute of the video below features the embarrassing footage of John Podesta fumbling the question of why the Russians seemed to know more about targeting purple states than the Hillary campaign that he headed did (actually, they weren't that good, even if better than Podesta's operation). Rick Moran blogged that yesterday, so if you are familiar with the clip, Cleta Mitchell comes on at about the one-minute mark. [i] Foreign Policy is owned by the Graham Holdings Company, former owners of the Washington Post.
Iran's top mullah pours out the tears and flapdoodle  and then sends goons to beat up the dervishes

Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, has a way of imagining that Iran's citizens are fools. After making a belated confession about all the injustice to Iran within the mullahs' regime, he then went and created some more injustice by dispatching the regime's repressive forces for a new attack on a group seen as a terrible threat to their power: a gathering of dervishes in Tehran. The contrast was quite striking. First, shaking in his boots over the growing calls in the streets for his demise ("Death to Khamenei!") by thousands of ordinary Iranians, this past Sunday, Feb. 18, Khamenei oh, so belatedly confessed to injustice in the mullahs' regime, telling Iranians on television, "We are completely aware of the people's criticisms, and their complaints. We have been told; others have been told, too, and these words are conveyed to us.... When we say they could criticize, it doesn't mean that they only criticize the government or the judiciary or the parliament; no, somebody may also criticize me too." The penitent mullah then added, "We are retarded in justice, there is no doubt about it; we acknowledge, and we admit this... Regarding justice, we should try hard, we should work, and we should apologize to the Almighty God and the dear people. We have problems in justice." Sniff, sniff.

The top mullah's apology is nothing special. It's actually reminiscent of the old shah of Iran's message to the people back in November 1978, two months before he fled Iran, when he said: "I heard the message of your revolution." Khamenei's words are just his own delirium over the regime's imminent collapse. They aren't actually about being sorry. The strongman is actually making his fake apology as his crimes have not diminished whatsoever. They don't involve anything like changing his behavior, for instance, the way normal apologies work. There is still the daily news about deaths under torture by the regime's henchmen of those who were arrested in the last uprising. The corruption continues  Khamenei is the greatest thief in Iran's history as well as the great killer of Iranian people. He and other leaders of the regime are responsible for plundering, mass executions, massacres, and torture over the past four decades, and he's not about to stop just because he "apologized." The first proof of this came about the very next day, when a gathering of dervishes in Tehran were attacked by the Iranian regime's repressive forces. In case you were wondering what a dervish is, well, it's not a figure from a fairy tale. A dervish is a member of a Muslim (specifically Sufi) religious order who has taken vows of poverty and austerity. If you have ever heard the term "whirling dervish," the "whirling" is a reference to a meditative practice done by one branch of the order in Turkey. Dervishes are in many places, however. They first appeared in the 12th century. Their focus is on the universal values of love, peace, and service. It didn't stop the mullahs from doing what they always do. On Feb. 19, Iran's repressive forces attacked a group of Gonabadi dervishes with tear gas, batons, and gunfire after the group had gathered outside the police station on Pasdaran Avenue in Tehran. According to reports, a number of these protesters were injured, and some were arrested. They had gathered since the morning to protest the arrest of one of the dervishes and to demand his release. The security and intelligence forces surrounded the area, and they kept coming. A group of people in the surrounding streets blocked the transfer of repressive forces to the location. A number of police force motorcycles were destroyed by the protesters. In the course of the January uprising, the Iranian people have already told the mullahs what they think of them, in particular Khamenei. Their protest slogans of "death to dictator" and "down with the mullahs' rule" was their response. With his phony apology, Khamenei will not be able to rescue his broken and corrupt system from oblivion. His hated regime is eventually going to be overthrown. Hassan Mahmoudi is a human rights advocate, specializing in political and economic issues relating to Iran and the Middle East.
With the current #MeToo movement, women in the workforce and casual sex are becoming far too dangerous for men. In Massachusetts, sexual harassment claims are on the rise.

The Boston Herald reported the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination says it received 54 sexual harassment complaints from Jan. 1 to Feb. 16, triple the 18 it received during the same period in 2017. That's more than one per day.

The commission has recommended a $500,000 increase in its budget and asked for more staff to handle the new claims.

Will other states see an increase in complaints? Will HR departments start to think twice before hiring women? Do employers need the headache of investigating all those harassment claims that cost money and tie up resources? Why not just hire a man for the job? Although claims by men have increased in recent years, as of 2016, women were responsible for the vast majority of the 12,680 cases filed with the EEOC. Sorry, women, but future employers may see you as a walking harassment allegation waiting to happen.

Even noted liberal Arianna Huffington thinks #MeToo has men in managerial positions so terrified that there could be a backlash over hiring women. Pushing an initiative called #MentorHer, Huffington tweeted this out earlier this month:

3x as many male managers are now uncomfortable mentoring women in the wake of #MeToo. This is a huge step in the wrong direction. We need more men to #MentorHer.

More male mentors? After the last few months, rational men will be lawyering up before mentoring, training, or sitting next to female employees at the conference table.

Women may also find themselves out of the bedroom, as well as the boardroom. With men facing false accusations after a sexual encounter, casual hook-ups are too risky.

According to a recent Washington Post article, men who have become accustomed to women's open-border policies in bed are now skittish about crossing over into foreign territory. #MeToo has changed the landscape.

From a reprint of a WaPo article in Stuff.co:

As much as the #MeToo moment has changed the workplace, it is changing the dating scene as well. Some single men are so worried about coming on too strong that they will not be the one to lean in for a first kiss.

In her piece for the Post, Lisa Bonos interviewed men trying to figure out where the lines are in the "MeToo era." A 25-year-old Washingtonian graphically laments how his sex trysts are becoming scary and confusing.

From the article:

Over the summer, Geoffrey Knight is in bed with a woman he is dating. He puts his hand on her breast, and she swats it away. "You need to ask before you touch me," he recalls her saying. Knight apologizes, saying he had assumed it was OK because they had just had sex. "You should never make that assumption," she retorts. Flash-forward a few months, and Knight is sleeping with someone new. He is asking "Can I touch you here?" "Can I do this?" every step of the way, and his partner wants to know what is with all the questions. She prefers a more proactive approach... he is still thoroughly confused. "It's tough for me to know where the line is," Knight says, "because it changes from woman to woman."

Another 20-something man from West Virginia told Bonos he used to pick up women "frequently" in bars but is wary about it now.

"I don't know what anyone's thinking nowadays," he says. "I don't know what could be considered harassment or what won't be."

For men, the nagging threat of criminal charges after a hot date could reverse the nearly 60-year trend of one-night stands, living together, and broken marriages. For employers, the cost of investigating sexual harassment claims could mean fewer women in the workplace. For working mothers, more women might decide to stay home and raise the children. If the backlash continues, #MeToo will have accomplished what traditional, conservative-minded Americans have been trying to do for decades.
Russian contractors in Syria test US and rebel forces  and lose big

Russian toughness and determination on the battlefield are legendary, but without operational coordination, modern communications, and fire support, it amounts to little against a well defended position with U.S. advisers and firepower. Business Insider has reported that a force composed of Russian mercenaries, Syrians, and Iranian proxy forces attacked a joint Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)-U.S. position and suffered heavy losses, with some sources saying 300 Russian contractors were killed. Reuters said that Assad's force of about 500 launched an attack, which included 122mm howitzers, T-55 and T-72 tanks, and multiple-launch rocket systems. The tanks reportedly fired 20-30 rounds about 500 feet from the US-SDF base. But then:

The US-led coalition responded with "AC-130 gunships, F-15s, F-22s, Army Apache helicopter gunships, and Marine Corps artillery," according to Lucas Tomlinson, a Fox News reporter. CNN also reported that Himars (the US truck mounted multiple rocket launcher system), and MQ-9 drones were used in the attack. "First of all, the bombers attacked, and then they cleaned up using Apaches," attack helicopters, Yevgeny Shabayev, a Cossack paramilitary leader with ties to Russia's military contractors, told Reuters.

USMC artillery opens fire in Syria. The U.S. estimated that 100 attackers were killed and that only one SDF fighter was wounded. However, Reuters cited a Bloomberg source who said the 300 Russian KIA number was "broadly correct." Also, the Russian air force in Syria remained grounded after being warned by the U.S. coalition about the attack, but it's not known if the warning was passed to the ground troops. I don't think I'm being too cynical here to suggest that maybe Assad didn't want to pay the full price for what up to now has been an inferior product and so cut his losses in a brutal way. Anyway, if defeating ISIS in short order wasn't enough of an indicator, this attack shows there is a new sheriff in town, and dislodging the U.S. from Syria will be a huge undertaking for Assad and his Russian backers. John Smith is the pen name of a former U.S. intelligence officer.
The combined force of the police and judiciary, hobbled by federal scrutiny of police tactics and a bail system so weak that it is informally known as " catch and release ," is simply laughed at. Cook County jail is " out of control ," and a gang leader enforced a reign of terror there. Only last week, Chicago's top cop admitted that criminals think the police and judiciary are " a joke ."

Chicago is the canary in the coal mine for America's big cities as civil order slips away. The presumption that life can be lived without constant fear of violent predators is already gone in gang stronghold neighborhoods, where murder rates shock the nation and the world.

Police powerlessness was convincingly demonstrated when police were unable to stop a thousand-strong gang party that disrupted a neighborhood for hours last summer. The angry and violent men enjoying success on their home turf are not content to leave alone the rest of the city, with richer pickings. The emboldened criminal class got the message: car-jackings are spreading into affluent neighborhoods.

And now, via CWB Chicago, the locally focused website that chronicles Chicago's worsening crime, comes the news that violent crime in Chicago's Loop has skyrocketed 97% over the past five years, while Mayor Rahm Emanuel has cut the number of cops patrolling it by almost 8%. Alderman Brian Hopkins told the Chicago Tribune about the results:

It involves things that have been happening in the Loop that were unthinkable not that long ago  open-air drug markets, armed violence, an offender wearing body armor and carrying a gun through the Loop to engage in drug sales. This is a real problem that's happening around us right now.

Despite the open-air drug markets, CWB Chicago reports:

...narcotics arrests in 2017 declined for the fifth consecutive year in the Loop. There were just 74 arrests for drugs compared to 214 five years before. But the Loop is not alone. Nearly every neighborhood we studied has seen sharp declines in drug-related arrests in recent years as society's attitudes toward cannabis evolve and cops pull back on conducting street stops.

Lawlessness unchallenged spreads:

So far, the development boom in Chicago's Loop and adjacent areas continues, drawing more residents and visitors to the area, where they are targets for criminals. CWB summarizes:

Despite all of the press releases and photo ops about new cops going to the streets. Despite Emanuel's repeated pledges to "put more cops on the beat." Despite the 97% increase in robberies and violent crime overall, the Loop has lost 26 officers on Emanuel's watch. While the cop count is declining in the Loop, the number of 911 calls for police service is skyrocketing. In December alone, the 1st District received nearly 3,500 more calls for police service than in December 2014  a 21% increase according to Chicago's Office of Emergency Management and Communications. It seems that [the] mayor's equation for success in the Loop is to add tourists, add residents, add 911 calls, and subtract cops. That's not working.

Sooner or later, if this continues, people will flee. So far, all the shiny buildings and upscale eateries, bars, and recreation opportunities continue to draw prey. But when the tide turns, it could be brutal. In Detroit, weeds and trees grow in abandoned skyscrapers.
As the nation mourned, President Donald Trump kept largely silent about the Florida school shooting victims and the escalating gun control debate, instead raging at the FBI for what he perceived to be a fixation on the Russia investigation at the cost of failing to deter the attack.

I would think the AP, the rest of the media, Democrats, and everyone should be fuming at the FBI for focusing on a fictional Russian investigation and failing to block the shooting of kids and teachers at a Florida school. But nope, they are complaining that Trump is tweeting about it.

The media have not cared a lick about the FBI, the Obama administration, and intelligence agencies clearly targeting Trump and people surrounding him with illegal spying and leaks. Instead of holding government officials to account for their clear malfeasance and violations of law, they also target Trump.

Mueller charged 13 Russian nationals and three companies for spending a few million dollars spreading propaganda before and after the election.

The American people should question why Mueller doesn't charge Steele, Hillary, the DNC, and Obama administration officials collaborating with foreign entities and persons to spread misinformation about Trump before and after the election. All these entities and people have been spreading more discord in America than anything the Russians did. It continues to this day.

It has been clear almost since the investigation started in July of 2017 that there was never any actual basis to spy on Trump and his team, but the media and Democrats have run with the story ever since. If there was actual concern about Russian collusion, they would have spied on both Hillary and Trump, yet they spied on only one.

Mueller also knows that Russia should never have received access to the U.S. uranium and that the Clintons were very much involved with the Russians and corruption, and yet the focus is on a small amount of propaganda that even Mueller admits did not involve Americans and did not change the election. Why hasn't anyone at the FBI charged Americans involved in the corruption on the Uranium One deal, and why don't the media care?

Of course, the focus every day for the media is not actual corruption; rather, it is to poison Trump in the minds of the American people and world's people by printing headlines like "Trump fumes about Russian collusion as nation mourns." That headline certainly was not meant to inform.

An equivalent headline after Benghazi would have been "Obama, Hillary, Rice lie as nation mourns." Of course, we never saw a headline like that because the media supported Obama and Hillary no matter what they did.

When will the media admit that they have been running fake news stories about Russian collusion for a year and a half? Instead of apologizing, they complain about Trump's tweets. Trump has to tweet because few others in the media will tell the truth that there never was evidence of collusion.

The collusion among the Obama administration officials, intelligence agencies, the Justice Department, the FBI, the IRS, the State Department, Hillary, the DNC, Steele, and most of the media to destroy political opponents of Obama and Hillary and to protect Obama, Hillary, and their aides, no matter what laws they broke, is 100% more dangerous to our freedom and election integrity than the tiny amount Russia may have spent.
.... the tweedy world of public broadcasting  a complex ecosystem of local stations and national syndicators, with NPR at the center  has seen some of its most popular figures fall in recent months, including Garrison Keillor, Leonard Lopate, Jonathan Schwartz and John Hockenberry.

Is there some kind of uncontrollable epidemic of satyriasis among the men who work at NPR and PBS? Because an unusually high number of prominent men of both organizations have been fired for allegedly sexually harassing women in the workplace.

The reckoning is not over. On Wednesday, WBUR in Boston said it had fired Tom Ashbrook, the host of "On Point," a call-in show heard on 290 stations, after an investigation found that he had "created an abusive work environment." The list of men now gone from public broadcasting after being accused of harassment also includes Michael Oreskes, a former editor at The Times who was NPR's top news executive; David Sweeney, NPR's chief news editor; Daniel Zwerdling, an NPR investigative reporter; and Charlie Rose, who straddled commercial and noncommercial television as PBS's marquee talk-show host and, on CBS, a host on "CBS This Morning" and a correspondent on "60 Minutes." Laura R. Walker, the chief executive of New York Public Radio, has said the station is committed to changing its culture, but a recent piece by New York magazine portrayed the staff as skeptical and disillusioned.

Here is Zwerdling's crime, as alleged by a female coworker:

At one weekly meeting, they couldn't get seats at Starbucks, and Zwerdling suggested they go to an outdoor public courtyard in the center of a building nearby. The woman didn't recall what they were talking about when they sat in the courtyard, but she remembers that out of the blue Zwerdling put his hand on her knee. "I was wearing a skirt, so he touched my bare skin on the inside of my right thigh. ... It was momentary." Ultimately, the woman said the experience damaged her confidence. She left public radio but works in journalism. "Now I'm literally afraid of men in the workplace," she said.

Touch her knee for a split-second, and she's scarred for life.

Here's Lopate's firing offense:

...as [the complaining employee] was preparing for a segment about a cookbook, Lopate explained how the avocado got its name. She said he told her that it came from the Aztec word for "testicle," and then he made what she considered a crude hand gesture, adding "you know, because of the shape and the bumpy skin." Lopate referred to this incident in an interview with the New York Times. The paper reported "he was incredulous that such a statement would have resulted in a complaint to superiors." Speaking with WNYC News earlier this week, he denied making the hand gesture and using the graphic description. He said of the etymology, "it's an interesting fact." A second producer filed a complaint against Lopate in March, 2017, describing comments she felt were inappropriate. In one incident, she said Lopate was conducting an interview about undocumented immigrant [sic] women brought to the U.S. and forced to perform sexual acts. At one point, she said he muted his microphone and said to the producers in the studio, "Sounds like how I treat my staff."

But then there were clearly incidents that crossed the line. Just look at Charlie Rose:

Eight women have told The Washington Post that longtime television host Charlie Rose made unwanted sexual advances toward them.... Two said that while they were working for Rose at his residences or were traveling with him on business, he emerged from the shower and walked naked in front of them. One said he groped her buttocks at a staff party. Kyle Godfrey-Ryan, one of Rose's assistants in the mid-2000s, recalled at least a dozen instances where Rose walked nude in front of her while she worked in one of his New York City homes. He also repeatedly called the then-21-year-old late at night or early in the morning to describe his fantasies of her swimming naked in the Bellport pool as he watched from his bedroom, she said.

Charlie Rose seems like such a mild-mannered, gentle guy. I can't imagine him walking around naked in his old, wrinkled body around 21-year-olds. But who really knows?

When you have the combination of hypocritical liberal men who think they can get away with anything and women who are so P.C. that they consider a suggestive comment about avocados a microaggression, you have the perfect recipe for mass firings.

Ed Straker is the senior writer at Newsmachete.com.
According to a new rumor, the Essential PH-1 may actually become available in India, officially. The source claims that the Essential PH-1 will arrive to India in late March or April, and that it will be available exclusively via Amazon India. This info is based on sources, and is nothing but a regular rumor at this point. This rumor also claims that the Essential PH-1 variant which arrives to India will have Alexa, and that it will be quite affordable, as it is expected to cost less than Rs. 30,000 ($465), one source even claims that it will be priced at Rs. 24,999 ($387).

Now, this is a rather vague rumor, and truth be said, the price point that the source suggests, well, one of them, seems to be too low. The Essential PH-1 is currently priced at $499 in the US, at least on the companys official website, while the three new color variants that the company announced are $100 more expensive. Truth be said, the Essential PH-1 (two original models) can be purchased from Amazon.com for $449, but its hard to believe that it will cost less than $400 in India. If the Essential PH-1 ever makes its way to India, it is likely that it will cost above $450, possibly even above $500. In any case, the Essential PH-1 originally launched in Black Moon and Pure White color variants, while the company introduced three new models a couple of days ago, Ocean Depths, Stellar Gray and Copper Black colors. All of those devices are the same in terms of the design, and specs, these are only new color options which are $100 more expensive, and it seems like their manufacturing may have something to do with that. Essential mentioned that it takes quite a bit of time to manufacture new colors of ceramic, as all Essential PH-1 devices ship with a ceramic back, while the phones frame is made out of titanium.

The Essential PH-1 was originally announced back in May, while it became available in August, in the US. This phones availability is quite limited outside of US, the phone was expected to hit Europe in late 2017, but that did not happen, though theres still time. Essential managed to sell less than 90,000 Essential PH-1 units last year, and the fact that this is the companys first smartphone may have something to do with that, not to mention that the device was quite expensive when it first launched. Having said that, do take the aforementioned rumor with a grain of salt, even though theres a chance that the device may arrive to India in the near future.
It seems like Android 8.0 Oreo update for the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is right around the corner, as a variant of the phone with Android 8.0 Oreo has been certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance. The Samsung SM-N950F/DS, which is a dual SIM variant of the Galaxy Note 8, has appeared on Wi-Fi Alliance, as you can see in the provided image down below. The phone got certified yesterday, so this listing is basically brand new.

Having said that, Samsung had started pushing out Android 8.0 Oreo to the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus earlier this month, and the company quite recently decided to halt rolling it out to those two handsets. When asked to give its consumers a reason why, Samsung said that it received a limited amount of reports that the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus units are rebooting on their own, so the company wanted to address that issues before it continues rolling out the update. For those of you who are unaware, the Galaxy Note 8 actually launched with Android 7.1.1 Nougat, while Samsungs skin is installed on top of Googles operating system. Well, along with Android 8.0 Oreo, the Galaxy Note 8 will receive a new version of Samsungs skin, Samsung Experience UI 9.0. That version of the companys skin will be quite similar to the one that is included in the Oreo update for the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus, but it will come with some additional, Galaxy Note-specific features, mostly S Pen-related features which have been optimized for Android 8.0 Oreo.

Now, in addition to some of Samsungs very own additions to Android 8.0 Oreo, the Galaxy Note 8 users will be able to enjoy optimized Oreo features that Google released with stock Android. So, for example, those of you who own the Galaxy Note 8 will get access to the Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode, while Notification Dots will also be included in the update. Samsung will change the look of its UI just a little bit, and some additional battery-related option should also become available along with the update. This update is expected to start hitting the Galaxy Note 8 handsets in the near future, chances are that the rollout will begin in the coming weeks. If youd like to take a closer look at what Android 8.0 Oreo will look like on the Galaxy Note 8, follow this link.
The Nokia 1 seems to be drawing nearer to its official announcement as the device appears to have recently paid a visit to the FCC while bearing the model number TA-1071. The FCC application includes a rough sketch of the device meant to disclose the overall dimensions, and the application further confirmed that the smartphone will support 4G LTE and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity. Recent rumors indicate that the Nokia 1 will be officially introduced before the end of the month at an HMD Global event during Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, and as the moniker suggests, the handset is expected to be launched as HMD Globals budget-oriented Nokia-branded smartphone.

As a budget device labeled Nokia 1, the smartphone should, in theory, be priced lower than the $99 Nokia 2 which was officially announced last October rocking a 5-inch display with a 16:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1280 x 720. Likewise, according to a sketch attached to the FCC application at hand, the Nokia 1 TA-1071 measures 50mm wide and 134mm tall, resulting in a diagonal of 136mm, or roughly 5.35-inches, which would suggest that the actual displays diagonal should fall below the 5-inch mark. In any case, according to a couple of previously-leaked press renders, the Nokia 1 should have a rear-mounted speaker, a single main camera module coupled with an LED flash, a 3.5mm headphone jack at the top, and a front-facing camera next to the loudspeaker. The bezels are thick and the overall design further cements the smartphones position in the low-end market segment.

Aside from the aforementioned characteristics, hardware specifications remain largely unknown but as far as software is concerned, there is a possibility that the device will be powered by Android Oreo. Either way, the Nokia 1 is likely to be equipped with hardware components lower than or equal to the Nokia 2, and as a point of reference the aforementioned model relies on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 212 chipset featuring four ARM Cortex-A7 CPU cores clocked at up to 1.3 GHz, an Adreno 304 graphics chip, 1GB of RAM, and 8 GB of on-board storage expandable via microSD. More details are likely to be unveiled at MWC near the end of the month, though the main focus will probably be set on higher-end Nokia-branded devices such as the rumored Nokia 7 Plus.
Samsung may offer a $350 trade-in deal on the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus in the United States, according to one Reddit user who claims to work in the stateside retail industry and was briefed on the matter. The source said no official pricing details have yet been provided by Samsung but the offer in question should apply to both phablets and be relatively liberal in terms of accepted devices consumers will be able to put toward the purchase of their next Android flagship from Samsung. The $350 figure is still likely to be the maximum discount one will be able to get from the company in exchange for an older and relatively capable handset thats still in a good condition, as is usually the case with such deals.

The South Korean phone vendor has been running a similar promotion last year when it accepted handsets as old as the Galaxy Note 5 in exchange for a $350 trade-in discount on the purchase of a new Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8 Plus. The deal presumably wont apply to pre-orders which will likely be incentivized with freebies instead of direct discounts, as has been the case with other Samsung-made flagships in recent times. The units used by Samsung for retail training were powered by the Exynos 9810 but the ones that will be sold to consumers will feature Qualcomms Snapdragon 845, the source said. The 5.8-inch Galaxy S9 will have a 3,000mAh battery, whereas the 6.2-inch Galaxy S9 Plus will be fueled by a 3,500mAh cell, according to the same insider.

AKG is said to have once again optimized the audio performance of the upcoming devices which now feature two stereo speakers, one on the bottom, and another one thats part of the earpiece. The setup itself is understood to be similar to the one of Apples iPhone X, whereas the rumored Animoji-inspired feature is supposedly called AR Emoji. The source wasnt briefed on any kind of a new messaging app or social network that Samsung may be launching alongside its new high-end mobile offerings, according to recent reports. The Galaxy S9 lineup is scheduled to be officially announced on Sunday and is expected to be released on a global level come March 16.
According to a new report, published by a Korean media outlet, Samsung is planning to push its rigid Infinity displays to mid-tier devices. Based on the report provided by The Investor, a South Korean publication, the company may offer its rigid Infinity panels to other smartphone manufacturers. The difference between flexible and rigid Infinity panels is simple, both allow smartphone manufacturers to trim down bezels to the extreme, though flexible Infinity displays also allow smartphone OEMs to manufacture smartphones with curved panels. The Samsung Galaxy A8 (2018) and A8 Plus (2018) are actually great examples of devices with rigid Infinity displays, two of Samsungs very own phones which were introduced earlier this year.

Needless to say, Samsungs Infinity displays comes with OLED panels. The Galaxy A8s and A8 Plus bezels are not as thin as the Galaxy S8s and S8 Plus bezels, but theyre considerably thinner than they were on the Galaxy A8 (2016) and Galaxy A8 (2017). Now, the source did not mention when we may see new smartphones with Infinity displays, not counting the upcoming Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus smartphones of course, but it may happen soon enough. Now, chances are that some other Galaxy A-branded smartphones will get Infinity displays in the near future, next-gen Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A7 smartphones, perhaps, or even Galaxy A3 (2018) handset. Do keep in mind were only guessing at this point, but it makes all the sense in the world, as the Galaxy A lineup of devices is Samsungs mid-range lineup of devices, as Galaxy J-branded phones are considered to be entry-level, most of them, at least. As far as non-Samsung smartphones are concerned, it is still unknown if any other smartphone manufacturer will utilize Samsungs rigid Infinity displays.

Samsung has been losing market share in some markets lately, markets like China and India, for example, and even though the company is still standing tall in both of those countries, smartphones with Infinity displays may help this Korea-based tech giant, thats for sure. Thin bezels are quite popular these days, as they look quite sleek, at least in most cases, so Samsung is probably hoping that such design will appeal to consumers more in the mid-range segment as well, but it remains to be seen what will happen, of course.
Spotify is preparing to enter the smart speaker market, as suggested by its recently published job listing revealing the company is now entertaining applications for a Hardware Product Operations Manager. While the music streaming service provider is presently deeply integrated into a number of third-party offerings such as the Google Home and Amazon Echo speakers, the role described by the new listing isnt limited to such partnerships and also requires a candidate capable of managing various logistics, fulfillment, distribution, and customer service operations related to hardware products, thus being indicative of Spotifys growing ambitions in consumer electronics.

Moving into first-party hardware would be an effective way for Spotify to diversify its operations and improve the long-term prospects of its business, which is presently understood to be one of the companys top priorities due to its plans to go public at some point this year. Spotify is already said to have filed for an initial public offering in late 2017 and initially planned to list its shares in the first quarter of 2018, though its endeavor may end up being delayed until it settles a $1.6 billion lawsuit filed against it by music publisher Wixen last month. The timing of the complaint makes a settlement more likely even if Spotify is confident it could eventually win the case in the court of law as the firm presumably cannot afford a prolonged litigation process which could discourage investors. Such a turn of events would not be acceptable for the startup thats already said to be planning a direct listing without any underwriters, with that move alone being enough to deter some investors from betting on the firm due to a lack of assurances it provides.

By pushing into the smart speaker segment, Spotify would make a major step toward establishing a standalone music streaming ecosystem as it would likely attempt to turn its core user base into even more loyal customers who are fully invested in its offerings. The popularity of the companys music platform that presently boasts over 70 million paying subscribers could also be enough to position its hypothetical speaker (lineup) as an immediate threat to both Google and Amazon. Spotify isnt the only tech firm thats said to be planning to make its first foray into smart speakers in the near future, with Facebook supposedly seeking to launch two such offerings in July.
US carrier Verizon has posted photos and video of two of its phone testing rigs that subject hapless smartphones to a combined 100 within a 30-minute time span. While its commonly accepted that most devices that take a tumble will probably come away physically worse for wear, Verizons durability testing centers around network reliability. The two different machines drop phones in different ways and at different paces, but their essential function is the same; network reliability is tested by initiating a call before drop testing begins, and figuring out what it will take for the call to disconnect.

One of these two machines is unofficially called The Tumbler, and you can actually get an inside look at it through the attached video. A phone gets put inside, and The Tumbler turns end over end to simulate the phone getting knocked about. The Tumbler is only 1 meter in length and its surface is made of somewhat soft plastic, which means that cracks are rare except with only the most fragile devices. Moving devices all around and bumping around their internal components, however, can shift the radios and make a call disconnect, and thats what Verizon is testing for. The companys other rig is much more precise, and repeatedly drops a phone on a particular part from different heights, with a bigger focus on durability. This battery of testing amounts to a stress test, and can give Verizon an idea of just how tough a device really is.

Verizons efforts are not entirely unique in the wireless industry; torture testing devices to see what their physical breaking point is and whether theyre usable beyond it is nothing new, after all. The carrier is unique in showing off that setup to its customers and the rest of the industry; to date, no other major carrier in the United States has shown so much detail about how they torture test the general suite of devices, though showing tests for individual devices to promote them is a fairly common practice. In its press release, Verizon also states that it recently added 13 testing labs to a facility in Bedminster, New Jersey. This means that Verizon customers who buy a phone through their carrier can be certain that the device theyre about to buy has been tested thoroughly by Verizon.

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Vernee has now provided some details on what it will be showcasing during this years MWC event in Barcelona. Vernee is a Chinese smartphone manufacturer who has risen to prominence by offering a number of different devices where each one is typically designed with a certain user in mind, or as a means to solve a specific issue. For example, battery life. As part of todays announcement, Vernee has confirmed it will be highlighting a number of its main smartphone lines at the event, as well as releasing two new phones.

In terms of the existing lines, Vernee states it will be promoting its T, M, V, and Apollo lines at the event. These lines are prime examples of how Vernee markets a specific phone to a specific customer. For example, the T line (otherwise known as the Thor line is all about battery life, M  also known as the Mars line  is more focused on style and fashion, while the V line comes with more of an emphasis on durability and ruggedness. Apollo, on the other hand, looks to encompass everything Vernee has to offer in a line of flagship smartphones with high-end specs and a premium design. Speaking of which, one of the new phones to be released at the event is the Apollo 2 (shown below). With this being an Apollo phone it does pack in the specs and the design points including a full metal body, along with 5.99-inch display which makes use of an 18:9 aspect ratio. Inside, the Apollo 2 will feature 6GB RAM, 128GB storage, and be powered by a MediaTek Helio X30 deca-core processor. Additional features include a dual rear camera setup (comprised of 16-megapixel and 13-megapixel cameras), an 8-megapixel front-facing camera, Pump Express fast charging support, and Android 8.1 (Oreo).

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The second phone to be released at the event will be the Vernee V2 (shown below). As this is a V phone it is one designed for those looking for a more rugged option and this is best understood in terms of a more durable build quality, as well as an IP68 certification for protection against dust and water. In addition, the Vernee V2 will feature no less than four cameras, will boast an 18:9 aspect ratio, and will be powered by a core combination of 6GB RAM, 128GB storage, and a MediaTek Helio P23 processor.
The Bulgarian defense minister Krasimir Karakachanov has announced on February 20, 2018 that Bulgaria will launch procedures for the procurement of new wheeled armoured vehicles and fighters jets.



Bulgarian army BTR-60PB-MD a modernized version of the Soviet-made BTR-60PB 8x8 armoured vehicle personnel carrier (Picture source Wikipedia)

At the Special Summit in Brussels on 25 May 2017 the Republic of Bulgaria, together with the rest of the Member States, agreed to make their own national plans for increasing the defense expenditures to 2% of the GDP.

In June, the Bulgarian defense ministry has announced a plan to spend 1.75 billion on rearmament programs between 2017 and 2029. The programs envisage purchasing new combat aircraft for 750 million, multi-purpose modular patrol vessels for 410 million and military equipment for land forces for 610 million.

Bulgaria's government budget envisages expenditures of 650 million in 2018 for boosting the country's defense capabilities. The budget also envisages 675 billion of expenditure by the ministry of defense.

On February 15, 2018, during the NATO Defense Ministerial at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Bulgarian defense minister Karakachanov has announced a plan to increase military contribution to the Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan, and for co-hosting the exercise Saber Guardian in July, the largest exercise in Europe last year for NATO allies and partners.

According to the website Novinite.com, the Finnish Company Patria could take part in the modernization of the Bulgarian Army by participating in the procedure for the acquisition of new armored vehicles for the Bulgarian Land Forces with its AMV 8x8 armoured vehicle. Bulgaria plans to buy 198 wheeled armoured vehicles as part of a program to modernize its armed forces.

Currently, Bulgarian armed forces are mainly equipped with Soviet-made wheeled armoured vehicles including BTR-60PB 8x8 armoured vehicle personnel carrier and BRDM-2 4x4 armoured vehicle. Bulgaria has also developed a modernized version of the Soviet-made BTR-60PB, called BTR-60PB-MD, with new engine, new design of the hull with side doors and additional protection.
According to a new published to the Russian press agency TASS website, on February 6, 2018, Moscow and Bangkok have signed an agreement on the supply of Russias world-renowned Kalashnikov assault rifles. The first shipment is scheduled for this year, according to Mikhail Petukhov, Deputy Director of Russias Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC).



Kalashnikov AK-101 5.56x45 NATO caliber assault rifle (Picture source Army Recognition)

"This year, the Kingdom of Thailand will receive Kalashnikov assault rifles in the amount sufficient to arm one or two divisions of the countrys armed forces," said Petukhov, during the Singapore Airshow 2018, the Asia's largest aerospace and defense event, which was held from 6 to 11 February 6, 2018.

The Russian official did not specify which particular Kalashnikov models the kingdom has purchased, however, a source in the system of military-technical cooperation revealed to TASS that it is the AK-100 series.

The AK-100 series assault rifles is a new generation of assault rifle designed and manufactured by the Russian Company Kalashnikov based on the AK-74M assault rifle which is the current standard assault rifle used by the Russian armed forces, an improved variant of the AK-74 assault rifle.

Design of the Russian assault rifle from the AK-100 series is very similar toe the famous AK-47 but with many new improvements. The AK-100 series includes many variants as the AK-101, export version chambered for standard NATO 5.56x45 mm ammunition, Ak-102 short barrel version of AK-101, the AK-103 full-size assault rifle chambered for 7.62x39 mm ammunition, AK-104 compact version of AK-103, and AK-105 compact version of AK-74M with short barrel.



Kalashnikov AK-105 5.45mm caliber assault rifle (Picture source Army Recognition)
Israel has developed the TIKAD, an armed drone fitted with an assault rifle which can be used to perform anti-terrorist operations. This new armed drone was developed by the Company Duke Robotics, specialized in the development of aerial robotic system for modern asymmetrical warfare.



Tikad armed drone with assault rifle (Picture source Duke Robotics)

In September 2017, Duke Robotics has announced that Israels Ministry of Defense has endorsed Duke Robotics TIKAD drone as innovative future battlefield technology. The founder of Duke Robotics, Raziel Atual a former commander of special forces of the Israeli armed forces used his field experience to create new military drone to respond to the new threats and the goal to saving lifes.

The TIKAD is designed with a lightweight, real-time 6 DOF (degrees of freedom) Robotic gimbal with a weight of less than 10 kg. It has the ability to carry and stabilize up to 3x the weight of the gimbal. The TIKAD can be deployed above water and ends with a minimum risk situation. Until now, troops had to be there to investigate.

As the classic army versus army confrontation on the battlefield has become increasingly rare, guerrilla warfare is now more commonplace. Developed by former Israeli military and Special Mission Unit officers to address warfares changing landscape, the TIKAD is remotely operated by troops, user-friendly and easily carried into the field.

The companys proprietary robotic stabilization technology enables the TIKAD to absorb the recoil of a weapon, allowing for pinpoint targeting and shooting accuracy that can protect troops in a variety of dangerous situations. By reducing the need for ground troops, the TIKAD represents a major step towards minimizing military and civilian casualties and the technology is gaining support on a global basis.



The TIKADs gimballed gun cradle. (Picture source: Duke Robotics)
It is a Rifftides custom to post on Presidents Day the following item, which does not change from year to yearregardless of who currently occupies the White House.

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In the United States, this is Presidents Day. It falls between the birthdays of two of our greatest leaders, Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and George Washington (February 22). Many years ago, there was a movement in the Congress to consolidate the two observances into one holiday that would honor all US presidents. The effort never resulted in an official national holiday, but department stores and automobile dealerships liked the idea so much that they declared it a holiday and celebrate it by having huge sales to increase their profits and by advertising that results in Sunday newspapers weighing five pounds. To read the confused history of Presidents Day, go here.



Among jazz blogs and websites, taking advantage of Presidents Day as a reason to mention Lester Young has become a cliche. Cliches get to be cliches because they strike a chord and are repeated so often that they become a part of the collective consciousness. When Billie Holiday declared that Lester Young was the president of the tenor saxophonists, she planted the seed of a cliche that I am happy to perpetuate.

Ladies and gentlemenon Presidents Day we present Lester Young in one of his greatest recordings. This was 1943. Prez with Johnny Guarnieri, Slam Stewart and Sid Catlett.

Oscar Peterson liked Youngs final eight-bar phrase so much that he incorporated it whenever he played Sometimes Im Happy, as in this long version. Jack Brownlow (pictured), who played piano with Lester in the 1940s, wrote a lyric for Prezs ending. Feel free to sing along. I can find a ray

On the rainiest day.

If I am with you,

The cloudy skies all turn to blue.

My disposition really changes when youre near.

Every days a happy day with you, my dear. (Jack Brownlow) Happy Presidents Day.
Two firms have acted in the acquisition of Australias fourth-largest fertility services provider by a consortium of Asian companies.

Ashurst advised the consortium formed by CHA Healthcare Singapore and Singapore Medical Group in its acquisition of City Fertility Centre, which was advised by HopgoodGanim Lawyers.

In a regulatory filing, CHA said it paid $22.1m for its 52% stake, while Singapore Medical did not disclose how much it paid for its 13% stake. The deal values City Fertility at $42.5m.
A former high-flying lawyer at a Magic Circle firm has been sentenced to three years and three months in prison for sexual assault.

Thomas Elser, a former Linklaters tax partner, has been sentenced by a Munich Court earlier this month for the sexual assault of an intern at an Oktoberfest firm party in 2014. The incident resulted in another former partner, Laurenz Schmitt, punching Elser in the face.

Schmitt reported Elser to the firm, which conducted an investigation. Both partners left the firm when the investigation was concluded.
His significant cross-border experience means that he is well-placed to support both local and international clients, and his return will further enhance Dentons leading banking and finance practice, said Dentons Australia CEO Ian Dardis.

Businesses not ready for NDB says MinterEllison

New rules regarding notification of data breaches come into effect this week but many businesses in Australia are unprepared.

With the Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) scheme launching on the 22nd February, MinterEllison surveyed firms to assess their readiness and found that 60% still need to take action.

"Our findings show that while most Australian organisations are well aware of cyber risk and the need to address it, much remains to be done to increase their resilience to meet requirements of the NDB Scheme," said MinterEllison Partner Paul Kallenbach, Head of Cyber Security. "There is a distinct risk for those not prepared, given that cyber incidents are occurring  and will continue to occur  with ever greater frequency, severity and impact."
AMG

Following the Stinger GT, i30 N, and Veloster N, the next step for Biermann is to breathe some excitement into the all-new Ceed , the one without the apostrophe in its name. Going official at the beginning of March at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, the newcomer is up for electrification, with media reports suggesting that mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid drivetrains are in the pipeline.But thats not all there is to the third generation of the Ceed. Powertrain chief Michael Winkler spilled the beans to Autocar , claiming that the Ceed GT is in the offing with an estimated 200 brake horsepower, if not more. While he didnt confirm the nature of the powertrain or the displacement of the engine, its believed the GT will use a detuned 2.0 T-GDI from the i30 N or a 48-volt mild-hybrid setup.The projected output, when compared to the likes of the i30 N or royalty such as the Ford Focus RS and Mercedes-A45, isnt enough for the Ceed GT to claim the hot hatchback title. At best, the performance-oriented variant is a warm hatchback with superior handling attributes when compared to lesser Ceed models.The Ceed five-door hatch will be the first to gain a GT model, according to the cited publication, with the Proceed Concept-inspired shooting brake expect to benefit from the GT treatment as well. Whatever the future holds, bear in mind the previous-gen Proceed GT took its mojo from a 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder engine with 201 bhp and 195 pound-feet of torque at its disposal.
However, the South Korean manufacturer has no interest in promoting its flagship model in Europe, where it essentially stands no chance against the local, much better established brands. That means we should look beyond the Geneva Motor Show at the start of next month for more suitable venues.Luckily, we don't have to search for too long since later in March, the New York Auto Show opens its gates. With deliveries slated to start in the second quarter of 2018, that seems like the perfect match, and would also explain the timing of this teaser considering there's so little time between the two upcoming motor shows.The 2019 Kia K900/K9 has been spied repeatedly, meaning we pretty much know what to expect - at least from its styling. The refreshed sedan will feature a more pronounced radiator grille, new front bumper, modified LED daytime running lights graphics as well as taillights with new shape and graphics.On the inside, Kia will up the luxury level by a notch or two, something it clearly needs to do if it wants to bring its game to the big boys. The 2019 K900/K9 will get the Lexicon infotainment system as factory equipment for a more modern feel, while the rest of the cabin should receive more upscale materials such as wood or metal.The engine bay of the new Kia is where things will remain pretty much unchanged, apart from a new 10-speed automatic transmission that comes as standard. The two powerplants available now - a 3.8-liter V6 with 311 hp and a 5.0-liter V8 with 420 hp - will soldier on, with the 3.3-liter 356 hp V6 in the Stinger remaining a promising prospect. All-wheel-drive should also be offered as an option to the standard rear-wheel-drive configuration.
PHEV

kWh

SUV

Whats new for 2019? Looking at the car doesnt reveal anything of interest, other than the fact the Outlanderis holding on remarkably well despite its age. The changes that are worth mentioning are found under the skin, where the 2.0-liter Otto engine of yesterday has been replaced by a 2.4-liter Atkinson plant.The different cycle and the 400 cubic centimeters of additional displacement allow for higher torque, smoother operation, and overall higher efficiency, though Mitsubishi didnt reveal any relevant figures whatsoever. What the Japanese automaker is willing to share at this moment in time is a handful of percentages.According to Mitsubishi, the generator output, rear motor output, and drive battery output all increased by 10 percent over the 2018 model year. The drive battery capacity, meanwhile, increased by 15 percent, which should translate to 13.8compared to the previous 12 kWh. To this effect, the electric range should increase as well, up by a few miles from the current model years 22 miles.The electrified crossover will make its world premiere at the beginning of March at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show alongside the e-Evolution Concept , with the latter introduced to the public back in October at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show. Since its European market launch at the beginning of 2013, the Outlander PHEV sold more than 100,000 examples in this part of the world, with total sales surpassing 140,000 units of the mid-sizeAs part of the Alliance 2022 business plan, Mitsubishi will launch five all-new models in by the end of 2020. In addition to these newcomers, the automaker took up the challenge to facelift six existing models, one of which being the 2019 Outlander PHEV.
TDI

Despite the fact it looks ready to go into production, the Tarraco isnt ready to debut just yet. SEAT says that the newcomer will be launched at the end of this year, which is another way of saying that the first models will arrive at dealers for the 2019 model year.Tarraco received 51,903 (35.52 percent) of the votes in the #SEATseekingName competition, followed by Avila, Aranda, and Alboran. Coincidence or not, the fans voted for the first SEAT named after a Spanish city since the Ronda (1982). Bearing in mind most of the automakers models are named after Spanish geography, Tarraco is most fitting for the seven-seat SUV SEAT is keeping the lid on the newcomer for obvious reasons, though the automaker did confirm that the MQB -based crossover features seating for seven occupants thanks to three rows of seats. Without further beating around the bush, the Skoda Kodiaq will soon gain a half-brother in the form of the long-anticipated Tarraco.An all-digital instrument cluster, Android Auto- and Apple CarPlay -capable infotainment, inductive charging, and gesture control are in the offing, as is 4Drive all-wheel-drive and the DSG dual-clutch transmission on select engine options. Speaking of the suck-squeeze-bang-blow, the 1.4-liter TSI with 125 horsepower is expected to be offered as the least exciting of the available options.The 150-horsepower 1.4 TSI and 180-horsepower 2.0 TSI are also certain to make the cut, joined by a couple of 2.0-literturbo diesels with 150 and 190 horsepower, respectively. With Skoda working on RS-ifying the Kodiaq , its a matter of time until SEAT will pump some steroids in the Tarraco with the help of the Cupra performance sub-brand.
SUV

MQB

HP

To be honest, we already knew this was happening in 2018. Because Audi, and indeed the whole VW Group, is focusing on EVs, production is being shuffled around. The e-tron quattro takes the place of the A1 in Belgium, which replaces the Q3 in Martorell, Spain. Making the new Q3 alongside the TT and A3 is going to be more comfortable now that all three will be based on theplatform.Also, this change creates an unusual situation, where Audi and Mercedes's rival crossovers are exported from the same country all over the world.In preparation for the new model, Gyor has added a new 80,000 square meter body shop with 700 robots. 12,000 new employees joined the company as well. They are even preparing for production of electric engines, suggesting the Q3 will have such a thing.The new model distribution will enhance our production efficiency and strengthen all of the sites involved, stated Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG. It will allow us to utilize further synergies within the Volkswagen Group and to bundle key competencies.Migrating from the old PQ35 to the MQB platform will give the Q3 access to a load of new features and technologies, including the mild hybrid 1.5-liter engine, a plug-in hybrid system and the latest in connectivity.We should also see a car that's lighter by around 50 kilos and stiffer too. The engine range will vary from approximately 115to as much as 400 HP, while interior space will be substantially increased.According to our latest info, the Q3 will be joined by the SQ2 and A1 this year. All of them are hotly anticipated by Audi fans.
EV

PHEV

The reason for giving up on diesels is owed to a "cultural shift", as a Porsche spokesman told autocar And while it's impossible not to notice that this news comes soon after the potential Mercedes-Benz part of the Dieselgate scandal has started surfacing, Porsche had previously shown signs of being ready to give up on oil burners.For one thing, the 2019 Cayenne , which was launched last fall, was introduced without a diesel option. And now the Macan S Diesel and the Panamera 4S Diesel have been taken off the market - it seems like Porsche, which used VW 3.0-liter V6 diesel mills, decided to remove the said models instead of reengineering them in order for these to meet the ever-increasing emission standards.It's worth noting that Porsche CEO Oliver Blume told Reuters that the company could axe diesels in favor of gas-electric hybrids and all-electric models. And the carmaker has recently made sustained efforts in that direction.From investing into an all-electric platform developed together with Audi to working to educate the audience on the benefits of electrification, the German automotive producer is dead serious about its new energy cars.While the 2018 Panamera already offers two plug-in hybrid models and the 2019 Cayenne has been confirmed to follow suit, we could expect such a powertrain to be introduced on the upcoming 2019 Macan facelift.Porsche has already confirmed that it will kickstart itsrevolution next year, with the introduction of the Mission E (this will play the role of the baby Panamera we never received so far).And once the next-gen 911 makes its debut, a move that could take place by the end of the year, we should see at least onemodel joining the lineup, even though this could arrive with the .2 mid-cycle revamp.In fact, the rumor mill talks about an extended all-electric range, with this also including a Macan-sized EV offering.
AMG

That wasn't considered a cause for alarm. These flagship models were never meant as high volume sellers, but more like a projection of the absolute best of what the company has to offer in terms of both technology and comfort. And, sometimes, as is the case with the Mercedes-S65, also performance.While surely irritated, the European manufacturers didn't perceive Tesla as a direct threat. In fact, they argued that the comparison shouldn't even be made since the Model S doesn't fall into the same category as the vehicles mentioned above under any other aspect than price. And even then, the top Model S version - the P100D - is only as expensive as a mid-range S-Class, which can also be had as a Mercedes-Maybach or the V12-powered Mercedes-AMG S65.But now that the Model S has beaten its German rivals on home turf (more on that later), the carmakers might want to start thinking more seriously about what it needs to be done. It's not like Tesla is stealing customers directly for them, but it is convincing people with over $100,000 to spend on a car to opt for their products.The numbers for 2017 show the electric sedan has sold in 16,132 units all over Europe, according to JATO Dynamics (via Automotive News Europe ). During the same year, Mercedes-Benz only delivered 13,359 S-Class limousines, with BMW falling even further back with its 7 Series flagship - 11,735 units."This is an alarm for the traditional automakers such as Mercedes. It says a smaller but smarter brand such as Tesla can beat them at home," said Felipe Munoz, an analyst with market researchers JATO Dynamics. Well, we said we'd come back to the "home turf" subject, so we are. Tesla is still far behind the German models in Germany, but that's partly because EVs haven't really caught up in Europe's most important market yet. That might be about to change as almost all local manufacturers have electric models planned over the next years. Comparing their sales with Tesla's figures in the future should provide a better gauging of the U.S. company's penetration into the German market.
According to Richard Branson, the government of the Indian state of Maharashtra signed a Framework Agreement with Virgin Hyperloop One for the implementation of a high-speed route between the cities of Pune and Mumbai.The agreement stipulates that the route would link central Pune, Navi Mumbai International Airport, and Mumbai, servicing some 26 million people and aiming for 150 million passenger trips per year.The first step in the implementation of the project will be the implementation of an operational demonstration track. When work on the full operating track would be completed, authorities expect travel time between the two cities to be cut to 25 minutes (it usually takes a little over three hours).The 100 per cent electric, efficient system will also ease severe expressway congestion and could reduce greenhouse gas emissions up to 86,000 tons over 30 years, said Branson on his blog.No other details from the framework agreement have been provided. hyperloop system is a way of transport that operates in vacuum, using capsules to shoot passengers and cargo through enclosed tubes. Acceleration is achieved by electric propulsion, while the capsule floats above the tracks using magnetic levitation.In theory, the Hyperloop system would help achieve speeds up to three times higher than the current high-speed rail trains. The biggest difference, however, is that the capsules would be on-demand, meaning no schedule, no having to wait for a capsule, no time wasted at unwanted stops, because, well, there will be no stations, other than the start and finish one.Follow autoevolution this weekend for complete details on the hyperloop systems currently being developed by Musk and Branson.
Want scantly clad girls battling dragons? You get Skyrim mods. But if it's the latest high-performance car, only Grand Theft Auto will suffice. This applies especially when carmakers don't give out the rights to video game developers, like Ferrari and Porsche sometimes do. And I don't think Tesla wants us to run over people in their vehicles.GTA mods started out all crude and embarrassing, but people are launching mods that accurately depict what they're supposed to now. Why? Maybe for the notoriety, or just for the thrill of it.This YouTuber decided to mix and match, loading the new Roadster onto the trailer towed by the Semi. Despite a few setbacks, he manages to fill it with six brand new and very shiny electric sportscars that are ready to be delivered to their respective customers.Of course, the mod isn't perfect, as the Tesla Semi sounds like it's powered by a diesel engine and even has a rev counter that goes up to 5,000rpm.The truck is supposed to get 500 miles per charge, while the Roadster is said to achieve 620 miles. That's 500 miles at highway speeds and maximum towing weight. Normal trucks will only do 45mph up a 5% grade, while the Tesla will do 65mph.Why does it look so slippery? Well, that's because it has the drag coefficient of a 0.36, which Tesla boasts is lower than a Bugatti Chiron.Charging for 400 miles of range takes only 30 minutes at one of Tesla's globally dispersed Megachargers, and it can be done unsupervised while the cargo is being unloaded. The Semi would also be one of the safest trucks in America, thanks to auto emergency braking, lane keeps assist and forward collision warning. Of course, in GTA 5, you just want to do a bunch of crashing and "trucker missions."
An odd (and random) thought struck me while I was sitting in the middle of this Nissan-led symposium in Singapore where experts -market researchers, automotive engineers, energy executives, and even IT specialists- were talking about the future of mobility.

What if this was taking place exactly fifty years ago?

I wasn't even around yet, but I can imagine the kinds of cars we'd be talking about. We'd be looking at stunning concepts such as the Lincoln Futura with its bubble roof and development into becoming the first Batmobile, the ultra-sleek Alfa Romeo Carabo with its scissor doors that inspired the Countach, or the Dodge Charger III concept which bears little resemblance to the production car; it looks more like something out of Blade Runner.

We'd also be talking about fanstastical technologies that were way ahead of the time like jet-turbines such as the Chrysler Turbine Car, systems that enable automobiles to fly were being developed by many firms, and there were even concept vehicles like the Ford Nucleon that ran on -wait for it- nuclear fission.

With the exception of a few, many of those ideas of the future at the time had, unfortunately, fissured out. Many proved to be merely the subjects of Hollywood and science fiction, some proved to be impractical, while others were just too dangerous, unless you like the idea of carrying a radiation suit in the trunk of your car.

So for the next few decades, the future wasn't so much revolutionary, but evolutionary. Internal combustion proved to be the only way to go, and the pursuit changed to making it better, more powerful, and more efficient.

But at Nissan Futures, this gathering of subject-matter experts that will define how motoring in Asia Pacific (and the world) changes in the near future, poses a not-so-obvious statement: the future is already here, and we're going to start feeling it from Nissan.

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The future is connected and (possibly) autonomous

Two big topics of the conference, or perhaps of every modern automaker today, is connectivity and vehicle autonomy.

What Nissan says is that they're working on something called an Alliance Connected Cloud; a shared technology in vehicle connectivity through a shared platform that will be used by Nissan, Renault, and the newest member of the alliance: Mitsubishi.

This cloud will house a lot of the data from their customers to provide a variety of new services. Think of things like remote diagnostics that could eliminate the guesswork when figuring out what's wrong with a car. Or perhaps even navigation with intelligently mapped routes; like what Waze does, but OE. Things like safety and security could also be further enhanced. The possibilities are many, and they're tapping their IT partner, Microsoft, to help out in the development.

Of course there's a concern that we had to raise at the forum: how can Nissan assure the security of the customer's data in an age when private data can so easily be grabbed by hacking clouds?

Ogi Redzic, the Alliance's head for Connected Vehicles and Mobility Services, chimed in that they'll be observing the EU's GDPR, or General Data Protection Regulation, when it comes to personal data collected from customers. How that plays out, we'll find out soon enough as the EU's GDPR becomes enforceable in May.

But really, the big thing now is vehicle autonomy. We're being saturated -bombarded, really- with news of the latest developments in autonomous vehicles (or self driving car technology), and that's understandable; it's the next logical step for automobiles to drive on their own, freeing up the driver to either relax, or get something else done along the route.

Still, there's a big element of science fiction here; many of today's technologies require human intervention in one way or another. And of course, there's the legality of it all; if an autonomous car is involved in a traffic violation, who gets the ticket? How will it be insured? Or perhaps the extreme: if an autonomous car is involved in an accident, who bears the liability of the consequences? Mind you, it also all depends on the legal framework of the country your car is driving in.

These are all very important questions, and a great challenge for autonomous cars. Neils de Boer, the expert from Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, chimed in that the OEM could be liable if there is a problem with the software and decided not to fix it. These could be hurdles that would make the lawyers and accountants of car companies very nervous.

Still, Nissan is forging ahead; some vehicles like the Leaf and Serena already have a single lane intelligent cruise control that can follow the lane markings and come to a full stop if the vehicle ahead stops, and resume driving again when traffic gets going. They even announced that a lot of their vehicles will have some kind of autonomous related technology available from automated emergency braking all the way to more advanced versions of ProPilot later on; again, it all depends on the market.

Locally, Nissan is already moving forward too; they've already started to introduce some of these new features in their vehicles, and we'll be testing them out real soon.

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Tomorrow's driving is electrified

The major highlight of the Nissan Futures event is the study conducted by research firm Frost & Sullivan into the market viability of electrified cars in South East Asian countries: Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, and of course, the Philippines.

I know what you're thinking: why would a region predominantly thought of as third-world be interested in full electric or even hybrids?

The results of the study -a survey of car buyers in the region- conducted by the firm proved that interest is high. In fact, 37% of South East Asian customers are willing to consider an electric vehicle as their next purchase. More importantly, the result of that survey for the Philippines is even higher: 46%, or almost half, are interested in an EV as a next purchase.

That comes as a surprise, especially since our country has only started implementing Euro 4 as a standard for emissions in new vehicles whereas other countries in other regions are already at Euro 6. Not only that, there are no fully-electric vehicles offered for sale from the major automakers in the Philippines, though there are quite a number of hybrids being offered.

Unfortunately, however, the cost of owning hybrids in the past has been prohibitively high; something we can blame on the old excise tax scheme. Cars like the Prius, while popular in places like the United States and Japan, are priced double of their compact counterparts; actually, they're priced like executive cars and crossovers, making them unattractive to purchase and own.

Thankfully, that pricing has changed thanks to the 50% discount on excise tax commitments that hybrids will receive under the new tax reform law. And more importantly, electric vehicles or battery electric vehicles (BEVs) will be fully tax exempt. That will bode well for BEVs because, according to the same survey, a tax waiver on EV cars is the most important incentive for South East Asian customers to buy one; 75% of the respondents said so.

But what will be tricky is infrastructure; 70% said that the presence of charging stations, particularly in their apartments, is the second most important incentive. Right now, apart from the charging station at Meralco to service the Tesla of their chief executive, the Philippines has zero commercially-accessible charging stations whether fast (ChaDeMo) or otherwise. And let me tell you now, after testing the BYD E6 electric MPV, the anxiety you get while behind the wheel of an EV in traffic is real; you can't just pull up to a gas station or even a Motolite center and charge it.

That will change though; one of Meralco's executives was part of one of the panels, and he said that their company is working on a plan to expand into EV charging stations. It makes sense given the popularity of smaller EVs in the form of electric trikes, bicycles, and electric jeepneys, as well as favorable legislation giving tax breaks on EVs. But until they set up the stations they're planning, we'll have to wait.

And that's why Nissan isn't offering the Leaf -the world's best selling EV- yet. Instead, what they're aiming to introduce is something of a bridge between internal combustion and a full EV: they call it e-Power.

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Is e-Power the answer for now?

After a day of talks and presentations, we were driven up to the Nanyang Technological University's Center of Excellence for Testing and Research of AVs or CETRAN. Yes that's a mouthful to say, but it's essentially a small test circuit for advanced vehicles, even autonomous ones.

This will be a date with what we can expect from Nissan in the field of electrification. They had three cars for us to drive: They had the all-electric Leaf on hand, along with the the standard Note with a gasoline engine, and the Note with the e-Power unit.

The Leaf is something we've driven before, and it's great; smooth, quiet, and nimble around the tight test course. But again, the Leaf -for now- in unrealistic for us to expect in our market and on our roads given the lack of charging stations. The interim solution that Nissan poses for the Philippines is e-Power.

The e-Power system combines the abilities of a battery electric vehicle and a gasoline powered vehicles, but it would be unusual to call it a hybrid in the same sense as a Prius. It technically can be considered a full EV in the sense that the tiny gasoline engine cannot directly drive the wheels; instead, it just charges the batteries, and the electric motors do the driving. The more accurate term is series hybrid.

Compared to the gasoline counterpart, the Note with the e-Power unit is quite smooth. It's just as quiet as the Leaf and is just as smooth. The engine only kicks in when the battery is running low, and even then, it's extremely efficient; in the Japanese fuel efficiency test, the Note e-Power achieves 32.7 kilometers to a liter. More importantly, it comes in a familiar B-segment hatchback format; and it's good looking too.

But here's the surprising bit: we may not be getting the Note e-Power yet because there's no left-hand drive version. What is being hinted at for us is something different, but with e-Power technology; as to what form it will take, we can only wait and see. Given our market, however, a crossover would sell very, very well.

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A revealing flight

The concept of what the future holds for the automobile is different from what it once was. Electric drive, advancements in connectivity and autonomy are more feasible targets than nuclear cars or even flying ones.

Our time behind the wheel of Nissan's latest cars was cut short simply because we were slated to catch a flight just past noon for another event in Bangkok but on the approach to Thailand's primary airport, I could barely see the ground. The smog surrounding the country's capital is so thick that it was difficult to make out just what we were looking at.

And this is perhaps why the interest in EVs -a more efficient and more eco-friendly mode of mobility- is so high in our region. The challenges are there like bringing the prices down or ensuring that the source of electricity is more environmentally friendly (only 32% of our power supply comes from renewable sources), but carmakers are working to get there if we're willing to embrace the future of motoring.

We just have to hope that these ideas for the future become mass market reality sooner rather than later because, judging by the view outside my window, we don't have a moment to spare.
Boeings latest version of the 737, the Max 9, is now FAA certified and will soon start deliveries, the company announced last week. The airplane adds three additional seat rows compared to the Max 8, for a total capacity of 220 passengers. CFM International LEAP-1B engines and Advanced Technology winglets enhance efficiency and reduce noise. The jet has a range of up to 3,550 nautical miles. Boeing says the 737 Max is the fastest-selling airplane in its history, with more than 4,300 orders from 93 customers worldwide. The first delivery of the Max 9 will go to Lion Air Group, based in Indonesia.

United Airlines said on Monday it will start to operate the Max 9 jets in June from its hubs in Houston and Los Angeles, including trips to Honolulu. United will take delivery of 10 of the Max 9 jets this year. The next variant, the Max 10, will begin assembly next year, with the first deliveries expected in 2020. The Max 7, which first rolled out of the hangar earlier this month, is not expected to enter service until next year.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas presented in his speech to the UN security council a Palestinian proposal for re-launching peace talks with Israel. In a relatively moderate speech, Abbas proposed holding an international peace conference in mid-2018, which would be the starting point for a new round of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

But, but, but: Abbas, who has said the U.S. can never mediate a peace deal after Trump's embassy move, left the security council room right after he finished his speech and didn't wait to listen to U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley. In her speech, Haley called on Abbas to return to the negotiating table. She said Jared Kushner and special envoy Jason Greenblatt  president Trump's "Peace team"  "are ready to talk, but we will not chase after you".

Kushner and Greenblatt attended the security council session and listened to Abbas' speech. Josh Raffel, a White House spokesman, gave a measured response:

We appreciated the opportunity to listen to his speech. We were hoping to hear some new and constructive ideas, and the recognition that Jerusalem is holy to Jews in addition to Muslims and Christians is a step in the right direction, but as Ambassador Haley warned setting forth old talking points and undeveloped concepts for each of the core issues will not achieve peace. We are trying to do the opposite and will continue working on our plan, which is designed to benefit both the Israeli and Palestinian people. We will present it when it is done and the time is right.

Here are the main points of Abbas's plan:
The House Ethics Committee said Tuesday its launching a probe in to Rep. John Duncan Jr. (R-Tenn.,) who had previously said hes not running for re-election. The committee said that it was prompted to investigate Duncan by a referral in January from the Office of Congressional Ethics, however they did not explain the details.

Whats happening: The Knoxville News Sentinel reported last year that the congressman paid his son almost $300,000 over five years after pleading guilty to a felony charge of misconduct in office and later resigned as a Knox County Trustee. The ethics committee said it will announce its course of action by April 4.
President Trump and his administration have gone to extreme lengths to wipe climate change from the U.S. federal governments lexicon and question whether its a real issue at all. Thats got people working to tackle the problem wondering, paradoxically, how to make progress without the Trump administration acknowledging it.

The bottom line: A surprisingly large amount of progress is being made, actually, including on certain federal policies, within corporations and by local governments. Ultimately, though, the scale of the problem needs not only federal acknowledgment but also concerted backing.

I think you can fudge it for a couple of years, said Julio Friedmann, a former top Energy Department official in the Obama administration. There is a lot of progress that is possible, but its not enough to fully deliver.

Just this month, theres been government action to address climate change, just not wrapped up in those semantics.

Lets take a look at what is being done regardless of Trump acknowledging the issue, and then get to why bigger things are out of reach as long as Trump, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and others continue to dismiss climate change.

Congress earlier this month approved a narrow but important tax incentive that would support projects capturing carbon emissions from coal plants and other facilities. Climate change wasnt a focus of many of the bills backers, and it wasnt mentioned in the legislation itself.

I asked Steven Winberg, the assistant secretary of fossil energy at the Energy Department, whether he sees his support for this type of technology as key to addressing climate change. Its not my job to set policy on climate change, Winberg said after an event late last year in Washington. Its my job to develop technologies that might address climate change but could address a lot of other issues as well.

Companies are also increasingly investing in renewable energy regardless of its climate-change benefits.

"To the extent were able to buy renewable energy via a long-term contract, were able to fix the price of electricity for that location, Neha Palmer, director of energy strategy at Google, told me recently.

Those are known costs, which is helpful for running a business, added Palmer, whose firm is among the worlds largest corporate buyers of renewable energy.

That sentiment is echoed by Neil Chatterjee, a Republican commissioner at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, an independent government agency.

I certainly believe that climate change is real, is man-made and we need to take steps to mitigate emissions, Chatterjee told me last week. But I also dont think thats the sole benefit of renewable energy either ... One of the things I find most attractive about the increased deployment of renewable energy is the economics. You have no fuel costs.

FERC approved a rule last week aimed at removing market barriers to batteries and other technologies that can store energy, which is key for the widespread adoption of intermittent renewable energy like wind and solar.

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt met last week with executives making electricity from biomass, a term used to describe organic waste like scrap lumber.

Pruitt told the industry hes working to complete a process first started under Obama that would officially recognize biomass as carbon-neutral because its making use of material that would otherwise be burned or put into landfills. Biomass is considered renewable and powers about 1.5% of U.S. electricity as of 2016, slightly more than solar.

Climate change didnt come up in a conversation Pruitt had with Bob Cleaves, president and CEO of the Biomass Power Association, according to Cleaves, but the end goal could still help.

Theres no question that climate change is an important issue for us, and we provide an environmental benefit that should be recognized, Cleaves said.

More than a dozen states and hundreds of U.S. cities have pledged to cut carbon emissions despite Trump vowing to withdraw America from the Paris accord.

But they only represent up to 35% of Americas total greenhouse gas emissions, according to a report the group released at a climate conference last year  which brings me to the big "but" of this column.

All of these efforts pale in comparison to the Trump administrations efforts to repeal or scale back nearly every policy Obama issued to address climate change. And layered on top of that is government-endorsed skepticism of an issue most of the rest of the world considers business as usual.

If we are not able to even have a conversation about climate change, then its virtually impossible to imagine passing policies that would do anything meaningful about it, said Jerry Taylor, president of the Niskanen Center, a libertarian think tank working with Republicans on the issue.

Taylor says he's had private conversations with congressional Republicans who have, paradoxically, indicated a heightened interest in addressing climate change in the wake of Trumps election.

But, Taylor added: None of that matters unless it translates into action.
Local Serbian TV stations report that police are still holding two Americans from Florida for allegedly using a drone to film military facilities in Belgrade, though two Ukrainian women arrested with them were released earlier on Tuesday. The Serbian Ministry of Defense confirmed the arrests on Monday.

The backdrop: The news follows several other security-related issues in Serbia involving foreigners. An American was reportedly arrested earlier this month in possession of a firearm, and "pro-government media alleged that he was a former Navy SEAL and had planned the assassination of unidentified Serbian officials," per the AP.

The Ministry of Defense said the two Americans and two Ukrainians were detained on Sunday trying to film buildings that once housed the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Yugoslavia, until they were destroyed by NATO bombing in 1999. The Serbian Defense Minister said, "It is not a coincidence that such a large number of foreign citizens tried to bust into premises controlled by the Army of Serbia."

Why it matters: The arrests come as Russia and the West are vying for influence in Serbia, the largest of the states to emerge from the collapse of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Orthodox Christian and Slavic, Serbia has close historical ties with Moscow, but President Aleksandar Vucic has made joining the European Union a priority.

The latest

Serbian broadcaster Pink reported Tuesday that the two Americans still being held by police are from Florida and claim they are working for a non-governmental organization.

The two Ukrainian women with the Americans have been released, with local media reporting they are from Luhansk, a city in the east of Ukraine, which is occupied by Russia.

There is still some confusion of the number of arrests, with Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin claiming that members of Military Police on Sunday and Monday detained a total of eight foreign nationals in connection with the incident.

Worth noting: Amid growing worries about press freedom in Serbia, the Belgrade government on Monday granted a temporary residence permit to Belgian journalist Philippe Bertinchamps  a permit that he was previously denied  following protests by media rights organization Reporters Without Borders. Bertinchamps told local news that he believed he was no longer welcome in Serbia, despite being a long-term resident, because of his critical writing about the situation in the country.
The project Science via Media" which provided a great chance for the youth, organized by Barama Media Center, self-development laboratory for students in Baku State University with the support of Barama Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, Azercell and PASHA Bank, has finished successfully. Project participants were evaluated based on the scores on YouTube channel and by the panel of juries. The award ceremony took place on February, 19 at Baku State University.

Imran Baghirov, the head of Barama Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, and Parvana Ibrahimova, press-secretary of Baku State University, noted at the event that the distinguishing feature of "Science via Media" project is that unlike routine study activities it inspires the youth to present more practical and unseen sides of science and educate the young participants and the audience by the videos prepared for the competition.

In addition, the ceremony included panel discussions on media entrepreneurship with the participation of Farid Pardashunas, Director of Technote startup, Vugar Aliyev, Dean of the faculty of Journalism and Alikhan Rajabov, prominent actor and video blogger. The students were informed about startups and innovations in media as the speakers shared their broad experience in the field and answered the questions of the audience.

The winners of Science via Media contest have become  the 1st place Nigar Abbasova and Vusala Haciyeva with project X (Unknown), the 2nd place Ayna Zarbaliyeva and Chichek Mammadova with project Genetic Memory and the 3rd place Nurlan Salamov with the project Cloning.

Notably, "Science via Media", designed as a competition, was aimed to encourage the youth towards science, education and self-development by explaining any scientific invention or research to the public in the language of media. The project received videos on 5 topics from the young participants.

For more information, please contact [email protected]

The leader of the mobile communication industry, the largest taxpayer and the biggest investor of the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan Azercell Telecom LLC was founded in 1996. With 48% share of Azerbaijans mobile telecom market Azercells network covers 80% of the territory (excluding 20% of the occupied territories) and 99,8% of population of the country. Currently, 4,5 million subscribers choose Azercell services. Azercell has pioneered an important number of innovations in Azerbaijan, including GSM technology, advance payment system, mobile internet services, Metro coverage, 24/7 call centre service, 7 day/week Front Office service, M2M services, one-stop-shopping approach Azercell Express offices, Online Customer Care and Social Media Customer Care services, Mobile Customer Care office, mobile e-signature service ASAN Imza etc. Azercell deployed first 4G  LTE services in Azerbaijan in 2012. According to the results of mobile network quality surveys of Global Wireless Solutions company and international systems specialized in wireless coverage mapping such as Opensignal and Testmy.net, Azercells network demonstrated the best results among the mobile operators of Azerbaijan.

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By Kamila Aliyeva

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan and the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers') Organizations of Azerbaijan Republic signed an agreement on cooperation.

The document was signed on February 20 in the course of the Uzbek-Azerbaijani business forum and cooperation exchange.

More than 20 representatives of large Azerbaijani companies engaged in the field of textiles, oil and gas industry, publishing, printing, pharmaceuticals, medical products, construction, restaurant business, trade, packaging, ICT, as well as more than 50 representatives of large enterprises and companies from all Uzbek regions took part in the event.

During the forum, issues of mutual cooperation on strengthening cooperation between entrepreneurs of the two countries were discussed.

Trade relations between the two countries are carried out in the mode of free trade. In 2017, the trade turnover amounted to $31.2 million, with exports accounting for $26.2 million and imports - $4.9 million.

Uzbekistan supplies vehicles, non-ferrous metals, pharmaceutical products, fertilizers, electrical and mechanical appliances, agricultural products to Azerbaijan, and renders services in the transport, tourism and other spheres. Azerbaijan's export to Uzbekistan mainly consists of mechanical appliances, confectionery products, various organic and chemical compounds, tanning and dyeing extracts.

There are 84 Azerbaijani enterprises operating in Uzbekistan with 71 of them being joint ventures, while 11 are enterprises with 100 percent foreign capital.

The main areas of activity of these enterprises cover trade, engineering and metalworking, finance and insurance, real estate operations, energy, services, jewelry production and repair, food and light industry.

Representation of one company from Azerbaijan is accredited at the Uzbek Ministry of Foreign Trade. Moreover, two Uzbek enterprises have been established in Baku that is the representative office of the Uzbekistan Airways and the dealer company of Uzavtosanoat - Uzavto Baku LLC.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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By Laman Ismayilova

The second Testene Art Baku International Festival will be held in Azerbaijans capital city on March 27 - April 2.

The art festival is co-organized by the Testene ArtItalian International Cultural Association and music school No 3 named after J. Hajiyev with the support of the Main Department of Azerbaijan Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The jury includes Moldovan poet Viktor Pelenyagre (Moldova), People's Artist of Russia, Renat Ibragimov, composer, pianist, professor of Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater Arturas Anskauskas, violinist, professor of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater Petras Kunka.

Moreover, Fabio Lamborghini, a nephew of Ferrucio Lamborghini, who created the supercar of that name will be a honored guest of the event.

The festival will feature contests in several categories including vocal, instrumental performance, dance, theater art, folklore, fine arts, as well as fashion and design.

Notably, the first International Art Festival Testene Art Baku was held in Baku in 2016.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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By Trend

The first meeting of a joint working group created on the basis of a memorandum of understanding on further development of energy cooperation between the Azerbaijani and Turkmen governments dated August 8, 2017 was held in Baku, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said in a message Feb. 19.

According to the message, the delegations led by Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov and Chairman of the State Enterprise for Caspian Sea Affairs under the President of Turkmenistan Murat Atadjanov attended the meeting.

During the meeting it was stressed that the agreements reached at the level of the presidents of the two countries give an impetus to the further strengthening of friendly and good-neighborly relations and the development of fruitful cooperation.

The participants of the meeting stressed that the coordination of the draft convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea at the end of 2017 in Moscow will serve to resolve the issues of mutual interest concerning the Caspian Sea.

The prospects for the development of mutually beneficial cooperation in the energy sector between the two countries on the basis of the principles of equality and for the achievement of the goals of the memorandum of understanding were discussed during the meeting.

The sides discussed the issues related to the delimitation of the Caspian Sea bottom between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.

Taking into account that both countries have great energy potential, the discussions on the improvement of the legal basis on the Caspian Sea were held to reach further agreements that will allow uniting efforts in this sphere and expanding energy projects. An agreement was also reached to hold the next meeting in Turkmenistan.

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By Trend

Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR and Norways Statoil may sign an agreement on the Karabakh offshore oil and gas fields development this year, Vitaly Baylarbayov, SOCAR deputy vice president, said in an interview with Reuters.

Baylarbayov said the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) could be expanded if promising new gas fields in Azerbaijan can be developed.

He mentioned the Absheron gas field, where SOCAR is drilling in partnership with French oil company Total, and the Karabakh field which it is due to explore with Norways Statoil.

Azerbaijans Umid and Babek fields could also be developed as could the next stage of Shah Deniz, he said.

Many foreign companies are also expressing interest in development of Umid and Babek fields together with SOCAR and we are in talks with them, he said without elaborating on details of talks.

The first phase of the SGC pipeline from Azerbaijan to Europe will open in July and could be expanded after it becomes fully operational in 2020, Baylarbayov added.

We will start first commercial supplies of gas to Turkey (through the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline, TANAP) in early July this year, he said. We can say now that the (SGC) pipeline will be put into operation on time, in 2020.

Baylarbayov added that the Southern Gas Corridor CJSC would continue to seek funds for the project.

In December 2017, SOCAR and Statoil signed two contracts on main principles of cooperation.

The first contract covers issues of exploration, development and main commercial principles and provisions of the PSA (production sharing agreement) on some promising structures in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea, while the second contract covers main commercial principles and provisions of the Risk Service Contract (RSC) regarding the Karabakh field.

The Karabakh field was discovered in 2000. Its initial oil reserves amount to 100 million tons. SOCAR operates Karabakh fields development.

The Southern Gas Corridor, worth $41.5 billion, is considered as one of the priority energy projects for the EU, which strives for diversification of gas sources. The project envisages the transportation of gas from the Caspian region to the European countries through Georgia and Turkey.

At an initial stage, the gas to be produced in the Stage 2 of development of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field is considered as the main source for the Southern Gas Corridor projects. Other sources can also connect to this project at a later stage.

As part of the Shah Deniz Stage 2, the gas will be exported to Turkey and European markets by expanding the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of TANAP and Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP).

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By Sara Israfilbayova

Many foreign companies are expressing interest in development of Umid and Babek fields together with SOCAR and the company is in talks with them.

Umid field was discovered in 2010. This was the first field discovered by SOCAR. The total reserves of the field make 200 billion cubic meters of gas and 40 million tons of condensate, according to preliminary estimates.

Vitaly Baylarbayov, SOCAR deputy vice president, said in interview with Reuters that the agreement between SOCAR and Statoil on the Karabakh offshore oil and gas field could be signed this year.

On December 20, 2017, SOCAR and Statoil agreed on the key principles of prospective cooperation on risk-based services for the development of the Karabakh field.

Speaking of the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) project, Baylarbayov said that the first commercial gas will be delivered to Turkey by the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) in early July this year.

We can say now that the SGC pipeline will be put into operation on time, in 2020, Baylarbayov said.

He noted that earlier this month, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) invested $ 1.5 billion in TAP adding that the consortium will continue to seek funding for the project.

Baylarbayov also said that the SGC can be expanded in process of Absheron, Umid and Babek fields development in Azerbaijan.

The next drilling stage on the Absheron field area, which has estimated reserves of at least 350 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas and 45 million tonnes of condensate, is due to start this month with production planned for 2020.

The SGC, with the estimated cost of $41.5 billion, is one of the priority energy projects for the European Union, which aims to diversify routes and sources of energy supplies and thereby improve the energy security of the EU.

The SGC is intended to deliver gas from the Azerbaijani gas condensate field Shah Deniz to Europe.

Gas as part of the second stage of the field development will be exported to Turkey and the European markets through the expansion of the South Caucasus gas pipeline and the construction of the TANAP and TAP gas pipelines.

TANAP project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijans Shah Deniz field to the western borders of Turkey. The gas will be delivered to Turkey in 2018 and after completion of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline's construction natural gas will be delivered to Europe in early 2020.

The length of TANAP is 1,850 kilometers, with an initial capacity of 16 billion cubic meters of gas. Around six billion cubic meters of this gas is meant to be delivered to Turkey, with the remaining volume to be supplied to Europe.

TAP will be connected to the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) on the Turkish-Greek border, run through Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Italys south.

TAP will be 878 kilometers in length (Greece 550 kilometers, Albania 215 kilometers, Adriatic Sea 105 kilometers, and Italy 8 kilometers).

SOCAR is a wholly state-owned national oil company headquartered in Baku, Azerbaijan. The company produces oil and natural gas from onshore and offshore fields in the Azerbaijani section of the Caspian Sea.

The company includes such production associations as Azneft (the enterprises producing oil and gas onshore and offshore), Azerikimya (the chemical enterprises) and Azerigas (distributor of gas produced in the country), as well as oil and gas processing plants, service companies, and the facilities involved in geophysical and drilling operations.

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By Sara Israfilbayova

World oil prices are changing without a single dynamics on February 20 after Saudi Arabia decided to cut production at the end of last week, although the U.S. continues to increase it.

Brent crude, the global benchmark, fell 0.7 percent to $65.24 a barrel on Londons Intercontinental Exchange, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures were trading up 0.8 percent at $62.19 a barrel, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Oil prices stabilize and gradually recover after a sharp fall at the beginning of the month. Part of this is due to the decision of Saudi Arabia to reduce production in the next month by 100,000 barrels per day in comparison with February and export in March not more than 7 million barrels per day.

Saudi Arabia increased production in January by 23,300 barrels a day to 9.977 million barrels a day, according to the latest data of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), published last week. This figure is still below the quota of Saudi Arabia at 10.058 million barrels per day.

Another factor, holding back world oil prices, is the increase in oil production in the U.S.

The U.S., which surpassed Saudi Arabia in terms of oil production, ranked 2nd in the world, increased production by more than 20 percent from mid-2016 to more than 10 million barrels a day. This provides downward pressure on prices, while the growth of the world economy and Saudi Arabias attempts to reduce supply in the world oil market prevent a significant fall in oil prices.

At the same time, the demand for oil in China continues to grow, and the International Energy Agency has raised its forecast for oil demand this year by 7.7 percent and now expects it to grow by 1.4 million barrels a day.

Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates energy minister told Reuters that OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers, including Russia, will discuss extending their cooperation for many more years when they meet in June as they seek to avoid major market shocks.

We look forward to put something to the ministers hopefully the next time we see the whole group getting together.. hopefully in June, he said.

He noted it was too early to say how cooperation will work exactly and whether oil production management would be maintained, adding that market monitoring was the bare minimum the group would do to help avoid gluts or shortages.

Last month, Khalid al-Falih, Saudi Arabian energy minister, OPECs de-facto leader, said global oil producers are in agreement that they should continue cooperating on production after their deal on supply cuts expires at the end of this year.

OPEC and non-OPEC producers reached an agreement in December 2016 to curtail oil output jointly and ease a global glut after more than two years of low prices. OPEC agreed to slash the output by 1.2 million barrels per day from January 1.

Non-OPEC oil producers such as Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Equatorial Guinea, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Russia, Sudan, and South Sudan agreed to reduce output by 558,000 barrels per day starting from January 1, 2017.

OPEC and its partners decided to extend its production cuts till the end of 2018 in Vienna on November 30, as the oil cartel and its allies step up their attempt to end a three-year supply glut that has savaged crude prices and the global energy industry.

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Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed condolences to Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani over the Aseman Airlines plane crash near the city of Semirom in Isfahan Province, which led to numerous casualties.

Berdimuhamedov conveyed deep sympathy and support in such a hard moment on behalf of the Turkmen nation, government and on his own behalf to the families and friends of those killed in the plane crash, the Turkmen government said in a message Feb. 19.

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By Trend

Since the beginning of Operation Olive Branch, 1,715 terrorists were killed in Syrias Afrin district, the Turkish General Staff said in a message Feb. 20.

In particular, 74 members of Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), Peoples Protection Units (YPG) and the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organizations have been recently killed in Afrin.

On Jan. 20, the Turkish Armed Forces, together with the Free Syrian Army, launched the Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, Syria.

F-16 fighters of the Turkish Air Force are involved in the operation, inflicting strikes on the positions of PYD/YPG on the Syrian-Turkish border.

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One of the most famous voices from Texas has betrayed his Lone Star roots to hawk burgers for the Tennessee-based chain.

As first pointed out by the Austin American-Statesman, Matthew McConaughey is now the voice of Carl's Jr. in commercials in TV and on radio.
The dirt at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a very special kind of dirt.

On Monday morning the first of several hundred loads of special rodeo dirt began being dropped on the floor of NRG Stadium. RodeoHouston kicks off its 86th season on Tuesday, Feb. 27, with Garth Brooks.

RELATED: RodeoHouston 2018: J Balvin, Kelsea Ballerini, Alessia Cara, OneRepublic

There is a common and logical misconception that the dirt used for NRG Stadium events like monster trucks and motocross is in fact the same dirt. After all, those events are held typically right before rodeo moves in.

Not so, according to rodeo brass. That dirt, full of oil and debris, would be unsafe for the livestock, cowboys, cowgirls and mutton busters. The dirt is a clay base mixed with a top soil, specially maintained year-round.

For the floor and Service level of NRG Stadium, it takes about 600 dump truck loads. Chron.com saw the first few loads hit the floor on Monday morning, just yards away from the fancy new performance stage that RodeoHouston will officially debut later this week for the media.

(It's rather amazing, but more on that later this week.)

The floor was buzzing with activity just after 7 a.m. as five or six trucks came in one after the other with the first loads.

RELATED: Houston news legend Dave Ward named grand marshal of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo parade

Move-in takes just under two days. Move-out takes about 12 hours, but can be expedited in about seven hours, rodeo staff told Chron.com on Monday. Dump trucks, excavators, dozers, motor graders and wheel loaders are all used.

The dirt is piled about a foot high across the stadium floor and varies in height by a few inches in certain spots used for specific rodeo events.

"There is science behind creating an arena surface that is of the right consistency to allow our animal and human athletes to perform safely," Joel Cowley, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo president and CEO, said Monday. "Adding to the uniqueness of our event, we must also ensure that the new stage can roll easily across the arena floor."

Craig Hlavaty

The same dirt has been used for about the past 30 years, according to the rodeo, and when the season is over it's stored on rodeo property at the intersection of Reed Road and Texas 288.

So, as the Houston Chronicle's Sebastian Herrera wrote in 2016, the dirt was inside the Astrodome, was there to see Selena's last show, and made the move to NRG Stadium in 2003 along with the rodeo itself.

It has evolved somewhat over the years.

RELATED: Mutton busting is serious business at RodeoHouston

Top soil is mixed in a little every year and fresh clay is mixed into the pile to bring it back to the harder clay base that the organizers prefer.

"Gifts" to the soil from the animals are sifted out daily. The dirt is watered as needed to maintain moisture.

During the rodeo, groundskeepers drag the arena twice daily during weekdays and once on Saturday and Sunday.

Back in 2013 it took a Herculean overnight effort remove all the dirt to accommodate George Strait's last show inside NRG Stadium, with crews scrambling to clear the dirt away to make way for extra seating on the stadium floor.

Only a mild residue was left, but that probably just made it easier to two-step.

Craig Hlavaty is a reporter for Chron.com and HoustonChronicle.com.
In an effort to "put a nice face" on Beaumont and clean up the soda bottles and fast food wrappers littering roadways, City Council voted Tuesday to amend a 33-year-old trash ordinance and raise residents' litter fees 75 cents a month.

Beaumont residents currently pay $17 a month for garbage service. Homeowners pay another 50 cents for litter removal and renters pay 25 cents.

Council voted 5-1 to eliminate the litter fee and raise all customers' garbage rates to $18.25 a month. Ward 2 Councilman Mike Getz voted against the ordinance change, citing constituent complaints.

City Manager Kyle Hayes said the net increase of 75 cents a month equates to $9 a year per household.

Hayes said the $290,000 in annual revenue from the increase will be used for "trash removal services around the city and highways."

Mayor Becky Ames said the litter problem got the council's attention last summer when Texas Department of Transportation work crews mowed over garbage littering the sides of Interstate 10 and U.S. 69 instead of picking it up first.

"Trash was everywhere," she said.

At a work session earlier this month, Hayes said the state agency is responsible for maintaining the grassy areas along the two highways but only mows the areas about three times a year.

At that meeting, Hayes proposed spending about $215,000 to purchase a truck, mowers and tractors and about $250,000 a year on salaries and maintenance to take on the job.

The state spends about $50,000 annually to clean the highways in Beaumont's city limits, according to Hayes.

"I use social media a lot, and when there are things I see as being somewhat controversial, I ask citizens to weigh in," Getz said before the vote. "The overwhelming response is they would prefer TxDOT do their job and that the city enforce its ordinances, and that this not go through."

Getz said many residents view the increase as a tax.

"I personally have no problem with increasing the fee $9 a year, but I would prefer to see if we could solve this problem together as a community first," he said.

Getz advocated for bi-annual trash-off events - the city currently hosts an annual event - and public relations campaigns to get residents to "engage in civic responsibility."

Ward 1 Councilwoman Virginia Jordan said "civic pride is lacking" in Beaumont.

"If (residents) weren't throwing it out, we wouldn't be picking it up," she said of the litter.

Jordan proposed reviving street sponsorship programs, but said "those highways are nowhere we are going to put citizen volunteers."

"The $9 a year is a small price to pay to put a nice face on this city," she said.

At-large Councilman W.L. Pate disagreed with Jordan that Beaumont residents were solely to blame for the litter problem. He that speculated most of the Interstate 10 litter was coming from outside drivers.

"This is our neighborhood and we are our neighbor," Pate said before the vote. "It's $9 a year. We owe it to the citizens to keep Beaumont as clean as we can."

Ames said she has been in touch with a group that would like to create an anti-litter campaign to take to schools. Ames said she wasn't sure whether schools still taught children they should not throw trash out car windows.

Speaking generally about the litter problem, Ames said, "if we don't do something about it, it's not going to stop."

She said the city should take the work over from the state because "you are not going to be able to do something right unless you take it over yourself."

At the work session earlier this month, At-large Councilwoman Get Williams-Wright appeared to side with Getz on the litter issue, saying "I want our city clean, but ... this is TxDOT's territory and they have a responsibility to keep up our highways."

Williams-Wright died Saturday at the age of 77.

Her colleagues remembered her before Tuesday's meeting as being a cheerleader for the city, its residents, police officers and firefighters.

Williams-Wright's funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at McCabe Roberts Avenue United Methodist Church in Beaumont.
One of America's last surviving Ten-Wheeler locomotives could be turned into scrap metal on Wednesday if a five-day-old GoFund Me campaign does not raise the estimated $50,000 needed to salvage Port Arthur's historic steam train.

A last-minute effort to save locomotive No. 503 in Bryan Park was launched by Jason Sobczynski, owner of Next Generation Rail Services, through a GoFund Me campaign Friday. As of Monday, the campaign had raised almost $29,000 toward its $50,000 goal.

Sobczynski estimates it will cost $20,000 to purchase the engine, $20,000 for trucking to Rusk and $5,000 for a crane at either end. The campaign plan includes relocation and eventual restoration to working condition at the Orlando and Northwestern Railway, according to the GoFund Me page.

"This should not be happening. This is an absolute atrocity in the preservation world and it speaks so much to how irrelevant history has become," Sobczynski said in an interview with railroad industry-focused podcast "The Roundhouse."

No. 503, a former Louisiana & Arkansas steam locomotive, has been on display in Bryan Park since 1957. In its present condition, Sobczynski said the train has a scrap value of $18,975.

According to the city of Port Arthur, Tropical Storm Harvey and more than 30 years of exposure to salty air have rendered the train in poor condition, including an asbestos problem that Sobczynski said was addressed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

According to Sobczynski, one of the train's hinges "began puking asbestos," and the TCEQ told the city to do something about it immediately.

Under Port Arthur's code of ordinances, the city manager has the "general authority" to contract items less than $25,000 without city council approval.

Despite necessary repairs, Sobczynski said he believes No. 503 is in "really amazing" condition, considering its more than 30 years' of exposure to the elements.

Sobczynski's company specializes in rebuilding and repairing steam locomotives. He said they do everything from rehabilitating the boilers, welding, plumbing, piping - everything from ball bearings "you can hold in your hand to 3,000-pound axles."

"Those things are basically a lost art," Sobczynski said.

If the funds are secured, No. 503 will be transported to the Texas State Railroad Museum in Rusk for temporary storage. From there, Sobczynski said a non-profit trust will be created. Sobczynski said he is in communication with some grant-issuing entities to assist in funding the train's restoration. Ultimately the newly restored No. 503 will be supported through grants and fundraising and subsidized by the Orlando and Northwestern Railway, Sobczynski said.

The fully functional train will be leased to the railroad to ensure money continuously goes into the fund to finance care and maintenance.

According to Sobczynski, extensive railroad "preservation community" exists outside Texas. Several contributors to the fundraising campaign mentioned their enthusiasm for the project.

One contributor, Daniel Scanlon, said "it would disgust (him) to see an old locomotive destroyed and lost forever."

"This thing may not look like much, but surprisingly, it actually produces 40,300 pounds of traction effort. It is a strong machine and is ideally suited for tourist railroad operation," Sobczynski said.

Other recent efforts to save local train history include a 1981 caboose donated by BNSF to the Port of Beaumont and the restoration of the old Orange Train Depot, which was built in 1902.

Maintenance workers at the port started repainting and renovating the 28-ton caboose in 2014. The iconic car was once attached to the end of a train and used by crews to rest, eat or observe the freight cars. It was among the last of a series ordered by the old Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad before it merged with Burlington Northern to become BNSF.

The caboose will serve as a piece of public art and will be representative of a long-gone era in railroading, according to the port.

The Friends of the Orange Depot spent years fundraising, scraping away old paint and tearing down walls at the old Southern Pacific Railroad Depot on Green Avenue.

The depot, which closed in the 1970s and was donated to the Friends of the Orange Depot in 2013, opened as a museum last May.

The non-profit spent three years raising $540,000 to restore the historic depot, which is available to rent for meetings and special events.

Beaumont-based architect Rob Clark worked with the group to restore the depot as close to its original state as possible, with some practical modifications, he said, so it can accommodate museum exhibits and events.

Phoebe.Suy@beaumontenterprise.com Twitter.com/phoebesuy17
The Texas Board of Nursing has suspended the registered nursing license of an employee who works at a Nederland clinic raided by federal authorities this past fall.

Nurse practitioner Lou Randall Locke II's license was suspended today, according to the licensing board.

Kevin G. Morgan, who owns Optimum Medical Weight Control and Family Wellness where Locke is employed, had his license suspended in December.

Optimum was searched by officials from the Drug Enforcement Administration in October.

According to an order issued Dec. 1, the board found that "the continued practice of nursing by Kevin Morgan constitutes a continuing and imminent threat to public welfare," and suspended his license.

The state board filed formal charges against Morgan on Oct. 20, alleging that his prescriptions for testosterone and thyroid hormone put 12 patients at risk and might have contributed to two deaths.

The board alleged that from March 31, 2015 to Jan. 23, 2017, Morgan's conduct and actions indicated that he "acted outside his authorized scope of practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner, in that Respondent does not have sufficient formalized education and/or training in endocrinology to prescribe hormone therapy."

The document, signed by Board Assistant General Counsel Jessica Lance, allege that between March 2015 and February 2017, Morgan's prescriptions put 12 patients "at risk of harm from complications attributable to high amounts of testosterone and thyroid hormone."

The suspension order says the board found that the charges related to all 12 patients were substantiated.

The nursing board alleges Morgan prescribed testosterone and thyroid for the patient even when lab values showed normal levels and continued to prescribe high doses when the levels rose "above normal limits."

Two unnamed patients, referred to as Patient 1 and Patient 3, died after receiving treatment at Morgan's clinic, according to the state. One "experienced cardiac arrest and died," board counsel Jessica Lance wrote. "The cause of death was hypertensive cardiovascular disease with contributory cause chronic exogenous hormone therapy (not introduced by the body) and obesity."

Patient 3 died three days after being admitted to a hospital for respiratory failure and unresponsiveness, according to the charges. The board alleges that bloodwork indicated the death might have resulted from testosterone supplementation.
At least two Southeast Texas districts are responding to possible threats made to campuses in the wake of last week's school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida.

West Orange-Cove CISD said Monday night that they investigated "possible terroristic threats."
A 22-year-old man was arrested Sunday for shooting a man in the head during a family argument over bills, police said.

Juan Ramos faces a charge of murder in connection to the death of Joshua Matthew Lara, 26. He was booked into the Bexar County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
Here are eight updates on ASC companies and industry relevant companies to note:

Former Surgery Partners CEO Michael Doyle resigned from the company's board of directors Feb. 16 after more than a decade of service.

Corpus Christi (Texas) Endoscopy Center is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The center is affiliated with Surgical Care Affiliates.

A class action lawsuit against Envision Healthcare Corp. alleges the physician staffing firm engaged in "balance-billing" for emergency services.

Nathan Hess is joining Surgical Notes as its chief technology officer.

Stephanie Martin, RN, Regent Surgical Health's vice president of operations and clinical services, authored a list of five ways to successfully manage supply chain and inventory.

Odyssey Real Estate Capital recently sold Parkway Medical Plaza in Las Vegas to an unspecified buyer.

MedEquities Realty Trust will pay a quarterly dividend of $0.21 per share to shareholders of record Feb. 19.

CCSC Holdings, a First Choice Healthcare Solutions' subsidiary, acquired an additional 25 percent of Melbourne, Fla.-based Crane Creek Surgery Center, increasing its total ownership interest to 65 percent.
A truck crashed into the Jackson, Miss.-based EyeCare Surgery Center Feb. 19, sending five people to the hospital, according to WAPT News. Here are four things to know:

1. Four people sustained injuries that weren't considered severe. A fifth reported chest pains.

2. The driver said her brakes failed when she tried to avoid hitting another car.

3. A surgery center spokesperson estimated that eight people were in the waiting room at the time of the crash.

4. The surgical facility, which opened in 2013, was heavily damaged.
The Medical Board of California accused gastroenterologist Parminder Singh Dhaliwal, MD, of alleged gross negligence, OC Weekly reports.

Here's what you should know:

1. Dr. Dhaliwal is a gastroenterologist at Newport Beach, Calif.-based Hoag Hospital. The board alleged Dr. Dhaliwal repeatedly performed negligent acts, failed to maintain accurate records and violated the medical practice act when treating a 73-year-old, now deceased, man.

2. Dr. Dhaliwal first saw the patient in April 2011. The man was taking three separate drugs to treat diabetes and coronary artery disease. Dr. Dhaliwal had the man undergo laboratory studies, an upper endoscopy, a colonoscopy and an abdomen scan.

3. A lesion was apparent in the upper part of the man's liver. Additional testing was recommended. The lesion wasn't found in a follow-up ultrasound, so an MRI was recommended to get a closer look. Dr. Dhaliwal allegedly did not order any additional imaging, nor did he follow up on the lesion or any abnormal liver radiographic findings.

5. Dr. Dhaliwal did conduct an upper endoscopy a few days later, but allegedly misidentified the patient as a 73-year-old female in his notes.

6. A pathology report noted the patient had either an infection or stomach ulcers. The pathology report asked Dr. Dhaliwal to advise the patient to schedule a follow-up. Allegedly, Dr. Dhaliwal did not schedule a follow-up, nor did he adjust any of the man's medications, despite a risk of peptic ulcer disease-related bleeding or other complications.

6. The man was admitted to the hospital by another physician in October 2011. The lesion on his liver was allegedly "significantly larger." The new physician scheduled imaging treatment, unaware that imaging had recently been done.

7. The patient returned to Dr. Dhaliwal in late October 2011. Dr. Dhaliwal allegedly noted the liver lesion, but neither evaluated it nor attempted to treat it. Between October 2011 and August 2012, Dr. Dhaliwal allegedly made no mention of the liver lesion in any of his notes.

8. The patient was hospitalized due to liver pain in August 2012. Dr. Dhaliwal consulted on the case. He attributed the pain to bloating, while noting an imaging scan found a mass on the patient's liver. Allegedly, his physician's note ended with, "Overall the patient has a poor prognosis."

9. The patient died October 2012 of liver cancer. Physicians said the mass was too large to properly remove.

10. The board submitted the allegations and is considering future disciplinary action against Dr. Dhaliwal, including revoking his medical license.
Implants typically require a significant investment on the part of an ASC, which makes it critical to capture reimbursement for these FDA-approved devices. Missing an implant payment can instantly turn a profitable procedure into a money loser.

Follow these five tips to improve your chances of getting paid for implants.

1. Use a cover letter and include the implant log. If the claim is denied because it requires the invoice, do not resubmit the claim with the invoice alone. Send a cover letter explaining that the requested information (i.e., invoice and log) is attached for the payor to reprocess for additional payment.

It's also a good practice to note on the cover letter that "this is not a duplicate submission.". Make sure to submit the manufacturer's invoice and implant log, not the purchase order.

When submitting a case with the invoice, include a copy of the implant log. Confirm that the lot or reference number matches the stickers on the log. Highlight the lot number on the invoice so it's easier for the processor to identify the item on the invoice.

2. Craft a detailed appeal. If an implant is covered under your contract, and is denied as non-covered due to the invoice not being available from the manufacturer, an appeal will be required. Send a custom appeal with a copy of the contract showing the coverage. Include a copy of the manufacturer's invoice and implant log. Make sure to lay out the contract terms in the appeal with the exact amount of the expected reimbursement.

3. Review codes. Prior to submitting a claim/appeal, confirm the correct use of the HCPCS code. If a generic code was used (e.g., L8699), check if a more specific code is appropriate.

When updating the HCPCS code to a more specific code, submit a corrected claim. A best practice is to include a cover letter explaining the corrected claim, what was corrected, what additional payment is expected and what supporting documentation is attached.

4. Check contracts. Review contracts for implant reimbursement eligibility and any implant reimbursement thresholds. Some carriers will not reimburse for implants below $250.

Also, verify the carrier's coding preference: L codes versus C codes.

5. Factor in invoice delay. One of the biggest challenges for contracted centers is when a payor requires a copy of the invoice for implant reimbursement. Device manufacturers typically do not send out invoices for 2-4 weeks post service date.

There are a few ways to handle these payors, and it depends on the specific payor and how they processes claims. The optimal approach would be to submit the claim without the invoice. If this approach is taken, make sure the charge amount complies with the contract by using the cost in the purchase order. Follow up by faxing a cover letter, invoice, implant log, and a copy of the claim when the invoice becomes available.

As a last resort, hold the claim until the invoice is available from the manufacturer. Some payors will process a claim without the invoice and do quarterly audits of the implants. Another option is to contact the manufacturer and request a better process to receive the invoice earlier.

Stay vigilant

Getting paid for implants is often no easy task. Even in the best of circumstances, it's not unusual to see payments missed or underpayments made. That's why ASCs must develop processes to effectively monitor implant payments and address when payments are missed or underpaid. Failure to do so could result in leaving thousands of dollars on the table every time a payment is not completed correctly.

Angela Mattioda (amattioda@surgicalnotes.com) is vice president of revenue cycle management services for Surgical Notes RCM. Surgical Notes is a nationwide provider of revenue cycle solutions, including, transcription, coding, revenue cycle management (RCM), and document management applications for the ASC and surgical hospital markets. Mattioda oversees the SNBilling RCM service, the newest component of Surgical Notes' complete end-to-end revenue cycle solution offering.
An unidentified health system plans to invest upwards of $1 billion into a medical complex that houses an inpatient hospital and medical offices in Carmel, Ind., reports the Indianapolis Business Journal.

Local residents, who were sent a letter asking to sell their homes to make room for the proposed complex, told the Indianapolis Business Journal that Indianapolis-based St. Vincent Health is behind the project. However, a St. Vincent spokesperson declined to confirm.

Supporting residents' speculations, St. Vincent recently signed a master lease for a five-story, 187,000-square-foot building adjacent to the proposed site and revealed plans to remodel the site.

Ambrose and Sexton Development, a real estate agency, filed a rezoning request to Carmel officials and partnered with Bremner Real Estate to buy 13 homes in a subdivision just west of the proposed project location. The proposal Ambrose and Sexton submitted to the city features a medical complex straddling a road that will feature nine buildings and four parking garages.

In the letter to homeowners, obtained by the Indianapolis Business Journal, the Bremner Real Estate agency says the medical complex project will cost "upwards of $1 billion."

"We are engaged by a major health system to plan, develop, and construct a large inpatient hospital, supporting medical office buildings, and parking structures," the letter to homeowners reads. "The new medical campus will enable our client to provide service excellence and innovative care for the surrounding communities."

St. Vincent's primary hospital is about three miles west of the proposed new location, and it is not clear if services would continue at the current flagship facility. In addition, St. Vincent has several facilities in Carmel, including its inpatient facility, St. Vincent Carmel Hospital, a heart hospital and walk-in clinics.

Spokespeople from Ambrose and Sexton, St. Vincent and the Carmel Mayor's office did not respond to the Indianapolis Business Journal's request for details on the project.
CMS threatened to revoke York, Ala.-based Hill Hospital of Sumter County's Medicare contract Feb. 17. However, a recertification survey found the hospital was again in compliance with federal standards.

Hill Hospital's Medicare contract was at risk following a survey conducted Jan. 22 by Alabama regulators. During their routine investigation, they found multiple deficiencies, including issues related to patient care and proper staffing levels. The state regulators found that the hospital failed to have a physician in the emergency department for multiple days, ranging from 12 hours to 84 consecutive hours at a time. This caused issues with patient care.

The hospital presented a corrective action plan that was approved by CMS. As a result, the termination was rescinded.
Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare gifted $15 million to Salt Lake City-based University of Utah to help fund the construction of a medical school facility, according to the Deseret News.

Here are four things to know.

1. The donation will help fund the construction of a facility to replace University of Utah's 52-year-old medical school, which is "seismically unsound and must be torn down in the coming years," according to campus officials.

2. A. Loris Betz, MD, PhD, University of Utah School of Medicine executive dean, said that there is an impending critical physician shortage in the state, so the new medical school is needed.

3. Construction on the new medical school building, estimated to cost $185 million, will begin in 2019 and is scheduled to be completed in 2022.

4. Intermountain Healthcare President and CEO Marc Harrison, MD, said the donation will help train future medical personnel and address the state's looming shortage.

"The medical community is all going to benefit from this gift, but more importantly, the patients we serve will. We're [going to] be training the next generation of clinicians, and we're training them in an environment of teamwork and collaboration, which increasingly is how healthcare is delivered," said Dr. Harrison, according to the Deseret News.
More hospitals are offering loan options to patients during care, but this practice raises various concerns among health experts and could result in unaffordable expenses, according to The Washington Post.

Here are five things to know about the issue.

1. Hospitals continuously seek patient payment options to help ensure they receive the money they're owed. This is especially important as more patients struggle to pay their medical bills due to high-deductible health plans, and because they are taking on greater financial responsibility for their medical expenses.

2. One option promoted by hospitals is no- or low-interest loans through partnerships with banks and other financial institutions. Bruce Haupt, CEO of ClearBalance, a provider of patient loan programs, estimates about 15 to 20 percent of U.S. facilities now have partnerships with lenders to offer loans, according to the report. He anticipates that number will only get larger.

3. Hospitals often offer patients these loan options while they are receiving care. According to the report, the process includes a hospital estimate of what the patient owes out-of-pocket, information on payment plans and an option to sign up for a loan on the spot. The patient subsequently pays the lender monthly.

4. Health experts have concerns about the method, according to the report. Specific concerns cited in the report include the possibility of inflated cost estimates that may be based on a hospital's list price rather than the negotiated rate with insurers, and patients in need of care feeling pressured to use the loan option without adequately assessing all of their payment options first. Experts argued patients could potentially face out-of-pocket expenses they can't pay for.

5. A spokesperson for Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas in Rogers told The Washington Post patients have been grateful learn about the loan options quickly "because it relieves their worry about paying the costs of their care."

Read the full report in The Washington Post here.

More articles on healthcare finance:

Trump's 2019 budget blueprint: 15 healthcare takeaways

Pennsylvania hospital loses tax-exempt status: 4 things to know

North Carolina treasurer asks UNC Health Care for $1B bond to ensure cost savings from pending merger
Hospital pricing for outpatient oncology services varies widely and puts some patients at risk for high price markups, according to a study published in the American Journal of Managed Care.

The study  led by Martin Makary, MD, with the department of surgery at Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins Medicine  examined Medicare billing records for 3,248 hospitals nationwide in 2014. Researchers identified significant variation between submitted charges and the Medicare reimbursement amount across oncology specialty services.

Overall, specialty departments charged a median of up to 4.1 times more than the Medicare reimbursement amount, according to a news release. For radiology, the charge was a median of 3.7 times more, and for hematology/oncology, 2.3 times more. Medical oncology departments charged a median of 2.4 times more; radiation oncology 3.6 times more; and pathology 4.1 more.

"High markups exist for oncology services, and further legislation is needed to protect patients from highly variable pricing and to address disparities in access to high-quality cancer care," the study's authors concluded.

More articles on healthcare finance:

Trump's 2019 budget blueprint: 15 healthcare takeaways

Pennsylvania hospital loses tax-exempt status: 4 things to know

North Carolina treasurer asks UNC Health Care for $1B bond to ensure cost savings from pending merger
Connecticut's health insurance marketplace Access Health CT's CEO James Wadleigh is departing in April, according to a Hartford Courant report.

Mr. Wadleigh has served as CEO of the agency for three years, prior to which he was Access Health CT's CIO. A statement by Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, chair of the agency's governing board, did not reveal the reason for Mr. Wadleigh's departure or what his next steps might be, according to the report.

During his tenure, Mr. Wadleigh developed outreach initiatives, causing enrollment in the state to increase, Ms. Wyman's statement reads.

"This was a difficult decision, but I know the Access Health CT team will continue to provide the value to the many individuals and families that need our services," said Mr. Wadleigh in Ms. Wyman's statement, the Hartford Courant reports.

Access Health CT was established in 2011 to meet federal ACA requirements.
Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, R, filed a lawsuit against Kentucky residents named as plaintiffs in a separate lawsuit that challenges Mr. Bevin's waiver request to impose work requirements on Medicaid enrollees, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal.

The National Health Law Program, the Kentucky Equal Justice Center and the Southern Poverty Law Center filed a federal lawsuit in January against Kentucky HEALTH, Mr. Bevin's work requirement legislation, on behalf of 16 Kentucky residents who receive Medicaid benefits. They allege that the work requirements and other changes approved by HHS violate federal law that deems Medicaid a joint health plan between the federal and state government.

Mr. Bevin's countersuit argues that because the plaintiffs filed their lawsuit in Washington D.C., it would be heard by out-of-state interests. Instead, Mr. Bevin claims it should be considered by Kentucky courts.

"We believe that Kentucky HEALTH has the potential to positively affect the lives of many Kentuckians, and we cannot sit idly by while the commonwealth's plan is debated in an out-of-state courtroom," said Steve Pitt, Mr. Bevin's general counsel. "A Kentucky court, with the full participation of the commonwealth, should decide this vital issue. We have complete confidence that Kentucky HEALTH will be upheld and will serve as a successful national model."

Mr. Bevin previously signed an executive order that would roll back coverage for the 480,000 residents who gained coverage under Medicaid expansion if his work requirements are struck down in a court.
Last week's mass school shooting in Florida is just one of several instances in recent memory denoting the increasing frequency with which such events have begun to occur. There have been roughly 97 mass shootings in the past 35 years, according to a recent Mother Jones analysis.

Police say Nikolas Cruz, 19, opened fire at Parkland, Fla.-based Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Feb. 14, killing 17 individuals and injuring at least a dozen.

While tragedies such as last week's shooting are terrifying and heartbreaking for all those involved, it is also uniquely traumatizing for the physicians, nurses and staff who treat patients injured in such events. A 2012 study in the International Journal of Nursing found exposure to such events may have a psychological impact on nurses, which may lead to conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression.

In response to last week's shooting, Yahoo Lifestyle compiled a list of seven nurses' responses regarding their experiences with mass shootings.

Here is how four nurses described their experiences with mass shootings, as initially compiled by Yahoo Lifestyle.

1. "We had to move so quick, and there just wasn't enough room back in the emergency departments.  They started writing letters on people's foreheads like if you've got this letter, you send them over here. People who got shot in the leg were just sitting out in the hallway in chairs. We were just trying to patch up the hole real quick just to get that stabilized. Myself, some other nurses, and a doctor were out there throwing gauze and tape on people and cutting off clothes just trying to figure out where the wound was," Dean Harris, RN, a traveling nurse who was working at Las Vegas-based University Medical Center on Oct. 1, 2017, when a gunman opened fire at a country music festival, killing 58 and injuring more than 500 people, told WHAS 11 News.

2. "Our first patient came in, and then we got to work. That's what we do in the emergency department. So we were starting, and then another patient came in. And then another patient came in. And another patient came in, and they just kept coming, and they had wounds like I had never seen before, and I started to get really scared, and I looked in the other nurses' eyes and they were scared too," Elisabeth Brown, RN, an ED nurse working at Orlando (Fla.) Regional Medical Center the night a gunman opened fire at nearby Pulse nightclub, where 49 people were killed and more than 50 people were injured in June 2016, told Hospitals & Health Networks.

3. "This was just people down on the concrete. I was literally putting my non-sterilized, non-gloved finger into bullet holes," Nancy Bowman, RN, told Nurse.com. Ms. Bowman was at the Safeway market where a gunman opened fire in 2011, killing six people and injuring more than 12, including former Rep. Gabby Giffords, D-Ariz. "When you're a nurse, you stay with your patient. Nurses get much more involved with their patients and the patients' families than physicians generally do. They dwell a bit longer on a death."

4. "We had a special phone number set up and had a list of where all of the injured had been taken," Anna Marie Hamel, RN, nurse director of the ER at Englewood, Colo.-based Swedish Medical Center  the closest hospital to Columbine High School, where 13 people were killed and 20 wounded in 1999  told the Denver Post at the time. "The hardest thing was if [families asked] if we had someone as a patient and I'd tell them they weren't on the list. After I hung up, I realized I may have just told them the worst news of their lives."

To access the full Yahoo Lifestyle report, click here.
The following healthcare mergers, acquisitions, partnerships and general transactions took place or were announced during the week of Feb. 12.

1. Michigan Medicine, Trinity Health subsidiary to partner on 'master affiliation,' joint venture: 4 things to know

Ann Arbor-based Michigan Medicine and Detroit-based Saint Joseph Mercy Health System signed a definitive agreement Feb. 15 to establish a master affiliation and joint venture to assume control of St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea (Mich.), effective immediately.

2. U of Texas regents approve Ardent partnership to take over Texas health system

The Austin-based University of Texas System board of regents approved the proposed partnership deal with Nashville, Tenn.-based Ardent Health Services to assume control of East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System in Tyler Feb. 15.

3. UAB Health System to manage rural Alabama hospital

Birmingham, Ala.-based UAB Health System entered into a management agreement Feb. 14 with J. Paul Jones Hospital in Camden, Ala., to prevent the rural hospital from closing.

4. Presence Health inks definitive agreement to join Ascension

St. Louis-based Ascension, the nation's largest Catholic health system, signed a definitive agreement Feb. 15 to integrate one of Illinois' largest Catholic health systems, Chicago-based Presence Health.

5. Greenville legislators introduce bill to sell Greenville Health System

Eight members of the 22-person Greenville (S.C.) County Legislative Delegation jointly proposed a bill Feb. 15 calling for the sale of Greenville Health System.

6. State gives unanimous final approval for proposed Partners, Mass. Eye and Ear acquisition

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health approved Boston-based Partners HealthCare's proposed acquisition of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, also in Boston, Feb. 14.

7. CHS divests 60-bed Louisiana hospital

Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems revealed Feb. 14 its subsidiaries entered into a definitive agreement to divest Leesville, La.-based Byrd Regional Hospital and its associated assets to subsidiaries of Allegiance Health Management, a 14-hospital organization in Shreveport, La.

8. FTC OKs proposed Aurora Health Care, Advocate merger

Milwaukee-based Aurora Health Care and Downers Grove, Ill.-based Advocate Health Care have reportedly received approval to merge from the Federal Trade Commission.

9. New York urgent care provider to grow to 100 locations under 2 deals: 4 things to know

CityMD, a New York City urgent care provider, will expand its physician-led network to 400 providers under two acquisitions.

10. UPMC forms clinical affiliation with Maryland health system

Pittsburgh-based UPMC signed a definitive agreement with Cumberland-based Western Maryland Health System Feb. 8 to form a clinical affiliation.

11. ProMedica signs deal to keep Ohio city's last abortion clinic afloat

The board of trustees of Toledo, Ohio-based ProMedica authorized the signing of a patient transfer agreement Monday to keep the city's last surgical abortion clinic operational.

12. Rite Aid completes 'more than half' of planned store transfers to Walgreens

Camp Hill, Pa.-based Rite Aid said Feb. 8 the company has completed the transfer of a "significant amount" of its assets to Deerfield, Ill.-based Walgreens Boots Alliance as part of its $4.38 billion deal.
Grocery chain Albertsons plans to buy the rest of Rite Aid that is not being sold to Walgreens Boots Alliance, reports the Wall Street Journal.

The deal comes as retailers across the U.S. are scrambling to remain competitive in a changing consumer shopping landscape.

Here are eight things to know.

1. Rite Aid, the third-largest U.S. drugstore chain, has a market value of about $2.3 billion. It is in the process of selling 1,932 of its stores to Walgreens.

2. The Albertsons-Rite Aid deal would create a company with revenue exceeding $83 billion. Following the proposed cash-and-stock deal, Albertsons shareholders would hold roughly 71 percent of the combined company, leaving Rite Aid investors with approximately 29 percent.

3. If the deal is approved, the combined company will have about 4,900 locations, 4,360 pharmacies and 320 clinics across 38 states and Washington, D.C., according to CNBC.

4. The deal would allow Albertsons, which owns Safeway and 19 other supermarket chains, to go public after more than 10 years of private-equity ownership. In 2015, Albertsons proposed going public, but decided against making the move following a poor profit forecast by rival Walmart.

5. Executives from both parties said the merger is the best way to remain competitive in a business threatened by Amazon and the new deals sought by Walmart, CVS and Walgreens.

6. Upon deal approval, Rite Aid Chairman and CEO John Standley will become CEO of the combined company, and Albertsons Chairman and CEO Bob Miller will be chairman.

7. The deal follows Rite Aid's failed attempt to sell all of its stores to Walgreens. The Federal Trade Commission blocked the full sale, arguing it broke antitrust laws. Walgreens tweaked the deal and received FTC approval Sept. 19, 2017, after nearly two years of negotiations.

8. The Albertsons-Rite Aid deal is subject to regulatory approval. However, Mr. Standley said he learned from the failed Walgreens deal and believes the Albertsons-Rite Aid transaction wouldn't stifle competition.
Becker's Hospital Review reported on the following events related to hospital-union relationships  including contracts, protests and elections  since Jan. 26.

1. Baystate Franklin nurses set strike date: 5 things to know

Nurses at Greenfield, Mass.-based Baystate Franklin Medical Center plan to strike Feb. 28 if a contract dispute is not resolved, according to the Massachusetts Nurses Association.

2. Nurses at Los Robles Hospital get new labor deal

Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, Calif., reached a contract agreement with nurses represented by Service Employees International Union Local 121RN.

3. Berkshire Medical Center nurses set strike date: 6 things to know

Nurses at Pittsfield, Mass.-based Berkshire Medical Center plan to strike Feb. 27 if a contract agreement is not reached with management, according to the Massachusetts Nurses Association.

4. Dignity Health workers plan nearly 30 protests in California

Healthcare workers at San Francisco-based Dignity Health plan to participate in nearly 30 protests across California beginning this month, according to the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West.

5. Protests scheduled at 32 Kaiser Permanente hospitals

Healthcare workers are set to protest beginning this month at 32 hospitals owned by Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente, according to the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West.

6. SEIU takes aim at high healthcare costs with California ballot propositions: 10 things to know

California's Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West filed 10 propositions to potentially be voted on in November aimed at lowering healthcare costs and improving patient care, according to a Politico.

7. Lehigh Valley Hospital-Pocono, nurses reach labor deal

Nurses at East Stroudsburg, Pa.-based Lehigh Valley Hospital-Pocono reached a three-year contract agreement with management, according to a Pocono Record report.

8. University of California workers picket for new contract at hospital campuses statewide

Unionized University of California employees picketed outside UC San Diego Health's main hospitals in La Jolla and Hillcrest, and at various other UC locations throughout the state, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.

9. Former Detroit Medical Center employee claims firing was retaliation for union activities

Detroit Medical Center union officer Donna Stern alleges she was fired last month in retaliation for her involvement in contract negotiations.

10. Sodexo employees at Tenet hospital in California set to strike

Sodexo workers at Fountain Valley (Calif.) Regional Hospital and Medical Center  a member of Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare  revealed plans to strike amid efforts for a labor deal.

11. UPMC McKeesport nurses vote down SEIU decertification: 6 things to know

Service Employees International Union will continue representing nurses at UPMC McKeesport (Pa.) after an attempt to decertify the union was unsuccessful, according to a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report.

12. St. Mary's Medical Center nurses picket over staffing, patient care

At least 100 nurses picketed at Dignity Health's St. Mary's Medical Center in San Francisco amid concerns about staffing, according to the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United.

More articles on human capital and risk:

Diversity in the workplace: A principle-driven approach to broadening the talent pool

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From a Georgia hospital group suing Anthem to a judge allowing the Department of Justice's lawsuit against UnitedHealth Group to move forward, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines.

1. Georgia hospital group sues Anthem over new ER and imaging policies

Atlanta-based Piedmont Hospital and five sister facilities sued Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia and its parent company, Anthem.

2. Standing Rock Sioux file lawsuit against 24 opioid makers, distributors

Attorneys on behalf of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of North and South Dakota filed a lawsuit against 24 drugmakers and drug distributors for the companies' alleged roles in facilitating the opioid epidemic within the tribe's reservation.

3. Missouri court bans CMS from using Medicaid DSH rule, FAQs to calculate payments: 5 things to know

A Missouri judge banned CMS from enforcing a final rule and two Frequently Asked Questions documents related to calculating Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital payments.

4. Former United Medical Center CMO files lawsuit alleging he was fired in whistle-blower retaliation

Julian Craig, MD, the former CMO at Washington, D.C.-based United Medical Center, filed a lawsuit against the hospital and its management consultants claiming he was fired in retaliation for speaking out about problems at the facility.

5. Lawsuit alleges Michigan hospital discriminated against applicant's religious beliefs on flu shots

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit against Owosso, Mich.-based Memorial Healthcare, alleging the hospital rescinded a woman's job offer because her religious views did not allow her to receive a flu shot.

6. Judge: DOJ's suit accusing UnitedHealth of $1B Medicare fraud can proceed

A federal judge determined the Department of Justice can move forward with a lawsuit accusing UnitedHealth Group of submitting $1 billion in false claims.

7. Patient shoots police officer at West Virginia hospital: 5 things to know

An inmate being treated at Charleston (W.Va.) Area Medical Center shot a police officer while trying to escape custody.

8. Former employee sues New Mexico hospital for discrimination

A former employee is accusing Albuquerque-based University of New Mexico Hospital of workplace discrimination.

9. Kindred shareholder sues to halt $4.1B deal with Humana, two equity firms: 5 things to know

A shareholder of Louisville, Ky.-based Kindred Healthcare filed a lawsuit to stop a proposed deal between Kindred, Humana and two equity firms.

10. Claims administrator countersues Aetna over HIV privacy breach: 4 things to know

Administrative support company Kurtzman Carson Consultants filed a lawsuit against Aetna alleging the insurer is responsible for potentially revealing members' HIV statuses through mail using clear envelope windows.

11. Henry Ford Allegiance, DOJ settle 3 years of litigation over hospital's marketing practices

Jackson, Mich.-based Henry Ford Allegiance Health ended nearly three years of litigation concerning its marketing practices with rival hospitals after reaching a proposed settlement with the Department of Justice.

More articles on legal and regulatory issues:

Ex-director of finance pleads guilty to stealing $3M from North Carolina hospital

10 thoughts from discussion on 2018 Anti-Kickback and Stark Law issues

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Police charged a Florida man with battery after he attacked two paramedics who were transporting him to a hospital Sunday night, reports ABC 15.

The paramedic driving the ambulance told police he looked in the rearview mirror and saw the man, 33-year-old David Parsons, getting off his stretcher and fighting the paramedic riding in the back. After pulling over, the first paramedic opened the ambulance's back door and saw Mr. Parsons holding the second paramedic in a chokehold.

The altercation spilled onto the roadside. When police arrived at the scene, Mr. Parsons was straddling a paramedic on the ground in another chokehold while the other paramedic attempted to pull him off. Police deputy Micah Stoltz had to use his stun gun to make Mr. Parsons let go of the paramedic.

Mr. Parsons was taken to Florida Hospital-DeLand before being transferred to Volusia County Jail on two felony counts of battery. As of Monday afternoon, he was still in jail on $10,000 bail. The paramedics did not suffer any serious injuries from the attack.

To view police footage of the incident, click here.

More articles on legal and regulatory issues:

Ex-director of finance pleads guilty to stealing $3M from North Carolina hospital

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The former CFO of Rocky Boy Health Clinic of the Chippewa Cree Tribe in Box Elder, Mont., was sentenced Feb. 14 to 12 months and one day in prison for wire fraud, according to the Department of Justice.

Kathy Sutherland joined the health clinic as cash and grants manager in 1997, and she worked in that role and as interim CFO for several years. In her roles, she was responsible for administering the employee loan program. Before a loan could be dispersed, the applicant was required to fill out an application and submit it to the loan committee for approval. If an individual owed more than $800 to the loan program, new loans were not issued, according to the DOJ.

Ms. Sutherland used her position to cheat the system and take out $111,902.50 in loans. For reasons not disclosed in court documents, she was fired from the clinic in January 2016, according to the Great Falls Tribune.

In July 2017, Ms. Sutherland was indicted on four charges: wire fraud, theft from an Indian tribal government receiving federal funding, theft from an Indian tribal organization and theft from a healthcare facility. In October, she agreed to plead guilty to wire fraud, and prosecutors agreed to dismiss the other three charges, according to the Great Falls Tribune.

In addition to her prison term, Ms. Sutherland was ordered to pay $111,902.50 in restitution.

More articles on legal and regulatory issues:

Ex-director of finance pleads guilty to stealing $3M from North Carolina hospital

10 thoughts from discussion on 2018 Anti-Kickback and Stark Law issues

Former CFO sues Chicago hospital to recoup $100k loan
New York City-based Hunter College filed a lawsuit against Derek DeFreitas, RN, forcing him to vacate the university residence hall he has allegedly used as a "crash pad" since 1980, according to New York 4 News.

Here are four things to know about the case.

1. According to the lawsuit, obtained by the New York Post, Mr. DeFreitas, 67, has a permanent residence, but has maintained a dormitory room "crash pad" at the Brookdale Residence Hall since 1980. The residence hall belongs to the Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing, part of the City University of New York.

"[Mr.] DeFreitas refuses to leave his dormitory originally provided to him and other[s] under a long-discontinued program dating to the 1960s that reserved a certain number of rooms for active Bellevue nurses," the lawsuit alleges.

2. Mr. DeFreitas was one of an estimated 30 nurses who participated in the program and had reportedly been living at the dorm. The college has reportedly vacated 21 of the 30 individuals, according to New York 4 News.

3. Hunter College states in the lawsuit the institution need only provide Mr. DeFreitas 30 days' notice to terminate his month-to-month housing arrangement. The college contended in the lawsuit the nurses' evictions were necessary to make room for students, and has asked a judge to issue an order directing a city sheriff to "eject [Mr. DeFreitas] from the dorm room," according to the New York Post.

4. Mr. DeFreitas said he moved out of the dorm room within the last few weeks, but claimed he has a "contractual right to stay in his dorm room indefinitely," according to New York 4 News.

Editor's note: Becker's Hospital Review reached out to Hunter College for comment and will update the article as more information becomes available.
If America wants to end the nation's worst drug overdose crisis in modern history, hospitals and health systems will have to do much of the heavy lifting.

Approximately 75 percent of illicit opioid users who began using the drugs in the 2000s started with a prescription opioid, compared to the 80 percent of users who started with heroin in the 1960s, according to data from the National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Drug Abuse. The increased availability of prescription opioids has caused devastating consequences for Americans. From 1999 to 2016, more than 200,000 U.S. residents died from drug overdoses related to prescription opioids, according to the CDC.

When considering these numbers, it's not surprising hospital and health system leaders are increasingly prioritizing opioid reduction efforts at their facilities, with systems like Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare pledging to lower opioid prescriptions 40 percent by the end of 2018.

At the same time, more hospitals and health systems are turning to educational campaigns to encourage healthier behaviors among patient populations. The concurrent rise of population health and the opioid crisis puts hospitals and health systems in a unique position to educate patients and communities about the risks associated with opioid use.

One health system stepping up to the plate in this regard is Dayton, Ohio-based Premier Health. Premier's community is among those hit hardest by the opioid crisis. In 2017, the Montgomery County's coroner's office  located in Dayton  struggled to manage an overflow of bodies from fatal opioid overdoses on several occasions. The office, which sometimes received up to a dozen corpses in a single day, had to rent refrigerated trailers last May to house excess bodies. Premier Health has also seen an influx of opioid overdose patients, treating 2,500 individuals for overdoses in the first six months of 2017.

To the address the burden of opioid addiction in its community, Premier Health administrators tapped New York City-based advertising firm DeVito/Verdi. The ad firm has previously worked on public health campaigns with Boston-based Massachusetts General Hospital, University of Chicago Medicine and San Diego-based Scripps Health.

Premier Health rolled out the ads in December of last year on radio, television and print formats.

One of the ads DeVito/Verdi created for Premier Health features an image of a luxury watch with accompanying text that reads, "My dad's watch. Swiss-Made. Stainless steel construction. That's worth like a bunch of hits.  The world looks different when you're addicted to opioids."

Ellis Verdi, president of DeVito/Verdi, says the Premier Health campaign targets three sets of individuals.

1. At-risk individuals. The first target is people who may be on the cusp of developing an opioid use problem. These individuals may misuse opioids, but have not yet developed an addiction. Ads geared toward this group are meant to instill fear over the consequences of addiction.

2. Loved ones. The second target is people who know an individual who is misusing opioids, such as family, friends and teachers, according to Mr. Verdi. These ads are meant to educate individuals on the issue, so they can recognize when a loved one has developed a problem.

3. Opioid misusers. Those who've already developed an opioid addiction make up the third target. These ads seek to encourage those with and opioid use problem to get help. It's important ads aimed at these individuals not perpetuate the stigma associated with drug addiction.

"Much of the conversation with an addicted person is not to call them an addict or berate them or typify their problem," Mr. Verdi says. "Advertising for this third group needs to be reflective of the individuals it's targeting. We want to put up a mirror. When you put up a mirror, they understand it."

To see the ads and learn more about the campaign, click here.

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Narcan distribution helps lower opioid deaths in New York county

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5 healthcare workers offer their take on opioid addiction
Shock Ink Toby Keith is celebrating the silver anniversary of his very first hit with a 2018 tour. The Shouldve Been a Cowboy Tour XXV marks a quarter-century since the Oklahoma natives debut single -- and first #1 -- was released.

The trek kicks off April 6 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Heres a look at the itinerary so far, with more dates to be added soon:

4/6 -- Salt Lake City, UT, Vivnt Smart Home Arena

4/7 -- Florence, AZ, Country Thunder

4/8 -- Huntington Beach, CA, Coastal Country Jam

5/27 -- Daytona Beach, FL, Country 500 Fest

6/8 -- Myrtle Beach, SC, Carolina Country Music Festival

6/17 -- Santa Rosa, CA, Country Summer

7/5 -- Ft. Loramie, OH, Country Concert at Hickory Hill Lakes

7/6 -- Battle Creek, MI, Firekeepers Casino

7/13 -- Hinckley, MN, Grand Casino Amp

7/14 -- Rhinelander, WI, Hodag

7/19 -- Harrington, DE, Delaware State Fair

7/20 -- St. Clairsville, OH, Jamboree in the Hills

7/21 -- Twin Lakes, WI, Country Thunder

7/27 -- Cheyenne, WY, Cheyenne Frontier Days

7/28 -- El Dorado, KS, Dam Music Festival

8/2 -- Davenport, IA, Mississippi Valley Fair

8/18 -- Calgary, AB, Country Thunder

8/25 -- Glenmoore, PA, Citadel Country Spirit USA

8/31 -- Huron, SD, South Dakota State Fair

9/15 -- Puyallup, WA, Washington State Fair

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Efforts to address the opioid crisis in Cattaraugus County, N.Y., may be responsible for a reduction in countywide overdose deaths, according to a report from WBFO.

The county recorded zero opioid-related overdose deaths in the latter half of 2017 and just one so far in 2018. This trend marks a reversal from the first half of 2017, when 11 residents died of opioid overdoses, up from one such death recorded in the county in 2016.

"We are seeing a plateau in the number of deaths and calls out for heroin overdose or usage," Kevin Watkins, MD, the director of the county's public health department, told WBFO. "We also looked at some hospital statistics where we were able to look at the emergency room visits for opioid overdoses, and we have also noted that those numbers have started to trend downward."

Dr. Watkins said the Southern Tier Overdose Prevention Project  an opioid overdose prevention and Narcan distribution program backed by the state and conducted by the Olean, N.Y.-based health network Southern Tier  is largely to credit for the progress on opioid overdose reduction.

"I believe over 2017, [the program] was able to train over 1,256 individuals, [including] family members, community members and first responders," Dr. Watkins told WBFO. "They have gotten the Narcan out there and they have continued to provide our community with this training."

To read the full report from WBFO, click here.

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How to solve the opioid crisis with $100B  30 experts weigh in
On March 1, OrthoExpress will open the first clinic of its kind in the Birmingham, Ala. area. OrthoExpress plans to open similar facilities in five other central Ala. markets, AL.com reports.

Here are three things to know:

1. The clinic will be a free-standing, independent orthopedic urgent care facility in Chelsea in the former Lemak Health building near U.S. 280.

2. OrthoExpress will offer urgent care for orthopedic injuries such as fractures, dislocations and sprains. It will serve patients from Birmingham, Chelsea, Childersburg, Columbiana, Leeds, Pell City, Sylacauga and parts of Coosa and St. Clair County.

3. The clinic will be open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. It aims to hire more support staff later this year.

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Chief neurosurgeon for the Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Christopher Roberts, DO, was in charge of triage as patients arrived at the hospital after the Feb. 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, according to News-Press. This is the second mass shooting Dr. Roberts has responded to in 13 months.

Dr. Roberts treated patients on Jan. 6, 2017, after a gunman opened fire at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. While his medical team trains weekly to prepare for these circumstances, Dr. Roberts said he never thought he would be working two mass shooting in such a short time span.

As of Feb. 16 morning, seven high school shooting victims remain at the Fort Lauderdale location and Broward Health North in Deerfield Beach, according to spokeswoman Jennifer Smith. One is in critical condition while six patients are in fair condition; two others were discharged over night. The gunman killed 17 people in the Feb. 14 attack.

Dr. Roberts is a board certified neurosurgeon specializing in brain and spine surgery. He received his osteopathic medicine degree from Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Lauderdale. Dr. Roberts speaks English and Spanish.

"Anytime you have a mass casualty, the gravity of the situation, you can't let that affect you because you have patients that need your care and if you let that affect you than it could in turn affect their care," Dr. Roberts told News-Press. "You have to separate that professionally. There's time to reflect afterwards."

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Horrifying news about rampant slavery continuing till date still reaches us from many quarters. Actress Amy Jackson has voiced out her shock at this savagery on her Twitter space. The issue is bound to get more international attention with celebrities like her bringing awareness to it.



Her tweet read: "Why is the world not in uproar!?! SLAVERY is happening in Libya, RIGHT NOW. In 2017!! My heart is breaking - no race is superior to another. I beg you to spread the word and help these people. We must stop this!"

*Social media post not spell-checked
Telugu superstar Allu Arjun who is still enjoying the success of his latest release Duvvada Jagannadham (DJ) flew to Mumbai for a commercial shoot. The ad shoot took place in one of Mumbai's famous studios where Golmaal Returns shoot was also taking place.

Director Rohit Shetty who first heard the news of Allu Arjuns presence in the same studio invited him to the shooting spot of Golmaal Returns. Accepting his invitation, Allu Arjun made his presence there. Golmaal Returns star cast, Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Tusshar Kapoor, Parineeti Chopra and others spent quality time with Allu Arjun and after which the star flew back to Hyderabad.
Northern Ireland's sheep sector would be devastated in the event of a hard Brexit, because 90% of the sector's exports go to the EU, a Westminster report has suggested

Northern Ireland's sheep sector would be devastated in the event of a hard Brexit, because 90% of the sector's exports go to the EU, a Westminster report has suggested.

Just under half of all the lambs born in Northern Ireland cross the border to go to the Irish Republic, the report - by the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee - said.

The report focuses on the impact on different agri-food sectors of the UK having to trade under World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules if there is no deal.

The EU is the UK's single largest trading partner in agri-food products, accounting for 60% of exports and 70% of imports.

"Although the [UK] Government's intention is to agree a comprehensive free trade agreement and customs agreement with the EU, there is no guarantee that this will occur," the report said. "In the event that the UK leaves the EU without a free trade agreement, UK-EU trade will proceed under World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules.

"Reverting to WTO tariffs will have a significant impact upon agriculture as tariffs are higher for agricultural products than for other goods and services."

The UK's food and farming industry generates over 110bn a year and employs one in eight people in the UK.

The report noted that the UK Government has offered no clarity to the agricultural industry on its post-Brexit policy.

And it highlighted the potential impact to Northern Ireland's agriculture industry from Brexit, noting that trade between north and south was "interlinked".

It pointed out that there are 390,000 live lamb crossings across the border each year.

The Livestock and Meat Commission for Northern Ireland told the committee the sheep industry was particularly exposed to the effects of more complicated border arrangements, as 45% of all lambs born in the North are exported to the Republic each year. This trade was worth around 31.5m in 2016.

The Andersons Centre, an agri-food consultancy firm, estimated that in Northern Ireland alone, sheep industry exports to the EU would drop by about 90% if tariffs were imposed.

The dairy industries in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland act as one through the supply chain, the report said, and dairy products cross the border several times between the farm gate and the consumer.

For example, dairy giant LacPatrick, which makes butter, liquid milk, cheese and powders, handles and processes over 600 million litres of milk from more than 1,000 farmers, with over 500 million litres coming from suppliers in Northern Ireland, the remainder from the Republic.

Republic of Ireland dairy co-operatives own approximately 60% of the processing capacity in Northern Ireland, the report points out, with LacPatrick a key player. Exports to the Republic of Ireland were approximately 15% of total sales of the Northern Ireland dairy industry in 2015.

The report said the UK Government must support British farming and agriculture in preparing for business post-Brexit.

"Delays at border inspection posts lead to increased costs, and are a threat to perishable goods," the report concluded.

"It is imperative that the Government sets out how it intends to ensure that the right IT systems and infrastructure are in place for the import and export of agricultural produce so that businesses can continue to trade smoothly with Europe, including the Republic of Ireland, and the rest of the world."
The head of Ireland's largest hotel operator has said he is "cautiously optimistic" about Brexit's effect on tourism, but admits he has "no idea" how the process will turn out.

Dalata Hotel Group boss Pat McCann was speaking to the Belfast Telegraph ahead of the opening for the new Maldron Hotel in Belfast city centre next month.

The four-star hotel on Brunswick Street, which is creating 110 jobs, represents a 24m investment by Dalata Group and is the company's first new-build hotel in nine years.

With much uncertainty surrounding Brexit and the effect it may have on the tourist trade across Ireland, Mr McCann said: "In terms of what Brexit might and might not do, I'll be perfectly honest: I have no idea," he said.

"We don't know what we are looking at in the long-term and how Brexit will turn out. My worry for a company like Dalata is that we sit on our hands and do nothing.

"Sometime the longer you do that, the worse it is for business.

"When I'm looking at the UK over the next four years, I have assumed no growth at all in the market, none whatsoever, and we adjust our models accordingly.

"If a project meets the criteria, we go ahead with it. If it doesn't, we don't. But you have to be cautious. Cautiously optimistic, that's how I feel about the whole Brexit business."

The new Maldron Hotel has 237 bedrooms and five boardrooms and is just one of several hotels coming to Belfast in the next few years.

A total of 1,060 rooms are expected to open this year, with 61% of these in new hotels and 39% in extensions or conversions.

According to research by estate agent Savills, by 2020 just three operators - Hastings, Dalata and Andras House - will control close to half of all hotel rooms in the city.

Those currently being built include the 304-bedroom Grand Central on Bedford Street, the new Hampton by Hilton at Hope Street, and the AC by Marriott at City Quays.

But the Dalata boss said he is not worried about the supply of hotel rooms in Belfast outweighing the demand.

"A city of the size of Belfast, it's not done with hotel rooms. If Northern Ireland is going to grow its tourism offering they need their key city to have capacity. If there's no capacity, the people won't come - it's as simple as that," he said.

"Honestly, I don't see supply outweighing the demand. The way the market is going, I think the new rooms will get absorbed very quickly in the process.

"Looking forward everything is in robust, good order for 2018. Looking at the booking patterns in our other hotels and the future trajectory, I'm not concerned at all."

Mr McCann also said the current impasse at Stormont is not what business needs in the context of other pressures. "Obviously for all business, what we love is stability and a sense of direction," he said.

"We are all craving that at the minute. While we're not going to get into any political debate about it, it would always be our preference to have a strong and stable government delivering for the economy, which we simply don't have right now."

Founded in 2007, Dalata Hotel Group is Ireland's largest hotel operator and has a current portfolio of 38 hotels with more than 7,700 rooms.
The Ulster University site which Lagan Construction Group is working on

Administrators have been appointed to a number of companies within Lagan Construction Group, putting hundreds of jobs at risk in Northern Ireland.

Group chairman Michael Lagan has confirmed that four of its 30 companies have gone into administration - Lagan Construction Group Holdings Limited, Lagan Construction Group Limited, Lagan Building Contractors Limited and Lagan Water Limited.

He said that parts of the group had been significantly impacted upon by a number of factors including delays in the commencement of new projects and protracted contractual disputes on some existing major projects and instability caused by a joint venture partner in Great Britain.

Mr Lagan said: It is with great sadness and reluctance that we have had to take this course of action. We have had long standing relationships with many of sub-contractors and suppliers. We hope that the process of administration will be smooth and that disruption to both projects and jobs will be minimal.

The group employs eight hundred people and up to two hundred employees may be affected by the announcement. It is hoped that some of those jobs could be transferred to joint venture partners whilst others may be relocated to existing divisions within the group.

One employee told the Belfast Telegraph that local staff at the Belfast-based firm had yet to be informed officially, but she believed her job and those of others were at risk.

In a statement, the Construction Employers Federation said: "Given the huge contribution that Lagan Construction Group have made to Northern Irelands economy and society since their establishment, todays announcement is extremely regrettable.

"They have been a pillar of our construction industry for decades and it is our express hope that a solution can be found.

As the Federation has long said, the industry has faced a challenging period in respect of its sustainability.

"From issues related to low margins on works, to insufficient pipelines of activity, to the current political and budgetary challenges within Northern Ireland, there are significant tests which go much beyond todays news.

"These must be matters of concern to anyone who wishes to see a healthy and vibrant Northern Irish construction industry given its critical role in delivering jobs, economic development and growth.

As well as local contracts, the group also operates across other regions in the UK and Ireland, and internationally.

Its current projects include the new Belfast campus for Ulster University, which has been hampered by delays.

Lagan Construction Group and Portuguese firm Somague were awarded a 150m contract, part of the overall 250m budget, to complete the second phase of construction.

In November, it was reported that the scheme would be held up until 2019.

In January it emerged that legal proceedings had been issued by Ulster University over the construction contract, which could delay things even further.

Last year it was also announced that Lagan Construction Group was one of four firms to be awarded a 100m contract to carry out improvement works for NI Water. The company was brought on board alongside BSG Civil Engineering, Farrans Construction and Meridian Utilities to carry out an upgrade of the utility providers water and wastewater services in Northern Ireland.

Lagan Construction Groups web page features a number of its flagship projects, including the 130m contract for the A8 Belfast to Larne.

The works involved designing and converting 14.5km of the A-road into dual carriageway between Colemans Corner Roundabout and the Ballyrickard Road.

Others include a 4.2m Premier Inn at Victory Pier in Chatham and a runway for the RAF at Akrotiri, Cyprus.

Group turnover in the year to March 2016, at 225m, rose by 12% compared to the previous year, according to the latest accounts available.

Operating profits rose in line with turnover. Pre-tax profits, year on year, improved in 2015-16 to reach over 6.7m: more than double the previous year. Pre-tax profits rose to 7.5m.

Lagan Construction Group is a separate entity to Lagan Group which is unaffected by this development.

In 2010 the original group of Lagan companies separated and Lagan Construction Group is now led by Michael Lagan.

Lagan Group, owned by Michael Lagans older brother Kevin, is currently in talks to sell part of its business to Leicestershire-based Breedon Aggregates.
Meat supplier Russell Hume has blamed the companys collapse on the Food Standards Agency (FSA), claiming impossible trading conditions created by the watchdog triggered the loss of 300 jobs.

The Derbyshire-based firm crashed into administration on Monday after being starved of cash in the wake of the FSAs decision to halt production following an alleged breach of hygiene regulations.

The British Airways and Greene King supplier has been engulfed in scandal since the FSA launched an investigation last month, which sparked product recalls and forced customers JD Wetherspoon and Jamies Italian to call time on their contracts.

Administrators KPMG said 266 jobs would be made redundant, with 36 staff remaining to help wind down the company.

It is expected that all 302 jobs will be lost.

The company directors issued a broadside against the FSA, saying the watchdogs actions had been out of all proportion.

In a statement, the directors said: Unfortunately, the FSAs action created impossible trading conditions for us, and after careful reflection we have decided the best thing for the company and its creditors is to put Russell Hume into administration.

This decision has been heartbreaking.

We will continue to work with the FSA with regards to the issues it raised, but we still feel its action has been out of all proportion to the concerns it says it has identified.

Had it worked more closely with us in the crucial early stages of the situation, then more than 300 jobs may not have been lost.

Russell Hume operated six production sites in Liverpool, Birmingham, London, Boroughbridge, Exeter and Fife.

We do not take these decisions lightly and we recognise this will be a worrying time for employees and their familiesFood Standards Authority

The FSA revealed in January that it had become aware of hygiene issues at the company following an unannounced inspection of its Birmingham site.

The directors said the firm had an unblemished record before the probe and knew of a number of businesses which had experienced issues with the watchdogs investigations.

They claimed there is a lack of clarity throughout the industry concerning current FSA guidelines.

The FSA said it had taken proportionate action based on serious and widespread problems.

It said the investigation into the company was continuing.

A spokesman for the watchdog added: We do not take these decisions lightly and we recognise this will be a worrying time for employees and their families.

It is for food businesses to ensure the food they produce is safe and our role is to provide assurances that a business is meeting its responsibilities.

Since then we have been working with the company to get assurances that their food safety management system met the legal requirements.

As a result the Liverpool site was given permission to resume production on February 5.

Chris Pole, KPMG joint administrator, said the product recall and the pause in production had caused significant customer attrition and trading difficulties at Russell Hume.
Matt Davies, the UK chief executive of Britain's biggest supermarket, is joining the owner of Simply Be and Jacamo as chairman and non-executive director

The architect of Tesco's UK revival has bagged a top-level role at plus-size clothing retailer N Brown.

Matt Davies, the UK chief executive of Britain's biggest supermarket, is joining the owner of Simply Be and Jacamo as chairman and non-executive director.

The retail veteran will take a position on the board with immediate effect, before stepping up to the chairman role on May 1.

The move will spark the end of Andrew Higginson's five-year tenure as chairman of the high street retailer.

Mr Higginson said: "Matt is a first-class retailer and brings a wealth of experience to the group.

"He has a proven track record of value creation across retail and online through his roles as CEO of Tesco UK and Republic of Ireland and as CEO of Halfords and Pets at Home.

"It has been a privilege to chair the company through the past five years, and I wish the business every success in the coming years." Mr Davies, who leaves Tesco after three years in the role, was CEO of Halfords and Pets at Home.
Sir Ridley Scott has said he has not heard from Kevin Spacey since he replaced the actor in his latest film.

The acclaimed director, who on Sunday night was awarded the prestigious Bafta fellowship, had to reshoot scenes for All The Money In The World after allegations of sexual assault were made against House Of Cards star Spacey.

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The drama, about the kidnapping of John Paul Getty III, saw Christopher Plummer replacing Spacey weeks ahead of the films release.

Speaking during a Bafta: A Life In Pictures event to celebrate his career, which has spanned more than 40 years, he told host Francine Stock: It took me 20 minutes (to swing into action). Well, you know, I was a bit pissed, actually.

If Kevin had said Dude, Im sorry about this but thats the way it is, and Id have said Fine, but Im going to replace you. Instead I havent heard from him or anybody representing him since that point.

So I gave him 20 minutes and then I said I can get another man if I fly to New York tonight and meet with him, Im convinced I can get him.

So, once I had him and we knew the dates and the locations were available, everyone was available, we were shooting in nine days. So the biggest thing, really the biggest challenge was for our guy to learn 22 scenes, which he did.

And I absolutely was thrilled to work with him (Christopher Plummer). Ive always admired him and never found a role that actually was right for him actually when he was available. But hes one of the greats.

Sir Ridley Scott began his career in adverts: even before he was making films, getting the script right was essential   pic.twitter.com/IgwjvYgi1C  BAFTA Guru (@BAFTAGuru) February 19, 2018

Sir Ridley, 80, whose other renowned films include Alien, Gladiator, Blade Runner and Thelma & Louise, also hailed Tom Hardy as one of the finest actors weve got.

He cast Hardy in 2001s war film Black Hawk Down, which was based on the book of the same name.

The pair have also recently worked on the BBC drama series Taboo, which Sir Ridley has executive produced and in which Hardy starred.

Sir Ridley Scott has garnered five BAFTA nominations. In 1992, Scott received BAFTAs Special Award and was awarded the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award alongside his brother Tony in 1995 #EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/LOf1CoF8Gm  BAFTA (@BAFTA) February 19, 2018

Asked by an audience member about Hardy, he said: Tom, when I met Tom  I think Tom used to do a bit of rapping. And I met him because Black Hawk Down was (a) very distinct casting thing because all the guys  theres no big, specific role, so asking guys to do it like Orlando Bloom  Tom was brand new, Orlando Bloom was already, I think, rolling quite well in Lord Of The Rings and things like that.

So Tom, I put him with Ewen Bremner because I thought Ewen would kind of look after him because those are the two Laurel and Hardy characters that got lost, literally they got left behind, and thats  So those two characters are actually part of the actual story, two people got left behind, so they had to make their way back to the main pack in that place, Mogadishu.

And so they became a kind of amusing relief in that film, but I noticed Tom always made the right decisions, he had great intuition as an actor. So I fully expected him to surface and I watched him surface gradually very high in the BBC in particular.

The show with him, Im jointly producing a show Taboo with him because his dad came in with the idea, wrote a very good four-page piece on saying what it was and so Tom sweetly brought it to me and said Take a look, and we made the first series last year. I think were doing the next one this year in September.

So Id work with him in a flash but hes never available. Part of the thing is finding time when Im available and hes available. But definitely hes probably one of the finest actors weve got.
Top Gear host Matt LeBlanc has stepped out in public with his rumoured girlfriend, Enniskillen woman Aurora Mulligan.

The pair were photographed at a Top Gear screening at the May Fair Hotel in London.

Former Friends star LeBlanc, 50, looked relaxed in jeans and a blazer while Top Gear producer Mulligan wore a short dress.

LeBlanc and Mulligan are thought to have been dating since 2016.

The Fermanagh brunette studied politics, political science and government at Liverpool University, before launching a successful career in TV production.

After stints at ITV and Channel 5, she started working at the BBC in 2015 as an assistant producer on Top Gear, just after former host Jeremy Clarkson left following a row in which he punched another producer, Irishman Oisin Tymon.

She is believed to have met LeBlanc a short time before he was announced as one of the show's new presenters.

The pair stepped out publicly for the first time in May 2017 at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York.

Meanwhile, Chris Harris, Rory Reid and The Stig were also at the screening of the motoring show, which returns to screens on February 25.
The 25-year-old pleaded guilty to causing his victim grievous bodily harm on May 25 last year.

An addict with 20 previous convictions who beat up the wrong man in a Belfast hostel in the mistaken belief he was his attacker, has been sentenced to two years.

Judge Geoffrey Miller QC, told 32-year-old Sean Kevin Gerard McKearney if it wasn't for his previous convictions he may not have been jailed for the attack, which he described as "vicious and sustained".

McKearney, who will serve 12 months custody, followed by 12 months on supervised license, pleaded guilty to causing his victim grievous bodily harm on May 25 last year.

Prosecution barrister Kate McKay told the city's Crown Court that McKearney approached a fellow resident in Centenary House, a Salvation Army hostel and while pointing to a number of injuries he had, asked the man if he had caused them.

Ms McKay said McKearney then launched an unprovoked attack on the man with 'fists and feet'. As the man tried to protect himself by rolling into a fetal position, McKearney also used a small metal bin to beat him about the head. The man later needed 14 staples to treat two scalp wounds.

Defence barrister Martin Morgan said the attack was carried out because of a misconception on McKearney's part that the man was responsible for an attack on him the night before which left him with a fractured jaw among other injuries.

The defence lawyer added later that his client was "extremely annoyed and upset" for the mistake. However, when police arrived at the hostel he identified himself as the attacker, and later handed over his clothing and shoes which had some of the man's blood on them.

Mr Morgan said that McKearney had been "abusing medicated drugs he was buying on the street by the handful". He said that his client, despite mental health difficulties had shown a recent natural propensity for languages, speaking Polish fluently and was studying four others, including Russian.

In conclusion the lawyer argued that given the manner in which McKearney had dealt with the case, it might allow the court to "take a chance with him".

However, Judge Miller said while he may have been "persuaded by the eloquence" of the defence plea, given his record and the fact he was already on probation and serving a suspended sentence, "there can be no doubt the custody threshold has been past".
Almost one in three working-age adults in Northern Ireland is jobless. a report showed.

Little progress has been made on reducing poverty and the countrys employment rate lags behind the rest of the UK, according to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Those out of work are much more likely to face financial difficulties.

Campbell Robb, chief executive of the Foundation, said: Northern Ireland has not seen the same benefits from rising employment as the rest of Great Britain, meaning more families are locked out of opportunities to build a decent, secure life.

The organisation said employment rates for some groups within Northern Ireland were lower than in the rest of the UK.

Northern Ireland has not seen the same benefits from rising employment as the rest of Great BritainCampbell Robb, Joseph Rowntree Foundation

The reason for this difference is much higher levels of people who are out of work for health reasons, caring or studying, rather than a difference in unemployment, which is only slightly higher.

The report said almost one in three adults out of work had made no progress on poverty over the last decade.

The Foundation launched its monitoring report, Poverty in Northern Ireland 2018.

Overall, 370,000 people live in scarcity, around one in five of the population  made up of 110,000 children, 220,000 working-age adults and 40,000 pensioners.

Poverty among pensioners has fallen considerably over the last decade, the research showed.

Families with children have seen steady or falling poverty rates, but working-age adults without children are at higher risk of poverty than 10 years ago.

The Foundation said raising the employment rate could lead to significant falls in poverty.

A statement said: JRF is calling on the devolved and Westminster governments and businesses to work together to deliver an industrial strategy that creates more and better jobs.

The report found:

 Northern Ireland has higher worklessness and lower employment than elsewhere and the proportion in poverty in workless households has increased slightly over time, in contrast to the rest of the UK.

 Over the last 20 years, employment rates in Northern Ireland have been consistently below the rest of the UK, about 5-7 percentage points lower than in England.

It fell from 70% in 2016 to 68% during the first quarter of last year.

 Scotland and Wales have closed the gap on England considerably, but Northern Ireland has fallen behind both countries  suggesting that the employment rate continues to be a major factor affecting poverty rates.

The report added: Raising the employment rate could lead to poverty falling to a lower level than in the rest of the UK.
ARTS and business leaders have joined MLAs in demanding protection for arts funding in Northern Ireland.

Around 100 packed the Long Gallery in Stormont yesterday for a public debate on the sector's financial future.

Hosted by MLAs Mike Nesbitt and Claire Hanna, speakers at The Big Arts Debate hit out at what they called "death by a thousand cuts".

A draft NI budget for 2018/19 has forecast cuts of up to 8% in the arts, with a budget that has already shrunk by 30% over the past five years.

Yesterday's event follows a backlash against the chair of the Arts Council board, John Edmund, who said the creative sector had become too dependent on government handouts and needed to diversify its funding stream to survive.

The Art Council's chief executive, Roisin McDonagh, stated: "I think our core message was articulated in the room today - the arts require public funding, that much has been well established."

She said the "huge disparity" in arts funding compared to other regions showed how undervalued the local sector had become.

Annual spending per capita in Northern Ireland is estimated at 5.28, far behind that of 10.03 in Wales and 12.79 in the Irish Republic.

Ms McDonagh said she was hopeful the Secretary of State Karen Bradley would oppose cuts.

"Regardless of the level of funding the arts may or may not receive, they create dialogue and a sense of shared space," she said.

"That's particularly important at this moment in our society which is going through a very painful process in trying to manage deep-seated division."

Belfast hotelier Bill Wolsey said the arts had massively boosted the hospitality industry in Northern Ireland in the last 40 years, citing the frequent praise of his customers for cultural events in Belfast.

"To cut the arts is death by a thousand cuts each year and is an appalling state to get into," he said.

Conor Shields of the Community Arts Partnership said the current situation was a "crisis moment" and urged Karen Bradley "to explore how we might invest in the arts and give us the capacity to do great work".

Dr Jenny Elliott is head of Arts Care, which provides an arts programme across all health trusts. She invited politicians to be "courageous and visionary", adding "if you invest in the arts we can assist you to meet your strategic aims".

Ulster Unionist Mike Nesbitt commented: "We're not here to discuss art for arts sake but the impact it has on every sector of our community. I can think of no sector that creates as many positive outcomes."

SDLP MLA Claire Hanna recognised the pressure on other budgets but said "nothing could create a shared space like the arts".

People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll spoke of the "false argument" of putting arts funding in direct competition with health and education while Green Party MLA Clare Bailey urged the arts sector to become a louder voice in the halls of Stormont.

"There's very little lobbying going on, when you're invisible you're easier to ignore," she said.

While most spoke in agreement, freelance arts manager Cathie McKimm said there was too much focus on funding organisations rather than individual artists.

"I just think if you're going to call something The Big Arts Debate, you would hear some opposing ideas. It was more like a trade union campaign," she said.

Regarding the recent negative reaction to John Edmund's speech on arts funding she said: "If someone actually had an opposing view today I wonder how well they would have been received. It concerns me we aren't able to look at alternative models for fear we'll lose out on government funding."

Cuts to arts funding in Northern Ireland over the past five years, with a further 8% forecast in 2018/19
Chris Hazzards online invitation to constituents for a monthly MP clinic to be held at Newcastle Parish Centre, beginning next week

Sinn Fein's Chris Hazzard has sparked a row with church-goers after arranging to meet constituents in a Co Down parish hall.

The MP for South Down posted an invitation online for members of the public to join him for a 'monthly MP clinic' at Newcastle Parish Centre from next week.

The notice says the regular meeting starts with a two-hour session next Monday morning where people can "drop in to discuss any issues with Chris".

However, the announcement has not been welcomed by all, with one parishioner warning the involvement of the party in a Church-linked location will be seen as "a calculated snub to the Protestant minority in the town" and will only "harden division and mistrust".

The grandfather, who has been an active member of the Church of the Assumption for more than 40 years and has seen his children and grandchildren baptised and married there, said he feels "ashamed and humiliated" over this "one-sided move" from the Church.

He said: "The Church of the Assumption is less than 50 yards away from the Presbyterian Church. What would the Catholic majority in Newcastle feel if the Presbyterian Church allowed its premises to be used to propagate a loyalist/unionist political agenda?

"I am appalled at the decision of the Church authorities to allow, without any form of parish consultation, the use of parish property for party political purposes. In particular I am hurt and disillusioned that a political party which is fully committed to the introduction of abortion on demand, on both parts of the island of Ireland, is to be allowed a potential propaganda platform for those views in a Catholic-owned and run facility."

The Newcastle local, who wished to remain anonymous, added: "The Parish Centre is, and has always been up to now, been regarded as a neutral space for all residents of Newcastle.

"It is used for a variety of purposes including interdenominational bible study classes.

"Nobody is going to feel comfortable going into those premises, however, for such events if the decision to allow that same space to be used for the propagation of the Sinn Fein manifesto."

A spokesperson for the Diocese of Down and Connor confirmed Sinn Fein will be hiring the room in the parish hall on a monthly basis. They said: "The hiring of rooms can be carried out by all agencies and individuals under the understanding the business conducted within the property is in alignment with the ethos of the parish community."

The Revd Canon Ian Ellis, from St John's Church of Ireland in Newcastle, said if any political party wished to hold official meetings in their premises, he felt it "unlikely" to happen.

"Something like that would go to the vestry, the Church committee, to discuss," he said.

"However I would consider it very unlikely."

A Sinn Fein spokesperson said: "During the Westminster election campaign Chris Hazzard committed to being an MP for all the people of South Down. In keeping with that commitment he is launching a new monthly constituency clinic in Newcastle in addition to the first class constituency services Sinn Fein provide right across South Down."
Several thousand dissident republicans are to hold their Easter parade in Belfast this year - which is expected to be led by a colour party in paramilitary-style clothing. File image

Several thousand dissident republicans are to hold their Easter parade in Belfast this year - which is expected to be led by a colour party in paramilitary-style clothing.

They will march from Divis Street up the Falls Road to Milltown Cemetery. Eight bands will take part and the Easter Saturday gathering will be addressed by a high-profile anti-Agreement republican.

The militant republican party Saoradh claimed the anniversary would be "an opportunity for those who legitimately continue to struggle for Irish freedom by whatever means necessary to re-dedicate ourselves to the ongoing fight to end the British occupation of our country".

It will apply to the Parades Commission for permission to march. Two similar Easter parades in Coalisland and Londonderry were led by colour parties of masked men and women wearing black berets, sunglasses and paramilitary style clothing.

Around 2,000 people attended last year's event in Derry which was addressed by former prisoner Paul Duffy, a brother of leading Lurgan republican Colin Duffy.

Paul Duffy told the crowd that republicans had "unfinished business". He urged them to "join with us in this honourable struggle that lies ahead" and "stand with us in our fight for freedom".

Unionists were enraged that the parade was allowed and said police should have made arrests. The PSNI pledged to review evidence gathered from the march.

The Belfast Telegraph understands files were sent to the PPS but no prosecutions followed. In a statement giving details of next month's Belfast parade, a Saoradh spokesman called the 1916 Rising "an unfinished revolution, armed and otherwise".

He said: "While the republican movement has listened to the opinions of those who state that the time is not right for a continuation of revolution by any and all means, it is our opinion that while the denial of national self-determination and British occupation continue, so too will armed revolution.

"Those who remain true to the principles of the 1916 proclamation, need to publicly re-dedicate ourselves to the achievement of that vision. Therefore, collectively via radical politics, organised communities and other means, the fight against occupation must continue."
Arlene Foster is calling on the Secretary of State to set a budget and to take key decisions about Northern Ireland's hospitals, schools and infrastructure.

As the DUP leader last night urged Karen Bradley to act decisively and said Northern Ireland could not continue in limbo, Sinn Fein insisted that direct rule wasn't an option.

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Mrs Bradley is due to update the House of Commons on the Stormont impasse today.

In a telephone call with the Secretary of State yesterday, Mrs Foster said she had asked her to not only set a budget but also to "take key decisions impacting on our schools, infrastructure and hospitals".

The DUP leader said: "Frontline staff have been living hand to mouth for too long. The Northern Ireland people deserve better. School principals, hospital mangers and infrastructure planners have been in limbo for months unsure of budgets and unable to get ministerial direction.

"I am not prepared to allow this to continue. Decisions need to be taken. We will be raising this issue again in Parliament (today)."

Mrs Foster said she planned to meet Prime Minister Theresa May later this week. She would voice her party's commitment to devolution "but not at any price", she said.

The DUP leader added: "I wanted a devolved government. I stand ready to form one tomorrow without any pre-conditions. Sinn Fein has been refusing to form a government for over 400 days until they have their own party political matters addressed."

But speaking in Dublin, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald said: "Direct rule is not acceptable. Direct rule is not on the table.

"We have been clear - nationalism right across the country is clear on that point, the government in Dublin is clear on that point ...

"We have previous words from both governments which made very clear that direct rule is not the answer when the institutions falter."

Ms McDonald led a Sinn Fein delegation yesterday to meet Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Tanaiste Simon Coveney. She said she had told them that a political vacuum must not develop.

"We reached a draft agreement with the DUP leadership. We were disappointed that the DUP walked away from that draft agreement and ended the talks process. The talks process has been collapsed. Direct rule is not an option. The two governments must act," she said.

The Sinn Fein president called for the immediate convening of a British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference to reflect the "co-equal and co-guarantor status" of London and Dublin.

"The two governments must initiate this conference as a matter of urgency and move to implement previous agreements. These include an Irish Language Act, the release of funds for legacy inquests and progress the legacy mechanisms, as well as safeguarding the rights of citizens including the right to marriage equality," she said.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach spoke on the phone yesterday. In a statement, Number 10 said they had both expressed "disappointment that an agreement had not yet been reached to restore an executive". But Mrs May and Mr Varadkar had "recognised the progress and serious engagement made by the parties".

Number 10 insisted that the Prime Minister still "believed there was scope for agreement and reiterated the UK Government's priority was to get devolution up and running again in Northern Ireland".

In his statement, Mr Varadkar said: "As co-guarantor to the agreement, the government will continue to engage with the parties in Northern Ireland and the British government to support the urgent formation of a new executive.

"The government's firm position is that the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent agreements must be implemented in full, and in this context the Taoiseach and Tanaiste reiterated that the Irish government does not want to see the introduction of direct rule in Northern Ireland."

Sinn Fein will meet Mrs May later this week.
The sudden death of a young Dungiven man has left the local community stunned.

The devastated family of Eugene Boyle (26) are waiting on post-mortem results after he passed away suddenly at his home in the Co Londonderry town on Sunday.

Ann Brolly, a friend of the family, said the whole town has been left reeling at the sad news.

She said: "This is such shocking news and dreadful for Eugene's parents Sean and Martina waiting to find out what happened.

"Martina works in the local credit union and is at the heart of the Dungiven community so everyone has been left reeling at the news. Everyone will want to do whatever they can to help the family though this terrible ordeal."

Mr Boyle is survived by his brother Kevin and sister Shauna, who is understood to be making her way home to Dungiven from Australia, where she now lives.

This is the second time a young person from Dungiven has died suddenly in a matter of weeks. Shauna McSorley (20), who worked as a classroom assistant at Gaelscoil Leim, passed away unexpectedly last month.

Sinn Fein councillor Sean McGlinchey said it has been a tough time for everyone.

He said: "First and foremost I want to offer my sincere condolences to the family of Eugene Boyle.

"He was a quiet young man who kept himself to himself but was a part of the community of Dungiven and his death will be felt by everyone living here.

"His death has been particularly shocking coming so soon after the sudden death of Shauna McSorley.

"I have no doubt the people of Dungiven will rally around the Boyle family and offer them any help and support they need during this very difficult time."

The wake and funeral arrangements for Mr Boyle will be announced later.
Northern Ireland's Secretary of State Karen Bradley has said the Government will "decide shortly" on the salaries of MLAs.

Mrs Bradley was speaking in the House of Commons about the breakdown of talks to reestablish the Stormont executive.

Prior to the collapse on February 14, a deal between Sinn Fein and the DUP had appeared imminent, with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Prime Minister Theresa May visiting Stormont on Monday February 12.

In her statement Mrs Bradley said it was "right that we consider the issue of salaries for Assembly Members".

"At the end of last year my Right Honourable Friend for Old Bexley and Sidcup (former Secretary of State James Brokenshire) received recommendations on this from Mr Trevor Reaney, a former Clerk of the Assembly," Mrs Bradley said.

"The Government will need to decide shortly on the next steps.

"I acknowledge the public concern that while a number of Assembly members continue to carry out constituency and representative functions, current salaries are maintained while the Assembly is not meeting."

The Secretary of State said she intended "to take steps to provide clarity on the budget".

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Pressure has been mounted on Mrs Bradley by the DUP to take further steps, to appoint ministers and take decision on schools and hospitals.

It is 13 months since powersharing collapsed at Stormont in a row over a botched green energy scheme.

Mrs Bradley said there was the potential for a fresh election in Northern Ireland, and declined to immediately reimpose direct rule.

Responding to the speech in the Commons, the DUP's Nigel Dodds said it was a "dereliction of duty to continue without a spending plan or ministers to make decisions.

Sinn Fein's leader in Northern Ireland Michelle O'Neill said Mrs Bradley had "failed to progress those issues which the British Government is directly responsible for" - a reference to issues at the centre of last week's draft agreement.

"They must release the legacy inquest funding immediately and issue the consultation on the legacy mechanisms," Mrs O'Neill said.

The fact that the DUP failed to close on last weeks draft agreement and chose to collapse the process does not abdicate the British Government from their responsibilities."

Michelle O'Neill is set to meet with the British Prime Minister on Wednesday, and said she would be raising this issue.

UUP leader Robin Swann said the Secretary of State's statement had been "underwhelming".

The fact that the Secretary of State stated that the parties 'reached a balanced and fair accommodation on the difficult issues of language and culture and how this was reflected in a package of legislation' begs the question, if that's the case, people deserve to know exactly what was agreed," he said.
Simon Coveney, the Republics Foreign Affairs Minister, tweeted that the 1998 accord was being undermined in some political circles.

Mr Coveney said: Talking down (the) Good Friday Agreement because it raises serious and genuine questions of those pursuing Brexit is not only irresponsible but reckless and potentially undermines the foundations of a fragile peace process in Northern Ireland that should never be taken for granted.

Talking down Good Friday Agreement because it raises serious and genuine questions of those pursuing #Brexit is not only irresponsible but reckless and potentially undermines the foundations of a fragile peace process in Northern Ireland that should never be taken for granted  Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) February 20, 2018

The British and Irish governments have reiterated they are fully committed to the Good Friday Agreement amid a deep political impasse in Stormont.

Mr Coveneys tweet was directed at Labour MP Kate Hoey and Conservative MPs Daniel Hannan and Owen Paterson after they raised questions over the future of the 20-year-old accord.

With injury cannot be at NI Statement. @OwenSmith_MP @Andrew_Adonis et al must listen to Nobel Laureate Lord Trimble. Interim Direct Rule renews proper govt & services for NI citizens. Also gives time to discuss practical improvements to Belfast Agreement. https://t.co/MAuowLl1t7  Owen Paterson (@OwenPaterson) February 20, 2018

Mr Paterson, a former Northern Ireland secretary, recently retweeted a commentators suggestion that the agreement had outlived its use.

He also tweeted that Northern Ireland deserved good government, and health services were falling behind the rest of the UK without a devolved executive.

Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley is due to update Westminster on the Stormont deadlock on Tuesday.

Nothing at all to do with Brexit. Hiding head in sand over viability of sustainability of mandatory co-alition is reckless and wrong https://t.co/f54XDIcUNx  Kate Hoey (@CatharineHoey) February 19, 2018

The Easter agreement was signed almost 20 years ago by the British and Irish governments and enjoyed support from most of the major parties in Northern Ireland. Ian Paisleys DUP opposed it at the time.

It enabled the formation of a ministerial executive and assembly at Stormont.

Ms Hoey said her questions over the future of the Good Friday Agreement were nothing to do with Brexit.

Hiding head in sand over viability of sustainability of mandatory coalition is reckless and wrong, she said.

Mr Hannan said he had been arguing long before Brexit that the agreement needed to be changed.

Prime Minister Theresa May and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar spoke by phone on Monday night after the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Fein clashed over the prospect of direct rule being imposed on Northern Ireland.

Both leaders expressed disappointment over the political impasse at Stormont.

The breakdown in powersharing came to a head despite optimism that a deal had been close on contentious issues such as the Irish language, marriage equality and the legacy of the past.
A Labour MP has said he is prepared to launch a Private Members Bill to give MPs a vote on same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland.

Speaking to PoliticsHome, Conor McGinn said he would take the action if the Conservative government did not act.

In the Commons on Tuesday, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Karen Bradley said it was a matter for the Stormont Assembly, but if the matter was raised at Westminster the Government would allow a free vote as it was a matter of conscience.

Mr McGinn - who was brought up in Northern Ireland - said the focus should be on restoring the Executive in Northern Ireland, but that from the Secretary of State's answer it was clear Westminster could legislate on the issue.

"If the Government will not commit to doing that in a reasonable timeframe, then I am prepared to take forward a Private Members Bill or propose amendments to an appropriate Government Bill to extend equal marriage to Northern Ireland," he said in the interview.

"The song says you cant hurry love but in this case love - and equality - has waited too long already. Its beyond time to give same-sex couples in Northern Ireland the same rights enjoyed by people in Britain and the Republic of Ireland."

Last week senior members of Sinn Fein, the SDLP, the Ulster Unionists, Alliance, Greens and People Before Profit gathered in Parliament Buildings to support the introduction of same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland.

The DUP previously held a large enough number of seats to use the petition of concern to prevent a vote on same-sex marriage from advancing.

The party lost the number of seats required to force a petition of concern at the last Assembly election in 2017, but there is speculation some members of the UUP and TUV leader Jim Allister could vote with them to use the petition of concern again if it were to go to a vote in Stormont.
Margaret Anderson will be remembered by the Ulster History Circle with the unveiling of a blue plaque

A woman known as the 'Florence Nightingale of the Mournes' is being honoured with a blue plaque in the heart of the picturesque countryside where she was born and raised.

Margaret Anderson may have been from a tiny hamlet just outside Kilkeel in Co Down, but her tender nurse's touch was felt across the globe - from the then Mesopotamia in western Asia to tending wounded soldiers during the chaotic Second World War evacuation of Dunkirk.

She will be recognised later this week with an Ulster History Circle Blue Plaque, which will be unveiled at Mourne Presbyterian Church by her great-nephew Charles Annett.

Charles (80) told the Belfast Telegraph that despite the extraordinary service Margaret had given, she rarely spoke of it, and instead was known as a great listener.

In fact she was so modest that her own family didn't even know about the service she gave during the First World War until she was awarded the Royal Red Cross - the highest decoration for a nurse - on December 18, 1919, by King George V at Buckingham Palace.

And they only learned of her brave voyages across the English Channel during the desperate mission to rescue the soldiers trapped in Dunkirk by the advancing German army after she wrote to thank her family for a gas lamp they had gifted her, revealing that it had been the only light she had had in the small boats.

Margaret was born in the townland of Ballinran, Kilkeel on December 21, 1881, as the oldest daughter in a family of eight siblings. At just 13, she travelled to Waringstown, Co Down, to work as a medical receptionist before moving to the Leeds Union Infirmary, where she trained as a nurse.

At the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Margaret started her service with Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Reserve.

For five years she worked at the Mount Dore Military Hospital in Bournemouth, where despite volunteering to serve overseas, the authorities refused to let her go, so invaluable had she become.

It was then she was awarded the Royal Red Cross, and King George's mother, Queen Alexandra also presented a book to Margaret, with a signed message of thanks for her service.

She travelled overseas in 1919, leaving for Mesopotamia where, until the end of 1922, she continued in the nursing service with the British Expeditionary Force.

She was later appointed assistant matron at the Royal Infirmary, Truro, Cornwall but in 1925 returned to Kilkeel to become matron at the temporary Silent Valley Hospital, which had been established during the building of the reservoir.

Margaret later returned to England, but at the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, she rejoined the nursing reserve despite then being in her 50s. She took part in several sorties across the English Channel during the evacuation of Dunkirk.

She eventually retired home to Kilkeel, where she died in 1956 at the age of 75. She was laid to rest in the grounds of Mourne Presbyterian Church, the church where she was baptised and had attended.

The Ulster History Circle plaque will be unveiled on Thursday by Charles Annett, who, like his great-aunt, is also a member of the Mourne congregation.

Chris Spurr, chair of the Ulster History Circle, said the charity was delighted to recognise Margaret, and thanked the Ulster-Scots Agency for their financial support towards the plaque, and Mourne Presbyterian Church for their assistance.
Senior civil servants were so confident the Assembly would be restored that they met last Monday to discuss how to liaise with new Stormont ministers, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal.

It is understood David Sterling, head of the NI Civil Service, instructed high-ranking officials to brief staff on expected developments.

An insider also said that, with Prime Minister Theresa May and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in Belfast that same day to oversee a deal between the DUP and Sinn Fein, workers were readying their offices in anticipation of getting back to normal business. The following day, however - when it was obvious the talks had stalled - senior staff were called back to be told that a state of high alert was no longer necessary.

It's also understood that civil servants working on the Programme for Government - the Executive's action plan - received emails on Friday, February 9 telling them to prepare a briefing for incoming ministers at Parliament Buildings.
A mural in support of same sex marriage on the Falls Road in Belfast (Niall Carson/PA)

The UK Government has said same sex marriage in Northern Ireland could be introduced via Westminster.

Northern Ireland Secretary of State Karen Bradley said while it should be a matter for the Stormont Assembly, if the matter was to be raised at Westminster it is the Governments policy to allow a free vote on matters of conscience.

She was responding to a written question from Labour MP Conor McGinn, who asked if she would bring forward legislative proposals on equal marriage for same-sex couples in the region.

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Ms Bradley said: In accordance with the Belfast Agreement, this is a devolved matter which should be addressed in the NI Assembly; but the power of the Westminster Parliament to legislate remains unaffected.

If this issue were to be raised in Westminster, the Governments policy is to allow a free vote on matters of conscience such as equal marriage.

Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK where same-sex marriage is not recognised in law.

Several attempts in the Stormont Assembly to introduce marriage equality failed.

The DUP used a petition of concern to veto the bills, arguing that such legislation did not command enough cross-community support.

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Human rights organisations and LGBT equality campaigners have been calling for Westminster to legislate for marriage equality in the region.

In August 2017 the High Court in Belfast dismissed two cases challenging Northern Irelands ban on same-sex marriage.

Delivering his judgement, a judge said it was for the Stormont Assembly, and not a judge, to decide social policy.

However, the region has been without a devolved administration for more than 13 months following the collapse of powersharing between the DUP and Sinn Fein.

The latest round of negotiations to restore the institutions failed last week after the DUP pulled the plug on the talks.

After the talks process broke down, shadow Northern Ireland secretary Owen Smith said it was up to London to introduce legislation in such areas as same-sex marriage.
PSNI officer Linda Totten, who has been sentenced to six months in jail for two counts of shoplifting from an Asda store, arriving at Armagh Courthouse yesterday

A PSNI sergeant has been sentenced to total of six months in custody after her convictions for shoplifting.

Last night, the PSNI said Linda Totten (50) remains suspended from duty and a misconduct hearing will take place in the coming weeks.

It is understood that Totten is no longer in receipt of a PSNI salary.

"The PSNI expects all staff to behave professionally, ethically and with the utmost integrity at all times. The actions in this case have fallen far short of that standard," a spokesman said.

"We will be making no further comment prior to the conclusion of that process."

Totten arrived at court for sentencing yesterday on a mobility scooter and with her face obscured.

Totten, with an address given as PSNI Enniskillen, was convicted of two counts of shoplifting just before Christmas in 2013.

During the first, on December 20, an unknown quantity of goods were stolen and in the second, four days later, a trolleyload of items totalling 156.81 were taken.

On both occasions Totten targeted the Asda store in Enniskillen, returning for the second spree despite claims of being abused by staff in the first incident.

The case did not reach trial until October 2017, and Totten was suspended from duty for most of that time.

She remained a serving officer until the guilty verdicts in November 2017, when she was met at the door of the court dock by senior police who demanded she hand over her warrant card.

Her first trial lasted nine days and resulted in a hung jury. A retrial which was heard almost immediately, ran for seven days, ending in a unanimous guilty verdict.

Appearing for sentencing at Dungannon Crown Court sitting in Armagh, Totten was escorted in supported by custody staff, walking very slowly to the dock.

His Honour Judge Neil Rafferty asked the defence: "Your client seems to be in a somewhat different state to before. What has happened?"

The defence replied, Totten has been bedridden since the previous weekend, but obtained a mobility scooter "such was her determination to attend court".

Nothing was said of Totten's arrest last Wednesday for another alleged episode of shoplifting in an Enniskillen store. She has been released on bail pending further enquiries in this matter.

Her defence pointed out that whilst reinstated with the PSNI last year, Totten is "facing imminent disciplinary proceedings. Her livelihood and reputation are completely at an end".

The defence continued that Totten's health is poor, particularly in relation to mobility. He told the judge: "This can fluctuate. You will be aware during trial she often presented as mobile."

Judge Rafferty replied: "Quite mobile. I was simply shocked to the core to see the state she arrived in court today."

The judge said the thefts showed "a degree of sophistication, pre-meditation and brazenness".

"In the first trial the defendant made the most scandalous accusations against Asda staff. She alleged they were homophobic, bigoted, prejudiced and racist.

"She suggested the actions of staff were motivated by malice. Those allegations have no basis whatsoever."

He said the shoplifting was "pre-planned and with a high degree of cunning." Totten was sentenced to three months custody on each of two counts.
More than 500 nursing jobs are unfilled in Belfast, as health trusts struggle to fill medical positions across Northern Ireland.

In total more than 1,400 posts lie vacant and the latest figures show a 20% increase in the number of nurses leaving their jobs over the last two years - with almost 1,000 leaving in 2016/17.

SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan said he was shocked by the figures, and said the "current political landscape" isn't helping.

The figures from the Department of Health revealed that after Belfast -which has a shortage of 532 nurses - the Northern Trust has 286 vacancies and the South Eastern Trust has 262 posts to fill.

The Southern Trust is short of 201 nurses while the Western Trust needs to recruit another 118.

Regional services had four nursing vacancies to fill at the end of September.

"Nursing care is the very bedrock of the health system and it is very concerning to see a 20% increase in the number of nurses leaving over the last two years," said Mr McCrossan.

"This is compounded by the fact that there are almost 1,500 vacancies within the profession in Northern Ireland. Nurses are working under considerable and intolerable pressures.

"I think it is no coincidence that the numbers leaving have risen as patient demand and waiting times have increased.

"We often see hospital waiting list figures but never imagine the increased stress and workload it puts on staff.

"The current political landscape is definitely having an impact on staff recruitment, retention and overall job satisfaction. Nurses are over-worked and underpaid in comparison to their GB counterparts.

"I've even become aware that many have left HSC to take up roles within the Department of Communities, in PIP assessment panels. They want 'nine to five' without the pressure and added hours."

Mr McCrossan, who has family members working in nursing, said he had spoken to representatives from the Royal College of Nursing last year - but things have deteriorated even further since then.

"Even at that stage, there were grave concerns among nurses, and things are even worse now," he said. "The fact is although the figures are shocking, I can understand why nurses don't want to stay in the profession as things stand.

"The whole of the NHS is under pressure but in the absence of a devolved government here, little can be done to help our own medical professionals and they are being left in an even more difficult position than their colleagues elsewhere in the UK."

The MLA for West Tyrone said he had been moved by an emotional message he saw this week on Twitter, which read: "My Daddy has dementia and every night his carer sings and dances with him, no matter what mood she is in or how short on time she is, and all for rubbish pay.

"To all you nurses, home helps and carers out there, you're worth your weight in gold."

Mr McCrossan said: "That for me sums up what nurses do, and we need to make sure they are properly valued and looked after in the system. We can't let these people go."

Statistics also released to Mr McCrossan revealed more than 10% of hours were lost to sickness absence in the NI Ambulance Service every year after 2014/15.

And in 2015/16, 783 nurses and 111 doctors left the Health and Social Care Trust. The following year, those figures rose to 929 nurses and 119 doctors.
DUP MP Ian Paisley has challenged a former SDLP MLA who suggested that if the Good Friday Agreement could not endure, Northern Ireland could see a return to violence.

Former Policing Board member Conall McDevitt was reacting to an article in The Huffington Post in which Labour MP Kate Hoey said Stormont's "mandatory coalition is not sustainable in the long run."

Mr McDevitt, a former Assembly member for South Belfast, wrote on Twitter: "If the Good Friday Agreement is not sustainable then peace and reconciliation in Ireland is not sustainable."

Mr Paisley responded: "Oh, so who's going back to killing and bombing then?"

Mr McDevitt's reply that "peace is more than just the absence of violence" and that the "GFA underpins our peace and it's the foundation for our reconciliation" was dismissed by Mr Paisley.

The North Antrim MP tweeted: "Conall that sounds like 'clap trap'."
Parts of the draft agreement at the centre of negotiations between Sinn Fein and the DUP prior to talks collapsing has been leaked. (Paul Faith/PA)

Parts of the draft agreement at the centre of negotiations between Sinn Fein and the DUP to restore Stormont has been leaked.

Two days after the breakdown of talks on February 14, Sinn Fein released documents it claimed showed the DUP walked away from a deal which would have included an Irish language act, an Ulster Scots and, and a respecting culture and diversity act, as well as accommodations on other issues.

Senior DUP MP Gregory Campbell subsequently said reports of a draft agreement between the two parties had been "utter nonsense", and his party would never agree to an Irish language act.

The draft version of the agreement text has been published on the website of broadcaster Eamonn Mallie.

STORMONT EXCLUSIVE: 'The Draft Agreement Text' - By Eamonn Mallie and Brian Rowan https://t.co/UK0s1thCjv  Eamonn Mallie (@EamonnMallie) February 20, 2018

The document obtained is 13 pages long with additional annexes.

"On page 5 under the heading: Respecting Languages and Culture, there is specific reference to the Irish ( Respecting Language and Diversity) Bill and the Ulster Scots ( Respecting Language and Diversity) Bill and a Respecting Language and Diversity Bill," Mr Mallie writes.

"It has to be stated that square brackets obtain in this eight-line paragraph  meaning it had not yet been signed off and agreed.

"The document spells out that draft legislation is in an annex."

Mr Mallie also says the document includes a condition that the process sees the three bills introduced before the Assembly concurrently.

He also reports having "definitive proof" that senior Sinn Fein and DUP personnel were corresponding under the heading 'Draft Agreement Text' on February 9.

Alliance Party MLA Kellie Armstrong called for an independent mediator between the parties.

"An independent mediator for the talks would eliminate the 'he said, she said' approach, while also injecting a fresh impetus to the overall process and allowing a more inclusive process which gives the public confidence people are working on their behalf to get the institutions restored," she said.

Northern Ireland has been without a regional government since January 2017, when Stormont was collapsed in a dispute over a botched green energy scheme.

On Tuesday, Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley made a statement in the Commons on the ongoing impasse in Northern Ireland, declining to immediately reimpose direct rule and saying she intended to take steps to "provide clarity on the budget".
The PSNI has appealed for dashcam footage in connection with the murder of Raymond Johnston.

The 28-year-old was shot in the chest at his home in Glenbawn Avenue, Poleglass at around 8pm on Tuesday February 13. The attack happened in front of his partner and 11-year-old child.

On Tuesday evening detectives from the Special Crime Branch revisited the scene of his murder in west Belfast, on a date which marks one week since his killing.

The officer leading the investigation, Detective Chief Inspector Geoff Boyce, said: We are still in the early stages of this investigation and although progress has been made, we still need more assistance from the community.

We have set up an incident room and, we are exploring a number of possible lines of enquiry. We are reviewing CCTV footage from the area, but we also need the continued help from local people.

I would also ask any members of the public who have a dash cam fitted to their vehicle, and were travelling on Glenbawn Avenue, Glenbawn Square, Bryanswell Road, Bellsteel Road, Pantridge Road, Stewartstown Road or Colinwell Road between 7pm and 9pm on Tuesday, February 13 to contact detectives at Musgrave.

"You may have footage that could help us piece together what happened on Tuesday night and lead us to those behind this brutal act."

Anyone with information or who may have witnessed anything in connection with the incident is asked to contact detectives on the non-emergency number 101, quoting the reference 1192 of 13/02/2018, or to ask to speak to detectives at the incident room at Musgrave Street.

Alternatively the public can contact independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has poured cold water on Sinn Fein demands for a standalone Irish Language Act - warning they have to be conscious of the feelings of unionists.

"If anybody seriously believes that you're going to convince the loyalist people in the Shankill that they should have Irish signs, they'll be waiting," he told RTE's Claire Byrne Live last night.

Mr Ahern said the act "can't be seen as a victory and we're going to shove it down their (unionists') throats".

"I think that the message has been received so in fairness to Sinn Fein, they have seemed to receive that," he said.

"But it has to be seen and understood, otherwise loyalists and unionists are going to get at Arlene, which makes her position untenable."

Meanwhile, it has emerged that Sinn Fein mobilised its base in the Irish Republic to garner support for a letter from high-profile members of civic society urging the Taoiseach to push for law changes in Northern Ireland.

The letter from 100 prominent people in fields such as sport, law and the arts calls on Leo Varadkar to ensure citizens north of the border have the same rights as those in his jurisdiction. A similar public letter was sent to the Taoiseach before Christmas.

The latest letter - signed by musicians Christy Moore, Damien Dempsey, Glen Hansard and Frances Black - presses Mr Varadkar to lobby for legislation for Irish language speakers and same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland.

An email obtained by the Press Association indicates Sinn Fein was involved in an organised effort to find individuals willing to sign the letter.

The email sent last week by a senior party officer in the Irish Republic to council leaders there read: "We are seeking support from public figures at local and national level in the areas of the arts, culture, legal, business, community etc and so far have some 70 signatories including Christy Moore, Damien Dempsey, Glen Hansard and Frances Black.

"But there are also many more signatories without a national profile but who are well known in communities for the work that they do. And this is where you come in ... We are looking for your help to get this up to 100 by the end of the day.

"Please get in touch with suggested names as well as a link person who will contact them."

A Sinn Fein spokesman confirmed the party aided the endeavour. "We were asked to assist by the organisers of this initiative in garnering support for a civic lobby in support of the rights-based agenda in the north," he said. "We are happy to do so, to give voice to the frustrations felt throughout Irish civic society at the denial of basic rights in the north."
Three men have appeared at Laganside Courthouse on attempted intimidation charges (Niall Carson/PA)

Three men have appeared in court in Northern Ireland on attempted intimidation charges as part of a police investigation into alleged paedophile hunting.

George Keenan, 34, Richard Curtis, 32, and Tim Heron, 28, are also accused of unlawful imprisonment and assault.

They each face 18 or 19 charges in relation to alleged activities in the Belfast and Co Down areas since September last year, prosecutors told Belfast Magistrates Court.

A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) sergeant told presiding district judge Fiona Bagnall: We dont believe that they have been assisting police because they have been told continuously to desist from this activity.

They have chosen to carry on and detain individuals and carry out their own investigations.

Some of the alleged offences relate to an incident on Belfasts Botanic Avenue on February 6 in which disorderly behaviour and attempted intimidation is alleged.

The trio are accused of attempting unlawfully by force, threats or menaces to cause BBC journalist Kevin Magee to refrain from broadcasting an interview on television as well as disorderly behaviour.

Keenan and Heron are also accused of obstruction of a road.

The trio, heavily-set and casually dressed, appeared in the dock guarded by prison officers.

Keenan, from Glenwood Court in Dunmurry, Belfast, also faces charges dating from September last year involving unlawful imprisonment, assault, detaining people against their will and forcing people to leave home.

He is accused of failing to give information to police.

Curtis, from Albert Road in Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, is accused of using disorderly behaviour in Banbridge, Co Down, imprisonment and assault.

He is also charged with attempting to cause a man to leave his home.

Heron, from Cloverhill Vale in Bangor, Co Down, is accused of unlawfully imprisoning and assaulting a man and attempting to threaten him into leaving his home.

He is also alleged to have accused a person of being a paedo in front of a crowd in Banbridge with the intention of breaching the peace.

A defence lawyer suggested police had issued the group with a paedophile hunting manual helping them to gather the best evidence they can.

The officer said police were willing to take any information in relation to any crime but it was for them to take action.

He added: We would never encourage any group to confront or to unlawfully detain and put themselves in danger or unlawfully imprison individuals.

Report it to the police and allow us as the competent authority to carry out investigations.

The lawyer said this group had contacted police on 100 separate occasions with evidence.

The accused were released on bail, and conditions included abiding by a curfew, not using online social media platforms or associating with paedophile hunting groups, identifying or confronting those suspected of sex offences.

They will appear in court again in April.
The Foreign Secretary said it was a curiosity that the UK and France as two of the most powerful economies in the world, separated by approximately 21 miles of water, were connected by only one railway line.

He said French president Emmanuel Macron was supportive of the committee of wise people established to look at reviving the great tradition of UK-France collaboration in matters including defence, space and infrastructure projects such as the idea of a new connection between our two countries.

Mr Johnsons defence of a bridge between the UK and France also saw him tell MPs that he expected there would be a great swollen, throbbing, umbilicus of trade between the UK and EU, with each side mutually nourishing the other.

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Speaking in the Commons, shadow Foreign Office minister Khalid Mahmood said: Its estimated that we could build the Foreign Secretarys Channel bridge at a cost of 120 billion.

He wants to build bridges at the same time he is pushing for a hard Brexit which will push us away from the European Union.

Or instead does he think that money could be well spent for the next six and a half years to give the National Health Service 350 million per week?

Mr Johnson replied: When the first Channel Tunnel was commissioned it was the vision of the then prime minister Margaret Thatcher that it should be entirely privately financed and there is no reason why we should not have the same ambition this time.

On the Brexit dividend, Mr Johnson went on: As the Prime Minister herself has said, there will unquestionably be substantial sums of money available to spend in this country on the priorities of the British people  including the NHS.

Whats the point of a 20 mile bridge, if theres going to be a 20 mile queue waiting to get onto it? #BorisBridge #FCOQs pic.twitter.com/uaYMdCTBn6  Patrick Grady MP (@GradySNP) February 20, 2018

SNP MP Patrick Grady (Glasgow North) earlier raised warnings that Channel ports faced gridlock if a Brexit transition arrangement was not urgently put in place.

He added: What is the point of a 20-mile bridge if theres going to be a 20-mile queue waiting to get on to it?

Mr Johnson replied: I think most people will appreciate that the existing Channel Tunnel is likely at the present rate to be full within the next seven years.

Thats a very short time in the lifetime of a great infrastructure project.

It is a curiosity that two of the most powerful economies in the world, separated by barely 21 miles of water, are connected by only one railway line, and I think its a matter for legitimate reflection by our two countries on the way forward.

Boris Johnson advocating a bridge costing an estimated 120bn at the same time pushing for hard Brexit pushing us away from the European Union says @khalid4PB  PARLY (@PARLYapp) February 20, 2018

Tory MP Richard Graham (Gloucester) widened the issue to insist it appeared as if there would be a unique and specific agreement over Brexit, which would benefit both sides of the Channel.

He asked Mr Johnson if he agreed this should be the outcome of the talks soon to start, with Speaker John Bercow intervening to remind him the question was on a fixed link rather than Brexit.

Mr Johnson replied: I think (Mr Graham) has hit on the notion of a metaphorical fixed link  a great swollen, throbbing, umbilicus of trade between us  I wont say which way its going  each side mutually nourishing the other.

I very much approve of the note of optimism that he strikes.
Jeremy Corbyn is to mount a new onslaught on the City of London, promising a Labour government would take decisive steps to make it the servant of industry, not the masters of us all.

In a speech to the EEF manufacturers organisation on Tuesday, the Labour leader will say Britains distorted and unequal economy cannot be rebalanced without taking on the power of the financial sector.

He will attack a generation of politicians who believed the City could drive the whole economy and allowed it to exert a pernicious and undemocratic control over British politics.

After the attempted takeover of the GKN engineering group by Melrose Industries, Mr Corbyn will also promise strengthened government powers to intervene in hostile takeovers.

In his address to the EEF conference in London, he will call for a fundamental rethink on who the financial sector serves and how it is regulated.

We will take decisive action to make finance the servant of industry not the masters of us allJeremy Corbyn

There can be no rebalancing of our distorted, sluggish and unequal economy without taking on the power of finance, he is expected to say.

For 40 years, deregulated finance has progressively become more powerful. Its dominance over industry, obvious and destructive; its control of politics, pernicious and undemocratic.

The size and power of finance created a generation of politicians who thought the City of London could power the whole economy.

Out-of-control financial wizardry and gambling were left barely regulated, while the real economies in once-strong industrial areas were put into managed decline

For a generation, instead of finance serving industry, politicians have served finance.

No more. The next Labour government will be the first in 40 years to stand up for the real economy. We will take decisive action to make finance the servant of industry, not the masters of us all.

He will point to the ongoing attempt by Melrose to gain control of GKN as a further example of short-term performance and narrow shareholder value (being) prioritised over long-run growth and broader economic benefit.

For a generation, instead of finance serving industry, politicians have served financeJeremy Corbyn

We rightly praise the growth of companies like GKN and their location in the UK. And yet when we are facing the possible destruction of that company, we are powerless to act, he will say.

Thats why the next Labour government will broaden the scope of the public interest test, allowing government to intervene to prevent hostile takeovers which destroy our industrial base.

Miles Celic, chief executive of industry body TheCityUK, said politicians like Mr Corbyn failed to understand the financial services sector was a national asset with major centres in cities such as Manchester, Glasgow, Cardiff, Birmingham and Bristol.

Two-thirds of the 2.2 million jobs in the industry are outside the M25, as are over half its 95.7 billion of exports. It is also the countrys largest taxpayer, contributing over 87 billion towards funding our vital public services, he said.

As well as providing jobs and tax revenue, this industry helps people save for a mortgage, start a business, invest in new technologies or plan for retirement.
The NCA is conducting a huge investigation in the South Yorkshire town following the revelations in the 2014 Jay Report that 1,400 children were groomed and abused there.

Professors Alexis Jays report sparked national soul-searching when it revealed that the large scale exploitation undertaken by gangs of largely Pakistani-heritage men had been effectively ignored by police and other agencies for more than a decade.

We will not falter in our commitment as an agency to this taskPaul Williamson

On Tuesday, NCA senior investigating for Operation Stovewood officer Paul Williamson said his teams analysis suggests there are 1,510 potential victims and survivors of CSE in the town between 1997 and 2013  the same timescale as covered by the Jay Report. Of these, at least 1,300 are female, he said.

Mr Williamson said his team was now actively engaged with more than 260 victims, had identified 110 designated suspects and currently involves 144 officers working on 34 distinct investigations.

He said he is hoping to increase his team  which currently has a 6.9 million annual budget  to between 200 and 250 people.

We will not falter in our commitment as an agency to this task, Mr Wiliamson said.

The identification and bringing to justice of offenders is what what well be judged on.

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The officer said the momentum and pace of the investigation is increasing, but warned that progress is necessarily slow as many victims are extremely vulnerable.

He said: That momentum and pace will increase and that is commensurate with the resources that are put into the investigation.

I now have 144 which enables me to do a lot more than what I could do when I first started as SIO in January 2016.

Justice, we are now seeing, is being rendered. And Ive got a very, very committed team which is pursuing a very, very, worthy mission.

Mr Williamson described the mushrooming nature of his teams task, detailing how one women spoken to by his officers recently talked about more than 30 named suspects, 17 other potential victims and 27 potential crime scenes.

The NCA launched operation Stovewood after it was called in by South Yorkshire Police three years ago, and is now the biggest investigation in CSE in the UK.

It is 85% funded by the Home Office and 15% by South Yorkshire Police, and has cost more than 10 million so far.

Asked why Rotherham, Mr Williamson agreed that there was combination in the town of a failure to listen to and believe victims, to safeguard them and to investigate their reports.

He said: Undoubtedly, a toxic mix has come together of a number of factors  those being the four primary ones we are finding in Rotherham. Undoubtedly, that has occurred and as that has resulted in the scale.

Mr Williamson said four individuals had so far been convicted, 38 arrested and 18 charged.
Full marks to Penny Mordaunt, the relatively new International Development Secretary, for taking such a tough line over public cash for Oxfam, whose reputation is now rightly in tatters following the use of prostitutes by some of its staff - while they were supposed to be engaged in urgent relief work for earthquake victims in Haiti.

It is especially commendable on her part for not allowing herself to be fobbed off by Oxfam's chief executive Mark Goldring's misguided claim that the whole issue has been overplayed by the media and implying the events are not so grave, by a long chalk, as they have been depicted.

Oh, yes, they are. Goldring is ludicrously asking the rhetorical question: "Did we murder babies in their cots?"

Goldring changed his tune in a later statement, expressing some contrition and apologies. A bit late for that now, Mr G. Some people have even been "joking" - "There goes a knighthood".

The fact is that Oxfam, which has received many millions of pounds of both public and private money over the years, was evasive (to say the least) when there were rumbles in 2011 about the conduct of some of its employees out in Haiti.

Oxfam admitted some staff had been sacked, or had resigned, without specifying why. It does seem strange, I admit, that those in charge of the purse-strings did not probe further at the time.

And, somehow, Oxfam got away with it at the time. But now the bubble has burst and its future must be uncertain - to say the least.

There is already a groundswell of opinion which says that Goldring should go. A thorough clear-out of the Augean stables is desperately needed.

If there is one good thing that can emerge from this mess, it's that generous people will now be far more inclined to give their money to small charities, rather than these overweening international monoliths.

That means small groups of dedicated, unpaid volunteers, who help out hospitals, hospices and the like up and down the country, will benefit from this sorry affair.

At least people will know where their money is going and that it's being properly and worthily used.

Is it curtains now for that tattered army, the United Kingdom Independence Party?

The party's decision to boot Henry Bolton out of the leadership - largely because his girlfriend made some unpleasant remarks about Meghan Markle, Prince Harry's fiancee - must mark yet another unwanted watershed in the party's fortunes (or, rather, misfortunes). Since the Brexit referendum, Ukip has been in a perpetual state of shambles, instability and, quite frankly, uselessness.

It will now be looking among its serried ranks for a fifth leader in 18 months - scarcely a good advertisement for efficiency.

I used to think David Cameron was out of order in describing Ukip, among other things, as a party of fruitcakes. Now I am beginning to think he had understated the case.

People are even beginning to feel that a vote for the Monster Raving Loony Party would be a better proposition than supporting Ukip, which, in any event, could well be a thing of the past by then.

Bolton clung on to the leadership as long as he could, but his abrupt ousting was inevitable.

Nigel Farage, the former leader, did not have much time for him, but nevertheless felt his removal would be more damaging than letting him stay. But no one - or very few - listened.

Ukip may have served a purpose during the referendum campaign, but now, especially with it in such a catastrophic state, there seems to be little purpose in its continued existence. Can't it simply curl up and quietly die?

But, then, no organisation with Farage at, or near, the helm will be capable of doing anything quietly.

Would Theresa May please lighten up a little? She was, aptly I think, during the recent General Election campaign, described by a journalist as "a glumbucket" - entirely merited.

Whereas, for instance, David Cameron gave every evidence of enjoying himself at Commons question time and relishing the banter, May is dogged, but dull.

What with that and Jeremy Corbyn's own wishy-washy contribution, Prime Minister's question time, once the rowdy highlight of the parliamentary week, is now so dreary that they can't even fill the green benches for it.

She should, perhaps, study that great ham actor Lord Olivier to put some oomph into her performance.

I believe she is doing as good a job as possible in the Brexit negotiations, given the stubborn and punishment-seeking Brussels opponents.

But a bit more "Thatcherian handbag diplomacy" and table-banging would certainly help the UK's case.
Queen Elizabeth II unveils a charter during her visit to the Royal College of Physicians in London, to mark the 500th anniversary of the bodys founding Charter (Chris Jackson/PA)

It was the Queens first public engagement outside of Buckingham Palace since she returned to London from Sandringham.

Dressed in a duck egg blue Stewart Parvin dress and matching coat, the 91-year-old Queen was greeted by RCP president Professor Jane Dacre, who was impressed by her royal visitor.

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Very on the ball, very interested, and a charming, graceful lady, Prof Dacre said of the Queen after the event.

In a speech, Prof Dacre  the RCPs third female president  joked: I hope I am not being presumptuous, Maam, in thinking that Maam will be most relieved that medical treatment has changed.

Its moved on from when monarchs were treated with arsenic and bloodletting.

After the Queen left, Prof Dacre said: She really seemed genuinely interested.

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During her visit to the Colleges Regents Park headquarters in central London, the Queen viewed an exhibition called Ceaseless Motion: William Harveys Experiments In Circulation.

It celebrates the life and works of physician William Harvey whose discovery of the circulation of blood changed the face of medicine.

Kristin Hussey, curator at the RCP, said: She was quite keen to see the bloodletting. And she said that she thought it was really fascinating.

Ms Hussey said the Queen and Prof Dacre had a conversation about the importance of diversity in medicine.

Prof Dacre said afterwards that there have been more Queens than female presidents of the RCP.

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Before the Queen arrived, Prof Dacre said: One thing thats very poignant for me is that Im only the third ever female president.

And Im very proud to be here on this occasion.

Asked about the NHS, Prof Dacre said: I think the NHS is troubled.

However, every health system in the world is troubled.

And if you look at the Commonwealth Fund, its an American piece of research that looks at how healthcare systems are doing, it puts us right at the top.

So we are amongst the best health systems in the world.

Were priceless to have healthcare for everybody free at the point of delivery.

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The difficulties with that is that weve become victims of our success, because people are living longer and collecting more illnesses and were treating them all and so it means theres a lot of pressure.

Having said that though, the job of being a doctor and caring for an individual patient in front of you is a huge privilege.

During the visit, the Queen also unveiled a plaque to mark the milestone and was shown the original charter document from 1518, granted by Henry VIII, which founded the College.

It was established to help regulate the medical profession at a time when anyone could call themselves a doctor and start treating patients.

Today the RCP plays an important role in improving patient care and shaping public health and is the professional membership body for physicians with 34,000 members and fellows across the globe.

The Queen met staff and members of the medical profession, before unveiling the plaque and a new commemorative charter to mark the occasion.

The College will be organising a series of events throughout 2018 to mark the 500th anniversary of the bodys original 1518 royal charter.

It has also produced a commemorative RCP500 Charter, to reaffirm the Colleges commitment to seek and champion excellence in healthcare  through research, training and support for members of the medical profession.

The Queen laid the foundation stone for the Colleges Regents Park building in 1964 and Tuesdays visit came at the start of a year which will also mark the 70th anniversary of the NHS.
The Prime Minister has described the behaviour of staff at scandal-hit Oxfam as "horrific" and demanded that charities reveal their safeguarding arrangements to the Government.

Oxfam's 2011 investigation into the Haiti sex scandal concluded charities should be warned about "problem staff", only for several accused of abuse to take up future posts in the aid sector.

The charity made the recommendations at the end of a report which detailed four dismissals and three resignations over allegations ranging from the use of prostitutes on charity property to sexual exploitation of employees.

Suspicions that underage sex workers had been exploited "cannot be ruled out", according to the document.

Theresa May said: "The behaviour that we've now discovered was horrific.

"It was far below the standards that we expect for the charities and the NGOs that we're working with. And I understand there have been further revelations which show that actually there was physical intimidation of witnesses.

"This is absolutely horrific. This is exactly the problem that we see which means that all too often people don't feel able to come forward to report what has happened to them, the behaviour that they've been on the receiving end of."

On Sunday evening, Oxfam repeatedly refused to clarify whether it had contacted any of the women allegedly preyed upon, either during or since the investigation.

It has instead vowed to meet with the Haitian government more than six years on to apologise for "mistakes" and discuss how to make amends, including to the women affected.

Relief staff had been stationed on the Caribbean island to provide support in the aftermath of an earthquake which killed thousands of people in 2010.

Oxfam officially released the findings of its investigation after a leaked copy was published by The Times, heralding a storm of criticism over how the episode was handled.

It said in a statement: "We want to be as transparent as possible about the decisions we made during this particular investigation and in recognition of the breach of trust caused."

The report alleges that the director of operations in the country, Roland Van Hauwermeiren, admitted using sex workers in his charity-funded accommodation and was granted a "phased and dignified exit".

Last week he denied using prostitutes in Haiti.

Mr Van Hauwermeiren became a senior figure at Action Against Hunger in Bangladesh, with the charity since claiming Oxfam made no mention of his alleged conduct in 2011.
The Scottish Government has warned Westminster time is running out to strike a deal on Brexit legislation (PA)

Brexit Secretary David Davis is due to host talks in London on Thursday in a bid to resolve the stalemate between Holyrood and Westminster over the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill.

And ahead of those discussions the Scottish Government has warned it will not back down on the crucial issue of the Bills impact on devolution.

Ministers in both the Scottish and Welsh administrations have repeatedly described the UK governments legislation a power grab  with a spokesman for Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon making clear their stance has not shifted.

He stated: Obviously we have made clear consistently that we are intent on protecting the existing devolution settlement and were not prepared to sign up to a deal that jeopardises or cuts across the existing devolution settlement. Thats the state of play.

Our position is exactly as outlined before, that all devolved powers exercised at European level must be devolved here.

DFM @JohnSwinney & Brexit Minister @Feorlean met UK Government Ministers David Lidington & David Mundell to set out the concerns of the Scottish Government about the Brexit process. pic.twitter.com/5axcj4iWif  ScotGovEurope (@ScotGovEurope) February 1, 2018

Scottish Brexit Secretary Mike Russell described the most recent talks, which took place in Edinburgh at the start of February, as very frustrating

UK Government amendments to the legislation, which had been promised when it was before MPs in the Commons, did not transpire, meaning any changes will now have to be made in the Lords.

Ms Sturgeons spokesman said: Were in a situation where the UK Government promised they would lodge an amendment or amendments regarding the key issues at stake, that promise wasnt met, the deadline slipped and the EU Withdrawal Bill left the Commons and went into the Lords.

Weeks and months have passed and there is still no sign of the action that was promised to try to resolve this.

Were still talking, were still intent on being as cooperative as possible, but time is running short and we havent made the progress so far that we need to see.

The Bill was brought forward to transfer European legislation in UK law after Brexit, but both the Scottish and Welsh governments have spoken out against clause 11, which transfers devolved EU powers to Westminster in the first instance  something the Tory Government insists is necessary to allow common frameworks to be set up across the UK.

With the issue one of several to be resolved before Britain leaves the European Union in March 2019, Ms Sturgeons spokesman stressed that clearly time is of the essence for the UK Government to make changes.

Time is very short if we are going to get this wrapped up, he said.

Weve made clear a continuity bill is one avenue that we could go down, but as things stand we are still talking to the UK Government about the EU Withdrawal Bill and trying to make it fit for purpose.

Mr Russell, who will represent the Scottish Government in Thursdays talks, has already signalled that its proposed EU Continuity Bill could be introduced in February if necessary to ensure Scottish law is prepared for Brexit.
The first official figures on the practice  which often sees perpetrators taking photographs or videos of a victims groin area from under their clothing  show complainants as young as 10, with only one-third of police forces in England and Wales having any data on the prevalence of upskirting.

Campaigners say existing laws for voyeurism, public decency and public order to not provide enough scope for a conviction, with many victims concerned about access to justice.

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A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: This behaviour is a violation of privacy and causes considerable distress for victims.

Prosecutors have a range of powers to deal with these cases. We continue to keep legislation under constant review to ensure we can bring offenders to justice.

Campaigners say the situation echoes that of image-based sexual abuse  often referred to as revenge porn  which lingered in a legal grey area until a law was introduced in April 2015 following a national campaign.

The first figures on upskirting, obtained by the Press Association, show:

 Just 15 of 44 police forces contacted had record of any allegations of upskirting in the two years since revenge porn was made illegal.

 Those with data showed 78 incidents reported in two years, with 11 resulting in suspects being charged.

 Complainants were as young as 10.

The data, released under Freedom of Information laws, prompted renewed calls for a specific upskirting law similar to the way revenge porn was made a criminal offence in 2015 following a nationwide campaign.

Clare McGlynn, professor of law at Durham University and an expert on sexual violence, said: The Governments response is still wholly inadequate.

There is no more information that is needed  we need to be changing the law now.

There is sufficient evidence on which the Government can make a decision to change the law. Thats what victims want and are expecting.

Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon, who has campaigned on a new upskirting law, said: Under pressure from campaigners, the Government had said that it was reviewing the law to tackle this violation of womens rights.

Six months on, and despite repeated questioning in parliament, they are still dragging their feet.

The Government must urgently act to protect the victims of this disgraceful, intrusive and abusive practice.

This law must be changed to protect women, punish offenders and deter others.

If the Conservative Government continues to refuse to make the changes needed, then Labour in government will enact legislation to make this a specific sexual offence.
People participate in a candlelight vigil in memory of the 17 people killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida (AP)

Dozens of students are travelling to Floridas state capital to urge political leaders to act to prevent a repeat of the shooting that killed 17 students and staff at their school last week.

Around 100 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School pupils plan to hold a rally in Tallahassee on Wednesday to put pressure on the states Republican-controlled legislature to consider a sweeping package of gun control laws.

Shortly after last weeks shooting in Parkland, several legislative leaders were taken on a tour of the school to see the damage firsthand, and they appeared shaken afterwards. Some Republicans have said they would consider changes to the law.

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The attack last Wednesday seemed to overcome the resistance of some in the states leadership, which has rebuffed gun restrictions since Republicans took control of both the governors office and the legislature in 1999.

However, there is still strong resistance by many in the party to any gun control measures.

Students also have vowed to exert pressure on US congress as the aftermath of the killings resonates beyond Florida.

Hundreds of protesters converged in a Los Angeles park on Monday, demanding tougher background checks and other gun safety measures after the shooting. Some signs held up by the California demonstrators read: Your Children Are Counting On You.

Senator Bill Galvano, a Republican and the incoming Florida senate president, said the state senate was preparing a package that would include raising the age to purchase any firearm to 21, creating a waiting period for purchasing any type of firearm, banning bump stocks that can allow semi-automatic guns to spray bullets quickly and creating gun violence restraining orders.

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Authorities said the school shooting suspect, Nikolas Cruz, 19, had a string of run-ins with school authorities that ended with his expulsion.

Police were repeatedly called to his house throughout his childhood. Cruzs lawyers said there were repeated warning signs that he was mentally unstable and potentially violent  yet he legally purchased a semi-automatic rifle.

We need to make sure everything is working and to learn from the experience, said Mr Galvano, who was among those who visited the school.

The senate is also considering boosting spending on mental health programmes for schools and giving law enforcement greater power to involuntarily hold someone considered a danger to themselves or others.

The body will also look at a proposal to deputise a teacher or someone else at the school so that they are authorised to have a gun.

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Mr Galvano said senators want to examine ways to protect schools that do not have resource officers  often armed law enforcement officers  on site.

State house leaders and Governor Rick Scott also are considering possible changes to firearms rules. Mr Scott has planned meetings on school safety, and said he would announce proposals on mental health issues later in the week.

However, some Republicans questioned whether additional gun restrictions are the answer. I really dont want to see this politicised into a gun debate, Republican senator Dennis Baxley said.

Referring to gun control advocates, he said: Sometimes I wish they were right, that this would fix it, but it wont  We have a terrible problem with obesity, but were not banning forks and spoons.

Democrats believe raising the age limit and creating a waiting period to buy rifles is not enough.

Senator Gary Farmer of Broward County said: Thats unacceptable. Thats a joke.

I dont see that as a restriction. It never should have been that an 18-year-old could buy an assault weapon. No Floridians should be able to buy an assault weapon.
If you don't fix your final destination, it's easy to lose your way. An attempt to give us the contours for the future shape of our island for 2040 has been unveiled. The first decade of the Republic's National Planning Framework investment was launched last week in Sligo with the publication of the National Development Plan. Amid the looming Brexit chaos, and another dismal failure on Northern Ireland with the Executive consigned to indefinite cold storage comes a blueprint for our future.

On taking over from Gerry Adams, Mary Lou McDonald reiterated at her first leadership event that Sinn Fein's ultimate goal is a united Ireland. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also seems intent on expediting the quest for a unitary state as an achievable medium-term objective.

Brexit fallout has naturally shaped the debate on the consequences of an EU UK separation, meanwhile demographic trends pointing to a Catholic majority in Northern Ireland have also put the spotlight on the constitutional future for the province. It seems the two islands are set fair to pursue divergent destinies in or out of Europe. Not only separate currencies. Separate trade treaties, markets, customs unions. Different economies and administrations on either side of the 310 mile border all inevitably involves a deepening of partition.

I believe that "Unity" Emperor has no clothes. These musings about a united Ireland are predicated around a profoundly dishonest debate.

Three generations of nationalists in Northern Ireland (since 1922) felt betrayed by the south - they saw themselves as effectively abandoned to the tyranny of unionist majority rule. In the south, there was a grievance born out a romantic historic goal to reclaim the fourth green field of Ulster. As nature ordained. And it's an unspoken assumption that one day unity will naturally recur.

In the interim however, the practices of partition for the best part of a century now require a more conscientious reappraisal. Some 96 years existence as separate states delivered new generations confronting different new realities. Today, the internal politics of the Republic and Northern Ireland are simply incompatible.

Northern nationalists, even those living in the south, are in deep denial about the time warp of their troubled politics. Violence brings dysfunction and the scars of strife have deprived too many of the vision to be objective and to see beyond singular goals.

Normal political discourse must also embrace employment, investment, tax, health services, education, welfare standards, infrastructure, transport and housing. These are not issues that prevent devolved government; they are the engine that keeps it running.

Political progress can't keep being delayed because of tripping over tiresome tribal baggage. It's unimaginable that Irish language legislation could prevent the government being established in Dail Eireann. But such is the potency of identity politics in the North that if there's to be an Irish Language Act, there must be an equal Act to recognise Ulster/Scottish and whatever you are having yourself.

Difficult legacy issues like fresh inquests into so many unspeakable deaths, are further evidence of a political life unable to look away from the rear-view mirror. The hands on history's clock keep turning and we must move on, not forgetting but not being frozen in time.

Naturally, northerners are deeply offended by any external objective analysis of their modern-day society - particularly from southerners. But let's call it for what it is: much of daily northern life is still deeply sectarian.

Let us also not pretend that 20 years after the Good Friday Agreement, ecumenism pluralism and a harmonious community ethos has yet to evolve.

It seems as if things are as bitter and bigoted, as ever.

Let's do away with the pretence: sectarianism is still is a core characteristic of Northern Ireland's two largest political parties. Both sides feed off blinkered approaches to life - the goal is to get one over on the other side.

A retreat to the bunkers was never more evident than in the party responses to the perils of Brexit. Faced with a 12% collapse in Northern Ireland's GDP based on research, you might think they could find common cause.

Far from uniting with both EU/UK allies to obtain the best of both worlds in terms of north-south and east-west trade, the DUP and Sinn Fein have seized on Brexit to drive their individual tribal agendas.

The DUP wrapped their Union flags around Tory Eurosceptics to drive a wedge away from the Republic. Sinn Fein, seized upon a harder border, to leverage a border poll for a united Ireland.

Thus tribal rivalry trumps what is best for the community as a whole strangling progress, and possibly jeopardising economic survival.

The unpalatable truth is that Northern Ireland is a dependent economy. Its largest, most vital, component is still the public sector/services. It requires an annual subvention from London of 10bn. That's an interesting figure. Coincidentally, it's equivalent to the 11.5bn for each year of the Republic's National Development Plan. In a united Ireland, the entire resources of 115bn over the next decade would have to be siphoned off just to sustain subventions to the Northern Ireland economy.

So, forget your Cork-Limerick motorway, designated regional cities, Metro or second runway at Dublin. All fiscal resources would have to be funnelled into Belfast.

By contrast, while life in Northern Ireland remains a prisoner to the past, society in the south has rapidly and irreversibly modernised. The Republic is becoming more secular and multicultural with each passing year. It increasingly ignores the woes of Northern Ireland. Ergo. Editors/producers throughout the Republic's broadcast and print media, deliberately diminish and even excise out coverage of northern political affairs. People have turned off, or tuned out; they have become tone deaf to the incessant circular arguments.

The unpalatable, unspeakable truth of southern millennial perspectives on Northern Ireland is grounded in the everyday reality of inter-generational partition. Leaving aside the consent of one million northern unionists, resisting being shoehorned into a united Ireland, we need a deeper analysis than unthinking green rhetoric.

By 2040, the prospects for a Federal Ireland - involving two separate states - seems a much more plausible notion. To acknowledge the divergences of the respective body politics, societal aspirations and economies.

This is a non-conflict constitutional aspiration. It is the optimal context for maximising good neighbourly cross-border co-operation. It might also secure external fiscal life support from both the UK/EU. But a vision born out of a misrepresentation is a disingenuous basis for shaping our island.

Ivan Yates was the Republic's Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry from 1994 to 1997
Uyghur supporters hold the flags of Turkey (right) and East Turkestan  a term that many Uyghurs and Turks use to refer to the Uyghur homeland in Chinas Xinjiang region  as they shout slogans during a demonstration outside the Chinese embassy in Ankara, July 9, 2015.

Malaysia is in talks with Thailand over the fate of 11 Uyghurs who escaped from a Thai jail last year, the Malaysian deputy prime minister said Tuesday, amid demands from Beijing that they be sent to China.

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said his country would resolve the issue diplomatically and in a way that did not offend any country.

We are talking with the Thais, said Zahid, who is also the home minister.

The 11 men were among 20 Uyghurs who broke out of their detention cells in southern Thailand in November, according to Malaysian officials.

We will take action that will not hurt the feelings of any country, Zahid told reporters in Kuala Lumpur, without elaborating. The decision, God willing, would be the best decision.

When asked whether Malaysia planned to send the Uyghurs back to Thailand, the deputy prime minister replied, Im not saying that, but we will have further negotiations on diplomacy and security with countries involved.

He said Malaysia would take into account concerns articulated by human rights groups from the region and other parts of the world.

Thai officials could not be reached immediately for comment.

Earlier this month, BenarNews reported that unidentified Chinese officials had been in touch with Malaysia to arrange the possible repatriation of the Uyghurs to China.

The escapees had been interrogated but were not believed to be linked to any militant groups, according to two Malaysian security officials who provided the information separately on condition of anonymity.

The officials did not say when the Uyghurs were taken into custody.

On Feb. 9, New York-based Human Rights Watch called on Malaysia to ensure that the detained Uyghurs were not forcibly sent to China where they faced credible threats of imprisonment and torture.

The eleven should be given urgent access to proceedings by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees to determine their status as refugees, the rights watchdog said.

Meanwhile, the United States expressed concerns over the possible deportations of the Uyghurs to China.

We urge Chinese authorities to uphold international human rights norms with regard to any individuals who have been returned to China, and to ensure transparency, due process, and the safety and proper treatment of these individuals, a State Department official told BenarNews this month.

Uyghurs are from Chinas western Xinjiang region where, rights groups said, heavy-handed rule by the authorities have forced many from the Muslim minority to flee abroad.

The 20 who escaped from the Thai detention center in November 2017 were among more than 200 Uyghurs detained in March 2014 after being found at a popular tourist spot in southern Thailands Songkhla province. It was not clear how they had arrived there.

The Uyghurs, who speak a Turkic language, claimed then that they were Turkish and demanded they be allowed to travel to Turkey, but Thailand kept them under detention as authorities tried to verify their citizenship.

Tensions have remained high in Xinjiang, where Uyghurs have long complained of pervasive discrimination, and religious and cultural repression under Chinese rule.

China blames Uyghurs for terrorist attacks, but rights groups have accused Chinese police of Uyghur households and restricting their Islamic practices, among other restrictions that curb their freedom.

Last month, Radio Free Asia (RFA), a sister entity of BenarNews, quoted an unnamed security official as saying that about 120,000 ethnic Uyghurs were being held in political re-education camps in the Kashgar prefecture of northwest Chinas Xinjiang region alone.
Islamic State (IS) has chosen Mindanao island as a strategic ground for recruiting fighters after being routed in its Middle Eastern strongholds last year, the leader of the largest Muslim guerrilla force in the southern Philippines warned on Tuesday.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) lost 24 guerrillas in 2017 as it helped the Philippine government fight a faction of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), which pledged allegiance to IS and was trying to control a vast marshland area in the south, MILF Chairman Murad Ebrahim said in Manila.

The fight against violent extremism is real, Murad said while speaking at the annual conference of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP).

As the battlefields in the Middle East are cleared, and the bases of the ISIS are constricted, we will increasingly find them in our midst as they seek new strategic grounds where the hold of the government is weak, such as in Mindanao, he said, using another term for Islamic State.

IS did not care about the national liberation agenda of Filipino Muslims but was playing on the frustration and resentment of the people, especially the young to lure them into extremism, Murad said.

The reality now is that they are using the possible failure of the peace process to recruit more people, Murad said, adding that IS could partner with smaller Philippine militant organizations in the south, such as the Abu Sayyaf Group and BIFF, to spread its extremist ideology.

Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels patrol an area once held by pro-Islamic State militants in Datu Salibo, in the southern Philippine province of Maguinadanao, Sept. 5, 2017. [AFP]

The 12,000-strong MILF was the countrys largest separatist force until it signed a peace deal with Manila in 2014 and dropped its bid for full independence in exchange for expanded regional autonomy.

Congress was supposed to ratify the Bangsamoro Basic Law to outline an autonomous region for MILF. But its passage has been delayed in a Congress dominated by Christian lawmakers, who fear that giving too much power to the minority Muslims could lead to trouble.

Last year, MILF helped the military go after IS-linked groups that took over the southern city of Marawi in a five-month siege, which left more than 1,200 people dead  a majority of them militants.

Murad said the chances of something like Marawi happening elsewhere cannot be overlooked. MILF would keep helping the Philippine military go after IS-allied groups.

The destruction of Marawi was unprecedented, said Murad, stressing the need for a more concerted effort to prevent another siege from happening elsewhere in Mindanao.

Another foreign suspect arrested

MILFs own undercover people recently confirmed the presence of a Canadian man who had infiltrated ranks of Abu Sayyaf in the nearby island of Jolo, Murad said. He declined to give the mans name, but said MILF had shared its information about the Canadian to the Filipino police and military.

Murads revelation came after Philippine authorities arrested a Spanish national last month in Basilan island, a known Abu Sayyaf stronghold in the south. On Monday, police presented another foreign national, Fehmi Lassoued, and his Filipino girlfriend, as suspects in an alleged terror plot.

Seized from Lassoued and Anabel Salipada were handguns, ammunition and bomb making components, as well as an IS black flag, authorities said. Police said Lassoued was born in the United Arab Emirates but was of Libyan and Tunisian descent. He had also lived in Syria.

Lassoued had traveled to Malaysia, Turkey and the Philippines during the past two years and entered Philippine territory on a fake Tunisian passport, the police said, adding that a foreign intelligence ally had alerted local authorities about his presence.
1. BB Cream: BB and CC creams have been hitting the shelves like crazy off late. Now, when a natural kind of finish is what you are looking for, a BB cream is your best bet. These will cover up minimal flaws while giving you a sheer coverage, which means that your skin will still show through. It will be kind of like a no makeup look. BB creams are like a combination product inclusive of moisturiser, SPF, primer, foundation and a brightener. They are different from tinted moisturisers in the sense that tinted moisturisers would only provide you with sheer coverage. BB creams on the other hand would colour correct and brighten your skin, making your skin look wide awake and fresh. Plus, it would save you a lot of time and money, being a combination of so many products. We all know how tight our budgets used to be in college.

2. Mascara: Mascaras have the ability to change your entire look. Some of them can even give you the look of having eyelash extensions or falsies on. It is a great way to look presentable and fresh without looking overdone. So make sure you invest in a good mascara, especially one that is waterproof, because as we said, you don't want the humidity and sweat to cause you to look like a mess. Another tip we have for you is to change your mascara every six months, as mascara tends to spoil faster than other products.

3. Concealer: Now we know that we aren't aiming for a full coverage look, but we are aiming to look healthy and fresh. Since we are not too far from our pubescent years in college, a few of our teenage problems tend to follow us. For those unexpected pesky spots, a good concealer is a must to have. College also has us having a lot of late nights, which means we do not get as much rest as our body requires. This means, dark circles. Yikes! Concealers are great to instantly brighten up and cover those under eye circles. Although, we would suggest you not to skip on rest and sleep. Trust us, your skin will thank you in your later years.

4. Blush: We love blushes. They add the right flush of colour to our faces. Keep a pink or coral, natural looking blush around for a healthy flush of colour. After all, during your young years, you want to look healthy and fresh, and unfortunately, that flush doesn't always come naturally. Pop on some blush to give yourself a bright complexion.

5. Tinted Lip Balm: It is super important to always keep a tube of lip balm in your purse. We love tinted lip balms, because along with keeping our lips plump and hydrated, they add a tinge of colour to our lips, without making it look fake or overdone. They are not high maintenance and super easy when you're in a rush. Another amazing product we can suggest for this is a lip stain.

6. Highlight: A college girl's look is all about fresh and glowing skin, and how could that be complete without highlight? Now, we don't mean the blinding highlights we see being all the rage these days. Go for a lighter, more natural kind of highlight. We suggest cream highlights for this, as you can blend it out to be minimal. Powder highlights tend to be the blinding kinds. Dab some on on the high points of your cheeks, the bridge of your nose and any area where the light naturally hits your face for that lit from within look.

7. Eyebrow Product: This might be one of the most important tips we could give you, because your eyebrows can make or break your face. Gone are the days of stick thin eyebrows with barely any hair in them. Soft, full brows can give structure to your face. You could go for an eyebrow pencil, eyebrow powder or eyebrow gel, depending on the finish you want. We find powders to give the most natural finish. You could even use good old eyeshadow in brown or grey to fill in your brows, multi-tasking at its best. Be sure to never use black to fill in your brows, as that could look too harsh.

8. Bronzers: Definitely get a bronzer. It adds depth and sharpness to your face, making you look chiselled naturally. Although, do not cover your entire face with bronzer. Just a little bit to enhance your cheekbones would be enough. You don't have to go for a full blown contour effect with it, as we are trying to keep the makeup fresh and minimal, to make it look natural.

9. Eye Pencil: A tip for making your lashes look naturally thick and long is to tight line your upper water line. Use a black eye pencil to tight line your upper water line to ensure that there are no gaps between your waterline and your lashes. On the other hand, use a nude eye pencil on your lower waterline, to look wide awake and look like you got your complete eight hours of sleep. We find that a black eye pencil to line the lower water line can look a bit too harsh and it beats the purpose of the natural look. So go for a nude eye pencil for the lower waterline. Thankfully, there are some good options to choose from, now available in India.
By Padraig Hoare

A prominent developer has voiced concerns over the viability of the 116bn national development plan, saying checks and balances were needed for it to succeed.

Michael OFlynn said that unless there were complementary business strategies to go alongside the plan, it could fall by the wayside like former national planning strategies.

Speaking at the Future of Cork event, Mr OFlynn said: How will the plan be implemented?

The previous spatial strategy didnt succeed. Implementation strategy and business plan strategy is vital to go with any announcement.

This has tended not to happen in the past. There is a thing called viability. I am really concerned about how it is going to be checked and balanced as we go by, said Mr OFlynn.

Tanaiste Simon Coveney said Mr OFlynns concerns were very fair but that a new state development company which will work with local authorities would be an oversight entity.

Mr Coveney said he expected the skills shortage in construction would lead to a surge of Irish tradespeople in countries like New Zealand coming home, along with immigrants from the likes of Latvia and Poland.

He said the current numbers in construction and trades were not sufficient for the national development plan, and that an emphasis would be put on attracting young people back to the industry.

Mr Coveney denied the 116bn plan was an election pitch, saying it had involved the submissions of all parties and various bodies across the country.
It really doesn't get much cuter than this, brace yourself, writes Sally Gorman.

Primary school student Callum came to his teacher's rescue when her golden retriever Charlie was put to sleep.

Charlie was a one-and-a-half-year-old golden retriever (@luciedunne_/PA)

Thoughtful Callum took it upon himself to make Mrs Dunne a heartfelt card to make her feel better after losing her pet pooch.

Mrs Dunne was stressed about returning to school so soon after parting with her dog but little Callum has helped soften the blow.

The boy gave her the letter after her dog was put down (@luciedunne_/PA)

His card read: "To Mrs Dunne, sorry if you don't like it or it makes you emotional.

"Your dog was special and your dog is in a better place and is looking over you.

"Charlie was a great dog. Love Callum."

The poem the young boy wrote for his teacher (@luciedunne_/PA)

Callum also included an acrostic of Charlie's name branding him cheeky, happy, adorable, a relation, lucky, incredible, energetic and of course special.

He even drew her a bowl of sweets at the back...

via GIPHY

Mrs Dunne's daughter Lucie from Glasgow in Scotland, took to Twitter to share pictures of Callum's kind gesture and they have since been liked 34,000 times and retweeted over 5000 times - at time of publication.

Mums been so upset about the dog being put to sleep and stressing about having to go back into school today, and she got this from a wee boy in her class  pic.twitter.com/2qslb572CX  L (@ldnne_) February 19, 2018

Callum is such a little charmer and has thousands of fans already.
In a blog post on Friday afternoon, bestselling Irish author Emma Hannigan revealed on that her long-term battle with breast cancer has become terminal.

The conversation I never wanted to have has been said, she began.

My medical team have thrown everything but the kitchen sink at this fight but all avenues have now been exhausted.

To say that Im heartbroken doesnt begin to cover it.

Since the post was published Irish authors, such as Marian Keyes, Melissa Hill and Carmel Harrington have rallied together in a bid to get her new book, Letters to my Daughters to number one in the Irish book charts.

And it worked!

One of Ireland's biggest booksellers, Dubray Books announced the news on Twitter today, adding that are donating our profits from the book to the Irish Cancer Society.

Look who's our no. 1! Heartfelt thanks to all who put #LetterstomyDaughters there - we are donating our profits from it to @BreastCancerIre as @MsEmmaHannigan is their ambassador.

It is now reprinting but we will have more next week. Pre-order here: https://t.co/tx9OEdoaQn pic.twitter.com/Mjfd1mHGER  Dubray (@DubrayBooks) February 20, 2018

The Book Centre, who have branches in Kilkenny, Waterford, and Wexford, have also announced that they will follow suit.

Following on from the sad news of Irish author Emma Hannigan's terminal cancer diagnosis. We will be donating all profits from the sale of her new book 'Letters to my Daughters' to The Irish Cancer Society. @MsEmmaHannigan @IrishCancerSoc #LetterstomyDaughters  The Book Centre (@TheBookCentres) February 19, 2018

The campaign has been lead using the tag #LetterstoMyDaughters - a place where Hannigans fans and peers have also been leaving her messages of support.

I'm lucky enough to currently occupy the #1 slot on the Irish bestseller list. I'd be a happy and humbled man to see @msemmahannigan replace me. Have bought my copy of #LetterstomyDaughters and encourage readers to do the same. https://t.co/DHnv8ok5Yr  AJ Finn (@AJFinnBooks) February 19, 2018

The true warrior isn't immune to fear; she fights in spite of it. Pls support the amazing author @MsEmmaHannigan

Sending you love & positive energy #LettersToMyDaughters xx pic.twitter.com/YfKicRwNyl  Deric (@deric_tv) February 20, 2018

Look at what my darling bought for me as we are thinking of our loved ones who passed away from cancer and our dearest friend battling cancer. #LetterstomyDaughters #cancer #supportemmahannigan #supportirishcancersociety pic.twitter.com/uHF1dc5o4N  Deirdre Byrne (sign name: bob hair) is fully  (@DeafDeirdre) February 19, 2018

Emma Hennigan is a wonderful writer and a lovely person. She cant promote her new book herself so please seek it out. Buy it and tell all your friends to buy it. Together lets get #LetterstomyDaughters to No 1 @MsEmmaHannigan https://t.co/RzvjyutvIl  Sarah Webb (@sarahwebbishere) February 18, 2018
By Leona ONeill

A disabled Northern Irish man says he no longer feels safe in his own home after two men broke in, wrecked his home, tied him to a chair and set his trousers on fire.

Mickey Diver (47) who suffers from leg paralysis and walks with the aid of a frame, was watching television on Saturday night when the men broke in through the kitchen window of his home in Strabane, Co Tyrone.

They assaulted him, leaving a large gash on his head, and tied him to a chair in his bedroom before ransacking his home.

They set various pieces of furniture alight before turning their attention to the vulnerable man, setting his trousers on fire while he was restrained and unable to escape.

Mickey says he was shaken and traumatised by the attack.

I was watching TV on Saturday night and they broke the back window and climbed through, he said.

They just attacked me for nothing. They grabbed me, took me into the bedroom, sat me on a chair and they tied my hands behind my back.

"They tied my hands so tight it cut my skin. They wrecked my house and set fire to pictures on the wall and my sofa.

"They were setting fire to everything and they pulled the smoke alarm off the roof. They were trying to burn my bungalow down.

They came in a hit me a hard punch in the head while I was tied up. Then they lit my tracksuit bottoms. I couldnt get away and my trousers were on fire.

"It was terrifying. I couldnt escape. I can hardly walk, I use a zimmer frame. I couldnt get up and run.

"They put the fire out on my trousers but I was burned right up my leg.

They released me and left. I was in agony but I couldnt get up. They stole my mobile phone so I couldnt ring anyone.

"I had to stay there for hours before I eventually got the strength to get my walking frame and I managed to walk to my mothers house to get help.

Mickey says after the attack he does not feel safe now in his own home.

I am feeling terrible today, he says. I am so sore and I am scared. I dont want to live here anymore.

"I want to move. I dont feel safe in my own home.

"I want to go into a homeless shelter or anywhere. I just dont want to live here.

Police in Strabane say they are currently investigating a very serious incident, involving burglary, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, false imprisonment and criminal damage, reported within the Springhill Park area of Strabane.

This incident is believed to have occurred Between Saturday 17th February 10pm and Sunday 18th February 1am, said a spokesperson.

Police have arrested and charged one person in relation to the incident however we appeal to anyone with any information, to contact Police."
A leading economist says Permanent TSB's proposal to sell mortgages to a vulture fund will not lead to wide-scale repossessions.

The bank plans to sell 20,000 distressed loans at a value of around 4bn.

Fianna Fail has raised concerns, saying this could be just the tip of the iceberg.

However, Economist Seamus Coffey says we have not seen a flood of repossessions in the past so there is no reason to believe it will happen now.

He said: "There's only a certain amount of mortgages that are the non-engagers, the non-payers, and it is very difficult to get a possession order from the Irish court system.

"It's not the vulture funds that are buying it, they are buying the mortgage contract. I've been reading headlines about selling homes to vulture funds, they are not doing that at all, they are buying the mortgage and the borrower still has the protection of the mortgage contract
Concerns have been raised that the National Development Plan will encourage too much growth in the greater Dublin region.

The Dail is debating Project Ireland 2040 this evening, with the Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe claiming it would improve lives and boost the economy.

But Fianna Fail has claimed it does very little for rural communities.

Fianna Fail's spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Reform, Dara Calleary, has criticised the "hype" surrounding the launch of the plan which he claims is "designed to distract from the many flaws in the plan".

"There is an irony that the Ireland 2040 promotional campaign- which is extensive and expensive- apparently includes cinema ads at a time when the film awards season is at its height," Mr Calleary told the Dail.

"Based on the actual content of the plan versus the hype surrounding its launch various government ministers could be in line for Best Actor and Actress Awards, and the plan itself would most definitely would win an award for screenplay."

He went on to criticise the Fine Gael led government for their failure to deliver on promises made on housing, broadband and public transport.

"When it comes to major Infrastructure plans this government has a record of selling pups to the Irish people. They wont buy this one though."

He said that the government plan to increase capital expenditure to above EU levels is welcome but that the figure of almost 116 billion comes with a warning.

The stage awaits the performance and the performers...#Ireland2040 pic.twitter.com/PeqwJb3rhA  Dara Calleary (@daracalleary) February 16, 2018

"In what may become the biggest flaw in a plan of flaws this plan - and its promises - are prepared on the basis that there will be no major economic shocks to the country during the 10 year period, despite the potential impact of Brexit on our economic growth prospects."

Mr Calleary pointed to the Copenhagen Report published last week which indicated that in a worst case scenario Brexit could see Ireland down by 3-7 billion a year.

During his speech, Mr Calleary drew attention to his own constituency of County May saying that "regional connectivity is one of the buzz words of this plan" but that it clearly did not apply to areas of Mayo.

He said that the National Development Plan claimed to offer a new dawn for Ireland "except its the same dawn theyve been offering for many years now.

"Despite the packaging and the pizzazz- this dawn will turn out like all the ones announced by this government before- it will never turn in to day."

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein's Eoin O'Broin was concerned that population growth for the eastern and midlands region will focus around Dublin.

Sinn Feins @EOBroin is to seek independent legal advice on whether #Ireland2040 requires an Oireachtas vote to have legal standing #twip pic.twitter.com/P0myMzaqhd  The Week in Politics (@rtetwip) February 18, 2018

"50% of the population growth is in the eastern and midlands region and I have a genuine concern that without proper action by central and local government that 50% will concentrate in Dublin city and the immediate commuter belt and therefore even though 75% is outside of Dublin, 50% will actually be in the Dublin and commuter belt county areas with very negative impacts," said Mr O'Broin.

Digital Desk
By Ann O'Loughlin

Convicted murderer Graham Dwyer has asked the High Court to strike down a law which allowed data, such as telephone records, to go before the jury during his trial for the murder of Elaine O'Hara.

Dwyer (aged 45) was sentenced to life imprisonment in April 2015 after a jury at the Central Criminal Court found him guilty of Ms O'Hara's murder in 2012 claims the law is unconstitutional and breaches EU laws, including his right to privacy.

He has brought a challenge against provisions of the law that allowed Gardai investigating Ms O'Hara's death to obtain and use certain data, including phone records, as evidence against him during his lengthy trial.

Cork-born Dwyer, with an address in Foxrock, South Co Dublin, has brought civil proceedings against the Garda Commissioner, Director of Public prosecutions, Minister for Justice and Communications, Ireland and the Attorney General, which oppose the action.

At the opening of the challenge before Mr Justice Tony O'Connor Dwyer's lawyers argue that certain provisions of the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011 breach his Constitutional rights, European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and rights under the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union to privacy and protection of his personal data.

Dwyer, represented by Remy Farrell SC, bases his claim on decision of the the European Courts of Justice (ECJ) in 2014 to strike down the EU directive underlying the 2011 Act.

The State parties, represented by Brian Murray SC and Sean Guerin SC, reject all of Dwyer's arguments and deny the 2011 Act is incompatible with EU Charter ECHR and the Irish Constitution.

In his action, Dwyer seeks several declarations including that provisions of the 2011 Act are incompatible with EU law and are repugnant to Articles 40.3.1, 40.3.2 and 40.6.1, which include his rights to vindicate his good name, of the Irish Constitution.

He also seeks a declaration that provisions of the 2011 Act are incompatible with the State's obligations under Articles 8, which provides a right to privacy, family life, home and correspondence, and Article 10, which provides a right to freedom of expression and information of the ECHR.

He also wants, if appropriate, damages for a breach of his rights under Article 3 of the ECHR, which prohibits torture and inhuman and degrading treatment, and an order that his legal costs be paid for by the respondents.

If necessary he seeks to have the case referred to the ECJ for determination.

Dwyer was not present at the hearing, and is serving the life sentence he received in April 2015 for Ms O'Hara's murder at the Midlands Prison. The outcome of the action will have an effect on his appeal against his conviction, which has yet to be heard.

Dwyer's action centres around a decision made in 2006 by the EU when it adopted Directive 2006/24/EC on the retention of data.

Opening the case, Mr Farrell said the directive was designed to harmonise the laws of EU member states concerning the retention of certain data on electronic communication services on communication networks, such as mobile phone and internet records.

The directive sought to ensure that all data was available for the prevention, investigation, detection and prosecution of serious crime, such as terrorism and organised crime.

The directive required communication service providers to retain traffic and location data necessary to identify the subscriber or user.

In 2011 the Communications (Retention of Data) Act was enacted by the State.

This, Mr Farrell said, gave effect to the EU Directive, and permitted a Garda not below the rank of Chief Superintendent to request a telecommunications service provider to give the gardai any retained data believed to be required for the investigation of or prosecution of a serious offence punishable by imprisonment of a period of five years or more.

In 2014 the European Court of Justice found in a case called Digital Rights Ireland Ltd vs The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and others that the 2006 EU Directive was invalid.

That court's decision was based on findings including that the directive made it possible to know private, precise, personal information about persons whose data was retained.

The directive interfered in a particular serious manner with the fundamental rights to respect for private life and to the protection of personal data. The fact that data was retained and used without the user being informed was likely to generate a feeling that their private lives were the subject of constant surveillance.

The ECJ found that by adopting the Directive 2006/24 the EU had exceeded the limits of proportionality set down in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

Dwyer claims the ECJ ruling means that Irish legislation implementing the directive was illegal and that data collected on his phone was also therefore invalid, and should not have been used at his trial.

During the investigation of Ms O'Hara's murder the Gardai obtained data under the 2011 Act relating to Dwyer.

Telecommunications service providers gave data to the Gardai at Blackrock Garda Station who were investigating Ms O'Hara's death following the discovery of her remains at Killakee Mountain in South Dublin in September 2013.

Dwyer claims the decision to arrest him in October 2013 was based to a significant extent on the analysis of data disclosed to the Gardai under the 2011 Act.

The data analysis concerned the nature of contact between certain phones, including a phone used by Dwyer and two phones attributed to him by the Prosecution, he claims.

The evidence included dates, times, who was contacting whom and if it was a text message, and which networks various contacts were routed through.

The information allowed the prosecution to show the jury that Dwyer's mobile phone was in certain places at certain times, and his location when the calls and texts were made and received.

As the data was included as evidence supporting the prosecution's case against Dwyer his lawyers, citing the ECJ's decision in 2014, applied to the judge presiding over the murder trial, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, to exclude the data and phone analysis evidence.

Over two days at the 2015 trial, Dwyer's lawyers argued the material should be excluded as it breached his rights under the EU Charter.

Mr Justice Hunt dismissed the application and let the evidence go before the jury. He based his ruling on the fact that the relevant provisions of the 2011 Act remained in force and had been subject to any challenge at that time. The procuring of the evidence did not breach Dwyer's rights, the judge also held.

The trial proceeded and the jury found Dwyer guilty on a unanimous verdict.

The case continues.
By Ann O'Loughlin

Graham Dwyer wants the High Court to strike down provisions of the law that allowed data from mobile phones be used by prosecutors as evidence during his trial for the murder of Elaine O'Hara.

Dwyer (45) was sentenced to life imprisonment in April 2015 after a jury at the Central Criminal Court found him guilty of Ms O'Hara's murder.

He has brought a challenge against provisions of 2011 Communications Act which allowed Gardai investigating Ms O'Hara's death to obtain and use certain data, including phone records, as evidence against him during his lengthy trial.

He claims provisions of that Act are unconstitutional and breached his rights, including his right to privacy.

Today, Dwyer's lawyers told Mr Justice Tony O'Connor certain provisions of the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011 Act breach his Constitutional rights, European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and rights under the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union to privacy and protection of his personal data.

Dwyer (pictured) seeks various declarations in proceedings against the Garda Commissioner, Director of Public Prosecutions, Ministers for Justice and Communications, Ireland and the Attorney General, which oppose the action.

Dwyer's case centres on the European Courts of Justice ECJ's decision in 2014 to strike down the EU directive underlying the 2011 Act.

The State parties reject all of Dwyer's arguments and deny the 2011 Act is incompatible with the Charter, ECHR or the Constitution.

In his action Dwyer seeks declarations including that provisions of the 2011 Act are incompatible with the EU Charter and are repugnant to Articles 40.3.1, 40.3.2 and 40.6.1 of the Irish Constitution.

He also seeks a declaration that provisions of the 2011 Act are incompatible with the State's obligations under Articles 8 and 10 of the ECHR.

He further seeks damages and an order for his legal costs.

Dwyer was not present at the hearing, and is currently incarcerated at the Midlands Prison.

Mr Farrell said his client "is not seeking to challenge his conviction in these proceedings", but that was very much "a live issue" in Dwyer's appeal against his conviction.

Opening the case Remy Farrell SC for Dwyer said in 2014 the European Court Of Justice (ECJ) held that Directive 2006/24/EC which concerns the retention of data was invalid.

The directive was designed to harmonise laws of the EU member states concerning the retention of certain data on electronic communication services on communication networks, such as mobile phone and internet records.

It sought to ensure that all data was available for the prevention, investigation, detection and prosecution of serious crime and required service providers to retain traffic and location data necessary to identify the subscriber or user.

In 2011 the Communications (Retention of Data) Act was enacted by the State.

This Mr Farrell said this was done to give effect to the EU Directive. It permitted a senior Garda to require a service provider to give the gardai any retained data believed to be required for a probe of a serious offence punishable by imprisonment of a period of 5 years or more.

In 2014 the ECJ found in a case called Digital Rights Ireland Ltd vs The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and others that the 2006 EU Directive was invalid.

Counsel said the 2011 Act suffers from the same flaws as the directive.

Counsel said that his client has "a fundamental difficulty" with the "indiscriminate regime" under the Act which allows everyone's data to be retained for two years. He added that they had complaints about the access to this data, particularly the lack of independent oversight in relation to accessing the data.

Counsel said the decision to arrest and charge Dwyer in October 2013 was based to a significant extent on the analysis of the data disclosed to the Gardai by mobile phone providers under the 2011 Act.

The data analysis concerned the nature of contact between certain phones, including a phone used by Dwyer and "two phones attributed to him by the Prosecution," counsel said.

The evidence included dates, times, who was contacting whom and if it was a text message, and which networks various contacts were routed through, counsel said.

The information allowed the prosecution tell the jury the phones were in certain places at certain times, and the location when the calls and texts were made and received.

Dwyer's lawyers citing the ECJ's decision, applied to the judge presiding at the murder trial, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, to exclude the data and phone analysis evidence.

The Judge dismissed the application and let the evidence go before the jury on the basis the 2011 Act remained in force and had not been challenged.

The trial proceeded and the jury found Dwyer guilty on a unanimous verdict.

The case continues.
By David Raleigh

Parents in the mid-west region have been urged by the HSE to vaccinate their children against measles after an outbreak of the contagious infection in Limerick.

The HSE has confirmed there have been 15 confirmed cases in the Treaty City so far this year, plus another linked case in Dublin.

The linked case is understood to have involved a child who contracted the disease in a Limerick hospital and who was then admitted to Temple Street Childrens Hospital, Dublin, this month.

It's believed the initial case of measles was contracted by a patient who visited the Middle East over the Christmas period.

The HSE stated today: There are now fifteen cases of measles infection confirmed in Limerick City this year and a linked case confirmed in Dublin. These cases have attended a number of community and healthcare settings across the city. Most cases so far are associated with the Ballinacurra Weston and Carew Park (Southill) area of the city.

A number of suspect cases are also being investigated.

Official immunisation uptake statistics for the first dose of MMR (recommended at 12 months of age) show that uptake in Limerick city and county has been consistently just below the target of 95% which the WHO recommends for population immunity over the past number of years, the HSE stated.

The best protection against measles is to be fully vaccinated with two doses of the MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella) vaccine. All children should get MMR at 12 months of age and the second dose at 4-5 years of age. If your child missed their MMR vaccine you should contact your GP.

Dr Mai Mannix , Director of Public Health in the Mid-West said the MMR vaccine is the safest way that parents can protect their children against measles as infants, young children and their families are particularly vulnerable.

The MMR vaccine is used in 90 countries around the world and the World Health Organisation recognises MMR as a highly effective vaccine with an outstanding safety record.

Parents of children in Limerick city and county , Clare and North Tipperary should ensure their child is fully vaccinated for MMR and bring their child for vaccination if they have missed or not already had the correct number of doses for their age, Dr Mannix added.

The HSE stated that, if people are unsure of their vaccination status they are advised to get an MMR vaccine, as even if they do have two doses of MMR a third dose is not harmful.

The HSE has run a vaccination clinic in the area where cases have been notified and further clinics are planned.

A free MMR clinic will operate on Wednesday 21 February, from 12 noon  3pm, at Barrack View Primary Care Centre, Edward Street, Limerick.

The HSE stressed it was calling on those living in the Carew Park and Ballinacurra Weston area of Limerick city to attend the clinic.
By Louise Roseingrave

Gardai are responding to queries from the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to the death of a father who saved his daughters life.

Martin Finn (aged 60) from Gurteen, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, died on January 17, 2017.

The man was out feeding horses with his daughter when the incident happened on the Newcastle Road in Clondalkin.

A postmortem performed by Dr Stephen Crowther at Tallaght Hospital gave the cause of death as head and neck injuries due to a road traffic accident.

It is understood Mr Finn pushed his daughter Abbie out of harms way before he was struck by an oncoming car.

Mr Finn and his daughter were tending to horses when the incident happened.

At a resumed hearing into the mans death today, gardai confirmed that a file has been sent to the DPP.

Queries have arisen and these are being dealt with by investigating officers, Inspector Mark ONeill told the court.

Speaking after her husbands death, Mrs Hall-Finn said her teenage daughter Abbie, who was injured in the incident, said her father had pushed her out of the way of the oncoming car before he was struck.

Mrs Hall-Finn had been waiting nearby in her parked car. Her husband and daughter were making their way back to the car when the incident happened.

Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane adjourned the inquest until August 8, 2018.
Update - 8.18am: It is thought the DUP may make a call in the British House of Commons later, for the return of direct rule in the North.

Party leader Arlene Foster says her MPs will be raising the issue later.

It comes as the Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley is due to update the British House of Commons on how the UK Government will deal with the situation.

6.56am: Irish and British governments 'committed to Good Friday Agreement'

The Irish and British governments have insisted they are fully committed to the Good Friday Agreement.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and British Prime Minister Theresa May spoke by phone after the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Fein clashed over the prospect of direct rule being imposed on Northern Ireland.

Both leaders expressed disappointment over the political impasse at Stormont.

The breakdown in powersharing came to a head despite optimism that a deal had been close on contentious issues such as the Irish language, marriage equality and the legacy of the past.

"Both leaders recognised the progress and serious engagement made by the parties," a spokeswoman for 10 Downing Street said.

"The Prime Minister said she believed there was scope for agreement and reiterated the UK Government's priority was still to get devolution up and running again in Northern Ireland."

Mrs May and Mr Varadkar are to remain in close contact.

The leaders spoke after the Taoiseach and his deputy, Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney, met Sinn Fein leader and deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O'Neill at Government Buildings in Dublin.

A spokesman for the Taoiseach said he emphasised the Irish Government's full commitment to the Good Friday Agreement and its determination to secure the effective operation of all its institutions.

"As co-guarantor to the agreement, the Government will continue to engage with the parties in Northern Ireland and the British Government to support the urgent formation of a new executive by the mandated political parties," the spokesman said.

The Taoiseach's office said the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent agreements must be implemented in full and reiterated opposition to direct rule.

Earlier Democratic Unionist leader Arlene Foster had called on the UK Government to start setting budgets for schools and hospitals.

"Frontline staff have been living hand to mouth for too long. The Northern Ireland people deserve better," Ms Foster said.

"I am not prepared to allow this to continue. Decisions need to be taken."

Mrs McDonald dismissed the DUP calls for Westminster to start making big spending decisions in Northern Ireland.

"We don't accept any call for a cooling-off period, in fact we're saying very clearly that there cannot be vacuum, we need action and we need the two governments to be decisive at this point," she said.

"Direct rule is not acceptable. Direct rule is not on the table.

"We have been clear - nationalism right across the country is clear on that point, the Government in Dublin is clear on that point and I have to say that we have previous words from both governments which made very clear that direct rule is not the answer when the institutions falter."

Sinn Fein is pressing for the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference to be convened in the absence of powersharing.

The Sinn Fein leadership and Ms Foster are expected to hold separate talks later this week with Prime Minister Theresa May.

The DUP, whose 10 MPs are propping up the Conservatives at Westminster, effectively ended talks aimed at bringing the 13-month political impasse in Northern Ireland to a close last Wednesday when Ms Foster said she did not believe it would be possible to form an executive.

The move came two days after the British PM visited Stormont.
Catherine Nevin aka the Black Widow has died following a long illness.

The 67-year-old had been granted temporary full-time release from prison in September of 2017.

Update 7pm: Former Assistant Garda Commissioner for the South East region, Jim McHugh, has spoken following the news of Catherine Nevin's death.

Mr McHugh was first on the scene when Tom Nevin was shot and killed at Jack Whyte's pub in 1996.

He was the first person to interview Nevin before she was arrested.

Speaking to RTE's Drivetime today, Mr McHugh recalled the scene that met him when he arrived at the pub where Tom Nevin's body was lying "with a pen still held in his right hand".

On further investigation of the scene Mr McHugh said there were "some unusual circumstances" such as jewellery strewn on the stairs, the phone in the bedroom being off the hook and a glass of scotch by Catherine's side of the bed.

"In particular, I recall - which certainly did to some extent raise my suspicion - was a portable television which would be of little value and would often times be found in bedrooms, was outside the door of the bedroom in the hallway creating the impression that the robbers were going to take it away which one would have thought unlikely because of its relative inexpensive value," said Mr McHugh.

"If they came in to rob the jewellery, it was strewn all over the place.

"There was still some money there. Not all of it was taken."

When she was interviewed, she told them that she had fallen asleep after reading and drinking some of the whiskey found by the bed and was later disturbed "rather violently" by an individual in a balaclava.

Mr McHugh said that her account of what happened had been "well rehearsed" and she appeared "quite distraught and traumatised as one would expect but that was the impression she created."

While Mr McHugh said that the investigation was broad, Nevin was a person of interest.

Mr McHugh said that when being questioned by gardai Nevin behaved like "an experienced, hardened criminal".

After she was convicted of Tom Nevin's murder, Mr McHugh said he was delighted but he also felt sorry.

Listen to the full interview below:

Earlier:Black Widow Catherine Nevin dies aged 67

She had been in palliative care after finding out last year that she is terminally ill with a brain tumour.

She passed away last night.

When contacted for confirmation, the Irish Prison Service said they cannot comment on individual prisoners or cases.

The Gardai have also said that they cannot comment on sudden deaths.

In 2000, Nevin was jailed for life having been convicted of murdering her husband Tom Nevin at their pub, Jack Whites Inn, near Brittas Bay, Co Wicklow, on March 19, 1996.

She also received a seven-year sentence for soliciting three men - Gerry Heapes, William McClean and John Jones - to kill her husband in 1989 and 1990.

Ms Nevin, who had always denied any involvement in the murder, lost an appeal against her conviction in 2003. In 2010 she also lost an application to have her conviction declared a miscarriage of justice.
Northern Ireland Secretary of State Karen Bradley said while it should be a matter for the Stormont Assembly, if the matter was to be raised at Westminster it is the Government's policy to allow a free vote on matters of conscience.

She was responding to a written question from Labour MP Conor McGinn, who asked if she would bring forward legislative proposals on equal marriage for same-sex couples in the region.

Ms Bradley said: "In accordance with the Belfast Agreement, this is a devolved matter which should be addressed in the NI Assembly; but the power of the Westminster Parliament to legislate remains unaffected.

"If this issue were to be raised in Westminster, the Government's policy is to allow a free vote on matters of conscience such as equal marriage."

Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK where same-sex marriage is not recognised in law.

Several attempts in the Stormont Assembly to introduce marriage equality failed.

The DUP used a petition of concern to veto the bills, arguing that such legislation did not command enough cross-community support.

Human rights organisations and LGBT equality campaigners have been calling for Westminster to legislate for marriage equality in the region.

In August 2017 the High Court in Belfast dismissed two cases challenging Northern Ireland's ban on same-sex marriage.

Delivering his judgement, a judge said it was for the Stormont Assembly, and not a judge, to decide social policy.

However, the region has been without a devolved administration for more than 13 months following the collapse of powersharing between the DUP and Sinn Fein.

The latest round of negotiations to restore the institutions failed last week after the DUP pulled the plug on the talks.

After the talks process broke down, shadow Northern Ireland secretary Owen Smith said it was up to London to introduce legislation in such areas as same-sex marriage.
For the second day in a row over 600 people are on trolleys in hospitals across the country.

According to the INMO, 621 people are waiting for beds.

Cork University Hospital is the worst affected with 59 patients on trolleys.

It is followed by University Hospital Limerick which has 57 patients in need of beds.

Labour Party Health spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD, has criticised the Government and HSE for failing to tackle the trolley crisis in our hospitals.

He said: Six weeks after the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation recorded 677 patients on trolleys, it is scandalous that we are still seeing trolley watch figures as high as 621.

For months opposition TDs have been telling the Minister for Health that the current situation in our Emergency Departments is unsustainable. It is unfathomable that the Minister for Health continues to ignore these warnings from fellow politicians and experts in the medical field.

It is inexcusable that we are continuing to hear reports of high numbers of children lying on trolleys. It is bad enough that we have people on trolleys in the first place but no sick child should be forced to suffer because of the chaos in our emergency departments.

We need to see an urgent change of tact from Fine Gael, who have held the Health portfolio for seven years. There is no point in the Minister making grandiose announcements over Twitter that all student nurses will be guaranteed a job within the HSE when they graduate if he is not prepared to open more beds.

Instead of producing glossy, repackaged plans for capital investment in our hospitals under Ireland 2040, the Minister would be better off producing a much needed plan to look at increasing the volume of home help hours. If we are to really solve the trolley crisis, we need to seriously invest in community care and intervention teams. Our citizens deserve to be treated locally in their community instead of lying on hospital trolleys waiting to be treated.

Those who need to use our hospitals deserve to be treated in a timely manner and provided with high quality treatment. Overcrowding in our A&Es is a symptom of a system that requires better organisation and more beds and more people.
A doctor who examined a woman allegedly raped by two Ireland and Ulster rugby players could not determine whether the sexual contact had been consensual, despite intimate injuries.

Belfast Crown Court was told the complainant had a one centimetre bleeding laceration on the wall of her vagina, as well as minor bruising to her right arm and right leg.

When questioned about possible causes of the injuries, Dr Philip Lavery, a forensic medical officer, said: "There's no way of giving entire credence as to whether this was consensual or not...No, it does not help in deciding the consensuality of intercourse."

Dr Lavery examined the woman after she referred herself to the Rowan rape crisis centre in Antrim the day after the alleged attack in June 2016.

The high profile trial, being heard by Judge Patricia Smyth, has entered its fourth week.

The 12-person jury also heard how swabs and blood samples were taken by medics at the Rowan centre, and clothing the complainant had worn on the night in question was also retained.

The woman had been tearful but co-operative during the hour-long examination and showed no signs of intoxication, the court heard.

A recording of the intimate examination was taken at the time, the court heard.

Later, during questioning by a barrister for Stuart Olding who also denies rape, Dr Lavery read aloud notes he had recorded about the complainant's account of what happened.

In them she described being "pushed on to the bed" and raped by a man who then turned her over and "raped her from the front".

The alleged assailant caused pain because he was "rough", the doctor noted.

According to the document, a second man entered the room and raped her while she was on her back.

A third man then came into the room and took his trousers off, but the doctor had recorded the woman was able to escape when the second suspect "got off her".

Four men on trial in connection with the alleged attack deny all the charges against them.

The case continues.

Alleged rugby rape victim gave differing accounts about sex act, trial hears

A woman at the centre of a rape trial involving two Irish international rugby players provided police with differing accounts about a sex act involving one of the accused, a court has heard.

During an interview on June 30, 2016 - two days after the alleged attack - the complainant gave "contrasting answers" about an alleged oral rape by Stuart Olding, his barrister Frank O'Donoghue QC told Belfast Crown Court.

When asked how the alleged oral rape came about, the woman first told detectives: "I am not entirely sure, to be honest."

Stuart Olding

Later, during the same interview, her answer appeared to change, the barrister suggested.

Mr O'Donoghue added: "Her answer seems to change to 'I am really sure my head was forced down'."

He was cross-examining a PSNI detective constable who had been monitoring the ABE (achieving best evidence) interview.

The officer was unable to interject with questions because he was not ABE-trained at the time, it emerged.

The court also heard how Olding was arrested an hour after the complainant's interview concluded.

He had voluntarily attended Musgrave Street PSNI station in Belfast and was arrested, Mr O'Donoghue said.

While being questioned at the police station, Olding's south Belfast home was searched and clothing was retrieved - however not the outfit he had been wearing on the night of the alleged offence, the court was told.

Asking the detective about Olding's conduct during the interview, Mr O'Donoghue said: "Mr Olding was fully co-operative?"

The officer answered: "He was."

Probing further the lawyer added: "Is it fair to say that he had asserted during the course of the interviews very important facts relevant to the oral sex?

"For example he told you what he was wearing? He told you he was wearing a navy shirt? He told you he was wearing black jeans? He told you he was wearing black boxer underwear? He told you he was wearing brown shoes?"

The detective replied: "I could not remember specifics."

In his account to police, Olding said the complainant had performed oral sex (on him).

His client had been very clear about what happened but insisted it was consensual, said Mr O'Donoghue.

"He accepted that primary fact, that it lasted for about five minutes," said Mr O'Donoghue.

"He did say that she asked them, Mr Jackson and Mr Olding, to go and get condoms?"

The officer said: "I recall that being mentioned."

The 12-person jury will have an opportunity to listen to the police interviews, the court was told.

Later the PSNI detective was asked about a statement taken from a girl who walked into the room during the alleged rape.

Mr O'Donoghue said: "She described it as a threesome. She never described in any of that statement obvious forcing?"

The officer said: "No, she never."

When questioned about any obvious inconsistencies between the accounts provided by Ms Florence and Olding the officer added: "I believe Mr Olding had said that (the complainant) had her top off but had her trousers on and (the friend) had said she was entirely naked."

Paddy Jackson, 26, from Oakleigh Park in Belfast, and his Ireland and Ulster teammate Stuart Olding, 24, from Ardenlee Street also in the city, deny raping the same woman at a house in south Belfast in June 2016.

Jackson denies a further charge of sexual assault.

Blane McIlroy, 26, from Royal Lodge Road, Ballydollaghan, Belfast, denies exposure and Rory Harrison, 25, from Manse Road, Belfast, denies perverting the course of justice and withholding information.

The case continues.
A Dublin woman whose cancer was misdiagnosed was not informed of the fact for nine months after the hospital became aware.

Alison McCormack is one of two women who attended St James's Hospital in Dublin in 2010 and had their breast cancer misdiagnosed.

When Alison noticed a lump in her right breast, she was referred to the breast clinic at St James's Hospital where in September 2010 - following a series of tests - she was diagnosed with DCIS, Ductal Carcinoma in Situ, a localised form of breast cancer.

Speaking in an RTE Investigates report which is due to be aired tonight, Alison said, "The consultant basically said I had DCIS which is ductal carcinoma in situ, she said of all the cancers to get thats one of the best ones because its actually pre-cancerous, its Stage 0 cancer. So my surgeon had explained youre lucky to have DCIS, as in its a cancer that is curable by surgery.

Alison underwent a mastectomy and breast reconstruction but it was decided that further treatment such as chemotherapy was not required.

In October 2012, Alison discovered what appeared to be a lump in her neck and was once again referred to St James's Hospital.

I saw my own consultant and she said that theyd looked at the biopsy and it was the original breast cancer that was back, it was the DCIS and it had now spread into the lymph nodes of my armpit and up to my neck," Alison said.

"So we were shocked and we couldnt, we couldnt understand it and actually she couldnt understand it either. She basically said its very rare for DCIS to come back.

She spent the following year undergoing a year-long treatment plan including six months of aggressive chemotherapy and had all the lymph nodes in her right arm removed as well as five and a half weeks of radiation.

Alison has been left with lifelong health issues as a result of the treatment including lymphedema which results in severe swelling of her right arm.

Watch RTE Investigates report 'Under the Microscope' tonight on Prime Time on @RTEOne at 9.35pm. https://t.co/WeNWefbauM pic.twitter.com/YG9euLcsUM  RTE (@rte) February 20, 2018

Following the treatment, Alison began to wonder why her cancer had returned.

She requested a meeting with St James's Hospital in late 2013 where she was informed for the first time that her cancer had been misdiagnosed.

The hospital then sent Alison a copy of a report into her misdiagnosis revealing that the hospital had been aware of her misdiagnosis since February 2013 but she had not been told.

Had Alison not pursued the questioning that she was determined to find out about, there is absolutely no way she would ever have learned that were was a mistake on the part of this hospital, said Rachael Liston, Alisons solicitor.

The 27 page review confirms that when Alison re-presented in 2012 with a lump on her neck, the hospital reviewed her original pathology slides, which revealed they had actually shown invasive breast cancer  but this cancer had been missed by the pathologist.

But the hospital report reviewing Alisons care concluded the error, in either not identifying the small focus or not appreciating that it was in fact invasive rather than in situ carcinoma, was an error that could have been made by any competent pathologist. And so ... should be characterised as a sporadic human error and did not represent incompetence on the part of the original reporting pathologist.

St James's Hospital subsequently reviewed a portion of the pathologists case load. In all the doctor had analysed over 300 breast cases in 2010  the year of Alisons misdiagnosis.

The review looked at every 10th case, as well as a further 9 DCIS cases  that is cases with a pre-cancerous diagnosis similar to Alisons.

Of the 39 cases reviewed by the hospital, two were found to have been misdiagnosed - including Alison's and another unidentified patient.

Both cases came from the DCIS category only, meaning the pathologist had misdiagnosed two out of nine cases  an error rating in excess of accepted international pathology norms.

As part of a successful legal action taken by Alison against the hospital her case was examined by a number of UK experts  including Professor Ian Ellis, a leading consultant pathologist based at Nottingham City Hospital.

Prof Ellis: It sounds very small, two out of 39 but these are very, very fundamental and serious errors so they are red flag type of errors.

"And so in my opinion that is of concern. The number of breast cases that he had looked at were a few hundred, thats not a huge number of cases and certainly if I was asked my opinion on what to do I would recommend a review of all the cases.

St James's Hospital decided a full review of all breast cases examined by the pathologist was not required.

The pathologist did not work on breast cases alone and during his time at the hospital he analysed specimens on almost 2,700 cases including other specialities.

His performance in these areas has never been examined.

In a statement to RTE Investigates St James's Hospital said it "treated the review of her case, which was completed in February 2013 as part of the overall review and shared it with the patient together with other related documents in November 2013 when the review was complete."

The hospital also said it "fully acknowledges that the missed diagnosis error occurred. For this the hospital was and remains unequivocally sorry."

Despite repeated requests from RTE Investigates, St James hospital failed to confirm that the second patient has been informed that she was misdiagnosed.

In a statement the hospital said St. Jamess Hospital can confirm that all relevant elements of the patients care were discussed with her at the time of diagnosis and eight years later the patient remains in normal active clinical review.

Digital Desk
Teachers unions are warning that the school system is facing a serious problem due to a shortage of substitute teachers.

Union representatives are before the Oireachtas Education committee today to outline the issue.
The Taoiseach took a break from Dail routine to offer his opinion on a new film this afternoon.

Leo Varadkar was being asked why ads for the National Planning Framework are running in cinemas before movies.
UNICEF says the world is failing newborn babies.

It is reporting that infant mortality around the world remains alarmingly high, especially in poorer countries.

UNICEF Ireland's Aedin Donnelly says you are 50 times more likely to die if you are born in poverty.

She said: "Babies in the best places to be born around the world are up to 50 times less likely to die in the first month of life.

"It is showing that, for example in Ireland, you are immediately advantaged as compared to children who are born elsewhere."

Globally, in low-income countries, the average newborn mortality rate is 27 deaths per 1,000 births, the report says. In high-income countries, that rate is three deaths per 1,000.

Babies born in Japan, Iceland and Singapore have the best chance at survival, while newborns in Pakistan, the Central African Republic and Afghanistan face the worst odds.

Henrietta H. Fore, UNICEFs Executive Director, said: While we have more than halved the number of deaths among children under the age of five in the last quarter century, we have not made similar progress in ending deaths among children less than one month old.

Given that the majority of these deaths are preventable, clearly, we are failing the worlds poorest babies.

UNICEF is launching Every Child ALIVE, a global campaign to demand and deliver solutions on behalf of the worlds newborns.

Through the campaign, UNICEF is issuing an urgent appeal to governments, health care providers, donors, the private sector, families and businesses to keep every child alive.
Jeremy Corbyn has flatly denied that he was a spy for communist Czechoslovakia during the Cold War.

The Labour leader dismissed the claims, which originally appeared in The Sun, that he passed information to an agent of the Czech StB intelligence agency during the 1980s as "nonsense".

Mr Corbyn was challenged about the allegations by a journalist from the Daily Mail during a question and answer session at the EEF manufacturers' conference in London, where he had delivered the keynote speech.

He replied: "I am sorry the Daily Mail has reduced itself to reproducing some nonsense that was written in The Sun."

Asked directly by BBC Breakfast presenter Steph McGovern, who was acting as compere for the event, if he was a "Czech spy", he said: "No."

His denial came after he threatened Tory MP Ben Bradley with legal action over a tweet claiming he "sold British secrets to Communist spies".

According to the original Sun report, documents unearthed in the StB archives showed that Mr Corbyn met a Czech agent on at least three occasions - including twice in the House of Commons - during the 1980s and was given the codename Cob.

The Labour leader's office acknowledged that he had had tea in the Commons with a Czech diplomat, but said any claim he was "an agent, asset or informer for any intelligence agency is entirely false and a ridiculous smear".
Update 6pm:: Pupils from several Florida high schools have taken to the streets in a show of solidarity with students from a nearby school where 17 people were gunned down in their classrooms on Valentine's Day.

Video footage taken from television news helicopter crews showed several dozen students walking out of West Boca Raton High School on Tuesday morning, apparently bound for Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in nearby Parkland, where the shootings took place.

Many of the students were wearing their backpacks. The distance between the schools is about 11 miles.

Several dozen more students gathered outside Fort Lauderdale High School, holding signs bearing messages that included: "Our blood is on your hands".

On Monday, students at the American Heritage High School held a similar protest.

Former Stoneman student, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, is charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder.

Meanwhile, actor George Clooney and his wife, Amal Clooney, are donating 500,000 dollars (356,000) to students organising nationwide marches against gun violence, and have pledged to attend protests planned for next month.

The couple said they are inspired by the "courage and eloquence" of the survivors-turned-activists from the Parkland school. Students are mobilising for a March 24 march in Washington and other locations to urge political leaders to bring in tougher gun control.

The Clooneys said they are donating the money in the names of their eight-month-old twins, Ella and Alexander. The couple also said the family plans to "stand side by side" with students next month.

Earlier: Dozens of students are travelling to Florida's state capital to urge political leaders to act to prevent a repeat of the shooting that killed 17 students and staff at their school last week.

Around 100 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School pupils plan to hold a rally in Tallahassee on Wednesday to put pressure on the state's Republican-controlled legislature to consider a sweeping package of gun control laws.

Shortly after last week's shooting in Parkland, several legislative leaders were taken on a tour of the school to see the damage firsthand, and they appeared shaken afterwards. Some Republicans have said they would consider changes to the law.

The attack last Wednesday seemed to overcome the resistance of some in the state's leadership, which has rebuffed gun restrictions since Republicans took control of both the governor's office and the legislature in 1999.

However, there is still strong resistance by many in the party to any gun control measures.

Students also have vowed to exert pressure on US congress as the aftermath of the killings resonates beyond Florida.

Hundreds of protesters converged in a Los Angeles park on Monday, demanding tougher background checks and other gun safety measures after the shooting. Some signs held up by the California demonstrators read: "Your Children Are Counting On You".

Senator Bill Galvano, a Republican and the incoming Florida senate president, said the state senate was preparing a package that would include raising the age to purchase any firearm to 21, creating a waiting period for purchasing any type of firearm, banning bump stocks that can allow semi-automatic guns to spray bullets quickly and creating gun violence restraining orders.

Authorities said the school shooting suspect, Nikolas Cruz, 19, had a string of run-ins with school authorities that ended with his expulsion.

A video monitor shows school shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz, left, with public defender Melisa McNeille, making an appearance before Judge Kim Theresa Mollica in Broward County Court. Photo: Susan Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP, Pool

Police were repeatedly called to his house throughout his childhood. Cruz's lawyers said there were repeated warning signs that he was mentally unstable and potentially violent - yet he legally purchased a semi-automatic rifle.

"We need to make sure everything is working and to learn from the experience," said Mr Galvano, who was among those who visited the school.

The senate is also considering boosting spending on mental health programmes for schools and giving law enforcement greater power to involuntarily hold someone considered a danger to themselves or others.

The body will also look at a proposal to deputise a teacher or someone else at the school so that they are authorised to have a gun.

Mr Galvano said senators want to examine ways to protect schools that do not have resource officers - often armed law enforcement officers - on site.

State house leaders and Governor Rick Scott also are considering possible changes to firearms rules. Mr Scott has planned meetings on school safety, and said he would announce proposals on mental health issues later in the week.

However, some Republicans questioned whether additional gun restrictions are the answer. "I really don't want to see this politicised into a gun debate," Republican senator Dennis Baxley said.

Referring to gun control advocates, he said: "Sometimes I wish they were right, that this would fix it, but it won't ... We have a terrible problem with obesity, but we're not banning forks and spoons."

Democrats believe raising the age limit and creating a waiting period to buy rifles is not enough.

Senator Gary Farmer of Broward County said: "That's unacceptable. That's a joke.

"I don't see that as a restriction. It never should have been that an 18-year-old could buy an assault weapon. No Floridians should be able to buy an assault weapon."
Update 5pm: A fire in a fish tank pump room forced Malta's only airport to close for two hours, officials have said.

No-one was injured in the fire, which began in a room that holds pumps for a decorative aquarium located in the arrivals area at Malta International Airport.
Senior Oxfam figures are facing a grilling from British MPs over the aid worker sex scandal which has engulfed the charity.

Oxfam GB chief executive Mark Goldring appears before the Commons International Development Committee in the UK today amid continuing anger over allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation by Oxfam staff responding to the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

His appearance, alongside the chair of trustees, Caroline Thomson, and Winnie Byanyima, the executive director of Oxfam International, comes after the charity issued a formal apology to the British government of the impoverished Caribbean state.

Oxfam has also released the report of an internal inquiry which called for other charities to be warned of "problem staff", only for a number of those involved to take up other posts in the aid sector.

British Prime Minister Theresa May described the disclosures in the report as "absolutely horrific" and warned standards had fallen "far below" those expect of the charities and the NGOs that work with the Government.

The 10-page report was finally released by Oxfam after a leaked copy was published by The Times, prompting a storm of criticism over the way the episode was handled.

It detailed four dismissals and three resignations by staff over allegations ranging from the use of prostitutes on charity property to sexual exploitation of employees.

Suspicions that under-age sex workers had been exploited "cannot be ruled out", according to the document.

It alleges the director of operations in the country, Roland Van Hauwermeiren, admitted using sex workers in his charity-funded accommodation and was granted a "phased and dignified exit". Last week he denied ever using prostitutes in Haiti.

Several men at the centre of the allegations subsequently took up roles in aid organisations, including at Oxfam.

Mr Van Hauwermeiren became a senior figure at Action Against Hunger in Bangladesh, with the charity since claiming Oxfam made no mention of his alleged conduct in 2011.

Similarly, one former staff member was employed by Oxfam as a consultant in Ethiopia just months after being sacked, a move the charity said last week was a "serious error".

The committee will also take evidence from Save The Children about proposals it has put forward on safeguarding and from the UK's permanent secretary at the Department for International Development, Matthew Rycroft about what the department knew and what steps it is taking now.
Kerry Stokes' Seven Group has seen its profit surge by more than 80 per cent amid rising demand in the mining industry for its earthmoving equipment parts. Its shares jumped as much as 17 per cent to a record.

Net profit increased 81 per cent to $159.8 million in the December half, up from $88.3 million in the previous period, the company said in a statement to the ASX on Wednesday.

Its stock soared on the news closing up 11.10 per cent to $18.32.

Demand for earthmoving equipment parts have boosted Seven's earnings. Credit:Simon Dawson

The continued strength of the mining production cycle with greater utilisation of fleets has supported parts growth and component demand at WesTrac, said Seven Group chief executive Ryan Stokes, billionaire Kerry Stokes' son.
But one person with knowledge of Oliver's businesses believes the star chef has been given "bad advice" in regards to Jamie's Italian. One person with knowledge of Oliver's businesses believes the star chef has been given "bad advice" in regards to Jamie's Italian. Credit:Katherine Griffiths He questions whether consumers feel the chef's passion is the same for the chain as for Fifteen or his American diner business, which opened its first branch in Soho in 2013, and another at Gatwick Airport last year. "I think he has got people around him who have probably overleveraged his brand and been too ambitious at a time when they should have been more thoughtful," the person says. The expert also contends that Jamie's Italian has not had enough investment and lacks the required capital to keep a brand up-to-date in today's fast-paced market.

"Since it has opened it has not had a refresh of the menu or the decor and he has been a name above the door and nothing else." Brand weakness Peter Backman, whose consultancy business monitors the eating out market, thinks sky-high rent was the single biggest issue for Jamie's Italian. "It is noticeable the sites it is closing are in high-profile places such as Piccadilly and Bluewater shopping centre," he says. "This suggests the business is paying eye-watering rents and the custom is just not coming through."

Backman says the Jamie Oliver brand is not as strong as it once was. "At the outset, the restaurants were closely aligned to his personal brand but now he is no longer as much in the spotlight and there is more competition at a time his celebrity pull does not necessarily have the same impact." Oliver warmed the nation's hearts with projects such as Fifteen, his restaurant venture to get young unemployed people back into work. Credit:Richard Vines This contention is arguably given weight by the closure last year of the eponymous Jamie magazine. Oliver sold the rights to the title to publisher Hearst in 2016. Hearst promptly appointed a new female editor and relaunched the magazine with the aim of targeting the "urban female foodie" market, putting Oliver back "at the heart of the magazine".

But the revamp could not arrest a slide in readership: Press Gazette figures for the second half of 2016 showed a 10 per cent year-on-year drop in readership to 47,455, compared to 75,000 in its heyday in 2009. At the time of its closure, a spokesman for Jamie Oliver said increasing demand for online content had contributed to the magazine's decline. Too much supply The casual dining sector in general is awash with excess supply, particularly in Italian food. In a bid to get punters through the door, Jamie's Italian launched a Super Lunch offer to grow its share of the market, but this came at a cost for the company. It was cited as the reason for a near-3 per cent fall in sales to 112.7 million in 2016. Soaring business rates also increased its costs by 2.4 million and contributed to the chain's 10 million pre-tax loss.

In the accounts for Jamie's Italian, the directors of the company - including Jamie Oliver - noted the "challenging trading conditions on the UK high street" and opted to close six sites out of seven it had reviewed. Furthermore, it handed back the lease for a site at King's Cross that had been signed some years earlier but no longer made commercial sense. A person with knowledge of the chef's business says there is an effort not to let what is happening with his Italian chain "drag other pieces down", such as Oliver's Fifteen venture. Pressure is mounting for a rallying cry from the chef himself, who has been silent since the pressure on his two chains emerged. Righting the ship It should be noted, however, that the finances at Fifteen are healthier than his other ventures, with the London site hitting 2.6 million in turnover in 2016 leading to pre-tax profits of more than 308,000. The restaurant is owned by the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation, which had a total income of 5.5 million at the end of 2016.

Jamie Oliver Ltd, which is the artistic and literary arm of his empire, registered 15.3 million in sales in 2016, leading to a pre-tax profit of 3.9 million. The directors - again including Jamie Oliver - paid an interim dividend of 2 million in 2016. Loading There are hopes the restructuring deal for Jamie's Italian agreed earlier this year will help right the business amid the UK's hostile trading environment. In 2016 it signed 19 franchise partners in 26 countries, suggesting Oliver may continue to look overseas for fresh success. The celebrity chef is unlikely to be the last to get his fingers burned, especially with ever more pressure on disposable incomes in the UK. As industry commentator Chris Wickham puts it: "Eating out is one of the most economically sensitive areas of personal consumption, if not the most. "Throw in higher labour and food costs, and the cocktail is beyond lethal."
The nation accepts bitcoin, bitcoin cash and ethereum for its financial operations and donations, which roll into the "billions", and the state budget is distributed among almost a dozen cryptocurrencies. Putting yourself at the mercy of a highly speculative and intangible asset might sound like a recipe for disaster, but Jedlicka has not let this phase him. "For a few years of my life I worked as a financial markets analyst," he says. "That gave me a fairly good understanding of the system we are living in. I first discovered Bitcoin in 2010 but I just wish I paid more attention to it back then when it was cheaper." The nation accepts Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash and Ethereum for its financial operations and donations, which roll into the "billions", and the state budget is distributed among almost a dozen cryptocurrencies. Credit:Bloomberg He adds that because the nation has no debt and low running costs, he is not worried about its digital coin stock. Liberland's motto is "live and let live" but it is not quite that simple for Jedlicka, who jokes that his current home is "on a plane". He's certainly not exaggerating. Pinning him down for an interview has been particularly tricky, and mostly orchestrated across WhatsApp. When we do finally get to talk, he has just touched down in Mexico, where he is meeting representatives in Central and South America. The day before he spent "a few hours" in Sweden and tomorrow, he tells me, he will be in Poland.

"We are constantly looking into options that would entail more Liberlands being created. Right now there are potential candidates in Africa and Central America," he says. "Liberland can be created anywhere, but it all depends on the locals." Loading Appeasing the locals has become one of Liberland's greatest challenges. Croatian police are currently engaged in a game of cat and mouse with early Liberlandians, who are regularly arrested and forcibly removed from their sandbank upon which Jedlicka and his family planted Liberland's yellow and blue flag. Around 100 people have been arrested since the proclamation of Liberland in 2015. "We were charged with leaving Croatia and the Schengen zone illegally," he says. But Jedlicka adds coyly: "That is matter-of-fact confirmation that Liberland is not part of Croatia." On the surface, Jedlicka's plans sound borderline delusional. He has spent three years trying to build a nation from scratch, travelling to gather representatives in 100 different countries who share his low-tax goals, all while supporting a wife and son.

It is hard to understand why he would put himself through the stress of creating a nation. But you might have said the same of the mystery individual known only as Satoshi Nakamoto when they published their Bitcoin blueprint. Jedlicka has watched the Bitcoin boom along with the rise of Facebook, Amazon and Google, and is certain that disruptive technology can make as much of an impact on governments as it can financial institutions. "For many years, I worked for lowering taxes and regulations in the Czech Republic, but I suddenly realised that it would be easier to start a new country than to fix an existing one. We suffered 40 years of serious damage to our society under a communist regime and, unfortunately, many of the same people are in power again," he says. "It seems that Czechs do not learn from their history. We see some of the same damage happening in other European countries, where taxation and regulation is strangling prosperity." Moguls taking note

Liberland has certainly grabbed the attention of business moguls who fear their ventures will be stifled by European law, particularly Roger Ver, an early investor in Bitcoin, who is widely known as the "Bitcoin Jesus". Patrik Schumacher, the chief executive of Zaha Hadid Architects, is a key supporter, submitting his artwork as a potential design for Liberland's cityscape in the future, Jedlicka says. Controversial academic Jeffrey Tucker, an American economics writer of the Austrian School and Bitcoin advocate, Cato institute fellow Dan Mitchell and Richard Sulik, a famous Slovakian political figure, have lent endorsement. Jedlicka recently made an appearance in London, invited to talk at the Libertarian Party conference, and claims that Britons make up the majority of visitors to the micronation. But it is enticing "the young and adventurous" in particular, he says. For those thinking about taking the plunge, Jedlicka recommends waiting until spring until making a move.
More than half of Australian small business owners are blissfully unaware that new laws around mandatory reporting of data breaches that come into play on Thursday could attract crippling fines, research shows.

The Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) scheme of the Privacy Act establishes new reporting requirements that mandate that small business covered by the Australian Privacy Act 1988 must report eligible data breaches to authorities and also members of the public if it believes or is aware that data has been compromised.

Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell is concerned small businesses are not prepared. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

While small businesses have been shielded from the impact of privacy laws, some of these new requirements will regulate even micro businesses in one way or another.

What is a data breach?
Cheryl Oxley came to a compromise with her siblings over their mother's funeral. Credit:James Brickwood Rip-offs Consumer group Choice produced a report in 2016 that questioned even whether many of us need the services of a funeral director. "When a person dies a doctor must sign a certificate that confirms the death and if there's anything questionable about the death it will be reported to the coroner," the report says. "If the certificate is signed, government websites advise that a funeral director should be engaged by the executer of the will to collect the body for storage and preparation for the funeral.

"However, Choice could find no laws in Australia that said this was legally required." Choice says many funeral homes push for face-to-face "arrangement" meetings where crucial decisions  burial, cremation, embalming, viewing and the selection of the coffin  are worked through. One funeral director told Choice that by that stage "they've spent two hours planning and they think it's too late for them to back out." Upselling A report into the funeral industry last year found consumers are often unnecessarily upsold on funerals due to a lack of information and real competition, in an industry that is lightly regulated.

This is social stigma surrounding dealing with the dead that creates an opportunity for funeral directors to add a significant service fee and mark-ups on coffins, the authors, Sandra van der Laan, of The University of Sydney, and Lee Moerman, of the University of Wollongong, say in their report. They asked funeral homes for quotes for a "direct committal", where the body is taken from its location to be cremated and a "basic" funeral. The study found that a direct committal, including cremation, would cost between $1200 and $6500 with an average of price of $2755. When it came to the basic or essential services funeral the cost ranged from $2440 to $9000 with an average price of $4902. The researchers say that when the extra costs, such as death notices and flowers are added, Australians are paying about $6000 for a basic funeral, on average. However, they say all regulatory requirements related to the disposal of a body can be met for as little as $1200.

The two items that take-up the largest proportion of the cost of a funeral are the funeral director's service fee and the coffin or casket. Coffins can have very large mark-ups. Costco and others like Coffin World, which also sells cremation urns, sell coffins with starting prices of several hundreds of dollars. DIY funerals Gillian Maddigan organised the funeral of her father, who died in December. She sought the help of Karen Lucas, from Artisan Funerals, which serves the Gold Coast and Brisbane, to arrange for the transportation of the body and storage. "We bought an MDF coffin and painted and decorated it," Gillian says. "We cleansed his body and put his outfit on," she says.

"Initially, when my dad's wife said she wanted to care for his body, my initial reaction was 'no, no, I don't know if I can do that'. "But then, we were caring for him for four months in palliative care," she says. "It's not for everyone, but there are people in families that are quite capable of doing it themselves," she says. Ben Oxley, from Sydney, is developing an online course that shows people how to organise a funeral for themselves. He says some sections of the funeral industry tend to make it too much about them, and not enough about the people dealing with loss.

"My research has shown that people are shopping around for greater value, more flexibility and a change from the old black and white funeral. "Celebrating a life is what people want, when they realise what they can have," he says. Best farewell ever Ben and Cheryl Oxley, a married couple, are accomplished musicians and when Cheryl's mother, Joyce, died two years ago, Cheryl and her two brothers played in a band at the funeral with those who had known her mother. "I grew up playing in a brass band with my two brothers, which our father conducted", Cheryl says.

"My mother supported us in our music. Everyone loved her. Mum would be watching and supporting us," she says. "We had couple of meetings [with her two brothers] of what mum, who was a churchgoer, would have liked. "One brother favoured a traditional approach and the other wanted it to be a bit more fun and we discussed it and came to a compromise that we thought our mum would have loved," Cheryl says. The family used the services of a funeral home, a major one in Sydney's southern suburbs, to help organise it all. "We had someone at the funeral that I did not know come up after the service, a funeral director, who said this was the best funeral he has attended in 50 years," Cheryl says.

More competition would help keep costs down Those who have researched the funeral industry suspect it's a lack of competition that makes funerals more expensive than they need to be. The biggest player, by far, is the Australian sharemarket-listed InvoCare Group. While InvoCare says its market share is 32 per cent, other estimates have it as high as 40 per cent and up to 80 per cent on Australia's profitable east coast. InvoCare owns more than 30 brands, including White Lady Funerals, Simplicity Funerals and Guardian Funerals, as well as 14 cemeteries and crematoriums in NSW and Queensland. In Britain, the dominant player, the industry consolidator, Dignity, is under pressure as its not-for-profit competitor, Co-op Group, has cut prices.

Funeral operators there are under pressure because of the increasing popularity of a direct cremation. It is where the body is collected from the place of death, be it a hospital or home, and transported directly to a crematorium. The ashes are then returned to the family for scattering or a private ceremony. A report by analysts Morgan Stanley says that, unlike in Britain, there is no not-for-profit funeral provider of scale in Australia and, therefore, unlikely to be the same downwards pressure on funeral costs. The Morgan Stanley analysts say rather than hiking its prices, InvoCare appears to have improved its revenue from up-selling to more expensive funerals. Martin Earp, chief executive officer of InvoCare, says: "We provide price transparency upfront so that our customers can select an option to best suit their needs".

He says that includes itemised quotes clearly detailing all price elements and that InvoCare does not mark-up external supplier costs and that it provides options for all budgets. InvoCare launched FuneralPlanner.com.au last year to help plan a funeral service today and pre-plan a funeral service for the future. It is restricted to InvoCare options. Another comparison site, gatheredhere.com.au, lists the prices from 690 funeral homes, including the independents and most of the businesses owned by InvoCare. Colin Wong, the founder of the Gathered Here, says those who have lost a family member often have no idea of how the find the right funeral director. Loading
We unexpectedly lost my beautiful father-in-law five months ago. Like many men of his era, he took care of all things technological and financial.

Which means, along with his passing, my mother-in-law, Jo, is trying to cope with switching on Netflix as well as switching names on the Netflix account Taking responsibility for not just the (numerous) household appliances and gadgets but also, one-by-one, taking over the utilities accounts... Driving, together with driving all the required updates to the car insurance, road-side assistance and registration (which for her meant more actual driving) Turning into a single pension household overnight and turning off the Centrelink payments themselves (perhaps unsurprisingly easy) Finding the money to pay the health fund gaps and the fortitude to remove my father-in-law's name from both the fund and Medicare.

A scene from The Cloverfield Paradox on Netflix: the administration after bereavement can be as trivial as switching names on the Netflix account. Credit:Scott Garfield / Netflix

"It was just a nightmare," she says, and several demands to speak with the 'account holder'  including previously when they knew he was in a coma  only added to the trauma. Unbelievable, right?

Jo names Medicare and the transport department (four forms and a JP witness) as the most onerous of the above list to deal with.
The union says about 190 workers are using a tiny, poorly maintained tea room - formally a supervisor's office - which doesn't have basic amenities like running water, but is exposed to asbestos flooring.

HSU NSW/ACT Secretary Gerard Hayes said an HSU site inspection, conducted after workers had been already moved by hospital management, had identified a possible risk of asbestos exposure from the glue used in the room's tile floor.



Mr Hayes said ward services staff, including wards persons and hospital assistants, were given just one week's notice of the move. Workers who were on leave were initially told to come back to work to clean out their lockers before the staff room was moved.



"In its undue haste to clear out the old staff room, hospital management has shown no regard for the needs or safety of its employees," he said.



"Now we have a situation where workers are frustrated at the conditions in which they have to work, angry at the way they have been treated, and concerned about their own health and safety.



"What's more, the hospital is due to be accredited in the next few weeks, so it cannot afford to be making sloppy mistakes.



"All of this could have been avoided with better communication and a little bit of respect."

Sarah Gleeson, from HSU ACT,

said the workers - whose roles included restraining patients when nurses or doctors were at risk and performing CPR on children - deserved a proper tea room.

"Their job is a really emotionally demanding one, they are on foot all day and often dealing with very volatile patients," Ms Gleeson said.

"The alternative they gave was that they could use management's tea room.
Lost. By Dadang Christanto. Nancy Sever Gallery, Gorman Arts Centre, 55 Ainslie Ave, Braddon. Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 5pm. Until March 4.

The Javanese artist of Chinese descent Dadang Christanto, who established an early reputation with his human rights and social conscience art when still at the College of Arts at Yogyakarta, has been living in Australia since 1999. In his art, he mixes the autobiographical with the historical as he explores the many faces of genocide that occurred in his country, especially under President Suharto.

Dadang Christanto's Shinta, 2016, appears in Lost at the Nancy Sever Gallery, Gorman Arts Centre.

Christanto was the first Indonesian artist to represent his country at the Venice Biennale in 2003 and has participated in many other biennale-style exhibitions, including the Sydney Biennale (2010), the Yogyakarta Biennial (2003), Kwangju Biennale, South Korea (2000), the Bienal de Sao Paulo, Brazil (1998) and the first and third Asia-Pacific Triennials of Contemporary Art in Brisbane (1993 and 1999). Although recognised in his home country, he is still wary of repercussions for his relatives at home and I remember him, a couple of years ago at his large retrospective exhibition at the Queensland University of Technology Art Museum, worrying about the reception of his work in Indonesia.

Christanto works across a number of art mediums and perhaps is best known for monumental installations with life-size repetitive figures cast in various materials and shown in different circumstances and relating to loss and disappearance. He is also a performance artist and works in sculpture, video, painting and works on paper. This exhibition consists of large acrylic, predominantly blue paintings that dwell on the theme of loss of collective memory.
A man and woman who abseiled down the front of Parliament House in protest of Australia's treatment of refugees were on Tuesday fined $1500 each.

Katherine Woskett, 27, and Patrick Kieren Holmes, 26, staged the dramatic protest on December 1, 2016.

Two protesters unfurl a banner on the Parliament House building in December 2016. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

While suspended above the Parliament House grounds in Canberra they unfurled a banner just below the Australian coat of arms that said "Close the bloody camps now. #Justice4refugees."

The two, who are based in Victoria, did not appear in the ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday where they were to be sentenced for a charge of disorderly and offensive conduct.
A teenage girl has been critically injured after she was hit by a vehicle in north-west Sydney on Tuesday.

The girl sustained head injuries when she was struck by a Toyota Hilux as it travelled west on Windsor Road at Baulkham Hills about 4.35pm.

She has been identified as a 17-year-old girl.

Police said the girl was airlifted to Westmead Children's Hospital for treatment.
It was almost midnight on March 20 and the prominent Sydney gangster had no idea of all that was to follow: his kidnapping, his murder and the disposal of his body.

Raphael Joseph was a willing passenger the night he jumped inside an associates silver Holden Commodore in 2014.

Almost four years since the drug kingpin was first feared kidnapped and murdered, homicide squad detectives from Strike Force Halfbeak have revealed they know exactly what happened on that fateful day.

We have established that Raphael was kidnapped by a drug supply syndicate, taken to a premise that is known to us and there he was inevitably murdered, said Detective Chief Inspector Grant Taylor.

Further to this we have seized a silver Commodore that we believe was used in this abduction, and both the Commodore and the premises where he was murdered have been painstakingly forensically examined.

On Tuesday investigators began scouring a rural property at Blaxlands Ridge in the Hawkesbury, which has been used by the criminal syndicate and where it is believed Mr Josephs remains may be buried.
A Brisbane retiree has been "king hit" and bashed after standing up to a "pink jumper" thief, leaving him bloodied, bruised and with a fractured eye socket.

Ivan Bradshaw, 58, was walking along Boundary Street in West End about 4.40pm on Friday, minding his own business and "stretching his legs" as he often did.

Ivan Bradshaw recovering in the Mater Hospital.

As the local resident walked past Euphora clothing store and Ugees cafe, he heard a woman pleading with two people to give something back, but at first did not act.

However, when he got to the next corner, turned around and started walking back, he passed the trio again and heard the commotion still going on.
I think that it would be a waste of $70 million to build a bridge that only services pedestrians.

I think its actually time we bit the bullet when it comes to the Neville Bonner bridge, that bridge should not be built as it is proposed, he said.

Brisbane City Council wants the proposed Neville Bonner Bridge from the new casino and hotel complex to South Bank near the Wheel of Brisbane scrapped.

Deputy mayor Adrian Schrinner said the proposed pedestrian-only Neville Bonner Bridge was a waste of money.

Brisbane City Council wants a proposed $70 million bridge that would connect the Queens Wharf casino complex to South Bank scrapped.

Its my understanding that in the contract of Queen's Wharf Brisbane that the consortium that won that contract, Destination Brisbane Consortium, has a clause in their contract either where they build the bridge or they pay the state government $70 million.

The Neville Bonner Bridge was proposed to run from the fourth floor of the casino and hotel complex at Queen's Wharf across to a small tower with a lift and a set of stairs at South Bank near the Wheel of Brisbane.

Leading cycling groups have slammed the bridge as a big mistake.

Deputy Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the Neville Bonner bridge was a waste of money.

Cr Schrinner said he would prefer Destination Brisbane scrapped the bridge and handed the State Government $70 million so something that worked for all of Brisbane could be delivered.
A man linked to a failed Gold Coast company that allegedly fleeced property investors of millions of dollars has been arrested and charged in Queensland.

The 52-year-old Gold Coast man was charged with dishonestly inducing victims to put money into accounts he controlled following an 11-month investigation into the directors of a Members Alliance Group.

A Gold Coast man was charged following an 11-month investigation. Credit:Rob Homer

Police allege Members Alliance would cold-call people to sell them home and land packages as an investment.

It's alleged more than $2.2 million was dishonestly taken into the company for the construction of houses in Queensland and New South Wales.
Police are searching the Brisbane River for a missing man who disappeared while rowing on Wednesday morning, leaving an upturned boat behind.

Three rowers were on the river at West End about 4.40am when the 63-year-old man became separated in the dark.

Police are searching the Brisbane River for the missing man. Credit:Jorge Branco

Police were still clinging to hope of finding the man despite strong currents and the length of time he had been missing.

Acting Inspector Don Dunstan said they entered the river at Commercial Rowing Club at South Brisbane before heading upstream.
Architect Matthew Dwyer felt worn down and alienated by Melbourne life, with its relentless congestion and long working hours that left no time to connect with the community.

So he and his family of five quit their Malvern East home and moved to an eight-acre property just outside Bendigo.

Architect Matthew Dwyer and his family moved from East Malvern to Bendigo in search of a lifestyle change. Left to right: Kristy, Jack, Lucy, Matthew and Willem. Credit:Jason South

More than three years on, he says they have never looked back.

Melbourne is big and only getting bigger, and I felt a bit isolated from it, whereas in Bendigo I feel Im part of it, Mr Dwyer said.
A special inquiry has found the Barnett government's decision to award a $1.5 million naming-rights sponsorship to Western Force was hasty, questionable and potentially unlawful, and the matter will be referred to the Corruption and Crime Commission.

In a report into the previous government's management of its programs and projects from 2008-2017, special inquirer John Langoulant found the Western Force deal was struck in a "highly charged political climate" in the lead up to the State election last March.

Mr Langoulant said that while no "systemic corruption" was found while examining the 31 projects covered in the report, there was one matter, the Road Safety Commission, which needed "further investigation" and would be referred to the CCC.

The Force became known as the Road Safety Western Force, nominally to allow road safety messages to reach the "rugby community" and "regional WA", under the deal announced between the Liberal government and RugbyWA late last January.
The ACT Opposition will push for higher scrutiny of the citizens' jury on a new compulsory third party insurance scheme for the ACT after concerns the process has been undermined.

Canberra Liberals leader Alistair Coe will on Wednesday call for an inquiry into the citizens' jury on the insurance scheme currently under way.

ACT Opposition Leader Alistair Coe. Credit:Karleen Minney

"The government's first shot at a citizens' jury has rightly made Canberrans sceptical of its merits," Mr Coe said.

"If deliberative democracy is going to become a function of government, Canberrans need to be able to trust that it is conducted in a fair and impartial manner.
The ACT Greens are concerned a lack of new proposed public housing will create an "upper income enclave" in Red Hill, as the proportion of land for such housing is set to halve this year.

The government's long-awaited housing affordability targets shows no new public or community housing sites will be released this year in Red Hill, across the urban renewal precinct or in six new suburbs under development.

Greens MLA Caroline Le Couteur is worried Red Hill could become an 'upper income enclave' without public housing. Credit:karleen minney

The targets show no new sites will be released for public or community housing in the urban renewal precinct, Taylor, North Wright, Coombs, Wright, Moncrieff and Throsby this year.

Instead, the government has introduced targets for affordable housing - for potential home buyers of lower priced properties - of 25 per cent in Taylor, 15 per cent in North Wright, 19 per cent in Coombs and 22 per cent in Strathnairn.
The territory government has officially closed an investigation into the serious assault of an indigenous man in Canberra's jail about a year before he died.

The man, Steven Freeman, had died in the Alexander Maconochie Centre in May 2016, about a year after he suffered serious injuries during an assault in his cell at the prison in April 2015.

Steven Freeman's mother Narelle King with family and Julie Tongs in the 2017 National Sorry Day march, dedicated to Steven Freeman's memory. Credit:Dion Georgopoulos

The death sparked a coronial inquest which is expected to report back in April this year, as well as an independent inquiry into his treatment inside the prison by former federal integrity commissioner Philip Moss.

It was one of a series of incidents marring the prison's management and reputation in recent years including escapes, assaults and a prisoner being accidentally released.
The Barr government will not release any land for new public, community or affordable housing in the urban renewal precinct along the stage one light rail route in 2017-18.

The government's long-awaited housing affordability targets also shows no new public or community housing sites will be released this year for public or community housing in six new suburbs under development.

Housing minister Yvette Berry argued against moving public housing tenants out of the city in 2014. Credit:Dion Georgopoulos

Chief Minister Andrew Barr, housing minister Yvette Berry and planning minister Mick Gentleman signed off on the targets for the City Renewal Authority and Suburban Land Agency this month, more than six months after the two agencies were created.

While Ms Berry in 2014 had spoken out against the government's public housing renewal program, fearing it would push tenants "out of the city", it seems since gaining the housing portfolio, Ms Berry no longer holds her earlier concerns.
A British government minister has expressed his support for Chinas huge Belt Road Initiative and encouraged Australia to do the same, just weeks after Prime Minister Theresa May resisted intense Chinese pressure to formally endorse the project.

British Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific, Mark Field, told The Australian newspaper that in his heart he shared the same concerns as others in the West about Chinas BRI, a $US5 trillion ($A6.3 trillion) infrastructure fund.

But the solution was to get involved, he said.

On the weekend Germanys foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel joined a growing chorus of BRI sceptics, telling the Munich Security Conference that BRI was an attempt to shape the world in Chinese interest and the West should offer an alternative that reflected values of freedom and democracy.
The UN children's fund UNICEF issued a blank "statement" on Tuesday to express its outrage at mass casualties among Syrian children in the besieged enclave of Eastern Ghouta and neighbouring Damascus.

"No words will do justice to the children killed, their mothers, their fathers and their loved ones," the release from UNICEF's regional director Geert Cappalaere began.

There followed 10 empty lines with quote marks indicating missing text, and an explanatory footnote.

"UNICEF is issuing this blank statement. We no longer have the words to describe childrens suffering and our outrage," it said.
Washington: He is thought to be the richest pirate who ever lived - amassing a hoard of treasure worth hundreds of millions in today's money, before he was lost at sea along with his ship.

Captain "Black Sam" Bellamy and his crew were aboard the Whydah Gally when it encountered one of the most violent storms ever recorded off New England in 1717, and sank, killing most on board and leaving its treasure on the ocean floor.

An archaeologist at the Whydah Pirate Museum holds what is believed to be a leg bone which will be tested to see if the remains discovered are those of Whydah Captain Samuel Bellamy, or "Black Sam" Bellamy. Credit:AP

The wreck, along with the legendary treasure, was discovered off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts in 1984. In the years since, archaeologists have continued to search the site and now believe they may have found the captain himself.

The remains were displayed for the first time in Massachusetts yesterday and DNA extracted from the corpse will be compared with that of an English descendant.
Washington: The US special counsel who is investigating alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election has charged an attorney with lying about his communications with Rick Gates, a former aide to Donald Trump's campaign.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller unsealed criminal charges on Wednesday against lawyer Alex van der Zwaan for allegedly lying to the FBI last November about work his law firm performed in 2012 related to Ukraine.

Alex Van der Zwaan, former associate at Skadden Arps Slate Meagher Credit:Bloomberg

The charge likely puts pressure on Gates and Trump's former campaign manager Paul Manafort, who are both facing criminal charges including conspiracy to launder money and failure to register as foreign agents in connection with their political work for a pro-Russia Ukrainian party.

They have pleaded not guilty. A trial is tentatively expected later this year, though recent media reports have said that Gates is expected to plead guilty in the near future.
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ASICs ongoing review of interest-only loans has found that standards in the lending industry have continued to improve, said an ASIC manager yesterday.

The regulator is nearing the completion of the latest stage of its review of IO loans, which examines how lenders and brokers make sure a loan meets the requirements and objectives of a consumer. The review involves scrutinising cases where owner-occupiers have been provided with more expensive IO home loans.

ASIC group senior manager of credit Chris Green said the regulator will publish a media release on the findings of the review in the next few weeks.

ASIC announced in April 2017 that it was conducting a targeted review of whether lenders and mortgage brokers were inappropriately recommending more expensive IO loans.

It said in October that the first stage of the review found major banks had cut back their IO lending by $4.5bn over the past year. All 16 of the lenders reviewed provided $14.3bn in IO loans to owner-occupiers in the June 2017 quarter, down from $19bn in the September 2015 quarter.

For the ongoing review, ASIC has looked at loan files to see if lenders and brokers are helping borrowers meet their objectives and requirements  including whether they are providing the right loans to consumers.

The standard has continued to improve, so thats a really encouraging message, said Green at a lending summit in Sydney.

He noted how around 30% of the loan files ASIC looked into in its first review of IO lending in 2015 had no information of borrowers requirements and objectives.

In our current review, out of the 300 files weve looked at, there are just a handful of files that are poor.

Green said the majority of the files are "good" and that there seems to have been an increase in industry standards.

Giving examples of good practice that ASIC has identified, Green said some loans contained thorough records that matched consumers objectives. He also cited an example of an IO loan that detailed what would happen when it would switch to principal & interest.

Among the files considered poor, ASIC identified problems such as poor recordkeeping and terse and ambiguous notes.

Green called the initial findings of the review a good story. Certainly an improving trend, he said.

Related stories:

71% of Australians avoiding IO loans

MFAA welcomes ASIC interest only findings

ASICs interest-only probe paints a positive view of brokers: FBAA
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The mayor must show mercy!

Mayor DeBlasio is the only person who can save the more than century-old Angel Guardian home from its impending demolition, according to a rep from a private citywide historic preservation organization.

The best way to get this landmarked is to get Mr. DeBlasio to care about it, said Kelly Carroll of the Historic Districts Council, at a Feb. 15 community board meeting on land marking the property.

Carroll told members of the Community Board 10s Zoning and Land Use Committee and locals from the Guardians of the Guardian organization  a civic group that called for putting affordable senior housing in the space  that the mayor could pressure the city Landmarks Preservation Commission, which awards designations, to save the city-block-sized home between 63rd and 64th streets, bound by 12th and 13th avenues. Such a designation would not have to be approved by the Sisters of Mercy, but the landmarks agency would likely still involve them in the process to keep the peace, according to Carroll.

It doesnt make landmarking look very appealing to people when the government can do what they want with your property, she said.

But getting Hizzoner to care about the historic property is unlikely without some local help, since he rarely makes comments on historic preservation and his administration is so concerned with development of affordable housing, Carroll said, adding that Councilman Justin Brannan (DBay Ridge) could  and should  leverage his close relationship with DeBlasio to help save the home.

I am really hoping that our new Councilmember Justin Brannan, who has a direct ear to DeBlasio, can say, This is really important, can you do us this one solid?,  she said.

Brannans district does not include the Angel Guardian home, but he has castigated the Sisters over the terms of the secret sale, alleging that the nuns were giving our neighborhood the finger as they leave and spitting in the face of this community.

His chief of staff, Chris McCreight, told this paper that Brannan would be willing to bring the matter to the mayors attention to make sure plans for the buildings future best served the communitys needs.

Councilman Brannan remains committed to finding ways to ensure the Angel Guardian site continues to serve the needs of the local community, McCreight said. To that end, he has been in talks with many of the stakeholders is ready to roll up his sleeves and work with anybody, including Mayor DeBlasio, to make sure this site serves the neighborhood no matter who the owners are now or in the future.

The committee voted 60 at the meeting to support the Guardians of the Guardians landmarking application for the property, which the full board will vote on at the Feb. 26 meeting at the Norwegian Christian home at 7 pm. The boards vote is not binding, but helps give the application more weight with the landmarks agency, according to Guardians of the Guardian member Fran Vella-Marrone.

The executive director of the Historic Districts Council, Simeon Bankoff, also wrote a letter to the landmarks agency on Jan. 31 supporting the Guardians efforts, citing the propertys architectural and historical significance as well as Dyker Heights lack of landmarked sites.
Turnaround of a large steel company of Tata Steel's size is a tough job to do in a year's time. But still, N Chandrasekaran's one year at the helm of Tata group - on February 21, he completes one year of his chairmanship - has changed the fate of the steel maker quite dramatically. The company gets rid of the European pangs and quite bullishly postured itself in the bids for Bhushan companies, which is up for sale as part of the insolvency proceedings.

In the third quarter, Tata Steel posted an almost five-fold jump in consolidated net profit to Rs 1,136 crore, thanks to higher production and sales volume in India and the surging steel prices. Revenues shot up 15 per cent to Rs 33,446 crore. The consolidated quarterly Ebidta at Rs 5,801 crore registered a 59 per cent increase year on year (y-o-y) with an Ebidta margin of 17 per cent.

The major worry for the company, the gross debt went down by Rs 1,658 crore to Rs 88,601 crore because of the repayments and a positive impact on the forex front. The debt accumulated largely because of the losses in the European, which acquired for $12 billion in 2007.

Debt is reducing, sales rising and margins increasing. It's a good sign for the steelmaker, say industry experts. In Europe, Thyssenkrupp of Germany is on the verge of finalising the joint venture agreements with Tata Steel Europe. The improving domestic outlook, healthy cash flows and the impending transfer of its European steel business to the JV will help Tata Steel to build a stronger balance sheet and India-focused portfolio.

The latest information is that Tatas is the lead bidder for Bhushan Steel and Bhushan Power and Steel - both the companies came up for court-led insolvency proceedings after they defaulted loans. Tata Steel's surprise bid of Rs 35,000 crore for 5.6 million tonne (MT) Bhushan Steel is Rs 5,300 crore higher to rival JSW Steel's offer. It became the lead bidder for Bhushan Power with the bid of Rs 24,500 crore.

With both the bids, Tata Steel made a financial commitment of around Rs 60,000 crore. It will definitely be a financial burden for the company. However, Chandrasekaran sees it as an opportunity. When the steel market is growing, Tata Steel is the third largest player in the country after JSW Steel and Steel Authority of India (SAIL). With the addition of the capacities of both Bhushan companies, Tata Steel will be able to produce around 20 MT steel annually.

Besides, the steelmaker is adding 5 MT capacity at its Kalinganagar plant in Odisha by investing Rs 23,500 crore. The new capacity will be commissioned by 2021.

Chandrasekaran doesn't want to miss any opportunity and looks to regain the lost glory of Tata Steel, which is one of pioneers in the country's steel business.
Will the Indian modern retail industry sooner or later be dominated by global giants such as Walmart, Amazon and Alibaba? It looks like they are aggressively doing ground work to spread their wings in India. Walmart is known to be in the final stages of picking up a stake in Flipkart. If it does so, it gets to reach last mile Indian consumers through Flipkart's distribution network. The Indian consumer will get access to Walmart, which currently is allowed to operate only as a B2B cash and carry retailer. Similarly, Amazon is getting set to roll out its grocery retail business in the next six months. Will Amazon pick up a stake in an Indian brick and mortar grocery retail company? Well, India's retail king, Kishore Biyani is known to have recently met both Jack Ma of Alibaba and Jeff Bezos of Amazon. So, whether he plans a strategic investment is again anybody's guess.

"By picking up a stake in Flipkart, Walmart is playing a defensive game. The idea would be to make use of the synergies as soon as FDI in multibrand retail opens up," says Arvind Singhal, Chairman, Technopak. In fact, Walmart across the world has been acquiring online retail companies in order to strengthen its omni-channel presence. It has invested in JD.comin China, while Alibaba bought out two physical retailers Hema and Bailan in China.

Building an online retail presence for a physical retail company or an online retail company building a physical presence, both seem to be expensive propositions. Therefore, global retail giants, just as they have done elsewhere, are trying to get into partnerships in India too. Amazon picking up a 5 per cent stake in Shoppers Stop is an example. "The moment FDI in multibrand retail is allowed, I expect most of the Indian retail companies to join hands with the global biggies," points out Singhal of Technopak, who expects Indian modern retail to be dominated by the likes of Amazon, Walmart, Alibaba, and Reliance Retail. The reason why Indian retail companies would be happy to join hands with the global giants is because retail is a capital intensive business and one needs deep pockets to sustain the business in the longer-term.

Rajat Wahi, Partner, Deloitte, does agree that the Indian retail industry will see domination of global majors, but only in the long-term. "One doesn't know when FDI in multi-brand retail will open up. For the next 4-5 years I see all the local retail companies building scale, consolidation will happen post that." After all, modern retail is just 10% of the overall retail industry and companies need to build their platforms and reach maximum consumers so that they become lucrative buys.

Future Group Chairman, Kishore Biyani, is busy scaling up. In the last two years, he has acquired three retail businesses (EasyDay, Niligiris and Heritage). He recently announced his company's Retail 3.0 plan through which he hopes to become a 1.5 trillion company by 2022 by blending online and offline retail. That surely is scale that could woo any global retailer looking at India. In fact, Biyani likes to be known as a FMCG company and not a retailer. "Our focus has always been to build brands, its only the industry which likes to call us a retail company," Biyani had said in a recent interview with Business Today.

So, will the king of Indian retail exit modern retail in the years to come? Quite possible. For, his biggest passion now is his FMCG business, which he aspires to scale into a Rs 20,000-crore brand by 2021. As per Singhal's forecast, the only two Indian retail companies that would stay in the race in the long run are Reliance Retail and DMart. Reliance Retail because they have deep pockets and DMart because of its valuation. "I don't think any foreign retailer will want to pay that kind of value for DMart."
The government on Wednesday opposed a plea seeking an independent SIT probe and deportation of celebrity jeweller Nirav Modi in the Supreme Court, saying an FIR has already been filed and a probe was on. The PIL, filed by lawyer Vineet Dhanda in the Rs 11,400 crore PNB fraud, has now been listed for further hearing on March 16.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud said it would not say anything on the matter now. Attorney General K K 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.

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.

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).

Making its first big arrest in the PNB fraud, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday arrested Vipul Ambani who worked as the president (finance) of Nirav Modi's Firestar Diamond. The high profile arrest in the Rs 11,400 crore banking scam comes close on the heels of Nirav Modi's letter to the Punjab National Bank in which he claimed his brother Nishal and wife Ami were 'wrongly named' in the FIR.

The CBI has also arrested a General Manager-rank officer of the Punjab National Bank posted at the bank's head office in New Delhi in connection with PNB fraud. Rajesh Jindal, who was the head of the Brady House, Mumbai, branch of the bank during 2009-11, was taken into custody on Tuesday night. Jindal is presently posted as GM, Credit, PNB Head Office, New Delhi.

Meanwhile, bank officers union All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA) said, "How the checks and balances are appropriately operated by the bank at the highest level of operation, and how RBI arms were a mute spectator, are the subject matter of investigation."

It said the exposure to the gem & jewellery sector and also foreign exchange dealings are reported to the board, which has representatives of both the RBI as well as government. Wondering how the scam went undetected, it said a branch dealing with foreign exchange is subjected to a "foreign exchange audit" by the bank as well as by the Reserve Bank regularly.

Ever since the PNB scam has unfolded, security agencies have begun its crackdown on the properties of Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi, but have been clueless about their whereabouts. The fraud revelation that started from Rs 280 crore has now reached over Rs 11,400 crore, and agency officials have already warned of many more skeletons in the closet. Business Today brings you the top 10 details on how far the case has moved so far.

1. The CBI booked billionaire diamond merchant Nirav Modi, his brother Nishal and wife Ami, and business partner and maternal uncle Mehul Chinubhai Choksi on February 5 for allegedly cheating Punjab National Bank of over Rs 280.7 crore during 2017. All of them were partners or linked with Nirav Modi's companies, Diamon R US, Solar Exports, Stellar Diamonds, and allegedly conspired with PNB officials to cause 'wrongful loss'.

2. PNB MD Sunil Mehta's press conference sent shockwaves across country on February 14 when he said the bank had detected another "fraudulent and unauthorised" transaction worth Rs 11,400 crore, eight times than the PNB's annual net profit of Rs 1,324 crore during 2016-17, at its Brady House branch in Mumbai. The bank approached the CBI with another FRI on February 13. The PNB complaint also stated that Mehul Choksi and his companies also caused a loss of Rs 4,886 crore to the bank.

3. Nirav Modi was ranked 57 in Forbes India's Richest People List 2016, with a net worth of $1.74 billion. He founded Nirav Modi chain of diamond stores across the globe, including Hong Kong, Macau, Kula Lumpur and Malasia, under parent company Firestar International. Famous for his glitzy style of branding, his designs have been worn by 'Hidden Figures' star Taraji P, Dakota Johnson, Kate Winslet. Bollywood's very own Priyanka Chopra and actor Sidharth Malhotra were brand ambassadors for his jewellery line.

4. A total of 500 LOUs were issued fraudulently by PNB officials to Nirav and Mehul, which they encashed overseas from private as well as public sector banks. These LoUs issued were encashed from Allahabad Bank's Hong Kong branch, Axis Bank's Hong Kong branch, SBI's Mauritius and Frankfurt branches, BOIs Antwerp branch and Canara Bank's Bahrain branch. In fact, the duo took LoUs further to fund the LoUs they took since 2011 and the trail now goes up to seven years back when it all started. As of now the case has been registered against the 151 LoUs taken in 2017, which amounts to Rs 3,312 crores in 2017 alone.

5. As of now, the CBI has arrested three six PNB officials the Rs 11,384 crore scam. The ED searched Nirav Modi's Mumbai residence at Samudra Mahal apartments in Worli on Monday, and seized fresh assets worth Rs 22 crore, taking the total seizure to Rs 5,716 crore as raids continue across the country. Stores and facilities of Nirav Modi's company across the country have been raided to find evidence in the case. The CBI has questioned around 13 officials from PNB, of which one is General Manager Rajesh Jindal who was in-charge at the Brady House branch of the PNB in 2011.

6. After continuous fall for the fourth day straight, the shares of Punjab National Bank (PNB) recovered .4 per cent (55 points up) to Rs 117.05 on Tuesday after initial drop as credit rating agencies warned to downgrade the bank. The PSU's share has fallen over 25 per cent in the past five days. The shares of Gitanjali Gems, which is owned by Mehul Choksi, has tanked over 50 per cent in the past five days.

7. Global credit rating agencies Moody's Investor Service and Fitch Ratings have warned the PNB of rating downgrades, citing likely networth erosion and widening losses at the second largest state-run lender. The Rs 11,400-crore fraud has raised questions on both internal and external risk controls at PNB as well as the quality of management supervision at the regulatory level.

9. The diamantaire left the country along with his family in January first, around a month before the PNB lodged a complaint against his company. In fact, Nirav Modi changed his status to Non Resident Indian (NRI) in 2017. A November-2017 resolution by ANM Enterprises shareholders mentions him as an NRI with an address in Dubai, UAE. This begs the question of why he has given a Dubai address. Does Modi plan to take shelter in UAE?

8. Over 2,200 employees of Nirav Modi's companies have not been paid salaries due to freezing of his accounts. In a widely circulated letter on social media, purportedly penned by Nirav Modi, he requested the bank to permit payment of salaries to 2,200 employees from the balance lying in the current accounts. "I would request you to permit salaries for FIPL (Firestar International Private Ltd) and FDIPL (Firestar Diamond International Private Ltd) to be paid for the 2,200 employees from the balance lying in the current accounts."

10. Referring to the valuables worth Rs 5,649 crore, which raids by the CBI and ED have yielded, Nirav Modi said: "These and other assets of the group, and the three firms could have settled all the amounts due to banks. However, now that stage appears to have passed." He added the bank has wrongly named his brother and wife, who are not connected with any business operations. "My uncle is also wrongly named in this complaint since he has an independent and unconnected business and none of them are aware or concerned with my dealings with your bank."

with PTI inputs
Nothing lasts in politics. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has just proved this oft-repeated cliche true. "Look forward to meeting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Amritsar on Wednesday. I'm hopeful that this meeting will help strengthen the close Indo-Canadian business ties as well as the deep-rooted people-to-people relations between our two countries," he tweeted yesterday. Trudeau is scheduled to visit Amritsar tomorrow and Singh's tweet ends days of speculation on whether he would continue with the cold shoulder treatment meted out to Trudeau by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on his first state visit.

Officials said that the chief minister would hold a meeting with the Canadian prime minister at a hotel in Amritsar after Trudeau pays obeisance at the holiest of Sikh shrines. "Sukhbir Badal will welcome the Canadian PM at the Golden Temple. He will honour Trudeau as party president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)," said the spokesperson for the opposition party, Daljit Singh Cheema. According to a Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) official, the religious body has planned special event for the Canadian leader when he visits the shrine, including presenting him a Siropa (robe of honour), replica of the Golden Temple and a sword. Trudeau is also expected to visit the partition museum, added officials.

Post sightseeing, the meeting between the two leaders will focus on trade and business, according to the chief minister's office, but they are also expected to discuss steps to intensify the close relations between the people of the two countries. "Punjab has deep roots with Canada, where a large Punjabi community is settled, and has always striven to strengthen the connect," Singh said in a statement. He also referred to Trudeau's apology, two years ago, in the Canadian parliament for the 1914 Komagata Maru incident, in which hundreds of Sikh, Muslim and Hindu passengers aboard the ship were denied entry into Canada and forced to return to India. This gesture underlined the depth of the bilateral relations, he added.

The government's snub-though no protocol was broken-has made obvious its discomfort on Trudeau's less-than-ambiguous support for the Khalistan movement. His attending a Khalsa Day event in Toronto, where Khalistan flags and the portrait of former Khalistani militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale were displayed, was not taken lightly. Then, last year, the Ontario Assembly, dominated by Trudeau's Liberal Party, passed a resolution condemning the 'genocide' of Sikhs in India in 1984. Meanwhile, Canada's High Commissioner to India had to apologise after India reacted sharply when a former CRPF officer was initially denied entry at Vancouver airport on the grounds that he had served a government that engaged in "terrorism, systematic or gross human rights violations, or genocide".

Singh's run-ins with Trudeau and his government only highlight this underlying tension between the two countries. When Trudeau was elected Canada's Prime Minister in 2015, he inducted four Indian faces-all Sikhs-in his multi-cultural Cabinet, including Harjit Singh Sajjan as defence minister. Singh had accused the latter and some other Cabinet members of having links to radical elements demanding a separate Sikh state of Khalistan. So when Sajjan, born in Punjab's Hoshiarpur district, visited the state last April, not a single minister or even a senior officer of the Punjab government was present to welcome him. Singh, in fact, publicly refused to meet him and said he "would not meet any Khalistani sympathisers".

In April 2016, before he was elected CM, Singh had shot off an angry letter to protest the Canadian government's denial of permission for his interactive meetings with Punjabis in Toronto and Vancouver. In fact, the Canadian government had officially raised its objection to Singh's visit through the Ministry of External Affairs. Forced to cancel his political rallies following objections raised by Sikh hardliners, Singh had vociferously protested the government's 'gag order' on him.

Flash forward three-odd years and things seem to have changed quite a bit, if only to woo the Indian diaspora with an eye on the federal elections coming up in Canada next year. "We of course reject violence and hate speech. But at the same time let me assure that my position, Canada's position, has not changed. We support one, united India," Trudeau said at an event in Mumbai. The Canadian MPs who have accompanied Trudeau on this visit are on the same page. "We want India-Canada ties to go forward. The big thrust is on economic cooperation. There could be a few sticking points, but both sides will work it out," Surrey MP Randeep Sarai told India Today. "There is no way that Canada supports any elements that is against India's interests. We believe in a united India. There are some very small number of people who think in a certain manner, but they don't represent the majority view."

Perhaps that is why a mollified Singh has now directed the state administration to roll out the red carpet for Trudeau tomorrow. The following day, he will be in the capital. After visiting the Jama Masjid, he will attend a business event organised by the Indo-Canadian Business Chamber in partnership with the Canada-India Business Council (C-IBC) in Delhi and is scheduled to address the gathering. A similar event, incidentally, has been planned in Mumbai today.

"Our economic relationship with India, while growing, is still modest. This visit by Prime Minister Trudeau will provide an excellent opportunity to increase our trade and investment engagement as well as profile the Canadian brand", said Kasi Rao, president and CEO, C-IBC. According to the chamber, two-way trade between Canada and India stood at about USD 8 billion in 2016. That may not seem much, but it has more than doubled since 2010, when bilateral trade was at USD 3.21 billion. Also, the cumulative India FDI into Canada is pegged at USD 2.2 billion for 2016, with Indian companies investing especially in the IT, software, steel and natural resources sectors. However, Canadian FDI into India is still less than half that figure. These interactions with business forums might see improvement on that front.

Trudeau has saved the most important meetings for his second last day in the country. On February 23, he will head to the Rashtrapati Bhawan for the official welcome ceremony and meet President Ram Nath Kovind. The meeting with Modi is next on the day's plan. According to sources, Trudeau's objective would be to expand the overall ties between the two countries with a focus on defence and security, counter-terror cooperation, trade and investment and tackling climate change. Before he flies back home on Saturday, he will deliver the keynote address at the 2018 Young Changemakers Conclave conference.

(With PTI inputs)
Before starting on the ambitious hyperloop project between Pune and Mumbai, Richard Branson's Virgin Group will be constructing a demonstration track. The track will be 10 km long and will run between Hinjewadi IT Park and Old Pune-Mumbai highway. A team of state officials are also likely to visit Los Angeles to witness a similar demonstration track developed by the company in the American city.

Officials in the Chief Minister's office told DNA that the land where the track will be developed is in the government's possession. The company would soon reveal the development plan but have nevertheless drawn up a detailed project report for the hyperloop project. The hyperloop is expected to reduce the travel time between Pune and Mumbai to 25 minutes from the current three hours.

Although the investment from the Virgin Group has not yet been revealed, the officer said that the capital cost for one kilometre is expected to be in the range of Rs 400 crore to Rs 700 crore, an estimate that is currently required for the elevated and underground metro railway.

Branson had announced earlier that a framework agreement has been signed between the state government and the company. The hyperloop transportation system is estimated to carry 150 million passengers every year and will be operated upto the speed of 1,000 kmph.

The same official however said that initially the hyperloop transportation system will operate at 350 kmph, which will gradually increase to 600 kmph before reaching 1,000 kmph.

Hyperloop is a train service that envisions loading passengers and cargo into a pod that will accelerate gradually via electric propulsion through a low-pressure tube. According to Branson who is the Chairman of Hyperloop One, the company building this system, the pod will quickly lift above the track using magnetic levitation and glide at airline speeds for long distances due to ultra-low aerodynamic drag. In fact, with speeds 2-3 times faster than high-speed rail, hyperloop can connect far-flung Indian cities as if they were metro stops.

The technology for Hyperloop One is currently in the early stages of the commercialisation phase after the successful completion of the world's first full scale hyperloop systems test at their DevLoop site outside Las Vegas.

"We have always believed that India would be a tremendous market for hyperloop. The Pune-Mumbai route is one of the strongest economic cases we have seen to-date," said Virgin Hyperloop One CEO Rob Lloyd.
Author Ravi Subramanian never expected that seven months after he released his thriller "In the Name of God", his book will be in news for its uncanny similarities with the real-time Nirav Modi-Punjab National Bank scam.

On February 14, second largest state-owned lender Punjab National Bank reported fraudulent transactions by diamond jewellery designer Nirav Modi and his firms which were over Rs 11,000 crore. The bank lodged a complaint with the Central Bureau of Investigation, saying that its officials issued flawed Letters of Undertaking to get buyer's credit from other Indian banks. His maternal uncle and another famous diamond merchant, Mehul Choksi, the promoter of Gitanjali Group, has also been named in the fraud.

The book revolves around the protagonist, Nirav Choksi, a jeweller who gets involved in a heist to smuggle the antiques from the Padmanabhaswamy temple in Kerala. Thanks to plot and the name of the central character, the book suddenly rose higher on the Amazon Bestsellers list and topped the crime, thriller and mystery vertical. Asking about the name and the plot, Subramanian said while planning the plot, he needed a stylish name with some public memory involved.

"My book is based on the temple and its riches. It is under the control of the local king and has huge treasures locked away in the subterranean vaults. I did my research by reading the newspapers. For the central character, I was looking for a flamboyant jeweller. When authors like me name a character in their book, we normally look around for names in the industry. My character had to be a Gujarati, because of the diamond connection. The name, Nirav Choksi, is flamboyant, stylish, sounds powerful and is easy for the reader to remember."

The details in the book will shock you further. In the book, Nirav Choksi has been described as a rich and powerful diamond trader with Antwerp, Mumbai. Denying any resemblance to the fraud case, Subramanian said the plot is different and names chosen are coincidental.

"The choice of the name is certainly coincidental. People haven't read the book and just talking about the resemblance with the name. In India all wealthy people (irrespective of business, sector) have strong political connections and are influential. The book does not have any mentions of any scam or fraud."

A banker by profession, Subramanian has penned books around banks and frauds. When asked about whether his books pointed at loopholes in our banking system, he said loopholes in systems give a scope of scams and then such thriller ideas.

"Thrillers evolve around various ambiguities or inadequacies in the law or a set of rules. People figure out loopholes in the system and take advantage of it, leading to crime. Every thriller points to such loopholes - either in banking or the legal system or in the society at large. If all loopholes are plugged we would have a perfect society. There will be no crime. Crime and thriller writers would be out of a job."
The story of pilot Captain Amol Yadav is a shining example of Make in India. A professional who dreamt to build an aircraft with meagre sources goes on to bag one of the biggest and first aircraft building projects undertaken by state governments is, no less than a marvellous feat. Maharashtra-based Amol, who's a senior commander with Jet Airways, after his seven years of grit and continuous dedication, was able to clear various bureaucratic hurdles and grab the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Amol's company has now signed a whopping Rs 35,000-crore deal with state government to build over 1,300 aircraft (19-seater) in multiple phases. The MoU was signed on the Day 3 of Magnetic Maharashtra Global Investors Summit being held in Bandra, Mumbai, on Tuesday.

Project, facility & stage

The project, which also includes several ancillary hubs that'll be required in the facility, will be spread over 157 acre of land in Palghar district, which is around 140km from Mumbai. The investment in the first phase - the next six months - to manufacture prototype 19-seater plane and three more similar planes for production would entail funding of around Rs 200 crore. "Our target, from the Rs 35,000-crore investment, is very simple. We want to make 600 19-seater planes in the next 2-3 years and then take it to 1,300 planes after that. We are planning for 1300 19-seater planes at present," said the 42-year-old pilot told PTI.

His six-seater aircraft is in initial stage and still requires some components to be installed before it is ready to fly. Some components "have come to India and are with the Customs. Once they are fitted [into the aircraft] we will have the official test flight in March or April," Yadav told HT. Yadav's current aircraft has Pratt & Whitney engine, which 30-year-old, tested and tried.

10,000 jobs to boost Make in India agenda

The MoU signed between Yadav's Thrust Aircraft Private Limited company and the Maharashtra Industries Development Corporation (MIDC) will create over 10,000 jobs, a number that'll surely give PM Modi and his government some much-needed impetus to boast about jobs creation under a 'Make in India' story. The Maharashra government has provided land for the project on the Kelwe Road Station, and the plant construction would start in the next months. Once the construction completes, Amol's company would start making first official prototype aircraft. "Fadnavis wants the first plane making factory of the country to be in Maharashtra. The MIDC will provide us land and support facilities like roads," Yadav told PTI. The setting up of the project would mark creation of a plane manufacturing hub where many other similar factories would be set up in the future, said Amol.

Not an easy road

It's never an easy road to the top. Initially, Amol faced several hurdles due to the lack of proper financial resources and support from the government institutions concerned. He even sold his house for Rs 4 crore, as per HT, and built the entire project from the rooftop of a building in Charkop. However, the pilot-turned-entrepreneur knows art of conveying the right message to those who matter. His first obstacle was getting approval from the aviation ministry, which was denied to him. Not ready to be bogged down, Amol pleaded Fadnavis and PM Modi and soon got approval from the PMO to showcase his prototype. Even after PMO nod, it took Amol six years to get registration certificate from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for his six-seater plane in November 2017. The aircraft, whose registration number VT-NMD refers to the initials of PM Narendra Modi and Devendra Fadnavis, was a centre of attraction during 'Make in India' week in February 2016.

Skepticism over project

Aviation experts suggest the Maharashtra government's decision to sign the MoU seems to be taken in haste as the similar opportunity should have been given to others entrepreneurs as the sole purpose of 'Make in India' is to encourage maximum participation from young minds. There are set international aviation body guidelines that need be followed before finalising the product, they say, adding the government seems to have given green signal to the project without analysing the actual return on investment in aircraft construction facility.
The ongoing Nirav Modi-Punjab National Bank (PNB) saga appears set to claim a new victim: According to media reports, the Banks Board Bureau (BBB) may not live to see its fourth birthday. Announced in February 2016 - on the recommendations of the RBI-appointed Nayak Committee set up to review the governance of boards of banks in India - its broad agenda was to improve governance at state-owned lenders. Its mandate also involved advising the government on top-level bank appointments and assisting banks with capital-raising plans as well as strategies to deal with bad loans.

But with stressed assets continuing to pile up and systemic risks getting unmasked by the massive PNB fraud, one can safely say that the BBB turned out to be little more than a paper tiger. The government apparently thinks so too. With the two-year term of its Chairman Vinod Rai coming to an end in March, the Business Standard reported that it is unlikely the government will look for a successor.

According to the daily, even its advice regarding appointments rarely helped much. For example, though the BBB chose Rajnish Kumar to take Arundhati Bhattacharya's seat as chairman of State Bank of India in July 2017, the decision was announced by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet around three months later, just days before she retired.

Last year, BBB member and ICICI Bank's former Joint Managing Director H.N. Sinor had even put in his papers in a huff within days of sudden changes in the top management of PNB and Bank of India where the bureau had been completely bypassed, and this wasn't the first time. However, he was subsequently persuaded to return BBB's litany of woes doesn't end there. Last year it suggested empowering the Non-official directors (NODs) of PSBs to play the role of independent directors on the same lines as provided in the Companies Act, 2013 and setting up a Nomination and Remuneration Committee of the Board-currently performed by two separate committees-along the same lines. But the government is yet to respond.

Another of its stated functions was to "advise the Government on evolving suitable training and development programmes for management personnel" in public sector banks and financial institutions. But the likes of Bank of Baroda and PNB, among others, have reportedly reduced their in-service training for probationary officers from 24 months to about a year.

The writing on the wall becomes clearer when you factor in the following bit of news put up BBB's official website: Based on the mandate given by the Banks Board Bureau, the Indian Banks Association has issued the following two Request for Proposals (RFPs):

a. To appoint a Knowledge Partner to the Banks Board Bureau to design, implement and institutionalise a flagship leadership development strategy for Public Sector Banks in India.

b. To appoint an Advisory Firm to assist the Banks Board Bureau to assess the leadership competencies and potential capabilities of personages appearing in the process for appointment as wholetime Directors of Public Sector Banks in India."

Wasn't that the BBB's raison d'etre in the first place? Of course, there is a chance that the bankers' body has been asked pitch in to ease the workload for BBB members given the challenges being faced by PSBs and the imperative need to assess the leadership competencies and potential capabilities of applicants. As per the RFP, the advisory firm may have to engage with approximately 60 candidates/personages each year but will not be involved in shortlisting of the candidates. So there may be role for the BBB yet.



With PTI inputs
Breaking his silence on the biggest banking fraud at the government-owned Punjab National Bank, celebrity jeweller has reportedly written a letter to PNB, saying the erroneous liability which resulted in a media frenzy has jeopardised his ability to repay the dues of the group to the banks.

In a letter to the management of the defrauded Punjab National Bank purportedly penned by the billionaire jewellery designer, Modi has requested the bank to permit payment of salaries to 2,200 employees from the balance lying in the current accounts. "I would request you to permit salaries for FIPL (Firestar International Private Ltd) and FDIPL (Firestar Diamond International Private Ltd) to be paid for the 2,200 employees from the balance lying in the current accounts. Our HR head will send you a breakup of the monthly salary," Modi reportedly added in the letter.

Modi accused the bank of jumping the gun. "Even after your complaint was filed, in good faith I wrote to you saying please allow me to sell Firestar Group, or their valuable assets, and recover the dues not just from Firestar Group, but also from the three firms," he wrote. Valuing his domestic business at around Rs 6,500 crore, he said "this could have helped reduce/discharge the debt to the banking system," but quickly added that this is not possible as all his bank accounts have been frozen and assets have been sealed or seized. "In the anxiety to recover your dues immediately, despite my offer, your actions have destroyed my brand and the business and have now restricted your ability to recover all the dues leaving a trail of unpaid debts."

To remind you, last week PNB's managing director Sunil Mehta had mentioned that Modi had written to them promising to repay the money by selling his company Firestar Diamonds but had made it clear that the offer was "vague". According to Mehta, neither was there "any concrete plan to repay so far", nor had Modi come to the bank "personally" to discuss the matter. "We have requested to him to come and give us a written plan and how he is going to make a repayment", he added.

That's highly unlikely given that the diamantaire-turned-con artist extraordinaire left the country along with his family in the first week of January-much before the scam broke. In fact, last year itself Modi changed his status to Non Resident Indian (NRI). Here's proof: His company Firestar International - which he was trying to take public to raise more funds - had classified him as NRI in financial year 2016-17 while the filing for 2015-16 put him as a promoter 'Resident in India'. Similarly, a certified copy of the resolution by the shareholders of ANM Enterprises Pvt Ltd, another company owned by Modi, clearly mentions him as NRI with an address in Dubai, UAE. This begs the question of why he has given a Dubai address. It certainly seems like he was following a clearly laid out plan of taking up a new citizenship elsewhere and never returning to India to repay the banks.

The letter further claims that the amount owed by his companies is "substantially less", under Rs 5,000 crore. "The erroneously cited liability resulted in a media frenzy which led to immediate search and seizure of operations and which, in turn, resulted in Firestar International and Firestar Diamond International effectively ceasing to be going-concerns. This thereby jeopardised our ability to discharge the dues of the group to the banks," he alleges.

Contrary to what Modi claims in the letter, the total fraud value might be higher than the Rs 11,400 cited by PNB. Primary investigation by CBI and Enforcement Directorate to find out the actual amount lost by banks in the alleged fraud is still ongoing. Investigation reveals that Modi and Mehul Choksi took LoUs further to fund the LOUs he had taken since 2011. As of now the case has been registered against the LoUs taken in 2017, numbering around 151, of which the last one was issued on May 2 last year. The total LOUs amounts to Rs 3,312 crores in 2017.

Interestingly, Modi's letter claims that PNB had time and again acknowledged that "the buyers credit facility has been extended by it to the three partnership firms since several years; that there has been no default on the part of any of these firms over all these years; that money has gone through PNB over all these years for the repayments of the advances given by the overseas bank branches under the buyers credit. He also states that PNB has, over the years, been earning bank charges to the tune of crores of rupees in the bargain and that PNB has extended the money to the firm's buyers as well, receiving full payments, with interest and on time, all these years.

Referring to the valuables worth Rs 5,649 crore that raids by the CBI and Enforcement Directorate yielded, he said "these, and other assets of the group and the three firms could have settled all the amounts due to banks. However, now that stage appears to have passed." He furthermore claims that the bank has wrongly named his brother and wife, who are not connected with any business operations. "My uncle is also wrongly named in this complaint since he has an independent and unconnected business and none of them are aware or concerned with my dealings with your bank," he added. But, according to media reports, CBI has said that PNB's complaint to it claims that Mehul Choksi and his companies caused a loss of Rs 4,886 crore to the bank.

Modi concluded his letter by requesting the bank to "be fair, and support my efforts to make good all the amounts that are found due by my group to all banks...Whatever may be the consequences I may face for my actions, the haste was, in my humble submission, unwarranted."

One could argue that, if all the above is true, his hasty flight from the country, too, was unwarranted.

With PTI inputs
The CBI sleuths on Monday sealed Punjab National Bank's (PNB) Brady House branch in Mumbai even as whereabouts of Firestar Diamond owner Nirav Modi, who is accused of defrauding the bank of over Rs 11,400 crore, remain unknown. The agency has pasted a notice barring people from entering the bank office premises. As the inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) intensifies, reports have emerged that some PNB staffers might have received kickbacks worth over Rs 823 crore - by charging 2 per cent commission on each LoU per year - in granting Letter of Undertakings (LoUs) to the diamantaire. The role of the second largest PSU bank has also come under scanner since questions are being raised whether PNB officials knew that Nirav Modi had changed his official status to NRI (Non-Resident Indian), and still kept on providing loans to his company.

A Business Today investigation shows the businessman tried to cover up the mess in November 2017 when Nirav Modi's one of the companies, ANM Enterprises, allotted 750 shares of Rs 10 each at a staggering premium of over Rs 14 lakh, which totalled around Rs 106 crore. Though there's no clarity on why he did so yet, sources say the businessman might be trying to placate Indian banks by paying interest or commission portion. Apart from Nirav Modi's company, his maternal uncle Mehul Choksi's Gitanjali Gems, Nakshatra, and Ginni are also under the scanner.

As each day in the PNB fraud investigation seems to be throwing up more surprises, Business Today brings you real-time updates on the Nirav Modi scam.

10.30pm: Nirav Modi's lawyer Vijay Aggarwal told India Today that just like 2G and Bofors scams collapsed after much noise, "so will the case against Nirav Modi". "Agencies are making all these noises in the media, they will not be able to prove these charges in a court of law. Nirav will not be found guilty. I'm certain," says his lawyer.

10.25pm: Investigation agency sleuths have arrested three more staffers of PNB's MCB Brady House branch. The suspect are Bechhu Tiwari, chief manager in-charge of Forex department, Yashwant Joshi, Scale II, Manager Forex department and Praful Sawant, scale-I officer of export, reports ANI. The sleuths also conducted searches at their houses in Mumbai.

Three officers of Punjab National Bank's MCB Brady House branch in Mumbai - Bechhu Tiwari, Chief Manager in charge of Forex dept, Yashwant Joshi, Scale II, Manager Forex dept & Praful Sawant, Scale I Officer Export arrested. #PNBFraudCase - ANI (@ANI) February 19, 2018

Nirav Modi allowed his rich clients exchange unaccounted cash worth over Rs 90 crore on a single day after November 8, 2016, when the Modi government had launched the demonetisation drive, reports New18.

8.14pm: The ED searched Nirav Modi's Mumbai residence at Samudra Mahal apartments in Worli, and seized fresh assets worth Rs 22 crore, taking the total seizure to Rs 5,716 crore as raids continued for the fifth day.



8.00pm: As investigations agencies dig deeper, it's been revealed that some partners of Stellar diamonds, Solar Exports and Diamonds R paid Income Tax as low as Rs 930, Rs 620, Rs 431 and even Rs 0 for 2016-17, 2015-16 and 214-15, reports India Today.

7.52pm: Receivables of Nirav Modi's companies Stellar Diamond, Solar Exports and Diamonds R are huge despite low turnover, reports India Today, adding that companies buying goods were not in a position to pay for them.

7.51pm: Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Karkare has resigned citing personal reasons, says Gitanjali Gems.

7.48pm: Two senior management officials of Gitanjali Gems, CFO Chandrakant Karkare and Company Secretary Pankhuri, and board member Krishnan Sangameswaran have quit the company, the company said in regulatory filing on Monday.

7.33pm: Actor and senior BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha was on a sarcastic tweet spree on Monday. He targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley over their silence in the Nirav Modi case.

Dear Sir. it seems no one had understood what the Chowkidaar-e-watan had meant when he announced that "you gave Congress 60 years, give us only 60 months". Now the symbolic meaning of the cryptic message is being understood by all of us. Balle Balle! Jio! Long live PNB.Jai Hind! - Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) February 19, 2018

A Nationalized Bank scam of unparalleled magnitude...and a conspicuous lack of response from the top people of Govt! "Bade miyaan to bade miyaan, chote miyaan subhan-allah". Neither the Chowkidaaar-e-watan nor even the Ministry of Finance has provided any response or explanation. - Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) February 19, 2018

India must be the only country where the responsible people at the top do not come our with proper explanations that the nation needs & deserves. Almost as if the citizens do not matter! Even Donald Trump faces hard interviews! But here interviews are only to Sarkari Darbaaris. - Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) February 19, 2018

Total loans extended to the Nirav Modi companies by Indian banks: Rs 7,817.90 crore; loans extended to Mehul Choksi-promoted Gitanjali Group: Rs 7,500-crore.

7.21pm: The Income Tax Department has attached several properties of Gitanjali Group chief Mehul Choksi in Mumbai, reports ANI.

IT department attaches 7 more properties of #GitanjaliGroup, out of which 4 properties are registered in the name of #GitanjaliGems, 2 properties belongs to #MehulChoksi, 1 property registered in #Gili India's name. All the attached properties are in Mumbai: IT Sources - ANI (@ANI) February 19, 2018

6.52pm: Earlier in the day, the office of Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted PM Modi silence in the Nirav Modi case shows his loyalties.

Central vigilance commission seeks report on PNB scam#ITVideo

More videos: https://t.co/NounxnP7mg pic.twitter.com/fOxAKA2gDC - India Today (@IndiaToday) February 19, 2018



The Central Vigilance Commission seeks report on the Rs 11,400 crore PNB scam from the bank authorities, asking them to identify all the staffers guilty in perpetrating the fraud, reports India Today."I wrote to the SFIO under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs in 2015 but investigators did not take my complaint seriously," says Shrivastav, adding that he had even written to the agencies that it could well be Vijay Mallya part 2. Shrivastav alleges Choksi used to manage the lower-level agency officials to nip the complaints in the bud. "I saw him as a con master, a habitual cheater. He not only cheated the banks, but also the franchises and Bollywood stars."

6:03pm: Shrivastav says he was threatened; he accuses Choksi of implicating him in false cases.

5:50pm: Santosh Shrivastav, former MD of Gitanjali Gems retail, tells India Today: "Things got a little suspicious in 2013, but I was told to mind my own business. There was pressure on me to carry out certain unethical dealings, which I refused but after this the relation between me and Choksi got strained."

5:00pm: The ED conducts searches at Gitanjali and Nakshatra showrooms across Lucknow, Noida and Ghaziabad. The CBI has also questioned more staffers at the PNB's Mumbai branch on Monday.

4:35pm: Nirav Modi's legal team is in Dubai, reports India Today.

4:30pm: CBI grills Nirav Modi's CFO

4:20pm: A petitioner, Vaibhav Khuraniya, who' invested in Mehul Choksi's Gitanjali Gems and had to shut down in three months, has alleged Gitanjali of duping him of Rs 80 lakh. Khurania says though court proceedings are underway, Choksi filed plea to quash FIR and fled the country, reports ANI.

4:02pm: An ED team is at the residence of former Allahabad Bank director Dinesh Dubey, who on February 17 alleged that loans were granted given to Mehul Choksi's Gitanjali Gems in 2013 despite his dissent. Talking to India Today, Dubey had said he had asked the management to first recover the previous loan from Gitanjali Gem before releasing fresh one but he was told "it has to be done in order to stop NPAs and to run banks".

3:54pm: Shares of Gitanjali Gems, one of the companies charged for colluding with Nirav Modi in Rs 11,400-crore bank fraud, tanked another 10 per cent in morning trade, totalling around 50.25 per cent fall since February 14.

PNB fraud: Gitanjali Gems down 50.25% since Feb 14, Rs 344 crore in mkt cap wiped out https://t.co/U6JnmDnBIe pic.twitter.com/HrXyI0ddH8 - Business Today (@BT_India) February 19, 2018

3.42pm: Investigation reveals the arrested PNB officials have disclosed Nirav Modi's staff members were given 'unauthorised access' to PNB computer system to create fraudulent SWIFT messages. The accused have also named five-six more bank staffers involved in the fraud, reports The Wire.



3.20pm: Yoga guru Ramdev says the Modi government would punish Nirav Modi for his sins (defrauding PNB of Rs 11,400 crore and feeling the country, reports ANI.

Lalit Modi ho ya Nirav Modi jo bhi aisa sharmnaak kaam karta hai, woh desh ko sharmsaar karne waali baat hai. Log ghotaale karke desh ko badnaam karte hain. Modi sarkaar iss Nirav Modi ko uske asli thikaane tak pahonchayegi.Uske paapon ka phal usko milega: Ramdev on #NiravModi pic.twitter.com/yOGedbyctb - ANI (@ANI) February 19, 2018

3.15pm: Reuters reported the police searched the PNB's Mumbai branch premises on Sunday, and quizzed five more staffers besides questioning employees of Nirav Modi's company.

3.10pm: India Today reports Nirav Modi changed his status from Indian resident to NRI on November 6, 2017. Nirav Modi was classified as an Indian promoter of his borrowing companies that were issued Letters of Undertaking.

- India Today (@IndiaToday) February 19, 2018

A certified copy of the resolution dated November 6, 2017, by the shareholders of ANM Enterprises Pvt Ltd, a company owned by #NiravModi , clearly mentions him as an NRI. https://t.co/4aVrC8O2oz
Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of POTUS, is touring India to promote the Trump Organization's luxury real estate business in the country. The 250-unit Trump Towers Delhi-NCR launched in January this year and has already clocked Rs 700 crore in sales revenues; the average unit cost is Rs 7.5 crore. The project is being co-developed by Tribeca and M3M. In the run up to Trump Jr.'s visit, newspapers buzzed with large advertisements that invited home buyers to a dinner and conversation with him.

Trump spoke to Business Today's Rajeev Dubey and Goutam Das on his interest in India.

Q. The interesting ads in newspapers. Is this something you do in other parts of the world as well?

Trump: Is it different? This is real estate development. We are talking about business. These are all very normal things to do. With the success we have had, we are going to tap that. We have been a believer in this market for a very long time. Many of you have covered me 10 years ago speaking in real estate conferences saying it is going to be a big market for us. It took a little while to break through. To figure out who is real, and who isn't. Who you can actually do business with and who is somehow hoping to get involved. That's been a big learning curve. But it has been exciting and its great to be here now with the successes.

Q. What we meant was the meeting with buyers. Is that unusual?

Trump: I think if I didn't meet with buyers for a project, I would be the first real estate developer in the history of real estate to not do that. That's what it is. When you are a brand, part of that brand has a personality. You interact with your buyers, you form those relationships. No different than the relationships we have with our business partners. It's a relationship game. I have done that for every project we ever developed.

Q: How do you see the market for luxury real estate evolving in India? Particularly, how has it evolved for you in the last 10 years?

Trump: Its been a big change. A big part of some of our success is that we have not just talked about luxury but actually delivered it. People experience luxury in New York, in London, and In Paris, and then they come back to the best of the best in their market and it was not the same. As people became more successful, had more money, experienced rest of the world, they were starved for luxury. Meaning, they experienced when they were away from home but they couldn't get it at home. The market would figure out very quickly if you are saying you are going to do this but you don't. If you took our tower in Pune, and put that in any other city in the world, it is an amazing product. That wouldn't have been the case 10 years ago. We would have been much more reluctant to do a deal. You can't make things apples to apples with New York without being able to spend accordingly. When you commit to doing that and you start delivering it, that makes a difference. Our buyers get that. They have confidence we are going to do that. The premiums we are achieving are pretty substantial.

Q. How come you started with Pune (Kalyani Nagar) and not one of the larger cities?

Trump: When I met Atul and Sagar (Chairman and Director of Panchshil Realty, the developers) and became friendly with their team, our interests were aligned. We understood each other well. For me it wasn't about rushing in. When you are a brand, and a luxury brand, you cant just attack every deal that shows up. It can work once, or twice, but probably won't work too many times after that. I rather build something great, deliver it on time, make it a success. That is much more important than arbitrarily saying I need to be in this town because that is the only town that matters. It was really more about the people, the partnership, more about the end product that would set a benchmark for what we would represent as a brand in India. That project did an incredible job of doing that.

Q. Demonitisation de-railed the India real estate sector. How do you see its impact?

Trump: There will be short term hits to the market but it would ultimately lead to strengthening the future. You know the stories as well as I do - how real estate used to transact even a few years ago. There was the asking price, the official price, and then there was what people show up with on the site. As it related to consumer confidence, you needed to eliminate a lot of that for people to understand what they are going to get. That may have short-term pitfalls but in the end, it is going to strengthen that market; weed out a lot of the bad players - there were plenty of them. Developer was a four-letter word in many respects. If you weed out the bad ones, the good ones will thrive and the market will ultimately succeed. That will matter for the future and will certainly matter as it relates to investments coming in from abroad.

Q. You can't sign new international deals (till Donald Trump is President) but which city besides where you already are has an appetite for luxury real estate?

Trump: There are a lot of opportunities and frankly, there were a lot of deals we were talking about, even for months that just weren't over the finish line. They weren't signed, and we said we can't do them anymore. There is a reason I have been here for a long time cultivating those relationships. We could have done 15 deals in India if we wanted to by the end of this year - if we were able to do those things. But we have self-imposed rules. But with that comes a significant opportunity cost of what we are turning down. But that's okay. We are still a big believer in the market. Whenever that time comes, when we can get back into those deals, we will look forward to doing it because we were a believer then, and we will be in the future.

Q: How does this embargo work internally in the Trump organisation?

Trump: We are just not doing international deals.

Q: That's it?

Trump: It is more complicated than that.

Q. How are you silo-ing it from the Presidency? How does that work internally? How do you action it?

Trump: My brother and I run the business. People are saying my father is running the business - crazy! He has got so much on his plate he wouldn't be even interested in it at this point. We make decisions.

Q: You don't take advice from him?

Trump: Honestly, there is no time. I would love to have him there as a sounding board. But when I talk about the things that he is doing, the importance and the gravity of the situations and decisions that he has to make on a daily basis, I can't say, 'Well, do you think we should sell it at a little lower or a little higher?' It is ridiculous. I don't speak to him often because frankly, I'm embarrassed to call. Because there is never something that is not a big deal that's not going on.
Affidea is investing in Ireland and yesterday officially opened its first ExpressCare clinic in Ireland in the Elysian building in Cork City. An Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Mr Simon Coveney TD, attended the opening of Affideas new state-of-the-art clinic.

Affidea is a diagnostic imaging provider and the new clinic in Cork will provide treatment for patients with minor injuries and illnesses, offering an alternative to a traditional, highly pressurised hospital setting. The ExpressCare facility provides access to outstanding healthcare, without an appointment, from 10am to 10pm, 365 days per year.

Speaking yesterday, An Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney said, "I welcome the opening of the first Affidea ExpressCare clinic in Ireland and believe this will be of significant benefit to the people of Cork offering high quality care for the treatment of minor injuries and illnesses. The opening of this new clinic will have a positive impact on the overcrowding being experienced in Emergency Departments in Cork City and I very much welcome this initiative."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
The offices of the Chicago Stock Exchange in Chicago, Illinois. Photo: IC

A Chinese consortium, which was vying to take over Chicago Stock Exchange, is yet to respond after U.S. regulators rejected the deal, saying the transaction violated rules governing exchanges.

The decision is the latest in a series of moves to block Chinese acquisitions of American assets.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in a document posted on its website last week, said the exchange has failed to resolve concerns on whether the proposed ownership structure will allow the Commission to exercise sufficient oversight of the Exchange.

U.S. exchange rules forbid any single shareholder from holding more than 40% of a stock exchange, and an individuals voting power is capped at 20%.

According to details of the proposed deal, revealed in November 2016, the lead investor  NA Casin Group Inc.  would own 29% of the exchanges parent company.

Another 11% would be owned by Castle YAC Enterprises. LLC, a company controlled by Jay Lu, the son of Shengju Lu, who wholly owned NA Casin Group Inc. a subsidiary of Chongqing Casin Enterprise Group Co. It isnt clear whether there was a business link between Castle YAC and Chongqing Casin Enterprise, the major China-based player in the investor consortium.

SECs ruling ended a two-year attempt by the investor group to take over the Chicago Stock Exchange, which trade less about 1% of U.S. equities. The ambitious deal wanted to transform this small exchange into an international listing venue by wooing Chinese companies looking to access U.S. capital markets.

Chicago Stocks Exchange has expressed its disappointment with the decision. By disapproving the transaction, the SEC has denied the American public a historic and unprecedented opportunity to build a mutually beneficial economic bridge between the worlds largest economies, while unfairly disadvantaging our company and shareholders, it said in a statement.

But the Chinese investor group is yet to respond to the decision announced Thursday night U.S. time, just after the week-long Lunar New Year holiday had begun.

Though the SEC didnt cite any security concerns linked to the Chinese investment, the deal was a sensitive one, that had led to widespread political opposition since it was proposed in early 2016.

In August, the chairman of the SEC, Jay Clayton, said its commissioners would need further review of the sale, throwing a surprise to many because the regulators staff have said that the deal should not be a problem to be approved.

This has prompted two Chinese entities  Chongqing Jintian Industrial Co. and Chongqing Longshang Decoration Co.  to drop out, leaving Chongqing Casin to be the only China-based investor in the group.

President Donald Trump criticized the deal during his election campaign and

U.S. lawmakers have questioned the SECs ability to regulate and monitor foreign owners.

SECs decision comes as Chinese buyers face a more hostile environment under the Trump administration that has increased scrutiny of Chinese bids citing security concerns and trade imbalances.

In January, Ant Financial, the financial affiliate of e-commerce giant Alibaba, scrapped a deal to buy U.S. peer MoneyGram International Inc. after failing to get approval from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.

This month, two U.S. senators introduced legislation that could ban government agencies from buying telecom equipment and services from Chinese manufacturers Huawei and ZTE.

Contact reporter Mo Yelin (yelinmo@caixin.com)
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.

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You are our people. You Care. We Care2.
Step 1

Candidates should visit the official website to apply for Air India Express Recruitment.

Step 2

Go to careers and click on "Recruitment for Various Posts in Air India Express Limited" to go through the detailed notification.

Step 3

Candidates are advised to read the notification carefully.

Step 4

Download the application form and fill the required details. The application duly filled in together with its enclosures, superscribing on the envelope the post applied for should reach the following address within 15 days of the advertisement.

The Chief of HR

Air India Express Limited

Airlines House, Durbar Hall Road,

Near Gandhi Square,

Kochi- 682016.
Bharat Electronics Limited has released an official employment notification calling out for aspirants to apply for the post of Engineer. There are totally 30 vacancies and the positions are available on a contract basis.

Interested candidates can check out the eligibility, salary scale, how to apply and the complete details of the government job here. The recruitment is in a walk-in test that is scheduled on Mar 4, 2018.

ISRO Recruitment 2018: Fresh Vacancies Announced For Scientist/Engineers!

BEL Recruitment 2018: Engineers Vacancy Details

CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Post Engineer Number Of Posts 30 Educational Requirement BE/BTech/AMIE/GIETE from a recognised university Disciplines Electronics

Electronics and Communication

Electronics and Telecommunication

Communication

Telecommunication Age Limit 25 years (Relaxation will be provided as per government norms) Salary Scale INR 18000 Contract Period One year Walk-in Date March 4, 2018 Venue Sanskriti Government Model Senior Secondary School

Sector 20, Panchkula Time 8 am

Selection Process Written test

Also Read: Engineering Jobs 2018: Indian Oil Corporation Limited Recruitment For 39 Engineers

How To Apply For BEL Recruitment 2018 For Engineers Post

In order to apply for BEL Recruitment 2018 for Engineers post, follow these steps:

Step 1 Log on to the BEL official website. Step 2 Hover over the Careers tab on the home page. Step 3 Choose Recruitment-Advertisements. Step 4 Against Walk in Test for Recruitment of 30 Contract Engineers for Panchkula Unit, click Click here to see Advertisement link. Step 5 The job advertisement will be displayed on the screen. Step 6 Scroll down to find the pre-registration link. Click on it. Step 7 The registration form will be displayed in a Google form. Fill your particulars in the space provided. Step 8 Click Submit.

Documents To Carry

SSLC marks card

Engineering degree certificate or Provisional Certificate and detailed mark sheets of all semesters

Caste Certificate and Disability Certificate, if applicable

Three recent passport size colour photographs

Any other relevant certificate(s)

Also Read: Tamil Nadu Generation & Distribution Recruitment 2018 For Assistant Engineers
In Kenya in the early years of this century, young men in Nairobis Mathare slum were dying one by one at the hands of police and security officers. Sometimes it happened out of sight in custody, sometimes in broad daylight in the street. Other youths simply disappeared, their fates never determined.

Everyone knew it was happening, but what could anyone do? Ruth Mumbi didnt have the answer, but she knew she had to do something.

No one had the guts to talk about it, Mumbi said during the 2017 Human Rights Defenders Forum at The Carter Center, where activists from around the world gathered in May to discuss mutual concerns, explore solutions, and build support networks. No one had the guts to blow the whistle. I couldnt understand why the society was so silent while such injustices were happening.

As a teenaged resident of Mathare  a densely crowded settlement of narrow alleys, metal shacks, profound poverty, rampant crime, gang rapes, no hospitals, and no legal utilities  Mumbi took the only action available to her: She began keeping a record of the deaths and disappearances in a private journal.

When I started doing human rights work, I didnt know I was working on human rights issues, she said. I would just document in a very simple way: Today So-and-So died, and he was killed at this time and in this location. It was that basic. I wanted to keep it in my diary to make sure that their memory would live, because these were young men whom Ive grown up with, whom we went to the same school with, whom we played our childhood games with, being executed while we watched.

Mumbi, the seventh of nine siblings, lost her father when she was 10, making the harsh Mathare environment even harder for her family to survive. Nevertheless, she counts herself fortunate.

I was a lucky girl in my family because there was a church that partially sponsored my primary education to a certain level, she related. It was not a full scholarship, but at least I can say that through them I was able to get a basic education.

Her younger sister was a brilliant student, but the sponsorship was not available to her, Mumbi said. The community scraped together money so the younger girl could go to school too. The sister completed high school but could not afford to continue her education.

People in the community knew Mumbi was keeping a record of the deaths and disappearances. Eventually she learned some civil society organizations were interested in that information, and she became a point of contact for them inside the slum. Security forces also became aware of her activity, and she soon started receiving threats on her own life. She fled to another area of the capital where she feels somewhat safer.

When I was being hunted all over by the security agencies, at first I was fearful; I thought that I should quit, stop talking, she said. But when people started sending me messages of encouragement, when people started speaking on my behalf, I gained a lot of power from the supporting pillars that Ive got out there. So solidarity is key in terms of overcoming fear.

As Kenya experienced political violence after elections in 2008, Mumbi shifted her focus. Much of the violence was directed toward women.

The violence was instigated by the politicians, but the people who were mainly fighting were from the informal settlements  fighting on behalf of the politicians. Fighting for what? she said.

I could not understand this. As a people, we were raised in the same society, we were facing the same struggle. Why should we fight among ourselves? I thought, as women, this was the perfect time for us to stand and find a way for people to be reconciled in our society. So I took an approach of starting a platform for women to speak about peace, because I realized only women could. The guys who were fighting were the sons and husbands of women, so if we will not lack starch talking to these young men when they come home, it will make a difference  which it did.

Out of that effort Mumbi founded Bunge La Wamama, a womens chapter of Bunge La Mwananchi, an advocacy movement for social justice and accountability in Kenya. She is the groups national coordinator.

When you empower a woman, you empower the whole world, she said. If my mom had been empowered, especially economically empowered, maybe I would have been a different person. Maybe if my dad was alive, because he knew how to hustle his way out, I might have been very different, maybe in a very different career.

But now I am in human rights because my mother could not even afford to give me the best education. For me its personal because theres nothing else I can give my daughter but an education. When you give women rights, especially rights to an education, and you educate a girl, you educate the whole society. I am so passionate because education is the only tool or weapon that can help girls and especially women to break the bondage of poverty, and it puts everyone at par, regardless of social class. But when you dont have access to education, then that cycle of poverty still goes on.

The message Mumbi has for her daughter and for all human rights defenders is to remain focused, remain resilient, remain consistent, and support one another.

I know the terrain is rough, but we can make it better, she said. The pavement has already been set, and its for us now to make it smooth for the upcoming generation to enjoy human rights and to live in a better society than the one we are living in.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Rennie Sloan, 404-420-5129, rennie.sloan@cartercenter.org

Sudanese Federal Ministry of Health Distributes Health Science Supplies, Equipment and Materials Provided with Support from The Carter Center

and the Qatar Fund for Development

ATLANTAIn a ceremony today in Khartoum, Sudan, The Carter Center joined officials from the Sudan Federal Ministry of Health and other dignitaries to distribute critical supplies, textbooks, and equipment as part of a five-year partnership to improve the countrys maternal and child health education program efforts.

These teaching and learning aids are delivered to health professionals and science institutions as part of the Sudan Public Health Training Initiative, a partnership to build the knowledge and skills of frontline health workers to meet the health needs of mothers and children.

Todays event of distribution of skill labs and text books comes as part of multiple successful interventions to enhance the education environment, revise the curriculum, and build the capacity of the faculty members in learning and teaching, competency-based education, and scientific research, said Dr. Essam Mohamed Abdallah, Undersecretary, Federal Ministry of Health in Sudan.

The ceremony took place at Omdurman Midwifery School in Khartoum and included representatives from the Sudanese federal government and Embassy of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Sudan as well as other invited guests.

Many sectors have come together to achieve a common goal of improved maternal and child health in Sudan. This partnership between Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and The Carter Center provides overall support for the health sector and advancement of peace in Sudan, said Mr. Khalifa Al-Kuwari, director general of QFFD.

This partnership will make a sustainable impact to improve maternal and child health in Sudan, said Amb. (ret.) Mary Ann Peters, CEO of The Carter Center. The valuable support from the Qatar Fund for Development enables Sudans dedicated health professionals to provide quality for women and children in rural communities.

The Center has worked with the Sudanese government to assess 50 health science training institutions, recommend key updates to midwifery and community health curricula, and train more than 90 health science educators. The ceremony today marked the official handover of donated materials, supplies and equipment to serve institutions of the Academy of Health Sciences and Schools of Midwifery as well as the Continuing Professional Development Centers. Equipment includes skill lab models, mannequins, operation theater equipment, anesthesia lab equipment, desktop computers, laptops, sound systems, printers, stabilizers, electric connectors, projectors, photocopiers, plasma screens, and white boards.

The supplies distributed today include:

Six midwifery skill labs that will be distributed to five midwifery schools and to the Central Continuous Professional Development Centers.

Six medical assistance skill labs that will be distributed to six Academy of Health Sciences branches for the medical assistants training program.

Six operation theater scrub skill labs that will be distributed to six Academy of Health Sciences branches for operation theater scrub training program.

3000 reference/textbooks that will be distributed to nine Academy of Health Sciences branches in eight states and the central level.

The goal is to support eight target states and central level institutions, covering almost half of Sudan. In addition, to procuring and distributing teaching and learning aids, the program also works to revise and update pre- and in-service training curricula, and to enhance the teaching skills of 490 health science faculty who train midwives, community health workers, medical assistants, anesthesia assistants, operation theater scrub attendants, and environmental and public health officers. In total, the teaching and learning environment of 50 health science institutions will have been vastly improved.

Learn more about this initiative here. According to World Bank indicator estimates, the maternal mortality ratio for Sudan in 2015 was 311 per 100,000 child births, with a decreasing trend over the years. Similarly, child mortality was reduced to 70 per 1,000 live births. The availability and accessibility of skilled frontline health workers is a priority in strategies adopted by the government of Sudan to improve the health of mothers and their children.

The Carter Center has worked since 1986 with the people of Sudan to help resolve conflict, negotiate peace, increase crop production, and improve health. After an initial focus on working with farmers, the Center expanded into additional programs, including the prevention or elimination of Guinea worm disease, river blindness, and trachoma.

###

"Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope."

A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.
Photo: The Canadian Press

An Iranian airplane brought back into service only months ago after being grounded for seven years crashed Sunday in a foggy, mountainous region of southern Iran, and officials feared all 65 people on board were killed.

The crash of the Aseman Airlines ATR-72 was yet another fatal aviation disaster for Iran, which for years was barred from buying necessary airplane parts due to Western sanctions over its contested nuclear program.

Its nuclear accord with world powers allows it to get those parts and the country has made deals worth tens of billions of dollars for new aircraft. However, President Donald Trump's refusal to recertify the deal has injected uncertainty into those sales while Iranians still fly in aging aircraft.

The ATR-72, a twin-engine turboprop used for short-distance regional flying, went down near its destination of the southern city of Yasuj, some 780 kilometres (485 miles) south of the capital, Tehran, where it took off.

It wasn't immediately clear what caused the crash, although weather was severe. Dense fog, high winds and heavy snow in the Zagros Mountains made it impossible for rescue crews in helicopters to reach the site, state television reported.

Aseman Airlines spokesman Mohammad Taghi Tabatabai told state TV that all on board Flight EP3704 were killed. It had 59 passengers and six crew members, the state-run IRNA news agency reported Sunday night, lowering the toll to 65 from an initially reported 66.

"After searching the area, we learned that unfortunately ... our dear passengers had lost their lives," Tabatabai said.

Both Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani offered their condolences.

Tabatabai said the plane crashed into Mount Dena, which is about 4,400 metres (14,435 feet) tall. The plane's last signal, at 0555 GMT (12:35 a.m. EST), showed it at 16,975 feet and descending, according to airplane-tracking website FlightRadar24. The pilot was in contact with the tower 14 miles from the airport, state TV said.

One previous passenger on the route posted a video Sunday showing that the flight typically comes in just over the mountain peaks. Aeronautical charts for the airport warn pilots to keep an altitude of 15,000 feet in the area. The airport itself is at nearly 6,000 feet.

The Iranian Red Crescent said it has deployed to the area. Locals described hearing the crash, but no one has reached the crash site due to weather.

Aseman Airlines, owned by Iran's civil service pension foundation, is a semi-private air carrier headquartered in Tehran and is Iran's third-largest airline by fleet size, behind state carrier Iran Air and Mahan Air. It specializes in flights to remote airfields across the country but also flies internationally, although it is banned in the European Union over safety concerns.

The carrier has a fleet of 29 aircraft, including six ATR aircraft, according to FlightRadar24. The ATR-72 that crashed Sunday, with the tail number EP-ATS, had been built in 1993, Aseman Airlines CEO Ali Abedzadeh told state TV.

On Instagram, Aseman Airlines highlighted the doomed aircraft in October, saying it had been "grounded" for seven years but would be "repaired and will be operational after checking and testing." It wasn't clear what led to the grounding, though Iran only recently regained access to the airplane parts market after the nuclear deal.

European airplane manufacturer ATR, a Toulouse, France-based partnership of Airbus and Italy's Leonardo SpA., said it had no immediate information about the crash.

Aseman Airlines has had other major crashes. In October 1994, a twin-propeller Fokker F-28 1000 commuter plane operated by the airline crashed near Natanz, 290 kilometres (180 miles) south of Tehran, killing 66 people. An Aseman Airlines-chartered flight in August 2008, flown by an Itek Air Boeing 737, crashed in Kyrgyzstan, killing 74 people.

Under decades of international sanctions, Iran's commercial passenger aircraft fleet has aged, with air accidents occurring regularly in recent years.

Following the 2015 landmark nuclear deal with world powers, Iran signed deals with both Airbus and Boeing to buy scores of passenger planes worth tens of billions of dollars.

In April 2017, ATR sealed a $536 million sale with Iran Air for at least 20 aircraft. Chicago-based Boeing also signed a $3 billion deal that month to sell 30 737 MAX aircraft to Aseman Airlines.

Home to 80 million people, Iran is one of the world's last untapped aviation markets. However, Western analysts are skeptical there is demand for so many jets or available financing for deals worth billions of dollars.

Iran has suffered a series of major aviation disasters in recent decades. Its last major crash happened in January 2011, when an Iran Air Boeing 727 broke to pieces on impact while trying an emergency landing in a snowstorm in northwestern Iran, killing at least 77 people.

In July 2009, a Russian-made jetliner crashed shortly after taking off from Tehran, killing all 168 on board. A Russian-made Ilyushin 76 carrying members of the Revolutionary Guard crashed in southeastern Iran in February 2003, killing 302 people.

In February 1993, an Iranian airliner with 132 people aboard collided with an air force jet after takeoff from Tehran's main airport, killing everyone on the two aircraft. And in July 1988, the USS Vincennes in the Strait of Hormuz mistook an Iran Air flight heading to Dubai for an attacking fighter jet, shooting down the plane and killing all 290 people aboard.
Photo: The Canadian Press

B.C.'s finance minister shelved the tradition of buying new shoes to present her budget in favour of reading a story Monday to a group of three- and four-year-old youngsters at a Victoria child care centre.

Carole James said her husband has promised to shine up her favourite pair of shoes for Tuesday's budget, giving her time to read "Pete the Cat" to an attentive group of children.

James said Pete's feline adventures hiking through strawberry fields and mud puddles in white sneakers are somewhat similar to her budget because the journey ends well.

"I think, as you saw in the story, no matter what, it'll all be good in the end," James told reporters attending her pre-budget news conference.

She wouldn't comment directly on whether the budget will be balanced.

Late last year, James forecast a reduced surplus of $190 million for the 2017-2018 budget. But she said economic growth was forecast at 2.9 per cent.

She said tax revenues were down and costs associated with fighting last year's wildfires continued to increase, and were estimated to go beyond $550 million.

The minority New Democrat government's election promises to drop tolls on two Metro Vancouver bridges and cut medical services premiums by 50 per cent are expected to impact the bottom line. Financial difficulties at ICBC. and a rate freeze at B.C. Hydro also place pressure on the budget.

Liberal jobs critic Jas Johal said he wants a budget that respects taxpayers.

"I'm not sure how they are going to pay for all that," he said. "I don't want the province to fall into deficit."

James said her choice of a child-care centre for a pre-budget news conference was more than symbolic because her budget will aim to make life more affordable for B.C. families, with a large focus on child care.
If Atletico-MG has reached this stage of the season, captain of the Brazilian Championship and made it to the semi-finals...
Sweatpants: A fashion faux pas, or the single greatest clothing invention ever? Data suggests your opinion on sweats may be determined by where you live. In 2012, Experian created a list of cities where people own the most sweatpants by asking survey respondents if they bought any sweats in the last year, as well as the number of individual items they purchased. Now, this is a judgment-free zone, but its clear some cities place comfort above all else.

Which cities consume sweatpants by the crate? Here are the top 20 most comfortable cities in America.

20. Chicago, Illinois

People in Chicago really love their sweatpants. But can you blame them? In a city that sees 35 inches of snow a year and an average winter high of 19, its easy to see why locals own more comfy clothes than most other people. Denim can be a bit unforgiving when paired with a snow shovel.

Next: An emerging trend in sweatpants-wearing towns

19. Providence, Rhode Island

There seems to be a trend for sweatpants popularity. Providence, Rhode Island, is the first of many comfy cities thats also a thriving college town. The roughly 10,000 students crawling out of bed in sweats for an 8 a.m. class at Brown University surely contributed to Experians survey results for the number of residents whod bought sweatpants in the last 12 months.

Next: This city loves to chill.

18. Idaho Falls, Idaho

Even an outdoorsy city like Idaho Falls, Idaho, has a population with a penchant for sweatpants and loungewear. While the study doesnt detail just how many sweatpants residents have purchased here, you can bet they dont confine themselves to wearing sweats just at the house. Youll probably see casualwear replace typical weekend attire at coffee shops, grocery stores, and retail malls.

Next: A Southern city

17. Jacksonville, Florida

Jacksonville is the largest U.S. city by landmass. Its home to multiple colleges like the University of North Florida, which could explain why so many people in this warm southern town still prefer to spend their money on sweatpants. Experian notes a sizable chunk of its residents has purchased sweats within the last year.

Next: Sweats are everyday attire here

16. Watertown, Massachusetts

Watertown is an expanding part of the Greater Boston area as people search for affordable homes within a reasonable distance to Boston. Anyone whose everyday attire consists of loungewear should consider a move to Watertown. Youll be in good company with the rest of this sweatpants-loving community.

Next: An award-winning city

15. Austin, Texas

Residents of Austin can walk a little taller knowing that theyve added yet another best of title to their collection. Not only is Austin, Texas ranked as the best places to live for jobs, cost of living, and quality of life, its also the 15th most comfortable city in America, according to Experian.

Next: This city craves comfort.

14. Washington, DC

Your dollar doesnt stretch very far in the nations capital. Could it be that Washington, DC, has some of the most people in sweats because its all they can afford to wear? Maybe. But its possible theyre just relishing the moments when formal business attire isnt a dress code requirement on Capitol Hill.

Next: Comfort is key here.

13. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee is known for cheese, beer, and the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee campus. Now, the city can add spends the most money on sweatpants to their list of notoriety, since residents seem to place comfort above all other things.

Next: A city with a valid reason for all those sweatpants

12. Marquette, Michigan

Other than winning the title for snowiest city in America, Marquette also ranked solidly in the list of cities who buy the most sweatpants. No judgment here though, the city is located in Michigans Upper Peninsula and sees an average 119 inches of snow a year.

Next: We go a bit further West

11. Salt Lake City, Utah

The University of Utah is sure to boost the prevalence of sweatpants purchased annually in Salt Lake City, Utah. But its not just college kids striving for relaxation. Kids and adults alike prefer their sweats to formal wear in this city, according to Experians survey results.

Next: A fashion statement in PA

10. Scranton, Pennsylvania

Scranton, Pennsylvania, makes the top 10 list of cities who spend the most on sweatpants comfortably. It, too, supports the relationship between college towns and casual wear since its home to the University of Scranton. Residents here are more than happy to make sweatpants a fashion statement.

Next: Another Texas city that loves casual wear

9. Victoria, Texas

Victoria is sandwiched between Corpus Christi and Galveston. Its one of three Texas cities that made the list of sweatpants-loving metropolises.

Victoria comes in at No. 9 for the most comfortable U.S. cities overall.

Next: Making a statement in L.A.

8. Los Angeles, California

Most wouldnt be surprised to find L.A. on a list of top fashion-related cities. Residents here tend to march to the beat of their own drum, totally redefining whats in and whats out. Clearly, sweatpants are in  for all occasions  as more people have spent money on casualwear here than in most other cities.

Next: Another trendy U.S. city

7. New York, New York

People are just as fashion-forward in The Big Apple as they are in Los Angeles, wearing sweats to their communal offices and Friday evening happy hours. Experian says these purchases could be fueled by the desire to travel in comfort since airline passengers purchase the most sweats. This may be why joggers, flannels, and tailored jersey pants are worn all over NYC, a large airport hub.

Next: A bad reputation in Boston

6. Boston, Massachusetts

Boston just misses the top five cities with the most sweatpants. This is understandable considering its also ranked as GQs worst-dressed city in America.

But do Bostonians care? Probably not.

Next: Way down in Texasagain

5. Laredo, Texas

People in Laredo love their drawstrings and cotton leggings. It isnt the most populated city in Texas, but residents affinity for sweatpants outshines nearly every other U.S. city.

Next: A party city

4. Lafayette, Louisiana

When residents of Lafayette arent swaying to jazz music or parading through a street festival in decked out gear, theyre likely lounging at home in sweatpants  at least thats what Experian data suggests. It says this southern Louisiana town spends a lot of cash on comfortable clothing.

Next: A very livable city

3. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, appears on The Economists list of most livable cities. And the fact that locals allocate their cash toward more sweats than most other Americans makes this list more believable.

Next: Sweatpants galore in Connecticut

2. Hartford, Connecticut

Locals take comfort very seriously in Hartford, Connecticut, according to Experian. Though this accolade is not as noteworthy as the historical sites scattered around the city, it still holds the runner-up spot for the most comfortable U.S. city in regard to sweatpants purchases.

Next: The city with the most sweatpants in the country

1. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Theres no such thing as underdressed in Philly. Philadelphia led the nation in overall consumption of sweatpants in America for two years running. This means residents in the City of Brotherly Love are more likely to talk trash and consume greasy cheesesteaks in their sweatpants than in jeans or formal wear. Keep this in mind when packing for your next trip to this overly casual city.

Follow Lauren on Twitter @la_hamer.

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As school shootings continue to plague the United States, concerned citizens are demanding solutions, such as gun law reform and better mental health treatment. But one teacher has an idea that could be much simpler than that.

Lets take a look at this teachers surprising solution for curtailing school shootings. Well also share some gun statistics that are almost too shocking to believe (page 8).

The proposed solution is less controversial

In the wake of any school shooting or violent incident, one of the first reactions is a cry for stricter gun laws and a ban on certain weapons, such as automatic rifles. Proponents of gun reform claim that kids and criminals can get their hands on guns way too easily. But pro-second amendment folks say that anyone intent on breaking the law will find a way, whether certain weapons are illegal or not.

But the beautiful thing about this teachers solution is that it has nothing to do with guns. It can be implemented whether gun laws change or they dont.

Next: This teachers simple solution focuses on the kids.



The simple idea is going viral

Readers Digest shared the first-person account written by New York Times best-selling author Glennon Doyle Melton. She went to her son Chases classroom to learn long division and wound up getting a lesson in empathy.

Chases fifth-grade teacher has been conducting an exercise every Friday since the Columbine school shooting in 1999. Each week she has all of the students write down the names of four students theyd like to sit with the following week and also nominate an exceptional classroom student. All of the results are submitted anonymously.

Next: The teacher treats potential bullying like a math problem.



This smart teacher is using math to solve the violence problem

Its no surprise that Chases math teacher is using logic to solve a problem that seems unsolvable.

She isnt looking for the names on the paper but is rather interested in which names never show up. As Melton told Readers Digest, the teacher wants to know who isnt getting noticed, or who had a lot of friends one week and not the next. This wise teacher is looking for the kids who are falling between the cracks.

She figures out the most vulnerable kids in her class and then works hard to get them the help they need, even when theyre afraid to ask.

Next: Doing something is better than doing nothing.



There is no easy solution, but this is a start

While one teachers small act of brilliance may seem insignificant, helping just one student feel accepted could mean that tomorrows school shooting never happens. For whatever reason, shooters are seeking fame, notoriety, and attention. They may feel abandoned or ignored by their peers or parents.

One report showed that 1 in 5 students in the United States has a mental health problem, but 4 in 5 of those go untreated. Thats partially because one school counselor may be responsible for more than 500 students.

Next: These are the warning signs to watch out for.



Its crucial to watch out for the warning signs

The National School Safety Center released a pattern of behaviors compiled from students and former students who have caused violent school deaths.

These include violent temper, bringing a weapon to school, serious disciplinary problems, being on the fringe of his or her peer group, bullying peers or abusing partners, preoccupation with weapons, expulsion from school, cruelty to animals, lack of family supervision, prefers violence in media, and depressed or suicidal ideation.

Next: Theres only one thing that can stop the violence.



Love is more powerful than hate

The best way to stop school shootings isnt tighter security or better training for active shooter situations  its changing the potential shooters intentions from the start.

Some blame an increase in technology use and a lack of fundamental social skills for how teens and young adults are becoming emotionally stunted and detached from reality. The best way to change that is to teach kids empathy and compassion from the start  and to lead by example.

Next: Anyone can do this one small thing to help out.



The 1 thing we can control is how much we pay attention

Most American citizens dont have the power to influence policy or institute stricter gun laws even if they wanted to. But the one thing we can all do is pay attention.

Like Chases teacher, we can keep an eye out for the kids in our classrooms, churches, and communities who are ostracized and neglected. We can teach our children to reach out and make friends with them. We can take the time to learn more about them rather than just ignoring the problem. The solution could be as easy as figuring out who is at risk for getting in trouble.

In the end, math might save the day.

Next: Shocking gun violence statistics that are almost too depressing to believe

Since 1966, more than a thousand people have been killed in mass shootings across the U.S.

It seems like each year we hear about multiple tragedies occurring at schools, airports, office buildings, or other public places. The headlines read 5 people killed or 4 killed, 1 injured  something along those lines. However, those numbers add up.

Since 1966, more than a thousand people have been killed in mass shootings in the U.S., according to The Washington Post. Those people came from many different races, backgrounds, and religions, but they all fell victim to gun violence.

Next: There have also been too many mass shootings.



And there have been more than 150 mass shootings

According to The Washington Post, in the 50 years prior to 1966, there were only 25 recorded mass shootings. Somehow, that number multiplied roughly six times in the 50 years after. Many of the deadliest shootings occurred in the 2000s. And shootings at schools were few and far between before the Columbine shooting of 1999. But since then, it seems like theyve become more and more common.

Next: The U.S. gun violence rate is far higher than this country.

In 2012, the number of gun homicides per capita was 30 times that of the United Kingdom

Sadly, there is too much gun violence in the U.S.  especially when compared to other countries. When it comes to gun homicides per capita, the U.S. lands at 2.9 per 100,000 people, as of 2012. The U.K. is nearly 30 times less than that, at just 0.1 per 100,000 people. Those pushing gun control laws have often brought out these statistics in Congress, specifically after the Sandy Hook event. However, its often to no avail.

Next: The U.S. takes the top spot for gun violence among these countries.

More people are killed with guns in the U.S. than in Canada, Australia, or the U.K.

The percentage U.S. gun deaths is staggeringly higher than in other well-developed countries. In the U.S., 60% of homicides were committed by a firearm in 2012 (the most recent year for statistics). According to the BBC, it was about half of that in Canada at just 31%. Australia saw just 18.2% of homicides by firearm, and the U.K. was a mere 10%.

Next: Gun violence occurs far more often than this.

There are thousands more homicides by guns than there are deaths by terrorists

The U.S. invests a lot of money into fighting terrorism. While fighting terrorism is extremely important and should be one of the governments priorities, there are many more firearm deaths in the country than deaths by terrorism.

The average yearly number of gun deaths between 2001 and 2011 was about 11,100 people, according to figures from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Council on Foreign Affairs. The average yearly terrorist deaths  when excluding Sept. 11  was 31 per year. (With Sept. 11 included, the figure jumped to 517 per year, still far lower than 11,100.)

Additional reporting by Julia Mullaney.

Read more: This Is 1 Horrible Trait Almost Every School Shooter Has in Common

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Some relationships are mystical, magical, and pretty straightforward from the beginning until the end. However, if youre a member of the royal family, your love life (at least in the past) isnt always your choice. Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla Parker Bowles relationship began in 1970, but didnt lead to marriage for another three and a half decades. Their journey has been anything but smooth and conventional.

From an enticing first meeting, an affair that shocked the world, and finally a walk down the aisle, the future King of England and his wife have had some very troubling times. You wont be able to deal with how the Prince of Wales reacted when he learned that Duchess Camilla was engaged to her first husband.

A memorable first meeting

Its clear now that Duchess Camilla and Prince Charles have a great deal in common. In fact, they first met in the early 1970s while attending a polo match at Windsor Great Park.

The bold duchess kicked things off with a bit of a taboo joke when she approached the prince and said, My great-grandmother was the mistress of your great-great-grandfather. I feel we have something in common.

Next: They faced a tricky situation.

An uneasy situation

The couple was dealing with quite a bit of baggage from the start. The duchess was already dating Andrew Parker Bowles, an Army cavalry officer who was away on service. Royal family biographer Sally Bedell Smith wrote that the prince was intensely attracted to the duchess and that she always listened to him, and he found the warmth that he yearned for.

Things were also tricky since the prince was also friends with Andrew Parker Bowles. In fact, he is the godfather of Duchess Camilla and Parker Bowles son, Tom Parker Bowles. At the time, the prince was also playing the field.

Next: A woman with a checkered past

An improper match

Though they obviously had a connection, there was no hope that Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla would ever be an item. Not only did her army beau stand in the way, but old-fashion royal rules required that the future wife of the future king of England should at least appear to be virginal. Apparently, the royals learned about the sexual revolution in the 21st century.

Since Parker Bowles had been dating Duchess Camilla on and off for seven years, she certainly didnt appear wholesome.

Next: Prince Charles gets the worst news.

Heartbreaking news

In the midst of connecting with Duchess Camilla, Prince Charles was called away to serve in the royal navy. The prince was docked at the English Harbour in Antigua when learned that the duchess was engaged to Andrew Parker Bowles. The couple tied the knot in 1973.

Apparently, when the Prince of Wales heard the news, he was distraught. According to Smith, years later on the eve of his 1981 wedding to the late Princess Diana, he wept in longing over Duchess Camilla.

Next: A troubling confrontation with Princess Diana

A sordid affair

Five years into his marriage to Princess Diana, Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla began their affair. After hearing them whisper over the phone and even finding a bracelet with the initials GF on it (for Girl Friday, the princes nickname for Parker Bowles), Princess Diana confronted the duchess at a party in 1989.

She said, I know whats going on between you and Charles and I just want you to know that.

Next: Phone sex heard across the globe

Some humiliating revelations

Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla werent very discreet about their ongoing affair. In 1993, Camillagate nearly broke the crown. In 1989, a sexy phone conversation between the prince and the duchess was recorded. Referred to as Camillagate, the duchess tells Prince Charles that she desires him desperately, desperately, desperately.

However, the most humiliating part of the tape was when the prince told the duchess that he wanted to live in her knickers like a tampon. Barf.

Next: The worst of times for Prince Charles and Princess Diana

A terrible time

In 1995, the same year Duchess Camilla and her husband divorced and the royal couple separated. Princess Diana gave an interview to Martin Bashir saying, Well, there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.

In 2017, the duchess spoke about the affair to the Daily Mail saying, It was horrid. It was a deeply unpleasant time, and I wouldnt want to put my worst enemy through it. I couldnt have survived it without my family.

Next: Lacking the queens approval

A queens disgust

A year after the royal couples divorce was finalized, Princess Diana died tragically in a car crash in Paris. A year later, Prince Charles began trying to legitimatize his relationship with Duchess Camilla. His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, would not hear of it.

In fact, the queen refused to go to Prince Charles 50th birthday celebration because Duchess Camilla would be present.

Next: Theres been some progress 35 years later.

A long road down the aisle

Over the next few years, Duchess Camilla slowly integrated herself into royal life. In 1999, she vacationed in Greece with Prince Charles and his sons, Prince Harry and Prince William, and in 2000, the queen finally accepted an invitation to an event where she knew the duchess would be present.

In 2003, Duchess Camilla moved in with Prince Charles to Clarence House. However, the royal family let it be known that taxpayer money would not be factored into the move. The couple finally announced their engagement and wed in 2005. The queen and Prince Philip did not attend the civil ceremony, but they did show up for the reception and family photos. (The queen does shade better than anyone else.)

Since Princess Diana will be the only Princess of Wales, upon marrying Prince Charles 35 years after they first met, Duchess Camilla became Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall.

Follow Aramide on Twitter @midnightrami.

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Hundreds of Christian families fled their homes in a village near Lahore, Pakistan yesterday after Muslim protestors called for the death of a young Christian accused of blasphemy, sources said.



Patras Masih, an 18-year-old resident of Dher village in Shahdara Town area of Lahore, was taken into police custody late Monday night (Feb. 19) after a day of protests led by the Muslim extremist Tehreek Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYR) and other Islamist parties. The protestors threatened to burn down the homes of at least 700 poor Christian families, area residents said.



Several hundred protestors blocked a main highway, burned tires and chanted slogans calling for Masihs death, they said. Telling police they would burn down Christians homes if Masih were not arrested, the protestors dispersed only after the local police chief assured them that the accused had been arrested and charged with blasphemy, sources said.



The accuseds father, Indreyas Masih, told Morning Star News by phone from an undisclosed location that he was at his job as a driver with the Water and Sanitation Agency when he heard about the protests.



I was on duty when I received a phone call from my family that announcements are being made from mosque loudspeakers that my son Patras has committed blasphemy and should be punished for his crime, he said. I was shocked to hear this news and immediately asked my family members to leave the village.



Indreyas Masih said he was unable to connect with other village Christians as most of them had turned off their phones and fled, fearing an attack by the protestors.



We handed Patras to the police late on Monday after a provincial Christian lawmaker, Tariq Gill, told us that the protestors wont back down until we surrender my son, he said, adding that he has not seen his son since.



Patras Masih was accused of posting a blasphemous image on a group Facebook page from his phone on Jan. 16, but his father said his sons cell phone has been in a repair shop since December.



His son told him that a friend had posted a sacrilegious photograph on a Facebook group from his ID a month ago, and that he had no intention of hurting religious sentiments, he said. Under Pakistans widely condemned blasphemy laws, intent must be shown for conviction.



My son is illiterate and works as sweeper at a private bank, Masih said. He has never been involved in any religious dispute with any Muslim in the village. Im unable to understand why he has been trapped in this case.



A member along with his family of Bethania Church, Masih said most of the Christian villagers had fled the area soon after the protests began. Police reported restoring calm by last night and urged residents to return home.



Accusation

According to the First Information Report (FIR No. 174/18) registered by Shahdara Town Police on a complaint by Hafiz Muhammad Awais under Section 295-C of the blasphemy statutes, Patras Masih allegedly posted a sacrilegious photo on a Facebook group called Paaglon Ki Basti, which is administered by Muslims.



Awais alleged that he learned of the photo from a friend, Muhammad Siddique. Awais told police he and Siddique telephoned Patras Masih and asked him to remove the objectionable post but that he refused, prompting the complainant to reach out to Muslim leaders.



Aneeqa Maria, an attorney at The Voice Society, told Morning Star News that the group will provide legal assistance to the family.



The complainant has alleged in the FIR that Patras had uploaded the sacrilegious photograph from his mobile phone, whereas his father claims that the accuseds cell phone broke down two months ago and is still at the repair shop, she said.



Maria said police had wrongly charged Patras under the harshest part of the blasphemy law, Section 295-C, which prohibits only derogatory remarks  spoken or written, directly or indirectly  defaming Muhammad the prophet of Islam. It carries a mandatory death penalty.



Although its too early to comment on the case, I believe the police jumped the gun due to the pressure exerted by the religious parties and charged Patras under Section 295-C to placate the mobs, she said.



Maria added that delay of over one month in the registration of the FIR also points to the complainants mala fide, which the police has ignored.



Superintendent of Police City Division Ali Raza declined to tell Morning Star News why Masih had been charged under Section 295-C for derogatory comments about Muhammad.



The boys family helped us in arresting him, as they believe he has committed a grave mistake, he claimed, also asserting that Patras Masih had admitted to blasphemy.



We have deployed some 400 police personnel in Dher village to protect the local Christian community, he said. The situation was brought under control late on Monday night when we informed the protest leaders that the accused boy has been arrested and charged with blasphemy.



He said police had not asked Christians to leave the village.



They should return to their homes now as the situation is under control, Raza said. I can assure all residents that the police will not allow anyone to take the law into their own hands.



On Sept. 14, 2017 a Christian father of two in Pakistan was sentenced to death for blaspheming Islams prophet in a phone text even though he is illiterate.



Christian mother of five Aasiya Noreen, commonly known as Asia Bibi, was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging in 2010 after an argument with a Muslim woman over a bowl of water. Although international attorneys note that lower courts did not consider which of three statements attributed to her were blasphemous nor prove the intent to blaspheme necessary for conviction, the courts upheld her conviction. She is awaiting a Supreme Court ruling on an appeal.



Pakistan ranked fifth on Christian support group Open Doors 2018 World Watch List of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.



Call to Return

Emmanuel Masih, a Christian resident of Dher village whose family is among the few who chose not to leave their homes, told Morning Star News that this was the first time local Christians had faced such a threat.



Patras is an illiterate boy, and Ive never seen him engage in any religious discussion with anyone, he said, adding that the situation deteriorated after clerics began making announcements from mosque loudspeakers on Monday morning (Feb. 19) calling on all Muslims to gather at Shahdara Chowk to protest against the alleged sacrilege.



A large number of Muslims from our village and nearby areas gathered on the main highway and blocked it by burning tires, Emmanuel Masih said. A majority of Christian families fled their homes amid reports that the protestors were planning to march towards our village and burn down our homes. There are reports that the protestors also threw bricks and stones at some Christian houses in the village, but the situation was brought under control as a large police contingent was deployed in the village to prevent further violence.



Dilawar Bhatti, another village resident, said today that his family had left their home on Monday afternoon (Feb. 19).



Ive come today to see if the situation is safe for my familys return, he said. I think we will stay a couple of days with our relatives until the police are able to fully restore law and order in the area.



Announcements were reportedly made from village mosques today calling on Christians to return to their homes, as the blasphemer had been arrested, and they need not fear reprisals from Muslims.



Emmanuel Masih confirmed this information, telling Morning Star News that Muslim neighbors had assured them that no Christian would be hurt, because they could not be blamed for the wrong done by an individual.



I just hope that the issue settles soon, so that all Christians can return to their homes, he said.





If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit http://morningstarnews. org/resources/aid-agencies/ fo r a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved.



If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at http://morningstarnews.org/ donate/ ?



Photo: Patras Masih in police custody.
Hungarys prime minister Viktor Orban made a strong statement in his recent state of the nation address.

Christianity is Europes last hope, said Orban in his 20th annual address. He went on to say that he believes the open immigration policies so many countries in Europe have adopted are paving the way for radical Islam to infiltrate the continent.

Politicians in other cities such as Brussels, Berlin, and Paris have "opened the way to the decline of Christian culture and the advance of Islam, he continued, according to FoxNews.com.

Orban also voiced concerns that "born Germans are being forced back from most large German cities, as migrants always occupy big cities first."

The topic of immigration in Europe has become a heightened issue in recent years, particularly because some of the more recent terrorists attacks have been perpetrated by immigrants from Muslim-majority nations, which has caused some politicians to question their countrys immigration vetting policies.

Orban has been Hungarys prime minister since 1998 and is seeking reelection for a third consecutive term in April. Orban is part of the Fidesz--Hungarian Civil Alliance party which is the countrys nationalist conservative and right-wing populist party. Orban has led the party for most of its existence.

Photo courtesy: Thinkstock/Andreydrav

Publication date: February 20, 2018
Suspected members of Islamic extremist group Al Shabaab shot three Christians to death in northeastern Kenya at 1 a.m. on Friday (Feb. 16), sources said.



Targeting Kenyans who came from other areas to work in predominantly Somali Wajir, some 100 miles from the Somali border, the suspected terrorists from the Somali rebel group entered the sleeping quarters of personnel at Qarsa Primary School and killed two Christian teachers and the wife of one of them, sources told Morning Star News.



After killing Seth Oluoch Odada, his wife Caroline and teacher Kevin Shari, one of the assailants said in the Somali language, These infidels [non-Muslims] should be wiped out, a teacher who survived the attack told a worker at Wajir Referral Hospital, the worker told Morning Star News.



The pastor of an area church, undisclosed for security reasons, told Morning Star News that Odada and his wife attended his church.



We are very concerned about this selective kind of attack on non-locals who are also Christians in this region, the pastor said. Our other church members are not safe. Many of the church members, including teachers, have started fleeing the area to their home villages, and some did not attend the church for the Sunday service.



It was not known if Shari belonged to a church. The bodies of those killed have been transferred to Chiromo Mortuary in Nairobi.



The hospital worker said that after shooting the couple, one of the assailants entered the house Shari shared with the surviving teacher. The gunman shot at Shari, and the same bullet struck the hand of the survivor, who fell down and pretended to be dead, the hospital source said, adding that the injured man said the shooter wore a mask typical of Al Shabaab militants.



The area pastor said local people believe area residents have joined Al Shabaab.



I think these are the people who killed the three Christians, he said.



Wajir is becoming increasingly dangerous for Christians since Al Shabaab militants appear to have shifted from Mandera, where they have carried out attacks in the past few years before the government recently erected a 10-kilometer wall on the border there, the pastor said.



Fear has shaken Christians in Wajir, he said. In Garissa, about 200 miles south of Wajir also near the Somali border, Al Shabaab has also been active. The pastors fellowship in Garissa reported several members did not appear for Sunday services.



We as the pastors fellowship do register our concern to the government to protect Christians living in this volatile northeastern country, the chairman of the pastors fellowship said.



The Wajir branch of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers called for the withdrawal of all non-local teachers in Wajir County if the government fails to increase security.



We cannot close our eyes as non-local teachers are being butchered, a union official told Morning Star News.



Education along Kenyas border with Somalia has been hobbled after non-Muslim teachers inn 2014 began refusing to work in the region following frequent attacks by Al Shabaab and its sympathizers on non-Muslims.



A Wajir police official reportedly said Al Shabaab also set an Improvised Explosive Device on the route to the school, which detonated and hit a security vehicle responding to the attack. No one was injured.



Rebels from Al Shabaab, which is allied with Al Qaeda, have launched several attacks in northeast Kenya since Kenyan forces led an African coalition into Somalia against the rebels in October 2011 in response to terrorist attacks on tourists and others on Kenyas coast.



The Islamic extremist militants have also recently attacked in Kenyas coastal area, killing four Christians on Sept. 6, 2017.



Kenya ranked 32nd on Christian support organization Open Doors 2018 World Watch List of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.





If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit http://morningstarnews. org/resources/aid-agencies/ fo r a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved.



If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at http://morningstarnews.org/ donate/ ?
Not far from Guatemala City is Central Americas biggest landfill, known as The Dump. There, some 6,500 children wake up each morning beneath cardboard and corrugated metal. Theres no running water, and their first job of the day is to scavenge for food and anything they can resell. They are the survivors of nearly four decades of a civil war that destroyed farming villages.

Into this nightmare stepped Edgar Guitz, who in 2016 became the first Latin American to become a Colson Fellow. His participation in the Colson Fellows Program gave him the worldview foundation he needed to begin a ministry for these children: orphans, kids with mental or physical disabilities, the abused and the abandoned, the desperate and defeated.

Edgar had already spent 25 years working in the scavenger community, but in 2016, he says, The Lord put it in my heart to launch Generation to Generation Network. I understood from the Lord that this is my new and expanded personal calling.

Generation to Generation provides education, health care, and community support services to the poorest of the poor. Among those Edgar has influenced is Bilsan Ramirez, a 24-year-old man who has mobilized 70 volunteers to serve 1,500 children. Edgar calls him a young leader of the next generation.

The content of the Colson Fellows Program gave Edgar all the necessary elements for this new ministry from the Christian worldview perspective. This was very important, Edgar says, Since I dont have formal training in theology.

Colson Fellows develop a personal three-year plan, using their unique gifts to pursue Christian worldview in their communities. Generation to Generation Network became Edgars project. He has also passed on his worldview training to 10 other partner ministries.

The world often ignores these desperately poor children or sees them as not worth helping. But Edgar knows these children are made in the image of God, and were called to serve them as we would Jesus Himself.

I hope Edgars story will inspire you to consider becoming a Colson Fellow yourselfwhere you will spend nine months in a structured study program about worldview. Youll share ideas, experiences, and fellowship in an online forum. And youll attend three weekend residencies in Phoenix, Colorado Springs, and the DC area, with worldview leaders like Glenn Sunshine, Joni Eareckson Tada, Sean McDowell, and Jim Daly.

If you think you dont have time for such a program, know that the Colson Fellows Program is specially designed for busy people. At the end of nine months, youll know how to explain and contrast the Christian worldview to other worldviews in a winsome way.

And like Edgar, youll develop a program that allows you to share your worldview training with others. Chuck Colson, who founded this program, did so, as he put it, to equip serious Christians to think seriously about all of lifes issues and to become change agents to strengthen the church and in turn the culture for generations to come.

The Colson Fellows Program is an intense but deeply rewarding experience. But once you complete it, you will be on the front lines of Christian ministry and influence. The program has equipped some 1,200 people to influence areas of law, family, the arts and sciences, medicine and government.

Please come to ColsonFellows.org to learn more. Applications are due on May 31 for the nine-month program beginning in August.

Ill be there, and I hope you will be, too, learning how God can use you to redeem your own community and put together an action plan for kingdom work.

BreakPoint is a Christian worldview ministry that seeks to build and resource a movement of Christians committed to living and defending Christian worldview in all areas of life. Begun by Chuck Colson in 1991 as a daily radio broadcast, BreakPoint provides a Christian perspective on todays news and trends via radio, interactive media, and print. Today BreakPoint commentaries, co-hosted by Eric Metaxas and John Stonestreet, air daily on more than 1,200 outlets with an estimated weekly listening audience of eight million people. Feel free to contact us at BreakPoint.org where you can read and search answers to common questions.

Eric Metaxas is a co-host of BreakPoint Radio and a best-selling author whose biographies, children's books, and popular apologetics have been translated into more than a dozen languages.

Publication date: February 20, 2018
By Damali Mukhaye

The opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has asked government to lower water tariffs ahead of womens day celebration next month.

According to the spokesperson of the FDCs Women League Sarah Eperu, they are concerned about the increasing cost of water which has made it unaffordable to women for their domestic and productive functions.

A 20 liter jerry can of water now goes for upto Shs500 in some areas like Mbale, which Eperu says is likely to trigger an outbreak water-borne diseases.

She thus asks government to consider reducing the cost of water as a gift to the women for this years Womens Day celebrations.

National Water and Sewerage Corporation officials have blamed the water crisis that hit some parts of the country on the prolonged dry season.
Changing chairs after 25 years as lead pastor at the same church is so unusual that we never could have planned it.

Read as Single Page Page 1 of 2

Its Sunday evening as I write this blog post.

And Im feeling a huge flood of emotions.

Strong emotions are normal for pastors on Sunday afternoons, no matter how Sunday services went. But today is different for me.

Plus, there's the added quirk that Im writing this on a flight from California to Belfast, Northern Ireland.

First Ill tell you about the emotions, then why Shelley and I are flying to the UK.

Pastoral Transition Without A Moving Van

Just a few hours ago, Cornerstone Christian Fellowship did me the great honor of affirming my long-time assistant pastor, Gary Garcia as our new lead pastor.

After 25 years of serving in that position myself I will be changing chairs, but staying at the table, becoming Cornerstones teaching pastor.

This is a highly unusual move, which Ive written about previously in previous posts, with more to come. (Click here to read them.)

But, despite there being very little precedent for such a transition, it has gone extraordinarily smoothly. Today was an amazing celebration of Gods grace, filled with excitement for the future as we build on the blessings of our shared past.

Today was an amazing celebration of Gods grace, filled with anticipation for the future as we build on the blessings of our shared past.

I am so grateful to everyone at Cornerstone for what the Lord has already allowed us to do together. You have made it possible for us to seize this opportunity to transition without the always-dangerous pastoral gap.

Shelley and I will never be able to thank you enough for the opportunity to stay in our home church and participate in all the great things to come.

So many thanks go to the church leaders and members who have had such a humble, cooperative and celebrative spirit as weve walked through this together. And we are especially blessed to have Gary and Ami Garcia step into a new season of leadership at Cornerstone. We look forward to supporting you as you have supported us.

New Opportunities For Ministry

Second, why are we flying today?

Shelley and I are on our way to Northern Ireland, where Ill be speaking at three pastors conferences this week. After that, well take a long-overdue three-week vacation together.

Because of my growing list of conferences, this blog and my books, (including the brand-new Small Church Essentials, which was printed this week and will ship on March 6) there have been a lot of changes to our lives and schedules.

I want to take a moment to express my gratefulness for these blessings. So many people have encouraged and supported us in this call to encourage, resource and connect small church pastors as we serve Jesus together.
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For three days in January of 1077, King Henry IV of Germany, wearing a penitential hair shirt, knelt in the snow begging pardon. His offense? Presuming, as head of state, to appoint bishops in his realm, despite recent pronouncements from Rome that such appointments were solely the prerogative of the papacy. For his defiance, Pope Gregory VII declared the king not only excommunicateremoved from the Catholic Churchbut also deposed, removed from his royal office.

Having lost the confidence of the papacy, Henry also began to lose the loyalty of his subjects, and so was forced to capitulate. The first inning of the famous "investiture controversy" thus concluded in the snow at Canossa, Italy: pope, 1; king, 0.

Nearly a thousand years on, nobody expects Pope Francis to wield the kind of power and influence exercised by his medieval predecessors. And yet many of the faithful hoped he would prove at least a little more "Gregorian" in addressing what amounts to a contemporary investiture controversy in China. Instead it looks increasingly likely that, this time around, it will be the pope who capitulatesto communist China.

Just as in eleventh-century Europe, the question of church appointments is very much at the heart of the decades-long conflict between the Vatican and Beijing. Like Henry IV, President Xi Jinping's government has unilaterally appointed bishops within its borders. Because these did not receive prior papal approval, Rome has hitherto refused to recognize them as legitimate bishops. Indeed, as with Henry's own appointees, several have been formally excommunicated, meaning Rome does not even recognize them to be Catholics in good standing.

Nevertheless, according to recent reports, Francis has signaled his "inevitable" and "imminent" intent to accept the legitimacy of several state-appointed bishops. Even more shockingly, he has requested that two Vatican-approved appointees step down to make way for Xi's men, at least one of whom remains under papal excommunication.

Among the many who have criticized this move, none has been more outspoken than Cardinal Joseph Zen, retired bishop of Hong Kong. The problem, Zen emphasizes, is not the pope's asking his own bishops to resign, but "the request to make place for the illegitimate and even excommunicated ones." Such a request, Zen wrote in an open letter last month, amounts to "selling out the Catholic Church in China" to the historically hostile communist regime.

Compared to Gregory VII's vigorous defense of the Church's prerogatives, such a reaction is understandable, even if the radically different contexts of the two papacies makes the comparison not entirely apt. And yet it is precisely the very different contexts that heighten the sense of betrayal felt by many Catholics in China and elsewhere.

Whatever the wisdom of prohibiting lay rulers from appointing their own bishops, it was still a new prohibition when King Henry defied it. He could claim with some warrant to have been acting within a centuries-long tradition of royal privilege. Xi Jinping's government can make no such claim, as the trajectory of the last hundred years has been toward the absolute denial of such privilege.

The Church's 1917 Code of Canon Law, for example, forbade the granting of new rights of this kind. The Second Vatican Council even more explicitly decreed that "no more rights or privileges of election, nomination, presentation, or designation for the office of bishop be granted to civil authorities." Precisely the same wording was thus incorporated into the 1983 Code of Canon Law.

Pope Francis's acknowledgement, and even favoring, of civilly appointed and subsequently excommunicated bishops would be an astonishing reversal of this long established trajectory. This is all the more the case since bishops approved by Beijing must belong to the state-controlled Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association. Because the Association does not recognize the authority of the papacy and acts independently of it, Francis' predecessor Benedict XVI explicitly deemed it "incompatible with Catholic doctrine."

But an even more striking, and disturbing, contrast between the medieval and modern controversies is the motivations of the political actors. Henry IV, a Christian king, could at least plausibly claim to have been acting in the interests of the Church. This was precisely the justification offered by his reform-minded predecessor, Henry III, who had attempted to curb ecclesiastical corruption by deposing and appointing even popes.

China's officially atheist ruling party can of course make no claim to having the Church's best interests in view. Indeed, as recently as October of last year President Xi publicly reiterated the party line that religion is the enemy of the state. Unsurprisingly, then, the imprisonment of clergy, coercion of laity and destruction of churches has been increasingly common under his rule. New regulations on religious affairs that came into effect on Feb. 1 of this year threaten to curtail religious liberty even further.

The fact that a majority of Chinese Catholics have remained faithful to Rome even under such conditions only highlights the greatest potential difference between the conflicts of 1077 and 2018. It was the growing alienation of his German subjects that prompted Henry's eventual capitulation. Francis, by contrast, has faced no such pressure from his Chinese flock. Until now they have shown no signs of betraying their loyalty to the papacy. If Francis bows to Beijing, though, their rejection of a papacy they feel has betrayed them remains a very real possibility.

Should that come to pass, Francis will have every reason to don his own hair, shirt and do penance.

Korey D. Maas is an associate professor of history at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan.
Answering atheist Steven Pinker on the Florida shooting: Where was the 'benevolent shepherd' God?

Steven Pinker is a scientist and public intellectual, provocative, informed and informative. He is resolutely atheist, but not of the 'religion poisons everything' variety; he thinks institutional religion  while based on an entirely false premise  can evolve and be a force for good.

Where he draws the line, however, is the believer's conviction that there is a God who intervenes in the world. Like Scotty from Star Trek, he thinks you cannot change the laws of physics. Even if there were a God, there are no miracles: the world is as it is, and that's that.

And in an interview with Hugh Hewitt for MSNBC, one of the arguments he puts forward to justify that is the Florida shooting, which he says casts doubt on 'the idea that there is a benevolent shepherd who looks out for human welfare. What was the benevolent shepherd doing in Florida while the teenager was massacring his classmates?'

Earlier he says of his book Enlightenment Now: 'It is not against religion. It is certainly against the belief that God interferes with the laws of the universe and that by praying to him we can make the world better. I think that is a dangerous belief because it's not true. If we want to make the world better, we have to figure out how to do it ourselves.'

There's a challenge here for Christians on two levels. One is his fundamental question about whether God intervenes at all  whether there are miracles. The other is whether the Florida massacre is a knock-down argument in his favour.

Most Christians would answer the first with, 'Of course he does.' The Bible is full of miracles. We pray constantly for people and situations that trouble us, and we wouldn't do it if we didn't think it 'worked'.

But Pinker's line is that the more we find out about the world, the less we need to call on the miraculous to account for what's going on. So is there room for an interventionist God in a scientifically sophisticated world?

One answer comes from Christian scientists like John Polkinghorne and David Wilkinson. The latter  an astrophysicist and principal of St John's College, Durham  wrote a little book called, When I Pray, What Does God Do? in which he addresses this problem.

He says the problem with the idea that the physical world runs on rails and is in principle completely predictable is that it's based on out of date science  a mechanistic, Newtonian view of the world in which cause and effect can be plotted exactly. But that's not how the world works. Quantum theory tells us that the small-scale structure of the world is, as Polkinghorne puts it, 'radically random': 'It is a world that is unpicturable, uncertain, and in which the cause of events cannot be fully specified,' says Wilkinson. There's room for God to act because the system isn't closed; he can push electrons around and alter the course of events in the world without breaking any of the laws of nature. Quantum theory doesn't answer all our questions, Wilkinson says cautiously, but it 'may be one dimension of how God works in the world'.

He also writes about 'chaos theory', another challenge to the idea that the world is predictable. It isn't  most systems are very sensitive to small changes, like the 'butterfly effect' named after meteorologist Edward Lorenz, who asked in 1979, 'Does the flap of a butterfly's wings in Brazil set off a tornado in Texas?'

This means that at the macro level as well as the micro, the idea that the world is fixed and predictable is just wrong, and that arguments against an interventionist God don't work. So, Wilkinson says, chaos might give 'space for God to work in unusual and specific ways within the scientific description of the world'. Again, he quotes John Polkinghorne, who says that chaos means that the world is open to the future: 'This means that we can pray and God responds by working in the openness of a chaotic system.'

It's not outdated and foolish to believe in an interventionist God. But what about Florida? Why, if God can intervene, did he not do so last Wednesday  or yesterday, when Syrian forces bombarded Eastern Ghouta and killed 100 civilians in what's been described as an outbreak of 'hysterical' violence? Or when Myanmar's army murders and drives out hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas, or...?

The truth is that Christians have lived with these questions for the last two millennia. And as Pinker himself showed in his 2014 book The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined, those questions were even more urgent in centuries gone by, when Florida-style atrocities and worse were even more frequent. We know why bad things happen: it's because God gives human beings freedom to do them  and freedom to do good things, too. The Florida shooting doesn't mean God doesn't exist, or that if he exists he can't intervene. It means  and this is a hard thing to hear, but it's the only thing a Christian can say  that he has chosen not to.

Pinker's other criticism in his MSNBC interview is that believing God intervenes to make the world a better place means believers won't bother doing it for themselves. 'If we want to cure disease, we have got to come up with antibiotics and vaccines and not prayer. If we want to stave off global warming, we can't assume God won't let terrible things happen,' he says.

Of course, it's a straw man argument. Christianity has encouraged scientific progress (it's the Christian belief that the world is ordered and rational that was to lead to science replacing magic) and Christians have been in the forefront of medical attempts to cure disease. But that doesn't quite let Christians off the hook: the best answer to such criticisms is to prove that those who criticise Christians for retreating into 'thoughts and prayers' rather actually doing something to change things are wrong.

Can the Florida massacre become a catalyst for changing US gun laws? Perhaps  and if, alongside costly personal ministry to survivors and their families, Christians can become lead voices in challenging a toxic firearms culture, that might be a better answer to Steven Pinker than reams of intellectual argument.

Mark Woods is the author of Does the Bible really say that? Challenging our assumptions in the light of Scripture (Lion, 8.99). Follow him on Twitter: @RevMarkWoods
Archbishop of Canterbury warns cutting 0.7% aid budget would be 'tragedy'

The Archbishop of Canterbury has warned it would be a 'tragedy' if Britain backed off its commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of its spending on overseas aid.

Justin Welby's remarks came as Oxfam's chief executive Mark Goldring admitted the scandal around sex abuse committed by the charity's staff in Haiti had undermined public support for the government's international development budget.

Speaking to MPs this morning on the international development select committee Goldring revealed around 7,000 people have stopped making regular donations to Oxfam and admitted 26 fresh allegations of recent and historic incidents have been made by Oxfam workers  16 of them outside the UK  since the story broke in the Times newspaper earlier this month.

Oxfam is facing a Charity Commission investigation and the scandal has raised questions about the government's commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of GDP  around 13bn each year  on overseas aid.

But Welby robustly defended the pledge, written into law in 2015.

'The answer to doing a good thing badly is not to [not] do any good things. It is to do good things well,' he said after Goldring's grilling by MPs.

'To back off from that would be a tragedy. It would be retreat behind our walls and it would be an ignoring of the vast difference we can make and the vast and positive influence we can have as a nation which we deploy very effectively through the 0.7 per cent.'

Welby has been a staunch advocate of the 0.7 per cent commitment and said the revelations into abuse committed by aid workers did not weaken his view.

But he did condemn the abuse committed by Oxfam and other NGOs as 'appalling' and said he suspected it will emerge that 'there is not a lot that is new about this'.

He said: 'If you put people under huge stress in places of great difficulty some of them will behave very badly indeed and wickedly.

'We are scarcely as an institution in a place to throw stones at people who have been caught out on issues of abuse. Let's be honest. One of the lessons we have learnt is that transparency matters.'

The Church of England will go before the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse next month to answer questions about how it dealt with allegations of abuse in the Diocese of Chichester.
Canadian Catholic diocese in bitter row with insurers over predator priest payouts

A Canadian Catholic diocese is locked into a bitter struggle with its insurers over responsibility for historic sexual abuse cases.

The Diocese of London, Ontario, is suing AXA Insurance after it said it wanted the repayment of $10 million paid to the diocese so it could settle claims brought against it by victims of predatory priests.

According to The Star, AXA says the diocese covered up the crimes of paedophile priests by moving them to different parishes, exposing the insurance company to greater financial risk.

AXA cites examples going back to the 1960s, saying in court documents: 'The Diocese of London, consistent with the policies and practices of the Roman Catholic church more broadly, engaged in a practice of concealing reports of child sexual abuse by members of the diocese's clergy, and then assigning the priests in question to different parishes in the Diocese, thereby providing the priests with further opportunity to commit sexual assaults upon children within the new parish.'

The diocese has failed to produce an insurance document it says covered it between 1963 to 1971, while the company says it would have been invalidated anyway by its failure to disclose the abuse.

The case has been going on since 2008, when AXA refused to pay two abuse claims. The diocese is suing for breach of contract and wants AXA to cover 'future claims which counsel for the Diocese asserts are inevitable', according to a 2016 court ruling. The trial will be held in September.

Other Catholic dioceses in North America have also become involved in disputes with insurance companies, leaving them with liabilities of millions of dollars, according to The Star.
Pope Francis makes historic retreat by accepting Nigerian Bishop's resignation

Pope Francis made a historic climb-down on Monday as he accepted the resignation of a Nigerian bishop who had long been rejected by his diocesan priests but had been vocally backed by the pontiff.

Francis had warned priests in Nigeria's southern Ahiara diocese that they could lose their jobs if they did not accept Monsignor Peter Ebere Okpaleke as their bishop, according to Associated Press. The priests were given 30 days to confirm their obedience to the appointment, and the pope told rebellious priests to write a letter of apology to Okpaleke. Though 200 priests backed Okpaleke, several others did not, the Vatican said yesterday.

Okpaleke was appointed as bishop of Ahiara, in the Mbaise region, by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012, but had been opposed by local priests who rejected the leadership of a bishop who hailed from Anambra region, outside of Mbaise. The opposition was such that Okpaleke had to be installed as bishop outside the diocese.

The Vatican said it considered the 'repentance' of Ahiara's bishops' in its decision not to punish them for the 'grave damage' done to the Church by their rejection of a papally-elected bishop. It said it hoped that 'in the future they will never again repeat such unreasonable actions opposing a bishop legitimately appointed by the Supreme Pontiff'.

In his resignation letter Okpaleke said his bishopric had been made impossible due to 'violent reaction and resistance'. He said remaining bishop there would not be beneficial to the Church.

The Pope's acceptance of Okpaleke's resignation is a major retreat that commentators believe could have significant implications for other Church conflicts involving papal authority. This includes Pope Francis's controversial backing of Chilean Bishop Juan Barros, who he appointed as bishop of Osorno in 2015, despite the opposition of local clergy who said Barros had wilfully ignored allegations of sexual abuse regarding Chile's notorious paedophile priest.

Francis stirred further controversy by continuing to support Barros in his recent trip to Chile, but later said he was sending the Vatican's top expert on sex abuse to investigate Barros after 'recently received information' emerged. Francis has previously rejected Barros' offers of resignation, but the acceptance of Okpaleke's notice may set a new precedent.

Additional reporting by Reuters.
Russian artist under fire for controversial burning of 'Catholic' cathedral

A Russian artist has come under fire for the public burning of an effigy of a Gothic  and so appearing to be a Catholic  church. The destructive artistry was exhibited at an Orthodox Christian folk festival.

The 'Flaming Gothic' was a 30m high western cathedral-shaped effigy, constructed of twigs, designed by prominent Russian artist Nikolai Polissky, according to BBC News. The structure was ignited for an impressive and controversial display on Saturday.

The public burning of an effigy at the Nikola-Lenivets 'art park' is an annual tradition in the six-day festival of Maslenitsa, also known as 'Butter Week'  a folk event with both Christian and pagan roots, that marks the last week before Orthodox Lent.

The Gothic structure was seen by many as representing the Catholic Church, whose adherents represent just 0.5 per cent of the Russian populace. Russian culture has been historically dominated by the Orthodox Christian tradition.

The Russian Orthodox Church itself criticised the incendiary display. Vakhtang Kipshidze, spokesman for Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, told Ria Novosti news agency that Christian symbols, 'whether they belong to the Western or Eastern branch, should be accorded respect and sanctity'.

Polissky defended his work, saying it was 'simply a bonfire built in the manner of a Gothic building'. He told The Village that the structure was meant to appear both mysterious and miraculous as one 'not made by human hands', but also said it was 'just art' intended to provide a 'hypnotising spectacle'.

After further criticism he posted on Facebook on Sunday: 'There was nothing of religious worship in my art object, of course there were no crosses, altar or any religious symbols,' the artist wrote according to Oddity Central. 'This is not a copy of any existing structure of religious worship nor an imitation of a church.'

He said he hoped for 'dialogue' between Catholic and Orthodox leaders, and sought forgiveness for any offense caused.

'Today is Forgiveness Sunday and I ask all Orthodox and non-Orthodox Christians to forgive me for Christ's sake,' he said.
Sudanese state demolishes evangelical church after Sunday service

A Christian church in Sudan was demolished without warning by state authorities on Sunday.

Police 'took everything' from the evangelical church in Al Haj Yousif, Khartoum, one church leader told Morning Star News. Officials reportedly said the 64-member congregation's worship was disturbing the peace, though church leaders have suggested the move is due to a local Muslim businessman seeking the land the church is on. They said that the businessman had forged documents asserting his ownership of the property.

Chairs, tables and Bibles were confiscated before a bulldozer destroyed the building, just hours after the Sunday service.

In a Facebook post on Sunday Christian activist Samaan Mahajou wrote: 'We urge all activists and human rights supporters around the world to denounce this move and demand for the return of the confiscated property of the church.'

The state-sanctioned destruction follows the ransacking and demolition of several Sudanese churches in the majority-Muslim country in recent years, with claims that the church land belongs to Muslim individuals. The building of new churches has also been banned, while church leaders frequently face harassment, detention and persecution. In a report for Christian Today, author Rebecca Tinsley has described Christians in the country as facing 'ethnic cleansing' and 'systematic bombardment' by their government.

Sudan became increasingly authoritarian following the secession of South Sudan in 2011, with Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir promising a stricter form of sharia law across the country. Earlier this month seven church leaders were fined for 'objection to the authorities', in the latest conflict over the state confiscation of churches.
'Very interesting', comments Trump on new book about his faith

US President Donald Trump has tweeted his approval of a new book about him by two conservative evangelical commentators.

The Faith of Donald J Trump: A Spiritual Biography is by David Brody, a reporter for the Christian Broadcasting Network, and Scott Lamb, Baptist minister and columnist for the Washington Times.

They say in the book: 'As president of the United States, Donald Trump has been put in a position of authority by Almighty God, which makes the narrative about his faith even more vital to understand the man who promises to "Make America Great Again".'

Trump tweeted earlier today: 'The Faith of Donald Trump, a book just out by David Brody and Scott Lamb, is a very interesting read. Enjoy!'

The book includes interviews with Trump and his vice-president Mike Pence about Trump's religious beliefs and relationship with evangelicals. Pence says: 'President Trump is a believer. I say that with great conviction. I think his faith in God and his faith in the American people are the foundation of his life and service.'

The book claims: 'President Trump won over evangelicals not by pandering to them, but by supporting them and all their most important issues without pretending to be something he's not.'

The foreword by conservative writer and activist Eric Metaxas acknowledges the title raises suspicions of parody, but says: 'The simple fact... is that Donald Trump has demonstrated two things that typically don't go together at all. One the one hand he has been tremendously popular with evangelical Christians and outspoken in his defense of faith in public life; on the other hand, he has evinced a startling lack of familiarity with the Bible and has even admitted being unable to recall ever asking for God's forgiveness.'

He also refers to Trump's much-publicised moral failings. However, he says, widespread Christian acceptance of him as president is because 'the God of the Bible does not ask us to be morally perfect so that he will accept us'.
A new artificial intelligence company is teaching Houston's oil and gas sector how to better use its data.

Hypergiant, which launched publicly on Tuesday, is seeking to demystify artificial intelligence through consulting services, technology development and venture financing.

"There's this general hunger for AI and AI-related technology," co-founder and CEO Ben Lamm told the Chronicle. "It's like the greatest drug that everyone wants but nobody knows what it does."

RELATED: Houston lab working to connect the internet's many dots

Hypergiant has spent the past few months ramping up and securing 11 customers, including four in Houston. At Rod Lift Consulting, a subsidiary of Houston-based Schlumberger, Hypergiant reduced manual tasks related to inventory management by 50 percent.

Rod Lift Consulting employees had been taking stock of inventory with clipboards. Hypergiant created a digital inventory management system and installed predictive data analytics, which means the system learns and can provide employees ample notice before existing inventory needs to be serviced or new inventory needs to be purchased.

"To tackle this industry, we want to be very pragmatic," Lamm said.

It's initially focusing on sectors, like energy, that already have lots of data.

RELATED: Station Houston connects entrepreneurs with big industry

Hypergiant has three divisions. The first is a consulting arm that helps businesses create artificial intelligence solutions for their specific problems. Hypergiant will use existing technology or create new technology.

Creating new technologies is the company's second division. Its third division makes investments into other artificial intelligence companies with promising and unique products.

Hypergiant has also created strategic partnerships with companies including Adobe and GE Aviation. On the latter, Hypergiant can help GE customers automate their data and get new technologies.

Hypergiant has an office in Austin but plans to open locations in Dallas and Houston later this year. In Houston, it will also expand beyond the energy sector.

Lamm is a serial technology entrepreneur with a track record of spurring collaboration, said John "JR" Reale, co-founder and CEO of Station Houston. He's excited to work with Hypergiant.

Station Houston is a hub for startups and part of a bigger local movement to nurture tech-driven startups that have a potential to attract venture capital and scale quickly.

RELATED: Houston Exponential to harness startup potential

Rather than creating "technology for technology's sake," Reale said Hypergiant is focused on helping customers see a return on their investment. This is essential in Texas.

"When you get into industrial operations or anything outside of just selling traditional tech," he said, "folks ask the question all the time, 'What's the ROI? What's the business value?'"

He ultimately thinks Hypergiant will bring more entrepreneurial connections and technology jobs to Houston.
By Ben jumbe.

Government dismissed allegation of frictions among security agencies in Uganda.

Recently media has been awash with news about silent in fights between sister security agencies including ISO, police and CMI especially at operational level

Speaking to media this afternoon, the minister for information Frank Tumwebaze said that all security organizations unite under national Security Council and thus all mistakes are sorted internally.

He said that all alleged disagreement are a media creation.
Dear Abby:

My psychiatrist's office called and left a very sensitive voicemail about my bulimia on a message machine shared with other individuals. Our voicemails are sent transcribed to everyone's email accounts.

Since my complaint (which was an argument during which the nurse who left the private information hung up on me), human resources and the office manager have contacted me to try to alleviate the tension, but I have received no apology from anyone for violating HIPAA or embarrassing me. Should I throw in the towel and find a new doctor or revoke my contact information from their files? I don't know how to proceed from here.

Personal to Public

Dear Personal:

If you provided a shared phone number as your point of contact, you should not have blamed the person who left the message for using it. I see no reason to change doctors, but you should definitely alter your client information so this doesn't happen in the future.

That said, does your psychiatrist know one of his/her employees hung up on you? If not, the doctor should be informed, and you should be offered an apology.

Dear Abby:

I'm close to my brother and his wife. My friend "Dotty" - who is estranged from her husband - thinks my brother is hot, so when she sees him (without his wife) she greets him with a quick kiss on the lips. I have told her I don't think my sister-in-law would like it if she saw her do that.

Since then, Dotty has asked him to do repair work at her house (without pay) and he agreed because he is kindhearted. I told her subtly that I didn't think that was a good idea. Is her behavior toward married men normal?

Too Friendly in Hawaii

Dear Too Friendly:

It is, for a woman who is friendly, outgoing and on the prowl. You may be dropping hints about what Dotty is doing to the wrong person. The next time you talk to your brother, tell him what you think about your friend's behavior, and ask him what he thinks his wife would think about it.

DearAbby.comDear Abby P.O. Box 69440 Los Angeles, CA 90069 Andrews McMeel Syndication
The panels of red fabric give voice to survivors.

On one, a heartbreaking succession of assaults: "I said no 2007. No chance for no 2009. No never mattered 2010.

On another, "I was raped by 2 or 3 men while studying abroad. I am finding my voice again and you can too."

On a third, "Soy valiosa." I am brave.

All together, The Monument Quilt, created as "a public healing space by and for survivors of rape and abuse," has collected 1,000 squares documenting individual stories.

On March 8, nine quilts will be on display at the Rothko Chapel as part of an International Women's Day observation.

The event will feature a twilight meditation with Shanti Flagg, the studio director of FORCE, a Baltimore-based activist collective that organized the quilt. Flagg will also address the current landscape of rape and sexual violence, at a time of reckoning spurred by the #MeToo movement.

The Monument Quilt, which has visited 22 cities, is scheduled to go to Washington, D.C., this spring, where it will be displayed on the National Mall to spell "Not Alone."

"FORCE has started a conversation about sexual violence against women and has been helping people envision a different future, where women are more empowered," Ashley Clemmer, Rothko Chapel's director of programs and community engagement, said in a press release.

The quilt will be on display at the Rothko Chapel, 3900 Yupon St., from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The twilight meditation begins at 6 p.m.
U.S. Catholic leaders, including Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, are staging a national call-in day to urge Congress to protect Dreamers, young immigrants brought illegally to the country as children, from deportation.

The call for action comes after the Senate failed to get the 60 votes needed to consider bipartisan immigration proposals and as the March 5 deadline to extend the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program approaches.

Since President Trump ordered an end to DACA in September, the roughly 700,000 immigrants who are shielded from deportation under the Obama-era program have been on a roller coaster of emotions, uncertain what their futures will be.

A federal district judge in San Francisco temporarily blocked Trump's effort to shut down the program while a series of lawsuits proceed. The Department of Justice appealed the ruling directly to the Supreme Court, which has not yet announced whether it will hear the case.

In a statement, the leadership of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said it was "deeply disappointed that the Senate was not able to come together in a bipartisan manner to secure legislative protection for the Dreamers."

The statement was issued by DiNardo, who is USCCB president; Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles, USCCB vice president; and Bishop Joe S. Vasquez of Austin, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration.

They called for National Catholic Call-In Day to Protect Dreamers on Feb. 26 and asked the faithful across the nation to call members of Congress and ask them "to protect Dreamers from deportation, to provide them a path to citizenship, and to avoid any damage to existing protections for families and unaccompanied minors in the process."

"Our faith compels us to stand with the vulnerable, including our immigrant brothers and sisters," the statement said. "We have done so continually, but we must show our support and solidarity now in a special way. Now is the time for action."
It was Giorgetti's sexy Progetti chair that introduced Jerry Hooker and Jacob Sudhoff to one of Italy's finest makers of leather-and-wood furniture: Giorgetti.

At the time, the men thought it was an attractive chair that would fit into their modern design aesthetic with its tall, white leather back and sleek wooden legs. On a trip to Italy they visited the factory and they were hooked.

That one chair lead them to develop Giorgetti Houston condo development and, now, CASA, a home furnishings showroom with seven brands each getting its own boutique-like space.

In the upscale West Avenue retail space, even the day before CASA's official opening, workmen were still buzzing around, installing pieces and putting finishing touches on lighting and other things.

Hooker, a principal at the Mirador Group architecture-design firm, was on hand and talked about the new showroom he and Sudhoff have opened, and what it's bringing to Houston homes.

Together, the men also developed The Sophie at Bayou Bend and Riva at the Park multi-family residential spaces. They expect to break ground on the Giorgetti condos near the CASA showroom in about a month.

For CASA, they lured two major Italian furniture makers, Giorgetti and Poltrona Frau from nearby Internum. Five other brands in the showroom are new to the Houston market: Listone Giordano flooring, Rimadesio doors and closet systems, Viabizzuno lighting, Elam Kitchens by Tisettanta and Henrytimi furniture.

The demand for contemporary and modern furniture is fed by housing trends that include more modern homes being built in the Houston area. Add to that an increased interest in design in general, and you've got a market for stylish and luxurious home furnishings.

"Poltrona Frau has forever been known for working with leather. They make all of the Ferrari car seats," Hooker said. "For Houston, Poltrona Frau may not be the most known brand, but everybody knows Ferrari."

About CASA Where: West Avenue, 2800 Kirby, Suite B100

What: European luxury home furnishings by Giorgetti, Poltrona Frau, Rimadesio, Listone Giordano, Viabizzuno, Henrytimi and Elam Kitchens by Tisettanta

Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Sunday

Information: casa-houston.com See More Collapse

Made in Tolentino -- a small village in central Italy -- Poltrona Frau's furnishings have some 200 leather options, and their furniture is meant for the home or office.

Nicola Coropulis, Poltrona Frau general manager, said he loves the CASA environment that brings like items together in a non-competitive way.

"The greatest beauty of this concept is that each brand is able to express the best of its own identity, values, feeling and spirit," said Coropulis, who is Italian. "The selection of the brands has been done in such a way that there is synergy."

Giorgetti is known for its contemporary and modern wood and leather furniture, from that iconic armchair to sofas, beds, tables and more. The showroom also has a stop-you-in-your-tracks foosball table that's unlike any game you've ever seen. Its base is wrapped in fine leather and the surround is thick acrylic. The handles and those figures that kick the puck around, they're made of smooth Canaletto walnut.

Listone Giordano is an Italian wood flooring brand, but they use only French white oak that's sustainably harvested. You may not have heard of the brand, but if you've been in a Bulgari store, you've likely walked on their product. Before this Houston showroom, the nearest Listone Giordano dealer was in Miami.

The Viabizzuno lighting brand may not be familiar, but if you've been in a Valentino boutique you've seen its sparkling "Da Ma" chandeliers hanging in them.
Surrounded by hundreds of miles of desert is Marfa, Texas, a small town that feels like a world away.

West Texas' quirky art town has a population of 2,000 but attracts crowds of tourists, thanks to its culture, a combination of flashy art pieces and countrified rural Texas atmosphere. It's a small place but one packed with desert vistas to enjoy, offbeat shops to explore and diverse restaurants to discover.

And most of that can be done in a weekend.

Lodging:

Sandra Ortiz, senior travel adviser at Woodlake Travel, recommends the restored 1930s Hotel Paisano (207 N. Highland), which she says is well known among fans of cult classic 1956 movie "Giant" because many of the actors (James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor included) stayed at the hotel. The classic, Spanish-style structure is a warm and quaint place.

SEE ALSO: Best places to eat on a Texas road trip

At the other end of the spectrum is the Thunderbird Hotel (601 W. San Antonio), which reflects Marfa's modern art scene more than its history. Clean lines and minimalist decor are punctuated by rustic accents and vintage features. There are even typewriters available for rent.

Perhaps the best known and most character-filled place to stay in Marfa is El Cosmico (802 S. Highland Ave.), an 18-acre campground that offers a diverse collection of accommodations. Sioux-style teepees, refurbished airstream trailers and even authentic Mongolian yurts are all options to rest at this eclectic space. "It's off the beaten path and not for everybody," Ortiz cautions. But it's definitely a true-to-Marfa-style place to visit.

To see and do:

Have an evening picnic at a roadside park off U.S. 90 and see if you can spot the Marfa Mystery Lights, which are often attributed to supernatural beings but are most likely due to atmospheric trickery.



Strike a pose in front of Prada Marfa, the art installation that resembles a Prada store (many still wander here hoping to see $2,000 shoes for sale in the desert). It's about 26 miles from Marfa, but it's still a symbol of the small town. Another popular art destination is the Chianti Foundation (1 Cavalry Row), a contemporary art museum founded by venerated artist Donald Judd.

READ MORE: Romantic travel destinations in Texas

For shopping, there's the Marfa Book Company (213 S .Dean), which has an edited selection of texts and hosts author and writer workshops. For fun, irreverent finds, there's Wrong Marfa, a gallery and shop that sells mostly locally made wares. It's housed within a former church and frequently hosts special events and exhibits. Visit the Cobra Rock Boot Company (107 S. Dean) to shop for handmade, full-grain leather boots.

Where to eat:

Food Shark (222 W. San Antonio) offers Mediterranean fusion and is among the area's most popular trailer. Marfa Burrito (104 E. Waco) is a tiny, hole-in-the-wall place that's drawn the likes of Matthew McConaughey. Stop in to get your breakfast taco fix.

Cochineal (115 W. San Antonio) is a modern, sophisticated place to dine and is helmed by former Manhattan restaurateurs Toshi Sakihara and Tom Rapp. Reservations are encouraged at this upscale, 10-year-old spot. New Yorkstyle pizza can be had at Pizza Foundation (305 S. Spring), as well as frosty frozen lemonades. Jett's Grill (207 Highland) is an eatery inside Hotel Paisano. It's frequented by millennials in search of chips and salsa and strong margaritas; it's also popular among fans of the movie "Giant" (see above).

Are there any recommendations you would add? Leave them in the comments below.
Seventy-six years ago, more than 125,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly removed from their homes and forcibly interned following Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Executive Order 9066.

The order called for the military to designate "military areas" from which "any or all persons may be excluded," allowing the relocation and internment of Japanese Americans. President Roosevelt issued the order on Feb. 19, 1942, and suddenly thousands of lives changed.

A month after the order, 227 Japanese Americans on Bainbridge Island were forced to move. They were the first to go since they lived closed to Navy bases. They were given six days to liquidate their homes, farms and business, or secure other arrangements.

That event remembered by an iconic photo of a soon-to-be-moved mother with her sleeping daughter in her arms and by a memorial dedicated on Bainbridge Island in 2009.

RELATED: Monument dedicated to Bainbridge Island's Japanese-Americans

The internment would last until 1945, and Japanese Americans who left the camps often returned to a changed city: Homes seized, restaurants ransacked.

Some communities, like Bainbridge Island, cared for their incarcerated neighbors' property while they were away, allowing families to return and reclaim their property.

Years later, President Ronald Reagan would sign the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which awarded $20,000 to each living survivor of incarceration.

"No payment can make up for those lost years," Reagan said, "so what is most important in this bill has less to do with property than with honor for here we admit a wrong."

Take a look at the gallery above that shows internment in Seattle in 1942.
Cinemark is implementing a new bag policy beginning Thursday, Feb. 22.

Bags or packages larger than 12 inches x 12 inches x 6 inches will not be allowed in the theater. The policy was adopted "in an effort to enhance the safety and security of our guests and employees," according to the company's website.
After decades of working in the deepwater energy sector, Art Schroeder and his partner, Jim Chitwood came up with a way to deliver injection chemicals and equipment to deepwater oil and gas wells at substantial savings compared to current methods.

They called their device the "Subsea Shuttle" and, after three years of planning, began by testing and refining prototypes in Schroeder's home swimming pool in December. The next month, they moved their technology proving grounds  or waters  to a 30-foot-deep tank on the northern edge of Katy.

"They say, 'Don't try this at home,''' Schroeder said with a laugh.

The unmanned subsea shuttle, which Schroeder estimates could save tens of millions of dollars per well, is now about a year from its commercial launch. The shuttle is a deepwater storage facility, a square-shaped structure with four columns that control buoyancy to raise and lower it without offshore cranes that can cost $1 million a day to rent.

Schroeder, Chitwood and their Houston company, Safe Marine Transfer, hope their inventions will fit in the offshore sector's drive to lower costs and become more competitive with onshore shale drilling. As offshore exploration and production companies struggle to rebound from the recent oil bust, companies are reluctant to spend billions of dollars to build new platforms.

Instead they're cutting expenses by drilling wells and connecting them to existing platforms via umbilical cables that run tens of miles underwater. The massive umbilical cables are stuffed full of pipes and fiber optics to from electricity to chemicals to wells more than a mile deep.

The increasingly longer distances, however, have made it harder for umbilicals to efficiently transport chemicals without corrosion and crimping issues, energy executives said. The shuttle, by delivering the chemicals that aid the flow of oil and gas directly to the well, takes those complications out of the mix, meaning oil companies can run longer umbilicals and manage more wells from a single platform.

The subsea shuttle can theoretically carry chemicals to wells more than 6,000 feet underwater. Companies park the shuttles next to the wells for storage or move them to wells as needed. The mobility of the shuttles makes them reusable and, therefore, cheaper.

"It's a little bit of a pun," Schroeder said, "but you'd have a sunk cost if it stayed on the ocean floor."

Schroeder and Chitwood launched their company five years ago before testing the 70-pound model in Schroeder's pool and moving to the industrial testing tank at Seanic Ocean Systems, which opened in early 2016 at its location on Clay Road in Katy. Trials continue, but now they're taking place on the other side of the world at the Woodside RiverLab at the University of Western Australia, working with Woodside Petroleum, Australia's biggest oil and gas company.

The big break for Schroeder and Chitwood came in 2016, when they hooked up at the Offshore Technology Conference with the Swedish engineering firm Trelleborg. Trelleborg, which is partnering with Safe Marine Transfer, developed the buoyancy technology to raise and lower the shuttle  which will weigh nearly 50 tons  under extreme deepwater pressures.

"It is an interesting new business model of having buoyancy when you need it, where you need it, for only the duration required for the job at hand," said Antony Croston, business group director for Trelleborg Offshore.

Initial funding for the development of the subsea shuttle came from a $5.5 million Department of Energy grant. Trelleborg and others are providing additional financial backing.

Safe Marine and Trelleborg originally envisioned a larger shuttle to deliver 3,000 barrels of chemicals at a time, but there's more commercial interest in a smaller, cheaper and easier-to-deploy 200-barrel version. The shuttle is prepared and stocked onshore and ferried via smaller vessels to well sites.

A specially engineered polymer bladder within the shuttle is used to safely contain the chemicals. "The chemicals are rated hazardous for a reason," Schroeder said.

Schroeder and his partners envision two potential markets. The shuttles could provide storage or back-up delivery to umbilicals in mature areas like the Gulf of Mexico, while serving as the primary delivery systems in developing areas offshore of Africa, Australia and other regions with fewer existing platforms.
By Samuel Ssebuliba

A team of senior officials from the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) is Uganda for a five-day monitoring visit to Gulu and Lira districts.

The team is led by the president of the Assembly of State Parties of the ICC, Judge O-Gon Kwon, Trust Fund for Victims (TVF) Executive Director Pieter de Baan and Irish Amb to the Hague, Kevin Kelly.

According to Ms Maria Kamara the ICC Outreach Coordinator for Uganda and Kenya, the team is here to review the implementation of the TFV Projects, raise awareness among stakeholders in Uganda.

In 2002, the International Criminal Court and the Trust Fund for victims were created under the Rome Statute.

While the ICC is responsible for trying criminal cases involving the crime of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, the TFVs mission is to respond to harm resulting from crimes under the jurisdiction of the ICC by ensuring the rights of victims and their families through the provision of reparation and assistance.

In 2008, the Trust Fund began implementing an assistance programme across Northern Uganda.

Ms Kamara says the team will later on Thursday address the local media in Kampala on its findings.
Provided by Southwest Airlines

Three and a half years after launching its first international flights, Southwest Airlines is looking abroad again with plans to add cargo service to several Mexican cities later this year, the company announced Monday.

Southwest said it will start service to four destinations - Mexico City, Cancun, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta - this May, with plans to add more markets throughout the year. The Dallas-based carrier said it still needs government approval, but seemed confident that won't hold up its plans.
TOM BRENNER/NYT

WASHINGTON - Sen. Ted Cruz is heading to Philadelphia Wednesday to meet with workers at an oil refinery that has become the centerpiece of an ongoing debate on ethanol.

The Texas senator has been urging Congress to rewrite ethanol regulations, to reduce costs for refineries like the one in Philadelphia he says are struggling under the high costs of complying with a federal mandate requiring ethanol is blended into the nation's fuel supply.
Less than a year after it opened, the 83-acre Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve earned recognition in the 2017 Parks and Natural Areas Award competition sponsored by the Houston-Galveston Area Council.

Harris County Precinct 4 officials received the award for Projects over $500,000 for development of the forested tract and park which features a 40-acre lake, fishing piers, hiking trails and a pedestrian bridge over Cypress Creek. The park opened April 1, 2017 at 20215 Chasewood Park Drive in Houston.

Any public, private, or nonprofit organization could apply for activities completed between Sept. 1, 2015, and Aug. 29, 2017, said Andrea Tantillo, H-GAC senior communication coordinator.

Jim Robertson, chairman of the Cypress Creek Greenway Project, applied for the Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve project. Harris County Precinct 4 is the project owner and award recipient.

Tantillo said H-GAC had 13 applicants for the four award categories, which is on par with previous years. The Preserve had five competitors in its category.

"This project exemplifies public-private partnerships and coordination among various agencies to preserve natural areas and provide connections to benefit residents and the community," said Tantillo in explaining why it stood out in the competition.

"All applicants are scored by a panel of judges including academia, environmental expert, consultant, past winner and wild card/community," she added. "Applications are evaluated against criteria such as habitat restoration, quality of life improvement, water quality protection and expanding or creating public park areas."

Listing the park features including its access to nature based-programs and activities, Tantillo said, "The objective of this project was to preserve an existing natural area that was part of tract of land being sold for development. After negotiations with Cypress Creek Greenway Project and other partners, Kickerillo Properties and Mischer Investments donated the land to Harris County Precinct 4 as a nature preserve. The preserve is one of three anchor parks along the Cypress Greenway, which will connect into a developing network of trails connecting to surrounding residential and commercial areas, as well as to hotels, office buildings, a hospital, and the Lone Star College-University Park campus."

"The Cypress Green Trail System is a fairly long-term project," said Mike Howlett, assistant director, Precinct 4 parks. "In many areas along Cypress Creek in Precinct 4, we're still working on land acquisition. However, some areas have been identified as more important to try and develop to get some trail infrastructure in place. That area by the Preserve is one of those areas we'll start working and designing the trail sooner rather than later."

With the Preserve as an anchor park for the trail system, the precinct plans to create a loop under Texas 249 on both sides of the creek, explained Howlett. "It's more efficient to have trails connect to anchor parks so staff can maintain and patrol the system. It's part of greater plan we have."

This isn't the first time that H-GAC recognized the Preserve. In 2008, the Preserve project received the "Best Practices in Parks and Natural Areas Honor."

V&W Partners contributed land to Harris County for the Preserve in 2009.

Howlett said the main reason it took the precinct an extended period of time to get the park open was because of a lack of funding.

The cost for the necessary infrastructure to build a park from electrical to restrooms and trails climbs up to about $6 million, he said. "Funds were not available to do that," said Howlett. What helped park development tremendously was the Prestonwood Forest Utility District offer to lease its former fire station building at 9860 Cypresswood Drive to use as a park headquarters, he said.

Commissioners court approved on Aug. 9, 2016 use of the station facility to provide an operations facility and additional public parking for the Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve.

"That saved us quite a lot of money," said Howlett and served as the catalyst to actual construction of the Preserve. The last six months, the precinct has had to do quite a bit of renovation to the facility which took in water during Hurricane Harvey but Howlett anticipated that being completed this month.

Because the Preserve is on donated land, some conditions and restrictions were placed on the property, said Howlett. "It's designed for passive nature recreation," he said. While it won't have a playground, Howlett said the park could have a small amphitheater which could be used as an outdoor classroom or for small outdoor theatrical productions.

The Preserve is one of more than 150 projects that have received honors through the H-GAC program since it began in 2006, said Tantillo.

"Winning projects serve as models for the H-GAC region on how parks can improve water quality, habitat and quality of life," Tantillo added. "Offering high-quality parks and natural areas requires commitments from both public and private groups in our region, the kind of commitment and effort exhibited in the projects recognized by the Parks and Natural Areas awards for more than a decade."

The H-GAC is a voluntary association of local governments in the 13-county Gulf Coast planning region.
Several agencies responded to a home in Montgomery County early Tuesday morning after an alleged carjacking and police pursuit.

The incident began early on Feb. 20, when a Chevrolet Sonic was stolen at gunpoint from its owner, Roman Forest Police Chief Stephen Carlisle said in a video shared by the Montgomery County Police Reporter.

AGGRAVATED ROBBERY: Teens face felony charges after allegedly robbing friend

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office used the vehicle's OnStar system to track it, and a Roman Forest police officer located the vehicle near the intersection of Cambridge and Galaxy in New Caney, Carlisle said.

The officer observed several male suspects and one female in the vehicle and ordered them out at gunpoint.

The suspects allegedly ran away on foot, and police chased two of them into a nearby house, Carlisle said.

Officers and deputies waited outside the home for about 30 minutes until the two people came out. Three people can be seen on video being handcuffed at the scene.

Carlisle said the Roman Forest Police Department has charged Eric Anthony Alva, 18, with evading arrest. He remains in the Montgomery County Jail with bond set at $750.

Information on the other people who were handcuffed was not immediately available.

Dana Burke is a digital reporter at Chron.com. You can read more of her stories here and follow her on Twitter at @danapburke.
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Two people are dead in an apparent murder-suicide in Galveston, detectives believe.

Police were called around 1:45 p.m. Monday to a home in the 6700 block of Fairway Drive, just off Stewart Road west of 61st Street, with reports of a possible suicide. When they arrived, they found a 94-year-old woman inside the home and a 67-year-old man in the backyard.
A candidate for Texas A&M University's student body president apologized Monday night after student groups discovered an Instagram photo with a racist caption that he posted five years ago.

The student, junior Ben Johnson from Houston, later deleted the photo, which included degrading language about Asian-Americans and profanity. In a Facebook comment, he said he was in high school when he posted the picture and then pledged to advocate for groups of people "that haven't had the same opportunities that I've been afforded."

"My experiences, since that post was made, have made me realize the detriment of stereotypes and the false truths they cast on groups of people," he wrote in a Facebook comment. "I am not making any excuses for myself and I also agree that what I said was morally reprehensible. I understand that this is hurtful and simply wrong."

READ ALSO: University of Houston to require new sexual misconduct training for faculty

A campaign manager for Johnson said he would not be doing interviews with media outlets outside the university. Included in his list of platform policies is the promotion of A&M's diversity education programs.

Student groups at Texas A&M -- including a group called TAMU Anti-Racism -- shared Johnson's Instagram post and criticized its language.

"No matter what statement of apology or regret he releases, let's be clear  you cannot simply apologize for racism and expect it to be forgiven and forgotten," the TAMU Anti-Racism group wrote in a Facebook post.

READ ALSO: 'Tell Them We Are Rising' movie on HBCUs to air Monday

The response to Johnson's post follows a similar controversy at Texas State University. There, students urged Connor Clegg, their student body president, to step down over racist and sexist posts to social media. He later apologized.

Lindsay Ellis writes about higher education for the Chronicle. You can follow her on Twitter and send her tips at lindsay.ellis@chron.com.
The city of Bellaire is looking to make a change, one that it envisions will provide a sleeker image.

The rebranding of Bellaire is currently under review. Mayor Andrew Friedberg unveiled a new logo design for the city during his state of the city address recently. Gone are the cartoony representations of what Bellaire stands for - family, community, nature. It is sort of a scene out of a Norman Rockwell painting.

The new logo features a deep, natural green "B" that invokes the city's embrace of nature.

The enclave city, like many of those surrounded by the city of Houston, prides itself on the fact that it has a separate identity from Houston.

In that regard, it is very much like other enclaves like West University Place and the six Memorial Villages (Spring Valley Village, Piney Point Village, Bunker Hill Village, Hedwig Village, Hilshire Village and Hunters Creek Village). They are staunchly independent in that they know they are surrounded by Houston but they are not Houston.

To review the design for Bellaire's new logo or provide input, go to http://cityofbellairemayorsmusings.blogspot.com.

Volunteers needed

The 30th Annual McDonald's Houston Children's Festival, to be held April 7-8, is in need of volunteers. Go to www.houstonchildrensfestival.com for more information.

Touted as "the largest children's festival in the United States," organizers point out volunteers have the opportunity to make a difference in the "lives of the abused and neglected children served by Child Advocates."

The festival takes place around City Hall, Hermann Square, HoustSam Houston Park, and Tranquility Park in the area of 901 Bagby, Houston.

Child Advocates, Inc., recruits, trains and supports court-appointed advocates. They stand with children, families and caseworkers.

For more information on Child Advocates, go to www.childadvocates.org

Westchase murals

The Westchase District continues to beautify itself, unveiling artwork and continuing paving work that sets itself apart from the areas which surround it.

Everyone has seen those gray traffic signal control boxes at some intersections. They are utilitarian boxes that that look like freestanding closets. The latest work by mural artist Larry Crawford has turned the signal box at Wilcrest and Briar Forest drives into a work of art.

The "muralito" features brightly colored flowers and adds beauty for drivers to admire while stuck in that rush hour traffic.

A bit of functional art in Westchase is the paving of the medians at three intersections along Westheimer at Wilcrest, the Beltway and South Gessner.

The paving includes stones which discourage pedestrians from walking through the roadways, directing them to cross at intersections.

For more information on the Westchase District, go to www.westchasedistrict.com.

Sherwood celebration

Sherwood Elementary School will celebrate its 50th anniversary Friday and Saturday, March 2-3.

Friday activities begin at 6 p.m. and include a short presentation, a tour of the building, and an opportunity to "Soar Through the Decades" in the library. Afterwards will be food trucks and carnival fun.

Additional parking can be found on the north parking lot of Westchester Academy at 901 Yorkchester. Two school buses will be shuttling between Westchester and Sherwood, every half hour beginning at 5 p.m. and continuing until 8 p.m.

Saturday morning starts with "Tacos and Tours" at 9 a.m. followed by student-led tours, more Soaring Through the Decades in the Sherwood library and concluding at 11 a.m.

All current and former Sherwood Eagles are encouraged to attend. Sherwood Elementary is located at 1700 Sherwood Forest St. For more information, call 713-251-6900.
Despite numerous arrests in Harris County for firearm theft and robbery, Santo LaCharles Stephens had not served time in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice until his sentencing in Montgomery County last Thursday.

Stephens, 21, of Houston, was sentenced to 40 years in TDCJ by jurors in the 435th District Court with Judge Patty Maginnis presiding after he was found guilty on charges of the aggravated robbery of Jeff's Jewelry in Conroe on Oct. 3, 2016.

AGGRAVATED ROBBERY: Teens charged after victim reports being robbed, tied up with shoelaces

"These violent individuals were able to flee the scene, but the quick and thorough investigation by officers, investigators and detectives with the Conroe Police Department led to their arrest and convictions," Montgomery County Chief Prosecutor Jim Prewitt said about the case.

"Thanks to CPD and the jury, justice was obtained for the victim, his family, employees, customers and the community. The jury's verdict sends a message, especially to those who come into Montgomery County to do harm to our citizens and businesses, that violent criminal activity will not be tolerated."

According to information provided by the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office, "Stephens and two other individuals rushed the jewelry store with handguns and a hammer. He attempted to smash a glass case containing jewelry and when he was unsuccessful, ran to the cashier's counter to assist armed robber, Javian Jackson, in getting cash from the cash register."

During the robbery, the victim was threatened by Stephens with a hammer.

Stephens and another armed robber, Kadarius Krisshawn Royston, 24, both fled the scene when shots were fired by store employees, in response to a shot fired by Jackson, according to filing reports.

Jackson attempted to flee after grabbing the cash but was shot and killed. His gun and a bag with the cash were recovered next to his body, according to the DA's office.

Stephens and Royston fled in a white Dodge Charger driven by another co-defendant identified as Coredarian Bailey, which met up with a second getaway vehicle driven by co-defendant 37-year-old Sedrick Townsend of Houston.

According to court documents, Bailey, Stephens and Royston met up with Townsend at the Walgreens at the corner of FM 3083 and Texas 105 immediately after the robbery. The four drove around, and as Townsend learned they did not get the money, he left them on the side of the freeway, detectives said.

Townsend made his way back to the crime scene, parking his car at the same Walgreens and walking the roughly 400 feet along Texas 105 to Jeff's Jewelry, according to law enforcement. Conroe police questioned Townsend, who said he knew Jackson was dead before police had identified him. He reportedly told police a friend in Houston called him and told him of Jackson's death, but was not able to substantiate that claim, court records show.

Royston, Townsend and Bailey have all pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing hearings in the next three weeks.

"Stephens' DNA was found on a black sweatshirt and hat Stephens was seen wearing in the store surveillance video," the DA's office reported. "The DNA evidence corroborated testimony by witnesses who identified Stephens as the hammer-wielding and glass-smashing defendant on the video."

For his previous arrests in Harris County, Stephens served three different Harris County juvenile probations before an adult robbery arrest that resulted in an assault conviction, also in Harris County. Stephens had other arrests for attempted burglary of a habitation, theft of a firearm and assault family violence.

Stephens will not become eligible for parole until he has served at least half of the sentence or 20 years.
Houston Symphony Principal POPS Conductor Steven Reineke will bring the glamour and sounds of Hollywood's biggest night to Jones Hall with "The Oscars: Best Original Songs" at 8 p.m. March 1-3, just days before the 90th Annual Academy Awards, which will be held March 4, 2018.

Broadway vocalists Ashley Brown and Hugh Panaro join the orchestra for the star-studded evening packed with Academy Award-winning film scores and music by composers like Erich Korngold and John Williams. The program includes over 80 years of cinematic sounds, including "Over the Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz, "Moon River" from Breakfast at Tiffany's and more recently, "Let it Go" from Disney's animated film Frozen.

"Our concert of Best Original Songs will be a really glamorous, star-studded evening as we pay tribute to the Oscars, which are going to happen March 4, just after our concerts," said Reineke. "We're looking forward to celebrating the last 80 years of songs who have won the coveted Academy Award."

The concert will take place at Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, 615 Louisiana Street, in Houston's Theater District. For tickets and information, please call (713) 224-7575 or visit www.houstonsymphony.org. Tickets may also be purchased at the Houston Symphony Patron Services Center in Jones Hall (MondaySaturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.). All programs and artists are subject to change.

Vocalist Ashley Brown originated the title role in "Mary Poppins" on Broadway for which she received Outer Critics, Drama League and Drama Desk nominations for Best Actress. Ms. Brown also starred as Mary Poppins in the national tour of Mary Poppins where she garnered a Garland award for "Best Performance in a Musical". Ms. Brown's other Broadway credits include Belle in "The Beauty and The Beast", and she has starred in the national tour of Disney's"On The Record."

Vocalist Hugh Panaro is perhaps best known for having played the coveted role of the Phantom in Broadway's The Phantom of the Opera over 2,000 times, including the 25th Anniversary production. In fact, Hugh is one of the few actors to be cast by Harold Prince as both The Phantom and Raoul in the show's Broadway production and is currently starring as the titular role in the immersive Off-Broadway production of Sweeney Todd.

For tickets and more information, visit www.houstonsymphony.org or call 713-224-7575.
Barely two weeks after reaching a settlement in a landmark lawsuit over sweltering conditions in one Navasota lock-up, the Texas prison system Monday began the process of shifting vulnerable inmates back to the unit at the center of the legal claim.

In the wee hours of Monday morning, five buses moved prisoners out of the Wallace Pack Unit to make room for the returning heat-sensitive inmates transferred out months ago at a federal judge's order.

"The move closes another chapter of poor planning and lack of foresight the prison system has experienced for years," said Lance Lowry, a Huntsville corrections officer and former union president.

Though the Texas prison system agreed to install air conditioning at the unit as part of the settlement - which is expected to be finalized soon by a federal judge - that hasn't been done yet.

The 1,000-plus Pack inmates who were transferred out last August are all expected to be back on the unit by mid-April, according to state Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston.

READ MORE: Texas prison system reaches deal with inmates over air conditioning for cells

"The settlement was reached and it's the way the system is supposed to work," he said.

There's no concrete timeline available on how soon those transfers will take place, according to Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman Jason Clark.

Earlier this month, TDCJ agreed to provide air conditioning at the geriatric prison, a move that would end the pending class action lawsuit as well as the legal claims involving inmates who died or were injured by excessive heat during sweltering summers in other state lockups.

The department admitted in court documents that 22 inmates have died from heat stroke in Texas prisons over the past two decades.

After word of the settlement went public, rumors of impending transfers began circulating among the inmate population, said one woman whose son was held at the Pack Unit.

"They're not feeling good about it, I'll tell you that," she said. She asked not to be named for fear her son might face retaliation, something she says has already become a widespread concern.

"No doubt there's going to be a lot of that type of thing going on," she said.

BOOK RULES: Texas inmates can read Hitler's 'Mein Kampf,' not 'Charlie Brown Christmas'

Some prisoners embroiled in the litigation have hoped to opt out, she said, due to concerns that involvement in the legal case would decrease their chances of getting into certain programs TDCJ offers.

The class-action suit was filed in 2014 and after three years of legal wrangling, U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison ruled in July that the indoor heat was life-threatening for vulnerable inmates, penning a scathing opinion deeming the summer conditions "cruel and unusual punishment."

He ordered the prison to provide cool housing units during the summer months for medically sensitive inmates, but he gave TDCJ officials the flexibility to fulfill his order as they saw fit.

But given the high cost of cooling the units, officials instead opted to ship more than 1,000 inmates from the Pack Unit to prisons that already had air conditioning.

Yet Ellison's ruling was only temporary, so the case was slotted for trial in March - until the early February settlement rendered it unnecessary.

If Ellison approves the settlement, it could have lasting ramifications at the state's more than 100 prisons, most of which do not have air conditioning.
By Benjamin Jumbe

President Yoweri Museveni has expressed governments commitment for further cooperation with Chinese government and its people

In a message to his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, on the occasion of the celebrations of the Chinese New Year 2018, known as The Year of the Dog, President Museveni has commended the continued warm and cordial relations that China and Uganda have enjoyed since Ugandas independence in 1962.

He observes that the relations between the two countries are hinged on strong desire for peace, stability and development for both their peoples and the global humanity.

The first day of the Lunar New Year was on Friday, 16 February, initiating the year of the Dog

The Chinese New year the Year of the Dog is succeeding the Year of the Rooster and preceding the Year of the Pig.
As early voting kicked off Tuesday, Harris County Democrats are hustling to line up enough precinct judges to staff the March 6 primary election.

Last Wednesday, the county elections office notified both parties they were short and the office was going into emergency mode to fill in 146 vacancies. By Tuesday morning, the Democrats were missing 55 judges and Republicans had five vacant slots.

A Democratic spokesman midday Tuesday blamed the shortfall, which by then had dwindled to about 20 judges, on stalling by Republican County Clerk Stan Stanart. Democrats said Stanart was late to provide precinct addresses and training equipment amid a "playing field (that) is not very level."

A representative for the Harris County Republican party attributed the staffing situation to poor planning by Democrats.

"We have a shortage and it's due to the clerk's office giving us last minute information and not playing by the rules," said Odus Evbagharu, spokesman for the Harris County Democrats, adding that he expected the vacancies to be filled by the end of Tuesday. "They're supposed to tell us in a timely manner."

"They're dragging their feet in this whole process," Evbagharu said. "It's nothing new for us, though. They drag their feet every year... We march on. We have a lot of momentum going and that just means that they're scared."

"We're seeing people doing everything they can to suppress the vote," he said. "We don't cry over spilt milk, though. We're rallying together."

Stanart, the county clerk, laughed out loud when he heard the allegations of stalling and Sonya Aston, administrator of elections, said the claim by Evbagharu was "shocking," given how much effort the elections office has put into helping both parties ready themselves for the primary.

"We know when to hit the panic button, which is what we did last week," Aston said. "We bend over backwards spending extra time to come out and do training. We set up tables so they can talk to their judges, we do everything we can possibly to do make their elections successful."

A spokesperson for the Harris County Republican party called this explanation "bogus," saying the lack of staff was the result of sloppy planning and procrastination and the Democratic party didn't get started early enough finding precinct judges who are capable, flexible and available to staff their polling places.

"Typically assigning precinct judges is a long process that begins months in advance, at the time of filing in November," said Vlad Davidiuk, a GOP spokesman for the county's operation. "We began our work in November. It sounds as if Democrats either didn't begin their work at that same time... or maybe they are having difficulty finding people willing to do this work."

"It's poor planning and perhaps a lack of interest," Davidiuk said. "Both parties were given significant amounts of lead time to get this process started."

There are 1,012 precincts and in Harris county, with 376 polling places for Democrats and 383 for Republican voters, said Aston, administrator at the elections office.

Both Democrats and Republicans were encouraged by voter turnout on the first day for early voting.

Evbagharu said the Democrats' social media sites had been very active and callers were having trouble getting through on the phone lines to ask about candidates because the lines were so busy.

Davidiuk said his scouts told him there were lines at GOP early voting sites at 7 a.m. He said it looks like turnout is better than expected.

Stanart, the county clerk, said turnout looked normal but he had not yet had a chance to review the numbers.

Gabrielle Banks covers federal court for the Houston Chronicle. Today she's pitching in on her previous beat, Harris County reporter. Follow her on Twitter or send her email at gabrielle.banks@chron.com.
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Hobby Lobby is a welcomed member of the Rosenberg and Richmond communities, thanks to community members and the Central Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce.

All groups involved joined for a ribbon cutting ceremony on Feb. 12. The newest Hobby Lobby location is at 10247 West Grand Parkway in Richmond.
When two teenage girls tried to check in for a flight from Sacramento to New York, American Airlines customer service agent Denice Miracle noticed something wasn't right.

"There were immediate red flags: There was no adult with them; they had no identification; the tickets were one-way and multi-leg; they were booked in First Class; and the credit card used to reserve their seats was in neither of their names. In fact, it was flagged as fraudulent," a press release from American Airlines reads.

The girls were 15 and 17 when they tried to check in for the flight last summer, according to the airline. They seemed nervous and unable to answer the agent's questions.

"I told the supervisor, 'I'm going to call the sheriff. This just doesn't feel right to me,'" Miracle told CNN. "It just did not feel right."







She pulled the teenagers aside while she called the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department Airport Bureau. When officers arrived at the airport, the teenagers explained their motive for the suspicious cross-country trip.

The girls thought they were flying to New York for the weekend to model and perform in music videos. They were told they'd earn $2,000 for the work. The whole trip was arranged by someone they had met on Instagram who they knew as "Drey."

When they found out the plane tickets weren't roundtrip, the teenagers were "shocked," said officers.

Deputy Todd Sanderson explained to CNN that he told the girls, "The airline says you have a one-way ticket and in my belief you're going back there not to do the things that you think you were going to be doing."

"They said, 'I wouldn't let anything happen that I didn't want,' and I said, 'Well you probably wouldn't have a choice in the matter.'"

The incident occurred last summer, according to American Airlines, but the company is sharing the story now to encourage people to "identify and report signs of human trafficking."

Sacramento sheriff's deputies tried to contact "Drey" by phone and on Instagram, but were unable to reach him. Subsequent attempts to track down the suspect have been unsuccessful.

American Airlines says the girls were returned to their parents, who were informed their daughters were potential victims of human trafficking.

Read Alix Martichoux's latest stories and send her news tips at amartichoux@sfchronicle.com.
One man was shot Monday night in a pickup truck in an Oak Forest parking lot.

Police arrived at 10:30 p.m. Monday to 6600 Hoover St., near the Northwest Freeway and Bingle, where they found a man shot once in the lower abdomen, said Lt. Larry Crowson of the Houston Police Department.

The man appeared to be shot while in the truck and either went unconscious or lost control of the wheel. He then rolled into a warehouse, Crowson said.

READ ALSO: Pedestrian dies on Gulf Freeway

Police found shell casings on the scene, and a nearby fast-food restaurant has surveillance video.

Officers are also investigating a vehicle reported stolen in the same parking lot but are unsure if its connected, Crowson said.
A 31-year-old Houston man is behind bars on a felony charge of driving while intoxicated after being arrested late Sunday, accused of his third DWI.

Houston police started pursuing Trent Margiotta after he allegedly ran a red light while making a u-turn on South Dairy Ashford about 2:30 a.m. Sunday. Court records show he drove recklessly at a high rate of speed while gesturing with his middle finger at the officers.

After being stopped, officers noticed the strong odor of alcohol, unsteadiness and red, glossy eyes. While slurring his speech, Margiotta allegedly threatened to strip and strangle a male police officer.

READ ALSO: Houston man accused of impersonating Harris County district attorney in family finance scam

His attorney, J.L. Carpenter, said she is investigating the allegations and is waiting to see the results of a blood or breath test before commenting on the case.

During a probable cause hearing Monday, prosecutors with the Harris County District Attorney's Office said Margiotta was aggressive toward police and told them he would get off easy. He said they would pay when he got out of jail.

After being transported to the police station and asked how much he had to drink, Margiotta allegedly laughed and said he was not drunk enough. He also volunteered that he loved cocaine, but had not taken any drugs recently, court records show.

He was charged with felony DWI because he had been arrested in 2011 and 2012 for DWI and pleaded guilty in both cases. If convicted, he could face 10 years in prison.

READ ALSO: Humble homeowner accused of killing teen facing additional sex charges

He remains in the Harris County Jail after a magistrate judge set his bail at $25,000.

Prosecutors had asked for no bail after reviewing Margiotta's long criminal record.

When he was arrested Sunday morning, he was free on a $25,000 bond after he had been accused of choking his girlfriend in September.

He was arrested on that charge three months after having a domestic violence case dismissed because he took an anger management course. In that case, he was accused of hitting a different woman with whom he had a dating relationship.

Margiotta's first arrest was in 2008 for throwing an object through a woman's window and fleeing police. In that case, he escaped convicted by completing six months of probation.

He also escaped conviction in 2009 after successfully spending a year on probation after hitting a man with his car.

In 2010, Margiotta was arrested for lying to police officers about whether he was the driver of a car involved in a wreck. The circumstances of that case are not clear from court records. The case was dismissed after his attorney showed there was not an underlying criminal investigation, which is an element of the crime.

Brian Rogers is the Legal Affairs Reporter for the Houston Chronicle. Follow him on twitter.com/brianjrogers
Space enthusiasts across the nation will be able to watch a meeting of the revived National Space Council online Wednesday morning.

The council, created to coordinate policies between NASA and other agencies involved in space, was dissolved in 1993. But President Donald Trump this past summer re-established it through executive order.

Vice President Mike Pence chairs the council, which will be meeting at Florida's Kennedy Space Center. The meeting is entitled "Moon, Mars and Worlds Beyond: Winning the Next Frontier" and will include testimonies from commercial, civil and national security offices "about the importance of United State's space enterprise.

RELATED STORY: NASA's lunar rover could enable deep-space exploration.

Wednesday's meeting will be livestreamed at 9 a.m. Central Standard Time at https://www.nasa.gov/nasalive.

Since taking office last year, Trump has pushed for a more robust space program in the United States, with a heightened focus on human exploration.

Just a few months after the president re-established the council, Pence voiced an interest in returning to the moon at its October meeting.

"We will return American astronauts to the moon, not only to leave behind footprints and flags, but to build the foundation we need to send Americans to Mars and beyond," Pence said, according to the New York Times.

Then in December, Trump signed Space Policy Directive 1, urging NASA to return Americans to the moon.

The directive "marks an important step in returning American astronauts to the moon for the first time since 1972 for long-term exploration and use," Trump said.

Wednesday's meeting will be the council's first since Trump released his budget proposal for the 2019 fiscal year, which includes $19.9 billion for the space agency. About $10.5 billion of that would be funneled toward human exploration.

RELATED STORY: Trump's proposed NASA budget focuses on human exploration, eliminates education office.

For example, the proposal would have the first unmanned flight of the Space Launch System rocket and the Orion spacecraft (both built to transport astronauts to deep space) by 2022, followed by Americans around the moon in 2023.

Additionally, it would allow the agency to begin working on the foundation of a Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway, to "give us a strategic presence in the lunar vicinity that will drive our activity with commercial and international partners and help us further explore the moon and its resources and translate that experience toward human missions to Mars."

The budget still must be approved by Congress.

Alex Stuckey covers NASA and the environment for the Houston Chronicle. You can reach her at alex.stuckey@chron.com or Twitter.com/alexdstuckey.
AUSTIN  Gov. Greg Abbott has asked his office to immediately evaluate the safety of Texas schools to determine what more the state could do to protect students in wake of last week's mass shooting at a Florida high school.

"It's clear that the status quo is unacceptable," Abbott told reporters after early voting in Austin Tuesday. "Everybody in every state must take action to make sure, at a minimum, that we do all we can to secure the safety of students at schools, but also to ensure the safety of our communities."

He refused to answer whether semi-automatic weapons  like the AR-15 used in the Parkland, Florida school shooting  should remain legal. He said he wants to ensure that people who are supposed to be barred from buy guns are unable to do so, and said officials needs to focus mental health.

Last week's massacre at the Florida high school has reinvigorated a national call to action on gun regulations. Students there have staged walk out and are organizing a "March for Our Lives" in Washington and nationwide March 24 to demand stricter gun restrictions.

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump ordered the Justice Department to draft a regulations to ban "bump stocks," devises that turn semi-automatic guns into automatic weapons. A so-called "bump stock" was used by the shooter perched in a Las Vegas high-rise and opened fire on a crowd attending a country music festival in October.

Abbott's office said staff is working on initial plans for evaluating the safety of Texas schools and said the office will go public with details in the coming days or weeks.

BACKGROUND CHECKS: Trump interested in Cornyn's push to restart talks about background checks

Following the mass shooting at a Connecticut elementary school in 2012, Abbott, who then was the Texas attorney general, ordered a review of school safety plans. His office found that 78 schools districts had not updated or submitted safety plans as required by law.

But state law offered Abbott no recourse to go after districts that were out of compliance.

The Texas Education Agency said state law governs what districts need to adopt in their safety plans, but the governance and adoption of those plans is done at the local level.

"A district with 20 students will have different needs from a district with 200,000 students," TEA spokeswoman Lauren Callahan said.

The law requires school campuses to conduct emergency drills.

In the wake of the Florida shooting, the Houston ISD police department said it holds annual training for its officers, which includes how to respond to an active shooter situation as quickly as possible.

Officials said they have acquired more tactical and safety equipment to respond to such events.

Abbott told reporters Tuesday said he wants Congress to strengthen requirements that incidents that would disqualify a person from buying a gun are reported to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

That's the same idea U.S. Senator John Cornyn, the No. 2 Republican in the chamber, is pushing. He filed the bill shortly after learning the gunman who killed 26 people attending the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs in November wasn't supposed to be able to legally obtain the rifle he used.

Devin Patrick Kelley had been court-marshaled and thrown out of the U.S. Air Force after assaulting his wife and step-son so severely he fractured the boy's skull. He had also been committed to a mental hospital during his time with the U.S. Air Force.

However, the Air Force failed to report Kelley's court-marshal into the national database that would have blocked him from buying firearms.

SUTHERLAND SPRINGS: Church shooter threatened military superiors, had 'mental disorders,' police report says

Since then, the U.S. military added some 4,5000 dishonorable discharges to the NICS database, effectively blocking those people from buying firearms in the future.

Cornyn filed a bill incentivizing federal agencies and states to upload information showing a person is prohibited from possessing a firearm to the background check system. Cornyn met with President Donald Trump to talk about the legislation last week. A statement from the White House Monday said the president was supportive of "efforts to improve the federal background check system."

Abbott said officials also need to find a way to evaluate mental health issues as they concern potential gun violence and empower local law enforcement to respond to red flags from people who could be dangerous to other people.

"Not all mental health issues are going to lead to someone using a gun to harm others," Abbott said, adding officials need to figure out how to distinguish between mental health issues that could lead to gun violence.

Patricia Hardy, a recently retired educator who serves on the Texas Board of Education, said some school districts she's visited do better than others in creating security barriers that would keep intruders out.

"When all of this happened I heard conservative talk people saying we need to have a program similar to TSA to guard our schools. What a joke that would be," she said, referencing the Transportation Security Administration that secures airports.

"Do I think that schools are doing enough," she continued. "Not sure that is possible to do enough when it comes to safety for the students. I think that in some districts yes and some no."

Andrea Zelinski covers politics for the Houston Chronicle. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook. Send her tips at andrea.zelinski@chron.com.
American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten recently pilloried President Trumps health plan in the Huffington Post: GOP Rewards The Rich, Rips Off The Rest Of Us, she declared. Is Weingarten among the rest of us? The union leader hauled in $472,197 last year.

Weingarten is hardly the only fat-cat teachers union leader. According to the Department of Labor, National Education Association executive director John Stocks bagged $355,721 last year, while NEA president Lily Eskelsen Garcia scraped by on $317,826. At the 2017 California Democratic Party Convention, California Teachers Association president Eric Heins ranted about billionaires without acknowledging his own $317,000 total compensation package. CTA executive director Joe Nunezs compensation is $460,000; associate ED Emma Leheny makes $480,000, and deputy ED Karen Kyhn gets by on $427,000 yearly. New York Citys United Federation of Teachers boss Michael Mulgrew is practically working class by comparison, making $288,000.

Teachers union bosses are obsessed with corporate bogeymen. The Janus v. AFSCME case, if decided in the plaintiffs favor, will free public employees in 22 states from having to pay any money to a union as a condition of employment. The NEA sees the case as a plot by corporate interests to weaken unions. Schools are the centers of our communities, not corporate profit centers, Heins says.

But no one is more willing to invoke the c word than United Teachers of Los Angeles president Alex Caputo-Pearl. The UTLA honcho is on a mission to kill Proposition 13 protections for corporations. In a state aptly called Taxifornia, Proposition 13 is a desperately needed lifeline, limiting property-tax increases for business and individuals. The UTLA has released a barrage of propaganda in an attempt to close the corporate property-tax loophole and level the playing field.

Funny how Caputo-Pearl and other union leaders neglect to point out that teachers unions are themselves de facto corporations, though with a difference: all their incomemoney they get from teachers, voluntarily or otherwiseis tax-free. No teachers unionor any unionpays a penny in taxes. The unions have oodles of spare cash on handand they park a good deal of it with corporations. As teachers union watchdog Mike Antonucci writes, the NEA sinks lots of money into mutual funds, which invest in big corporations, including AT&T, Verizon, Target, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, IBM, Apple, Google, Facebook, Amazon, Comcast, Coca-Cola, Philip Morris, Microsoft, Boeing, JP Morgan Chase, Berkshire Hathaway, and Aramark. The NEA invests in 9 of the 10 richest corporations in the United States, Antonucci says.

So union leaders howl about the rich and how corporations dont pay their fair share in taxes, but they support the biggest corporations with their own untaxed incomeincome that puts many union leaders themselves into the 1 Percent Club.

Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Last November, a deranged 26-year-old man, Devin Patrick Kelley, opened fire on worshipers inside a church in Sutherland, Texas, killing 26. High-casualty mass shootings are tragic in human terms but anomalous statistically, at least in terms of the portion of total U.S. homicides that they represent. The vast majority of murders, which take place disproportionately in Americas low-income and minority neighborhoods, dont get nearly the same attention. The Texas church shooting does have an important point of commonality with the majority of American murders, however: its perpetrator had a troubling criminal record. The deincarceration movement, which would return thousands of convicts to American streets, presents a threat to public safety. Repeat offenders already commit a substantial portion of the nations violent crimeaccording to one study, 53 percent of killers have at least one prior felony conviction. They will be walking the streets in greater numbers if deincarceration advocates have their way.

Consider a few examples. In October 2017, Radee Prince shot and killed three people in Maryland. Prince, it turns out, had 42 prior arrests and 15 prior felony convictions. About a month earlier, a police officer in Yonkers was shot in the face by an 18-year-old assailant not unknown to police. He had recently been sentenced to probation and classified as a youthful offender, despite being caught with an illegal firearm, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, a machete, and brass knuckles. Earlier in 2017, Baltimore police named Cortez Wall, an 18-year-old murder suspect, Public Enemy No. 1. Wall had already been convicted of a gun charge, for which he was on probation. That didnt stop a Maryland judge from releasing him on bail on a drug charge; he had allegedly murdered someone before his release, though police did not yet suspect him. Had bail been denied, Wall would have been in custody when he became the prime suspect in the deadly shooting.

Most recently, on February 13, a Chicago Police Department Commander, Paul Bauer, was shot and killed while off-duty. Bauer was responding to a radio call that he overheard regarding a suspicious-person report in a downtown Chicago office building. The alleged shooter is 44-year-old Shomari Legghette. It should come as no surprise that this was not Legghettes first run-in with the law, Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said at a press conference held the day after Bauers murder. Legghette has an extensive criminal history that includes charges for drugs, armed robbery, and gun possession. Johnson called the tragedy a devastating reminder of repeat gun offenders who are out on the streets of Chicago and need to be held accountable.

Yet proponents of deincarceration want to make it easier for hardened criminals to sidestep prison and roam the streets. The ACLU, an outspoken supporter of bail reform, cheered the fact that, in New Jersey, judges required defendants to post bail in just three of 3,382 cases processed in January 2017. In an article for Time, two scholars at NYUs Brennan Center for Justice criticized harsh sentences, not just for nonviolent drug offenders but also for those committing more serious offenses, calling mass incarceration the greatest moral and racial injustice of our time. Citing a report showing that longer sentences do not reduce recidivism more than shorter sentences, the authors called for the immediate release of nearly 40 percent of Americas prison population.

Do crime statistics support the claim that such a high percentage of Americas prison population wouldnt pose a danger to the publicparticularly in high-crime neighborhoods of cities like Chicago, which have driven a national increase in violent crime rates? To answer this question, I consulted Chicago Police Department records of the last 200 people arrested for actual or attempted first-degree murder, as of November 21, 2017. That someone has been arrested does not mean that he is guilty, of course, though arrests suggest probable cause. I found that an outsize number of the most serious violent crimes were allegedly committed by individuals who used to be, and perhaps should have remained, behind bars. Of the 200 individuals arrested for murder in the period examined, the vast majority were people of color, particularly black males, with previous arrests. The CPD had arrested two-thirds (133) at least once before; the average number of prior CPD arrests was more than two, and some individuals had as many as 20 priors. Seventy-four (37 percent) of the 200 had at least one prior CPD arrest for a violent or weapon-related offense.

These numbers dont include arrests made by agencies other than the CPDsuch as police departments in other states and in neighboring countiesor federal or juvenile arrests. Indeed, for ten of the 200 individuals arrested in the examined time frame, the first listed arrest is for violation of parole conditions, or for possession of a weapon as a felonmeaning that those individuals had been convicted of felonies not listed by the CPD, likely because the offenses occurred in another jurisdiction or before the individuals were legal adults.

According to a recent University of Chicago study, of those arrested for a homicide or shooting in Chicago in 2015 and 2016, around 90 percent had at least one prior arrest, approximately 50 percent had a prior arrest for a violent crime specifically, and almost 40 percent had a prior gun arrest. On average, someone arrested for a homicide or shooting had nearly 12 prior arrests, with almost 45 percent having had more than 10 prior arrests, and almost 20 percent having had more than 20 prior arrests.

The CPDs 2011 report on murders in Chicago found that over 87 percent of suspects arrested for murder that year had prior arrest histories. That proportion remains consistent, going back at least 20 years. And the trend isnt limited to Chicago. In a study of the 75 most populous American counties, conducted from 1990 to 2002, the DOJs Bureau of Justice Statistics found that more than half of murderers (53%) had a [felony] conviction record.

These numbers belie the notion that the criminal-justice system in cities like Chicago is systematically denying people of color second chancesa potent talking point for deincarceration advocates. Fifteen percent of the 200 suspects whose records I examined had at least five prior arrests before they were arrested for murder. Further, these numbers seriouslyif not whollyundermine the claim that the public does not benefit from the incapacitation of violent or chronic criminals.

The data confirm that the most serious crimes are mostly committed by repeat offenders whom the criminal-justice system has failed to obstructsuggesting that, at least in some cases, sentencing and pretrial detainment practices are too lenient, not too harsh. Yet deincarceration supporters remain committed to putting dangerous individuals from correctional facilities back on public streets. To imagine that this will have no public-safety ramifications is folly.

Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images
The chief executives of four umbrella bodies have written to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee to express concerns about the process of appointing the new chair of the Charity Commission.

A letter signed by the chief executives of Acevo, Bond, Navca, the Charity Finance Group and the Directory of Social Change raises concerns about the process and ask the committee what steps it is taking to ensure that the appointment has been made in line with the governance code on public appointments.

The minister for civil society, Tracey Crouch, has said in Parliament that correct process was followed, in response to questions from the Labour MP, Jon Trickett.

Earlier today the former chief executive of the Charity Commission, Andrew Hind, published an open letter to the chair of the committee, which is due to hold a pre-appointment hearing with Baroness Stowell, the governments preferred candidate, this morning.

Stowell is a former leader of the Conservative Party in the House of Commons and has said she will stand down from the Conservative Party and sit as an independent peer if her appointment is confirmed.

The letter was sent to the committee on 9 February. The signatories have decided not to make the full content of the letter public.

Vicky Browning, chief executive of Acevo, said: We would like to emphasise that our concerns about this appointment are not personal and we will work constructively with whichever candidate holds the post of chair of the Charity Commission.



However, an effective Charity Commission is essential to the ability of charities to deliver their work for the benefit of the public. To be effective, it must equally have the trust and confidence of the public, the state and the sector it regulates. It is therefore only right that we seek further information and assurance about our concerns.

NCVO has previously called for reform of the process, and in 2015 published a number of proposals to give Parliament, rather than the government, a greater say in the process. It is not a signatory to the joint letter, but has sent the committee a briefing ahead of tomorrows meeting.

For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector sign up to receive the Civil Society News daily bulletin here.




MPs today raised concerns over whether the government's preferred candidate has enough sector experience to be the next chair of the Charity Commission.

Baroness Stowell appeared before the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee this morning for a pre-appointment hearing.

A number of MPs questioned whether her previous role in government meant she could be truly independent. Stowell is a Conservative peer and former leader of the in the House of Lords. She has also worked in senior civil service and BBC roles.

Damian Collins, the Conservative chair of the committee - which is made up of five Tories, five Labour and one SNP MP - referred to concerns raised by Andrew Hind, former Commission chief executive, and sector bodies in recent weeks.

Hind recently wrote an article for Civil Society News questioning whether the appointment process is working, and wrote an open letter to the committee underlining his concerns. Leaders from Acevo, Bond, Charity Finance Group, Navca and the Directory of Social Change also wrote a joint letter to the committee setting out concerns about the process, although NCVO has not expressed concerns.

Collins said that Stowell is "open to the charge that your experience doesn't give you that level of insight".

Rebecca Powell, Conservative, said she thought a "little more experience" of regulation might have been "helpful".

Jo Stevens, Labour, pressed Stowell on how many charity board meetings she has attended since becoming a trustee of Crimestoppers last year and the Transformation Trust in January.

"How do you think your attendance at three board meetings of two small charities makes you suitable?" she said.

Stevens also raised the issue of her voting record during her time as a Conservative peer on issues such as welfare cuts, which charities have campaigned against, and said: "How will charities feel confident of your record."

Julie Elliott, Labour, said that some of the things she had voted for had been "catastrophic" for the beneficiaries of some charities.

Brendon O'Hara, Scottish National Party, asked if "this is just another party political appointment" and if she was worried by the "disappointment" expressed by people in the sector.

'I'm a veteran outsider'

But Stowell said her lack of experience was not necessarily a bad thing, and that she could bring a "fresh perspective". She said she had not presented herself as someone with vast charity experience, but that she brought other skills to the table.

She said that throughout her career she has been a "veteran outsider" and highlighted her work taking the equal marriage bill through Parliament despite opposition from within her own party. She also stressed that her intention to resign the party whip if appointed was her idea and that she is committed to being "independent".

"During my time as chair I would be very careful to be absolutely independent," she said.

She said she would work with others in the sector and that her experience at the BBC and in politics means she thinks she has the skills to address the challenge the sector faces when it comes to the decline in public trust.

Stowell said she had spoken to people within the sector who did not think her involvement in politics should be a barrier and that she was committed, if appointed, to "representing the public interest".

She said it was "completely not the case" that she had sought to join charity boards in the past few months to pad out her CV and that she had found out about the position from an email alert about public appointments.

She was announced as the government's preferred candidate at the end of January and the pre-appointment hearing is an opportunity for the committee of MPs that scrutinises the regulator to question the candidate.

Committees cannot veto a candidate, but the committee can produce a positive or a negative report, and will have the opportunity to express any concerns to the minister.

The culture secretary, Matthew Hancock, will then decide whether to confirm the appointment.

William Shawcross, the current chair of the regulator, has had his term extended until Friday.
The massacre of 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, has stuck at the top of the news cycle for almost a week now, thanks in no small part to the inspiring activism of many of its survivors. Only one story rivaled its dominance over the weekend: Robert Muellers dramatic handing down Friday of indictments charging 13 Russians and three companies with conspiracy to subvert the 2016 election, most notably via social media.

ICYMI: She identified herself as a reporter. He then walked behind her and punched her in the side of the head

On the face of it, the Parkland and Russia stories have little in common, but they became intertwined over the weekend. As CNNs Oliver Darcy and Hadas Gold noted, the dual ParklandRussia narrative swelled through anti-FBI screeds in the far-right mediasphere, before the president gave it a megaphonetweeting that the FBI hadnt stopped the Parkland massacre because they are spending too much time trying to prove Russian collusion with the Trump campaign. The Gateway Pundit plumbed a foul new low in this genre on Monday, smearing one particularly vocal and articulate Parkland studentDavid Hogg, whose dad used to work for the FBIas a planted anti-Trump pawn.

The lines dividing these stories further blurred in a jarring New York Times story on Monday night. Scarcely an hour after the Parkland shooting last Wednesday, Twitter bots tied to Russia seized on a fresh opportunity to aggravate divisions on social media. Using hashtags like #guncontrolnow and #gunreformnow, the accounts attempted to use a raw, ongoing tragedy to turn Americans against one another.

ICYMI: Suddenly, the car jerks back as a fiery explosion rips through the front seats

The tweets reminded Americans that their worldviews differ, at a moment that ought to have united them in horror. The FBI narrative, meanwhile, cast Parkland as a wilful failure of law enforcement priorities, pinning 17 unnecessary murders on the deep state, rather than inadequate gun laws. Both these stories contain clear truthsthe school shooting was a national tragedy that could have been prevented, and Russia is actively working to undermine American democracy. By tying them together with a whiff of conspiracy, these truths become muddied. And those who would avoid accountability, be it for their firearms stance or for the alliances they make during an election campaign, benefit.

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Below, further reading on the two stories still driving the news cycle:

Regulating a savage market: In a column for The Guardian on Facebook and friends struggle to moderate quickfire content at scale, Emily Bell writes that both Parkland and the Mueller indictments centered on the use of social media as a platform to spread chaos and undermine security.

In a column for on Facebook and friends struggle to moderate quickfire content at scale, Emily Bell writes that both Parkland and the Mueller indictments centered on the use of social media as a platform to spread chaos and undermine security. Flak attack: For CJR, Todd Gitlin urges the media to see through self-interested right-wing efforts to discredit the Russia investigation by bombardment. The point of flak is not to win the war. The point of flak is to distract the pilot, he writes.

For CJR, Todd Gitlin urges the media to see through self-interested right-wing efforts to discredit the Russia investigation by bombardment. The point of flak is not to win the war. The point of flak is to distract the pilot, he writes. License to brainwash: The Times s Neil MacFarquhar spoke to former employees of the now-notorious Internet Research Agency troll farm. One described the work as like turning people into zombies.

The s Neil MacFarquhar spoke to former employees of the now-notorious Internet Research Agency troll farm. One described the work as like turning people into zombies. A delicate task: The Guardians Oliver Laughland spoke for a second time with the father of a Parkland survivor after he reached out to clarify apparently pro-gun quotes he gave in the aftermath of the shooting. Laughland reflects on whether it was fair to ask tough questions in a moment of intense pressure and shock.

The Guardians Oliver Laughland spoke for a second time with the father of a Parkland survivor after he reached out to clarify apparently pro-gun quotes he gave in the aftermath of the shooting. Laughland reflects on whether it was fair to ask tough questions in a moment of intense pressure and shock. An urgent appeal: The Times opinion section over the weekend featured this moving article by Parkland student Christine Yared, who used the platform to demand a conversation on tightening gun laws. Her classmates are planning to march on Washington next month.

The opinion section over the weekend featured this moving article by Parkland student Christine Yared, who used the platform to demand a conversation on tightening gun laws. Her classmates are planning to march on Washington next month. The greater tragedy: For CJR, Meg Kissinger says the Florida shooting should be a rallying point for another type of reporting: the neglected mental health beat.

Other notable stories

For the Times , Ben Sisario looks at why the #MeToo reckoning has had particularly sharp consequences for public radio, felling stars like John Hockenberry, Garrison Keillor, and, last week, Tom Ashbrook. The relationships that people have with the presenters and reporters on NPR feel very personal, former NPR CEO Vivian Schiller told him. The potential for backlash is that much greater if you feel that you have been betrayed.

, Ben Sisario looks at why the #MeToo reckoning has had particularly sharp consequences for public radio, felling stars like John Hockenberry, Garrison Keillor, and, last week, Tom Ashbrook. The relationships that people have with the presenters and reporters on NPR feel very personal, former NPR CEO Vivian Schiller told him. The potential for backlash is that much greater if you feel that you have been betrayed. The Times s Steven Lee Myers and French photographer Gilles Sabrie spent 17 hours in the custody of Chinese police as they tried to report on the Tibetan New Year. China is a country that exudes confidence in its rising place on the world stageand yet its officials belie that confidence with their hypersensitivity to what a foreign correspondent might encounter traveling untethered, and thus uncensored, Myers writes.

s Steven Lee Myers and French photographer Gilles Sabrie spent 17 hours in the custody of Chinese police as they tried to report on the Tibetan New Year. China is a country that exudes confidence in its rising place on the world stageand yet its officials belie that confidence with their hypersensitivity to what a foreign correspondent might encounter traveling untethered, and thus uncensored, Myers writes. Fox News is launching a new subscription streaming service, Fox Nation, with hours of original content. The network framed the service as a gift to superfansnot a sop to cord-cutters.

Facebook is handing a trove of its users data to a team of researchers studying economic inequality in America. In the latest print issue of CJR, Mathew Ingram nailed the backdrop to this type of move: Facebook is like a band of revolutionaries who dont know what to do once they manage to topple the dictator and actually become the government.

Also in our print issue, I looked at the dangerous work of Americas newspaper carriers. Twenty-three have been murdered or violently killed on the job since 1992more than twice the number of journalists killed on US soil in the same period.

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
Assaulted by Antifa

On August 27, freelance reporter Dave Minsky was on assignment in Berkeley, California, covering a planned white nationalist demonstration and counterprotest. When the white nationalist demonstration was aborted, peaceful anti-fascist protesters celebrated in Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park. As Minskywho has written for Reuters, Vice, the Miami New Times and the Santa Barbara News-Presslivestreamed the demonstration in the park, one masked protester approached him and tried to grab his phone. As Minsky backed up, he tripped and other masked protesters began beating him while he lay on the ground.

Two, three people started trying to grab my phones out of my hands, grab the [camera] off my neck, he says. They were hitting me in the face and kicking me in the face and the torso, in the ribs and more people joined inyou know, I think at this point there were four, five, maybe six people.

Related: She identified herself as a reporter. He then walked behind her and punched her in the side of the head

He says he tried to flee the area, but a small group of protesters pursued him, shouting that he was a Nazi. One woman hit him in the ribs with a metal monopod. The protesters also took his reporters notebook, one of his two iPhones, and his DSLR camera lens.

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Two Oakland police officers eventually escorted Minsky away from the melee and took him to an ambulance. Minsky says he refused medical attention because he does not have health insurance. He later experienced trouble breathing and sharp pains in his chest, possible signs of a broken rib.

Peter Sterne

Detained at the border

Shortly before crossing the USCanadian border on September 4, In These Times senior editor Terry J. Allen took photos of buildings and vehicle congestion near the Highgate Springs Station border crossing that connects Quebec and Vermont. When she arrived at the border checkpoint, a half hour or so after taking the photos, US Customs and Border Protection stopped her and asked whether she had photographed the border crossing. Allen said she had and that she was a journalist who had photographed border checkpoints in the past. The CBP agent ordered her to delete the photos from her camera.

Look, you dont have the right to demand this, but, here, Ill delete the SD card in my camera, she said.

When the CBP officer ordered her to hand over her phone, she refused. Her passport was confiscated, and she was briefly detained. After an interview with a CBP supervisor, who told her photography was strictly prohibited, her passport was returned, and she was allowed to enter the United States.

Despite what the CBP supervisor told Allen, the federal regulations that generally prohibit taking photographs on federal property explicitly allow the photography for news purposes.

Kirk Duval

Assaulted at a Trump rally

When OC Weekly photographers Julie Leopo and Brian Feinzimer, and intern Frank Tristan, covered a pro-Trump rally in Huntington Beach, California, they encountered a tense situation.

Just as I was about to click the shutter on my camera, I looked up and locked eyes with a white woman carrying a flag, Leopo wrote in an OC Weekly article about the incident. Out of all the people in the crowd, she glared at me. Her stare was cold, angry, and taunting. She smirked and walked toward me . . . . The pro-Trump woman began to hit my camera and arm with her American flag. I yelled STOP! and held out my arm.

After the woman started to hit Leopo, another pro-Trump protester violently shoved Feinzimer and then punched Tristan when he stepped in to protect his colleagues. OC Weekly editor Gustavo Arellano said his reporters flagged down a police officer after the attack and asked to file a police report, but were ignored.

My photographers and intern were just trying to do their jobs, he said in a statement. For that, they got harassed by Trump supporters, then shoved and punched when they tried to defend each other.

Kirk Duval

Detained at Standing Rock

Starting in December 2016, independent journalist Jenni Monet reported full-time on the Water Protector movement fighting the planned Dakota Access Pipeline at the Standing Rock reservation in North Dakota. Moneta member of the Laguna Pueblo nation who has written for The Center for Investigative Reporting, Indian Country Today, and Yes! Magazinewas detained by police for trespassing on February 1, after covering a water protector demonstration. Monet said she told the officers she was a journalist and showed them her press pass, but they still arrested her.

Related: One dangerous year

Writing in Indian Country Today, Monet reported that she was denied a phone call to her attorney for 25 hours after her arrest and was detained for more than 30 hours before finally being released. She also wrote she and other non-white detainees were subjected to strip searches that their white counterparts were not.

Monet was one of a number of journalists arrested while reporting at Standing Rock in 2017. Others include freelance reporter Jenifer Stum, filmmaker Jahnny Lee, photojournalists Tonita Cervantes and Tracie Williams, and Mic reporter Jack Smith IV. While charges against Smith were dropped in December, the other fiveMonet, Stum, Lee, Cervantes, and Williamsstill face criminal charges of trespassing and engaging in a riot. They will go to trial in 2018.

Peter Sterne and Stephanie Sugars

Source jailed without bail

On June 5, The Intercept published an article about Russian attempts to hack American voting software companies. The article was based on a classified NSA report that an anonymous source had leaked to the news organization.

Two days earlier, the FBI raided the house of Reality Winner, a 26-year-old NSA contractor, who had been arrested and accused of sending the classified report to a news organization. The Department of Justice announced Winners arrest on June 5the same day The Intercept published its articleand said she had voluntarily confessed to FBI agents that she had leaked the classified NSA report to The Intercept. Winner later said the armed FBI agents who raided her house never read her Miranda rights before eliciting her confession.

Winner was charged under the Espionage Acta 1917 law originally intended to criminalize spying for foreign powers, which more recently has been used against journalists sources. In a pre-trial brief filed by the government, federal prosecutors argued it was irrelevant whether Winners leak actually harmed US national security or whether that was even her intent: Under the Espionage Act, merely giving information to a reporter could be enough to land a source in prison.

Winner has been held without bail since she was taken into custody in June, and a federal judge has twice denied her requests for bail. She is scheduled to go on trial in March 2018.

Peter Sterne

Assaulted by a congressman

On May 24, the day before a special congressional election in Montana, Guardian US reporter Ben Jacobs attempted to interview Republican candidate Greg Gianforte at his campaign headquarters in Bozeman. But as Jacobs asked the candidate about healthcare policy, Gianforte grabbed Jacobs by the neck with both hands and slammed him into the ground behind him, a Fox News reporter who witnessed the attack later wrote. [We] watched in disbelief as Gianforte then began punching the reporter. As Gianforte moved on top of Jacobs, he began yelling something to the effect of, Im sick and tired of this!

Despite this eyewitness account, Gianforte initially told police officers that Jacobs had been the aggressor, and a spokesman for his campaign released a statement blaming Jacobs for the assault.

The next day, Gianforte won the special election. In his victory speech, he apologized to Jacobs. On June 7, as part of a settlement with Jacobs, he agreed to donate $50,000 to the Committee to Protect Journalists and released a public apology, Notwithstanding anyones statements to the contrary, you did not initiate any physical contact with me, and I had no right to assault you. Five days later, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault. He was sentenced to community service and anger management classes but no jail time. He has already filed for reelection in 2018.

Peter Sterne

Presidential prosecution

During an Oval Office meeting in February, President Trump discussed with James Comey, then the FBI director, the possibility of prosecuting journalists for reporting on classified information. Trump began the discussion by condemning leaks to the news media, saying that Mr. Comey should consider putting reporters in prison for publishing classified information, according to one of Mr. Comeys associates, The New York Times reported in May.

Trending: Billionaires gone wild

Comey does not appear to have objected to Trumps desire to jail journalists. Heres how he described the meeting in written testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee: The President then made a long series of comments about the problem with leaks of classified informationa concern I shared and still share.

No journalist has ever been convicted of a crime for publishing classified information. The Obama administration successfully prosecuted more than half a dozen people who shared classified information with journalists, but stopped short of prosecuting the journalists who published articles based on that information.

Peter Sterne

Access denied at Camp Lejeune

When James LaPorta, a Marine Corps veteran and freelance journalist, tried to investigate sexual assault allegations against Marine Colonel Daniel Wilson at the Camp Lejeune base in North Carolina, the Marine Corps banned him from entering the base. In the course of his reporting, LaPorta interviewed a woman living on the base who claimed Wilson raped her, and visited Wilson in the brig.

LaPorta later received a letter from the deputy commander of Camp Lejeune, informing him that he had violated military regulations by failing to secure permission from the public affairs office before conducting interviews on the base. Based upon the serious nature of your misconduct, you are being debarred from [Camp Lejeune], the letter reads. I have determined that your presence aboard [Camp Lejeune] is detrimental to the security, good order and discipline of the Installation, it continues. Accordingly, you are hereby notified, upon the receipt of this letter, that you are ordered not to reenter, or be found within the limits of [Camp Lejeune].

Peter Sterne

Arrested at the inauguration

On January 20, as Donald Trump was sworn in as president of the United States, a group of anarchists, anti-fascists, and other demonstrators marched in downtown Washington, DC, in protest of Trump. A number of reporterssome from mainstream news organizations, some independentcovered the demonstrations. A few of the protesters broke windows, though the overwhelming majority remained peaceful. Hours later, DC Metropolitan Police kettled and arrested a group of more than 200 protesters, journalists, and legal observers.

Initially, nine journalists were arrested and charged with rioting, a felony. Federal prosecutors dropped charges against seven of the journalists, but a grand jury indicted the remaining twoindependent photojournalist Alexei Wood and freelance reporter Aaron Cantuon multiple felony counts of rioting, inciting a riot, conspiracy to riot, and destruction of property. In all, those charges carry a combined maximum of more than 60 years in prison. Cantu is scheduled to go to trial in October 2018, but Woods trial started in late November. During the trial, the prosecution argued that Cantu was not a real journalist because he had streamed the protest on Facebook Live and provided narration and opinionated commentary.

Peter Sterne

Arrested in St. Louis

On September 17, hundreds of people marched in downtown St. Louis to protest the acquittal of a white former police officer who had fatally shot a black man. Jon Ziegler, an independent journalist known for covering protests, livestreamed the demonstration on his YouTube channel RebZ.tv.

Around 11pm, large groups of St. Louis metropolitan police officers kettled about a hundred people, surrounding them at a downtown intersection and ordering all of them to lie down on the ground. Ziegler was among those caught in the kettle.

Related: The killing of Gauri Lankesh

He continued livestreaming, capturing footage of officers indiscriminately pepper spraying and violently arresting people. I was drenched in spray, he recalled later. I remember my tripod looking like it had rained on it. As he lay on the ground, he said, one officer sprayed pepper spray directly at his mouth and another officer pushed his head down into the concrete. Ziegler believes that St. Louis police officers specifically targeted him because of his previous reporting on police brutality. He said that a few of the officers repeatedly mockingly referred to him as superstar and that his arresting officer joked that he was his biggest fan and followed all of his reporting. After a night in jail, Ziegler was released on a $50 bond and continued covering the nightly protests. On October 3, he was arrested for a second time. In addition to Ziegler, at least nine reporters were arrested while covering protests in St. Louis during September and October. All were initially cited for trespassing or failure to disperse, but following public outcry, prosecutors declined to pursue charges against any of the journalists.

Peter Sterne

Chilling statement

In testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on October 18, US Attorney General Jeff Sessions refused to say whether the Department of Justice would prosecute journalists for actions related to their work. Will you commit to not putting reporters in jail for doing their jobs? Senator Amy Klobuchar asked him. I dont know that I can make a blanket commitment to that effect, he said. But I would say this: We have not taken any aggressive action against the media at this point. But we have matters that involve the most serious national security issues, that put our country at risk, and we will utilize the authorities that we have, legally and constitutionally, if we have to.

In August, as he announced that the Justice Department is considering changing its internal policies to make it easier to subpoena journalists, Sessions suggested that the government had been too lenient toward reporters who endanger national security. We respect the important role that the press plays, and well give them respect, but it is not unlimited, Sessions said. They cannot place lives at risk with impunity. We must balance the presss role with protecting our national security and the lives of those who serve in the intelligence community, the armed forces, and all law-abiding Americans.

Camille Fassett

Subpoenaed by the DOJ

In January 2016, Oregon Public Broadcasting reporter John Sepulvado interviewed Ryan Bundy, who helped lead the group of anti-government protesters who forcibly occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Later that year, federal prosecutors charged Bundy and others with federal conspiracy and weapons charges, and asked Sepulvado to voluntarily testify at Bundys trial. He refused, and the Department of Justice dropped the issue.

Shortly after Donald Trump was inaugurated as president and Jeff Sessions was sworn in as attorney general, DOJ lawyers subpoenaed Sepulvado. Sessions personally approved the departments decision to request the subpoena, which would force Sepulvado to testify at the trial and turn over unaired portions of his interview with Bundy. Sepulvado refused to cooperate and challenged the subpoena in court.

To violate the trust of my named source, and the audience, by testifying for or against anyone in a criminal trial would erode both my credibility and OPBs, impeding our ability to report freely under the First Amendment, he wrote in a first-person essay published in The Portland Mercury. My unnamed sources are people who have entrusted me to protect their identity no matter what, in exchange for information of importance to the public.

On February 24, 2017, a federal judge in Portland ruled in Sepulvados favor, quashing the subpoena.

Peter Sterne

Trending: The Chicago Readers African-American thing

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Peter Sterne, Kirk Duval, Stephanie Sugars & Camille Fassett work with the US Press Freedom Tracker. Peter Sterne is the project's managing editor.
In early August 1852, the Sacramento Daily Union published a story headlined Fatal DuelDeath of the Hon. E. Gilbert. The article appeared on page two. That a duel did not merit front page treatment is hardly surprising. Newspaper front pages in the mid-19th century were dominated by advertisements for butter, lamp oil, and tooth repair. As news, a dueleven a fatal onewas hardly novel. Back then, if two men were having a dispute it was customary to settle it in an open field, standing back-to-back, then walking an agreed upon number of paces before turning and opening fire.

What does seem novel about this particular duel are the participants: James W. Denver, a decorated war general, and Edward Gilbert, editor of the weekly Alta California who despised corruption. How did these two wind up in a death match? The Daily Union, in reporting the deplorable termination of a duel, didnt shed much light, taking a too-soon approach in describing the dispute. This is not the time or place to speak, the paper wrote. The community has lost a gentlemanly and honorable member.

ICYMI: A school district kept a secret blacklist for decades. A reporter found it.

What happened, it turns out, is what happens every day in journalism: The subject of an article did not like how a piece turned out. Denver took issue with how Gilbert had reported the generals efforts to aid starving and downtrodden immigrants in Carson Valley. The article charged Gen. Denver with negligence and gross mismanagement in the distribution of provisions, according to the California Newspaper Hall of Fame, describing how some of the supplies were sold to Denvers subordinates who pocketed the receipts. To Denver, this was blasphemy.

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So the two men resolved to settle the matter with honor, agreeing to meet at a lush field called Oak Grove. They arrived at sunrise. The weapons selected were Wessons rifles, the Daily Union reported, and the distance forty paces. Gilbert was clumsy. He was not a good shot. Denver had been a soldier. Perhaps the old general felt bad for his rival because after they stepped 40 paces, Denver shot but badly missed Gilbert. To the gathered crowd, this looked intentional. Gilbert missed, too. Technically, the men could have parted ways. But Gilbert insisted they go again. Denver then became angry, the Hall of Fame account continued, and muttered something about not going to stand around all day being shot at.

They reloaded, then stepped off 40 paces again. Mr. Gilbert fell almost instantly, the Daily Union reported, having received the shot of Gen. Denver in the left side just above the hip bone. Gilbert didnt move. Four or five minutes after the occurrence, and without a word or scarcely a groan, his spirit passed from the earth, the Daily Union said. Many a manly tear was shed.

In Gilberts time, and for many decades afterwards, physical attacks on the press werent just acceptable, they were expected.

No doubt these are dangerous times for reporters. Donald Trump has declared war on the media. Supporters at his rallies scold and threaten reporters, in person and through T-shirt slogans. (Rope. Tree. Journalist, one shirt reads. Some assembly required.) And while much of the chatter amounts to empty threats from trolls, there has been violence. In 2016, a Trump campaign staffer grabbed a female reporters arm so tightly that she was bruised. Last year, Montana congressional candidate Greg Gianforte body-slammed a Guardian reporter during tough questioning, an attack the Committee to Protect Journalists said sends an unacceptable signal that physical assault is an appropriate response to unwanted questioning.

At least no one whipped out a gun. In Gilberts time, and for many decades afterwards, physical attacks on the press werent just acceptable, they were expected. Gilberts killer was not arrested. In fact, not long after shooting the editor, Denver was appointed Secretary of State in California. The city of Denver was named after him. The mid-nineteenth-century California community did not see anything abnormal in the circumstances surrounding Gilberts demise, writes historian Ryan Chamberlain in his book, Pistols, Politics and the Press.

It is a point worth reflecting on in our chaotic, mean-spirited moment that the First Amendment has never been a magical forcefield protecting the press, even from violence. Besides duels, journalists over the years have been attacked by angry mobs, kidnapped, beaten, even tarred and feathered. Their homes were egged, presses set on fire, horses stolen. Covering Congress was at times so hazardous that in addition to pencils and notebooks, some reporters carried daggers. The violence wasnt just between journalists and those who didnt like their reporting. Reporters and editors used to fighteven duelamong themselves. (Some still do; see Twitter.)

It may be comforting to know that times have actually been worse for journalists. But re-examining past attacks is also instructive, historians say, because the political, social, and journalistic forces that sparked violence against reporters in the countrys early days can resemble the disputes of today. Battles over class, immigration, and the countrys place in the world get at the core principles of America. News sites like Breitbart News and HuffPost are akin to the 19th-century partisan press. And social media acts as kindling just as the telegraph did a century ago, quickly and widely spreading controversy.

ICYMI: A newsroom was told by management to run a vile editorial. Staffers made a bold move.

In a sense, people say that the current media situation is reminiscent of the highly partisan journalism of the 19th century, says John Nerone, a University of Illinois journalism professor. And what you see reappearing are some of the forms of violence associated with that 19th-century journalism.

Nerone, in his book Violence Against the Press: Policing the Public Sphere in U.S. History, writes that physical attacks on the press have been common enough to become part of the mythology of US journalism. Mark Twain, in Journalism in Tennessee, one of his less well-known short stories, describes errant shots being fired at the editor of a fictional paper called the Morning Glory and Johnson County War-Whoop. The editor returns fire, then goes back to work. A short time later, a grenade is dropped down the newsroom stovepipe. The explosion shivered the stove into a thousand fragments, the narrator says. However, it did no further damage, except that a vagrant piece knocked a couple of my teeth out.

Satire, of course, only works if the details are plausible. The hyperbolic violence that characterizes the daily routine of the chief editor of the War-Whoop is funny, Nerone writes, because it is an exaggeration of the familiar. Nineteenth-century editors were expected to counter violence.

Physical attacks on the press have been common enough to become part of the mythology of US journalism.

Before Twain, around the time of the American Revolution, newspapers served the function of a town meeting. The purpose of the paper was to allow citizens irrespective of class or party to communicate freely and deliberate rationally, Nerone writes. Of course, not all opinions were equally valued by all parties, particularly those with any whiff of support for the British. Publishers and printers let authors write anonymouslyoften under silly pseudonymsto encourage lively debate, which sold more papers. (This is somewhat analogous to todays reporters granting anonymity to let sources speak freely on controversial topics.)

Those impugned in print were prone to violent retaliation, if they could get the authors name. This often put printers on the wrong end of a club. Nerone writes of William Goddard, the forgotten newspaperman who ran the Pennsylvania Chronicle, along with a less forgettable character of historyBenjamin Franklin. In 1767, the paper ran a letter signed by Lex Talionis, Latin for retaliation. The target of this letter, a Mr. Hicks, approached Goddard a few days later at a tavern, but Goddard wouldnt give up Lexs identity.

I was immediately surrounded by a number of persons unknown to me, with Mr. Hicks at their head, who became grossly abusive, and treated me with great insolence, Goddard wrote in his own paper. He repeated the designs he had formed to break my bones, and that he had prepared a suitable weapon for his purpose. Hicks walked away. Goddard thought it was over and he went on drinking. But it was not. A friend of Hicks approached him to express his own displeasure with the letter, ordering him to leave. I told him I had as much business there as himself, Goddard wrote, and refused to be turnd out of doors. Without further ceremony, he struck me.

Such attacks were daily events, as reliable as early-morning Trump tweets. They persisted in part because there was no discernible infrastructuresocial or governmentalto prevent them. If a man was wronged or publicly insulted, he was obligated, out of a sense of honor, to retaliate. It would be hard to overstate the importance of personal honor to an eighteenth-century gentleman, Yale historian Joanne B. Freeman writes in Affairs of Honor: National Politics in the New Republic. Honor was the core of a mans identity, his sense of self, his manhood. A man without honor was no man at all.

Violence against the press escalated both in frequency and viciousness as the stakes increased, particularly during the Civil War, and Reconstruction. The press had First Amendment rights, but this was before the honor culture abated and court rulings solidified the press freedoms in place today. Freedom was understood as a middle ground between tyranny (no freedom) and licentiousness (too much freedom), Nerone writes in a 1998 collection of scholarly essays.

Anti-abolitionists were particularly dangerous. Nerone cataloged more than 100 mob attacks against papers that supported abolishing slavery, the most infamous of which was the attack on Elijah Lovejoy in 1837. The minister-turned-newspaper man was killed in a gun battle with anti-abolitionists. At the Newseum in Washington, DC, on a memorial to slain journalists, Lovejoys name is listed first. There were dozens of other less high-profile attacks. Newspaper buildings were set on fire. Editors were egged and attacked physically by ideological opponents, as well as in print by other papers. A 1987 scholarly paper that analyzed coverage of attacks against abolitionist newspapers found that the papers with the most demonstrable ties to established parties ignored freedom of the press issues and fervently blamed and opposed the abolitionist editors.

During the Civil War, more than a hundred papers in the north were mobbed, egged, or set on fire. The attacks were led either officially or unofficially by Union troops upset over criticism of battlefield strategy, anger at any sign of sympathy for the South, or out of fear that reporters were disclosing too much information about internal politics and decision-making. General William Tecumseh Sherman held the most extreme hatred toward the press. Napoleon himself, he once said, would have been defeated with a free press. Nerone fact-checked Shermans bold assertion in a rather hilarious footnote: Oddly, Napoleon was defeated without a free press.

Journalists didnt fold easily. If their presses were burned, they didnt walk awaythey would find other printers, open new newsrooms, and go right back to reporting the news. They also found clever ways of dealing with bullies, particularly those in government who threatened them with violence. A classic example is how two reporters from the Congressional Globe dealt with Representative Waddy Thompson of South Carolina.

Thompson was a real rascal. He owned slave plantations and opposed just about everything in the North. Thompson also had a temper and the physical capacity to intimidate. One account described him like this: Thompson, whose physique was alarming, and whose spirit was thought to be like that of fiery hotspur. In the winter of 1839, Thompson become upset with Globe reporters Lund Washington, Jr. and William W. Curran. According to an account in the annual report of the National Shorthand Reporters Association, the reporters had failed to give him a larger space in the proceedings than his calibre merited. Thompsons recourse: He made a tongue attack upon them in the House, and was prepared to attack them with arms elsewhere.

The reporters armed themselves for self-defense. Mr. Washington, a gentleman of much strength, carried with him a heavy bludgeon into the reporters box, the shorthand association account said. Mr. Curran was provided with a dagger or knife, sharpened especially for use. Nobody came to blows. Though the reporters were prepared to stab and beat the congressman, they settled on a more passive-aggressive response. No matter what Waddy Thompson said in debate, the reporters made no note of it, according to the association. They treated him as a blank. This brought the South Carolinian to terms. He made an open apology to the reporters, with the effect of restoring peace. The power of the press, at least back then, included the power to make an egotistical nitwit disappear.

Still, violent attacks continued well into the Civil War. But in many ways, the wars end also marked the end of routine violence against the press. For one, the war brought stable governments to many cities and towns, with laws, policing, and town halls that normalized sensible, nonviolent political debate. Also, according to Nerone, the ensuing years gave rise to a more professional press, particularly as industrialization took hold. Newspapers became viable, even lucrative businesses. To attract the broadest possible audience for advertisers, newspapers dropped their highly partisan postures.

Into the 20th century, news outlets targeting minority readers were sometimes subjected to violence. So were labor reporters. However, as newspapers competed with each other for scoops, and as radio and TV news came on strong, the freedom of the press we think of today took shape. Court decisions no doubt cemented this culture, particularly the Supreme Courts 1971 decision in the Pentagon Papers case. The press now had real institutional and agenda- setting power, the bedrock of which was objectivity, taste, and fairness.

Then the internet came along. For a while, media scholars saw this as a public good. Big corporations no longer had a monopoly on the free flow of information. New voices could be heard. But as the internet ate up the mainstream press, what emerged, historians and other scholars say, were volatile, partisan voices similar to the partisan press of Mark Twains time. Partisan outlets have become as dominant as the objective mainstream outlets of yore, if not more so. The ability of the press to set the public agendapublishing nuanced, non-inflammatory contenthas become hacked, Nerone says. And not just by partisan US outlets. Foreign powers, like Russia, have found a way into the conversation with fake, inflammatory news posted to social networks. The president himself has referred to reporters as enemies of the state.

Lets remember what happened last May in Montana. Greg Gianforte, the Republican then running for the House of Representatives, was confronted by a Guardian US reporter with tough questions about health care. The topic isnt slavery, yet as divisiveness goes, its just about the most controversial subject in the United States. In what realm is Gianfortes responseto body-slam the reportereven remotely expected? In Waddy Thompsons day, perhaps. But if history truly does repeat itself, if the conditions of discourse in the United States appear even remotely similar to Thompsons day, then maybe Gianfortes response isnt shocking after all. A commenter on the Washington Post article describing the body slam wrote this: Journalists who dont toe the party line need to get punished.

ICYMI: One question that turns courageous journalists into cowards

I am shot!

By Michael Rosenwald

In 1883, with Twitter not yet a viable option for settling scores, the editors of two Richmond newspapers met in an open field to resolve their differences by shooting at each other.

Though duels were the gold standard in those days for defending ones honor, rival journalists typically never went that far, settling for a bop on the nose or a brick through a window.

But those options werent appropriate for the level of animus between Richard F. Beirne, the editor of the Richmond State, and William C. Elan, editor of the Richmond Whig.

Abraham Lincoln had freed the slaves, but civil rights still vexed the country. Newspapers took sides. Long story short: Beirne thought Elans support of blacks in his papers editorials was not genuine. The Whigs retort: We laugh at the States vituperation and vaporing, and beg to remark that not only does the State lie, but its editor and owner lies.

Fighting words.

Beirne, as The New York Times later reported, demanded satisfaction from Elan, putting him on notice for a duel. Representatives for the editors cordially made the arrangements, even agreeing that Elans nearsightedness made it necessary to shorten the standard 10 paces to eight.

The weapons chosen were navy six-shooters, writes Ryan Chamberlain in Pistols, Politics and the Press, the largest of their kind.

The confrontation came as duels were on their way out. Virginia had recently prohibited them. A detective got wind of the plans and showed up at the appointed time on his horse, arresting Beirne. Elan got away.

Both men remained committed to the idea of a shooting each other. The Times, for its part, stoked interest, covering the impending duel as if it were a prize fight.

The excitement over the expected duel between Beirne and Elan has not abated, the paper said. All day anxious inquiries have been made as to where the principals are.

Chamberlain, in his history of violence in journalisms early days, writes that with papers on opposite sides of the civil rights question, the sensational and national coverage of the rival editors started to have broader political implications.

The duelists began to represent more than their personal quarrel, he continues. Because each editor was a strong advocate for his own political party, they began to symbolize opposing political ideals.

Who might be maimed, however, was still of paramount interest to readers.

Finally, after using coded messages, the editors agreed to meet in West Virginia, where dueling was still legal.

Neither had met before that day as they stared at one another from across their marks, Chamberlain writes. Both editors gripped their pistols and stared at each other in preparation for the first shot.

They fired.

They missed.

The terms of the duel called for a second round.

They fired.

This time, Beirne stood tall.

Elan staggered, then fell to the ground, declaring the obvious: I am shot!

He had been hit in the leg. The wound, even in those days, wasnt enough to kill him. While a doctor examined him, Elan smoked a cigar.

Beirne declared that he was satisfied, Chamberlain writes, tipped his hat to Elan and left in a carriage.

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Michael Rosenwald is a reporter at the Washington Post. He has also written for The New Yorker, Esquire, and The Economist. Follow him on Twitter @mikerosenwald.
The Chicago Reader fired Executive Editor Mark Konkol on Saturday night, 17 days into his tenure.

The news was announced in a statement from Chicago Sun-Times and Reader CEO Edwin Eisendrath. Mark came to the publication bringing great hope for a new direction and a new life to a storied brand, Eisendrath said. Sometimes things dont work out as planned.

ICYMI: One of the most dangerous jobs in journalism is one you might not expect

Konkol, 44, a Pulitzer Prizewinning journalist, pledged to bring a new vibe to the alt-weekly when Eisendrath hired him on January 31. Instead, he developed a reputation for being a bully and a tyrant inside the newsroom. He fired Editor-in-Chief Jake Malooley via phone after Malooley touched down at OHare International Airport returning from his honeymoon. Music Editor Philip Montoro alleged that Konkol shouted me down in meetings, berated me, insulted me, and disrespected and alienated longtime freelance contributors. (Konkol didnt return texts or calls for comment on CJRs story.)

But what ultimately got Konkol fired was the political cartoon he put on the cover of the first issue he oversaw, which was anchored by my two columns about race politics. The cartoon depicts a particularly unflattering caricature of Illinois gubernatorial candidate and Hyatt heir J.B. Pritzker sitting atop a black lawn jockey, on the phone as an FBI agent listens through a wiretap.

Reaction to the cartoon was swift and negative, and I was one of the loudest voices who cried racism, in part because a piece I wrote was among those illustrated by the cover. When I look at that cover it feels like Im that red-lipped lawn jockey and Konkol is the powerful white man on my back.

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And youre his new columnist?

I worked with Konkol during stints at the Sun-Times, which owns the Reader, and later at DNAinfo Chicago. Ive known Konkol since 2011. He and I were always friendly, and although I found him a bit callous he was usually pretty nice to me. He always told me I had a lot of untapped potential as a writer, and encouraged me. Shortly after Konkol took over at the Reader he called me and said he wanted me to be one of the new voices at the paper. My first column lampooned Pritzker for the coded racial language and tone he used in a leaked November 2008 conversation with now-jailed former Governor Rod Blagojevich about the least offensive African-American politician qualified for an appointment to the US Senate Seat vacated by Barack Obama when he was elected to the White House.

Konkol told me I had just written a masterpiece after reading the story. I ended my story on a personal and provocative note, noting how the smug and mocking tone of the Pritzker call made me feel as if one of them was going to laugh at any moment and say, you know how niggers are.

ICYMI: A journalist is approached by a man. He fires a pistol and she collapses.

But on February 9 at about 3:20pm, as Konkol was putting finishing touches on the piece, I watched in horror as he deleted the headline I had written in our shared Google doc, J.B. Pritzkers African American Thing. He replaced my headline with, Uncoding J.B. Pritzker: He Wanted A Nigger Democrats Could Control. Konkol changed that to Uncoding J.B. Pritzker: He Wanted A Nigger In the U.S. Senate The Democratic Machine Could Control. Finally, he landed on Uncoding J.B. Pritzker: He Wanted The Least Offensive Nigger In the U.S. Senate.

At 3:48pm, I left a comment that read: Im not into it, Im sorry. Saying African-American isnt as strong I know but Im not down with this. It doesnt feel right.

Konkol called to try to convince me the headline would be a home run, that though my piece was excellent the headline needed to hit people like a punch in the face. I wasnt moved. He gave me some time to think about it. Instead, I reached out to several local black journalists for advice.

First was my girlfriend, whose house I was typing at that day. Shes a TV and film critic for a New York-based legacy publication, and gave me a quick, Hell no.

Next, I texted a former Ebony magazine editor who serves as a mentor and confidant to other young black journalists I know in Chicago.

That headline is loadedit may also bring unwanted heat to the Reader, she replied.

I texted another media professional who works as a writer and comic in Chicago.

That does not feel right at all. That is clickbait, she said.

I copied the text I sent her and sent it to a close friend who helps run a nonprofit newsroom on the South Side.

Oh my f******* God, he replied. WTFand youre his new columnist?

So I texted Konkol a few minutes later: Im not into it Im sorry. It doesnt feel right. We have to find something else. It feels click baity and it feels inappropriate and its not me. Im sorry.

But Konkol wouldnt let it go. He called me again, this time dragging the Sun-Times into it, which owns the Reader and shares an office with it. He gave me the impression that a Sun-Times editor thought the headline was fine. When I pointed out that the editor was white, like Konkol and most of the newsroom, and re-asserted my dissent, he challenged me to think of a better headline if I didnt like his. But minutes later Konkol called me again. He said I was on speaker phone, and introduced me to a cub reporter he had pulled from the Sun-Times, and whom I happened to already know.

She was a young black woman who Konkol thought might convince me the headline was okay, but once I explained my objection to her she was on my side. Konkol, sounding flustered and a bit angry, ended the call but told me once again to think of a better headlineand soonbecause it was early evening at this point.

Konkol texted me after we got off the phone, What about some reference to slavery? Uncle Tom? House slave?

I ignored the texts.

Soon after the call, the young journalist messaged me on Twitter to apologize. Its cool, I typed, Im just slightly frightened by all this haha its tough being a black writer I guess?

She replied, Yeah, me too. Its definitely unsettling.

At this point it was nearly 5pm. About two hours had passed since Konkol first pressed his headline idea on me. I sent him an email with a slate of potential headlines, and added, These arent perfect but hopefully they can help the brainstorm? And then I called him.

ICYMI: How the non-disclosure agreement became a tool for powerful people to stymie journalists from informing the public

Our next conversation lasted about 16 minutes, according to my call log. Konkol pressed me harder than before to use the headline. He made it seem like I was selling myself short and being too timid, and told me to trust him.

I told him that I saw myself as accountable to the African-American community, and that I feared backlash from my people. I told him the headline felt cheap. I believed the merits of my piece should stand on their own, and that such a sensationalist headline would undercut it. I told him that he was making me uncomfortable given our dynamic. Here I was, a black writer, being pressured by a white editor at a white publication to use a hate-filled word in a headline. It felt like I was being exploited as a black voice and coerced to race bait.

Once I mentioned my discomfort, Konkol grew defensive and even a bit sad because of the implications of what I was saying. He backed off, finally, and settled on this headline: Pritzker, the sneak disser, might as well have said the n-word.

My story was published online to generally favorable reviews. I watched on Facebook and Twitter as praise from my peers and audience poured in. Of course, everybody didnt agree with me and I ruffled some feathers. But I was proud of my work.

My second column, published last Wednesday, addressed the black generational divide in politics, and the unequal partnership that old-guard African-American leaders and voters have with the Democratic Party, which depends on them to put white politicians in power but doesnt always follow through with promises to the black community. There werent any headline issues like with my first column.

Taking a stand

Last Thursday, I awoke to see an article by Konkol on the Reader website titled Pritzkers African American Thingone of my suggested titleswith an image of the cartoon, which was to be the front cover of the Reader for a package on Pritzker including my stories. I texted Konkol and told him I wasnt a fan of the cartoon.

A fat white guy sitting on a lawn jockey eh? That will get an interesting response.

Good cartoon. Satire. Political commentary, he replied.

I told him it was hard to see who was the actual target of the satire.

Some people will see it as actually targeting blacks, not Pritzker or Democratic politics. The black JB supporter or black race reduced to a racially charged inhuman figurine. It sort of screams Uncle Tom! It will grab attention certainly, I texted him.

Race is an uncomfortable issue, was his response.

ICYMI: The New Yorker publishes a salacious Trump scoop

As I read through our text messages I realize I backed into my criticism, saying the artwork was good, and the explanation behind it was valid. I even texted him, Im not that bothered. It hurts to type those words now. Im somebody known among friendsand followersfor calling out racism.

Later that night, I had more conversations with several black journalists in my network and other journalists in the freelance and alt-media scenes who echoed my concerns about the cartoon. Multiple sources inside the Sun-Times and Reader told me Konkols original idea for the cover: J.B. Pritzker in black face. When I told this to the close friend of mine who helps run the South Side newsroom, he encouraged me to take a stand. The next morning I found a copy of the Reader and turned to the page where my sneak disser article lived.

I saw the cartoon Konkol put on the front page was also printed atop my story with the headlinethe headline he had wanted so adamantly to put the n-word in.

It clicked for me.

I knew I had to tell my story and be willing to burn whatever bridges I had with Konkol or the Reader.

I stand by the points made in the text of my @Chicago_Reader articles. But I HATE that cover. Heres why: https://t.co/IWtBIVMVII pic.twitter.com/iZTLC5N6S9  Adeshina Emmanuel (@Public_Ade) February 16, 2018

If I had known my first articles in the Chicago Reader were going into an issue with a black lawn jockey on the front, I would have bailed, I wrote in a Facebook post.

Sure, I wrote, Ill be getting a check, and I gained some followers, but was it worth the humiliation of having my work under that cover? Does that cover really serve my people? I believe my voice as a black millennial man was exploited, used to lend credibility to what ultimately is another example of the type of sneak racism my articles called out. I feel used. It hurts.

Konkol was fired Saturday night after my post and a chorus of complaints from other local journalists, black politicians, and members of the public. But as I tweeted, things like that cover are increasingly likely to happen in settings where there are not black people participating in editorial and production processes who can flag them. Things like what happened to me will continue to happen as long as vulnerable black writers are seen as commodities to gain approval from an underserved black audience.

In my Facebook post I cautioned other writers of color to protect their voices, and to learn from what happened to me.

I hope they do. I dont want any writer to have to feel how I felt.

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Adeshina Emmanuel is a Chicago-based journalist focused on race, class, inequality, social problems, and solutions who has been published in The New York Times, Ebony, Chicago Magazine, and by ATTN.com. He's a former reporter at the Chicago Reporter, Chicago Sun-Times, and DNAinfo Chicago. Follow him on Twitter @Public_Ade.
A Detroit, Mich., construction worker is suing a contractor for alleged discrimination and racism.

Harold Wilson, 63, filed a lawsuit against Hardman Construction Inc. last week, The Detroit News reported .

Wilson alleges the contractor used fake addresses for its suburban workers so the firm could meet a city requirement regarding the makeup of its workforce on the Little Caesars Arena project. Firms with a $3 million contract receiving public funding must have a workforce of at least 51 percent Detroit residents, according to city law.

Wilson had to wait more than two months to be hired. He alleges that he was segregated on the work site  he wasnt allowed to use the same water cooler or put his lunch bucket in the same area as other employees.

He was fired in June 2015 on his second day at work, according to the lawsuit.

All they needed was my Detroit address, and when they got that, they didnt need me, Wilson said. They could then keep my address on the books for a long time.

Few major Detroit developments have met the 51 percent hiring goal in recent years, according to city officials and others in the construction industry. Dozens of contractors who worked on the arena had to pay a total of $2.9 million in fines for not meeting the hiring goal. Hardman paid almost $22,500 for missing the goal for eight months, but their numbers later improved, according to city data.

Hardmans attorneys with law firm Plunkett Cooney said the company denies the allegations of discrimination.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Though states and the federal government remain at odds on marijuana legalization, the drug is gaining traction as a viable treatment in workers comp claims. In a recent discussion with Claims Journal, Brian Allen, vice president of government affairs for Mitchell, and Mark Pew, senior vice president of PRIUM, a division of Genex Services LLC, provided insight on pending workers compensation cases involving medical marijuana reimbursement and on the federal governments recent announcement regarding marijuana enforcement.

According to Pew, most of the states in the U.S have legalized marijuana either in medical or recreational form, while several more are considering marijuana proposals.

In the states that allow medical marijuana, there have been exemptions primarily targeting health insurers who pay for the drug treatment, said Allen.

It creates a bit of a gray area or some ambiguity for workers comp insurers, said Allen.

Some cases that have been adjudicated relate to self-insured employers, he said, that neither fall into the private or workers comp insurer category. Many states have remained silent on the issue of payment by an insurer.

Its still a question in a number of states, he added.

In 2015, the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industries released a ruling allowing medical marijuana coverage under workers compensation.

A lot of court decisions have been driving reimbursement, said Pew, who has been focused on the intersection of chronic pain and appropriate treatment since 2003.

In states where decisions are still pending, like the case of Bourgoin v. Twin Rivers Paper Mill and Sedgwick Claims Management Services, awaiting a decision by the Maine Supreme Court, and Petrini v. Marcus Dairy, Inc. and Gallagher Bassett Service on appeal with the Connecticut Court of Appeals, its likely Courts will rule in favor of the plaintiff, according to Allen, since its clear that doctors could document medical improvement.

The risk of prosecution for paying for medical marijuana treatment was negligible under the previous administration, said Allen, adding that the Controlled Substances Act doesnt contain any specific language outlining an insurer could be prosecuted for reimbursement. He added that state courts are unlikely to defer to federal law, so feds wont get much support in pursuit of prosecution.

Reimbursement for medical marijuana is also being done on a voluntary basis, Pew said, either because it is deemed a reasonable and necessary treatment and also because it is typically cheaper than other treatment options.

The decision is really based on whether that patient is achieving benefit from it, he said.

Some states have laws explicitly stating that an employer or workers compensation insurer is not required to pay for medical marijuana.

Arizona passed legislation that amended its medical marijuana law, emphasizing the Acts language doesnt require a workers comp carrier or self-insured employer to reimburse for medical marijuana treatment costs.

Pew said that those carriers and self-insured employers paying for medical marijuana treatment are not necessarily making it public. Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey and New Mexico are seven states where payment has been publicly documented.

I think any court is probably going to lean towards the anecdotal story of the individual patient and if its helping with their pain and its reasonable and necessary based on the advice of doctors in that state, I would assume that most states are going to come to that same conclusion, said Pew.

According to Allen, courts are reluctant to get in between a doctor-patient relationship.

I think the courts are going to defer to the doctors every time, said Allen.

Opioid Alternative

With so much media attention surrounding overdoses and overprescribing issues related to opioids, both experts opined that marijuana could be an alternative.

The groundwork is there, said Allen, who noted that anecdotal evidence on medical marijuana suggests it may work in some cases. The problem is the drugs side effects are largely unknown.

They talk about the pluses, we really dont hear a lot about the minuses, and we know there are some out there, Allen said, adding that THC may be most problematic aspect of marijuana.

Pew explained that marijuana is the only drug with a self-guided dosage, with no real guidance from a doctor or pharmacist.

Though there are more knowns that unknowns, Pew said hes heard many stories of its benefits.

Marijuana is still illegal at the federal level and is classified as a Schedule I drug under the federal Controlled Substances Act. Last month, the Department of Justice released a memo indicating that marijuana enforcement would be at the discretion of local assistant U.S. Attorneys. Because they are political appointees, Allen doesnt see them going against popular opinion. Its unlikely they would pursue a medical marijuana case, unless there was some egregious abuse.

I dont see any U.S. attorney in any of the states making a conscious decision to prosecute medical marijuana users, said Allen, a former state legislator with more than 25 years of political and government relations experience.

Pew said theres too much money tied to marijuana.

Its a $1.2 billion business in Colorado, he said.

From a financial standpoint, its unlikely there will be any prosecution related to legalized marijuana because cities, municipalities and even some schools have marijuana income outlined in their budgets.

Both said there is a disconnect between the states and the federal government with respect to the laws governing marijuana.

The states are way ahead of Congress on this issue, said Allen.

Before it can be rescheduled, Pew said more research needs to be done since little is known about the many chemicals within marijuana.

Just saying were going to reclassify marijuana or make it legal, its much more complicated, Pew said.
"Respect and listening goes a long way," Piyush Gupta told CNBC's "Life Hacks Live," describing how his first job required him to lead a team of men more than twice his age.

The CEO of Southeast Asia's most valuable company, DBS Bank , pinpointed two characteristics that can make the effort much easier  and they're available to all of us.

Winning colleagues around to your way of thinking can be a challenge, especially when you're the new kid on the block.

Gupta was just 22 years old when he joined Citibank India and was sent to a remote Kolkata branch to manage a team of around 30 clerical staff in their 40s and 50s.

There, he thrived by both respecting and listening to his colleagues, he said.

It was the early 1980s, and labor unions were at their prime in the then-communist state of West Bengal. In other words, employees could have gathered powerful backing if they disliked Gupta's management plans.

"Here I am, this 22-year-old green kid, and I've got to give instructions to these 45-year-old hardened union people and get them to relate to what I thought they should be doing," Gupta said. "The unions were very powerful and used to intimidate the managers both physically and verbally."

Gupta, 58, said he quickly learned he was able to build a rapport and get his colleagues on his side by respecting and listening to them. "By being able to win over people personally, you can then guide them and take them professionally to paths that they otherwise might be reluctant to do."

Gupta, who today runs Southeast Asia's largest bank, described the achievement as a "seminal moment" in his career.

Shortly after, he was put on Citibank's labor relations committee for India. At that time, he was the only 24-year-old working on the management side among a team of 40-year-olds.

"That came from my ability to work with the people and the unions really well at a very early age," he said.

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President Donald Trump said in a Monday evening Twitter post that he supported and endorsed Mitt Romney for his run for a Senate seat.

That came as a surprise to many, as the former Massachusetts governor has been a frequent and harsh critic of Trump, and the now-president has called Romney "a total joke."

Trump tweet: .@MittRomney has announced he is running for the Senate from the wonderful State of Utah. He will make a great Senator and worthy successor to @OrrinHatch, and has my full support and endorsement!

Romney, who announced he would run for Senate in Utah on Friday, expressed his gratitude for the endorsement.

Romney tweet: Thank you Mr. President for the support. I hope that over the course of the campaign I also earn the support and endorsement of the people of Utah.

That acceptance itself was incongruous with what Romney had said in 2016 about Trump's endorsement from the prior presidential election.

Romney tweet: If Trump had said 4 years ago the things he says today about the KKK, Muslims, Mexicans, disabled, I would NOT have accepted his endorsement

The 2012 Republican presidential nominee is fighting criticism that he is an outsider for the Senate seat  he mentioned Utah early and often in a video message announcing his candidacy.

"I have decided to run for United States Senate because I believe I can help bring Utah's values and Utah's lessons to Washington," he said. "Utah is a better model for Washington than Washington is for Utah."

Romney is aiming to replace 83-year-old Sen. Orrin Hatch in November's election. The longtime senator announced his retirement in January even as Trump pushed him to run again.

Romney heavily criticized then-candidate Trump in a 2016 speech, calling him a "phony" and a "fraud." He warned that Trump would cause economic instability and endanger Americans abroad.

Later, Romney unsuccessfully interviewed to be Trump's secretary of State. Since then, he has publicly rebuked Trump when he supported Roy Moore, the Alabama Senate candidate accused of sexually abusing teenagers, and when the president reportedly questioned why the U.S. needed immigrants from "s---hole" African countries.

For his part, Trump has also been critical of Romney, saying in the past that he "choked like a dog" during the 2012 run for the White House, and that he is "a mixed up man who doesn't have a clue."

Some of Trump's criticism of Romney:

Trump tweet: Mitt Romney had his chance to beat a failed president but he choked like a dog. Now he calls me racist-but I am least racist person there is

Trump tweet: Mitt Romney is a mixed up man who doesn't have a clue. No wonder he lost!

Trump tweet: Failed presidential candidate Mitt Romney, the man who "choked" and let us all down, is now endorsing Lyin' Ted Cruz. This is good for me!

Trump tweet: Don't reward Mitt Romney, who let us all down in the last presidential race, by voting for Kasich (who voted for NAFTA, open borders etc.).

Trump tweet: .@MittRomney was a disaster candidate who had no guts and choked! Romney is a total joke, and everyone knows it!

Trump tweet: Mitt Romney, who was one of the dumbest and worst candidates in the history of Republican politics, is now pushing me on tax returns. Dope!

If he wins the seat and criticizes Trump while in office, Romney would mark a stark shift from Hatch. Hatch has heaped praise on the president in recent months, calling him a "heck of a leader" after the GOP passed its tax plan in December. Trump reportedly begged the 83-year old Hatch to run for re-election one more time.

This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.

CNBC's Jacob Pramuk contributed to this report.
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U.S. crude prices rose on Tuesday on signs of inventory declines at a key storage hub and reduced supply from Canada to the United States caused by pipeline reductions. Meanwhile Brent eased under pressure from a stronger dollar. Oil prices hit a near two-week high after data from market intelligence firm Genscape showed inventories at Cushing, Oklahoma, the delivery point for U.S. crude futures fell 2.1 million barrels in the week to Feb. 16, traders who saw the data said. The combination of a new pipeline running from the hub to Memphis, along with reduced flows from TransCanada's Keystone pipeline, have sent stockpiles in Cushing to the lowest in about three years. Flows on Keystone pipeline were decreased after a leak in November.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures ended Tuesday's session up 22 cents at $61.90 a barrel, ahead of the March contract expiration. Prices rallied to a high of $62.74 a barrel early in the session, the highest since Feb. 7. The most active U.S. crude futures contract for delivery in April was up 17 cents at $61.72 a barrel. A strengthening dollar, which hit a six-day high, however, weighed on oil prices. A more robust dollar makes oil and other dollar-denominated commodities more expensive for holders of other currencies. Brent crude futures were down 45 cents from Monday's close at $65.22 a barrel by 2:25 p.m. ET. The divergence in prices kept U.S. crude's discount to Brent near a six-month low after widening to more than $7 in December. Monday's U.S. holiday for Presidents Day also supported WTI's performance compared with Brent, as the U.S. markets caught up with Brent's gains on Monday, said Carsten Fritsch, oil analyst at Commerzbank AG in Frankfurt, Germany. A narrower premium of Brent to WTI means it is less attractive for consumers in northwest Europe to import U.S. crude, especially with refiners conducting maintenance. Premiums for local North Sea grades are at multi-month lows.
President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with state and local officials to unveil his administration's long-awaited infrastructure plan in the State Dining Room at the White House February 12, 2018 in Washington, DC.

President Trump will attend this year's Gridiron Dinner, the exclusive white-tie event hosted by a group he loves to criticize: the media.

The annual dinner, put on by the Gridiron Club and Foundation, will give some of the biggest names in the Washington political journalism world the opportunity to dish it back at him, as part of the tradition is to roast politicians.

And in turn, Trump will be able to crack some jokes of his own.

Since the dinner began in 1885, nearly every president has spoken at the event at some point during their administration. (The only exception: President Grover Cleveland.) President Obama spoke at the dinner three times: 2011, 2013 and 2015.

Last year, Trump skipped the event and instead headed down to Mar-a-Lago. Vice President Pence attended the Gridiron, as did then-White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer and presidential adviser Kellyanne Conway. Pence made jokes at his own expense and called for journalists to "do better."

Trump also skipped last year's White House Correspondents' Association dinner, opting instead to host a rally in Pennsylvania.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said there has been no decision about whether he'll attend the correspondents' dinner this year.
LGBT advocates in front of the U.S. Supreme Court Joshua Roberts | Reuters

Amazon has narrowed the potential host cities for its second headquarters, known as HQ2, down to 20 metro areas that match many of its stated requirements. But there's another way to look at the finalists: More than half of the 20 cities are in states that lack nondiscrimination laws. Eleven cities, to be exact, across nine states that don't have legal protections against firing an employee based on sexual orientation. That has caught the attention of advocates for nondiscrimination laws protecting LGBT citizens. LGBT activist group No Gay? No Way! had a plane fly over Amazon's headquarters in Seattle with a "No Gay? No Way!" banner on Feb. 1. Digital ads ran in Seattle and within the nine states, reading: "Hey, Alexa? Why would Amazon even consider putting HQ2 in a state that discriminates against LGBT people?" A truck carried a mobile billboard around Seattle with this same message.

Finalist cities are refining their pitches based on many of the factors that usually motivate corporations in site selection  economic development opportunities, transportation access and infrastructure, skilled labor force and quality-of-life measurements, like education and real estate costs. But "culture community fit" also is included as a factor in Amazon's decision-making matrix, which consists of eight "key preferences and decision drivers." LGBT advocates are focused on Amazon's history as a progressive company that supports its LGBT employees. The Amazon affinity group Glamazon formed in 1999 as an email list for the company's LGBT community before becoming an official group in 2005. Bezos accepted an Equality Award from the Human Rights Campaign this past November, and the company scored perfect on the HRC's corporate equality index.

The activist group No Gay? No Way! is pressuring Amazon to choose a state with nondiscrimination laws. Source: No Gay? No Way!

The nine states lacking nondiscrimination laws and their 11 finalist metro areas are Florida (Miami), Georgia (Atlanta), Indiana (Indianapolis), North Carolina (Raleigh), Ohio (Columbus), Pennsylvania (Philadelphia and Pittsburgh), Tennessee (Nashville), Texas (Austin and Dallas) and Virginia (Northern Virginia). "They lack comprehensive legal protections for LGBT citizens," said Conor Gaughan, the campaign manager of No Gay? No Way! Although Amazon's history demonstrates it will not discriminate against employees, No Gay? No Way! worries about what will happen when family members look for work. Earlier in February a woman was fired from her job as a Catholic schoolteacher in Miami after her same-sex wedding. The group also worries about employees facing discrimination in other walks of life, such as housing and adopting children.

The blue city in a red-state problem

The cities themselves are progressive. Austin and Pittsburgh, both finalists for HQ2 and located in states without nondiscrimination laws, scored perfect 100s on the HRC's municipal equality index. But mayors in these cities are aware of the state-level issues they must combat. Austin Mayor Steve Adler has faced the challenges of running a socially progressive city in a conservative state since taking office in 2015. "A lot of what we do in the city is fight for local liberty and local control," Adler said. "We fight for the ability of the community to express its values." Adler believes Austin's focus on inclusivity has actually helped the city's economy. Austin's unemployment rate is 1.4 percent lower than the rest of Texas. Adler says the city accounts for 30 percent of the state's patents and has more start-ups per capita than any other city in Texas. He stresses these statistics to state officials when trying to convince them to make Texas more inclusive, and he argues that diversity in cities is good in the same way that diversity in a portfolio is good. Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings told CNBC last month at the United States Conference of Mayors that the broader Texas "red state" reputation is an issue, especially given the tech industry's focus on social tolerance, but he stressed that Dallas is "a blue city in a red state," which has scored 100 on the LGBT Index for the past three years. "There are concerns at the state level, but we are working through that," he told CNBC. This support from cities is not lost on advocates. "Every activist is grateful for friends in these municipalities," Gaughan said. But worries arise about what will happen when LGBT employees leave the safe haven of the city. In North Carolina and Tennessee, state laws actually prohibit cities from enacting their own local nondiscrimination laws.

A lot of what we do in the city is fight for local liberty and local control. Steve Adler mayor of Austin, Texas

The conflict between cities and states puts Amazon in a difficult position. Although the company wants to maintain its progressive image, the need to pick a growing city with great talent persists. An Amazon spokesperson stressed the importance of "culture community fit" in Amazon's consideration for HQ2. The culture community fit section in Amazon's request for proposals reads: "The Project requires a compatible cultural and community environment for its long-term success. This includes the presence and support of a diverse population, excellent institutions of higher education, local government structure and elected officials eager and willing to work with the company, among other attributes." Amazon avoiding a city like Austin or Atlanta could be seen as punishing a city for the sins of the state. The economic impact would mean far more to the progressive cities than it would to the socially conservative states. In fact, some have made the argument that the arrival of Amazon could help flip a state from red to blue in future elections. In Georgia, for example, politicians are already using Amazon's potential to push more progressive laws. "There are pretty significant challenges with being a blue city in a red state," Adler said. But he thinks if Amazon moves HQ2 to Austin, it will help the city's progressive nature spread throughout the state. "Texas is changing over time," Adler said. "A lot of values in Austin are values that are shared in the state but might not take form yet because of the politics." Some LGBT leaders within Georgia and Virginia, agree, saying the No Gay? No Way! campaign is flawed if not outright harmful.

The Human Rights Campaign believes that Amazon can be a powerful agent of positive change but knows the issue is complex. "Employees shouldn't have to worry about day-to-day lives, dry cleaning or apartment hunting," said Sarah Warbelow, the legal director at HRC. "We're certainly hopeful that wherever they locate, they and their employees will continue to advocate for the LGBT community." Other LGBT advocates see the choice in starker terms: Amazon could send a better message and do more good simply by avoiding states without nondiscrimination laws. "No one should be asked to leave a restaurant, rejected for an apartment or mistreated at work because of who they are," Anthony Michael Kreis, a law professor at Chicago-Kent College of Law, wrote in an email to CNBC. He specializes in employment discrimination and the treatment of vulnerable persons. He has consulted on same-sex marriage cases in numerous states, including Georgia. "When the law doesn't provide recourse for that kind of discrimination, people are left out in the cold as second-class citizens," he said. No Gay? No Way! understands Amazon's immense power to change a state's culture. "It is a risk that they could or could not, and it's not a risk that we think is worth taking," Gaughan said. And if Amazon ends up picking a state like Georgia, "our campaign will shift to focus that Amazon does everything in its power to protect its workers." Amazon has stated its intention to choose the HQ2 winning city in 2018.  By Rick Morgan, special to CNBC.com

WATCH: Amazon's new headquarters search down to these 20 cities
Funds in these accounts grow free of taxes and may be used for medical expenses.

Jupiterimages | Photos.com / 360 | Getty Images

If you're 65 and healthy, you may want to check out this Medicare plan, which includes a tax-favored savings account. Say hello to the Medicare medical savings account or MSA. Funds in an MSA accrue interest and free of taxes. Beneficiaries can make tax-free withdrawals provided the money is used for qualified medical costs. Maybe best of all: Medicare seeds the accounts with cash each year. The account is a cousin of the health savings account, which you may know if you have a high-deductible health plan at work. Despite its virtues, the Medicare MSA has a small following. Of about 19 million enrollees in Medicare Advantage, only 5,000 are in programs that use an MSA, according to Gretchen Jacobson, associate director with the Kaiser Family Foundation's program on Medicare policy. "It's a great product if you have a beneficiary who is reasonably healthy and goes to the doctor just a couple times a year," said A.J. Tate, director of Medicare product development at MVP Health Care, in Schenectady, New York.

The marketing is a tough one for seniors who are accustomed to traditional health-care coverage, and never encountered high deductible plans at work. "A Medicare MSA may be advantageous to a sophisticated person with a spreadsheet, but it's a difficult sales pitch," said Rob Pipich, a principal and consulting actuary for Milliman in Wayne, Pennsylvania. "It'll be difficult for these plans to truly catch on in a mainstream way until the population is comfortable with a high deductible plan," he said. It's a conundrum for insurance companies: People can't buy these plans because their availability is limited, and insurers need more members in order to make Medicare MSAs worth the effort. "The insurer will need a fair bit of membership in order to cover the administrative and start-up costs," said Pipich. Here's how Medicare MSAs work.

An introduction

Medicare MSAs came into use in 2007, as a result of the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003. These accounts are intended to be used in tandem with a high-deductible Medicare Advantage plan. Shoppers can compare their options based on deductibles and additional benefits, such as dental or vision care. Though Medicare MSA enrollees generally do not pay premiums aside from what they owe for Medicare Part B, they are expected to pay out-of-pocket expenses until they hit the annual deductible, which will vary by plan.

For MVP Health Care  one of a handful of firms in the country that offer Medicare MSAs  that deductible is $8,000 in 2018. Other providers include Security Health Plan of Wisconsin and Network Health in Menasha, Wisconsin. Not all out-of-pocket costs will count toward your deductible: These must be expenses that are related to Medicare Parts A and B. Also, these plans do not include prescription drug coverage, so you may need to buy a Medicare Part D plan for those costs.

Seeding the MSA

Each year, Medicare will pay a set amount of money to the insurance company that's offering your plan in order to fund your MSA. The amount going into the account is determined by the insurance company through an actuarial calculation. "The amount may change from year to year, but we are required by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to notify members of changes for the next year," said Tate.

Money in a special needs trust can cover supplemental needs not covered by Medicaid and SSI. Uwe Umstaetter | Getty Images

Here's a key difference between the MSA and the HSA you may already have access to at work. Medicare participants aren't permitted to add their own funds to the MSA; they get whatever funds are put into the plan. Any unused amounts roll over into the following year. By comparison, participants in HSAs can put away $3,450 if they're in a plan with self-only coverage ($6,900 for family coverage), plus $1,000 if they're over 55. Once an HSA investor enrolls in Medicare, you are no longer allowed to add new money to the account. However, you can tap it for ongoing medical expenses. HSA holders can also invest their dollars, assuming the company that administers the account makes mutual funds and exchange-traded funds available. For now, MSA accounts accrue simple interest at a low rate that's comparable to what you'd find in a savings account, said Tate. He said he is not aware of investment options being available to these account holders.

Trump's proposal
Bigelow Aerospace announced Tuesday the creation of Bigelow Space Operations (BSO), the next step in the company's effort to build the world's first habitable private space station.

The new company is required as Bigelow Aerospace is "seguing into becoming a production company" after existing as "a laboratory for 17 years," CEO Robert Bigelow said on a conference call with reporters. "Bigelow Aerospace doesn't sell anything, and has no plans to."

BSO will act as the marketing, customer service and  when the company's space stations are launched  operations center for Bigelow's products.

"We will spend millions of dollars this year to drill down on a conclusion as to what the global space market is going to look like," Bigelow said. "When we look at what is the commercial picture, as far as humans' use of space today, it's a whole lot different than it was 10 years ago."

Thus far BSO has brought on a handful of staff, including a chief operating officer as well as sales and contracts officers. Bigelow said the company plans to hire "another three to four dozen employees" in the coming weeks. Eventually, once stations are operational, Bigelow says he expects BSO's staff to expand to "between 400 and 500."

Bigelow Aerospace already has its habitable test module BEAM docked with the International Space Station. It arrived in April 2016 for a two-year mission to test the durability of the module. The modules built by Bigelow expand once they are deployed in orbit.

Next up are Bigelow's B330 line of stations, advertised as "fully autonomous standalone space stations." Two are currently being built, B330-1 and B330-2, and Bigelow says both are "very far along in fabrication."

"They will be ready for launch in 2021," Bigelow said.

After that is the Olympus model, which Bigelow says is eight to 10 years away. Olympus would be nearly 2 times the habitable volume of the ISS, and would require a rocket capable of lifting 75 tons to 80 tons of payload. Bigelow Aerospace has existing contracts with ULA and SpaceX, but Bigelow did not offer new details as to which rockets will carry the coming station modules.

"There are several different categories [of rocket] in play now so we do not rely on SLS," Bigelow said, referring to the Space Launch System currently being built.

In a news release regarding the creation of BSO, the company said it will need to build a new manufacturing plant "in Florida, Alabama or [another] suitable location." When asked about the new facilities, Bigelow offered no further guidance or clarification.

Last week Bigelow said he "applauds" the Trump administration's "focus on commercial partnerships for low-Earth orbit" after it announced plans on Feb. 12 to end NASA's funding of the International Space Station in 2025 and begin a new $150 million program to build commercial platforms in orbit. Bigelow repeated his call Tuesday for the administration to work further with NASA on how commercial ventures will have access to contracts from companies and countries to develop a low-Earth orbit ecosystem.

"It's one thing I call upon the Trump administration to become involved in," Bigelow said. He added that Bigelow Aerospace has yet to have any conversations with the White House about competing with NASA, while emphasizing his company is open to discussion.
Heavy tariffs and quotas on steel will hurt China, but other countries may well bear the brunt of such measures.

"The fact is that China does export a lot of steel and aluminum to the United States, but frankly, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, other countries import more steel than does China," said Max Baucus, former U.S. ambassador to China, which is the world's top overall steel exporter.

On Friday, the Commerce Department recommended imposing heavy tariffs or quotas on foreign producers of steel and aluminum in the interest of national security, following a trade investigation of imports. The metals are used in a wide range of industrial applications including infrastructure and cars.

President Donald Trump and his administration announced the investigation into steel and aluminum importation in April. It sought to determine whether the imports posed a threat to the country's national security.

The recommendations call for tariffs on multiple countries, although Trump could determine that specific nations should be exempt, based on the economic or security interests of the United States.

The president could also consider a country's willingness to work with the United States to address global excess capacity and other challenges facing the U.S. aluminum and steel industries.

The U.S. is the world's largest steel importing country. The top shipper of steel into the U.S. is Canada. Large Asian exporters  and American allies  that may be implicated include South Korea and Japan.

According to Commerce Department data, China was not among the top 10 sources of U.S. steel imports in the period between January to September 2017.
Germany's Covestro said it had generated cash at a faster rate than previously thought in its quarterly earnings. Its shares rose on the news.

European equities posted solid gains by the close on Tuesday, as investors shook off volatility concerns and focused on better-than-expected corporate results.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 ended 0.60 percent higher provisionally, with the majority of sectors closing in positive territory. On the bourses front, the U.K.'s FTSE 100 finished trade roughly flat, down 0.01 percent, while France's CAC 40 and Germany's DAX closed higher, up 0.64 percent and 0.83 percent respectively.

Earnings in focus

Chemicals was a top performing sector on Tuesday, closing up 1.17 percent boosted by Covestro, which closed up 3.33 percent. The German manufacturer said it had generated cash at a faster rate than previously thought in its quarterly earnings. Covestro now believes it will reach its cumulative operating cash flow target of 5 billion euros ($6.19 billion) in 3 years, rather than in 5 years. SimCorp rose to the top of the STOXX 600, jumping over 12 percent by the close after reporting strong growth in its fourth quarter, and stating that its dividend payout for 2017 would be higher. France's Edenred rose 6.5 percent on the back of strong earnings that saw the company's earnings before interest and tax, and net profit for 2017, reach record levels.

Mining giant BHP Billiton posted a 25 percent rise in underlying half-year profit on Tuesday. The company also handed an extra $800 million to shareholders as it projected rising cash flows in the second half. However, its shares were off 4.58 percent by the close. U.K. listed lender HSBC reported a jump in annual pre-tax profit but missed analysts expectations after U.S. tax changes prompted it to take a $1.3 billion write-down, causing shares to slip 3.1 percent.

Petro token
Chris Hughes, who made a fortune as a co-founder of Facebook, told CNBC on Tuesday American workers who make less than $50,000 per year should get a government stipend of $500 per month  paid for by raising taxes on the wealthy 1 percent.

Such a plan is necessary because of the growing digital economy, said Hughes, author of "Fair Shot: Rethinking Inequality and How We Earn" and an advocate for a basic income. "I don't have a crystal ball on exactly where technology is headed. But I do think that it's going to continue to destroy work."

"So we talk a lot about Uber drivers, Lyft drivers, Postmates, the 'gig economy,' that is up and to the right" in terms of expansion, he said in a "Squawk Box" interview. But for the workers in these "alternative work arrangements," their incomes are "deeply unstable," he said.

The labor market has been squeezed by decades of jobs going overseas  and the void is often being filled by automation, said Hughes. "The future is already here. Work is already changing in America."

Under his plan, Hughes said, "As long as you're working for your country, your country takes care of you." He explained, "If you make less than $50,000 a year, and you're working, you get $500 as a guaranteed income in the background every month via direct deposit or a debit card."

Hughes said it's kind of like the existing earned income tax credit, or EITC, a government program that gives a financial boost for families with low incomes or moderate incomes. The EITC, popular among Democrats and Republicans, "needs to be expanded" and modernized, he continued, "and made flat so people actually know how much money they're getting." Right now, he added, it's a "complicated government formula."

Hughes, a Harvard dormmate of co-founder and current Facebook Chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, was the early spokesperson for the social network. He also worked on the products team. Unlike Zuckerberg, Hughes did not drop out of Harvard and got his degree in 2006.

However, Hughes left Silicon Valley shortly after to help organize online efforts for Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign. He was also formerly the publisher of The New Republic, a liberal media outlet whose journalism aims to debate and take a stand on the issues of the day.

"The same forces that made Facebook's rise possible have created financial instability in the lives of working Americans," Hughes argued in an op-ed in The Guardian, saying his story illustrates how unfair the economy can be. "I'm proud of the work that I did [for Facebook], but the fact that I could make nearly a half billion dollars for three years worth of work  while at the same time half of Americans can't find $400 in case of an emergency  is a testament to what is wrong with our economy."

Hughes' vision for how to solve for what he considers a damaged labor market is similar to the concept of universal basic income, or UBI, cash handouts to everyone regardless of employment status. "What you get with these changes is a modest basic income, which is not exactly the UBI ... that one day may be necessary," he told CNBC. "But what we know now is that people working hard aren't living stable financial lives and deserve to be."

UBI is supported by many tech billionaires including Zuckerberg, Richard Branson of Virgin Group, and Elon Musk of Tesla and SpaceX.

The Economic Security Project, which Hughes co-chairs, said Alaska already has a version of a universal basic income, with all state residents receiving yearly cash dividends of $2,072 from state oil revenues. Finland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada are all in some stage of discussions, according to the group.

In Tuesday's CNBC interview, Hughes also said Facebook's efforts to prevent foreign entities from influencing U.S. elections are a "step in the right direction."
Shares of Fogo de Chao skyrocketed more than 25 percent after the company disclosed it was being acquired by Rhone Capital in a deal worth $560 million.

Rhone will pay $15.75 per share in cash for the Brazilian steak chain, a more than 25 percent premium to Fogo's closing share price Friday.

"After a thorough evaluation of the options available, the Board of Directors is confident that this transaction will provide Fogo a significant opportunity to realize the highest value for our stockholders while providing the best path forward for the Fogo de Chao brand, employees, and loyal customers," Larry Johnson, CEO of Fogo de Chao, said in a statement Tuesday.

The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter and was unanimously approved by the company's board of directors.

"We are excited by the acquisition by Rhone," Johnson told CNBC. "Rhone has got a very global view and we think that fits will with the Fogo brand, where we are and where we want to go."

Johnson said the company has a good footprint in the U.S. and Brazil and is looking at expanding in the rest of the world. He sees Fogo going private as an opportunity to spend more time and resources on international growth.

The steak chain has two locations in Mexico City and recently opened its second location in the Middle East, Johnson said.
General Motors plans to produce two new car models in South Korea, a local lawmaker said, quoting GM executive Barry Engle as saying this at a meeting with South Korean members of parliament.

Engle, who is president of GM International, did not elaborate on whether the company's plan for the two new car models was dependent on government support for the automaker, according to South Korean politician Kim Sung-tae, who attended the meeting.

GM announced last week it will shutter a plant in the city of Gunsan, in the southwest of South Korea, by May, and decide within weeks on the fate of the three remaining plants in the country.
George and Amal Clooney are speaking up and giving back.

The Hollywood power couple announced Tuesday they will be marching in support of student survivors of the Parkland, Fla. shooting rampage, according to a statement from George Clooney provided to USA TODAY by his representative Stan Rosenfield.

"Amal and I are so inspired by the courage and eloquence of these young men and women from Stoneman Douglas High School," the statement reads. "Our family will be there on March 24 to stand side by side with this incredible generation of young people from all over the country..."

Read more from USA Today:

Supreme Court won't hear challenge to California's waiting period for gun purchases

High school student develops 'JustinKase' tool that could save lives during a school shooting

A question after the Florida shooting: Are American boys 'broken'?

The nationwide group March For Our Lives announced Sunday that they will march in the nation's capital and other cities to demand safer schools and legislation "to effectively address the gun violence issues that are rampant" across the nation.

The Clooneys also announced they will be donating money to help the march.

"In the name of our children Ella and Alexander, we're donating 500,000 dollars to help pay for this groundbreaking event," the statement reads. "Our children's lives depend on it."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, leader of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), gives a press conference in Berlin on February 7, 2018. Tobias Schwarz | AFP | Getty Images

Despite an apparent "breakthrough" in Germany's government coalition talks a few weeks ago, the euro zone's largest economy and defacto leader is facing much more political uncertainty and tumult on a number of fronts. Here are five reasons why the current state of German politics is concerning:

Grand coalition deal on the line

Markets appeared to breathe a sigh of relief several weeks ago when Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian alliance, the Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union (CDU-CSU), came to an agreement with the Social Democrats (SPD) to form another power-sharing government, called a "grand coalition." The agreement needs the approval of the majority of SPD's 464,000-strong membership, who are having their say in a postal vote beginning Tuesday, with a result expected on March 4. Around two-thirds are expected to approve the deal, although some influential members are protesting against it, calling for the SPD to stay in opposition. Tomasz Wieladek, senior international economist at Barclays, said in a note Monday that the "grand coalition treaty is on thin ice and that a 'no' vote could lead to either a minority government or new elections." "The latest official poll shows record-low SPD support and that voters believe that the SPD cared more about ministries than content," he said. "This suggests significant risks around the SPD's membership approval vote. Moreover, Angela Merkel's approval ratings have also declined significantly since the election."

SPD leadership uncertainty

In addition to the membership ballot, there are SPD leadership changes afoot that are likely to bring about a change of approach and uncertainty over whether Merkel will see out a fourth term as chancellor (more on that below). SPD leader Martin Schulz resigned last week following criticism of his agreement to serve as foreign minister in a future coalition government after previously saying the party would stay in opposition.

Martin Schulz, head of the German Social Democrats (SPD), reacts during the SPD federal congress on January 21, 2018 in Bonn, Germany. Lukas Schulze | Getty Images

He nominated Andrea Nahles, former labor minister and head of the SPD's parliamentary group, to take his place, and a vote will take place at an extraordinary party congress on April 22. Nahles supports the coalition deal and has said there is "no plan B" should the majority of SPD members reject it.

SPD to play hardball

Although the SPD membership ballot is likely to be approved, there will be more hurdles for the coalition with detractors in both parties, particularly within the SPD. The party performed badly in September's election; this was largely seen as voters reacting against its former alliances with the CDU-CSU. However, Merkel's CDU-CSU has made deep concessions to the SPD during coalition talks over a number of key policies (ranging from pensions to the labor market) as well as giving it control of a number of ministries, including, controversially, the finance ministry. But the SPD's potential future leader Nahles has promised that his party would not be an easy partner in power. "We will not do a runner in this government. We will make our own policy proposals. We will consciously stand up to Mrs Merkel," Nahles told a SPD rally last week, Reuters reported. Nahles also inferred that Merkel was not likely to remain in power much longer. "She may be the most powerful woman in the world but the twilight of the Gods started a long time ago She has been put down for the count by her own party. The chance to renew stands before us," she told the rally, Reuters reported.

Right-wing AfD has become Germany's second strongest party

Alongside the more prosaic political uncertainties in Germany is the specter of the far-right, anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

Emmanuele Contini/NurPhoto via Getty Images

A poll reported Tuesday that the AfD, which is a growing force and has a strong anti-Islamic stance, has surpassed the SPD to become Germany's second most popular party. The Insa survey for the Bild newspaper showed Merkel's conservative bloc at 32 percent, with the AfD at 16 percent, above the SPD on 15.5 percent. The AfD saw its share of the vote rise significantly in September's election, showing a shift in German social and political attitudes that has worried many in a country haunted by the memory of Nazism.

Chancellor Merkel is arguably Germany's and the euro zone's, most successful political leader in recent history. She's steered a steady and strong course through the euro zone financial crisis, albeit making austerity-promoting Germany unpopular with its indebted southern euro zone neighbors, and took the moral high ground at the height of the refugee crisis in Europe by allowing over 1 million refugees to enter Germany. That policy has been seen as a key reason for the rise of the AfD, however, and detractors within her own party criticized the policy, putting Merkel's authority on shaky ground. In addition, her inability to form a government with the Greens and the pro-business Free Democratic Party in initial talks after the election also cost her time, authority and popularity. The latest Infratest Dimap poll showed that Angela Merkel remained popular, although her approval rating has declined from 61 percent in October to 49 percent on February 15. Still, Merkel's fourth term is widely seen as her last, and generally "Mutti," or "mother," as she is popularly known is well-regarded. "There is still no alternative to Merkel as the leader with a serious message of stability and responsibility," Carsten Nickel, Teneo Intelligence's deputy director of research, said in a note last week. "This (message) will likely also strongly resonate at the CDU conference on February 26. The traditionally loyal party will greenlight the coalition agreement However, the main risk to the grand coalition remains the SPD membership ballot," he said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends a two-euro-coin presentation in Berlin on January 29, 2015. Tobias Schwarz | AFP | Getty Images
Greece and Europe both want to see the former exit its bailout program as scheduled in August. But that brings about a difficult decision on how that should take place.

Some analysts and policymakers argue that Greece should ask for a precautionary credit line  a buffer of money that Athens could use in case of an emergency  and thus make a smooth transition to the markets after nearly a decade of international financial aid.

But Athens has vehemently denied all calls to ask for such a safety net  come August, it wants to show that Greece has put its financial crisis behind it and is independent again, without international assistance.

Greece is seeking a clean exit from the bailout, meaning no tight monitoring from institutions such as the European Commission after August, Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos told the Financial Times on Sunday.

"As long as its credit ratings are below investment grade, Greece will have to remain under an economic program in order to maintain access to the European Central Bank funding," Yvan Mamalet, senior euro economist at Societe Generale, told CNBC via email.

The ECB is restricted from buying Greek government bonds as none of the ratings agencies currently assess these with an investment grade.

"For this reason, we think it would make sense for Greece to request a precautionary credit line. On top of that, this would allow the Greek government to pursue a limited return to market access," Mamalet said.
Kentucky's attorney general on Monday filed a lawsuit against drug distributor Cardinal Health, accusing it of contributing to the opioid epidemic by failing to halt or report suspiciously large or frequent orders by pharmacies of prescription painkillers.

Attorney General Andy Beshear in the lawsuit accused Cardinal of unfair, misleading and deceptive business practices that he said led to the excessive distribution of opioids in Kentucky.

The lawsuit alleged that Dublin, Ohio-based Cardinal Health, one of the country's largest wholesale drug distributors, ignored red flags that prescription opioids were being diverted for illegal uses, allowing it to profit in the process.

The lawsuit is the third that Beshear has filed against an opioid manufacturer or distributor. It comes amid a wave of lawsuits by cities, counties, and states seeking to hold corporations responsible for the drug abuse epidemic.

"I'm committed to hauling each of these opioid companies into a Kentucky court to answer for their actions that have devastated our families, communities, and state," Beshear said in a statement.

Cardinal Health said in a statement that it cares deeply about opioid abuse and addiction and it believes there is an "urgent need" to work toward solutions to address the public health crisis.

"We do not believe litigation is the solution to this problem and will defend ourselves vigorously against baseless lawsuits," the company said.

The lawsuit seeks to recover the costs that it says Kentucky has incurred as a result of Cardinal's actions as well as unspecified penalties and fines.

Opioids were involved in more than 42,000 overdose deaths in 2016, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A growing number of lawsuits by states, counties, and cities have accused drugmakers of pushing addictive painkillers through deceptive marketing and wholesale distributors of failing to report suspicious drug orders.

Two other state attorneys general have sued Cardinal Health. The company says it faces at least 343 opioid-related lawsuits, which were largely brought by counties and municipalities.

In December 2016, Cardinal Health agreed to pay $44 million to resolve claims by the U.S. Justice Department that it failed to alert the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to suspiciously large orders of addictive painkillers.

The following month, the company announced that it had reached a $20 million settlement with West Virginia to resolve a lawsuit filed in 2012 over its distribution of opioids in the state.
The dramatic headlines came as a shock to a country which has long-advertised itself as somewhat of a financial bridge between Europe's west and east.

Not only this, the head of the country's central bank was held in custody over the weekend, accused of soliciting a bribe by Riga's anti-corruption agency.

Latvia's third-largest lender was left facing rapidly mounting problems Monday, after the U.S. Treasury accused it of money laundering and defying Western sanctions.

A head office of the ABLV Bank is pictured in Riga. Ints Kalnins | Reuters

The scandals rocking Latvia's banking system are the latest in a series of crises for the former Soviet state. Latvia's third-largest lender was left facing rapidly mounting problems Monday, after the U.S. Treasury accused it of money laundering and defying Western sanctions. Not only this, the head of the country's central bank was held in custody over the weekend, accused of soliciting a bribe by Riga's anti-corruption agency. "The two issues are confluent in their timeline but appear to be unrelated," Otilia Dhand, an analyst at Teneo Intelligence, told CNBC Tuesday. Latvian authorities also say the scandals are unconnected. Nonetheless, the dramatic headlines came as a shock to a country which has long-advertised itself as somewhat of a financial bridge between Europe's west and east.

'Two parallels of banking systems'

The European Central Bank (ECB) moved to stop all payments by AVLB bank at the start of the week, after its liquidity position collapsed in the wake of allegations from U.S. authorities. Last week, the U.S. Treasury accused ABLV bank of "institutionalized money laundering," including allowing its clients to conduct business with parties connected to North Korea. This would be in violation of sanctions imposed by the United Nations following Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program. In response, ABLV said the accusations were based on unfounded and misleading information. ABLV is based in Riga but also has an office in Luxembourg as well as a subsidiary in the U.S.

The fundamental role of ABLV as a non-resident bank is to shift money around the world, Dhand said. And while the funds have tended to originate from Russian sources, the latest reports alleged some of ABLV's transactions were linked to North Korea. "Latvia, for a long time, has had two parallels of banking systems  The resident banks that deal with normal retail operations and the non-resident banks which are actually a majority in Latvia. This problem is not new," Dhand said. A number of banks in Latvia have been subject to investigations regarding improper business practices in recent months. Last year, two lenders were fined for allowing clients to bypass international sanctions preventing payments to North Korea.

Meanwhile, the home and offices of Latvia's central bank chief, who also sits on the ECB's rate-setting committee, were raided by officers from Latvia's Corruption Prevention Bureau on Saturday. Ilmars Rimsevics, who denies any wrongdoing, claimed he was the victim of a smear campaign on Tuesday. "I have not demanded or received any bribes," Rimsevics told reporters at a press conference. "I have become the target of some Latvian commercial banks to destroy Latvia's reputation," he added.

Latvia's central bank governor Rimsevics arrives at the news conference in Riga on Tuesday 20th February, 2018. Ints Kalnins | Reuters

Both the anti-corruption authority and the police are yet to provide details of the alleged request for a bribe by the central bank governor. In a statement on Tuesday, Latvian Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis said he was not able to rule out the possibility that the bribery allegations were an attempt to damage the image of the state.

Why does this matter for Europe?
Travel agents may seem passe in the age of countless apps and websites, but in the luxury travel sector, traditions aren't being tossed away just yet.

In fact, 40 percent of luxury travel trips are booked through travel agencies compared to just 27 percent of all international outbound trips, according to a report by ITB Berlin, a world travel trade show, and IPK International, a tourism consulting group.

The study also found that more than half of international luxury travelers used agencies as an information source.

To cite an example, Scott Dunn, a U.K.-based luxury travel agency, said it's growing at 20 percent a year, driven by strong demand for specialist travel advice and planning. "I always tell guests who are considering booking themselves, 'Why risk it?'" said, Simon Russell, Scott Dunn's CEO. "This is your holiday and you are spending a lot on it, don't take any chances and make sure you make the most of your time away."



According to Russell, the firm's clients prefer spending on travel experiences to other assets. "This is fueling the travel market with a new generation of luxury travelers."



According to a 2016 report by Amadeus Travel Intelligence, outbound luxury trips are projected to grow at 6.2 percent over the next 10 years compared to overall travel that is projected to grow at 4.8 percent.

Scott Dunn's Russell said Instagram is playing a massive role in creating an appetite for personalized travel experiences and exotic destinations. "People's personal brands are being defined by where they've been and where they're seen, not just by friends but much wider social followings," he said.

Still, the growth of travel agencies is likely to be challenged in the coming years as millennials, the first generation of digital natives, accumulates wealth and eventually constitutes a larger percentage of the luxury travel market.

"Millennials are far less inclined to pick up the phone," Russell said. "They want to organize and engage digitally and they seek much more instant gratification."

He said the firm's online experience will constantly need to evolve. "Intelligent chat and voice activated search are very much on our radar," he said.

Currently, Scott Dunn said about 70 percent of its revenue comes from the U.K. market, but its CEO said he hopes it will evolve to a three-way split between the U.K., the U.S. and Asian markets.

Last year, Scott Dunn launched operations in Singapore to tap into the Southeast Asian market, and earlier this year, Scott Dunn acquired the city state's largest private tour operator, Country Holidays, for an undisclosed amount.

Correction: This article has been updated to reflect that Scott Dunn acquired Country Holidays.
"Papering over the real challenges at the DoD with hundreds of billions of dollars will not improve military readiness. Increasing the national debt to dramatically increase the Pentagon budget will therefore not necessarily make the nation saferbut it will compound the country's future financial problems."

The two-year deal Congress passed pleased "conservatives" because it would boost defense spending in 2018 to $700 billion and in 2019 to $716 billion. This represents a $165 billion increase from the previous cap  and doesn't include the ever-slushy Overseas Contingency Operation funds, which would be in the neighborhood of $60 billion on top of that.

The first OCO was passed by Congress seven days after 9/11 because the base budget hadn't accounted for fighting wars, but has essentially turned into a Pentagon slush fund, as the money is now routinely spent for items that have nothing to do with war.

Meanwhile, those who want more spending here at home were happy because they got a $131 billion boost.

Leaders in Congress have acclaimed the short-term benefit these funds promise to deliver. These celebrations, however, mask the true magnitude of the crisis we face. A little-read government report found that over and above the $20 trillion debt we have, there is more than double that amount hanging over our heads.

The FY 2016 Financial Report of the United States Government reported that projected expenditures "for scheduled benefits for Social Security, Medicare Parts A, B and D, and other social insurance programs over 75 years" was expected to "exceed projected revenues by about $46.7 trillion." A Forbes article claims the true level of unfunded liabilities is closer to $210 trillion.

It is therefore an urgent national security imperative to address the debt. In 2010 then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen correctly warned that the "most significant threat to our national security is our debt." Not China, not Russia, not North Korea, nor radical Islamic fighters, but the national debt.

It took us years to get into this problem, and it can't be solved overnight, but there are some short- and long-term measures we must take immediately to mitigate the severity of potential future consequences, at least as far as national security is concerned.

First, the most effective and immediate way the president could improve military readiness would be to discontinue all unnecessary military operations worldwide. President Donald Trump should order a commission that looks at each of the seven countries where U.S. troops engage in combat operations.

This assessment should examine the extent to which each operation protects or enhances national security, how much each costs annually, and assess the likely regional effects if each is shut down. The vast majority of those operations could be shuttered and regional complexities mitigated without any harm to U.S. security  and it would save almost $100 billion a year (plus remove the requirement for OCO spending).

For example, the best candidate to be terminated first would be the U.S. presence in Syria. There are still reported to be upwards of 2,000 U.S. military personnel there, yet since ISIS' defeat, they have no clearly defined mission that in any way contributes to U.S. national security.

These troops could be withdrawn back to their home bases almost immediately, and doing so would reduce the potential of clashes with Russian troops or militia, as happened in Der Ez Zoir in early February.

Closing out the mission in Afghanistan would need to be conducted over a two-year period to minimize disruption and enable the Kabul government time to make adjustments to how it secures its country.
An attorney who is the son-in-law of a Russian oligarch and is a former associate at top law firm Skadden, Arps, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to lying to federal authorities investigating alleged links between the Trump campaign and Russia. Alex van der Zwaan, 33, admitted making false or misleading statements regarding email communications with Richard Gates, a former Trump campaign official and an associate of onetime Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort. The statements related to work that van der Zwaan performed as a London-based lawyer at Skadden, Arps, on a report that sought to justify the incarceration of a political opponent of Manafort's client, then-Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych.

Alex van der Zwaan arrives at Federal District Court in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. Susan Walsh | AP

A prosecutor said van der Zwaan, who is a Dutch national, worked closely with Gates and another person who is based in Ukraine on that report. Van der Zwaan entered his guilty plea in U.S. District Court in Washington. Judge Amy Jackson agreed to sentence van der Zwaan on an expedited basis because his wife, Eva Khan, is pregnant and living in London. Eva Khan, an art critic who married van der Zwaan last year, is due to deliver their child in August. She is the daughter of German Khan, a Russian oligarch who is suing research firm Fusion GPS over a dossier alleging salacious and unverified ties between President Donald Trump and Russia. The private intelligence-gathering firm's now-infamous dossier was compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele. Khan and two other Russian investors in the financial institution Alfa Bank filed a libel suit against the firm last fall, claiming the dossier damaged their reputations. Van der Zwaan faces a sentence of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. But given his background and his cooperation with Mueller's probe, van der Zwaan is more likely to be sentenced to six months or less, with possibly no jail time at all, and anywhere from a $500 to $9,500 fine. The FBI is holding van der Zwaan's passport. For now, his travel is limited to within Washington, but he will be allowed to travel to New York on two days' notice. The charges were levied on the same day the special counsel announced a surprise indictment against 13 Russian individuals and three entities alleged to have waged a campaign of "information warfare" against the U.S. in the 2016 presidential election. Skadden, in a statement to CNBC, said, "The firm terminated its employment of Alex van der Zwaan in 2017 and has been cooperating with authorities in connection with this matter."

WATCH: Trump claims vindication following Mueller indictment of Russians

Manafort's daughter, Andrea Manafort Shand, is also a former employee of Skadden. Both Gates and Paul Manafort had previously been criminally charged by special counsel Robert Mueller's office on 12 counts, including alleged money laundering and making misleading statements about finances and past work. Gates may be close to a guilty plea for charges relating to fraud, and may be willing to testify against Manafort, multiple outlets have reported.

The charges

The criminal information filed last week from the special counsel's office accused van der Zwaan of "knowingly" making "materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements" regarding his work helping to prepare a report in 2012 for Skadden, Arps, on the trial of Ukrainian politician Yulia Tymoshenko. Those statements were made Nov. 3, during an interview with investigators from Mueller's office as well as to FBI agents. Van der Zwaan admitted lying about his last communication with Gates in mid-August 2016, "which consisted of an innocuous text message," and his last communication with an individual identified only as "Person A" in 2014. The information says van der Zwaan and Person A "discussed Person A's family." Mueller's office on Tuesday in court identified "Person A" as a colleague of Manafort and Gates who is primarily based in Ukraine. Van der Zwaan also admitted lying when he said, "he did not know why an email between him and Person A in September 2016 was not produced to the Special Counsel's Office." The information also charged that in September 2016, van der Zwaan had spoken "with both Gates and Person A regarding the Report" on Tymoshenko, and surreptitiously recorded the calls. Van der Zwaan also "deleted and otherwise did not produce emails sought the Special Counsel's Office and Law Firm A, including the email between Person A and him in September 2016."

Skadden, Arps, and van der Zwaan

The New York Times in September detailed how Manafort in 2011 had arranged for Skadden, Arps to prepare a report that was used by associates of Ukraine's Yanukovych to defend the incarceration of Ukrainian nationalist Tymoshenko. That story noted that Mueller's office had asked the law firm for information and documents about its work for the pro-Russia Yanukovych. And it also pointed out that Skadden, Arps last June had refunded $567,000 to the Ukrainian government, which was around half of what the firm reportedly had been paid for its work. The Kyiv Post in November published a story revealing that van der Zwaan had traveled to the Ukraine to work on that report. According to that report, Skadden claimed that the money was being held in "escrow for future work," though the Post said "the transfer only came after the Ukrainian government sent the U.S. Justice Department a letter requesting the repayment." Van der Zwaan's now-deleted biography on Skadden's site notes this work for clients including Ukraine's Ministry of Justice, a Ukrainian billionaire named Gennadiy Bogolyubov, and a firm in the United Kingdom that was involved in a dispute relate to a Ukrainian mine. Asked about the charges against van der Zwaan, White House spokesman Raj Shah said, "This announcement, along with Friday's, furthers our point that there's no evidence of collusion, as the President has long been stating." "There's nothing in this announcement which would alter that," Shah said. Asked if the White House is worried about the possibility that Gates would agree to cooperate with Mueller's probe, Shah said "I have nothing on that." CNBC's Stephanie Dhue, Eamon Javers and Mary Catherine Wellons contributed to this report.

WATCH: Rosenstein's press conference on Russian indictments
The final hurdle may have been proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services' report on Friday advocating that Qualcomm close NXP to provide the company "with the next-best safety net of diversification," failing a deal with Broadcom. Within an hour of the report being published, Qualcomm called some NXP shareholders asking what price it would take to secure a successful tender offer, according to the people, who asked not to be named because the discussions were private.

Broadcom's months-long unsolicited pursuit of Qualcomm likely compelled the San Diego-based chipmaker to bid higher than it otherwise would have to acquire NXP, according to people familiar with the matter. Qualcomm upped its bid 16 percent to $127.50 per share, or about $44 billion, the company said in a statement Tuesday.

"Certainty on NXP was important to Qualcomm and its shareholders," Tom Horton, presiding director of the Qualcomm board of directors, told CNBC today.

ISS determined Qualcomm's forecast of $5.25 in adjusted earnings per share for fiscal year 2019 is "feasible," given NXP's expected adjusted net income of $2.7 billion, or $1.84 per share on a pro forma basis. That's crucial to Qualcomm's case that it's better off as an independent entity than selling to Broadcom for $82 a share.

Qualcomm says Broadcom's offer significantly undervalues the company, assuming it can favorably resolve its ongoing litigation with Apple. Buying NXP allows Qualcomm to argue $5.25 in adjusted EPS is a reasonable benchmark.

Horton said past semiconductor deals have been completed with an EPS multiple of 22, which would value Qualcomm, using a projected EPS number of $6.75 (with $1.50 per share added for the Apple resolution), at a whopping $148.50 per share  well above what Broadcom has been willing to offer.

Broadcom has argued $4.50 EPS is a more reasonable guidance, even after NXP completion, and resolution with Apple will only generate up to extra $1 in EPS accretion, according to ISS.

Qualcomm secured backing from NXP shareholders controlling about 28 percent of the company with its new offer, including activist hedge fund Elliott Management, which has championed a higher bid for months. Qualcomm also lowered the minimum tender threshold to 70 percent from 80 percent to help it close a deal.

Broadcom has said its offer to buy Qualcomm for $82 a share  or more than $121 billion  is contingent on the NXP deal falling apart or it getting done at the previous price of $110 per share.

Tan told CNBC that NXP "would not solve Qualcomm's problems" in a Feb. 12 interview. Broadcom is "evaluating its options" after Qualcomm's increased NXP offer, it said in the statement. Qualcomm is still waiting on Ministry of Commerce in China approval as a final regulatory hurdle with its NXP deal.

Qualcomm had internally debated a smaller raise to acquire NXP before it officially increased its bid to $127.50, said several people. Qualcomm said in a statement the new price reflects NXP's recent performance, strong market dynamics, and high confidence in annualized cost synergies of at least $500 million "resulting from insights gained" during the companies' integration discussions and research.

NXP "earnings are up 20 percent from the time we did the deal," Horton said to CNBC. "And we raised the bid 16 percent. So it's actually at a lower multiple than the deal when it was originally announced."

A spokesman for Qualcomm declined to comment further.

Indeed, NXP shareholders who asked Qualcomm for more, including Elliott, have pointed to NXP's strong performance and the relative stock moves from NXP comparables, including Broadcom, which itself is up 45 percent since the NXP deal announcement on Oct. 27, 2016.

"Qualcomm's board of directors and management have transferred $4.10 per Qualcomm share from Qualcomm stockholders to NXP stockholders, representing approximately $6.2 billion of value," Broadcom said in a statement Tuesday. "This revised price for NXP is well beyond what Qualcomm has repeatedly characterized as a 'full and fair' price."

The higher offer also bucks a recommendation from ISS, which said in its report last week that Qualcomm could negotiate provisions with Broadcom to close the NXP deal at a mutually agreed-upon price. ISS recommended Qualcomm shareholders should nominate four of Broadcom's six recommended new directors to help facilitate discussions between the two companies on a higher takeout price for Qualcomm. Broadcom has already said its current offer is "best and final."

Glass Lewis, another proxy advisory firm, today recommended Qualcomm shareholders vote for all six director nominees Broadcom is putting forward, effectively endorsing a Broadcom takeover. Glass Lewis also said an NXP increase "would be to the detriment of Qualcomm shareholders."
Curiously, in covering this effort, USA Today published a map highlighting cities and states that should be out of contention, yet added a footnote about Philadelphia and Pittsburgh which both offer nondiscrimination protections although their state does not. The group therefore lists Pennsylvania as "unclear." Ironically, the exact same principle can be applied to a number of Southern cities urged to be shunned by Amazon: Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Nashville and Miami. All are progressive communities with legal protections that include LGBT citizens.

We know from experience that the path to our full civil rights is uneven, often inviting different, and possibly conflicting, strategies. We are pragmatists as well as idealists. We know that many leaders and civil rights activists in the nine targeted states also enthusiastically welcome Amazon. They believe as we do, that welcoming more forward-thinking companies helps raise the tide of equality.

They know firsthand the impact that progressive leaders like Amazon can do to help fuel LGBT civil rights. We've seen the clout corporations can have when they successfully work with LGBT communities from North Carolina to Indiana and states to defeat and derail so-called religious freedom laws. In Texas for example, last fall, major corporations across the state united to stop anti-LGBT legislation in its tracks. Two years ago, here in Georgia, many companies banded together to persuade our Republican Governor to veto anti-gay legislation.

If you listen carefully to many LGBT citizens, and especially from the South where we live and work, we do not see bans as the wisest tactic or strongest move in our power. Many instead believe strongly in corporate engagement, by urging CEOs and senior executives to meet with elected officials, to speak out and to give financial support to civil rights groups advocating for equality and nondiscrimination under the law.

Our nation's journey towards full equality for all Americans has shown breathtaking progress and also heartbreaking setbacks. It is tempting to build walls when it's clear bridges work best  coupled with long-term strategies that involve grassroots leaders and strategically equipping advocates on the ground in these cities and states. No region or city or state should be left behind. Whatever path Amazon chooses, its human impact and commitment to social justice is where its investment will be most priceless.

In the pages of The Olympian newspaper earlier this month, LGBT writer and advocate Sarah Toce intelligently observed that Amazon plays an oversized advocacy role in Washington State as an LGBT corporate ally. She then adds that same influential voice, regrettably, has not yet reached 49 other states where most of us live.

Toce concludes, " the Everything Store is quite literally everywhere. This is why it's more imperative now than ever for Amazon to harness its resilient brand and illustrate support for social justice campaigns occurring beyond just the Emerald City. After all, with great power comes an even greater responsibility  and we helped build them."

Exactly. The rainbow carpet is rolled out everywhere in America, and especially in states where all of us are working even harder to achieve dignity, respect and equality for all.

Commentary by Ryan Roemerman, the founding executive director of the LGBT Institute at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta, Georgia, and Bob Witeck, a leading LGBT business strategist and consultant, president of Witeck Communications, and a native Virginian.

For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter.
As major financial institutions shake up their employee base, more veterans are trickling out of Wall Street and into cryptofunds.

Cryptocurrency and blockchain hedge fund Pantera Capital said Tuesday it is hiring former Deutsche Bank managing director William Healy. He joins the fund's West Coast headquarters as president, effective March 1.

The Wall Street veteran co-founded Deutsche Bank's Hedge Fund Priority Client group and was a key player in establishing the German bank's U.S. hedge fund strategy, according to Pantera's investor letter published Tuesday.

"This is a transformative time," Healy said in a statement. "The blockchain and digital currency environment today remind me of the inflection points in emerging markets and the alternative asset management industry to a more institutional management approach."

Deutsche Bank will cut 250 to 500 investment bank jobs, Reuters reported Monday, citing a person close to the situation. Key traders are also leaving Goldman Sachs as the firm looks to overhaul a struggling commodities unit, Reuters reported last month.

The investment banking industry is getting smaller. In an interview with CNBC, Healey pointed to banks' decreasing role in initial public offerings.

"The underlying trends in the financial services industry is I think going in one direction," Healy said, noting music sharing service Spotify's decision not to follow the traditional IPO route. "I think five years from now, they'll be smaller than they are today."

Pantera Capital CEO Dan Morehead said his firm got 95 new limited partners in February alone, compared with 10 years to get the first 95 investors. The number of hedge funds focused on cryptocurrency and blockchain now totals 226, and has more than doubled in the past four months, according to the latest estimates from research firm Autonomous NEXT.

Pantera, which has roughly $724 million assets under management, also announced the launch of its third blockchain-focused venture fund Tuesday. The fund will focus on peer-to-peer transactions, fintech, artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Pantera's first fund was up 758.6 percent since its inception in 2013 through the end of last year. That portfolio includes companies that help buy and store bitcoin including Ripple, Circle, Xapo and Bitstamp.

Healy is not the only new recruit in crypto announced Tuesday. Bitwise Asset Management, manager of the first cryptocurrency index fund, announced it will hire industry veteran Matt Hougan as vice president of research and development. Hougan was CEO of Inside ETFs and before that CEO of ETF.com.

Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley said he's seeing more of an appetite for folks like Hougan to jump into a new asset class.

"We're seeing more top-tier people come into the space," he said. "Cryptocurrency's bringing together software people, who tend to be those younger stereotypes, but also pulling in financial community who are really excited about the birth of a new asset class or have been bored with low volatility or fee compression."

Bitwise is still hiring, and Horsley said applicants are not the stereotypical Silicon Valley tech junkies. The company is getting applications from people on "both sides of the spectrum," including Google and BlackRock.



"There are definitely industry veterans who are poking around," Horsley said. "I don't know how many will end up deciding to make the plunge but we definitely see a lot of senior people deciding to put out feelers."
A customer looks at listings on display outside a Brown Harris Stevens offices in New York.

Ask around and you'll discover that a sizeable chunk of New York City's millennial population flocked here from other states, hoping to take advantage of the career opportunities that the sprawling metro area has to offer.

They're also willing to spend more than they should to stay.

According to a new report from StreetEast, millennials are more likely than any other generation to exceed their budget when it comes to N.Y.C. housing.

The market is "expensive, fast-moving and highly competitive," explains StreetEasy senior economist Grant Long. "But despite facing rising housing costs and budgeting constraints, aspirations of owning a home remain high in the city, particularly among millennials."

StreetEasy surveyed 1,000 renters and homeowners living across all five boroughs  Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. The results illustrate how New Yorkers are struggling to find affordable homes due to the rapid rise in prices and rents over the last decade.

Read more from New York Business Journal:

MetLife to funnel a portion of tax savings into higher wages

Investment app Stash secures $37.5 million funding round

Goldman Sachs deepens M&A bench

The findings also show how different generations approach the situation.

For example, of the millennial respondents, 45 percent say they chose a more expensive home than they'd planned, compared to 30 percent of "Generation Xers"  those born from the early 1960s to late 1970s  and 19 percent of baby boomers.

Despite the lofty prices, more than one third (34 percent) of the millennial respondents are aiming to buy a home in the next year.

The report also found that locals, in general, are willing to overspend so long as long as the neighborhood meets specific requirements. Renters and homeowners alike rank safety (90 percent) and access to public transportation (87 percent) above all other factors when it comes to choosing a home.

Here's a further breakdown of what the survey found:

New Yorkers pay 1.3 times more for housing than average Americans

46 percent say N.Y.C. is unaffordable

Nearly one third (31 percent) exceeded their initial budget on their current home

37 percent of homeowners went over their initial home budget; 27 percent of renters went above initial budget

More than 1 in 3 New Yorkers plan to move in the next year

More than one third (39 percent) cite the high cost of living as a top reason to leave

The desire for a bigger home and to buy a home also rank high  32 percent and 29 percent, respectively

Luxury amenities (i.e. doormen and gyms) rank the lowest among all requirements in choosing a home

New Yorkers also tend to want to stay in their borough (71 percent); but fewer plan to stay in their neighborhood (36 percent)

Not surprisingly, renters are significantly more likely to rate the cost of the city negatively. More than half of the renters who responded, 52 percent, consider New York City unaffordable, compared to 39 percent of homeowners who can buy and sell more freely.
Qatar's flagship airline is embarking on a strategy of expansion in part to counter losses borne by the regional embargo imposed on it in 2017 by several neighboring states.

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al-Baker told CNBC on Tuesday that he would bring an end to the "illegal" blockade through a policy of increased flight frequencies.

"We are focusing everywhere in the world, we've been increasing frequencies into Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, increasing our network into the sub-continent, so we are going all over the place," he said. "We are very determined to make sure that this illegal blockade is defeated in a very, very strong way."

Several Arab countries led by Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Qatar last June, accusing the tiny oil-rich state of supporting terrorism. Qatar rejected the accusations.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt imposed a blockade on their neighbor, closing their land, sea and air borders with Qatar.

Qatar Airways initially predicted losses for the 2017 financial year due to the blockade, but Al-Baker suggested Tuesday that these will be softer than first anticipated. The company's annual financial results will not be out until late March.

"In addition to this we are expanding, we're keeping on stretching our global network, we are increasing frequencies and we are doing other investments that will give us positive returns on our balance sheet," Al-Baker said.
Microprocessors sit on a circuit board displayed on the NXP Semiconductors NV pavilion at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, on Monday, March 2, 2015.

U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm raised its offer to buy NXP Semiconductors to $127.50 per share on Tuesday, and said it has the backing of the shareholder group led by hedge fund Elliott Management that opposed its previous proposal.

The new deal puts pressure on fellow chipmaker Broadcom to decide if it will stick with a stipulation in its $121 billion bid for Qualcomm that the company not raise its previous $110 a share offer for NXP.

It also enables Qualcomm shareholders to better assess the standalone value of Qualcomm as they consider whether to back it in a shareholder vote on its fight with Broadcom on March 6.

"We will see what (Broadcom) does now," Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon said.

"While their current offer is 'premised' on NXP going at $110, they would of course not necessarily be precluded from making a new offer premised on the new NXP price."

Broadcom said on Tuesday it was evaluating its options and that the revised price for NXP was well beyond what Qualcomm has repeatedly characterized as a "full and fair."

The new offer comes less than a week after Broadcom and Qualcomm executives met face-to-face to discuss the differences between the two sides. Neither company responded to requests for comment on Tuesday's offer.

Proxy advisory firm Glass Lewis on Tuesday recommended Qualcomm shareholders vote for all six director nominees Broadcom has put forward. Last week, Institutional Shareholder Services had recommended four Broadcom nominees.

NXP's shares rose 6.2 percent to $125.80 on opening. The stock has traded above the original offer price for nearly seven months, reflecting expectations among investors that the offer would be raised.

Shares of Qualcomm were down more than 3 percent and those of Broadcom were up more than 2 percent in morning trading.
Billionaire serial entrepreneur Richard Branson says cash handouts will eventually be required to keep people from becoming homeless in the US.

"I think with the coming on of AI and other things there is certainly a danger of income inequality," Branson tells CNN's Christine Romans in a piece published Thursday.

The inequality will be caused by "the amount of jobs [artificial intelligence] is going to take away and so on," Branson says. "There is no question" technology will eliminate jobs, he says.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates echoed this sentiment recently. "AI is just the latest in technologies that allow us to produce a lot more goods and services with less labor," says Gates, speaking with "Hamilton" composer Lin-Manuel Miranda and his wife, Melinda, at Hunter College in New York City earlier in February. "AI will bring us immense new productivity."
Sony announced partnerships with several taxi firms to start a ride-hailing service in Japan on Tuesday.

Hours later, Uber's CEO Dara Khosrowshahi signaled his company's intention to expand further into the country.



Sony's ride-hailing service will be based on its artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the company said in a press release.

The Japanese electronics giant, along with Daiwa Motor Transportation Corporation and five other taxi firms, will aim to establish the new company in the spring.

The six taxi businesses together own 10,000 vehicles, and provide services mainly in the capital of Tokyo. Sony's AI technology will be used to predict taxi demand and make sure the right number of cars are available for users.
A South Korean government official who helped regulatory efforts to limit cryptocurrency speculation has died, according to multiple reports.

Jung Ki-joon, head of economic policy coordination at the Office for Government Policy Coordination, was found dead at his home in Seoul on Sunday, South Korean news agency Yonhap said in an English-language report citing police and the official's office.

Police presumed Jung suffered a heart attack while sleeping and were awaiting details from the coroner's office, Yonhap said. A government spokesman later said in a The Wall Street Journal report that Jung, 52, "died from some unknown cause."

His colleagues also raised the possibility that stress  following increased pressure from crypto-related duties  led to Jung's death, Yonhap reported. Jung was in charge of coordinating the opinions of various South Korean ministries and offices in preparation for weekly meetings led by Hong Nam-ki, minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, the news agency said.

South Korea began stepping up its scrutiny of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies late last year and enacted a ban in late January on anonymous trading accounts. However, officials have dialed back comments that they might shut down cryptocurrency exchanges, where high demand often causes the cryptocurrencies to trade at higher prices than at other major global exchanges.

On Tuesday, Yonhap reported that Choe Heung-sik, governor of South Korea's Financial Supervisory Service, said in a meeting with representatives of cryptocurrency exchanges that the government will support cryptocurrency trading if "normal transactions" are made.

Bitcoin was about 3 percent higher Tuesday morning New York time near $11,500, according to CoinDesk's bitcoin price index. About 5.8 percent of trading volume in the cryptocurrency was in South Korean won, according to CryptoCompare.
Immediately after the mass shooting at a Florida high school last week, hundreds of Twitter accounts turned their focus "almost on a dime" to amplify the events of the tragedy, Jonathan Morgan told CNBC on Tuesday.

According to The New York Times, those Twitter accounts are suspected of having links to Russia. Before the shooting that left 17 dead, many of those accounts had been focused on the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, the paper reported.

While the accounts first focused on breaking news, they quickly turned to extreme pro-gun rhetoric as well as advocating gun control, said Morgan, CEO of New Knowledge, which tracks online disinformation campaigns. They also spread conspiracy theories, he added.

"It's hard to say exactly who's behind all of the content that we see but what we can say is that there [are] multiple networks of accounts, they're manipulating the conversation and they are playing both sides," he told "Closing Bell."
President Donald Trump during a roundtable discussion on the MS-13 gang in the Cabinet Room of the White House on February 6, 2018 in Washington, DC. Mandel Ngan | AFP | Getty Images

During his first six months in office, President Donald Trump frequently told the story of how he spontaneously came up with an idea to force energy companies to build pipelines with American-made steel and pipes. The anecdote drew applause at rallies as Trump explained how his proposal would put American laborers to work making the steel and fabricating the pipes that transport the nation's oil and gas. But in the six months since a deadline for the plan passed, Trump has dropped the idea from his stump speech and rarely mentions the plan. Now, the pipeline operators who oppose the made-in-America requirement and the steelmakers who support it are left to wonder whether it has dropped off the agenda. "The broad issues of trade and the U.S. relationship with U.S. trading partners continues. What we haven't seen is specific action on pipelines and pipeline steel and pipes specifically," said John Stoody, vice president of government and public relations at the Association of Oil Pipe Lines.

The association was monitoring the release of Trump's infrastructure plan last week for an update, but when it went public, there was no mention of the rule. Critics say the requirement would raise costs for pipe makers and pipeline operators. They warn it could delay or kill projects, cost American jobs and spark a trade war. Steelmakers generally take a different view, saying American mills have the capacity to produce the steel, and the rule would create jobs in those mills. But they, too, are awaiting word from the White House. "This made-in-America pipeline requirement just went radio silent," said Philip Bell, president of the Steel Manufacturers Association. Asked if it was still under consideration, a White House spokesperson said there is "no announcement to make on this front."

Trump drops the pipeline story

But at least some stakeholders believe this is a case of a president who went very public with a policy idea only to realize that it was unworkable after getting input from both sides of the debate. "They won't say that because no administration ever admits fault," said a representative from an industry group that opposes the rule who asked not to be named so he could speak candidly. "They're not going to say we kind of got out in front of our skis." The White House declined to respond about that comment. There were signs of trouble from the start. Just weeks after president's announcement, the White House conceded that the two pipelines that sparked the idea would get a waiver because one was mostly built and pipe for the other had already been sourced. At one point, while discussing why U.S. pipes would be superior to foreign ones, Trump inaccurately described how the pipes are made and shipped.

A full retreat would fall squarely on the shoulders of the president, who took extraordinary ownership of the plan. In Trump's telling, he was all set to sign a pair of presidential memos approving the controversial Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines blocked by his predecessor, when a question suddenly occurred to him. Where will the raw steel and pipes for these projects be made? Trump said the answer did not satisfy him so he scrawled another line on the spot ordering the Commerce Department to draw up a plan that would require pipelines built within the United States to use American supplies. The plan drew swift backlash from some conservatives who saw it as government interference in free market decisions. Those and other concerns surfaced in letters submitted to the department during a public comment period set up to inform the agency's report to the president. Its deadline was July 23. Commerce officials told CNBC two days before that it would meet the deadline. The report has not been made public. Two days later, Trump held a rally in Youngstown, Ohio. He did not mention the idea. He has held four rallies since then, and while he has boasted about approving Keystone XL and Dakota Access in several of them, he did not mention the made-in-America rule at any. Trump touted the idea in four of his five rallies prior to receiving Commerce's report, including at his June 21 speech in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Not dead yet?

To be sure, this is not proof that Trump has dropped the plan. During a White House meeting last week with lawmakers, Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon expressed concern that the infrastructure plan would allow states to walk back commitments to using U.S. steel. In response, Trump brought up his approval of Keystone XL and Dakota Access. "When I approved them, I said, 'Where's the steel being made?' And they told me a location that did not make me happy. And I wrote down that from now on steel is being made for pipelines, as you know, it's got to be made in the United States. And it's got to be fabricated in the United States. And so I'm a believer in that also." Bell, the steel association president, says the president's impending decision on whether to slap tariffs on imported steel and aluminum could present another opportunity to resurface the plan. There was no mention of the plan in the Commerce Department's tariff recommendations to the president released on Friday. Bell also believes the final infrastructure plan should require projects built by public-private partnerships to use American-made products. Stoody from the pipeline association says the industry is pleased with Trump's efforts to streamline federal permitting under the infrastructure plan, but it will continue to watch for updates on the made-in-America requirement. "Things are going well and [Trump's] overall goal of improving the economy, improving opportunities for American workers has succeeded, so we certainly would hate to see a turn to something that might threaten jobs for American construction workers building pipelines," Stoody said.

WATCH: Former US trade rep says steel tariff not a good idea
Stephen Paddock, the gunman who killed 58 people and wounded hundreds of others in Las Vegas in October had at least 12 rifles fitted with bump stocks, authorities have said.

Trump signed a memorandum recommending that Attorney General Jeff Sessions propose regulations that would declare that bump stocks are illegal because they effectively turn legal semi-automatic weapons into outlawed machine guns.

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he has recommended that "bump stocks"  devices that let semi-automatic weapons fire hundreds of rounds per minute  be banned.

Trump's announcement came six days after a gunman killed 17 people, 14 of them students, at a high school in Parkland, Florida, while armed with an AR-15 assault rifle.

"We cannot merely take actions that make us feel like we are making a difference. We must actually make a difference," Trump said at a White House event honoring first responders.

"After the deadly shooting in Las Vegas, I directed [Sessions] to clarify whether certain bump stock devices like the one used in Las Vegas are illegal under current law," Trump said.

"That process began in December, and just a few moments ago I signed a memorandum directing the attorney general to propose regulations to ban all devices that turn legal weapons into machine guns," Trump said.

"I expect that these critical regulations will be finalized, Jeff, very soon."

The proposed regulators would first have to be published in the Federal Register and be subject to public comment before they could be adopted.

Semi-automatic weapons require a shooter to pull the trigger each time to fire a single round.

But when those weapons are outfitted with a bump stock, the gun's recoil energy is used to "bump" the trigger into the shooter's finger, making it fire much faster.

That makes the weapon more akin to machine guns, which are largely banned in the United States.

Read Trump's memo:
President Donald Trump urged Republicans on Tuesday to challenge a new Pennsylvania congressional map that could give Democrats a boost in November's midterm elections.

On Monday, the state's Supreme Court released redrawn boundaries that will take effect for this year's critical congressional elections. In January, the Democrat-majority court ruled Pennsylvania's previous GOP-crafted map showed partisan interests and violated the state's constitution.

The new boundaries for Pennsylvania's 18 districts give Democrats a better chance of picking up several congressional seats in the swing state as they try to win a House majority in November. Democratic gains of seats, or control of the House, could deal a blow to Trump's policy agenda starting next year.

On Tuesday, Trump urged the GOP to "challenge the new 'pushed' Congressional Map, all the way to the Supreme Court, if necessary." He told Republicans: "Don't let the Dems take elections away from you so that they can raise taxes & waste money!"

Trump tweet

Republicans are expected to file a challenge to the district lines in federal court as early as this week. In a statement, Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Val DiGiorgio called the new map "a partisan gerrymandering and power grab by Democrat Party operatives hiding behind robes."

"One can only conclude the Democrats have done with their maps the very thing they sought to redress with their lawsuit  packing and cracking voters for partisan gain," he contended.
Tyra Heman (R) a senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, holds a sign that reads, 'Enough No Guns,' as she is hugged in front of the school where 17 people that were killed on February 14, on February 19, 2018 in Parkland, Florida.

American voters by a 2-to-1 margin favor tougher gun control rules following the massacre of 17 people at a Florida high school last week, according to a poll released Tuesday.

Sixty-six percent of voters support stricter gun laws, compared with 31 percent who do not, the Quinnipiac University poll found. Backing for tighter gun rules is higher than the polling institute has ever measured, and up from 47 percent as recently as December 2015.

Later Tuesday, Trump announced that he signed a memorandum recommending Attorney General Jeff Sessions ban so-called bump stocks or other devices that can make weapons automatic. A man who opened fire on a concert in Las Vegas last year, killing more than 50 people, used such a device. It is unclear whether the Justice Department will follow through on the action, or whether Congress plans to pass its own law banning the devices.

Gun laws could play a role in November's congressional elections. Republicans, who have often cautioned against new gun regulations after mass shootings, will try to hold their edge in both chambers of Congress.
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White House press secretary Sarah Sanders is scheduled to field reporters' questions for the first time in a week on Tuesday.

Sanders will likely be asked about last week's school shooting in Florida, special counsel Robert Mueller's indictments of Russian election meddlers and the aftermath of recent failures to pass immigration legislation  all of which occurred after the previous press briefing.

Sanders may have been away from her podium, but President Donald Trump has been busy responding to each of these events and more, chronicled in part by a 20-tweet tirade over the weekend.

On Saturday, Trump suggested that the expenditure of FBI resources in the Russia probe was connected to the Bureau's failure to prevent the shooting.

Trump tweet: Very sad that the FBI missed all of the many signals sent out by the Florida school shooter. 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!

After the special counsel announced indictments of 13 Russian individuals and three entities on Friday  in part for conducting a campaign of "information warfare against the United States of America" to influence the 2016 election  Trump claimed in a tweet to have "never said Russia did not meddle in the election." In fact, the president has previously cast doubt on not only the probe into potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, but on Russian election meddling in general.

Also on Friday, Mueller's team charged the son-in-law of a Russian oligarch with lying to federal authorities about communications with Richard Gates, a former Trump campaign official and close associate of onetime campaign chief Paul Manafort.

Trump's tweet storm continued on Tuesday, when the president claimed one of the 19 women accusing him of sexual misconduct had made up a story published that morning in the Washington Post.

Trump tweet: A woman I don't know and, to the best of my knowledge, never met, is on the FRONT PAGE of the Fake News Washington Post saying I kissed her (for two minutes yet) in the lobby of Trump Tower 12 years ago. Never happened! Who would do this in a public space with live security......

Trump tweet: ....cameras running. Another False Accusation. Why doesn't @washingtonpost report the story of the women taking money to make up stories about me? One had her home mortgage paid off. Only @FoxNews so reported...doesn't fit the Mainstream Media narrative.

But while the deluge of new headlines may draw significant attention at the briefing, questions remain about the White House's handling of security clearances in the wake of recent allegations against former White House official Rob Porter.

Porter, Trump's former staff secretary, assisted Chief of Staff John Kelly in overseeing the flow of documents that passed the president's desk. Porter had access to classified materials under a temporary "interim security clearance" during and after the FBI's background check.

Sanders said last Tuesday that the FBI sent a completed background report to the White House in November. But she said the White House personnel security office was still in the midst of its own investigation into Porter by the time the British tabloid Daily Mail published interviews with Porter's ex-wives alleging physical and verbal abuse in February.

That explanation contradicted Sanders' statement a day earlier when she said the security clearance process "doesn't operate within the White House."

In Senate testimony Tuesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray said the Bureau had issued a partial report on Porter last March and completed its background check in late July.

The briefing scheduled for Wednesday was canceled in light of a shooting at a Parkland, Florida high school, in which a rifle-wielding gunman killed 17 students and adults. The White House schedule did not include a press briefing the following day.
plans have dogged the Trump administration and surprised reporters since the special counsel was appointed in May 2017.

Robert Mueller Getty Images

It's too soon to know where or how the special counsel's probe of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election will end. But far from being a "witch hunt," former FBI Director Robert Mueller's investigation has already delivered well over a dozen indictments and collected several guilty pleas. The special counsel's investigation has dogged the Trump administration and surprised reporters since it began in May 2017  from the sudden guilty plea in October of relative unknown George Papadopoulos to the surprise indictment of 13 Russian nationals and three Russian entities in February. Below is an up-to-date list of all charges filed by the special counsel's office:

George Papadopoulos

George Papadopoulos sitting in on a policy meeting with President Trump. Source: The White House

Charged Oct. 3, 2017

Pleaded guilty Oct. 5, 2017 Papadopoulos, a foreign policy aide to Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, was the first person to plead guilty to charges from the special counsel's office. The young advisor, just 30 years old at the time he pleaded guilty, reportedly sparked the Russia investigation in the first place, according to a report from The New York Times. He allegedly told an Australian diplomat during the campaign that Russians had damaging information about Hillary Clinton, the Times reported.The Australian was so alarmed that he passed the information to American officials. Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to one count of lying to FBI agents about "the timing, extent, and nature of his relationships and interactions with certain foreign nationals whom he understood to have close connections with senior Russian government officials."

Paul Manafort

Paul Manafort Tom Williams | CQ Roll Call | Getty Images

Charged Oct. 27, 2017

Pleaded not guilty Oct. 30, 2017 Manafort is a lobbyist deeply connected to the governments of Russia and Ukraine and who also served as Trump's campaign chief for a time. He was charged with numerous counts, including conspiracy against the United States, money laundering, lying to investigators and failing to register as a foreign agent. The special counsel alleges, among other charges, that Manafort and his associate, Rick Gates, laundered millions of dollars they received from a Ukrainian political party bolstered by Russia.

Rick Gates

Richard Gates arrives at the Prettyman Federal Courthouse for a hearing February 23, 2018 in Washington, DC. Getty Images

Charged Oct. 27, 2017

Pleaded not guilty Oct. 30, 2017

Pleaded guilty Feb. 23, 2018 Gates was a lobbyist, a Trump campaign official and a longtime associate of Manafort's. His charges, announced on the same day as those against Manafort and Papadopoulos, included counts of conspiracy against the United States, money laundering, lying to investigators and failing to register as a foreign agent, among others. Gates pleaded not guilty to those charges, along with Manafort. But in February, the special counsel published an additional 32-count indictment against both defendants, levying new charges of bank fraud and other crimes. On Feb. 23, another filing, called a superseding information, charged Gates with one count of conspiracy against the U.S. and one count of lying to investigators. Gates pleaded guilty to both counts in a D.C. courtroom that day.

Michael Flynn

Gen. Michael Flynn, former national security adviser to US President Donald Trump, leaves Federal Court on December 1, 2017 in Washington, DC. Brendan Smialowski | AFP | Getty Images

Charged Nov. 30, 2017

Pleaded guilty Dec. 1, 2017 Campaign surrogate and former Trump national security advisor Michael Flynn was expelled from the White House, allegedly for misleading Vice President Mike Pence about his communications with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Flynn, after being interviewed by the special counsel, was charged with one count of lying to federal investigators  also for making misleading statements about his connection to Kislyak. Flynn said that he will cooperate with Mueller's team. He adamantly denied "false accusations of 'treason' and other outrageous acts," and said his guilty plea reflects "a decision I made in the best interests of my family and of our country."

13 Russian individuals

Yevgeny Prigozhin Mikhail Svetlov | Getty Images

Charged Feb. 16, 2018 In a surprising turn of events, a federal grand jury indicted 13 Russian nationals and three Russian entities Feb. 16 for their attempts to sow discord in American democratic elections through "information warfare." Specifically, Mueller's office alleges that Russian entities, primarily the so-called Internet Research Agency, used social media, stolen online payment accounts and more, in part for the purposes of "supporting the presidential campaign of then-candidate Donald J. Trump ('Trump Campaign') and disparaging Hillary Clinton." Eleven of the individuals were charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. The remaining two individuals were also charged with counts of aggravated identity theft, and one of those two was further charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud.

Richard Pinedo

Charged Feb. 2, 2018

Pleaded guilty Feb. 2, 2018 Pinedo, a 28-year-old California man, was charged with one count of identity fraud for his alleged role in selling bank account numbers to Russians that would help them circumvent online payment companies' security measures. Pinedo pleaded guilty on Feb. 2, although his indictment was not announced until Feb. 16.

Alex van der Zwaan

Alex van der Zwaan arrives at Federal District Court in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. Susan Walsh | AP
A Japanese company is planning to build the world's tallest wooden skyscraper with 90 percent of the building made of wood. Sumitomo Forestry says its wooden high-rise  dubbed the W350  will be 350 meters tall and the planned structure will be a hybrid of mostly wood and steel. The 70-storey building, expected to be built in Tokyo, will comprise of stores, offices, hotels and private homes, the company noted in plans released earlier in February. Sumitomo Forestry, which notes on its website that "happiness grows from trees," said it aimed to create environmentally-friendly, timber-utilizing cities which "become forests through increased use of wooden architecture for high-rise buildings." Building with wood is still not cheap, however. Using 185,000 cubic meters of timber, the building is expected to cost around 600 billion Japanese yen ($5.6 billion) which is twice the amount of a conventional high-rise building constructed with current technology.

Sumitomo Forestry

However, the company believed that those costs would come down as timber became a more-frequently used material: "Going forward, the economic feasibility of the project will be enhanced by reducing costs through technological development." Currently the tallest wooden building is 18-storeys high (53 meters) and serves as accommodation for students at the University of British Colombia. Greenery will feature heavily in the building from Sumitomo Forestry with foliage connecting from the ground to top floors offering "a view of biodiversity in an urban setting." The building plans show balconies that continue around all four sides of the building, giving a space "in which people can enjoy fresh outside air, rich natural elements and sunshine filtering through foliage." With earthquakes not unusual in Japan, the building will incorporate a structural system composed of braced tubes made from columns, beams and braces "to prevent deformation of the building due to lateral forces such as earthquakes or wind." Being a timber building, the risk of fire would seem an obvious concern, but the material's sensitivity to moisture (and potential for warping and distortion) is also a consideration. Sumitomo Forestry said it would "make every effort to further enhance fire and seismic resistance."

Wooden cities
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Gareth Bacon is the Leader of the Conservative Group on the London Assembly.

Ever since the EU Referendum, I have feared that the divisions between Leave and Remain voters in London would become a serious social problem. Recently that fear was exacerbated. An 80-year-old Leave-voting Londoner was targeted in her home by individuals who claimed to be the real 48 per cent. The elderly lady received a death threat in the post, which was then reiterated towards Zac Goldsmith by a BBC radio presenter, who was subsequently fired. There is now a police investigation over the threat. Other letters were also sent to Leave donors and MP Andrea Leadsom.

London voted 40.1 per cent Leave and 59.9 per cent Remain. Regardless of how we voted, we all know people who voted the opposite way, be they friends, family or colleagues. Its certain that we come into contact, whether we know it or not, with someone who voted differently to ourselves on a daily basis. We should be respecting one another no matter which way we voted. They are people we care for and work with. It is my sincerest hope that the gulf between Leave voting and Remain voting Londoners does not continue to widen. However, witnessing the severity of such threats even after almost two years since the EU referendum, it seems to me that divisions are not letting up.

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has made his stance on Brexit very clear. He backed Remain in the referendum and has continued at every opportunity to advance Remain arguments such as an insistence that Britain remain in the single market. Bizarrely, he even advanced the argument that if the rest of the UK leave the single market, London should be allowed to remain  quite how this would be achieved was not explained.

The Mayor has a legitimate role to advance what he sees as being in the best interests of London and Londoners, whether we agree with his views or not. But while he has been working on attempting to confuse Britains Brexit progress, the Mayor has been neglecting the growing social friction within London. Instead of concentrating on the serious social divisions of Londoners, his focus has been in producing doom-laden predictions on the post-Brexit implications for the Capital. While the government seeks to achieve the best Brexit possible for all UK residents, in London there needs to be a focus on healing the social wounds of Brexit and on making London a better place to live for everyone.

I voted to Leave the EU, primarily for reasons of democratic accountability but also because I believe we have a brighter future in the long term by being open to the world. The referendum has happened, the verdict of the British people has been delivered and attempting to re-heat the arguments of the referendum campaign simply continues to sow the seeds of division, on occasion  as highlighted above  with deeply worrying consequences.

What is now required is that a concerted effort at healing our divisions  whether they be generational or London versus rest of the UK  be made. With that in mind, I ask Sadiq Khan, not as a Leave voter, but as a fellow Londoner and colleague, whether he will outwardly condemn the maltreatment of either side of the debate and seek to be a unifying figure that all Londoners can look to? This is such an important issue for Londoners, I would personally support any effort that seeks to unify Leavers and Remainers in London.

London is not just the city in which Londoners dwell, it is also the capital of the UK. The social divisions that the EU referendum has revealed provide an opportunity to reform the perception that London is out of touch with much of the rest of the country. What better way to show them that London is listening and to become the flagship city to start uniting our country once again? There is a real opportunity before us and it is vital that the Mayor of London show the leadership required to make the most of it for the good of all Londoners.
Maria Miller is MP for Basingstoke and Chair of the Women and Equalities Select Committee. Anniversaries are a useful way of celebrating how far we have travelled, but also of remembering how far we have yet to go. In 2018, we as a nation celebrate the 100th anniversary of British women being given the right to vote. But extending the political franchise to women in 1918 was merely the first step in the process of empowering half of Britains mainland population. For example, many of the key news stories of 2017 underscored how far we have yet to go in the process of correcting the inequality and injustices women continue to face. A similar injustice still persists regarding Britains expatriate population. However, a Private Members Bill being introduced on Friday 23rd February may prove to be the first step in re-enfranchising and empowering the millions of Britons working, studying or living abroad.

Millions of British citizens stripped of the right to vote

Currently, Britons who have been overseas for 15 years automatically lose their right to vote in General Elections and referendums. The right to vote, hard-fought to be secured by and for our citizens from Magna Carta to the Suffragettes, thus automatically expires as a result of the 15-year limit imposed by section 141(a) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act of 2000.

Just under nine per cent of UK citizens live abroad, which amounts to around five and a half million of our fellow countrymen and women. We do not know precisely how many have been living abroad for longer than 15 years  and have therefore been stripped of their right to vote  because the UK keeps no records of its citizens living abroad. But we can estimate with some confidence that at least a couple of million UK citizens remain deprived of that basic democratic right.

Flying the flag for Britain overseas, but without a voice

Most UK citizens living abroad are there to work. Some are retired, some are students. Many work for a British company overseas, send children to British schools, pay for nursing care for elderly parents in Britain, and in many cases fully intend to return to Britain. But their ability to have a say on issues affecting their future  by voting  is arbitrarily withdrawn at the stroke of 15 years.

Many of our citizens overseas may be active in promoting British business and soft power interests, through energetic and informed participation in business groups, chambers of commerce, educational institutions, or through engaging with their host governments and civil society, and using their in-depth knowledge and experience to support the in-country work of British diplomats and our government representatives. As our nation gears up for its post-Brexit future, engaging and empowering our citizens overseas to help with this endeavour is more important than ever.

A cross-party obligation to right this wrong

There are thus moral and common-sense, practical reasons for engaging all our citizens in our electoral processes. The UK, of all countries, home of the Mother of Parliaments, need hardly have to make a case for democracy itself  we simply need to apply the principles of democracy to all our citizens. In the main, UK citizens living abroad maintain strong links with the UK. Modern technology makes it easier than ever before for UK citizens abroad to keep in touch with what is happening back home. UK citizens abroad should be able to have their say in elections, since they continue to be affected by many decisions of Parliament in much the same way as citizens resident within the UK.

The logic behind these reasons transcends political boundaries. Politically, the Conservative Party has long led the way in extending the franchise, but the Whig, Liberal and Labour Parties have also contributed to the process of parliamentary reform and political enfranchisement. This support continues today, with one of the key voices for the repeal of the so-called 15-year rule coming in the shape of Harry Shindler. The 96-year-old South Londoner has been an ardent Labour Party member since 1934, and is highly decorated for his efforts in the Allied liberation of Italy. As a long-term resident in Italy, Harrys current battle is to help liberate the millions of his fellow British expatriates who have been denied their voices in our electoral processes.

The Conservative Party promised in its manifesto for the 2015 General Election to introduce votes for life, scrapping the 15-year rule. That promise was confirmed in the 2017 manifesto, in the name of a flourishing and secure democracy. It featured in the Queens Speech in 2016 but not in 2017. There has not yet been a Votes For Life Bill debate in Parliament.
Stephen Booth is Director of Policy and Research at Open Europe. Henry Newman, the regular author of this column, is away.

We must hope that, over the course of the next week, the tortuous process of uniting the Leave and Remain factions in the Cabinet behind a common Brexit plan can be concluded. Time is in short supply and the Prime Minister must finally set out the Governments position with greater clarity. The European Council on 22nd and 23rd March is meant to kick off talks over the UKs future relationship with the EU, with heads of terms of the deal expected to be agreed by the autumn or winter of this year.

As we know, the future trade relationship is the really tricky issue. In recent weeks, it feels as though weve had the same arguments rehashed again and again. Will the UK opt for regulatory alignment or divergence with/from the rules of the Single Market? Should the UK be in the Customs Union, a Customs Union, or a Customs Agreement with the EU?

The choice at the heart of these questions is whether to prioritise a high degree of preferential access to EU markets or whether the UK can shape its own rules. Despite the seemingly intractable stalemate, the skeleton of a possible Cabinet compromise has become more discernible in recent weeks.

Broadly, this is likely to mean the UK seeking to secure a high degree of continuity in market access for manufactured goods on the basis of aligning itself with EU regulations. The UK could regain its own tariff schedule outside of a formal customs union but mirror the EUs tariffs for certain industries for an extended period, beyond the formal transition set to end in December 2020.

Meanwhile, the UK is likely to prioritise the freedom to diverge from the EU on services regulation and accept that this means less preferential access to the Single Market. Such a compromise would reflect the profile of UK-EU trade and the UKs broader economic strengths. In 2016, the UK exported 48 per cent of its goods to the EU but only 37 per cent of its services.

UK-EU trade in goods is dominated by the high-tech, supply chain manufacturing industries. Complex manufactures such as cars tend to be made in factories close to their primary market. UK goods destined for the EU will need to comply with Single Market standards in any case. Supply chains have developed because of geographical proximity but also because the EUs Single Market has fostered ever-deeper integration in these sectors. The UK cannot easily replicate its participation in these supply chains with other partners, so the upside of regulatory divergence is likely to be small.

In his speech last week, Boris Johnson stressed that the UK should not be obliged to obey EU rules, nor should they be imposed. However, he accepted there are likely to be several sectors, such as EU standards for washing machines or vacuum cleaners or hairdryers or whatever, where it may very well make sense for us to be in alignment. This is not a new problem. Switzerland chooses to align its rules with those of the EU so that its manufacturers can participate in the Single Market for goods on the basis of mutual recognition of standards.

However, it makes little sense for the UK to commit itself to future alignment with EU rules for services. Services are a growing share of global trade and the UK is already a globally oriented exporter, less dependent on the EU market than it is for goods. Going its own way on services will introduce restrictions on UK services exports to the EU, but the Single Market in services fails to live up to expectations in many areas. For example, a recent KPMG study for the Dutch government concluded that cross-border accountancy services will be impacted by Brexit only to a limited extent, noting that, even as an EU member, UK accountants must obtain an additional professional qualification in the EU member state where they want to work.

Equally, the advantages of freedom from EU rules on services are clear. Mark Carney, the Governor of the Bank of England  not known for his love of Brexit  has already identified areas where he thinks the UK should make changes to EU financial services regulation. Phillip Hammond has spoken of the need for regulatory innovation in the digital technologies of the future, such as AI. Neither would be possible if the UK were to become a rule taker from Brussels.

There is another reason why the UK should accept the short-term costs and long-term opportunities of diverging in services. The more the UK asks for from the EU  and trying to replicate existing market access for financial services is certainly regarded as a tough ask in many European capitals  the more Brussels will ask in return. The EU will want the UK to follow future rules in many other areas, such as taxation, employment law and the environment. The Foreign Secretary is right that this would be politically unacceptable and unsustainable for the UK.

Ultimately, the post-Brexit UK-EU relationship will be dynamic, since both parties will evolve over time. The more closely the UK ties itself to the EU, the bigger the potential for a politically explosive disagreement with Brussels over any inevitable divergence. The UK will always have the right to disregard EU regulations in the future, even in the areas where it chooses to be aligned at the outset. The question is what happens to the overall relationship when the UK or the EU opts to diverge from the status quo. There is only so much divergence that any dispute resolution mechanism negotiated now can take.

It is very likely that future UK governments and European Councils will need to periodically revisit the terms of any deal. But the UK needs to set out a workable proposition that is politically sustainable, domestically and with the EU, for say ten years. A compromise based on managed alignment for goods and regulatory divergence for services may not be popular among the purists of either persuasion. However, in order to move Brexit forward, the political reality requires tough choices and pragmatic solutions.
David Daviss speech in Vienna today contained many positive messages, both to the citizens and residents of the UK, and to the EU. That Britain would continue to be a champion for the values of freedom and democracy. That it is in our interests for our neighbours and allies to thrive. That our intended relationship is therefore co-operative and supportive and productive.

None of that quite made it into the headlines, however. Instead, the newspapers reported in advance that the Brexit Secretary was set to promise that Britain would not be plunged into a Mad Max-style world borrowed from dystopian fiction.

Thats not an unreasonable thing of them to report. It was indeed a remark included in his speech. And more than that, it was one of the remarks selected by his press team to include in the pre-briefed press release publicising his speech in advance.

Given that this eye-catching quote was written for him, pushed out to the press on purpose, and then said in words that came out of his mouth, the papers were only doing their job in reporting it. Given the colourful language and its inclusion in the press release, it seems that someone actively desired this quote to be reported.

Thats all quite clear. What I cannot get my head round is quite why someone would think this a good line to put out. It is an inherently negative point, out of keeping with a pretty positive speech.

It invites mockery (and has duly received it), and it is an obvious gift to those who leap on any opportunity to rant on about what a disaster Brexit is and how callous the Government must be to pursue it. Oh, well, if Brexit doesnt mean a blood-soaked apocalyptic desert, whose best resident is sweaty Mel Gibson, then I suppose we should be grateful is a predictable response from the ever-smug ranks of the pro-EU Twitterati. The wound was self-inflicted.

This doesnt suggest an operation which is completely on top of its own message discipline, to say the least. Think back through the great messages of history  none of them would be improved by making them about the negative things that would be avoided, rather than the positivity that was on offer.

Harold Macmillan didnt proclaim: Youve had it worse. The Obama poster didnt promise: Not despair. And Margaret Thatcher read the whole of the St Francis of Assisi prayer, pledging harmony, truth, faith and hope, not just noting that the alternatives were nasty.

The six Brexit speeches, of which this is the second, are meant to be a big push to get the Governments message across. Lets hope the next four are communicated a bit better in advance.
While the overwhelming majority of Irish Nationalists backed the Belfast Agreement, when it was reached in 1998, a substantial minority of Ulster Unionists did not. The 29 per cent of voters who voted against it in a referendum were mostly drawn from the latter. The Democratic Unionist Party, now a custodian of the agreement, opposed it at the time. It propelled Arlene Foster, now the partys leader, into its ranks: she was previously a member of the Ulster Unionists. Jeffrey Donaldson, now a DUP MP, made the same journey. In particular, both found the early release from prison of convicted IRA terrorists a compromise too far.

This Unionist dissatisfaction with the Agreement, or at least with aspects of it, is now returning to haunt Northern Ireland. The strand in Unionism that favours integration was especially unhappy from the start with what is effectively devolved government by means of enforced coalition. As the Ulster Unionists were replaced by the DUP as unionisms leading party, and the SDLP were displaced by Sinn Fein, those critics argued that their point was proven  that the fruit of the agreement was a sectarian carve-up of the province by religious bigots and terrorist supporters. This critique missed the development of the DUP into a party with a more secular flavour, and the emergence of a post-Troubles generation of Sinn Finn politicians.

But whether you agree with it or not, the show went on  and on. Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness replaced David Trimble and Seamus Mallon. McGuinness had an excellent relationship with Paisley and a workable one with the latters replacement, Peter Robinson. He didnt hit it off so well with Foster, and by the time of his illness Sinn Feins attitude to working with the DUP was hardening, as were its positions on the Irish language and legacy issues. The Renewable Heat Incentive scandal might not have collapsed the Executive had its governing partners not moved apart. James Brokenshire was unable to help manoeuvre it back together again. Karen Bradley has been no more successful to date. A visit from the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach last week made no difference.

In short, the structural weaknesses in the agreement have returned to haunt it, at least as far as some Unionists are concerned. Some of them never cared for the forced power-sharing arrangement. Others say that the weakness inherent within the agreement is now evident, because it is no longer providing Northern Ireland with workable government at all, however unsatisfactory: Foster and her party are now calling for direct rule from Westminster. Others still resent the Irish Governments reading of the agreement in the context of Brexit  distancing themselves from it emotionally even as they dispute Dublins interpretation factually. And many Unionists have never cared for the way in which the Belfast Agreement, to give it the proper title, has morphed linguistically, especially among Nationalists, into the Good Friday Agreement, whereby it is lent a kind of religious sanction. They hear overtones of the Easter Rising.

It is tempting to seek to tear the whole structure up, and replace it with more conventional arrangements. Margaret Thatcher once said that Northern Ireland is as British as Finchley. Quite so (although its membership of the Union has long been viewed as dependent upon the verdict of its people on the matter). But it doesnt follow that it should be governed in the same way as Finchley, or even Edinburgh and Cardiff, with their own different devolutionary settlements. The judgement among Unionists must be whether Northern Ireland is so exceptional  so scarred by sectarian politics, the legacy of terror, and its peculiar history  that more conventional politics cannot apply, at least yet.

There is a strain in the Conservative Party that resists this verdict. Hence the vocal support in much of it for standing candidates in Northern Ireland. If more effort and resources had been put into backing those that stand, the province might be a better place today. But election results there tell an emphatic story  one of a Unionist party dominating the east and north of the province, and a Republican one holding much of the west and south.

To adapt Rab Butler, the Belfast Agreement is the best agreement weve got  the only practicable means to hand of holding these tensions in check, and giving the province something approaching normalcy. Those keen on regulatory divergence from the EU should note that it also provides the institutional framework, under the terms of paragraph 50 of the deal that Theresa May signed up to pre-Christmas, for achieving that end.

All of this is not to say that the Government should hold off direct rule, however unpopular a return to it would be in Dublin. Northern Ireland cannot simply be left to drift in limbo. Sinn Fein lined up behind the agreement long before the DUP (which was only reconciled to it by the later St Andrews Agreement). It is an irony that they themselves are making it inoperable.
Google Nest is a system of smart home products that can control thermostats, smoke detectors, and security systems. But it turns out the Nest Secure product has a built-in microphone, which was news to the consumers who had purchased it.

That information came to light earlier this month when the company announced an update for Nest Secure that would allow users to enable its virtual-assistant Google Assistant by using voice commands.

But Nest users were surprised to learn they could do that since they didnt know there was a microphone connected to Nest Secure. Various technology publications scanned the products technical specs and found no mention of a microphone.

Omission made in error

In statements to the media, Google officials said the omission was made in error. The company said there was never any attempt to keep the microphone a secret.

It also said that the microphone comes from the factory in the off position. It can only be turned on if the user enables it, and if the user was unaware of its existence, the microphone was not listening to private conversations.

Why even have a microphone? Google says it was originally included on the Nest Guard to enable future updates, like the ability to listen for an intrusion into an otherwise unoccupied home.

Security systems often use microphones to provide features that rely on sound sensing, Google said in a statement. We included the mic on the device so that we can potentially offer additional features to our users in the future, such as the ability to detect broken glass.

Scrutiny over privacy

Even if its an innocent omission, the news that Google failed to mention that one of its security devices has a built-in microphone is sure to ruffle privacy feathers. Google, along with other major tech companies, has come under increasing scrutiny for how it manages consumers private data.

For its part, Google has long maintained that the internet is all about transparency. CEO Eric Schmidt famously remarked in 2009 that people who have things they dont want people to know probably shouldnt be doing them in the first place.

Writing in Fortune in 2017, Joseph Turow, a professor at the University of Pennsylvanias Annenberg School for Communication, maintained that Google still doesnt care about your privacy.

Turow said the bargain whereby consumers agree to give up personal information in exchange for seeing only relevant ads is a one-sided deal, suggesting that consumers have little understanding of what theyre giving up.
Three new ships on the orderbook at Disney Cruise Line will dramatically grow the lines projected market capacity by 2024, according to the 2018-2019 Cruise Industry News Annual Report.

A trio of LNG-fueled ships will join Disneys fleet, with deliveries in 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively. The 2,500-guest ships will complete the brands fleet lineup at seven ships, joining the Magic, Wonder, Dream and Fantasy.

While Cruise Industry News ranks Disney as the 11th biggest brand by projected guest capacity in 2018, it is poised to move up by 2024, with capacity expected to increase to over 1 million guests on an annual basis.

About the Annual Report:

The Cruise Industry News Annual Report is the only book of its kind, presenting the worldwide cruise industry through 2027 in 400 pages.

Statistics are independently researched. See a preview by clicking here.

The report covers everything from new ships on order to supply-and-demand scenarios from 1987 through 2027+. Plus there is a future outlook, complete growth projections for each cruise line, regional market reports, and detailed ship deployment by region and market, covering all the cruise lines.

Order the 2018-2019 edition today.
In March, 2017, Ellen Degeneres had a 5-year-old geography whiz on her show. Nate Seltzer of Stratford, Conn. wowed viewers by proving he memorized the whole globe.

Seltzer, now 6-years-old, has been invited back on the show multiple times and will appear on February 20. (Watch above)

In a clip, he tells Degeneres about his new favorite bands, Genesis and Pink Floyd, and about his girlfriend, Bella before once again showing off his geography skills.

This time, he identified bodies of water on a screen just by looking at their shape. He even identified Lake Chaubunagungamaug, which sits in the border between Connecticut and Massachusetts.

The Internet really took notice of Seltzer on his first show appearance when he explained a map he drew himself. Degeneres points to a marker drawing of a blob shape on Seltzer's drawing, which he explains is supposed to be Russia.

"And what is this on Russia?"

"It's really funny," Seltzer whispers.

"What is it?"

"Trump," Seltzer said looking to the audience for reaction and bowing as the crowd roared with laughter and applause.

After that, Seltzer got attention from sites like Buzzfeed and Mashable for his political humor. This time around, he couldn't resist throwing in another Trump joke saying that one of the lakes on the screen looks like the president's hair.
Contributed / Contributed

DERBY  The Griffin Hospital School of Allied Health Careers, 300 Seymour Ave., Suite 206, in Derby, is offering an evening session of its Accelerated Certified Nursing Assistant program starting March 12 to help individuals start a fulfilling career in health care.

The CNA course offers students an affordable and condensed 6-week schedule with classes Monday through Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m.
FAIRFIELD  Dr. Leo Cooney, professor of geriatric medicine at Yale School of Medicine, will discuss How to Receive the Care you Wish at the Bigelow Center for Senior Activities, 100 Mona Terrace, 10 am Wednesday, March 21. The presentation is free and open to all Connecticut residents. Registration is required. Call 888-357-2396 or register online at www.bridgeporthospital.org/events.

Participants will learn how to stay in charge of their health care even when they may not be able to speak for themselves. Yale New Haven Health experts will walk participants through the decision-making process and explain the importance of advanced care planning. The session will cover what kind of care, and at what intensity, you may want for yourself - and how to let others know your wishes. Attendees will learn about health care representatives, healthcare proxy, goals of care, living wills and how to start the conversation with family and healthcare providers.
In todays competitive environment of financial institutions, its difficult to stand out from the crowd  especially for the little guys. Big multibillion-dollar credit unions have healthy marketing budgets, marketing teams, business development professionals, sponsorship opportunities, advertising campaigns across multiple channels, commercials, and a strong social media presence. But how do the small credit unions compete and have a voice in such a saturated market?

Its simple.

Be a differentiator. Do something unique that shows you value your members and your community and then tell the world about it!

Some of our credit union clients have implemented very outside the box ideas to make them just a little bit different.

Scholarships

Many credit unions offer scholarships. Thats nothing new. Even the small credit unions are able to offer scholarships. But what makes your scholarship different? At a credit unions strategic planning session last fall, we discussed their scholarship and how they could put a unique spin on it. Theyre currently revamping their program to specifically target students attending a vocational school instead of a college or university. Their community has several vocational trade schools, so their objective is to fill a void that a traditional scholarship might overlook. Higher learning has become more of a challenge for many. The cost of a college education and no guarantee of a career upon graduation have some students looking for alternatives. This credit union recognizes that by continuing to give back to their community with a unique scholarship offering, they are helping local students follow their dreams!

One-on-One Home Buying Seminars

Another credit union client has a very unique approach to attract first-time home buyers. The Mortgage Specialist (MS) offers FREE one-on-one mortgage classes to anyone interested in learning what they need to know about buying their first home. Mortgage seminars arent that unique, but hers are, because she conducts them individually, one-on-one with a member. Her sessions include reviewing credit scores and the importance of an accurate credit report; how to determine how much house they can afford; what costs are involved; and how to be prepared for the application process. The MS personally meets with members at least once, but she continues to work with them as needed. Each session is tailored to the individual need of the member. The MS discusses specific details about what they need to do to qualify for a loan, and that might include an additional follow up meeting months later to assess if their credit score or income has improved. This program has been in place for a little over a year, and the credit union is proud to report that one of the first participants is currently living in their purchased homewith a mortgage from the credit union!

Hand-written Note Cards

Personally, Im a fanatic about hand-written note cards. Whether its a thank you note, a get well soon note, or a how are you doing note, Im always writing notes. I think its a lost ritual in our society of texts, emails, and emoji communication. However, a few years ago at a strategic planning session, we were discussing how a credit union could better onboard new members. What could help the experience? How do we show the new member that we value their business? We came up with the idea of sending hand-written note cards to every new member. The credit union has note cards with their logo on the front and blank inside, and every new member gets a hand-written thank you for joining the credit union note card within 45 days of opening their account. Of course, other staffers use the cards for various purposes, but this credit union is hand-writing over a hundred note cards every month to new members!

Pay It Forward

Another credit union was doing charitable projects throughout the year, but they wanted to develop a strategy for what they were doing and how they were giving back to the community. So they formed a committee of various staff members, and they balance their activities with planned charitable deeds as well as surprise events. We branded the group with the name Sharing & Caring Squad and designed a logo, and the credit union purchased t-shirts for various events. Regularly, the Squad transports food from local restaurants and grocery stores to the local food bank. Last summer, the credit union hosted a free Shred Day, and they collected voluntary donations for a local charity. This past Halloween, the Squad dressed in costume and visited an assisted living facility. And, they have been known to drop in at the local McDonalds and hand out $5 gift cards to patrons to pay it forward for their coffee or breakfast at their next McDonalds visit. The activities vary between surprise goodwill gestures and charitable projects and contributions within their community. They have actually had members comment about the Squads activity around town!

Credit Builder Loan

Credit unions are always looking for creative ways to help members build or rebuild their credit. One of our clients offers a Credit Builder Loan up to $1,000 with a term up to 18 months. Loan proceeds are deposited to a special Share Savings Account with a loan pledge for the full loan amount. After six months, the member may apply to have the loan pledge reduced, equal to the outstanding balance of the loan, and can obtain the funds to pay other debt. At the time of application, members are strongly encouraged to add a $10 savings deposit to their loan payment, which most do, to reduce the pledge amount as well as build savings. If a members payment is seven days delinquent, the credit union can transfer the loan payoff from the savings account and close the loan. This credit union has helped several members rebuild their credit history with this unique loan product!

Small credit unions are constantly trying to find ways to position themselves differently in the financial institution space. Its an ongoing struggle for those with limited resources and increasing operational demands. People still want to work with people. Consumers come to credit unions because theyve heard about the differences between credit unions and banks. They want the personal attention, the recognition, and the feeling of being treated like a person and not a number. Implementing any of these ideas will help reinforce the credit union difference in your members eyes.

The power of collaboration and idea sharing has been known to light the fire of motivation to try something new. Hopefully, Ive given you a little spark to be a DIFFERENTIATOR.
Digital transformation can seem a little daunting, overwhelming, or even a bit confusing. But digital transformation doesnt need to be a massive, expensive project taken on all at once. In fact, it should be more of a smooth transition into evolving the way in which you are already doing business with your members.

Your members will continue to come to your business for the same reasons, but how and where they prefer to receive those services and interact with your business has changed. Your members  especially those among the financially active Millennial and Gen Z demographics  are expecting your business to meet their desire and expectations to expand the channels of business and communication into the digital realm.

But, you have to begin this transformation, before its too late.

There are three main reasons why your organization should start building a digital strategy right away:

1. Growing Competition

Waiting too long to begin making your digital transformation could result in losing your most relished members to more digitally-apt competitors. To keep your members, you need to compete with the growing number of organizations that are after your member base. The strongest among these competing organizations can be bucketed into two categories:

Traditional, financial organizations that have already vastly expanded their digital capabilities to meet their consumers needs. FinTechs and non-traditional organizations that are taking consumers from traditional financial organizations.

What all these competitors have in common is that they have taken the time to figure out what their consumers want, and have evolved their services to meet their particular needs and expectations.

2. Member Engagement & Enablement

Communicating with your members on platforms they engage in everyday can be a huge money maker for your business.

Consider how you interact with your preferred retailers today, versus how you interacted with them just a few years ago. These businesses have adapted to make life easier for you and their other customers. To successfully engage and satisfy your members, you too need to figure out what your members expect of you so you can start meeting those expectations.

There are numerous communication channels you can utilize to transform and personalize relationships with your members, such as video messages, emails, mobile apps, social media posts and text messages. You dont need to start using every single channel all at once, but you should dive into the channels that would result in the highest penetration and engagement among your members. Leveraging information you have on hand about your members can help you to identify which channels your members would likely value most.

3. Leveraging Data

You may not be aware of it, but you have plenty of data on hand about your members, you just have to know where to look and how it can be utilized. Properly leveraged data can help you establish patterns in your consumers behaviors at a group or individual level, so you can evolve and optimize your business strategies with your members at the forefront.

Building this kind of data-driven, member-centric strategy will surely reduce your risk of losing new or current business to competitors; but you have to start now!

Visit our website to learn more about how you can build a strong digital strategy that is right for your business and members.
NAFCU last week attended a hearing on a defendant credit unions motion to dismiss an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) case. NAFCU remains active on ADA, engaging with various stakeholders on this issue and working with credit unions that are facing litigation.

NAFCU Executive Vice President of Government Affairs and General Counsel Carrie Hunt and Vice President of Regulatory Compliance Brandy Bruyere attended the hearing, as well as representatives from the Maryland-D.C. Credit Union Association.

The judge, T.S. Ellis III in the Eastern District Court of Virginia, Alexandria Division, heard arguments on issues such as the fact that the plaintiff is not a member or eligible to join the sued credit union and whether the plaintiff has any standing in this case.
Each year, Credit Union Magazine honors some of the credit union movements heroesthose individuals who relentlessly promote credit union philosophy, dedicate themselves to credit union principles, and make a difference in their communities.

Its time to select Credit Union Magazines 2018 Credit Union Hero of the Year, sponsored by Trellance.

This years nominees are:
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
Hassan Rouhanis visit to Delhi was the first by an Iranian president in 10 years and it was much needed. His talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi were deemed substantive and the two leaders emphasised the need to build stronger relations.

Modi suggested that the visit by the Iranian president underscored how the two sides want to deepen cooperation in key areas, including connectivity, even as Rouhani repeated his nations resolve to combat terrorism and extremism. A dozen pacts were signed including one on double taxation avoidance and another for the leasing by an Indian company of a container terminal facility in Irans Chabahar port. But the Indo-Iranian relations are facing some strong headwinds.

Tough deal

Last month Donald Trump decided not to pull Washington out of a deal that it and other world powers made with Tehran to limit Irans nuclear programme. But he gave a strong warning to other countries in the deal. Make the deal tougher, or the US will stop keeping its end of the bargain with sanctions relief. At the same time, the Trump administration has imposed new targeted sanctions on 14 Iranian individuals and entities in connection with various human rights abuses.

This was the same strategy that Washington adopted last year when it waived the sanctions but imposed sanctions on seven targets involved in Irans ballistic missile programme, including two senior Iranian defence officials, one of whom allegedly helps to arm Assad and a China-based network that allegedly supports Irans military by supplying millions of dollars worth of items used in missile production.

The US president had informed the US Congress in October last year that the 2015 Iran nuclear deal is no longer in the countrys national security interest, calling it the worst deal ever. But instead of scrapping the deal outright, he had put the ball in Congress court asking the legislators to modify the agreement even as his administration marshals international support to increase pressure on Iran. Defying Trump, the European Union made it clear that it would defend the agreement. Though European officials have tried for a unified response to Trumps pulling out from the 2015 Iranian nuclear accord, strains have emerged within that threaten to weaken Europes common stance.

The European Union has made it clear that it is not open for renegotiation. The British, French and Germans have been lobbying hard to keep the Trump administration in, arguing that the deal is working. As West Asia continues to pass through a phase of unprecedented churn, Iran has emerged as, perhaps, the most potent force in the region. The US is itself responsible for this as its removal of Saddam Husseins regime in Iraq, which had always been a strategic counterweight to Tehran, resulted in this situation.

Tehran has been effective in leveraging the regional realities to serve its foreign policy agenda. With the Islamic State (ISIS) facing a regional retreat, proxy wars are underway in Iraq and Syria for a distribution of the spoils. Irans influence over the Shia-dominated government and many militia forces in Iraq has given Tehran unprecedented leverage in shaping the political future of Iraq.

And in Syria, Irans sustained backing of the Assad regime has made the survival of the regime possible despite the challenge posed by the US-backed groups. With their position entrenched in Syria and their influence in Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen secure, Iran and Hezbollah and their Shiite allies believe they have built a formidable, unified, border-spanning front. How they choose to exert their power could dictate the future trajectory of the wider West Asia. Israel and Iran are coming to blows in Syria.

Trumps threats

As a result, despite Trumps threats, Iran is placed much better in the region than ever before. But tensions between Washington and Tehran constrain the strategic space for India in dealing with Iran. New Delhi has, therefore, welcomed the 2015 nuclear deal. Given the isolation facing Washington on its new Iran policy, India may not have to worry too much in the immediate future.

In fact, what should be more worrying for India is the slow pace of the Chabahar port project, which has irked the Iranians, and they have indicated that despite India developing the project, it wont be exclusive to the country. Pakistan and China might also be invited to get involved. Chabahar is seen as Indias answer to the Gwadar port, which will allow it to circumvent Pakistan and open up a route to landlocked Afghanistan. Bringing China and Pakistan in will be a challenge to Indian interests. Uncertainty surrounding American posture towards Iran is complicating Indias ability to deliver fast on Chabahar as Western manufacturers remain wary of supplying equipment for the Iranian port.

Growing stakes

The first phase of the project was completed and inaugurated in December but much more remains to be done before the project becomes the strategic nodal point that New Delhi perhaps wants it to be. The Indo-Iranian cooperation on Afghanistan is also coming under stress with Tehran joining Russia and China in managing Pakistans role in the region. The ISIS is viewed as the bigger threat in Afghanistan than the Taliban by these states. Though the larger trade and energy ties between India and Iran are gradually growing, they are being overshadowed by Indias growing stakes in the Arab world and Israel.

The Iranian presidents visit to India has made a modest effort towards adding dynamism to Indo-Iranian ties. It remains to be seen how far this will go as a new power configuration emerges in Indias extended neighbourhood which India will have to navigate carefully.

(Courtesy of Mail Today)

Also read: Love is not haram: How Pakistan celebrated Valentine's Day
Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa's candid speech at the Munich Security Conference (February 17) confirmed what New Delhi has been shouting from the rooftops all along - that Pakistan sponsors, nurtures and uses terrorists against any country that qualifies as a "tyrant" in its own rule book.

As far as the government, its armed forces and the ISI are concerned, there is the good terrorist and the bad terrorist. Bajwa said Pakistan was a victim of "bad terrorists" - terrorism emanating from Afghanistan.

Without naming India, Bajwa made it amply clear that Islamabad supports "good terrorism" if it is against any country it considers oppressive. He effectively put the seal of official approval on the killings of innocent civilians and security personnel in India.

The army chief practically admitted his country's support for terrorists bound for India as he described Pakistan's "national action plan" to fight terrorism. Called the "key message of Pakistan", the plan actually "bans suicide bombing and jihad - as proclaimed by a recent fatwa - other than one that is sanctioned by the state".

The Pakistan Army chief virtually admitted to sending young, drug-fuelled suicide squads to countries it considers "tyrannical" (read India). One must thank the General, at least, for his candour, something that Pakistani politicians refuse to show.

While Bajwa was addressing the forum, Pakistan decided to dispatch Miftah Ismail, financial adviser to the prime minister, to attend the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meeting in Paris.

The decision, in all likelihood, was impromptu considering that only a day before his departure for France, Ismail had returned from a week-long sojourn to Europe. He had gone to "convince" the FATF member countries about Islamabad's sincerity and actions to remain compliant with global anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regime.

Placing Pakistan on the watchlist would increase manifold the scrutiny of financial transactions that the country's banking sector undertakes, especially international transactions. That would automatically jack up the cost of opening letters of credit, used for trading purposes.

Any negative FATF rating will affect Pakistan's international credit ratings and increase the cost of government borrowings.

Pakistan was on the FATF grey-list from 2009 to 2015 and well understands the implications of a negative FATF rating.

But what about the General's take? Do we have an official version? Who is telling the truth?

Also read: I'm surprised Modi, like Indira Gandhi, has ensured Doordarshan remains biased and boring
Royal Bank of Canada operates as a diversified financial service company worldwide. The company's Personal & Commercial Banking segment offers checking and savings accounts, home equity financing, personal lending, private banking, indirect lending, mutual funds and self-directed brokerage accounts, guaranteed investment certificates, credit cards, and payment products and solutions; and lending, leasing, deposit, investment, foreign exchange, cash management, auto dealer financing, trade products, and services to small and medium-sized commercial businesses. This segment offers financial products and services through branches, automated teller machines, and mobile sales network. Its Wealth Management segment provides a suite of advice-based solutions and strategies to high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals, and institutional clients. The company's Insurance segment offers life, health, home, auto, travel, wealth, annuities, and reinsurance advice and solutions; and creditor and business insurance services to individual, business, and group clients through its field sales force, advice centers, and online, as well as through independent insurance advisors and affinity relationships. Its Investor & Treasury Services segment provides asset, cash management, transaction banking, and treasury services to institutional clients; correspondent banking and trade finance services for financial institutions; and short-term funding and liquidity management services. The company's Capital Markets segment offers corporate and investment banking, as well as equity and debt origination, distribution, sale, and trading services for corporations, institutional investors, asset managers, governments, and central banks. Royal Bank of Canada has a strategic partnership with Royal College Of Physicians & Surgeons Of Canada to support the needs of Canada's medical specialists. The company was founded in 1864 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Ecolab: AO Ecolab, Abednego Environmental Services, Abednego Environmental Services LLC, Abednego Mexico Holdings LLC, Abednego de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Alcide Corp., Anios America S.A., Anios Diffusion SAS, Anios Manufacturing SAS, Bioquell, Bioquell Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Bioquell Global Logistics (Ireland) Ltd., Bioquell Holding SAS, Bioquell Inc., Bioquell Limited, Bioquell SAS, Bioquell Technology (Shenzhen) Ltd., Bioquell Technology Canada Ltd., Bioquell UK Limited, Bioxyquell Limited, CALGON EUROPE LIMITED, CALGON LLC, CID LINES HOLDING NV, CID LINES INVEST NV, CID LINES NV, CID Lines, CID Lines Beijing Animal Hygiene Co Ltd., CID Lines France Sarl, CID Lines Iberica SL, CID Lines LLC, CID Lines Mexico S.A. DE C.V., CID Lines R&D NV, CID Lines Sp. z o. o., CORPAK MedSystems, Cascade Water Services, Champion Technologies, Chamtech L.L.C., Chemlawn, Chemstaff Inc., Chemstar Corporation, Cirlam BVBA, Copal Holding NV, Copal Invest NV, DERYPOL SA, DMD, E&M Bio-Chemicals LLC, ECOLAB NL 10 B.V., ECOLAB PEST FRANCE SAS, Ecolab (Antigua) Ltd., Ecolab (Aruba) N.V., Ecolab (Barbados) Limited, Ecolab (China) Investment Co. Ltd, Ecolab (Fiji) Pty Limited, Ecolab (GZ) Chemicals Limited, Ecolab (Guam) LLC, Ecolab (Proprietary) Limited, Ecolab (Schweiz) GmbH, Ecolab (St. Lucia) Limited, Ecolab (Taicang) Technology Co. Ltd., Ecolab (Trinidad and Tobago) Unlimited, Ecolab (U.K.) Holdings Limited, Ecolab A.E.B.E., Ecolab AB, Ecolab AP Holdings LLC, Ecolab AT 2 GmbH, Ecolab AU2 Pty Ltd, Ecolab Acquisition LLC, Ecolab ApS, Ecolab Argentina S.R.L., Ecolab Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Ecolab B.V., Ecolab B.V.B.A./S.P.R.L., Ecolab Bahrain S.P.C., Ecolab CDN 2 Co., Ecolab CDN 4 ULC, Ecolab CH 1 GmbH, Ecolab CH 2 GmbH, Ecolab CH 3 GmbH, Ecolab CH 5 GmbH, Ecolab CH 6 GmbH, Ecolab Chemicals Limited, Ecolab Co., Ecolab Colombia S. A., Ecolab DE 1 GmbH, Ecolab Deutschland GmbH, Ecolab EOOD, Ecolab East Africa (Kenya) Limited, Ecolab East Africa (Tanzania) Limited, Ecolab East Africa (Uganda) Limited, Ecolab Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Ecolab Engineering GmbH, Ecolab Europe GmbH, Ecolab Export GmbH, Ecolab FR 1 SAS, Ecolab FR 4 SAS, Ecolab Finance Company Designated Activity Company, Ecolab Food Safety & Hygiene Solutions Private Limited, Ecolab G.K., Ecolab Global Business Services LLC, Ecolab GmbH, Ecolab Gulf FZE, Ecolab HK 1 Limited, Ecolab HK 2 Limited, Ecolab Hispano-Portuguesa S.L., Ecolab Holding Italy S.r.l., Ecolab Holdings (Europe) LLC, Ecolab Holdings Inc., Ecolab Holdings Mexico S. de R. L. de C. V., Ecolab Hygiene Kft., Ecolab Hygiene d.o.o., Ecolab Israel Holdings LLC, Ecolab JVZ Limited, Ecolab Korea Ltd., Ecolab LLC, Ecolab LUX & Co Holdings S.C.A., Ecolab LUX 1 Sarl, Ecolab LUX 2 Sarl, Ecolab LUX 4 Sarl, Ecolab LUX 7 Sarl, Ecolab LUX Sarl, Ecolab Limited, Ecolab Ltd., Ecolab Lux 10 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 12 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 13 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 14 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 15 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 9 S.a.r.l., Ecolab Lux Partner LLC, Ecolab MT Holdings LLC, Ecolab MT Limited, Ecolab Malta 1 Limited, Ecolab Malta 2 Limited, Ecolab Malta GPS, Ecolab Manufacturing IE Limited, Ecolab Manufacturing Inc., Ecolab Manufacturing UK Limited, Ecolab Maroc Societe a Responsabilite Limitee, Ecolab NL 11 B.V., Ecolab NL 15 BV, Ecolab NL 16 B.V., Ecolab NL 23 B.V., Ecolab NL 3 BV, Ecolab NL 4 BV, Ecolab Name Holding Limited, Ecolab New Zealand, Ecolab Peru Holdings S.R.L., Ecolab Pest Deutschland GmbH, Ecolab Philippines Inc., Ecolab Production Belgium B.V.B.A., Ecolab Production France SAS, Ecolab Production Italy Srl, Ecolab Production LLC, Ecolab Production Netherlands B.V., Ecolab Production Poland sp. z o.o., Ecolab Pte. Ltd., Ecolab Pty Ltd., Ecolab Quimica Ltda., Ecolab S. de R.L. de C.V., Ecolab S.A., Ecolab S.A. de C.V., Ecolab SAS, Ecolab SIA, Ecolab SNC, Ecolab SRL, Ecolab Sdn Bhd, Ecolab Services Argentina S.R.L., Ecolab Services Poland Sp. z o o, Ecolab Sociedad Anonima, Ecolab Sp. z o o, Ecolab Spain Services S.L.U., Ecolab Temizleme Sistemleri Limited Sirketi, Ecolab U.S. 2 Inc., Ecolab U.S. 6 LLC, Ecolab U.S. 7 LLC, Ecolab US 1 GP, Ecolab USA Inc., Ecolab Viet Nam Company Limited, Ecolab Water Holding LImited, Ecolab a.s., Ecolab d.o.o., Ecolab s.r.l., Ecolab s.r.o., Ecolab y Compania Colectiva de Responsabilidad Limitada, Ecolab-Importacao E. Exportacao Limitada, Ecolabone B.V., Ecolabtwo B.V., Endoclear Equipamentos Medicos Hospitalares Ltda., Enviroflo Engineering Limited, Food Protection Services, GCS Service, Gallay Medical & Scientific Pty Ltd, Gallay Medical & Scientific Pty Ltd., GallayTrac Pty. Ltd., Georgia-Pacific - Paper Chemicals Business, Gibson Chemical Industries, Green Harbour Mainland Holdings Ltd, Guangzhou Green Harbour Environmental Operation Ltd., HYDROSAN LIMITED, Henkel-Ecolab, Hicopla SL, Holchem Laboratories, Huntington Laboratories, Hydenet SAS, INDUSTRIAL) UNIPESSOAL LDA, INTERNATIONAL WATER CONSULTANT B.V., Immobiliare R.E.O.P.A. SRL, Instrunet Hospital SLU, Jianghai Environmental Protection Co., Jianghai Environmental Protection Co. Ltd., KATAYAMA NALCO INC., Kay BVBA, Kay Chemical Company, LHS (UK) Limited, Laboratoires Anios, Laboratoires Anios-Distribution SAS, Les Produits Chimiques ERPAC Inc., Lobster Ink, Lobster Ink Africa (Pty.) Ltd., Lobster International S.A., London & General Packaging Ltd, MALAYSIA SDN. BHD, MANUFACTURING S.R.L., MOBOTEC AB LLC, Master Chemicals OOO, Meratech Rus Group LLC, Microtek Dominicana S.A., Microtek Italy S.R.L., Microtek Medical B.V., Microtek Medical Europe Limited, Microtek Medical Holdings, Microtek Medical Holdings Inc., Microtek Medical Inc., Microtek Medical Malta Holding Limited, Microtek Medical Malta Limited, Midland Research Laboratories, Midland Research Laboratories UK Limited, NALCO (SHANGHAI) TRADING CO. LTD., NALCO AB, NALCO ACQUISITION ONE, NALCO ACQUISITION TWO LIMITED, NALCO AFRICA (PTY.) LTD., NALCO ASIA HOLDING COMPANY PTE. LTD., NALCO BELGIUM BVBA, NALCO CHINA HOLDINGS LLC, NALCO COMPANY OOO, NALCO DANMARK APS, NALCO DE MEXICO S. de R. L. de C.V., NALCO DELAWARE COMPANY, NALCO DEUTSCHLAND GMBH, NALCO DEUTSCHLAND MANUFACTURING GMBH UND CO. KG, NALCO DUTCH HOLDINGS B.V., NALCO EGYPT LTD., NALCO EGYPT TRADING, NALCO ESPANOLA MANUFACTURING S.L.U., NALCO ESPANOLA S.L., NALCO EUROPE B.V., NALCO FINLAND MANUFACTURING OY, NALCO FINLAND OY, NALCO FRANCE, NALCO FRANCE SNC, NALCO GLOBAL HOLDINGS B.V., NALCO GLOBAL HOLDINGS LLC, NALCO HOLDING B.V., NALCO HOLDING COMPANY, NALCO HOLDINGS G.m.b.H., NALCO HOLDINGS UK LIMITED, NALCO HONG KONG LIMITED, NALCO INDUSTRIAL OUTSOURCING COMPANY, NALCO INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, NALCO INDUSTRIAL SERVICES (NANJING) CO. LTD., NALCO INDUSTRIAL SERVICES (SUZHOU) CO. LTD., NALCO INDUSTRIAL SERVICES (THAILAND) CO. LTD., NALCO INDUSTRIAL SERVICES CHILE LIMITADA, NALCO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS B.V., NALCO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC, NALCO INVESTMENTS U.K. LIMITED, NALCO ISRAEL INDUSTRIAL SERVICES LTD, NALCO ITALIANA, NALCO ITALIANA HOLDINGS S.R.L., NALCO ITALIANA SrL, NALCO KOREA LIMITED, NALCO LIMITED, NALCO LUXEMBOURG HOLDINGS SARL, NALCO MANUFACTURING BETEILIGUNGS GMBH, NALCO MANUFACTURING LTD., NALCO NETHERLANDS B.V., NALCO NORTH AFRICA LIMITED, NALCO OSTERREICH Ges m.b.H., NALCO OVERSEAS HOLDING B.V., NALCO PAKISTAN (PRIVATE) LIMITED, NALCO PHILIPPINES INC., NALCO PORTUGUESA (QUIMICA, NALCO PWS INC., NALCO SAUDI CO. LTD., NALCO TAIWAN CO. LTD., NALCO TWO INC., NALCO U.S. HOLDINGS LLC, NALCO UNIVERSAL HOLDINGS BV, NALCO WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS LLC, NALCO ZAO, NALFLOC LIMITED, NALTECH INC., NANOSPECIALTIES LLC, NLC PROCESS AND WATER SERVICES SARL, Nalco (BN) SDN BHD, Nalco (China) Environmental Solution Co. Ltd., Nalco Anadolu Kimya Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Nalco Canada ULC, Nalco Company LLC, Nalco Contract Operations LLC, Nalco Grundbesitz GmbH & Co. KG, Nalco Gulf Response Corp., Nalco Japan G.K., Nalco Libya, Nalco Middle East FZE, Nalco Polska Sp. z o. o., Nalco Production LLC, Nalco Real Estate GmbH, Nalco Schweiz GmbH, Nalco US 1 LLC, Nalco Wastewater Contract Operations Inc., Nalco Water India Limited, Nalco Water Pretreatment Solutions LLC, Nalco Worldwide Holdings S.a.r.l./B.V., Nigiko, Nuova Farmec S.r.l., Oksa Kimya Sanayi A.S., Oy Ecolab AB, PT Ecolab International Indonesia, PT Ecolab Technologies and Services, Purate business - AkzoNobel, Quantum Technical Services LLC, Quimicas Ecolab S.A. de C.V., Quimiproductos S.A. de C.V, RP Adam Ltd, Research Fumigation Co., Royal Pest Solutions, Shield Holdings Limited, Shield Medicare Limited, Shield Salvage Associates Limited, Soluscope International Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Soluscope SAS, Swisher Hygiene, Technical Textile Services Limited, Techtex Holdings Limited, Terminix, Ultrafab, Wabasha Leasing LLC, and vanBaerle Hygiene AG.
South32 Limited operates as a diversified metals and mining company primarily in Australia, Southern Africa, North America, and South America. The company has a portfolio of assets producing alumina, aluminum, bauxite, energy and metallurgical coal, manganese ore and alloy, ferronickel, silver, lead, and zinc. It also exports its products. South32 Limited has a strategic alliance agreement with AusQuest Limited for exploration opportunity under at its Morrisey nickel-copper project. The company was formerly known as BHP Coal Holdings Pty Limited and changed its name to South32 Limited in March 2015. South32 Limited was incorporated in 2000 and is headquartered in Perth, Australia.

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Cartier Resources Inc. engages in the acquisition and exploration of mining properties in Canada. The company explores for gold deposits. Its flagship project is the Chimo mine property located to the east of Val-d'Or, Quebec. The company also holds interest in Benoist, Fenton, Wilson, Cadillac Extension, Dollier, and MacCormack metal deposit projects, which are located in Quebec. Cartier Resources Inc. was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Val-d'Or, Canada.

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Reinsurance Group of America, Inc. is a holding company, which engages in the provision of traditional and non-traditional life and health reinsurance products. It operates through the following segments: U.S. and Latin America; Canada; Europe, Middle East, and Africa; Asia Pacific; and Corporate and Other. The U.S. and Latin America segment markets individual and group life and health reinsurance to domestic clients for a variety of products through yearly renewable term agreements, coinsurance, and modified coinsurance. The Canada segment offers individual life reinsurance, and to a lesser extent creditor, group life and health, critical illness and disability reinsurance, through yearly renewable term and coinsurance agreements. The Europe, Middle East, and Africa segment serves individual and group life and health products through yearly renewable term and coinsurance agreements, reinsurance of critical illness coverage that provides a benefit in the event of the diagnosis of a pre-defined critical illness and underwritten annuities. The Asia Pacific segment comprises individual and group life and health reinsurance, critical illness coverage, disability, and superannuation thr

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Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides marine transportation, subsea installation, and accommodation support services to exploration and production, oilfield service, offshore construction, and the United States military customers. It operates offshore supply vessels (OSVs), multi-purpose support vessels (MPSVs), and a shore-based facility to provide logistics support and specialty services to the offshore oil and gas exploration and production industry, primarily Gulf of Mexico in the U.S., Latin America, and internationally. Its fleet of U.S.-flagged OSVs and MPSVs support deep-well, deepwater, and ultra-deepwater activities of the offshore oil and gas industry, such as oil and gas exploration, field development, production, construction, installation, well-stimulation, and other enhanced oil recovery, as well as inspection, repair, and maintenance services. The company also provides vessel management services, including crewing, daily operational management, and maintenance activities for other vessels owners. As of December 31, 2018, it owned and operated 66 OSVs and 8 MPSVs. Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Covington, Louisiana.

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BNP Paribas SA provides a range of banking and financial services in France and internationally. It operates through two divisions, Retail Banking and Services, and Corporate and Institutional Banking. The company offers long-term corporate vehicle leasing, and rental and other financing solutions; and digital banking and investment services, cash management, and factoring services to corporate clients, as well as wealth management services. It also provides credit solutions for individuals under the Cetelem, Cofinoga, Findomestic, AlphaCredit, and Opel Vauxhall brands; savings and protection solutions, including insuring individuals, and their personal projects and assets; and asset management, private banking, and real estate services. In addition, the company offers global market services, including investment, hedging, financing, research, and market intellingence across asset classes; security services comprising clearing, custody, and asset and fund services, as well as corporate trust, and market and financing services; and corporate trade and treasury, debt financing, specialized financing, strategic advisory, mergers and acquisition, and equity capital market services for institutional and corporate clients. The company was formerly known as Banque Nationale de Paris and changed its name to BNP Paribas SA in May 2000. BNP Paribas SA was founded in 1848 and is headquartered in Paris, France.

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Schlumberger NV engages in the provision of technology for reservoir characterization, drilling, production and processing to the oil and gas industry. It operates through the following business segments: Digital and Integration; Reservoir Performance; Well Construction; and Production Systems. The Digital and Integration segment combines the company's software and seismic businesses with its integrated offering of asset performance solutions. The Reservoir Performance segment consists of reservoir-centric technologies and services that are critical to optimizing reservoir productivity and performance. The Well Construction segment includes the full portfolio of products and services to optimize well placement and performance, maximize drilling efficiency, and improve wellbore assurance. The Production Systems segment develops technologies and provides expertise that enhances production and recovery from subsurface reservoirs to the surface, into pipelines, and to refineries. The company was founded by Conrad Schlumberger and Marcel Schlumberger in 1926 and is headquartered in Houston, TX.

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Conagra Brands, Inc. engages in the manufacture and sale of processed and packaged foods. It operates through the following segments: Grocery and Snacks; Refrigerated and Frozen; International; and Foodservice. The Grocery and Snacks segment includes branded, shelf stable food products sold in various retail channels in the United States. The Refrigerated and Frozen segment comprises branded, temperature controlled food products sold in various retail channels in the United States. The International segment consists branded food products, in various temperature states, sold in various retail and foodservice channels outside of the United States. The Foodservice segment focuses in the branded and customized food products, including meals, entrees, sauces, and a variety of custom-manufactured culinary products packaged for sale to restaurants and other foodservice establishments in the United States. The company was founded by Alva Kinney and Frank Little in 1919 and is headquartered in Chicago, IL.

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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.

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United Technologies Corporation provides technology products and services to building systems and aerospace industries worldwide. Its Otis segment designs, manufactures, sells, and installs passenger and freight elevators, escalators, and moving walkways; and offers modernization products to upgrade elevators and escalators, as well as maintenance and repair services. The company's Carrier segment provides heating, ventilating, air conditioning, refrigeration, fire, security, and building automation products, solutions, and services for commercial, government, infrastructure, residential, and refrigeration and transportation applications. This segment also offers building services, including audit, design, installation, system integration, repair, maintenance, and monitoring. Its Pratt & Whitney segment supplies aircraft engines for commercial, military, business jet, and general aviation markets; and provides aftermarket maintenance, repair, and overhaul, as well as fleet management services. The company's Collins Aerospace Systems segment provides electric power generation, power management, and distribution systems; air data and aircraft sensing systems; engine control, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems; engine components; environmental control systems; fire and ice detection, and protection systems; propeller systems; engine nacelle systems; aircraft lighting, seating, and cargo systems; actuation and landing systems; space products and subsystems; avionics systems; flight controls, communications, navigation, oxygen, and training systems; food and beverage preparation, and storage and galley systems; and lavatory and wastewater management systems. The company offers its services through manufacturers' representatives, distributors, wholesalers, dealers, retail outlets, and sales representatives, as well as directly to customers. United Technologies Corporation was founded in 1934 and is headquartered in Farmington, Connecticut.

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Freeport-McMoRan, Inc. engages in the mining of copper, gold and molybdenum. It operates through the following segments: North America Copper Mines, South America Mining; Indonesia Mining, Molybdenum Mines, Rod and Refining, Atlantic Copper Smelting and Refining and Corporate, Other and Eliminations. The North America Copper Mines segment operates open-pit copper mines in Morenci, Bagdad, Safford, Sierrita and Miami in Arizona and Chino and Tyrone in New Mexico. The South America Mining segment includes Cerro Verde in Peru and El Abra in Chile. The Indonesia Mining segment handles the operations of Grasberg minerals district that produces copper concentrate that contains significant quantities of gold and silver. The Molybdenum Mines segment includes the Henderson underground mine and Climax open-pit mine, both in Colorado. The Rod and Refining segment consists of copper conversion facilities located in North America and includes a refinery, rod mills, and a specialty copper products facility. The Atlantic Copper Smelting and Refining segment smelts and refines copper concentrate and markets refined copper and precious metals in slimes. The Corporate, Other and Eliminations segment

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The following companies are subsidiares of Global Payments: ACTIVE Network - Communities and Sports, Active Network (HK) Limited, Active Network IPICO (CA) Inc., Active Network IPICO (US) Inc., Active Network IPICO Holdings (US) LLC, Active Network IPICO Holdings (US) LLC, Active Network IPICO Innovation Inc., Active Networks LLC, AdvancedMD, Athlaction Intermediate LLC, Athlaction Topco LLC, AuctionPay, Comercia Global Payments Entidad de Pago S.L., DEBITEK INC, Digital Dining LLC, Dinerware LLC, DolEx Europe S.L., Educational Computer Systems Inc., Ematters Australia Pty Ltd., Equifax Credit Services LLC, Ezi Holdings Pty. Ltd., Ezi Management Pty Ltd., Ezidebit, Ezidebit (NZ) Limited, Ezidebit HK Ltd., Ezidebit Pty Ltd., GP Finance LLC, GPC Financial Corporation, GPS Holding Limited Partnership, GPUK LLP, Global Payment Holding Company, Global Payment Systems Asia-Pacific (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd., Global Payment Systems LLC, Global Payment Systems of Canada Ltd., Global Payments - Caixa Acquisition Corporation S.a.r.l., Global Payments - Realex Payments Holding Limited, Global Payments - Servicos de Pagamentos S.A., Global Payments Acquisition Corp. 1 B.V., Global Payments Acquisition Corp. 2 B.V., Global Payments Acquisition Corp. 3 B.V., Global Payments Acquisition Corporation 2 LLC, Global Payments Acquisition Corporation 2 S.a.r.l., Global Payments Acquisition Corporation 3 LLC, Global Payments Acquisition Corporation 3 S.a.r.l., Global Payments Acquisition Corporation 4 S.a.r.l., Global Payments Acquisition Corporation 6 S.a.r.l., Global Payments Acquisition Corporation 7 LLC, Global Payments Acquisition Corporation 7 S.a.r.l., Global Payments Acquisition Corporation HK Holding Limited, Global Payments Acquisition PS 1 C.V., Global Payments Acquisition PS 2 C.V., Global Payments Acquisition PS 3 C. V., Global Payments Acquisition PS1-Global Payments Direct S.e.n.c., Global Payments Asia-Pacific (Hong Kong Holding) Limited, Global Payments Asia-Pacific (Hong Kong) Limited, Global Payments Asia-Pacific (India) Private Limited, Global Payments Asia-Pacific (Shanghai) Limited, Global Payments Asia-Pacific (Singapore Holding) Ltd., Global Payments Asia-Pacific Lanka (Private) Limited, Global Payments Asia-Pacific Limited, Global Payments Asia-Pacific Macau Limited, Global Payments Asia-Pacific Maldives Private Limited, Global Payments Asia-Pacific Philippines Incorporated, Global Payments Asia-Pacific Processing Company Limited, Global Payments Australia Pty 1 Ltd., Global Payments Australia Pty 2 Ltd., Global Payments Canada GP, Global Payments Canada Inc., Global Payments Card Processing Malaysia Sdn. Bhd, Global Payments Check Recovery Services Inc., Global Payments Check Services Inc., Global Payments Direct Inc., Global Payments Europe d.o.o. Sarajevo, Global Payments Europe s.r.o., Global Payments Gaming Canada Inc., Global Payments Gaming International Inc., Global Payments Gaming Services Inc., Global Payments Integrated, Global Payments Limited, Global Payments Process Centre Inc., Global Payments South America Brasil-Servicos de Pagamentos S.A., Global Payments UK 2 Ltd., Global Payments UK Ltd., Global Payments s.r.o., Greater Giving Inc., Heartland Acquisition LLC, Heartland Payment Solutions Inc., Heartland Payment Systems, Heartland Payment Systems LLC, Heartland Payroll Solutions Inc., IPICO South Africa (Pty) Ltd., JumpForward LLC, Maximum Solutions LLC, Merchant Services U.S.A. Inc., Modular Data Inc., NDC Holdings (UK) Ltd., NDPS Holdings Inc., PCAmerica LLC, Pay and Shop Limited, PayPros LLC, Payment Processing, Payroll 1 Inc., Realex Payments, SICOM Systems, Sabrir Invest S.L., Sentral Education, Spolecnost pro informacni database a.s., Storman Holdings Pty Ltd., Storman Software Inc., Storman Software Limited, Storman Software Ltd., Storman Software Pty Ltd., TeamPages Inc., The Active Network (Asia) Pte. Ltd, The Active Network (Aus-NZ) Pty. Ltd., The Active Network (EU) Ltd., The Active Network Ltd., The Active Network Ltd. (Chengdu), The Active Network Ltd. (Xian), Total System Services, TouchNet Information Systems Inc., UCS Terminal Joint Stock Company, United Card Service Joint Stock Company, VEPF III AIV VI-C Corp., VEPF IV AIV VII-C Corp., VFF I AIV IV-C Corp., Web Active Corporation Pty Ltd., Xenial Inc., Xpient LLC, eWAY, eWay Europe Limited, eWay Payments Asia Pte Ltd., eWay Payments Inc., eWay Payments New Zealand Limited, eWay Payments North America Inc., and eWay Payments Pty Ltd..
Valvoline, Inc. is engaged in producing, marketing and supplying of engine & automotive maintenance products and services. The company operates through three segments: Quick Lubes, Core North America and International. The Quick Lubes segment provides services to passenger car and light truck quick lube market through company-owned and independent franchised retail quick lube service center stores and independent express care stores that service vehicles with valvoline products. The Core North America segment sells engine and automotive maintenance products in the United States and Canada to retailers, installers, and heavy-duty customers to service vehicles and equipment. The International segment sells engine and automotive products in more than 140 countries outside of the United States and Canada for the maintenance of consumer and commercial vehicles and equipment. Its products include motor oil, gear oil, pro-v racing and antifreeze and radiator. Valvoline was founded in 1866 and is headquartered in Lexington, KY.

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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.
Rockwell Collins, Inc. designs, produces, and supports communications and aviation systems worldwide. The company's Interior Systems segment offers commercial aircraft seats; galley structures, food and beverage preparation equipment, and water and waste systems; oxygen and passenger service equipment; cabin lighting systems; and business jet and general aviation interior products. Its Commercial Systems segment provides cabin management systems; data link, frequency, very high frequency, and satellite communications systems; landing, radio navigation, and geophysical sensors, and flight management systems; situational awareness and surveillance systems and products; integrated flight controls; simulation and training systems; maintenance, repair, parts, and after-sales support services, and aftermarket used equipment. The company's Government Systems segment provides communications systems and products; radio navigation products, global positioning system equipment, and multi-mode receivers; avionics systems; precision targeting, electronic warfare, and training systems; simulation and training systems; space wheels; visual system products; maintenance, repair, parts, and after-sales support services, and aftermarket used equipment. Its Information Management Services segment offers voice and data communication services; flight support services; airport communications and information systems; train dispatching and information systems; mission critical security systems; and cabin connectivity solutions. The company serves original equipment manufacturers of commercial air transport, business and regional aircraft, commercial airlines, U.S. Department of Defense, other ministries of defense, other government agencies, defense contractors, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, and passenger and freight railroads, as well as airport, critical infrastructure, and business aircraft operators. The company was founded in 1933 and is headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Thermo Fisher Scientific: 236 Perinton Parkway LLC, 27 Forge Parkway LLC, ABR--Affinity BioReagents, ACI Holdings Inc., ARG Services LLC, ASPEX Corporation, Abgene Inc., Abgene Limited, Acoustic Cytometry Systems Inc., AcroMetrix LLC, Acros Organics B.V.B.A., Advanced Biotechnologies Limited, Advanced Scientifics (ASI), Advanced Scientifics Inc., Advanced Scientifics International Inc., Affymetrix Biotech Participacoes Ltda., Affymetrix Biotech Shanghai Ltd, Affymetrix Inc, Affymetrix Japan K.K., Affymetrix Pte Ltd, Affymetrix UK Ltd, Afora S.A.U., Ahura Scientific, Alchematrix Inc., Alchematrix LLC, Alfa Aesar, Alfa Aesar (China) Chemical Co. Ltd., Alfa Aesar (Hong Kong) Limited, Allergon AB, Alphine Mountain Limited, Ambion Inc., Apogent Denmark ApS, Apogent Finance Company, Apogent Holding Company, Apogent Technologies Inc., Apogent Transition Corp., Apogent U.K. Limited, App-Tek International Pty Ltd, Applied Biosystems B.V., Applied Biosystems Finance B.V., Applied Biosystems International Inc., Applied Biosystems LLC, Applied Biosystems Taiwan LLC, Applied Biosystems Trading (Shanghai) Company Ltd., Applied Biosystems de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Applied Scientific Corporation, Avances Cientificos de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Avocado Research Chemicals Limited, B.R.A.H.M.S. Biotech GmbH, B.R.A.H.M.S. GmbH, B.R.A.H.M.S. UK Ltd, BAC BV, BAC IP BV, Barnstead Thermolyne LLC, Beijing Phadia Diagnostics Co Ltd, Bender MedSystems GmbH, BioTrove Corporation, BioTrove International Inc., Bioanalysis Labsystems S.A., Biochemical Sciences LLC, Biolab, BmT GmbH Laborprodukte, Bonsai Tecnologies - Sistemas para Biotecnologia e Industria Unipessoal Lda, Brammer Bio, Bumi-Sans Sendirian Berhad, CAC Limited, CB Diagnostics AB, CB Diagnostics Holding AB, CEPH International Corporation, CHK Holdings Inc., CRS Robotics, CTPS LLC, Capitol Scientific Products Inc., Capitol Vial Inc., Cellomics Inc., CellzDirect Inc., Cenduit GmbH, Cenduit LLC, Cezanne S.A.S., Chase Scientific Glass Inc., Chromacol Limited, Clintrak, Clintrak Clinical Labeling Services LLC, Clintrak Pharmaceutical Services LLC, Cohesive Technologies (UK) Limited, Cohesive Technologies Inc., Columbia Diagnostics Inc., Compendia Bioscience Inc., Comtest Limited, Consolidated Technologies Inc., Consultores Fisher Scientific Chile Ltd, Core Informatics, Core Informatics LLC, Core Informatics UK Ltd., D-finitive Technologies Inc., DCG Systems B.V., DCG Systems C.V., DCG Systems G.K., DCG Systems GmbH, DCG Systems Korea Ltd., DCG Systems LLC, DPI Newco LLC, DSM Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Dharmacon, Diagnostix Ltd., Dionex (China) Analytical Ltd, Dionex (Switzerland) AG, Dionex (UK) Limited, Dionex Austria GmbH, Dionex Benelux B.V., Dionex Brasil Instrumentos Cientificos Ltda, Dionex Canada Ltd., Dionex China Limited, Dionex Corporation, Dionex Denmark A/S, Dionex Holding GmbH, Dionex I LLC, Dionex Pty Ltd., Dionex S.A., Dionex S.p.A., Dionex Singapore Pte Ltd., Dionex Softron GmbH, Dionex Sweden AB, Distribution Solutions International Inc., Doe & Ingalls Investors Inc., Doe & Ingalls Limited, Doe & Ingalls Management LLC, Doe & Ingalls Properties II LLC, Doe & Ingalls Properties LLC, Doe & Ingalls of California Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Florida Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Maryland Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Massachusetts Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of North Carolina Operating LLC, Doublecape Holding Limited, Doublecape Limited, Drakeside Real Estate Holding Company LLC, Duke Scientific Corporation, Dynal Biotech Beijing Limited, EGS Gauging Ltd., EGS Gauging Technical Services Company, EP Scientific Products LLC, Ecochem N.V., EnviroEquip Pty Ltd, Epsom Glass Industries Limited, Equibio Limited, Erie Electroverre S.A., Erie Finance Limited, Erie LP Holding LLC, Erie Scientific Company of Puerto Rico, Erie Scientific Hungary Kft, Erie Scientific LLC, Erie U.K. Limited, Erie UK 1 Limited, Erie UK 2 Limited, Erie UK Holding Company, Erie UK Senior Holding Limited, European Laboratory Holdings Limited, Eutech Instruments Europe B.V., Eutech Instruments Pte Ltd., Eutech Instruments Sdn Bhd, Ever Ready Thermometer Co. Inc., FEI Asia Pacific Co. Ltd., FEI Australia Pty Ltd, FEI CPD B.V., FEI Company, FEI Company Japan Ltd., FEI Company of USA (S.E.A.) Pte Ltd., FEI Czech Republic s.r.o., FEI Deutschland GmbH, FEI EFA Inc., FEI EFA International Pte. Ltd., FEI Electron Optics B.V., FEI Electron Optics International B.V., FEI Europe B.V., FEI France SAS, FEI Global Holdings C.V., FEI Hong Kong Company Limited, FEI Houston Inc., FEI Italia Srl, FEI Korea Ltd., FEI Melbourne Pty Ltd., FEI Microscopy Solutions Ltd, FEI Munich GmbH, FEI Norway Holding AS, FEI SAS, FEI Saudi Arabia LLC, FEI Servicos de Nanotecnologia Ltda., FEI Technologies Inc., FEI Technology de Mexico S.A. de C.V., FEI Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., FEI Trondheim AS, FEI UK Ltd., FHP LLC, FRC Holding Inc. V, FS (Barbados) Capital Holdings Ltd., FS Casa Rocas Holdings LLC, FS Mexicana Holdings LLC, FSI Receivables Company LLC, FSII Sweden Holdings AB, FSII Sweden Holdings I AB, FSIR Holdings (UK) Limited, FSIR Holdings (US) Inc., FSUK Holdings Limited, FSWH Company LLC, FSWH II C.V., FSWH International Holdings LLC, Fermentas China Co. Ltd, Fermentas Inc., Fermentas International, Fermentas Sweden AB, Fermentas UK Limited, Fiberlite Centrifuge LLC, Finesse Scientific Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Finesse Solutions AG, Finesse Solutions Inc., Finnzymes Oy, Fisher Alder S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Asia Manufacturing Ventures Inc., Fisher Bermuda Holdings Limited, Fisher BioImage ApS, Fisher BioPharma Services (India) Private Limited, Fisher BioSciences Japan G.K., Fisher BioServices Inc., Fisher Bioblock Holding II SNC, Fisher CLP Holding Limited Partnership, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 1, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 2, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 3, Fisher Canada Limited Partnership, Fisher Chimica BVBA, Fisher Clinical Logistics LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services (Bristol) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Colombia) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Korea) Co. Ltd, Fisher Clinical Services (Mexico) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Peru) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services Colombia S.A.S., Fisher Clinical Services GmbH, Fisher Clinical Services Inc., Fisher Clinical Services Japan K.K., Fisher Clinical Services Latin America S.R.L., Fisher Clinical Services Limited Liability Company, Fisher Clinical Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Clinical Services Peru S.R.L, Fisher Clinical Services Pte Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services U.K. Limited, Fisher Emergo B.V., Fisher Germany Holdings GmbH, Fisher Hamilton China Inc., Fisher Hamilton Mexico LLC, Fisher Holdings ApS, Fisher Internet Minority Holdings L.L.C., Fisher Laboratory Products Manufacturing (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Fisher Luxembourg Danish Holdings SARL, Fisher Manufacturing (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Maybridge Holdings Limited, Fisher Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Scientific (Austria) GmbH, Fisher Scientific (Hong Kong) Limited, Fisher Scientific (M) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Scientific (SEA) Pte. Ltd., Fisher Scientific A/S, Fisher Scientific AG, Fisher Scientific Australia Pty Limited, Fisher Scientific Biotech Line ApS, Fisher Scientific Brazil Inc., Fisher Scientific Central America Inc., Fisher Scientific Chile Inc., Fisher Scientific Colombia Inc., Fisher Scientific Company, Fisher Scientific Company L.L.C., Fisher Scientific Costa Rica Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Fisher Scientific Europe Holdings B.V., Fisher Scientific GTF AB, Fisher Scientific Germany Beteiligungs GmbH, Fisher Scientific GmbH, Fisher Scientific Holding Company LLC, Fisher Scientific Holding HK Limited, Fisher Scientific Holding U.K. Limited, Fisher Scientific Holdings (M) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Scientific Holdings (S) Pte Ltd, Fisher Scientific International LLC, Fisher Scientific Investments (Cayman) Ltd., Fisher Scientific Ireland Investments Unlimited, Fisher Scientific Ireland Limited, Fisher Scientific Japan Ltd., Fisher Scientific Jersey Island Limited, Fisher Scientific Korea Ltd, Fisher Scientific Latin America Inc., Fisher Scientific Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Fisher Scientific Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Scientific Mexico Inc., Fisher Scientific Middle East and Africa Inc., Fisher Scientific Norway AS, Fisher Scientific Operating Company, Fisher Scientific Oxoid Holdings Ltd., Fisher Scientific Oy, Fisher Scientific Pte. Ltd., Fisher Scientific S.A.S., Fisher Scientific S.L., Fisher Scientific SPRL, Fisher Scientific The Hague I B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague II B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague III B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague IV B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague V B.V., Fisher Scientific U.K. Limited, Fisher Scientific UK Holding Company 2, Fisher Scientific UK Holding Company Limited, Fisher Scientific Unipessoal Lda., Fisher Scientific Venezuela Inc., Fisher Scientific Worldwide (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Fisher Scientific Worldwide Holdings I C.V., Fisher Scientific Worldwide Inc., Fisher Scientific de Mexico S.A., Fisher Scientific of the Netherlands B.V., Fisher Scientific spol. S.r.o, Fisher Servicios Clinicos (Chile) LLC, Fisher Servicios Clinicos Chile Ltda, Fisher WWD Holding L.L.C., Fisher Worldwide Distribution SPV, Fisher Worldwide Gene Distribution SPV, Flux Instruments, Fuji Partnership, G & M Procter Limited, G V Instruments Limited, GV Instruments Canada Ltd., GV Instruments Inc, Gatan Inc, General Scientific Company Sdn Bhd (M), Genomed molekularbiologische und diagnostische Produkte GmbH, Gerhard Menzel B.V. & Co. KG, Gold Cattle Standard Testing Labs Inc., Golden West Indemnity Company Limited, Goring Kerr Detection Limited, Greenville Service Company Inc., HENO GmbH i.L., Hangar 215 Inc., Helmet Securities Limited, Henogen, HighChem, HyClone International Trade (Tianjin) Co. Ltd, Hybaid Limited, I.Q. (BIO) Limited, IDnostics AG, ILS Laboratories Scandinavia AB, Inel Inc., Inel SAS, InnaPhase Inc., InnaPhase Limited, IntegenX, Intrinsic BioProbes Inc., Intrinsic Bioprobes Inc., Invitrogen (Shanghai) Investment Co. Ltd., Invitrogen Argentina SA, Invitrogen BioServices India Private Limited, Invitrogen Europe Limited, Invitrogen Finance Corp., Invitrogen Holdings LLC, Invitrogen Holdings Ltd., Invitrogen Hong Kong Limited, Invitrogen IP Holdings Inc., Invitrogen Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ion Torrent Systems Inc., Ionalytics Corporation, JSC Thermo Fisher Scientific, Jouan LLC, Jouan Limited, Jouan SA, Kendro Containment & Services Limited, Kendro Laboratory Products Ltd, Kettlebrook Insurance Co. ltd., Keystone Scientific, KonTEM GmbH, Kyle Jordan Investments LLC, LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, LTC Tech South Africa PTY Ltd., La-Pha-Pack GmbH, Lab Vision (UK) Limited, Lab Vision Corporation, Lab-Chrom-Pack LLC, Lab-Line Instruments Inc., Labomex MBP S. de R. L. De C.V., Laboratoire Service International - L.S.I, Laboratory Management Systems Inc., Laboratory Specialties Proprietary Ltd., LambTrack Limited, Laser Analytical Systems Inc., Liberty Lane Investment LLC, Liberty Lane Real Estate Holding Company LLC, Life Sciences International (Poland) SP z O.O, Life Sciences International Holdings BV, Life Sciences International LLC, Life Sciences International Limited, Life Technologies AS, Life Technologies Australia PTY Ltd., Life Technologies BPD AB, Life Technologies BPD UK Limited, Life Technologies Brasil Comercio e Industria de Produtos para Biotecnologia Ltda, Life Technologies Chile SpA, Life Technologies Clinical Services Lab Inc., Life Technologies Co. Ltd., Life Technologies Czech Republic s.r.o., Life Technologies DaAn Diagnostic (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd., Life Technologies Europe B.V., Life Technologies Finance Ltd., Life Technologies Finland Oy, Life Technologies GmbH, Life Technologies Holdings PTE Ltd., Life Technologies Inc., Life Technologies International B.V., Life Technologies Japan Ltd., Life Technologies Korea LLC, Life Technologies Limited, Life Technologies Magyarorszag Kft, Life Technologies New Zealand Ltd., Life Technologies Norway Investments US LLC, Life Technologies Polska Sp z.o.o., Life Technologies SA, Life Technologies SAS, Life Technologies s.r.o, Linkage Biosciences Inc., Linkage Biosciences S.a.r.l., Loftus Furnace Company, Lomb Scientific, Lomb Scientific (Aust) Pty Limited, MTI-GlobalStem, Marketbase International Limited, Matrix MicroScience Inc., Matrix MicroScience Ltd., Matrix Technologies Corporation Limited, Matrix Technologies LLC, Maybridge Chemical Company Limited, Maybridge Chemical Holdings Limited, Maybridge Limited, Medical Analysis Systems Inc., Medical Analysis Systems International Inc., Medical Diagnostics Systems Inc., Metavac LLC, Microgenics Corporation, Microgenics Diagnostics Pty Limited, Microgenics GmbH, Microm International GmbH, Microm Laborgerate S.L.U, Molecular BioProducts Inc., Molecular Probes Inc., Molecular Transfer Inc., NAPCO Inc., NERL Diagnostics LLC, NOVODIRECT GmbH Labor- und Industrie- Megerate, Nalge (Europe) Limited, Nalge Nunc International (Monterrey) LLC, Nalge Nunc International Corporation, Nanjing WeiKangLe Trading Industrial Co Ltd, NanoDrop Technologies LLC, National Scientific Company, Navaho Acquisition Corp., Neomarkers Inc., New FS Holdings Inc., NewcoGen PE LLC, Nihon Dynal K.K., Niton Asia Limited, NovaWave Technologies Inc., Nunc A/S, ONIX Systems Inc., OXOID CZ s.r.o., Odyssey Holdings Corporation, Odyssey Luxembourg Holdings S.a r.l., Odyssey Luxembourg IP Holdings 1 S.a r.l., Odyssey Luxembourg IP Holdings 2 S.a r.l., Odyssey Venture Corporation, Omega Data Systems, One Lambda Inc, Onix Holdings Limited, Orme Scientific Limited, Owl Separation Systems LLC, Oxoid (ELY) Limited, Oxoid 2000 Limited, Oxoid AS, Oxoid Australia Pty. Limited, Oxoid Company, Oxoid Deutschland GmbH, Oxoid Holding SAS, Oxoid Holdings Limited, Oxoid Inc., Oxoid International Limited, Oxoid Investments GmbH, Oxoid Limited, Oxoid N.V., Oxoid New Zealand Limited, Oxoid Pension Trustees Limited, Oxoid Senior Holdings Limited, Oxoid UKH LLC, PAX - DSI Acquisition LLC, PE AG, Pacific Rim Far East Industries LLC, Pacific Rim Investment LLC, Panomics L.L.C., Panomics S.R.L., Patheon, Patheon API Inc., Patheon API Manufacturing Inc., Patheon API Services Inc., Patheon Austria GmbH & Co KG, Patheon B.V., Patheon Banner U.S. Holdings Inc., Patheon Biologics (NJ) LLC, Patheon Biologics Australia Pty Ltd, Patheon Biologics B.V., Patheon Biologics LLC, Patheon Calculus Merger LLC, Patheon Cooperatief U.A., Patheon Development Services Inc., Patheon Finance LLC, Patheon France SAS, Patheon Holdings B.V., Patheon Holdings I B.V., Patheon Holdings II B.V., Patheon Holdings SAS, Patheon I B.V., Patheon I Holding GmbH, Patheon Inc., Patheon International AG, Patheon Italia S.p.A., Patheon KK, Patheon Life Science Products International GmbH, Patheon Manufacturing Services LLC, Patheon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Patheon Pharmaceuticals Services Inc., Patheon Puerto Rico Acquisitions Corporation, Patheon Puerto Rico Inc., Patheon Regensburg GmbH, Patheon Softgels B.V., Patheon Softgels Inc., Patheon U.S. Holdings Inc., Patheon U.S. Holdings LLC, Patheon UK Limited, Patheon UK Pension Trustees Limited, Pelican Acquisition Corporation, Perbio Science (Canada) Company, Perbio Science AB, Perbio Science BVBA, Perbio Science France SAS, Perbio Science Inc., Perbio Science International Netherlands B.V., Perbio Science Invest AB, Perbio Science Nederland B.V., Perbio Science Projekt AB, Perbio Science Sweden Holdings AB, Perbio Science Switzerland SA, Perbio Science UK Limited, Phadia AB, Phadia Diagnosticos Ltda, Phadia GmbH, Phadia Holding AB, Phadia International Holdings C.V., Phadia Korea Co. Ltd, Phadia Luxembourg Holdings S.a.r.l., Phadia Malta Holdings Limited, Phadia Oy, Phadia Real Property AB, Phadia Sweden AB, Phadia Taiwan Inc., Phadia US Inc., Phadia s.r.o., Pharmacaps Mexicana SA de CV, Phenom-World B.V., Phenom-World Holding B.V, Phenom-World Innovations B.V., Phinotex, Pierce Biotechnology Inc., Pierce Milwaukee Holding Corp., Pierce Milwaukee Inc., Polychromix, Power Sweden Holdings I AB, Power Sweden Holdings II AB, Power Sweden Holdings III Aktiebolag, Princeton Gamma-Tech Instruments LLC, Princeton Security Technologies, Prionics AG, Prionics Asia Ltd., Prionics Deutschland GmbH, Prionics France SAS, Prionics Italia S.r.l., Prionics Lelystad B.V., Prionics USA Inc., Priority Air Express LLC, Priority Air Express Pte. Ltd., Priority Air Express UK Limited, Priority Air Holdings Corp, Priority Solutions International, Promedica Pty Limited, Proxeon, Proxeon Biosystems ApS, Qiagen, REP GBP I-B Blocker Inc., Raymond A Lamb Limited, Remel Europe Limited, Remel Inc., Richard-Allan Scientific Company, Robbins Scientific LLC, Robocon Labor- und Industrieroboter Gesellschaft m.b.H, Rupprecht and Patashnick, Rupprecht and Patashnick (R&P), Russell pH Limited, S.C.I. du 10 rue Dugay Trouin, SCI Inno 92, STC Bio Manufacturing Inc., Samco Scientific (Monterrey) LLC, Samco Scientific LLC, Saroph Sweden AB, Schantz Road LLC, Seradyn Inc., Shanghai Life Technologies Biotechnology Co. Limited, Shanghai Thermo Fisher (C-I) Trading Co. Ltd, Shanghai Thermo Fisher (S) Trading Co. Ltd, Southern Trials (Pty) Ltd., Specialty (SMI) Inc., Spectra-Physics AB, Spectra-Physics Holdings Limited, Spectra-Physics Holdings USA LLC, Spectronex, Staten Island Cogeneration Corporation, Sterilin Limited, Stokes Bio Ltd., Sweden DIA (Sweden) AB, SwissAnalytic Group GmbH, Systems Manufacturing Corporation, TFLP LLC, TFS Breda B.V., TFS LLC, TFS Singapore HK Limited, TFSL Financing GP LLC, TFSL Senior GP Holdings 2 LLC, TK Partnership, TKA Wasseraufbereitungssysteme, TMOI Inc., TPI Real Estate Holdings LLC, TSP Holdings I LLC, TWX LLC, Technology Design Solutions Pty Ltd, Thermedics Detection de Argentina S.R.L, Thermo Allen Coding Limited, Thermo Asset Management Services Inc., Thermo BioAnalysis LLC, Thermo BioAnalysis Limited, Thermo BioSciences Holdings LLC, Thermo CIDTEC, Thermo CRS Holdings Ltd., Thermo CRS Ltd., Thermo Cambridge Limited, Thermo Cayman Holdings Ltd., Thermo Corporation, Thermo DMA Inc., Thermo Detection de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Dutch Holdings Limited Partnership, Thermo EGS Gauging LLC, Thermo Eberline Holdings I LLC, Thermo Eberline Holdings II LLC, Thermo Eberline LLC, Thermo Electron (Calgary) Limited, Thermo Electron (Chile) S.p.A., Thermo Electron (Karlsruhe) GmbH, Thermo Electron (Management Services) Limited, Thermo Electron (Proprietary) Limited, Thermo Electron A/S, Thermo Electron Australia Pty Limited, Thermo Electron Export Inc., Thermo Electron Holdings SAS, Thermo Electron Industries, Thermo Electron LED GmbH, Thermo Electron LED S.A.S., Thermo Electron Limited, Thermo Electron Manufacturing Limited, Thermo Electron Metallurgical Services Inc., Thermo Electron North America LLC, Thermo Electron Pension Trust GmbH, Thermo Electron Puerto Rico Inc., Thermo Electron SAS, Thermo Electron Scientific Instruments LLC, Thermo Electron Sweden AB, Thermo Electron Sweden Forvaltning AB, Thermo Electron Weighing & Inspection Limited, Thermo Elemental Limited, Thermo Environmental Instruments LLC, Thermo Fast U.K. Limited, Thermo Finland Holdings LLC, Thermo Finland Holdings MT1 B.V., Thermo Finland Holdings MT2 B.V., Thermo Finnigan LLC, Thermo Finnigan Limited, Thermo Fisher (CN) Luxembourg Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher (CN) Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher (CN) Malta Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher (CN-I) Luxembourg LLC, Thermo Fisher (CN-II) Luxembourg LLC, Thermo Fisher (Cayman) Holdings I Ltd., Thermo Fisher (Cayman) Holdings II Ltd., Thermo Fisher (Finland Holdings 2) LLC, Thermo Fisher (Finland Holdings) Limited Partnership, Thermo Fisher (Gibraltar) II Limited, Thermo Fisher (Gibraltar) Limited, Thermo Fisher (Heysham) Limited, Thermo Fisher (Kandel) GmbH, Thermo Fisher CHK Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher China Business Trust, Thermo Fisher China Business Trust II, Thermo Fisher Costa Rica Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Thermo Fisher Cyprus Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Detection Mexico LLC, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics (Ireland) Limited, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics AB, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics AG, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics AS, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Aps, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Austria GmbH, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics B.V., Thermo Fisher Diagnostics GmbH, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics K.K., Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Limited, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics NV, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics S.L.U., Thermo Fisher Diagnostics S.p.A. , Thermo Fisher Diagnostics SAS, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Thermo Fisher Eurobonds Ltd., Thermo Fisher Financial Services Inc., Thermo Fisher GP LLC, Thermo Fisher German Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Germany B.V., Thermo Fisher India Divestco Private Limited, Thermo Fisher India Holding B.V., Thermo Fisher Insurance Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Insurance Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Investments (Cayman) Ltd., Thermo Fisher Israel Ltd., Thermo Fisher Production et Services SAS, Thermo Fisher Project Cyprus LLC, Thermo Fisher Re Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Asheville) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Australia) C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Barbados) Holdings Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Breda) Holding BV, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Bremen) GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific (CN) Limited Partnership, Thermo Fisher Scientific (China) Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (China) Holding Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (China-HK) Holding Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (DE) Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Ecublens) SARL, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance I) B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance I) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance II) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance III) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance III) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Fuji) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Holding II) B.V. & Co. KG, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Hong Kong) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (IVGN) B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (IVGN) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Johannesburg) (Proprietary) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Mexico City) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Milwaukee) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Mississauga) Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Monterrey) S. De R.L. De C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (NK) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN) Austria Holding GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN) UK LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN) UK Limited Partnership, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN-I) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN-II) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN1) UK Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Panama) B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Panama) Dutch LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Praha) s.r.o., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Real Estate 1) GmbH & Co. KG, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Real Estate 1) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Schweiz) AG, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Shanghai) Instruments Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Suzhou) Instruments Co. Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific AL-1 LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific AU C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific AU II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific AU LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific AU Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Africa Proprietary Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Aquasensors LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Australia Pty Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific B.V.B.A., Thermo Fisher Scientific BHK (I) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific BHK (II) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Baltics UAB, Thermo Fisher Scientific Beteiligungsverwaltungs GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Biosciences Corp., Thermo Fisher Scientific Brahms LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Brasil Instrumentos de Processo Ltda., Thermo Fisher Scientific Brasil Servicos de Logistica Ltda, Thermo Fisher Scientific C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cayman Investments LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Chemicals Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific China (C-I) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific China (S) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings I B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings II B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings III B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings IV B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Chromatography Holdings Aps, Thermo Fisher Scientific Chromatography Holdings S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus I Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus II Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus III C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus III Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus IV C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus V C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Denmark Senior Holdings ApS, Thermo Fisher Scientific Erie 1 Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Erie Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Erie Financing S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Europe GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC Finance C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC II B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific FSIR Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific FSIR Financing S.a.r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific FSUKHCO Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Falcon Senior Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Finance Company BV, Thermo Fisher Scientific GENEART GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Germany BV & Co. KG, Thermo Fisher Scientific GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific HR Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings (Cayman) I, Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings (Cayman) II , Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings Europe Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific IT Services GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific India Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific India Pvt Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Malta) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Sweden) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Sweden) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments Malta (Sweden Financing) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Invitrogen Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings I B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings II B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings III B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific K.K., Thermo Fisher Scientific Korea Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific LSI Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life CV GP Holdings II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life CV GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Enterprises C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Enterprises GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing (Cayman), Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings III C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International Holdings I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments I S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments III S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments IV S.a.r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta Holding I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta Holding II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments US Financing I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments US Financing II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life NL Holdings GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Netherlands Holding C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior GP Holdings II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Switzerland Holdings GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Tech Korea Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Enterprise Holding Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment UK I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment UK II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investments Holding LP, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Israel Investment I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Israel Investment II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Luxembourg Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Enterprise Holdings S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg German Holdings S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Life Technologies UK Holding S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Sweden Holdings I S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Sweden Holdings II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Venture Holdings I S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Venture Holdings II S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Malta Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Messtechnik GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Mexico City S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Middle East Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Milano Srl, Thermo Fisher Scientific NHK Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific New Zealand Holdings, Thermo Fisher Scientific New Zealand Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Norway Holdings AS, Thermo Fisher Scientific Norway US Investments LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Odyssey Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Odyssey Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Operating Company LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Oy, Thermo Fisher Scientific PN2 C.V, Thermo Fisher Scientific PN2 LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Panama I Cayman Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Peru S.R.L., Thermo Fisher Scientific Pte. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Re Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific SL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Senior Financing LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Senior Holdings Australia LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific South Africa Proprietary Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific SpA, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Holdings Luxembourg I S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Holdings Luxembourg II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Investments Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Switzerland Holdings C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific TR Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Taiwan Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Vermogensverwaltungs GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific West Palm Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Wissenschaftliche Gerate GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Worldwide Investments (Cayman), Thermo Fisher Scientific eCommerce Solutions LLC , Thermo Fisher Senior Canada Holdings LLC, Thermo Foundation Inc., Thermo Gamma-Metrics Holdings Pty Ltd., Thermo Gamma-Metrics LLC, Thermo Gamma-Metrics Pty Ltd, Thermo Holding European Operations LLC, Thermo Hypersil Ltd, Thermo Hypersil-Keystone LLC, Thermo Informatics Asia Pacific Pty Ltd., Thermo Instrument Controls de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Thermo Kevex X-Ray LLC, Thermo Keytek LLC, Thermo LabSystems Inc., Thermo LabSystems S.A., Thermo Life Science International Trading (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Thermo Life Sciences AB, Thermo Luxembourg Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Thermo MF Physics LLC, Thermo Measurement Ltd, Thermo Measuretech Canada Inc., Thermo Neslab LLC, Thermo Nicolet Limited, Thermo Onix Limited, Thermo Optek (Australia) Pty Ltd., Thermo Optek Limited, Thermo Optek S.A., Thermo Orion Inc., Thermo Portable Holdings LLC, Thermo Power Corporation, Thermo Process Instruments GP LLC, Thermo Process Instruments L.P., Thermo Projects Limited, Thermo Quest S.A., Thermo Radiometrie Limited, Thermo Ramsey Italia S.r.l., Thermo Ramsey LLC, Thermo Ramsey S.A., Thermo Re Ltd., Thermo Scientific Microbiology Pte Ltd., Thermo Scientific Microbiology Sdn Bhd, Thermo Scientific Portable Analytical Instruments Inc., Thermo Scientific Services Inc., Thermo Securities Corporation, Thermo Sentron Canada Inc., Thermo Sentron Limited, Thermo Shandon Inc., Thermo Shandon Limited, Thermo Suomi Holding B.V., Thermo TLH (UK) Limited, Thermo TLH L.P., Thermo Trace Pty Ltd., Thermo-Fisher Biochemical Product (Beijing) Co. Ltd., ThermoLase LLC, ThermoSpectra Limited, Trek Diagnostic Systems LLC, Trek Diagnostic Systems Ltd., Trek Holding Company II Ltd., Trek Holding Company Ltd., Trex Medical Corporation, USB Corporation, Union Lab Supplies Limited, United Diagnostics Inc., VG Systems Limited, Westover Scientific Inc., ZAO PE Biosystems, eBioscience GmbH, eBioscience Ltd, eBioscience SAS, and picoSpin LLC.
The following companies are subsidiares of TransDigm Group: ARA Deutschland GmbH, ARA Holding GmbH, Abbott Electronics Ltd., Acme Aerospace, Acme Aerospace Inc., Adams Rite Aerospace GmbH, Adams Rite Aerospace Inc., Advanced Inflatable Products Limited, Aero-Instruments, AeroControlex Group Inc., Aerosonic, Aerosonic LLC, Air-Sea Survival Equipment Trustee Limited, Airborne Acquisition Inc., Airborne Global Inc., Airborne Holdings Inc., Airborne Systems, Airborne Systems Canada Ltd., Airborne Systems Group Limited, Airborne Systems Holdings Limited, Airborne Systems Limited, Airborne Systems NA Inc., Airborne Systems North America Inc., Airborne Systems North America of CA Inc., Airborne Systems North America of NJ Inc., Airborne Systems Pension Trust Limited, Airborne UK Acquisition Limited, Airborne UK Parent Limited, Aircraft Materials Limited, AmSafe, AmSafe Aviation (Chongqing) Ltd., AmSafe Bridport (Kunshan) Co. Ltd., AmSafe Bridport (Private) Ltd., AmSafe Bridport Ltd., AmSafe Global Holdings Inc., AmSafe Global Services (Private) Limited, AmSafe Inc., Arkwin Industries, Arkwin Industries Inc., Aviation Technologies, Aviation Technologies Inc., Avionic Instruments, Avionics Instruments, Avionics Specialties Inc., AvtechTyee Inc., Beta Transformer Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Beta Transformer Technology Corporation, Beta Transformer Technology LLC, Breeze-Eastern Corporation, Breeze-Eastern LLC, Bridport Erie Aviation Inc., Bridport Holdings Inc., Bridport Ltd., Bridport-Air Carrier Inc., Bruce Aerospace Inc., Bruce Industries, CDA InterCorp, CEF Industries LLC, Champion Aerospace, Cobham, DDC Electronics K.K., DDC Electronics Ltd., DDC Electronics Private Limited, DDC Electronique S.A.R.L., DDC Elektronik GmbH, DDL195 Limited, Data Device Corp., Data Device Corporation, Dukes Aerospace Inc., Edlaw Limited, Electromech Technologies LLC, Elektro-Metall Export GmbH, Elektro-Metall Paks KFT, Esterline, Extant Components Group Holdings Inc., Extant Components Group Intermediate Inc., GQ Parachutes Limited, HARCO LLC, Harco, Hartwell Corporation, ILC Holdings Inc., Irvin Aerospace Limited, IrvinGQ France SAA, IrvinGQ Limited, Johnson Liverpool LLC, Kirkhill Elastomers, Kirkhill Inc., Kunshan Shield Restraint Systems Ltd., MarathonNorco Aerospace Inc., McKechnie Aerospace, McKechnie Aerospace (Europe) Ltd., McKechnie Aerospace DE Inc., McKechnie Aerospace DE LP, McKechnie Aerospace Holdings Inc., McKechnie Aerospace US LLC, Mecanismos de Matamoros S.A. de C.V., Militair Aviation Ltd., Norco, Nordisk Asia Pacific Limited, Nordisk Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Nordisk Aviation Products (Kunshan) Ltd., Nordisk Aviation Products AS, North Hills Signal Processing Corp., North Hills Signal Processing Overseas Corp., Pascall Electronics Limited, Pemberton 123 Ltd., Pexco Aerospace, Pexco Aerospace Inc., PneuDraulics, PneuDraulics Inc., Rancho TransTechnology Corporation, Retainers Inc., SSP Industries, Schneller, Schneller Asia Pte. Ltd., Schneller S.A.R.L., Schroth Safety Products, Semco Instruments, Semco Instruments Inc., Shield Restraint Systems Inc., Shield Restraint Systems Ltd., Signal Processing Matamoros S.A. de C.V., Skandia, Skandia Inc., Skurka Aerospace, Skurka Aerospace Inc., Symetrics, Symetrics Industries LLC, Symetrics Technology Group LLC, TDG Germany GmbH, TEAC Aerospace Holdings Inc., TEAC Aerospace Technologies Inc., TTERUSA Inc., Tactair Fluid Controls Inc., Takata Protection Systems, Technical Airborne Components Industries SPRL, Telair International, Telair International AB, Telair International GmbH, Telair International LLC, Telair International Services PTE Ltd (JV 70.5%), Telair US LLC, Texas Rotronics Inc., TransDigm (Barbados) SRL, TransDigm European Holdings Limited, TransDigm Ireland Ltd., TransDigm Receivables LLC, TransDigm UK Holdings plc, Transicoil (Malaysia) Sendirian Berhad, Transicoil LLC, Whippany Actuation Systems, Whippany Actuation Systems LLC, XCEL Power Systems Ltd., Young & Franklin, and Young & Franklin Inc..
M&M will be making additional investment in its electric vehicle segment to ramp up the production capacity over the next few years.

MUMBAI: M&M will be making additional investment in its electric vehicle segment to ramp up the production capacity over the next few years. As part of its expansion plans, the company will invest over Rs 500 crores in its electric vehicle (EV) project at its Chakan plant under the new EV Policy of the government of Maharashtra and Rs 400 crore in Karnataka. This additional investment will be utilized towards product development and capacity enhancement for electric vehicles and related components.

We are not waiting for any policy to move forward. To be a pioneer, you have to create the road and we have to move forward. We have already invested Rs 600 crore in EVs over the past five-six years and have announced our decision to invest Rs 400 crore in Karnataka and Rs 500 crore in Mahar-ashtra over the next four-five years, said Pawan Goenka, MD, M&M while interacting with repor-ters on the sidelines of Magnetic Maharashtra.

Currently, the company has a capacity to manufacture 400 electric vehicles per month and the aim is to scale it up to 5,000 per month in another two years. By September, we will reach a capacity of 1,500 vehicles per month including three wheelers and by Decem-ber 2019, we will increase that to about 4,000 vehicles per month and then go on to 5,000 per month, he added.

If everything goes well, he said the industry would become self-sufficient by 2024. Till then, it is important that the government continue with its current subsidy sche-me, which is required for price competitiveness. If the industry volume can reach approximately two lakh by 2024, that is enough to become self sufficient, he added.
Parents should also understand that IQ is an imperfect indicator of cognitive abilities or how well children might succeed in school, Pyhala said. (Photo: Pixabay)

Babies who are born much too soon or who arrive weighing too little may not score as high on intelligence tests during childhood as full-term infants, a research review suggests.

Researchers examined data from 71 previously published studies that included a total of 5,155 full-term babies and 7,752 of the most vulnerable preemies: those born at less than 32 weeks gestation or weighing less than 1,500 grams (3.3 pounds).

Overall, intelligence quotient (IQ) tests typically completed sometime from age 5 to age 20 showed that preemies typically lagged behind their full-term counterparts. On average, preterm youth underperformed on the IQ tests by the equivalent of about 13 points.

The progress in neonatal health care that has been made since the 1990s considerably increased the survival of preterm infants, said lead study author Sabrina Twilhaar of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center.

However, this improvement in survival was not accompanied by improvement of cognitive outcomes, Twilhaar said.

Pregnancy normally lasts about 40 weeks, and babies born after 37 weeks are considered full term. Half of the preemies in the study were born before 28.5 weeks gestation and half of them arrived weighing less than about 1,000 grams (2.2 pounds)

In the weeks immediately after birth, preemies often have difficulty breathing and digesting food. They can also encounter longer-term challenges such as impaired vision, hearing and cognitive skills, as well as social and behavioral problems.

Each additional week of pregnancy that babies missed with preterm deliveries was associated with a 1.26-point reduction in IQ scores, researchers report in JAMA Pediatrics.

Based on the lower scores for preemies in the study, researchers estimated that about 16 per cent of the earliest arrivals would have a serious intellectual disability, compared with about 2.5 per cent in the total population.

Babies in the analysis were born between 1990 and 2008, and the results didnt appear to differ based on year of birth.

Preemies who had whats known as bronchopulmonary dysplasia, a chronic lung disease associated with the long-term use of oxygen and mechanical ventilation to help them breathe, did appear to fare worse on IQ tests than preterm infants who didnt receive these interventions.

This suggests that interventions to lower the risk of this lung disease could help improve cognitive outcomes for preemies, said Robert Joseph, a researcher at Boston University School of Medicine who wasnt involved in the study.

The factors that contribute to the development of these illnesses are not completely understood, but probably include infections, oxidative stress, nutritional deficiencies arising from preterm birth, and therapies that are needed to assure the survival after very preterm birth, such as mechanical ventilation, Robert said.

The study wasnt a controlled experiment designed to prove whether or how a premature delivery might directly cause intelligence deficits. Researchers also lacked data on certain demographic factors that might independently impact the odds of a low IQ.

Even so, parents of preemies should be aware of the potential for intellectual deficits because early interactions between parents and babies can help the brain develop cognitive skills, said Riikka Pyhala, a researcher at the University of Helsinki in Finland who wasnt involved in the study.

Parents should also understand that IQ is an imperfect indicator of cognitive abilities or how well children might succeed in school, Pyhala said by email.

Behind this general IQ score, every child has their individual strengths and weaknesses in more specific cognitive skills such as verbal or visual reasoning, working memory and attention, Pyhala said. For those children who have cognitive problems or difficulties in learning, detailed knowledge on these specific cognitive abilities gives us tools to support their learning in an optimal way.
It exports 767 million pounds of coffee to different countries every year, accounting for over four percent of world coffee production. (Photo: Pixabay)

In not-so-good news for coffee drinkers in India as it is not ranked among the top 20 coffee drinking countries of the world, according to a survey.

In a survey published by the International Coffee Organisation (ICO), Finland took the top spot, consuming about 12kg of coffee per year. Norway, Iceland and Denmark occupied the second, third and fourth spots respectively.

India, which did not figure in the top 20, is the seventh largest exporter of coffee. Most of its production is done in the southern part of the country.

It exports 767 million pounds of coffee to different countries every year, accounting for over four percent of world coffee production.

Croatia, which is ranked 19th, consumes 4.9 kg per capita of coffee a year.

Its fabled coffee culture means the country ranks as one of the biggest caffeine fans globally, beating the United Kingdom and the United States into the top 20, according to Time Out Croatia.

The US is ranked 26th, while the UK is at the 45th position.

Brazil, which is the world's biggest exporter of coffee, is ranked 15th. It consumes 5.5kg of coffee per year.

The country exports 5.7 billion pounds of coffee each year, according to the ICO. In fact, Brazil has remained the world's largest exporter of coffee for over 150 years.
Hyderabad: Cyber Crime Police here arrested two men for assisting inter-state fraudsters by posing as bank officials and conning the gullible by claiming that their ATM card is blocked. Police seized bank passbooks and mobiles from them.

The arrested have been identified as Subhash Kumar, 26, from Jharkhand and Manoj Kumar Ball, 20, from Dhanbad, who were assisting an inter-state gang that was involved in obtaining debit/credit card details from bank customers by posing themselves as executives and officials of banks.

They call the customers and inform them that their ATM cards and bank accounts are blocked and to unblock it, they are required to give all details and credentials. Then these fraudsters used to transfer the money in e-commerce wallets and from there they transferred amounts to various bank accounts DCP, Central Crime Station, Avinash Mohanty said.

The arrest was made based on the complaints received from Mohd. Samiullah Khan of New Bowenpally and K. Kamakshi of Masab Tank stating that they received calls from unknown persons posing as bank officials who collected their debit card details and OTP numbers and made online transactions of Rs.89,986 and Rs.97,547 respectively. Accordingly two separate cases were registered at Cyber Crime Police Station, Hyderabad and investigation began.

They were brought to Hyderabad on transit warrant and were remanded to judicial custody.
An 21-year-old mentally challenged tribal woman was gangraped and physically assaulted by several unidentified men on Sunday near South Dinajpur's Kushmandi. (Representational Image)

Kolkata: A brutal incident of rape has been reported from West Bengal that has eerie similarities to the December 16, 2012 Nirbhaya Delhi gangrape case.

As per reports, an 21-year-old mentally challenged tribal woman was gangraped and physically assaulted by several unidentified men on Sunday near South Dinajpur's Kushmandi.

According to reports, the men inserted an iron rod into the victim's private parts while committing the heinous crime. The victim, who was admitted to hospital in a critical condition, had sustained severe injuries.

As per reports, several men grabbed the woman and forcefully took her to a deserted location under a bridge when she was returning from a village fair in Kushmandi. They men then took turns to rape her before inserting the iron rod into her private parts.

The woman was rescued by locals who acted upon hearing her cries. She was rushed to the government-run Raigunj Superspeciality Hospital where doctors carried out an emergency surgery. Since her condition continued to remain critical, the victim was referred to the Malda Medical College and Hospital.

After the incident, tension spread in the area as some local people joined protests and demanded immediate police action.

She was kept in CCU and was in a semi-conscious state. She is undergoing operations now. The doctors are doing open surgery to detect the exact internal injuries. A team comprising surgeons and gynaecologists has been formed to monitor her, reports quoted Malda Hospital official saying.

The police have conducted an investigation into the matter and have detained one suspect for interrogation. They are yet to figure out how many men were involved.
Vijayawada: Finally, Andhra Pradesh has become successful. The state of Andhra Pradesh has been ranked number one in the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) with 96.75 per cent implementation percentage. Telangana is placed in the 10th position, with 94.85 per cent, according to the updated statistics on Monday.

It may be recalled that the ranks related to the EoDB to AP and TS had created controversy in November 2017. Through the website-http://eodb.dipp.gov.in/, the department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP) had mentioned that the last date to upload evidence of reforms implemented has been extended to November 7, 2017.

While still one week was there for the last date of submission, the rankings were given, and that led to a major discussion in the industrial circles. Generally, rankings displayed on the website are dynamic and will continuously undergo changes, until the freezing of rankings, according to the website.

The website had indicated that AP stood fifth in Ease of Doing Business by securing 72.36 per cent score in January. Though there is a decline in GSDP from 11.61 per cent to 11.05 per cent, the DIPPs fresh score and rank have given enough confidence to APs economy as well as industry for the year 2019. It may be recalled that on October 31, 2017, TS was ranked first, with 60.48 score and AP was ranked 15th with 13.71 per cent.

It may be recalled that on January 1, 2018, 267 parameters have been adjudicated, and 102 were found to be evaluated, as per the updated web details on January 1.

It may be recalled that the ranks related to the Ease of Doing Business to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana had created controversy in the first week of November. The AP Secretariat circles termed the ranks published in media as something which are not properly understood.

During the process of evaluation, many factors were not taken into consideration, a bureaucrat said and added that for few factors, the study depended upon old statistics.

The website http://eodb.dipp.gov.in/ had clearly mentioned few points which were not taken into consideration by the media, and as a result confusion prevailed over the rankings to various states in India.

Ranking displayed on the website is dynamic and will continuously undergo changes, until the freezing of rankings, according to the website. The scores are based on implementation only and scores on feedback evaluation have not been considered in the rankings displayed. States/UTs were requested to check the reform area and recommendation before uploading evidence as the numbering may be different. Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) had stated that it was updating the website.

Coming to ranking particulars, on January 1, Telangana was given first rank with 60.48 score, and Andhra Pradesh was given 15th rank with 13.71 percent, on October 31, 2017. When it comes to Andhra Pradesh, the implementation percentage was 13.98, and only 52 reforms were adjudicated, and 320 were not yet taken for adjudication, explained a senior officer, in the month of November.

Once the process is completed, DIPP, Government of India, in association with the World Bank will come up with exact data on Ease of Doing Business (EoDB), he detailed and added that the DIPP will directly interact with the industry and based on their feedback only, it will adjudicate things. The analysis has clearly indicated that the AP ranking has gone up to 5 with 72.36 percent, by January 1, 2018 from 15th rank with 13.71 percent, on October 31, 2017.
CHENNAI: Two days before the mega launch of his political innings, actor-activist Kamal Haasan on Monday declared his team would ensure that Dravidian politics succeeds yet again in Tamil Nadu as he called on his senior Vijayakanth. Kamal, who had been meeting top political leaders and friends to seek their wishes before he begins his state-wide tour from A. P. J. Abdul Kalam's residence in Rameswaram on Wednesday, drove to the Koyambedu office of the DMDK here and met Vijayakanth.

The leaders were engrossed in discussion for over 15 minutes after which Kamal said Vijayakanth welcomed his entry into politics. Though he is junior to me in acting, Vijayakanth is senior to me in politics. So, I came to seek the blessings of the senior, Kamal told reporters after the meeting. Vijayakanth is a forerunner to me and Rajinikanth when it comes to politics. I have met him after a long time. He is my senior in politics, Kamal said.

When asked to comment on BJP's claim that Dravidian politics had no future in Tamil Nadu, Kamal said, Dravidian politics will emerge victorious in future too. We will prove it. Kamal's visit to Vijayakanth's office comes a day after the actor met his co-star Rajinikanth and DMK President M Karunanidhi. Meanwhile, CEO of Naturals salon, C. K. Kumaravelu, has decided to join Kamal Haasan's party. Kumaravelu is the brother of CavinKare MD C. K. Ranganathan, married to Karunanidhi's grand daughter.
Bengaluru: The Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) filed objections before the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Monday against the Bescom's petition for a proposal to increase the power tariff hike.

A senior officer from FKCCI, who did not want to be named said, "Various objections were filed like one on Bescom wanting to increase power tariff hike to Rs 82 paise per unit. But there is no requirement to raise the price, rather they need to focus on the efficiency of power supply which is still lagging behind. There is no information provided by Bescom on measures taken to increase efficiency."

"In a petition filed by Bescom, it states that there is an increase in short term power purchase and the commission had approved the purchase at a cost of Rs 267 crores. But Bescom has been claiming that the cost of the short term power purchase is Rs 988 crores which is four times higher and there is no record to show that the commission had granted permission for the purchase."

Revathy Ashok from BPAC also stated that Bescom's Annual Revenue Requirement has gone up and the margins have increased. They want to increase the power tariff by 82 paise per unit, which is not required. Instead they will have to reduce the price, which would help the common man."

"The Bescom should also furning complete details of the irrigation pump sets and the amount collected from the bills. They should provide accurate details," added Revathy.
In a recent verdict on the Kerala 'love jihad' case in January this year, the Supreme Court declared that an adult woman has the right to live freely and choose a life of her choice. (Photo: File)

Salem: Hadiya, the 24-year-old woman who made headlines after she converted to Islam, on Tuesday filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating that she is a Muslim and wanted to remain as a Muslim. She also stated that she wanted to remain as the wife of Shafin Jahan, the Muslim man who married her.

In a recent verdict on the Kerala 'love jihad' case in January this year, the Supreme Court declared that an adult woman has the right to live freely and choose a life of her choice.

Also Read: Do we need the court to tell us adult women in India are free?

The Supreme Court said the NIA could continue with its probe into the alleged love jihad case of Kerala but it cannot investigate the marital status of the man and the woman.

The top court also said that the woman, alleged to be a victim of love jihad, had appeared before it and had specifically said she had married Shafin Jahan on her own.

Akhila had married a Muslim man called Shafin, embraced Islam and changed her name to Hadiya.

Hadiya, a BHMS student, returned to Sivaraj Homeopathy College in Salem in November last year after the Supreme Court allowed her to complete her studies.

Registered with her original name Akhila Ashokan, Hadiya was forced to discontinue her studies at the institute after a major row erupted over her conversion to Islam and marriage to Shafin.

Hadiya, who was born to a Hindu couple in Kerala, converted to Islam and married Jahan but her marriage was annulled by Kerala High Court in May last year.

It was alleged that the woman was recruited by Islamic State group's mission in Syria and Jahan was only a stooge. Ashokan K M, the father of the woman, had alleged that there was a "well-oiled systematic mechanism" for conversion and Islamic radicalisation.

The high court, while declaring the marriage as "null and void", had described the case as an instance of 'love jihad' and ordered the state police to conduct probe into such cases.
On January 4, 2018, students led by JNU Student Union gathered in large numbers near the administration block to meet with the Vice Chancellor and submit a memorandum against the circular. (Photo: PTI)

Mumbai: February is the cruellest month for Jawaharlal Nehru University.

In February 2016, JNU witnessed several protests where anti-India slogans were raised. Two years later, in 2018, JNU is experiencing demonstrations all over again but for a different reason. On December 22, 2017, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Vice-Chancellor issued a circular making 75% attendance compulsory for all students, including those pursuing M.Phil and Ph.D.

On January 4, 2018, students led by JNU Student Union gathered in large numbers near the administration block to meet with the Vice Chancellor and submit a memorandum against the circular.

Members of the student body were fined of Rs 10,000 each for protesting as they had violated the court order. In 2016, Delhi High court had issued an order prohibiting students from protesting or holding demonstrations within 100 meters of the administration block.

The deadline for the fine payment is February 24, 2018.

Based on the recommendation of the attendance committee, the circular was introduced as undergraduate students werent attending classes. The circular also said that if one fails to maintain minimum 75% attendance, they would be barred from enrolling into the following semester. Additionally, violators will not be entitled to their fellowships, hostels or any other facilities from the university.

Bhaskar Jyoti, a research student at JNU, said As far as undergraduate student attendance is considered, its fair enough but for students like us, who are pursuing M.Phil or Ph.D. which requires research, its unfair for us. We need time to research and complete our thesis but with this new rule of the university, it seems almost next to impossible to complete our work within the specific period of time.

He also added that the minimum requirement was higher than in other institutions such as Delhi University.

On February 15, 2018, when the students saw that no authority is ready to listen to them or discuss the matter to come to a common ground, they decided to take things into their own hands.

Students formed a human chain around the building and blocked each and every of the five exits of the building in the hope to meet VC or any other authority so as to be able to address the attendance issue.

The university has alleged that the students blocked the way of officials, and chased them back into the building when they tried to leave.

The students gheraoed the campus from 11.30 am in the morning until 11.30 pm in the night, not allowing any officials of the university to leave the campus.

According to reports, the students unabashed act even made one of the rectors sick, who complained of nausea and high blood pressure.

Apparently students blocked the ambulance that had been called to the campus for the rector as they cried, let him die. The rector was taken to the hospital later around midnight.

Amita Singh, chairperson at Special Centre for Disaster Research and one of the teachers who had gone to the get their confined colleagues released, said that students insulted her with the most shocking abusive wild sloganeering... which as an academic most of us had never heard from students, and that two of the faculty members were pushed.

For once, all the student bodies and the teachers are together against this circular. In fact, teachers also decided to boycott the universitys decision and they are holding classes in the lawns, or outside the campus. The JNU Teachers Association had said it was unproductive and would lead to the teachers doing and meaningless form of bureaucratic work.

The university also lodged FIRs against students as they were protesting within 100 meters of the campus. Court also gave the liberty to the university to call Delhi police and paramilitary forces if they required to so as controlling the protestors. The police and forces were called on Friday but no one was detained or hurt. Police were called for security and safety purposes but no actions had been taken against anyone.

It doesnt look like that the university body is ready to roll back the attendance or negotiate with students or professors. JNU has for long maintained a culture of self-regulatory attendance and has in fact been known as the university where students are given the freedom to pursue their courses as they deem fit. As such, with these new rules JNU may be stepping into a new era, consequently drawing a lot of criticism from its student body.
SRINAGAR: A senior minister in the PDP-BJP government has stirred up a hornets nest by saying that China is a major factor in Jammu and Kashmir and that the dispute over the scenic Himalayan state is not restricted to India and Pakistan alone.

Unlike earlier, the great game is literally being played inside Kashmir The Kashmir issue isnt limited to the fight between India and Pakistan now. There is another major factor involved, minister for public works and chief spokesman of the J&K government, Naeem Akhter, has said in an interview to a national newspaper. He also said Jaish-e-Muhammad, the group responsible for major terror attacks, has been veritably adopted by Beijing.

Akhter has said in his interview, that China is on its way to assume a much bigger role in Kashmir. He said, It isnt Pakistan alone, it is China too. General (Bipin Rawat) said that the Army is ready to fight on both fronts. But there arent two fronts anymore. Now it is one single front, circling around. From Bhutan to Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Valley to Jammu, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, it is all one front. Pakistan and China arent separate.

Elaborating on the alleged correlation between China and the JeM, he said, All the big attacks inside J&K during last more than three years are attributed to JeM, a group led by Masood Azhar. How can one not see that he (Masood Azhar) has been adopted by China?
Kochi: Taking a leaf out of the success of natural gas as an alternative fuel in cities like Delhi, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is set to deploy the first CNG (Compressed Natural Gas)-run transport bus in Kochi, where four CNG refilling stations are expected to be opened by March second week. Weve held discussion with Indian Oil Corporation officials to see whether the CNG bus already with us can be deployed there. The process has started and we will soon seek the governments approval. Initially we plan to purchase fuel from the IOC CNG dispensing station opposite to the Aluva regional workshop. Later, we will set up our own CNG refilling stations at the Aluva regional workshop and Thevara hub, said a senior official.

Construction of four Compressed Natural Gas stations, being set up by the Indian Oil-Adani Gas Pvt Ltd (IOAGPL), is targeted to be opened by March 12. Weve completed the works and written to the state government seeking approval. We expect it to come in a week, said Ajay Pillai, Deputy General Manager, Indian Oil Adani Gas.

The CNG refilling stations are coming up at the Kalamassery-FACT road, near KSRTC Garage at Muttom, along the national highway at Kalamassery and Kundanoor. Though KSRTC purchased a CNG bus costing Rs 25 lakh in March last, the bus is idling at the Central workshop at Thiruvananthapuram for nearly a year as CNG fuel was not available there. The plans to set up a CNG refilling outlet at the corporations Anayara depot could not be realised due to shortage of funds.
Vijayawada: Chief Minister and Telugu Desam national president N. Chandrababu Naidu came down heavily on national parties for not addressing and understanding the emotion of the people of Andhra Pradesh, with reference to special package and all other pending issues with the Centre.

At the party coordination committee meeting here on Tuesday, he urged party cadres and leaders not to fall into the trap of YSRC and Congress. Mr Nadu pointed out as to how the Congress would support the no-confidence motion, while their leader Ghulam Nabi Azad was finding fau-lt with K.V.P. Ramachan-dra Rao for displaying placards in Parliament.

When Mr Ramachandra Rao stood in the Rajya Sabha with placards, Mr Azad said they have nothing to do with his protest, and if necessary Mr Rao could be suspended, Mr Naidu recounted the incident in Parliament. It sh-owed the attitude of Con-gress towards AP, he added.

The YSRC resignation drama at the end of the sessions did not make sense, the CM felt. He compared two national parties to frying pan and furnace and now people of AP were thrown into furnace from a frying pan.

Mr Naidu mentioned that the government was organising the meeting of all the parties and peoples organisations on the issue of implementation of the AP Reorganisation Act. In the Assembly, there is only one party present, apart from Telugu Desam. The Opposition is not attending the Assembly. Rest of the parties dont have presence in the House, Mr Naidu said. It was in this backdrop that he was inviting peoples organisations too, he added. With this, real public opinion could be elicited in a larger extent, Mr Naidu felt.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi said the no-confidence motion notice had to be given in Parlia-ment as all the 29 states in had experienced injustice, Mr Naidu said and wanted to know how it would be beneficial to AP.

The attitude of YSRC had been exposed with the acts of their MP Vijai Sai Reddy in Parliament, Mr Naidu said and added that Mr Vijay Sai Reddy had asked the Speaker to suspend Union Minister Y.S. Chowdary for making a mention about the interests of the state on the floor of the House.
Srinivisan Ramanujan (1887-1920) and Muhammad Abdus Salam (1926-1996), two intellectual giants of the 20th century, were born in the same corner of the world. Of humble origin and educated in local schools, they nevertheless rose to dizzying heights in the arcane world of theoretical science. Few others on the subcontinent enjoy their iconic status. What I shall address below is that both attributed their works to some divine agency. Some of their devotees see this in validating their own respective belief system. With the rise of Hindutva in India, and the violent persecution of Ahmadis in Pakistan, these claims assume considerable importance. Hence a careful, impartial examination is called for.

No mathematician has a story more romantic than Ramanujans. Many books, plays and movies  such as The Man Who Knew Infinity (2015)  dwell upon this enigmatic figure. Drawing upon deep intuition, Ramanujan created new concepts in the theory of numbers, elliptic functions and infinite series. Even full-blown mathematicians take years to grasp his complex ideas. Born in Madras to a low-level clerk, this young brahmin boy was steeped in tradition, sang religious songs, attended temple pujas, and was a strict vegetarian. But by age 12, he was inventing sophisticated theorems and unwittingly duplicating some results of European mathematicians of the previous century. He flunked college twice for lack of interest in anything but mathematics  in which he excelled. His awestruck teachers could not decide whether he was a genius or fraud.

At 16, encouraged by one of his teachers, Ramanujan sent off a letter to the renowned pure mathematician G.W. Hardy at Cambridge University. It was accompanied by theorems densely packed into nine pages. Hardy was stunned and arranged for him to travel to England. Ramanujan duly obtained permission from the family goddess Namagiri, consulting appropriate astrological data before his voyage overseas.

At 32, Ramanujan was dead. He had returned to Madras exhausted, half-famished and fed up with English winters. But even on his deathbed, his pen scrawled out profound results. A century later these still intrigue the brainiest of mathematicians and string theorists. He attributed his exceptional qualities to the psychic visitations of Namagiri who would whisper equations to him. Sometimes, he said, she wrote on my tongue. He told colleagues, An equation for me has no meaning unless it represents a thought of God.

This was how Ramanujan saw it. But how does one explain that Euler, Bernoulli, Gauss, Cantor, Hilbert and Godel were non-brahmin mathematicians who stood still taller? The edifice of modern mathematics owes largely to them, not to Ramanujan. Some were ardent Christians, others agnostic or atheistic. Nobody knows how to explain their feats. Curiously, Abdus Salam, then a 19-year-old student at Government College Lahore, wrote his very first paper proposing a simpler solution to an intriguing mathematical problem posed about 20 years earlier by Ramanujan. He ended his paper by triumphantly declaring: His (Ramanujans) solution is much more laborious.

This was Salams debut into the world of high mathematics. Born into a conservative religious environment in Jhang  then a village-town  this child prodigy rapidly outpaced his teachers. Fortunately they bore him no grudge and helped him move on to Lahore. The next stop was Cambridge, where he excelled. By the early 1960s, he was one of the worlds top particle physicists, ultimately winning 20 international prizes and honours including the Nobel Prize in 1979. In his later years, Salam gave numerous public lectures and interviews, recorded on camera and in print, locating his source of inspiration in his religious belief. In particular he said the concept of unity of God powered his quest for the unification of natures fundamental forces as well as his search for ever fewer numbers of elementary particles.

For me, to engage on a sensitive matter with one so senior and superior was not easy. But sometime in 1986 I picked up the courage to ask Salam the obvious question: both he, who thought himself a believer, and Steven Weinberg, an avowed atheist, had worked independently on unifying two of natures four fundamental forces and yet had arrived at precisely the same conclusions. How? Salam gave his answer in the preface he wrote for my book on Islam and science (1990), where he stated: I can confirm that he (Hoodbhoy) is right, and then went on to explicitly clarify that any bias towards the unification paradigm in his thinking was only unconsciously motivated by his religious background.

There is not the slightest doubt that Salam used exactly the same tools as Weinberg did  principally quantum mechanics and relativity theory  and did physics exactly as other physicists do (but better than most). His political and religious views were irrelevant to his work. Lets note that although they are giants of physics, Salam and Weinberg stood on the shoulders of still greater giants  Einstein, Pauli, Dirac, Wheeler, and Feynman  whose personal philosophies of life vastly differed from each other.

Salam sourced his inspiration to his religious beliefs, while Ramanujan claimed direct transmission from his gods. These claims cannot ever be proved or disproved. It is also irrelevant here that Salam thought of himself as a Muslim whereas, by Pakistani law, he is not. How can prodigious talent blossom in the absence of rigorous scientific training? Two factors explain Ramanujans and Salams successes. First, nature sometimes gifts an individual with exceptional innate mathematical ability. This is associated with brain circuits in the parietal lobe and acquired through genetic transmission. Second, by good fortune, Ramanujan and Salam managed to escape into a scholarly environment  Cambridge University  where their genius could flower. Had either stayed back home he would be unheard of today.

It is usual to take pride in the geniuses belonging to ones own tribe. The ancient civilisations of China, India, Greece, Arabia and modern European civilisation all claim superiority over others because of the creations of their most brilliant minds. But in fact an individuals exceptional genes and fortunate circumstances  not some supreme transcendence  are the real reasons. While sources of inspiration do differ, empirically and logically deduced results dont. Science and its heroes belong to all human kind, not to any one tribe.
With all the emerging UPI payments in the smartphone business, Google has also launched its UPI wallet Google Tez exclusively for India last year. The company has now partnered with 80 billers in India of various services and allows its users to pay their utility bills.

When the app first launched in India, it allowed users to transfer money between friends and in-between the contacts via UPI. It also allowed users to pay to the retailers who had UPI based payment gateways. Now, Google is adding utility bill payments feature for its users, the company said in a blog post, Adding a new biller is a breeze, and you only have to do it once. Just tap on New Payment and then Pay your bills. Youll see a list of billers supported on Tez across locations. You can also search for them by name. Once youve located your biller, enter the number associated with your account to link it to Tez and give it an easy name to remember.

Google Tez utlity bills payments

Tez will also fetch your utility bills every month and reminds the user by sending a timely notification. The user who has already linked his bank account to his mobile through Tez can directly pay his bills on time with this new feature. Checking whether youve paid a bill in the app is as simple as tapping the billers name on your Tez home screen. There, youll be able to view all past payments grouped by biller, as well as manage bills from multiple accounts, the company said in its blog post.

Tez has a support of including national and state electricity providers, gas and water, and DTH recharge. These include billers like Reliance Energy, BSES and DishTV, and in total will cover all states and major metros in India. Tez also supports Bharat BillPay system, which lets you fetch the latest bill from your providers.

Google to encourage its users to use Tez, is offering a scratch card for Rs 1000 for every new utility biller being added by the user this month.

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A Thai court granted Mitsutoki Shigeta legal rights to take the children, saying he had ample money to care for them and had prepared nurses and nannies to look after the brood at a safe residence in Japan. (Photo: AFP)

Bangkok: A wealthy Japanese man was granted "sole parent" rights to 13 children he fathered through Thai surrogate mothers, a Bangkok court ruled on Tuesday, paving the way for him to take custody of the group in Japan.

Mitsutoki Shigeta, 28, became the centre of a "baby factory" scandal in 2014 after Thai police said DNA samples linked him to nine infants found under the care of 24-hour nannies in a plush Bangkok apartment.

The children were estimated to be between two weeks and two years old at the time and have since been under the care of the Thai state, while another four were later deemed to have been fathered by him.

The extraordinary discovery threw a spotlight on the kingdom's then unregulated rent-a-womb industry, and helped push authorities to bar foreigners from paying for Thai surrogates in 2015.

Shigeta, the son of a Japanese tycoon, left the country in the wake of the scandal but later took Thailand's Ministry of Social Development and Human Security to court for custody of the children.

On Tuesday, a Thai court granted him legal rights to take the children, saying he had ample money to care for them and had prepared nurses and nannies to look after the brood at a safe residence in Japan.

"For the happiness and opportunities the 13 children will receive from their biological father -- who does not have a history of bad behaviour -- the court rules them to be the plaintiff's legal children," Bangkok's Central Juvenile Court said in a statement.

'Sole parent'

Shigeta, who did not attend the trial in person, was deemed the "sole parent" of the children after the Thai surrogates had signed away their rights, the court added.

His lawyer said he would contact the Social Welfare Ministry about the next steps to transfer the children from state custody, adding that the timeline would depend on the "readiness" of the youngsters.

"Having been under shelter care for so long, to come back to society, there might be a need for the shelter officials to help stay with them to avoid abrupt changes," lawyer Kong Suriyamontol told reporters outside the court.

Shigeta "was born in a big family and wanted the children to grow up together," the lawyer said, adding that he also wanted the kids to help run his family's business.

Japanese media have reported that Shigeta is the son of an IT billionaire.

Shigeta hired the Thai surrogates before the kingdom banned foreigners from the lucrative trade in 2015, following a string of scandals and custody tussles.

Police at the time said that Shigeta paid the surrogates between $9,300 and 12,500 each to carry his children.

After Thailand clamped down on the trade the following year, surrogacy agencies quickly migrated to neighbouring Cambodia, which followed suit and barred the industry in 2016.

In recent months there have been signs the trade has shifted to Laos, an opaque communist country with no restrictions on surrogacy.

Some surrogacy agencies are now offering services to carry out the embryo transfer in Laos and then provide pregnancy care for the surrogate in Thailand, a wealthier country with vastly superior medical facilities.
SPRINGDALE, Washington County  Utahns and tourists alike can appreciate the memory of glimpsing Zion National Park's stunning sandstone cliffs and wandering streams for the first time.

And with spring approaching, nature lovers from around the world will soon swarm Zion's trails.

Among the millions of visitors to the park every year are four artists in residence, who capture Zion in their work as it changes from day to day and season to season.

"We want them to make something that's pure Zion," said Eleanor Siebers, volunteer coordinator for the park.

Zion National Park's Artist-in-Residence program is open to professional visual, literary and performing artists, giving those selected the chance to live in and breathe in the park's beauty.

And, Siebers adds, "what they work on could be drastically different."

The park has hosted 19 painters, two sculptors, a videographer, musicians and even a typewriter artist.

The artists stay for a month, each in the historic Grotto House, which is based at the trailhead of the hike to Angel's Landing.

"It's just invaluable to be able to live there and see the changes day to day and week to week. You absorb it much better than you would if you just visited," said Dennis Farris, a Fort Worth, Texas-basedoil painter who resided in the Grotto in February 2010.

The program started in 2010. Since then, Zion has hosted 35 artists.

In addition to art donated within six months of the artists' residencies, the park benefits from having artists connect with visitors and "talk to them about how the park speaks to them," Seibers said.

Larry Hughes, a watercolorist from Memphis, Tennessee, stayed in the park in October 2016 and calls his time there "magical."

Hughes said his favorite view in the park was "whichever one was before me at any particular moment."

However, he added, the Big Bend area "has a wonderful series of bends in the river and offers solitude, massive sandstone walls, arches, wildlife, views of rock climbers and an absolutely thrilling play of light across the land as the day progresses."

During his time living in the Grotto House, Hughes would wake up at 4 a.m. and head outside to work and explore before the sun rose, he said.

"It is impossible to sleep knowing the beauty that surrounds," Hughes said.

Many days, he would set up his easel in a "preselected spot" in the park and produce up to several paintings, he said. As he worked, Hughes often talked to tourists and "advocated for the park."

Toward the end of Hughes' time there, as he and his wife drove through the canyon and tried to define the "Zion experience," they came to the conclusion that "it's like living inside a painting," he said.

And "getting to know people" at the park, he added, was one of the highlights of his residency.

Farris echoed those statements, adding that even though he has fulfilled other residencies since staying in the Utah park, Zion felt "the most homelike."

Hughes says his time at Zion has stayed with him, and "as often as possible, watercolor brushes usher me back into that picture, where Zions magic holds such sublime rewards."

"The idea is to really be immersed in it," said Lorraine Bubar, a paper-cutting artist and painter from Los Angeles who resided in the park in September 2016.

"I would open my windows, and the first thing Id see were mule deers, or there would be wild turkeys. At night, the night sky was just amazing," she said. "Either the full moon was illuminating the whole area, or the sky was just so incredibly dark filled with stars. That was just stunning."

When Bubar first arrived at Zion, her work included a collection of her first impressions of the park  the cottonwood tree outside the lodge, the shuttle bus and the jimsonweed flowers that were in season, she said.

Spending more time in the park, Bubar "honed in more" on "rock formations and the colors," she said.

As she worked inside the Grotto House, sometimes she would have open houses, during which visitors would come in and watch her work.

Artists in residence "connect visitors to the older history of artists in the park" who were among "the first to be inspired by the park and show the wild Western world" to the rest of the country, according to the park's volunteer coordinator.

The relationship between Zion and the world of art began in the early 20th century when, thanks to an artist, the park first earned national attention.

In 1903, Frederick S. Dellenbaugh  who was along on John Wesley Powell's second Colorado River expedition  displayed paintings of the area now known as Zion to the St. Louis World Fair and spurred people to petition for its protection, according to the park's website.

It then gained national monument status in 1909 and eventually became Zion National Park in 1919.

Since then, to say the number of visitors has grown exponentially may be an understatement. In its first year as a national park, Zion saw 1,814 visitors.

In 2016, more than 4 million people visited the park, making it the most popular in Utah, according to the National Parks Conservation Association.

"The color is stunning. The mountain formations are stunning.  But the most striking thing is the feeling like youre in the bottom of a canyon, and the mountains looming up, and the color is just so beautiful," Bubar said.

This year, the park plans to create an online gallery of all pieces donated through its Artist-in-Residence program.

For artists hoping to apply for the program next year, applications will be available by June, Siebers added.
SALT LAKE CITY  While the explosive growth, and success, of the Utah tech sector has mostly drawn attention to companies headquartered along the Wasatch Front, the state's southern reaches have been quietly building their own innovation energy ball and may be poised to give their northern comrades a run for their money.

PrinterLogic is one of the innovation companies helping lead the growth of Dixie's tech ecosystem and just announced a $15 million round of funding, led by Utah venture capital firm Mercato Partners. PrinterLogic has pioneered innovations in print and document management solutions, with a software-as-service model that has helped clients eliminate costly, in-house print servers and created a cloud-based solution to the evolving world of print tasking.

A business taking print-dedicated servers out of the mix may seem like an esoteric, tech-y detail, but the cost of running and maintaining just one server can run $2,000 to $6,000 a year for a big operation. One such operation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, was spending nearly $2 million annually before it became a PrinterLogic customer.

"We were kind of the first company to do this," said PrinterLogic CEO Ryan Wedig. "What our software did was, for the first time, eliminate the necessity for print servers."

Wedig said he's also glad to be growing PrinterLogic in St. George, where a burgeoning tech scene is being helped along the way by the redevelopment of the 155-acre former site of the St. George airport.

The mesa-top location on the west side of town is shaping up to become a mini-mecca of tech company facilities.

Wedig is locating a brand new headquarters for his company there, which is already home to a recently completed $45 million new campus for Dixie Applied Technology College. The city of St. George completed a development contract earlier this month and plans are in place to add additional commercial space, retail, restaurants and residences.

The city's control of the land has been on a real estate roller-coaster ride since a sales agreement with a private buyer for $40 million dissolved as the economy soured and the land reverted back to municipal ownership. Now, St. George is one of the fastest growing cities in the country, and having the scenic property, which has been dubbed Tech Ridge, is helping fuel the area's growth by attracting new businesses and the high-paying tech jobs that are coming with them.

St. George Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Pam Palermo said the investment infusion that's expected to be seeded by opportunities at Tech Ridge will contribute to an economy that's been on the upswing.

"We bounced back from the recession a lot quicker than most parts of the country, like a lot of Utah did, and while the business environment here has been doing very well, this development is going to make great contributions," Palermo said. "It doesn't mean we're still not looking to grow other areas, like manufacturing, but the potential for Tech Ridge is something we're all embracing."

Dixie's growing portfolio of tech companies is also very much on the radar of Wasatch Front-based technology and innovation advocacy group Silicon Slopes. In a statement to the Deseret News, Silicon Slopes Executive Director Clint Betts said that in spite of the moniker, his group has been viewing its mission as a statewide effort from the beginning, and he was happy to report new efforts centered on tech happenings in and around St. George.

"Silicon Slopes represents all Utah tech companies and entrepreneurs, which is why we're excited to launch a St. George chapter," Betts said. "The growth of St. George's tech community is truly remarkable. The area's ecosystem feels a lot like Utah County did five to seven years ago, which is why we're excited to bring Silicon Slopes to southern Utah."

Wedig said luring the talent he needed to grow PrinterLogic in its infancy in the early 2000s was daunting, but he quickly learned that all it really took was giving people a glimpse of the strides his company was making, and what kind of work-life balance they could expect, if they made the move from other more lavish locales.

"I was thinking about what I had to lure people from companies like Alcatel or Raytheon and just thought, 'They're never going to leave those jobs,'" Wedig said. "But when they saw what kind of wins we were getting  and they could be a part of a fast-paced, quickly growing tech company and be able to go mountain biking or rock climbing at lunch  it started to click."

And since its founding in 2001, a lot has been clicking for PrinterLogic. When it move into new digs on Tech Ridge, the company will bring almost 200 employees, annual revenues in excess of $25 million and a slate of 1,500 clients, and growing. It made the list of Inc. magazine's Best Workplaces in 2017, was ranked in the top 100 fastest growing companies on Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 and is one of the fastest growing companies in Utah.

And, Wedig noted the company has been bootstrapping, or self-financing its growth up until the cash infusion from Mercato. Now, the company's sights are on expanding its market, with plans to both grow its domestic client list and make moves into Europe, while also eyeing ways build its resource base via merger and acquisition opportunities.

Wedig said he's also looking forward to spending more time in mentoring the new crop of up-and-coming tech businesses that are discovering what he saw in St. George over a decade ago.

"We're expecting a great growth trajectory," Wedig said. "We're also excited to be moving the operation to Tech Ridge where we expect we'll eventually be surrounded by companies that are hungry to innovate and change the world and ready to get out of their strip mall offices. We love being a part of that and hope to share and collaborate as much as we can along the way."
SALT LAKE CITY  In the future, marriage may not dominate as "the institution the majority of adults live in" as it has in the past, according to a new analysis that finds significant differences in marital status between younger and older generations.

Americans are living two different age-driven stories of marriage, according to Wendy Wang, director of research at the Institute for Family Studies, who analyzed recent data and wrote a brief about the trends.

"I charted the trend of young and old and, for people younger than 65, marriage is going down every year," she said. "There's no sign of it returning. I think overall, with older people passing, the marriage rate will very likely drop below 50 percent. It's barely hanging in there."

The share who have never married "breaks a new record every year," she said.

Slowing that decline, which has been happening since the 1960s, is a slight increase in the share of married older Americans, making those 65 and older more likely to be married than younger adults.

Living longer

Factors driving the downward trend in marriage for those 18-64 include delayed marriage by younger adults, more cohabitation and the fact that 36 percent have never married, up from 26 percent in 1990. "When you delay marriage, the chance of not getting married increases as well," Wang said.

Older men living longer than they used to largely drives the increase in the share of elderly who are married. In 1990, more than one-third of people 65 and older were widowed. That number is now slightly less than one-fourth. The percentage of women 65 and older who are widowed has dropped from half to just over one-third.

Meanwhile, divorce overall has dropped but doubled since 1990 for those 55 and older and tripled for those 65 and older, according to Bowling Green State University demographers Susan L. Brown, I-Fen Lin and Krista K. Payne.

But even though divorce among the elderly has increased in the past few decades, the rate has recently stabilized and is a comparatively small share that doesn't come close to the number of older people who are widowed, Wang found.

With men living longer and consequently fewer women widowed, more old women are married than in the past. In 1960, among those 65 and older, there were 64 married women for every 100 married men; now there are 80 married women. And she notes that for those over 75, that same comparison has jumped from 48 to 68 married women for every 100 married men. The difference between men and women reflects that women are still more likely to outlive their spouses than are men.

"It's striking that the percentage of older Americans who are married has been going up, even though their divorce rate is also rising," said Andrew Cherlin, chairman of the Department of Sociology and director of the Program on Social Policy at Johns Hopkins University. "It shows how important the rise in life expectancy has been for them. More older Americans are married because more of their spouses are alive than in past generations."

But older Americans propping up marriage rates won't last if current overall marriage trends continue, Wang concluded.

"In the long run, with the passing of older generations, we are heading to an age when marriage will no longer be the institution the majority of adults live in," she wrote. "The gap between married adults and those who are not married, aligning with the class divide in the U.S., is likely to deepen in the future."

More time as single

Experts slice marriage trend data different ways, but most agree that marriage is still viewed as valuable, although the portion of their lives people will spend single keeps growing.

"There's so much confusion, along with both panic and wishful thinking. Marriage is not declining as much as some of these figures suggest. But nor is it rebounding in a significant way," said Stephanie Coontz, director of research at the Council on Contemporary Families and a history professor at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington.

This week, in a piece for The New York Times, Coontz looked at the portion of life people spend single versus married: Of the 37 years between age 18 and 55, Americans were married for an average of 29 back in 1960. "That's almost 80 percent of what was then regarded as the prime of life. By 2015, the average had dropped to only 18 years. That's less than half."

She noted that at age 45, 80 percent of Americans were married in 2014, which was also true of people that age in 1976. She also quoted University of Maryland sociologist Philip Cohen's calculation that 85 percent of white women and 78 percent of black women will marry.

Coontz noted that people who are single tend to socialize outside their families more and likely develop relationship skills that help them in many ways, including with marriage.

"All this suggests that marriage is still very valued and many indications suggest that during the time people are married, their marriages are better than in the past," Coontz told the Deseret News. Her evidence: There are decreases in domestic violence; marriages in the prime years of life are lasting longer, and surveys show the vast majority of Americans said their own relationships were as good or better than those of their parents.

"Equality in housework and child care is now a strong predictor of marital and sexual satisfaction, and marriages have been getting more equal in that regard," Coontz said.

"But marriage is no longer the main institution in which we make all our significant financial, personal, work and residential decisions, nor the only place where we incur caregiving obligations, take care of others or receive care from others," she said. "So as individuals we need to prepare for the unmarried times of our life, and as a society we can no longer channel all our caregiving support systems through marriage, pretending that all married couples need such benefits (many do not have children or elder care obligations) and that unmarried people don't need them."

Other findings

Among Wang's other findings:

 Education is a significant factor in whether one marries. The share of married people who are less educated fell from 58 percent in 1990 to 43 percent in 2016. The share of married college graduates dropped just 6 percent  and last year, 61 percent of those with a degree were married.

Wang and other experts used to divide people into three categories based on education attainment: college grads, some college and high school diploma or less. But now the difference between those who have no more than a high school diploma and those who attended college but did not graduate is so small, she said, researchers focus simply on whether one graduated college.

 Age is significant, too. Just over one-fourth of young adults 18-34 were married in 2016, a number that stood at 43 percent in 1990.

 The decline in marriage is true among all racial and ethnic groups.

 An improved economy has brought more wedding bells, as the number of newlyweds increased to 4.6 million in 2016 from 4.2 million in 2011. That hasn't nudged the proportion who are married up, though, because more people also fit into the never-married category.

 The economy impacts both whether people marry and whether they divorce.
SALT LAKE CITY  President Donald Trump announced his endorsement for Mitt Romney's Senate run via Twitter Monday night.

"@MittRomney has announced he is running for the Senate from the wonderful State of Utah. He will make a great Senator and worthy successor to @OrrinHatch, and has my full support and endorsement!" Trump tweeted just before 7:30 p.m. MST.

Romney, the 2012 GOP presidential nominee who blasted Trump during the 2016 race, announced his Senate campaign in a video Friday.

Though he was one of Trump's earliest and harshest critics during the president's campaign, Romney told the Deseret News last week that he has spoken with the president multiple times in the past year and supports his domestic policies so far.

Romney responded to the tweeted endorsement, saying he appreciated the president's support.

"I hope that over the course of the campaign I also earn the support and endorsement of the people of Utah," Romney tweeted.

If elected to the seat that Hatch, R-Utah, has held since 1976, Romney has said he believes the relationships he has already built in Washington, D.C., would position him better than the average freshman senator.

In his 2 -minute video, Romney praised Utahns' "can-do pioneering spirit," called out federal dysfunction and pledged to take the state's values to Washington.

"Utah has a lot to teach the politicians in Washington," Romney says in the clip.

In the coming months, Romney plans to visit each of the states 29 counties to talk with Utahns about their priorities, issues and concerns, according to his campaign.

Romney's critics in Utah have accused the former Massachusetts governor of seeking to represent a state he has little connection to. Romney says he has lived in Utah for a total of 10 years, including as a BYU student, and has been a permanent resident since 2014. He is widely known in the state for rescuing Salt Lake City's 2002 Winter Games.

Republican Larry Meyers, a St. George attorney running for the Senate seat, launched a radio ad Friday aimed at "Massachusetts Mitt Romney." And Democratic Salt Lake County Councilwoman Jenny Wilson, who began her campaign last summer, published a video of her own Friday saying the state should be represented by "a homegrown Utahn."

A UtahPolicy.com poll published in late November found that Romney would win a race for Hatch's seat by a wide margin.
SALT LAKE CITY  A Utah lawmaker is proposing to limit the effects of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that bolstered police power to use evidence even if officers did something wrong to get it.

State prosecutors criticized the legislation that would bar all evidence gathered after an illegal stop, while a libertarian-leaning group argued it would curtail the potential for police abuse.

The 2016 ruling from the high court could make police more likely to stop people even if there was no reason to think they were doing anything wrong, said Connor Boyack with the Libertas Institute.

The justices decided that Edward Joseph Strieff could be convicted of drug crimes even though officers found methamphetamine after an illegal stop in the city of South Salt Lake.

The divided court found the evidence was legal because there was a warrant out for Strieff's arrest. The dissenting justices said it was a blow to constitutional rights because officers only found the unpaid traffic citation after stopping him without probable cause.

Rep. Brian Greene, R-Pleasant Grove, said the ruling is troubling. While most police officers respect people's rights, there is an occasional exception, he said.

"We've all heard and seen there are those who would abuse power, and this opens the door for abuse, even if it is in small doses," said Greene, the sponsor of HB392. "It is not, in my opinion, the direction we want to be going as a free society, to whittle away at our constitutional protections."

The Utah Attorney General's Office said in a statement that the bill goes too far.

"It punishes officers' good-faith efforts to comply with the law. It also unfairly distorts the truth-finding process by suppressing evidence lawfully seized from criminals already subject to arrest," said Solicitor General Tyler Green, who successfully argued before the U.S. Supreme Court that the evidence against Strieff was legal because he was arrested on a valid warrant.

"Courts already protect citizens from police abuses by suppressing evidence when officers cheat to get it," he said.

Greene said HB392 would keep state law where it was when the Utah Supreme Court decided that evidence from the Strieff stop could not be used.

"I am somewhat disappointed that the state felt the need to overturn, and successfully overturned, our homegrown jurisprudence," he said.

Greene said expects the bill to have a hearing in the coming days.
11 hours ago

Tesla builds 1st store on tribal land, dodges state car laws

NAMBE, N.M. (AP)  Carmaker Tesla has opened a store and repair shop on Native American land for the first time, marking a new approach to its yearslong fight to sell cars directly to consumers and cut car dealerships out of the process. The white-walled, silver-lettered Tesla store, which opened last week, sits in Nambe Pueblo, north of Santa Fe, on tribal land that's not subject to state laws.

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The future of St Joseph's Community Hospital in Stranorlar, Ramelton Community Hospital and Lifford Community Hospital will be discussed in a topical motion debate in the Dail this evening which was brought forward by Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher and Deputy Pearse Doherty separately.

The motion follows on from a meeting in Ballybofey last weekend.

Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher, Leas Cheann Comhairle of the Dail, stated the current situation in terms of the future of the three hospitals is totally unacceptable.

These three hospitals serve a key and pivotal role in their respective communities and it is only right and proper that the state provide the necessary support and investment in these hospitals. It is just not acceptable that Government representatives are acting as if they are third party stand-bys in making decisions concerning the futures of these hospitals, this is a political decision which was taken by the previous Fine Gael Government to downgrade these hospitals originally, it will now take a political decision to reverse or rescind that decision in order to safeguard the Hospitals in the future, he said.

There has been too many false dawns and too much fake news on the part of the Government concerning these community hospitals, it is now time for action and clarity and that is what I will be seeking from the Minister in the course of tonight's discussion concluded Pat the Cope.
Sinn Fein Finance Spokesperson Deputy Pearse Doherty has criticised the Minister for Health after he failed to attend a Dail debate tabled by the Donegal Deputy this evening to discuss the future of services at Lifford, Ramelton and St Josephs Community Hospitals.

Commenting after the debate this evening, the Donegal Deputy also expressed frustration at the repeated failure of Government to give assurances that the facilities will not be downgraded as part of the current Capital Investment Programme for nursing facilities.

As everyone is acutely aware, there has been ongoing confusion and uncertainty surrounding the future of services at Lifford, Ramelton and St Josephs Community Hospitals following the announcement made in 2016 that the facilities were to be replaced by a new nursing unit to be constructed in Letterkenny.

In an effort to provide some clarity, I decided to table a Dail debate on the issue this evening to call on the minister to clarify the future of services, specifically long-term residential care, at all three hospitals.

Yet, despite the topic having been successfully selected for discussion, the Minister for Health failed to even show up in person in order to facilitate the debate in the Dail this evening.

Instead, the minister of state took the debate and despite asking her clearly to outline what the plans are in respect of these community hospitals, she again failed to provide any clarity of what the future holds for services at the three facilities.

This is simply incredible and illustrates the contempt which this Government has for these communities which, for over two full years now, have fought and campaigned to oppose these plans.

In fact, campaigners, members of the public, hospital staff, residents and families have quite literally taken to the streets to defend these hospitals.

And far from providing certainty, this government has repeatedly offered them nothing but spin and conflicting statements on whats in store for these services.

I was happy to attend a meeting last week organized by those campaigning to retain long-term residential care at these hospitals, and while unfortunately, tonights Dail debate failed to provide the answers these communities deserve, I pledge to continue to support them in their campaign to protect long-term residential care at all three hospitals.

ENDS
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Daimler is one of many carmakers accused of cheating on diesel emissions tests using software trickery since the Volkswagen Dieselgate scandal broke in late 2015. German automotive giant Volkswagen was forced to pay huge fines and issue massive recalls after admitting to secretly installing emissions test cheating software on its cars which emitted up to 40 times the legal limit of Nitrogen Oxides on the go but performed perfectly during testing.

The Bild am Sonntag also states that Daimler's own employees doubted that the company's cars could pass strict US emission norms for diesel vehicles even before the Volkswagen Dieselgate debacle made its way onto the headlines of every major news agency. The newspaper also claims that Daimler employees also questioned whether the functions of the software were even legal to use.

The software used featured multiple functions including one called 'Slipguard' that helped the emissions cleaning systems recognize when the car was being tested in a lab for emissions. Another function of the software called 'Bit 15' switched off the car's emissions cleaning system after 26 kilometres of driving.

Bild am Sonntag claims that the software used by Daimler regulates the application of AdBlue diesel exhaust fluid which helps cut down the nitrous oxides (NOx) emission from diesel engines. The use of the software to regulate the use of the AdBlue, the German newspaper claims, means that many Mercedes cars emitted up to 10 times higher than the legally permitted levels of NOx emissions.

However, Daimler denies any wrongdoing on its part and has stated that it has been cooperating with American authorities over the issue. A spokesperson from Daimler told Reuters, "The authorities know the documents and no complaint has been filed. The documents available to Bild have obviously selectively been released in order to harm Daimler and its 290,000 employees."

DriveSpark's Thoughts On Daimler's Being Accused Of Cheating On Diesel Emissions



When Dieselgate broke the internet and the headlines of every news channel and paper around the world in 2015, it marked the beginning of the end for 'clean' diesel engines. We really do hope that the latest allegations against Daimler don't come true as it could really spell the doom of diesel engines and internal combustion as a whole considering how quickly the world moved towards electrification post-Deiselgate.
Before he began writing and acting in theatre, Keith-James Walker used to traverse the streets of Dublin somewhat aimlessly. He found himself alone and would ramble around at night, going for a pint here and there.

That was until he stumbled across an Introduction to Drama class at the Gaiety School of Acting. Theres been much water under the bridge since then  although not enough in career progress Keith-James might contest  but in a recent run of his own production Walkinstown, the Dromin man was back wandering around the streets of Dublin. So to speak.

During a two week run at the capitals Smock Alley Theatre, the 29-year-old took to the stage as Mark, one of two Dubliners embarking on separate but converging paths towards the object of their respective attentions  Joanne.

Speaking to the Dundalk Democrat, Walker tells us about his third production, describing it as a surreal comedy, a parody of the quintessential Dublin monologue. Along the way, the two characters embark upon all sorts of people and occurrences.

Originally conceived and written as a short 20-minute parody three years ago, the newest incarnation of Walkinstown has more of a narrative. Its longer too  clocking in at over an hour.

Mark and Darren (played by Kieran Roche) are on an Odyssey around Dublin city. In keeping with Walkers humour, the promotional material described Walkinstown as a Theatrical Odyssey. Probably.

I wanted the promotion to be very indicative of what the play actually is. It is a parody, its a ridiculous journey.

A former Colaiste Ris student, Walker left a carpentry apprenticeship behind for a life striving to be a creative force in the arts world.

For Walkinstown, he assumed the part of actor, writer and producer. Big budgets arent vogue in small theatre so that came more from necessity than anything else. He believes that worked out for the best, meaning total creative control over everything.

I wanted to do it my way. Its a lot of work and I know its easy to say now, but looking back, Im glad it turned out that way, he says.

Why shouldnt he want to have creative control? His second production, under the auspices of his company Monkey Backstage, was 2014s How To Build Your Robot. Having run at the Dublin Fringe Festival, it was nominated for a prestigious Bewleys Little Gem Award.

Theatre for so many people is distant and unobtainable. Thats what I really wanted to do with Walkinstown. It was a show that people could come in and enjoy, but we retained as many theatrical elements as we could.

Because its called Walkinstown, we had people coming in just because it was called that. I found that quite funny. The show literally has no references to Walkinstown whatsoever. It was just a joke initially.

We had a group of women who came on one of the nights. They were all in their 70s and they had their annual theatre visit where they all get together once a year to come and see a show. They loved it.

What they loved about it was that it crossed many generations in terms of its references and comedy and so forth. So, that was really nice, Walker continued.

I think thats necessary. Perhaps people might create work too selfishly  putting it out to satisfy their own needs and motivations as opposed to considering what their audiences might like to see and enjoy.

Thats not to say to do a Michael Bay  putting explosions in every movie just to satisfy people.

If its too early to say comedy is Walkers stock in trade, its certainly what hes good at. Last summer, he spent time in Chicago working with Improv Olympic, the comedy theatre and training centre which counts Tina Fay, Chris Farley, Bill Hader and Mike Myers among its alumni.

Clearly, Saturday Night Live is an inspiration. As is The Simpsons (a huge influence) and Mr Show with Bob Odenkirk and David Cross (I absolutely adore that).

Keith-James was 23 years old when he was living in Dublin, focusing on the theoretical aspects of a carpentry apprenticeship. Acting, writing and comedy had never before been on the agenda. Until he decided to give the Gaiety Schools drama class a try.

It was basic stuff, but I really liked it, he recalls. I auditioned for the full-time course having never had any acting experience at all, ever.

He says his audition was terrible and shocking but he got in. People on his course were from all walks of life. Some were solicitors looking to gain public speaking confidence ahead of courtroom appearances.

Years later and while a breakthrough and constant roles are hard to come by, the Louth man hasnt lost any of the drive to succeed.

I havent had much success but it has kind of forced me to be creative and begin my own journey with what I create. Financially, I dont know if theres a future in it. But I feel I owe it to myself to pursue it.

Given the success of Walkinstown and the show before it, its given me a lot of confidence to go on. Confidence is something  certainly with writing  that Ive really struggled with.

I feel like I have a lot of ideas in my head, like an untethered balloon  all floating around for the past few years. But I really feel like I have a rocket strapped to my back. now. I really want to push on. Its all about getting quality shows out there. I feel like my brain has clicked into gear.

Which is good news, as the Dublin Fringe Festival is coming around again in September. Walker is preparing to enter a new show for that, while Walkinstown is set to return for a run in August.

For someone who never intended to be an actor and by his own admission never caught the bug, Keith-James isnt doing badly at all.

I didnt have this sudden urge to be an actor. I drifted into more than anything else. I consider myself to be somebody who wanted to create work  wanted to make people laugh.
Fionne Austin, the owner of Blackstone Physiotherapy Clinic Dundalk, is a chartered physiotherapist and APPI Pilates Instructor.

Fionne studied in Brunel University London before travelling across the UK and to New Zealand to work in different hospitals. Fionne then returned to Ireland to work in private practice and has been a part of the Blackstone team for three years.

I decided to start up my own franchise in Dundalk to be closer to home, Fionne says. It was great to have the support of the Blackstone team when setting up my own practice, I spoke to Kay McLorn, the founder of Blackstone clinics, and she was the one who suggested a franchise, she explains. Fionnes clinic in Dundalk opened in August 2017.

Fionne realised she wanted to do physiotherapy in fourth year of school. I had mock interviews and I did work experience which I really enjoyed, she says. I really love the people element of physiotherapy, there is such variety which a lot of people dont realise, she says. When I worked in the hospitals, I worked across many wards, I was in intensive care, I worked with children, the elderly, those with spinal injuries there was also teamwork with the other doctors who were treating the patients.

Fionne says that a big part of her job is the initial assessment. I can have people come in off the street and I am able to determine what is wrong, what is the best care plan for them, she says, gesturing to the people walking past the window of her practice in Williamson's Mall. Responsibility comes with that, I have to make sure they get the best care, and sometimes that means sending them to their GP or the hospital if its more serious, she says.

I usually see two different types of injury in my clinic, sports-related injuries and injuries due to lifestyle issues, Fionne explains. Sports injuries could be like a pulled muscle, and this can be prevented by making sure you have a good training plan with adequate warm-ups, she says. But a lot of the injuries I see are down to the lifestyle we lead. We all simply arent moving enough, we get up to sit in a car to get to work, we sit at a desk all day, then we come home and sit in front of the TV, she continues. Years ago, we were more mobile we need to work on trying to balance our lifestyle so we are eating healthy and getting enough exercise.

Fionne offers some simple tips we can all use to try and move more. Take the stairs instead of the lift, walk to school if youre in close by, try to teach good habits to children we pack our lives so full nowadays and our health isnt prioritised.

Fionne also gives advice to Dundalk people who may be suffering from an injury. The treatment and advice we offer varies depending on the severity of the pain, she says. For example, if you have mild to moderate back pain, heat can be very effective in relieving some of the symptoms. You should also combine rest with movement. If you dont rest, it will be harder for your back to settle, she explains. But you also need move, so go for a walk for 20 minutes, then rest for another 20, do some yoga for ten, sit down for ten, and always gauge your pain levels, she adds. Fionne advises to go see a physiotherapist if your pain hasnt subsided in a week.

Fionne also says you should never ignore an injury. I dont think you would make it any worse, but it will definitely take you longer to recover. There is a possibility that your symptoms would linger, she says. Also, if you are in pain, chances are you will be grumpy and youll be making everyone else grumpy too, she jokes.

Fionne also outlines what she does in her Blackstone Clinic in Dundalk. I look at physiotherapy as a team effort, she smiles. I can give a client short-term pain relief, and I can advise them on how to make lifestyle changes so they dont hurt themselves again... I also give them exercises to do at home to help speed up the recovery, she explains.

Fionne also has Pilate classes in her Dundalk practice. I have four classes currently, two beginner classes, one intermediate and a synergy class, she reveals. The synergy classes are for people who may struggle to get off the floor or have balance problems, so I would have older people attending this one, she says. Pilates is proven to have great benefits for people who are at risk of falls also, because the classes are physio-led, I can advise people on that level and adapt the class to suit their needs, she says. My classes are small, and there is also a social element, you can bring your friends or meet new people.

If you are interested in joining a Pilates class or think you might need physiotherapy, call Fionne on 042 9327836, or call into 18 Williamson's Mall.
Schoolchildren running in the Rith 2018 relay race will pass through Ardee on March 13, carrying a baton containing a message of hope to the people of Ireland from Michael D. Higgins.

The event is part of a national festival for Ireland which will take place from 10-17 March 2018 as one of the main celebrations of Seachtain na Gaeilge.

A 500 km course has been set for a nonstop relay run from Belfast to Listowel with the baton changing hands between people and groups every kilometre.

Rith 2018 will run over seven days and nights with tens of thousands of people taking part.

A spokesperson said: "It is a unique opportunity for communities throughout Ireland to visibly celebrate the Irish language and culture, while also raising money for the development of the language."

Rith 2018 will be in County Louth at the following times and places:

Ardee Tuesday 10.15am 13 March 2018

Drogheda Tuesday 10.30am 13 March 2018

Each kilometre will be sponsored by individuals, community groups, schools or businesses. The money raised will go towards supporting Irish language events around the country. Kilometres cost 100.

Each kilometre can be seen on the www.rith.ie website where there is also a map of the route.

To take part in Rith 2018 you can register a kilometre online or contact Sinead Ni Dhomhnaill on 0861955515 or sinead@rith.ie. to arrange which kilometre is most suitable for you.


Danish architect firm C.F. Mller Landscape leads an international team to design a new landscape along the Guden and Randers Fjord that protects the city of Randers from floods, both from storm water from the city itself, as well as from storm surge through the fjord that connects the city to the Kattegat Strait.

In the next four month the team, involving the Dutch firm De Urbanisten, is challenged to come up with a toolbox with new solutions that do not create new barriers to water and nature.

On the initial call from the Randers city, 13 teams responded of which two have now been selected to develop a tool box for solutions. The other team is led by urban development consultancy SLA. The team includes the Dutch engineering firm Witteveen+Bos.

At the hearth of the plan is the reconstruction of an existing nature area into a park that can act as a water retention area.

No high levees

The two teams must show how we can protect the city of Randers from a storm surge, without building high levees, walls and embankments, but instead by creating better access to the water, says Nels Markussen who is the head of Nature and Environment of Randers Municipality.



The River Guden and Randers Fjord are really important to the city's identity, and adaptation to climate change must not take us further away from the water. That would not be compatible with the vision of bringing the city to the water, he adds.

Attractive solutions

During the period, the two teams will meet 4 times in Randers to look at the area, exchange ideas and give each other feedback.

According to Markussen it is important that local professionals and selected stakeholders can also comment on the ideas, ensuring that the final toolbox will be adjusted to local conditions.

It is important that any investments in adapting to climate change give the largest possible value to the city, explains Markussen.

For us, it is all about finding solutions that we can appreciate every day, and not just if a storm surge strikes. Such solutions should be attractive to the citizens, and in this way we get more from the investments that are required.

Planned iconic feature of the park that is located along the Guden river and very close to the city centre.

International expertise

Mia Rix, project manager for the Climate Ribbon at Randers Municipality, is very pleased with the international interest: It is really good for the project and for Randers, because it gives us access to the latest technologies and experience from Europe that we can then build on.

Rix adds: and it of course shows that it is not just us facing this challenge. This is something that many cities, both Danish and European, will be working with in the years ahead.

Both selected teams have Dutch participants, and according to Mia Rix, Holland is an important place to look to for experience when it comes to water.

Large areas there are very low, and this means that the Dutch have been working to protect their cities from water for many years. Lessons learned from this process can now be put to good use in Randers.

Two selected teams are:

 SLA, including Niras, Witteveen + Bos, 2 + 1 Idebureau and Mette Bjrge

 CF Mller iuncluding Orbicon, De Urbanisten, Gemeinschaft and Sadolin en Albk.

This news item was originally published on the websites of C.F. Mller Landscape and city of Randers (in Danish only).

Read also on this website

More information

De Urbanisten, Urban design and landscape architecture

Rotterdam, the Netherlands

+31 6 50201080

www.urbanisten.nl
An official with the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warns that climate change and conflict are leading to food insecurity for millions of people living in Africa.

"Undernourishment appears to have risen from about 21 percent to nearly 23 percent between 2015 and 2016," Bukar Tijani, FAO's assistant director general for Africa, said Monday at a conference in Sudan.

"Over the same period, the number of undernourished rose from 200 million to 224 million in Africa. This is a cause of concern for all of us," he said, noting that the continent's population is expected to reach 1.7 billion by 2030.

This rise in undernourishment and food insecurity is linked to the effects of climate change and natural disasters, Tijani later explained to AFP.

"This very strongly is related to climate change. We had floods, we had droughts and we had crop failures," he said.

Tijani added that conflicts in Somalia, South Sudan and the Central African Republic further exacerbate food insecurity.

"When you look at those conflicts, it has also brought challenges because even when food is available it is not affordable and it cannot reach those conflict areas."

A 2017 FAO report shows that, after years of decline, hunger is on the rise again and "visibly worsened in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, South Eastern and Western Asia."

As Leah Samberg, a postdoctoral research associate with the Global Landscapes Initiative, noted from the report: "At the same time, these regions are experiencing increasingly powerful storms, more frequent and persistent drought and more variable rainfall associated with global climate change. These trends are not unrelated. Conflict-torn communities are more vulnerable to climate-related disasters, and crop or livestock failure due to climate can contribute to social unrest."

Tijani's comments can be seen below:
By Sabine Bergmann

For millennia, human beings have gazed into the firmament and been awed by the thousands of stars, galaxies, nebulae and other cosmic wonders visible to the naked eye. But in recent generations, much of humanity has become divorced from these marvels. Today, at least 80 percent of people living in the United States and Europe are so inundated with light pollution that they can't even see our own Milky Way, let alone our neighboring galaxies like Andromeda.

In response to this creeping celestial blindness, conservation groups around the world have designated dark-sky parks, preserves and sanctuariesplaces where light pollution remains at a minimum and it is still possible to see an unblemished night sky. As with all conservation efforts, appreciation is key: We only work to protect what we know and love.

Here are some of the best places around the world to take in the stars.

Colorado Plateau, United States

By day, the Colorado Plateau delights visitors with its many national parks and monuments that boast unique rock formations and dramatic vistas: The Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Bryce Canyon, Zion and Canyon de Chelly. At night, Red Rock Country fades to black and the spectacle moves overhead. A dazzling night sky requires remoteness, and with 130,000 square miles of largely uninhabited desert across the Four Corners region of Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, the Colorado Plateau delivers. The place is speckled with what the International Dark-Sky Association calls "gold-tier" dark-sky parksareas that actively protect their starscapes from light pollution. One of these, Natural Bridges National Monument, was the first dark-sky park ever designated: It is arguably the darkest national park unit in the Lower 48, and hosts astronomy ranger programs throughout the summer.

Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve, United States

In December, the International Dark Sky Association designated more than 1,400 square miles of Idaho's Sawtooth Wilderness as the United States' first dark sky reserve. Like dark sky parks, reserves protect the night skies with light pollution controls, though they also include pristine "core" dark zones, which makes them even rarer. Central Idaho's reserve is one of only 12 in the world. Around its periphery, dark sky ordinances require shields atop street and residential lights. But in the core, rugged terrain has warded off development and manmade light is practically nonexistent. By day, visitors enjoy vistas of the Rockies and their glacial lakes and perennial snow fields. By night, stargazers marvel at interstellar dust clouds, where our galaxy's planets and stars are born.

The Outback, Australia

The outback encompasses much of mainland Australia, and its two and a half million square miles of arid, largely uninhabited land is almost completely free of light pollution. This is one of the best places to admire the sky in the Southern Hemisphere. The prevalence of starlight is so great in the Australian outback, that some aboriginal peoples identified patterns not in the stars themselves, but in the darkness between them. If you head out during Milky Way Season (that's March through October, no matter which hemisphere you're gazing from), you'll be able to look straight into the center of our galaxy. Pitch your tent at Ayers Rock Campgroundonly 10 miles from the spectacular sandstone formation of Uluruto take in the sky from the outback's center. If you want magnification, head to Milroy Observatory in New South Wales: It's the largest telescope in the Southern Hemisphere that's open to the public.

Grasslands National Park, Canada

Just north of Montana, amid the Saskatchewan prairie, is one of the darkest stargazing spots in all of Canadawhich, considering Canada has more than half of the world's dark sky preserves, is saying something. On the Bortle Scale, which measures the brightness of the night sky, Grasslands National Park measures at 1, which is as good as it gets. Out there, the sky bedazzles visitors with celestial objects like nebulae that are visible to the naked eye. Astronomers say the Milky Way is so bright in Grasslands National Park that it casts shadows on the ground. Venture to the park's East Block for the darkest of skies.

Atacama Desert, Chile

High, dry, and with a near-guaranteed clear sky, Chile's Atacama Desert has the weather and the altitude to deliver top-notch starscapes. It's one of the driest places on Earth, which means celestial objects are extra-crystal-clear (humidity has the opposite effect). Because of this, astro-tourists aren't the only ones looking to the sky: The Atacama region boasts a slew of observatories, from the Atacama Large Millimeter Array to the Very Large Telescope. Head south to the Elqui Valley and you'll find the AURA Observatory, the world's first International Dark Sky Sanctuary. This designation is only given to the remotest of starry skiesplaces where starlight conservation is of the utmost importance.

Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada

Situated along the boundary of the Northern Territories and Alberta, Wood Buffalo National Park is the largest dark-sky preserve on the planet, boasting a staggering 11 million acres of protected landan area larger than Denmark. Given its outstanding ecological and biological value, it's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, protecting bison and whooping cranes as well as starlight. If you want a chance to marvel at the northern lights, Wood Buff is the place to do it: The park's latitude and flat, open plains often lead to shimmering displays of green. It's not too crowded, either, which means you can take in the aurora borealis in peace. Unless, that is, you prefer to share the merriment of the night-sky light show, in which case you should go in August, for the park's Dark Sky Festival.

Mauna Kea, Hawaii, United States

When it comes to stargazing, the only thing better than the remoteness of an open ocean is the dry, high altitude of land. The dormant volcano of Mauna Kea on Hawaii's Big Island offers both. Lighting restrictions on the island minimize light pollution, as does the fact that Hawaii sits in the midst of the vast (and dark) Pacific Ocean. And what about the humidity so common in the tropics? Thanks to a tropical inversion cloud layer that's 2,000 feet thick, the upper stretches of the mountain are kept dry and largely clear. It's such an ideal spot that the summit boasts the world's largest observatory for optical, infrared, and submillimeter astronomy. And not far below, at an elevation of 9,200 feet, the Mouna Kea Visitor Center offers stellar views and free stargazing programs each night.

Save Your Starlight

Claiming your right to starlight starts with seeking out dark skies like the ones mentioned above. You can also use tools like the Dark Sky Finder, which maps out where stars are most visible. Bring friends and family with you, so you can further cultivate awe for the heavens.

To learn about starlight-friendly practices, and to get information on outdoor lighting ordinances that protect starscapes in your area, go to the International Dark Sky Association's website: darksky.org

Happy stargazing!

Sabine Bergmann is a professional writer, traveler and conservation activist. She writes for a dozen publications and is the managing editor of the Adventure Collection travel blog, which publishes award-winning writers from around the world.

Reposted with permission from our media associate SIERRA Magazine.
By Tim Radford

Think of it as the day a comet set the earth on fire. Researchers have evidence of widespread and devastating forest fires around half the worlda blaze to blot out the light of the sunand all of it at a geological boundary called the Younger Dryas, 13,500 years ago.

The evidence, they say, supports the hypothesis that planet Earth sailed through a cloud of shattered cometary dust and stones, and the atmospheric violence that followed was enough to set light to accumulated forest timber, peat and grasses across the Americas, Europe and western Asia.

The conflagration triggered dramatic climate change and may have contributed not just to the decline of the mammoth and the mastodon and other Ice Age giants, but may have ended the Clovis civilizationwhich takes its name from the discovery of distinctive spearpoints in Clovis, New Mexicoof early North America.

The evidence comes in two papers in the Journal of Geology, which catalogue vast quantities of soot and ash, all of the same timeline, preserved in ice cores, ancient glaciers, lake beds, ocean muds and rock sediments.

Scientists also found evidence of ammonium, nitrate, acetate, oxalate and other aerosols linked to the combustion of plant material. The link between the fires across a whole hemisphere and cometary impact comes from separate finds at the same horizon, of melt glass, microscopic diamonds, platinum dust and other debris that could be explained by a smash hit from outer space.

The big impact theory of mass extinction is now almost 40 years old: in 1980, U.S. researchers found a telltale concentration of the element iridiumrare on Earth, more often found in asteroidsat the boundary of the Cretaceous and the Tertiary Periods 65 million years ago, and linked a giant impact to the end of the dinosaurs.

That there was a cosmic collision at the end of the Cretaceous is now widely accepted. Palaeontologists still argue about what actually killed the dinosaurs. But the planet is in a free-fire zone, and must have been hit many times by heavenly projectiles.

For years, researchers have tried to match the extinction of Ice Age megafaunawoolly mammoths in North America, oversized marsupials in Australia and so onwith either climate change, or the arrival of human hunters, or some agency from outer space.

Evidence From Smoke

Now researchers think the discovery of smoke in ancient ice cores and other places must point to a smoking gun.

"The biomass burning was so extensive and voluminouswe have evidence of it over North America, South America, Western Europe and the western part of Asiathat it blocked out the sun, causing an impact winter, with profound effects on life on Earth, particularly large animals and humans," said James Kennett, a professor emeritus at the University of California Santa Barbara.

"The impact winter itself was also part of what triggered the Younger Dryas cooling in the Northern Hemisphere."

Arguments of this kind are closely linked to concern with climate change as a consequence of profligate combustion of fossil fuels by humankind, with a sharp build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to raise planetary temperatures with potentially calamitous consequences.

To make sense of what is happening now, climate scientists have for decades been carefully analying climate change in the past: none of it linked to human action, but most of it linked to carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.

Debate Persists

To do this, they have carefully reconstructed climate history from evidence in the rocks, ice cores, marine sediments and lake bedsand then tried to identify the bygone agents of change.

And although the cometary impact theory has its supportersand asteroids and comets have been adding to the earth's minerals throughout the last 4.5 billion yearsthe debate is likely to go on.

Palaeontologists and climate scientists continue to argue about the disappearance of the great Ice Age species, about the role of human hunter-gatherers in any mass extinction, and about the levels of damage any cosmic collision may have caused.

The latest studies add to the body of evidence: they tell a story of a blaze so vast and widespread it consumed almost one-tenth of the planet's biomass, over an area of 10 million square kilometers (approximately 3.9 million square miles), in a matter of weeks. It helps that a mix of corroborative testimony comes from a variety of sources.

"The ice cores are the most persuasive because they are so well dated," said Kennett. "What's more, they provide sound geochemical results that point to a large biomass burning event precisely coinciding with the Younger Dryas Boundary layer formed when this major comet impacted Earth."

Reposted with permission from our media associate Climate News Network.
By May Boeve

With Trump and fossil fuel executives in the White House, any shot of powerful and lasting protections for our climate and communities will come from our cities and states. That's why it's so troubling that in California, one of the most progressive places in the U.S., current state Attorney General Xavier Becerra is failing to stand up to ExxonMobil and its ilk.

Executives at companies like Exxon knew everything there was to know about climate change as far back as the 1970s, but chose to spend the last half a century sowing doubt and confusion. Exxon's own Rex Tillerson is now U.S. secretary of state, even following revelations that he used the secret alias "Wayne Tracker" to cover up all things climate change while serving as the corporation's CEO. And while the rich get richer, it's our communitiesespecially low-income communities and communities of colorwho bear the impacts of this dangerous deception.

2017 was a year of unprecedented federal regression and climate devastation: from Trump backing out of the Paris agreement and hellscape wildfires engulfing California, to Hurricane Maria ripping through Puerto Rico, shedding light on existing inequities previously swept under the rug. It was also a year of resistance and uprising, as it became clearer than ever that these weren't isolated events, but rather perpetuated and worsened by fossil-fueled greed.

Now, people are rising up to hold corporate executives to account for the climate destruction they've caused. The attorneys general of New York and Massachusetts are showing tremendous leadership in their unyielding investigations into what could be the worst case of corporate fraud in history. Is California going to really sit back and force New York and Massachusetts to take on Exxon alone?

As Becerra and elected officials meet and discuss strategies to tackle climate change, launching an investigation into all that Exxon knew is Xavier Becerra's opportunity to prove he's a real climate champion.

This is far from the first time AG Becerra has been urged to investigate Exxon. Local organizers and national groups delivered more than 70,000 petition signatures calling for an investigation last April. In January, more than 30 national and local organizations from labor unions to environmental organizations signed a letter to Becerra ramping up the call. Even the Los Angeles Times editorial board has urged him to move on an Exxon probe.

Years of research on greenhouse gas emissions revealed that just 90 companies are responsible for two-thirds of major greenhouse gas pollution. Even more staggering, just eight companies are responsible for 20 percent of global carbon emissions since the Industrial Revolution.

This, as head of the Center for International Environmental Law Carroll Muffett explained, "for the first time identifies a discrete class of defendants" in the fight against climate change. This blows away any legitimacy of the falsification that if everyone is responsible, no one is. We know who is responsible: fossil fuel executives and their bought-and-paid-for political allies.

Climate litigation is emerging as a major strategy to recover costs from the fossil fuel billionaires who caused the climate crisis. As cities and counties across California step up in holding Exxon accountable, Xavier Becerra drags his feet.

The growing list of climate lawsuits includes San Francisco and Oakland suing Exxon, Chevron, BP, Royal Dutch Shell, ConocoPhillips; and San Mateo and Marin counties and the city of Imperial Beach suing 37 companies. Beyond California, New York City; Paris, France; Boulder, Colorado, and more are joining the fight around lawsuits against major oil companies.

Make no mistake, executives at companies like ExxonMobil and Chevron are trying every trick to fight these lawsuits, going so far as to point fingers and sue other fossil fuel companies. That's like Philip Morris executives claiming it doesn't matter that they lied about the dangers of smoking because they weren't the only ones to do so.

In failing to take on Exxon's climate deception, Xavier Becerra stands to undercut California's vaunted leadership in global efforts to combat climate change. To build the fossil free world that works for all of us, we must use all of our tools to hold accountable those who have profited most from this destruction, in our legal system and in the court of public opinion.

With September's Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco on the horizon, AG Becerra must stand with the people he's meant to represent and hold the likes of Exxon accountable.

Reposted with permission from our media associate 350.org.
Chicago

Alante Klyce wants to be a dancer.

Yet here she is, inside a sun-filled classroom at Lindblom Math & Science Academy on the citys South Side, throwing around tech-industry terms like ideation and working with friends to design her first mobile app.

Its all part of the introductory computer-science course that every student in Chicago must now take in order to graduate.

Im still not really that into technology, said Klyce, 15. But this is actually my favorite class now.

This is the promise of the nascent Computer Science for All movement: that the nations K-12 schools can prepare every student, regardless of background or career interests, to thrive in a tech-driven future.

See Also: As the future of work changes, how are schools adapting? Check out the latest news coverage on the way schools are preparing students for tomorrows workforce: Schools and the Future Workforce

Were changing kids minds about who they are and what they can do, said Brenda Wilkerson, the architect of Chicagos groundbreaking computer-science initiative. Imagine that across millions.

From the White House, Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump have both pledged support for that vision. Companies such as Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Oracle, and Salesforce have pushed the idea with hundreds of millions of dollars and an extensive lobbying campaign. Dozens of states have gotten on board, adopting new standards and allowing computer-science courses to count towards graduation.

As a result, from Arkansas to California to South Carolina, K-12 computer-science offerings are taking off.

Now comes the hard part.

The movement sits on a clear fault line: Should computer-science education focus on preparing students for jobs, or teaching them new ways to think and solve problems?

Many observers question whether the current emphasis on workforce development makes sense. Hundreds of schools still try to pass off keyboarding classes as computer science. Completing an hourlong coding tutorial wont land anyone a six-figure software-developer gig. And artificial intelligence may soon take over most entry-level programming work.

Then there are the practical challenges.

How, exactly, are the nations public schoolsalready stretched thin, riddled with inequities, and oft-derided as failingsupposed to keep up with the dizzying changes in Silicon Valley? Where are schools supposed to find teachers who know how to run a classroom, can program in Python, and are willing to work for $40,000 a year?

Its a fraught moment for K-12 educators and policymakers, said Wilkerson, now president of AnitaB.org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the role of women in technology.

Lay a strong foundation, and Computer Science for All has the potential to be life-changing for entire generations of students like Alante Klyce.

But if we screw this up, she said, well be locking in the status quo, especially for those who have been systematically shut out from opportunity.

The Rapid Expansion of Computer Science

How many K-12 schools currently offer computer science?

Its hard to say.

A 2016 survey by Google and Gallup suggests the figure is somewhere between 40 and 70 percent (depending on whether you only count courses that include computer programming, or you include such offerings as after-school robotics clubs.)

Big-picture, though, the trend lines are clear. Eight years ago, just 19,390 students took an Advanced Placement Computer Science exam. By last spring, that was up to 99,868a 415 percent jump.

Janice Cuny is as responsible for that remarkable growth as anyone.

Cuny is a program officer at the National Science Foundation. Since 2004, shes been working to make the computer-science field more accessible to girls and minorities.

Early on, she decided that one big key was to make computer-science education less about how to program loops and conditionals, and more about why youd want to do such a thing in the first place.

Especially in K-12.

It became pretty clear that the problem started in high schools, said Cuny, who described a major gap caused by the lack of computer-science opportunities in grades 9-12. We were leaving a big black hole for [students] to fall into.

To fill the void, Cuny helped launch an effort to train 10,000 new computer-science teachers. She was instrumental in funding research into how computer science is best taught at the K-12 level. And, most significantly, Cuny played a key role in the development of two new K-12 courses, both of which have helped schools provide an introductory-level course for students who may not have prior programming experience: Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles, which debuted with huge numbers last spring, and Exploring Computer Science, now offered in more than 2,000 schools nationwide.

Those efforts helped lay the groundwork for a handful of big-city districts to embrace the Computer Science for All mantra.

In 2013, with help from Google and a newly founded nonprofit called Code.org, Chicagos 400,000-student school district went all-in, announcing it would bring Exploring Computer Science to every high school in the city, as well as begin integrating computer-science into math and science courses in at least one-fourth of its elementary schools.

Five years later, those targets have mostly been met. The number of Chicago high school students taking computer science has almost tripled. And Lindblom Math & Science stands as a shining example of whats possible.

When it opened in 1919, Lindblom was a technical school mostly for European immigrants. In its early years, the schools massive workshop spaces were used for vocational training in everything from agriculture to blacksmithing to auto repair.

Now a selective-admission school that students from all over the city can try to test into, Lindbloms student body is 70 percent African-American and 23 percent Latino. It offers no fewer than seven different computer-science courses, plus a wide range of related clubs, programs, and other opportunities.

Senior Mario Morales has taken advantage of all of them.

First, he took Exploring Computer Science. Then he raced through the schools game design, web development, and networking courses. He currently has two IT-related internships, plus hes taking a college-level course in data structures and algorithms at the Illinois Institute of Technology.

And on a snowy January afternoon, Morales stayed after school to work with Lindbloms robotics and CyberPatriots teams, plugging away on a laptop emblazoned with a sticker that read MY OTHER COMPUTER IS YOUR COMPUTER.

The appeal, he said, is that programming gives him more control over the world around him than he previously knew was possible.

Before, I was mostly into sports, said Morales, 18. Now, I want to get a degree in computer science or cybersecurity, then become a malware analyst.

Computer Science for Jobs, or Life?

Morales ambitions embody the sales pitch that helped take Computer Science for All mainstreamand has contributed to tension in the field.

By 2016, largely on the strength of a viral web video and hugely popular Hour of Code events, Code.org had sparked a tremendous surge of enthusiasm for computer-science education.

The driving force was founder Hadi Partovi, an Iranian-born software engineer who made a fortune selling startups to Microsoft and MySpace, then investing early in such Silicon Valley heavyweights as Airbnb and Facebook.

At Code.org, Partovi leveraged the success of Hour of Code to line up tens of millions of dollars in tech-sector support. Then he won the ear of President Obama, who donned a Code.org cap as he became the first commander-in-chief to write a line of code.

A coalition of advocates fanned out across the country, lobbying state lawmakers to change policies and dedicate funds to support computer-science education.

Jobs became the central selling point for the movement.

In 2015, for example, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson touted a new law expanding computer-science education as a strategy for preparing a workforce thats sure to attract businesses and jobs to our state.

In many ways, its a strong case to make.

The federal government projects robust demand for workers in computer-science-related fields through 2026. Jobs of all types are becoming more digital, a Brookings Institute study recently found. Across sectors, employers are willing to pay big premiums for people with computer- and data-science skills, according to a recent analysis of online job postings by Burning Glass Technologies and Oracle Academy.

And companies such as Microsoft havent been shy about tying their philanthropic support for Computer Science for All to their own long-term hiring strategies.

We need the talent, said Jane Broom, the senior director of Microsoft Philanthropies, which has committed $75 million to K-12 computer science education over the past three years.

But the growing emphasis on workforce development, combined with the rising influence of the tech sector, have made some in the field uncomfortable.

There are fears about quality: As the field attracts money and attention, schools are being flooded with sales pitches for platforms, devices, and games claiming to make coding instruction easy.

There are fears about the future: Companies may be looking for hard-core Java developers right now, but advances in both hardware and artificial intelligence could render such skills irrelevant by the time todays 6th graders hit the job market.

And there are fears that some Computer Science for All proponents dont understand or appreciate the context of public education.

Developing a workforce that knows how to use a particular software or [programming] language is not what high school is for, said Cuny of the National Science Foundation.

Partovi shares those concerns.

The popularity of [the name] Code.org has made people think this is just about teaching kids coding, and not about the broader fields of computer science and computational thinking, he said.

But his organizations curricula, now in use by tens of thousands of teachers across the country, reflect a different reality, Partovi said.

Code.org believes schools should teach computer science like they teach math, or biology. Every student isnt going to become a botanist, Partovi likes to say, but they all learn about photosynthesis, so they can understand how the world around them works.

The digital equivalent of that approach would:



Provide all students with a broad conceptual understanding of how computers and the internet function, so they can participate knowledgeably in a digital society.

Help students attack all kinds of problems computationally, breaking them down into smaller parts,and looking for patterns.

Make sure they know how to work with large amounts of data, increasingly the lifeblood of nearly every sector of the economy.

Give students opportunities to test their ideas in the real world, so they learn the process for creating technology, not just consuming it.

And teach them codingin a way that is not limited to any single programming language or environment.

We dont want to prepare students for just one type of job, Partovi said. We want to prepare them for life.

Challenges on the Ground

Most leaders in the Computer Science for All movement embrace some version of that vision.

Whats happening inside actual schools, however, remains all over the map.

For decades, computer-science education in many of schools has consisted primarily of technology basics, such as learning how to use Microsoft Office, or even stenography. Undoing that legacy is hard.

Take South Carolina.

The state department of education has actually mandated computer science since 1997. But many students still fulfill the high school graduation requirement by taking a half-credit course in keyboarding.

Its no fault of the districts, said Anne Pressley, the director of the departments office of standards and learning, which has been leading an effort to develop new computer-science standards for South Carolina schools.

Its a lack of capacity, especially when it comes to course development and finding teachers, she said.

Such problems are especially prevalent in rural school districts.

But big hurdles remain in places like Chicago, too.

Most of Chicagos elementary schools still arent part of the CS4all initiative, leaving students like Ian Michael Brock to take matters into their own hands.

See Also: He Wants Chicago Kids to Build the Next Silicon Valley. Hes 13.

While 76 of Chicagos 85 high schools now offer computer science, many have only a single introductory course, leaving students who catch the computer-science bug with limited options for following up.

The single biggest barrier to making Computer Science for All work, by far, is staffingeven at a school like Lindblom Math & Science Academy.

Principal Wayne Bevis has worked to expand computer science schoolwidewithout any new money to hire additional teachers. Over the last two years, hes had to make do, first by switching the duties of one of his math teachers, then by moving a staffer who had been working on a schoolwide support program back into the classroom.

Thats left a heavy burden on the shoulders of Jesus Duran.

The heart of Lindbloms small computer-science team, Duran is something of a unicorn. How often do Motorola engineers, with degrees in computer science and new media art, turn down $120,000 salaries to teach in a public high school? And how many K-12 computer science teachers run their own tech companies on the side, in part to stay up with the latest advances in everything from artificial intelligence to blockchain?

But for the time being, at least, Duran is here, zigzagging between the robots and whiteboards scattered throughout his last-period game-design class.

Students are working in pairs, laughing and debating as they develop storyboards and soundtracks for their own two-dimensional video games.

The underlying purpose of the project, Duran said, is helping kids learn to manage files and collaborate with each other.

When kids are hyper-engaged in what theyre creating, both the hard and the soft skills come through, he said. Its the best way to teach, but its not the easiest way.

Indeed, by the end of the class, the 42-year old teacher looked drained.

Bringing computer science to his native South Side is orders of magnitude more difficult than any engineering project Ive ever worked on, Duran said.

The work is paying off, in the form of students full of confidence that theyll be able to shape the future.

But Duran isnt sure how long hell last before heading back to the private sector.

I made a commitment for next year, he said. Beyond that, everything stays fluid.
2018-02-20

Maeci

Thailand: towards the liberalisation of the electricity market

Thailand is getting ready to liberalise electricity production, a measure deemed essential to make the market more efficient and prices more affordable for consumers. The Country is providing to increase the monthly energy tax by 50% over the next 10 years and, to this effect, the Minister of Energy, Siri Jirapongphun, said that if prices were to continue to rise, Thailand could lose its competitive advantage in the field of infrastructure to the benefit of other actors. Therefore, Siri Jirapongphun believes that in order to lower electricity costs, it will be necessary to increase the industrys efficiency and innovativeness. At the moment, the Ministry-run company EGAT is in charge of the production, transmission and sale of electricity. It is Thailands largest power production company: it owns and runs power plants in 45 different locations throughout the territory, with a total production capacity of 15,548 MW. The details of the deregulation plan will be outlined in the New National Power Development Plan (PDP) to be published on 31 March to replace the one in force since 2014. The first step in the liberalisation process will be opening the renewable energy market and subsequently the fossil fuel market.
2018-02-20

Maeci

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Angelino Alfano, is on a diplomatic mission to Colombia and Brazil from today until 24 February.

In Bogota, Minister Alfano will bring a tangible testimony of Italys support to the post-conflict phase that Colombia is going through and will discuss how to enhance economic and commercial relations with local Authorities. On the ministers agenda are meetings with the foreign minister, the energy minister, the post-conflict minister and the president of the Republic.

The ministers trip to Brazil confirms the intention to relaunch the two Countries bilateral relations and aims to strengthen our economic and commercial presence and discuss the most relevant international and regional dossiers (with a special focus on the situation in Venezuela). In Sao Paulo, Minister Alfano will have an institutional meeting with the mayor, in Brasilia with the President of the Republic, the minister of foreign affairs, the minister of justice, the minister of economic planning and the minister of defence, in Belo Horizonte, he will cut the ribbon of the new premises of the Italian Consulate at the presence of the governor of the Minas Gerais State, and then he will have official meetings in Rio de Janeiro.
CHICAGO (Feb. 20, 2018): Safety-net hospitals--often found in inner cities with a high share of uninsured and Medicaid patients--are often thought to be hospitals of last resort. However, a recent study at a safety net hospital in northeast Florida has found that it could perform a highly complex operation with fewer complications and shorter hospital stays than the national average, according to a study published online as an "article in press" on the Journal of the American College of Surgeons website ahead of print publication.

Lead study author Lori A. Gurien, MD, MPH, chief surgical resident at the University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville, credited use of a written, standardized protocol--known as a clinical pathway--for the institution's superior outcomes. "What we think and what we discovered is that it's not because the hospital gives us more money and resources for the surgical oncology portion; it is that we figured out a way to use resources in a smarter way than other places that may not have the limitations that we have at our hospital," Dr. Gurien said.

Dr. Gurien and her coauthors reported on results of 78 esophagectomies performed at University of Florida Health-Jacksonville (UFH) from September 2013 to January 2017 and compared them with 1,825 of the same operation in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) database. Esophagectomy is an operation that involves removal of part of the esophagus, typically as a treatment for cancer of the esophagus.

ACS NSQIP is the only nationally validated quality improvement program that measures and enhances the care of surgical patients. This program measures the actual surgical results 30 days postoperatively as well as risk adjusts patient characteristics to compensate for differences among patient populations and acuity levels. The goal of ACS NSQIP is to reduce surgical morbidity (infection or illness related to a surgical procedure) and surgical mortality (death related to a surgical procedure) and to provide a firm foundation for surgeons to apply what is known as the "best scientific evidence" to the practice of surgery.

For the study, researchers looked at the three primary outcomes used as quality measures for operations--complications, number of second and third operations, and length of hospital stay. UFH-Jacksonville had significantly lower numbers than the NSQIP average: a complication rate of 16.7 percent vs. 33.3 percent (p=0.003); a reoperation rate of 6.4 percent vs. 14.5 percent (p=0.046); and an average hospital stay of 10.3 days vs. 13.1 days (p=0.001). Other key quality measures--rates of death and hospital readmission, what type of care setting patients go to after they leave the hospital, and average time spent in the operation--were similar between the two study groups. Dr. Gurien noted that the ACS NSQIP data the study used did not distinguish between different types of hospitals.

UFH-Jacksonville was able to achieve these results even though its patients had greater preoperative health challenges than those in the national cohort. They had higher rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (a rate of 19.2 percent vs. 8.1 percent nationally, p=0.001), and were more likely to smoke (42.3 percent vs. 26 percent, p=0.001). The UFH-Jacksonville group was also less likely to be overweight, with an average body-mass index [BMI] of 26 vs. 28 for the NSQIP group (p=0.001). A BMI greater than 25 is considered overweight. Other patient characteristics, such as incidence of diabetes, high blood pressure, or disease severity, were similar between the two groups.

Dr. Gurien explained that the clinical pathway surgeon, Ziad T. Awad, MD, FACS, and the surgical team maintain detailed instructions for every step of the procedure, from planning and scheduling the operation to postoperative follow-up, sometimes extending out to a year or two. The patient, family members, all surgical residents, floor staff residents, pharmacists, and other hospital staff involved in the patient's care receive a copy of the protocol. A staff surgical navigator guides each patient through all phases of operative care before, during, and after the operation. After the operation, all esophagectomy patients go to the same intensive care unit. Every step is performed uniformly for each patient: anesthesia (no spinal injections), a minimally invasive operation, timing of placement and removal of breathing and feeding tubes, and pain management protocol after the procedure. "We don't deviate from that pathway unless something unforeseen happens," Dr. Gurien explained. The surgical team reviews and tweaks the protocol on an ongoing basis, she said.

Dr. Gurien said the researchers chose to study esophagectomy because of its high level of complexity and because patients who have the operation are amongst the sickest to enter the health system.

The study noted that safety-net hospitals face challenges as health care moves from a fee-for-service model to value-based payments, which imposes payment penalties on institutions that perform poorly. Safety-net hospitals are already strained financially. A patient population that's sicker and poorer and lacks access to care only compounds that challenge in a value-based system. While many studies drawing on large datasets have suggested that safety-net hospitals have worse outcomes than non-safety-net hospitals, the UFH-Jacksonville study is the first to look at outcomes on the institutional level.

"The takeaway from this study is that good outcomes are more a result of the process," Dr. Gurien said. "I do think other hospitals can perform this process, especially safety-net hospitals like ours that have limited financial resources." Dr. Gurien said that moving forward, the researchers aim to investigate their results with the Whipple procedure--a complex operation to treat cancer of the pancreas, intestines, and bile duct. The Whipple operation involves removal of part of the pancreas, the small intestine just below the stomach, gallbladder, and bile duct.

The study results were first presented in December 2017 at the Southern Surgical Association 129th annual meeting in Hot Springs, Virginia.

Study co-authors are Joseph J. Tepas, III, MD, FACS; D. Scott Lind, MD, FACS; David J. Chesire, PhD; Michel J. Sabra, MD; Brian G. A. Dalton, MD; and Ziad T. Awad, MD, FACS, all with the department of surgery at the University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville.

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Citation: How Safe is the Safety Net? Comparison of Ivor-Lewis Esophagectomy at a Safety Net Hospital with the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) Database. Available at: http://www.journalacs.org/article/S1072-7515(18)30017-6/abstract

About the American College of SurgeonsThe American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the quality of care for all surgical patients. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 80,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. For more information, visit http://www.facs.org
A team of American Museum of Natural History researchers has created a computational model capable of predicting whether or not organisms have the ability to "eat" other cells through a process known as phagocytosis. The model may be a useful tool for large-scale microbe surveys and provides valuable insight into the evolution of complex life on Earth, challenging ideas put forward in recent studies. The model and researchers' findings are featured in a paper published today in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution.

"Phagocytosis is a major mechanism of nutritional uptake in many single-celled organisms, and it's vital to immune defenses in a number of living things, including humans," said co-author Eunsoo Kim, an associate curator in the American Museum of Natural History's Division of Invertebrate Zoology. "But lesser known is the idea that phagocytosis dates back some 2 to 3 billion years and played a role in those symbiotic associations that likely started the cascading evolution toward the more diverse and complex life we see on the planet today. Our research provides some hints as to how phagocytosis first arose."

Prokaryotes, a group that includes bacteria and archaea, are microscopic, mostly single-celled organisms with relatively simple internal structure. Eukaryotes, the group that comprises animals, plants, fungi, and protists (representing assemblages of diverse, unrelated lineages such as amoebozoans and green algae), have generally larger cells that are filled with a number of internal components including the nucleus, where DNA is stored, and energy-generating organelles called mitochondria. Scientific theory dictates that between about 2 to 3 billion years ago a single bacterium merged with an unrelated prokaryotic microbe, leading to the evolution of mitochondria-a key feature of eukaryotic cells. This merger only happened once, and some scientists suggest that the process involved cellular "engulfment." Yet there are no known prokaryotes capable of phagocytosis today. So under what circumstances did the trait arise?

To investigate this long-standing question, the research team used genetic patterns common to phagocytic cells to build a computational model that uses machine learning to predict whether an organism feeds via phagocytosis.

"There's no single set of genes that are strongly predictive of phagocytosis because it's a very complicated process that can involve more than 1,000 genes, and those genes can greatly vary from species to species," said lead author John Burns, a research scientist in the Museum's Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics." But as we started looking at the genomes of more and more eukaryotes, a genetic pattern emerged, and it exists across diversity, even though it's slightly different in each species. That pattern is the core of our model, and we can use it to very quickly and efficiently predict which cells are likely to be 'eaters' and which are not."

Because many eukaryotes, such as some green algae, can be "picky"-only eating under certain conditions-it can be hard to determine whether they are capable of phagocytosis simply by watching them under a microscope. This new model can help microbiologists make a quick assessment, and it may also be valuable for use in large DNA sequencing projects that involve multiple unknown microbial species, for example, surveying sea water samples.

The researchers applied the model to a group of "eukaryote-like" microbes called Asgard archaea. In recent years, some researchers have proposed that Asgard microbes might be living relatives of long-sought-after microbes that merged with the bacterium that became mitochondria. But the researchers' new work finds that these microbes most likely do not use phagocytosis. They also used the gene set developed as part of the model-building process to look more closely at the ancient lineages of archaea and bacteria, and found that, as a whole, neither group on its own has the genes required for phagocytosis. While the new work eliminates one scenario for the birth of mitrochondria-that Asgard archaea engulfed a bacteria-many other options remain.

"When you tease apart the components of these predictive genes, some have roots in archaea, some have roots in bacteria, and some are only unique to eukaryotes," Kim said. "Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that our cells are a chimera of archaeal and bacterial components, and that the process of phagocytosis arose only after that combination took place. We still have a lot of work to do in this field."

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Alexandros Pittis, a former postdoctoral researcher in the Museum's Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, was also an author on this study.

This work was supported in part by the Simons Foundation, grant #SF-382790.

Nature Ecology & Evolution paper: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41559-018-0477-7

AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY (AMNH.ORG)

The American Museum of Natural History, founded in 1869, is one of the world's preeminent scientific, educational, and cultural institutions. The Museum encompasses 45 permanent exhibition halls, including those in the Rose Center for Earth and Space and the Hayden Planetarium, as well as galleries for temporary exhibitions. It is home to the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial, New York State's official memorial to its 33rd governor and the nation's 26th president, and a tribute to Roosevelt's enduring legacy of conservation. The Museum's five active research divisions and three cross-disciplinary centers support approximately 200 scientists, whose work draws on a world-class permanent collection of more than 34 million specimens and artifacts, as well as specialized collections for frozen tissue and genomic and astrophysical data, and one of the largest natural history libraries in the world. Through its Richard Gilder Graduate School, it is the only American museum authorized to grant the Ph.D. degree. Beginning in 2015, the Richard Gilder Graduate School also began granting the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree, the only such freestanding museum program. Annual visitation has grown to approximately 5 million, and the Museum's exhibitions and Space Shows are seen by millions more in venues on six continents. The Museum's website, mobile apps, and MOOCs (massive open online courses) extend its scientific research and collections, exhibitions, and educational programs to additional audiences around the globe. Visit amnh.org for more information.

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Become a fan of the Museum on Facebook at facebook.com/naturalhistory, follow us on Twitter at @AMNH, on Instagram at @AMNH, and on Tumblr at amnhnyc.
The awardees have developed fundamental techniques for measuring and understanding the market power wielded by firms, starting from the specific structure of each market, including automobiles and information technologies

"Motivated by important and policy-relevant questions in applied economics," remarks the jury in its citation, "they developed methodologies that had a significant and long-lasting impact on subsequent work in industrial organization as well as other applied fields."

The first major contribution of professors Bresnahan, Pakes and Porter was to undertake empirical studies of market power in modern markets, using methods that lent themselves to the rigorous testing of hypotheses. "We have been very concerned," Bresnahan explained after hearing of the award, "that declines in the degree of competition in many markets in the rich countries have led to an increase in market power," with the result that "technical progress, which should serve to lower prices for consumers, has instead been captured by sellers." The jury refers to Bresnahan's work as having laid the foundations for the "new empirical industrial organization." The Stanford professor himself offers some background to the story: "We sought to take the ideas, models and principles of game theory and put them into empirical models which could be studied in real markets. And that has led to a large, successful field in economics, with robust methods for studying the existence, quantitative importance and outcomes of market power."

"Rob Porter and I were office mates at graduate school," he continues, "so we were both there at the foundation. He has worked a great deal on models of imperfect information while I have worked on models of imperfect competition."

Robert Porter, in the words of the citation, "has made several important theoretical and empirical contributions to the study of collusion, especially in the context of auctions." Porter, in effect, has studied ways to detect and prevent collusive practices; agreements between two or more parties to elude competition by conspiring, for instance, to raise consumer prices, to lower the prices paid to suppliers or to block the entry of new competitors. A typical case would see him start by adapting the economic theory to the institutional context of the auction. He would then work out the empirical predictions deriving from the theory on the basis of the available data and come up with an ad hoc econometric strategy to empirically test them. All this applying a forensic attention to detail at each step in the process.

For Ariel Pakes, the main achievement of the three economists' work is that "the existing literature was mostly theory, based on a lot of assumptions, and it was difficult to tell which were relevant and where. What we did was develop the empirical tools to figure out the appropriate assumptions, and then do the analysis. An example would be, 'what are the likely impacts of a merger or of a tariff change?' The models we developed are able to predict these counterfactuals."

Pakes has developed econometric models and methods for studying demand and productive efficiency. His models to estimate demand and substitution patterns in differentiated product markets have enjoyed a wide take-up in both academia and in regulatory and professional analyses of antitrust questions. Further, his productivity estimation methods have become a standard tool in the empirical study of industrial output. Much of his work has focused on market dynamics: the process whereby agents in a specific industry or market progress from a starting point in which they are comfortable with their strategies through a period of substantial changes in market characteristics to an end point at which a notional order is restored. According to Jose Garcia Montalvo, Professor of Economics at Pompeu Fabra University and nominator of the three new laureates, in Pakes' analysis "everything is endogenous, everything is linked to everything else. When a firm takes some action - for instance, cutting its prices - other firms respond according to factors like demand and costs, and this, in turn, provokes a reaction from competitors. What we have, in essence, is a chain of action and reaction that will gradually return the market to conditions of equilibrium."

The complexity and sophistication of Pakes' analysis requires the use of powerful computational models that can plot all possible reactions of all competitors, and all the reactions to their reactions.

Applications across multiple fields of economics

The jury points out that the models developed by Bresnahan, Pakes and Porter are used by antitrust authorities in many parts of the world, including the United States and the European Union, since the tools they designed provide insights into market functioning and can determine where agent transactions might distort competition. "I think my favorite example," Bresnahan explains, "is my empirical studies on the beer industry. Jonathan Baker and I wrote about the beer industry a long time ago, and our work has come to underlie methodologically almost all the merger reviews carried out by antitrust agencies, because we figured out how to forecast the anti-competitive effects of a merger." After many years examining the competition status of another industry, information and communication technologies, Bresnahan took up an appointment with the U.S. Department of Justice. "In fact," he explains, "my colleagues and I continue to advise governments on the very serious problem of how to deal with large, successful IT companies that may be creating a situation of market dominance."

Bresnahan, Pakes and Porter's methods, the citation continues, "have had applications in other areas of economics, including macroeconomics, international trade and health and environmental economics, where credible estimation of demand, productivity and firm behavior is a prerequisite for evidence-based policies regarding antitrust, regulation, trade and other forms of market liberalizations."

In the healthcare area, Pakes recalls a case where "we studied the allocation of patients to hospitals. There are two ways of doing this in the U.S. One is fee-per-service, where the doctor and hospital get a fee for each service provided. And then there is "capitation", where the medical group gets a set amount for each patient, and if they don't spend it all can save some of what's left. So the big question was: Would this cause hospitals to skimp on quality of patient care? What we found is that "capitated" doctors do send patients to cheaper hospitals but without sacrificing quality. They send them to less convenient hospitals of equal quality, maybe further out of the city where they live."

Another major application concerned the liberalization of the U.S. telecommunications market: "In the re-analysis of the break-up of the American telephone company AT&T, which had been a regulated industry and a monopoly," Ariel Pakes explains, "the question was what were the impacts of deregulation. And we were able to show that the impact of regulation - the sector's pre-liberalized state - had been a misallocation of capital. That is, capital was not finding its way to the most productive places. When deregulation happened, capital was reallocated optimally and productivity increased. This case became a template for the analysis of other regulated industries."

All three laureates are currently working to translate these models to today's markets: "It is essential," Timothy Bresnahan stresses, "that we understand new industries (finance and high tech particularly) well enough to deploy effective competition policies. That is the biggest challenge facing the field." For Pakes, meantime, "there are a lot of very good young people in the field, and specialists in areas like health, environment and development economics are starting to send their students to industrial organization so they can access these tools and use them in their own fields."

Bio notes

Timothy Bresnahan (United States, 1953) graduated from Haverford College (United States), and in 1978 earned a PhD from Princeton University.

In 1989, he joined the Center on Employment and Economic Growth at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR), which he now heads. From 1999 to 2000 he served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General and Chief Economist in the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. He currently combines his directorship of SIEPR with the post of Landau Professor in Technology and the Economy at Stanford University.

He is a Fellow of the Econometric Society and, since 1990, a member of the Steering Committee of the Industrial Organization Program of the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Ariel Pakes (Edmonton, Canada, 1949) graduated from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem then went on to obtain a PhD from Harvard University in 1979.

He has held positions at a number of universities. In 1988 he was appointed Professor of Economics at Yale University where he later served as Charles and Dorothea Dilley Professor of Economics from 1997 to 1999. In this last year, he joined the Department of Economics at Harvard University where he is currently Thomas Professor of Economics.

His numerous distinctions include the Frisch Medal of the Econometric Society, which elected him a Fellow in 1988, and the Jean-Jacques Laffont Prize from the University of Toulouse. He is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a Distinguished Fellow of the Industrial Organization Society.

Robert Porter (London, Canada, 1955) graduated from the University of Western Ontario (Canada), before completing a PhD at Princeton University in 1981.

He has held visiting appointments at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of California, Berkeley and Yale University, among other institutions. Since 1993, he has held the post of William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor at Northwestern University.

He is a Fellow of the Econometric Society and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and in 2009 was named a Distinguished Fellow of the Industrial Organization Society. He is a former coeditor of Econometrica, the RAND Journal of Economics, the American Economic Journal: Microeconomics and the Handbook of Industrial Organization.

Economics, Finance and Management jury and technical committee

The jury in this category was chaired by Eric S. Maskin, Nobel Laureate in Economics and Adams University Professor at Harvard University (United States), with Manuel Arellano, Professor of Economics in the Center for Monetary and Financial Studies (CEMFI) of Banco de Espana acting as secretary. Remaining members were Pinelopi Goldberg, Elihu Professor of Economics at Yale University (United States); Andreu Mas-Colell, Emeritus Professor of Economics at Pompeu Fabra University (Spain); Lucrezia Reichlin, Professor of Economics at the London Business School (United Kingdom); Jean Tirole, Nobel Laureate in Economics and Chairman of Fondation Jean-Jacques Laffont-Toulouse School of Economics (France); and Fabrizio Zilibotti, Tuntex Professor of International and Development Economics at Yale University (United States).

The Technical Committee of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) was coordinated by Maria Victoria Moreno, Deputy Vice President for Scientific and Technical Areas, and formed by: Jose Antonio Berenguer, Coordinator of the CSIC Humanities and Social Sciences Area and scientific researcher at the Institute of Languages and Cultures of the Mediterranean and the Near East (ILC); Matthew Ellman, a tenured researcher at the Institute of Economic Analysis (IAE); Adela Garcia, a tenured researcher at the Institute of Innovation and Knowledge Management (INGENIO); Catalina Martinez, a tenured researcher at the Institute of Public Goods and Policies (IPP); and Francisco Javier Sanz, a tenured researcher at the Institute of Economics, Geography and Demography (IEGD),

Previous awardee in this category

The award in last year's edition went to Turkish economist Daron Acemoglu for helping to elucidate the determinants of long-term economic development, with particular emphasis on the important role played by institutions.

About the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awards

The promotion of knowledge based on research and artistic and cultural creation, and the interaction of these domains, forms a core strand of the BBVA Foundation's action program, along with the recognition of talent and excellence across a broad spectrum of disciplines, from science to the arts and humanities.

In line with these objectives, the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awards were established in 2008 to recognize outstanding contributions in a range of scientific, technological and artistic areas, together with knowledge-based responses to the central challenges of our times. The areas covered by the Frontiers Awards are congruent with the knowledge map of the 21st century, in terms of the disciplines they address and their assertion of the value of cross-disciplinary interaction.

The BBVA Foundation is aided in the evaluation process by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), the country's premier public research organization. As well as designating each jury chair, the CSIC is responsible for appointing the technical evaluation committees that undertake an initial assessment of candidates put forward by numerous institutions across the world and draw up a reasoned shortlist for the consideration of the juries.

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WASHINGTON, D.C., February 20, 2018 -- Our brains weave together inputs from sight, taste and smell to determine whether food is safe and enjoyable to eat. Though it is often overlooked, texture also has a powerful effect on how we perceive and enjoy food. Mathias P. Clausen, a postdoctoral fellow at University of Southern Denmark in Odense, Denmark, became intrigued by jellyfish when he bit into the marine delicacy and experienced an unexpected crunch.

"Tasting jellyfish myself, I wanted to understand the transformation from a soft gel to this crunchy thing you eat," Clausen said.

Clausen and a team of other Danish scientists combined their expertise in biophysics and biochemistry to gain a better understanding of how food preparation affects jellyfish from the inside out. Clausen and his team will present their work during the 62nd Biophysical Society Annual Meeting, held Feb. 17-21, in San Francisco, California.

Jellyfish have been a staple in Asian cuisine for centuries, but remain an oddity to the western palate. Traditionally, the bell or body of a jellyfish is marinated in salt and potassium alum for several weeks to produce a crunchy, picklelike texture. The Danish research team developed a new technique that produces the same results in only a few days.

"Using ethanol, we have created jellyfish chips that have a crispy texture and could be of potential gastronomic interest," Clausen said.

The research team further investigated how the long fibrous filaments in the gelatinous jellyfish bell are transformed during the curing process to produce the crunchy texture. "Little is known about the molecular anatomy of the jellyfish," Clausen said. "We are still not completely sure which structures we are visualizing."

Overfishing and climate change have diminished (traditional) commercially available fishing stock. Jellyfish have filled in this gap and now, their booming populations are producing swarms. As a result, the fishing industry is looking to jellyfish as a viable food source for the expanding global population. Furthermore, jellyfish have numerous health benefits; they are rich in vitamin B12, magnesium, phosphorus, iron and selenium.

According to Clausen, the team hopes to delve deeper to understand the structures within the jellyfish bell and what eating them would feel like inside your mouth. This new scientific approach may affect future commercial viability of jellyfish, as well as other foods not commonly found on the dinner plate.

"As this is pioneering work, I think using tools available to us to tackle the science of good eating can open peoples' eyes for a completely new scientific field," Clausen said.

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2662-Pos, Board B678 "The microscopic structure of crunchy and crispy jellyfish" is authored by Mie T. Pedersen, Morten Christensen, Lars Duelund, Per L. Hansen, Jonathan R. Brewer and Mathias P. Clausen. It will be displayed at 1:45 p.m. PST on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, in the South Hall ABC of the Moscone Center, South. Abstract: https://plan.core-apps.com/bpsam2018/abstract/598979c882021290aae09439cc2cc95a

MORE MEETING INFORMATION

ABOUT THE MEETING

Each year, the Biophysical Society Annual Meeting brings together more than 6,000 researchers working in the multidisciplinary fields representing biophysics. With more than 3,600 poster presentations, over 200 exhibits, and more than 20 symposia, the BPS Annual Meeting is the largest meeting of biophysicists in the world. Despite its size, the meeting retains its small-meeting flavor through its subgroup symposia, platform sessions, social activities and committee programs. The 62nd Annual Meeting will be held at the Moscone Center (South) in San Francisco, California.

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The Biophysical Society invites professional journalists, freelance science writers and public information officers to attend its Annual Meeting free of charge. For press registration, contact Ellen Weiss at EWeiss@biophysics.org or the Media Line at the American Institute of Physics at media@aip.org or 301-209-3090.

NEWS RELEASES

Embargoed press releases describing in detail some of the breakthroughs to be discussed at the meeting are available on EurekAlert!, Newswise and Alpha Galileo or by contacting the Media Line at the American Institute of Physics at media@aip.org or 301-209-3090.

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ABOUT THE SOCIETY

The Biophysical Society, founded in 1958, is a professional, scientific Society established to encourage development and dissemination of knowledge in biophysics. The Society promotes growth in this expanding field through its annual meeting, monthly journal, and committee and outreach activities. Its 9,000 members are located throughout the U.S. and the world, where they teach and conduct research in colleges, universities, laboratories, government agencies, and industry. For more information on the Society, or the 2018 Annual Meeting, visit http://www.biophysics.org.
The famously intense tropical rainstorms along the Earth's equator occur thousands of miles from the United States. But atmospheric scientists know that, like ripples in a pond, tropical weather creates powerful waves in the atmosphere that travel all the way to North America and have major impacts on weather in the U.S.

These far-flung, interconnected weather processes are crucial to making better, longer-term weather predictions than are currently possible. Colorado State University atmospheric scientists, led by professors Libby Barnes and Eric Maloney, are hard at work to address these longer-term forecasting challenges.

In a new paper in npj Climate and Atmospheric Science, the CSU researchers describe a breakthrough in making accurate predictions of weather weeks ahead. They've created an empirical model fed by careful analysis of 37 years of historical weather data. Their model centers on the relationship between two well-known global weather patterns: the Madden-Julian Oscillation and the quasi-biennial oscillation.

According to the study, led by former graduate researcher Bryan Mundhenk, the model, using both these phenomena, allows skillful prediction of the behavior of major rain storms, called atmospheric rivers, three and up to five weeks in advance.

"It's impressive, considering that current state-of-the-art numerical weather models, such as NOA's Global Forecast System, or the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts' operational model, are only skillful up to one to two weeks in advance," says paper co-author Cory Baggett, a postdoctoral researcher in the Barnes and Maloney labs.

The researchers' chief aim is improving forecast capabilities within the tricky no-man's land of "subseasonal to seasonal" timescales: roughly three weeks to three months out. Predictive capabilities that far in advance could save lives and livelihoods, from sounding alarms for floods and mudslides to preparing farmers for long dry seasons. Barnes also leads a federal NOAA task force for improving subseasonal to seasonal forecasting, with the goal of sharpening predictions for hurricanes, heat waves, the polar vortex and more.

Atmospheric rivers aren't actual waterways, but"rivers in the sky," according to researchers. They're intense plumes of water vapor that cause extreme precipitation, plumes so large they resemble rivers in satellite pictures. These "rivers" are responsible for more than half the rainfall in the western U.S.

The Madden-Julian Oscillation is a cluster of rainstorms that moves east along the Equator over 30 to 60 days. The location of the oscillation determines where atmospheric waves will form, and their eventual impact on say, California. In previous work, the researchers have uncovered key stages of the Madden-Julian Oscillation that affect far-off weather, including atmospheric rivers.

Sitting above the Madden-Julian Oscillation is a very predictable wind pattern called the quasi-biennial oscillation. Over two- to three-year periods, the winds shift east, west and back east again, and almost never deviate. This pattern directly affects the Madden-Julian Oscillation, and thus indirectly affects weather all the way to California and beyond.

The CSU researchers created a model that can accurately predict atmospheric river activity in the western U.S. three weeks from now. Its inputs include the current state of the Madden-Julian Oscillation and the quasi-biennial oscillation. Using information on how atmospheric rivers have previously behaved in response to these oscillations, they found that the quasi-biennial oscillation matters - a lot.

Armed with their model, the researchers want to identify and understand deficiencies in state-of-the-art numerical weather models that prevent them from predicting weather on these subseasonal time scales.

"It would be worthwhile to develop a good understanding of the physical relationship between the Madden-Julian Oscillation and the quasi-biennial oscillation, and see what can be done to improve models' simulation of this relationship," Mundhenk said.

Another logical extension of their work would be to test how well their model can forecast actual rainfall and wind or other severe weather, such as tornadoes and hail.

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Link to paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41612-017-0008-2
How does the father's age at conception affect his children? Researchers at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Disease (DZNE) and fellow scientists have studied this question in mice. Their findings, which have been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), show that the offspring of elderly mouse-fathers had a shorter lifespan than those of young fathers and featured an exacerbation of a number of histopathological and molecular aging traits. Moreover, sperm of old males as well as the tissue from old father offspring featured shared epigenetic changes and altered activation states of longevity-related signaling pathways. These results are indicative of intergenerational influences on aging processes and they could potentially be of relevance for a human context.

In Western societies, the average age of parenthood has become increasingly older. This is not without complications, as a mother's old age, for instance, has long been identified as a risk factor for child health. Moreover, it has turned out that an advanced age of the father at the time of conception can also have unfavorable consequences for offspring.

"Statistically, certain diseases occur more often in children of old fathers than in the offspring of young men. This is the case, for example, for psychiatric disorders such as autism or schizophrenia," explains Dr. Dan Ehninger, head of a research group at the DZNE's Bonn site. His team led the current study, which also involved scientists from the German Mouse Clinic in Munich and other institutions. "Associations between paternal age and health outcomes in offspring, described by a number of epidemiological studies, could arise for many reasons. We wanted to address whether age-related biological changes in the male germ line could underlie effects on offspring health. Our study was focused specifically on lifespan and aging-associated pathologies in old father offspring."

Mouse studies

The scientists assessed two groups of mice that included the descendants of young and old fathers, respectively. Young mouse-fathers were mated at an age of four months - an age that mice are considered as young adults - while the old fathers with an age of at least 21 months were already seniors. The mouse-mothers were all four months old. All fathers belonged to a genetically defined mouse strain. This also applied to the dams. All offspring grew up under the same living conditions and never had contact with their fathers. Rodents from both groups were examined at the age of six and 19 months, respectively.

"We looked at 13 biological parameters that had previously been shown to change during natural aging in mice. These included deposits in the kidneys, tissue changes in the lungs, as well as alterations in proteins associated with oxidative stress," says Prof. Martin Hrabe de Angelis, director of the German Mouse Clinic in Munich. Studies with descendants of old mouse-fathers have been performed previously, Hrabe de Angelis points out. "However, data are scarce with regards to paternal age effects on aging-associated changes in progeny."

Shorter lifespan

The studies revealed that age-associated traits were more pronounced in the 19-month-old offspring of elderly mice than in age-matched descendants of young fathers. "If you take our parameters as a reference, then you can certainly say that the descendants of the old mouse-fathers aged faster than the offspring of young fathers," says Dr. Kan Xie, a researcher in Ehninger's team and one of the first authors of the current publication. Paternal age effects were also evident with regards to lifespan: Offspring of young fathers showed a median lifespan about two months longer than that of peers with old fathers.

Control elements of the DNA

The scientists do not assume that the different development was caused by defects in the offspring's genome. "Comparing the two groups of mice, we found no significant differences in mutation rates, at least not with the methodology employed in the present study," says Ehninger. However, the researchers discovered alterations in the sperm of the fathers with regards to epigenetic marks of the genome carried by sperm. This concerned methyl groups attached to the DNA. These chemical modifications help to switch regions of the genome on and off, thus regulating gene activity.

"With regards to the methylation patterns of sperm, we observed notable differences between young and old mouse fathers. In fact, this may not be surprising, given that it has been known for some time that methylation can change with age and living conditions," explains Ehninger. Interestingly, the scientists discovered similar DNA methylation differences in offspring. "We noted an overlap between fathers and offspring, suggesting that these marks may have been passed on to the next generation." Ehninger explains that formerly it was assumed that paternal epigenetic marks are erased completely upon fusion of sperm and egg cell. "However, it is known nowadays that the process of clearing methylation marks from the paternal genome is incomplete."

In the current study, this affected genes with a role in the regulation of lifespan and aging-associated pathologies. "We could show that the offspring of old fathers showed an increased activation state of the mTORC1 signaling pathway. This pathway is known to be an important regulator of growth and many metabolic processes," says Ehninger.

What about humans?

What are the implications of these results for a human context? "What we have described here are fundamental mechanisms in a mammalian model organism. These could also be relevant for humans. However, whether this is the case and, if so, to what extent has not been tested by our study and remains unknown. In this respect, our results cannot be directly applied to humans," says Ehninger. As he points out, data on the extent to which epigenetic marks of human sperm change with age are limited so far. "However, our results provide a good reason to take a closer look at this."

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Original publication

"Epigenetic alterations in longevity regulators, reduced lifespan, and exacerbated aging-related pathology in old father offspring mice", Kan Xie et al., PNAS (2018), DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1707337115
A team of experts, led by Gianfranco Parati, cardiologist of the University of Milano-Bicocca and Head of the Department of Cardiology of the Istituto Auxologico in Milan, has sought to provide answers and recommendations for those potentially at risk. Gianfranco and esteemed colleagues have evaluated numerous studies related to the expected effects of high altitude exposure (exceeding 2,500 m above sea-level) on those individuals suffering from prevalent cardiovascular diseases. As a result of this detailed research, clinical recommendations for high altitude exposure in individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions have been recently published in the renowned European Heart Journal. Also contributing to this study was Hermann Brugger, Head of the Eurac Research Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, who welcomes this rigorous scientific approach to informing clinical recommendations for the mountain environment.

Physical demands on the human body increase from altitudes of around 2,500 m onwards. The higher we ascend in the mountains, the lower the partial pressure of oxygen at a given altitude. This decrease in available oxygen stimulates a higher respiratory rate, increased cardiac output and after a few hours increased blood pressure, placing greater stress on the cardiovascular system. It is especially important that people who suffer from particular cardiovascular diseases, such as high blood pressure or coronary heart disease, or who have recently suffered a heart attack, should take great care when high up in the mountains.

"But these patients don't have to rule out a hike in the mountains completely, except in the case of very serious heart diseases," explains Hermann Brugger, emergency physician at the Eurac Research Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine and President of the International Society for Mountain Medicine. "There are still lots of activities they can do, provided they follow the relevant guidelines, and in the best case scenario this activity could even lead to a general improvement in their health."

"A consultation with the doctor who is treating the patient is essential before they expose themselves to high altitudes. The doctor will assess the cardiovascular risk factors and tailor these new recommendations to the patient's overall health status. Of course, some difficulties may only manifest themselves when actually in the mountains," says Gianfranco Parati, who led the analysis.

For example, for patients with coronary heart disease where the coronary blood vessels have narrowed and the heart muscle is being supplied with less oxygen, the experts recommend that they should not exceed certain specific maximum altitudes. These are an altitude of 4,200 m for patients with mild coronary heart disease, and up to 2,500 m for those with moderate levels of the disease. For patients with a high level of coronary heart disease, the experts recommend that they should forego mountain hikes completely.

Continuing to take the correct medication is also of fundamental importance, say Parati and Brugger. "Medications which lower blood pressure, frequently also have a diuretic effect, eliminating excess salt and water in the blood, which in turn reduces blood volume and thereby lowers blood pressure. However, caution is advisable with taking such medications while in the mountains: with increased exertion and higher rates of transpiration the body loses more fluid, and the danger of dehydration is ever present."

Patients suffering from moderate to severe elevations in blood pressure are furthermore recommended to check their blood pressure regularly before and during their sojourn in the mountains.

For patients who follow all the recommendations, a mountain hike can have a positive effect on the progress of their disease, slowing it down and in many cases halting it altogether. "A mountain hike also has a positive effect on the psychological well-being of cardiovascular patients. The knowledge that despite cardiovascular disease they have retained a degree of freedom and independence increases the patients' self-confidence and well-being," explains Brugger.

These recommendations have been drawn from a systematic analysis of all relevant studies into cardiovascular disease and exposure to high altitudes. Experts from the leading European and Italian societies for cardiology and hypertension (high blood pressure), as well as the International and Italian Societies of Mountain Medicine evaluated the research findings and drew up the recommendations.

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Most ion channels are very selective about the ions, which may or may not pass through them. They may be conductive for potassium ions and non-conductive for sodium ions or vice versa. However, a number of ion channels allows for the efficient passage of both kinds of ions. How do these channel proteins accomplish this? A team of scientists around Dr. Han Sun and the research group of Professor Adam Lange at the Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut fuer Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) found the answer to this question. Their study revealed structural and dynamic differences between selective and non-selective ion channels. The scientists described their findings and conclusions in the journal Nature Communications. In non-selective channels, the selectivity filter exhibits sizeable dynamics, which are not present in selective channels. The selectivity filter of non-selective ion channels can exist in two different forms. Dependent on the state of the selectivity filter, one or the other ion type may pass.

Ion channels play prominent roles in organisms. For example, ion channels are in action when the organism registers stimuli and passes the information on to the brain in the form of electric signals. During this signal transmission, charged atoms (ions) must enter and leave the involved cells. Ions cannot permeate lipophilic cell membranes. Instead, they pass through protein channels in the cell membranes.

In many cases, the ion channels allow the passage of only one specific ion type, i.e. they may be conductive for potassium but not for sodium ions or vice versa. The selectivity filter that is the narrowest part of the channel is responsible for this ion discrimination. However, the NaK channel allows for the passage of both sodium and potassium ions. It was in the focus of the present study by FMP scientists around Dr. Han Sun and Professor Adam Lange together with colleagues in Goettingen (Germany) and Hefei (China).

Non-selective ion channels are very important in medicine.

Until now, it has remained controversial why NaK channels allow for the passage of both sodium and potassium ions. Professor Adam Lange explains: "While X-ray crystallographic images showed us the three-dimensional structure of the channel, it was difficult to explain why this channel is conductive to two different ion types with similarly high efficiency. This was particularly hard to understand because the sequence and the 3-D structure of the selectivity filter are similar to the ones in potassium selective channels."

Scientist Dr. Han Sun added that the investigated system is a model system for several other non-selective ion channels in the human body. As she pointed out, physiologically and medically relevant in this context are the cyclic nucleotide-gated and hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels (CNG and HCN channels): "We know that CNG channels are important for vision and smell. Dysfunctional HCN channels are implicated in various neurological diseases such as epilepsy or autism."

Specific Ions Prefer Specific Channel Structures

On their path to discovering how the non-selective NaK channel works, the scientists used a combination of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and computer-assisted molecular dynamics simulations. The results revealed that the selectivity filter of the NaK channel dynamically changes between two structures. Each structure is conductive for one of the two ion types. Dr. Han Sun reports: "Surprisingly, the computer simulations showed that potassium ions passing through the NaK channel prefer the structure of a potassium selective channel, while the mechanism of the sodium ion passage is similar to the passage of sodium ions through a sodium selective ion channel." Until now, researchers believed that the structure of the selectivity filter is the same for sodium and potassium ion transport through the NaK channel.

To gather further evidence for the crucial role of the dynamic structure of the NaK selectivity filter, the scientists experimented with a mutated NaK channel (NaK2K double point mutation). This mutated NaK channel is conductive only for potassium ions. Professor Adam Lange gives an account of the results: "Our NMR investigations clearly revealed that the selectivity filter of this channel forms only a single structure."

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Among other sources of financial support, the FMP scientists received funding from the DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft / German Research Foundation) as part of the funding for Research Group 2518 'Functional Dynamics of Ion Channels and Transporters'. The Norddeutscher Verbund fuer Hoch- und Hoechstleistungsrechnen (HLRN; Northern German Association for Supercomputing) in Berlin allowed the FMP scientists to use their computing power. Conducting the molecular dynamics simulations would have been impossible without this assistance.
In an analysis of clinical data collected on more than 9,000 people, Johns Hopkins researchers have shown that the number of years spent overweight or obese appear to "add up" to a distinct risk factor that makes those with a longer history of heaviness more likely to test positive for a chemical marker of so-called "silent" heart damage than those with a shorter history.

The researchers say the findings suggest that maintaining a healthy weight across the lifespan is important for keeping the heart healthy and minimizing damage as people age.

The authors caution that their study wasn't designed to find or measure a direct cause and effect relationship between being overweight long-term and a higher risk of heart disease, but rather to shed light on possible relationships between the two.

"We're finding that people's weight from age 25 onwards is linked to the risk of more or less heart damage, as measured by levels of the protein troponin, later in life, which underscores the likely importance of long-term weight control for reducing heart disease risk," says Chiadi Ndumele, M.D., M.H.S., the Robert E. Meyerhoff Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a member of the Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease. "What our findings suggest is that even in the absence of such heart disease risk factors as high blood pressure, diabetes or kidney disease, the number of years spent obese or overweight contributes to the higher likelihood of heart damage."

In 2014, Ndumele and colleagues showed that excessive weight is linked to silent heart damage as detected by elevated troponin levels of 14 nanograms per liter or higher--a clinical indicator of heart damage identified with a blood protein test. But that study didn't evaluate the role of being overweight over an extended period of time.

For the new study, summarized in the January issue of the journal Clinical Chemistry, the research team used data gathered on 9,062 participants in the federally funded Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study in Washington County, Maryland, Forsyth County, North Carolina, Jackson, Mississippi, and Minneapolis. Of the participants, 58F percent were women and 21 percent were African-American.

Participants were recruited from 1987 through 1989 and were seen four times through 1998 to assess body mass index (BMI), history of heart disease and levels of high sensitivity troponin in the blood. Participants also self-reported their weight at age 25, which provided information on weight from young adulthood through late middle age and elderly years. The average age at the fourth visit was 63.

Nearly 23 percent of participants had an increase in BMI from the first visit to the fourth visit. A BMI of more than 25 kilograms per meter squared indicates a person is overweight, and a BMI of more than 30 indicates obesity. At the fourth visit, 3,748 participants were overweight and 3,184 were obese. Some 5 percent showed a decreased BMI and 72 percent remained the same.

At the fourth visit, almost 7 percent of the participants, or 623 people, had increased levels of troponin to 14 nanograms per liter or more. Those who increased in BMI to the overweight and obesity range at the fourth visit were 1.5 times more likely to have increased troponin levels of at least 14 nanograms per liter, indicating heart damage.

The experts then looked at the BMI at the beginning and end of the study period alongside participants' troponin levels. Those people who were obese at both the first and fourth visits were twice as likely as those with persistently normal weight to have increased troponin levels to more than 14 nanograms per liter. Those with obesity at both the fourth visit and at age 25 were almost four times more likely to have increased troponin levels.

On a scale of zero to 50 years, the researchers then tabulated the number of years each person spent being obese, defined as a BMI over 30. For each 10 years that a person spent obese, their risk of having elevated troponin increased 1.25 times, even when accounting for heart disease risk due to high blood pressure, diabetes and kidney disease.

To develop a measurement of cumulative weight, the researchers calculated excess BMI-years for each participant. Using data from age 25 and each visit, they calculated the average BMI and multiplied the average excess BMI above 25 kilograms per meter squared by the number of years of follow-up (from age 25 to their age at visit four). Those with a BMI less than 25 kilograms per meter squared at different time points could receive negative values for excess BMI years.

BMI-years for the participants ranged from -274 to 1,205. On average, each 100 extra BMI-years increased the likelihood, or risk, of increased troponin by 21 percent.

"It's challenging to effectively communicate future risk to young people who seem perfectly healthy and at the prime of their lives," says Ndumele. "A measurement like excess BMI-years could be developed and tested as a way of communicating risk to young and middle age people to reduce their long-term risk of cardiovascular disease by maintaining a healthy weight."

Ndumele says there is some evidence that losing weight even after decades of obesity or being overweight may help reduce troponin levels and that the heart has the ability to heal somewhat, but the extent to which it can heal and the number of years spent obese that may cause permanent damage are unknown and require more study.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than a third of adults in the U.S. are obese.

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Other authors on the study include Mariana Lazo, Roger Blumenthal, Gary Gerstenblith, Elizabeth Selvin and Josef Coresh of Johns Hopkins; Laura Cobb of Vital Strategies; Natalie Bello of Columbia University; Amil Shah and Scott Solomon of Brigham and Women's Hospital; and Vijay Nambi and Christie Ballantyne of Baylor College.

The ARIC study was funded by Department of Health and Human Services (contract numbers HHSN268201700001I, HHSN268201700003I, HHSN268201700005I, HHSN268201700004I, HHSN268201700002I). This study was also funded by a Robert E. Meyerhoff professorship, a Johns Hopkins University Catalyst Award, a Robert Wood Johnson Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development award and grants from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (K23HL12247) and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (K24KD106414, R01DK089174).

COI: Ballantyne has consulted for Roche. Nambi received an honorarium from Siemens and holds a provisional patent for biomarkers to predict heart failure risk.
MAYWOOD, IL - Caregivers of patients surviving a prolonged critical illness experience high and persistent rates of depression.

Losing a partner can be especially stressful for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.

Resident physicians experience moral distress when they administer futile treatments to patients at the end of life.

These are among nine major findings from the latest research on hospital palliative care, according to a study published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine, an official publication of the Society of Hospital Medicine. Loyola Medicine hospitalist Aziz Ansari, DO, SFHM, FACP, is corresponding author. (A hospitalist is an inpatient physician who works exclusively in the hospital.)

Dr. Ansari was part of a nationwide panel of leading palliative care experts who reviewed and ranked 55 studies about hospital palliative care published in 2016. Palliative care treats pain and other symptoms of serious illness, with the goal of improving quality of life for the patient and family.

From the list, the panel selected the nine most significant studies, based on scientific rigor, relevance to hospital medicine and impact on clinical practice.

Here are the studies' findings:

Caregiver depression: More than half of patients with prolonged critical illnesses need support from a caregiver a year after hospitalization. A study that followed 280 caregivers for a year found that many experienced high and persistent rates of depression.

"Hospitalists should be attentive to factors associated with caregiver vulnerability and offer support," Dr. Ansari and colleagues wrote. "Improving caregivers' sense of control and social support may be targets for intervention."

LGBT partner loss: A study found that grieving LGBT people face additional barriers and stressors, including homophobia, failure by healthcare workers to acknowledge the relationship, additional legal and financial issues and the shadow of HIV/AIDS.

Moral distress among doctors: Moral distress occurs when a clinician feels powerless to take what he or she believes to be the ethically correct action. A study of resident physicians found they experience significant moral distress with futile treatments, such as feeding tubes for patients with advanced dementia. Many said they felt obligated to provide end-of-life care that was not in the patient's best interest and caused the patient to suffer.

Treating delirium: Antipsychotics are widely used to treat symptoms of delirium. But a study found that patients receiving the antipsychotics risperidone and haloperidol had higher delirium scores than patients who received non-drug treatments for delirium.

Treating cancer pain: One study found that low-dose morphine was superior to weak opioids such as codeine and tramadol for treating moderate cancer pain. Another study found that methadone used as an adjunct pain medication can improve moderate cancer pain.

Inappropriate use of antimicrobials: When a patient is nearing the end of life, a physician may write a comfort care order, which is meant to ensure that the final hours or days are tranquil and pain-free, without prolonging life. But a study found that among 711 patients still alive 24 hours after a comfort care order was written, 15.6 percent still were receiving antimicrobials (antibiotics or antifungals).

Educational videos effective: Advance care planning is making decisions about the care you would wish to receive if you became incapacitated. A study found that using educational videos increased the percentage of hospital patients who did advance care planning.

Palliative care consultations: A study examined the effectiveness of an intervention program for family members of patients with prolonged critical illnesses. The intervention included supportive conversations and information about the illness and prognosis. The team met with family members seven days after the patient went on a ventilator and again 10 days later. The study found that family members who received the interventions had similar rates of anxiety and depression and higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder than family members who did not receive the interventions. The study did not evaluate routine specialty palliative care consultation in the ICU. Also, the palliative intervention used in the study was more informational, rather than driven by clinical considerations as in standard consultations.

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The study by Dr. Ansari and colleagues is titled "Update in Hospital Palliative Care: Symptom Management, Communication, Caregiver Outcomes and Moral Distress."

In addition to Dr. Ansari, other co-authors are Rachel Havyer, MD, (first author) of the Mayo Clinic, Daniel Pomerantz, MD, of Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Robert Jayes, MD, of George Washington University, Patricia Harris, MD, of the University of California, Los Angeles and Stephanie Harman, MD, of Stanford University.
A new study finds that more than 40 percent of patients treated at U.S. community health centers have a history of housing problems. The report from investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill), appears in the Feb. 20 issue of JAMA.

"These findings suggest that we should consider screening all community health center patients for housing problems," says study leader Travis Baggett, MD, MPH, of the MGH Department of Medicine, who is also BHCHP director of Research. "The Veterans Health Administration has set an important precedent in doing just that, and we could learn from their experience."

Community health centers are overseen by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the Department of Health and Human Services and provide primary and preventive care services to underserved populations regardless of their ability to pay. In 2016, U.S. federally-funded community health centers provided care to more than 23 million patients. Although community health center patients are often socioeconomically disadvantaged, the extent of their housing problems was previously unknown.

Using data from the HRSA's 2014 Health Center Patient Survey, the researchers examined the prevalence of various types of housing problems - such as frequent moves, difficulty paying rent, doubling up, and current or prior homelessness - among adult patients surveyed at federally-funded community health centers in 2014-2015. Of more than 3,100 patients who responded to questions about their housing status, 44 percent reported a history of housing problems ranging from current homelessness to currently stable housing with a history of homelessness.

The percentage who were currently homeless - 1.2 percent - was around seven times higher than the estimated prevalence in the U.S. population. The largest group of those with a history of housing problems - 27 percent of all respondents - were "unstably housed," meaning that while they currently have their own place, they either moved two or more times during the past year or had been unable to pay their rent or mortgage at any time in the past. People with any type of housing problem were more likely to report health problems, emergency department use and delays in care.

"Stable housing is essential for health," says senior author, Jessie Gaeta, MD, BHCHP Chief Medical Officer. "We've seen time and again in our research and clinical practice that when people lack that basic need, their health and well-being suffer."

Co-author Seth Berkowitz, MD, MPH, formerly with the MGH Division of General Internal Medicine and now at the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine, adds, "Identifying housing problems in a clinical setting makes sense. It offers an opportunity to initiate referrals for housing assistance, case management and other social services, which might be some of the most important things we could do for patients' health."

Vicki Fung, PhD, of the Mongan Institute Health Policy Center at MGH notes that Congress recently reauthorized funding for community health centers for the next two years. "That will be an important step in helping community health centers meet the needs of patients with housing problems."

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Baggett and Fung are both assistant professors of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Gaeta is an assistant professor of Medicine at Boston University, and Berkowitz is an assistant professor of Medicine at UNC-Chapel Hill. Support for the study includes National Institutes of Health grants K23 DA034008 and K23 DK109200 and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality grant R01 HS025378.

Massachusetts General Hospital, founded in 1811, is the original and largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. The MGH Research Institute conducts the largest hospital-based research program in the nation, with an annual research budget of more than $900 million and major research centers in HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular research, cancer, computational and integrative biology, cutaneous biology, genomic medicine, medical imaging, neurodegenerative disorders, regenerative medicine, reproductive biology, systems biology, photomedicine and transplantation biology. The MGH topped the 2015 Nature Index list of health care organizations publishing in leading scientific journals and earned the prestigious 2015 Foster G. McGaw Prize for Excellence in Community Service. In August 2017 the MGH was once again named to the Honor Roll in the U.S. News & World Report list of "America's Best Hospitals."
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01 (6) Sep 30 (5) Sep 29 (3) Sep 28 (3) Sep 27 (7) Sep 26 (4) Sep 25 (3) Sep 24 (5) Sep 23 (8) Sep 22 (3) Sep 21 (3) Sep 20 (6) Sep 19 (3) Sep 18 (3) Sep 17 (5) Sep 16 (7) Sep 15 (3) Sep 14 (4) Sep 13 (3) Sep 12 (5) Sep 11 (5) Sep 10 (5) Sep 09 (7) Sep 08 (5) Sep 07 (2) Sep 06 (7) Sep 05 (4) Sep 04 (4) Sep 03 (2) Sep 02 (2) Sep 01 (2) Aug 31 (3) Aug 30 (3) Aug 29 (3) Aug 28 (3) Aug 27 (3) Aug 26 (4) Aug 25 (3) Aug 24 (3) Aug 23 (3) Aug 22 (4) Aug 21 (4) Aug 20 (4) Aug 19 (4) Aug 18 (3) Aug 17 (2) Aug 16 (2) Aug 15 (5) Aug 14 (3) Aug 13 (5) Aug 12 (10) Aug 11 (5) Aug 10 (4) Aug 09 (5) Aug 08 (3) Aug 07 (4) Aug 06 (6) Aug 05 (5) Aug 04 (5) Aug 03 (3) Aug 02 (5) Aug 01 (7) Jul 31 (5) Jul 30 (5) Jul 29 (4) Jul 28 (3) Jul 27 (3) Jul 26 (5) Jul 25 (4) Jul 24 (5) Jul 23 (5) Jul 22 (7) Jul 21 (5) Jul 20 (4) Jul 19 (5) Jul 18 (6) Jul 17 (5) Jul 16 (5) Jul 15 (6) Jul 14 (4) Jul 13 (3) Jul 12 (2) Jul 11 (2) Jul 10 (2) Jul 09 (2) Jul 08 (2) Jul 07 (3) Jul 06 (2) Jul 05 (2) Jul 04 (4) Jul 03 (3) Jul 02 (2) Jul 01 (8) Jun 30 (6) Jun 29 (4) Jun 28 (6) Jun 27 (6) Jun 26 (6) Jun 25 (6) Jun 24 (6) Jun 23 (4) Jun 22 (4) Jun 21 (5) Jun 20 (4) Jun 19 (5) Jun 18 (8) Jun 17 (6) Jun 16 (5) Jun 15 (5) Jun 14 (5) Jun 13 (4) Jun 12 (4) Jun 11 (6) Jun 10 (4) Jun 09 (3) Jun 08 (5) Jun 07 (4) Jun 06 (3) Jun 05 (3) Jun 04 (3) Jun 03 (3) Jun 02 (3) Jun 01 (4) May 31 (2) May 30 (2) May 29 (2) May 28 (2) May 27 (4) May 26 (4) May 25 (3) May 24 (2) May 23 (2) May 22 (3) May 21 (5) May 20 (4) May 19 (2) May 18 (3) May 17 (3) May 16 (3) May 15 (4) May 14 (5) May 13 (3) May 12 (4) May 11 (3) May 10 (4) May 09 (4) May 08 (4) May 07 (3) May 06 (2) May 05 (3) May 04 (4) May 03 (2) May 02 (3) May 01 (3) Apr 30 (3) Apr 29 (4) Apr 28 (2) Apr 27 (3) Apr 26 (4) Apr 25 (2) Apr 24 (3) Apr 23 (2) Apr 22 (2) Apr 21 (4) Apr 20 (4) Apr 19 (5) Apr 18 (7) Apr 17 (6) Apr 16 (10) Apr 15 (5) Apr 14 (3) Apr 13 (4) Apr 12 (5) Apr 11 (4) Apr 10 (4) Apr 09 (7) Apr 08 (4) Apr 07 (7) Apr 06 (4) Apr 05 (7) Apr 04 (5) Apr 03 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(2) Jan 01 (2) Dec 31 (2) Dec 30 (3) Dec 29 (3) Dec 28 (3) Dec 27 (2) Dec 26 (2) Dec 25 (2) Dec 24 (2) Dec 23 (2) Dec 22 (2) Dec 21 (2) Dec 20 (3) Dec 19 (2) Dec 18 (3) Dec 17 (2) Dec 16 (2) Dec 15 (3) Dec 14 (2) Dec 13 (3) Dec 12 (3) Dec 11 (3) Dec 10 (5) Dec 09 (3) Dec 08 (3) Dec 07 (2) Dec 06 (3) Dec 05 (3) Dec 04 (5) Dec 03 (4) Dec 02 (3) Dec 01 (3) Nov 30 (4) Nov 29 (4) Nov 28 (2) Nov 27 (2) Nov 26 (2) Nov 25 (3) Nov 24 (2) Nov 23 (2) Nov 22 (2) Nov 21 (2) Nov 20 (3) Nov 19 (3) Nov 18 (2) Nov 17 (2) Nov 16 (5) Nov 15 (5) Nov 14 (4) Nov 13 (2) Nov 12 (2) Nov 11 (2) Nov 10 (2) Nov 09 (2) Nov 08 (2) Nov 07 (3) Nov 06 (6) Nov 05 (4) Nov 04 (5) Nov 03 (5) Nov 02 (3) Nov 01 (5) Oct 31 (7) Oct 30 (5) Oct 29 (4) Oct 28 (3) Oct 27 (2) Oct 26 (4) Oct 25 (4) Oct 24 (4) Oct 23 (4) Oct 22 (3) Oct 21 (2) Oct 20 (3) Oct 19 (2) Oct 18 (2) Oct 17 (3) Oct 16 (5) Oct 15 (4) Oct 14 (2) Oct 13 (2) Oct 12 (4) Oct 11 (5) Oct 10 (4) Oct 09 (3) Oct 08 (3) Oct 07 (3) Oct 06 (2) Oct 05 (5) Oct 04 (5) Oct 03 (4) Oct 02 (4) Oct 01 (5) Sep 30 (2) Sep 29 (2) Sep 28 (3) Sep 27 (6) Sep 26 (2) Sep 25 (3) Sep 24 (3) Sep 23 (2) Sep 22 (2) Sep 21 (2) Sep 20 (2) Sep 19 (3) Sep 18 (3) Sep 17 (3) Sep 16 (2) Sep 15 (4) Sep 14 (3) Sep 13 (5) Sep 12 (4) Sep 11 (6) Sep 10 (2) Sep 09 (5) Sep 08 (5) Sep 07 (5) Sep 06 (4) Sep 05 (4) Sep 04 (3) Sep 03 (2) Sep 02 (3) Sep 01 (3) Aug 31 (2) Aug 30 (2) Aug 29 (3) Aug 28 (6) Aug 27 (3) Aug 26 (2) Aug 25 (2) Aug 24 (3) Aug 23 (2) Aug 22 (3) Aug 21 (5) Aug 20 (4) Aug 19 (3) Aug 18 (2) Aug 17 (5) Aug 16 (3) Aug 15 (4) Aug 14 (5) Aug 13 (2) Aug 12 (2) Aug 11 (2) Aug 10 (2) Aug 09 (2) Aug 08 (5) Aug 07 (5) Aug 06 (6) Aug 05 (2) Aug 04 (5) Aug 03 (2) Aug 02 (3) Aug 01 (2) Jul 31 (4) Jul 30 (2) Jul 29 (2) Jul 28 (2) Jul 27 (2) Jul 26 (3) Jul 25 (4) Jul 24 (2) Jul 23 (3) Jul 22 (2) Jul 21 (3) Jul 20 (4) Jul 19 (2) Jul 18 (3) Jul 17 (4) Jul 16 (5) Jul 15 (2) Jul 14 (3) Jul 13 (2) Jul 12 (3) Jul 11 (2) Jul 10 (2) Jul 09 (2) Jul 08 (2) Jul 07 (2) Jul 06 (2) Jul 05 (2) Jul 04 (2) Jul 03 (2) Jul 02 (2) Jul 01 (3) Jun 30 (3) Jun 29 (7) Jun 28 (3) Jun 27 (2) Jun 26 (3) Jun 25 (1) Jun 24 (2) Jun 23 (3) Jun 22 (5) Jun 21 (3) Jun 20 (2) Jun 19 (2) Jun 18 (2) Jun 17 (2) Jun 16 (2) Jun 15 (2) Jun 14 (2) Jun 13 (3) Jun 12 (3) Jun 11 (3) Jun 10 (2) Jun 09 (4) Jun 08 (2) Jun 07 (4) Jun 06 (5) Jun 05 (3) Jun 04 (3) Jun 03 (2) Jun 02 (2) Jun 01 (4) May 31 (2) May 30 (3) May 29 (3) May 28 (3) May 27 (2) May 26 (2) May 25 (2) May 24 (2) May 23 (2) May 22 (3) May 21 (3) May 20 (2) May 19 (2) May 18 (4) May 17 (7) May 16 (2) May 15 (3) May 14 (4) May 13 (3) May 12 (4) May 11 (4) May 10 (4) May 09 (3) May 08 (2) May 07 (2) May 06 (2) May 05 (1) May 04 (2) May 03 (4) May 02 (3) May 01 (4) Apr 30 (1) Apr 29 (3) Apr 28 (2) Apr 27 (3) Apr 26 (2) Apr 25 (2) Apr 24 (4) Apr 23 (2) Apr 22 (2) Apr 21 (2) Apr 20 (3) Apr 19 (3) Apr 18 (4) Apr 17 (5) Apr 16 (4) Apr 15 (4) Apr 14 (3) Apr 13 (3) Apr 12 (3) Apr 11 (3) Apr 10 (4) Apr 09 (4) Apr 08 (3) Apr 07 (2) Apr 06 (3) Apr 05 (3) Apr 04 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CAMBRIDGE, MASS.--Unpacking groceries is a straightforward albeit tedious task: You reach into a bag, feel around for an item, and pull it out. A quick glance will tell you what the item is and where it should be stored.

Now engineers from MIT and Princeton University have developed a robotic system that may one day lend a hand with this household chore, as well as assist in other picking and sorting tasks, from organizing products in a warehouse to clearing debris from a disaster zone.

The team's "pick-and-place" system consists of a standard industrial robotic arm that the researchers outfitted with a custom gripper and suction cup. They developed an "object-agnostic" grasping algorithm that enables the robot to assess a bin of random objects and determine the best way to grip or suction onto an item amid the clutter, without having to know anything about the object before picking it up.

Once it has successfully grasped an item, the robot lifts it out from the bin. A set of cameras then takes images of the object from various angles, and with the help of a new image-matching algorithm the robot can compare the images of the picked object with a library of other images to find the closest match. In this way, the robot identifies the object, then stows it away in a separate bin.

In general, the robot follows a "grasp-first-then-recognize" workflow, which turns out to be an effective sequence compared to other pick-and-place technologies.

"This can be applied to warehouse sorting, but also may be used to pick things from your kitchen cabinet or clear debris after an accident. There are many situations where picking technologies could have an impact," says Alberto Rodriguez, the Walter Henry Gale Career Development Professor in Mechanical Engineering at MIT.

Rodriguez and his colleagues at MIT and Princeton will present a paper detailing their system at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, in May.

Building a library of successes and failures

While pick-and-place technologies may have many uses, existing systems are typically designed to function only in tightly controlled environments.

Today, most industrial picking robots are designed for one specific, repetitive task, such as gripping a car part off an assembly line, always in the same, carefully calibrated orientation. However, Rodriguez is working to design robots as more flexible, adaptable, and intelligent pickers, for unstructured settings such as retail warehouses, where a picker may consistently encounter and have to sort hundreds, if not thousands of novel objects each day, often amid dense clutter.

The team's design is based on two general operations: picking - the act of successfully grasping an object, and perceiving - the ability to recognize and classify an object, once grasped.

The researchers trained the robotic arm to pick novel objects out from a cluttered bin, using any one of four main grasping behaviors: suctioning onto an object, either vertically, or from the side; gripping the object vertically like the claw in an arcade game; or, for objects that lie flush against a wall, gripping vertically, then using a flexible spatula to slide between the object and the wall.

Rodriguez and his team showed the robot images of bins cluttered with objects, captured from the robot's vantage point. They then showed the robot which objects were graspable, with which of the four main grasping behaviors, and which were not, marking each example as a success or failure. They did this for hundreds of examples, and over time, the researchers built up a library of picking successes and failures. They then incorporated this library into a "deep neural network" - a class of learning algorithms that enables the robot to match the current problem it faces with a successful outcome from the past, based on its library of successes and failures.

"We developed a system where, just by looking at a tote filled with objects, the robot knew how to predict which ones were graspable or suctionable, and which configuration of these picking behaviors was likely to be successful," Rodriguez says. "Once it was in the gripper, the object was much easier to recognize, without all the clutter."

From pixels to labels

The researchers developed a perception system in a similar manner, enabling the robot to recognize and classify an object once it's been successfully grasped.

To do so, they first assembled a library of product images taken from online sources such as retailer websites. They labeled each image with the correct identification - for instance, duct tape versus masking tape - and then developed another learning algorithm to relate the pixels in a given image to the correct label for a given object.

"We're comparing things that, for humans, may be very easy to identify as the same, but in reality, as pixels, they could look significantly different," Rodriguez says. "We make sure that this algorithm gets it right for these training examples. Then the hope is that we've given it enough training examples that, when we give it a new object, it will also predict the correct label."

Last July, the team packed up the 2-ton robot and shipped it to Japan, where, a month later, they reassembled it to participate in the Amazon Robotics Challenge, a yearly competition sponsored by the online megaretailer to encourage innovations in warehouse technology. Rodriguez's team was one of 16 taking part in a competition to pick and stow objects from a cluttered bin.

In the end, the team's robot had a 54 percent success rate in picking objects up using suction and a 75 percent success rate using grasping, and was able to recognize novel objects with 100 percent accuracy. The robot also stowed all 20 objects within the allotted time.

For his work, Rodriguez was recently granted an Amazon Research Award and will be working with the company to further improve pick-and-place technology - foremost, its speed and reactivity.

"Picking in unstructured environments is not reliable unless you add some level of reactiveness," Rodriguez says. "When humans pick, we sort of do small adjustments as we are picking. Figuring out how to do this more responsive picking, I think, is one of the key technologies we're interested in."

The team has already taken some steps toward this goal by adding tactile sensors to the robot's gripper and running the system through a new training regime.

"The gripper now has tactile sensors, and we've enabled a system where the robot spends all day continuously picking things from one place to another. It's capturing information about when it succeeds and fails, and how it feels to pick up, or fails to pick up objects," Rodriguez says. "Hopefully it will use that information to start bringing that reactiveness to grasping."

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This research was sponsored in part by ABB Inc., Mathworks, and Amazon.
New research finds that altruism - and social media - can help corporations cultivate trust with consumers on mobile devices during and after natural disasters, such as hurricanes.

"Companies that engage in corporate social responsibility efforts during and after a disaster can build strong relationships with consumers," says Yang Cheng, an assistant professor of communication at North Carolina State University and first author of a paper on the work. "This is particularly true if companies are communicating their efforts through social media aimed at mobile device users - but only if their efforts appear altruistic."

For the study, researchers conducted an online, nationally representative survey of 1,433 U.S. adults. Questions focused on why people use social media during and after a natural disaster; how frequently they've used social media to seek or share information during a crisis; the extent to which they've shared information on crisis-related corporate social responsibility efforts; how they perceive the motives of relevant companies; and how they feel about the companies themselves.

The researchers found a strong link between how social media users viewed corporate social responsibility motives and how they viewed the companies engaged in those efforts. If users felt the efforts were focused on the public good, they were more likely to trust the company. But if users felt the efforts were profit-driven, they were more skeptical of the company.

The researchers also found that users who frequently used social media to find and share information were more likely to trust companies engaged in corporate social responsibility efforts.

"These findings provide good advice for corporations," Cheng says. "If companies use their social media presence to provide useful information and resources during crises - with a clear focus on the public good - they can nurture meaningful, authentic relationships with consumers.

"What organizations can do is understand and value public perspectives; utilize the organization's various social/mobile media platforms; show care and empathy; be honest; be open and transparent in providing useful and timely information; and engage in actual dialogue with stakeholders both during and post crisis."

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The paper, "Engaging Social Media Users on Mobile Devices in Crises: An Examination of Gratifications, CSR Motives, and Relationship Outcomes," will be presented at the 68th Annual International Communication Association Conference, being held May 24-28 in Prague, Czech Republic, where it was named one of the top three faculty papers. The paper was co-authored by Yan Jin of the University of Georgia, Flora Hung-Baesecke of Massey University, and Yi-Ru Regina Chen of Hong Kong Baptist University.

The work was done with support from the Arthur Page Legacy Scholar Grant from the Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication.
Their central projections indicate global sea-level rise between 0.7m and 1.2m until 2300 with Paris put fully into practice. As emissions in the second half of this century are already outlined by the Paris goals, the variations in greenhouse-gas emissions before 2050 will be the major leverage for future sea levels. The researchers find that each five year delay in peaking global CO2 emissions will likely increase median sea-level rise estimates for 2300 by 20 centimeters.

"Man-made climate change has already pre-programmed a certain amount of sea-level rise for the coming centuries, so for some it might seem that our present actions might not make such a big difference - but our study illustrates how wrong this perception is," explains lead author Matthias Mengel from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). "Every delay in peaking emissions by five years between 2020 and 2035 could mean additional 20 cm of sea-level rise in the end - which is the same amount the world's coasts have experienced since the beginning of the pre-industrial era."

Global sea-level rise is driven by warming and expanding ocean water, as well as the melting of mountain glaciers, ice caps, and the vast Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. These contributors respond in different ways and within different timescales to a warmer climate, ranging from centuries to millennia - a delayed response to today's atmospheric warming. To analyze the sea-level rise under the Paris Agreement and the legacy of delayed mitigation, the scientists used a combined climate-sea-level model. They fed it with a set of scenarios of emission reductions in line with the Paris goals that span different reduction rates and emission peak years.

Large ice loss from Antarctica seems possible even under modest warming

The model represents the sea-level contributors individually and can thus reflect their different responses to a warming world. The authors incorporate new scientific insights pointing to an Antarctic ice sheet very sensitive to atmospheric warming. "Indeed, the uncertainty of future sea-level rise is at present dominated by the response of Antarctica. With present knowledge on ice sheet instability, large ice loss from Antarctica seems possible even under modest warming in line with the Paris agreement", says Matthias Mengel. "Even a sea-level rise of up to three meters until 2300 cannot be ruled out completely, as we are not yet fully certain how the Antarctic ice sheet will respond to global warming."

"The Paris Agreement calls for emissions to peak as soon as possible," adds co-author Carl-Friedrich Schleussner from PIK and Climate Analytics, a non-profit research and policy institute in Berlin. "This might sound like a hollow phrase to some, but our results show that there are quantifiable consequences of delaying action. So even within the Paris Agreement range, swift climate mitigation is crucial to limit additional risks. For millions of people around the world living in coastal areas, every centimeter can make a huge difference - to limit sea-level rise risks immediate CO2 reduction is key."

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Article: Matthias Mengel, Alexander Nauels, Joeri Rogelj, Carl-Friedrich Schleussner (2018): Committed sea-level rise under the Paris Agreement and the legacy of delayed mitigation action. Nature Communications [DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-02985-8]

Weblink to the article, once it is published: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-02985-8

For further information please contact:

PIK press office

49-331-288-25-07

press@pik-potsdam.de

Twitter: @PIK_Climate

http://www.pik-potsdam.de
Scientists have known for years that the brain liquefies after a stroke. If cut off from blood and oxygen for a long enough period, a portion of the brain will die, slowly morphing from a hard, rubbery substance into liquid goop.

Now, researchers at the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson have discovered that this liquefied, dying brain tissue is toxic -- and can slowly leak into the remaining healthy portion of the brain, potentially causing harm. The new findings may open the door for developing new treatments to ward off dementia after stroke; they are described in the April 2018 issue of Neurobiology of Disease.

"Most people probably assume that the brain heals in the same way as other tissues," said Kristian Doyle, PhD, an assistant professor in the UA Department of Immunobiology. "But it doesn't; dead brain tissue doesn't just heal and go away like other bodily injuries. Instead it liquefies and remains in this liquefactive state for a long time."

To better understand this dying fluid, Dr. Doyle and his laboratory team studied mice that had experienced strokes. First, the researchers extracted fluid from the area of liquefaction and tested its toxicity by placing it in a petri dish with living neurons. After four hours, more than 50 percent of the neurons in the dish had died, compared to neurons that were placed in a dish with regular, healthy brain fluid.

The researchers then evaluated how well this toxic fluid was sealed off from the surviving brain.

Normally, a scar forms around dying brain tissue after a stroke. This scar, known as a glial scar, creates a barrier around the injured area to protect the remaining brain; it's formation is critical to the healing process.

Using a high-powered microscope, the UA researchers imaged this barrier between the healthy and injured portions of the mouse brain. Up close, the glial scar looked like "a fence made of branches twisted tightly together," Dr. Doyle said.

Then they injected a dye into the injured portion of the brain. At seven weeks post-stroke, the dye was able to spread past the glial scar and into the healthy brain region. According to Dr. Doyle, this suggested that toxic substances present in the liquefied tissue also leak into the brain after a stroke, potentially killing healthy neurons.

"We found that the glial scar is a pretty decent barrier, but it's not perfect," Dr. Doyle said. "Imagine putting sandbags around your house; they will reduce flood damage, but not control everything."

Dr. Doyle suspects this slow, leaking fluid may be a cause of dementia after stroke. Of the 10 million people who survive a stroke each year, about one-third will develop dementia for unclear reasons, he said.

If the brain is injured near the hippocampus -- the portion of the brain responsible for memory -- perhaps this slow leak of toxic fluid causes neurodegeneration, the loss of neurons in the brain, and ultimately, memory problems.

"This work really challenges the old paradigms and breaks new ground critical for our understanding of stroke and its consequences," said Janko Nikolich-Zugich, MD, PhD, chair of the UA Department of Immunobiology. "We used to think that the glial scar forms a fool-proof barrier, and had no idea about the toxicity of the liquefied brain materials. Thanks to this research, we now will be able to consider new and different stroke therapies."

Nevertheless, further research is needed. The team hopes to verify its results in the future by showing that post-stroke memory problems can be curbed with a drug that makes the glial scar's barrier more robust.

Research also is needed to find out precisely how long the toxic fluid lasts. Liquefied brain tissue eventually will result in an empty cavity in which healthy brain tissue once existed. Dr. Doyle's lab believes that the liquefied tissue lasts for months in the brain before the process is complete.

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The UA College of Medicine - Tucson research was funded by a grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke under award No. R01NS096091.

About the UA College of Medicine - Tucson

The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson is shaping the future of medicine through state-of-the-art medical education programs, groundbreaking research and advancements in patient care in Arizona and beyond. Founded in 1967, the college boasts more than 50 years of innovation, ranking among the top medical schools in the nation for research and primary care. Through the university's partnership with Banner Health, one of the largest nonprofit health care systems in the country, the college is leading the way in academic medicine. For more information, visit medicine.arizona.edu.
Abalone, large single-shelled mollusks, are an unusual sight these days off the coast of Washington, California, and Oregon. Of seven species of abalone on the west coast, two are endangered and three are considered species of concern. And one of the two species that is not considered threatened, the red abalone, saw a population crash last year that led fisheries managers to close the recreational fishery for 2018 in California.

Though the decline of abalone was in large part driven by overfishing, restoration efforts are complicated by environmental change and now, a deadly disease called withering syndrome. In a new study funded by California Sea Grant, researchers shed new light on withering syndrome in three species of abalone, the red, the pink, and the pinto.

The study shows that species adapted to colder waters may be more vulnerable to the illness, and that rising water temperatures lead to greater susceptibility. That means that as water temperatures increase, the disease could spread further north to northern California, Oregon, and Washington, affecting abalone farms that produce the shellfish for food as well as efforts to protect and restore native abalone species along the coast.

Wasting away

"Withering syndrome was first noticed in 1985, in the Channel Islands off of Southern California. Since then, it has spread both north and south along the coast, south into Mexico and as far north as Sonoma County," says University of Washington researcher Carolyn Friedman. The syndrome led to catastrophic die-offs of the now endangered wild black and cultured white abalone populations, and has been observed in other species such as the pink and red abalone.

"The initial clinical signs that one can observe are general and include weight loss and anorexia. A farmer might notice that the abalone are not eating as much and have become anorexic. Normally the body and foot of an abalone fill the entire volume of shell. When they are infected, you can see the mantle retracting from the edge of the shell," says Friedman. Once these signs of disease appear, the disease is incurable. The infected abalone die within one to three months. "Just wasting-withering-away," says Friedman.

The cause of the disease has been identified-a bacterium related to the one that causes typhus in humans-but it wasn't clear why some species seemed to be more vulnerable than others. Also unknown was whether species currently outside of the epidemic's range could also be infected.

In the new study, Friedman and a graduate student, University of Washington Ph.D. candidate Lisa Crosson, infected three species of abalone that range from California to Washington with the bacterium that causes withering syndrome, and exposed them to a range of water temperatures.

They found that the pinto abalone, native to the chilly waters of Washington State and Canada, was the most vulnerable to withering syndrome, become infected and died at a water temperature of 17 Celsius (63 Fahrenheit). The red abalone, native to northern and central California, grew ill at 18 C (64 F), while the pink abalone, native to southern California, was the least vulnerable, and required a water temperature of 19C (66 F) before succumbing.

"This was the first infection study with pinto abalone, where weve demonstrated that they're highly susceptible to infection, and have extremely low resistance to withering syndrome. The pinto [abalone] were the only species in experiment that experienced 100% mortality, while red and pink had less than 30% [mortality]," says Crosson.

Friedman and Crosson also found that genetics may play a role-when they compared genetic markers from the three species with the white abalone (extremely vulnerable to the disease), they found a link between vulnerability and genetic relatedness to the white abalone.

The research also serves as a warning of how climate change could impact already vulnerable species, and could prove useful for restoration efforts, along with forecasts of ocean temperature change.

"Marine animals do suffer from infectious disease, and temperature is a very important trigger. So if we can reduce ocean warming, we can reduce impacts that people may not even realize can happen," says Friedman.

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About California Sea Grant

NOAA's California Sea Grant College Program funds marine research, education and outreach throughout California. Our headquarters is at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego; we are one of 33 Sea Grant programs in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce.
- The high-latitudes are regarded as temperature limited environments, but even in these cold systems water plays a great role. We are interested in soil moisture changes and its ecosystem effects, but first we had to find out what controls soil moisture in tundra, says doctoral candidate Julia Kemppinen.

Laser scanning provides high accuracy data

Soil moisture is an excellent example of a research topic, which highly profits of the latest method and data innovations. Recently, soil moisture research has advanced especially due to the use airborne laser scanning data, as the role of topography can now be examined in greater detail.

Laser scanning technology provides higher accuracy elevation data, which also reflects to topography-based predictor variables. The new models are now more realistic, as the models contain information about fine-scale topography, such as small ridges and streams, which are essential to model fine-scale water distribution in the landscape. Coarse-resolution terrain models simply cannot provide this important information, states doctoral candidate Henri Riihimaki.

These new spatial data are important for research, but also for applied science. We use open data in our climate change impact studies, biodiversity assessments and periglacial processes research, specifies physical geography professor Miska Luoto.

Measuring moisture

Field-obtained measurements are challenging to carry out in the wilderness, as spatially extensive field investigations are often time-consuming and expensive. Yet, field measurements are inevitable, as true measurements are also needed for testing how well remotely sensed data works. Therefore, the BioGeoClimate Modelling Lab collected a soil moisture data based on thousands of true measurements.

The data we collect are valuable, because there are no other high-resolution and spatially extensive data sets available. The speciality of our data lies in the study setting, which we designed to be compatible with remotely sensed data - this enables the study of soil moisture on even larger areas, sums doctoral candidate Pekka Niittynen.

BioGeoClimate Modelling Lab is a group of researchers based at the University of Helsinki. The lab combines massive field-obtained data with open data. Their work is focused on vegetation, earth surface processes and climate, regarding especially high-latitude mountain regions. Lately the lab has extended their spatial studies to Drakensberg in South Africa in collaboration with the University of Pretoria.

All open data were provided by the National Land Survey of Finland, and they are available for everyone. The research is part of INFRAHAZARD-project funded by the Academy of Finland. In addition, the research was supported by GeoDoc-doctoral school at the University of Helsinki, Kone Foundation and Societas pro Fauna et Flora Fennica.

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Publication: Kemppinen, J., Niittynen, P., Riihimaki, H., Luoto, M. Modelling soil moisture in a high-latitude landscape using LiDAR and soil data. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. DOI: 10.1002/esp.4301

More information:

Doctoral candidate Julia Kemppinen

University of Helsinki

julia.kemppinen@helsinki.fi

@juliajkemppinen

Doctoral candidate Pekka Niittynen

University of Helsinki

pekka.niittynen@helsinki.fi

@PONiittynen

Doctoral candidate Henri Riihimaki

University of Helsinki

henri.riihimaki@helsinki.fi

@hriihima

Professor Miska Luoto

University of Helsinki

miska.luoto@helsinki.fi

More information on the BioGeoClimate Modelling Lab:

Web site: helsinki.fi/biogeoclimate

Twitter: twitter.com/biogeoclimate

Facebook: facebook.com/biogeoclimate


CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- A record number of Americans are able to access the internet from their home or their smartphone, and nearly 70 percent of U.S. adults have a social media account, according to the Pew Research Center.

If the share of Americans using social media is the highest it's ever been, what insights can be gleaned from their online interactions? According to a new paper co-written by University of Illinois experts in social psychology and marketing, 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.

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, said Dolores Albarracin, a professor of psychology at Illinois and a co-author of the study.

"Our results demonstrate that it's possible to uncover and analyze information from Twitter communications that are associated with public health crises," Albarracin said. "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 teamed with the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, which conducted a nationally representative survey of the U.S. adult population over 33 weeks in 2016 on Zika-related attitudes, knowledge and behaviors. Around 1,000 participants per week answered the survey.

The researchers also analyzed Twitter data about the Zika virus outbreak by searching for Zika-related keywords ("zika," "dengue," "yellow fever," for example) using the site's application programming interface.

"We created a Twitter-based index of three measures that are classically important in disease control: attitudes, knowledge and behaviors," Albarracin said. "That's the triad that's studied in public health and social marketing to see what people's attitudes and practices are at a given time or in a given context."

The researchers 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 idea was to be able to see if we could use social media to gauge public opinion in the same way you would use a phone survey," Albarracin said.

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, Albarracin said.

"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," she 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.

"And just about everyone has a smartphone, and everyone of a certain demographic is on one social media channel or another, making the results just as valid as the more expensive traditional polling method."

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, also a professor of business administration with the Gies College of Business.

The paper will be published in the journal JMIR Public Health and Surveillance.

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Albarracin's co-authors are Man Pui Sally Chan and Mohsen Farhadloo, of the University of Illinois, and Kathleen Hall Jamieson and Kenneth Winneg, of The Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania.

The research was supported by the Science of Science Communication endowment of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania and the National Institutes of Health.

Editor's notes: To contact Dolores Albarracin, call 217-244-7019; email dalbarra@illinois.edu.

The paper "Associations of topics of discussion on Twitter with survey measures of attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors related to Zika: A study in the United States" is available online.

DOI:10.2196/publichealth.8186
An international team of astronomers, including researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, has confirmed the discovery of the most distant supernova ever detected, a huge cosmic explosion that took place 10.5 billion years ago when the universe was only a quarter of its current age.

The exploding star, named DES16C2nm, was detected by the Dark Energy Survey, an international collaboration to map several hundred million galaxies in order to learn more about dark energy, the mysterious force believed to be causing the accelerated expansion of the universe.

As detailed in a new study published in The Astrophysical Journal, light from the event has taken 10.5 billion years to reach Earth, making it the oldest supernova ever discovered and studied. The universe itself is thought to be 13.8 billion years old.

The research was led by Mathew Smith of the University of Southampton in collaboration with Chris D'Andrea, a postdoctoral fellow at Penn, and Masao Sako, an associate professor in Penn's School of Arts and Sciences. Researchers at the University of Portsmouth also contributed to the research.

A supernova is the explosion of a massive star at the end of its life cycle. DES16C2nm is classified as a superluminous supernova, or SLSN, the brightest and rarest class of supernovae, first discovered 10 years ago. It is thought to be caused by material falling onto the densest object in the universe, a rapidly rotating neutron star newly formed in the explosion of a massive star. This violent explosion, Sako said, is brighter than even the brightest galaxies.

DES16C2nm was first detected in August 2016, and its distance and extreme brightness confirmed in October that year using three of the world's most powerful telescopes, the Very Large Telescope and the Magellan, in Chile, and the Keck Observatory, in Hawaii.

According to Smith, the ultraviolet light from these supernovae "informs us of the amount of metal produced in the explosion and the temperature of the explosion itself, both of which are key to understanding what causes and drives these cosmic explosions."

"What we think could be happening here," D'Andrea said, "is that the stellar explosion produces a magnetar at its core: a rapidly spinning neutron star with a magnetic field 100 trillion times stronger than that on Earth. If we look at how the light from the superluminous supernova evolves in time, it matches very well models of the amount of energy that magnetars emit as they spin. This energy is hitting the winds of the ejected material from the stellar explosion and dramatically brightening what we're seeing."

These particular supernovae could lead to advances in both stellar astrophysics and cosmology, Sako said. By investigating why and how stars die, scientists could discover new information about how compact objects such as black holes and neutron stars are created.

For cosmology, the typical "standard candles" for measuring the expansion evolution of the universe are type 1a supernovae. Scientists are able to determine the exact brightness of these exploding white dwarf stars, which led to the Nobel Prize-winning discovery that the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate. Since SLSN can be anywhere from 50 to 100 times brighter than type 1a supernovae, they can be seen at even greater distances. This could allow researchers to probe even more deeply into the expansion history of the universe to learn more about the nature of dark energy.

"The trick to being able to do this," D'Andrea said, "is to find as many of these objects as possible to try to find patterns between the light they emit and how bright each object is. Given a large enough sample of SLSN, scientists may then be able to 'standardize' them as they did with type 1a supernovae."

D'Andrea and other researchers will continue to hunt for these rare supernovae, both in the final year of DES as well as in future, more powerful surveys, such as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope. They will also comb through previous data from DES and other surveys to see what may have been missed.

"Such supernovae were not thought of when we started DES over a decade ago," said study co-author Bob Nichol, professor of astrophysics at the University of Portsmouth. "Such discoveries show the importance of empirical science; sometimes you just have to go out and look up to find something amazing."

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More than 400 scientists from more than 25 institutions worldwide are involved in the DES, a five-year project which began in 2013.

The collaboration built and is using an extremely sensitive 570-megapixel digital camera, DECam, mounted on the Blanco 4-meter telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, high in the Chilean Andes, to carry out the project.

During 2013-2018, the DES collaboration is using 525 nights of observation to carry out a deep, wide-area survey to record information from 300 million galaxies that are billions of light years from Earth.

The survey is imaging 5,000 square degrees of the southern sky in five optical filters to obtain detailed information about each galaxy. A fraction of the survey time is used to observe smaller patches of sky roughly once a week to discover and study thousands of supernovae and other astrophysical transients.

The Dark Energy Survey is supported by funding from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science; the National Science Foundation; funding agencies in the United Kingdom, Spain, Brazil, Germany and Switzerland; and the participating institutions.
PHILADELPHIA--African Americans with atrial fibrillation (AF) - a quivering or irregular heartbeat that can lead to a host of dangerous complications - have a significantly higher risk of stroke than Caucasians with the condition, according to new research published today in Heart Rhythm by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The new findings build on previous studies examining the impact of race on the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF), which is linked to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other complications. It's well reported that African Americans have a lower risk of developing AF as compared to Caucasians, but until now, there was little data on the additional risks that come with AF for each race.

"To date, large phase-3 clinical trials that have evaluated the safety and efficacy of novel blood-thinner medications for AF have enrolled very few African American participants, which left us with little data about risks for this patient population," said study's senior author Rajat Deo, MD, MTR an associate professor of Cardiovascular Medicine in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. "Now, having identified that African Americans with AF are more at risk for stroke will allow us to more proactively monitor and treat these patients before an adverse event occurs."

In the United States alone, it's estimated by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention that between three and six million Americans have AF - a number that is expected to rise as the population ages.

Researchers created the Penn Atrial Fibrillation Free Study, a centralized pool of patient data from across the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which was comprised of 56,835 patients without a history of atrial fibrillation or a remote history of stroke. Of these, 3,507 developed AF--the inception cohort used for the current study. The study design was unique in that researchers had a time point that represented the initial diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. This approach provided an opportunity to examine the risk of stroke during a six-month period prior to a formal, clinical diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. Until now, no prior study has examined stroke risk in this period prior to a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation.

These data demonstrate the potential importance of early detection of atrial fibrillation. In fact, it showed that of the 538 observed strokes in the patients in the inception cohort, 254 occurred prior to AF diagnosis, and in many cases, the stroke was the presenting condition for newly diagnosed AF patients. Compared to Caucasians, African Americans have an increased risk of stroke both before and after atrial fibrillation diagnosis. As such, certain anticoagulation medications could help mitigate this risk of stroke, especially if AF is detected early.

"These findings indicate that a more rigorous effort to identify individuals from the community with atrial fibrillation may result in a reduction in overall stroke burden," said Deo. "Evolving mobile and wearable technologies are providing individuals the opportunity to acquire cardiac rhythm data. Our findings highlight a need to make these technologies available to diverse populations and a need to understand how to process this data once received in order to enhance the care of our diverse populations."

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Additional Penn authors include Yuliya Borovskiy, Anthony Killian, Joshua Levine, Nelson McNaughton, David Callans, Gregory Supple, Sanjay Dixit, Andrew Epstein and Francis Marchlinski. This study was supported by the National Institutes of Health (K23DK089118), and in part by the EP Research Fund from the Pennsylvania Steel Company, Inc.

Penn Medicine is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $7.8 billion enterprise.

The Perelman School of Medicine has been ranked among the top five medical schools in the United States for the past 20 years, according to U.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $405 million awarded in the 2017 fiscal year.

The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities include: The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center -- which are recognized as one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report -- Chester County Hospital; Lancaster General Health; Penn Medicine Princeton Health; Penn Wissahickon Hospice; and Pennsylvania Hospital -- the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Additional affiliated inpatient care facilities and services throughout the Philadelphia region include Good Shepherd Penn Partners, a partnership between Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network and Penn Medicine, and Princeton House Behavioral Health, a leading provider of highly skilled and compassionate behavioral healthcare.

Penn Medicine is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. In fiscal year 2017, Penn Medicine provided more than $500 million to benefit our community.
Study provides new view of immune cell identity, which can be harnessed to fight cancer, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases

PHILADELPHIA - Almost all cells in the human body have identical DNA sequences, yet there are 200-plus cell types with different sizes, shapes, and chemical compositions. Determining what parts of the genome are read to make protein and which are silenced is orchestrated by proteins called transcription factors. These regulate the availability of distinct stretches of DNA to be expressed as opposed to others that remain buried in tightly coiled structures called chromatin.

Researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, describe this week in Immunity the role of a transcription factor called TCF-1 in targeting the condensed chromatin and regulating the availability of genome sequences in T-cell development. The new connection between TCF-1 and chromatin will aid in developing new therapies using epigenetic drugs to alter T-cell fate in cancer, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases.

Senior author Golnaz Vahedi, PhD, an assistant professor of Genetics, brings her multidisciplinary training in computational biology, epigenetics, and immunology to bear on the question of T-cell identity. She leads a multidisciplinary team integrating computational and experimental approaches to develop an understanding of gene regulation in immune cells. Vahedi is also a member of Penn's Institute for Immunology and Epigenetics Institute.

She likens TCF-1 to an icebreaker ship that initially opens the ice (condensed, closed chromatin) and keeps a path available for other ships (other transcription factors that work in later stages of development) to steam through the now-open water (unwound chromatin). TCF-1 ultimately opens chromatin so that DNA can be read to make proteins, and it also keeps chromatin open so that subsequent factors can access DNA to make protein that guide a maturing T cell to its final identity.

Although the functional importance of TCF-1 in T cells has been known for more than 25 years, the mechanism by which this protein controls T-cell identity remained unknown. The team generated a profile of open and closed areas in eight stages of T-cell development and found an abundance of the transcription factor TCF-1 at regions along the genome that were open at the earliest stages of development.

"Our lab is interested in understanding how T-cell identity is established," Vahedi said. "We chose to study T cells because of their all-important role in patrolling the body to clear it of germs and such other dangers as cancer cells."

They established the identity-making role for TCF-1 by deleting it in a mouse model and found that most open sites closed, becoming inaccessible in tightly wound chromatin. On the other hand, when they added TCF-1 to a type of common skin cell, it "broke the ice" and opened closed regions by removing chemical groups that tighten chromatin. The elongated fibroblasts reprogrammed to become more T-cell-like in shape and hundreds of T-cell genes were also expressed in these skin cells.

Using computational and epigenomic methods, the team found that TCF-1 behaved in a similar manner on the chromatin of individual T cells. Because of the consistency among many cells, they concluded that TCF-1 control of T-cell fate is fundamentally important in determining what a cell will become.

"We showed how TCF-1 controls T-cell fate through its ability to target closed chromatin and establish the identity of developing T cells," Vahedi said. "TCF-1 is the focus of many immunology and oncology studies, especially those dealing with checkpoint inhibitors and sick immune cells. We think that the 'ice-breaking' ability of TCF-1 can be selectively harnessed to reset 'old' T cells to a 'younger' state so they can fight invaders again."

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Coauthors are John Johnson, George Georgakilas, Stanley Cai, all from the Vahedi lab; Jelena Petrovic, Makoto Kurachi, Warren Pear, and John Wherry, all from Penn; and Christelle Harly and Avinash Bhandoola, from the National Cancer Institute.

This study was funded in part by the National Institutes of Health (NIH K22AI112570, R01AI047833, P01CA119070, NIH AI105343, AI082630, AI112521, AI115712, AI117718, AI108545, AI117950), the Sloan Foundation, the National Psoriasis Foundation, and the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy.

Penn Medicine is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $7.8 billion enterprise.

The Perelman School of Medicine has been ranked among the top five medical schools in the United States for the past 20 years, according to U.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $405 million awarded in the 2017 fiscal year.

The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities include: The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center -- which are recognized as one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report -- Chester County Hospital; Lancaster General Health; Penn Medicine Princeton Health; Penn Wissahickon Hospice; and Pennsylvania Hospital - the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Additional affiliated inpatient care facilities and services throughout the Philadelphia region include Good Shepherd Penn Partners, a partnership between Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network and Penn Medicine, and Princeton House Behavioral Health, a leading provider of highly skilled and compassionate behavioral healthcare.

Penn Medicine is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. In fiscal year 2017, Penn Medicine provided $500 million to benefit our community.
Reductions in sea ice in the Arctic have a clear impact on animals such as polar bears that rely on frozen surfaces for feeding, mating and migrating. But sea ice loss is changing Arctic habitat and affecting other species in more indirect ways, new research finds.

Beluga whales that spend summers feeding in the Arctic are diving deeper and longer to find food than in earlier years, when sea ice covered more of the ocean for longer periods, according to a new analysis led by University of Washington researchers. The study, published this month in the journal Diversity and Distributions, is one of the first to consider the indirect effects of sea ice loss on Arctic species that dwell near the ice, but don't necessarily depend on it for survival.

"I think this paper is novel in that we're presenting some of the first indirect effects of sea ice loss for an Arctic whale species," said lead author Donna Hauser, a postdoctoral researcher at the UW's Polar Science Center and former doctoral student at the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences. "As changes in sea ice affect oceanographic properties, that could be affecting the distribution, abundance or species composition of prey for belugas."

Two genetically distinct beluga populations spend winters in the Bering Sea, then swim north in the early summer as sea ice melts and open water allows them passage into the Beaufort and Chukchi seas. There they feast all summer on fish and invertebrates before traveling back south in the fall. Both populations are considered healthy.

The researchers analyzed migration data collected intermittently from two different periods -- referred to in the paper as "early" and "late" -- for two beluga populations, covering the years 1993-2002 and 2004-2012. Satellite-linked tags attached to the whales tracked their movements around and away from the high Arctic feeding grounds. Dive-depth data were collected for only one population, the Chukchi belugas, because the other population's tags did not have those capabilities.

Researchers also tracked sea ice cover in the Arctic over these two periods and found that the ice declined substantially from the first to the second period.

"We have documented loss of sea ice and reductions of habitat for Arctic marine mammals across most of the circumpolar Arctic, so this area is not unique," said co-author Kristin Laidre, a UW associate professor in the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences and the Polar Science Center. "We're seeing this ice loss broadly in all areas where belugas occur."

Sea ice loss appears to affect how the Chukchi belugas dove for their food. During the later period, when there was less sea ice, the whales dove significantly longer and deeper than in the earlier period -- presumably in search of prey as the animals, in turn, changed their habits because of different ocean conditions brought on by sea ice loss.

Specifically, during the earlier period belugas dove for 20 minutes or longer only once per day, compared to nearly three times a day during the later period. Similarly, their average daily dive depth increased from about 50 meters (164 feet) to 64 meters (210 feet) between the two periods.

The belugas might be diving longer and deeper to follow prey that has dispersed or been driven deeper itself from changing ocean conditions. It's also possible that feeding opportunities are actually better for belugas in an ocean with less sea ice.

"Reduced sea ice cover over a longer period of time over the summer could mean improved foraging for belugas," said Hauser, who is also a researcher at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. "But it's also important to recognize these changes in diving behavior are energetically costly."

It's unclear whether diving changes are positive or negative for belugas, and studies on body condition and health are needed to understand the implications of these changes, she added.

Aside from changes in how belugas dove for food, the nearly two decades of data show that the whales were able to thrive in their summer and fall ocean habitats, despite less ice cover. This adaptability to changes in Arctic conditions speaks to the whales' resiliency, the researchers said.

"Belugas feed on a lot of different prey and use many different habitats, across open water and dense sea ice and everything in between," Hauser said. "Because they are such generalists, that could buffer them under climate change."

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Other co-authors are Harry Stern of the UW; Robert Suydam of North Slope Borough in Utqia?vik, Alaska; and Pierre Richard of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

This analysis was funded by the National Science Foundation's UW IGERT Program on Ocean Change, NASA and the UW School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences. Many individuals and organizations supported beluga whale tagging, including the Alaska Beluga Whale Committee, North Slope Borough, Village of Point Lay, the Inuvialuit Hunter and Trapper Committees, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Minerals Management Service.

For more information, contact Hauser at dhauser@uw.edu or 907-474-1553 and Laidre at klaidre@uw.edu.
Being born with a "tabula rasa" - a clean slate - in the case of the brain is something of a curse. Our brains are already wrinkled like walnuts by the time we are born. Babies born without these wrinkles - smooth brain syndrome - suffer from severe developmental deficiencies and their life expectancy is markedly reduced. The gene that causes this syndrome recently helped Weizmann Institute of Science researchers to probe the physical forces that cause the brain's wrinkles to form. In their findings, reported today in Nature Physics, the researchers describe a method they developed for growing tiny "brains on chips" from human cells that enabled them to track the physical and biological mechanisms underlying the wrinkling process.

Tiny brains grown in the lab from embryonic stem cells - so-called organoids - were pioneered in the last decade by Profs. Yoshiki Sasai in Japan and Juergen Knoblich in Austria. Prof. Orly Reiner of the Institute's Molecular Genetics Department says that her lab, along with many others, embraced the idea of growing organoids. But Dr. Eyal Karzbrun, in her lab, had to put a bit of a damper on their enthusiasm: The sizes of the organoids they obtained were far from uniform; with no blood vessels, the insides did not have a steady supply of nutrients and started to die; and the thickness of the tissue got in the way of the optical imaging and microscope tracking.

So Karzbrun developed a new approach to growing organoids - one that would enable the group to follow their growth processes in real time: He limited their growth in the vertical axis. This gave him a "pita"-shaped organoid - round and flat with a thin space in the middle. This shape enabled the group to image the thin tissue as it developed and to supply nutrients to all the cells. And by the second week of the tiny "brain's" growth and development, wrinkles began to appear and then to deepen. Karzbrun: "This is the first time that folding has been observed in organoids, apparently due to the architecture of our system."

Karzbrun is a physicist by training, and he naturally turned to physical models for the behavior of elastic materials to understand the formation of the wrinkles. Folds or wrinkles in a surface are the result of mechanical instability - compression forces applied to some part of the material. So for example, if there is uneven expansion in one part of the material, another part might be forced to fold in order to accommodate the pressure. In the organoids, the scientists found such mechanical instability in two places: The cytoskeleton - the internal skeleton - of the cells in the center of the organoid contracted; and the nuclei of the cells near the surface expanded. Or, to think of it another way, the outside of the "pita" grew faster than its inside.

While this achievement was impressive, Reiner was not convinced that the wrinkles in the organoids were really modeling the folds in a developing brain. So the group grew new organoids, this time bearing the same mutations carried by babies with smooth brain syndrome. Reiner had identified this gene - LIS1 - back in 1993, and has investigated its role in the developing brain and in the disease, which affects one in 30,000 births. Among other things, the gene is involved in the migration of nerve cells to the brain during embryonic development, and it also regulates the cytoskeleton and molecular motors in the cell.

The organoids with the mutated gene grew to the same proportions as the others, but they developed few folds and the ones they did develop were very different in shape from the normal wrinkles. Working on the assumption that differences in the physical properties of the cell were responsible for these variations, the group investigated the organoid's cells with atomic force microscopy, with the help of Dr. Sidney Cohen of the Chemical Research Support Department. By measures of elasticity, the normal cells were about twice as stiff as the mutated ones, which were basically soft. Reiner: "We discovered a significant difference in the physical properties of cells in the two organoids, but we observed difference in their biological properties as well. For example, the nuclei in the centers of the mutant organoids moved more slowly, and we saw significant differences in gene expression."

Even before the paper's publishing date, the scientific community has been showing great interest in this new approach to growing organoids. "It is not exactly a brain, but it is quite a good model for brain development," says Reiner. "We now have a much better understanding of what makes a brain wrinkled or, in cases of those with one mutated gene, smooth." The researchers plan to continue developing their approach, which they believe could lead to new insights into other disorders that are tied to brain development, including microcephaly, epilepsy and schizophrenia.

Also participating in this research were Prof. Yaqub Hanna, who assisted with growing the embryonic stem cells, and research student Aditya Kshirsagar in Reiner's group.

Prof. Orly Reiner's research is supported by the Helen and Martin Kimmel Institute for Stem Cell Research; the Nella and Leon Benoziyo Center for Neurological Diseases; the Kekst Family Institute for Medical Genetics; the Dr. Beth Rom-Rymer Stem Cell Research Fund; the Dears Foundation; Mr. and Mrs. Jack Lowenthal; the estate of David Georges Eskinazi; and the estate of Jacqueline Hodes. Prof. Reiner is the incumbent of the Bernstein-Mason Chair of Neurochemistry.

The Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, is one of the world's top-ranking multidisciplinary research institutions. Noted for its wide-ranging exploration of the natural and exact sciences, the Institute is home to scientists, students, technicians and supporting staff. Institute research efforts include the search for new ways of fighting disease and hunger, examining leading questions in mathematics and computer science, probing the physics of matter and the universe, creating novel materials and developing new strategies for protecting the environment.

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Several childhood cancer cell types show features of immature neural cells, and there is evidence suggesting that these tumors may arise from neural crest stem cells that underwent abnormal changes during embryonic development. One such cancer is Ewing sarcoma. Although combinatorial treatment protocols encompassing chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy have improved outcomes, many patients still suffer from a poor prognosis.

Typically, the pathogenesis of Ewing sarcoma includes fusion of the EWS and FLI-1 genes. The resulting EWSR1-FLI-1 protein induces aberrant epigenomic reprogramming, which alters acetylation and methylation, leading to chromatin remodeling. Chromatin is a structurally condensed form of DNA, and its condensation state regulates gene expression patterns epigenetically. Highly condensed chromatin can suppress the expression of genes that control differentiation, thereby keeping cancer cells in a poorly differentiated, stem cell-like state that facilitates tumor progression.

A team of researchers at the Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory and the Pediatric Oncology Service at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) and its university hospital (Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, HCPA), and the Children's Cancer Institute (Instituto do Cancer Infantil, ICI), in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in collaboration with Dr. Carol J. Thiele, Deputy Chief of the Pediatric Oncology Branch at the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), in Bethesda, MD, USA, have targeted proteins that regulate the chromatin state of DNA in Ewing sarcoma cells with the goal of hindering malignant tumor growth. In a new study published in the journal Molecular Neurobiology (preprint available at http://www.biorxiv.org), lead author Dr. Barbara Kunzler Souza and colleagues were able to induce chromatic relaxation in Ewing sarcoma cells by treating them with a compound that inhibits histone deacetylases. The treatment reduced expression of the EWSR1-FLI-1 oncogene as well as expression of other genes associated with pluripotency and cell viability, while impairing the cells' ability to survive and proliferate. Decreased survival of stem-like cancer cells and re-expression of a neuronal differentiation marker were also observed.

In a previous study by the same group, Dr. Viviane Rosner de Almeida and colleagues demonstrated that treating human neuroblastoma cells with epigenetic agents that inhibit either histone deacetylases or DNA methyltransferase potentiated the ability of a retinoid-based therapy to impair cell proliferation and reduced the expression of oncogene products, including c-Myc and Bmi1. Neuroblastoma--the most common extracranial solid childhood cancer accounting for ~15% of pediatric cancer deaths--is another pediatric cancer thought to originate from a developmental malfunction of embryonic neural crest cells. Dr. Rafael Roesler, associate professor of pharmacology at UFRGS and senior author of the studies, has said that "targeting epigenetic processes that regulate chromatin state, such as histone acetylation and DNA methylation, seems to be an effective experimental approach to inducing desirable biological changes in cells from childhood tumors that may arise from defects in embryonic development."

Dr. Andre T. Brunetto, Research Diretor at ICI, added, "It is our hope that uncovering molecular mechanisms involved in childhood cancer progression will result in translational opportunities that can be explored in clinical studies." Dr. Caroline Brunetto de Farias, ICI Head of Cellular and Molecular Research, says the findings from cell culture experiments are helping the team identify clinically useful drugs that target epigenetic mechanisms and have the potential to be investigated as putative adjuvant therapies in animal and human studies.

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Support for the research was provided by: PRONON/Ministry of Health, Brazil (grant no. 25000.162.034/2014-21); the Children's Cancer Institute (ICI); the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq; grant nos. 484185/2012-8 and 303276/2013-4); the Rio Grande do Sul State Research Foundation (FAPERGS; grant no. 17/2551-0001); the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES); the HCPA institutional research fund (FIPE); and the Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health.

Research articles:

Souza, B.K., da Costa Lopez, P.L., Menegotto, P.R., Vieira, I.A., Kersting, N., Abujamra, A.L., Brunetto, A.T., Brunetto, A.L., Gregianin, L., de Farias, C.B., Thiele, C.J., Roesler, R. Targeting histone deacetylase activity to arrest cell growth and promote neural differentiation in Ewing sarcoma. Molecular Neurobiology 2018, doi: 10.1007/s12035-018-0874-6 (preprint available at: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/01/16/191700).

Almeida, V.R., Vieira, I.A., Buendia, M., Brunetto, A.T., Gregianin, L.J., Brunetto, A.L., Klamt, F., de Farias, C.B., Abujamra, A.L., Lopez, P.L.D.C., Roesler, R. Combined treatments with a retinoid receptor agonist and epigenetic modulators in human neuroblastoma cells. Molecular Neurobiology 2017, 54: 7610-7619.

Media Contact

Dr. Rafael Roesler

5551-33597616

rafaelroesler@hcpa.edu.br

Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre

Instituto do Cancer Infantil

Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health
Bill Browder, self-described No. 1 enemy of Russian President Vladimir Putin, says he has been questioned about sensitive information which Russia has been asking for by Swiss border authorities at Geneva airport.

Browder was in Geneva for a human rights summit where he called for Russian sanctions.

Browder told swissinfo.ch that his passport was flagged at about 8 pm Geneva time on Monday when passing through an immigration checkpoint on his way back to the United Kingdom, where he lives. He said he was then pulled aside while an immigration officer made a call and had a long conversation.

I was then asked questions that the Russian government had previously asked other governments who hadnt cooperated with them, Browder said. He did not want to disclose the specific nature of the questions but said that it seems to be a Swiss situation since his passport was not flagged upon his later arrival in the UK.

Browder believes the Swiss readiness to question him on behalf of Russia is related to some kind of compromise over a recent incident involving a Russia expert at the Swiss Federal Office of Police (FEDPOL). The employee was let go and an investigation launched by Swiss authorities after it was revealed he privately travelled to Moscow at the bidding of Russian officials to discuss an unspecified case.

In response for a request for confirmation and further information regarding Browders questioning, David Marquis, a spokesman for the Swiss Federal Customs Administration, said that for data protection reasons, [we] do not disclose which persons we have inspected [at the border]. Flights to non-Schengen countries  including the UK  are always subject to identity checks.

FEDPOL told swissinfo.ch via spokeswomanLulzana Musliu that we were not involved in this incident.

swissinfo.ch has also reached out to the Swiss Foreign Affairs Ministry for more information about Browders questioning but has not yet received a response.

Browder said he answered Swiss authorities questions truthfully at Geneva airport, a move he believes could put him at risk in the UK. He was then allowed to continue his journey.

Magnitsky case

The American-born Browder moved to Russia in 1996 where he ran the investment fund, Hermitage Capital Management, but was later expelled from the country without warning. His lawyer Sergei Magnitsky then exposed the largest tax refund fraud in Russian history involving the theft of Browders companies. Magnitsky died in Russian detention, and Browder has been campaigning for so-called Magnitsky sanctions against the Russian state ever since to punish its human rights violations. Browder says his efforts have put him in the crosshairs of Putin and the Russian government.

+ More on the Magnitsky case

+ Swiss rapporteur denounces Magnitsky cover-up

Browder said he has travelled in and out of Switzerland many times but that Mondays incident was the first time his passport had been flagged at the border. In the past, Russian authorities have submitted six Interpol requests for his arrest and made numerous requests to the British government for his extradition and questioning, all of which have been rejected.




Danish royalty and politicians gathered in a Copenhagen chapel on Tuesday for the private funeral service of Prince Henrik, the French-born husband of Queen Margrethe who died this month aged 83.

The queen, accompanied by her sons Crown Prince Frederik, 49, and Prince Joachim, 48, and their families paid their last respects to Henrik at the Christiansborg Palace chapel.

The funeral was a private affair, with only the royal family, close friends and some government members invited to attend.

However hundreds of Danes gathered outside the chapel to catch a glimpse of the event.

At the end of the ceremony, the priest tossed soil on the coffin, taken from both the royal couples chateau in Caix, northern France, and from the Marselisborg palace grounds in Aarhus, Denmark.

Afterwards, the coffin was carried outside to a hearse as the royal family watched, bowing as the hearse pulled away and wiping away tears.

Diagnosed in September 2017 with dementia, Henrik had been hospitalised since January 28 for a pulmonary infection.

He died on February 13.

In line with his wishes, he will be cremated. Half of his ashes will be spread in Danish waters and half buried on the grounds of Fredensborg Castle north of Copenhagen.

Born Henri Marie Jean Andre de Laborde de Monpezat on June 11, 1934 near Bordeaux, he married Margrethe, then crown princess, in 1967.

Henrik, who retired from public service in January 2016, spoke out often about his frustration that his royal title of prince was never changed to king after his wife became queen in 1972.

Last year, he announced that he did not want to be buried next to his wife because he was not made her equal in life, thereby breaking with the tradition of burying royal spouses together in Roskilde Cathedral, west of Copenhagen.
French prosecutors on Tuesday asked a court to uphold the three-year, tax-fraud sentence of a former Socialist budget minister who stashed hundreds of thousands of euros in a Swiss bank account.

Jerome Cahuzac was forced to resign from government in 2013 after it emerged that that he had been squirreling away undeclared cash from his lucrative Parisian hair transplant clinic.

The revelations caused severe embarrassment to then president Francois Hollande, who had appointed Cahuzac to crack down on tax cheats.

Pressed on the allegations, Cahuzac lied both to Hollande and parliament before finally coming clean.

In the wake of the scandal France set up an anti-corruption agency and a national office to prosecute financial crimes.

In 2016, a court jailed Cahuzac for three years for tax fraud and barred him from holding elected office for five years.

The 65-year former political heavy-hitter appealed his sentence, prompting a retrial.

Addressing the defendant on Tuesday the public prosecutor said Cahuzacs trial was his greatest contribution to the fight against tax fraud.

Impunity is thinking that the law is only for others, he said.

If the appeal court returns a lighter sentence of two years or less, Cahuzac will likely not have to spend time behind bars and instead do community service.

The court could, on the other hand, increase his sentence to up to five years in prison and a 375,000 euro ($460,000) fine, or follow the prosecutors recommendations by keeping it unchanged.

During his 2016 trial Cahuzac told the court he hid funds offshore to maintain his familys standard of living, which included apartments for his children in London and Paris and to pay for holidays in Mauritius.

His ex-wife Patricia Menard, who held an account in the Isle of Man that was also used to hide money, was sentenced to two years in prison.

Cahuzacs bank in Geneva, Reyl, was fined 1.9 million euros and its boss Francois Reyl was handed a one-year suspended jail term and a 375,000 euro fine for helping Cahuzac move his funds to offshore companies.

Neither Menard, the bank nor Reyl appeared their sentences.
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Monday, February 19, 2018

We live in an era when sadness is avoided at great cost to our emotional psyches. Funerals are now celebrations of life. Even though death and loss breaks hearts, many people strive to stay positive and upbeat. Must not cry is the unconscious mantra of many grievers  and its harmful.

In The Gift and Power of Emotional Courage, a TEDWomen 2017 talk by psychologist Susan David, she explains why its good to embrace so-called negative feelings, saying:

In a survey I recently conducted with over 70,000 people, I found that a third of us  a third  either judge ourselves for having so-called bad emotions, like sadness, anger or even grief. Or we actively try to push aside these feelings.

Only dead people never get stressed, never get broken hearts, never experience the disappointment that comes with failure. Tough emotions are part of our contract with life. You dont get to have a meaningful career or raise a family or leave the world a better place without stress and discomfort. Discomfort is the price of admission to a meaningful life.

Watch the entire 17-minute video here:

Inside Out on the Power of Sadness

The 2015 Disney Pixar film Inside Out introduces us to five key emotions that power our actions: Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, and Anger. While we actually feel a wider range of emotions, the filmmakers had to limit the number of characters. This approach to our emotional makeup is based on the work of two University of California psychology professors, Dacher Keltner and Paul Ekman.

These five emotions, embodied as colorful characters inside the mind of an 11-year old girl named Riley, work the psyches control panel inside Headquarters. At the very beginning of the film, we see the roles each emotion plays in her lifes developments. For example, Fear helps keep Riley safe. But when the little girl has crying tantrums, narrator Joy doesnt know why Sadness is there.

Joy gets the greatest amount of control time, relentlessly keeping Riley happy and upbeat. She keeps Sadness away from influencing experiences, memories, and the key core memories that make up Rileys Islands of Personality.

A move from the family home in Minnesota to San Francisco prompts a crisis. Riley has a mental meltdown the first day in her new school. Joy and Sadness are swept out of Headquarters into the far reaches of her psyche and must find their way back. Fear, Disgust and Anger assume control of Rileys interactions with her parents, who also have these emotional characters in their minds. Anger takes over and a split develops between parents and child.

Riley becomes apathetic without Joy and Sadness in Headquarters. She decides to run away back to Minnesota by bus. Joy and Sadness return to Headquarters in the nick of time. Riley gets off the bus and returns home to her worry-sick parents. Joy hands Rileys emotional control panel over to Sadness.

Finally, Riley can express her sorrow. She cries over missing her friends and life in Minnesota. Responding to her tears, her parents show their sadness and tenderness. The moment becomes a new core memory, incorporating both Joy and Sadness, life in Minnesota and in San Francisco.

As Keltner and Ekman explain in The Science of Inside Out, a New York Times opinion column (July 5, 2015) , Inside Out offers a new approach to sadness. Its central insight: Embrace sadness, let it unfold, engage patiently with a preteens emotional struggles. Sadness will clarify what has been lost (childhood) and move the family toward what is to be gained: the foundations of new identities, for children and parents alike.

Sadness and anger are not bad emotions. They are an integral part of who we are. Celebrations of life that circumvent sadness are parties without purpose. We need to allow grief to be expressed to move toward healing. Then we can establish new identities beyond our relationships with the deceased.

Gail Rubin, Certified Thanatologist and pioneering death educator, will present Lessons on Grief and Mourning in Cartoons at two upcoming national conventions: The International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association in Las Vegas, NV on April 21, 2018, and the Association for Death Education and Counseling on Friday, April 27 in Pittsburgh, PA. She is the author of three books on end-of-life issues and coordinator of the Before I Die ABQ Festival. Sign up for her bimonthly email newsletter at www.AGoodGoodbye.com .

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Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Surprise! Deportation is Not A Crime Against Humanity



By Peggy Sands Orchowski

Deportation is not a crime against humanity.

This fact may come as a surprise to many enthusiastic advocates for illegal (aka "undocumented") immigrants. Deportation is resisted strongly by many Americans who support giving sanctuary to any immigrant facing official removal from the U.S. The very idea of forcible removal goes against the grain of those who hold up signs at immigration rights rallies that read "No more deportation!"

I have been covering immigration as a credentialed journalist in Congress for over ten years. It has been truly amazing to see how deportation -- that is the legal removal of a foreign national out of one nation and back to his/her homeland has become completely demonized by mostly well-meaning, heartfelt mainly liberal Democratic advocates for illegal immigrants.

Even the most ardent supporters of President Obama became outraged when, by his third year in office, he had ordered the deportation of more illegal immigrants than any other president. One of his biggest ethnic support organizations, the Council of La Raza  the most significant Latino rights organization in the United States whose long-time leader Cecilia Munoz was the White House community liaison on immigration for eight years  labeled Obama the "Deporter in Chief".

It didn't matter that the number of illegal immigrants President Obama had removed annually (about 250,000 a year) were almost all convicted felons and numbered less than two percent of the total illegal immigrant population in the U.S. (about 11 million). It didn't matter that the number of illegal immigrants deported each year made up about half the number of new illegal immigrants every year  about 500,000, with fewer sneaking over the Mexican border and more overstaying their legal temporary visas.

By the spring of 2012, the negative reaction to Obama's deportation orders was beginning to openly affect his support among Latino leaders, considered to be crucial for bringing in the Latino vote for his re-election. So Obama did an about face on deportation enforcement. In June of 2012 he offered temporary deferment from deportation (tho not legalization) to an estimated two million illegal immigrant millennials ages 18-30 who could prove they had come into the country before the age of 16 and had earned some kind of a high school certificate. He did it by using "his phone and his pen" -- issuing a temporary executive order called DACA  Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

DACA protected about 800,000 successful applicants for four years from deportation. It also gave them a similarly temporary work permit. DACA did not give them legal status. And the work permit grant is still constitutionally questionable.

In 2017, President Trump rescinded the DACA order, also by telephone and pen, as he campaigned he would do. DACA is to end March 5, 2018. Beginning then, DACA recipients will be like all the other illegal immigrants in the country  vulnerable to deportation.

While mass roundups of DACA recipients are highly unlikely, they still could be caught up in enforcement actions. And they certainly face deportation if they are arrested, convicted and imprisoned for a major misdemeanor or felony.

The plain truth is that foreign nationals who live and work in any country illegally, without permits from the national government, face removal. Deportation is in fact a very common enforcement action used everywhere to remove people who should not be there. The grounds for deportation are clearly spelled out in national immigration laws. In many countries (unlike the U.S.) illegal immigrants do not even have the right to face a judge; they are simply jailed and removed.

One can say that without deportation, immigration laws would be toothless, meaningless, mere shells that do nothing to prevent open borders. Even all but the diehard libertarians in the U.S. who believe market forces alone should determine immigration, agree that there cannot be completely open borders. There must be some immigration process that limits who can immigrate and who can't.

Deportation is the only way to ultimately enforce national immigration laws.

# # # ## #
The future of Sen. Carlos Uresti now is in the hands of 12 jurors who began deliberating whether to convict the San Antonio Democrat of conspiring to defraud investors or to pronounce his innocence.

In closing arguments Tuesday, federal prosecutors portrayed Uresti as a desperate man, financially strapped and willing to lure unwitting investors to a fledgling oilfield services company that later collapsed under the weight of lies and debt.

Urestis defense team painted him as a careless, foolish and negligent man who faithfully believed FourWinds Logistics would make him and investors lots of money.

The attorneys argued he shouldnt be convicted, however, since he didnt realize the CEO and others at the company were committing fraud.

What is the evidence the government trying to convict Mr. Uresti on? defense attorney Tab Turner said to a packed courtroom.

Uresti's wife, relatives, supporters and angry constituents referred to by courthouse guards as Las Tamaleras sat in the pews behind the defense table.

Carelessness, negligence, foolishness, Turner said. The law says you have to have criminal intent.

Prosecutors told the jury of eight women and four men it didnt matter whether Uresti knew it was a scam, hes still guilty of conspiring to defraud others through deceit, half-truths and failing to disclose important information.

U.S. Senior District Judge David Ezra sent the jury out of the courtroom for deliberations shortly before 3 p.m. Jurors left the courthouse just before 5 p.m. and are expected to resume deliberations at 8:30 a.m. today.

The trial, which has spanned four weeks, has included some salacious testimony that showed a company where sex, lies, drugs, alcohol, sexually explicit text messages and celebrity name-dropping were fairly common in and around the office.

Much of the scheme occurred during a booming oil market that soon tanked. The oilfield startup was steered by an ex-Marine who admitted he pilfered the companys money by spending it to rent exotic cars, on prostitutes, his sons fraternity dues and child support, among other things, the trial established.

I feel confident, with the Lords blessing and the support of my family, my wife, that this jury is going to come back and find me not guilty on all of these charges, Uresti told reporters after leaving the federal courthouse.

During the trial, federal prosecutors called 23 witnesses and elicited steamy testimony from their star witness, Denise Cantu, about sex with Uresti  which they sometimes had in the bathroom shower at his office.

Lead prosecutor Joseph Blackwell recapped some of the evidence he says shows Uresti and co-defendant Gary Cain, a consultant to FourWinds, conspired with the firms officials to defraud Cantu and other investors.

Uresti, 54 and Cain, 61, are charged with a combined 20 felonies in connection with their roles at FourWinds, which prosecutors say defrauded investors before it went bankrupt in 2015. Former CEO Stan Bates, 46, pleaded guilty last month to defrauding investors.

Some of Urestis friends warned the lawmaker that Bates was a complete con man and a shady individual, and to dont walk, but run from Bates. Yet Blackwell said Uresti made a choice to run toward Stan Bates.

Blackwell described Uresti as being weighed down by a $10,000 monthly mortgage payment on a new $1.2 million house as well as an expensive new Porsche.

Uresti was told Mr. Bates was a con man and you cant be surprised when a con man does con-man things, Blackwell told jurors.

Prosecutors allege Uresti knowingly lured investors to the startup without disclosing that he stood to get a cut of their profits. His defense lawyers contend the lawmaker only acted as a finder in introducing investors to the company.

They also said he wasnt intimately privy to its inner workings, so he wasnt aware that it was squandering investors money until after he cut ties with FourWinds in 2015.

Blackwell spent much of the first part of his closing argument telling jurors how Uresti took advantage of Cantu, a Harlingen woman the senator helped represent in litigation over the deaths of two of her children in a 2010 vehicle wreck. Cantu received a $2.5 million settlement and Uresti later recommended she invest some of it with FourWinds.

Cantu, who said she had a sexual relationship with the married lawmaker, invested $900,000 and lost $800,000. She called Uresti my friend, my lover. Uresti has denied they were sexually involved.

Its that emotionally vulnerable, shattered young lady that the defendant Carlos Uresti exploited for his own financial gain, Blackwell said. Uresti served as her attorney, financial adviser, friend and ultimately lover, Cantu testified during the trial.

Blackwell argued that Uresti had access to some information that would have alerted him to Bates fraud because he was a manager on the joint venture that Cantu had with FourWinds

Either he looked and saw (it) or he blinded his eyes, Blackwell argued. Either way it makes him guilty.

Uresti is fighting for his political career, his livelihood as a lawyer and his freedom. If found guilty on any of the 11 charges against him, he faces the possibility of years in prison and up to millions in fines. Among the charges against Uresti are wire and securities fraud as well as money laundering.

Urestis defense team called nine witnesses over the course of two days, but he chose not to testify in his own defense.

Besides recruiting investors, Uresti served as FourWinds outside legal counsel, was a 1 percent owner and an escrow agent for one group of investors.

Urestis lead lawyer Michael McCrum said prosecutors provided no evidence that his client knowingly and willfully conspired with others to defraud investors. Uresti even brought in his friends, attorney Alexander Begum, current Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood and businessman Ronald Gabriel, to hear Bates pitch.

Would a knowing co-conspirator bring in his best friends to hear a presentation he knew was a fraud? McCrum asked jurors. If I know if Im committing a fraud, I wouldnt bring in my friends...

He brings in Mr. Begum, he brings in Mr. LaHood, Mr. Gabriel  those are his good, good friends, McCrum added. Thats evidence of his state of mind that he believed in this concept.

Turner, Urestis other lawyer, told jurors that there wasnt any proof the lawmaker knew what Bates was doing was illegal.

Turner said that Uresti referred Cantu to a lawyer to sue FourWinds for fraud. She later replaced that lawyer with her current attorney Oscar R. Alvarez. Turner also said Uresti went to the FBI to report the wrongdoing, although defense attorneys didnt present any documentation at the trial proving Uresti spoke with the FBI.

Those are not the steps of a guilty co-conspirator, Turner said.

Turner said the U.S. justice system is not based on putting people in jail because of carelessness, foolishness or negligence. It takes intentional misconduct. It takes knowledge of a crime.

FourWinds, which bought and sold sand used in fracking for oil production, started in May 2014  a month before oil prices peaked  and was out of business by August 2015.

Co-defendant Cain is charged with nine felonies, including seven counts of money laundering.

FourWinds retained Cain as a consultant to find financing for the company on the recommendations of Uresti and LaHood. Cain and LaHood were business partners in Trinity Global Funding & Consulting before LaHood became DA, Cain testified.

Prosecutors allege Cain knew about the fraud at FourWinds a month after joining the company in September 2014 but continued to receive a consulting fee of $15,000 every two weeks up until he left in May 2015. Cain argued he was entitled to the money because he earned it.

Charles Chad Muller, Cains lead lawyer, told jurors during closing arguments that Cain tried to help rescue the company, assisted some investors in recovering their money and cooperated with investigators.

None of this has anything to do with having a criminal state of mind, Muller said. He was trying to do the right thing. Consistently.

Cain, who took the stand in his own defense, said it wasnt until early 2016  several months after he parted ways with FourWinds  that he learned the full scope of how officials there mishandled investor money.

Four FourWinds officials already have pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme, including Bates. He took responsibility for misusing investors money to support his lavish lifestyle and pay his bills.

Bates pleaded guilty to eight felony charges last month rather than stand trial. Prior to his guilty plea, Bates expressed concerns to the court that he would be blamed by Cain and Uresti for investors being defrauded.

Neither prosecutors nor defense lawyers called Bates to testify during the trial.
San Antonios nonprofit Southwest Research Institute in 2017 posted its lowest revenue since 2010 and its second consecutive revenue drop as political uncertainty shook its bottom line.

The annual report shows 2017 revenue falling to $528.7 million, a 5.6 percent drop compared to $559.8 million in 2016.

Thats lower than the $547.9 million of revenue the nonprofit research and development institute brought in for its 2010 fiscal year. The institutes fiscal year starts on Sept. 30 of the prior year.

At its annual report meeting, the institute, which was founded in 1947, showed off presentations related to its work on space exploration, battery testing and drug-delivery devices, among other projects.

Chief Financial Officer Beth Ann Rafferty said Monday that government funding has been in flux.

That being our largest client, what I think has been the most predominant thing has been some delays in some program funding, Rafferty said. You dont really make that up over time if youre not able to deploy those folks when you anticipate deploying them.

The institute relies heavily on revenue from government projects, which totaled $312 million in 2017, or 59 percent of the institutes overall 2017 revenue. Commercial revenues for 2017 were $215.8 million. Contract underruns added another $843,000 to its revenue.

In remarks in the institutes 2017 annual report, President and CEO Adam L. Hamilton cited uncertainty caused by the fluctuating political environment to what he called a financially challenging fiscal year for research and development.

The institutes employee count also fell in 2017 to 2,574, nearly 100 fewer than the 2,665 the institute listed in its 2016 annual report, which Rafferty attributed to attrition through retirements or turnover.

We dont want to hire up without having the revenue, too. Its always balancing the staff count with what the revenue demands are, she said.

The falling revenue is the latest for the institute, which in 2016 faced a 5.5 percent drop in revenues compared to 2015.
On Monday afternoon, tape covered a bullet hole in a window at the Texas Roadhouse restaurant on the Northwest Side, a remnant of an attack in which a party of five were targeted by a gunman, who fled into the night.

Initially, San Antonio police reported that four people had been shot outside the restaurant at about 8:30 p.m. Sunday in the 2800 block of Cinema Ridge. Hours later, on Monday, officials discovered one victim left the scene for treatment at a local hospital.

Texas Roadhouse spokesman Travis Doster said an employee was at his post just a few feet away from where the victims were shot.

He was the first to hear the gunshots and sort of leapt into action, Doster said. He alerted everyone that shots were fired and another employee called police.

A 5-year-old boy was among the victims, which included two men and two women between 22 and 50 years old. The family was sitting on a bench in front of the restaurant as they waited to be seated, according to police.

The gunman, whose face was covered up, approached from the parking lot and fired a handgun at them multiple times before fleeing, police said. He had yet to be identified Monday evening.

We do not believe that this shooting was random, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said Sunday. Theres details Im not gonna give out because its part of the investigation. But, we do not believe its random.

Four of the wounded patrons were taken to University Hospital for treatment.

Doster said 225 customers were dining at the restaurant, which had recently updated its security camera system, when the shots were fired.

Restaurant employees  about 70 were on the job that night  worked to get everyone safely evacuated from the restaurant.

These were very heroic efforts on their part, Doster said.

On Monday, the restaurant, which is normally open from 3-10 p.m. during weekdays, was closed. Signs posted on the front of the building read that they will resume normal business hours Tuesday.

Doster said that counselors had been brought in for the employees Monday to help them cope with the shooting.

Its very important they speak with a professional, Doster said. We talk a lot about being family in Texas Roadhouse, and when something happens thats what families do. They rally around each other.

While the restaurants management said they couldnt speak much about the incident because it is under investigation, some said they were trying to move past what occurred.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call 210-207-7273.
AUSTIN  Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Beto ORourke announced he has raised $2.2 million from mostly small donors since the start of the new year.

ORourke, a member of the U.S. House from El Paso hoping to defeat U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in November, has now raised more than $8 million for his campaign since March 2017  the most any Democrat in Texas has raised in a U.S. Senate race in 16 years.

In 2012, Democrat Paul Sadler raised just $683,000 for the entire campaign against Cruz in his first campaign for the Senate. And in 2014, Democrat David Alameel raised less than $50,000 in his failed campaign against U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.

This is how we are winning this race, getting our Democracy back and doing something really important for Texas and critical for our country, ORourke said in a statement to the media Friday.

ORourke is also doing it without the help of political action committees. As part of his campaign, ORourke has pledged not to take any money from special interest PACs.

ORourkes surprising fundraising surge has brought notice from political experts such as Cook Political Report in Washington, D.C. They previously had listed Cruz as being in a solidly safe Republican seat. But ORourkes aggressive campaigning and fundraising pushed them to move the race into a more competitive category, although still favoring Cruz.

Cruz still has a sizable financial advantage over ORourke. Entering 2018, Cruz had more than $2 million more in his principal campaign account. Cruz had $6.4 million in the bank versus ORourke starting 2018 with $4.6 million.

But Cruz also had another $700,000 in a political action committee he runs and there is another $1.7 million in a super PAC created by allies of Cruz late last year called Texans Are. There is $1 million in Texans Are that comes from one Dallas family. Lee Roy and Tandy Mitchell sent $500,000 each to that committee on Dec. 28. Lee Roy Mitchell is founder of Cinemark Theatres.

Candidates for the U.S. Senate must file new campaign disclosure reporters with the Federal Election Commission outlining how much money they raised in the first 45 days of 2018. Those reports are not publicly available yet, but ORourke released some of his numbers to the media early. Cruz had not publicly released his campaign fundraising totals for the first 45 days for 2018 as of Friday.
Bexar County Commissioner Kevin Wolff believes that a meeting he had last month in Washington with federal transportation officials could lead to construction of lanes for driverless automated vehicles on the Austin-San Antonio section of Interstate 35.

This is the first proposal of its kind in the nation that Im aware of, Wolff said. And when the feds heard about it, they told me, This is just the kind of proposal we want to fund.

If it happens, itll take a while. The 95-mile stretch of eight-lane highway  perennially named one of the nations most congested traffic corridors  is already scheduled for an $8 billion expansion to add four managed lanes around 2025, according to the regional Alamo Metropolitan Planning Organization, or MPO, which Wolff chairs.

Wolff wants to make two of those four lanes designed for driverless vehicles  one in each direction from the Williamson County line in far north Austin almost to downtown San Antonio.

He hopes his proposal can tap into an estimated $200 billion in President Donald Trumps infrastructure funding initiative, already under fire by critics who say the president will pay for it by crippling other existing federal programs and steer its benefits to Republican-dominated states.

Department of Transportation officials told me they have targeted about $20 billion of that total for innovative transportation ideas, Wolff said. And when they heard I wanted driverless lanes on I-35, they acted like this is common sense. They were receptive.

Few doubt that the basic technology could be ready by 2025, though plenty of skeptics, including insurance companies, say it hasnt yet proved that it can cope with the unpredictability of human drivers. Autonomous cars, they say, have a hard time figuring out how much rule-breaking is expected at, for example, a four-way stop or a left turn against traffic as the light is turning red.

Wolff was not surprised that federal officials were publicly noncommittal about the idea when reached last week.

A DOT spokesperson noted that the infrastructure proposal has yet to go to Congress and would only confirm that Wolff spoke with a government affairs officer, Chris Mitton, on Jan. 31 about transformative projects that might be suitable for future federal funding.

An added incentive, Wolff said, is that the normal 80-20 federal funding formula for highway projects, in which the state pays 80 percent and Washington pays 20 percent, would be reversed for projects that the DOT deems innovative.

Logic tells me the technology will be there when we get around to building this, said Wolff, who fought a years-long losing battle to bring a commuter rail system to the I-35 corridor.

The Lone Star Rail project would have cost up to $3 billion but depended on the willingness  which was never forthcoming  of Union Pacific Railroad to lease its existing tracks. The driverless lanes would cost slightly more than the $4 billion estimated for two of the four managed lanes already planned, which includes acquiring new rights of way or elevating the new lanes where the interstate cant be made any wider.

Will Conley, a former Hays County commissioner and chairman of the Capital Area MPO in Austin, said he thought Wolffs proposal was promising and planned to push it and other ideas when he has his own talks with federal transportation officials. The notion of driverless freeways might not be that hard a sell, he said.

Central Texas is a diverse place, said Conley, who, like Wolff, is a Republican. In my political experience, I dont get 100 percent consensus on anything, but if this is presented the right way, an overwhelming number of my constituents would welcome an innovative approach to safety and traffic congestion.

I would love for Interstate 35 to have this national reputation as a corridor of innovation, he added. And wouldnt it be nice if the symbol of all that was an automated major highway?

Texas has built some of the nations most successful managed-lane highways  from tollways to high occupancy Vehicle lanes  and preparing I-35 for automated vehicles makes perfect sense, said Christopher Poe, assistant director for connected and automated transportation strategy at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute.

It would fit in nicely, Poe said, in a research region anchored by Texas A&M, San Antonios Southwest Research Institute and the University of Texas at Austin, where Google has been testing its Waymo automated vehicle on city streets for about two years.

Though the day when cars zip past New Braunfels and San Marcos while guided by invisible drivers might be a decade or more away, the infrastructure is not dramatically more expensive than conventional concrete highways, Poe said.

Whats more uncertain, he said, is how motorists would get from their homes to the driverless lanes and whether large numbers of people would be able to afford to buy automated vehicles, or if they would be cheap enough for short-term rentals. It might take something like Park and Ride facilities or a new niche for ride-hailing services.

Oh, the devil is always in the details, said Chandra Bhat, professor of civil architectural and environmental engineering at UT-Austin and a researcher of human behavior in transportation. There are about 250 million vehicles in the country today, and it might take 30 years before a substantial number of them are driverless.

But 30 years ago, did anyone think we would ever ban smoking in public buildings and restaurants? In a democracy, it is hard to say, Thou shall not drive your manual vehicle. Bhat said. There are so many things to work out about sharing, the pride of ownership and even how drivers would adjust from an automated section of highway back to a conventional one.

Besides the question of how to make it available to anyone but the affluent, the unknowns include cybersecurity for the cars themselves, insurance and the accommodation of physically challenged drivers.

We must figure all of this out, Bhat said. But Mr. Wolffs proposal is a good start. And we must start somewhere.
A chorus of oohs and aahs rose from children at the Texas Wildlife Expo as they made a beeline to the Butterfly Encounter exhibit.

Volunteers Allyson Bautista, 15, and Sierra Reynolds, 15, from Jourdanton High School, handed out feeding sticks with sponges soaked in not green, not blue, but red Gatorade.

Wearing a brightly colored poncho with an animal print, 11-year-old Christian Altamirano fit right in at the nature exhibit at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo.

He balanced a feeding stick between two fingers as he hovered above flower pots filled with 35 types of flowers. He held the stick near a yellow Lantana plant and red Candy Tuft petals and lured his first butterfly of the day. As classmates from Paschall Elementary School filed into the gray, mesh-screened enclosure, he studied the winged insect, one of 300 Monarchs and Painted Ladies that fluttered through the exhibit.

Michelle Aguilar said her son, also known as, Caelan, has autism and is well versed on dinosaurs, animals and creatures of the sea.

Ive been wanting to see a butterfly, he said above the chatter in the enclosure. They start out as larva and they come out of an egg. And that larva is a caterpillar.

This is the first appearance at the rodeo for the Lurie family-owned, interactive exhibit from Spring Hill, Florida, where guests are learning about the butterfly life cycle and even how to fix a broken wing.

The exhibit, located at the Animals & Agriculture area, is one of several kid-friendly attractions that include Swifty Swine Pig Races, Great American Pony Rides and the Texas Zoo educational demonstration. The butterfly exhibit is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. with demonstrations at 2:30, 4:40 and 7 p.m. through Saturday. The times will change to 11 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

Manager Jeannie Sciacovelli estimated that the exhibit would draw 1,000 visitors during the week and more than 3,000 during the weekend.

She said visitors of all ages are thrilled not only at being surrounded by butterflies inside the enclosure, but also learning details about the winged insect. Sciacovelli turned over a Monarch butterfly and pointed to two black dots at the bottom of the inside wings that designated it as a male.

She said most visitors are surprised to learn a butterflys broken wing can be fixed using crazy glue, a toothpick and a dusting of baby powder. It also takes a piece of a deceased Monarchs wing, matched to the broken part thats cut away. The process involves immobilizing the insect with the round part of a coat hanger, turning it upside and applying a thin amount of super glue with a toothpick, then powder to prevent unwanted sticking.

It basically saves their life, Sciacovelli said. But we cannot fix broken legs. With their legs thats how they smell and feel, it gives them their sense of flying. With a broken leg, within a few hours theyre gone.

Allyson and Sierra, members of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, guided the visitors through the exhibit, showing them how to handle the butterflies and asking them respectfully to follow the rules. The high school sophomores said theyd go back and tell their peers to be more careful when handling butterflies.

Its overwhelming and new, Allyson said. We understand them a little bit more.

Seven-year-old A.C. gave the exhibit a thumbs up to her teacher. A classmate jumped and yelled, Theres one on your back! to a startled youngster.

Across the space, a Painted Lady and Monarch landed on Christians feeder.

Oohh,Mom, look! he said, as the pair teetered on opposite ends of the stick, like children playing on a see-saw.

Nearby, a Monarch flew past the mother and son and landed at their feet.

She bent and scooped it into the palm of her hand.

I have to save the butterfly, she said.

Within seconds, it was aloft, lost in the swarm flitting across the veiled exhibit.
Bexar County voters will begin to decide contested primaries up and down the ballot Tuesday, when 11 straight days of early voting begin ahead of the March 6 election.

Registered voters in the county can cast ballots at 38 locations, including the Bexar County Elections Department at 1103 S. Frio St.

The Democratic and Republican ballots contain congressional, state and county races, many of which are contested.

From Tuesday to Friday, the polls will open at 8 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. On Saturday, they will open at the same time but close at 8 p.m.

On Sunday, polls will be open from noon to 6 p.m. From Feb. 26 to March 2, the last day to vote early, polls will open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

On the Democratic ballot, Bexar County voters will decide two contested House primaries: the District 21 seat, being vacated by retiring Rep. Lamar Smith, a Republican, and the District 23 seat, held by Republican Rep. Will Hurd.

In the governors race, nine Democrats are running to challenge incumbent Greg Abbott.

More Information Early voting locations Bexar County Elections Department, 1103 S. Frio St. Bexar County Justice Center, 300 Dolorosa Brook Hollow Library, 530 Heimer Road Castle Hills City Hall, 209 Lemonwood Drive Claude Black Center, 2805 E. Commerce St. Cody Library, 11441 Vance Jackson Road Converse City Hall, 405 S. Seguin Road Copernicus Community Center, 5003 Lord Road Elmendorf Administration Building, 8304 FM 327 Encino Branch Library, 2515 E. Evans Road Fair Oaks Ranch City Hall, 7286 Dietz Elkhorn Road Great Northwest Library, 9050 Wellwood St. Henry A. Guerra Jr. Library, 7978 W. Military Drive John Igo Library, 13330 Kyle Seale Parkway Johnston Library, 6307 Sun Valley Drive Julia Yates Semmes Library, 15060 Judson Road Kirby City Hall, 112 Bauman St. Las Palmas Library, 515 Castroville Road Leon Valley Conference Center, 6427 Evers Road Lions Field, 2809 Broadway Maury Maverick Jr. Library, 8700 Mystic Park McCreless Library, 1023 Ada St. Memorial Library, 3222 Culebra Road Mission Del Lago Pool and Community Center, 2301 Del Lago Parkway Mission Library, 3134 Roosevelt Ave. Northside Activity Center, 7001 Culebra Road Northwest Vista College (Boardwalk portables), 3535 N. Ellison Drive Olmos Park City Hall, 120 El Prado West Parman Library at Stone Oak, 20735 Wildnerness Oak Precinct 1 Satellite Office, 3505 S. Pleasanton Road Schaefer Library, 6322 U.S. 87 East Shavano Park City Hall, 900 Saddletree Court Somerset ISD Junior High, 4730 W. Loop 1604, Von Ormy South Park Mall, 2310 S.W. Military Drive Tobin Library at Oakwell, 4134 Harry Wurzbach Road Universal City Library, 100 Northview Drive UTSA (Bexar Room), 1 UTSA Circle Wonderland Mall of the Americas, 4522 Fredericksburg Road See More Collapse

Eighteen Republicans are running for Smiths seat in the most crowded race on a ballot that includes a contentious race for Texas land commissioner, in which George P. Bush is fending off three primary challengers, including his predecessor, Jerry Patterson.

Voters also will decide the nominees for a slew of county positions, including the Precinct 2 seat on the Commissioners Court. Mario Bravo and Queta Rodriguez are challenging longtime Democratic incumbent Paul Elizondo, while Republicans Theresa Connolly and Ismael Garcia are battling it out on the GOP side.

District Attorney Nico LaHood, a Democrat, is also facing a tough primary challenge from Joe Gonzales, a defense attorney and former prosecutor. The Democratic races for county and district clerk are also contested, while the Republican incumbents are running unopposed.

On March 6, polls will open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Applications for ballot by mail must be received by the Bexar County Elections Department no later than 5 p.m. Friday.

About 12 percent of the 916,000 registered voters turned out for the 2014 primaries.
AUSTIN - Gov. Greg Abbott, who cast an early ballot Tuesday, wouldnt say whether he voted for fellow Republican incumbents Attorney General Ken Paxton, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller or Land Commissioner George P. Bush.

Well, as you know, the ballot is secret, Abbott said in response to a reporters question about whether he voted for the three. It will remain secret. I will reveal one thing for you: I voted for myself.

Paxton, who is under indictment, has no opponent in the GOP primary. Miller faces two challengers, including former lobbyist Trey Blocker. Bush is in a three-person primary race that includes Jerry Patterson, a former land commissioner and former senator.

While he declined to say how he voted in the statewide races, Abbott is campaigning against three incumbent Republican lawmakers: Reps. Lyle Larson of San Antonio, Sarah Davis of West University Place and Wayne Faircloth of Galveston.

Now Playing: Gov. Greg Abbott won't say if he voted for AG Paxton, Ag Commissioner Miller or Land Commissioner Bush Video: San Antonio Express-News

Its important as I go about the campaign process in some of these hotly contested races that I  work with people in those districts to let em know exactly the challenges that Im facing in dealing with some of these representatives, and hence the need for some changes in the Capitol, Abbott said.

Abbott released a campaign ad Tuesday supporting Hollywood Park Mayor Chris Fails in his challenge to Larson, whom the governor dubbed Liberal Lyle. Larson has pointed to his conservative votes, including his support of Abbott agenda items.

Larson, like the other two lawmakers opposed by Abbott, favored ethics legislation to limit the governors appointment of big donors to state boards and commissions. Larson was the author of the legislation, which he said wasnt directed at Abbott but meant to curb a longstanding practice by governors.

But after Abbott vetoed unrelated legislation by Larson, the lawmaker blamed it on the governors pique over the ethics legislation and he became increasingly critical of the governor. The ethics legislation passed the House but died in the Senate.

Abbott also is campaigning for several fellow Republicans, including Rep. Paul Workman of Austin, who appeared with him at his early-voting stop at a Randalls grocery store.
Nearly two years after the San Antonio Police Department began outfitting its officers with body-worn cameras, use-of-force incidents and formal misconduct complaints have decreased significantly, according to records obtained by the San Antonio Express-News.

Since February 2016, when 55 officers with the downtown bike patrol unit received the first cameras, the number of times officers themselves reported using force has dropped 42 percent. The incidents, which are submitted in writing every time an officer uses force, can range in severity from small physical acts to deadly force.

The number of formal complaints, meanwhile, decreased 21 percent between 2015 and 2016, after roughly half the department had been outfitted with cameras. Formal complaints can be filed by fellow officers or civilians when an officer exhibits significant variance from behavioral expectations, such as excessive use of force, engaging in criminal conduct or failure to perform police responsibilities.

Michael Smith, chair of the criminal justice department at the University of Texas at San Antonio, said a number of factors could contribute to the decrease in use-of-force incidents. But other cities that have introduced body-worn cameras have seen similar results, he said.

Its fair to say that theres been a noticeable decline in use-of-force complaints at a number of agencies throughout the country for a couple years now, said Smith, who studies the topic. I dont want to paint too broad a picture, but its not inconsistent with what were seeing nationwide.

SAPD began rolling out body-worn cameras well before many major cities. A select group of officers was the first to receive body-worn cameras in the department Feb. 21, 2016, two years ago Wednesday.

In the two years prior, there were, respectively, 1,195 and 1,156 use-of-force incidents self-reported by officers, according to the data.

By the end of 2016, after half the department had been issued cameras, there were 964 use-of-force reports filed by officers, a 19 percent decrease from the year prior.

The Express-News obtained the data through an open records request filed in October. For that reason, the data includes only nine months of use-of-force incidents and formal complaints for 2017.

That being said, the department was on track to see a significant continued decrease in use-of-force incidents and formal complaints.

The department finished rolling out body-worn cameras to all officers in January 2017. After nine months, there were 474 use-of-force incidents filed, compared with 742 for the same time period in 2016. Thats a 36 percent decrease.

Formal complaints for that same period decreased from 192 to 147, a 23 percent decrease, according to the data.

Line complaints  a third type of grievance tracked by the department for minor variances from rules, such as rudeness  decreased 4 percent during the period. Those complaints are reviewed by a supervisor, rather than the Internal Affairs department.

More Information How the Internal Affairs process works Civilians can make a formal complaint by contacting police at 210-227-7201 or 210-207-7273 and asking to speak to a supervisor. Once the investigation is completed, the case is forwarded to the chief's Advisory Action Board, which includes seven civilians and seven officers. They review the case and presents their findings to the police chief. The chief decides if discipline will be administered. An officer can appeal the decision through the Civil Service Commission and eventually an arbitrator. The arbitrator may alter or confirm the chief's decision, at which point the officer has a right of appeal to a state District Court. Source: SAPD See More Collapse

Several departments nationwide have seen similar results after implementing body-worn cameras.

In Mesa, Arizona, use-of-force complaints decreased 75 percent and total complaints decreased 40 percent after the cameras were deployed, according to a randomized study conducted with assistance from the Institute of Criminology at the University of Cambridge.

A similar study using a control group in Rialto, California, found that use-of-force incidents decreased 60 percent and citizen complaints decreased 88 percent after officers were given the cameras.

While most studies conducted nationwide have cited a decrease in use of force, a major study in Washington, D.C., found that its body-worn camera program had no detectable effect on police behavior.

We dont have tons and tons of data points because these devices are new, Smith said of the D.C study. Its hard to say that its going to work everywhere.

One of the first

San Antonio first considered the cameras in January 2014, well before many other major departments. By March, the department launched a 12-month pilot program to test six different camera models.

On Aug. 9 that year, Michael Brown was shot and killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, prompting nationwide protests. Several departments, including those in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and New York, began testing body-worn cameras.

Former President Barack Obama was a major advocate for the technology, proposing a plan that would reimburse communities for half the costs of the cameras. The Justice Department gave San Antonio, along with departments in Chicago, Detroit, Miami and Washington, D.C., a $1 million grant to help equip officers with cameras.

In San Antonio, the pilot program was successful, and in October 2015, the City Council approved a contract with TASER International for 2,200 cameras and to pay for ongoing maintenance and storage.

The five-year contract will expire in 2020, with the possibility of three one-year extensions. If the contract continues for eight years, it could cost up to $16.6 million, according to city records.

While there is no randomized study at the department to measure the effectiveness of the camera, Smith said its still noteworthy that there was an overall decrease.

Thats not unimportant information to have, he said.

Jennifer Doleac, director of the Justice Tech Lab, a criminal justice research organization, and an assistant professor of public policy and economics at the University of Virginia, said there are various reasons the numbers have decreased locally and nationally.

Some civilians, she said, may not be filing frivolous complaints when the video evidence is not on their side. And in many major cities, police officers already act like theyre on camera because there is an increased scrutiny of police officers as civilians more often record police interactions with their cellphones.

Doleac said several departments implemented body-worn cameras in an effort to increase community trust. Supervisors might be trying to improve community trusts in other ways that, independent of the body-worn camera program, could lead to changed police behavior.

Because the city was motivated to improve community trust, complaints would have gone down regardless, Doleac said.

Smith echoed that sentiment. Better training and increased supervision of police behavior might also lead to a decrease, he said.

The attention to use of force and deadly use of force since Ferguson has certainly increased to a degree that we havent seen since Rodney King in the early 1990s, Smith said, referring to the man whose beating by police in Los Angeles was captured on a bystanders video. It led to public protests and riots.

Smith said departments nationwide need to continue analyzing use-of-force complaints and other grievances to determine whether body-worn cameras are effective.

Though the equipment, maintenance and storage are expensive, its hard to argue its not worth it, Smith said. I dont have a definitive answer for you, but my sense is yes, its worth it.

The price of the technology will come down, he added. The prices of the storage will come down over time. I suspect that over time they will become the norm. They will be as common as officers carrying radios or Tasers.
The man who was in a shootout with a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper Sunday on the Northeast Side has died, according to law enforcement officials.

Ernest Manuel Montelongo of San Antonio opened fire on the trooper around 3:20 p.m. near Graytown Road and Interstate 10 after leading him on a pursuit out of Guadalupe County, officials said. The trooper returned fire, striking Montelongo at least once.

Paramedics took Montelongo, 33, to Brooke Army Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead Monday morning, authorities said.

The trooper, who has yet to be identified, was also struck by a bullet in the exchange. He is recovering and doing well, according to Deon Cockrell, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The trooper had pulled Montelongo over on FM 78 in Guadalupe County for an unspecified traffic violation about 20 minutes before the shooting. Montelongo gave the trooper a false name; and once the trooper realized as much, he tried to arrest Montelongo, Cockrell said.

A scuffle ensued and Montelongo was able to flee in his black Chrysler 300, leaving the trooper behind, officials said. A Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter tracked the car heading westbound on Interstate 10 into Bexar County.

At that point, the trooper caught up with Montelongo and chased him off the highway, according to Cockrell.

Montelongo then used the Graytown Road bridge to cross I-10 and took an exit to re-enter I-10, traveling the wrong direction in the eastbound lanes, officials said.

The trooper used his patrol car as a barrier, stopping Montelongo. At that point, the two fired at each other, Cockrell said. A helicopter flew the trooper to University Hospital and Montelongo to BAMC.
AUSTIN  The White House signaled Monday that President Donald Trump is receptive to U.S. Sen. John Cornyns plan to improve federal compliance with criminal background checks, giving new hope to a bipartisan gun bill born from the massacre in Sutherland Springs.

The conversation between the president and the No. 2 Senate Republican came Friday, two days after 17 people were killed in a shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida, again revving up the national debate over gun restrictions.

While discussions are ongoing and revisions are being considered, the president is supportive of efforts to improve the federal background check system, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement Monday.

The legislation by Cornyn has 35 co-sponsors in the Senate. The plan would not expand background checks but tighten reporting requirements for military and federal agencies.

Seventeen of the bills co-sponsors are Republican, and 17 are Democrat. The other co-sponsor is an independent.

The statement from the White House signals a willingness to consider a limited gun regulation measure after several recent massacres have come and gone without congressional action.

Cornyns narrow legislation focuses on giving incentives to states and federal agencies to upload all information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. The goal is to ensure that people who are prohibited from possessing a gun are stopped from buying one.

The legislation, called the Fix NICS Act, would also help state governments share relevant criminal records with the background check system.

The Texas Republican filed the legislation after the Nov. 5 church shooting in Sutherland Springs, which left 26 congregants dead, including nine children.

Devin Patrick Kelley, 26, opened fire on First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs during a Sunday morning service. Kelley, who was court-martialed and thrown out of the Air Force after assaulting his wife and stepson, severely fracturing the boys skull, should have been barred from buying the military-style rifle that he used in the attack from a federally licensed dealer. The military failed to report his conviction to the background check database.

Such weapons can also be sold at gun shows by unlicensed sellers, who are not required by law in most states, including Texas, to conduct background checks. A bill to close the gun show loophole was introduced in the Legislature last year but never received a hearing.

After Sutherland Springs, Cornyn introduced his legislation to tighten reportedly loose and confusing reporting requirements for federal agencies, such as the military, but the bill had yet to gain traction.

Since then, federal officials have uploaded thousands of records into the background check system, according to CNN, apparently working through a backlog of documentation that can be used to deny gun sales to dishonorably discharged military personnel.

The failure to upload this essential, and required, information in the background check system is simply unacceptable. This only reinforces the need to fix whats become a nationwide, systemic problem so we can better prevent violent criminals and domestic abusers from obtaining firearms, Cornyn said in a statement about the influx of records.

Talk about gun restrictions has increased since the Valentines Day school shooting at Douglas High School. Nikolas Cruz, the shooting suspect, is accused of using an AR-15 rifle that was purchased legally, according to authorities.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, passing through San Antonio on Monday as part of a national fundraising and speaking tour, slammed the GOP tax bill as theft and stealing from young peoples future, while doubling down on her description of one-time bonuses resulting from the bill as crumbs.

Pelosi, speaking with U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro during a one-hour panel discussion at Central Library, spent the better part of her time on the mic criticizing the bill, repeating her charge that the law is a dark cloud that hangs over the Capitol.

She and Castro, who would later join his family for a panel in Austin, linked the bill to President Donald Trumps recent budget proposal, condemning the cuts for their projected increases to the national deficit and for setting the stage for cuts to social programs like Medicare.

This tax bill is bad not only in itself, but for what it does to the budget, Pelosi said. Our national budget should be a statement of our national values.  But this bill, the budget the president just presented, it is not values-based, nor does it have that spark of conscience.

Castro, a Democrat from Texas 20th District, conceded that the bonuses handed out by certain companies are beneficial, but pointed to the layoffs some of those same companies announced in the following weeks.

Speaking to reporters after the panel, Pelosi said she stood by her likening of the bonuses to crumbs, which has turned into a rallying cry of sorts for Republicans. During the panel, she said while the bonuses are nice, they are not a worthy substitute for wage increases  which she called the most vital thing that we can do to grow our economy.

Pelosi later pointed to a deleted tweet by House Speaker Paul Ryan touting a constituents $1.50-a-week pay bump, which substantiated the crumbs comment, she said.

He was making my point, although he was bragging about a $60 benefit to his constituent, Pelosi said. I think thats an excuse for them to say see, you got something, while they distract them from the fact that they were giving tax cuts to the high end.

The stop here was the sixth leg of an extended tour that has brought Pelosi to Houston, Austin and San Antonio. Shes already spent time in Florida, Massachusetts and Illinois, with plans to stop in Phoenix before finishing with a trip to her district in San Francisco.

During the trip, Pelosi has focused on explaining her opposition to the Republican tax bill, and on fundraising for House Democrats, who are targeting six Texas Republican congressional seats, Pelosis senior political adviser Jorge Aguilar said. Among those are two San Antonio area seats, the 21st District being vacated by Rep. Lamar Smith, and Rep. Will Hurds 23rd District.

Joining Pelosi and Castro at the panel Monday was Ann Beeson, executive director of the Center for Public Policy Priorities, a left-leaning Austin think tank. Like her panel mates, Beeson heavily opposed the bill, drawing on Texas as a paragon of the bills potential effect.

Decades of underinvestment in critical services by our state government, Beeson said, have created many of the challenges Texas currently faces.

Yes, we have a booming economy here in the state, but that is mainly benefiting people at the top and not people at the bottom, she said.

Several hours later in Austin, Castro was joined by brother and former former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro and their mother, Rosie Castro, for a panel entitled Making the Grade: A Conversation with Julian, Joaquin, and Rosie Castro at the University of Texas.

The brothers predicted Democrats will take control of the House of Representatives in the 2018 elections. And Julian Castro believes a tone-deafness in Washington will help turn over the Texas U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican Ted Cruz.

Fresh off a weekend visit to New Hampshire, Julian Castro said he will make a decision by the end of the year about running for president in 2020.

For now, he will focus on the political action committee he formed called Opportunity First, which is aimed at electing young progressive candidates in the 2018 election cycle.

There is an appetite for a lot of change, he said. You are going to see that in 2018 and you are going to see it in 2020, too.

Joaquin Castro decried a lack of congressional action on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals that shields young immigrants from deportation. Amid an ongoing immigration debate, Castro said he still believes theres a deal to be had, but Congress is running up against a deadline.

You have got 83 to 86 percent of Americans that support allowing Dreamers to stay in this country, so how many Americans does it take to convince Congress to do the right thing? Castro asked.
The San Antonio Housing Authority is seeking public feedback on its plans to build mixed-income apartments on vacant land across from the Tower of the Americas and the Institute of Texan Cultures.

This will be the third mixed-income apartment development that SAHA has built, along with some townhouses, in the Victoria Commons area southeast of downtown. The housing authority has been trying to redevelop that area since tearing down the old Victoria Courts public housing project there in 1999 and 2000.

SAHA, Alamo Architects and Franklin Development officials met with neighborhood residents Thursday to discuss their ideas for the proposed apartments, which would stand on more than 3 acres of SAHA-owned property straddling both sides of Labor Street and facing East Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard.

Were at the very beginning, as you can see, Alamo Architects associate principal Jim Bailey told an audience of around 30 people. Its the best time for the public to get engaged in the process and have their comments mean something.

Current plans, which could be revised, call for the development to contain 215 apartment units in buildings standing four to five stories tall. It would also include one multilevel parking garage for tenants.

The current proposal calls for 80 percent of those apartments  172 units  to be rented at market rates or regular prices, while the remaining units would be considered affordable housing reserved for tenants earning specific income levels.

Of the 43 affordable apartments, 15 would be rented to people earning 50 percent of the area median income, while 28 would be rented to tenants earning 30 percent of the area median income.

There is still a need for quality affordable housing downtown, said Tim Alcott, SAHAs real estate and legal services officer.

Architects working on the proposed apartments also are interested in developing an active streetscape primarily along Labor Street, which could include retail businesses, potentially some shared office space and possibly some kind of community space.

If the proposed development moves forward at the fastest possible speed, it will be three years before it is ready to open, said Ryan Wilson, Franklin Companies executive vice president of development. Thats because the endeavor requires another five to six months of planning, while construction is expected to last between 18 and 20 months, he said.

The architects and developers intend to come back to neighborhood residents with regular updates as the plans progress, Bailey said.

Since the Victoria Courts public housing complex was torn down, SAHA has developed and built two other apartment properties in the same neighborhood  HemisView Village, which opened in 2010, and Refugio Place, which opened in 2004. Both of those properties rent apartments to tenants of various income levels. SAHA also built some townhouses in the same general area where Victoria Courts used to stand.
Texas DOT

An hours-long standoff that shut down a portion of Interstate 35 just north of San Antonio ended with a suspect surrendering to police Monday evening.

The northbound lanes of I-35 near Schwab Road reopened shortly after the unidentified person surrendered about 10:15 p.m. The southbound lanes opened about 11:30 p.m. as the New Braunfels Police Department finished investigating the scene, according to the Schertz Police Department.
Running for district attorney in Kendall County, Nick Socias boasted in a recent campaign ad that he was recruited by the Bexar County District Attorneys office.

Omitted by Socias: He was hired as an assistant district attorney here after he was fired by Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg for his role in the jailing of a homeless, mentally ill rape victim in 2015. Socias jailed the victim for nearly a month to ensure she would testify against a serial rapist, Keith Hendricks, who later received two life sentences. (Hendricks raped at least 12 women, according to Socias.)

The case grew into a national scandal, one that spurred the Legislature to pass a law  dubbed Jennys Law  requiring court-appointed attorneys to represent victims or witnesses before prosecutors can hold them in jail.

It also featured prominently in the 2016 district attorney race in Harris County; Ogg used the scandal to attack and oust former Harris County DA Devon Anderson, who defended Socias decision to jail Jenny.

In Kendall County, however, District Attorney Nicole Bishop is refusing to lean on the sensational case to defend her seat, even praising Socias for taking down a serial rapist. Bishop was appointed to her position by Gov. Greg Abbott when Kendall County broke off from the 216th Judicial District last year.

I think (the case) was used for political fodder in the election in Harris County, Bishop told me. I dont think all of the blame lies on Nicks shoulders at all. You had a serial rapist, and now hes off the streets because of what Nick did.

At the same time, Bishop said she supports Jennys Law.

I think legislation is good when theres a crack in the system where someone can fall through the cracks, she said. It just happened that (Socias) was the prosecutor who was on that case. That could have happened to any prosecutor.

Dave Parent, a defense attorney and former police officer, also is running in the March 6 Republican primary to replace Bishop. He viewed Socias decision more warily.

He was in the most difficult position anybody could ever be in, Parent said. If he didnt have Jenny as a witness and he potentially lost that case, how many other women would have been raped? We just dont know.

Youve got to look at it through a constitutional lens, he added. I think before I stuck somebody in a jail cell, I would have gone to a judge and said, Judge, would you appoint this person a lawyer?

At Hendricks trial, Jenny had stopped in the middle of her testimony and fled the courtroom, crying and babbling incoherently, eventually wandering into traffic. The 25-year-old rape victim was involuntarily committed to a psychiatric ward, then incarcerated in Harris County Jail for 27 days so the prosecution could ensure she would testify.

On Monday, Socias said jail was his only option because Jennys mother had refused to take her in, and other mental hospitals had refused to commit her.

Socias instructed jail staff to book the bipolar and schizophrenic rape victim into the mental health unit, but for unknown reasons she was placed in the general population, even mistakenly booked as the defendant in a sexual assault case.

While incarcerated, Jenny was beaten by jail guards and other inmates, including one who repeatedly slammed her head into the concrete floor, according to a complaint she later filed against Harris County and Socias. (The lawsuit is pending.)

Socias insisted the jail had screwed up by refusing to house Jenny in the mental health unit.

I have emails, he said. I have printed-out emails where I was furious with them, saying, What is the problem? She is a victim. Here are the circumstances. Can you help me out? And theyd say, She doesnt meet the criteria.

All the way up to the top, I was told, Weve done everything we could.

Socias added that he supports the legislation passed in the wake of the scandal. (Thats a break from his boss: Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood opposed Jennys Law before it was passed.)

Its not like Im anti-Jennys Law, Socias said. It addressed a lot of the issues that we had to deal with.

Three years ago, the criminal justice system simply was not equipped to handle a homeless mentally ill victim, he added.

I think appointing someone to represent a person in that situation would have been a great thing to do, he said.
Educators in my district are honest, hardworking public servants who make financial sacrifices by choosing a career in education over high-paying private sector jobs for which they easily qualify. They make the choice to become educators because they believe in giving back, they love children, and they want to help strengthen our future.

In exchange for their efforts in preparing our children, the state of Texas told its teachers they would receive a pension upon retirement that would provide quality, affordable health care coverage during the years following a lifetime of service.

RELATED: Property tax relief is directly tied to school funding

Texas has not honored that promise, and now the future for some 270,000 retired educators is in jeopardy. This past session we approved a bill providing only about 70 percent of what was needed to keep the Teacher Retirement System, or TRS, health program solvent. That pushed a shortfall projected to reach $400 million by 2021, according to the San Antonio Express-News, onto the backs of retired teachers.

These retirees are now seeing astronomical increases in premiums and out-of-pocket costs right in the middle of a dangerous flu epidemic. To place this financial burden on the retired educators who believed the promise they were given by their employer and who are now struggling financially is unconscionable. Texas has broken the trust that retired teachers had in our system, and we must do what is necessary to restore that trust.

Due to the urgency of this matter and because of the injustice to both our children and educators, I ask my colleagues to join me in asking Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special session. If we do not begin the discussion immediately and give our educators the priority that we expect them to give our children, then what kind of message are we sending them about the value we place on the education of our youth?

We are fielding calls on a daily basis from retired educators in my district who are struggling to pay for the new TRS-Care insurance. Tanya Evers, who retired in 2004 from Northside ISD, is one of those teachers who has watched this crisis unfold. While the cost of living continues to rise, retired teachers have not received an increase in pension in over 18 years, Evers said. Meanwhile, we are in a downward financial crisis because as the cost of insurance increases, our pensions are reduced by the same amount in premium costs.

EDITORIAL: Express-News Editorial Board's pick for State Board of Education seat has good relationship with South Texas districts

In other cases, retired educators tell me that they cannot go to the doctor anymore because they cannot afford their insurance deductibles if they are younger than 65. Many Medicare recipients suffer the same higher premiums and deductibles. As premiums have doubled and tripled each month into the hundreds and thousands of dollars, some retirees have had to search for jobs as substitute teachers to help make ends meet or gamble on other lower-cost insurance plans for their spouses and dependents. Many thousands of retirees had to opt out of TRS because they can no longer cover premiums, a departure that makes it more difficult for those who remain in the plan to cover costs.

One of every 20 Texans is a member of TRS living on fixed retirement benefits. For them, the doubled or tripled premiums have been devastating. Only about 5 percent of Texas education retirees are eligible to receive Social Security income, and there has been no cost-of-living increase for those who retired in 2004 or later.

The success of our children begins with teachers. These dedicated educators already get by on modest salaries. Some already dig into their own pockets to teach our kids. Those teachers and students deserve a system, from recruitment to retirement, that entices the best and brightest to enter and remain in the education profession.

Taking care of the best teachers we can find gives our kids the best shot at becoming productive citizens who can compete in a global economy. If our dream is to create a school system that leaves no child behind, that dream is headed for an early death if we leave behind thousands of our veteran teachers to struggle just to meet their basic needs.
Before the railroad first arrived on Feb. 16, 1877, San Antonio was the last major city in the United States without train service.

Its often said that freight companies  which were the long-haul truckers of their day  conspired to keep the railroads out of San Antonio, according to Hugh Hemphill, general manager of the Texas Transportation Museum and author of The Railroads of San Antonio and South Central Texas.

But thats a myth, he said. The reality is much more interesting.

After Texas declared its independence in 1836, the Gulf Coast, connected to the rest of the world by ship, boomed. Meanwhile, San Antonio, far inland and still on the edge of the wild frontier, was becoming increasingly isolated. Without any native industry, there was no obvious reason to connect it to the rail lines that were spreading, like spider webs, across the country.

To gain a lifeline to the outside world, city and county leaders in 1850 decided to invest $100,000 in a 130-mile rail line planned to connect San Antonio to the Gulf Coast cities of Indianola and Port Lavaca. It was to be called the San Antonio and Mexican Gulf Railroad.

This was how things were done in those days, Hemphill explained. To get rail services, most cities had to pay railroads to build tracks to connect them to other rail lines.

Tracks had reached only to Victoria by the time the Civil War broke out 11 years later, halting the work and bankrupting the rail company. In fact, the Confederate government later pulled up the tracks, fearing the Union Army would use them in an invasion of Texas. Badly burned, city leaders sued to get their money back. Their suit was unsuccessful and so, for the next few years, the idea of investing in a rail line was anathema to those in charge.

At least until the city of Austin, chosen as the new states capital, scored a railroad connection in 1871. Soon after, the U.S. Army, based in San Antonio since the citys earliest days, decided to decamp to Austin and its railroad connections.

Chastened, the city approached the recently bankrupted Buffalo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado Railroad and offered $500,000 to extend its tracks, which reached almost halfway from Houston to San Antonio, the rest of the way. When the first passenger train of the renamed Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railroad arrived in San Antonio in 1877, it was met by a crowd of about 8,000 people  half the citys population at the time.

In the meantime, to lure the Army back, the city offered a huge tract of land that eventually became Kelly Field, later Kelly AFB. The Army brass declined the offer, saying theyd rather have land near where the GH&SA, slowly making its way west to the city, would have its terminus. And thats why Fort Sam Houston has been an Army post since soon after the railroad arrived.

In January 1881, a second rail line, the International & Great Northern, arrived in San Antonio and, within a year, its tracks reached Laredo. At about the same time, the GH&SA line, which had been purchased by the Southern Pacific, began building tracks westward, and in 1883 connected with a line from the west.

Its difficult to overstate the effect the arrival of railroads had on the development of San Antonio.

By 1900 everything was different, Hemphill wrote in The Railroads of San Antonio and South Central Texas. The railroads had transformed Texas. Tracks radiated out from San Antonio to Houston and New Orleans, Corpus Christi, Laredo, El Paso and all the way west to Los Angeles, Kerrville, Austin, Fort Worth, Dallas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri.

San Antonio truly became the crossroads of America, he said.
SHELTON  The massive Towne Center at Shelter Ridge project planned for 121 acres off Bridgeport Avenue has hit a roadblock.

City Engineer Robert Kulacz said he found two major deficiencies involving water flow and soil erosion in the Trumbull developers application that could lead to flooding at least four nearby yards on Mill Street, should the project be approved without changes.

In a letter to John R. Cook, the citys wetlands coordinator, Kulacz recommended denial of the current application before the Inland Wetlands Commission.

The commission has scheduled a public hearing on the application for Thursday at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 54 Hill Street.

Dominick Thomas Jr., a Derby land use lawyer who represents Sirjohn Papageorge, the lead Trumbull developer, said Tuesday that he has not seen Kulaczs letter.

I am surprised how these reports go to the public and media and not the developer, Thomas said. Im sure our own engineers will address these concerns.

The project, heralded as one of the largest ever in Fairfield County, calls for building 375 upscale apartments, a retail outlet rivaling Clinton Crossing and medical and professional offices on what has been mostly farmland and forest abutting the Paugussett Trail. It requires blasting rock, clearing trees and redesigning roadways, particularly Bridgeport Avenue.

Kulaczs recommendation also comes at a time when a lawsuit against the citys Planning and Zoning Commission is pending in Hartford Superior Court. The suit, brought members of the grassroots group Save Our Shelton, accuses the commission of overstepping its bounds by approving the zone change to allow the project to go forward.

The commission approved the zone change by a 4-2 vote. That ended nearly a year of public hearings, during which the most who spoke opposed the project.

In his letter to Cook, Kulacz outlined the two deficiencies he found.

The first involved a lack of detailed information for the widening of Bridgeport Avenue adjacent to Wells Hollow Brook.

One of his concerns was the lack of erosion and sediment control measures along the brooks 2,000-foot reach.

Of significant concern is the assumption that the Connecticut Department of Transportation will permit the installation of 870 linear feet of retaining wall abutting Wells Hollow Brook to support the required widening of Bridgeport Avenue, Kulacz determined. Before the (Inland Wetlands) Commission can even consider action on this project, a concept approval for the retaining wall installation must be provided by ConnDOT, since they will be assuming the ownership and maintenance responsibility for this significant structure.

Kulacz said his biggest worry was the Stormwater Management Calculations document for the project, which he found to be inaccurate.

We determined that the downward path would take the Watershed A (which is 92 acres) runoff westerly (rather than) than southerly through the backyards of single family homes located at 77, 79, 91 and 97 Mill Street, under Mill Street to the Farmill River, he wrote. There is no physical way that this watercourse and our Mill Street culvert could convey these pre-construction runoffs without flooding and other severe impacts.

Kulacz said plans to drain runoff from 133 acres under Bridgeport Avenue through a 30-foot culvert pipe are insufficient.

We strongly believe that the existing 30-foot culvert pipe will need to be upgraded significantly and we recommend that the commission require an energy dissipation structure be installed to reduce the outlet velocity of the runoff between the culvert outfall and Wells Hollow Brook, he said.

Kulacz also said ConnDOT needs to approve the use and upgrade of their eight culverts that convey the runoff from under Bridgeport Avenue to Wells Hollow Brook.

.
FAIRFIELD  Police said a Fairfield teenager drove through several red lights on the Post Road Saturday night and kicked officers when they tried to take her into custody.

Cara Fraser, 19, of Sasapequan Road, was charged with interfering with an officer and assault on a police officer.

According to the police report, an officer was stopped at a red light on the Post Road near the Brick Walk when he heard an engine accelerating. He then saw a white SUV, coming in the opposite direction, drive through several red lights. The officer turned around and followed the driver, identified as Fraser, as she turned down Beach Road and made a quick turn into the Gaelic American Club parking lot.

The officer said there was an event going on, and people were walking out of the building as Fraser drove through. The officer used his vehicle to block Fraser from leaving. The report states Fraser refused to open the door and show officers her drivers license. Instead, she began recording the officer. Fraser said she didnt have a drivers license because officers seized it the previous week.

Other officers arrived, and Fraser allegedly began kicking officers from inside her car. She was eventually handcuffed and taken into custody, although she was kicking and banging her head on the partition.

Police allege she was uncooperative during the entire booking process and at one time tried to run out of the booking area.

Fraser was released to her parents on a promise to appear in state Superior Court in Bridgeport March 5.
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A man has died after becoming trapped in farm machinery in West Yorkshire, police have confirmed.

Emergency services were called to a farm at Back Lane, Thornton, at around 8.45pm on Sunday night (18 February), where they found a man with serious injuries.

The 60-year-old man, identified as Charlie Lovell, was found pronounced dead at the scene.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman, said: "The mans death is not believed to be suspicious and enquiries are continuing with the Health and Safety Executive."

Friends and neighbours have paid tribute to Mr Lovell. They told The Telegraph and Argus he had a "heart of gold".

Friend Maureen Moorhouse, who was one of the first people on the scene on Sunday night, told the newspaper she had known him for "years and years".

"He would do anything for anybody. He would help anybody out. He was so well liked," she said.

"He was just a really good friend to me and my partner. He used to come most days for cups of tea. He was such a genuinely, well liked, family man.

"Everybody thought the world of him."

Last month, farmers were urged to "make positive changes and be safe on the farm" as a new campaign highlights risks of everyday farm tasks which can lead to accidents.

NFU Mutual has joined forces with the Farm Safety Foundation to urge farmers to assess the risk involved in of everyday farming tasks which continue to cause high levels of injuries and deaths.

The campaign follows news that the number of fatal accidents in the agricultural industry during 2016/17 was 27, according to figures from the Health and Safety Executive.

That equates to 7.73 deaths per 100,000 workers in agriculture, compared to 1.94 in construction.
Lamb from the UK will soon be heading to Saudi Arabia in a deal which could be worth 25 million over the next five years.

Saudi Arabian authorities have this week lifted the ban on sheep meat from the UK, following a detailed process to gain access to this new and lucrative market.

Exports of lamb could begin as early as next month once export certification is finalised and released.

The agreement comes following ongoing negotiations and inspections carried out jointly by Defra, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), FSA, UKECP, DAERA and APHA.

AHDB International Market Development Director Phil Hadley said it is "great news" for the sheep industry and for lamb processors and producers in the UK who are keen to look at new, non-EU markets.

The announcement is the result of ongoing and detailed work between all parties and is a testament to the high regard and quality of UK lamb, Mr Hadley said.

The news comes hot on the heels of an agreement to progress lifting the BSE ban on UK beef exports to China, as well as exports of a broader range of dairy products, following the Prime Ministers visit to Beijing earlier this month.
The NFU President has warned that the government must adhere to three policy cornerstones for British farming once the UK leaves the EU, as "time is running out".

The outgoing President of the NFU Meurig Raymond lead the opening address at the NFU Conference, on Tuesday (20 February).

Mr Raymond told 1,500 delegates and attendees, including Defra Secretary Michael Gove, that the nation needs a "good Brexit".

The NFU President says this constitutes one which means British farming and food production builds on the 112 billion it already contributes to the economy and supporting jobs for almost 4 million people, has access to a reliable workforce to harvest produce and sees Britains self-sufficiency in food increase.

Mr Raymond also highlighted farmings story as a "responsible long-term steward" of the countryside and as a world leader in animal welfare.

Food is at the heart of the British countryside; its at the heart of the British economy. British farming produces a safe, affordable and high quality supply of food, says Mr Raymond.

British farmers want to be the first supplier of choice, servicing every price point and serving every plate, feeding Britain with food produced to a high standard, independently inspected to ensure its integrity. We have the climate and soil, we have the knowledge and desire, and we have the Red Tractor.

'Time is running out'

But Mr Raymond also issued a warning. He says that "time is running out" for the government to build a successful farming policy post-Brexit.

The NFU has outlined its vision for a successful Brexit for British food and farming, with a focus on environment, productivity and building resilience to volatility outlined as the three policy cornerstones needed for farmings future outside the EU.

He adds: Time is running out. To use a farming analogy, those three cornerstones outlined in our vision are three legs of a milking stool. Theres a lot of spilt milk if you remove one of them.

We must have frictionless trade with the EU. Everything else, including the final shape of any domestic agricultural policy, is dependent on that.

And of course, those who advocate a cheap food policy, of scouring the world for low cost food should bear in mind the price paid in traceability, in standards and in the off-shoring of environmental impact.

And to deliver farmings true potential for Britain we must have a trading environment that helps, not hinders. We must have a food supply chain which shares the risk equally  rather than piling all the risk onto the farmer.

'Extremely proud'

Mr Raymond says British farmers are "extremely proud" of the standards they adhere to  most of them linked to the Red Tractor, which ensures the "very best in traceability".

We mustnt let those standards slip and be undermined by a bad trade deal during Brexit negotiations, he adds.

A growing population has a growing appetite. Not only is it unwise to depend increasingly on whoever and wherever in the world to feed us but without thriving food businesses there simply will not be the people  farmers  to look after and nurture the countryside.

Britains farms need access to the EU market, we need access to a reliable workforce and we need measures to help our food and farming industry be more productive.

Mr Raymond stressed that the whole food supply chain is determined to make Brexit a success and will call on Mr Gove and the rest of Government to work together to form a new British food and farm policy right for the British people.
A comprehensive review of farm inspections to remove "bureaucratic burdens" placed on farmers has been announced by Defra Secretary Michael Gove today.

The review, to be led by Dame Glenys Stacey, will look at opportunities for improving regulation and enforcement pre and post EU Exit.

It will seek out ways to reduce duplication and allow farmers to concentrate on upholding environmental and animal welfare standards as they produce food.

For example, the current inspection regime can result in farmers being visited by as many as five different bodies - the Rural Payments Agency, Natural England, The Animal Plant and Health Agency, the Environment Agency or their local authority  all asking for similar information.

Mr Gove says each visit adds to the "burden" on farmers, and the "rigidity" of the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) rules require inspections of precise criteria such as field margin dimensions and the specific placement of trees in fields.

Equally, inspections over lapses such as slurry management and welfare standards are often "haphazard", Mr Gove says

The review comes as the government is preparing to publish an agriculture Command Paper that consults on future policy in this country after the UK leaves the European Union.

'Unwieldy'

Speaking at the NFU Conference today (20 February), Mr Gove said the rules associated with current subsidy payments are "unwieldy" and "counter-productive".

They require farmers to spend long days ensuring conformity with bureaucratic processes which secure scarcely any environmental benefits and which, in turn, require a vast and inflexible bureaucracy to police, Mr Gove explained.

As does the current farming inspection regime, which, despite several recent attempts at simplification, remains as unwieldy as ever. Every year, farmers are confronted by a barrage of inspections from different agencies, often duplicating costs in both time and money.

Dame Glenys Stacey will be conducting a comprehensive review of this regime, seeing how these inspections can be removed, reduced or improved to reduce the burden on farmers, while enhancing animal and plant health standards.

Mr Gove added: This review is not only long-required but also very timely as we guide our future approach and maximise the opportunities of leaving the EU. It will provide answers to some key general questions to guide our future approach, subject to the outcome of our negotiations with the EU.

Dame Glenys has over twenty years experience in driving reform within public sector organisations.

The Command Paper will provide further detail on government proposals to design agricultural support fit for the future after the UK leaves the EU.
Progress has made in the "long battle to ensure resilience" of the British sheep industry in future disease outbreak, according to the National Sheep Association.

The NSA has commended Defras decision to run a national exercise on foot-and-mouth.

The exercise will simulate a disease outbreak and assess the ability of the Government, various agencies and local authorities, and the livestock industry to react.

Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, said he hopes the UK sheep sector "never has to face" another outbreak of foot-and-mouth again.

However, he said it would be "irresponsible" to assume it will never happen and not be ready to react immediately and effectively.

As we know from bitter experience, allowing this disease any time to spread has the ability to bring the industry to its knees, Mr Stocker explained.

We need confidence that Defra, the devolved governments, and Local Authorities have the right processes in place to trace the location of animals, identify any recent moves that could spread disease, and prevent further moves until the situation is understood.

In addition we need to ensure that emergency plans are in place at a Local Authority to quickly implement any actions to avoid spread.

NSA and other industry bodies have been requesting this exercise to take place ever since new sheep movements and traceability databases were created in England and Wales.

The robustness of these systems and the ability for them to exchange data between the four UK nations is "essential", the group said.

Mr Stocker continues: We feel the contribution of NSA has been useful in forming the parameters of the planned exercise, namely in evaluating current systems for reporting/recording sheep movements, sharing information between databases, monitoring cross border moves, dealing with valuable stock and at-risk genetics in the event of a cull, and considering external factors such as public access and footpaths and the role of wildlife."
Photograph: Viktor Uveges/123RF

A post shared by LOVES a BEAUTIFUL EUROPE (@loves_united_europe) on Feb 18, 2018 at 7:11am PST

A cluster of sun-bleached islands on the southernmost edge of Europe, Malta is an eccentric blend of 9th century Arabia, 1950s Colonial Britain and Sicilian-styled cuisine. While most travellers know the little country for its summertime beaches, theres much more to discover beneath the surface  ancient temples, fascinating festas that celebrate the lives of patron saints and grand, baroque architecture. Sure, you can still choose to dance your nights away in the party towns of St Julians, Sliema and Paceville, but also choose to slow down and marvel at the ancient stone monuments that were built even before the Egyptians thought of the pyramids.Start with a visit to the fortified capital ofbuilt by the Knights of St John. Then, marvel at the stunning views from the elegant silent city citadel of. The mysterious, subterranean necropolis  Hypogeum, is also worth a good amount of your time. You cannot of course visit Malta and not stop by the megalithic temples ofand. Youll be astounded at the sheer scale of the ancient temples. After all the sightseeing, fuel yourself with some delectable seafood at, the picture-postcard fishing village. If you like art and history, stop by the dazzling maritime Museum at- the rich Roman, Maltese and British history will keep you bust for hours. Or, you could simply go ambling down the towns cinematic, dusty back alleys. Head to thein Valletta, one of Europes oldest theatres that dates back to 1731.




Ranveer Singhs latest release Padmaavat has been breaking all box-office records, not just in global markets but internationally as well. The film has now even become the second film after Baahubali 2 to cross the $ 3 million mark in Australia. With such positive response that the film has been receiving, Ranveer sure is emotional and happy at the same time. The actor is all praise for director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and his co-stars Deepika Padukone and Shahid Kapoor.On working with SLB for the third time in Padmaavat, Ranveer recently told a leading tabloid, So many people across the board- audiences, the film fraternity, critics and journalists- unanimously recognize that there is something special in the combination of Sanjay Sir and I. Its not new for Deepika to see her films notch such numbers. However, Im very happy that Sanjay Sir and I are able to notch our first 200-crore film together.Speaking of film doing good business nationwide and globally RS told, I was anticipating that the film will do big numbers, but I didnt anticipate how high those numbers would be and how quickly they would ride. But generally, I dont think much about numbers. The audiences reaction and their feedback are important to me. The reaction to the first trailer was something that I have never witnessed, certainly not for any of my films or for most Hindi films,Meanwhile, with Padmaavat already touching Rs 275 crore and ready to enter the 300 crore club, Singh mentioned, Not every film achieves such numbers, so its very rare. It feels great, especially because a film of mine has made this kind of money at this stage in my career. So, for a film to do such colossal numbers definitely means a lot to me. It shows that my dedication and commitment towards being the best possible entertainer has paid off in the form of widespread acceptance.Heres hoping and wishing that magnum opus Padmaavat further creates history at the box-office.
We Were Shooting This Scene

I am rehearsing a shot, where people have to say that the enemy is in the fort', and we come down, and we see the soldiers running to fight. The enemy is in the fort' - how prophetic is that? So we are rehearsing, and I was in a very good mood. We are sitting, and we started hearing these sounds. So I said the crowd here is very conscientious!

They Injured Two Girl Assistants...

They are rehearsing the roars. I was like, Damn cool, this never happens in Bombay!' And suddenly, one of the union members came running in and said, People are coming!' And before I could say, what people?' there was an attack. They started throwing things, breaking things. They beat two girl assistants up, one whack came on me, my specs flew off.

They Raised Their Hands

I never expected this. Even if you have a doubt and you wanted to protest, would you raise your hand? They could say, please talk to us, please stop shooting, or please leave the place. But a protest also has to have a certain dignity about what you are protesting, and I could say yes, you have a point.

I Said, Enough Is Enough

This is extremely angering, it is extremely humiliating. And you sit back and wonder, could this have really happened? I have not seen any filmmaker in any part of the world go through this. Where is this coming from? So then you go to Kolhapur, because you realise it is not possible to shoot there (in Rajasthan). And then the set is burnt. I went back to Kolhapur and said, enough is enough, I am shooting exactly where I want to. I am not going back. Enough.

My Face Has Changed Because Of The Protests

All that I have gone through - how much has it changed my face? If I were to make my portrait, I have changed so much in the last one year. Which filmmaker has been attacked physically? Assaulted, with a whack given on the neck and the face? Nowhere in the world. Which filmmaker has been told that we are burning your set right in front of you?

On Ghoomar Controversy

Ghoomar Rajasthan ki glory hai. Folk music ki. Every wedding, every part of the world, 'Ghoomar' is being played everywhere. I have revived ghoomar in so many ways. Why are we wanting to justify it? It's a folk form. Even if they had taken 'Ghoomar' away from my film, ghoomar cannot die. But today, ghoomar is revived, everybody's discovered it, they understand that this taal and this laya means ghoomar, this is the rhythm pattern, and this is how we dance to it.

Woh Rani Toh Dance Nahi Karti

A Punjabi or a Gujarati is also dancing to 'Ghoomar'. But for that, I was told, Woh, rani toh dance nahi karti ghoomar ka, yeh toh ho hi nahi sakta, woh toh karna nahi chahiye, midriff nahi dikhna chahiye'... history in so many ways is not one file you can take out from a shelf...

Deepika Padukone Was Not Prepared For Ghoomar

it's interpreted over the years, it's told, it's re-told. It's changed according to convenience over the centuries. But how do you justify that? How do you say, historically, a rani didn't dance? They would have danced in the zenana, they would have danced in the women's chambers...

'Ghoomar's' set had to wait for one-and-a-half months, because Deepika thought she was not ready to shoot that song, she needed to train more. Mehboob Studios waited, said, no issues. And I shot the song, and today people say it's the best song I've shot.
The team of Salman Khan and Jacqueline Fernandez starrer Race 3 is all set to upgrade the level of thrill and action in the third instalment of the Race franchise.

While Race and Race 2 offered an edge of your seat excitement, Race 3 is leaving no stone unturned to up the level of excitement with the action thriller.

The third instalment of the Race franchise takes the film to an all new height as not only the film is helmed by Remo D'souza, but also as it stars the Tiger Zinda Hai star, Salman Khan.

Taking the franchise forward, the team of Race 3 is opting for a 5 set camera to provide an enhanced experience to the audience. While the cast is trying all means to deliver their best, the crew too is putting their best foot forward by opting for better technology.

Salman Khan and Jacqueline Fernandez are currently shooting the 10-day long action sequences in Thailand, of which Remo D'Souza took to Instagram to share the updates on day 8.

While on sets, director Remo D'Souza took to his social media to share the picture of the 5 set camera with a motivational message, to which actress Jacqueline Fernandez agreed.

The director shared saying, " If you want better, Go and get better.  #race3 #day8 #thailand ".

The leading lady of the film was quick enough to agree with the director as she commented, "Hell yeahhhhhh".

Race 3 brings back to celluloid the super hit Jodi of Kick as Salman Khan and Jacqueline Fernandez share the screen space for the second time.

After the success of Tiger Zinda Hai, it will be a treat for the audience to witness Salman Khan in a yet another action avatar.

Starring an ensemble cast of Salman Khan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Saquib Saleem and Daisy Shah, the action thriller is undoubtedly one of the most awaited films.

Produced by Salman Khan Films and Ramesh Taurani under the banner of Tips Films, Race 3 is directed by Remo D'souza and will hit theatres on Eid 2018.
Ranveer Realised In 10th Grade

During an interview with a leading channel, Ranveer Singh said, 'The only thing I ever wanted to do was to become an actor. And then it's in around 10th grade that I realise that in the position that I am in the film industry the way it is structured is very nepotistic.''

When Only Star Kids Were Getting Break

''At the time when it was around the year 2000 when I was in 10th grade and I was looking around me the only people who were getting break were sons of actor, director and producers.''

There Was Abhishek, Hrithik &...

'There was Abhishek Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan, Tusshar Kapoor and Zayed Khan, you know everybody had a lineage, there was absolutely no example to go by, to kind of pace, to take a bunt on, that if he has done then why can't I do, there were only Shahrukh Khan and Akshay Kumar and that too years ago.''

So I Said, Let Me Become A Copy Writer

''It was just too farfetched for me at the time at the age of 15 to think that I would get a break in the film industry, so I actually let go of my dream. I said let me become a copy writer and I was pursuing that.''

I Was A Student Of

''I was a student of Mass Media for four years. By chance I took an acting class and they asked me to perform something on the first day and I did. And I felt this immense rush you know that came back to me. I was like men, this is when I feel the most alive,'' he added.

On His Upcoming Film

When asked about Gully Boy, Ranveer told a leading web portal, "It is incredible. It is a story of these boys who come from tough existence. They are a franchise to a lot of people who have got a tough life.''

It Is Closest To My Heart

'They found an expression in art and in music. They have broken through as recording artists. It's something I feel for, very strongly and the film is perhaps closest to my heart after Band Baaja Baraat because it is my first film but Gully Boy, is closest to my heart because I am keen to be champion of this cause of trying to grow and develop this most wonderful music scenes which are flourishing and coming out of the streets of Mumbai."
Miss Danni King

Miss Danni King is a UK based model who is slowly yet steadily making her name in the fashion and glamour industry.

The Next Big Thing

She truly has what it takes to be successful in the modelling world and we believe she'll crack it sooner or later.

Such A Hottie

She's way too beautiful and can make anyone's jaws drop in an instant with her extreme hotness.

Cold Sweat

Miss Danni King can also make you break out in cold sweat, folks!

Total Killer

She is capable of making anyone go weak in the knees too! Total killer.

Globetrotter

She has posed for the cameras both in the United Kingdom and the United States as well.

Tweet Tweet

She has close to 133,000 followers on Twitter and they go crazy whenever she posts something new.

Social Media Queen

Her social media presence is increasing by the day as her pictures are strikingly different from the others.

Follow Her Now

If you're not following Miss Danni King on Twitter, you gotta do it right away! We're sure you won't be disappointed.

Just Wow

Isn't she one of the most beautiful woman you've ever seen, peeps? We bet she is!!

So Hot

Don't you wish to have a girlfriend as hot and pretty as Miss Danni King? We bet you do!!

So True

It's surely every man's dream to meet Miss Danni King atleast once in their lifetime.

India Visit?

We hope she visits India someday for a photoshoot too!

Fall In Love

We're sure she'll end up falling in love with the country and vice versa.

Bikini By The Beach

She can do a bikini photoshoot at a beach in Goa and the pictures would be out of this world.

All The Best

Here's wishing Miss Danni King all the very best in whatever she does in the future. We firmly believe she'll be successful in whatever she does.
Sumeet Tweets

"A white BMW with last 4 digits 1985 needs to be traced. The driver wearing a grey safari who had parked near #ParleTilakSchool #VileParleEast started masturbating in front of my wife. Before she could slap him he escaped. She could note down just the last 4 digits@MumbaiPolice."

Sumeet Says

Regarding the incident, Sumeet told IE, "It's so shocking that miscreants are up for something so disgusting in broad daylight. I was at home when my wife called me frantically."

A Complaint Has Been Filed At The Local Police Station

"Being responsible citizens we reached out to the authorities, and filed an official complaint at the local police station and also the traffic department. We are really hopeful the culprit will be caught soon."

The Actor Says

The actor further told the leading daily, "The police team has swiftly taken charge and are on the lookout to identify the car and the driver. They will see the CCTV footages of the road and are also trying to speak here. We just can't let go such matters and its time we stood up against these perverts."

The Police Arrests The BMW Driver

The police have nabbed the car driver. ANI tweeted, "#UPDATE: Driver who who was allegedly mastrubating in a car near residence of wife of actor Sumeet Raghavan arrested by police after an FIR was filed based on her complaint. #Mumbai."

Sumeet Thanks Mumbai Police

Further, the actor took to social media to thank Mumbai Police for arresting the man. He wrote, "After lodging the F.I.R at 4.15pm,the cops have nabbed the bastard in 2 hrs flat.. Hats off @MumbaiPolice gratitude and respect. #VileParlePoliceStation and the concerned officers #Salute  God forbid if at all such things happen,please go to the cops. Don't suffer. Speak up."
65 Killed in Iran Plane Crash

According to Iranian media, all 65 passengers aboard an Aseman Airlines flight were killed after the aircraft crashed on Sunday. Search-and-rescue teams arrived on the scene early Monday, and CNN confirmed that one prospective passenger did not make it aboard the flight.

Iran's Press TV says that search and rescue teams have reached the site of the plane crash that authorities say killed all 65 people on board at Mount Dena in southern Iran. https://t.co/4YRBxwMMyh  The Associated Press (@AP) February 19, 2018

To read more on this story, go to Statesman.

[Photo: Ali Khodaei/Tasnim News Agency/AP]
Quote: Obs7.3Powerstroker Originally Posted by I am copying longhorn fab traction bars. Using third links from a tractor three point hitch for the rod ends and 1 1/2 pipe for the bars.

That's where you are going wrong. I use dom for anything suspension related. Sure, structural steel pipe is strong; that debate has raged on for ages. I have yet to find threaded bungs for pipe. If you're going to use pipe, you need sch 80 for a 6 foot bar like you are looking to make. For a traction bar using pipe wouldn't be a crime but using those garage tractor links is. Use real rod ends, not the hitch links, they don't last.
Captain D's has made no secret of its plans to expand and Tom Durst is one multi-brand franchisee who is eager to climb aboard. Durst signed an agreement earlier this month to open a new Captain D's restaurant in Wentzville, Missouri.

Durst, who has more than a decade of experience in the food service industry, also operates three additional restaurant concepts throughout the region including Dairy Queen and Shamrock Pub & Grill. This new restaurant will mark Captain D's 19th location in the state, the second in the greater St. Louis area, and is slated to open this summer.

"A few years ago, I opened a pizza concept that ended up not performing as well as I'd hoped. I noticed that residents in my community were gravitating toward better-for-you options, so I began my research to find a concept that would appeal to a broader range of consumers," said Durst. "Captain D's was the clear choice, achieving tremendous success with its menu revamp, which included freshly-prepared, grilled items. I'm thrilled to bring the brand's diverse options and exceptional product to more residents throughout Missouri."

Captain D's has 533 restaurants in 21 states and is looking to grow in Texas, Missouri, and Ohio. The brand's new restaurant beach design and ongoing menu innovation are credited with helping its growth surge.
Flight Sim Labs, the makers of numerous pieces of add-on content for Flight Simulator X, has received a fair bit of criticism after eagle-eyed Reddit users discovered a malicious program embedded in one of its downloadable planes.

In response to the Reddit thread, the developer contended that the malware itself was intended only to affect those players that pirated the add-on and has no effect on those using the companys content legitimately.

Digital rights management (DRM) tools are one-way developers can attempt to protect their games from those who choose to circumvent legal channels and download games illegally online, but some of those more extreme anti-piracy measures risk rubbing even legitimate players the wrong way.

In Flight Sim Labs case, the company included a file called 'test.exe' in the installer for the A320-X airbus add-on that served to extract passwords saved to the web browser Google Chrome. Though it has since been removed from the launcher, the password dump tool originally came packaged in the launcher for the add-on and, according to the company, would only activate if a known pirated serial number was used.

Taking to the companys own forms, founder Lefteris Kalamaras explained that the tool did not indiscriminately harvest passwords, saying that the person who discovered the test.exe file had likely not legitimately purchased the add-on to begin with.

First of all, there are no tools used to reveal any sensitive information of any customer who has legitimately purchased our products. We all realize that you put a lot of trust in our products and this would be contrary to what we believe, said Kalamaris. 'Test.exe' is part of the DRM and is only targeted against specific pirate copies of copyrighted software obtained illegally. That program is only extracted temporarily and is never under any circumstances used in legitimate copies of the product. The only reason why this file would be detected after the installation completes is only if it was used with a pirate serial number (not blacklisted numbers).

The developer goes on to say that the information it has extracted from the controversial DRM has already successfully provided information that were going to use in our ongoing legal battle against such criminals.

However numerous users in that earlier Reddit thread voiced concerns about a developer dropping malware onto the machines of legitimate purchasers, even temporarily, in many cases noting that Flight Sim Labs was potentially putting its paying customers at risk all to pursue pirates. As a result, the dev has acknowledged that the decision might have been a bit heavy-handed and released an updated version of the launcher that does not include the DRM check file.
Heads up, game makers: Game Developers Conference organizers would like to quickly let you know about some of the great day-long sponsored developer days taking place at GDC 2018 next month!

These developer day sessions take place during the first two days of GDC (Monday and Tuesday, March 19th and 20th) and offer cutting-edge insight and learnings from some of the top players in the industry.

For example, Google is back once again this year to host a full day of fresh insight, announcements and discussions. Make time to check out Google's dev day talks and you'll learn about new product announcements, as well as tools and opportunities for game developers to build high quality, engaging experiences for a growing global audience.

You'll also get key insight into how to best use the Google Play console pre- and post-launch, as well as learn how ARCore allows you to create augmented reality games for Android. Expect to learn how to build real world games using Google Maps and hear Google's plans to make machine learning more accessible to mobile developers.

After that, consider checking out Facebook's sponsored day of dev talks, which opens with an overview of the day before diving into a deep look behind the scenes of the company's Instant Games platform, and how you can use it to achieve success as a game developer.

The company will also share learnings on how to best succeed with HTML5 mobile games, and how you can best ues Facebook to cultivate a healthy community around your games.

If you're a 3D texturing whiz, you should focus on Allegorithmic's sponsored dev day, which is all about how to use its Substance 3D texturing software. The company's top experts will show you what's new with Substance, how you can use it to best achieve your goals, and how the tech has been put to use in high-profile games like Middle-earth: Shadow of War and Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus.

Last but certainly not least, we want to make sure you don't overlook the Khronos Group Developer Day, sponsored by The Khronos Group. This non-profit, member-funded consortium is sponsoring a full day of insight into cutting-edge graphics tech, specifically what's new with the Vulkan ecosystem.

The Khronos Group has also sponsored a bunch of great talks and panels featuring top engineers from companies like AMD, Epic Games, Google, and others sharing best practices for using Vulkan on Android, for adopting Khronos' OpenXR standard for your VR and AR games, and much more. If you love nitty-gritty tech talk, this is right up your alley!

For more details on these sessions, as well as all the other great talks taking place at GDC 2018, head over to the conference Session Scheduler. For more information on GDC 2018, visit the show's official website, or subscribe to regular updates via Facebook, Twitter, or RSS.



Gamasutra and GDC are sibling organizations under parent UBM Americas
US Ambassador: If you are not finding the narrative, somebody else up north will find it for you - GeorgianJournal
Sony's AI-powered taxi hailing service to predict when you need a ride News oi-Vishal Kawadkar Sony to foray into the taxi-hailing business.

Sony won't be the first thing that will pop-up in your mind when looking for a ride, but that's about to change, in Japan at least. Nikkei has learned that Sony is building an AI-powered hailing system in alliance with taxi companies (Checker Cab, Daiwa Motor Transportation, Green Cab, Hinomaru Kotsu and Kokusai Motocars).

The Sony-developed algorithmic system would dispatch taxis more effectively by calculating a host of factors such as traffic, events, and weather. For example, it might send a large group of drivers near the end of a music concert. What's still unclear is whether the service will be available outside Japan and when will it be ready.

It may sound odd for Sony to get into the ride-hailing services when ridesharing giants such as Uber are swiftly taking hold. Since Japan has a ban on using private cars for such services, it kills the ridesharing business model. This gives Sony a good opportunity to make a footprint in transportation world without holding back the use of the service to other countries. This would also be helpful when self-driving cars become the norm.

Talking about the competition, Toyota just invested $70 million into the app creator JapanTaxi and also working on its own AI-centric taxi system. It will be interesting to see which company debuts in the market first.

Besides, the company is also said to be working on a bezel-less smartphone. Folks at Xperia Blog has found a set of documents that suggest one of Sony's upcoming flagships may arrive with a completely new design. Sony Mobile has asked FCC to dismiss all grants for a device in a letter.

The letter mentions the reason for dismissal as design change. Carrying an FCC ID of PY7-00718V, it is believed to be the next flagship from Sony. At the moment, we are not sure what changes would be made. We could either expect radical redesign or just some minor changes.

Auto Expo 2018: How AI can change the face of Mobility

Sony is speculated to unveil its next flagship at MWC 2018, which is slated to take place in less than two weeks time. And the letter was sent recently, on February. So the company is unlikely to make major changers. That said, we would be more than delighted if the company finally embraces the bezel-less design.

Best Mobiles in India

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Portronics Saga X VR headset launched in India at Rs. 899 News oi-Samden Sherpa Portronics is highly excited to introduce an all-new device Saga X which is the next flagship from the company in the Saga series.

Portronics a prominent provider of portable digital products has been busy launching new products for consumers in the Indian market. Just last week the company announced a new fitness tracker dubbed as Yoga HR in India. And now, the company has launched an all-new virtual reality headset for interested consumers. Dubbed as "Saga X" this is the latest flagship in the company's "Saga" series.

According to Portronics, the device comes with the highly appreciable mobile virtual reality glasses which offer a scintillating experience with unforgettable enjoyment and safety as well as comfortability.

"There is a difference between watching a movie and experiencing a movie. Merely watching will just make you remember the story but by experiencing one can relate every moment. The best ways one can experience it is with virtual reality headset and if you wish to do it with some ease and comfort then you can try Saga X," the company said in its media release.

While the company is promising good things with this headset, let's look at some of the features that it offers.

Comfortable and Convenient Portronics Saga X VR headset comes with an adjustable focal length in the range of 37 mm to 45 mm and the IPD ranging from 58 mm to 67 mm and the company has claimed that it will provide users with a commendable VR experience. "The device is convenient to use and they are also comfortable for the glass wearers," Portronics said. The VR headset is enabled with HD lenses with multiple layers of nano-coating of resin with the 40 mm diameter which is said to give users a broader view of the video. It features a Field of Vision ranging from 90-100 which again is said to reduce eye strain and glare. Compatibility Talking about the usage, Saga X is compatible with all smartphones, whether it is supported by iOS, Windows or Android, with the screen size ranging from 4.7-inch to 6.0-inches. Users can make their smartphone sit easily in the cabin provided by opening the cover plate in the front section of the device. Structure With the dimensions of 203 x 122 x 102 mm Portronics Saga X VR headset is made up of ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) plastic to make it more portable along with resistant to extreme cold as well as hot temperatures and many chemicals. Weighing just 237 gm, the device comes with a soft yet strong headband which is adjustable enough to fit all sizes of heads and faces. Pricing and Availability Portronics Saga X is priced at Rs. 899. The device is available for purchase via online and offline stores across the country.

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Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ official images, specs, availability details leaked News oi-Samden Sherpa Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ latest leak leaves nothing to imagination.

Samsung's upcoming flagship Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ are launching on February 25 and we could just say that there is nothing left to know about these upcoming devices. While we have already witnessed several leaks in the past few days, we have a good idea of what the smartphones are bringing to the table. And just as we say this, a new leak has surfaced online giving away the full details of the Samsung smartphones.

Courtesy of a German website Winfuture.de, the publication has revealed press images, color variants, features and specifications of Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+. We now have detailed information about the new phones and there is nothing left to our imagination.

The new Samsung devices will retain most of the design elements from its predecessor and we will be seeing few changes in comparison to its predecessor. However, one thing that we can say is that the highlight of the upcoming Galaxy S9 series will be their cameras and the fingerprint scanner will be placed in a different area.

Coming back to the new leak, Winfuture.de has revealed the following details.

Samsung Galaxy S9 Samsung Galaxy S9 will come with 5.8-inch Super AMOLED Infinity display with a resolution 1440 x 2960 pixels and 18.5:9 aspect ratio. The smartphone will be powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC (US variant) and Exynos 9810 processor for other markets. Galaxy S9 will come with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage which can be further expanded up to 400 GB via microSD card. Talking about the cameras Galaxy S9 will sport a 12MP rear camera with dual apertures of f/1.5 and f/2.4. It looks like the apertures will be adjustable and the camera should deliver improved performance on the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+. Up front, there will be an 8MP camera. The device will be backed by a 3000 mAh battery and it will run on Android Oreo 8.0. Samsung Galaxy S9+ Talking about the bigger variant, Samsung Galaxy S9+ will come with a 6.2-inch Super AMOLED Infinity display with a resolution 1440 x 2960 pixels and 18.5:9 aspect ratio. The smartphone will also be powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC (US variant) or Exynos 9810 processor which will be for other markets. Galaxy S9+ will come with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage which can be further expanded up to 400 GB via microSD card. Galaxy S9+ will feature a dual-rear camera setup that will consist of a primary 12MP sensor with a dual aperture (f/1.5 and f/2.4) and a secondary sensor which will also be 12MP with f/2.4 aperture. There will be an 8MP sensor on the front. The device will be backed by a larger 3500 mAh battery and it will also run on Android Oreo 8.0. Other Features Other features of the smartphones include IP68 standard, iris scanner sensors, fingerprint reader, face recognition, stereo speakers, Bluetooth5.0 and USB Type C. Dual-SIM variant will be also available as an option. The devices are said to come in Midnight Black, Lilac Purple, Coral Blue, Titanium Gray color options. Samsung Galaxy A8+ First Impressions Availability The publication also notes that the new models will be expensive than before and could be 100 euros more than Galaxy S8 and S8+. Further, the report states that Samsung will begin accepting pre-orders for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus on February 25 after the launch. Delivery of the new models is expected to start from 8 March 2018.

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Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact prototype leaked ahead of MWC 2018 News oi-Abhinaya Prabhu Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact might also be unveiled at the MWC 2018 show floor.

Sony announced that it will host a press conference at the MWC 2018 tech show on February 26 in Barcelona. The company is yet to reveal the names of these devices that will be unveiled at the tech show next week. However, there are speculations that the company might take the wraps off its flagship smartphones and a few mid-range models as well.

Usually, Sony follows the practice of launching the new Xperia Compact smartphone in the latter half of the year. But the recent word that has hit the internet is that the company might unveil the Xperia XZ2 Compact at the MWC 2018 tech show in Barcelona. Already, we believe that the Xperia XZ2 and Xperia XZ2 Pro flagships might be unveiled next week.

A report by XperiaBlog has pointed out that the Xperia XZ2 Compact might go official in the coming days as its prototype images have surfaced online. The newly leaked image of the smartphone has been spotted next to the Xperia Z5 Compact and it appears to show the presence of a curved bottom. As it shows the prototype of the upcoming smartphone, we cannot take it to be the final version.

However, the prototype of the Xperia XZ2 Compact shows the presence of a rear-mounted fingerprint and the lack of a 3.5mm audio jack. This is similar to what we saw on the Xperia XA2 smartphone series. Also, the design of the alleged Sony smartphone seems to be in line with what we have been coming across in the form of rumors and speculations so long.

The final version of the XZ2 Compact is said to feature relatively smaller bezels at the top of the display. It makes sense as the flagship smartphones to be announced next week are said to feature a full-screen design and 18:9 aspect ratio display. So, we can expect the compact version of the flagship to also come with such a display instead of the 16:9 panel.

When it comes to the rumored specs, the Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact is expected to come with a 5-inch or smaller display and make use of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset paired with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage space. The reports point out that there might be a 19MP rear camera and an 8MP selfie snapper on board. The device is said to get its power from a 3000mAh battery.

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84 /58

Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the mid 80s and lows in the upper 50s.
UofG Scientists awarded 4.5m funding grant from Cancer Research UK

University of Glasgow scientists are set to receive a major grant for pioneering research into cancer.

Cancer Research UK is planning to invest nearly 4.5 million over the next five years in ground-breaking work at the Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) in Glasgow.

The grant will allow doctors and scientists to continue researching and testing better and kinder treatments for patients.

The Cancer Research UK Glasgow CTU  based within Glasgow University at the citys Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre  gives people with cancer access to innovative treatments by linking laboratory discoveries to clinical research in hospitals and clinics in Glasgow and across the UK.



Trials are currently underway at the Cancer Research UK Glasgow CTU to help find new and better treatments for patients with brain tumours, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer and prostate cancer.

Every year, around 31,700 people are diagnosed with cancer in Scotland.

Cancer Research UKs CTUs specialise in the design, delivery and analysis of trials that bring the latest scientific developments to patients all over the UK. Theyre a vital part of the charitys research network, helping shape the clinical research landscape in the UK and internationally.

Professor Robert Jones, Cancer Research UK Glasgow CTU lead, said: We are delighted that Cancer Research UK has awarded this grant to the Clinical Trials Unit. The cancer research programme in Glasgow is fully geared towards making new discoveries and translating those discoveries into real improvements for patients.

He continued: Clinical trials are vital to test new treatments. For example, we are now running the PRIMUS trials in pancreatic cancer, a common cancer for which there are currently few effective treatments.

The PRIMUS trials are part of Precision-Panc, a major programme of research being led by Cancer Research UK scientists in Glasgow that could transform pancreatic cancer trials in the UK.

Professor Jones explained: Patients who are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer have tumour tissue sent to labs in Glasgow for genetic testing. Depending on the results of this testing, the patient is then offered one of a growing suite of clinical trials which we hope will be best suited to the particular form of the disease that they have.

We believe that this approach will result in better treatment, by avoiding the side effects of the current one size fits all chemotherapy and offering treatments which will be more specific to the individual patients tumour.

The CTUs aim to bring better treatments to cancer patients in the UK faster through both adult and childrens networks.

The latest funding announcement follows a major review by the charity of all its Cancer Research UK CTUs. This has resulted in 45million being invested into eight units across the UK, one of the charitys largest investments in clinical research to date.

The review was conducted by an international panel of experts and the competition was fierce.

Victoria Steven, Cancer Research UK spokesperson for Scotland, said: This crucial investment recognises the fantastic research taking place in Glasgow. It ensures researchers can take full advantage of our most promising scientific discoveries and translate them into new tests and treatments for patients.

One-in-two of us will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in our lives - so its reassuring to know that, thanks to our supporters, Cancer Research UK is able to fund some of the best and most promising research here in Scotland, to help more people survive.

Victoria continued: There are so many ways to support Cancer Research UKs lifesaving work, from signing up to Walk All Over Cancer in March to entering Race for Life, with events taking place at locations all around Scotland from May through to September; or giving time to volunteer in our shops.

Survival has doubled since the early 1970s and Cancer Research UKs work has been at the heart of that progress  but every step our doctors, nurses and scientists take relies on donations from the public and the tireless fundraising of our supporters.

Cancer Research UK is investing a total of 10 million in the Precision-Panc project which aims to develop personalised treatments for pancreatic cancer patients, improving the options and outcomes for a disease where survival rates have remained stubbornly low.

Enquiries: ali.howard@glasgow.ac.uk or elizabeth.mcmeekin@glasgow.ac.uk // 0141 330 6557 or 0141 330 4831
President Says Time's Up For 'Mad Dog' Uzbek Security Service

Sadriddin Ashurov, Farangis Najibullah February 19, 2018

Uzbekistan's National Security Service (SNB) has wielded immense power for decades but its "time is up," according to the new sheriff in town.

President Shavkat Mirziyoev in his second year in office has made no bones about criticizing one of the pillars of his long-serving predecessor's strong-armed rule, accusing the SNB of committing atrocities, targeting innocent people, and "exceeding its authority."

During a meeting with local activists in Bukhara Province on February 16, Mirziyoev continued his recent criticism of the SNB -- used by former President Islam Karimov to maintain tight control over the country's people and politics. He said he had received evidence of how the SNB in Bukhara "unjustly imprisoned local businessmen."

"I even have photos showing torture," Mirziyoev said. "I know the names of the investigators who committed these atrocities."

The president didn't elaborate, but promised that "you will see it on television when the time comes." He vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. "They will serve 20 years in prison, if needed," he said.

Calling members of the security services "mad dogs," Mirziyoev accused them of targeting "anyone who managed to become successful in business."

Mirziyoev accused the SNB of exceeding its authority, adding that "no other country has given so much power to these unscrupulous people in uniform."

"It wasn't like this even in 1937," Mirziyoev said, alluding to the deadly Stalin-era period of mass repressions and persecutions known as the Great Terror.

Increasing Speed Of Reform

Karimov, who ruled Uzbekistan with an iron fist for 27 years and whose death was announced on September 2, 2016, heavily relied on the SNB to suppress dissent.

Mirziyoev, a former prime minister who was named Karimov's acting successor before being elected in December 2016, has vowed to reform the SNB and limit its vast behind-the-scenes power.

On January 31, he removed SNB chief Rustam Inoyatov, who led the agency for nearly 23 years.

Dubbed a gray cardinal, Inoyatov was a close Karimov ally and one of the most influential officials in tightly controlled Uzbekistan for years. He was replaced by Ikhtiyor Abdulloev, who has served as prosecutor-general since April 2015.

Just days before Inoyatov's dismissal, Mirziyoev criticized the SNB as a much-feared institution that even controlled high-ranking government officials.

Speaking in Inoyatov's native Surkhondaryo Province on January 19, Mirziyoev said, "For example, if the regional governor would dare to say something [that the SNB didn't like], he would face being slandered and removed from his post."

Mirziyoev pointed out that he didn't trust any security official, and would "rip off their epaulettes if I have to."

All-Powerful Agency

The SNB, the successor of the Soviet-era KGB, has gained a reputation for carrying out abuses in the name of fighting religious extremism in the predominantly Muslim country of some 32 million.

Thousands were sent to prison on extremist-related charges, and some 17,000 more were put on the so-called blacklist of potential extremists.

Mirziyoev announced on September 1 that 16,000 people had been removed from the list and that many of them had been provided with jobs.

It was widely believed that the SNB -- using a large network of agents -- spied on government officials.

Mirziyoev has ordered the SNB to remove its agents from the country's diplomatic missions abroad and banned law enforcement agencies from conducting searches and wiretaps without court orders.

Mirziyoev said Uzbekistan didn't need a security agency that "spies on governors and other government officials."

Reiterating his earlier remarks, Mirziyoev told the Bukhara activists that the security service's era of unchecked power had come to an end in Bukhara, Surkhondaryo, and the rest of the country. "We'll begin cleaning in Bukhara," he said. "We will establish justice."

However, the extent of Mirziyoev's planned reforms of the SNB remains unclear.

Written by Farangis Najibullah with reporting by RFE/RL's Uzbek Service correspondent Sadriddin Ashur

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/uzbekistan- president-takes-on-mad-dog- security-service/29048969.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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Was Britain's Labour Leader a Communist Spy?

By Jamie Dettmer February 19, 2018

A former Czech spy who was expelled by the British government in the 1980s has claimed Britain's leader of the opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, was a source of his  one of 15 senior Labour lawmakers he met regularly when based in London. And the former spy says they knew he was an intelligence officer rather than a diplomat, which was his official cover.

The allegations by Jan Sarkocy, who says the Labour politicians were paid for their secret meetings with Communist spies during the climax of the Cold War, have been vehemently disputed by Corbyn and other Labour lawmakers named by the retired spy, including former London mayor Ken Livingstone.

They say the claims are a "tissue of lies" that read more like a poor James Bond movie plot. And they have dubbed the former Czech agent-handler, who now lives in the Slovak capital of Bratislava, a "fantasist."

"The claim that he [Corbyn] was an agent, asset or informer for any intelligence agency is entirely false and a ridiculous smear. Like other MPs, Jeremy has met diplomats from many countries. In the 1980s he met a Czech diplomat," according to a spokesperson for the Labour Party. He says that Corbyn "had not offered any privileged information to this or any diplomat."

According to Svetlana Ptacnikova, the head of the Czech Security Forces Archive, which houses the documents of the now-dissolved Communist-era intelligence service Statni Bezpecnost (StB), the files she has seen do not show that Corbyn was registered as a collaborator, agent or mole.

Britain's ruling Conservatives, who have questioned the firebrand Labour leader's fitness for office, pounced on the claims, which have been front page news in London for several days. They are demanding Corbyn explain in detail his attitude toward the Soviet bloc during the Cold War. StB documents unearthed by British newspapers confirm that meetings took place in the mid-1980s between Corbyn and Sarkocy, who was attached to the Czech embassy in the British capital as a diplomat who went by the name of Lt. Jan Dymcic before his expulsion in 1989. Sarkocy says the Czech archive does not have complete records. Many documents went missing, he says.

The documents that have been published are hardly shocking. Corbyn is described in them as being "negative towards the USA, as well as the present policies of the Conservative Government." He took a "positive" view of the eastern bloc and viewed favorably a Soviet-backed peace initiative. All of that was publicly known. Corbyn and other Labour politicians named by Sarkocy do not have access to classified British government documents.

Nonetheless, some lawmakers are now pressing for a parliamentary inquiry. The former chairman of the British parliament's intelligence and security committee, Malcolm Rifkind, said, "If these documents are genuine, which they appear to be, then there is a serious case for Mr. Corbyn to answer."

Others say Corbyn was naive. Professor Anthony Glees, a security expert, said of the documents, "These files show Jeremy Corbyn had been targeted by Czech intelligence services. Mr. Corbyn says he didn't know, but it shows breathtaking naivete from someone who wants to head the British government."

The claims and counter claims have re-ignited the ideological battles of the Cold War and are reminiscent of past British spy controversies. Following the unmasking of the infamous Cambridge spy ring of Kim Philby, Guy Burgess and Donald Maclean, Russia's KGB and sister eastern bloc agencies, notably the StB and East Germany's HVA Stasi, targeted Britain for recruitments using contacts in the country's anti-nuclear peace movement and trade unions to organize introductions to politicians, civil servants and journalists for their spies under diplomatic cover.

British business people visiting eastern bloc countries on trade missions, and British exchange students, were also targeted.

The eastern bloc espionage agencies had mixed success but did manage to recruit a string of backbench (junior) lawmakers, almost exclusively Labour ones, hoping they would rise up the political ranks and provide privileged information. In the 1960s, a Czech defector, Josef Frolik, named three Labour lawmakers - John Stonehouse, Bernard Floud and Will Owen - as having links to the StB. All three dismayed their handlers with their constant financial demands and by failing to provide anything but tittle-tattle and parliamentary gossip, useful only up to a limited point.

Eastern bloc agencies aimed high, also earmarking even Labour leader and two-time prime minister Harold Wilson for recruitment. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall and the opening up of some eastern bloc intelligence archives, there have been periodic bouts of the supposed unmasking of spies in high-ranking positions. Intelligence historians, and defectors, however, have frequently warned that Communist recruiters and agent-handlers in the Cold War often embellished their intelligence reports, claiming they had managed to recruit targets when they hadn't - all in order to please their spy bosses and gain promotions.

In 1995, Britain's Sunday Times had to backtrack on a story based on claims by KGB defector Oleg Gordievsky that Labour leader Michael Foot had been an "agent of influence" for the Russians. Faced with a wave of derision, the newspaper's editor said his paper was not saying that Foot had been a KGB agent. He acknowledged the allegation might be "utter rubbish" and he said that his newspaper was merely reporting that the KGB believed Foot was an agent.

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USS Carney Joins Ross in the Black Sea

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS180218-02

Release Date: 2/18/2018 11:07:00 AM

From U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa Public Affairs

NAPLES, Italy (NNS) -- Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) joined USS Ross (DDG 71) in the Black Sea to conduct maritime security operations Feb. 17, 2018.

A second U.S. Navy ship in the Black Sea is part of an operational schedule that helps sustain the U.S. Navy's operational presence in the region.

These naval activities will be conducted in accordance with international law, including the 1936 Montreux Convention which regulates maritime traffic through the Dardanelles and Bosphorus international straits.

"Our decision to have two ships simultaneously operate in the Black Sea is proactive, not reactive," said Vice Adm. Christopher Grady, commander, U.S. 6th Fleet. "We operate at the tempo and timing of our choosing in this strategically important region. By nature, ships are flexible, mobile forces, and the Navy is uniquely capable of providing credible and capable forces to defend our nation's interests throughout the world."

The last time two U.S. ships operated in the Black Sea was July 2017, during U.S.-Ukraine co-hosted exercise Sea Breeze. U.S. 6th Fleet ships regularly conduct bilateral and multilateral patrols with our Black Sea partners and allies, including Bulgaria and Turkey, and to conduct exercises with other partners and allies.

"The continued presence of the U.S. Navy in the Black Sea demonstrates our enduring commitment to regional stability, maritime security of our Black Sea partners, and the collective defense of our NATO allies," said Grady.

In 2017, the U.S. 6th Fleet participated in three exercises in the Black Sea: Spring Storm, Sea Shield and Sea Breeze.

Spring Storm took place March 13-21, 2017. U.S. participation in the bilateral, Romania-led exercise focused on tactical unit and staff interoperability between Romanian and U.S. Navy forces. The Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit led U.S. efforts in the exercise, which consisted of amphibious operations and maritime defense drills.

Sea Shield, a multinational Romanian-led exercise took place Feb. 1-10, 2017. U.S. participation included Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) and focused on deploying leading technology and combat capability in support of allies and partners in collective defense of the Black Sea region. The goal of the exercise was to improve the interoperability and combat proficiency of participating units.

Exercise Sea Breeze took place July 10-22, 2017. Air, land, sea and amphibious forces from 16 nations participated in the exercise, which focused on warfare areas to include maritime interdiction operations, air defense, anti-submarine warfare, damage control, search and rescue, and amphibious warfare. This exercise occurs annually and is designed to enhance flexibility and interoperability, strengthen combined response capabilities, and demonstrate resolve among allied and partner nation forces to ensure stability in the Black Sea region. Participating U.S. assets included the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66) and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64).

In addition to the three named exercises, five ships from U.S. 6th Fleet entered the Black Sea in 2017-2018 to participate in bilateral and multilateral training, and port visits: USS Carney from Jan. 5-13, 2018; USS Porter from Aug. 18 to Sept. 1, 2017; Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) in May 2017; USS Carter Hall in March 2017; and Porter from Feb. 2-11, 2017.

Port visits provide an opportunity for U.S. forces to build regional relationships and gain appreciation for diverse cultures. Bilateral and multilateral training is aimed toward improving maritime capabilities and reassuring NATO allies and regional partners of the commitment of the U.S. to the alliance and to maritime security and stability in the Black Sea region.

U.S. 6th Fleet conducts joint and combined operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests along with security and stability in Europe and Africa.

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USS Carney Enters Black Sea

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS180218-01

Release Date: 2/18/2018 11:03:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class James Turner

NAPLES, Italy (NNS) -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) entered the Black Sea Feb. 17, 2018, to conduct maritime security operations and enhance regional maritime stability, as well as strengthen combined readiness and naval capability among NATO allies and partners.

"The U.S. Navy has a history of building relationships with our partners in the Black Sea, which both demonstrates our combined commitment to regional security and enhances overall peace and stability."

- Cmdr. Peter Halvorsen, commanding officer, USS Carney

Quick Facts:

The U.S. Navy routinely operates in the Black Sea consistent with the Montreux Convention and international law.

This naval operation is in support of our NATO allies in eastern Europe and falls under Operation Atlantic Resolve.

USS Carney, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, is on a routine patrol conducting naval operations with allies and partners in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations to advance security and stability in the European region.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of naval operations, often in concert with joint, allied and interagency partners, to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

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'We're In Trouble': Rancor Rules At Munich Security Conference

Carl Schreck February 18, 2018

MUNICH, Germany -- Sharp and often fierce rhetoric permeated this year's Munich Security Conference, which asked participants if the world could manage to dial down the geopolitical tensions that have been rapidly mounting in recent years.

Such was the fraught atmosphere surrounding this year's annual gathering of world leaders, diplomats, and other dignitaries that the conference chairman saw considerable symbolism in how he punctuated the title of this year's event: "To The Brink  And Back?"

"I was hoping when I opened this conference on Friday that, in concluding the conference, I would be able to say we can delete the question mark. In other words: 'We are back from the brink,'" former German diplomat Wolfgang Ischinger said in closing remarks at the three-day event on February 18.

"I'm actually not sure we can say that," he added.

From Kyiv's war with Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, to U.S. allegations of Moscow's election-meddling, to territorial disputes between ex-Soviet republics, to a rhetorical clash between Israel and Iran: geopolitical rancor pervaded this year's conference.

Transatlantic tensions surfaced in Munich as well, as top European officials appeared to question the stewardship of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has called Britain's exit from the EU a "great thing" and pressed NATO allies to boost defense spending.

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel told the conference that his country had "eagerly learned" the value of democracy, rule of law, multilateralism, and human rights from the United States, but that "we no longer recognize our America."

Trump's national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, met with Gabriel following the German diplomat's speech and assured the conference later in the day that Washington was committed to its allies. He added, however, that "we must all share responsibility."

'Undermining' Western Democracies

Events unfolding across the Atlantic reverberated in real time at the swanky Munich hotel where the conference was held.

As Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko accused Russia in his February 16 speech of deploying disinformation as part of a "world hybrid war," U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller announced more than a dozen indictments of Russian citizens and firms accused of trying to "sow discord in the US political system," including in the 2016 presidential election.

Those allegations triggered some of the more memorable exchanges of the conference. Asked about the indictments following his own address on February 17, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed them as "claptrap" until Moscow can see what he called "the facts" of the case.

Russia rejects U.S. accusations that it carried out a Kremlin-ordered hacking-and-propaganda campaign aimed at helping elect Trump, who has repeatedly said he wants to improve ties with Moscow that have become badly strained over the wars in Syria and eastern Ukraine.

Speaking after Lavrov, McMaster said the United States was "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," he said.

When senior Russian lawmaker Konstantin Kosachyov asked McMaster from the audience about possible U.S. cooperation with Russian cybersecurity experts, McMaster joked: "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."

Asked about the exchange at a panel discussion later that day, Kosachyov demanded evidence for the charges and denied that the Russian government was involved in cyberattacks.

"Russia as a state is definitely not involved in any hacking attacks or cyberwars," Kosachyov said. "This is not our policy. Definitely not."

Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested in June that "patriotic" Russian hackers might target individuals who criticize Russia, but that they have no connection to the government.

Speaking at the panel discussion, Kosachyov called the U.S. hacking allegations a "dirty game aimed at containing Russia in all areas."

Ukraine Peacekeeper Stalemate

The rhetoric between Russia and Ukraine in Munich was even sharper.

Heading into the conference, there had been indications of progress in talks on a potential UN peacekeeping force in eastern Ukraine, though Kyiv and Moscow remain divided on the scope and mandate of such a mission.

The U.S. and Russian envoys for Ukraine talks sounded more optimistic about the progression of the talks last month than previously, and Putin and Poroshenko spoke by telephone days before the conference.

But Lavrov and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said their bilateral meeting failed to produce progress on the issue. Meanwhile, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters following his meeting with Lavrov that he also saw little progress and that "it remains to be seen if it's possible."

Kurt Volker, the U.S. special envoy for Ukraine who had noted more Russian "openness" on the peacekeeping proposal last month, told reporters on the sidelines of the conference that such a force "doesn't make any sense" if Russia does not "end the conflict and withdraw its forces" in eastern Ukraine.

Russia denies backing the separatists in eastern Ukraine despite substantial evidence of such support.

Planned talks at the conference in the so-called Normandy Format -- Germany, France, Ukraine, and Russia -- aimed at bringing an end to the fighting in eastern Ukraine were dropped. Klimkin said on Twitter that the Germans weren't able to make it happen.

Reuters cited a diplomatic source as saying that the meeting was canceled because Gabriel had to fly back to Berlin after Turkey released a German-Turkish journalist from prison.

Poroshenko, meanwhile, denounced Russia as a destructive force in the world, suggesting that the "Russian world" brings nothing but ruin and despair to anything it touches.

In Munich, he said returning Crimea -- the Ukrainian peninsula Russia seized in 2014 -- was Kyiv's "top priority." In his address to the conference, he called on the West to strengthen sanctions in response to Moscow's occupation of Crimea and backing of separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Lavrov said in his speech that the peace process was being "openly sabotaged by Kyiv."

Kosachyov took to Facebook on the second day of the conference to accuse Poroshenko of "creating an atmosphere of hysteria about nonexistent Russian aggression" that he said is stoking violence by nationalist groups.

The day after Kosachyov's remarks, dozens of far-right Ukrainian demonstrators attacked Russian banks and a Russian aid agency in Kyiv, smashing windows and burning a Russian flag.

'No One Has Any Solutions'

On the final day of the Munich conference, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu likened Iran to Nazi Germany and called Tehran "the greatest threat to our world."

Addressing the conference hours later, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif dismissed Netanyahu's speech as a "cartoonish circus."

Ischinger said in his closing remarks that the event had featured "excellent analytical work" and a handful of "great ideas" on transnational cooperation.

"The bad news is, we haven't heard enough -- at least as far as I'm concerned," he said.

Ian Bremmer, the founder of the Eurasia Group political-risk consultancy who hosted several panel discussions -- including the event's final one, held behind closed doors -- was more blunt in his assessment.

"We're in trouble," Bremmer said in a February 18 interview with Germany's Handelsblatt newspaper. "Because, you know, pretty much every geopolitical conflict out there is escalating, none of them are getting fixed, and no one has any solutions."

"This was not a good meeting," he added.

With reporting by AP and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/munich-security-conference -rancor-ukraine-iran-russia-ischinger -lavrov-gabriel/29046944.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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USS Bonhomme Richard Kicks Off Cobra Gold Exercise

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS180219-01

Release Date: 2/19/2018 12:37:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeanette Mullinax, USS Bonhomme Richard

GULF OF THAILAND (NNS) -- The amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) departed Laem Chabang, Thailand, Feb. 14, following a scheduled port visit and an opening ceremony for Exercise Cobra Gold 2018 (CG18).

While in port, Bonhomme Richard leaders attended the CG18 opening ceremony, Feb. 13, which marked the beginning of one of the Indo-Pacific region's largest multinational exercises. Designed to integrate the U.S. military with the Armed Forces of the Kingdom of Thailand and other partner nations, Cobra Gold demonstrates the commitment of the Kingdom of Thailand and the U.S. as long-standing allies.

"Our time in Laem Chabang allowed for us to take part in kicking off Cobra Gold 2018, as well as the chance for our Sailors and Marines to experience the sights and sounds of Thailand," said Capt. Larry McCullen, commanding officer of Bonhomme Richard. "I am proud of the commitment that our team has displayed in gearing up for this large-scale exercise, and I am confident in their abilities to execute the upcoming amphibious operations alongside our Thai allies."

As part of CG18's mission to integrate allied U.S. and Thai armed forces, Bonhomme Richard Sailors hosted Royal Thai Navy personnel onboard for a day of hands-on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) training.

"During the demonstration, we covered individual protection equipment, detection equipment and decontamination procedures for personnel," said Lt. j.g. Sean Murray, Bonhomme Richard's damage control assistant. "This was a part of Cobra Gold to inform and teach the Royal Thai Navy on U.S. Navy ship-specific casualty control procedures for CBRN defense."

As the training aimed to support upcoming field exercises scheduled to take place during CG18, the event also emphasized the combined U.S.-Thai efforts towards regional security and response capability.

Throughout the port visit, Sailors had the opportunity to experience Thai culture through a community relations (COMREL) project, coordinated by the ship's Chaplain Department, and a variety of tours sponsored by the ship's Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) division.

"I was able to take advantage of the MWR tour for the Pattaya Floating Market and it was an awesome experience," said Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Kevina Mahlum, a tour participant. "My favorite part was being able to learn more about the country by interacting with the locals and getting to taste the different types of foods and spices."

Now that the ship is back underway to participate in CG18, Bonhomme Richard Sailors and Marines of the 3d Marine Division (MARDIV) will operate together to maintain readiness while working alongside Royal Thai Navy ships to conduct a range of amphibious operations that will enhance the tactical expertise of the participants, and allow for the practice of combined capabilities to respond to contingencies.

CG18 is the 37th iteration of the exercise and will focus on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Among participating nations are the Kingdom of Thailand, the U.S., Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore and Indonesia.

Bonhomme Richard is on a regularly scheduled patrol in the Indo-Pacific region supporting security and stability in the region.

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Maldives leader seeks approval to extend state of emergency

Iran Press TV

Mon Feb 19, 2018 07:28PM

Maldives President Abdulla Yameen has called for parliamentary approval to extend a state of emergency by 30 days as political turmoil continues in the South Asian island country.

The plea was made on Monday as the 85-member parliament was expected to vote on the proposal and a day before the current state of emergency expired.

The state of emergency allows police and security forces to make arrests without warrant, while they could enter and search homes.

The Maldivian president declared a state of emergency on February 5 for 15 days to annul a Supreme Court ruling that ordered the release of a group of his imprisoned political opponents, including nine opposition leaders, who had been convicted in widely criticized trials.

Yameen's administration has also arrested former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and a Supreme Court judge under the emergency law on allegations of attempting to overthrow the government.

Reports said ruling and opposition party leaders engaged in disputes about whether parliament's approval was required to extend the state of emergency under the constitution.

"If the opposition wants to annul this declaration, they have to go to the parliament and ask for a vote," said Ahmed Nihan, ruling party group leader in parliament. "The ... emergency does not become void because parliament does not approve it."

Opposition parliamentary group leader, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, however, said the constitution "clearly states" parliament's indispensable role in extending an emergency.

"If this is not approved (by parliament), it is going to be invalid. Once the emergency becomes void everything done under that state of emergency also will be void and invalid," he added.

Former president Gayoom, a charismatic and high-profile campaigner against climate change, was convicted in 2015 on a terrorism charge widely criticized as politically-motivated and sentenced to 13 years in jail.

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US officials advise EU foreign policy elite to ignore Trump's tweets

Iran Press TV

Mon Feb 19, 2018 06:02PM

US national security officials and members of Congress assure Europe's foreign policy elite that Washington remains committed to its European allies amid anxiety about President Donald Trump's approach to global affairs.

Divisions between Europe and the US were on full display during the annual Munich Security Conference featuring military leaders, heads of state and diplomats.

For the EU, security has been a critical theme of the shift away from dependence on the United States. At the opening of the security conference on Friday, Germany's defense minister urged Europeans to rally together and become more independent of America.

"We want to remain trans-Atlantic, but we also want to be more European," Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen said.

Away from the glare of television cameras, many European diplomats and policymakers expressed confusion about whom they should believe  President Trump or his advisers.

"There is a lot more support for continuing our past policies than it might appear from some of the statements," Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Democrat of New Hampshire, said on Sunday.

"The unanimity comes from those folks who are actually operationalizing policy," he told an audience that was comprised mostly of Europe's foreign-policy elite.

"The values are the same, the relationships are the same," said Representative Michael Turner, Republican from Ohio. "What you do see is this administration willing to put pressure upon the systems."

However, Trump engaged in a running counterpoint to the message, taking aim on Twitter at his own national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, because he forgot to tell the Munich conference that the results of the 2016 presidential election "were not impacted or changed by the Russians."

Addressing the conference, McMaster offered a starkly different view from the president, saying the "evidence is now incontrovertible" that Russia did in fact intervene in the US political system.

Some European countries have been worried about the US commitment to defend NATO allies against what they perceive as the threat of Russian aggression.

During his election campaign, Trump referred to NATO as obsolete and raised doubts whether the US under his command would assist a NATO ally under attack.

Trump has also denounced NATO allies for failing to pay for their own defense, accusing members of the alliance of owing "massive amounts of money."

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EU, Serbia Hit Out At Albania-Kosovo 'Single President' Idea

RFE/RL's Balkan Service February 19, 2018

The European Union has warned Albania against "interference" in neighboring countries and Serbian officials accused Tirana of wanting to build a "Greater Albania," after the Albanian prime minister said his country and Kosovo could one day have a single president.

Addressing Kosovo's parliament to celebrate the country's 10th anniversary since its declaration of independence from Serbia, Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama noted on February 18 that Tirana and Pristina already shared some diplomatic missions around the world.

"Why not a single president, as a symbol of national unity?" he added.

Kosovo, a former province of Serbia, declared independence nearly a decade after the 1998-99 Kosovo war. More than 110 countries recognize its independence. Serbia does not.

Both Albania and Kosovo have ethnic Albanian majorities.

Reacting to Rama's suggestion, European Commission spokeswoman Catherine Ray told reporters in Brussels on February 19 that "statements which might be interpreted as political interference in neighboring countries are not helpful in building good neighborly relations."

She added that the EU expected the six Western Balkan countries that remain outside the bloc, including Albania and Serbia, to "build constructive and cooperative relations and to focus and intensify the work on their own respective reform programs to move forward on the EU integration path."

Meanwhile, Rama's comments sparked furious reactions in Serbia, which in the past has accused Tirana of seeking to create a "Greater Albania" -- which Albania denies.

Nenad Popovic, Serbia's minister without portfolio in charge of innovation and technological development, said in a statement on February 19 that his country should declare the Albanian prime minister persona non grata.

He said that Rama's comments "point to a clear and unequivocal plan for the creation of a so-called Greater Albania in the Balkans and on Serbian soil."

Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin said that "Greater Albania must finally, after centuries, be stopped in its expansion."

"For us, Kosovo is a part of our state and every time someone presents this kind of ideas, of course, it cannot be welcomed or accepted," said the head of Serbia's Government Office of Kosovo, Marko Djuric.

Officials in Kosovo have not commented on Rama's comments.

In his speech before Kosovo's lawmakers, the Albanian prime minister acknowledged that his suggestion was not likely to happen anytime soon, but added that "history tells us that it is not impossible for a dream to come true."

Rama also said that in the future, "Albanians and Serbians will co-exist...like two countries with good neighborly relations that are an integral part of the European Union."

With reporting by AFP and Balkan Insight

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/albania-kosovo- president-rama-serbia/29047539.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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Macedonia PM Expects To Settle Name Dispute With Greece By July

February 19, 2018

Macedonia hopes to settle its decades-old name dispute with Greece by the time of a NATO summit in the summer, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said on February 19.

Greece objects to the former Yugoslav republic's use of the name Macedonia, which Athens says could imply territorial claims over its own northern region of the same name.

Macedonia and Greece have recently stepped up efforts to resolve the row.

"I believe we will be able to conclude the negotiations successfully by the NATO summit in July," Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said in an interview with Austrian radio station ORF.

The dispute has affected Macedonia's efforts to join NATO and the European Union. Greece is a member of both entities.

Negotiations between the two neighbors have been inconclusive since 1991, when Macedonia gained independence from the former Yugoslavia.

It was admitted into the United Nations in 1993 under the name Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

The foreign ministers of the two countries met the United Nations special envoy Matthew Nimetz in Vienna earlier this month to discuss the issue.

Macedonia has said it is ready to add a geographical qualifier to its name to help resolve the dispute with Greece, in an effort to increase its prospects of joining the European Union and NATO.

An agreement could include Macedonia adding "Upper," "New," or "North" to its name.

"We have an automatic invitation, meaning NATO members will start ratifying our [NATO] accession as soon as we and Greece announce that the problem has been solved," Zaev said.

The NATO summit will be held on July 11-12 July in Brussels.

Based on reporting by Reuters and orf.at

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/macedonia-greece- name-dispute-july/29048085.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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Maldivian President Seeks to Prolong Emergency State by 15 Days  Reports

Sputnik News

15:23 19.02.2018(updated 15:33 19.02.2018)

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - President of the Maldives Abdulla Yameen on Monday requested his parliament to extend the country's state of emergency by an additional 15 days, Avas Online media outlet reported.

According to the outlet, Yameen issued a decree to the parliament with the purpose of prolonging the state of emergency, after which the legislature announced that it would hold a three-hour discussion on the matter.

The current state of emergency, which has been in effect for 15 days and ends on Tuesday, was imposed by Yameen after the Maldives Supreme Court had ruled to overturn terrorism-related convictions against opposition politicians on February 1.

Twelve of the aforementioned lawmakers had their parliamentary membership restored, thereby giving the opposition coalition

a majority in the legislature. That same day, heads of the prosecutor's office, police and armed forces said that they had information suggesting the Supreme Court may try to impeach President Yameen for not obeying its order to release jailed opposition members.

A week after the escalation of the crisis, exiled Maldives opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed had asked India and the US for help in removing the country's current President Abdulla Yameen over his "illegal" declaration of martial law.

The Maldivian crisis has been accompanied by a series of detentions, including that of another former Maldivian leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and the chief justice of the Supreme Court.

 Sputnik

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US Aircraft Carrier to Dock in Vietnam Port for First Time Since 1964

Sputnik News

15:21 19.02.2018

The US vessel is set to visit Vietnam next month. It will mark the first time a US aircraft carrier has visited the country since the end of the Vietnam War.

The USS Carl Vinson will visit the Da Nang port from 5-9 of March. This will be the first US carrier to dock at a port in the Southeast Asian nation since 1964, the last one 'visited' Vietnam in May 1964, it was mined and sunk.

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Vietnamese Defense Minister Ngo Xuan Lich agreed on the visit in January, while Mattis was on an official visit in Hanoi.

The US has been trying to rebuild its cooperation with Vietnam in the field of security and defense, trying to get Hanoi to diversify its weapons imports after the US lifted its embargo on the sale of lethal weapons to Vietnam in 2016.

But it's not just about arms sales. The US has China on its mind and is especially concerned about China's growing military power and naval presence in the South China Sea.

The US has been a vocal critic of China's actions to assert its territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Washington makes no secret that it supports nations in Southeast Asia that oppose Chinese territorial assertiveness in the South China Sea, and Vietnam is one of them.

The nuclear-powered USS Carl Vinson is currently in Manila. The Philippines is another major rival of China's ambitions.

The South China Sea is a strategic waterway through which over one-third of global trade passes, and China has overlapping territorial claims with Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and a waterway dispute with Indonesia.

While Washington stakes no claims in the disputes, the US Navy maintains that it regularly sails through the area in order to assert freedom of navigation, ramping up tensions with China.

Just last month Beijing accused the US of trespassing after an American warship sailed near the disputed Scarborough Shoal, an uninhabited reef that China seized from the Philippines in 2012.

Confrontation seems set to continue, as the Pentagon's new security strategy for 2018, unveiled in January, emphasizes countering China's rise and build-up in the Indo-Pacific region.

 Sputnik

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Somalia Appoints New Security Chiefs to Combat al-Shabab

By Harun Maruf February 19, 2018

The Somali government has appointed new security chiefs, nearly four months after firing the previous commanders after a series of deadly al-Shabab attacks. But experts warn that the new security chiefs are not "miracle" workers and need support from the public and their own government to win the war against the militants.

During a special meeting in Mogadishu on Monday, the Cabinet approved the appointment of Hussein Osman Hussein to become director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) and General Bashir Abdi Mohamed to be the commissioner of the police.

Also appointed was Major General Bashir Mohamed Jama, known as "Gobe," who returns as commander of the prison guards, a position he lost less than a year ago.

New blood, old blood

Hussein, who currently serves as the deputy minister of health, has been a long time member of the parliament and previously held the position of deputy security minister. He will lead a small agency with about 4,500 personnel, half of whom are plain-clothed officers.

General Mohamed is a career police officer who held various positions within the department, including chief of police engineers, commander of training department and head of the central investigations department. He joined the police in 1971.

Last year, Somali leaders agreed to create a police force of about 32,000 nationwide. The current force is about half that size.

Hussein and Mohamed's predecessors  Abdullahi Mohamed Ali Sanbalolshe of NISA, and General Abdihakim Dahir Saaid of the police  were fired on October 29 last year, a day after an al-Shabab attack on a Mogadishu hotel left nearly 30 people dead. Two weeks earlier, a massive truck bomb in the capital killed 512, making it the largest terrorist attack in African history.

State minister for the office of the prime minister, Abdullahi Hamud, defended the long process it took to appoint new commanders.

"It was just a matter of caution and for the government to pick the right person who can fit in the job, it wasn't because of other things," he said.

Former NISA director General Abdirahman Mohamed Turyare said the new commanders have a chance to do well if they learn from "mistakes" made by predecessors.

"They can look back on mistakes made so as to avoid them, and bring on board ideas that worked," he said.

Turyare urged the commanders not to confine operations to Mogadishu but to spread the war against al-Shabab beyond the capital, take care of their agencies' personnel and make sure they get better technology.

He cautioned that the new commanders could probably not solve security failures immediately.

"They bring experience, work ethic and dedication but they are not miracle people," he said.

There have been no major al-Shabab attacks in Mogadishu in almost four months, since the firing of the previous commanders back in late October. The new commanders will hope to continue that streak.

Abdulkadir Mohamed Abdulle contributed to the report from Mogadishu.

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Zimbabweans Pay Tribute to Tsvangirai; Interment Expected Tuesday

By Sebastian Mohfu February 19, 2018

Average Zimbabweans turned out Monday to commemorate the life of the country's dogged, long-time opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, ahead of his burial, expected Tuesday.

Thousands of supporters of the Movement for Democratic Change sang as the body of their late party leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, arrived at a square in Harare. They said the struggle will continue.

One of them was 37-year-old Chaimani Mataka, who spoke of the effort to unseat the ruling ZANU-PF party.

"I am hurt because the struggle will never be the same again without Morgan Tsvangirai. I so wish that if we unite as a party, we bring a united front which must manage to remove ZANU-PF, remove this tyrant government, which is now being led by Emmerson Mnangagwa," said Mataka.

Tsvangirai died in South Africa on February 14 after a two-year battle with colon cancer.

The opposition has been hit by disunity as various members fight to head the MDC. Acting leader Nelson Chamisa told mourners Monday that an MDC victory in the expected mid-year elections would be a fitting tribute to Tsvangirai.

"The only tribute you can give to the president [Tsvangirai] is a tribute of a vote," said Chamisa. Continuing in Shona, he added, "Then we change the country. We can assure you of immediate positive changes and good times. We are not like ZANU-PF, which takes forever to bring positive changes to the country."

The ZANU-PF party has dominated Zimbabwean politics since independence in 1980 with, until recently, former President Robert Mugabe at the helm.

Current Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa took the helm in November after Mugabe was forced to resign under pressure from the military.

Despite the current wrangling in the MDC, Chamisa is expected to be the one to lock horns with Mnangagwa in this year's polls.

Tsvangirai was a charismatic and determined politician who faced off repeatedly with Mugabe and the ZANU-PF, eventually entering into a coalition government for several years after the violent, disputed elections of 2008.

On Sunday, Mnangagwa described the late opposition leader as a "brave man."

Zimbabwe's Air Force flew Tsvangirai's body to his rural home, about 250 kilometers southeast of Harare, ahead of the planned burial Tuesday.

Kenyan opposition leader and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is among those the Movement for Democratic Change said would be attending Tsvangirai's funeral.

It's not clear what Tsvangirai's passing will mean for the party's fortunes; but, many say a leadership struggle in the MDC would greatly enhance the ruling party's chances of winning again.

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African American History

In the essay On the Evolution of Scholarship in Afro-American History the eminent historian John Hope Franklin declared Every generation has the opportunity to write its own history, and indeed it is obliged to do so. Carter G. Woodson noted that "If a race has no history, if it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated."

As a Harvard-trained historian, Carter G. Woodson, like W.E.B. Du Bois before him, believed that truth could not be denied and that reason would prevail over prejudice. Woodson, the son of former slaves who taught himself to read and write, obtained a bachelor's degree from the University of Chicago in 1907, attended the Sorbonne University in Paris, where he became fluent in French; and received a doctorate degree in history from Harvard University in 1912, becoming only the second African American to earn such a degree.

During Woodson's life, there was very little information and a lack of knowledge concerning African American life and history. Through his extensive studies, Woodson almost single-handedly established African American historiography. His research literally uncovered black history and helped to educate the American public about the contributions of African Americans to the nation's history and culture. Through scholarly and painstaking historical research, his work aided in overcoming the stereotypical portrayals of black people that limited the history of the country.

Woodson published many volumes of history, including "The Education of the Negro Prior to 1861" (published in 1915), and "A Century of Negro Migration" (1918), "The Mis-Education of the Negro" (1933), and "The Negro in Our History" (1922), which became the standard text on African American history for many years. He also edited the "Journal of Negro History" for 34 years.

In 1915 he founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH). The association's mission is to promote, research, preserve, interpret and disseminate information about African-American life, history and culture to the global community. With temporary headquarters on Washington's Howard University campus, the association operates local, state and international branches promoting greater knowledge of African-American history through a program of education, research and publishing.

His hopes to raise awareness of African Americans contributions to civilization was realized when he and the organization he founded conceived and announced Negro History Week in 1925. The event was first celebrated during a week in February 1926 that encompassed the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. The response was overwhelming: Black history clubs sprang up; teachers demanded materials to instruct their pupils; and progressive whites, not simply white scholars and philanthropists, stepped forward to endorse the effort.

By the time of Woodsons death in 1950, Negro History Week had become a central part of African American life and substantial progress had been made in bringing more Americans to appreciate the celebration. At midcentury, mayors of cities nationwide issued proclamations noting Negro History Week.

During the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, historians were preoccupied with describing the negative impact of slavery and segregation on individual African Americans, African-American communities and African-American culture. While soem accused these historians of beating a dead horse for three decades, repeating the same tales of woe, their body of work laid a foundation (both ideological and intellectual) for the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision in 1954. These historians felt that the work they had done brought an end to segregation and the obstacles that had prevented African Americans from taking part in the political, economic and social life of American society.

The 1960s were times of black power, the civil rights movement in all its fullness, black nationalism, black aesthetics, riots with tanks and armed soldiers, tear gas, student protests, sit-in demonstrations, and antiwar furor. The Black Awakening of the 1960s dramatically expanded the consciousness of African Americans about the importance of black history, and the Civil Rights movement focused Americans of all color on the subject of the contributions of African Americans to our history and culture.

In the midst of these mind-stretching and soul-stirring events, a variety of charismatic speakers came to campuses urging students to learn about black history and culture and to use that knowledge to improve the condition of the race. In the popular imagination, black history to that time had consisted of little more than a few slave revolts, and it was generally believed that all those blacks who had lived before the activist generation had been compromising accommodationists and "Uncle Toms" whose rare calls for liberty had been tepid and fruitless.

The Negro History Week celebration was expanded to a month in 1976, the nations bicentennial. President Gerald R. Ford urged Americans to seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history. That year, fifty years after the first celebration, the association held the first African American History Month. By this time, the entire nation had come to recognize the importance of Black history in the drama of the American story. Since then each American president has issued African American History Month proclamations. And the association  now the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH)continues to promote the study of Black history all year.

Scholarship on postwar African American social movements became a mature, well-rounded area of study with different interpretative schools and conflicting theoretical frameworks. However, progressively, the complexity generated by clashing interpretations eroded as a new paradigm has become hegemonic. Since the publication of "Freedom North" by Jeanne F. Theoharis and Komozi Woodard, the "Long Movement" emerged as the dominant theoretical interpretation of the modern "Civil Rights" and "Black Power" movements.

The "Long Movement" framework consisted of four elements that challenged previous interpretations of black freedom movements. Sundiata Keita Cha-Jua and Clarence Lang wrote "The four propositions are: (1) Locality, the modem Civil Rights (and Black Power) movement(s) was a series of local struggles rather than a national social movement; (2) Reperiodization, the modem Civil Rights (and Black Power) movement(s) transcends the historical period 1955-1975; (3) Continuity, the Civil Rights and Black Power movements are not distinct social movements, but rather a single continuous struggle for black freedom; and (4) The South was not distinct, the differences between southem de jure and northem de facto racial oppression were exaggerated, and racism is nationwide."

Both liberal and conservative scholars contrasted normatively "good" southem civil rights struggles of the early 1960s with "nihilistic" northem Black Power militancy during the "bad" late 1960s. Thus many of the historiographical developments associated with the tum toward the Long Movement are corrective and highlight the ideological and tactical heterogeneity of the period.







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Russia says 'no indications' it meddled in 2016 US presidential election

Iran Press TV

Mon Feb 19, 2018 03:04PM

The Kremlin says there is no evidence that the Russian government meddled in the 2016 US presidential election after Washington indicted a number of Russian individuals and companies for their alleged covert efforts to sway American voters in favor of then Republican candidate Donald Trump.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that the charges drawn up by the office of US Special Counsel Robert Mueller against Russians for allegedly meddling in the 2016 US election had "no grounds" and were unjust.

"There are no indications that the Russian government could be involved in this and nor can there be any," Peskov said. "We still insist that this evidence has no grounds and we don't consider it exhaustive, we don't regard it as fair and cannot agree with it."

The Kremlin spokesman stressed that "Russia has neither meddled, nor does it have a practice of interfering in the domestic affairs of other states and does not do so now."

Peskov said the US indictment centered on individuals rather than the Russian government and presented no tangible proof that the Kremlin itself or Russian government agencies were involved.

"First, we haven't seen any significant evidence so far that someone has meddled in America's domestic affairs. Second, the matter in question pertains to Russian citizens, but we have heard Washington accusing the Russian state, the Kremlin and the Russian government of being complicit," Peskov noted.

The comments by Peskov were Kremlin's first reaction since the US Department of Justice on Friday indicted 13 Russian individuals and three Russian organizations for allegedly interfering in the US presidential race in 2016 and taking part in efforts "to defraud" the United States.

Shortly after Mueller released his indictment list, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described the indictment as "absurd" in a Facebook post and said the indictment manifested the "modern American political reality."

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov firmly rejected the US indictments as "blabber" and "fantasies."

In late 2016, Washington alleged that Russia had influenced the US presidential election in November that year to help Trump get elected, an allegation that Russia strongly denied. Back then, the outgoing administration of President Barack Obama threatened that the United States would respond to the alleged Russian meddling "at the time and place" of its choosing.

In November 2017, Russian President Vladimir Putin strongly rejected as "fantasies" claims that Moscow had interfered in the election in favor of Trump. The Russian leader also in December renewed Russia's rejection of the same accusations, saying the claims were nothing more than "espionage mania."

There are currently multiple investigations by US security agencies into the case.

Trump has repeatedly denied allegations that his campaign colluded with Russians and has condemned the investigations. The US president has also labeled Mueller's investigation as a "witch hunt."

In a tweet on Friday, Trump said the indictments showed his campaign "did nothing wrong" and that there was "no collusion" with Russia.

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Kremlin Says No Evidence Russian State Meddled In U.S. Election

RFE/RL February 19, 2018

Days after the U.S. Justice Department formally accused 13 Russians and several companies of meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, President Vladimir Putin's spokesman has reiterated the claim that the Russian state did not interfere.

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov's remarks on February 19 were the first Kremlin comment on the charges announced by the office of U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller three days earlier.

The indictment alleges that a wealthy businessman with close ties to Putin funded a so-called "troll farm" that sent agents to the United States, created fake social-media accounts that appeared to be U.S.-based, and used them to spread divisive messages.

Echoing findings released by U.S. intelligence agencies in January 2017, the Justice Department said the aims included undermining faith in U.S. democracy, disparaging candidate Hillary Clinton, and aiding her rival, Donald Trump, who won the election.

Speaking to reporters, Peskov said that "the indictment focuses on Russian citizens, but we have heard in announcements from Washington accusations about the involvement of the Russian state, the Kremlin, and the Russian government."

"There are no indications that the Russian state could have been involved in this. There are none and there cannot be any," Peskov said.

"Russia did not meddle, is not in the habit of meddling in the internal affairs of other countries, and is not doing it now," he said.

Putin has repeatedly denied that there was a Russian government effort to meddle in the election, which the Republican Party candidate Trump won on November 8, 2016, in tight race against Democratic Party nominee Clinton.

In their announcement in January 2017, U.S. intelligence agencies said that Putin had personally "ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the U.S. presidential election."

Kremlin critics argue that the most well-known of the 13 Russians indicted, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has ties to Putin and the state that undermine Russia's assertions that the government was not involved in any meddling.

Prigozhin -- accused of funneling money into the St. Petersburg-based Internet Research Agency, which is also named in the charges -- has been called "Putin's chef" because his catering business has organized banquets for Putin and others in the ruling elite.

The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Prigozhin in 2016 for allegedly providing material support to senior Russian government officials, saying he had extensive business dealings with the Russian Defense Ministry.

An official corporate database indicates that companies he owns or controls have won lucrative state contracts for the Russian presidential administration, parliament, and the Defense Ministry, the Reuters news agency reported.

According to Reuters, the database shows that one of his companies won contracts worth about $8 billion between 2011 and 2017 involving food service for state-run educational institutions.

In addition to the special counsel, three congressional panels are investigating Moscow's alleged meddling and whether associates of Trump colluded with Russia.

The U.S. indictment, which was issued by a grand jury and released by Mueller's office, said that the Russian entities in question began interfering in U.S. political processes as early as 2014.

it said that some of those charged posed as Americans and communicated with people associated with Trump's campaign, adding that those people 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 election.

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 [its] 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 on Twitter.

Mueller's office has handed down two previous indictments, one of them for Trump's former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and the probe has resulted in two guilty pleas, including one by Trump's first national security adviser, Michael Flynn.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, and dpa

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-kremlin-says -no-evidence-state-meddling-us-presidential- election-2016/29048738.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 Open to Discussing Talks With North Korea

By Brian Padden February 19, 2018

The U.S. is indicating a new willingness to talk with North Korea, but it is still difficult to see a peaceful resolution to the nuclear crisis on the Korean peninsula in the near future.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Sunday, that he is intent on keeping the channels of communication open with North Korea and is "listening" for an indication that the Kim Jong Un government is "ready to talk."

Bloody nose

The shift in tone coming from the administration of President Donald Trump toward supporting unconditional exploratory talks with Pyongyang, and away from talk of a preemptive military "bloody nose" strike against North Korea, has come in response to the Olympic detente negotiated by South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

North Korea's agreement to participate in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in the South has been accompanied by a pause in its intensive efforts over the last year to develop a nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that can strike the U.S. mainland. The U.S. contributed to the reduction in tensions by postponing joint military exercises with South Korea until after the Olympics.

After leading the American Olympic delegation in South Korea, Vice President Mike Pence also stated the U.S. may be open to unconditional informal talks, but emphasized the U.S. would continue to increase sanctions on North Korea until Pyongyang agrees to formal talks to give up its nuclear weapons in exchange for security guarantees and economic aid.

Susan Thornton, the acting Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific said last week, during her confirmation hearing in the Senate, that the U.S. has no "bloody nose" military strategy and seeks a diplomatic settlement to end North Korea's nuclear program but also said that "we will reach this goal one way or another."

Thornton's testimony seemed to refute reports that Pentagon military planners were preparing for an imminent surgical strike attack on a North Korean missile or nuclear facility as a show of force to intensify pressure on Kim Jong Un to agree to denuclearization talks, known as the "bloody nose strategy."

Critics of the bloody nose strategy say Thornton's testimony indicates that moderates within the Trump administration have for now put on hold plans for a preventative strike as the risk remains too high that North Korea would launch a deadly counter attack on South Korea that could escalate into a devastating war, and that such unilateral military action would fracture the U.S./South Korean alliance.

"I think people began to understand it was going to be a bloody mess strategy and they are moving away from that," said Frank Jannuzi, an East Asia analyst at the Mansfield Foundation during an interview on VOA's Washington Talk.

Summit conditions

Kim Jong Un has responded to Moon's outreach by inviting the South Korean president to visit Pyongyang for a leaders summit soon.

President Moon indicated a willingness to meet with Kim under the right conditions. On Saturday, Moon played down expectations that the summit would happen in the near future and said that he wants to see increased inter-Korean cooperation, and an agreement to discuss the nuclear standoff with the U.S., before a summit can occur.

"I expect the relations between South and North Korea to improve in the future. Meanwhile, a shared understanding to have talks between the United States and North Korea is growing. I hope the inter-Korean talks could lead to talks between U.S. and North Korea and also denuclearization talks," said Moon.

Under Kim Jong Un, North Korea has declared itself a nuclear weapons state and has repeatedly refused to talk about giving up what it claims is needed deterrence to prevent a U.S. invasion.

The U.S., meanwhile, is unwilling to ease economic sanctions pressure until the Kim government agrees to the goal of denuclearization.

Moon's diplomatic efforts are aimed at finding a way to get Pyongyang and Washington in direct talks, despite these opposing stances.

"I don't think the North is really prepared to talk about nuclear issues with South Korea, but South Korea could help facilitate that process getting underway," said Robert Einhorn, a senior fellow for the Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Initiative at the Brookings Institution, during an interview on VOA's Washington Talk.

However President Moon's ability to offer North Korea significant economic incentives to encourage compromise and cooperation is constrained by international sanctions, and the U.S. maximum pressure approach.

And time for Moon's Olympic diplomacy could run out in April, when the U.S. and South Korea are expected to resume joint military exercises. Washington defends these conventional drills as legal under international law and needed to maintain military readiness. But Pyongyang has called them provocative rehearsals for invasion, and could respond by resuming missile or nuclear tests, which could reignite tensions in the region.

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Germany Fails to Fulfill NATO Rapid Response Force Requirements - Reports

Sputnik News

13:06 19.02.2018(updated 18:00 19.02.2018)

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The German Armed Forces lack bulletproof vests, winter uniforms, and tents to fulfill their NATO duties in establishing a rapid response force group, the Rheinische Post newspaper reported, citing a German Defense Ministry document.

The Rheinische Post newspaper reported that the military would not be able to fulfill its promise of mobile deployment at least until 2021. Explaining this delay, the Defense Ministry said that between 2018 and 2020, a total of 10,282 housing units will be needed compared to the only 2,500 units the armed forces have now. The Bundeswehr also needs winter uniforms and bulletproof vests.

In early 2019, the Bundeswehr is set to get on board with a role in creating the NATO Very High Readiness Joint Task Force Spearhead. The project classifies the increased combat readiness of 5,000 troops on standby for deployment wherever needed within 48-72 hours.

Earlier in February, German media also reported that the army did not have enough battle tanks for Spearhead.

NATO has urged the new government in Germany to increase defense spendings in order to achieve the alliance's 2 percent of the GDP goal. Fifteen of NATO's 29 members have achieved plans of spending 2 percent of their GDP on defense in order to meet the alliance's defense spending goal by 2024, overall increasing spending by $46 billion.

Expectations of the Bundeswehr's readiness to invest in NATO are growing, yet there are equipment shortages that forced the German military use alternative materials instead of machine guns during NATO exercises. The reason for the shortage is a lack of spare details and high maintenance costs. The German army will try to cover the "existing deficit of capabilities with elements from other strategic units," according to local media.

 Sputnik

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France says will keep talking to European, US allies on JCPOA

Iran Press TV

Mon Feb 19, 2018 03:27PM

France has stressed the importance of the strict implementation of the multilateral nuclear agreement, saying it would hold more talks with its European and US allies on the Iranian nuclear program.

The French foreign ministry on Monday reaffirmed the country's commitment to the nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries, including France, in 2015.

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

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

"The French position on the Iran nuclear deal is known. As the President of the Republic (Emmanuel Macron) has said, we reaffirm our full attachment to the global action plan and its strict implementation," the ministry said in an online media briefing.

It added, "We will continue to talk about the Iran nuclear program with our European and American partners."

Macron on January 13 stressed the importance of maintaining the nuclear accord during a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"The president spoke of the importance of preserving the Iran nuclear deal, and the necessity for all parties to the agreement to respect the commitments they made," said a statement released by the Elysee Palace.

The French president has earlier told his US counterpart that all the signatories to the Iran nuclear deal should respect the terms of the agreement.

In a phone conversation with Trump, Macron reaffirmed France's determination to see "the strict application of the deal and the importance of all the signatories to respect it," the Elysee Palace said in a statement.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly described the JCPOA, which was negotiated under his predecessor, Barack Obama, as "the worst and most one-sided transaction Washington has ever entered into," a characterization he often used during his presidential campaign, and threatened to tear it up.

Trump on January 12 reluctantly agreed to waive sanctions against Iran that were lifted as part of the landmark deal, but said it would be the last time he issued such a waiver unless conditions were met.

The US president said he wanted America's European allies to use the 120-day period before sanctions relief again came up for renewal to agree to tougher measures and new conditions, otherwise Washington would pull out of the deal.

However, shock leaked White House documents reported that Trump appears to have backed down over his threat to tear up the nuclear deal.

The leaked papers appear to indicate the US president would be happy if Washington's European allies simply promised to try to improve the JCPOA.

The proposal was outlined in a US State Department cable obtained by Reuters, saying Washington is hoping to convince its European allies -- Britain, France and Germany -- to improve the Iran nuclear deal over time in return for Trump keeping the pact alive by renewing US sanctions relief in May.

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Iraqi court sentences Turkish woman to death over joining Daesh terror group

Iran Press TV

Mon Feb 19, 2018 01:52PM

A court in Iraq has sentenced a female Turkish citizen to death and handed down life terms to ten other foreign women for membership in the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group and carrying out acts of terror in the war-ravaged Arab country.

"The Central Criminal Court issued a death penalty by hanging for a female Turkish citizen, and issued ten verdicts of life sentences for other females from different nationalities," Abdul Sattar al-Biraqdar, spokesman for Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council, said in a brief statement on Monday.

Biraqdar noted that the all the sentences are subject to review by the Court of Cassation.

Last month, the same Iraqi court issued a death penalty by hanging for a German citizen of Moroccan origin in accordance with Anti-Terrorism Law.

Biraqdar said the woman, whose identity was not disclosed, had confessed during investigations that she traveled from Germany to Syria and then to Iraq, because she had a strong belief in Daesh.

The German citizen was accompanied with her two daughters, who later married members of Daesh terrorist group.

"The woman is accused of providing logistical support to the terrorist organization, and helped them commit their criminal acts. She is also convicted of complicity in attacking Iraqi security forces," Biraqdar said.

27 Hashd Sha'abi fighters killed in ambush in central Iraq

Meanwhile, at least 27 Iraqi pro-government fighters from Popular Mobilization Units, commonly known by the Arabic name Hashd al-Sha'abi, were killed when the remnants of the Daesh terrorist group staged an ambush on their convoy in the country's oil-rich northern province of Kirkuk.

Hashd al-Sha'abi said in a statement that the attack took place in the al-Saadounya area, southwest of the provincial capital city of Kirkuk, late last night, when the voluntary forces were conducting overnight raids.

The assailants were disguised in army uniforms and pretended to man a fake checkpoint.

The statement added that ensuing clashes lasted for at least two hours and that some of the militants were killed while others fled the area.

Karim al-Nouri, a Hashd al-Sha'abi spokesman, described the attack as a "heinous crime," and called for thorough scrutiny for those returning to their liberated areas.

Brigadier General Yahya Rasool, a spokesman for the Iraqi military, blamed Daesh sleeper cells for the attack, stressing that Iraqi forces were searching the area to find the perpetrators.

Daesh later claimed responsibility for the ambush in a statement published on its Aamaq news agency.

On December 9, 2017, Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared the end of military operations against the Daesh terrorist group in the Arab country.

"Our forces are in complete control of the Iraqi-Syrian border and I therefore announce the end of the war against Daesh," Abadi told a conference in Baghdad then.

On October 5, Abadi said Iraqi armed forces had liberated Hawijah, driving Daesh Takfiris out of their last bastion in the oil-rich northern province of Kirkuk.

On July 10, Abadi formally declared victory over Daesh extremists in Mosul, which served as the terrorists' main urban stronghold in the conflict-ridden Arab country.

In the run-up to Mosul's liberation, Iraqi army soldiers and volunteer Hashd al-Sha'abi fighters had made sweeping gains against Daesh.

The Iraqi forces took control of eastern Mosul in January 2017 after 100 days of fighting, and launched the battle in the west on February 19 last year.

Daesh began a terror campaign in Iraq in 2014, overrunning vast swathes in lightning attacks.

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Bangladesh says to meet with Myanmar on Rohingya trapped at border

Iran Press TV

Mon Feb 19, 2018 03:36PM

Representatives from Bangladesh and Myanmar are set to meet to discuss the repatriation of thousands of Rohingya Muslims trapped on a strip of unclaimed land between the two countries, Bangladeshi officials say.

Relief and Refugee Repatriation Commissioner Mohammad Abul Kalam said on Monday that the meeting would take place Tuesday on the "zero line" near a place called Gundum.

"It is about taking them back to Myanmar," the official said, adding, "They are on the zero line and actually on the Myanmar side."

He noted there was no timeline for repatriations, that anyone going back must do so voluntarily and that Myanmar must provide a safe environment for their return.

"We cannot send them forcibly," Kalam said.

However, several officials in neighboring Myanmar said they were not aware of plans for a meeting.

Caroline Gluck, senior Public Information Officer for the United Nations refugee agency, earlier said the UNHCR was concerned the Rohingya may be forcibly returned to Myanmar without due consideration for their safety.

"We are concerned about the reports of pressures directed at this group of people at the border," Gluck said.

"People who fled violence and discrimination in Myanmar should not be forced to return against their will," she added.

Elsewhere in her remarks, Gluck said the UNHCR was concerned that conditions in Rakhine state were not yet safe for voluntary returns, adding, "We urge both governments to ensure that any return is based on informed consent and takes place in safety and dignity."

The developments come as more than 6,500 Rohingya Muslims are trapped on a strip of unclaimed land between the two countries.

Bangladesh security forces have been instructed not to let these Rohingya cross the border.

The no-man's land used to be an area of paddy fields, but is now dotted with the tarpaulin and bamboo shacks of displaced Rohingya.

A leader of the Rohingya group in the buffer zone, Dil Mohammed, said, "Our no-man's land camp demands are that there must be a safe return, we need security and all basic rights, including citizenship."

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 while conditions were not safe for their return.

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 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.

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Afghan Refugees in Spotlight Amid Debate Over Sources of Unrest

By Shahnaz Nafees February 18, 2018

A security expert from the Afghan-Pakistan region said Pakistani officials are blaming unrest on Afghan refugees in a bid to divert attention from the real causes of militancy.

At a security conference in the German city of Munich Saturday, Pakistan's chief of army staff Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa said the repatriation of Afghan refugees could greatly help in curbing terrorism in the Pak-Afghan region.

"We still have nearly 2.7 million Afghan refugees in our country, whose concentrations are routinely used by TTA (The Afghan Taliban) and the Haqqani network to recruit, morph and melt (disappear into the refugee population). It is time for these refugees to be repatriated with dignity.It is the only way we can ensure that no one is misusing our hospitality and soil for mischief in Afghanistan," Bajwa said.

But Said Alam, a security affairs expert based in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas that border Afghanistan told VOA that by pointing to the presence of Afghan refugees as a major cause, Bajwa tried to divert the world's attention from Pakistan's own "shortcomings" in taking effective steps against militant groups.

"Who are the foot soldiers of Jaish-e-Mohammad? Afghan refugees have nothing to do with the groups that are nurtured by [the] Pakistan army," Alam said. Jaish-e-Mohammad is a militant group blamed for several attacks in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Afghanistan and the United States said Pakistan offers safe haven to the terrorist groups that launch attacks inside Afghanistan, a charge Pakistan denies.

.

Hamid Saeed, former chief of Pakistan's military intelligence and a defense analyst, told VOA that Bajwa's statement regarding the Afghan refugees should be seen in the right context.

"There is evidence that terrorists hiding among the Afghan refugees were behind most of the recent terrorist attacks. Terrorists cross into Pakistan and stay in the refugee camps, making it humanly impossible to carry out any sort of surveillance," he added.

Saeed said the logical solution to terrorism was for Afghan refugees to go home. But Dr. Ijaz Khattak, an international affairs expert, told VOA that mixing the refugee issue with terrorism is a poor strategy."This will further complicate the issue, and the international community is not going to buy this narrative," he told VOA.

On Saturday, Afghanistan's president, Ashraf Ghani, 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.

Pakistan hosts millions of Afghan refugees, half of them undocumented, and has been pressing 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," 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 and for all."

Ayaz Gul, Nasir Mahmood Nasir contributed to this report.

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Tillerson Says U.S. Considering Additional Sanctions Against Russians

RFE/RL February 19, 2018

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says the United States is considering additional sanctions against Russian individuals amid bipartisan criticism for the administration's delay in enforcing a law strengthening restrictions imposed on Moscow.

"We've taken steps that have already prevented a number of Russian military sales as a result of the legislation," Tillerson told CBS television's 60 Minutes program in a wide-ranging interview broadcast on February 18.

"And we are evaluating additional individuals for possible sanctioning," he added.

Congress overwhelmingly voted in favor of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, which cemented existing sanctions and required the U.S. administration to effectively get permission from Congress to lift them.

The bill was reluctantly signed into law by President Donald Trump, who had campaigned on establishing warmer ties with Moscow, but the measures were not enacted by a October 1 deadline.

On February 14, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told the Senate Finance Committee during a hearing that he would soon issue new sanctions against wealthy Russians in retaliation for Moscow's meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, which the Kremlin has denied.

"We are actively working on those sanctions," Mnuchin said. "You should expect them in the near future."

In his interview, Tillerson also spoke on allegations concerning the use of chemical weapons by the Russia-supported Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad against U.S.-backed rebels in the country's nearly seven-year civil war.

In response to interviewer Margaret Brennan's remarks that "there were six chlorine gas attacks in the past 30 days," Tillerson said:

"That's correct. And we have called them out for the fact that Russia has special responsibilities, in our view, because of commitments they made, to destroy chemical weapons and ensure they knew that there were none."

"I think the only difference [from the previous U.S. administration] is the consequences for it. And President Trump has already demonstrated there will be consequences."

When asked if "military action" is still possible for chlorine gas attacks, Tillerson said that "we are serious about our demands that chemical weapons not become regularized or normalized as a weapon in any conflict."

Assad and Russia have denied that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons against rebels, despite conclusions by experts that the regime did carry out such attacks.

With reporting by CBS

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-tillerson- sanctions-u-s-/29047976.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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High-Tech Enemy Probably Attacks Russia in 5 Sectors - General Staff

Sputnik News

14:04 19.02.2018

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The nature of military conflicts has evolved significantly, with a potential high-tech enemy now having the ability conduct them simultaneously on the ground, in the air, at sea, in space as well as cyberspace, Col. Gen. Sergey Rudskoy, said.

"Approaches to the organization and conduct of military operations are changing. New forms and ways of creating, deploying and applying forces are being created. For example, in the event of a conflict with a high-tech enemy, military operations will be conducted simultaneously in five spheres  on the ground, in the air, sea, space, and cyberspace," chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the Russian General Staff Col. Gen. Sergey Rudskoy, wrote in an article published in the Krasnaya Zvezda, the official newspaper of the Russian Defense Ministry.

He noted that recently the volume and scope of the tasks being resolved by the Main Operational Directorate have significantly increased due to the continuously evolving nature of conflicts.

Rudskoy added that the area of military conflicts in which the army and the navy can be applied has expanded. Apart from classic conflicts in which regular armies participate, the military official explained that a new form of combat has appeared, as could be seen in the Syria, where irregular forces act against the government. Also, in his opinion, the balance of military to non-military measures performed by opponents over the course of conflicts of this kind is changing.

The most powerful armies nowadays belong to USA, Russia, China, India, France, Great Britain and Japan. Considering the war possibility, Russia has something to answer the enemy. In particular, the experience gained by the fighters during the special operation in Syria will be applied. Now Russian military forces are working on the generalization of such military operations experience. Then it will be introduced in the training of the military, the management of troops and forces.

In January, Pentagon chief James Mattis said that the US intends to spend billions of dollars on arrangements for a war in outer space with Russia and China.

The US Secretary of Defense said that adapting to today's realities, the US strategy expanded its competitive space, prioritized preparedness for war, provided clear direction for significant change at the speed of relevance, and built a more lethal force to compete strategically with the main rivals, Russia and China.

 Sputnik

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Russian Navy Pilots Practice Air Refueling on Su-30SM Jets for 1st Time

Sputnik News

13:23 19.02.2018

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Pilots of the Russian Navy's fleet air have practiced air-to-air refueling on Su-30SM multirole fighter jets for the first time, the Krasnaya Zvezda, the official newspaper of the Russian Defense Ministry, reported.

Military pilots on Su-30SM fighters for the first time in the recent history of naval aviation of the Russian Navy refueled the aircraft in the air, the Russian Defense Ministry reported. To complete the refueling task, aircraft from the Baltic and the Black Sea fleets flew from the Kaliningrad region and Crimea to the Naval Air Force Combat Employment and Retraining Center aerodrome, by order of Russian Naval Aviation Commander Maj. Gen. Igor Kozhin.

Over the course of the training, Su-30SM and Su-24M aircraft were used in the Naval Air Force Combat Employment and Retraining Center aerodrome, located in the city of Yeysk. In total, fighter jets and bombers navigated by pilots from the Naval Aviation Administration of the Navy and the Baltic and the Black Sea Fleets have contacted the Il-78 refueling aircraft more than 100 times. The pilots carried out more than 40 takeoffs and landings during the flight shifts, according to the publication.

The Su-30SM is a 4+ generation fighter jet that was developed by Russia's Sukhoi company for the needs of the Russian Defense Ministry. The aircraft performed its maiden flight in September 2012. It is a two-seat derivative of the earlier Su-27UB (NATO reporting name: Flanker) able to air-to-air and air-to-ground missions with a wide variety of precision-guided loadout and features thrust-vectoring engines to enhance maneuverability.

 Sputnik

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During addressing Valdai conference in Moscow; Zarif says Iran has no military bases in Syria

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Mon / 19 February 2018 / 15:29

Tehran (ISNA)  Iranian foreign minister announced that the Islamic Republic of Iran has no military bases in Syria, stressing that US presence in Syria is too dangerous.

Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif made the remarks on Monday during addressing the Middle-East Valdai conference in Moscow.

Here is the full text of Mr. Zarif's statement:

In the Name of God, the Compassionate the Merciful

Mr. Chairman,

Minister Lavrov,

Distinguished participants,

Let me begin by thanking Professors Bystritskiy, Lukyanov and Naumkin for organizing this discussion forum and giving me the opportunity to take part. It is a great pleasure for me to be here with my friend, Minister Sergei Lavrov to exchange views and discuss difficult issues we all face at this critical juncture in West Asia. In the fight against extremism and dealing with the complex military and political environment in our wider region, our growing, strategic partnership with the Russian Federation, which stems from our common principles, interests and concerns, has been an important contributor to regional situation.

In my view, the major issues which demand our attention and require urgent solution, are seven-fold:

Frist, despite the territorial defeat of Daesh and some other terrorist groups, and their eviction from much of the land in Iraq and Syria that they had occupied, we believe that we are still vulnerable to the formidable challenge presented by extremism. The heads and operatives of Daesh are at large with formidable weapons and hundreds of millions of dollars of stolen money. They have either returned to their insurgent and terrorist roots or joined sleeper sells.

Their networks are almost intact, and their hate ideology still being spread, by the same petrodollars.

The offshoots Daesh planted in the wider region from Libya to Afghanistan, including in northern Afghanistan on your and our doorstep, are death machines on rampage.

With such capacity still preserved, they look for new breeding grounds. And we must join together to deny them such fertile environments by addressing current crises and issues at hand.

Fighting extremism has undoubtedly a domestic component. Reducing its appeal requires promoting good governance, upholding the rule of law, eliminating corruption, rebuilding the social compact, and reducing poverty and social inequalities; as well as measures that can help prevent real or perceived marginalization and exclusion. The chronic failure of some States to satisfy the minimum demands of their populace for dignity has undermined their effectiveness and created widening social gaps for extremism to exploit.

Second, Syria continues to be the focus of attention in West Asia and beyond. For the past 4 years, Iran and Russia have both insisted that the Syrian crisis could only be resolve politically by Syrians themselves. Our joint efforts to defeat Daesh, and the cooperation between Russia, Iran and Turkey to reduce hostilities and start the political process in Sochi represent the sound forward strategy.

However, a new wave of foreign intervention, in defiance of international law, has become the major impediment in the way of stabilizing the country and threatening to further escalate and create even more permanent social and ethnic divisions.

The US announcement that it will maintain a military presence on Syrian soil and create a militia there constitutes flagrant aggression under international law. It emanates from an ill-conceived obsession coupled with impulsive uncalculated reaction with far reaching local, national and regional ramifications.

So is the almost routine violations of Syrian airspace and air raids by Israel in the past several years, which grabbed international attention only after the Syrian military was able to break the myth of invincibility of Israeli military by downing an F-16 on 10 February.

The attack on 7 February by the US against a Syrian contingent demonstrated that the US is now pursuing a short-sighted and mostly profiteering geo-economic agenda that has nothing to do with fighting terrorism.

If this dangerous policy continues, not only extremism stands to benefit enormously but also the risk of a conflagration in Syria will become ever more serious.

At the same time, while we understand the concerns of our Turkish neighbors about new US adventurism, we are confident that there are appropriate and lawful ways of addressing those concerns through the Syrian government. The current military operation doesn't help the cause of stabilizing Syria, nor is it in the interest of peace and stability in the whole region. It is important that all parties avoid situations that inherently increase the probability of more clashes.

Third, the impulsive U.S. occupation of parts of Syria directly and through hastily-found proxies is a major impediment to the political recovery and rebuilding efforts in that country that also adversely affect the reconstruction of Iraq; moves that are important prerequisite for the political stabilization of the whole region. We believe that the international community needs to attach sufficient attention to the rebuilding of all war-stricken parts of the region as it helps bar the regrouping and recruiting attempts of routed terrorist groups and neutralize the impact of their hate ideology on the population. It is also a moral requirement as we are all indebted to the Iraqi and Syrian peoples for the frontline combat they mounted against extremism on behalf of the whole world.

Fourth, the national cohesion and territorial integrity of Syria and Iraq should top our list of priorities. Ethnic restiveness in Syria and Iraq, tainted with secessionism, constitutes a threat to the whole region and beyond. This is an issue that national and local authorities and all relevant States must address prudently through dialogue and on the basis of national sovereignty, territorial integrity and national constitutions, trying to turn ethnic tension into cooperation and convergence.

Along the same line, it is imperative to restore respect for national frontiers and the nation-state system, both of which have been undermined by terrorist groups and their Takfiri ideology.

Fifth, the Palestinian question, with occupation at its root, remains the most critical issue facing the region and the whole world. The injustice done to and atrocities committed against the Palestinian people in the past 70 years have created a deep-seated sense of anger, resentment and powerlessness in the Islamic world. The recognition by the US president of Al-Quds as the capital of Israel amounted to offering by Trump of what he does not own to those who have no right to it. As such it had no legal or political value but offered a new boost for the recruiting attempts by extremists.

Six, the aggression and indiscriminate airstrikes against the Yemeni people, which was delusionally perceived to achieve a military victory within weeks, is now entering its fourth year. It is another source of tension in the region and another breeding ground for extremists that requires immediate attention. Three year of senseless bombing campaign has made clear that it is a strategic failure with no military solution. Thus, we must encourage an immediate ceasefire and urgent humanitarian relief coupled with urgent national dialogue among Yemeni parties for the establishment of an inclusive government.

Seven, the campaign by the US and its regional clients to distract attention from the real problems by blaming Iran for their own endemic bad choices will certainly not resolve their problems or compensate for their persistent mistakes.

We in Iran believe that nothing can be gained from remaining prisoners of the past and perpetuating the old paradigm of purchasing security, bloc formations and alliances. For many years, we have insisted on searching for political solutions to the crises in Syria and Yemen. Focusing on our immediate volatile neighborhood of the littoral states of the Persian Gulf, we have proposed a Regional Dialogue Forum to move away from decades of war and conflict and forge a different future for our region. We believe two fundamental concepts, that I underlined yesterday at the Munich Security Conference, are essential in this journey. First, our neighbors in the Persian Gulf should join Iran in recognizing that we should strive for a "strong region" in the Persian Gulf rather than a "strong-man in the region". The era of regional and global hegemony is long gone, and hegemonic tendencies only lead to insecurity and instability.

Secondly, we must all abandon the illusion that security can be bought from outside or achieved at the expense of insecurity of others. We need to move away from the defunct concept of coalitions and alliances which rest on the premise of attaining security through exclusion of and insecurity for others. We also need to address the fact of power and size disparities as well as divergence of interests. That is why we need new innovative concepts that are inclusive and non-zero-sum. Regional security networking is one way forward. It allows for small and large nations to contribute to a regional security architecture which promotes security for all. In order to enter this architecture, Persian Gulf states simply need to adhere to common norms and principles, such as sovereign equality of states; refraining from the threat or use of force; peaceful resolution of conflicts; respect for the territorial integrity; inviolability of borders; non-intervention in the domestic affairs of states; and respect for self-determination within states.

We also recognize that we need confidence-building measures in the Persian Gulf: from joint military visits to pre-notification of military exercises; and from transparency measures in armament procurements to reducing military expenditures; all of which could eventually lead to a regional non-aggression pact. We can begin with easier to implement issues such as the promotion of tourism, joint investments, or even joint task forces on issues ranging from nuclear safety to pollution to disaster management.

With Russia's sober strategic perspective and growing influence in the region, it can play an instrumental role to make such a historic paradigm shift in the Persian Gulf a reality.

End Item

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Russia says Nusra terrorists 'recovering strength' in US-controlled zone in S Syria

Iran Press TV

Mon Feb 19, 2018 06:42PM

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has strongly urged the US to immediately shut down its so-called zone of control in southern Syria, saying Washington has practically made the area a safe haven for terrorists of the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham Takfiri terrorist group, formerly known as al-Nusra Front.

The Russian top diplomat was referring to a 55-kilometer zone near the southeastern Syrian town of al-Tanf, in Homs Province, which the US unilaterally declared to be under its protection last year. Among other things, it contains the Rukban refugee camp, which, according to Moscow, is home to many terrorists, including those of the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham outfit.

"Inside the al-Tanf zone, which the Americans unilaterally declared under their protection, and inside the refugee camp" terrorists "are regularly reported to recover strength," Lavrov said at the Valdai Club conference on the Middle East in Moscow on Monday.

"On several occasions they conducted raids from there into other territory of the Syrian Arab Republic. This zone must be shut down immediately," he further said, adding that the US was turning a blind eye to such abuses of its protection.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Lavrov also criticized, without mentioning by name, some member states of the UN Security Council for being hesitant to say that the humanitarian convoys could not enter the US-controlled al-Tanf zone, because Washington "would not guarantee their safety."

"Instead they focus attention on the humanitarian situation in Idlib or Eastern Ghouta," he said, adding that Russia has increasing evidence that the US has no intention of fighting the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham outfit.

Lavrov also dismissed reports that hundreds of Russians had been killed in Syria recently, saying that such reports were an attempt to use improper means to exploit the war in the Arab country.

On Thursday, the Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounced the presence of US forces in al-Tanf, saying the so-called zone of control had become a shelter for the remaining members of Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.

Russia has time and again accused the US of attempting to hamper a Syrian full victory against Daesh, which is on its last legs in eastern Syria and in neighboring Iraq. Moscow has already released evidence revealing that US forces deployed in Dayr al-Zawr's border regions and in Jordan have been collaborating with Daesh and other terrorists, including those of Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, through providing intelligence about Syrian and Russian forces.

Moscow has backed Syria's fight against terror since September 2015 when Russian air force and troops arrived in the Arab country at an official request of Damascus to help the government fight against Daesh and other Takfiri terrorists. Russia's assistance has proved to be a major success as Syria has managed to liberate key areas over the past years, including the country's second largest city, Aleppo.

Washington and its allies back militants fighting to topple the Syrian government. They have also been bombarding what they call Daesh positions inside Syria since September 2014 without any authorization from the Damascus government or a UN mandate. The US strikes, however, have on many occasions resulted in civilian casualties and failed to fulfill their declared aim of countering terrorism.

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Syria facing 'new wave' of US intervention, Iran's Zarif says

Iran Press TV

Mon Feb 19, 2018 11:37AM

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says Syria is facing a "new wave" of US intervention, where Washington is still pursuing geoeconomic interests in the Arab country.

"Unfortunately we see a new wave of foreign intervention and occupation particularly by the US, driven by an obsession," Zarif told a conference in Moscow on Monday.

"If we look at the attack by the US against the Syrian forces on February 7, we see some profiting, a short-sighted geoeconomic interest to capture territory," he added.

The attack on Syrian troops and their allies happened in the eastern Dayr al-Zawr Province, with a US official claiming that more than 100 pro-government forces were killed in the assault.

Washington said it launched the assault after Syrian forces attacked the headquarters of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) which includes Kurdish militants.

Last month, Turkey launched the so-called Operation Olive Branch in Syria's northwestern region of Afrin in a bid to eliminate US-backed Kurdish militants.

Iran's top diplomat on Monday warned that the use of proxies by the US is dangerous for the region.

"We believe that the anxiety of our Turkish neighbors about the US designs in the region are understandable, but this is not the way to address those anxiety Incursions in others' territories is not the way to address the problems," Zarif said.

"The problem in Afrin can best be resolved through lawful and legitimate sources that we have, through the Syrian government," he added.

No Iranian military bases in Syria

Zarif also emphasized that his country has no military bases or military presence in Syria.

The foreign minister referred to the Israeli airstrike that hit Syria earlier this month, calling for an end to the Israeli "aggression".

"What happened in Syria on Saturday [February 10]? Israel violated Syria's airspace several times. It should be noted that Israel is permanently bombing Syria. And Syrian forces had managed to down an Israeli aircraft for the first time," Zarif said.

The Syrian military shot down at least one Israeli F-16 on February 10. Over the past few years, the Israeli military has launched sporadic attacks against various targets on Syrian soil, in assaults slammed by Syria as attempts to boost the terror groups.

'Iran, Saudi could work to stabilize region'

Zarif further did not rule out the possibility that Iran and Saudi Arabia could work together to stabilize and rebuild the region.

"There is nothing that prevents Iran and Saudi Arabia from working together for the improvement of the situation not only in Iraq, but also in Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, Bahrain and elsewhere. We can actually work together as a source of stability and development," he said.

Russia urges US 'not to play with fire' in Syria

Speaking during the same conference, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed concerns over US plans to divide Syria, urging Washington "not to play with fire" in the Arab country.

"Such concerns arise after studying the plans which the US is starting to implement on soil, chiefly east of the Euphrates, on the vast territories between this river and Syria's borders with Iraq and Turkey," he added.

"I once again call on our American colleagues not to play with fire and measure their steps proceeding not from immediate needs of today's political environment, but rather from long-term interests of the Syrian people and of all peoples of this region," Lavrov said.

He called US actions in Syria provocative, saying the Americans "involved the units of the Kurdish Democratic Union party in their position to undermine Syria's territorial integrity, in fact, which led to an escalation of tensions with Turkey, and you know what is now going on in Afrin."

Lavrov said US claims that its only objective in Syria was the war on terror contradicted its real deeds in the country.

Washington, he said, is not interested in fighting the Takfiri terror group of Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, formerly known as Nusra Front or al-Qaeda's Syria branch.

"We have more and more evidence, which makes it possible to doubt that our Western counterparts in the US-led coalition are ready to fight Jabhat al-Nusra [Nusra Front] in earnest, despite the fact that it has been added to all resolutions and has been designated as a terrorist organization by the UN Security Council," he said.

Syria: US presence, Turkey intervention hinder solution

Bouthaina Shaaban, a top adviser to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, stressed that the US presence in Syria as well as the Turkish offensive hinder efforts to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis and a full victory in the war on terror.

"The Turkish regime has helped terrorists to enter Syria," she said, adding Ankara "violated the international laws" and interfered in northern Syria after it realized that the Takfiri militants have failed.

She hailed the role of Russia and Iran in finding a solution to the Syrian conflict, saying the US and other European countries on the contrary seek to dominate Syria in order to serve their interests in the region and protect the Israeli regime.

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Syria sends forces to Afrin amid Turkish siege: TV

Iran Press TV

Mon Feb 19, 2018 10:46AM

Syria's state television says government-backed forces will soon enter the northern region of Afrin, which has been under Turkish attacks for a month now.

Turkey began attacking the region on January 19, prompting local authorities to ask Damascus for help.

On Monday, state news agency SANA cited its correspondent in Aleppo as saying that government-backed forces would enter the city shortly.

"Popular forces will arrive in Afrin in the next few hours to support the steadfastness of its people in confronting the aggression which Turkish regime forces have launched on the region," it said.

A senior Syrian Kurdish official said on Sunday that Kurdish authorities and the Syrian government had reached a deal for the Syrian army to enter Afrin, and that it could be implemented within two days.

"We call on the Syrian state to carry out its sovereign obligations towards Afrin and protect its borders with Turkey from attacks of the Turkish occupier," Kurdish authorities in Afrin said in a statement late last month.

Ankara began its incursion with the express aim of confronting YPG militants which it views a terror organization linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) rebels fighting for autonomy on Turkish soil.

It came after the US announced plans to set up a 30,000-strong force with the help of Syrian Kurdish militants close to the Turkish border in Syria.

YPG constitutes the backbone of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) militants which are being trained and equipped by the US, much to Turkey's dismay.

On Monday, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told a conference in Moscow that the use of proxies by the United States is dangerous for the region.

"We believe that the anxiety of our Turkish neighbors about the US designs in the region are understandable, but this is not the way to address those anxiety Incursions in others' territories is not the way to address the problems," Zarif said.

Turkey has threatened to expand its attacks to the nearby area of Manbij, where American forces are present.

The US military has called on Turkey to halt its military action in Afrin. Ankara, for its part, has urged Washington to either stop supporting Kurdish militants or risk a confrontation.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has harshly denounced the US invasion and also slammed the Turkish incursion as an act of aggression.

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At least five killed, seven injured as bomb rocks Syria's Hasakah

Iran Press TV

Mon Feb 19, 2018 12:23AM

At least five people have been killed by a car bomb in Syria's northeastern Hasakah province.

According to Syria's official news agency SANA on Sunday, at least seven people were also injured in the blast, which shook the al-Gharbi neighborhood of the town of Qamishli.

The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that "an explosion went off inside a car in the city's al-Gharbi neighborhood."

Qamishli is mostly controlled of Kurdish forces, although Syrian government forces have a limited presence in the city's "security quarter."

The city has been hit by car bomb attacks on multiple occasions during the seven-year conflict in the country, most of which have been claimed by Daesh.

Kurds: Deal reached with Damascus for support in Afrin

According to senior Kurdish official on Sunday, an agreement has been reached with the Syrian government over troops entering Afrin to help with repelling Turkish forces.

Badran Jia Kurd told reporters that government forces would be deployed on several border locations and could enter the region over the next few days.

Turkey has been waging "Operation Olive Branch" against Syria's Afrin region since January 20 in a bid to eliminate the US-backed People's Protection Units (YPG), which forms the backbone of the SDF. The Turkish government views the YPG as a terror organization and the Syrian branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The latter has been fighting for an autonomous region inside Turkey since 1984.

The announcement 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.

"We can cooperate with any side that lends us a helping hand in light of the barbaric crimes and the international silence," Jia Kurd noted.

Jia Kurd added the agreement with the Syria government was purely military and that no border political agreements had been yet reached.

"When it comes to the political and administrative matters in the region, it will be agreed upon with Damascus in the later stages through direct negotiations and discussions," he said.

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If Syrian Forces Enter Afrin, It Will Lead to Catastrophe - Turkish Deputy PM

Sputnik News

20:23 19.02.2018(updated 21:22 19.02.2018)

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag has commented on reports about the possible deployment of Syrian government forces to Afrin during a news conference following a cabinet meeting.

According to the official, Ankara doesn't believe these reports, adding that Turkey didn't have any proof yet.

"The news of the agreement between the YPG [Kurdish militia] and the Syrian government for the latter to send forces to Afrin appeared today. We are following these reports. The information has not been confirmed to us through official channels. As far as we know, nobody is talking about sending Syrian government forces there at the moment," Bozdag told reporters.

However, as the deputy prime minister specified, if the Syrian armed forces entered Afrin to support Kurdish militants, this would lead to a catastrophe, giving a green light to split the country.

"If the Syrian government enters [Afrin] to support the YPG, it will pave the way for a catastrophe," Bozdag said.

The deputy prime minister continued by saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan had discussed the situation in Afrin earlier in the day and Russia's stance on Turkey's military operation in Afrin remained the same as before.

The statement was made following reports made by Syrian state TV claiming that Syrian government forces would enter Afrin "within hours."

However, this information has been denied by YPG representative in Afrin Brusk Haseke, who called them false and fake news in his interview to Sputnik.

Addressing the issue earlier in the day, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stated that in case if the troops entered the besieged city to support terrorists (referring to the YPG forces), "no one will stop" the Turkish army.

Olive Branch Operation

Speaking about the course of Turkey's military operation in the area, codenamed Olive Branch, Bozdag stated that the advance would continue as planned.

Commenting on the possibility of a standoff with the US-backed Kurdish forces on the ground, he expressed hope that there would be no need to extend the offensive to Manbij, as all existing issues might be solved through dialogue.

The comment followed Ankara's previous threats to push the military advance some 100 km (60 miles) east to Manbij, where Syrian Kurdish YPG troops are stationed.

Syrian Manbij has been a subject of dispute between Ankara and Washington for several years. Former US Vice President Joseph Biden promised in 2016 that all the soldiers of the Kurdish formations of the People's Protection Units (YPG), which are part of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) coalition, will leave the city and move to the eastern shore of the Euphrates River after the liberation of Manbij from militants of the Daesh terrorist group (banned in Russia).

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has stated repeatedly that the operation "Olive Branch," which Turkey is conducting in the north of Syria, may be extended to the city of Manbij, and urged the US to withdraw its units from there. In early February, Bekir Bozdag said that the Turkish Armed Forces could enter Manbij if SDF forces did not leave the city, and that even American servicemen dressed in the SDF uniform could be targeted.

Such a possible move could trigger a potential confrontation between Turkish forces and US troops deployed around the town.

The operation against Kurdish militants in Afrin was launched on January 20, when the Turkish forces started a massive attack against the US-backed Kurdish People's Protection Units, or YPG groups, which now control Afrin and are affiliated by Ankara to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) - a terrorist organization, according to Turkey.

The Syrian side, in its turn, has slammed the Turkish operation as "treacherous aggression," calling it an attempt to undermine the country's sovereignty.

 Sputnik

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'Don't Play With Fire': Lavrov Slams US Attempts to Break Up Syria

Sputnik News

09:54 19.02.2018(updated 14:47 19.02.2018)

Lavrov called on the US not to "play with fire" in Syria and emphasized that the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be preserved.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has voiced concern that US actions in Syria are aimed at partitioning Syria and accused Washington of using the Kurds to undermine the Arab Republic's territorial integrity.

"Such fears arise when we get acquainted with the plans that the US is beginning to implement on the ground, primarily to the east of the Euphrates, on vast territories between this river and the border with Syria with Iraq and Turkey."

The Russian top diplomat urged Washington not to "play with fire" in Syria and carefully consider its steps based "not on immediate needs of today's political situation, but rather from the long-term interests of the Syrian people and all the peoples of this region, including the Kurds," adding, "It seems to me that the statements of our American colleagues that the only purpose is to fight ISIL [Daesh] and preserve territorial integrity need to be confirmed by actions."

"Unfortunately, with all the statements about the need to unite efforts in the fight against this common evil [terrorism], there is still a desire to use this situation for geopolitical narrow-minded purposes and attempts continue to move away from truly collective work," Lavrov said, when speaking on session of the International Discussion Club "Valdai".

He has emphasized that the Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity must be preserved, in accordance with international law and UN resolutions.

The Kurds are being used in a game, which has no relation to their own interests, the foreign policy chief said, urging to refrain from exploiting the so-called "Kurdish factor."

According to Lavrov, the United States is creating governing bodies that are "deliberately" formed in such a way as to "have no connection with Damascus" in the territories located to the east of the Euphrates and up to Syria's border.

"This can be a very serious problem in terms of meeting the requirements of the UN Security Council to ensure the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria I think that the success of the Syrian settlement depends not on what else Russia can do, but on what the United States will not do, it would be better if they stopped playing very dangerous games that lead to the division of the Syrian state," the minister stressed.

According to Lavrov, Russia has doubts that the US-led coalition truly aims to fight al-Nusra Front terrorists in Syria.

"Al-Nusra Front militants do not halt their provocations. In particular, they shelled residential areas of Damascus, including the Russian embassy, the Russian trade mission, from East Ghouta. Nevertheless, our Western partners for some reason prefer to make a fuss about these two areas  Idlib, East Ghouta, without saying what is happening there," he said.

Calls to stop the Syrian army's operation in Idlib are aimed at shielding the al-Nusra Front terrorist group, Lavrov said.

"In line with all the existing accords, the anti-terror struggle could not be limited by anything and we are very concerned that only the Syrian army and Russia's Aerospace Force backing the army are trying to crush this affiliate of al-Qaeda [terrorist group outlawed in Russia]," the minister added.

The minister added that the Western states that can exert influence on the Nusra Front should take steps to "discipline" this group.

Previously, the Russian foreign minister blamed the US for aiming to separate part of Syria to create a Kurdish-dominated autonomy.

The Kurds took advantage of the fighting in Syria and in 2011 and proclaimed a semi-autonomous state along the norther border of the country. In addition to this, in January, US Col. Thomas Veale announced that the US-led coalition had been training the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that comprises the YPG to create a 30,000-strong force to maintain security along Syria's borders, which had been slammed as a "terrorist army" by Ankara. Following the controversial announcement, the Turkish army launched operation dubbed the "Olive Branch" in Syria's Kurds-dominated Afrin against Kurdish YPG forces, which Ankara believes have links to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), designated as a terrorist organization in Turkey.

Reports Alleging Hundreds of Russians Died in Syria Are Attempts to Speculate on War

According to the Russian foreign minister, reports claiming that hundreds of Russian "mercenaries" had been killed in a US-led coalition's airstrike targeting pro-Damascus militia are aiming at "speculating on war."

He emphasized that mercenaties from around the world were fighting in Syria.

Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, stated that preliminary information suggests that five Russian nationals had died in the strike. According to Zakharova, reports of hundreds of Russian citizens killed in the airstrike are "disinformation" by anti-government forces.

On February 8, US Central Command announced that the coalition conducted what it described as "defensive airstrikes" against pro-government forces near the Euphrates River as a response to an alleged attack against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) headquarters. The airstrikes have reportedly resulted in the death of at least 100 pro-government troops.

Damascus has slammed the attack as "a new act of aggression that constitutes a war crime and a crime against humanity," while the Russian Defense Ministry said that the attack showcased that the real goal behind Washington's "illegal military presence in Syria" was control over the country's economic assets rather than defeating Daesh.

Later, media reports emerged, alleging that a large number of Russian "mercenaries" had been killed in airstrikes. So far, the death of one Russian citizen Kiril Ananyev from an activist group "Another Russia" has been reported by the organization's coordinator.

When asked to comment on the reports, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that he didn't rule out that Russian nationals, who do not belong to the Russian Armed Forces, could be in Syria.

Statements That Israel Should Be Destroyed Unacceptable

"We have repeatedly said that we do not accept the statement that Israel, as a Zionist entity, must be destroyed, razed to the ground. I think this is absolutely the wrong way to promote our own interests. Similarly, we do not agree with attempts to address any regional problem through the prism of the objective to fight against Iran," Lavrov said at the conference "Russia in the Middle East: playing on all fields" in Moscow.

It is important to conduct an investigation into incidents at the Israeli-Syrian border, there UN mechanism which can be used for these purposes, Lavrov stated.

The statement came in response to a remark made by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who stated that Israel had violated Syria's airspace and such "aggression" should be stopped.

Zarif referred to IDF's downing of an alleged Iranian drone in Syria, with Damascus' air defenses launching several anti-aircraft missiles against the Israeli F-16 fighter in response.

Following the incident, the Iranian Foreign Ministry has once again denied its military presence in Syria, lambasting claims about the downed drone.

Despite Israeli and US officials' statements, voicing concern over alleged Iranian presence on Syria, Tehran has repeatedly strongly refuted claims of its troops' presence in Syria, however, admitted sending military advisors to help the Syrian government fight terrorists. The Islamic Republic has also been acting as one of the guarantors of the ceasefire regime in the Arab Republic and as a broker in peace talks.

 Sputnik

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Iran Has No Military Bases in Syria - FM Zarif

Sputnik News

09:34 19.02.2018(updated 11:43 19.02.2018)

Iran has no military bases or military presence in Syria, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Monday.

"No, we do not have them [in Syria]," Zarif told reporters when asked the relevant question.

According to the top official, Israel violated Syria's airspace and such "aggression" should be stopped.

"What happened in Syria on Saturday [February 10]? Israel violated Syria's airspace several times. It should be noted that Israel is permanently bombing Syria. And Syrian forces had managed to down an Israeli aircraft for the first time," Zarif said.

The statement comes amid Israeli and US officials' concern over alleged Iranian presence in Syria, a claim that Tehran has repeatedly refuted, however, admitting that it sends military advisors to help the Syrian government fight terrorists.

Earlier this month, the Israeli Air Force allegedly downed an Iranian UAV

in Syria, with Syrian air defenses, launching several anti-aircraft missiles against the Israeli F-16 fighter in response.

Following the retaliatory fire, the Israeli side attacked 12 positions in Syria, including eight Syrian airplanes and three anti-aircraft batteries. Following the incident, Iranian Foreign Ministry has once again denied its military presence in Syria, lambasting claims about the downed drone.

Speaking further, Zarif said that Iran and Saudi Arabia could work together to stabilize and reconstruct the region.

"There is nothing that prevents Iran and Saudi Arabia from working together for the improvement of the situation not only in Iraq, but also in Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, Bahrain and elsewhere. We can actually work together as a source of stability and development," Zarif said at the conference "Russia in the Middle East: playing on all fields" in Moscow.

On the Situation in Afrin

According to Zarif, the issue of Syria's Afrin could only be solved by the legitimate Syrian government.

"The problem in Afrin can best be resolved through lawful and legitimate sources that we have, through the Syrian government," Zarif said at the conference "Russia in the Middle East: playing on all fields" in Moscow.

Senior Kurdish official Badran Jia Kurd announced the day before that the Syrian Kurdish forces and government had reached an agreement for the Syrian army to enter Afrin to help halt Turkish attacks. He added that the army troops would be deployed along a number of border positions and were expected to arrive in the Afrin region within the next two days.

Turkish "Olive branch" operation in Syria's Afrin has been carried out since late January. According to the data, provided by Ankara, Turkey has eliminated over 1.5 thousand militants, including both Kurdish fighters and Daesh militants.

On US Presence in Syria

Syria is currently facing a "new wave" of intervention by the United States, as Washington continues to pursue its geoeconomic interests, Zarif said Monday.

"Unfortunately we see a new wave of foreign intervention and occupation particularly by the US driven by an obsession. If we look at the attack by the US against the Syrian forces on February 7, we see some profiting, a short-sighted geoeconomic interest to capture territory," Zarif said at the conference.

The use of proxies by the United States is dangerous for the region, the politician added.

"We believe that the anxiety of our Turkish neighbors about the US designs in the region are understandable, but this is not the way to address those anxiety Incursions in others' territories is not the way to address the problems," Zarif stressed.

On February 7, the US-led coalition said in a statement that it had conducted defensive airstrikes against the pro-government forces in Syria that attacked the headquarters of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) east of the Euphrates River. On February 8, media reported citing a US official that at least 100 Syrian pro-government troops had been killed in the coalition's air and artillery strikes.

The US-led coalition of more than 70 members is conducting military operations against Daesh in Syria without any approval of Damascus.

Within the coalition, Washington provides support to the People's Protection Units (YPG), which are regarded by Ankara as affiliates of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), designated as a terrorist organization in Turkey and several other countries.

The United States has also planned to create 30,000-strong border forces on the Turkey-Syria frontier.

Furthermore, the US side continues the de facto occupation of a 34-mile zone around its military base in Syria's At-Tanf helping Daesh militants to hide from the Syrian government troops, the Russian Foreign Ministry said last week.

 Sputnik

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Turkey will confront Syrian forces if they enter Afrin to help YPG: FM Cavusoglu

Iran Press TV

Mon Feb 19, 2018 03:59PM

Turkish foreign minister says it will confront any Syrian pro-government forces entering in the Kurdish-controlled enclave of Afrin to protect the US-backed People's Protection Units (YPG), as Damascus reportedly intends to send pro-government forces to the flashpoint region to join forces with the Kurds against Turkish troops.

Mevlut Cavusoglu's remarks on Monday came a month after Ankara waged the "Operation Olive Branch" in Syria's Afrin region to eliminate the "terrorist" YPG group, which is considered by the Turkish government as the Syrian branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The latter has been fighting for an autonomous region inside Turkey since 1984.

"If the regime [in Damascus] is entering there to cleanse the PKK and PYD, then there are no problems," he said, referring to the Kurdistan Democratic Union Party (PYD), which is considered as the YPG's political wing.

"However, if it comes in to defend the YPG, then nothing and nobody can stop us or Turkish soldiers," Cavusoglu's further told a press conference during a visit to the Jordanian capital Amman.

His comments came a few hours after Syria's official SANA news agency reported that government-backed "popular forces will arrive in Afrin in the next few hours to support the steadfastness of its people in confronting the aggression which Turkish regime forces have launched on the region."

The report came a day after a senior Syrian Kurdish official said that Kurdish authorities and the Syrian government had allegedly struck a deal for the Syrian army to enter Afrin in a bid to end the Turkish offensive in the northern region.

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.

On late Saturday, the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a US-backed anti-Damascus militant group, announced that that it had, for the first time, carried out a special cross-border operation against a gathering of Turkish troops and their allied Syrian factions in Kirikhan, a district in Turkey's southern Hatay province. The YPG forms the largest part of the US-backed SDF coalition.

On Sunday, the Turkish General Staff said in a statement that a total of 1,614 militants had been "neutralized" since the start of Operation Olive Branch in Afrin. Turkish authorities use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the militants in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.

It added that a total of 674 "terrorist targets" had also been destroyed in airstrikes since the start of the operation.

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.

Operation Olive Branch in Afrin region is Turkey's second major military intervention in Syria during the unprecedented foreign-backed militancy that broke out in 2011.

In August 2016, Turkey began a unilateral military intervention in northern Syria, code-named Operation Euphrates Shield, sending tanks and warplanes across the border. Ankara claimed that its military campaign was aimed at pushing the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group from Turkey's border with Syria and stopping the advance of Kurdish forces, who were themselves fighting Daesh.

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No One Can Stop Turkish Forces if Syrian Army Enters Afrin - FM

Sputnik News

13:54 19.02.2018(updated 19:21 19.02.2018)

The Turkish foreign minister has commented on recent reports made by Syrian state TV that pro-Syrian government forces would enter Syria's Afrin "within hours."

"We have started an operation in Afrin in order to get rid of the threat to our national security. We still insist on this."

However, the foreign minister went on to say, "Now the question is - will the forces of the regime [of Syrian President Bashar Assad] enter Afrin or not? And if they enter, then for what purpose? If they come to clear it from the YPG, there are no problems. If they support terrorists, no one will stop us. This applies to Afrin, Manbij and the east of the Euphrates," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said, as aired by the NTV broadcaster.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese media outlet Al-Masdar News reports of a massive artillery bombardment of Afrin by the Turkish army, aimed, as the media claimed, to prevent the entry of Syrian troops into the area.

A similar report has been made by Al Mayadeen TV channel, saying that the Syrian forces could hardly enter Afrin today, as the Turkish forces have been shelling the routes to the city. According to the media outlet, at least eight people have been wounded as a result of the attack.

Nonetheless, the information about the shelling has not been confirmed by any side of the conflict.

Possible Syrian Forces' Deployment

The statement was made after earlier in the day, Senior Kurdish official, Badran Jia Kurd, told the Reuters news agency that Syrian Kurdish forces and the country's government had agreed on the deployment of Syrian army troops along border positions in the Afrin region, aiming to curb the Turkish military operation, and that the military would enter the besieged Afrin within the next two days.

However, this information has been refuted by a YPG representative in Afrin Brusk Haseke, who had called them false and fake news in his interview to Sputnik, saying that the Syrian government forces would not enter Afrin.

As he explained, due to the false information circulating, civilians in Afrin and Aleppo mistakenly believe that the Syrian army had entered the city, while it was simply civilian buses that had arrived.

As Haseke specified, the YPG would make an announcement if the Syrian forces entered Afrin or if an agreement had been reached on the issue or "the situation changes in any way." However, he failed to comment on whether there were any corresponding negotiations between the Syrian army and the YPG regarding the matter.

At the same time, YPG commander Sipan Hemo stated that the Syrian army should take the biggest part of the responsibility for the defense of Afrin against what he called a Turkish invasion, urging Damascus to "immediately send in reinforcements to the border region with Turkey."

Olive Branch

The offensive against Kurdish militants in Afrin, dubbed "Olive Branch," was launched on January 20. The Turks started a massive attack against the US-backed Kurdish People's Protection Units, or YPG groups, which now control Afrin and are deemed by Ankara to be affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) - a terrorist organization, according to Turkey.

Commenting on the Turkish operation, Damascus has slammed it as "treacherous aggression" and calling it an attempt to undermine's the country's sovereignty.

 Sputnik

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Turkish Foreign Minister Warns Syria About Military Intervention

By Dorian Jones February 19, 2018

With Turkish-led forces stepping up their military operations against the Syrian Kurdish militia, the YPG, in Syria's Kurdish-controlled Afrin enclave, Ankara has reacted cautiously to reports that Damascus is set to intervene militarily.

"If they are getting there to clean out YPG, then there is no problem," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Monday. "But If Syrian forces are entering Afrin to protect YPG, no one can militarily stop us."

The Turkish government has declared the goal of its operation is to remove all YPG militia from Afrin and create a 30-kilometer (19 miles) security zone.

Ankara accuses the militia of being terrorists linked to a decades-long insurgency in Turkey. The United States backs the YPG in the fight against Islamic State.

Monday, Syrian state television claimed forces backed by the government of President Bashar al-Assad had reached an agreement with the YPG to deploy in the contested Afrin enclave.

Syrian Kurdish militia officials are reportedly giving mixed messages on whether a final agreement with Damascus has been reached.

Syrian officials say the Turkish offensive into Afrin is an infringement on territorial integrity, and warn Syria will take steps to resist it. Ankara says the operation is only about securing its borders and is within international law.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has refused calls by opposition party leaders in Turkey to open a dialogue with his Syrian counterpart.

A potential military clash between Turkey and Syria poses a problem for Russia, which is a major backer of the Assad regime, but maintains ties with Erdogan. Russian forces are allowing Turkish jets to enter Syrian airspace in support of the ongoing military offensive.

Turkish media reported Monday the Russian and Turkish leaders spoke by telephone to discuss Syria.

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260m deal signed to keep RAF giants flying

A 260 million agreement with the United States Government to support RAF C-17 heavy lift transport aircraft into the next decade has been signed by the MOD, Defence Minister Guto Bebb announced today.

17 February 2018

The Foreign Military Sale agreement will provide support for the RAF's fleet of eight C-17A Globemaster III aircraft, which provided lifesaving humanitarian relief following Hurricane Irma last summer.

Defence Minister Guto Bebb said:

"Our C-17 giants take everything from heavy equipment to vital troops to where they're needed right across the globe. This deal keeps them in the air into the next decade and affirms our leadership, alongside our American allies, in providing global security and humanitarian aid as we stand together in defence of our shared values."

This bilateral deal will deliver spares, design services, reliability and maintenance improvements, access to technical resources, and RAF aircrew and maintenance crew training programmes.

It will sustain more than 50 jobs in the UK through the support of a Boeing team at RAF Brize Norton, the home of the UK's C-17 operators, 99 Squadron RAF. Further work will be carried out in the US at Boeing facilities in San Antonio, Texas.

The new agreement, which extends and builds upon support arrangements that have existed since the C-17 came into UK service in 2001, will run until 2022.

As part of the UK's Joint Rapid Reaction Force, the C-17 provides the RAF with long-range strategic heavy-lift ability, meaning it can deliver equipment and supplies close to where UK troops are on operations. Support for the RAF's C-17 fleet is delivering an important need laid out in the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015.

Defence Equipment & Support Chief of Materiel (Air), Air Marshal Julian Young, said:

"The signature of this deal has come about through the close relationship the Ministry of Defence has with our counterparts in the US, and will deliver world-leading support for the front line."

"It means the UK will be able to continue to depend on the C-17's remarkable capabilities in support of operations all over the world."

With a maximum airspeed of around 510 miles per hour, the jet can transport 77 tonnes of cargo, equivalent to three Apache attack helicopters or a Challenger 2 tank, and has a wingspan equivalent to the length of five double-decker buses.

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Living the life, tasting it and experiencing it to the maximum help you lead a purposeful life. It is important for you to reach out excitedly and with no fear for richer and newer experience. However, you should workout towards budget travel if you desire to visit your dream destination across the world.

Budget travel helps you plan for the right places to travel in the world as you know how much you have to spend. It is prudent for you to start saving as early as possible to reach your target amount. This is a vital step as you will have ample time to prepare and ensure that there is no cancellation of your trip at the last minute due to lack of enough funds.

Allow your mind to drift to the best countries to visit across the world and with the help of best budget vacations, you will be able to make an informed decision on which country to visit. The following are 9 countries that you may consider for family vacations or another form of holiday you want:

Uruguay



Uruguay has a wide range of beautiful places to visit. These places include upscale beach resorts, historical places and untouched beaches among others. However, it has few landmark attractions. Some of the places you can visit include the following:

Montevideo  it is the biggest city in Uruguay and known to be its capital city. It is well-known to be a city with laid back surrounding even in its busiest areas and European architecture. Teatro Solis, Parque Rodo, old city quarter and Puerta de la Ciudadela are some of its landmarks. Rambla, a 22km public walk along the coast of the city is another attractive that you cannot miss. There are also beaches where you can get a relaxing experience as you can watch setting of the sun and play sports.

Piriapolis  it was known to be the countrys destination for the summer holiday. Currently it is a popular place due to its beaches and it has tranquil atmosphere. Sugar Loaf Mountain is known to be the 3rd highest point in the country and it is found in Piriapolis. You can view gaucho landscape and coastline from its top. You can get to this destination from the airport or by using a bus. The best option if renting a car where you can get to explore more about the countrys coast.

The Rocha Coast  it is less developed. It has amazing places for distinct groups of tourist, family, surfers or young adults. The places include La Pedrera, Cabo Polonio and La Paloma. This is a place that can be an affordable family vacation.

Punta Del Este  known to be a beach resort town. It has beautiful beaches, glitzy nightlife and modern city. It is also a summer destination.

Vietnam



It is well-known to be a great destination for the Western visitors. Its main attraction feature is sublime countryside which is from paddy fields (from Mekong Delta) and limestone Karts (from the north to waterways).

The Cuisine is the place where you can have the best food and at an affordable price. It is among the affordable places to travel in the country. Some of the places that you can visit include:

Ho Chi Minh City- it is a perfect place for those individuals who love big cities. The city is a hub for crazy and buzzing commercial. Its streets are insanely clogged by cars and motorbike. It has cosmopolitan scene of cafe and restaurant. This is the place where you can find best experience when shopping.

Hue  it is Vietnams historic town. You will be able to check out the great Ngo Mon Gate while touring its grounds. It has wide range of historic sites and you can reach this place by riverboat cruise along the Perfume River. The day cruise may take you to see many tombs.

Halong Bay  it is World Heritage Site for UNESCO and it is mesmerizing sea views. Its bay has many limestone islands and you can enjoy its scenery by taking a boat.

South Africa



South Africa is among the cheap places to travel in Africa as you can be able to have your safari experience with the Big 5 without having to burden yourself financially. Hluhluwe-Imfolozi is a place where you will get to see the White Rhino. You will be able to enjoy superlative hiking experience in the Drakensberg. Spending some days in wonderful Cape Town will do you good.

It is a country which offers amazing vacation deals ranging from superb cuisine, great beaches, fine weather, modern accommodations and gorgeous scenery. The southern part of the country gives you a wide range of adventurous scenes such as diving with white sharks and off-roading on your safari. It is a great destination that offers you the best experience.

Thailand



It is a popular place with backpackers. Thailand offers affordable vacation spots such as idyllic islands, plenty beach-huts, tantalizing cuisine as well as adventures galore. You do not have to worry so much about the funds you require for your budget trips as its prices are staggeringly low.

You can check out the Nakhon Si Thammarat to get the best food in the country. You can also hire a motorbike for a 600km trip in the Mae Hong Son Loop passing through the forested mountains in the northern part of the country.

Prague, Czech republic



Prague is a place known to be cheap for you to visit as its air and hotel packages are affordable to many individuals. It has a beautiful city which has full history and it is a perfect place for you to spend your leisure time. You will be able to enjoy a hearty meal as well as have decent local bear with few Czech Crowns.

Cuba



It is a fascinating country that is infectious as you will enjoy life while here. It has the life, the music and the color are all in Cuba. However, travelling to this country might be a bit tricky for you as public transport is known not to exist and hitching is not advisable. Self-drive is not the best option also when you want to visit places such as North America, Australia or the UK.

Therefore budget holidays are very important when you want to visit Cuba. It is advisable that you consult with some of the great small-group companies which deal with tourism. They are known to be safe and they ensure that you are safe. Therefore, they ensure that you get the value of your time and money as you do not need to waste time while waiting for the buses.

Every big city and a little town in the country is well-known to be unique in its way. You may visit Havana city where you will get its rich-culture other towns that you may want to visit are: Vinales, Cienfuegos, Trinidad and Valadero.

Related : Travelling To Cuba Is Now Cheaper

Greece



Despite the countrys current economic crisis, it is a place where you will get to relax, enjoy its culture and view its sceneries. There are amazing places to visit and you are advised to have enough money for your travels and therefore, you will be sure of enjoying great trips across the country.

Related : 20 Of The Worlds Most Ancient Cities To Visit For Time Travel Experience

India



It is a country that allows you to travel widely and have amazing food at affordable prices. It is a place that can be affordable vacations for couples as you can visit many places with your budgeted cash.

It is known to offer cheap beach vacations such as the eschew Goa beaches in Gokarna. Kebabs and puris in Mumbai are intended for amazing food. The endless sands of its Thar Desert can be explored from Jaisalmer, the Golden City.

Related : Top 5 Beach Destinations In India

Nepal



Nepal has famous places to visit and therefore, individuals visit there for their own reasons. There are those who want to trek or climb the Himalayas, others go for Nepals rich culture, spiritual awakening and for a visit to Kathmandu City.

It is a life-changing incident as you will interact with the new and amazing environment. You can also visit the National Park to see the wild animals. However, you are advised to check the local conditions prior to your visit to Nepal because of the major earthquake which occurred in the year 2015.

Related : The Cheapest Flights In Every Continent For Budget Travelers

Conclusion

Change is as good as rest and therefore, visiting a new place will do you good. There are many countries with exciting places for either for your family vacations, own holidays or couple vacations. You are advised to plan in advance for your trips for you to see your dream of visiting a certain place come true.

Budget travel helps in ensuring that there are no last-minute cancellations and it is intended to keep you within your budget. You can check through travel agencies or using the internet the travel packages, the destinations and any other offers available to make a decision on the suitable place for you.

Related Posts
Greenwich Avenue in Greenwich is the nation's fifth most expensive street, based on average square-foot rent costs, according to JLL, a professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management.

Rents on the avenue average $86.53 per square foot, with top rents coming in at $101, a 177.4 percent premium compared with the rest of Fairfield County, according to the firm. JLL noted that Greenwich Avenue is home to a number of hedge funds, financial services companies and upscale retailers and restaurants.
STAMFORD  Thomas Kelly and his colleagues at Mexicue spent the past couple of years looking for a location with the ingredients for the restaurant to expand outside New York City. They found it on the waterfront in the citys South End.

The Mexican-influenced Mexicue opened Thursday its fourth establishment, at 15 Harbor Point Road, in the Harbor Point complex. It is taking some 5,000 square feet in a space formerly occupied by the Latin-tinged Paloma, as it joins a busy restaurant row whose lineup continues to change.

We looked at locations in Fairfield and Westchester counties and Philadelphia, but as soon as we saw this space, it was kind of a done deal, Kelly, Mexicues founder and president, said in an interview last week at the restaurant. Having a nice, big open space on the water within this vibrant community here was a no-brainer.

Harbor Point comprises Mexicues first location outside New York City. The business started in 2010 as a food truck in Manhattan and Brooklyn, before opening brick-and-mortar locations in Manhattan at 1440 Broadway in 2014 and 225 Fifth Ave. in 2015. Another Mexicue in Manhattan opened last year at 160 Eighth Ave.

A good mix

The new eatery overlooks the mouth of the Rippowam River and stands adjacent to the Beacon apartment building and office blocks at 2200 Atlantic St. and 100 Washington Blvd.

Its a good mix of residential and business, which will hopefully mean a good mix of people coming by in the meal periods, Kelly said.

Kelly describes the menu as primarily a modern American take on Mexican. The fare includes tacos, burritos, sliders, chili and salad bowls and churro nachos. The drinks list features tequilas, bourbons, beers and cocktails composed of tequila and bourbon.

Its very much a customizable eating experience, Kelly said. All of the tacos, sliders and burritos are served individually and in small sizes, so you can have several different items.  We added a really cool lobster taco, which is like a play on a lobster roll. And we have a fried fish taco in addition to the baked fish taco we normally do.

Mexicue seats about 200 on two levels. The second floor includes a roof deck and private-event space. Mexicue will set up outdoor dining in the warmer months.

The restaurant will start with about 45 employees, and it is hiring more.

The more the merrier

Mexicue joins a restaurant row that also includes Sign of the Whale, Boothbay Lobster, Bareburger and Fortina.

We love our neighbors here; its 100 percent collaborative, Kelly said. The phrase a rising tide lifts all boats applies very much to a neighborhood like this. The more restaurant and retail concepts that build the community, the better.

Other restaurants said they welcomed Mexicues arrival.

The more, the merrier  more restaurants and more people help Harbor Point, said Dana Jevarjian, marketing manager for Bareburger, at 21 Harbor Point Road. Theres great variety here in Harbor Point: You have burgers, seafood, Mexican and Italian. Theres a little something for everyone. Its a great neighborhood.

Among other upcoming arrivals on the block, the owners of Patisserie Salzburg  which has two cafes in Westchester County, N.Y.  plan to open a third location in the spring at 2 Harbor Point Road.

A couple of doors down, the World of Beer chain several weeks ago closed its restaurant-bar at 18 Harbor Point Road.

Building and Land Technology, the Stamford-based developer that owns the buildings on Harbor Point Road, hopes to bring in another restaurant at 18 Harbor Point Road and wants to recruit a coffeehouse to the adjacent 24 Harbor Point Road. A coffee establishment was supposed to open last year at 24 Harbor Point, but the prospective tenant, Zona, eventually jettisoned the plan.

Weve still got a number of restaurants that are doing great, said BLT Chief Operating Officer Ted Ferrarone. Were always fine-tuning the mix and trying to find restaurants that will resonate with both the residents and office tenants in Harbor Point.

Residential growth in Harbor Point underpins the popularity of its restaurant row. A 392-unit building opened last year at 100 Commons Park North. A couple of blocks away, BLT is building 435 units in two towers on a site between Harbor Point Road, Pacific Street and Dyke Lane.

The winter is the slower season, but were already gearing up for the spring and summer, and every year is busier, said AJ Polizzi, general manager of Sign of the Whale at 6 Harbor Point Road. With the new apartments, the area is growing exponentially. Were doing really well.
More than two years after acquiring a popular East Norwalk deli and then expanding to downtown Westport, the owners of Winfield Street Italian Delicatessen are selling the original Norwalk location even as they expand the lunch menu to include gourmet fare like grilled pork belly and smoked salmon wraps, and a smorgasbord of breakfast choices.

In November 2015, Breno Donatti took over the former Winfield Deli in East Norwalk, then added last year the former Arts Delicatessen at 13 Post Rd. West in Westport on the west bank of the Saugatuck River. With a 20-year lease in place on the Westport location, Donatti told Hearst Connecticut Media he has a buyer in place for the Norwalk restaurant, with the deal having yet to be completed.
HARTFORD  A new Quinnipiac University poll found huge support for new gun control measures in the wake of the tragic high school massacre last week in Florida.

According to the poll conducted from Feb. 16 to Feb. 19 and released Tuesday, 66 percent of American voters support stricter gun laws, with 31 percent opposed  the highest level of support ever measured by Quinnipiac.

The poll also found that 67 percent of those surveyed support a nationwide ban on the sale of assault weapons.

"If you think Americans are largely unmoved by the mass shootings, you should think again," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll. "Support for stricter gun laws is up 19 points in little more than 2 years."

Scott Wilson, president of the Connecticut Citizens Defense League, said support for gun control always rises after a mass shooting.

Its on the tail end of an emotionally charged event, Wilson said of the poll. But it strikes me as peculiar that we consider forfeiting our constitutional rights as the first solution as opposed to looking at other solutions.

Wilson noted police were called many times regarding the 19 year old Florida shooter before his rampage and the FBI failed to follow through on reports that he posed a danger.

There are other things we can try to stem the violence, Wilson said, adding he supports a bill introduced in Florida that would allow teachers to carry guns.

The polls also found that 50 percent of gun owners support stronger controls, compared to 44 percent opposed and support for universal background checks was almost universal  97 percent in favor compared to two percent against.

The college noted that support for gun control is at its highest level since the Quinnipiac University poll began focusing on the issue in the wake of the Sandy Hook massacre.

Other findings include:

83 percent support for a mandatory waiting period for all gun purchases, compared to 14 percent in opposition.

67 percent of voters said its too easy to buy a gun in the U.S.

75 percent of voters said Congress needs to do more to reduce gun violence.

Malloy said support for new guns laws is growing among a key block of voters.

"In the last two months, some of the biggest surges in support for tightening gun laws comes from demographic groups you may not expect, independent voters, men, and whites with no college degree," Malloy said.
HTC might be posting one negative record after another, but the company hasn't given up hope and keeps pushing out new devices. A leaked retail box of an HTC phone revealed the Taiwanese company is going to launch a low-end device with basic specs dubbed Desire 12.

Android Authority reported that the HTC Desire 12 will have a Mediatek chipset and 3 GB RAM, coupled with 32 GB storage and a microSD slot for up to 2TB more. The display is going to be 5.5 with HD+ resolution (1440 x 720 pixels), meaning a tall 18:9 ratio panel.

There will be one snapper on the back with 12 MP sensor, phase-detection autofocus and 1080p video recording, while the selfie camera will be 5 MP. The list also reveals 2,730 mAh battery, 4G LTE, dual nano-SIM slots, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n and, of course, Bluetooth.

HTC could probably launch the Desire 12 along the flagship U12 that is reported to arrive at a separate event after MWC 2018.

Source
Nokia is having an event at MWC 2018 but is still secretive on what is going to be unveiled. Thanks to helpful leaksters, we already have seen two Nokia phones which might debut next week in Barcelona.

One of them, the Nokia 1, is in its last stage of preparation before arrival, according to an FCC listing. A device with the codename Nokia TA-1071 and the outlines of the entry-level smartphone was approved by the Federal Commission, meaning it is ready to hit the market shelves.

The Nokia 1 will be 134 mm tall and 50 mm wide with a diagonal of 136 mm, equal to around 5.35. Given the bezels, seen in previous leaks, the actual screen size might be closer to 5. The listing reveals also Bluetooth 4.0, 4G LTE and WiFi 2.4 GHz availability along some technical details like bands, frequencies and antenna positioning.



Nokia 1 in Blue and Red

The Nokia 1 is expected to be an ultra-cheap device, positioned below the $99 price tag of Nokia 2. We know it will have 16:9 display, one camera on the back with an LED flash and another on the front.

Source
Weak demand for the iPhone X is hurting Samsungs OLED display business  while the company is seeking out new customers, it will slash the output by as much as 20 million units. The original target was for around 45 million to 50 million iPhone X displays, reports Nikkei.

And this is just for the January-March quarter, there may be additional cutbacks for April-June. The company is reportedly looking at Chinese and other customers to make up the difference.

Last year, Samsung invested $12.6 billion to boost its OLED production capacity in anticipation of an iPhone X boom that never came. Early predictions for 2018 profits were to beat the 6-year high of Q2 last year, but now its looking like Samsungs display business may be in for a slump.

Source | Via
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Haiti - National Carnival 2018 : Partial Assessment of the Government





Friday, February 16, 2018, at the official residence of the Prime Minister was presented at a special press conference, a partial assessment of the National Carnival that took place in Port-au-Prince https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-23586-icihaiti-carnival-2018-rediscover-in-pictures-the-floats-and-costumes.html where it has been a question of security, health and tourism.



It was explained at the security level, that a Security Command Center, coordinated by Max Rudolph Saint-Albin, the Minister of the Interior together with the Office of the Secretary of State for Public Security and the Directorate Civil Protection, thanks to 28 fixed cameras and a drone service deployed on the carnival route allowed the permanent surveillance of the crowd. It was stated that during these 3 days, 65 people were arrested and that the Procuratorate of Port-Prince who was present on the carnival route, is already working on the files of those arrested.



In terms of the management of emergencies and relief, the concerned explained that an Emergency and Relief Committee had been set up under the high patronage of the First Lady. This Committee consisted of the Office of the First Lady, of the Ministries, of Health, Youth, Social Affairs, and Justice as well as the Office of the Secretary of State for Public Security, the Haitian Red Cross, City Halls, the Office of Accident Insurance of the Work, Sickness and Maternity (OFATMA). 13 health posts, 23 ambulances, more than 200 first responders, about 100 doctors and nurses, 10 psychologists, of agents of the Institute of Social Welfare and Research (IBESR) and more than 1,000 brigadiers were mobilized. In these various medical posts, 877 carnivals received care https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-23573-icihaiti-carnival-2018-report-nearly-900-people-injured-or-suffering-from-discomfort.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-23581-icihaiti-carnival-2018-17-wounded-by-bullets.html . The First Lady's booth welcomed 9 lost children https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23529-haiti-flash-carnival-national-d-1-everything-is-ready-important-informations.html which were found by the IBESR agents on the route.



According to the Minister of Tourism, the National Carnival attracted many visitors from abroad stressing that during the period from January 30 to February 14, more than 315 flights were recorded in Port-au-Prince and 11,639 tourists recorded adding that hotels in the metropolitan area have had occupancy rates of up to 88% https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23584-haiti-carnavals-satisfactory-tourism-fallouts-for-minister-menos.html



"Haiti is a great cultural power and we have just experienced a very strong moment throughout the country during the carnival of change," said Prime Minister Lafontant, while congratulating the National Carnival Committee and being satisfied with the whole machine that was set up to achieve the goal of zero deaths and no debt for the state after Carnival.



At this special conference, took part Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant, Ministers Limond Toussaint (Culture), Marie Greta Roy Clement (Health), Max Rudolph Saint-Albin (Interior), Stephanie Auguste (MHAVE), Jessy Menos took part. (Tourism), Secretary of State for Public Security, Leon Ronsard Saint-Cyr, Director General of the Ministry of Culture, Jean Michel Lapin, Director General of the Ministry of Communication, Calvin Cadet, Government Commissioner, Me Ocnam Clame Dameus and the Departmental Director of the West of the National Police of Haiti (DDO), the Commissioner Berson Soljour.



See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-23586-icihaiti-carnival-2018-rediscover-in-pictures-the-floats-and-costumes.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-23573-icihaiti-carnival-2018-report-nearly-900-people-injured-or-suffering-from-discomfort.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23584-haiti-carnavals-satisfactory-tourism-fallouts-for-minister-menos.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-23581-icihaiti-carnival-2018-17-wounded-by-bullets.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23529-haiti-flash-carnival-national-d-1-everything-is-ready-important-informations.html



HL/ HaitLibre






















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Last updated 2/20/2018 at 10:47am

Havre Police Department

Officers investigated after a First Street West business caller reported Monday at 10:42 a.m. that they found a license plate in the parking lot.



Officers arrested Joshua Lee Tonasket of Havre, 30, on two Justice or City court warrants Monday at 12:22 p.m. near 10th Avenue.



Officers arrested Melinda Rose Cochran of Havre, 36, on a Justice or City court warrant Monday at 12:43 p.m. on 16th Street West.



Officers issued a summons to Melinda Rose Cochran of Havre, 36, on charges of criminal contempt, two counts, in relation to a drug patch violation Monday at 2:59 p.m at the Havre Police Department.



Officers investigated while assisting Montana Highway Patrol with a motor vehicle crash near Fifth Avenue and Second Street Monday at 4:03 p.m.



Officers investigated after a Boulevard Avenue caller reported Monday at 4:34 p.m. a complaint. No further information was made available.



Officers investigated a motor vehicle crash after a caller near Seventh Avenue and First Street made a report Monday at 6:50 p.m.



Officers investigated after a First Street caller reported today at 12:53 a.m. that someone bought a phone and opened a service contract in her name.

Hill County Sheriffs Office

Deputies investigated drug offense charges Saturday at 2:22 a.m. at the Hill County Detention Center.



Deputies investigated after a 82nd Avenue West caller made a vandalism report Saturday at 9:07 a.m.



Deputies investigated after a U.S. Highway 2 caller reported Saturday at 12:25 p.m. that mailboxes were vandalized.



Deputies arrested Jacob James Bauer of Havre, 35, on a possession of dangerous drugs charge Saturday at the Hill County Detention Center.



Deputies investigated after a U.S. Highway 2 West business caller reported a complaint Monday at 6:47 p.m.

Havre Fire Department

Medical crews responded to one call today.

Havre Animal Shelter

This morning the shelter held five medium-hair cats, sex listed as unknown; one Siamese cat, sex listed as unknown; two male short-hair cats, one female long-hair cat and one female calico cat.



The shelter this morning held four 7-week-old female Rottweiler-shepherd mixed-breed puppies, a female Rottweiler-shepherd mixed-breed dog, a 9-month-old male Australian shepherd, a male Labrador retriever-pug mixed-breed dog, a male 11-month-old German shepherd, a female border collie, a female Labrador retriever and a seven-month pit bull-hound mix.

Births

A boy was born Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018, to William Jr. and Trista Main of Fort Belknap.
The St. Mary's Diversion should be part of President Donald Trump's proposed push to rebuild rural infrastructure, but done with responsible management of taxpayer dollars in mind U.S.

Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Mont., said Tuesday during a roundtable discussion with area agriculture producers at Havre Inn and Suites.

"The president is talking about spending on rural infrastructure. I would put the St. Mary's at the top of the list in terms of the needs of rural Montana, but we have to be careful how we spec these projects in terms of taxpayer money" he said.

Earlier this month Trump release...
Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Al Olszewski talks Sunday in Chinook during the annual Lincoln-Reagan Dinner fundraiser held jointlly by Blaine and Hill county Republicans.

Several Republicans looking to unseat Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., blasted him Sunday night at the Blaine and Hill county Republican central committees'

Lincoln-Reagan Dinner for not supporting the agenda of President Donald Trump.

The slew of attacks against Tester, a farmer from west of Big Sandy, comes as he is running for a third term to the U.S. Senate.

Tester is one of a handful of Democrats being targeted by Republicans in states Trump carried in 2016.

State Sen. Al Olszewski, R-Kalispell, one of five candidates seeking the party's nomination to take on Tester, said Sunday that he...
Stacey Caskey to run for School Board

Stacey Caskey

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Stacey Caskey, a Mills River resident, award-winning teacher, small business owner and college counselor, announced her candidacy for a seat on the Henderson County School Board.

With over 28 years of educational experience, Stacey can bring the kind of fresh ideas, solid experience, and practical knowledge that will benefit Henderson Countys students and the community.

In 1997, New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani chose to visit Staceys classroom to open the school year after she was nominated for Microsoft Teacher of the Year. With a strong background in educational technology, Stacey also partnered with Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson at an educational conference that summer. Stacey has an undergraduate degree in Developmental Psychology and began teaching in New York City in 1990. She has since earned a masters degree in education and two masters certificates in mathematics and college counseling.

I was very lucky to move to Western North Carolina in 2001, where I taught at Claxton Elementary School for nine years," Caskey said. While teaching at Claxton, she was named Teacher of the Year in 2007. Stacey and her husband, Brian, who was elected to the Mills River Town Council last November, have a daughter, Allison, who is a freshman at West Henderson High School.

"I love my school, my friends, and my teachers," Allison said in a news release. "I would really like to see my mom on the school board. My mom is everyones go-to for advice, not to mention she has great taste in music.

An 18-year resident of western North Carolina, she is committed to a nonpartisan partnership with the other members of the School Board. We must make better curriculum and fiscal decisions because these directly impact our kids, Stacey said in a news release. She combines a track record of innovation in the classroom with a laser-like focus on the success of her students.

Stacey can also bring the goods. My grant applications have directly led to over $3,000,000 in donations from corporations to be used for technology in the classroom. Grant-writing is one of the keys to increasing resources without raising taxes. She has written curriculum and numerous grants to improve the educational experience for all students in the community.

Stacey has been recognized as Teacher of the Year by two school systems and maintains professional friendships with many of her former students, celebrating their successes as they move into adulthood. She is also dedicated to the preservation and continued educational use of Henderson Countys historic landmarks, such as the iconic Stillwell Building at Hendersonville High School.

Stacey looks forward to introducing a new voice to the Henderson County School Board. Now is the time for the Board to focus on the needs of our young men and women, to ensure that they aspire to have the best possible future. We need people with real educational experience and practical know-how to enable our kids to reach their dreams.

Eight years ago, Stacey and Brian opened Biltmore Tutoring, where they have worked with over a thousand of Western North Carolinas best students to improve their grades and college admissions test scores. Stacey also volunteers with Path to College, mentoring high school students in Henderson County and helping them bridge the gap between high school, college, and career.

Although 93 percent of Henderson County students graduate from high school, only 28 percent go on to achieve a college degree and that is a huge disconnect. Strengthening our focus on college as well as vocational tracks will benefit not just our students, but everyone who lives here. A school board that understands and promotes that vision is imperative to Henderson Countys future.

For more information on Staceys campaign, please visit her website at www.staceycaskey.com or her Facebook/Twitter pages ( www.facebook.com/staceycaskeyforschoolboard/ and https://twitter.com/staceycaskey4nc/ ).
Democratic House candidate raps 'unconstitutional redistricting'

Sam Edney is running for state House District 113.

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Democrat Sam Edney filed for North Carolina House District 113 on Monday, saying the Republican-controlled Legislature is wasting money defending unconstitutional redistricting and "weakening our democracy.

A former Transylvania County School Board member, Edney has owned Pisgah Pest Control for 30 years. Since October he has been changing from work clothes and donned his signature bow tie to speak with voters. House District 113 covers Transylvania, Polk and southern Henderson County along the South Carolina line.

Edney grew up in Henderson County milking cows and picking apples. With a degree from AB Tech he worked as an industrial engineer for 18 years, 12 of them at Ecusta paper mill. Since buying his pest control business in 1988, the company has grown to three branches with 24 employees.

The millions of NC dollars spent defending unconstitutional redistricting is more than a waste of tax money, Edney said. Its weakening our democracy.

He believes now is the time to invest in public education. Its the key to bringing good-paying jobs back to our region. Unemployment may be low, but so are wages.

Edney wants to expand Medicaid in North Carolina, something Gov. Roy Cooper supports and the Legislature steadfastly opposes.

It will create thousands of jobs, Edney said. And we need to stop exporting tax dollars to other states. That money could be here at home, taking care of our own elderly and children.

Also central to my campaign, says Edney, is every citizens opportunity for a good-paying job, and their right to clean drinking water. Taking care of our environment is vital to our mountain economy.

His Henderson County campaign kickoff is at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 6, at the Historic Courthouse. For more information visit www.ElectSamEdney.com or www.facebook.com/SamEdney4WNC.
In a surprise, Meadows picks up a primary opponent

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The last day of candidate qualifying for the 2018 brought a major surprise when an Asheville developer who has been a strong supporter of U.S. Mark Meadows filed to run in the Republican primary against the three-term incumbent.

Charles Wallace "Chuck" Archerd is active in Republican politics in Buncombe County. Democrat Brownie Newman defeated him 56 to 44 percent when he ran for chair of the Board of Commissioners in 2016. Archerd was an early and enthusiastic supporter of Meadows when the Highlands developer first announced in 2011 that he was running for the 11th Congressional District seat, which the newly Republican-led North Carolina Legislature had drawn into one of the most strongly Republican seats in the state.

Archerd told the Asheville Citizen-Times that he asked for a meeting with Meadows, where he "just peppered him with questions." Archerd came away from the breakfast meeting at a Waffle House impressed with the first-time candidate as "very personable, reasonably conservative and very articulate  and I always appreciate a man of faith." He wrote him a check for $2,500.

Archerd issued a statement indicating he was aware of Washington chatter that Meadows could be in line to replace retired Gen. John Kelly as President Trump's chief of staff or receive some other high-ranking administration job. And, in an unusual statement for a challenger, said he said he supports the incumbent's re-election.

"To my knowledge he does not have any offers or accepted any offers," Archerd said in an interview.

Even so, Archerd depicts himself as a standby between now and November should Meadows leave Congress.

"For more than six years I have supported Congressman Meadows, as he has provided strong conservative representation for Western North Carolina," he said in a statement. "I continue to support him in his reelection campaign.

"Based upon news stories over the past several weeks, Congressman Meadows has been on a 'short list' of candidates for several high level positions in the Trump administration," he added. "If Congressman Meadows should be called upon to serve our country in a higher capacity, I believe the voters in the 11th District deserve a strong conservative voice in Washington to represent them.

Archerd's last-minute entry into the race was the latest twist in an election filing season that saw a surge of Democrats and women filing for office in Henderson County and across North Carolina. All 14 legislative seats in Western North Carolina  10 held by Republicans, four by Democrats  will be contested and across the state, all 170 state House and Senate seats are contested either in a primary or general election, the Charlotte Observer reported.

This is a historic day, state Democratic Party spokesman Robert Howard said on Twitter. Our party is the strongest its ever been and NC is fired up to break the supermajority.

While Democrats are claiming momentum this election year, Republicans also filled slots against Democratic incumbents after an aggressive candidate recruitment drive that included an offer to pay the qualifying fee. The record number of Republican candidates will forever put to rest the idea that Republican-drawn legislative maps keep people from running for office," GOP Executive Director Dallas Woodhouse said.

On Tuesday a second Democratic candidate filed for the Henderson County Board of Commissioners seat held by Chairman Michael Edney, setting up a rarely seen Democratic primary for a county commission seat.

Michelle Frances Antalec, of Middleton Road in Flat Rock, filed for the District 1 seat and faces Patricia Sheley in a Democratic primary on May 8.

Antalec's entry into the county commission race adds to a trend of political activism by women taking hold in Henderson County.

In other filings, School Board Chair Amy Lynn Holt filed for re-election.

Qualifying, which ends at noon Wednesday, has produced three female candidates for the currently all-male Board of Commissioners, one for state House and one for District Attorney.

The Henderson County School Board, the most gender balanced of all countywide boards, with women holding three out of seven seats, has two female candidates so far. Challengers Dot R. Case and Stacey Caskey have signed up, along with Jay Egolf and Randy Ward, who also are challengers. School Board Chair Amy Lynn Holt says she plans to file for re-election before the deadline, which would put three female candidates on the School Board ballot. Incumbent Lisa Edwards announced Monday that she's not running for re-election.

"The past twelve years has been one of the best experiences in my life but I have decided not to seek re-election to the School Board," she said. "I thank my family and friends and everyone who has supported me and made this possible. Ive had the privilege to work with wonderful people within and outside the school system. People who value our childrens future as much as I do. You can be really discouraged about issues, have lunch with the elementary students and realize they are why we do what we do.

"We are truly blessed to have one of the best school systems in North Carolina and I plan to stay active in some capacity with our schools."

In the #metoo era, women are becoming more active as candidates for office and campaign organizers and recent filings has filled several slots with female candidates.

Voters in Henderson County have a chance to put two women on the Board of Commissioners for the first time in recent memory. Rebecca Kate McCall, a Republican, filed for the District 4 seat incumbent Tommy Thompson is vacating and Democrat Patricia Sheley filed Monday for the District 1 seat held by board Chair Michael Edney, who is running for re-election. Meanwhile, Gayle Kemp, a retired lawyer from Fletcher, plans to run against state Rep. Chuck McGrady, who is seeking a fifth term. Kemp, a Democrat, said Monday she plans to file the District 117 seat on Tuesday morning. Mary Ann J. Hollocker, a magistrate, has filed to run in the Republican primary against District Attorney Greg Newman.

Kim Gasperson-Justice, the only woman holding a constitutional office, has filed for re-election. Henderson County does have two female district judges  Emily Cowan and Athena Brooks  but they're not currently on the ballot because the N.C. Legislature postponed judicial filing until June.

Elsewhere in signup news, the 11th Congressional District race attracted two more candidates  a third Democrat, Steve Woodsmall of Brevard, and a Libertarian, Clifton B. Ingram Jr. of Sylva.

Here are the election filings through Feb. 19:

11th Congressional District: U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows, Republican; Scott Donaldson, D-Hendersonville; Phillip Price, D-Marion; Steve Woodsmall, D-Brevard; Clifton B. Ingram Jr., Libertarian, Sylva.

48th Senate District: Chuck Edwards, R-Flat Rock; Norm Bossert, D-Pisgah Forest.

113th House District: Cody Henson, R-Rosman; Sam Edney, D-Brevard.

117th House District: Chuck McGrady, R-Hendersonville.

District Attorney: Mary Ann J. Hollocker, Republican; Greg Newman, Republican.

Henderson County Sheriff: Lowell Griffin, Republican; Charlie McDonald, Republican.

Henderson County Register of Deeds: Lee King, Republican.

Henderson County Clerk of Court: Kim Gasperson-Justice.

Henderson County Board of Commissioners District 1: Michael Edney, Republican; Patricia Sheley, Democrat.

Henderson County Board of Commissioners District 3: William G. Lapsley, Republican.

Henderson County Board of Commissioners District 4: Rebecca McCall, Republican; Tim Griffin, Republican.

Henderson County School Board (nonpartisan): Jay Egolf, Don Ward, Randy Ward, Dot R. Case, Stacey Caskey.

EARLIER COVERAGE

The District 4 Board of Commissioners race went topsy turvy on Tuesday with the announcement of Tim Griffin that he is withdrawing as a candidate, triggering a decision by former Commissioner Don Ward to switch from the School Board to the county commission race.

"I have had the opportunity to consult with my family and we have counseled with our pastor," Griffin said. "It has become increasingly apparent that at this time in my life that my priorities involve my family, my church, and the public service I will continue to provide in the form of fire, rescue, and law enforcement protection to the great folks of Henderson County.

"These priorities will not allow for the dedication of time it would take to successfully fulfill the demands of such an important position. I genuinely appreciate the support that I have received during the initial stages of my candidacy. Your friendship is special and although I am no longer a candidate I ask that you continue to pray for me as I will you."

Ward said he had spoken with Griffin "all weekend" and that Griffin told him he did not think he would have the time to devote to the county commission job.

Ward, who served on the Board Commissioners from 1994 to 2002, said he would withdraw from the School Board race and file for the apple country seat on Tuesday. He vowed to work cooperatively with the School Board on school construction priorities and pledged to push for a tax rollback.

"As a small business owner and a farmer, I see the county sitting on a healthy but large fund balance," he said. "I know there are capital projects needed in the county but economic growth as well as a reasonable fund balance and an upcoming reassessment should be adequate to pay for them, without overtaxing the property owners of the county." If elected, he said, he'll immediately ask commissioners to join him in his "Revenue Neutral Tax Reform Plan."

Ward also promised to work with cities and stop "charging them for services their taxpayers are already paying for or forcing them to provide services the county is, ir should be, providing" a reference to an $800,000-a-year contract Mills River pays for for enhanced sheriff's coverage and Sheriff Charlie McDonald's decision to pull animal control services from cities.
Hundreds of businesses across Dublin city centre were plunged into darkness due to a "hugely damaging" power outage.

Up to 4,500 ESB customers were left without power at 11.15am due to an interference from ongoing construction works.

During the lunchtime rush, many cafes and restaurants were forced to close - DublinTown, which represents city centre businesses, says it may have cost businesses up to 1m.

Pat McEvoy, manager of O'Brien's Cafe on Merrion Row, told the Herald that about 90pc of his day's business was lost.

"Our card machine was down and the only thing we could sell was cold sandwiches," he said.

"However, since we couldn't offer them a free coffee to go with them, customers were going elsewhere.

"This would be by far our busiest time - 90pc of our business is gone and we will have to throw out a lot of food as a result. It was hugely damaging."

beer

Up the road at O'Donoghue's Pub, manager Paul Richardson said the business had lost the equivalent of 20 pints of beer.

"Whenever the electricity goes out, the beer froths up very high and starts to get warm.

"Thankfully, our fridges were still working and we were putting pint glasses in them to try to keep the beer as cold as possible.

"It could have been a whole lot worse. If the power went out on Friday evening or during an Ireland match, we would have been in big trouble," he said.

Ursula Shields, manager of Hugo's restaurant on Merrion Row, said that the outage cost her over 1,000. "We had no choice but to close," she said.

"We would normally get between 70-80 people in during this time and I would say the loss we've experienced is over 1,000."

In the early afternoon, the ESB restored power across the city. It said the issues were due to a "large fault" in the Dublin 1 and Dublin 2 areas, arising from a connection to a transformer in Temple Bar.

City council offices in Woodquay, Dublin 8, were also among those without power.

Speaking to RTE Radio One, ESB's operations manager Derek Hynes said that the fault was caused by third-party contractors carrying out works at different premises across the city.

"In our volt substation in Temple Bar, which we call Bedford Row, we had the tripping of a transformer that feeds a number of cables across the city centre," he said.

"At the same time, we had three separate notifications of potential contact with the underground cable network when these contractors were carrying out civil works in a couple of different locations in the Grafton Street-Dawson Street area.

"What we suspected is that we had two or three simultaneous faults on the underground network, causing the transformer to trip," he said.
Fianna Fail is ramping up pressure on Transport Minister Shane Ross over "traffic chaos" in the capital.

The party's Dublin spokesman John Lahart has claimed that Mr Ross's response to congestion that has occurred since the opening of the new Luas Cross City service has been "abysmal".

The Government last week announced plans for a 3bn metro between Swords and Sandyford, a 2bn expansion of the Dart network, as well as investment for the Bus Connects project for quality bus corridors as part of its Project Ireland 2040 initiative.

Mr Lahart said that while Mr Ross offers "this great vision", delivery on some projects is several years away and "Dublin needs solutions for the gap between now and when that infrastructure comes along".

He said there should be smaller, immediate moves to tackle gridlock.

A spokesperson for Mr Ross said he would be addressing issues raised by Fianna Fail in Leinster House today.

In a Dail motion, Fianna Fail notes the introduction of the Luas Cross City and the plan to introduce extra carriages to meet demand, but claims there was a lack of forward planning to allow for the introduction of Luas Cross City and there is "traffic chaos" as a result.

Fianna Fail also says that there are a large number of suburbs without the Luas, Dart or dedicated public transport corridors.

It puts the economic cost of congestion at around 350m a year. The party has called for "short to medium-term policy changes to get routes into and out of Dublin moving again".

It wants more feeder buses for the Luas and Dart, an increased number of buses at peak times, and more quality bus corridors.

Bottlenecks

It also wants more investment in park and ride facilities, as well as increased parking facilities at train stations.

The motion suggests exploring the use of the River Liffey to help alleviate bottlenecks, citing the existence of boat services in other European cities.

Separately, Green Party TD Catherine Martin wants the Oireachtas Transport Committee to quiz Luas operators Transdev on delays.

Transdev is to appear at the committee tomorrow with representatives of Dublin City Council, taxi drivers and others to discuss congestion at College Green.
1 / 10 David Revilla, the lead designer at the Daily Herald, laughs during a portrait in the studio at the offices of the Daily Herald on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018, in Provo. Evan Cobb, Daily Herald 2 / 10 David Revilla's checks in at the naturalization ceremony at the U.S. District Court on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017 in Salt Lake City. Evan Cobb Daily Herald 3 / 10 David Revilla stands for the pledge of allegiance as the American flag is brought to the front of the room during the naturalization ceremony at the U.S. District Court on Weds., Dec. 6, 2017 in Salt Lake City. Students from Morningside Elementary were in attendance for a short presentation during the ceremony. Evan Cobb Daily Herald 4 / 10 David Revilla fills out final paperwork before being naturalized at the naturalization ceremony at the U.S. District Court on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017 in Salt Lake City. Evan Cobb Daily Herald 5 / 10 David Revilla swears in with 49 other advocates to become a United States citizen during the naturalization ceremony at the U.S. District Court on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017 in Salt Lake City. Evan Cobb Daily Herald 6 / 10 The 11:30 am naturalization ceremony had 50 advocates be sworn in as new United States citizens at the U.S. District Court on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017 in Salt Lake City. There were 50 individuals from 25 different countries were sworn in as new U.S. citizens. Evan Cobb Daily Herald 7 / 10 David Revilla addresses the audience during the naturalization ceremony at the U.S. District Court on Weds., Dec. 6, 2017 in Salt Lake City. The judge presiding over the ceremony asked for volunteers to come forward if they wanted to say anything to those in attendance. Evan Cobb Daily Herald 8 / 10 Eva Minano stands after her grandson, David Revilla, thanks her during the naturalization ceremony at the U.S. District Court on Weds., Dec. 6, 2017 in Salt Lake City. Evan Cobb Daily Herald 9 / 10 David Revilla hugs his grandmother, Eva Minano, after the naturalization ceremony at the U.S. District Court on Weds., Dec. 6, 2017 in Salt Lake City. Revilla's wife, mother, father, grandmother and other family members were in attendance for the ceremony. Evan Cobb Daily Herald 10 / 10 David Revilla, the lead designer at the Daily Herald, poses for a portrait in the studio at the offices of the Daily Herald on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018, in Provo. The backdrop is a collage of some of Revilla's favorite pieces he has made while working at the newspaper. Evan Cobb, Daily Herald  

The front covers and centerfolds of the Daily Heralds Ticket section have been a lot more animated lately, and that is due in part to the newspapers lead designer, David Revilla.

Whether its a Justice League or Star Wars illustration, or a splicing of art and photography, Revillas master hand is behind it. He started with the Herald two years ago as a graphic designer in the advertising department, but recently moved over to the editorial side of the building. And hes brightened the newsroom in more than one way.

Im happy they are letting me introduce my personal style into our everyday sections. Illustration is what I really love to do. I get lost illustrating and drawing on the computer. I can do it for hours, he said. Thats where my passion really lives.

Revilla is quiet and intense when hes working on a cover or insert for the paper, but when he comes up for air, he jumps on any chance to discuss pop culture, science fiction or other fandom. His quick smile and even quicker humorous quips lighten up the newsroom as print deadlines creep closer. From his artistic spin splashing throughout the pages of the newspaper, to the colorful tattoos symbolizing family members tracing up his right arm, Revilla is full of color.

While growing up in Peru, Revilla started illustrating and designing at a very young age, spurred on by his grandfather. At age 17, he was a semester into art school in Lima, when his family made the decision to emigrate to the United States. Sponsored by his aunt and grandmother, the family moved to Utah in 2010.

Since I was still 17 when we came here, I was made to go to high school for senior year, to get a high school diploma, he said. He took English, history, government and a financial class to help him incorporate into the new culture.

After time at Utah Valley University to further his art education, Revilla landed at the Daily Herald. While at the Daily Herald, he also took the next step to become an American citizen.

Revilla and his family left Peru because of its instability and violence. But it wasnt an overnight decision. It took Revilla and his family 12 years to get to America, and that was without his two older brothers, who are still petitioning to come.

It is hard to get them here, we are still trying, he said.

Revilla, now 24, became a U.S. citizen Dec. 6. That process lasted almost a full year itself, and included an application, documentation with his current green card and passport, fingerprinting and completing various other documents. He had his final pre-citizenship interview and test in October.

I heard it (becoming a citizen) regularly takes only about six to eight months, but with everything happening with the country, things are taking longer, he said.

The swearing-in citizenship ceremony was very cool, very simple, he said, but very important to him. He was the first in his immediate family to become a U.S. citizen. During the ceremony, he was slightly surprised that he was one of the younger ones there.

There was one moment that was really emotional , he said. I was very surprised how many people who were over 65, and were just becoming citizens. There even was a Nazi survivor there that day from the Netherlands, I think. It gave a nice tone to the ceremony.

He said he feels changed since becoming a citizen.

Its very different being a resident and a citizen. Its huge, he said. 2020 marks the year when I can vote in a presidential election, and my responsibility as an American is to lead by example. Thats a neat responsibility.

Voting is important. Its your voice. Voting is your voice being heard, your opinion being counted. And people take it for granted, he said. Just saying something out loud is not it. Voting is how you make change happen.

Revilla married his wife, Valeria, in September, presided over by then-Mayor John Curtis. The couple met as teens in Peru, and weathered a long-term, long-distance relationship for about seven years. They live in American Fork, and are going through the process towards citizenship for Valeria. His mother and father are also currently going through the citizenship process. Due to the current political climate, they expect it to take even longer than his experience.

Revilla still visits family and friends in Peru, and said he really misses the food. He doesnt miss Limas traffic.

It is worse than California, he said with a laugh.
Timpview High School has a shot at winning $25,000.

The Provo high school is one of five national finalists in the Varsity Brands Americas Most Spirited High School Contest, presented by Drillstack.

I think Timpview thrives on competition, said Cassidy Baker, a teacher who oversees student government at Timpview High School. Its in our heritage to compete.

The school became a finalist in the competition after submitting a package that included an essay, letters of recommendation (including one from Congressman John Curtis), photos and video.

The winner will be decided through online voting, which ends Wednesday. People can vote once a day.

Baker said Timpview High School students have become more spirited over the past few years and have been spreading word about the contest over social media.

The voting page for the competition includes a video entry for the school that has footage of everyday school life, sporting events and an annual Veterans Day event over audio of the school song.

The winner will be announced May 12 and footage of the announcement will be livestreamed into the Timpview High School prom.

Baker said the plan is to let students decide what to do with the funds if it wins the $25,000. Its expected the money will be used to give grants to departments in need to fund things like new instruments for the band.

Timpview High School is also entered into a contest for best student government under Varsity Brands. The prize for that contest is $3,000.
The Lehi City Library will be holding its annual fundraising gala Friday at Skyridge High School.

This years event will open with a silent auction at 6 p.m. that evening, and then will feature a 7 p.m. concert by Voice Male, a well-known Utah contemporary a cappella group.

The board felt like Voice Male was a good selection because their name is well-known throughout the region and they offer a quality performance that is appropriate for all ages, said Kristi Seely, Lehi Library director.

All proceeds from the gala will benefit the Frances M. Comer Perpetual Library Fund in behalf of the library. The fund was established in 2002. That same year the library began holding a gala to raise money for the fund.

Seely explained in an email that previous proceeds from the Frances Comer fund have been used to develop a teen space in the library, purchase sound equipment for the special programming room, and purchase books, audiobooks and DVDs. The library is currently working on plans to develop a kid-friendly reading area. Proceeds from this year and last year will likely be used for that purpose.

According to library board research, about 25,000 residents have a Lehi Library card, and about 34,000 people annually attend library events. About 540 unique items are annually checked out.

Tickets for the gala cost $20, and are available now by visiting the Lehi Library, or online at https://www.lehi-ut.gov/recreation/library.
For Subscribers Addiction treatment hard to find in rural Maryland

Even before COVID-19, lack of options and transportation meant treatment was harder to find in rural areas.
India ranks 154 out of 195 countries in terms of health performance, says the Global Burden of Disease Study.

But one should not blame the design of the health system for this adverse report card. The main problems lie in

the dearth of efficiently deployed micro-data and the lack of a co-ordinated approach on the issue of last-mile health care delivery.

The health system provides for three kinds of frontline workers for every 1,000 people. These workers are: the Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM), who provides basic health services; the anganwadi worker (AWW), who is responsible for the monitoring of child nutrition, and the Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA), who mobilises the community. Together, these workers (AAA) could be a powerful force, if they can focus their efforts first on the most at-risk cases within a village.

But this is not happening because of various reasons. First, as per todays protocol, an ASHA worker is required to visit houses 1-10 on the first day, 11-20 on the next and so on. This means there is no prioritisation or urgency, focused on the critical cases. Indeed, she may miss households. Second, an anganwadi worker has to spot malnourished children under the age of six. But the cases she has to find are often buried deep in ill-maintained registers. The data the ANM receives from these workers often does not arrive at all or is too late. Another problem is the absence of micro-data, which can be efficiently shared by the AAA workers.

Good micro data  well envisaged, efficiently captured and smartly used ---- is arguably one of the biggest needs in health care delivery in India. Currently, an AWW maintains 11 registers, the ANM five, and the ASHA one. Information on a single beneficiary can be spread over multiple registers. That there are two ministries  health and women and child development  involved in the process only adds to the problem.

It is important to understand what kind of data AAA workers need in order to be more efficient. For example, she may need to know how many pregnant women are there in a particular village; of these, how many are in the high-risk category; how many new-borns are particularly vulnerable; what is the number of children under the age of two; and how many children are malnourished.

The AAA also need a simple system to monitor health performance of beneficiaries in her village. She needs to

be able to look at trends, recognise patterns and ask relevant questions in order to become an effective front line problem solver. This requires an efficient mechanism to share data among the AAA workers.

Some interesting innovations are being tested in states such as Rajasthan, Bihar and Gujarat to enable better data use by frontline health workers. Rajasthan has simplified the registers that an AAA use. An original system of village mapping is being rolled out in which the AAA meet, share information and place bindis of different colours on those houses with the most urgent cases. They develop a household to-visit calendar to prioritise service delivery, rather than go the sequential way. Women come in to the anganwadi centre where the maps are mounted to ask what they have to do to get the red bindi removed from their house. The panchayat takes notice, and monitors progress.

Ashok Alexander is founder-director of Antara Foundation

The views expressed are personal
What would you do with a beautiful piece of jewellery or a luxury item if it turns out that the maker of the brand is a fraud, molester or racist? Amid the rubble of post-scam deconstructions of diamond merchant Nirav Modi, the soft-spoken purveyor of culture and art who hired exceptional photographers and models for his campaigns even as he allegedly duped bankers, this question assumes significance. How does the value of the product change for the consumer once the brand falls from grace? Does an expensive, coveted acquisition bought to make the customer stand out become an embarrassment?

For those of us in the business of writing on luxury brands  programmed to find new superlatives for designers, style icons and fashion photographers  the job is becoming tougher by the day. Luxury and glamour stories must now come with additional vetting  the moral and ethical credentials of the brands as well as their makers. Just recently, The Boston Globe published an investigative report on sexual harassment in the western modelling industry based on the testimony of more than 50 models. Among those named is legendary photographer,

Patrick Demarchelier. A sought-after name among fashion titles and luxury brands , he was also commissioned by Nirav Modi for a campaign with Priyanka Chopra and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley last year.

Luxury and fashion marketing have perhaps never been more complicated as a profession. If a model is sexually molested while working for a particular brand, the repercussions of the incident have a ripple effect on the reputation of the brand itself. If an advertising campaign is racist or gender insensitive, the product, however good, tends to suffer a dent to its reputation. H&M got a great deal of flak last month because of an advertising campaign in which a black child modelled a green hoodie with the slogan, The Coolest Monkey in the Jungle. The company rushed to control damage; it ended up recruiting a diversity leader ( a professional who will ensure that diversity is reflected in the brands campaigns). Calvin Klein got away for four decades showing gang violence, drug use and pornographic visuals in its underwear campaigns until protests by advertising watchdogs stopped all that.

Now, as financial frauds, reports of ecological exploitation, sexual misconduct and other unacceptable kinds of behaviour in fashion and luxury emerge almost every day, even consumers, especially those labelled as High Net Worth Individuals (HNWI) or Ultra High Net Worth Individuals (UHNWI) might have to take ownership of their choices. No one can sense a fraud, a molester or racist through their wares. But it may be time to question if a diamond necklace by Nirav Modi will become a family heirloom for future generations of his clients, or if awe-inspiring couture by John Galliano, accused of pro-Nazi sentiments and removed by Dior as its creative director in 2011, will find a place in the buyers wardrobe?

World views change, facts change, and consumer priorities must change with them. In the current scenario, a crocodile skin Hermes Birkin bag or a shahtoosh shawl made from hair of Tibetan antelopes are not luxury possessions; they are questionable choices.

The artist-versus-art debate is the new black in the creative industry. Woody Allens tarnished reputation versus the memorable films he has made and still makes; Kevin Spaceys extraordinary acting talent versus allegations of sexual molestation; or famed Peruvian photographer Mario Testinos fashion styling versus his sexual misconduct: is it possible to think of one thing without the other? So also for Nirav Modi, a law-breaker of another kind. A consumer may be unsure of giving pride of place to his jewellery for which she paid lakhs or crores, but finds herself feeling ethically duped. Putting things in perspective, though, may help. Did you buy the piece because of its craftsmanship or because you wanted to own diamonds by a jeweller who is a social celebrity and endorsed by the rich and famous? Do you crave diamonds with a conscience or those with faultless shine, worth and resale value?

The questions will be different for buyers of luxury handbags made from the skins of animals which were made to suffer in the process. Yet again, what position do we take on Marchesa gowns co-created by Georgina Chapman, the wife of movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, who pushed them on famous women he sexually harassed. Does the fallout of the Weinstein scandal affect the luxury couture made by the wife?

In business theory, consumers are the ultimate brand. They make or break a brands worth on scales of innovation, promise, positioning, quality, myth or social connect. Fraud and ethical bankruptcy are reasons enough to decide if Nirav Modi diamonds are luxury or just epitaphs on a business gone wrong.

Shefalee Vasudev is a fashion journalist and author

The views expressed are personal
Dutch and French art historians on Monday unveiled the surprising results of 18 months of painstaking restoration work on a pair of 17th century portraits by Dutch master Rembrandt. The portraits of a newly married Dutch couple were jointly bought in 2015 by the Netherlands and France for 160 million euros ($174 million) from the wealthy Rothschild banking family in an unprecedented deal.

Teams from the Louvre in Paris and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam spent the past 18 months researching the paintings, before carefully removing at least six layers of old varnish as part of an exciting adventure to restore the canvases. They are undoubtedly completely painted by Rembrandt up to the smallest detail, Rijksmuseum general director Taco Dibbits told reporters Monday, adding they were Rembrandts first and only full-length portraits of a married couple.

Restorers working on a portrait of Oopjen Coppit in Amsterdam. (AFP/Rijks Museum/David Van Dam)

Wrangling over the portraits, captured around the time of the couples wedding in 1634, had threatened to sour relations between France and the Netherlands. But the accord reached to avoid a bidding war will now see the two portraits alternate between the Rijksmuseum and the Louvre. Affluent Amsterdam couple Marten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit commissioned Rembrandt to paint the separate portraits, and the two paintings have always been treated as a single unit. Both dressed fashionably in black with white lace ruffles, Soolmans is depicted holding a glove in his left hand, while Coppit holds a gold chain and wears a four-row pearl necklace, and a band of pearls in her hair.

Using sophisticated techniques, including ultra-violet scans, X-rays and macro X-ray fluorescence, restorers determined the two paintings once shared the same large piece of canvas. It remains unknown however if the portraits were painted together and then separated, although restorers believe the canvas was split prior to painting.

Saving cultural heritage

Close analysis also revealed hidden details, such as doorways behind each person which Rembrandt later covered over by painting in a simple black curtain as a background. The restoration has infused the paintings with new light, to show off the incredible modernity of Rembrandts original work, said Dibbits. The details stand out, such as the exquisite lace ruffles on Martens shoes. It feels as if you press them they will bounce back, he said.

Sebastien Allard, head of the Louvres paintings department, praised what he called an innovative project, which after complicated negotiations finally came to a European solution to protect cultural heritage. The canvases had been viewed publicly only once in the past 150 years, during a 1956 exhibition at the Rijksmuseum, as since being acquired by the Rothschilds in the late 19th century, they had been mainly hung in a bedroom.

The works will now go on show in the Rijksmuseum from March 6 in an exhibition called High Society and then move back to the Louvre. They are due to alternate between the two museums every five years and then every eight years. Under the terms of the deal, they cannot be lent to any other establishment.

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When chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is apparently trying to placate the agitated farmers in the state a sizeable section of whom comes from OBC, Gujarat leaders like Hardik Patel and Alpesh Thakors visits to Madhya Pradesh only add to the ruling partys worries.

Alpesh, the OBC leader from Gujarat was in Bhopal this month. During his stay he laid bare his plan on working on unity among backward classes to take on the ruling party BJP in poll bound Madhya Pradesh. There was a similar resolve by Hardik Patel, a youth icon of the OBC in Gujarat, in Bhopal on Monday when he addressed a gathering.

Alpesh went on to say he would try to bring various sections of society- SC, ST, OBC and minorities on a common platform, which, he said, were still backward despite reservation to them in government jobs.

Hardik was arrested in Neemuch in June last year when he was on his way to meet families of the farmers in Mandsaur, who were killed in a police firing. Four of the 5 persons who were killed in the police firing were from Patidar community.

Needless to mention, BJP has been enjoying tremendous support from the OBC in Madhya Pradesh since 2003 assembly elections, whose contribution to the BJPs victory in 2003, 2008 and 2013 assembly elections couldnt have gone unnoticed. While BJP has been banking on the OBC support by projecting an OBC leader as its face in all these assembly elections since 2003, the Congress chose Arun Yadav, an OBC face, as its leader more than two years back, who is still heading the party now. The OBC vote bank is more than 50% in Madhya Pradesh.

The party is closely watching these leaders moves in Madhya Pradesh. It cannot be said that the party is not worried but it remains to be seen how they play their cards in the coming months. The BJP will respond accordingly. However, we are confident that its not an easy task for leaders like Hardik Patel and Alpesh Thakor who come from another state to counter the charisma of chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Madhya Pradesh, said a senior BJP leader on condition of anonymity.

Political analyst Girijashankar said, I dont think they would be able to make inroads in the BJPs vote bank easily and thus help Congress. A leader has to work continuously in any state to make his presence felt. Had Hardik Patel worked for a few months in Madhya Pradesh at a stretch after Mandsaur police firing when the farmers were seething with rage he would have definitely been able to win over the OBC in the state by now. A thin presence during his meeting at Bhopal is a glaring proof of the same.

Resentment in OBC prevails over the state governments denial to waive the loans taken by the farmers, failure in ensuring profit to the farmers over the input cost of agriculture, no punishment to the police officers who were involved in firing on farmers in Mandsaur, inflated power bills, the state governments all out support to the SC/ST in their fight for reservation in government jobs etc.

Mahesh Patidar, president of Patidar Samaj, Neemuch says Hardik Patel aims at uniting the other backward classes in the state. People have faith in him.
A scientist, working towards educating tribal women about menstrual health and providing them with cheap sanitary pads, has urged the PadMan star Akshay Kumar to screen the movie in village schools and hostels.

Maya Vishwakarma, popularly known as Padwoman or Pad-jijji in the tribal areas of Narsinghpur district of Madhya Pradesh, has written a letter to Kumar, urging him to arrange screening of the movie, which deals with the issue of menstrual hygiene, in schools and hostels in villages. She said doing so will help in creating awareness about menstrual hygiene among girls and women in rural areas.

The movie should specially be screened for males in villages to make them sensitive about menstrual health of women and change their outlook about an issue which is still considered a taboo, said the 36-year-old biologist. Vishwakarma has returned to her village Mehragaon in Narsinghpur district from the US, where she went for higher studies, and is devoting her energy in spreading awareness about menstrual hygiene among tribal women.

In the letter, Vishwakarma said the Bollywood star should talk to state governments and convince them to declare the movie tax-free so that it reaches a large number of people across the country. Prompted by her own experience of unsafe menstrual hygiene during her early years, Vishwakarma started her mission two years ago. Vishwakarma said only 24 per cent of the women in Madhya Pradesh use sanitary pads.
The government on Tuesday said it will come out with a new bill in Parliament to ban unregulated deposit schemes, with a view to curbing defrauding of gullible investors.

The cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also decided to make changes in the Chit Funds Act to enable greater financial access of people to other financial products.

The union cabinet, an official release said, has given approval to introduce the banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2018, in parliament.

The bill is aimed at tackling the menace of illicit deposit taking activities in the country.

Companies/ institutions running such schemes exploit existing regulatory gaps and lack of strict administrative measures to dupe poor and gullible people of their hard-earned savings, it said.

Regarding changes in the Chit Funds Act, the release said the government aims to facilitate orderly growth of the segment and remove bottlenecks being faced by the industry.

The amendment will enable greater financial access of people to other financial products, the release said.
The Enforcement Directorate is investigating more than 100 shell companies that are suspected to be involved in the Punjab National Banks near $1.8 billion fraud (around Rs 11,400 crore), a government source said on Tuesday.

The companies were allegedly used by Indian jewellers Nirav Modi and Gitanjali Gems Mehul Choksi to route funds, a source at Enforcement Directorate told Reuters.

The agency is investigating 79 shell companies owned by Gitanjali Group chief and 41 companies owned by Modi in India, an ED official told IANS on condition of anonymity. He also said that the agency is examining if the money taken from the bank was diverted to these shell companies.

Meanwhile, the three Punjab National Bank officials, who were arrested by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday in the multicrore fraud , were produced before a special CBI court on Tuesday and were remanded to police custody up to March 3.

CBI informed the court that the three arrested officials are attached with the foreign exchange (for-ex) department of the banks Brady house branch in Mumbai and deliberately overlooked the illegal acts of other key accused officials, who have already been arrested in the case (two  one retired officer and a suspended officer).

On Tuesday evening the accused Bechhu Tiwari chief manager, in charge of the for-ex department, Yashwant Joshi, a manager in the for-ex department, and Praful Sawant, and officer in the same department were produced before Special CBI judge SR Tamboli.

In a separate development, the Delhi high court on Tuesday directed the police to investigate cheating allegations against Gitanjali Gems promoter Mehul Choksi in an FIR lodged in 2016 by the owner of one of its retail franchises.

A bench of justice Mukta Gupta asked the police to file a report on the matter while noting that the probe was on a standstill as the complainant and the accused were trying to negotiate a settlement.

The bench, however, said the interim protection from any coercive action granted to Choksi in April last year will continue.
A special CBI court in Mumbai remanded in police custody till March 3 three officials of Punjab National Bank, arrested on Monday in connection with alleged fraud of Rs 11,400 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 had earlier said that group companies of alleged mastermind and billionaire Nirav Modi and his relative Mehul Chokshis Gitanjali Gems in collusion with two of their officials from its Brady House Mumbai branch, were fraudulently receiving LoUs during 2011 to 2017.

The three PNB officials--Bechhu Tiwari, the then chief manager in the Forex department of PNB, Yashwant Joshi, Scale II Manager in the Forex department, and Praful Sawant, Scale-I officer handling the exports section--were produced before the special court judge SR Tamboli by the CBI on Tuesday.

Tiwari, Joshi and Sawant are remanded in police custody till March 3, the judge said.

The offence needs to be investigated and there is a possibility of involvement of bank officers in diverting money. The investigating officer has to confront the accused with various documents, the judge said.

According to the remand report filed by the CBI, Tiwari was working as chief manager in Forex Department and was incharge during the period from 2015 to 2017, but he did not monitor the fraudulent and illegal LoUs which were being issued by Shetty.

The agency said Tiwari issued circulars in February 2016 and February 2017 for keeping a check on LoUs sent through SWIFT terminal of the bank, but neither did he take any follow-up nor initiated any steps to see why his instructions were not being followed by Shetty, Joshi and Sawant.

His deliberate acts of omission led to the continuance of concealment and largescale liabilities of PNB to foreign banks, the agency said.

The CBI said Joshi deliberately did not submit daily reports between the year 2015 and 2018 in respect of SWIFT messages and aided and abetted in the conspiracy to cheat PNB to the tune of hundreds of crores.

Even after having circulars for keeping a check on LOUs sent through SWIFT terminal of the bank and whether the same were not entered in the Core Banking Solutions (CBS), Joshi, in conspiracy with others, deliberately ignored the instructions to avoid detection of the transactions, the CBI said.

On Sawants role, the agency said he deliberately didnt check the details of SWIFT messages sent daily and whether the same were entered in the CBS of PNB.

The agency also said that the accused persons are not co-operating in the investigation and are shifting the entire responsibility on Shetty in the fraud and avoiding their responsibility in monitoring the transactions in SWIFT in spite of instructions.

During the arguments, the prosecutor said that Shetty told the CBI that such transactions of issuing LoUs were going on since 2008.

Arguing for the accused trio, their lawyer Prassanna Bangale told the court that Shetty was the perpetrator of the crime who left no trace through which the chief manager or the manager could know about the irregularities.

After Shetty retired in May 2017, Joshi took over and he reported about this scam to the bank which was later brought to the notice of the CBI, he said.

The person who was instrumental in bringing out the case has been arrested, the lawyer said.

The CBI last Saturday arrested Shetty, Manoj Kharat, a single window operator of PNB, and Hemant Bhat, authorised signatory of Nirav Modi.

On January 31, the CBI registered an FIR against diamantaire Modi, his companies and uncle Mehul Choski.

The FIR has listed eight fraudulent transactions worth over Rs 280 crore but based on further complaints from the bank the CBI now says the amount investigated in the first FIR is over Rs 6,498 crore, involving 150 LoUs allegedly fraudulently issued by Shetty and Kharat.

The remaining 150 fraudulent LoUs worth over Rs 4,886 crore issued for Gitanjali group of companies are part of the second FIR registered yesterday by the agency against Choksi and his companies Gitanjali Gems, Nakshatra Brands and Gili.

All these LoUs were issued or renewed during 2017-18, the officials had said.
The Centre has finally revoked the special security cover provided to the 10 rebel Congress legislators in Uttarakahnd who revolted against the then Harish Rawat government in 2016.

The move comes more than 20 months after the rebel Congress legislators switched over to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), putting the future of the then Congress government in jeopardy.

The 10 rebel Congress leaders included Harak Singh Rawat, Vijay Bahuguna, Shaila Rani Rawat, Shailendra Mohan Singhal, Umesh Sharma Kau, Pradeep Batra, Rekha Arya, Subodh Uniyal, Pranav Singh Champion and Amrita Rawat.

They were provided the special security cover during the political turmoil in the aftermaths of the rebellion. The Union home ministry had then reasoned that there was considerable threat perception against the leaders.

The security cover, however, continued even months after the leaders joined the BJP, contested the 2017 assembly polls and most of them were reelected and became ministers in the new government.

Speaking about the withdrawing the security cover, BJP legislator Umesh Sharma Kau (who had revolted against Harish Rawat) said, The CISF jawans were withdrawn on February 5 and now we have our own government in the state and feel secure.

The security was required then as we feared that the Congress government and its members could do anything against us for opposing them.

Similarly, BJP legislator from Roorkee, Pradeep Batra, who too revolted against Harish Rawat, said, The government is working smoothly so a special security is not required. If I feel any threat in the future, I will approach the police for protection.

In 2017, Hindustan Times, in an RTI application, sought the details of security cover provided by the Centre to the leaders.

The RTI application specifically asked about the number of paramilitary personnel deployed for the purpose, the cost incurred, the grade of security extended and what grounds it was being provided to the leaders. The information was, however, denied by the Centre, citing security reasons.

The state government, however, said that it had no information about the Centres decision to withdraw the paramilitary forces.

We are not aware of it, said state urban development minister and government spokesperson Madan Kaushik.

The security cover was provided by the Union home ministry after analysing the threat perception to the legislators who had opposed the Harish Rawat government and only the Centre can answer questions related to it. We have nothing to do with it, he said.

The Congress, on the other hand, has demanded an explanation on the cost incurred for providing the security cover.

The Centre and state government must answer who will pay the cost incurred for providing the security cover. They must disclose the details of the expenditure before the public, said Congress spokesperson Mathuradutt Joshi.

There was no threat to these people. The deployment (security cover) was against the provisions and protocols. The cover should have been revoked much earlier but it is good that the central forces have finally been withdrawn even though it is late.
The Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) is planning to levy service charges on six central government institutes located within its jurisdiction. The civic body has also prepared a note on this and calculated the amount to be charged from each institute.

The six institutes are Forest Research Institute, Geodetic and Research Wing of Survey of India, Archeological Survey of India, Central Public Works Department, residential area of audit Colony and Advance Training Institute Electronics and Process Instrumentation.

The charges will be levied with a retrospective effect from 2014. The cumulative figure estimated by the municipal corporation is Rs 4.08 crore.

Service charge has been calculated based on the area covered by the institutes and the facilities enjoyed by them.

Dharmesh Paunyali, tax and revenue superintendent of the municipal corporation said that the charges are being levied in accordance with the July 25, 2013, notification of the Union urban development ministry. We have identified the six institutes as they fall under the municipal corporation limits, he said.

The DMC has also formed a committee to gauze the facilities that are being provided to these institutes by the corporation. A report in this regards will be submitted within a week to the municipal commissioner.

When asked why service charge was not levied in the past, assistant municipal commissioner Neeraj Joshi said, I cant speak about what happened in the past. At present, we have calculated the service charge for each institute. We have also formed a committee that will study other aspects and submit its report within a week.

Meanwhile, registrar of Forest Research Institute, Neelima Shah, said, We are exempted from service charges and are supposed to pay only 33% of the amount calculated by the municipal corporation. We have communicated this to the municipal corporation and have asked them to prepare a fresh note, following which we will pay the service charge.

Similarly, Dr VK Saksena, director of Archeological Survey of India (science wing), Dehradun, said that they, too, enjoy certain exemptions from service charges. We have informed the municipal corporation about this and have invited them to conduct a fresh survey to determine the charges that we have to pay. We will avail the exemption and try to get 50% relaxation on the amount calculated against us.

The office of the science wing of ASI located on New Cantt Road is included in the list of six central government institutes.

Officials of Central Public Department too said that a final decision will be taken after the next meeting with the municipal corporation that is likely to be held later this week.

Speaking on the institutes claim on exemption, Joshi said, If any institute has any concern or objection to the amount calculated by us, they can communicate it to the committee and it will take cognisance of it.
The Indian Drugs and Pharmaceutical Limited (IDPL) in Rishikesh, which is said to be a sick pharma unit of the central government, might see the establishment of a convention centre on its campus, as per an initiative of the central government. This has led to protests by the Save IDPL Forum, an organisation of IDPL employees and ex- employees who have demanded that the plant which manufactures antibiotics be saved from closure.

Jatyendra Ramola, district president of the Congress has also extended the partys support to the Save IDPL initiative.

Sanjay Shastri, BJP leader, said that he would take a delegation to the Uttarakhand chief minister demanding that the IDPL should not be closed and the unit be run by the state government.

Madan Kaushik, the governments spokesperson, said that the IDPL plant is managed by the central government and the state government does not have any say in the various works being conducted there.

I think that the central governments move of making a state of the art convention centre and other tourism related facilities should be welcomed as it would help in showcasing Rishikesh as the Yoga capital of India in a stronger way. This would also lead to creation of employment facilities, said the minister and the party spokesperson.

The IDPL was established in 1967 in Virbhadra, Rishikesh city and the plant and the residential colony is spread across an area of 832 acres. The plant manufactures Penicillin, Tetracycline, Oxytetracycline and Streptomycine.

AK Majumdar, president of IDPL retirees welfare society, said that a delegation comprising the IDPL employees and the political activists would meet the chief minister over the issues and urge him to take immediate steps to save the drug manufacturing facility from closure.
A day after chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawats office accused the army establishment of creating obstructions when the helicopter flying him landed at the cantonment area helipad in Dehradun on Sunday, officials representing the Uttarakhand government and the army held a meeting apparently to resolve the issue.

We had a meeting with army officials so that the incident that happened is not repeated, chief secretary Utpal Kumar Singh said on Tuesday. Director general of police (DGP) Anil Kumar Raturi also attended the closed-door meeting. It was held a day after the chief minister accused the army of creating obstructions when the helicopter flying him landed at the cantonment area helipad.

So miffed was Rawat with the army establishment that he also warned that he would lodge a formal complaint with the defence ministry. He also took a strong exception to the behaviour of the general officer commanding (GOC), Uttarakhand sub area, Major General JS Yadav, who, the CMs office said, misbehaved with his security staff.

The chief minister has taken a strong exception to the manner in which the army establishment created obstructions when the helicopter carrying him landed at the army helipad putting his life at risk, his media coordinator Darshan Singh Rawat had said on Monday.

The chief secretary sought to make light of the incident saying all aspects of the incident were discussed at the meeting with the army officials. We discussed all aspects of the incident so that such things are not repeated in future, he said, indirectly referring to Major General Yadavs row with the CMs security staff. Singh, however, evaded media queries on the chopper landing controversy.
When Delhi chief secretary Anshu Prakash took over early in December, the political scene in the city was surcharged with showdowns between his predecessor and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party.

MM Kutty, a 1985-batch IAS officer, had been at loggerheads with chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his cabinet over various issues before Prakash took over as Delhi governments top ranking civil servant. Kutty was accused of snubbing Delhi Assembly committees and skipping important state government meetings.

Immediately after the central government appointed Prakash as Delhi chief secretary in December 2017, the AAP government said it was not consulted before the decision.

Prakash--a 1986 batch IAS officer of Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre--was earlier additional secretary and financial advisor in the rural development ministry. Before moving to the Centre, Prakash had held several important responsibilities in the Delhi government. He was the principal secretary (health) and the chairman-cum-managing Director (CMD) of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) in Congress leader Sheila Dikshits government.

He has also been MCDs additional commissioner (engineering), secretary of New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and also the registrar of cooperative societies.

He had also served as additional secretary in union ministry of health and family welfare.

Two months into the office, Prakash and AAP seem to be heading for a round of confrontation.

On Tuesday, Prakash was allegedly manhandled by two MLAs of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) at chief minister Arvind Kejriwals residence, bureaucrats of the state government said.

Signalling another possible face-off between the AAP and the states bureaucracy, a group of IAS officers met Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Tuesday and demanded that an FIR be registered and the culprits be arrested.
A row erupted on Tuesday between the AAP and the BJP over an alleged assault on Delhi chief secretary Anshu Prakash by Aam Aadmi party MLAs in the presence of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The Delhi Government Employees Welfare Association (DGEWA) has demanded action against the AAP MLAs who allegedly assaulted Prakash.

The ruling AAP denied the allegation even as the IAS Association Secretary, Manisha Saxena, complained to Lt. Governor Anil Baijal, claiming that the attack on Monday night was a planned criminal conspiracy against the top bureaucrat.

Here are the highlights:



9:30pm: Three associations IAS, DANICS and DASS have decided not to attend any meeting called by Delhi government till apology is tendered from CM Kejriwal and action is taken against the MLAs involved

8:45pm: Delhis Lt Governor Anil Baijal will shortly submit a preliminary report to Union home minister Rajnath Singh on an alleged assault on the chief secretary of the city government, according to PTI.

7:50pm: Another complaint has been filed by a Delhi minister in which he has said that he was assaulted while he was taking the lift in Delhi Secretariat. We have registered a case and investigation has been initiated: Deependra Pathak,Delhi Police spokesperson

7:45pm: Delhi Police spokesperson says a case has been registered over the alleged assault of chief secretary by AAP MLAs at CM Arvind Kejriwals residence. The investigation has begun, says Deependra Pathak.

6:50pm: The IAS Association takes out candle light protest march at Rajghat against the alleged assault on Delhi chief secretary.

6:40pm: TV reports say IAS officers will participate in a candlelight march in Delhi to protest against alleged assault on Delhi chief secretary Anshu Prakash.

:35pm: A FIR has been lodged under Sections 186 (obstructing a public servant from performing the duty), 353 (assaulting a public servant), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 342, 504, 506(2) & 120b & 34: ANI

6:15pm: AAP questions how Delhi Police could have allowed a mob to gather at the secretariat.

5:45pm: Earlier in the day, BJP spokesperson said: As far as situation in Delhi is concerned, it is a situation of great worry. The constitutional crisis that has come to the fore today in Delhi is because of the lawlessness created by Arvind Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party.

Patra also said that the reason behind the assault was the release of funds for advertisements for the AAP government. We have got to know through sources and media reports that genesis of this whole anarchy was not because of any issue of public interest rather it was an issue of self importance of Kejriwal.

5:30pm: BJP workers are protesting near Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwals residence, reports ANI.

5:20pm: Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia says in a press conference the chief secretarys allegations are baseless.

Ministers and staff, they have been ill-treated. The way they have been today it is clear that attempts being made to derail the work of Delhi government.

5:15pm: Former Delhi chief minister and Congress leader Sheila Dikshit reacts to the row, saying: Sad situation that the chief secretary is being manhandled by MLAs. It is totally unacceptable and very wrong, makes it worse if the CM was present there. CM himself has been a civil servant, did he ever do this? Or what if this happened to him? Shameful (sic).

5pm: Delhi chief secretary Anshu Prakashs writes in his complaint letter to Delhi Police: Amanatullah Khan, MLA, and the person/ MLA on my left side, whom I can identify, without any provocation from my side, starting hitting and assaulting me and hit several blows with fists on my head and temple.

Prakash further said that his spectacles fell on the ground and he was in a state of shock.

Delhi: Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash's complaint letter to Police over yesterday's incident pic.twitter.com/zvdsNGatIN  ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2018

4:50pm: AAP leader Ashish Khetan says he received a call from Rajnath Singhs office, informing him that the Union home minister is very busy and wont be able to meet him.

4:25pm: AAP claims its minister Imran Hussaain was also heckled at Delhi secretariat. He has filed a complaint with the Delhi Police.

4:20pm: It was a riot like situation, a crowd had gathered who became violent and even raised slogans, we dont know who they were. Everything is on CCTV, will be clear from it. Police were mute spectators, says AAP leader Ashish Khetan.

4:15pm: We have lodged a complaint with SC/ST Commission against the casteist comments made by the Delhi chief secretary: Prakash Jarwal, AAP MLA

We had asked him about an area where people were not getting basic facilities like medicine, the chief secy suddenly shouted maine Daliton ki thekedaari nahi le rakhi hai. His temper was high. He said you are not fit to be MLA, I will only reply to L-G, Jarwal tells ANI.

4:10pm: Home minister Rajnath Singh says he is deeply pained by the happenings involving the chief secretary of the Delhi government. Civil servants should be allowed to work with dignity and without fear.

4.05pm: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal calls Cabinet meeting at his residence instead of secretariat; chief secretary may skip the meeting.

(With agency inputs)
A four-and-a-half year-old girl died after allegedly falling from the balcony of her 10th floor apartment at a high-rise in Ghaziabad on Monday evening.

Eyewitnesses and the police said the minor was alone in the house when the incident took place.

According to security guards who were on duty at F block of Jaipuria Sunrise Greens in Indirapuram, Myra Sachdeva fell at about 5.45pm. Her head and the face bore severe injury marks.

She fell down and I heard a thud. I thought some construction material had fallen down. When I reached at the spot, I found her unconscious but there was some movement in the body. Our security supervisor and two guards immediately rushed her to a hospital on a scooty, Pradeep Kumar, the guard posted at the F block tower where the incident took place, said.

We shouted for help from residents for a car or an ambulance. But no one responded. After sometime one man came out with his car but by then we had already taken her to the hospital where the doctors declared her dead, said Dhirendra Singh, a security supervisor at the high-rise.

According to the residents, the girls father was at work and her mother had left for some work in the evening.

We came to know that her elder sister, 10, went out locking the house for tuition. There was no one in the house and the girl was asleep. She then woke up and probably looked for her family members. In the meantime, she pulled a chair or stool near the balcony and tried to peep outside when she slipped and fell down, Ravindra Saini, former president of the JSG high-rise resident welfare association, said.

The Sachdevas were not available for comments as they were busy with Myras last rites.

Her family has given us in writing that they do not want any postmortem or any action as it was an accident. They took the body for the last rites. The girl was alone in the house and slipped from the 10th floor balcony, said Pawan Kumar, senior sub inspector, Indirapuram police station.
The visit by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should have been an occasion for India and Canada to celebrate and boost their long-standing relations, but the trip appears to be turning into a PR nightmare for the leader adored by millions around the world. Diplomats have noted that the visit appears to be heavy on photo opportunities and light on substantive engagements, with just half a day of the eight-day visit set aside for official engagements. Much has also been made of the lack of a personal welcome and an embrace from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gestures that have been extended to leaders ranging from US President Barack Obama to the crown prince of Abu Dhabi. Indian officials have been at pains to clarify this wasnt in any way a snub for the soft stand taken by Trudeaus Liberal Party of Canada towards Sikh radicals espousing the cause of Khalistan. But the truth is this is a problem that has acquired serious dimensions in recent years and affected relatively trouble-free bilateral relations. Trudeau himself was seen at an event in Toronto last year that featured Khalistani flags and other separatist paraphernalia, a development that irked the mandarins in the external affairs ministry. Other developments such as a motion in the Ontario assembly describing the 1984 anti-Sikh riots as genocide have added to the angst in New Delhis officialdom.

Some have suggested that Trudeau and other Canadian politicians have not taken a position on the matter because of their plans to woo the 1.4 million-strong Indian-origin community, many of them Sikhs, for the elections next year. The Liberal Party also needs to shore up its position within the Indian-origin community in the face of the emergence of Jagmeet Singh as the leader of the New Democratic Party. But sections of the Canadian media have warned that Trudeau can ignore the problem of Sikh radicalism at his own peril. As an editorial in a Canadian daily pointed out, the 1985 bombing of Air India flight 182, the deadliest act of terrorism involving an airliner before the 9/11 attacks, was planned and carried out on Canadian soil and resulted in the death of 329 people, including 268 Canadian citizens. Even today, men considered the masterminds of this attack are eulogised as heroes in some Canadian gurdwaras. In such circumstances, mere comments about Canadas support for a strong and united India will not do. The Canadian prime minister needs to acknowledge Indias concerns in order to take bilateral relations forward and build on the tremendous potential that exists in so many fields, ranging from nuclear energy to people-to-people contacts.
The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) on Wednesday declared the result of its online examination for the Company Secretaries Foundation Programme held across the country on December 29 and December 30, 2017.

Candidates can check the result along with the subject wise break-up of marks on the institutes website at icsi.edu. Candidates can also download the e-result-cum-marks statement immediately after declaration of result. No hard copy of result cum marks statement will be issued.

Follow these steps to check your results:

1) Visit the official website of The Institute of Company Secretaries of India at icsi.edu

2) Click on link for CS Foundation December 2017 exam result

3) Enter the roll number

4) Submit to see result

Click here to see the top three rank holders.

Click here to check the all India provisional Merit list - Foundation programme

Note: Visit Official website of ICSI regularly for latest news and updates.
Mumbai University has declared the results for Third Year Bachelor of Commerce (TYBCom) Semester V and Semester VI results on its official website at mu.ac.in. The exams were held last year.

Steps to check the MU TYBCom result:

1) Visit the official website of the Mumbai University - mu.ac.in

2) Click on Exams & Resultsin the top navigation bar.

3) Click on the alternate link for results

4) Select the link of your Semester and seat number and click

5) A pdf page containing the result will appear on the screen

The result has been divided on the basis of seat number. On opening the pdf page for results, candidates can see the seat number, name, college name, paper and marks.
Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) on Wednesday released the admit card/hall ticket of the written tests for recruitment of Language Pandit and school assistant for Telugu, out of the various teaching posts advertised by the commission in October 2017 (Notification Nos. 52/2017 to 56/2017).

The commission on Wednesday also issued a notification asking candidates to re download their hall tickets from 11am on February 21. This means, if any candidate has downloaded the hall ticket before 11am on Feb 21, they should visit TSPSC website and download their hall ticket again.

Steps to download the TSPSC teachers recruitment test (TRT) admit cards:

1) Visit the official website of TSPSC at tspsc.gov.in

2) Click on the link for Hall Ticket

3) Click on the link for Hallticket download for TRT notification



a) For Language Pandit hall ticket, click here to download the admit card

b) For School assistant hall ticket, click here to download the admit card

4) Enter your TSPSC ID and date of birth

5) Click on go

6) Admit card will be displayed on the screen

7 Download it on your computer and take a print out of the same

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.
An actor who accused Oscar-winning actor Geoffrey Rush of inappropriately touching her on a Sydney stage later swore at him when he followed her into a toilet at a party after a performance, Australian court documents allege.

Rush is suing Sydneys The Daily Telegraph newspaper in Federal Court for defamation over articles last year that he argued portray him as a pervert and sexual predator. The articles allege inappropriate behaviour and touching during the Sydney Theatre Company production of King Lear in 2015.

Accusations in defence documents previously suppressed by the court were made public on Tuesday.

Eryn Jean Norvill played Cordelia alongside the 66-year-old Australian actor, who played the title role and her father.

The documents allege Rush touched Norvill in a way that made her feel uncomfortable on five separate occasions during the final week of the production, in a scene where he carried her as she simulated a lifeless body.

Rushs lawyer, Richard McHugh, told the court on Monday the accusations were vague.

Rush is suing a Sydney newspaper for allegedly portraying him as a sexual predator in its reporting of an actress's complaint of "inappropriate behaviour" against the Oscar-winning actor. (AP)

But the newspaper will attempt to prove that Rush engaged in scandalously inappropriate behaviour, and that his conduct was so serious that the theatre company would not work with him again.

The defence documents allege Norvill was visibly upset and told Rush to stop after the first instance of on-stage touching, which was not scripted, directed or necessary for the performance.

Rush is also accused of following the actor into the womens toilet at a restaurant during the casts celebration after the final performance. Rush is accused of standing outside her toilet stall until she swore at him and told him to leave.

The newspaper denies Rushs claims that its articles made him out to be a pervert and a sexual predator, and its lawyers previously told the court they made no allegations of a sexual nature.

Justice Michael Wigney on Monday delayed to a later date Rushs request to have the newspapers truth defence struck out.

Rush has performed in the Sydney Theatre Company for 35 years. He won the 1997 best actor Academy Award for Shine and has three other Oscar nominations. He is perhaps best known as Captain Barbossa in the Pirates of the Caribbean films.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Indian Mujahideen (IM)  the home-grown terrorist outfit of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)  was in the process of regrouping and reviving their activities across India. Abdul Subhan Qureshi alias Tauqeer, an alleged IM operative who was arrested last month, revealed this to the Delhi police special cell, which is interrogating him.

Tauqeer, who was arrested in January for his alleged role in the Ahmedabad serial blasts of July 2008, has told investigators that he met the groups co-founder Riyaz Bhatkal in Saudi Arabia between 2015-17 to revive the terror outfit across India.

Investigators said Tauqeer is a critical link between the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and IM.

Tauqeer also planned to target police officers who had dismantled their terror network in 2008. The Mumbai crime branch, in a countrywide operation, had arrested 22 IM members, bringing down its network that had executed blasts in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh.

The plan to revive the terror outfit was being coordinated by Tauqeer, who had travelled to meet Bhatkal and his associate, Khaled Kodi, in Saudi Arabia, said sources in the Delhi special cell on Tuesday. Tauqeer operated in Riyadh and would meet Bhatkal and others working as a salesman. He was also in touch with Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in Saudi Arabia, sources said.

The primary goal was to arrange finances, after which they wanted to make Nepal the IM base. They wanted to conduct operations out of Nepal as it has become a safe haven for terrorists, said a senior police officer, who did not wish to be named.

Tauqeer had asked Bhatkal to shift his base to Nepal and handle operations from there, while he would travel across India and motivate youngsters to join IM, said the officer. He began this recruitment project in June 2017 after he came back from Saudi Arabia.

Investigators added that Tauqeers base in Nepal was well-oiled after he befriended SIMI member Nizam Khan and procured a fake local voter identity card. Later, he acquired a Nepali passport in the name of Abdul Rehman, who was shown as the son of Abdul Karim, a resident of Birat Nagar in Nepal. He had visited Saudi Arabia on this passport, sources said.
Launching an all-out attack on the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka, BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday dubbed it as goonda governance and the most corrupt in the country, adding that the countdown for its exit had begun.

Ahead of the assembly polls scheduled to be held in May, Shah launched the BJPs poll campaign in the communally sensitive Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada districts in coastal Karnataka, where the party has a strong presence and is trying to consolidate it further.

People of Karnataka are disillusioned with 3 Ms Murder, Mafia Raj and Corrupt Ministers. People want to move towards good governance from Goonda governance. They want to get rid of goonda governance and want to move towards good governance under (state BJP chief B S) Yeddyurappa, he said.

Shah, who spoke to reporters at Surathkal and addressed party workers at Bantwal, said, Congress partys time has now come to an end. On the day of counting Congress government will not be here, it will be BJP government.

The BJP chief attacked the Siddaramaiah government multiple times, accusing it of pursuing appeasement and vote bank politics.

In this context, he referred to the recent incident involving Mohammed Nalapad Haris, son of a Congress MLA and himself a party leader, who triggered outrage by assaulting a man in a pub. Shah said the filing of an FIR was delayed because the accused was from a minority community.

The son of a Congress MLA assaults a man twice but no FIR is registered. This is appeasement politics. It will not be tolerated, he said.

Earlier in the day, Shah addressed students at the Vivekananda College in Puttur, urging them to work towards realising a new India. New India will be hunger-free, dirt-free, corruption-free, caste-free, tradition and appeasement-free, he said. If we move towards this, the potential of the youth will take the world by storm, he said.

At Surathkal, in reply to a question, Shah said it was cheap politics to make an issue out of a photo of Nirav Modi clicked at the World Economic Summit in Davos, where he was shown as being close to Prime Minister Modi

It is completely baseless. At a public function if some one sits... this type of photo being made an issue is cheap politics.

On the day, Shah visited the Kukke Subramanya temple in Dakshina Kannada district, called on the family of Deepak Rao, a man allegedly murdered in a communal attack, and also addressed a rally of the fishing community at Malpe in Udupi district, where he also visited the Krishna Math .
Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal will attend actor Kamal Haasans party launch at Ramanathapuram on Wednesday.

Sources close to Haasan said the Delhi chief minister, who had called on him in September last year at Chennai, has confirmed his participation at the political event at former president APJ Abdul Kalams home district.

Haasan will reach Madurai on Tuesday to finalise the arrangements, that include a rally in the temple town on Wednesday evening, where the actor-turned-politician will announce the name of his party and unfurl the party flag.

Haasan has in the past asserted that he wanted to fight corruption and cleanse the system and work for the welfare of the people, something that Kejriwal built his politics on. The anti-corruption plank brings these two leaders together.

It remains to be seen if there will be an understanding between Haasans party and the AAP, which could not take wings in Tamil Nadu despite efforts over the past few years.

Haasan has already done the rounds of senior political leaders and well-wishers from different political parties including the Left. He also sought the blessings of DMDK leader, Captain Vijayakanth for his political journey that commences officially on Wednesday with the launch of his political party at a rally in Madurai.
The Mamata Banerjee government has launched a crackdown on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)- inspired schools in Bengal, education minister Partha Chatterjee said in the Assembly on Tuesday.

The state government has received information on about 493 schools that are inspired by RSS. Out of these, 125 are running without any no-objection certificate from the government. We have already asked these school authorities that will not be able to operate any more. Investigation is on against the remaining schools, said the minister.

He also remarked that the government believes that schools are not places for wielding sticks.

Outside the Assembly, the minister told journalists, RSS or nor RSS, schools have to follow certain norms wielding sticks cannot be taught. We are looking into each case that is being brought to our notice.

Secretary of the RSS for south Bengal, Jisnu Basu, said before trying to close down these schools, the minister should visit the primary schools in his constituency and get first-hand experience of the conditions.

The schools that he is trying to close are providing students with good education and hygienic atmosphere. The government needs to focus on improving the standards of primary education in Bengal, said Basu.

Chatterjee also said a majority of these schools are located in north Bengal districts such as Cooch Behar and Alipurduar. These school mainly received affiliations during the previous Left Front regime, he said.
A smuggler was shot dead while another managed to flee during an ambush along the Indo-Pak border in Punjab late Monday night . Ten kilograms of heroin were seized by the BSF.

The incident took place along the Barreke post in Ferozepur sector of the International Border where the Border Security Force (BSF) and the special task force of the Punjab police laid an ambush to intercept cross-border drug smugglers and infiltrators.

BSF officials noticed movements across the fencing at a border pillar. When they were challenged by the BSF, the smugglers on the other side opened fire and the troops retaliated.

During the cross fire, one intruder was killed while the other managed to flee back to Pakistan.

The BSF seized ten kilograms of heroin, a China-made pistol, two magazines and 17 cartridges, a Pakistani mobile and three SIM cards.

(With inputs from PTI)
The Congress on Tuesday challenged the BJP to hold a debate on the state of economy under the UPAs 10-year rule and the NDAs four years even as it asked the Modi government to direct all the banks to disclose complete details about non-performing assets (NPAs) and instances of fraud.

The party also took umbrage at billionaire jeweller Nirav Modis purported letter to the Punjab National Bank (PNB) in which he displays his arrogance. The Congress asked from where does a man who has defrauded the banks of thousands of crores of rupees get the strength to write such letters.

This is only the tip of the iceberg. The banking sector is in serious trouble. The government is trying to obfuscate the facts. They are trying to hide the enormity of the crisis which is afflicting the banking sector, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari told reporters.

He asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and finance minister Arun Jaitley to come clean on facts and direct public and private sector banks to make public all the details about NPAs and bank frauds. Nothing short of a full disclosure, a full and complete disclosure, will now satisfy this country, Tewari said.

The Opposition parties are set to raise the issue when the budget session resumes on March 5. The Congress, Left and the Trinamool Congress have not ruled out a united show where all parties would demand a joint parliamentary probe into the case.

Tewari also asked the government to disclose Niravs location. Is he in the US? Is he in Belgium? Is he in France or is he in Hong Kong? Where is this gentleman who is writing these letters? He said it was surprising that railways minister was replying on behalf of the finance minister. I dare Piyush Goyal to hold a debate at any forum, any day and at any place on the state of economy during the UPA rule and how the NDA destroyed it.
The Congress plans to revamp the Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies (RGICS) as a think tank focusing on social and economic issues that find a close connection with the partys political and ideological line, according to senior party leaders familiar with the developments.

A former minister close to Congress president Rahul Gandhi said the RGICS will soon be developed as the partys answer to the Vivekananda Foundation  a think tank ideologically affiliated with the BJP with which a number of key functionaries of the Narendra Modi government have been associated.

The search is on for a new set of professionals and intellectuals who will steer the RGICS, said the leader, who asked not to be named.

In what is seen as a first step of the revamp, G Mohan Gopal, who headed the institute since July 2011, has stepped down to pave way for a new team. Gopal was involved in preparing the Congress manifesto for the 2014 general election and was, at one time, considered an influential member of Rahul Gandhis team.

Gopal said he wants to pursue an independent path and revive his legal career to intervene in social and democratic issues.

I want my independent voice outside the institution, he added.

The plan to revamp the think tank, which is promoted by the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, and which regularly hosts events highlighting social, economic and political issues in contemporary India, is part of Rahul Gandhis effort to restructure the party organisation, another senior Congress leader said.

Two professionals who have recently been inducted in Gandhis core team  Praveen Chakravarty and K Raju  are likely to play key roles in RGICS, the leader added.

Chakravarty heads Congress Data Analytics Department while former IAS officer Raju is the new head of Gandhis core team.

The Congress has also formed a group headed by former finance minister P Chidambaram to study all the legislations passed under the Modi government. The party gives a lot of importance to research, analysis and the plan to revamp the RGICS as a party think tank is also for the same reason. Think tanks are necessities in todays political landscape, said the former minister quoted above.

The Vivekananda International Foundation, ranked among the best think tanks with a political party affiliation globally in 2016 by the University of Pennsylvania, is headed by former deputy National Security Adviser Arvind Gupta. It focuses on issues related to international relations, defence, the economy and governance, and on Track 2 exchanges.

Among key government functionaries who have been associated with it before they took up their current roles are the principal secretary to the prime minister Nripendra Misra, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Delhis lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal.
Doctors removed 80kg of polythene waste from the stomach of a cow at Patnas Bihar Veterinary College on Wednesday, highlighting the disastrous impact plastic bags can have on the health of stray animals that often eat out of garbage bins.

Dr GD Singh, assistant professor at the department of surgery and radiology in the college who led the team that performed the surgery on the six-year-old cow, said it took over three hours to clean the four compartments of the animals stomach which contained mostly polythene of thickness below four microns.

This is the first case in my 13 years of professional practice when we removed over 80kg of polythene waste from the stomach of a cow, he said.

The government has indicated it plans to address the danger posed by plastic waste with greater seriousness.

It is the beginning of the end of the plastic menace, environment minister Harsh Vardhan said at a conference on Monday while announcing that India would host the World Environment Day 2018 with a focus on plastic pollution.

For our animals too, especially cows and other animals, so much plastic is found in their stomachs it is so hard for them, he had said in September

Cows swallow food and bring it back to the mouth to chew it before sending it to the stomach, which has four chambers. Plastic getting deposited in the stomach causes slow absorption of nutrients and other complications that can lead to the animals death.

The animal is recuperating and has been discharged. But in such condition, the next 10 days are very critical as the rumen microflora becomes inactive, creating loss of appetite. Prognosis in this type of cases is grave if they are reported very late, said Dr Singh, who was assisted in the surgery by Dr Ravi Ranjan Kumar, five interns and compounder Madhu Kumar.

Dr Singh discouraged owners from allowing their animals graze in urban areas. People should also avoid throwing eatables in polythene bags and serious efforts should be made to spread awareness about its bad impact on the environment, Singh said.

Deepak Kumar, the owner of the cow, said the animal was not eating properly.

So it was left free to graze in the open. We brought the cow to the hospital when it stopped eating completely, said Kumar, who owns a cowshed in the Hanuman Nagar locality of south Patna.

In most large cities, owners typically allow their cattle to graze freely  most can be seen around garbage bins  only rounding them up at milking time.
Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan said on Tuesday he was entering into politics only because the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party is bad.

I am entering politics only because the ruling AIADMK party is bad, that is why I am not meeting any of them, Haasan told media.

Haasan will kick off a statewide tour on Wednesday with the launch of his political party Tamil Nadus Madurai.

Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal will attend Haasans party launch in Madurai.

According to reports, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar are also invited to attend the launch although their participation has not been confirmed yet.

Last November, Haasan had confirmed his political entry by announcing the launch of a whistleblower app.
The Madhya Pradesh high court on Tuesday granted bail to the principal of Delhi Public School (DPS) in Indore, who was arrested for alleged violation of rules, following the death of four students of the institute in a bus accident on January 5.

Justice Satish Chandra Sharma of the high courts Indore bench granted bail to DPS principal Sudarshan Sonar.

Sonars lawyers argued that his arrest was not legal and the mishap occurred due to negligence of the bus driver and there was no criminal responsibility of the school principal.

However, the public prosecutor opposed Sonars bail plea saying that being the head of the institution, he could not be absolved from the responsibility of the accident.

Sonar was arrested on February 12 for allegedly violating rules and regulations related to transport and maintenance of school buses.

The district court had twice rejected his bail plea.

On January 5, a bus belonging to the school had rammed into a truck at Kanadiya bypass, killing four students and the driver.

The police had arrested a DPS official and two other persons on January 7, for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, cheating and forging documents after investigations revealed that speed governor of the bus was not working.
Prime Minister Narenda Modi and Jordans King Abdullah II will address an event themed on measures against radicalisation of youth, as part of New Delhis holistic plan to counter extremism and terrorism, senior government officials said on Tuesday.

The Jordanian king arrives in India for a state visit on February 27.

The event at Vigyan Bhavan will be attended by religious scholars and policy makers, who will listen to the two leaders speaking on steps the countries need to take against efforts to radicalise young people, the officials added.

This event shows the importance the two countries attach to the issue of extremism and terrorism and a belief that a holistic approach is needed -- they cannot be defeated by the use of force alone, said an external affairs ministry official, who asked not to be named.

Modi had met King Abdullah II in Amman en route to Palestine earlier this month. Officials said the return visit was a continuation of the anti-terror efforts that India is making with the Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

The running theme in all these efforts is the same -- countries must coordinate to counter radicalisation and misuse of religion by groups and countries for inciting hatred and justifying terrorism, said another government official.

The king has been urging all against the Takfiri ideology (the so-called radical practice of declaring ones enemies to be infidels). His standing in the fight against terrorism and radicalisation is something every country welcomes and supports, said the first official.

Indias efforts include sharing best practices in disrupting the use of the internet and social media for promotion of extremist and violent ideologies, and to not allow religious centres to radicalise young people and recruit terrorist cadres, the officials said.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met Indias corporate titans on Tuesday as he pursued a tour of the country marred by reports he has been snubbed by political leaders.

Trudeau addressed a business conference in Mumbai on Tuesday morning, attended by leaders from the Tata conglomerate, IT giants Infosys and pharmaceutical major Jubilant Life Sciences.

But Indian and Canadian media said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sidestepped his Canadian counterpart over the Trudeau administrations perceived support for Sikh separatists and dealings with Sikh groups in Canada.

Canada is home to roughly half a million Sikhs and a significant number appear to back a decades-long Sikh campaign in Indias northern Punjab state for an independent homeland of Khalistan.

Trudeau was received by a junior minister when he arrived at New Delhi airport on Saturday and by district officials when he visited the historic Taj Mahal monument in Agra the next day.

Modi often meets leading heads of government at the airport with bear hugs and cheerful photo-ops.

He was again missing however when Trudeau visited Modis home state of Gujarat on Monday.

The social media-savvy Modi, who has 40.4 million Twitter followers, is also yet to tweet a welcome message to Trudeau as he does customarily for other leaders.

Modi shared a photo of himself meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani the same day that Trudeau landed.

The Khalistan issue, which has kept India-Canada ties on ice through three decades from 1980, has resurfaced, taking away much of the warmth during Trudeaus visit, the Hindu daily said Tuesday.

An Indian government source denied there was a snub in comments reported by several media outlets.

Cold shoulder

But Candice Malcolm, a columnist for the Toronto Sun newspaper, insisted that Trudeau has been given the cold shoulder by the Indian government.

India accuses Canadian administrations of backing separatist groups although Canadas Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, a Sikh, has publicly denied that his community was sympathetic to the Khalistan cause.

All four of Trudeaus Indian-Canadian ministers are of Sikh origin.

Last April, Trudeau attended a Khalsa Day parade where Sikh militants who were killed in a bloody siege at Amritsars Golden Temple in 1984 were hailed as heroes.

Trudeau, who is to meet with Modi in New Delhi on Friday, will go to see the Golden Temple, the Sikhs holiest shrine, on Wednesday.

Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh said he was looking forward to meeting Trudeau after reports initially suggested he would skip the meeting. He failed to meet Sajjan when the Canadian minister visited the state last year.

Amrik Singh, who heads the UK-based Sikh Federation, a political group, accused India of giving Trudeau a cold reception because he was a close ally of Sikhs.

This is showing Indias discomfort with the Canadian PM for having Sikhs in his cabinet who the Indian authorities are paranoid about.
Hadiya, the 26-year-old woman who is at the centre of an alleged love jihad controversy, on Tuesday filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court claiming that she has embraced Islam of her free will and wants to live with her husband Shafin Jahan.

Shafin Jahan is my husband, I want to continue to live as wife of my beloved husband and I embraced Islam and married him on my own free will. I further pray that this Court may be kind enough to appoint my husband as (my) guardian, reads Hadiyas affidavit in the apex court.

The affidavit comes just two days ahead of the crucial hearing in the Supreme Court on her husband Shafin Jahans plea against the Kerala high court order annulling their marriage.

Hadiya has also asserted in her affidavit that despite Supreme Court orders freeing her from her parents custody, she continues to be under police surveillance.

Even now I am under police surveillance. I most humbly pray that my entire liberty may kindly be restored to me, she added.

Hadiya, born Akhila and a Hindu, converted to Islam in January 2016. She married Jahan in December of the same year. In May 2017, the Kerala high court annulled the marriage in a highly controversial order. In August, Jahan filed a petition in the Supreme Court.

On November 27 last year, the apex court freed Hadiya from her parents custody and sent her to college to pursue her studies, even as she pleaded to be allowed to go with her husband. The court took the decision after interacting with the then 25-year-old.

In January this year , the Supreme Court said her marriage cant be questioned.

In her affidavit, Hadiya has hit out at the National Investigation Agency (NIA) alleging that the anti-terror agency treated her as a terrorist.

Hadiya has also requested the court to consider granting her compensation for the harassment she has suffered at the hands of police and the National Investigation agency saying, Court may be pleased to order that I shall be paid appropriate compensation by those concerned and the State as well for the agonies and sufferings, to which I was subjected.

She has also attacked NIA saying that the agency had launched a baseless and malicious propaganda that I am mentally not sound, that I have connection with IS.
Odishas Maoist-affected Malkangiri is set to get its first railway line by 2022 with the Union Cabinet giving its nod to the project that is expected to cost over Rs 2,676 crore, railway minister Piyush Goyal announced on Tuesday.

While making the announcement, he also said that connecting Maoist-affected areas through railways is the governments priority.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved the 130-km Jeypore-Malkangiri New Line project at a completion cost of Rs 2,676.11 crore, Goyal said.

It is likely to be completed by 2021-22 and will cover the districts of Koraput and Malkangiri in Odisha.

Connecting naxal-affected areas is our priority and for this we are starting the first rail project in Orissas Malkangiri. This will help in the development of the area, the minister told reporters.

Malkangiri and Koraput districts are among the identified left wing extremism (LWE) affected districts in the country. These areas are also amongst the 115 aspirational districts identified by the Prime Minister for development to help achieve the vision of New India by 2022.

The proposed new line will connect Malkangiri, Boipariguda, Tanginiguda, Mathili, Pondripani Road and other major towns to Jeypore station on the existing Kottavalasa-Kirandul line.

Further, connectivity to important towns such as Koraput, Jeypore, Jagdalpur, Dantewara will improve. It will also result in shortening the journey-time to many other places of Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.

At present, Malkangiri has no connectivity through railways.

The new line will provide basic infrastructure support for overall development, including industrial development of the area having large socio-economic ramifications, the railways said.

This project will provide connectivity in this region, and will help provide economic opportunities to the people of these regions. This will also help in combating left wing extremism through development, it said.

Goyal also said that the project will generate direct employment during construction of about 31.2 lakh man-days.
Suspected militants escaped after firing at a water pump house of the Air Force in south Kashmirs Pulwama district on Tuesday evening after sentries returned the fire, the army said.

2-3 terrorists fired and lobbed grenade at the Air Force Water Pump House, Malangpora located outside AF Station, Awantipora at around 5:30 pm today. The fire was effectively retaliated by alert sentries. The terrorists fled. There is no loss of life or property. Search operations are underway, an army spokesperson said.

Earlier, the minor skirmish led to rumours that the Air Force station itself was attacked.

Police was, however, quick to issue a statement saying that there was no attack on the station but that there was an exchange of fire near the water point.

A security force vehicle while returning from a nearby water point had exchange of fire with militants. Area under cordon, the official state police Twitter handle said.

No militant group has claimed responsibility for the firing.
Noted agricultural scientist Monkombu Sambasivan Swaminathan, who played a leading role in Indias Green Revolution, has said the NDA government should fix minimum support prices (MSPs) for farm produce based on a comprehensive measure of cultivation costs that includes the imputed cost of capital and the rent on the land (called C2 ) to give farmers 50% returns, rather than a narrower measure that takes into account the costs incurred by the farmer and the value of family labour (A2+FL ), which the government intends to use.

How cost of production is calculated matters. MSPs announced for winter-sown crops in January show that if C2 costs are used as a benchmark, returns for most crops are lower than 50%. However, when A2+FL is used, returns are higher than 50% in a handful of crops such as paddy and wheat.

Swaminathan had first recommended that MSPs  which act as a floor price to avoid distress sales  should be at least 50% more than the weighted average cost of production in the fifth report of the National Commission on Farmers set up under his chairmanship. The BJPs 2014 poll manifesto had promised to guarantee farmers 50% over costs in line with this proposal. This has now become a key political demand from farmers.

To fulfill this, the Union budget presented on 1 February announced that MSPs would be set at 1.5 times the cost of cultivation to ensure farmers get 50% returns. It however did not clarify the measure of costs that would be used.

When we recommended 50% over costs, we meant complete costs called C2, which includes all assumed costs. In fact that is what the farmers are also demanding, Swaminathan told HT over phone from his Chennai home.

Stressing that MSPs should include the broadest measure of a farmers costs including rental value of land, the scientist said: Many governments are announcing loan waivers. Instead of spending so much on loan waivers, the government should use the money to give 50% profits based on C2 costs.

On Friday farm minister Radha Mohan Singh told HT that to fix 50% returns, the Centre would use the prevailing method called A2+FL to calculate cultivation costs. This includes all out-of-pocket expenses of farmers plus the value of family labour used. Farmer organisations have been demanding the use of C2, which also includes imputed costs of capital and rental on land. Finance minister Arun Jaitley had also stated in Parliament on February 9 that the government would use A2+FL.

It has been argued that Swaminathan plainly states that MSP should be at least 50% more than the weighted average cost of production without specifying which cost of production. However, the report also said in the next line that the net take home income of farmers should be comparable to those of civil servants, said Kavitha Kuruganti, convener of the Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture, a farm policy advocacy group.

The Swaminathan commission, set up in November 2004, had initially submitted four reports in December 2004, August 2005, December 2005 and April 2006, followed by a fifth and final report in October 2006.

The recommendation of 50% profits over cost need to be read along with other sections of Swaminathans report including Annexure 2.2 clearly delineates how C2 was not getting covered by MSP in most states, Kuruganti said.

On September 28 2017, Swaminathan tweeted about how MSPs should be C2+50%, in addition to being accompanied by procurement, storage and distribution.

Swaminathan, a geneticist, helped introduce the Mexican dwarf wheat plants in northern states, which ushered a green revolution. He has been awarded the World Food Prize as well as the Ramon Magsaysay award.
In a bid to woo voters for the February 27 Meghalaya assembly election, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling Congress have promised free sanitary napkins to women in the state, which has a higher female voter population.

The move comes days after PadMan, the Hindi movie starring Akshay Kumar based on the life of Arunachalam Muruganatham who introduced low cost sanitary napkins, hit cinemas.

The saffron partys vision document for the state released last week, six days after the movie hit the theatres, promised free napkins to women from below poverty line (BPL) families.

On Sunday, three days after BJP released its vision document, Sushmita Dev, Lok Sabha MP from Assam and president of Congresss women wing, also made a similar promise.

Without divulging specifics, the Congress leader said free sanitary napkins would be provided to women in Meghalaya if the party is voted back to power. Dev also urged the Centre to exempt GST on the product.

If the price is subsidised, it becomes a product that is affordable in the rural market, so private companies take it there, she told media persons in Shillong.

Significantly, both these parties did not promise free napkins in Tripura, where polling took place on Sunday and in Nagaland, where polling is scheduled on February 27  the same date as Meghalaya.

In Christian-majority Nagaland, the Congress promised pilgrimage to Jerusalem at subsidised costs while BJP promised free trips to the holy city for 50 senior citizens each year.

Christians are a majority in Meghalaya too, but both parties are focusing on sanitary pads and not Jerusalem  maybe with an eye on women voters.

The three major tribes in Meghalaya  Khasi, Garo and Jaintia  are matrilineal and women voters outnumber the men in the state. There are 9.29 lakh women voters in the state against 9.12 lakh men.

However, civil society activists have denounced the idea.

Parties are raking up flimsy issues like sanitary napkins while there are more serious things happening like violence against women, trafficking, etc. Political parties are not able to grasp the real issues, said Angela Rangad, chief of Thma U Rangli Juki (TUR), a civil rights body.

Others feel promise of free sanitary napkins doesnt make sense as women in rural Meghalaya use other eco-friendly alternatives, which are less polluting, than the non-bio-degradable napkins.

Rampant use of sanitary napkins will create a pollution hazard. It seems political parties want to benefit suppliers and manufacturers of napkins more. The promise wont make much difference to women voters, said Agnes Kharsiing, president of Civil Society Womens Organisation (CSWO), a NGO.

On Monday, both TUR and CSWO framed a womens rights charter, which they distributed to parties contesting the assembly polls in Meghalaya.

The charter urged parties to focus on issues like gender policy, gender budgeting, gender-based violence and socio-economic protection of women and children. Free sanitary napkins didnt find mention in the charter.
Pakistan on Tuesday summoned Indias deputy high commissioner JP Singh here to condemn the unprovoked firing by Indian troops across the Line of Control which killed an 8-year-old boy.

Pakistans foreign ministry claimed that the boy, Ayan Zahid, was killed after Indian troops opened fire on Monday in Khuiratta Sector in the PoK.

Pakistan army on Monday claimed that at least two Indian soldiers were killed when it destroyed an army post that was used to kill the minor across the Line of Control, a claim rejected by the Indian army as baseless.

Director general (South Asia and SAARC) Mohammad Faisal summoned Singh and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations by Indian forces, the Foreign Office said in a statement.

He alleged that India committed more than 335 ceasefire violations along the LoC and the working boundary in 2018, resulting in the deaths of 15 civilians and injuries to 65 others.

This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India is continuing from the year 2017 when the Indian forces committed more than 1970 ceasefire violations, he said.

Faisal said the ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation.

Faisal urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement and investigate the repeated incidents of ceasefire violations, the statement said.

He also urged the Indian side to allow the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions.

India maintains that UNMOGIP has outlived its utility and is irrelevant after the Simla Agreement and the consequent establishment of the Line of Control.
A parliamentary panel on Tuesday grilled civil aviation ministry officials on Air India disinvestment, including the fate of airline employees, with the ministry assuring that clarifications will be provided to it in a months time, sources said.

During the 90-minute meeting, members of the Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture sought to know about various issues pertaining to the proposed disinvestment based on the panels draft report.

Tuesdays agenda included the issue of Air India disinvestment on the basis of the parliamentary panels draft report as well as the concerns raised by 15 employees unions of Air India on it. Besides, the panel also debated the demands for grants of the ministry as part of the agenda.

The draft report, which had opposed Air Indias stake sale and suggested that the airline be given five years to shape up till the end of the turnaround and financial restructuring plans, had created a furore during the committees previous meeting when some Opposition members had walked out.

The panel, chaired by senior TMC leader Derek O Brien, flagged concerns about the fate of employees at Air India after the disinvestment and grilled the ministry officials on various aspects of the stake sale, sources said.

In response, Civil Aviation Secretary R N Choubey urged the committee to give 30 days to reply to the questions raised by the members, a request agreed to by the panel.

Regarding the employees concerns, Choubey said the interest of the employees would be appropriately safeguarded in the Request for Proposal (RFP) for disinvestment.

While 15 unions of Air India had raised questions on the national carriers disinvestment, the ministry officials said only four of them were recognised. The remaining unions, including the Indian Commercial Pilots Association, were not recognised, they said.

Air India CMD Pradeep Singh Kharola was also present.

Apart from the employees issues, some panel members sought to know about the rationale behind the proposed Air India stake sale at a time when the airlines operating profit had improved to Rs 298 crore in 2016-17, sources said.

The improved performance of disinvestment-bound helicopter services provider Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited was also mentioned during the meeting.

Pawan Hans reported a steep jump in profit at Rs 242 crore last fiscal compared to Rs 58 crore in 2015-16, sources said.

At the last meeting on January 15, some panel members, mostly belonging to the BJP, had sought the withdrawal of the draft report opposing the disinvestment of Air India.

In its draft report, the committee had said it was not an appropriate time to divest stake in Air India and that the airline should be given at least five years to revive.

Further, the panel deliberated on overall staff crunch in key organisations of the civil aviation sector.

Sources said there are at least 2,876 vacancies together at the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).

These comprise 2,237 at the AAI, 339 at the DGCA and 300 at the BCAS, they added.

The committee also discussed about the Demands for Grants of the ministry for next financial year.

Besides Choubey and Kharola, many other senior officials, including DGCA Director General B S Bhullar and Pawan Hans CMD B P Sharma were present at Tuesdays meeting.

There are 31 MPs in all in the committee, with 15 from the BJP, and one each from its allies TDP, Apna Dal and RLSP. Three are from the Congress, three from the TMC and one each from SP, YSR Congress, RJD, NCP, BJD, CPI(M) and AIADMK.
Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday said the proportion of women in the Indian workforce is very low at 26-27% and exhorted companies to pledge for increasing their numbers.

In India, about 26 to 27 per cent participation in the workplace is women, which is very low. It is something which requires a lot of work, Trudeau said during an interaction with ICICI Bank managing director and chief executive Chanda Kochhar at the Canada-India Business Forum in Mumbai.

He underlined that increasing the number of women is not only a nice thing, but a smart thing to do as their economic success leads to better impact on the broader society.

He asked business leaders to listen to successful women leaders in order to understand the challenges that they face in their career and how they have overcome it, which can be replicated in their respective organisations.

Trudeau held a roundtable meet with women business leaders, including Kochhar, Ipsita Dasgupta of Star India, fashion designer Anita Dongre, Accentures Rekha Menon, lawyer Zia Mody and i-banker-turned-entrepreneur Falguni Nayar, among others.

He said the meeting was so insightful that it went on for 90 minutes rather than the scheduled 60 minutes.

Kochhar said the women leaders at the meeting decided to come out with a pledge for companies, where they will commit for increasing the particpation of women in every economic activity.

It is not about nice to have women. It is an economic imperative...We want a pledge to say that we would encourage more and more women participation in every field of activity, she said.

Trudeau asked all the corporates present and other business leaders to adopt the same pledge in order to create a more diversified workplaces.

He said China has worked a lot on this front, but conceded that there is a greater amount of work to be done on the gender income disparity in his country.
A woman was allegedly raped by two men in West Bengal and a metal object was inserted in her private parts, the police have said.

According to the police, the victim, 19 or 20 years old, was found lying under a bridge in a village in south Dinajpur for nearly 18 hours. She underwent two surgeries at Malda Medical College and Hospital.

A passerby said he found the woman in an unconscious state in the afternoon of February 18, with her intestine coming out from her private part.

I noticed the woman lying in an unconscious state. I sprinkled water on her face and she stirred. At that time, I noticed her intestine was coming out from her private parts, said Dhamu Soren in his police complaint.

South Dinajpur superintendent of police Prasun Banerjee said they found involvement of two people in the crime and have arrested them.

The woman, a Dehaband resident, was allegedly attacked on February 17 when she was returning from a Shivratri fair.

The woman told me (that) Ram Prabesh Sharma, a resident of Dehaband village, and some other persons abducted her and gang-raped her in a secluded place. It seems after raping the girl the accused assaulted her with some weapon as a result of which her intestine came out, said Soren.

Medical superintendent Amit Kumar Dawn said the girl was brutally assaulted. A team of specialist doctors have conducted surgeries and she is responding well.

The victim has been administered four units of blood.

Women activists have demanded strict punishment for perpetrators. We want stern punishment for the culprits. We have come to know that the victim has no relatives and is an orphan. We will try to provide her with all necessary support, said Chirashree Dasgupta, a renowned woman activist from Malda district.

State opposition leaders have slammed the Mamata Banerjee government over the incident. The chief minister is busy numerous statements every day, but she has found no time to issue a strong message against those who commit crimes against women. Clearly the safety and security of women is not her priority... said BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha.

CPI-M district secretary Narayan Biswas said the CM was supposed to visit South Dinajpur on February 21, and alleged that the administration tried to suppress the incident. They took more than 24 hours to register the FIR, Biswas alleged.
After the rout in the three by-polls and the proposed siege of the assembly planned by the CPI(M) on February 22, the BJP government appears to be working hard to dispel resentment among farmers.

The BJP organized a series of press conferences in different cities of the state to drive home the message that the government is farmer friendly and has taken a number of measures for their betterment.

At a press conference in Jaipur on Tuesday, state industry minister Rajpal Singh Shekhawat said the BJP government has taken historic decisions for the benefit of farmers such as crop loan waiver that will benefit 20 lakh farmers and the setting up a farmers debt relief commission.

The loan waiver will benefit more than 20 lakh farmers of loan amount of 8,000-9,000 crore, he said.

The debt relief commission will be made a statutory body so that it has protection of law.

Meanwhile, ahead of the CPIMs proposed siege of the assembly, Jaipur police rounded up more than 85 farmers from the outskirts of Jaipur who were planning to march towards Vidhan Sabha.

Among the arrested were farmer leaders and former CPI(M) MLAs Amraram and Pemaram,

The police later released more than a dozen of them on bail and arrested the remaining under Section 151 of CrPC (preventive custody).

On September 12, the BJP government had announced a loan waiver after 11 days of angry protests by farmers.

The government, however, failed to assuage the anger among farmers who did not extend support to the BJP in the three by-polls which the party lost. It is now making efforts to woo farmers.

Reeling off a host of statistics, Shekhawat said the BJP government has also waived off cooperative crop loans worth 50,000 for farmers.

The Rajasthan government will establish warehouses with capacity of 5 lakh metric tons at a cost of 350 crore, he said.

He further said that the government has disbursed interest-free loans worth 80,000 crore to farmers and has also issued grants worth 38,000 crore.

The government will provide interest-free loans to the RAJFED for purchase of mustard and chickpea from farmers at the minimum support price, the minister said, adding that the government will provide 2 lakh electricity connections to farmers.
The Police on Tuesday arrested 21-year old Hanuman Bishnoi alias Laden who played the key role in the robbery attempt at Axis Bank in Jaipurs Ashok Nagar area on February 6.

Bishnoi was instrumental in arranging the men who tried to rob the banks chest branch that had deposits worth Rs 832 crore, said Manoj Choudhary, additional deputy commissioner of police (DCP), Jaipur South. The robbery was foiled when a vigilant police constable, inside the bank, heard noises and fired in the air. Hearing the gunfire, the 13 men fled.

Bishnoi said that he was asked to arrange men for looting a hawala operator. He was told that the men would get about Rs 10-15 lakh each while he would get a bigger share, said the additional DCP.

He said that Bishnoi was moving from one district to another and was not using any phone since the attempted robbery. On Monday, we received input from our intelligence that he has boarded a truck from Phalodi to Jaipur. Late on Monday night, he was trying to board a truck towards Chhatisgarh near Bagru toll plaza, he added.

Bishnoi had relatives in Chhattisgarh and he was planning to go and spend a few months there till the matter cools down, he revealed to the police during the investigation. He was rounded up around 3 am on Monday and arrested later during the day after interrogation.

The police have so far 14 people have been arrested in connection with the robbery attempt and nearly a dozen are yet to be arrested, the police said. Thirteen persons had reached the bank and broken the first gate after tying up the security guard and jumping into the bank premises. Sixteen men had come from Jodhpur in two cars and while thirteen went to the bank, three waited near the Bagru toll.

Of the thirteen men, the police arrested eight, all in their twenties, from Jodhpur on February 11 and 12. Seven were arrested in Mohali by Punjab police with about Rs 1 crore in demonetized currency on Monday. Of the seven, five were involved in the Jaipur bank robbery attempt.

Among the five, Ravinder and Rajkumar, residents of Faridabad, had information about the bank and finances and they approached Sandeep Bishnoi, Kishore Nayak and Lakhan Sharma. The latter were residents of Jaipur and they approached two persons, the key conspirators in the robbery, who are still absconding. The duo had, in turn, approached Hanuman Bishnoi who arranged the men for the attempt.
The Jawahar Kala Kendra (JKK) in Jaipur will hold a special screening of a docu-drama based on Ranthambhores celebrated tigress Macchli on Thursday.

The 60-minute film has been shot by wildlife filmmaker S Nallamuthu over a period of nine years and will be telecast on the National Geographic Channel on February 26 at 8 pm.

The special screening is being organized by the JKK in collaboration with the Prabha Khaitan Foundation and We Care.

Macchli died in August 2016.

Rajasthan minister for forest and environment Gajendra Singh will be the chief guest, while principal secretary, state forest and environment department Dr Subodh Agarwal will be the special guest at the screening of the film.

There are different ways to promote conservation, one is through making films with a certain formula in which you directly say save the tiger, said Nallamuthu.

I feel a bigger impact is felt when people actually see tigers as sentient, mindful beings and bond with them. That is why I dont say save the tiger but I show people why you should save tigers by creating a human connect, he said.

In this way, people will bond with these extraordinary creatures and see their stories unfold as I have done for the past 10 years.
Rajasthan has drastically improved when it comes to institutional deliveries, the latest National Family Health Survey-4 (2015-16) shows. However, the picture is not so rosy when it comes to breastfeeding within one hour of birth.

According to NFHS-4 (2015-16), institutional deliveries in Rajasthan are as high as 84% (public and private hospitals). But when it comes to breastfeeding within one hour of birth the figure is a dismal 28.4%.

Provision of mothers breast milk to infants within one hour of birth ensures that the infant receives the colostrum, which is rich in protective factors

Institutional deliveries at government facilities are at 63%in NFHS-4, a huge improvement from 19% in NFHS-3 2005-06.

According to the latest survey, 58.2% children under six months are exclusively breastfed in the state.

In NFHS-3, institutional delivery in Rajasthan 29.6% (public and private) while children breastfed within an hour of birth was at 13.3%.

Speaking about breastfeeding within an hour of birth not matching with institutional deliveries, Dr SM Mittal, director reproductive and child health, said, Social and traditional beliefs are still strong. Due to which many children remain deprived of mothers milk within an hour of birth along with problems like the newborn being unable to suckle. We are making efforts to increase this percentage and soon it will increase.

UNICEF Rajasthan nutritional specialist Minakshi Singh suggested that the woman should be shifted to the ward or room after the delivery for breastfeeding the child. This will increase breastfeeding within an hour of birth at least at public health facilities. This way, the womans family members cannot force her to first give ghutti, honey, water to the newborn, said Singh.

Devendra Agarwal, adviser to the state health department for Aanchal Mothers milk bank project said, once the mother delivers her baby, she is immediately shifted to breastfeeding clinic so as to ensure that the baby gets mothers milk within an hour and trained staff to teach her how to hold the baby, position to feed etc.

At present, Rajasthan has 13 breastfeeding clinics at the mother milk banks at Bharatpur, Alwar, Chittorgarh, Beawar, Banswara, Bhilwara, Bundi, Tonk, Baran, Churu, Udaipur, Karauli and Dholpur. Five more milk banks will be opened at Rajsamand, Barmer, Jalore, Sirohi and Sawai Madhopur in the next two months, which will also have breastfeeding clinics. Apart from these, 25 breastfeeding clinics will come up in next six months in districts with a high delivery load.

He said that breastfeeding clinics will create awareness and facilitate breastfeeding, and also train, assist and treat lactating mothers. He said these clinics will also be helpful for mothers who have a premature delivery, newborns unable to suckle because of cleft lips, retracted nipple, non-formation of milk etc. They will also counsel and train family members of the new mother not to give honey, water, ghutti etc for first six months.
Rajasthan agriculture minister Prabhulal Saini said on Tuesday that the state government had no plans to make any amendment in the existing cattle trading laws. Saini added that farm loan waiver was not a solution, but the government was working to raise their income levels with an aim to make Rajasthan farmers debt free.

Saini said that although the Centre was working on a model cattle marketing Act and has asked for suggestions from states, Rajasthan will study the new Act legally and not implement it if it was not in favour of the state.

The All India Kisan Sabha that had threatened to lay a siege on the Assembly on February 22 has demanded relaxation in laws for trading cattle. Its other demands include purchase of produce at fair price apart from implementation of other recommendations of Swaminathan Commission report.

We have no plans for any amendment to cattle trading laws at present. Under the present Act, any person can purchase calf or cow for research and milk purpose. If a farmer wants to sell the cattle, he can do it by giving an affidavit that he is selling to the person concerned. The buyer has to also give an affidavit that he has purchased it for milk or research purpose, said Saini.

Our problem is that camel is the state animal and it can be bought and sold only under certain terms. Similarly, for bovines, there is an act in Rajasthan that restricts its trade, he said.

Saini added that the BJP government in Rajasthan had taken a number of steps to achieve the partys stated objective of doubling the farmers income by 2022.

Sudden changes in climate are a challenge in Rajasthan, but we are working on a seven-point plan. Innovation is most important and we have established a centre of excellence to provide 25 varieties of high quality, high yield mother plants that are being prepared and supplied to farmers. Other activities such as bee keeping, animal husbandry and growing crops like olive leaves for making olive green tea, that is in great demand in UK, US and other countries, are helping to raise the income level of farmers, he said.
Unidentified masked miscreants broke into the Union Bank of Indias (UBI) Pashupati Nagar branch and emptied 26 lockers, which contained jewellery, cash and documents of the customers, police said.

While the exact amount of the property burgled was being assessed, it could be worth rupees several crore, customers and bank officials said. A transporter, Ashutosh Gupta, said the burglars made away with all his family jewellery worth Rs 1 crore.

Taking serious view of the incident, Akhilesh Kumar, SSP Kanpur, suspended station officer, Naubasta police station, Akhilesh Jaiswal for negligence. The Special Task Force (STF) would assist the Kanpur police in probing the case, the SSP said.

As news spread about the burglary, customers thronged the bank and held a protest, demanding compensation for their losses. Senior officials then assured the customers that they would do their best to solve the crime. Alok Singh, IG Kanpur zone, said police would crack the case soon.

The bank is situated on the ground floor of one Rajendra Singhs house. The burglary was discovered when Mahesh Kumar, a bank employee, opened the bank in the morning.

When I entered, the locker room lock was broken, and on going further, I found several lockers broken open, the bank employee said. He informed bank manager Praveen Srivastava, who informed police.

The police, on examining CCTV footage, found a man wearing mask entering the bank and smashing CCTV cameras. The burglars entered the bank from the adjacent vacant plot making a hole in the wall. They had brought with them a gas cutter, which they used to break open the locker room and the lockers.

Srivastava said the burglers even tried to enter the strong room but could not succeed.

The forensic team has picked some leads from the crime scene but the sniffer dog could not provide any clue.

An STF team, headed by additional SP Vishal Vikram Singh, arrived on Monday evening and closely examined the crime scene.

As regards the worth of property burgled, the bank officials said the items kept in lockers were not disclosed to the bank and it was difficult for them to tell their worth.

We will speak to each customer about the items they had kept in the lockers, said Srivastava.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership announced on Monday a Brahmin candidate for Gorakhpur Lok Sabha by-poll and an OBC for Phulpur, thus setting up a direct clash with main opposition Samajwadi Party that has put up OBC candidates on both the seats.

Firebrand BJP leader from the region Upendra Shukla is the BJPs choice for the Gorakhpur seat that had been represented by chief minister Yogi Adityanath, also the head priest of Gorakhnath Mutt, for five consecutive terms since 1998.

It went for former Varanasi mayor Kaushalendra Singh Patel, a Kurmi, for the OBC-packed Phulpur seat where UPs deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya opened the partys account for the first time in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

The two candidates have been chosen with the consent of both Adityanath and Maurya and hence the by-poll is also expected to be a test of popularity of the two leaders, BJP leaders admit.

The Congress has fielded a Bengali-Muslim woman gynaecologist from Gorakhpur and a Brahmin ex-bureaucrats son from Phulpur. With just a day left for filing of nominations, the possibility of BSP deviating from its usual practice of not putting up candidates in the by-polls were thin, political leaders said.

The BJP waited till the penultimate day to declare its candidates for the two seats ostensibly after it became clear that the opposition parties were unable to come to a consensus on putting up a joint candidate in either of the two seats.

These elections are important as they come just after the BJPs loss in Rajasthan by-polls, which brought some cheer for the Congress in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections and which has now called for all like-minded parties to unite against the BJP in the 2019 general election.

Both candidates would win hands down. There was a lot of talk of opposition fielding a joint candidate in either Gorakhpur or Phulpur. They developed cold feet because they have seen the writing on the wall, UP BJP leader Harish Srivastava said.

There is no way BJP could afford a loss in either of the seats as that would provide huge ammunition to the opposition to target the ruling party in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. This is the first time when BJP has settled for a candidate from outside the Mutt in Gorakhpur and Phulpur isnt their bastion. So its all set for an exciting mini-battle ahead of the bigger one, said Athar Hussain from the Centre of Objective Research and Development (CORD).

BJPs Shukla would be up against Pravin Nishad of the Samajwadi Party. Pravins father Ashok Nishad heads the Nishad Party formed ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. And though it has not won any seat on its own, the community has traditionally supported Adityanath.

But this time he is not there and hence its going to be tough for the BJP, says Pravin Nishad, the SP candidate.

The SP has also got the support of the Peace Party. We will do well and the results would have a lot of meaning and message ahead of Lok Sabha elections, said former chief minister and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav.

In Phulpur, with both the BJP and the SP putting up OBC candidates, the Congress has tried to seek upper caste votes by fielding a Brahmin Manish Mishra, son of former IAS officer JN Mishra. BJPs Kaushalendra Singh Patel would take on SPs Nagendra Pratap Singh Patel, belonging to the Kurmi caste.
In the countdown to the Investors Summit, the state government unveiled on Monday a new tourism policy to attract investment and increase footfalls at various tourism spots.

The focus will be on religious and heritage tourism with fiscal incentives within 20 km radius of all tourist spots and 10 tourism circuits promoted by the state government, including Ramayan circuit, Braj circuit, Buddhist circuit, wildlife and eco-tourism circuit, Bundelkhand circuit, Mahabharata circuit, Shakti Peeth circuit, spiritual circuit, Sufi circuit and Jain circuit.

The state government has planned to motivate foreign tourists to participate in Diwali festival at Ayodhya this year. On February 23 and 24, chief minister Yogi Adityanath will showcase Holi festival at Barsana. The department has also launched a Bed and Breakfast scheme under the new policy.

Addressing a press conference, Tourism minister Rita Bahuguna Joshi said the focus of the new policy was to promote PPP model in tourism sector. The state government had decided to open door to private players to develop tourist spots and provide facilities to the tourists. The state government has granted industry status to tourism and the aim is to generate employment as well, she said.

The Tourism department has already signed MoUs worth to 10,000 crore with private companies and has received 70 investment proposals. The department has set the target of 5,000 crore investment in the tourism sector per annum.

While for investment up to 50 crore, the state government will give subsidy of Rs 7.5 crore, for investment above 50 crore it will give maximum subsidy of 10 crore. The department has already arranged land bank for investment in various districts, Joshi said.

A tourism department team will participate in Berlin Tourist Fair from March 7 to 11 where apart from showcasing the state tourism spots the team will hold talks with international tourist operators.

Also, the state plans to showcase Kumbh Mela- 2019 in a big way, both nationally and internationally.

The tourism department has plans to construct a pathway between Taj Mahal and Agra fort to enable the tourists to visit both the monuments with ease, she said.

Principal secretary, Tourism, Avinish Awasthi said, the department was aiming to increase the annual number of foreign tourists by 10% and domestic tourists by 15%.
The Lucknow police will sport a corporate look at the Indira Gandhi Prathisthan (IGP)  the venue for the two-day UP Investors Summit beginning on Wednesday.

Instead of khaki, cops on duty on the IGP campus will don white shirt, blue blazer, grey trousers and a matching tie.

Police personnel on duty at the Indira Gandhi Prathisthan will be in corporate dress, said Rajiv Krishna, additional director general of police (ADG), Lucknow zone, on Monday.

Over 5,500 corporate honchos, including Reliance Industries chairman, are expected to attend the summit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the summit on Wednesday while President Ram Nath Kovind will preside over the concluding ceremony on Thursday. More than a dozen union ministers will also attend the event.

NO RESTRICTION ON TRAFFIC MOVEMENT

There would be no restrictions on traffic movement during UP Investors Summit.

There will be no restriction on the movement of regular traffic. Restrictions will only be applicable when the PM and Presidents fleets will move, said the SSP.

Offices and schools in the vicinity of the IGP would also function normally during the summit.

There will be restriction on timings of offices and schools in the vicinity of the Indira Gandhi Prathisthan when the summit will be in progress, said the SSP.

SECURITY ARRANGEMENT

Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the two-day event. A large number of police personnel have been mobilised across the state for ensuring foolproof security for the summit, said senior superintendent of police, Deepak Kumar.

Nine superintendents of police (SP), 35 additional SPs, 80 deputy SPs, 55 inspectors, 625 sub-inspectors, 60 female sub-inspectors, 80 head constables, 3,200 constables, 300 female constables, 11 traffic inspectors, 262 traffic sub-inspectors, 104 traffic head constables, 805 traffic constables, 31 companies of PAC and eight companies of central police force will be deployed at various points in the city for the summit.

Commandos of the anti-terrorist squad (ATS) and NSG would also be deployed for the security of VVIPs arriving at the IGP.

CCTV cameras have been installed on all routes that will see VVIP movement. Cameras would also keep vigil on all those arriving at the IGP while high-rise buildings near the IGP would be on cops radar. Police personnel would be deployed at these buildings.

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

Traffic management would be a major task for the Lucknow police for two days during which the Prime Minister, President, and union ministers would arrive in the city along with local and foreign investors.

The Lucknow airport would be divided into two parts  inner and outer cordon. There would be traffic diversions on the entire route from the airport up to the IGP in Gomti Nagar and cops would be deployed here.

The airport to IGP stretch has been divided into eight zones while adjoining roads on this route have been divided into 16 zones. Cops would be deployed on all these roads.

We have identified 568 points in the city for traffic management during the two-day summit. Over 3,000 vehicles will pass through city roads in more than 30 minutes after the arrival of the Prime Minister, said the SSP.

HOSPS ON ALERT

For the two-day event, SGPGI, KGMU, Trauma Centre and all district hospitals have been put on alert.

PARKING

Vehicles would be parked around 800 metres from the venue and a shuttle bus would ferry passengers from the parking spot up to the venue.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath said in the past 10 months his government has brought about a complete change in the perception about the state.

There was a time when bankers would not take our calls, but now we have made the state into an investor-friendly destination with every investor willing to invest in UP, said Yogi while speaking to Hindustan Times.

I was surprised in the beginning when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah sent me to take over as chief ministerWe wanted to speak to some bankers on some issues. Nobody used to take the phone calls. Nobody was ready to invest in UP, said Yogi.

Giving a detailed account of how his government struggled for funds and how successful implementation of the crop loan waiver scheme proved a turning point in changing the perception about the state, Yogi said, Nobody cooperated when we wanted to waive the crop loan of farmers. I sat with principal secretary, finance and discussed the issue. We decided to stop wasteful expenditure and financial leakages, so we wound up schemes that had nothing to do with development. With this, we provided Rs 36,000 crore and moved ahead with implementation of the loan waiver scheme. This made the people realise that UP had the mettle. Now, everybody wants to come to (for investment) UP. This is because the atmosphere has now changed here.

About future course of action, Yogi said, Our effort is to implement the MoUs being signed now and hold global investors summit after one year. After UP Investors Summit, our team will be divided in two parts. One will implement the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme while the other will implement the MoUs.

About changes brought about by his government, Yogi said, The people realise that they will not be a victim of red-tape. No criminal, mafia or anti-social element can create chaos in UP the state has brought about large-scale changes in labour laws, too. We have created an investment-friendly atmosphere. One can see the results and we are moving ahead. We have formulated 14-15 policies for different sectors, including Uttar Pradesh investment and employment promotion policy, food processing policy, MSME policy and aviation policy. We will come out with more policies, including the pharmaceutical policy, in next few days.

The chief minister said: Uttar Pradesh has unlimited potential. Nature and the Almighty God have bestowed their blessings on it. A phase of political anarchy was witnessed in the past 15 years. It led to a complete chaos. There was loot and corruption. UPs image took a beating in India and the world.

He said the previous government indulged in favouritism and power was available only in four VVIP districts. UP now has power available in all the 75 districts. We are also guaranteeing security for everyone. Through roadshows, organized ahead of the UP Investors Summit, we have been able to instill confidence among people that UP is going on the right path.

Over 8,000 persons have registered for the summit and 700 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) have been signed so far. The Prime Minister will inaugurate the summit, while President Ram Nath Kovind will be the chief guest at the concluding session.

About the controversy over police encounters, Yogi said none of the encounters was fake. We are responsible for security of 22 crore people of UP and are shouldering this responsibility, he said.

About Uttar Pradesh legislative councils move to order a CBI probe into the encounters, Yogi said all institutions should work within their domain. Working within domain will uphold dignity of all the institutions, he said.
All the 12 civic officials, who were served with a charge sheet for dereliction of duty in the Kamala Mills fire, have pleaded not guilty in their replies.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) gave charge sheet to 12 civic officials including two senior officers for dereliction of duty, after an initial inquiry conducted by senior officials. All officers had ten days to reply to the charge sheet.

After scrutinising their replies, additional municipal commissioner Vijay Singhal, heading the departmental inquiry, will conduct a hearing for the officials and submit a report to civic chief Ajoy Mehta in the next three months.

Mehta has given a period of three months to the inquiry committee probing the role or negligence of civic officials. The committee has been asked to study every detail of the case and submit a thorough report. Following the massive fire, which claimed the lives of 14 people on December 29, Mehta had submitted a detailed report to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and recommended a departmental inquiry against the 12 civic officials.

A senior civic official said, During the hearings, if it is found that the 12 officials can be charged with more irregularities, then additional charge sheets will be filed against them. Also, more officials can be charged if it is found that they have failed to perform their duties. These charge sheets enlist duties the officers have failed to perform.

The 12 officials included two assistant municipal commissioners Prashant Sapkale and Bhagyashree Khapse. While Sapkale was the ward officer of G South ward (Lower Parel), during the Kamala Mills tragedy, Khapse, his predecessor, was incharge of the ward when No Objection Certificates (NOC) were issued to the two high-end restobars, Mojos Bistro and 1Above, where the fire took place.

Sapkale was transferred to K east ward (Andheri) on December 29, hours after the tragedy and five officials namely Designated Officer Madhukar Shelar, sub-engineer Dinesh Mahale, Junior Engineer Dhanraj Shinde, Medical Officer, Dr Satish Badgire and assistant divisional fire officer S Shinde, from the ward were suspended.

Apart from this, five, who have been issued charge sheets regarding their lapses include health officer Dr Madan, fire officer RB Patil, sanitary inspector Pradip Shirke, engineers (building and factory department) Manohar Kulkarni and Milind Vhatkar. Senior officials said that the hearings for the charge-sheeted officials may start anytime this week.
A 20-year-old man from Kalbadevi in south Mumbai has been arrested for stabbing his older brother twice in the stomach after he slapped him for abusive behaviour.

The victim Ranjeet Singh was rushed to hospital, and is in a critical condition.

The brothers originally hail from Jharkhand, and their parents are no more. Ranjeet runs a cargo firm.

Singh, who suffers from a terminal illness, was working with his uncles courier firm in Kalbadevi and shared a small room with four other employees, the LT Marg police said.

Singh would be ill frequently, and he was cared for by his colleagues and relatives, but this only angered him, the police said. He would not work properly and would frequently get into fights, said an official from LT Marg police station, on condition of anonymity.

On Sunday afternoon, Singh got into an argument with colleague and roommate Vakil Mirdha over switching off the television. When the fight escalated, another colleague called up Singhs brother Ranjeet, who arrived at their place soon.

Ranjeet tried to calm Singh down, but in vain. He then called his wife in the village and asked some relatives to reason with Singh and tell him that fighting was not the solution for anything. But Singh refused to take the call, said the officer. He then told his brother that nobody cared for him. This resulted in a heated argument, and Singh abused Ranjeet, who in turn slapped him and asked him to leave. Singh picked up a knife lying on the table and stabbed his brother twice in the stomach and ran away.

His roommates rushed Ranjeet to GT hospital in a small tempo. The hospital informed the LT Marg police about the incident.

The police arrested Singh a few hours later, as he was trying to escape to his village in Jharkhand. He has been charged under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. The knife he used has also been seized.
A large number of the 40,000 metered cabs registered at the Tardeo regional transport office (RTO), which have gone through the e-meter recalibration in 2017, could have rigged meters, as hardly any of them went through the mandatory road test and subsequent sealing of e-meters  offering a free hand to cabbies to fleece commuters.

Electronic meter of a taxi or an autorickshaw is recalibrated after a fare revision is done. It is valid for two years. New vehicles also have to undergo recalibration at the time of registration. The owner of the vehicle has to recalibrate it and get it tested if he has to open the meter before the end of given duration. In that case, it is mandatory to get the meter tested again so that there is no rigging done by the owner.

For this purpose, an actual road test of the meter on a track at the RTO office is required. According to taxi union leaders, drivers and meter repairers, the Tardeo RTO which has a meter testing track on Sewree-Chembur road starting near Bhakti Park monorail station to Anik Depot, has not been conducting road tests for e-meters for past few months.

Hindustan Times has verified this by visiting the place different times over the past couple of weeks. The Tardeo RTO however insisted that the tests were being conducted.

Tardeo RTO has the most number of registered taxis. Subhash Pedamkar, regional transport officer of Tardeo RTO said, Instead of one year, now validity of meter test is extended to two years. Hence, less number of vehicles appear for road test at the meter testing track. Conducted on a 2-km track, the road tests are considered as checks to ensure that time, distance and fare are properly calibrated in e-meters.

It is mandatory as per the Motor Vehicles Act. Last week, a civil engineer from Jogeshwari unearthed the alleged tampering of e-meters in autos after an auto driver charged him an exorbitant fare. Shyam Godha, head of the automobile department at Saboo Sidhik Engineering College, Byculla, associated with meter recalibration for years said road tests are necessary to verify that e-meter is calibrated properly and cannot be bypassed. Even after bench tests from technical institutes, road tests are absolutely necessary, he said, adding that e-meters can be tampered with even after the bench test and hence the road test is must.

The question which arises then is how did such a large number of cabbies manage to get the recalibration of their e-meters done without road tests? A union leader who didnt want to be named said that Rs 800 is all that one needs to get RTO agents to manage everything. A taxi driver, requesting anonymity, said that he recalibrated his e-meter in a day through a repairer for Rs750. I was not aware about the two years rule, he said.
The Navi Mumbai crime branch on Tuesday arrested one more person in the missing woman police inspectors case.

Kundan Bhandari, 51, was the driver of Abhay Kurundkar, 52, senior inspector with the security branch of Thane (rural) police. Kurundkar, also an accused in the case, was arrested on December 7.

Bhandari was arrested from Kandivli.

The second accused arrested in this case was Rajesh Patil, 44, nephew of BJP leader Eknath Khadse.

Ashwini Bidre, 37, who stayed with her family at Roadpali, went missing on April 11, 2016. Her family members suspected she was kidnapped and murdered. They approached the Bombay high court as the police failed to trace her.

The police and Kurundkars family suspect that he had an affair with Bidre.

The police also got some photographs and videos on Bidres laptop and that suggested she was close to Kurundkar. Kurundkar had misled the police saying that Bidrehad gone to a Vipasana center to learn meditation.

On the day Bidre went missing, Kurundkar had called Patils number several times. After that Patil travelled to Mumbai from Jalgaon. The mobile phones of all three of them were traced to the same place near Mumbai.

Based on evidences we arrested the third accused, Bhandari on Tuesday. At this point, we cannot reveal how he was involved in the crime, said Tushar Doshi, deputy commissioner of police (crime).
The proposed terminus at Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train service will be a three-storey underground structure, said officials with the National High Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRC), an entity formed by the Union railway ministry to execute the project.

As per the NHSRC design, the BKC terminus will have six platforms for the trains at the lowest floor of the three-level station.

The structure, which will be near the headquarters of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), will have shops, ticket counters and a food court at the middle level, while the top floor will be used as the station administrative office and for equipment needed for train operations.

We will provide a variety of facilities for commuters on the second floor, including recreational activities, said a senior NHSRC official, who did not wish to be named.

The 508-km bullet train corridor between Mumbai and Ahmedabad will run underground in the city, up to Thane creek, after which it will be elevated.

The plot on which the station will be constructed is also likely to have an International Financial Service Centre (IFSC), to be built by the state government. However, this plan has not yet been finalised.

The 12 stations on the corridor will be BKC, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad and Sabarmati
Mumbai -based businessman Pramod Goenka has been reported missing from Mozambique in Africa since Saturday. The 52-year-old jeweller is the brother of Vinod Goenka, the chairman of DB Realty, a well-known construction firm.

The Juhu police received an application from Pramod Goenkas son Yash on Monday, stating that his father has been missing since Saturday on his business trip to Africa.

Sunil Ghosalkar, senior police inspector of Juhu police station said, We have received an application, based on which we have registered a missing case. We are coordinating with the all the investigative agencies to trace Pramod.

The application mentions Goenka was travelling to Maputo to meet a businessman named Kothari, who is also reported to be missing, according to sources.

Sources say Goenka could have been kidnapped by a criminal gang in Africa. The suspicion arose after his friend received some pictures of him purportedly in the gangs custody.

Goenka, who owns a jewellery business, had boarded a flight to Maputo, the capital city of Mozambique in eastern Africa, to meet Kothari for a business deal. The police officers said that according to call data records, Pramods last call was made on Saturday after which his phone was switched off.
A day before students appear for the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations, the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) has once again reminded candidates that they will not be allowed to enter an exam centre once the examination begins. The aim is to avoid any form of malpractice this year during examinations, which begin from February 21.

The exam begins sharp at 11am in the morning session and 3pm in the afternoon, so students should be inside the classroom before that. No student will be allowed after 11am and 3 pm so students should reach the exam centre before time to avoid any delay, said Subhash Borse, secretary in charge of the state boards Mumbai division. Over 3,30,000 students will be appearing for the exam from Mumbai division, which consists of Mumbai, Thane, Raigad and Palghar districts, this year. The education board has not released data on the number of candidates from Maharashtra. Last year, 1.5 million students from the state appeared for the exam.

After a series of paper leaks rocked the HSC examinations in 2017, the state board has been upgrading its examination system to avoid a repetition of the problem this year. Last year, five HSC question papers were leaked on WhatsApp 30 minutes before the exam was set to begin.

Another major change that will be introduced to HSC examinations this year is that packets of question papers will be opened only in the exam hall. All packets of question papers will be opened by the supervisor only once they enter the classroom, in the presence of at least three students. We have also given clear instructions to all staff at every exam centre to switch off their mobile phones before entering the centre, added Borse. This is to prevent staff members from taking photographs of the question paper and sending the images to students.

This year, the state board has also increased the number of flying squads monitoring exam centres across the state. Mumbai division will alone have six different flying squads, one for each district that falls under the division.
International medical specialists will now possibly be involved in the treatment of Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar, sources from Lilavati Hospital said.

There were demands of shifting him to the United States (US) for treatment, but instead its possible that specialists will be invited to Mumbai to see him. He is responding well to the treatment at this moment, said officials from Lilavati Hospital. Goa deputy speaker and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) politician, Micheal Lobo, on Monday demanded that Parrikar be shifted to the US for treatment if needed.

However, local politicians from Goa said there are rumors about Parrikar being able to present the budget on Thursday. We have heard that he will attend the assembly session on Thursday and present the budget. We are all hoping that it is true , said Vijai Sardesai, chief of the Goa Forward Party and state agriculture minister. Sardesai said despite his health condition, Parrikar has continued to work and give instructions from the hospital. On Monday, the Goa state legislature was forced to curtail its month-long budget session .

The budget is supposed to be tabled by public works minister Sudhin Dhavalikar, the number two in Parrikars cabinet. However, the hospital has maintained its stance on not discussing Parrikars treatment. He is said to be suffering from mild pancreatitis but there are rumours that it is more serious. He was shifted to Lilavati Hospital from Goa Medical College on Thursday.
Months after the six-seater aircraft built by Thrust Aircraft Pvt Ltd was cleared to fly by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Maharashtra government inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the company promoted by Amol Yadav to set up an indigenous factory for smaller aircraft, and develop Palghar as an aviation hub.

The state government entered into a joint venture with Yadav even before the aircraft he built was officially tested. The joint venture between the Maharashtra Industries Development Corporation (MIDC) and Thrust Aircraft is worth Rs35,000 crore. Under the MoU signed at the Magnetic Maharashtra investors summit, the state will give Yadavs firm 157 acres of land at Kelwe in Palghar district, roughly 140km north of Mumbai.

Yadav, who was a commercial aircraft pilot, said he is delighted with the development and mindful of the responsibility ahead.

He admitted the six-seater aircraft his company built has still not been tested. We are awaiting a few components. They have come to India and are with the Customs. Once they are fitted [into the aircraft] we will have the official test flight in March or April, Yadav said.

Experts have reservations

Aviation experts questioned the rationale behind the joint venture.

Aviation expert and former Air Force pilot Vipul Saxena said the government should have offered a similar opportunity to other enthusiasts eager to design or build aircraft.

Technically, such proposals should have been evaluated by a team of experts and with due diligence, said Saxena.

Even if it was the case of promoting young minds or indigenous production of aircraft, the government should have given a similar opportunity to others as well, he said.

Saxena added, I am not denying his dedication. They [DGCA] cannot approve the design unless it has been copied with only few alterations in pre-existing design. There are set guidelines by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). There are world-class labs where prototypes of planes are tested on various parameters. The government should have set up an aviation committee through the ministry of civil aviation to evaluate the proposal in terms of return on investment (ROI) if it is being funded for commercial purposes.

Yadav said there were two parts to the MoU signed  one has to be fulfilled by him, while the other by the government. I will be responsible for building the aircraft and appointing an agency to build the facility on the alloted land, while the government will provide the funds for basic amenities, etc, he said.

Making of the aircraft

Yadav spent six years building the six-seater plan, which now bears the registration number VTNMD  after the initials of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. A resident of Charkop, Yadav sold his house and spent Rs4 crore to build the airplane on the rooftop of a building in Kandivli. In February 2016, it was put on display at an exhibition at the Make in India week. Currently, the aircraft is parked at the airport.

The plane is made of aluminium, is 10.8 feet high, and was put together under the guidance of retired Air Marshal Murali Sundaram, and an advisory panel of IIT-B professors.

Although he managed to build the aircraft, the aviation ministry was not keen to allow him to conduct trials. After he was denied permission, Yadav petitioned Fadnavis and Modi. According to Yadav, there were bureaucratic roadblocks even after the PMO intervened for him to get the required permissions.

After a long battle of six years, the aircraft was finally registered in November 2017, after a follow-up by CM and with the help of the PMO, Yadav said.

According to Rasmikant Yadav, managing director, Thrust Aircraft Private Limited, and Anmols elder brother, the government of Maharashtra allotted land on both sides of the Kelwe Road station, which would be handed over to the MIDC within a month.  After getting the necessary permission, we plan to construct the plant within six months, said Yadav. The prime minister is likely to inaugurate the plant, Rashmikant said.

(With inputs from Ram Parmar)
A Mumbai police constable was arrested for cheating more than five Thane residents of Rs85.5 lakh.

Anantprasad Pandey, 51, head police constable with the Yellow gate police station, posed as Special Protection Group chief and promised the victims jobs in public sector.

The police are looking for the accuseds wife and son who too were allegedly involved in the cheating.

A resident of Nallasopara, Pandey told the people that he had contacts in Mantralaya and he knew CBI officers in Delhi. Among the five he cheated, one was a sales manager who lodged a complaint against Pandey, said Nasir Kulkarni, police inspector from Kasarwadavli police station.

From March 2016 to December 2017, Pandey gave false promises to the five. He took Rs88 lakh from the victims but later returned Rs2.5 lakh after they kept pestering him for jobs.

He fled the city after the case was registered. We came to know that Pandey was to come to Nallasopara to meet his relative and we arrested him, said Kulkarni.

Kulkarni said, We check his record and found that he was not regular at work.

A police officer from Yellow Gate police station said, Pandey is posted at the police station but then he has not come to work for the past two months.
An assistant police inspector with the Mumbai police crime branch became the latest victim of cybercrime after Rs39,000 was withdrawn from his salary account purportedly using a cloned card or his card details, the police said.

The complainant lives in the Bandra police quarters and has a bank account in a private bank. The officer withdrew money from the banks branch situated on Hill road in Bandra (West).

Last week, the police officer received messages on his mobile phone informing him about three to four transactions.

The officer called the customer care of the bank and got his card blocked.

But the fraudster had withdrawn Rs39,000 by then. According to the procedure, the cop went to his bank and filled a dispute form, after which he was asked to lodge a FIR with the local police station.

Senior police inspector Pandit Thakare confirmed the FIR was lodged on Saturday, but refused to divulge any further details.

Another officer from Bandra police station said, It is not clear from which ATM the money was withdrawn. We are also probing if money was withdrawn using a cloned card or cyber fraudster stole the data and used it for online shopping.
Finding the sandals of the dead woman helped Nallasopara police nail the role of Haridas Nirgude, 21, in the alleged murder of his Facebook friend, said police on Monday.

Nirgude met Ankita More, 20, on Facebook a few months ago. On Sunday, Nirgude called her to his ground-floor home in Taniya Monarch building in Alkapuri, as his sister and brother-in-law, with whom he stayed, had gone out. More told her parents that she was visiting a friend in Nallasopara. On reaching Nirgudes flat, the two had a brief chat. He wanted to have sex with her, but More refused, said a police officer, who did not wish to be named.

In a fit of rage, Nirgude allegedly strangled More, a Vashi resident, with a shoe lace, said police. Panicking after she fell unconscious, Nirgude went to a nearby medical store to fetch medicines, said the officer.

Realising that More was dead, Nirgude dragged the body and dumped it near the staircase, the police said. The building has no CCTV cameras. When neighbours gathered at the spot, Nirgude feigned ignorance about her identity. However, the footwear found outside Nirgudes house made us suspicious, Khairnar said.

The police started questioning him, as of the three ground floor flats in the building, two were occupied by senior citizens. They reasoned that a senior citizen would have found it hard to drag Mores body and dump it near the staircase.

When the police searched Nirgudes flat, they found bloodstains on the bed and near the bathroom. Nirgude could not give satisfactory replies and later confessed to the crime, Kishore Khairnar, senior inspector, Tulinj police station said. We have arrested Nirgude under section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code. He will be produced before Vasai court on Tuesday.

The police also found Mores mobile phone and purse from Nirgudes flat. More may have refused to have sex with Nirgude because she had her periods, and he may have forced himself on her, which may have led to the bloodstains, the police said.

Nirgude, who hails from Latur, worked as a salesman in a gift card gallery. He moved to the city in 2016.
The Maharashtra government may have announced that it will create 5.5 lakh affordable houses in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) by 2022  for which it has signed a partnership with developers at the Magnetic Maharashtra conclave  but will these grand plans materialise? Experts dont think so, though builders argue that it can be achieved.

In 2010, a similar Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the state government and the Maharashtra Chambers of Housing Industry (MCHI) for five lakh houses, but eight years later, not a single housing unit has come up.

Currently 40,000 to 50,000 houses are launched in the MMR annually, and this needs to doubled to meet the target.

Builders believe that this government means business.We have witnessed how the ease of doing business and the approval process have improved over the past one year. This target is possible, said Niranjan Hiranandani, national president, National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO).

Experts remain sceptical. Pankaj Kapoor, CEO of real estate research firm Liases Foras, said unsold inventory is a major issue. There is an unsold inventory of 2.7 lakh homes in MMR, and these need to be sold. Just adding new houses will serve no purpose, Kapoor said.

Another problem with constructing affordable houses is that often they are built in unliveable areas, places that have no infrastructure. There is no point in constructing houses in areas with hardly any economic activity. Such areas have neither got proper transport facilities nor social infrastructure for residents, said Kapoor.

Noted housing activist Vinod Sampat believes that the real problem would be lack of sincerity on the side of the builders and the state. For years, we have seen builders misusing all incentives and taking homebuyers for a ride, said Sampat. If the government is sincere, it should lower taxes and premiums as it is a huge burden for homebuyers.

The MoU signed on Monday is similar to the one signed in 2010 between the government and the MCHI, with conditions such as builders constructing the affordable houses on their land and the government working to ease approvals. Nayan Shah, president (elect) of MCHI-CREDAI, admitted that some teething issues remain.This is just a beginning. We will be holding talks with the government to thrash out issues and arrive at solutions, he said.

Shah claimed the unsold inventory figure of 2.7 lakh units is highly exaggerated. There is hardly any stock of readymade unsold houses in the market; even the figures for under-construction houses are misleading.
Did diamantaire Nirav Modi really fund the BJPs 2014 election campaign, as the Shiv Sena alleges? That could just be a shot in the dark. But the kind of statements the Shiv Sena has been making against its so-called ally in government since then leaves less and less room for a reconciliation between the two parties. Perhaps the harshest statement is the one wherein the Saamana said in its editorial that the BJPs anti-corruption plank lies in tatters after the episode. Various Shiv Sena leaders have since gleefully dropped hints that the USP of the BJP may be finally over and that the 2019 elections now may be open season for all.

I never cease to be amazed by how circumstances usually conspire to make it easy for the Shiv Sena, politically and electorally. Right from Bal Thackerays time, the Sena has been a party that has thrived on the errors of its political rivals (usually the Congress), never having had any programme of its own to propel it to power. When it first gained a full majority in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in 1985, it was helped by the contretemps between then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and then Maharashtra chief minister Vasantdada Patil that led the latter to allege, quite without basis, that the PM was intending to turn Bombay into a city state. Thackeray got just the issue he needed and, over time, there were others. The 1992-93 riots that the then Congress government bungled and was unable to control for days was another such instance that soon propelled the Sena to power in the state which, however, it could not sustain for more than one term -- it had nothing to show of its own and no errors of rivals to piggy back on for a second term.

The fact that it is in power again with the BJP should come as a dampener to its future prospects, given the anti-incumbency and other factors that are both racking and wrecking the ruling party. Somehow, though, the Sena has managed to keep its distance from those blunders, be it issues relating to farmers, including their suicides (which Uddhav Thackeray has been constantly needling the BJP about) and now this growing feeling of disquiet among common people at the continuing corruption in high places and its scale and ease.

It was not surprising then that the Shiv Sena should stall the signing of an MoU for the proposed west coast refinery at the Magnetic Maharashtra summit taking place in its backyard in Bandra. Of course, that was some tit-for-tat for not being invited to the event as also to the ground-breaking ceremony for the new airport at Navi Mumbai and that was a sore point of resentment. I am, however, surprised at how the BJP could play into the Senas hands on this one. Even if it was an inadvertent error, it only helps the Shiv Sena to play victim to the hilt. Victimhood has always been the Shiv Senas USP and here it has also helped it to seem more caring of peoples concerns.

Now, however, whatever it might say about Nirav Modi and the BJP, in Bal Thackerays time, there was much proximity between the Sena chief and jewellers. Thackeray had openly accompanied some members of his family to buy some jewellery at an upmarket store -- that itself was such an amazing thing for a politician of his stature to do that it caused a minor sensation. The Shiv Sena was in power in the state at the time and it was a risk Thackeray was taking to so openly associate with a jeweller. But clearly the stir was more about his unusual presence in such a store than anything that may have been bought or sold. However, that does make me wonder now if the Sena knows a lot more about the relationship between jewellers and political parties than we give them credit for.

Strangely, the Shiv Sena has been able to be both discreet and open about such relationships. Even then Thackeray had dismissed his store visit as a family shopping spree with nothing to hide (though we never got to know what was bought or sold and at what cost). That kind of chutzpah is missing from todays politicians. The BJP could perhaps borrow a bit of that from the Shiv Sena, today the only party which knows how to have its cake and eat it too!
Gautam Budh Nagar is set to receive 41 bikes, also known as police response vehicles (PRVs), loaded with state-of-the-art gadgets and equipment in order to lessen the response time to emergency situations.

The bikes are being introduced in order to reduce the average response time of PRVs from 15 minutes to 12 minutes, especially in rural areas and congested urban areas where road connectivity is poor.

This was announced by the Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath at a ceremony in Lucknow on Tuesday. Adityanath said a total of 1,600 PRVs (two-wheelers) will be provided to different police stations across the state.

Police machinery modernisation had been a long-standing demand and we have allotted Rs105 crore for the purpose. We have procured 3,300 two-wheelers and 903 four-wheelers. In the past 11 months, the UP Police has provided justice and security to all persons without any discrimination and through their good work, the UP Police has earned the trust of the people and set a new image of themselves, Adityanath said.

Of the 1,600 bikes to be allotted, 1,500 will be in use while 100 vehicles will be kept in reserve at different police stations.

The bikes will be fitted with equipment such as mobile data terminal (MDT) in which directives will be provided from the control room regarding coordinates of the caller in distress. The bikes will be monitored through GPS and phone calls can also be made through them.

Apart from MDT, other gadgets such as a LED light, siren, crime scene kit, utility box, helmet with mic, torch, mobile charging point and bottle holder will also be provided in the bike.

Every bike will be ridden by one constable and a home guard and they will work in three shifts on a rotational basis.

Regarding allocation of vehicles, Gautam Budh Nagar will get 41 bikes of which 38 will be active and three will be kept in reserve. Lucknow being the capital city, will get the highest number of PRVs at 63. In the first round of allocation, police stations in Hardoi, Lakhimpur Khiri, Unnao, Sitapur and Rae Bareilly will receive the PRVs and all other districts, including GB Nagar, will receive the vehicles by March-end.

Gautam Budh Nagar currently has 47 PRVs and its response time  at 12 minutes and 38 seconds has been ranked 11th in the state.

We are yet to receive any official order regarding the PRVs. Currently, we have 47 PRVs active in the district, AK Jha, superintendent of police (traffic), said.

The business community in Noida has welcomed the move and said increased patrolling and vigilance will ensure that crime is under control.

This is a welcome move by CM Yogi as we have been demanding increased patrolling for a long time. The new bikes will ensure that there is more vigilance, Vipin Malhan, president, Noida entrepreneurs association, said.

The chief minister also flagged off 100 PRV bikes on Tuesday and said the new vehicles will assist the UP Police in curbing the crime rate in the state.
China, the sole defender of the Maldives embattled autocrat, Abdulla Yameen, has issued an open threat through a State mouthpiece: If India militarily intervenes in the Maldives, Beijing wont sit idly by but will take action to stop it. This essentially is an empty threat because China has no credible capability to sustain a military operation far from its shores. Despite Chinas rising naval power, taking on India in its own maritime backyard will be a fools errand.

India could call Chinas bluff through quick military action that deposes Yameen and installs the jailed Supreme Court chief justice as the interim president to oversee fair elections under United Nations supervision. In truth, an Indian intervention is not on the cards, in part because such action would trample on the principles India has long championed.

India has carefully weighed all the factors and resolved not to intervene at present in the vicious politics of the increasingly radicalised Maldives. If the crisis there were to escalate to civil war-like conditions, with street clashes erupting in the capital Male, where two-fifths of the nations total population lives, India could, of course, intervene in the name of responsibility to protect, the moral principle Nato invoked to counterproductively overthrow Libyas Muammar Gaddafi.

India had a narrow window of opportunity to intervene immediately after Yameen declared a state of emergency and jailed many, including his elderly half-brother, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, whose dictatorship lasted three decades largely because Indian paratroopers in 1988 salvaged his presidency from coup plotters who seized control of much of Male. Before Yameen fell out with Gayoom, he actually ran a family dictatorship, with Gayooms daughter as his foreign minister.

Beijings threat at this stage is not only a Doklam-style psychological warfare against India but, more importantly, also an effort to curry favour with the internationally isolated Yameen. By claiming to shield him from Indias potential action, China wants to expand its strategic footprint in the Maldives, where it has already acquired several of the countrys 1,190 atolls for projects. The Maldives first and only democratically-elected president, Mohamed Nasheed, who was ousted at gunpoint by Gayooms pro-Islamist cronies, claims Chinas land grab has netted 17 islets.

While India has wisely refrained from any precipitous action in response to Yameens unbridled lurch toward authoritarianism, it faces a pressing foreign-policy challenge extending beyond the Maldivian crisis. Make no mistake: Indias rapidly eroding influence in its strategic backyard holds far-reaching implications for its security, underscoring the imperative for a more dynamic, forward-looking strategy. Indias inaction and missteps have aided Chinas aggressive diplomacy, with Chinese clout increasingly on display even in countries symbiotically tied to India, such as Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. With Beijing seeking to establish a Djibouti-type naval base in the Maldives, China is opening an oceanic threat against India in the same quiet way that it opened the trans-Himalayan threat under Mao Zedong.

On the Maldives, Indias moment of truth came not with the latest emergency proclamation but in February 2012 when Nasheed made desperate phone calls to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pleading for an Indian intervention against the Islamists besieging his office. Nasheed, however, had roiled New Delhi with his overtures to Beijing, including personally inaugurating the newly-established Chinese embassy on the day Singh arrived in Male for a Saarc summit. Indias refusal to take a long-term strategic view and prevent Nasheeds overthrow has had important consequences, including empowering the Islamists and ceding more space to China. Just months after Nasheeds ouster, the Maldives expropriated its main international airport from Indias GMR Infrastructure.

The Maldives has increasingly acted against Indias strategic interests with impunity. Six months ago, it sent New Delhi a chilling message by welcoming three Chinese frigates, which docked in Male and Girifushi Island, and imparted special training to Maldivian troops. Yameen amended the constitution in 2015 to legalise foreign ownership of land in a way tailored for China, requiring a minimal $1-billion construction project that reclaims at least 70% of the desired land from the ocean. New Delhis carrot-only approach also emboldened Yameen more recently to sign a free-trade agreement with China.

India must now start wielding the stick. With other democratic powers, it should impose punishing sanctions. However, the right powers to militarily intervene in the Maldives are the United States and Britain because, unlike India, they have little to lose and democracy promotion is a legitimate foreign-policy plank for them. Chinas growing presence in the Indian Ocean threatens not just Indias security but also the Diego Garcia-centred Anglo-American naval pre-eminence in the region.

Brahma Chellaney is a geostrategist and author

The views expressed are personal
At least eight people were killed and more than 35 others injured in a road accident in Patna late Monday night.

The accident took place when a private bus, carrying 50 members of a marriage party, overturned and fell into a ditch near Kandap village on Patna-Gaya state highway, a police officer said.

Four people died on the spot and four others succumbed to their injuries during treatment, he said. The injured were undergoing treatment at Nalanda Medical College Hospital and Patna Medical College Hospital in the state capital, the officer added.

The driver and the cleaner of the ill-fated bus fled after the accident, he said, adding that the bus was on way to Nadaul village from Abdullah Chak locality in Patna.

Eyewitnesses said the bus was travelling at a high speed when the driver lost control over the vehicle.

Agitated over the loss of lives, locals set the bus on fire. The police have lodged a case over the incident.

Meanwhile, Patna district magistrate Kumar Ravi has announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the family of those killed in the accident.
A ten-member team of doctors which examined the condition of city-based developer DS Kulkarni on Tuesday advised him hospitalisation at the Sassoon General Hospital for the next 48 hours.

Speaking during an interaction on Tuesday, Dr Ajay Chandanwale, Dean, Sassoon General Hospital, said, Developer DS Kulkarni has been admitted at the special ward at Sassoon General Hospital on Tuesday. A 10-member team carried out his clinical examination on Tuesday morning. The team has advised hospitalisation for the next 48 hours after which he would be re-examined.

Chandanwale said that radiology and clinical findings have suggested that Kulkarni needed to be hospitalised.

The team of doctors who were from radiology, cardiology, neurology, medicine, surgery, , psychiatry, physician, orthopedic, and pulmonary, have done the primary investigation, following which Kulkarni has been advised hospitalisation, said Chandanwale.

He clarified that the patient is not on ventilator and would remain at Sassoon General Hospital for the next 48 hours till further examination is done.

DS Kulkarni (67), who was arrested on Saturday in a cheating case, was rushed to the hospital on Sunday after he complained of uneasiness and lost his balance in a police lock-up, an officer said.

On Monday, Dr Vijay Jagtap, who is Kulkarnis family physician and a consulting doctor in the case at Deenanath hospital, said that the builder was being given preventive treatment for Metabolic Encephalopathy Altered Sensorium. Metabolic Encephalopathy Altered Sensorium is an illness where the patient suffers with certain metabolic disturbances affecting the brain function and does not respond to sensory impulses properly. According to doctors at Deenanath, DSK was on ventilator, which was removed on Sunday itself, and is being given the oxygen therapy.
Alleging foul play in the mysterious death of a 19-year-old second year BCA student; family members, relatives and college students held a protest on Monday outside the college as well as Sector 36 police station and demanded deeper probe.

Bhawna, student of Post Graduate Government College for Girls (PGGCG), Sector 42, was found hanging on Sunday evening in her friends hostel room. The body was found hanging with a duppatta by her hostel mates, who had informed the hostel authorities about the incident. She was rushed to the hospital, where she was declared dead on arrival.

Family members speculate death

Why will she commit suicide? There was no reason. She was a very bright child, said Bhawnas uncle Puneet Talwar. She talked to her mother at about 3pm and had even shared pictures of the party. Why will someone, decked up for a party, commit suicide just like that, he questioned.

She wanted to become a chartered accountant and was preparing for the same along with her studies, said Talwar.

The college and hostel authorities are hiding something. We are not being given proper information, said Bhawnas mother Sangeeta Wig. Bhawnas father, Rakesh Wig, is a mobile shop owner in Ambala.

The kin alleged it is a murder and police are trying to pass it off as suicide.

Principal Binu Dogra says she met the family members of the deceased on Monday. She denied all the allegations and said the warden informed her and took the girl to the hospital. The police are investigating the case and have taken the CCTV footage as well. The college will give full support to them.

Police said the girl had last spoken to her mother. No suicide note was recovered from the room.

The body was returned to the family members after postmortem. Investigations are on and we are investigating all the aspects, said Sector 36 station house officer inspector Naseeb Singh.
Jagtar Singh Tara, main accused in the assassination of former Punjab chief minister (CM) Beant Singh, confessed on Monday that co-accused Dilawar Singh was the mastermind in the case and assassination was carried out on the instructions from him.

Defending other accused Jagtar Hawara, Tara claimed before the court that he was not the mastermind of this conspiracy. Tara recorded his statement in the court of additional district and sessions judge JS Sidhu during the resumed hearing of the case in Burail jail.

The recording of his statement completed on Monday and the final arguments in the matter will come up for hearing on March 9. The CBI counsel had put 162 questions to the accused Jagtar Singh Tara.

Tara along with two others had fled from the central jail in Burail, while main accused was still on trial. In February 2004, non-bailable warrants were issued against him and in May 2004, he was declared a proclaimed offender.

The then chief minister of Punjab Beant Singh was killed in an explosion outside the Civil Secretariat in Chandigarh on August 31, 1995. Punjab police employee Dilawar Singh had acted as a human bomb in the incident. The police had taken nine accused in custody, out of which, the fate of eight has been already decided.
Canadas first cabinet minister of Indian-origin, Herb Dhaliwal, on Tuesday said focus of the Candian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus India visit has been derailed by the Khalistan issue.

It is very unfortunate that the Indian media has blown the Khalistan issue out of proportion. This has shifted the focus away from trade, which is what the two countries should be discussing, Dhaliwal, who became the first Indian to be elected as an MP in the Western world back in 1993, told IANS.

Dhaliwal, who served as Canadas minister for revenue and natural resources from 1997 to 2003, said the sticking issue between the two countries is about human rights and not Khalistan.

When I was the cabinet minister, I had met Prime Ministers (IK) Gujral, Manmohan Singh and (AB) Vajpayee and raised the issue of punishment for those behind the 1984 riots. I had told them it was about human rights and they had no objection, he said.

Dhaliwal said the vast majority of Sikhs in Canada have nothing to do with Khalistan. All they want is that human rights must be respected and culprits behind 1984 killings should be brought to justice, he added. There is only a very small proportion (of Sikhs) in Canada that is blowing up the issue of Khalistan for their own purposes. The issue is about human rights, said Dhaliwal, who was instrumental in opening the Canadian consulate in Chandigarh in 2003.

About Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singhs charges against two Sikh ministers in Trudeaus cabinet, including defence minister Harjit Sajjan, being Khalistani supporters and denial of visa to him by Canada, Dhaliwal hoped that Trudeau will discuss these issues with Amarinder.

About denial of Canadian visa to Amarinder Singh in 2016, he said, It was the result of a misunderstanding at the bureaucratic level. It shouldnt have happened. Canada should apologise to Amarinder Singh for this error.

Urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trudeau not to let this issue divert their focus from trade, Dhaliwal said the economic interests of India and Canada are complementary.

Canada is rich in oil and gas and we can help meet the energy security demands of Indias fast-growing economy. We can also be a major supplier of agricultural products for India.

Despite all the issues between the two countries, Dhaliwal said, The huge inflow of Indian students into Canada and direct air connections are big pluses that will help build future relationships. I think this is an important development which people should emphasise.
Three persons were killed while 11 were injured in a blast at a food processing unit in Sandharsi village on the Ghanaur-Shambu road, approximately 50 kilometre from Patiala, early Tuesday morning.

The blast took place at around 1:30 am when an ammonia gas cylinder exploded while factory employees were working in the peas packaging unit of Himalaya Fresh Protein.

Police said three persons died on the spot and that the condition of four injured is critical. The workers injured in the blast were rushed to Rajindera hospital from where the four seriously injured were referred to PGIMER, Chandigarh.

Meanwhile, senior officials of district and police administration rushed to the spot to speed up rescue work.
As if the stress of writing the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) exams was not enough, students of Class 12 will now have added worries as they have been asked to report to examination centres which are at least seven to eight km away from their school. Private and government schools were made aware of this development when roll numbers of Class 12 students for the exam were sent to them on Saturday evening.

The board had earlier issued a letter on January 31 to all state district education officers of the state to ensure that no centre should be located beyond a distance of three km.

There are 201 examination centres in the district for the Class 12 board exams this year. Several schools have written to the board to set up centres close by, but this has not happened.

There are 1,140 private schools affiliated to PSEB against 356 government schools in district.

As of now, 275 Class 12 students of the Indian Public Senior Secondary School, Daba Lohara Road, will have to report to Government Model Senior Secondary School, Cemetery Road, which is around 8 km away from their school. Surinder Pal Garg, principal, said a representative had been sent to change the centre as it was not possible for the students to travel 8 km for exams.

The situation is no different for other private schools. About 200 science students from Teja Singh Sutantar Memorial Senior Secondary School, Shimlapuri, near canal bridge, will have to travel more than 6 km to reach their examination centre at Government Senior Secondary School, Boys, Multipurpise near Rekhi Cinema. Making transportation arrangements for all the students was not feasible, Harjit Kaur, principal said. We have around 600 students in Class 12. The examination centre for around 400 students is the Government Senior Secondary School, Gill Road Boys and Girls close by but the science students will definitely face a problem as their examination centre is located at quite a distance, she added

Students of the Government Senior Secondary School, Hambowal Bet, has strength of 58 students and the students have to travel around 8 km to reach their examination centre at the National College for Women, Macchiwara. The school principal, Vandana said, We have handed over the roll numbers to the students and told them to make their own arrangements to reach the centres.

Rita Kumari, a student of a private school, said, I got my roll number from the school authorities today only and was nervous as just one week is left for the Class 12 boards. But after knowing the examination centre, I got upset as it will be difficult to reach the centre which is 7km away from my school. My parents are daily wagers and I have to reach on my own to the examination centre.

Goof up

In a major goof up by the Punjab School Education Board, Sutantar Convent School, Basti Jodhewal was allotted Government High School, Sherpur Kalan, but due to printing error, the school was allotted Government Senior Secondary at Sherpur Kalan in Jagraon that is 50km away from the school. After receiving the email, the school authorities contacted the district education office and the authorities rectified the error.

Pvt schools left in lurch

With private schools outnumbering the government schools in the district, officials of the education department were in for a quandary as the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) made it mandatory that only government schools will serve as centres for Class 10 and 12 examinations.

There are 1,140 private schools affiliated to PSEB against 356 government schools in district. This year, as many as 75,112 students are set to appear in Class-10 and 12 exams. Of these, 55,725 students are from private affiliated and aided schools.
Sukhwinder Singh Mithu, whose Canadian wife Jaswinder Kaur Jassi was allegedly killed at the behest of her mother and maternal uncle 18 years ago, wants the visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to personally intervene for extraditing the duo to India to face trial.

Eight other accused in the case have already been awarded life imprisonment but trial against Malkiat Kaur and her brother Surjit Singh Badesha, both Canadian citizens, could not be conducted in their absence.

All efforts for their extradition have proved futile so far.

Also Read | Murderous honour, undying love: The tale of Jassi and Mithu from Canada to Punjab

I hope PM Trudeau who is known for his liberal values and fondness for human rights helps me get justice, said Mithu, a resident of Kaunke village near Jagraon in Ludhiana. He should help in extraditing the two culprits to India to face law of the land. They have killed my love and I have been fighting for justice for 18 years. Why is Canada protecting the killers?

Jassis mother Malkiat Kaur and uncle Surjeet Singh (HT File)

Mithu from a poor Jat Sikh family fell in love with Jassi, daughter of multi-millionaire orchard owners in British Columbia, during her visit to India in December 1994. In May 1999, she returned to India and secretly married Mithu, who lived at her uncles native village.

Next year, Mithu was booked for kidnapping and forcibly marrying Jassi, but she gave a statement in his favour and later started living with him

In June that year, contract killers  allegedly hired by Kaur and Badesha  attacked the couple in Sangrur, leaving Jassi dead.

It was first in 2005 that Punjab Police contacted Canada seeking the duos extradition.

Also Read | Blood and honour: When parent turns into monstrous killer

After a long legal tussle, the Supreme Court of British Columbia ordered their extradition  in a rarest of rare instances where it was allowed in a non-terrorist case  on September 8 last year. A Punjab Police team also reached Vancouver to take their custody and had completed all formalities when the court of appeals stayed the order.

Through all these ups and downs, Mithu, who never remarried, stood like a rock. He has been allegedly framed in more than five cases, including one of rape in 2004. Jassi, he says, is the love of his life.

I also want to visit Canada, where Jassi spent her childhood, said Mithu.
After making a hard-hitting directorial debut with Nayantharas social drama Aramm, writer-director Gopi Nainar is set to join hands with actor-composer GV Prakash Kumar. If the industry grapevine is anything to go by, the project is titled Karuppar Nagaram and it is slated to go on the floors from second half of this year. Not long ago, Nainar announced he is set to team up with Siddharth for a yet-untitled project and everything was almost confirmed. However, theres been no development on that project front since it was announced.

Despite rumours that Nainar is going ahead with the same project by replacing Siddharth with Prakash, some reports suggest this is an entirely different project. Basking in the overall great response for his work in Balas Naachiyaar, Prakash is currently shooting for Sarvam Thala Mayam with filmmaker Rajiv Menon. The film, which has music by AR Rahman, is being shot across the length and breadth of the country. After being predominantly shot in Bangladesh, Rajasthan and Srinagar, the team will soon head down to south to can some important scenes.

With not a single release in 2017, Prakash has a very busy line up this year. He currently has projects such as Adangathey, 4G, Semma, Kuppathu Raja and Ayngaran, apart from the Tamil remakes of Telugu films 100% Love and Ekkadiki Pothavu Chinnavada in his kitty. On the music front, his next project will be Suriya - Sudha Kongara project.

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Noted Marathi actress Chinmayee Surve-Raghavan faced an obscene situation when a man came out of a car and masturbated in front of her on Monday and complained to police, who managed to trace and apprehend the perpetrator within a few hours.

According to the complaint filed by Chinmayees husband and veteran actor Sumeet Raghavan with Vile Parle police and the Mumbai Traffic Police, she was walking in Vile Parle when the incident took place.

Raghavan also tweeted about the incident and sought help to trace the culprit who was in a white BMW, whose last four registration digits were 1985.

The driver wearing a grey safari who had parked near the Parle Tilak Vidyalaya School in Vile Parle east got off his car and started masturbating in front of my wife. Before she could slap him, he escaped. She could note down just the last four digits, he posted on Facebook and Twitter.

A white BMW with last 4 digits 1985 needs to be traced. The driver wearing a grey safari who had parked near #ParleTilakSchool #VileParleEast started masturbating in front of my wife. Before she could slap him he escaped. She could note down just the last 4 digits@MumbaiPolice  Sumeet (@sumrag) February 19, 2018

Raghavan added that the person needed to be found as there are schoolgirls in that area and he must have done this to them as well.

After scanning the footage from CCTV in the locality and based on the number of the vehicle, police moved swiftly to trace the culprit within hours.

After lodging the F.I.R at 4.15pm,the cops have nabbed the bastard in 2 hrs flat.. Hats off @MumbaiPolice gratitude and respect. #VileParlePoliceStation and the concerned officers #Salute 

God forbid if at all such things happen,please go to the cops. Don't suffer. Speak up.  Sumeet (@sumrag) February 19, 2018

Yes, we have detained the 42-year old driver of the vehicle, identified as Jivan Choudhary and further investigations are underway, Vile Parle police chief, senior police inspector Laxman Chawan said.

Raghavan is an actor since the past 35 years with several teleserials and Marathi and Hindi films to his credit, while Chinmayee is also an acclaimed Marathi stage, teleserial and film actress.

Shortly after the incident was highlighted, social media came out in support of the popular actor-couple, while police planned to charge Choudhury under the Indian Penal Code.

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On Monday, actor Sumeet Raghavan took to Twitter to talk about his wife Chinmayee Sumeets encounter with a miscreant, who harassed her in Vile Parle, Mumbai. Within a few minutes, Mumbai Police tweeted back to him asking for details and soon arrested the man.

Sumeet says, Thank God, the cops managed to get hold of him. Having said that, it is not only about nabbing the culprit, it is about how we go about changing this mindset. There is a school nearby; he must have done the same to girls or boys. They must have not spoken about it, but it must have scarred them. We need to learn to speak up.

The Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai actor adds that he could have chosen to ignore the incident and remained silent . He says, It would be easy for me to say that we just witnessed it. But we did not want to do that. We want to let people know that it is completely okay to speak up about such things. In fact, the right way to deal with such situations is to speak up.

The actor adds that some buildings in the vicinity had closed circuit television cameras, which made it easier for the police to nab the miscreant. This could happen to anyone and we need stricter rules to curb this. I am really worried about the mindset of such people. This happened in Mumbai in broad daylight. It is very scary and disturbing.

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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and several Hindu organisations have objected to Tamil actor Kamal Haasans plan to launch his political journey from former president APJ Abdul Kalams birthplace on Wednesday.

BJP spokesperson Narayanan Tirupathy exhorted Haasan to refrain from politicising Kalam by using Ramanathapuram as his launchpad. Kamal Haasan should not try to play politics in the name of Abdul Kalam. If he does that, every political party will do it too, turning Kalams birthplace into a hub of political tourism and belittling his persona, he said.

The Hindu Munnani, which described Kalam as a scholarly person above petty politics, also found fault with Haasan picking the former presidents alma mater as a means to fulfil his political ambitions.

The actor, however, remains undeterred. He is all set to commence his political journey from the city early on Wednesday, in the company of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. People familiar with the development say the AAP leader, who called on Haasan in Chennai last September, has confirmed his participation. He will later announce the name of the party and unfurl its flag at a rally in Madurai, located 120 km from Ramanathapuram.

Haasan has already reached Madurai, and will soon proceed to Kalams birthplace for the launch.

Kejriwal and Haasan have come together on several issues, including corruption-alleviation measures, in the past. But it remains to be seen if the two will work together in Tamil Nadu, where AAP remains a non-starter.

Haasan has already visited several senior political leaders and well-wishers from various political parties, including the CPI(M), in the run-up to his entry into politics. He also called on political personalities such as DMDK leader Vijayakanth, DMK chief M Karunanidhi and Naam Tamilar Katchi president Seeman to seek their blessings.

DMK working president MK Stalin, however, remained sceptical of Haasans political future. The DMK is like a banyan tree with strong roots and branches. It cannot be shaken by anyone. Parties may come during a season, but they are like paper flowers that dont have fragrance. They will wither soon, he told party workers in a letter on Tuesday.
Jokhang Temple, one of Tibets holiest Buddhist temples which caught fire on Saturday, has been reopened amid official media reports today that the iconic monastery in Lhasa has not suffered much damage. The temple, considered to be the spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism in the remote Himalayan region, attracts thousands of pilgrims and tourists from home and abroad. An orderly crowd of pilgrims and tourists yesterday lined up to visit the temple, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The fire broke out at 6:40pm on Saturday and was soon put out. No casualties have been reported. There are no visible signs of fire except some water marks in the main hall of the monastery, the report said. The temple, renowned in Tibetan Buddhism, has a history of more than 1,300 years and houses many cultural treasures, including a life-sized statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha when he was 12-year-old.

The Barkhor, a bustling market street near the monastery, was reopened to the public after a temporary closure following the fire. The temple will remain closed from February 19 to 22, when its monks mark the New Year holiday. The Tibetan New Year was celebrated on Friday, coinciding with the Spring Festival this year.

Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported earlier that the fire had caused concerns about likely damage it might have caused. Internet users posted pictures and videos of the fire on social media, showing flames shooting high in the air. The extent of the damage was not immediately unknown, the Post report said. The oldest part of the temple was built more than 1,300 years ago and the whole structure was added to UNESCOs World Heritage list in 2000 as part of the Potala Palace, the official home of successive Dalai Lamas.

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A Pakistani lawyer allegedly shot dead his two cousins in Lahore sessions court on Tuesday over a property issue, police said, the second shooting incident in a month within the premises.

Senior superintendent Lahore police Mubashir Makan told reporters that three cousin lawyers - Kashif, Nadim and Awais - had appeared in a property case before a sessions judge.

After hearing they started exchanging harsh words that led to a physical brawl between them. Before police intervened Kashif took out a pistol and opened fire on Nadim, 35, Awais, 26 and leaving them seriously injured, Makan said.

They were shifted to Mayo hospital where they were pronounced dead, he said, adding the alleged killer lawyer has been apprehended by police.

SSP Makan further said the cousin lawyers had a property dispute in Shahdara area. They had been in litigation for the last one year or so. He said police are investigating as how the suspect managed to bring a weapon in the court.

Lahore bar association president Malik Arshad condemned the incident and demanded improved security in the courts.

Following the incident, security at the court was tightened. A heavy contingent of police reached the site of the firing, cordoned off the area and conducted a search within the court premises.

This is the second incident of firing at the Lahore sessions court in this month. In the first week of February an under-trial prisoner facing murder charges and a policeman were shot dead by the complainant of the case in the session court. The killer in this case is still at large.

Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif has ordered authorities to provide fool-proof security for the courts.

The firing incident exposed the security lapses on the premises of the sessions court where a number of under-trial prisoners were brought daily for hearing of the cases.
Archaeologists exploring the words biggest flooded cave in Mexico have discovered ancient human remains at least 9,000 years old and the bones of animals who roamed the earth during the last Ice Age.

A group of divers recently connected two underwater caverns in eastern Mexico to reveal what is believed to be the biggest flooded cave on the planet, a discovery that could help shed new light on the ancient Maya civilization.

The Yucatan peninsula is studded with monumental relics of the Maya people, whose cities drew upon an extensive network of sinkholes linked to subterranean waters known as cenotes.

A diver from the Great Mayan Aquifer project looking at human remains believed to be from the Pleistocene era, in the Sac Actun underwater cave system, near Tulum, Mexico. (AP Photo)

Researchers say they found 248 cenotes at the 347-km (216-mile) cave system known as Sac Actun, near the beach resort of Tulum. Of the 200 archaeological sites they have discovered there, around 140 are Mayan.

Some cenotes acquired particular religious significance to the Maya, whose descendants continue to inhabit the region.

Apart from human remains, they also found bones of giant sloths, ancient elephants and extinct bears from the Pleistocene period, Mexicos Culture Ministry said in a statement.

The caves discovery has rocked the archaeological world.

A Mask of the Mayan god of trade in the Gran aquifer of Sac Actun in Quinta Roo state, Mexico. (AFP pHOTO)

I think its overwhelming. Without a doubt its the most important underwater archaeological site in the world, said Guillermo de Anda, researcher at Mexicos National Anthropology and History Institute (INAH).

De Anda is also director of the Gran Acuifero Maya (GAM), a project dedicated to the study and preservation of the subterranean waters of the Yucatan peninsula.

According to the INAH, water levels rose 100 meters at the end of the Ice Age, flooding the cave system and leading to ideal conditions for the preservation of the remains of extinct megafauna from the Pleistocene.

The Pleistocene geological epoch, the most recent Ice Age, began 2.6 million years ago and ended around 11,700 years ago.
Eleven Chinese warships sailed into the eastern Indian Ocean against the backdrop of a political crisis in the Maldives, where New Delhi and Beijing are competing for influence, though Indian officials said there were no indications the vessels were headed towards the island nation.

The flotilla comprises destroyers, a frigate, an amphibious transport dock and three support tankers, Chinese news portal sina.com.cn reported. The report didnt directly link the movement of the warships to the crisis in the Maldives but noted that the Indian Ocean region is currently not peaceful.

About 10 days ago, the Navy Blue 2018A far-sea training formation of the Chinese navy crossed the Strait of Indonesia and five main warships entered the east Indian Ocean, the report said.

At present, the Indian Ocean region is not peaceful and the political situation in Maldives continues to be turbulent, it added. The report also claimed the Maldives government had rejected Indias help in resolving the political crisis.

A senior Indian Navy officer tracking movements in the Indian Ocean region said on Tuesday no Chinese warships were currently charting a course for the Maldives. Their nearest warship is more than 2,000 nautical miles away from the island nation, he said.

The officer confirmed the Indian Navy had spotted five Chinese warships entering the eastern Indian Ocean around 10 days ago but these vessels had subsequently moved towards the South China Sea.

The warships entered the eastern Indian Ocean through the Sunda Strait and exited through Lombok Strait to the South China Sea, he said.

Three to four Chinese warships were deployed in the Gulf of Aden at any given time on the pretext of conducting anti-piracy operations, he said. These warships are replaced every three months.

China has repeatedly said the crisis in Maldives should be resolved domestically and no country should interfere in the island nations internal affairs. In a recent statement, Chinas foreign ministry had indicated it wasnt about to shy away from its new role in the Maldives  fuelled by big investments  despite repeated pledges not to intervene in domestic politics.

It has also helped Chinas growing influence in the Maldives, known for its luxury resorts, that President Abdulla Yameen has signed up for President Xi Jinpings Belt and Road Initiative to build trade and transport links and hubs across Asia and Europe.

The sina.com.cn report also spoke about the Chinese navys increasing capabilities compared to those of the Indian Navy.

If you look at the warships and other equipment, the gap between the Indian Navy and the Chinese Navy is not too far off. However, after more than 10 years of ocean-going escort and training honed by the oceans and seas, the Chinese navy has enjoyed predominance in terms of dispatching warships and ships as well as the training level and operational skills of officers and soldiers, it said.

Just this time, 11 warships of three naval formations appeared in the east, west and south Indian Ocean at the same time. This reaction speed and mobilisation ability can be achieved by few navies in the world, it added.

Meanwhile, a report in the nationalistic Global Times tabloid said China has upgraded its airspace defence in the western sector to counter threats from India.

The report followed the release of photo by the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) showing J-10 and J-11 combat jets conducting an exercise over a high-altitude plateau in western China.

The Western Theater Command is mainly responsible for mountain warfare at the border area with India. It is significant for China to strengthen control of airspace over the mountainous region, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert told daily.

Considering that India possesses 3rd-generation fighter jets, Chinas stationing of its 3.5-generation jets would be able to deal with any current threat from India, Song said. With India importing new jets, China will continue strengthening its fighter jets in the Western Theatre Command.

(With inputs from HTC in New Delhi)
A Spanish court on Tuesday allowed an Ivory Coast man to walk free, with only a small fine to pay, after his son was found crammed into a suitcase at a border crossing.

Prosecutors had initially sought a three-year prison term for Ali Ouattara, 45, for facilitating his sons illegal entry into Europe and threatening the childs life.

The childs life was endangered, he was inhumanly curled up in a tiny suitcase, without ventilation, judge Fernando Teson said as the trial got under way.

The heart-rending photo of the boy went round the world in 2015, during the peak of Europes worst migrant crisis since World War II.

The trial took place in Ceuta, a Spanish territory in Morocco which migrants from Africa regularly try to reach by scaling high border fences or smuggled through in cars.

As the trial drew to a close, prosecutors asked that the court order Ouattara to pay a fine, because they found no evidence to prove the father knew his son would be trafficked in a suitcase.

Ouattara, who has already spent a month behind bars, was ordered to pay a 92 euro ($114) fine by the three presiding judges.

A file handout photo released on May 08, 2015 by the Spanish Guardia Civil shows 8-year-old Ivorian boy Adou Ouattara hidden in a suitcase which was controlled in Ceuta, the Spanish enclave in the north of Morocco. (AFP File Photo)

Its all over and we can begin to resume out lives, together, my wife, my daughter my son and I in Bilbao, in northern Spain, Ouattara said as he emerged from the court.

His lawyer, Juan Isidro Fernandez, explained to the court how the boy had been left with just his 18-year-old brother in Ivory Coast after their grandmother died

The now 10-year-old boy, whose name is Adou, currently lives in a Paris suburb with his mother but travelled to Ceuta to testify.

Adou told the judges he had had difficulty breathing while in the suitcase, which he was forced into by a Moroccan girl.

It was ultimately his testimony that saved his father from jail.

Adou said Ouattara had told him he would be taken by car, and that there had never been any mention of a suitcase.

Paid traffickers 5,000 euros

The desperate smuggling attempt was a first in Ceuta.

But only three months later, a 27-year-old Moroccan died of asphyxiation inside a suitcase placed in the trunk of a car on a ferry linking Melilla, another Spanish territory in Morocco, to southern Spain.

The two Spanish enclaves are the only places in Europe which share a land border with Africa.

Adou was reunited with his mother soon after arriving in Ceuta, while his father was arrested shortly after the police discovery.

Ouattara told the judge Tuesday that he had been living in Spain legally for eight years, and that he had a stable job.

Ali Ouattara, 45 (centre) talks with his lawyer Juan Isidro Fernandez (right) in court during his trial in Ceuta. (AFP Photo)

While his wife and daughter were able to join him, the Spanish authorities had rejected four requests for Adou to come because they deemed the fathers 1,300 euro ($1,600) monthly salary insufficient to cover the familys needs.

A desperate Ouattara was misled by traffickers in Ivory Coast who charged him 5,000 euros ($6,200) and did not tell him his son would be hidden in a suitcase.

A former philosophy and French teacher in Abidjan, Ouattara arrived illegally in Spain in 2006, making the perilous journey across the Mediterranean aboard a boat.

For us, it was crucial for the child to come, we couldnt live without him, we couldnt stop thinking about him, Ouattara said.
An Indian-American has announced he will run for the US House of Representatives from Florida district.

Sanjay Patel will challenge incumbent Republican Bill Posey in Floridas District 8.

Patel, a resident of satellite beach, announced his candidacy this week at a meeting in Viera of the Brevard County democratic executive committee that was attended by about 400 people.

On his campaign website, Patel is described as an activist, change-maker and organisational transformation consultant.

He says he believes in economic justice for all.

If elected, Patel promises to work to build prosperity for communities on the Space and Treasure coasts by supporting policies that ensure large companies pay employees fairly, and that help small businesses launch, compete fairly and thrive.

I will work to build prosperity for Floridas families; guarantee health care for all Americans; protect our land, air and our water; and reform our immigration policy to reflect Americas deepest values, Patel wrote on his campaign website.

I am the American Dream, a first-generation immigrant, the son of parents who have barely a high school education, a graduate of UCLA with a degree in economics who has built a small business and a nonprofit, and led transformative efforts in business, philanthropy and politics, Patel said.

He said hed take his skills and experiences to transform our collective sadness and outrage into justice for all.

I believe its time to cultivate a real conversation on the Space and Treasure coasts about economic, social and environmental justice for all people, Patel said.

A graduate of UCLA with a degree in economics, Patel began his career in technology, with strategy and consulting roles at Deloitte, Genentech and the Santa Clara County Social Services Agency.

He then launched a small consulting business in San Francisco; and subsequently co-founded a nonprofit, Epic Change, that used social media to raise funds for change-makers across the globe, according to his campaign site.

Patel was one-year-old when his family arrived in America. His father worked at a 7-11 and his vegetarian mother worked at a McDonalds, while raising four children, including Sanjay.

My parents hard work for other companies earned little wealth for our family, and even less for our community, he said on his campaign site.

Patel is half of a Brevard Democratic Party power couple. His wife, Stacey Patel, chairs the Brevard County democratic executive committee. Both were elected Bernie Sanders delegates to the 2016 Democratic National Convention.
Japans defence ministry demanded explanations Tuesday from the US military after a fighter jet experiencing an engine fire dropped two fuel tanks into a lake in the countrys north.

The incident, which caused no injuries, is the latest in a string of accidents involving the US military that have prompted concern from Japanese officials and renewed criticism of the US military presence in the country.

We are asking the US side to explain what happened and its cause, and we fully demand the US side take prevention measures, Japans Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera told a press conference.

The F16 took off from the Misawa Air Base in northern Japans Aomori region early on Tuesday morning and immediately experienced an engine fire, Onodera said.

The US military has told us that it discarded two exterior tanks on Lake Ogawara just north of Misawa Air Base and landed back at Misawa Air Base, Onodera said.

In a statement, the US military confirmed that one of its F-16s had been forced to jettison two external fuel tanks into an unpopulated area after an engine fire broke out.

The safety of our airmen and our Japanese neighbours is our number one priority during flying operations, said Colonel R. Scott Jobe, the 35th Fighting Wing commander.

We will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the root cause of this incident.

The case follows a string of accidents involving US military aircraft, for which US Secretary of Defense James Mattis apologised to Onodera last month.

US military helicopters made at least three emergency landings in the southern region of Okinawa in January alone.

In December, a window from a US military helicopter fell onto a school ground in Okinawa, and in October a US military helicopter burst into flames after landing in an empty field on Okinawa.
A Bangkok court on Tuesday granted a Japanese man sole parent rights to 13 children he fathered through Thai surrogate mothers, a ruling that paves the way for him to take custody of the group.

Mitsutoki Shigeta caused a baby factory scandal in 2014 after Thai police said DNA samples linked him to nine infants found in a Bangkok apartment, plus at least four other babies born by surrogates.

The murky case threw the spotlight on Thailands then unregulated rent-a-womb industry, and helped push authorities to bar foreigners from paying for Thai surrogates in 2015.

Shigeta, the son of a Japanese tycoon, left the country in the wake of the scandal but later sued Thailands ministry of social development and human security for custody of the children.

For the happiness and opportunities which the 13 children will receive from their biological father, who does not have a history of bad behaviour, the court rules that all 13 born from surrogacy to be legal children of the plaintiff, Bangkoks Central Juvenile Court said in a statement.

Shigeta, who did not attend the trial in person, was deemed the sole parent of the children after the Thai surrogates had signed away their rights, the court said.

As he comes from a wealthy family, he has ample money and has prepared nurses and nannies to care for the children in Japan, the ruling stated.

Shigetas lawyer said he would contact the Social Welfare Ministry, who has taken care of the children since the scandal broke in 2014, about the next steps in transferring them from state custody.

Shigeta hired the Thai surrogates before the kingdom banned the lucrative trade in 2015, following a string of scandals and custody tussles.

Surrogacy agencies quickly migrated to neighbouring Cambodia, who followed suit and barred the industry in 2016.

In recent months there have been signs the industry has shifted to Laos, an opaque communist country with no restrictions on surrogacy.

Some surrogacy agencies are now offering services to carry out the embryo transfer in Laos and then provide pregnancy care for the surrogate in Thailand, a wealthier country with vastly superior medical facilities.
In a first-of-its-kind partnership, three of Britains largest cities have formed an alliance to attract more tourists from India as part of a drive launched in London on Tuesday.

London, Manchester and Birmingham will collaborate on the Experience England initiative to jointly promote the best of English tourism in three of the worlds fastest growing markets  India, China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries that include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The first-of-its-kind partnership will focus on increasing the number of visitors arriving in one city and then travelling across the different regions of England.

London is home to 10 most popular tourist attractions in the UK and were proud to welcome millions of visitors every year. But its important that they have the chance to see whats on offer in other parts of the country too and Im committed to working with other cities and regions to use the capitals reputation to drive tourism across the nation, London mayor Sadiq Khan said.

In 2016, London welcomed 273,000 Indian visitors  a 16% increase on 2011.

According to Tourism Vision for London report, Indian visitors to the British capital are expected to increase by 90% by 2025 and visitor spend from India is expected to go up by 180% during the same period.

India, China and the GCC are projected to be among the fastest-growing tourism markets in the world, according to the London & Partners (L&P)  the London mayors promotional agency.

The  Experience England  project will be financed by a 1.2-million-pound grant awarded to the L&P as part of a number of projects to receive funding from the UK governments VisitEngland-administered 40-million-pound fund designed to ensure that England stays competitive in the rapidly growing tourism industry.

The project is pegged at creating and promoting a new England tourism experience, making it easy for customers from India, China and the GCC to visit the cities of London, Manchester and Birmingham and then go on to explore the English countryside and villages.

The successful projects will boost international and domestic visitor growth, creating a step-change in the industry and spreading the economic benefits of tourism across England, said Sally Balcombe, CEO of VisitBritain and VisitEngland initiatives.

A research by the L&P shows that while fewer than a third of visitors staying overnight in London go on to stay overnight elsewhere in the UK, levels of visitor satisfaction increase significantly when people do visit other destinations.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: Greater Manchester is not only a vibrant, exciting region but it is also a gateway to explore the north of England, including places such as the Yorkshire Dales, the Lake District, the Peak District and so much more.

With increasing interest from international visitors, now is the ideal time to work together to create compelling itineraries that showcase the breadth and diversity of the entire country, starting or ending in our three biggest cities, Burnham said.

His view was echoed by the mayor in charge of Birmingham, in the West Midlands region of England.

Not only does the West Midlands boast a vibrant retail offer, Michelin star restaurants and world-class cultural gems, its also an essential gateway to the heart of England and its countryside, and is a stones throw from the capital city, said West Midlands Mayor Andy Street.

In the UK, tourism makes up 9% of the GDP, with London registering a higher figure at 11.6% of the citys GDP.
President Abdulla Yameens regime rammed a 30-day extension of the controversial emergency in the Maldives through parliament on Tuesday, ignoring the concerns of the world community and calls for democracy to be restored in the honeymoon islands.

The move will anger India, which had called for the emergency not to be extended so that the political process in the Maldives could resume. Yameen has moved closer to China in recent years, signing up for the Belt and Road Initiative and concluding a Free Trade Agreement with Beijing last year.

Thirty-eight MPs of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) on Tuesday controversially approved the move to prolong the emergency imposed by Yameen on February 5, hours before it was set to expire, after Speaker Abdulla Maseeh set aside the constitutionally mandated quorum.

The opposition, which boycotted the sitting, said the approval was illegal as it went against the Constitution. They contended that more than half the 85 members of Parliament  or 43 MPs  needed to be present for the vote.

In New Delhi, the external affairs ministry said in a statement that it did not expect the emergency to be extended so that the political process in Maldives can resume with immediate effect.

The statement called for democratic institutions, including the judiciary, to be allowed to function independently. It added, It is important that Maldives quickly returns to the path of democracy and the rule of law so that the aspirations of Maldivian people are met and the concerns of the international community are assuaged.

India also called for the implementation of the Supreme Court ruling of February 1.

The extension will strengthen the powers of Yameen, who imposed emergency after clashing with the top court when it quashed the conviction of nine opposition leaders, including former president Mohamed Nasheed who is in exile, and ordered the reinstatement of 12 disqualified MPs.

Yameen also detained the chief justice and another top judge, accusing them of corruption, and other leaders, including former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Later, the three remaining judges annulled the order to release Yameens opponents, who were convicted in widely criticised trials.

On Monday, Yameens office said the extension of emergency was warranted as a threat to national security had not diminished and a constitutional crisis had not been resolved.

Hours before the Maldivian Parliament rubber-stamped the extension, a group of South Asian legislators said they feared for democracy in the Indian Ocean archipelago.

The declaration of emergency and arrests and disrespect of the Supreme Court rulings undermine the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, Karu Jayasuriya, chairman of South Asian Speakers and Parliamentarians, and Sri Lankas speaker, said in a statement.

The UN human rights chief has described the emergency as an all-out assault on democracy.
A session of the Parliament in the Maldives is set to vote on Tuesday on President Abdulla Yameens proposal to prolong a state of emergency by 30 days even as India called for the measure not to be extended so the political process in the island nation could resume.

The ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) announced the extraordinary session of the Peoples Majlis to vote on Yameens decree on the emergency. The PPM issued a whip to its lawmakers to ensure the passage of the decree.

The 15-day emergency imposed by Yameen on February 5 is set to expire on Tuesday and he has sought the Parliaments approval on Monday for a 30-day extension. Though a parliamentary committee approved the move during a meeting behind closed doors, opposition lawmakers stalled a vote by boycotting Parliament.

The Maldives Constitution states that more than half the 85 members of Parliament need to be present for a decision that affects the people. The opposition MPs said a vote to pass the decree cannot be held without the presence of at least 43 MPs, SunOnline reported.

Only 39 pro-government MPs were present in Parliament on Monday and the opposition has said the government will not be able to gather 43 MPs needed to hold the vote.

However, a PPM MP told SunOnline the party had received legal advice that 43 MPs do not need to be present for the vote to take place.

It was also not clear whether opposition MPs would also boycott Tuesdays session of the Parliament.

In New Delhi, the external affairs ministry said in a statement: It is our expectation that the government of Maldives will not be seeking extension of the state of emergency so that the political process in Maldives can resume with immediate effect.

The statement added, After the revocation of the emergency, democratic institutions including the judiciary should be allowed to function independently and in a fair and transparent manner in accordance with the Constitution.

India also called for the implementation in letter and spirit of the order issued by the Supreme Court of the Maldives on February 1 that quashed charges against nine top opposition leaders, including former president Mohamed Nasheed, and the reinstatement of 12 disqualified lawmakers.

It is important that Maldives quickly returns to the path of democracy and the rule of law so that the aspirations of Maldivian people are met and the concerns of the international community are assuaged, the statement said.
Special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating the alleged collusion by the Trump campaign team with Russian meddling in the 2016 US election, is now looking at efforts by White House senior adviser Jared Kushner to secure financing from foreign investors.

Mueller was initially investigating the Russian contacts of Kushner  who is also President Donald Trumps son-in-law  but has now expanded the scope of enquiry to look at his discussions with other players, including China, CNN reported.

During the presidential transition period, Kushner was one of the lead contacts for foreign governments and he told Congress that he had spoken to over fifty contacts with people from over fifteen countries.

The report, quoting people close to the probe, said Muellers investigators have been asking about Kushners conversations during the transition period to shore up financing for 666 Fifth Avenue, a Kushner Companies-backed New York City office building which was under financial troubles.

The investigation team is yet to contact Kushner Companies.

The New York Times had earlier reported that Kushner had lined up a deal with Wu Xiaohui  the chairman of Chinese investment company Anbang  for 666 Fifth Avenue, but the talks collapsed in March 2017.

CNN said Muellers team is focussing on talks Kushner had with Chinese investors during the transition. The investigators have also asked about his dealings with a Qatari investor  The Intercept had earlier reported Kushner had unsuccessful talks about 666 Fifth Avenue with former Qatari prime minister Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani.

Kushner is also under scrutiny for a meeting he had had with Sergey Gorkov, chairman of the Russian state-run Vnesheconombank. Kushner said the meeting was official government business, but the Russian banks claims Gorkov met him because he ran Kushner Companies.

However, Kushners legal team denies the Mueller team is probing his business dealings. His attorney Abbe Lowell told CNN: In all of Mr Kushners extensive cooperation with all inquiries, there has not been a single question asked nor document sought on the 666 building or Kushner Company deals.
Air strikes hit Syrias Eastern Ghouta for a third straight day on Tuesday, bringing the civilian death toll to nearly 200 as the UN warned the situation in the rebel enclave was spinning out of control.

Air strikes and rocket and artillery fire have battered the rebel-held enclave since Sunday in apparent preparation for a government ground assault on the besieged region.

At least 194 civilians have been killed, among them 57 children, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

On Monday alone, 127 civilians, including 39 children, were killed in the bombardment -- the single bloodiest day for Eastern Ghouta in four years.

Fresh air strikes on Tuesday morning killed at least 50 civilians, including 13 children, the Britain-based war monitor said.

Held by rebels since 2012, Eastern Ghouta is the last opposition pocket around Damascus and President Bashar al-Assad is keen to retake it with an apparently imminent ground assault.

The UNs regional humanitarian coordinator for Syria Panos Moumtzis has warned that the targeting of civilians in the enclave must stop now.

The humanitarian situation of civilians in East Ghouta is spiralling out of control. Its imperative to end this senseless human suffering now, Moumtzis said on Monday.

The UN has repeatedly called for a month-long ceasefire across Syrias front lines, from Eastern Ghouta to the Kurdish enclave of Afrin in the northwest, which Turkey threatened on Tuesday to lay siege to in the coming days.

No words

February 19 was the one of the worst days that weve ever had in the history of this crisis, said an exhausted doctor in a hospital in Eastern Ghouta.

Identifying himself as Abu al-Yasar, he described treating a one-year-old brought into the Arbin hospital with blue skin and a faint pulse, rescued from under the rubble.

I opened his mouth to put in a breathing tube and I found it packed with dirt, Abu al-Yaar told AFP.

He pulled out the dirt as fast as possible, put in the breathing tube and managed to save the babys life.

This is just one story from among hundreds of wounded.

The bloodshed prompted the UN childrens agency UNICEF to issue a largely blank statement on Tuesday to express its anger.

We no longer have the words to describe childrens suffering and our outrage, the agency said in a brief postscript beneath the empty space on the page.

Do those inflicting the suffering still have words to justify their barbaric acts?

More than 400,000 people live in Eastern Ghouta, which has been surrounded by government troops since 2013. Food, medicine, and other basic necessities are nearly impossible to obtain.

A general view of damaged houses after an air raid in the besieged town of Douma in eastern Ghouta in Damascus, Syria. (Reuters Photo)

Imminent ground assault

Eastern Ghouta is mostly held by two hardline rebel groups -- Jaish al-Islam and Faylaq al-Rahman -- though jihadists have a smaller foothold.

The factions often fire rockets and mortar rounds into residential neighbourhoods of east Damascus.

On Tuesday, at least four people were killed and 15 wounded by rebel fire on the capital, state television reported.

Al-Watan newspaper, which is close to the government, said on Tuesday that the bombing campaign comes ahead of a vast operation on Ghouta, which may start on the ground at any moment.

Both Al-Watan and the Observatory had earlier reported ongoing negotiations for the withdrawal of jihadists from the enclave.

But the escalating bombardment suggests the regime will likely opt for a ground assault.

It already waged a ferocious five-day air assault on Eastern Ghouta earlier this month that left around 250 civilians dead and hundreds wounded.

More than 340,000 people have been killed since the civil war erupted in 2011 when protests against Assads government were brutally crushed.

An array of rebels, some of them jihadist, have since carved out zones of control as have the Kurdish minority, and the government and its allies.

Turkey has been waging an air and ground offensive against the Kurdish-controlled enclave of Afrin just across the border for the past month.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday defended the operations slow progress, saying it was to avoid putting the lives of both Turkish troops and civilians needlessly at risk.

He told parliament Turkish troops and their Syrian rebel allies would lay siege to the town of Afrin in the coming days.

Ankara says the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG), which controls Afrin, is a terrorist offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged an insurgency in southeastern Turkey since 1984.
Israeli police revealed on Tuesday they had arrested the controlling shareholder and CEO of the countrys biggest telecoms company, as well as two former officials with close ties to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a corruption case.

The arrests in the investigation dubbed Case 4000 came just days after police recommended Netanyahu himself be indicted for bribery and fraud in other cases, known as 1000 and 2000.

Shaul Elovitch, a family friend of Netanyahus who controls telecoms firm Bezeq through his Eurocom holding company, was arrested along with his wife, his son and Bezeqs CEO Stella Handler.

Former Netanyahu spokesperson Nir Hefetz and former communications ministry director-general Shlomo Filber, both known as close confidants of the prime minister, were also arrested.

All the arrests took place on Sunday, but the identities of the suspects were withheld for two days under standard Israeli criminal procedure.

Elovitch, his wife and son deny any wrongdoing, a Eurocom spokeswoman said. A lawyer for Handler said she is cooperating fully with the investigation and denies the allegations. Bezeq officials declined to comment.

Filbers lawyer declined to comment. Hefetzs attorney could not immediately be reached.

Netanyahu, now in his fourth term, has denied any wrongdoing in the various investigations which threaten his long dominance of Israeli politics. He has dismissed any suggestion of illegality in his dealings with Elovitch or Bezeq.

The Israel Securities Authority (ISA) last year began investigating suspicions that Elovitch meddled in the 2015 merger between Bezeq and its satellite TV unit YES for personal financial gain.

In its new probe, police suspect that Bezeq received regulatory benefits in return for enabling favourable media coverage of Netanyahu on Walla, a news website that is also controlled by Eurocom.

This is a new investigation in the Bezeq case as a result of evidence raised in the ISA investigation, a joint statement from the police and ISA said.

During the investigation suspicions mounted of offences of integrity, money laundering laws and the securities laws which were carried out over time.

In a Facebook post on Monday, Netanyahu - who has described the investigations against him as a witch hunt - said: There has never been any payback or illegal act in interaction with Elovitch.

Israeli media reports said Netanyahu is likely to face questioning in the police Bezeq probe. A statement issued on Sunday by a personal spokesman to Netanyahu said all decisions related to Bezeq were made according to recommendations of expert committees and expert officials.

The ISA said in November it had enough evidence to support criminal charges against senior Bezeq officials, leaving it to Tel Aviv prosecutors to decide whether to indict.
Oxfam formally apologised to Haiti on Monday over the prostitution scandal rocking the aid charity, expressing its shame and vowing to do better as it handed over a damning internal report into the allegations.

Made public earlier in the day, Oxfams 2011 report into the behaviour of aid workers sent to Haiti following a devastating earthquake revealed that a former top official admitted to paying for sex and that three staff physically threatened a witness.

We came here to share the report with the minister and express our shame and apologies to the Haitian government and to the Haitian people, said Simon Ticehurst, Oxfams regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Weve taken lots of measures to improve internal safeguarding measures, he said following a more than two-hour meeting with Haitis minister of planning and external cooperation, Aviol Fleurant, who had summoned the charity to explain itself.

Oxfams 2011 report, compiled in the year after aid workers were deployed to Haiti, revealed that seven staff were accused of using prostitutes at an Oxfam-funded residence.

Country director Roland van Hauwermeiren admitted paying for sex and was offered a phased and dignified exit if he cooperated with the inquiry.

The Haitian government has expressed its outrage and launched its own inquiry.

Haitian President Jovenel Moise tweeted last week that there was nothing more unworthy or dishonest than a sexual predator taking advantage of a natural disaster to exploit needy people in their moment of great vulnerability.

Physical threats

The report also said three Oxfam employees were involved in physically threatening and intimidating a witness who spoke to the investigators.

Four staff were fired for gross misconduct and three others, including van Hauwermeiren, were allowed to quit.

Details of the scandal surfaced earlier this month and have engulfed Oxfam, drawing widespread condemnation and putting its funding at risk.

British Prime Minister Theresa May described the matter as horrific, adding that it was far below the standards that we expect for the charities and the NGOs that were working with.

We will not work with anybody who does not meet the high standards that we set, May added during a visit to a London school.

The charity has been suspended from bidding for new government funding until it undertakes reforms, and Oxfam chief executive Mark Goldring has been called to explain the scandal to British MPs in London on Tuesday alongside officials from Save the Children.

That charity faces its own problems over claims that a staff member drunkenly harassed a female colleague.

Last week, Oxfam unveiled an action plan to tackle sexual harassment and abuse, including creating a new vetting system for staff, and has urged victims to come forward with any new allegations.

The aid group has denied trying to cover up the allegations but admitted it could have been more open at the time, saying it was publishing the report in recognition of the breach of trust that has been caused.

Relations

All names in the report have been redacted apart from that of van Hauwermeiren, a 68-year-old Belgian who last week released a letter defending himself after the scandal broke.

In the letter, he claims he had not visited any brothels, nightclubs or bars in Haiti, despite offers from men and women who tried to get into my house with all sorts of excuses to demand money, work, or to offer sexual services.

Van Hauwermeiren says he told Oxfam he had intimate relations three times at his house with an honorable, mature woman, who was not an earthquake victim nor a prostitute. And I did not give her any money.

In an interview with The Times, however, a young Haitian mother claimed she had a relationship with van Hauwermeiren when she was just 16 -- legally underage in Haiti.

Now 23, Mikelange Gabou said the Belgian initially helped her with supplies for her baby, and that they later had a loving relationship and he would sometimes give her money.

A woman who worked alongside van Hauwermeiren in Liberia said she made a complaint about him in 2004 -- years before the Haiti scandal.
Oxfams chief executive apologised on Tuesday for saying a wave of condemnation over sex abuse by its staff was disproportionate as it had not murdered babies in their cots after a scandal that has prompted new reports of abuse.

Mark Goldring said Oxfam was investigating 26 cases of misconduct reported since the scandal broke earlier this month over the alleged use of prostitutes in Haiti in the aftermath of the islands earthquake in 2010.

Oxfam has battled to contain the fall-out from the scandal, and Goldring faced personal criticism after he was quoted in Saturdays Guardian newspaper as saying: The intensity and ferocity of the attacks makes you wonder, what did we do? We murdered babies in their cots? ... (it) feels out of proportion to the level of culpability.

Opposition Labour politician and International Development committee chair Stephen Twigg said Goldrings comments in a newspaper interview were regarded by many as grossly inappropriate, and on Tuesday Goldring apologised.

I should not have said those things. It is not for Oxfam to judge issues of proportionality or motivation, Goldring, who became CEO of Oxfam GB in 2013, told the committee. I wholeheartedly apologise for those comments.

Allegations of sexual misconduct have shaken the aid sector, with Haitis president calling for investigations of other groups.

Twigg said the Committee, a parliamentary body that monitors the governments aid ministry, would conduct a full inquiry into the issue of sexual exploitation in the aid sector.

The funding of Oxfam, one of the worlds biggest disaster relief charities, has been thrown into question by the scandal.

Britain and the European Union are both reviewing the money they give, while Goldring said that 7,000 individuals had cancelled regular donations to Oxfam over the last 10 days.

On Monday, the charity released the findings of an internal investigation that found the country director in Haiti, Roland Van Hauwermeiren, had admitted using prostitutes at his residence during a relief mission before resigning in 2011.

Senior Oxfam officials told the committee that the internal investigation into what happened in Haiti was mishandled at the time.

Oxfam International Executive Director Winnie Byanyima said hideous men had abused the trust of the public and were not aligned with the charitys principles.

The use of prostitutes in conditions of poverty and helplessness and conflict, is exploitation, it is abuse, and its intolerable in our organisation, she told the committee.

What happened, to let the country director go away with some dignity, was wrong.
A serial killer in Pakistan, who was sentenced to death for the brutal rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl, on Tuesday challenged his conviction in the Lahore High Court alleging that his trial was conducted in haste without fulfilling legal requirements.

In the first ever trial in the countrys history that concluded in shortest period of four days, an anti-terrorism court on Saturday sentenced to death 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.

In his appeal, he declared that he is not guilty.

He said the trial was conducted in haste and legal requirements were not fulfilled during the trial. He appealed to the high court to overturn the ATCs verdict.

Besides death penalty, Imran was also 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 seven more such crimes and many Pakistanis have demanded he be publicly executed.

He is facing further charges in the cases of seven other children he attacked, five of whom were murdered.

The prosecution lawyer had earlier claimed that Imran had been given ample chance to defend himself, but he chose to confess his crimes.

A total 56 witnesses were presented against him in addition to forensic evidence, DNA and polygraph tests.

The girls father Muhammad Amin expressed satisfaction over the verdict, saying: We are satisfied on the verdict but we wanted him to be hanged publicly.

Some lawyers and activists had shown concerns about the fairness of the trial inside jail. Advocate 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 accused.

He said the prosecution could not propose or nominate a lawyer to defend Imran because there had always been a clear conflict of interest.
A hundred Stoneman Douglas High School students are bussing 400 miles to Floridas capital Tuesday to urge lawmakers to act to prevent a repeat of the massacre that killed 17 students and faculty last week.

The students plan to hold a rally Wednesday in hopes that it will put pressure on the states Republican-controlled Legislature to consider a sweeping package of gun-control laws, something some GOP lawmakers said Monday they would consider. Shortly after the shooting, several legislative leaders were taken on a tour of the school to see the damage firsthand and they appeared shaken afterward.

I really think they are going to hear us out, said Chris Grady, a 19-year-old senior who is going on the trip. He said he hopes the trip will lead to some commonsense laws like rigorous background checks.

The attack last Wednesday seemed to overcome the resistance of some in the states leadership, which has rebuffed gun restrictions since Republicans took control of both the governors office and the Legislature in 1999. However, there is still strong resistance by many in the party to any gun-control measures, leaving the fate of new restrictions unclear.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Cameron Kasky speaks at a rally for gun control at the Broward County Federal Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on February 17, 2018. (AFP)

Students also have vowed to exert pressure on Congress as the aftermath of the rampage resonates beyond Florida and from coast to coast. Hundreds of chanting protesters converged Monday on a downtown Los Angeles park, demanding tougher background checks and other gun-safety measures after the shooting. Some signs held up by the California demonstrators read, Your Children Are Counting On You.

Sen. Bill Galvano, a Republican and the incoming Florida senate president, said the state Senate was preparing a package that would include raising the age to purchase any firearm to 21, creating a waiting period for purchasing any type of firearm, banning bump stocks that can allow semi-automatic guns to spray bullets quickly and creating gun-violence restraining orders.

Authorities said suspect Nikolas Cruz, 19, had a string of run-ins with school authorities that ended with his expulsion. Police also were repeatedly called to his house throughout his childhood. Cruzs lawyers said there were repeated warning signs that he was mentally unstable and potentially violent. Yet he legally purchased a semi-automatic rifle.

We need to make sure everything is working and to learn from the experience, said Galvano, who was among those who visited the school.

The Senate is also considering boosting spending on mental health programs for schools and giving law-enforcement greater power to involuntarily hold someone considered a danger to themselves. The body will also look at a proposal to deputize a teacher or someone else at school so they are authorized to have a gun.

Galvano said senators want to examine ways to protect schools that do not have resource officers  often armed law enforcement officers  on site.

State House leaders and Gov. Rick Scott also are considering possible changes to firearms rules but have not given any details. Scott planned meetings Tuesday on school safety, and said he would announce proposals on mental health issues later in the week.

People visit a makeshift memorial setup in front of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 19, 2018 in Parkland, Florida. (AFP)

Still, some Republicans questioned whether additional gun restrictions are the answer.

I really dont want to see this politicized into a gun debate, Republican Sen. Dennis Baxley.

Referring to gun-control advocates, he said: Sometimes I wish they were right, that this would fix it, but it wont ... We have a terrible problem with obesity, but were not banning forks and spoons.

Democrats believe raising the age limit and creating a waiting period to buy rifles isnt enough.

Thats unacceptable. Thats a joke, said Democratic Sen. Gary Farmer of Broward County. I dont see that as a restriction. It never should have been that an 18-year-old could buy an assault weapon. No Floridians should be able to buy an assault weapon.

Cruz legally purchased at least seven long guns, including an AK-47-style rifle he bought less than a month ago, a law enforcement official said Monday. The official is familiar with the investigation but isnt authorized to discuss it and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Federal law allows those 18 and over to buy rifles, and Cruz passed background checks necessary to obtain the weapons.

Cruz made his first appearance in court Monday. Wearing a prison jumpsuit, he kept his head down and did not appear to make eye contact with the judge or others in the courtroom, though he responded briefly to someone on the defense team. A previous appearance was by a video connection from jail.

His lawyers have said he will plead guilty if prosecutors agree not to pursue the death penalty. No decision has been made on that.

Since the attack, students from the school have become increasingly vocal in their demands for gun-control measures. Many have pointed out politicians who take financial support from the National Rifle Association, and some have lashed out at President Donald Trump, saying he was busy blaming Democrats for failing to pass gun restrictions while taking no action of his own.

After staying largely mum in the last few days about the massacre and the escalating debate about weapons, Trump said Monday that he was supportive of a bipartisan effort to strengthen federal background checks for gun purchases.

Students are also calling for anti-gun violence demonstrations in Washington and other cities March 24.

Organizers behind the anti-Trump Womens March called for a 17-minute nationwide walkout by teachers and students on March 14, and a gun-control group was calling for a rally to ban assault weapons Wednesday at the Florida Capitol.
Over the weekend, 18-year-old Emma Gonzalez emerged as the powerful voice of protests in the US against gun violence following the killing of 17 students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida.

The nearly 12-minute speech by Gonzalez at an anti-gun rally in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on February 17--during which she called out President Donald Trump and the National Rifle Association for their failure to do enough to control gun-related violence--has been viewed by millions on YouTube and social media.

Gonzalez is among the youngsters and students, including survivors from the Florida school targeted by shooter Nikolas Cruz on February 15, who have decided to take matters in their own hands instead of waiting for adults to bring about a change.

As she repeatedly fought back tears and wiped her eyes, the teen with a buzz cut said in a voice choked with emotion: Every single person up here today, all these people should be home grieving.

But instead we are up here standing together because if all our government and president can do is send thoughts and prayers, then its time for victims to be the change that we need to see.

She added, 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.

Trump and numerous Republican lawmakers have received donations of millions of dollars from the NRA, which is a key player in the campaign to prevent gun controls for Americans.

To every politician who is taking donations from the NRA, shame on you, she said.

Referring to the lax gun laws in US states such as Florida, she said: We certainly do not understand why it should be harder to make plans with friends on weekends than it is to buy an automatic or semi-automatic weapon.

Kids like #emmagonzalez will change the world. Listen to her ! https://t.co/yq1nfmUmxf  Reese Witherspoon (@RWitherspoon) February 18, 2018

Cruz had used an AR-15 rifle in the shooting that replaced the Columbine High School massacre of 1999 as the deadliest high school shooting in the US.

In this case, if you actively do nothing, people will continually end up dead. So its time to start doing something, said Gonzalez, who is already being hailed as a hero and an icon in the movement to regulate access to deadly firearms.

Gonzales was in the schools auditorium when the shooting occurred and initially assumed the institution was having a drill until officials told everyone to run. Two days after the shooting, she received a call from a teacher who had seen some TV interviews she had done.

The teacher told her a school board member wanted to speak to her and Gonzalez worried whether she had done something wrong, people.com reported.

Instead, the school board member invited her to speak at the anti-gun rally in Fort Lauderdale the following day. She decided to get some sleep before writing her speech. Gonzalez awoke at 6.30 am on February 17  the day of the speech  and began writing. She continued working on the speech during the drive to Fort Lauderdale and edited it until the moment she walked on to the stage.

I was getting incredible energy from the crowd, Gonzalez was quoted as saying by people.com I wanted people to feel what I was feeling.

When Gonzalez who appeared on TV news shows on February 18 to discuss the response to gun violence and was asked about Trumps criticism of the FBI for failing to act on tips related to Cruz, she described the presidents word as disgraceful.

She said Trump was trying to blame others. The best thing for us to do is ignore him and to continue fighting our fight, the fight he refuses to acknowledge.
Turkish authorities issued detention warrants for 170 people suspected of links to the network accused of orchestrating a failed coup in 2016, the state-run Anadolu news agency said on Tuesday.

Those targeted in the operation, which was centred in Istanbul and spread across 37 other provinces, included retired, suspended and serving soldiers, Anadolu said, adding 22 of them were detained on Tuesday morning.

The suspects are believed to have contacted imams of the network via payphones and landlines, the news agency said. The arrests are part of Turkeys far-reaching crackdown against the network of US-based Muslim cleric, Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara holds responsible for the failed putsch.

Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the United States since 1999, has denied involvement and condemned the coup.

In the 19 months since the coup attempt - when rogue soldiers commandeered tanks and warplanes to attack parliament, killing more than 240 people - Turkey has jailed more than 50,000 under a state of emergency. It has also sacked or suspended 150,000 people from their jobs in the military, public and private sectors.

The government dismisses rights groups concerns about the crackdown, saying only such a purge could neutralise the threat represented by Gulens network, which it says infiltrated institutions such as the judiciary, army and schools.
Turkey will lay siege to Afrin in northern Syria, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday a month after Ankara launched an offensive against Kurdish militia in the region.

In the coming days, swiftly, we will lay siege to the centre of the town of Afrin, Erdogan told parliament.

His remarks came as Turkeys operation Olive Branch, a ground and air offensive against the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) militia which Ankara brands terrorists, entered its second month.

While some analysts say Turkey and pro-Ankara Syrian rebels have made slow advances, Erdogan defended the operations progress, saying it was to avoid putting the lives of both its troops and civilians needlessly at risk.

We did not go there to burn it down, he said, insisting the operations aim was to create a safe and livable area for the Syrian refugees inside Turkey, who fled across the border since the conflict began in 2011 and who now number more than three million.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said at least 94 civilians have been killed during Turkeys offensive.

But Ankara has repeatedly insisted there have been no civilian casualties, saying its armed forces are showing utmost care not to harm civilians.

Turkey says the YPG is a terrorist offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984.

The PKK is blacklisted as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies.

But the YPG has been working closely with the United States against the Islamic State extremist group in Syria.

Both Washington and Brussels have urged Turkey to show restraint in its operation, with the US warning the offensive could detract from the fight against jihadists in Syria.
The UN childrens fund on Tuesday expressed outrage over the killings of children in Syria by issuing a blank statement, adding in a footnote that no words will do (them) justice.

The statement came after a ferocious Syrian regime bombing campaign pounded the rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta on Monday, killing 127 civilians, 39 of them children.

No words will do justice to the children killed, their mothers, their fathers and their loved ones, said Geert Cappelaere, UNICEF regional director for the Middle East and North Africa.

Those words were followed by a blank page.

UNICEF voiced its anger in a postscript at the end of the news release, entitled: The War ON Children in Syria. Reports of mass casualties among children in Eastern Ghouta and Damascus.

Syrian children cry at a make-shift hospital in Douma following air strikes on the Syrian village of Mesraba. (AFP Photo)

UNICEF is issuing this blank statement, it said. We no longer have the words to describe childrens suffering and our outrage. Do those inflicting the suffering still have words to justify their barbaric acts?

The United Nations on Monday demanded an end to the targeting of civilians in Syria.

But on Tuesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said at least 50 civilians, including 13 children, were killed in a second day of air strikes on Eastern Ghouta.

The bodies of civilians who were killed in Syrian army bombardment on the town of Hamouria in the rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta. (AFP Photo)

Held by rebels since 2012, Eastern Ghouta is the last pocket of opposition-held territory around Damascus and the regime of President Bashar al-Assad appears to be preparing a ground assault to retake it.
A special counsel investigating Russian meddling in US elections on Tuesday filed charges against a lawyer for lying to investigators about his communications with a Trump campaign aide who is himself facing allegations of financial crimes and is reportedly negotiating a plea deal.

Alex Van Der Zwan, the lawyer, is expected to plead guilty, as indicated by the filing, which was not an indictment--a set of allegations and charges--but an information, letting the court know of the charges that the accused is not contesting.

Zwan lied about his communications with Richard Gates, a former deputy manager in the Trump campaign team and a close aide of Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who has been charged with financial crimes, the office of special counsel Robert Mueller III said in the filing.

Zwan, who worked in London for US law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, had lied about his communications with Gates pertaining their work in and for Ukraine.

The new filing come just days after the special counsel announced its most sweeping indictment, charging 13 Russian individuals and three entities with criminal interference in the 2016 elections with the intention to sow distrust among Americans for their political system and help Donald Trump in his bid for the White House and damage his rival Hillary Clinton.

The indictment said these Russians were in contact with unwitting members of the Trump campaign and other Americans but no allegations were levelled against anyone for colluding with the Russians, which President Donald Trump has been keenest to establish.

The counsel had previously charged and indicted Trumps first national security adviser Michael Flynn with lying about his contacts with Russian officials, which he has pleaded guilty to in a deal and is cooperating with the investigators, as is George Papadopoulos, a campaign aide.

Manafort and Gates are facing charges of financial crimes not connected to the Russian interference, going back to their work for the Ukrainian government. Manafort is contesting the charges and the Tuesday indictment was said to be a part of the case the special counsel was building against him.
Indians are among top international buyers of property in London, and many are keen that their purchases comply with the principles of vastu-shastra, the ancient Indian system of architecture.

The golden postcodes of prime central London locations of major interest to Indians are Mayfair, Belgravia and Knightsbridge  many buyers have pre-existing links with the UK and interest is also driven by historic ties, cultural and family links, and as a destination for their childrens education.

Specific needs of Indian buyers often include space for prayer area, a servants quarter and a separate entrance for staff. There is also a preference for complexes that offer a porter/security so that the property can be locked up and looked after when they are not in the country.

Property developer One Point Six has converted a flat inside a 19th century house in the citys Knightsbridge area into a three-bedroom, three-bathroom flat according to vastu principles, offering it at a price of 4.75 million. The developer used the services of vastu expert Geetanjali Bhalla for the conversion project.

Located on the third floor at 49-51 Pont Street, the 1,360 sq ft flat has been classified as 80% vastu compliant, which is well above the London average, Caroline Takla of One Point Six told Hindustan Times.

She said Indian clients, encouraged by norms which have been relaxed to allow them to buy property outside India, have often expressed frustration that London flats and houses are not vastu-compliant.

Many of our Indian clients are keen on vastu-compliant property. We found that very few flats and houses are vastu compliant. So we developed the flat in Pont Street from the inside while keeping the external facade intact, Takla said.

Whilst this isnt the first London home to incorporate the principles of vastu shastra its certainly a rarity to find one at this level in such a prime location and in a traditional building that hasnt been built to incorporate vastu from the outset.

According to data of new homes with estate agent Savills, the proportion of buyers from subcontinent did not change significantly between 2016 and 2017. The region accounts for about 6% of foreign buyers of new homes in London.

Indian buyers have also been attracted to the London market due to the falling value of the pound since the 2016 vote to leave the European Union.
Appointment

20 February 2018

Erin Lovely has spent more than 15 years working in hospitality sales and marketing, curating her skills in group, transient and catering sales at some of the most well known brands in the United States.

Upon graduating with a degree in Restaurant Foodservice Management from Syracuse University in New York, Erin began her career in the Washington, DC metro area working for Hilton properties. In May 2005, she took an opportunity at Kimpton Hotels, Intercontinental Hotels Group"s brand of boutique properties. Over the next six years, Erin honed her talents at Kimpton"s DC properties before moving to Phoenix as part of the pre-opening team of Kimpton"s Hotel Palomar in 2011. One year later she moved west to Hotel La Jolla as the property"s Director of Sales and Marketing, where she spent three years learning the Southern California market.

In November 2015, Erin transitioned to Embassy Suites by Hilton, San Diego Bay Downtown, as the Director of Sales. A $25 million operation by HEI Management group, Erin led the hotel"s sales team in booking 38,000 group rooms annually. In January 2018, she brought her expertise of the convention-driven market with her to Hotel Republic, also an HEI Management property, as the Director of Sales and Marketing. A downtown resident, Erin enjoys living and working in San Diego"s bustling city center with her husband and little yorkie, Rocky Diamonds.
Appointment

20 February 2018

Chef JC Colon"s approach to cooking is simple: gather the best ingredients and allow them to shine. A 2007 graduate of New York"s French Culinary Institute in Manhattan, Chef Colon began his professional culinary career at Chef Michael Fiore"s former Tempo Restaurant & Wine Bar in Brooklyn, followed by Nelson Blue in New York City"s Financial District, before returning to the West Coast in 2010 to work with San Diego"s Urban Kitchen Group at Cucina Urbana.

Chef Colon was soon promoted to the role of Chef de Cuisine at the former celebrated neighborhood eatery Kensington Grill prior to being tapped by Blue Bridge Hospitality to lead Leroy"s Kitchen + Lounge as Executive Chef two years later. In 2014, celebrated restaurateur Brian Malarkey sought out Chef Colon"s culinary credibility to spearhead the kitchen as Executive Chef of Searsucker in Del Mar, and after two years, Colon went on to partner with Las Vegas-based Gen3 Hospitality group to introduce Flour & Barley in the Headquarters at Seaport Village.

Now, as the Executive Chef of downtown"s new Hotel Republic San Diego, Chef Colon is at the helm of Trade, Topside Terrace Kitchen & Bar, and Patio Marketplace in collaboration with the hotel"s culinary partner, The Patio Group. Keeping in line with his everything-made-in house credo, Chef Colon brings globally inspired craftsmanship to the Baja-influenced menus of Hotel Republic. A strong proponent of sustainability and responsible sourcing, Colon utilizes regional farmers and local purveyors to develop a variety of dishes that delight the discerning palates of hotel guests and local gourmands alike.
Supplier News

20 February 2018

Hotel staff from across the country and around the world voted ALICE a "Top Staff Task Management & Collaboration Platform" in Hotel Tech Report's 2018 HotelTechAwards. Over 100 of the industry's most popular hotel technology brands competed for a chance to win this prestigious title. ALICE scored a perfect 100 on the 100-point "HT score" scale for its staff task management software, which was also recently designated as the brand official staff operations technology for the Forbes Travel Guide for 2018.

ALICE also took top honors in HotelTechAwards' "Best Concierge Software" category, and was a top-three finisher in this year's award for "Best Place to Work in Hotel Tech."

"NO more spreadsheets. Anything that you use a spreadsheet to track, get rid of it and switch to ALICE." - Director of Guest Services, Indiana

ALICE's staff task management and collaboration platform, ALICE Staff, garnered rave reviews, with hoteliers recognizing the software's usability, customizability, and exceptional support as just some of the elements that set it apart from the competition.

"Our staff can finally communicate!" - General Manager, New York

One manager, from an independent property in Laguna Beach, explains the transformative effect recording all guest and staff requests in ALICE has for preventing work from being overlooked:

"ALICE's staff application is an extremely effective technology solution. It allows our team to submit both guest and staff requests and assign them to different departments such as Housekeeping, Engineering, Guest Services, Food & Beverage, etc. An example would be that a guest is requesting extra towels in their guest room or a team member is requesting that a wall in a meeting room be painted. It ensures that a task will be assigned to a staff member and then completed so that nothing is overlooked. It allows for tracking so that way you can see when the task was assigned and when it was completed. It prevents from having to use a radio or sending an email to have something completed. The great thing is that is it used on a Mobile Device so you can carry around the device and app with you wherever you go."

To read this and other reviews of ALICE's staff platform head to Hotel Tech Report.

ALICE's staff task management and collaboration platform empowers hoteliers to manage staff work and guest communication across departments with a single system. By joining all departments together (from front office and housekeeping, through to maintenance, valet, and F&B) and bridging the communication and task management silos that challenge traditional hotel operations, ALICE helps staff act as a team to provide consistently excellent service. ALICE further improves the guest experience by connecting staff with hotel guests via an app and/or text messaging tools, giving guests convenient ways to communicate with staff, without burdening staff with more technology to manage.

"Hotel technology that hotels actually need!" - General Manager, New York

ALICE's vision for a unified hospitality operations platform has made waves in the industry. The company, which has raised $40M and partnered with over 2,000 hotels, was also a top finisher in the four other categories in which it fielded products: Concierge Software (category winner), Mobile Apps, Guest Messaging Platforms, and Engineering Software.

"Great way to enable real-time communication with your team." - General Manager, Miami

The HotelTechAwards leveraged real user data - ratings and reviews - to determine the winning products across the twenty-eight categories of hospitality products Hotel Tech Report showcases. Hotel Tech Report creates its "HT score" from a variety of factors, including the number of user reviews submitted and the quality of user ratings across four areas of assessment: likelihood to recommend, return on investment, customer service, and ease of use.

To learn more about ALICE's staff task management and collaboration platform and request a demo, visit the ALICE website.

For more reviews of ALICE, head to Hotel Tech Report
Press Release

20 February 2018

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world's leading hotel companies, today announces that avid hotels, its new high-quality midscale brand, is now available for franchising in Mexico. The launch of the brand in Mexico closely follows the introduction of avid hotels in the U.S. and Canada last fall, where the company has already signed 75 franchise agreements. This milestone further demonstrates the brand's rapid start and growth potential.

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Jorge Apaez, Chief Operating Officer, Mexico, Latin America & the Caribbean, IHG, said: "On the heels of IHG's successful introduction of Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites in Mexico, launching avid hotels reinforces IHG's leadership position in this market. The company currently has 140 hotels open in Mexico and an additional 31 in the pipeline, and with the launch of avid hotels, IHG is further demonstrating its commitment to continued growth in Mexico alongside our franchisees."

Extensive research went into the development of avid hotels, and as a result, the brand has been thoughtfully designed for travelers who want a hotel stay that meets their expectations for the type of hospitality they value most  the basics done exceptionally well  at a price point expected to be about 10-15 percent less than IHG's industry-leading Holiday Inn Express brand.

Brand features include:

The modern exterior hotel design includes an open and airy retail-like entry, a canopy and uses the stairwell as an eye catching red architectural feature. On the inside, guests will find vibrant, open public and work areas and inviting communal spaces that allow guests to relax, work, connect or eat. Hotels will offer a complimentary grab-and-go breakfast and marketplace options for guests on the go.

Guest rooms are constructed with sound reducing features for a superior night's sleep, and the bathroom experience re-energizes guests with a fresh and bright design. Each guest room will also offer a dedicated workspace and ample open, easy-to-use storage, as well as innovative in-room entertainment options that allow guests to cast content from their smart devices to in-room televisions.

Hotels will be equipped with IHG  Connect Wi-Fi featuring the fastest speed in the industry and the ability for loyalty members to be automatically connected for all future visits. Hotels will also leverage IHG's state-of-the-art, cloud-based next generation reservation system, and guests will benefit from the power of IHG  Rewards Club at avid hotels.

Connect Wi-Fi featuring the fastest speed in the industry and the ability for loyalty members to be automatically connected for all future visits. Hotels will also leverage IHG's state-of-the-art, cloud-based next generation reservation system, and guests will benefit from the power of IHG Rewards Club at avid hotels. The avid hotels logo features the brand's colors of confident red and refreshing aqua and a signature checkmark, which was designed to act as a stamp of assurance that avid hotels will deliver an unrivaled experience. This brand is the first to launch using IHG's master brand mark  An IHG Hotel  in communications and building signage, underlining its strength as part of one of the world's leading hotel companies.

German Ongay, Regional Vice President, Franchise Sales & Development, Mexico IHG, added:"Since IHG announced this new brand last fall, we have heard from many franchisees across Mexico who are excited to add an avid hotels property to their portfolio. IHG has a trusted record of delivering what our guests want, and there is no doubt that the avid hotels brand will provide a superb guest experience at a great value. We are excited to introduce this new brand to the Mexican market."

In addition to creating the brand to meet guests' needs, its design and operating model was developed in collaboration with an owner advisory board, ensuring that avid hotels are efficient to build, operate and maintain. All avid hotels will be designed for new build construction on an average lot size of approximately 6,400 square meters and will be built with an environmentally friendly and efficient design. The first avid hotels property, located in Oklahoma, began construction just eight weeks after the brand was launched in the U.S. and is anticipated to open in Q3 2018, months ahead of original projections.

The franchise fee for the brand will be five percent of gross rooms revenue, and all avid hotels franchise agreements for Mexico executed before Sept. 30, 2018, will be eligible for a two-point franchise fee discount in year one and a one-point franchise fee discount in year two. This incentive can only be earned if the hotel opens by Sept. 30, 2020.
Press Release

20 February 2018

ATLANTA -- Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG), an Atlanta-based, private hotel investment, ownership and management company, in a joint venture with Investra, a private equity real estate investor and asset manager, today announced the completed acquisition of a two-hotel portfolio in Bentonville, Ark., for an undisclosed sum. HVMG, which has operated the hotels for five years on behalf of previous ownership, also will manage the 78-room TownePlace Suites by Marriott Bentonville Rogers and the 130-room Candlewood Suites Rogers/Bentonville and oversee the hotel renovations.

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"Our familiarity with these hotels and markets provided us with firsthand knowledge of the strength and upside potential of these assets," said Robert S. Cole, president and CEO, HVMG. "We maintain an aggressive appetite to expand our portfolio and continue to seek out best-in-class partners like Investra to pursue our acquisition and management growth goals."

TownePlace Suites by Marriott Bentonville Rogers

Located at 3100 S.E. 14th Street, the four-floor TownePlace Suites by Marriott Bentonville Rogers is surrounded by a number of leisure and demand generators, including Beaver Lake, Eureka Springs and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, as well as the corporate headquarters for Walmart Stores, Inc., and Tyson Foods, Inc. Each suite is furnished with hardwood floors, marble countertops, flat-screen TVs and DVD players. Further hotel amenities include a complete fitness center and indoor pool. In addition to the numerous restaurants in the immediate area, the hotel's dining options range from a grab-and-go sundry shop to daily, complimentary, hot breakfasts.

Candlewood Suites Rogers/Bentonville

Situated at 4601 West Rozell Street at exit 85 off I-49, the all-suite property is located just 13 miles from The NW Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA) and within minutes of attractions such as the Pinnacle Hills Promenade and Daisy BB Gun Museum. Guest suites come with fully stocked kitchens, upgraded bedding and a large workspace for business needs. The hotel also provides 1,200 square feet of meeting space, which can accommodate up to 80 people, 24/7 business center, complimentary laundry facilities. In addition, there is a fitness center, heated indoor pool and the Candlewood Cupboard, which offers groceries and snacks 24/7.

"HVMG has a sterling reputation as a premier hospitality owner and operator, making them an ideal JV partner and manager for this portfolio acquisition," said Zaid Randeree, CEO, Investra. "We look forward to expanding our partnership with HVMG as we identify additional select-service hotel opportunities in 2018."

About Investra

Investra is a private equity firm specializing in investments in the real estate sector, principally managing commercial yield generating real estate and development projects. The company manages its investment activities from its offices in London and Atlanta. The principals have been involved in transactions valued at just over 1 billion in the United Kingdom alone. In North America, Investra has successfully acquired eight select-service hospitality assets, aggregating $100 million over the past four years.
Performance

20 February 2018

HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee -- U.S. hotel food-and-beverage revenue per occupied room (F&B RevPOR) increased 1.6% in 2017, according to total-year data from STR.



F&B RevPOR reached US$105.56, up from US$103.93 in 2016. This growth reflected increases across all hotel classes and contributions from both food and beverage revenue sources.



Among F&B department revenue centers, hotel venue operations experienced the most significant percent change from 2016 with a 4.7% increase in revenue per available seat.

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Photo: STR

"Innovation and concept changes had a positive impact on hotel F&B results in 2017, particularly with creative use of space for venue operations," said Veronica Andrews, STR's director of digital data solutions.

"We know that as catering-and-banquets performance goes, so goes the F&B department," Andrews said. "With an industry average of 25,000 square feet of meeting space per property reporting to STR, that 0.8% increase represents substantial revenues from hosted events in hotels and resorts across the country."

In-Room Dining RevPOR was down 3.0%, but Andrews noted that the decrease does not indicate a shift in focus away from this operation.

"In-room dining results reflect a myriad of changes in deliverables and brand standards," Andrews said. "We don't assume that managers have walked away from that revenue opportunity. The focus is on improving profitability and guest satisfaction in this area. In some cases, non-discretionary service charges give way to 'grab-n-go' or marketplace operations or other alternative in-room dining options. We also should keep in mind that in-room dining, as a revenue center, is the smallest revenue-generating operation in the F&B department."

Among major markets, F&B performance decreases were common as Group business in the combined Luxury and Upper Upscale hotel segments declined. Of note, the Atlanta,Chicago and Miami markets experienced a decrease in all Group segment key performance indicatorsroom night demand, rooms revenue and catering-and-banquets RevPAS.

Photo: STR

Bucking the national trend, Washington, D.C. posted a 0.8% increase in catering-and-banquets RevPAS on top of a 6.1% rise in Group room revenue. Additionally, Dallas Group room revenue and catering-and-banquets spend was up from the prior year even while Group room night demand fell.
Product Feature

20 February 2018

Lighting design firm Vita Copenhagen has unveiled its debut furniture collection, a versatile and multifunctional series featuring clean lines, graphical elements and a focus on details.

What makes the product special?

Its centrepiece, the Reader armchair, has been designed with a special curved shell inspired by traditional Danish crafting techniques to help reduce surrounding noise. With light form and bold organic curves, the angle between the seat and backrest ensures maximum comfort, while a spacious seat accommodates for different sitting positions.

Featuring a solid oak frame, the armchair displays a warm natural character, enhanced by a palette of Scandinavian colours chosen for the upholstery. The upholstery itself is easily replaceable with interchangeable cushions, while the shape of the cushions have been designed to slightly expose the armchairs shell, placing extra focus on the wooden details.

The Furniture Feelings range employs tactile packaging solutions, reducing the effects of transportation on the environment without compromising on materials or design principles.

Click here to visit the product website.
Allan Kingdoms newest release, Moyo Wako is an all-star collaboration with production from Sango and Chris McClenny. Like the covert art suggests, Kingdom and friends seem to be tapping into his African heritage. Known for his inventive melodies, Allan sounds to be adopting Eastern influences to amplify the track. Over an arrangement of varying drums, Kingdom speaks of an immersive type of love; one close to his heart.

The smoother production choice looks like a new direction for the young artist. Most know him for his wavering production that can fluctuate on the fly, allowing Allan to show off his flexible vocals; both lyrically and through harmonizing. Kingdom takes those skills and has been reproducing them for more reliable instrumentals; most recently on tracks like Thirsty Pt. 2 and Mrs. Africa.

Quotable Lyrics:

She said she like it how you always speak your mind, daddy

You just go take it

You dont sit around and cry, daddy
Drake has been sharing the wealth and encouraging his fans to do good to one another since he released the video for "God's Plan." Drizzy donated all of the near million-dollar budget that was allocated by the label for the video to charitable causes. The video shows him granting a scholarship to a lucky student, buying out the grocery store for shoppers and gracing children at a homeless shelter with his presence (and tons of necessities.) The 6ix God wasn't done there, as he updated his Instagram story to challenge his fans to do something to make their peers smile, similar to XXXTentacion's Helping Hand Challenge last month.

Drake may not be done here, though, as the Overtown Youth Center, which he visited in the music video, posted that they're looking forward to future collaborations with the artist. The OYC captioned a repost of Drake's IG shot with, "Thanks @champagnepapi for choosing us! We got work to do.... Let's give them a fighting chance to succeed! Looking forward to working with you and your team on our next big project #godsplan #OYCDrakeCollabo."

It is reported that Drake will be aiding the center with their intentions to expand and build a possible studio to widen the reach of the organization. It's great to see public figures stepping up and using their platforms to promote positivity and helping the less fortunate. Keep on doing you, Drake
It seems that Ja Rule typically only pops up in headlines for bad reasons. Whether it's his ongoing feud with 50 Cent or his disastrous Fyre Festival last year. However, today is different. The rapper may not be in the limelight as he once was but he wants to make sure his voice is heard and helps others along the way. The rapper has joined the protest, along with hundreds of others, against New York City's poor living conditions for public housing.

Ja Rule joined hundreds of protesters in NYC to protest against the New York City Housing Authorities for leaving people with horrendous living conditions. The NYCHA has been accused of doing a poor job at handling tenants' complaints, not providing heat or hot water during the winter season and more. Ja took to the podium to address the issues with his fellow New Yorkers in attempt to fight back.

"I'm here to bring light to the situation. It's been going on for a long time and it's time for we, the people, to stand up and let our voices be heard." He said, "City Hall, New York City, the Mayor, the Governor they should all be ashamed of themselves. These are Americans, New Yorkers, living in third world conditions and it should not be this way."

The rapper continued to say that they need to also focus on NYC's education system but before that, there must be change for those living in these type of conditions.

"Lets come out and lets fight this cause first. Lets shut this city down. We aint paying no more rent until this situation is dealt with. No heat, no hot water? No money, no rent," he said during the press conference.

Watch the full press conference below with Ja speaking at the 23:30 mark.

[Via]
Token has been holding it down for a minute on the YouTube grind. His dexterous and creative display on "Doozy" has already amassed over four million views; with a sharp wit and penchant for self-deprecation, he shares some lyrical similarities to Eminem. Today, the Massachusetts emcee aka Mark Whalberg's new favorite rapper has joined forces with HNHH to add another installment to our Freestyle Sessions. Over an icy instrumental from the mind of Loa Gaze, Token impresses with several different flows; the bars come as naturally as the wacky-waving-inflatable-arm-flailing-tube-man-esque hand gestures.

If you haven't yet checked for Token, you might want to catch up. He's already doing crazy numbers on YouTube, and singles like the aforementioned "Doozy" reveal a mind ready for innovation. Be sure to peep this, along with our previous Freestyle Sessions right here.

Quotable Lyrics

Look at the little boy with the grown folk

Fittin' right in and cussin' a boatload

Opener but now he got his own show

Don't even open up to the hoes though
Trippie Redd came through today, blessing his fans with "UKA UKA" on his SoundCloud page, and we can confidently say that the track is a banger. Trippie takes his signature sound to new lengths on this cut. If you haven't heard any of Lil 14's previous tracks, this is a good example of his melodic style, banging out sounds that seem to come naturally to him.

Trippie strives in the sort of emo hip-hop we've heard from artists like XXXTentacion and Lil Peep, and this track is more subdued than his usual euphonic cries. The Canton product don't want no more pressure, and if he keeps dropping off tracks like this, life will be easy going forward.

Quotable Lyrics:

Aye, fuck your bitch and hit my fucking dab

Aye, choppers by my side you know it clap

Like your bitch ass, big bag

Big cash, and I tote a big gat
The entry line was wrapped around two blocks as kids dressed in dad hats and Odd Future shirts were being told to keep to the right of the sidewalk to prevent blocking traffic. The anticipation for Tyler, The Creator and Vince Staples co-headlining tour date in Montreal was very real last night.

Its an interesting pairing considering that at one point, fans tried to pit the two against each other after Tyler trolled the internet by saying he doesnt like Vince. However, much has changed since those days. Tylers veered away from the abrasive shock rap that once got him turned away at the U.K. border and banned from New Zealand. Vince has established himself as a dominating entity in music, who went from opening up for Tyler, The Creator and A$AP Rocky to co-headlining a show with the Odd Future frontman.

Together, they brought a memorable evening to the sold-out crowd at MTelus. The show kicked off with DJ Taco heating up the crowd. For about a half hour, he dropped some big hits from the past 10 years from Trippie Redds Dark Knight Gummo to M.I.As Paper Planes and Kid Cudis Pursuit Of Happiness." He made the mosh pit looked like a wave pool.

Shortly after concluding the DJ set, the venues lights went dim. A screen onstage started a countdown from 7:45, while noises of waves emerged from the speakers. Grainy footage of a brief news clip played and shifted into the intro of BagBak. Through bright white lights and fog, a silhouette of Vince Staples appeared on stage, dressed in an all black attire with a bulletproof vest. He followed-up the intro with Rain Comes Down and Ramona Park Is Yankee Stadium before acknowledging the crowd.

My name is Vince Staples and welcome to the show, he said, before jumping into Homage. After playing several Big Fish Theory cuts, he jumped into some favorites from the past including Prima Donna and Senorita.

Vinces show was not an average rap show. He didnt interact too much with the crowd but instead, used his staging, lights and transitions to draw the audience in. In many ways, it felt like a performance art piece rather than a concert. For example, the lights went completely dark when Alyssa Interlude played while footage of Amy Winehouses interview appeared on the screen. As the lights came on, Vince appeared on stage right, standing still with a microphone stand as he performed his parts of the song without much movement.

He saved the bangers for the end of the set. He concluded with Big Fish, Norf Norf and Yeah Right. Once the crowd sang the last bit of Yeah Right, he thanked the crowd and made his exit. A lo-fi version of the Star Spangled Banner began to play and was abruptly cut short by static.

In the span of a half hour, Staples stage would be transformed into a natural world resembling an abandoned playground in the forest. The lights dimmed, and the crowd chanted Tyler until the orchestra based intro to Where The Flower Blooms kicked off. The rapper appeared on top of the ramp, wearing a neon green coat and matching green shorts. He invited the crowd to chant the songs hook before jumping off the ramp and performing towards the edge of the stage.

Compared to Vince, Tyler was much more interactive with the crowd, ranting about how much he likes Tim Hortons White Hot Chocolate while simultaneously shitting on their donuts. It took him about seven songs to get into some older fan favorites. After doing a smooth medley of 911 and Mr. Lonely, Tyler jumped into IFHY which had the entire audience, from the floor to the balcony, singing every single word to the song without missing a beat.

After jumping into his breakthrough single, Yonkers, Tyler revisited more of his older catalog with She and 48 before picking the energy back up with Tamale. The rapper took a moment to thank the crowd for knowing his older catalog and continued to cap off his set with more recent efforts.

Tyler and Vinces sets were two ends of the same spectrum. Vince didnt try to engage the audience by prompting them to cheer or scream too much, relying on the intensity of his set. The bulletproof vest took on an added sense of thematic weight, considering the tragic events of the past weeks shooting in Florida. To confirm, his intro song closed out with the words, tell the president to suck a dick, because we on now.

Tyler was clearly the main attraction for the event, even if it was a co-headlining tour. Since his introduction at nineteen, the Flower Boy has matured both as a musician and a person, growing alongside his audience. His performance showed a side that few would have predicted five or six years ago, focusing on his delivery as a vocalist as opposed to the crazy tactics he used to run with during his come-up.

Overall, Tyler, The Creator and Vince Staples brought their respective albums to life. More importantly, they further proved themselves as unique forces in hip hop with necessary voices.
This year marks the silver anniversary for Wu-Tang Clan's groundbreaking debut, Enter The 36 Chambers. Through the test of time, they've proved that Wu-Tang is forever. Now, U-God has some major plans to celebrate the crew's 25th anniversary with his forthcoming album Venom. To kick off the campaign, he recruits Raekwon, Inspectah Deck and Scotty Wotty on "Epicenter" for an HNHH premiere.

U-God drops off his new single off his forthcoming album, Venom, that drops on March 30th. The rapper recruits frequent collaborators for the job and brings DJ Green Lantern on board to handle the song's production. The song continues to prove the Clan has got better with age. Each rapper brings their own strengths to the table. U-God shared a statement about what the song means and why 25 years later, they're still killing it.

"Wu-Tang is forever and will always represent the epicenter of hip-hop, me and my brothers throwing darts back to back that's that Park Hill $h*t, watch out we causing Tsunamis of swagger up in this motherfucka." He told HNHH.

In addition to the album, he'll be embarking on his first solo tour in five years and will also be dropping his book RAW: My Journey Into Wu-Tang on March 6th. Keep your eyes peeled for that.

Venom will be available for pre-order tonight.

Quotable Lyrics

All the hoes give him the best tips

We float in the best ships, throw your ass over like dead fish

Yeah, for real, it's all hood bible shit

Mike Tyson, now all us on our tribal shit
This past weekend, the night of February 17th, an Uber Eats transaction went sour, resulting in the driver killing his intended customer. Today, he turned himself into police. The driver, 37-year-old Robert Bivines, rolled into an apartment complex in Atlanta when the customer picked up his food. However, an argument broke out between the two men. That was when Bivines fired on the victim, Ryan Thornton who later succumbed to his injuries at Grady Memorial Hospital.

The major concern  particularly for Uber Eats  is why the Bivines had a gun in the vehicle; breaching company policy. Bivines attorney, Jackie Patterson commented, Well, you got two choices. Would you rather be dead, or would you rather follow Ubers policy? Patterson claims Thornton was irritable about his food delivery not being faster and the men exchanged words before Thornton reached into his pocket. That was the moment when Bivines reached for his weapon, not wanting to wait and see what could happen.

Now, Bivines remains silent by the suggestions of his legal representation, who has been handling all the questions posed as they arrived at the Atlanta Police Department this morning. Whether or not the act was self-defense or not. it will be up to the judge when Bivines makes his first court appearance on Tuesday. Until then, the Uber Eats driver will remain in Fulton County Jail.
A little over a year into the Trump administration, the U.S. airline industry has mixed feelings about the businessman-turned-president.

Three of the country's biggest airlines - United, Delta and American - and their labor unions praised Trump last month for making a deal to get Qatar Airlines to restrict its flights to the U.S. and provide more financial information.
A long-running federal investigation into corruption allegations at Venezuela's state-owned and state-controlled energy company, Petroleos de Venezuela SA, has provided ammunition to a Houston oil and gas producer that alleges its refusal to pay foreign bribes forced it out of business.

Harvest Natural Resources sued former Venezuelan and PDVSA officials in federal court in Houston, alleging that it collapsed because it refused to pay $40 million in bribes. The lawsuit alleged that the officials blocked the sale of Harvest's Venezuelan holdings after the company refused to pay them a "bonus."

Harvest eventually had to sell the assets at fire sale prices, estimating that it lost $470 million.

Harvest has found itself in the midst of a widespread, complicated and ongoing federal investigation into corruption allegations involving Houston and other U.S. businesses and officials of PDVSA and the Venezuelan government. To date, U.S. federal authorities have brought charges against 15 individuals.

Earlier this month, federal charges were unsealed in Houston against five former officials of PDVSA and the Venezuelan government for their alleged roles in soliciting PDVSA vendors for bribes and kickbacks and then hiding the proceeds through bank accounts, real estate deals and other investments, according to the U.S. Justice Department, which announced the indictment. The five were known as the "management team" for the power they wielded within the Venezuelan energy company.

Harvest, a publicly held company since 1989, shut its doors last year. In the lawsuit, Harvest blamed PDVSA, its officials and business partners of turning Venezuela's oil and gas industry into a "pay-to-play" operation, according to its lawsuit, which alleges violations of U.S. anti-racketeering, antitrust and anti-bribery laws. It also pointed to how corruption can occur when one person has the power to veto high-dollar contracts.

"It's true in virtually every context, so why would it be any different in the Venezuelan oil and gas industry?" asked Houston lawyer Dane Ball, who is representing Harvest.

Harvest sued Rafael Dario Ramirez Carreno, the former president of PDVSA and Venezuelan energy minister; his successor, Eulogio Antonio Del Pino Diaz; Jose Angel Gonzalez Acosta, a former PDVSA official vice minister for hydrocarbons, and Juan Jose Mendoza Garcia, a Florida energy consultant. None could be reached for comment.

PDVSA is not a defendant in the Harvest case. The company did not comment.

Harvest was based in Houston but did a lot of business in Venezuela through its subsidiary, HNR Energia. The subsidiary, in turn, owned interests in several oil and gas production companies, including one whose majority owner was PDVSA. Six years ago, Harvest arranged a deal with a state-owned Indonesian company to sell all its Venezuelan interests for $725 million. The deal was reported in industry publications, and the arrangement looked like it was moving ahead.

But Harvest needed approval from the Venezuelan government. Five months after the cash sale was announced, Harvest said it received word through one of its directors in Venezuela that Mendoza Garcia, acting on behalf of Ramirez Carreno, then president of PDVSA and Venezuela's minister of energy, demanded $10 million for final contract approval, according to the lawsuit. Officials in Indonesia received a similar demand.

Indonesian and Harvest officials refused to pay the bribes, according to the lawsuit, and the deal fell through. Menodza Garcia did not return calls for comment.

Ramirez, who left PDVSA in 2014 and became Venezuela's ambassador to the United Nations, is the target of a separate corruption investigation in Venezuela, but he has said that allegations of corruption by the government are politically motivated following his break with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Ramirez told the Associated Press last week that he never asked for bribes nor did he select PDVSA's business partners.

Harvest tried again in 2013 to sell its Venezuelan assets and reached a $400 million deal with an Amsterdam-based oil and gas producer. One portion of the sale for $125 million didn't require Venezuelan government approval, but the remaining $275 million did require a government sign-off. Delays crept in, according to court documents, until Harvest was presented with another bribe demand.

Del Pino Diaz, who had succeeded Ramirez as PDVSA president and Venezuelan oil minister, allegedly told Harvest in a November 2014 letter that PDVSA's subsidiary would block the deal unless Harvest paid an extra "bonus" to the Venezuelan oil ministry, according to court documents. Gonzalez Acosta, repeated the demands in a meeting in Buenos Aires with the buyer of Harvest's assets, according to court documents, asserting "a bribe can make it all go away. "

Harvest and the Dutch buyer refused, and the sale was scuttled.

Del Pino Diaz was arrested in November by Venezuelan authorities as part of a corruption probe into PDVSA.

Harvest continued to look for a buyer of its Venezuelan assets and in 2016, finally arranged a sale to a Barbados company. No bribes were requested that time, according to the lawsuit. Harvest eventually received $255 million in 2016 for its Venezuelan oil and gas interests instead of the $725 million it had negotiated three years earlier, losing an estimated $470 million. The company sold off its remaining assets in other countries in 2016 and 2017, and shut its doors for good last year.

Harvest is seeking unspecified damages.
The federal government said Tuesday it's investigating the death of an offshore oil and gas worker on a Gulf of Mexico platform operated by Houston's Talos Energy.

The employee, who's identity wasn't immediately revealed, died Saturday after an accident while he was removing out-of-service fire suppression equipment on the offshore platform. There was no fire or emissions release related to the incident, according to the Interior Department's Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, which said it is investigating the fatality.

Talos said the worker was seriously injured and later died from the wounds. No one else was hurt, the company said.

"This is a tragic event and we extend our deepest sympathies to the family, friends and co-workers of our colleague," Talos said in a prepared statement.

The accident occurred almost 65 miles south of the Texas-Louisiana border. Talos is one of the fastest growing energy companies in the Gulf.

The incident occurred while Talos is in the process of going public. Talos, which is backed by private equity firms Apollo Global Management and Riverstone Holdings, is acquiring Louisiana-based Stone Energy in a nearly $2 billion merger.

RELATED: Houston's Talos Energy acquiring Stone Energy

Talos was formed by the two private equity giants in 2012 and, one year later, acquired Energy Resource Technology, the subsidiary that was leading operations on the platform where the death occurred.

Talos' Energy Resource Technology was fined $4 million in 2016 for violating federal environmental and safety laws. The company pleaded guilty to illegally discharging drilling waste into the Gulf and not following federal protocols for welding and the testing of blowout preventers  a device designed to stop oil leaks in the event of an accident.

As for the Stone deal, the acquisition would take Talos public through a so-called reverse merger that's expected to close in the second quarter.

Stone Energy has operated out of Lafayette for more than 20 years, but filed for bankruptcy protection last year amid the collapse in oil prices before emerging earlier in 2017.

Talos struck it big last summer with the so-called Zama discovery offshore of Mexico after the company successfully won some of the first offshore bids in Mexico's energy reform process that opened offshore blocks up to foreign investors. Zama is the first major discovery in the country's deregulation process.
On a sunny Saturday in May 2016, I was assigned to cover a protest outside the Islamic Da'wah Center in downtown Houston. A group that called itself the "Heart of Texas" had organized it on social media  a protest, they said, against the "Islamization" of Texas.

On one side of Travis Street, I found about 10 protesters. On the other side, I found around 50 counterprotesters.

But I couldn't find the rally organizers. No "Heart of Texas." I thought that was odd, and mentioned it in the article: What kind of group is a no-show at its own event?

Now I know why. Apparently, the rally's organizers were in Saint Petersburg, Russia, at the time.

"Heart of Texas" is one of the internet troll groups cited in Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller's recent indictment of Russians attempting to tamper with the U.S. presidential election.

SOME OF THE protesters' T-shirts promoted "White Power." Others made pro-Confederacy statements. They waved flags representing the U.S., Texas and the Confederate South, and they carried a "White Lives Matter" banner.

When I asked the protesters how they learned of the rally, they showed me the "Heart of Texas" Facebook page. The post encouraged them to bring their firearms to the rally. I saw one with an AR-15 rifle hanging from his shoulder strap.

A group called "Save Islamic Knowledge" had set up the much larger counterprotest. We now know that it, too, had also sprung from the mind of computer operators working inside the troll farm, a nondescript four-story building at 55 Savushinka Street in Saint Petersburg.

But at the protest, I didn't know that. I sent messages to both "Heart of Texas" and "Save Islamic Knowledge." Neither group called me back.

I managed to talk with Faisal Shah, a lawyer representing the Islamic center, who told me the center had no part in the counterprotest. For his group to take part, he said, would just have given the protesters what they wanted  a bigger audience and bigger platform.

SEPARATED BY TRAVIS Street and the Houston police, the two groups shouted at each each other. The pro-Islamic Center counterprotesters had a loudspeaker, and so were able drown out the other side.

And then there was the "Bubble Man."

He stood on a balcony overlooking the scene, armed with a fully-charged bubble machine. It sent hundreds of shimmering soap bubbles onto the annoyed anti-Islamic protesters below. I wanted to interview him, but he waved me off.

Because his soapy attack was aimed at the protesters, in my article, I described him as part of the counterprotest. But now, with these indictments from the special prosecutor, I'm not so sure.

Were Russian trolls behind the bubbles too?
Approximately 3,000 horse riders pulling along wagons made their way down different trails Friday to signify Go Texan Day, the start of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Riders Teresa Jordan, John Burns, and Michelle Verbois Wasaff are riding on the Salt Grass Trail, the oldest trail.

"These are trails going back to the 1800s," Burns, from Montrose, and a rider on the trail ride for over 50 years, said. "The cattle ranchers in Brenham would drive their cattle down to the gulf coast in the winter to have the nutrients from the salt in the grass."

About 75 years ago, a few men wanted to generate publicity for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, so, to honor the legacy, and carry on the tradition of the cattle drivers, they rode their horses on the old trail from Brenham to Houston.

Now Playing: Prairie View Trailriders ride through the streets of Houston on Go Texan Day. Video: Brett Coomer

"Today we have close to 1,000 riders as the biggest trail ride," Burns said.

The Salt Grass Trail Ride today is 103 miles long and starts from Cat Spring. It is a week-long journey.

The other trail rides are Mission, Northeastern, Old Spanish, Prairie View, Sam Houston, Southwest, Southwestern, Texas Independence, The Spanish and Valley Lodge.

Jordan, from Bellaire, is a member of the Magnificent 7 Wagon that rides on the Salt Grass Trail. She was invited to ride as a guest in 2011. She was a guest for a few years before being elected as a member of the wagon party in 2016.

"I am now so excited to be a part of the Magnificent 7 family," Jordan said. "It is such an incredible experience focused on western heritage, horses, fun and fellowship"

Verbois Wasaff, from Houston, and a member of the board of directors of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, is a life long member of the trail rides. She started riding the trail in the wagon with her father as a child, and as she got older, she rode on horseback. Now her children, ages 8 and 10, are life long members themselves.

"My mother and father, Jim Verbois Jr. and Mary Ellen Verbois were founding members of the official HLSR Wagon 4 where I have so many fond memories. Mom and Dad eventually became members of Magnificent 7 wagon...I then married into Desperado Wagon 13 and I am considered an honorary family member of Magnificent 7 Wagon. I love my Salt Grass Trail family," Verbois Wasaff said.

Burns' first trail ride was in his senior year of high school, when he skipped five days of school just so he could ride. He is now a member of the Magnificent 7.

"When I was in high school during my freshman, sophomore and junior years the parade was on Friday, so during those three years I would watch the trail riders ride by my classroom window on their way to downtown Houston. I would dream about being part of the ride," Burns said.

It takes a village to plan the trail rides each year, and safely get all of the riders to Houston.

There is a schedule to figure out. How many miles will they go each day, and where will the riders camp each night? This year, the Salt Grass Trail Riders are camping at places such as the Austin County Fairgrounds, and Katy Park.

The riders, - the Salt Grass Trail Group spans about a mile wide - have to go through many intersections along different roads. There is a team of scouts that will go ahead of the group, and get cars to stop so the riders can go through safely.

"We ride on some back country roads but then we also ride right along I-10. The scouts really get a work out on Go Texan Day. Safety is probably the number one focus of most of the trail rides," Jordan said.

"The effort that goes into planning is a year-long affair, with life-long supporters," Verbois Wasaff said.

But after all of that planning and coordination, that doesn't mean that the trail ride is not fun.

"We ride through beautiful areas during the days, and then have great dinners prepared by our cook teams in the evening and we dance under the stars and enjoy each other's company. Then we get up early and start all over," Jordan said.

"Dancing is always my favorite," Verbois Wasaff said. "And being able to enjoy a week with family and friends outside of the fast pace work and life demands. I loved watching my dad have the time of his life and knowing I had so many friends to help me continue his tradition as he passed on."

The riders from all the trails pass through different parts of the city, passing by schools and office buildings, and offer a glimpse of Texan history to all. There is an awards ceremony in Memorial Park that gives out awards for safety, spirit, and best divisions categorized by size. Last year the Salt Grass Trail won best in spirit.

"My favorite memory is always riding on Go Texan day as we ride past all the people of Houston and the school children. It is our longest and most fun day as we get to share what we love with others. Everyone is so excited to see us and we love the fun of waving to all the crowds," Jordan said.

The Downtown Rodeo Parade, the final hurrah for the trail rides, is Saturday, Feb. 24, at 10 a.m. The parade route begins at Bagby and Walker Streets, travels from Travis to Bell Street, and from Bell Street to Louisiana Street, before turning on Lamar Street, and ends at Lamar and Bagby.

"Having friends in all other wagon groups, it's actually fun and competitive. We all want to put on a big show for the city to see. Many of us deck out in matching group attire, dust ourselves off and celebrate a long week as we regroup to support the HLSR in our many volunteer roles at the show," Verbois Wasaff said.

"The ride is full of energy. For those of us who have been doing this ride for many years, the history and legacy, and the family values are what motivate each of us, every year," Burns said.

For more information about the trail rides, and the Salt Grass Trail Ride, visit www.rodeohouston.com/Visit-the-Rodeo/Pre-Rodeo-Events/Trail-Rides and www.saltgrasstrailride.com.
Gerald Herbert/STF

Six days after a gunman opened fire at a Florida high school, leaving 17 people dead, the effects continue to be felt across the state.

In El Paso, police were investigating 13 threats to six schools and announced four related arrests Monday, the El Paso Times reported. Attendance at some schools that day had been lower than usual.
Hurricane Harvey may loom large in many Houston-area residents' minds, but the storm is expected to have a limited impact on participation in the Texas primary, which kicks off Tuesday with the start of early voting.

Nearly two weeks of early balloting precedes the Lone Star State's March 6 primary, the first in the nation.

"On one hand, we're going to see a decline in turnout among some individuals who are displaced. On the other hand, I think there are some people who will counterbalance that decline because they've become more politically active and aware as a result of Harvey," Rice University political scientist Mark Jones said. "The net effect is likely to be pretty neutral."

Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart, whose office administers local elections, agreed.

"If it does, it's going to be so small you won't be able to measure it," Stanart said. "Your primary voters are your core voters, your most loyal of voters, so those people tend to vote no matter what's happening. So, I don't anticipate much disruption in their voting patterns."

What you need to know: Houston voting essentials: When, where to vote and what's on the primary election ballot

Texas consistently is one the least civically engaged states in the nation, and primary turnout is usually scant, particularly in midterm election years.

Nearly 54,000 Harris County residents voted in the Democratic primary four years ago, with nearly 140,000 cast ballots in the Republican primary. Those figures jumped to roughly 227,000 on the Democratic side in 2016 - a presidential election year - and 330,000 on the Republican side.

Still, the state ranked 47th in voter turnout and 44th in voter registration that year, according to a recent study from the University of Texas at Austin.

This time around, Art Pronin, president of the Meyerland Area Democrats Club, is less worried about voter apathy than he is about confusion.

"What I'm finding is most people are going to vote, but there is some confusion about their address change because some of them aren't living in their houses, but they're wanting to vote," Pronin said.

Hurricane Harvey damaged an estimated 312,000 homes, and many of those residents remain displaced six months later. The Meyerland area was hit hard during Harvey, the third flood in as many years for many residents there.

James Lennon, co-founder of the Kingwood Tea Party, was unfazed about the prospects of a Harvey effect, even though parts of Kingwood suffered severe flooding.

"In the primary, I'm not worried about it, because all I care about is the Republican results," Lennon said, adding that if fewer Republicans turn out than normal, it shouldn't disadvantage one candidate more than another. "It could be more of an issue come November."

More Information To find polls and sample ballots, visit harrisvotes.org See More Collapse

Meanwhile, Jones' colleague Bob Stein, also a political scientist, said he expects Harvey to "have a toll" in the primaries.

"I think it's naive to think that a voter who has voted in primaries before and who has just suffered what may be a major economic loss would not think seriously about voting in an election where they can register their satisfaction or dissatisfaction with their congressman's response to that event," Stein said.

Voters can cast ballots at any of Harris County's 46 polling places during early balloting, which runs through March 2.

Come Election Day, voters need to report to their home precincts, even if the hurricane displaced them temporarily. Those whose registration is in suspension remain eligible to vote, but will need to fill out statements of residence at the polls.

"We really encourage people to vote early in the primary," Stanart said.

Harris County voters can expect a lengthy ballot, thanks in part to a glut of congressional candidates on both sides of the aisle. A record 61 candidates are running for Harris County's nine congressional seats.

Among the competitive congressional primaries:

-2nd Congressional District: U.S. Rep Ted Poe's retirement has opened the door for nine Republican candidates and five Democrats.

-7th Congressional District: Seven Democrats and one Republican have lined up to challenge Republican U.S. Rep John Culberson.

-29th Congressional District: Longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. Gene Green's departure has cleared the way for seven Democratic hopefuls and four Republicans.

In other races, Gov. Greg Abbott has thrown his weight behind Susanna Dokupil, who is challenging state Rep. Sarah Davis in west Houston's District 134. Former Republican Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson also is aiming to wrest back his seat from George P. Bush.
SAN ANTONIONearly two years after the San Antonio Police Department began outfitting its officers with body-worn cameras, use-of-force incidents and formal misconduct complaints have decreased significantly, according to records obtained by the San Antonio Express-News.

Since February 2016, when 55 officers with the downtown bike patrol unit received the first cameras, the number of times officers themselves reported using force has dropped 42 percent. The incidents, which are submitted in writing every time an officer uses force, can range in severity from small physical acts to deadly force.

The number of formal complaints, meanwhile, decreased 21 percent between 2015 and 2016, after roughly half the department had been outfitted with cameras. Formal complaints can be filed by fellow officers or civilians when an officer exhibits significant variance from behavioral expectations, such as excessive use of force, engaging in criminal conduct or failure to perform police responsibilities.

Michael Smith, chair of the criminal justice department at the University of Texas at San Antonio, said a number of factors could contribute to the decrease in use-of-force incidents. But other cities that have introduced body-worn cameras have seen similar results, he said.

"It's fair to say that there's been a noticeable decline in use-of-force complaints at a number of agencies throughout the country for a couple years now," said Smith, who studies the topic. "I don't want to paint too broad a picture, but it's not inconsistent with what we're seeing nationwide."

SAPD began rolling out body-worn cameras well before many major cities. A select group of officers was the first to receive body-worn cameras in the department Feb. 21, 2016, two years ago Wednesday.

In the two years prior, there were, respectively, 1,195 and 1,156 use-of-force incidents self-reported by officers, according to the data.

By the end of 2016, after half the department had been issued cameras, there were 964 use-of-force reports filed by officers, a 20 percent decrease from the year prior.

The Express-News obtained the data through an open records request filed in October. For that reason, the data includes only nine months of use-of-force incidents and formal complaints for 2017.

That being said, the department was on track to see a significant continued decrease in use-of-force incidents and formal complaints.

The department finished rolling out body-worn cameras to all officers in January 2017. After nine months, there were 474 use-of-force incidents filed, compared with 742 for the same time period in 2016. That's a 36 percent decrease.

Formal complaints for that same period decreased from 192 to 147, a 23 percent decrease, according to the data.

Line complaints - a third type of grievance tracked by the department for minor variances from rules, such as rudeness - decreased 4 percent during the period.

Several departments nationwide have seen similar results after implementing body-worn cameras.

In Mesa, Arizona, use-of-force complaints decreased 75 percent and total complaints decreased 40 percent after the cameras were deployed, according to a randomized study conducted with assistance from the Institute of Criminology at the University of Cambridge.

A similar study using a control group in Rialto, California, found that use-of-force incidents decreased 60 percent and citizen complaints decreased 88 percent after officers were given the cameras.

While most studies conducted nationwide have cited a decrease in use of force, a study in Washington, D.C., found that its body-worn camera program had no detectable effect on police behavior.

"We don't have tons and tons of data points because these devices are new," Smith said of the D.C study. "It's hard to say that it's going to work everywhere."

(The Houston Police Department has been steadily deploying body cameras since February 2016, though not without issue. In March 2017, HPD temporarily suspended the rollout of the cameras due to battery issues. Roughly 4,500 cameras had been deployed as of December 2017, according to HPD's deployment schedule.

HPD could not immediately provide figures on Monday regarding the complaints against officers since that time.)

San Antonio first considered the cameras in January 2014, well before many other major departments. By March, the department launched a 12-month pilot program to test six different camera models.

On Aug. 9 that year, Michael Brown was shot and killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, prompting nationwide protests. Several departments, including those in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and New York, began testing body-worn cameras.

Former President Barack Obama, a major advocate for the technology, proposed a plan that would reimburse communities for half the costs of the cameras. The Justice Department gave San Antonio, along with departments in Chicago, Detroit, Miami and Washington, D.C., a $1 million grant to help equip officers with cameras.

In San Antonio, the pilot program was successful, and in October 2015, the City Council approved a contract with TASER International for 2,200 cameras and to pay for ongoing maintenance and storage.

The five-year contract will expire in 2020, with the possibility of three one-year extensions. If the contract continues for eight years, it could cost up to $16.6 million, according to city records.

While there is no randomized study at the department to measure the effectiveness of the camera, Smith said it's still noteworthy that there was an overall decrease.

"That's not unimportant information to have," he said.

Jennifer Doleac, director of the Justice Tech Lab, a criminal justice research organization, and an assistant professor of public policy and economics at the University of Virginia, said there are various reasons the numbers have decreased locally and nationally.

Some civilians, she said, may not be filing frivolous complaints when the video evidence is not on their side. And in many major cities, police officers already act like they're on camera because there is an increased scrutiny of police officers as civilians more often record police interactions with their cell phones.

Doleac said several departments implemented body-worn cameras in an effort to increase community trust. Supervisors might be trying to improve community trusts in other ways that, independent of the body-worn camera program, could lead to changed police behavior.

"Because the city was motivated to improve community trust, complaints would have gone down regardless," Doleac said.

Smith echoed that sentiment. Better training and increased supervision of police behavior might also lead to a decrease, he said.

"The attention to use of force and deadly use of force since Ferguson has certainly increased to a degree that we haven't seen since Rodney King in the early 1990s," Smith said, referring to the man whose beating by police in Los Angeles was captured on a bystander's video. In a state trial in 1992, the officers' acquittal on assault charges promoted a riot that took more than 50 lives. In a Federal trial, two officers were convicted of violating King's civil rights.

Smith said departments nationwide need to continue analyzing use-of-force complaints and other grievances to determine whether body-worn cameras are effective.

Though the equipment, maintenance and storage are expensive, "it's hard to argue it's not worth it," Smith said. "I don't have a definitive answer for you, but my sense is yes, it's worth it."

"The price of the technology will come down," he added. "The prices of the storage will come down over time. I suspect that over time they will become the norm. They will be as common as officers carrying radios or Tasers."

Rob Downen contributed to this report
AUSTIN - The White House signaled Monday that President Donald Trump is receptive to U.S. Sen. John Cornyn's plan to bolster federal compliance with criminal background checks, giving new hope to a bipartisan gun bill originally pushed in the wake of last year's church massacre in Sutherland Springs.

The conversation between the president and the No. 2 Senate Republican came Friday, two days after a shooter killed 17 people in a high school in Parkland, Florida, and renewed the national debate over gun restrictions.

The plan would not expand background checks but would tighten reporting requirements for the military and federal agencies.

Survivors of last week's bloodbath are ratcheting up the pressure on Congress with a nationwide call to action on gun control. They are working to organize a "March for Our Lives" in Washington and other cities nationwide March 24, demanding that Congress toughen restrictions on guns.

Gun control advocates have pushed for years for more congressional action, and the political battle has intensified in the wake of mass shootings in Las Vegas, Texas and Florida. Proposals range from banning assault weapons and closing the gun show loophole on weapons purchases to regulating bump stocks and other devices that allow rifles to be fired more rapidly.

But even with the recent spate of shootings, there has been little if any movement in Congress - except on background checks, an area in which there appears to be some chance Congress and the White House will reach a consensus.

"While discussions are ongoing and revisions are being considered, the president is supportive of efforts to improve the federal background check system," White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement Monday.

The legislation by Cornyn, a Texas Republican, has 35 co-sponsors in the Senate. Seventeen of the bill's co-sponsors are Republicans, and 17 are Democrats. The other co-sponsor is an independent.

The National Rifle Association has not opposed the bill, as it has proposals to ban assault rifles and limit the sale of high-capacity magazines.

Cornyn's legislation focuses on giving incentives to states and federal agencies to upload information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. The goal is to ensure people who are legally prohibited from possessing a gun are stopped from buying one.

Willing to consider

The legislation, called the Fix NICS Act, would also help state governments share relevant criminal records with the background check system.

Cornyn filed the legislation after the November church shooting in Sutherland Springs left 26 congregants, including nine children.

Devin Patrick Kelley, 26, opened fire on the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs during a Sunday morning service on Nov. 5, 2017. Kelley had been court-marshaled and thrown out of the Air Force after assaulting his wife and step-son so severely he fractured the boy's skull.

The domestic violence conviction should have prevented Kelley from purchasing several of the guns used in the shooting. But the Department of Defense failed to report the conviction to the background check system. A review of records after the massacre found that the DOD had reported only one domestic violence conviction to the database for all of 2016.

Investigators confirmed that Kelley passed a federal background check and was allowed to buy four firearms before his shooting spree.

'Simply unacceptable'

Just days after the massacre, Cornyn introduced his legislation to tighten loose and confusing reporting requirements for federal agencies, but the bill did not gain traction until last week's Florida shooting.

Since November, federal officials have uploaded thousands of records into the national Instant Criminal Background Check System, according to CNN, apparently working through a backlog of documentation that can be used to deny gun sales to dishonorably discharged military personnel.

"The failure to upload this essential, and required, information in the background check system is simply unacceptable. This only reinforces the need to fix what's become a nationwide, systemic problem so we can better prevent violent criminals and domestic abusers from obtaining firearms," Cornyn said in a statement.

In the Valentine's Day school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, the accused gunman, Nikolas Cruz, 19, used an AR-15 assault rifle that was purchased legally, according to authorities.
A fired welder at a Houston-area construction company filed a lawsuit claiming his former boss and another employee repeatedly used homophobic and racial slurs against him.

Zachery Brinker, who is white, filed a discrimination lawsuit in Harris County on Tuesday in which he claims he was fired from Kilgore Industries after complaining about months of abuse from his boss and another employee. Among those cited is Garret Sharp, a shop foreman who the suit says called Brinker a "n----r lover" and "f----t." The suit says Brinker has mixed-race children.

Brinker worked for the company from August 2016 until May 2017, the suit says. He seeks more than $100,000 in damages.

"Mr. Sharp said numerous times that (Brinker) would like to be black, that (Brinker) only dated/f----d black women, and that he knew (Brinker) 'liked chocolate,'" the suit says.

The abuse intensified after Brinker told Sharp he had mixed-race children, the suit claims. About two weeks later, an employee allegedly drew a swastika on Brinker's desk.

A company spokesperson did not return a request for comment Tuesday, and efforts to reach Sharp at the facility were unsuccessful.

Sharp also made numerous comments about Brinker's sexuality, and "joked about (Brinker) being gay in private, directly to (Brinker) and also before (Brinker's) co-workers," the suit claims.

The homophobic comments increased after Brinker, who is not gay, befriended a black employee who had just been hired at the shop, the suit claims.

The shop's supervisor discouraged Brinker from talking about the alleged harassment, according to the suit. In March 2017, Brinker was offered a pay raise to "settle the sexual and racial harassment complaints," the suit claims. He declined the offer, maintaining that his job performance warranted a pay increase and that the complaints were a separate issue, the suit claims.

The day of Brinker's firing, a Kilgore human resources director told him that she had only heard about the discrimination complaints a day earlier, the suit says.

"(Brinker was retaliated against with wrongful termination for reporting the harassment he was subjected to by foreman Sharp and other co-workers," the suit says. "(Kilgore Industries) neither investigated nor disciplined foreman Sharp, whose harassing behavior continued to escalate and became severe and pervasive to the point of creating a hostile work environment."

Brinker also filed a complaint with the Texas Workforce Commission's Civil Rights Division in June 2017, court records show.

Robert Downen covers crime for the Houston Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter or email him at robert.downen@chron.com.
Texas border business leaders are concerned that the U.S. Department of State's recently escalated risk level for the Mexican state of Tamaulipas to "do not travel" status could discourage investment, scare off tourists and shackle the region's economic growth.

The department recently changed its classification system of travel advisories to four levels of risk, and Tamaulipas was assigned the highest - the same rating assigned to countries such as Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

"That creates a problem for us because what (the department) is basically saying is that we are also a war zone, but we are not in a war zone," said Keith Patridge, president and CEO of the McAllen Economic Development Corporation, a public group dedicated to promoting business in the McAllen area and neighboring Reynosa in Tamaulipas.

Companies operating on the border have long made adjustments to contend with the protracted drug war raging across the border, and so far the $92 million in annual exports of Texas goods to Mexico have not been interrupted.

ON THE MEXICAN SIDE: Manufacturers say anti-NAFTA stance could backfire

In McAllen, where the local economy suffered a decline in 2017 as violent crimes increased across the border, business leaders are now concerned that the state department's "misleading classification" is going to create a reputation problem for the border region, Patridge said.

"It would be rippling throughout the economy  because it impacts the ability of companies to attract suppliers, to recruit employees to the area and so on," he said.

Pablo Pinto, who directs the University of Houston's Center for Public Policy, agrees the heightened risk assessment could damage a manufacturing sector that has blossomed as U.S. industries have located assembly plants south of the Rio Grande.

"Tamaulipas is home to maquiladoroas (plants) and other industries that are strongly integrated into the North American economy," Pinto said. "Here (in Texas) the short run impact could be less important, but it may affect future investment and business decisions by American and even Mexican firms."

The Reynosa factor

The State Department recently created a new system to assess the risk of traveling to foreign countries and Mexico was assigned a Level 2 risk, with American travelers advised to "exercise increased caution."

But risk levels were also assigned to individual Mexican states, and five, including Tamaulipas, were classified as having the highest risk. Tamaulipas comprises about a third of the 1,250 miles of the Texas-Mexico border, running along the Rio Grande from just upstream of Laredo, down to McAllen, Brownsville and to the Gulf of Mexico.

"Violent crime, such as murder, armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, extortion, and sexual assault, is common," reads the new advisory on Tamaulipas.

The border state is home to the powerful Gulf Cartel, a crime syndicate that is engaged in a turf fight over control of key drug and human smuggling routes, including with its breakaway enforcement arm known as Los Zetas.

Intentional homicides increased in Tamaulipas by 24.5 percent last year - to 804 from 615, according to statistics from Mexico's National Security Commission. Other high-impact offenses, as Mexicans call those usually related to organized crime, also increased in the same period, with extortion and violent car robberies both rising by 40 percent.

Reynosa, the largest city on the Tamaulipas border and which sits across the border from McAllen, has been of particular concern for Mexican authorities as warring drug cartels often battle in broad daylight. The rate of intentional homicides was 28 percent, second in the state only to the capital of Victoria.

Francisco Garcia Cabeza de Vaca, the governor of Tamaulipas, knows that stretch of the border area well. He was born and attended high school in McAllen, and he holds dual U.S. and Mexican citizenship. He was mayor of Reynosa from 2005-2007.

A member of Mexico's leading opposition party, the conservative National Action Party, or PAN, Garcia has attributed the violent troubles in his state to the legacy of collusion between trafficking organizations and previous governors from the ruling party that controlled Tamaulipas for more than 80 years.

Garcia took a strong stand against organized crime during his campaign, and his staff points to improvements they say he has made to public security in the sprawling state. Still, crime has escalated.

"We recognize that there is a problem," spokesperson Aldo Hernandez said. But, he adds, "the state has taken strong measures" during the last months that "we think will have an impact in this battle."

Hernandez mentioned the creation of a state highway police force in September to patrol key highway corridors, a response to roving bands of criminals who hold up buses, trucks and private cars. The state also launched a new police special forces unit in November, trained as SWAT teams and equipped with armored trucks, with a concentration on operations in Reynosa.

"We are going head-on, we are going against the enemies of peace in Tamaulipas," Garcia said during a ceremony announcing the units' allocation. "There will be no truce against the violent; we will restore peace, order and the rule of law."

Peaceful McAllen

Crime has not spilled over, however, onto the Texas side of the Tamaulipas border, according to Wolfram Schaffler Gonzalez, director of Texas A&M International University's Center for Border Economic and Enterprise Development.

"In fact, the (Texas) southern border counties have the lowest crime in the state," he said.

Violence in Tamaulipas has taken a toll, however, on business conditions in McAllen as visitors eschew the city in favor of Laredo, said Steve Ahlenius, president of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce.

"The violence in Reynosa is having an economic impact in the sense that it's stopping or redirecting Mexican nationals that travel from the Tamaulipas and Monterrey market to McAllen," he said.

Businesses on the Texas side of the border have experienced decreases in revenues, particularly in the hospitality and restaurant industries that rely on visitors from Mexico for shopping and cross-border commercial trips.

After years of continuous economic growth, the economy of the McAllen metropolitan area declined in 2017 and "has been in a state of general stagnation" over the previous year, according to the McAllen Economic Index report. The number of border crossings also dropped during the year.

Other Texas cities bordering with Tamaulipas, like Laredo and Brownsville, didn't have the same economic downturn. But crime in their neighboring Mexican cities of Nuevo Laredo and Matamoros wasn't nearly as high as in Reynosa.

BROWNSVILLE: Restaurant is last of a South Texas barbacoa tradition

Tarnished reputation

For McAllen, reputation is vital to its economic prosperity, experts say.

"In today's day and age, the stakes are higher than ever for cities to attract and grow businesses, which means that cities need to manage their reputational risk just as companies and public figures do," said Jeff Berkowitz, CEO of Delve, a firm that specialize in issues management.

"The classification absolutely has a negative effect for employers on both sides of the border," said Aaron Holt, a Houston employment lawyer with the international law firm of Cozen O'Connor.

Holt explained that border cities on both sides have thrived by capitalizing on an attractive dynamic for investors: the lower cost of labor on the Mexican side and the geographic proximity to the large consumer base in the United States.

"If safety can't be maintained, then the allure of profits is quickly offset by the risk and liability associated with security causing these companies to simply choose another, more stable area for their investments," he said.

Meantime, border business owners are caught between spiking violence in neighboring Mexico and a publicity problem sparked by the State Department travel warning.

And with an economy that has thrived under the NAFTA agreement, now under attack by the U.S. presidency, the crossfire is only mounting for border cities.

"We have to move forward," Ahlenius said. "And you kind of hope and pray for the best."
President Trump clinched a historic victory with tax reform. Now he needs to avoid making a historic mistake by quitting NAFTA, one of the most important pro-growth policies of the last three decades.

Tax reform is already stimulating significant new investments as U.S. companies react to a more favorable domestic business environment. The new corporate tax rate, which was slashed by more than a third to 21 percent, is also expected to give our economy a boost as foreign firms seeking lower costs move to the United States - some of them would likely cross the borders from Canada and Mexico. It would be foolish at this time to forfeit the full benefits of tax reform by closing our borders to two of our top trading partners.

The risks of withdrawing from NAFTA would be severe in the fuel and petrochemicals sector, given North America's high degree of energy interdependence. The United States gets half of the eight million barrels of crude oil it imports each day from Canada and Mexico. Meanwhile, our two North American partners buy a third of U.S. fuel exports and about half of our petrochemicals exports.

Texas, as Houstonians well know, is at the heart of the U.S. energy industry and a driving force in this cross-border energy trade. More than a third of U.S. oil is product from wells in Texas and the state's 29 operating refineries process a third of the barrels turned into fuels each day in this country. Restricting the free movement of fuels and petrochemicals, which are used to make plastics and other products that make modern life possible, would raise prices, hurt consumers and be felt close to home. A strong energy industry means a strong Texas economy, with nearly 50,000 jobs supported by the fuel and petrochemical sectors, according to IMPLAN.

NAFTA has been an important generator of that employment and growth. It has encouraged a surge in investments in North America since its inception, growing more than five-fold from 1993 to surpass $700 billion now, according to the Congressional Research Service.

Our U.S. companies see the potential for more opportunity in the transportation fuels sector, which will also grow economic activity. Since Mexico's move to further liberalize its energy sector began in 2013, companies like Andeavor, ExxonMobil, BP and Valero have all announced plans to export fuels made in their U.S. refineries by American workers.

Not to be ignored, the opportunities in petrochemicals are also significant. The U.S. has become the preferred global base for petrochemical manufacturing thanks to cheap electricity and inexpensive feedstock from the U.S. shale boom. Investments in the industry totaled $25 billion in 2017, and expansions will continue with more than $150 billion worth of projects in the queue. As global demand for ethylene increases, our domestic companies are investing tens of billions of dollars in new plant capacity and export facilities. We shouldn't stall their progress by shutting borders.

President Trump proudly proclaimed in his State of the Union address that "we are now an exporter of energy to the world." This historic transformation was no small feat. In fact, it was enabled by NAFTA and efficient U.S. refiners.

If NAFTA is kept intact, North American fuel and petrochemicals trade will be able to further expand and add to U.S. economic growth by contributing to new investments and expansions that strengthen manufacturing and support U.S. jobs. The free flow of trilateral trade encourages the development of new U.S. energy sources by ensuring producers will have ready access to adjacent markets.

Have no doubts, any new trade barriers would compromise North America's economy and energy security. As U.S. trade negotiators chart a path forward following talks in Montreal, they should uphold the core tenets of the agreement. Doing so would help to ensure the full benefits of tax reform are realized, allowing U.S. manufacturers to succeed.

Thompson is the president and CEO of the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers.
When asked for a description of the injury, Trade Depot noted probable concussion from impact with no reference to extensive bleeding, fractures, surgery and hospitalisation.

A 14-year-old youth on unpaid work experience was also put at risk in the incident as he has been helping the victim move the plasterboard when it fell.

Simon Humphries, WorkSafes deputy GM of investigations and specialist services, took aim at the company and condemned its actions.

Trade Depot was aware of the significance of the victims injuries, he said. Deliberately downplaying the significance of the injuries appears to be an attempt to avoid the consequences, and, demonstrates a lack of compassion for a worker seriously injured while doing his job.

WorkSafe also commented on the presence of the 14-year-old on the site.
Look for properties in markets with lower vacancy rates

Many parts of Canada, especially urban areas, have historically low vacancy rates right now. With a tighter rental supply, it will be easier to find good tenants and keep them longer. Renters are more likely to stay put rather than risk a large rent increase on the open market.

In some cases, tenants in these markets might be less picky when it comes to building condition and maintenance, but you must still fulfil your duties as an owner. If being a full-time landlord isnt for you, however 

Hire a reliable property manager

The dream is to invest in a property that your tenants will love so much that theyll want to stay comfortably into the future. Life, though, goes on. When one of your tenants does eventually give notice, you will want to make sure someone is immediately on the case to find a new tenant before the month is out.

Having a property manager takes this pressure off you. After all, you have a life beyond real estate and your own personal responsibilities to take care of.
Indonesian navy seizes boat with one tonne of methamphetamines in waters off Batam

by Adam Harvey

February 11,2018 | Source: ABC

The Indonesian navy has seized a boat carrying 1.1 tonnes of the drug ice, and says it is the same type of vessel used to transport a similar-sized shipment to Western Australia last month.



A shipment of more than 1.2 tonnes of methamphetamine was seized at Geraldton harbour shortly before Christmas.



It was hailed as Australia's largest ever drugs seizure.



Police in Australia valued that haul at $1 billion and said at the time they were monitoring the "mother ship" used to bring the drugs into Australian waters.



It is not clear whether this latest vessel is the "mother ship" or another ship-to-shore transport used in the drug operation.



In this latest seizure, the Singaporean-flagged vessel Sunrise Glory was boarded in Indonesian waters between Singapore and Batam Island.



The boat was boarded by the Indonesian navy under suspicion of illegal fishing.



When officers searched the 70-tonne vessel they found more than one tonne of ice in the hold, packed into 41 sacks and hidden beneath food supplies.



"Allegedly the boat has been unload [sic] one tonnes of narcotics in Australia, but the local authority did not manage to capture them," said Brigadier-General Anjan Putra from Indonesia's National Narcotics Board (BNN).



A team from the BNN, the Indonesian Navy and customs has been looking for the boat since early December.



They received a tip-off to look for a fishing boat loaded with narcotics.



"The joint task force searched for the boat, and they found it but the boat did not enter Indonesian waters, but they they kept sailing from Andaman Sea and heading south to Australia, outside Indonesian territory," said General Putra.



The boat is being held at Batam Island.

 2018 ABC

Theme(s): Others.
Smugglers fly Singapore flag in bid to trick authorities

February 13,2018 | Source: ST

The Malaysian authorities in Johor have foiled an attempt to smuggle various brands of cigarettes and liquor valued at RM2.5 million (S$841,850) into the country by boat, the Bernama news agency reported.



The seizure of the contraband was the biggest so far in the waters of Johor, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency's (MMEA) southern region director Abu Bakar Idris said yesterday.



A team from the agency on Saturday intercepted the boat, which had flown the Singapore flag in an attempt to trick the authorities, at around 6pm, about 1.9 nautical miles off Tanjung Piai in Pontian.



"The MMEA team on patrol became suspicious upon spotting the boat anchored in the waters. A check on the boat revealed 916,500 cartons of cigarettes and 3,048 bottles of liquor of various brands hidden under canvas sheets," Datuk Abu Bakar said.



The MMEA said it had arrested nine Indonesian crew members from the boat and seized the contraband. "We arrested the nine crew (members), including the skipper, all aged between 25 and 53. All of them had passports, but the skipper failed to present the relevant documents," he said to reporters.



"We will continue to step up patrols in the waters of Johor to curb widespread smuggling and other crimes," he said.



The Straits Times reported last week that the Indonesian authorities had captured a fishing boat, also flying a Singapore flag, that was smuggling one tonne of crystal methamphetamine in 41 rice sacks off the waters of Batam Island.



The smugglers, using the boat MV Sunrise Glory, were first spotted by Indonesian navy patrol KRI Sigurot 864 on Wednesday afternoon as they entered Indonesian waters along the Singapore Strait.



It was stopped and boarded by navy personnel for inspection in the Phillip Channel near islands off Batam.



While the boat was flying a Singapore flag at the time, its crew were able to produce only photocopied registration documents purportedly from Indonesia.



Indonesian Customs officers, with the help of sniffer dogs, later found the drugs on board.



A Taiwanese flag was also discovered, and the crew of four Taiwanese citizens is now being held and investigated for operating the boat under various false flags for illegal fishing or drug smuggling.



Singapore's Central Narcotics Bureau said yesterday that the boat is not registered here, but in Taiwan as Shun De Man No. 66.



It added that preliminary investigations by the Indonesian authorities showed that at the time of interception, the Taiwanese syndicate had used the fictitious name Sunrise Glory and falsely flown the Singapore flag.

 2018 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd.

Theme(s): Fishing Craft, Gear and Fishing Methods.
Thailand to announce itself free of IUU fishing

February 14,2018 | Source: ThaiVisa

Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister, Gen Chatchai Sarikulya, is planning to propose that Thailand announce itself as free from illegal fishing activities.



Gen Chatchai said he will propose to the Cabinet that Thailand announce itself as free of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. He has tasked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with publicizing the announcement to other countries, as a gesture of Thailand's commitment to the agenda.



Gen Chatchai said the government has continued to issue fishing licenses to eliminate IUU fishing. Starting March 31st, related agencies will be able to issue fishing and vessel licenses concurrently.

 2002 - 2017 Thai Visa thaivisa.com

Theme(s): Fishing Craft, Gear and Fishing Methods.
Sudanese authorities detain Egyptian fishing vessel with 35-member crew

by Al-Masry Al-Youm

February 13,2018 | Source: Egypt Independent

Sudanese authorities have detained an Egyptian fishing boat on January 29 at Marsa Mohamed Qol, to the north of Port Sudan by about 200 km, as a result of illegal fishing in the countrys territorial waters, and the passage of the boat through a nature reserve on its way from Sudan to Egypt.



Those detained, 35 fishermen from the governorates of Al-Dakahlia and Kafr El-Sheikh, pleaded with the Egyptian Foreign Ministry to help their families and return to their country safely



Al-Masry Al-Youm visited the families of the detainees to understand details of the fishing trip, which began 50 days ago.



Mervat Ahmed al-Kafrawy, the wife of one of the detained fishermen, said she had been very upset since her husband and son have been held in Sudan. Our men have been held in Sudan for two weeks. We know nothing on them. No official asked about us. We ask the president to intervene so that they can return safely, she said while crying.



My nephew is part of the crew of the boat held in Sudan, and his mother is in a state of collapse because of her fear for him after the news of their arrest, said Al-Sayyed Fathi.



He added: Most fishermen go out to the sea because the fishing in the country is not good enough and they leave their homes only with little money, barely enough during the time of the trip, and all the families of the fishermen do not have money to pay any fines or money to lawyers in Sudan.



The Sudanese authorities have detained (Mohamed Al-Dash) and his captain (Mohamed Reda Alloush) for more than two weeks, carrying 35 Egyptian fishermen, said Taha al-Sheridi, head of the independent fishermens union.



Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid said that the ministry is following through with the Egyptian Consulate General in Port Sudan regarding the detention of the Egyptian fishing vessel.



Abu Zeid explained that the crew of the boat was investigated before the prosecution in Port Sudan, which formed a committee that forced the boat crew to reveal its contents and review its papers.



The committee confirmed that the vessel meets all maritime safety requirements, the required fishing permits, the size and quality of the fish authorized for fishing, and the necessary security approvals, which led the prosecution to drop all the charges against the crew except for passing through the natural reserve.



Abu Zeid pointed out that the General Consulate is following up with the owner of the boat in Egypt, the maritime agent in Sudan and the staff lawyer, the legal procedures for the trial in order to release the boat and return the crew to Egypt.



The Egyptian Consulate General in Port Sudan praised the cooperation of the Sudanese authorities, which have provided all the needs of the fishermen including food, drinks and some medicine since their detention.

 Al-Masry Al-Youm. 2018

Theme(s): Fishing Craft, Gear and Fishing Methods.
Shilpa Shetty Claims She was 'Not Aware What Raj Kundra was Up to' in Mumbai Police's Chargesheet
Words have always been my currency -- the means to express myself, persuade an audience, tell a story and get a job. When it comes to LinkedIn, the professional networking site used by half a billion people worldwide, words are everyone's currency.

But there are some words that won't help you strike the notice of a recruiter, score an interview or land a job. Some are professional cliches. You've heard the phrase "dime a dozen?" There's jargon and corporate speak. Then there are words that get you noticed for all the wrong reasons.These are words that make you look bad, and you might not ever know it.

Part of my communications work includes writing, rewriting and editing clients' LinkedIn pages in what I call LinkedIn makeovers. I'm always on the lookout for buzzwords that are career buzz killers. Here are the words that recruiters and I recommend scrubbing from your LinkedIn profiles as soon as possible.

1. Strategic

It's my most hated word on all of LinkedIn (and resumes, too). It's lazy, boring and vague. What makes you strategic? Tell a story. Give an example.

Carrie Walecka, director of talent acquisition at Brightcove calls it "overused and not quantifiable.

"On the other hand, I am always encouraged when I see words such as lead, created, drove, defined, and implemented. Those are actionable words, indicating the person was the originator of said action," she adds.

2. Unique

And here's my runner-up in most hated of professional buzzwords. You are special and hardworking. But you are not unique. Your products are great, and your customers might like them a whole lot. But chances are they are not unique.

What makes you different? What makes you a great fit where you are and where you want to go? Again, do some storytelling and don't fall back on this false cliche.

3. Metrics

"Why can't we just say goals,?" says Andy Jones, a recruiter with Source One Management Services in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania.

Exactly. Or "objectives." Or "results as measured by X."

4. Solution

"My solution? Pick another word," says Jones.

Agreed. Generic corporate lingo. "Products" or "services" work great in place of "solutions."

5. Best-of-breed

"The biggest turn-off is if someone says they are `best-of-breed' or something similar in their given profession," says Monica Roy, recruiting manager at a Seattle-based marketing and tech consultancy POP.

She added that even the best folks "still have things to learn," especially given industry changes and new technology.

6. Synergy

"The other word I'm not a fan of,'" says Roy. "What does that even mean?" Be specific about how you joined forces or teamed up to produce stellar results or even exceed goals or expectations.

7. Robust

Robust offerings. Robust experience. Robust product line. Robust choices. No, no, no, no. Alternatives: a lot, a wide variety, complete.

8-9. Leverage and utilize

Just say "use." Maybe you used something in a smart way or in a way that your manager, your company or your competitors hadn't thought of. If you use specifics, you'll be better off than if you rely on fluffy words like leverage and utilize.

Bonus: A three-letter word saves you characters. That's important in your LinkedIn summary, which does have a character count limit.

10. Expert

"A person can always learn something new," says Gene Brady, director at Search Consulting Network, which specializes in recruiting in the automotive, industrial and automation sectors. "If you say you're an `expert' in something, it implies you know it all. No one does. Smart people know that."

11. Results-driven

"As opposed to...not results-driven?," says Brady. "This term isn't really need if you can provide examples of your accomplishments and how you've made an impact."

Yes! Add to this detail-oriented and deadline-driven.

12. Highly

Brady also dislikes "highly" before anything. "It's hyperbole. Unnecessary embellishment."

Right on! (Note to self: I'm going to devote a future column to my dislike of adverbs, supported by Stephen King's quote "I believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs.")

13. Go-getter

"Avoid generalities," says Patrice Rice of Patrice & Associates, a hospitality and restaurant recruitment firm. "Recruiters and employers want to see specific results. They prefer to see an example of how you achieved something, such as 'I increased sales by 40 percent' 'I won the top producer award seven times,' or 'I sold to most accounts by a margin of 2:1.'"

14. Leader

Leader is a word that is used more often than it should," says Daniel Solo, founder of Second Line Advisors, an executive search and human capital advisory firm based in Manhattan. "A true leader wouldn't use the term very much, and if they did, they'd quantify what that means in terms of department size or initiatives and influence."

Bottom line:
InstaSleep

Vertical: Health and Wellness

What: Building a small business or startup is tough work. InstaSleep offers a gluten-free, drug-free, non-habit forming sleep aid that has been formulated by physicians. Their 'Mint Melts' are a helpful tool for those who suffer from the occasional bout of sleeplessness.

Why: Personally, I take melatonin, but it can leave you feeling groggy -- and no one likes being off their game. With 164 million Americans struggling with their sleep at least once a week, there's clearly a huge problem here. InstaSleep hits all the right notes for me as a startup: health-first, natural product, American-made, and massive market potential.

PhoneWagon

Vertical: Saas Business Analytics + Telecommunication

What: PhoneWagon offers cutting-edge call tracking software to help brands attribute to better marketing campaigns. As providing marketing ROI is essential, PhoneWagon makes it easy for their clients to see which marketing outreach efforts are working.

Why: PhoneWagon is one of those startups you'll wish you had discovered sooner. They help you improve your lead generation opportunities, increase the quality of your sales funnel, and help you double-down on what is working. With everything from Google Analytics/Adwords integrations to call alerts, email summaries, call tagging, and advanced reporting, PhoneWagon is a must-investigate tool for sales agents and marketing professionals. Their CEO, Ryan, has some pretty awesome, raw blogging material, too.

ChatDynamo

Vertical: Chatvertising

What: ChatDynamo helps brands connect with customers via custom chat widgets. They assist businesses with everything from push notifications to subscriber engagement.

Why: Real-time customer conversations are the way of the future. ChatDynamo chatbots can help brands increase their conversion rates, improve customer satisfaction reviews, and supercharge sales. With industry giants like Live Nation and Under Armour already included as partners, you know this team is making all the right moves.

Kubient

Vertical: Programmatic Bidding + Online Video Advertising

What: Kubient combines machine learning technology with online video advertising to help brands avoid bidding on fraudulent impressions from bot traffic.

Why: When your clients include the likes of Amazon, Yahoo!, and AOL, you know you're doing something right. With real-time reporting for publishers and premium partnerships, Kubient helps brands maximize their advertising budgets with their an intuitive interface. If your company is even thinking about using video advertising, Kubient is a must-discover startup.

Ignitia Office

Vertical: Co-working

What: Ignitia Office is setting a new standard for co-working spaces. Combining stunning design with exceptional staff, Ignitia Office offers entrepreneurs and small business owners access to everything from private offices and communal lounges to networking opportunities and dedicated desks. High-speed internet, conference rooms, and even a top-rated beer hall are available (you don't see that every day... but that'd be really cool to).

Why: Co-working out of a shared office space doesn't have to feel like you're trying to build a business out of a college dormitory. Ignitia Office lets you work in an upscale space conducive to productivity, pampering, and power brokering. Mic drop.

University Beyond

Vertical: Influencer Marketing + College Recruitment

What: University Beyond connects brands with college students looking for employment or brand ambassador opportunities. Brands pay per hire, can review students' campus involvement, and can monitor brand ambassador task accomplishments via a handy dashboard.

Why: This startup hits the sweet spot between influencer marketing and talent acquisition. Connecting campus ambassadors with their community to promote reputable companies like Amazon and Mountain Dew is a win/win for both parties. Definitely a hot NYC startup to watch.
Global sea levels are set to rise dramatically, threatening the homes of some 100 million people, even if the strictest greenhouse gas emissions targets are met, according to a new study.

The research, compiled by climate scientists from a number of international institutions, analysed the long-term impacts of different emission levels and concluded oceans will rise by over one metre even if the world sticks to the Paris agreement.

Overall, the researchers estimated a global rise of between 0.7 and 1.2 metres  adding that if emissions are not curbed as soon as possible it will be even greater.

More than 100 million people are currently thought to live within one metre of the high tide level.

The Paris agreement was signed by nearly 200 countries including the US under former president Barack Obama's administration in December 2015. Donald Trump has since begun the process of withdrawing the US from the deal.

It calls for emissions to peak as soon as possible before going into decline, in an effort to limit the increase in global average temperatures to well below 2C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5C".

The new research lays out the consequences of delaying the action it specifies.

According to the analysis, for every five years this peak is delayed after 2020, an extra 20cm can be added to estimates for global sea-level rise.

Although the projections look far ahead to 2300, the scientists emphasised the dramatic impact short-term greenhouse gas emissions in coming decades would have on sea levels for centuries to come.

"Our results show that there are quantifiable consequences of delaying action, said Dr Carl-Friedrich Schleussner, a researcher at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and one of the studys co-authors.

10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Show all 10 1 /10 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A group of emperor penguins face a crack in the sea ice, near McMurdo Station, Antarctica Kira Morris 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Floods destroyed eight bridges and ruined crops such as wheat, maize and peas in the Karimabad valley in northern Pakistan, a mountainous region with many glaciers. In many parts of the world, glaciers have been in retreat, creating dangerously large lakes that can cause devastating flooding when the banks break. Climate change can also increase rainfall in some areas, while bringing drought to others. Hira Ali 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Smoke  filled with the carbon that is driving climate change  drifts across a field in Colombia. Sandra Rondon 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Amid a flood in Islampur, Jamalpur, Bangladesh, a woman on a raft searches for somewhere dry to take shelter. Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable places in the world to sea level rise, which is expected to make tens of millions of people homeless by 2050. Probal Rashid 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Sindh province in Pakistan has experienced a grim mix of two consequences of climate change. Because of climate change either we have floods or not enough water to irrigate our crop and feed our animals, says the photographer. Picture clearly indicates that the extreme drought makes wide cracks in clay. Crops are very difficult to grow. Rizwan Dharejo 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Hanna Petursdottir examines a cave inside the Svinafellsjokull glacier in Iceland, which she said had been growing rapidly. Since 2000, the size of glaciers on Iceland has reduced by 12 per cent. Tom Schifanella 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A river once flowed along the depression in the dry earth of this part of Bangladesh, but it has disappeared amid rising temperatures. Abrar Hossain 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A shepherd moves his herd as he looks for green pasture near the village of Sirohi in Rajasthan, northern India. The region has been badly affected by heatwaves and drought, making local people nervous about further predicted increases in temperature. Riddhima Singh Bhati 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A factory in China is shrouded by a haze of air pollution. The World Health Organisation has warned such pollution, much of which is from the fossil fuels that cause climate change, is a public health emergency. Leung Ka Wa 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Water levels in reservoirs, like this one in Gers, France, have been getting perilously low in areas across the world affected by drought, forcing authorities to introduce water restrictions. Mahtuf Ikhsan

For millions of people around the world living in coastal areas, every centimetre can make a huge difference  to limit sea-level rise risks, immediate CO2 reduction is key."

The atmosphere can respond relatively quickly to changes in greenhouse gas emissions, meaning global surface temperatures can probably be stabilised or even reduced if drastic cuts are introduced.

However, the ocean is far slower in its response.

"Man-made climate change has already pre-programmed a certain amount of sea-level rise for the coming centuries, so for some it might seem that our present actions might not make such a big difference  but our study illustrates how wrong this perception is," said Dr Matthias Mengel, another researcher at PIK who led the research.

"Every delay in peaking emissions by five years between 2020 and 2035 could mean additional 20 centimetres of sea-level rise in the end  which is the same amount the world's coasts have experienced since the beginning of the pre-industrial era."

The results of this analysis were published in the journal Nature Communications.

The rise in global sea levels is the result of melting glaciers and ice caps around the world, as well as the warming and expansion of ocean water.

As it stands, current efforts by nations to reduce emissions are not enough to avoid the more significant rises in sea levels predicted by the new analysis.

On top of this, the instability of ice sheets in Antarctica could mean greater-than-anticipated rises in sea levels even if the most ambitious emissions targets are met.

"Indeed, the uncertainty of future sea-level rise is at present dominated by the response of Antarctica. With present knowledge on ice sheet instability, large ice loss from Antarctica seems possible even under modest warming in line with the Paris agreement," said Dr Mengel.

"Even a sea-level rise of up to three metres until 2300 cannot be ruled out completely, as we are not yet fully certain how the Antarctic ice sheet will respond to global warming."

Commenting on the report, climate scientists welcomed the findings as significant, though not entirely unsurprising.

"This is a great example of how delays to mitigation can make the costs of climate change add up, said Professor Dave Frame, director of the New Zealand Climate Change Research Institute, who was not involved in the research.

 Climate change is 'defining threat of our time', says UN Secretary General

However, Professor Frame noted that arguments about sea level rise might not be the game-changer some scientists would hope for when it comes to convincing people about the harmful effects of climate change.

"If people aren't prepared to mitigate on behalf of their children, whom they love, it's hard to see how information about people 300 years away will do more to alter their behaviour, he said.

Professor Tim Naish, director of the Victoria University of Wellingtons Antarctic Research Centre, argued the research is significant for those who are already feeling the impact of rising sea levels.

Pacific Island nations were strong advocates that the Paris agreement ensure parties make a genuine attempt to restrict global warming to nearer 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, as a number of studies were already showing that sea-level rise in a 2C world could flood some of most vulnerable lowest lying island nations such as Kiribati and Tuvalu, he said.

"This is exactly the kind of work that people need to hear about, added Associate Professor Pete Strutton, a biological oceanographer at the University of Tasmania.

We need to realise that climate change is happening. Even if we stop emitting today, the effects of our past emissions will be felt for centuries to come and every year that we delay action has consequences for the future."
A woman convicted of hiring a hitman to murder her husband has died just months after being released from jail.

Catherine Nevin, dubbed the Black Widow, died in a care facility in Dublin on Monday night at the age of 67. She had been suffering from cancer.

Nevin was jailed for life in 2000 after being convicted of murdering her husband Tom Nevin in their pub, Jack Whites Inn, in Co Wicklow, on March 19 1996.

She was also convicted of soliciting others to kill him.

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Mr Nevin, 55, was found shot dead in the kitchen of his pub in a staged robbery.

His widow always maintained he had been killed by raiders. She claimed she had been tied up in bed by robbers who tore her room apart for jewellery.

But Nevin lost an appeal against her conviction in 2003 and in 2010 also lost an application to have her conviction declared a miscarriage of justice.

She had recently launched a legal challenge to a High Court ruling that prevented her inheriting any part of her late husbands estate.

By her husbands death she stood to inherit around IR1 million and gain control of a mini property empire.

Her husbands family had run a legal campaign to ensure she did not inherit his estate.

In 2016 Nevin was diagnosed with a brain tumour and given only months to live.

Late last year she was granted compassionate release from prison. The remainder of her time was spent in a nursing home.
Simon Coveney, the Republics Foreign Affairs Minister, tweeted that the 1998 accord was being undermined in some political circles.

Talking down Good Friday Agreement because it raises serious and genuine questions of those pursuing #Brexit is not only irresponsible but reckless and potentially undermines the foundations of a fragile peace process in Northern Ireland that should never be taken for granted  Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) February 20, 2018

Mr Coveney said: Talking down (the) Good Friday Agreement because it raises serious and genuine questions of those pursuing Brexit is not only irresponsible but reckless and potentially undermines the foundations of a fragile peace process in Northern Ireland that should never be taken for granted.

The British and Irish governments have reiterated they are fully committed to the Good Friday Agreement amid a deep political impasse in Stormont.

Mr Coveneys tweet was directed at Labour MP Kate Hoey and Conservative MPs Daniel Hannan and Owen Paterson after they raised questions over the future of the 20-year-old accord.

With injury cannot be at NI Statement. @OwenSmith_MP @Andrew_Adonis et al must listen to Nobel Laureate Lord Trimble. Interim Direct Rule renews proper govt & services for NI citizens. Also gives time to discuss practical improvements to Belfast Agreement. https://t.co/MAuowLl1t7  Owen Paterson (@OwenPaterson) February 20, 2018

Mr Paterson, a former Northern Ireland secretary, recently retweeted a commentators suggestion that the agreement had outlived its use.

He also tweeted that Northern Ireland deserved good government, and health services were falling behind the rest of the UK without a devolved executive.

Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley is due to update Westminster on the Stormont deadlock on Tuesday.

Nothing at all to do with Brexit. Hiding head in sand over viability of sustainability of mandatory co-alition is reckless and wrong https://t.co/f54XDIcUNx  Kate Hoey (@CatharineHoey) February 19, 2018

The Easter agreement was signed almost 20 years ago by the British and Irish governments and enjoyed support from most of the major parties in Northern Ireland. Ian Paisleys DUP opposed it at the time.

It enabled the formation of a ministerial executive and assembly at Stormont.

Ms Hoey said her questions over the future of the Good Friday Agreement were nothing to do with Brexit.

Hiding head in sand over viability of sustainability of mandatory coalition is reckless and wrong, she said.

Mr Hannan said he had been arguing long before Brexit that the agreement needed to be changed.

Prime Minister Theresa May and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar spoke by phone on Monday night after the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Fein clashed over the prospect of direct rule being imposed on Northern Ireland.

Both leaders expressed disappointment over the political impasse at Stormont.

The breakdown in powersharing came to a head despite optimism that a deal had been close on contentious issues such as the Irish language, marriage equality and the legacy of the past.
Brexit minister David Davis said on Tuesday Britain and the European Union could reach a deal to access each others' markets and promised his government would not use Brexit to cut regulation, despite past threats to do so.

In the latest of several speeches by ministers intended to lay out Britain's plans for Brexit, Davis told business leaders in Austria that fears the government will plunge Britain into a "Mad Max-style world borrowed from dystopian fiction" after leaving the EU are unfounded.

Instead, he proposed a system of "mutual recognition" where both sides agree common regulatory outcomes, such as consumer protection or financial stability, but are able to pursue their own policies to reach those goals.

"This will be a crucial part of ensuring our future economic partnership is as open, and trade remains as frictionless, as possible," Davis said.

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"Britain's plan, its blueprint for life outside of Europe, is a race to the top in global standards, not a regression from the high standards we have now."

His comments are designed to allay European politicians' concerns that Britain could cut taxes and regulation to attract global businesses.

Since Britain voted to leave the EU in 2016, supporters of Brexit have argued that removing the costs imposed by EU rules would be one of the main benefits.

Davis's speech comes as the EU is formulating its approach to the next stage of the Brexit negotiations and ahead of a crucial cabinet meeting on Thursday to decide on Britain's negotiating strategy.
Northern Ireland's sheep sector would be devastated in the event of a hard Brexit, as 90pc of the sector's exports go to the EU, a Westminster report has suggested.

Just under half of all lambs born in the North go to the Republic, according to the report from the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee.

The report focuses on the impact on different agri-food sectors of the UK having to trade under World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules in the event of no deal being reached between the UK and EU.

The EU is the UK's single largest trading partner in agri-food products, accounting for 60pc of exports and 70pc of imports.

"Although the [UK] Government's intention is to agree a comprehensive free trade agreement and customs agreement with the EU, there is no guarantee that this will occur," the report stated.

"In the event that the UK leaves the EU without a free trade agreement, UK-EU trade will proceed under World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules.

"Reverting to WTO tariffs will have a significant impact upon agriculture as tariffs are higher for agricultural products than for other goods and services."

The UK's food and farming industry generates over 110bn (124bn) a year and employs one in eight people in the UK. The report noted that trade is vital to the industry.

The report noted that the UK Government has offered no clarity to the agricultural industry on its post-Brexit policy.

It also highlighted the potential impact to Northern Ireland's agriculture industry from Brexit, noting that trade between the Republic and the North was "interlinked".

It pointed out that there are 390,000 live lamb crossings across the border each year.

The Livestock and Meat Commission for Northern Ireland told the committee that the sheep industry was particularly exposed to the effects of more complicated border arrangements, as 45pc of all lambs born in the North are exported to the Republic each year.

The value of this trade was around 31.5m in 2016.

The Andersons Centre, an agri-food consultancy firm, estimated that in Northern Ireland alone, sheep industry exports to the EU would drop by about 90pc if tariffs were imposed.

The dairy industries in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland act as one through the supply chain, the report stated, and dairy products cross the Border several times between the farm gate and the consumer.

For example, dairy giant LacPatrick - which makes butter, liquid milk, cheese and powders - currently handles and processes more than 600 million litres of milk from more than 1,000 farmers, with more than 500 million litres coming from suppliers in the North, and the remainder in the Republic.

Republic of Ireland dairy co-operatives own approximately 60pc of the processing capacity in Northern Ireland, the report points out, with LacPatrick a key player.

Exports to the Republic of Ireland were approximately 15pc of total sales of the Northern Ireland dairy industry in 2015.

The report said the UK Government needs to support British farming and agriculture in preparing for business post-Brexit.

"Delays at border inspection posts lead to increased costs, and are a threat to perishable goods," the report concluded.

"It is imperative that the Government sets out how it intends to ensure that the right IT systems and infrastructure are in place for the import and export of agricultural produce so that businesses can continue to trade smoothly with Europe, including the Republic of Ireland, and the rest of the world."
The European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan and his Trade colleague Cecilia Malmstrom will travel South America to see what progress can be made on a Mercosur trade deal.

However, he did not commit to a deal being reached by early March, as some commentators had predicted was likely.

Speaking in Brussels this week, Hogan said that as in any negotiations, it does not center around any one product area, but sometimes people focus on agriculture but we have a lot of technical discussions going on as well.

He also said that it is still open as to whether there will be a successful conclusion to the talks or not at this point. "We will only do a deal if we are satisfied it is a good deal and balanced outcome that reflects the mandate that has been given to the Commission by the Council.

"There are a lot of areas where we are not making as much progress as we should and not receiving the type of offers from the Mercosur countries that we feel we should."

The Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed told the Dail this week that that the Government remain absolutely steadfast in its opposition to a Mercosur trade deal involving significant volumes of beef.

However, he warned that there are "very significant other forces across the European Union favouring a deal and which would willingly trade beef access for access to other agricultural or industrial products".

It is a real battle. I have been in contact with Commissioners Hogan and Malmstrom and I have spoken with the French Minister on a number of occasions about the matter.

"It is a real cause of concern," he said.

Negotiators for the European Union and Latin American bloc Mercosur have concluded two weeks of talks in Brussels on a free trade deal with no clear breakthrough and no formal offers made.

The two sides negotiating teams have agreed to continue discussions in Asuncion, Paraguay, in the week beginning February 19.

Earlier this year, the EU raised its offer for beef access to 99,000t per year from a previous 70,000t, people close to the talks said on Wednesday, though it was not clear how much would be more expensive chilled meat and if it would be tariff-free.

Further, a trade deal, currently between the EU and Mexico is currently being negotiated intensely for the last two weeks has failed to see a deal being struck.

According to the EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan, he and his Trade Commissioner colleague Cecilia Malmstrom, may travel to Mexico but a number of issues are outstanding, including cars and dairy.
The Government has approved new enhanced grant and premium for the forestry sector arising from the Mid-Term Review of the Governments current Forestry Programme.

Andrew Doyle, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for Forestry, has welcomed todays decision.

He said it recognises clearly the contribution which forestry continues to make to the economy, environment and society in Ireland. The review is an extremely comprehensive exercise informed by detailed stakeholder consultations.

"The changes recommended by the conclusions of the Midterm Review are primarily aimed at enhancing the environmental benefits of forestry while at the same time addressing the shortfall in key target areas.

"These measures address some of the key issues arising from our review of the Programme to date and range from improved rates for planting to measures to assist with mobilisation of the significant timer resource from private forest which will become available in next few years.

The Report notes that total afforestation figures for the first three years of the Programme show that overall planting is some 7pc less than the cumulative target for these years and also that planting of broadleaf trees are falling below the 30pc target for this category.

The most significant improvements in grant and premium rates are aimed at those planting categories that may prove most attractive to farmers  such as Agro-forestry and Forestry for Fibre.

Agro-forestry will allow farmers to plant trees while continuing to graze their animals on the same land with this land use system suitable for producing woodfuel or, where appropriate, high quality hardwood timber. The aim of the Forestry for Fibre scheme is also to facilitate production of renewable energy for either domestic or local commercial use.

While more traditional forestry has a rotation of approximately 35 to 40 years, the species planted under the Forestry for Fibre scheme have a rotation of up to 15 years, which equates to the number of annual premium payments for Forestry for Fibre  this means that a payment of 510 per hectare is payable each year up to the time the plantation is felled.

Summary of changes following adoption of midterm review proposals

Measure 1: Afforestation and creation of woodlands

Grant and premium increases

7% increase in all broadleaves and diverse conifer grant categories i.e. GPC4 to GPC 10

categories i.e. GPC4 to GPC 10 5% increase in all broadleaves and diverse conifer premium categories i.e. GPC 4 to GPC 10

categories i.e. GPC 4 to GPC 10 2% increase in grant amount for GPC 1 to GPC 3

amount for GPC 1 to GPC 3 2% in premium rate for all plantations greater than 10 hectares

The minimum mandatory requirement per site is increased to 15% broadleaves.

GPC = Grant and Premium Category

Forest Fencing and Tree Shelter Scheme

New deer fencing provision of 16.25/m, for IS436 @ 140 m/ha

Upgrade deer fencing rates 8/m, for IS436 @ 140 m/ha

A contribution of up to 300/ha for tree shelters aimed mainly, but not exclusively, at protecting broadleaves in the category Additional Broadleaves, ADB

A contribution of 2.5/m up to a maximum of 140m per ha for forests that have been subject to hare damage after Form 2 payment and up to approval for Form 3 payment

Forestry for fibre

Number of premiums increased from 10 to 15

Premium rate per hectare increased to equal GPC3 (from 180 to 510)

Grant per hectare increased to match that of GPC 3 (from 2,450 to 3,815)

Agroforestry

Premium rate per hectare increased to equal GPC6 (from 260 to 645)

Grant per hectare increased to match that of GPC 3 (from 4,450 to 6,220)

Eligible for grants under Woodland Improvement Scheme (WIS) for thinning, tending and pruning

All relevant GPC categories

Additional Fencing: IS436 increased to maximum grant of 600 (140m/ha)

Measure 2: Neighbourwoods

The scheme now open to applications throughout the year

Increased coordination and promotion of this scheme

Increased allocation will be made available to reflect the scale of works being undertaken within individual projects under this scheme

Measure 3: Forest Roads

Road density increased from 20m/ha to 25m/ha

Measure 5: Woodland Improvement Scheme (WIS)

The WIS scheme will now be opened up to non grant aided broadleaf forests and all broadleaved mixtures that meet the required eligibility criteria.

Furthermore, all broadleaved forests, including mixtures will be eligible for 2 thinning grants of 500/ha.

Support for Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF)

This element of WIS is now open to conifer, mixed and broadleaf forests; successful applicants are eligible for three WIS payments (750) for three separate interventions under the WIS scheme over a period of 12 years, once the work is in line with the approved transformation to CCF plan

Measure 6: Native Woodland Conservation

Increased grant available under the Public High Forest category to match that of the Private High Forest.

Access now allowed to forest fencing and tree shelter scheme.

Fencing allowances available under the Afforestation Grant & Premium Scheme now also apply to Native Woodland Scheme (Conservation)

Measure 7: Knowledge Transfer and Information Actions

Introduction of a national scheme for Forestry Knowledge Transfer Groups (KTG) focusing on the mobilisation of timber and biomass

Measure 10: Forest Genetic Reproductive Material

Seed Stand & Seed Orchard Scheme open for applications all year round.

Seed Stand Element

grant aid/ha increased to 750/ha (600 first instalment and 150 for second instalment). Objectives changed to reflect lower expectations for Seed stands and 2-3 seed orchards each year for the remaining time of the programme.

Additional fencing grant allowance. For areas susceptible to deer damage and where deemed appropriate by the Forest Service, additional support for deer fencing will be provided to protect the stand. This will be paid in accordance with the rates and densities per hectare as described in the revised Afforestation Scheme document. However, if additional deer fencing is required, this will be considered on a case by case basis.

Applications for Douglas fir, Scots pine, Western red cedar, and western hemlock will be considered

Measure 11: Forest Management Plans

A new Forest Management Plan and Certification Scheme is proposed which will support certification of privately owned forests.
Farm equipment has been damaged after a suspected arson attack at a site in rural Tyrone.

Police were called to reports of a fire at a property shortly after 4am yesterday in the Shinnagh Road area of Carrickmore.

Three sheds, a number of vehicles and pieces of plant machinery were damaged in the blaze.

Police attended the incident alongside the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service.

Tweeting about the incident, local SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan said there had been a "very serious threat posed to human life".

Detective Inspector Trevor Stevenson said: "I would appeal to anyone who was in the Shinnagh Road area at around 4am this morning and noticed any suspicious activity to contact us on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 124 of 19/02/18.

"Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime."
Just 20 years ago, Brazil exported just 6 million tonnes, less than 1pc of the world total.

Brazil could eclipse the United States as the worlds top exporter of corn within five years, ending decades of U.S. dominance over the market for one of the worlds basic foodstuffs.

Brazil is growing in stature as a global agricultural powerhouse. American farmers, who for generations have boasted of being the worlds breadbasket, now must struggle with grains prices and aging infrastructure. Washingtons efforts to renegotiate trade agreements also could affect exports.

At the same time, cheaper supplier Brazil is reaping the benefit of massive investment in export infrastructure. In 2012/13, the South American country passed the United States as top soy exporter. Three years later, Russia displaced America as No. 1 wheat supplier.

If you look down the road five, 10 years, absolutely Brazil will compete with the United States to be the No. 1 corn exporter in the world, said Michael Cordonnier, president of consultancy Soybean and Corn Adviser.

They have got the land: hundreds of millions of hectares that can be brought into production; they have got the weather; they have got the know-how. On the agronomic side, there is no limit in sight.

Billions of dollars of investments in Brazils ports, particularly in the more accessible north, have ended years of chronic delays for exporters, making shipments cheaper and more reliable and boosting buying from consumers such as China. In addition to soybeans, Brazil is the top global supplier of beef and sugar.

Brazil lags the United States in road infrastructure, but gradual improvement in that area is expected. U.S. farmers face their own challenges. A crumbling lock and dam system on Midwest rivers has hurt their reputation as the worlds most reliable grain suppliers.

The U.S. Agriculture Department projects U.S. corn exports will fall by 6.2 million tonnes, valued at around $1 billion, in the current marketing year. Brazil corn exports meanwhile are expected to rise by 1 million tonnes from a year ago, speeding Brazils ascendancy to top exporter.

If we do not look to the future, there will be a point down the road where we are going to get pushed into second place, said Fred Helms, a farmer from Illinois who recently toured Brazil and Argentina with the Illinois Farm Bureau to get a sense of the competition.

It is not fun to be number two.

Brazils warmer climate gives its farmers a longer growing season than their U.S. counterparts. Most Brazilian growers can seed corn immediately after harvesting soybeans, planting two corn crops per year. U.S. farmers must wait through winter.

That has led to a jump in Brazilian corn plantings as farmers scramble to boost soybean production to satisfy demand from China, Cordonnier said.

U.S. corn is expected to account for just 33.8 percent of global corn exports in the 2017/2018 marketing year, down from 62.6pc a decade ago, according to USDA projections. Brazils projected corn exports of 35 million tonnes would account for 22.7pc of global shipments.

Just 20 years ago, Brazil exported just 6 million tonnes, less than 1pc of the world total.

Ten years ago nobody believed the country would be able to achieve this, said Sergio Mendes, director general at Anec, Brazils national association of cereal exporters. Producers in Brazil are very efficient and things happened fast.

The most recent data from Brazils Trade Ministry showed that the country exported 3.02 million tonnes of corn in January, more than double the 1.45 million tonnes it shipped overseas a year earlier.

'Maintain a place at the table'

The U.S. briefly fell from its perch as top corn exporter in 2012/13, but that was because of drought. The next time Brazil surpasses the United States it will likely be permanent.

Changes in trade pacts could hasten the decline of U.S. market share. The United States, Canada and Mexico are renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). That deal has given U.S. farmers unfettered access to top buyer Mexico, which accounted for 23.8pc of U.S. corn shipments in the 2016/17 marketing year. Brazilian sellers are already making inroads into Mexico.

For now, the USDA forecasts the United States will remain the top corn exporter for the next decade but with a market share falling below 30pc.

We are not the only player in the world anymore, said Mark Welch, assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M University.

It is so critical that the U.S. maintain a place at the table when it comes to trade agreements and trade relationships and trading partnerships.
iStock/Thinkstock(LOS ANGELES) -- Joshua Thiede has been missing for over a week and his family is concerned for his safety.



The 29-year-old was last seen at 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 11 in downtown Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. His family hasn't heard from him since.



"This doesn't feel right," said Yokeena Jamar, Thiede's friend, to ABC station KABC in Los Angeles. "Honestly, it didn't really feel real to me until after the news stations started calling."



An investigation into Thiede's disappearance is ongoing and active, according to police.



Thiede was an Uber and Lyft driver, according to police. He drove a 2014 black Nissan Altima with license plate No. 7CSD450, police said. His car was located on Monday afternoon just east of Hollywood.



Police describe Thiede as white with brown hair, blue eyes, 6 feet tall and weighing around 170 pounds.



Janet Thiede, his mother, said on Twitter that her son, or someone using his phone, called 911 on Feb. 12 and then hung up.



"The 911 phone call was made on Monday at 2:30 p.m. We're not sure why he made that phone call," Jamar told KABC. "There was no transcript of that phone call because they did not record it. It was a hang-up call."



Thiede was using Uber and Lyft to make money while preparing to start his own footwear line to benefit homelessness, according to KABC.



"We are aware of the situation and have been working with the LAPD. We certainly hope Joshua is found safe and urge anyone who can help to call police," said a spokesman for Uber in a statement to ABC News.



Lyft has not immediately responded to ABC News' request for comment, but according to KABC, issued a statement saying, "Our concern is with Mr. Thiede's safety and wellbeing. We have been in touch with his family and law enforcement and will continue to assist in whatever way we can."



Anyone with information is urged to contact the LAPD's Missing Persons Unit at (213) 996-1800. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.



Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
The UK's Breedon Group has confirmed it's in talks to acquire all or a significant part of Northern Ireland building materials group Lagan.

But Breedon said that there's no certainty that an acquisition will proceed. Breedon is the UK's largest independent construction materials group and employs about 2,300 people.

Lagan Group, with annual sales of almost 400m, is controlled by Kevin Lagan. He also owns Lagan Homes, which is connected to the wider Lagan group.

"Breedon notes that it regularly engages with companies in its sector and it can confirm that it is in discussions with Lagan and its major shareholders in connection with a possible acquisition of a substantial part of the Lagan business," the AIM-listed Breedon Group said in a statement issued to the stock exchange yesterday.

"There can be no certainty that the possible acquisition will proceed, nor as to the terms of the possible acquisition. A further announcement will be made as appropriate."

Breedon operates the UK's largest cement plant, two import terminals, about 60 quarries, 30 asphalt plants and 200 ready-mixed concrete plants. It also has three concrete-products plants. Its quarries have reserves of more than 750 million tonnes. Breedon and a Lagan subsidiary have a joint asphalt venture in Britain.

Breedon's strategy is to continue growing organically and via acquisitions of heavyside construction materials firms in the UK, it noted.

Last year, the Irish Independent revealed that Lagan Homes plans to enter the home building market south of the border in 2018.
eir has been informed that NJJ Telecom Europe intends to announce the appointment of Carolan Lennon as chief executive officer-designate and David McRedmond as chairman-designate.

Both appointments will take effect after completion of the acquisition of a majority shareholding in eir by a consortium led by NJJ Telecom Europe.

The acquisition is expected to complete in the first half of 2018.

Ms Lennon joined eir in 2010 and is currently the managing director of eir's networks and wholesale division, open eir.

Ms Lennon currently manages the largest team of employees in eir and is leading the rollout to connect 300,000 homes in rural Ireland with fibre broadband. She has held this position since October 2016.

Ms Lennon will take up the CEO role following Richard Moats recent announcement confirming his intention to step down as CEO.

Mr Moat joined the company in September 2012 as chief financial officer and was appointed chief executive officer in November 2014.

In a statement today eir said that it would like to thank Mr Moat for his strong leadership, professionalism and commitment to eir as well as the very valuable contribution he has made to the company since joining.

Meanwhile David McRedmond is the chief executive officer of An Post and will continue in that role which he has held since October 2016.

Mr McRedmond will take over at eir from Carl Leaver who will step down as chairman after having taken up the role in September 2017.

McRedmond was previously the CEO of TV3 and prior to TV3, he was the commercial director of Eircom (now eir) and the managing director of Eircom Enterprises.
Grafton Group has agreed to pay 82.4m (93m) to buy London specialist decorator merchant Leyland SDM. The business operates 21 outlets in central London, and generated sales last year of 47.8m (54m).

The acquisition was broadly welcomed by analysts, who said Leyland would offer Grafton a number of growth opportunities.

Goodbody Stockbrokers said Grafton would be able to leverage Leyland's small store format, which is close to its customer base, with the group's own Selco network.

"The deal is expected to generate double-digit returns on a three-year view," noted Goodbody analyst Robert Eason. "In addition, given Grafton's strong balance sheet there are potentially other acquisitions in this paint/decorating segment as it is a fragmented market."

Grafton is buying Leyland on a debt-free, cash-free basis.

The Irish group, which is a member of the FTSE-250, said that the London business is one of the most recognisable decorating and DIY brands in central London, with strong relationships with trade professionals and DIY customers.

The current Leyland network was built over a 30-year period. The business is controlled by its managing director, Andrew Urban, and his family.

He previously enlisted the help of professional services firm Retail Management Consultants to tackle structural issues and "deep-rooted cultural legacies" with Leyland that were proving an immediate barrier to growth.

Mr Urban had intended to launch the Leyland chain nationwide in the UK. At the time, Leyland had 17 outlets in London. It opened four additional outlets in the past two years.

In 2016, the company generated revenue of 45.3m (51.1m) and a pre-tax profit of 6.7m (7.5m). The profit was lower than the 9.6m it made the previous year.

The company said the decline was a result of a significant investment in the business, which included the opening of two new stores and moving its warehouse and office facility to Wembley. It also introduced a new financial system.

Last year, its underlying earnings before interest, tax and amortisation was 7.3m.

Leyland's outlets are in prime London areas including Kensington High Street, Shaftesbury Avenue and Notting Hill.

Grafton CEO Gavin Slark said the acquisition of Leyland "expands our presence in a resilient segment of the merchanting market".

In Ireland, Grafton owns the Woodies DIY chain, as well as Chadwicks and Heiton Buckley. It generates about 75pc of its revenue in the UK, but also has operations in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Public relations veteran Brian Bell is stepping down as chief executive of Wilson Hartnell, but he'll remain with the business. He is taking on a new role as non-executive chairman of parent group Ogilvy & Mather.

Sharon Murphy, Wilson Hartnell's deputy CEO, will take over as CEO from April 2. Ms Murphy - from Mallow, Co Cork - joined Wilson Hartnell in 2000 and took over as head of its consumer practice in 2008 before being named deputy CEO in 2016.

She is a former chairman of the Public Relations Consultants Association, was a board member of the International Communications Consultants Organisation (2015-2017) and was named in PR Week's 'Top PR Professionals in the World' in its Global Power Book 2016.

Meanwhile, Mr Bell will continue to advise corporate clients as well as taking on new responsibilities in overseeing Ogilvy & Mather's media assets, including Wilson Hartnell, Ogilvy, 80/20 and stakes in Mindshare and Chemistry.

Former Diageo executive Peter O'Brien was appointed as head of Wilson Hartnell's corporate and public affairs practice in January, replacing Sheila Gahan, who stepped down after eight years in the role and 28 years with the firm.

She has taken on a role as a senior consultant to the agency.

Ogilvy & Mather group chief executive JP Donnelly said: "We are delighted to have someone of Sharon's calibre take the helm of Ireland's leading communications consultancy. Sharon has not only been an outstanding leader in WH, but is also one of the top performers in the Ogilvy network."
There are 12 Travelodge hotels in Ireland and its parent company, TIFCO, has 25 hotel properties with over 2,520 hotel rooms

The Goldman Sachs-backed TIFCO hotel group paid 45.7m for the purchase of the 12-hotel Travelodge business in Ireland.

That is according to accounts for TIFCO's holding company Halstonville Ltd, which also confirm that the group also paid 13.3m for the Parliament hotel and the adjacent Fashion House building in Temple Bar in Dublin in July 2016.

The group has since secured planning permission for a 77-bedroom extension to the hotel. The 45.7m paid for the Travelodge business on December 1 2016 doubled the money Richard O'Sullivan and Seamus McGowan paid for Travelodge's Irish business in 2004 in a 22.5m deal.

The two shared a 15m dividend from the business in 2011 and Mr McGowan stepped down as director in April 2014 and was replaced by Stan Cooney. Halstonville subsequently acquired the freehold of the Galway Travelodge property on December 16, 2016 for 4.3m. The note states that had the Travelodge purchase occurred on January 1, 2016, the Travelodge business would have contributed revenues of 20.1m and pre-tax profits of 5.7m.

TIFCO has 25 hotel properties with over 2,520 hotel rooms in total. The group's pre-tax profits increased marginally to 2.8m in 2016 as revenues increased by 38pc, going from 32.8m to 45.26m.

Numbers employed by the group increased from 395 to 583. The profit takes account of non-cash depreciation costs of 3.29m and interest payments of 2.8m. The group also booked a 27.47m gain on the revaluation of assets for the year.

The book value of the group's assets in 2016 increased from 94.3m to 183m through a mix of acquisitions and revaluations.
The Central Bank has directed an insurance company with 12,500 policies in Ireland to cease writing new business.

CBL Insurance Europe DAC (CBLIE) underwrites construction-related credit and financial surety insurance, as well as professional indemnity and property insurance, and travel bonding.

It is a wholly owned subsidiary of CBL Corporation Limited, which is incorporated and domiciled in New Zealand.

The Central Bank said the insurer continues to operate and that existing policies continue to remain in force.

A spokeswoman for the regulator said CBLIE has 12,500 policies in Ireland.

The development comes just over a week after the Central Bank ordered CBLIE to strengthen its capital base, reserves, and reinsurance security, given its exposure to its parent company, CBL Corporation, headed up by group CEO Peter Harris.

It said earlier this month that it expected to post a full-year after-tax 2017 loss.

The company said it needed to boost reserves to shore up its French construction insurance business.

The company said its originating Insurer, Elite Insurance Company Limited, had gone into solvent run-off in July.

In a statement yesterday, the Central Bank said it "issued a direction to CBLIE instructing it to cease writing business with immediate effect, until further notice".

"CBLIE continues to operate and existing policies continue to remain in force," the company said.

"The Central Bank has required CBLIE to write to all appointed insurance brokers and distribution partners to inform them of the direction.

The Central Bank has also requested that all appointed brokers and distribution partners, with which CBLIE is connected, inform policyholders.

"Any existing CBLIE policyholders who have concerns about their policy should contact the firm directly, or their broker (if the policy was bought through a broker)."

The Central Bank said it and CBLIE continue to work through a number of supervisory issues.

"Until such time as these are resolved to the satisfaction of the Central Bank, CBLIE has been directed to cease writing new business."

The Central Bank said CBL was registered in Ireland and authorised to write business in Ireland and on a freedom of services basis in Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Norway, Romania, Spain, Sweden and the UK.
Dublin has been ranked seventh out of 90 cities for its ability to attract, develop, and retain talent, according to the World Economic Forum. But the data highlights a significant gulf between the capital and the rest of the country.

In the 'Global Talent Competitiveness Index' (GTCI), compiled by international business school INSEAD, Dublin ranked ahead of other notable cities including San Francisco, Paris, London and Brussels.

Despite Dublin's strong performance, Ireland as a whole did not feature among the top 10 countries for talent attraction and retainment, ranking 13th out of the 119 countries in the report.

That data highlights the challenge for government in shifting high quality jobs beyond the Dublin region - a key pillar of the new Ireland 2040 planning framework.

The study looked at six factors including the 'enable' factor, which looked at the regulatory, market, business and labour landscapes, and whether they help attract people.

Other factors that the report examined included 'attract', which gauged the openness of a city or country, 'grow' which looked at how well a country or city develops its talent, while 'retain' took into account how nice it is to live in a city or country.

The final two factors that the report looked at when examining countries were 'VT skills' and 'GK skills'. These factors measured the availability of workers with vocational and technical (VT) skills and those with 'global knowledge (GK) skills'. Switzerland topped the overall ranking, followed by Singapore and the USA.

Meanwhile, when analysing cities, the report also looked at a 'be global' pillar. This additional factor examined internationalisation within a city.

Dublin performed well under headings like 'enable', 'attract' and 'be global', ranking first for its regulatory, market, business and labour landscape, and scoring a top 10 ranking for each of the other two pillars.

European cities swept the board for their ability to attract and retail talent, with the top five positions made up of Zurich, Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen, and Helsinki.

Earlier this month Patrick Collison, co-founder of Stripe, said that he was returning to Ireland to place a "big bet" on Dublin as the next European centre for technology.

"There's real engineering and tech talent, but as importantly people want to move to Dublin," he told the Irish Independent.
The head of Latvia's central bank, who's also a member of the board of the European Central Bank responsible for monetary policy and financial regulation in Ireland, is under pressure to stand down after he was detained by an anti-corruption task force.

Yesterday the European Central Bank (ECB) stopped all payments by ABLV Bank, Latvia's third biggest lender, saying its liquidity position has deteriorated after accusations by US authorities of breaching sanctions against North Korea. US authorities have accused the bank of "institutionalised money laundering".

Latvia's prime minister called on the head of the country's central bank to stand aside as the state's own anti-corruption office pursued an investigation against the central bank governor.

The unprecedented detention of ECB governing council member and Latvian central bank head Ilmars Rimsevics by the Latvian anti-graft bureau sent shock waves through Europe's regulators at the weekend.

Officials including Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis and Finance Minister Dana Reizniece-Ozola called on Mr Rimsevics, 52, to recuse himself from his duties, but didn't link the detention to the US investigation of ABLV.

"I can't imagine that the Bank of Latvia president, who was detained under very serious accusations, could work," Kucinskis told Latvian TV in an interview on Monday. A lawyer for Mr Rimsevics said the governor considers his detention "clearly illegal" and said they were preparing a complaint.

Meanwhile, ABLV Bank was blocked from making payments following an intervention from the ECB.

"This means that temporarily, and until further notice, a prohibition of all payments by ABLV Bank on its financial liabilities has been imposed, and is now in effect," the ECB said. "In recent days, there has been a sharp deterioration of the bank's financial position."

The US Treasury sought sanctions against the bank last week, accusing it of allowing clients to conduct business with North Korea in violation of United Nations sanctions that were imposed in relation to its nuclear weapons program.

"Illicit financial activity at the bank has included transactions for parties connected to US and UN-designated entities, some of which are involved in North Korea's procurement or export of ballistic missiles," the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, a bureau of the US Treasury said.

"ABLV has institutionalised money laundering as a pillar of the bank's business practices," it said, adding that bank executives and management have used bribery to influence Latvian officials.

ABLV, which did not comment on the US accusation on Monday, said it has sought funding from the Latvian Central Bank to stabilise its finances and had ample collateral.

In order to stabilise the situation in ABLV, the commercial bank has decided to mortgage part of it securities in exchange of asking 480m loan from the Bank of Latvia," ABLV Bank's spokesman told Latvian news agency LETA.

Last week, the bank said the US accusations were based on unfounded and misleading information.
Dave Eggerss 'The Monk of Mokha' is a gripping story of a Yemeni-American man who dreams of resurrecting the ancient art of Yemeni coffee

The global coffee industry presently turns over $70bn a year. And yet, a cup of coffee in most western countries still costs an average of $2.

The laborious labour process that takes place from farm to cafe means a plethora of workers are being ripped off along the way.

There can often be up to 20 individuals working across a myriad of countries, putting their own special touch to that one delicious cup of hot java.

These workers include pickers, driers, sorters, baggers, transporters, roasters, packers, grinders and brewers. But what if one individual devised a business plan that could bypass this monopolised global coffee supply chain?

Creating instead, an ethically conscious high-end coffee market that would produce two things: coffee beans of an exceptionally high standard, and, fair pay for every individual on that global assembly line.

This is the basic premise of the American writer, editor and publisher, Dave Eggers's latest work of non-fiction, The Monk of Mokha.

It tells the story of how a specialised Yemeni brand of coffee, Port of Mokha, was made available for the first time at Blue Bottle coffee shops around the United States - in June 2016 - for a staggering $16 a cup.

The expensive price didn't put consumers off though. The coffee was soon selling across four continents; won several awards; and even sold out of stock, as demand exceeded supply across the world.But Eggers's narrative delineates a story about far more than mere economies of scale, clever branding techniques, or the craftsmanship of coffee making itself.

The book's hero is Mokhtar Alkhanshali, an ambitious young American in his early 20s. Mokhtar hails from the socially deprived Tenderloin neighbourhood in San Francisco: a cultural and economic wasteland in the heart of one of the most expensive cities on earth.

Mokhtar is one of seven children from a poor Yemeni family. In this immigrant community, employment is more often about low pay, long hours and a way to simply survive, than about prestige, self-worth, or intellectual fulfilment.

It appears Mokhtar is due to follow this standard path; to labour his entire life with little recognition for work: in an economic and social system where ubiquitous class and social divisions are the norm.

And then one day something mysterious happens: Mokhtar accidentally overhears a conversation about how Yemen is the birthplace of coffee.

The more research Mokhtar carries out, the more he discovers that almost no coffee in the world presently comes from Yemen: as exports struggle in a country that has long since slid into political chaos.

Mokhtar thus sets out on a journey to his ancestral homeland: to bring this specialised brand of coffee bean back to the United States.

First he rigorously studies the coffee industry in San Francisco.Then he travels to Yemen, where he meets the primary workers on the coffee plantations: promising them fair pay, free from exploitation and injustice.

However, just as Mokhtar's business interests appear to be expanding, the young coffee seller finds himself embroiled in a chaotic war-torn failed state.

He quickly discovers that Yemen is a land where suicide bombs are the norm; Islamic terrorism is rampant; airports casually close down, and foreign embassies pack up and leave on a whim.

Yemen subsequently becomes the target of an international coalition bombing campaign, led by Saudi Arabia, backed up by a host of other Sunni Muslim nations. The narrative concludes by documenting this dangerous homeward journey.

Technically speaking, Eggers's tome is a work of non fiction. But it can be read almost as a hybrid form between a philosophical essay in political economy and the traditional novel.

It has, after all, the same attributes as the latter form: a high literary style; a cast of characters; and an omniscient third person narrator.

This unusual form works well. Primarily because the author has clearly done his research here: the book is based on three years of interviews conducted with Mokhtar. Moreover, Eggers has done his homework on the politics of Islamic fundamentalism too.

I have just one small criticism though: Eggers is clearly trying to present a subtle polemic about the hypocrisies of neoliberal market capitalism.

And yet, he never really addresses the issue head on.

A $16 cup of coffee, after all, is really only available for the super rich. And hardly a long-term solution to fixing the problems associated with the global market system.

This small inconsistency, however, shouldn't put most readers off. The Monk of Mokha eschews typical political allegiances, or reductive ideologies, to make its point.

The book is more a modern-day global odyssey of sorts; a tale about developing countries in the global south, toiling endlessly for little money, so that richer nations in the developed north can continually consume in comfort; it's a story about people who produce, versus people who consume: and the struggle for human identity and dignity in between those opposing two worlds: where injustice and hypocrisy always loom in the distance.
Cheryl will return to her native Newcastle today to open a multimillion-pound base for the Princes Trust in the region.

The former Girls Aloud star and X Factor judge will officially open the charitys centre in Blandford Square, three years after fundraising efforts began.

Staff moved to the city centre address in November and have already started working with youngsters.

My heart is so full of pride, love and hopeCheryl

Speaking as the news was announced Cheryl said: It seems like a lifetime since I started talking about opening a centre in Newcastle with the Princes Trust.

I cannot believe the dream is finally real.

Without all the support and help along the way I would never have been able to get here.

My heart is so full of pride, love and hope.

Nick Stace, chief executive of the Princes Trust, said: We are very grateful to Cheryl and proud of all that she has done to support the Princes Trust.

The new centre will enable us to support over 5,000 young people in the next three years and grow delivery of all our programmes.

Its a huge achievement and we look forward to celebrating when we officially open the centre.
Irish film Black 47 has received mostly positive reviews from international press following its premiere at the Berlin Film Festival.

Written and directed by Lance Daly, who previously helmed the beautiful Kisses and Life's a Breeze, it's the first Irish film to tackle the Great Hunger.

Set in 1847 it stars Hugo Weaving, Jim Broadbent, James Frecheville, Freddie Fox and Irish stars Stephen Rea, Moe Dunford, Sarah Greene and Bary Keoghan.

Frecheville plays Feeney, an Irish soldier who has abandoned his post with the British Army to return to his west of Ireland home on to find his mother starved to death, his brother hanged, and his sister in law and her children starving. As he sets out for revenge, a violent British soldier (Weaving) is sent to track him down.

Reviews have been mostly positive, led by Variety's Jessica Kiang who states, And so this may well be the first encounter international audiences will have had with the Great Hunger, and for them Daly delivers a resonant, beautifully performed Irish Western that benefits from the exotic sound of Irish Gaelic spoken as a living language, and the brackish majesty of cinematographer Declan Quinns wide vistas.

It earned 4 stars from theupcoming.co.uk which says it "has achieved an honest portrayal of a complex chapter of Irish history that is both intelligent and highly entertaining".

Indiewire gives the film a solid 3 stars: "While the script is far too spotty and unfocused for the film to be anything more than the sum of its parts, the setting  and the set-pieces that Daly creates from it  is enough to prevent this unlikely genre mash from being a blight of its own."

Screendaily.com, meanwhile, says, the film "will also play best at home, where the context is widely understood and appreciated and still haunts the country today". However, it adds, "Using the Great Hunger as a backdrop for a revenge western is an interesting way to exorcise old ghosts, but the end result drains pathos from the tragedy while muting The Proposition-style genre elements."

Cineuropa describes it as "well meaning if not entirely successful" while The Hollywood Reporter's review is overwhelmingly negative.

"The first reaction that Irish writer-director Lance Daly's Berlin world premiere provokes is surprise that no filmmakers have exploited this connection before. The second is disappointment at how many times Daly shoots himself in the foot with this dour, sluggish, cliche-choked thriller. Partly backed with both state film and TV funds from Ireland, Black 47 feels more like a small-screen misfire than the grand cinematic epic that this rich story deserves. Theatrical gunpowder is likely to be damp."

Black 47 is the opening gala at the Audi International Dublin Film Festival on Wednesday evening.
Counselling services for women in crisis pregnancy - which are aimed at reducing the abortion rate - are criticised for being too limited in their opening hours, despite getting 2.6m in State funding.

A review of the service, commissioned by the HSE, said the services were mainly available weekdays during office hours and not at weekends.

It suggests that this face-to-face counselling should be supplemented by a national phoneline where trained counsellors would give information on all options open to a woman.

There are counselling centres in 61 locations around the country, but the service has seen a fall-off in attendance by women in crisis pregnancy in recent years.

The services are allowed to provide non-directive counselling. But they cannot make a referral to an abortion clinic if a woman chooses that option, although she receives the names and addresses of clinics.

There were 4,662 women in crisis pregnancy availing of counselling in 2010, but this dropped to 2,570 in 2016.

The review also highlighted that around half the State funding goes to two organisations that do not provide information on abortion.

These include Cura, which is run by the Catholic Bishop's Conference, and Anew.

The review pointed out that it is not clear from the Cura website that it has religious links.

It calls for all counselling services to be clear about their religious ethos when advertising.

Cura also relies on unpaid volunteers to provide counselling and, while it provides training, the use of non-professional counsellors should be looked at, said the report.

Pills

Meanwhile, the Crisis Pregnancy Agency said the reasons more women in Ireland may be accessing abortion pills online are cost and access. For women who have made the decision to terminate a pregnancy, the cost associated with travelling from Ireland to another country for a medically supervised termination is high, it said.

Research finds that higher-earning women are more likely to travel to other countries for abortions over their lower-earning counterparts.

In 2016, 3,265 women gave Irish addresses at UK abortion services, representing a rate of 3.2 per 1,000 women. In 2001 the number was 6,673 abortions - a rate of 7.5 per 1,000 women.
IT HAD been a good St Patrick's weekend. I was the garda superintendent with responsibility for Gorey Garda District, Co Wexford, and I was not on call that particular weekend. I was also looking forward to a holiday in Sicily with my girlfriend.

As I was getting into bed, I glanced at the alarm clock and telephone on the bedside locker. No need to set the alarm this time: a lie-in was very much on the cards. The telephone was a different kettle of fish: that would never be taken off the hook, day or night.

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I was awakened from a deep sleep by the sound of the phone ringing, and glanced apprehensively at the alarm clock, which indicated it was 4.45am. Past experience would suggest that this was trouble. Garda Tony Ryan, of Arklow Garda Station, was on the phone. "Superintendent Flynn, you had better get up to Jack White's straight away. Tom Nevin has been shot, and Catherine was tied up."

Is he dead? I enquired. Yes, came the quick reply.

En route to Jack White's Inn, I tried to grasp the magnitude of Garda Ryan's message. I instinctively knew that this investigation would be a minefield. Catherine Nevin, the wife of the murdered man, had crossed swords with many of the local gardai, and had made serious unfounded allegations against a number of gardai.

Not surprisingly, relations between Catherine and some Arklow-based gardai were little short of poisonous. However, the situation with regard to some high-ranking officers in An Garda Siochana was entirely different. She regarded some of those, especially former Inspector Tom Kennedy, as very good friends of hers.

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When Catherine and Tom Nevin first took possession of Jack White's Inn, relations between them and the local gardai could not have been better. It was known as a 'garda house' -- at least until Catherine threw a cat among the pigeons with her complaints.

This was the situation I knew awaited me on March 19, 1996. Adding to Catherine's distrust of the local gardai was her distrust of myself. She had unsuccessfully tried to get me onside with drink and meals, but all to no avail.

Gardai Martin McAndrew and Paul Cummiskey, who were the first gardai to arrive at the scene, met me on arrival. A quick look at the front exterior of the premises didn't reveal any noticeable signs of a forced entry. The sounds of a woman moaning were clearly audible. I entered and saw Catherine Nevin in a room just off the hall.

Her attitude was certainly not what I had expected from a woman who had undergone an ordeal. First, she just stared at me with a contemptuous look. Aware of Catherine's feelings towards me, there wasn't any point in trying to engage her in conversation. I sympathised with her, and asked if I could be of any assistance. She continued to stare at me, and did not reply.

There was something surreal about Catherine's behaviour, which had nothing to do with her obvious distrust of me. She was displaying no emotions or grief, and was certainly not in shock. Most strikingly, there was no visible indication that this was a woman who was shattered by the murder of her beloved husband.

Another example of Catherine's strange behaviour was her later request to be given a phone, as she wished to make an urgent phone call. She shouted: "Get me a phone, get me a f***ing phone, now, at once, do you understand?" She was given a phone and made her call.

Gardai McAndrews and Cummiskey described the scene when they arrived at 4.45am. Both gardai saw Catherine behind the hall door, sitting on the ground with her hands tied behind her back. She was wearing a purple-coloured silk nightshirt and white panties. In a low, barely audible voice, she said: "He came into the bedroom. He had a knife, and a hood over his head."

Without any effort, McAndrew released a blue dressing-gown belt tied around Catherine's wrists. Much more difficult to remove were coloured cloth headbands, also tied around her wrists. Cummiskey got a knife and cut the ties. He noticed red marks on her wrists when they were removed. There was also a nylon stocking hanging loosely around her neck, and this had been holding a pair of black panties that had been used as a gag.

Catherine's bedroom is a large room. The couple hadn't slept in the same bedroom for years. The main centre light was on. Beside the bed, I saw a copy of the Sunday Independent. Prescription drugs in large quantities were noticeable on the bedside locker, and beside it was a half-full glass, containing what looked like wine. The room was certainly untidy and unkempt, but if the room had been gone over thoroughly by the intruders, it would have looked like a rubbish heap. I felt that if ever there was a contrived scene, this was it.

Garda Joe Collins made notes of what Catherine said that morning. The significance and importance of the notes taken during this interview cannot be overstated. As the investigation progressed, many of Catherine's utterances would come to be seen as bare-faced lies. When recounting events later to other people, she would contradict her version of events as given that morning.

Detective Collins and Detective Sergeant Fergus O'Brien, of Wicklow, returned to Jack White's Inn later that day to take a written statement from Catherine Nevin. Her attitude to this reasonable request was amazing: "I gave you a statement today." Collins informed her that what he had taken earlier that day were notes regarding her account of events. What he now wanted was to get this in the form of a written statement.

She replied: "I will make no statement or sign anything. It's dangerous to sign statements, I know. I want a guarantee from a superior officer -- and not from Superintendent Flynn, because I don't trust him -- that my statement won't turn up on the desk in Arklow, to have it doctored, the same as the other statement. I don't trust anybody in Arklow station -- present company excluded."

On the advice of her solicitor, she eventually relented, and made a statement on March 20, 1996.

As I left Jack White's the morning of the murder, secure in the knowledge that there had been no interference with the scene, I could not dismiss the possibility that Catherine Nevin was a suspect.

An interesting visitor to the pub that morning was former garda inspector Tom

Kennedy. I had known him and, out of curiosity as to what he would say, spoke to him briefly about the murder.

"Terrible affair, Pat," he said. "Just heard it on the news. That poor woman, what they have done to her, such a decent honourable woman." There was no mention of poor Tom, whose cold, dead body lay just a few yards away.

Catherine's false allegations ON July 13, 1992, Chief Superintendent Pat Crummy, Wexford, requested my presence at his office as a matter of urgency. He informed me that Catherine Nevin had made written complaints about a number of gardai.

The complaints were of a criminal nature; if proven, they could have dire consequences, including dismissal. One of the complaints made by Catherine was of indecent assault on her. She claimed that on the night of August 26, 1991, after midnight, a named garda "came up behind me in the bar when I was getting a whiskey for him and pinned me to the ice-maker. I was aware he had himself exposed. He pulled my skirt up and tried to force himself into me".

(The garda involved at all times denied this allegation, and when the relevant investigation file was sent to the DPP, the DPP directed that there should be no criminal proceeding against him.)

Where was Tom and the staff when this allegedly brazen and serious indecent assault was taking place? Tom was, in fact, just a few feet away in the kitchen doing the books, as was his routine at the close of the day's business. The staff would have been cleaning up or having a drink.

On September 5, 1992, a local couple met Catherine at The Tap, a local pub. Catherine was very drunk, and informed the man that she had been in Dublin giving statements about "the other bastard, (the garda against whom the complaint of sexual assault was made) for what he has done . . . he will never wear a uniform again. If only the locals knew the sums of money I had paid to him for not summonsing locals leaving Jack White's with beer on them. I knew about the Protestants he tried to get money from for different things. He will go down for life."

Catherine had also made allegations of corruption against this garda and another garda. The untrue allegations led to the two gardai being suspended but they were eventually reinstated and are still serving, one in the traffic corps and the other as a detective.

What the staff saw

The staff at Jack White's Inn were to supply information that would prove to be of great assistance to the investigation into the murder. They were mostly young girls, many of whom had only temporary employment.

Some of the girls, fearful of Catherine's legendary temper, were somewhat apprehensive about supplying written statements. However, in the end, none of them refused to supply a statement.

Catherine would be portrayed as a woman with a fearful temper, and a dangerous lust for the opposite sex. As the pub business got back to near-normality (after the murder), Catherine's mind was already in overdrive, and she was being unusually kind and helpful to the girls. She was going out of her way to get them on her side, aware that they would soon be interviewed by gardai about events leading up to, and after, the murder.

There is no doubt that she was fearful of what damaging disclosures the staff might make about her. They had suffered untold mental stress because of the treatment meted out to them by Catherine, who seemed to delight in humiliating them, especially if any of her so-called celebrity friends were within earshot. The younger girls in particular were singled out by her. Now they had stories to tell, the contents of which could, and would, seriously trouble Catherine.

They had seen her treatment and hatred of Tom Nevin, her boasts that they were no longer married, her extra-marital affairs, her utterances that the pub would be sold and her dangerous temper.

She asked the staff daily: "Were the Guards talking to you?" "What questions did they ask about me?" "Did you make a statement?" "What was in it?"

Eileen Byrne worked in Jack White's in 1993 as a cleaner for about six months. She left because of the unkind way Catherine treated the staff. She said tension was always evident between Tom and Catherine.

The night after Tom Kennedy's retirement party, Byrne started work at 8am and saw four or five gardai drinking at the bar with Catherine. Tom was behind the bar and was agitated. He said to Eileen: "This will end in tears."

Elaine McDonagh outlined how Catherine had thrown a knife at her in the kitchen, but fortunately it had missed her. Catherine was angry about the fact that the plate-warmer hadn't been turned on and the food was being served on cold plates.

Brendan McGraynor recalled receiving a request over the phone from a lady about two or three weeks before St Patrick's weekend in 1996, seeking bed and breakfast for that holiday weekend. Catherine instructed him to refuse the booking as they were booked out. This was untrue: no bookings had been taken.

Caroline Strahan made a very interesting statement. She started work at the pub in September 1991, and stayed two years.

She said: "In the summer of 1992, two guards from Wicklow came looking for Tom Kennedy. (This was now retired local Garda Inspector Tom Kennedy). I knew he was up with Catherine and went up to tell her. When I knocked and opened the door, I saw Tom Kennedy in the bed with her; they were under the covers and Tom had nothing on top. Catherine started panicking, came down after me and went in behind the bar."

Caroline Strahan made another written statement in which she states: "Tom and Catherine Nevin never got on; they were sleeping in separate bedrooms. I saw them, Kennedy and Catherine, in her bed loads of times. Catherine used to ring down and I'd bring breakfast up to them. They didn't care that I'd seen them. Tom Nevin knew this was going on but he never said anything."

Tom Kennedy at all times, including in court under oath, denied ever having a sexual relationship with Catherine Nevin.

Adrienne Fisher made a statement on April 19, 1996. She worked at the pub for two and a half years. She felt that Tom Nevin was for some unknown reason afraid of Catherine, as when they had one of their many arguments, he was always the one to back down.

Catherine also boasted about a boyfriend she had in Northern Ireland.

Adrienne Fisher highlights Catherine's republican tendencies and loathing for English people, which she once displayed on seeing English customers in the bar, who were complaining about the food. Catherine said: "Are those f***ing English bastards coming over here complaining? Do they think they own the f***ing place?"

Catherine McGraynor worked as a waitress/chef part time at the pub for two years, in 1995 and 1996. In her statement, she recalls that at around midnight on March 18, a taxi arrived to take the staff to a disco in Arklow. Catherine informed them that no one was staying overnight at the pub. This was the first time that Catherine had ever issued such a command to them.

Bernie Fleming worked at the pub full-time from March 8, 1995. She stated: "Tom was well aware Catherine was having affairs with a number of men. She did this openly and they would sleep in her room." She added that she had seen Tom Kennedy in Catherine's bedroom and she also named another man she had seen there on another occasion.

Anne Marie Finnerty, a niece of Tom Nevin's, called to the pub in August 1995. During a conversation, Catherine informed her: "We're thinking of selling the pub, in fact it will probably be sold before Christmas." Tom and herself were, she stated, separating.

Una Doogue worked at the pub from March until September 1994, and again during the summer of the following

year. One day Catherine stated: "There are two ways Tom Nevin would kill himself: it would be either in the car with drink taken, or during the course of a break-in because he would have drink in him."

Quite a prophetic statement, and one no doubt Catherine thought the gardai would be gullible enough to swallow.

Jane Murphy worked as a cleaner for 10 years at the pub. Of all the staff, Jane, or 'Jeanie', as she was generally known, was the one who could best give an accurate account of Catherine and Tom and the happenings at the pub over the years. About four years before the murder, she recalled Catherine and Tom having a flaming row.

"They were going to Spain on holidays, and their passports couldn't be found. But in truth, they could have by Tom, who had hid them because he didn't want to go on holidays with Catherine." Jeanie knew where the passports were, got them, and handed them to the feuding couple. Tom wasn't amused.

According to Jeanie, Catherine gave Jessica Hunter, another staff member, 'a fierce time' for telling the gardai about her various partners. She didn't sack her because Jessica "will give them more f***ing information".

Jessica had been interviewed and made the first of four statements on March 19, 1996. Approximately one year before the murder of Tom, Jeanie saw another member of the staff pick up Catherine's knickers and bra from the crib area of the pub. This was in the early morning, as they were cleaning up. A pair of gent's underpants was found beside them.

Catherine asked that morning if her knickers and bra had been found, and Jeanie told her that she had found the underpants too. Catherine didn't seem unduly concerned, but instructed that Tom was not to be told.

Tom Nevin and Catherine fought regularly, even up to the time of his murder. She heard Catherine offering to buy out Tom's share of the pub, but he was having none of it. One of Catherine's favoured verbal attacks during their many rows was: "Go back to John of God's, you old bastard." (Tom had been a patient in John of God's in Dublin in relation to his drinking.)

The staff members, young and old, liked Tom Nevin, who had always been kind, considerate and understanding. They were angry at the savage manner in which Tom had been removed from the face of the earth, and anything they could do or say which might assist in righting this terrible wrong would be done by them, even if this meant putting Catherine in the frame.

Jessica Hunter was employed at the pub up to and including the date of the murder, and stayed in a room a floor above Catherine's. She knew -- as did all the other staff members -- that Tom and Catherine slept in separate bedrooms.

Working with and for Tom was easy and pleasant, but not so with Catherine, whom she described as moody. Catherine, she felt, was very uneasy and edgy the day of the murder, as though she knew that something was going to happen.

Catherine began applying pressure on Jessica after she had made statements to the gardai. This came to a head in May 1996, when Jessica walked out. Catherine had intimated to some of the staff that a garda had taken Jessica out to dinner and paid her 35 to make a statement. Catherine would repeatedly say to Jessica: "He (named garda) is looking for you again to go out for a meal." This was another figment of Catherine's imagination.

Elaine Butler got a job at Jack White's Inn in June 1995. She got to know Catherine very well -- in fact, so well that the boss was describing to Elaine intimate details of her marriage with Tom Nevin. Tom, she declared, was an alcoholic, and she was happy that their marriage was over, and that she was no longer married to him.

Elaine recalled one morning seeing a large wound on Tom Nevin's forehead, heavily bandaged. Catherine began hassling Elaine after she had made a statement to the guards, and she left at the end of July 1995.

Perhaps the statement taken from Agnes Phelan, mother of Genesse, who worked at Jack White's up to the date of the murder, most clearly illustrates Catherine's criminal intent towards her husband. At 6pm on March 18, 1996, Mrs Phelan phoned the pub and informed Catherine that her daughter was ill and unable to work that day. Mrs Phelan told gardai that in the course of the conversation, Catherine said she was going to "f***ing sort Tom Nevin out". Some hours later, Tom Nevin, to use Catherine's eloquent English, was "f***ing sorted out".

Tom Nevin did on occasions drink to excess, and Catherine would have everyone believe that he was a raging alcoholic. Using all her talents of persuasion, as well as her relentless taunting of Tom about him being an alcoholic, Tom ended up as a patient in St John of God's Hospital in Stillorgan, Dublin.

A patient there during Tom's stay recalls Tom and his wife clearly. His account of Catherine makes interesting reading. He described Tom as a very quiet man, and not very expressive. They became good friends and had many open and frank conversations. On Catherine's visits, he said she treated Tom "like dirt or a piece of shit".

When she called -- and that was seldom -- it would be in relation to the business: for Tom to do the books, the VAT returns, and so on. She showed no interest in Tom or his well-being and did not get involved in the family days or the open meetings, though normal procedure dictates that the spouse of a patient should participate.

During one of their conversations, Tom told him that he was happy with the direction the business was taking, but was also convinced that Catherine was trying to get his share of the pub. He was also deeply upset with her sexual activities and was convinced that she was having an affair, stating: "Anybody could have her but me."

'Catherine and Friends -- Inside the Investigation into Ireland's Most Notorious Murder' by Pat Flynn, retired Garda Superintendent who was in charge of the investigation of the murder of Tom Nevin, is published by Liberties Press, rrp 12.99, available from tomorrow from bookshops nationwide, or free Irish delivery if you order online from www.LibertiesPress.com
A SCHOOLBOY, who suffered a severe crush injury to the tip of his left ring finger, has accepted a 35,000 damages settlement against his school.

Ivan Daly, counsel for 13-year-old David Tyrrell told the Circuit Civil Court Tuesday that the injury occurred in the school gym when a piece of gym equipment was dropped on the boys finger.

Mr Daly, who appeared with Ferrys Solicitors for the boy, said the accident happened on September 21st 2015 when David, of Fairlawn Road, Finglas South, Dublin, was aged 11.

He had been examining a piece of gym equipment at the school during a school open day despite having been warned with other school children not to interfere with gym equipment.

Mr Daly told Circuit Court President, Mr Justice Raymond Groarke, that David had been brought to Tallaght Hospital but later transferred to Our Ladys Hospital in Crumlin where a repair of his finger had been carried out under general anaesthetic. David had required two further operations, one by a plastic surgeon.

Medical reports revealed that David had suffered an obvious deformity which was obvious at conversational distance. He still suffered some altered sensation and cold sensitivity.

Mr Daly said The board of Management of Pobalscoil Iosolde/Palmerstown Community School, Co Dublin, had earlier offered a settlement of 27,500 which he had considered on the low side.

He told Judge Groarke that the case had been adjourned to allow further negotiations with the school authorities who had now increased their offer to 35,000 which he was recommending to the court.
A juror in the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank CEO David Drumm has been released from duty after it emerged that she knew someone who had been mentioned in the case.

The numbers on the enlarged jury have now dropped from 15 to 14 as a result.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard the juror in question had brought the issue to the attention of the other jury members who alerted the judge through the foreman.

There are now 10 men and four women remaining on the jury.

Legislation introduced in 2013 provided for enlarged juries of 15 instead of the standard 12. The provision of effectively spare members is to facilitate criminal trials that, like Mr Drumms, are expected to last longer than two months.

Mr Drumm (51) is pleading not guilty to conspiring to defraud Anglo investors in 2008 by dishonestly creating the impression that the banks deposits were 7.2bn larger than they were.

He is alleged to have conspired with former Anglo officials Willie McAteer and John Bowe, as well then-CEO of Irish Life and Permanent (ILP), Denis Casey, and others.

Mr Drumm also denies false accounting, by providing misleading information to the market.

The case centres on a series of circular billion-euro inter-bank transactions between Anglo and ILP, routed through ILP-owned Irish Life Assurance (ILA). The money was placed back in Anglo and treated as customer deposits, which are considered a better measure of a banks strength. Mr Drumm admits he authorised the transactions but denies there was anything dishonest or fraudulent in them.

Before evidence resumed today, the foreman passed a note up to the judge which was then handed to barristers for the prosecution and defence.

Judge OConnor said it was the correct thing to do to bring it to my attention and asked the jury to leave.

When the jury returned, Judge OConnor asked the juror who appears to have some connection to identify herself. The remaining jurors were asked to stand out while the judge spoke to the juror in question.

When they returned, the judge said we have an extra chair and explained that she had released one of the jurors from her service on the jury for the reason contained in the note, which was that somebody she was acquainted with who was referred to during the proceedings.

Company Secretary Natasha Mercer, who had been in the witness box yesterday, resumed evidence.

Mary Rose Gearty SC, prosecuting, said Ms Mercer had outlined in her statement that she had had some correspondence with Gary McGann about the minutes that she had drafted from the November 18, 2008 audit committee meeting.

Mr McGann, a non-executive director had chaired that meeting. Her draft included a reference to the ILP transaction details being outlined and that both the Financial Regulator and Ernst and Young (the external auditor) were aware of it.

On February 18, 2009, she was in contact with Mr McGann and in an e-mail shown to the jury, she said she did not recall a comment re normal balance sheet management although this may have been said.

Mr McGann replied that he had tried to present the words to the best of his recollection and he preferred to stick to his language which captured the essence of what was said, I believe.

An audit results report 2008 said that the accounts presented a true and fair view and they had received adequate information.

A statement of the directors responsibilities of December said the directors confirmed that to the best of their knowledge, they had complied with their requirements in preparing the financial statementsto give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the bank and group.

Having attended all the board meetings in 2008, Ms Mercer said the September ILP transaction was only discussed at the November 22 board meeting.

Her minutes from the November 18 audit committee meeting that stated the ILP transaction had been explained by Colin Golden, but this was later amended by Mr McGann with the word explained crossed out and referred to inserted.

She agreed with Ms Gearty that she understood why Mr McGann made this change as there had been no substantial discussion of the transaction.

The jury heard there were two audit committee meetings on January 12 and 13, 2009 and the minutes did not show that the ILP transaction was discussed.

The transaction was discussed at the January 13, 2009 meeting of the board, in which Matt Moran explained in detail the circumstances and nature of it.

In cross examination, Ms Mercer told Brendan Grehan SC, defending, that one of the roles of the audit committee was in overseeing management.

The committees terms of reference stated that a role in financial reporting was to monitor the integrity of the financial statements and to ensure that they complied with the law.

Under the heading of Internal Controls, Mr Grehan said the audit committees functions included reviewing procedures for detecting and preventing fraud.

There was also a section dealing with whistleblowers, he said.

Ms Mercer agreed with Mr Grehan that there had never been any controversy around the minutes of other meetings like there was about the minutes of the meeting on November 18.

She agreed there was a huge amount of discussion back and forth about what should be recorded in the minutes of that meeting, specifically about the ILP transaction.

Mr Grehan suggested she had been somewhat caught in the crossfire.

Ms Mercer said she would not use that term, but she did not have any pre-knowledge of these events as others did, so she was writing in a vacuum.

Mr Grehan asked if it would be fair to say that in January 2009, a controversy blew up about the transaction and this prompted people to have significant differences in their interpretations of what happened at the meeting.

Ms Mercer agreed.

This afternoon, Mr Grehan continued to cross examine Mr Mercer about amendments made to the minutes of the audit committee meeting of November 18, 2008.

Ms Mercer said she made a first draft of the minutes in January 2009 and sent them to CFO Matt Moran, who sent them on to senior finance managers Colin Golden and Kevin Kelly.

Is it normal that you were sending the minutes that you made by review for people who were at the meeting? Mr Grehan asked.

No, Ms Mercer replied.

Mr Moran had specifically asked her to send them to him, she said.

There was no reference to the ILP transactions in the first draft and Ms Mercer said Mr Golden and Mr Kelly phoned her and asked her why she had made no reference to customer accounts which is what the transactions were being described as.

Ms Mercer said she was trying to write the minutes with the benefit of what she knew then and there had been no material discussion of the issue at the meeting. She did not believe it was particularly relevant.

On February 12 she accepted what the others had said to her, that the issue was raised at the meeting because she had gone back to her notes and saw it had been discussed. She decided it was appropriate to include it in the minutes.

I made reference to the fact that the note (transaction) was discussed and details were outlined and the regulator was brought through it and Ernst and Young were aware, Ms Mercer told the jury.

On February 13, Gary McGann got back to her after reviewing the minutes and suggested some changes. He seemed to have had some discussion with Michael Jacob, another non-executive director who had been at the meeting.

Ms Mercer recalled the wording did not reflect what was in her handwritten note.

Mr McGann had not felt there had been a discussion about the transactions and he wanted to add in a comment about balance sheet management and it being normal, Ms Mercer said.

On February 17, 2009, Donal OConnor, who had replaced Sean Fitzpatrick as Anglo Chairman emailed her to say that his recollection of what was said at the meeting was in accord with Mr McGann and Mr Jacob.

Mr OConnor then sent an e-mail of his recollection of events in chronological order. In it, he stated he had been on a conference call from Australia for the November 18, 2008 meeting.

He said the phone line had been poor and he had no background in banking and was not aware of the significance of customer deposits or the round the houses issue.

He had not received a document about the transactions that had been emailed to someone in Sydney for him, but recalled that when it was read out, he butted in and asked: is this window dressing?

Finance Director Willie McAteer, he recalled in the e-mail, said it was normal balance sheet management.

Ms Mercer told Mr Grehan she did not recall any discussion about window dressing or normal balance sheet management.

Ms Mercer said she would have spoken to Mr OConnor either before or after the email was sent and in the conversation, she was not under any pressure to do anything.

It was cordial and they both explained their conditions, she said.

She accepted it was up to the chairman of the committee to agree that the minutes were accurate.

Effectively, Donal OConnor is emailing you as Chairman and telling you he had a discussion with two other people who were at the meeting, Mr McGann and Mr Jacob and they are all agreeing what is to be said and they are telling you in no uncertain terms in this e-mail, Mr Grehan said.

Yes, Ms Mercer replied.

The court heard the final version of the minutes was completed on April 9, 2009. Of the ILP transactions, it stated: it was confirmed that these were in the nature of normal year-end balance sheet management activity and the regulator and Ernst and Young had no issues with them.

The trial continues.
A former equestrian centre manager who was "renowned in the world of horses" before pleading guilty to the possession of over 6 million worth of cannabis resin, has had his six-and-a-half year prison sentence cut to five years on appeal.

Raymond Molloy (55) previously of Hollywood, Co Wicklow spent 11 years on the run, living and working in the Isle of Wight, before being extradited back to Ireland last year and pleading guilty to possession of the drugs for sale or supply.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that, as part of a surveillance operation, gardai stopped a van driven by Molloy in Coolock and recovered 498kg of cannabis resin with a street value at the time of 6.34 million.

Molloy, who has no previous convictions, had been approached by a number of individuals, who proposed establishing the Slade Valley Equestrian Centre. A number of threats had been issued to Molloy and his horses because of his in depth knowledge of the industry.

Sentencing him to six-and-a-half years in prison in May 2017, Judge Martin Nolan said Molloy was mature enough when the offence occurred to decide whether or not to involve himself in the operation.

Opening an appeal against the severity of his sentence today, Molloys barrister Orla Crowe SC, said her client was a very unusual offender who made no gain in his thirty minute involvement in this calamitous event. She said Molloy had made a catastrophic error of judgement as he was under considerable pressure.

Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Darragh Hayes BL, said although Molloy had a limited involvement in the event, he had an essential role and he had received a significant discount for his mitigation.

The Court of Appeal reduced the six-and-a-half year sentence to five years today following a successful appeal.

Giving judgement in the three-judge court, Mr Justice John Edwards said there were two grounds of appeal put forward by Molloy; severity of sentence and insufficient account taken by the trial judge for mitigation.

Mr Justice Edwards said the appellants involvement was limited to thirty minutes and there was no evidence that he gained financially from the transaction. Molloy was not involved in the overall offence and had been put under considerable pressure to take part, the court heard.

Furthermore, he said the effect on Molloys health had been profound and the court accepted he had shown deep remorse. He noted Molloys mitigating factors which included his guilty plea, the absence of previous convictions, his mental health difficulties, his remorse, his cooperation and he was at no risk of reoffending.

Mr Justice Edwards said no headline figure had been nominated by the sentencing judge before applying a discount for mitigating factors present. He said it was clear in constructing the sentence that the judge had not followed the Court of Appeal's best practice and if the sentence had been better explained this court might have been able to uphold it.

He said for the trial judge to have sentenced Molloy to six and a half years, he would have had to have started somewhere north of nine years, which the Court of Appeal considered too high. The appropriate headline sentence was seven and a half years, he said.

Mr Justice Edwards, who sat with Mr Justice Alan Mahon and Mr Justice John Hedigan, said the court would quash the sentence and resentence Molloy to five years in prison. There was no need to suspend any part of the sentence as Molloy did not need to be rehabilitated as he was unlikely to offend again, he added.
A nine-year-old child, who had to be cut from her fathers car by firemen following an accident, has been awarded 45,000 damages in the Circuit Civil Court.

Barrister Shane English told Circuit Court President, Mr Justice Raymond Groarke, that Isabella Osborne had immediately been put in a neck brace and had full spinal precautions for about four hours.

Mr English, who appeared with Gore and Grimes Solicitors for Isabella, said she had suffered a suspected spinal neck injury but x-rays revealed there had been no fractures. The MPV driven by her father Christopher Osborne, of Glen Ellen Park, Swords, Co Dublin, had been rear ended on the Swords  Ashbourne Road.

She had suffered significant pain with decreased range of movement of her neck and had difficulties with her right shoulder and thoracic spine.

Mr English said Isabella, who sued motorist Noel McNally, Clonard Street, Balbriggan, Co Dublin, had to give up her hobbies of horse riding, ballet and swimming, but had renewed horse riding by January 2013.

She had suffered a mid-right rotator cup muscle injury which had healed with physiotherapy but had been left with mild joint pain.

Mr English told Judge Groarke in the Circuit Civil Court that the case had been before him in October last when the defendants insurers had made a settlement offer of 30,000. Both he and the court had some reservations as Isabella still had some problems with her shoulder.

The case had been adjourned to facilitate a further review of Isabellas injuries by Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mr Hannan Mullett who reported she still had ongoing discomfort in the area of her right shoulder blade.

He told the court Isabella had developed an element of scapula dyskinesia, a painful disorder of the shoulder blade and a condition that was seen with some frequency in such patients.

Mr Mullett said it was reasonable to assume that the development of the scapula dyskinesia was due to the accident.

Mr English said the defendants had increased their settlement offer to 45,000 and he recommended the courts acceptance of it. Judge Groarke approved the settlement.
Convicted murderer Graham Dwyer's High Court challenge against the State over the use of mobile phone records during his trial is due to start today.

Dwyer (45) was jailed for life in 2015 for the murder of Elaine O'Hara. In High Court proceedings, Cork-born Dwyer claims certain provisions of the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011 breach his rights to privacy under the Constitution, the European Convention on Human Rights and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

An EU Directive underlying the 2011 Act was struck down by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in 2015. Dwyer's case, which was commenced shortly after his conviction, is understood to raise important issues of law.

The case, expected to last for approximately two weeks, will be heard by Mr Justice Tony O'Connor. Qualified architect Dwyer will not be present at the hearing. His action is against the Garda Commissioner, the DPP, Ministers for Justice and Communications, Ireland and the Attorney General, which oppose his claims.
GRAHAM DWYER wants the High Court to strike down provisions of the law that allowed data from mobile phones go be used by prosecutors as evidence during his trial for the murder of Elaine O'Hara.

Dwyer (45) was sentenced to life imprisonment in April 2015 after a jury at the Central Criminal Court found him guilty of Ms O'Hara's murder.

Dwyer, who denies killing the childcare worker, has brought a challenge against provisions of 2011 Communications Act which allowed Gardai investigating Ms O'Hara's death to obtain and use certain data, including phone records, as evidence against him during his lengthy trial.

He claims provisions of that Act are unconstitutional and breached his rights, including his right to privacy.

On Tuesday, Dwyer's lawyers told Mr Justice Tony O'Connor that certain provisions of the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011 Act breach his Constitutional rights, European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and rights under the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union to privacy and protection of his personal data.

Dwyer seeks various declarations in proceedings against the Garda Commissioner, DPP, Ministers for Justice and Communications, Ireland and the Attorney General.

Dwye's case centres on the European Courts of Justice ECJ's decision in 2014 to strike down the EU directive underlying the 2011 Act.

The State parties reject all of Dwyer's arguments.

Dwyer seeks declarations including that provisions of the 2011 Act are incompatible with the EU Charter and are repugnant to Articles 40.3.1, 40.3.2 and 40.6.1 of the Irish Constitution.

He also seeks a declaration that provisions of the 2011 Act are incompatible with the State's obligations under Articles 8 and 10 of the ECHR.

He further seeks damages and an order for his legal costs.

Dwyer was not present at the hearing, and is currently incarcerated at the Midlands Prison.

Remy Farrell SC, for Dwyer, said his client "is not seeking to challenge his conviction in these proceedings", but that was very much "a live issue" in Dwyer's appeal against his conviction.

Opening the case, Mr Farrell said in 2014 the ECJ's held that Directive 2006/24/EC which concerns the retention of data was invalid.

The directive was designed to harmonise member state's laws concerning the retention of certain data on electronic communication services on communication networks, such as mobile phone and internet records.

It sought to ensure that all data was available for the prevention, investigation, detection and prosecution of serious crime and required service providers to retain traffic and location data necessary to identify the subscriber or user.

In 2011 the Communications (Retention of Data) Act was enacted by the State.

This Mr Farrell said this was done to give effect to the EU Directive. It permitted a senior Garda to require a service provider to give the gardai any retained data believed to be required for a probe of a serious offence punishable by imprisonment of a period of 5 years or more.

In 2014 the ECJ found in a case called Digital Rights Ireland Ltd vs The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and others that the 2006 EU Directive was invalid. .

Counsel said the 2011 Act suffers from the same flaws as the directive.

Counsel said that his client has "a fundamental difficulty" with the "indiscriminate regime" under the act allowing everyone's data to be retained for two years. He added that they had complaints about the access to this data, particularly the lack of independent oversight in relation to accessing the data.

Counsel said the decision to arrest and charge Dwyer in October 2013 was based to a significant extent on the analysis of the data disclosed to the Gardai by mobile phone providers under the 2011 Act.

The data analysis concerned the nature of contact between certain phones, including a phone used by Dwyer and "two phones attributed to him by the prosecution," counsel said.

The evidence included dates, times, who was contacting whom and if it was a text message, and which networks various contacts were routed through, counsel said.

The information allowed the prosecution tell the jury the phones were in certain places at certain times, and the location when the calls and texts were made and received.

The case continues.
Simon Parsons and Michelle Daly holding a letter they received before their car was seized by the Dublin County Sheriff for non payment of Tolls. Picture credit; Damien Eagers

A Dublin motorist's action to set aside a judgement which found him liable for 13,000 in unpaid M50 toll charges and led to his car being seized will be heard in September, a judge has ordered.

Simon Parsons of New Haven Bay, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin, had been the subject of a Dublin District Court ruling in October 2016 following an action by the National Roads Authority (NRA). His car was also seized as a result of the order.

He was not present to defend that case leading to a judgement in default amounting to 13,208 plus 1,004 in legal costs. However, Parsons claims he does not owe that much.

On Dec. 6, 2016. his Opel Corsa was seized by the Dublin County Sheriff and sold weeks later to cover some of the money sought by the NRA.

The sheriff had thought he would get 5,000 for the car but it was sold for 1,100. The involvement of the sheriff also operated as loss for the NRA, the court also heard.

Thomas Rice BL (instructed by Pierse Fitzgibbon Solicitors) for the NRA told the court that Mr Parsons has a motion to set aside the civil judgement and it could heard in September. The man was not present but his solicitor would be notified, Mr Rice said.

Earlier counsel said he had been furnished with Mr Parsonss receipts.

At a previous stage, his solicitor Sean Foley read his clients affidavit into the court record which said Mr Parsons needed his car to bring his partner who suffers from cerebral palsy to medical appointments.

The court heard he suffered from depression and a psychiatric report was furnished to the judge. He was not able to use a computer and he argued that the system discriminated against people with limited ability.

In his affidavit he also argued that the NRA was profiteering by allowing charges to amount to his level. He also claimed that he paid the tolls at a Topaz garage and he had all his receipts for every time he used the M50 which incurs a 3.10 charge.

In response, Mr Rice BL, for the NRA, had asked the judge to note that Parsons had been served with a civil claim notice in July 2016.

He did not respond to the proceedings and important legal documents and voluminous correspondence from the NRA was ignored until after his car was seized in December that year.

Counsel said the NRA has reviewed their footage and can say that Parsons paid for 207 journeys on the M50 but had not paid for 210 trips on the motorway.

Mr Rice had said that 140,000 motorists use the motorway and having a pay-station on it defeated its purpose.

Judge Brennan had said that Parsons had sat on his hands until his car was seized.

The psychological report was also based on one meeting with Parsons and there was no IQ score, he has noted. However, Judge Brennan said he was allowing Parsons to produce his documentation to be inspected by the NRA.
The judge threw out McDonaghs claim which meant the six other claims collapsed with it and were dismissed

The family of a man, whose killer ate parts of his body, has been granted the transcript from the murder trial due to a concern about the care the killer received from the HSE.

Saverio Bellante was found not guilty by reason of insanity of murdering Tom O'Gorman (39) at the house they shared in Castleknock, Dublin, in January 2014. Mr Bellante (38), who is originally from Italy, is currently detained indefinitely at the Central Mental Hospital.

Transcript

Ciaran Craven SC applied for a copy of the trial transcript or Dar (digital audio recording) on behalf of Mr O'Gorman's family yesterday. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy was told the family became concerned during the trial that "the death may have been brought about by the manner in which the accused was treated by the HSE" and a named doctor.

Mr Craven said the family applied for the inquest into the death to be reopened to explore the issues. The court heard the Dar is not "fully consistent" with what is in Bellante's records. The judge directed the provision of a transcript.
A prolific shoplifter with nearly 200 convictions was caught with a stolen mountain bike after a garda spotted him walking down the road with the bike still locked to a piece of railing.

Thomas O'Driscoll (35) with an address in Gloucester Diamond Park, Dublin, was arrested after the garda saw him carrying the bike, which was still attached to the piece of railing, along a city centre street.

O'Driscoll, a drug addict with 193 convictions, immediately admitted it was stolen property, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard today.

He pleaded guilty to one count of possessing the stolen mountain bike on August 4 last year.

He also pleaded guilty to one count of stealing 1300 worth of clothing from Urban Outfitters in Dublin on July 25 last year, one count of possessing a stolen ladies coat on August 2 last year and one count of trespassing and theft at a holiday apartment letting office in Temple Bar on August 31 last year.

He was jailed for two-and-a-half years today.

Handing down the sentence, Judge Martin Nolan noted O'Driscoll was a prolific shoplifter with a huge record of conviction.

It seems Mr O'Driscoll can't stop himself from stealing, the judge said. He backdated the sentence to last September, when O'Driscoll went into custody.

Garda Carl Bolger told Maurice Coffey BL, prosecuting, that O'Driscoll was seen on CCTV footage making off with a quantity of clothes.

Just over a week later, he was spotted by a garda acting suspiciously on the street. Gardai questioned him and discovered the coat worth 125 stolen from Marks and Spencer.

O'Driscoll was on bail for that matter when he was stopped on the street with the stolen mountain bike in tow. No owner of the bike was ever identified.

Later that month, O'Driscoll walked into Key Collection in Temple Bar, a holiday property letting office, and walked out with a suitcase.

His previous convictions include theft, criminal damage, burglary and misuse of drugs.

Derek Cooney BL, defending, said his client had a troubled history and carried out the offences to fund his chaotic and chronic drug lifestyle.

The court heard O'Driscoll's father was stabbed to death in front of him when he was 11 years' old. O'Driscoll left school shortly afterwards as a result, did not sit any state exams and has literacy issues.

He started using drugs at the age of 11 and was jailed as a young teenager, which resulted in him becoming addicted to crack cocaine, Mr Cooney said.

He was shot in the back in a pub a number of years ago and lost a kidney. He also has a hole in his spine.

He has a history of self-harm and has attempted to take his own life, the court heard.

He has had two stints in rehab but has failed to get clean, the court heard. He is now undertaking a methadone programme in custody.
A row has erupted over the rollout of a plan to allow secondary students who drop out of religious studies to attend a different class.

The head of a body representing community colleges warned they were already "pared back to the bone" and would need extra teachers to give students this option.

General secretary of Education and Training Boards Ireland Michael Moriarty was responding after Education Minister Richard Bruton said no extra resources would be poured into the plan to allow students to opt out of religion.

Mr Bruton suggested it was up to the schools to work it out as he said it was their "core mission" to respond to pupils' needs by reconfiguring their resources.

The new rules apply to 160,000 students attending almost half the country's secondary schools. They are State-run community colleges under the patronage of local education and training boards (ETBs) and community schools where a Catholic bishop or religious order shares patronage with one of these boards.

The rules do not apply to religious-run secondary schools that cater for more than half of post-primary students.

Parents have a constitutional right to withdraw their children from religious class, but schools have not been obliged to timetable them for another subject up to now. Many pupils who opted out would still have to sit through the class or study in the library.

Mr Moriarty said his organisation, which represents 274 schools and colleges, was inundated with calls from principals and directors of schools expressing concern about staff shortages yesterday.

"This will put a massive strain on stretched resources particularly in the context of significant shortages of teachers in science, maths, Irish and foreign languages," he said.

"The constant mantra is that you have to find the resources, but we're pared back to the bone over the last five years and are at the bottom of the barrel in terms of staffing resources.

"There aren't the resources to do this and it isn't going to be workable, particularly in urban areas where there is a high number of opt outs. What happens if subjects are already oversubscribed?"

He said people may underestimate the demand for opt outs as those in fifth or sixth year who are not taking religion as an exam subject may be tempted to drop out to avail of tuition in one of their exam options.

Mr Bruton said schools would "have to reconfigure their timetabling".

"We're not providing extra resources as part of this," he said. "This isn't a talk of developing a new programme, it's ensuring schools reconfigure the resources to meet the pupils' needs.

"You could extend the hours of some subjects, reducing the number of classes on the timetable on some subject areas depending on demand. This is the core mission of these schools, it's always been intended to respond to parents' needs."

The ASTI is seeking a meeting with the Department of Education about under-resourcing. Spokesperson Gemma Tuffy noted that its class size directive says they should range from 20 to 30 depending on the subject.

The TUI said it had concerns over the minister's "failure" to resource the plan. A spokesperson said other subject options must be provided during religion. "Quite clearly, this will require the employment of additional teachers," he said.
The readiness of the National Maternity Hospital in Holles Street to respond to major emergencies when surgery is needed will be probed in an inquiry into the death of Malak Thawley.

The case involved the death of Ms Thawley (35) at the maternity hospital in May 2016 during an emergency operation for an ectopic pregnancy.

It will be investigated by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa).

The terms of reference of the inquiry, which were published yesterday, will look at:

The implementation of early-warning systems for the clinical management and recognition of a deteriorating patient;

Practice of surgery outside of core working hours;

The seniority of on-site clinical staff outside of core working hours;

The on-call arrangements for senior staff outside of core working hours;

The readiness of the hospital to respond to major emergencies which require surgical intervention.

The inquiry, ordered by Health Minister Simon Harris, follows an appeal for an external probe into Ms Thawley's death by her husband Alan.

She died after a major blood vessel was accidentally pierced during the surgery.

The National Maternity Hospital has been granted a judicial review challenging the choice of Hiqa to carry out the inquiry.

It said it did not object to an outside probe, but argued the Hiqa Section 9 investigation review might undermine clinical and public confidence, and could be counter-productive in its effect on national maternity services outcomes to patients.

Hiqa said the investigation would also take into account issues such as workforce, diagnostic and laboratory availability outside of core working hours. However, the inquiry is unlikely to proceed before the judicial review is heard in March.

The hospital has apologised to Ms Thawley's family and agreed a compensation settlement in the High Court recently.

A number of changes have been made to ensure more safeguards at the hospital following the recommendations of an internal inquiry and an inquest into the death of Ms Thawley.

Holles Street Master Dr Rhona Mahony, who was speaking at the hospital's charter day, reiterated her call for hospitals to have consultants on site around the clock. This would replace the current system that sees consultants on call out of hours.

"The cumbersome and tardy process of appointing medical consultants in Ireland is unhelpful," she said. She expressed concern at the deficit of consultant posts in Ireland.

Meanwhile, Patient Focus welcomed the Hiqa terms of reference. "We have also been involved with a number of Hiqa investigations and know they drive improvements in the care provided to patients, not just in the hospital or unit examined but throughout the entire system," it said in a statement.
Nikita Murtagh (also pictured inset) covers up as she leaves the Court of Criminal Justice.

A young Dublin mother who walked free from court yesterday in relation to a feud-related gun charge is closely linked to two senior members of the Hutch gang whose lives are under threat from the Kinahan cartel.

Nikita Murtagh (21) is the long- term partner of criminal Nathan Coakley Hutch and is also closely associated with another gang member who is currently in custody awaiting trial in relation to an armed robbery.

Both men have been blamed by the Kinahan cartel for involvement in the Regency Hotel bloodbath, which sparked a feud that has claimed 15 lives.

However, neither has been arrested by gardai investigating the February 2016 murder of David Byrne at the hotel.

There are now fears that the mother-of-one may be targeted by the Kinahans.

Murtagh has previously received detailed security advice from gardai, but there are no new plans to issue her with a formal warning of a threat against her life.

"She has received previous advice, there is no need to go over all that again just because she has been released," a senior source said last night.

While in custody in the Dochas Centre for exactly seven months, it emerged that Murtagh was being held in "special confinement" for 22 hours a day for her own safety because of her links to the feud.

She cried as she told a previous court hearing that she was let out at 10.50am and at 6pm, and "it's lights out at 11.15pm".

Yesterday, at the Special Criminal Court, Murtagh, who the court heard was acting out of a "misplaced sense of family loyalty" when she handed a shoebox containing a loaded gun to a man about to board the Dublin to Belfast train, was sentenced to three years in jail.

The sentence was back-dated to last July 19, when she first entered custody, with the balance suspended.

Murtagh, of Sheriff Street, Dublin 1, had pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a CZ model 70 semi-automatic pistol at Connolly Station.

During her sentence hearing, Det Insp Noel Browne said that during a surveillance operation, gardai observed Murtagh enter the train station shortly before 3.15pm.

She was seen heading towards the waiting area for the Dublin to Belfast train, which was due to leave at 3.30pm, the court heard.

She was pushing a three-year-old child in a buggy when she met her co-accused, Ciaran Ryan, and handed him a paper bag before leaving the station.

The court heard that Ryan boarded the train but was stopped by gardai and tried to kick the bag away.

When gardai searched the bag, they found it contained a shoebox with a loaded gun inside.

Last month, Ryan (24), of Summerhill, Dublin 1, was jailed for three years for possession of the firearm.

He is suspected of having been on his way to deliver the firearm to senior Hutch mob associates in Northern Ireland, who include James 'Mago' Gately, when he was busted by gardai.

One theory that was investigated is that the weapon was to be used in a planned hit on Kinahan cartel figure Gareth Chubb (29), from Drimnagh, who was based in Belfast at the time.

While Murtagh had no previous convictions before yesterday, she is closely associated with some of the most dangerous members of the Hutch mob.

One of these is a 33-year-old career criminal who cannot be named for legal reasons but was the intended target of a botched cartel attack.

Meanwhile, Det Insp Browne said her actions were "probably the result of a misplaced sense of family loyalty" and that she had family members connected to violence of an extreme nature in recent years.

Under cross-examination, Det Insp Browne said Murtagh was a courier, chosen for the role because she was not a criminal but was "naive" and a "fresh face" who had not previously come to garda attention.

The inspector said that one of the "unfortunate aspects" of investigating people such as the accused was that they are used by more devious people to effect actions of certain groups.

Murtagh is in a long-term relationship with Nathan Coakley Hutch.

Last month, Coakley Hutch's older brother, Derek (27), became the 14th victim of the bitter feud when he was blasted to death outside Wheatfield Prison after a planned drugs drop turned into chaos at the west Dublin jail shortly after he visited Nathan.

Gardai are still investigating whether two notorious Coolock brothers, along with one of the capital's most depraved hitmen, were behind the feud murder after being enlisted by the Kinahan cartel.

Nathan (24) is understood to have "gone mental" following the execution of his brother, who was blasted several times in the head and body.

Nicknamed 'Harry', Nathan is considered to be one of the most dangerous armed robbers in the capital.

Last year he was extradited from the UK to face a number of charges in Ireland related to driving a stolen vehicle and armed robbery.

The sentence means that his violent spree has been halted for now, while he has been placed on a secure landing with his associates in Wheatfield prison.

Coakley Hutch, a nephew of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch, was placed on the protection landing with his associates due to an ongoing threat from the Kinahans.
Diggers near to the proposed site of Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset. Photo: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

Hinkley Point C nuclear power station site is seen near Bridgwater in Britain, September 14, 2016. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth

Hinkley Point C nuclear power station site is seen near Bridgwater in Britain, September 14, 2016. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth

An artist's impression of Hinkley Point C. Photo: HayesDavidson/EDF/PA

A public consultation is being held today to give Irish people the opportunity to voice their concerns over the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant currently under construction in the UK.

What is Hinkley Point C?

A nuclear power plant that's currently under construction in Somerset on the south-west coast of the UK, just 240km from Ireland.

The 20bn project was approved by the European Commission in 2013.

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It's the first nuclear reactor to be constructed in Britain in over 30 years and is due to begin operating in 2023.

Why is Ireland holding a public consultation over a power plant in the UK?

Hinkley Point's distance from the Irish coastline will be the same as travelling between Dublin and Cork.

Many Irish environmental NGOs, most notably An Taisce, have raised concerns over the implications the development could have on Ireland.

Dr. John Sweeney, Emeritus Professor of Geography at Maynooth University who secured the public consultation, said it is "important" that Irish people have their say.

"It's one of the basic principals of international relations, good neighbours talk to each other about developments which may have serious implications for each other," Dr Sweeney told RTE's Morning Ireland.

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Dr Sweeney said the UK had a "blind spot" when it came to Ireland during their environmental assessment in 2013 and they did not consult the Irish public before approving the development.

How did the public consultation come about?

The public consultation has come about after a five-year legal battle.

In 2013, An Taisce argued that the UK government's decision to approve Hinkley Point C nuclear plant without first consulting the public in Ireland is contrary to international, EU and English law.

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They took a case to the High Court in London where they subsequently lost out.

The High Court in London found against An Taisce's arguments in December 2013, ruling that there was no need to consult the public in Ireland in the circumstances.

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However, as a result of pressure from Germany, Holland and Denmark - who accused the British government of failing to abide by the Aarhus convention that says major projects must consult EU citizens on environmental projects - the UK was instructed by the European Commission to make public consultations available where requested.

Can the public consultation be effective if the project is already under development?

The Irish people won't be have much influence on Hinkley Point but they will be able to raise concerns about future nuclear reactor developments.

There are currently five reactor designs being formally considered by the UK for development along the west coast of Britain, according to Dr Sweeney.

A report from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ERSI) estimated that in the unlikely event of a nuclear accident, the worst-case scenario for Ireland would amount to 161bn, subsequently devastating agriculture for years.

"This isn't an argument pro or con nuclear power," Dr Sweeney told RTE's Morning Ireland.

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"But as a people we have a right to be consulted as to whether the plans that are being made for these power stations actually are valid and whether they address legitimate concerns which the Irish people might want to express."

An Taisce has suggested a number of considerations such as the "lack of emergency response planning in Ireland" to deal with a nuclear accident.

There is also a concern that when the UK leave the EU they won't be held accountable by the European Court of Justice and Ireland can't rely on EU law as a safeguard.

How can people get involved?

A member of the public may send their concerns or observations in writing to their local planning authority.

The deadline is close of business, Tuesday April 17, 2018.
Galway's long-delayed "world-class" arthouse cinema is finally set to open its doors this Friday.

The Palas cinema incorporates three state-of-the-art cinemas, a bar, a bookshop and a cafe . It's being touted as a "cultural hub" for Galway, similar to Dublin's Light House cinema in Smithfield.

Based at 15 Merchants Road Lower near Spanish Arch in Galway city, the project is designed by architect Tom de Paor.

The company is promising "an eclectic mix" of the best new Irish and international films, with classics, foreign language, animated films and special events.

Films screened on opening weekend include Lady Bird starring Saoirse Ronan, Guillermo del Toros The Shape of the Water and I, Tonya with Margot Robbie.

The cinema has been beset with controversy since construction began in 2009, with various funding, contractual and structural issues.

It cost the State 8.4 million in public funding, which is 2.2m over the initial expected outlay of 6.3m.

The cinema was first proposed in 2004 when the charity Solas-Galway Picture Palace Teoranta was established to raise funds to construct a purpose-built arthouse theatre in Galway.

However, there were concerns over how the project was being managed. The company eventually accumulated losses of more than 540,000 at the end of 2014.

At that time, the amount it owed to creditors stood at 4.5 million, while it listed tangible assets were worth just under 3.9 million, according to RTE.

While the project was sponsored by a private entity with grant assistance from public funds, the State bore most of the financial risks which arose when the project ran into difficulties.

Following these financial concerns, the public funders including Galway City Council, the Irish Film Board and the Department of the Arts, Heritage Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs asked Element Pictures to take over the project.

Element Pictures, which owns Dublin's Light House Cinema, took over management and completion and signed a 30-year lease agreement with Galway City Council.

As an agreement the company said it would not pay rent for the first 25 years but it would invest more than 1m into the project.

In early 2017 the Charities Regulator began a statutory investigation into the financial affairs of Solas-Galway Picture Palace Teoranta.

In a statement, the Charities Regulator said "it is important to note that the opening of a statutory investigation is not in itself a finding of any wrongdoing. In the public interest, the current policy of the Charities Regulator is to generally release a public statement whenever the Authority appoints an inspector to carry out a statutory investigation into a charity.

"Issues have arisen in relation to the proper treatment of the charitys assets in a commercial arrangement proposed with a new investor."

In July 2017 Solas went into liquidation.
The UK Government has said same sex marriage in Northern Ireland could be introduced via Westminster.

Northern Ireland Secretary of State Karen Bradley said while it should be a matter for the Stormont Assembly, if the matter was to be raised at Westminster it is the Government's policy to allow a free vote on matters of conscience.

She was responding to a written question from Labour MP Conor McGinn, who asked if she would bring forward legislative proposals on equal marriage for same-sex couples in the region.

Ms Bradley said: "In accordance with the Belfast Agreement, this is a devolved matter which should be addressed in the NI Assembly; but the power of the Westminster Parliament to legislate remains unaffected.

"If this issue were to be raised in Westminster, the Government's policy is to allow a free vote on matters of conscience such as equal marriage."

Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK where same-sex marriage is not recognised in law.

Several attempts in the Stormont Assembly to introduce marriage equality failed.

The DUP used a petition of concern to veto the bills, arguing that such legislation did not command enough cross-community support.

Human rights organisations and LGBT equality campaigners have been calling for Westminster to legislate for marriage equality in the region.

In August 2017 the High Court in Belfast dismissed two cases challenging Northern Ireland's ban on same-sex marriage.

Delivering his judgement, a judge said it was for the Stormont Assembly, and not a judge, to decide social policy.

However, the region has been without a devolved administration for more than 13 months following the collapse of powersharing between the DUP and Sinn Fein.

The latest round of negotiations to restore the institutions failed last week after the DUP pulled the plug on the talks.

After the talks process broke down, shadow Northern Ireland secretary Owen Smith said it was up to London to introduce legislation in such areas as same-sex marriage.
Sinn Fein's Conor Murphy, Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O'Neill arrive at Government Buildings in Dublin for a meeting with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. Photo: Niall Carson /PA Wire

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has poured cold water on Sinn Fein demands for a stand-alone Irish language act, warning it has to be conscious of the feelings of unionists.

"If anybody seriously believes that you're going to convince the loyalist people in the Shankill that they should have Irish signs - they'll be waiting," he told RTE's 'Claire Byrne Live' last night.

He said the act "can't be seen as a victory and we're going to shove it down their (unionists) throats".

"I think that the message has been received so, in fairness to Sinn Fein, it has seemed to receive that but it has to be seen and understood, otherwise loyalists and unionists are going to get at Arlene, which makes her position untenable."

Meanwhile, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Tanaiste Simon Coveney met new Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald and her deputy, Michelle O'Neill, at Government Buildings last night.

They spoke for around 90 minutes and agreed on their united commitment to the Good Friday Agreement.

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Both sides also agreed any move towards direct rule from Westminster would be highly regressive and something Dublin could not countenance.

Mr Varadkar spoke to British Prime Minister Theresa May on the phone following the meeting. He reiterated Dublin's "firm position" that the Good Friday Agreement must be implemented in full, and that the Irish Government does not want to see the introduction of direct rule in Northern Ireland.

A Downing Street spokesperson last night said Mrs May told Mr Varadkar that she believed "there was scope for agreement" and reiterated that it was still her government's priority to get devolution up and running again. Both leaders agreed to remain in close contact.

Earlier, Mr Coveney had warned that the re-imposition of direct rule would "rip the heart" from the Good Friday Agreement.

Mr Coveney is travelling to New York and Washington this afternoon for a series of meetings with the Trump administration. He is due to give an address at Columbia University on Brexit and give the keynote speech on the Good Friday Agreement at a special event in New York entitled Ireland's '20 Years of Peace'.

Mr Ahern also took a pop at Mrs May last night. He said she has been preoccupied with addressing the various battles within her own party which has distracted her from her responsibilities in Northern Ireland.

"I think Theresa May has not given enough time to Northern Ireland as she's trying to keep about five sides of her own cabinet together.

"It's not good enough to breeze in and meet nobody - that's not negotiating at all."
Fianna Fail is targeting Transport Minister Shane Ross for criticism for a second week in a row, this time over "traffic chaos" in the capital.

The party's Dublin spokesman John Lahart has claimed that Mr Ross's response to congestion since the opening of the new Luas Cross City service has been "abysmal".

It comes after Fianna Fail used its Dail time last week to criticise Mr Ross and the Government over the state of roads in rural Ireland.

The Government's Project Ireland 2040 initiative includes plans for the 3bn Metro North between Swords and Sandyford and a 2bn expansion of the Dart network.

Mr Lahart said that while Mr Ross offers "this great vision", delivery on some of the projects is several years away.

He said: "Dublin needs solutions for the gap between now and when that infrastructure comes along." He said there should be smaller, immediate moves to tackle gridlock.

A spokesperson for Mr Ross said he would be addressing issues raised by Fianna Fail in the Dail today.

Fianna Fail's latest motion notes the introduction of the Luas Cross City and the plan to introduce extra carriages to meet demand. It claims there was a lack of forward planning to allow for the introduction of Luas Cross City and there is "traffic chaos" in the city centre as a result.

It also says there are a large number of suburbs without the Luas, Dart or dedicated public transport corridors. It puts the economic cost of congestion at around 350m a year.

The party has called for "short to medium-term policy changes to get routes into and out of Dublin moving again".

It wants more feeder buses for the Luas and Dart, more peak-time buses and more quality bus corridors. It also wants more investment in park-and-ride facilities as well as increased train station parking.

The motion suggests exploring the use of the River Liffey to help alleviate traffic bottlenecks, citing the existence of boat services in other European cities.

Separately, Green Party TD Catherine Martin wants the Oireachtas Transport Committee to quiz Luas operators Transdev on delays to services in recent months. Transdev is to appear at the committee tomorrow along with representatives from Dublin City Council and taxi drivers to discuss congestion at College Green.
The incident has forced the department to carry out a review of its security protocol when carrying out background checks on staff members. Stock Image

A government department is expected to carry out a review of its security protocol after an employee linked to the New IRA was convicted of firearms offences.

Civil servant Michael Gilmartin (47), who was employed by the Department of Defence, was this month given a five-year jail term after being convicted of offences linked to dissident republican activity.

He pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to being in possession of a handgun, a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition in 2016.

The Irish Independent has learned Gilmartin was working for the Department of Defence and employed in a security position at a naval base in Cork.

Since his conviction earlier this month, department officials have written to the dissident republican - who is now housed in Portlaoise Prison - to inform him his employment has been terminated.

The incident has also forced the department to carry out a review of its security protocol when carrying out background checks on staff members.

It is understood Gilmartin did not have access to any sensitive security information in his role at the naval base.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Defence said it did "not comment on individual employment matters".

"Security is kept under constant review by the department and it would not be appropriate to go into further detail," she added.

On February 5, Gilmartin, of Cluain Ard, Newtown, Cobh, Co Cork, was convicted after he pleaded guilty to possessing firearms including a magazine suitable for a 9mm Parabellum pistol, and a double-barrelled sawn-off shotgun.

He also admitted the possession of 14 rounds of 9mm ammunition and eight shotgun cartridges in Cobh on December 14, 2016.

The court had previously heard that in late 2016, when monitoring a group of subversives that was calling itself the New IRA, gardai had become aware that Gilmartin was to come into possession of firearms on December 14.

Three detective units and members of the Armed Support Unit went to Cobh on that date and Gilmartin was seen in the vicinity of a petrol station in Newtown in Cobh.

He was carrying a black Umbro backpack with an FAI logo on it.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding over the case, said that Gilmartin's "level of involvement was limited to logistical support".
To those of you familiar with his name, Jordan B. Peterson is an inspirational phenomenon or an alt-right bigot, depending on your perspective. To those who have never heard of him - he is worth getting to know.

Peterson is Canadian and Professor of Psychology at Toronto University. I vaguely heard of him a few months ago when my attention was drawn to a YouTube clip of him being challenged by a number of transgender students for refusing to use their preferred pronouns. You might ask, what's so remarkable about this? Well, for transgender people this is now mandated by the Canadian Government's Bill C-16 and Peterson sees this as an assault on free speech.

I had forgotten about him until about a month ago - he was interviewed on Channel 4 in the UK and he challenged the interviewer, Cathy Newman, for her incorrect interpretation of the gender pay gap and patriarchy. She admitted on air that it was a "gotcha" moment when he rebuffed her arguments. Since then he has become a free speech celebrity and his latest book "12 Rules for Life: An antidote to chaos" is number one on the best seller list in the US and Britain, even outselling Fire and Fury, the exposition of the Trump White House by Michael Wolff.

Why is Peterson - previously almost unheard of in Europe - now such a hit? He writes very clearly and offers basic advice such as "Make friends with people who want the best for you", or "Assume that the person you are listening to might know something you don't" or "Be precise in your speech". This may seem like basic and anodyne stuff, but from Peterson's pen and lips it is told in the form of stories and tales that is compelling in its style and emotion. Much of this is available on YouTube, where it is both entertaining and instructive. He is a wonderful teacher.

Do not be duped into thinking that this is pop psychology and psychobabble, for to do so would greatly underestimate him. Peterson's work is informed by a multiplicity of distinguished sources including Dostoyevsky the writer, Carl Jung the psychotherapist, Nietzsche the philosopher, and the Bible. He also uses ideas from evolutionary biology and neurobiology. Themes from these are woven together to provide a guide to good and proper living. As he points out - life is tough and it encompasses suffering. We need to learn to cope with the inescapable travails of life and to draw on the richness of our ancient past as a guide.

He makes use of examples from the Bible and mythology - he refers to sin, hell, heaven, archetypes, human weakness, ancestory and God. Although not a theist or even a Christian in the traditional sense, he sees a wisdom in the Biblical stories that echo the myths that Jung alludes to. They provide us with our rich collective unconscious and have guided us and our ancestors for thousands of years. When asked if God existed, he says he doesn't think so, but adds: "I fear that he does!"

Why has he captured the public's imagination? Partly it's his style of parable-like storytelling and the powerful emotion, that imbues his presentations, especially to public audiences. Above all it's probably his message which is largely a critique of many aspects of modern culture. These include political correctness, the censorship of speech, the centrality of victimhood and the tendency to live in the here and now, while ignoring the rich history available to our psyche and our spirit. At a time when sexual and social roles have become jumbled and according to libertarianism's views there is no absolute right and wrong, with the only rule being not to hurt anybody, Peterson is articulating ideas that are striking a chord.

Not surprisingly The Guardian newspaper describes him as using pseudo-facts and engaging in conspiracy theories. Watch his YouTube clips and decide if this is an accurate depiction and if he really is "the stupid man's smart person" (as described by Tabatha Southey of Macleans, a Canadian magazine).

To his admirers, he is voicing ideas that were once common and mainstream, but have been shouted down in the course of the culture wars and the politically correct speech rules that dominated US campuses in the 80's and have now spread to Europe. They describe him as a "public intellectual". Perhaps it's a case of "Cometh the hour, cometh the man."
Graceful and beautiful though it was, it was the blog post that no one wanted to see. And it was clearly a post that best-selling author Emma Hannigan had dreaded writing. But there, black and white, was the author taking a 'bow' and bidding that most awful of farewells.

"All good things must come to an end. The time that I knew was borrowed must be given back soon, so it seems," wrote the author, who was first diagnosed with cancer in 2007.

"The conversation I never wanted to have has been said. My medical team have thrown everything but the kitchen sink at this fight but all avenues have now been exhausted.

"To say that I am heartbroken doesn't begin to cover it. But I feel I'd like to say something, after all that's what I've done over the years - say stuff, write stuff and tell you what's going down."

It was a post of extraordinary grace, acceptance and love, but what happened next was even more extraordinary. Perhaps not surprisingly, Emma's post went viral and was viewed and reposted across the world, thousands of times.

Heartfelt messages from Katie Taylor, Lucy Kennedy, Sile Seoige and fellow authors Cecelia Ahern, Patricia Scanlan and Marian Keyes were sent in response. Fans and friends alike, touched by Emma's words, have now instigated a campaign to get her latest novel, Letters To My Daughters, to the top of the booksellers' charts in Ireland.

It's been an overwhelming and powerful public response by anyone's yardstick, though perhaps not an entirely surprising one. There's nary a family in the land who haven't been affected by cancer, making Emma's journey one that too many of us have witnessed all too often. As someone who describes herself on her Twitter handle as a 'cancer survivor x 10', Emma's long battle with the illness has been prolonged, seemingly relentless.

It has made her latest news even more bitterly poignant.

"This has really knocked people sideways and it's particularly tragic because of her personality," observes Owen Connolly of the Connolly Counselling Centre in Stillorgan (counsellor.ie).

"She's been so courageous to say, 'don't worry, this is just a goodbye'. I'm sure others have gotten great strength from it.

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"As she has been on this journey, she has walked hand in hand with her audience," he adds. "When she was identified with the BRCA 1 cancer gene and had to go through a horrendous process [of having a hysterectomy and double mastectomy], she involved her readers step by step. She took such a positive approach again and again, and you don't get many people with that amazing mindset."

But there's something in the very humanness of her post that has resonated so acutely with people. Even in the face of death, Emma's positive, loving attitude, not to mention her pragmatism, is resonant. And yet, she is mad and sad - an entirely human reaction to the news.

What's more, the end of life is a time often shrouded in mystery. For Emma to decide not to retreat from public life at the time, and to be so clear-eyed about what lies ahead, is an inspiration for many.

Many others before her, including Jade Goody, who died in 2009, Donal Walsh, who died in 2013, and Emmerdale actress Leah Bracknell, have been similarly candid or open about their prognosis. Last month, 27-year-old Holly Butcher wrote a viral blog post the day before she died of Ewing's Sarcoma, reflecting on the way her experience has made her value every second of her time on earth.

The decision to go public with a final farewell certainly does not go unnoticed.

Brian Nolan of the Irish Hospice Foundation (hospicefoundation.ie) has spent 30 years counselling Irish people coming to the end of life, as well as their families.

Of Emma's Facebook post, he notes: "It's so brave. We all know it's going to happen to us, and we have a notion of how we'd like to be at the end. We like to think we'd be incredibly brave like herself, but it takes a lot of people a long time to come to a psychological place where she is.

"I think that's what has really captured people's imagination. They think: 'Would I be like that? Could I be like that?'"

A terminally ill person's coming to terms with death, Nolan notes, often comes after a maelstrom of other tumultuous emotions.

"A lot of people are terrified and are devastated," he observes. "If it were me getting that news [of a terminal illness], I'd have to have a little meltdown. I'd have to be devastated for my life and myself, and I'd be mad as hell about the unfairness.

"To get that news is like an earthquake going off in your brain. You get over the initial shock, then you're numbed, and then that wears off.

"It takes people time to come to a place of accommodation with the news - they have good days and bad days."

Nolan is keen to point out that there is no right or wrong way to react to a terminal illness. While many like Emma will gain strength from sharing the news, many others prefer to keep things private.

Before her death in 2016, actress Caroline Aherne had kept the severity of her illness private, upholding work commitments until a few weeks before her death and eventually dying alone at home because her family didn't know she'd taken a sudden turn for the worse.

What many people do want, at the end of life, is a chance to be heard and listened to; something, Nolan says, that often gets overlooked.

"People often say, 'don't be talking like that' or 'don't be upsetting yourself'," he says. "When you're dying, people can talk about you, but not to you. They wrap you in cotton wool, mainly to keep the hope alive. But to be peaceful at the end, you need to be at peace with yourself. You need to create memories with loved ones and say the things you need to. If you have been allowed to say your goodbye and say your piece, it's likely you'll get to a place where you feel you're done, and you're ready to go.

"But people often have a lot of work to get to that place."

Letters To My Daughters by Emma Hannigan is out now.

How to support cancer research

Following the overwhelming response to her blog post, Emma Hannigan took to her website to thank fans for their support and urge them to donate to cancer research.

"Without new drugs I wouldn't have had the last 10 years with my family and you guys," she wrote.

To donate 4 to Breast Cancer Ireland, text CURE to 50300. Funds raised will be used for research into finding a cure for the disease.

Dubray Books has announced it will donate all profits from Hannigan's latest novel, Letters To My Daughters, to the Irish Cancer Society.

"Buy it for Emma, buy it to support anyone who has been touched by cancer (and buy it because, as always, it's a wonderful book)," the store wrote in a tweet.

Letter To My Daughters (Hachette, 17.55) is available in Dubray stores in Dublin, Wicklow, Galway and Kilkenny, or online on dubraybooks.ie.
Actor George Clooney has announced he and his wife Amal will donate half a million dollars (357,000) to students organising protests against gun violence in the US, saying our childrens lives depend on it.

He added on Tuesday that he would attend next months protest with the human rights lawyer as he praised the courage and eloquence of the survivors of the Florida school shooting that killed 17.

Students have turned activists in the wake of the Stoneman Douglas High School atrocity and have led calls for stricter gun controls in the country where school shootings have become routine.

In a statement, George Clooney said they would make the donation to March For Our Lives in the names of their eight-month-old twins, Ella and Alexander.

Amal and I are so inspired by the courage and eloquence of these young men and women from Stoneman Douglas High School, he said.

Our family will be there on March 24 to stand side by side with this incredible generation of young people from all over the country, and in the name of our children Ella and Alexander, were donating 500,000 dollars to help pay for this ground-breaking event.

Our childrens lives depend on it.

On March 24 we will take the streets of Washington DC and our communities across the country to #MarchForOurLives. Sign up at https://t.co/2m7ItdfFjV pic.twitter.com/yokyEdj7Jq  March For Our Lives (@AMarch4OurLives) February 18, 2018

A March For Our Lives protest, led by students, will see demonstrators gather in Washington DC to call for new laws to prevent the rampant gun violence.

Every kid in this country now goes to school wondering if this day might be their last. We live in fear, its mission statement added.

The alleged gunman, 19-year-old former student Nikolas Cruz, is reported to have been legally sold the assault rifle used in the February 14 attack despite having a history of mental health issues.

Survivors, stars and politicians have all called on the Republican Party and US President Donald Trump to impose stricter gun controls in the wake of the attack, which was the eighth school shooting to cause injury or death this year.

Students from several Florida high schools also staged a walk-out on Tuesday in a showing of solidarity to the 14 students and three staff members killed.
VR view over the Mississippi bridge from Iowa (Iowa State University/Iowa Department of Transportation)

People can travel virtually from Iowa to Illinois as though they were in a car or scale the bridge to stand atop of the arch.

But when people have had enough of the view above the water then can also dive into the river to see the wildlife that lives in the Mississippi.

The I-74 virtual reality experience has been made to help motorists envisage what the finished bridge will look like. It is due for completion in 2021.

It has been created at Iowa State University thanks to a link between its Virtual Reality Applications Centre and the Institute for Transportation with the Iowa Department of Transportation.

The old suspension bridge is also seen in the VR take.

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Nir Keren, an associate professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering who oversaw the simulations design, said the system brings into focus the end result of a massive multi-year construction project.

Every time you think of construction on this scale, its easy to lose sight of what its going to look like at the end.

But if you can actually see the end product, that keeps people excited.

Creating the simulation took six months with the four designers having to work up the interactive model from construction diagrams.

One challenge was accurately capturing the way sunshine reflects from the bridges frame.

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As well as acting as drivers in the VR set-up, users can walk over the top of the archway or stroll along a wide path reserved for pedestrians and cyclists.

They will also be able to see into the water on a glass-bottomed viewing platform.

Underneath the water, the VR experience raises awareness of threatened mussel species which had to be relocated before the construction work could begin.

The VR experience will tour locations in Iowa and Illinois.
Nearly 1,000 people dragged two suspects out of a police station and beat them to death in anger after the rape and killing of a five-year-old girl in India's remote north-east, police said.

Police spokesman Apur Bitin said 15 officers were injured in Monday's mob attack in Tezu, a town in Arunachal Pradesh state.

Mr Bitin said on Tuesday that the mob first demanded that the accused be handed over to them.

They later dragged the two men out of the police lock-up and attacked them and the heavily outnumbered police.

The girl was raped and killed in the nearby village of Namgo on February 12. The region is 235 miles (375km) north-east of Itanagar, the capital of Arunachal Pradesh.

Pema Khandu, the state's top elected official, ordered a magistrate to investigate the matter.

Violent crime against women has been on the rise in India despite tough laws enacted by the government.
A Thai court on Tuesday said it ruled in favor of a wealthy Japanese man who had fathered 13 surrogate children in Thailand, naming him their legal parent and sole guardian.

The case harks back to late 2014, when Thai police said they had found 13 babies fathered by a Japanese national with nine Thai surrogate mothers. The children were taken to foster homes and the father has petitioned for custody since early 2015.

The man had his sperm fertilize donor eggs, which were then planted in the wombs of the surrogate mothers in 2013, according to a press statement given by the court. No details were given where the donor eggs were from.

The scandal at the time shone an international spotlight on Thailand's largely unregulated surrogacy business, prompting authorities to crack down on clinics with nationwide inspections and later to ban commercial surrogacy.

The Japanese man was given custody of the 13 children on Tuesday largely due to his financial and professional stability, and he was found to have no links to human trafficking, the court statement said.

Growing up with a biological parent will also be in the children's best interests, the court added.

"The petitioner is an heir and president of a well-known company listed in a stock exchange in Japan, owner and shareholder in many companies, and receives dividend of more than 100 million baht ($3.18 million) from a single company in a year, which shows the petitioner has professional stability and an ample income to raise all the children," the court said in a statement.

"Therefore, it is ruled that all the 13 children are legal children of the petitioner...and the petitioner is their sole guardian."

The court gave no further details about the man, but said he plans to raise the 13 children in Japan where he lives, adding that he had previously raised his other surrogate children in Cambodia and Japan.

When the case was first lodged in 2014, Thai police had said the man was 24 years old.

The man's Thai lawyer Kong Suriyamonthon said his client plans to raise the 13 children, who are aged around 4, in Japan.

When asked why the man would want so many children at the same time, Kong said: "He has personal and business reasons. He was born in a big family, so he wants his children to grow up together."

Thailand was rocked by several surrogacy scandals in 2014, including allegations that an Australian couple had abandoned their Down Syndrome baby with his Thai birth mother taking only his healthy twin sister back to Australia with them.

Thailand passed a law banning commercial surrogacy in 2015 as a result, forcing clinics to move to Cambodia, where it was also later banned, and then Laos.
A Cambridge University graduate and academic, who used the dark web to blackmail, abuse and humiliate a string of vulnerable victims, has been jailed for 32 years, after a judge branded him an "internet highwayman".

Dr Matthew Falder admitted blackmailing his targets into carrying out appalling acts which left three so traumatised they attempted to take their own lives.

The 29-year-old admitted 137 offences, relating to 46 complainants, which included encouraging the rape of a child, forcing one girl to eat dog food and making another lick a toilet seat.

He was caught only after an international investigation led by the National Crime Agency (NCA), and involving the Department for Homeland Security in America and spies based at Britain's GCHQ.

A spokesman for Cambridge University said it was now actively pursuing stripping Falder of his academic qualifications.

Sentencing "warped and sadistic" Falder for "a tale of ever-increasing depravity", Judge Philip Parker QC said: "As for your equally extraordinary sexual offending - no one who knew you above ground had an inkling of what you were doing below the surface."

The judge said Falder had been brought up by a loving family and had enjoyed an excellent education, gaining a PhD from Cambridge.

But branding him an "internet highwayman", he added: "You wanted to assume total control over your victims. Your behaviour was cunning, persistent, manipulative and cruel."

For the victims, he said: "The damage is on-going for these individuals. It will never end, knowing the abuse caused by you still exists in other unknown persons' computers."

The judge, who also concluded Falder was a dangerous offender, added: "These sentencing remarks underplay your relentless, obsessive desire to continue committing offences."

The court heard how Falder had initially duped victims into providing nude images of themselves by posing as a female artist who wanted to use them to create life drawings.

But once he had the photographs he used them to blackmail the victims into taking part in increasingly degrading activities, known as the 'hurtcore'.

Another victim was blackmailed into eating his faeces and drinking urine, while Falder also encouraged the rape of a boy, aged two, by his own father.

He also set up hidden cameras in publicly accessible toilets and at his parents' home, catching his unsuspecting victims on film, and using the footage to blackmail, and trade with others online.

One of his victims, speaking anonymously after his sentencing, described how his abuse led to the breakdown of "all relationships" in her life, and how she was now "scared to meet people".

Falder, of Harborne Park Road, Birmingham, committed the offences over an eight-year period and never physically met any of his victims, but manipulated them from afar by duping them into providing nude images and personal details.

On his arrest, the former post-doctoral researcher in geophysics at the University of Birmingham, asked officers "what is it I've done", before correcting himself and adding "supposed to have done"?

He then quipped that the list of suspected offences sounded "like the rap sheet from hell".

Prosecutors said Falder was also a member of several "virtual communities" of abusers, and in one such forum on the dark web, had a "membership rank level of 'Rapist'".

Will Kerr, NCA director of vulnerabilities, said police were increasingly concerned about the emergence of hurtcore offenders.

 Daily Telegraph, London

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]
A father who allegedly shook his six-week-old son to death claimed the boy died after falling out of his baby bouncer, a court has heard.

Pedro Rubim, 43, is accused of causing fatal injuries to little Alejandro Rubim while the tot's mother, nanny Maribel Rodriguez, 40, was visiting the dentist.

Paramedics were called to the family home in Hampstead, north-west London, on the morning of February 20 2016, but the child died in hospital four days later.

Alejandro had suffered "serious head and eye injuries" consistent with what is often called "a shaken baby", Blackfriars Crown Court, in central London, heard on Tuesday.

Portuguese Rubim, who worked as an administration assistant for financial firm Global Asset Management, denies manslaughter.

The court heard he told his partner of five years, Ms Rodriguez, the baby was in his bouncer on a sofa bed when he went to make his bottle.

When he returned from the kitchen after between 30 and 45 seconds Alejandro was on the floor, Rubim claimed in an account repeated to medics and police.

But prosecutor Sally O'Neill QC said: "It is the Crown's case, in short, that for whatever reason, Pedro Rubim shook his small baby son with sufficient force to cause those serious and ultimately fatal injuries to him and that he did so at the very least with the intention of causing some harm to him.

"This is not a case of a 45-day-old baby falling accidentally out of a baby bouncer, even if not restrained by the straps in the bouncer.

"It is the Crown's case that that simply could not have happened, but even if in some way it had, that would still not account for the extent and severity of Alejandro's injuries."

The court heard Alejandro was a "perfectly fit and healthy baby" when his mother left to visit the dentist after 9am on the morning of the incident.

Rubim was sitting on the settee holding the boy in his arms as he gave him his bottle.

But paramedics were already in their one-bedroom flat when she next spoke to her partner at around 11.30am.

Outlining what Rubim said, Ms O'Neill told jurors: "The baby was in the bouncer on the sofa bed, he went to make his bottle, when he turned from the kitchen, he saw him on the floor, on his back.

"He picked him up and he was floppy so he went to the bedroom to put him on the bed.

"He started seeing blood out of his mouth and called for an ambulance."

Alejandro was treated at the Royal Free Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital, but he was declared dead at 3pm on February 24 2016.

When he was arrested, Rubim told police he was "deeply upset and in shock about this terrible accident" as he loved Alejandro very much, the court heard.

Rubim, who is on bail and currently lives in Enfield, north London, sat next to an interpreter in the dock wearing glasses and a blue zip-up jacket over a white shirt as the prosecutor outlined the case against him.

The judge, Mr Justice Kerr, told the jury of seven women and five men: "There is absolutely no question of murder in this case. Put that out of your minds.

"There is absolutely no suggestion whatsoever the defendant deliberately ended his son's life."
Video of British model Chloe Ayling retracing her movements from a Milan studio where she was allegedly abducted to a farmhouse where she was held for six days has been played at the trial of a Polish man accused of kidnapping her.

In the video, 20-year-old Ms Ayling walks Italian investigators through the supposed photographers studio in Milan where her agent had arranged a modelling job. She signalled to police a spot near a doorway where she said she was grabbed from behind.

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Images shown to the court in Milan revealed Ms Aylings suitcase, phone and clothing which were found by police investigating her disappearance last July.

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According to prosecutors, Ms Ayling was drugged at the studio, zipped inside a canvas bag and transported to a farmhouse near Turin, where she was held captive.

Only two suspects have been identified in the case. A 30-year-old Pole, Lukasz Herba, who was arrested after releasing Ms Ayling at the British consulate in Milan, is being tried for the kidnapping. Italian prosecutors are also seeking to try Herbas brother, who is in the UK.

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Investigator Gianluca Simontacchi told the court that Ms Ayling broke down in tears as they reached the farmhouse, and had to be calmed by her lawyer before being able to continue.

Inside the building, she pointed out a piece of furniture where she said she had been cuffed by her hands and feet overnight on the first night.

She then showed a bedroom, where she said later she shared a bed with her alleged kidnapper; a photograph entered into evidence showed a blanket folded to create a boundary down the middle of the bed.

Finally, she showed investigators where she accompanied her kidnapper to buy food and a pair of trainers in a nearby town before her release.

In court testimony, a grocery store owners son said that Herba had come to the store several times to buy fruit and vegetables, and that Ms Ayling waited outside once.

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A neighbour of the farmhouse where she was held testified that he had seen Ms Ayling with Herba at least twice, and from a distance it looked like they were a couple.

Ms Aylings lawyer, Francesco Pesce, dismissed any notion that a video showing Ayling walking hand-in-hand with Herba shown at an earlier hearing cast any doubt on the kidnapping allegation.

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She was holding hands with Mr Herba but she looked, at least in my opinion, she looked frightened, quite scared, he said.

A police toxicologist testified that tests of Ms Aylings hair indicated the presence of the drug ketamine, under the influence of which one remains conscious but disassociated from reality. The expert said there was a tiny hole on Ms Aylings inner wrist consistent with an injection, but she said there was no way of knowing precisely when the drug had been administered.

It corresponds perfectly with the picture we have of Miss Ayling, she said, showing a photograph of the model with her eyes half-closed and her pupils dilated, which was allegedly circulated on the internet.

Herbas lawyer, Bozena Katia Kolakowska, said his client would testify at the next hearing, and that he is expected to say that the kidnapping was a ploy to give Ms Aylings modelling career a boost.
Angela Merkel, left, with Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, who has been nominated as the new CDU party chairman. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

In a move widely seen as anointing her chosen successor, Angela Merkel yesterday promoted one of her key lieutenants to a pivotal role as chairman of her Christian Democrat party (CDU).

The appointment puts Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer in pole position to take control of the party when Mrs Merkel eventually steps down or is forced from office.

Popularly known as "mini-Merkel", Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer has long been seen as the chancellor's preferred successor.

But yesterday's move is the first sign that Ms Merkel is now actively planning for the succession even as rival candidates begin to circle.

The appointment of the loyalist Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer was also a signal that Ms Merkel does not intend to give any ground to her critics within the party amid rumblings of discontent over the concessions she made to secure a new coalition deal. "We can rely on each other, even if we each have our own opinions," Ms Merkel said as she announced Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer's appointment.

The decision to make her party chairman has resonance because it was from the same office that Ms Merkel launched her own successful bid to become CDU leader 18 years ago.

Ms Merkel had to fill the position after current party chairman Peter Tauber announced he was stepping down because of ill-health. But she said it was Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer who came to her and suggested the move. "I was impressed by the idea," Ms Merkel added.

Although Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer has a formidable record as an election campaigner, all her experience so far has been in regional politics in her home state of Saarland, where she is currently prime minister.

Ms Merkel has been thought to want to give her protegee a national role for some time in order to increase her profile. But with the CDU reduced to only six ministries in the new coalition deal, her options to bring Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer into the cabinet were limited.

Technically the appointment still has to be confirmed in a vote next week, but for the party to defy Ms Merkel over the chairmanship - a non-cabinet role - would be unheard of.

Accepting the nomination, Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer promised an overhaul of the party's policies. "The discussion of the programme is open to everyone in the party, from the grassroots to the top," she said.

Like her mentor, Ms Kramp- Karrenbauer has a reputation as a pragmatist not wedded to any particular ideology, though she has taken a stance against gay marriage. She has distanced herself from Ms Merkel's controverisal refugee policy, but not as stridently as some her rivals - a move that may have contributed to her appointment.

Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer said she had not taken the decision to accept the role easily. It is not without risk as it will cut her off from her power base in Saarland and will not give her the ministerial experience of running a department.
Students hold a vigil in honour of those killed at the Parkland school (AP)

Students hold a vigil in honour of those killed at the Parkland school (AP)

Pupils from several Florida high schools have taken to the streets in a show of solidarity with students from a nearby school where 17 people were gunned down in their classrooms on Valentines Day.

Video footage taken from television news helicopter crews showed several dozen students walking out of West Boca Raton High School on Tuesday morning, apparently bound for Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in nearby Parkland, where the shootings took place.

Many of the students were wearing their backpacks. The distance between the schools is about 11 miles.

Several dozen more students gathered outside Fort Lauderdale High School, holding signs bearing messages that included: Our blood is on your hands.

On Monday, students at the American Heritage High School held a similar protest.

Former Stoneman student, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, is charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder.

The walkout came as two buses were preparing to take about 100 Marjory Stoneman students to Tallahassee to pressure state politicians to pass more restrictive gun laws.

Many of the students wore burgundy T-shirts in the schools colours and carried sleeping bags, pillows and luggage as they loaded the bus for the 400-mile journey.

Alfonso Calderon, 16, said he hopes that the trip will start a conversation between the Legislature, Governor Rick Scott and the students over commonsense laws on guns.

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Meanwhile, actor George Clooney and his wife, Amal Clooney, are donating 500,000 dollars (356,000) to students organising nationwide marches against gun violence, and have pledged to attend protests planned for next month.

The couple said they are inspired by the courage and eloquence of the survivors-turned-activists from the Parkland school. Students are mobilising for a March 24 march in Washington and other locations to urge political leaders to bring in tougher gun control.

The Clooneys said they are donating the money in the names of their eight-month-old twins, Ella and Alexander. The couple also said the family plans to stand side by side with students next month.
HSBC has thanked its pivot to Asia for helping more than double annual profits in 2017.

The lender said pre-tax profits rose to 17.2 billion US dollars (12.3 billion) in the year to December 31, marking a whopping 141% jump compared to 7.1 billion dollars (5.1 billion) a year earlier.

The bank said its focus on the Asian business again contributed a substantial proportion of group profits  driving around 75% of both reported and adjusted earnings  particularly in commercial banking, retail banking and wealth management.

Results were also flattered by comparable figures in 2016, which had been dragged lower after HSBC booked a loss on sale and trading results of the Brazilian operations it offloaded that summer.

All #HSBC global businesses grew adjusted profits & our 3 main global businesses generated improved adjusted revenue. Find out more: https://t.co/JRB7T8MScX #HSBCresults pic.twitter.com/YIMf3Esd64  HSBC (@HSBC) February 20, 2018

Reported revenue for the year rose 7% from 48 billion dollars (34.4 billion) to 51.4 billion dollars (36.8 billion).

While the figures marked growth from a year earlier, they came in below analyst consensus forecasts.

Overall you have to call this a strong performance from HSBC but falling short of fairly lofty expectations means the stock looks set to fall, Neil Wilson, a senior market analyst at ETX Capital, said.

Investor disappointment sent HSBCs London shares down 3.5% at the market open to around 733p.

HSBC logged higher expenses linked to the establishment of its UK ring-fenced bank  in line with new regulatory standards  at 392 million dollars (281 million) compared to 223 million dollars (160 million) a year earlier.

It also booked 28 million dollars (20 million) in costs associated with the UKs exit from the EU.

As part of its Brexit contingency plans, HSBC is on course to move up to 1,000 jobs to France where it already has a full service universal bank after buying up Credit Commercial de France in 2002.

Overall you have to call this a strong performance from HSBC but falling short of fairly lofty expectations means the stock looks set to fallNeil Wilson, senior market analyst at ETX Capital

While the overall results were as firm as anticipated, Mr Wilson said there were clear signs the bank is beyond recovery phase now as Stuart Gulliver heads off on his travels.

It is the last set of results under chief executive Stuart Gulliver, who is set to hand the reins to John Flint on Wednesday.

Commenting on the financial results, Mr Gulliver said: These good results demonstrate the strength and potential of HSBC.

All our global businesses grew adjusted profits and we concluded the transformation programme that we started in 2015.

HSBC is simpler, stronger, and more secure than it was in 2011. It has been my great privilege to lead HSBC for the last seven years, and in handing over to John I am confident the organisation is in great hands.

Looking ahead, the groups chairman Mark Tucker said the bank was forecasting reasonable growth across major global economies this year thanks to low unemployment, a recovery in consumer confidence and improving trade.

Worries over a hard landing in China after years of relatively high economic growth have also receded, he said, noting that Asian markets look set for a strong year  though rising international tensions and protectionist threats could disrupt the global economy.
Jeremy Corbyn warned that Britain's economy cannot be rebalanced without taking on the power of the financial sector (Aaron Chown/PA)

Jeremy Corbyn has launched a new onslaught on the City of London, promising a Labour government would take decisive steps to make it the servant of industry, not the masters of us all.

In a speech to the EEF manufacturers organisation, the Labour leader warned that Britains distorted, sluggish and unequal economy cannot be rebalanced without taking on the power of the financial sector.

He attacked a generation of politicians who believed the City could drive the whole economy and allowed it to exert a pernicious and undemocratic control over British politics.

After the attempted takeover of the GKN engineering group by Melrose Industries, Mr Corbyn also promised strengthened government powers to intervene in hostile takeovers.

In his address to the EEF conference in London, he called for a fundamental rethink on who the financial sector serves and how it is regulated.

Poorly regulated finance has dominated industry and politics. Its time for a change. Labour will stand up for the real economy. #EEF2018 pic.twitter.com/5ZT9zdBkaL  The Labour Party (@UKLabour) February 20, 2018

There can be no rebalancing of our distorted, sluggish and unequal economy without taking on the unfettered power of finance, he said.

For 40 years, deregulated finance has progressively become more powerful.

Its dominance over industry, obvious and destructive; its control of politics, pernicious and undemocratic.

The size and power of finance created a generation of politicians who thought the City of London could power the whole economy.

For a generation, instead of finance serving industry, politicians have served financeJeremy Corbyn

Out-of-control financial wizardry and gambling were left barely regulated, while the real economies in once-strong industrial areas were put into managed decline.

The welfare state was left to pick up the slack with sticking plaster redistribution to the people and places held back by the finance-led boom of predominantly the South East of England.

For a generation, instead of finance serving industry, politicians have served finance.

No more. The next Labour government will be the first in 40 years to stand up for the real economy.

We will take decisive action to make finance the servant of industry, not the masters of us all.

He pointed to the ongoing attempt by Melrose to gain control of GKN as a further example of short-term performance and narrow shareholder value (being) prioritised over long-run growth and broader economic benefit.

TheCityUK comments ahead of @jeremycorbyns @EEF speech: "too many politicians fail to grasp is that our industry is a national asset" 2.2 million jobs, 95.7bn of exports, paying 87bn of tax https://t.co/giNPX2HEQb pic.twitter.com/ETLDYonzwX  TheCityUK (@TheCityUK) February 20, 2018

We rightly praise the growth of companies like GKN and their location in the UK. And yet when we are facing the possible destruction of that company, the Government refuses to act, he said.

Thats why the next Labour government will broaden the scope of the public interest test to include explicit consideration of the needs of our economy, taking advantage of new freedoms outside of the EU to allow government to intervene to protect our industrial base.

Miles Celic, chief executive of industry body TheCityUK, said politicians like Mr Corbyn failed to understand the financial services sector was a national asset with major centres in cities such as Manchester, Glasgow, Cardiff, Birmingham and Bristol.

Two-thirds of the 2.2 million jobs in the industry are outside the M25, as are over half its 95.7 billion of exports. It is also the countrys largest taxpayer, contributing over 87 billion towards funding our vital public services, he said.

As well as providing jobs and tax revenue, this industry helps people save for a mortgage, start a business, invest in new technologies or plan for retirement.
An alleged top boss of the Gulf drug cartel was captured by Mexican marines on Monday in the northern border state of Tamaulipas, which for years has been terrorised by gangland violence.

A statement from the Mexican navy said the suspect it identified only as Jose Alfredo, with no last name, was arrested in the city of Matamoros, which is across from Brownsville, Texas.

A state government official with knowledge of the case confirmed that the detained man was Jose Alfredo Cardenas, alias "the Accountant" and "Mr Polite".

He is nephew to the brothers and former Gulf cartel leaders Osiel and Antonio Cardenas; the former is in a US prison while the latter was killed by Mexican security forces in 2010.

The official said no shots were fired in the pre-dawn raid. Authorities seized two military-grade weapons, ammunition, a vehicle and some cocaine and marijuana.

Tamaulipas, a key corridor for smuggling drugs and migrants to the United States, has long been plagued by cartel violence.

The state is one of five in Mexico for which the US State Department issued its highest warning level - "Do Not Travel" - under new guidelines last month.

Amid frequently shifting criminal alliances and loyalties in the state, since 2014 the Gulf and Zetas cartels have been pitted against a breakaway faction of the Zetas that calls itself the Cartel of the Northeast.

The faction is largely led by relatives of Miguel Angel Trevino Morales, alias Z 40, a Zeta kingpin who was captured in 2013.

The dispute has rocked Tamaulipas as well as nearby Nuevo Leon, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosi and other states where the Zetas have a presence and the Northeast cartel is now fighting them.

The war has claimed the lives of gangsters, police and civilians. Tamaulipas recorded 805 murders across the state last year, up sharply from 595 in 2016, according to federal government statistics.
Ilmars Rimsevics, who is also on the European Central Banks top policy-making council, said he had made a decision not to step down because I am not guilty.

The Associated Press reported that the chairman of local Latvian bank Norvik, Grigory Guselnikov, said Mr Rimsevics had asked for bribes since 2015.

At a news conference, Mr Rimsevics said my retreat would allow a man like Guselnikov to triumph.

Mr Rimsevics was detained on Saturday and released two days later on bail.

In response, Mr Guselnikov said Mr Rimsevics comments were contradictory, saying: He (Rimsevics) says that he does not regulate the banking industry, that it is the financial regulator. Then why would commercial banks try to attack him? If he thinks commercial banks are attacking him, hes admitting that hes involved in financial regulation.

Mr Guselnikov claimed that Mr Rimsevics told him that the financial regulator was loyal to him personally, and that he used that to threaten his bank with regulatory measures.

He said his bank still aims to find a win-win settlement with Latvia in the arbitration process.

The Norvik chief also claimed that his bank had been asked by Mr Rimsevics associate to launder 100 million dollars (71 million) from Russia.

Mr Rimsevics acknowledged knowing the middleman Mr Guselnikov mentioned, Renars Kokins, but said he had met him only once with Mr Guselnikov.

Latvias president, prime minister and finance minister have all called on Mr Rimsevics to step down from his post, at least while an investigation is under way. The government cannot force him to step down  only a court can  because the central bank is politically independent.

The stand-off risks destabilising the countrys financial system, where one bank, ABLV, has already needed a rescue loan from the central bank to remain afloat.

This comes after the US Treasury said last week that ABLV had institutionalised money laundering and recommended that ABLV be cut off from dollar transactions with US banks.

The AP also published a photo that shows Mr Rimsevics on a trip in 2010 that shows him in the company of the then-chief of a Russian military technology company. Data from the Russian border agency obtained by the AP shows Mr Rimsevics was in Russia at the time.

Mr Rimsevics said he did go on a fishing trip in the Russian region of Kamchatka in 2010, but that he does not know anybody in the photo and that the picture was likely tampered with.

The Latvian banking chief also said he had received death threats, which he had reported to the police.
The investigation relates to alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US election

The special counsel probing Russian interference in the 2016 US election has charged an attorney with lying to federal investigators about his interactions with a former Trump campaign official.

A document filed in federal court in Washington accuses Alex van der Zwaan of lying to investigators about his interactions with Rick Gates, a longtime business associate of President Donald Trumps former campaign chair Paul Manafort.

Both Gates and Manafort were indicted last year on charges of conspiracy to launder money and acting as unregistered foreign agents.

The plea hearing comes on the heels of an extraordinary indictment from Mr Mueller last week that charged 13 Russian nationals and three Russian companies in a hidden social media effort to meddle in the 2016 presidential election by denigrating Democrat Hillary Clinton and boosting the chances of Mr Trump.

The single-count information against van der Zwaan was filed ahead of a plea hearing scheduled for later on Tuesday.

The charge stems from a part of the special counsels investigation into Manafort and Gates, who are accused of directing a covert Washington lobbying campaign on behalf of pro-Russian Ukrainian interests.

According to the court filing, prosecutors said van der Zwaan lied to federal investigators about his role in the production of a report on the trial of former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

She is a political foe of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, whose political party was a client of Gates and Manafort.

In the charging document, van der Zwaan is accused of lying during an interview with prosecutors and FBI agents on November 3 2017.

The document accuses him of lying about the timing of his last communication with Gates and an unidentified person described as Person A.

It also accuses him of deleting emails sought by the special counsels office and lying about a phone call he surreptitiously recorded in September 2016 with Gates and Person A regarding the Tymoshenko report.

The report was cited in the 12-count indictment against Manafort and Gates.

It accuses the two men of acting as unregistered lobbyists in connection with the rollout of the report, which was commissioned by the Ukrainian government.

According to the indictment, Manafort and Gates used one of their offshore accounts to funnel four million dollars to pay secretly for the report.

The report was authored by Washington law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom, known as Skadden Arps.

Van der Zwaans now-defunct LinkedIn page lists him as an associate in the London office of the prominent law firm.

On Tuesday, Skadden Arps released a statement saying it had fired van der Zwaan last year. The firm said it has been co-operating with authorities in connection with this matter.

It did not say what led to the firing. The charging document notes the emails van der Zwaan is accused of deleting and withholding from the special counsels office were also sought by the law firm, which is referred to as Law Firm A.

Last year, van der Zwaan married the daughter of Ukrainian-Russian billionaire German Khan, according to the Russian editions of Forbes and Tatler magazines.

The lavish wedding to his daughter, Eva, was held at Luton Hoo, a historic mansion-turned golf hotel in Bedfordshire.

The three-day event included a Russian party complete with a Cossack choir and guests dressed in Russian folk costumes, according to the magazines.

Mr Khan, who was born in Kiev, shares control of Russias biggest financial and industrial investment conglomerate, Alfa Group, with fellow billionaires Mikhail Fridman and Alexei Kuzmichev.

Forbes estimates he is worth 10 billion US dollars (7.15 billion).
A Syrian man carries a child injured in government bombing in the rebel-held town of Hamouria, in the besieged Eastern Ghouta region on the outskirts of the capital Damascus. Photo: Getty Images

Dozens of people were killed by Syrian regime air strikes and artillery bombardment yesterday as Bashar al-Assad's forces appeared to be preparing an all-out assault on Eastern Ghouta, a rebel-held suburb of Damascus.

As Assad's troops and their Russian allies brought carnage to the outskirts of the Syrian capital, other pro-regime fighters were reportedly preparing to join with Kurdish forces to repel a Turkish incursion into the pocket of Afrin in northern Syria.

Turkey warned that it would open fire on regime forces if they sided with the Kurds, raising the prospect of the most direct confrontation between Turkish and Syrian troops since the start of Syria's war in 2011.

At least 71 people were killed and more than 300 were injured in 24 hours of intense bombing in Eastern Ghouta, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Many of the dead were children and pictures showed rows of small bodies wrapped in bloodied white shrouds.

Five children from one family - Mohammed, Hassan, Hind, Fatima and Sa'adia - were killed along with both of their parents when their neighbourhood was bombarded, activists said.

"Since this morning the bombing has not stopped," Abu Jihad Darawi, a Ghouta resident, said. "I was in the street and 20 rockets hit houses around me. The people are living as if they are dead."

Around 400,000 civilians are trapped inside Eastern Ghouta, which is the last major opposition-held area around Damascus.
Intense Syrian government shelling and air strikes on rebel-held Damascus suburbs have killed nearly 130 people in two days, marking the deadliest bombardment of the region in three years.

Retaliatory shells rained down on Damascus, killing at least eight people and causing panic among residents of the Syrian capital, the seat of President Bashar Assads power.

The violence in the capital and nearby areas came as scores of pro-government gunmen began entering the northern Kurdish enclave of Afrin  where Turkish forces are fighting Syrian Kurdish troops (the YPG) in a separate offensive.

Turkish troops shelled the areas shortly after the fighters entered the area, forcing journalists to flee. Turkish state media reported the pro-government forces then fell back to six miles from Afrin city.

Suburbs targeted by the Syrian government  scattered across an area known as eastern Ghouta  have been subjected to a weeks-long bombardment that has killed and wounded hundreds of people.

Opposition activists said government forces have brought in more reinforcements in recent days, suggesting a major assault is imminent to recapture the last main rebel stronghold near Damascus.

Expand Close There has been heavy shelling in Ghouta, a suburb of Damascus (Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets, via AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp There has been heavy shelling in Ghouta, a suburb of Damascus (Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets, via AP)

The area is home to some 400,000 people as well as thousands of insurgents belonging to different factions. The most powerful is the ultraconservative Army of Islam and Failaq al-Rahman, with a small presence of al-Qaida-linked fighters.

Videos from the eastern suburbs showed paramedics pulling out the injured from under the rubble while others are seen frantically digging through the debris in the dark, in search of survivors.

The bombardment that killed nearly 100 people on Monday saw the use of warplanes, helicopter gunships and missiles as well as artillery in a major escalation of violence near Mr Assads seat of power.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was the deadliest days in eastern Ghouta since 2015, adding that 20 children and 15 women were among those killed.

Expand Close (Syrian Civil Defence White Helmets via AP) / Facebook

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The opposition-affiliated Syrian Civil Defence, also known as White Helmets, said the shelling and airstrikes killed 98 and that some people are still under the rubble. It said the dead included one of the rescue groups members, Firas Jomaa.

Both the Observatory and the White Helmets reported more air strikes and shelling on Tuesday in eastern Ghouta as rebels pounded Damascus with mortar shells. The White Helmets reported 15 deaths on Tuesday while the Observatory said 23 people were killed.

The Observatory said the crazy shelling appears to be paving the way for a wide ground offensive on eastern Ghouta. If captured by government forces it would be another major victory for Mr Assad since the conflict began seven years ago.

Rebels retaliated by hitting some Damascus neighbourhoods with mortar shells, killing eight, including three children, and wounding 15 people, according to the state news agency SANA. On Tuesday morning, Damascus residents reported shelling of areas in the centre.

The UN envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, decried a recent upsurge in violence, expressing concerns that eastern Ghouta could fall victim to widespread bloodshed like that in northern Aleppo more than a year ago.

The UN childrens agency, Unicef, issued a one-page statement of protest against the killings and carried a headline, saying: Do those inflicting the suffering still have words to justify their barbaric acts?

The International Committee of the Red Cross also issued a statement saying that this cannot go on. It added that there had been distressing reports of dozens injured and killed every day in eastern Ghouta, with families trapped, with no safe place to hide from shelling. Dozens of mortars in Damascus cause civilian casualties and spread fear. We cannot let history repeat itself.
China has demanded an American man be "severely punished" after he was alleged to have stolen a thumb from a terracotta warrior after taking a selfie with the statue while it was on display at a museum in the US.

Chinese authorities have also demanded compensation for the 3.6m exhibit, which was on display at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.

Reports said that Michael Rohana (24), from Delaware, was attending an 'ugly Christmas jumper party' at the Institute on December 21 last year when he made his way into the museum's special exhibit, Terracotta Warriors of the First Emperor.

China's Xinhua news agency, citing the FBI, said 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 cavalryman's left hand and put it in his pocket, and then left."

Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Centre, which arranged for the loan of 10 of the statues, "strongly condemned" the theft, according to a report in the Beijing Youth Daily.

An official urged the US authorities to "seriously investigate" the incident, to "punish severely the culprit" and launch "compensation procedures".

The centre said it had loaned statues over the last 40 years but had never experienced a similar incident before.

Another group of 10 terracotta warriors are currently on display at the World Museum in Liverpool.

The statues are among 8,000 soldiers, chariots and horses which were first unearthed in 1974 in Xian, in China's north-western Shaanxi province. The terracotta army guarded the burial site of Qin Shi Huan, China's first emperor.

 Daily Telegraph, London

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]
Nikolas Cruz, facing 17 charges of premeditated murder in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, appears in court for a status hearing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. February 19, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Stocker/Pool

A former student accused of last week's deadly shooting at a Florida high school returned to court for a hearing on Monday in a case that has galvanized advocates of stricter gun control, including many of the rampage survivors.

Nikolas Cruz, his head bowed, hands shackled at his waist and wearing a red, jail-issued jumpsuit, showed no emotion during the procedural session in Fort Lauderdale.

The hearing ended with Broward Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth Scherer ruling that a defense motion filed last week remain sealed from public view. The content of the motion, sealed by another judge, was not described in the hearing.

In a second hearing, Broward Circuit Court Judge Charles Greene ordered the release of parts of a mental health assessment of Cruz by the Florida Department of Children and Families in November 2016. The report has already been leaked to South Florida's Sun Sentinel newspaper.

Cruz, who did not attend the second hearing, is facing 17 counts of premeditated murder after the attack on Wednesday at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, near Fort Lauderdale. It is the deadliest shooting ever at a U.S. high school.

The suspect, whose mother died in November, was investigated by authorities after videos surfaced on the social media platform Snapchat showing him cutting himself, the assessment by the Department of Children and Families said.

Expand Close Nikolas Cruz, facing 17 charges of premeditated murder in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, appears in court for a status hearing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. February 19, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Stocker/Pool / Facebook

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Whatsapp Nikolas Cruz, facing 17 charges of premeditated murder in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, appears in court for a status hearing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. February 19, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Stocker/Pool

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, the released report said.

In a statement, department secretary Mike Carroll said the records showed Cruz was getting mental health services before, during and after the assessment. Cruz was living with his mother and attending school when it concluded, he said.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has acknowledged it failed to act on a tip called in last month warning that Cruz possessed a gun and the desire to kill.

Greene agreed to the request by Cruz's team of public defenders to release the assessment. But he stopped short of allowing the release of details of Cruz's mental health history and child abuse records.

Student survivors gathered with teachers and gun safety advocates to plan a visit to the state capital of Tallahassee on Wednesday. They will demand state lawmakers enact a ban on the sale of assault weapons in Florida.

The White House said on Monday that President Donald Trump supports efforts to improve federal background checks for gun purchases. Trump angered some students by suggesting in a tweet on Saturday that the FBI had missed signs that the shooter was troubled because it was distracted by its investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election.
Nikolas Cruz during a brief court appearance yesterday with attorney Melissa McNeil in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Photo: Getty Images

US President Donald Trump is "supportive" of attempts to improve gun background checks, the White House has said in the first sign since the Florida school shooting that he backs changes to the system.

He has talked to a Republican senator who is pushing a bipartisan law aimed at making sure those carrying out the checks have all the relevant information.

A carefully worded statement from the White House said Mr Trump backed the drive in general but fell short of a full-throated endorsement for the proposals.

The legislation is limited in scope, encouraging government agencies to hand over relevant information to those doing the checks but not changing the rules on who can buy a gun.

It comes after criticism of the FBI over its handling of a warning about Nikolas Cruz, the 19-year-old suspected of killing 17 at a Florida high school last week.

Mr Trump reportedly sounded out members at his Mar-a-Lago club over the weekend about whether he should champion gun control measures after the attack.

It suggests the US president, who has repeatedly rejected calls for more controls, is considering a change in stance.

In November, John Cornyn, the Republican senator, announced a bipartisan bill alongside Chris Murphy, a Democratic senator, aimed at improving the background checks system.

Background

"The president spoke to Senator Cornyn on Friday about the bipartisan bill he and Senator Murphy introduced to improve federal compliance with criminal background check legislation," said Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary.

"While discussions are ongoing and revisions are being considered, the president is supportive of efforts to improve the federal background check system."

The bill was proposed after a man killed 26 people at a Texas church last year, only for it later to emerge that he should have been banned from buying a firearm.

His history of domestic abuse was known by the US air force, his former employer, but had not been passed to those who carry out the gun background checks.

The FBI last week admitted it had failed to act properly over a specific warning about Cruz as a potential gun attacker. Local police had also reportedly received 20 calls about him before the attack.

The senators' proposals, dubbed the Fix Nics Act, focus on the national instant criminal background check system, which is maintained by the FBI.

The database is cross-checked to determine if a prospective gun buyer has a criminal record or is ineligible to purchase a weapon.

The legislation would force state and central government agencies to draft plans for how to better pass on background information to the database.

It would also provide extra money to help improve the reporting of felony and domestic abuse charges.

However, the legislation does not tighten the rules on who can buy a gun.

Cruz returned to court on Monday for a status hearing, and the judge ordered that a defence motion filed last week remain sealed from public view.

Cruz sat during the short hearing in Fort Lauderdale without showing any emotion, his head bowed. The content of the motion filed by his lawyers was not described in the hearing.

Cruz is facing 17 counts of premeditated murder. His lawyers have said he will plead guilty if prosecutors agree not to pursue the death penalty.

No decision has been made on that.

 Daily Telegraph, London

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]
Michigan has sued a prisoner serving a life sentence for money he earned in jail for writing a book.

Curtis Dawkins, in prison for a committing murder during a botched robbery in 2004, published The Graybar Hotel last year to rave reviews.

Now the state of Michigan is seeking 90 per cent of his assets to include "proceeds from publications, future payments, royalties.

Mr Dawkins was praised as a gifted stylist whose stories illuminated the often overlooked lives of prisoners, as the New York Times reported.

The state would like the money his family puts in his prison account as well.

Michigan had calculated the cost of Mr Dawkins imprisonment since 2005 at $372,000 (266,000) and the states is one of 40 in the US that could require prisoners to pay for their incarceration.

According to The Guardian, "Michigan collected $3.7m from 294 prisoners" in 2017.

Mr Dawkins has put a third of a $150,000 advance from the publisher towards an education fund for his three children. The rest of the payments from publisher Scribner, part of Simon and Schuster, have been suspended pending the outcome of the litigation.

The former fiction writing graduate student who had suffered from drug and alcohol addiction for several years had killed Thomas Bowman in 2004.

Mr Bowmans brother was vocal about his opposition to the convicted killers book deal and profiting from it while in prison.

The state also frozen his prison account which he used for phone calls, extra food, and paper for his typewriter.

"I did wrong, but those kids are completely innocent, he told the newspaper, echoing the guilt he had expressed in the foreword to the short story collection.

A hearing is scheduled for early next week on the complaint which the state filed in October 2017.
Officials of the Central Bureau of Investigation and bank staff stand inside during a raid at the Punjab National Bank (AP)

Central Bureau of Investigation spokesman Abhished Dayal said five bank workers and an employee of main suspect Nirav Modi, a billionaire jeweller, were arrested for allegedly conspiring to cheat the Punjab National Bank.

Modi allegedly cheated the state-run bank by using fake letters of understanding to get loans. Most of the letters were sent to overseas offices of Indian banks, which made the actual loans, according to Sunil Mehta, Punjab National Banks managing director.

The Press Trust of India news agency reported that Modi sent a letter to the bank this week saying he owes less than half the amount claimed by the bank in connection with the alleged fraud.

He runs an international jewellery empire that reaches from India to New York, with a string of high-end brands. He and his family fled India weeks before the bank registered a criminal case with the CBI on January 31.

The CBI and other Indian investigative agencies searched dozens of offices and residences used by Modi and his business partners. The bank named Modi, his brother Nishal Modi, wife Ami Modi and uncle Mehul Chinubhai Choksi as suspects in its complaint.

In his letter to the bank, Modi said he owes about 50 billion rupees (553 million), according to PTI. He said the 1.2 billion cited by the bank had resulted in a media frenzy that pressured authorities to quickly search and seize assets from his Firestar International and Firestar Diamond International companies.

This thereby jeopardised our ability to discharge the dues of the group to the banks, Modi said.

Mr Dayal, the CBI spokesman, said the agency has not yet received Modis letter.

With the Indian media reporting that Modi and his family are hiding in New York or Dubai, the external affairs ministry said it has suspended the passports of Modi and his uncle Choksi for four weeks.

It said that if they fail to explain within seven days why their passports should not be cancelled, their travel documents will be revoked.
Images of surrogate babies born to a Japanese man who has been granted custody of 13 children he fathered (AP)

Mitsutoki Shigetas case raised eyebrows in 2014 when police raided a Bangkok property and found nine babies and nine nannies living in unfurnished rooms.

It was determined that Mr Shigeta had fathered the children using Thai surrogate mothers. The case helped usher in a Thai law prohibiting commercial surrogacy for foreign clients.

On Tuesday, Bangkoks Central Juvenile and Family Court gave Mr Shigeta sole legal custody of the children, saying he had showed plans to care for the children and is financially stable.

It also noted that the children were born before the new law, and that the surrogate mothers had signed documents waiving their custody rights.

Mr Shigeta is the son of an owner of a listed Japanese company and earns over 100 million baht (2.26 million) in annual dividends, according to the court. It said Mr Shigeta had opened bank accounts in Singapore for all 13 children.

The court said DNA evidence confirmed Mr Shigeta is the childrens father. He plans to send the youngsters to an international school and has bought a piece of land to house them next to a large park in central Tokyo, where they will be looked after by a sufficient number of nurses and nannies.

Reports in Thai media in 2014 said he had fathered 16 children in Thailand, but the courts decision mentioned only 13.

According to the court, Mr Shigeta has taken care of other minors, born from surrogacy, and raised them in Japan and Cambodia, where they were well looked after. The children that he cared for in Japan now all have Japanese citizenship, it said.

It is unclear where the children born in Cambodia are now. Cambodia inherited much of the surrogacy for hire business for foreigners after Thailand banned it, but later passed its own law against it.

The court said Mr Shigeta did not show behaviour linking him to human trafficking, which had been a concern when his story was originally revealed.
Mr Trump said it was 'another false accusation' (AP)

US president Donald Trump has criticised a woman who claimed he once forcibly kissed her, saying it Never happened!

Mr Trump tweeted: Who would do this in a public space with live securitycameras running. Another False Accusation.

The US president said he does not know Rachel Crooks and to the best of my knowledge, never met her.

Ms Crooks is among 14 women who have accused Mr Trump of past inappropriate behaviour. The US leader has denied the allegations. The Washington Post featured Ms Crooks in a story on Tuesday.

On Twitter, Mr Trump asks why the Post does not report the story of the women taking money to make up stories about me?

Ms Crooks went public during the 2016 election. She said she was a 22-year-old receptionist at Trump Tower in New York in 2005 when Mr Trump kissed her repeatedly on the cheeks and then directly on the mouth during an introductory conversation.
Charges have been filed against Alex Van Der Zwaan (AP)

A charging document filed in federal court in Washington accuses Alex Van Der Zwaan of one charge of making false statements. The information was filed ahead of a plea hearing scheduled for later on Tuesday.

The court filing said Van Der Zwaan lied to investigators about his interactions with Rick Gates.

Gates, a former Trump campaign aide, was indicted last year on charges of conspiracy to launder money and acting as an unregistered foreign agent.

Mr Mueller is investigating Russian election interference and links between the Trump campaign and Russia.
Copenhagen, Feb 20 (IBNS): Measles has rebounded in the WHO European Region. The disease affected 21 315 people and caused 35 deaths in 2017, following a record low of 5273 cases in 2016. The WHO Regional Office for Europe has released new data for 2017 one day ahead of a health ministerial meeting on immunization in Montenegro on 20 February 2018.

Every new person affected by measles in Europe reminds us that unvaccinated children and adults, regardless of where they live, remain at risk of catching the disease and spreading it to others who may not be able to get vaccinated. Over 20 000 cases of measles, and 35 lives lost in 2017 alone, are a tragedy we simply cannot accept, says Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe.

Elimination of both measles and rubella is a priority goal that all European countries have firmly committed to, and a cornerstone for achieving the health-related Sustainable Development Goals, Dr Jakab continues. This short-term setback cannot deter us from our commitment to be the generation that frees our children from these diseases once and for all.

Large measles outbreaks affect 1 in 4 European countries

The surge in measles cases in 2017 included large outbreaks (100 or more cases) in 15 of the 53 countries in the Region. The highest numbers of affected people were reported in Romania (5562), Italy (5006) and Ukraine (4767). These countries have experienced a range of challenges in recent years, such as declines in overall routine immunization coverage, consistently low coverage among some marginalized groups, interruptions in vaccine supply or underperforming disease surveillance systems.

Greece (967), Germany (927), Serbia (702), Tajikistan (649), France (520), the Russian Federation (408), Belgium (369), the United Kingdom (282), Bulgaria (167), Spain (152), Czechia (146) and Switzerland (105) also experienced large outbreaks, many of which were in decline by the close of 2017.

Actions to stop the current outbreaks and prevent new ones are taking place on various fronts. They include raising public awareness, immunizing health-care professionals and other adults at particular risk, addressing challenges in access, and improving supply planning and logistics.

Progress continues despite upturn in cases

The process of verifying measles and rubella elimination by country, introduced in 2012, has moved the Region closer to its measles and rubella elimination goal. Each year, the independent Regional Verification Commission (RVC) reviews country data and immunization activities and recommends actions to resolve the specific challenges faced by countries. As of the end of 2016, 42 of the 53 countries in the Region had interrupted endemic measles transmission. However, outbreaks will continue to occur until every susceptible child and adult is protected.

Ministers of health of 11 countries will meet on 20 February 2018 to discuss working together to achieve the goals set out in the European Vaccine Action Plan (EVAP) by 2020, including measles and rubella elimination. A Region-wide midterm EVAP progress report will be presented at the 68th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe in September 2018.
Bengaluru, Feb 19 (IBNS): As part of a state-wide initiative to enhance employability of technically skilled diploma holders, the Directorate of Technical Education, Government of Karnataka will facilitate assessment of 100,000 year final-year students from nearly 300 polytechnics.

Bengaluru based recruitment platform HireMee will conduct both technical as well as behavioural assessment of the students.

This was announced by H.U. Talawar, Director of Technical Education (DTE), Karnataka. Principals of majority of nearly 300 aided- and non-aided polytechnics in the State attended the meeting.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department of Technical Education and HireMee was exchanged by its founder Mr Chockalingam Valliappa and Mr H.U. Talawar. The idea is to create career opportunities for students completing education in technical diploma granting institutions as well as expand the pool for recruiting managers looking for talent for their companies.

As part of this MoU, HireMee will serve as a catalyst between recruiters and aspiring applicants from all government, aided and private polytechnic colleges in the state.

Once assessed, HireMee will connect the final year students graduating from nearly 300 polytechnics in urban and rural Karnataka with recruiters to facilitate the recruitment process with ease and speed along the same lines as the HireMee MoU with AICTE covering over 11,000 technical colleges.

The employability enhancement initiative will help academia understand the gap in employability skills and support it with industry specific inputs. The students especially from rural areas will benefit by availing of the job opportunities available with recruiters, said H.U. Talawar.

HireMee, being a Corporate Social Responsibility effort by Vee Technologies, will undertake the entire expense of this operation.

After the technical and behavioural assessment of graduating students, HireMee portal will make them discoverable by recruiters for the right jobs.

The goal is to help recruiting firms discover diamonds among students in rural and urban colleges without any cost to the students, recruiters or the colleges, says Mr Valliappa.

HireMee teams will administer a 100-minute proctored computer-based test for students within the college premises using its proprietary recruitment platform. This will enable students to identify improvement areas, bridge skill gaps and enhance their employability, adds Valliappa.

Among senior leaders who spoke on the occasion included Mr Shanmugam Nagarajan, Co-founder & Chief People Officer, [24]7.ai, Mr T R Parasuraman, Deputy Managing Director, Toyota Industries Engine India and Mr K Ravi, President of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Karnataka is a significant provider of skilled and technically qualified manpower. Finding jobs that best fit the aptitude of the candidates is an important aspect of creating job opportunities for youth.

Realising that most recruiters end up hiring candidates from large city colleges leaving out a significant number of bright students from lesser known ones in small cities and towns, this initiative aims to bridge that gap by covering urban, semi-urban and rural areas.

Dr MP Poonia, Vice Chairman, All India Council for Technical Education, the apex technical education regulator lauded HireMee for helping AICTE in its employability enhancement initiative. HireMee entered into an MoU with AICTE to offer its recruitment platform to graduating students of over 11,000 AICTE accredited institutions in the country in September 2017.

In early November, HireMee signed a MoU with Indias leading engineering university Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) and other Universities. HireMee aspires to complete deep and detailed assessment of a million final year students pursuing degree or diploma in engineering, humanities, sciences, and commerce and business management. On its platform, HireMee brings the results to the very doorstep of recruiters.

The assessment test covers Verbal Aptitude, Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, Technical Computer Fundamentals, Behavioural Aptitude, Communication and Technical Core Domain knowledge.

The students can upload video statement of purpose comprising three video clips of 20 seconds each on the HireMee mobile application to articulate their aspirations, demonstrate their communication skills and share their technical strengths for recruiters to assess their employability.

The results of these assessments are in the form of a 7-digit score (on a scale of 1 to 9) which becomes an integral part of a students profile. The HireMee scorecard and video

statement of purpose give recruiters detailed analytics of each candidate, making possible the short listing of hire-worthy job-seekers directly from the HireMee recruitment platform.
Mumbai, Feb 20 (IBNS): Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday said he is looking forward to see business, innovation and friendship bond between Gujarat state of India and his country to strengthen in the upcoming days.

He met state Chief Minister Vijay Rupani during his visit to Gujarat on Monday.

"Canada & Gujarat already have strong connections in business, innovation and friendship. And were working to make them even stronger. Thanks to @vijayrupanibjp, Chief Minister of Gujarat, for hosting us so generously today," Justin Trudeau tweeted.

The PM said he was glad to visit the state with his family as he posted: " Thank you Gujarat! Its Family Day for many of us back home - Im glad we got to spend it with you here."

Speaking on the meeting with the PM, Gujarat CM Rupani tweeted: " It was wonderful meeting the Right Honourable @JustinTrudeau Prime Minister Of CANADA in ahmedabad today. We discussed various aspects of cooperation between Gujarat and Canada in education, industry, start-up and innovation."

Trudeau is visiting Mumbai on Tuesday.

Trudeau is on a week-long visit to India.

The Canadian Prime Minister will hold a bilateral meeting with PM Narendra Modi on Feb 23.

Both the leaders will talk and focus on key issues like trade, defence, civil nuclear cooperation, space, tackling climate change energy and education. Trudeau's visit is expected to deepen ties between India and Canada.

Accompanied by his family, the 46-year-old prime minister arrived in New Delhi on Saturday evening. He has already been to Agra for a visit to Taj with his family.

Trudeau along with his family on Sunday visited Taj Mahal in Agra.

Image: Justin Trudeau Twitter page
New Delhi, Feb 20 (IBNS): Reacting to the country's biggest banking scam by celebrity jeweller Nirav Modi involving Punjab National Bank (PNB), the government has held the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) responsible, media reports said.

The government said the scam has exposed the failures of the RBI.

The government's reaction came at a time the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested three more PNB official who had allegedly conspired with Modi and his kin to issue Letter of Guarantee.

With the Letters of Guarantee, Modi used to raise loans from Overseas Indian banks.

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 and maternal uncle Mehul 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.

While the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered two cases against Modi, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has reportedly seized gold and diamond worth Rs 5,500 crores from the searches conducted at 17 properties of the diamond merchant across India.

On February 14, the CBI received complaints from PNB, which detected a Rs 11,292 crore fraud involving Modi.
New Delhi, Feb 20 (IBNS): Diamond czar Nirav Modi has accused the Punjab National Bank (PNB) of destroying his brand and business, media reports said.

In a written letter to the PNB, Modi stated that the overzealousness of the bank had restricted its ability to recover the dues.

Modi wrote the letter to the PNB on Feb 14 or Feb 15, 2018.

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 and maternal uncle Mehul 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.

While the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered two cases against Modi, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has reportedly seized gold and diamond worth Rs 5,500 crores from the searches conducted at 17 properties of the diamond merchant across India.

On February 14, the CBI received complaints from PNB, which detected a Rs 11,292 crore fraud involving Modi.
Baramulla,, Feb 20 (IBNS) : Three civilians, including a woman, were injured during an exchange of gunfire between Indian and Pakistani armies following ceasefire violation from across the border in north Kashmirs Uri along the Line of Control on Monday, officials said.

Srinagar based defence spokesman Rajesh Kalia issued a press statement late Monday evening and said the Indian Army are replying befittingly."

Unprovoked ceasefire violation initiated by Pakistan posts in Uri sector at 17:15 hours (Monday) our troopers retaliating appropriately, unconfirmed reports indicate causality on Pak troops, the spokesperson said.

"Pak posts are now targeting civilian population in Churunda village near the Line of Control, the spokesman said.

Jammu and Kashmir Police DIG SP Vaid said on twitter that the inhabitants of two villages in the locality have been removed to safer places.

"In view of unprovoked firing by #Pakistani troops in civilian areas of Churanda Silikote of #URI , inhabitants of villages of Thajal and Soni have been moved to safer locations. @JmuKmrPolice on spot and helping out the people," the tweet said.

According to locals, Indian and Pakistani soldiers resorted to firing at Churanda, the last village on the Line of Control in Uri located on a mountain beneath Hajipeer at around 5pm on Monday. This was followed by heavy shelling from both sides that left three civilians injured.



(Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri)
Chennai, Feb 20 (IBNS): Actor Kamal Haasan is all set to launch his political party on Wednesday, media reports said.

Haasan will launch the party in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, whom Haasan had earlier met, is likely to attend the launching event.

Though Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and Bihar CM NItish Kumar have been invited, their participation is yet to be confirmed, report said.

Haasan had earlier said his mission is to challenge the status quo that has been plaguing the politics of Tamil Nadu for some time now.

"However, for this to happen, my thoughts and actions need to collectively resonate with the people," he said.

Apart from Haasan, another Indian actor rooted in Tamil Nadu, Rajinikanth, is set to float his party ahead of the next Tamil Nadu Assembly election.

Image: facebook.com/iKamalHaasan
New Delhi, Feb 20 (IBNS) : The tussle between Delhi's Aam Aadmi Party Government and its officials turned uglier signalling a complex and murky political slugfest on the offing as a ruling party MLA on Tuesday lodged an FIR against Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash allegedly for using casteist remakrs against him, hours after the top bureaucrat claimed that he was assaulted by two ruling party legislators.

According to reports, AAP MLA Ajay Dutt, in his FIR, has alleged that the Chief Secretary had made casteist remaks against him at a meeting on Monday. This was the meeting where the Chief Secretary was claimed to have been assaulted by AAP legislators

Meanwhile the IAS officers' Association, met the Delhi Lieutenant Governor and expressed its concern over the alleged attack on the Chief Secretary.

Manisha Saxena, Secretary of the Association, said, "Met LG & put forward our concerns. Chief Secy was called for a meeting late at night; CM, Dy CM & MLAs were there, when CS reached he was roughed up. Since few years such things have been happening, officers have been insulted & humiliated."

Meanwhile, police reached the Delhi secretariat after another AAP MLA Ashish Khaitan called the Police Control Room, alleging he was manhandled at the secretariat.

"There was a mob, unruly and aggressive - they ran towards me shouting pro-BJP slogans ..my staff members have been hurt. Lodged a complaint with Daryaganj PS....Delhi police staff did not intervene," Khetan said.

A section of Government officers have gone on a strike in protest against the alleged attack on the Chief Secretary, making the situation more chaotic.

Delhi Administrative Subordinate Services President DN Singh announced a strike with immediate effect and said they will not go to work until those guilty are arrested.

Responding to the allegations by the Chief Secretary, the Aam Aadmi Party shared a post on its Twitter handle and said that the Chief Secretary refused to answer questions, and even used bad language against some MLAs.

The AAP said it will hold a press conference in the afternoon regarding the incident.

Earlier, the Chief Secretary had claimed that he was manhandled and abused at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's home by two lawmakers of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) late on Monday night.

NDTV has quoted the top bureaucrat as alleging that he was attacked in the presence of Kejriwal after being summoned for discussions on Aadhaar-related problems.

Prakash reportedly went straight to Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal's residence to complain about "misconduct and abuse" by the lawmakers, including Amanatullah Khan, a controversial politician who has been in trouble with the law in the past.

NDTV quoted the officer as saying that he was "held by his collar" and shouted at by Khan.

CM Kejriwals office has, however, denied reports of assault and said the Chief Secretary is acting at the behest of the BJP.

The said MLAs have also denied the allegation. Reports also say that Delhi IAS association in the national capital is meeting the Lieutenant Governor in this regard and they are also mulling to file an FIR

Condemning the alleged assault Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken tweeted : Kejriwal should apologise for this hooliganism which took place before him. AAP Govt is unable to deliver-Beating of Chief Secretary by MLAs in front of CM is another low & is aimed to divert attention from Govt failures! AAP does not know Governance and has failed miserably."

In a statement, the AAP said, About 2.5 lakh families were deprived of rations last month due to faulty implementation of Aadhar. The MLAs were under tremendous pressure from the public. There was a meeting of MLAs at CM residence. Chief Secretary refused to answer questions saying he wasnt answerable to MLAs and CM and that he was answerable only to the L-G. He used bad language against some MLAs and left without answering any questions. Now hes making ludicrous allegations.

image: TV Grab
Kolkata, Feb 20 (IBNS) : In a shocking reminder of the 2012 Nirbhaya rape case in Delhi, a 28-year-old mentally challenged tribal woman was gang-raped in West Bengals South Dinajpur district, media reports said.

According to reports, the miscreants also t hrust an iron rod into the victim's private parts.

The incident happened in Dehaband area under Kushmandi police station in south Dinajpur.

The woman was operated at the nearby Raigunj hospital, but was later shifted to Malda Medical College and Hospital after her condition deteriorated.

She is reportedly in a critical condition.

According to village residents, the victim had gone to a local fair on Sunday when she was dragged away by a few men and gang raped under a bridge. She was later rescued by the residents, who heard her screams and informed the police.

So far, there have been no arrests, although two persons have been detained for questioning in
New Delhi, Feb 20 (IBNS): The Indian government on Tuesday said it expects that Maldives will not be extending its state of Emergency any further.

The country declared a state of Emergency on Feb 5.

It will end today.

"The State of Emergency declared in Maldives on 5 February 2018 comes to an end this evening. It is our expectation that the Government of Maldives will not be seeking extension of the State of Emergency so that the political process in Maldives can resume with immediate effect," the MEA said in a statement.

"After the revocation of the Emergency, democratic institutions including the judiciary should be allowed to function independently and in a fair and transparent manner in accordance with the Constitution. The order issued by the Supreme Court of Maldives on 1 February 2018 should be implemented in letter and spirit," it said.

India said it was important that Maldives quickly returned to the path of democracy.

"It is important that Maldives quickly returns to the path of democracy and the rule of law so that the aspirations of Maldivian people are met and the concerns of the international community are assuaged," the MEA said.

Denouncing the detention of two Supreme Court judges in the Maldives, United Nations human rights experts earlier warned that the independence of the judiciary is under serious threat in the country, as is the principle of separation of powers between the State and the courts.

It is clear that the rule of law in the Maldives is now under siege, said the experts in a news release issued Monday by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

We call on the Government to refrain from any threats or interference that may hamper the courts independence as the supreme guardian of the countrys constitution and legislation, they added.
New Delhi, Feb 20 (IBNS): Reacting to the Delhi Chief Secretary assault case, Home Minister Rajnath Singh has assured that "justice will be done".

Singh took to Twitter to condemn the alleged assault of the Chief Secretary of Delhi government by two Delhi MLAs.

Singh said the civil servants should be allowed to work without any interference.

Singh's first tweet reads, "I am deeply pained by the happenings involving the Chief Secretary of the Delhi Government. The civil servants should be allowed to work with dignity and without fear".

I am deeply pained by the happenings involving the Chief Secretary of the Delhi Government. The civil servants should be allowed to work with dignity and without fear.  Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) February 20, 2018

In a following tweet, the Home Minister said he has sought report from Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. "The MHA has sought a report on the incident from the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. Justice will be done. A delegation of IAS DANICS & Subordinate Services of Delhi Government met me today and apprised me of the prevailing situation."

The MHA has sought a report on the incident from the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. Justice will be done. A delegation of IAS DANICS & Subordinate Services of Delhi Government met me today and apprised me of the prevailing situation.  Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) February 20, 2018

The tussle between Delhi's Aam Aadmi Party Government and its officials turned uglier signalling a complex and murky political slugfest on the offing as a ruling party MLA on Tuesday lodged an FIR against Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash allegedly for using casteist remakrs against him, hours after the top bureaucrat claimed that he was assaulted by two ruling party legislators.

According to reports, AAP MLA Ajay Dutt, in his FIR, has alleged that the Chief Secretary had made casteist remaks against him at a meeting on Monday. This was the meeting where the Chief Secretary was claimed to have been assaulted by AAP legislators

Meanwhile the IAS officers' Association, met the Delhi Lieutenant Governor and expressed its concern over the alleged attack on the Chief Secretary.

Manisha Saxena, Secretary of the Association, said, "Met LG & put forward our concerns. Chief Secy was called for a meeting late at night; CM, Dy CM & MLAs were there, when CS reached he was roughed up. Since few years such things have been happening, officers have been insulted & humiliated."

Meanwhile, police reached the Delhi secretariat after another AAP MLA Ashish Khaitan called the Police Control Room, alleging he was manhandled at the secretariat.

"There was a mob, unruly and aggressive - they ran towards me shouting pro-BJP slogans ..my staff members have been hurt. Lodged a complaint with Daryaganj PS....Delhi police staff did not intervene," Khetan said.

A section of Government officers have gone on a strike in protest against the alleged attack on the Chief Secretary, making the situation more chaotic.

Delhi Administrative Subordinate Services President DN Singh announced a strike with immediate effect and said they will not go to work until those guilty are arrested.

Responding to the allegations by the Chief Secretary, the Aam Aadmi Party shared a post on its Twitter handle and said that the Chief Secretary refused to answer questions, and even used bad language against some MLAs.

The AAP said it will hold a press conference in the afternoon regarding the incident.

Earlier, the Chief Secretary had claimed that he was manhandled and abused at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's home by two lawmakers of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) late on Monday night.

NDTV has quoted the top bureaucrat as alleging that he was attacked in the presence of Kejriwal after being summoned for discussions on Aadhaar-related problems.

Prakash reportedly went straight to Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal's residence to complain about "misconduct and abuse" by the lawmakers, including Amanatullah Khan, a controversial politician who has been in trouble with the law in the past.

NDTV quoted the officer as saying that he was "held by his collar" and shouted at by Khan.

CM Kejriwals office has, however, denied reports of assault and said the Chief Secretary is acting at the behest of the BJP.

The said MLAs have also denied the allegation. Reports also say that Delhi IAS association in the national capital is meeting the Lieutenant Governor in this regard and they are also mulling to file an FIR

Condemning the alleged assault Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken tweeted : Kejriwal should apologise for this hooliganism which took place before him. AAP Govt is unable to deliver-Beating of Chief Secretary by MLAs in front of CM is another low & is aimed to divert attention from Govt failures! AAP does not know Governance and has failed miserably."

In a statement, the AAP said, About 2.5 lakh families were deprived of rations last month due to faulty implementation of Aadhar. The MLAs were under tremendous pressure from the public. There was a meeting of MLAs at CM residence. Chief Secretary refused to answer questions saying he wasnt answerable to MLAs and CM and that he was answerable only to the L-G. He used bad language against some MLAs and left without answering any questions. Now hes making ludicrous allegations.
New Delhi, Feb 20 (IBNS): Youth from Jammu & Kashmir participating in WatankoJano, an initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs, called on the President of India Ram Nath Kovind, at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday.

Speaking on the occasion, the President noted that the young participants have visited many cities, including Agra, Jaipur, Ajmer and now Delhi. They have interacted with a diversity of people and cultures of our country.

They would no doubt have sensed the love and affection of our fellow citizens.

The President cited examples of achievements of students and youth from Jammu & Kashmir in different national-level competitive examinations and endeavours.

He said that the entire country is proud of and appreciates the promise and talent of the young people of Jammu & Kashmir.

This talent, he said, can lead them to great success.
New Delhi, Feb 20 (IBNS): Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that Prince Dara Shukohs writings can come as a refreshing source for infusing peace and harmony, whenever we are confronted by the narrow walls that tend to divide humanity and conflicts that result in needless violence.

He was addressing the gathering after visiting the exhibition that showcases the forgotten Prince of yester years Dara Shukoh organized by Mr. Francois Gautier, at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, in New Delhi on Tuesday.



The Vice President called the exhibition most timely and might help us better understand humanitys eternal quest for peace, harmony and love.

He further said that Prince Dara Shukoh, one of the sons of Emperor Shah Jehan grew up under the unmistakable influence of the teachings of the Sufi Saint, Shaik Muin-uddin Chisti.

His message is relevant for all times, he added.

The vice President said that principles of Sufism are highly relevant to break down narrow prejudices and bring people together, especially in todays world of materialism, consumerism and growing religious fundamentalism.

He further said that all religions seek to unite people and the common strand in each of them, including Sufism, is spiritualism, tolerance and respect for others.

There is a greater need today to put into practice some of the meaningful teachings of Sufi saints to bring harmony between all groups of society and break down divisive walls between communities, he added.



Following is the text of Vice Presidents address:



I am happy to be visiting this exhibition which showcases the forgotten prince of yester years Dara Shukoh, the Prince who exemplified an extraordinarily broad vision of cultural synthesis.

I think this is most timely and might help us better understand humanitys eternal quest for peace, harmony and love.



As we look at the long history of human existence, we see a relentless quest. We in different parts of the planet, in different cultures and societies, have asked questions about our life and its deeper purpose and significance.



Each society has come up with different answers and explanations. Religions, belief systems and world views took shape.



Over a period of time, these have become institutionalized. The edicts, the scriptures, sculptures, art, architecture, music and performing arts gave expression to these belief systems. They provided a sheet anchor to humanity, a bonding force to face the uncertainties and lifes twists and turns. It increased cohesion and group solidarity. Underlying all religions is the need for self-actualization, the social need to connect with fellow human beings and the spiritual need to connect with some higher force.



This quest for the spirit of oneness has ironically both unified as well as divided humanity because of the difference in the external forms, rituals, texts, names and symbols.

The human history has many lessons for us. We have periods of long bitter wars fought in the name of religion. We have peaks of peaceful co-existence and depths of strident intolerance. Every era has examples of this ceaseless battle between various religious groups and also of the refreshing soothing voices of, balanced, path breaking visionaries.



Sisters and Brothers,



This is a constant struggle of letting the voices of harmony, mutual respect and understanding rise up. Todays symposium is a step in that direction. We are examining the relevance of Sufism today and also recalling a forgotten prince of yesteryears. One is a philosophical strand that has through the ages has been one of the unifying influences binding people throughout its long and rich history. The second is Dara Shukoh, the Prince who exemplified an extraordinarily broad vision of cultural synthesis.



In todays world of materialism, consumerism and growing religious fundamentalism, the principles of Sufism are highly relevant to break down narrow prejudices and bring people together. Basically, all religions seek to unite people and the common strand in each of them, including Sufism, is spiritualism, tolerance and respect for others. As the famous poet Iqbal had said Majhab Nahi Sikhaata Aapas me Bair Rakhna. No religion teaches us to fight among ourselves.



In fact, in the present times when religious bigotry and narrow sectarian ideologies are gaining ground, and when attempts are being made to use religion as a force to divide people, tenets of Sufism like true belief in Divine Oneness, acting in accordance with the Divine Will, practicing altruism, giving preference to well being of others and purity of intention, among others can act as a cementing force.



Like many religions of the world that have found in India a hospitable home, Sufism has also been a part of Indias cultural landscape since medieval times. The Indian ethos and the cultural, philosophic tradition has always recognized and celebrated diversity and plurality. Ours is a country that recognized thousands of years ago that - Ekam sat vipra bahudha vadanti (Truth is one, sages call it by various names).



Early mystics of Sufism like Rabia and Mansoor remain symbols of divine love. The 10th century Sufi mystic Rabia represents the ideal of selfless love preached by Sufi mystics.



The preachings of divine love by Sufi saints permeated Sufi philosophy and made them popular everywhere including most parts of the Middle East, Iraq, Iran, Turkey Central Asia, Afghanistan and the subcontinent. Rumi, inspired by Shams Tabrezi, wrote some of the greatest Sufi poetry which is popular all over the world today, including his celebrated masnavi.

Similarly, Hafez of Shiraz wrote some of the greatest poems which celebrate divine love. Hafezs poetry is an elegant expression of the experience of divine love, a recurring motif in his work. Hafez has been a great source of inspiration for generations of poets, thinkers and people across all segments of society. No wonder his mausoleum in Shiraz in Iran, attracts millions of visitors to this day.



Urdu poets from the earliest ages have brought into a sharp focus the synthesizing influence of Sufism, bringing out its many facets such as fanaa (mortality or annihilation of self), baqaa (permanence or divine eternity), qatra (drop), being a part of dariya (ocean) or zarra (speck) as a part of a sehra (desert). In this manner, mans relationship with God had been defined by several poets, many of them emphasizing the commonality of faiths.



As Meer Taqi Meer says:

Uske farogh-e-husn se jhamke hain sab main noor

shama-e-haram ho ya ho diya somnath ka

(It is His beauty which illuminates everything

Be it a candle in a mosque or a lamp in the temple of Somnath)

Sufi saints attracted followers from all faiths and to this day we find this spirit of togetherness when it comes to spiritualism in practice. For example, Khaja Mohiuddin Chistis shrine in Ajmer, Hazrath Nizammuddin Auliyas dargah in New Delhi and Ameen Peer Dargah near Kadapa in my own state of Andhra Pradeshthese are among thousands of such shrines venerated by people across the country.



All these great saints like rishis and munis deeply loved humanity and could see the vital connection between humanity and divinity.



No wonder the impact of Sufi philosophy on Indian culture and social reform has been enormous. As Narada in his Bhakti Sutras defines devotion, it is selfless love in its highest form. This selfless love is underpinned by qualities that are fundamental for peaceful coexistence  empathy and enlarged vision, a willingness to listen and understand, and an ability to tolerate differences and recognize the commonalities.



Today we are also inaugurating an exhibition of a remarkable person in Indian history who had internalized some of these qualities in his actions.



Prince Dara Shukoh, one of the sons of Emperor Shah Jehan grew up under the unmistakable influence of the teachings of the Sufi Saint, Shaik Muin-uddin Chisti. He studied all prominent religions of the world especially Islam and Hinduism and wrote the remarkable work called Majma-ul-Bahrain or the Mingling of the two Oceans in which he said that he did not find any difference except verbal, in the way they sought to comprehend the truth, and both represent spiritual effort of man to realize Truth and God. His message is relevant for all times.



Whenever we are confronted by the narrow walls that tend to divide humanity and conflicts that result in needless violence, Dara Shukohs writings can come as a refreshing source for infusing peace and harmony. In fact, there are many such luminaries who have left their imprint on the sands of time and whose lives and messages need to be studied and popularized.



There is a greater need today to put into practice some of the meaningful teachings of Sufi saints to bring harmony between all groups of society and break down divisive walls between communities.

I am glad that Mr. Francois Gautier has dedicated many years of his professional life to the study of Indian history and has been organizing a number of programmes to share the lessons he has drawn from this treasure house. I compliment him and his team in Foundation for Advancement of Cultural Ties (FACT) for presenting the facts and a dispassionate analysis.



I would like to see that more such knowledge-sharing events are organized to build stronger bonds between people of different religions and cultures. For all those who care about our present and the future, it is important to build on all that is noble and glorious and avoid sliding into the dark alleys of distortion and destruction. To echo the saints of this ancient land, Tamaso ma Jyotirgamaya (Lead us from darkness to Light).



Jai Hind!
New Delhi, Feb 20 (IBNS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate twoday Uttar Pradesh Investors Summit 2018 in Lucknow on Wednesday.

Several Union Ministers including Rajnath Singh , Nirmala Sitharaman, , Suresh Prabhu, Smriti Irani, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Dr Harsh Vardhan, V K Singh, Pradhan will attend the summit and chair individual sessions to attract investment for the state.

While the PM will inaugurate the summit on Feb 21, President Ram Nath Kovind will be present at the closing ceremony.

The event has been organized by Uttar Pradesh Government to showcase the investment opportunities and potential in the state.

It will provide a global platform, to bring together ministers, leaders from the corporate world, senior policy makers, heads of international institutions and academia from around the world to further the cause of economic development in the state and promote cooperation.

Seven nations  Finland, Netherlands, Japan, Czech Republic, Thailand, Slovakia and Mauritius have been identified as country partners for the event. Several memorandums of understandings (MoUs) are expected to be signed during the summit.

The event comes in the backdrop of Prime Ministers clarion call to the states to engage in the spirit of co-operative and competitive federalism for all round development of states showcasing their potential and attracting investors.

In keeping up with his promise and commitment, the Prime Minister inaugurated Global Investors summit in Guwahati on February 4 and Magnetic Maharashtra on Feb 18 this year.
This fund will be situated in Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC), an autonomous body registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.



"The Ministry has so far sanctioned 39.4 lakh houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban). There is a very good response from the States / UTs and nearly 2 - 3 lakh houses are being sanctioned every month. More than 17 lakh houses have been grounded and about 5 lakh houses have been completed. Under Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS), wherein housing for EWS / LIG / MIG beneficiaries is being sanctioned by the Banks / HFCs to the eligible beneficiaries under the PMAY(Urban), the responses have grown significantly. Nearly 87,000 Housing Loans have been sanctioned in last 8 months under the Scheme and over 40,000 applications are under consideration for approval. The target is to cater to the demand of housing shortage of nearly 1.2 crore and make available housing to all by 2022, when the Country celebrates its 75th Anniversary of Independence," read a government statement.

NUHF will facilitate raising requisite funds in next four years so that flow of Central Assistance under different verticals i.e. Beneficiary Linked Construction (BLC), Affordable Housing in Partnership(AHP), In-Situ Slum Redevelopment (ISSR) and Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) is sustained and construction of houses to address the gap in Urban Sector progresses smoothly.
Srinagar, Feb 20 (IBNS): Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls for the immediate release of Kamran Yousuf, a Kashmiri photojournalist who has been held for the past six months and is due to appear before a New Delhi court on Wednesday for a decision on his bail application.

Arrested on Sept 5 for allegedly participating in a demonstration in Kashmir, the 23-year-old Kamran Yousuf is facing a possible death sentence on spurious charges for trying to cover one of the worlds most secret conflicts.

A chargesheet produced last week by the National Investigation Agency, Indias counter-terrorism agency, claims that Yousuf is not a real journalist/stringer by profession because he only covered anti-national activities and never performed his moral duty as a journalist to cover developmental activity or the inauguration of [a] hospital or school building.

It is not up to the Indian interior ministry to decide what a journalist is supposed to cover, said Daniel Bastard, the head of RSFs Asia-Pacific desk. The contradictory nature of the charges clearly shows that Kamran Yousuf is being used as a scapegoat in order to intimidate journalists who try to document the situation in Kashmir.

The authorities must free him at once and, above all, they need to understand that it is not the job of journalists to relay their propaganda. As a result of the constraints on press freedom, the state of Jammu and Kashmir is in the process of becoming a new Tibet, a black hole for news and information.

A quick look at Yousufs Instagram page suffices to show that this photojournalist has covered all sorts of news in a region that, without independent press photographers, would be completely cut off from the world.

Stringing for such media as the Greater Kashmir newspaper and the Gulistan News TV channel from his base in Pulwama, a town 40 km south of Srinagar, he has covered both police activities and attacks by rebel groups.

Recognized by his colleagues for his professionalism, he was listed among Kashmirs nine most promising photographers two weeks before his arrest.

Arrested by the state police on the pretext that he participated in a protest in which stones were thrown at the security forces, he was formally charged on 18 January with sedition, criminal conspiracy and attempting to wage war against India. The last of these charges carries a possible death sentence.

Partly as a result of the repeated violations of the freedom to inform in the Kashmir Valley, India is ranked no higher than 136th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2017 World Press Freedom Index.



(Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri)
Mumbai, Feb 20 (IBNS): Actress Rani Mukerji went back to school, her alma mater Maneckji Cooper on Tuesday to launch the promotional video from her forthcoming release, Oye Hichki.

A catchy song, which is also the first song that the makers have released, sees Rani call out the prevalent social Hichkis like preference for fair skin, looking down at people with disabilities, girls not having the right to choose their life partners, etc.

This video highlights the different types of discriminations prevalent in our society today that exists in each and everyone of us.

This song urges everyone to identify them and overcome them, one discrimination at a time. Rani launched the song at her school Maneckji Cooper today afternoon.

Rani plays the character of Naina Mathur who has a nervous system disorder, Tourette Syndrome that forces an individual to make involuntary repetitive movements or sounds.

Hichki focuses on turning disadvantages into opportunities and staring down at challenges that life throws at one and ultimately winning over them.

It is also a subtle reminder about discrimination that exists in our society and has become a part of our daily lives.

It highlights this through the story of Naina, who faces discrimination from our society that firmly believes she cannot be a teacher because of her disorder.

Sung by Harshdeep Kaur and lyrics by Jaideep Sahni, the catchy Oye Hichki song is choreographed by none other than Vaibhavi Merchant.

Directed by Siddharth P Malhotra and produced by Maneesh Sharma, the movie is set to touch the hearts of audiences when it releases on March 23.

The link to the song: https://youtu.be/Ka8QsMQY4go
Hyderabad, Feb 20 (IBNS): Humanoid Sophia, who has come to India, on Tuesday picked his favourite actor and it is none other than superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who rules the hearts of millions.

Sophia, who has been created by American scientist David Hanson, addressed the audience on the second day of the World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) 2018 in Hyderabad.

When asked about her pick from Bollywood and Hollywood, Sophia took no time to utter the name of the Bollywood superstar.

Khan, who has romanced with several female actors onscreen, took to Twitter to display his love towards Sophia.

Welcoming Sophia to the country, Khan tweeted: "Public declaration of love for a lady who has come to my country, India. U Simulate me, every bit and byte of u, Sophia."

Public declaration of love for a lady who has come to my country, India. U Simulate me, every bit and byte of u, Sophia. https://t.co/HxAhTORpHD  Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) February 20, 2018

When asked where she would like to go for a date, Sophia said "space", media reports said.

But not Khan, this time Sophia named his creator Hanson with whom she wants to go for a date.

Sophia is Hanson Robotics latest and most advanced robot.

Sophia has also become a media sensation, having given numerous interviews to multiple media outlets, performed in concert, and even graced the cover of one of the top fashion magazines.




Los Angeles, Feb 20 (IBNS): Hollywood actor Sylvester Stallone has denounced news of his death on social media and said he was 'alive' and 'healthy'.

"Please ignore this stupidity Alive and well and happy and healthy Still punching!," the Hollywood actor tweeted.

He also shared the hoax news of his death which went viral on social media on Monday.

His younger brother Frank called this episode of spreading hoax news as 'sick minded'.

"Im very protective of my older brother and I dont find any humor in this fake post today on my brothers demise. It upset my 96 yr old mother so Im doubly upset. I just cant understand what makes these sick minded people tick?@seanhannity @greggutfeld @FoxNews," he tweeted.

Im very protective of my older brother and I dont find any humor in this fake post today on my brothers demise. It upset my 96 yr old mother so Im doubly upset. I just cant understand what makes these sick minded people tick?@seanhannity @greggutfeld @FoxNews  Frank Stallone (@Stallone) February 19, 2018

Sylvester is an American actor and filmmaker.

He is well known for his Hollywood action roles, including boxer Rocky Balboa, the title character of the Rocky series' seven films from 1976 to 2015; soldier John Rambo from the four Rambo films, released between 1982 and 2008; and Barney Ross in the three The Expendables films from 2010 to 2014.
New York, Feb 20 (JEN): Two United Nations human rights experts have urged the Government of the United States to halt the execution a seriously ill person stressing that given his health condition, the use of lethal injection could possibly amount to torture.

In a news release, Agnes Callamard, the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; and Nils Melzer, the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, also expressed concern that Doyle Hamm, who is who is due be executed in the state of Alabama on 22 February, may not have received a fair trial.

The execution is set to go ahead even though Mr. Hamm has cancer and medical professionals have previously had difficulty accessing his veins, the release added.

We are seriously concerned that attempts to insert needles into Mr. Hamms veins to carry out the lethal injection would inflict pain and suffering that may amount to torture, said the UN rights experts.

The release also noted that judges have ordered a fresh medical report to be delivered by 20 February, two days before the scheduled execution.

We urge the authorities to halt [Hamms] execution, annul his death sentence, and hold a re-trial that complies with international standards, as we have received information indicating that his original trial did not fully respect the most stringent due process and fair trial guarantees, they added.

The Special Rapporteurs also said that the planned method of execution, using Alabamas three-drug protocol, may also have torturous effects, because the sedative used is incapable of keeping a convict unconscious in the presence of the excruciating pain likely to be induced by the other drugs.

Further, Ms. Callamard and Mr. Melzer said that imposing the death penalty in a manner that constitutes torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment would render the execution arbitrary in nature and thus be in violation of the fundamental right to life.

The news release also noted that the human rights experts have written to the US Government to express their concerns about the case.

UN Special Rapporteurs and independent experts are appointed by the Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a specific human rights theme or a country situation. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work.

UN Photo/Loey Felipe




New York, Feb 20 (JEN): Many migrant workers end up trapped in low-pay, unsafe and unhealthy jobs, the head of the United Nations labour agency warned Monday, calling for the adoption of fair labour migration governance frameworks at the global, regional and national levels.

Most migration today is linked, directly or indirectly, to the search for decent work opportunities, said UN International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General Guy Ryder in his message for World Day of Social Justice, which is annually observed on 20 February.

But many migrant workers end up trapped in jobs with low pay and unsafe and unhealthy working conditions, often in the informal economy, without respect for their labour and other human rights. They often have to pay high recruitment fees to get a job, on average over a years wages  this makes them highly vulnerable to forced labour and child labour, he added.

Marked this year with the theme Workers on the Move: the Quest for Social Justice, the Day focuses on the worlds 150 million migrant workers, many of whom face exploitation, discrimination and violence and lack even the most basic protections.

This is particularly true for women, who make up 44 per cent of migrant workers, he said.

Guy stressed that migrant workers like all workers are entitled to fair treatment and fair treatment for migrant workers is also key to preserving the social fabric of societies and to sustainable development.

If labour migration is well-governed, fair and effective, it can deliver benefits and opportunities for migrant workers, their families and their host communities.

Governance should be guided by international labour standards, in particular the fundamental principles and rights at work and the relevant ILO and UN conventions. The ILOs Multilateral Framework on Labour Migration and the General Principles and Operational Guidelines for Fair Recruitment offer further guidance.

The ILO is encouraging the adoption of fair labour migration governance frameworks at all levels  global, regional and national, including a comprehensive, integrated and whole of government approach that engages labour ministries together with business, and employers and workers organizations  those on the frontlines of labour markets.

We can choose to make labour migration a win-win situation for migrants and host communities, he said, noting that how the international community develops and helps Member States implement a global compact on migration  to be adopted later this year  will be instrumental in determining the future course of labour migration.

In 2007, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 20 February as World Day of Social Justice, inviting Member States to promote national activities in accordance with the objectives and goals of the World Summit for Social Development and the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly.

Image: IFAD
New York, Feb 20 (IBNS): Recognizing Latin American and Caribbean countries as pioneers in the protection of refugees and asylum seekers, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees urged the region to bolster its standards even further given the global increase in number of people being driven from their homes.

I encourage those States who have not yet done so, to accede to the refugee and statelessness instruments, and to move forward with extending pragmatic protection responses to those in need, said High Commissioner Filippo Grandi, speaking at a regional consultation on the Global Compact for Refugees, in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil.

In his remarks, Grandi drew attention to the gaps in the international refugee protection regime and how these could be overcome. He also highlighted the need to support the displaced both at the places of origin and reception.

Further, Grandi also noted the innovative practices in the region to address challenges facing people on the move, such as complementary mechanisms, humanitarian visas, and national and regional migration arrangements.

I ask you to continue doing so, especially now, when the numbers of refugees are increasing, he added, noting that the region has more success stories on the inclusion of refugees and local communities than anywhere else in the world.

According to estimates, the Latin America and the Caribbean region represents about 16 per cent of the 65 million people who have been forced to leave their homes due to wars, conflicts and persecutions.

Being held on 19 and 20 February, the consultation (more information, in Portuguese) will see officials from 36 countries and territories in the region as well as civil society and other stakeholders discuss and consolidate the regions contributions to the Global Compact on Refugees that will be adopted by the General Assembly later this year.

UNHCR/Sebastian Rich
Damascus, Feb 20 (IBNS): Dozens of civilians have been killed by strikes conducted by Syrian forces in Eastern Ghouta area outside Damascus, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.

The group said that at least 77 people, including 20 children, have been killed during the operation launched by the pro-government forces to pummel the rebel groups.

The United Nations has urged the Syrian government to stop conducting such strikes, stating that it has spiraled out of order.

So far, hundreds of people have been killed and many more injured, since the Syrian Army stepped up their attack on rebel forces.

Image: screengrab
Dhaka, Feb 20 (IBNS): Days after BNP supremo Khaleda Zia was sentenced to five years imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, the former PM on Tuesday filed an appeal challenging the verdict in the lower court, media reports said.

In the 1,222-page appeal, Khaleda prayed to the High Court to acquit her of the corruption charge and grant her bail in the case, advocate Sagir Hossain Leon, a lawyer for the BNP chief, told The Daily Star.

The High Court has fixed Feb 22 as the date for hearing on whether it will accept Zia's appeal.

The bail plea of the leader will be heard by the bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Shahidul Karim.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was on Feb 8 sentenced to five years in jail as a Bangladesh court convicted her in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, reports said.

Her son Tarique Rahman and four others got 10 years' jail term in connection with the same case.

Zia was found guilty of embezzlement of 252,000 Dollars from a trust created for an orphanage in the name of her late husband and Bangladesh's former President Ziaur Rahman.
The Union Cabinet approved six railway projects across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha at an estimated cost of Rs11,661cr.



The govt has given its approval for six-laning of Nidagatta - Mysuru Section of NH-275 from km 74.200 to km 135.304 on Hybrid Annuity Mode in Karnataka.



The development of six-laning of about 61 km is estimated to cost approximately Rs.2919.81 crore including the cost of land acquisition and pre-construction activities. The civil construction cost is approximately Rs2028.93cr.



The project would also provide employment opportunities to locals during project construction. With the widening and improvement of the highway, the areas would experience greater economic growth resulting in higher employment opportunities for locals. An employment potential of 2,48,000 (appox.) mandays will be generated locally during the construction period of the Stretch.



The project road is a section of NH 275 connecting the two prominent cities in the state of Karnataka i.e. Bengaluru the commercial capital and Mysuru the cultural capital. Also, it links important places like Mangalore, Kodagu, parts of Kerala, etc. to Bangalore.



The existing 4 lane road has already crossed its capacity, resulting in traffic jams and accidents. The road is passing through congested and thickly populated towns and settlements like Maddur, Mandya & Srirangapatna, etc.



The upgradation to 6 Lanning alongwith 7m service road on each side and construction of bypasses at Maddur, Mandya & Srirangapatna and grade separated structures of this stretch of the National Highway will greatly reduce the time and cost of travel, particularly of heavy traffic plying in the region. The provision for by-passes will ensure decongestion of the urban areas of Maddur, Mandya & Srirangapatna. Elevated road has been proposed in the dense built-up areas of Maddur. The project entails construction of service roads of about 60.35 km on both sides, which would facilitate movement of local traffic in the inhabited /urbanized areas.



The bus shelters being developed at 21 places will be of great utility for enhancing public transport facilities. The existing traffic on this stretch is varying from existing 41433 to 52163 Passenger Car Units (PCUs) and keeping in view the expected traffic growth in the near future, the expansion to 6-Laning is a very timely step taken by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
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www.indiainfoline.com is part of the IIFL Group, a leading financial services player and a diversified NBFC. The site provides comprehensive and real time information on Indian corporates, sectors, financial markets and economy. On the site we feature industry and political leaders, entrepreneurs, and trend setters. The research, personal finance and market tutorial sections are widely followed by students, academia, corporates and investors among others.
Stock CMP* (Rs) Dividend Yield (%) TTM 3-yr avg. Dividend Yield (%) SJVN Ltd. 37.00 7.4 5.4 Coal India Ltd. 305.80 6.6 7.3 Hindustan Zinc Ltd. 312.15 9.4 9.3 Vedanta Ltd. 321.55 6.1 4.4 HPCL 380.05 5.2 4.6 Sonata Software 324.00 1.0 5.2

The stock market has investors with different risk appetites and financial goals. People with higher risk appetite prefer capital appreciation and those with lower risk appetite prefer periodic pay-outs in the form of dividends. Hence, investors with less risk taking capacity invest in stocks with high dividend yields. In the current market scenario, where valuations are already high (SENSEX is at ~20x FY19E earnings) and the future direction of the market is uncertain, higher dividend yield stocks offer greater margin of safety. Hence, there is merit in evaluating these type of stocks. Companies that pay high dividends on regular basis are often the ones that have matured business cycles, and hence, limited avenues for re-investment (at least in the near term).The finance minister in the Union Budget 2018-19, has proposed that from April 1, 2018 onwards, there will be a 10% tax on dividend distributed by equity-oriented mutual funds. MF schemes will deduct the 10% dividend distribution tax and distribute the rest to investors. Hence, some companies may go in for buyback in place of dividends to avoid this tax treatment.Following are some fundamentally strong companies that have high dividend yield.Source: ACE Equity, Bloomberg*Current Market Price as on February 19, 2018SJVN is a power generation company which operates hydro, wind and solar plants. The total power generation capacity at the end of FY17 stood at 1,964.6MW. The company has committed to develop 1,000 MW of solar power generation capacity over the next 5-7 years. It has high average dividend yield of 5.4% over the last three years. Further, the company has recently announced a buyback offer of 20.68cr shares at a rate of Rs38.75 per share. The size of the buyback is ~Rs801cr. The stock is currently trading at a valuation of ~1.1x FY20E P/BV.CIL holds a dominant market share in coal mining and produces 84% of the nations coal output. The production for the company stood at 543mn tonnes in FY17 against a target of 599mn tonnes (91% of target). CIL plans to expand production to 908mn tonnes by FY20. Coal Indias historical average dividend yield for last three financial years was 7.3%. The total cash position (including current investments) of the company as on September 30, 2017 was Rs34,584cr. The stock is currently trading at ~6.8x FY20E EV/EBITDA.HZL is a mining company that produces and refines zinc, lead and silver. It is the second largest producer of zinc globally and also boasts of having one of the lowest production costs in the world. HZL aims to move to underground mining completely by FY20 with a mining capacity of 17.5mn tonnes per annum. HZL unveiled a 6-year expansion plan in 2014 that required $1.6bn in capex. The cash and cash equivalents for the company stood at Rs19,176cr at the end of Q3FY18. It has historical dividend yield of 9.3% over the last three years. The stock is currently trading at ~11.2x FY20E EPS.Vedanta is a conglomerate with a wide commodity mix covering iron ore, zinc, copper, aluminium, coal, oil & gas and others. The company also operates power generation assets in India for both captive consumption as well as commercial generation. The company expects capex spends to reach ~$480mn in Q4FY18E and $1.3bn in FY19E. The cash and cash equivalents at the standalone level stood at Rs11,897cr at the end of Q3FY18. The historical average dividend yield of the stock over the last three years stood at 4.4%. The stock is currently trading at ~6.3x FY20E EPS.Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited is third largest public sector refining and marketing company in India. HPCL operates two refineries, one in Mumbai (7.5mmt) and other in Vishakhapatnam (8.3mmt). Companys operational performance is expected to remain strong with capex lined up for Bhatinda refinery (HMEL), expansion of the Mumbai refinery to 9.5mmtpa and Vizag refinery to 15mmtpa over the next four years. We expect HPCLs earnings growth to remain firm, with a strong outlook on gross refining margin (GRM) and marketing margins. The stock is currently trading at ~5.8x FY20E EV/EBITDA.Sonata Software is a global information technology (IT) services and solutions provider for travel, retail & distribution and software product companies. It has strategic alliances with Microsoft, IBM, SAP, Oracle and HP. It focuses on digital segment (32% Q3FY18 revenue) through building intellectual properties (IP) and reviving core OPD business. The company is expected to benefit from traction in infra services (IMS, 23% of International IT Services revenues) due to rising cloud adoption. It targets to double the growth in International IT services business coupled with scale-up in retail (27% of revenue) and travel (28%) verticals. The net cash on the books of the company as on December 31, 2018 was Rs394cr. The stock is currently trading at 13.9x FY20E EPS.
RK Damani's Derive Investments bought 26.5 lakh shares of Fortis Healthcare (FHL) on Monday via bulk deal. The firm bought 26,58,843 shares of Fortis Healthcare at Rs144.50 a piece in a bulk deal, according to the NSE data.Recently, government has ordered a Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) probe against Fortis Healthcare and Religare Enterprises, which are at the centre of a controversy involving accusations of misconduct against their promoters Malvinder and Shivinder Singh, as per media reports.

FHL has two businesses i.e. hospitals and diagnostics (SRL Limited). Hospital business contributed 81% of FY17 revenue, while rest 18% came from the diagnostic business. FHL operates 45 healthcare facilities in India and abroad (including projects under development) with ~10,000 potential beds. The top 10 healthcare facilities contributed ~77.4% of the hospital business revenue in Q1FY18. SRL had a network of 368 labs and ~5,350 collection points by Q1FY18 end.

FHL continues to expand the therapeutic coverage, which will benefit the company going ahead. The RHT deal and cost cutting measure in hospitals are expected to improve its margins by ~200bps by FY19E. The proposed demerger of SRL will be a value unlocking opportunity. The valuation looks attractive (10.2x FY20E EV/EBITDA), as the stock has fallen by ~45% since May, 2017.

FHL ended at Rs146.35, up by Rs8.85 or 6.44% from its previous closing of Rs137.5 on the BSE. The scrip opened at Rs133.25 and touched a high and low of Rs147.9 and Rs131.3 respectively. The stock traded above its 200 DMA.
What is the real measure of a healthy economy? How much it made in profits that year or how happy its citizens are? Ideally the latter. Taking cue are several countries who are realising the importance of not measuring everything in money.

Here are the countries that between creating a basic income and offering free healthcare are putting their citizens first.

1. Singapore

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Just today, Singapore announced a one-time bonus for its citizens aged 21 and older. While the bonus itself can be between S$100 - S$300, it will depend on the person's income. The cost of this little activity is reportedly coming to S$700 million. But why do this? As their Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat puts it, "This hongbao reflects the government's longstanding commitment to share the fruits of Singapore's development with Singaporeans." Makes total sense. Perhaps how the job scene is changing across the globe has some bearing on why more and more countries are considering a universal basic income.

Back in 2015, the Singaporean government had also announced a bag of goodies for every child born that year. This was to celebrate 50 years since the establishment of Singapore.

2. Finland

The Finnish government first announced its plans to give a basic income (no questions asked) to its citizens almost a year back. For the two-year pilot trial, reportedly 2000 people, picked at random, will be receiving 'unconditional' monthly payments of almost $600 (Rs 38,700 approx). The thought behind this is to see what citizens do with the free money, and whether the plan to provide free basic income to citizens outperforms the current social benefits in place.

Besides, the Finnish government also gives new mommies maternity packs that includes baby care products. There's even a cash grant of 140 thrown in there somewhere. Parents also get to work less till the time their child is two years old. Oh did we mention the free daycare?

3. Switzerland

Switzerland tourism

In November, 2017, Albinen, a tiny village in Switzerland (and perhaps a little more desperate than generous) decided to pay 53,000 (Rs. 43,00,950 approx) to anyone under the age of 45 years and willing to purchase property worth 151,900 (Rs. 1,30,59,754). There's an additional 7,600 (Rs. 6,53,547) per child that's part of the bounty. While a dwindling population may have a lot to do with offer, the number is worth your appreciation.

4. Italy

Speaking of money, back in 2016, a whole bunch of hotels in Assisi, Italy started a 'Fertility Room' campaign that need couples to conceive during their stay at said hotels, furnish proof and then avail a free holiday. Though frowned upon by some, others argued this was 'an act of deep love' that needed to be encouraged.

5. Russia

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Back in 2007, Russia declared 12 September the national Day of Conception. This meant that any woman who gave birth nine months from this day would be eligible to refrigerators, SUVs and even cash.

6. France

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France is no China. Here, any couple with three or more kids enjoys discounts on a whole bunch of things across the country. Paid (100 per cent) maternity leave here can last up to 16 whole weeks. France even has generous disability benefits - a disabled adult with no work experience can benefit from as much as 403 (Rs 33,000 approx); and 666 (Rs 53,000 approx) in case of a disabled couple with no financial aid.

7. Denmark

Denmark may have the most generous unemployment benefits. According to one Glassdoor survey, the unemployed in Denmark rake in 90 per cent of their previous earnings for 104 weeks.

8. Canada

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Canada understands that healthcare should be accessible to all and so it is: all medical care here is free and funded by government taxes. Drugs from pharmacies are set at a cheap rate. The best part is that this cheap yet quality healthcare sticks to you for your entire life, even once you become a pensioner. There are lesser forms to fill in hospitals and almost no hidden costs.

9. Bhutan

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Bhutan should ideally have been at the top of the list but since this isn't in any particular order, we'll leave this here. The Land of the Thunder Dragon is really sincere in its effort to keep its citizens happy, so much so it even has a Gross National Happiness Index. Bhutan gives equal weightage (if not more) to the collective happiness of its people, conservation of culture, traditions and values, and complete socio-economic development. The generosity lies in acknowledging the fact that sometimes money is not all that.
The United States is now infamous for the most mass shootings in the world.

Nikolas Cruz, Florida Mass School Shooting Accused

It's been just a few days since the Florida School mass shooting shook the world. The 19-year-old man accused of shooting 17 people to death at a Florida high school legally purchased the assault rifle used in the killings. That's right - it was a legal purchase.

Nikolas Cruz now is accused of carrying out the second-deadliest mass shooting at a public school in U.S. history

Gun violence in American schools is an epidemic and every incident reignites the debate over gun control in the US. Lack of background checks and easy access to weapons are the main reasons behind such incidents.

To compare gun laws in India and the US, we have an extremely difficult process when it comes to licensing. To put things into perspective, Sandhya Ramesh, a freelance writer took the effort to post an elaborate Twitter thread explaining how gun licensing in India is not easy.

The police performs stringent background checks for 2 months. This includes reviewing the applicants mental health history, criminal history, interviewing them and their family, interviewing their neighbors re: suspicious and aggressive behavior, domestic violence, and more, she wrote.

Read the tweets here.

#1

A thread on how to get a gun in India. (It's not easy).  Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) 19 February 2018

#2

For a civilian to obtain a firearm, a gun license is mandatory. Minimum age for applying for one is 21. The application form asks details about past criminal behavior. The process to get one can take months, even years. pic.twitter.com/N6jSQUuSqp  Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) 19 February 2018

#3

Required documentation: last 3 years income tax returns, 2 character certificates from eminent members in your locality, proof of education, proof of age, proof of identity, proof of residence, physical fitness certificate, mental health certificate, narc test, 4 photos.  Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) 19 February 2018

#4

The police performs stringent background checks for 2 months. This includes reviewing the applicant's mental health history, criminal history, interviewing them and their family, interviewing their neighbors re: suspicious and aggressive behavior, domestic violence, and more.  Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) 19 February 2018

#5

All interviews are recorded and sent to both the Criminal Branch and the National Crime Record Bureau for record keeping purposes. Licensing Authority officials then interview the applicant. All reasons for approval or declining of a license are meticulously documented.  Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) 19 February 2018

#6

All applicants have to undergo a mandatory arms handling course that covers how to fire a gun correctly, safe handling, safe storage, and safe transportation.  Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) 19 February 2018

#7

Guns can be issued for three purposes only: self-defence, crop protection, and sport. If you apply for a license for self-defence, you are required to prove imminent/anticipatory threat to your life. Protection from wild animals counts.  Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) 19 February 2018

#8

Licenses are usually issued by state licensing authorities. National licenses that can be used across the country are rare.

The probability of success for obtaining a license is higher if you are 30 and above.

A license is valid for three years.  Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) 19 February 2018

#9

Possession of a gun or a license is not guaranteed by the law or the Constitution. Legally held weapons can be confiscated at any time as seen fit.  Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) 19 February 2018

#10

To purchase a gun with a license, the civilian need to pre-book it with a licensed arms dealer, who in turn procures it from a factory. It can also be purchased from factories in proximity to your residence directly.  Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) 19 February 2018

#11

Indian Ordnance Factory is the only legal manufacturer of guns. Importing guns is illegal.  Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) 19 February 2018

#12

Civilians are allowed possession of only Non-Prohibited Bore (NPB) category weapons. This means two things:  Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) 19 February 2018

#13

Civilians are allowed possession of only Non-Prohibited Bore (NPB) category weapons. This means two things:  Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) 19 February 2018

#14

1. bolt actions, semi-automatics, barrels shorter than 20 inches are prohibited. In special circumstances, they can be issued (only) by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Central Govt. after receiving a recommendation from the State Home Ministry.  Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) 19 February 2018

#15

These exceptions are always high ranking government officials and their families, defence personnel, and a select few professional shooters. Collectors are also exempted, but all collectibles are non-functional.  Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) 19 February 2018

#16

2. Firearms designed to discharge continuously unless finger is lifted off trigger, ie fully automatics, are completely banned. As are guns that can discharge noxious gases.  Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) 19 February 2018

#17

Air rifles, paintball guns, and blank firing guns are also classified as weapons and require licenses because these can be converted to functioning guns with machinery work.  Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) 19 February 2018

#18

Tasers firing less than 15 feet require a license as well. But the govt has made obtaining this license much easier for women following the infamous 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape case https://t.co/pqYDAyYYlN  Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) 19 February 2018

#19

More documentation required for civilian and arms dealer to obtain a gun from a factory: photocopy of gun license, a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the police and the factory owner, transportation license possessed by the factory to transport the gun, residential proof.  Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) 19 February 2018

#20

This process takes at least a month. And upon procuring a firearm, the civilian is required to produce it for inspection to check compliance and record-keeping in the licensing booklet.  Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) 19 February 2018

#21

All public spaces including malls, hospitals, movie theatres, and schools of course, are designated gun-free zones. Any property can apply to become a gun-free zone.  Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) 19 February 2018

#22

Accessories designed to stifle the firing of a gun like silencers and flash-hiders are illegal. Possession and manufacture of replica of firearms also requires a license. pic.twitter.com/SCSTetMNFE  Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) 19 February 2018

#23

By the look of it, it is not nearly as easy to carry a gun in India, as it is in the US. And thank God for that.
Priyanka Chopra has just been getting embroiled into controversies, despite being outside India. The actress was recently dragged in the Nirav Modi fraud case as she had featured in his commercial advertisements.

The global icon, who was the face of the jewellery brand, however, denied knowing having any relations with him outside of work. Infact, her mother Madhu Chopra even revealed that Nirav Modi has not paid Priyanka dues for featuring in his jewellery campaign.

This is still not over and PC has got into another storm. Priyanka, who is the tourism ambassador for Assam, was earlier backlashed , when she said the state is known for its insurgency.

And now, she donned a cleavage showing dress on the Assam calendar which has created more spark. Boko MLA Nandita Das and another MLA Rupjyoti Kurmi have raised their concern over the issue.

The government should preserve the respect of the Assamese society. Frock is not an Assamese attire and the calendar pictures were not sober at all. The government should have known how to preserve the prestige of the Assamese society, instead they could have used the traditional mekhela sador. This is the reason we have protested against the calendar, Kurmi told the portal TIME8.



The MLA added, There are a lot of talented Assamese actors, the government should look into this and accordingly appoint one.

Priyanka is yet to respond on the controversy. Meanwhile, the international actress will be seen in the third season of Quantico and in her second Hollywood film, A Kid Like Jake.
Stardom has its own pros and cons and for actors, doing normal day-to-day things gets difficult, thanks to the paparazzi culture.

Because everyone wants to know what their favorite stars eat, wear and go. However, stars have become smarter. From their secret visits to wearing masks, they have found their ways of not getting mobbed. Ranbir Kapoor, who went on to a recce to Bhendi Bazaar in Mumbai for his film Brahmastra didn't get mobbed or clicked. How, you ask?

Well, the actor enjoyed his bike ride and here's a picture shared by actor Hussain Dalal.

The film that also stars Alia Bhatt and Amitabh Bachchan will be helmed by Ayan Mukerji. Have a look.

While we have seen several working stills from the film, this one is a special one because Ranbir looks like one happy kid. In case you missed it, have a look at team's first leg of shoot in Bulgaria.
Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna's PadMan might have received mixed reviews from the critics but the film is doing well at the box-office. The film did manage to create the right buzz and has sparked off a healthy conversation around menstruation in India.

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And now, a scientist, working towards educating tribal women about menstrual health and providing them with cheap sanitary pads, has urged the PadMan star Akshay Kumar to screen the movie in village schools and hostels.

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According to a PTI report, Maya Vishwakarma, popularly known as Padwoman or Pad-jijji in the tribal areas of Narsinghpur district of Madhya Pradesh, has written a letter to Kumar.

Gaon Connection

In her letter, she has urged him to arrange a screening of the movie, which deals with the issue of menstrual hygiene, in schools and hostels in villages.

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According to her, this will help to create awareness about menstrual hygiene among girls and women in rural areas. The movie should especially be screened for males in villages to make them sensitive about the menstrual health of women and change their outlook on an issue which is still considered a taboo, said the 36-year-old biologist.

Vishwakarma has returned to her village Mehragaon in Narsinghpur district from the US, where she went for higher studies, and is devoting her energy to spreading awareness about menstrual hygiene among tribal women.

BCCL

In her letter, she has also explained why Akshay Kumar should talk to state governments and convince them to declare the movie tax-free so that it reaches a large number of people across the country. She explained that she was compelled and inspired to write such a letter after she herself experienced unsafe menstrual hygiene during her early years. Vishwakarma started her mission two years ago. Vishwakarma said only 24 percent of the women in Madhya Pradesh use sanitary pads.
India today test-fired its medium range nuclear capable Agni-II missile with a strike range of 2,000 km from Abdul Kalam Island off Odisha coast, Defence sources said.

The trial of the surface-to-surface missile was conducted from a mobile launcher at the Launch Complex-4 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at around 8.38 am, the sources said.

The Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) has already been inducted into the services and today's test was carried out by the Army's Strategic Forces Command (SFC) with logistic support provided by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), they said.

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The 20-mt-long Agni-II ballistic missile has a launch weight of 17 tonne and can carry a payload of 1,000 kg over a distance of 2,000 kms.

The state-of-the-art missile, already a part of the country's arsenal for strategic deterrence, was launched as a training exercise by the armed forces, a DRDO scientist said.

Agni-II, a two-stage missile, equipped with advanced high accuracy navigation system and guided by a unique command and control system was propelled by solid rocket propellant system, he said.

The entire trajectory of the trial was tracked by a battery of sophisticated radars, telemetry observation stations, electro-optic instruments and two naval ships located near the impact point in the down range area of the Bay of Bengal.

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Agni-II was developed by the Advanced Systems Laboratory along with other DRDO laboratories and integrated by the Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hyderabad, sources said.

The missile is part of the Agni series of missiles which includes the Agni-I with a 700 km range, Agni-III with a 3,000 km range, Agni-IV and Agni-V both having long range capabilities.

The first proto type of the Agni-II missile was carried out on April 11, 1999 and last launch was a user's trial on May 4, 2017.
Seems like Saudi Arabia is swiftly moving towards giving its women the rights they needed for a long time. Three months after the kingdom announced a historic decision to end a ban on women driving, it said women will be able to drive trucks and motorcycles.

In September, King Salman issued a decree saying women will be able to drive from next June as part of an ambitious reform push in the conservative kingdom.

The Saudi General Directorate of Traffic gave details of the new regulations that will follow the lifting of the ban on the official Saudi Press Agency late on Friday.

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"Yes, we will authorise women to drive motorcycles" as well as trucks, it said, adding that the royal decree stipulates that the law on driving will be "equal" for both men and women.

There will be no special licence plate numbers for female-driven cars, it said.

But women involved in road accidents or who commit traffic violations will be dealt with at special centres that will be established and run by women.

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Saudi Arabia was the only country in the world to impose a ban on women driving and its maintenance was seen around the world as a symbol of repression in the Gulf kingdom.

Its historic decision to allow women to drive from next June has been cheered inside the kingdom and abroad -- and comes after decades of resistance from female activists, many of whom were jailed for flouting the ban.

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Saudi Arabia has some of the world's tightest restrictions on women.

Under the country's guardianship system, a male family member -- normally the father, husband or brother -- must grant permission for a woman's study, travel and other activities.
Wadala police, probing a baby-selling racket, have found that the buyers of three newborns are a Worli doctor, a Bengaluru software engineer and a Thane gynaecologist paediatrician couple. Babies born to poor parents were sold to them for Rs 4-4.5 lakh each.

wnd.com/Representational Image

"We have found three sets of parents and three sets of child buyers. Their statements are being recorded," said a senior police officer. The baby-selling racket was busted by Wadala Truck Terminal police last month with the arrest of a 29-year-old child trafficker, Julia Fernandes, a Worli resident. She had bought a seven-day-old boy from Munna Shaikh (38) and his wife Shazia (35) for Rs 20,000. She was to sell him for Rs 1.5 lakh. The police caught her before she could conclude the deal with the potential buyer.

"The baby was sent to a childcare centre. The juvenile justice board has named him Adhiraj. His father, Shaikh, has been arrested. He told the police he was debt-ridden and wanted to repay a loan of Rs 1 lakh," said a police officer.

Representational Image

According to sources, the Bengaluru software engineer bought a child from Julia for Rs 4.5 lakh, while the Thane doctor couple paid Rs 4 lakh. The amount the Worli doctor paid has not been disclosed. "The Worli doctor, who was childless, knew the prime accused, Julia. The deal was made for a much lower amount than what the others paid," said a source. "Julia was a patient of the doctor and that is how they might have made their plan."

Because of several factors, there is a long waiting list for adoption in India.

A police officer said no money has been found in the woman's account.

Police teams have visited Bengaluru and New Delhi in search of child traffickers and buyers. An officer said cops were still making inquiries. Investigators have recovered 50-60 photographs of some children. Their identities and whether they were sold is yet to be established.
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Now a spokesperson for the worlds second biggest insurer has said a newly created working group is examining the issue surrounding coal and coverage. A Reuters report noted that the group is likely to come up with a decision around April or May; in the interim, status quo remains in terms of providing insurance.

The most important point for us is various countries have an energy need that needs to be fulfilled. They need to be insured, Allianz board member Guenther Thallinger was quoted as saying. We believe that with dialogue with various companies over time we can hopefully work down to a much lower level of coal.

Meanwhile environmental NGO Urgewald, part of the Unfriend Coal campaign, has some pretty strong words in response to the insurers dialogue preference.

Allianzs ESG (environmental, social, and governance) criteria is clearly too weak to exclude the dirtiest coal companies, said Regine Richter, energy and finance campaigner at Urgewald. If it does not want to fall further behind insurance industry climate pioneers like AXA, it must cease providing insurance to coal companies as soon as possible.

Richter, who described the German insurer as being blind to the contradiction given its seemingly opposing take on coal investments and insurance, added that just dialoguing will do little in terms of climate protection.

However, Allianz believes otherwise. It previously told Insurance Business that it has been systematically assessing ESG risks for all transactions in sensitive sectors and countries.

We are convinced that our holistic ESG approach is meeting the needs of complex risk assessment processes even better than a sector exclusion, Allianz said in an earlier statement. It is part of our daily business not to insure clients who dismatch [sic] our financial and non-financial risk criteria.
68% of homeowners said they believe it is acceptable to omit or adjust information in their application to keep their insurance premiums low, while at the same time, 61% fear they might accidentally omit something in their application. Worryingly, a quarter believe that their claim should be covered regardless  even if the information they provided when they applied was not completely accurate.

As a result, insurers need to strengthen their validation processes and improve their customers experience by leveraging prefill at the application stage, LexisNexis has urged. Alongside tackling the problem of misrepresentation and fraud, prefill could help insurers retain more customers, according to Jay Borkakoti, director of home insurance for the firms UK and Ireland arm.

A smooth and uncomplicated customer journey plays an increasingly crucial role in driving customer acquisition in the home insurance market, Borkakoti told Insurance Business.

The customer journey is usually the first interaction a customer has with the insurance brand and establishing trust at the initial point of contact is key. However, historically, the questions asked are pretty obscure or difficult to answer making the process clunky and long-winded, he continued.

The end result is that the customer either drops out of the process and fails to secure the cover they need, or hazards a guess at the responses  which raises the risk of unintentionally giving the insurer incorrect rating inputs, despite best intentions.

Both insurers and customers alike support the idea: 85% of homeowners said they would like to see information on their property pre-filled during application, and 64% of home insurers described automatic prefill as extremely or very valuable.

However, the reality of the resources available doesnt quite match up to the demand. Given the appetite for prefill, there is a big opportunity for more market-wide, contributory datasets to help assess risk, according to LexisNexis.

Historically, these have been less popular in the home space than in motor due to the increased level of fraud and the requirement for enrichment in that market, Borkakoti said.

Any such databases that do exist in the home space tend to effectively be variations of motor solutions, which arent necessarily tailored for the home market and the challenges bespoke to this market. In that context, there clearly is opportunity to create something that is.

An ideal version would hold core information on the two key components that underpin a home insurance quote: the risk assessment of the property, including geography, and the people living in it, and would be supported by additional third-party datasets, Borkakoti explained.

Based on this data, information would automatically be pulled into the application at point of quote, making the customers life much easier when applying for home insurance, he said.



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How brokers can expand this client base by 58%
We launched the UK Innovation Foundry to build on a central principle of Zurichs global strategy  that innovation and fostering an innovative culture should be a permanent fixture for all organisations that want to stay relevant, explained David White, managing director - retail at Zurich Insurance plc. If we are going to think and work differently, we need to focus our efforts in the right places and the Innovation Foundry will take ideas from an initial spark, test them for value at every stage, and move to a full-scale roll-out for the right ideas.

Zurich said the Innovation Foundry will progress the firms innovation agenda in a manner that is formally coordinated, led by UK head of innovation Mark Budd. All ideas are welcome  from improving processes to introducing technologies or a proposition. Examples in the UK include the insurers partnerships with Laka and EasyJet for disruptive bike cover and dynamic insurance pricing models, respectively.

Building on our experience and achievements over the past year, we aim to work this in to the very fabric of our business, added White. No idea will be considered wrong; however, if something doesnt work we want to fail fast and move on to the next thing. This is a very exciting time for Zurich in the UK, so watch this space!

Innovation Foundrys process was created with support from long-term partner Ninety Consulting.
South Carolina has alerted insurers of several changes to loss costs for the states voluntary and assigned risk workers compensation markets and has issued a requirement that updated loss cost multipliers be filed in response to the recent termination of the states injury fund assessment.

Thanks to a revision by the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI), workers compensation loss costs in the states voluntary market will decrease by an average of 7 percent, according to a corrective action order from the South Carolina Department of Insurance.

The order, dated Jan. 26, says NCCI filed an overall revision of -7 percent for loss costs with an effective date of April 1, 2018. The changes in loss costs vary depending on the industry groups.

End of SIF Assessment, Required Loss Cost Multiplier Update

Insurers in South Carolina are also no longer required to include an assessment for the South Carolina Second Injury Fund (SIF) in their loss cost multipliers (LCMs). The SCDOI said Jan. 30 that the SIF assessments were effectively terminated in 2017 in accordance with the states 2007 workers comp reforms that enacted a transition plan to close out the SIF beginning in 2013.

The final of five planned SIF assessments was issued in 2017, and the State Fiscal Accountability Authority said the most recent analysis by the states audit firm KPMG indicated no additional need for assessments, the department said. The next analysis by KPMG is planned for 2019 and SCDOI said no further assessments are anticipated before that time.

As such, SCDOI said in its notice that workers compensation insurers are required to file an update to their loss cost multipliers (LCMs) by April 1, 2018, to ensure that rates charged for workers compensation insurance are not excessive.

The updated LCMs must take effect no later than Aug. 1, 2018, and are required so that rates may be adjusted to properly reflect the reduction in costs brought about by the cessation of the SIF, the SCDOI said in a statement. All insurers LCMs must be filed in 2018, even if their current LCMs do not include a SIF assessment provision.

The elimination of the assessment was somewhat anticipated. SCDOI said in its 2016 workers compensation report that additional analysis would determine whether an assessment would continue after 2017, and SCDOI was hopeful that SIF assessments would no longer be an issue or a component of loss cost multiplier filings in the near future.

As a result of 2016 legislation passed by the South Carolina Legislature, insurers doing business in the state must now file to adopt approved NCCI loss costs. The reforms  the first to the states workers compensation system since 2007  made it a legal requirement for workers comp insurers to file loss cost adoptions or loss cost multipliers with the SCDOI.

Insurers must submit their rate filing within 60 days of the approval date of the new loss costs in accordance with the new law.

Insurers must also now implement the latest NCCI loss costs within 120 days from the new loss cost effective date. SCDOI said in its 2016 workers compensation report that the new law, which amends the 1976 Code of Laws of South Carolina relating to rate filing requirements, was in response to concerns raised by SCDOI that the use of older, outdated loss costs was inappropriate.

State Assigned Risk Plan Changes

The SCDOI issued an additional corrective action order increasing the overall average assigned risk rate level for the states residual market, the Assigned Risk Plan.

In another order dated Jan. 24, 2018, SCDOI Director Raymond Farmer said the Assigned Risk Plan Administrator NCCI alerted the department in October that excessive losses are indicated for the assigned risk plan and are jeopardizing the ability of the plan to operate as a self-funded mechanism.

SCDOIs actuary reviewed the notice from NCCI and other supporting data and recommended revised rates and rating values for the assigned risk market.

To correct the assigned risk plan rate inadequacy and ensure that the assigned risk plan is self-funded and self-sustaining Farmer ordered that for the industrial classification codes, a loss cost multiplier of 2.578 be applied to the South Carolina voluntary market loss costs effective April 1, 2018, the minimum premium multiplier shall be increased from 185 to 200, and the maximum minimum premium shall be increased from $1,250 to $1,500.

SCDOI said based on the most recently available distribution of payroll by class code, the change in the assigned risk loss cost multiplier, and the voluntary market loss cost level changes effective April 1, the assigned risk average level is estimated to increase by an average of 9.7 percent.

SCDOI said the increases in both minimum premium multiplier and the maximum minimum premium will result in premium increase for some smaller policies with minimal or no payroll.

Topics Carriers Legislation Workers' Compensation Profit Loss South Carolina
Prosecutors say a New Jersey diner owner hired his friend to burn it down last month so he could collect on an insurance claim.

Thomas Giannisis, a 51-year-old Bellmawr resident who owned the Country Town Diner in Berlin, and 56-year-old Robert Zbikowski, of Mount Holly, are charged with arson for hire and conspiracy to commit arson. Zbikowski is also charged with aggravated arson and creating or risking widespread injury or damage, while Giannisis is also charged with conspiracy to create or risk widespread injury or damage.

The diner was destroyed in the Jan. 10 blaze, but no injuries were reported.

Investigators say the fire started on the second floor, but didnt disclose what Zbikowski allegedly used to set it.

It wasnt known Friday if either man has retained an attorney.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics New Jersey
Indias City Union Bank said on Sunday that cyber criminals had hacked its systems and transferred nearly $2 million through three unauthorized remittances to lenders overseas via the SWIFT financial platform.

The comments come after the small private lender on Saturday had disclosed it had discovered the three fraudulent remittances, which were sent via correspondent banks to accounts in Dubai, Turkey and China.

Chief Executive Officer N. Kamakodi called it a conspiracy involving multiple countries, and added the lender was still investigating how it had happened.

This is basically a cyber attack by international cyber criminals, he told Reuters in a phone interview.

Kamakodi added they saw so far no evidence of any internal staff involvement, but said we are very clear now the account holders are part of this conspiracy.

The disclosure from City Bank comes as India has been gripped by an announcement by Punjab National Bank earlier this week that it had been the victim of a $1.7 billion fraud, although that case is suspected to involve the transfer of unauthorized loans from bank employees.

City Union said on Saturday it had been able to block one of the remittances, totalling $500,000, that was being sent through a Standard Chartered Bank account in New York to a Dubai-based lender.

A second transfer of 300,000 euros ($372,150) was routed through a Standard Chartered Bank account in Frankfurt to a Turkish account, although the Turkish lender had blocked the transfer from being finalized.

A third totalling $1 million was sent through a Bank of America account in New York to a China-based bank, which Kamakodi on Sunday identified as Zhejiang Rural Credit Cooperative Union in Hangzhou, China.

Kamakodi said the lender was working with Indian authorities to work with affected countries to investigate what happened. He added City Union was also strengthening its internal monitoring systems.

Brussels-based SWIFT has been urging banks to bolster security of computers used to transfer money since Bangladesh Bank lost $81 million in a February 2016 cyber heist that targeted central bank computers used to move funds.

Banking security experts said Indian banks that rely on the SWIFT messaging platform needed to be more vigilant. Industry experts say more than 100 financial institutions in India are connected with SWIFT including the central bank.

($1 = 0.8061 euros) (Reporting by Devidutta Tripathy; writing by Rafael Nam; editing by Kim Coghill)

Related:

Topics Cyber China
The road to profits is paved with good data.

Every hour, a modern car processes about 25 gigabytes of information  the equivalent of about seven full-length high-definition movies  on everything from engine temperature and tire pressure to whats playing on the radio. For automakers, the question is how to turn that into revenue. An Israeli startup claims to have the answer.

Otonomo, which announced $3 million in funding from NTT Docomo Ventures Inc. on Tuesday, has spent the past three years figuring out how to collect, package and sell such data to insurers, retailers, city planners and others willing to pay for it. In return, it takes a percentage of sales  similar to how Apple Inc. and Google operate their app stores. More than 2 million cars are already on Otonomos platform, a number that it says will reach 5 million by year-end.

There is one simple rule with marketplaces all across the board  one takes 80 percent and the rest are left with 20, said Ben Volkow, Otonomos chief executive officer and co-founder. The way to become that one is to get as many cars on the platform as fast as possible and become dominant.

Daimler AG said last year that its testing the startups cloud-based platform, and Otonomo said its planning to unveil a commercial pilot agreement with a Japanese auto manufacturer within three months. The Herzliya-based company said 10 automakers and 11 auto-related companies are providing data in pilot programs. Including NTT Docomo Ventures investment, Otonomo has raised about $41 million in funding. Previous backers include Bessemer Ventures and Dell Technologies Capital.

The market for automotive connectivity services will be worth $750 billion by 2030, according to McKinsey & Co. While carmakers have poured billions into developing connected cars, theyre concerned Google and other software-driven companies will control the flow of profits. Akio Toyoda, president of Toyota Motor Corp., has said that connected-car data could be the automakers biggest potential source of new revenue and is building its own telematics system.

It really is a necessary and lucrative angle, said Kevin Tynan, auto analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. The strength of this approach is that Otonomo itself doesnt monetize the data, they merely gather, aggregate and process it. And there will be more and more of it as the industry tries to achieve profitable self-driving and ride-share business models.

Otonomo has developed technology to make it easier to distribute and use connected-car data by securing, anonymizing, standardizing, and aggregating information within a labyrinth of regional regulations. Insurers were one of the earliest buyers of data on Otonomos marketplace. They already offer lower premiums to drivers willing to install data-reading hardware or download data-tracking apps. Such services let them offer incentives to drivers who dont drive too fast, or save on towing fees by detecting mechanical issues early.

Otonomo said its conducting trials with two ride-hailing companies that want to use data to do things such as matching riders with cars that have sufficient gas for the trip. Utility companies are monitoring batteries in electric vehicles to manage congestion at charging stations, while hedge funds say they will pay for data that can help understand trends in retail and housing markets.

Otonomo isnt the only company looking to cash in. Verisk Analytics Inc. is also offering telematics data to insurance companies in the U.S., while Microsoft Corp. and International Business Machines Corp. have unveiled their own connected-car platforms that leverage their expertise in machine learning and cloud services.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Topics Auto Profit Loss Autonomous Vehicles
AXIS Capital Holdings money-losing insurance segment has drawn the attention of A.M. Best, which revised its outlooks for the Bermuda-based carrier to negative from stable, based largely on its performance.

The revised outlooks are based on unfavorable trends in the groups operating performance, particularly from AXIS insurance segment, A.M. Best said in its update.

Specifically, the ratings agency revised its outlook to negative from stable for both AXIS and its subsidiaries. At the same time, it affirmed the financial strength rating of A+ (Superior) for the AXIS subsidiaries, as well as their long-term issuer credit ratings of aa-. As well, A.M. Best revised the outlook to negative from stable and affirmed the long-term ICR of a- and the existing long-term issuer credit ratings for AXIS Capital Holdings.

A.M. Best said the revised outlooks also reflect a broader decline in AXIS operating performance over time.

Historically, AXIS operating performance ranks among the top of its peer group; however, in recent years these results have trended toward the middle of its cohort, A.M. Best said. The groups combined ratio run rate has trended higher, giving AXIS a smaller cushion to absorb shock-losses.

AXIS booked a more than $1.6 billion loss for its insurance arm in 2017 and about the same for its reinsurance division, with combined ratios of 111 percent and 108.8 percent, respectively. Its underwriting income reflected a nearly $228 million loss for insurance and a $185 million loss for reinsurance.

In 2016, AXIS insurance arm lost $1.1 billion overall and produced $37.5 million in underwriting income. Its reinsurance division was $1 billion in the red, but underwriting income nearly hit $241.6 million.

AXIS President and CEO Albert Benchimol, in the wake of the companys 2017 fourth-quarter results, blamed a catastrophe loss surge, heavy competition and ongoing effects from the Ogden rate change in the U.K. for much of the problem.

Benchimol said that AXIS is trying to reduce earnings volatility. Steps taken included its $611.5 million cash purchase of Novae Group plc, which created a $2 billion insurer in London and a top 10 insurer/reinsurer at Lloyds.

Source: A.M. Best

This article first appeared in Insurance Journals sister publication, Carrier Management.

Related:

Topics Reinsurance AM Best
Minot residents whose homes were damaged by the 2011 Souris River flooding or are being bought out for flood protection might be eligible to up to $60,000 for help purchasing another home.

The flood damaged or destroyed more than 4,000 buildings in Minot, displacing more than 11,000 people and causing about $700 million in damage.

A new Resilient Homebuyer program is available any Minot residents whose homes are being acquired for flood control or flood mitigation, the Minot Daily News reported. Its also offered to interested buyers whose homes or apartments were significantly damaged in 2011.

The amount of incentive offered to applicants will be decided by the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency or its participating lenders. The program incentivizes investment in Minot because all homes must be located within the citys limits to be eligible.

Homebuyers must have household incomes that dont exceed the following limits by household size: one, $44,050; two, $50,350; Three, $56,650; four, $62,900; five, $67,950; six, $73,000; seven, $78,000; and eight, $83,050.

Homebuyers also need to secure a 30-year fixed-rate first mortgage from a participating lender of the states housing finance agency. A home purchase cannot exceed $253,809, and this maximum price will be reviewed yearly by the agency.

A property must undergo inspection to determine compliance with Housing and Urban Development housing quality standards before a sale closes. An environmental review must also be completed.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Mergers Flood Homeowners
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 internet giant 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 which 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.

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.

NLRB memo Damore v Google

Related:

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Topics Diversity
General Electric Co. was sued on Friday by a shareholder who accused the conglomerate of concealing mounting insurance liabilities and a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission probe, saying it cost shareholders tens of billions of dollars.

The complaint filed by the Cleveland Bakers and Teamsters Pension Fund appears to be the first proposed shareholder class action accusing GE of securities fraud since the company surprised investors with two negative announcements last month.

On Jan. 16, GE said it would take a $6.2 billion pretax charge and set aside $15 billion in reserves to help cover insurance operations held by its GE Capital unit, mainly concerning long-term-care insurance policies.

Eight days later, it said the SEC had begun probing how it handled its insurance obligations, as well as how it accounted for service agreements related to power plants, jet engines and other equipment.

Other defendants in the lawsuit, filed in federal court in New York, include GE Chief Executive Officer John Flannery, his predecessor Jeffrey Immelt, Chief Financial Officer Jamie Miller and her predecessor Jeffrey Bornstein.

The company will defend itself against these claims, a GE spokeswoman said.

Daniel Berger, a lawyer for the plaintiff, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The lawsuit seeks damages on behalf of shareholders from Feb. 26, 2013, to Jan. 24, 2018.

GEs market value fell to roughly $143 billion by the end of the class period from more than $290 billion in July 2016.

The Boston-based company has faced earlier shareholder lawsuits over its falling stock price.

Long-term-care insurance has become a more troublesome and costly business, including for the Genworth Financial Inc business that GE spun off in 2004, as policyholders live longer.

The complaint said GE knew or should have known it was not immune from that trend, and quoted from analysts covering GE who wrote that it was hard to believe or hard to imagine that the company suddenly discovered its problems.

GE stopped writing long-term-care insurance contracts in 2006, but has said it provides reinsurance on about 300,000 policies.

The case is Cleveland Bakers and Teamsters Pension Fund v General Electric Co et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 18-01404.

(Reporting by Alwyn Scott and Jonathan Stempel; Editing by Tom Brown and Leslie Adler)

Topics Lawsuits
The third annual Insurance Careers Month kicked off with the annual Insurance Careers Movement (ICM) Town Hall on Feb. 1 in Chicago. Co-hosted by A.M. Best and ICM, the virtual event assembled executives from companies around the world.

Since 2016, February has been recognized as Insurance Careers Month by a variety of carriers, agents/brokers, trade associations and industry partners. They have helped turn a once-a-year event into an ongoing campaign: the Insurance Careers Movement.

What started as a grassroots initiative to tackle the industrys talent gap now includes more than 850 companies including Wells Media Group. More than 1,100 professionals registered for this years event.

Among those at the event were CEOs and other top executives of leading insurance organizations and partners of the ICM. Here is what some of them said about their insurance careers, the value of diversity, advice for millennials, skills for the future and more:

Brian Duperreault, president and CEO, American International Group:

I think we all find ourselves surprisingly in the insurance business. Thats just the nature of the beast. Its a wonderful revelation. When you find out what this is really like, you had no idea. [Many of us] were lucky enough frankly to find this business I think its incumbent upon us, and thats part of this whole careers movement, to get the word out, to explain to others how good this really is. We have such great material, such a great story to tell. Weve got to tell it.

Inga Beale, CEO, Lloyds of London:

Diversity to me is all about tapping into the best and brightest talent, whoever they are, wherever they come from. We want a whole sort of melting pot of different types of people In order for us to be competitive and to be very successful going forward, weve got to have our employees more and more reflecting our customer base. Therefore, you understand their needs. You can communicate in the same language as they communicate with you. Importantly, you have a much better understanding and rapport.

Dan Glaser, president and CEO, Marsh and McLennan:

When we talk about the purpose of the industry, its very powerful. When I think about insurance, there are really two major functions. Theres a protection function to be sure, but theres also an enabling function. Insurance offers freedom from the emotional and financial burden of loss but it also offers freedom for investment, innovation and the creation of value Its a very noble purpose.

Pina Albo, CEO, Hamilton Insurance Group:

When we are looking at adding to the mix and shaping the future, we are looking at this broader diverse pool. At the end of the day, you have to understand this industry is aging. We have a number of jobs that are going to become open in this industry in the next 10 years. Apart from that, you have a base of people, half the world is under 30-years-old. Theyve grown up in a diverse culture Therefore, when they are looking to join an industry, theyre looking at an industry thats going to embrace that as well.

Matt Mosher, executive vice president/chief operating officer, A.M. Best:

Insurance is driven by an enormous amount of information thats available to power the analytics But also the need thats out there, the changing coverages we heard about, all the different risks associated with cyber and driverless cars, and the need to lower the expense and how they deliver and service their customers [these are] all things that will drive the innovation that the industry needs to stay relevant as they combat other areas that are taking risks as well.

Andy Breen, senior vice president, Argo:

Theres been a movement to have people learn coding skills While universities are producing people with that skill set its not always the best path for an underwriter. A key skill set is analytic skills because we deal with volumes of data and new types of data that people need to feel empowered by, not intimidated by.

Greg Jacobson, co-chief executive officer, Jacobson Group:

There are characteristics that are going to be important for the next generation of insurance professionals. Some of those are going to be creativity, problem solving, ability to develop people, ability to think critically, and to lead. All of these things are going to be required and none of them can be replaced by machines.

Kirstin Marr, chief marketing officer, Valen Analytics:

Insurance is one of the hottest tech spaces around. Over 5 billion dollars have been invested in venture capital money or reinsurer money into insuretech or insurance technology startups in the last few years. You compare that to just 2010, it was only 85 million dollars This is the place to be in terms of technology talent. Its about telling a story and its about moving the culture forward in organizations, to make this an exciting place that people are going to flock to.

Bill Ross, CEO, Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation:

Millennials can help drive cultural change to bring about a new way of thinking about insurance both in the working environment and the products themselves. As a new individual considering employment I would stop for a moment and say, what is going to excite you? Learn about the industry, understand its complexities but also look at its opportunities If you just take that moment to look at insurance, youll find there are many opportunities and many exciting experiences that you can follow.

Sean Kevelighan, president and CEO, Insurance Information Institute:

Get engaged, engage us directly on our websites and explore the opportunities. Be open minded because chances are regardless of what you want to do in your career, insurance has an answer [and] a path.

Noelle Codispoti, executive director, Gamma Iota Sigma (the collegiate organization dedicated to students interested in pursuing careers in the industry):

The negative stereotypes are usually what resonates with the students we are trying to attract. I think the positive qualities of millennials and the insurance industry line up so well, such as being team oriented, collaborative, technology-focused.

For ideas and resources to participate in Insurance Careers Month, go to InsuranceCareersTrifecta.org, and follow the conversation on Twitter using the hashtags #InsuranceCareersMonth and #CareerTrifecta.

Topics InsurTech Tech Talent Training Development
Malicious cyber activity cost the U.S. economy between $57 billion and $109 billion in 2016, the White House said Friday.

The estimate comes in a Council of Economic Advisers report on the impact of cyber attacks on U.S. government and industry. The report details the range of threats that U.S. entities face from actors, including corporations and countries such as Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.

Cyber threats are ever-evolving and may come from sophisticated adversaries, the CEA said in its report. Due to common vulnerabilities, instances of security breaches occur across firms and in patterns that are difficult to anticipate.

The CEAs estimate represents between 0.31 percent and 0.58 percent of the 2016 U.S. GDP. For comparison, the report cites a Center for Strategic and International Studies report that estimated the cost of malicious cyber activities against U.S. entities at $107 billion in 2013, 0.64 percent of GDP that year.

The industries making up the largest shares of GDP also saw the highest shares of security breaches in 2016, according to the report. This includes manufacturing, government, healthcare and finance. The finance sector had the highest breaches of all industries, with 471 in 2016.

The report also notes that because big cyber attacks could create knock-on effects throughout the economy, individual private firms are incentivized to rationally underinvest in cybersecurity relative to the collective threat it poses.

Report: The-Cost-of-Malicious-Cyber-Activity-to-the-U.S.-Economy

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Topics USA Cyber
An Arkansas judge has dismissed a Monsanto Co. lawsuit aiming to stop Arkansas from blocking the use of a controversial farm chemical the company makes, dealing a blow to its attempts to increase sales of genetically engineered seeds.

Monsanto, which is being acquired by Bayer AG, filed the lawsuit last year in a bid to halt the states ban on sprayings of the weed killer known as dicamba from the period spanning April 16 to Oct. 31.

Growers across the U.S. farm belt said last summer that dicamba drifted away from where it was sprayed, damaging millions of acres of crops that could not tolerate the herbicides.

St. Louis-based Monsanto, the biggest U.S. seed company, said it was disappointed with the judges decision and would consider additional legal action.

In the ruling, Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Chris Piazza cited a recent Arkansas Supreme Court decision that the state cannot be made a defendant in court, according to the Arkansas Agriculture Department.

Dicamba, also sold by BASF SE and DowDuPont Inc., is meant to be used during the summer growing season on soybeans and cotton that Monsanto engineered to resist the chemical.

Monsanto is banking on the herbicide and its dicamba-resistant soybean seeds to dominate soybean production in the United States, the worlds second-largest exporter. The company says dicamba, which it sells under the name XtendiMax with VaporGrip, is safe when used properly.

The Arkansas ban hurts Monsantos ability to sell dicamba-tolerant seed in the state and has caused irreparable harm to the company, according to Monsantoslawsuit. The state also limited use of Monsantos dicamba herbicide in 2017 but allowed sales of products by other companies.

David Wildy, an Arkansas farmer who served on a state task force that recommended the ban, said he supported the ruling. He said his soybeans suffered damage from the herbicide last year and that it threatens plants ranging from flowers to vegetables and peanuts when it drifts away from where it is sprayed.

If we cant keep products on target, then theres not a place for them in agriculture, Wildy said in an telephone interview.

(Reporting by Tom Polansek; Editing by Will Dunham)

Topics USA Agribusiness
Austin-based workers comp insurer, Texas Mutual Insurance Co., has added Benjamin A. Siddons as vice president of business development.

Siddons joins Texas Mutual with more than 15 years of experience in the insurance industry, with seven of those in the workers compensation field. He will be responsible for bringing in new business to Texas Mutual, as well as developing and implementing sales strategies to increase revenue and profits.

Siddons most recently served as president of Redpoint Workers Comp (previously Texas Builders Insurance Co. and Hallmark Workers Comp), where he oversaw underwriting, marketing and loss control in Texas.

Siddons previously worked for American Physicians Insurance Co. as director of business development where he helped grow the Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas markets. He also served as a producer for an Austin-based insurance agency.

Source: Texas Mutual Insurance Co.

Topics Texas Workers' Compensation
A former Colorado police officer has been sentenced to 45 days in jail and five years of probation for felony insurance fraud.

The Post Independent reported that ex-Silt police Col. Michael Taylor was also ordered to pay more than $70,000 in restitution with interest and serve 100 hours of public service.

Between 2010 and 2015, Taylor had reported twice that his New Castle home was burglarized and that his wifes car was broken into. His insurance paid out more than $60,000 over that time.

The 49-year-old Taylor pleaded guilty to felony theft of $20,000 to $100,000 and felony insurance fraud in December. He was indicted by a grand jury last August.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Carriers Law Enforcement Homeowners Colorado
Washington state wheat farmers are protesting cuts to their safety net programs in a budget proposal released by President Donald Trump this week.

The Spokesman-Review review reports growers are concerned about Trumps proposal to reduce federal spending on crop insurance and other programs by $47 billion over the next decade.

The plan calls for cutting $22 billion of government subsidies for crop insurance, which would make it unaffordable for many of the states farmers, according to Michelle Hennings, executive director of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers. It lowers the maximum income threshold for farmers to be eligible to buy crop insurance and benefit from government-sponsored conservation programs.

U.S. lawmakers are drafting a new farming bill to replace the one that expires in September. Sen. Pat Roberts, a Republican from Kansas, and GOP Rep. Mike Conaway from Texas, who head congressional agricultural committees, said in a joint statement that Trumps budget proposal wont prevent them from producing a bill that benefits farmers, ranchers, consumers and other stakeholders.

Farmers are also lobbying against the Trump Administrations decision to pull the U.S. out of a free-trade pact with countries that border the Pacific Ocean, also known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which they say will cause their industry to lose $3 billion annually over the next 10 years.

Trumps proposed budget calls for the restoration of $200 million in cost-sharing assistance to promote U.S. products abroad.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics USA Washington Agribusiness
Risk is fundamental to the investment process, but remains a concept that is not particularly well understood by most regular investors. For this reason, risk warnings  those vaguely worded, fine print disclaimers at the bottom of financial documents and websites  are extremely important for both buyers and sellers.

Unfortunately, although there are many warnings out there, they often remain unread or are not sufficiently explicit. An investor needs a substantial level of experience and sophistication to know what they really mean, or an advisor needs to take the time to explain it to the investor carefully. Yet, all too often, these conditions do not prevail. Sometimes, sellers obviously prefer to keep people in the dark in order to make a sale. In this article, we will look at the nature of risk warnings in order to figure out what gets the message across properly, and what still leaves investors not truly knowing what they could be getting into.

Where Do These Warnings Appear and Why?

Mainly for legal reasons, investment firms and financial institutions generally publish some kind of warning in their brochures and on internet sites. The objective is not only to explain to the investor the nature of the risks involved in the particular kind of investment being offered, but also to ensure that there can be no lawsuits if things go badly. The warnings are either in a separate internet link, or printed in additional pages  varying from a rather small footnote to a pretty explicit and large-type explanation of what can go wrong. The length tends to vary from one sentence to a couple of pages.

Examples of Written Warnings

Let's look at some actual written examples of how investors are warned of what might happen to their money. We will see what the firms say and just how useful it is.

Example: Too vague "An investor may get back less than the amount invested. Information on past performance, where given, is not necessarily a guide to future performance." Or: "The capital value of units in the fund can fluctuate and the price of units can go down as well as up and is not guaranteed."

Warnings like these are very common, regrettably. The problem with these is that there is no quantification and the warning does not really hit home. Can you lose 5% or 25%? There is a big difference between the two. It is unlikely that this warning alone will ensure that the unwary investor knows what could potentially happen to their money.

Example: Not easily understood by non-experts "The investments and services offered by us may not be suitable for all investors. If you have any doubts as to the merits of an investment, you should seek advice from an independent financial advisor."

This certainly warns people to be careful, but how many investors really understand what is meant by "suitability" or would bother to double-check? In addition, if the investor trusts the seller, they will think that they are being careful. The odds of an investor actually going to an advisor are low.

Example: Relativity and context given "You should be aware that certain types of funds might carry greater investment risk than other investment funds. These include our Smaller Companies, Pacific Growth and Japan funds."

You can see from this that the same company has other, safer investments, which you may prefer. This is no longer a token warning, and points clearly to lower-risk alternatives.

Example: Losses can be BIG "Investment in the securities of smaller companies can involve greater risk than is generally associated with investment in larger, more established companies that can result in significant capital losses that may have a detrimental effect on the value of the fund."

It's rather a run-on sentence, admittedly. But what is good about this one is that the investor is warned that the losses can be substantial. This is still not quantified, but the point that the investment is not for the faint at heart is clear enough.

Example: Now that's a warning! "You should not buy a warrant unless you are prepared to sustain a total loss of the money you have invested plus any commission or other transaction charges."

No need for vast experience or a vivid imagination. It is quite clear that you can lose the lot.

Criteria for a Good Risk Warning

There are several criteria that a warning should fulfill if it is to get the right message across:

Quantification. Although this is not always possible, investors should have some idea as to the proportion of their money that they could lose.

Although this is not always possible, investors should have some idea as to the proportion of their money that they could lose. Warnings should be easy to follow. Any risk warning should be easy to understand. If you don't understand what the risk warning is telling you, don't assume that the investment is right for you just because you trust the seller. An inexperienced investor could easily be advised to buy anything, ranging from a basic stock fund to a highly complex structured product.

Any risk warning should be easy to understand. If you don't understand what the risk warning is telling you, don't assume that the investment is right for you just because you trust the seller. An inexperienced investor could easily be advised to buy anything, ranging from a basic stock fund to a highly complex structured product. Signing is important for both parties. If an investor has to sign the warning, this demonstrates its importance and provides good protection to the firm. However, never sign anything you don't understand.

If an investor has to sign the warning, this demonstrates its importance and provides good protection to the firm. However, never sign anything you don't understand. Internet warnings. On the internet, it is all too easy to click away a warning and carry on with the deal. In a perfect world, the link and entry would be very clear and the investor prompted to take the warning seriously. This is not a perfect world, however, and it's up to investors to make sure they read the disclaimer before continuing.

On the internet, it is all too easy to click away a warning and carry on with the deal. In a perfect world, the link and entry would be very clear and the investor prompted to take the warning seriously. This is not a perfect world, however, and it's up to investors to make sure they read the disclaimer before continuing. Personal explanations. This is the only way many investors will really understand the risks of a given investment. If the print warning does not meet your criteria, seek personal advice. The explanation should be clear and give sufficient detail so you know what you could lose, and how, and what other products might be more or less suitable and appealing. The seller should also make a note of how the warning was presented and, if possible, get the investor to sign this too.

Ask Until You Are Sure

As a private investor, you need to request verbal and/or written information and explanations until you are sure you understand the warnings. Don't stop until you are fully aware, in quantitative terms, of what you stand to gain and lose, and what other potential investments there are with different risk/reward ratios.

The Bottom Line

It is essential that investment risk warnings be clear and sufficient not only to provide legal protection, but also to ensure that the message truly gets home. Firms and advisors should only sell products with a warning that conveys the real level of risk clearly. Unfortunately, what should be done and what is common practice are two different things. As an investor, it's crucial to know how much of your money you could lose and what circumstances could cause this to occur. If you are uncomfortable with the risks of the investment, remember there are always lower-risk alternatives.
Most traders and investors are familiar with the saying "the trend is your friend." But deciding what constitutes a trend often proves challenging because it depends on the trader's preferred time in the trade. Furthermore, once a trend has been identified, the trader must determine its strength.

In his book "The Logical Trader," Mark Fisher describes a number of techniques to help his reader spot trend breakouts and identify their strength. Fisher's ACD trading system uses intraday data to identify the daily opening range for finding trades. Fisher, an independent trader, is the founder of MBF Clearing Corp., one of the largest clearing firms on the NYMEX.

While this intraday ACD technique may not appeal to the long-term trader or investor, the following is a look at how the technique can be applied to a longer time horizon.

Key Takeaways In this article, we look at Mark Fisher's "ACD system" and how it works from a technical analysis standpoint.

Basically, this system provides A and C points for entry of a trade, and B and D points as exits - hence the name.

ACD is a breakout strategy that works best in volatile or trending markets with a special group of stocks and commodities such as crude oil.

Opening Range

First, we look at how short-term trades are to be entered on a five-minute chart. Using the first five to 30 minutes of the day, depending on the equity or commodity, we determine the opening range (OR) high and low. "A ups" and "A downs" are then calculated based on a set number of points above or below the daily OR. In Figure 1 below, we examine the stock Broadcom. An A up (A down) (green lines) occurs if the price of the stock moves $0.27 above (or below) the OR.

Image by Sabrina Jiang  Investopedia 2020

Monthly and Half-Yearly Opening Range

Opening range can also be applied to longer periods. Just as the daily OR has a greater chance than other times throughout the day of being the high or low, monthly OR has a greater chance than another day in the month of being the high or low for the next 20 or so trading days. Once the trader knows this fact, it can be exploited to better the odds of making money.

This is also true of the first two weeks (10 trading days) of each six-month period. The high and low set during the first two weeks of January and July often represent an important area of support or resistance for the next five and a half months.

The good news is that both monthly and half-yearly ORs are very easy to calculate. Simply take the high and the low of the first trading day of the month for the monthly OR, or take the first 10 trading days in January or July for the half-yearly OR and draw two lines across your chart. If price breaks above the high, a bullish bias is adopted. If it breaks below the low line, a bearish stance is taken.

Monthly opening range is plotted in Figure 1 (orange lines). We see that after breaking down through the monthly OR, the stock continued to trade lower, confirming a medium-term negative market bias. Advance warning of the breakdown was provided by the bearish divergence on the relative strength index, or RSI, in the upper window of the chart in Figure 1.

Pivot vs. Pivot Range

Most experienced traders are familiar with pivots. A pivot point is simply the point at which a security changes direction and is therefore a turning point. A pivot low price bar has higher bars before and after it so that the formation looks like either a "V" or "U." A pivot high looks like the mirror image of a pivot low.

Pivots signify the end of a short-term move and minor reversal or the end of the dominant trend and a major change in direction. Pivot points are used to calculate Fibonacci levels of support and resistance, swing trade entry and exits, and in a host of other trading techniques.

A pivot range is also based on the high, low and close, but is calculated somewhat differently than a pivot point. As the name implies, pivot ranges have a high and low limit.

Here is the calculation from "The Logical Trader." The same formula is used to calculate daily, monthly and six-month pivot ranges, but note that for the monthly, the high, low and close of the first day of the month should be used. And for the six-month pivot ranges, the high, low and close of the first 10 trading days of January and July should be used:

Pivot price (also equals formula for a pivot point) = (high + low + close) / 3

Second number = (high + low) / 2

Pivot differential = daily pivot price  second number

Pivot range high = daily pivot price + pivot differential

Pivot range low = daily pivot price  pivot differential

Below, the monthly (blue lines) and six-month (orange lines) pivot ranges are plotted for Broadcom. In both cases, the pivot ranges acted as either resistance (when in a bear trend) or support (bull trend).

Image by Sabrina Jiang  Investopedia 2020

Like opening range, pivot ranges can be used to execute trades. Similar to an ACD trade, A ups and downs as well as C ups and downs are used, but because the trader is using longer time frames, larger values are employed than when the daily values are calculated (not shown in Figure 2). When trading Broadcom, instead of using an A up of $0.27 to trade short-term using the daily OR, the longer-term trader would apply a half-year A up of $2.50 to $3 above the half-yearly pivot range, depending on volatility and stock price at the time.

The time frame is different but the concept is the same. The goal is to identify breakouts, assess their potential and then trade accordingly.

Three-Day Rolling Pivot

Another technique for helping traders spot breakouts is the three-day rolling pivot. When the three-day rolling pivot range is below the price action, long trades are favored and when above, short trades are preferred.

Image by Sabrina Jiang  Investopedia 2020

In the image above, a buy signal is generated on Mar 1 (No. 1) when the price breaks through the A up. A long trade is further confirmed by the fact that the three-day rolling pivot is acting as support. The stock then begins to trade in a range in which the three-day rolling pivot turns from support to resistance by Mar 5. When the stock drops through the A down at point 2 on Mar 6, a sell is generated.

Here is the calculation for the three-day rolling pivot:

Three-day rolling pivot price = (three-day high + three-day low + close) / 3

Second number = (three-day high + three-day low) / 2

Pivot differential = daily pivot price  second number

Three-day rolling pivot range high = daily pivot price + pivot differential

Three-day rolling pivot range low = daily pivot price  pivot differential

Putting It All Together

Fisher's point in "The Logical Trader" is that OR and pivot ranges are methods used by his professional traders to gauge overall market bias and are more powerful than simply relying on standard support and resistance. How are opening and pivot ranges used together?

If OR < pivot range < close = plus day and the trader is bullish.

If opening OR

For example, if OR is less than the pivot range and assuming there is some room between the A up and the pivot range, a long trade could still be taken. But fewer shares would be purchased, since the trader knows that the price has a strong probability of stopping or reversing when it reaches the pivot range. But when the price trades above the OR and pivot range, the trader has a higher degree of confidence that the trade has some room to move, so they buy more shares as it is now a plus day.

The Bottom Line

Opening range provides a wider area with a probability that it will either be the high or the low of the period under examination. The pivot range, whether it is daily or half-yearly, gives another point of reference for support or resistance. By plotting these values on the chart, a trader can immediately see when the stock or market is gaining or losing strength and momentum.

Designating where OR and pivot range are in relation to each other and to the current price helps the trader decide how much confidence can be used when placing a trade. This information is highly useful in making trading decisions. And, like any reliable technical trading technique, it is one that works in all time frames.
What Is a Check Hold?

A check hold denotes the maximum number of days that a bank can legally hold the money from a deposited check. After the check hold period has expired, the bank must credit the funds to the account of the party making the deposit.

The check holding period is generally equal to the number of days it takes for the check to go through the bank's clearing cycle.

How Check Holds Work

The Expedited Funds Availability Act of 1987 (EFAA) mandated that local checks may be held for no more than two business days. After 2010, all checks in the United States were considered local. The two-day hold has been extended to five days as a reasonable limit for holding local checks. The Federal Reserve requires that a bank hold most checks before crediting the customers account for no longer than a reasonable period of time, which is regarded as two business days for a same-bank check and up to six business days for one drawn on a different bank. Financial institutions may hold on-us items for one business day following the deposit. Many use the term EFAA Regulation interchangeably with (Reg) CC.

Banks may currently decide to place six types of holds on checks:

Any amount exceeding a $5,000 deposit may be held. This remainder must be made available within a reasonable time, usually two to five business days. Such deposits are considered large deposits. Checks that are re-deposited may be held for a reasonable period of time; however, if a customer returns the check due to a missing endorsement or because the check was postdated, once the bank corrects the deficiency, it may not hold said check as redeposited. Banks may hold checks from funds that are repeatedly overdrawn. The definition of overdrawn is if the account had a negative balance on six or more banking days during the most recent six month period, or if the account balance was negative by $5,000 or more two times in the most recent six month period. If a bank has reasonable cause to doubt the collectibility of a check (e.g., doubtful collectibility). This can occur in some instances of postdated checks, checks dated six months prior (or more), and checks that the paying institution deemed it will not honor. Banks must provide notice to customers of doubtful collectibility, including the specific reason. A bank may hold checks deposited during emergency conditions (e.g., natural disasters or communications malfunctions) that would prohibit the bank from functioning with its normal processes. A bank may hold such checks until conditions permit them to provide the available funds. Banks may hold deposits into accounts of new customers. New customers are defined as those who have opened accounts for less than 30 days. Banks may choose an availability schedule for new customers.

Banks may not hold cash or electronic payments, direct deposit, money orders, Treasury checks; Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan checks, cashiers, certified, or tellers checks, and state or local government checks, along with the first $5,000 of traditional checks that are not in question (next-day items). Its also imperative that commercial banks disclose their hold policies to all account holders. If a customer requests it, the bank must provide its policy in written form.
What Is a Primary Account Number?

The term primary account number refers to a 14-, 15-, 16-, or even up to 19-digit number generated as a unique identifier designated for a primary account. Primary account numbers are also called payment card numbers as they are found on payment cards like credit and debit cards. This account number is either embossed or laser-printed and is found on the front of the card.

Primary account numbers are either embossed or laser-printed and can be found on the front of a card.

Understanding Primary Account Numbers

Primary account numbers are unique identifiers for different payment cards like credit and debit cards, providing information about the cardholder such as the name, balance, credit limit. PANs may also be used to identify other types of cards that store value such as a gift or prepaid card.

Because they may be the only number associated with a particular accountas in the case of a credit cardprimary account numbers are also called account numbers. In other cases, they may not identify the exact account information about the associated account. For instance, a debit card number does not reflect or identify the account numbers of any linked checking, savings, or other accounts.

The primary account number is typically generated when an account is opened. Therefore, it is usually the first account in a series that may be opened by a customer at a financial institution. The primary account number is also usually the number identified with a tradeline on an individuals credit report. PANs are able to support account record keeping and resolution if issues should arise with the account.

Key Takeaways A primary account number is a 14, 15, or 16 digit number generated as a unique identifier for a primary account.

Primary account numbers are issued to payment cards such as credit and debit cards as well as other cards that store value like a gift card.

Although they may be used as an identifier, PANs don't always provide exact account information as is the case with debit cards.

PANs can be used to support account record keeping and resolution.

Special Considerations

The very first digit of a primary account number is called the major industry identifier, which identifies the type of credit card by issuing company

American Express cards start with a 3

Visa cards start with a 4

MasterCard cards start with a 5

Discover cards start with a 6

Certain airline credit cards start with a 1 or 2

Petroleum company cards start with a 7

Certain telecommunications and health care cards start with an 8

The first six digits identify the credit card network associated with the card, such as 601100 for Discover cards. The last digit is called the checksum number which helps prevent criminals from creating fraudulent credit card numbers. The numbers in between the first six digits and the last digit uniquely identify the customers account.

Primary Account Number Security

Credit card companies such as Visa ask merchants to take precautions to protect customers primary account numbers. One such guideline is called PAN truncation. Visa says merchants are not required to store full account numbers. Doing so presents a security risk if there is a data breach. In the United States, a federal law called the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACTA) prohibits merchants from printing more than the last 5 digits of a cardholders account number on a receipt. Merchants are also prohibited from printing the cards expiration date.

Primary Account Numbers vs. Secondary Account Numbers

Financial institutions and lenders may issue debit and credit cards may to a secondary user authorized by the primary account holder. If an account has a secondary account holder, cards may both use the primary account number. Some institutions, though, have a card-issuing policy that allows the secondary user to have a secondary account number.

Business credit card accounts operate a little differently. The primary account number for corporate credit cards doesn't appear on any employees credit card. In this case, the credit card company issues each employee a card with separate, secondary account numbers. This makes it easier for companies to identify and track charges based on each employee's card usage.
By Gordon Deegan

Complaints by members of the public over the state of taxis more than doubled last year, according to new figures from the National Transport Authority (NTA).

In one documented case, a passenger believed that a taxi had no working indicators after the taxi-driver asked a front-seat passenger to indicate manually out the window for him.

The case was investigated and no evidence of any offence was found.

In another case where a taxi was operating without indicators following a complaint by another motorist, the NTA intervened and following an investigation by an NTA Compliance Officer, the car was taken out of service.

In one case, a passenger complained to the NTA last July that the inside of the car was absolutely filthy. Every gap on the dash and controls was caked with dust. Seat covers were visibly stained all over.

In that case, the NTA fined the driver concerned.

In another case, a passenger reported to the NTA a strong stench on entering the car - had to open and keep the window open for the journey.

In that instance, the NTA investigated and found no evidence of an offence after inspecting the vehicle.

Another passenger reported that within seconds of getting into the taxi I noticed a bad smell. The NTA reports that the vehicle was replaced.

In total, the number of complaints made by members of the public over taxis and taxi driver behaviour last year increased by 148, or 15%, from 998 to 1,146.

The detailed figures released in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request show that the biggest increase was complaints over the condition and road worthiness, cleanliness of taxis more than doubling from 34 to 72.

The biggest area of complaint was the conduct, behaviour and identification of taxi drivers accounting for 445 complaints. A further 380 complaints were made over alleged overcharging and other fare matters while 248 complaints were made on the hiring and booking of taxis. One complaint was received over the identification of taxis.

In August, one passenger complained about the very poor condition of a taxi and what concerned me more was there was a brake warning light on the dashboard that had been covered with a sticker and another engine light that had been covered with a piece of black tape.

The NTA investigated and inspected the vehicle, identifying a senior fault and the matter was rectified by a dealership.

In September, a passenger complained a taxi was dirty inside and out. The boot contained bags and containers that were dirty. The rear seat was stained, torn and dirty. The springs in the rear seat were broken.

The NTA report that the vehicle was replaced the day after the incident.

One passenger complained that a taxi-driver was not familiar with the rules of the road as he did not look right when coming to roundabouts and drove with main beams on behind other cars.

Another complaint said that a taxi-driver concealed his identity, refused to give a printed receipt and was abusive. In that case, the NTA fined the taxi driver.

In another case, a Dublin airport taxi-driver charged 43 for a trip from the airport that would usually total 25 after he took a significant detour to take the passengers to their destination.

In that case, the driver made full admissions and apologised and made a full refund of the fare after an NTA investigation.

In another, a taxi driver told a passenger that he couldnt give the passenger a requested printed receipt at the end of the journey.

The passenger stated: I told him (nicely) that he shouldnt be driving a taxi and picking up fares without being able to give a printed receipt.

At this point, he stopped the taxi and told me to get out! He was extremely angry and as he drove off honked his horn at me but had dumped me halfway to my destination.

The NTA investigated and after admitting the office, the driver was fined.

A female passenger travelling alone made a complaint after a driver became aggressive after she took a photo of his driver ID.

She said: He demanded that I delete the picture and get out of his cab. I thought this was standard practice, particularly for a female travelling alone at nightThe driver I ended up travelling with had no problem with me taking a picture of his ID to send to my brother for re-assurance.

In that case, the driver was spoken to given advice on his conduct.

The NTA stated that it told the passenger that the Driver Check App can be used to check the licence of a taxi driver and vehicle and those details can be forwarded.
Grainne McGuinness shares some tips on how to reduce your waste

Plastic usage has been in the news in recent weeks, as environmentalists highlight the harm done by the ever-growing amounts of waste clogging up our oceans. It is clear that reducing plastic will help the planet. But campaigners point out that in many cases acting in an environmentally- friendly manner can also save you money. So why not help the planet and your purse all at once, by trying out some tips to reduce your waste?

One of the simplest ways to cut out plastic waste is to switch to reusable travel mugs and bottles. Carrying a drink while out and about has gone from being unheard of a generation ago to being a given for many of us now. But that is no reason to have to constantly dump mugs and bottles.

Cork City Council recently made a decision to get rid of disposable single-use cups at City Hall, instead encouraging staff to use environmentally-friendly reusable cups which the council provided. Why not follow their lead and get yourself a reusable mug? Many cafes now offer a reusable cup discount to customers, so it will more than pay for itself in no time.

Bottled water is even worse in terms of adding to the plastic mountain. Nearly every workplace, public area and gym in the country offers access to drinkable water, get yourself a reusable bottle and fill up throughout the day.

Much of our plastic waste is bound up in our grocery shopping. Most of us have become much better at carrying longlife shopping bags since the introduction of the bag tax. If you are still inclined to forget, store a bundle in your car or get in the habit of rolling up the shopper and putting it back in your handbag as soon as you unload your shopping.

When shopping, take a moment to assess the amount of packaging on items as you are filling your trolley. Frequently, the most highly-packaged items will also be the most expensive. Where possible, buy loose produce and buy in bulk, both will reduce cost and packaging. More and more companies offer refills with minimal packaging, use them where you can.

There are also ways to reduce packaging in the bathroom. Many environmentalists recommend a return to the humble bar of soap. It has been replaced by by highly-packaged liquid handwash in many homes, but bar soap is kinder to the planet, wrapped in a small amount of paper or plastic and long-lasting. Dove and other skincare brands offer options that are nowhere near as harsh as soaps of old and will look and smell just as nice as liquids.

Bars are not just for the hand basin. Soaps can also be used in the shower and shampoo bars are also growing in popularity. Try Lush or Amazon for bars that promise to be just as kind on hair and last the equivalent of several plastic bottles of shampoo.

Go old school when it comes to cleaning. A while ago I did a tidy of the cupboard under my kitchen sink and was embarrassed when I lined up the number of cleaning sprays I had. I am far from a clean freak, having a general philosophy of itll do when it comes to housework, yet had somehow amassed a vast collection of sprays and polishes. They were all in plastic containers, and all promised to do the same job, clean, in slightly different ways for a dozen different surfaces and areas of the house. Not only is all the plastic unnecessary but I was spraying a staggering number of different chemicals around our home, including in the kitchen.

In many cases, the same cleaning job could have been done just as well with one of two products  bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar. Between them, these two simple (and incredibly cheap) items will remove stains, clean surfaces, unclog drains, remove built-up residue including limescale, and prevent and eliminate odours and kill germs. I now buy both in large sizes, which makes them even cheaper and reduces the packaging. I still occasionally reach for the sprays, but in many cases a sprinkle of bicarb or a paste of the two will do just as good a job on everything from the bins to the oven door.

If there are any consumer issues that youd like Grainne to address or if you have problems that Grainne could help with, she can be contacted at makingcents@examiner.ie

DEAL OF THE WEEK

Electric Ireland has launched two new bundles to allow customers create smarter homes.

Customers who sign up will enjoy the benefits of electricity monitoring and appliance control. They can turn appliances on and off from their phone, set schedules, get bill forecasts and learn how much electricity your home is using each day.

The Smarter Home Control costs 3.99 per month, with a minimum contract of 36 months.

It includes Smarter Home Hub, Smarter Home monitoring clamp, 2 x Smart Plugs and Smarter Home App. Homeowners will benefit from free, expert installation and product demonstration, with kit and installation valued at 350. They can also add Smart immersion control for an extra 2.99 a month.

The second bundle, Smarter Home Comfort, costs 7.99 per month. It includes all the benefits of the other bundle and also offers either Nest or Climote heating control. Kit and installation for this bundle is valued at 550.
Government departments appear to regard protected disclosures with as much enthusiasm as might ordinarily be reserved for a trip to the dentist, says Michael Clifford

How seriously do some government departments take the law? In particular, how seriously do they take the law enacted to ensure that wrongdoing is called out, and whistleblowers protected?

On Sunday, RTE reported how the Department of Justice labelled a request from the garda ombudsman, Gsoc, for extra investigators to be excessive.

The investigators were specifically required to staff a Protected Disclosure Unit in Gsoc. This was to accommodate a growing number of disclosures from An Garda Siochana that Gsoc was handling.

A change in the law in 2015 allowed Gsoc to investigate complaints from serving members of An Garda Siochana. (Prior to that the ombudsman could only deal with complaints from the public). Despite the treatment of Sergeant Maurice McCabe, a number of members have come forward with disclosures since the change in the law.

In January 2017, when Gsoc requested the extra staff, it was dealing with 10 disclosures. That number has since doubled.

RTEs John Burke reported that when Gsoc applied for the extra staff the department considered the request for 12 investigators excessive in correspondence with the Department of Public Expenditure.

Some months later, Public Expenditure gave the nod to Justice for the recruitment of five investigators as requested. This inferred that Justice had determined  without any consultation with Gsoc  that only five rather than the 12 investigators should be appointed. A department playing down the amount of resources required for its bailiwick is unusual enough, but doing so for a body with an oversight function may betray the departments attitude to such bodies.

The worrying feature of the Gsoc story is that it echoes with other cases in which the Department of Justice

appears to regard protected disclosures with as much enthusiasm as might ordinarily be reserved for a trip to the dentist.

The recent case involving protected disclosures from An Garda Siochana about the misclassification of homicides provides an example. That disclosure was made to the Oireachtas justice committee from two civilian members of the force. Yet, it was reported at the time that the department does not believe that the disclosure meets the legal definition of a protected disclosure.

That position would infer that the department was not taking the disclosure seriously enough to merit a full investigation. Why? Surely the prima facie evidence that the two whistleblowers presented would be enough to raise alarm bells. Could it be that the department continues to operate to a culture that prefers to keep the bad stuff under wraps?

A similar attitude appears to pertain to another sector under the departments remit, the prisons.

On September 20 last the department received a protected disclosure about an allegation of sexual harassment in the prison service, a financial settlement of public money, a failure to properly investigate the incident and the re-employment of the retired alleged perpetrator.

The disclosure was anonymous, but a few basic inquiries could have established that the disclosure required

investigation. It was also an urgent matter as the individual at the centre of it continues to be employed.

Nothing was done. The Irish Examiner reported on the disclosure on November 17. Further coverage followed in December and January, and it was only then that a firm of solicitors  McCann Fitzgerald  was appointed to investigate the matter.

Department of Justice

Another disclosure from the prison service in March 2016 concerned allegations of bullying, intimidation and the failure to interview the discloser following an assault by a prisoner.

The department refused to accept that the allegation constituted a protected disclosure. The discloser appealed that decision and retired judge William Early was appointed to investigate.

He ruled that the allegation was a protected disclosure and that the discloser was treated unfairly and isolated for making the disclosures and that his opportunities for career advancement were deliberately curtained by the IPS (Irish Prison Service).

This reluctance to acknowledge the bona fides of whistleblowers appears to be shared with other government

departments. Last week Joe Leogue reported in this newspaper about how a protected disclosure about the overexposure of chemicals in the Air Corps was not addressed for a full 12 months. Only then, following a report in this newspaper and a subsequent inquiry in the Dail, did officials from the Department of Defence begin addressing the matter.

Then they found out that crucial documents had disappeared in the intervening period.

All of these cases were serious issues. None involved protected disclosures which were vexatious. Each allegation was backed up with evidence.

As in all such cases, an investigation may have uncovered shortcomings in the allegations and may have concluded that ultimately there was nothing untoward or anything that required correction.

That, however, is not the issue. The issue is the failure to investigate the matters with even the smallest degree of urgency. It is as if the first instinct in the Department of Justice  and it appears its sister in Defence  is to find a way to avoid any investigation, anything that might result in upheaval, controversy or scandal.

This is precisely the attitude that pervaded in state and non-state institutions down through the decades and inevitably always ended up with worse transgressions.

The Protected Disclosure Act was a leap forward for accountability. It purported to encourage whistleblowers to come forward without fear of reprisal.

It was also an acknowledgement that complaints from within organisations exercise a positive influence in raising standards and eliminating malpractice.

Yet the evidence that has emerged from government departments is that protected disclosers and their tidings will not be greeted  to use a phrase once beloved of Noirin OSullivan  as critical friends.

If this is the lead being given by elements of the State, it certainly wont take long for the private sector to cotton on to the reality that there are ways and means in which to undermine the law, and one need only look to the State to observe how best that is done.
Bessborough burying children in unmarked graves as late as 1990 makes this a contemporary scandal, writes Conall O Fatharta

When children are found buried in unmarked graves as late as 1990, it becomes impossible to label the mother and baby homes scandal as something of the past.

Too often, it has been referenced as a part of our history, something that we learned from as a nation. Ireland was a different country then. Things were done differently.

The revelations in yesterdays Irish Examiner change that narrative. It explodes the argument that mother and baby homes were from a distant past. The scandal of children buried and left forgotten in unmarked graves in 1990 is contemporary.

Teddies and flowers which were placed at the gates to the Bessborough Mother and Baby Home in Cork, when news of the enormous scale of infant deaths at the home first broke in 2015. Picture: Des Barry

The numbers here are not the issue. The world was shocked by the revelations that 796 children who died in Tuam Mother and Baby Home were buried in a mass grave between 1925 and 1961. This newspaper revealed that death registers giving details of 470 infant deaths in Bessborough and 269 infant deaths at Sean Ross Abbey were handed over to the HSE in 2011.

The numbers uncovered by this investigation are far smaller but no less instructive. What is key here is that as late as 1990, children were being buried without so much as the basic dignity of headstone or a marked plot. Indeed in the case of the latest death found, the birth is not recorded.

Without knowing the exact section, row and plot number of these graves, you would walk right past them or, indeed, right over them. Its illustrative of a mindset that lasted long beyond the heyday of the mother and baby home system. A mindset where some lives appear to have mattered more than others.

An unmarked grave for St Patricks Orphanage at St Finbarrs cemetery, Cork. Pictures: Eddie OHare

The Mother and Baby Homes Commission now has quite the task ahead of it. Despite being in existence for three years, it is only now getting around to looking at the issue of burials relating to the Bessborough Mother and Baby Home, making a public call for information earlier this month. Much of the focus and media coverage has been on one institution  Tuam  and one issue  infant deaths.

However, the commission is tasked with examining 14 mother and baby homes and a sample of county homes. Many feel its terms of reference are not even remotely near wide enough.

For example, the plots uncovered by the Irish Examiner were bought not by the order that ran Bessborough, but rather the St Annes Adoption Society and St Patricks Orphanage. Many of the children buried in these graves relate to these institutions which are outside the commissions terms of reference.

The records are there if the commission seeks them out. The details on these deaths were handed over to the HSE in 2003. They are now in the hands of Tusla.

The Irish Examiner has now uncovered where a small number of children are buried in relation to Bessborough, but where are the rest? Unlike in Tuam, where the burial area was highlighted, the order that ran Bessborough has never publicly stated where the children that died in its care are buried.

The site of the former mother and baby home does have a small burial plot but it is unclear if such a small area could hold the 470 documented deaths recorded in the orders death register between 1934 and 1953. If the children are not buried there, then where are they?

An unmarked grave discovered by the Irish Examiner at St Finbarrs cemetery, Glasheen, Cork.

A major excavation took place in Tuam. It would seem logical that the commission will have to physically examine other locations in relation to such deaths. It is impossible to argue that Tuam is different to any other institution under investigation.

Indeed, one of the key lines in the Expert Technical Group report in relation to the Tuam site stated that the Government may be obliged under international human rights law to fully investigate the deaths of all children who died in Irelands mother and baby home system.

However, the commission has already said it will be difficult to establish the facts surrounding the burials of children who died in all of the homes it is investigating.

And thats before the elephant in the room is tackled  that of forced and illegal adoptions.

The commission has been very lukewarm on the topic. In its second interim report, it focused largely on one type of illegal adoption  illegal birth registrations and offered a narrative that such criminal activity may have been done by ordinary, well-meaning couples rather than being facilitated by any other power structure such as a religious order or, indeed, the State.

And what about adoptions contracted on the basis of extremely questionable consents, sometimes in false names, in the absence of birth certificates of any kind, and in the case of children whose parents were married?

An unmarked grave for St Annes Adoption Society at St Finbarrs cemetery, Cork. Picture: Eddie OHare

Such an analysis wont wash with tens of thousands of adoptees. They are angry. While the dead no longer have a voice, the living are out there and want answers. Theyve waited long enough.
As political zeal trumps economic interest, there may be full rupture between England and the EU, writes Denis MacShane

IN JANUARY 2015, I published a book, Brexit: How Britain Will Leave Europe. Over 250 pages I predicted what would happen if David Cameron was re-elected prime minister of Britain in May 2015 and proceeded with his Brexit plebiscite.

It wasnt Nobel prize-winning political forecasting. My analysis was based on decades of knocking on doors asking people to vote for me or other candidate friends in the Labour Party.

In British cities in the 1950s, notices on boarding house windows stated: No Coloureds. No Irish. Dogs Welcome.

In the 1990s as a South Yorkshire MP, I encountered plenty of doorstep racism about Pakis and how immigrants from India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh were arriving in hordes to take British jobs, council homes, use the NHS, send five-year olds who couldnt speak a word of English to reception classes and couldnt pass the Norman Tebbit test of supporting England in a test match against Pakistan.

After 2000, the language turned against European workers. Some 1.7% of the UK population is Polish

compared to 4%. Germany had 1.5m Polish immigrants and Spain 1.1m Romanians.

Yet, in 21st century England, a combination of Ukip, anti-immigration Conservative MPs, and a crucial segment of the press told voters and readers every day that the UK was being over-run by Europeans and Britain had to leave the EU to take back control.

So, I was sure that just on the immigration question alone, a Brexit plebiscite would win. No referendum this century with Europe on the ballot paper has won, as the French, Irish, Swedes, Dutch and now the English have shown.

Add in anger over six years of Tory austerity and the chance to give the evangelists of supra-national money-power  the denizens of Davos  a good kicking and it was surprising there wasnt a bigger Brexit majority.

I assumed that, given the narrowness of the majority  just 37% of the total electorate voting for Brexit  some kind of British compromise would emerge. The Tory Party, after all, has existed for 300 years as the party of money-making. The business of the Conservatives is business. The Tories could spend years up political cul-de-sacs, such as voting reform, free trade, and above all the Irish question, but they never lost sight of the bottom line.

I assumed throughout 2017 that, while leaving the political EU Treaty set-up was unavoidable  no more MEPs, no commissioner, no prime minister at EU councils  the British political class would settle on an economic compromise by staying in the EU customs union and single market.

Now, I am not so sure. Both Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn repeat without end that the UK has to leave the EU single market and customs union. Ms May is the weakest prime minister in more than a century. Mr Corbyn is a 1970s leftist who has never liked Europe. He is enjoying the civil war inside the Tory Party and is not minded to leave his comfort zone of ambiguity on what Labour policy on Brexit is.

There is no election until 2022. The future macro-economic forecasts may be negative, but right now Britain seems to have full employment, even if on low wages. The shopping malls are full, Ryanair and Easyjet are stuffed with holiday-makers, and life goes on much as it did before June 23, 2016.

To be sure, Brexit hasnt happened, only a vote has, but it is like a long, drawn out phoney war with no real sense that Brexit will hit anyone yet.

Politics is thus supreme over economics. Tory politics is about the succession to Ms May, with MPs such as Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg ratcheting up their anti-EU rhetoric. If if comes to a contest, the next Tory leader and hence prime minister will be chosen by 70,000 Conservative party members whose average age is 71. They are not open to pro-EU arguments.

There is massive collateral damage to Ireland, as once again the Orange card is played in Tory politics. Ms May needs the 10 DUP votes, so cannot agree to anything that can guarantee the Good Friday Agreement if it means upsetting hardline Ulster protestant anti-Dublin sensibilities.

That is why peace and security in Ireland did not get a mention in her weekend speech in Munich, which was meant to define a vision of Britain contributing to European peace and security outside the EU. She knows that is not true once customs controls exist between Ireland and the six counties, but she dare not face down the DUP.

Business is moaning and complaining but not campaigning. The thousands of Irish firms and thousands of Irish citizens in leadership positions in England have not coalesced into an effective campaign to delay or suspend Brexit.

The pro-Europeans have no organisation, no leaders, no money.

As political zeal trumps economic interest, the worst may yet happen and there will be a full amputational rupture between England and Europe. Ireland has solid support in Brussels and in the EU27 capitals, but throughout history not many Tories have over-worried about the impact of their ideology upon Ireland. The Europe question is set to dominate English politics for some time and there is no solution in sight. Irelands political leaders and Irelands business community should prepare for the worst. It may happen.

Denis MacShane is Britains former minister of Europe and a Labour MP for 18 years. He is speaking on Brexit at UCC tonight.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said 21,315 people were affected by measles and 35 deaths from the disease last year. The surge follows a record low of 5,273 cases in 2016.

The WHOs Regional Office for Europe said the disease had rebounded, with a 400% increase in measles cases, compared to 2016.

Over 20,000 cases of measles and 35 lives lost in 2017 alone are a tragedy we simply cannot accept, said Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO regional director for Europe.

She said every person affected by measles was a reminder that unvaccinated children and adults, regardless of where they lived, remain at risk of spreading it to others who might not be able to get vaccinated.

Elimination of both measles and rubella is a priority goal that all European countries have firmly committed to, and a cornerstone for achieving the health-related sustainable goals, said Dr Jakab. This short-term setback cannot deter us from our commitment to be the generation that frees our children from these diseases once and for all.

The increase in cases last year included large outbreaks (100 or more cases) in 15 of the 53 countries in the region, including Britain where there were 282.

There were 21 confirmed cases of measles last year in Ireland, but already this year there have been 28, according to latest statistics.

According to the WHO, Romania was the worst affected last year with 5,562 cases, followed by Italy with 5,006 and Ukraine registering 4,769.

Meanwhile, figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre show that, over the first six weeks of last year, there was just one confirmed case of measles reported in Ireland.

However, the HSE is currently working to control a measles outbreak in Limerick. Most of those affected are children under four years of age.

The health authority reported last week that 13 cases had been confirmed  12 in Limerick and one linked case in Dublin. Other possible cases are being investigated.

People who have not been fully vaccinated with the measles mumps and rubella (MMR) two-dose vaccine or those who have not had measles in the past are most at risk of getting the disease that can kill or cause long-term damage.

One in every 1,000 children affected develops encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain that can cause deafness or learning difficulties.

Editorial: 10
It comes as an Irish Examiner investigation revealed that children from the Bessborough Mother and Baby Home, some of whom died as late as 1990, are buried in unmarked graves in a Cork City cemetery.

The three grave plots are located in St Finbarrs cemetery in Cork City. Two of the plots are unmarked, while another records just one name despite containing the remains of 16 children. Five of the children are connected to the Bessborough Mother and Baby Home.

The plots are owned by the now-closed St Annes Adoption Society and the St Patricks Orphanage in Cork. The third plot is a non-perpetuity plot indicating that it is unowned.

Earlier this month, the Mother and Baby Homes Commission made a public call for information relating to the burials of a large number of children who died at the home between 1922 and 1998.

Susan Lohan of the Adoption Rights Alliance said that Minister for Children Katherine Zappone must now ask the Commission why, in three years of research, it has either not reported, or worse, has not even discovered, the basic facts that a single journalist with a far smaller budget was able to unearth in a few weeks.

Minister Zappone will no doubt be aware of the intense disquiet, which greeted her predecessor Dr James Reillys flawed terms of reference for the commission announced in January 2015, which survivors and campaigners correctly predicted was a ploy to treat Tuam as an isolated case of mismanaged burials when in fact the greater human rights abuses concerned forced adoptions, illegal vaccine trials, enforced labour, illegal incarceration, extraordinary rendition of Irish women and girls from the UK back to Ireland and wholesale trafficking of non-marital children to the US for adoption, said Ms Lohan.

She also said the connections between the Bessborough home and St Annes Adoption Society must now be fully investigated.

She also alleged that complaints of wholesale criminality by survivor and campaigning groups have been completely ignored by successive government ministers and the Adoption Authority.

Paul Redmond of the Coalition of Mother and Baby Homes Survivors said he was appalled by the revelations and called for a Garda investigation into the operation of the former mother and baby home.

We are outraged by these latest revelations concerning Bessborough Mother and Baby home, said Mr Redmond. We are appalled by the casual attitudes of the order to the deaths and burials of babies and children since 1922 right up to 1990 at least.

Altered and missing records mean that the full truth will never be known about the notorious Bessborough Mother and Baby home and the hundreds of deaths that occurred there. It is long past time that the gardai were called in to investigate these matters with a view to prosecutions.

In a statement, the Sister of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary said: As indicated previously all records relating to Bessborough were passed to the HSE in 2011 and are now in the possession of Tusla. We will continue to deal directly with the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes on all such matters.

Similarly, the Sisters of Mercy said they would deal directly with this Commission on all related matters.
That is according to Tanaiste Simon Coveney, who was speaking to business leaders in Cork about the 116bn national development plans impact on the city and county in the next two decades.

At Cork Chambers sold-out Future of Cork event at the Clayton Hotel, Mr Coveney said Corks population will grow 60% by 2040, with 2m people living in the South.

In order to make it more livable, a viable alternative to Dublin, and to dramatically change the face of the city, Cork needed the major investment promised under the national plan, he said.

At the end of the next 20 years, with the redrawn boundary, well have somewhere between 320,000-360,000 people, said Mr Coveney. That is the kind of change Cork City has not seen since independence.

The Docklands will be a huge part of the solution, and 90m being spent on the redevelopment of the Port of Cork in Ringaskiddy is key to that.

It clears the way for significant Docklands development over the next 10 years, said Mr Coveney. It creates space, growth and oxygen for the city to grow outwards and upwards.

An artists impression of the completed Maldron Hotel on Corks South Mall.

There will be major building upwards in the coming years, with green spaces and amenities within the city centre protected when the boundary is extended, said Mr Coveney.

The tallest building in Ireland may not hold that record for long under the new plan, he added.

We need to drive the vast majority of our new development, still within the current city boundaries, even though we will of course still see population growth happen outside of that in the broader city area also, said Mr Coveney.

Just because we draw a boundary that actually brings in a whole load of new green areas into the city, that have an opportunity for development, doesnt mean we fill it with houses.

That would fundamentally undermine the sustainability of the city we all love. Instead what we are going to see is a lot of new buildings along the quaysides, and much higher buildings. Buildings that can follow the lead of the Elysian.

In my view, the Elysian will be pretty commonplace along our quaysides in terms of setting a benchmark for height. In fact, we may well go above it in terms of many of the new plans in train.

A side view of how the office scheme proposed by John Cleary Developments for Cork Citys South Mall will look on completion.

Corks road network will have to be upgraded to prove all roads dont lead to Dublin, said Mr Coveney.

Corks northside will finally be an area of major focus, he added.

We are trying to create other networks between Cork, Limerick, Galway, and Sligo that can try to rebalance the road network away from a hub and spoke mechanism where Dublin is the centre of everything. This is about trying to create growth centres outside of Dublin. A very important element for many people on the northside of the city, and for businesses, we are going to do half of the Northern Ring Road. The Eastern half. That will link the motorway from Limerick to the motorway from Dublin, and is the important side to get done first.

The Northern Ring Road is a 400m project. If you have a motorway coming in from Limerick to Cork, you cant simply just bring it into Blackpool with the current structures there at the moment. There will have to be a significant junction there, and a dual carriageway going east to link to Dunkettle, which is in many ways our Red Cow junction.

A 30m office scheme proposed by John Cleary Developments for Corks South Mall, to include nos 85/86, and a site bounded by Smith St, Phoenix St, and Crane Lane.

The saga of the long-mooted events centre, which has been beset by delays since being greenlit, will be resolved, he said.

We are close to making that happen. Ive been saying that for some time, but BAM, Live Nation, and ourselves are all going through a final approval to all put more money into the process. This is going to cost between 75m and 80m to build. The developers and future owner will put more money in and we have an agreement in principle. Hopefully, we will have an announcement on that very shortly.

Cork cannot delay any further to reach its potential, said Mr Coveney.

We want to see it as a region driven from the city centre out as opposed to the other way around, he said.

I think about what Cork city looked like 20 years ago when I got into politics. Yes, there are some exceptional buildings around like the maternity hospital. But essentially it doesnt look that different to what it did then.

In 20 years time, our city will look dramatically different and, in my view, 25% of the citys footprint has yet to be built. Hopefully, we can spend billions of euro to transform this city for the better.

An aerial view of how Navigation Square will look when built, which will offer 310,000 sq ft of office space.

Projects greenlit under spending plan

Planned for Cork under the 116bn Project Ireland 2040

Transport:

Bus: Connects Cork  a 200m investment to be completed by 2027.

Connects Cork  a 200m investment to be completed by 2027. Rail: Cork-Dublin higher speed rail study. Planning and design of a light rail corridor for Cork.

Cork-Dublin higher speed rail study. Planning and design of a light rail corridor for Cork. Ports: The Port of Cork redevelopment project, costing 90m.

Health:

A new general hospital for Cork. A new elective-only hospital.

Replacement and additional radiation oncology facilities will be provided at Cork University Hospital.

A new ambulance base.

New national eHealth system.

Arts:

The Cork Events Centre

Crawford Gallery renovation.

Drainage:

The Lower Harbour Main Drainage Project, a 55m investment to significantly enhance the water quality in Cork Harbour.

Flood Relief Schemes: Cork city and county (the lower Lee, Skibbereen, Bandon, Clonakilty).

Education and Research:

University College Cork: New business school, student accommodation, science park, ICT services and new dental hospital.

Tyndall National Institute: Upgrading of the Tyndall National Institute to double in size.

Cork Institute of Technology: Major PPP infrastructure projects.

Roads network:
Stefan Cooper, 18, died after he was struck by a car driven by Sean Collins at Barley Hill, Roscarberry, Co Cork, in March 2016.

Collins, who had a previous drink drive conviction from 2006, pleaded guilty to driving a car with excess alcohol  140 mgs of alcohol per 100 mls of blood at a time when the limit was 50 mgs.

The 70 year-old, of The Bungalow, Threegneeves, Leap, Co Cork, also pleaded guilty to charges of driving without due care and attention causing Stefans death.

Yesterday, he was given a one year suspended jail term, a 500 fine, and was banned from driving for five years.

In a victim impact statement read to Cork Circuit Criminal Court, Stefan Coopers father Christy told how he had to identify his sons body on the side of the road. He then became concerned that his daughters might find out about the tragedy over social media.

I had to make the most difficult decision of my life, whether to stay with Stefan and risk my girls finding out about his death from someone else or to get home to them before this happened, he said. Eventually I had to leave my son on the side of a wet road in the company of strangers to protect my daughters.

Stefans sister Michaela described the impact of her brothers death. I honestly never realised how cosy our house was  full of joy and comfort  until he died. Now it just feels empty, lonely, and big.

His [Collins] life will never be the name again, nor his familys, but because of him, my brother does not have a life to live and that, at the end of the day, is unimaginably painfully unforgivable.

His other sister Emelia said: Losing my brother at 15 messed up my life beyond repair. Ive lost the only brother I had. It is unforgivable that he is gone. He is gone because someone couldnt follow the rules and it is beyond unforgivable that he has ruined our family.
Despite his insistence that a directive to give some second-level students an opt-out from religious instruction would not require extra staffing, representatives of schools and teachers said there will be resourcing implications.

The Department of Education has told 300 second-level community and multi-denominational schools, managed by education and training boards (ETBs), that children must be allowed to opt out of religious instruction.

However, instead of being told they should instead sit in the library or at the back of a classroom, any students availing of the option must be offered an alternative subject.

The department told the Irish Examiner last week that the process was not about adding further subject choices to the timetable. However, yesterday, Mr Bruton told RTEs Today with Sean ORourke radio programme that schools would have to provide the extra choice without additional staff.

Were not providing extra resources, as part of this, because its really about reconfiguring their offering. Its a question of extending the hours of some subjects and reducing the hours of others, or reducing the amount of timetabling for other subject areas, depending on demand, the minister said.

His comments were rejected by Michael Moriarty, general secretary of Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI), which represents the 16 ETBs.

Their schools, Mr Moriarty said, would survey parents, as required by the department. However, he said that there would be a high demand for students to opt out of religious instruction, particularly from senior-cycle students, who may wish to take an additional Leaving Certificate subject.

The circular [letter from the department] looks for alternative, parallel teaching of another subject and thats going to have resourcing implications, no matter what the minister says, said Mr Moriarty.

The Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) also said it had serious concerns over the failure of the minister to provide resourcing for this measure.

Other subject options will have to be provided at the time that religion takes place.

Quite clearly, this will require the employment of additional teachers in schools, the union said.

The TUI said that offering extra hours in some subject areas would add to severe difficulties around the recruitment and retention of teachers across a growing range of subjects, an issue the union said is due to pay inequality.

The question of teacher shortages will be addressed this afternoon by TDs and senators, when they meet with representatives of schools, teachers, and other education bodies.

The issue was discussed at a consultative forum, last week, organised by the Teaching Council.

The latter will be represented at a hearing of the Oireachtas education committee.

The committee will also hear submissions from the ETBI, Catholic Primary Schools Management Association, and organisations representing primary- and second-level principals, and the boards of special schools and schools with special classes.

The Leinster House hearing will also be addressed by the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI), Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO), and An Comhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaiochta, which provides teaching resources, and other supports, for Irish-medium schools.
And now it appears Taoiseach Leo Varadkars well-publicised dedication to his personal fitness has rubbed off on some of his colleagues, after figures revealed a sharp increase in visits to the Dail gym last year.

TDs and Senators visited the taxpayer-funded Oireachtas gym 390 times in 2017  a surge of more than 40% [41.3%] from the previous years figure of 276.

However, a closer analysis of the new data shows that our elected representatives are continuing to snub the free-to-use facility far more than other Leinster House staff.

Just over 8% [8.23%] of the total 4,740 gym sessions recorded in 2017 were by politicians, while more motivated workers at Leinster House made up the remaining 92% visits to the state-of-the-art leisure facility.

Unsurprisingly, last August  throughout which the Dail was in recess  proved to be the slackest period of the year, with not one single visit by a politician recorded to the fitness room.

Dail deputies were also reluctant to work up a sweat in September when just 14 visits were registered, while the temptations of the festive season appear to have proved too much for our elected representatives, as only 15 visits were recorded in December.

However, despite it being the shortest month of the year, February was the period when politicians interest in shedding a few pounds and toning up peaked, with 66 visits to the facility.

Data released under the Freedom of Information Act reveals that taxpayers were billed a total of 45,582.87 for running the Oireachtas fitness room. The figure included payment to Dublin-based firm Inspire Limited to provide two part-time staff at the 60 sq m complex and for other professional services, including a once-weekly yoga class and two weekly supervised group training sessions. Cavan-based T&T Fitness was also paid by the Houses of the Oireachtas to maintain the gym equipment.

The Kildare House-based gym is fitted out with cardiovascular equipment, including four treadmills, two cross-trainers, two rowers, and two exercise bikes. It also has resistance training equipment, including leg and abdominal machines, free weights, and chest, back, and multi-functional rehabilitation machines.

The gym is open every weekday, with four separate sessions throughout the day on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. On Thursdays, the gym has three separate opening times, with two on Mondays and just one two-and-a-half hour lunchtime slot every Friday.
Fianna Fail has said it is not acceptable for Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe to wash his hands of the proposed sale of 20,000 mortgages by Permanent TSB, given he is the majority shareholder.

The party is demanding that unregulated foreign vulture funds are brought in under the control of the Central Bank.

The prospect of a full-scale row between the two parties escalated yesterday as both sides entrenched their positions.

Fianna Fail finance spokesman Michael McGrath said State-owned, main street banks should not be allowed to sell on loans to unregulated vulture funds.

He said the ministers consent is required for the proposed sale and while he cannot dictate to the bank, should he oppose the sale the bank could hardly ignore him.

He will have to be consulted and will have to form a view, Mr McGrath told the Irish Examiner. He cannot sit on the fence and hide behind the framework. He will have to adopt a position and express it.

In response to a threat by Mr McGrath to invoke the confidence and supply deal in a bid to stop the sale, the Department of Finance said that the planned sale does not require the permission of Mr Donohoe before proceeding.

However, the relationship framework drawn up between the bank and the minister does require that he be consulted in relation to any transaction worth 50m or more.

Mr McGrath said it was unfair that vulture funds could buy up mortgages at significant discounts but borrowers in arrears could not buy their loans at similar discounts.

The Cork South Central TD said the confidence and supply agreement with Fine Gael included measures to strengthen protection for mortgage holders whose loans are sold.

Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty said the Government has had a relatively hands-off approach in its dealing with the banks bailed out by the taxpayer.

The regulatory arrangements that were made by the supervisor mechanism board between Irish banks and the State since we had to bail them out, were as such that we would have a relatively hands-off approach, she said.

Asked about claims by Mr McGrath that the Government were rolling out the red carpet for vulture funds to buy up distressed mortgages, Ms Doherty replied: Thats facetious of Michael, to be honest, I think he is better than that. Anybody who would have their loan book moved from one institution to another could have concerns.

She said the Government were willing to listen to Fianna Fails concerns.

In response, the department said: Decisions in respect of loan book sales are the responsibility of the board and management of the bank.

Permanent TSBs non-performing loans are at 28% of its total loans, which is five times higher than the average in the eurozone.

Chairman of the Oireachtas Finance Committee, Fianna Fails John McGuinness, said the ministers position of refusing to intervene was not acceptable.

Business: 14
The 116bn plan to re-imagine Ireland will invest in infrastructure, housing, health and the environment over the next two decades.

It includes a 2bn urban regeneration and development fund, 1bn rural development fund, and 500m climate fund. However, the Government has been harshly criticised for not seeking a Dail vote on the plan, which addresses how the country will cope as the population increases by one million in the next 20 years.

The high-profile launch in Sligo IT and a publicity campaign around Ireland 2040 has also been slammed by opposition parties.

Speaking ahead of the debate which begins tonight, Fianna Fail spokesman on public expenditure Dara Calleary said: If the Government were confident about the plan they would have announced it without spin and glitz in the Dail. But they needed the spin and the glitz.

He pointed to the 1bn which had been set aside for rural regeneration under the plan which he said contained only vague promises, adding that this and many other elements of the framework would have to be teased out in the Dail.

However, Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring said money set aside for rural regeneration is a game changer for those living outside of urban areas.

Let me make it clear that the rural regeneration fund represents 1bn in additional government investment in our rural towns, villages, and outlying rural areas to be administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development, said Mr Ring.

The additional investment under the rural regeneration and development fund will commence in 2019 and will ramp up incrementally over the first four years before reaching a steady level of investment. This will see a 60% increase in departmental funding next year and a doubling of expenditure within four years.

Fianna Fail housing spokesman Barry Cowen said the plan is not what it says on the tin and would be scrutinised by the opposition this week.

Separately, Childrens Minister Katherine Zappone is to bring changes to Cabinet to ensure the rights of children are fully protected in the courts.

Ms Zappone has already put forward new legislation which will see legal guardians appointed to vulnerable children who are affected by court cases.

However, she will ask her cabinet colleagues to approve further changes to the new rules that seek to tackle shortcomings in the system, which Ms Zappone has previously said is not fit for purpose.

The Department of Children hope the legislation will come before the Dail before the summer recess.

The current Child Care Act 1991, does not set out the basic criteria for appointing guardians.
That is according to Bus Eireann regional manager, Martin Walsh, who says surveys show the average speed buses achieve during peak hours in bus lanes is around 22km/hr and where there is no bus lane it drops to 2-3km/hr.

Mr Walsh said that, each day, there are 2,637 bus movements through the city and 972 through the highly congested Patrick St. He said there are 25 pinch points in the city and suburbs which are holding up services.

There needs to be serious investment in creating additional street space for bus lanes, said Mr Walsh.

He said the percentage of missed trips rises between September and December, mainly because of an increase in schools and college traffic.

He made his comments at a meeting of the Ballincollig/Carrigaline municipal district council, where he addressed local public representatives who raised a number of issues about buses which are often late and sometimes do not turn up at all.

The main issue is traffic congestion, he said. Cork [bus passenger] growth is greater than anywhere else in the country, including Dublin. Weve hired over 100 drivers in the last four years.

Mr Walsh said fares were also cut last December in a large part of Cork, which is adding to passenger levels.

He added that Bus Eireann is having to use more contractors and has notices up in depots asking its drivers to do overtime.

Independent councillor Marcia DAlton said a park and ride facility should be created at Shannon Park, near Carrigaline to serve the thousands of employees working in Ringaskiddy. Mr Walsh agreed with her, but said it would not work unless a dedicated bus corridor is created along that road.

He was told that some recently-lengthened bus routes, which cover west-east and north to south suburb journeys, and vice versa, are leading to delays. Fine Gael councillor Derry Canty said this is particularly the case with the Ballincollig-Carrigaline service and people often miss vital connections. Fianna Fail councillor Seamus McGrath said he got many complaints from people who missed exams or important appointments as a result.

Mr Walsh said the frequency of the 220 and 220x which serve the Carrigaline area will be increased later this year to every 15 minutes from the current 30 minutes.
It was those words of the famous Irish poet that inspired photographer Richard Fitzgerald to look not just inward but backward on an Ireland of the recent past, evoking memories of the kind of rural life that has all but vanished.

The images in his book Dark Ireland: Images Of A Lost World, capture the unique landscape of Ireland but they are also intimate portraits of the inhabitants of that landscape as they worked, played and prayed.

As our selection from Dark Ireland reveals, the Waterford-born photographer has brought together a remarkable book of moody monochrome photographs, which he fondly describes as revealing the dark underbelly of Irish rural life.

A nun battles the wind on a hill in Tramore, Co Waterford in 1987.

His striking images form a narrative thread with the not-so-distant past. His camera focuses on the back roads of the countryside, and records intimate moments of people in their cottages and farms. Nuns, rosary nights; confessions, coffins, and currachs are captured along with horse fairs and peat harvesting.

His 1970 photograph of an elderly couple and their daughter making hay on a farm in Co Mayo could easily have come from a century before. The hand-made haystack, the two-pronged pitchfork, the crude wooden ladder to the side, and even the clothes they wear speak of an Ireland of a long-forgotten past, yet taken less than half a century ago.

It was evening and the light was beginning to dim when Richard photographed the man in Co Waterford milking a cow. He learned that the man frequently allowed his cows to graze on the lush grass by the roadside, known as The Long Acre.

Haymakers hard at work on their farm in Co Mayo in 1970.

Some of the images reveal the harsh reality of scraping a living in rural Ireland. The cover of the book shows two Connemara men returning home from working the bogs. It was taken in 1970. Years later, he could still remember how pitiful they looked, too weary to speak to each other as one of them sheltered under a sodden overcoat while their equally hardworking donkeys trundled along with their heads lowered.

My memories are steeped in Irish country life, says Richard. I worked on the land. I ploughed fields, milked cows by hand, made haycocks, planted potatoes, and took horses to the forge. But all too soon it was over and I joined the ranks of thousands of other Irish emigrants bound for a new life abroad.

Playing the tin whistle to a captive audience in Co Kerry, 1970.

He claims he was thrown out of Ireland at the age of 14, wrongly accused of stealing a bottle of lemonade. It was an event that ultimately led to his early departure from Ireland. In London, unable to get into college to study photography, a stroke of good fortune landed in his lap when he rented rooms from a retired portrait photographer who had been working with large wooden cameras and glass plate negatives. He became Richards personal tutor in photography for many years, allowing him free use of a studio and darkroom.

After travelling the world as a ships photographer in the late 1960s, Richard returned to London and set up his own photographic studio, photographing rock and roll stars, and actresses and actors from the silver screen.

Milking time in Co Waterford, 1990.

He has enjoyed 40 years of working with various magazines and newspapers; his photographs have been published in innumerable publications around the world. But he has always held an enduring love of his homeland and he continues to photograph Ireland to this day.

Dark Ireland: Images of a Lost World is published by Currach Press. 24.99
Judge Sean O Donnabhain described the case as bizarre as he imposed a three-year jail term, with the last year suspended, on Shane ONeill, aged 45, of Shanacashel, Kilmichael, Macroom, Co Cork.

ONeill pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing harm to the girl. Following his arrest on this charge, he tried to escape and assaulted gardai in the process. He later pleaded guilty to charges arising out of that.

The judge said: The circumstances of the assault on the girl were quite bizarre and worryingly there was no reason and no explanation.

Months after the assault, he went to the Probation Service and he gave an explanation in relation to white vans in his head and convoluted this into the incident with the victim.

Sgt Katrine Tansley said ONeill was interviewed at length about the attack on the teenage girl. who was dragged around in the office building until she managed to escape. The sergeant said ONeill never said anything about the white van.

Sgt Tansley said ONeill cried twice and would talk about everything and anything rather than the matter under investigation and did not refer to the white van at any time during interview.

The defendant pleaded guilty to three additional charges namely attempting to escape from lawful custody at Macroom Garda Station on July 26, and assaulting Garda Carmel Nash and Garda Kieran Cremin at the garda station on that day.

Sgt Tansley said ONeill asked to be taken to the bathroom and when at the sink he threw water at gardai and pushed them out of his way. He ran into the yard at the back of the station and was re-arrested after a violent struggle.

Judge O Donnabhain imposed another one-year sentence on ONeill on these charges but suspended the sentence.

The total prison sentence was two years, backdated to July.

Peter OFlynn, defending, said the actions of the accused were out of character. He said the accused had come off a 12-hour shift and he believed that, two days earlier, the driver of a white van had tried to drive him off the road.

The victim in the case made no reference to the accused warning her about the danger from a white van.

She said he asked her the time and she told him it was 5pm. He repeatedly asked her the time until she showed him the time on her phone. He then accosted her, grabbed her by the arm, and forced her backwards.

She managed to escape and run up the stairs of the office, screaming for help. However, he caught her again, grabbed her by the arm and waist, and dragged her towards the door.

Sgt Tansley said the victim felt that he was trying to abduct or take her and she was highly distressed.

The victim said ONeill scared the life out of her and since it occurred she was very nervous of strangers.

Judge O Donnabhain said the accused had little insight into what happened and accordingly may be a danger. He said that issue was unresolved.

This was a terrifying incident, not properly explained by Mr ONeill, the judge said.
Clarifying comments where she said the Government could lose the referendum, the Fine Gael minister said those ministers advocating repeal will be out campaigning for a yes vote.

However, the Irish Examiner understands that no official decision has been taken by Fine Gael about campaigning or funding for a referendum position, with just weeks before the wording is published. Officials with Fine Gaels national executive have not discussed this and no funding has been set aside for any campaign.

Ms Doherty played down her weekend comments to reporters yesterday after she warned that with the current mixed poll results that the no side could win.

She said she is fully supportive of repeal and of the proposal to allow abortion without reservation up to the 12th week of pregnancy  the position adopted by the Government after Oireachtas Committee recommendations.

On the basis of the poll yesterday [Sunday], there are obviously a very large cohort of people in this country who have a problem with 12 weeks, said Ms Doherty. I think unless we provide them with factual, medical, and clinical evidence that was presented to the Oireachtas committee and the Citizen Assembly, they wont know where we came from with the 12 weeks.

So there is a body of work that needs to be done here between now and the referendum, whenever it is in May or June, or its not going to pass itself.

Ms Doherty also said she thinks her comments are being jumped on.

We havent started the campaign yet, she said. Every time I seem to open my mouth, people jump on it because it means something other than what it actually means.

Asked if Fine Gael or ministers will take a lead in the campaign, she replied: I think you will see some Fine Gael people expressing the views that are supporting the Government position or some Fine Gaelers who have different views, that just reflects Irish society.

However, some ministers have expressed reservations about the 12-week proposal. This may divide Cabinet members when the campaign begins. Asked if their positions are muddying the waters for the vote, Ms Doherty said: I reject that, I dont think there is anyone creating problems or muddying the waters. You have people reflecting their own personal views which is what we are accepting with a vote of conscience with no [party] whip in here. I wouldnt expect anybody with personal views to campaign for something they dont believe.

She also suggests the vote could go ahead in June, later than expected and a situation which could likely see fewer younger people vote as colleges will be closed.

The campaign is not going to be starting in earnest until a number of weeks before the referendum, she said. A date hasnt even been set yet, it will most likely be June.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet will discuss the wording for the referendum today.
The Government was forced to withdraw the name of Central Bank Governor Philip Lane from the race to become vice president of the European Central Bank.

Prof Lane was proposed a number of weeks ago by Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe, but has returned to business as usual given the decision to withdraw his candidacy.

He was one of two candidates for the role, alongside Spanish finance minister Luis De Guindos.

The former Trinity College Dublin academic is highly regarded and is still considered to be a top candidate for a future vacancy on the ECBs six-member executive board.

The role of chief economist will be available next spring, and the Irishman is believed to be a leading contender for that role.

In what is clearly a blow to Mr Donohoe, the decision to withdraw from the race means Ireland remains the only founding member of the ECB never to have held a top post at the bank.

Announcing the decision, Mr Donohoe said Prof Lane was an exceptionally well-qualified candidate who would make an ideal person to serve on the executive board of the European Central Bank.

He said he had received very positive feedback and expressions of support in relation to the candidacy from many member states who acknowledged how well qualified Philip would be for the position.

However, the minister said he was withdrawing the governors nomination as it was in the interest of the ECB that the position was filled on the basis of consensus. Mr Donohoe told reporters, on entering a meeting of eurozone finance ministers in Brussels yesterday that will decide on a joint candidate, that he would withdraw Prof Lanes candidacy so that there was one candidate only chosen by consensus.

Today, I confirm we will not put forward his candidacy for a vote this evening, said Mr Donohoe. We believe that given how important a role it is as the vice president of the ECB, that the decision be made on the basis of consensus.

A spokesperson for Prof Lane said that he welcomed the opportunity to participate in the process and now returns to business as usual at the Central Bank of Ireland.

Reacting to the news, Sinn Fein finance spokesman Pearse Doherty said he was disappointed at the defeat of Mr Lanes nomination for the position of ECB vice-president.
The news comes amid growing ministerial fears the referendum could be rejected. There are also outstanding differences within the Cabinet over the proposal to legalise abortion in all circumstances up to 12 weeks.

Cork-based ministers Simon Coveney and Michael Creed have stated their concerns about the 12-week limit, and such concerns are known to be shared by other rural ministers such as Heather Humphreys and Denis Naughten.

Ministers meet today to discuss the draft heads of the bill to provide for a referendum on abortion before agreeing a final wording on March 6.

Those who are committed to campaign for repeal and to advocate and campaign for the 12-weeks limit are: Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe, Health Minister Simon Harris, Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty, Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy, Culture Minister Josepha Madigan, Childrens Minister Katherine Zappone and Transport Minister Shane Ross.

Super junior minister Finian McGrath, who also sits at the Cabinet table, said that ministers have a duty to sell the proposal at national and local level.

Every Cabinet minister has a responsibility to campaign actively both nationally and in their local constituencies. I personally am a member of the repeal in Dublin Bay North but ministers must go out and campaign as this is closer than people think, he told the Irish Examiner.

Mr McGrath called on his colleagues to read the report of the Oireachtas committee on the Eighth Amendment and see how and why the 12-week limit came about.

Agriculture Minister Michael Creed has expressed his deep concerns and opposition to the proposal to allow abortions in the first three months of pregnancy but sources in Government have said he is unlikely to campaign against his colleagues.

He is unlikely to be in the vanguard in this debate as he has the scars of the 1983 campaign, a source said.

A spokesman for Mr Coveney said he fully supported the move to repeal the Eighth Amendment and would campaign for that.

He has some reservations with one aspect of the committees report, but ... Mr Harris job is to prepare legislation in line with the report and the Tanaistes opportunity to change legislation is in the Dail, his spokesman said.

Communications Minister Denis Naughten is said to be in favour of the referendum but is awaiting the wording of the legislation before he decides what to do further, his spokeswoman said.

Business Minister Heather Humphreys is adopting a similar wait and see approach as is Education Minister Richard Bruton.

Junior Defence Minister Paul Kehoe, who sits at Cabinet, told the Irish Examiner he is still considering what he called a deeply personal and emotive issue.

As I have already stated, I support the decision of the Government to put this issue to the people. Im conscious that this is a deeply personal and emotive issue for people. I intend to give full consideration to the proposed legislation when it is published, he said.

Neither Rural Affairs Minister Michael Ring nor his adviser Daniel Rowan responded to several queries from the Irish Examiner yesterday.

Ms Doherty, speaking yesterday, said those ministers advocating repeal would be out campaigning for a yes vote. She also strongly suggested the referendum could now be held in June as opposed to late May, which is the preference of Mr Harris.

The campaign is going to be starting in earnest until a number of weeks before the referendum. A date hasnt even been set yet, it will most likely be June, she said.

The minister also thinks her comments were jumped on. We havet started the campaign yet. Every time I seem to open my mouth, people jump on it because it means something other than what it actually means.

Meanwhile, the chair of the abortion committee, Catherine Noone, said the lack of an agreed party position within Fine Gael does present difficulties.
The funding from UCCs non-taxpayer revenues will be spread over eight years and the university will get its name in lights over the Cork Opera House, replacing the Toyota signs that were recently removed at the end of a 30-year-old sponsorship deal.

One of three large signs showing the Cork Opera House and UCC logos, either side of the words creating together, has been erected on the fly tower above the city-centre building. It will be lit from below at night, like the Toyota sign that preceded it, and two similar signs will be placed on the towers north and west facades.

In return for its 60,000-plus-VAT annual investment, UCC will get to send students on internships with the theatre in areas including management, marketing, business development, and the more creative side for skills like lighting, sound and costume design.

An MA in Arts and Cultural management is being developed and is due to admit the first students from next year in a collaboration between Cork Opera House and UCCs school of music and theatre.

The head of the school, Jools Gilson, said the partnership brings two worlds together and provides a missing piece of the puzzle.

We have a scholarship, lively debate, exploration, and a great deal of practice-based learning in the performing arts, but we cant replicate what it means to run a successful venue, said Prof Gilson.

This collaboration offers our students this practical hands-on opportunity to intern in a lively opera house in areas from stage management to marketing.

Cork Opera House chief executive Eibhlin Gleeson said the new partners want to create a city where the arts can thrive, and she believes the deal will have a long-lasting impact on the arts scene.

We are developing and mentoring the people who will become the producers, arts managers, technicians and heads of arts institutions in Cork and beyond, said Ms Gleeson, herself a UCC graduate.

The creation of a theatre artist-in-residence role will see development work being done at the Opera House which will inform his or her contribution to teaching at UCC. The university will be given preferential rates to use the 900-seat auditorium for student events and conferences which, it said, would give the city a major economic boost.

A PhD research programme will be jointly funded by the two institutions to explore the Opera Houses impact on Cork and the region. This will initially support one researcher but that may be expanded later.
In Person 88 Activist Says Awareness, Not Execution, is Key to Tackling Rape

Daw Nilar Thein speaks at a press conference in Yangon in 2015. / The Irrawaddy

The sexual abuse of women and children in Myanmar has been on the rise for the past few years. There were 1,405 reported rape cases across the country last year alone, 897 of them involving girls less than 16 years old, the highest number on record.

On Feb. 15, in response to the rising numbers, the Home Affairs Ministry asked the public to cooperate with police to combat rape, listing alcohol and drug abuse, ignorance and easy access to internet porn among the main drivers.

The ministry also urged parents, elders and media to encourage women and girls to dress modestly, a recommendation that quickly drew criticism for victim blaming.

There have also been mounting calls for capital punishment for rapists following the rape of multiple children since January, including an attack that resulted in the death of a 2-year-old girl.

Daw Nilar Thein, who oversees womens and childrens affairs for the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society, spoke recently with The Irrawaddys Nyein Nyein about options for deterring and punishing rapists.

The number of child rape cases has increased significantly, and there have been calls for capital punishment for rapists. Do you think thats the right answer?

The most important thing in our country is to have the rule of law. Maximum punishment should be imposed in child rape cases. But the death penalty is not an answer. We need to consider the reasons behind the high number of rape cases.

We need to impose harsh penalties on rapists. The punishment must be an effective deterrent. Though the death penalty is applied in our country, there are many cases in which death sentences are commuted with amnesty.

When rapists return to society, they continue to commit crimes and harm society. So we need to think about how to make sure the punishment handed down is strictly administered. Second, there is a need for society to take good care of children. Even if the social welfare departments at different levels cant do that, civil society organizations and society need to take great care of children.

Because people today have fewer job opportunities and have to struggle for their livelihoods, they cant bother to pay attention to things happening around them. Much of society has an onlookers attitude and society is largely deteriorating, so rape cases occur as a consequence.

Some blame the victims for being raped. They criticize the way women dress. How urgently does public perception about this need to change?

The lack of knowledge is a real problem in society. We cant blame attire as the main cause. The mind of a rapist is not normal. We need to think about it. But I dont want people to do victim blaming.

In our society, there are many people who molest women, whether they are in Myanmar clothes [longyi] or long pants or short pants, or on board a public bus. They are people who ignore social ethics.

A lack of morals is a pressing issue we are facing. Many women today face being molested on buses, not to mention other places. The main reason is poor morals.

More women victims are now reporting their experiences on social media, so we know about them. But what are the dangers of social media?

In our country people now have mobile phones, and many tend to watch porn movies online rather than studying good things. It used to be difficult to rent porn movies. Not every movie rental shop rented porn movies, and harsh action was taken against movie rental shops that did rent porn movies.

But now, with access to the internet, [potential rapists] can watch [porn movies] easily on the internet, and the consequence is that [women] of any age living near them fall victim.

Now we have easy access to sexual information, where before there was hardly any sexual and reproductive health education. How long will it take our society to accept reproductive education in the school system?

It is not easy for everyone to accept sexual education. It is a taboo subject in our country. We have yet to get rid of the entrenched attitude that girls should not listen to sexual education. This attitude is deeply rooted in our country. Im afraid it will be quite difficult to change in the next 10 years.

Speaking of child rape, people usually focus on prevention for girls. But arent boys also vulnerable to rape? How worrying is it?

Speaking of child rape, it concerns both boys and girls. You cant neglect it because it is a male-on-male offense. And you shouldnt think that there wont be male-on-male rape cases. We need to make it clear that there are harsh punishments for offenders whether they abuse a boy or a girl. If parents keep silent about male-on-male sexual offenses because of shame or fear or because they think it doesnt matter, the situation will get worse, as with the rape of girls.

Though there have been calls to change existing laws, the civilian government has yet to change them. What do you want to say about that?

We understand that there are a lot of difficulties with chancing those laws. Mainly we have been calling for constitutional change. We cant just sit and do nothing, thinking that we cant change it because of that 25 percent of seats [held by the military in Parliament]. We have to try to change the Constitution as best we can.

Another thing is that any existing law and amended law must take effect. Any change to the letter of the law doesnt matter. A major problem in our country is that laws are inactive. Therefore, there is no rule of law, and consequently it is easy to hit and kill people. It is very easy for people to commit crimes.

We have to make sure people are aware of the punishments and that they are afraid of those punishments. Laws must be active. Otherwise, not everyone is reluctant to hit and kill other people. This is the main reason for child rape cases.

Some organizations are conducting campaigns to broaden knowledge and awareness. What are the challenges to raising awareness on a wider scale?

Public interest is important in conducting awareness campaigns. As I have said, when people think the topic is not their concern, the campaign will not be successful no matter how keen the educators are. So we need to find ways to attract their attention. We have to work with great patience to make the entire society understand that they should know about this, that it is not a shameful subject and that it concerns them all.

For example, we need to start [awareness campaigns] at the ward and village levels, and then the township level and so on. Awareness in Yangon alone is not enough. I want the entire society to know about this issue. When everyone knows and understands it, they will join hands to prevent it. The bigger the prevention effort, the lower the number of offenders.

In Myanmar, people forget whatever was the talk of the town after six months or a year. What attitude do we need to get things done?

We should not focus on temporary issues that pop up. Our association mainly engages in human rights. People are very unhappy about going to court. Why? The rule of law in our country doesnt protect citizens. In many cases the aggrieved party gets discouraged. Those who have more money win lawsuits. It is quite sad. But there have been cases where justice was served.

To put it in a nutshell, we must always be aware of certain things such as human trafficking and the sexual abuse of children.

Some cases have gone unreported and ended in tragedy. But when a particular issue is highlighted, we need to have political awareness. It would be very good if the entire society were to join hands in good faith to address this issue.

But it is very important that [certain groups] not play with those issues in a political ploy. Now, most people can look at both sides of a story and make their judgements, and they are not easily swayed.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.
Burma 10-Year Plan Aims to Save Myanmars Wild Elephants from Poachers

Life-sized papier-mache elephants are displayed outside Yangons City Hall in November as part of the six-month-long countrywide Voice for Momos campaign to raise awareness of elephant poaching and wildlife smuggling. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy

YANGON  Amid a rise in illegal poaching of wild elephants in Myanmar, the government last week launched an action plan to protect the animals, supported by international and local organizations.

The Myanmar Elephant Conservation Action Plan (MECAP) lays out a focused elephant conservation strategy for the next 10 years (201827) with the overall aim of securing viable and ecologically functional elephant populations in Myanmar for the next century and beyond.

MECAP, led by the Forest Department under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MONREC), was developed in collaboration with eight government departments and agencies, including the Myanmar Timber Enterprise, the largest owner of elephants in the country.

The development process was supported by international and local experts and organizations including the Wildlife Conservation Society, WWF, Fauna & Flora International, the International Elephant Foundation, Elephant Family, Friends of Wildlife, and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.

According to a press release, the action plan is focused on the protection of the countrys wild elephants and their habitat; mitigation of human and elephant conflict; combating illegal trade in elephants and their body parts; and management of captive elephants and captive-wild elephant interactions.

The action plans launch comes at a time when wild elephants have been pushed to the brink of extinction by poaching to fuel the trade in the animals body parts, especially in China.

The issue was raised in Parliament on Wednesday by National League for Democracy lawmaker Naw Susana Hla Hla Soe, who urged the government to take serious action against elephant poaching, particularly for the purpose of supplying materials for elephant skin beads in China.

Their skin and other body parts are in high demand so that elephants are  targeted, she said.

The lawmaker said male elephants are targeted for their ivory, while females and calves are now targeted for their skins, adding that there is a danger of Myanmars wild elephant population disappearing within a few years.

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, 18 wild elephants were poached in 2016, and 30 were killed last year. The current population is estimated at 1,400-2,000, compared to 10,000 in 1997.

According to estimates, one of Myanmars elephants is killed every week in the wild. If this pace continues, Myanmar will lose its wild elephants within a few years, said Christy Williams, country director of WWF-Myanmar.

In a foreword to the action plan, U Ohn Winn, MONREC minister, said the government is committed to fully implementing MECAP. Time for action is short, but we owe it to history and future generations to show that we took responsibility for our elephants and other wildlife through carrying out the actions and recommendations of the MECAP, he writes.

In support of MECAP and in response to elephant poaching in Myanmar, local and international organizations including WCS, WWF, Friends of Wildlife and SCBI launched an awareness-raising campaign, Voices for Momos, in Myanmar in November last year. The campaign is named after a popular 64-year-old elephant in the Yangon Zoo whose name has become virtually synonymous with elephants among Myanmar children. It calls on individuals and organizations to use their voices to speak up for the animals.
Burma Protesters May Be Required to Identify Funding Sources

Thousands of pro-military demonstrators march in Yangon in support of Myanmars military and civil servants on Oct. 29, 2017. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy

YANGON  A newly proposed amendment to the countrys protest law would require protesters to inform authorities of the estimated cost of any planned demonstration, and designate the person or organization who will pay for it.

Upper House Bill Committee secretary Dr. Myat Nyana Soe submitted a bill proposing the amendment during Mondays parliamentary session.

The Peaceful Assembly and Procession Law was originally enacted in 2011 under the previous military-backed government. Critics of the legislation say it has been used by authorities as a tool to crack down on peaceful protest by imprisoning demonstrators.

Amid calls by rights groups for its abolition, the controversial law was amended in 2014 and again in 2016. The latter change was made under the current National League for Democracy (NLD)-led government.

Under the draft bill distributed to lawmakers on Monday, Article 4 (d) of the legislation would require would-be protesters planning peaceful assemblies and processions to inform police in advance of not only their agenda and estimated numbers, but also the estimated costs and the identity of the person or organization who will cover the cost.

It also adds a new provision to the Offenses and Penalties chapter of the law prescribing a prison sentence of up to three years for provoking or exhorting others to organize or participate in demonstrations by bribing or paying them money or doing anything else with the intention of harming the stability, rule of law, peace and tranquility of the community and public morality.

Lawmaker U Ba Myo Thein told The Irrawaddy he believed the amendments would not impact peaceful protesters. He said it was aimed at those who would mastermind demonstrations with hidden agendas.

There are some who exploit peoples rights to peaceful assembly and processions. I think [the aim of the amendments is] to prevent that, the lawmaker said.

The bill will be debated during the upcoming parliamentary sessions.
Burma State Companies Holding About $9 Billion in Cash

A locomotive at Yangon Railway Station. Myanma Railways is among the state enterprises whose finances are coming under parliamentary scrutiny. / The Irrawaddy

NAYPYITAW  According to the 2018 budget proposed by the government to the Union Parliament last week, there are 25 state-owned economic enterprises (SEEs) in Myanmar authorized to keep other accounts (OAs), which hold around $9 billion.

The government retains exclusive rights to conduct business in certain sectors, including the extractive industry. These are outlined in the State-Owned Economic Enterprises Law enacted in 1989 under the military regime. The law allows local and foreign investors to conduct business in these sectors through contracts or joint venture agreements with the government.

The Lower House on Nov. 23 approved a proposal to ensure transparency in the countrys extractive industries and transfer revenue of enterprises under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation into the Union budget.

During the debate, lawmakers pointed out that the ministry has more than 10 trillion kyats (US$7.3 billion) in its accounts  far more than the combined budgets for health and education in fiscal 2017-18.

They said that only about half of the ministrys revenue goes to the Union budget, while the rest is kept by the ministry in a manner that lacks transparency.

Enterprises that have other accounts will no longer be allowed to use that money as they like. They will need to seek the approval of the cabinet, said Lower House MP U Lwin Ko Latt.

According to lawmakers, this is the first time the issue of OAs has been discussed during debate on the budget bill, allowing them to be informed about how many accounts there are and how much money is kept in them.

But we have yet to try to return all that money into the Union budget, Pobbathiri Township MP U Yi Mon told The Irrawaddy.

The government will explain to the parliament how that money was used in a few days, he said.

According to Parliaments Joint Public Accounts Committee, the News and Periodicals Enterprise of the Information Ministry, Myanmar Posts and Telecommunications, Myanma Timber Enterprise, No. 1 Mining Industry, No. 2 Mining Industry, Myanma Gems Enterprise, Myanma Pearl Enterprise, and Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise have other accounts and operate with their own funds.

Other government enterprises that have OAs while also spend Union funds include Inland Water Transport, Road Transport Services, Myanma Railways, Myanmar Post, Electricity Supply Enterprise, Myanma Petrochemicals Enterprise, No. 3 Heavy Industry, No. 2 Heavy Industry, No. 3 Heavy Industry, and Myanmar Pharmaceuticals Enterprise.

Despite having OAs, Inland Water Transport reported a loss of over 4 billion kyats last fiscal year, Myanma Railways over 38 billion kyats, Road Transport Services over 1 billion kyats, Myanmar Post over 2 billion kyats, Electricity Supply Enterprise over 300 billion kyats, No. 1 Heavy Industry over 21 billion kyats, No. 2 Heavy Industry over 7 billion kyats, and No. 3 Heavy Industry over 14 billion kyats, totaling over 400 billion kyats.

If those SEEs can be transformed into PPPs [Public Private Partnerships], it would benefit the country, said lawmaker U Yi Mon.

The Lower House Economic and Investment Committee has also recommended to the government that loss-making state-owned enterprises be privatized.

If you ask me in which sectors the money should spent, we have requirements in every sector. And we have a lot of international debts. We need to thoroughly discuss in which sectors we can make the best use of the money, lawmaker U Yi Mon said.

Dagon Township lawmaker Daw Thet Thet Khaing, who submitted the proposal in November, said: It is the governments responsibility [to recover the money from the OAs of state-owned extractive industries], as my proposal has been approved by the parliament. Now, the government has made public the amount of money in the OAs. This is an improvement.
News Travel Curbs Imposed on Ethnic Wa in Shan State

Local people blocked from travelling to Kyaingtong or Tachilek even for medical emergencies

Government authorities are restricting ethnic Wa people who live in northern Shan State from traveling to Kyaingtong and other major towns in eastern parts of the state, according to local sources.

There are two main roads for ethnic Wa traveling to Kyaingtong in eastern Shan State and Tachilek on the Thai-Burmese border. But since early this month, authorities have been checking the ID cards of travellers and barring further travel along the routes if the holder is ethnic Wa, according to complaints lodged with the United Wa State Army.

They still cannot travel. We havent heard anything about them being allowed to travel, said Nyi Rang, a UWSA spokesperson based in Lashio in northern Shan State.

There are about 900,000 ethnic Wa living in Special Region 2 in northern Shan State. In the past, they have freely traveled to Kyaingtong and Tackhilek for medical treatment or to trade goods, using ID cards issued by Myanmar immigration.

The authorities, including the police, army, and immigration, have not offered any detailed explanation as to why they have restricted Wa people from traveling, including those in need of urgent medical treatment.

Immigration issued the ID cards for our Wa people to travel. But they are useless now, said Nyi Rang.

We are starting to think they view our Wa people as foreigners, he added.

The UWSA is the largest ethnic armed force in Myanmar with over 40,000 men under arms in the Wa region, although it currently has a ceasefire agreement with the Myanmar Army, or Tatmadaw.

The government and military have urged the UWSA to sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), but the group has asked for the NCA to be amended to bring it in line with an agreement it signed with members of the Northern Alliance. The UWSA also wants to bring all Northern Alliance members into the peace process.

Meetings to discuss the peace process have been held several times between the Myanmar military and UWSA leaders in Panghsang the capital of Wa State, and also in China. However, no agreement could be reached.

The Irrawaddy asked U Aung Soe from the National Reconciliation and Peace Centre (NRPC) why Wa people were being restricted from traveling and he said the order had come from the Tatmadaw. They allowed local people to travel before, but now they are blocking them.

Our country is working to have peace, but this action will damage peace, said Nyi Rang. It is totally different from their slogans about seeking peace. Instead, their actions will destroy peace.

The UWSAs position is that political conflict can be solved only by political dialogue, he said.

UWSA leaders have asked the authorities why Wa people were being preventing from traveling, but the officials have simply said the order came from the top, while providing no further explanation.

It is very clear to see they are passing the ball from one to another, and they will not give us the full reason. They put restrictions on our people, and they discriminate against them. Their actions could have many bad consequences in the future, Nyi Rang said.
Tuesday, February 20th, 2018 (10:21 am) - Score 1,474

Broadway Partners, which has deployed a number of TV White Space (TVWS) based wireless superfast broadband ISP network pilots across rural parts of the UK, has secured additional private investment from Souter Investments in order to help expand coverage into new areas.

The TVWS technology is designed to dynamically utilise the gaps in radio spectrum that exist between Digital Terrestrial Television channels (470-790MHz) in order to deliver data, which gives the service good coverage characteristics and that makes it useful for serving remote rural areas.

A number of pioneering rural wireless networks using TVWS, such as around Loch Ness and the Isle of Arran in Scotland, as well as in parts of Wales (e.g. Llanarth in Monmouthshire), have already benefited. Some of the more mature deployments can deliver download speeds of up to 50Mbps from around 30 per month (example).

We still know very little about the actual cost of such deployments but Broadway Partners are confident that their model is working and theyve now attracted some much needed financial support from Souter Investments to fuel their growth.

Michael Armitage, Founder and Chairman of Broadway, said: We are extremely pleased to have an investor of the calibre of Souter Investments supporting us in this exciting venture. People need to be connected, wherever they are, in town or country, at home or at work, and TV WhiteSpace is an important part of the mix of technologies that can guarantee that digital connectivity is available to fully 100% of the population.

Calum Cusiter, Investment Director of Souter Investments, said: High speed broadband connectivity has become almost utility like in its importance to participating fully in society, whether that is in personal or business matters. Broadway has impressed us by their enthusiasm for the challenge of providing this service to rural and underserved communities, and by embracing new technology and new business models to make it both possible and affordable. We are excited by the potential in this market and believe we are backing a first class management team at Broadway that is well placed to make the most of the opportunity.

Unfortunately theres no word on how much money Souter will actually be investing (for all we know it could be 1 or 10 million+ etc.). Nevertheless now is certainly the right time for it. At present the Scottish, Welsh and UK Governments are all trying to figure out the best way to reach the final few percent of remote rural communities, with fixed wireless networks being one of several potential options.
Tuesday, February 20th, 2018 (11:34 am) - Score 969

Alternative wireless and fibre optic ISP Voneus has today continued their acquisition spree by gobbling Swindon-based managed data comms and CCTV provider Lde Smart Alarms, which should help the provider to grow its enterprise-grade connectivity solutions and support staff.

Voneus fixed wireless broadband network, which can deliver unlimited symmetric speeds of up to 50Mbps to residential customers, is currently available in 50 rural communities across the UK. The network spans parts of Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cheshire, Devon, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, South Wales, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Northamptonshire and Wiltshire.

The provider has grown rapidly over the past few months, not least thanks to the acquisition of several rivals (e.g. SugarNet and Cotswold Wireless) and Lde is the latest to be scooped.

Graham Wallace, CFO of Voneus, said: The team at Lde has carved out a great reputation for delivering ultra-reliable managed services to organisations with very specialist requirements. Much like Voneus, Lde understands the challenges associated with serving rural locations, so we see great synergies between the two companies. By joining forces, we are in a better position to close the digital divide for the UKs rural businesses.

Founded in 1988, Lde has provided bespoke managed services to approximately 50 corporate customers. It specialises in delivering managed data networks, CCTV and a range of telephony and mobile services to organisations operating multiple sites, often in remote locations.

One crucial point here is that Lde filed for administration in mid-February 2018 and Voneus acquisition reflects a move to rescue the business.
Auckland, 20 February 2018  Trans-Tasman communications technology specialist Pyrios has a message for contact centre managers eyeing up cloud solutions: apply the same amount of rigour to selecting a partner as you do to selecting a contact centre platform in the cloud.

To nudge contact centre managers in the right direction, Pyrios and partner Genesys have published an eBook titled: Ten considerations for moving your contact centre to the cloud.

Covering everything from cultural fit, customer references and customisation, to business continuity, innovation and future-proofing investment, the eBook is designed to help contact centre managers sort imposters from seasoned experts when evaluating partners.

Pyrios head of product and marketing Simon Nicholson said contact centre managers had to understand how their businesses expected to interact with customers in an uncertain future before evaluating solutions in the cloud.

Buyers face a lot of uncertainty when journeying to the cloud, he said. The right partner will de-risk the journey, because theyll ask the tough questions to steer the process of technology evaluation and selection in the right direction.

The eBook is the second in a series of three that explore the challenges of contact centre modernisation, covering key considerations, deployment choices, and distinctions between cloud 1.0 and 2.0 contact centre technology.

Download the eBook: Ten considerations for moving your contact centre to the cloud, to help choose the right partner to ensure your customer journey success.

Take the time and effort up front to consider these ten evaluation criteria. Having a good sense for your business requirements, your prospective partners capabilities, and the cultural fit will pay off in helping you realise your business goals in the long run.

About Pyrios

Pyrios is a communications technology specialist. We deliver a range of smart communications technology, consulting, integration and managed services to help our clients deliver brilliant customer engagement, every time. Businesses call on us when they need to reduce communications costs, improve contact centre performance, open new marketing channels, win new customers, and gear up communications for rapid expansion. Or simply deliver better business outcomes through effective customer engagement. We provide services across Australia and New Zealand with offices in Auckland, Wellington, Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Perth. Learn more at www.pyrios.com. For useful news and updates follow Pyrios on Twitter (@PyriosSocial) and LinkedIn. Or email info@pyrios.com to receive Pyrios e-news.

About Genesys

Genesys, the worlds #1 Customer Experience Platform, empowers companies to create exceptional omnichannel experiences, journeys and relationships. For over 25 years, we have put the customer at the centre of all we do, and we passionately believe that great customer engagement drives great business outcomes. Genesys is trusted by over 4,700 customers in 120 countries, to orchestrate over 24 billion contact centre interactions per year in the cloud and on premises. For more information www.genesys.com/anz.
While blockchain may have cut its teeth on the cryptocurrency Bitcoin, the distributed electronic ledger technology is quickly making inroads across a variety of industries.

That's mainly because of its innate security and its potential for improving systems operations all while reducing costs and creating new revenue streams.

David Schatsky, a managing director at consultancy Deloitte LLP, believes blockchain's diversity speaks to its versatility in addressing business needs, but "the impact that blockchain will have on businesses in various industries is not yet fully understood."

In 2017, blockchain technology started to become a key business focus for many industries, something a Deloitte survey conducted in 2016 had predicted.

That online survey of 308 blockchain-knowledgeable senior executives at organizations with $500 million or more in annual revenue found many placed it among their company's highest priorities. Thirty-six percent believed blockchain could improve systems operations, either by reducing costs or increasing speed, and 37% cited blockchain's superior security features as the main advantage. The remaining 24% saw its potential to enable new business models and revenue streams.

Although 39% of senior executives at large U.S. companies had little or no knowledge about blockchain technology, the rest said their knowledge ranged from "broad to expert  and 55% of that group said their company would be at a competitive disadvantage if it failed to adopt the technology.

The bottom line: both the understanding of and commitment to blockchain varies by industry. But most see it as disruptive.

"It is fair to say that industry is still confused to a degree about the potential for blockchain," David Schatsky, managing director of Deloitte LLP, said in a statement last summer. "More than a quarter of surveyed knowledgeable execs say their companies view blockchain as a critical, top-five priority. But about a third consider the technology overhyped."

Those already embracing blockchain are finding a new independence in their ability to transmit both sensitive data and money securely, enabling a new business dynamic.

Blockchain is a decentralized electronic, encrypted ledger or database platform -- in other words, a way to immutably store digital data so that it can be securely shared across networks and users. As a peer-to-peer network, combined with a distributed time-stamping server, blockchain databases can be managed autonomously. There's no need for an administrator; the users are the administrator.

Blockchain eliminates huge amounts of recordkeeping, which can get confusing when there are multiple parties involved in a transaction, according to Saurabh Gupta, vice president of strategy at IT services company Genpact. "Blockchain and distributed ledgers may eventually be the method for integrating the entire commercial world's record keeping," he said.

Smart contracts

Blockchain distributed ledgers can be used to automatically execute business contracts. The peer-to-peer database first captures all terms and conditions between an organization and its customers, then uses data gleaned across distributed nodes or servers to determine when those conditions have been met and payment is authorized.

For example, IBM, AIG and Standard Chartered Bank just announced a pilot project to streamline one of the most complex types of policies in the insurance industry - a multinational policy.

The three companies created a master policy written in the UK, and that includes three local insurance policies in the U.S., Singapore and Kenya, into a smart contract based on blockchain technology that provides a shared view of policy data and documentation in real-time.

The solution is structured so that multiple parties in the network -- including brokers, regulators and auditors -- can collaborate more effectively and efficiently, according to IBM. The solution gives all of the parties a unified view of policy and payment data and documentation so that they can make informed business decisions based on a common set of trusted data.

"It is designed to infuse trust and transparency into the insurance underwriting process across borders," an IBM spokesperson wrote in an email to Computerworld. "When critical data about the policy is stored on the blockchain, all permissioned parties in the network have a single view of the data, and no single party can make changes without the consensus of other members."

Because it's based on blockchain:

It provides the ability to record and track events and associated payments in each country related to the insurance policy.

No one party can modify, delete or even append any record without the consensus from others on the network.

This level of transparency helps reduce fraud and errors, as well as the need for the parties to contact each other to view policy and payment data and the status of policies.

Blockchain-based smart contracts can be used to automatically execute payments between financial institutions.

Accenture recently released a report that claimed blockchain technology could reduce infrastructure costs for eight of the world's 10 largest investment banks by an average of 30%, "translating to $8 billion to $12 billion in annual cost savings for those banks."

Payments, clearance and settlement in the financial services industry -- including stock markets -- is rife with inefficiencies because each organization in the process maintains its own data and must communicate with the others through electronic messaging about where it is in the process. Because of that, settlement typically takes two days. In turn, delays in settlements force banks to set aside money that could otherwise be invested.

With its ability to instantly share data with each organization involved in a blockchain database or ledger, the technology reduces or eliminates the need for reconciliation, confirmation and trade break analysis as key parts of a more efficient and effective clearance and settlement process, according to Accenture.

Enabling businesses to avoid transaction fees

Most payment systems are administered by financial institutions, such as banks. When money is transferred between businesses, there's typically a fee associated with it -- especially for small to mid-sized businesses.

Large enterprises have always enjoyed an advantage in the global market, be it the capital to absorb the cost of transfer fees (or getting lower fees), better intellectual property protection, and a host of other advantages that come with having more capital and greater influence.

Blockchain technology helps level the playing field, enabling SMBs to compete in that global market.

For example, the B2B payment service Veem leverages blockchain to allow its SMB customers to transfer funds internally for no fee; that compares to larger banks that charge around $50 per wire transaction.

Veem's CEO Marwan Forzley believes blockchain is an opportunity to "remove the middle man from international transactions, which directly impacts the experience of paying suppliers and contractors, the timing of these transactions and the fees that are directly impacting the SMBs bottom line."

Sharing patient data, ensuring doctors get paid

While electronic healthcare records (EHRs) have helped in the centralization of patient data to some extent, sharing that sensitive information with various healthcare providers, such as medical specialists, can be difficult at best because EHR platforms are not standardized across organizations.

Healthcare organizations could use the cryptographically secure, decentralized blockchain ledger to pre-authorize the sharing of a patient's information.

Last year, the MIT Media Lab and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center tested a proof-of-concept that shared information about patient medications through a blockchain ledger called MedRec. MedRec was based on the Ethereum blockchain platform for smart contracts.

In their analysis paper, titled "A Case Study for Blockchain in Healthcare," the MIT and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center researchers found blockchain "could contribute to secure, interoperable EHR systems."

In addition, healthcare IT vendors and the U.S. government are exploring blockchain's potential. Earlier this year, IBM's Watson Health artificial intelligence unit signed a two-year joint-development agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to explore using blockchain technology to securely share patient data for medical research and other purposes.

IBM Watson Health and the FDA plan to explore the exchange of patient-level data from several sources, including electronic medical records (EMRs), clinical trials, genomic data and health data from mobile devices, wearables and the "Internet of Things." The initial focus will be on oncology-related information.

Healthcare is also hampered with an inefficient payment system, where insurance companies fight with providers.

"Insurance companies have already given prior approval based on medical necessity or preauthorization and I've got to fight collect it..., really?" said Gene Thomas, CIO of Memorial Hospital, a 445-bed facility in Gulfport, Miss. "Depending on who you talk to, 17 cents, 21 cents... of every healthcare dollar is spent on collections. Are you kidding me?"

Underpinning a shared ledger where all parties involved in a healthcare insurance contract -- patient, provider and payer -- all see the same information at the same time, blockchain has the potential of smoothing out the "arduous, high cost, high friction process.

"Everyone's posting to the same thing, it's all transparent. I've got high hopes that if there's any place blockhchain could actually have an impact in healthcare, it's on [the] revenue cycle side," Thomas said.

In light of that need, Deloitte's report found that healthcare and life sciences have the most aggressive deployment plans for blockchain of any industry, with 35% of survey respondents indicating their organization plans to deploy blockchain within the next year.

Timestamping documents

Timestamping is the process of wrapping metadata or other information in a block of an ongoing blockchain, which creates an unchangeable or immutable record tied to everything that comes after it in the chain. Think of it as satisfying a public notary's function.

For example, Swiss company Gmelius has created a Gmail Stamping app that's essentially a secure way to verify the integrity of an email using the Ethereum blockchain open-source platform. (Gmelius detailed the blockchain architecture it's using in a PDF.)

Gmelius' app is a Chrome browser extension that is available in the Google webstore. Once downloaded, it offers several capabilities for Gmail users, including removing Google ads, scheduling emails to send at later times and dates, and blocking senders from seeing whether you've read their email.

But it's Gmelius' email stamping feature that takes advantage of blockchain to authenticate the origin of an an electronic message.

Upon hitting send in Outlook, the original email  including its headers, subject line, body and attachments  is encoded using the base64 binary-to-text encoding scheme and converted into a hash using the SHA2-512 hashing algorithm. The email is then signed using Gmelius's proprietary 512-bit RSA key. Encrypting the hash allows the email to become part of an anonymous transaction anchored onto an electronic ledger via the Ethereum open-source blockchain platform.

The blockchain-based application proves the existence, integrity and ownership of any email sent, which would enable it to be used for business purposes such as legal contracts.

This spring, Gmelius also plans to release a blockchain-based app that will allows users to electronically sign documents attached to emails using blockchain's smart contract feature.

Selling energy through microgrids

Because of blockchain, residents of the Park Slope area of Brooklyn are now able to sell power generated from rooftop solar panels via a microgrid enabled by a blockchain ledger that records every transaction made with a local utility.

The physical microgrid, set up by Siemens Digital Grid Division, includes network control systems, converters, lithium-ion battery storage and smart electric meters. In case of another hurricane like Sandy in 2012, residents on the microgrid would continue to have power for a time -- even during a blackout -- as they could switch to battery reserves.

A microgrid is a form of distributed energy generation that can function independently from the traditional, centralized regional power grid; it can enable towns, small cities or corporations to develop their own energy sources and power storage systems (via lithium-ion or flow batteries), distribute that energy and even sell excess power back to local utilities.

The Brooklyn Microgrid blockchain database is a web-based bookkeeping system that uses cryptographic technology to save energy data in a way that is both inexpensive and forgery-proof, the companies said.

The Brooklyn Microgrid enables residents to sell energy back to the local utility -- a process known as "net metering" -- and it allows those without solar panels to purchase green power credits from their neighbors. The blockchain platform for the microgrid is enabled by Brooklyn-based energy startup LO3 Energy.

The same blockchain technology that allows residential solar power users to sell excess power back to utilities can do the same for businesses seeking to lower their electricity costs.
Summerville, SC (29483)

Today

Cloudy early, then off and on rain showers for the afternoon. High 83F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low near 70F. Winds light and variable.
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RFE/RL |  

The mainstream Muslim leadership in Russias Daghestan region has condemned an attack that killed five people outside a Russian Orthodox church, saying that the suspect had nothing to do with the true Islam.

In a February 19 statement, the office of the regions chief mufti also extended condolences to the relatives and friends of the victims of the attack the previous day in the Daghestani town of Kizlyar.

Authorities said a gunman opened fire with a hunting rifle on people attending a Maslenitsa (Shrovetide) celebration near a local church, killing five women and wounding four people before being shot dead by security forces.

The extremist Islamic State (IS) group claimed responsibility for the attack, though it provided no evidence to support the claim, and Russian media outlet RBC quoted a priest as saying the assailant shouted Allahu Akbar (God is great).

Predominantly Muslim Daghestan is plagued by an Islamic insurgency stemming from the post-Soviet separatist wars in neighboring Chechnya, but violence has subsided in recent years and most insurgent attacks have targeted state authorities.

Suspect Identified

The Kizlyar mayors office on February 19 identified the suspect as Khalil Khalilov, a 22-year-old man from the Tarum district of Daghestan.

In a statement later the same day, the federal Investigative Committee said the authorities were examining all possible motives including the possbility that it was a terrorist act. It did not name the suspect.

State-run news agency TASS quoted an unnamed law enforcement source as saying on February 18 that the alleged assailant was suspected of having ties to extremist organizations.

In its statement, the chief muftis office described the attacker as a wahhabist  a word frequently used by Russian authorities to describe militant Islamic extremists.

President Vladimir Putins spokesman was more cautious, saying that the investigation was ongoing and that the attacker is being checked for connections with extremist organizations.

Russian authorities have been fighting purposefully and consistently against terrorist and extremist organizations in the North Caucasus, which includes Daghestan, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow on February 19.

Peskov said that a number of these organizations, some of which have links with international terrorism, continue their destructive activities. Our law enforcement agencies, as you know, are working very hard to suppress such activities.

Fomenting Tension

The Russian Orthodox Church issued a statement that said its leader, Patriarch Kirill, believes the attack was meant to foment tension between Christians and Muslims.

The patriarch considers this heinous crime on the eve of Great Lent to be a provocation aimed at sparking hostilities against Orthodox believers and Muslims who have been living side by side in peace in the Caucasus for centuries, it said.

Russian news outlet RBC quoted a local priest as saying that the attacker opened fire as worshippers were leaving an afternoon service.

We had finished the mass and were beginning to leave the church, the priest, known as Father Pavel, was quoted as saying. A bearded man ran toward the church shouting Allahu Akbar and killed the people.

The Daghestani Health Ministry said on February 19 that two women wounded in the attack were in grave condition and would be transferred to Moscow. The other two people wounded are a police officer and an officer of the Russian National Guard.

Kizlyar, on the border with Chechnya, is 170 kilometers from the Daghestani capital of Makhachkala and has a population of some 50,000 people. Ethnic Russians make up about 40 percent of the population, according to officials.

Nationswide, some two-thirds of Russian citizens consider themselves Orthodox Christians, while Muslims make up the largest religious minority, accounting for 10 to 15 percent of the population.

With reporting by RBK, Gazeta.ru, TASS, AP, and Interfax

Via RFE/RL

Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036.



Bonus video added by Informed Comment:

RT: Church shooting CCTV: Recording of deadly attack in Dagestan shows gunman open fire (DISTURBING)
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By Danny Makki | ( OpenDemocracy.net) |  

The end game is clear: Assad, Russia and Iran will emerge victorious.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (2nd L, Front) and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin (2nd R) view a military parade in the Russian-run Hmeimim Air Base in the coastal city of Latakia, Syria, on Dec. 11, 2017. Syrian Presidency/Xinhua News Agency/Press Association Images. All rights reserved.The conflict in Syria has been the most vicious in contemporary history, creating a geo-political hall of mirrors pitting Syrian against Syrian, Saudi Arabia against Iran and Russia against the United States.

To say that it is the most complicated proxy war of our times is an understatement. The war has had international and regional dimensions which have served to prolong, fuel and perpetuate the crisis.

The latest of which, a dramatic clash between Syria and Israel leading to the unprecedented downing of an Israeli F-16 after the latter targeted a group of Iranian installations in Syria, has threatened to further escalate to conflict. But in stepped Russia, and after promises made to either side, the situation calmed down, for now.

This only highlighted the growing importance of Moscow in Syria and the increasingly brave power plays Putin is making in the region.

In Syria, Russia strode in where the west was hesitant, and just over two years on from the riskiest move in post-Soviet Russian foreign policy, the end game is clear. Assad, Russia and Iran will emerge victorious, and that is a direct result of Moscows decision to intervene in 2015 when its long-term ally, Assad, was on the ropes and struggling to survive.

Any hopes the US had of being a powerbroker in Syria ended in September 2015. The presence of Russia immediately limited almost all western policy options that sought to oust Assad.

Russia didnt have to worry about the Turkish-Kurdish dimension, it was too busy steamrolling Syrias disjointed opposition. ISIS to Russia was no different to other rebel groups; in the eyes of Moscow they were all a threat to Assad and warranted an iron fist.

As Russia began to crush the anti-Assad opposition, the west could only watch from afar as the balance of power tilted in favour of the Syrian government.

The lack of western policy decisiveness is due to many factors; the emergence of a US backed Kurdish powerhouse in the north of Syria and Turkish efforts to quell that rise. The sharp rise of ISIS and other Jihadist groups further muddied the waters, creating an extra element of risk for a possible US intervention. This all played into Putins hands.

Over two years on from Moscows much maligned decision to intervene and prop up its long term Syrian ally, the Russians have been vindicated, insofar as the so-called Islamic State has been defeated and expelled from all Syrian cities, the last of which in Deir-Ezzor broke the back of the terror group.

The Syrian army, with assistance from Iranian backed militias, Hezbollah and Russian firepower is now on the victory march towards the remaining opposition strongholds in Idleb, Eastern Ghouta, Daraa and Qunaitra, possibly finishing the military side of the conflict by the end of 2018.

In December 2017 President Putin victoriously declared a withdrawal of a significant part of Russias military forces in Syria, and heralded a successful end to the military operation.

The echoes of negativity and criticism of Russia by the US seem but a distant memory, and President Obamas claim that Russia would be caught in a quagmire never truly transpired.

Putins bold remarks came during a visit to Hmeymim air base in Latakia where he told his forces that they had fought brilliantly and that the operation to destroy terrorism in Syria had neared a successful completion.

Russia has a new found appetite for power politics in the Middle East.

The Russians had an official casualty list of 41 soliders, though the real number may be higher, it is far removed from the thousands killed in the Soviet Unions long and brutal insurgency war in Afghanistan.

Most important of all, Russia saved its only genuine ally in the Middle East, maintaining and expanding its power and military bases whilst sending out a strong message to the world: Russia has a new found appetite for power politics in the Middle East.

Russias decision to intervene in Syria marked a culmination of sorts, this was the first real great power involvement in the conflict on a large scale. Moscow had seen the anti-Assad opposition grow and weaponise, and it didnt act for some time, save for some strong language and the use of Vetos at the UNSC.

September 2015, however, marked a new stage of the Syrian war, one where Moscow would emerge as victor and powerbroker.

As the US failed in creating a consistent and well defined policy towards the crisis, the Russians saw an opportunity and were prepared to step in.

Moscows intervention in Syria was timely, it checked a large-scale rebel advance on Assads coastal heartland and utilised the international mood towards groups such as ISIS and Al-Nusra, at a time after atrocities in Paris, San Bernardino and Ankara were committed. Moscow played on the wests fear of the influx of refugees and terrorism.

The legitimate fear the coastal areas in Syria may be overrun, thus placing the Russian Naval base in Tartus under direct attack spurred Moscow on to take matters into their own hands. The naval base is not large or incredibly sophisticated, it generally holds around ten Russian ships and other auxiliary vessels at any one time. Its significance is mainly due to the huge distance between Russian sea ports and the Mediterranean.

Russia also has one eye on the future. In December it confirmed it will maintain a permanent military presence at its air and naval bases in Syria. The agreement signed for 49 years with Damascus will allow Moscow to harbour eleven warships in Tartus including nuclear ships.

Russian intervention, in the words of foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, prevented the collapse of a country whose capital was two to three weeks away from being seized by the terrorists.

Although this admission may have been slightly exaggerated, it still cemented the fact that Russia felt the necessity to act and did so.

Had the US been brave and acted in either 2013 after the chemical weapons accusations or in 2015 when the Syrian government was flailing and desperate, it could have been in Russias position today.

Moscow didnt act without reason, it waited for one year of western airstrikes against ISIS in Syria, and years of support for anti-Assad groups before acting. With a swift and brutal intervention, led by thousands of attacks and airstrikes against rebel groups, and at times unfortunate civilians, of which hundreds if not thousands have been killed, Russia turned the tide of the conflict towards Assad.

Moscow ensured a position of strength for itself in Syrias geo-political war, in the greater scope of things, it emerged victorious from a risky and dangerous decision to enter a foreign conflict.

Russia has secured its long term interests in Syria

By decisively backing President Assad Russia has secured its long term interests in Syria, gained considerable more influence in the region and sent a powerful message to the world, that Russia is growing in strength and ambition.

Russias firepower was also aided by soft diplomacy; the Russians helped to broker a ceasefire in Al-Waer district in Homs, the last remaining anti-government stronghold in the city, which was the nucleus of the uprising.

The agreement on 2 December 2015 entailed 300 rebels leaving the district with aid going the other way. Since then Aleppo, Daraa and areas around Damascus have all seen Russian brokered ceasefires. Russia established a center for reconciliation at the Hemeimim air base in Lattakia in 2015 to negotiate rebel surrenders and defections.

Russia is also set for a long term economic investment in the country and has secured a long-term foothold in Syrias energy sector potentially making Syria a future long term transit hub for oil and gas shipments to Europe. This allows Russia to expand and cement its control over a European gas supply.

Soyuzneftegaz, the Russian energy giant, obtained exclusive rights to explore offshore gas reserves off Syrias coastline, while contracts, both current and pre-war, between the two countries are worth $1.6 billion alone.

It is no surprise that President Putin declared mission accomplished in a visit to Syria in early December. Russia has no doubt altered the trajectory of the Syrian conflict, ultimately dictating a winning outcome.

Danny Makki is a freelance journalist and commentator on the Syria conflict. He has an MA in Middle Eastern politics from SOAS University, specialising in Syrias relations with Russia and Iran.

Via OpenDemocracy.net

This article is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International licence.



Bonus video added by Informed Comment:

Bashar al-Assad and the Syria conflict | DW Documentary
Mineralized intercepts encountered higher grades than predicted by previous modeling

NOVAGOLD and Barrick intend to incorporate the drill results and advance the optimization work to improve capital efficiencies and enhance the projects execution plan

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC. (TSX:NG) (NYSE American:NG) today released the 2017 drill results for its flagship Donlin Gold project in Alaska, which is owned equally by NOVAGOLD and Barrick Gold Corporation (Barrick). The results from this drill program continue to substantiate the unique value proposition that Donlin Gold represents for both owners. With a better understanding of the targeted mineralized zones, the new data will provide valuable inputs to advance optimization work.

2017 Drill Results Highlights:

A total of 16 core holes were completed (7,040 meters) and core samples assayed

Intercepted distinct significant high-grade zones in multiple areas

Intercepted high-grade mineralization at depth in ACMA deposit in an area of previously sparse drilling

Five of the top intervals include (g/t = grams per tonne, m = meters): DC17-1821 intersected 130.5 m grading 5.93 g/t gold, starting at 205.0 m drilled depth DC17-1821 intersected 39.0 m grading 9.34 g/t gold, starting at 342.0 m drilled depth DC17-1827 intersected 43.9 m grading 7.60 g/t gold, starting at 453.2 m drilled depth DC17-1832 intersected 64.0 m grading 5.09 g/t gold, starting at 547.0 m drilled depth DC17-1824 intersected 30.4 m grading 10.30 g/t gold, starting at 208.6 m drilled depth

Assay and geologic data will be incorporated into the geologic and resource model and ongoing optimization work

We are very encouraged by the latest drill results at Donlin Gold, some of which encompassed areas where relatively little drilling had been previously done, said Barrick President Kelvin Dushnisky. The results are further evidence of the significant potential of this deposit. We look forward to continuing to collaborate closely with our partner, NOVAGOLD, to advance optimization work and permitting at this unique project.

Greg Lang, NOVAGOLDs President and Chief Executive Officer, added the following: Donlin Golds latest drill results are better than expected, further demonstrating the incredibly robust quality of this exceptional project. Beyond the distinctly significant high-grade intercepts encountered within the reserve pit, we are also excited by the high grades identified outside the planned pit boundaries. With a history of growth through drilling, these results are indeed indicative of the exceptionally strong resource potential that exists at Donlin Gold. These results will be incorporated in the upcoming project optimization work being carried out by the two owners. We can say with conviction that these are some of the finest intercepts any gold company has produced recently - and in any jurisdiction1. As we look to complete the federal permitting process and advance optimization work during 2018, we are encouraged by the opportunity for NOVAGOLD and Barrick to develop the Donlin Gold project in a fiscally-disciplined manner, and to build a mine of truly generational significance.

Donlin Golds Distinctive Combination of True Value and Exceptional Growth Potential

Donlin Gold is expected to be one of the largest pure gold producing mines in the world while being located in one of the safest jurisdictions in the world. In an industry where sizeable high-quality assets are few and far between, and reserves are being depleted faster than they can be replaced, the Donlin Gold project remains a unique value proposition that has been advancing at a steady but sure pace up the value chain. With 39 million ounces of measured and indicated gold resources at an average grade of 2.24 grams per tonne 2, Donlin Gold is almost four times the size of the peer group average3 while enjoying nearly double the world average grade4. The exploration potential, as evidenced by the planned pits occupying only three kilometers of an eight-kilometer mineralized belt, is exceptional. All of these project attributes converge in Donlin Gold at a time when no large discoveries have been made in years, average grades continue to fall, and resource nationalism is rising to levels that threaten the existence of projects where the rule of law is a novelty. Alaska, Americas second largest gold producer, offers jurisdictional appeal and stability with a healthy and responsible mining industry. With scale and quality comes longevity  the projects mine life is measured in decades  which can provide resilience through multiple gold price cycles. For Calista Corporation and The Kuskokwim Corporation, our Native Corporation partners and owners of Donlin Golds mineral and surface rights, the project represents an opportunity to realize the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Acts vision through their participation in the projects diverse benefits. Historically, only a handful of operations have been fortunate enough to benefit from such attributes, but fewer still have ever combined characteristics of size, grade, production profile, low-cost structure, longevity, partnerships, safe jurisdiction and exploration potential. The latter is especially important, as district scale exploration opportunities such as Donlin Gold are truly rare.

Permitting Advancing as Planned

Permitting activities for the Donlin Gold project continue to advance on schedule toward the issuance of the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps), the lead federal permitting agency, in the coming months. The Corps Record of Decision (ROD) is expected to follow in the second half of 2018. Decisions on other key federal and state permits and approvals are expected to occur concurrently with or shortly after the Corps ROD.

2017 Drill Program

The Donlin Gold drill program, executed from July to November last year, completed a total of 16 core holes (7,040 meters). Locals from the Yukon-Kuskokwim region comprised 50% of the drill program workforce. Mineralized intercepts encountered higher grades than predicted by previous modeling and thicknesses were as expected. Drilling also intercepted high-grade mineralization at depth in the ACMA deposit in an area of previously sparse drilling. Geochemical and structural data were gathered from targeted portions of the deposit to support ongoing optimization. Table 1 below provides the drill hole orientations and depths. The significant assay interval results are shown in Table 2 in the appendix. Links to two figures are also included below, the first is a plan map with the location of the drill holes and the second is a vertical cross section view of ACMA and Lewis with completed drill holes and a few highlighted grade intercepts.

FIGURE 1. Donlin Gold 2017 Drill Plan Map

FIGURE 2. Donlin Gold Vertical Cross Section ACMA and Lewis Deposits

TABLE 1

Drill Hole Orientations and Depths

Hole Azimuth () Inclination () Depth (m) DC17-1819 59 46 495.9 DC17-1820 57 52 450.2 DC17-1821 254 64 485.2 DC17-1822 71 70 505.1 DC17-1823 304 62 471.5 DC17-1824 25 84 426.7 DC17-1825 83 53 311.8 DC17-1826 94 54 199.0 DC17-1827 244 45 777.2 DC17-1828 314 78 482.7 DC17-1829 55 61 447.1 DC17-1830 287 54 396.5 DC17-1831 238 58 62.7 DC17-1832 237 56 767.2 DC17-1833 67 58 304.8 DC17-1834 60 62 456.3

* Note that azimuth and inclination values vary as each hole progresses. The stated values are hole averages, rounded to the nearest degree.

QA/QC Procedures

The QA/QC procedures for the 2017 Donlin Gold drill program and sampling protocol were developed and managed by Donlin Gold LLC (Donlin Gold) and overseen by NOVAGOLD and Barrick. The chain of custody from the drill site to the sample preparation facility was continuously monitored. All samples are HQ-diameter core, with the exception of the last 165 meters of hole DC17-1833, which was reduced to NQ-diameter. Approximately 95% core recovery was achieved. Core was logged at site and transported to ALS Limiteds Fairbanks, Alaska sample preparation facilities. At the ALS Fairbanks facility, core was cut by ALS employees and sampled by Northern Associates, Inc., which was contracted by Donlin Gold. Samples were primarily collected on two-meter lengths, with a minimum length of 0.5 meters and maximum length of three meters. Sampled half-core was crushed in the Fairbanks ALS facility and pulverized in either Fairbanks or the ALS lab in Reno, Nevada. Pulp samples were sent to the ALS labs in Reno or Vancouver, British Columbia for gold assays and multi-element analysis. At least nine quality control samples (three blanks, three standards, and three field duplicates) were inserted into each batch of 69 samples. The review of the quality control samples did not indicate any bias or error.

Downhole directional surveys were completed on all holes by Boart Longyear drill operators, and collar surveys were completed on all holes by Rowland Engineering Consultants.

Each of ALS Limited, Northern Associates Inc, Boart Longyear, and Rowland Engineering Consultants are independent of Donlin Gold, NOVAGOLD, and Barrick.

Scientific and Technical Information

Some scientific and technical information contained herein with respect to the Donlin Gold project is derived from the Donlin Creek Gold Project Alaska, USA NI 43-101 Technical Report on Second Updated Feasibility Study prepared by AMEC with an effective date of November 18, 2011, as amended January 20, 2012 (the Second Updated Feasibility Study). Kirk Hanson, P.E., Technical Director, Open Pit Mining, North America, (AMEC, Reno), and Gordon Seibel, R.M. SME, Principal Geologist, (AMEC, Reno) are the Qualified Persons responsible for the preparation of the independent technical report, each of whom are independent qualified persons as defined by NI 43-101.

Clifford Krall, P.E., who is the Mine Engineering Manager for NOVAGOLD and a qualified person under NI 43-101, has approved and verified the scientific and technical information related to the Donlin Gold project contained in this press release.

NOVAGOLD Contacts:

Melanie Hennessey

Vice President, Corporate Communications

Erin OToole

Senior Stakeholder Relations Specialist

604-669-6227 or 1-866-669-6227

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively forward-looking statements) within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, the timing of permitting and potential development of Donlin Gold, statements relating to NOVAGOLDs future operating and financial performance, production estimates are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as expects, anticipates, believes, intends, estimates, potential, possible, and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results will, may, could, or should occur or be achieved. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding; exploration potential of Donlin Gold; mine life and production estimates at Donlin Gold; perceived merit of properties; anticipated permitting timeframes; exploration results and budgets; mineral reserve and resource estimates; work programs; capital expenditures; timelines; strategic plans; benefits of the project; completion of transactions; market prices for precious and base metals; or other statements that are not statements of fact. Forward-looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from NOVAGOLDs expectations include the uncertainties involving the interpretation of the drill results, the need to obtain permits and governmental approvals; the need for additional financing to explore and develop properties and availability of financing in the debt and capital markets; uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drilling results and geological tests and the estimation of reserves and resources; the need for continued cooperation with Barrick Gold Corporation for the continued exploration and development of the Donlin Gold property; the need for cooperation of government agencies and native groups in the development and operation of properties; risks of construction and mining projects such as accidents, equipment breakdowns, bad weather, non-compliance with environmental and permit requirements, unanticipated variation in geological structures, ore grades or recovery rates; unexpected cost increases, which could include significant increases in estimated capital and operating costs; fluctuations in metal prices and currency exchange rates; and other risk and uncertainties disclosed in NOVAGOLDs Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the year-ended November 30, 2017 with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, Canadian securities regulators, and in other NOVAGOLD reports and documents filed with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time to time. NOVAGOLDs forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made. NOVAGOLD assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

Cautionary Note to United States Investors

This press release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. Unless otherwise indicated, all resource and reserve estimates included in this press release have been prepared in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM)CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council, as amended (CIM Definition Standards). NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators which establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Canadian standards, including NI 43-101, differ significantly from the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and resource and reserve information contained herein may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term "resource does not equate to the term "reserves. Under U.S. standards, mineralization may not be classified as a "reserve unless the determination has been made that the mineralization could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time the reserve determination is made. The SEC's disclosure standards normally do not permit the inclusion of information concerning "measured mineral resources, "indicated mineral resources or "inferred mineral resources or other descriptions of the amount of mineralization in mineral deposits that do not constitute "reserves by U.S. standards in documents filed with the SEC. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of measured or indicated resources will ever be converted into reserves. Investors should also understand that "inferred mineral resources have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. Under Canadian rules, estimated "inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an "inferred mineral resource exists or is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of "contained ounces in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves by SEC standards as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. The requirements of NI 43-101 for identification of "reserves are also not the same as those of the SEC, and reserves reported by NOVAGOLD in compliance with NI 43-101 may not qualify as "reserves under SEC standards. Donlin Gold does not have known reserves, as defined under SEC Industry Guide 7. Accordingly, information concerning mineral deposits set forth herein may not be comparable with information made public by companies that report in accordance with U.S. standards.

APPENDIX

TABLE 2

2017 Donlin Gold Significant Assay Intervals

Hole ID Area From

(Meters) To

(Meters) Length

(Meters) Au Grade (g/t) DC17-1819 ACMA 27.00 30.98 3.98 3.21 DC17-1819 69.00 76.30 7.30 4.04 DC17-1819 122.00 139.50 17.50 10.98 including 130.00 134.85 4.85 34.43 DC17-1819 272.00 294.51 22.51 1.42 DC17-1819 307.33 339.72 32.39 1.89 DC17-1819 365.00 386.80 21.80 5.68 DC17-1819 394.58 400.00 5.42 3.93 DC17-1819 408.00 412.00 4.00 3.44 DC17-1819 418.00 431.00 13.00 8.74 including 423.39 429.00 5.61 13.33 DC17-1819 TOTAL 127.90 4.69 DC17-1820 ACMA 14.93 23.00 8.07 2.73 DC17-1820 30.00 37.00 7.00 9.17 including 32.00 36.00 4.00 10.63 DC17-1820 47.00 62.33 15.33 7.25 including 52.80 56.15 3.35 22.52 DC17-1820 208.00 230.00 22.00 2.96 DC17-1820 235.17 243.55 8.38 4.30 DC17-1820 294.90 298.10 3.20 1.76 DC17-1820 414.80 426.00 11.20 2.78 DC17-1820 TOTAL 75.18 4.46 DC17-1821 ACMA 5.90 10.14 4.24 6.98 DC17-1821 41.00 55.00 14.00 3.28 DC17-1821 63.00 67.00 4.00 1.31 DC17-1821 85.80 96.00 10.20 3.64 DC17-1821 143.00 151.48 8.48 1.37 DC17-1821 163.00 167.00 4.00 23.20 DC17-1821 182.00 197.00 15.00 2.68 DC17-1821 205.00 335.50 130.50 5.93 including 221.00 227.00 6.00 17.07 including 282.00 288.00 6.00 16.23 DC17-1821 342.00 381.00 39.00 9.34 including 344.00 347.90 3.90 13.50 including 362.00 379.00 17.00 12.62 DC17-1821 TOTAL 229.42 6.11 DC17-1822 ACMA 22.00 38.00 16.00 8.47 DC17-1822 44.20 56.20 12.00 4.19 DC17-1822 155.00 190.00 35.00 6.27 DC17-1822 203.00 212.00 9.00 12.18 DC17-1822 221.34 235.20 13.86 2.67 DC17-1822 243.60 264.00 20.40 4.19 DC17-1822 345.00 364.15 19.15 2.85 DC17-1822 457.00 461.00 4.00 1.60 DC17-1822 471.00 475.00 4.00 2.31 DC17-1822 495.30 499.82 4.52 2.16 DC17-1822 TOTAL 137.93 5.20 DC17-1823 Lewis 12.70 15.84 3.14 1.32 DC17-1823 48.00 55.57 7.57 1.20 DC17-1823 71.54 75.00 3.46 4.34 DC17-1823 96.84 102.00 5.16 3.75 DC17-1823 114.00 156.05 42.05 3.33 DC17-1823 198.00 219.00 21.00 7.72 including 209.00 213.00 4.00 23.65 DC17-1823 240.50 250.00 9.50 7.38 DC17-1823 373.00 381.00 8.00 2.49 DC17-1823 387.00 395.38 8.38 2.94 DC17-1823 TOTAL 108.26 4.29 DC17-1824 Lewis 68.00 78.00 10.00 2.60 DC17-1824 128.00 138.00 10.00 2.40 DC17-1824 208.57 239.00 30.43 10.30 including 225.00 233.00 8.00 30.33 DC17-1824 245.00 259.00 14.00 6.57 DC17-1824 271.00 275.98 4.98 2.26 DC17-1824 297.50 301.50 4.00 10.62 DC17-1824 313.50 323.00 9.50 5.94 including 313.50 316.99 3.49 13.58 DC17-1824 331.00 341.00 10.00 10.43 DC17-1824 372.00 377.00 5.00 3.81 DC17-1824 406.50 420.50 14.00 1.65 DC17-1824 TOTAL 111.91 6.36 DC17-1825 Lewis 10.05 25.00 14.95 8.50 including 14.00 17.00 3.00 29.37 DC17-1825 31.00 40.25 9.25 6.30 DC17-1825 60.00 87.50 27.50 2.55 DC17-1825 101.49 105.40 3.91 5.34 DC17-1825 146.50 153.00 6.50 4.53 DC17-1825 162.99 169.00 6.01 4.10 DC17-1825 183.00 215.00 32.00 4.76 DC17-1825 292.50 300.52 8.02 2.28 DC17-1825 TOTAL 108.14 4.63 DC17-1826 Lewis 3.65 7.31 3.66 4.22 DC17-1826 23.00 31.00 8.00 2.25 DC17-1826 39.00 50.08 11.08 2.32 DC17-1826 61.50 64.50 3.00 2.95 DC17-1826 166.00 170.00 4.00 5.05 DC17-1826 TOTAL 29.74 2.96 DC17-1827 ACMA 9.00 15.18 6.18 6.22 DC17-1827 95.00 103.00 8.00 1.60 DC17-1827 109.00 140.00 31.00 1.91 DC17-1827 168.05 180.72 12.67 5.04 DC17-1827 307.00 312.00 5.00 7.28 DC17-1827 416.20 428.00 11.80 6.31 DC17-1827 453.15 497.00 43.85 7.60 including 471.80 478.54 6.74 13.68 including 483.00 487.00 4.00 16.60 DC17-1827 502.10 507.49 5.39 2.26 DC17-1827 519.00 527.00 8.00 2.83 DC17-1827 573.50 580.64 7.14 3.17 DC17-1827 585.64 591.68 6.04 5.89 DC17-1827 613.17 621.43 8.26 6.33 DC17-1827 703.00 713.00 10.00 5.43 DC17-1827 TOTAL 163.33 5.01 DC17-1828 Lewis 37.00 56.00 19.00 2.02 DC17-1828 106.00 114.00 8.00 2.22 DC17-1828 134.00 137.00 3.00 1.03 DC17-1828 169.00 187.00 18.00 7.50 including 177.00 181.05 4.05 14.79 DC17-1828 193.03 197.00 3.97 13.97 DC17-1828 207.00 234.00 27.00 1.62 DC17-1828 246.00 264.00 18.00 2.56 DC17-1828 278.00 296.44 18.44 4.68 DC17-1828 TOTAL 115.41 3.69 DC17-1829 ACMA 301.75 317.00 15.25 5.39 DC17-1829 365.90 379.88 13.98 2.85 DC17-1829 390.95 396.84 5.89 6.93 DC17-1829 412.65 417.70 5.05 2.35 DC17-1829 TOTAL 40.17 4.35 DC17-1830 Lewis 133.00 143.00 10.00 4.45 DC17-1830 164.30 172.52 8.22 3.87 DC17-1830 188.50 207.00 18.50 2.64 DC17-1830 281.50 292.00 10.50 3.17 DC17-1830 299.75 304.90 5.15 2.65 DC17-1830 330.50 344.50 14.00 4.72 DC17-1830 362.00 379.78 17.78 3.30 DC17-1830 TOTAL 84.15 3.53 DC17-1831* ACMA 5.18 62.70 57.52 2.25 DC17-1831 TOTAL 57.52 2.25 DC17-1832 ACMA 6.00 104.55 98.55 2.38 DC17-1832 153.50 162.09 8.59 1.17 DC17-1832 167.50 171.70 4.20 2.36 DC17-1832 368.80 376.00 7.20 2.27 DC17-1832 465.00 469.00 4.00 4.20 DC17-1832 547.00 611.00 64.00 5.09 including 555.00 559.00 4.00 11.94 including 596.40 603.00 6.60 14.55 DC17-1832 624.90 636.00 11.10 2.97 DC17-1832 642.00 648.60 6.60 2.45 DC17-1832 680.70 684.70 4.00 2.29 DC17-1832 742.00 747.00 5.00 16.93 DC17-1832 TOTAL 213.24 3.54 DC17-1833 Lewis 27.68 39.50 11.82 1.28 DC17-1833 47.50 51.50 4.00 2.39 DC17-1833 57.50 82.00 24.50 1.74 DC17-1833 122.00 130.00 8.00 2.76 DC17-1833 140.21 148.00 7.79 6.37 DC17-1833 204.00 210.00 6.00 4.52 DC17-1833 240.00 244.00 4.00 2.16 DC17-1833 290.00 294.00 4.00 6.00 DC17-1833 TOTAL 70.11 2.84 DC17-1834 ACMA 322.00 326.00 4.00 5.98 DC17-1834 357.53 396.75 39.22 7.20 Including 365.00 372.38 7.38 15.72 DC17-1834 TOTAL 43.22 7.09

Significant intervals represent drilled intervals and not necessarily true thickness of mineralization. Mineralized intervals meet or exceed 3 meters in length above 1 g/t. A maximum of 4 meters of continuous dilution (< 1 g/t) is permitted. Drill hole 1831 was abandoned and re-drilled in close proximity as 1832.

_____________________________

1 Comparison based on reported drill results from the beginning of 2017 to present, sourced from SNL Metals & Mining, and the same significant interval criteria as reported in this release. Total grade-thickness (g/t x m) from significant intervals in this program ranks in the top 5% of totals reported from other properties during this time period.

2 Donlin Gold data as per the second updated feasibility study effective November 18, 2011, as amended January 20, 2012. Donlin Gold measured resources of 8 Mt grading 2.52 g/t and indicated resources of 534 Mt grading 2.24 g/t, inclusive of proven reserves of 8 Mt grading 2.32 g/t and probable reserves of 497 Mt grading 2.08 g/t.

3 Comparison peer group of 15 projects based on large (2Moz P&P cut off), North/South American gold-focused development projects.

4 Comparison based on the 2016 average grade of open-pit and underground deposits with gold as primary commodity and over 1 Moz in measured and indicated resources, sourced from SNL Metals & Mining.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Panoro Minerals Ltd. (TSXV:PML) (Lima:PML) (Frankfurt:PZM) ("Panoro", or the "Company") is pleased to announce the commencement of the Companys 2018 drilling program at the Cotabambas Project in Peru. Panoro Minerals has contracted Lima-based drilling contractor, Bradley-MDH, to conduct the proposed 2018 drilling campaign. Two diamond drill rigs are being mobilized with drilling expected to begin on February 22, 2018.

The 2018 drilling program will commence at the Maria Jose and Petra-David targets at Cluster 1 and continue until April 2018 with 5,000 m of drilling budgeted. The drilling program will then expand into the Chaupec Skarn Target in Cluster 2 in August with an additional 5,000 m budgeted for completion by the end of 2018.

Drilling at the Maria Jose Target will focus on the further delineation of oxide and sulphide copper zones identified during the 2017 drill program, where 15 drillholes confirmed continuity of mineralization over an area of 400 m by 1200 m, and to over 450 m depth.

In 2017, 8 drillholes were completed at the Petra-David target confirming copper oxides mineralization continuity over an area of 600 m by 150 m along a structural control in northeast direction, hosted in quartz monzonite porphyries and diorite rocks.

The Chaupec target is an area of skarn and porphyry mineralization exposed at surface along approximately 3 km by 1km. The copper grades sampled at surface are some of the highest grades sampled to date at the Cotabambas Project. The area has never been drilled.

The mineralization at the Maria Jose Target consists of quartz monzonite porphyry dikes hosted within andesite volcanics. Drillholes CB-161 and CB-165 intercepted near surface copper oxides mineralization intervals of 39.7 m averaging 0.54% Cu and 13.2 m averaging 0.41% Cu, respectively. Drillhole CB-183 intercepted 127.6 m of hypogene copper mineralization grading 0.41% Cu, 0.06 g/t Au and 2.0 g/t Ag, including intervals with 0.67% Cu and 0.74% Cu, with mineralization open below 477 m depth. Drillhole CB-157 intercepted 195.2 m of hypogene copper mineralization averaging 0.34% Cu 0.06 g/t Au and 1.6 g/t Ag, including intervals with 0.42% Cu and 0.51% Cu, with mineralization open below 468 m depth. The drillholes of the 2017 campaign and the geochemistry and geophysics signatures at surface indicate the mineralization to be open to the northeast and north where the 2018 campaign will be focused.

The principal results at the Petra-David Target included Drillhole CB-171 intercepting 25.0 m averaging 0.32% Cu, including 10.8 m grading 0.44% Cu, 0.12 g/t Au and 12.2 m grading 0.40% Cu, 0.09 g/t Au. Drillhole CB-173 intercepted 61.4 m averaging 0.38% Cu, including 27.1 m with 0.58% Cu and 0.14 g/t Au. Drillhole CB-172 intercepted 78.8 m grading 0.32% Cu including 20.4 m averaging 0.48% Cu, 0.12 g/t Au and 10 m grading 0.57% Cu and 0.14 g/t Au. Drillhole CB-175 intercepted 87.6 m averaging 0.20% Cu, including intervals with grades of 0.29% Cu to 0.39% Cu. The 2018 drilling campaign will target expansion to the north and south.

The Chaupec Target includes exposures at surface of different skarn type mineralization, such as pyroxenes, garnets and magnetite, containing mineralization of bornite, chalcopyrite, minor pyrite, and expanded copper oxides. The quartz-monzonite porphyry outcrops in the south part of the Chaupec Target with potassic alteration and quartz stockwork also contain hypogene/oxides copper mineralization. The mineralization at the Chaupec Target is similar to the skarns at the Las Bambas Copper Mine, located 40 km to the south, specifically with the skarn exposed in the Ferrobamba open pit. A team of geologists will start the predrilling works at Chaupec by the end of February.

We look forward to continuing the drill program at our flagship Cotabambas Project, following up on the delineation of near surface mineralization at the satellite targets in Cluster 1 during 2017. The proximity to surface, potential of higher grades and presence of oxide mineralization can add more value to the Cotabambas Project. Stepping out into the Chaupec Skarn Target in Cluster 2 is scheduled for the middle of this year, after the approval of the expanded EIA. The Chaupec Skarn Target has the potential to further expand the already significant growth potential and value of Cotabambas during 2018. The growth potential is significant with multiple targets to be drilled in 2018, all of which is funded. Additional funding is in place to expand the 2018 drill program and/or continue through 2019. We look forward to announcing results of the drilling program as results are received, stated Luquman Shaheen, President & CEO.

About Panoro

Panoro Minerals is a uniquely positioned Peru focused copper exploration and development company. The Company is advancing its flagship project, Cotabambas Copper-Gold-Silver Project and its Antilla Copper-Molybdenum Project, both located in the strategically important area of southern Peru. The Company is well financed to expand, enhance and advance its projects in the region where infrastructure such as railway, roads, ports, water supply, power generation and transmission are readily available and expanding quickly. The region boasts the recent investment of over $US 15 billion into the construction or expansion of four large open pit copper mines.

Since 2007, the Company has completed over 80,000 m of exploration drilling at these two key projects leading to substantial increases in the mineral resource base for each, as summarized in the table below.

Summary of Cotabambas and Antilla Project Resources

Project Resource

Classification Million

Tonnes Cu (%) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Mo (%) Cotabambas Cu/Au/Ag Indicated 117.1 0.42 0.23 2.74 0.001 Inferred 605.3 0.31 0.17 2.33 0.002 @ 0.20% CuEq cutoff, effective October 2013, Tetratech Antilla Cu/Mo Indicated 291.8 0.34 - - 0.01 Inferred 90.5 0.26 - - 0.007 @ 0.175% CuEq cutoff, effective May 2016, Tetratech

Preliminary Economic Assessments (PEA) have been completed for both the Cotabambas and Antilla Projects, the key results are summarized below.

Summary of Cotabambas and Antilla Project PEA Results

Key Project Parameters Cotabambas Cu/Au/Ag Project Antilla Cu/Mo Project Mill Feed, life of mine million tonnes 483.1 350.4 Mill Feed, daily Tonnes 80,000 40,000 Strip Ratio, life of mine 1.25 : 1 0.85 : 1 Before

Tax1 NPV 7.5% million USD 1,053 491 IRR % 20.4 22.2 Payback years 3.2 3.3 After

Tax1 NPV 7.5% million USD 684 225 IRR % 16.7 15.1 Payback years 3.6 4.1 Annual Average Payable

Metals Cu thousand tonnes 70.5 36.8 Au thousand ounces 95.1 - Ag thousand ounces 1,018.4 - Mo thousand tonnes - 0.9 Initial Capital Cost million USD 1,530 603 Project economics estimated at commodity prices of; Cu = US$3.00/lb, Au = US$1,250/oz, Ag = US$18.50/oz, Mo = US$12/lb

The PEAs are considered preliminary in nature and include Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative to have the economic considerations applied that would enable classification as Mineral Reserves. There is no certainty that the conclusions within the updated PEA will be realized. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Luis Vela, a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release.

On behalf of the Board of Panoro Minerals Ltd.

Luquman Shaheen. PEng, PE, MBA

President & CEO

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Panoro Minerals Ltd.

Luquman Shaheen, President & CEO

Phone: 604.684.4246 Fax: 604.684.4200

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Web: www.panoro.com Renmark Financial Communications Inc.

Laura Welsh

Tel.: (416) 644-2020 or (416) 939-3989

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.renmarkfinancial.com

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: Information and statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and involve risks and uncertainties.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation:

risks relating to metal price fluctuations;

risks relating to estimates of mineral resources, production, capital and operating costs, decommissioning or reclamation expenses, proving to be inaccurate;

the inherent operational risks associated with mining and mineral exploration, development, mine construction and operating activities, many of which are beyond Panoros control;

risks relating to Panoros ability to enforce Panoros legal rights under permits or licenses or risk that Panoros will become subject to litigation or arbitration that has an adverse outcome;

risks relating to Panoros projects being in Peru, including political, economic and regulatory instability;

risks relating to the uncertainty of applications to obtain, extend or renew licenses and permits;

risks relating to potential challenges to Panoros right to explore and/or develop its projects;

risks relating to mineral resource estimates being based on interpretations and assumptions which may result in less mineral production under actual circumstances;

risks relating to Panoros operations being subject to environmental and remediation requirements, which may increase the cost of doing business and restrict Panoros operations;

risks relating to being adversely affected by environmental, safety and regulatory risks, including increased regulatory burdens or delays and changes of law;

risks relating to inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance;

risks relating to the fact that Panoros properties are not yet in commercial production;

risks relating to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and tax rates; and

risks relating to Panoros ability to raise funding to continue its exploration, development and mining activities.

This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the forward-looking information and statements contained in this news release. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forwardlooking information. The forwardlooking information contained in this news release is based on beliefs, expectations and opinions as of the date of this news release. For the reasons set forth above, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Panoro does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and statements included herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- K92 Mining Inc. (K92) (TSXV:KNT) is pleased to advise it has awarded the contract from the installation of a gold gravity recovery circuit into the Process Plant at its Kainantu Gold Mine in Papua New Guinea to Mincore Pty Ltd (Mincore).

Previous testwork carried out on samples from the Kora deposit indicated that up to 65% of the gold could be recovered by gravity concentration. These results are supported by ongoing plant scale testwork carried out by K92 on Kora North material currently being treated through the process plant. The gravity circuit will comprise centrifugal concentrators and a gold room containing a shaking table and induction furnace for the production of gold dore bars.

The cost of the gravity circuit is expected to be US$1 million and the installation of the gravity circuit is expected to improve gold recovery by between 2% and 5% and also increase the payment terms for the gold produced in dore form by approximately 3% to 4% giving a net increase in gold revenue of at least 4%.

The ongoing high grades being treated through the process plant make the installation of the gravity circuit a priority. The feed grade to the plant has averaged almost 20 g/t Au during February, requiring the throughput of the plant to be significantly reduced to ensure acceptable recoveries are achieved. While currently gold recoveries of over 92% are being achieved, testwork has indicated that the installation of a gravity circuit will allow design throughput to be maintained while also achieving up to 95% recovery. Importantly the gravity circuit being installed will be sized to be able to treat the increase in throughput envisaged in the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) referenced below, of 400,000 tpa.

Mincore carried out the refurbishment of the Kainantu Processing Plant prior to the restart of operations and also completed the metallurgical component as reported in the Independent Technical Report, Mineral Resource Update and Preliminary Economic Assessment of Irumafimpa and Kora Gold Deposits, Kainantu Project, Papua New Guinea," with an effective date of March 2, 2017.

John Lewins, K92 Chief Executive Officer and Director, states, The award of the contract for the installation of the gravity circuit is not only a major step in optimizing the performance of the process plant when treating Kora North material, but also the first step in increasing the plant capacity from 200,000 tpa to 400,000 tpa. The anticipated payback for the US$1 million investment, based on an improved gold recovery and payability, is less than one year. We are also extremely pleased to be continuing our association with Mincore, who completed the initial refurbishment of the Kainantu Process Plant within a very tight budget and who are also extremely familiar with both the process plant and the metallurgy of the Kora deposit.

K92 has filed and made available for download on the company's SEDAR profile a technical report titled "Independent Technical Report, Mineral Resource Update and Preliminary Economic Assessment of Irumafimpa and Kora Gold Deposits, Kainantu Project, Papua New Guinea," with an effective date of March 2, 2017, that provides additional information on the geology of the deposits, drilling and sampling procedures, lab analysis, and quality assurance/quality control for the project, and additional details on the resource estimates.

The PEA estimates for Kora, based on the current resource estimates (4.36 million tonnes of 7.3 g/t Au, 35 g/t Ag and 2.23 per cent Cu):

Over a nine-year operating life, the plant would treat 3.2 million tonnes averaging 7.1 g/t Au, 25 g/t Ag and 1.7 per cent Cu (9.3 g/t AuEq (1));

This would generate an estimated positive cash flow of $537-million (U.S.) using current metal prices if 15-metre levels are used in mining; if 25-metre levels are used, then net cash flows are estimated as $558-million (U.S.); this cash flow includes conceptual allowances for capital;

Production of an estimated average of 108,000 AuEq (1) ounces per annum over an eight-year period from year 2 through to year 9;

An estimated pretax net present value (NPV) of $415-million (U.S.) for 25-metre levels, or $397-million (U.S.) for 15-metre levels, using current metal prices, exchange rates and a 5-per-cent discount;

An estimated after-tax NPV of $329-million (U.S.) for 25-metre levels, or $316-million (U.S.) for 15-metre levels, using current metal prices, exchange rates and a 5-per-cent discount;

Initial capital cost is estimated to be $13.8-million (U.S.), including the $3.3-million (U.S.) for the plant upgrade identified in the Mincore scoping study, but excluding the proposed Kora exploration inclines and diamond drilling; sustaining capital cost is estimated to a further $64-million (U.S.) spent over the life of the Kora mining for 25-metre levels, or $83-million (U.S.) for 15-metre levels;

Operating cost per tonne is estimated to be $125 (U.S.) per tonne for 25-metre levels, or $126 (U.S.) per tonne for 15-metre mining levels;

Excluding initial capital expenditure of $14-million (U.S.), cash cost is estimated to be $547 (U.S.) per ounce AuEq (inclusive of a 2.5-per-cent net smelter return (NSR) royalty) and all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of $619 (U.S.) per ounce AuEq for 25-metre mining levels, or $549 (U.S.) per ounce (inclusive of a 2.5-per-cent NSR royalty) and AISC of $644 (U.S.) per ounce AuEq for 15-metre mining levels.

Metal prices used were $1,300 per ounce for gold, $18 (U.S.) per ounce for silver and $4,800 per tonne for copper.

(1) Gold equivalent calculated on above metal prices.

Kora remains open for expansion in every direction and strongly mineralized at the extent of all drilling.

The PEA is preliminary in nature and includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. K92 has not based its production decisions on ongoing mine production or mineral reserve estimates or feasibility studies, and historically such projects have increased uncertainty and risk of failure.

The technical report contains a full description of all underlying assumptions relating to the PEA. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Table 3.0 IRUMAFIMPA AND KORA/EUTOMPI RESOURCES

Resource by Deposit and Category Deposit Resource

Category Tonnes Gold Silver Copper Gold Equivalent Mt g/t MOz g/t MOz % Mlb g/t MOz Irumafimpa Indicated 0.56 12.8 0.23 9 0.16 0.28 37 13.4 0.24 Inferred 0.53 10.9 0.19 9 0.16 0.27 74 11.5 0.20 Kora/Eutompi Inferred 4.36 7.3 1.02 35 4.9 2.23 215 11.2 1.57 Total Indicated 0.56 12.8 0.23 9 0.16 0.3 4 13.4 0.24 Total Inferred 4.89 7.7 1.21 32 5.06 2.0 218 11.2 1.76

M in Table is millions. Reported tonnage and grade figures are rounded from raw estimates to reflect the order of accuracy of the estimate. Minor variations may occur during the addition of rounded numbers. Gold equivalents are calculated as AuEq = Au g/t + Cu%*1.52+ Ag g/t*0.0141.

On behalf of the company,

John Lewins

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Suite 488  1090 West Georgia Street

Vancouver, British Columbia

Canada V6E 3V7

Telephone: (604) 687-7130

Facsimile: (604) 608-9110

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain forward-looking statements under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements that address future plans, activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur are forward-looking information, including statements regarding the realization of the preliminary economic analysis for the Project, expectations of future cash flows, the proposed plant expansion, potential expansion of resources and the generation of further drilling results which may or may not occur. Forward-looking statements and information contained herein are based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the market price of the Companys securities, metal prices, exchange rates, taxation, the estimation, timing and amount of future exploration and development, capital and operating costs, the availability of financing, the receipt of regulatory approvals, environmental risks, title disputes, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, accidents, labour disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and other risks of the mining industry, changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, and regulations and other matters.. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lucky Minerals Inc. (TSX-V:LJ) (OTCQB:LKMNF) (FRA:8LM) (Lucky or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a binding letter of intent (LOI) with Monterra Resources S.A. (Monterra), a private company incorporated under the laws of Panama, to acquire 100% of Goldmindex S.A. (Goldmindex), a private Ecuadorian company, by way of a share exchange between Lucky and Monterra (the Transaction).

Robert Rosner, Lucky Minerals CEO commented, Luckys management and directors are excited to enter into this Transaction. It builds upon Luckys solid base in the core of the mineralized and intensely altered Emigrant Mining district in Montana, and adds a prospective land package in the heart of a prolific Ecuadorian mineral belt. Commenting on behalf of Monterra, Monterras head of Corporate Affairs and International Investor Relations, Peter Nesveda, said, Monterra Resources is very pleased to be working with Lucky Minerals and looks forward to the exploration of Monterra Resources substantial Fortuna concessions located near a number of significant gold and copper discoveries made during the last 20 years in Ecuador.

Assets Being Acquired

Through the Transaction, Lucky is gaining Goldmindexs 100% interest in a 54,985 hectare (550 km2) contiguous property position comprising 12 individual mineral concessions located 50 km south of Cuenca, the capital of Azuay province (the Fortuna Property). The Fortuna Property is accessible via the Pan American highway, secondary all-weather roads and a network of gravel roads, and has a readily available workforce nearby and a year-round operating season. There is a power transmission line within 10km and abundant water available to support exploration activities on the Fortuna Property.

To view the entire News Release and full details of the transaction, please follow the link:

http://www.luckyminerals.com/2018-02-20-nr-lucky-minerals-goldmindex/

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Robert Rosner

Chief Executive Officer

Shaun Dykes, M.Sc. (Eng); P.Geo (#20044), is a non-independent Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101, who is responsible for the review of all scientific and technical information contained in this press release.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE, NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Contact Information:

Robert Rosner

(866) 924-6484

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
TORONTO, Feb. 20, 2018 /CNW/ - Rubicon Minerals Corporation (TSX: RMX | OTCQX: RBYCF) ("Rubicon" or the "Company") provides additional assay results from its 2017 Exploration Program and details on exploration drill holes at areas below the historic McFinley Deposit ("McFinley Deep") at the Phoenix Gold Project (the "Project").

Assay Results Highlights (as of February 20, 2017) representing approximately 5,000 metres ("m") of drilling at the end of 2017:

Infill and step-out drilling program at the 610-, and 685-metre levels with the objective of potentially upgrading and growing the 2016 Mineral Resources (not true widths, more details in the 'Qualified Persons and QA/QC' section below):

685-17-09: 14.25 g/t Au over 1.8 m ( including 61.61 g/t Au over 0.4 m )

over ( ) 685-17-10: 23.39 g/t Au over 2.0 m ( including 46.73 g/t Au over 1.0 m )

over ( ) 685-17-12: 11.03 g/t Au over 1.9 m ( including 30.90 g/t Au over 0.7 m )

over ( ) 685-17-13: 28.19 g/t Au over 1.6 m (including 61.96 g/t Au over 0.7 m )

Remaining Assay Results from the 2017 Exploration Program

Rubicon elected to drill an additional 5,000 m from the 610- and 685-metre levels, bringing the total oriented drilling to approximately 28,500 m at year end 2017. The focus of this drilling is to potentially expand and upgrade the classification of mineral resources at the deeper parts of the F2 Gold Deposit. At the end of this news release, a summary of the assay results from the additional 5,000 m drilled is presented in Table 1. Plan and sections views of the drilling are presented in Diagrams 1 to 9. The Company continues its drilling activities in 2018, as previously announced.

McFinley Deep Exploration

The Company drilled three exploration holes from the 244- and 685-metre levels to test the potential extension of the historic McFinley Deposit at depth. The historic McFinley Deposit is located on the Phoenix Gold Project property, beneath the peninsula and approximately 400 m northwest of the F2 Gold Deposit. Previous exploration at the historic McFinley Deposit resulted in an undiluted mineral resource estimate of 334,007 short tons (303,006 tonnes) at grade of 0.20 ounces of gold per short ton (6.86 g/t Au) resulting in 66,801 gold ounces in the Inferred Resource category, to a depth of 122 metres below surface. See Diagrams 10 to 13 at the end of this news release for the plan and section view of the McFinley Deep drilling.

The Company observed that exploration drilling intersected gold-bearing quartz veins and sulphides through four zones, similar to the lithological sequence in the historic McFinley Deposit. Drill hole 685-17-C04 ended in high-titanium basalts ("HiTi basalts"), suggesting that the extent of mineralization remains open to the west (mine-grid). Assay results from the McFinley Deep drilling include:

244-17-C02: 2.66 g/t Au over 0.5 m

244-17-C02: 1.05 g/t Au over 0.6 m

244-17-C03: 4.87 g/t Au over 0.4 m

244-17-C03: 2.31 g/t Au over 0.5 m

244-17-C03: 3.60 g/t Au over 0.5 m

244-17-C03: 1.53 g/t Au over 0.9 m

685-17-C04: 3.66 g/t Au over 0.4 m

685-17-C04: 2.93 g/t Au over 0.7 m

685-17-C04: 3.48 g/t Au over 1.0 m

685-17-C04: 5.55 g/t Au over 0.7 m

The Company is encouraged by the results from McFinley Deep and plans to extend the existing 685-17-C04 drill hole to the western claim boundary, as it currently remains in the HiTi basalts. Rubicon also plans to drill another test hole from the 685-metre level to target an area that is more than 500 m below the historic McFinley Deposit.

CEO's Comments

Rubicon President and Chief Executive Officer George Ogilvie, P.Eng., stated, "Our exploration program has yielded encouraging results and we are continuing infill and step-out drilling of the F2 Gold Deposit in 2018. We remain on track to complete our test trial mining in the summer, with an updated Mineral Resource Estimate and accompanying technical report due for release towards year end."

"We are also encouraged with the initial observations from the exploration holes drilled at McFinley Deep. We plan to drill a couple more test holes to gather more information on McFinley Deep, given its close proximity to the infrastructure and development at the Phoenix Gold Project."

Qualified Persons and QA/QC

The content of this news release has been read and approved by George Ogilvie, P.Eng., President and CEO, and Mark Ross, B.Sc., P.Geo., Chief Mine Geologist, for Rubicon. Both are Qualified Persons as defined by NI 43-101.

Underground drilling was conducted by Boart Longyear Drilling of Haileybury, Ontario and was supervised by the Rubicon exploration team. All assays reported are uncut unless otherwise stated. All samples reported herein were performed by SGS Mineral Services of Red Lake, Ontario. All NQ core assays reported were obtained by fire assay with AA-finish or using gravimetric finish for values over 10.0 g/t Au.

Intercepts cited do not necessarily represent true widths, unless otherwise noted, however drilling is generally intersecting interpreted mineralized zones at a high angle. True width determinations are estimated at 65-80% of the core length intervals for the 305-metre level drilling, and estimated at 75-95% of the core length for the 610- and 685-metre level drilling. Rubicon's quality control checks include insertion of blanks, standards and duplicates to ensure laboratory accuracy and precision.

About Rubicon Minerals Corporation

Rubicon Minerals Corporation is an advanced gold exploration company that owns the Phoenix Gold Project, located in the prolific Red Lake gold district in northwestern Ontario, Canada. Additionally, Rubicon controls over 280 square kilometres of prime exploration ground in Red Lake and more than 900 square kilometres of mineral property interests in the emerging Long Canyon gold district that straddles the Nevada-Utah border in the United States. Rubicon's shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (RMX) and the OTCQX markets (RBYCF). For more information, please visit our website at www.rubiconminerals.com.

RUBICON MINERALS CORPORATION

George Ogilvie, P.Eng.

President, CEO, and Director

Table 1: Summary of 2017 Drilling Assay Results, up to February 20, 2018

*Previously released assay results

















Drill hole

number Type Elevation Total

Depth

(m) From

(m) To

(m) Width

(m) Grade

(g/t Au)



















New results

































610-17-25 infill/step-out 610-metre level 528.0 521.2 522.0 0.8 2.20



















610-17-27 infill/step-out 610-metre level 483.0 453.4 455.0 1.6 4.42









475.0 476.0 1.0 6.50









478.0 479.0 1.0 3.11



















610-17-28 infill/step-out 610-metre level 560.0 540.0 541.0 1.0 5.65









555.0 556.0 1.0 2.37



















610-17-29 infill/step-out 610-metre level 456.0 assay results pending















685-17-07 infill/step-out 685-metre level 362.6 312.4 313.4 1.0 2.18







331.0 332.7 1.7 3.34















685-17-08 infill/step-out 685-metre level 375.0 349.0 350.2 1.2 1.05















685-17-09 infill/step-out 685-metre level 413.2 338.7 339.8 1.1 3.87







359.6 361.4 1.8 14.25





including 359.6 360.0 0.4 61.61















685-17-10 infill/step-out 685-metre level 392.0 26.5 27.4 0.9 4.77







353.2 361.1 8.0 3.02





including 354.9 355.7 0.8 9.53







373.0 375.0 2.0 23.39





including 373.0 374.0 1.0 46.73















685-17-11 infill/step-out 685-metre level 407.3 21.0 22.0 1.0 5.82







23.0 24.0 1.0 8.58







368.0 369.3 1.3 1.46







390.0 391.1 1.1 2.51















685-17-12 infill/step-out 685-metre level 351.0 320.9 322.3 1.4 3.09







329.4 331.3 1.9 11.03





including 330.7 331.3 0.7 30.90















685-17-13 infill/step-out 685-metre level 375.0 27.8 29.3 1.6 28.19





including 28.6 29.3 0.7 61.96







358.8 360.0 1.2 2.39































Previously released results

























*244-17-04 structural 244-metre level 99.0 28.4 39.4 11.1 115.19



including 28.4 30.0 1.7 758.70



including 37.4 39.4 2.0 7.76















*244-17-05 structural 244-metre level 42.6 20.6 23.0 2.5 3.11





35.0 40.0 5.0 5.17



including 38.0 40.0 2.0 7.00















*244-17-06 structural 244-metre level 48.0 8.7 10.3 1.6 11.62





29.0 33.6 4.7 5.17



including 29.0 30.9 1.9 7.40















*244-17-07 structural 244-metre level 83.6 21.4 28.5 7.1 5.33



including 26.7 28.5 1.8 14.17





48.5 49.5 1.0 3.82















*305-17-01 structural 305-metre level 133.0 27.7 30.0 2.3 15.32



including 27.7 29.2 1.5 23.40





60.6 63.3 2.7 3.95





70.4 73.4 3.0 4.43



including 71.2 72.2 1.0 6.61















*305-17-02 structural 305-metre level 72.0 36.6 38.0 1.4 5.29





44.3 45.6 1.3 5.18





57.9 59.4 1.5 7.80















*305-17-03 structural 305-metre level 66.0 58.5 64.0 5.5 4.69





including 58.5 59.5 1.0 9.76















*305-17-04 structural 305-metre level 125.7 55.0 59.5 4.5 3.62





78.5 80.0 1.5 4.74





91.0 93.5 2.5 3.69















*305-17-05 structural 305-metre level 82.0 40.5 44.0 3.5 7.15



including 42.3 44.0 1.7 12.70





57.0 58.5 1.5 4.64





63.0 65.0 2.0 3.27















*305-17-06 structural 305-metre level 87.2 42.2 45.3 3.1 3.20





59.3 71.9 12.6 6.83



including 59.3 61.0 1.7 29.70



including 68.8 70.5 1.7 10.78















*305-17-07 structural 305-metre level 146.1 40.0 42.0 2.0 3.32





61.1 66.0 4.9 4.27





89.7 93.4 3.7 3.62















*305-17-08 structural 305-metre level 150.0 no significant assays















*305-17-09 structural 305-metre level 108.4 44.0 51.4 7.4 58.22



including 49.3 51.4 2.1 199.66





75.9 80.7 4.8 4.33















*305-17-10 structural 305-metre level 69.4 64.8 68.4 3.6 7.75



Including 66.6 68.4 1.8 13.58















*305-17-11 structural 305-metre level 110.0 102.1 105.9 3.9 8.24



including 102.1 103.6 1.6 19.83















*305-17-12 structural 305-metre level 119.3 98.0 99.5 1.6 5.50















*305-17-13 structural 305-metre level 184.0 46.1 47.2 1.1 4.75







55.6 57.0 1.4 5.10















*305-17-14 infill/step-out 305-metre level 303.0 118.4 127.0 8.6 8.09



including 118.4 121.3 2.9 22.27





284.1 287.3 3.3 6.88



including 284.1 286.0 2.0 11.17















*305-17-15 infill/step-out 305-metre level 326.0 130.3 141.1 10.8 8.54



including 130.3 131.8 1.5 21.90



including 139.3 141.1 1.9 23.31





209.0 211.0 2.0 4.97



including 210.0 211.0 1.0 9.36















*305-17-16 infill/step-out 305-metre level 357.9 151.5 157.7 6.2 6.72



including 151.5 153.3 1.8 16.38















*305-17-17 infill/step-out 305-metre level 324.0 100.3 102.0 1.7 6.06















*305-17-18 infill/step-out 305-metre level 331.05 282.6 292.5 10.0 6.13



including 288.9 292.5 3.7 9.50















*305-17-19 infill/step-out 305-metre level 360.0 215.8 220.5 4.7 7.78





231.6 236.0 4.4 4.69















*305-17-20 infill/step-out 305-metre level 350.0 141.5 143.2 1.7 7.39





155.3 159.9 4.7 21.52



including 155.3 156.8 1.5 44.02







193.0 194.8 1.9 5.61















*305-17-21 infill/step-out 305-metre level 475.0 111.0 111.5 0.5 4.88







156.7 157.6 0.9 4.10







183.0 186.6 3.6 11.06





including 185.0 186.6 1.6 20.80







229.5 232.6 3.1 10.12





including 231.4 232.6 1.2 16.54







236.5 237.2 0.7 6.16







264.5 265.6 1.1 6.69







268.6 268.8 0.3 9.78







284.0 285.0 1.0 5.97







351.4 351.8 0.4 4.87







358.8 359.3 0.5 4.87















*305-17-22 infill/step-out 305-metre level 442.0 212.3 221.0 8.7 9.78



including 212.3 218.2 5.9 13.65





339.8 342.3 2.5 7.41





357.4 359.0 1.6 5.13















*305-17-23 infill/step-out 305-metre level 501.0 213.0 221.0 8.0 1.20







265.0 269.0 4.0 1.18







278.5 278.9 0.4 8.25







317.3 322.0 4.7 1.22















*305-17-24 infill/step-out 305-metre level 329.0 177.6 178.2 0.6 3.05







182.7 183.5 0.8 3.73







192.5 194.2 1.7 4.58















*305-17-25 infill/step-out 305-metre level 281.4 no significant assays















*305-17-26 infill/step-out 305-metre level 138.7 no significant assays















*305-17-27 infill/step-out 305-metre level 402.0 172.0 172.5 0.4 3.80







206.3 207.6 1.3 3.95







209.8 210.1 0.3 3.85







397.4 398.7 1.3 1.48















*305-17-28 infill/step-out 305-metre level 376.2 141.7 143.5 1.8 6.44





including 141.7 142.4 0.7 12.02







187.5 189.0 1.5 3.13







287.7 288.3 0.6 3.33















*305-17-29 infill/step-out 305-metre level 300.0 109.4 110.4 1.0 4.74







145.0 146.0 1.0 1.91







190.0 196.0 6.0 5.24





including 190.0 192.0 2.0 7.82















*305-17-30 infill/step-out 305-metre level 351.0 168.0 170.5 2.4 7.76





including 168.0 169.0 1.0 15.14







177.0 178.2 1.2 3.36







180.5 180.9 0.5 3.00







223.5 225.0 1.6 8.05















*305-17-31 infill/step-out 305-metre level 321.0 246.1 246.7 0.6 3.16







292.5 293.7 1.3 5.37







295.8 297.0 1.2 5.80















*610-17-01 infill/step-out 305-metre level 547.3 447.0 451.0 4.0 6.70



Including 448.4 450.0 1.7 15.14















*610-17-02 infill/step-out 610-metre level 543.8 542.0 543.8 1.8 9.69















*610-17-03 infill/step-out 610-metre level 540.0 465.7 467.6 2.0 4.69





496.4 498.4 2.0 3.28





507.7 509.2 1.5 6.60





535.0 537.5 2.5 10.90



including 535.0 536.6 1.6 16.97















*610-17-04 infill/step-out 610-metre level 512.0 434.5 440.0 5.5 9.75



including 435.5 438.5 3.0 16.83















*610-17-05 infill/step-out 610-metre level 496.0 366.5 368.0 1.5 5.39















*610-17-06 infill/step-out 610-metre level 507.0 359.0 361.0 2.0 6.60





373.0 376.0 3.0 6.03



including 374.4 376.0 1.6 11.42





442.0 448.5 6.5 12.89



including 442.0 446.6 4.6 17.73















*610-17-07 infill/step-out 610-metre level 462.0 351.7 353.6 1.9 12.81





including 352.6 353.6 1.0 24.28







443.5 449.3 5.8 3.63















*610-17-08 infill/step-out 610-metre level 424.0 406.5 415.8 9.3 5.21



including 406.5 410.6 4.1 7.56















*610-17-09 infill/step-out 610-metre level 404.5 no significant assays















*610-17-10 infill/step-out 610-metre level 426.0 405.7 407.5 1.8 10.51







415.6 418.5 2.9 5.80















*610-17-11A infill/step-out 610-metre level 446.7 315.0 317.0 2.0 5.38







396.0 397.9 1.9 1.33















*610-17-12 infill/step-out 610-metre level 414.5 310.0 311.0 1.0 3.40







317.0 318.0 1.0 3.63







383.7 384.3 0.6 7.94







391.0 391.5 0.5 8.19















*610-17-13 infill/step-out 610-metre level 435.0 306.7 307.3 0.6 6.52







328.0 329.8 1.8 4.10







338.0 340.0 2.0 3.42







361.7 362.4 0.6 4.60















*610-17-15 infill/step-out 610-metre level 418.5 393.0 395.0 2.0 7.30





including 394.0 395.0 1.0 13.78















*610-17-18 infill/step-out 610-metre level 480.0 327.0 330.0 2.9 6.84





including 327.6 329.2 1.5 12.34







336.2 337.7 1.6 5.04







345.7 348.8 3.1 10.04





including 345.7 347.5 1.8 16.82







449.4 452.0 2.6 9.24





including 450.9 452.0 1.1 11.51







464.8 466.1 1.3 8.43















*610-17-19 infill/step-out 610-metre level 477.0 333.0 336.0 3.0 7.64





including 335.0 336.0 1.0 21.99







366.1 369.0 2.9 5.29





including 367.5 368.3 0.8 17.32







440.3 448.0 7.7 14.30





including 443.2 448.0 4.8 21.43















*610-17-20 infill/step-out 610-metre level 475.0 351.0 354.3 3.3 1.37







450.7 451.4 0.7 3.73







453.0 454.1 1.1 3.02















*610-17-21 infill/step-out 610-metre level 499.0 329.5 331.0 1.5 4.60







343.0 345.0 2.0 3.83







485.5 486.5 1.0 5.75







494.0 498.0 4.0 7.24















*610-17-22 infill/step-out 610-metre level 521.0 359.3 361.1 1.8 3.08







432.2 432.9 0.8 3.44







485.4 487.4 2.0 3.17







512.2 514.0 1.9 4.75





including 512.2 513.0 0.9 9.48















*610-17-23 infill/step-out 610-metre level 525.0 443.9 445.0 1.1 3.20







449.3 451.8 2.5 18.41





including 449.7 450.9 1.2 31.14















*610-17-24 infill/step-out 610-metre level 568.3 no significant assays















*685-17-02 infill/step-out 685-metre level 378.0 322.0 324.7 2.7 6.62





including 323.2 324.7 1.5 8.91







328.1 328.8 0.6 5.46















*685-17-03 infill/step-out 685-metre level 477.0 365.3 368.0 2.7 1.72















*685-17-04B infill/step-out 685-metre level 405.0 85.2 88.0 2.8 8.39





including 85.2 86.2 1.0 16.89







133.0 134.0 1.0 13.62







147.0 148.0 1.0 5.32







322.0 323.7 1.8 3.25







358.5 361.1 2.6 9.21





including 358.5 360.0 1.6 13.83















*685-17-05 infill/step-out 685-metre level 399.0 128.0 129.0 1.0 2.99







149.0 150.0 1.0 4.30







198.0 199.0 1.0 8.77















*685-17-06 infill/step-out 685-metre level 402.0 90.0 91.4 1.3 1.79







102.0 103.9 1.9 2.89







318.6 322.0 3.4 2.72





including 319.0 320.1 1.1 5.38

Cautionary Statement regarding Forward-Looking Statements and other Cautionary Notes

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes", "intends", "may", "will", "should", "plans", "anticipates", "potential", "expects", "estimates", "forecasts", "budget", "likely", "goal" and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results may or may not be achieved or occur in the future. In some cases, forward-looking information may be stated in the present tense, such as in respect of current matters that may be continuing, or that may have a future impact or effect. Forward-looking statements reflect our current expectations and assumptions, and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to statements regarding the focus, activities, objectives and other details of the 2017 and 2018 Exploration Programs, the nature of the mineralization in the McFinley Deposit and plans for future drilling of the Deposit, the anticipated timing, activities, objectives and other details of the test trial mining program at the Phoenix Gold Project and the anticipated timing of the delivery of the NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate.

Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and represent management's best judgment based on facts and assumptions that management considers reasonable. If such opinions and estimates prove to be incorrect, actual and future results may be materially different than expressed in the forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Rubicon to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others: possible variations in mineralization, grade or recovery or throughput rates; uncertainty of mineral resources, inability to realize exploration potential, mineral grades and mineral recovery estimates; actual results of current exploration activities; actual results of reclamation activities; uncertainty of future operations, delays in completion of exploration plans for any reason including insufficient capital, delays in permitting, and labour issues; conclusions of future economic or geological evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents and other risks of the mining industry; delays and other risks related to operations; timing and receipt of regulatory approvals; the ability of Rubicon and other relevant parties to satisfy regulatory requirements; the ability of Rubicon to comply with its obligations under material agreements including financing agreements; the availability of financing for proposed programs and working capital requirements on reasonable terms; the ability of third-party service providers to deliver services on reasonable terms and in a timely manner; risks associated with the ability to retain key executives and key operating personnel; cost of environmental expenditures and potential environmental liabilities; dissatisfaction or disputes with local communities or First Nations or Aboriginal Communities; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; market conditions and general business, economic, competitive, political and social conditions; our ability to generate sufficient cash flow from operations or obtain adequate financing to fund our capital expenditures and working capital needs and meet our other obligations; the volatility of our stock price, and the ability of our common stock to remain listed and traded on the TSX.

Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and Rubicon disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Readers are advised to carefully review and consider the risk factors identified in the Company's annual information form dated March 29, 2017 under the heading "Risk Factors" and in other continuous disclosure documents of the Company filed at www.sedar.com for a discussion of the factors that could cause Rubicon's actual results, performance and achievements to be materially different from any anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Readers are further cautioned that the foregoing list of assumptions and risk factors is not exhaustive and it is recommended that prospective investors consult the more complete discussion of Rubicon's business, financial condition and prospects that is included in this news release. The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
OTTAWA, Feb. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc. (Cornerstone or the Company) (TSXV:CGP) (Frankfurt:GWN) (Berlin:GWN) (OTC:CTNXF) is pleased to announce the following update on the exploration program at the Alpala deposit at its Cascabel copper-gold porphyry joint venture exploration project in northern Ecuador, in which the Company has a 15% interest financed through to completion of a feasibility study.

Figures referred to in this news release can be seen in PDF format by accessing the version of this release on the Companys website (www.cornerstoneresources.com) or by clicking on the link below: Click Here

HIGHLIGHTS:

 Assay results from recent drill holes Management believes may add to the December 2017 Alpala Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE), include:

Hole 26-D3: 1100m (true width 440m) @ 0.54% copper equivalent (CuEq 1 ) from 900m, incl. 164m (true width 65.6m) @ 0.76% CuEq from 1062m and 222m (88.8m) @ 0.76% CuEq from 1756m;





) from 900m, incl. 164m (true width 65.6m) @ 0.76% CuEq from 1062m and 222m (88.8m) @ 0.76% CuEq from 1756m; Hole 29-D1: 178.4m (true width 71.36m) @ 0.62% CuEq from 990m, incl. 48.4m (true width 19.36m) @ 0.88% CuEq from 1120m;





Hole 33: 824m (true width 329.6m) @ 0.80% CuEq from 736m, incl. 576m (true width 230.4m) @ 0.93% CuEq from 850m, and 262m (true width 104.8m) @ 1.15% CuEq from 1164m;





Hole 33-D1: 604m (true width 241.6m) @ 0.73% CuEq from 732m, incl. 146m (true width 58.4m) @ 1.71% CuEq from 1040m and 106m (true width 42.4m) @ 2.13% CuEq from 1048m; and





Hole 35: 320m (true width 128m) @ 0.60% CuEq from 580m, incl. 160m (true width 64m) @ 0.76% CuEq from 676m.

 Hole 36 partial assays indicate high grades at Alpala Northwest, returning an open ended 82m (true width 32.8m) @ 1.57% CuEq (from 1494-1576m). Assays beyond 1576m are pending.

Hole ID Depth From

m Depth To

m Interval

m True Width

m Cu

% Au

g/t CuEq

% Cut-off

(CuEq%) Comment CSD-17-026-D3 900 2000 1100 440 0.41 0.21 0.54 0.20 bulk halo CSD-17-026-D3 1062 1226 164 65.6 0.54 0.35 0.76 0.50 upper intersection CSD-17-026-D3 1756 1978 222 88.8 0.60 0.25 0.76 0.40 lower intersection CSD-17-029-D1 990 1168.4 178.4 71.36 0.46 0.25 0.62 0.30 lower section, open ended CSD-17-029-D1 1120 1168.4 48.4 19.36 0.63 0.41 0.88 0.70 open ended high grade tail. CSD-17-033 736 1560 824 329.6 0.54 0.42 0.80 na. CSD-17-033 850 1426 576 230.4 0.61 0.51 0.93 CSD-17-033 1164 1426 262 104.8 0.68 0.75 1.15 0.50 CSD-17-033-D1 732 1336 604 241.6 0.51 0.34 0.73 na CSD-17-033-D1 1040 1186 146 58.4 1.09 0.99 1.71 0.30 CSD-17-033-D1 1048 1154 106 42.4 1.31 1.29 2.13 1.00 CSD-17-035 580 900 320 128 0.45 0.24 0.60 0.30 CSD-17-035 676 836 160 64 0.26 0.31 0.76 0.50 CSD-18-036 1494 1576 82 32.8 1.10 0.74 1.57 0.40 open ended - assays pending

 Drilling intersections, awaiting assay results, with potential to add significantly to the existing December 2017 Alpala Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE), include:

Hole 36: Approximately 568m of copper sulphide mineralization (1432-2000m);





Hole 37: Approximately 222m of copper sulphide mineralization, open at depth as drilling continues (1620-1842m). This hole is particularly important, implying major system extensions northwest towards the Trivinio prospect;





Hole 39: Approximately 205m of copper sulphide mineralization (665-870m);





Hole 42: Approximately 602m of copper sulphide mineralization, including bornite, open at depth as drilling continues (309-911m); and





Hole 43: Approximately 205m of copper sulphide mineralization, including bornite, open at depth as drilling continues (665-870m).

 Hole 37 (in progress) at Alpala Northwest intersects primary Bornite-Chalcopyrite-Magnetite assemblage, characteristic of the rich centre of many porphyry copper-gold systems.

 Drilling costs more than halved from USD1,100 per metre to USD500 per metre.

 Track mounted rigs exceeding production expectations allowing rig release and man-portable deployments to satellite targets.

 Significant budget savings planned.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Cascabel is in northwestern Ecuador in an under-explored northern section of the Andean Copper Belt, 60 km northeast of the undeveloped inferred resource of 982 million tons at 0.89% Cu Llurimaga (formerly Junin) copper project2 (Figure 1).

JV majority partner and project operator SolGold has drill tested 5 of 15 copper-gold targets delineated in the 50km2 concession with a focus, to date, on Alpala (Figure 2).

Over 78,500m of drilling has been completed on the project. Currently, 12 drill holes are underway at Alpala (Figure 3).

Assay results from the initial 53,616m of drilling were incorporated into the maiden Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) completed in December 2017 and announced on January 3rd 2018. All historical and current assay results have been provided to the Company by ALS Laboratories in Lima, Peru.

The Alpala drill program for 2018 comprises over 120,000m and will focus on expanding known resources at Alpala, with emphasis along west, northwest and southeast extensions as illustrated in Figure 4.

Improved Rig Performances and Budget Savings Planned

Greatly improved rig performance and core delivery especially by track mounted rigs at Alpala which are delivering up to 100m of core per day. This, with careful drill hole spacing and the use of Devi-drillTM and Navi-drillTM directional drilling tools, keeping the core in the ore is likely to deliver significant budget savings and the permanent deployment of man portable rigs (Figure 5).

Updated Mineral Resource Estimate

SolGold will update the MRE when sufficient information from drilling can be incorporated to affect a material change. This is expected in the next two months.

Major Northwest and Trivinio Extension

Hole 37 at Alpala Northwest has intersected a primary Bornite-Chalcopyrite-Magnetite assemblage, which is characteristic of the high-grade centres of many porphyry copper-gold systems. An example of bornite rich mineralization at 1666.5m down hole depth in Hole 37 is shown in Figure 6.

Further drilling in the highly prospective Alpala Northwest area is underway, and is considered a high-priority for the coming year as drilling progresses further northwest towards the Trivinio and Moran target areas.

Trivinio Recent Geophysical Interpretation

The Company has recently completed geophysical interpretation across the Cascabel project area, integrating 3D models of Magneto Telluric Conductivity, Resistivity, Chargeability and Magnetics. This work has demonstrated that mineralization from Alpala North and Northwest may be continuous with the Trivinio and Moran Targets, which would extend the Alpala System northwards by approximately 1km.

Figure 7 shows induced polarization (IP) chargeability survey areas and combined, normalized 3D IP chargeability across the Cascabel concession, delineating sulphide distribution and abundance between surface and 1000m depth at Alpala, and 1200m depth at Aguinaga, Tandayama and Trivinio.

SolGold is planning to test Trivinio with two holes utilizing Rigs 7 and 8 following the completion of Holes 34 and 37 at Alpala.

In addition, the study has demonstrated the strong disseminated sulphide mineralization evident in chargeability models across the Cascabel concession. This, along with the multiplicity of targets and the growing resource in the Alpala sector, endorses the ongoing drilling focus there.

About the Cascabel Joint Venture with SolGold:

Exploraciones Novomining S.A. (ENSA), an Ecuadorean company owned by SolGold Plc and Cornerstone, holds 100% of the Cascabel concession. Subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including SolGolds fully funding the project through to feasibility, SolGold Plc will own 85% of the equity of ENSA and Cornerstone will own the remaining 15% of ENSA. SolGold is funding 100% of the exploration at Cascabel and is the operator of the project. SolGold shall receive 90% of Cornerstones distribution of earnings or dividends from ENSA to which Cornerstone would otherwise be entitled until such time as the amounts so received equal the aggregate amount of expenditures incurred by SolGold that would have otherwise been payable by Cornerstone, plus interest thereon from the dates such expenditures were incurred at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR plus 2 per cent until such time as SolGold is fully reimbursed.

Logging, sampling, assaying and reporting

Holes referred to in this release were or are being drilled using HTW, NTW, NQ and BQ core sizes (respectively 7.1, 5.6, 4.8 and 3.7 cm diameter). Geotechnical measurements such as core recovery, fracturing, rock quality designations (RQDs), specific gravity and photographic logging are performed systematically prior to assaying. The core is logged, magnetic susceptibility measured and key alteration minerals identified by experienced loggers and sometimes using an on-site portable spectrometer. Core is then sawed in half at the ENSA core logging facility, and half of the core is delivered by ENSA employees for preparation at ALS Minerals Laboratories (ALS) sample preparation facility in Quito. Core samples are prepared crushing to 70% passing 2 mm (10 mesh), splitting 250 g and pulverizing to 85% passing 75 microns (200 mesh) (ALS code CRU-31, SPL21 and PUL-32). Prepared samples are then shipped to ALS in Lima, Peru where samples are assayed for a multi-element suite (ALS code ME-MSP61, 1g split, 4-acid digestion, ICP-MS finish). Over limit results for Ag (> 100 g/t) and Cu, (> 1%) are systematically re-assayed (ALS code Ag-AA62, 4-acid digestion, AAS finish). Gold is assayed using a 30 g split, Fire Assay (FA) and AA finish (ALS code Au-AA23).

Quality assurance / Quality control (QA/QC)

The ALS Laboratory is a qualified assayer that performs and makes available internal assaying controls. Duplicates, certified blanks and standards are systematically used (1 control sample every 15-20 samples). Rejects, a 100 g pulp for each core sample and the remaining half-core are stored for future use and controls.

Qualified Person:

Yvan Crepeau, MBA, P.Geo., Cornerstones Vice President, Exploration and a qualified person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, is responsible for supervising the exploration program at the Cascabel project for Cornerstone and has reviewed and approved the information contained in this news release.

About Cornerstone:

Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc. is a mineral exploration company with a diversified portfolio of projects in Ecuador and Chile, and a proven ability to identify, acquire and advance properties of merit.

Further information is available on Cornerstones website: www.cornerstoneresources.com and on Twitter. For investor, corporate or media inquiries, please contact:

Investor Relations:

Mario Drolet; Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Tel. (514) 904-1333

Due to anti-spam laws, many shareholders and others who were previously signed up to receive email updates and who are no longer receiving them may need to re-subscribe at http://www.cornerstoneresources.com/s/InformationRequest.asp

Cautionary Notice:

This news release may contain Forward-Looking Statements that involve risks and uncertainties, such as statements of Cornerstones plans, objectives, strategies, intentions and expectations. The words potential, anticipate, forecast, believe, estimate, expect, may, project, plan, and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify Forward-Looking Statements. Although Cornerstone believes that its expectations reflected in these Forward-Looking Statements are reasonable, such statements may involve unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors disclosed in our regulatory filings, viewed on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. For us, uncertainties arise from the behaviour of financial and metals markets, predicting natural geological phenomena and from numerous other matters of national, regional, and global scale, including those of an environmental, climatic, natural, political, economic, business, competitive, or regulatory nature. These uncertainties may cause our actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in our Forward-Looking Statements. Although Cornerstone believes the facts and information contained in this news release to be as correct and current as possible, Cornerstone does not warrant or make any representation as to the accuracy, validity or completeness of any facts or information contained herein and these statements should not be relied upon as representing its views after the date of this news release. While Cornerstone anticipates that subsequent events may cause its views to change, it expressly disclaims any obligation to update the Forward-Looking Statements contained herein except where outcomes have varied materially from the original statements.

On Behalf of the Board,

Brooke Macdonald

President and CEO

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

1 The MRE was reported using a cut-off grade of 0.3% copper equivalent (CuEq) calculated using [copper grade (%)] + [gold grade (g/t) x 0.6] based on a copper price of US$2.8/lb and gold price of US$1,160/oz.

2 0.4% Cu cut-off grade; Micon International Co. Ltd. Technical Report for Ascendant Exploration SA, August 20, 2004, pages 28 & 29. Mineralization identified at the Llurimaga copper project is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on the Cascabel Property.
KELOWNA, British Columbia, Feb. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FISSION URANIUM CORP. ("Fission" or the Company") (TSX:FCU) (OTCQX:FCUUF) is pleased to announce the results of an updated independent resource estimate for the Triple R deposit, which now includes the R1515W, R840W, R00E, R780E and R1620E zones at its 100% owned, award-winning Patterson Lake South (PLS) property in Canada's Athabasca Basin region. The updated resource represents a 95% increase in pounds U 3 O 8 classified as Inferred and an 8% increase in pounds U 3 O 8 classified as Indicated as compared to the previous Mineral Resource dated July 28, 2015. The increase in resource classified as Indicated is primarily due to infill drilling on the R780E zone, while the increase in resource classified as Inferred is primarily due to the discovery and delineation of the R1620E, R840W, and R1515W zones. This significant increase to the overall resource, has been achieved with prudent spending during the last three years of low uranium prices.

The Triple R deposit is now estimated to contain:

87,760,000 pounds U 3 O 8 Indicated Mineral Resource based on 2,186,000 tonnes at an average grade of 1.82% U 3 O 8 , including: R780E high-grade zone of 48,246,000 pounds U 3 O 8 based on 119,000 tonnes at a grade of 18.39% U 3 O 8

O Indicated Mineral Resource based on 2,186,000 tonnes at an average grade of 1.82% U O , including: 52,850,000 pounds U 3 O 8 Inferred Mineral Resource based on 1,331,000 tonnes at an average grade of 1.80% U 3 O 8 , including: R780E high-grade zone of 14,710,000 pounds U 3 O 8 based on 32,000 tonnes at a grade of 20.85% U 3 O 8

O Inferred Mineral Resource based on 1,331,000 tonnes at an average grade of 1.80% U O , including:

* Mineral Resources are reported within a preliminary open pit design at a cut-off grade of 0.15% U 3 O 8 and 0.3% for resources outside the pit that are potentially mined by underground methods. The R1620E, R840W and R1515W zones are evaluated as underground at this time.

Ongoing 'Triple R' Resource Growth and Exploration in 2018: Fission is already targeting further growth of the R1515W zone in the current winter 2018 program and expects to continue exploration and resource growth in subsequent programs. Additionally, the 2018 winter drill program is focussing on geotechnical data gathering, and infill drilling in the R780E zones as part of the Pre-Feasibility Study PFS related work. There will be another update to the resource model after the 2018 drilling program, and that model will be used for the PFS work. Resource updates will be fully documented along with PFS results.

Triple R is the Most Significant Large Near-Surface, High-Grade, Undeveloped Uranium Deposit in Athabasca Region: This resource estimate reaffirms Fission's Triple R deposit as an elite deposit in a group of high-grade uranium deposits of the Athabasca Basin region.

Increased Size of Gold Resource: Gold mineralization occurs within all of the zones of the Triple R deposit. The current resource estimate shows an increase in both the indicated and inferred category:

39,200 ounces Au Indicated Mineral Resource based on 2,186,000 tonnes of mineralization at an average grade of 0.56 g/t Au

24,000 ounces Au Inferred Mineral Resource based on 1,331,000 tonnes of mineralization at an average grade of 0.56 g/t Au

* Prior to compositing, gold assays were cut to 10 g/t for all domains, and to 5 g/t outside the resource domain wireframes.

Key Highlights

Value Added in Conjunction with Minimal Expenditures: Fission has successfully added significantly to the overall resource, while at the same time being mindful of shareholder value and uranium sector market conditions, including low uranium prices, by being prudent in spending during the last three years

Fission has successfully added significantly to the overall resource, while at the same time being mindful of shareholder value and uranium sector market conditions, including low uranium prices, by being prudent in spending during the last three years Deposit contained entirely in Basement Lithology

Continued, Strong Growth Potential: The Patterson Lake Corridor mineralized trend is open along strike and at depth. The current winter 2018 program is, in part, focusing on further growth of the R1515W zone.

Ross McElroy, President, COO, and Chief Geologist for Fission, commented,

"Our high-grade, near-surface, basement lithology-hosted deposit, in the world's premier high-grade uranium district, now has an Indicated Resource estimate of 87,760,000 pounds U 3 O 8 , plus 52,850,000 pounds U 3 O 8 in the Inferred category. We are also very pleased with the increased gold mineralization, which has the potential to enhance the economics of the deposit. With the deposit open in multiple directions, there is superb potential for continued growth. This is particularly the case for the R1515W zone, which is a high-priority focus in our current winter exploration program. Overall, this new resource estimate is a strong milestone as we continue towards pre-feasibility."

Resource Estimation Methodology

The updated Mineral Resource estimate, reported herein, was completed by RPA Inc. (RPA)  a recognized independent consulting firm with significant resource estimation experience in high-grade Athabasca uranium deposits. For the updated Mineral Resource estimate, RPA used data collected from multiple diamond drilling campaigns completed during the last five years, including a total of 189,000 metres of drilling in 605 drill holes available as of January 4, 2018, which includes all drilling on the property up to hole PLS17-568. Estimated block model grades are based on chemical assays only. Mineral Resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 0.15% U 3 O 8 within the pit design used in the 2015 PEA and at a cut-off grade of 0.30% U 3 O 8 outside of the pit design for resources potentially accessed from underground mining methods. Mineral Reserves have not yet have been estimated at the project.

A set of cross-sections and level plans were interpreted to construct three-dimensional wireframe models for the mineralized zones at a minimum grade of 0.05% U 3 O 8 . Wireframes of the High Grade domain were created at a minimum grade of approximately 5% U 3 O 8 . The High Grade domain consists of one lens in the R840W Zone and seven lenses within the R780E Main Zone, the largest continuous zone within the Triple R deposit area. Prior to compositing to two metre lengths, high U 3 O 8 assays were cut to 55% in the R780E High Grade domain, 35% in the R840W High Grade domain, 20% in the R840W Low Grade domain, 10% U 3 O 8 in all other domains, and to 7% U 3 O 8 outside the resource domain wireframes, designated as Low Grade Halo. Prior to compositing, Gold assays were cut to 10 g/t for all domains, and to 5 g/t outside the resource domain wireframes.

Block model grades were interpolated by inverse distance cubed (ID3). Density values were estimated from more than 2,000 measurements to be: 2.25 t/m3 for the R00E Zone, 2.32 t/m3 for the Main Zone and other zones in the R780E area, 2.35 t/m3 for the High Grade Zone, and 2.39 t/m3 for the Low Grade Halo. Classification into the Indicated and Inferred categories was guided by the drill hole spacing and the continuity of the mineralized zones.

The updated resource estimate represents an 8% increase in pounds U 3 O 8 classified as Indicated, and a 95% increase in pounds U 3 O 8 classified as Inferred as compared to the previous Mineral Resource dated July 28, 2015. The increase in resource classified as Indicated is primarily due to infill drilling while the increase in resource classified as Inferred is primarily due to the discovery and delineation of zones R1620E, R840W, and R1515W.

Table 1 Mineral Resource Statement  February 20, 2018 Classification Tonnes Grade

(%U 3 O 8 ) Grade

(Au g/t) U 3 O 8

(lb) Gold

(oz) Indicated Open Pit 1,335,000 2.24 0.54 66,061,000 23,200 Underground 852,000 1.16 0.59 21,700,000 16,000 Total Indicated 2,186,000 1.82 0.56 87,760,000 39,200 Inferred Open Pit 101,000 6.58 1.12 14,652,000 3,600 Underground 1,233,000 1.41 0.51 38,198,000 20,000 Total Inferred 1,331,000 1.80 0.56 52,850,000 24,000

Notes:

CIM definitions (2014) were followed for Mineral Resources. Mineral Resources are reported within a preliminary optimized open pit shell at a cut-off grade of 0.15% U 3 O 8 and 0.3% U 3 O 8 for resources outside the pit that are potentially mined by underground methods. The cut-off grades are based on price of US$55 per lb U 3 O 8 and an exchange rate of 0.80 C$/US$. Numbers may not add due to rounding.

Table 2 Mineral Resource Statement by Zone  February 20, 2018 Classification Zone Tonnes Grade

(%U 3 O 8 ) Grade

(Au g/t) U 3 O 8

(lb) Gold

(oz) Indicated R780E_HG 119,000 18.39 2.74 48,246,000 10,500 R780E_MZ 1,694,000 0.78 0.44 29,204,000 23,700 R780E_OTHER 175,000 0.98 0.62 3,776,000 3,500 R000E 114,000 1.31 0.16 3,289,000 600 R840W 84,000 1.75 0.33 3,245,000 900 Indicated Total 2,186,000 1.82 0.56 87,760,000 39,200 Inferred R780E_HG 32,000 20.85 2.62 14,710,000 2,700 R780E_MZ 79,000 1.32 0.87 2,306,000 2,200 R780E_OTHER 440,000 0.89 0.54 8,681,000 7,700 HALO 127,000 0.55 0.34 1,536,000 1,400 R000E 8,000 4.10 0.78 723,000 200 New Zone R1620E 94,000 3.08 0.36 6,386,000 1,100 New Zone R840W 254,000 2.02 0.53 11,321,000 4,300 New Zone R1515W 297,000 1.10 0.46 7,187,000 4,400 Inferred Total 1,331,000 1.80 0.56 52,850,000 24,000

Notes: See Table 1.

Table 3 Detailed Mineral Resource Statement Open Pit vs. Underground, by Zone  February 20, 2018 Classification Zone Tonnes Grade

(%U 3 O 8 ) Grade

(Au g/t) U 3 O 8

(lb) Gold

(oz) Open Pit - Indicated R780E_HG 115,000 18.20 2.74 46,118,000 10,100 R780E_MZ 1,116,000 0.70 0.35 17,226,000 12,600 R000E 104,000 1.19 0.14 2,716,000 500 Open Pit - Indicated Total 1,335,000 2.24 0.54 66,061,000 23,200 UG - Indicated R780E_HG 4,000 23.03 3.28 2,128,000 400 R780E_MZ 578,000 0.94 0.60 11,978,000 11,100 R780E_OTHER 175,000 0.98 0.63 3,776,000 3,500 R000E 10,000 2.50 0.22 573,000 100 R840W 84,000 1.76 0.33 3,245,000 900 UG - Indicated Total 852,000 1.16 0.59 21,700,000 16,000 Open Pit - Inferred R780E_HG 29,000 20.48 2.65 13,293,000 2,500 R780E_MZ 24,000 1.49 1.00 788,000 800 R780E_OTHER 11,000 0.26 0.34 64,000 100 HALO 33,000 0.42 0.21 307,000 200 R000E 3,000 2.88 0.04 200,000 0 Open Pit - Inferred Total 101,000 6.58 1.12 14,652,000 3,600 UG - Inferred R780E_HG 3,000 23.43 2.56 1,417,000 200 R780E_MZ 55,000 1.24 0.79 1,518,000 1,400 R780E_OTHER 429,000 0.91 0.55 8,617,000 7,600 HALO 94,000 0.59 0.40 1,229,000 1,200 R000E 5,000 4.42 1.23 523,000 200 R1620E 94,000 3.08 0.35 6,386,000 1,100 R840W 254,000 2.02 0.53 11,321,000 4,300 R1515W 297,000 1.10 0.42 7,187,000 4,000 UG - Inferred Total 1,233,000 1.41 0.51 38,198,000 20,000

Notes:

See Table 1 for main footnotes See Table 2 for combined Indicated and Inferred totals of open pit plus underground by zone.

Updated maps and files can be found on the Company's website at https://fissionuranium.com/project/triple-r-deposit/overview/.

PLS Mineralized Trend & Triple R Deposit Summary

Uranium mineralization of the Triple R deposit at PLS occurs within the Patterson Lake Conductive Corridor and has been traced by core drilling over ~3.18km of east-west strike length in five separated mineralized "zones" which collectively make up the Triple R deposit. From west to east, these zones are: R1515W, R840W, R00E, R780E and R1620E. Through successful exploration programs completed to date, Triple R has evolved into a large, near surface, basement hosted, structurally controlled high-grade uranium deposit. The discovery hole was announced on November 05, 2012 with drill hole PLS12-022, from what is now referred to as the R00E zone.

The R1515W, R840W and R00E zones make up the western region of the Triple R deposit and are located on land, where overburden thickness is generally between 55m to 100m. R1515W is the western-most of the zones and is drill defined to ~90m in strike-length, where mineralization both to the west and east is open. R840W is located ~515m to the east along strike of R1515W and has a drill defined strike length of ~430m. R00E is located ~485m to the east along strike of R840W and is drill defined to ~115m in strike length. The R780E zone and R1620E zones make up the eastern region of the Triple R deposit. Both zones are located beneath Patterson Lake where water depth is generally less than six metres and overburden thickness is generally about 50m. R780E is located ~225m to the east of R00E and has a drill defined strike length of ~945m. R1620E is located ~210m along strike to the east of R780E, and is drill defined to ~185m in strike length.

Mineralization along the Patterson Lake Corridor trend remains prospective along strike in both the western and eastern directions. Basement rocks within the mineralized trend are identified primarily as mafic volcanic rocks with varying degrees of alteration. Mineralization is both located within and associated with mafic volcanic intrusives with varying degrees of silicification, metasomatic mineral assemblages and hydrothermal graphite. The graphitic sequences are associated with the PL-3B basement Electro-Magnetic (EM) conductor.

Patterson Lake South Property

The 31,039 hectare PLS project is 100% owned and operated by Fission Uranium Corp. PLS is accessible by road with primary access from all-weather Highway 955, which runs north to the former Cluff Lake mine and passes through the nearby UEX-Areva Shea Creek discoveries located 50km to the north, currently under active exploration and development.

The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and reviewed on behalf of the company by Ross McElroy, P.Geol., President and COO for Fission Uranium Corp., a qualified person.

The Mineral Resource estimate was prepared by Mr. Mark Mathisen, C.P.G., Principal Geologist at RPA, who read and approved the related disclosure about the Mineral Resources in this press release. Mr. Mathisen is an independent Qualified Person in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101.

About Fission Uranium Corp.

Fission Uranium Corp. is a Canadian based resource company specializing in the strategic exploration and development of the Patterson Lake South uranium property - host to the class-leading Triple R uranium deposit - and is headquartered in Kelowna, British Columbia. Fissions common shares are listed on the TSX Exchange under the symbol "FCU" and trade on the OTCQX marketplace in the U.S. under the symbol "FCUUF."

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Ross McElroy"

_____________________________

Ross McElroy, President and COO

Investor Relations

Rich Matthews

TF: 877-868-8140

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.fissionuranium.com

Cautionary Statement:

Certain information contained in this press release constitutes forward-looking information", within the meaning of Canadian legislation. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur", "be achieved" or has the potential to. Forward looking statements contained in this press release may include statements regarding the future operating or financial performance of Fission and Fission Uranium which involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may not prove to be accurate. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in these forward-looking statements. Such statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations. Among those factors which could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: market conditions and other risk factors listed from time to time in our reports filed with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and the Company and Fission Uranium disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation.
VANCOUVER B.C., Feb. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AZINCOURT ENERGY CORP. (Azincourt or the Company) (TSX.V:AAZ) (OTC:AZURF) is pleased to announce it has signed a non-binding letter of intent (LOI) to acquire 99.5% of the outstanding share capital of Guevan Petroleum Company S.A. (Guevan Petroleum), a Peruvian private company that currently holds the Macusani-Cuzco lithium-uranium project, located in the Macusani Plateau, Puno, south-eastern Peru.

The Macusani-Cuzco project consists of approximately 30,000 hectares (300-sq kms) located on the Macusani Plateau, one of the largest and highly prospective lithium/uranium districts in the world. The Macusani Plateau features unique, shallow, volcanic-hosted supergene/surficial uranium deposits as well as recently discovered high-grade lithium mineralization.

The Macusani-Cuzco land position is adjacent to the western edge of Plateau Uraniums (TSX.V: PLU) Macusani Project, which contains the high-grade Falchani discovery with consistent 3,000-3,500 ppm Li over 100m true thickness at depth, and U 3 O 8 grades up to 500 ppm over 50m intercepts from surface*. In addition, surface sampling at Falchani yielded results up to 9,766 ppm U 3 O 8 with 12 samples exceeding 0.1% U 3 O 8 , and Li values up to 1,140 ppm Li with 16 samples exceeding 400 ppm Li*.

Were pleased to be able to announce this LOI and look forward to executing the due diligence process, said Alex Klenman, president and CEO. Were very aware of the public announcements made by Plateau Uranium, and very impressed with their progress on the plateau and their new Falchani discovery, which features not only high-grade lithium intercepts, but also high-grade uranium mineralization. The Macusani Plateau is both unique and underexplored, and this acquisition allows Azincourt to place a major footprint in what is proving to be an emerging world class district, continued Mr. Klenman.

The unique volcanic rocks representing the youngest eruptions on the Macusani Plateau host multiple uranium deposits with reported favourable economics (Plateau Uranium  Macusani Project) and are highly prospective for additional discoveries of lithium mineralization at depth as well as uranium-rich surface mineralization. The older volcanic and intrusive rocks deeper in the volcano-plutonic sequence discovered near the present-day edge of the Macusani Plateau also host substantial silver-lead-zinc resources (Bear Creek Mining  Corani Project) and the San Rafael Tin Mine, the largest high-grade tin deposit in the world that has been in production for over 60 years. Other companies including Rio Tinto and Fission Uranium are also active in the area.

Macusani Plateau Location

In consideration for the acquisition of 99.5% of the outstanding share capital of Guevan Petroleum, the Company has agreed to complete a series of share issuances over a twelve-month period totaling 4,000,000 common shares.

Completion of the transaction with Guevan Petroleum is subject to a number of conditions, including, but not limited to, completion of due diligence, negotiation of definitive documentation in respect of the transaction, and the receipt of any required regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The transaction cannot be completed until these conditions are satisfied. Any securities issued in connection with the transaction will be subject to a four-month-and-one-day statutory hold period from the time of issuance.

* Plateau Uranium, January 2018 Investor Presentation

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF AZINCOURT ENERGY CORP.

Alex Klenman

Alex Klenman, President & CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release includes forward-looking statements, including forecasts, estimates, expectations and objectives for future operations that are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Azincourt. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking information represents managements best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual future results may vary materially.

For further information please contact:

Alex Klenman, President & CEO

Tel: 604-638-8063

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183 Shares Share

Remarkable improvements in advanced life-saving therapies have brought chronic disease management to the forefront of American health care. Today, we see more patients that have complicated conditions. Often, these patients are admitted to the hospital with acute symptoms related to chronically managed conditions such as heart failure, lung diseases or cancer.

These patients can end up in the intensive care units and require critical care such as ventilators, dialysis and other support devices. Recovering from long-term dependence on these therapies could take months or even years, if patients are able to recover at all.

The financial and the ethical ramifications of chronic diseases and prolonged hospital admissions must continue to be examined and discussed. However, something missing from this debate is the impact this change in our patient population can and already has significantly influenced medical education.

While advancements in life-prolonging therapies have undoubtedly improved patients longevity, the corollary has been that the complexity and frequency of their hospital stays have gone up. The number of hospital admissions involving patients with chronic illnesses is growing. In 2010, 81 percent of all hospital admissions involved patients with chronic illnesses, as compared to 50 years ago when only a small percentage of hospital admissions were for chronic patients. This number is only projected to increase. The number of critical care beds, and days admitted in critical care have increased at a much faster rate than the rate of overall growth.

As patients now need longer hospital stays with relatively slower recoveries, the turnover of patients, especially in the ICU, has decreased.

Hospital units that once admitted several patients in a day now admit the same number in a week. One study showed patients requiring long-term stay accounted for 15.7 percent of total admission days despite being 1.6 percent of the hospital census.

For medical students, residents, and fellows who grow from encountering a wide range of treatment experiences, longer length of stay implies a different type of learning  management of complex, chronic comorbidities. For these patients, milestones are more gradual, usually comprised of making stepwise progress through minor adjustments, optimization or weaning of therapies. Instead of breadth in seeing a high volume of patients, dealing with chronic diseases encourages students to learn depth in managing their multiple, interweaving disease processes.

Additionally, as complexity increases among these patients, whose chronic conditions are often already familiar to and followed by a team of specialists at the institution, the trainees level of autonomy in caring for them is increasingly replaced by strict oversight and early involvement of specialists. Patients who have received transplants or advanced therapies, such as heart pumps, frequently present with more frequent complications such as infection or dangerous amounts of bleeding requiring re-admissions. While trainees technically first encounter these new patients, their own ideas and plans are immediately superseded by those of specialists who are already familiar with patients case.

The roles of trainees in these scenarios are limited to coordination and execution of plans that are not their own. Even in the emergency room where residents should learn to triage all types of medical conditions with independence, patients are often first seen by consultants or specialists who are notified that a chronic patient has been admitted to the ED. Although this structure may be the most reasonable in safely coming up with a complex management plan commensurate with the patients clinical state, it has inevitably consequences in medical education because it limits trainees opportunities to come up with a treatment plan independently.

Lastly, from the psychological standpoint of trainees, encountering chronically ill patients who often stay from the beginning until the end of their rotations can be disheartening over time. Many of these patients are intubated or mechanically supported for significant portions of the trainees encounters with them. Their uncertain mental status and progress that is so gradual that it appears stagnant and can sometimes take a heavy toll on the trainees mood and perceptions of health care. Also, the reward and pride trainees derive from taking care of patients throughout the entirety of their admission are unfortunately lost when patients timelines far surpass those of trainees, making their encounters seem relatively transient and incomplete.

As providers and educators, we must remain cognizant of the effects of the changing patient population on not only our health care system but our educational experiences. That should entail ensuring that theres a balance between the number of acute and chronic cases that trainees encounter. Some of the more stable, chronic issues such as ventilation wean or dosing long-term medications could perhaps better be managed by specialized units in the hospital, freeing up time for trainees to encounter a greater variety of patients that will foster the autonomy and the knowledge base that will prepare them for success.

Simultaneously, we can incorporate a more robust curriculum centered on palliative care, especially in ICU settings. Trainees can learn the intricacies of goals-of-care discussions and end-of-life decision making. Instead of focusing only on the medical aspects of patient care, educators can help cultivate skills related to empathy and humanism through these chronic encounters.

Inevitably, learning to manage chronic complex problems will be an essential skill-set for any aspiring physician. After all, as we get better at our jobs in taking care of patients by discovering and implementing new medical therapies, disease management will continue to grow more chronic and complex. Surely, there are invaluable lessons we can take away from caring for this patient population from the medical to the psychosocial and ethical challenges that arise with navigating this dynamic.

Jason J. Han is a cardiothoracic surgery resident.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com


A number of Kilkenny farmers, many of them old and in poor health, are counting the cost of their involvement with State forestry body, Coillte.

Contracts they signed 20 years ago with the forestry company are causing them concern.

One woman, Julie Murphy, from Kilmanagh is finding it extremely difficult.

She signed a contract with Coillte in 1997 just after husband passed away.

She received an upfront payment at the time after agreeing to plant 90 acres.

Now, over 20 years later, she has learned that she has to pay that money back when the crop is harvested.

No one told me that and I certainly wouldn't have agreed to it at the time, she claimed. (This is contested by Coillte.)

With three teenage sons to look after on her own, she feels there has been a lack of trust with Coillte, dating back to the time of the signing of the contract.

She suffers from fibro myalgia and finds it hard to get out of bed, the only thing keeping her going, is caring for there three boys, who mean everything to her.

Symptoms include chronic muscle pain, fatigue, sleep problems, and painful tender points.

The stress of dealing with the Coillte contract has made things worse, she feels.

The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) lent its support late last year and she no longer felt isolated.

A meeting was held last week with farmers, the IFA and Coillte, where Coillte executives were left in no doubt about how contract holders felt about how they had been treated.

The problem for Julie and others is that no one knows the details of the other 630 contracts.

Her contract is a 55% to 45% split in her favour .

However, before she gets a cent, Coillte will take out the costs of harvesting, marketing, inventory costs and other expenditure.

Coillte statement

In a statement Coillte said the vast majority of the 630 farm partnerships it entered with farmers between 1993 and 2012 were working well and as intended.

This continues to be the case. Coillte can also confirm that it is satisfied, after reviewing contracts with farm partners, that there are no cases where farmers have not been paid what they are due, and it is fulfilling all its contractual obligations.

Coillte strongly disagrees with many of the assertions made around the fairness of farm partnerships.

While there are a number of differing contracts in place, each offers benefits to both the farm partners and Coillte. In all cases Coillte is responsible for optimising the value of each partnership for the benefit of both partners. Coillte is committed to living up to this responsibility.

Coillte is confident that all partners received independent legal advice, and our records clearly show that detailed engagement took place between Coillte and Julie Murphys solicitor before the contract was signed.

In a small number of cases, an issue has arisen around the timing of the commencement of annuity payments from Coillte.

This was due to a change in the timing of the premium payments from the Forest Service. Coillte has made it clear that it will honour the spirit of the agreement with its farm partners and will commence annuity payments earlier than specified in the contract to ensure continuity of income for its partners. A payment has been made in 2018 to Julie Murphy in accordance with this commitment.

Julie Murphys farm partnership has been very well managed and this is evidenced by the fact that it is the recipient of an RDS Gold Forestry Award.

Coillte is aware that in certain cases where there are particularly high performing crops, some partners have looked to exit the partnership agreements.

Coilltes position is that where genuine reasons exist, they will explore options with farm partners on a case by case basis, subject to commercial terms.

Coillte acknowledges it could improve its communications concerning commercial transparency and it has committed to issuing all partners with clear commercial statements. Coillte has engaged KPMG to assist in this process and to provide an independent review of this process going forward.

Background

Coillte began their Farm Partnership Scheme in 1992.

It was designed so that farmers could have an annual income from their woodlands over a 40 year period.

Even though there are 690 partnerships theres 35 different types of contracts.

The land owner would continue to retain ownership of the land. Coillte paid an advance payment at the start of the scheme.

Now farmers are looking into contracts and see what exactly they have signed up to.

The Forest Service Premium is over and in many cases the devil is in the detail. The timber industry has moved on and improvements in land type and breeding mean trees are growing quicker and better. Rotation lengths are not as long as before. Crops are approaching clear fell from year 28.
UPDATE: Officials say threats were not found to be credible
SENATE President Ralph Recto on Tuesday said the countrys deficit in ships is not only with the Philippine Navy, but also in civilian activities such as the Coast Guard patrol, calamity response, and tapping Manilas main waterway as an alternative to its car-choked streets. If we can buy P18 billion worth of ships, we can afford Philippine-made Pasig River ferry boats, hospital ships, and coastal patrols, said Recto. For a fraction of the price tag of two Navy frigates, the senator said the country can buy locally-made ferry boats for the Pasig River, floating hospitals, environmental patrol boats, and other ships needed by a disaster-prone archipelago where half of the towns lie along the coast. If we were able to find the means to buy our Navy more ships, then we should also be that resourceful in meeting the needs of other agencies for more floating assets, Recto said. In acquiring these ships, he said the government can buy Filipino by tapping the vibrant shipbuilding industry in President Dutertes home province of Cebu, as well as Navotas and Subic, where the Chief Executive last month led the launch of a half-kilometer-long megaship that can carry 20,950 40-foot container vans. The Senate leader also cited the two Navotas-made research ships commissioned by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resourcesthe Lapu-Lapu and Francisco Dagohoywhich have been on research and enforcement patrol since their launch two years ago. Each costs just P250 million. This is equivalent to our downpayment in the Dalian trains of the MRT that cannot be used, Recto said. Recto said the Philippines has been recognized as the fourth largest shipbuilder in the world. If other nations find our ships exceptional, then we should, too, he said. Local shipbuilders can also build the countrys humanitarian fleet, the senator added.We need a hospital ship. Even a small one. Or two all-purpose mercy ships, which can be used as floating headquarters when all land structures have been destroyed. We are an archipelago. And when theres a typhoon and the roads are destroyed, the only way to reach the victims is by sea, he said. And if it is just a ship for coastal or river patrol, then our local shipyards [can] make them. The weaponry can come from abroad, but the boat can be built here. How can we keep our rivers and seas clean when our ecological police cannot set out to sea for lack of boats? he said. Recto said government should also reach out to local shipbuilders in optimizing the unused resource that is the Pasig River in solving Manilas traffic. One of the solutions, Recto said, is that body of water in between the Presidents office in Malacanang and the Presidents bedroom in Bahay Pangarap. He can see and smell the solution. Recto also said the cost of reviving Pasig River as a people mover is less compared to the expensive land-based solutions like trains and elevated expressways. This nautical highway is wider than the widest road. It is toll-free, ready to use, and doesnt have right-of-way issues. Unlike roads, its rehabilitation wont cause traffic jams. The missing link are the boats, and that can be supplied by domestic shipbuilders, Recto said. Before the 10-boat Pasig River ferry service stopped operating in 2011, it served 17 stations along a 15-kilometer route from Plaza Mexico in Intramuros, Manila to Nagpayong in Pasig City.
Posted Tuesday, February 20, 2018 4:45 am

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is looking for organizations throughout the state to help feed thousands of children who would otherwise go without meals during the summer months when school is not in session.

The Summer Food Service Program reimburses organizations for meals they serve to children who are at risk of not having enough to eat. The program is only one of the ways Missouri is working to fight childhood hunger.

Preventing food insecurity in children is an important step in improving the health of Missourians, said Dr. Randall Williams, DHSS director. Without the assistance of organizations across the state, many of Missouris children would go hungry during the summer months. Thank you to all organizations who have participated in the past, and thank you to any organization considering participating this summer. DHSS would be happy to answer any questions an organization may have as they consider participating in this program.

The summer food program provides nutritious meals to children under age 18 during the summer months when school breakfast and lunch programs are not operating.

Organizations eligible to participate in the program include schools, faith-based organizations, camps, private nonprofit agencies and local government entities. The sites are required to be located in areas where at least half of the children are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals.

The federally funded program is administered by DHSS. The department will accept applications March 1 through May 15 to participate in the program. Organizations interested in becoming sponsors are required to attend training.

More information about the Summer Food Service Program is available online at www.health.mo.gov/sfsp, by telephone at 888-435-1464 (toll-free) or through RELAY MISSOURI for the Hearing and Speech Impaired by dialing 711 or 1-800-676-3777. Potential sponsors may also write to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Summer Food Service Program, P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, MO 65102.
Posted Tuesday, February 20, 2018 6:45 am

Farmers need more research showing cover crops increase yields, reduce erosion and add nutrients back to the soil in corn-soybean rotation before they adopt the practice, according to University of Missouri researcher Ranjith Udawatta.

Few farmers in the Corn Belt, especially Missouri, have adopted the practice, said Udawatta, a research professor in soil, environmental and atmospheric sciences. He hopes his research and that of others encourages policymakers to consider cost-share programs with incentives to adopt the use of cover crops.

Udawatta and other researchers, including MU Extension agronomist Dhruba Dhakal, conducted a four-year study at a soil health demonstration farm in Chariton County in cooperation with the Chariton County Soil and Water Conservation District, Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The researchers used legume and non-legume cover crops on wheat-corn-soybean and corn-soybean rotations on claypan soils. They compared input costs and yields to analyze benefits.

Udawattas study included 2012 and 2013, which were marked by drought and poor growing conditions. In 2014, fields planted with cover crops showed an average 8-percent increase in corn yields compared to similar test fields not planted with cover crops. This resulted in a 30 percent increase in revenue per acre. However, a 37-percent increase in cost per acre offset that revenue. As a result, profits went down 33 percent.

In the next year, revenues and yields went up and researchers reduced input costs. Udawatta believes that revenues increase and costs decrease over time through use of cover crops.

Use of cover crops is important in Missouri, where row crop farming lacks diversity, Udawatta said. Farmers devote most of their acres to soybean, corn and wheat. The lack of diversity reduces soil productivity and increases pest and disease pressure. It also reduces weed control.

Most nutrient loss occurs when soils lie bare after harvest. Cover crops benefit the soil during fallow periods by adding nutrients and reducing erosion, Udawatta said.

Farmers acceptance of cover crops depends upon proven economic returns, he said. In a 2007 survey, more than half of the surveyed farmers said they would plant cover crops if a cost-sharing program were available.

Udawatta points to a 2013-14 cover crop survey conducted by USDAs Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and the Conservation Technology Information Center. The SARE survey reported data from more than 2,000 farmers. It showed that cover crops significantly increase yields in the first year of use. Yield increases for corn were 6.35 percent and soybean yields increased 7.95 percent.

Other members of the research team include Zhen Cai, Clark J. Gantzer, Shibu Jose and Larry Godsey. The study is through MUs Center for Agroforestry, MU School of Natural Resources and Missouri Valley College Agri-Business.
A local commercial flight belonging to Aseman Airlines crashed Sunday with 65 passengers and crew members onboard. The plane was on its way from capital Tehran to the Southern city of Yasuj.

The plane crashed near its destination, in Zagros mountains near the city of Semirom, in neighboring Isfahan province, reports say.

Civil aviation authorities first put the number of those on board at 66 (60 passengers and six crew members). They backtracked after noting that one passenger missed his flight.

Authorities have not been able to establish the causes of the crash but reports say bad weather conditions might have led to the accident. The alleged crash scene was covered with heavy fog.

The aircraft, aged over 20 years, was phased out seven years ago following a technical problem. It had been returned to the airlines fleet after undergoing repairs, according to press reports.

Iranian airlines have been unable to renew their fleet under the US and international sanctions, which prevented the Islamic Republic from purchasing new aircrafts. The 2015 nuclear accord signed with world powers gave Iran go-ahead to place new orders.

US-based Boeing and France-based Airbus have received orders to supply hundreds of planes.
Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani denounced the blockade imposed by three Gulf neighbors (Saudi arabia, UAE and Bahrain) in addition to Egypt as futile and voiced confidence in his countrys ability to ward off the ramifications of such an embargo.

It has been a futile crisis manufactured by our neighbors, some of whom are major regional players, once believed to be stabilizing factors on the world stage, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said in a speech at the Munich Security Conference in Germany.

By defusing the impact of the illegal and aggressive measures imposed on our people, Qatar has preserved its sovereignty, Sheikh Tamim said.

The Qatari ruler also called for more cooperation and agreement between Arab states, and said nations in the Middle East should promote a flow of humanitarian aid between the region, access to religious sites for all faiths and the prevention of desecration of historic and religious sites.

Sheikh Tamim insisted for a comprehensive security settlement in the Middle East, saying the region must be brought back from the brink of disaster.

The Middle East is at the brink it is time to bring it back. All of us here, especially those who enjoy more power and wealth, have a responsibility to solve the conflict. The Middle East will need help, from the larger international community, to succeed in such a mission.
New Delhi, February 20: The government on Tuesday approved a Rs 1,384 crore tunnel project in Uttarakhand as part of Char Dham project to connect the pilgrimage places- Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri. As the government gave its nod for the construction of 4.531 km long 2-Lane Bi-Directional Silkyara Bend - Barkot Tunnel, the travel distance from Dharasu to Yamunotri by about 20 km and travel time by about an hour.

The Char Dham are the names of four pilgrimage sites in India that are widely revered by Hindus. The decision was taken at a CCEA (Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Cabinets approval also includes escape passage including approaches on Dharasu-Yamunotri section between Chainage 25.400 Km. and Chainage 51.000 Km in Uttarakhand.

The CCEAhas given approval to the construction of 4.5 km long 2-lane bi-directional Silkyara Bend- Barkot Tunnel with escape passage including approaches on Dharasu-Yamunotri section between Chainage 25.4 km and Chainage 51 km in Uttarakhand, road, transport and highways ministry said in a statement.

About the Silkyara Bend - Barkot Tunnel:

The construction of the tunnel is expected to be completed in four years It is believed to provide all weather connectivity to Yamunotri, encouraging regional socio-economic development, trade and tourism in the country, it said. The total project cost is Rs 1,383.78 crore, which is inclusive of the cost towards Land Acquisition & Rehabilitation and other pre-construction activities as well as maintenance and operation cost of tunnel for 4 years. The civil construction cost of the project is estimated at Rs 1,119.69 crore. The project will also save a number of trees that would have been removed in the road improvement of 25.6 km, had the original alignment been followed, it said.

As per details, the project will be implemented by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), through NHIDCL. The project falls along NH-134 (old NH-94) in Uttarakhand and will be built under Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Mode. This is funded under NH (O) Scheme of Ministry of RT&H and forms part of ambitious Chardham Plan.

The number of pilgrims for the annual Char Dham Yatra significantly increased in 2017. Post the 2013 flash floods that killed thousands, the pilgrimage had evoked lukewarm response over the past few years. The other two shrines, Yamunotri and Gangotri also witnessed a large turnout. As per IANS report, over 60,000 pilgrims have visited Yamunotri, while more than 71,000 visited Gangotri in a fortnight.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 20, 2018 04:48 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Damascus, Feb 20: Over 100 civilians were killed in the deadly military campaign launched by the regime forces in the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta. In the blitzkrieg unleashed since Sunday, more than 260 barrel bombs have been dropped in the region by forces affiliated to embattled President Bashar-al-Assad.

According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory For Human Rights, at least 30 among the deceased civilians are children. It further claimed that at least 300 others are injured in the "vicious military campaign" apart from those killed.

Despite United Nations appealing the regime forces to stop the bombardment on Monday, calling it "senseless human suffering", the Syrian Army continued launching strikes today. Reports also claimed that a medical facility was also targeted in the air-raids, which increased the casualties.

The Eastern Ghouta region -- the last rebel-controlled part of Syria -- is administered by two Islamist factions and one jihadi outfit, reportedly affiliated to the Al-Nusra Front.

According to the Syrian Observatory in Britain, the airstrikes by Assad forces will pave way for a ground-based military intervention. Although the operation may allow Assad to exterminate the jihadists from Eastern Ghouta, it will also result into unprecedented civilian casualties, said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman.

Meanwhile, the prime political opposition to Assad in Syria - National Coalition (now based in Turkey) - has slammed the international community for its "deafening silence". It has also demanded Russia to take "corrective measures" and back away from the "massacre being perpetrated by Assad against his own people".

The Union of Medical and Relief Organisations (UOSSM), which runs over dozens of hospital facilities in rebel-administered parts of Syria, said the military campaign of Assad is "not a war, but a humanitarian catastrophe". The group claims over 500 civilians have been killed in Eastern Ghouta region in the past two weeks.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 20, 2018 04:26 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Development: On 18 December, 18 people were taken hostage during a prison riot at the Milton Dias penitentiary in Baixada Fluminense region, Rio de Janeiro state.

Significance: This is part of a series of violent prison uprisings in various parts of Brazil. It comes days after President Michel Temer ordered the military to take control of police operations in Rio de Janeiro. He said organised crime had taken over there and become a cancer, spreading across the country.

Local authorities managed to contain the unrest at Milton Dias in the early hours of Monday morning (19 February). The hostages (including eight guards and 10 inmates) were seized by rebels after authorities thwarted a planned prison break. The hostages were eventually freed following hours of negotiations.

During the unrest, three prisoners were shot and have since been taken to a local hospital. Local authorities sent for reinforcements, including members of the special battalions unit BOPE and the shock battalion (BPChoque).

Like many Brazilian prisons, Milton Dias is overcapacity, with 2,027 prisoners crammed in an enclosure built for 884. Footage from local media shows that the prison appears to be run by criminals, with some inmates given special privileges like access to mobile phones.

On the day of the riots, Brazils state prisons authority (Seap) was about to announce a new batch of penitentiary security measures for Rio de Janeiro. The details of these have not yet been publicly disclosed. But a representative from Seap told local daily G1 that 54 state prisons were on red alert to prevent more prison breaks.

Meanwhile, the federal government has sent a special task force (composed of federal police and members of the national forces) to the North-Eastern state of Ceara after a senior trafficker from Brazils biggest drugs-trafficking organisation, the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), was killed. This has sparked fear of further reprisals.

Looking Ahead: Following the incident in Rio de Janeiro, on 22 February representatives from the neighbouring states of Espirito Santo, Sao Paulo, and Minas Gerais will meet with Brazils justice minister Torquim Jardim to discuss ways to strengthen security in the south of Brazil and share intelligence between states.
President Rodrigo Duterte of Philippines will be visiting Kuwait early March at the invitation of the Kuwaiti ruler to defuse the diplomatic tension, which emerged over Manilas concerns about the situation of Filipino workers in the Gulf country.

Duterte accepted Emir Sheikh-Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabahs invitation and the visit could take place during the first or second week of March, Kuwait Times reported, quoting the Kuwaiti deputy foreign minister Khaled Al-Jarallah.

The meeting will be the first at the highest level between the two countries since President Dutert chided Kuwait for closing eyes on abuses that Filipino workers face in the Gulf country.

The tension further escalated this month after the Filipino leader ordered the repatriation of his countrymen following the emergence of photographs showing a Filipina dead in a freezer in an apartment in Kuwait.

Kuwait lambasted Manilas move to repatriate its nationals saying that the decision was useless and was intended to strain relations between the two countries.

Speaking to reporters following a session of the foreign relations panel of the National Assembly, Al-Jarallah noted that an agreement to regulate the affairs of Filipino workers in Kuwait will be signed during President Dutertes trip.

He said a committee composed of both countries has reviewed the agreement proposed by Manila.

Manila in January imposed a ban on travels by Filipinos to the Gulf countries arguing that it was protecting its nationals from mistreatment and abuses.

Kuwait rejected the accusation though acknowledging that there were few cases of abuse.
"We are doing [the UX]. It's not so far away," Yoshihiro Sawa, Lexus' executive vice president, said last year.

The UX is an important model because it will steer Lexus into an expanding segment that it has never competed in before. However, Sawa explained it's not just looking to satisfy its dealers by launching more crossovers. Cars like the UX are needed in order to lure younger buyers into the company's showrooms.

"Except IS and CT, Lexus owners are aged," he explained, adding the company wants to become more youth-focused.

We'll see the first-ever Lexus UX in the metal on March 6th, the Geneva show's opening day. We're not sure whether the model will make the trip across the pond due to its relatively small size; rival Acura keeps its entry-level crossover, the CDX, out of America. If Lexus decides to sell it here, keep an eye out for the U.S.-spec model at this year's edition of the New York Auto Show.

The hatchback blues

The UX's imminent arrival could spell the end of the CT. Lexus dropped the model in the United States last year but it carries on with minor updates in other markets. Developing a successor on Toyota's modular platform is possible, but the CT's problem is a global one.

As a four-door hatchback, it should appeal to buyers in Europe. The problem is that Lexus suffers from a near-complete lack of an image across the pond. Rivals like the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, the BMW 1 Series and the Audi A3 outsell the CT by a substantial margin. Buyers in Lexus' biggest markets, America and China, have traditionally shunned hatchbacks in favor of crossovers.

In that light, it's difficult for decision-makers to put together a business case for a next-generation CT. It's also easy for them to justify adding another crossover to the Lexus catalog.
Enterprise Ireland will hold a Brexit Advisory Clinic in Portlaoise this Thursday, February 22.

The clinic will support companies affected by Brexit in Laois and the surrounding areas. It aims to strengthen their capabilities in financial and currency management, strategic sourcing, and customs, transport and logistics.

This full-day event is free to attend. Companies can speak one-to-one with independent experts.

The event will conclude with a panel discussion with local business leaders who will share best practice tips in the three key areas, and the actions they have taken as a response to Brexit.

It takes place at 8am in the Killeshin Hotel in Portlaoise, run by Anne Lanigan, Brexit Unit manager, Enterprise Ireland.

In her visit to Laois last week, Julie Sinnamon, CEO of Enterprise Ireland outlined their supports.

"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 the 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 Laois companies work with Enterprise Ireland.

Ms Sinnamon with IDA Ireland had met the Laois County Council CEO and Laois TDs to discuss driving entrepreneurship, and building client companies in Laois.

EI backed companies in Laois that 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," the CEO said.

See www.prepareforbrexit.ie
A blast of weather all the way from Siberia in Russia could be set to hit Ireland over the coming days according to the latest Irish and UK forecast as Spring sunshine is replaced by a sub-zero eastern weather front.

Met Eireann says it will be dry settled but cold for the remainder of the weekend but a return to winter is its forecast. It is possible that the weather front that will keep weather settled until the weekend could end up pushing very cold Siberian weather east.

While the details of further outlook remain uncertain, Met Eireann cautioning at the moment that it looks like it will be a cold regime for early days of next week with easterly winds, and frosty nights with sub zero temperatures.

Snow is also possible with the a risk of some wintry showers in some eastern and southern coastal counties and some may be of snow, but mainly dry elsewhere.

WEEKLY FORECAST FROM MET EIREANN ON RTE

The Met Office in the UK is also monitoring the situation. It says weather could potentially make a 'dramatic few days'. It warns that very cold weather could hit Ireland on Britain on Monday.
The number of people forced onto trollies at Portlaoise and other hospitals in Dublin, Kildare and Offaly has fallen slightly but hospitals remain overwhelmed with almost 150 people waiting, according the latest figures from nurses.

Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) daily trolley and ward watch charts show that the number at the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise was 19 on Tuesday, February 20.

The Laois hospital is part of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group (DMHG). It also includes the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore where 49 patients were waiting for a bed after being needed of admission for care. Tullamore is the next port of call for patients who cannot be treated in Portlaoise. There were 51 people waiting in the A&E or wards in Tullamore on Monday.

Emergency Departments and wards at the other DMHG hospitals are also overcrowded. There are 33 patients waiting in Tallaght and 21 at St James' in Dublin. There were 25 patients waiting at Naas in Kildare.

There were 147 people waiting on Tuesday, down slightly on Monday, February 19 when a massive 159 were waiting.

Tullamore had the third worst trolley problem nationally on Tuesday behind hospitals Cork and Limerick.

A new record was set for people waiting for a bed on Monday when 643 were waiting according to INMO figures.

Tuesday was the third highest day on record for number of patients on hospitals.
Laois Fianna Fail TD Sean Fleming has slammed the National Development Plan as a disaster for Laois, while the county's Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley says it has been bypassed, with both concerned that Portlaoise hospital gets no mention.

Dep Fleming called it a major setback for Portlaoise and Laois. Portlaoise is mentioned in the plan just seven times, and three of those are about the same thing, the regeneration initiative, he said.

All other Portlaoise projects mentioned are already in the pipeline the Fianna Fail TD said.

There is nothing new of any significance, they mention the southern ring road but we all know that is ready to start long before this plan was published. The 40 bed mental health centre, construction has already commenced. The new courthouse is also long been mentioned, as is modernising part of Portlaoise prison, Dep Fleming said.

People in Laois wanted to see something for the future of Portlaoise hospital. Mullingar, Tullamore and Naas are all listed, but no mention of investment in Portlaoise. That is a major disaster from a Laois perspective, Dep Fleming said.

Making Athlone the key regional centre for the Midlands was a major setback for Portlaoise, Dep Fleming said.

Telling the IDA to concentrate in Athlone makes our job harder to get jobs to Laois, he said.

For rural Laois, he said there is nothing at all.

They say there will be money for rural development in Laois in years to come, but the biggest area mentioned is Portlaoise, and it is negative for Portlaoise and that has a knock-on effect. If they are not going to look after Portlaoise, they will certainly not going to look after the rest of the county, he said.

Meanwhile Dep Stanley said that Laois has been bypassed.

We support the idea of a 20 year plan, but it does seem a bit lobsided towards Dublin. Laois has been bypassed, he said.

We have to create employment where people are living. Stable employment for people closer to home, especially as we move away from fossil fuels. It is not sustainable to have a third of our workforce, 11,500 people, driving up the Dublin road every morning, Dep Stanley said.

A big disappointment is for Portlaoise hospital, this was an opportunity for the government to make a strategic plan. The case for Portlaoise is rock solid, based on usage, population growth and location, he said.

I am disappointed that the infrastructure plan is not bigger, while the national broadband plan is no further on.

He does welcome the new National Regeneration and Development Agency, to build houses on brownfield sites in towns.

If it works right, it will CPO land that had been sat on by developers. That is good because there are sites in all towns in Laois that could be developed for housing and business. Housing is a huge priority, he said.

The new road to be built in Portlaoise is already 90 percent built by Laois County Council, he said, with the courthouse passed since last year.

He is concerned about most of the investment going to develop Ireland's cities.

We cant have a country shaped like a doughnut, with nothing in the middle, he said.

Read what is planned for Laois
Marie Barry (nee Cahill)  Doneaney, Monasterevin

February 18 2018, (Peacefully at home). Wife of the late Michael and mother of the late Ronan. Much loved mother of Clifford, Fidelma and Fergal. Deeply regretted by her loving family , brothers, son-in-law, daughters-in-law, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, much adored grandchildren, extended family, neighbours and friends. Reposing at Our Lady's Chapel, Monasterevin from 6pm on Tuesday evening (February 20) until conclusion of prayers at 8pm. Removal on Wednesday morning (February 21), arriving at the Church of Our Lady of Victories, Kildangan for Requiem Mass at 11am. Burial afterwards in St. Brigid's Cemetery, Nurney.

Anastasia Burke  McDonnell Drive, Athy

February 18 2018, (peacefully), in the gentle care of the staff of Cloverlodge Nursing Home, Athy, after a long illness borne with enormous dignity and great humour. Deeply regretted by her brother Br. Liam (Naas), sister-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and loyal friends. Reposing at Cloverlodge Nursing Home, Athy from 5pm on Wednesday (February 21). Removal by Rigney's Funeral Directors at 6.30pm on Wednesday evening, arriving at St. Michael's Parish Church, Athy for 7pm. Requiem Mass at 11am on Thursday morning (February 22) followed by burial in St. Michael's New Cemetery, Athy.

Kathleen (Rosie) McGrath (nee Moore)  Campion Cresceny, Kildare Town

February 19 2018, Reposing at Mc Wey's Funeral Home, Abbey View, Kildare Town on Tuesday, February 20, from 4pm with Rosary there at 8pm. Removal on Wednesday (February 21) at 10.20am to the Carmelite Church, Kildare arriving for Mass at 11 o'clock. Burial afterwards in St. Conleth's Cemetery, Kildare.

Michael K Neylon  Naas

February 18, 2018, (peacefully, after a short illness bravely borne, in his 90th year), at home, Michael K, predeceased by his wife Rosemary; Sadly missed by his loving sons David and Michael, daughters Caroline and Vivienne, daughters-in-law Martina and Fionnuala, grandchildren Kevin, Katie and Mark, great-grandchildren Max and Isla, brother Fr. Matt, sister Mary (Aboud), sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended family and friends. Removal from his residence on Wednesday (February 21) to the Church of Our Lady and St. David, Sallins Road, Naas arriving for Requiem Mass at 10.00am. Funeral immediately afterwards to St. Corbans Cemetery, Naas. Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, to the Irish Cancer Society. House private on Wednesday morning please
A GoFundMe appeal to bring the remains of a man who died in an industrial incident at Kildare Chilling back to his native Moldova raised more than 7,000 in less than two days.

The tragic incident occured last Thursday afternoon, which resulted in the death of a young Moldovan man, 22-year-old Alexandru Coceban.

He was due to get his first pay cheque the day he died, a source who is familiar with the situation told the Leinster Leader.

Both the Health and Safety Authority and the Kildare Gardai were informed of the accident, which Gardai say occurred at approximately 2.40pm. They are investigating the circumstances surrounding it. It is understood that he came in contact with a fully loaded forklift.

The deceased man was newly arrived to Ireland a matter of weeks ago and was working at the plant just over a week. The GoFundMe appeal was established by his fellow Moldovans to raise 7,000 to repatriate his remains to his native country. And it exceeded that amount in less than two days with more than 250 contributors. The fundraising appeal has now been closed.

The appeal explained that Coceban was the eldest sibling in his family and had decided to come to Ireland to help his family get a better life.

Kildare Chilling Company was contacted by the Leinster Leader but has not taken the opportunity to comment on the tragedy.

Read more: UPDATED: Shock at Kildare Chilling Company as Gardai and HSA probe young man's death
A blast of weather all the way from Siberia in Russia could be set to hit Ireland next week, according to the latest Irish and UK forecasts as Spring sunshine is replaced by a sub-zero eastern weather front.

Met Eireann says it will be dry settled but cold for the remainder of the week but a return to winter is its forecast. It is possible that the weather front that will keep weather settled until the weekend could end up pushing very cold Siberian weather east.

While the details of further outlook remain uncertain, Met Eireann cautioning at the moment that it looks like it will be a cold regime for early days of next week with easterly winds, and frosty nights with sub zero temperatures.

Snow is also possible with the a risk of some wintry showers in some eastern and southern coastal counties and some may be of snow, but mainly dry elsewhere.

WEEKLY FORECAST FROM MET EIREANN ON RTE

The Met Office in the UK is also monitoring the situation. It says weather could potentially make a 'dramatic few days'. It warns that very cold weather could hit Ireland and Britain on Monday of next week.
Three police agents died Monday in clashes with members of the Gonabadi Dervishes sect, accused by authorities of disrupting order.

The clashes, according to online video footage, took place in the northern part of capital Tehran after members of the religious order gathered to demand release of some members of the sect.

The three police agents were killed by a bus which ploughed into a group of around 40 security forces.

Some disruptors of security and order used a bus today and killed three police officers. The murderers were arrested seconds after their crime, police spokesman Saeed Montazer al-Mahdi said on state television.

The bus attack also injured several other riot forces as well as pedestrians.

Media close to the sect announced that some of the demonstrators were arrested on the scene of the incident and even at hospital.
In case you had not noticed, the recovery of the property market is well on its way and in fact near full recovery in some areas of South Leitrim. Also new employment in both large and small businesses in Carrick on Shannon, Drumshambo, Ballinamore and Mohill has increased housing need for both rental properties and properties for sale.

REA Brady in Carrick on Shannon report that the enquiry counts to date in 2018 far exceeds any within the past 12 years and is back at levels not seen since 2006. They are keeping a database of their enquires, recording such information as, desired location, house type, price range and where they are in their buying process.

The good news for sellers is that more buyers are in a strong position to buy (with proof of funds in place) now than at any time in the past 12 years. On price range the greatest amount of buyers are in the 200,000 and under space but by the same token REA Brady have over 10 registered buyers for homes priced in excess of 250,000.



The profile of these buyers is varied. Most are coming from rented accommodation, either in this area or others. Many are coming back to this area to work. Most are over 30 years old and frequently at household formation stage. This is great news for South Leitrim and is another indication of the quality of life that we enjoy here and the appreciation that buyers have for this region.

REA Brady are looking for family homes (urban or rural) - 3, 4 and 5 bed in Ballinamore, Carrick on Shannon, Mohill & Drumshambo to introduce to these funded buyers. For more information call Celia Donohoe at (071) 9622444
Community and local development groups from across Leitrim attended a seminar on promoting social inclusion in communities on Wednesday, 7th February in Kilmovee, Co. Mayo.

Hosted by Pobal, who work on behalf of Government to support communities, the seminar was an opportunity for community groups to reflect on future challenges to address social exclusion and poverty in a local and regional context.

Over 80 representatives from community groups in Mayo, Galway, Roscommon, Sligo and Leitrim attended the seminar. Speakers included Jerry Murphy, Pobal Deputy CEO; Martina Earley, CEO of Roscommon LEADER Partnership Company; and Dr Chris McInerney, Department of Politics and Public Administration UL.

The seminar discussed the vital role the sector plays in enabling inclusive communities in a changed and diverse environment. Operating in an evolving regulatory landscape, the need to deepen capacity and governance within the sector emerged, with recognition of the support needed to achieve this aim. The importance of co-ordination within the sector, at local, regional and national level, to avoid duplication of effort and intervention is the responsibility of all those working in the sector.

Martina Earley spoke about the work of Roscommon LEADER Partnership Company in enabling social inclusion, citing examples of how they engage with different target groups and communities, supporting them as needs change locally.

Looking at the wider challenges for the state, Dr Chris McInerney of the Department of Politics and Administration in UL, discussed the need for active policies and resources to support community work and community development to achieve the ideal of inclusive communities.

Speaking at the event, Jerry Murphy Pobal Deputy CEO said, communities are at the centre of what Pobal was set up to do so we are delighted to be out meeting so many local groups through our Regional Seminar events. In 2016 we held a conference, Creating an Inclusive Labour Market and these regional events are a follow on to this, exploring the current context and experience of the community and voluntary sector in promoting social inclusion. I want to thank all those that attended our seminar in Mayo, it was fantastic to see so many community groups come together to share their knowledge and passion for the sector and the community in which they work so hard.

A number of Pobal Regional Seminars will take place over the coming months.
A murder accused has taken the stand in his defence and told his trial that he didn't mean to harm the deceased and regrets every day what he did.

Rihards Lavickis (25) of Annaly Court, Longford has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Akadiusz 'Arek' Czajkowski (31) at Rue Noyal Chatillon, Townspark in Longford on November 1, 2016. His plea was not accepted by the State and he is on trial at the Central Criminal Court.

He admits stabbing the deceased, but told his defence counsel John Shortt SC that he was stressed out, that he "lost it" and had a "kind of a blackout", only realising later on what he had done.

He said he is not the kind of person to stab anyone and that he felt as though his brain turned off.

Addressing Mr Czajkowski's family, he said he is "really sorry" and can't believe that his loss of control could have caused such serious harm. He said he had no anger towards Mr Czajkowski and will never forgive himself. He finished by saying that he regrets it every day.

Mr Lavickis will be cross examined by Patrick McGrath SC for the prosecution this afternoon, Tuesday, in front of the jury of six men and six women. Justice Una Ni Raifeartaigh is presiding.
After a 55 year absence from the stage Fenagh Drama Troupe has been reformed. Their motto is, Entertain! Entertain! Entertain!

So there will be mayhem on stage in Fenagh Community Centre on Friday, and Saturday, March 2 and 3 at 8:30pm when the newly formed Fenagh Drama Troupe perform the hilariously funny 3 Act Comedy play, The Maiden Aunt  by Jimmy Keary.

Years ago, Maiden Aunts (Spinsters) were known to come in two categories; the generous one, who lavished love and showered gifts on nieces and nephews.

Then there was the other category, the resentful maiden aunt, who resented everything in a life that passed her by. Mary Murphys (Sinead Conefrey) Maiden Aunt, Gertie (Doreen Honeyman) is of the latter category. Aunt Gertie is even more intolerable, because as a retired school teacher, she knows everything.

So when Mary Murphy learns that Aunt Gertie is getting out of hospital to stay with her, she rightly fears a calamity is about to fall on the household.

To make things worse Gertie despises Marys husband Dan (Peter Kilkenny). Dans feelings for Gertie are mutual. It doesnt help, also, that Marys music mad, irresponsible brother, John Paul (TP McLoughlin) is living with them and is frequently joined by his music side kick, equally mad Jarlath (Frank Smith). Then there is their farm worker, Francie Gilhooley (Seamus Mollaghan), poison to Aunt Gertie .

There wont be much welcome, also, for Marys friend Caroline (Nicola Kearns) and Paula (Claire Sharpley), when they arrive in the Murphy household.

The cast is full of talent. They and this really, really funny play, will have audiences rolling with laughter from the curtain rises until it falls.

When Fenagh Drama Group go on stage on Friday, March 2 and Saturday, March 3 memories of the wonderful Fenagh Drama Troupe productions of the 1940s , 50s and 60s will be rekindled. Many older people will recall great plays and actors, who were household names, not only in Fenagh , but also in the surrounding parishes , where Fenagh took their plays, annually in Lent.

It is appropriate, also, that the play is directed by Fenagh native, Andy Redican, well known for his acting and directing with Drumkeerin Drama Group .

Last year Andy directed the newly formed Kiltubrid Drama Groups phenomenally successful Widows Paradise in Drumcong.

Andy recalls many of the old Fenagh plays and actors, their stage exploits providing much fireside discussion in the run up to productions and after.

A show not to be missed.
A Leitrim aid worker is encouraging hard-working staff from all across the county to raise funds and awareness for work in the developing world by entering a draw that could see them win an extra days annual leave.

Duvet Day is being run by GOAL on March 9th in an effort to raise funds for the crisis in Syria and other major emergencies currently affecting millions of people around the globe.

Already, the event is set to take place in hundreds of companies and organisations throughout the country.

While all funds raised going towards GOALs work with some of the most vulnerable communities across their 13 countries of operation, the winner of each company draw will receive a day off work.

Eimear O'Neill from Dromahair, who works for GOAL in their head office in Dun Laoghaire, says it is the perfect way for employers to contribute towards their social responsibilities, while also ensuring that there is a very tangible reward for at least one member of staff.

As I work in GOAL, I know how critical this type of fundraising is to the work that we do every single day, She said.

I also know how hard my colleagues work to help deliver our many relief and development programmes all around the world. We will be holding a GOAL Duvet Day draw in head office here in Dun Laoghaire on March 9th and I would encourage staff from all over the county to encourage their employers to do the same. Sometimes we all need that extra day free from deadlines, stress and work!

To learn more about Duvet Day, and how to get involved visit goalglobal.org/duvetday or phone 01- 280 9779.
AGAINST all the odds, a northside community centre in Limerick left without power following a fire re-opened to the public just hours after the incident this Tuesday.

There was sadness in Kileely after a fire broke out following an electrical fault in St Munchins Community Centre on Monday night, with the manager of the facility Linda Ledger left inconsolable.

Twenty-two people were in the complex on Monday night when the blaze broke out in the centres beauty salon, leaving it without power.

But it was business as usual at the centre this Tuesday as electricians worked through the night to restore power, allowing 160 Meals on Wheels to be delivered, and lunch for 200 clients.

Linda thanked this newspaper, after late on Monday night, on our web site, we published news of the dreadful fire.

People saw your article and kept coming. People came from across the city to help us out. They worked through the night, she said. I was devastated at the fire. But it could have been so much worse. Now in the light of day, its not as bad as we first feared.

The beauty salon was completely destroyed by the blaze, and there is also material damage to the reception area.

Since the fire, a number of local companies have offered support, including Walsh Windows, Limerick City Build, the Coonagh branch of Tesco Ireland, and Irish Wire.

What needs to open is open, Linda added, We have turned my office into the beauty room.

Local Sinn Fein councillor John Costelloe was an eyewitness to the fire last night with his party colleague, Maurice Quinlivan.

He said: I saw the community at its best last night, all rallying around together. It could have been so much worse. We could have had casualties here. I have to compliment the staff. We wouldnt be sitting down here today having coffee were it not for them and their quick actions.

Kieran ONeill, the chairman of the centre, said there will be a fundraising drive in the coming weeks to try and recoup the thousands of euro damage caused.

He admitted he is loathe to claim this on the centres insurance, fearing an increase in his premium.

The beauty materials were very expensive. But you can replace these. What you cannot replace is lives, he said.

The most important thing is everyone is safe.
About 224 million people are suffering from malnutrition in Africa as effects of climate change and conflicts bite, the United Nations warned on Monday.

According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the situation is a cause of concern as the continents population was expected to reach 1.7 billion by 2030.

The rise in malnutrition and food insecurity was related to climate changes and natural disasters, Bukar Tijani, FAOs Assistant Director General for Africa said in Khartoum.

Khartoum is hosting a five-day conference on efforts to eradicate hunger and food insecurity in Africa.

conflicts in Somalia, South Sudan and the Central African Republic (CAR) further exacerbated food insecurity, Bukar tijani said.

Last month, UN chief Antonio Guterres who was attending the 30th African Union summit in Ethiopia said hunger cases are twice higher in conflict affected countries.

According to him, majority of under-nourished people in Africa live in countries affected by conflict.

He also urged stronger commitment from African governments, the AU, and the UN to promote peace and human rights in a bid to eradicate poverty and hunger.
THE Limerick-based exhibition of visual art EVA International has announced that it is running a programme that will see contemporary art curators work with children in schools.

I Sing the Body Electric, an artists in schools programme directed by Jennie Guy, will explore ideas of electricity, power and nationhood, some of the key themes of the upcoming 2018 edition of EVA International.

It will give students from three West Limerick National Schools a first-hand, behind-the-scenes understanding of the role of the curator, working with artist Clare Breen and curators Maeve Mulrennan and Orlaith Treacy.

The project is part of Guys Art School and she said she loved that idea of a discussion on contemporary art with students who could become the next generation of artists and curators in twenty years time.

The 38th edition of the biennial will feature 56 participating artists, taking place across various venues in Limerick.

Those participating include Oscar winning movie director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu.

The exhibition of visual art will open to the public on Saturday, April 14.

See www.eva.ie for more details.
Parts of a 2,600-year-old statue engraved with an Egyptian hieroglyphic inscription were discovered recently at the site of Dangeil in Sudan.

Remains of a 2,600-year-old statue with an inscription written in Egyptian hieroglyphics has been discovered in a temple at Dangeil, an archaeological site along the Nile River in Sudan.

Found in an ancient temple dedicated to the Egyptian god Amun, the statue depicts Aspelta, who was the ruler of the Kush kingdom between 593 B.C. and 568 B.C. Some of Aspelta's predecessors had ruled Egypt, located to the north of Kush. Though Aspelta didn't control Egypt, the inscription says (in translation) that he was "King of Upper and Lower Egypt" and was "Beloved of Re'-Harakhty" (a form of the Egyptian sun god "Re") and that Aspelta was "given all life, stability and dominion forever."

"Being 'Beloved of a god' confers legitimacy on a ruler," wrote archaeologists Julie Anderson, Rihab Khidir el-Rasheed and Mahmoud Suliman Bashir, who co-direct excavations at Dangeil, in an article published recently in the journal Sudan and Nubia. The "Kushite kings were closely tied to Re," they noted. [See Photos of the Newfound Statue with Hieroglyphics]

While Kush lost control of Egypt during the reign of a king named Tanwetamani (reign circa 664653 B.C.), his successors, including Aspelta, still called themselves "King of Upper and Lower Egypt," Anderson, an assistant keeper at the British Museum, told Live Science. The title "may be viewed as general assertions of authority using the traditional titles, and not a claim to Egypt," Anderson said.

Putting Aspelta back together

In 2008, archaeologists found parts of the Aspelta statue, including the head, along with statues depicting two other Kushite kings  Taharqa (reign ca. 690664 B.C.) and Senkamanisken (reign ca. 643-623 B.C.).

The statue parts were found in a temple (main gate shown here) dedicated to the god Amun. (Image credit: M. Tohami/ Berber-Abidiya Archaeological Project)

However, those Aspelta statue parts held little of the hieroglyphic inscription, preventing archaeologists from firmly identifying the statue as depicting Aspelta. It wasn't until new pieces of the statue that had the hieroglyphic inscription were discovered during fieldwork in 2016 and 2017 that archaeologists could identify the statue and begin the process of putting it back together.

Archaeologists won't know the statue's exact dimensions until more reconstruction work is done, but, based on what they have so far, they estimate that the statue of Aspelta is "approximately half life-size."

Amun temple

The Amun temple, where the statues of Aspelta, Taharqa and Senkamanisken were discovered, dates back at least 2,000 years. The statues were likely constructed during the lifetimes of their respective kings and were displayed long after those kings died, Anderson said.

"Statues might be displayed in temples, particularly the forecourts of temples, after the reigns of the kings, as they may have served as intermediaries between the people and the gods in popular religion," Anderson told Live Science.

People used the Amun Temple until the late third to early fourth century, when the temple ceased to function. The kingdom of Kush also collapsed during the fourth century.

Later burials

Between the late 11th and early 13th centuries, long after the Amun temple had fallen into ruin, people were digging graves in the ruined temple, archaeologists found.

Eight tombs excavated during the 2016 and 2017 field seasons contained the remains of several adult women and at least one juvenile. Inside those tombs, the researchers found a trove of jewelry, including necklaces, beaded belts, rings, bracelets and anklets. Altogether, the eight tombs held about 18,500 beads and more than 70 copper bracelets, she noted, adding that it dates back to a time when Christianity was widely practiced in the area.

The vast amount of jewelry "suggest this is an elite group" Anderson said, but archaeologists aren't sure about who these people were.

The excavations at Dangeil are a mission of the National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums (NCAM), Sudan. The mission is sponsored by the Qatar-Sudan Archaeological Project. Mahmoud Suliman Bashir and Rihab Khidir el-Rasheed are both archaeologists with NCAM.

Originally published on Live Science.
An ancient theater (though not the one in the study) in the city of Hierapolis, located in Pamukkale, Turkey.

In ancient Rome, castrated priests sacrificed animals in a theater that housed a cave to the underworld, also known as the "Gate to Hell." But the priests didn't use knives or other human-made weapons to kill the beasts; rather, the victims suffocated on a deadly gas seeping from the cave, a new study finds.

To ancient onlookers who didn't know the origins of the deadly gas  volcanic carbon dioxide (CO2)  the entire act likely looked supernatural, the researchers said.

"More than 2,000 years ago, these phenomena could not be explained scientifically, but only by the imagination of supernatural forces from Hadean depths or well-meaning gods," the researchers wrote in the study. [Photos: The Secret Passageways of Hadrian's Villa]

Scientists with the Italian Archaeological Mission excavated the Gate to Hell during an archaeological dig between 2011 and 2013, in southwestern Turkey's ancient city of Hierapolis. The archaeologists recognized the ruins as a Plutonium, a sanctuary of the gods of the underworld  Pluto and Kore. (In ancient Greece, these gods were known as Hades and Persephone.). The cave, or grotto, sat below the theater.

The Plutonium and a famous Apollo temple in the region are located on top of a fault line that emits deadly levels of CO2. It's possible that ancient herders learned about these toxic CO2 vapors when their animals got ill or died after venturing too close to the vents. This would have prompted priests to build temples and sanctuaries on top of these mysterious spots, said study lead researcher Hardy Pfanz, a volcano biologist at the University of Duisburg-Essen, in Germany.

Sites that release high levels of CO2 are called mofettes. And the mofette in Turkey is hardly the only one used by ancient priests, he said.

"The ancient gates to hell (which we are studying in southern Italy, western Turkey and Greece) are sometimes located directly on CO2-emitting mofette sites," Pfanz told Live Science in an email.

But ancient people likely didn't know it was CO2 that enabled the priests to sacrifice the animals. Instead, as ancient writings by philosophers Strabo and Plinius indicate, people thought the breath from Pluto's hound Kerberos (the multiheaded dog that guards the gates to the underworld in Greek mythology) caused the strange, deadly vapors.

"As the three-headed hell-hound Kerberos is guarding the entrance to Hades, this makes sense: Kerberos was thought to have an extremely toxic and life-threatening breath," Pfanz said.

This 2013 photo (A) shows the stone seats where spectators sat in the Plutonium. Notice the antechamber (blue arrow) of the grotto (white arrow), as well as hole (red arrow) where the deadly gas escaped. The bottom photo (B) shows the Plutonium in 2014, after archaeologists finished the excavations. (Image credit: Pfanz, H. et al/Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences)

70 dead beetles

The researchers used a portable gas analyzer system to study the CO2 levels at the Plutonium. But even without the equipment, the dead animals in the grotto signaled the deadliness of the gas.

"The great number of corpses of insects and birds corroborated the existence of a deadly CO2 gas lake in front of the grotto," the researchers wrote in the study. "On our first day, two dead birds and more than 70 dead beetles were found asphyxiated at the floor."

Moreover, the researchers heard "locals report on dead mice, cats, weasels and even asphyxiated foxes," they wrote. Usually, these deaths happened during the dark evening and morning hours, they noted.

That's because the grotto had an actual CO2 lake, and the lake's gas levels change over the course of each day. "[The gas] was high in the early morning hours, was destroyed by the infrared of the sunlight, and thus very low during bright days, and increased again in the evening hours (around sunset)," Pfanz said. "Sacrificing bulls and goats must therefore have been carried out only in the morning or evening hours (or on cloudy days)." [Photos: Gladiators of the Roman Empire]

Priestly secret

The priests likely knew another secret: The deadly vapors only reached so high. While a beast would expire in the grotto within minutes, the priest could stand on a tall stone, allowing him to breathe far enough away from the source of the deadly gas, the researchers found.

"At this height, they could stand for 20 to 40 minutes without being endangered," Pfanz said.

But the priests weren't entirely out of danger. The CO2 concentrations were well above 60 percent to 80 percent at both the Apollo temple and the Plutonium, and humans can get dizzy at CO2 concentrations between 5 percent and 8 percent, Pfanz said. At higher concentrations, humans can asphyxiate, he said.

Audience members, however, were likely safe. The CO2 lake never got higher than about 5 feet (1.5 meters). Moreover, CO2 is heavier than air, so it stayed at the bottom of the grotto.

"From the seating rows (for hundreds of pilgrims), one could see the things happening down in the arena without being endangered," Pfanz said. "The pilgrims threw small birds into the gas lake and watched how they died."

The study was published online Feb. 12 in the journal Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences.

Original article on Live Science.
The loneliest tree in the world records the signature of humans' impact on planet Earth.

A single Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) that stands on remote Campbell Island, in New Zealand, holds within its heartwood the record of radiocarbon fallout from the aboveground nuclear testing that began in 1945. Shrubby plants on the island also retain this record, making it a truly global signal of human activity, researchers reported Feb. 19 in the journal Scientific Reports.

As such, the radiocarbon signature could be used to mark the start of a new geological epoch, the still-controversial "Anthropocene." Proponents of using this epoch argue that humans have had such a massive impact on the globe that their reign represents a clean break in history, much in the way the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs marked the end of the Cretaceous and the beginning of the Paleogene. [Wipe Out: History's Most Mysterious Extinctions]

Dividing line

The schism between the Cretaceous and the Paleogene periods shows up in the geologic record as a peak in the element iridium, which was likely caused by an enormous, iridium-rich asteroid hitting the planet. To define the Anthropocene as a real epoch, scientists need a similar bright line in the geologic record. Over the years, researchers have proposed numerous possibilities for this bright line, from an odd increase in greenhouse gases about 8,000 years ago, coinciding with human deforestation and the beginning of rice cultivation, to the rise in carbon in the atmosphere that started in the mid-1800s with the Industrial Revolution.

Another potential marker of the Anthropocene could be the huge boom in population and global activity that followed World War II, Chris Turney, a professor of Earth Science and Climate Change at the University of New South Wales, and his colleagues wrote. But this "Great Acceleration," as it is known, hit different parts of the world at different times, so it's not easy to find a global geological signal for when it began. Now, Turney and his team think the echoes of aboveground nuclear testing could be the answer.

Lone tree

The researchers turned to Campbell Island because the place is so remote that if something shows up there, it's likely to show up everywhere. The single tree on the island, a sprawling Sitka spruce, is non-native. It was planted in 1907 by Lord Ranfurly, the former governor of New Zealand, and it stood 30.3 feet (9.25 meters) tall as of 2011, a lone sentinel more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) from the nearest tree. [Nature's Giants: Photos of the Tallest Trees on Earth]

Turney and his team tested a slim core drilled from the spruce for carbon-14, a radioactive isotope of carbon sent hurtling into the stratosphere by aboveground nuclear testing. Researchers already knew that levels of carbon-14 peaked in the 1960s and decreased later, as international treaties restricted nuclear testing.

Plants take up carbon as they photosynthesize and grow, so this atmospheric peak appeared in the Sitka's cellulose. According to the researchers' measurements, atmospheric carbon-14 peaked between October and December 1965.

The native plants of Campbell Island told a similar tale. The researchers tested two long-living, broom-like shrubs, Dracophyllum scoparium and Dracophyllum longifolium, some of which date back to the late 1800s and tower up to 16 feet (5 m) over the landscape. These plants also recorded a rise in atmospheric radiocarbon, starting in 1954 and peaking in the 1965 to 1966 growing season. Similar levels have been discovered in Southern Hemisphere soils, Turney and his colleagues wrote.

Discovering these radiocarbon markers in some of the most remote plants in the world indicates that carbon-14 is a truly global marker, the researchers wrote, especially because most nuclear tests occurred in the Northern Hemisphere, and Campbell Island is very, very far south. Carbon-14 has a half-life of nearly 6,000 years, meaning the amount present decays by half approximately every 6,000 years, so the peak will be measurable for tens of thousands of years into the future, they added. Other radioactive materials with even longer persistence can be found in soils and marine sediments, so theoretical geologists millions of years into the future will still be able to measure the moment everything changed.

Original article on Live Science.
Health officials are again warning Americans not to consume kratom, but this time it's not the effects of the supplement that are concerning, but instead, that the substance could be contaminated with Salmonella.

Today (Feb. 20), the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a new outbreak of Salmonella tied to kratom. So far, the outbreak has sickened 28 people, ages 6 to 67, in 20 states. Of these, 11 people were hospitalized, the CDC said. (Earlier this month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration [FDA] urged consumers not to use kratom based on the agency's findings that the supplement contained opioid compounds.)

When patients were interviewed about what they ate in the months before becoming ill, eight of 11 patients (73 percent) said they had consumed kratom pills, powders or teas, according to the CDC. However, health officials have not yet identified a specific brand or supplier of kratom supplements tied to the outbreak.

"Because no common source of Salmonella-contaminated kratom has been identified, CDC is recommending against consuming any kratom," the agency said. [Top 7 Germs in Food that Make You Sick]

Kratom, also known as Mitragyna speciosa, is a plant that grows in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, according to the FDA. Herbal products containing kratom are gaining popularity in the U.S.  people report taking these products to treat pain, anxiety or depression, as well as symptoms of opioid withdrawal.

A Salmonella outbreak tied to herbal supplements is "not a huge surprise," said Benjamin Chapman, an associate professor and food safety specialist at North Carolina State University.

That's because, when Salmonella bacteria are subjected to hot, dry temperatures  as they would be if plants are dried during the supplement-making process  the microbes actually enter a state where they become preserved, Chapman said.

"A dry heat actually makes it more persistent in a food or ingredient," Chapman told Live Science. In this state, it could stay in a food or supplement "for a long, long time  years," he added.

The Salmonella bacteria could have been on the plant itself, or in the irrigation water used on the plants, Chapman said. It's also possible that the supplements became contaminated with Salmonella somewhere during the manufacturing process, he said. (Salmonella bacteria typically live in animal and human intestines, and get into the environment through fecal matter, according to the Mayo Clinic.)

Symptoms of Salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps that occur between 12 and 72 hours after infection, according to the CDC. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment. But in some cases, the diarrhea can be so severe that person needs to be hospitalized. Severe Salmonella infections are most likely to occur in young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.

The investigation of the new Salmonella outbreak is ongoing, and recommendations from the CDC could change as more information becomes available.

On Feb. 6, the FDA reported that the kratom products have been linked with 44 deaths; these deaths, however, often involved other substances besides kratom.

Original article on Live Science.
Whale watchers cruising off the coast of Hawaii came across something that looked like a giant, used tissue floating in the water this month. But you wouldn't want to blow your nose into this wet blob  according to the Pacific Whale Foundation, the goopy mass of floating white matter was a placenta, likely belonging to a humpback whale.

That's a big deal, according to the foundation, because although scientists have long assumed that humpbacks travel to Hawaiian waters to give birth, no such birth has ever been definitively documented. (Whale Trust, another Hawaiian conservation and research group, confirms that claim.)

It's not entirely clear where or when the foundation's boat, called Ocean Journey, came across the placenta. The organization said the time, place and circumstances "surrounding the discovery are still being determined," but in a Facebook post, the group later suggested the discovery happened on the first whalewatch of the day on Saturday  apparently referring to Feb. 10. [In Photos: Tracking Humpback Whales]

"Humpback whale placenta would perhaps be the next best evidence of the birthing process taking place," aside from documenting an actual birth, Pacific Whale Foundation representatives wrote. "Scientists infer that the placenta is easily dislodged after the calf is born, and then simply floats away," they added.

Rosie Williams, a whale researcher and doctoral student at the National Environment Research Council Doctoral Training Partnership in London, said the find is entirely credible based on researchers' understanding of humpback migration patterns.

However, this isn't the first time a whale placenta has been found in Hawaiian waters, she noted in an email to Live Science.

A similar large mass turned up near Hawaii back in 1994 and was confirmed, using hormone analysis, to be a humpback whale placenta. (What's more, the mass was found floating next to a newborn humpback.) This discovery was published in the journal Marine Mammal Science in 1997.

In that study, the researchers noted that the floating portion of the placenta was about 1.2 to 1.5 meters (3.9 to 4.9 feet) long and that the submerged portion was about 2.4 m (7.8 feet) long. The umbilical cord was about 5 centimeters (2 inches) wide and 1.3 m (4.3 feet) long.

Though a whale placenta has been found in Hawaiian waters before, "this is still an exciting discovery, and if samples have been taken, then there is great potential to try and understand more about reproduction in these fascinating animals," Williams said.

The foundation did not immediately return a request from Live Science for more information.

Originally published on Live Science.
South Sudanese rebels have released two Kenyan pilots they had kidnapped on January 7, a rebels spokesman said on Monday.

Captain Frank Njoroge and his copilot Kennedy Shamalla were held by rebels in Akobo, in the Greater Upper Nile region.

The pilots were flying from Juba to Akobo County in the Upper Nile state, according to local media when the plane crashed.

They were flying the Kenyan-owned Cessna Caravan 5Y FDC plane that had been hired by a Juba-based non-governmental organization to ferry its staff to the Upper Nile State when the crash occurred.

The rebels asked for compensation for the family of a woman who was killed and for others who lost livestock when the plane crushed.

According to Lam Paul Gabriel, deputy spokesman for the rebel SPLA-IO, about $107,700 had been paid.

The money was not a ransom, but just compensation requested not by the SPLA-IO but by the families of the deceased and the owners of the properties, he said.

SPLM-IO has just facilitated the exchange and provided security for the pilots, he added.

South Sudan descended into war in December 2013 when President Salva Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar of plotting a coup. One million South Sudanese have crossed borders to become refugees.
The future of Sen. Carlos Uresti is now in the hands of 12 jurors who began deliberating whether to convict the San Antonio Democrat of conspiring to defraud investors or to pronounce his innocence.

In closing arguments Tuesday, federal prosecutors portrayed Uresti as a desperate man, financially strapped and willing to lure unwitting investors to a fledgling oilfield services company that later collapsed under the weight of lies and debt.

Urestis defense team painted him as a careless, foolish and negligent man who faithfully believed FourWinds Logistics would make him and investors lots of money. The attorneys argued that he shouldnt be convicted, however, since he didnt realize the CEO and others at the company were committing fraud.

What is the evidence the government trying to convict Mr. Uresti on? defense attorney Tab Turner said to a packed courtroom. Uresti's wife, relatives, supporters and angry constituents referred to by courthouse guards as Las Tamaleras sat in the pews behind the defense table.

Carelessness, negligence, foolishness, Turner said. The law says you have to have criminal intent.

Prosecutors told the jury of eight women and four men that it didnt matter whether Uresti knew it was a scam, hes still guilty of conspiring to defraud others through deceit, half-truths and failing to disclose important information. U.S. Senior District Judge David Ezra sent the jury out of the courtroom for deliberations shortly before 3 p.m. Jurors left the courthouse just before 5 p.m. and are expected to resume deliberations at 8:30 a.m. today.

The trial, which has spanned four weeks, has included some salacious testimony that showed a company where sex, lies, drugs, alcohol, sexually explicit text messages and celebrity name-dropping were fairly common in and around the office. Much of the scheme occurred during a booming oil market that soon tanked. The oilfield startup was steered by an ex-Marine who admitted he pilfered the companys money by spending it to rent exotic cars, on prostitutes, his sons fraternity dues and child support, among other things, the trial established.

I feel confident, with the Lords blessing and the support of my family, my wife, that this jury is going to come back and find me not guilty on all of these charges, Uresti told reporters after leaving the U.S. district courthouse in San Antonio late Tuesday.

During the trial, federal prosecutors called 23 witnesses and elicited steamy testimony from their star witness, Denise Cantu, about sex with Uresti  which they sometimes had in the bathroom shower at his office.

Lead prosecutor Joseph Blackwell recapped some of the evidence he says shows Uresti and co-defendant Gary Cain, a consultant to FourWinds, conspired with the firms officials to defraud Cantu and other investors.

Uresti, 54 and Cain, 61, are charged with a combined 20 felonies in connection with their roles at the now-defunct FourWinds, which prosecutors say defrauded investors before it went bankrupt in 2015. Former CEO Stan Bates, 46, pleaded guilty last month to defrauding investors.

Some of Urestis friends warned the lawmaker that Bates was a complete con man and a shady individual, and to dont walk, but run from Bates. Yet Blackwell said Uresti made a choice to run towards Stan Bates.

Blackwell described Uresti as being weighed down by a $10,000 monthly mortgage payment on a new $1.2 million house as well as an expensive new Porsche.

Uresti was told Mr. Bates was a con man and you cant be surprised when a con man does con-man things, Blackwell told jurors.

Prosecutors allege Uresti knowingly lured investors to the startup without disclosing that he stood to get a cut of their profits. His defense lawyers contend the lawmaker only acted as a finder in introducing investors to the company. They also said he wasnt intimately privy to its inner workings, so he wasnt aware that it was squandering investors money until after he cut ties with FourWinds in 2015.

Blackwell spent much of the first part of his closing argument telling jurors how Uresti took advantage of Cantu, a Harlingen woman Uresti helped represent in litigation over the deaths of two of her children in a 2010 vehicle wreck. Cantu received a $2.5 million settlement and Uresti later recommended she invest some of it with FourWinds.

Cantu, who said she had a sexual relationship with the married lawmaker, invested $900,000 and lost $800,000. She called Uresti my friend, my lover. Uresti has denied they were sexually involved.

Its that emotionally vulnerable, shattered young lady that the defendant Carlos Uresti exploited for his own financial gain, Blackwell said. Uresti served as her attorney, financial adviser, friend and ultimately lover, Cantu testified during the trial.

Blackwell argued that Uresti had access to some information that would have alerted him to Bates fraud because he was a manager on the joint venture that Cantu had with FourWinds

Either he looked and saw (it) or he blinded his eyes, Blackwell argued. Either way it makes him guilty.

Uresti is fighting for his political career, his livelihood as a lawyer and his freedom. If found guilty on any of the 11 charges against him, he faces the possibility of years in prison and up to millions in fines. Among the charges against Uresti are wire and securities fraud as well as money laundering.

Urestis defense team called nine witnesses over the course of two days, but he chose not to testify in his own defense.

Besides recruiting investors, Uresti served as FourWinds outside legal counsel, was a 1 percent owner and an escrow agent for one group of investors.

Urestis lead lawyer Michael McCrum said prosecutors provided no evidence that his client knowingly and willfully conspired with others to defraud investors. Uresti even brought in his friends, attorney Alexander Begum, current Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood and businessman Ronald Gabriel, to hear Bates pitch.

Would a knowing co-conspirator bring in his best friends to hear a presentation he knew was a fraud? McCrum asked jurors. If I know if Im committing a fraud, I wouldnt bring in my friends...

He brings in Mr. Begum, he brings in Mr. LaHood, Mr. Gabriel  those are his good, good friends, McCrum added. Thats evidence of his state of mind that he believed in this concept.

Turner, Urestis other lawyer, told jurors that there wasnt any proof the lawmaker knew what Bates was doing was illegal.

Turner said that Uresti referred Cantu to a lawyer to sue FourWinds for fraud. She later replaced that lawyer with her current attorney Oscar R. Alvarez. Turner also said Uresti went to the FBI to report the wrongdoing, although defense attorneys didnt present any documentation at the trial proving Uresti spoke with the FBI.

Those are not the steps of a guilty co-conspirator, Turner said.

Turner said the U.S. justice system is not based on putting people in jail because of carelessness, foolishness or negligence. It takes intentional misconduct. It takes knowledge of a crime.

FourWinds, which bought and sold sand used in fracking for oil production, started in May 2014  a month before oil prices peaked  and was out of business by August 2015.

Co-defendant Cain is charged with nine felonies, including seven counts of money laundering.

FourWinds retained Cain as a consultant to find financing for the company on the recommendations of Uresti and LaHood. Cain and LaHood were business partners in Trinity Global Funding & Consulting before LaHood became DA, Cain testified.

Prosecutors allege Cain knew about the fraud at FourWinds a month after joining the company in September 2014 but continued to receive a consulting fee of $15,000 every two weeks up until he left in May 2015. Cain argued he was entitled to the money because he earned it.

Charles Chad Muller, Cains lead lawyer, told jurors during closing arguments that Cain tried to help rescue the company, assisted some investors in recovering their money and cooperated with investigators.

None of this has anything to do with having a criminal state of mind, Muller said. He was trying to do the right thing. Consistently.

Cain, who took the stand in his own defense, said it wasnt until early 2016  several months after he parted ways with FourWinds  that he learned the full scope of how officials there mishandled investor money.

Four FourWinds officials already have pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme, including Bates. He took responsibility for misusing investors money to support his lavish lifestyle and pay his bills.

Bates pleaded guilty to eight felony charges last month rather than stand trial. Prior to his guilty plea, Bates expressed concerns to the court that he would be blamed by Cain and Uresti for investors being defrauded.

Neither prosecutors nor defense lawyers called Bates to testify during the trial.
Sterling K. Brown has said a lot of public thank yous recently.

In acceptance speeches for the Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG awards hes won for his portrayal of the lovably earnest Randall Pearson on NBCs megahit family drama This Is Us, Brown has thanked his wife, actress Ryan Michelle Bathe (Yvette on This Is Us), whom he met when they were both Stanford University freshmen. Hes praised his co-stars. Hes paid tribute to Andre Braugher, the last African American to win the Emmy for best actor in a drama 19 years ago. And, with his Golden Globe in hand in January, Brown commended This Is Us creator and showrunner Dan Fogelman for bucking the tradition of color-blind casting by writing a role for a black man that could only be played by a black man.

Brown, 41, visited his alma mater on Friday night, Feb. 9, with another important piece of gratitude to get off his chest. Harry, you really have no idea what you did. If it werent for you coming to find me, I dont know if Id even be doing this. I probably would have stuck with the (economics major) thing and gone into investment banking, Brown told Harry Elam Jr., the Stanford senior vice provost for education who cast Brown and Bathe as freshmen in their first student play, during an onstage conversation in a packed auditorium in the Graduate School of Business.

After a nostalgic afternoon on campus with their two sons, 6-year-old Andrew (named after a classmate who died a year after graduation) and Amare, 2, Brown and Bathe clearly enjoyed the nearly two-hour event. They reminisced with Elam and fielded questions from students  who cheered when Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne announced that Brown would be Stanfords 2018 commencement speaker on June 17.

Bathe and Brown, who joked about their on-and-off romance before they got married in 2007, spoke thoughtfully about everything from discovering their shared love of acting to the #MeToo movement and Hollywoods long-overdue progress on its diversity problem.

In 1994, Elam, then a drama professor, came to visit Brown and Bathes black culture-themed Ujamaa dorm looking for students to audition for August Wilsons Joe Turners Come and Gone.

I thought, I did a little acting in high school, Ill give it a shot, said Brown.

He was cast as troubled ex-slave Herald Loomis, a part that has vexed older, more experienced actors, but a role Elam said Brown slayed.

I snuck into the theater to watch him audition, said Bathe. I remember thinking, How is this 17-year-old kid transforming into these men? Id never seen anything like it.

I could see right away how gifted they both were, said Elam. He urged Brown to keep auditioning (much as he later encouraged Issa Rae, creator and star of HBOs Insecure).

Echoing a note he struck in his Golden Globes speech, Brown said, This was the first time I got to be a character who was specifically African American, and it felt like home.

Brown and Bathe both went to New York University after Stanford and landed their first professional roles just weeks after graduating.

After six seasons on Army Wives, and numerous small movie parts, Browns breakthrough came when he played conflicted prosecutor Christopher Darden in The People v. O.J. Simpson (for which Brown won his first Emmy).

Once he came to appreciate what a tricky position the district attorney, a native of Richmond, was in, being the black face of a very unpopular case in the black community, my earlier judgment of him gave way to empathy.

You cant play someone and hold them in judgment at the same time.

NBC / Ron Batzdorff/NBC

The conversation turned serious when Elam asked Bathe, who will be on Empire next season, about the challenges facing black women in Hollywood.

I do think things are changing, but its slow, Bathe said. She listed career indignities that sound all too familiar in this #MeToo moment: Being pressured to get a weave.

Being told by a guy on the Half & Half set Id have to put out to get anywhere, so I better start with him.

Having my manager (Vincent Cirrincione, who has been accused by nine minority women of sexual harassment) tell me to take Stanford off my resume, that this whole smart-girl thing is a turn-off.

Brown and Bathe took breaks from the conversation to stand up and perform two powerful scenes from Wilson plays Fences and Two Trains Running.

The audience was silent watching them slip into the weighty material and then back out to high-five each other and resume taking questions.

A female Stanford grad thanked Brown for his Golden Globes speech about inclusion and asked, Is diversity really increasing in Hollywood?

So much television before was about washing away specificity so you dont offend or alienate anyone, and I think that is starting to change, he said. When a storys well told, you find that everyone finds themselves within a person, whether hes black or Latino or whatever.

I am most excited right now for Black Panther, said Brown to loud applause. He plays NJobu in the Marvel blockbuster opening Friday, Feb. 16.

Being on the set of this $200 million production and seeing 20 trailers lined up, and in each one of them is a black actor, I thought, Are they really going to do this?

I cant wait to see how it performs here and overseas, hopefully smashing that old paradigm (of black films only having domestic success)  and then the floodgates will start to open.
CoverGirl is making history with its newest model, Amy Deanna.

Deanna has vitiligo, a skin condition that causes the loss of melanin, a pigment which gives skin its color. She's the beauty brand's first model to have the condition.

Deanna is part of the brand's new I Am What I Make Up campaign for the truBlend Foundation. Foundation, which helps even skin tone.

"Vitiligo awareness is something that is very important to me. Being given a platform to do so means so much," she told PeopleStyle. "At the end of the day, I am just like everyone else. I just happen to have spots. It's a part of my identity, but it doesn't define who I am ... I work with CoverGirl; I'm a black woman; I have vitiligo. That is empowering,"

Last year, Marc Jacobs featured a model with vitiligo in in its ads. Canadian model Winnie Harlow, who also has vitiligo, has modeled for Diesel and L'Oreal Paris.
Texas Children's Health Plan and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston celebrated the launch of a new partnership last week with representatives gathering to start the venture.

The two organizations have teamed up to provide free school year and summer memberships to active Texas Children's Health Plan members between the ages of 6 and 12.

"We are proud to be a partner of Texas Children's Health Plan," said Kevin Hattery, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston. "Both of our organizations serve Houston's youth and families with valuable programs and resources that truly change lives. We are grateful for Texas Children's Health Plan's support and generosity, and we look forward to our ongoing partnership."

Held at the Allen Parkway Club location, representatives from both organizations were in attendance to commemorate this exciting venture. Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston has 14 locations across the region. The Clubs offers a range of after-school programs, including Academic Success, Healthy Lifestyles, and Good Character & Citizenship.

"This new relationship reaffirms our belief that community health and wellness is achievable when we take a holistic view of a child's life and ensure medical, physical and emotional needs are met," said Dr. Heidi Schwarzwald, chief medical officer of pediatrics at Texas Children's Health Plan. "We are excited for what this partnership will mean for our health plan members and the community at large."

Lou Fragoso, president of Texas Children's Health Plan, added: "We are excited about this partnership because it aligns two great organizations with similar missions. We know care also happens beyond hospital walls, it happens in homes, in communities, and it happens at the and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston. By offering our members access to these clubs allows us to expand that holistic vision of care and help create healthier communities."
In a rare victory two days before his scheduled execution, the Texas death row inmate convicted in a murder-for-hire plot to kill his own family won a unanimous recommendation for clemency from the notoriously unsparing state Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Now, the condemned man's fate is in the governor's hands, his lawyers said Tuesday.

Gov. Greg Abbott has two days to decide whether to commute Thomas "Bart" Whitaker's sentence to life in prison or let him die Thursday as scheduled in the Huntsville death chamber.

"Anytime anybody's life is at stake, that's a very serious matter," Abbott said a political rally in Houston on Tuesday evening. "It deserves very serious consideration on my part."

Abbott said his staff was reviewing the parole board's recommendation and that he would base his decision on whether to approve clemency for Whitaker on the "facts, circumstances and the law."

He gave no indication on what he might decide.

"It would be unprecedented for the governor to reject a unanimous board," said Keith Hampton, an Austin-based attorney representing the Sugar Land man. "It's a tough board. When a tough board unanimously decides this, that is really a pretty big deal."

DESPERATE FATHER: 'I have seen enough death': Sugar Land father fights execution of son who had rest of family killed

In recent weeks the case has attracted national attention as the condemned man's father  the only other survivor of the brutal 2003 attack  has argued fervently against his son's execution.

"I have seen enough death  I don't want to see any more," father Kent Whitaker told the Chronicle recently. "I'm going to have the last living member of my direct family taken from me by the State of Texas in the name of justice, and I just don't want that."

Whitaker covered his face after the decision was announced Tuesday in Austin.

"This is beyond amazing," he said tearfully. "I can't tell you."

Clemency from a Texas governor is exceedingly rare. The last time a Texas governor agreed to commute a death row inmate's sentence to life in prison following a board recommendation was in 2007, when Texas Gov. Rick Perry spared Kenneth Foster's life in another case handled by Hampton. It had only happened three times before that.

The Board of Pardons and Paroles denied clemency in 63 capital cases and recommended it in none from 2012 to 2016, according to a state report.

James Rytting, a Houston-based attorney also representing Whitaker, lauded the board's decision.

"It shows that victims' rights is more than just the right to revenge," he said Tuesday, hours after the recommendation was announced.

But not everyone was pleased with the day's developments.

"It bothers me but I'm not going to set myself on fire over it," said Jeff Strange, a former Fort Bend prosecutor who handled the case. "I've seen other cases that I thought were more deserving."

SUPPORTIVE INMATES: Texas man with scheduled execution uses letters from fellow death row inmates to argue for reprieve

The 2003 outburst of violence that ultimately landed Whitaker on death row shocked the tony Sugar Lakes subdivision and initially baffled investigators.

On Dec. 10, just after a celebratory dinner marking his supposed graduation from Sam Houston State University  a milestone that never happened  Bart Whitaker arranged for two friends to wait at the family home for a burglary set-up.

When the family of four returned home from the restaurant, gunman Chris Brashear opened fire as the family walked through the door. He then fled in a car driven by neighbor Steve Champagne.

The brutal attack killed 51-year-old Patricia Whitaker and 19-year-old Kevin. Kent Whitaker was shot in the chest, but survived.

At the outset, the case baffled police. The house didn't appear to have been burglarized, and there were no obvious leads. But then, authorities learned  after reading an article in the Houston Chronicle  that Bart had been thrown out of college on academic probation and was no longer enrolled.

Days later, an acquaintance came forward with details about a past plot, one of at least two that police would eventually uncover.

As the case dragged on for months, Bart fled to Mexico.

When authorities finally collared him and brought him back to Texas, his father hired an attorney to argue against the capital case.

Triggerman Chris Brashear pleaded guilty to murder a decade ago and took a life sentence, while the getaway driver  Steve Champagne  agreed to a 15-year plea deal.

But a Fort Bend jury settled on a death sentence for the mastermind behind the plot, despite his family's objections.

"There is only one person on Earth who is intimate with the murderous attack, the lives and deaths of the other victims, and the life of Thomas Whitaker - Mr. Whitaker's father, Kent. Kent was there," Whitaker's attorneys wrote in their petition filed with the board last month.

"For the rest of us, the case against commutation to a life sentence seems clear. We can't forgive; we have no sympathy. But clemency is not about something so simple as sympathy or as formidable as forgiveness."

Mike Ward contributed to this article, which contains material from The Associated Press.
Ever since a gunman walked into a high school in Parkland, Florida, last week and opened fire, the school has been closed to the public. For five excruciating minutes, police say, the gunman fired round after round inside Building 12 on the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School's campus, fatally shooting 17 students and faculty.

A hail of gunfire transformed Stoneman Douglas from a well-regarded suburban high school into a crime scene. This week, Broward County school officials said they plan to gradually reopen the campus in the coming days, first by allowing staff members to return and then letting students come back. The one exception to that is Building 12, which will remain shuttered and, most likely, will never reopen.

In the wake of the massacre, officials in South Florida have faced the same question encountered from Oregon to Connecticut and from Texas to Washington: What do you do with the site of a mass shooting?

For many survivors and other people affected by these rampages, this question cuts at the heart of how communities try to recover from such attacks. These massacres have taken place at schools, offices, churches and movie theaters, and in some cases the attacks leave places central to their communities forever changed by the bloodshed within.

There is no one answer, and the decisions can vary depending on whether the site is a high-rise hotel suite in Las Vegas or a building on a rural college campus. Some places have chosen to tear down the entire structure involved and rebuild, attempting a physical exorcism of the lingering psychic trauma. In other cases, unable to completely demolish and rebuild, authorities altered them before eventually reopening.

Broward County Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie told mediaoutlets he agrees that Building 12 should be torn down and replaced. State legislators said they would provide resources to help the district replace the building with a new space for classrooms and a memorial. A spokeswoman for the school district said no official decision has been made yet about whether to demolish the building, though she said when the Douglas campus reopens - first to staff members on Friday and then to students next week - Building 12 will stay closed as part of the police investigation.

In 2009, Virginia Tech reopened Norris Hall, where most of the bloodshed occurred during a 2007 mass shooting that left 32 people dead, and redesigned the hallway that was the site of much of that violence. The Columbine High School library, where most of the 13 people were killed in that 1999 rampage, was removed and then another was opened to take its place.

In Connecticut, after a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, that school was demolished and a new one was opened. Snyder Hall at Umpqua Community College in rural Oregon, where a gunman killed nine people in 2015, was torn down after that attack. The replacement building was expected to be finished in March, according to the school.

For other places scarred by mass shootings, the decisions have been as varied as the locations. Church leaders said last year that they hoped to tear down the Sutherland Springs, Tex., church where a gunman killed 26 people. The church leaders discussed plans to reopen the church there or potentially create a memorial on that same location. One week after the shooting, they opened the building to the public as a memorial to the victims.

After a gunman fired on a country music festival from his 32nd-floor suite at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, killing 58 people, the hotel's owner said it "had no intention of renting the room in which he stayed." The company also said earlier this month it would renumber its floors so people would no longer visit a level labeled the 32nd floor.

The owner of Pulse nightclub in Orlando said she plans to open a memorial there and reopen the club elsewhere after a gunman killed 49 people there in 2016. In Washington, the building at the Navy Yard where a gunman killed 12 people in 2013 was renamed and renovated before reopening in 2015 with a remembrance area dedicated to the victims. Another Colorado location struggling with this same question - a Aurora movie theater closed after a gunman killed 12 people in 2012, then later reopened several months after renovations.

Some places reopened their doors with remarkable speed as they sought to let the communities heal. In Charleston, S.C., a white man who said he wanted to start a race war killed nine black parishioners in 2015 inside the historic "Mother Emanuel" church. Just four days later, the church opened its doors for Sunday services, with some watching from the basement where the shooting occurred.

Not all of these outcomes have been welcome. The mother of a Virginia Tech survivor said when the school reopened Norris Hall that she wished "they'd burn this building down." People related to Aurora shooting victims said they were appalled after being invited to the theater for its reopening.

Runcie, the Broward County schools superintendent, said he has been told by parents and students alike that they will not return to Building 12. The structure remained closed nearly a week after the shooting, the extent of the horror inside stunning even veteran law enforcement officials.

"This is a bad crime scene," said Peter J. Forcelli, special agent in charge of the Miami field division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, who was inside Douglas for hours after the shooting.

"I've seen plenty of dead bodies," said Forcelli, a former New York City homicide detective. "Seeing kids, defenseless kids, piled up, it weighs on you."

Caesar Figueroa, 43, had two children at Douglas who lost friends and a teacher. Figueroa said briefly returning to the Douglas campus after the shooting to help someone pick up a car gave him chills.

"My kids don't want to go back there," said Figueroa. "There are too many bad memories. They don't want to see the building, they don't want to go that building."

- - -

The Washington Post's Renae Merle in Parkland contributed to this report.
White Sweepstake

Bruno DAlfonso & Kris Curran

Brick Barn Wine Estate, Santa Ynez Valley

2016 Vermentino, $40

Bruno DAlfonsos love of the outdoors led him to earn a degree in soil science from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. His fascination with fine wines inspired him to seek a second bachelors degree from UC Davis, this time in winemaking. Shortly after, DAlfonso had the wonderful fortune of working with two California winemaking icons: Richard Graff of Chalone Vineyard and Richard Sanford, the Pinot Noir pioneer of the Santa Rita Hills AVA. After three vintages with the late Graff at the Edna Valley Vineyard, DAlfonso joined Sanford to help begin Sanford Winery. He remained Sanfords winemaker for 23 vintages and during that time became a partner.

Kris Curran grew up in the Santa Ynez Valley. After earning an animal science degree at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, she became enticed by the scientific side of winemaking while working with DAlfonso at Sanford Winery and later received her second bachelors from California State University Fresno in winemaking. Curran began as assistant winemaker at Cambria and later became a founding winemaker at Koehler and then at Sea Smoke Cellars. After leaving Sea Smoke, she worked as winemaker for Foley wines from 2008 to 2010. Curran was the first California vintner to popularize Grenache Blanc, which she started making in 2003. She loves the variety and challenge of mastering different production techniques.

Pink Sweepstake

Rob Griffin

Barnard Griffin, Columbia Valley

2017 Columbia Valley Rose of

Sangiovese, $14

Rob Griffin came to Washington state in 1977 for one reason: to make wine. Present day, he is the longest practicing winemaker in the state, and 2018 will mark his 42nd harvest in Washington. His love for the wine industry actually began while growing up in the Bay Area, where he was in a prime spot to visit his uncle who owned a vineyard in the Napa Valley. Griffin solidified his career path by graduating with honors in fermentation sciences at UC Davis. He spent several years hauling hoses and performing punch-downs in the Sonoma Valley before deciding to make the move to Washington. Griffin could see the potential of the area, though when he arrived in 1977, there wasnt much of a wine industry of which to speak, with fewer than 10 wineries existing in the entire state. He certainly didnt entertain the notion that 40-plus years later, Washington would be the place he would forever call home. Griffin and his wife, Deborah Barnard, created Barnard Griffin in 1983 and the winery itself was built in Richland, Wash. in 1996. Over the past 20 years, the winery has expanded quite considerably and the campus is now complete with a restaurant and Deborah Barnards fused glass studio.

Sparkling Sweepstake

Penelope Gadd-Coster

Rack & Riddle, Sonoma County

NV Blanc de Noirs, $22

Penny Gadd-Costers career in wine began in 1986 when she landed a job as crush help at Jordan Vineyards & Winery. In 1987, she was there for the inception of J Vineyards and Winery. In 1999, she was hired as the assistant winemaker for J, eventually working her way up to the sparkling winemaker position. In 2007, Gadd-Coster left J to work as a winemaker for Rack & Riddle Custom Wine Services, who was just starting business. She also had started her own brand, Coral Mustang, making Tempranillo wines. In 2008, Breathless Wines began making Sparklers and in 2010, she was named winemaker. In 2014, Gadd-Coster was named executive director of winemaking for Rack & Riddle, where she oversees and creates the sparklers there. Bubbles definitely flow through her veins!

Red Sweepstake

Sean Capiaux

OShaughnessy Estate Winery, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley

2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, $100

Founding winemaker Sean Capiaux has established an impressive and notable career over the past 30 years at prominent wineries around the globe. He graduated from California State University Fresno with a Bachelor of Science in enology and a minor in chemistry in the late 80s. He began his career at Jordan Winery in Sonoma Countys Alexander Valley. Capiaux traveled to Perth, Australia to work on the winemaking team at the Houghton Winery and later returned to the U.S. to become the assistant winemaker at Pine Ridge Winery in the Stags Leap district. Peter Michael Winery tapped him to become their assistant winemaker where he worked for four years. Capiaux spent several years as a bicoastal winemaker attending to wines both on Long Island and in California before coming to OShaughnessy. Capiaux serves as president and winemaker for the OShaughnessy Estate Winery and consistently creates world class mountain Cabernets. He employs modern equipment to produce non-interventious wines, which are naturally fermented and bottled unfined and unfiltered. These techniques allow the varietal character and terroir of the OShaughnessy Estate vineyards to be the stars of the show.

Dessert/Specialty Sweepstake

Jason Merritt

Merritt Estate Winery, Lake Erie

2015 Vidal Ice Wine, $39.99

Jason Merritt graduated from Paul Smiths College in 1993 with a degree in hospitality with a concentration in culinary arts. As a chef he worked in different businesses, from stand alone restaurants to corporate chains, culminating as the executive chef at the Sheraton Hotel in Dunkirk, N.Y. In 1997, he joined the family business full time with his father, Bill. With Jason Merritts background in the hospitality field, together they have grown the winery exponentially during his time there. Merritt learned his base winemaking skills from his father, who has a degree in viticulture and enology from Cornell. That combined with Merritts culinary background was a perfect combination to expand his knowledge and the winery brand. With almost 20 years of winemaking experience and a good strong core staff, Merritt Estate is very much looking forward to what is in store for the winery next. Cheers!

Cider Sweepstake

Derek Wilber and Zach Pegram

Goose Watch Winery, Finger Lakes

NV Flying High Semi-Sweet Cider, $14.99

Derek Wilber is a native of the Finger Lakes. He began in the grape and wine industry by working for his father on a vineyard operation outside Penn Yan. He attended Cornell University and graduated with a degree in fruit science in 1980. He managed several vineyard operations in the Finger Lakes before becoming a commercial winemaker in 1984. Since then, he has worked at both large and small wineries in the Finger Lakes. In May 2011, he began his second stint as head winemaker at Swedish Hill Vineyards. 2018 marks the 14th year he has been with Swedish Hill and its two companion wineries, Goose Watch and Penguin Bay.

Zach Pegram got his start in premium wine production working as a cellar hand in the Willamette Valley of Oregon during the 2010 and 2011 harvests. After this introduction, he expanded his tasting experience and practical education in world wine styles as wine manager in a Manhattan restaurant. He earned a masters degree in enology from Cornell University, and after graduation, he remained in the Finger Lakes, spending the last five years learning the craft at various wineries. He is especially interested in varied production styles and experimentation, which have been encouraged at Goose Watch and invigorated by the renaissance of artisanal beverage production in the Finger Lakes.

Wine Label Sweepstake

Tony Auston

Rodney Strong Vineyards, Sonoma County

2015 Upshot, $28

Auston Design Group is a boutique packaging creative agency based in Emeryville. Specializing in wine, beer and spirits, founder and creative director Tony Auston has been helping adult beverage companies find their unique story and develop eye-catching brands that sell for more than 25 years. With design values rooted in authenticity, concept development, old-school handcraft and a strict design discipline, Auston has created or evolved brand image and packaging for such iconic brands as Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Stolichnaya, Bogle Vineyards, Kentucky Owl Whiskies, Gnarly Head, Meiomi and Einstok Icelandic Ales. When informed of his studios Upshot package winning first place at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Sweepstakes, Auston was pleased to see that a package that was, in essence, a diagram, could be presented in such a way that would be appreciated as an award-winning brand image for a wine brand. Using an information graphic as the concept for the design epitomizes the idea of storytelling on a label, Auston said. The final blending stage is the culmination, the Upshot, of all the necessary steps along the way.

San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Public Tasting

Fort Mason Center's Festival Pavilion, San Francisco

1:30 to 5 p.m. Feb. 17

To purchase advance tickets for the public tasting, visit winejudging.com. For updates on the competition and public tasting, follow us on Facebook and Twitter @WineJudging
In 1982, two wine industry insiders sat down over a glass of Zinfandel and laid plans for the first Cloverdale Citrus Fair Wine Competition the following year.

At that time, Cloverdale Citrus Fair board members included Bob Del Sarto, who was the general manager of the historical Italian Swiss Colony winery in Asti, Calif., and Bob Bogner, who was general manager of one of the largest grape grower cooperatives of that day, Allied Grape Growers. Together, they conceived the competition to fulfill the needs of the burgeoning wine industry in northern Sonoma and southern Mendocino counties.

The first competition was modest in size  15 wineries entered 45 wines and a single panel of five judges awarded 30 medals. Invited judges included winemakers Dick Arrowood, John Parducci, Robert Keeble, Mike Lee, wine writer Millie Howie and wine marketer Joe Vercelli.

The first few competitions were primarily staffed with the Citrus Fair board members pouring wines to the judges out of paper bags. It was quite simple, yet with credible and fair wine award results.

The event was growing in size and scope, and the Citrus Fair Board in 1986 realized they needed professional help, so they created a new Citrus Fair staff member position, the Citrus Fair Wine Director.

They turned to Bob Fraser, at that time agriculture business director of Santa Rosa Junior Colleges Agriculture and Natural Resources Department, who had joined the college staff in the early 1980s and resided in the community of Cloverdale.

Fraser implemented the West Coast style of professional wine judging used by his colleague Rich Thomas, at that time coordinator of the Sonoma County Harvest Fair, whom Bob assisted for a few years.

The competition rapidly grew in the 1990s to more than 100 wineries. Eligibility was gradually increased to include all wineries in Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake counties. Consequently, it was renamed the Tri-County Wine Competition from 1996-99.

The competition expanded to the entire North Coast Appellation in 2000 as the California North Coast Wine Competition. This area included all wineries in the counties of Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Lake, Solano and Marin.

During this period of time, wineries and wine entries exploded and the Cloverdale Citrus Fair was now the dominant wine competition in Northern California, dwarfing even the prestigious Sonoma County Fair Wine Competition.

In 2000, the San Francisco Chronicle became the naming sponsor of the competition and the competition expanded to all American Viticulture Areas.

The public tasting shifted from Cloverdale to Fort Mason Center in San Francisco. San Francisco is one of the largest wine purchasing metropolitan regional demographics in the world.

From that point on, it was quite a ride. In 2018, there was nearly 7,000 entries from more than 35 states. It also marked the 31st year with Frasers association as staff wine director of the Cloverdale Citrus Fairs San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

The proceeds of the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition support the nonprofit Cloverdale Citrus Fair and also help support wine and food education at educational institutions and nonprofit organizations.

San Francisco State University, Cal State Chico, Santa Rosa Junior College, Cal State Fresno, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Sonoma State University, Napa Valley College and other nonprofit organizations have received leftover competition wine and support from past competitions.

The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition continues to grow in size and prestige every year, and it continues to be recognized as the largest competition of American wines in the world.
Early voting for the primary elections begins today across Texas and Webb County, where important local seats such as county judge, tax assessor-collector, County Court at Law II judge and commissioner for precincts 2 and 4 are up for grabs.

Webb County is an overwhelmingly Democratic stronghold. Of the 42 candidates running for local offices, only three will be on the Republican ballot, one of these being Republican Party Chair Randy Blair.
The school shooting in Parkland, Florida, has sparked an urgent push for gun control, giving activists cautious hope that politicians might be willing to take some type of bipartisan action - action that has been elusive after previous mass shootings.

Student survivors, some of whom made terrifying videos of the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last Wednesday as their classmates died, are now forcefully speaking out for gun control, demanding that not another student face a similar fate. They hope to be the catalyst that breaks entrenched positions on guns in U.S. society, and there appears to be some early movement in Washington.

President Donald Trump said Monday that he is open to improving the background check system used to screen those who buy firearms, a measure that has bipartisan support and the backing of the National Rifle Association. Trump spoke about the legislation with one of its co-sponsors, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, on Friday.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said he supports gun violence restraining-order laws, which allow firearms to be seized before a person commits a violent act. The laws have been gaining conservative backers in the wake of the Parkland shooting, which killed 17 people, most of them teenagers.

"Trump's support for the FixNICS Act, my bill with @JohnCornyn, is another sign the politics of gun violence are shifting rapidly," Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., tweeted Monday, adding that the bill alone is not an adequate response to mass shootings.

Students are calling out politicians and the NRA on social media, on television and at rallies, demanding laws that will help keep guns out of the hands of people like Nikolas Cruz, the alleged shooter. Cruz, a 19-year-old who was known to be a risk for violence and who state officials knew intended to buy a gun, allegedly carried an assault-style rifle into Douglas High School on Valentine's Day and opened fire without warning. One student who survived the shooting vowed not to return to class until gun laws change.

The NRA has not responded to requests for comment since the shooting.

Cruz had purchased at least 10 guns, including a variant of an AK-47, according to a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation. While authorities are still looking into how he got his weapons, all of the ones they have traced so far were legally purchased by Cruz, according to the official. Cruz legally bought the AR-15 assault-style rifle he allegedly used in the shooting about a year ago, authorities have said.

"At no point was he prohibited from possessing firearms based on his criminal history and background check," the official said.

John Feinblatt, president of the gun-control group Everytown for Gun Safety, said he is hopeful that the shooting will spur bipartisan momentum on gun safety measures. He said the country expects its leaders to work together.

"But if they don't, the states are going to take up where Congress lets off, and the American public is going to make sure we see a new Congress," Feinblatt said. His group has a new campaign called Throw Them Out, with the goal of voting out politicians the group says are beholden to the gun lobby.

Five states - California, Washington, Oregon, Indiana and Connecticut - have passed gun violence restraining-order laws, which allow firearms to temporarily be taken away from people whom a judge deems a threat to themselves or others. Federally, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Calif., introduced legislation last year urging states to adopt such laws.

At least 18 states, including Florida, have similar bills pending in their legislatures. It is unclear if such a law would have stopped Cruz from purchasing a weapon, especially since the Florida Department of Children and Families had determined that he was not a risk and Cruz had never been convicted of a crime.

Gov. Rick Scott, R, said that "everything's on the table" when it comes to considering tighter gun laws in Florida, though he did not give specifics, including whether he supports the restraining-order legislation. Florida has some of the nation's laxest gun laws and a pro-gun legislature, and has long been seen as a laboratory for gun rights legislation that is later tested in other states.

Students from Douglas High have planned a rally at the Florida capitol in Tallahassee on Wednesday. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., said on ABC's "This Week" that he commends the students for their activism.

"We've kind of inherited this world of binary choices where we either have to repeal the Second Amendment or have no gun safety regulations whatsoever, and younger generations of Americans don't see the world that way," Curbelo said, noting that he wants to strengthen the background check system and other measures.

"There are a lot of Republicans who are prepared to support reasonable, common-sense gun safety laws, new laws, stronger laws that protect rights for responsible citizens, people who are responsible gun owners, but will prevent those who want to do harm to innocent people from obtaining these weapons," he said.

Trump's proposed budget includes a 16 percent cut to grants that allow states to send records to the background check system. Scott's office said he has organized meetings with state and local leaders to discuss school safety improvements and ways to keep guns away from people struggling with mental illness.

Many believe that the students from Douglas High are making the difference in the national conversation.

"These kids, these teenagers are inspiring the country and are holding adults accountable in a way I don't think we've ever seen before," said Robin Lloyd, director of government affairs at Giffords, a pro-gun-control organization. "I do think that is a paradigm shift from other shootings we've seen in the past, and it's really incredibly brave and courageous for these young people to call for action and be so engaged about it, especially in light of everything they've just gone through."

But there also is skepticism that yet another horrific mass shooting, after which "thoughts and prayers" are again offered by politicians, will do anything to change the deeply partisan gun debate. Curbelo co-sponsored a bill that would ban bump stocks, devices that make a semiautomatic weapon behave as an automatic one, firing shots more rapidly. They were used in October by Stephen Paddock, who killed 58 people and injured more than 500 at a country music concert in Las Vegas.

A bipartisan coalition in Congress and the NRA almost immediately said the devices should be subject to additional regulations. Republican lawmakers punted to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which has said it cannot regulate bump stocks unless Congress changes the law; the question is under administrative review. Bills were proposed in the Senate and the House to completely ban bump stocks, but no action was taken, and the NRA opposes the measures.

Murphy and Cornyn's bill garnered plenty of bipartisan support in the Senate. But a rare across-the-aisle consensus was shattered in the House, where Republicans linked the measure to shore up the background check system to a bill allowing gun owners to carry concealed weapons across state lines - a measure the NRA called its "highest legislative priority." The combined bill passed 231 to 198 in December. It has not been taken up by the Senate, where there was little appetite to have the two bills combined.

"There's always a chance that Congress is going to do something," Lloyd said. "They've proven time and time again they're not going to act."

Even if Congress acts, many see the real action happening on the state level. At least 15 states are considering laws banning bump stocks. Massachusetts and New Jersey banned them after the Las Vegas shooting, and they were already illegal in California.

There is now hope that restraining-order laws, also known as extreme risk protection orders, will gain momentum in statehouses.

"It is a law that allows for due process, and it gives family members and law enforcement tools to remove guns from a tragedy before a tragedy occurs," said Andrew Patrick, a spokesman for the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence.

Patrick said it is "huge" that Rubio supports the laws and that there was an article in the conservative National Review urging Republicans to support the measures.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich, R, said in an interview on CNN that he would like to see something similar to the restraining-order laws, without specifically endorsing them, and that now is the time for Trump and Congress to pass "common sense" measures such as tightening background checks.

"This is an opportunity," Kasich said. "And I believe those who are Second Amendment advocates realize that common-sense, real reforms can happen in this country to answer the cries and the anguish of people all across this country who have lost loved ones."

---

The Washington Post's Mark Berman and Lenny Bernstein contributed to this report.
Car Export from Georgia Increased in 2017

By Tea Mariamidze

After several years of sharp fall, exports of motor cars from Georgia increased by 88.5% in 2017. According to the data of National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat), last year 29.357 cars were exported, which shows 13.7 thousand more vehicles than the data of 2016. Armenia, Ukraine and Azerbaijan are the top three exporter countries.As for the total cost of exported cars in previous years, the statistics looks as follows:2013  Export of cars from Georgia amounted to $703.9 million2014 - $517.7 million2015 - $179.6 million2016  Car export from Georgia was worth of $166,633.Moreover, in 2016, majority of cars were exported to Armenia - 8,683 cars, followed by Russia - 1,824 cars and Ukraine - 1,665. As for Azerbaijan, 1,330 cars were exported there in 2016, 625 in Switzerland and United Arab Emirates - 437 cars.In 2017 the total value of exported cars from Georgia amounted to $234,884.9.The leading exporting country was again Armenia - 14,367, where the number of exported cars was almost doubled compared to 2016. Armenia is followed by Ukraine - 6,186 cars, Azerbaijan - 4,555 and Russia - 2,717 cars.Despite the relatively positive export experience in 2017, part of the Georgian auto importers expect that car import will decrease this year. The main reasons for this are the regulations that have been launched in the neighboring countries since 2018.Nikoloz Rostiashvili, Manager of the company RST International, says that since January 1, 2018, following the decision of the Azerbaijani government, tariffs of the customs clearance have increased and in Armenia, since 2018 it is forbidden to import, buy or sell right-hand drive cars.This means the demand on cars from these countries will decrease. This field has become unprofitable. In my opinion, the state has the wrong policy and this might have caused the problem, he added.However, Giorgi Surguladze, the Director of the Caucasus Auto Import, has positive expectations for car export this year. According to him, Georgia has become a hub in the direction of re-export of cars in the region.In 2017, a large number of cars were exported in Azerbaijan and I hope that this figure will be maintained in 2018 as well. As for Armenia, it is a middle ring between Georgia and Russia. They import cars from us and after six months they sell them in Russia, Surguladze stated.
In August 2014, Thai authorities stormed the Bangkok condo of Japanese millionaire Mitsutoki Shigeta to find one baby, then another and another, until they counted nine surrogate babies in all, each accompanied by a nanny. Playpens and bottles dotted the mostly unfurnished rooms.

"I've never seen a case like this," the Thailand director of Interpol said about what the country dubbed the "baby factory," after tips led the international policing group to investigate amid concerns of human trafficking.

On Tuesday, Bangkok's Central Juvenile Court awarded Shigeta, 28, custody of 13 babies he fathered via surrogacy.

The court said it did not find evidence of human trafficking.

Shigeta's motives and rapid surrogacy raised suspicion from the New Life clinic he used to find surrogate mothers. Mariam Kukunashvili, founder of the international clinic, told the Associated Press in 2014 that Shigeta submitted requests for new mothers soon after others became pregnant.

"He said he wanted 10 to 15 babies a year, and that he wanted to continue the baby-making process until he's dead," she said, adding that he asked about equipment to preserve sperm in old age. She warned Interpol in 2013 but said her faxes went unanswered.

Interpol said they never received the messages. The clinic did not return a request for comment, and Interpol referred questions to the Thai Royal Police, which could not be reached.

Shigeta, son of billionaire businessman Yasumitsu Shigeta, said through his lawyers that he simply wanted a big family, the AP reported. He did not appear at court. The law firm that represented him there, Siam Premier International, did not return a request for comment.

Thailand banned foreign surrogacy in response to the 2014 incident, and another infamous case where an Australian couple abandoned a baby born to a Thai surrogate when they discovered the baby had Down syndrome.

During the trial, Shigeta produced evidence of financial means and a plan to care for the children, including drafted bank accounts and a home near a park in Tokyo, the AP reported. A total of 17 babies were found to be fathered by Shigeta, including four sets of twins.

He also has two children via surrogates in India, CNN reported.

The mothers were paid as much as $12,500 each to carry his children, reports said.

Shigeta won custody of the other four children born via surrogacy in Thailand before this week's ruling. Those children were raised in Japan and Cambodia and were well cared for, the court said.

Shigeta fled the country after the raid in 2014, the Bangkok Post reported at the time.

Little is known about Shigeta, described by the AP as litigious in protecting his identity. After authorities revealed him as the father, his lawyers blanketed Japanese media with demands to not publish his name or names of his family members, though that proved to be unsuccessful. His father, Yasumitsu Shigeta, is the chief executive of office supply company Hikari Tsushin Inc.

There are few public photos of Mitsutoki Shigeta. One image circulated in Thai media shows Shigeta at a customs kiosk leaving the country with travel documents in one hand, a baby in another.
Four out of the five Democratic gubernatorial candidates in Maryland who have announced their running mates have chosen women to join their ticket, a sign of the importance of female voters in a state that has no women in Congress or in top statewide positions.

State Sen. Richard S. Madaleno Jr., D-Montgomery, on Monday tapped Luwanda Jenkins, a Baltimore native who worked in the administrations of the last three Democratic governors, as his running mate. Tech entrepreneur Alec Ross named Julie Verratti, a co-owner of a craft brewery in Montgomery County.

And Prince George's County Executive Rushern L. Baker III was scheduled to announce Tuesday his selection of Elizabeth Embry, a high-ranking attorney in the state attorney general's office who ran for mayor of Baltimore in 2016.

"Lieutenant governors are often selected to counterbalance the strengths and weaknesses of a candidate, so I'm not surprised that these male candidates are going for women lieutenant governors," said Melissa Deckman, a political science professor at Washington College. "With the MeToo movement and lack of female representation statewide, they are trying to reach out to women voters who are important to the Democratic Party."

The 2016 retirement of then-Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, D, and the resignation that year of then-Rep. Donna F. Edwards, D, to seek Mikulski's seat, left Maryland without a woman in its congressional delegation for the first time in 77 years.

In addition, no woman holds any of the top four statewide elected executive positions: governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and comptroller.

In November, another gubernatorial candidate, former NAACP president Ben Jealous, chose Susan W. Turnbull, a former vice chair of the Democratic National Committee and former chair of the state Democratic Party, as his running mate.

Turnbull co-founded Emerge Maryland, which recruits and trains Democratic women to run for office and is part of a national network that has seen record numbers of women candidates since Hillary Clinton's loss to Donald Trump in 2016.

Former Michelle Obama aide Krishanti Vignarajah is the only woman in Maryland's crowded Democratic gubernatorial primary. The winner of the June 26 contest will face popular Gov. Larry Hogan, R, and his deputy, Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford, in November's general election.

Neither Vignarajah, who is making her first run for public office, nor Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz have announced their running mates, which they must do by the Feb. 27 filing deadline. Attorney Jim Shea, who is also seeking the Democratic nomination, last week announced Baltimore City Council member Brandon Scott as his pick for lieutenant governor.

Del. Marice I. Morales, D-Montgomery,, who organized a rally in Annapolis on Monday night to highlight women's issues, said she thought it was "phenomenal" to see gubernatorial candidates choosing women to join their tickets.

"It sends a strong message nationwide that the cries of the movement are being heard by people in positions of power," she said.

She noted that the choices also represent other historically underrepresented communities, with Jenkins an African American woman who has long advocated for minorities, and Verratti a lesbian who is active in LGBT issues.

Jenkins, 55, directed the Office of Minority Affairs for three years when Parris Glendening, D, was governor and was special secretary of minority affairs for five years for Gov. Martin O'Malley, D. She played a similar role in the administration of Gov. William Donald Schaefer, D.

Jenkins also has 17 years in the private sector, including executive positions at the Baltimore Sun, CareFirst BlueCross and the Cordish Cos., a real estate development concern.

"Now is the time for more women in leadership roles," said Jenkins, who is chief operating officer for the LEADERship, a program of the Greater Baltimore Committee. "We need to be at the table."

She described herself in an interview as a wife, a mother and a daughter, caring for aging parents, "typical of so many women who play a pivotal role."

Ross, who calls himself "unabashedly a feminist," said he believes his choice of Verratti, 38, a small-business owner who has actively campaigned for social justice issues, will resonate with younger voters.

"We need to make sure we don't take one step forward and one step back," Ross said. "It's time to have women in elected office."

Verratti co-founded Denizens Brewing in Silver Spring four years ago and previously served as a senior policy adviser at the U.S. Small Business Administration. A graduate of George Washington University Law School, she has testified before Congress and state and local lawmakers on issues that affect small businesses, the beer industry, and gays and lesbians.

Last year, she served on Maryland's "Reform on Tap" task force, which was created by Comptroller Peter Franchot, D, to highlight the craft beer industry's growth and to push an overhaul of the state's laws to encourage more expansion.

Embry, Baker's running mate, described herself as a "daughter of Baltimore" during her unsuccessful 2016 mayoral bid. Her father, Robert C. Embry Jr., was a city council member, school board president and housing commissioner. He now runs the Abell Foundation.

She is chief of the criminal division of the Maryland Attorney General's Office. Attorney General Brian E. Frosh has endorsed Baker.

Before joining the attorney general's office, Embry, 40, served as deputy for policy and planning in the Baltimore state's attorney office. She has also been assistant solicitor in the Baltimore office of law and a felony prosecutor in the Baltimore state's attorney office.
One of Poland's most senior lawmakers said it's time to back away from a new law criminalizing suggestions that the nation was in any way responsible for the Holocaust following an international outcry.

Stanislaw Karczewski, the speaker of Poland's upper house of parliament from the governing Law & Justice party, said the country's diplomatic efforts to explain the law may have stalled and that the rules should not be applied before being vetted by the Constitutional Court. The party rushed the legislation through earlier this month, ignoring warnings from the U.S. State Department, Israel and Poland's European allies.

"I'm not sure if we haven't reached the wall, a dead end. Maybe we should say stop and not say anything else," Karczewski told private broadcaster TVN24 on Tuesday. "I'm convinced this law won't be applied. One would have to be irresponsible to do something that could provoke even more emotions."

It marks a change of tone from Monday, when Poland's foreign minister refused to apologize for Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who fanned the conflict by listing Jews among those who were "perpetrators" of Nazi-era crimes along with Germans, Ukrainians, Russians and Poles.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the comments "outrageous" while Yair Lapid, an opposition politician, called on Israel to recall its ambassador to Warsaw.

Vandals painted Nazi swastikas on the gate of Poland's embassy in Tel Aviv on Sunday, while the east European country's chief rabbi said it's the "worst moment" for Polish-Jewish relations in three decades. The law is due to come into force on Feb. 28. The Constitutional Tribunal said it doesn't yet know when it will review the legislation.

The U.S. warned Poland that the new rules censor free speech and may weaken the nation's "strategic interests and relations." The law makes public statements suggesting Polish national or state complicity in the Holocaust a crime punishable by up to three years in jail.

Far from strengthening a narrative that Poles were both heroes and victims of World War II, the legislation triggered increasing scrutiny over Poland's role in the Shoah.

"As the last witnesses slowly leave us, we see a deliberate and pernicious attempt to rewrite history and marginalize Jewish suffering," Emmanuel Nahshon, spokesman for Israel's foreign minister, said on Twitter on Tuesday.

Only 380,000 of Poland's 3 million Jews, Europe's largest prewar Jewish community, survived the Holocaust, according to Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial. While some Polish civilians participated in the murder of Jews or turned them over to Nazis to avoid being executed for hiding them, others resisted. Yad Vashem has commemorated about 6,700 Poles for rescuing Jews, the largest number of "Righteous Gentiles" in any country.

Despite pledges by Prime Minister Morawiecki, Israel says it's concerned the rules would prevent the histories of Holocaust survivors' from being properly studied. Edward Sonshine, the founder and chief executive officer of Canada's RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust, whose parents were Polish Jews who survived the war, has one such story.

After the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945, Sonshine's two uncles walked back to his mother's home town in the south of Poland where his grandfather ran a grain business, to check "who else was alive," he told Bloomberg News in Toronto. Realizing they wouldn't make it there before dark and that it wasn't safe to travel at night, they asked a farmer a few miles from the town to spend the night in his barn.

"A couple of hours later the farmer returned and said: I've just been at the tavern and there's a bunch of guys who are afraid that you're coming back to get your house and your property back, and they're coming to kill you tonight," Sonshine said. His uncles fled "and kept going till they got to east Germany. And that was it for Poland."

Polish wartime "atrocities" deserve to be talked about "equally with the heroic things," Sonshine said. "Legislation like this is unfortunate. They made a big mistake."

--With assistance from Michael S. Arnold and Natalie Wong
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration

CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico  Mexican marines have captured an alleged top boss of the Gulf drug cartel in Tamaulipas. A statement from the Mexican navy describes him as the presumed leader of a criminal organization in the region.

READ ALSO: Mexican cartel leader who allegedly flaunted lifestyle on social media pleads guilty in US court
Relations between Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and President Donald Trump have been pretty frosty of late. So Maduro tried something new to get Trump's attention: Twitter.

Tuesday morning, the Venezuelan leader jumped online to ask for talks between the two countries.

Trump "campaigned promoting noninterference in other countries' domestic affairs," Maduro tweeted. "The time has come to fulfill it and change your agenda of aggression for one of dialogue."

"Dialogue in Caracas or Washington DC?" he added. "Time and place and I will be there."

It's not the first time that Maduro has publicly extended an invitation to Trump. In a televised speech in August, for instance, he declared, "Mr. Donald Trump, here is my hand."

"If he's so interested in Venezuela," Maduro continued, "here I am."

Those invitations for dialogue have come as bilateral relations continue to deteriorate. Over the last several years, Venezuela's economy has tanked. At the same time, Maduro has tightened his grip on the country's political process, making free elections and opposition leadership nearly impossible.

In response, the Trump administration has imposed strict sanctions on Maduro and his allies. It has also referred to Maduro as a "dictator." Last August, Trump said he would not rule out a military intervention in the country.

Maduro, meanwhile, has blamed his country's economic woes on Washington, suggesting that the United States is keeping Venezuelans hungry and without vital resources. The Venezuelan leader has also criticized and attacked Trump personally. At a news conference last week, Maduro said an oil embargo, which has been suggested by U.S. officials, would be "one of the biggest mistakes in international politics made by President Donald Trump." Maduro predicted that such a move would end Trump's political career.

If Maduro's Twitter invitation is highly unlikely to stir Trump to pay a visit, it did not play much better with his base at home, either. Many Venezuelan social media users mocked Maduro's tweet, saying it made him look desperate. They also pointed out that Maduro has spent months blaming the United States for Venezuela's economic crisis.

"Which dialogue?" user Yuvicj tweeted. "If you @NicolasMaduro are not even able to dialogue with opposition Venezuelans. What are you going to talk about with @realDonaldTrump? Loudmouthed mass murderer. Quit!!"

"This is how Trump probably mimicked you when he read this tweet," tweeted user Daniel Serpa, weaving in a clip of Trump mocking a disabled reporter.

Maduro uses Twitter about as often as Trump, posting on a daily basis. But he does not have quite the same gift for drumming up attention from the public or the news media.

On Saturday, for example, Maduro posted a tweet promising an "important surprise" scheduled for the next day at 8:55 p.m. When people checked back in, the president had shared a propaganda video of him and his ruling-party supporters promoting him as a candidate for reelection in sign language. The video was promoted by officials and by state media, but the public largely made fun of it.
Ultranationalist, radical Group Initiates Patrolling to Control Migrants

By Khatia Kardava

The Georgian ultranationalist, far-right, radical, group Georgian March announces a new initiative: to create a Peoples Patrol which will monitor the actions of foreign migrants in Georgia. The post published on the Facebook Page of Resistance says the initiative aims at monitoring activities that may violate public order by foreign illegals, criminals and terrorists. The statement says that the patrol will be comprised of young people with national consciousness.The members of the patrol will be divided into squads of 15 people, who will walk along the streets of Tbilisi. If they come across anyone suspicious, they will detain the individual on spot and then call police.In this way, the organization hopes to help the Ministry of Internal Affairs, since the state, in their words, is unable to prevent foreign criminals and terrorists from entering the country.Sandro Bregadze, one of the leaders of Georgian March stated: Together with our European friends, we have developed strategies and tactics which will be civilized, European, modern, which responds challenges of the 21st century. We fight for pure, Georgian, moral Georgia and I'm sure God will be on our side.The majority of the population believes that the authorities should not allow the organization which constantly makes xenophobic and homophobic statements, to engage in such illegal activities.Roman Gotsiridze, member of the "United National Movement", says it reminds him of the beginning of the fascist movement in Germany. According to him, the government should not allow civilian patrols. "If such a thing happened, it means that the government is collapsing and is not capable of protecting people." - said Gotsiridze.The Georgian march became well-known after their march along the Agmashenebeli avenue in the center of Tbilisi on July 14. The organizers of the Georgian March voiced their official claim to make immigration law stricter and to deport illegal and criminal migrants from Georgia. However, the statement made by the organizers contained clearly xenophobic demands, like: For the Georgian Georgia.However, there are still people in Georgia who share the ideology of Georgian March, who is trying to spread a fear of globalization among the population.This is not a Georgian phenomena; Many European countries are going through recent electoral gains of far-right and nationalist parties.Across the Europe, politicians with momentum are those who argue that the world is a nasty, threatening place, and that wise nations should build walls to keep it out. Such arguments have helped elect an ultranationalist government in Hungary and a Polish one that offers a mix of xenophobia and disregard for constitutional norms. Populist, authoritarian European parties of the right or left now enjoy nearly twice as much support as they did in 2000, and are in government or in a ruling coalition in nine countries.What is the way out from this situation?- Media should report on this issues and deliver right messages to the audienceJournalist Eka Kvesitadze, for instance, stated she will not invite organizers of Georgian March to her show in order to avoid spreading ideas of these people.- Government should make clear comments regarding Peoples PatrolAccording to the first Vice-Speaker of the Parliament, Tamar Chugoshvili the order in the country is competence of police only. "The only institution that provides public order in the country is the Georgian police. Any other unit is totally unauthorized.. And if it all goes into illegal activities, I am sure that law enforcement officials will react. " - said Tamar Chugoshvili.
An hours-long standoff that shut down a portion of Interstate 35 just north of San Antonio ended with a suspect surrendering to police Monday evening.

The northbound lanes of I-35 near Schwab Road reopened shortly after the unidentified person surrendered about 10:15 p.m. The southbound lanes reopened about 11:30 p.m. Monday as the New Braunfels Police Department finished investigating the scene, according to a Facebook post from the New Braunfels Police Department.
San Antonio police released surveillance images Tuesday of the person who shot five people, including a 6-year-old boy, Sunday night outside a Texas Roadhouse.

The shooter fired at the group of people, who police said were all part of the same dinner party, around 8:30 p.m. The shooting left two people in critical condition and three others, including the boy, with non-fatal gunshot wounds.

In the images, the suspect appears to be covering his head with a piece of cloth as he opens fire.

READ MORE: SAPD confirm 5th victim in shooting outside Texas Roadhouse

"We do not believe that this shooting was random," San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said Sunday. "There's details I'm not gonna give out because it's part of the investigation. But, we do not believe it's random."

The group was sitting on a bench in the front end of the restaurant when the shooting happened.

Police quickly deployed canines and a helicopter in hopes of finding the suspect, who fled eastbound, but were unable to locate him.

Anyone with information on the suspect is asked to call 210-224-STOP or text the tip, including the keyword "SATIP" to TIP411.

Fares Sabawi covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County for mySA.com. Read more of his stories here. | fsabawi@mysa.com
A passenger on a flight from Dubai to Amsterdam Schiphol allegedly caused so much distress by farting that the pilot made an emergency landing after a fight broke out, leading to four people getting kicked off and banned from the airline.

According to Metro, a newspaper in the United Kingdom, the unidentified passenger's farting caught the ire of other passengers on the Transavia Airlines flight last weekend. A fight broke out between the farting man and two Dutchmen sitting next to him, Metro reports. Things got so bad that the pilot had to warn the men to stop. When they didn't, the pilot diverted the flight to the Vienna Airport.

NO FLYING FOR THIS BIRD: United Airlines bars an emotional support peacock from flight

After landing, two men, along with two sisters, were removed from the flight. Metro reports the pilot described them as "passengers on the rampage."

Nora Lachhab, 25, told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf that she and her sister spent a week on holiday in Dubai. Lachhab said she and her sister also complained to the flight crew about the smelly farts but deny causing any trouble on the flight.

"We had no idea who these boys were, we just had the bad luck to be in the same row and we didn't do anything. All I will say is that the crew were really provocative and stirred things up," Lacchab said to De Telegraph.

BRUTAL: Texas State student flushes hamster after getting bad info from Spirit Airlines

Austrian police arrested the four passengers and released them the same day, De Telegraaf reports. The four passengers are also banned from flying on Transavia Airlines.

Transavia told Metro in a release that "Our crew must ensure a safe flight. When passengers pose risks, they immediately intervene. Our people are trained for that. They know very well where the boundaries are. Transavia is therefore square behind the cabin crew and the pilots."

The sisters, who are of Moroccan and Dutch descent, are taking the airline to court for racial profiling, claiming they were not involved in the incident, according to Newsweek.

Will Axford is a digital reporter for Chron.com. Read more of his stories here and follow him on Twitter.
WASHINGTON  A candidate's drug arrest at the age of 18 has riled up a Democratic primary contest for the right to challenge five-term Republican incumbent Pete Olson in a potentially competitive congressional district in Houston's southern suburbs.

Sri Preston Kulkarni, a leading labor-backed candidate in the five-way March 6 primary, acknowledged Tuesday that he was arrested for possessing less than a gram of cocaine when he was a teenager in 1997.

The felony charge later was dismissed by a Harris County judge after a two-year probationary sentence, a disposition known as "deferred adjudication" that is frequently meted out for first-time drug offenses.

Kulkarni, now a 39-year-old ex-foreign service officer and onetime Senate aide, described the incident as a youthful indiscretion at a stressful time in his life when his father was terminally ill with cancer.

"We should not be stigmatizing our youth for the rest of their lives," he said.

Nevertheless, the issue, raised at the start of early voting in Texas, has shaken up a U.S. House race where Democrats hope to make inroads in their quest to loosen the Republican Party's long grip on the state.

Kulkarni disclosed the arrest to the Chronicle on Tuesday after the case was raised by the Fort Bend County chapter leader of Our Revolution, a group representing a progressive coalition of activists who supported the 2016 presidential campaign of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Doug Beaton, the leader of the chapter, warned Fort Bend County Democratic officials on Kulkarni's previously undisclosed past in a letter posted Monday on social media. The letter suggested that Kulkarni, whose full first name is Srinivas, is running under an assumed name and that he had previously registered with the Federal Election Commission to run for a congressional seat in Massachusetts.

"As these concerns have been validated, we feel that this candidate would be a considerable liability for the Democratic Party in the mid-term elections," Beaton wrote.

Kulkarni said neither charge is true. As the mixed-race child of East Indian ancestry, there are several variations on his name, including Srinivas Rao Kulkarni, the name under which he was adjudicated on the drug charge in 1997. His full name is Srinivas Rao Preston Kulkarni. Preston is his mother's maiden name.

He said the accusation that he first filed to run for Congress in another state stems from a "computer glitch" that abbreviated the state of the 22nd Congressional District as "MA" for Massachusetts, instead of "TX" for Texas.

The error was corrected in a new filing on Dec. 20, listing his address in Pearland, inside the lines of the splotchy, gerrymandered suburban district. The original Dec. 8 filing with the state marked as "MA" listed his old address in Houston.

The discrepancies, however, have been used to raise doubts about Kulkarni's ties to Fort Bend or Brazoria County, as distinct from Houston, where he was raised as a child before heading off to the University of Texas and then a career as a foreign service officer in the State Department.

Fueling those doubts is Kulkarni's long overseas career, which took him to Iraq, Israel, Russia, Taiwan and Jamaica. While his critics note that he did not appear to have ever voted in Texas, he said he voted by absentee ballot from Iraq in 2008 and from Israel in 2012.

In 2016, he acknowledges he voted in Massachusetts because he was there working on a master's degree in public administration from Harvard's Kennedy School.

Beaton, in an interview Tuesday, said those concerns are more important than Kulkarni's drug arrest, which he sees as a youthful mistake. "To me the idea is that we want to put the best candidate forward after the primaries, with the best chance of beating Pete Olson in the November elections," he said. "There is nothing personal in this."

Fort Bend County Democratic Party Chairwoman Cynthia Ginyard said she saw Beaton's letter, but declined comment. "We cannot speak for or against one of our candidates in the primary," she said.

But the county's past Democratic chair, Don Bankston, a member of the party's state executive committee, said the attack on Kulkarni is off base and potentially slanderous.

"It's a defamatory lie," said Bankston, who supports Kulkarni in the primary. He noted that Beaton's letter accused Kulkarni of a "felony conviction for possession."

In fact, the case was dismissed without a conviction after Kulkarni completed probation and paid a $500 fine. He noted that he was able to obtain a top-secret security clearance at the State Department.

Beaton acknowledged the legal distinction, saying "I wish I had phrased that differently."

Kulkarni's backers say there was no intent to run from his past. Federal law allows candidates to run under known nicknames that clearly identify them, much like Jeb Bush, whose real name is John Ellis Bush, and Beto O'Rourke, whose full legal name is Robert Francis O'Rourke.

Beaton's group, Our Revolution, decided to back health care advocate Steve Brown in the crowded Democratic primary that features two top fundraisers: Letitia Plummer, a dentist who had pulled in nearly $70,000 by the start of the year, and Kulkarni, who hauled in more than $41,000.

Brown, meanwhile, reported a little more than $11,000 in receipts. Business executive Mark Gibson, following at 2016 bid in which he won 40 percent of the vote against Olson, has raised more than $13,000.

Most of Kulkarni's contributions came from out of state, a sore point for some of his rivals. But he also picked up endorsements from the Gulf Coast AFL-CIO and the Houston Chronicle.

All sides say the stakes are high. Although the district has long been a GOP stronghold, Hillary Clinton carried increasingly diverse Fort Bend County in 2016, raising Democrats' hopes for 2018.

Kulkarni said his drug arrest 21 years ago should be seen through the prism of criminal justice reform, a top Democratic priority, and not as an election season attack.

"This is a very important issue," he said. "I'm happy to talk about it in that context."

Nor does he think voters will punish him in November  if he survives the primary.
AUSTIN -- Gov. Greg Abbott gave state Rep. Sarah Davis a political lashing Tuesday, saying his fellow Republican from the Houston area was "absolutely hostile" to his conservative agenda and is no different than a Democrat.

"By all metrics and studies that I have seen, she is clearly the farthest to the left state representative in the state of Texas," Abbott told reporters after casting his ballot at a Randalls grocery store in Austin on the first day of early voting.

He said the West University Place Republican running for her fifth term has worked "antagonistically" against his agenda and has separated herself from Republican ideology, such as by opposing anti-abortion measures and sponsoring a bill that would have meddled with emergency disaster funding and killed ethics legislation out of spite.

Abbott has made Davis a prime target in the March 6 primary, having spent at least $160,000 in TV ads casting her as a liberal who needs to be ousted from the Texas House and endorsing her opponent.

MONEY RACE: Outside money continues to stream into Houston state House race

Davis, who has said Abbott's attacks lack context, refused to sign on to nearly every issue Abbott wanted lawmakers to pass during a 2017 special session. Those ideas included regulating which bathrooms transgender students can use, increasing reporting for abortion providers and instituting local government spending limits, along with nearly 20 others.

The governor is urging voters to elect Susanna Dokupil instead. The CEO of Paladin Strategies communications company worked for him while he was attorney general. Her platform is narrow and focuses on backing the governor's agenda.

Whoever wins the election will have to fend off the winner of the Democratic primary race between Allison Lami Sawyer and Lloyd Wayne Oliver. Given a rash of special elections across the country showing Democratic voters are coming out en force, that could mean Dokupil, a staunch conservative, could have a hard time keeping the district as a Republican House seat.

"Listen, the district is blue already," Abbott said when asked if his attacks are worth it if Republicans ultimately lose that district. "Sarah Davis really has been acting like a Democrat. What she really should do is come out and admit she is a Democrat and run as a Democrat."

Davis shot back, Tuesday, saying Republicans should be dismayed to learn Abbott admitted he knows his attacks on her could cost Republicans the House seat.

"What a sad and pathetic failure of leadership," said Davis. "Gov. Abbott may be willing to abandon the Republican Party but I never will, and I will always be guided by the wisdom of President Ronald Reagan who taught us that a Republican who agrees with me 80 percent of the time is not my enemy."

SPECIAL SESSION: Houston legislator pushing ethics bills acknowledges bottling up a revolving door measure

Davis released her own negative campaign ad Tuesday, called "Dangerous Allies," linking Dokupil to the anti-vaccine movement, a state lawmaker who once joked about martial rape, a judge accused of sexual assault, and indicted Attorney General Ken Paxton.

"She's on the board of a fringe group that wants to build floating cities at sea, avoiding our tax laws," the ad continues, referencing Dokupil's role with the Seasteading Institute which researches and advocates for creating communities on water.

Dokupil responded to the ad late Tuesday night, saying, "I see that my opponent has stopped defending her record. Maybe that's because she can't."

Davis is a member of the House leadership, a team made up of moderate Republicans who run the chamber. House leadership clashed with the governor during the special session, often times bottling up or rewriting bills the governor wanted passed.

Davis represents a wealthy swath of southwest Houston that includes Bellaire, Southside Place, West University Place, the Texas Medical Center and stretches north through Memorial Park.

MAP: See the slideshow above to check if you live in this district.

Voters there chose Democrat Hillary Clinton over Republican Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election by 15 points. Voters in the district, many of whom are doctors, historically back a mix of Republicans and Democrats in downballot races.

The governor, who spoke to reporters after he had just voted, declined to reveal whether he had voted for fellow Republican incumbents Attorney General Ken Paxton, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and Land Commissioner George P. Bush.

"I will reveal one thing for ya, I voted for myself," he said.

MAP: See the slideshow above to see if you live in this district.

Andrea Zelinski covers politics for the Houston Chronicle. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook. Send her tips at andrea.zelinski@chron.com.
1 Military intervention: Brazils lower house approved a decree to put the military in charge of Rio de Janeiros security forces amid a spike in violence. The military took over Friday. Overnight, the armed forces and police spread out in several neighborhoods in Rio in the first major operation since the change in command. Armored vehicles rolled through the streets of one neighborhood on Guanabara Bay on Tuesday, while boats patrolled the waters. Soldiers and police set up checkpoints and searched everyone leaving or entering during the morning commute.

2 Iran clashes: Three Iranian police officers and two paramilitary troops were killed overnight during clashes with members of a Sufi Islam order in Tehran, Iranian news outlets reported Tuesday, the most casualties the security forces have suffered in one evening since the height of antigovernment demonstrations in 2009. State news media reported that police arrested more than 300 protesters, most of them members of the Gonabadi dervishes, a mystical Sufi strain of Islam that the clerical government has designated a challenge to mainstream Shiite theology.
Two Mahurangi mates will set-off this weekend on a challenge to raise money for the Himalayan Trust.

Bayleys in the North owner Mark Macky and Springboard founder Gary Diprose will walk two of New Zealands great walks in under 24 hours to raise funds in memory of Sir Edmund Hillary.

We got together and decided to do something to help the cause that was so close to Sir Eds heart  the Himalayan Trust, Mark says.

the last nine years, four events have been run raising $45,000. This year marks the 10th anniversary of Sir Eds death, as well as being the 65th anniversary of the first ascent of Mt Everest.

All our adventures have revolved around the bush/mountains in New Zealand and all have been designed to push us physically and psychologically, Mark says.

The first one was walking the three highest peaks in the North Island (Taranaki, Ruapehu and Tongariro) in under 24 hours  fair to say it was hard work and pushed the limits a bit.

This year, weve decided to do something equally crazy in the hope that people will think its a worthy cause to sponsor  walking two great walks in a day instead of the recommended as a five day hike.

The two friends are starting at the Caples Track, which then joins the Routeburn, around 6pm this Friday (Feb 23) and hoping to finish by 6pm on Saturday night.

Both Gary and Mark have been to Nepal in the last 18 months, and have seen first-hand the work the Himalayan Trust is doing.

Over the 60 years the trust has been in place the impact of its work is visible right through the Solukhumbu region in terms of schools, hospitals, airstrips, water and trees  many of the things we take for granted that have made such a massive difference to individuals, families and communities.

Mark and Gary say it is a privilege to be able to continue to help with these initiatives in Sir Eds honour.

If anyone would like to make a donation to this great cause, or thinks these lads are crazy enough to deserve a bit of support for their efforts, please visit

https://givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/two-great-walks-in-24-hours

Any help would be appreciated.
Mean Scoil Mhuire students got the opportunity to gain valuable insight into the life of major politicians when Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin visited their school recently.

After receiving a warm welcome from principal Aoife Mulrennan, he greeted the students and thanked them for allowing him to share his story with them.

Despite having no initial intentions to get involved with politics, Martin revealed he had always had a strong interest in current affairs, having heard daily reports of the Troubles in Northern Ireland from a young age.

He also spoke of his grandparents being involved in the Irish War of Independence.

Martin went on to study in University College Cork and become an Irish and history teacher, having had a great enthusiasm for both, before running for Local, and then General Elections.

He talked about his time as Minister for Education and passing the Education Act 1998, saying "one of the most enduring passions I have is to make sure every child in the country - every child born in the world, for that matter- should have the opportunity of a good education and a good learning experience."

He gave several pieces of beneficial advice to the students throughout his talk, stressing the importance of "looking out for one another" and supporting each other through challenges and vulnerabilities.

He expressed the need for self-confidence and reaffirming oneself as an individual, saying "the greatest barrier to progression in life is lack of confidence".

He spoke about always trying to make significant changes in the world for the better, using when he, as Minister for Education, decided to make corrected Leaving Certificate papers available to students after exams as an example.

He also assured students not to panic if they feel they are not prepared for the future, especially those unsure of career paths, saying "If you have a passion for something, a love for something, it will take you to the promise land".

Martin was accompanied by Longford/Westmeath Fianna Fail general election candidate Joe Flaherty, who spoke of his interest in journalism before getting involved with politics.

He also expressed the importance of taking pride in our county.

"Wear that jersey with pride at every opportunity you can get, spread the Longford message," Flaherty said, "Because it has been a great county, it has produced fantastic people, everyone from Maria Edgeworth to Padraic Collum, Ray Flynn, wonderful athlete, wonderful writers."

Cllr Flaherty will run in the country's next general election, which is due to take on or before Monday, 12th April 2021.

ALSO READ:

Longford has been left behind, claims Fianna Fail leader
Colmcilles oldest resident, Frank Sullivan, Aughakine, passed away on January 14, 2018, just two weeks before his 100th birthday, in a life that spanned eleven decades.

Frank was born on January 30, 1918 and, before that year was out, his father died from the great flu that is said to have caused the deaths of between 50-100 million people worldwide.

The tragic death of his father on December 5, 1918 left his mother a widow before her nineteenth birthday.

When Frank started school, his mother went to work in Howth, Co Dublin and he was reared by his grandmother.

He was surely one of the very last people who could remember seeing the Black and Tans. He could recall Tans coming into the room where he was in bed, probably in 1921.

He remembered a Blueshirt meeting at Rathmore Cross and he also could talk about the reconstruction of Colmcille Church in 1932-34.

After attending a carpentry class in the old Technical School in Rathmore in the mid 1930s, he started making wardrobes and selling them.

He would travel by pony and cart to Paddy Pee Mastersons in Abbeylara, a distance of 10 miles, to get the timber, but he had to make a separate trip to Arva on the bicycle to get the mirror glass.

This he tied between two pieces of plywood and carried on his back. Less chance of it getting broke than on the cart.

He started to learn the building trade with Mickie Art Gormley in the 1930s and, after stints in Belfast and Dublin, he took the building of a house for Long John Reilly in Ballinroey in 1949.

As he said himself, when this didnt fall, others got him to build too and he became the man to get, if you wanted a house built or extended, or if you wanted to replace a thatched roof with slates or asbestos.

In those days, the one tradesman did everything. He helped dig the foundation, built the walls with blocks or mass concrete, put on the roof, plastered and hardwalled the walls, dashed the outside, put in windows and doors and everything else that had to be done.

In the early 1950s, there was no electrical or plumbing work involved at all. In 1956, the electricity came to the area but, with one exception, the first ten houses he built had no running water or toilet and there was no requirement, even for grant purposes, to put in running water.

He built each of the first three houses for 100 each. He was very proud of the houses he built, like Phil Rock Reillys, Aughnacliffe; Mickie McGoverns, Cartronmarkey; Joe Smiths, Bunlahy; Paddy McKeons, Molly, and over 20 in all.

He had a great passion for what he called ceili music. He learned the button accordion himself and, in the late 1930s, he played with two different bands.

The first one was led by Jimmy and Pee Cosgrove, Dernaferst and they played in local halls; Tan Boylans, Gowna; Murphys Ballyduffy; Lynchs in Cleenrath, Lukie Martins and the Tech in Rathmore.

Then he joined with the Bradys from Mullinalaghta and Robin Lynch and they had a regular Sunday night spot in Mullinalaghta Hall.

These dances were to raise funds for the new church. He used to get 5/- a night for playing at a time when you would have to work a whole day to earn 2/6 setting lea with a loy. He also played at a lot of house dances in kitchens and barns.

The Sullivan house in Aughakine was a great place for music and song and, in his latter years, there were regular sessions when different musicians would call in. When the music started, the night was never long enough for Frank and all he could think of was when the next session would be.

In 1949 he married Rosetta Shaughnessy and they went to live in a thatched house which stood along the upper Aughakine Road. There they reared five children.

In the early 1970s, Frank built a new house on the lower Aughakine Road and he lived there until after his 99th birthday.

When the legs started to fail, he reluctantly agreed to go to the Laurel Lodge Nursing Home, where he received great care for his last eight months.

Frank was still in good form until about a week before his death and the main talk was about the 100th birthday party.

The hotel was booked, the cake was baked and the invitations were printed but, alas, the flu came and the cake was eaten at his funeral instead of his birthday celebration.

After a long and happy life, he would have been pleased with the traditional wake and funeral with the main celebrant, Fr Seamus McKeon assisted by Fr Cadam, Fr ORourke and Fr Starkin.

Frank was a very religious man who could be found saying the Rosary to himself at any hour, either at home or in the nursing home. He was laid to rest in Colmcille Cemetery alongside his late beloved wife, Rosetta, on Wednesday, January 17, 2018.

Solas na bhflaitheas do.
A murder accused has taken the stand in his defence and told his trial that he didn't mean to harm the deceased and regrets every day what he did.

Rihards Lavickis (25) of Annaly Court, Longford has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Akadiusz 'Arek' Czajkowski (31) at Rue Noyal Chatillon, Townspark in Longford on November 1, 2016. His plea was not accepted by the State and he is on trial at the Central Criminal Court.

He admits stabbing the deceased, but told his defence counsel John Shortt SC that he was stressed out, that he "lost it" and had a "kind of a blackout", only realising later on what he had done.

He said he is not the kind of person to stab anyone and that he felt as though his brain turned off.

Addressing Mr Czajkowski's family, he said he is "really sorry" and can't believe that his loss of control could have caused such serious harm. He said he had no anger towards Mr Czajkowski and will never forgive himself. He finished by saying that he regrets it every day.

Mr Lavickis was due to be cross examined by Patrick McGrath SC for the prosecution on Tuesday (yesterday, February 20) in front of the jury of six men and six women. Justice Una Ni Raifeartaigh is presiding.

For more see www.longfordleader.ie.

Also read:

Longford murder trial hears drug dealer wanted to teach deceased a lesson
A blast of weather all the way from Siberia in Russia could be set to hit Ireland over the coming days according to the latest Irish and UK forecast as Spring sunshine is replaced by a sub-zero eastern weather front.

Met Eireann says it will be dry settled but cold for the remainder of the weekend but a return to winter is its forecast. It is possible that the weather front that will keep weather settled until the weekend could end up pushing very cold Siberian weather east.

While the details of further outlook remain uncertain, Met Eireann cautioning at the moment that it looks like it will be a cold regime for early days of next week with easterly winds, and frosty nights with sub zero temperatures.

Snow is also possible with the a risk of some wintry showers in some eastern and southern coastal counties and some may be of snow, but mainly dry elsewhere.

WEEKLY FORECAST FROM MET EIREANN ON RTE

The Met Office in the UK is also monitoring the situation. It says weather could potentially make a 'dramatic few days'. It warns that very cold weather could hit Ireland on Britain on Monday.

You may also be interested in:

Remembering Colmcilles oldest resident, renowned builder and musician Frank Sullivan

Accused tells Longford murder trial he didn't mean to harm deceased
Local News, Politics

By Long Island News & PR Published: February 20 2018

Amendments Preserve SALT Deductibility Through an Optional Employer-Based System, Creates New Funds for Charitable Donations, and De-Couples New York from the Federal Tax Code.

Albany, NY - February 20, 2018 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced 30-day amendments to the FY 2019 Executive Budget, including legislation to protect New York taxpayers from federal tax increases. Amendments include legislation to create a new optional Employer Compensation Expense Tax system, allowing participating employers to shield their employees from federal tax hikes. Legislation also creates two new funds to accept donations to fund health care and education programs, allowing taxpayers who itemize their deductions to deduct those donations from their federal taxes. Finally, budget amendments include provisions to decouple the state tax code from the federal tax code so that State taxpayers do not see more than $1.5 billion in state taxes because of federal tax increases.

"The FY 2019 Budget protects New Yorkers against attacks from Washington and helps further our bold, progressive agenda to move New York forward," Governor Cuomo said. "After working with experts and stakeholders, I am advancing further reforms through these budget amendments that to safeguard our competitiveness and help protect residents from this federal economic assault."

The legislation and narratives for all FY 2019 Executive Budget amendments are available on the New York State Division of the Budget's website

Key amendments include:

Protect New York Taxpayers from Federal Tax Reform: A summary of proposed tax reforms is available here. Detailed Legislation included with 30-day amendments will protect taxpayers by:

Creating a new Employer Compensation Expense Tax: Employers would be able to opt-in to a new ECET system. Employers that opt-in would be subject to a five percent tax on all annual payroll expenses in excess of $40,000 per employee, phased in over three years beginning on January 1, 2019. The progressive personal income tax system would remain in place, and a new tax credit corresponding in value to the ECET would cut the personal income tax on wages and ensure that State filers subject to the ECET would not experience a decline in take-home pay. Overall, the proposal is designed to be revenue neutral for the state while giving employers the opportunity to reduce their employees' federal taxes. Under the legislation, the deadline for the first annual election for employers to opt-in to this alternative system will be on October 1, 2018, for the 2019 tax year. For those who opt-in, the three-year phase-in for the new payroll tax on wages over $40,000 would include a 1.5 percent rate in first year, a 3 percent in second year and a 5 percent rate in third year.

Expanding Options for Deductible Charitable Contributions: The legislation creates two new state-operated charitable funds to accept donations for the purposes of improving health care and education in New York. Taxpayers who itemize deductions could claim these charitable contributions as deductions on their federal and state tax returns. Any taxpayer donating could also claim a State tax credit equal to 85 percent of the donation amount for the tax year after the donation is made. The legislation also authorizes school districts, counties, towns, cities, and villages to create charitable funds for education, health care, and other charitable purposes. Donations to these funds would provide a reduction in local property tax bills (via a local credit) equal to 95 percent of the donation.

Decoupling from Federal Tax Code: The state tax code is closely aligned with the Federal tax code. This legislation decouples the state tax code from the federal tax code, where necessary, to avoid more than $1.5 billion in State tax increases brought solely by increases in federal taxes. Federal tax reform capped the itemized deduction for State and local taxes (SALT) at $10,000. The Governor proposes to decouple from this cap so New York taxpayers are not subjected to a $441 million State tax increase from the flow through of this cap to State income tax returns. The legislation also decouples from other Federal deduction changes, saving State taxpayers $269 million annually beginning in FY 2020. The 30-day amendments will also maintain the state standard deduction for single filers. Without this change, single filers would not be able to take the standard deduction on their State return, and New York taxpayers would have been subjected to an $840 million annual State tax increase beginning in FY 2020.

Advance Near-Term Fix NYC Panel Recommendations:

The following near-term recommendations from Fix NYC are being advanced as immediate steps forward. Additional panel recommendations will be considered with the Legislature while negotiations on the FY 2019 Budget continue.

Authorizes the City of New York to create a pilot program to enforce "block the box" traffic violations using intersection monitoring systems south of 60th Street in Manhattan to reduce traffic violations that clog city streets and wreak havoc on traffic flow.

Directs the New York State Department of Transportation and the Department of Motor Vehicles to conduct a comprehensive review of the operations, regulation, oversight, licensing and safety requirements pertaining to commuter, intercity, charter and tour buses that contribute to congestion in Manhattan.

Tasks the Fix NYC panel with making recommendations to the NYC TLC regarding specific equipment that should be installed in all taxicabs and for-hire vehicles for the purposes of instituting a surcharge on trips originating or terminating within an established geographic area, and mandates the NYC TLC to establish uniform technology and standards for that purpose.

Tasks the Fix NYC panel with making recommendations on how best to revise New York City's placard program to cut down on overuse and abuse. Specifically, the panel would look at the design, criteria for issuance or reissuance, enforcement and accountability measures, and any aspects of the program and make recommendations to relevant city agencies, which would then issue rules and regulations, in consideration of those recommendations, to curb abuse.

Provide Flu Vaccines to Children Regardless of Ability to Pay: Legislation codifies Executive Order No. 176 requiring pharmacists to administer flu vaccines to children ages 2-18, and permanently suspends the section of education law that limits the authority of pharmacists to administer immunizing agents to anyone under age 18.

Protect Children from Sex Offenders: Restrict sex offenders whose victims are under the age of 13 from traveling or living near schools where young children go to learn, and ban offenders from living in temporary or emergency housing or shelters where families also reside. Require the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to obtain a list of schools from the State Department of Education, and distribute that list to probation and parole departments to ensure sex offenders stay away from those locations.

Fund Early Voting in New York: Provide approximately $7 million in the FY 2019 Executive Budget for New York counties to offer early voting in the 12 days leading up to Election Day. Legislation requires every county to offer residents access to at least one early voting poll site during the 12 days leading up to Election Day. Voters will have at least eight hours on weekdays and five hours on weekends to cast early ballots. Counties must have one early voting poll site for every 50,000 residents and the bipartisan County Boards of Elections will determine the specific location of early voting polling places, subject to standards of accessibility and convenience.

Ban Sales of Synthetic Marijuana (K2): Add 36 different chemical compositions to the state's controlled substances list. The 36 compounds, commonly referred to as K2, are already listed on the federal schedule of controlled substances but are only banned in certain New York State counties. This action ensures manufactures and sellers in all New York's counties are subject to the same criminal penalties.

Combat the Fentanyl Crisis: Add new fentanyl analogs to the state controlled substances schedule and provide the New York State Health Commissioner the authority to add any new drugs that have been added to the federal schedule, to the state controlled substances schedule.

Crack Down on Physician Misconduct: Authorize the Health Commissioner to order physicians charged with a felony related to their medical practice whose alleged conduct may present a public risk to immediately stop practicing medicine, and to obtain a warrant to search an accused physician's home, office and belongings. In addition, the legislation reduces the response time for supplying relevant documentation.

Strengthen Disciplinary Process for Prison Employees: Legislation grants the Commissioner a greater ability to discipline those who have been found to have committed acts of serious misconduct, similar to authority provided to other law enforcement agencies, including the New York State Police. Additionally, this legislation updates the Department's hiring practices to ensure that individuals who do not meet strict criteria are not hired to begin with.

Prohibit Sexual Contact Between Police Officers and Those in Custody: Establish the incapacity to consent when a person is under arrest, detention or otherwise in actual custody.

Allow DASNY to Assist with Construction Related to Raise-the-Age: Extend authorization to obtain DASNY bond financing and construction services to local social services districts, probation depts. and not-for-profits providing juvenile residential placement services; to finance the construction of new specialized secure detention facilities and/or retrofitting existing juvenile detention facilities in time for the implementation of Raise the Age. Costs could range from $10 million to $50 million or more.
The News in Brief

300 doctors out of 305 confirmed to have committed misdemeanors



The Medical Regulation Agency of the Ministry of Labor Health and Social Affairs stated that professional responsibility of 300 doctors was checked last year.



207 doctors were given written warnings and 93 medical certificates were suspended during the different periods of time, the Health Ministry reported.



The Medical Regulation Agency writes that based on the order of the head of the Agency, the studies of the quality of medical care provided to patients have started for 170 different cases.



The Professional Development Council reviewed 305 cases: 2 doctors have not been imposed professional responsibility; 3 case discussions have been postponed. Professional responsibilities were imposed on 300 doctors. 207 were given a written warning, stated the Agency.







Corrections Ministry says one of the prisoners presumably attempted suicide



Ministry of Corrections and Legal Assistance of Georgia has released a statement about the wounded prisoner at the Gldani prison #8.



"The prison administration immediately provided a medical assistance to the prisoner, after which he was transferred to the civil sector clinic. The health condition of the prisoner is serious but stable, the Ministry wrote.



The ministry has already launched an investigation under the article which envisages bringing a person to suicide.



Prisoner's lawyer, Archil Chopikashvili, doubts the versions of suicide attempt. He addressed the Ministry Of Labor Health And Social Affairs to take all necessary measures to save the victim's life.



The injured was charged for premeditated murder and was serving his sentence.

(Prepared by Mariam Chanishvili)




by Jess Nelson , February 19, 2018

Email and audience development solution PostUp is the most popular Email Service Provider (ESP) by campaign frequency, according to a Notablist analysis.

Notablist, a competitive intelligence service for email marketers, analyzed its database of more than 30 million email campaigns sent by 500,000 brands to investigate the most popular types of marketing technology platforms used over the past year. Notablists technology can detect 350 different marketing platforms utilized by brands to send email messages, and the company tags every email in its database by technology vendor.

PostUp is the favored ESP of prolific email senders according to the study, with the email solution sending an average of 19 unique mailings per client every month. Maropost, a marketing cloud provider based in Canada, came in second place with an average of 14 unique email campaigns per client. SailThru and CheetahMail averaged 13 unique mailings, while Oracles Responsys and YesMail average a dozen email campaigns per client.

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Considering the plethora of email newsletters sent by publishers, the media industry is easily one of the most frequent senders of email according to Notablist. The results of Notablists analysis validates PostUps business strategy, as the Austin-based email solution powers a suite of email marketing tools for media brands.

The PostUp platform is specifically designed to support the unique needs of publishers' large scale newsletter programs, with a focus on efficiency and automation, states Keith Sibson, vice president of product and marketing for PostUp.

In addition to email marketing technology tools like automation, segmentation, and analytics, PostUp also offers consulting services for media brands seeking additional revenue opportunities through email, such as campaign management, technology integration services, delivery guidance, and email creative design.

PostUp has delivered over 200 billion emails for media brands, such as The Hill and Fast Company. Both media brands have sophisticated newsletter initiatives, leveraging email as another opportunity to connect with and inform readers. Fast Company delivers more than a dozen newsletters on varying topics and sending frequencies, ranging from daily emails to weekly digests. The Hill offers three different email newsletters that mirror the publications focus on politics, including the popular daily news roundup The Hills Tipsheet.
by Larissa Faw , February 19, 2018

Havas has landed AOR duties for Carl's Jr. and Hardee's following a competitive review. Incumbent 72andSunny held the account for more than six years.

Havas' Chicago office will oversee the portfolio which includes digital, social, TV, radio and online video content responsibilities.

Parent company CKE Restaurant Holdings is overhauling these two chains under a new leadership team hired within the past year. Chief executive officer Jason Marker and chief marketing officer Jeff Jenkins are continuing to shift these brands away from their quirky and sex-fueled advertising messages to instead focus on quality and hand-made process.

For the first time, CKE is also creating two distinct brands between Carls Jr. and Hardees. While Carl's Jr. mainly operates on the West coast and Hardee's is based in the Midwest and Southeastern regions, Carl's Jr. recently opened up its first shop in New York City.

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Havas and CKE today are introducing "Call of Carl's," the first Carl's only, multi-channel campaign designed to "create a manifestation and vocalization of food craving," says an agency spokesperson.

Voiced by actor Matthew McConaughey, the :30 TV spot supports the Western Bacon Cheeseburger by juxtaposing imagery of the ingredients and burger with wide-eyed Millennial-aged men and "space age-like" special effects.

This campaign appears on TV, radio, and online video, as well as social media engagement, such as chatting with fans in real-time.

CKE spent $49 million on U.S. advertising for both chains during the first six months of 2017 and $100 million during 2016, according to Kantar Media.

Last year, 72andSunny attempted to reposition Carl's Jr. after the much-maligned but attention-grabbing "hot babe" campaigns. In April, the California-based agency developed a new creative direction that introduced a fictional Carl Hardee, Jr. who battled against his more traditional founder father Hardee Sr.

72andSunny also refreshed the entire Carl's Jr. brand including the chain's logo, packaging, in-store assets and employee uniforms. "The goal was really to contemporize the brand, make it look more sophisticated and convey the higher quality we deliver in the food," said the agency at the time to Ad Age. Havas did not respond by press time to whether it will continue to use these new design assets.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, February 19, 2018

AT&T apparently wasn't amused by last year's T-Mobile holiday ad, in which a talking snowman called T-Mobile's rivals "the abominable carriers" and said they "only cared about silver and gold and how to take it from the people of the world.

In the video ad -- a two-minute parody of holiday movies -- a claymation version of CEO John Legere is on his way to the Island of Misfit CEOs when he comes upon an elf, a deer and a snowman on a mountain. The characters then talk about how Legere saved the wireless industry from the "abominable carriers."

At one point, the ad displayed mocked-up newspaper versions of online sites including Gizmodo, Thrillist and CNET. The "newspapers" carried headlines that actually ran on the sites, including "Verizon is ripping off thousands of customers" (which appeared on Thrillist in 2016), and "Here's another way AT&T is screwing over its customers" (which ran in Gizmodo in 2015).

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AT&T complained about the ad to the National Advertising Division -- a self-regulatory watchdog administered by the Better Business Bureau. The telecom objected to numerous statements made in the ad, arguing that they denigrate the company.

The NAD said Friday it referred the matter to the Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission because T-Mobile refused to participate in a review.

In its complaint, AT&T specifically criticized T-Mobile's presentation of the news headlines from Gizmodo and the other online sites. "AT&T took the position that, by relying on opinion articles published years ago and other generalized statements throughout the video, T-Mobile falsely and misleadingly makes broad and unsubstantiated superiority comparisons between T-Mobiles current practices and disclosures and AT&Ts current practices and disclosures," the NAD wrote in its opinion.

T-Mobile unsuccessfully asked the NAD to close the case administratively, according to the watchdog. After the NAD declined to do so, T-Mobile allegedly declined to participate in the review.

The watchdog said the "whimsical tone" of the video and its "seasonal nature" were "not persuasive reasons to close the proceeding."

"The video compares T-Mobiles service to its competitors, specifically making numerous references to AT&T, the kinds of comparative claims routinely addressed in NAD proceedings, as well as making monadic claims about T-Mobiles service that require support," the watchdog wrote. "The fact that the video was primarily disseminated through social media does not deprive NAD of jurisdiction to review the video."

T-Mobile's Legere took to Twitter Friday to respond to news of AT&T's complaint. "HAHAHAHAHA - @ATT??" he wrote. "Youre complaining about a Claymation holiday video??? Totally something a major miser would do!!


by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, February 20, 2018

The Wyoming Blockchain Coalition reported on Monday that the first two of the five bills proposed have unanimously passed the Wyoming House of Representatives.

The two bills that passed will move on to the Senate. They include HB 19 bitcoin bill," and HB 70 utility token bill, which classifies the token in different classes. The remaining three bills will be voted on soon.

The passing of the utility token bill is a positive step for MetaX, and the company's CRO Alanna Gombert said these types of laws are critical for companies focused on supporting the advertising industry with blockchain.

For instance, Gombert said, MetaX launched a utility coin, adToken, to power the adChain registry, a decentralized application built on Ethereum focused on voting publishers into a consensus-based quality list. The token is used for voting the publishers in or out of the registry, and advertisers will be added in soon.

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As the advertising industry moves to adopt blockchain, Gombert said the industry needs guidance and laws to prevent chaos. "Other bills have been proposed, but this is the most cohesive set of bills we've seen," she said.

The Coalition believes the law will bring revenue and technology into the state. "In the past few weeks, we have learned that some of the most important companies in the blockchain sector are already Wyoming LLCs, and we're expecting many more to come if the bills pass," said Wyoming Blockchain Coalition co-founder Caitlin Long. "Several ICOs have already formed to target the advertising industry, aimed at creating a new model for monetizing 'eyeballs' on the Internet. We don't know if any of them will domicile in Wyoming, but they're all welcome to come here."

All five proposed blockchain bills have been supported nearly unanimously throughout all procedural votes to date during the legislative session, and Governor Matt Mead indicated support for the blockchain effort during his State of the State address a week ago, according to the Wyoming Blockchain Coalition.

The three remaining bills include HB 101 blockchain filings bill," HB 126 series LLC bill, and SF 111 "crypto property tax exemption bill."

The Coalition estimates the global crypto market's worth at between $500 billion and $700 billion. While much of the industry continues to operate overseas, moves such as this by the Wyoming legislation would potentially keep business in the U.S., with a hub in Wyoming.
by Gord Hotchkiss , Featured Contributor, February 20, 2018

2017 was an average year for shark attacks.

And this just in By the year 2050, half of the world will be nearsighted.

What could these two headlines possibly have in common? Ill tell you.

First, lets look at why 2017 was a decidedly non-eventful year, at least when it came to interactions between Selachimorpha (sharks) and Homo (us). Nothing unusual happened. Thats it. There was no sudden spike in Jaws-like incidents. Sharks didnt suddenly disappear from the worlds oceans. Everything was just average.

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Was this the only way that 2017 was uneventful? No. There were others. But we didnt notice because we were focused on the ways that the world seemed to be going to hell in a hand basket. If we look at 2017 like a bell curve, we were focused on the outliers, not the middle.

Theres no shame in that. Thats what we do. The usual doesnt make the nightly news. It doesnt even make our Facebook feed. But heres the thing: We live most of our live in the middle of the curve, not in the outlier extremes. The things that are most relevant to our lives falls squarely into the usual. But all the communication channels that have been built to channel information to us are focused on the unusual. And thats because we insist not on being informed, but instead on being amused.

In 1985, Neil Postman wrote the book "Amusing Ourselves to Death." In it, he charts how the introduction of electronic media -- especially television ---hastened our decline into a dystopian existence that shares more than a few parallels with Aldous Huxleys "Brave New World."

His warning was pointed, to say the least: There are two ways by which the spirit of a culture may be shrivelled, Postman says. In the firstthe Orwellianculture becomes a prison. In the secondthe Huxleyanculture becomes a burlesque.

Its probably worth reminding ourselves of what burlesque means: a literary or dramatic work that seeks to ridicule by means of grotesque exaggeration or comic imitation. If the transformation of our culture into burlesque seemed apparent in the "80s, youd pretty much have to say its a fait accompli 35 years later. Grotesque exaggeration is the new normal., not to mention the new president.

But this steering of our numbed senses toward the extremes has some consequences. As the world becomes more extreme, it requires more extreme events to catch our notice. We are spending more and more of our media consumption time among the outliers.

Which brings us to the second problem. By their nature, extremes tend to be ideologically polarized as well. If were going to consider extremes that carry a politically charged message, we stick to the extremes that are well-synced with our worldview.

In cognitive terms, these ideas are fluent: theyre easier to process. The more polarized and extreme a message is, the more important that it's fluent for us. We also are more likely to filter out non-fluent messages: messages we dont happen to agree with.

The third problem is that we are becoming short-sighted (see, I told you Id get there, eventually). So not only do we look for extremes, we are increasingly seeking out the trivial.

We do so because being informed is increasingly scaring the bejeezus out of us. We dont look too deeply, nor do we look too far in the future -- because the future is scary.

There is the collapse of our climate, World War III with North Korea, four more years of Trump -- this stuff is terrifying!

Increasingly, we spend our cognitive resources looking things that are amusing and immediate. The information we seek has to provide immediate gratification. Yes, we are becoming physically short-sighted because we stare at screens too much, but were also becoming mentally myopic as well.

If all this is disturbing, dont worry. Just grab a Soma and enjoy a Feelie.
by Sara Guaglione , February 20, 2018

Tronc is moving some production and design jobs to its headquarters in Chicago to cut costs and centralize its business.

Tronc, the owner of publications like New York Daily News and Chicago Tribune, is moving about two dozen jobs to Chicago, according to multiple media outlets.

Tim Knight, Troncs newly appointed president, said in a memo obtained by the New York Post: Like other leading news organizations that have taken bold steps to hasten their digital transformation, we will create a new central business unit headquartered in Chicago, called the Design and Production Studio, or DPS.

The Design and Production Studio will be led by Cristi Kempf, associate managing editor for editing and presentation at the Tribune, and report to associate editor Colin McMahon.

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The DPS will perform editorial production of the print newspapers for each of our markets, Knight added.

Knight said the move is part of a companywide reorganization to reimagine how our newsrooms deliver on our journalistic mission and accelerate our transformation to a truly digital-focused company.

On February 8, Tronc announced it was embarking on a national digital growth strategy, with a newly reorganized division called Tribune Interactive, home to Troncs digital assets and functions. That includes everything from product development to digital subscriptions and national digital sales.

Tribune Interactive will also pursue strategic investments and acquisitions. For example, the division will oversee Troncs newly announced majority ownership in BestReviews, the consumer reviews and ecommerce company.

TI will be led by Ross Levinsohn, the former CEO and publisher of the Los Angeles Times, who is returning from unpaid leave. Tronc launched an investigation into Levinsohn's behavior after an NPR report revealed he had been involved in two sexual harassment lawsuits at previous companies.

Tronc expects to close its sale of the Los Angeles Times and the San Diego Union-Tribune to billionaire Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong for $500 million in April, which will also give the company some additional revenue.

Knight told staffers local newsrooms will review salaries for all editorial employees and may give raises.

Over the next six weeks, while positions are being determined in line with our plan, we expect each local newsroom to review base compensation; where appropriate, each newsroom will make pay increases reflecting either change in responsibility and/or adjusting to market, he wrote.

The move is likely an effort to stave off any unionizing efforts; the Los Angeles Times voted to unionize last month.
A drug used to combat the common skin condition psoriasis may help to protect the heart. A new study shows that it can reduce aortic inflammation, a key risk factor for future cardiovascular events. Share on Pinterest Could a psoriasis drug help to reduce cardiovascular risk? Psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory condition, is one of the most common skin disorders in the United States. It affects more than 100 million people worldwide. The skin cells of people with psoriasis multiply faster than normal, which produces raised red bumps on the skin, often on the knees, scalp, and elbows. Though psoriasis affects such a large proportion of adults, its causes are unclear, and it cannot currently be cured. Over the years, a link has been found between psoriasis and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This relationship is particularly pronounced in individuals who have severe psoriasis.

Ustekinumab, psoriasis, and the heart Ustekinumab, sold as Stelara, is an antibody that interferes with the bodys inflammatory response. It is prescribed for people whose psoriasis has not responded well to other treatments, or who cannot tolerate other available medicines. The drug has also been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat Crohns disease. Recently, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia joined forces with a team from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. They wanted to measure the effects of ustekinumab on something other than skin. Their findings were recently presented at the 2018 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting, held in San Diego, CA. Because ustekinumab reduces the inflammation associated with psoriasis, the researchers wanted to explore whether or not it could benefit heart health by reducing inflammation there, too. First study author Dr. Joel M. Gelfand, a professor of dermatology and epidemiology, explains their thought process, saying, The type of inflammation we see in psoriasis is similar to what we see in atherosclerosis, which he describes as a type of heart disease that involves the buildup of fats, cholesterol, and inflammatory cells in the artery walls. Dr. Gelfand adds, Since ustekinumab blocks the specific pathways involved in both skin and cardiovascular inflammation, we wanted to test whether it can improve aortic vascular inflammation.
Chest acne has several different potential causes. The exact cause will vary from person-to-person.

Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States, according to the American Academy of Dermatology . Though common in teens and young adults, there are cases of acne appearing on women in their 30s through 50s.

Acne can appear on different body parts, including the chest. There are many potential causes of chest acne, and often a person can reduce their symptoms or avoid developing acne by avoiding triggers that cause the condition.

Share on Pinterest Acne is a common condition and the cause of chest acne will differ from person to person.

The following are some of the most common causes of chest acne:

hormonal fluctuations

sugary foods

dehydration

working out

laundry detergents with dyes or perfumes

dry skin and sun exposure

oily moisturizers

makeup and perfumes

1. Hormonal fluctuations

Though often typical in teens and young adults, hormones can also play a role in older women developing acne on or near their breasts during their period. The changing hormones and friction from the breast swelling may cause an acne breakout.

2. Sugary foods

Sugary foods trigger quick spikes in blood sugar, which may lead to an acne breakout on the chest and other body parts prone to acne. A person whos acne is triggered by sugary foods should reduce the amount of sugar they consume.

3. Dehydration

Not drinking enough fluid adversely affects every part of a persons health including their skin. When a person is dehydrated, their skin is more likely to become dry and flaky. The dryness signals the skin to increase oil production in an attempt to rehydrate it.

The flakes can get stuck in overly oily pores, making this a recipe for more acne. A person can stave off chest acne from dehydration by getting enough water each day and increasing fluid intake after illness, exercise, or when in extreme heat.

4. Working Out

While exercise typically helps a person stay healthy, working out can lead to chest acne in some people. Friction from skin rubbing up against clothes combined with sweat can cause a person to develop acne on their chest.

To help prevent this, a person should wear loose-fitting shirts and shower off shortly after a workout. If showering right away is not an option, a person should use a wipe with an acne medication.

5. Laundry detergents with dyes or perfumes

Wearing clean clothes can typically help prevent acne because they help prevent dirt and other contaminants from getting stuck in the pores. Some people may find that certain laundry detergents, particularly ones with dyes and perfumes, cause an acne breakout. A person who traces their outbreaks to laundry detergent should look for dye and perfume-free detergent.

6. Dry skin and sun exposure

It is a common misconception that sun helps clear acne. In reality, sun exposure can make acne worse, including acne on the chest. Sun exposure can lead to dehydration and dry out already dry skin, causing acne to form.

In these cases, acne forms because the body starts to produce more oil to help rehydrate the skin. A person with chest acne may want to consider non-pore clogging moisturizers and limiting direct sun exposure.

7. Oily moisturizers

Moisturizers can be very helpful in combatting dry, cracked skin. For some people, using an oil-based moisturizer or body lotion can cause breakouts on their chest.

Oil-based moisturizers block pores and trap dirt and bacteria, causing acne to form. If dry skin is a problem, a person should talk to their dermatologist or another medical professional about moisturizers that wont clog the pores or look for noncomedogenic or oil-free moisturizers.

8. Makeup and perfumes

Similar to scented laundry detergent, perfume may irritate the skin causing acne to form. Makeup may cause a similar reaction as well as potentially clogging the pores. A person who finds that makeup or perfume causes breakouts should avoid applying either to their chest to avoid breakouts.
Who doesn't like free money? Whatever the amount may be, randomly getting money is one the most pleasurable things in the world.

People of Singapore are way too lucky as they are about to get a one-time bonus of around Rs 10k each! Why? Well, because of the country's surplus budget. That sounds so cool, getting money without doing anything. I'm only slightly jealous that I don't live in Singapore.

Any guesses on the surplus budget? It's a whopping S$10 Billion!

So basically, all the citizens above the age of 21 will receive a one-time bonus ranging from S$100-S$300, depending on their income. I just have only one thing to say you them 

Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat described this bonus as 'hongbao' which is a Mandarin term that means a monetary present given on special occasions. The bonus will cost the government S$700 million and reflects the government's long-standing commitment to share of the fruits of Singapore's development with Singaporeans, Heng said.

People with an income of S$28,000 or below will receive S$300, those in the bracket of S$28,001 to S$100,000 will receive S$200, while people earning S$100,000 will receive S$100.

That's such a smart way to distribute the money, full props to Singapore for this, it's quite impressive.

We can only dream of getting a bonus like this, to be quite honest, because I don't see any way that we would ever actually get that. But, we can still hope.
The official Sony Xperia account on Twitter is teasing an upcoming announcement at Mobile World Congress (MWC), and while that's not a huge surprise, the hardware itself may be. The teaser is a bit vague but presumably, it will have something to do with the company's upcoming phone.

A stretching bow of sinuous waves flows down from the top of the screen, onto an outstretched hand, indicating two things, either a curved display or a more perfectly balanced physical design. We've seen Sony's OmniBalance design for year now and very well mean a more modern refinement.

Basically, any Xperia device launched from 2012 up to this point have had a similar look, leading many to feel that Sony's new smartphones are just plain boring. In a market where OEMs are switching up designs almost year-to-year, it's easy to get stale.

From what we know so far, one of the phones that Sony may unveil could be the Xperia XZ2 as it has been the most talked about phone in recent weeks. The XZ2 is tipped to sport an FHD+ 18:9 display with minimal bezels, which would be a drastic change from what we have come to expect from the company. The Xperia XZ2 is also expected to be powered by a Snapdragon 845 chipset with Adreno 630 GPU and will most likely run Android 8.0 Oreo. The smartphone is tipped to come with a full-metal design and could sport a 15-megapixel rear camera and a 12-megapixel front-facing sensor.

 TechAdvisor

There doesn't appear to be any legit renders of this device floating around yet, which is surprising, but a common thread seems to be that the corners of the device will be rounded somehow.

Last year, Sony unveiled an interesting Xperia XZ Premium phone, which was named the best new smartphone at MWC 2017. It came as a surprise to everyone because it was widely expected the S8 shall bag the award. In the current state, Samsung is already leading with the S9 thanks to the numerous leaks in the past few days while LG has reportedly postponed its flagship launch to June. It'll be exciting to see what Sony has up its sleeve at MWC 2018!

Stay tuned to MensXP for the latest coverage from Barcelona!
US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross on February 16 recommended a series of tariffs and/or quotas in addition to existing duties in place on aluminium and steel imports following the departments Section 232 investigations into imports of the products.The findings of the US investigation are baseless and are totally inconsistent with facts, Wang Hejun, chief of the Trade Remedy and Investigation Bureau, which operates under Chinas MOC, said in a statement on February 17.Most of the steel and aluminum products imported from the US are low-end civilian products and stakeholders  including those in the EU, Canada, Russia, China, South Africa, South Korea and Vietnam - have proved during the investigations that their exports to the US have not hurt that country's national security, Wang said.In the findings, the US secretary had outlined three potential measures aimed at limiting steel and aluminium imports on national security grounds: a blanket tariff, targeted tariffs and quotas, or blanket quotas.The US has imposed several countermeasures against most imported steel and aluminum products and already provided excessive protection to domestic products, and hence should not recklessly impose more restrictive measures on national security grounds, Wang said.The scope of national security is very wide and its lack of a unified definition can easily lead to abuse. If countries follow the example of the US, it will have a serious impact on international trade order, he added.With the recent years of sluggish global economic recovery and difficulties of the steel and aluminum industries in various countries, all nations should cooperate to explore solutions instead of taking trade restrictions unilaterally, Wang said.China urges the US to exercise restraint in using trade protection tools and comply with multilateral trade rules to contribute positively to international economic and trade order, he said.If the final decision of the US affects China's interests, China will definitely take the necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate rights.Aluminium prices surged after the release of the US Commerce Department recommendations , with aluminium premiums in the US expected to rise with the introduction of import tariffs. American Metal Markets assessment of the P1020 premium has been on the rise since before Ross delivered his recommendations to the White House last month. The latest assessment, at 13-13.5 cents per lb, marks an upswing of more than 40% since the start of the year.The London Metal Exchange three-month aluminium price had rallied 2% to a two-week high of $2,208 per tonne at close of trading on February 16, with spreads moving into a significant backwardation, after news broke that the US Department of Commerce had advised President Trump on tariffs on aluminium and steel.US President Trump is required to make a decision on the recommendations by April 19, 2018..
If [Mexico] is included in measures [resulting from the Section 232 investigation], we are obliged as a country to respond immediately with equivalent measures against imports from the USA, the association said on Sunday February 18.The US Secretary of Commerce, Wilbur Ross, said that his government is considering measures including tariffs and quotas , following his departments Section 232 investigations into alleged national security issues related to steel imports.The alternatives recommended to the US government by the Commerce Department are a global tariff or quota on steel imports, or tariffs on a set of 12 countries.The options of global tariffs or quotas suggested by the department do not contain exemptions for the US trading partners in the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) - Canada and Mexico.Canacero warned that any measures taken by the US could affect Nafta renegotiations.Mexico should not be included in any [measures arising] from the Section 232 investigation It does not represent any risk to US national security, because our industry does not receive subsidies and it is not a part of the global excess production capacity, the organization said.Last year, the US had a steel trade surplus of $3.40 billion with Mexico, while the total value of US steel exports to Mexico reached $9.80 billion in the same period, according to Canacero figures.
SHELTON - A 14-year-old boy has been arrested after police said he burglarized Holy Trinity Catholic School.

Police said the boy, who is not being identified because of his age, caused damaged to the school in excess of $4,000. He was charged with third-degree burglary, second-degree criminal trespass and first-degree criminal mischief. The youth was given a court date at Bridgeport Juvenile Superior Court and released to his parents.

On Feb. 2, police said they received a complaint of a break in at the Holy Trinity Catholic School, at 503 Shelton Ave. Detectives responded to the school and discovered several lockers, desks and classroom walls were spray painted with sexual references and depictions, police said. The vandalism was so extensive that school had to be canceled for the day.

An investigation by detectives led to the arrested of the youth.
MIDDLETOWN  ION Restaurant owner Renana Magee is passionate about paying her waitstaff a fair wage for the sometimes grueling work they do  in addition to tips they can earn from superior performance.

Servers are typically women and minorities, and they need their tips. Thats how they survive. They should get tips. Its hard waiting on the general public. Its hard waiting on humans. Theyre very demanding, Magee said Monday, during a visit from U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. , to her 606 Main St. vegan eatery.

Blumenthal was joined by state Sen. Matt Lesser, D-Middletown, ION employees, and Tom Swan, executive director of the Connecticut Citizen Action Group , in speaking out against a rule proposed by the U.S. Department of Labor that would change regulations on how tips are paid to service industry workers.

If enacted, the regulation would allow workplaces to share tips among more employees in an effort to help decrease wage disparities between tipped and non-tipped workers, such as waitresses and dishwashers.

The net effect, according to the Economic Policy Institute, would be loss of about $5.8 billion to servers nationally and about $96.2 million to servers in Connecticut.

By federal law, employers are prohibited from using an employees tips for any reason other than as a credit against its minimum wage obligation to the employee. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, an employer can take a tip credit toward its minimum wage obligation for tipped employees equal to the difference between the required cash wage (which must be at least $2.13) and the federal minimum wage ($7.25).

The ones that I have here who work during the slow times and the busy times, I give them $15 an hour because thats fair, Magee said.

If Connecticuts tip credit rule were abolished and the federal tip sharing rule were adopted, Blumenthal said, servers would be deprived of tips and theres no guarantee that the employees in the back of the restaurant  the washers, the hostesses, the cooks  would in any way be receiving pool tips.

This is part of a concerted effort that is a war on working people to benefit the 1 percent, said Swan, who heads the CCAG, a nonprofit advocacy group focusing on social, economic and environmental causes.

Connecticut would see minimal impact from the proposed regulations, the senator acknowledged. Thats primarily because of the states tip credit rule, the fact that more restaurant owners in Connecticut display good conduct, as well as a minimum wage ($10.10) thats well over the federal rate.

But it still is important as a matter of principal and basic economic justice and fairness that workers and servers who receive tips should keep them, said Blumenthal, who called upon restaurant owners to support continuing the tip credit rule and oppose the Department of Labor regulations.

Blumenthal questioned the claim made by restaurant owners that they would pool the tips among all the servers and back restaurant employees should the DOL policy take effect.

He cited a report by the Economic Policy Institute that has not been made public, further charging the DOL is concealing its findings.

They hid it, refused to reveal it, and even now it is kept secret, Blumenthal said, adding that the DOL inspector general is now investigating the issue.

However, state Sen. Len Suzio, R-Meriden, who works in the banking industry, said the DOL proposal is whats known as a notice of proposed rulemaking. Theyre considering a change in the rules and are giving the public a certain amount of time to respond. This is the time when the public can comment about it. Its not a done deal at this point.

Suzio said Blumenthal and U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, also D-Conn., who both recently joined a letter written to the U.S. Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta to express concern over the issue, either dont understand the NPRM  or theyre misrepresenting it.

They refer to an unknown study, but they dont have a copy of it, Suzio said. If the DOL did it, it should be available for public scrutiny.

He called Blumenthals press conference an opportunity for grandstanding. Its not a final rule and its subject to change or revocation at any time. Its bad public policy to react to a possible study that might have been done and the results are unknown. If there is a study, where is it?

ION server Sara Dodge said a disproportionate number of waitstaff (70 to 80 percent) are women, so unfair wages are more likely to affect them. Men dominate in positions of restaurant managers and restaurant owners. Redistribution of tips would leave women at the mercy of their largely male managers, compounding the persistent problem of sexual harassment in the restaurant industry.

Service industry workers who earn less than the minimum wage depend on tips to bring home a fair wage, Lesser said. That means if youre getting sexual harassment from your customers, you have a real incentive to put up with it, because you have no other way of making it up, he said of waitstaff.

Magee said of tip pooling, Its stealing.

Its not right and I wont do it. Its my responsibility to pay people in my kitchen well, Magee said. Im not going to let [the servers] pay that. Its dishonest to take tips away from others and give it to them.

Magee said she owes a substantial debt to her workers. I couldnt do it without them, and I wouldnt want to. I think everybody should wait tables  and then have this discussion.

Meanwhile, Dodge has advice for restaurant patrons. If this goes through, tip your servers in cash. Thats the best thing you can do.
A study that will incorporate centralized patient information is planned to identify the factors leading to suicide and to help prevent those unfortunate deaths.

The data will come from the states new health information exchange, called CTHealthLink, which will collect information gleaned from patients visits to their doctors, psychotherapists and hospital emergency departments. Until now, health care providers electronic medical records systems have not been able to communicate with each other.

Using that compiled information, the study, led by Robert H. Aseltine Jr., will help providers better identify and treat patients at risk of suicide in the health-care system. It bridges mental health, general health, hospital-based care, he said.

Aseltine, chairman of the Division of Behavioral Sciences and Community Health at UConn Health, is the principal investigator for the study, supported by a $1.9 million, three-year grant from the National Institute of Mental Health.

There is a pressing need for better information about who is at risk of suicide.

Suicide is an urgent public health problem, said Matthew Katz, CEO of the North Haven-based Connecticut State Medical Society, which sponsors CTHealthLink.

Its the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. Its the second-leading cause of death among youth, he said. Hospitalizations for suicide attempts in Connecticut have increased 15 percent between 2005 and 2015.

He added that suicide attempts nationwide have gone up 24 percent in the last 10 years.

According to the state Chief Medical Examiners Office, suicides rose from 332 in Connecticut in 1990 to 387 in 2016. For those 10 to 19 years old, the totals were 24 in 1990 and 13 and 2016. However, the 10-19 range, after peaking at 27 in 1991, dropped in the years afterward.

Somewhere between 85 percent and 90 percent of those who have died have seen a health-care professional in the past year, Katz said, and most of them have not been diagnosed or identified in any way.  Were missing opportunities to catch and treat these individuals before they attempt suicide or before they die from suicide.

CTHealthLink is a health information exchange, designed to give care providers all the pertinent information on each patient: medical record data, all the psychological and medical clinical data, lab data, prescribing data, Katz said.

Until now, that data has been stored in each providers computers or, at best, shared on an electronic medical record system, such as Epic, used by Yale New Haven Health and Hartford Healthcare, which includes MidState Medical Center in Meriden.

While the centralized information will help health care providers get a clearer picture of their patients health overall, its a huge benefit because that robust data tells us a lot more about those who attempt suicide, Katz said.

The things that we can look for are whether they have conditions that may lead towards a propensity for suicide  depression that was not identified on a claim form, poor conditions, unemployment, [living] in an at-risk location, [being] homeless, as well as drug use and whether the patient has seen a doctor recently, he said. It helps track that information in a way that weve never seen before.

Were not going to say that patient is at risk, Katz said. What were going to say is, you need to ask questions, you need to do some identifications to assess whether that patient is at risk.

Identifying those at risk of suicide not only saves lives, he said, but reduces the cost to the health care system.

CTHealthLink will be especially helpful in identifying teenagers who show signs of depression or other symptoms that are associated with suicide attempts.

Its often harder to get information on teens because theyre not going to the doctor as often, Katz said. Were not doing a good job today identifying teens at risk of suicide  Theyre the ones we need. Where we need the most help in this country is identifying and treating youth who are at high risk for suicide.

Determining treatment

The National Institute of Mental Healths initiative is called Zero Suicide, Aseltine said. CTHealthLink will collect all the information from all the different silos from which care is provided in the state of Connecticut, he said.

Im using this infrastructure to create algorithms that will predict patient risk and to identify patients at risk of suicidal behaviors and to make that information available to their physicians so they can provide appropriate treatment.

The same kind of models Im using for suicide risk could be used to prevent rehospitalizations, to improve medication adherence and medication management, to prevent a recurrence of cardiac events, Aseltine said.

Mostly when you have those major crisis events theres medical care involved and those events will show up, said Dr. Steven Thornquist, president of the Connecticut State Medical Society. This allows us to get more eyes on the warning signs.

We have through  the health information exchange access to a fairly detailed database of patient interactions, which consist of doctor visits, labs, ER visits, he said. That individuals activity can be tracked through time and through space. You can look at it and tease out things that you cant do without doing a long-term, large-population study.  The way this becomes a way to prevent suicide is we have a log of all these encounters.

CTHealthLink was created in the fall of 2017, based on the successful system used in Kansas, according to Dr. Claudia Gruss of Wilton, president-elect of the Connecticut medical society and chairwoman of its Quality of Care Committee. It is a member of the KaMMCO Health Solutions Network.

I think there are several ways that this can be extremely helpful, said Gruss. A primary care physician can do screening for depression at the time that the patient comes in, at least on a yearly basis.

That screening was included in the regulations for Obamacare for practice measures and meaningful use, she said.

Obviously if its abnormal then we can take it a step further and either we discuss with the patient about depression and suicide prevention or we can set up a referral to a health-care professional who specializes in psychiatry or psychological social work or somebody who deals with treating depression either cognitively or through medication, Gruss said.

Aseltine said, The conditions that lead to [suicide] are typically very treatable if we can get appropriate care to those who are vulnerable. It includes a number of different therapies, including medication, including cognitive behavioral therapy, and those have proven to be quite effective in helping people manage their problems and to address the underlying mental health issues associated with suicidal behavior.

Protecting privacy

The advantage of CTHealthLink is that even if the two professionals have different [electronic medical record systems] or even if one doesnt have an EMR they can have access to the medical record if theyre tied into the clearinghouse, Gruss said.

There are a number of vendors of electronic medical records: Epic, Cerner, Allscripts, NextGen Healthcare and Greenway Health. Even if youre on Epic with one medical group and Epic with another medical group, the two Epics dont talk to each other, Gruss said. CTHealthLink solves that problem.

It will be compliant with federal privacy laws as well. Only the patients and their doctors can access the information, Gruss said. There are many safeguards built into the system to protect the patients medical records, she said.

Im very excited about this project, Gruss said. I think it can markedly improve medical care  Right now, if youre in a different medical group, you dont share information unless its sent by fax or snail mail or telephone calls, but even then you get only part of the medical information, Gruss said. Obviously, things can get lost in the sauce.

Among the advantages of the exchange is that doctors can look for negative drug interactions. It also lets us keep track of appointments and whether theyre showing up for appointments, Gruss said. Another clue is whether patients are renewing their medications at an appropriate time and thus are they taking it, she said.

Health care providers will have to join the exchange voluntarily and there will be a cost, but there is also an advantage in that

Katz said they expect to have some results of the study within 18 months, but the study will last three years. We have to sign up a provider at a time, he said, and there will be a cost, the data will help providers file required reports with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Besides physicians, social workers, psychologists and dentists will be encouraged to join the exchange.

There are people who have some models for how to predict suicide risk, but this will allow us to put that to the test, Thornquist said.
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HADDAM  A Deep River man was arrested earlier this week after police confiscated nearly 100 bags of heroin, illegal narcotics and a weapon following a 911 call about a man acting suspiciously in a parking lot in Haddam, authorities said.

Connecticut State Police Troop F was alerted to a male walking around a vehicle parked at the Exit 8 commuter lot off Beaver Meadow Road Monday at 5 p.m. There, Haddam Resident Trooper Joseph DeAngelo, along with officers from Troop F, identified the driver, Adam Lacourse, 32, of Colonial Drive, Deep River, according to a release from police.
The Chinese New Year, 2018 being the Year of the Dog, began on Feb. 16. Celebrations continue for two weeks, so I thought it was appropriate to feature Chinese cuisine. The Chinese New Year occurs on a different date each year, because it is based on the lunar calendar. Of course, food is part of the celebration. I learned, the custom in Northern China is to eat dumplings, at midnight; the dumplings shape resembles a Chinese sycee, a form of ingot currency used in Imperial China and represents prosperity for the New Year. In Eastern and Southern China, niangao, a glutinous New Year cake, is made. Over the course of a few days, pieces are shared with friends and relatives. The reunion dinner is a celebration, often the most important gathering of the family the entire year. Long noodles are frequently served, symbolizing longevity.

I have attended my good friend Cristina Chang-Bryants Chinese New Year party for the past several years. Sadly, Cristina passed away in June. However, the tradition lives on in her honor. This past Sunday, her husband, Tom, invited friends and family to celebrate. I know she was watching us and probably had a few laughs watching Tom facilitate the gathering. Cristina was a chef and took charge. Tom, on the other hand, had friends and family help pull it off. Cristina, I know you are happy that your tradition lives on and so does many of your recipes.

In thinking about what Chinese inspired dish to prepare for the gathering, I looked at the Kikkoman website http://bit.ly/2BShiL0. Kikkoman is known for its line of soy sauces, an indispensable ingredient in Japanese and Chinese cuisines. Today, a pantry is incomplete without a bottle of soy or teriyaki sauce. These liquid spices are found in kitchens around the globe. Not only did I find mouth-watering recipes, but also learned about this iconic and well-known brand. The company celebrated its 100th anniversary last year. The businesses roots I found out, go back to 1603. Talk about longevity.

To pick up on the longevity theme, check out the recipe for Chinese New Year Longevity Noodles. (Recipe provided to Kikkoman by Melissa Parris, The Eyes of a Boy )

10 ounces Chinese Noodles

1 clove fresh garlic, chopped

1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated/shredded

 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 tablespoon Kikkoman Sesame Oil

2 tablespoons peanut oil

4 ounces fresh Shiitake mushrooms, stems removed, and caps sliced

3 cups fresh Napa cabbage, sliced thinly

2 tablespoons Kikkoman Soy Sauce

1 tablespoon Kikkoman Rice Vinegar

 cup fresh green onion, chopped

First, prepare the Chinese noodle according to the package instructions. This should take no more than about 3-4 minutes, as they cook quickly. Once they're done, rinse with cold water and return to pot. Then, drizzle with sesame oil and toss to coat. This is to prevent the noodles from sticking. (TIP- also add a few drops of oil to the water the noodles are cooked in the help them not stick together)

Then, in a frying pan or wok over high heat, add together chopped garlic, shredded ginger, red pepper flakes, and peanut oil. Heat for approximately 30 seconds, about 1 minute until it's sizzling a bit, and you can smell the scents wafting through the air. Add into the frying pan your sliced mushrooms and cabbage. (TIP: after rinsing, the mushrooms should be soaked in warm water for approximately five minutes. Then remove from water, remove stems, and slice caps thinly to prepare for cooking) Stir all of the ingredients together in the frying pan until the veggies are slightly tender.

Remove the veggies from the pan, and pour into the pot of cooked Chinese noodles. Mix together slowly and well, making extra sure not to break the noodles. Return the mixture to the frying pan. Now over medium heat, add in 2 tablespoons Kikkoman Soy Sauce, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, and the green onions. Turning frequently, ensure that the dish is completely coated in the soy sauce mixture. Remove from frying pan, and serve promptly. Makes 4 servings.

In continuing my search for recipes, I found a cookbook in my ever-growing collection, titled Soy Sauce Cooking. Coincidentally, the recipes are from the Kikkoman Recipe Contest, held in 1981. Although it is a cookbook using soy sauce, I didnt expect to see soy sauce as an ingredient in the four dessert recipes included; Japanese tea ice cream, Shoga-Shoyu chiffon cake, topsy-turvy pineapple cake and 5-spice pumpkin cake For the latter visit: http://bit.ly/2GfiHsX

I tried this recipe for green beans with garlic and vodka from the book and found it to be a simple, yet flavorful dish. (You might want to adjust the amount of pepper flakes to your liking. I also added a few splashes of sesame oil when I served it.

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon vodka

1 teaspoon sugar

Oil for deep frying

1  pounds green beans, trimmed and cut into halves if long

1 tablespoon garlic, minced

1 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes

In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, vodka and sugar. Stir to mix and set aside. Heat the oil in a wok and fry the green beans in several batches for about 20 seconds each batch. Remove beans from the work and place beans on a paper towel to absorb excess oil. When all of the beans are fried, drain off all but 2 tablespoons of the oil from the wok. Turn the heat to high and stir- fry the garlic and red pepper for 10-15 seconds. Return beans to the wok and stir-fry to coat with the garlic. Add the soy-vodka-sugar mixture and stir-fry for a few seconds until beans are well-coated. Transfer beans to a serving dish, pour any of the remaining sauce over the beans and serve immediately. Makes 6 servings.

Heres an easy recipe for a ham glaze (Easter is early this year).

1  cups brown sugar

2/3 cup Kikkoman soy sauce

2 garlic cloves, minced

Whisk all ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Continue to simmer, stirring frequently for 5-6 minutes. Take saucepan off heat and allow to cool and thicken. When your ham has a  hour left in the oven, brush glaze over entire ham and put back in oven for last  hour of heating time. Covers 1 spiral ham.

Send us your requests: Which restaurant recipes or other recipes would you like to have? Which food products are you having difficulty finding? Do you have cooking questions? Send them to me: Stephen Fries, professor and coordinator of the Hospitality Management Programs at Gateway Community College, at gw-stephen.fries@gwcc.commnet.edu or Dept. FC, Gateway Community College, 20 Church St., New Haven, 06510. Include your full name, address and phone number. (Due to volume, he might not be able to publish every request. For more, go to stephenfries.com.)

CULINARY CALENDAR

Consiglios Cooking Demonstration and Dinner: Feb. 22, 6:30 p.m., Consiglios Restaurant, 165 Wooster St., New Haven, 203-865-4489 (reservations required), $65 (beverages, tax and gratuity not included). Learn how to make oysters Rockefeller, baby spinach bacon orange pine nut vinaigrette, homemade lobster ravioli with plum tomato cream sauce, white chocolate creme brulee.

Wines and More of Milford: Fratellis 6-course Italian Wine Dinner, Feb. 26, 6:30 p.m., Fratellis Italian Restaurant, 248 New Haven Ave., Milford. 203-876-1600. $75 includes tax and gratuity. http://bit.ly/2nth0k7

Wild game & Beer dinner, Feb. 27, 7:00 pm., The Hops Company, 77 Sodom Lane, Derby. 203-734-1616, $75 plus tax and ticketing fee. 5-course dinner paired with Counter Weight Brewing. For menu and ticket visit http://bit.ly/2Cp6rDW

Chefs of Our Kitchen 2018 Series begin with: A culinary take on This Is Us: Siblings Elena Fusco, owner/founder of Bin 100 (Milford), Gennaro Gerry Iannaccone, owner/chef at Goodfellas; and their nephew, Paul Iannaccone, co-owner/chef at Ristorante Luce (Hamden) March 7, 6 p.m., Gateway Community College, 20 Church St., New Haven. 203-285-2617. $85. Tickets at http://bit.ly/2j24HH9. Enjoy a wine and hors doeuvres reception and then watch the chefs demonstrate the preparation of popular dishes from their restaurants, which will be served. Guests receive recipe cards signed by the siblings. The recipes demonstrated will be prepared by Gateway Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management students.
EAST HAMPTON  Tai chi for Seniors will be held on Tuesdays, March 6-April 24, 4:30-5:30 p.m. at the East Hampton Senior Center.

Tom Cushing will teach a fun and relaxed class for beginners and advanced practitioners alike. Cushing teaches the principals through a low stress, easy-to-follow format which incorporates strategies to improve balance and help preventing falls. He is certified as a Tai Chi Fall Prevention Instructor through an evidence-based program endorsed by the CT collaboration for Fall Prevention, Yale University and the Center for Disease Control. Learn and move at your own pace in a fun environment of positive energy.

Space is limited, registration is required and payment of $50 is due per participant; no drop ins allowed once the session begins. The classes are ponsored by the East Hampton Senior Center and Parks and Recreation. Call 860-267-4426.

Chili Fest returns to Old Saybrook

OLD SAYBROOK  The Old Saybrook Chamber of Commerce will hold its 22nd Annual Chili Fest on Saturday, March 3, 12-3 p.m., along Main Street, Old Saybrook. This friendly competition, presented by Guilford Savings Bank, features chili from 25 area teams. More than 3,000 people attended last years Chili Fest and enjoyed sampling a wide range of chili  from mild to spicy with names like La Jarocha, 50 Shades of Chili, and Golden In-Fern-O.

This is a community-wide event with participation by area restaurants as well as non-profit and civic organizations. What makes this event unique is that each chili entrant is competing to win a donation for their designated charity.

Ballots are $10 each and can be purchased at Ballot Stations along Main Street during the event, and in advance at the Chamber office, 1 Main Street, Old Saybrook.

The top three vote getters are awarded first, second, and third place, receive a donation to the charity of their choice, and earn bragging rights for the year. Event proceeds benefit the Chambers C. Wilfred Hunter Memorial Scholarship fund.

For more information, call 860-388-3266 or go to www.oldsaybrookchamber.com

Rankin to discuss slaverys history

MADISON  Madison resident Don Rankin, a surgeon, archeologist, and history enthusiast, will chronicle the development of slavery in the United States, the origins of the underground railroad, and the role of his ancestor, the Reverend John Rankin of Ripley, Ohio, in aiding more than 2000 slaves on their journeys to freedom. The talk, presently jointly by the Madison Historical Society and the Scranton Memorial Library will be held Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. in the librarys community room.

In 2013, Rankin spoke at the induction ceremony of his ancestor into the National Abolitionist Hall of Fame. The heroic efforts of Reverend Rankin, John P. Parker, and William Lloyd Garrison featured prominently in Harriet Beecher Stowes book, Uncle Toms Cabin. The talk, offered from the perspective of someone with biracial ties, will conclude with an open forum where participants can discuss racism and how we can work collectively to mitigate it.

To register for this free event, visit

http://www.libraryinsight.net/eventdetails.asp?jx=mcp&lmx=%C8jg%27%A3%A9&v=3

Program focuses on heart disease

MIDDLETOWN  The Womens Wellness Fund at Middlesex Hospital will hold Heart-to-Heart, a conversation about heart disease in women on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 5:30 p.m. at Middlesex Community College. The events guest speaker will be Rekha Mankad, MD, of the Mayo Clinic. Middlesex Hospital is a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network. WFSB anchor Denise DAscenzo will be master of ceremonies. To register, call 860-358-8856 or email womenswellnessfund@gmail.com.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for registration and light refreshments. The event will begin at 6 p.m.

This event will focus on how cardiovascular disease affects women and how it can be prevented and treated. To register, call 860-358-8856 or email womenswellnessfund@gmail.com. For more information on the Womens Wellness Fund, visit middlesexhospital.org/womenswellnessfund.

Students invited to apply for scholarship

BOSTON, MA  For the 8th consecutive year, the Boston Red Sox Foundation is seeking submissions from inspiring senior students, who are dedicated to making a positive impact in their communities, for the New England Red Sox Service Scholarship. The annual scholarship honors academically-inclined high school seniors who have demonstrated a commitment to community service. Those selected will receive a $1,000 college scholarship and recognition during a special pre-game ceremony at Fenway Park.

We are continually inspired by high school students charitable endeavors and seek to recognize and reward their ongoing dedication to promoting social good, said Linda Henry, Red Sox Foundation Board Member. We are very pleased with the growth of the Service Scholarship program and we are eager to hear about this years seniors who are going above and beyond in their communities.

The Red Sox Service Scholarship, presented by Jenzabar and sponsored by Ford Motor Company Fund, was first introduced in New Hampshire in 2010 and has since expanded to honor students in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine and Vermont as well. This year, the Scholarship Program will be available to students in more than 200 schools throughout New England. For more details and to apply visit, redsoxfoundation.org/service-scholarships

Goff House can be rented for events

EAST HAMPTON  The non-profit Joseph N. Goff House Museum, located on the lower level of the building at 2 Barton Hill Road, is available to rent for smaller gatherings such as baby or wedding showers, celebrations, business and club meetings and fundraisers.

For rental information of the heated/air conditioned lower level space contact Dean Markham, deanmarkham@comcast.net or call 860-860-918-4400; call this number for information on rental of the lower level space only. Go to http://goffhouseehct.blogspot.com/ for more information on the Joseph N. Goff House.
NEW HAVEN  Leila Martinez, 8, knows her dog Barry loves her. She knows what his favorites toys are and when he wants to play because he can talk to her, she said.

Leila said Barry understands her words and she knows what he likes because he always gets excited whenever he has his favorite toys. He also knows when Leila needs a friend.

He comforts me when Im sad because my mom comforts me when Im sad and I think maybe he doesnt want me to be sad and he wants me to be fine and he loves me so he wants me to be comforted, Leila said.

He has his own moods. Different dogs have their own moods, she said.

Their last dog, Brittany, was shy and I dont really know if she loved me or not because she didnt really come near me and Barry always comes near me and is always playful with me, she said.

Her sister, Nadia, 10, said Barry sits on their laps to tell them he loves them and he talks in other ways.

He talks with his movement and I can know what he wants and what hes saying, Nadia said. I just point to what I want him to do.

According to Kathy Shea, owner of Paws N Effect Canine Training Center, dogs like Barry really are communicating with their owners and people can understand if they only observe.

Dogs communicate in a variety of ways, but mostly through body language, and by their body language I mean everything, Shea said.

Starting from their ears going right down to the tip of their tail, their general body stature, how they wag their tail, all of that communicates and theyre communicating with us all the time, Shea said. We as humans just dont know because we are a verbal species. We need to stop and listen to our dogs by observing them.

Angie Johnston, a Ph.D. candidate at Yale working at the universitys Canine Cognition Center, provided a glimpse into the canine mind Saturday with a special presentation in honor of Lunarfest and the Chinese Year of the Dog. In her talk, which Shae, Nadia and Leila attended, Johnston shed light on what dogs are thinking and how they are able to communicate with people.

People love their dogs and want to know what theyre thinking, but we cant ask them, Johnston said. The only way we can find out what theyre thinking is by getting these different studies to try to get inside their head.

By presenting dogs with simple games, researchers at the center learn more about how dogs solve problems and perceive the world, she said. All their studies involve simple problem-solving games that they play with the dogs, and the canine volunteers receive a diploma for participating.

The dogs relationship with humans began long ago. They are descendents of a species similar to wolves, and about 14,000 years ago, they began going into human camps for food, where they gradually became more and more comfortable around humans, which Johnston said is called

self-domestication. The second part of the dogs evolution happened around 2,000 years ago when humans saw how useful dogs could be and started breeding them, she said.

Researchers have found dogs are sometimes better problem solvers than small children, and that they really do love people, Johnston said. Researchers have looked at hormones released in humans called oxytocin, which they know facilitates bonding and love in a

human and infant when its released, she said. Recent work suggests that the same thing happens between families and their dogs.

When you see the same hormone released in dogs and families that are released in humans and infants, it suggests that some really similar things are going on, she said. So, I think dogs do love us.

This discovery is something special about dogs that isnt seen in wolves even if theyve lived with people. Its something dogs have developed and as they have lived with us, it has grown into true love, she said.

Shea said dogs dont just have love for the people in their lives, but empathy, which is seen in therapy dogs such as Boone, a half Labrador, half great Dane mix. Hes a certified

therapy dog and service dog in training who works with people in hospice and an Alzheimers care facility.

Dogs let people express themselves in ways that no other beings do, Boones owner, Kay Codish, said. They let people open up. He allows people to connect with him.

Its intuitive for them, its nonverbal and its empathetic in its purest sense, Shea said. Historically humans and dogs have been partnered for tens of thousands of years, and of the 20,000-plus species on the Earth, dogs and humans have had a unique relationship, Shea said. Theres some connection there thats incredibly, incredibly deep. I think weve lost empathy and theyve gained empathy in an evolutionary sense, and thats why were partnered.

Studies at the Canine Cognition Center explore what dogs know about the physical and social world. Johnstons work at Yale is aimed at exploring the potential evolutionary origins of teaching and social learning by investigating whether or not canine populations learn from others in the same way humans do.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus A.Dapkiunas meets the Ambassador of South Africa

20-02-2018

On February 20, 2018 the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Andrei Dapkiunas, met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of South Africa to the Republic of Belarus non-resident, Nomasonto Maria Sibanda-Thusi.

The sides discussed a wide range of bilateral issues, interaction within the international organizations, as well as holding joint events to celebrate 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of South Africa.

The Deputy Minister and the South African Ambassador expressed willingness to promote political dialogue, expand trade and economic cooperation, as well as collaboration in the field of culture and education.

   

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Lawmakers are furious that Veterans Affairs Department will no longer use the fast-track system for firing employees that Congress gave it more than a year ago.

Department officials on Friday notified lawmakers they were passing on the expanded firing authority included in the VA Accountability Act of 2014. Officials haven't yet explained the move, and the department's record of disciplining employees under the law is unclear.

Lawmakers have repeatedly criticized VA Secretary Bob McDonald for what they say is an inability to fire problem employees, including one who returned to work after being arrested in connection with an armed robbery in Puerto Rico.

For example, Sen. Johnny Isakson, a Republican from Georgia and chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, said the decision to not use the expedited authority of accountability act is "outrageous and unconscionable.

"Two years ago, veterans were forced to wait far too long for care because of incompetent executives," he said. "Since then, we've seen scandal after scandal emerge at the department. While some progress has been made to hold those responsible accountable, there is still a long way to go and choosing to ignore these key reforms is a slap in the face to our veterans."

Rep. Jeff Miller, a Republican from Florida who heads the counterpart panel in the House, said the the department "isn't very good at disciplining employees, but this decision calls into question whether department leaders are even interested in doing so.

"After all, VA is a place where egregious employee behavior, such as armed robbery participation and wait-time manipulation, is routinely tolerated," he said. "This decision underscores the urgent need for civil-service reform across the federal government that enables leaders to swiftly and efficiently discipline those who can't or won't do their jobs -- an ability that is presently almost nonexistent."

Among the most widely known firings was that of Sharon Helman, former director of the VA Medical Center in Phoenix in connection with the wait-times scandal and department's findings that at least six veterans died before they could get an appointment at the facility.

Helman appealed to the Merit System Protection Board, whichsupported the firing but only because VA officials also found she had accepted some $50,000 in gifts from a vendor wanting to do business with the medical center.

Several months ago, however, prompted by other MSPB judges' rulings -- overturning VA disciplinary actions against two senior executives --McDonald met with lawmakers to discuss changes he wants to see at the department.

McDonald wants hospital directors and other senior executives placed under Title 38 -- the same job category as doctors and nurses. This would allow the VA secretary to demote or terminate employees for cause, without them having the ability to appeal to the MSPB.

"[This] gives us more flexibility to pay them more competitively," McDonald said at the time, "but it also gives us more flexibility in disciplinary matters without all the things that happened with the SES employees."

-- Bryant Jordan can be reached at Bryant.jordan@military.com. Follow him on Twitter at@BryantJordan.
It was a maneuver that had never before been tried but it was all a wingman could do over enemy territory.
Two American destroyers sailed into the Black Sea over the weekend, the first time since 2014 that more than one U.S. warship has operated in this tense region other than in an exercise.

"Our decision to have two ships simultaneously operate in the Black Sea is proactive, not reactive," said Vice Adm. Christopher Grady, 6th Fleet commander, in a statement Sunday. "We operate at the tempo and timing of our choosing in this strategically important region."

Russia has viewed U.S. ships transiting these international waters as provocative, ever since Moscow annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014.

The U.S. is sending a message that it will defend its allies, uphold maritime laws and protect its offshore interests in Europe and Asia, said Jim Holmes, Naval War College professor of strategy.

"We're putting Russia on notice in the Black Sea and China on notice in the South China Sea that we will not be deterred from going into those waters, and doing so in force," Holmes said.

The U.S. has sent destroyers into the Black Sea more often in the past year as Russia has deployed more naval forces. But the last time two U.S. warships conducted a security patrol there was during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, just before Russia annexed Crimea.

Two warships have been present in the Black Sea for multinational exercises, such as last year's Sea Breeze and Sea Shield.

Beefing up patrols is a way of telling adversaries the Navy has bounced back after some high-profile accidents, Holmes said.

The destroyers USS John S. McCain and USS Fitzgerald collided with commercial ships in separate incidents last year, resulting in the deaths of 17 sailors and forcing the Navy to review many of its procedures.

"Yes, we have some remedial work to do on the fundamentals, but we won't surrender our ideals or interests while we do it," Holmes said.
Joseph V. Micallef is a best-selling military history and world affairs author, and keynote speaker.

The Northeast Passage (NEP), along with its western twin the Northwest Passage (NWP), is an Arctic sea route that connects Europe and Asia. The NEP runs across the northern coast of Siberia, while the NWP traverses the island strewn Canadian Arctic. Both routes reduce the distance between Asian and European ports by up to a third, depending on the combination of ports.

For most of their history, these sea routes were more theoretical than practical. The rapid disappearance of the Arctic ice pack, however, has made these passages potentially viable alternatives to existing routes utilizing the Panama or Suez canals. The utilization of these new routes, however, raises far reaching geopolitical consequences. This is the first part of a two-part series exploring the geopolitical consequences of the NEP and NWP. Today we examine the geopolitics of the NEP.

The Search for a Northeast Passage

The search for a northeast passage dates back some five centuries. By the mid-16th century, Spain had pioneered an Asian trade route that ran from Europe through the Caribbean and across Panama and the Pacific to Asia. In the process making the Philippines a center of Asian trade.

Portugal had been equally successfully in establishing a Euro-Asian trade route around the Cape of Good Hope and across the Indian Ocean to India and across the South and East China seas to Japan.

In response, other European nations, principally the English and the Dutch, launched a series of voyages of exploration to search for an Arctic passage between Europe and Asia. That exploration took them both east and west, in search of either a NEP or a NWP.

In 1553, the English explorers Hugh Willoughby and Richard Chancellor sailed to the Barents Sea before being separated by a storm. Willoughby and his crew got as far as Novaya Zemlya before they were ultimately trapped in Arctic ice and perished. Chancellor penetrated the White Sea and entered the Dvina River where he found a small Russian trading post.

At the time, Russia was landlocked. Its access to the Baltic blocked by a powerful Sweden and the Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth. It was not until the 17th century that Russian Tsar Peter the Great would expand Russia's frontiers to the Baltic Coast.

Tsar Ivan IV, anxious for a trade outlet with Europe, offered the British a monopoly on Russian trade. The British concession was the basis for organizing the Muscovy Company to exclusively conduct Anglo-Russian trade. The port of Arkhangelsk (Archangel) was later built at the mouth of the Dvina River to facilitate that trade.

Chancellor was followed by the Dutch explorer Willem Barentsz. He discovered Spitsbergen and Bear Island and rounded the northern tip of Novaya Zemlya to enter the Kara Sea.

Henry Hudson explored the region in 1607 and 1608, on behalf of both the East India Company and the Muscovy Company, getting as far east as Novaya Zemlya before being forced back by sea ice.

Other significant explorers, among others, included Jonah Poole, Nicholas Woodcock and Willem Cornelius van Muyden. After 1619, fearing that European exploration in the Arctic might threaten Russia's hold on Siberia, Moscow declared the area off limits. For the next several centuries, further exploration was entirely Russian.

Several historians have suggested that the Portuguese ship Pai Eterno under captain David Melgueira traversed the Northeast Passage from Kagoshima Japan to Porto Portugal in 1660-62. The evidence is not definitive, however. In 1878, the Swedish explorer Adolf Erik Nordenskiold made the first recorded transit of the NEP on the ship Vega.

The Northern Sea Route

The Soviet government, and later the Russian government, has drawn a distinction between the Northeast Passage and what they call the Northern Sea Route (NSR). The NSR extends from Novaya Zemlya in the west (168 degrees 58 minutes 37 seconds west) to the Bering Strait (66 degrees north).

The NSR is the main part of the NEP, but as it begins and ends in Russian territory, the Russian government argues that it is under its direct jurisdiction. In other words, that it is an internal waterway and is not considered an international passage.

If the passageway was defined as a route from say East Asian ports to Western Europe, then its multinational character would raise demands that it be administered as an international waterway and be subject to the provisions of the UN Law of the Sea Treaty.

Russia has argued that the NSR consist of a series of passages "along coastal, marine, high latitudinal and near polar routes." The latter two routes, however, are well outside Russia's 200-mile exclusive zone.

The polar route from the Barents Sea to the Bering Straits follows the great circle route across the geographical North Pole and would be entirely in international waters. It is about 700 miles shorter than the coastal route. The latter two routes have been traversed by military vessels accompanied by icebreakers but, to date, have not been a viable route for commercial shipping.

The coastal route is made up of a series of different sailing lanes ranging from 2,200 to 2,900 nautical miles. It connects the Kara, Laptev, East Siberian and Chukchi seas via some 50 different straits across three archipelagos: the Novaya Zemlya, Severnaya Zemlya and the New Siberian Islands.

The eastern end of the NSR is shallower, limiting the maximum size of ships traversing the NSR. The average depth of the Chukchi Sea is 286 feet/88 meters and that of the East Siberian Sea is 188 feet/58 meters. In the straits connecting the two seas, however, the minimum depth is 26 feet/8 meters.

In addition, the Arctic ice pack tends to persist longer and can block the entrances to navigational straits, including the Long Strait and the Vilkitsky Strait.

Currently, the western portion of the NEP is ice-free for about five to six months of the year, while the eastern portion is open for the three summer months.

Russia opened the NSR to international shipping on July 1, 1991. Prior to that date, only Russian ships were permitted to use the NSR. At the same time, Moscow organized the Northern Sea Route Administration (NSRA). Ships wishing to transit the NSR are required to obtain a permit from the NSRA.

As the extent of Arctic sea ice has retreated, Moscow has stressed the economic advantages of using the NSR. At a conference in 2011, designed to highlight the benefits of the NSR, then Prime Minister Vladimir Putin declared, "The Arctic is the shortcut between the largest markets of Europe and the Asia-Pacific region...It is an excellent opportunity to optimize costs."

Historically, the NSR played an important role in resupplying the approximately 100 Russian military bases, research stations and towns along Russia's Arctic coast. At its peak, the USSR maintained a fleet of 38 powerful icebreakers, six of which were nuclear powered.

This was more ice breakers than the rest of the world combined. In addition, a commercial fleet of around 700 vessels with ice-strengthened hulls operated on a year around basis conducting coastal trade.

In 2009, two German cargo vessels, the Beluga Fraternity and the Beluga Foresight, traveled from the South Korean port city of Uslan to Rotterdam across the NSR. They were the first international ships to traverse that route.

The number of foreign ships increased to 71 in 2013. Since then the number has varied between two and four dozen. In 2016, approximately 7.5 million tons of cargo were shipped on the NSR, although a significant amount of this was internal Russian shipping.

The NSRA issues several hundred permits a year, but the majority of these are for Russian ships traversing a portion of the NSR. Most of these ships are bringing supplies to various hydrocarbon development projects in the Russian Arctic. They are not traversing the entire length of the NSR.

Ships traveling from Norway to China can make the journey via the NEP in 21 days versus 37 days traveling via the Suez Canal. A typical cargo ship would save between $15,000 and $20,000 a day. In the example above, that would represent a savings of around $300,000 per voyage. The cost of being accompanied by a Russian icebreaker is several hundred thousand dollars, which means small convoys of two or three ships would have a significant savings.

In February 2018, Teekay's newly built ice breaking LNG carrier Eduard Toll traversed the NSR from the Sabetta LNG terminal on the Kara Sea in the Yamal peninsula to Montoir, France, unescorted. The voyage was a milestone. It was the first independent passage in winter without the support of an icebreaker. For video of the voyage go here.

The Sovcomflot LNG tanker made an unescorted trip from Norway to South Korea in August 2017. The journey took just six and a half days.

The Geopolitics of the Northern Sea Route

The NSR is more than just a sea route across arctic Russia. It is a critical part of a broader transportation infrastructure across Siberia, which links the region to the rest of Russia and the rest of the world.

Siberia's major rivers all run north-south, emptying either in the Arctic Ocean or in the freshwater seas of Central Asia; the Caspian and Aral seas. The three principal rivers that flow into the Arctic are the Ob, the Yenisei and the Lena.

All three rivers offer access into Siberia's interior. Ocean going vessels, for example, can travel from Igarka, 400 miles south of the estuary of the Yenisei, all the way to Yakutsk, 700 miles further south.

The Ob, Yenisei and Lena all intersect the Trans-Siberian Railway, which runs parallel to the Arctic coastline some 1,400 miles further south. The Kolyma, a smaller river in the Russian Far East also intersects the Trans-Siberian Railway.

The major Siberian rivers have east-west trending branches. Many of those branches are also large enough to take commercial sized vessels, even though they may not be ocean going.

Before the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway, the fastest way across Siberia was by sled in winter across the frozen rivers. By portaging between the major rivers and their tributaries, it was possible to travel from the Volga to Okhotsk on the Pacific coast.

In addition, the Lena River connects with the Baykal-Amur Railway, which in turn connects the Trans-Siberian Railway and the Russian rail system with China's rail network.

Viewed from this perspective, not only is the NSR a passageway between Asia and Europe, it is also part of a larger more complex transportation grid across Siberia. It has the potential of becoming a maritime superhighway that can dramatically open up the mineral resources of Siberia.

The fact that may of Siberia's major hydrocarbon deposits are found along the major river valleys is an added bonus that will facilitate their exploitation.

What is also intriguing about this transportation network is that in many ways it is a rudimentary, mirror image of China's One Belt, One Road Asian infrastructure development program.

China's program is designed to meld a transport network of pipelines, roads and railroads across central Asia, with a parallel maritime route across the South China Sea and Indian Ocean.

The maritime and land networks are intended to both supplement each other as well as provide alternative routes. Additional north-south transportation routes connect the land and maritime transportation belts via major new ports, like Gwadar in Pakistan, on the Indian Ocean.

Viewed from this perspective, Russia could theoretically offer its own version of the One Belt, One Road strategy. One that is a mirror image of the Chinese effort, except that it funnels trade to an Arctic sea route rather than a maritime Silk Road across the Indian Ocean.

From a practical standpoint, however, this is probably a non-starter. Russia lacks the capital resources to compete with China's deep purse for developing transportation infrastructure.

Moreover, the band of geography that runs between the Maritime Silk Road and the Silk Road Economic belt includes between four and five billion people, roughly two-thirds of the world's population. By comparison, the comparable region in Russia only has about 100 million people.

On the other hand, were Russia's transportation infrastructure across Siberia and the Northern Sea Route to be fully integrated with China's One Belt, One Road strategy, it would offer two maritime routes between Asia and Europe. Moreover, the NSR is a far shorter link from China's coastal cities to Europe than the Maritime Silk Road across the Indian Ocean and, via the Suez Canal, the Mediterranean.

China is aware of the advantages offered by the NSR. In January 2018, Beijing outlined its interest to extend the One Belt, One Road initiative to the Arctic to create a "Polar Silk Road" by developing shipping lanes opened up by global warming.

A northern maritime component of China's One Belt, One Road strategy has one other advantage that wouldn't be lost on Beijing. It is a sea route that the U.S. Navy would find extremely difficult in which to operate in on a sustained basis and in which to project military power.

Despite U.S. claims that the Northeast Passage, including its Northern Sea Route component, is an international waterway, the fact is that the route is virtually entirely in Russian hands. It is all Russian territory from the western half of the Bering Strait to the eastern Norwegian Sea.

Should the NSR ever become a major maritime trade route, the U.S. Navy could avail itself of facilities in Alaska and Norway. But it would have little else to draw from.

The Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program, a Norwegian group studying the Arctic, forecasts that within 30 or 40 years the entire Arctic Ocean will be ice-free in the summer. Other forecasts have placed that event up to 80 years away. That assumes of course, that current warming trends in the Arctic continue at the present rate. That's possible, but not certain.

If the entire polar region was to become open water or the polar ice cap gets sufficiently thin to permit unhindered transit, either just in summer or year around, the closest basing facilities would be in Arctic Canada and Greenland. Such bases would be on the other side of the North Pole, thousands of miles away from the NSR.

A fully developed NSR would have far reaching consequence for west coast and northern ports. Remote Arctic ports like Kirkenes in Norway and Adak in Alaska, could be transformed into major logistics hubs. Even established northwest coast ports like Vancouver or Prince Rupert in British Columbia, could see sizable increases in shipping traffic.

There's are a lot of "ifs" in that scenario. Long-term, China is a major competitor to Russia for influence across Central Asia. The success of Beijing's One Belt, One Road initiative will undermine Russia's influence in the region, especially among the former Soviet Republics of Central Asia.

It's unclear whether linking Russia's transport infrastructure closer to the One Belt, One Road infrastructure net would enhance or further diminish Russia's influence in the area.

Moreover, while Russia has lobbied heavily for Chinese investment in developing Siberia's mineral wealth, it has usually insisted on retaining control of any resulting infrastructure. Moscow might well end up playing a subordinate role to Beijing in Eurasia, but it is not a role that it is likely to embrace willingly or anytime soon.

Moreover, recent successes notwithstanding, the potential of the NSR as a major maritime shipping route is still largely theoretical. Only a handful of foreign ships are using the NSR versus the roughly 15,000 ships that currently travel yearly from Asia to Europe via the Suez Canal.

The marine communication system across the NSR is still incomplete. VHF-Radio, MF and HF systems, and satellite communications are generally adequate for the coastal routes but they are problematic in the higher latitude and polar routes. The region's search and rescue infrastructure is rudimentary and could be easily overwhelmed by multiple accidents. Ice reinforced tugs, for example, are in short supply.

Port infrastructure is designed for coastal shipping traffic and not for the ultra-large ocean-going vessels currently utilized for Euro-Asian trade. There are no ship repair facilities.

Even basic prerequisites like accurate navigation charts and regular meteorological reports are lacking. The Soviets carried extensive marine surveys of the area beginning in the 1930s. The U.S. used submarines to map the region during the 1950s and 1960s. Both governments, however, have opted to keep much of that information classified.

The Northern Sea Route is a long way from becoming a major maritime shipping route. Even if the levels of Arctic sea ice continue to diminish over the next several decades, there is a huge amount of infrastructure development, amounting to tens of billions of dollars, that must occur along Russia's Arctic coast before the NSR could handle significant shipping volumes.

Still, the development of the NSR would have wide ranging geopolitical consequences on the international trade and diplomatic relations of central Asia. How the NSR would impact China's One Belt, One Road strategy remains to be seen.

What is clear, however, is that if present climate trends in the Arctic continue, the U.S. Navy will find itself tasked with conducting naval operations in a new marine theater--one for which it currently lacks both the ships and the infrastructure to undertake.

-- The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration.
Russia admitted Tuesday that several dozen of its "citizens" had been killed or wounded in recent fighting in Syria that Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said involved an attack on a base held by U.S. and rebel forces. That attack was repelled with heavy losses.

"During a recent military clash, in which servicemen from the Russian Federation did not participate in any way, citizens from Russia and [former Soviet] countries died," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

The statement is notable because it did not specifically identify the Russians killed as military members.

The Foreign Ministry statement dodged on whether the "citizens" of Russia and former Soviet client states were part of the attempted assault that began Feb. 7 on a U.S.-supported Syrian Democratic Forces base near Deir al-Zour in eastern Syria, where U.S. advisors were also stationed.

The attack quickly fell apart against the mostly-Kurdish SDF, and a U.S. Marine artillery battery and U.S. air support decimated the fleeing enemy, according to U.S. Central Command.

Nose-camera video showed the destruction of a Russian-made T-72 tank that was part of the botched attack. There were no casualties reported among the U.S. and SDF troops.

About several dozen Russians were wounded, and they had been flown back to Russia for treatment, the Ministry said in its statement.

"As has already been noted, there are Russian citizens in Syria who have travelled there on their own initiative and with different aims," the Ministry said. "It is not the place of the Foreign Ministry to assess the legality and legitimacy of their decisions."

The statement was similar to the routine Kremlin pronouncements denying the presence of its troops in Crimea and eastern Ukraine and calling the fighters citizen "volunteers."

The U.S. and NATO allies have taken to branding the masked and well-equipped volunteers as "little green men" carrying out a new form of hybrid warfare authorized by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

On his plane returning to the states from Europe last weekend, Mattis told reporters that he was at a loss to explain why Russians backing regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad would move against a U.S.-supported base.

Mattis said U.S. forces in the region were in constant communication with the Russians to preserve the "deconfliction lines" that roughly trace the course of the Euphrates River, with the U.S. and the SDF to the east and the Russians and Syrians to the west.

"I understand that the Russian government now is saying some of their -- not military forces, but 'contractors' -- were involved in that still unexplained attack on the SDF forces to east of the river," Mattis said.

He said the attack came "east of the deconfliction line, and again apparently, to the apparent unawareness of the Russian officers that we coordinate with on the deconfliction communication line."

"So it is what it is. I still cannot give you any more information on why they would do this," Mattis said of what was possibly the first clash of U.S. and Russian forces since the Cold War "but they took direction from someone."

"Was it local direction? Was it from external sources? Don't ask me. I don't know," Mattis continued, adding he doubted that the attackers "all just decided on their individual own selves to suddenly cross the river into enemy territory and start shelling a location and maneuvering tanks against it."

Mattis' use of the term 'contractors' followed reports that the so-called "citizens" were in the employ of a Russian firm called "Wagner" that reportedly had links to one of the Russian oligarchs indicted last week by Special Counsel Robert Mueller for meddling in the U.S. 2016 presidential election.

Wagner is headed by Dmitry Utkin, a former colonel in the Russian special forces who has been sanctioned by the U.S. for assisting the pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, CNN reported.

Utkin also was formerly head of security for Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin, who has the nickname "Putin's chef" and was one of the 13 Russians named last week by Mueller in the indictments, CNN said.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
The Army has identified a service member who died while serving in support of the fight against ISIS in Iraq and Syria as Sgt. Christina Marie Schoenecker, a Reserve soldier from Kansas.

Officials with Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve announced earlier Tuesday that an investigation had been launched after a service member died Monday in a non-combat incident.

Schoenecker, 26, of Arlington, Kansas, was assigned to the 89th Sustainment Brigade out of Wichita, Army officials said in a brief release. They did not reveal the circumstances of her death, but said she was in Baghdad at the time.

The 89th Sustainment Brigade falls under the 451st Expeditionary Sustainment Command.

According to the command, Schoenecker was a human resources specialist who joined the Army in 2009. She was promoted to sergeant in January 2015 and was completing her first deployment at the time of her death.

Her awards include the Army Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, and the Army Reserve Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters.

It's the third casualty of the year for Operation Inherent Resolve. Service members supporting the mission died Jan. 8 and Jan. 31 in separate non-combat incidents, according to task force announcements.

According to the Defense Department, 50 U.S. troops to date have died supporting OIR since the operation began in 2014. Of those deaths, 37 occurred in non-hostile incidents.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.
This article by James Clark originally appeared on Task & Purpose, a digital news and culture publication dedicated to military and veterans issues.

Tom Hanks has signed on to both act in and executive-produce "No Better Place To Die," an upcoming World War II drama about the airborne Normandy landings on D-Day, written and directed by Marine vet and seasoned technical adviser Dale Dye.

The news of Hanks addition is good for U.S. military veterans, and not just for World War II film buffs: Dye is looking to cast up 50 veterans as actors, including as many as 35 speaking roles, with department heads giving vets priority for support positions on set.

When I say department heads, Im talking about set design, costumes, props, armory, hair and makeup, and all the other support elements that will engineer making a movie, Dye told Task & Purpose. Im going to tell all those department heads that veterans get priority, so folks who want to be technicians in the film industry. Im going to try to get them their shot on this film, also, he added. Im trying to help guys who really want to do this for a living.

The movie, written and directed by Dye, follows a band of airborne soldiers scattered across Normandy during their drop ahead of the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944. A mishmash of troops from different units, they folded into a single rifle company to seize and hold La Fiere bridge, a crucial causeway which connected the French countryside with the Normandy beachheads, against German reinforcements headed for Omaha and Utah beach. Had that company not held, the beach landings might have been a catastrophic failure.

What I discovered, writ large, was that this was an example of what happens in our military when all the big plans, laid by all the generals and colonels, become victims of the exigency of war, that is, when they go right in the crapper, Dye told Task & Purpose. Its the sergeants and the young lieutenants, and the PFCs and the corporals, who cobble together, knowing what has to be done, and just go out there and do it against all odds.

Dye wrote the script in 2011, but has struggled to find backers for the film, until now. In addition to signing Hanks to produce and act, Creative Artists Agency and Gersh, are arranging financing for the film. ("No Better Place To Die" should not be confused with Hanks other WWII film venture, "Greyhound," which is looking to cast vets as extras.)

The Hollywood procedure for putting a film together, especially an expensive film  and were a $30 million picture, thats a lot like herding cats or trying to get snakes to follow a straight path  its a very difficult extended process, Dye said. But were right in the middle of it and gaining a lot of traction.

Though casting hasnt started yet, Dye hopes to begin filming this summer, with the goal of a 2019 release date, to coincide with the 75th anniversary of D-Day. In total, Dye said he hopes to get 40 to 50 veterans in front of the camera, of which, 28 and 35 will be speaking roles. Once Im certain that we have the money we need, and we have the main actors that we need . then we can start the process of auditioning the real veterans for the rest of the roles, Dye said.

A decorated Marine combat veteran and a three-time Purple Heart recipient, whose career included tours in Vietnam as an infantryman and a combat correspondent, Dye retired from the Marines 1984. And in the years that followed hes leveraged that experience as a military technical adviser through his company Warriors Inc., bringing authenticity and emotional realism to the projects hes worked on, which include Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers, and Platoon, among others.

In terms of realism, getting all the little details right  how to hold a weapon, wear a uniform, or knowing what ribbons go on what side of your service jacket  is important, sure, but its ultimately superficial Dye said.

While it differs by era, theater, or unit, theres a way of carrying oneself, of talking, and behaving  an attitude among service members thats timeless and universal. And thats what makes the difference between a technically accurate war movie, and a realistic one  or, better yet, a relatable one.

When I was first motivated to even start as a military adviser to movies and television, thats part of what I was trying to do, to bring that understanding, that empathy, that intimate knowledge, to actors, who for the most part, especially these days, had absolutely no experience with it, Dye told Task & Purpose. I felt if I could do that, if I could make them walk a mile in our boots  their portrayals of who we are, what we are, how we act, how we relate to each other, how we think, how we feel, those things would come across.

In addition to surrounding the films actors with scores of veterans, Dye said he plans to put stars through his standard training regimen: a three week boot camp in austere conditions meant to recreate the setting and environment the service members portrayed in the film had to endure

Well do my standard evolution that I do for every film that I work on, Dye said. But Im hoping that in addition to that, that well have a process of osmosis thats going on the whole time, where you get these real veterans next to the actors, and they can observe now, what theyve been told, and what theyve been forced to do in training. Theyll see the reality of it, how these people think, how these people feel, how they talk and how they relate to one another, he added. Im hoping for a big dose of osmosis in that regard.

James Clark is a staff writer for Task & Purpose. He is a former Marine combat correspondent and a veteran of the War in Afghanistan. You can reach him via email at James@taskandpurpose.com. Follow James Clark on Twitter.

More articles from Task & Purpose:

Tom Hanks: 'Military Caregivers Are Hidden Heroes and They Need Your Support

A WWII Vet Was Docked Pay For Escaping His German Captors And Now He Wants His $13 Back

You Can Now Own This Ridiculous 1944 German Kettenkrad Armored Motorcycle Tank
As we try to start new habits from scratch, we often can get tangled in the weeds of exactly how to think about accomplishing...


Gov. Rick Scott hasn't declared he's running for the Senate this fall, but a gun control group is already hammering him over his record on guns.

Giffords, founded by former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, is spending "a strong six figures" on a television ad attacking the governor for his defense of the 2011 "Glocks vs. docs" bill, the organization's executive director, Peter Ambler, said.

"Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Parkland. We need to stop dangerous people from getting guns, but Gov. Rick Scott made it illegal for a doctor to ask a patient if they owned a gun, even a mental health professional," the gravelly voice in the 30-second ad says. "This law was so dangerous that a court had to strike it down.

"Gov. Scott, we need more than your thoughts and prayers. Stop putting the gun lobby ahead of our safety."

The ad is running in the Tampa, Miami, Orlando and Palm Beach markets starting Tuesday, Ambler said.

Scott, who is term-limited from running for governor again, is expected to challenge Florida Senator Bill Nelson in the fall. But with Floridians furious over last week's shooting at a Broward County high school, Scott's A+ rating from the National Rifle Association could be a liability.

A Scott spokeswoman dismissed the ad, though.

"The governor is not focused on politics," spokeswoman Lauren Schenone said. "He's focused on finding real solutions to keep students safe. He will announce his proposals later this week."

The "docs vs. Glocks" bill is one of the reasons for the NRA's endorsement.

Passed by the legislature and signed into law by Scott, the bill, among other things, would have prevented doctors from asking patients about guns in their homes.

It was considered a highly controversial gift to the gun lobby, but Scott vigorously defended it - until the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals shot it down, saying that parts of it were unconstitutional.

Florida had to pay out $1.1 in legal fees to the lawyers who challenged the law.

Ambler said Scott is vulnerable on guns, after presiding over two of the 10 deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history.

"He's done nothing," Ambler said Monday. "Its really important we educate voters across the state that not only has he done anything to solve the problem, hes worked with the gun lobby to make it worse."
The Phillies are having dialogue with Jake Arrieta and his representatives, according to Jon Heyman of Fan Rag (via Twitter). While theres currently a gap between the sides bargaining positions, it seems theres at least some real interest being explored.

Philadelphia has long been cited as a possible landing spot for Arrieta, but this is the firmest indication yet that they organization is really looking into the move. Of course, multiple recent reports have emphasized that the Phils dont want to lock into a long-term deal to improve their rotation, and that motivation no doubt remains a major factor.

From Arrietas perspective, hes now the top player left on the board (that is, MLBTRs top 50 free agent list). Other Scott Boras clients are taking deals that feature front-loaded structures and opt-out opportunities, though that general approach may not quite meet with the Phillies interest. Perhaps theres still some room for creativity in structuring a deal for Arrieta.

The obvious comp on this years market remains Yu Darvish, who landed $125MM from the Cubs  who reportedly at least checked in with Arrietas camp before finalizing things with Darvish. Other organizations no doubt share the Phillies interest in opportunism on the quality veteran starter  including, perhaps, the division-rival Nationals  so its still amply possible that interest from multiple quarters will push Arrieta into the nine-figure range.
For the Royals, replacing Eric Hosmer likely wont mean paying another veteran significant dollars to line up at first base. As Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star writes, the current expectation is that Logan Morrison is an unlikely target. GM Dayton Moore tells Dodd that while the organization has long admired Morrisons ability, the economic part of it  is very real to us.

It also does not seem that the Royals will pivot from Hosmer to fellow former K.C. star Mike Moustakas. Dodd runs down some of the teams internal options at the infield corners and the organizations current thinking as it bids adieu to Hosmer. While its largely of historical interest at this point, its also worth noting a recent report from Robert Murray of Fan Rag suggesting that Kansas City never dangled more than five years and around $100MM to Hosmer. While multiple prior reports had pegged the organizations interest in the seven-year range, that lesser price point would certainly have left Hosmer with an easier decision.

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5,000 years ago, there was no worse crime in China than revealing the secret of silk.

It was a prized fabric in the West and Middle East. The only way to get your hands on it was to travel the Silk Road.

The centurys old road stretched from the Korean peninsula all the way to the Mediterranean Sea.

To walk the road is the equivalent of walking from Melbourne to Cairns and back, twice!

For centuries, China had a monopoly on silk. And thanks to the Silk Road, they had the means to trade it for gold and silver.

Today, China has plenty of other silks (products we want here in the West). And for the sake of trade and economic growth, theyre planning to build the biggest trading route in history.

It will connect China to the world. A colossal project, spaning decades and costing trillions.

The Aussie government has said they want in. But did you know that you too can profit from the worlds biggest infrastructure project?

Let me explain how

World builder

Theyre calling it the One Belt One Road Initiative. It will cover 65 countries, touching more than 4.4 billion people.

Its Chinas answer to opening up trade with the rest of the world.

The nation will spend a trillion dollars building ports, rail networks, bridges and roads.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald [Click to open new window]

Clearly its a mammoth task.

One that theyve been talking about for years now.

What seems to be holding them up are reservations held by other countries.

For example, the US is very tentative about the project. Trade is incredibly important when talking about national income and economic supremacy. The last thing the US wants is for China to become even more dominant in global trade.

Europe also have their own concerns. China needs to follow rules if they plan to build a route to 500 million European consumers, they argue.

For example, what would happen if low cost Chinese steel makers flooded the European market with steel?

It could put European steel makers out of their jobs, increasing unemployment and potentially damaging their economy.

Of course such thinking promotes economic protectionism. Over time, protectionist policies actually weaken industries.

Nevertheless, Euro leaders need to win votes. Protecting jobs is an easy way to do that.

But while there are concerns, no one is denying the massive opportunities at hand. Nations like Australia and the US arent sitting idly by.

Along with India and Japan, Australia and the US are planning to profit from Chinas mammoth new Silk Road.

Piggyback opportunities

China alone will not build roads and ports spanning from Beijing to Scandinavia. Theyll enlist the help of local builders, engineers and project managers.

The Economist wrote in mid-2016, early in the planning process:

Official figures say there are 900 deals under way, worth $890 billion, such as a gas pipeline from the Bay of Bengal through Myanmar to south-west China and a rail link between Beijing and Duisburg, a transport hub in Germany. China says it will invest a cumulative $4 trillion in OBOR countries, though it does not say by when.

China will fuel jobs and economic growth for countries in the path of their new Silk Road. But what about those which this route doesnt pass over?

Countries like Australia and the US still want a piece of the action.

Its why theyre teaming up with India and Japan to form a joint regional infrastructure scheme. Their scheme will rival Chinas multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative, the Australian Financial Review writes.

Malcolm Turnbull was quick to describe the plan as an alternative rather than a rival.

So how can they profit from Chinas infrastructure spending spree?

Well, they could invest in the region directly, as one US official explained.

No one is saying China should not build infrastructure. China might build a port which, on its own is not economically viable. We could make it economically viable by building a road or rail line linking that port.

Essentially, countries like Australia, the US and Japan could make piggyback investments. They could build the infrastructure which complements Chinas One Belt One Road.

This could be great for the Aussie government. But its also an opportunity for you to invest in stocks with exposure to Chinas One Belt One Road project.

Digging for stocks

This project is a massive opportunity for Aussie businesses. And that means it could also be a massive opportunity for you, the Aussie investor.

Imagine finding an Aussie construction firm with exposure to China.

Theres a chance they could sign multiple contracts to work on the worlds largest world-building project.

Such contracts would exponentially increase earnings in a short amount of time. And the companys shares could reach new heights.

One Aussie firm that comes to mind is Aconex Ltd [ASX:ACX].

They help all members in the construction process communicate and share documents. As you can imagine, the applications of Aconexs software across regions and languages would be extremely helpful.

Unfortunately, the US software giant, Oracle Corp [NYSE:ORCL], made a quick bid for Aconex late last year.

The potential purchase saw the billion dollar stock jump almost 50% in a matter of days.

So while Aconex might be off the cards for now, there are likely many more Aussie stocks that could profit from Chinas One Belt One Road.

What youre looking for is exposure to China and the potential to sign contracts for this massive infrastructure project.

Start digging!

Kind regards,

Harje Ronngard,

Editor, Money Morning
Australian Economic News Updates Enjoy a contrarian outlook on the Australian economy  and how movements beyond our borders could affect your stocks, retirement fund or the value of your home. Go here for more.

Daily Chinese Economy News Chinas economy has been a powerhouse in recent years. But times are a changing and China, for better or worse, is a subject of heated debate. Are there investment opportunities to be still had from China, and how will they affect your wealth at home? Find out here.

US Economy News The US economy is drowning under the weight of its public and private debt. But is it too soon to call the end of this financial, military and political empire? Only time will tell. Either way, you need to make sure your investments are on the right side of the trade.

Eurozone Economy The Eurozone is in a huge mess right now. Can it hold it together or will, one-by-one, member states leave the Euro and go at it on their own? More importantly, what consequences will this have for Australia and your investments? More on that here.

Global Economy News Dont just follow the news on the global economy  get an inside peek into whats happening in developed and emerging economies around the world  and what it could mean for your investments. Go here for more.
By August or September, Canada is slated to become the first Group of Seven country to legalize pot for recreational use nationally.

The countrys burgeoning pot industry, which includes about 85 companies with a combined market value of about $30 billion, will put more pressure on the countrys stock of industrial real estate amid a booming economy and the shift to online shopping. The industrial vacancy rate hit 3.9% at the end of 2017, the lowest since 2001, with rents up 15% in Vancouver and 7.3% in Toronto from 2016, according to Cushman & Wakefield.

Industrial is as hot as anything you can imagine, Altus Group Ltd. CEO Robert Courteau told Bloomberg. Whether it be the rise of Amazon or marijuana, all of these are another level of aggravation on unavailable assets.

Read more: Would legal cannabis become a rental property nightmare?

Canada can look south of the border to see how the push for legal pot sent rents soaring. Cannabis companies paid a premium of about $12 to $18 a square foot for industrial space in around Portland, Oregon in 2016 compared with regular market rates about $5. In Colorado, growers have paid almost ten-fold the going rate for first-rate spaces.
Sales of existing, single-family homes in California have started the year in decline as inventory remains stubbornly low.

California Association of Realtors says that Januarys sales of 388,800 meant a 7.6% drop from December, and a 2.9% year-over-year decrease. It was the first time since March 2016 that the statewide sales figure has dropped below 400,000.

A persistent shortage of housing inventory and continued affordability crunch is beginning to eat away at the market as buyers struggle to find available homes for sale, said C.A.R. President Steve White. As such, were seeing a shift in sales toward inland areas such as San Bernardino County in Southern California, and Placer, San Joaquin, Sacramento, and Stanislaus counties, which are all adjacent to the inventory- and price-challenged San Francisco Bay Area.
Rather than follow those protocols, Lee suggested to Fannin that they use Stone to bet a new loan from the bank, sending the proceeds directly to Fannin. In October of 2014, Lee had Stone sign numerous documents to get a commercial loan for $100,000. Lee told BB&T that the loan was intended to expand Stones embroidery business  a business that didnt exist. The BB&T check for the loan was deposited into Fannins account.

In November of 2014, Lee got Stone to sign more documents in order to get a new loan to pay off her outstanding $100,000 obligation, the US Attorneys Office reported. Then in January of 2015, he had documents prepared for Stones signature to get still another loan that would pay off her November loan and pay out an additional $149,212.50.

Almost all of the money from the loans actually went to Fannin, according to the US attorney. Lee then had the loan extended again in July, just two months before he resigned from BB&T.

Of the $250,000 gained through the fraud, Fannin spent at least $120,000 in casinos, according to the US attorney.

Fannin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud prior to trial. Lee is scheduled for sentencing in May. He faces up to 30 years in prison.
Two senior executives from Vanguard Funding are looking at up to 20 years in prison each after pleading guilty to participating in a scheme to embezzle more than $8.9 million from the company.

Edward J. Sypher Jr., former chief financial officer at Vanguard, and Matthew T. Voss, the companys former chief operating officer, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, according to the US Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of New York.

According to prosecutors, Sypher and Voss orchestrated a scheme in which they obtained warehouse loans for Vanguard, telling the lenders that Vanguard planned to use the proceeds of those loans to fund purchase mortgages or refinances for Vanguard clients. When Vanguard received the loans, however, Voss and Sypher diverted the money for their own use. Prosecutors said that they used the ill-gotten gains to pay personal expenses and pay off previous loans they had obtained fraudulently.
The following is a letter sent to parents of Midland Christian students late Monday. The letter addresses a threat of violence made at the school.

--

Dear MCS Family,

We wanted to inform you that a bathroom stall in the high school was vandalized on Friday with a message that suggests the possibility of some kind of violence on Tuesday. This information was seen by several through social media this weekend and we know it has many students and parents concerned. We assure you that we are taking this very seriously and have addressed this with the Midland Policed Department. Undoubtedly the person responsible for the vandalism was one of our secondary students, so we implore each parent/guardian of our secondary students to have a specific conversation with your student about this issue and share any information you have with the MCS administration. Given the nature of the incident, we do not believe it is a credible threat, but as an added precautionary measure, we will have police presence on campus tomorrow.

MCS Administration
Even after a burst of hail fell on Berkeley and chilly winds and low temperatures gripped the Bay Area all day Monday, forecasters warned the worst is still yet to come.

Overnight lows in the Bay Area were expected to range from 20s in the valleys to mid-30s near the coast  setting the region up to break long-held records Tuesday. Inland areas, including Morgan Hill and Gilroy, should drop below freezing into the upper 20s, said Steve Anderson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

They could be the coldest temperatures weve seen this winter, Anderson said. And its going to stay cool for quite some time.

A freeze warning is in effect for the Bay Area until 9 a.m.  the first time such an alert has been triggered this year, Anderson said.

Although the temperatures are supposed to be frigid overnight throughout the region, there is no chance of precipitation across in the region Tuesday  even in higher elevations, said another National Weather Service meteorologist, Will Pi. The system will be mostly clear with light winds, he said.

Daytime temperatures for the region should be in the 50s for the remainder of the week.

The city has expanded capacities at homeless shelters in preparation for the cold. Transportation is being provided for those who choose to go, and street outreach workers are passing out extra blankets, officials said.

Up in the Santa Cruz Mountains, a dusting of snow was reported at elevations above 2,000 feet Monday. And in the Sierra, a fresh blanket of snow coated the peaks around Lake Tahoe. Some areas received up to seven inches of snow  a welcome sight in the Sierra, which has seen a near-historic low snowpack this year.

The snow wont be going anywhere for a while: Temperatures in South Lake Tahoe are expected to dip to 5 degrees Tuesday, 7 degrees Wednesday, 14 degrees Thursday and 15 degrees Friday.

The precipitation and the low temperatures stand in stark contrast to the unseasonably high temperatures and relentless sunshine that the region felt earlier this month.

But the snowy and icy conditions caused major problems for travelers heading back from the mountains after the long holiday weekend. Chain controls were in effect for highways throughout the Tahoe area Monday, and motorists were advised to drive slowly, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Major traffic delays were reported on Interstate 80 and Highway 89 out of the Tahoe basin, according to the Placer County Sheriffs Office.

Back in the Bay Area, temperatures in San Francisco sank to the low 40s Monday morning, climbing up 10 degrees by mid-afternoon. Higher elevations  including Mount Diablo and Atlas Peak  fell well below freezing Monday morning, reaching 23 and 28 degrees, respectively, and reached mid-30s by the afternoon.

A shower passing over Berkeley left behind pellets of hail in the city that quickly melted once they hit the ground.

We are starting to approach March and, by this point, our normal is closer to 60s, Matt Mehle, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Just be mindful of pets you may keep outdoors. Now is the time to prepare for the cold weather.
Cinemark is implementing a new bag policy beginning Thursday, Feb. 22.

Bags or packages larger than 12 inches x 12 inches x 6 inches will not be allowed in the theater. The policy was adopted "in an effort to enhance the safety and security of our guests and employees," according to the company's website.

Diaper bags and medical equipment bags are exempt from the policy.

RELATED: First look at South Side S.A.'s Mayan Palace theater revamp: 'You won't recognize it'

The company also notes in the policy that theater employees reserve the right to inspect all bags and packages entering the theater.

Cinemark has two theaters in San Antonio: Cinemark McCreless Market at 4224 S New Braunfels Ave. and Cinemark Moves 16 at 5063 N.W. Loop 410.
SpaceX is preparing to hit another orbital milestone with the launch of a pair of experimental satellites on Sunday that's designed to beam an ultra-fast, lag-free Internet connection down to Earth.

The test satellites, dubbed Microsat-2a and Microsat-2b, are a part of a years-long plan by chief executive Elon Musk to create a fleet of orbiting devices that blankets the globe in wireless broadband connectivity. SpaceX ultimately intends to put some 12,000 broadband satellites in low Earth orbit - and Sunday's payload will mark the company's first stab at realizing the dream. The initial satellites in the network are expected to come online next year.

Satellite broadband is already available today. But it's slow, expensive and not really accessible to the masses. The goal of SpaceX and almost a dozen other companies is to deliver fast, reliable internet access to virtually everyone.

Contemporary satellite broadband is mostly used by companies and organizations that require internet access in remote environments or extremely specific scenarios, not residential connectivity. First-responders to a natural disaster, for example, can spend hundreds of dollars a day for a 5 Mbps connection, which they use to coordinate relief efforts. The shipping and aviation industries have also been known to use conventional satellite data services.

But for consumers, companies such as SpaceX believe a different approach could help lower costs and increase reliability, making satellite broadband practical for everyday use. The idea involves placing satellites much lower in orbit, reducing the amount of time it takes for signals to travel from ground-based antennas up to space and back again - and broadening the potential user base to include the entire world.

To ensure consistent coverage, providers of next-gen satellite broadband will need to put up many more satellites, as well as develop accurate tracking technology that lets devices on the ground communicate with them without missing a beat. And they'll need to use radio frequencies that are known for their low-lag physical properties. SpaceX's network plans to use airwaves in the so-called Ka-, Ku- and V-bands - with roughly 4,400 K-band satellites and over 7,000 V-band satellites.

Some critics of satellite broadband have highlighted the risk of creating more debris in space that could prove harmful to other space operations. In October, a pair of U.S. senators sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission asking the agency to coordinate with other federal agencies on space junk in light of the plans by SpaceX and others to add thousands of new satellites to Earth's orbit.

"Collisions with debris as small as 10 cm can catastrophically damage satellites, and debris as small as 1 cm can disable spacecraft," wrote Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska. "Each collision exponentially increases the likelihood of another collision, creating a potential cascade that could severely inhibit future telecommunications, national security, and other space-based activity in the [low Earth orbit] environment."

But despite those concerns, companies have sought for years to make satellite internet a reality, due to the growing demand - and commercial opportunities - linked to broadband.

The FCC gave testing approval last year to OneWeb, a SpaceX competitor run by a former Google engineer that's also planning its own constellation of broadband satellites. And this week, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said he was urging his four colleagues at the agency to support giving SpaceX a similar endorsement.

"Satellite technology can help reach Americans who live in rural or hard-to-serve places where fiber optic cables and cell towers do not reach," said Pai in a statement Wednesday. "And it can offer more competition where terrestrial internet access is already available."

SpaceX didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Well-heeled tech companies whose business depends on capturing a large audience of Internet users, such as Google and Facebook, have periodically explored the idea of beaming broadband down to earth from satellites, balloons or even hovering drones. But aside from Project Loon, few of these proposals have taken off.

The need for robust, high-speed internet access is especially pressing in developing countries, where traditional Internet infrastructure is lacking. More than half of the world's population still doesn't have an Internet connection, according to a 2017 United Nations report. Of those people, roughly 6 in 10 live in the Asia-Pacific region, while 2 in 10 live in Africa.

But poor broadband penetration is an issue in wealthy countries such as the United States, too. As many as 60 million urban Americans, and 16 million rural Americans, still aren't connected to the internet, according to the research firm IHS Markit.
Brent crude fell from a two-week high as the market weighed forecasts for a surge in U.S. production against OPEC's success in accelerating the pace of draining a global glut.

Futures fell 0.7 percent in London. The outlook for U.S. oil production in both 2018 and 2019 is " phenomenal," Deputy Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette said in an interview in London. The latest discussions between OPEC and its allies concluded that the oversupply is dissipating at a faster pace than previously anticipated, people familiar with the matter said.

Oil is struggling to regain the highs of January after a sell-off in global equities seeped into crude markets earlier this month. Surging U.S. production continues to challenge efforts by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its friends to alleviate a global oversupply, with forecasts pointing to record output from the Permian shale basin.

"Prices are vulnerable to the downside over the coming months," said Giovanni Staunovo, an analyst at UBS Group AG in Zurich. "Though the market likes OPEC and its allies' show of unity, we still need to see how U.S. shale companies will react on higher prices and eventually offset all the efforts of OPEC and others to reduce inventories."

Cuts Compliance

Brent for April settlement dropped 44 cents to $65.23 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange as of 11:57 a.m. local time. Prices rose 1.3 percent on Monday.

West Texas Intermediate for March delivery, which expires Tuesday, rose 0.7 percent to $62.10 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Monday's transactions will be booked Tuesday for settlement because of the U.S. Presidents' Day holiday. The more active April contract was at $61.99.

The increase in U.S. production is not "a blip," Brouillette said. "We are optimistic about 2019 and 2020 too."

The OPEC and non-OPEC Joint Technical Committee estimates that oil inventories are about 74 million barrels above the five-year average and participants' compliance with cuts was 133 percent in January, according to people familiar with the matter. The panel's forecast for the market reaching equilibrium later this year assumes that Libya and Nigeria keep output at January levels and other participants in the deal maintain full compliance with cuts.

Oil-market news:

Maintaining the OPEC alliance with other producers including Russia would help avoid future supply gluts or shortages, United Arab Emirates Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei said in Bloomberg TV interview, adding he hoped the alliance would last " forever." BP CEO Bob Dudley expects oil and gas demand for decades to come as population growth fuels energy consumption, particularly in Asia and Africa, he said in London. The flood of U.S. oil exports stepped up a gear on Monday after the first fully laden supertanker sailed from an American port, alleviating a bottleneck that's limited overseas shipments. Gasoline futures rose 0.7 percent to $1.7630 a gallon, extending last week's 3 percent advance.
Woodland Hills, Calif.-based Hertz Investment Group has acquired Brookhollow Central, a three-building office campus along the North Loop, for $70.5 million, the company announced.

The deal follows Hertz Investment's $24 million purchase of Westchase Park Plaza in January. Both properties were purchased from Miami-based Parmenter Realty Partners and have undergone extensive upgrades.

RELATED: California investor enters Texas with Westchase office building

The deal signals the company's optimism for Houston's office market, which has been hard hit by the downturn in oil prices.

"Houston is a national leader in population and economic growth, and companies are looking to locate in the city," chairman Judah Hertz said in an announcement.

"We believe Brookhollow Central is well positioned with its location between the city's ever-expanding business district and highly desirable residential neighborhoods."

RELATED: Marathon tower sold to M-M Properties, awaits $25M makeover

The complex totals 806,541 square feet on 10 acres at Loop 610 and U.S. 290 in northwest Houston, a few miles from the Galleria. The buildings include Brookhollow I, 2800 N. Loop West, Brookhollow II, 2900 N. Loop West, and Brookhollow III, 2950 N. Loop West. The complex has a conference facility, fitness center and parking for more than 3,000 cars.

RELATED: Comerica gets naming rights at Two Riverway

"Brookhollow Central and Westchase Park Plaza both fit our acquisition strategy and offer tremendous value through future leasing. We will continue to explore other opportunities in Houston, as they arise," Hertz Investment Group's chief investment officer Jim Ingram said in an announcement.

"We firmly believe Brookhollow Central will be a property that companies will find attractive due to the location, amenities and opportunities for expansion."

Parmenter Properties bought the Brookhollow campus from a partnership of Thomas Properties Group in 2012.

Hertz Investment Group now owns and manages 63 retail and office properties in 22 cities throughout the United States.
The University of Houston will require all faculty and staff to undergo face-to-face sexual misconduct prevention training this semester, a new addition to the university's annual online training.

UH President Renu Khator emailed employees about the new requirement on Monday afternoon.

Calling the existing online training "robust," Khator said face-to-face training "will have the added benefit of allowing dialogue and discussion which, in turn, will lead to better understanding and awareness about our roles and responsibilities as they relate to Title IX," the federal law that prohibits gender discrimination.

TITLE IX: Feds close Title IX investigation into University of Houston

The new sessions come as universities and workplaces in Houston and around the nation are grappling with how to prevent sexual misconduct.

A national movement dubbed #MeToo in which victims of sexual harassment and assault have come forward with their stories has prompted conversations about inappropriate workplace behavior.

One spreadsheet reported by The Wall Street Journal sourced anonymous allegations detailing harassment and misconduct in academia specifically. More than 2,000 responses were submitted.

BRILES: Khator says UH did 'additional review' before hiring ex-Baylor coaches

"We have aggressively addressed this issue over the years by hiring new personnel, refining our policies and regularly delivering prevention and awareness training within our communities," Khator wrote. "But we can, and should, do more."

Mandatory training sessions will take place this semester, Khator's email said.

Lindsay Ellis writes about higher education for the Chronicle. You can follow her on Twitter and send her tips at lindsay.ellis@chron.com.
MILFORD  A young entrepreneur raised in the hot dog business has opened his own place  DogTown  and put a spin on it that is, quite frankly, being relished by the public.

Bobby Manere, 26, whose father owned the popular Swanky Franks restaurant chain from 1987 to 2008, calls his food at DogTown a fusion of Southern California and New England Roadside classic.

Among the offerings are the Zephyr Dog, artfully topped with chili, American cheese, grilled onions, hot pepper relish; the Mongo Dog slathered with bacon, chili and coleslaw; the Duster Dog, covered with lettuce, tomato, a dill pickle spear, hot pepper relish, mustard and dusted with celery salt. The burgers and sandwiches are also creative.

We try to be more than a hot dog stand, Manere said. We want to see you more than once, but it should be a treat.

Chorizo Terrier! SEE PREVIOUS POST FOR DETAILS. A post shared by Dogtown (@dogtownhots) on Oct 9, 2017 at 9:55am PDT

Maneres business, in an 800-square-foot building at 664 New Haven Ave., has only been open for two months but already has loyal customers waiting when Manere opens at 11 a.m.  and new faces show up daily. On Saturdays, the line is out the door.

One customer, who declined to give his name because, my wife would kill me, said the food is so good he closes his own business at 11 a.m. to drive back for food when they open.

DogTown keeps it to a small menu because Manere watches over every detail, including homemade relishes, chili and sauces.

The hot dogs he uses are specially made by Martin Rosols Meats in New Britain, family owned since 1928.

The dogs have special seasonings, snap, and natural casings, Manere said.

Space is tight, so even the beverages are hand-picked. They carry bottled Boylin soda from New York and Huberts Lemonade from California.

Maneres philosophy is to keep it small to keep the quality high.

You have to be fully, fully committed to it, he said.

Manere said he learned from the best, his father, Bob Manere, who owned Swanky Franks, with locations in Milford and throughout Fairfield County, including Norwalk, Westport, Newtown and Bethel.

Bob Manere came out of retirement to become his sons grill man and now takes the orders from him.

The tables have turned, Bob Manere said, chuckling. I had a little hot dog stand iconic for people of that age. He has a hot dog stand for what people want today.

Manere said of his son, Hes done a great job. Im proud of him  Bobby has really figured it out.

Bob Manere said his philosophy was always to create a business and keep your promise  and his son seems to have absorbed the message.

Bobby Manere once was an avid skateboarder who spent a lot of time in California, and the skater pulse can be found throughout the tiny building  even the food is served on a black-and-white check paper, the pattern paper made famous by Vans, a line of shoes and clothes inspired by surfing and skateboarding.

The name DogTown, thought of by his fiancee, is an ode to Venice, California, considered the ultimate place for skateboarding. When his now-fiancee was his girlfriend, he spent a lot of time in Southern California visiting her and was as a student of food and skateboard culture.

There is skater meets hot dog everywhere at the Milford business, including a bench made of skateboards and a logo thats a hot dog carrying a board.

The younger Manere wanted to call it Swanky Franks after dads place, but there were too many red tape complications with taking the name, as his father had partners. He did carry over his fathers famous chili recipe, however.

Bobby Manere began his entrepreneurship adventure in late summer 2017 with a fully-outfitted, specially ordered hot dog truck from California, traveling to flea markets, craft fairs, breweries and other special events to sell his food. He had been a bartender for six years and while he loved the customers, he opened the truck because, I was sick and tired of working for other people, he said.

He found the permanent spot in Milford on a whim  he was washing dishes cramped in the truck and started Web surfing for rents.

The Milford spot popped up, he inquired and it all fell into place. Its a small building with nothing close on either side  just open space. The building is freshly painted black and white with the checked trim reminiscent of Vans.

The DogTown food truck Bobby Manere has special affection for is on the lot, drawing attention of motorists and available for parties and other events. There is a picnic table outside and there will be more come spring.

A post shared by Dogtown (@dogtownhots) on Oct 2, 2017 at 8:20am PDT

Bobby Manere, who lives in Bethel, said hes glad he chose Milford because the people are friendly, loyal and good at spreading news about the business through word of mouth.

I think Milford picked us, he said. The people of Milford welcomed us with open arms.

It was just him in December and business is so brisk hes since hired eight people.

I am having fun with it, Bobby Manere said.

Customer Jeff McCoy, owner of InTown Automotive, said he and his crew often get lunch from DogTown .

Whats not to like? Everyones smiling and they have the best hot dogs and burgers, McCoy said. Everything is fresh like it was made today and you dont have to get a double cheeseburger here to get a burger that fits in your mouth.

Scott Eairheart, who stopped in for lunch during work  and said his wife and son also love the place  said the location has housed a deli, ice cream shop and breakfast shop without success, but, This place is going to make it.

On some days the line is out the door, Eairheart said.

Customer Todd Johnson said, I love this place.  Its going to be a regular thing for me.

They put a fresh twist on the classic hot dogs and hamburgers.  Everythings fresh, said Johnson, a Marine veteran.

DogTown is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. They are closed on Monday.
1 Inyo County fire: A wildfire burning in Inyo County threatened buildings Monday, including a historic railroad station, after it tripled in size overnight, officials said. The blaze burning through chaparral and shrub oak has scorched 3.5 square miles north of Bishop on the eastern slopes of the Sierra. Several communities and campgrounds in the Pleasant Valley Reservoir area were ordered to evacuate as strong winds posed a challenge, said Cathey Mattingly, spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Later Monday, the evacuation was lifted and most were allowed to return. At least 400 firefighters were working to contain the flames.

2 Power emergency: A federal judge on Monday approved a $300 million loan for Puerto Ricos power company that officials say will help keep the troubled agency operating until late March. The ruling comes just days after the judge had rejected an initial $1 billion loan request made by a federal control board overseeing the U.S. territorys finances. The board recently warned that the power company could see a $1.2 billion loss in revenue in the first six months after Hurricane Maria, which hit Sept. 20 and destroyed two-thirds of the power distribution system. Nearly 250,000 customers remain without power more than five months after the Category 4 storm.
Humble Police Officer Cliff Goddard has worked night shifts for the Humble Police Department for 17 years, so he and his family treasure whatever time they can spend together.

After he was shot in the chest on duty on Feb. 13, the importance of that time really hit home for him.

Goddard, in an interview, said he and his family experienced a range of emotions that day. He thought about how he didn't want his 10-year-daughter to grow up without a father. He still cannot imagine what his wife, Samantha, went through when she heard he'd been shot.

He was released from the hospital on Feb. 14.

"My wife said this was the best Valentine's Day she could have gotten  that I've come home from the hospital and that I was OK," Goddard said.

Goddard's wife said in a Feb. 15 Facebook post, "As a spouse, child, or parent of a police officer, you know they put their lives on the line every day. We know this, but never expect to actually get that phone call. Luckily this time, he was able to make it home. So, in the words of my husband, soulmate, hero, and love of my life  'Not today.' "

More Information OFFICER assaulted Maj. Jimmy Rollins, a volunteer reserve deputy with the Harris County Sheriff's Office, is back at work after he was assaulted on his 66th birthday. See Page 5 See More Collapse

Goddard, who said he's the first Humble police officer to be shot in the line of duty, doesn't know when he will return to work. But he doesn't plan on staying away long.

The bullet didn't hit any vital organs," Goddard said. "It went through my chest and out my arm. It hit almost no bones and no arteries. I was very blessed in that sense. Now, it's just soreness and I think once I get over the soreness, I should be good to return to work. I'm looking forward to it. I'm not one to sit around and lay in bed."

Goddard's injury happened after officers were dispatched to a robbery around 10:51 p.m, according to a Humble Police Department news release.

Two Houston residents drove in a black Chevy Camaro to Humble to respond to an online advertisement, police said.

"When they arrived here they met with the person who was selling it and they stole it from him," said Humble police Detective Tony Taylor. "When we received that call, the officers responding intercepted those suspects, which led to a pursuit."

The pair led police on a brief chase until the driver hit a vehicle parked at Papas BBQ in Humble, according to Humble police.

One suspect was immediately detained, but another ran.

"Other officers that had arrived on scene attempted to apprehend the suspect by deploying a Taser, but the Taser was ineffective," stated the press release. "When officers continued to pursue (the fleeing suspect) pulled out a hand gun and began firing."

The press release states that two Humble officers returned fire and the suspect was hit in the pelvis.

Goddard said his own hesitation in the moment could have ended up being a lethal mistake.

"What I want to get out to other law enforcement officers is to not do that  to not hesitate and to act on what you have to act on. I hesitated and it almost cost me my life," Goddard said.

An ambulance was called for Goddard, but he decided to drive himself to Memorial Herman Northeast Medical Center for treatment.

"As a matter of fact, the ambulance that was coming for me ended up transporting the suspect that was shot to the hospital," Goddard said.

Goddard said he's glad the suspect survived after being shot.

"That's something I'd have to live with," Goddard said. "Nobody ever wants to take somebody's life. I'm so happy he wasn't killed. I was concerned for him while I was in the hospital."

Goddard was eventually transferred to Memorial Herman Hospital downtown where his family flocked to his side.

In a Feb. 14 Facebook post, Goddard's brother, Neko Antoniou, described the experience of learning that a family member had been shot.

"I'm about one hour into being asleep when my phone rings," Antoniou wrote. "My first thought is, 'Who (is) calling me at this hour?' I answer the phone and hear my sister's voice and know immediately that something is wrong."

Antoniou then had to break the news to his mother. "I drove to my parent's home posthaste," Antoniou wrote. "I call my mother and tell her to open the door because I'm outside. She knows immediately that something is wrong. I provide my parents with the limited information that I have and off we go to the hospital. Tensions are high."

When Goddard was released from the hospital, Antoniou took to social media to express his feelings.

"I type this with tears in my eyes," Antoniou said. "I love you brother. I am so proud that you are the (person) that you are and I can't imagine a world without you in it."

Goddard doesn't consider himself a hero, despite such comments by friends, family and community members.

The real hero that night, he said, was the 25-year-old Officer Courtney Howard, a first-year Humble police officer working on the scene with Goddard the night he was shot.

"I've been an officer for 23 years and I can't imagine having to go through that my first year," Goddard said. "She did an awesome job. She's the hero."

He said he appreciates those who have conveyed support. He was moved when he received a card filled with heartwarming messages from employees of Chick-Fil-A. Additionally, Italiano's sent him a $100 gift certificate.

"My daughter's birthday was yesterday (Feb. 15). She turned 27 on a day that I probably should have been buried and we arranged to take her to eat at Italiano's," Goddard said.

"And it was paid for. I've had overwhelming support from people in the community and businesses."
Kelsey-Seybold Clinic is offering comprehensive patch testing for patients with unexplained recurrent or persistent rashes suspected to be caused by an allergen.

Patch testing is performed by John Griffin, M.D., F.A.A.D., and is available to patients at Kelsey-Seybold  Tanglewood Clinic at 1111 Augusta Drive, Houston, 77057.

Patch testing is a specialized test that evaluates more than 80 contact allergens to help determine whether a patient's skin rash is caused or aggravated by an allergy to substances that come in contact with the skin. This test requires additional time and expertise. Dr. Griffin is one of the few dermatologists in the Houston area to offer comprehensive patch testing, despite the significant need for it.

"Contact dermatitis can be caused by a wide variety of allergens. For some patients, a screening patch test may not answer the question, 'what is causing this rash?' In the past, these patients would be referred to a provider who performed the comprehensive patch testing, sometimes waiting months for an appointment to have this test done," said Dr. Griffin. "Being able to offer the comprehensive patch test to our Kelsey-Seybold patients will make testing more convenient, help us expedite getting results, and allow patients to begin treatment more quickly."

Patients who are most likely the best candidates for patch testing are those who have had recurrent rashes or other skin reactions to substances with which they regularly come into contact. The contact dermatitis could be from something the patient uses in his or her occupation, or a reaction to items such as laundry detergent, makeup, soap, or, for those with unexplained mouth sores, dental appliances.

Patches are worn for three days and removed when the patient returns to the doctor. They are evaluated for any reactions on the day they return and again two days later to ensure a delayed response has not occurred. If the site under or around the patch is irritated, it may indicate a contact allergy.

To learn more about patch testing at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic-Tanglewood, call 713-442-0427.
An infamous clinical experiment in American history is the subject of "Miss Evers' Boys," this year's Black History Month production, playing through March 4 at the Pearl Theater.

Shundranieka Ross portrays Eunice Evers, the dedicated nurse who recruits four Alabama tenant farmers with venereal disease to accept medical treatment from the U.S. government in David Feldshuh's fictionalized account of the Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male in the 1930s.

All seems well until the "bushel basketful of government money" runs out, and doctors tell Evers they are studying how black males react when their syphilis isn't treated.

Evers is faced with the ethical question of whether to tell her patients the truth or, for the good of scientific research that could supposedly could help thousands of others "hold in confidence all matters revealed to me in the practice of my calling," according to her oath as a nurse.

Director Alric Davis compared Nurse Evers to flawed characters in Greek mythology. "You build that heroine up to knock her down," he says. "She is this amazing woman who is doing terrible things."

More Information 'Miss Evers' boys' What: Pearl Theater's production of David Feldshuh's fictionalized account of an infamous clinical study. When: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22. 8 p.m. Feb. 23 and 24, 3 p.m. Feb. 25, 8 p.m. March 2 and 3 and 3 p.m. March 4. Where: 14803 Park Almeda Drive, Houston Cost: Adult, $16; students and senior adults, $14 Tickets: 713-340-2540, 832-459-4673 or www.pearl-theater.com. See More Collapse

Davis cast Ross from an open call for actors at the Pearl.

"She had this really, really heartwarming, conversational style," he said. "I feel that she is perfect (in the role) because you have to love Nurse Evers even when she makes bad choices."

In addition to Fisher, the men portraying Evers' patients are Marvin Young as Caleb, Shun Lauren as Willie and Trey Lewis as Hodman. The quartet forms a dance team, which they call Miss Evers' Boys, and she drives them to events where they compete for cash prizes.

James West III portrays Dr. Brodus. Jeff Dorman is Dr. Douglas, the only character in the play who isn't black.

The stage manager is Kimberly Roberts.

Davis, who graduated in 2013 from Carver Magnet School of the Arts in Houston, last year completed a bachelor of fine arts in musical theater at Howard University in Washington, D.C. The 22-year-old is seeking a graduate degree in the arts leadership program at the University of Houston.

Davis was just 16 when he and Lewis co-founded the Bayou Theatre Company to offer "positive and thought-provoking pre-professional and professional artistic opportunities to at-risk youth and adults within the greater Houston area." For further information, visit www.bayoutheatrecompany.org.

Ross, who is 36 and single, grew up in Oakland, California, but moved to Houston to study at Texas Southern University. She earned a bachelor of fine arts in theater at TSU in 2016.

While working as an admissions coordinator for a skilled nursing facility, Ross performs regularly with the theater ministry, Action Drama, at Crossroads Community Church in Pearland.

"I love the character of Nurse Evers," she said. "She just wants to help, and she keeps telling herself that that's what's she's doing. Her oath as a nurse is something she takes very seriously."

Davis said he feels the play is especially relevant to today's racial climate.

"Issues regarding health insurance and pay inequality still plague us today, but the forms of racisms are more institutionalized," he said.

For ticket information, call 713-340-2540 or visit. www.pearl-theater.com.

Don Maines is a freelance writer who can be reached at donmaines@att.net
The very first Instagram photo was taken by its founder, Kevin Systron in Mexico in 2010. I find it fitting that it was of a dog. We all know pets are a big hit on Instagram. However, Instagram has become more than a site to post pictures of dogs.

The Instagram app has become the number one photo sharing app in the U.S. with 95 Million active users, and also globally, adding almost 100 million active users each year since 2014. Now attaining over 800 million worldwide active users. And not surprisingly, that has attracted many big businesses to Instagram.

I previously wrote about 13 power tips from successful America-based Instagram users. So, I decided to reach out to four business power users on four different continents and ask their thoughts on the value of Instagram in their region and some of their best tips on how to get IG followers and grow your business. Here's what they told me:

Get more Instagram followers in Qatar

Ibrahim Al-Haidos is the founder of the luxury handbag brand, Fursan, and is based in Qatar, Doha. He has 162,000 Instagram followers, and he says, "Instagram has become a vital marketing platform for businesses in the Middle East. It has become one of the most used social media apps, if not the most popular. Businesses in Qatar use it to tell their stories in a way that is visually appealing to their customers. "

Al-Haidos's top Instagram tips:

Have a complete bio and write what your business is about. Make sure you are consistent with all of your social media profiles. Use your logo as a display picture, and make sure to use your logo with the correct font, style and color. Take professional photos. Take your audience behind the scenes sometimes: You can use Instagram stories to film moments behind the scenes to engage your Instagram followers and make them feel belonged to your brand. Collaborate with the right bloggers and Influencers that belong to your segment.

Related: Five Awesome Apps To Take Your Instagram Stories Game To The Next Level

Get more Instagram followers in the United Kingdom

Oliver Isaacs is based in the United Kingdom, and he has 331,000 Instagram followers. He says, "You can enhance your brand identity significantly on Instagram, and this strategy is being adopted by numerous online and offline businesses across the U.K. and Europe daily.

"Mobile has now taken over desktop traffic, and Instagram is the place to be. In my specific business sector, which is primarily focused on cryptocurrency investing and blockchain technology, I've seen multiple blockchain-type startups using Instagram to generate exposure for their initial coin offerings (ICOs).

"A lot of blockchain companies or specific cryptocoins have set up Telegram groups, which link to their Instagram pages. They use those pages to generate viral content or endorsements from major public figures, celebrities or influencers."

Related: 7 Ways to Turn Instagram Followers Into Customers for Life

Isaacs's top Instagram tip:

Be consistent. It's easier said than done, but no matter your niche, it's vital to remain consistent with your content and stories. Being consistent will allow you to stay on the good side of the Instagram algorithm, which will attract a more engaged and loyal following.

Then, you'll be able to gain high-quality followers quickly when you find bigger accounts in your niche from Engagement or Facebook groups, Telegram and KIK apps, and negotiating cross-promotion on stories or post captions.

You can also make use of "power likes" -- likes from much larger accounts -- if you build a solid relationship with the account owners of pages with a million or more Instagram followers. This will give your posts the best chance of going viral on the Explore page.

Related: Feel the Customer Love With These 9 Instagram Stories Tips Straight From the Source

Get more Instagram followers in Australia

Adel de Meyer (@adeldmeyer), is the founder and new media specialist for Adedemeyer.com. She is based in Gold Coast, Australia, and has 14,900 Instagram followers. She says, "Social Media usage in Australia has been very consistent over the years, and Facebook and YouTube have been popular among Aussies. The last two years, Instagram started to get a big slice of the pie, and we are seeing steady growth for Twitter and Snapchat.

"Businesses in Australia spend most of their marketing budgets first on improving their websites and content. Then, they look at incorporating budget spend on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram advertising, strong influencer marketing campaigns. We only see creative ways to reach millennials on Snapchat from the bigger brands."

Meyer's top Instagram tip:

To build a brand with the Instagram app, you need to understand the type of content people crave, then find your niche. The competition on Instagram is tough, so you will have to be consistent and deliver top-notch content every time, otherwise you will not get noticed. Have a solid strategy, get a content calendar in place and combine that with some ad spend to boost reach.

Related: 10 Tips for More Instagram Followers

Get more Instagram followers in Brazil

Luana Soares is based in Brazil and has 12,600 Instagram followers. She says, "Brazil is the second biggest country for bloggers and YouTubers today. Every brand or public person knows they must be on Instagram to stay competitive. Businesses in Brazil are using Instagram every day to engage and be social with their customers. We are a very social country, after all."

Soares's top Instagram tip:

Many businesses are now learning that Instagram is very important to communicate with the younger generation. Retail stores are selling directly from Instagram. Soares says you should always be updated with Instagram's latest features and changes to their algorithm. She follows Instagram's official blog, and you can do it right from the Instagram app on your phone. This will help make your account look amazing and stay a step ahead of your competitors.

Related:

4 Social Media Stars Explain How You Can Get More Instagram Followers

How To Become An Instagram Influencer

How 2 Friends Quit Their Jobs and Pursued Their Dreams of Purple Ice Cream That Gets Thousands of Likes on Instagram



Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved



This article originally appeared on entrepreneur.com


NEW HAVEN  Twelve jurors Tuesday found Bobby Griffin Jr. guilty of murder and three other counts in the shooting death of Nathaniel Bradley five years ago in New Haven.

In addition, Superior Court Judge Elpedio N. Vitale found Griffin guilty of criminal possession of a firearm. As a previously convicted felon, Griffin was not allowed to have a weapon.

During their closing arguments last Friday, the two prosecutors displayed the assault rifle that was used to shoot Bradley twice in the back during an attempted robbery at the corner of Ella T. Grasso Boulevard and Goffe Terrace the night of Oct. 14, 2013.

The rifle was found in Griffins attic when police executed a search and seizure warrant.

Griffin, 25, of Peck Street, was convicted by the jury of felony murder (causing a death in the course of another crime, such as robbery), murder, attempted first-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery.

Vitale set a tentative sentencing date of May 8 and raised Griffins bond from $1 million to $2.5 million. Griffin faces a potential sentence of more than 100 years.

During his summation of the prosecutions case last Friday morning, Assistant States Attorney Sean McGuinness cited Nathan L. Johnsons testimony that Griffin wanted to rob somebody. And so he arranged to have Bradley, 36, of Hamden, come to that Boulevard corner to sell some marijuana.

But Johnson said Griffin came out of a nearby alley brandishing the assault rifle, pointed it at Bradley and told him: Run everything. This is street talk for give me everything youve got.

Johnson quoted Bradley replying, You can have everything and turning to get back into his car. At that point, Griffin shot him twice.

Johnson testified he didnt understand why Griffin had shot Bradley. But McGuinness said in his closing argument that Griffin had been disrespected and was so angry he fired at Bradley with the intent of killing him.

Defense attorney Wade Luckett had argued the state lacked forensic evidence and had relied on Johnsons account as well as Griffins police statement. Luckett said Johnson was not credible because he had entered into a cooperation agreement with the state. Prosecutors dropped a felony murder charge and Johnson pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery. He faces a prison sentence of up to 30 years.

Griffin testified in his own defense last Thursday, saying Johnson had shot Bradley. Griffin said he ran from the scene and later accepted the rifle from Johnson.

As for Griffins confession to two police detectives under about 3 1/2 hours of questioning, Griffin said the detectives kept pressuring him until I thought I had no choice. The videotape of the interview showed one of the detectives telling Griffin he could fry or get the chair and so had better cooperate.

However, Senior Assistant States Attorney John P. Doyle Jr. reminded jurors in his closing argument that detectives had read Griffin his Miranda rights to remain silent and ask for an attorney; he signed the form and agreed to begin answering questions. They had also told him he could stop the questioning at any time.

The jurors had begun their deliberations last Friday afternoon. Almost immediately, they asked to hear a playback of Johnsons testimony. But by 5 p.m. Friday they had not reached a verdict and Vitale sent them home.

The jurors returned Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. after a three-day weekend because Monday was Presidents Day.

At 12:10 p.m., the jury forewoman knocked on the door from within and handed a judicial marshal a note for Vitale: We have reached a verdict on all four counts.

The marshals brought in Griffin, dressed in a blue shirt, white pants, red tie and a white cap signaling his Muslim faith. He sat between his attorneys, Luckett and Randall Bowers.

Members of Bradleys and Griffins families waited on opposite sides of the courtroom as the jurors filed in. Vitale instructed Griffin to stand and face the forewoman. Four times she answered the clerks question on the charges: Guilty.

Griffin simply stared at her showing no emotion. The families remained subdued, as Vitale had requested.

After court adjourned, Bradleys parents, Christine and Vincent Steele, who had attended the entire trial, were asked if they had a reaction to the verdict.

Bradleys mother declined to comment. But his father said, Im just happy to see the jury brought back a guilty verdict. I thank them and I thank the police department for their diligence in finding Mr. Griffin.

Steele said of Griffin: Hes heartless, remorseless, created by the blood, the sweat and the bile of the devil.

Members of Griffins family quickly left the courtroom and could not immediately be reached for comment.

Doyle said he wished to thank the jurors for their work. Luckett said, Mr. Griffin is disappointed but will pursue an appeal.
Five years ago in the wake of Sandy Hook, a plaintive headline begged, Can we now talk about guns? It was a response to the perennial admonishment that the grief-stricken, furious aftermath of tragedy isnt the best time to craft firearms regulations.

That advice sounds sensible. However, nobody recommended we postpone dealing with Japan for a few months because we were grieving and angry after Pearl Harbor. Zeal and rational thought arent mutually exclusive.

The president, our prince of empty superlatives, ducks any meaningful questions while he tosses us a few totallys and incredibles. Paul Ryan urges that we pray, take a breath and collect the facts. He and other partisans warn against politicizing the issue.

I pray, and I try to heed facts. But how many more facts about mass shootings do we need? How many more prayers in the absence of action will we have the gall to offer grieving parents?

Politics is more than an exercise in self-exculpatory rhetoric. Its more than jockeying for ideological advantage. Its the application of government power to problems we share.

In short, its time we do politicize this issue.

Im a Constitutionalist. By that I mean I have more confidence in the government created by Madison and Washington than in any regime Trump and Ryan could hatch.

The Second Amendment wasnt adopted to benefit hunters and gun collectors. It was intended to enable citizens to protect themselves and their republic. I believe it establishes an individual right to keep and bear arms. But I also believe its neglected first half, the part that talks about a well-regulated militia, allows the government we appoint to make rules about gun ownership and use.

For heavens sake, well-regulated is part of the amendment.

Opponents of gun restrictions worry about a slippery slope where one rule leads to another until their right disappears. Im sympathetic. The First Amendment is especially dear to me, and Ive got slippery slope fears and arguments, too.

Except the government can and has made laws that restrain speech. I cant slander you, for example. Speech that poses a clear and present danger can also be restricted.

In the same way, we already have restrictions on gun ownership. FDR and Ronald Reagan both signed laws limiting automatic weapons. Eleven states ban armor-piercing bullets. Nobody tows a howitzer down the supermarket aisle. You cant buy a shoulder-launched nuclear weapon at Dicks.

The Constitution isnt meant to be interpreted in the absence of reason and common sense. No one would argue that the First Amendments protection of the free exercise of religion guaranties an American Aztecs right to offer human sacrifice. Thats because his right to practice his religion is outweighed by his victims unalienable right to life.

No right is absolute. The Second Amendment exists in a context, not a vacuum. It isnt above all other rights.

Yes, our government was instituted to protect our rights. But those rights extend beyond the right to bear arms.

The question isnt whether we can regulate gun ownership and use. Reason and the language in the Second Amendment itself tell us we can. In fact, that language imposes a responsibility to well-regulate ourselves.

The only question before us is what additional regulations are advisable.

To determine that, we need to identify costs and benefits. Whats the benefit in allowing bullets that can pierce a police officers vest? Whats the benefit in permitting private ownership of assault weapons? Who do outsized magazines help?

I appreciate the argument that lawbreakers wont respect gun laws, and that law-abiding citizens should be able to protect themselves. Its true that no course of action will eliminate every bad act. But we cant shrink from making laws just because some people wont obey them, especially when we repeatedly witness the devastating result of broadly unrestricted gun ownership.

We have problems. Many American homes are dysfunctional. Many American children suffer as a result.

Weve spent two generations stroking childrens self-esteem. In the process weve stunted their power to deal with adversity. We talk about grit and resiliency, but for many, every slight and turn that doesnt go their way is an affront that warrants retribution. In extreme cases that retribution is extreme.

Bandwagon discipline theories, trauma-based classroom practices, and anti-bullying programs trade in smug nonsense. Gun violence at school should outrage us, but we should also be outraged by the expert-approved trauma students suffer every day at the hands of violent, disruptive peers.

Schools should take prudent precautions against foreseeable hazards, but school security isnt the problem. Besides, schools should never be fortresses. Its their nature to be soft targets because children live there.

Critics, including President Trump, pillory the FBI for its apparent failure to follow up on reports that foreshadowed the Parkland killers rampage. As tragic as that lapse may be, it wasnt a deliberate act.

The same cannot be said about the law that same president deliberately signed that repealed restrictions on a mentally defective applicants ability to purchase a gun. The same cannot be said about the Senates deliberate vote permitting subjects on the terrorist watch list to purchase guns. The same cannot be said about gun lobbyists deliberate efforts, and many legislators willing susceptibility to their persuasion and contributions.

Our gun violence problem has many roots. But its long past time when we can pretend that part of our gun problem isnt guns.
"We have to end the absurdity of the gun show loophole. Forty percent of the guns in this country are sold without any background checks." - Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., on NBC's "Meet the Press," Feb. 18, 2018

---

At The Fact Checker, we sometimes encounter "zombie claims" - false facts that keep getting repeated, no matter how often we fact-check them.

We thought we had long ago buried this false claim that 40 percent of guns are sold without a background check. But it has once again risen from the dead! Let's explore.

The Facts

We first encountered this statistic back in 2013, when President Barack Obama began using it in the wake of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. We were surprised to learn that the 40 percent statistic was based on one relatively small survey of 251 people about guns they obtained in 1993 and 1994, even though the Brady Law mandating background checks only went into effect in early 1994. So it was already rather stale.

The analysis concluded that 35.7 percent of respondents indicated that they did not receive their guns from a licensed firearms dealer. Rounding up gets you to 40 percent, although the survey sample is so small it could also be rounded down to 30 percent.

The original report carefully used terms such as "acquisitions" and "transactions," which included trades, gifts and the like. This subtlety is lost on many politicians, such as Sanders, who referred to weapons that are "sold." But it's an important detail because many of the people who obtained a gun without a background check either received it as a gift or inherited it.

Why is it important to make a distinction between purchases and transactions? For one thing, the failed 2013 Senate compromise bill that would have required background checks for gun shows and Internet sales specifically made an exception for gifts (and even sales) among family members and neighbors. Including the data on such transactions can change the results.

Upon further investigation of the 1993-1994 research, including rerunning the numbers to better distinguish between gun purchases and gifts, we learned that gun purchases without background checks amounted to 14 to 22 percent.

Why was such old data still being used 20 years later? Foes of gun control had thwarted extensive research on guns, so the number remained frozen in amber.

But Sanders now has even less of an excuse than Obama. That's because in 2017, researchers at Harvard University finally published a new survey - and they found that 22 percent of gun owners who reported obtaining a firearm in the previous two years did so without a background check. That's almost half the percentage of the old figure.

Moreover, among purchased firearms, the figure was 13 percent. That's one-third of Sanders's 40 percent claim. Once again, nonpurchased firearms (such as those acquired via a gift or inheritance) accounted for a large share of the weapons obtained without a background check.

Though Sanders referred to the "gun show loophole," not a single person surveyed said they obtained a weapon at a gun show without a background check.

"Senator Sanders on Meet the Press provided the best information he had at the time," said spokesman Josh Miller-Lewis. "It appears the number he cited may be outdated. But whether it's 40 percent or 22 percent of guns being acquired without a background check, millions of Americans still obtain guns without background checks. That's absurd. No one should be allowed to purchase a gun without a vigorous background check."

The Pinocchio Test

It's bad enough that politicians four years ago were using stale data and mischaracterizing it. But now that the research has been updated, Sanders has even less excuse for relying on two-decade-old figures. The most recent research indicates that just 13 percent of guns - not 40 percent - are purchased without a background check.

Sanders earns Four Pinocchios. Please, folks, let's keep this zombie stat buried from now on.

Four Pinocchios
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump announced Tuesday afternoon that he has signed a memorandum directing Attorney General Jeff Sessions to propose regulations to ban "bump stocks" and other devices that turn semiautomatic firearms into "machine guns."

The device was used by the shooter who opened fire on a country music festival in Las Vegas in October, killing dozens and immediately prompting calls for lawmakers or the administration to ban such devices through legislation or regulations. At the time, the White House and the National Rifle Association made clear that they were open to the idea, but no action was taken. It was not until a mass shooting at a high school in Florida last week again brought attention to gun-control issues that Trump was pushed to act.

"I expect that these critical regulations will be finalized ... very soon," the president said during a medal ceremony at the White House on Tuesday afternoon. "The key in all of these efforts ... is that we cannot merely take actions that make us feel like we are making a difference. We must actually make a difference. We must move past cliches and tired debates and focus on evidence-based solutions and security measures that actually work."

In the wake of the Parkland, Florida, massacre, the level of furious activism on the ground has represented a startling shift from previous community responses to mass shootings. Students who survived the Parkland shooting have organized groups calling for increased gun control, and some have pledged not to return to class until changes are made. Bipartisan action has been elusive in the wake of previous mass shootings, including some of the deadliest rampages in modern U.S. history.

On Tuesday, Trump referred to the shooting last week as an "evil massacre" and said his administration is "working very hard to make sense of these events."

"We must do more to protect our children," he said. "We have to do more to protect our children."

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters in the afternoon that the president is open to discussing the idea of increasing the age at which someone can legally purchase a semiautomatic firearm.

Trump plans to meet Wednesday with students, teachers and parents from Parkland, local school districts and those affected by past school shootings in Columbine, Colorado, and Newtown, Connecticut. He also will meet with law enforcement officials and local leaders. Trump said the point of these meetings is to "develop concrete steps that we can take to secure our schools, safeguard our students and protect our communities."
President Donald Trump on Tuesday encouraged Republicans in Pennsylvania to challenge the way the state's Supreme Court redrew congressional districts to more closely reflect the partisan composition of the state, saying the original districts drawn by Republicans were "correct."

As part of a gerrymandering case, the court created a map that's more compact and splits fewer counties and municipal areas than the Republican map, which has been used in the past three congressional elections. Analysts predict the new boundaries could allow Democrats to pick up several U.S. House seats.

"Hope Republicans in the Great State of Pennsylvania challenge the new 'pushed' Congressional Map, all the way to the Supreme Court, if necessary," Trump said in a tweet Tuesday morning. "Your Original was correct! Don't let the Dems take elections away from you so that they can raise taxes & waste money!"

The tweet was one of more than half a dozen the president sent Tuesday morning, most of which complained about the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, Democrats and former President Barack Obama. Trump appeared to start his day, as he often does, by watching "Fox & Friends" and tweeting his responses. At one point, the three hosts of the conservative morning show - seated on a white couch behind a chyron reading: "Trump: Why didn't Obama do something?" - featured some of Trump's recent tweets and discussed why Obama didn't do more to prevent Russian meddling in the election.

The president responded at 7:24 a.m. and thanked the morning show for their "great timeline on all of the failures the Obama Administration had against Russia."

The "Fox & Friends" team then played a clip of Obama speaking about three weeks before the election, responding to Trump's assertions at the time that the general election would be rigged against him and insisting that there was no way to rig a U.S. election. Steve Doocy, one of the show's hosts, noted that when Obama made this statement, he knew that the Russians were trying to influence the presidential election.

Trump responded by tweeting a quote from Obama that was featured in the clip and then commented: "That's because he thought Crooked Hillary was going to win and he didn't want to 'rock the boat.' When I easily won the Electoral College, the whole game changed and the Russian excuse became the narrative of the Dems."

"Fox & Friends" also featured a new survey conducted by The New York Times and Survey Monkey that found growing support for the Republican tax cuts. Fifty-one percent of those surveyed this month approved of the tax overhaul - up from 46 percent in January and 37 percent in December.

"What's going on? Well, people are realizing they got a little more money in their paycheck, plus all of those tax cuts impact the companies, so they're able to give $1,000 bonuses, $2,000 bonuses, as well," Doocy said.

Trump chimed in and seemed to point to another poll, one recently released by McLaughlin & Associates, that shows Democrats leading a generic 2018 congressional matchup. Although this sort of polling has tightened, it has yet to show Republicans in the lead, as the president has repeatedly claimed.

Later in the morning, the "Fox & Friends" crew interviewed Matt Schlapp, the chairman of the American Conservative Union, about the upcoming Conservative Political Action Conference that starts Feb. 21. Trump responded on Twitter, calling the conference "another exciting event" and noting that there's now a "big difference from those days when President Obama held the White House."

And the president tweeted about the new congressional map in Pennsylvania, which "Fox & Friends" had also reported on that morning, noting that the new boundaries could benefit Democrats. The president then came back around to Russia and Obama, tweeting: "I have been much tougher on Russia than Obama, just look at the facts. Total Fake News!"
An Uber Eats driver has been charged with murder in the shooting death of a customer Saturday in Atlanta.

Authorities said Robert Bivines, 36, opened fire on 30-year-old Ryan Thornton late Saturday night in the city's Buckhead neighborhood. Witnesses told police that after Bivines delivered the customer's meal, he fired multiple shots, hitting Thornton, and then fled from the scene.

Bivines turned himself in Monday and was booked into the Fulton County Jail on a murder charge, his attorney, Jackie Patterson, said.

Patterson said there was an argument before the shooting and that his client had tried to protect himself. "There's no question that my client was defending himself," he told The Washington Post on Monday, saying that the customer had become aggressive - reaching into his coat pocket and charging at the driver.

"It was clear self-defense." the attorney said.

Officers responded to the scene about 11:30 p.m. Saturday as the victim was being rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Police said Thornton suffered multiple gunshot wounds and later died of his injuries.

Witnesses told police that the victim had used Uber's food delivery service to order a meal. They said that when the delivery arrived, Thornton met the driver and received his order; then, as Thornton walked away, "words may have been exchanged" between the two men, police said in a statement.

Police said shots were fired from the delivery vehicle, striking Thornton.

Patterson said that Bivines told him that Thornton was agitated by the time Bivines arrived because the driver had issues finding the location. Patterson said that when Bivines gave Thornton his food order, Thornton "jerked it" away and cursed at the driver. Thornton then reached into his jacket pocket and shouted "I'm going to f- you up," according to Bivines's attorney.

Patterson said Bivines thought the customer had a gun and that he tried to defend himself.

An unidentified man who said he was Thornton's uncle told NBC affiliate WXIA that his nephew had recently received a political science degree from Morehouse College in Atlanta and had started a new job. "Ryan was a good boy," he told the station.

An Uber spokesman said that the company is cooperating with investigators in the shooting.

"We are shocked and saddened by this news," the spokesman said in a statement. "We are working with the Atlanta Police Department, and our hearts go out to the families of those involved."

Uber launched Uber Eats, several years ago as a food delivery app in which drivers pick up meals from local restaurants and deliver them to customers.

According to Uber, drivers are required to undergo a screening process, which checks driving histories and criminal histories, including the national sex offender registry. In addition, Uber bars both drivers and riders from carrying firearms in the vehicles, "to the extent permitted by applicable law," according to the company's firearm policy.

"Our goal is to ensure that everyone has a safe and reliable ride. That's why Uber prohibits riders and drivers from carrying firearms of any kind in a vehicle while using our app," Uber says on its website. The company said that drivers or riders who fail to comply with the policy may be banned from Uber.
Texas school districts have fielded at least two dozen threats made against campuses, including some in San Antonio, in the days after 17 people were killed at a Florida high school.

A former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, attacked students and teachers there Feb. 14 with an AR-15 rifle. The shooter, a 19-year-old, was arrested.

Law enforcement agencies and schools districts across Texas have since investigated multiple threats made on social media, worked to determine whether they were credible and, in some cases, apprehended offenders.

Threats made against Wrenn Middle School and Harlan High School were deemed not credible, officials with Edgewood and Northside ISDs said. Officials are investigating a threat made against New Braunfels Middle School.

RELATED: Alamo Heights High School adds armed police officer to campus following Florida shooting

Threats often crop up in the days after a mass shooting, some mirroring the original event. A 2015 study by Arizona State University and Northeasten Illinois University found copycat threats and crimes are more likely to occur immediately following an attack.

A mass shooting is "contagious" and can inspire similar events for at least 13 days, according to the report.

A total of 27 terroristic threats have been made in San Antonio since the Florida shooting on Valentine's Day, according to the San Antonio Police Department. Officials were unable to break down each threat, and it is not clear which, if any, were school-related or promised gun violence.

Often, threats made against schools are considered terroristic threats, including one made by a Raymondville High School student two days after the Florida shooting, said district Superintendent Stetson Roane.

Officials detained the student and placed them at a juvenile detention center in San Benito, near the Texas-Mexico border.

In El Paso, police are investigating 13 threats made against six schools and have, so far, made four arrests, the El Paso Times reported Monday.

Districts in North Texas and along the Texas-Mexico border have investigated social media postings warning harm would be done to schools there. Many were not credible.

Click through the slideshow to see what districts, counties and schools have dealt with threats since the Florida shooting.

Kelsey Bradshaw is a digital reporter for mySA.com. Read more of her stories here.| kbradshaw@express-news.net | Twitter: @kbrad5
Bexar County voters will begin to decide contested primaries up and down the ballot Tuesday, when 11 straight days of early voting begin ahead of the March 6 election.

Registered voters in the county can cast ballots at 38 locations, including the Bexar County Elections Department at 1103 S. Frio St.

The Democratic and Republican ballots contain congressional, state and county races, many of which are contested.

More Information Early voting locations Bexar County Elections Department, 1103 S. Frio St. Bexar County Justice Center, 300 Dolorosa Brook Hollow Library, 530 Heimer Road Castle Hills City Hall, 209 Lemonwood Drive Claude Black Center, 2805 E. Commerce St. Cody Library, 11441 Vance Jackson Road Converse City Hall, 405 S. Seguin Road Copernicus Community Center, 5003 Lord Road Elmendorf Administration Building, 8304 FM 327 Encino Branch Library, 2515 E. Evans Road Fair Oaks Ranch City Hall, 7286 Dietz Elkhorn Road Great Northwest Library, 9050 Wellwood St. Henry A. Guerra Jr. Library, 7978 W. Military Drive John Igo Library, 13330 Kyle Seale Parkway Johnston Library, 6307 Sun Valley Drive Julia Yates Semmes Library, 15060 Judson Road Kirby City Hall, 112 Bauman St. Las Palmas Library, 515 Castroville Road Leon Valley Conference Center, 6427 Evers Road Lions Field, 2809 Broadway Maury Maverick Jr. Library, 8700 Mystic Park McCreless Library, 1023 Ada St. Memorial Library, 3222 Culebra Road Mission Del Lago Pool and Community Center, 2301 Del Lago Parkway Mission Library, 3134 Roosevelt Ave. Northside Activity Center, 7001 Culebra Road Northwest Vista College (Boardwalk portables), 3535 N. Ellison Drive Olmos Park City Hall, 120 El Prado West Parman Library at Stone Oak, 20735 Wildnerness Oak Precinct 1 Satellite Office, 3505 S. Pleasanton Road Schaefer Library, 6322 U.S. 87 East Shavano Park City Hall, 900 Saddletree Court Somerset ISD Junior High, 4730 W. Loop 1604, Von Ormy South Park Mall, 2310 S.W. Military Drive Tobin Library at Oakwell, 4134 Harry Wurzbach Road Universal City Library, 100 Northview Drive UTSA (Bexar Room), 1 UTSA Circle Wonderland Mall of the Americas, 4522 Fredericksburg Road See More Collapse

From Tuesday to Friday, the polls will open at 8 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. On Saturday, they will open at the same time but close at 8 p.m.

On Sunday, polls will be open from noon to 6 p.m. From Feb. 26 to March 2, the last day to vote early, polls will open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

On the Democratic ballot, Bexar County voters will decide two contested House primaries: the District 21 seat, being vacated by retiring Rep. Lamar Smith, a Republican, and the District 23 seat, held by Republican Rep. Will Hurd.

In the governors race, nine Democrats are running to challenge incumbent Greg Abbott.

Eighteen Republicans are running for Smiths seat in the most crowded race on a ballot that includes a contentious race for Texas land commissioner, in which George P. Bush is fending off three primary challengers, including his predecessor, Jerry Patterson.

Voters also will decide the nominees for a slew of county positions, including the Precinct 2 seat on the Commissioners Court. Mario Bravo and Queta Rodriguez are challenging longtime Democratic incumbent Paul Elizondo, while Republicans Theresa Connolly and Ismael Garcia are battling it out on the GOP side.

District Attorney Nico LaHood, a Democrat, is also facing a tough primary challenge from Joe Gonzales, a defense attorney and former prosecutor. The Democratic races for county and district clerk are also contested, while the Republican incumbents are running unopposed.

On March 6, polls will open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Applications for ballot by mail must be received by the Bexar County Elections Department no later than 5 p.m. Friday.

About 12 percent of the 916,000 registered voters turned out for the 2014 primaries.
AUSTIN  Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday that mass shootings in Texas and Florida highlight the need to fix problems in the national background check system and to better identify mental health issues that should preclude gun ownership.

Abbott said his office also is evaluating the safety of Texas schools after last weeks shooting at Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 people dead.

It was one in a string of mass shootings, including the November church massacre in Sutherland Springs in which 26 people were killed, including an unborn child.

It's clear that the status quo is unacceptable and that everybody in every state must take action to make sure at a minimum that we do all we can to secure the safety of students at schools but also to ensure the safety of our communities, Abbott said, responding to a reporters question after voting early in the March 6 primary election.

JERRY LARA /San Antonio Express-News

Abbott, who plans to attend the Republican Governors Association meeting in Washington, which starts this week, said governors will meet with President Donald Trump and his team about the issue.

This is something that requires a national response, all 50 states, working collaboratively together to find out the right solutions, Abbott said.

In the meantime, Abbott said officials will work with the Texas School Safety Center, a research facility at Texas State University in San Marcos, to see if standards should be updated.

Texas school districts have fielded at least two dozen threats made against campuses, including some in San Antonio, in the days after the Florida shooting.

Threats made against Wrenn Middle School and Harlan High School were deemed not credible, officials with Edgewood and Northside ISDs said.

In Austin, Abbott didnt answer a reporters question about whether semi-automatic weapons should remain legal. The gun used at Sutherland Springs, like the one used at the Florida school, was a variant of the AR-15.

The Republican governor also didnt propose tightening the states law on background checks. A proposal failed in the Legislature last year to eliminate the so-called gun-show loophole that allows unlicensed sellers to convey firearms without a background check on buyers.

Becca DeFelice, of the San Antonio chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, said, In a perfect world, I would love to see a background check on every gun sale.

She said her group spent much of its time last year fighting a legislative proposal for so-called constitutional carry, which would remove permitting or training requirements to carry guns. The measure failed.

For us here in Texas, a lot of times what were doing is were playing defense against these bills that come up to make our laws lax instead of strengthening them. Thats a big concern for us, DeFelice said.

At the federal level, Abbott cited Fix NICS, a proposal to spur the upload of all information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for gun purchases. DeFelices group supports the idea.

There are proposals in Congress to fix the NICS program. Some of those proposals should be strongly considered and meaningfully passed, Abbott said.

Abbott also said officials must recognize this is a genuine mental health issue, citing clear signs of such an issue in the shooters in Sutherland Springs and Parkland.

We as a society, and we as government leaders, have to find a way to evaluate these mental health issues and find a way to address them as they concern potential gun violence, understanding this  and this kind of emphasizes the magnitude of the challenge  and that is, not all mental health issues are going to lead to someone using a gun to harm others, Abbott said.

We need to find out a way to identify and distinguish between mental health issues that would cause a gun crime and those that would not cause a gun crime, he said.

Under current federal law, someone who has been involuntarily committed to a mental institution or who has been declared mentally incompetent can be prohibited from buying or having a gun.

Abbott said local law enforcement officials must be empowered to respond to red flags about people who may become mass shooters.

There were red flags raised before the shooting at Sutherland Springs, before the shooting in Florida, and yet those werent responded to, Abbott said.
TOM REEL

AUSTIN - Gov. Greg Abbott, who cast an early ballot Tuesday, wouldnt say whether he voted for fellow Republican incumbents Attorney General Ken Paxton, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller or Land Commissioner George P. Bush.

But he is campaigning against three incumbent Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Lyle Larson of San Antonio, who ran afoul of the governor when Larson tried to strengthen state ethics laws.
SAN ANTONIO  In prisons across Texas, members of a notorious gang with roots in San Antonio mark themselves for life with tattoos featuring icons from their native city.

Images of the Alamo, the San Antonio skyline and the city's 2-1-0 area code are favorites of local Tango Orejon members. Among the most iconic and commonly used image the Orejones wear on their skin is the logo of the hometown favorite San Antonio Spurs.

Tango Orejon is the San Antonio subset of the larger Tango Blast gang, which operates in prisons throughout Texas and ranked first on the Texas Department of Public Safety 2014 Gang Threat Assessment.

There are currently about 200 self-identifying members of Tango Orejon in the Bexar County Jail, but that number can fluctuate on a day-to-day basis, according to a gang expert with the Bexar County Sheriff's Office who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Authorities estimate the actual number to be more in the neighborhood of 500.

"(San Antonio) is the Mecca of the Tango Orejon," the deputy said. "This is their motherland. This is where they come from. Of course, we are going to have a bigger impact from them knowing that this gang is so notorious within the prison."

The gang takes their name from the Spanish word for having big ears, the idea being that the members are trouble-makers who have been pulled by the ear a time or two, according to some accounts.

Tango Blast has an estimated 14,000 to 17,000 members within the Texas prison system, but the exact number remains unknown, the deputy said.

Tango Blast began with the objective of giving protection to individuals in the prison system who didnt want to affiliate with gangs that were already formed, like the Mexican Mafia or Texas Syndicate, both of which are considered blood-in, blood-out organizations.

Once you come into (that type of) gang, with the knowledge and the work that you do, the things that you see, that gang would not feel secure that you can get out and not speak about it or talk about it and incriminate anyone within the gang, the deputy said. Therefore, you cant get out. If you try to get out, they have some sort of repercussion. More than likely, youre going to die.

Thats not the case for Tangos. Once you get out of prison, you are basically your own person again, he said, adding that members do not have to follow orders, check in, pay taxes or attend meetings like some other groups.

The Tangos are unlike other prison gangs in that they do not have a hierarchy or constitution that all members are required to follow, nor do they discriminate based on race, creed or where a member is from.

What they do have is numbers.

They dont care about beliefs, they dont care about rank, all they care about is numbers. The bigger the number, the better chance they have against any gang in the prisons, the deputy, who spent years working within the TDCJ before joining the Sheriffs Office, said.

While Tango Orejon is active within the Bexar County Jail, members are only allowed to join the gang in prison, according to authorities familiar with the gang's activity.

Tangos were established by inmates from Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth and Austin, according to the 2014 Gang Threat Assessment.

These original Tangos collectively became known as the Four Horsemen and still band together for protection in the correctional setting, the document states. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice designated the Four Horsemen as Puro Tango Blast."

More Tangos were established over time throughout the state, and while not all are directly affiliated with Puro Tango Blast, they share a common culture, and are considered a part of the larger Tango group, the assessment explains.

These groups, or cliques, include the Tango Orejon, or Orejones of San Antonio, the Vallucos of the Valley, Corpitos out of Corpus Christi and others.

From what I know it originated in the late 80s, the sheriffs deputy said of Tango Orejon. But talking to several gang members, they have told me that it was around before that, into the 70s. They used to call themselves Orejones. There was no Tango, there was no Tango Blast. Orejones were just a gang that originated within the prison for people who were from San Antonio to protect each other.

Originally, he said, they actually were working with the Mexican Mafia, but something happened along the line where the Tangos didnt want to take orders.

They were considered something akin to crash-test dummies, he explained. They were doing the dirty work for the Mexican Mafia and taking all the heat.

Some Tangos will wear tattoos depicting a modified or distrorted Aztec calendar, a common tatto for members of the Mexican Mafia. In many cases, this is viewed as a sign of disrespect toward the gang.

According to the deputy, Tangos have become such a force, they can rival any gang in Texas.

Hearing from other gangs, no one really like these guys, he said. Another tattoo that they mark themselves with is most hated. That says it all right there.

mdwilson@express-news.net

Twitter: @MDWilsonSA
The San Antonio-New Braunfels metro area is closer to a housing bubble than any other city in the country, according to a report from National Mortgage News.

Some local experts, however, disagree.

National Mortgage News, which reports on "the entire residential mortgage industry," according to its website, found home prices in the area are at an all-time high while wages are flat. Non-moving wages and high home prices can create a housing bubble, and the San Antonio-New Braunfels metro area is most likely to experience a bubble first, according to the publication.

RELATED: Home prices jump in San Antonio

The average home price in the San Antonio-New Braunfels metro area is $269,990, according to National Mortgage News, and the price-wage growth gap is 14.04 percent.

Data from the San Antonio Board of Realtors, released in January, found the median home sales price was at a record high in 2017 of $214,300.

Experts said prices are rising due to the high demand for homes, a labor shortage and an increase in the cost of construction.

"San Antonio is still doing pretty strong," said Jim Gaines, chief economist at the Texas A&M Real Estate Center, earlier this year. "It's doing well economically, it's still gaining jobs."

Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, said construction for single-family homes is down by 53 percent and San Antonio will not move into a housing bubble, because home sales are 30 percent lower than when the market crashed in 2008.

Staff writer Richard Webner contributed to this report.



Kelsey Bradshaw is a digital reporter for mySA.com. Read more of her stories here.| kbradshaw@express-news.net | Twitter: @kbrad5

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New Braunfels police on Monday arrested a San Antonio man after he allegedly robbed a Lowe's Home Improvement, led them on a car chase and threatened to shoot officers during a standoff that shut down Interstate 35 for hours.

Ruben Ramirez Jr., 46, faces charges of aggravated robbery, evading arrest and resisting arrest. He also faces a parole violation charge on a case out of Austin. He was booked into the Comal County Jail.

Ramirez is accused of robbing a Lowe's in the 1400 block of I-35 South in New Braunfels around 6:30 p.m. He passed a note to employees demanding cash, fought with them and then fled in a tan Ford Taurus, police said.

RELATED: Authorities ID man fatally shot in head during family argument over bills

Officers found Ramirez heading northbound on I-35 near Kohlenberg Road and attempted a traffic stop near York Creek. Ramirez slowed down on the overpass bridge over York Creek, then fled southbound on I-35, according to a statement from David Ferguson, the communications coordinator for the New Braunfels Police Department.

Officers laid down spike strips near Solms Road, puncturing at least one of his tires. A pursuing officer used a maneuver to stop Ramirez in the middle of the highway near Schwab Road.

"Officers then attempted a felony traffic stop, but the driver refused to exit the vehicle," Ferguson said in a statement. "That led officers to use their department-issued less lethal weapons, specifically bean bag rounds fired from a shotgun. This less lethal alternative is specifically designed to incapacitate without causing serious bodily injury."

RELATED: SAPD: Possibly drunk woman smashes SUV into light pole, tries to flee

But Ramirez still refused to get out of the car and he began threatening to shoot at the officers if they didn't back off, police said.

A negotiation team arrived and began coaxing Ramirez out of the car. A SWAT team also helped and police shut down the northbound and southbound lanes of I-35.

Three hours later, Ramirez got out of his car and was arrested.

"The New Braunfels Police Department would like to thank all of the area law enforcement agencies for their assistance during this incident," Ferguson said. "NBPD would also like to thank the thousands of drivers affected by the closure of I-35 for their patience while this situation was brought to a peaceful conclusion."

Text "NEWS" to 77453 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com

Caleb Downs is a crime reporter for mySA.com. Read more of his stories here.| cdowns@mysa.com | Twitter: @calebjdowns
PARKLAND, Fla. - The deadly shooting at a Florida high school has put pressure on the state's Republican-controlled Legislature to consider a sweeping package of gun-control laws in a state that has resisted restrictions on firearms for decades, lawmakers said Monday.

The legislative effort coalesced as 100 students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School prepared to ride buses more than 400 miles to the state capital Tuesday to urge lawmakers to act to prevent a repeat of the massacre that killed 17 students and faculty last week.

The suspect, 19-year-old former student Nikolas Cruz, made his first appearance in court Monday. Wearing a prison jumpsuit, he kept his head down and didn't appear to make eye contact with the judge or others in the courtroom, though he responded briefly to someone on the defense team. A previous appearance was by a video connection from jail.

His lawyers have said he will plead guilty if prosecutors agree not to pursue the death penalty. No decision has been made on that.

Soon after the shooting, several legislative leaders were taken on a tour of the school to see the damage firsthand and appeared shaken afterward.

The attack seemed to overcome the resistance of some in the state's leadership, which has rebuffed gun restrictions since Republicans took control of both the governor's office and the Legislature in 1999. However, there is still strong resistance by many in the party to any gun-control measures, leaving the fate of new restrictions unclear.

Sen. Bill Galvano, a Republican and the incoming state Senate president, said the Senate was preparing a package that would include raising the age to purchase any firearm to 21, creating a waiting period for purchasing any type of firearm, banning bump stocks that can allow semi-automatic guns to spray bullets quickly and creating gun-violence restraining orders.

Authorities said Cruz had a string of run-ins with school authorities that ended with his expulsion. Police were also repeatedly called to his house throughout his childhood. Cruz's lawyers said there were repeated warning signs that he was mentally unstable and potentially violent. Yet he legally purchased a semi-automatic rifle.

The Florida Senate is also considering boosting spending on mental health programs for schools and giving law enforcement greater power to involuntarily hold someone considered a danger to themselves. The body will also look at a proposal to deputize a teacher or someone else at school so they are authorized to have a gun.

State House leaders and Gov. Rick Scott also are considering possible changes to firearms rules but have not given any details. Scott planned meetings Tuesday on school safety, and said he would announce proposals on mental health issues later in the week.

Since the attack, students from the school have become increasingly vocal in their demands for gun-control measures. Many have pointed out politicians who take financial support from the National Rifle Association, and some have lashed out at President Donald Trump, saying he was busy blaming Democrats for failing to pass gun restrictions while taking no action of his own.

Students are also calling for anti-gun violence demonstrations in Washington and other cities March 24.

Organizers behind the anti-Trump Women's March held the last two years have called for a 17-minute nationwide walkout by teachers and students on March 14, and a gun-control group was calling for a rally to ban assault weapons Wednesday at the Florida Capitol.
A Martian rock that smashed into Earth on a meteorite millions of years ago will finally return home in 2020, cradled inside a rover destined for the Red Planet.

It's all part of the Mars 2020 project, a $2.4 billion venture being built to look for indicators of habitable conditions, as well as signs of past microbial life. The rover will do this by using a high-precision laser attached to its robotic arm, which will scan the Martian land for certain elements.

But to do this effectively after the 33.9 million mile trip between Earth and Mars, the laser must be continuously calibrated. That's where the Martian rock comes in.

While the rover whizzes toward Mars, the laser will be scanning the rock to improve its aim and, therefore, improve the samples collected once it arrives.

"We're 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," said Luther Beegle, principal investigator for the rover's laser instrument.

Researchers have included targetswhether they be rock, metal or glass in other rovers in NASA's fleet. But they felt it advantageous to use an actual Martian rock this time around.

"This kind of science requires texture and organic chemicals  two things that our target meteorite will provide," said Rohit Bhartia, the laser's deputy principal investigator.

The sample they plan to use is from a meteorite, called Sayh al Uhaymir 008 (SaU008), that was discovered in 1999. Scientists believe it was blasted off Mars' surface millions of years ago. These types of meteorites are rare.

The rover, scheduled to launch in late summer 2020, will spend 28 months exploring the Martian land once it arrives.

While on the surface, the rover will collect samples of rocks and soils for an eventual return to Earth, test a method of producing oxygen from the atmosphere there and identify any other resources available. The rover also will characterize dust, weather and other environmental conditions that could impact astronauts who eventually will live and work on the surface.

NASA already has spent more than $21 billion on missions to Mars since 1964, including four robotic rovers on the surface. Researchers hope the discoveries and insight gains on this current $2.4 billion project will help the space agency reach its goal of sending humans to Mars in the 2030s.

Alex Stuckey covers NASA and the environment for the Houston Chronicle. You can reach her at alex.stuckey@chron.com or Twitter.com/alexdstuckey.
President Donald Trump's $19.9 billion budget proposal for NASA next fiscal year includes money to establish a Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway in the 2020s.

In his State of NASA address last week, NASA's Acting Administrator Robert Lightfoot said the gateway would "give us a strategic presence in the lunar vicinity that will drive our activity with commercial and international partners and help us further explore the moon and its resources and translate that experience toward human missions to Mars."

That sounds great. But what exactly is it?

Think of it as a mini space station orbiting the moon -- a lunar outpost, if you will.

The gateway "will drive our activity with commercial and international partners and help us explore the Moon and its resources," William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator of the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., said in a Feb. 13 NASA web post. "We will ultimately translate that experience toward human missions to Mars."

RELATED STORY: Trump's proposed NASA budget focuses on human exploration, eliminates education office.

This proposed outpost is just one way Trump is pushing for a more robust human exploration program during his tenure as president. His proposed NASA budget includes $10.5 billion for human exploration, with a focus on returning to the moon as a steppingstone for a trip to Mars.

Trump is asking for $504.2 million in fiscal year 2019 for this particular project. The entire NASA budget can be found here.

The proposed gateway would have a power and propulsion element that will provide space-to-Earth, space-to-lunar and spacecraft-to-spacecraft communications. It also will support communication for spacewalks and have the ability to transfer large datasets at a much faster rate than currently is available, the post states.

Right now, five companies are participating in four-month studies on how to develop this element in an affordable way, according to NASA.

The habitation and airlock capabilities will allow crew there to live and work in deep space for 30 to 60 days at a time, the post said. It also could act as a stop-over for astronauts traveling deeper into space to Mars, for example.

"Adding an airlock to the gateway in the future will enable crew to conduct spacewalks, enable science activities and accommodate docking of future elements," according to the post. "NASA is also planning to launch at least one logistics module to the gateway, which will enable cargo resupply deliveries, additional scientific research and technology demonstrations and commercial use."

Trump's proposed budget still must be approved by Congress.

Alex Stuckey covers NASA and the environment for the Houston Chronicle. You can reach her at alex.stuckey@chron.com or Twitter.com/alexdstuckey.
I grew up traveling to Mexico. It was an easy trip into Baja from Ventura County, California, my home. We would camp on desert points and surf for days. I always found the dusty peninsula and the country as a whole surprising, welcoming and exciting. It was not until the series of trips I took there in 2017 with Josh Partlow, our Mexico bureau chief, that I truly felt afraid. Afraid for my safety. Afraid for what Mexico had become.

RELATED: Grisly displays in Mexico tourist hub underline narco violence

The assignment started with a text from my editor, Nick Kirkpatrick, asking if I wanted to travel to a "sketchy narco zone," in Guerrero, one of Mexico's most violent states. The stories I had read about Mexican journalists being assassinated throughout the country for covering the violence and cartels were numerous. The country is second only to Syria in the number of journalists being killed on the job. But this is Mexico, a country and people I admire and respect. I knew with proper planning this was a story I wanted to photograph.

We started in the "Tierra Caliente," or Hot Land, an opium-producing region in the mountains of Guerrero that provides drugs to sustain America's heroin habit. This is a place where impoverished rural towns are terrorized by drug lords with names like "El Pez," the Big Fish, and "El Tequilero," a name that needs no translation. We met the relatives of the murdered, victims of multiple kidnappings, and vigilante groups that took up arms to protect their neighbors. It became obvious this was only a chapter of a larger story.

We witnessed a mustachioed cartel member carrying an assault rifle beating a man senseless in Acapulco, the world's second most dangerous city according to homicide statistics. The once posh resort town is now a narrow beach strip frequented mostly by Mexican tourists and semi-abandoned neighborhoods ruled by gangs and violence.

RELATED: Photos show death and destruction from 10 years of Mexican Drug War

In the border town of Tijuana, I met Cesar, a 27-year-old heroin addict who had started using at 18, the year his mother had committed suicide. Fluent in English and Spanish and boasting an encyclopedic knowledge of music, Cesar seemed to have charm and the ability to be successful. Instead, gripped by addiction, he is emblematic of the skyrocketing domestic drug use now present in Mexico.

Jalisco is one of Mexico's most prosperous states. It is dominated by Jalisco Nueva Generacion, now considered the country's most powerful cartel. We found ourselves at the scene of a homicide. Luz Margarita Ramirez Gallardo had survived two gunshots to the head a month ago, on the Day of the Dead, a traditional Mexican holiday. Now she was dead, slumped in the seat of a van outside her home in Guadalajara. The hit men came back to finish the job they had failed to complete the first time.

Drug demand remains high in the United States and these areas of Mexico suffer greatly trying to fulfill that need.
It doesnt have to be this hard. All that is required to allow people brought here as children by their undocumented immigrant parents to stay is a clean Dream Act.

Such a measure would say that they get to stay and work and have a pathway to citizenship  to the only country theyve ever known in many cases. Thats it. Period. No extraneous, nongermane issues attached.

Instead, President Donald Trump and Republicans held these young people hostage legislatively in an attempt to achieve hardline measures that have nothing to do with them. The president, in other words, was  and still is  holding decency hostage.

RELATED: Are 91% of DACA recipients employed, in school or in the military?

The Senate last week failed to move the nation closer to a solution for Dreamers, those who benefited from the Obama-era Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and those who might. The president threatened to veto a bipartisan measure that added billions to border security but did not contain all of what he wanted.

All would include restrictions on legal immigration  policies that allow immigrants to sponsor certain family members (preferring a merit-based system over a so-called chain migration policy) and an end to a diversity lottery that allowed in immigrants from smaller countries. This policy prompted Trump recently to bemoan immigration from shithole countries, but expressing a desire for more people from Norway.

This comment, and others by Attorney General Jeff Sessions and others, makes it clear that this administration only looks on immigration  including for Muslims  through the threat lens. Coming from them have been broad brush characterizations of immigrants as gang members, criminals, leeches, lazy folks (who wont sign up for DACA) and terrorists.

And the problem is that this has virtually no resemblance to truth. While some undocumented immigrants commit crime, immigrants generally are less likely to do so, more likely to start businesses, perform work others wont and generally just practice the virtues and work ethic that are said to be part of this nations DNA.

But the Dreamers stand in a category by themselves. They mostly had no say in coming here and weve invested in their educations from the early grades through high school.

One solution would be for the president to reinstate DACA. But we have no hope of this happening.

That leaves action by voters as the most realistic solution. In this election year, ask the candidates where they stand  and, if incumbents, how they voted  on this. And then act according to your stand on the issue.
City officials need to fully accept the hard reality of a state probe into the monstrous blaze that killed San Antonio firefighter Scott Deem last year.

We havent yet heard that in the responses from officials, who have walked a rhetorical tightrope, acknowledging the reports findings while avoiding any criticism of the department or the dangerous choices firefighters made in the heat of the moment as an inferno overwhelmed Spartan Gym at a Northwest Side strip mall.

RELATED: Report: Firefighter Scott Deem's death was 'preventable'

Fire Chief Charles Hood has said he accepts the reports recommendations, and acknowledges mistakes were made in responding to the blaze, but he disagrees with the reports verbiage. This would be language that says firefighters didnt follow national safety standards and endangered themselves by entering the structure and then freelancing.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg has said in looking at the report and hearing from the Fire Department leadership, the institution didnt fail.

District 4 City Councilman Rey Saldana said, It would be a mistake to attribute blame to anyone but the person who set fire to the building. And the report is an important document to learn from, not permission to point fingers.

Yes, of course, Deems tragic death begins with the origins of the blaze at Spartan Gym. The gyms owner, Emond Javor Johnson, has been charged with murder and arson. But it can also be true that Deems death was preventable, if only standards had been followed. Regardless of what the mayor says, that is the epitome of institutional failure. Acknowledging this is not pointing fingers or assigning blame. Its honoring Deems life and sacrifice to hopefully prevent other similar tragedies.

READ MORE: Gym owner charged with murder in death of San Antonio firefighter Scott Deem

The report said as much: The goal of this report is to challenge the San Antonio Fire Department to meet national fire service best practices identified in the recommendations to minimize risk exposure to the men and women of the SAFD.

And later, That path will honor the memory of Deem and take a good fire department to an even higher level of performance.

As Express-News reporters John Tedesco and Emilie Eaton have outlined, the report from the State Fire Marshals Office identified a number of mistakes firefighters made responding to the blaze and pointedly spoke to the need for cultural change at the department.

First and foremost, firefighters should never have entered the building. Conditions were far too dangerous. The doors were locked and the lights were out, meaning it was unlikely people were inside the gym, the report said. Besides, the smoke was so thick, even if they were inside, their chances of survival were minimal.

Hood has said a search-and-rescue response was needed because vehicles were parked outside of the gym, leading firefighters to think civilians might be trapped in the blaze.

Firefighters attacked the blaze, but they attacked it as though it were a small residential structure and not a large commercial building, and they entered the gym without safety lines or hoses, crucial for ensuring they could find a way out of the smoke-filled building.

RELATED: Photos: San Antonio pays tribute to fallen firefighter at funeral

Once inside, the search crew freelanced after they discovered what they thought was fire in the attic, the report said. They pulled down ceiling tiles, but without hoses or the knowledge of command. This freelancing changed conditions, leading to chaos.

Deem, 31, has two children, and his wife has since given birth to a third child. We mourn his loss and admire his bravery to enter a raging inferno in the hope of saving others. He is a hero.

But if city officials are going to truly honor Deems sacrifice, then they have to accept the failures the report highlights and its persuasive call for cultural and institutional change.
Over the past several years, a modest, historic San Antonio neighborhood has become a dining hot spot and trendy hangout among locals.

And with its proximity to downtown, Southtown is among the most coveted neighborhoods for those looking to live in the heart of the city.
Plants colonized the Earth 100 million years earlier than previously thought Phys.org

A coffin, mayor, poetry, bagpiper: Beloved bisexual gooses funeral draws community The Dominion Post

France to protect wolves despite protests from farmers France24

I looked at it, and it was moving: Worm in womans eye leads to unique discovery CNN (PM). Theres good news tonight!

Exposing RBS scandal like victory at Le Mans The Times (Richard Smith).

BoEs Carney says Bitcoin has pretty much failed as currency Reuters

Opinion: Valuation, liquidity price, and stability of cryptocurrencies PNAS

Pink slips coming for big chunk of Dodd-Frank agency staff American Banker. The Office of Financial Research. Who needs em?

Facebooks next project: American inequality Politico

German Ruling Against Facebook May Presage New EU Privacy Regime Bloomberg

Just an Ass-Backward Tech Company: How Twitter Lost the Internet War Vanity Fair. The assumption seems to be that moderation can be automated, algorithmically (at scale). It cant.

Brexit

Merkel-led coalition: Decisive times as SPD members vote on pact Deutsche Welle

Rising poverty gnaws at Italian social fabric as election nears Reuters

Altro che milioni di follower: ecco quanti utenti seguono davvero i leader politici suTwitter Repubblica (DG). Google translation: Other than millions of followers: here are how many users really follow the political leaders on Twitter. DG: It turns out that social media are remarkably thin in their effectiveness.

Syraqistan

A Massive U.S. Drone Base Could Destabilize Niger  and May Even Be Illegal Under Its Constitution The Intercept

North Korea

Only China can solve the North Korea problem  by inviting it to come underneath its own nuclear umbrella Philip Bobbitt, Unherd. Worth the log-in (especially for fans of Bobbitts Shield of Achilles): This situation is similar in some aspects to that which the Soviet Union faced in the mid-1970s. Then, also, the boundaries of its allies were unrecognised because their frontiers had been forged in the aftermath of World War II and there was no peace agreement between the Soviet Union and the Western states. In that sense, the Helsinki Accords of 1975, though not a binding treaty, finally ended World War II and recognised the inviolability of the postwar borders. I propose a similar conference, convened by the UN, to include North Korea, South Korea, Japan, China, the US and Russia with the objective of finally ending the Korean War and recognising the borders of both Koreas. Roughly speaking, the US and China would be in the position of the US and the Soviet Union at Helsinki. Stop trying to fix everything Boston Globe. Could we have avoided todays crisis had world powers been more willing to push for a total solution at some earlier point, 20 or 50 years ago? In fact, the dynamics of international compromise suggest the exact opposite  the more we embrace sloppy status quo deals, the more peace and stability we can enjoy.

China?

Nagaya nostalgia: The long and the short of Tokyos famed row houses Japan Times

New Cold War

Trump Transition

A Serious Push for Free College in California The Nation. College in California used to be almost free, and in living memory, too.

Sex in Politics Not.

Lawmaker who led #MeToo push invited staffer to play spin the bottle, complaint says WaPo. Power is gender fluid.

Health Care

Gunz

Guillotine Watch

Class Warfare

When the impartial spectator is missing Stumbling and Mumbling

Why even a moths brain is smarter than an AI MIT Technology Review (DL).

Indonesias Mount Sinabung Volcano Erupted Today and the Photos Are Spooky as Hell Gizmodo (BC). More photos here.

Antidote du jour (via):

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
Yves here. This Real News Network segment with John Feffer and host Aaron Mate received a huge number of comments, so I encourage readers to visit the TRNN site as well as pipe up here if you are so inclined. Even though Mate pushed back consistently, some of the readers at TRNN thought he didnt make as strong a counterargument as he could have.

Its worth noting that the troll farm that was the subject of the Mueller indictment had already been reported at length in a Russian business magazine:

9/11-Pearl Harbor talk aside, it's v. funny seeing troll farm indictment greeted as "bombshell," etc. Much of it was revealed last year: https://t.co/uS7Qo2TMyO Co-reporter on that story now calls US wing "a very successful social media marketing campaign" https://t.co/RqCYWh2VJ2 pic.twitter.com/QdkXuddXe0  Aaron Mate (@aaronjmate) February 19, 2018

AARON MATE: Its The Real News, Im Aaron Mate. At a hearing this week, the nations top intelligence officials warned about Russian meddling in the upcoming midterm elections.

DAN COATS: Frankly, the United States is under attack. Under attack by entities that are using cyber to penetrate virtually every major action that takes place in the United States. 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. There should be no doubt that Russia perceived that its past efforts as successful and views the 2018 U.S. midterm elections as a potential target for Russian influence operations.

AARON MATE: The testimony prompted bipartisan complaints that president Trump is still not taking the purported Russian threats seriously. But that is a critique that is also being made against some parts of the left. In a new piece for LobeLog, John Feffer writes that some progressive critics are going too far in dismissing the Russiagate narrative. The piece is called Russiagate or Deep State? John Feffer is the editor of LobeLog and the Director of Foreign Policy and Focus at the Institute for Policy Studies, and he joined me earlier today to discuss his piece.

Now we recorded this just before news broke that special counsel Robert Mueller has indicted 13 Russian nationals and three Russian organizations for allegedly using social media to sow discord in the U.S. and support the candidacy of Donald Trump. So in this interview we do not address that indictment, but we do address the wider issue of Russiagate, Russias alleged use of social media and Russian email hacking.

Welcome, John. Lay out your argument for us.

JOHN FEFFER: Well, first, its not just the United States. I mean, Russia has been involved in these kinds of operations, cyber operations against a variety of targets and the general purpose has been to improve the geopolitical position of Russia. So these operations of course have taken place in Europe against what are perceived as pro-UE positions. Here in the United States, theyve been for a variety of different purposes, but I think the kind of overall goal is, as has been stated several times, has been to kind of create greater political confusion and polarization in United States, thus in some sense, handicapping the United States.

Russiagate, as its been laid out, is one part of that, but its not just election meddling, it of course extends to in particular economic relations between Trump and members of Trumps team and Russia. So my fear is that to progressives, largely because they are suspicious of the national security state, and for good reason, have dismissed Russiagate because its been put forward by the FBI, members of the intelligence community and therefore they dont take it as seriously as they should.

AARON MATE: Okay, but John, my pushback to that is can you see why someone could argue that youre making a lot of assumptions there? I mean, weve been told, for example, that the Russians conducted this massive influence operation through email hacking and social media, but the evidence for it has been pretty thin. I mean, we were told the Russian government carried out the email hacking, but theres been no actual evidence of that yet.

What we know about the social media looks like it came from a Russian troll farm acting in a very crude and juvenile way, spending about a hundred thousand dollars, most of it after the election. And the same thing about Europe too, theres been claims about Russian meddling, but looking at the actual evidence, its come up pretty thing.

JOHN FEFFER: Well, I would argue that the evidence is actually pretty thick. I mean, as for the social media, I wouldnt really consider that to be the more important aspect there, much more important of course is the hacking of the DNC and some personal emails and in terms of the evidence, well, okay you might want to dismiss what the U.S. intelligence community has put forward, but the Dutch intelligence community was basically surveilling the whole entire operation, was able to identify the people involved in the Russian hacking of that. We also have evidence from an actual Russian trial-

AARON MATE: Well, John-

JOHN FEFFER: Yeah?

AARON MATE: John, lets break this down one by one. So you mentioned this Dutch report, this recently came out, I believe what youre referring to is anonymous Dutch officials told a Dutch, and also U.S. officials too, told a Dutch news agency, two actually, outlets, that they had actually surveilled Russian hackers and had even hacked into a surveillance camera at the Russian hacking site. But again, thats an example of where we have more than a year after this Russiagate thing has been going on, now this claim comes out. And if they have evidence, why not show it? So for example, why not give us a screenshot from this surveillance camera that they allegedly hacked into?

JOHN FEFFER: Well, Id like to see that as well. A number of people have come forward with evidence, or had come forward with claims, of state national security requirements, confidentiality, etc., for not releasing the information. Id like to see it as well, no question about it. But if you add in, for instance, the testimony of a Russian hacker in a Russian trial who gave evidence of being approached by the Russian intelligence community to engage in the hacking itself, and gave what seemed to be a pretty convincing evidence of his own involvement and Russian government involvement, if you add up all these data points, well, I have to say that the evidence is far more compelling than the counter argument which is we dont know, or it could be a fat guy sitting on a couch somewhere.

AARON MATE: If youre referring to the Russian hacker, Kaspersky, I think his name is, who has claimed that he was ordered to carry out this hacking of the DNC, can I just say that every Russian I speak to, no one takes him seriously. Hes also claimed that he possessed the capability to develop a red button that could destroy western infrastructure, but he did not do it because of his conscience. So I dont see him as a reliable source.

JOHN FEFFER: Well, you keep bringing up all these sources that you dont really have much faith in, but frankly, what is the counter narrative? Who exactly hacked into the DNC? Who provided these emails to Wikileaks, why were they released at such a critical moment? You know, we have these data points, you may not trust them, but I find them convincing. We have the report from the intelligence community here in the United States that provides at least a trail. Its been challenged, but I find the narrative thats been put forward to be honestly more convincing than the counter narrative.

AARON MATE: I dont know who hacked into the DNC. I mean, some people like Ray McGovern and Bill Binney, formerly of the NSA, claimed that it was a leak, I didnt find personally the argument persuasive, but I dont know enough about computers to decide either way. I think the key point to stress is that certainly the Russians could have done it, but in the absence of proof that they did, why presume just because a handful of U.S. intelligence officials, a year ago without evidence, told us that they did?

JOHN FEFFER: Well, we have a pattern of other Russian involvement, and you may dismiss the social media as not being a lot of money, or not being a lot of tweets or what have you, but thats not the point. The point is they did engage in it. So we have a pattern of behavior. If we were in a courtroom and we were kind of constructing an argument, we would put that into the documents as more evidence of motive, of action, and the reason why we take it seriously is twofold.

One, because were worried about our U.S. democracy and whether it can function in a fair way. And the threats to U.S. democracy, by the way, are not, you know, specific to Russia. But I consider Russia a threat in large part because of what the current government of Vladimir Putin represents. Putin has not only authoritarian tendencies within Russia itself, thats not my major concern here, my major concern is its support for far right-wing nationalistand frankly, racistmovements around the world, including here in the United States.

Its not a surprise that neo-Nazi groups and white supremacy groups have identified Russia as one of their key allies, in part because Russia is home to so many white people, and that the Putin government has identified these movements of key allies as well. So this is why I personally consider Russia to be a threat. If I learned, for instance, that Botswana had hacked into the U.S. election system I would not consider it as great a threat, my concern is not just the nature of Russias actions but also what Russia represents, or I should say, what the Putin government represents, because of course Russia is a very big place with lots of different political tendencies.

AARON MATE: All right, two points. So if the U.S. intelligence officials told you that Botswana had hacked into a U.S. email system and released emails in an effort to further a political goal, would you believe them without evidence? And on the point about Russia and authoritarian tendencies, and no one really denies that, but are they a major factor in support for white supremacy in the U.S.? I mean, anywhere close to the degree of which president Trump has emboldened white supremacists?

JOHN FEFFER: Well, lets answer the second question first. To the extent that the Russian government supports or supported Donald trump, yes, its a very significant and perhaps the most significant support of white supremacists in the United States ever. If you take Donald Trump out of the picture, well, of course not. But Donald Trump is the key actor here and Russiagate is, of course, focused on his complicity with Russian actors.

As for the first, if the intelligence came to me with no evidence, of course I would dismiss it. But the point here is that the intelligence community seems to have evidence, has published some of that evidence. For instance, theres been a lot of ridicule of the Homeland Security for saying that Russia hacked into, I think it was 21 state electoral systems, and its important to emphasize that Homeland Security said that that did not have any effect on the election.

And its also important to point out that a number of states responded that they saw no evidence of that. Its also important to say that Homeland Security has released its evidence because of national security concerns, but there was one example of Illinois where the evidence seemed pretty strong of Russian involvement.

So, yes, there is evidence; if you think that the evidence is robust or not is up to you. I personally think its far more robust than any of the counter-narratives that have been put forward, which have absolutely no bearing in reality.

AARON MATE: I think the evidence for the Russian government hacking of the Democratic emails amounts to a blog post from CrowdStrike, which is the firm contracted by the DNC, which by the way hasnt even given its servers over to the FBI. Aside from that, the intelligence report- [crosstalk 00:12:46]

JOHN FEFFER: How can you say its a blog post? Youre reducing it to insignificance. You may not agree with the conclusions of the report that they issued, and Ive seen plenty of analysis of that report, but I would not-

AARON MATE: Im talking about, if I could finish, Im talking about the CrowdStrike blog post that said it had concluded that it was Russian government hackers like Fancy Bear that had hacked the democrats and then there was the intelligence report which had a bunch of claims about Russian government hacking, but at least from the public version that weve been allowed to see, no evidence. And on white supremacy, I mean, have we seen evidence that Putin has actively supporting white supremacists inside of the United States?

JOHN FEFFER: We have seen Putin give several speeches on the importance of his right-wing vision of a Christian centered, kind of Russian centered, in some ways white center, if you read between the lines, ideology. We have seen connections between white supremacists and far right leaders going to Russia, going to Moscow, meeting with Russian officials, some of them very close to Putin. If youre looking for monetary transfers, such as for instance the kind of financial support Russian banks gave to Marine Le Pen and the National Front, you wont find that, not yet, but the connections are there.

In terms of the evidence of Russian hacking, through Cozy Bear and Fancy Bear, you know, Im not sure what would constitute Russian fingerprints more than what has been offered. Yeah, sure, perhaps we could see more of the trail of evidence, but what Ive seen, so far, convinces me that it was a Russian operation. Again, if you have evidence that there is somebody else out there, better proof that has been offered, Im willing to hear it. And Im willing to change my mind as well, but what Ive seen so far points in one direction and one direction only.

AARON MATE: And Im certainly willing to change my mind as well, of course, everyone is. My point is that the absence of evidence of another party doesnt, for me, lead to the conclusion that it was Russia, and the absence of what weve been discussing here is I think a lack of evidence. Let me also say, my concern here is not defending Putin or his policies, its just not holding Putin to a higher standard than we hold anyone else, and doing so in a way that deflects from our own internal problems here at home.

So for example, if were linking Putin to white supremacy in the U.S., then I think were risking overlooking the very real ties between many people in our government and leading pundits and white supremacists, including our president Donald Trump. Especially in the absence of actual, I mean, you talk about white supremacists visiting Moscow, well sure. White supremacists also visit Washington D.C. because they live in the U.S. So that to me does not seem proof of a tangible connection in which the Russian government is actively supporting white supremacists.

And in terms of holding Putin to a different standard, the concern about that, on top of ignoring the issues here in the U.S., is what if that is used in the service of a Cold War agenda? Which I know you oppose, but there are elements of the national security state for which this Russia hysteria is very advantageous. It justifies military expenditures and it fuels far-right militaristic policies like Trump is doing right now in Syria, against Russias wishes, and also even on Russias borders with NATO, expanding the NATO military presence there. But all of which is being overlooked because were so focused on trying to prove a Trump-Russia connection.

JOHN FEFFER: Well, I mean, I can only talk about me, I cant talk about what other analysts do or dont do, and I spend more of my time looking at precisely the things youre talking about. Expansion of NATO to Russian borders, I talk about the connections between Donald Trump and white supremacists, I talk about all things wrong with American elections that have nothing to do with Russia. So, I spend far more of my time talking about those things than I do about Russiagate. I happened to publish two articles recently because Im concerned about the fact that progressives are overlooking this threat, not because I think progressives should focus on Russiagate to the exclusion of all other things, but I do think that progressives should take a hard and realistic look at what is taking place in Moscow and what Putins larger geopolitical ambitions are.

In terms of a growing cold war, Im absolutely opposed to any effort to recreate a cold war, Ive consistently supported all sorts of agreements between the United States and Russia from arms control, to resolving the Syria conflict, to bolstering the cooperation that we did see around the Iran nuclear agreement. That goes without saying. But, I am also concerned about Russian actions and not just Russian actions with respect to election meddling in Europe and the United States, Im concerned with what Russia does in the Ukraine, Im concerned about Russian actions in Syria, Im concerned about Russian involvement in its near or abroad beyond Ukraine.

All of those are very, very troubling things, because lets face it, Russia has in the past had an imperial perspective and I believe that imperial perspective is deeply ingrained in Vladimir Putins world view. How does it compare to U.S. imperial strategies? Well, of course its a much smaller kind of component to world geopolitics, because Russian power is much smaller than U.S. power. But it doesnt mean we should overlook it or ignore it.

AARON MATE: Okay. So John, finally as we wrap, can we agree on this, which is that the evidence so far, in terms of Trumps actual policies when it comes to Russia, some of which weve talked about, expanding NATO on Russias border, he just released his nuclear strategy which is primarily focused on Russia and calls for increasing the nuclear arsenal to develop these so-called low yield weapons aimed at Russia, maintaining the U.S. troop presence in Syria indefinitely in a bid to target Iran, can we agree that, and also, of course, most significantly, doing what Obama rejected because he didnt want to fuel the new cold war even more, which is Trump is now supplying weapons to Ukraine to fight the Russian backed separatists in the east, all these policies do not lend themselves to a narrative of trump and Russia being in cahoots. Because here, these are all cases where certainly is not pleased with what Trump is doing.

JOHN FEFFER: I can absolutely agree that Putin is not pleased with what Trump is doing. I would argue that it was largely a marriage of convenience, both Putin and Trump had their own reasons for playing nice with one another and that those reasons, if they did not completely disappear with the election, certainly became considerably attenuated. So Donald trump has pursued his own foreign policy thats very different from the foreign policy he pretended to have when we was a candidate and a subset of that foreign policy was a kind of non-interventionist, more cooperative position with Russia.

That has disappeared. Why its disappeared, well, there are lots of reasons for that, but we shouldnt project that backwards and say that because of Trumps reversals on foreign policy that means ipso facto that there was no complicity between Russia and Trump. The relationship went sour, as many relationships do go sour, but I would agree with you currently U.S. and Russian relations are not at a very good point.

AARON MATE: It just seems curious to me that Putin would work so hard to elect a candidate who then goes and takes office and then pursues a more radical, or at least more militaristic posture towards Russia then even his predecessor, Obama did.

JOHN FEFFER: So first of all, I dont think Putin could predict what Donald Trump was going to do as president, unpredictability was basically the best word to describe Donald Trump, both as a candidate and as weve determined a president as well. So I dont think anybody, much less Vladimir Putin, could have predicted the turn U.S.-Russian relations would take. But also I would call into question that the idea that the Kremlin was specifically interested in getting Donald Trump elected.

I mean, Donald trump was a long shot, very few people thought he was going to get elected. I think what the Kremlin was hoping was more of a polarization strategy, somewhat similar to the dezinformatsiya strategy of the soviet years, and that is simply to sow confusion and to kind of accentuate the disagreements within American society and within the political sphere more specifically. And with that, I think the Kremlin was successful. You could argue that the election of Donald Trump was not a success, in fact, because of Trumps unpredictability and the ultimate trajectory of U.S.-Russian relations.

AARON MATE: Okay, well, as much as Id like to respond we are out of time, so well leave it there for now, but hope to continue this in the future. John Feffer is our guest, editor of LobeLog and Director of Foreign Policy and Focus at the Institute for Policy Studies. His new piece for LobeLog is called Russiagate or Deep State? John, thank you.

JOHN FEFFER: Thank you.

AARON MATE: And thank you for joining us on The Real News.
A family and community have been left heartbroken, this week, with the death of a young man who brought love and joy to all who knew him.

Joe Kelly was just 13 when he passed away, peacefully, at home on Monday.

Joe, from Curraghpoor, Donaskeigh, was the loving son of Liam and Yvonne, and is also greatly missed by his sisters Millie, Ruby, Belle and Elisse, his grandmother Mary, grandfather Patsy, aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family, friends and neighbours.

A pupil at Scoil Aonghusa in Cashel since the age of five, Joe was an integral part of the community there. Principal Siobhan Keyes-Ryan paid tribute to the young man who represented the school at the Munster Special Olympics. He took part in the motor skills section in 2014.

Joe brought a lot of joy to the school, to everybody. He was very much loved here, Mrs Keyes-Ryan said.

Joe will be missed by the teachers and pupils of his much loved school Scoil Aonghusa.

He will be reposing at his home today Tuesday (February 20) from 3pm to 8pm. Arriving at St Brigid's Church, Donaskeigh, for Mass of the Angels on Wednesday at 12 noon, followed by burial in Kilfeacle Cemetery.

House private Wednesday morning please. Family flowers only. Donations, if desired, to Scoil Aonghusa Cashel, The Arc Childrens Unit, University Hospital Limerick and South Tipperary Palliative Care Team.
The Moldovan Armed Forces are looking to develop and improve their cyber defence capabilities, so as to be able to face sophisticated and emerging cyber threats that may affect the military information networks management and security. On 13 February 2018, NATO and the Republic of Moldova launched a multi-year project to support these efforts under the NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme.

We hope that as a result of the project, the Ministry of Defence shall be in a better position to address a wide range of cyber defence challenges, said Dr Jamie Shea, NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for the Emerging Security Challenges Division. We also hope that this project will contribute to training and research activities in the field of cyber defence for armed forces personnel and defence and security relevant institutions in Moldova and maybe even extend it to other public institutions.

One of the main deliveries of the project is to establish the Moldovan Armed Forces Cyber Incident Response Capability with a supporting cyber defence infrastructure.

Today, we made another step in increasing the practical cooperation between NATO and the Republic of Moldova with the launching of this project. The establishment of a Cyber Incident Response Capability will increase the Ministry of Defence cyber capabilities and will also benefit NATO Allies and partner countries, said Radu Burduja, General State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence.

This project brings together Moldovan military cyber defence experts and cyber experts from the NATO Communications and Information Agency located in Brussels, Belgium.

This is the third SPS project to be launched under the Defence and Related Security Capacity Building Initiative package for Moldova  two are in the field of cyber defence, including this new project.

An earlier project, completed in 2016, inaugurated a cyber defence laboratory at the Technical University of Moldova, which serves as a research and training centre for Moldovan civil servants as well as for young scientists and students of the university.

The third project supports the country in the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security through the development of a National Action Plan.
(Natural News) As you may know, last week a federal grand jury returned 13 indictments of Russian citizens and three Russian firms recommended as part of special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to steal the election from Hillary Clinton.

House Intelligence Committee chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., said over the weekend that his panel has seen no evidence of said collusion, but nevertheless, the Mueller probe continues, hence the 13 new indictments.

The Russians alleged crime(s)? Interfering with the 2016 presidential election.

Oh, that.

Mueller didnt name any Americans in this latest round of indictments  including, naturally, members of President Donald J. Trumps 2016 campaign. In fact, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein made it clear when announcing the indictments that no Americans wittingly participated in the Russian operation.

But Muellers 13 indictments are puzzling for a number of reasons  not the least of which because they represent one of the greatest geopolitical hypocrisies in modern times, which was not lost on Daniel Greenfield, a Shillman Journalism Fellow at the Freedom Center.

In a column for FrontPage Magazine, all Mueller has done thus far is indict a bunch of Russians associated with a troll farm for interfering with an election that everyone in the DOJ and FBI thus far has admitted did not change the election outcome  meaning Trump beat Clinton fair and square.

But the Clinton campaign employed a British foreign agent who used Russian intelligence sources to put together opposition research meant to interfere with the results of a United States election, he wrote. Collusion between the Clinton campaign, Steele and the Russians doesnt require an endless fishing expedition.

He goes on to point out that foreign governments attempting to interfere with American democracy is not a new thing (and it certainly isnt for Russia, which, as head of the Soviet Union, regularly sought to undermine U.S. democracy).

In fact, he notes, Muslims in Gaza famously ran a phone bank for Obama, as a Hamas political advisor had declared that he hoped Obama would win.

The Mueller indictment claims that the Federal Election Campaign Act prohibits foreign nationals from making any contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, or disbursements for electioneering communications.

However, Greenfield notes, Obama accepted untraceable donations from abroad, while failing to require proof of citizenship as his website even permitted donations from Iran and North Korea.

The chair of Nigerias stock exchange had organized an Africans for Obama fundraiser. The Albanian Socialist Prime Minister had been accused of a scheme to transfer $80,000 to an Obama fundraising committee. Gazans bought and resold Obama t-shirts from the campaign website. And no indictments, Greenfield wrote. (Related: SHOCKER: FBI had evidence of Clinton-Russian collusion over uranium deal.)

Whats more, none of that was considered election interference and none of those activities generated a special counsel investigation of the former president.

In addition, Muellers indictments make us look foolish and weak. And oh-so-political. They are unserious, Greenfield adds, because its a toothless response to an allegedly serious breach of American democracy.

But thats not all. Obamas State Department paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayer money to an Israel-based organization which used the money in a campaign to oust current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a 2016 congressional investigation.

The Washington Times reported:

Some $350,000 was sent to OneVoice, ostensibly to support the groups efforts to back Israeli-Palestinian peace settlement negotiations. But OneVoice used the money to build a voter database, train activists and hire a political consulting firm with ties to President Obamas campaign  all of which set the stage for an anti-Netanyahu campaign, the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations said in a bipartisan staff report.

No special counsels. No Justice Department investigation. No indictments.

So much of what Mueller is doing is just a continuation of the Democrats #NeverTrump campaign, and therefore it is illegitimate.

There is a real threat to the American system of government, but its not coming from the Russians, its coming from Democrats.

J.D. Heyes is editor of The National Sentinel and a senior writer for Natural News and News Target.

Sources include:

WashingtonTimes.com

TheNationalSentinel.com

FrontpageMag.com
The first sign of it was the large shadow cruising slowly and confidently beneath the ocean surface before disappearing beneath the small boat.

"Where is she, anyone see her?" Stanford researcher Barbara Block asked, as her four-member team scanned the waters off Ano Nuevo State Park just North of Santa Cruz  a couple hundred yards from shore.

Suddenly, the water exploded as the head of a 16-and-a-half white shark lunged above the surface and bit down on a piece of carpet cut out in the shape of a sea lion.[[474616923, C]]



"We dont know who she is, do we?" Block asked routinely as researcher Tim White jabbed a GoPro camera attached to a pole into the water near the shark, which quickly lost interest in the carpet and dove back beneath the boat.[[474608203, C]]



This scene last November was typical of the months between October and February, when the sharks arrive on the Bay Area coastline and Block and her team from Stanford stake out the area, tagging the large predators with electronic transmitters as part of a decades-long study to define the sharks population.

"So right now we're studying the white sharks here," Block said, "in order to predict their long-term population trend."

After more than two decades tagging white sharks off the Bay Area coastline, this spring the team from Stanford University, along with the Monterey Bay Aquarium, will follow the creatures to the open ocean halfway between Hawaii and Baja  an area known as the White Shark Cafe  as part of an extensive effort to unravel even more details about the sharks' mysterious lives.

"We don't actually know what happens when white sharks leave these waters and go towards the open waters of the Pacific Ocean," White said. [[474608573, C]]



White sharks arrive in the Bay Area each September, stationing themselves around elephant seal breeding grounds at the Farallones Islands, Ano Nuevo State Park, as well as around Tomales Point. Reaching as long as 20 feet in length, they are skilled at hunting elephant seals and sea lions.

Stanford researchers have tagged white sharks in the National Marine Sanctuaries of the Farallons and Monterey Bay for about the last twenty years  affixing them with acoustic tags that have a tracking range of about 500 meters. The tags send information to a receiver on a buoy which relays it up to a satellite and back down to instruments aboard the boat.

Over the last four months Block and her team have been especially focused on tagging sharks with long-range satellite transmitters that will enable the upcoming research expedition to track the sharks thousands of miles to their offshore domain at the Cafe  once they depart in Winter.

"Were very excited because these tags will allow us to locate the sharks in April and May," Block said on the deck of Stanfords research boat, The Blue Serengeti. "Were going to have a big research ship  The Falkor  with a team of scientists from Stanford and the Monterey Bay Aquarium."[[474609213, C]]

The team hopes the research at the White Shark Cafe will reveal more about which creatures the sharks interact with in the open seas, what they eat there and the threat they face from open water commercial fishing.

"So here in Ano, the sharks are protected with state protections and Federal protections in the National Marine Sanctuary," Block said. "And when the sharks move out of those boundaries into the offshore waters they actually are exposed to high seas fisheries."

The extensive research in the Bay Area is ultimately aimed at determining the population of sharks that return each year to the area which ranges from Monterey to Marin Counties. Block estimates more than 220 adult and sub-adult white sharks visit the area each year. Many of the returning sharks are familiar to the researchers  bearing electronic tags from previous years, and unique physical features the team has documented through video.[[474609613, C]]

"We've been able to actually keep track of these white sharks as individuals," Block said, "as animals we've come to know as personalities."

Many of the sharks get nicknames to help keep track of their identities; "Rudolph" for the white mark on its nose; "Bling Bling" for various markings and earlier tags, "Scarface" for well, obvious reasons.

"Each white shark has a unique dorsal fin just like a humans thumbprint," White explained. "You can tell which individual shark is based on the pattern of its fins."

The team uses a small piece of permitted bait to draw the shark to the vicinity of the carpet seal cutout. Once the sharks move in to investigate, the decoy is reeled closer to the boat where the team will attempt to insert a transmitter into the body of the shark with a long pole.[[474610353, C]]



On a day-long outing last November, the team encountered more than a dozen white sharks and successfully attached tags to three of them.

The sight of a sixteen-foot shark swimming alongside a roughly 25-foot boat might seem a little jarring but the experience is more fascinating than intimidating.

"It does not ever get old tracking white sharks here along the coast," White said. "I mean when you see a 16-foot white shark swim directly underneath you, and you put an electronic tag onto the animal it is a thrilling experience every time."

When the team sets out on April 20th for a one-month high seas expedition aboard the R/V Falkor research vessel, itll mark the next phase of Blocks decades-long work, which also includes the study of other open ocean fish such as Blue Fin tuna as well as species like sea lions that make-up the lower level of the white shark food chain.[[474609793, C]]



While the crew folded up shop after a day of tagging along the coast, Block marveled as a humpback whale breached close to the boat. She took in the orange sun folding into the Pacific, glowing somewhat at the end of a fruitful day of tagging.

"We have that privilege here in California that they come very close to our shores," she said of the sharks. "We can wake up in our houses and come out an hour-and-a-half out to sea and interact with some of the greatest animals on our planet, and its a really exciting place to learn about how they work."
Despite some of the toughest gun laws in the country, a former gun smuggler tells NBC Bay Area that illegal firearms will continue to flow into the state as long as guns can be purchased with relative ease in other parts of the country.

In fact, the wide disparity in regulations creates a lucrative market for those willing to risk running guns from one state to another, he said.

I was out in a different state, and I just saw how easy it was for people from that state to just get a gun, he said.

The former gun trafficker is now in the federal witness protection program after being arrested and testifying against some of his former associates. He agreed to share his story on the condition NBC Bay Area would not reveal his identity.

The smuggler, who asked to be called Roger, said the hundreds of guns he purchased in the Midwest over a two-year period were a hot commodity on Bay Area streets, selling for three or four times what he originally paid for them.

Out here [prices] are high, Roger said. I could probably get like $800 to a $1,000 for a gun.

Roger contacted NBC Bay Area following a joint investigation with the non-profit journalism organization The Trace, which found more than 20,000 guns across the country that were previously reported stolen were later recovered by police in connection to crimes.

But Roger said he never resorted to stealing guns because he could easily purchase them out of state. He says he made so much money illegally selling guns in the Bay Area that he gave up selling marijuana.

Roger: There was more money [selling guns] and it was kind of easier.

Stephen Stock: There was more money in guns than drugs?

Roger: Yeah

Stephen Stock: And it was easier?

Roger: Yeah

Stephen Stock: What do you mean by that?

Roger: It was easier to send them in the mail. Easier to get them

Roger said he would travel to a state that NBC Bay Area agreed not to disclose, where he made contacts with residents who would go into pawn shops or gun stores and legally purchase guns. Without any kind of waiting period, they could walk out with guns in hand the same day. Roger, for a small markup, would then buy those guns from the person who legally purchased them. Its a transaction known as a straw purchase and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives says its one of the premier methods convicted felons use to get their hands on guns theyre prohibited from owning.

Stephen Stock: How did you get the guns to California?

Roger: Ship them, send them.

Stephen Stock: Through the mail?

Roger: Yeah, through the mail. UPS. However..

Stephen Stock: Did you have to pack them special, or did you just put them in the mail and ship them?

Roger: Yeah, different ways. We put them in toolboxes, safes, microwaves.

Stephen Stock: You put a gun in the microwave and shipped it?

Roger: Yeah, quite a few of them

NBC Bay Areas Senior Investigative Reporter Stephen Stock sits down with a convicted gun runner to talk about how he brought guns from the Midwest to the Bay Area

Duke University Professor Doctor Phillip Cook, one of the countrys foremost researchers of gun violence, says restrictive gun ownership laws in one state can create a market for gun traffickers like Roger.

We found that 60 percent of the guns picked up from the streets of Chicago were first sold out of state, Cook said. Theres a lot of trafficking going on.

And once those guns end up on the streets, Dr. Cook said they can have a long shelf life before theyre ever seized by police.

Guns stay in circulation forever, Cook said. In Chicago, the average age of the gun that is confiscated is at least 12 years old. So theyve been around for a while. Its unusual to see a new gun get picked up by the police, and they manage to change hands many times.

The wide variation in gun laws between the states can make policing gun trafficking difficult, according to federal law enforcement officials.

The traffickers, they know where their market is, said Kevin OKeefe, chief of Operational Intelligence for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. If there market is a large urban area, they know that theyre going to get the guns to that urban area. Lets say there are more restrictive gun laws in that city as opposed to nearby states or other municipalities, the profit is made by getting guns to that market.

Roger said he knew many of the guns he sold were being purchased by people with bad intentions, but the money was too good to pass up. Roger also acknowledges that some of the guns he sold in the Bay Area may have been stolen or reported stolen. Roger says he just didnt want to know, so he did not ask about the origins of many of the guns he sold. He says hes on the straight and narrow now. Hes holding down a regular job and is focused on raising his kids.

Now, looking back on his former life, Roger says he does have some regrets about bringing guns into his own community.

I never knew if I knew somebody that actually got killed with one of the guns I sold on the streets, he said. I dont ask them, and theyre not going to tell you what theyre doing with [them] anyway. So 10 times out of 10, its illegal anyway.
A 67-year-old man died Monday after he fell down a cliff while trying to rescue his dog in San Mateo County, officials said.

Emergency crews recovered the man's body at Thornton State Beach in Daly City.

At about 11:30 a.m., a California Highway Patrol air unit was called to assist the North County Fire Protection District for a cliff rescue. CHP Officer Shaun Bouyea said a male fell approximately 200 feet down a cliff next to the beach.

No other information was immediately available.

Confirmed from National Park Service- 67 year old man attempting to rescue his dog on cliff fell and died. This happened on border btwn. San Mateo Co & National Park Service land pic.twitter.com/uqMvzC8yaS  Sam Brock (@SamBrockNBC) February 19, 2018

Latest Winter Olympics Headlines:

> Zagitova Wins Figure Skating Gold, Edges Medvedeva

> Karen Chen Frustrated, Disappointed With Olympic Results

> Mirai Nagasu Overcome With Tears, Joy Despite Solo Struggles

> Karen Chen Falters in Free Skate

> Tara Lipinski, Johnny Weir to Host Olympics Closing Ceremony

Viral Moments:

> Garlic Girls: South Korean Curler Strikes Gold, Becomes Meme

> Try Not to Laugh at Maame Biney's Bad Jokes

> Curling Gets the K-Pop Treatment

> Who Runs Team USA? Women

> Incredible Call Perfectly Captures Diggins' Historic Moment

Must-See Photos/Video:

> David Wise Celebrates With Kids, Wife: 'You Won!'

> Kevin Rolland Takes Terrifying Spill in Men's Halfpipe

> This Is What Karen Chen Does Before Every Performance

> #ColdPeopleOfPyeongChang: Fans Battle Frigid Temperatures

> Squaw Valley: Home of Olympians and Medalists

NorCal Athletes:

> Get to Know Your Northern California Athletes

> Bowman on Sochi Gold and Role as Mentor to Tahoe Youth

> Meet Fremont's Karen Chen, Ladies' Figure Skater

> Meet Bay Area Bobsledder Nick Cunningham

> Where's Garvin? Tracking Our Intrepid Reporter's Adventures
A San Francisco woman says she has been reunited with her engagement and wedding rings she lost last week thanks to a United Airlines gate agent and pilot.

Brit Morin posted a tweet Monday saying a pilot hand delivered the rings back to her in San Francisco. A United gate agent found the jewelry and gave it to the pilot, Morin said.

"I have a newfound faith in humanity and airlines," Morin said in her tweet.

I lost my wedding/engagement rings last week somewhere between New York and Jackson Hole. A @United gate agent found it, put it in a safe, and then gave it to a pilot to HAND DELIVER it back to me in SF. I have a newfound faith in humanity and airlines  Thanks United. pic.twitter.com/T342OGou5p  Brit Morin (@brit) February 19, 2018

Morin's tweet included a photo of a ring, along with a written note signed by the pilot. She also said in the tweet the rings were lost somewhere between New York and Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

A tweet from United replying to Morin indicates the airlines plans to recognize the pilot and gate agent for their efforts in helping return her ring.

Latest Winter Olympics Headlines:

> Zagitova Wins Figure Skating Gold, Edges Medvedeva

> Karen Chen Frustrated, Disappointed With Olympic Results

> Mirai Nagasu Overcome With Tears, Joy Despite Solo Struggles

> Karen Chen Falters in Free Skate

> Tara Lipinski, Johnny Weir to Host Olympics Closing Ceremony

Viral Moments:

> Garlic Girls: South Korean Curler Strikes Gold, Becomes Meme

> Try Not to Laugh at Maame Biney's Bad Jokes

> Curling Gets the K-Pop Treatment

> Who Runs Team USA? Women

> Incredible Call Perfectly Captures Diggins' Historic Moment

Must-See Photos/Video:

> David Wise Celebrates With Kids, Wife: 'You Won!'

> Kevin Rolland Takes Terrifying Spill in Men's Halfpipe

> This Is What Karen Chen Does Before Every Performance

> #ColdPeopleOfPyeongChang: Fans Battle Frigid Temperatures

> Squaw Valley: Home of Olympians and Medalists

NorCal Athletes:

> Get to Know Your Northern California Athletes

> Bowman on Sochi Gold and Role as Mentor to Tahoe Youth

> Meet Fremont's Karen Chen, Ladies' Figure Skater

> Meet Bay Area Bobsledder Nick Cunningham

> Where's Garvin? Tracking Our Intrepid Reporter's Adventures
A San Jose neighborhood says it is under siege from criminals and wants more police help to curb a rash of vehicle break-ins and thefts.

One family in the Roosevelt Park neighborhood had two cars stolen in a span of days last week.

Neighbors are now collecting surveillance video of the brazen thieves, and the footage shows just how fast the crime can occur. The people who live in the neighborhood are hurt by the thefts, and they say they need help.

In one video, two men are seen checking for valuables inside a blue SUV. Then, quickly, one man breaks the passenger side window, and theyre in.

Resident Mary Noelyn is sympathetic. Her car was ransacked several months ago, and last week, two family cars were stolen, one Monday and another Thursday.

"Its awful," Noelin said. "I mean, panic takes over. You dont know how youre going to get from point A to point B, and you feel ... violated."

Jeff Levine of the Roosevelt Park neighborhood association says according to crime stats, there were about 400 cars stolen during a four-month period and countless break ins.

"The freeway access makes it ideal for a bad guy coming in and getting out of here," Levine said.

The neighborhood association plans to meet with police. But some victims say theyve already seen a heavier police presence, and it hasnt stopped the crime wave.

"I recently had my Honda Accord stolen, and it was pretty hard on me," resident Issac Hunter said. "My friends and my neighbors recently got their car stolen, and so its been hard on all of us."

The neighborhood plans to meet Tuesday to work out a proposal to San Jose police.

One bit of good news: Mary Noelyns family just heard from police one of their cars was just found, but no word on its condition.

Latest Winter Olympics Headlines:

> Zagitova Wins Figure Skating Gold, Edges Medvedeva

> Karen Chen Frustrated, Disappointed With Olympic Results

> Mirai Nagasu Overcome With Tears, Joy Despite Solo Struggles

> Karen Chen Falters in Free Skate

> Tara Lipinski, Johnny Weir to Host Olympics Closing Ceremony

Viral Moments:

> Garlic Girls: South Korean Curler Strikes Gold, Becomes Meme

> Try Not to Laugh at Maame Biney's Bad Jokes

> Curling Gets the K-Pop Treatment

> Who Runs Team USA? Women

> Incredible Call Perfectly Captures Diggins' Historic Moment

Must-See Photos/Video:

> David Wise Celebrates With Kids, Wife: 'You Won!'

> Kevin Rolland Takes Terrifying Spill in Men's Halfpipe

> This Is What Karen Chen Does Before Every Performance

> #ColdPeopleOfPyeongChang: Fans Battle Frigid Temperatures

> Squaw Valley: Home of Olympians and Medalists

NorCal Athletes:

> Get to Know Your Northern California Athletes

> Bowman on Sochi Gold and Role as Mentor to Tahoe Youth

> Meet Fremont's Karen Chen, Ladies' Figure Skater

> Meet Bay Area Bobsledder Nick Cunningham

> Where's Garvin? Tracking Our Intrepid Reporter's Adventures
The inflatable chicken that bears an uncanny resemblance to President Donald Trump, and shows up at protests around the country, was spotted in San Francisco over the weekend.

In this particular rendition, "Trump Chicken" - as it's popularly known - showed up on a boat near Alcatraz, the former prison turned tourist attraction.

It was also spotted on Pier 39, and in the bay in the shadow of the San Francisco skyline (Salesforce Tower included) behind it.

The event - a form of protest of Trump right before President's Day - was planned for Monday, but took place over the weekend due to high winds.

The inflatable bird was wearing a striped prison shirt, with the number prisoner number 00045. Organizers behind the protest tweeted out photos of the event:
Police in New Hampshire have confirmed that one person died Tuesday morning after an early morning car crash in downtown Manchester.

Manchester Police Lt. Brian O'Keefe confirmed around 11 a.m. that a driver involved in the crash had died.

Manchester police reported on Facebook around 7 a.m. that a serious crash had occurred in the area of 430 Lake Ave. According to police, the crash happened just before 3:30 a.m. The road was closed Tuesday morning as crews worked to clear the scene.

The age and identity of the victim are not known at this time pending notification of the next of kin.

The circumstances leading up to the crash are also unclear at this time.

Police are expected to release more information later Tuesday.
Calling for bipartisan dialogue across the Land of Lincoln, the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition (ICJC) unveiled a new initiative on Monday to spark conversation around clean energy.



The coalitions goal is to encourage the state to embrace a policy framework that would lead to cleaner energy and economic benefits for people across the state, especially in the form of new jobs for communities that need them the most, according to a statement.

Joined by U.S. Congress members Rep. Mike Quigley and Rep. Robin Kelly, members of the ICJC listed several sweeping and long-term goals at an event on Chicagos Near West Side, including pushing Illinois to use 100% renewable energy by 2050, realizing a carbon-free power sector by 2030 and immediately electrifying the transportation sector.

We are calling on every Illinois politician, including those, Republican and Democratic alike, campaigning for Governor, every community leader, and every voter to commit to these goals and join the conversation, so the state wins a clean, equitable energy future, said Jen Walling, executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council and a member of the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition.

This weeks push is a stark contrast to the approach to energy taken by the federal government since the 2016 election. Saving the coal industry was a staple of President Donald Trumps campaign platform throughout the race. Now, a year into his presidency, hes continued to come out swinging for non-renewable energy.

Last year, the Department of Energy proposed subsidizing coal and nuclear plants, although the plan was recently rejected by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. In January, the Trump administration announced a 17 percent tariff on solar panels from China, and its fiscal 2019 budget asked for a 66 percent budgetary cut to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

On this Presidents Day, its a bit ironic to say that the states must step up and lead, Quigley said, but considering President Trumps glaring inaction on sustainability, that is the reality in Washington.

The clean energy future is happening  its inevitable, said Kelly said. The question is, can Illinois lead the way?

The ICJC said it would hold a number of different events in the upcoming year to open up conversation around the future of energy in Illinois, including town hall meetings, listening sessions, policy roundtables and more.
Heavy rainfall hit the Chicago area overnight, snarling road conditions ahead of the morning commute early Tuesday.

A Flood Warning remained in effect through 10:45 a.m., with the National Weather Service warning that several inches of rain combined with higher temperatures - accelerating snow melt - could lead to flooding of streams and rivers. The entire area was also under a Flood Watch, expiring at 6 p.m. Tuesday for far northern counties and lasting through 6 a.m. for the rest of the metro area.

With the ground still frozen, officials fear that water will not absorb but instead run off, exacerbating flooding conditions, particularly along the Little Calumet River and the Kankakee River.

The rainfall made for difficult and even dangerous road conditions Tuesday morning. On I-57 near Sibley, multiple cars could be seen hydroplaning through standing water in at least two lanes, losing control and spinning out.

Illinois State Police responded to I-57 just before 5 a.m., shutting down two outbound lanes as Illinois Department of Transportation plows pushed water off the road to mitigate the dangerous conditions.

In south suburban Richton Park, fire officials confirmed that the area surrounding Sauk Trail and Governor's Highway was closed due to high water Tuesday morning. Richton Park Fire officials said a woman was stranded in her car at that intersection around 1:30 a.m. Authorities rescued the woman from her car and closed the area, officials said.

Orland Park Police noted roads shut down in that region as well, on Southwest Highway between 131st and 135th streets, plus a closure at 143rd Street between Creek Crossing and Wolf Road. In Matteson, Governor's Highway was shut down from 212th to 219th streets, officials said.

Radar showed continued areas of moderate to heavy rain, moving across the area from southwest to northeast. High temperatures could reach the 50s and 60s before quickly dropping in the afternoon and evening.
A Bridgeport man is accused of stabbing his teenage niece to death at an apartment on Fairfield Avenue Monday night.

Police said 31-year-old Richard Segabiro called 911 around 10 p.m. and said he had killed his 16-year-old daughter.

Police responded to his apartment at 2292 Fairfield Ave. and found Segabiro covered in blood and his niece Francine Nyanzaninka, who he raised as his daughter, dead in the bathtub. She had multiple stab wounds, police said.

Segabiro was arrested and confessed to the stabbing, according to police.

Police said that Segabiros wife and three other young children were in the home at the time of the stabbing but were not hurt.

Officials said police had never been called to the house before.

Filemon Herrera, who lives in the building, told NBC Connecticut he was shocked to see police surround the building, Moments before, he'd heard yelling from Segabiro's apartment, but thought it was just the children arguing.



"I dont know what to say to my son right now. Hes asking what happened last night, what happened. And I dont know. And my wife said we have to explain to him," Herrara said.

"It's so sad, so sad," he added.

Segabiro was charged with murder, He was initially held on a $1 million bond. His public defender asked the judge to lower the bond because Segabiro has cooperated with police, but the judge raised the amount of the bond to $1.5 million.

Segabiro is due back in court on March 6.
A Connecticut rule already on the books would be the main stopgap from a Federal Department of Labor (DOL) rule from taking effect in the state.

The DOL is considering allowing restaurant owners to collect the tips left for servers, and the owners would then be the ones to decide how those tips are used.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal urged the labor department not to approve the rule during a press conference Monday.

"This rule is unjust, unfair, economically unwise," Blumenthal said during the event at the Ion Restaurant in downtown Middletown.

Connecticut labor rules, however, will blunt the impact of the proposed rule change in Washington.

Connecticut restauranteurs benefit from the "tip credit" rule. The tip credit allows owners to pay servers and staff less than minimum wage so long as their hourly wages exceed Connecticuts minimum wage of $10.10.

There are 27 states with that provision on the books and others that maintain the same minimum wage for food service employees as for other hourly workers.

Matt Banta is a server at Ion and he says the arrangement with tips works for servers but also fears for what the publicity of such a rule might do to customers.

"I think if this goes through then general customers will tip less not knowing where the tips are going," Banta said.

The Connecticut Restaurant Association told NBC Connecticut that the tip credit rule would supersede whatever action is taken in Washington.

Banta says customers expect a certain level of service, and in turn, expect their gratuities to go to the right person or people.

"If they tip the server, theyre paying for the service, the interaction, the friendliness," Banta said. "Some pool tips now in a way they give a portion to the host, or they give a portion to bussers and food runners and what not. Thats different than giving all of the money to the owner as he sees fit."
State people have identified the two people who were found dead inside an Essex home on Tuesday afternoon and said the case is a murder-suicide.

Connecticut State Police responded to the home on Prospect Street around 1:30 p.m. to conduct a well-being check and troopers found 72-year-old Susan Barron and 72-year-old Joseph Reifer dead inside the home.

The officer of the medical examiner determined that Barron was shot and killed and Reifer died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

This incident remains under investigation.

Barron and Reifer both lived in the home.



Reifer would have turned 73 on Thursday, according to the news release from state police.
Three teenagers were hurt when a stolen car crashed into a pillar at the intersection of New Britain Avenue and Summit Street Tuesday morning, according to Hartford Police.

The vehicle smashed into a pillar near an entrance to Trinity College around 5 a.m.

Hartford police confirmed that the vehicle had been reported stolen out of West Hartford.

Police said that one of the occupants, a 16-year-old boy, was trapped in the vehicle and had to be extricated. He was taken to Connecticut Children's Medical Center where he was listed in critical condition, but is expected to survive.

Two 14-year-old girls were also involved and received treatment at CCMC for non-life threatening injuries.

None of the teens were identified due to their age.

The crash is under investigation.

This is not the first serious crash in the area. A 22-year-old man was killed when he crashed into one of the same pillars on Jan. 1, 2018.

This is the second crash involving a stolen vehicle in Hartford within about six hours. Around 11 p.m. Monday, a stolen pickup ran a red light at Ward and Zion streets and crashed into two other vehicles, killing one of those drivers and injuring two other people.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Norwalk High School was dismissed early Tuesday out of an abundance of caution after a student heard what he thought sounded like someone pulling back the slide of a handgun in the mens room around 8:30 a.m., according to police. They said they did not find a weapon or evidence during a search of the school.

The student did not see a gun and no threats were made, according to police, and school staff reported the incident to the Norwalk Police School Resource Officer assigned to Norwalk High School at 10:43 a.m.

The school resource officer and an extra duty officer assigned to a daily security detail at Norwalk High School contacted dispatchers and searched the mens room as well as the immediate area and found nothing concerning.

Norwalk High School staff placed the school into Protect-In-Place status, so no students were allowed to leave the campus or their classrooms and no one was permitted to enter the campus. Students were then dismissed early, at 1:30 p.m.

Once the school was empty, the Stamford Police Bomb Squad K9 Unit was brought in, the school was searched for firearms and none were located.

Police said there is no evidence to substantiate the complaint, no arrests have been made and none are expected.

Norwalk High School staff were also checking classrooms, lockers and bags.

On Wednesday, Norwalk High School staff will assist students with retrieving their belongings left behind today.
The sounds of concrete being mixed and made in the overnight hours is keeping people in a McKinney neighborhood near Highway 5 and Stewart Road up at night. Their complaints to the city, they say, havent yielded any changes.

We are waking up most nights somewhere between three and four in the morning, which is difficult for us because we have little ones, said Anna Davis.

The Davis say the noise began keeping them up at night shortly after the holidays.

Were used to a little bit of background noise thats never been an issue, but were talking about beeping noises or blending noises, its distracting, said Davis.

Her neighbor Cathie Franzen agrees, describing the sounds of large trucks and industrial noise in the early morning hours.

There is a high pitched saw. It sounds like a pressure saw or something screaming, said Franzen.

Franzen moved into the neighborhood more than a decade ago and says at least one of the concrete batch plants across Highway 5 predated the homes built nearby, but she says the operations have expanded and the work hours keep her up at night.

The noise level got worse and worse, waking you up in the middle of the night, said Franzen. The noise level was higher than it should have been. I dont know what decibels it was but I could hear it here in my bedroom.

NBC 5 reached out to the City of McKinney late last week. In a statement, it responded:

The City of McKinney notified the business mentioned in the initial complaint and the company voluntarily agreed to limit overnight noise and halt deliveries until after 6 a.m. We received another complaint this week against another business operating in the same area and will reach out to them in the same manner. Staff have taken initial noise readings near the businesses and have yet to find any violations of our noise ordinances. The city will conduct overnight noise readings to ensure the businesses are in compliance. Any businesses found in violation of our code will be issued a citation. Even if the city finds there are no noise violations, we will do our best to ensure all businesses are a good neighbor to our residents.

There are three concrete batch plants near the neighborhood.

One of the plants, Martin Marietta, told NBC 5 in an email:

Martin Marietta has NO crushing operation on site at our McKinney location. In addition, we operate our plant within the prescribed ordinances of the City of McKinney in regard to noise decibel levels. With that being said, we would welcome the opportunity to meet with our neighbors to answer questions they might have about our operations or company. We pride ourselves on being good neighbors in the communities in which we operate, and we are always looking for opportunities to improve those relationships.

NBC 5 was not able to reach management at another plant, CowTown Redi Mix.

A third plant, Lhoist North America, didnt return a voice message from NBC 5 last week.

Davis says shed simply like to hear more from the city about why overnight operations are allowed to continue within earshot of homes.

I don't know what's preventing them from speaking to us a little further, said Davis. It seems like this shouldn't be happening in a residential area.
In a one-on-one interview with NBC 5, Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Lupe Valdez acknowledges her campaign has taken a little time to get going but says there is "excitement and energy" everywhere she goes.

Fundraising and getting the staff and everything else. We had a slow start, but you know that does not affect me, said Valdez, the former Dallas County Sheriff.

Valdez's campaign has added consultants and a new campaign manager. Monday she announced that Bill Romjue, a longtime Democratic strategist who has worked on presidential campaigns, has the job.

Most recently, Romjue was part of U.S. Sen. Doug Jones' team that ousted Roy Moore in Alabama.

The University of Texas and Texas Tribune released a poll Monday showing Valdez with 43 percent of the vote to Andrew White's 24 percent. There are nine Democrats in the primary race.

Lupe Valdez sits with NBC 5 and discusses her run for Texas Governor.

Her main big-name opponent is White, a Houston businessman and son of late Texas Governor Mark White.

With $138,632 raised in the last fundraising period and $168,502.21 cash on hand, White is ahead of Valdez in the money department. On top of that, he loaned himself $1 million.

Valdez raised $43,529 in the last fundraising period and has $83,876.03 cash on hand.

White thinks his fundraising ability sets him apart from other Democrats in a field of nine challengers. We asked Valdez about that.

His having more funds does not affect me. This election is not going to be bought. Its going to be done by the grassroots folks and that is where we are at, Valdez added.

Andrew White, the son of the late Texas Gov. Mark White, talks about why he decided to run for governor.

When asked why voters should cast their ballots for her, Valdez said she's the "common people candidate" who has experience in politics, the latter White cannot claim. She added the top priority of her campaign will be education.

As to how she would get changes with a Republican House and Senate? Valdez she's got experience in that area too.



"You know, when I first came in, Dallas was totally Republican. I was the only Democrat that was working with them. You have to sit down at the table and bring in both sides, said Valdez.

NBC 5 also did an interview with Andrew White.

You can see that story here:

Andrew White, the son of the late Texas Gov. Mark White, talks about why he decided to run for governor.

The Texas primary election will be held March 6. Early voting in the primary begins Feb. 20 and runs until March 2. Primary runoffs, if needed, will be May 22. The general election is Nov. 6.


Hundreds of sign-carrying, chanting protesters converged on a downtown Los Angeles park Monday, demanding tougher background checks and other gun-safety measures following last week's deadly school shooting in Florida.

About 500 protesters gathered in LA's Pershing Square shortly before noon. Many chanted, "Ho, ho, hey, hey, our kids, not the NRA."

Others held signs proclaiming, "Our Children Are Counting On You."

Last week's shooting killed 17 people at Florida's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

The "People's Rally Against Gun Violence" was organized by activist groups Drain the NRA and Moms Demands Action, encouraging LA residents to join the protest via Facebook.

At the rally, activists and friends and family members affected by gun violence urged lawmakers to pass gun control legislation and refuse donations from the National Rifle Association.

"As long as the NRA has a stranglehold on our politicians...our politicians won't do anything about gun violence until we do something about them," shouted Laura Mannino, co-founder of Drain the NRA.

One of Monday's protesters, Samantha Dorf, said she supports the Second Amendment right to bear arms but believes stronger background checks for gun buyers are needed.

The mother of two and member of Moms Demand Action also wants to see tougher laws aimed at keeping guns out of the hands of children.
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When the U.S. government approved Ricardo Magpantay, his wife and young children to immigrate to America from the Philippines, it was 1991. By the time a visa was available, it was 2005, and his children couldn't come with him because they were now adults.

More than a decade later, his children are still waiting.

Magpantay gets worried when he hears the White House is aiming to limit the relatives that immigrants-turned-citizens can sponsor, a profound change to a fundamental piece of the American immigration system.

"It is really frustrating and it is very dreadful for me, because after a long wait, if this will be passed, what will happen for them?" said Magpantay, a 68-year-old mechanical engineer in the Southern California city of Murrieta. "I won't be able to bring them forever."

For the past 50-plus years, family reunification has been central to U.S. immigration law. Those who become naturalized citizens can bring spouses and minor children and petition for parents, adult children and siblings to get their own green cards and become Americans in their own right, with their own ability to sponsor.

Many on opposing sides of the immigration debate have long felt the family reunification system needs reform. Immigration advocates want a reassessment of the quotas on how many people can come from a given country in a given year, which has created decadeslong backlogs for citizens of some countries.

Self-described "restrictionists," including President Donald Trump, want a narrower, nuclear definition of family, making spouses and minor children the only relatives a citizen could sponsor. That's a central plank of the sweeping immigration overhaul Trump has proposed, a move that activists say could cut legal immigration in the U.S. by half.

Congress rejected competing bills last week meant to resolve the status of hundreds of thousands of young people brought to the U.S. illegally, including one plan that mirrored Trump's overall immigration proposal. The lack of resolution on an issue that was pivotal to Trump's election leaves it as potential tinderbox for the midterm congressional elections this fall.

In his State of the Union speech last month, Trump referenced an attempted bombing by a Bangladeshi immigrant in New York in December as proof of the need to curtail what he and others term "chain migration" in favor of a more skills-based system.

"This vital reform is necessary not just for our economy, but for our security and for the future of America," he said.

Trump is giving a spotlight to an idea that "was clearly out in the wilderness" in a policy sense, and something only its advocates were really talking about, said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, which has long pushed for limits on family sponsorships.

"He has forced issues to the forefront that need to be debated," Krikorian said.

Advocates of family reunification call the rhetoric around merit and skills a smoke screen.

"They're being disingenuous  their goal is to reduce immigration overall," said Anu Joshi, director of immigration policy at the New York Immigration Coalition. "This is just about cutting family, it's a family ban."

Prior to 1965, U.S. immigration was tightly controlled, with parts of the world all but ineligible and caps that ended up favoring immigrants from northern Europe.

Families of Italians and other Europeans pushed to change the law, resulting in a system that opened visas to all countries equally, with preferences for family reunification and, to a lesser extent, those with advanced skills or education.

At the time, politicians didn't think the changes would make a great deal of difference and that European immigrants would be the main beneficiaries. Instead, Asians and Latin Americans started coming and then were able to bring their parents and siblings.

Dividing the available visas equally among countries also had an unanticipated impact. In countries where the demand was higher, like China, India and the Philippines, the line has grown so long that it can take years for someone to get a green card.

That's a reality immigrants and their advocates wish more Americans knew, in the face of Trump's State of the Union assertion that "a single immigrant can bring in virtually unlimited numbers of distant relatives."

Jeff DeGuia, 28, recalled that it took his mother more than a decade to bring two sisters from the Philippines.

"There's definitely this idea you are not really complete without your huge family," said DeGuia, whose grandfather came to the United States for an engineering job in the 1970s. His family settled in Chicago, though he and his brother now live in Southern California.

"Your cousins are like your brothers and sisters, and your uncles and aunts are like second dads and second moms," he said.

Proposals to scale back the number of immigrants allowed into the country will end up dividing families and drive more people to enter the country illegally, making them vulnerable to exploitation, said Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights in Los Angeles.

Family immigration is also important, advocates said, because it signals immigrants' commitment to make America their home, not just take a job that lands them here. For years, relatives have helped newcomers integrate into society.

Royce Murray, policy director for the American Immigration Council in Washington, said immigrants bringing family to join them once they settle in the United States is the foundation of the country.

"The idea someone came before us and wanted to work hard and bring their family is actually a very unifying value, a very bipartisan value," she said. "Wanting to reunify families should be common ground, and we're struggling against this hostile branding to make it something that it's not."
The Florida Department of Children and Families released further details after a judge granted an order to unseal a confidential report into Parkland school shooting suspect Nikolas Cruzs past that details him cutting his arms on social media and stating his intention to buy a gun.

DCF released the details Monday night. The agency said its Adult Protective Services division was called on Sept. 28, 2016, to investigate allegations that he was being victimized by his mother.

DCF said it found "no indicators of abuse or neglect as alleged" after an investigation involving mental health counselors, school personnel and law enforcement who had contact with Cruz.

The department also said that Henderson Behavioral Health, an independent organization, told DCF that Cruz was receiving mental health treatment services and that he was taking medication.

DCF said it they received reports that Cruz did not own a firearm at the time, adding that Cruz lived with his mother and regularly attended school.

DCF is absolutely heartbroken and disgusted by last weeks tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Once we learned that the shooter had involvement with the agency in 2016, we immediately began the process of asking a court to release these records detailing DCFs only involvement with this person. We also conducted a thorough review to confirm that all processes and procedures were followed. In these investigations, DCF relies on the expertise of mental health professionals and law enforcement and these records show that DCF took the steps to involve these partners in investigating this alleged abuse. Cruz was receiving mental health services before, during, and after our investigation was closed, he was living with his mother, and attending school. Our focus will continue to be on working with our partners to best serve Floridas communities.

DCF emphasized that the investigation it carried out was "the only direct interaction DCF had with this individual."

The investigation was opened after Cruz argued with his mother, according to the report. Lynda Cruz, who died in November 2017, was concerned. Video was found of Cruz cutting his arms and posting about it on Snapchat.

The summary of the report shows DCF investigated Cruz, who had just turned 18, as a vulnerable adult due to mental illness." The report said he "...was on Snapchat cutting both of his arms, and had plans to go out and buy a gun."

According to the report, his mother said his behavior was the result of a breakup with a girl she said was cheating on Cruz.

The report also indicated that in 2015, Cruz had a book bag with hate signs including "I hate n----s."

According to the report, Cruz admitted to a counselor that he was feeling depressed. His mother had told investigators that he suffered from ADHD and autism.

The report also showed a crisis clinician from Henderson Mental Health determined Cruz was not a risk to himself or anyone else. No other referrals or services were needed, the Florida Department of Children and Families concluded.

After three months of investigating, the report was closed finding no indicators to support the allegations of inadequate supervision or medical neglect.

DCF petitioned for the full report to be released.

"We dont want to be the one party at the table, who looks like theyre hiding something or got something to hide, because we absolutely do not," attorney John Jackson, who is representing the Department of Children and Families, said at a hearing over the report.

A Broward County circuit court judge ruled the public has a right to know the details of the full investigation and ordered the documents be released after redacting the names of DCF workers.

Cruz, 19, is facing murder charges in last week's shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that claimed 17 lives.
The United States Military Academy Preparatory School accepted a Junior ROTC cadet who died valiantly in the Parkland school massacre Tuesday, on the same day his funeral was being held.

As loved ones awaited word on whether a petition for him to receive a military burial would garner enough signatures, West Point posthumously offered 15-year-old Peter Wang admission to the academy. Loved ones say Wang died a hero in his ROTC uniform, and his dream was to attend West Point and serve in the military.

Family and friends of Wang gathered at Kraeer Funeral Home in Coral Springs to say their final goodbyes to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student.

"For as long as we remember him, he is a hero," fellow student Jared Burns said.

Friends say Wang was holding a door open so other students could escape, sacrificing himself and getting shot repeatedly as he put others before himself.[[474189153, C]]

"He was like a brother to me and possibly one of the kindest people I ever met," friend Xi Chen said.

The USMA said in a statement that admitting Wang into the school was an appropriate way to "honor this brave young man."

"West Point has given posthumous offers of admissions in very rare instances for those candidates or potential candidate's whose actions exemplified the tenets of Duty, Honor and Country," the statement said.

A White House petition is calling on Congress to give Wang a proper, full honors military burial. The petition had received more than 56,000 signatures by Tuesday but still needs more than 40,000 signatures before it would get a response from the White House.

"His selfless and heroic actions have led to the survival of dozens in the area. Wang died a hero, and deserves to be treated as such, and deserves a full honors military burial," the petition reads.[[474553553, C]]

In a military funeral, tradition calls for the playing of "Taps" and the folding of the American flag.

"He died in uniform and he saved people's lives. He deserves to have a full military burial," friend and fellow JROTC member Victoria Downing said. "I want him to be remembered as a hero because thats exactly who he was."



Meanwhile, Gov. Rick Scott has ordered the Florida National Guard to honor Wang and the other two JROTC members killed in the shooting at their funerals this week.

It was also announced Tuesday that the three JROTC members would be given the Army Medal of Heroism, which will be presented to their families.
What to Know Broward County Public Defender Howard Finkelstein said there were so many warning signs that Cruz was unstable and potentially violent.

The prosecution will likely take years as BSO said Cruz confessed, and they have his AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, ammunition clips and video.

Officials have said he underwent unspecified treatment at a mental facility but quit after his mother died in November.

In a crowded Broward County courtroom Monday afternoon, suspected Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz sat quietly for most of the 20 minutes he was inside, saying a few words to his court appointed lawyers.

Cruz attended a status hearing as attorneys concerning the rules going forward of how documents would be sealed. Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer said she was in favor of openness whenever possible.

A second hearing was scheduled for later Monday over the possible release of records from the Department of Children and Families.



The evidence against Cruz is so overwhelming, the only question left for the courts if he is convicted is whether he will be sentenced to death or spend the rest of his life in prison.

The fate of the 19-year-old, who faces 17 counts of first-degree murder in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, will depend on his mental state and the wishes of the victims' families, which have a say in how the prosecution proceeds.

Broward County Public Defender Howard Finkelstein, whose office is representing Cruz, said there were so many warning signs that Cruz was mentally unstable and potentially violent that the death penalty might be going too far. Finkelstein said Cruz would likely plead guilty if prosecutors opt not to seek the death penalty.

"Because that's what this case is about. Not, did he do it? Not, should he go free? Should he live or should he die," Finkelstein said. "He will never see the light of day again, nor should he. But I know personally I am very upset and angry that we all failed to spot a problem and do anything as a result."

Michael J. Satz, the state attorney for Broward County, said Saturday in an email that, "This certainly is the type of case the death penalty was designed for." He called the slayings "absolutely horrific and tragic." However, he also said his office is working with law enforcement and will announce later what penalty it plans to seek.

The prosecution will likely take years. The sheriff's office said Cruz confessed, and they have his AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, ammunition clips and video from the school. The FBI also said Friday it had gotten a call from someone close to Cruz who expressed concern that he had "a desire to kill people" and "the potential" to conduct a school shooting.

FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement that the information was not properly investigated and promised to get to the bottom of it.

A major issue for the courts will be Cruz's mental state. Officials have said he underwent unspecified treatment at a mental facility but quit after his mother died in November. His father had died some years earlier. Without any living parents, he was taken in by a local family.

Cruz's attorney, Assistant Public Defender Melisa McNeill, told reporters after Cruz's initial court appearance that he had become unmoored from society and had no support network to lean on.

"When your brain is not fully developed, you don't know how to deal with these things," she said. "When you have the lack of impulse control that a 19-year-old has, that affects the behavior you exhibit."

McNeill also said of Cruz: "He's sad, he's mournful, he's remorseful. He's just a broken human being."

An initial decision will be whether Cruz is mentally competent to understand legal proceedings and assist in his own defense. Experts say it's a relatively high bar to clear to be declared incompetent and McNeill said Cruz is "fully aware of what is going on."

Cruz could try to plead innocent by reason of insanity, which also rarely works. James Holmes, the shooter who killed 12 people and wounded 70 in a Colorado movie theater in 2012, was convicted despite pleading insanity and was sentenced to life behind bars.

David Weinstein, a former federal prosecutor now in private practice, said the penalty phase of Cruz's case is likely to be where his background, family situation, mental condition and life history will play the biggest part. Even if he pleads guilty and prosecutors refuse to waive the death penalty, a jury must decide by a 12-0 vote that Cruz deserves to be executed.

The victims' families also have a legal right to participate in discussions over whether to seek the death penalty.

"I think among them there are many people who aren't going to want to go through this," Weinstein said. "That would save a lot of time and a lot of anguish for people. Some will say, 'we don't care, we want him put to death. An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' They will want retribution."
What to Know A hundred students are busing 400 miles to Florida's capital Tuesday to urge lawmakers to act to prevent a repeat of the massacre.

The students plan to hold a rally Wednesday in hopes that it will put pressure on the state's Republican-controlled Legislature.

Shortly after the shooting, several legislative leaders were taken on a tour of the school to see the damage first hand and appeared shaken.

Students who survived the deadly mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland last week are mobilizing with a message: never again.

"Not that we want to take people's gun's away, but we want to protect ourselves from the violent weapons of mass destruction that are not necessary in civilian life, said Emma Gonzalez, a senior at the school who made an impassioned speech this weekend at a Fort Lauderdale rally that went viral.

A hundred Stoneman Douglas High School students bused 400 miles to Florida's capital Tuesday to urge lawmakers to act to prevent a repeat of the massacre that killed 17 students and faculty last week. They reached their destination Tuesday night.

However, hours before the students reached Tallahassee, news disseminated that Florida's House voted down a motion to take up a bill that would ban assault rifles.

Im just absolutely mortified right now. Thats kind of just like a big screw you. They know that multiple kids are coming up to the state capitol just to talk to them. And theyre just not even considering the bill to stop things like this," student Daniel Bishop told MSNBC while aboard a capital-bound bus. "The NeverAgain hashtag has been going around and its like they dont even care that we dont want this to happen again. Why should anyone else have to live through this? I just dont understand.

The students plan to hold a rally Wednesday in hopes that it will put pressure on the state's Republican-controlled Legislature to consider a sweeping package of gun-control laws, something some GOP lawmakers said Monday they would consider. Shortly after the shooting, several legislative leaders were taken on a tour of the school to see the damage first hand and they appeared shaken afterward.

"We are going to make sure that this doesn't happen, Gonzalez said. We are going to be the people who decide this change. It's not going to be anybody else. It's not going to be people further down the line, it's going to be us."

Gonzalez and the others who escaped the same terror that killed so many others at their own school want tougher background checks. They want state laws that would stop someone like 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz from legally buying an automatic rifle.

"Its unbelievable and the fact that we are high school students of a generation that has grown up with this, I think that we dont' want to continue watching something we've grown up with all our lives." Said Jaclyn Corin, who organized the bus trip to Tallahassee.

Other classmates agree the time is now, and the opportunity is unique.

"I really think they are going to hear us out," said Chris Grady, a 19-year-old senior who is going on the trip. He said he hopes the trip will lead to some "commonsense laws like rigorous background checks."

While students will be traveling, those from other schools are making their voices heard as well - with protests Tuesday in front of two Broward County school and a mass walkout from a high school in Boca Raton, where students and staff walked 11 miles to the site of last week's tragedy.

The attack last Wednesday seemed to overcome the resistance of some in the state's leadership, which has rebuffed gun restrictions since Republicans took control of both the governor's office and the Legislature in 1999. However, there is still strong resistance by many in the party to any gun-control measures, leaving the fate of new restrictions unclear.

"We're high schoolers, we're the age where we think we know everything and we can speak up. Sandy Hook, that was little kids," said junior Cameron Kasky, who has been a vocal presence at rallies and protests since the shooting. "We're going to start at a state level and move our way up, and just hopefully change the way this nation functions."

Students also have vowed to exert pressure on Congress as the aftermath of the rampage resonates beyond Florida and from coast to coast. Hundreds of chanting protesters converged Monday on a downtown Los Angeles park, demanding tougher background checks and other gun-safety measures after the shooting. Some signs held up by the California demonstrators read, "Your Children Are Counting On You."

Sen. Bill Galvano, a Republican and the incoming Florida senate president, said the state Senate was preparing a package that would include raising the age to purchase any firearm to 21, creating a waiting period for purchasing any type of firearm, banning bump stocks that can allow semi-automatic guns to spray bullets quickly and creating gun-violence restraining orders.

Authorities said suspect Nikolas Cruz, 19, had a string of run-ins with school authorities that ended with his expulsion. Police also were repeatedly called to his house throughout his childhood. Cruz's lawyers said there were repeated warning signs that he was mentally unstable and potentially violent. Yet he legally purchased a semi-automatic rifle.

"We need to make sure everything is working and to learn from the experience," said Galvano, who was among those who visited the school.

The Senate is also considering boosting spending on mental health programs for schools and giving law-enforcement greater power to involuntarily hold someone considered a danger to themselves. The body will also look at a proposal to deputize a teacher or someone else at school so they are authorized to have a gun.

Galvano said senators want to examine ways to protect schools that do not have resource officers  often armed law enforcement officers  on site.

State House leaders and Gov. Rick Scott also are considering possible changes to firearms rules but have not given any details. Scott planned meetings Tuesday on school safety, and said he would announce proposals on mental health issues later in the week.

Still, some Republicans questioned whether additional gun restrictions are the answer.

"I really don't want to see this politicized into a gun debate," Republican Sen. Dennis Baxley.

Referring to gun-control advocates, he said: "Sometimes I wish they were right, that this would fix it, but it won't ... We have a terrible problem with obesity, but we're not banning forks and spoons."

Democrats believe raising the age limit and creating a waiting period to buy rifles isn't enough.

"That's unacceptable. That's a joke," said Democratic Sen. Gary Farmer of Broward County. "I don't see that as a restriction. It never should have been that an 18-year-old could buy an assault weapon. No Floridians should be able to buy an assault weapon."

Cruz legally purchased at least seven long guns, including an AK-47-style rifle he bought less than a month ago, a law enforcement official said Monday. The official is familiar with the investigation but isn't authorized to discuss it and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Federal law allows those 18 and over to buy rifles, and Cruz passed background checks necessary to obtain the weapons.

Cruz made his first appearance in court Monday. Wearing a prison jumpsuit, he kept his head down and did not appear to make eye contact with the judge or others in the courtroom, though he responded briefly to someone on the defense team. A previous appearance was by a video connection from jail.

His lawyers have said he will plead guilty if prosecutors agree not to pursue the death penalty. No decision has been made on that.

Since the attack, students from the school have become increasingly vocal in their demands for gun-control measures. Many have pointed out politicians who take financial support from the National Rifle Association, and some have lashed out at President Donald Trump, saying he was busy blaming Democrats for failing to pass gun restrictions while taking no action of his own.

After staying largely mum in the last few days about the massacre and the escalating debate about weapons, Trump said Monday that he was supportive of a bipartisan effort to strengthen federal background checks for gun purchases.

Students are also calling for anti-gun violence demonstrations in Washington and other cities March 24.

Organizers behind the anti-Trump Women's March called for a 17-minute nationwide walkout by teachers and students on March 14, and a gun-control group was calling for a rally to ban assault weapons Wednesday at the Florida Capitol.
What to Know Coldilocks was born at Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, New York, on Dec. 13, 1980, and moved to Philly less than a year later

She was euthanized on Monday at the age of 37, outliving the average lifespan of a polar bear (23 years) by 14 years

The zoo's COO, Dr. Andy Baker, said the zoo was deeply saddened by Coldilocks' death and that she would be greatly missed

Coldilocks, the New York-born bruin who lived to become the oldest polar bear in the United States, has died at the Philadelphia Zoo. She was 37 years old.

The zoo said Tuesday it euthanized the beloved bear a day earlier because of a recent serious age-related decline in her health.

Coldilocks was born on Dec. 13, 1980 at Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, New York, and moved to the Philadelphia Zoo less than a year later. There she became a cherished attraction, and outlived the average lifespan of a polar bear (23 years) by 14 years, the zoo said.



[PHI] Coldilocks the Polar Bear Celebrates Birthday With Snow

"Making the decision to euthanize an animal is never easy, especially one as beloved as Coldilocks, but after observing her the past week and examining her on Monday morning under anesthesia, they reached a consensus that euthanasia was the most humane option," the zoo's statement said.



The zoo's chief operating officer, Dr. Andy Baker, said the zoo was deeply saddened by Coldilocks' death and that the bear would be greatly missed.

[NATL] Unbelievable Animal Stories: Dog Befriends Abandoned Baby Giraffe
A smoky odor and a disabled Amtrak train caused delays in and out of New York Penn Station Tuesday morning.

The FDNY said it was investigating an odor of smoke on a train at the station. Multiple commuters took to social media to report being delayed getting into the station, and train conductors blaming the smoke condition.

NJ Transit said there were 30-minute delays in and out of Penn "due to a disabled Amtrak train east of Penn Station New York." It was not immediately clear if the disabled train and the train with the smoke condition were the same.

This is a developing story.
As crews work to repair an ancient artifact damaged during an Ugly Sweater Party inside a Philadelphia museum, Chinese authorities are calling for the accused thief who allegedly took the thumb home with him to be severely punished.

Federal authorities say a Delaware man snapped a selfie before stealing part of a $4.5 million Terracotta Warrior statue on display at the Franklin Institute.

According to an arrest affidavit filed Friday, 24-year-old Michael Rohana was attending a 21-and-over Ugly Sweater Party at the museum on Dec. 21 when he entered the "Terracotta Warriors of the First Emperor" exhibit, which was closed.

Rohana took photos while posing next to a statue, known as The Cavalryman, which is on temporary loan from China, authorities said. He then snapped off the statues left thumb and put the thumb in his pocket, authorities said.

Museum staff noticed the missing thumb Jan. 8, and the FBI traced it to Rohana five days later. While interviewing Rohana in his Bear, Delaware home, the FBI recovered the missing thumb in a bedroom drawer, according to the federal court filing.

The theft drew ire back in China.

The Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Center, which loaned the artifacts, strongly condemned the vandalism," according to Chinese government-run news agency CGTN. They called on American authorities to severely punish the suspect.

Though valued in the millions, the true value of the warrior statue is hard to determine.

"You cannot put a monetary value on something like the Terracotta Warriors," Southwestern University Asian art history associate professor Allison Miller told NBC News. "They were only produced at one time in history. And, once they are destroyed, there is nothing that can replace them."

A museum spokeswoman says the statue will be repaired. She says a security contractor did not follow standard procedures the night of the alleged theft.

No trespassing signs are posted at Rohana's home. He has been appointed a federal public defender and has been ordered by a judge to surrender his passport to the court no later than February 23. While Rohana has been brought in on a warrant only, the case has not yet been indicted.


On Monday, Pennsylvania's Supreme Court issued a new congressional map. The decision has generated a lot of questions from voters who wonder how we got into this mess and what it means for the ballot. We tried to answer some of those questions below.

What is a congressional district?

To understand a congressional district, first we have to understand the House of Representatives. It currently comprises 435 members who each serve two-year terms. The current number of representatives was set by Congress in 1911 and has been in effect since 1913.

The number of representatives in each state is based on the population of that state, determined every 10 years by the U.S. Census. Pennsylvania has 18 districts and, therefore, 18 representatives.

The constitution did not offer guidance on how representatives should be elected. That came later. An apportionment act of 1842 stated that representatives "should be elected by districts composed of contiguous territory equal in number to the number of representatives to which said state may be entitled, no one district electing more than one representative."

What is gerrymandering?

It refers to the practice of drawing districts with the intention of giving one political party an advantage over another. The word gerrymander originated in 1812 when former Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry did just that. The result was a district that looked like a salamander.

Pennsylvanias infamously gerrymandered districts are not much better. Check out the area dubbed Goofy Kicking Donald Duck. Formerly the 7th district, it includes portions of Delaware, Chester, Montgomery, Berks and Lancaster counties and is represented by Republican Rep. Pat Meehan. His seat is now up for grabs.

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FYI, Gerrymandering is not illegal. Both major political parties have used it for their own gains.

How did we get here?

In Pennsylvania, districts are drawn by a committee comprising two Democrats, two Republicans and a fifth person selected by the other four members. If the two parties cannot agree, the state supreme court will appoint the fifth chair. Once a map is drawn, the state legislator votes on it and then the governor signs off.

This means that whichever party holds more seats and the governors office controls the fate of congressional districts.

The current brouhaha in Pennsylvania can be traced to the 2010 elections when Republicans gained a five-seat majority and the governors seat. They redrew congressional districts, unveiled them in 2011 and the map was approved along party lines. Only Republican Rep. Mike Folmer voted against it, saying at the time it was a clear-cut case of politicians picking their voters in order to prevent voters from having a meaningful opportunity to pick their elected officials."

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Fast toward to present day. With the midterm elections just one year away, Democrats mounted an attack against the 2011 map, which they claimed gave Republicans an unfair advantage. The League of Women Voters sued in June 2017 and won.

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Last month, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that district boundaries unconstitutionally put partisan interests above neutral line-drawing criteria, such as keeping districts compact and eliminating municipal and county divisions.

It's the first time a state court threw out congressional boundaries in a partisan gerrymandering case.

"It remedies the outrageous gerrymander of 2011, and that's the important thing, that the gerrymander be over," said David Landau, the Democratic Party chairman of Delaware County. "All that zigging and zagging is all gone, and it makes Delaware County a competitive seat now."

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How were the new districts drawn?

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court used independent map experts from around the country to create the new version. They followed county lines more closely and kept urban and rural communities together rather than separating them, like the previous map did.

How does this affect me?

If you live in the Philadelphia suburbs, you likely live in a new district and will be voting on new representatives later this year. Residents of the former Goofy Kicking Donald Duck district should pay special attention to the new boundaries (see above).

The Pennsylvania Department of State is already making the necessary steps to implement the new map in time for the upcoming elections.

Over the next few days, additional information will be provided with updated election information.

Voters will not see any changes in individual polling places and these changes do not in any way affect voters polling places, Secretary of State Robert Torres said. Nor will there be any change in the rules in effect at polling places.

The department will release spreadsheets for voters to check the updated congressional districts and better see new boundaries.



Whats at stake?

The map of Pennsylvania's 18 congressional districts is to be in effect for the May 15 primary.

Most significantly, the new map gives Democrats a better shot at winning a couple more seats, particularly in Philadelphia's heavily populated and moderate suburbs.

The new map repackages districts that had been stretched nearly halfway across Pennsylvania and reunifies Democratic-heavy cities that had been split by Republican map drawers.

Meanwhile, sitting congressmen, dozens of would-be candidates and millions of voters must sort out which district they live in barely a month before the candidates' deadline to submit paperwork to run.

Some races are wide open: There are six incumbents elected in 2016 not running again, the most in four decades. The new map also has immediate implications for some incumbents.

Republican Rep. Ryan Costello, whose suburban Philadelphia district was narrowly won by Hillary Clinton in 2016, is in even more dire straits now that his district adds the heavily Democratic city of Reading.

The map also removes the heart of one district from Philadelphia, where a crowd of candidates had assembled to replace the retiring Democratic Rep. Bob Brady, and moves it to suburban Montgomery County.

The new map does not apply to the March 13 special congressional election in the 18th District to fill the remaining 10 months in the term of former Republican Rep. Tim Murphy, who resigned amid an abortion scandal. But the winner will have a short stay in the seat unless they move: the court's map puts both candidates' homes in districts with a Pittsburgh-area incumbent.

Now what?

Republicans were quick to make their own declaration Tuesday and announced they will be suing in federal court later this week.

But Republicans appear to face an uphill battle in federal court.

Michael Morley, a constitutional law professor at Barry University in Florida, said federal courts are normally reluctant to undo a state court decision.

"I think it will be a major obstacle and a major challenge to get around it," Morley said.

Are there any alternatives to this legal mess?

Fair District PA has two measures - House Bill 722 and Senate Bill 22- in committee that would replace the current system. Instead of party leaders drawing congressional maps, a bipartisan, independent citizen committee would determine districts. California, Arizona and several other states have similar systems in place.
Less than 24 hours after Pennsylvanias high court issued a new congressional map, state Republicans countered with a statement of their own.

Party leaders will sue in federal court as early as Wednesday to prevent the new map from taking effect.

The suit will highlight the state supreme courts rushed decision that created chaos, confusion and unnecessary expense in the 2018 election cycle, National Republican Congressional Committee Communications Director Matt Gorman said in a statement.

The partisan move was expected by those monitoring the political horse-trading that has come to define Pennsylvanias districts.

President Donald Trump also wasted no time weighing in on the new map, calling on Pennsylvania Republicans to "challenge the new 'pushed' Congressional map, all the way to the Supreme Court, if necessary. Your Original was correct!"



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See the new and old maps below:

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Mark Harris, a Pittsburgh-based GOP campaign consultant, was one of many Republicans bashing the new map.

"It's a straight Democratic gerrymander by a Democratic Supreme Court to help Democrats," Harris said.

Independent analysts said the map should improve Democratic prospects while still favoring Republicans as a whole. An analysis conducted through PlanScore.org concluded the court's redrawn map eliminates "much of the partisan skew" favoring Republicans on the old Republican-drawn map, although not all of it.
When you think of airports in the Los Angeles area, LAX and Burbank come to mind. You might not realize there's an airport in Compton.

Kimberly Anyadike, from nearby Inglewood, made history at the Comtpon airport years ago. Now she volunteers her time at the same airport, helping the next generation realize they can do anything they dream.

"When I was 15 years old, I set a world record by becoming the youngest person to fly a plane across the country, from Compton, California, to Newport News, Virginia, and back," Anyadike shared with a group of middle school students. "There's going to be a lot of people who have stereotypes about you, but you can't focus on that."

Joining her on that historic journey in 2009 was 86-year-old Tuskegee legend Maj. Levi Thornhill.

"I was in essence flying with history. It's said that we stand on the shoulders of our ancestors, and he was literally in the plane with me. It meant so much," Anyadike said.

Together they landed in 23 cities in 13 days, celebrating the groundbreaking accomplishments of the African American pilots who bravely flew in World War II.

"Landing at that field in Tuskegee, Alabama, was such an emotional experience for me. Imagine your parents being told that they couldn't do something, and imagine 20 years later being afforded the opportunity to do the exact same thing. It's really powerful," Anyadike said.

She is now a UCLA graduate preparing for her medical school entrance exams, but she frequently volunteers at Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum in Compton and teaches at Charles Drew Academy, a place she fed her own passion for science and technology when she was younger.

She loves her community, but admits, when she was a girl, she felt ashamed of growing up in Inglewood.

"But what I've learned and what I've embraced is that success for me is going to mean returning to my community and contributing to the effort of helping these communities change," Anyadike said.

And the support she's received at the airport reaches far beyond just learning to fly.

Museum founder Robin Petgrave is committed to helping Anyadike reach her lifelong goal of becoming a neurosurgeon, awarding her a $15,000 scholarship to help her pay for her medical school applications.

Setting lofty goals and exceeding them is something she is now paying forward.

"I feel like you're more compelled to make big strides in life, and bigger goals and bigger dreams when you see people who look like you accomplishing great things," Anyadike said.
There is no Harvard study that says a British children's television cartoon causes autism, despite what a social media post claims. In fact, there's at least one peer-reviewed study that hints that a children's television show may help autistic kids.

The post on the newsely site, and others that have circulated in recent months, claims that a group of Harvard experts did a study that revealed Peppa Pig "is one of the main causes of autism among children. The piece describes other complaints about the British animated series and does not name the authors of the so-called study or where it was published.

That's because it doesn't exist, autism experts said. The study could not be found on any database of scientific studies. Three leading autism researchers called it false. The chairman of the Harvard psychology department said he knows of no such study.

"This is fake," said autism researcher Dr. Matthew State, chairman of the psychiatry department at the University of California San Francisco and chairman of the scientific advisory board at the Autism Science Foundation. State says it goes back to an old study by three economists -- none from Harvard -- that uses the Bureau of Labor Statistics' American Time Use Survey to find a vague link between autism, cable television watching and rates of rain and snow in the 1970s and 1980s.

That economics research paper, which isn't a full scientific study was ridiculed for "bad association methodology," State said. "Bottom line is there is no credible scientific evidence that television watching increases the risk of autism."

But when autism researcher Dr. Susan Hyman, a professor of behavioral pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center, searched the scientific literature, she found one relevant study in the journal Behavior Analysis in Practice. That 2017 study of only two autistic five-year-olds found that their behavior improved after watching the PBS children's show Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. It's only two boys so that's not enough to make conclusions from.

So what does cause autism?

Scientists are still researching that with most -- but not all -- of the causes found so far being genetic. Other environmental causes include the age of the parents, State said.
Neighbors of a couple found dead in a home in Vista Sunday say the two victims were retired teachers and were "really friendly People."

A man and a woman were found on the 800 block of Warmlands Avenue Sunday afternoon shortly after 1 p.m.

The victims were identified Tuesday as 76-year-old Alfredo Astorga and 69-year-old Della Astorga.

Deputies say the couple's son called 911 before 1 p.m. Sunday to report a shooting inside the home where the three lived. A gun was found near the bodies.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSO) confirmed Tuesday the couple died in a murder-suicide. Investigators said Della died from homicidal gunshot wounds and Alfredo from suicidal gunshot wounds.

As the investigation continued Monday, friends and family were seen dropping off flowers at the home and paying their respects to the couple.

"I feel really bad and sad. It's sad to me to know he won't be here anymore," neighbor Edgar Rodriguez said. He's known the couple for 16 years. "And especially the way that happened, that's so bad."

Rodriques said that just a few hours before the incident, he and the male victim were talking about a trip to Cuba the couple had planned.
Teenagers from coast to coast are calling on Congress to take action on the issue of gun control.

Monday outside the White House, dozens of students spread their bodies across the pavement in a silent, but powerful, demonstration to symbolize the dead and call for tougher gun regulations.

In Plantation, Florida, more than 200 students gathered outside American Heritage School in a show of solidarity with the students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where last week a deadly shooting claimed the lives of 17 people.

And in Downtown Los Angeles, a huge crowd gathered to say, enough is enough.

Several marches and rallies aimed at making a difference will be held in San Diego in the coming weeks.

On March 14, students, teachers, administrators and parents are invited to gather at the San Diego Unified Board of Education office on Normal Street to take part in a national walkout. And on March 24, the March For Our Lives will be held in cities across the nation, including here in San Diego.

Its a message Abby Kim, a seventh-grader at Reformation Lutheran School in Clairemont, said needs to be heard.

They can stop this, Kim said.

Kim said she is concerned about all of the recent school shootings, and said each one of us can take action to make a change.

"If your friend is someone who has problems and they're just having really dark thoughts, I think there is something you can do. You can just ask - how is everything, and you can make some sort of difference, Kim said.
For most people, it's now habit to check out what other customers are saying before making a purchase, but the News4 I-Team found a whole industry of fake online reviews designed to deceive. They can be not only misleading, but damaging.

Industry estimates show 80 percent of customers read reviews posted on Yelp, Google or Amazon.

But how do you know that glowing five-star favorite is from someone who really used the product? Or that the woeful one-star review isn't from a conniving competitor?

"I usually read them. I'm terrible about doing them," Erik Thomas told the I-Team.

Jodie Fleischer/NBCWashington

But you wouldn't know that based on several reviews we found online, including an insurance company in Colorado, a towing company in Georgia, a locksmith in Washington, D.C.  all of them featured Thomas' picture with the reviewer's name listed as Albert Morrison.

"I don't even know what they do," said Thomas of the variety of companies reviewed.

Jodie Fleischer/NBCWashington

One of the five-star reviews featuring Thomas' photo recommended the Law Office of Robert Anderson in Leesburg, touting the attorney's skills in a DWI case. Thomas has never even been to Leesburg; he's a former actor living in Los Angeles.

"It really bothers me. It does feel like a violation of my character," Thomas said.

Robert Anderson is a former chief prosecutor for Loudoun County and told the I-Team his law office does not monitor its online Google reviews. He said he had no idea where that post came from and that he's never had a client named Albert Morrison.

Anderson's law firm has two additional five-star Google reviews with photos included. The I-Team was able to locate one of those pictures on a website for free stock photos, and the other is a fashion model. Anderson confirmed the names associated with those posts were never clients.

Jason Brown has outed thousands of businesses with suspicious reviews on his website, www.reviewfraud.org, including hundreds in the Washington, D.C., area.

"I'd say billions of people are being tricked by these reviews," said Brown, who's made it his mission to warn customers.

"I laugh at the absurdity of some reviews I find," said Brown.

Like the five-star reviews he spotted for Virginia Beach Movers and Movers Norfolk posted by Larry Korey. The picture the reviewer used is Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan!

Hogan's office assured the I-Team "the governor is not writing vendor reviews on the internet in his spare time."

But the I-Team found out who did.

A Review-Writing Racket

Both moving companies are managed by the same guy, who said it was a Ukranian advertising agency they hired a few months ago that actually posted the fake reviews  without the company's knowledge.

After News4 asked about them, those reviews were deleted.

Brown said that's not unusual. There's a thriving online market selling positive reviews here in the U.S. and overseas.

The I-Team easily found Craigslist ads around the country from individuals offering to write and post fake reviews for a price.

One fake reviewer wrote, "Just send me a link to your business or the name and location, and a brief description of what you want me to say. After review is posted, just send 20 dollars."

Another wrote, "For paid 5-star reviews, I don't have to visit the business... I 'check in' via the app and post a positive review."

The I-Team even found a company based in Asia with an online YouTube video advertising its business of "a network of accounts in all major cities that can help boost your ratings by posting positive reviews." It offers package deals ranging from $50 to $120.

The News4 I-Team found a whole industry of fake online reviews designed to deceive. They can be not only misleading, but damaging. News4's Jodie Fleischer reports.

The Federal Trade Commission knows it's a big problem and brings action against companies to make them stop.

"Fake reviews are illegal. So, to buy or to sell a review that's fake is illegal," said Mary Engle, associate director of the FTC's Division of Advertising Practices.

Engle admits that policing companies operating overseas is a challenge.

"We always think of ourselves as traffic cops who are trying to keep the worst violators off the roads, knowing that we're never going to prevent all speeding," said Engle.

The FTC said another problem is reviewers who don't disclose that they get the product for free or are paid to review it.

Google and Yelp told the I-Team they're trying to do their part, using automated systems to detect fraud.

Yelp admits about 20 percent of reviews submitted are questionable and allows users to flag them.

Brown has some advice for savvy shoppers.

"Check different platforms," he said. "See what they say on Google. See what they say on the Better Business Bureau too. See what they say on Facebook and on Yelp."

The FTC says you should be wary when lots of similar reviews are posted at once, when a reviewer has posted touting companies in multiple states, and it never hurts to run a Google-Image search for that profile pic if you doubt a review is real.

"It does kind of concern me a little bit that somebody is out there saying I got a DWI," said Erik Thomas, who had never seen the law office review until the I-Team showed it to him. "It just reinforces the notion that you can't really trust anything online sometimes."

The News4 I-Team reviewed online reviews and uncovered an industry designed to deceive customers. Investigative reporter Jodie Fleischer explains what you need to know before you buy.

It's (Not) Written in the Stars

A Maryland company called Furniture Assembly Experts has plenty of five-star reviews posted online, touting an "excellent job," a customer that was "very pleased," and describing the service as "professional and efficient."

But Diane DeBernardo said that wasn't the experience she had with the company.

"I just don't think this company is good enough to get a five-star review from anybody," said DeBernardo.

She posted a scathing one-star review after she says the company kept her waiting for weeks to finish assembling the shed in her backyard.

"And they never came," said DeBernardo. "They were so terrible ... and then I had trouble getting my money back."

Jodie Fleischer/NBCWashington

Colin Dorrity also posted a one-star review after hiring the same company to construct his patio set.

"My entire afternoon Friday was wasted and a good chunk of my day Saturday was wasted," Dorrity told the I-Team.

He said he had to call the company at least 10 times.

"At one point when I had the woman on the phone she said the technician is pulling into your driveway right now. What's interesting is, I don't have a driveway," recounted Dorrity.

He calls it some of the worst customer service he's ever experienced, and being an avid reader of reviews, he decided to post his experience on Amazon, Yelp and Google to warn other potential customers.

But when he looked at the other glowing reviews that were already posted, he became suspicious.

"There'd be a one-star review and then a pattern of several five-star reviews," said Dorrity.

The Federal Trade Commission says that's a red flag for fake reviews, which are illegal.

"If you see a lot of reviews posted for a product at the same time, it's highly unlikely that that occurred naturally," said the FTC's Engle. "Another possibility might be if someone's reviewing a local establishment and their address is far from there."

It is illegal to post reviews that are misleading, fake or don't disclose a relationship between the customer and the business.

The Pic Is Worth a Thousand Words

The FTC says the reviewer's profile picture can be another tip-off.

One of Furniture Assembly Experts' five-star reviewers, Michael Snow, raved about the company writing, "I greatly appreciate the excellent work." The photo attached to the review is actually filmmaker Morgan Spurlock.

Another five-star reviewer, Seema Patel, posted "money well spent." The woman pictured in that review is actually from South Asia, and has a different name.

Then there's Arjun Patel, a five-star reviewer who was very happy with how his bunk beds turned out.

But the picture he used is of first son Barron Trump.

The I-Team asked the White House about the review but got no comment on whether there are new beds at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Furniture Assembly Experts is one of the companies Jason Brown has listed on his website, which tracks companies from around the country with fake reviews.

"When people are falsifying these reviews, they're taking advantage of people," said Brown.

He said some businesses pay for positive reviews, mainly from companies overseas.

"I think predominately they're being generated in India," said Brown.

So, the I-Team reached out to the man in charge of Furniture Assembly Experts to see what he knew about his company's online reviews.

A Song and a Dance

Dave Song initially told us by phone he doesn't look at them, doesn't think they're accurate and had no idea why someone would post a fake review raving about his company.

But after agreeing to do an interview, Song stopped returning our calls, so the I-Team paid him a visit and found him hard at work outside his office in Lanham.

When the I-Team approached offering the man a chance to explain the suspicious reviews promoting his business, he replied, "Have a good day. I don't know who you're looking for."

He denied even being Dave Song, but after peeling away in his Mercedes, an employee inside confirmed to an I-Team producer he was the right guy.

But the I-Team found, there is one type of review Dave Song cares about.

"Someone from the company called me back in the evening and said, 'We will refund all of your money if you take the Amazon review down," said Dorrity.

On Amazon Services, only verified customers can write reviews, so they're harder to influence.

Dorrity says once a worker finally showed up, two days late, he did a good job assembling the patio furniture.

"And there was an apology as well, which I appreciated," added Dorrity.

On the phone, Song told the I-Team he does sometimes offer refunds to customers who remove bad Amazon reviews  a sign of just how important they are for companies and customers.

The FTC recommends that consumers who rely on reviews should look for specific details about the user experience or quality of a product when weighing consideration of a review.

"I consider myself a healthy skeptic," said Dorrity. "But I do still put stock in reviews."

Reported by Jodie Fleischer, produced by Rick Yarborough, and shot and edited by Steve Jones and Jeff Piper.
As a number of Laurel, Maryland, residents continue to go without heat or hot water service for going on five days, the city says the problem should be resolved soon.

Almost 300 Laurel residents have had their gas restored after a Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) outage left 400 people without hot water and heat starting last Thursday.

The gas company hopes to fully restore service by Tuesday evening, Laurel spokeswoman Audrey Barnes said in an email. Some isolated cases could take a few more days to fix.

The outage began Thursday night when a water main broke and flooded a network of gas pipes that serve several blocks.

The city opened a community center for two hours Sunday so residents could warm up and take hot showers. The center remains open to residents.

"It is a little bit rough, but we've been managing," one resident told News4. "We've been having to go out and buy heaters. Electric heaters."

Space heaters have been cleared off the shelves in nearby stores, residents told News4.

About 22 customers near 8th Street and Gorman Avenue had their service restored quickly, Laurel Mayor Craig Moe said in a statement. But 401 others had to wait days.

BGE said they restored gas for 44 customers Sunday night, and on Monday it made repairs to more than half of the damaged gas mains, which serve about half of the customers who were affected. As of Tuesday morning, 289 people had their gas service restored.

Crews were forced to find the water main break, stop the flow of water and visit each customer to turn off their gas meters, BGE said. Gas lines packed with mud and debris needed to be cleaned or replaced entirely.

Some customers may be forced to replace their own pipes and appliances if they got waterlogged, BGE said. Residents would have to pay for their own plumbers.

"Not too happy about that," one resident told News4. "My neighbor said something about that could be a class action suit."

If you are in the area and smell gas, move to a safe location and call your utility company, BGE said.
The 18-year-old accused of taking a loaded gun to his high school in Montgomery County, Maryland, had a cache of weapons at home, including an AR-15-style rifle, and a list of grievances, prosecutors say.

Alwin Chen appeared in court Tuesday after Montgomery County police say he took a handgun to Clarksburg High School on Thursday, the day after the Florida high school shooting that left 17 people dead.

A judge ordered Chen, of Germantown, held without bond, and ordered he undergo a mental health evaluation.

Prosecutors say the following items were found in Chen's home: an AR-15-style rifle, a Glock pistol, a revolver, a detonator, a replica of an inert hand grenade and a tactical vest.

It's unclear who owns the guns, but police say there was no indication the guns belong to anyone who lives outside Chen's home.

Also, a list of grievances was found in the home, prosecutors say.

"He had written down a list of grievances and reasons he brought the gun to school with him," Montgomery County State's Attorney John McCarthy said.

Police reviewed Chen's journal and said there were no explicit threats or expression of a desire to harm anyone at the school.

County police are still working to determine Chen's motive for allegedly taking the gun to school. They said that while they did seize Chen's journal, it did not contain any specific threat.

"There is no wording regarding any threat nor any expression of wanting to cause harm to anyone at the school in his journal," police said in a statement.

One of Chen's lawyers, David Felsen, said Chen did not have access to weapons in his home, and that he did not pose a threat.

"We presented documents that Mr. Chen is a scholarship-worthy student, that even his principal said he does not present a danger," Felsen said.

He was arrested after a school resource officer received information about 2 p.m. Thursday that he might have a weapon, police said.

The officer pulled Chen out of class and asked him if he had a weapon. Chen then said he had a handgun in his book bag and knife in his front shirt pocket, police said.

The officer took the knife and loaded 9mm handgun and arrested Chen. 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.

Prosecutors say Chen initially said he took the gun to school for target practice after school, but that he then changed his story.

Police say Chen said he felt anxious about social interactions with his classmates.

Prosecutors say Chen had previously taken a gun to school. A Montgomery County Public Schools representative said school officials were unaware of any report that Chen had taken a gun onto school property.

Anyone with information for police is asked to call 240-773-6400.
Russian officials had disdainful words Saturday for a U.S. indictment that charged 13 Russians with interfering in the 2016 presidential election. Children's 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 Trump's election. Repeated denials and hope that the intrigue would fade away have been Moscow's 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 Russia's 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 "Putin's 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 children's statements," Andrei Kutskikh, Putin's 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. I'm sorry for this expression."

At the same conference, the former Russian ambassador to Washington, Sergei Kislyak reprised Moscow's 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 Russia's 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 Washington's envoy for the Ukrainian peace process. His United Nations ambassador, Nikki Haley, declared that the Crimea sanctions wouldn't 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 president's administration released a list of Russia's 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 Moscow's 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 Russia's hope that detente will flower before Trump's term ends in 2020. Andrei Zakharov, a journalist for Russia's 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 don't 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 didn't 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.
A hundred Stoneman Douglas High School students are busing 400 miles to Florida's capital Tuesday afternoon to urge lawmakers to act to prevent a repeat of the massacre that killed 17 students and faculty last week.

The students, who will be leaving Coral Springs around 1 p.m., plan to hold a rally Wednesday in hopes that it will put pressure on the state's Republican-controlled Legislature to consider a sweeping package of gun-control laws, something some GOP lawmakers said Monday they would consider. Shortly after the shooting, several legislative leaders were taken on a tour of the school to see the damage firsthand and they appeared shaken afterward.

"I really think they are going to hear us out," said Chris Grady, a 19-year-old senior who is going on the trip. He said he hopes the trip will lead to some "commonsense laws like rigorous background checks."

The attack last Wednesday seemed to overcome the resistance of some in the state's leadership, which has rebuffed gun restrictions since Republicans took control of both the governor's office and the Legislature in 1999. However, there is still strong resistance by many in the party to any gun-control measures, leaving the fate of new restrictions unclear.

Students also have vowed to exert pressure on Congress as the aftermath of the rampage resonates beyond Florida and from coast to coast. Hundreds of chanting protesters converged Monday on a downtown Los Angeles park, demanding tougher background checks and other gun-safety measures after the shooting. Some signs held up by the California demonstrators read, "Your Children Are Counting On You."

Sen. Bill Galvano, a Republican and the incoming Florida senate president, said the state Senate was preparing a package that would include raising the age to purchase any firearm to 21, creating a waiting period for purchasing any type of firearm, banning bump stocks that can allow semi-automatic guns to spray bullets quickly and creating gun-violence restraining orders.

Authorities said suspect Nikolas Cruz, 19, had a string of run-ins with school authorities that ended with his expulsion. Police also were repeatedly called to his house throughout his childhood. Cruz's lawyers said there were repeated warning signs that he was mentally unstable and potentially violent. Yet he legally purchased a semi-automatic rifle.

"We need to make sure everything is working and to learn from the experience," said Galvano, who was among those who visited the school.

The Senate is also considering boosting spending on mental health programs for schools and giving law-enforcement greater power to involuntarily hold someone considered a danger to themselves. The body will also look at a proposal to deputize a teacher or someone else at school so they are authorized to have a gun.

Galvano said senators want to examine ways to protect schools that do not have resource officers  often armed law enforcement officers  on site.

State House leaders and Gov. Rick Scott also are considering possible changes to firearms rules but have not given any details. Scott planned meetings Tuesday on school safety, and said he would announce proposals on mental health issues later in the week.

Still, some Republicans questioned whether additional gun restrictions are the answer.

"I really don't want to see this politicized into a gun debate," Republican Sen. Dennis Baxley.

Referring to gun-control advocates, he said: "Sometimes I wish they were right, that this would fix it, but it won't ... We have a terrible problem with obesity, but we're not banning forks and spoons."

Democrats believe raising the age limit and creating a waiting period to buy rifles isn't enough.

"That's unacceptable. That's a joke," said Democratic Sen. Gary Farmer of Broward County. "I don't see that as a restriction. It never should have been that an 18-year-old could buy an assault weapon. No Floridians should be able to buy an assault weapon."

Cruz legally purchased at least seven long guns, including an AK-47-style rifle he bought less than a month ago, a law enforcement official said Monday. The official is familiar with the investigation but isn't authorized to discuss it and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Federal law allows those 18 and over to buy rifles, and Cruz passed background checks necessary to obtain the weapons.

Cruz made his first appearance in court Monday. Wearing a prison jumpsuit, he kept his head down and did not appear to make eye contact with the judge or others in the courtroom, though he responded briefly to someone on the defense team. A previous appearance was by a video connection from jail.

His lawyers have said he will plead guilty if prosecutors agree not to pursue the death penalty. No decision has been made on that.

Since the attack, students from the school have become increasingly vocal in their demands for gun-control measures. Many have pointed out politicians who take financial support from the National Rifle Association, and some have lashed out at President Donald Trump, saying he was busy blaming Democrats for failing to pass gun restrictions while taking no action of his own.

After staying largely mum in the last few days about the massacre and the escalating debate about weapons, Trump said Monday that he was supportive of a bipartisan effort to strengthen federal background checks for gun purchases.

Students are also calling for anti-gun violence demonstrations in Washington and other cities March 24.

Organizers behind the anti-Trump Women's March called for a 17-minute nationwide walkout by teachers and students on March 14, and a gun-control group was calling for a rally to ban assault weapons Wednesday at the Florida Capitol.

Associated Press Writer Gary Fineout contributed to this report.
An increase in opioid overdoses over the last few days has prompted officials in Lowell, Massachusetts to send a warning to area residents.

Fire Chief Jeff Winward told the Lowell Sun that city officials are worried there may be a deadly batch of heroin or fentanyl being sold in the region.

Since Friday, there have been 20 overdoses in the city. None of the overdoses were fatal, although many of the victims were in respiratory arrest when first responders arrived. Fortunately, all of the victims were revived in time due to life-saving Narcan.

Fire officials are reminding residents to call 911 immediately if they see an overdose.

"We're asking people to keep a close eye on things," Winward told the Lowell Sun. "Certainly don't use if you're by yourself, and watch your loved ones if they have an opioid addiction."
A 15-year-old arrested in Massachusetts last week is accused of making threats against students at his high school that witnesses described as "detailed," and involved "references to the recent tragedy in Parkland, Florida."

The teenager was placed into custody Monday and will be charged with making terrorist threats and threatening to commit a crime.

According to police, students at Cohasset High School reported that the boy was making verbal threats against students and a staff member last Friday. The school's resource officer was approached by students Friday expressing concern for themselves, their classmates and a teacher.

Police said that the boy was removed from an after school program that afternoon and placed in a hospital for evaluation. A warrant for his arrest was obtained over the weekend. Police said that the boy was taken into custody without incident.

Cohasset Police Chief William Quigley praised the "courage and maturity," of the students who reported the incident.

"Although it appears that the boy has no access to firearms, we take these threats very seriously," Quigley said.

Quigley also stated that the incident reaffirms the importance of having an officer in the school district.

According to a statement from the Cohasset police, the students and teacher that were the subject of the threats have been notified and are working with the school district and police.

Cohasset school are on February break through Feb. 25.

The suspect has not been identified. He is scheduled to appear in Quincy Juvenile Court on Tuesday, February 20. It is not known if he has an attorney.

The arrest comes at the heels of several other similar incidents in New England since the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, last Wednesday which killed 17 students and staff members.
Shocking video of an attempted armed robbery at Perkins Market in Brockton, Massachusetts over the weekend has employees and customers concerned.

Customer Carrie Sumner said, Thats unbelievable!

If you look closely at the video, you can see the female clerk unwilling to open the register even as the suspect hands her a bag and points a gun at her.

Then the suspect runs behind the counter, pointing the weapon at the male cashiers head, before brutally beating him with it.

Both clerks fight back, grabbing at the gun and eventually wrestling it away from the suspect.

Sumner said, I think people fighting back is amazing but also theyre taking their lives in their hands, too, which, depending on the person and depending on where theyre at in their head  obviously theyre not in a good place if theyre fighting and having guns and stealing.

The suspect got the weapon back and fled without getting any money.

The owners of Perkins Market say police told them the weapon was actually a fake, but the female cashier says it looked and felt real.

She was left with minor scrapes and bruises, while the male clerk was bleeding badly and had to get stitches.

Customer Bertrand Nelvy said, I know this guy very well, hes a nice guy.

Customer Bruno Goncalves added, People work hard every day for you to just come in and disrespect them, just do stuff like that, its not right, working real hard, hes a nice guy, hes been here forever, thats crazy!

The owners say the male clerk is doing well, recovering at home.

A customer did get a license plate number for the suspect, and police are trying to track him down.

This is the third time in less than a year that this market has been targeted by someone trying to rob it.
Police are investigating a case of road rage that resulted in a physical confrontation in Nashua, New Hampshire.

The road rage incident played out in the middle of busy Amherst Street on Sunday.

A driver can be seen on video walking up to the car in front of hers, and as she arrives at his door, a man gets out and shoves her to the ground.

The disturbing scene was captured on cell phone by Jennifer Needham who was riding in a car with her boyfriend and three children.

I was just taken by surprise," said Needham. "I was like 'Oh my God', I cant believe that just happened.

What you dont see, according to Needham, is moments before the encounter, the man had gotten out of his car and was at the womans window.

Hes wailing his hands around, he looks upset, so at that point Im like ok, Ill get my phone out to see if I can grab anything good," Needham said.

Needham says she heard some honking just before the two drivers started arguing, but didnt know what exactly led to the fight.

I was just happy that it just snowed because if she smacked her head or anything worse were to happen to her to live with that is an awful feeling, said Needham.

Needham submitted her video to Nashua police, who tell us they are investigating the incident.

Despite the violent shove, the woman was not hurt according to police.

Its unfortunate what happened to her," said Needham. "You dont touch a woman, no matter what happens, you let the law handle it.

Police tell us they have questioned the two drivers involved in this incident.

They dont know if anyone will face any charges at this point.
A New Hampshire woman already behind bars in a child abuse case has been charged with marrying a man -- while she was still married to her first husband.

Londonderry police said Samantha Grenier was arrested at a state prison in Goffstown on multiple charges on Friday, including bigamy and falsifying physical evidence, after they launched an investigation in July 2017.

Grenier, already reportedly serving a 15-year sentence after her two young children were found confined to their human waste-soaked beds in their Manchester home in 2016, allegedly created a false email address and disguised herself as her lawyer in an attempt to get her boyfriend to marry her.

Police said they believe Grenier did this in an effort to receive leniency during the sentencing phase.

Grenier and her boyfriend, who was not identified by police, were married by a justice of the peace at Londonderry's town hall while she was still married to James Grenier, according to police.

Both Samantha and James Grenier were charged in November 2016 after officers said they found their then-2-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son living in "extremely unsanitary and unsafe conditions" in the couple's Manchester apartment on Quirin Street.

Officers found Grenier's son strapped to the top bunk of a bed with a child proof lock, covered with feces and urine. Her daughter was found unclothed and in her own feces inside of her crib.

James Grenier was also sentenced to at least 15 years in prison following his guilty plea last year.

Samantha Grenier, who was later found and arrested in Spring Hill, Florida, on a fugitive from justice charge after failing to show up for a hearing, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including two charges of endangering the welfare of a child and four charges of felony criminal restraint.

As part of her sentencing for her role in the child abuse case, Grenier was forbidden to have any contact with her children for 25 years.

Grenier was due to be arraigned on Tuesday. It's unclear if she has an attorney representing her in this case.
Two drivers are telling their stories Tuesday about a disturbing road rage incident in New Hampshire that was caught on cell phone camera.

Lisa Caruso admits she was driving slow in Nashua and thinks that angered the driver behind her, identified as 28-year-old Ricardo Montanez of Hudson.

"I beeped at her," said Montanez. "She gave me the finger."

Montanez passed Caruso, and at the next light, he says he got out of his car to confront her.

"I said to her, 'What's your problem?' She opened her window and was yelling at me, calling me an [expletive]," said Montanez, who said Caruso used racial slurs.

Caruso says she never gave him the finger or used any racial slurs. She says she didn't even roll down her window to respond.

Both drivers claim their vehicle was hit by the other driver during the confrontation.

Caruso says she then got out of her car.

"And then I went over to him, to his window, to say 'Don't leave, I have a picture of your plate, don't try to take off,'" said Caruso.

Next thing she knew, Montanez hopped out of his vehicle.

"And that's when he popped out and just throttled me," said Caruso, who was shoved into the snow.

Montanez says he was just protecting himself because Caruso was banging on his window with her keys and tried to open up his car door.

"No, No, I most certainly would not bang on anybody's window with my keys," said Caruso. "I definitely would not open up someone's door."

Montanez claims when he got back into his car, Caruso punched him in the back.

She say that's impossible because he was already in his car by the time she could get back up.

Montanez is charged with assault.

"I'm sorry to the lady it happened," said Montanez. "I hope she's sorry, as well. We were both in the wrong."

Caruso is not facing any charges.

"I just honestly wish it never happened," said Caruso. "My advice to him  anger management."
A New Hampshire man faced a judge on numerous charges after police said he broke into a stranger's home early Monday morning, disrobed and assaulted a 13-year-old girl.

Miles Anderson, 28, of Concord, pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Tuesday on multiple charges, including burglary, simple assault and two counts of indecent exposure, police said he broke into a home on Washington Street in Concord just after 4 a.m. the day before.

Police said they received a 911 call from the homeowners, who had been detaining Anderson. Authorities said the suspect is not known to the homeowners.

Preliminary investigation indicated that Anderson entered the home without being invited and made his way into the bedroom of a sleeping child, where he disrobed and assaulted the victim, according to police. The victim was able to flee the room and alert other household members.

Anderson allegedly then tried to flee the residence but was caught by an adult man in the home and restrained until police arrived and took him into custody.

In Merrimack County Superior Court, prosecutors outlined Anderson's criminal history, which included drug and criminal trespassing charges.

His attorney said Anderson's mental health issues played a role in Monday's incident.

Police said the investigation is ongoing, and additional charges are possible.
Public schools in two New Hampshire towns have been closed for the day while police investigate a possible threat against one of the schools.

Six schools were closed Tuesday during the investigation.



The Weare school district says police in Weare and Henniker have been investigating a possible threat that was scratched into a table in the John Stark Regional High School in Weare. It was reported Friday.

School officials say they found that message over the weekend, but that a great number of unsubstantiated rumors on social media are creating undue concern.

On Monday, police and school officials said a rumor of a threat was reported from one of the school buses at the high school.

The district, citing "heightened awareness" around last week's mass shooting at a Florida high school, said there would be no school Tuesday while the investigation is ongoing.



Chief of police Sean Kelly said Tuesday that school had been cancelled "out of an abundance of caution."

"This was more to put the community at ease rather than an acute threat to any person or group of people," said Kelly.

In a joint statement released Tuesday, the Weare police department and John Stark school district asked the public to make sure rumors stopped spreading.

"There is not hit list; there is no plan to target specific students; no weapon was brought to school or was found on a bus; and, no arrests were made [Monday] related to this investigation," said officials.

Around 5 p.m. on Tuesday,

Weare Police said their investigation was complete. The rumor which originated on the bus was tracked to a Weare Middle School student. The graffiti in John Stark Regional the bathroom was tracked to a student at the high school.

Police have filed a delinquency report with Goffstwon Family Court. School will resume on Wednesday, said officials.

The district said that a "highly visible police presence would be in place" at the schools through Friday.
Imagine having to flee from your home to a shelter to find that its filled to capacity. That is sometimes the case at The Crisis Center of New Hampshire in Concord, happening at least 100 times a year.

The center is being renovated this spring for better service and to hopefully cut down on the number of people they have to turn away.

The crisis center serves as a temporary place for domestic abuse and sexual assault survivors. It has four rooms that hold 13 people, but the facility is tight.

It houses a tiny kitchen with a dining table for four people and has a small area for cooking. Theres duct tape holding parts of the carpet down and packing tape holding up wallpaper in the entryway stairwell.

This is how we're receiving survivors now, said Paula Kelley-Wall, executive director of the crisis center. It needs to change.

Kelley-Wall has been working with abuse survivors for 20 years. She came to the crisis center five years ago as the Program Director. She said the renovation has been a dream of hers since she was hired.

When you walk into this shelter it doesn't feel safe, Kelley-Wall said. We have to do so many things with the limited resources that we have that it was easy to ignore the building.

Thats about to change. The Building on Hope Agency has taken on the crisis center as its latest project. The agency says on their website that they help nonprofits build their dreams.

Building on Hope Co-Chair Karen VanDerBeken said by phone that the agency takes on one project every other year. They manage the grass roots efforts of vendors and services completing the renovation.

By the end of the center's renovation, 300 companies and individuals will have worked on the project, accoring to VanDerBeken.

Jonathan Haley of Warren Street Architects is managing the renovation, as well, which will take the center from 13 beds to 24.

There will be cafe style tables so that if families don't want to sit together, they can have a place to sit, Kelley-Wall said.

The staff offices are also housed at the shelter. That will change, too.

As part of the renovation, the center will open a separate Center for Survivor Support. The center will be a holistic, one-stop shop for survivors getting the extended help they need. The staffs offices will be housed there.

The board is voting on the new location Wednesday.

In order to ensure they get the building, the Crisis Center is running a capital campaign. They recently received $200,000 from one single donor, Marianne and Rob Fleischman of Concord.

The Fleischmans have been active contributors to the center for a decade, saying by phone that when the opportunity came to give in a bigger way, they took it in hopes to inspire others to give.

Building on Hope will break ground on the renovation on May 11 and reveal the final project on May 20.
After spending the weekend criticizing his political opponents in a tweetstorm, President Donald Trump went on the offense again Tuesday  this time denying a sexual assault claim and attacking the "fake news" that published the story.

Trump seemed to be responding to a Monday story in the Washington Post, which took another look at Rachel Crooks' allegation that Trump kissed her without her consent while she was working as a receptionist for a company based in Trump Tower in New York in 2005.

He tweeted: "A woman I dont know and, to the best of my knowledge, never met, is on the FRONT PAGE of the Fake News Washington Post saying I kissed her (for two minutes yet) in the lobby of Trump Tower 12 years ago. Never happened! Who would do this in a public space with live security......

....cameras running. Another False Accusation. Why doesnt @washingtonpost report the story of the women taking money to make up stories about me? One had her home mortgage paid off. Only @FoxNews so reported...doesnt fit the Mainstream Media narrative."

Crooks, now 35, first told her story to the New York Times in October 2016. In her accounts, she describes meeting Trump at an elevator, where he held her hand and kissed her cheeks. Then, Crooks says, he kissed her mouth.

"It felt like a long kiss, the Post quoted Crooks as saying. "The whole thing probably lasted two minutes, maybe less."

Crooks is one of at least 16 women who has accused Trump of sexual misconduct, ranging from harassment to forcible groping and kissing over several decades. While Trump has repeatedly denied the allegations, Crooks and two other women recently called on Congress to investigate the claims.

Crooks is currently running as a Democrat for a seat in the Ohio state legislature.

Trump's response to the Post's story comes less than a week after he insisted he is "totally opposed to domestic violence of any kind" following the resignation of his former staff secretary, Rob Porter.

Porter resigned from his White House position on Feb. 7 after two ex-wives accused him of being physically and emotionally abusive during their marriages. Trump at first praised his former aide and the work he did in the White House, tweeting that "peoples lives are being shattered and destroyed by a mere allegation."

One week after Porter's resignation, Trump spoke out and denounced domestic violence, saying, "it almost wouldn't even have to be said."

The president's heated tweets also come in the wake of reports that Trump had consensual affairs with a Playboy model and an adult film star while married to his current wife, Melania Trump. Both affairs are reported to have been covered up by Trump and his allies.

Trump has refrained from personally addressing either affair, but the relationships have been denied in statements from his lawyer and the White House
Habitual thief up to her old tricks

A VETERAN conwoman who used to prey on the good nature of Newbury folk has been jailed.

Amanda Basden, who formerly went by the name Futcher, now lives in Pennyroyal Court, Reading, but she ventured back to her old haunts to steal.

The 37-year-old has more than 150 previous convictions and regularly used to pretend she needed the taxi fare to visit her non-existent baby in hospital.

She repaid one elderly lady who offered her a lift by stealing her handbag. Ms Basden also stole a charity box from the Royal British Legion in 2016.

On Thursday, February 8, she was back in the dock at Reading Magistrates Court where she admitted numerous offences including stealing more charity boxes, plus stealing clothing and alcohol from Marks & Spencer at Newbury Retail Park on August 8 last year.

Ms Basden, pictured above, was sentenced to six months imprisonment and ordered to pay a statutory victim services surcharge of 115.
Fun facts about Lisa Lampanelli, Comedys Lovable Queen of Mean, who will return to Foxwoods Friday, Feb. 23:

Three-quarters Italian and one-quarter Polish, she lives in Fairfield and the Upper East Side of New York. She has several stand-up comedy dates this month and next, but was out of regular comedy for about six months working on her own play, Stuffed: A Big-Boned, Skinny-Ass, All-You-Can-Laugh New Play.

In her racy insult comedy, shes ruthless, profane, quick and (if youre not mortally offended) very funny. Shes been a regular on the cable TV roast circuit.

Originally from Trumbull, where her mother still lives, she started adult life as a reporter in Fairfield County  copy editing and writing for Rolling Stone and Spy magazines.

After gastric sleeve surgery, losing more than 100 pounds, a divorce and dealing successfully with anger and sadness issues, Lampanelli comes off as honest, thoughtful and even endearing in conversation.

I work as little as possible. I try to do maybe three or four days a month, she said in a recent phone chat. Cuz, Im 56, I dont really have that many career things that take priority anymore. Its become, in the past five years, a big shift about family, friends, service. So Id rather just have sort of a home life instead of running around the country.

That perspective took hold years ago when a student doing a masters thesis asked Lampanelli for her 10 greatest accomplishments, which Lampanelli told her. And she goes to me, Did you notice that none of those (answers) had to do with the business? Like every single thing was about friends, family or service. 

Lampanelli said comedy can be looked at as a service, and she still likes doing it. It can get people out of their own heads, distract them for a few hours. But if it didnt do that, I dont think Id have the stomach for it anymore.

More Information Foxwoods Resort Casino, Fox Theater, 350 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket. Friday, Feb. 23, 8 p.m. $56. 860-312-3000, www.foxwoods.com See More Collapse

As with the late-great Don Rickles, people seldom take real offense to the nasty barbs of Lampanelli, even when theyre hurled directly at them.

I think if theres truly no malice behind it, people sense that, Lampanelli said. But if theres people out there who maybe would do this (comedy) and do have an ax to grind with some ethnic groups or some people, then people arent into it.

Asked if her act has changed any, Lampanelli said she still does a lot of insult humor, but also likes to tell stories that people can identify with.

If Im more open about my life, and about my divorce and my weight-loss journey, and make fun of myself about those, but Im still being real ... its funny and people go, Oh, my God, me too! ... And who hasnt gone through some crappy addiction or ... weight problem, something thats really difficult. And to do it with a smile makes people think their life aint so bad either.

Despite talk of slowing down, Lampanelli has, since we last spoke with her several years ago, done an autobiography, blog, a fifth stand-up TV special and podcasts, not to mention starring on a season of Celebrity Apprentice with the future president of these United States. She remembers when Donald Trump first talked about running and said everyone took it as a huge joke.

Its like the kid who says, I want a pony for Christmas, daddy. Youre never gonna get the pony. And we got the pony.

Lampanelli said she enjoyed working with Trump on the show, although he didnt have much to do with that show. ... He was always very nice and respectful to me because I was an older woman. I wasnt someone he was going to grab by the you-know-what.

She tells a story on stage about how Trump would always compliment the women on the show, and she was feeling left out until one day when he says, Lisa? And I thought, ooh, its my turn. And he says, Doesnt Teresa look good today?

At Foxwoods, she plans to roll out her Trump-roast jokes, which she said arent partisan, and anything else thats been bugging me in the past few months, which is a lot because Im human and I have a real big mouth and I like to talk about things.

Balancing her cutting insults to gays in the audience, Lampanelli is a big supporter of LGBTQ causes, saying she never really fit in with any group. I think the reason Im drawn to people, whether its minority people or LGBT, (is) it almost seems like its an island of misfit toys. A bunch of people who ... are just trying to get through life.
3 1 of 3 Hayley Young / Contributed photo Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Contributed photo Show More Show Less 3 of 3





A couple of cellists, separated in age by some 30 years, will be the featured guests when they come together to make some music this weekend for the Stamford Symphony, which will be featuring the work of Brahms, Copland, Popper and Saint-Saens.

Guest conductor David Lockington, who began his career as a cellist, will be welcoming Joshua Roman for a solo turn on Poppers Hungarian Rhapsody for cello and orchestra, as well as Saint-Saens Cello Concerto No. 1. Lockington will take to the podium as the third of five conductors who are part of the search for the symphonys new conductor.
She shimmers and shines  her simple brown robe and cream cape transformed into lustrous waves of gold. She holds a quill pen in her right hand and cradles a book of her spiritual writings in her left. On this morning, Linda Wolk-Simon is standing before her.

Think about what this would have looked like on an altar, in the shadowy light of the church. The candlelight flickering in front of her, Wolk-Simon says of the statue of St. Teresa of Avila created in the late 1600s by Italian artist Ciro Ferri. Ferri is playing with degrees of polish on the surfaces and how the light and the shadow interacted. It would have seemed as if she was moving and the drapery was rustling. It would have been a very stirring experience for those who were able to get close enough.

Through May 19, the statue and four other treasures on loan from the Church of the Gesu in Rome, the mother church of the Society of Jesus, will be that close. The Fairfield University Art Museum at Bellarmine Hall, where Wolk-Simon is director and chief curator, is staging a landmark exhibition, The Holy Name  Art of the Gesu: Bernini and his Age, to mark the Jesuit schools 75th anniversary. These pieces, which have never left Rome, and 50 objects from more than 15 American universities, museums and private collections, tell the story of a religious order born in Rome during the Counter-Reformation, and whose mother church became the canvas for and repository of works from leading architects and artists of the 16th and 17th centuries.

The show began more than two years ago, when Xavier Salomon, chief curator of the Frick Collection and exhibition committee member, suggested that Wolk-Simon request the bust of well-known Jesuit theologian Cardinal (later saint) Roberto Bellarmino, the universitys patron saint, by Italian painter and sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Created nearly 400 years ago, it has only temporarily left its perch once, and that was to an adjacent building.

This is one of his very first works, and one of the many genres that he radically revolutionized, Wolk-Simon says of the Baroque sculptor, artist and architect. The people looked at these sculptures and felt like they were moving, stirring, turning, breathing and talking and no one had ever done that before.

Its been turned down for every show it has ever been asked for, so I thought it is never going to happen, Wolk-Simon says.

She persevered, reaching out to officials at the Gesu, the Italian ministry of culture and the Society of Jesuits, here and abroad, and made frequent trips to Rome  even identifying a few more pieces she hoped could be loaned. As she waited for word from Italy, she explored America for works to tell this historical narrative. It was a challenge, but she cites great advice, persistence, supportive benefactors, enthusiastic officials and generous colleagues from around the country, including those at Princeton University Art Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, and others, as the magical mix.

It went from Never going to happen to Boy, did this happen,  says Wolk-Simon. I am so very pleased how it all came together.

The other pieces from the Gesu are Italian artist Giovanni Battista Gaullis painted wood model of the churchs apse, a cartegloria from the altar of St. Ignatius and an embroidered silk chasuble, or vestment, of Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, an early and influential supporter of the order and benefactor of the church.

Founded by Ignatius of Loyola in 1540, the Society of Jesus arrived as the Catholic Church sought to regain its footing in the face of Protestant Reformation and other threats. Farnese, a grandson of Pope Paul III, who approved the rules of the order, funded the churchs construction, which was erected from 1568 to 1584. When it came to its architecture and decorations, top talent was recruited to give it shape and significance.

Its not just a beautiful church. It is extremely significant historically, said the Rev. John OMalley, a historian, a professor of theology at Georgetown University and exhibition committee member. He is the co-author, along with Gauvin A. Bailey, of The Jesuits and the Arts, 1540-1773. Early on, it looked as if Michelangelo would be the architect, OMalley said, but the task fell on Farnese favorite Jacopo Vignola and, later, Giacomo della Porta, who designed the facade. The facade and the floor plan have been copied all over the world, said Bailey, during a talk preceding the shows opening.

Since one cannot move an entire church, Wolk-Simon has recreated, as much as possible, a feel for what a visitor experiences, from the soaring frescos of Gaulli to the art of the altars and small chapels within. For the first time, fresco studies by Bernini and Gaulli have been brought together alongside the apse model.

This is Gaulli figuring out what he was going to do, she says, during a recent tour. You dont just climb up on a scaffold in a vault like this and start painting . For years, he was working up there in the vaults of the Gesu, and we are tracing his progress from beginning to end.

The visual splendor was a function of celebrating spiritual devotion, as well as attracting worshippers.

The Jesuits really harnessed the senses, sight, sound, smell to catalyze religious devotion, Wolk-Simon says. It was really a sensory experience and the visual splendor and visual spectacle was definitely a part of it.
Theres a moment when Jelani Alladin was a sophomore at New Canaan High School that changed the course of his life, a moment frozen in time.

The African-American student from Brooklyn, N.Y., who was part of the A Better Chance program that placed him in the Connecticut community, had just finished starring in the school musical Seussical. But he found that putting on a show required a lot more than he anticipated. Auditions were coming up for the next show and he was planning on going out for the track team instead.

I was walking along a hallway about to catch a bus to go home and my friends mother  Roberta Stigman  caught me alone in this hallway and put me up against the locker and said, Listen, you mustdo this (audition). If you walk away from this, youll be walking away from your future.

And Ill never forget it. I felt, Wow, someone believes in me that much that Ive got to do this.

That set him on path to loving the stage, to studying musical theater at New York University and to star on Broadway, where he will be playing Kristoff, the romantic male lead in the stage version of the 2013 mega-hit animated film Frozen. Previews begin Feb. 22 and opens March 22. His casting marks the first time Disney has, in their Broadway shows on opening night, romantic leads of different races in roles that werent race-specific.

During a recent break in rehearsals, an exuberant and poised Alladin, who is in his mid-20s, praised the scholarship organization in definite terms. Being part of A Better Chance changed my life, says Alladin, an all-A student of Guyanan heritage, who grew up singing in church and youth groups.

For a kid raised in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, Alladin described New Canaan this way to friends: If you had an apple, it would be like the crispest, freshest apple  with a blingsparkle on it. The people there are like that, too. They were quite warm and I always felt welcome. Never once did I feel anything racially or felt less-than because my family had less money.

Once Alladin embraced the musical program at the school, opportunities opened up for him, such as being cast as the emcee in Cabaret.

Looking back now, Im like, God, that was so brilliant going against type, forgetting about color. That was the show that made me think, I could do this for the rest of my life, he said.

Alladin was further inspired when his New Canaan host family took him to see Broadways In the Heights, starring Lin-Manuel Miranda.

That was a trigger show for me, he says. It was the winter of my senior year in high school and I wept the entire time. No exaggeration. It was just because I was so moved to see there was a place for people who look like me, who sound like me.

When Miranda recently dropped by to see Frozen rehearsals, Alladin was immobilized with awe. I just didnt know how to talk to him because it was like, You have no idea how much you mean to me and what you did for my life.

After graduating from NYU in 2014, he started his acting career, mostly at regional productions. One role that was close to home was the lead in Tarell Alvin McCraneys play Choir Boy, which centers on a boys choir at an exclusive prep school. In the part, he saw the characters need for code switching, something in which he was familiar.

During the course of the New Canaan years my vernacular changed because of who I was associated with every day. I had to be clear and talk a certain way, he says. But he was already well-aware of social and cultural dynamics because his aunt insisted he take charm lessons in church when he was a boy. Im so lucky that my family had the wisdom to teach me those things before I even knew I needed them.

And was he charming?

I think I was. If Im being honest with you, I had to learn how to charm everyone that I was around because of the nature of the program, not for myself. (For the people who were contributing money to the program) I needed to show that the product was worth investing in. So I was a 13-year-old thinking like this. But I was a kid whose mind was always racing, always thinking about what I could be. I always had to be the best at things. If (we) were doing chemistry problems at school, I had to get them done ahead of everyone else and done perfectly. I had a passion for wanting to utilize what I learned about the American dream and climbing that ladder.

Alladins Frozen audition happened on a whim at an open call for Equity actors. I had seen the film, he says, but there were all white characters so I wondered, Is there a role for me?

Thinking he was auditioning for the shows workshop production, he went in anyway, impressed the head casting director, who luckily happened to be there when he was singing. One audition led to another and then another until finally the major creative team chose Alladin for the coveted role, starring opposite Patti Murin. He says he wept on hearing the official offer.

As for his role of Kristoff, a good-natured lug of an ice harvester who becomes the travel companion and love interest of Princess Anna in her quest to find Elsa the Snow Queen, Alladin says, To say Ive been working out is an understatement, noting his six-day-a-week gym regimen. His added 15 pounds of bulk is necessary, he says, because in wearing layers of winter clothes on stage, he sweats off a pound for every performance.

Hes already experienced the rapturous response from audiences who love the film when the show had its pre-Broadway run in Denver last year.

I hope the show will change lives, he says. It was a beautiful thing to see kids coming to the stage door where they dont see race. They just see Kristoff.

Can he imagine an eighth-grade Jelani in the audience watching the show?

Yes, and hed be beside himself, seeing an African-American who is the good guy, the hero, the lover and who is the champion people are rooting for. It would be an In the Heights moment again. And he would say, I can do that, too.
DERBY  A lawsuit accusing city planners of overstepping their authority when they approved plans to turn a nursing home into a dormitory for students from China has been withdrawn.

Superior Court Judge Barry Stevens approved the withdrawal of the suit filed back in November on behalf of Marlene Ann Dziekan and Michael Burke, two local residents.

This is good news for us, said David Guerrera, co-owner of APEX International Education Partners of Watertown, which purchased Marshall Lane Manor in January. We are going out to bid this week for the renovations.

The withdrawal is expected to be addressed during the Planning and Zoning Commissions 7 p.m. meeting Tuesday in Derbys City Hall.

The withdrawal enables APEX to proceed with their expected $1 to $2 million renovation of Marshall Lane Manor from a 120-bed convalescent and rehabilitation center into a 110-bed dormitory. The dormitory will house teenage students from China who are attending private mostly parochial high schools like Notre Dame of West Haven and Fairfield, Laurelton Hall in Milford and Fairfield Prep in Fairfield.

APEX bought the facility for $450,000 from the Simonetti family which owned and operated Marshall Lane until it closed in June, 2015. Among the owners was Anthony Simonetti, who serves as the chairman of the Shelton Republican Town Committee and is a Shelton first ward alderman.

Richard Volo, who represented the plaintiffs, previously asked the court to allow him to withdraw as the plaintiffs lawyer because he was unable to confer with Dziekan on how to proceed.

Dziekan is the cousin of newly elected Derby Mayor Richard Dziekan, who posted the bond in allowing the suit to be filed.

There were issues that concerned neighborhood residents that the developers and Planning and Zoning addressed, Mayor Dziekan said Monday. Im comfortable with the proposal. But I must say that if I were mayor when this development was proposed I would have done a better job in getting out in front of it and keeping the residents informed.

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A day after asking out as the plaintiffs lawyer, Volo filed a second motion seeking to withdraw the suit on the plaintiffs behalf.

In it he wrote: ... the plaintiffs state the site plan submitted by the applicant for a special exception pursuant to the regulations adopted by the defendant seem to adequately protect the public interest thereby making the advancement of this appeal unnecessary.

However before any of this happened Volo said Monday he proposed a settlement that would limit the special exception zone change only to nursing homes. The only other such facility in Derby is the Birmingham Health Center on Chatfield Street near Osbornedale State Park.

I proposed the settlement to Marjorie Shansky (the Planning and Zoning Commissions lawyer) who took it to the commission, Volo said. Its my understanding that it was rejected.

Shansky could not be reached for comment Monday.

Although Volo said he believes his case still has merits he commended APEX for willing to make changes that satisfied neighborhood residents.

Meanwhile Guerrera said he has hired a facility project supervisor who will oversee the renovations as well as the management of the dormitory. He said APEX has not yet decided if it will hire kitchen staff or a catering service, a maintenance worker or outsource that.

He hopes the renovations will begin by early April if not sooner and be concluded by July. It includes adding a cafeteria, fitness and exercise center, a library, study rooms, administration offices and a technology and media center.

Its going to be a quality renovation, he promised. We are working hand-in-hand with the city.

Guerrera expects no more than 30 students arriving in August for the 2018-19 school year. He said two married couples have expressed interest in serving as the live-in resident assistants. The students would not be allowed to have cars or visitors, except for family members who would have to reside elsewhere during their stay.

The facility spans 35,000 square feet and sits on 3.4 acres in a residential area.

During a series of public hearings several residents expressed concern about the students frequenting the nearby brewery and wandering through their neighborhoods.

But Guerrera said the school would have seven to eight staffers, require students to sign in and out, provide their own transportation and arrange for weekend travel activities as well serve as volunteer for community service projects.
DANBURY - As students and teachers ran for their lives to escape a gunmans bullets in a Florida high school last week, one librarian had the presence of mind to yell, Get back in here!

The librarian remembered what her friend and fellow librarian Yvonne Cech did in 2012, when a gunmans bullets were terrorizing Sandy Hook School.

Cech locked 18 elementary school children and four educators safely behind a closet door, and thats precisely what the Florida librarian did - locking 50 high school students and five educators safely in an equipment room.

Diana Haneskis account was one of the heroic stories to emerge from the Valentines Day massacre of 14 high schoolers and three staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.,

Cech, who traveled to Florida to support her friend and other survivors of the nations latest mass shooting, said Monday she had mixed feelings about Haneskis story.

On the one hand, Cech said she was grateful that her friend had the wherewithal to act decisively during the massacre.

I am glad that she was able to stay clear-minded and stay strong enough to help save her students, said Cech, a Danbury resident who became director of the Brookfield Library in March.

But Cech lamented that national gun policy has not changed since the Sandy Hook massacre, when a 20-year-old with an AR-15-style rifle killed 20 first-graders and six educators.

I am extremely angry that anyone had to use that information, Cech said. It makes me very angry that this is still happening, and that this is still a problem in our country.
Vous etes confrontes a une infestation par la puce, la punaise de lit ? Voici plusieurs actions qui sont a mettre en uvre pour faire []
HARTFORD  On New Years Day, a woman reported a chilling scene: her neighbors pet, a 3-year-old pit bull, was frozen solid inside his dog house.

The dogs death brought animal cruelty charges to his Hartford owner and now is motivating legislators to change the law so pet owners are required to provide their dogs with appropriate shelter.

To know that an animal is outside starving, with no access to water and slowly dying in the cold is criminal and is mean and to me, should be prosecuted, said state Representative Brenda Kupchick R-Fairfield on Monday. We have a moral responsibility to make sure those kinds of things do not happen.

Kupchick and other members of the Animal Welfare Caucus will host a press conference Tuesday morning to introduce the legislation they will advocate for this session.

Kupchick, along with caucus co-chairs state Representatives Fred Camillo R-Greenwich and Diana Urban D-Stonington, hope to add a provision about shelter for dogs in extreme heat or cold to an existing law governing the tethering of animals. The caucus has pushed for this provision before, but has not succeeded getting it passed into law.

We are really looking for some criteria to give animal control officers some tools that they are asking for, said Kupchick, who owns two rescue beagles, Wally and Maggie. This Hartford case really highlighted what we were talking about.

The Caucus have also introduced bills that would protect residents from repercussions if they try to rescue an animal from a car in extreme heat or cold and prohibit accelerated rehabilitation for people convicted of felony animal cruelty charges.

We dont feel it is an appropriate sentence for animal abuse, Kupchick said. Our contention is based on data that those individuals are dangerous and they need to remanded in shape or form.

She noted that the Federal Bureau of Investigations recognizes that cruelty to animals may be a precursor to larger crimes. In 2016, the FBI began counting acts of animal cruelty alongside felony crimes like arson, burglary, assault, and homicide in their criminal database.

Urban also added a bill that would specify bestiality as a felony crime after a 19-year-old Bethlehem man was accused of having sex with the family dog.

Jason Lee Dematteo was arraigned in Superior Court on February 5 and his case was swiftly sealed, according to the Waterbury Republican-American. Under current law bestiality is a misdemeanor crime.

I am very big on the link between animal cruelty and future violent behavior, said Urban, owner of a Chihuahua terrier mix. What I am saying unequivocally is we need to pay attention to this. It needs to be a felony because who is he going to sexually attack next?

The Caucus also proposes increasing the penalty for killing or injuring a police dog, establishing a penalty for misrepresenting a guide dog, giving veterinarians decision making authorities over animal vaccination and allowing towns to ban trapping.

Camillo, who grew up with goats, ducks, chickens, rabbits, salamanders and dogs in his backyard in Cos Cob, said he advocates for these animal welfare laws because animals cant talk for themselves.

Both Camillo and Kupchick noted that passing these bills in the short legislative session this spring may prove a challenge. Their press conference is intended to draw public attention to and support for their proposals.

Representatives from the Connecticut Humane Society, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Our Companions Animal Rescue and Connecticut Votes for Animals will join Kupchick, Camillo and Urban at the press conference Tuesday.

Jo-Anne Basile, senior advisor to Connecticut Votes for Animals, a grassroots lobbying group, said her organization collaborated with the Caucus in developing these priorities for legislation.

We are a state of compassionate people, she said. What we are hoping to do is continue a legacy of getting good legislation that helps animals in the state of Connecticut.
RIDGEFIELD - A high-schooler fed up with Congressional inaction on gun safety policy has called for a national high school walkout - an effort that has gained 65,000 supporters in four days.

The call by Ridgefield 15-year-old Lane Murdock for a day of protest and solidary on April 20 is one of several youth-inspired movements for gun safety following the Valentines Day massacre at Florida high school by gunman with an AR 15-style rifle.

When I heard about the news in Florida, I thought to myself, Thats kind of the norm in American culture, and thats not okay,  said Murdock on Monday. So I decided to make my petition and get a movement started.

Murdock was referring to the massacre of 14 students and three staff members last week at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. - the deadliest school shooting in America since 2012, when a gunman massacred 26 first-graders and educators at Sandy Hook School.

Two other days of youth-led civil disobedience are planned next month - a nationwide school walkout on March 14 and a march on Washington, D.C., 10 days later, organized by survivors of the Valentines Day massacre.

Sarah Clements, a Newtown college student whose mother survived the Sandy Hook shooting, is helping to organize the national walkout on March 14.

Clements said the rise of student activism is happening now because of work that began after Sandy Hook in 2012 by nonprofit groups such as Moms Demand Action for Gun Violence Prevention, which help give structure to student anger.

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Young people are using their righteous anger about what happened to their friends, Clements said. I know very well that feeling of anger after something like this happens so close to you. This is the only way these students know how to heal, plus they are very skilled at using social media.

Ridgefields Murdock, who placed her petition online with the campaign platform change.org, saw her appeal grow by tens of thousands in just a few days.

There has been too much complacency on the part of politicians when it comes to gun violence, Murdock says in the online appeal. High School students across the U.S.A, the way to fight back is here.

School superintendents across greater Danbury said Monday that they were aware of students sharing messages of walkouts on social media, and had not yet discussed how to respond with administrators.

Brookfield schools Superintendent John Barile said talks are already planned between high school administrators and student leaders on Wednesday, for example.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump, who has been the target of criticism by some survivors of the Florida shooting, plans to meet with students on Wednesday, the Associated Press reported.

Clements, who founded a youth chapter of the Newtown Action Alliance, said Trump is fueling student activism because he is seen by some students as an opponent of gun policy reform.

That is also underlying the youth activity we are seeing in our community - this era of Trump that has motivated so many students to speak out, Clements said. Students today are extremely well-versed in social justice issues, and they know how to use technology to impact their world.
Thousands of children are being diagnosed with autism on the basis of tests that are mainly based on the behaviour of the child and his or her responses to the tests and behavioural assessments. In short, there are no blood tests or urine tests that can be used to diagnose autism. In a new study, a team of researchers have found blood and urine chemical markers that could help diagnose this condition.

The researchers from the University of Warwick and the University of Bologna, noted that children who have autism have higher levels of a particular protein damage when compared to children without autism. Autism being a notoriously difficult to diagnose condition, this test could help improve the diagnostic tests for this condition as well as rule out false diagnoses. The time when this test becomes routine for diagnosis of autism is far away the researchers caution because the test needs to undergo clinical trials and testing before it can be available for use. The results from the study titled, Advanced glycation endproducts, dityrosine and arginine transporter dysfunction in autism - a source of biomarkers for clinical diagnosis, was published in the latest issue of the Molecular Autism Journal this Monday (19th February 2018).

Autism is a range of behavioural disorders seen among children where social interactions and communications are severely hampered. Diagnosis is typically made after the age of two because it depends on the behavioural assessments of the child.

In this new study the team of researchers checked for chemical differences in the blood and urine collected from 38 autistic children and 31 children without autism. The children were aged between 5 and 12 years. They noted that children with autism typically had higher levels of protein damage in their blood plasma that raised their risk of autism. Higher protein damage showed to higher levels of ditryosine and sugar-modified compounds called glycation end products. Dityrosine is also called an oxidation marker. Paul Thornalley, a professor in systems biology at the University of Warwick, who co-led the study explained that these damaged proteins could be the cause for development of autism.

Dr Naila Rabbani, from the University of Warwick, who led the study, said that these markers could be used to detect autism much earlier than now by merely measuring these biomarkers. She explained that their study was a small one and needed to be replicated in large populations to be validated. She said that they would test the diagnostic tool on children below the age of two years to see if the changes in these biomarkers appeared before the age of two. The test, when successful in large cohorts, would be validated and useful for general populations she explained. She also added that larger studies and more research would reveal the cause and factors that are associated with autism which still is a poorly understood condition.

Autism affects one in 100 individuals in the UK and more males are affected than females ranging from two to 16 times more prevalence among men than women. In the United States, over 3.5 million individuals live with autism. With improvement in diagnostic techniques the diagnosed cases have risen over the past two decades. Autism cannot be cured but some interventions may help say researchers.
An experimental treatment that sends electrical currents through the spinal cord has improved "invisible" yet debilitating side effects for a B.C. man with a spinal cord injury.

A diving accident six years ago left Isaac Darrel, of Langley, British Columbia, with a spinal cord injury. Side effects of the injury include dizziness, fluctuations in blood pressure and changes in bladder and bowel function.

Darrel made the decision to have electrodes surgically implanted over his spinal cord in 2016 to test out a treatment known as epidural stimulation in the hopes of improving some of the side effects. A case study about his experiences was published today in JAMA Neurology.

"Mobility issues or paralysis are the most visible consequences of a spinal cord injury but as a clinician, I know that many of my patients suffer from other 'invisible' consequences," said Dr. Andrei Krassioukov, principal investigator of the study who worked with Darrel for a number of years as a professor of medicine at UBC and chair in rehabilitation research with ICORD, a Vancouver research centre focused on spinal cord injuries.

"Many of my patients have abnormal blood pressure and bladder, bowel and sexual dysfunctions that can be quite devastating."

Epidural stimulation involves surgically inserting electrodes permanently above the spinal cord and then stimulating the nerve cells in the spinal cord with electrical currents. The therapeutic benefits of epidural stimulation have been well-documented for chronic back pain, but a small number of experimental trials are testing the treatment on people with spinal cord injuries.

With a remote control, Darrel uses the stimulator for up to 45 minutes each day, applying different programs to transmit electrical impulses into his spinal cord that mimic the same signals that would come from the brain. The programs are designed to stimulate specific nerves that help with various motor functions, but Darrel and Krassioukov have observed other positive changes.

Before the treatment, Darrel said he often felt light-headed, especially when he moved from his bed to his wheelchair or during exercise, and his blood pressure would drop.

"My blood pressure would tank right down into the 60s," said Darrel, who describes feeling nauseous and like the world was spinning. "I would pass out or black out sitting in my chair sometimes. Now, since I have the implant, I'm able to turn up the stimulation enough that it makes it impossible for me to black out."

The symptoms Darrel experienced are part of a disorder known as orthostatic hypotension, resulting from poor cardiovascular function. Since the surgery, a team of researchers at ICORD have been following Darrel's case and running tests to determine how his cardiovascular function has changed. Using something called a tilt table, they put patients into an upright position to see if they are able to maintain their blood pressure.

"If there is no drop in arterial blood pressure, it is considered normal," said Dr. Krassioukov. "It means the person has good control of blood vessels in their lower extremities and the abdomen."

The stimulator has improved Darrel's ability to control his blood pressure as well as other benefits.

"I've had better blood pressure, better core muscle, much improved bowel function, and basically I have more energy," said Darrel, who noted that this means he can now sit in his wheelchair for up to eight hours, a big improvement from the two hours he could endure prior to the surgery.

The results point to the need to fully understand how this treatment could be used in clinical settings. Krassioukov and his colleagues are currently collaborating with colleagues in the U.S. on a larger trial, examining the benefits of epidural stimulation on a bigger group. They are also involved in research on a similar but non-invasive version of the treatment that involves stimulating the spinal cord with a device positioned on top of the skin at the University of California, Los Angeles.

"We see very interesting and exciting results but as a clinician-scientist, I need more robust data before I would recommend this procedure," he said.

Source: https://www.ubc.ca/
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 cords," 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 "game changer" 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.
Most ion channels are very selective about the ions, which may or may not pass through them. They may be conductive for potassium ions and non-conductive for sodium ions or vice versa. However, a number of ion channels allows for the efficient passage of both kinds of ions. How do these channel proteins accomplish this? A team of scientists around Dr. Han Sun and the research group of Professor Adam Lange at the Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut fur Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) found the answer to this question. Their study revealed structural and dynamic differences between selective and non-selective ion channels. The scientists described their findings and conclusions in the journal Nature Communications. In non-selective channels, the selectivity filter exhibits sizeable dynamics, which are not present in selective channels. The selectivity filter of non-selective ion channels can exist in two different forms. Dependent on the state of the selectivity filter, one or the other ion type may pass.

Ion channels play prominent roles in organisms. For example, ion channels are in action when the organism registers stimuli and passes the information on to the brain in the form of electric signals. During this signal transmission, charged atoms (ions) must enter and leave the involved cells. Ions cannot permeate lipophilic cell membranes. Instead, they pass through protein channels in the cell membranes.

In many cases, the ion channels allow the passage of only one specific ion type, i.e. they may be conductive for potassium but not for sodium ions or vice versa. The selectivity filter that is the narrowest part of the channel is responsible for this ion discrimination. However, the NaK channel allows for the passage of both sodium and potassium ions. It was in the focus of the present study by FMP scientists around Dr. Han Sun and Professor Adam Lange together with colleagues in Gottingen (Germany) and Hefei (China).

Non-selective ion channels are very important in medicine.

Until now, it has remained controversial why NaK channels allow for the passage of both sodium and potassium ions. Professor Adam Lange explains: "While X-ray crystallographic images showed us the three-dimensional structure of the channel, it was difficult to explain why this channel is conductive to two different ion types with similarly high efficiency. This was particularly hard to understand because the sequence and the 3-D structure of the selectivity filter are similar to the ones in potassium selective channels."

Scientist Dr. Han Sun added that the investigated system is a model system for several other non-selective ion channels in the human body. As she pointed out, physiologically and medically relevant in this context are the cyclic nucleotide-gated and hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels (CNG and HCN channels): "We know that CNG channels are important for vision and smell. Dysfunctional HCN channels are implicated in various neurological diseases such as epilepsy or autism."

Specific Ions Prefer Specific Channel Structures

On their path to discovering how the non-selective NaK channel works, the scientists used a combination of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and computer-assisted molecular dynamics simulations. The results revealed that the selectivity filter of the NaK channel dynamically changes between two structures. Each structure is conductive for one of the two ion types. Dr. Han Sun reports: "Surprisingly, the computer simulations showed that potassium ions passing through the NaK channel prefer the structure of a potassium selective channel, while the mechanism of the sodium ion passage is similar to the passage of sodium ions through a sodium selective ion channel." Until now, researchers believed that the structure of the selectivity filter is the same for sodium and potassium ion transport through the NaK channel.

To gather further evidence for the crucial role of the dynamic structure of the NaK selectivity filter, the scientists experimented with a mutated NaK channel (NaK2K double point mutation). This mutated NaK channel is conductive only for potassium ions. Professor Adam Lange gives an account of the results: "Our NMR investigations clearly revealed that the selectivity filter of this channel forms only a single structure."

Among other sources of financial support, the FMP scientists received funding from the DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft / German Research Foundation) as part of the funding for Research Group 2518 'Functional Dynamics of Ion Channels and Transporters'. The Norddeutscher Verbund fur Hoch- und Hoechstleistungsrechnen (HLRN; Northern German Association for Supercomputing) in Berlin allowed the FMP scientists to use their computing power. Conducting the molecular dynamics simulations would have been impossible without this assistance.
How does the father's age at conception affect his children? Researchers at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Disease (DZNE) and fellow scientists have studied this question in mice. Their findings, which have been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), show that the offspring of elderly mouse-fathers had a shorter lifespan than those of young fathers and featured an exacerbation of a number of histopathological and molecular aging traits. Moreover, sperm of old males as well as the tissue from old father offspring featured shared epigenetic changes and altered activation states of longevity-related signaling pathways. These results are indicative of intergenerational influences on aging processes and they could potentially be of relevance for a human context.

In Western societies, the average age of parenthood has become increasingly older. This is not without complications, as a mother's old age, for instance, has long been identified as a risk factor for child health. Moreover, it has turned out that an advanced age of the father at the time of conception can also have unfavorable consequences for offspring.

"Statistically, certain diseases occur more often in children of old fathers than in the offspring of young men. This is the case, for example, for psychiatric disorders such as autism or schizophrenia," explains Dr. Dan Ehninger, head of a research group at the DZNE's Bonn site. His team led the current study, which also involved scientists from the German Mouse Clinic in Munich and other institutions. "Associations between paternal age and health outcomes in offspring, described by a number of epidemiological studies, could arise for many reasons. We wanted to address whether age-related biological changes in the male germ line could underlie effects on offspring health. Our study was focused specifically on lifespan and aging-associated pathologies in old father offspring."

Mouse studies

The scientists assessed two groups of mice that included the descendants of young and old fathers, respectively. Young mouse-fathers were mated at an age of four months - an age that mice are considered as young adults - while the old fathers with an age of at least 21 months were already seniors. The mouse-mothers were all four months old. All fathers belonged to a genetically defined mouse strain. This also applied to the dams. All offspring grew up under the same living conditions and never had contact with their fathers. Rodents from both groups were examined at the age of six and 19 months, respectively.

"We looked at 13 biological parameters that had previously been shown to change during natural aging in mice. These included deposits in the kidneys, tissue changes in the lungs, as well as alterations in proteins associated with oxidative stress," says Prof. Martin Hrabe de Angelis, director of the German Mouse Clinic in Munich. Studies with descendants of old mouse-fathers have been performed previously, Hrabe de Angelis points out. "However, data are scarce with regards to paternal age effects on aging-associated changes in progeny."

Shorter lifespan

The studies revealed that age-associated traits were more pronounced in the 19-month-old offspring of elderly mice than in age-matched descendants of young fathers. "If you take our parameters as a reference, then you can certainly say that the descendants of the old mouse-fathers aged faster than the offspring of young fathers," says Dr. Kan Xie, a researcher in Ehninger's team and one of the first authors of the current publication. Paternal age effects were also evident with regards to lifespan: Offspring of young fathers showed a median lifespan about two months longer than that of peers with old fathers.

Control elements of the DNA

The scientists do not assume that the different development was caused by defects in the offspring's genome. "Comparing the two groups of mice, we found no significant differences in mutation rates, at least not with the methodology employed in the present study," says Ehninger. However, the researchers discovered alterations in the sperm of the fathers with regards to epigenetic marks of the genome carried by sperm. This concerned methyl groups attached to the DNA. These chemical modifications help to switch regions of the genome on and off, thus regulating gene activity.

"With regards to the methylation patterns of sperm, we observed notable differences between young and old mouse fathers. In fact, this may not be surprising, given that it has been known for some time that methylation can change with age and living conditions," explains Ehninger. Interestingly, the scientists discovered similar DNA methylation differences in offspring. "We noted an overlap between fathers and offspring, suggesting that these marks may have been passed on to the next generation." Ehninger explains that formerly it was assumed that paternal epigenetic marks are erased completely upon fusion of sperm and egg cell. "However, it is known nowadays that the process of clearing methylation marks from the paternal genome is incomplete."

In the current study, this affected genes with a role in the regulation of lifespan and aging-associated pathologies. "We could show that the offspring of old fathers showed an increased activation state of the mTORC1 signaling pathway. This pathway is known to be an important regulator of growth and many metabolic processes," says Ehninger.

What about humans?

What are the implications of these results for a human context? "What we have described here are fundamental mechanisms in a mammalian model organism. These could also be relevant for humans. However, whether this is the case and, if so, to what extent has not been tested by our study and remains unknown. In this respect, our results cannot be directly applied to humans," says Ehninger. As he points out, data on the extent to which epigenetic marks of human sperm change with age are limited so far. "However, our results provide a good reason to take a closer look at this."
Lauren Bond, a traveling nurse, has held licenses in five states and Washington, D.C. She maintains a detailed spreadsheet to keep track of license fees, expiration dates and the different courses each state requires.

The 27-year-old got into travel nursing because she wanted to work and live in other states before settling down. She said she wished more states accepted the multistate license, which minimizes the hassles nurses face when they want to practice across state lines.

"It would make things a lot easier  one license for the country and you are good to go," said Bond, who recently started a job in California, which does not recognize the multistate license.

The license, known as the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), was launched in 2000 to address nursing shortages and enable more nurses to practice telehealth. Under the agreement, registered nurses licensed in a participating state can practice in other NLC states without needing a separate license. They must still abide by the laws that govern nursing wherever their patients are located.

About half of the states joined the original compact, which was modeled on the portability of a driver's license. Some states that declined to sign on cited a major flaw: The agreement didn't require nurses to undergo federal fingerprint criminal background checks.

Last month, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing launched a new version of the NLC that requires those checks. Twenty-nine states have passed legislation to join the new agreement.

Jim Puente, who oversees the compact for the council, said he expects even more states to sign the agreement now that criminal background checks are required. He noted that nine states have legislation pending to join.

Among states participating in the new nurse licensing compact are Iowa, Kentucky, Tennessee, Delaware, Idaho and Arizona.

California does not plan to join the new compact, largely because of concern about maintaining state training and quality standards. The state, like many others, already requires nurses to undergo background checks. Washington, Oregon and Nevada are among the other states that do not accept the multistate license.

Proponents of the nurse licensing agreement  both the old and new versions  argue that it helps fill jobs in places where there aren't enough nurses and enables nurses to respond quickly to natural disasters across state lines.

"The nurse shortage tends to wax and wane regionally, so being able to move nurses where the needs are is really, really important," said Marcia Faller, chief clinical officer at AMN Healthcare, a San Diego-based medical staffing company that employs Bond. The multistate license "really helps with that mobility  to deliver care to patients across state lines."

Similar cross-state agreements exist for physicians, psychologists, emergency medical technicians and physical therapists.

In some states, the multistate nursing license is helpful because it streamlines the process for nurses doing case management or telehealth, said Sandra Evans, executive director of the Idaho Board of Nursing. Getting nurses to work in the rural areas of Idaho is a challenge, and hospitals often rely on telemedicine in places where the closest health care facility might be in Montana, she said.

Before Idaho joined the original NLC in 2001, nurses doing telehealth or case management needed numerous licenses to work across state lines, but now they "can travel virtually  electronically or telephonically  to help their clients," she said.

Joey Ridenour, executive director of the Arizona State Board of Nursing, said one of the biggest advantages of the compact for her state is that it allows authorities to share information and collaborate with other states to investigate and discipline problem nurses. "We are able to take action faster," she said.

Opponents of the compact argue that states have different standards, course requirements and guidelines and that nurses licensed in one state may lack the necessary knowledge or experience to practice in another one.

"The ability to control the standards of training and quality are of some concern to us," said Linda McDonald, president of United Nurses and Allied Professionals union in Rhode Island, which participated in the original NLC but hasn't signed on to the new one. "We want them trained in Rhode Island. We want them licensed in Rhode Island."

Nurses in California have similar concerns. "We really want to make sure that nurses who are entering our state and taking care of our patients are competent and qualified," said Catherine Kennedy, a Sacramento-area nurse who is secretary of the California Nurses Association. Some traveling nurses haven't been, she added.

Kennedy said California does not have difficulty recruiting nurses, even without the compact, because of the state's relatively high salaries and strict nurse-to-patient ratios in hospitals.

Research has shown that California's minimum nurse staffing requirements, which were the first in the nation, can reduce workloads and burnout, improve the quality of care and make it easier for hospitals to retain their nurses.

Massachusetts, which has never participated in the nurse licensing compact, requires nurses licensed there to take courses on treating victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, said Judith Pare, director of the division of nurses for the Massachusetts Nurses Association. If the state allowed out-of-state nurses to practice in Massachusetts without getting a license there, they wouldn't necessarily have that training, she noted.

Bond, the traveling nurse, said additional courses don't make her more qualified to do her job. "Across the board, wherever you go to nursing school, everybody comes out with a similar experience," said Bond, who works at UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica. "Then most of the training you are going to do is on the job."

Jenn Stormes works as a nurse and formally cares for her 18-year-old son, who has a severe seizure disorder and developmental disabilities. Stormes is licensed in Colorado, which participates in the multistate compact.

She has been able to use that license in some states. But she has also had to get several individual licenses so she can continue serving as her son's nurse in other states where the family travels for medical care. Stormes estimated she has spent about $2,000 on licenses.

"It took me over a year to get all these licenses," she said. "I had to prove to every state the same education, the same experience, the same fingerprints. I think it is a duplication of efforts and is a waste of everybody's time and money."

KHNs coverage in California is supported in part by Blue Shield of California Foundation.
What do bad sleep habits and stiff blood vessels have in common?

Nothing good, say scientists exploring what appears to be a direct connection between a circadian clock that isn't working as it should and an enzyme that promotes inflammation working overtime.

The connection appears to be between Bmal1, a transcription factor that senses light and drives our master circadian clock, and ADAM17, an enzyme that sets inflammation-producing proteins free from our cells to target and thicken our blood vessel walls.

The scientists, both vascular biologists at the Medical College of Georgia, are Dr. Dan Rudic, who studies the circadian rhythm that drives our sleep-wake cycle, and Dr. Zsolt Bagi, who made the connection between ADAM17 and stiff blood vessels.

Now they want to know: "Is it a direct connection?" says Rudic, who is thinking that Bmal1 may directly regulate ADAM17.

He and Bagi are co-principal investigators on a $2.2 million National Institutes of Health grant that is enabling them to explore the unhealthy relationship, with the goal of also identifying the best point to intervene.

Rudic's lab is among those that have seen the impact of a disrupted circadian rhythm on blood vessels. Mice without normal Bmal1 function have stiff blood vessels, age rapidly and die early. It essentially cuts their life span in half, from two years to one, and could potentially do the same in humans, Rudic says.

"Stiff blood vessels are probably one of the best surrogates of aging other than death," says Rudic.

In human tissue, Bagi has connected stiff blood vessels to high levels of ADAM17 and low levels of its natural inhibitor. He has watched the inflammation-producing proteins ADAM17 sets free into the bloodstream make a beeline for the heart, where they thicken and stiffen the walls of the tiny blood vessels that help feed the important muscle. Bagi's team found the same relationship in mice that they found in human blood vessels.

So the scientists put their heads together and wondered if these two causes of stiff blood vessels were connected. In fact, is the relationship between the two the primary mechanism of action for a messed up circadian clock causing stiff blood vessels?

"That is our best guess," Bagi says. They have early evidence that downregulation of the primary clock - which naturally occurs with aging as well as habits like sleeping fewer than five hours nightly, even from regularly consuming too much caffeine - prompts the unhealthy increase in ADAM17. "This is a novel and largely unexplored signal," Rudic says.

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States and stiff blood vessels are a major risk factor. They cause higher blood pressure and more difficulty delivering adequate blood and oxygen to our body, putting us at risk for heart attack, stroke, organ failure and more.

When we are young and healthy, our blood vessels have a consistency more like cooked noodles. "They are really flexible," says Rudic. With age, and/or with a dysfunctional circadian clock, our blood vessels add more collagen, a structural protein that helps provide strength to blood vessels, bone and skin, and less elastin, an also pervasive protein in our bodies that enables flexibility. In healthy blood vessels, collagen primarily resides in the adventitia, the outer most and strongest wall. In age and disease, it also moves heavily into the strong but flexible smooth muscle wall.

Events like a heart attack or habitual consumption of high-fat foods, can accelerate collagen deposition. Bagi has shown that so can high levels of ADAM17.

He and Rudic are looking at clock dysfunction and ADAM17 from many angles to answer questions like whether bringing down levels of ADAM17 reduces the stiffness associated with clock dysfunction. Bagi is working again with dysfunctional human blood vessels, using biochemical assays to this time also look at clock gene expression. "You get a footprint of what was," says Bagi, of the now disconnected blood vessels. Preliminary data indicates Bmal1 is down in this scenario, Bagi says.

Rudic is continuing to look at his Bmal1 knockout, and he is also this time looking at what happens to ADAM17 levels. His team is also looking at old mice to see if they find the inversely proportional levels of Bmal1 and ADAM17. They are looking at what happens when both ADAM17 and Bmal1 are MIA. They also are looking at what happens when they just inhibit ADAM17, which could be a good target for reducing arterial stiffness, or improve Bmal1 function. To examine the relationship from one more angle, Bagi worked with MCG Vascular Biology Center Director, Dr. David Fulton, to come up with a version of ADAM17 that's missing its enzymatic activity - and so the ability to cleave proinflammatory proteins - to see if that makes the aged mice healthier.

The master clocks in our brain control the sleep-wake cycle and can control the myriad of clocks found across our bodies, but so can other factors. Food, for example, can reset the clocks in our liver, Rudic says.

While age causes a natural decline in our clock function, some lifestyles can also alter function and accelerate negative results like arterial stiffness.

Shift work, for example, clearly disrupts the normal circadian rhythm that makes us want to sleep at night and function in the daylight. It's considered a risk factor for hypertension, inflammation and cardiovascular disease. A study published in the journal PNAS in 2016 and led by scientists at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, showed more about how. They found short-term circadian misalignment - just three days of swapping normal sleep-wake cycles - increased 24-hour blood pressure and inflammatory markers in healthy adults.

A myriad of other factors can also disrupt a healthy rhythm from frequent jet lag to eating in the middle of the night, which technically upsets our liver clocks, which can in turn impact metabolism and vascular function, Rudic says. Even consuming too many energy drinks and too much caffeine, alcohol and nicotine can disrupt our sleep and so our circadian rhythms.

The importance of a happy circadian rhythm to our well-being even has some putting automatic dimmers on their phones, Rudic says.

ADAM17 is crucial to normal blood vessel development but high levels also are suspect in diseases like Alzheimer's and arthritis. Obesity also increases levels of ADAM17.

MCG cardiothoracic surgeons Drs. Vijay Patel and Vinayak Kamath are providing fresh blood vessels and other tissue to Bagi that must be removed as part of heart surgery.

Bagi is an associate professor in the MCG Vascular Biology Center and Department of Medicine. Rudic is an associate professor in the MCG Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and an associate member of the Vascular Biology Center.
Five years ago, Matthew Moody was killed during an observational flight when the two-seater plane he was in crashed flying over a canyon in Chico.

Michael Moody knew his 26-year-old son had been mining bitcoins  today worth thousands of dollars each  but had no idea how many he had or how to find them. Michael Moody has spent the past three years seeking the answers.

My son was actually one of the earliest people to mine it, said Moody, a retired software engineer. He used his computer at home to mine bitcoins when you actually could do it that way, and he had a few, we think.

The decentralized and unregulated nature of bitcoin means that without the keys to access his sons digital wallet, hosted by Blockchain.info, Moody has no way of accessing any funds.

And its almost impossible to find out whether a person is sitting on peanuts or a fortune, as wallets can contain an unlimited number of unique addresses, or identifiers, with bitcoins assigned to each.

Without knowing every address, its not possible to locate every piece of currency.

Blockchain.info did not respond to requests for comment on this story.

There is no authority that could be appealed to fix this, Nolan Bauerle, director of research at cryptocurrency analysis website CoinDesk, said of an individuals bitcoin stash becoming inaccessible after dying. Those coins would be abandoned.

Moody says entrepreneurial young people, unfamiliar with emerging digital currencies, need to be better educated about the steps needed to be taken to ensure their investments are properly secured, both for themselves and for heirs.

In the 1990s, your digital legacy might have just meant email accounts, but today extends to passwords, encrypted device backups, photo archives, personal data held by search engines, advertisers and social networks  and now cryptocurrencies.

Issues around inheritance include initial coin offerings, the process of raising money from investors by offering them virtual tokens instead of shares. In 2017, about $3.5 billion was raised worldwide from initial coin offerings, according to CoinDesk.

The relatively nascent practice of holding an initial coin offering means legislation is yet to catch up, and questions about what happens to peoples tokens when they die are numerous.

But following a number of lawsuits, lawmakers will soon decide whether a token acquired from an offering will be considered no different to a share bought through an IPO.

My bet is that (initial coin offerings), when issued by a company, theyre going to be considered securities, said Peter Henning, a professor at Wayne State University Law School and veteran SEC and Justice Department lawyer. If they are securities, then just like stock or bonds you can put them in your will and pass them down.

European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said that blockchain technology is quite promising but that the value of bitcoin oscillates wildly. Of all things, I would not call bitcoin a currency for this reason. He said the central bank remains very interested in the blockchain, which underpins cryptocurrencies.

Some firms are beginning to make provisions. CoinBase is a custodial service, which holds a customers private keys  the kind that if lost would otherwise render any bitcoins permanently inaccessible  and as such is able to provide some level of security in the event of a persons death. The company asks for documents such as a death certificate and will in order to transfer the assets.

Its not a solution that some enthusiasts will be keen to use, as the idea of someone else being in custody of bitcoins is antithetical to decentralized, user-controlled ethos that sparked an interest in the anonymous currency in the first place.

CoinBase declined to comment for this story.

The safekeeping of a private key remains the bottleneck regarding the inheritance of bitcoins. French startup Ledger, which in January raised $75 million from investors, makes electronic bitcoin wallets.

These use USB dongles to store passwords for accessing and spending cryptocurrency. Of course, if your heirs cant find the dongle or dont recognize it for what it is, the problem remains.

Ian Purton, CEO of the StrongCoin digital wallet service, said its an issue that has arisen as the industry matures, and people start to consider family and what would happen to their digital assets.

When we first started out it was all about how we can best secure bitcoin from hackers, he said. Now, our focus is also on protecting users who may be unfamiliar with cryptography.
NEWTOWN -- Sources and family members have confirmed that Victoria Leigh Soto, a first-grade teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary School, was among those killed in the shooting Friday.

Soto, 27, a 2003 graduate of Stratford High School, reportedly shielded her first-grade students from Adam Lanza's gunfire with her own body.

According to a Facebook post being circulated by teachers, Soto was a hero.

When she became aware there was a gunman in the school, she hid her first-graders in closets and cabinets, then told the shooter they were in the gym.

He turned the gun on Soto, killing her, but none of her students were harmed.

In a Tweet Saturday morning, Soto's sister, Carlee said, "Hug your loved ones an (sic) tell them how much you love them because you never know when you'll see them again. Do this in honor of Vicki."

Carlee Soto said a candle lighting would be held at Stratford High School Saturday at 7 p.m. in honor of her sister.

In a posting on a Facebook page, Vicki Soto wrote about her life.

"In my free time I love to spend time with black lab, Roxie. I love spending time with my brother, sisters and cousins,' she wrote. "I love to spend time reading books on the beach soaking up the sun. I also love flamingos and the New York Yankees."

Soto graduated from Eastern Connecticut State University with a degree in elementary education and history and was attending Southern Connecticut State University for a master's degree in special education.

Early Friday morning, Soto went to the school library to find what she called the "perfect" book for her first-graders that day, Soto's colleague, Yvonne Cech, the library media specialist, said Saturday.

Cech said it was just before 9 a.m. when she helped Soto find the book, "What Do You Do with a Tail Like This?" by Steve Jenkins. The book explores amazing things animals can do with their ears, eyes, mouths, noses, feet, and tails.

"She was amazing and a wonderful teacher,'' Cech said.

Soto checked the book out herself, and as she was on her way back to her class she told Cech she was expecting some parents to visit.

"She loved her kids. It seemed that at the start of each year she loved them automatically,'' Cech said.

Soto was close to her family, Cech said; her mother helped her shop for books and her brother helped her set up her classroom in the summer.

"I saw her at the opening of a new bookstore in Newtown a couple of weeks ago with her whole, supportive family," Cech said. "She had a lovely family."

Soto, who taught at the school for five years, was described by one of her deeply distraught, 10-year-old boy pupils as "really nice and funny."

She was trying to shield her students and usher them into a closet when she came face-to-face with the gunman, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Soto's cousin, Jim Wiltsie, said: "She put herself between the gunman and the children and that's when she was tragically shot and killed."

Wiltsie told the Telegraph. "I'm just proud that Vicki had the instincts to protect her kids from harm. It brings peace to know that Vicki was doing what she loved, protecting the children and in our eyes she's a hero," he added.

The post being circulated by teachers on Facebook originated with this post, accompanied by a picture:

"This is Victoria Soto, and although I didn't know her, she is my hero. I don't know too much about her, but I know a lot of people who do know her and she's amazing. Victoria was a Stratford high graduate and only 27. She was killed today after she hid her first graders in closets and cabinets and told the shooter they were in the gym. He killed her and not one of her children were harmed. I have never been more proud to be from Stratford or to be a teacher. God bless Victoria, her family and friends, and all of those who were involved today in anyway. Victoria is a true hero."

A friend posted on her Tumblr account a tribute to Soto: "I talked to Vicki Tuesday and she told me that she loved her 16 angels and never wanted to let them go. Today when the shooting started Vicki hid her kids in closets and when the gunman came into her room she told them the class was in gym. She was then murdered. Not one of her students were harmed. Words can not express how heartbreaking and tragic this. I will miss you dearly."
Elon Musks Boring Company has been given an early, and vague, building permit to begin some extremely preliminary work on a section of an underground Hyperloop tunnel in DC.

DC officials have not committed to the project long-term yet. DC Department of Transportation is examining what kinds of further permissions the Boring Company would need to send its massive tunnel-digging drills under city roads and publicly owned land.

Musk has support from White House aide Jared Kushner and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan.

Picture of The Boring Company LA tunnel taken yesterday pic.twitter.com/TfdVKyXFsJ  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 28, 2017
State democrats are taking a laissez-faire approach to narrowing the field of gubernatorial candidates, leaving it up to regional groups and town committees to organize candidate forums.

Its a move experts say is uncharacteristic of the party.

Its usually Democrats, nationally, that have rules that apply to everything that the local parties can do, said Scott McLean, chairman of the Political Science Department at Quinnipiac University. Its the Democrats that dont like to leave it open, and heres a reversal of that and I honestly dont know why. On the other hand, the Republicans have taken this very strict approach because it would be chaos to let everyone get in on a debate.

Other than promotion of the events, the party is not providing any guidance or oversight for the forums, which will include time for meeting the public and answering questions on stage. It is a stark contrast to the formal approach taken by the Connecticut GOP.

We just feel that because there are so many (candidates) and because so many of these local organizations have stepped up to have these forums, it can give the opportunity for these candidates to reach out on a more micro-level, said Christina Polizzi, spokesperson for the State Democratic Party. It just seems like the need isnt there for us to step in and host our own event given they have a platform. As of right now we just dont know that theres a need for it.

The East Hartford Democratic Town Committee will host a regional forum and networking event Wednesday in East Hartford. Candidates Susan Bysiewicz, Jacey Wyatt, Dita Bhargava, Luke Bronin, Jonathan Harris, Guy Smith, Ned Lamont and Sean Connolly will participate in the forum moderated by Bill Doak, editor of the East Hartford Gazette. The event is free and open to the public.

On the other side of the state, the Connecticut Republican party will host an organized formal debate in which only invited candidates may participate. The debate will be held at Notre Dame High School in West Haven with general admission tickets available for $5 or $25 for premium seating.

These debates are to generate excitement and conversation, State GOP Chairman J.R. Romano said. This is the point. Its meant to energize and really force the conversation.

Audrey Blondin, a Democratic State Central Committee member from Torrington and the organizer of a forum scheduled for March 1 in Torrington, said the purpose of a forum  as opposed to a debate  is to offer voters the chance to meet candidates, rather than focus on debating specific issues.

To me a debate is a more formal process and a pointed exchange of opinions and ideas, she said A forum, which is what were hosting, is more of a get-to-know-you. Its an opportunity for the public and the voters and the activists to get to know the candidates and some of their ideas and some of their positions and what they stand for and what direction theyd like to see the state go in, as opposed to interaction among themselves. This is very much more set up as an interaction between the forum participants and the public.

McLean said the differing approaches could be the result of so many candidates throwing their name in the hat for a chance at the governors seat, a trend thats caused headaches for the party committees as they try to figure out the logistics of including everyone on stage. More than two dozen candidates across the political spectrum have either officially declared they are running or are exploring the possibility.

Part of this is that the situation in our state is such that being the governor of Connecticut is not a real great job right now, McLean said. Its not an easy thing to do. A lot of people are running because Hey, why not. Theres no major obvious leading candidate in either party. Its like the contagion effect. When theres a large number of people running, it just encourages more people to run, because they think its anyones seat, anyones election to run.

kkrasselt@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2563; @kaitlynkrasselt
HARTFORD  Taking a cue from Hollywood, Connecticut legislators said times up to sexual harassment and sexual assault Tuesday with a package of laws that aim to expand reporting, improve workplace training and eliminate secret settlements.

As a society, we are in the midst of a national reckoning concerning sexual harassment and sexual assault, said Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney D-New Haven in a news conference at the Capitol Tuesday. The Times Up Act represents the largest overhaul in the modern history of Connecticuts sexual harassment and sexual assault laws.

Senate Republicans dismissed the Democrats proposals as a ploy to grab headlines.

In Connecticut, Republican and Democrat lawmakers have a history of working together to improve sexual harassment prevention policies right here in the General Assembly, said Senate Republican President Pro Tempore Len Fasano R-North Haven in a statement Tuesday. Leaders have continued our effort together again this year working with Legislative Management to revisit policies that were last updated in 2014. Yet at no point in those conversations did Senate Democrats bring up the policies they announced to the press today. Its disappointing to see a lack of effort to work with their colleagues together on an issue as important as sexual harassment prevention.

The laws proposed by Senate Democrats would extend the deadline for a victim of harassment to file a complaint with the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) from six months to two years. Instead of a 90 day deadline to file a suit in court after CHRO has released jurisdiction of the case, the victim would have two years to file. They also seek to eliminate the statute of limitations for all felony sexual assault crimes.

These are very strict timelines that, in many cases, impede the case from being brought, Looney said.

Senate Democrats also hope to strengthen the powers of CHRO to act on cases. Their legislation would give the Commission the power to petition the court for punitive damages for sexual harassment and other employment discrimination. They advocate for allowing temporary injunctive relief for victims who work for employers with three or more employees, not the current 50 employee threshold.

The legislators suggested that the CHRO, a mandatory stop for state remedies for sexual harassment, does not have adequate resources to do its job. The CHRO currently has 66 employees and less than half of those has the authority to investigate sexual harassment claims, said Senator Marilyn Moore D-Bridgeport. Meanwhile, the Commission received 158 complaints of sexual harassment in 2017.

We must provide more investigative and enforcement capacity at the agency, said Moore.

In the work place, Senate Democrats said sexual harassment training should take place at all employers with three or more staff members, instead of the current 50 or more limit. Training should also be required of all employees, not just supervisors.

Employers should have to email staff at least once a year with notice of sexual harassment policies and remedies, in addition to posting this information in the office, Senate Democrats said. Their legislative proposal would also significantly increase the fine for employers who fail to provide this notice, up from the current $250 fine.

Employees simply dont know their rights, and they dont know the protections that exist under the current law, said Senator Beth Bye D-West Hartford. This is not a small change. This is a really important change.

As for non-disclosure agreements and secret settlements, Senator Terry Gerratana D-New Britain said they should be eliminated because they allow harassers to act again and prevent victims from warning others.

It is time to stop this duplicity, Gerratana said.

The Times Up Act will be raised by Senate Democrats in the legislative Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, Looney said.

Fasano argued that Democrats have ignored other proposals this year that could be detrimental for public safety and Connecticut women.

Connecticuts Democrat governor is proposing legislation that would let sex offenders out of prison early and cap the amount of years those offenders could be on parole, he said. If Democrats truly cared about making Connecticut safer, where is the outrage about the governors proposal regarding those who have committed sexual assault? Why are they silent on that issue, but vocal on others?

Sexual harassment is currently prohibited by the Connecticut Discrimination Employment Practice Act and in federal law, by Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Connecticut law defines sexual harassment as any unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors or any conduct of any conduct of a sexual nature when submission is either explicitly or implicitly a term of employment, rejection of the behavior might jeopardize employment or the behavior interferes with a persons work performance or creates an intimidating or hostile work environment.

Examples include unwanted touching, hugs or kisses, lewd remarks, requests for sexual favors or pornographic posters or drawings. The harasser may be a man or a woman and the victim does not have to be of the opposite sex, the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission specifies.
North Augusta, SC (29841)

Today

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High near 75F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Rain showers early becoming more intermittent overnight. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
The cryptocurrency craze continues as a sovereign state and a controversial celebrity become involved in the virtual currency (VC) industry. Venezuela's government has made its "petro" currency available in a presale launch, while Steven Seagal has been promoting a digital currency called Bitcoiin 2Gen.

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For cryptocurrency investors who have become bored buying into Bitcoin, Ethereum or any of the other well-known VCs, today is something of a watershed moment. Firstly, the worlds first sovereign cryptocurrency has been involved in a presale launch, and if thats not enough for potential digital currency buyers to get excited about there is also an Initial Coin Offering (ICO) for a cryptocurrency backed by a major film star. These are heady times for the VC industry.

The state and star involved are Venezuela and Steven Seagal, respectively. Venezuela has been advertising a presale launch for its petro cryptocurrency which is apparently backed by millions of barrels of oil. Considering Venezuelas economy has been crippled for years now, it seems President Nicolas Maduros solution to that particular issue is to enter the VC market and sell millions of petros. Unsurprisingly, the US Treasury has warned potential petro investors to exercise caution.

If Venezuelan cryptocurrency doesnt seem like a good investment, perhaps a VC backed by internationally renowned martial arts master Steven Seagal would be a better option? It appears that the actor has been proclaimed worldwide ambassador for a cryptocurrency called Bitcoiin 2Gen (the double i is intentional, so you can tell its not Bitcoin). This seems to be an opportunity for investors who, like the currencys new ambassador, like to kick butt and live dangerously. Speculation that Bitcoiin 2Gen is based on a pyramid scheme will likely be disconcerting for wise investors.


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There is precedent for credit card issuers to ban the purchase of completely legal products. Just this month, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup and Bank of America banned the use of their cards to buy Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

To be clear: Those three banks wont let you use your credit card to buy Bitcoin, but they will happily let you use it to buy an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle  the same kind of gun used in mass shootings in Parkland; Newtown, Conn.; San Bernardino, Calif.; Las Vegas; and Sutherland Springs, Tex.

Visa, oddly enough, is the card of choice of the N.R.A.: There is actually an N.R.A.-branded Visa card issued by First Bankcard, a division of First National Bank of Omaha. And Mastercard proudly announced last year that it was the branded card for Cabelas, an outdoor gear megastore with a seemingly limitless assault-weapon catalog.

Visa spokesmen did not reply to several emails seeking comment. A spokesman for Mastercard sent a boilerplate statement that expressed disgust with recent events, including last week in Florida.

Our payments network is governed by standards that have been established over time, the statement said. Chief among these is that we do not and will not permit merchants to engage in unlawful activity on our network. He said the company would continue to talk to customers and lawmakers about its policies.

If Visa and Mastercard are unwilling to act on this issue, the credit card processors and banks that issue credit cards could try. Jamie Dimon, chief executive of JPMorgan Chase, which issues credit cards and owns a payment processor, has talked about how he and his bank have a moral obligation but also a deeply vested interest in helping solve pressing societal challenges. This is your chance, Mr. Dimon.
Her farm, Lovejoy Brook, in the small town of Andover, in south-central Vermont, was once one of a dozen dairy farms within a 10-mile radius. Today, it is the last, having survived in part because Ms. Ratcliff had diversified early as others were squeezed out by the unforgiving economics of small farming, which she also faced.

Its been a struggle from Day 1 to make ends meet, to find enough money to keep the barn from falling down at the same time as youre buying feed for the animals, she said in an interview in 2009 with Jenny Attiyeh, a journalist who had grown up visiting Ms. Ratcliff in the summers.

You dont do it for a profit, she said.

Over the years, Ms. Ratcliff made conservative investments, cut back her herd size, sold off parcels of her original 225 acres and kept working. Even as her health declined, she continued to ride atop her tractor, toting her oxygen tank.

You dont spend your life making a creation  be it a painting or a farm or a family  for it to disappear when you die, she told Ms. Attiyeh. Having no heirs, she left the farm, now 84 acres with about 50 animals, to her manager, Dwayne Nichols.

Lydia Lawrence Ratcliff was born on Oct. 12, 1933, in a Manhattan hospital to the former Marie Francoise Tonetti and John Drury Ratcliff and grew up in the exclusive enclave of Snedens Landing in Palisades, N.Y., on the west bank of the Hudson River. Her father, a journalist and author, contributed to several magazines, most prominently Readers Digest and Time, where he covered science and medical news.

Lydia was the oldest of five children, one of whom died in infancy; another sibling, William, who was known as Tony, died in 2016. Besides her brother John, she is survived by a sister, Alexandra Richardson.

Ms. Ratcliff attended the Putney School in Vermont and Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania; when her family moved to Italy, she spent her junior year in Paris at the Sorbonne. She finished college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
This has been an emotional week. We greet tragedies like the school shooting in Florida with shock, sadness, mourning and grief that turns into indignation and rage. The anger inevitably gets directed at the N.R.A., those who support gun rights, and the politicians who refuse to do anything while children die.

Many of us walked this emotional path. But we may end up doing more harm than good. If theres one thing weve learned, it is that guns have become a cultural flash point in a nation that is unequal and divided. The people who defend gun rights believe that snobbish elites look down on their morals and want to destroy their culture. If we end up telling such people that they and their guns are despicable, they will just despise us back and dig in their heels.

So if you want to stop school shootings its not enough just to vent and march. Its necessary to let people from Red America lead the way, and to show respect to gun owners at all points. There has to be trust and respect first. Then we can strike a compromise on guns as guns, and not some sacred cross in the culture war.

So Ive been thinking about a group thats in the trust and respect business. Better Angels is a nonprofit led by David Lapp, David Blankenhorn and a prominent family therapist, Bill Doherty. The team members travel from town to town finding members of the Red and Blue Tribes and bringing them together for long, humbling conversations.
Heres a warning to the Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, and other environmentally inclined Senate Democrats, like Sheldon Whitehouse and Ed Markey: A legislative minefield lies dead ahead, pocked with destructive amendments of Republican origin hostile to clean air, clean water, endangered species and fragile landscapes. And heres a plea: Stop these measures from becoming law.

Following its approval of the big budget deal on Feb. 9, Congress began writing the dozen appropriations bills that direct federal dollars to specific agencies. These bills are likely to be incorporated in one giant omnibus spending measure to be negotiated over the next few weeks by House and Senate leaders in advance of the March 23 expiration of the continuing budget resolution that has kept the government going.

Given its urgency, the bill is fertile ground for the kind of mischief the Republicans in particular have been notorious for over the years  loading up must-pass bills like this one with provisions, known as riders, that in most cases could not survive on their own and thus need protective cover. In years past, such riders were usually inserted at the last minute on the House or Senate floor. Here they are in plain sight, having been approved in earlier votes or endorsed by powerful committee chairmen or chairwomen who will do their level best to make sure they are included in the final bill. Mr. Schumer can prevent that from happening. The Democrats are effectively 49 in number, the Republicans 51. By holding his party together, he can deny the Republicans the 60 votes they need to overcome a filibuster  ensuring a clean bill, and a cleaner environment.

Public interest groups have counted nearly 90 of these riders, but here are several of the worst:

Clean water In 2015, the Obama administration adopted a landmark rule intended to clarify and broaden protections for smaller streams and wetlands vital to the countrys drinking water and wildlife. Although the bill simply reaffirmed the reach of the original 1972 Clean Water Act, developers and big farmers complained to Scott Pruitt, the industry-friendly head of the Environmental Protection Agency, who has begun the lengthy process of replacing the rule with something more favorable to commercial interests. Thats not fast enough for the leaders of three separate appropriations panels  in the House, the interior and environment subcommittee and the energy and water development subcommittee; and in the Senate, the interior and environment subcommittee  who are pushing nearly identical riders that would kill the rule right away, without consulting the public or conducting the scientific analysis required by law.
After an indictment leveled against 13 Russians for interfering with the 2016 election President Donald Trump repeated that there was no collusion.
Straight off a red-eye flight from New York on Friday morning, the model Adwoa Aboah steps into the thick of London Fashion Week. She stops briefly at her parents house  she lives in Brooklyn, but stays with her family in Notting Hill when shes in town  to change into a Molly Goddard tulle dress before heading to 180 Strand, the official venue of LFW, to deliver a rousing speech on the treatment of models, diversity and the importance of supporting emerging talent as the British Fashion Councils newly appointed ambassador for positive fashion.

Unlike many in her line of work, Aboah is an activist first, model second. Her list of projects includes Gurls Talk, a charity she set up with the intention of raising awareness around mental health and female empowerment; working with Times Up and Save the Children; art directing, alongside the photographer Juergen Teller, the Burberry campaigns in which she stars; writing a monthly column for British Vogue, where she is a contributing editor; and, over the next few weeks, walking in the fashion shows of both emerging and established designers. In London, many of them are her friends.

Fresh from the podium, shes ready for a day of fittings and shows, taking opportune moments to nap in her car in between. First up is the emerging designer Ashley Williams, a friend of Aboahs, who is hosting fittings in her Hackney home because of a flood in her studio. After Aboah arrives, the stylist Julia Sarr-Jamois pulls out a tie-dye hoodie printed with the words Dont Know, Dont Care. That is so you right now, teases Sian Steel, Aboahs agent, as the model stifles yawns. A sequin jacket catches her eye. Can I wear this to the reception at the palace on Monday? she asks Williams. The last time I went to the palace I came straight from the Tate gift shop in a yellow tracksuit.

Next, Aboah departs for the industrial Truman Brewery in Shoreditch for a fitting with the York-based designer Matty Bovan. Both Bovans and Williamss shows are later that day, but before that, Aboah will also squeeze in a visit to Burberry HQ (stopping at Pret a Manger on the way) for a final fitting before the big show the following night, Christopher Baileys last as creative director of the house. Inside Burberrys corporate-looking building, giant pictures of Aboah line the slick reception area. She pauses to pose for a picture with herself. The billboards are unretouched except for the removal of the diamond Chanel tooth jewel she has on her front tooth. I got it three years ago, she smiles. Before this, it was a Playboy bunny.
Some state officials say the Russian attacks that made news in 2016 were misconstrued, and perhaps exaggerated, because federal officials failed to say quickly and clearly what was going on. Of the 21 states that were targeted by the Russians then, only one  Illinois  suffered a known breach of an election-related database, and that breach was contained. Most of the other states appear to have experienced little more than digital probing for weak spots in their computer defenses, a routine occurrence.

My state was one of the 21 states that they tried to get into, Kim Wyman, the Republican secretary of state in Washington, said in an interview. There were a couple of I.P. addresses where we saw activity that wasnt normal. We blocked them, and we found out later that they were Russian. So our system worked: They sort of went around the house, checked the doors and couldnt get in.

On our system, tens of thousands of those attempts are made daily. Some of those attempts are by Russians. But we also have criminals, and kids who just want to prove they can get into a system.

The 27-member coordinating council was created in part to keep state and local election officials apprised of new threats. But at the secretaries of states meeting in Washington, some state election officials said that had yet to happen.

Ms. Wyman said she found out only last week that Homeland Security experts had met weeks ago with her states chief information officer to discuss security issues, including some involving elections systems. What Im hearing from my colleagues around the country is that this is not unique, she said. My job is to instill confidence in the public that our elections are secure, that they can have full faith that their vote was counted accurately and wasnt hacked. And if I dont have all the information, its very hard to combat that.

In California, a federal explanation of Russias targeting of state election systems was a year late, and was not exactly accurate, said Mr. Padilla, the secretary of state there. As it turned out, he said, the state computer systems the Russian hackers had scanned were not related to election networks.

Progress on setting up new lines of federal-state communication has been similarly glacial, Mr. Padilla said. It took until November for the government coordinating council to be created and formalized, he said. This week was meeting No. 2. For the last year, theres been a lot of frustration about the lack of frequency or even the quality of information.

Mr. Padilla said he was hopeful that the commitment to new openness that federal officials offered would produce improvements. Time will tell, he said. But depending on the state, the primary is maybe a handful of weeks away, or a couple of months away.
WASHINGTON  President Trump said on Monday that Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee and his frequent political adversary, had his blessing to run to replace Senator Orrin G. Hatch of Utah, who will retire at the end of the year.

He will make a great Senator and worthy successor, Mr. Trump wrote on Twitter, and has my full support and endorsement!

The endorsement began yet another chapter in a fraught political relationship defined by bruising intraparty battles. Mr. Romneys camp has privately mulled how far he should go to embrace a president whose candidacy he excoriated as bad for American democracy. And on Friday, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, publicly urged the president to support Mr. Romney.

We dont want to lose the seat, Mr. McConnell said in an interview with The New York Times, and this looks like a pretty formidable candidate.
Its unsettling, shocking and surprising, she said in an interview.

Mr. Porter graduated from Harvard in 2002 with a degree in government. According to The Harvard Gazette, a magazine published by the university, he chaired the universitys chapter of Students for Bush, in addition to his work with the Republican Club.

A year after he graduated, Mr. Porter and Ms. Holderness were married. The two were in love but sometimes argued over Mr. Porters ambition, according to two people who were close to both during their marriage. In 2005, Ms. Holderness said that Mr. Porter punched her while the two were on vacation in Europe, and that he later took photos of a black eye she sustained during their argument. In 2008, Mr. Porter and Ms. Holderness divorced.

By late 2009, he was married to Jennifer Willoughby. Months later, she filed a restraining order against him for trying to enter her apartment while they were separated.

Through his personal struggles, Mr. Porter had support from his father, whose influence in Washington helped him secure jobs there.

His dad had a very strong hand in decisions that he made, Ms. Willoughby recalled, and also sometimes made connections for Rob. She, like his first wife, is Mormon as well.

When he arrived on Capitol Hill in 2011, Mr. Porter was seen by many who knew him as confident and capable. Several colleagues say Mr. Porter was a consummate professional. As a chief counsel for Senator Mike Lee, Republican of Utah, Mr. Porter reprimanded an aide who made an inappropriate comment toward a woman who worked in the office, according to two people who worked there at the time.

Ive known Rob for several years, as both a friend and a co-worker, Ellen James, who worked with Mr. Porter in Mr. Lees office, wrote in an email. I was never aware of any of the allegations that have become public over the last few days. To my knowledge, he always treated everyone with the utmost respect and professionalism in the workplace.
Ms. Monsons dancing partner is Mauriah Kraker, a graduate student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Ms. Monson is on the faculty there, splitting her time between New York and Illinois, where she started outdoor rehearsals a year ago.

Ms. Monson wants to hold on to the feeling of being outdoors, but also to give it a concrete base. Its researching the basics of the physics of sight and sound and movement, she said in an interview at the Chocolate Factory in Long Island City, Queens. Ive had to question a lot of my own assumptions about what development is or what composition is, and this piece has let me resist some of my patterns and just let something emerge out of the way were working together.

It was through those morning rehearsals that she and her collaborators began to shape their experiences into a production that doesnt recreate dawn, but offers a different sense of time and place. Its in the title: When somethings bent, Ms. Monson said, it creates a tension. Its like being a pervert, she said with a smile. Not straight. A friction against whats obvious.

Here are edited excepts from the interview with Ms. Monson and several of her collaborators.

Could you describe what you and your collaborators do on the prairie?
There is a quiet, noble experiment going on with the Metropolitan Operas first revival in 25 years of Rossinis Semiramide, which opened on Monday and runs through March 17.

The Met has lately embraced bel canto works it long ignored  Anna Bolena, La Sonnambula, La Donna del Lago, Armida, Guillaume Tell, Le Comte Ory  and has even made hits out of them. But it has done so almost invariably with stars to anchor the productions. Renee Fleming, Anna Netrebko, Natalie Dessay, Joyce DiDonato, Juan Diego Florez, Diana Damrau: These are the kind of names who have tended to bring operas by Rossini, Donizetti and Bellini to the Met.

Theres no one on that level of renown in this Semiramide. So the question is: Can one of the grand, stylized ocean liners of early-19th-century opera flourish  can the Met, with 4,000 seats to fill and an audience raised with a great-performers fetish, survive  with a cast that isnt particularly glamorous but is, merely, excellent?
 President Trumps lawyer made headlines over his $130,000 payment to silence a pornographic film actress. But thats just one example of his behind-the-scenes efforts to protect his employer. [The New York Times]

 A Spanish trial of a Russian lawmaker and 17 others on money-laundering charges could shed light on ties between organized crime and Russias elite. [ProPublica]

 Readers, including a former member of the Hungarian Parliament, share their opinions on Prime Minister Viktor Orbans increasingly autocratic rule. [The New York Times  Letters to the Editor]

 Oxfam, one of Britains largest charities, said three employees who were the subject of a 2011 inquiry into sexual misconduct in Haiti physically threatened a witness. [The New York Times]

 In memoriam: Gunter Blobel, the Nobel laureate who laid some of the foundations of modern cell biology, died at 81. [The New York Times]

Smarter Living

Tips, both new and old, for a more fulfilling life.
Grocery is being hit by multiple factors, said Gerald Storch, the former chief executive of the retailer Hudsons Bay.

The pharmacy business, too, is undergoing major changes, with the nations largest operators of drugstores pursuing mergers to control costs and increase profits.

In December, the drugstore giant CVS Health said it would merge with the health insurer Aetna in a $69 billion deal that could reshape the way health care is delivered in the United States. That deal came together after a federal judge blocked Aetnas proposed merger with rival Humana last year.

Rite Aid had previously sought to bulk up by merging with Walgreens. Negotiations between two of the biggest drugstore chains in the United States ended after antitrust authorities indicated they were unlikely to approve the combination. Instead, Rite Aid agreed last year to sell 1,932 stores and three distribution centers to Walgreens for $4.38 billion.

Amazons specter also looms over the health care field. The company recently teamed up with Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase to form an independent health care company to serve the three firms employees and potentially revamp the broader industry.

For Albertsons, the Rite Aid deal is just the latest step to draw in more customers.

In November, the company reached an agreement with Instacart to provide on-demand grocery-delivery services. It also invested last year in El Rancho Supermercado, a Texas-based retailer focused on stores for Latino customers.

Originally founded by Joe Albertson in Boise, Idaho, in 1939, Albertsons grew primarily across the West. In 2013, it was acquired by a group of investors led by the private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management for about $3 billion.
Quoting tiny fractions suggests content on Facebook gets drowned out in a torrent of information. But the companys whole business model is based on giving ads and posts prominence in the feeds of well-targeted users.

Questions for Facebook:

Has Facebook performed any analyses that looks at smaller groups of people? If so, can Facebook share them? And how did the ads perform before and after the election?

To what extent did Russia target swing states?

Mr. Muellers latest indictment says that, after the middle of 2016, Russians often talked about targeting purple states, or those in which the number of Republican and Democratic voters are close. The indictment also describes the Russians as focused on Florida, which Mr. Trump ended up winning.

On or about August 4, 2016, Defendants and their co-conspirators created and purchased Facebook advertisements for the Florida Goes Trump rally. The advertisements reached over 59,000 Facebook users in Florida, and over 8,300 Facebook users responded to the advertisements by clicking on it.

Others have asserted in the past that Russia did not appear to focus its social media efforts on swing states. As Senator Richard Burr, Republican of North Carolina and chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, noted last year:

What you havent heard is that almost five times more ads were targeted at Maryland than Wisconsin. Maryland, which was targeted by 262 ads in comparison to Wisconsins 55, wasnt up for grabs; it was a state the Democratic candidate carried by 26 percent.

Questions for Facebook:

Do the companys records show that Russia-backed ads and posts reached a higher number of people in certain states or regions of the United States? If so, how responsive were Facebook users in those targeted regions to the Russian posts and ads?

The Russia-backed groups were incredibly successful at gaining followers.

Jonathan Albright, research director at the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia, has done revealing work on Facebooks Russia-linked pages that is more detailed than anything the company has made public. Mr. Albrights data, obtained using CrowdTangle, an analytics tool owned by Facebook, shows the speed with which the Russia-backed groups grew.
Qualcomm on Tuesday increased its takeover bid for rival chip maker NXP Semiconductors to about $44 billion in hopes of shoring up support for the deal, and to potentially fend off its own unwanted suitor, Broadcom.

Under the new terms, Qualcomm would pay $127.50 for each NXP share, 16 percent more than originally proposed, and the threshold for how many NXP shareholders must agree to tender their shares would be lowered to 70 percent from 80 percent.

In statements, Qualcomm officials said NXP technology would bolster their companys products for the next-generation 5G wireless standard.

The acquisition of NXP will enable us to accelerate our growth strategy, Tom Horton, Qualcomms presiding director, said. The board unanimously believes this is an attractive acquisition at this price for Qualcomm stockholders.
Bruce J. Katz, a scholar at the Brookings Institution who has studied the development of University City, agreed that the projects proximity to transportation and top research facilities in the heart of a major city was an unusual combination that was likely to attract the significant investment sought by the developer.

This is an unparalleled opportunity, and very distinct from other innovation hubs, Mr. Katz said.

Many cities have research institutions that are miles from downtown, but Philadelphia has them within walking distance, he said. Because of that, the development project is well positioned to create a nexus of research and commerce that will become a major growth engine for the local economy.

This parcel is going to be an enormous catalyst for broader-scale regeneration, Mr. Katz said.

He said the attributes of Schuylkill Yards could also be attractive to Amazon, the Seattle-based behemoth. The development would fulfill many of Amazons requirements for a second headquarters, including access to transportation, availability of skilled workers and an urban location, Mr. Katz said.

But even if Amazon does not choose Schuylkill Yards or two other Philadelphia sites that the city has proposed, the new development is well placed to meet the demands of the businesses that it seeks, he said.

What the innovation economy wants is this kind of proximity and density, and Philadelphia is giving it to them, and now they are leveraging it, Mr. Katz said. This whole area where Schuylkill Yards is going to be located is really the platform for that innovative economy.

An influx of new workers in West Philadelphia would help strengthen the citys economy. But some critics say it could also drive up real estate prices in adjoining low-income neighborhoods, which have already suffered from gentrification because of demand for housing from college students.
Headliner

LEGACY RECORDS Something of a pioneering spirit has driven the chef Ryan Hardy and his partners Robert Bohr and Grant Reynolds, of Charlie Bird and Pasquale Jones, to open their third restaurant, in a new residential building at the edge of the Hudson Yards development. This is an underserved neighborhood, Mr. Hardy said. The restaurant, named for the recording studio once housed at its address, is starting with a breakfast and lunch cafe in the front half of the space, serving what Mr. Hardy calls chef-driven food, not the usual muffins and egg sandwiches. It has a handsome sweep of bar for drinks and dining, and a marble bar for wine, with comfortable seating. By night this area will become a wine bar and dining counter with the same menu as the airy dining room beyond. The design, by Ken Fulk of San Francisco, suggests midcentury modern. The dinner menu is what Mr. Hardy calls more uptown than those at his other restaurants, with less Neapolitan fire, more Piedmontese complexity and a greater focus on seafood. The winter menu has a crudo section and dishes like crispy sunchokes with puntarelle, chestnut tagliatelle with duck ragu and duck offal, and Icelandic sea trout with pickled fennel and horseradish. Arvid Rosengren, an award-winning sommelier, is a partner here and has assembled a mostly French and Italian wine list. Upstairs is another bar with a lively mural to set the scene, and Jeff Bell of PDT consulting on the drinks. (Cafe opens Thursday, dining room on March 6): 517 West 38th Street, no phone, legacyrecordsnyc.com.

Opening

OXBOW TAVERN The chef and restaurateur Tom Valenti is back on the Upper West Side. Having closed the much-loved Ouest in 2015 and done a brief stint at Le Cirque, he is opening this neighborhood bistro in the former Cafe Tallulah space. The name, however, has a longer history because the location once housed the Cuban restaurant Victors Cafe; near the front door theres still a mural of oxen pulling a wagonload of sugar cane. Mr. Valenti said he is doing a quick turnaround, some cosmetic changes but nothing major. The idea of spending months and millions decorating is too difficult these days, he said. The food will have some signature dishes like salmon gravlax and a frisee salad with artichokes and mussels and, occasionally, his braised lamb shank. Also on the menu are a burger, a fried chicken sandwich, seared halibut with cauliflower puree and assorted simply grilled items. Downstairs, Mr. Valenti plans occasional dinner-party-style dinners starting in the spring. (Wednesday): 240 Columbus Avenue (71st Street), 646-490-4075, oxbowtavern.com.

BLUE RIBBON FRIED CHICKEN This latest outlet for the signature crunchy-coated chicken from the Bromberg brothers follows the East Village template. Various combinations that use all parts of the bird along with sauces, sides and condiments are served to stay (46 seats) or to take away. (Thursday): 749 Ninth Avenue (51st Street), 212-937-0404, blueribbonfriedchicken.com.

AVOCADO APPETIT Brooklyn has Avocaderia, and now Manhattan has an all-avocado cafe on the edge of Chinatown. The setting is charming, dense with patterns of tropical greenery interspersed with avocados on the walls, pillows and artwork. Food dispensed at the counter to stay or go is mostly sandwiches, open-faced or closed. For beverages, there are avocado-spiked smoothies and coffee and tea drinks: 114 Eldridge Street (Broome Street), 917-388-3675, avocadoappetit.com.
Downtown, on the sidewalk outside the Oscar de la Renta show during New York Fashion Week, one photographer stands out among the many clamoring to get a picture of the model Theodora Quinlivan, known as Teddy, as she leaves the show. Wearing a bright pink Julian David coat, the street-style photographer Phil Oh is beloved by the many fashion editors and models who stop to greet him as they leave the show.

Mr. Oh has been working as the street-style photographer for Vogue.coms coverage of fashion weeks in New York, London, Paris and Milan for eight years. He was contacted by the magazine after the success of Streetpeeper, a street-style blog that he started in 2007. Four times a year, Mr. Oh spends a month standing outside fashion shows sometimes for eight hours a day  to capture guests as they arrive at or leave a show.

Fashion usually exists in a bubble, he explains. These fashion shows are one of the few times when fashion and the real world intersect just for a little sidewalk on Sixth Avenue between the show venue and the models car.
But it is the Gallup poll that remains Trumps great unrequited love. Nearly every day since the presidency of Harry Truman, the opinion-research firm has asked a scientific sampling of the American electorate the same question: Do you approve or disapprove of the way [name] is handling his job as president? And over the past year Gallup has found Trump, with unpitying consistency, the least-approved-of president in the history of its polling. In mid-February, his numbers ticked back up, to 40 percent  but that is still well short of the 57 percent who disapprove of him.

He is not the first modern president to obsess over these ratings, but the nature of his obsession is different. Presidents from Lyndon Johnson to George W. Bush spoke bluntly about approval as a means to an end. For Trump, approval seems to be the end. His primary pre-presidential business was, quite literally, being popular, and now that he is in the White House, mass approval is the one thing that is consistently denied to him. There is something oddly poignant about the R.N.C. email polls; theyre like the birthday card that a middle manager hustles the hourly employees to sign for a company president who everyone knows has just gone through a rough divorce.

Whats most bizarre about this particular manifestation of Trumps exhausting, relentless need for external affirmation, though, is how ill placed it is. No president has ever been so publicly consumed with his approval numbers. And no president has ever had less reason to care about them.

What does it mean, exactly, to approve of a president? Does it mean you like Trump enough that, if there were an election tomorrow, you would vote for him? Does it mean that you like him personally? Or does it mean that you dont like him personally but think that hes handling affairs of state well enough anyway?
Arriving from a holding cell on Rikers Island, Mr. Giuca, who has so far served 13 years in prison, appeared in court wearing khakis, a light-gray blazer and a thousand-yard stare. His mother, Doreen Giuliano, who has gone to great lengths to proclaim his innocence, was back as well. So were Michael and Nancy Fisher, the parents of the victim in the case, Mark Fisher, a 19-year-old college student who was shot to death after a raucous house party in Brooklyn in October 2003.

Mr. Fisher, a student at Fairfield University in Connecticut, had been barhopping on the Upper East Side of Manhattan with his college buddies on the evening before he was killed. After the woozy night  and a string of fateful coincidences  he ended up largely among strangers at the party at Mr. Giucas house in Prospect Park South, an enclave of sweeping front porches and large Victorian homes. Shortly after 6 a.m. the next day, Mr. Fisher was found dead, wrapped in a blanket from Mr. Giucas house, at the foot of a driveway across the street from the home of another person from the party.

Prosecutors claimed at trial that Mr. Giuca and a co-defendant, Antonio Russo, were members of a loosely organized gang called the Ghetto Mafia and went after Mr. Fisher for street credibility, seeing him as a rich teenager and an easy target. They also said that Mr. Giuca might have been jealous about a woman Mr. Fisher had been flirting with that night, and was angry at his drunken behavior. Mr. Giuca and Mr. Russo were tried together by separate juries and were both found guilty of the murder. Each was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

In court on Tuesday, Mr. Giucas lawyer, Mark A. Bederow, requested bail, saying that given the recent ruling, the case against his client had been reduced to rubble and there was no path to victory for the D.A. at a second trial.

But Justice Danny K. Chun denied the request, noting that a jury had found Mr. Giuca guilty and an early appellate ruling had upheld the conviction  an odd bit of legal reasoning, given that the latest ruling cast doubt on the former and appeared to overturn the latter.
Graffiti has been governed by one rule ever since it exploded in the Bronx in the 1970s: If you paint over another artists work, what comes next must be better than what stood before. In the ephemeral world of graffiti, it was about as close to a law as there was.

Last week, a federal judge, Frederic Block, may have established legal precedent to the unwritten code. Jerry Wolkoff, the developer who owns the building known as 5Pointz in Long Island City, Queens, was fined $6.7 million for painting over the works of 21 graffiti artists. Even though Mr. Wolkoff owned the building that was painted, a jury found that under the Visual Arts Rights Act, the art was protected.

It was an odd and belated sense of validation for the graffiti artists, even though they sensed that Mr. Wolkoffs legal team underestimated the art form.

I think going into this, he didnt realize how organized we were, said Carlos Game, 47, one of the artists seeking damages. They forget that these arent little kids. These kids are 47 years old. They run businesses, they have businesses.
A less than two-hour class, taught about six times a year. Conference calls taken poolside, or from the car. A handful of posts each week on the company social media account, sharing colorful cartoons or titles of childrens books related to energy conservation.

These were some of the duties that earned Lisa Toscano-Percoco, the wife of a former top state official, $90,000 a year while she was employed by a Maryland-based energy company, Competitive Power Ventures, in what federal prosecutors characterized as a low-show job. Prosecutors say the job was provided by one of the companys former executives as a bribe to Ms. Toscano-Percocos husband, Joseph Percoco.

Mr. Percoco, once Gov. Andrew M. Cuomos executive deputy secretary, is on trial along with the executive, Peter Galbraith Kelly, and two Syracuse-area developers. He is accused of trading his clout as the governors confidant and enforcer for more than $300,000 in bribes, including his wifes salary; in return, prosecutors say he worked to help C.P.V. land a state contract. Ms. Toscano-Percoco has not been charged with any wrongdoing.

The focus on Ms. Toscano-Percocos job over the last few days has been a departure from the rest of the trial, which is in its fifth week in Federal District Court in Manhattan. Up to this point, much of the testimony has focused on almost stereotypically unsavory political maneuverings. There have been mocking emails and profanity-laced phone calls, luxury fishing trips and allusions to The Sopranos.
The city is awake. Across the length of its five boroughs, a vast stream of humanity will move. This was what a New Yorkers commute looked like in 1961.  can be seen the daily miracle that is the New York City transit system. But that was then. And this is now. [screaming] Stand clear of the closing doors, please. Subway riders demanding an end to their commuting nightmare. So fed up with all the delays and cancellations that they are suing the M.T.A. The New York subway now has the worst on-time performance of any major rapid transit system in the world. And commuters are pissed. This womans commute has gotten so bad, shes considering leaving a job she really likes. No. I got a new job. This rabbi was sent into a panic when his train stalled just before Shabbat. And then theres this guy, who was stuck underground for so long, commuters sang to pass the time. ... Gonna make me lose my mind up in here ... Its been two hours. They ended up making a Facebook group. Theyre still in touch. Yeah. The mornings where every single line is delayed  It was like cruel or arbitrary. But it really wasnt that long ago that New Yorkers would laugh at other city subway systems. Four lines in Boston, two in L.A.? Thats cute. In New York our trains run 24/7. We have 665 miles of track, 472 stations, 27 subway lines, and almost six million riders every single day. Does it really have to be this way? Also, has it always been this bad? Turns out the M.T.A. has recovered from a transit crisis before. Ladies and gentlemen, we are being held momentarily by the trains dispatcher. These were the trains in the 1970s. Poor maintenance, high crime and widespread graffiti. It was kind of scary. And thats Jim. Hes been reporting on the subway since before I was born. He wrote the book about the subway, literally. In the 70s, it was really, really bad. Maintenance really had suffered. So officials poured money into the system, and it improved. [cheering] They are working on it. Theyre doing the best they can. Theyre fixing the tracks. Well, theyre fixing the track. They put in a new escalator downstairs. They improve it in the 80s. Today we got better equipment, better parts and better tools. In the 90s it gets to be the best its ever been. The 1990s were the golden era of subway functionality. So if you want to prove to someone that New York has it all, just show them your MetroCard Gold. New Yorks governor at the time, George Pataki, called it a transit renaissance. But then, that city that has it all started taking the system for granted, starting with Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. Cut down the size of city government. Just a year into his first term, the mayor cut the citys contribution to the M.T.A.s budget by millions of dollars. Then, Governor Pataki followed Giulianis lead. And so began a trend of mayors and governors diverting part of their budgets away from the M.T.A. and toward their own priorities. And then blaming one another for the problems that followed. Right. So while the city and state contributions got smaller and smaller and smaller, subway ridership went up, and so did the fares. But fares still werent enough to make up for the budget cuts. So a group of Wall Street executives came to the M.T.A. with a deal. [cash register ringing] These Wall Street execs, they went to the head of the M.T.A., also known as the governor, and said, give us your debt. Well pay you cash. Pay us back later. Pataki agreed to the deal to refinance the M.T.A.s debt. Basically, they used the Amex to pay off the MasterCard. And these bankers, many of whom were donors to Governor Patakis campaign, walked away with $85 million in commissions and fees. And that debt lives on today  ... finally reaches its destination.  even if some of the equipment were still paying for does not. Great habitat enhancement for fish and shellfish. Then  It was a fiscal crisis globally. That was a really big turning point for the M.T.A. Maintenance was withdrawn. Youre checking the cars less frequently, youre repairing the cars less frequently, then theyre going to break down more frequently. So basically  The trains became slightly less reliable. But there were millions of dollars draining from the M.T.A.s budget that could have been used for maintenance. So what happened was  This summer Governor Cuomos administration forced the M.T.A. to bail out some upstate ski resorts after an unusually warm winter. So we set out to try and find out if there were a lot of other examples of the M.T.A. being forced by the state to spend money on things that had nothing to do with the subway. And we found out about these bond issuance fees. Bond issuance fees may sound a little boring. So I hired a busker to write a song about it. Let me put it this way  the M.T.A. brings in a lot of money. The state has used that money as a piggy bank for other priorities. The next stop is Fulton Street. Fulton Street was the pet project of a guy named Sheldon Silver. He wanted Fulton Street to be the Grand Central Station of downtown Manhattan. So construction started, the years went by, and the day of the grand opening arrived. Oh, thats way over budget. At this point, the M.T.A. board wants to scale things back. And one of the board members  Nancy Shevell, wife of Paul McCartney, said, were not building cathedrals here. But the next day, Sheldon Silver demanded  Youre going to build this thing the way it was originally supposed to be built, or else Im going to veto your capital budget. So the M.T.A. complied. A billion and a half dollars on one station. It didnt get an extra subway car, an extra foot of track, nothing. Did I say it was in his district? Fulton Street was just one example. These politicians really wanted to be able to have a big project they could champion, mosaics and artwork and everything is brand new. Clean, shiny subway stations. This is exciting, right? I did this for you. Here is my gift to you. Yeah. And I feel good about that. Of course you should. You cant really do that with replacing some ancient subway signal system that people dont even know exists. No one wants to talk about the signals. I dont think I understand how the signals even work. And neither did I. So I watched a documentary released by the M.T.A. to learn more. People know that the system is old, but I dont think they realize just how old it is. Its not just the architecture thats 100 years old. Its a lot of the basic technology as well. We never really know where the train is. Um  Yeah. The workers dont actually know where the trains are exactly, precisely, on the tracks. They know what section they are in. So they have to keep them a safe distance apart as they go through the system. You cant just go to Best Buy and pick up something to replace this 1930s piece of equipment. New signals would mean more trains running more efficiently and closer together. But its been two decades since the M.T.A. first began its push to upgrade its signals. And so far, theyve completed just one line. If you dont focus on the core needs of the system, bad things can happen. So the trains were not as well taken care of, the signal system deteriorated, and there was very little margin for error. And then that margin gets even smaller with Hurricane Sandy. The worst disaster in the history of the subway system. So this is the part of the story where all of those bad decisions of the past really start wreaking havoc. The M.T.A. is openly violating its own safety directives. A tunnel wall in Brooklyn collapses onto the track. We just boarded the rescue train. There have been 22 derailments. Overcrowding is definitely a problem, but the M.T.A. cant blame everything on overcrowding. The issue is theres not one person to blame. Theres been a lot of back and forth between the governor and the mayor. Blame everybody who has been in power in New York in the past 25 years. A train careens off the tracks in Harlem, injuring 34 people. And in summer of 2017, the waiting and crowding and derailments reach a breaking point. And at long last, Governor Cuomo declares a state of emergency. I mean there is some light at the end of the tunnel. No pun intended. I actually did not intend that pun. There are some signs that politicians are now taking the maintenance of the subway system seriously. Elected leaders are finally expected to come out with a plan to pay for the M.T.A. And I think theres a consensus they cant just rely on debt anymore. I believe in you, subway. But youve got to get it together. We want to do this. We need to do this. We will do this. I think delay is, in a messed up way, our way to bring people together. Theres no New York City without the subways. I regard it as the great public commons of New York. Yeah, its good. Nice meeting all of you. They ride together. And in this journey can be seen the daily miracle that is the New York City transit system, upon which the very existence of the city and its people, depend.
In late 2015, when China eased its decades-long policy limiting most couples to having only one child, some heralded the change as a move toward greater reproductive freedom. But the government was only embarking on another grand experiment in population engineering: This time it was urging women  though only the right sort  to reproduce for China.

The authorities in Beijing seemed terrified that plummeting birthrates, an aging population and a shrinking labor force might undermine the results of years of double-digit growth rates, and threaten the political legitimacy of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (C.C.P.). So they began allowing most married couples to have two children. They hoped that the new policy would bring three million additional births a year through 2020 and add more than 30 million workers to the labor force by 2050.

But there has been no baby boom. Figures released last month show that the countrys birthrate fell by 3.5 percent in 2017 compared with the previous year. (The number of births had increased in 2016, the first year since the policy shift, though far less than the government had hoped.) According to official statistics, the number of children born to parents who already had one child did rise in 2017, but the number of first-child births dropped.

Why? Because a critical mass of women appears to be in no rush to have babies, particularly urban, educated women  just the category that the C.C.P. is counting on to produce and raise a new generation of skilled, knowledge-based workers.
I first visited Greenland in 2015. That was when I met Julius, a villager who guided me through the five villages around Tasiilaq, which with around 2,000 inhabitants is the largest town on Greenlands east coast. It quickly became obvious I would focus my film on Juliuss own village, Tiniteqilaaq. The village has only around 60 inhabitants and is isolated from the rest of the world by ice for about nine months every year. Over the course of the next year, I spent several months there and learned to share the lifestyle of its inhabitants: I went hunting and fishing with the men, shared family dinners of seal and narwhal, and attended baptisms and funerals. Little by little, I was accepted by Juliuss friends and family. After all, we shared more in common than it might have seemed: Since I come from a village of 250 in Jura, there is nothing less exotic to me than a village half that size.

Ultimately, I wound up using my time in Juliuss town to make my fourth feature film, A Polar Year, from which this short documentary is adapted. Just as my feature film traces the villages life over one year, through the changing seasons and rhythms of life and death, for this short I followed one of its young residents during the routine of a single day.
As a historian, Ive seen an odd confluence of American and Soviet/Russian academic perspectives on the massacres and a Soviet/Russian-American alliance, if not intentional, in accepting Hanois version of the war. American scholarship has focused largely on either the American side of the war or the North Vietnamese perspective; either way, Americas erstwhile ally has been largely ignored. South Vietnam, whose many citizens fled Vietnam and found a new home in the United States, was pushed to the margins, if not completely off the pages, of postwar narratives, and meanwhile the former enemy was romanticized.

Putting the United States front and center as the only perpetrator of the war denies agency to the South Vietnamese who did not want to live under communists and who fought for this cause, and it simultaneously conceals the fact that expelling Americans was only the first step of bringing the South under the sway of the North. Hanoi always insisted that the unified Vietnam would be a socialist country. Thus, even in the context of the Cold War, it was a civil war between North and South Vietnam for the future of their states.

The American appropriation of the war translated even to the analysis and representation of atrocities and other wrongdoings. But without discussing the wrongs committed by all sides, no true reconciliation or study of history is possible. To be fair, the situation in the United States has started to change, however slowly, as a new generation of scholars trained in the Vietnamese language and having genuine interest in all sides of the conflict are developing the field beyond the America-centric focus.

This is a much-needed change for the Vietnamese sides as well. As the United States and Vietnam pursue their reconciliation agenda, it is incumbent on American scholars to probe more deeply the experience of southern Vietnamese during the war. Nor can reconciliation come from the victors syndrome as currently practiced by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam  namely, we won, so lets celebrate our victory and put everything behind. It can come only through a dialogue and discussion of crimes committed by both sides.

Many Vietnamese in Vietnam and in the Vietnamese diaspora still want and need to mourn their loved ones lost in the Hue massacre. They cannot do it in Vietnam. During the war, North Vietnam and the communist forces in the South did not recognize the massacre and did not punish any of the perpetrators. Neither has postwar Vietnam recognized the massacre, preferring to ignore it or call it a fabrication. During commemorative events of the Tet offensive in Vietnam, the Hue massacre does not appear.

The monopolization of the crime zone by the United States contributes to modern Vietnams obliteration of the communists own wrongdoings. A sense of history is an important factor in forming a country and maintaining ones identity, but many students in Vietnam dismiss the study of their own history, at least in part because they understand how limited they are in their access to documents and other resources and how constrained they are in their interpretations of it. This encourages distrust of the government, which will grow as more materials challenging the party-line version of history appear. I grew up in the Soviet Union, and I know firsthand how damaging it was for us to maintain a mandatory veneer in which we could not believe. Given technological advancements, Vietnam faces a more formidable task than did the Soviet Union in keeping its population at bay.

Reconciliation and inclusive historical narratives are also necessary for Americans. Many Vietnamese who lost their relatives in Hue and then lost their country are now an integral part of American society. Mourning what happened in Hue reminds us Americans of our self-absorption in how we think about our role in the war and our unwillingness to learn more about others, which even today haunts American policies toward other countries.
To the Editor:

Re Trump Quiet in a U.S. War on Meddling (news analysis, front page, Feb. 18):

After the 9/11 terror attacks, Americans remembered the horror of that day and mobilized at every level to both recover and push back against our enemies. We understood that such terrorists were an existential threat.

Now, after the established Russian cyberattacks intended to divide Americans and to tip the election in Donald Trumps favor, we are once more looking to our leaders for recovery and pushback.

If President Trump refuses or is unable for some reason to provide that leadership, then others must fill that vacuum. Russia is not our friend; Russia is an enemy bent on destabilizing our country and weakening our position among nations.

MARY F. WARREN, WHEATON, ILL.

To the Editor:

President Trump apparently fears that acknowledging Russian interference in the 2016 election would delegitimize his presidency. His first response to the recent indictments and evidence that Russians interfered in that election was to tweet, No collusion.
Seventy-five years ago, the French philosopher and mystic Simone Weil joined Charles de Gaulles Free French movement in London. We do not know if the Catholic and conservative general, who never met Weil, knew she had left her post as a professor of philosophy in order to work on assembly lines, left her family to fight alongside anarchists in Spain and left her country to escape the anti-Semitic Vichy regime. All we do know is that de Gaulle read Weils plan to parachute white-uniformed nurses onto battlefields, armed only with the obligation to succor the injured and sacrifice their own lives. Setting down the paper, de Gaulle blurted: But, shes crazy!

De Gaulle was right about the plan, but not the person. In fact, Weils reflections on the nature of obligation offer a bracing dose of sanity in our perplexing and polarizing times. During the final months of her life  she died in the summer of 1943  Weil wrote of several of her most subversive and seminal texts. (That they were essentially position papers for the Free French makes them all the more extraordinary.) This is particularly true for Human Personality and Draft for a Statement of Human Obligations, both of which are devoted to distinctions Weil insists upon personal rights and impersonal duties.

When we talk about justice today, we almost always find ourselves talking about rights we believe are entrenched in nature and have been enshrined in our founding documents. This language reflects a liberal conception of human action and interaction, casting us as rational agents who reach agreements with one another through calculation and negotiation. Moreover, as the philosopher Charles Taylor has argued, while each of us has a conception of the good or worthwhile life, none of us accepts a socially endorsed conception of the good. In essence, the ideal of right has ceded to the ideal of rights.

The problem, for Weil, with the liberal conception of rights  and the laws that codify them  is that it is rooted in the personal, not the impersonal. Our society, she insists, is one where personal rights are tied at the hip to private property. Taking his cue from Weil, political theorist Edward Andrew suggests that a rights-based society is the consensual society where everything is vendible at constitutional conventions or the marketplace. This reveals what Weil, like Thomas Hobbes, believes to be the sole universal truth concerning human affairs: certain groups will always wield greater clout than other groups. Rights talk deals with the relative and alienable, not absolute and inalienable. For Weil, the old joke about our legal system  How much justice can you afford?  takes on a tragic immediacy.
[text message sound] And thats how you jump out of an airplane, babe. He told me  just because Im thousands of miles away, I will be so present in your life. Phew, made it safe. Good morning, darling. The cell service here isnt that great. He told me that they were going to not return to that base that night different mission. I told him I loved him. Love you too, darling. Ill talk to you as soon as I get back to base. Ill talk to you later. Bye. And the rest is just a big blur. When Dustin was in Africa, that mailbox was exciting. I would skip to it. He sent four letters. He gave me one at the airport when he left. Every letter after that came with 30 index cards. I was supposed to read an index card every day that I woke up. I saw him from across the crowd with his hat on and his sweaty shirt. I said, Hey! Hes like, Hi. Hes like, Um, want to dance? Im like, Yes, I do. It was a feeling that I never felt with anyone else, of just completeness. I have the original dog tag that he put around my neck before he left for this deployment. This was the week that Dustin would have been coming home. His stuff came back from Africa. I found every receipt from every interaction we had. I found little notes of things he wanted to tell me. I just wanted my lips on his lips. I have all these wonderful memories. This grand love story. But all my heart wants is just him to be on my couch right now, watching Netflix and being normal. I want to make him dinner. And I want ... Thats all we wanted. I would love to hear new words from him. But he gave me a lot of good stuff. Still to this day, that mailbox is my favorite thing, and its what haunts me. Hey, darling. I just read your letter, and I dont know how you were able to put it in words exactly how both of us were feeling. How everything that we do for each other is genuine and real ...
The Reader Center is one way we in the newsroom are trying to connect with you, by highlighting your perspectives and experiences and offering insight into how we work.

After the school shooting in Parkland, Fla., last week, The Times heard from many teenagers in the United States who have grown up in an era of school gun violence. We wondered how this climate also affects teachers, the people we trust to protect our children.

In comments on our coverage of the Florida massacre, teachers and other educators explained what its like to teach amid lockdown drills and fear of attacks.

Here is a selection of their comments, which have been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.

We Cannot Force Them to Get Counseling

I have been a public high school teacher for 20-plus years. Schools know who these kids are, but there is very little we can do about them. We can recommend counseling, talk to the family, dole out suspensions and even expel them if its bad enough. But we cannot force them to get counseling, we cannot force their families to admit to the degree of illness, and we cannot stop them from getting guns and coming to school to kill us. The only sane solution is limiting their access to weapons.  MOMofTWOGIRLS from New York

Our System Is Reactive, Not Proactive

I wince at the mention of autism. Im a developmental specialist, and work with kids who have sensory issues and spectrum disorders day in and day out. Yes, brain and behavioral health are woefully underfunded and unaddressed. Yes, our entire society needs to be forced to shift to a trauma-informed perspective rather than a trauma-inducing orientation. But no, the problem here was not the youth, but his ability to purchase a gun. Our system is reactive, not proactive.  Nnaiden from Montana

The Shooter Always Has the Advantage

I am a professor at a community college in Florida, two hours north of Fort Lauderdale. My eyes were welling with tears during my 8 a.m. class, as I felt overcome by my feelings of grief and helplessness over Parkland. My classroom is on the ground floor, a step away from two entrances to the building, and has TWO doors. I am finding it increasingly difficult to keep my fear of being shot dead as I teach in the BACK of my mind. Many people, including legislators in Tallahassee, have suggested that arming myself (and the students on campus) is the answer. It is NOT. No matter how many weapons I have on my person, and no matter how well trained I am to use them, the shooter always has the advantage: the element of surprise. Ill be first one shot, and Ill be dead before I ever fire a round. God help my students: While they scramble for their guns amid shock, adrenaline and terror, the shooter is firing away with an AR and clip after clip of ammo.  Connie from Florida





Can Our 5-Year-Olds Run Fast Enough?

After Sandy Hook, when our nations politicians failed to advocate for and enforce stricter gun regulations, I felt despair and dread. I am a kindergarten teacher who now has to practice shelter-in-place drills with my young charges. Across the hall are three-year-olds whose teachers quietly sit with them in a corner of their room while listening on walkie-talkies for the all clear. We have a code that will be broadcast should a shooter enter our school, so we wont scare the children. But I can tell you, while we teachers are sitting during the drill with our students, praising their quiet patience, we are thinking about where we would take them, where we could hide them should a monster with an automatic weapon enter our school. Can our five-year-olds run fast enough? How many three-year-olds can my fellow teachers carry to escape danger? Those who blame the mentally ill for these murders are neglecting the real cause of the mass casualties. A mentally ill intruder is scary. A mentally ill intruder with an automatic weapon is deadly.  Vicki Smith from Sandy, Utah

We All Suffer Each Massacre

I was a young teacher when Columbine happened. Years later, I graded Advanced Placement exams with a teacher who had been there that day; he was the only faculty member still there at the 10-year mark. He asked us to ask him nothing. Ten years later it was still unspeakable. My school now does A.L.I.C.E. training (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) twice a year in addition to standard lockdown drills three times a year. We had one already scheduled for the day after the Pulse massacre, and the administration decided to keep it in place knowing it would be raw. It was. I had students break down crying. One told the class that there has not been a day since Sandy Hook that she has not paused before leaving her car and thought, Is this the day I die in school? We know the numerical chances, but that is not how the human heart and psyche work. Our school spaces have become so contaminated by the fear of death that no matter how statistically rare, each shooting feels as if it happens to us. On the day of Sandy Hook, I stood huddled with other teachers in our art room crying as the horror broke over us; each image more awful than the last. We all suffer each massacre.  AhBrightWings from Cleveland

Do Not Deflect the Blame Onto Us

At this point, all of this sudden attention toward what SCHOOLS should be doing to keep their students safe is analogous to blaming a woman for being raped because she was wearing revealing clothing. I teach CHILDREN in a SCHOOL that is supposed to be inviting, safe and dedicated to producing the next generation of engaged citizens. I refuse to carry ANY weapons to my school. It goes against everything a SCHOOL stands for. The root of the epidemic of school mass shootings lies not on the school side or the victims. Do not deflect the blame onto us. Do not believe for a single moment that the security Kabuki being bantered about will help. Its the GUNS. Its always the GUNS. The GUNS are everywhere. Ultimately, we have decided at Sandy Hook that our right to own guns trumps my students rights to being alive.  Alan Foo from Philadelphia

I Have a Child of My Own Who Needs Me

I have been a teacher for 18 years. When I started this career, it never occurred to me that one day I would have to seriously consider whether I would give my own life to protect my students. I have a child of my own who needs me. Im not a police officer, firefighter, soldier or member of another profession for which these questions must come with the territory.  M from New York

Every Time We Conducted This Drill, My Stomach Hurt
Bits of color were peeking out through cracks in the dark shades of La Misereuse accroupie, a 1902 painting by a young Pablo Picasso during his Blue Period.

That was not surprising. X-ray images taken a quarter- century ago had shown that Picasso had painted this work, known in English as The Crouching Woman, over another artists landscape.

Sandra Webster-Cook, a conservator of paintings at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto, which owns the painting, also observed textures of the brush strokes that seemed neither to reflect Picassos composition nor the underlying landscape. It was clear there was something else going on underneath, Ms. Webster-Cook said.
WASHINGTON  A federal judge blocked AT&Ts move to obtain communication logs between the Justice Department and the White House on Tuesday, hampering the phone giants argument that politics played a role in the governments decision to halt a merger with Time Warner.

Judge Richard J. Leon of United States District Court in Washington, who is overseeing a trial over the deal, said AT&T did not sufficiently show in pretrial discussions that it was treated differently from other companies.

Defendants have fallen far short of establishing that this enforcement action was selective, Judge Leon said.

The decision puts a crimp in AT&Ts defense for its $85 billion proposed merger with Time Warner. And it is a big win for the Justice Department, which would like to avoid attention on the role of politics in its decision to stop the deal. The merger would transform the media landscape by combining a television and movie giant with one of the nations biggest media distributors.
The account was suspended only recently, after Ms. Barnes  alerted by The Times  reported it to Twitter. If youre using somebodys photos and name together, then thats impersonation, she complained.

Twitter appears to be tracking Devumis network of bots. Since the Times investigation was published, dozens of Devumis most prominent clients  actors, reality TV stars, authors, business executives and others seeking to buy followers and retweets  have lost more than three million followers. Close to 55,000 impostor accounts sold by Devumi have been restricted or suspended.

Twitter has declined to say whether Devumis bots violate its impersonation policy, or how many of its employees are focused on rooting out impersonation. The companys first line of defense against impersonation is the countermeasures that flag accounts that run afoul of Twitter policies on spam  violations that can be easier for the platform to identify and stop at large scale.

But impostor accounts are still relatively easy to find on Twitter. The Times identified hundreds more of them through Twitters own automated who to follow feature: When a user views a known impostor account, Twitter routinely recommends other impostor accounts to follow.

One real Twitter account, belonging to Jasmine Artis, a health care worker from North Carolina, was cloned dozens of times. At least 75 of those impostor accounts still exist  though some have recently been restricted  each using her picture, her name and a brief bio that refers to the school she was attending when her account was copied. Most of the clones have made only a handful of posts, some in Russian or Japanese. Ms. Artis said she had not been aware of the accounts.

Even Twitters verified users, many of them well known, are being impersonated. There are active fake accounts impersonating the Democratic senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, the White House adviser Kellyanne Conway and the journalist April D. Ryan. None appeared to be obvious parodies. Instead, each posted content that mimicked what the real account might tweet.
Ms. Jackson  with a helmet of cropped coppery hair, no visible makeup and a black and white dress from Marks & Spencer  roared right back at her audience. Oh, cmon, she said, in the manner of a popular but stern school head on games day. We dont do standing ovations in England.

For once, though, a standing ovation seemed warranted. Though Ms. Jackson holds a special place in the hearts of film and theater cognoscenti, she hadnt exercised her acting muscles  or even attended the theater  during her years in Parliament. Yet critics had waxed ecstatic over her portrait of a despot suddenly betrayed by age  a man, as Ms. Jackson described him, to whom no one had said no in his entire life.

She appeared naked in a sense from her first entrance, said Matthew Warchus, the Old Vics artistic director, who had facilitated Ms. Jacksons return to her former profession. We hadnt seen her in so long, so it was an incredible thing to hear her voice again. Thats a neat trick, to make your first entrance after 20 years of silence.

The Antisocial Socialist

In person, Ms. Jackson is formidable but hardly as forbidding as her reputation would have it. She answers questions with a conscientious courtesy, only slightly underscored by impatience. Her face remains the face she was born with, scored with the lines you would expect a lifelong smoker to accumulate but untouched by the mask-like distortions of plastic surgery.

On the morning I met her in London, she arrived at the cafe, straight from bloody public transport, in a sharp and purposeful blur, like a blade flung by a circus thrower seeking its target. She was again sans makeup and wearing drop pearl earrings (a gift from her son) and a wardrobe  red coat, black pants, buffalo check flannel shirt, running shoes  largely acquired from her trusty Marks & Spencer. (A good thing about Marks & Spencer, they dont hound you when youre going round.)

She was conscious of the time, since she was on grandson patrol that day and would be needing to pick up her sons 11-year-old from school. At a certain point, she realized it might be a good idea if she had something to eat. We both ordered the soup, which came with bread.

How big is the bread? she asked the server. Its half a loaf isnt it? One of those should do. One to share. Save money and save food. Two-thirds of the world go to bed hungry every night, and we stuff ourselves.
In one spirited scene, Azeem expresses frustration that he is too Muslim for some, not Muslim enough for others. This could be a tagline for the play.

There are many, many interpretations of Islam. Youre seeing certain expressions of Islam within certain communities become more dominant than others. I think what Azeem is trying to get at is that theres more than one way of being a Muslim, and he doesnt necessarily fall into any of those dominant characteristics. In his mind, hes perceived as not Muslim enough if he doesnt dress or talk a certain way.

On the other hand, within the wider society  a secular society, Europe in particular  hes holding on to his faith. Its not just a cultural identity. Theres some theological basis, meaning he believes in the divine, hes abstaining from alcohol, hes trying to pray and so forth.

Is there a such thing as an ordinary Muslim?

No, thats the point of the play. Out of eight characters, seven are Muslim. All seven are practicing. All seven express and embody a different kind of Islam.

Which character do you most relate to?

The white guy. No, Im joking. All the characters contain pieces of me.

How much of your own personal experience did you put into this play?

Id have to say its an amalgamation. Thematically, theres a lot, in terms of feeling this sense of not belonging here or there and trying to straddle different worlds. In terms of the specific plot, thats more of families that Ive seen, families in the community or things that Ive heard.
So the task of entertaining fell to me. Whenever the heat grew too brutal, we would stop for sinh to, cool fruit shakes  orange, mango, banana, soursop, avocado  sold everywhere from the alleys of the backpacker district to market stalls in Cholon, the citys Chinatown. We took taxis and Ubers, not motorbikes. We rummaged the racks of Mayhem, a hidden-away vintage clothing store, and emerged with armfuls of finds, including an oversize flutter-sleeve top for Sasha and what Jean described as a ditsy floral dress for herself. I couldnt get over how far the city had progressed: Twenty years ago, used clothes were only for the poor; now you needed a credit card to buy them.

Another friend, the Vietnamese-American artist Trong Gia Nguyen, led us through the downtown gallery scene. At Galerie Quynh, which opened in 2003, I gushed over one of Trongs works, a laser-cut facsimile of a brise-soleil, the sun-shielding patterned screens that you see everywhere in Vietnam, cut to the size of a window or an entire buildings facade. At Dia Projects, Jean and I were entranced by Fruits, Children & the Cutting, Mai Hoangs disturbing, entrancing watercolor renderings of children as fruits  dragonfruit, passionfruit, strawberries  being opened, peeled, dissected. At each stop, Sasha sat on the ground and opened her notebook to draw, engrossed and uncomplaining. Sandy, meanwhile, was kept entertained by Trongs friend Athesia, a Canadian musician passing through on her way to gigs in Australia. Im told they discussed Frozen.

Occasionally, my ladies even entertained themselves. While taking an Uber through Cholon, Jean pointed out a trio of early 20th-century shophouses, slightly decrepit but charming still.

Is this where The Lover was filmed? she asked excitedly, referring to the 1992 movie based on the Marguerite Duras novel. If she could muster such enthusiasm, maybe my experiment was working? Love might be out of the question, but Id settle for like.

Instead, I got ambivalence. For every grand dinner of grilled pork and sour fish soup with old friends, there was a scary cockroach on some sidewalk. The grassy martini at Hum, a stylish vegetarian restaurant, was addictive, but we couldnt forget that grim immigration officer whod stamped us into the country. (I dont think hes happy to see us, Jean observed.) The kids may have enjoyed making crafts projects at the oddly named Somewhereland  Madam Fatty Fatt, a Colonial-era villa that had been renovated into a Hogwarts-like castle, the kids seemed content to work on crafts projects, like cutting felt into hats and cloaks for wooden witch figurines. (Meanwhile, Jean and I sipped iced coffees.) But this was too chill for Sasha. When youre young, you dont want to sit down and relax, she insisted. You want to move!
In Oklahoma, a state senator was charged with sexual battery after a female Uber driver said he tried to kiss her. In California, a state assemblyman was accused of following a lobbyist into a restroom and masturbating in front of her. And in Minnesota, a lobbyist said a state representative repeatedly propositioned her, including by sending a text that read: Would it frighten you if I said that I was just interested in good times good wine good food and good sex?

These and other allegations of sexual misconduct led to resignations by nearly a dozen state and federal lawmakers in recent months, setting off a flurry of special elections around the country to fill seats suddenly left open by the #MeToo reckoning.

Yet the candidates running to replace these disgraced men  many of whom are women  are hesitating to put sexual harassment front and center as an issue in their campaigns. In at least eight state legislative and two congressional races, including special elections in Minnesota and Oklahoma that were held last week, the subject has rarely been mentioned in advertisements, rallies or when knocking on doors.

You get an eye roll and thats it, said Tami Donnally, a Republican running to fill a Florida State Senate seat on April 10 after the resignation last year of Jeff Clements, a powerful Democrat who admitted to an affair with a lobbyist. Ms. Donnally, vice-chairwoman of the Republican Party of Palm Beach County, said voters shrug off the issue: Oh well, another one bites the dust, lets move on, tell me what youre interested in.
The actor George Clooney and his wife, Amal, a human rights lawyer, said Tuesday that they would donate $500,000 to a nationwide protest against gun violence planned next month by teenage survivors of a Florida high school shooting, inspiring similar gifts from other big-name Hollywood figures.



In a statement, the couple said they were so inspired by the courage and eloquence of these young men and women from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. The police say the suspect  a 19-year-old former student, Nikolas Cruz  killed 17 people in a rampage with a semiautomatic weapon there last week.

Our family will be there on March 24 to stand side by side with this incredible generation of young people from all over the country, the Clooneys said. And in the name of our children, Ella and Alexander, were donating 500,000 dollars to help pay for this groundbreaking event.

Our childrens lives depend on it, they added.

The survivors of the Stoneman Douglas school shooting have emerged as influential new voices in the gun debate, urging lawmakers to adopt new gun control measures in protests outside schools and national television appearances that have been shared widely online.
Mr. van der Zwaans lies involved a 2012 report prepared by Skadden and used to defend Mr. Yanukovych, then the Russia-aligned president of Ukraine, from international criticism over the prosecution and incarceration of one of his political rivals, former Prime Minister Yulia V. Tymoshenko. State Department officials criticized the report, which purported to be the result of the law firms independent research, as a misleading account of the actions of Mr. Yanukovychs government.

Mr. Muellers team scrutinized the report as part of its examination of the business dealings of Mr. Manafort and Mr. Gates in Ukraine, where Mr. Manafort worked for about a decade as a political consultant before he joined the Trump campaign. Among other charges, both men have been accused of using one of their offshore accounts to funnel $4 million to pay secretly for the report. It is unclear how much, if any, of that money went to Skadden or other firms with which they worked.

The Ukrainian authorities had begun their own investigation into payments for the report after Mr. Yanukovych fled Ukraine for Russia amid a popular uprising in 2014.

Mr. van der Zwaan told the special counsel on Nov. 3 that he had not spoken to Mr. Gates since mid-August 2016, even though Mr. Gates had called him the following month instructing him to get in contact with an unidentified mutual acquaintance, court papers show.

He also told prosecutors that he had not talked to that same acquaintance since 2014, even though he called that person in September 2016 to discuss possible criminal charges against Mr. Manafort, a law firm and a former Ukrainian justice minister. The phone conversation, conducted in Russian, was important enough that Mr. van der Zwaan recorded it, according to court papers. Mr. van der Zwaan followed up by calling Mr. Gates, recording that conversation as well.

One of those conversations involved payments that were described as the tip of the iceberg, Andrew Weissmann, a prosecutor in Mr. Muellers office, said in court. He did not elaborate.

Mr. van der Zwaan also acknowledged that he lied when he told investigators that he had only a passive role in the rollout of the report, according to court papers. In fact, prosecutors said, he had discussed with Mr. Gates and others how to publicize the report to make it appear less damning to Mr. Yanukovychs government, including describing any mishandling of Ms. Tymoshenkos prosecution as no more than procedural errors. Part of the strategy, Mr. Weissmann said in court, was to give an advance copy of the report to The New York Times.


Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Haza al-Darbis transfer from Guantanamo detention to Saudi Arabia will not take place today, she said, adding: We await assurances from the Saudi Arabian government to move forward on his departure. Al-Darbi will remain at Guantanamo until all transfer details are concluded.

The missed deadline came days after a military commissions judge indefinitely shut down the case against another Saudi detainee  who is accused of orchestrating the 2000 bombing of the American destroyer Cole, and against whom Mr. Darbi testified as part of his cooperation  after more than six years of pretrial hearings.

The fate of Mr. Darbi has been closely watched for several reasons. If the United States lived up to the Obama-era deal, it would mean that President Trump would preside over a reduction of the Guantanamo detainee population, which would drop from 41 to 40, despite his campaign vow to fill it back up.

But if the government reneged on the deal, legal experts have warned that it would strongly discourage other detainees from cooperating with military commissions prosecutors by pleading guilty and potentially serving as witnesses  a key tool that civilian court prosecutors routinely use to win convictions.

Last year, the State Department, under Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson, dismantled the Office of the Special Envoy for Guantanamo Closure, which had been created by the Obama administration to make diplomatic arrangements for detainee transfers and to handle any subsequent diplomatic issues regarding former detainees. A remaining official was reassigned to help process Freedom of Information Act requests.
WASHINGTON  The New York Times on Tuesday received four George Polk Awards, the most of any news organization, for reporting on the Russia investigation and Harvey Weinstein and the #MeToo movement, as well as for photography and the opinion column of Gail Collins.

Breaking with tradition, the winners were announced Tuesday at a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, in advance of an official ceremony handing out the honors at a luncheon in New York in April.

Given all the pressures now that news organizations are under, said John Darnton, the curator of the awards, we thought it made sense to emphasize the amazing work our journalists do.

The press rose to the challenge, he added. We need to celebrate the good work that it does.

In all, journalists representing more than a dozen news organizations were recognized for reporting. Three nontraditional publications  Vice News, The Intercept and BuzzFeed News  won awards for the first time, Mr. Darnton said.
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to hear a Second Amendment challenge to a California law that imposes a 10-day waiting period on firearms purchases.

As is their custom, the justices gave no reasons for deciding not to hear the case. The court has turned away many Second Amendment cases in recent years, to the frustration of gun-rights groups and some conservative justices.

Justice Clarence Thomas filed an impassioned 14-page dissent in the case, Silvester v. Becerra, No. 17-342. As evidenced by our continued inaction in this area, he wrote, the Second Amendment is a disfavored right in this court.

In 2008, in District of Columbia v. Heller, the Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to keep guns at home for self-defense.
In the intense aftermath of the school shooting last week, Dr. Igor Nichiporenko pronounced a wounded teacher dead on arrival and massaged the bullet-shredded heart of a student, trying in vain to restart it. He and his colleagues also treated six other teenagers, some of whom were in the emergency room and others who were rolled off to operating theaters.

Then, about an hour after the victims began pouring into Broward Health North hospital, word came that another patient was about to arrive. With distraught relatives and journalists converging on the hospital in Deerfield Beach, Fla., the medical staff now faced the challenge of treating the man accused of causing all the carnage.

Dealing with trauma patients, youre always going to have to deal with the bad guys, too, Dr. Nichiporenko said, recalling the myriad times when crime suspects and victims were in rooms next to one another. You have to be professional and do your job.

This was a tragedy of rare magnitude: 17 killed at a high school just miles down the road.

When President Trump visited wounded victims of the shooting at the hospital on Friday, he was not far from the room where the suspect in the attack, Nikolas Cruz, was treated two days earlier.

As the frequency of mass shootings rises, the arrival of a captured gunman in a hospital remains unusual  studies show the majority die at the time of the crime. Many commit suicide, as did the Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock. Some are killed by those trying to stop them: A police shootout ended the slaughter by Omar Mateen at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., in 2016.

Occasionally, however, the very medical staff tending to victims of a mass shooting are called on to treat the suspect.

That happened in November 2009 in Fort Hood, Tex., after Maj. Nidal Hasan opened fire. He took aim at a 23-year-old Army medic, Specialist Francisco De la Serna, and missed. Specialist De la Serna, who stanched the bleeding of many of Major Hasans victims, also applied a dressing to the gunmans chest wound after he exchanged fire with the police. Major Hasan, himself a doctor, was then transported to a hospital where his victims were being treated. It was the right thing to do, said Mr. De la Serna, who was later honored for his bravery and is now a medical student at the University of Kansas. It was the opposite, he added, of what somebody of that mind-set would have done.

Image Nikolas Cruz Credit... Broward's Sheriff's Office

As of Monday, two survivors of the shooting last week at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High remained hospitalized in fair condition at Broward Health North, and two others remained in fair condition at Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, according to Jennifer Smith, a spokeswoman for the health system.

In all, 17 patients from the attack were treated at three of the systems hospitals. The teacher and student pronounced dead after reaching Broward Health North were the only shooting victims who died in those hospitals. Others were pronounced dead at the scene.

The patients who arrived at Broward Health North had gunshot wounds mainly in their chests and abdomens, Dr. Nichiporenko said. They seemed pale and quiet as they were carried in, which can be an ominous sign of major bleeding.

I think they were all in stress and emotionally shocked, Dr. Nichiporenko said. Nobody was screaming.

They were 14-, 15-, 16- and 17-year-olds, Dr. Nichiporenko said, though the level-two trauma center is not specifically designated for children under 16. Were all trained to take care of pediatric patients if we need to treat them and stabilize them, he said.

When the call came about the suspects arrival, the hospital staff made arrangements to treat him. They called in with a gunshot wound, Dr. Nichiporenko said. He stated that he was shot, so everybody thought he was injured.

A team of four was assigned to treat Mr. Cruz in the emergency room  two nurses and two doctors, including Dr. Nichiporenko, the hospitals trauma director, who trained as a trauma surgeon at St. Vincents Hospital and Medical Center in New York and hails from Moscow.

We just picked people we know can stay cool, Dr. Nichiporenko said. We chose the ones who wouldnt get emotional about it. The hospital had already been locked down  its entrances, exits and trauma rooms were guarded by security staff.
NAIROBI, Kenya  The two men were political allies.

But they had a falling out over the direction of newly independent Kenya  especially over land and power  and became bitter adversaries.

Now their sons are fighting a modern adaptation of the same battle as they vie to lead the country, pushing one of Africas youngest and most vibrant democracies to the brink of a constitutional crisis.

History is not exactly repeating itself, said Maina Kiai, a human rights lawyer in Kenya, describing the eerie political parallels between past and present, but it certainly is rhyming.

Politically, Kenya is deeply  and evenly  divided between Uhuru Kenyatta, the president, and his longtime political rival, Raila Odinga. In last years election, Mr. Kenyatta won slightly more than half the votes, and Mr. Odinga slightly less. Those results were tossed out in a historic decision by the Supreme Court, which cited widespread irregularities.
The F.B.I. declined to comment.

There are many potential reasons Mexican officials, if they were serious about investigating, might want American help, even if they did not necessarily need it. The Mexican public is deeply suspicious of its government, so the participation of American law enforcement officials could help build trust in the findings.

But more than six months after the investigation was announced, some of the American concerns appear to be bearing out, according to victims of the spying and their lawyers, who have had access to the case files.

The government inquiry has failed to make headway in many basic areas, they contend. Prosecutors handling the case have yet to question any of the officials responsible for operating the surveillance technology, according to the victims lawyers and their review of the case file.

The Mexican government declined to offer specific comments on the investigation but said it remains in the phase of exhausting different lines of investigation. It also said that it had been in constant contact with the group of forensic analysts that first discovered the existence of the spyware, the Citizen Lab at the University of Torontos Munk School of Global Affairs, and that it had sought counsel from other national and international experts.

The Citizen Lab seemed taken aback by the assertion.

Thats a surprising statement, given that we have had exactly one meeting with them and have received no further follow-up, said John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher there. He said the Citizen Lab answered the governments questions at that meeting, in October, and even suggested a list of evidence to preserve for the investigation.

The spying software, known as Pegasus, infiltrates smartphones to monitor every detail of a persons cellular life  calls, texts, email, contacts and calendars. It can even use the microphone and camera on phones for surveillance, turning a targets smartphone into a personal bug.
KABUL, Afghanistan  Taliban insurgents overran three checkpoints in nighttime raids on Tuesday in the western Afghan province of Farah, killing about 20 police officers before melting back into nearby villages, according to Afghan officials.

The province has been teetering from a wave of attacks by Taliban fighters using night-vision goggles, a technology that once gave the United States an edge in the war. Equipped with the devices, the Taliban quickly overwhelmed the checkpoints, said Dadullah Qani, a provincial council member in Farah, in a telephone interview.

Afghan officials have said that the night-vision goggles the Taliban have been using with such effect typically bear Russian markings, though their origin is unclear. Politicians in Kabul, the capital, have accused Russia of arming the Taliban.

The authorities in Moscow deny this. They say contacts established over the past several years with Taliban leaders are for discussions on countering a rival Islamist insurgent threat in Afghanistan, from the Islamic State, and on encouraging peace talks with the government.
SRINAGAR, Kashmir  He is known as one of Kashmirs gutsiest news photographers covering the intensifying hostility in his home region, and when violence broke out he was always among the first to the scene.

But the photographer, Kamran Yousuf, 21, has been stuck in jail since September  the victim, his friends and family say, of the Indian authorities strange and harsh definition of what a real journalist is.

Those officials insist that Mr. Yousuf is part of an international terrorist gang conspiring to wage war against the Indian security forces in Kashmir. They said he could not possibly be a journalist because he never takes any pictures of government developmental projects or the inaugurations of hospitals, schools or bridges.
MELBOURNE, Australia  More than five years ago, on two different continents and only days apart, an Australian woman and an Australian man entered indefinite detention.

For the woman, a defense lawyer at the International Criminal Court, being arrested was a relatively brief but harrowing affair, punctuated by armed men, dark rooms and aggressive interrogation. For the man, a co-founder of WikiLeaks, detention continues, though some might say voluntarily.

The lawyer, Melinda Taylor, would go on to represent the man, Julian Assange.

Ms. Taylor, now 42, has earned a reputation for defending the rights of individuals condemned by the court of public opinion before they have set foot inside an actual courtroom. Her clients have included Mr. Assange and Seif al-Islam el-Qaddafi, a son of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, the deposed Libyan strongman.

Mr. Assange, perhaps best known for publishing leaked United States military documents, has remained inside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London since 2012, after the Swedish authorities issued a warrant for his arrest over a rape accusation.
LONDON  In Britain, KFC has added a twist to the perennial riddle, Why did the chicken cross the road?

The chicken crossed the road, the fast-food chain said on its website. Just not to our restaurants.

The company found itself on Tuesday in the throes of a widespread chicken shortage for a third day running, after a hiccup in its supply chain forced half of its 900 outlets in Britain to close.

In one of the KFC holdouts, in Central London, a limited menu was on display, and one employee warned at noon that popcorn nuggets and corn were running out fast.
WARSAW  Poland broke international law by drastically increasing logging in one of Europes last primeval woodlands, which is home to endangered animal species, an official of the European Court of Justice said on Tuesday.

Yves Bot, an advocate general at the court, issued his opinion on the Bialowieza Forest at a time of strained relations between the European Union and Poland, a member state that has repeatedly defied the organization and challenged its authority. The case will be decided by the Court of Justice, which usually follows the advice of its advocates general.

The increased logging is necessarily liable to result in a deterioration of the breeding sites of the protected species, Mr. Bot wrote.

In 2016, Poland said it would triple the amount of logging allowed in the Bialowieza Forest. Last year, the European Commission, the European Unions executive body, sued in the Court of Justice to block that increase, and the court ordered Poland to halt the large-scale felling of trees until the case was resolved.
Israels enemies have begun seizing on Mr. Netanyahus legal predicament: In Munich on Sunday, the Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, pointedly alluded to Israels domestic corruption problem in accusing Mr. Netanyahu of aggression to distract attention from his political troubles.

Back at home, opponents from the Israeli left and center are demanding that Mr. Netanyahu resign or declare himself incapacitated: Yair Lapid of the centrist Yesh Atid party, calling in vain for a no-confidence vote, said Monday that Mr. Netanyahu should appoint a temporary prime minister from within his own party.

Israel deserves a full-time prime minister who is not engaged in anything else, Mr. Lapid said.

Another of Mr. Netanyahus main challengers, Avi Gabbay of Labor, said that the prime minister had become a liability for the citizens of Israel. Mr. Gabbay lamented Mr. Netanyahus sickly obsession for what will people say and what will be written about him in the media, adding, Every day that he stays in office is damage to the country.

Yet, Mr. Netanyahus right-wing coalition appears solidly behind him. On Tuesday morning, even as reports were first surfacing about the allegations of an attempt to bribe a judge, the prime ministers coalition allies were loudly denouncing the police commissioner as biased and unprofessional, while accusing him of leaking like a sieve about the various Netanyahu-related inquiries.

At the center of the two new allegations is a close adviser to the prime minister, Nir Hefetz, a veteran Israeli journalist and political operative who in recent years has bounced back and forth between editing jobs and tending to the public image of the prime minister and his family. In 2015 he was a top strategist for the Likud Partys successful election campaign.

Late that year, according to the police and Israeli news reports, Mr. Hefetz, working as the Netanyahu familys media adviser, passed a message through an intermediary to Israels commissioner for prosecutorial oversight, Judge Hila Gerstel: Would she drop a corruption case against Mr. Netanyahus wife, Sara, in exchange for being named attorney general?
TEHRAN  Three Iranian police officers and two paramilitary troops were killed overnight during clashes with members of a Sufi Islam order in Tehran, Iranian news outlets reported on Tuesday, the most casualties the security forces have suffered in one evening since the height of antigovernment demonstrations in 2009.

State news media reported that the police arrested more than 300 protesters, most of them members of the Gonabadi dervishes, a mystical Sufi strain of Islam that the clerical government has designated a challenge to mainstream Shiite theology.

The confrontation started Monday night when the dervishes, recognizable by the thick mustaches they wear by religious decree, gathered in front of a police station to demand the release of some members who had been arrested. Violence broke out when security officers arrived.

Photographs posted on social media showed several dervishes who had been severely beaten, though the authenticity of the images could not be independently verified. The clashes were also captured on a murky video spread on social media and broadcast by the semiofficial Fars news agency, which has links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
A 2012 study by Janet E. Rosenbaum, an epidemiologist at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, examined the perception of many gun-rights advocates that Israel and Switzerland were gun utopias that had fairly permissive firearms laws and widespread gun ownership, and encouraged armed civilians to intercept shooters.

She found that gun ownership was in fact far lower in Israel than in the United States. In the United States there are roughly 310 million firearms in the hands of civilians, nearly one for every adult and child. In Israel  which has a population of about 8.5 million, not counting about 5 million Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza  about 135,000 citizens are currently licensed to own guns. Of those, 37,500 work as guards, according to the Ministry of Public Security, which issues the permits.

The United States considers handgun ownership a constitutionally protected right, while Israel considers gun permits a privilege, granted by the Ministry of Public Security strictly on the basis of need.

It is true that Israelis tend to exhibit more comfort with firearms than, say, civilians in countries like Germany and Japan, where handguns are almost impossible to obtain.

Most Jewish Israelis are conscripted for mandatory military service at 18 for a period of at least two years, and receive at least some formal firearms training. Soldiers are issued guns only for their period of service.

As we are a peoples army, a lot of the population has at least undergone basic training and knows how to handle and conduct themselves with a weapon, said Simon Perry, a criminologist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. We dont have a gun fetish here, he added.

Israelis who have completed military service or national service may apply for a gun license at 21; others must wait until 27. Those who are eligible include civilians who live or work in areas considered dangerous; people working in security and emergency services or as civilian security guards; and some farmers, tour guides, veterinarians and registered hunters.
JERUSALEM  Two more serious allegations have surfaced in the metastasizing corruption investigation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his inner circle: that one of his aides tried to bribe a judge to quash a criminal case involving Mr. Netanyahus wife, and that he or his aides traded lucrative regulatory approvals for favorable coverage on a news website owned by Israels largest telecommunications company. Mr. Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing.

Here is a rundown of the particulars, according to the police and Israeli news reports.

Case 1270: A Big Job for a Big Favor

THE BACKDROP In 2015, Mr. Netanyahus wife, Sara, was under investigation over allegations that she had misused government funds in managing the prime ministers official Jerusalem residence.

THE PLAYERS Nir Hefetz, a veteran journalist and political operative; Eli Kamir, an ex-journalist turned media adviser, paid $40,000 a month by the telecommunications company Bezeq; Judge Hila Gerstel, Israels commissioner for prosecutorial oversight.
UNITED NATIONS  In a heated session of the United Nations Security Council that appeared to serve little but to reinforce intractable divisions between Israelis and Palestinians, the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, accused Israel of acting like a state above the law, before Israels ambassador said that Mr. Abbas was part of the problem.

Amid the name-calling, no one seemed to acknowledge the surprise presence of Jared Kushner, President Trumps son-in-law and adviser, who sat quietly with the American delegation in the Security Council chamber. Mr. Trump has charged him with forging the ultimate deal between the Israelis and Palestinians, though there has been little movement on that front.

Mr. Abbas was appearing before the Security Council for only the second time, after a 2011 visit in which he advocated Palestinian statehood. In his remarks on Tuesday, Mr. Abbas expressed an absolute readiness to reach a historic peace agreement, but said the United States had not clarified its position. For his part, the Israeli ambassador, Danny Danon, praised the Trump administration for working very hard to make progress toward peace.

Mr. Kushner was joined in the Council chamber by Jason D. Greenblatt, Mr. Trumps Middle East envoy, with whom he is said to be drafting a peace proposal.
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It has happened yet again: Inevitably, predictably, fatefully, a gunman shot dead 26 people in a Texas church on Sunday. These incidents are peculiarly American tragedies, and whats particularly heartbreaking is that they arent shocking. People all over the world become furious and try to harm others, but only in the United States do we suffer such mass shootings so regularly; only in the U.S. do we lose one person every 15 minutes to gun violence.

Two of the deadliest mass shootings in modern American history have occurred in the last six weeks. So lets not just mourn the dead, lets not just lower flags and make somber speeches. Lets also learn lessons from these tragedies, so that there can be fewer of them. In particular, I suggest that we try a new approach to reducing gun violence  a public health strategy.

America Has More Guns Than Any Other Country

The first step is to understand the scale of the challenge America faces: The U.S. has more than 300 million guns  roughly one for every citizen  and stands out as well for its gun death rates. At the other extreme, Japan has less than one gun per 100 people, and typically fewer than 10 gun deaths a year in the entire country.

Guns per 100 people The United States stands alone among developed countries: It has by far the highest rate of firearms ownership. 88.8 United States 45.7 switzerland 31.6 Sweden 31.2 france 30.8 canada 30.3 germany 15.0 Australia 11.9 italy 10.4 spain 6.2 England, wales 0.6 Japan Gun murders per 100,000 people Americas private arsenal is six times as lethal as Canadas, and 30 times worse than Australias. 3.00 United States 0.7 Italy 0.5 Canada 0.3 Sweden 0.2 Germany 0.2 Switzerland 0.1 Australia 0.1 England, Wales 0.1 france 0.1 Spain 0 Japan Guns per 100 people The United States stands alone among developed countries: It has by far the highest rate of firearms ownership. 88.8 United States 45.7 switzerland 31.6 Sweden 31.2 france 30.8 canada 30.3 germany 15.0 Australia 11.9 italy 10.4 spain 6.2 England, wales 0.6 Japan Gun murders per 100,000 people Americas private arsenal is six times as lethal as Canadas, and 30 times worse than Australias. 3.0 United States 0.7 Italy 0.5 Canada 0.3 Sweden 0.2 Germany 0.2 Switzerland 0.1 Australia 0.1 England, Wales 0.1 france 0.1 Spain 0 Japan The New York Times | Sources: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (gun murders); Small Arms Survey (guns per 100 people) | Murder data for U.S., Canada, Sweden, Switzerland, Australia and Spain from 2015 and latest available for other countries; 2007 data for guns per 100 people.

We Have a Model for Regulating Guns: Automobiles

Gun enthusiasts often protest: Cars kill about as many people as guns, and we dont ban them! No, but automobiles are actually a model for the public health approach Im suggesting.

We dont ban cars, but we work hard to regulate them  and limit access to them  so as to reduce the death toll they cause. This has been spectacularly successful, reducing the death rate per 100 million miles driven by 95 percent since 1921.

Take a look at the history of motor vehicle safety since World War II:

Deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled 1946 9.35 8 1968 First federal safety standards for cars 6 4 2016 2 1.18 50s 60s 70s 80s 90s 00s 10s Deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled 1946 9.35 1950 1968 First seatbelt offered in an American car First federal safety standards for cars 8 1974 55 m.p.h. national speed limit 1993 Car safety ratings introduced 6 1978 Tennessee is first to require child safety seats 1999 Airbags, invented in 1951, become mandatory 1984 4 New York is first to require seat belt use 2000 Mandatory reporting of defects by carmakers 2016 2 1.18 46 50s 60s 70s 80s 90s 2000s 10s 16 The New York Times | Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

The Liberal Approach Is Ineffective. Use a Public Health Approach Instead.

Frankly, liberal opposition to guns has often been ineffective, and sometimes counterproductive. The 10-year ban on assault weapons accomplished little, partly because definitions were about cosmetic features like bayonet mounts (and partly because even before the ban, such guns were used in only 2 percent of crimes).

The left sometimes focuses on gun control, which scares off gun owners and leads to more gun sales. A better framing is gun safety or reducing gun violence, and using auto safety as a modelconstant efforts to make the products safer and to limit access by people who are most likely to misuse them.

What would a public health approach look like for guns if it were modeled after cars? It would include:

Background Checks 22 percent of guns are obtained without one. Protection Orders Keep men who are subject to domestic violence protection orders from having guns. Ban Under-21s A ban on people under 21 purchasing firearms (this is already the case in many states). Safe Storage These include trigger locks as well as guns and ammunition stored separately, especially when children are in the house. Straw Purchases Tighter enforcement of laws on straw purchases of weapons, and some limits on how many guns can be purchased in a month. Ammunition Checks Experimentation with a one-time background check for anybody buying ammunition. End Immunity End immunity for firearm companies. Thats a subsidy to a particular industry. Ban Bump Stocks A ban on bump stocks of the kind used in Las Vegas to mimic automatic weapon fire. Research Smart Guns Smart guns fire only after a fingerprint or PIN is entered, or if used near a particular bracelet.

If someone steals my iPhone, its useless, and the same should be true of guns. Gun manufacturers made child-proof guns back in the 19th century (before dropping them), and its time to advance that technology today. Some combination of smart guns and safe storage would also reduce the number of firearms stolen in the U.S. each year, now about 200,000, and available to criminals.

We also need to figure out whether gun buybacks, often conducted by police departments, are cost-effective and help reduce violence. And we can experiment more with anti-gang initiatives, such as Cure Violence, that have a good record in reducing shootings.

Fewer Guns = Fewer Deaths

In Texas on Sunday, it seems that a man living near the church grabbed his gun and confronted the shooter after he left the church. It may be that this defensive use of a weapon saved lives, and the N.R.A. often hails this view that guns are necessary to counter gun violence.

But really? Can anybody possibly see what unfolded in Texas as a success of gun policy?

It is true that guns are periodically used defensively. One study by the Violence Policy Center found that in 2012 there were 259 justifiable homicides by a private citizen using a firearm.

Percent of Households With Guns, by State Hawaii Mass. U.S. AVERAGE: 32% OF HOUSEHOLDS HAVE GUNS R.I. N.J. N.Y. Del. Conn. Ill. States in red have gun death rates above the national average of 10.5 per 100,000 people. Calif. Fla. Md. Wash. N.H. Ind. Ohio Co. Pa. Iowa Minn. Ariz. Nev. N.D. Mich. Va. Ore. N.M. N.C. Tex. S.C. Neb. Kan. Ga. Mo. Okla. Wisc. La. Ky. Utah Ala. Maine Tenn. S.D. W. Va. Ark. Alaska Vt. Miss. Idaho Mont. Wyo. 20% 40% 60% 80% Percent of Households With Guns, by State Hawaii Massachusetts Rhode Island U.S. AVERAGE: 32% OF HOUSEHOLDS HAVE GUNS New Jersey New York Delaware Connecticut Illinois California States in red have gun death rates above the national average of 10.5 per 100,000 people. Florida Maryland Washington New Hampshire Indiana Ohio Colorado Pennsylvania Iowa Minnesota Arizona Nevada North Dakota Michigan Virginia Oregon New Mexico North Carolina Texas South Carolina Nebraska Kansas Georgia Missouri Oklahoma Wisconsin Louisiana Kentucky Utah Alabama Maine Tennessee South Dakota West Virginia Arkansas Alaska Vermont Mississippi Idaho Montana Wyoming 20% 40% 60% 80% Source: Michael Siegel, Boston University School of Public Health.

Gun Law Grades and Gun Death Rates The Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence finds that states where guns are more regulated tend to have lower gun death rates. In its grading system, the strongest gun regulations get an A; the weakest, an F. States in red have death rates above the national average of 10.5. GUN DEATH RATE PER 100,000 U.S. RATE: 10.5 GRADE A Hawaii 2.7 Mass. 3.1 N.Y. 4.2 Conn. 4.9 N.J. 5.3 Calif. 7.4 Md. 9.0 B R.I. 3.0 Ill. 9.0 Wash. 9.6 Del. 10.9 C Minn. 6.6 Iowa 7.4 Wis. 8.2 Pa. 10.4 Mich. 11.0 Ore. 11.7 Colo. 12.2 D N.H. 8.6 Neb. 9.4 Va. 10.3 Ohio 10.3 N.C. 11.8 Ind. 12.3 F Maine 9.4 Vt. 10.2 S.D. 10.3 Texas 10.6 Kan. 11.3 Fla. 11.5 N.D. 12.0 Utah 12.4 Idaho 13.2 Ariz. 13.4 Ga. 13.6 Ky. 13.9 W. Va. 14.5 Nev.* 14.7 Tenn. 15.1 Mo. 15.2 S.C. 15.4 Okla. 15.6 N.M. 15.8 Mont. 16.1 Wyo. 16.3 Ark. 16.5 Ala. 16.8 Miss. 18.3 La. 19.0 Alaska 19.1 Gun Law Grades and Gun Death Rates The Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence finds that states where guns are more regulated tend to have lower gun death rates. In its grading system, the strongest gun regulations get an A; the weakest, an F. States in red have death rates above the national average of 10.5. GUN DEATH RATE PER 100,000 GRADE A F Maine Hawaii 9.4 2.7 Vermont Massachusetts 10.2 3.1 South Dakota New York 10.3 4.2 Connecticut Texas 4.9 10.6 Kansas New Jersey 11.3 5.3 Florida California 11.5 7.4 U.S. RATE: 10.5 North Dakota Maryland 12.0 9.0 Utah 12.4 Idaho 13.2 B Rhode Island 3.0 Arizona 13.4 Illinois 9.0 Georgia 13.6 Washington 9.6 Kentucky 13.9 Delaware 10.9 West Virginia 14.5 Nevada* 14.7 C Minnesota 6.6 Tennessee 15.1 Iowa 7.4 Missouri 15.2 Wisconsin 8.2 South Carolina 15.4 Pennsylvania 10.4 Oklahoma 15.6 Michigan 11.0 New Mexico 15.8 Oregon 11.7 Montana 16.1 Colorado 12.2 Wyoming 16.3 Arkansas 16.5 Alabama 16.8 D New Hampshire 8.6 Mississippi 18.3 Nebraska 9.4 Louisiana 19.0 Virginia 10.3 Alaska 19.1 Ohio 10.3 North Carolina 11.8 Indiana 12.3 *Nevadas grade of F would improve to a C-minus if a recently passed ballot initiative mandating universal background checks is implemented. So far, the state has failed to do so. Source: Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

But the problem is that lax laws too often make it easy not only for good guys to get guns, but also for bad guys to get guns. The evidence is overwhelming that overall more guns and more relaxed gun laws lead to more violent deaths and injuries. One study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that a gun in the house was associated with an increased risk of a gun death, particularly by suicide but also apparently by homicide.

In 2015, Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas tweeted that he was embarrassed that his state was ranked second (behind California) in requests to buy new guns, albeit still with one million requests. Lets pick up the pace Texans, he wrote. Abbott apparently believes, along with the N.R.A., that more guns make a society more safe, but statistics dispute that. Abbott should look at those charts.

Mass Shootings Are Not the Main Cause of Loss of Life

Critics will say that the kind of measures I cite wouldnt prevent many shootings. The Las Vegas carnage, for example, might not have been prevented by any of the suggestions I make.

Thats true, and theres no magic wand available. Yet remember that although it is mass shootings that get our attention, they are not the main cause of loss of life. Much more typical is a friend who shoots another, a husband who kills his wife  or, most common of all, a man who kills himself. Skeptics will say that if people want to kill themselves, theres nothing we can do. In fact, it turns out that if you make suicide a bit more difficult, suicide rates drop.

Here are the figures showing that mass shootings are a modest share of the total, and the same is true of self-defense  despite what the N.R.A. might have you believe.

EACH SYMBOL REPRESENTS 500 GUN DEATHS IN 2016 AN ESTIMATED 22,000 GUN SUICIDES ABOUT 11,760 HOMICIDES OTHER CAUSES DEATHS IN MASS SHOOTINGS: 456 VICTIMS KILLING PERPETRATORS IN SELF-DEFENSE: 589 1.6% 1.2% SHARE OF ALL GUN DEATHS: EACH SYMBOL REPRESENTS 500 GUN DEATHS IN 2016 AN ESTIMATED 22,000 GUN SUICIDES ABOUT 11,760 HOMICIDES OTHER CAUSES VICTIMS KILLING PERPETRATORS IN SELF-DEFENSE: 589 DEATHS IN MASS SHOOTINGS: 456 1.6% 1.2% SHARE OF ALL GUN DEATHS: The New York Times | Source: Gun Violence Archive

America Is Moving in the Wrong Direction

Yet while we should be moving toward sensible regulation, in fact weve been moving in the opposite direction. Gun laws have been loosened in many parts of the country. Check out these maps:

Not allowed Allowed Concealed carry 1991 Allowed Not Allowed Today Open carry (Handguns) 1991 Today Open carry (long guns) 1991 Today 1991 Today Concealed Carry Allowed Not allowed Open carry (Handguns) Open carry (Long guns) The New York Times | Source: Michael Siegel, Boston University School of Public Health

Tightening Gun Laws Lowered Firearm Homicide Rates

For skeptics who think that gun laws dont make a difference, consider what happened in two states, Missouri and Connecticut. In 1995, Connecticut tightened licensing laws, while in 2007 Missouri eased gun laws.

The upshot? After tightening gun laws, firearm homicide rates dropped 40 percent in Connecticut. And after Missouri eased gun laws, gun homicide rates rose 25 percent.

Connecticut after 1995 law tightening licensing requirements Estimated change in rate of gun homicide 40% Estimated change in rate of gun suicide 15% Missouri after 2007 repeal of license requirements Estimated change in rate of gun homicide +25% Estimated change in rate of gun suicide +16% Connecticut after 1995 law tightening licensing requirements Missouri after 2007 repeal of license requirements Estimated change in rate of gun homicide 40% +25% Estimated change in rate of gun suicide 15% +16% The New York Times | Source: Johns Hopkins School of Public Health

One of the lessons of gun research is that we often focus just on firearms themselves, when it may be more productive to focus on who gets access to them. A car or gun is usually safe in the hands of a 45-year-old woman with no criminal record, but may be dangerous when used by a 19-year-old felon with a history of alcohol offenses or domestic violence protection orders.

Yet our laws have often focused more on weapons themselves (such as the assault weapons ban) rather than on access. In many places, there is more rigorous screening of people who want to adopt dogs than of people who want to purchase firearms.

In these two states, the laws affected access, and although theres some indication that other factors were also involved in Connecticut (and correlations dont prove causation), the outcomes are worth pondering.

There Is a Shocking Lack of Research on Guns

Theres simply a scandalous lack of research on gun violence, largely because the N.R.A. is extremely hostile to such research and Congress rolls over. When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did try to research gun violence, Congress responded by cutting its funding.

Here is the American toll from four diseases and firearms over the years 1973-2012  and the number of National Institutes of Health research grants to explore each problem over that same time.

N.I.H. research awards Disease Number of cases Rabies 65 56 Polio 266 212 Cholera 400 129 Diphtheria 1,337 89 Firearms injuries 3 >4 million Number of cases Disease N.I.H. research awards Rabies 65 89 Polio 266 129 Cholera 400 212 Diphtheria 1,337 56 Firearm Injuries 3 >4 million The New York Times | Source: University of Chicago Crime Lab

The Right Type of Training Could Go a Long Way

One approach that could reduce the abuse of guns is better training. As a 13-year-old farm boy in Oregon, I attended a N.R.A. gun safety class (which came with a one-year membership to the N.R.A., making me an N.R.A. alum who despises what that organization has become). These classes can be very useful, and audits found that more than 80 percent cover such matters as checking the gun to see if its loaded, keeping ones finger off the trigger until ready to fire and being certain of the target.

Yet the audits also suggest that trainers are more likely to advocate for the N.R.A. or for carrying guns than for, say, safe storage. This is a missed opportunity, for all classes should cover the risks of guns and alcohol, the risks of abuse with suicide and domestic violence, the need for safe storage, and so on. Heres what researchers found that the gun classes they audited actually covered:

NOT DISCUSSED PERCENT OF CLASSES WHERE DISCUSSED Trainers encouraged gun carrying 81% 19 Encouraged gun ownership 76 24 Prevent unsupervised access by children 70 30 Encouraged gun use for self-defense 69 31 60 40 Ricochet 60 40 Theft prevention Encouraged membership in gun-rights group 56 44 Legal ramifications of shooting in self-defense 55 45 53 47 Child access laws Recommendation: when not in use, store unloaded 50 50 Recommendation: use gun only as last resort 45 55 Young children and gun accidents 55 45 70 30 Decision-making in crises Theft is important source of firearms used in crime 80 20 Techniques for de-escalating threats 85 15 Recommendation: report stolen firearms 90 10 Watch for signs of suicide in household members 90 10 90 10 Domestic violence risk Topic discussed Percent of classes where discussed Not discussed Trainers encouraged gun carrying 19 81% Encouraged gun ownership 24 76 Prevent unsupervised access by children 30 70 Encouraged gun use for self-defense 31 69 Ricochet 40 60 Theft prevention 40 60 Encouraged membership in gun-rights group 44 56 Legal ramifications of shooting in self-defense 45 55 Child access laws 47 53 Recommendation: when not in use, store unloaded 50 50 Recommendation: use gun only as last resort 55 45 Young children and gun accidents 55 45 Decision-making in crises 70 30 Theft is an important source of firearms used in crime 80 20 Techniques for de-escalating threats 85 15 Recommendation: report stolen firearms 90 10 Watch for signs of suicide in household members 90 10 Domestic violence risk 90 10 The New York Times | Source: David Hemenway, Injury Prevention | The classes studied, some of which were required by law, took place in 7 Northeast states.

A Way Forward: On Some Issues, Majorities Agree

It may sometimes seem hopeless to make progress on gun violence, especially with the N.R.A. seemingly holding Congress hostage. But Im more optimistic.

Look, we all agree on some kinds of curbs on guns. Nobody believes that people should be able to drive a tank down Main Street, or have an anti-aircraft gun in the backyard. Ive been to parts of northern Yemen where one could actually buy a tank or an anti-aircraft gun, as well as fully automatic weapons  and that areas now embroiled in a civil war  but fortunately in America we have agreed to ban those kinds of weaponry.

So the question isnt whether we will restrict firearms, but where to draw the line and precisely which ones to restrict.

Check out these polling numbers as a basis for action on gun safety:

Agree with the following: Households with no guns Gun households 50% Background checks for all gun buyers 93% 96% Preventing mentally ill from buying guns 89 89 Nationwide ban on the sale of guns to people convicted of violent crimes 88 85 Barring gun purchases by people on no-fly or watch lists 82 84 Background checks for private sales and at gun shows 77 87 Federal mandatory waiting period on all gun purchases 72 89 Ban on modifications that make a semi- automatic gun work like an automatic gun 67 79 A ban on the sale of guns to people convicted of violent crimes would reduce gun violence 61 75 New gun laws will not interfere with the right to own guns 57 71 Congress is not doing enough to reduce gun violence 56 81 Creating a federal database to track gun sales 54 80 A ban on the sale of high-capacity magazines (10+ bullets)* 52 77 Households with no guns Gun households Agree with the following: 50% 93% Background checks for all gun buyers 96% 89 Preventing the mentally ill from buying guns 89 Nationwide ban on the sale of guns to people convicted of violent crimes 88 85 Barring gun purchases by people on no-fly or watch lists 82 84 Background checks for private sales and at gun shows 77 87 Federal mandatory waiting period on all gun purchases 72 89 A ban on modifications that make a semi- automatic gun work like an automatic gun 67 79 A ban on the sale of guns to people convicted of violent crimes would reduce gun violence 61 75 New gun laws will not interfere with the right to own guns 57 71 Congress is not doing enough to reduce gun violence 56 81 Creating a federal database to track gun sales 54 80 A ban on the sale of high-capacity ammunition magazines (10+ bullets)* 52 77 The New York Times | Sources: Pew Research Center survey conducted in March and April (questions on mental illness, no-fly lists, background checks for private sales and federal database); Quinnipiac University National Poll conducted Oct. 5-10 (all other questions) | *A Pew Research Center survey found only 44 percent of gun owners favored such a ban.

Looking ahead, Im optimistic that there can be progress at the state level, and some of the necessary research funding will come from private foundations. Maybe some police departments will put in orders for smart guns to help create a market.

But the real impetus for change will come because the public favors it. In particular, note that 93 percent of people even in gun households favor universal background checks for gun purchases.

The terrible truth is that Wednesdays school shooting was 100 percent predictable. So is the next one. After each such incident, we mourn the deaths and sympathize with the victims, but we do nothing fundamental to reduce our vulnerability.

Some of you will protest (as President Trump did the last time) that its too soon to talk about guns, or that it is disrespectful to the dead to use such a tragedy to score political points. Yet more Americans have died from gun violence, including suicides, since 1970 (about 1.4 million) than in all the wars in American history going back to the Revolutionary War (about 1.3 million). And its not just gang members: In a typical year, more preschoolers are shot dead in America (about 75) than police officers are.

Yes, making America safer will be hard: There are no perfect solutions. The Second Amendment is one constraint, and so is our polarized political system and the power of the gun lobby. Theres a lot of talk about banning assault weapons, for example, but the 10-year assault weapons ban didnt accomplish much for reducing gun violence, partly because defining assault weapons proved to be much more complex than anybody had anticipated (in the end, the definition depended partly on cosmetic features). And new restrictions have limited effectiveness because we have delayed so long that there are already so many guns out there. So its unclear how effective some of my suggestions will be, and in any case this will be a long, uncertain, uphill process.

But automobiles are a reminder that we can chip away at a large problem through a public health approach: Just as auto safety improvements have left us far better off, it seems plausible to some gun policy experts that a sensible, politically feasible set of public health steps could over time reduce firearm deaths in America by one-third  or more than 10,000 lives saved each year.

So lets not just shed tears for the dead, give somber speeches and lower flags. Lets get started and save lives. Lets not accept that school classrooms can turn any moment into war zones.
Today in Dail Eireann, Offaly TD Carol Nolan called the Taoiseach to account for government performance on job creation.

Nolan referred to Page 41 of the Programme for Government which states that the ultimate goal of the new government will be to deliver sustainable full employment. This would mean an extra 200,000 jobs by 2020, of which 135,000 will be outside of Dublin, leading to more people at work than ever before."

Deputy Nolan stated that there is a serious concern about the high level of unemployment which currently stands at 9.3% in the Midlands and the IDAs poor record in terms of Job Creation."

"For example, last year in Longford there was a net job loss of 198, with a modest gain of 26 jobs in Offaly and a mere gain of four additional jobs in Laois.

Pressing Taoiseach Varadkar for a reply Deputy Nolan asked, How many of the 135,000 jobs outside of Dublin have been created to date? How many of those jobs were created in the Midlands region? And finally, what plan does this Government have to tackle the dismal record of the IDA in terms of it job creation performance in the Midlands region.

Responding on behalf of the Government Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphries, "failed to acknowledge that there was a problem in the Midlands region or in rural Ireland," according to Nolan.

"She stated that 45% of all IDA and Enterprise Ireland jobs created were outside of the Dublin area and as she could not indicate the number of jobs created in the midlands region she advised Deputy Nolan that she would forward the figures in due course," Nolan explained.
Gorta-Self Help Africa is inviting the public to The Bridge House Hotel, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, on February 27 at 7.30pm to 9pm to hear about their stellar charity work in Africa.

Gorta-Self Help Africa also want to take this opportunity to thank their supporters in person by giving them the chance to meet and give a brief update on their life-changing work in Africa.

New members are always welcome, and they look forward to seeing you on the night.

Gorta is Irelands longest-running international development organisation. Gorta works with smallholder farmers, focusing on long term agricultural development projects. It operates in 10 countries across Africa and also supports key initiatives in a further two.

Ronan Scully, a member of Gorta has been heavily involved in the organisation for many years and has been to places like Ethiopia, helping the cause of the organisation.

Please RSVP by February 26 if you intend going along by email or phone: rachel.ohalloran@selfhelpafrica.org or 01-6778880
AAP doesn't know how to run Government; must apologise to CS: Congress

India

oi-Shreya

By Shreya

Addressing the media on the allegations made by the Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash, Delhi Congress Chief Ajay Maken said that the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal must immediately apologise to the top bureaucrat.

He also said that the AAP-led Delhi Government does not have the ability to run a Government and lacks what it takes to make bureaucrats deliver their best. He said, "The Delhi Government does not know how to handle bureaucrats, and without this, they will never be able to run the Government efficiently. If Bureaucrats refuse to work now, who will make and implement the Budget?'

He said that the Chief Minister and LG must immediately call for a meeting and resolve the issue at earliest so that people of Delhi do not suffer.

Claiming that the Delhi Government is not being able to deliver as expected, Maken said, "During our regime for 15 years, we also worked under the BJP for 6 years during that time, but we never kept on making excuses. The AAP Government is full of excuses and is trying to build a narrative which is false. If we could work efficiently, why are they trying to cover up their flaws and incapabilities by pushing the blame on others?"

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 20, 2018, 19:07 [IST]
'Agencies will not be able to prove charges', says Nirav Modi's lawyer

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

Amid noise over the Rs 11,400 crore PNB scam involving Nirav Modi, the billionaire jeweller's lawyer on Tuesday said that the "case will collapse" and the "agencies will not be able to prove" the charges in the court.

The multi crore scam is being probed by several agencies including the Central Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax Department among others.

"Like 2G Scam and Bofors matter this case will also collapse. Agencies are making noises in the media but they will not be able to prove the charges in a court of law. I am sure NiravModi will not be found guilty," news agency ANI quoted Modi's lawyer Vijay Aggarwal as saying.

Meanwhile, Modi, in a letter to the PSU bank, has said that PNB's overzealousness has shut the doors on his ability to clear the dues, which he claimed is much lower than the bank has gone public with. He claimed that the amount his companies owes to the bank under Rs 5,000 crore. The letter also refers to the extended discussions between him, his representatives and the bank officers and also his emails on February 13 and 15, 2018.

The bank has named Modi's brother, his American wife Ami, and uncle Choksi besides some others in the FIR.

[PNB closed all options to recover dues by going public: Nirav Modi]

On the over Rs 11,000-crore loss claimed by PNB in the FIR, Modi said, "as you are aware, this is entirely incorrect and the liability of the Nirav Modi Group is substantially less. Even after your complaint was filed, in good faith I wrote to you saying please sell/allow me to sell Firestar Group, or their valuable assets, and recover the dues not just from Firestar Group, but also from the three firms."

Valuing his domestic business at around Rs 6,500 crore, he said "this could have helped reduce/discharge the debt to the banking system," but quickly added that this is not possible as all his bank accounts have been frozen and assets have been sealed or seized.

[PNB scam is no doubt the biggest, but so is the probe into it]

On the other hand, a plea seeking an SIT probe into the scam has been filed in the Supreme Court. The plea seeks the establishment of an SIT comprising retired judges of the Supreme Court. In his petition, advocate, M L Sharma has sought for the probe stating that there was a serious fraud committed by the PNB while issuing Letters of Undertaking without proper surety or bank guarantee.

The petitioner states that the PNB had issued LoUs without entering into bank records. He said that a dedicated SIT probe be initiated to get to the root of the matter.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 20, 2018, 10:59 [IST]
Agni II test fired from Abdul Kalam island off Odisha

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

Strategic Forces Command (SFC) successfully test fired Agni II medium-range nuclear-capable missile from Abdul Kalam island off the Odisha coast on Tuesday. The missile has a strike range of more than 2,000 km. Agni II has already been inducted into the Indian Army.

The Agni-II is designed to be launched from a rail-mobile launcher and it is also available in road-mobile configuration. This lends flexibility to the weapon system and reduces vulnerability to first strike. Agni missiles are claimed to be a part of the "credible deterrence" against China and Pakistan. India stated that its nuclear and missile development programmes are not Pakistan-centric, that the Pakistani threat is only a marginal factor in New Delhi's security calculus, and that Agni is at the heart of deterrence in the larger context of Sino-Indian equation.

The range for Agni-2 is performance, repeated guidance more than 2000 km. The missile weighs 17 tonnes and its range can be increased to 3,000 km by reducing the payload. It can be fired from both rail and road mobile launchers. It takes only 15 minutes for the missile to be readied for firing.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 20, 2018, 11:52 [IST]
Is India working on Agni-6? What could be the ramifications if it is test fired

Agni missiles: How far can they strike in Chinese territory?

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

Agni II, medium-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile, was on Tuesday test fired from Abdul Kalam island off the Odisha coast. Agni missiles are claimed to be a part of the "credible deterrence" against China and Pakistan. India has time and again stated that its missile development programmes are not Pakistan-centric as the Pakistani threat is only a marginal factor in New Delhi's security calculus. Agni is, however, at the heart of deterrence in the larger context of Sino-Indian equation.

Agni series has five missiles with varying strike capabilities and ranges. Agni 1 is a single stage solid fuel missile with a range of 1250 kms while Agni 2, an improvement of Agni 1, is a two-stage missile capable of striking targets 2000 kms away. Agni 2, if launched from a strategic location, can target western, central, and southern China.

Agni 4, however, can strike targets in nearly all of China, including Beijing, provided they are launched from the northeast. All the missiles in the Agni series are capable of carrying nuclear warheads. On 19 April 2012, India made its entry into the Intercontinental ballistic Missile (ICBM) club after the successful test launch of its indigenous Agni V missile.

Time and again International defence experts, especially the Chinese, have claimed that India has been understating the range of its intercontinental ballistic missile Agni-5. India initially did not divulge the exact range that the missile can strike but later DRDO hinted that it has the capability to reach 5,000 kms.

Chinese experts say that the missile actually has the potential to reach targets 8,000 kilometres away and that the Indian government had deliberately downplayed the missile's capability in order to avoid causing concern to other countries. If the 8000 kms theory is true then India can strike whole of China even if the missile is launched from Southern India.

[Agni II test fired from Abdul Kalam island off Odisha]

Agni-V also features Multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRVs) with each missile being capable of carrying 2-10 separate nuclear warheads. Each warhead can be assigned to a different target. One of the main advantages of Agni missiles are that they all use solid fuel which greatly reduces their launch time. If the missile is fitted to a mobile launcher, it can be launched within minutes. Some of the Chinese missiles use liquid propellant, which take time to launch compared to solid fuelled missiles because of the time needed to fuel the missile.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 20, 2018, 12:25 [IST]
Amit Shah gives communal colour to incident involving Mohammed Haris Nalapad

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Tuesday seemed to give a communal colour to a case involving Karnataka Congress MLA's son Mohammed Haris Nalapad, who has been accused of assaulting a youth in Bengaluru.

Shah further launched a scathing attack on Siddaramiah-led government in Karnataka and said that the Chief Minister is wrong if he thinks that "politics of appeasement will be successful".

"Appeasement and polarisation here reflects in example where son of MLA Haris thrashed a man but there was no FIR. Why? Not only bcoz he's Haris's son but because it involves appeasement of groups," Shah said in Sullia, Karnataka.

A Bengaluru Court on Monday sent Youth Congress leader Mohammed Haris Nalapad to two-days police custody. Nalapad had earlier on Monday surrendered before the police. He was on Sunday expelled as the Bengaluru District Youth Congress General Secretary after it was reported that he allegedly thrashed a person in a restaurant in Bengaluru.

[Congress MLA's son Mohammed Haris Nalapad sent to 2-days police custody]

Shah exuded confidence that the BJP would win Karnataka Assembly elections, adding that it would open the doors for the saffron party in southern India.

"BJP is a party with different work culture. Other parties go for elections based on various ministers and their work. We, on the other hand not only have the world's most popular leader but also 11 Crore members from Kashmir to Kanyakumari," he added.

[Amit Shah visits Kukke Subrahmanya temple in Dakshina Kannada]

The BJP Chief today visited and offered prayers at Kukke Subrahmanya temple, famous pilgrimage centre of Karnataka. Shah is scheduled to attend party events in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. In all, Shah will attend five events today till 5 pm. In the last public programme, he will address the fisherman convention at Malpe seaside in Udupi district.

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
BSF guns down Pakistani smuggler, 10 kg heroin seized

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

The Border Security Force (BSF) has gunned down a Pakistani smuggler and recovered 10 Kg heroin in Punjab's Ferozepur sector.

Opium, heroin and other contraband substances being smuggled into Punjab from Pakistan has emerged as a major problem in recent times. Narcotics being pushed into India by Pakistan smugglers is the major reason behind Punjab drug menace.

One China made pistol, two magazines, 17 live cartridges, Pakistani currency, two mobile phones with SIM cards and a plastic pipe of 10 feet were also recovered from the smuggler, reported news agency ANI.

On February 10, a Pakistani smuggler was killed while another was caught as BSF jawans thwarted an attempt to smuggle in heroin into the country through the Abohar sector in Punjab. BSF had noticed some movement of Pakistani smugglers near the border fence and sounded an alert. Soon after the BSF troops challenged the alleged Pak smugglers when they approached the fence to push the contraband to the Indian side, the latter opened fire. When the BSF troops retaliated in self-defence, both the alleged smugglers sustained bullet injuries.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 20, 2018, 10:06 [IST]
Congress leader threatens to set BBMP office on fire, more embarrassment for Siddaramaiah

India

oi-Anusha

By Anusha Ravi

After Mohammed Nalpad Haris' case, another Congress leader's arrogance caught on camera has left Siddaramaiah's government in Karnataka embarrassed. A block Congress president and MLA Byrathi Basavraj's right-hand man, Narayanaswamy, was caught on camera threatening to set a government office ablaze. The man even sprays petrol inside the office threatening to destroy all files.

Narayanaswamy, a member of Bengaluru Water Board (appointments to the board were personally made by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah) is seen throwing petrol inside a Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) office in Horamavu threatening to set it ablaze. The incident is said to have taken place on Friday and four days later, no action has been taken against the Congress leader.

Narayanaswamy is said to have stormed the BBMP office after an official refused to process fake documents for a piece of land in NRI layout whose documents have been seized by the court. While the officer in question was transferred immediately after the incident, the rowdy politician has been allowed to go scotfree. Narayanaswamy allegedly forced ARO Chenagalrayappa to process documents illegally. When the official refused to concede, an agitated Narayanaswamy landed at the regional BBMP office and threatened to destroy all the files along with the building.

"Am I a goonda or a rowdy-sheeter? Why are you coming close to me." Narayanaswamy is seen asking in the video even as he continues to throw petrol at the office walls.

After the video became public, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been tearing into the Congress government and behaviour of its leaders.

While one MLA's son tried to kill a commoner and his cronies attacked media, another leader threatens to set the BBMP office on fire. The arrogance & hooliganism of Congress leaders is touching new heights everyday. CM @siddaramaiah's model of governance on display! https://t.co/fEfkjaCM78  B.S. Yeddyurappa (@BSYBJP) February 20, 2018

I call it shame to Ruling Commission Government @INCKarnataka your party leader in K R Puram throwing Petrol inside Government office to put fire , For not supporting illegal khata . This is a sample of rowdism by Supporters of MLA Sri Bairatti Basavaraju in the Constituency  Sadananda Gowda (@DVSBJP) February 20, 2018

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 20, 2018, 13:39 [IST]
Delhi Chief Secretary assault case: Police detain AAP MLA Prakash Jarwal

India

oi-Madhuri

The Delhi police on Tuesday detained AAP MLA Prakash Jarwal from his residence in Ambedkar Nagar area in connection with alleged assault of Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash. He was taken to Civil Lines police station for questioning.

Meanwhile, Heavy police force have been deployed near the residence of AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan in Okhla. He has been named in the FIR lodged in connection with alleged assault of Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash.

Earlier in the day, Prakash had filed an FIR aainst AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan and others for manhandling him.

A case was registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) pertaining to wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation, causing hurt, criminal conspiracy, insult and obstructing a public servant from discharging his duty, Special Commissioner and chief spokesperson of the Delhi Police, Dependra Pathak, told PTI.

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Story first published: Wednesday, February 21, 2018, 1:06 [IST]
Donald Trump Jr kickstarts India tour with meeting real estate developers

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

Donald Trump Junior, the eldest son of US President Donald Trump, is on a week-long visit to India to push sales of the upcoming Trump Towers in the country.His schedule includes dinners in at least two cities with buyers of Trump-branded apartments.

He kickstarted his India visit with a business meeting at a five star hotel in the national capital. He met a group of real estate developers at the Oberoi Hotel in New Delhi.

Trump Jr. will meet with Indian investors and business leaders in Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune and Gurugram respectively.

Trump Jr. will also deliver his maiden speech in India where he will speak on "Reshaping Indo-Pacific Ties: The New Era of Cooperation" at a global business summit on Friday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will also be present, will speak at the summit on the topic of "Preparing India for the Future."

Last week, Full-page advertisements in Indian newspapers on Monday invited prospective investors to buy into the Trump Organisation's project in Gurugram to join Donald Trump Jr at a dinner later this week.

Some of the ads, which were taken out by one of the Indian developers working on the project, bear a photo of Trump Jr. They offer "a conversation and dinner" with him on Friday if you reserve an apartment at the Trump Towers in Gurgaon -- about 20 miles outside New Delhi -- by this week. An advertisement in newspapers on Sunday read, "Trump is here. Are you invited?"

India is Trump Organisation's biggest international market, with four real estate projects underway in Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, and Gurugram.

Trump Jr.'s visit to India comes after his sister, Ivanka, visited Hyderabad in November last year to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit.

OneIndia News
Tamil Nadu: First hurdle in Kamal Haasan's political journey

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

Hindu Munnani District President gave a letter to Rameswaram collector against Kamal Haasan's scheduled visit to the school where former President APJ Abdul Kalam studied. The letter stated that schools must not be allowed to be politicized. Hindu Munnani is a religious and cultural organization based in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu which was formed to defend Hinduism and protect Hindu religious monuments.

Kamal Haasan will visit the 'No 1 Mandapam Panchayat union middle school', the alma mater of former President A.P. J. Abdul Kalam when he launches his political journey from the Rameswaram island on February 21, reported The Hindu.

Haasan will reach Madurai today to finalise the arrangements, that include a rally in Rameswaram on Wednesday evening, where the actor-turned-politician will announce the name of his party and unfurl the party flag.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal will attend actor Kamal Haasan's party launch at Ramanathapuram.

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Parliament more about policy than politics: PM Modi at launch of Sansad TV

PM stresses on role of modern infrastructure in govts focus on ease of living and and doing business

From 'Maun'mohan to Maun Modi, why Indias politics of silence is deafening

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

New Delhi, Feb 20: There is a complete silence at the top, literally.

We are not talking about the great Himalayas (if you have ever climbed to the top of the mountain and experienced its solitude, you would know what we are talking about), but about the two 'towering' leaders India choose to put at the top post and their silence over important issues.

Remember back in 2012, it was then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, who while attacking former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over several corruption cases against the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre, called him "Maun (silent)"mohan Singh.

Nothing much has changed in the last six years. Still the 'politics of silence' pervades the nation. It is almost eerie. Of course, "Maun" Modi (silent Modi) has replaced "Maun"mohan as the country's "pradhan sevak".

Like his predecessor, PM Modi too often goes into a complete 'silent mode', especially when the nation is in any crisis. Otherwise he speaks a lot, mostly during election rallies.

Days after the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud hit the nation--thanks to billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi who meticulously masterminded the scam with his minions to loot around Rs 11,400 crore of taxpayers' money and left the country just before the bank got a hint of it--PM Modi is refusing to speak a single word on one of the country's biggest banking scandals.

There is nothing new about Modi's "zen-like" behaviour. Every time the country stares at a problem, Modi decides to look away. Be it attacks on minorities by gau rakshaks (cow vigilantes), controversial Rafale deal or the latest PNB-Nirav Modi fraud, Modiji like his predecessor finds solace in "reticence".

The opposition Congress which is questioning the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government's role in the PNB-Nirav Modi scandal, on Monday christened the PM as "Maun Modi" (silent Modi) over his "continued silence".

"5 days since India's largest bank loot and PM Modi is on a vow of silence. The nation needs answers, Mr Prime Minister #ModiRobsIndia #MaunModi," tweeted the Congress.

5 days since India's largest bank loot and PM Modi is on a vow of silence. The nation needs answers, Mr Prime Minister #ModiRobsIndia #MaunModi pic.twitter.com/K29etJvsLN  Congress (@INCIndia) February 19, 2018

The Congress asked on Twitter, "Is it too much to expect Maun Modi, who had promised to be the chowkidar of the nation, to speak one word on this systematic loot of the banking system?"

In an article headlined "Maun Modi: The Art of Silence", the Congress said the age-old proverb "silence is golden" has caught the fancy of the "verbose" PM, while the nation ponders over the reasons behind his reticence.

PM Modi has mastered the art of remaining silent while scam after scam hits the nation. He possibly believes that his silence will help distract the nation. #MaunModihttps://t.co/mEPHzKUOvw  Congress (@INCIndia) February 19, 2018

"What could explain this? When the country's biggest banking scam hit the airwaves, Narendra Modi was found passing on unsolicited tips to students on how to cope with exam stress, inaugurating the swanky new headquarters of BJP, and holding forth on Artificial Intelligence.

"It looks like the Chowkidar of the nation's wealth has abdicated all responsibility, moral and otherwise," it said.

In the last few days, Congress president Rahul Gandhi is constantly criticising the PM over the multi-crore banking scam. On Monday, Rahul attacked the PM over his "silence" on the multi-crore PNB bank fraud, asking where the "country's watchman" was when jeweller Nirav Modi fled the country like liquor baron Vijay Mallya.

The Congress president took the swipe at the PM for his refrain during poll rallies that he would act as a watchman (chowkidar) for the country, and cited his "na khaoonga, na khaane doonga" (will neither do nor allow anyone to do corruption) statement.

Rahul added the entire country was keen to know the "secret behind his silence" and alleged that it screams out loudly where his loyalties were.

"First Lalit (Modi) and then (Vijay) Mallya, now Nirav (Modi) also fled the country. Where is the country's watchman who claimed 'na khaoonga, na khaane doonga' (Will neither do nor allow anyone to do corruption)?

"The public is longing to know the reason of 'saheb's' silence. His silence screams out loud who is he loyal to?" he asked in a tweet in Hindi.

   

    

  ' ,   '     ?



        

     

   #ModiRobsIndia  Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) February 19, 2018

The Communist Party of India (CPI) too blamed the Prime Minister's Office for diamond merchant Nirav Modi fleeing the country and hit out at the PM for keeping mum on the scam.

The party's general secretary Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy said the PM's silence on such a "big scandal is surprising". "On every issue, the PM reacts, tweets and comments. But when such a serious incident takes place, why doesn't he speak or react? He must reply," Reddy told reporters in Hyderabad on Sunday.

The Congress asked the government who actually facilitated the escape of accused designer jeweller Nirav Modi and his partner Mehul Choksi, despite a court order declaring Choksi as an "absconder" and a proclaimed offender.

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari demanded that the government issue a white paper on the health of the banking sector and a complete list of all NPAs of banks be published on their website to enable people who have invested money in these banks to know their fiscal health.

The Congress also wanted the PM to speak out on Amit Shah's son's company, the Rafale price at which the aircraft were purchased, the purchase of stake by ONGC in Gujarat Petroleum Corporation and on the issue of death of Justice Loya.

The Congress said "whenever the PM speaks, it is either to dish out more rhetoric, or to badmouth the Congress party, or to point towards the past and claim victimhood".

The opposition party also took out a video of PM Modi sleeping while scamsters like Mallya and Nirav Modi fled.

"Have you heard of this amazing scheme by the Modi Govt to create more billionaires?

"PM Modi has mastered the art of remaining silent while scam after scam hits the nation. He possibly believes that his silence will help distract the nation," the party said.

Amid all the noises generated by the Congress, there is a great smiliarity between the functioning of both the NDA and the UPA regimes. PM Modi is only following on the "maun" footsteps of the previous Manmohan Singh government.

Be it the BJP or the Congress government--the good rule of thumb is "maun".

OneIndia News




Ready to quit cinema if it becomes hurdle to political career: Kamal Haasan

I'm in politics only because AIADMK is bad, says Kamal Haasan

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

Actor turned-politician Kamal Haasan on Tuesday said that he was entering politics "only because the ruling AIADMK party is bad".

The actor said this was the reason that he was not meeting anyone from the AIADMK.

I am entering politics only because the ruling AIADMK party is bad, that is why I am not meeting any of them: Kamal Haasan said in Chennai.

Veteran Tamil actor Kamal Haasan will kick off his state-wide tour on Wednesday with the launch of his political party and its "guiding principles" in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

The tour will be held in phases. He will begin the journey from Ramanathapuram his hometown and later visit people from the districts of Madurai, Dindigul and Sivagangai.

It will mark Haasan's official entry into politics about which he has been making overtures since last year.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is likely to attend Haasan's Madurai rally.

While announcing his tour earlier this year, Haasan had said he intended to "embark on a journey across the state to truly understand as to what the needs of my people are, what is affecting them, what their aspirations are.... This momentous journey of meeting people across Tamil Nadu is neither an act of rebellion nor is it a gathering for glamour."

Kamal met senior political leaders and well-wishers from different political parties including the Left. He also sought the blessings of DMDK leader, Captain Vijayakanth for his political journey.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 20, 2018, 13:24 [IST]
Importance of killing TRF bosses, Abbas Sheikh, Manzoor: Here are the 33 heinous crimes they committed

Lashkar terrorist from Pakistan sentenced to 7 years in jail for plotting attacks in India

Why the rise of Sikh separatism in the United States needs to be flagged harder

Terrorists attack DSC vehicle near Air Force Station in J&K

India

oi-Madhuri

Terrorists attacked a vehicle of the Defence Security Corps in Malangpora, area of South Kashmir's Pulwama district on Tuesday. No casualties were reported.

The terrorists fired a few gunshots while the security forces retaliated. There was a brief exchange of fire, sources informed. Immediately after the incident, the entire area was cordoned off by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Rashtriya Rifles and CRPF. The hunt for the terrorists is on.

DIG of South Kashmir, Amit Kumar informed that the area has been cordoned off. He also said that a DSC vehicle was attacked by terrorists at the Malangpora area. The DSC is involved in protecting sites of the Defence Ministry.

OneIndia News
Modi's 'commission' jibe irks Siddaramaiah, attacks PM over Nirav Modi

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday continued his tirade against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that he was "unfit to continue" as the prime minister.

Talking to reporters, the Karnataka CM said that PM Modi is not speaking like a prime minister. "There are are so many issues concerning the state and the country but he has not opened his mouth. He is making politically motivated and irresponsible statements. He is unfit to continue as PM,"Siddaramaiah said.

Taking to Twitter, the Karnataka Chief Minister further accused the PM Modi of making common men stand in queues during demonetisation while Nirav Modi is on the run with country's money.

Dear PM @narendramodi , since you are fond of talking about commission let me ask you-



You made common people stand in queues to deposit their money in the Banks & then let #NiravModi run away with over 12,000 cr of peoples money.



What percent of peoples money is that? pic.twitter.com/whvsOIFYEi  Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) February 20, 2018

"Dear PM Narendra Modi, since you are fond of talking about commission let me ask you- You made common people stand in queues to deposit their money in the Banks & then let #NiravModi run away with over 12,000 cr of people's money. What percent of people's money is that?" he asked.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday lashed out at Karnataka's Siddaramaiah government over corruption, saying new scams and charges of graft were surfacing "every day" under its watch.

Addressing a BJP rally, Modi said after he levelled the "10 per cent commission" charge against the Siddaramaiah dispensation recently, he received many calls, with people disputing his information about the cut it received, and claiming it was much more.

In a stinging attack on the Siddaramaiah government at a public rally in Karnataka on February 4, Modi had accused it of setting new records in corruption and said the countdown for its exit had begun.

In reply, Siddaramaiah had said Modi "is morally not right to be the Prime Minister of the country". His comment came a day after PM Modi vowed to wipe Congress out of Karnataka at a rally in Bengaluru. He had further targeted BJP president Amit Shah, saying he is "involved in murder case" and attacked former Karnataka CM and BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa for being arrested in the past.

Ahead of Karnataka Assembly elections, BJP and Congress have been fighting over several issues, both claiming to champion the cause of the people of Karnataka.

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
Parliament more about policy than politics: PM Modi at launch of Sansad TV

PM stresses on role of modern infrastructure in govts focus on ease of living and and doing business

No room for PM at iconic Lalitha Mahal Hotel, Mysuru

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

There was no room at the iconic Lalitha Mahal Hotel, Mysuru for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his entourage. The district administration had to make arrangements at another hotel as all room at the Lalitha Mahal Hotel had been booked for a wedding reception.

The district administration later made arrangements for them at another plush hotel in the city.

"An official from the deputy commissioner's office had visited us to book rooms for the prime minister and his staff, including security personnel, but we were not in a position to do so as most of the rooms were booked for a wedding reception," the hotel General Manager Joseph Mathias told PTI.

Modi's arrival in Mysuru coincided with the wedding reception on Sunday evening, Mathias said. The three rooms that were available were not enough for them, he said.

"Considering security reasons, it was not advisable to book just three rooms for a big staff," he added.

However, the district administration made alternative arrangements. Modi was accommodated at Hotel Radisson Blu, where he stayed overnight and on Monday.

There, too, the hotel management was said to have advised a businessman's family to reschedule the wedding reception, citing security issues, so that it concluded before the prime minister arrived.

Modi arrived in Mysuru on Sunday night for engagements at Jain piligrim centre Shravanabelagola in Hassan district. His itinerary also included a South Western Railway function here and a public rally organised by the BJP in the run up to the Assembly polls in the state.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 20, 2018, 7:59 [IST]
Pak on terror funding watch list: Behind the scene details on how lobbied

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Pakistan stares at being placed on the Financial Action Task Force Grey list. If the resolution to place Pakistan on the global terrorist financing watchlist goes through then the country would be in a great deal of financial pain.

If the resolution is adopted then Pakistan would be placed on the FATF grey list of jurisdictions with deficient money laundering regimes. Incidentally Pakistan had found itself on the list between 2009 and 2015. The resolution was moved by the United States and backed by the UK, France and Germany. This would be the first time that four countries would have nominated a nation for censure.

Pakistan has already rushed its top officials to deliberate on the matter. However all the countries barring China are in favour of the resolution. Pakistan has been lobbying hard against the resolution, but has found no takers. While it hopes that China would come to its rescue, experts feel that the support from one nation would not be sufficient. It would depend on whether China would be able to influence the other countries to vote against the resolution, but for now that appears to be a distant possibility.

Hectic lobbying:

India would eagerly await the outcome of the FATF meet. India has always made a pitch about the terror funding in Pakistan and if the country gets into the grey list, it would be a victory for India.

India was aware that Pakistan would lobby hard. In fact Pakistan has been lobbying with Russia, China, Turkey and also members of the Gulf Cooperation Council. What has been a setback for Pakistan is that it has not been able to muster support even from the Muslim nations so far.

There has been hectic activity in the background in the run up to this meeting. India on January 31 had sent a secretary level delegation to Russia. During those meetings, India persuaded Russia not to support Pakistan. Even during the visit by Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi to Gulf nations, he had managed to impress upon them not to back Pakistan. It appeared to have paid off and Pakistan has not been able to convince any of the nations except China about the resolution.

Meanwhile Pakistan has sent adviser to the Pakistan Prime Minister, Dr Miftah Ismail to Paris. He would plead the case of Pakistan at the ongoing session. In fact this was not a planned decision and Miftah was sent abruptly.

India's stance clear:

India said that some countries had proposed to put Pakistan in the grey list. "There is a proposal by some countries, as a part of the FATF process, to put Pakistan in the grey list. The grey listing happens because the commitment which was given by Pakistan on actions it was supposed to take, that has not happened," external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.

Kumar said India has shared its views with the countries and members of the FATF on this matter.

The US has also approached the FATF to put Pakistan on global terrorist-financing watch list, accusing Islamabad of not complying with the UN Security Council resolutions relating to terror groups, including al-Qaida and its affiliates.

The FATF is an inter-governmental body, which maintains "grey" and "black" lists to identify countries with weak measures to combat money laundering and terror financing. Inclusion in the grey list can lead to sanctions.

OneIndia News
PNB-Nirav Modi fraud: Shatrughan Sinha raises questions over chowkidaar PMs silence

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

New Delhi, Feb 20: It is not just Congress president Rahul Gandhi who is demanding an answer from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Rs 11,360-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam. The mastermind behind the scam, billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi, has already fled the country before any action could have been taken against him.

After Rahul took a dig at "chowkidaar" Modi's silence over the massive banking scandal, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member of Parliament (MP) Shatrughan Sinha demanded an answer from the PM over the whole fraud.

Without naming anyone, however, the very reference of the word "chowkidaar" in his tweets makes it clear that the actor-turned politician's sarcastic comments were directed towards PM Modi.

During the 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign, the then chief minister of Gujarat and prime ministerial candidate of the BJP called himself a "chowkidaar" (guard) and promised to protect the hard-earned money of Indians if elected to power.

"A Nationalized Bank scam of unparalleled magnitude...and a conspicuous lack of response from the top people of Govt! "Bade miyaan to bade miyaan, chote miyaan subhan-allah". Neither the Chowkidaaar-e-watan nor even the Ministry of Finance has provided any response or explanation," the Bihar BJP MP tweeted on Monday.

A Nationalized Bank scam of unparalleled magnitude...and a conspicuous lack of response from the top people of Govt! "Bade miyaan to bade miyaan, chote miyaan subhan-allah". Neither the Chowkidaaar-e-watan nor even the Ministry of Finance has provided any response or explanation.  Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) February 19, 2018

He added, "India must be the only country where the responsible people at the top do not come our with proper explanations that the nation needs & deserves. Almost as if the citizens do not matter! Even Donald Trump faces hard interviews! But here interviews are only to Sarkari Darbaaris."

India must be the only country where the responsible people at the top do not come our with proper explanations that the nation needs & deserves. Almost as if the citizens do not matter! Even Donald Trump faces hard interviews! But here interviews are only to Sarkari Darbaaris.  Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) February 19, 2018

"Dear Sir. it seems no one had understood what the Chowkidaar-e-watan had meant when he announced that "you gave Congress 60 years, give us only 60 months". Now the symbolic meaning of the cryptic message is being understood by all of us. Balle Balle! Jio! Long live PNB.Jai Hind!" tweeted Sinha.

Dear Sir. it seems no one had understood what the Chowkidaar-e-watan had meant when he announced that "you gave Congress 60 years, give us only 60 months". Now the symbolic meaning of the cryptic message is being understood by all of us. Balle Balle! Jio! Long live PNB.Jai Hind!  Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) February 19, 2018

Continuing with his attack against the PM, Rahul on Monday tweeted, "Pehle Lalit, phir Mallya, ab Nirav farar/ kahaan hai na khaaunga, na khaane dunga kehne wala desh ka chowkidaar? Saheb ki khamoshi ka raaz jaaanne ko janta bekaraar/ unki chuppi cheekh cheekh kar bataye wo kiske hain wafadaar."

   

    

  ' ,   '     ?



        

     

   #ModiRobsIndia  Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) February 19, 2018

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 20, 2018, 6:56 [IST]
PNB scam: Why did Karnataka govt provide Mehul Choksi cover-fire, BJP asks

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

The BJP has sought answers on why the Congress government in Karnataka remained quiet despite knowing about the wrong-doings of Mehul Choksi, a prime accused in the PNB scam.

The BJP said that the Congress government was aware of the wrong-doings since 2015, but chose to provide Choksi cover fire. BJP spokesperson, Sambit Patra also asked Congress president, Rahul Gandhi and Karnataka Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah to explain why they provided Choksi cover-fire.

Citing media reports, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said the Karnataka government had submitted in courts in matters related to cases involving Choksi that he was a "habitual offender" and "wilful defaulter" and could even flee the country. The Karnataka government had said he should be investigated by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate for the truth to come out, Patra said.

PNB's internal audit to determine if probe was hushed up or went un-detected

The BJP leader added that the state government, however, never approached the CBI, the ED or any central agency and let the local police probe the matter. "Should not Rahul Gandhi, Siddaramaiah and the Congress answer as to why this cover fire was provided to Mehul Choksi all these years," Patra said.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 20, 2018, 6:46 [IST]
Trudeau in India: No snub, protocol followed say Govt sources

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

The government cleared the air on the purported 'snub' to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who is on a 7 day visit to India. Questions had been raised about Trudeau being given a lukewarm response on his arrival in India.

The government also brushed aside questions as to why Gujarat Chief Minister, Vijay Rupani had not received the Canadian PM at the airport. The CM was unable to receive him as he was in the assembly where the governor addressed the first day of the budget session, Chief Secretary J N Singh told reporters.

Some had raised questions after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not received the Canadian PM. A customary tweet from the PM welcoming the dignitary was also missing. Further on Sunday, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath too did not meet Trudeau when he visited Agra.

[Why Justin Trudeau is not getting attention that a visiting PM deserves]

However MEA officials clarified that there was no snub as is being reported. The government has gone by the book, the official also said. On being asked if the response was in reaction to the Khalistan issue, the official said that as per protocol the PM does not go to the airport to receive dignitaries. It is only when the situation merits it is there is a departure from the protocol, the officer also explained.

OneIndia News
Mohammed Haris Nalapad row: 7 arrested, Bengaluru police tracing another accomplice

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

Bengaluru police have arrested seven people and the hunt is on for another man in connection with the attack by the son of Shantingar MLA, Mohammed Haris Nalapad and his friends in an upscale hotel in Bengaluru city.

Dr. Chandragupta, DCP, Central Division, said, "A case has been registered, probe on. We have seized CCTV Footage. We have arrested seven people, including Mohammed Haris Nalapad. One of them is yet to be traced. They are under our custody for two days."

"We found that it started with a verbal spat between Haris and the man Vidyut. He was beaten up and later threatened by them at the hospital. We're checking for witnesses there too. The accused have confessed to the assault. We're recording statements of witnesses," said DCP.

A case has been registered, probe on. We have seized CCTV Footage. We have arrested 7 people, including #MohammedHarisNalapad. One of them is yet to be traced. They are under our custody for 2 days: Dr Chandragupta, DCP, Central Division, Bengaluru pic.twitter.com/yYnHsnkGVw  ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2018

Cubbon park Inspector was suspended for dereliction of duty. ACP Cubbon park is attached to the office of the Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru City. The case was handed over to CCB for further investigation.

The incident happened on Saturday night when Nalapad, with his friends, walked into a pub in UB City around 10 pm. According to reports, the victim, identified as Vidwath was having dinner in the same pub with his friend. Nalapad and his friends reportedly told Vidwath, who had a plaster on one of his legs, to "sit properly".

After a heated exchange, Nalapad and his friends allegedly attacked Vidwath and beat him up. The victim was rushed to the nearby Mallya Hospital for treatment, but the group reportedly followed him there and allegedly beat him up again. Nalapad and his friends allegedly also tried to attack the victim's brother.

OneIndia News
Muhoho High School has been forced to unconditionally readmit a student who allegedly stole a loaf of bread from the institutions dining hall last week.

The schools Deputy Principal suspended the form three student last Thursday and ordered him to report back with 1,000 loaves of bread as punishment.

The student, identified as Dennis Mwaura, was also required to clear his outstanding fees before he could be re-admitted.

The suspension was greeted by an uproar from Kenyans after the students story was shared on social networking sites.

But on Monday, Kiambu County Education Director Ali Abdikadir intervened. The education official directed the administration of the Gatundu South school to discipline the student in line with rules and regulations.

The child will not have to pay outstanding fees or buy loaves of bread as claimed in the letter suspending him, Abdikadir said yesterday.

Abdikadir further urged the school to take the student through guiding and counseling so he can shun bad behavior for his own good.

In education, discipline results from a set of rules and regulations that remind students of the proper code of behaviour, he noted.

Without learning and ensuring discipline in school, [students end up paying the price] later in their careers.
Yashwant Sinha explains: Why Budget 2018-19 is more a manifesto for 2019 LS elections

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

New Delhi, Feb 20: At a time when the nation is breaking its head over the fact that how could a person loot Rs 11,360 crore and leave the country without facing any resistance, former finance minister Yashwant Sinha decided to ruminate over Budget 2018-19 presented by incumbent FM Arun Jaitley in Parliament on February 1.

For the "breaking news" brigade--busy chasing billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi, the mastermind behind the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud, Sinha's column titled--More manifesto, less budget--published by The Indian Express on Tuesday might look like little late.

However, the veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, who is always in conflict with his own party, these days, outlined the fact clearly why the recent Union Budget is more of a political exercise than fiscal.

At the onset of the column, Sinha admitted that he himself read the budget speech of Jaitley little late as he was away from the national capital. The former FM first criticised his successor for a speech written in "poor English" with "some grammatical errors".

"What good is a FM who does not apply his mind even to the language of the budget speech? Is it a surprise, therefore, that he did not apply his mind also to the various schemes in the budget, which he has left uncooked or half-cooked?" wrote Sinha.

Sinha added that Jaitley has squandered the glorious opportunity he had on account of the huge decline in petroleum crude prices immediately after the government assumed office in 2014.

"Now that petroleum crude prices have increased moderately, it has lost control of the fisc and the fiscal glide path projected earlier has gone for a toss.

"What is more disconcerting is the fact that the revenue deficit, which was projected as 1.9 per cent of the GDP in the budget estimates of 2017-18, is projected to go up to 2.6 per cent in the revised estimates. Even in the Budget Estimate (BE) of 2018-19, it is supposed to be 2.2 per cent of the GDP compared to the actual of 2.1 per cent in 2016-17. The Effective Revenue Deficit has gone up by a large margin of 80 basis points from 0.7 per cent in the BE to 1.5 per cent in the Revised Estimate (RE)," added the former FM.

Regarding tax, Sinha wrote that the incumbent FM expects to lose Rs 7,000 crore during FY 2018-19 on account of extending the corporate tax concession to more companies.

"Similarly, he expects to lose Rs 8,000 crore by extending the standard deduction of Rs 40,000 to the individual taxpayer."

The former FM also mentioned about the incentives given to the farming and health sectors in the budget.

"As has already been pointed out by various commentators, the two earth-shaking announcements in the budget, namely giving the farmer at least 50 per cent more than the cost of his produce and the National Health Protection Scheme, have not been funded in this budget.

"Someone once asked me 'what is the difference between an election manifesto and a budget?' My reply was simple, 'in an election manifesto, you are not required to give estimates of expenditure of the various schemes mentioned in the manifesto, in a budget, expenditure on every item has to be clearly spelt out.' But then, how does it matter if you believe in the 'Ease of Leaving'," he wrote.

Sinha ended with the note that "the Budget 2018-19 is thus more a manifesto for the 2019 elections than a budget for the next fiscal."

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 20, 2018, 9:43 [IST]
Biden says another terror attack likely in 24-36 hours, vows to keep up airstrikes against ISIS

Indian-American Sanjay Patel to run against Bill Posey for US Congress from Florida

International

pti-PTI

Houston, Feb 20: Sanjay Patel, an Indian-American, has announced he will run for the US House of Representatives from Florida district. Patel will challenge incumbent Republican Bill Posey in Florida's District 8.

Patel, a resident of Satellite Beach, announced his candidacy this week at a meeting in Viera of the Brevard County Democratic Executive Committee that was attended by about 400 people. On his campaign website, Patel is described as "an activist, change-maker and organisational transformation consultant".

He says he believes in economic justice for all. If elected, Patel promises to work to build prosperity for communities on the Space and Treasure Coasts by supporting policies that ensure large companies pay employees fairly, and that help small businesses launch, compete fairly and thrive.

"I will work to build prosperity for Florida's families; guarantee health care for all Americans; protect our land, air and our water; and reform our immigration policy to reflect America's deepest values," Patel wrote on his campaign website.

"I am the American Dream, a first-generation immigrant, the son of parents who have barely a high school education, a graduate of UCLA with a degree in economics who has built a small business and a nonprofit, and led transformative efforts in business, philanthropy and politics," Patel said.

He said he'd take his skills and experiences to "transform our collective sadness and outrage into justice for all". "I believe it's time to cultivate a real conversation on the Space and Treasure coasts about economic, social and environmental justice for all people," Patel said.

A graduate of UCLA with a degree in economics, Patel began his career in technology, with strategy and consulting roles at Deloitte, Genentech and the Santa Clara County Social Services Agency. He then launched a small consulting business in San Francisco; and subsequently co-founded a nonprofit, Epic Change, that used social media to raise funds for change-makers across the globe, according to his campaign site. Patel was one-year-old when his family arrived in America.

His father worked at a 7-11 and his vegetarian mother worked at a McDonald's, while raising four children, including Sanjay.

"My parents' hard work for other companies earned little wealth for our family, and even less for our community," he said on his campaign site. Patel is half of a Brevard Democratic Party power couple. His wife, Stacey Patel, chairs the Brevard County Democratic Executive Committee. Both were elected Bernie Sanders delegates to the 2016 Democratic National Convention.

PTI
Indian professionals protests against UK immigration policy

International

pti-PTI

London, February 20: Indian professionals have joined forces with migrants from other countries for a major protest outside the UK Parliament in London this week. Indians have stepped up their fight against what they characterise as hostile immigration policies of the UK government.

The Highly Skilled Migrants group, which represents nearly 1,000 doctors, engineers, IT professionals and teachers from countries outside the European Union (EU), will bring together migrants from South Asia and Africa for one of its biggest protests so far on Wednesday.

The professionals and their families, mainly from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nigeria, will protest against UK Home Office delays and unjustified refusals related to their applications for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in Britain. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh we have forgotten where we come from and any divisions that may exist to fight for this common cause.

More and more people are joining in as it becomes clear they are being denied the right to live and work in the UK on no valid grounds,a said Aditi Bhardwaj, one of the organisers of the group which held its first protest outside Downing Street last month.

The professionals, who entered the UK on a Tier 1 (General) visa years ago, are entitled to apply for ILR or permanent residency status after five years of lawful residency in the UK.

While the visa category used by numerous software professionals from India among others was discontinued in 2010, former applicants are eligible to apply for residency in Britain until April this year if they meet the necessary requirements. However, the Highly Skilled Migrants group claims to be aware of hundreds of cases where these applications are either held up in lengthy delays or refused on grounds of a section of the UK Immigration Act which is aimed at criminals and tax evaders.

Skilled migrants with excellent educational and professional skills are being refused ILR and being referred to as a threat to the country just because they might have filled their tax late or had to maybe amend their taxes, which is permitted by law, said Bhardwaj.

Her group has gathered nearly 22,500 signatures on an online petition on change.org, titled Stop creating hostile environment for immigrants, addressed to British Prime Minister Theresa May, UK home secretary Amber Rudd and Opposition Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn. Those immigrants who were mainly on a highly skilled programme in the UK, working in respectable industries and positions are going through almost inhumane conditions, the petition reads.

We want the UKVI [UK Visas and Immigration] to start processing the applications within the service standard times at the least a which is six months, notes the petition, to be handed over to British MPs during a meeting the group has been invited for in the House of Commons complex on March 6. British Sikh MP Tan Dhesi and Pakistani-origin British MP Afzal Khan are among the parliamentarians who have been supporting their cause.

aIndeed, there are delays affecting applicants for virtually every kind of visas, and the handling of such matters by the Home Office is a cause of great concern for myself and many parliamentarians,a said Dhesi, who is also a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Visas and Immigration.

The Highly Skilled Migrants group, formed as a result of various social media interactions, had raised 25,000 pounds through private donations and is now working on launching a crowd-funding initiative to be able to sustain any legal challenge that may be required against the UK Home Office.

The Home Office claims it is committed to resolving all visa applications as quickly as possible and that significant numbersa of Tier 1 applicants have reported different figures to them and the UK tax department (HMRC) in order to alter their tax liabilities or meet the requirements of the immigration rules, or both.

It is vital that the correct decisions are made, particularly with complex Tier 1 applications that require detailed consideration and verification of evidence with HMRC. These robust checks are essential to avoid the potential abuse of our immigration or tax system.

Where such abuse is identified, we will act accordingly, a Home Office spokesperson said. The government claims that where there has been clear evidence that applicants have lied on their visa forms, the courts have upheld refusal decisions in most cases when these decisions are challenged.

PTI
Nepal crisis will not come in the way of bi-lateral ties with India: Sources

With Oli stunning CCP team, China would look to target his credibility

Want to deepen ties with China to get more leverage in dealings with India: Nepal PM

International

oi-PTI

Nepal's new prime minister KP Oli has said he wants to deepen ties with China to explore more options and get more leverage in his dealings with India "in keeping with the times".

Oli, widely regarded as pro-China, also said he wants to "update" relations with India "in keeping with the times" and favours a review of all special provisions of the Indo-Nepal relations, including the long-established practice of Nepalese soldiers serving in India's armed forces.

"We have great connectivity with India and an open border. All that's fine and we'll increase connectivity even further, but we can]t forget that we have two neighbours. We don't want to depend on one country or have one option," he told Hong Kong's South China Morning Post in an interview.

About how he plans to work out relations with India, Oli said, "we've always had excellent relations with India. There were some elements in the Indian establishment that caused some misunderstanding, but Indian leaders have assured us that there will be no interference in the future and we will respect each other's sovereign rights".

Oli, 65, who had also served as the country's prime minister from October 11, 2015 to August 3, 2016, was forced to resign following the political crisis in the Himalayan nation over the Madhesi issue.

Madhesis, mostly of Indian-origin, had been demanding amendment of the new Constitution to address their concerns over representation in Parliament.

Before Oli's inauguration as the prime minister for the second time+ , external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had visited Nepal and met him and other Left leaders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to Oli.

About Nepalese serving in the Indian Army, Oli said, "This should be internally and mutually discussed and corrected, if necessary. We live in a new world, and Nepal is starting a new journey, we have to update whatever is considered outdated and bring it in line with the modern era."

Oli also said he would revive the China-backed $2.5 billion hydropower project which was scrapped by the previous government.

Expectations are high in China about Oli's government as he signed the Transit Treaty with Beijing during his first stint as Prime Minister in 2015 to end dependence on India for his landlocked country to revive the Budhi Gandaki project.

The dam project was scrapped by the previous government headed by Sher Bahadur Deuba citing irregularities.

China has been investing heavily in Nepal, blunting India's influence in the Himalayan country.

Oli justified his decision to build the dam with Chinese company saying that "our petroleum usage has been increasing but we import all of it. We urgently need to develop hydropower to reduce our dependence on petroleum."

He sees infrastructure development as an important means to narrow the distance with China, whose physical remoteness compared with next-door India is a hindrance to deeper Sino-Nepal relations, the paper said.

PTI

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 20, 2018, 17:45 [IST]
I love white truffles, aged Japanese whiskey and other things a food person is supposed to love. But there's a 7-year-old inside me that swoons over Carvel, the soft-serve ice cream of my Queens childhood. Some treats are best as memories (eyes on you, Twinkies) or are upgraded by hipster interpretations (bakery pop-tarts). But even gourmets, churning out flavors like matcha and rose water, can't break my attachment to Carvel.

Carvel is creamy and fluffy, as soft-serve's yielding texture comes from being closer to body temperature than hard ice cream and from extra air. It disappears practically upon mouth contact, leaving only a slight chill and lovely sweetness. I've always had the same order: Vanilla cone with rainbow sprinkles. My mother's is still a cherry dip, and has been since cones were 10 cents (2 cents extra for the dip) when she grew up in Queens in the 1950s, blocks away from young Donald Trump. (The president's oldest sons posted photos of themselves with Carvel on their most recent birthdays. And Oprah's very first interview was with a Carvel man. Washington clearly needs Carvel as the great American uniter.)

The responsible adult in me avoids most foods with 10-letter, unpronounceable ingredients. I savor ultra-premium ice cream, which I've been known to mail order from Brooklyn and release from its Styrofoam chests with dramatic billowing clouds of dry-ice smoke. But I can daydream with a Carvel cone, with my feet up and eating quickly lest it drip down the paper napkin in sticky streaks on my arm.

If loving Carvel is wrong, I don't want to be right.

One of Carvel's iconic soft-serve cake characters, Cookie Puss, caused a happy riot when I brought it into the newsroom for beauty shots last week, with his ice-cream-cone nose and maraschino cherry eyes. Most Carvel cakes are just two single layers of chocolate and vanilla ice cream, and no cake (what witch ever dreamed up putting actual cake into an ice-cream cake anyway?), with chocolate "crunchies" in the middle. The crunchies are, I believe, a precursor to the cocoa nibs and chocolate pearls appearing on dessert menus everywhere. Really, we were just nostalgic for the crunchies.

There is a Montague-and-Capulet-magnitude argument over whether Carvel or Dairy Queen created soft-serve. (Some British politicos once claimed that Margaret Thatcher helped invent it during her stint as a chemist for a company with close ties to Mr. Whippy ice cream - but the claim may have existed mostly so her opponents could joke that she "added air, lowered quality and raised profits.") We do know that in 1934, Tom Carvel's ice-cream truck got a flat tire, forcing him to sell melting confections out of the back. He quickly realized that people loved the texture and set about selling soft ice cream. My personal devotion led me deep into the Carvel archive at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, after which the archivist - a Midwesterner partial to Dairy Queen - admitted that indeed Tom Carvel probably invented soft-serve.

Ever since Carvel sold his business in 1989, the number of stand-alone franchise stores has dwindled. Buying ready-made Carvel cakes from a grocery store is fine in a pinch, but not the same as visiting a shop for a soft-serve cone or a custom Fudgie the Whale cake (respect, please - it's a federally registered trademark). I'm not alone in loving the Carvel store. According to Carvel and several news accounts, in 2010, Lindsay Lohan's mother, Dina, and the rest of the Lohan clan "abused" Lindsay's Free-Carvel-For-75-Years card with "more than six months of numerous and large orders for ice cream." (The incident, no doubt, inspired an episode of "30 Rock" that featured a Carvel scam.) An employee tried to physically confiscate Lindsay's Carvel card from Dina. The police showed up.

Carvel is that good.
Festival Napa Valleys 13th season will be dedicated to honoring the first responders involved in the Northern California wildfires of last year, organizers announced Tuesday.

We want to be very generous with them; we want to honor the brave folks who helped save so many homes and lives, Chief Operating Officer Sonia Tolbert said.

The annual festival from July 18-29 at venues around the valley plans to offer as many tickets as possible at $5 each to firefighters, police, and medics, she said.

The festival also plans to increase the number of free concerts from seven last year to 22, Tolbert said.

Both announcements came as part of the unveiling of the lineup for the festival, formerly known as Festival Del Sole. This year, it features some familiar faces, including festival regular Joshua Bell, and some interesting newcomers, including Grupo Compay Segundo from Havana. The group was founded by members of the famous Buena Vista Social Club and it will be the first time in 20 years members have played in the United States, Tolbert said.
BERKELEY -- Berkeley officers arrested six people in an undercover operation set up to combat a recent rash of laptop thefts in cafes, police said Monday.

Suspects allegedly stole laptops from patrons in Caffe Strada at 2300 College Ave. around 8 p.m. Saturday, unaware that several undercover officers were watching, according to police. The laptops were swiftly recovered, police said.

The case began when a car with six people pulled up outside the cafe and four men got out and walked into the cafe. Two of them grabbed two laptops, police said.

As the four sprinted to the getaway car, one of the victims chased them, but the car pulled away. Quickly, the undercover officers called reinforcements.

The responding officers stopped the getaway vehicle on College Avenue near Russell Street, recovering the two laptops that had just been stolen and additional stolen property, according to police.

Three adults and three youth were arrested and booked on suspicion of crimes including strong-armed robbery, grand theft, possession of stolen property and probation violations, police said. Five of the six were on some form of probation, according to police.
Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats reported to Congress this last week that such efforts are designed "to exacerbate social and political fissures in the United States," "to create wedges that reduce trust and confidence in democratic processes," and "to encourage anti-U.S. political views."

It's working. That's why this challenge is critical to our national security. We cannot tackle either threats or competition from China, North Korea, Russiaor violent Islamist extremists without a common sense of purpose at home and supportive allies abroad.

Prier wraps up his paper by calling on social media companies, political leaders and journalists to come to the aid of the country. Twitter, he notes, faces a particular quandary because bot networks and the trending-topic feature - two key weapons in the enemy's arsenal - are both integral to the company's business model. Advertisers love Twitter bots, while the trending algorithm lends an air of urgency and authority that the platform would otherwise lack.

On the other hand, I see no good reason journalists can't go straight to work curbing our "overreliance on social media for breaking news," as Prier puts it. Reporters should treat every tweet with skepticism and demand real-world confirmation of tweeted "news" before sharing it.
Fighting Trump on a possible government shutdown was a gift for Republican Representative Barbara Comstock, who represents a Northern Virginia district. She relished a testy exchange at the White House with him over the issue. She warned him; he fired back.

If Comstock weren't such a shrewd politician, she'd be a dead woman walking; Trump lost this district by 10 points, and is more unpopular today.

But there are more Republicans who figure that running away from the president won't help with swing voters, while hurting them with their own. That's the calculation of New Jersey Rep. Tom MacArthur, who was one of the Republicans from his state to vote for the tax cut and who led the House effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Trump then hosted a fund-raiser for him, and Vice President Mike Pence contributed to his coffers. The Democrats have now elevated him to their list of targets.

Few challenged incumbents are more of a Trump cheerleader than California's Mimi Walters, although Trump was defeated in her Orange County district by five points. She votes with the president more than 98 percent of the time and has declared: "He stands for what we stand for." Democrats believe she's counting on a low turnout and will be surprised this fall.
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From Paul Craig Roberts Website

This is an extraordinary and highly truthful article by former CIA official Ray McGovern who was the responsible official for the daily briefing of the President of the United States. Be sure to read it.

McGovern has proven over and over on many occasions that he is a person of integrity, honor, and intelligence. Ray McGovern should be the Director of the CIA. He would be welcomed by the CIA analysts who resent their political use, and we would have an honest intelligence agency, which is what we need.

Rep. Devin Nunes, Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said that those in the FBI and Obama Justice (sic) Department who intentionally orchestrated false charges against the President of the United States will be put on trial, if they have violated the law, as they are no longer tolerated as being above the law. In my opinion, it is a foregone conclusion that they have violated the law of the United States of America.

Rep. Nunes, who is likely to be assassinated by the FBI, CIA, military/security complex, or DNC at any time, said that:

"The committee is closing down its investigation into possible collusion between Moscow and the Trump campaign; no evidence of collusion was found."



The apparently widespread practice of "unmasking" the identities of Americans under surveillance. On this point, Nunes said, "In the last administration they were unmasking hundreds, and hundreds, and hundreds of Americans' names. They were unmasking for what I would say, for lack of a better definition, were for political purposes."



Asked about Schiff's criticism that Nunes behaved improperly on what he called the "midnight run to the White House," Nunes responded that the stories were untrue. "Well, most of the time I ignore political nonsense in this town," he said. "What I will say is that all of those stories were totally fake from the beginning."

Adam Schiff is, in my opinion, clearly the CIA/FBI's point man in the House. Everything Schiff says is supportive of the CIA/FBI plot against the President of the United States and the American people. Hopefully Schiff will be in the dock with Brennan, Comey, Mueller, Clapper, Hillary and sent to prison with them.

I remember when the Democratic Party stood for the working class and justice. I remember the great justices of the US Supreme Court from the Democratic Party -- William Douglas, William Brennan, and Thurgood Marshall. These were real Americans who protected Americans' civil rights and held the corrupt government to account.

No more. The Democratic Party under the Clinton's money-grubbing influence is even more corrupt than the money-grubbing Republicans.

In the United States there is no one to represent the rule of law but Devin Nunes. Stand by him as he will be under heavy attack from the utterly corrupt presstitutes who never serve truth, only their pocket book enriched by their subsidies from the CIA.
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You can run, but you can't hide

(Image by Marcello Rollando) Details DMCA



American solutions are waiting in the wings of change, the moment opposing sides across all political POVs, are reformed. Our children and the families they leave behind, dreamers all, beckon, because gun laws and gun assassins are an American problem in need of legal solutions.

If you have a license to own an AR-15, the FBI can ask to see it, and in a man's castle, question his social media provocations. However, until an act of violence is committed, with or without an NRA condoned murder weapon, both FBI and police are powerless -- unless you have been targeted by ICE, as an unwanted immigrant.

The 1/21/17 Women's march, #MeToo #TimesUp and Black Panther prove We the People are the change, but will Paul Ryan's 115th House vote for all-inclusive Background Checks, recognize our union with immigrant heritage and vote to honor America's Statue of Liberty promise?

Upholding justice equality for all life, even after birth, unites us with our children everywhere in lifting a 2018 torch of freedom -- a resounding gauntlet at the feet of a rented Congress, gun profits addicted NRA and a president's den of iniquity.

Calling out all perpetrators of domestic violence and domestic terrorism, is what true patriots do.

On Saturday 24 March 2018, may America, lift every voice in harmonious chorus: young and old -- people of color, women of every hue, Asians, Latinos, LGBTQ & Native Americans, letting freedom ring through us, in common cause, so vociferously, our tumult thunders to save our children.

Before and after American National Guardsman sent by Nixon, shot and killed four Kent State Students, anti-Vietnam war demonstrations were ablaze on college campuses. At Peabody Conservative of Music, students and faculty gathered in Peabody's Concert Hall, in action-oriented peaceful assembly.

So, I stand with Cameron Kasky, Emma Gonzalez and all who have suffered because of the reckless combination of too easily procured assault weapons and yet another man incomplete without a gun.

America's violent history teaches: the Sirens' song calling us to greed, war and power over life and death addiction, most often fails to be controlled by those most powerful. Civil unity, however, is the key that frees rational thought, sensible pragmatic solutions and all-inclusive purpose.

America remains a work-in-progress, on a journey from bloody revolution & Civil War; through the Wild, Wild West & Jim Crow; to demagogues dictated to by powerful bankers and foreign chefs.

However, unlike, obstruction of justice, collusion is not legalized, and being thin-skinned is not an impeachable offense. Nonetheless, whether, unwitting individuals or overly trusting Americans misplacing their faith in unholy men, voting out of jealousy, fear, hate, or desire for revenge, makes voters powerless against the fox they hail, and vulnerable to the fakery he projects.

Failing to preserve national institutions protecting even the least of these our brethren, is antithesis to presidential oath.

Failure to protect us against tragic family destruction by AR-15 villainy, while shooting down our myopic Fourth Estate and imperfect FBI, morphs our Founding Fathers' American Dream into a Laura Ingram nightmare.

Isn't failure to preserve clean water, protect our Ground-Water reserves and defend occupiers of American territory from Rainmakers: Securities Industry, Wall Street investment groups, Hedge Funds, making rain from public water for private pockets, a breach of presidential contract with both the 60% of Americans who vote and the 40% who don't?

Is presidential inflammatory rhetoric making Americans susceptible to Putin schemes, treason? And why should we care?

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From Empire Burlesque

I.

In recent years, we have seen a resurgence -- and great expansion -- of a sinister trope that has always simmered near or just below the surface of many a Southerner's thoughts: to wit, that slavery was not really all that bad for the slaves, that most enjoyed a decent enough life, supplied with food, shelter and security. Indeed, for the most part, black Americans lived better under slavery than they did after they were freed. To be sure, slavery had not been a good thing in itself, but its horrors had been exaggerated and its benefits neglected by most historians.

Such was the general idea. Growing up in the rural South in the 1960s, I heard variations of this line of thought from many people. There were also books put out by Southern publishers that made this case, usually by reciting the testimonies of slaves themselves, talking of the good life they'd enjoyed under kindly masters and loving mistresses. Again, this was all done with a soft sell. There was no strident defense of slavery, there was always the acknowledgement that "of course, slavery was wrong" -- but there was always a "but" to follow: "but it wasn't as bad as they say, not for most people." The ultimate aim of this trope was neither to defend or denounce slavery, but to make white Southerners feel better about themselves -- not only about their past history, but about the injustices of the present.

In this regard, I think it is almost impossible to overestimate the effect of the movie "Gone With the Wind." With its romantic depiction of noble Southern aristocrats and their ever-loyal, well-beloved black servants, struggling to save a lost, enchanted way of life, the movie -- epic in scope, rich in story, brilliantly acted, blazing in still-rare full color -- imposed a powerful template for interpreting the Civil War. The "Lost Cause" idea had long been a feature of Southern culture, of course, but the movie gave it a new, overwhelming force -- and a much wider national impact. Especially for a generation that was about to face the rise of the post-WWII civil rights movement, which would bring white Southerners -- and Northerners -- face to face with the living legacy of the national shame of slavery.

In some ways, the brilliance of the movie -- the hazy glow it cast over American slavery -- helped make it possible for many white liberals to support the civil rights movement. One could look back and acknowledge the "great wrong" of slavery without ever truly reckoning with the full truth of its horrific reality. Yes, it was bad that such good folks as stalwart Big Sam (who rescued his former owner from being attacked by a pack of white trash after the war), earth mother Mammy and even silly little Prissy had not been free; but freedom did come, bestowed by white Americans (another self-congratulatory trope with a much-misunderstood history). The essential goodness of America -- and white Americans -- was still intact. Slavery was bad, but it wasn't that bad; sure, there were a few bad apples who were cruel, but in the end, it was just an unfortunate phase that we had to go through and get beyond. In the immortal words of a later president, there were "good people on both sides."

Preserving the idea of the quintessential -- and unique -- goodness of America is both an urgent and eternal task for Americans. It permeates every aspect of the culture and shapes the consciousness -- and self-consciousness -- of countless individuals. America must be unique, it must be uniquely good, more exceptional than all other nations. The existence of this inherent goodness cannot be questioned; there can only be fallings off from it (on occasion), or rank betrayals of this ideal by people on the other side of the political fence, or by nefarious foreigners working to corrupt the nation's Edenic essence. This anxiety to preserve the conception of inherent goodness cuts across ideological boundaries.

But if you look too closely at reality, the idea of this essential, inherent, unique American goodness becomes impossible to retain. That's why American evils are quickly glossed over, downplayed, or placed in "context," with many mitigating nuances and human complexities that are never applied to other nations and peoples. Or if the evils are too glaring, they are simply ignored. The psychic cost of seeing the reality is too high, especially since almost every American -- every white American, that is -- has had this exceptionalism mixed in with the very foundation of their own personal identity. Any American evil has to be identified with some "Other" -- partisan extremists on the other side, who "hate what America really stands for" (equality, meritocracy, free enterprise, economic justice, family values, individual freedom, tradition, law and order, civil disobedience, etc.), or foreign devils meddling in God's domain. Or else it must be relegated to the category of a badly executed but well-meaning "mistake," as with Ken Burns' framing of the Vietnam War.

And this is where the influence of "Gone With the Wind" played such an important role in "framing" the evil of slavery. Frequently re-released, it remained for decades the most popular American movie of all time. But today its implicit message is now more and more explicit in conservative circles. You can hear mitigations of slavery's evil on Fox News. You can see major party senatorial candidates like Roy Moore openly hearkening back to the "greater" America of antebellum days. You can read any number of articles or tweets or quotes by people who have the ear of the president -- media figures, businessmen, politicians -- talking of how "the blacks" had it better under slavery than they do now. Indeed, you don't have to wade very deep into the fever swamps of the far-right (which also has the ear of the president) to find outright defenses of slavery and calls for its return.

There are many factors behind this new upsurge of filth from the national id, but one of the most crucial is surely the nation's unassuageable anxiety about confronting the reality of slavery: a failure of nerve driven by the need (political and psychological) of both liberals and conservatives to preserve the idea of America's essential and exceptional goodness. It's far easier for the notion of slavery's "benign" character to take hold in a society that has been conditioned, for generation after generation, to accept a gauzy, romanticized version of this fundamental, foundational evil.

II.

These thoughts were prompted by a book on the remarkable Gutenberg Project website. The site has digitized countless numbers of books -- on almost every possible subject under the sun -- going back to the early 1800s and continuing past the middle of the 20th century. (Newly digitized works are being added all the time.) Looking through the site for something else recently, I found an 1856 book by Austin Steward: Twenty-Two Years a Slave, and Forty Years a Freeman. It is in many ways a typical "slave narrative," by a man whose owner was considered a "not very hard master, but generally kind and pleasant." Yet the very "averageness" of the situation deepens its horror. This was not slavery at its very worst, some outlier of special depravity, but the typical experience of slave life under a typical owner, Virginia plantation owner Capt. William Helm. Below are just a few excerpts:

"It was usual for men and women to work side by side on our plantation; and in many kinds of work, the women were compelled to do as much as the men. Capt. H. employed an overseer, whose business it was to look after each slave in the field, and see that he performed his task. The overseer always went around with a whip, about nine feet long, made of the toughest kind of cowhide, the but-end of which was loaded with lead, and was about four or five inches in circumference, running to a point at the opposite extremity. This made a dreadful instrument of torture, and, when in the hands of a cruel overseer, it was truly fearful. With it, the skin of an ox or a horse could be cut through. Hence, it was no uncommon thing to see the poor slaves with their backs mangled in a most horrible manner. Our overseer, thus armed with his cowhide, and with a large bull-dog behind him, followed the slaves all day; and, if one of them fell in the rear from any cause, this cruel weapon was plied with terrible force. He would strike the dog one blow and the slave another, in order to keep the former from tearing the delinquent slave in pieces -- such was the ferocity of his canine attendant. "It was the rule for the slaves to rise and be ready for their task by sun-rise, on the blowing of a horn or conch-shell; and woe be to the unfortunate, who was not in the field at the time appointed, which was in thirty minutes from the first sounding of the horn. I have heard the poor creatures beg as for their lives, of the inhuman overseer, to desist from his cruel punishment. Hence, they were usually found in the field 'betimes in the morning,' (to use an old Virginia phrase), where they worked until nine o'clock. They were then allowed thirty minutes to eat their morning meal, which consisted of a little bread. At a given signal, all hands were compelled to return to their work. They toiled until noon, when they were permitted to take their breakfast, which corresponds to our dinner.



[...]



"The usual mode of punishing the poor slaves was, to make them take off their clothes to the bare back, and then tie their hands before them with a rope, pass the end of the rope over a beam, and draw them up till they stood on the tips of their toes. Sometimes they tied their legs together and placed a rail between. Thus prepared, the overseer proceeded to punish the poor, helpless victim. Thirty-nine was the number of lashes ordinarily inflicted for the most trifling offence. "Who can imagine a position more painful? Oh, who, with feelings of common humanity, could look quietly on such torture? Who could remain unmoved, to see a fellow-creature thus tied, unable to move or to raise a hand in his own defence; scourged on his bare back, with a cowhide, until the blood flows in streams from his quivering flesh? And for what? Often for the most trifling fault; and, as sometimes occurs, because a mere whim or caprice of his brutal overseer demands it. Pale with passion, his eyes flashing and his stalwart frame trembling with rage, like some volcano, just ready to belch forth its fiery contents, and, in all its might and fury, spread death and destruction all around, he continues to wield the bloody lash on the broken flesh of the poor, pleading slave, until his arm grows weary, or he sinks down, utterly exhausted, on the very spot where already stand the pools of blood which his cruelty has drawn from the mangled body of his helpless victim, and within the hearing of those agonized groans and feeble cries of 'Oh do, Massa! Oh do, Massa! Do, Lord, have mercy! Oh, Lord, have mercy!' "Nor is this cruel punishment inflicted on the bare backs of the male portion of slaves only. Oh no! The slave husband must submit without a murmur, to see the form of his cherished, but wretched wife, not only exposed to the rude gaze of a beastly tyrant, but he must unresistingly see the heavy cowhide descend upon her shrinking flesh, and her manacled limbs writhe in inexpressible torture, while her piteous cries for help ring through his ears unanswered. The wild throbbing of his heart must be suppressed, and his righteous indignation find no voice, in the presence of the human monster who holds dominion over him.

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This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here.

Recently, the Pentagon's top Asia official, Randall Schriver, told senators that the Afghan war would cost this country's taxpayers $45 billion in 2018, including $5 billion for the Afghan security forces, $13 billion for U.S. forces in that country, and $780 million in economic aid. How the other $26 billion would be spent is unclear and, given the Pentagon's record in these years, Schriver's estimate could prove a low-ball figure. All in all, it's just another year in this country's endless war there. Still, if Schriver is on the mark, in Afghanistan alone the American taxpayer will spend more than a fifth of the $200 billion the Trump administration is urging Congress to put up for the rebuilding of America's crumbling infrastructure. (The estimated cost of the full war on terror in President Trump's proposed 2018 budget, according to the Costs of War Project, is approximately... yep, you guessed it: $200 billion.) And, of course, all of that is next to nothing when compared to the $5.6 trillion the Costs of War Project estimates the war on terror has already cost us (with certain future expenses added in).

Under the circumstances, isn't it remarkable that the government has sent so many taxpayer dollars tumbling down the rabbit hole of its failed wars and the "reconstruction" scams in Afghanistan and Iraq that once passed for "nation-building"? (By 2014, the U.S. had already sunk more money into "reconstructing" Afghanistan than it had once put into the Marshall Plan to rebuild all of Western Europe -- and compare the results of each of those investments!) More remarkable still, for all the bitter political disputes in these years about how government money should be spent, there has never been real disagreement here, no less significant protest, over the decision to put such staggering sums into America's wars. Imagine for a moment anything like the same amount of money being spent on this country's crumbling infrastructure or just about anything else domestically and you know that there would have been protests of every imaginable sort and such decisions would have become the heart and soul of endless election campaigns.

Instead, in 2018, Congress has, in a thoroughly bipartisan fashion, agreed to shovel yet more dollars into the U.S. military and its wars with hardly a complaint from the American public. Keep the strangeness of this in mind as you read U.S. Army major and TomDispatchregular Danny Sjursen's account of how, via one key document, the Pentagon is preparing the way for the next bipartisan flood of dollars into those wars and the military-industrial complex. Someday, this may seem like one of the true scandals of our age, but if so, that day has yet to come. In the meantime, the lack of opposition to such spending should be considered a great mystery of our era. Tom

Trump's National Defense Strategy

Something for Everyone (in the Military-Industrial Complex)

By Danny Sjursen Think of it as the chicken-or-the-egg question for the ages: Do very real threats to the United States inadvertently benefit the military-industrial complex or does the national security state, by its very nature, conjure up inflated threats to feed that defense machine? Back in 2008, some of us placed our faith, naively enough, in the hands of mainstream Democrats -- specifically, those of a young senator named Barack Obama. He would reverse the war policies of George W. Bush, deescalate the unbridled Global War on Terror, and right the ship of state. How'd that turn out? In retrospect, though couched in a far more sophisticated and peaceable rhetoric than Bush's, his moves would prove largely cosmetic when it came to this country's forever wars: a significant reduction in the use of conventional ground troops, but more drones, more commandos, and yet more acts of ill-advised regime change. Don't get me wrong: as a veteran of two of Washington's wars, I was glad when "no-drama" Obama decreased the number of boots on the ground in the Middle East. It's now obvious, however, that he left the basic infrastructure of eternal war firmly in place. Enter The Donald. For all his half-baked tweets, insults, and boasts, as well as his refusal to read anything of substance on issues of war and peace, some of candidate Trump's foreign policy ideas seemed far saner than those of just about any other politician around or the previous two presidents. I mean, the Iraq War was dumb, and maybe it wasn't the craziest idea for America's allies to start thinking about defending themselves, and maybe Washington ought to put some time and diplomatic effort into avoiding a possibly catastrophic clash or set of clashes with Vladimir Putin's Russia. Unfortunately, the White House version of all this proved oh-so-familiar. President Trump's decision, for instance, to double down on a losing bet in Afghanistan in spite of his "instincts" (and on similar bets in Somalia, Syria, and elsewhere) and his recently published National Defense Strategy (NDS) leave little doubt that he's surrendered to Secretary of Defense James Mattis and National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster, the mainstream interventionists in his administration. In truth, no one should be surprised. A hyper-interventionist, highly militarized foreign policy has defined Washington since at least the days of President Harry Truman -- the first in a long line of hawks to take the White House. In this context, an ever-expanding national security state has always put special effort into meeting the imagined needs (or rather desires) of its various component parts. The result: bloated budgets for which exaggerated threats, if not actual war, remain a necessity. Without the threat of communism in the previous century and terrorism (as well as once again ascendant great powers) in this one, such bloated budgets would be hard to explain. And then, how would the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines get all the weaponized toys they desired? How would Congressional representatives in a post-industrial economy get all those attractive "defense" jobs for their districts and how would the weapons makers get the government cash they crave? The 2-2-1 Threat Picture With that in mind, let's take a look at the newly released National Defense Strategy document. It offers a striking sense of how, magically enough, the Pentagon's vision of future global policy manages to provide something for each of its services and their corporate backers. Start with this: the NDS is to government documents what A Nightmare on Elm Street is to family films; it's meant, that is, to scare the hell out of the casual reader. It makes the claim, for instance, that the global "security environment" has become "more complex and volatile than any we have experienced in recent memory." In other words, be afraid, very afraid. But is it true? Is the world really more volatile now than it was when two nuclear superpowers with enough missiles to destroy the planet several times over faced off in a not-so-Cold War?

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From Truthdig

One of the most consequential actions Donald Trump took during the first year of his presidency was to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in December 2017. When the Palestinians predictably responded by pulling out of the US-led "peace process," Trump retaliated by cutting US financial support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) by more than 50 percent.

"A Death Sentence" for Gazan Refugees

The US cutback in aid to UNRWA critically threatens the access of Palestinian refugees to food, health care and education.

In Gaza, 1.3 million Palestinian refugees, who comprise 70 percent of Gaza's population, depend on UNRWA for food assistance. The refugee crisis was aggravated by Israel's 2014 massacre in Gaza.

Established by the UN General Assembly in 1949, UNRWA was mandated to provide assistance and protection to roughly 5 million registered Palestinian refugees forced off their land by the 1948 creation of Israel. Palestinians call this event the "Nakba," which is Arabic for catastrophe. This year marks its 70th anniversary.

The United States, UNRWA's largest donor, contributes $125 million annually. But Trump is withholding $65 million from the next scheduled US payment unless the Palestinians participate in peace talks with Israel. On January 2, Trump tweeted, "with the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should we make any of these massive future payments to them?"

But the consequences of withholding these payments are deadly.

"Any reduction of aid would be a death sentence for refugees in Gaza," Ahmed al-Assar, who lives in the Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza, told The Washington Post.

Husam Zomlot, leader of the Palestinian delegation to the United States, said that "taking away food and education from vulnerable refugees does not bring a lasting and comprehensive peace. ... The access of Palestinian refugees and children to basic humanitarian services such as food, health care and education should not be a bargaining chip, but a US and international obligation."

Last week, the European Parliament responded to the impending humanitarian crisis occasioned by Trump's cutback by urging the European Union and its member countries to increase their funding of UNRWA. In its February 8 resolution, the European Parliament warned of "damaging impacts on access to emergency food assistance for 1.7 million Palestine refugees and primary healthcare for 3 million, on access to education for more than 500,000 Palestinian children in 702 UNRWA schools, including almost 50,000 children in Syria, and on stability in the region."

Trump's "Blackmail" of Palestinians

Trump appears unfazed by the disaster his actions have created. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January, Trump said he would suspend aid to the Palestinians "unless they sit down and negotiate peace." Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Palestinian Liberation Organization's executive committee, called Trump's decision "blackmail."

On February 4, "Western diplomatic sources" unveiled the leaked United States' "peace plan" for Israel/Palestine, dubbed the "deal of the century." The moniker refers to Trump's promise that his son-in-law Jared Kushner and Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt would work out "the deal of the century" between Israel and the Palestinians.

The plan -- which reflects the wishes of Israel, with no Palestinian approval or even input -- would allow Israel to annex 10 percent of the West Bank area. It would also allocate portions of Ashdod and Haifa for Palestinian use, but Israel would continue to oversee security there. It would grant Palestinians safe passage between the West Bank and Gaza under Israeli sovereignty, and would give "Israel the upper hand in the demilitarized Palestinian state, which will have its own police force," according to Al-Monitor.

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St. Helena school trustees voted Thursday to appoint Julio Olguin to a vacant seat on the board, citing his connection to the Latino community.

Olguin is the executive director of the nonprofit St. Helena Preschool For All. He spent his K-12 years attending St. Helenas public schools and went on to earn a degree in kinesiology from Sonoma State University.

As the son of Mexican immigrants, Olguin told the board about the need to get Latino parents more involved in the schools.

Now that Im a father  I find myself even more committed and invested in creating the best learning environment for not only my kids, but the students of this community, said Olguin, the father of two students at St. Helena Elementary School and two younger children. I believe that education and parent involvement in this journey is key for a childs success in life.

I think that my parents would have liked to be more involved in my educational life, but they simply just did not know how and did not have the tools to navigate the school system as I do now. The barriers my parents faced in becoming more involved in the school system are not so different than the barriers that many Latino immigrants still face today.
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As I watched President Trump's first State of the Union address at the end of January, I found myself strangely depressed by what I perceived to be the darkness of its tone and point of view. That impression, which I later learned was shared by many, gave rise in my own case to an insight into the President's mindset that I've since come to regard as a reliable warrant for radical political change. I recognized that the President's views--made extreme by an overlay of repressive nativism and nationalism--are deeply rooted in the loveless duality of "us against them." They reflect the historically-based American traits of individualism, egoism, shunning of community, distrust of others, and a penchant to punish those who are different. Those traits may once have been useful in building the American nation. Today, however, they stand directly opposite to the humane qualities of empathy, compassion and community needed to create a better world.

I saw another manifestation of the "Trumpean" mindset a little more than a week later in Vice-President Pence's appearance at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Pyongyang. While most of the world reveled in the possibility signaled there of a peaceful resolution of tensions between the two Koreas, Pence and his wife, in an epiphantic scene, sat steadfast in sullen silence as others rose to cheer North and South Korean athletes who paraded by in joyful unity.

Just a few days earlier, Pence had announced in lugubrious tones that the U.S. would "soon unveil the toughest and most aggressive round of economic sanctions on North Korea ever. And we will continue to isolate North Korea until it abandons its nuclear and ballistic missile program once and for all." As announced, this action seems intended to complete the strangling of the North Korean economy, perhaps at the cost of civilian hunger and death. It leaves no hint of any willingness, or even statesmanlike capacity, to understand the North Korean missile program from the adversary's point of view and, on that basis, to negotiate a settlement of the attendant issues that meets both sides' vital interests. The American position is elegantly simple: we're stronger than you are, so we can dictate terms and you have to accept them.

I hope to build a case in this paper for the notion that America can in fact pursue a foreign policy that is based on something better than military might and domination. The argument will be based on the following two broad assumptions:

The U.S. should begin to shift its foreign policy away from waging war or providing military aid to benefit the regional ambitions of countries whose principal virtue is that they serve America's geopolitical interests. Instead, its foreign policy should be aimed primarily at helping all undeveloped countries gain access to life essentials such as clean water, food, health care, and education. Such a shift would draw goodwill from nations around the world, and also free billions of dollars from the U.S. defense budget. Those monies could in turn be used to give all Americans access to the education, health care, infrastructure, and job opportunities they need to enjoy a standard of living that reflects the world's most productive economy.

In view of the misery war continues to inflict upon millions of innocent people, and the growing danger that a continued spread of nuclear weapons can lead to the extinction of life on earth, starts should be made as soon as possible by all major nations toward nuclear disarmament, conventional arms reduction, and, in the case of the U.S., gradual closure of military bases around the world. These efforts would constitute steps toward the ultimate goal of a legally binding and enforceable international agreement to permanently end all war. Such an historic undertaking would also be broadly transformational. In terms of international relations, it could drive, and make irreversible, a transition in the behavior of the world's most powerful nations from the narrow pursuit of economic expansion and global security, to more systematic efforts to help meet the basic needs of all of the world's people. A similar transition to concern for the Other could be expected in interactions between civic institutions--particularly police departments--and the communities they serve; in corporate involvement with the environment and surrounding community; and in people-to-people relations. The latter would be marked by a shift from the transactional attitude so prevalent in today's American society to a primary regard for the other person's wellbeing.





Our Vision Must Not Be Limited by the "System" of Which We're a Part

As shown by the President's election, many Americans undoubtedly still exhibit--even if unconsciously--traits like Individualism and Distrust of the Other, with which I've associated both the President and Vice-President. Reflecting their individualism, Americans who have achieved unusual wealth often suggest that their country is "great" for the freedom it has afforded them to gain their success not through the favoritism of people in high places, but from objective judgments of the free market that reflect the value of their own study, skills, hard work, entrepreneurship, talents, or investment. Many other Americans amply display Distrust of the Other in their penchant for suspicion--even demonization--of foreign nations and leaders, and uncritical support for everything American.

As individuals, many of the upper class of bankers, corporate managers, military planners, members of Congress, technical experts, and others who give direction to the nation-state also exhibit the traits I've associated with President Trump. In their function as leaders, however, they are relentlessly pressured by the interlocked corporate/financial/military//technology/ government system in which they operate to oversee its expansion around the world. In that capacity, these captains of the American Ship of State often leave losers in their wake, since the system that drives them is essentially on auto-pilot and heedless of its impact. The pursuit of profitable new markets overseas can, for example, result both in the export of good American jobs and the exploitation of low-wage workers abroad. Even greater problems can ensue from a perceived need to militarily secure the new markets. That enterprise not only risks conflict with regional competitors or insurgent groups in small countries, but also co-opts government discretionary funds that could otherwise be used for programs designed to help meet the real needs of people.

On its face, it would seem that only leaders blinded by the personal power derived from such a system could fail to challenge its potential for harm and the risk of blow-back that could possibly lead to a nuclear exchange. Instead, they remain part of a ruling establishment that preaches commitment to a new world order, while, for example, the people of Yemen wonder how such a vision can possibly be squared with American arms sales to Saudi Arabia that have brought them nothing but carnage and widespread famine. For their part, Palestinians must wonder how America's one-sided partnership with Israel exhibits any sense of fairness or justice toward their own struggle for an independent state on land to which they surely have equal claim. And, Iranians must wonder what they have done to deserve the calumny America regularly visits upon them for actions in the Middle East that, at worst, only replicate at a regional level the influence the U.S. seeks throughout the world.

Today, the most dangerous and foolish consequence of America's foreign policy is its conflict with North Korea. Any fair-minded American, even one with fulsome devotion to the flag, must consider our president both unseemly and irrational for risking nuclear war with that country by hurling school-yard insults at its leader, gratuitously disparaging the nation he leads, threatening to totally destroy his homeland, and balking at any initiatives that might offer a basis for resolving the conflict peacefully. As has been widely reported, one such initiative already rejected by the U.S. is in fact endorsed by Kim Jong-un and appears to show great promise. It is the joint Chinese/Russian proposal that, in exchange for a cut-back of U.S./South Korea military exercises, North Korea would halt further testing in its nuclear missile program.

It seems to me that, to anyone capable of insight and a smidgeon of empathy, it must be obvious that Kim Jong-un is no more likely to start a war with South Korea, or launch a first-strike nuclear-tipped missile at Japan, Guam, Hawaii or even the American mainland, than he is to flee his own country and sink the Kim dynasty of which he is heir. He obviously fears a U.S. attack to "decapitate" his regime, and, with nuclear arms now at his disposal, has boasted of his willingness to use them against the United States. In making that boast, Kim is no doubt motivated in part by a delusory new sense of empowerment. But, given the history of U.S. actions against his country and many others, it is likely that his missiles and threats to use them are intended primarily as a deterrent to possible U.S. aggression. In that case, there seems a real chance that Kim would respond constructively to a U.S. diplomatic proposal which guarantees by enforceable provisions that America will never initiate war against his country. In exchange, he might well agree to both a halt in North Korea's testing of nuclear weapons and, over an extended period, a complete liquidation of its nuclear arsenal.

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By Mark Sumner

Donald Trump may be able to claim he has no relationship to the people in the indictments that Robert Mueller handed down last Friday. He'll have a little more trouble should the paperwork turn in a new direction.

"Special counsel Robert Mueller's interest in Jared Kushner has expanded beyond his contacts with Russia and now includes his efforts to secure financing for his company from foreign investors during the presidential transition, according to people familiar with the inquiry."

Kushner put himself, his family, and his entire company over a barrel with a miserable deal on the property at 666 Fifth Ave. The deal extended Kushner's borrowing power past the breaking point, and even his reluctant partners on the deal ... are pretty much done with deal.

"Kushner had bought the property in 2007 in a mostly debt deal valued at a record $1.8 billion. ... The office tower shoulders more than $1.4 billion in debt, according to a report Vornado released in March."

Banks wanted money. Jared Kushner was desperate, and something really strange happened...

"The White House and a Russian state-owned bank have very different explanations for why the bank's chief executive and Jared Kushner held a secret meeting during the presidential transition in December."

It might be expected that the White House would disclaim any connection to the meeting. But that's not what happened. Vnesheconombank said the meeting was about Kushner's real estate company, but Trump claimed the meeting wasn't personal at all. It was about "diplomatic outreach."

Why would the Trump White House want to claim a meeting with a bank deeply connected to the Kremlin and Putin? That's a really, really good question. One that also seems to interest special counsel Robert Mueller.

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On receiving the devastating news about the latest mass shooting in Florida, President Trump, in full presidential mode, rose to the occasion with a tweet, offering his thoughts and prayers for the victims and their families:

"My prayers and condolences to the families of the victims of the terrible Florida shooting."

The word gun was glaringly absent.

In response to mass shootings other politicians, primarily Republican, typically echo prayer offerings and also fail to mention guns or the issue of gun control. When queried, they insist that gun tragedies are not the time to discuss gun control. Their lack of action on this issue at other times tells us that for them it's never the right time.

What these sycophants of the NRA fail to note is that their prayers are not working.

As their prayers escalate to deafening decibels, gun violence in America also rises.

Since twenty children between ages six and seven and six adults were killed in the 2012 massacre at the Sandy Hook Elementary School there have been at least 200 additional shootings in schools with more than 400 shot and 138 of them killed.

After years of prayers, the greatest loss of lives from gun violence occurred on October 1, 2017, at the Harvest Music Festival in Las Vegas. Fifty-nine concertgoers were killed and hundreds wounded by a lone shooter with assault weapons.

And now, following seventeen gunshot incidents in schools in just the first six weeks of 2018, the latest shooting claimed the staggering loss of 14 high school students and three adults at the Marjory Stoneman DouglasHigh School in Broward County, Florida, who were ambushed by a killer with an AR-15 semi-automatic weapon.

Politicians: Don't you get it? Whomever you are praying to is not answering your prayers.

Or perhaps they are, but the money you get from the NRA, which fuels your worship of guns, prevents you from hearing their answer--and even trumps concern for the safety of your own children and grandchildren.

For Christians, surely Jesus has heard your prayers. Isn't that what you believe?

In not responding to your implicit plea that He take care of the problem, Jesus may be sending a strong message that you refuse to hear:

"I've given you the power of choice. You can choose to get rid of the God-damned guns."

(Article changed on February 20, 2018 at 19:30)
Allen Maintenance Corporation Wants Your Business!

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Building a commercial cleaning corporation in the State of Michigan is challenging. However, Allen Maintenance Corporation, has made doing so look easy.What competitors dont know, is that, Allen Maintenance Corporation, has been rendering quality commercial cleaning services throughout Metro Detroit areas, for more than, 28 years.As a, Better Business Bureau, A+ rated, corporation, Allen Maintenance Corporation, defeats others in its league.After all, services are provided 24-7; and employees operate under a code of trust, confidentiality, and integrity.Services provided includes: removal of waste from trash receptacles, vanquishing of germs and finger prints from door knobs, light fixtures, and glass windows. Dust removal from hard to reach areas, and disposal of unwanted items, i.e. heavy boxes.Building a business relationship with, Allen Maintenance Corporation, is a sure way to impact the spread of germs, in your organizations daily operating environment.Allen Maintenance Corporation offers an engaging Web sitewhere, you can view educational video clippings from the Worldwide Cleaning Association-ISSA; an organization, Allen Maintenance Corporation, is a member of.Also, be sure to review the articles posted, as well as the Blog.Office hours are Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Call Allen Maintenance Corporation today, and discuss, your commercial cleaning needs. 313-383-4840.Allen Maintenance Corporation has been rendering commercial cleaning services for more than 28 years, throughout the Metro Detroit area.4224 Dix Toledo Hwy.Lincoln Park, MI 48146
Appsecco, the application security company, selected to offer training at Black Hat USA 2018

Specialist application security company Appsecco, has announced that it will be running a bespoke training workshop at Black Hat USA 2018, the world's leading information security event providing attendees with the very latest in research, development and trends.Now in its 21st year, Black Hat USA 2018 opens with four days of technical trainings (August 4th - 7th) followed by a two-day conference (August 8th - 9th).Taking place over the first two days of the event, on August 4th and 5th, Appsecco's training session, entitled, "Automated Defense Using Serverless for AWS, Azure & GCP" has been designed to help delegates understand how simple cloud services can be utilised to set-up lightweight systems for automated security defence.With the big three IAAS Cloud Providers (AWS, Azure & GCP) each offering something slightly different, as part of this hands-on training Appsecco's security experts will not only cover what the essential components of an automated security defence set-up should be, but also how to implement them across each provider.Attendees will also learn how to defend their cloud infrastructure using Serverless technologies and ElasticStack. ElasticStack collects, analyses, logs and triggers alerts based on a configured rule-set, while Serverless drives the defence to perform automated blocking and is configured based on the use case and type of attacks. The current Serverless solution works on AWS, Azure and GCP and can be extended for other providers and custom solutions such as in-house firewalls, IPS, etc.Appsecco's Automation and Security Expert, Madhu Akula, will be hosting the workshop alongside Appsecco's Security Engineer, Subash SN. Each possess extensive experience in the industry, ranging from client facing assignments building scalable and secure infrastructure, to publishing industry leading research.Appsecco's co-founder, Gwilym Lewis, says of the agreement, "We're thrilled to be bringing our cutting-edge, industry-leading security training to Black Hat USA. Day one starts by setting the stage for automated defence by tackling centralised monitoring and alerting systems, followed by a focus on day two on advancing the set-up by adding Serverless stack to defend against the infrastructure based on near real-time alerts to match DevOps speed."Organisations or individuals interested in finding out more about the training packages, or who want to make a booking, should visit the Black Hat website. Early booking offer ends 25th May 2018.Appsecco is a specialist application security company providing industry leading IT security solutions that are firmly grounded in commercial reality. Its services cover the entire software development lifecycle, from advising on how to build and foster a culture of security within development teams and organisations, to reviewing and advising on the security of applications and associated infrastructure under development, to providing rapid response and advice in the event of a security breach or incident.Lisa Donohuelisa@wearestream.com020 7749 0903 / 07958 180534Stream (UK) Limited12-18 Hoxton StreetLondonN16NG
Global Wool Grease Market - Analysis and Outlook to 2025

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IndexBox has just published a new report "World: Wool Grease - Market Report. Analysis And Forecast To 2025" ().This report covers a detailed survey of the global wool grease market. Within it, you will find out the latest data on market trends and opportunities by country, consumption, production and price developments, as well as the global trade (imports and exports). The outlook depicts the market prospects through 2025.Countries coverage: Worldwide - the report contains statistical data for 200 countries and includes detailed profiles of the 50 largest consuming countries (United States, China, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Brazil, Italy, Russian Federation, India, Canada, Australia, Republic of Korea, Spain, Mexico, Indonesia, Netherlands, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Sweden, Nigeria, Poland, Belgium, Argentina, Norway, Austria, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Colombia, Denmark, South Africa, Malaysia, Israel, Singapore, Egypt, Philippines, Finland, Chile, Ireland, Pakistan, Greece, Portugal, Kazakhstan, Algeria, Czech Republic, Qatar, Peru, Romania, Vietnam) + the largest producing countries.Product coverage:Wool GreaseData coverage: Wool grease market volume and value; Per Capita consumption; Forecast of the market dynamics in the medium term; Global wool grease production, split by region and country; Global wool grease trade (exports and imports); Producer, export and import prices for wool grease; Wool grease market trends, drivers and restraints; Key market players and their profiles.Reasons to buy this report: Take advantage of the latest data; Find deeper insights into current market developments; Discover vital success factors affecting the market.AbstractGlobal wool grease market revenue amounted to 12,909 million USD in 2015, declining by -14.5% against the previous year level. Overall, global wool grease market continues to undergo a considerable growth: the market value increased at an average annual rate of +7.4% from 2007 to 2015. This trend pattern, however, fluctuated wildly throughout the analyzed period. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2012, when the market revenue increased by +39% from the previous year level. Over the period under review, the global wool grease market attained its maximum revenue of 19,915 million USD in 2013. From 2014 to the end of the period under review, the total wool grease market revenue failed to regain its former peak level.Over the analyzed period, global wool grease production was buoyed by disposable income growth and consumption of medical and personal care products, leather treatment products, anti-corrosive coatingslubricant additives, surgical and industrial adhesive tapes. These key factors are to remain relevant with regard to wool grease output in the immediate term.The countries with the highest levels of production in 2015 were China (503 thousand tonnes), Australia (353 thousand tonnes), New Zealand (166 thousand tonnes), together accounting for 47% of total output. From 2007 to 2015, the most notable growth rates in almond production among the main producing countries was attained by China (+4.1% per year), while the other global leaders experienced a decline in the output figures.The world wool grease producing population amounted to 363,262 thousand head in 2015, which was almost equal to the previous year figure. The producing population indicated a small contraction over the period under review, declining by an average annual rate of -0.6% from 2007 to 2015. This trend pattern was relatively stable throughout the analyzed period. Over the period under review, the total wool grease producing population peaked in 2007, declining in the following year. From 2008 to 2015, the total wool grease producing population fluctuated at lower levels.The global average wool grease yield amounted to 60 hg in 2015, rising by 1.8% from the previous year figure. The yield figures recorded an upward trend over the period under review, with a compound annual growth rate standing at +0.5% from 2007 to 2015. These yield figures maintained, all in all, a stable trend pattern throughout the analyzed period. The highest wool grease yields were recorded in 2015. Albeit a gradual improvement of farming technics, the future yield figures subject to a substantional risk of animal diseases.Source:IndexBox is a leading market research publisher in the world. You can find more than 25,000 research reports in our web store, which cover global industries and regional markets. All the worldwide marketing data you need is at your fingertips.Company Name: IndexBoxContact Person: Kirill BezverhiEmail: kirill.bezverhi@indexbox.co.ukPhone: +44 20 3239 3063Adress: United Kingdom, 44 Main Street, Douglas, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, ML11 0QW
1917  Medical aid for a man feeling ill on Redondo Court.

2151  A caller said her husband had left with their two children following an argument. Police investigated and took a report.

Wednesday, Feb. 14

1040  A Crinella Drive resident received a hateful card and gummy bears in his mailbox.

1308  Police were told to be on the lookout for a light blue Prius reported stolen from Napa earlier. The suspects had stopped in Yountville a few hours ago and tried to use a credit card that had been left in the car.

1423  A bike had been abandoned since Saturday outside a business near Main/Spring.

1539  Report of an ongoing problem with cars speeding and running red lights at Main/Madrona.

1605  Report of an ongoing problem with a man harassing employees on Library Lane.

2154  An abandoned car parked on Monte Vista was covered in dust and debris.

2248  Medical aid for a possible heart attack victim on Madrona Avenue.

Thursday, Feb. 15
Global Cream Fresh Market - A Brief Market Overview and Detailed Analysis 2018-2025

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IndexBox has just published a new report "World: Cream Fresh - Market Report. Analysis And Forecast To 2025" ().This report covers an in-depth survey of the global fresh cream market. Within it, you will find out the latest data on market trends and opportunities by country, consumption, production and price developments, as well as the global trade (imports and exports). The forecast presents the market perspectives through 2025.Countries coverage: Worldwide - the report contains statistical data for 200 countries and includes detailed profiles of the 50 largest consuming countries (United States, China, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Brazil, Italy, Russian Federation, India, Canada, Australia, Republic of Korea, Spain, Mexico, Indonesia, Netherlands, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Sweden, Nigeria, Poland, Belgium, Argentina, Norway, Austria, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Colombia, Denmark, South Africa, Malaysia, Israel, Singapore, Egypt, Philippines, Finland, Chile, Ireland, Pakistan, Greece, Portugal, Kazakhstan, Algeria, Czech Republic, Qatar, Peru, Romania, Vietnam) + the largest producing countries.Product coverage:Fresh CreamData coverage: Fresh cream market volume and value; Per Capita consumption; Forecast of the market dynamics in the medium term; Global fresh cream production, split by region and country; Global fresh cream trade (exports and imports); Producer, export and import prices for fresh cream; Fresh cream market trends, drivers and restraints; Key market players and their profiles.Reasons to buy this report: Take advantage of the latest data; Find deeper insights into current market developments; Discover vital success factors affecting the market.AbstractGlobal cream fresh market revenue amounted to 5,398 million USD in 2015, descending by -22.7% against the previous year level. Overall, global cream fresh market continues to undergo a pronounced decline: the market value decreased at an average annual rate of -1.8% from 2007 to 2015. This trend pattern, however, indicated some noticable fluctuations throughout the analyzed period. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2011, when the market revenue increased by +20% from the previous year level. In that year, the global cream fresh market revenue attained its maximum of 7,057 million USD. From 2012 to the end of the period under review, the total cream fresh market revenue failed to regain its former peak level.Over the analyzed period, an increase in global cream fresh production was primarily driven by population growth and urbanization. Furthermore, these key drivers are expected to continue promoting the cream fresh output in the immediate term.The countries with the highest levels of production in 2015 were Germany (555 thousand tonnes), France (383 thousand tonnes), Canada (348 thousand tonnes), together accounting for 38% of total output. From 2007 to 2015, the most notable growth rates in almond production among the main producing countries was attained by Canada (+2.3% per year), while the other global leaders experienced mixed trends in the output figures.Source:IndexBox is a leading market research publisher in the world. You can find more than 25,000 research reports in our web store, which cover global industries and regional markets. All the worldwide marketing data you need is at your fingertips.Company Name: IndexBoxContact Person: Kirill BezverhiEmail: kirill.bezverhi@indexbox.co.ukPhone: +44 20 3239 3063Adress: United Kingdom, 44 Main Street, Douglas, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, ML11 0QW
Global Ghee Market - Trends, Analysis and Forecast to 2025

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IndexBox has just published a new report "World: Ghee - Market Report. Analysis And Forecast To 2025" ().This report contains a detailed analysis of the global ghee market. Within it, you will identify the latest data on market trends and opportunities by country, consumption, production and price developments, as well as the global trade (imports and exports). The outlook exhibits the market prospects through 2025.Countries coverage: Worldwide - the report contains statistical data for 200 countries and includes detailed profiles of the 50 largest consuming countries (United States, China, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Brazil, Italy, Russian Federation, India, Canada, Australia, Republic of Korea, Spain, Mexico, Indonesia, Netherlands, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Sweden, Nigeria, Poland, Belgium, Argentina, Norway, Austria, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Colombia, Denmark, South Africa, Malaysia, Israel, Singapore, Egypt, Philippines, Finland, Chile, Ireland, Pakistan, Greece, Portugal, Kazakhstan, Algeria, Czech Republic, Qatar, Peru, Romania, Vietnam) + the largest producing countries.Product coverage:GheeData coverage: Ghee market volume and value; Per Capita consumption; Forecast of the market dynamics in the medium term; Global ghee production, split by region and country; Global ghee trade (exports and imports); Producer, export and import prices for ghee; Ghee market trends, drivers and restraints; Key market players and their profiles.Reasons to buy this report: Take advantage of the latest data; Find deeper insights into current market developments; Discover vital success factors affecting the market.Source:IndexBox is a leading market research publisher in the world. You can find more than 25,000 research reports in our web store, which cover global industries and regional markets. All the worldwide marketing data you need is at your fingertips.Company Name: IndexBoxContact Person: Kirill BezverhiEmail: kirill.bezverhi@indexbox.co.ukPhone: +44 20 3239 3063Adress: United Kingdom, 44 Main Street, Douglas, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, ML11 0QW
Kidney /Renal Function Test Market worth 790.1 Million USD by 2022

Renal Function Test Market

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The report "Kidney/Renal Function Test Market by Product (Dipsticks, Reagents, Disposables), Type (Urine Test (Urine Protein, Microalbumin, Creatinine Clearance), Blood Test (Serum Creatinine, BUN)), End User -Global Forecast to 2022", The global kidney/renal function test market is expected to reach USD 790.1 Million by 2022 from an estimated USD 586.5 Million in 2017, at a CAGR of 6.1%. The key factors driving the growth of this market include the rising prevalence of kidney disease, growing prevalence of diabetes and hypertension, increasing geriatric population, and rise in alcohol consumption.Browse 90 market data Tables and 33 Figures spread through 126 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Kidney/Renal Function Test Market by Product (Dipsticks, Reagents, Disposables), Type (Urine Test (Urine Protein, Microalbumin, Creatinine Clearance), Blood Test (Serum Creatinine, BUN)), End User -Global Forecast to 2022"By product, the dipsticks segment is expected to dominate the market in 2017By product, the market is categorized into dipsticks, reagents, and disposables. Dipsticks are expected to account for the largest share of the market in 2017, they are also expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The large share and high growth rate of this segment can be attributed to factors such as the cost-effectiveness of dipstick testing and its widespread applications across specializations.By type, the urine tests segment is expected to account for the largest share of the market in 2017Based on type, the market is segmented into urine and blood tests. Urine tests are further categorized into urine protein, creatinine clearance, and microalbumin. Similarly, blood tests are categorized into serum creatinine, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN).In 2017, the urine tests segment is expected to account for the largest share of the market. This segment is also expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Factors contributing to the large share and high growth rate of this segment include increasing usage of urine dipsticks analysis, the ease in sample collection technique compared to blood samples, and this method also has a very limited risk of infection.North America to dominate the market in 2017North America is expected to account for the largest share of the global kidney function/renal function test market. The large share of the North American market is attributed to the increasing incidence of chronic diseases, rising prevalence of hypertension, growing incidence of diabetes in the US, and increasing initiatives by the Canadian government for the treatment of kidney diseases.The prominent players in the global kidney function/renal function test market are Abbott (US), Siemens (Germany), Sysmex (Japan), Beckman Coulter (US), Roche (Switzerland), ACON Laboratories, Inc. (US), URIT Medical (China), Nova Biomedical (US), ARKRAY (Japan), OPTI Medical (US), 77 Elektronika (Hungary), and Randox Laboratories (UK).About MarketsandMarketsMarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies revenues. Currently servicing 5000 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions.Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model  GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve.MarketsandMarketss flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets.Contact:Mr. RohanMarketsandMarkets INC.630 Dundee RoadSuite 430Northbrook, IL 60062USA : 1-888-600-6441sales@marketsandmarkets.com
Matrix to Showcase Innovative Telecom and Security Solutions at SECUREX, West Africa, 2018

https://www.matrixcomsec.com/

Matrix, a leading manufacturer of Telecom and Security solutions is to display its products at SECUREX, West Africa, 2018. The event is organized on 21st and 22nd March18 in Nigeria, West Africa. The event is an ideal platform for different industries to network with their peers and showcase latest products.From the Telecom domain, Matrix will display its elite range of devices which addresses the multi-location collaboration, mobility and hybrid communication needs of West African enterprises. Matrix will exhibit its Unified Communication Server specifically targeted towards the small and medium businesses. The solution offers connectivity for up to 2,000 users and help employees boost productivity by offering easy access of numerous call management features. The major attraction in the event will be SPARSH VP710  the Smart Video IP Deskphone. The video enabled endpoint increases remote collaboration and enhances productivity by offering single touch access to voice and video applications. Matrix will also showcase its high-end Universal Gateways that offers connectivity of the desired network while maintaining existing infrastructure.In the event, we will showcase futuristic technologies from the Security domain. Matrix Access Control and Time-Attendance domain will showcase its newly launched Face Recognition technology for authentication through mobile. The technology enables contactless authentication with precise and accurate authentication. Apart from this, we will display our high-end cloud based Time-Attendance and Access Control solution. Mobile being the next generation technology in the security domain, we will showcase Mobile based Access Control solution whereby user can either scan QR code or just twist his/her phone for authentication. User can mark attendance automatically using GPS or Wi-Fi through mobile application. Thus, Matrix being the front face in innovation, we are going to show some extraordinary Biometric Door Controllers useful for applications in Time-Attendance, Access Control, Visitor Management, Cafeteria Management and many more.Matrix will present its Standalone Access Control solution where one can connect up to 255 devices and 25,000 users. Additionally, to enhance the security Matrix biometric solutions can be integrated with any video surveillance solution. It will capture real-time images when any pre-defined event occurs.The other wing of Matrix, IP Video Surveillance, will showcase its Video Management solution SATATYA SAMAS, which addresses threats in a logical, sequential manner through its unique features like CREAM (Cognitive Responsive Engine with Automated Monitoring). CREAM eliminates false alerts by conducting a multi-stage verification. Keeping in mind the need for automation in medium, large and multi-location enterprises, we will demonstrate how SATATYA SAMAS can seamlessly automate the parallel working of various systems integrated in an organization. Alongside, we are going to exhibit the recently launched new range of Network Video Recorders that are equipped with characteristics like Cascading, Camera-wise Recording Retention, Database Level Integration and plenty of other distinct features. In addition to this, we will present the new range of IP cameras which sport SONY STARVIS series sensors with EXMOR technology. These cameras have an edge over others in terms of exceptional low light performance, consistent image in varying light conditions (True WDR), better bandwidth optimization and many other features.At SECUREX 2018, we are looking forward to meeting system integrators and other business associates which can help us strengthen our base in the West African market. We expect to host numerous meetings and get a clear idea of the present market needs, commented Ganesh Jivani, Managing Director.Matrix invites you to visit us at Stand Number D2, SECUREX West Africa 2018 , on 21st and 22nd March18 Landmark Center, Lagos, Nigeria for a first-hand experience of our feature-rich Telecom and Security solutions.About MatrixEstablished in 1991, Matrix is a leader in Telecom and Security solutions for modern businesses and enterprises. Matrix, an innovative, technology driven and customer focused organization, is committed to keep pace with the revolutions in the telecom and security industries. With more than 40% of its human resources dedicated to the development of new products, Matrix has launched cutting-edge products like IP-PBX, Universal Gateways, VoIP Gateways and Terminals, GSM Gateways, Access Control, Time-Attendance and Video Surveillance solutions. These solutions are feature-rich, reliable and conform to the international standards. Having global footprints in Asia, Europe, North America, South America and Africa through an extensive network of more than 1,000 channel partners, Matrix ensures that the products serve the needs of its customers faster and longer. Matrix has gained trust and admiration of customers representing the entire spectrum of industries. Matrix has won many international awards for its innovative products.Matrix Comsec394 GIDC, Makarpura, Vadodara-390010
Threat Intelligence Solution Market: Healthy CAGR, Analysis, Market Size, Regional Outlook, Competitive Strategies and Forecasts 2022, Focusing On Top Key Vendors

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The growing demand for threat intelligence is increasing owing to rise in cyber-crime, threat breaches and growing numbers of sophisticated attacks in leading security conscious sectors. Moreover, the breaches in most of the organizations have a financial or espionage motive which results in disruption of business and has become a major concern for them which is expected to contribute to demand of threat intelligence solutions and services immensely.This market research report gives an in-depth idea about the global Threat Intelligence Solution market. It highlights the recent market scenario, growth in the past few years, and opportunities present for manufacturers in the future. In this research for the completion of both primary and secondary details, various methods and tools are used. Also, investments instigated by organizations, government, non-government bodies, and institutions are projected in details for better understanding about the market.Download PDF Sample Copy:Companies Profiled: The Top Key Players Included in this market are IBM Corporation ,Dell Technologies, Inc. ,McAfee LLC (US),Trend Micro Incorporated ,Symantec Corporation ,Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. ,Juniper Networks, Inc. ,FireEye, Inc. ,LogRhythm, Inc. ,LookingGlass Cyber Solutions, Inc.,Optiv Security, Inc. ,Webroot, Inc.The report has been compiled using primary and secondary research methodologies. The information has been collected from reliable sources such as interviews with market leaders, journals, publications, conferences, and white papers. The report analyzes the historical data along with the current developments in the market to provide map a fair trajectory of the Global Threat Intelligence Solution Market for the coming few years.This study provides an evaluation of aspects that are expected to impact growth of market in an undesired or constructive method. The Threat Intelligence Solution market has been consistently examined with respect to the corresponding market segments. Each year within the mentioned forecast period is concisely considered in terms of produce and worth in the regional as well as the global markets respectively.To Get 20% Discount on this Report:The report gives a SWOT analysis of the new projects in the international and Threat Intelligence Solution market, investment feasibility, development trends, and investment return analysis of these projects. Study of the Threat Intelligence Solution markets competitive landscape includes data facts and figures about leading countries and suppliers capacity, cost-structures, production values, profits, and gross margins of key businesses operating in the market over the reports review period.The report also provides details such as product picture and specification, and contact information of the companies profiled in the Threat Intelligence Solution markets manufacturer analysis segment. Initially, the Threat Intelligence Solution producing an analysis of the most important trade players based on their company profiles, annual revenue, sales margin, growth aspects is additionally lined during this report, which is able to facilitate alternative Threat Intelligence Solution market players in driving business insights.Table of ContentsGlobal Threat Intelligence Solution Market Research ReportChapter 1 Threat Intelligence Solution Market OverviewChapter 2 Global Economic Impact on IndustryChapter 3 Global Market Competition by ManufacturersChapter 4 Global Production, Revenue (Value) by RegionChapter 5 Global Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by RegionsChapter 6 Global Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by TypeChapter 7 Global Market 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 Global Threat Intelligence Solution Market ForecastBuy 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
Future Prospects of File Synchronization and Sharing Software Market 2022: Chain Structure, Competitive Landscape, New Projects, Investment Analysis, Region, Applicatio, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share by Top Vendors

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File synchronization and sharing (FSS) software enable companies to securely synchronize and share photos, documents, videos, and files from multiple sources with its customers, partners, and employees. Such software are utilized by companies to prevent the use of file sharing applications by illegitimate users.This market research report gives an in-depth idea about the global File Synchronization and Sharing Software market. It highlights the recent market scenario, growth in the past few years, and opportunities present for manufacturers in the future. In this research for the completion of both primary and secondary details, various methods and tools are used. Also, investments instigated by organizations, government, non-government bodies, and institutions are projected in details for better understanding about the market.Download PDF Sample Copy:Companies Profiled: The Top Key Players Included in this market are Microsoft, Google, VMWare, Citrix, Blackberry, Egnyte, Dropbox, Sugarsync, Syncplicity, CGI Group Inc., Stratalux, Inc., Deloitte, Ernst & YoungThe report has been compiled using primary and secondary researchmethodologies. The information has been collected from reliable sources such as interviews with market leaders, journals, publications, conferences, and white papers. The report analyzes the historical data along with the current developments in the market to provide map a fair trajectory of the Global File Synchronization and Sharing Software Market for the coming few years.This study provides an evaluation of aspects that are expected to impact growth of market in an undesired or constructive method. The File Synchronization and Sharing Software market has been consistently examined with respect to the corresponding market segments. Each year within the mentioned forecast period is concisely considered in terms of produce and worth in the regional as well as the global markets respectively.To Get 20% Discount on this Report:The report gives a SWOT analysis of the new projects in the international and File Synchronization and Sharing Software market, investment feasibility, development trends, and investment return analysis of these projects. Study of the File Synchronization and Sharing Software markets competitive landscape includes data facts and figures about leading countries and suppliers capacity, cost-structures, production values, profits, and gross margins of key businesses operating in the market over the reports review period.The report also provides details such as product picture and specification, and contact information of the companies profiled in the File Synchronization and Sharing Software markets manufacturer analysis segment. Initially, the File Synchronization and Sharing Software producing an analysis of the most important trade players based on their company profiles, annual revenue, sales margin, growth aspects is additionally lined during this report, which is able to facilitate alternative File Synchronization and Sharing Software market players in driving business insights.Table of ContentsGlobal File Synchronization and Sharing Software Market Research ReportChapter 1 File Synchronization and Sharing Software Market OverviewChapter 2 Global Economic Impact on IndustryChapter 3 Global Market Competition by ManufacturersChapter 4 Global Production, Revenue (Value) by RegionChapter 5 Global Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by RegionsChapter 6 Global Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by TypeChapter 7 Global Market 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 Global File Synchronization and Sharing Software Market ForecastBuy 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
Big Data in Healthcare Market with Current Trends Analysis 2017 - 2025

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Global Big Data in Healthcare Market: OverviewThe big data in healthcare market is believed to be the future and game-changer of the healthcare sector with high adoption amongst medical professionals, government bodies, and even patients. The global market is currently trending on the back of innovative headways, higher incentives reserved for medication, and big data adoption in healthcare.The segmentation study of the global big data in healthcare market could span over four vital categories, viz. type, application, component, and end user. The careful segmentation of the market offered in the report will help to foresee the future of the industry and make informed decisions.The analysts are open to any level of customization of the report with a view to help buyers with their business requirements. Some of the important factors evaluated in the publication are growth drivers and restraints, Porters five forces model, and key company profiling.Request Sample Copy of the Report@Global Big Data in Healthcare Market: Trends and OpportunitiesBig data and big data analytics have taken an indispensable position in the healthcare sector by providing a reliable digital IT platform for a quick diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. Besides efficient disease management, big data finds application in three important areas of the healthcare industry, viz. operational analytics, financial analytics, and clinical data analytics. The first healthcare area incorporates the analysis of supply chain and workforce. Financial analytics deals with risk management, revenue cycle management, and claims processing. The clinical data analytics application involves reporting and compliance, health management, clinical decision support, and quality care.Of the few growth inhibitors in the world big data in healthcare market, lack of quality resourcing, shrinking profit margins, and global economic slowdown are the prominent ones. However, with the rising investments in research and development, colossal amount of data generated in the healthcare sector, and enhancement of IT infrastructure in developing regions are envisioned to compensate for the fewer restraints of the market.Request TOC of the Report @In terms of type of service, the global big data in healthcare market can be segmented into prescriptive, predictive, and descriptive. On the basis of software, the segments could be workforce management, practice management, revenue cycle management, and electronic health record (EHR). By hardware, email servers and access points, data storage, virtual private networks (VPNs), firewalls, and routers could be the main segments.Global Big Data in Healthcare Market: Geographical OutlookThe geographical analysis of the world big data in healthcare market offered in the report takes into account some of the important regions such as the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa. The first segment is foreseen to leverage the heated promotion of big data by the federal government in North America and Latin America through strong initiatives and efforts to decrease healthcare expenses. The Americas are anticipated to take the throne in the global market while accounting for a gigantic share. Other factors that could contribute to the flourishing demand in the Americas are the elevating focus on health management population, empowerment of healthcare information technology (HCIT) solutions, and vast funding ventures for big data analytics.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report @A sizable amount of progress is also expected on the part of the Europe big data in healthcare market with a few driving factors such as the surging interest in data collection, big data emergence, and crucial healthcare policies by European governments. Companies involved in this market can also benefit from the inflating implementation of HER and its awareness coupled with technological development.Global Big Data in Healthcare Market: Companies mentioned in the reportThere are a few major players commanding the ship of the global big data in healthcare market, viz. First Databank, Inc., IBM Corporation, Medispan Ltd., Unitedhealth Pvt. Ltd., HP Corporation Pvt. Ltd., Mckesson Corporation, Pwc, Truven Health Analytics Pvt. Ltd., Zynx Health Incorporated, and Oracle Corporation. New entrants could face hindrances based on factors such as novelty, lack of brand awareness, and expensive investment costs. Since a large number of small companies have crowded the global market, there is a possibility of the definition of big data being misunderstood, which can be rectified through face-to-face interaction or direct education.About UsTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pumps Market : Overview and Analysis 2017 - 2025

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Global Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pumps Market: OverviewThe world air operated double diaphragm pumps market is breeding lucrative opportunities for the vendors with the cost-efficient and low maintenance applications of the systems. The air operated double diaphragm pumps have provided an excellent replacement for centrifugal pumps and all-round applications in a broad scope of industries. Consumers in different sectors are adopting these pumps as an attractive package with the self-priming feature. Moreover, they can be used in remote locations and hazardous environments as they are completely powered from compressed air.The report offers a critical analysis of the key segments of the global air operated double diaphragm pumps market which could be categorized under different classifications such as application, valve, operation, and region.Our seasoned research analysts of the air operated double diaphragm pumps market can customize the report according to the business needs of the buyers. The customized report will feature the competitive landscape, Porters five forces model, conclusive drivers and restraints, market scope, and current and future opportunities.Request Sample Copy of the Report@Global Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pumps Market: Trends and OpportunitiesThe air operated double diaphragm pumps market is envisaged to gain impetus from the swelling and ubiquitous application of the systems in the chemical sector. Rising at a moderate CAGR, the global market is expected to receive a significant contribution from the investments made in the pharma and cosmetics industries. Other decisive factors that are predicted to propel the growth of the market include the aggressive rise in global infrastructure and its promising development.In terms of valves, the global air operated double diaphragm pumps market could see an important segmentation which features ball valves and flap valves. Out of the two segments, ball valves is envisioned to attract a colossal demand on the back of an industrial trend gaining strength of late. The ball valves market is foreseen to clasp an impressive share, putting behind the markets for other valve types. Some of the principal factors that are augmenting the growth of the market for ball valves are their flattering performance and fine efficiency.Request TOC of the Report @According to application, the international air operated double diaphragm pumps market could be classified into food and beverage, mining, pharmaceutical, chemical, marine, and water treatment. Although there are a number of applications of air operated double diaphragm pumps in different sectors, the chemical and water treatment markets are foretold to take a leading position with regard to market share. Nonetheless, the food and beverage industry is helping the global market to rake in a significant amount of revenue with elevating incidences of meteoric integration.Global Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pumps Market: Geographical OutlookAlthough Europe is deemed to have settled in the world air operated double diaphragm pumps market with a mammoth share, there are other regions which have made their presence known. During the course of the forecast period 20172025, the Asia Pacific market is prophesied to ride on the rapid pace of its growth as it looks to compete intensively with the Europe market. Asia Pacific is researched by a majority of analysts to be a prominent region for the global market to thrive on. Nevertheless, Europe will look to take advantage of the favorable development policies formulated in its region. North America and the Middle East and Africa are the other geographical segments studied under the microscope by the analysts.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report @Global Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pumps Market: CompetitionBuyers of the report can have access to key company profiling of the major players in the global air operated double diaphragm pumps market. Among others, Warren Rupp, Depa, Wilden, DellMeco, Graco, Murzan, Verder, TAPFLO, Debem, and ARO are looked upon as the crucial operators in the global market. In order to add to their market share, several players have taken to acquisitions and mergers, new product developments, expansions, and other critical strategies.About UsTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Flexographic Printing Inks Market Future and Forecast 2025

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Flexographic printing process involves dyestuff as colorants for printing applications. Growing preferences among consumer for flexible & colorful packaging and technological advancements in printing techniques coupled with high quality printing inks with low VOC content is expected to boost growth of the flexographic printing inks market. Major players in the market focus on new product development and integrating new technologies in existing product portfolio to meet rising demand of its customer base. For instance, on May 01, 2017, Sun Chemical introduced new high performance UV Flexo Inks during Label Summit in Latin America 2017.Request Sample Copy of this Report:UV-cured inks market is projected to witness the highest growth during 2017-2025. According to the stats provided by Coherent Market Insights, the UV cured inks market is expected to witness a CAGR of 6.1% in terms of value. Favorable government regulations, owing to rising safety standards of packaged food is in turn surging demand for UV cured inks. UV cured inks also find wide application in various end-use industries such as pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, printing and publication due to its high durability, zero volatile organic compound, and superior adhesion properties.The global flexographic printing inks market size was valued at US$ 6.57 Billion (revenue) and 1,611.4 Kilo Tons (volume) in 2016 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 5.6% in terms of revenue and 4.4% in terms of volume during 2017  2025.Product InsightsRapid industrialization in emerging economies such as China, India and Brazil is projected to increase trade activities across the region, which in turn driving demand for flexible packaging. Also, growth of the food and beverages sector is expected to exponentially drive growth in demand for flexible packaging and in turn fuel growth of the flexographic printing inks market over the forecast period, as these packaging finds wide applications in packaging and promoting brand. Cosmetics and pharmaceuticals industries are major end users of flexible packaging due to low VOC content and environment friendly. For instance, on April 01, 2007, the Environmental Protection Department of Hong Kong, amended the VOC regulation to control the in-house air pollution and planned to reduce the amount of VOC in air up to 55% by 2010. Also, The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) was enforced to protect the environment and health in Canada by setting VOC concentration limits for 53 categories of architectural coatings.View More Information:Regional InsightsAsia Pacific, followed by Europe and North America, respectively accounted for major share in the global flexographic printing inks market both in terms of revenue and volume in 2016 and are projected to retain their dominance in the market over the forecast period. In 2016, Asia Pacific held a share of 39.2% in terms of volume, followed by Europe (25.4%). The growing demand for corrugated container in Asia Pacific due to extensive use in packaging of goods such as cosmetics, food products, beverages, hazardous chemicals, pharmaceuticals and other materials in turn creates a highly favorable environment for growth of the global flexographic printing inks market. These packaging finds large applications due to its light weight, high durability, high strength, cost effectiveness, appealing aesthetic value and recyclability. Moreover, growing e-commerce and retail sector around the world is also expected to fuel the demand for corrugated container, which in turn is increasing the global flexographic printing inks market in the following years. According to a study conducted by Coherent Market Insights, the global corrugated container market is expected to witness a CAGR of 5.0% from 2017 to 2025 which is expected to fuel growth of the global flexographic printing inks market.Multinational players need to tap potential addressable market in the emerging regions with the help of geographical expansionProduct portfolio expansion and geographical expansion are the key market trends which are expected to shape the industry in the near future. For instance,2016, Flint Group acquired Printec Industries Inc, located in Marietta, Georgia, U.S.2015, Flint Group acquired Xeikon a leading digital solutions provider to the packaging and commercial printing marketsMajor players in the global flexographic printing inks market include Flint Group, Siegwerk Druckfarben AG & Co., Huber Group, Sun Chemical Corporation, Wikoff Color Corporation, Zeller+Gmelin GmbH & Co. KG., INX International Ink Co, Toyo Ink SC Holdings Co, ALTANA AG and XSYS Print Solutions (Shanghai) Ltd. among others.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact UsMr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702
Give Big! St. Helena , the annual online fundraiser for the St. Helena Unified School Districts parent groups and the St. Helena Public Schools Foundation, is returning on March 24. Thats right, its a Saturday this year. Funds will pay for educational enhancements  field trips, special projects, guest speakers, all those fun things  for the 2018-2019 school year. You can donate now at givebigsthelena.org or wait until the Big day. Either way, give what you can, even if its not very much.

Speaking of our fine local schools, one of its dedicated employees is up for a major national award. Erica Madrigal, executive assistant at the district office, was nominated for the LifeChanger of the Year award sponsored by the National Life Group Foundation, which recognizes teachers and other school employees for making a difference in the lives of students by exemplifying excellence, positive influence and leadership. According to Superintendent Marylou Wilson, Ericas intuition is astounding. She regularly knows what to do, when to do it, and how to get it done with little prompting or direction. As the superintendent, you can imagine the value I find in this characteristic she brings to work with her every day. I depend on her, find great joy in working with her, and appreciate her skills, professionalism, and ability to see even when the path is not clear. The winners will be announced within the next few months. Were pulling for you, Erica!
Hot FLIRT with NORIS temperature sensors

FLIRT Greater Anglia  Stadler Rail AG

As early as in August 2016, the British railway company Abellio East Anglia Ltd. ordered besides trains from Bombardier the electric multiple unit railcar FLIRT from Stadler Rail as successor for the renewal of their fleet. The trains will run between London and Norwich, on the airport lines of Stansted Express from Liverpool railway station to Stansted and on the important regional lines in East Anglia.The project involves fourteen three-part and twenty-four four-part class 755 trains as well as twenty twelve-part class 745 trains. In December 2017, NORIS won the Stadler Rail contract for this project for the delivery of 312 temperature sensors. This comprises a flange sensor with Pt100 measurement element, equipped with a special protective tubing. Due to their robust construction, these sensors are preferably used in regional and intercity trains (high-speed trains). They are installed at the FLIRTS bogie for measuring the gearbox bearing temperatures.For the past 90 years the name NORIS has been associated with innovative measuring and automation technology "Made in Germany"  from speed sensors, temperature sensors, indicators (gauges) up to complete packages such as ship automation systems, propulsion control systems and alarm, monitoring and control systems.NORIS Group GmbHMr. Dominik HinneyMuggenhofer Str. 9590429 NurembergTel.: +49 911 32010Fax.: +49 911 3201 150
Feb 20, 2018: Cathode Active Materials Market Analysis 2018-2025 Umicore, Shanshan, Easpring

Cathode Active Materials Market 2018

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A market study "Global Cathode Active Materials Market" examines the performance of the Cathode Active Materials market 2018. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Cathode Active Materials market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Cathode Active Materials market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Cathode Active Materials Market 2018 report includes Cathode Active Materials market Revenue, market Share, Cathode Active Materials industry volume, market Trends, Cathode Active Materials Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Cathode Active Materials Price during the Forecast period from 2018 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Cathode Active Materials Market 2018 :1. Umicore2. Shanshan3. Easpring4. MGL5. BM6. Reshine7. Jinhe Share8. Tianjiao Technology9. Xiamen Tungsten10. ANYUN11. STL12. LG Chemical13. Toda Kogyo14. SMM Group15. MITSUI KINZOKU16. L&F17. 3MCathode Active Materials Market : By ApplicationBatteryCathode Active Materials Market : By TypeNCANMCLFPLMOLCOFirstly, the report covers the top Cathode Active Materials manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Cathode Active Materials report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Cathode Active Materials industry, Cathode Active Materials industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Cathode Active Materials Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Cathode Active Materials research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Cathode Active Materials market revenue worldwide.Finally, Cathode Active Materials market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Usqyresearchstore.com is a leading market intelligence team which making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact US:5001 Spring Valley Rd #400,Dallas,TX 75244, USAContact No. +1-214-661-1669Email: sales@qyresearchstore.com
Feb 20, 2018: Cold Welding Dies Market Analysis 2018-2025 PWM, BWE, STRECKER, Huestis Industrial

Cold Welding Dies Market Report 2018

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A market study "Global Cold Welding Dies Market" examines the performance of the Cold Welding Dies market 2018. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Cold Welding Dies market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Cold Welding Dies market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Cold Welding Dies Market 2018 report includes Cold Welding Dies market Revenue, market Share, Cold Welding Dies industry volume, market Trends, Cold Welding Dies Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Cold Welding Dies Price during the Forecast period from 2018 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Cold Welding Dies Market 2018 :1. PWM2. BWE3. STRECKER4. Huestis Industrial5. Flashweld Industries6. Dongguan Sanhe7. SGT8. MOOJIN SERVICE9. Lapp GmbH10. Yantai Vayu11. Amaral Automation12. TSU SUN ENGINEERING13. O.M.I.S.A.14. Shanghai Shengzao15. Shanghai YinGong16. Shanghai ShenchenCold Welding Dies Market : By ApplicationEquipment Manufacturing IndustryAutomobile IndustryCold Welding Dies Market : By TypeSiliconePlasticFirstly, the report covers the top Cold Welding Dies manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Cold Welding Dies report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Cold Welding Dies industry, Cold Welding Dies industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Cold Welding Dies Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Cold Welding Dies research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Cold Welding Dies market revenue worldwide.Finally, Cold Welding Dies market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Usqyresearchstore.com is a leading market intelligence team which making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact US:5001 Spring Valley Rd #400,Dallas,TX 75244, USAContact No. +1-214-661-1669Email: sales@qyresearchstore.com
Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding Market 2018: Major Key vendors are B. Braun Melsungen AG (Germany), Hologic Inc. (U.S.), Karl Storz Gmbh & Co. KG (Germany), etc.

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Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding Market Region Wise surveying Report is added on Marketresearchfuture.com with110 pages. Global Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.2% during the forecast period of 2018 to 2023. By Type (Ovulatory), By Diagnosis (Hysteroscopy, Ultrasonography), By Treatment (Pharmacologic Treatment, Hysterectomy, Endometrial Ablation), By End User (Diagnostic Centers) - Global Forecast Till 2023Market Highlights:According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, dysfunctional uterine bleeding is most common during puberty and menopause. It can also can occur at any time in women due to hormonal imbalance. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, uterine polyps, uterine fibroids, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDS) are common causes of dysfunctional uterine bleeding. It can be diagnosed by performing an endometrial biopsy or blood tests.The rising prevalence of uterine disorders such as endometrial cancer among women, availability of reliable diagnostic tests, and overall demand for new treatment for uterine bleeding drive the market growth. Increasing number of awareness drives and campaigns regarding cancer among women further influence the market growth. The global dysfunctional uterine bleeding market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.2% during the forecast period.Get Discount on Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding Market Report @Major Players in Dysfunctional uterine bleeding Market:Some of the key players in the global market are B. Braun Melsungen AG (Germany), Hologic Inc. (U.S.), Karl Storz Gmbh & Co. KG (Germany), Medgyn Products, Inc., Olympus (Japan), Richard Wolf GmbH (Germany), Stryker (U.S.), Xion Medical GmbH (Germany), Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (India), Torrent Phamraceuticals (India).Regional Analysis:America is the largest market for dysfunctional uterine bleeding market owing to the rising prevalence of uterine cancer and other uterine disorders among women. According to the American Cancer Institute, about 61,380 new cases of uterine cancer will be diagnosed in 2017 and 8% of the urine cancers are sarcomas.Europe is the second largest market owing to an increasing demand for diagnosis and treatment measures for uterine cancer, fibroids and other disorder, and increasing emphasis on women healthcare. Additionally, availability of funds for research and development activities accelerates the market growth in the European countries.The market in Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest pace and is driven by the increasing prevalence of menstrual disorders, and sexually transmitted diseases (STI) among women in developing nations. Furthermore, increasing awareness about STI and preventive measures to be taken also influences the market growth.The Middle East & Africa also show a steady rise in the market owing to increasing focus on women and child health, and need of primary care services in developing regions.Get Sample copy of Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding Market Report@Segmentation:The global dysfunctional uterine bleeding market is segmented on the basis of type, diagnosis, treatment, and end user. On the basis of type, market is segmented into ovulatory, and anovulatory. On the basis of diagnosis, the market is segmented into hysteroscopy, ultrasonography, dilation and curettage, endometrial biopsy, and others.On the basis of treatment, the market is segmented into pharmacologic treatment, hysterectomy, endometrial ablation, and others. The pharmacologic treatment includes oral contraceptives, estrogen, progestins, desmopressin and others. On the basis of end user, the market is segmented into hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centers, pharmaceutical companies, and others.1. Report Prologue2. Market Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope Of the Study2.2.1 Research Objective2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 Limitations3. Research Methodology3.1 Introduction3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Size Estimation4. Market Dynamics4.1 Drivers4.2 Restrains4.3 Opportunities4.4 Challenges4.5 Macroeconomic Indicators4.6 Technology Trends & Assessment5. Market Factor Analysis5.1 Porters Five Forces Analysis5.1.1 Bargaining Power Of Suppliers5.1.2 Bargaining Power Of Buyers5.1.3 Threat Of New Entrants5.1.4 Threat Of Substitutes5.1.5 Intensity Of Rivalry5.2 Value Chain Analysis5.3 Investment Feasibility Analysis5.4 Pricing Analysis and more.Browse Full Report and in-depth TOC @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.ContactMarket Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune  411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Feb 20, 2018: Bus Turbocharger Market Analysis 2018-2025 Honeywell, BorgWarner, MHI, IHI

Bus Turbocharger Market Report 2018

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A market study "Global Bus Turbocharger Market" examines the performance of the Bus Turbocharger market 2018. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Bus Turbocharger market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Bus Turbocharger market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Bus Turbocharger Market 2018 report includes Bus Turbocharger market Revenue, market Share, Bus Turbocharger industry volume, market Trends, Bus Turbocharger Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Bus Turbocharger Price during the Forecast period from 2018 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Bus Turbocharger Market 2018 :1. Honeywell2. BorgWarner3. MHI4. IHI5. Cummins6. Bosch Mahle7. Continental8. Hunan Tyen9. Weifu Tianli10. Kangyue11. Weifang Fuyuan12. Shenlong13. Okiya Group14. Zhejiang Rongfa15. Hunan RugidoveBus Turbocharger Market : By ApplicationOEMAftermarketBus Turbocharger Market : By TypeMono TurboTwin TurboFirstly, the report covers the top Bus Turbocharger manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Bus Turbocharger report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Bus Turbocharger industry, Bus Turbocharger industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Bus Turbocharger Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Bus Turbocharger research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Bus Turbocharger market revenue worldwide.Finally, Bus Turbocharger market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Usqyresearchstore.com is a leading market intelligence team which making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact US:5001 Spring Valley Rd #400,Dallas,TX 75244, USAContact No. +1-214-661-1669Email: sales@qyresearchstore.com
Radiodermatitis Market Key Players  Daiichi Sankyo Co Ltd, FirstString Research Inc and Foresee Pharmaceuticals LLC Analysis & Forecast 2017 to 2022

Radiodermatitis

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RadiodermatitisOverviewRadiodermatitis is an inflammation of the skin caused by radiation. Several factors can be attributed to the varying response of patients' skin to radiation therapy such as treatment-related factors such as individual fraction size, type of energy, and the use of bolus doses can impact skin reactions.Host factors also may play a role in the development of radiodermatitis; they include genetic factors, personal factors, existing skin integrity issues, comorbid conditions, nutritional status, age, race and ethnicity, medications, sun exposure, smoking, and mobility.Click here for sample report @Top Companies mentionedDaiichi Sankyo Co LtdFirstString Research IncForesee Pharmaceuticals LLCSK Chemicals Co LtdviDA Therapeutics IncRadiodermatitis Industry Major OutlookPharmaceutical and Healthcare latest pipeline guide Radiodermatitis - Pipeline Review, H1 2018, provides comprehensive information on the therapeutics under development for Radiodermatitis , complete with analysis by stage of development, drug target, mechanism of action (MoA), route of administration (RoA) and molecule type. The guide covers the descriptive pharmacological action of the therapeutics, its complete research and development history and latest news and press releases.The Radiodermatitis (Toxicology) pipeline guide also reviews of key players involved in therapeutic development for Radiodermatitis and features dormant and discontinued projects. The guide covers therapeutics under Development by Companies /Universities /Institutes, the molecules developed by Companies in Phase II, Phase I and Preclinical stages are 1, 1 and 5 respectively. Similarly, the Universities portfolio in Preclinical stages comprises 1 molecules, respectively.Radiodermatitis pipeline guide helps in identifying and tracking emerging players in the market and their portfolios, enhances decision making capabilities and helps to create effective counter strategies to gain competitive advantage.Radiodermatitis - Competitive AnalysisKey players are making innovative developments in Radiodermatitis industry. The same will help in improving the market performance. Heavy investments are made by major players in the R&D sectorScopeThe pipeline guide provides a snapshot of the global therapeutic landscape of Radiodermatitis.The pipeline guide reviews pipeline therapeutics for Radiodermatitis by companies and universities/research institutes based on information derived from company and industry-specific sources.The pipeline guide covers pipeline products based on several stages of development ranging from pre-registration till discovery and undisclosed stages.The pipeline guide features descriptive drug profiles for the pipeline products which comprise, product description, descriptive licensing and collaboration details, R&D brief, MoA & other developmental activities.The pipeline guide reviews key companies involved in Radiodermatitis therapeutics and enlists all their major and minor projects.The pipeline guide evaluates Radiodermatitis therapeutics based on mechanism of action (MoA), drug target, route of administration (RoA) and molecule type.The pipeline guide encapsulates all the dormant and discontinued pipeline projects.The pipeline guide reviews latest news related to pipeline therapeutics for Radiodermatitis..ContinuedFor Detailed Reading Please visit @Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available. We also provide COTS (Commercial off the Shelf) business sector reports as custom exploration agreeing your particular needs.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Feb 20, 2018: Clinical Chemistry Analyzer Systems Market Analysis 2018-2025 Roche, Beckman, Abbott

Clinical Chemistry Analyzer Systems Market 2018

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A market study "Global Clinical Chemistry Analyzer Systems Market" examines the performance of the Clinical Chemistry Analyzer Systems market 2018. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Clinical Chemistry Analyzer Systems market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Clinical Chemistry Analyzer Systems market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Clinical Chemistry Analyzer Systems Market 2018 report includes Clinical Chemistry Analyzer Systems market Revenue, market Share, Clinical Chemistry Analyzer Systems industry volume, market Trends, Clinical Chemistry Analyzer Systems Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Clinical Chemistry Analyzer Systems Price during the Forecast period from 2018 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Clinical Chemistry Analyzer Systems Market 2018 :1. Roche2. Beckman3. Abbott4. Siemens5. Ortho-Clinical6. Thermo Fisher7. Randox Laboratories Ltd.8. Elitechgroup9. Mindray10. HoribaClinical Chemistry Analyzer Systems Market : By ApplicationAcademic Research InstitutesDiagnostics LaboratoriesHospitalsClinical Chemistry Analyzer Systems Market : By TypeSmall (400-800 Test/H)Medium (800-1200 Tests/H)Large (1200-2000 Tests/H)Very Large (2000 Tests/H)Firstly, the report covers the top Clinical Chemistry Analyzer Systems manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Clinical Chemistry Analyzer Systems report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Clinical Chemistry Analyzer Systems industry, Clinical Chemistry Analyzer Systems industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Clinical Chemistry Analyzer Systems Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Clinical Chemistry Analyzer Systems research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Clinical Chemistry Analyzer Systems market revenue worldwide.Finally, Clinical Chemistry Analyzer Systems market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Usqyresearchstore.com is a leading market intelligence team which making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact US:5001 Spring Valley Rd #400,Dallas,TX 75244, USAContact No. +1-214-661-1669Email: sales@qyresearchstore.com
Global Blood Collection Market Research and Analysis, 2015-2021

https://www.omrglobal.com/industry-reports/blood-collection-market/

Blood Collection Market, Size, Share, Market Intelligence, Company Profiles, Market Trends, Strategy, Research Report, Analysis, Forecast 2015-2021BLOOD COLLECTION MARKET INSIGHTS:The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.3% from 2016-2021, owing to increasing number of patients with chronic diseases that lead to higher number of surgeries. Rising cases of accidents are also responsible for growth of blood collection market. However, risks of acquiring infections due to unhygienic blood transfusion process and stringent regulatory scenario are expected to dampen market growth during the forecasted period. Implementation of innovative techniques such as RFID in blood transfusion and storage processes present great opportunities for the market to grow during the forecasted period.For More Info:North America dominates the market due to increasing incidences of contagious diseases and lifestyle induced diseases. Sophisticated healthcare infrastructure and rapid adoption of advanced technologies are some of the major factors fuelling market growth in this region. However, APAC is expected to be the fastest growing market owing to increasing rate of disease prevalence that leads to rise in blood inventory management. Economic development of countries such as China, India, Japan and South Korea also contribute in rising healthcare expenditure, thus boosting the market.The key players in the global Blood Collection market profiled in this report include Becton, Dickinson and Company, Abbott Laboratories, Nipro Medical Corporation, Terumo Corporation,Argon, Covidien, Cr Bard, Ecolab, FL Medical, Greiner Holding Ag, Haemonetics Corporation, Medtronic, Qiagen and Sarstedt Ag & Co.The market is segmented by product, applications, end users and geography. The market segmentation on the basis of product include blood collection needles and syringes, blood collection tubes, blood lancets, blood bags, vials, and other blood collection equipments . On the basis of applications, the market is segregated into infectious and non infectious diseases diagnostics. Segmentation on the basis of end users include hospitals, diagnostic centers and laboratories, blood banks and others. The market is segmented on the basis of geography which includes North America, Europe, APAC and RoW.OMR REPORT COVERS:Comprehensive research methodology of global Blood collection market.In-depth analysis of macro and micro factors influencing the market guided by key recommendations.Analysis of regional regulations and other government policies impacting the global Blood collection market.Insights about market determinants which are stimulating the global Blood collection market.Detailed and extensive market segments with regional distribution of forecasted revenuesExtensive profiles and recent developments of market playersOrion Market Research (OMR) is an Indian research company known for its crisp and concise reports.The company is equipped with an experienced team and young brigade of analysts. The company provides quality syndicated research reports, customized research reports, company profiling, consulting and other research-based services. OMR provide global and regional market reports of various domains such as healthcare, energy, IT, chemicals, and automobiles. The company provides a 360-degree view of the market with parametric analysis, key market insights, key findings, statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, extensive segmentation, key trends, strategic recommendations and detailed company profiles.CORPORATE OFFICE:Orion Market Research Pvt Ltd116, Shagun ArcadeVijay Nagar SquareIndore, Madhya Pradesh  India- 452010Email: info@omrglobal.com, support@omrglobal.comIndia: +91-780-304-0404Global: +1-646-755-7667
Pharmaceutical Isolator Market 2018: Major Key vendors are Gelman Singapore, COMECER S.p.A. cf. p.Iva, IsoTech Design, LAF Technologies Pty Ltd, etc.

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Pharmaceutical Isolator Market Region Wise surveying Report is added on Marketresearchfuture.com with110 pages. Global Pharmaceutical Isolator market is projected to grow at a CAGR of ~ 8.1 % during the forecast period 2017-2023. By Type (Aseptic Isolators, Containment Isolators, others), System (Closed Systems, Open Systems), Pressure Differential (Positive, Negative), End-User (Hospitals & Diagnostics Labs) - Global Forecast till 2023Market Scenario:An isolator is an equipment designed to avoid contamination. Isolators are either open or closed. Open isolators allow for ingress or egress of materials while affording a level of protection from the external environment and thus protect products while allowing materials to enter and exit the workspace. Closed isolators, enable complete separation between the internal and external environment except for filtered air and they offer full protection to the substance being handled. Aseptic isolators differ from containment isolators on account of air pressure. Aseptic isolators use positive pressure to keep contamination out, while containment isolator applies negative pressure to keep contamination out of the workspace.Isolators are commonly found in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry and are widely used for pharmacy aseptic compounding applications.Get Discount on Pharmaceutical Isolator Market Report @The market drivers for global pharmaceutical isolator market are rising demand due to the growing pharmaceutical and biotechnological industry, increasing regulations and cost of noncompliance, expanding the use of aseptic methods, rising bio labs, growing used of toxic and hazardous materials, advancements in isolator efficiency, and technology. However, the high cost of the isolators, high maintenance, the high cost of operation, the weak regulatory framework in developing regions and lack of inspection, increasing specifications, and stringency of quality control checks disease may hamper the growth of the market over the review period.Key Players in the Global Pharmaceutical isolator Market:Some of the key players profiled in the report are Gelman Singapore, COMECER S.p.A. cf. p.Iva, IsoTech Design, LAF Technologies Pty Ltd, Fedegari Autoclavi S.p.A, Hosokawa Micron Ltd., Bosch GmbH, MBRAUN, Chamunda Pharma Machinery Pvt. Ltd., Schematic Engineering Industries, NuAire, Inc., and others.Get Sample copy of Pharmaceutical Isolator Market Report@Region wise Analysis:The Americas account for a significant market share owing to high expenditure on the health care. Additionally, the fastest uptake of advanced healthcare products in the U.S. drives the pharmaceutical isolator market. The high concentration of the major healthcare companies, biotech labs and hospitals in the developed countries of this region coupled with stringent regulatory and inspection is adding fuel to the market growth. Moreover, high inspection rate and the growing stringency of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspections has fueled the U.S. market.Europe is the second largest market in the world due to growing the pharmaceutical and industrial base. Countries such as Germany and France lead the European market growth. Germany is expected to be the fastest growing market over the assessment period. The active pharmaceutical industry in Germany is a strong driver behind the dominance of this country in Europe. The ever increasing research and development expenditures of the developed regions have stimulated the market for isolators in these regions.Asia Pacific region is expected to grow rapidly; China and India are likely to lead this market due to the fast-growing pharmaceutical sector and large unmet needs over the forecast period. South East Asian countries such as China, India, and Malaysia are projected to contribute highly to the market growth. The growing penetration of medical devices industry in the Asia Pacific region is expected to drive the future pharmaceutical isolator market in the region.Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE are estimated to drive the Middle East & African market. Other Middle East nations to watch out for are Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, and Iran. The African region is expected to witness a moderate growth owing to poor economic and political conditions, and poor healthcare development. The poor research and development in the Middle East and African region have restricted the growth of the pharmaceutical isolators market.List of Figures:FIGURE 1 RESEARCH PROCESSFIGURE 2 MARKET DYNAMICS FOR GLOBAL PHARMACEUTICAL ISOLATOR MARKETFIGURE 3 GLOBAL PHARMACEUTICAL ISOLATOR MAKRET, BY SEGMENT, 2016FIGURE 4 GLOBAL PHARMACEUTICAL ISOLATOR SUCCESS MARKET, BY REGIONFIGURE 5 GLOBAL PHARMACEUTICAL ISOLATOR MARKET SHARE, BY TYPE 2016FIGURE 6 GLOBAL PHARMACEUTICAL ISOLATOR MARKET SHARE, BY SYSTEM 2016FIGURE 7 GLOBAL PHARMACEUTICAL ISOLATOR MARKET SHARE, BY PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL 2016FIGURE 8 GLOBAL PHARMACEUTICAL ISOLATOR MARKET SHARE, BY END USER, 2016FIGURE 9 GLOBAL PHARMACEUTICAL ISOLATOR MARKET SHARE, 2016FIGURE 10 GLOBAL PHARMACEUTICAL ISOLATOR MARKET SHARE, BY REGION, 2016 and more.Browse Full Report Details and in-depth TOC @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.ContactMarket Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune  411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
A new exhibit at the Michael C. Carlos Museum unites artwork and classwork in a hands-on way, allowing Emory students to curate a first-of-its-kind show about the Ramayana in Indian painting. The students presented their work at an event Jan. 23. Emory Photo/Video

Tell the Whole Story, from Beginning to End: The Ramayana in Indian Painting Through May 20, 2018 Michael C. Carlos Museum The Ramayana is the most celebrated epic poem in South and Southeast Asia. It tells the journey of Prince Rama, from his banishment from the kingdom of Ayodhya to his triumphant return. Denied the throne on the eve of his coronation, Rama finds himself exiled to the forest for 14 years, accompanied by his devoted wife and brother, Sita and Lakshmana. After Sita is abducted by Ravana, a demon king, Rama wages war to ensure her rescue, aided by his faithful friend Hanuman and armies of monkeys and bears.

Throughout South and Southeast Asia, the ancient Indian poem the Ramayana is revered as a cultural touchstone, a classical narrative interpreted and re-told in a myriad of forms, from fine art and film to comic books and modern advertising.

It tells a sweeping and heroic tale of the exiled Prince Rama, who struggles to rescue his wife, kidnapped by a demon, and his triumphant victory. Beyond a mere story, it presents Hindu teachings that continue to influence life and culture.

Knowing that the historic epic is considered a staple of modern religious studies, Elizabeth Hornor, Ingram Director of Education at Emorys Michael C. Carlos Museum, saw within it an opportunity to unite artwork and classwork in a hands-on way that not only engaged students, but invited them to actually curate an art exhibition.

The challenge: Using the Carlos Museums growing collection of South Asian art, which includes paintings depicting scenes from the Ramayana, why not invite students to study the poem through both text and the museums images?

The result is Tell the Whole Story, from Beginning to End: The Ramayana in Indian Painting, a first-of-its-kind art exhibit that was researched, curated and organized exclusively by Emory students. It is now open in the museums Works on Paper gallery.

In addition to studying the poem, students researched individual paintings from the Carlos collection. Students explored how the works fit into the poems overall narrative, learned about conservation issues, designed the gallery space down to the color of the picture frames, and wrote informational labels for each selection.

The resulting exhibit was two years in the making, said Hornor, speaking at Jan. 23 event that invited Emory students to introduce the paintings and share research gathered during The Art of the Hindu Epic, a course offered last semester by Ellen Gough and Marko Geslani, both assistant professors of religion in Emorys Department of Religion.

This exhibit begins with Elizabeth Hornor; it really is her brainchild, says Geslani. In some ways, it marks a new generation of engagement between the Carlos Museum and the Department of Religion. It was a chance to approach these materials from a new angle.

Learning about art, religious traditions

While Emory students have been involved with past exhibits at the Carlos Museum  Hornor is always trying to find ways to connect them to collections  this project sought to use the paintings to provide a new lens on an ancient text.

Many of our courses in religious studies focus on texts and use visual and material culture only as supplementary evidence, says Gough. With this course, we often let the paintings lead us to the text, allowing us to read the Ramayana in a way very different from typical courses on the epic.

It allowed students to engage in a different way, she adds. Some came in wanting to know more about a religious tradition. Others were interested in art history. But everyone found an opportunity to go behind the curtain and see what it takes to translate knowledge to the real world.

And the timing couldnt have been better. Hornor saw within the project the perfect intersection of philanthropic, research and curricular interests.

In recent years, donors Jay Patel and his family and Pyush and Harshna Patel had emerged as avid supporters of the museums collection of South Asian art. Guided by Director Bonnie Speed and Joyce Flueckiger, director of the Laney Graduate Schools Graduate Division of Religion, they had helped purchase Indian paintings that supported two areas of teaching in South Asian religions  scenes from the Ramayana and avatars of the Hindu god Vishnu.

With that in mind, Hornor approached Gough and Geslani with a proposal: Would they integrate the collection into their coursework? The faculty members, whove known each other since attending graduate school together at Yale University, were intrigued.

It brought us into the broader cultural life of the text as a thing thats constantly being reinterpreted, reflects Geslani.

With grants from the E. Rhodes and Lenora B. Carpenter Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, art historians were brought to campus to help students better understand the paintings.

In class sessions, the scholars helped the students explore the artwork in the larger context of Indian painting traditions and shared their own experiences curating Ramayana exhibitions. The scholars also gave public lectures, continuing conversation over dinners with students, faculty and museum staff and patrons.

Carlos Museum staff also offered their expertise. Students met with paper conservator Elizabeth Schulte and Carlos Chief Conservator Renee Stein, who introduced them to materials and techniques used to create the paintings and display issues, such as matting, framing and appropriate light levels.

Working with Joe Gargasz, director of exhibition design, students learned how to lay out the show in a computer-simulated gallery and select graphic treatments, paint colors and framing materials. They even decided how paintings would be arranged and selected a title for the show.

Each student chose a painting to study and really became the expert on it, Hornor says. And it was a wonderful opportunity for students to be in charge of something, see their hard work become something tangible.

De facto museum docents

Most of the students in the class had little background in art history. Majors ranged from business and religion to anthropology and human biology.

But all rose to the challenge of creating an exhibit. And last month, they became de facto museum docents, speaking before a small crowd about their experience with the paintings.

Each student discussed physical , historical and cultural nuances of the paintings  how images were arranged, how the narrative moved through them, the symbolism of objects depicted and artistic styles.

This has been an eye-opening and amazing experience, says Saayli Kokitkar, a junior majoring in anthropology, human biology and religion. I didnt have any background in art history, but I grew up with these stories. Now, I have a very different perspective of them.

Though the class marked his first brush with art history, Thomas Shen found himself speaking with ease about the symbolism within his painting, noting details such as how members of a royal family were depicted with the brightest colors and real gold leaf.

For all of us, this took a lot of courage and confidence, said Shen, a junior majoring in religion and German studies. We started with different opinions and ideas, but found a mutual way forward to create a museum exhibit, which has been amazing.

Even though senior Darby Caso is an art history major, her focus has been on modern art. Though she never imagined herself helping create a museum exhibit while still in college, its something Ive absolutely loved about this course, Caso said.

Admission to the Carlos Museum is free to Emory students, faculty and staff. For more information about museum hours and admission, visit here.
From the ashes of Shattered Dreams, Rises Phoenix of Hope - Banasthali Corona truly Extra High Voltage

From the ashes of Shattered Dreams, Rises Phoenix of Hope - Banasthali Corona truly Extra High Voltage

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Team corona organized its annual technical fest Phoenix 2018 from 11th-13th February, 2018 wherein it conducted various events for the BTech students to participate. The 3-day fest had multitude of participation from the enthusiastic students in each of the stage events, submission events or branch specific events. The primary attraction of this year has been the stalls and the cultural gala night, both of them being so engaging.On 11th February, 2018, Corona conducted Socratic Sircle, the MUN event where students who were selected from a group discussion session had a heated up discussion on why the next Silicon Valley should be created in a country they were assigned to be the delegate of. They put forward notable facts and figures of the related country in front of the audience and put forth strong arguments while attacking the other countries. Also, the periodical news updates from the Global News added more thrill to the event. Ojaswita Negi B Tech CS First year stood as the winner and Aishwarya Anand BTech EI Third year as the runner up of the event. It concluded with some precious suggestions given by the esteemed judges and the audience. With being informative, the event proved to be interactive, too.On 12th February 2018, Team Corona held its presentation event, Turning Pages where the participants presented their own theories of the abruptly ended cases and gave a conclusion on how the mystery possibly ended. The creativity level presented enthralled the judges and aroused curiosity in the audience and invited questions from them making the event successfully informative and interactive. Sahiba Tyagi and Sakshi Sharma BTech CS Third year bagged the first prize and Suchita Mantri and Stuti Saxena BTech CS First year were the runners up.The event ended on a note that creativity knows no bounds and that the cravings of a human can never end. Prof. B. R. Natarajan, HoD Chemical Department expressed his interest towards the event by singing Corona Jaan Kar Tum To Mera Dil Jod Jate Ho and shared with the audience various interesting details.Team Corona also conducted a few submission events, side by side, to bring forth the hidden talents of the students in the form of art or writing in Dohavali, Kalakriti, Colossus, Oh-Snap!, Gadget roast and What Do You Meme? The number of entries had been overwhelming and proved that engineers are not mugging Ratta maar machines but also a repository of creativity. Moreover, stalls with luscious stuffs like rolls, burger, street food, footwear attracted students and even faculties from the universities. The fascination for Waffles and Bakery stall revealed the foodie side of every one.The last day of the fest was hectic and efficacious, too. The first half of the day occupied the finalists of branch specific events-Code.io.File (CS/IT), R.N.A- React.Nurture.Arise (BT/CE) and Olectra (EE/EC/EI/MT) where they applied their technical knowledge of their respective fields and experienced fun along. The winners for the events were Swati Chopra and Srishti Agarwal BTech CS Third year; Shotorupa Ghosh BTech BT First year, Varnika Singh BTech CE Second year, Priyanka Anand BTech BT Third year; Kirti Kushwaha BTech EC Third year, Ina Singh BTech EC Second year, Jyoti Rawat BTech CS First year for the respective branch specific events.The next half was embellished with the excitement of Tale-A-Spectacular. The air was filled with much exhilaration and zest. The participants with their costumes on and practice done performed so well on stage that Prof. Sarla Pareek, Dean, AIM & ACT, grew emotional with every act while judging. The auditorium filled with the audience cheered the performances at the top of their voices and enjoyed themselves to the fullest. The environment inside the Audi mesmerized everyone present. Team Taciturners BTech Third year took away the event and stood First among all the performances, while The Black Illuminators were declared as the runner up. The final day ended with Team Corona extending thanks to everyone who has been a part of the event, directly or indirectly.When the Phoneix celebrations ended, the students and faculty who had come for the function left with beaming faces and pride that they were indeed part of an institution which is a jewel in the crown among the womens universities not only in India today but across the globe.For more details about Banasthali seeAbout Banasthali: The Institution which is also the largest fully residential womens university in the world has played a big role in revolutionizing womens education in the country for the last eight decades with a belief that there is a tremendous role of higher education in empowering the women. Banasthali has scripted numerous success stories in a wide range of fields, and stands tall among the citadels of learning in India today. Team Banasthali with Vice Chancellor J C Bose Memorial Award for eminent scientist recipient Prof Aditya Shastri a highly acclaimed alumnus of BITS Pilani, SUNY State University of New York Stony Brook and MIT USA is indeed racing forward to be the very best among global women universities. Matter of pride that NITI Aayog has selected Banasthali along with ISB CCMB in Top 10 to host Atal Incubation Centre. Proud to be Banasthali alumni who call themselves as Banasthalites can be found in all latitudes, longitudes and altitudes in all walks of life across the globe.Banasthali UniversityP.O. Banasthali VidyapithRajasthan  304022Phone 91 1438 228456 / 228341Email: info@banasthali.ac.inWebsite:Facebook:
Efficiency Redefined - Busch introduces its new vacuum concept at Anuga Foodtec

Centralized vacuum system with efficient, demand-driven control system from Busch

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Busch Vacuum Pumps and Systems set itself the task of making the design of its vacuum pumps and systems even more efficient, and has therefore developed the new vacuum concept '5 Elements of Efficiency'. This concept addresses five elements which have a major impact on the process stability, availability and process performance of a vacuum system.Optimizing the efficiency of vacuum applications can yield considerable cost savings. It is therefore worth analyzing vacuum technology in its entirety. Selecting the right components for your vacuum technology is important. However, it is not the only factor which is crucial for determining the efficiency of a vacuum system. Even the best technology cannot reach its true potential when it is not optimally tailored to the process and process requirements. Vacuum components should therefore always be selected based on consideration of the individual process requirements and not only by simply comparing the performance data of the separate components.The new 5E concept from Busch takes all these elements into account. 5E stands for the five key elements which determine the efficiency of vacuum processes: design, heat recovery, control, centralization and competence.The design and quality of the vacuum pumps are crucial for performance, efficiency and life cycle costs. Furthermore, kinetic energy is converted into heat when the vacuum pumps are operated. A heat recovery system enables this thermal energy to be used. In order for vacuum systems to obtain optimal process stability and production performance, it is vital to adapt the control system to the production process. Additional savings can be made by centralizing the vacuum system. This kind of system offers the potential for energy efficiency to be increased and operating costs to be decreased. The optimized interaction of all these elements, along with expertise and years of experience, ensures the highest level of efficiency for the operation of vacuum systems.At its stand at the trade show, Busch will be showcasing examples of how this concept can be implemented, and will demonstrate how the five elements can help to find the most cost-efficient solution for your vacuum technology.Learn more about the new vacuum concept for energy efficiency from Busch in hall 8.1, booth B088.About Busch:Busch Vacuum Pumps and Systems is one of the worlds largest producers of vacuum pumps, vacuum systems, blowers and compressors.Its extensive product portfolio comprises solutions for vacuum and overpressure applications in all industries, including the chemical, semiconductor, medical technology, plastics, and food sectors. It also covers the design and construction of customized vacuum systems, as well as a global service network.The Busch group is a family-owned company and is still managed by the Busch family. Busch Vacuum Pumps and Systems has 3,000 employees in more than 60 companies in over 40 countries worldwide. Busch is headquartered in Maulburg, in southwest Germany. This is the location of Busch SE headquarters, as well as the German production facility and German sales company. In addition to Maulburg, Busch also has its own production plants in Switzerland, the UK, Czech Republic, Korea and the USA.History:Busch Vacuum Pumps and Systems was founded by Dr.-Ing. Karl Busch and his wife Ayhan Busch in 1963. Dr.-Ing. Karl Busch developed the Huckepack, which was the first vacuum pump that could be used for vacuum packaging of foodstuffs. The follow-up product, the compact R 5 rotary vane vacuum pump, revolutionized food packaging. A further milestone represented the development of the COBRA screw vacuum pump. In 1971 the international expansion of the Busch group started with the founding of a sales company in the UK. The first production plant outside Germany was established in the USA in 1979.Contact:Busch Vacuum Pumps and SystemsSchauinslandstrae 179689 MaulburgTelephone: +49 (0) 7622 681 3376jasmin.markanic@busch.de
Pharmaceutical Filtration Market Expected to Grow at a CAGR of 6.1% During 2017 - 2022

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Active pharmaceutical ingredients are a key component of the pharmaceutical industry in the 21st century. Filters are essential in a number of cases during the course of API creation and are necessary in bioscience laboratory applications as well. An increased production of large biologics and molecules, nano fibre technological advancements, generic market growth, and regulatory guidelines for cleanroom pharmaceutical production are the main factors driving the pharmaceutical filtration market. Additional funds diverted towards R&D expenditure by major biopharmaceutical organizations also boost the profile of the pharmaceutical filtration market. According to Future Market Insights, the pharmaceutical filtration market is expected to record a robust CAGR of 6.1% for the period from 2017 to 2022.Manufacturing has the major portion of the revenue share in the pharmaceutical filtration market by operation in 2017 and is likely to remain so throughout the duration of the forecast period. The manufacturing segment is expected to cross a value of more than US$ 9.3 billion by end 2022 making it imperative for companies to be present in this operation segment of the pharmaceutical filtration market. The pilot scale segment follows at a considerable distance but cannot be overlooked entirely in favour of manufacturing. The pilot scale filtration segment has strong scope in North America as the continent represents a little over a third of the pharmaceutical filtration market and is estimated to retain this share going forwardRequest to Sample Report -The cell separation segment comprises slightly above a sixth of the pharmaceutical filtration market by application and is predicted to lose popularity in the future. Nonetheless, the North America cell separation market alone is on track to push past a billion dollars by end 2022 and companies are advised to take this into account while devising their business strategies. The water purification segment has a similar revenue share to the cell separation segment in the pharmaceutical filtration market by application. After North America, the water purification segment is particularly prominent in EuropeIn terms of technology, microfiltration is quite popular as it contributes nearly half the revenue share in the pharmaceutical filtration market in the year 2017. Furthermore, microfiltration is anticipated to witness a high CAGR of more than 5.5% for the period 2017-2022 ensuring that all key stakeholders have ample opportunity in this lucrative technology. Ultrafiltration is not as prominent as microfiltration in the pharmaceutical filtration market but is gaining traction recently. Ultrafiltration technology has the greatest scope in both North America and Europe as these two continents are projected to cross a billion dollars in terms of value by end 2022North America is the largest region in the pharmaceutical filtration market and is poised to grow to more than US$ 6 billion by end 2022The report has profiled a few of the companies in the pharmaceutical filtration market. These include The Marmon Group LLC, Sartorius Stedim Biotech, Meissner Filtration Products, Parker Hannifin Corporation, Pall Corporation, Merck KGaA, GE Healthcare Inc., Eaton Corporation Plc., Amazon Filters Ltd., and 3M Companies.Request Report TOC @ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite :
Human Identification Market to Expand at a CAGR of 6.0% Through 2017 - 2022

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The global market for human identification has been projected to register a CAGR of 6% throughout the forecast period 2017 to 2022, according to Future Market Insights (FMI) recently published report. The global human identification market is estimated to account for more than US$ 1,000 Mn revenues by 2022-end.Use of Skin Microbiome for Human Identification  A Major TrendOne of the major trends observed in the global human identification market is use of skin microbiome. Although this process is excessively time consuming, extending to approximately 3 years, it is anticipated to offer a preliminary market panel, creating opportunity for future development of a reproducible & robust technique for human identification. New product developments, and increasing M&A activities are other key trends being witnessed in the market. A key challenge for market players is price erosion in genomics services as well as instruments. Several molecular detection procedures for human identification are yet in their validation stage. However, few of them are available in the market, and are being implemented in several laboratories worldwide.The global human identification market has been experiencing a continuous launch of new & advanced products over the recent past. In addition, rapid DNA analysis has gained immense traction in improving the process of human identification. Leading companies in the human identification market are shifting their focus towards minimisation of cost & time required for DNA analysis. Several governments around the world are offering funds for R&D activities related to human identification technologies.Request to Sample Report -Forensic Investigation to Remain Dominant Modality of Human IdentificationOn the basis of modality, forensic investigation will retain its dominance in the global human identification market, with revenues estimated to surpass US$ 450 Mn by 2022-end. Paternity testing will also remain a lucrative modality of human identification, and will account for nearly one-fourth share of the market throughout the forecast period. In contrast, anthropology is expected to be the least lucrative modality of human identification.Based on end-users, research institutes will witness the fastest expansion in the global human identification market through 2022. Contract research organisations, on the other hand, will witness a relatively slower expansion than other end-users in the market through 2022. In addition, forensic laboratories and hospitals are projected to account for the largest revenue shares of the market during the forecast period.Increased Government Spending on Forensic Science to Drive the Market Growth in North AmericaCurrently, North America dominates the global market for human identification, and the trend is anticipated to continue over the forecast period. Growth of the market in North America can be highly attributed to increased government spending on forensic science, coupled with robust expansion of DNA database in the U.S. North America will witness the fastest expansion in the global human identification market through 2022. Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) will also register a significant CAGR in the market. This is mainly because of various government initiatives for increasing awareness about forensic technologies and their implementation in DNA analysis. China and India are expected to be the fastest growing markets for human identification in APEJ.Request Report TOC @By technique, dominance of polymerase chain reaction in the global human identification market is expected to remain unchallenged over the forecast period, followed by capillary electrophoresis. Next generation sequencing technique will register an impressive expansion through 2022, as it has the potential of being the ultimate platform of genotyping for human identification. In addition, rapid DNA analysis will continue to register the highest CAGR in the market through 2022.Company ProfilesKey players identified by FMIs report on the global human identification market include Promega Corporation, New England Biolabs Inc., LGC Limited, Roche Holding AG, IntegenX Inc., Flinn Scientific, Inc., QIAGEN N.V., Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., Merck & Co. Inc., General Electric Company, and Thermo Fischer Scientific, 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:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite :
DNA Polymerase Market Worth US$ 389.4 Mn by 2027

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Future Market Insights presents a detailed forecast and in-depth insights on the global DNA polymerase market in a new report titled DNA Polymerase Market: Global Industry Analysis (2012  2016) and Opportunity Assessment (2017  2027). According to the report, the global DNA polymerase market is anticipated to record a compounded annual growth rate of 6.5% and reach a market value of US$ 389.4 Mn in 2027.Factors Impacting Market Revenue GrowthStaggering increase in the use of DNA polymerases in point-of-care and molecular diagnostics kits is expected to continue to influence the adoption of DNA polymerases. Increasing use of DNA polymerases in epigenetics research, in addition to the increasing investments in life sciences R&D is also expected to boost revenue growth of the global market. However, high cost of reagents and availability of alternative techniques are expected to limit market growth over the forecast period.Global DNA Polymerase Market: Segmental Analysis & ForecastBy product type, growth of the eukaryotic DNA polymerase segment will be positively impacted by the introduction of various innovative products such as high-fidelity DNA polymerase that show excellent results in whole blood and other samples containing crude lysates. These products have been used in direct PCR applications, with limited sample processing, which have been a constant requirement especially for high throughput applications. In addition, the use of PCR-based technologies in point-of-care tests, companion diagnostics and other applications have led to a major boost for the DNA polymerase market. Manufacturers of DNA polymerases are entering into distribution agreements to extend product reach and collaborations to ensure they gain market share and remain competitive in global markets. Eukaryotic DNA polymerase segment is expected to hold the highest share of the market, as well as display strong growth, expanding at a CAGR of 6.7% over the forecast period. Among end use segments, molecular diagnostics companies are expected to hold the largest share of the global DNA polymerase market at over 31% market share in terms of revenue in 2027. However, the academic and research institutes segment is anticipated to expand at a robust growth rate of 7.4% over the forecast period.Request to Sample Report -Global DNA Polymerase Market: Regional Analysis & ForecastFMIs report segments the global DNA polymerase market on the basis of region into North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan, Japan, and the Middle East & Africa. This report assesses key trends driving each market segment and offers analysis and insights on the DNA polymerase market across specific regions. The market in North America is anticipated to dominate the global DNA polymerase market with maximum value share by end of 2027, accounting for over 56% in terms of revenue. In terms of value, the market in Latin America is expected to be the fastest growing, registering a CAGR of 7.8% over the forecast period. The market in Asia Pacific Excluding Japan is also expected to show a significant growth of 7.7% over the forecast period.Global DNA Polymerase Market: Vendor LandscapeSome of the key competitors covered in this report include Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc, Roche Diagnostics, Agilent Technologies, Qiagen NV, Takara Bio Company, Merck KGaA, Genscript, Illumina, New England Biolabs, and Promega Corporation. These vendors in the global DNA polymerase market are expanding their business by launching new and innovative products tailored for both research and in-vitro applications. Companies are also focussing on emerging markets in Asia Pacific to increase their geographical presence and tap into various end use segments that have the ability to invest in R&D for life sciences as well as develop innovative diagnostics toolsRequest Report TOC @ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite :
Organic Fruits And Vegetables Global Market Top Key Players  Dean Foods Co , Boulder Brands , White Wave Foods Company , Hain Celestial Group , General Mills and Forecast to 2022

Organic Fruits And Vegetables Market

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Global Organic Fruits And Vegetables MarketWiseGuyRerports.com Presents Global Organic Fruits And Vegetables Market Research Report 2017 New Document to its Studies Database. The Report Contain 119 Pages With Detailed Analysis.DescriptionGlobal Organic Fruits And Vegetables Market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingDean Foods CoBoulder BrandsWhite Wave Foods CompanyHain Celestial GroupGeneral MillsAmy's KitchenNature's Path FoodsNewman's OwnAlvarado Street BakeryBob's Red MillCedarlaneEden FoodsEqual ExchangeFrontier Natural Products: Simply OrganicLundberg Family FarmsNature's Path: Country Choice Organic, Enviro-KidzOrganic Valley: Organic PrairieGet sample Report @Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Organic Fruits And Vegetables in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoOrganic FruitsOrganic VegetablesOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate of Organic Fruits And Vegetables for each application, includingRetailFood ServiceFood Processing and OthersComplete Report Details @Table of Contents -Major Key PointsGlobal Organic Fruits And Vegetables Market Research Report 20171 Organic Fruits And Vegetables Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Organic Fruits And Vegetables1.2 Organic Fruits And Vegetables Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Organic Fruits And Vegetables Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category) (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Organic Fruits And Vegetables Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Organic Fruits1.2.4 Organic Vegetables1.3 Global Organic Fruits And Vegetables Segment by Application1.3.1 Organic Fruits And Vegetables Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Retail1.3.3 Food Service1.3.4 Food Processing and Others1.4 Global Organic Fruits And Vegetables Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Organic Fruits And Vegetables Market Size (Value) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 North America Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Europe Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 China Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Japan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 India Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Organic Fruits And Vegetables (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Organic Fruits And Vegetables Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Organic Fruits And Vegetables Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)7 Global Organic Fruits And Vegetables Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 Dean Foods Co7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Organic Fruits And Vegetables Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 Dean Foods Co Organic Fruits And Vegetables Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Boulder Brands7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Organic Fruits And Vegetables Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Boulder Brands Organic Fruits And Vegetables Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 White Wave Foods Company7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Organic Fruits And Vegetables Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 White Wave Foods Company Organic Fruits And Vegetables Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 Hain Celestial Group7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.4.2 Organic Fruits And Vegetables Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 Hain Celestial Group Organic Fruits And Vegetables Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 General Mills7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.5.2 Organic Fruits And Vegetables Product Category, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Product A7.5.2.2 Product B7.5.3 General Mills Organic Fruits And Vegetables Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.6 Amy's Kitchen7.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.6.2 Organic Fruits And Vegetables Product Category, Application and Specification7.6.2.1 Product A7.6.2.2 Product B7.6.3 Amy's Kitchen Organic Fruits And Vegetables Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.7 Nature's Path Foods7.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.7.2 Organic Fruits And Vegetables Product Category, Application and Specification7.7.2.1 Product A7.7.2.2 Product B7.7.3 Nature's Path Foods Organic Fruits And Vegetables Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.8 Newman's Own7.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.8.2 Organic Fruits And Vegetables Product Category, Application and Specification7.8.2.1 Product A7.8.2.2 Product B7.8.3 Newman's Own Organic Fruits And Vegetables Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview..CONTINUEDAbout UsWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, Industry research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available.NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)
Firewall as a Service Market to grow at 25% CAGR from 2017 to 2024

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https://www.fractovia.org/news/industry-research-report/firewall-as-a-service-fwaas-market

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The exponentially rising cases of cyber-attacks, which have practically plagued every industry, is one of the most profound factors driving firewall as a service market share. As per reliable estimates, cybercrime seemingly falls under the criteria of top two reported crimes at a global level. Estimates further suggest that, worldwide, approximately, more than 50% of the organizations have been targeted by cyber criminals over the past two years. The matter has been a global concern and has called for attention at both the government and private levels, thus leading to a plethora of technological advancements in the security sector. In this regard, cloud based approaches have already made profound inroads in network security, a factor that has brought great deal of interest to firewall as a service market.Request for a sample of this research report @Despite the fact that its inception dates quite a while back, firewall devices have been an element of prominence in network security over the recent years, subject to the development in product design in terms of functionality, sophistication, and performance. The growth of firewall as a service market is quite conspicuous from the plethora of investment activities and partnership programs that has of late taken place in the realm. One of the very recent precedents is the strategic partnership of ViewQwest and Cato Networks. As per reliable sources, ViewQuest has inked a deal with the network security expert to provide a SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) solution that would be embedded with firewall-as-a-service for the protection of its enterprise customers. Reportedly, the company is providing the new integrated software-defined FWaaS solution with 100Mbps secured internet access at a promotional price of USD 279 on a monthly basis for each office location. The competitive landscape of firewall as a service industry space is strongly characterized by similar kind collaboration activities.Speaking of competitive profiling, worldwide, firewall as a service industry is rather fragmented with the participation of multitude of companies across the globe. One of the major trends that is underlining the competitive landscape of this industry is the growing inclination of firewall providers toward strategic collaborations with cloud based organizations to enhance their customer base. In addition, the recent instances of cyber-attacks coupled with increasing number of governmental initiatives undertaken worldwide to enhance customers knowhow regarding security issues are providing a significant push to firewall as a service market. Over the recent years, the industry has witnessed a slew of next-generation firewall technologies with enhanced features like SSL inspection, API, DPI, and filtering, which has phenomenally aided the firms to protect their end-to-end applications and intricate customer data base.Firewall as a service market claims a humongous application spectrum encompassing a myriad range of sectors including BFSI, Government, Healthcare, Education, Retail, Manufacturing. Overtly, Banking & Financial sector has been one of the most vulnerable spaces prone to the cyber-attacks. As per reliable estimates, Firewall as a service market size from BFSI applications is set to record a CAGR of 22% over 2017-2024. One of the major driving factors remain the threat to this sector by the phenomenally increasing sophisticated cyber-attacks. Backing the fact with a recent instance  Russia Central Bank reported some of the countrys financial organizations to have been targeted with cyber-attack. The cybercrime was allegedly sourced from a malware dubbed BadRabbit and was distributed through emails.Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @The instance also reflects the overall cybersecurity scenario in APAC, which has, of late, registered its name as one of the most susceptible regions to cybercrimes, in extension emerging as one of the most lucrative growth avenues for firewall as a service industry. The increasing number of internet users, expanding BFSI sector, heavy R&D investments in security infrastructure, and technological proliferations across a myriad range of domains are few of the pivotal factors driving the APAC firewall as a service market size. Reportedly, China holds a dominant position in the regional business space, driven by the massive use of cloud computing platforms.In parallel with the BFSI domain, the government sector will further emerge as a strong contender in the application landscape of firewall as a service industry. Reportedly, over the timeframe of 2016 to 2020, the overall expenditure on vital intelligence and cybersecurity projects is projected to cross a mammoth valuation of USD 1 trillion  a fact validating the opportunistic roadmap for the firewall as a service industry players.Extensively driven by mandatory roll outs enforced by the governmental organizations with regards to security framework, firewall as a service market is certain to experience tremendous recognition in the ensuing years. Moreover, next generation firewalls equipped with high-end security capacities are already gaining a massive popularity in the retail space. However, budget constraints and dearth of technological penetration in some of the economies are hindering the market growth to some extent. Nonetheless, rising number of cybercrime across the globe and the earnest need for security measures will allow firewall as a service market to garner a colossal revenue in the ensuing years. Global Market Insights, Inc., claims the overall industry size to surpass a valuation of USD 2.5 billion by 2024.Browse key industry insights spread across 250 pages with 220 market data tables & 11 figures & charts from the report, Firewall as a Service (FWaaS) Market in detail along with the table of contents:About Fractovia.orgFractovia.org is one of India's leading in-house and free news portal. It is fully automated, and operates on a constant premise, interfacing with news sites and offering redesigned breaking features to readers across the globe. Our mission is to offer individuals opportunities for connections with news writers and distributors which they can pursue. We operate by mapping articles pertaining to breaking news, constantly and progressively, against a pre-determined word-based theme, offering important connections to readers and clients, as well as distributers.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAFractovia.orgPhone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@fractovia.orgWebsite:
Pod Solutions and Subex partner to provide advanced security for IoT Billing and Connectivity Service

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Subex Limited, a leading telecom analytics solution provider, has been selected by Pod Solutions, a division of Pod Group to implement its IoT Security Solution, Subex Secure, as part of Pod Groups billing and connectivity service.Pod Group designs platforms for the people building tomorrows connected world. These include billing, connectivity and security services for IoT companies across a wide variety of sectors as well as enterprises and operators for millions of devices globally. Pod Solutions is the customized development division of Pod Group which partners with industry leaders to build tools that reduce the complexity and accelerate the adoption of IoT applications.The partnership with Subex will enable Pod Solutions to develop advanced security services, allowing customers to rapidly create, deploy and bill mission critical IoT solutions with maximum security and resilience.Speaking on the announcement, Alistair Elliott, CEO, Pod Solutions said, Today, the security of IoT applications is one of the issues causing most concern and is therefore one of the biggest barriers to IoT adoption. We are excited to be partnering with Subex, since we identified them as a leading provider of IoT Security solutions that would be complementary to our existing network architecture and IoT business models. The Subex IoT solution- Subex Secure allows us to scale towards providing the most cutting-edge security solutions to millions of IoT devices, thereby providing us with a competitive advantage.It gives us great pleasure to partner with Pod Solutions to provide resilience to their connectivity services. We were selected after a very comprehensive evaluation, wherein we proved our capability to detect various attacks through Subex threat intelligence system, leveraging our industry leading IoT honeypot. These coupled with our flexible business model and non-intrusive approach helped us to secure this partnership said Vinod Kumar, COO, Subex Limited.About Pod SolutionsPod Solutions is the customized development division of Pod Group, a provider of platforms and software for the people building tomorrows connected world. We work to solve the most complex connectivity issues, utilizing the latest technology from our community of technology partners to develop innovative solutions to the problems that are creating barriers to IoT adoption. Pod Solutions works with cutting edge technologies and connectivity methods, collaborating with industry leaders to build a strong and lucrative IoT ecosystem.For more information, please visitAbout SubexSubex Ltd. is a leading telecom analytics solutions provider, enabling a digital future for global telcos. Founded in 1992, Subex has spent over 25 years in enabling 3/4th of the largest 50 CSPs to globally achieve competitive advantage. By leveraging data which is gathered across networks, customers, and systems coupled with its domain knowledge and the capabilities of its core solutions, Subex helps CSPs to drive new business models, enhance customer experience and optimise enterprises.For more information, please visit:1161 Mission Street San FranciscoAmy Garcia RendleEmail: amy.garcia@podgroup.comUK: +44 (0) 1223 850 900Skype: amygarciarendleUS: +1 415 707 0500
Metal Forming Equipment Market Global Industry Analysis, size, share and Forecast 2017-2025

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Metal Forming Equipment Global Market: IntroductionMetal forming is a process in which metal undergo a deformation and is shaped according to the requirement without removing or adding any other material from outside hence the mass of the metal remains the same. Metal forming process allows to alter the shape & size of the metal and also fabricate the required parts. Forming is generally divided into three categories bulk forming, sheet forming and powder metal forming. Equipment used for the process of metal forming includes arbor presses, beaders machine, bending machine, chemical explosive metal forming machine, die casting machine, elastic membrane metal forming machine and many other.Report Overview @Metal forming is one of the significant process which has various advantages- enhanced productivity, flexibility of operation, enhanced properties of metal, saves material and cost effective. Metal forming equipment is used for the manufacturing of various products from daily used goods to the automotive parts. Metal forming equipment involves several steps in the process of conversion of raw material into finished goods. Metal forming equipment are the equipment mainly used for producing finished and semi-finished products. Metal forming equipment has the ability to change the shape & size of the metal either in hot or cold condition under the application of pressure.Furthermore, metal forming equipment allow to manufacture products with the required dimension, productivity and mechanical property. Production involves many processes and many equipment are available in the market for the process of metal forming. For the process of metal forming several equipment are available which perform the following processes metal machining, metal forming, metal joining, nano fabrication, micro machining, ultra precision and metal finishing.Metal Forming Equipment Global Market: Dynamics and RestrainsIncreasing demand for the fabricated metal products in the global market is enhancing the demand of metal forming equipment. Fabricated metals have wide range of applications such as manufacturing of springs, boiler, cutlery, metal can, among others. This key factor is projected to drive the metal forming equipment market over the estimated period of time in the global metal forming market. There is a successive growth in the demand of metal tools and it is expected to continue in the same pattern in the global market in the near future.Request Report for TOC @Advanced 3-D printing technologies which makes the manufacturing easy and less time consuming is estimated to fuel the demand of metal forming equipment in the global market in the coming future. Manufacturers are involved in improving the quality of metal forming equipment present in the market, this will enforce the consumer to replace their old metal forming equipment with the novel machines and this will accelerate the demand of metal forming equipment.Moreover, the automobile industry is continuously demanding for new and advanced metal forming equipment in the current rapid industrialization stage in the developed as well as developing economies across the globe.Metal Forming Equipment Global Market: Regional Outlook:Asia-Pacific is expected to have the significant market value share of metal forming equipment market over the estimated period. Developing countries like India and China are acting as the significant players in enhancing the demand of automobiles which in turn supporting the growth of metal forming equipment global market over the forecast period. Europe, North America and Middle East Africa are continuously showing the infrastructural growth which in turn drive the constructional industry. Owing to this, metal forming equipment market is estimated to grow in the upcoming future in the above mentioned regions.Metal Forming Equipment Global Market: Key PlayersKey players in the global market of Metal Forming Equipment Global Market are: Dalian Machine Tool Group Corporation, DMG Mori AG, FAIR FRIEND ENTERPRISE CO., LTD, BYJC-Okuma Beijing Machine Tool Co Ltd, Kennametal Inc., Amada (India) Pvt. Ltd., Magna International, GF Machining Solutions, Makino Milling Machine Co Ltd, TRUMPFRequest 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:
Tibetan monk Geshe Yungdrung Konchok (left) and Emory professor Arri Eisen (right) pose with the Dalai Lama, who wrote an introduction for their new book, The Enlightened Gene, which explores how insights from scientists and monastics enrich understandings of biology, physics and other sciences.

For nearly a decade, the Emory-Tibet Science Initiative has done more than challenge the idea that religion and science dont mix by developing and successfully launching a comprehensive science curriculum for thousands of Tibetan monks and nuns.

The first major change to Tibetan Buddhist monastic education in six centuries also demonstrated how insights and information from both the monastics and professors could enrich each others understanding of biology, physics and other sciences.

Arri Eisen, an Emory College professor of pedagogy in biology and the Institute for Liberal Arts, explores those connections in The Enlightened Gene, a book he co-wrote with one of the monks, Geshe Yungdrung Konchok.

He grew up on the Tibetan plateau herding yaks. I grew up one of about five Jewish guys in North Carolina in the 1970s, Eisen says. We had different experiences, but we could use them to develop a common approach, to try to better understand our world.

Emory has woven Western and Tibetan Buddhist intellectual traditions together since founding the Emory-Tibet Partnership in 1998. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been a Presidential Distinguished Professor at Emory since 2007.

Serving a community in exile, the Dalai Lama has been charged not only with keeping spiritual traditions alive, but cultural ones as well. He invited Emory to form the Emory-Tibet Science Initiative (ETSI) in 2007, as a long-range project to exchange Buddhist cultural and intellectual wisdom and cutting-edge scientific knowledge.

The first two cohorts of 77 monks and nuns completed their five years of summer education in 2012 and 2013, respectively, and have since gone off to monastic academies to share their newfound knowledge  and how it ties to traditional beliefs.

When we studied evolution, we learn from a scientific point of view, we all share a common ancestor, says Geshe Dadul Namgyal, a Tibetan monk who serves as an ETSI translator and interpreter. That is very powerful to us, because it is a scientific concept that goes deep into our belief that all sentient beings are connected.

Some Buddhist traditions have helped anchor the project, Eisen notes. Buddhists embrace all worldviews, to better understand their own thinking. Likewise, Buddhist teachings are available to all seekers, without conversion.

Integrating biology and Buddhism can be deceptively simple at times, Eisen found, while addressing some of the larger questions of what it means to be human.

In some of his initial teaching, Eisen observed that monks struggled at first with the basic concept that living things are made of cells. As Namgyal explains, all living beings have minds and bodies to Buddhists, different words that made cells a difficult concept to students wondering if bacteria feel pain.

But such innovative thinking is exactly what science needs, Eisen says, if only because the best discoveries and learning come when people are able to identify points of tension within a subject.

In the West, it has been accepted that anything science can do, you do it, Eisen says. Buddhist thought asks what does this involve and who decides what we do. It goes to the heart of the ethical questions that have become more important as science advances.

The book reveals the community of neuroscientists and monastics connected by their interest in the mind and body, whose points of view can affirm and challenge each other.

For instance, the growing understanding of the gut microbiome  the cluster of intestinal microbes thought to help regulate the immune and nervous systems  can also be viewed as an illustration of the spiritual concept of coexisting, sentient life.

On the large scale, integrating science and faith changes the way we think about science and therefore some of the big scientific questions, Eisen says.

An amazing side effect is learning that scientific thought should meet people where they are at, either as a room of undergraduates with diverse backgrounds or a class of Tibetan monks, Eisen says. Understanding the science of the things we care about is what makes science alive.
Healthcare Human Resources Software Market area to Watch Strong Change by 2023

Healthcare Human Resources Software Market

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The report for North America Healthcare Human Resources Software of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. Healthcare is one of the biggest sector to collect revenue in America. Human resource software plays an important role in healthcare sector. Human resource department operates various functions like recruitment, salary hikes, vacation leaves, bonus, training, management and payment benefits management. HR software offer various benefits like document control and security. North America has the highest share of revenue in Healthcare Human Resources (HR) Software Market. Human resource professionals face many problems in their attempt to deliver the superior-quality health care to citizen. These is because of lack of budget, high rates of turnover and low morale of health personnel.In North America, Canada and USA are the most important countries to contribute the Healthcare Hr Software Market. Because of lot of funding these country are leading in the Hr Software Market. Canadian Healthcare system is publicly funded and divided into several groups like provincial and territorial governments, the federal government, physicians, nurses and allied health care professionals. The need to reduce the labour costs in hospital, increase in operational efficiency are the major factors for the growth of this market in America. North America share the total 65% of the global healthcare software market.Key Players for Human Resources Software Market:IBM Corporation (U.S.), Infor, Inc. (U.S.), BambooHR (US), Oracle Corporation (U.S.), Kronos, Inc. (U.S.), McKesson Corporation (U.S.), Gusto (US), Halogen Software Inc(Canada), SumTotal Systems Inc. (US), Zenefits Z2 (US), and Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (U.S.).Get Sample Copy @Segmentation:Hr Software Market has been segmented on the basis of administration software which are payroll, time and attendance, benefits management and others. On the basis of type of software like Recruiting, software-as-a-service (SaaS), core HR and others. By Organizations Type, Medium Businesses, Large Enterprises, Small Business. By user end, they are Pharmaceuticals, hospital and laboratories and other. By countries it is segmented as Canada, USA and Rest of America.American Healthcare Human Resources Software Market, by CountriesNorth America is the largest market for the Healthcare Human Resource Software Market. This is because of development in healthcare sector. Among this Canada and USA are the two most important countries for Healthcare Human Resource Software Market. USA has the highest share in North America followed by Canada.Table of Contents1 Introduction1.1 Definition1.2 Scope Of Study1.2.1 Research Objective1.2.2 Assumptions & Limitations1.2.2.1 Assumptions1.2.2.2 Limitations1.3 Market Structure:2 Research Methodology2.1 Research Process:2.2 Primary Research2.3 Secondary Research:3 Market Dynamics3.1 Drivers3.2 Restraints3.3 Opportunities3.4 Macroeconomic Indicators4 Market Factor Analysis4.1 Porters Five Forces Model4.2 Bargaining Power Of Suppliers4.3 Bargaining Power Of Buyers4.4 Threat Of New Entrants4.5 Threat Of Substitutes4.6 Intensity Of RivalryContinuedApply for Discount atTop 5 Reasons to Buy the Reports: Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent development activities Market Strategic Business Influence Data Market Research Future recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations Market share analysis of the top industry players Market forecasts for a minimum of 5 years of all the mentioned segments, Trends and the regional markets With SWOT AnalysisAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact:Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.comMRFR has the distinguished objective of providing the optimal quality research and granular research to clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help answer your most important questions.Our Research Analysts are eager to share their knowledge and assist you in refining market research parameters, choosing right market studies, and evaluating both the market scope and the research methodologies of varied segments.We bridge the gap between our clients and their clients by identifying and decoding just the target group, while generating leads with the highest accuracy.Years of research into diverse fields of work has ingrained within us, a proficiency so distinguished that our industry-specific specialists identify with your business ideas and feel the pulse of your challenges and opportunities. This enables us for providing assistance, through our consulting and strategic consulting services, in informed managerial decision making. In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industries, WantStats Research and Media often conducts industrial visits for its research analysts. Relevant inputs from various established market participants, help our clients make significant contribution in respective markets are a huge motivation for all of us to endlessly furnish quality. We depend greatly on profound insights into complex realms of our study.Pune, India
Growth of Instant Coffee Market in Global Industry : Analysis and Status 2018-2025

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Albany, NY, 20th February : Recent research and the current scenario as well as future market potential of "Instant Coffee Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017 - 2025" globally.Coffee is a popular beverage on the global platform. Being the most popular beverage, this product is the second most traded commodity in the world after crude oil. On the other hand, Brazil, India, Chile, Argentina are the largest producer of coffee in the world.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @Ethnicity and culture plays a major role in the consumption of coffee on a global level. Since 1910, the popularity of instant coffee has also taken a steady growth in the market where people from the tea consuming nations are slowly getting acquainted to consume this beverage.There has been a positive change in lifestyle of people in developing nations, with youngsters heavily adopting the western culture. Countries like India, China, and a few Middle Eastern countries are seeing a transition to heavy consumption of coffee over tea. Consumers with life style seek beverages that can be easily prepared and are pocket-friendly as well. Instant coffee not only maintains the aroma and flavor of the drink but also gives a branded experience to consumers. The impact of this driver is medium in the short run and is expected to be high by the end of the forecast period.Increasing competition in the global market is driving leading companies to undertake intensive research and development. In order to have a balanced product portfolio in the market, leading players like Starbucks and Nescafe are constantly innovating and trying to deliver a brand rich experience to consumers. The Fair Trade concept of producing coffee in underdeveloped countries is also adding to the competition in the global market.View Complete TOC with tables & Figures @Global Instant Coffee Market: Geographical AnalysisThe convenience of preparing the drink due to the ease in its availability has driven the market for this product heavily. Traditional coffee or whole bean coffee machines are usually implanted in most of the households of the major coffee drinking nations. On a recent research, UK has contributed to highest instant coffee consumption in the Western Europe. Instant coffee is easy to prepare and there is no hassle of disposing off the waste, as in the case of the filter coffee. Moreover, the introduction of instant coffee in the market by leading players such as Nestle, Jacobs Douwe Egberts and others are promoting the usage of sachets and jars that will be convenient in preparing coffee quickly.Millennials are driven by convenience and quality products even in India and China, and they are ready to pay a higher price for a rich experience. However, Instant coffee faces a major setback due to the consumption pattern among the population in geographical regions such as North America, Western Europe and Latin America preferred filter coffee over instant coffee. Consumers in this countries prefer filter coffee because of their traditional habit of accepting coffee as a drink that has the true properties of it as a caffeinated beverage. Furthermore, the hassle of preparing filter coffee from the whole bean is hefty, but the original flavor and aroma lies in the espresso shot which comes from the coffee machines, usually installed in most of the households and other industrial areas in these countries. Due to these factors, the impact of this restraint is high currently and is expected to be medium by the end of the forecast period.The global instant coffee market is segmented into two types of packaging- Jars and sachets. In terms of distribution channel the market segmented by B2B and retail. B2B distribution channel is further segmented by hotels, restaurant and others. Retail distribution channel is further segmented by online and offline. Offline retail distribution channel is segmented by departmental store, super and hyper market and others.Global Instant Coffee Market: Competitive LandscapeIn order to get a better understanding of the global instant coffee market, a key trends analysis has been included for all the segments. In addition, the market players in the instant coffee market have also been profiled. The leading players in the market include. Nestle S.A. (Vevey, Switzerland), Starbucks Corporation. (Seattle, Washington, U.S), Jacobs Douwe Egberts (DK Amsterdam, Netherlands), Strauss Group Ltd. (Petah Tikva, Israel), Matthew Algie & Company Ltd (London, U.K), The Kraft Heinz Company (Illinois, U.S.), Tata Global Beverages (Kolkata, West Bengal), Tchibo Coffee (Hamburg, Germany), Keurig Green Mountain.(Vermont, U.S.) and Unilever Plc. (London, U.K.) among others.Browse Report @The global instant coffee market can be segmented as follows:-By Distribution ChannelB2BHotelRestaurantOthersRetailOnlineOfflineDepartmental StoresHyper and Super MarketOthersResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on :
Global Saas based Human Resource Market is Projected to Exhibit at a CAGR of Over 10.2% During 2018  2023

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Global SaaS-based Human Resource (HRM) Market OverviewHuman resource management deals with hiring, training, managing, retaining and acquiring processes in an enterprise in order to run the business efficiently. The lead on workforce and their management is ensured by the HRM to contribute effectively for various business processes of an enterprise.Human resource management systems enhance the efficiency of human resource divisions. It reduces the operational cost and increase the employee-centric culture in the organization which further benefits them in various business processes. HRM ensures the use of resource and optimize them for the competitive advantage. It is principally used to enumerate the talent present in an enterprise and further helps to restructure the workforce with the purpose to maintain position of the business.Request a Sample Report @Market size and forecastThe Global SaaS-based HRM Market is projected to expand at a CAGR of 10.2 % over the forecast period i.e. 2016-2023. The market further estimated to reach from USD 11.93 Billion in 2015 to USD 20.3 Billion by 2023. These SaaS-based HRM systems and services are gaining traction among various end-use industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, education, etc. This factor is expected to fuel the demand for SaaS-based HRM in near future.North-America accounted for the largest market share in 2015 in SaaS-based HRM market globally. The market of North America region is expected to continue its dominance by witnessing the highest growth over the forecast period due to rising implementation on SaaS-based HRM systems by the enterprises in the region.On the other hand, Europe is expected to be the second largest revenue contributor across the globe in the market of SaaS-based HRM. Rising awareness towards the benefits of web-based services among the organizations and positive GDP growth in emerging nations present in the regions are expected to spur the demand for SaaS-based HRM systems.The SaaS (Service-as-a-Service)-based HRM comprises the same function as of HRM operates but along with web-based service. These web based service optimize the resources of the business and diversify into several sectors with ease. Moreover, the SaaS- based HRM simplifies operation of business by emphasizing on revenue generating activities and managing workforce efficiently for enhanced productivity. SaaS-based HRM is a flexible and cost-effective business model which provides the advanced less-time consuming processes and eliminated the update issues associated with HRM software.Organizations across the globe are moving towards advanced technological web-based services for flexibility and to minimize the outlay in order to increase profitability. The ease of management of various processes of an organization through SaaS-based HRM is probably helping the organization to execute the business effectively in a competitive environment.Access Complete Report @Market SegmentationThe Global SaaS-Based HRM Market is segmented on the basis of as follows:By DeploymentPayrollTime and attendanceBenefits managementCompliance ManagementBy ApplicationTalent AcquisitionLearning ManagementWorkforce ManagementRecruitment ManagementPerformance ManagementCompensation BenefitsEmployee CollaborationBy End-userHealthcareCorporateEducational InstitutesGovernment SectorOthersBy RegionGlobal SaaS-Based HRM Market is further classified on the basis of region as follows:North America (United States /U.S. & Canada)Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Rest of Latin America)Western and Eastern Europe (U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Hungary, Belgium, Netherlands & Luxembourg, Rest of Western Europe)Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Rest of Asia)Middle East and North Africa (MENA)Rest of WorldGrowth Drivers and challengesRising complexities and addition of new business processes in big organizations across the globe are growing need for SaaS-based HRM. The business players are focusing on diversification of business, expansion of product portfolio and workforce in the organization in order to participate in a long run of competition. These enterprises will further swell the demand for SaaS-based HRM in near future. The enterprises which have limited budgets for infrastructure and staff are shifting towards SaaS-based HRM systems with the aim to optimize the use of resources and management of various function of business. The market of SaaS-based HRM is majorly driven by the rising number of enterprises across the globe and adoption of advanced web services in these enterprises to reduce the lags of business.Apart from this, presence of advanced management software and tools for human resource management and shifting of traditional production systems to mass customization are some of the key factors for the growth of SaaS-based HRM in near future. Rising penetration of business and increasing complexities related to various business functions and systems are growing importance of SaaS-based HRM systems in organizations across the globe. Besides this, growing trend for e-recruiting and learning management of workforce through web-based services are swelling the demand for SaaS-based HRM.Although, high cost of SaaS-based HRM services, presence of international key players with expensive services and slow adoption of SaaS-based HRM in medium and small enterprises are expected to hinder the growth of SaaS-based HRM market across the globe over the forecast period. Moreover, lack of awareness towards the benefits of SaaS-based HRM and web-based services in undeveloped nations is likely to hamper the market growth for SaaS-based HRM in near future.Key PlayersThe Key Players of SaaS-Based HRM Market are as follows:Oracle Corp.Company OverviewKey Product OfferingsBusiness StrategySWOT AnalysisFinancialsSAP AGAscentisHalogen Software Inc.Ultimate Software Group Inc.Workday Inc.Ceridian Corp.Kenexa Corp.Scope and ContextOverview of the Parent MarketAnalyst ViewSegmentationThe Global SaaS-Based HRM Market is segmented as follows:By Deployment type Market Size and Y-O-Y Growth AnalysisBy Application type Market Size and Y-O-Y Growth AnalysisBy End-user type Market Size and Y-O-Y Growth AnalysisBy RegionsNorth America (U.S., Canada) Market Size and Y-O-Y Growth AnalysisLatin America (Mexico, Brazil, Rest of Latin America) Market Size and Y-O-Y Growth AnalysisWestern and Eastern Europe (Germany, Italy, Spain, France, U.K, Benelux, Hungary, Rest Of Western Europe, Russia Poland, Rest of Eastern Europe) Market Size and Y-O-Y Growth AnalysisAsia-Pacific (China, India, Singapore, Japan, Australia and New Zealand and Rest of Asia) Market Size and Y-O-Y Growth AnalysisMiddle East and North Africa (MENA) Market Size and Y-O-Y Growth AnalysisRest of World Market Size and Y-O-Y Growth AnalysisMarket DynamicsSupply and Demand RiskCompetitive LandscapePorters Five Force ModelGeographical Economic ActivityKey Players (respective SWOT Analysis) and their Strategies and Product PortfolioRecent Trends and DevelopmentsIndustry Growth Drivers and ChallengesKey Information for Players to establish themselves in current dynamic environmentABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.ADDRES:WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Indexable Cutting Tools 2018 Global Key Players  Mitsubishi Hitachi Tool Engineering, Ltd., Meusburger Georg Gmbh & Co Kg, Toolmex Industrial Solutions, Kennametal, Sandvik Coromant....

Indexable Cutting Tools Market

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Indexable Cutting Tools Market 2018Wiseguyreports.Com Adds Indexable Cutting Tools  Global Market Demand, Growth, Opportunities, Manufacturers, Analysis of Top Key Players and Forecast to 2025 To Its Research Database.Description:In this report, the global Indexable Cutting Tools market is valued at USD XX million in 2017 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2017 and 2025.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Indexable Cutting Tools in these regions, from 2013 to 2025 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Indexable Cutting Tools market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingMitsubishi Hitachi Tool Engineering, Ltd.Meusburger Georg Gmbh & Co KgToolmex Industrial SolutionsKennametalSandvik CoromantKyocera Precision Tools, Inc.Sterling EdgeTaegutec Ltd.Tungaloy CorporationIscar Ltd.VardexKorloy Inc.Yg-1 Co., LtdRequest for Sample Report@On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoCemented (Tungsten) CarbidesCermetsCeramicscBN/PcBNDiamond ToolsOn the basis of the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate for each application, includingAutomotiveConstructionElectronicOil & GasOthersComplete report details @If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Table of Contents:Global Indexable Cutting Tools Market Research Report 20181 Indexable Cutting Tools Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Indexable Cutting Tools1.2 Indexable Cutting Tools Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Indexable Cutting Tools Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2013-2025)1.2.2 Global Indexable Cutting Tools Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 Cemented (Tungsten) Carbides1.2.4 Cermets1.2.5 Ceramics1.2.6 cBN/PcBN1.2.7 Diamond Tools1.3 Global Indexable Cutting Tools Segment by Application1.3.1 Indexable Cutting Tools Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2013-2025)1.3.2 Automotive1.3.3 Construction1.3.4 Electronic1.3.5 Oil & Gas1.3.6 Others1.4 Global Indexable Cutting Tools Market by Region (2013-2025)1.4.1 Global Indexable Cutting Tools Market Size (Value) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Region (2013-2025)1.4.2 North America Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.3 Europe Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.4 China Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.5 Japan Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.6 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.7 India Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Indexable Cutting Tools (2013-2025)1.5.1 Global Indexable Cutting Tools Revenue Status and Outlook (2013-2025)1.5.2 Global Indexable Cutting Tools Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2013-2025)2 Global Indexable Cutting Tools Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Indexable Cutting Tools Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.1 Global Indexable Cutting Tools Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global Indexable Cutting Tools Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.2 Global Indexable Cutting Tools Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.3 Global Indexable Cutting Tools Average Price by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.4 Manufacturers Indexable Cutting Tools Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Indexable Cutting Tools Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Indexable Cutting Tools Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Indexable Cutting Tools Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion.7 Global Indexable Cutting Tools Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 Mitsubishi Hitachi Tool Engineering, Ltd.7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Indexable Cutting Tools Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 Mitsubishi Hitachi Tool Engineering, Ltd. Indexable Cutting Tools Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Meusburger Georg Gmbh & Co Kg7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Indexable Cutting Tools Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Meusburger Georg Gmbh & Co Kg Indexable Cutting Tools Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Toolmex Industrial Solutions7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Indexable Cutting Tools Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Toolmex Industrial Solutions Indexable Cutting Tools Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 Kennametal7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.4.2 Indexable Cutting Tools Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 Kennametal Indexable Cutting Tools Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 Sandvik Coromant7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.5.2 Indexable Cutting Tools Product Category, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Product A7.5.2.2 Product B7.5.3 Sandvik Coromant Indexable Cutting Tools Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.6 Kyocera Precision Tools, Inc.7.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.6.2 Indexable Cutting Tools Product Category, Application and Specification7.6.2.1 Product A7.6.2.2 Product B7.6.3 Kyocera Precision Tools, Inc. Indexable Cutting Tools Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.7 Sterling Edge7.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.7.2 Indexable Cutting Tools Product Category, Application and Specification7.7.2.1 Product A7.7.2.2 Product B7.7.3 Sterling Edge Indexable Cutting Tools Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.8 Taegutec Ltd.7.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.8.2 Indexable Cutting Tools Product Category, Application and Specification7.8.2.1 Product A7.8.2.2 Product B7.8.3 Taegutec Ltd. Indexable Cutting Tools Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.9 Tungaloy Corporation7.9.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.9.2 Indexable Cutting Tools Product Category, Application and Specification7.9.2.1 Product A7.9.2.2 Product B7.9.3 Tungaloy Corporation Indexable Cutting Tools Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.9.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.10 Iscar Ltd.7.10.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.10.2 Indexable Cutting Tools Product Category, Application and Specification7.10.2.1 Product A7.10.2.2 Product B7.10.3 Iscar Ltd. Indexable Cutting Tools Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.10.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.11 Vardex7.12 Korloy Inc.7.13 Yg-1 Co., LtdContinued..Contact US:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)About Us:Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Addres:: Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt Ltd: Pune  411028: Maharashtra,: Ph: +91 841 198 5042
Bottle Sealing Wax Market Trend to 2023 Profiling Calwax, LLC, Blended Waxes, Inc, Westech Wax, Custom Wax n' Seals, Cortica Benicia, The British Wax Refining Company Ltd, Oakbank Products Limited

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Bottle Sealing Wax Market Size, Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa), Application Development status, Price Trend, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2018  2023.The Bottle Sealing Wax is used to provide a seal on the opening of the bottle/container. Without a secure seal, bacteria and air is able to get into the product, which in turn can end up spoiling the product.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Bottle Sealing Wax Market, especially in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, types and applications.Request a Free sample PDF of this research to evaluate more @Market Segment by Manufacturers, this Bottle Sealing Wax Market report covers  Calwax, LLC, Blended Waxes, Inc, Westech Wax, Custom Wax n' Seals, Cortica Benicia, The British Wax Refining Company Ltd, Oakbank Products Limited, The Darent Wax Company Ltd, Kings Wax, Wax Matic, Jax Wax Pty Ltd., Wax-Works, Australian Wax Co, Southwest Wax LLC, J. Herbin, Etched Images. Inc., Reed Wax and Huaming.An inherent sub-vertical of the Chemicals and Advanced Materials Industry space, Bottle Sealing Wax market stands to gain remarkable proceeds over 2018-2023, as per a recently compiled report Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers:North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Table of Contents:Global Bottle Sealing Wax Market OverviewGlobal Bottle Sealing Wax Market Manufacturers ProfilesGlobal Bottle Sealing Wax Market Competition, by ManufacturerGlobal Bottle Sealing Wax Market Analysis by RegionsGlobal Bottle Sealing Wax by CountriesGlobal Bottle Sealing Wax Market Segment by TypeGlobal Bottle Sealing Wax Market Segment by ApplicationBottle Sealing Wax Market Forecast (2018-2023)Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and DealersResearch Findings and ConclusionMarket Segment by Type, coversBottle Sealing Wax Beads and Bottle Sealing Wax BricksMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into:Wine, Cosmetic and OthersEnquire Discount on Global Bottle Sealing Wax Market Research Report @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Bottle Sealing Wax market.Chapter 1, to describe Bottle Sealing Wax Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Bottle Sealing Wax, with sales, revenue, and price of Bottle Sealing Wax, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Bottle Sealing Wax, for each region, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 12, Bottle Sealing Wax market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2018 to 2023;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Bottle Sealing Wax sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceFor more information on this report, Please visit at:Related Reports: -North America and Europe Bottle Sealing Wax Market by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2023This report focuses on the Bottle Sealing Wax in North America and Europe market, especially in United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, France, Italy and Spain. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, countries/Regions, type and application.Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Market Study ReportThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News:
Global Home Rehabilitation Products and Services Market Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast to 2023

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Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) has been serving as an active source to cater intelligent research report to enlighten both readers and investors. This research study titled Home Rehabilitation Products and Services MarketGet Free Sample Report @Rehabilitation programs help patients to improve, maintain, and restore physical strength and mobility in institutional and home care settings. This study provides market analysis for various rehabilitation products and services that are provided within home care settings. The stakeholders of this market study comprise established rehabilitation product manufacturers, distributors, and rehabilitation service providers as well as new participants who wish to enter the global rehabilitation products and services market.This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the global rehabilitation products and services market and helps in identifying several market governing factors that influence the market both positively and negatively. The market overview section provides exhaustive information on trends in the usage of home rehabilitation products and services, market trends such as drivers, restraints, and growth opportunities that presently regulate the dynamics of the overall market. Competitive analysis tools such as Porters Five Forces analysis and geographical market attractiveness analysis have also been incorporated in this report to provide analysis about the level of competition within the home rehabilitation products and services market. Furthermore, a section analyzing the business to customer and therapist to customer models provides the overall business mechanism of the market. Competitive intelligence tools such as market share analysis have also been included in the market overview section of the report to deliver a broad spectrum of the overall scenario in the market at global level. Market share analysis thus provided in this study is in context with the major product manufacturers, distributors, and service providers operating in the market which would help new players to understand the key business models and frameworks to identify the specific product lines of existing companies to establish a strong foothold in the home rehabilitation products and services market.Executive summary of the report encapsulates comprehensive insights about every segment considered in this study. It includes a market snapshot offering an insight into the current scenario of the home rehabilitation products and services market in terms of current and future market size along growth rate.The global home rehabilitation products and services market has been segmented based on various products and services used in home settings. The home rehabilitation products market has been categorized into major products used for providing rehabilitation services in home settings such as positioning devices, body support devices, general aids, wheel chairs, and others. The others segment is analyzed cumulatively, considering walkers, canes, crutches, arm and shoulder slings, bands, and other ancillary support products within this class. Based on service type, the market has been segmented into physical therapy services, occupational therapy services, speech therapy services, respiratory therapy services, and others (drug rehabilitation therapy, balance therapy, and other psychotherapeutic services). The market size for the period from 2013 to 2023 has been provided for each of the product and service categories mentioned above in terms of USD million. Along with the market size that were projected considering 2014 as the base year and 2013 as the historical year, the CAGR (%) of each market segment for the forecast period from 2015 to 2023 has also been provided.This market study concludes with profiles of key players in the global home rehabilitation products and services market. The report outlines the companies in terms of overview, financial overview, product portfolio, business strategies, and recent developments. Key enterprises profiled in this study include AliMed, Inc., Active Medical & Rehabilitation Services Pvt. Ltd., DJO Global, Inc., ergoline GmbH, Ekso Bionics, Hocoma AG, Invacare Corporation, Medline Industries, Inc., Prism Medical, RehabCare, Stryker Corporation, and TecnoBody S.r.l.For More Info about This Report Visit @The global home rehabilitation products and services market has been segmented as follows:Home Rehabilitation Products and Services Market, by ProductsPositioning DevicesBody Supports Devices (Lumbosacral, Cervical, Knee/Ankle/Arm/Shoulder support, etc.)General Aids (Bathroom Aids, Bedroom Aids, etc.)Wheel ChairsOthers (Walkers, Canes, Crutches, Arm and Shoulder Slings, etc.)Home Rehabilitation Products and Services Market, by ServicesPhysical Therapy ServicesOccupational ServicesSpeech Therapy ServicesRespiratory Therapy ServicesOthersHome Rehabilitation Products and Services Market, by GeographyNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaEuropeGermanyU.K.Rest of EuropeAsia PacificJapanChinaRest of Asia PacificLatin America (LATAM)BrazilRest of LATAMMiddle East and Africa (MEA)Saudi ArabiaSouth AfricaRest of MEAAbout Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE)Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Market Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.Contact UsState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite:Read More Industry News At:
Wind Power Equipment Market 2018 Industry Trend and Forecast 2022

Global Wind Power Equipment Industry

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Global Wind Power Equipment IndustryLatest Report on Wind Power Equipment Market Global Analysis & 2022 Forecast Research StudyThis report studies Wind Power Equipment in Global market, especially in North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and India, with production, revenue, consumption, import and export in these regions, from 2012 to 2016, and forecast to 2022.This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringPhoenix ContactABBSchneider ElectricEatonIngeteamGESiemensVaconS&C ElectricEmersonSulzerVEOShanghai ElectricSungrow Power SupplyVentusTry Sample Report @By types, the market can be split intoOnshoreOffshoreBy Application, the market can be split intoCommercialResidentialBy Regions, this report covers (we can add the regions/countries as you want)North AmericaChinaEuropeSoutheast AsiaJapanIndiaBuy Now @Some Major Points from Table of content:Global Wind Power Equipment Market Professional Survey Report 20171 Industry Overview of Wind Power Equipment1.1 Definition and Specifications of Wind Power Equipment1.1.1 Definition of Wind Power Equipment1.1.2 Specifications of Wind Power Equipment1.2 Classification of Wind Power Equipment1.2.1 Onshore1.2.2 Offshore1.3 Applications of Wind Power Equipment1.3.1 Commercial1.3.2 Residential1.3.3 Application 31.4 Market Segment by Regions1.4.1 North America1.4.2 China1.4.3 Europe1.4.4 Southeast Asia1.4.5 Japan1.4.6 India2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Wind Power Equipment2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Wind Power Equipment2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Wind Power Equipment2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Wind Power EquipmentIf you have any enquiry before buying a copy of this report @3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Wind Power Equipment3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Wind Power Equipment Major Manufacturers in 20163.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Wind Power Equipment Major Manufacturers in 20163.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Wind Power Equipment Major Manufacturers in 20163.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global Wind Power Equipment Major Manufacturers in 20164 Global Wind Power Equipment Overall Market Overview4.1 2012-2017E Overall Market Analysis4.2 Capacity Analysis4.2.1 2012-2017E Global Wind Power Equipment Capacity and Growth Rate Analysis4.2.2 2016 Wind Power Equipment Capacity Analysis (Company Segment)4.3 Sales Analysis4.3.1 2012-2017E Global Wind Power Equipment Sales and Growth Rate Analysis4.3.2 2016 Wind Power Equipment Sales Analysis (Company Segment)4.4 Sales Price Analysis4.4.1 2012-2017E Global Wind Power Equipment Sales Price4.4.2 2016 Wind Power Equipment Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment)Continued..For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comAbout UsWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available.Contact Us:Norah Trent+1 646 845 9349 / +44 208 133 9349Follow on LinkedIn:Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt LtdPune  411028Maharashtra,Ph: +91 841 198 5042
CNC Machine Tools Market will register an impressive CAGR of over 9.02% during the forecast period 2018-2021

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Albany, NY, 20th February : Recent research and the current scenario as well as future market potential of "Global CNC Machine Tools Market 2017-2021" globally.CNC machine tools are automated conventional machine tools in which the motion and function are controlled by means of a computer.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @The computer executes machine control commands to perform machining on a workpiece. This facilitates the production of identical parts in high volumes without compromising on quality. CNC machine tools are broadly classified into CNC lathe machines, CNC milling machines, and others on the basis of operation.Technavios analysts forecast the global CNC machine tools market to grow at a CAGR of 9.02% during the period 2017-2021.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global CNC machine tools market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers new installations, shipments, sales, volume, and value.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEMEATechnavios report, Global CNC Machine Tools Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.View Complete TOC with tables & Figures @Key vendorsDMTGDMG MORISMTCLYamazaki MazakOther prominent vendorsAllied Machine & EngineeringACE MICROMATICAmadaAmera-SeikiBYJC-OKUMA (Beijing) Machine ToolsDoosanDoosan InfracoreEnshuFair Friend GroupFANUCGF Machining SolutionsHaas AutomationHardingeHellerHMTHURCOHYUNDAI WIAJIUH-YEH PRECISION MACHINERY (MillStar)JTEKTKennametalKIWA JapanKomatsuMacoMakino Milling MachineMatsuuraMicromatic Grinding TechnologiesOKKSandvikSISTER MACHINE TECHNOLOGYSNKTongtai Machine & ToolsToshiba MachineToyodaYama SeikiYCMMarket driverMultifunctionality in useFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeNeed for aftersales servicesFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendDesign of new milling toolsFor a full, detailed list, view our reportBrowse Report @Key questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?ResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on :
Floating Crane Market Industry Analysis, Trend and Growth, 2017-2025

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Floating Crane Market: IntroductionFloating cranes are large floating vessels that carry aboard a heavy duty crane for the purpose of lifting heavy goods in offshore applications. These floating cranes are a usual sight near seaports, oil rigs among others. Floating cranes are also known as crane vessels or crane ships in some part of the economy. Primary power generator of the ship for the purpose of forward movement is not usually used as the power source of the cranes and hence separate power generators are housed within the ship to operate such cranes. The market for floating cranes is anticipated to grow on steady albeit on a slower pace owing to its demand directly related to the performance of the end use industry it operates upon.Report Overview @Floating Crane Market: DynamicsBeing a very capital intensive equipment, the performance of floating crane market lies on the hinges of the demand it generates from the end use industry. Sluggish behaviour in such industries can directly have an impact on the prospects of floating crane market.However, there are some factors that can directly influence a steady performance of the market within the forecast period. One of those drivers is a resurgence in the petroleum industry, wherein more and more oil rigs have been erected for crude oil extraction.Secondly, the floating cranes market have also found an application in the transportation and logistics industry, wherein it can be used as an auxiliary crane for container movement in order to improve efficiency and reduce loading/unloading times. With a renewed interest in generation of electric power through renewable sources, numerous wind mills have been installed in offshore locations, these installations have become possible in the current scenario, thanks to the advantages bought about the floating cranes. This factor can also result in demand for more floating cranes in the upcoming years.The restraints associated with the growth of the floating crane market is the immense requirement of capital, engineering among others for its construction as well as the requirement of trained personnel for its operation. The barriers to the market entry are very high and down fall within the end use industry can affect the growth of the market to a greater level.Request Report for TOC @Floating Crane Market: Regional OutlookFrom the regional perspective the market growth for floating crane is anticipated to attain contrasting prospects with high growth likely to be witnessed in economies with a growing marine industry. The North American market is expected to bring brighter prospects to the overall growth owing to steady performance of the logistics and transportation industry. The same also holds true for the European market where a thriving heavy industry calls for a growing demand for floating cranes albeit the growth is anticipated to progress on a slower note. The market in the Asia Pacific region is also expected to grow in the upcoming years especially in the Chinese economy wherein floating cranes have found applications beyond the marine industry such as non-residential infrastructure construction along the coastal belt.The market for floating cranes in other Asia Pacific economy is anticipated for a slow growth owing negative trade-off for absolute requirement to the high amount of capital required for its operation. The growing petroleum industry of the Middle East & Africa region is anticipated to call for more floating cranes for the purpose of constructing temporary off shore oil rigs.Floating Crane Market: Key ParticipantsExamples of some of the participants involved in the manufacture and building of the global Floating Crane are: Konecranes Plc, Techcrane International, LLC, Cargotec OYJ, Huisman Equipment B.V., Kenz Figee Group, Palfinger AG, Mitsui Group, Fincantieri - Cantieri Navali Italiani S.p.A., Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.,IHI Transport Machinery 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:
Global Uterine Biopsy Forceps Market 2018 - Olympus, Medline Industries, Inc., GerMedUSA Inc

Global Uterine Biopsy Forceps Market

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The statistical surveying information incorporated into the Uterine Biopsy Forceps report is the aftereffect of significant essential and optional research exercises. The report fragments the worldwide market for Uterine Biopsy Forceps based on makers, item compose, applications, and Region. In this report, each fragment is contemplated completely and measurements are introduced in detail. The report offers an exact outline of the worldwide Uterine Biopsy Forceps advertise covering key factors, for example, drivers and restrictions affecting the development.Get the sample report :Top manufacturers of Uterine Biopsy Forceps Market Report :OlympusMedline Industries, Inc.GerMedUSA IncSklar Surgical InstrumentsStericomNew Med InstrumentsMedGynThe worldwide Uterine Biopsy Forceps advertise report is the result of the intensive investigation of the market, which will help showcase players to manage and develop exponentially in the gigantically aggressive market.Enquire before buying Uterine Biopsy Forceps Market report :The Uterine Biopsy Forceps report is set up after essential and auxiliary levels of research exercises. Essential research speaks to the heft of research endeavors, supplemented by a broad optional research. Auxiliary research incorporates investigation of late exchange, web sources, and factual information from government associations, exchange affiliations and offices. This has ended up being the most dependable, powerful and fruitful approach for getting exact Uterine Biopsy Forceps advertise information, catching industry member's bits of knowledge and perceiving business openings. The write about the worldwide Uterine Biopsy Forceps showcase likewise talks about a portion of the main players display in the market, winning rivalry, key procedures received and their current advancements.About UsApex Market Reports offers elevating market research globally. We have collection of various syndicated reports of different categories. Apex Market Reports provides you to best services, weather youre searching for new trends in market or competitive scenario in emerging market.Customers can buys different reports across various categories such as Chemical and Material, Biotechnology, Healthcare, Food and beverages, Automobile and various sectors. Our Website offers safe and secure online ordering experience, convenient payment options.Contact UsFrank ValadezCorporate Sales Specialist155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4250Chicago, IL 60606Phone: +17739042683Email id - sales@apexmarketreports.comWebsite -
A celebration Jan. 23 at Rollins School of Public Health marked the signing of the universitys reaccreditation as a Safe Community from the National Safety Council and Safe Communities America. Emory Photo/Video

Emory has earned reaccreditation as a Safe Community by the National Safety Council and Safe Communities America, affirming the universitys commitment as a leader in championing safety and preventing injury.

The designation recognizes Emory and its coalition, the Emory Safety Alliance, for implementing effective strategies to promote safety and address injuries. In 2012, Emory was the first academic institution on the East Coast and only the second academic institution in the United States to be recognized as an international Safe Community.

By achieving reaccreditation, Emory University is continuing to foster a culture of safety within its community, says Carrie Nie, director of Safe Communities America. It is serving as an example to other academic institutions that are looking to use data to further their safety programs.

The process of initially applying for the designation included support from the Georgia Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.

The Emory Safety Alliance was formed to identify current safety programs, data collection and any gaps in safety promotion and injury prevention on campus. The organizations aim is to foster a culture of safety within the community and serve as a model to other academic institutions.

Dr. Michael J. Huey, assistant vice president and executive director of Emory University Student Health Services, said that Emory was proud to be reaccredited by Safe Communities America, especially since it is now one of only four Safe Community universities in the nation.

We are excited to continue collaborating with university and community partners to improve the safety and well-being of students, faculty, staff and visitors to our Emory campuses, says Huey, who is also associate professor of family and preventive medicine at the Emory University School of Medicine and president of the American College Health Association.

Emory is collaborating with members that will maintain, grow and strengthen the Emory Safety Alliance, which is implementing effective, promising and trauma-informed strategies to address injuries.

The university strives to collect data and use scientific research to help guide program planning. In addition, the alliance is working closely  and in new ways  with university departments to identify injury and safety issues. Its priority areas are the E-Care Concussion Project, First Responder Unified Training and LiveSafe Mobile Safety initiative that increases communication between community members and emergency services.
Christopher Pappas distils LMS marketing expertise into an e-book

Christopher Pappas.

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Selling more of your product more cost-effectively is a key goal of any producer and distributor. A new e-book aims to help learning management system (LMS) producers and vendors do just that.The e-book - Build The Buzz On A Budget: How To Promote Your LMS Online And Boost Profits  offers guidance on identifying your market niche and your LMSs most attractive selling points. It also sets out how to craft an effective sales pitch; create an accurate marketing budget; use content marketing to boost sales, and even how to get the best deal from promoting your LMS via a pay-per-click (PPC) software directory.The e-book also includes nine steps thatll set you ahead of the competition without overloading your budget, claims its author, Christopher Pappas, owner and founder of eLearning Industry.He explained, Getting your LMS platform in front of the right audience is the only way youre going to make any sales. If the wrong people see it, the right ones wont buy it. Innovative - digital - LMS marketing doesnt just save you money, it makes you money too.In recent years, Ive devoted much of my time to working with LMS vendors on their marketing strategies, Pappas added. This e-book, which contains the distilled results of my experience of LMS marketing, explains how to scale-up your business without having to spend a fortune.Among other things, the e-book contains: Eight tips to help you identify your LMSs market niche Eight tips to help you identify why prospective buyers should choose your software over others on the market Eight tips to produce the perfect LMS sales pitch Seven LMS marketing pitfalls - and tips on how to avoid them Six LMS marketing techniques to let the right people know about your LMS platform How to use content marketing to boost LMS sales Six ways in which SEO marketing can bring new business Seven tips for promoting your LMS via social media Seven creative ways to retain LMS clients How to create an accurate LMS marketing budget  and ensure that the resources you allocate to bring in new business are only a small fraction of your annual profits. Choosing the most appropriate LMS marketing strategy  notably affiliates, PPC and/or inbound marketing Four tips on using Big Data to improve your LMS marketing strategy Five tips to host live promotional events for your LMS Five tips to market your LMS via a polished press release Eight benefits of digital marketing  such as promoting your LMS via a PPC software directoryTo download a free copy of the e-book, Build The Buzz On A Budget: How To Promote Your LMS Online And Boost Profits, visit:and/orAbout eLearning IndustryeLearning Industry is a network-based media and publishing company founded in 2012. Comprising the largest online community of e-learning professionals in the industry, it was created as a knowledge-sharing platform to help e-learning professionals and instructional designers connect in a safe online community where they can stay up-to-date with the latest industry news and technologies, and find projects or jobs.eLearning Industry401 Ryland Street, Suite 200-A Reno, Nevada 89502 United StatesContact: Christopher Pappas, eLearning Industry, +30  6945714922; cpappas@elearningindustry.comPR contact: Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, +44 (0)1727 860405, bob.little@boblittlepr.com
Urgent need to scale up health services in Coxs Bazar NewsPatrolling.com : Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh, 20 February 2018: Calling for continued efforts to further scale up health services for nearly 1.3 million people in Coxs Bazar, Rohingyas and their surrounding host communities, the World Health Organization today said six months after the start of the refugee crisis, the vulnerable populations remain at risk of several diseases and in need of critical services for survival.



Commendable efforts have been made by the Government of Bangladesh and partner agencies to provide health services; prevent diseases such as cholera; and rapidly control outbreaks of measles and diphtheria. However, the challenges are huge, multiple and evolving. The magnitude of the crisis requires continued efforts and generous contributions by all partners to scale up health services for the vulnerable population, said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director for WHO South-East Asia.



An estimated 688 000 Rohingyas crossed over to Coxs Bazar from Myanmar beginning 25 August 2017, joining nearly 212 500 others who had arrived in earlier waves, in one of the largest population movement in the shortest span.



While majority of the refugees are living in Kutapalong and Balukhali mega camps and 11 other clusters of small and big settlements, about 79 000 are living with the host population.



The mega camps are currently one of the worlds biggest refugee settlement areas and also one of the worlds most densely populated areas.



The health needs of this population continue to be immense. Women and young mothers need reproductive health services. An estimated 60 000 children are expected to be born in the camps in the next one year. Besides newborns, pregnant and young mothers; children, adults and the elderly need basic health services and that for injuries, trauma and various non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and importantly, psychosocial support.



Water and sanitation, and shelter continues to be far from optimum, increasing the risk of rapid spread of several communicable and water borne diseases, the Regional Director said, stressing the need to accelerate efforts to address the key determinants of health on a priority.



The upcoming rainy season and the risk of cyclone and floods, increase the vulnerability of these people to waterborne diseases such as diarrhea and hepatitis, and vector borne diseases such as malaria, dengue and chikungunya.



For keeping a close watch on the situation, WHO established the Early Warning and Response System (EWARS), early as the crisis started, to rapidly detect and respond to disease outbreak to minimize death and disease. Additionally, WHO has been periodically carrying out risk assessments to enable Ministry of Health and partners take measures to detect potential health risks and take timely and appropriate measures.



The EWARS and risk assessments helped Bangladeshs decision to carry out large scale vaccination campaigns with cholera, measles and rubella, polio and diphtheria vaccines. WHO has been working with the Ministry of Health and partners to plan, roll out and monitor vaccination campaigns to ensure all children are protected.



WHO continues to lead and coordinate efforts of over 100 partners managing more than 270 health facilities  health posts, hospitals, treatment centers and mobile clinics  while also providing medicines and medical equipment, diagnostics, guidelines and trainings and building laboratory capacity.



Despite efforts by government and partners, challenges are many. The affected population has distinct and unique culture and language, a major barrier in impacting health seeking and hygiene behavior.



But the most impending challenge is finding a safe space to relocate the refugees in case of floods and cyclone during the upcoming rainy season, which may further impact their health.



The Government of Bangladesh has been extremely generous and forthcoming in hosting and providing for the Rohingyas. However, the health sector is grossly under-funded and grappling to meet the needs of the affected population, Dr Khetrapal Singh said, appealing to international community to contribute generously and commit to support what clearly is set to be a protracted emergency.



Reiterating WHOs committed to work with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and partners to address health issues of the vulnerable population, the Regional Director said concerted efforts by both national and international community is the need of the hour to strengthen and reinforce health services for both the Rohingyas and the their host population in Coxs Bazar.



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Global Ultrasonic Water Meter Market Outlook 2018: Itron, Landisgyr, Danfoss

Global Ultrasonic Water Meter Market

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The research report on Global Ultrasonic Water Meter Market presents an in-depth evaluation of the Ultrasonic Water Meter industry. With attention to Ultrasonic Water Meter key trends, it focuses regulative landscape, drivers, and challenges. It explicitly defines Ultrasonic Water Meter opportunities, standardization with latest technologies. The Ultrasonic Water Meter report serves forecast from 2018 to 2023 to clarify the future roadmap. The deployment models, operator case studies, Ultrasonic Water Meter player profiles are explained in detail.World Ultrasonic Water Meter market study contains a summary that addresses Ultrasonic Water Meter market size, revenue, product scope. The Ultrasonic Water Meter report covers sales volumes and figures together with growth opportunities. Further, it lists current Ultrasonic Water Meter trade leaders and their sales/revenue metrics. Additionally, it delivers Ultrasonic Water Meter growth estimation in returning years.The report covers both sides of the worldwide Ultrasonic Water Meter market, starting from the basic market data and advancing a lot of to vital necessary criteria. Ultrasonic Water Meter trade analysis report analyzes, tracks, and presents the global Ultrasonic Water Meter industry size of the most important players in every region around the world. What is more, the report provides information of the leading players within the Ultrasonic Water Meter market.Get Sample Report @Different Analysis of the Global Ultrasonic Water Meter Market:Regional Analysis focuses on the Ultrasonic Water Meter in Global market, especially in Japan, India, Southeast Asia, Europe and North America, China. The growth of Ultrasonic Water Meter industry is expected to grow with significant CAGR during the forecast period from 2018 to 2023.Type Analysis displays the production, price, Ultrasonic Water Meter market share and growth rate of each type. Alongside, the application analysis focuses on the standing and outlook for major Ultrasonic Water Meter applications/end users. Also analyzes the consumption (sales), share and Ultrasonic Water Meter growth rate for each application.Top Manufacturers of Global Ultrasonic Water Meter Market:DanfossItronLandisgyrGEOMEGAKROHNEBadger MeterEmerson ElectricONICONInquire about Report @Global Ultrasonic Water Meter Market Report Provides Comprehensive Analysis of Following:Ultrasonic Water Meter Market segments and sub-segmentsIndustry size & Ultrasonic Water Meter sharesUltrasonic Water Meter Market trends and dynamicsMarket Drivers and Ultrasonic Water Meter OpportunitiesSupply and demand of world Ultrasonic Water Meter industryTechnological inventions in Ultrasonic Water Meter tradeUltrasonic Water Meter Marketing Channel Development TrendGlobal Ultrasonic Water Meter industry PositioningPricing and Brand StrategyDistributors/Traders List enclosed in Positioning Ultrasonic Water Meter MarketGlobal Ultrasonic Water Meter Market Highlights:A complete background analysis of Ultrasonic Water Meter Systems trade, together with an evaluation of the parental market. Also, it delivers emerging Ultrasonic Water Meter trends by local markets and segment. Another key point is market shares and approaches of key players in Ultrasonic Water Meter market. At the same time, it explains the current and calculable size of Ultrasonic Water Meter market. In addition, it depicts narration and estimation of recent Ultrasonic Water Meter industry developments.Ultrasonic Water Meter market report guarantees that you may stay higher advised than your competition. With structured tables and figures examining the Ultrasonic Water Meter market, the document provides you a leading product, submarkets, market revenue and forecasts to 2023. Comparatively, it includes major players, present, past and futuristic data.In conclusion, Ultrasonic Water Meter Market 2018 report presents the descriptive analysis of the parent market. This study is a valuable guide for all the Ultrasonic Water Meter trade competitors. The Ultrasonic Water Meter report not only gives you a deeper understanding but it also helps you in significantly predicting the future scope of the Ultrasonic Water Meter market. Thus, the Ultrasonic Water Meter report helps the new aspirants to inspect the upcoming opportunities in the Ultrasonic Water Meter market.About Us:Market.Biz is designed to provide the best and most penetrating research required to all commercial, industrial and profit-making ventures in any sector of online business. We take pride in our ability to satisfy the market research needs of both domestic and international businesses.Market.Biz has access to the world's most comprehensive and up-to-date databases in your business sector, including countless market reports that can provide you with valuable data relating to your business. We understand the needs of our clients, and keep our reports updated as market requirement changes.Contact US:PRUDOURJames JohnsonS no. 51/14 First Floor, Office Number 4,Vishwa Arcade, Near Navale Lawns,Pune, Maharashtra, India 411041Tel: +1(857)2390696Email: inquiry@market.bizWebsite:Blog:
Brain Cancer Diagnostics Market: Analysis and Forecast by Future Market Insights

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Brain cancers are the extracellular growth in the brain that includes primary brain tumors, and secondary brain tumors. Primary brain tumors start in the brain and do not spread to other parts of the body while the secondary tumors or metastases are those, which are caused by cancers that began in another part of the body. Brain tumors may be categorized into 40 major types, which are grouped into two major groups such as benign and slow growing with less possibility to spread and the other type is the malignant and cancerous that is more likely to spread. There are some causes, which results in brain cancer and are more common in people with certain gene factor or hereditary conditions. Brain cancer can also be caused due to the exposure of very high doses of radiation to head. Brain cancer is most commonly diagnosed through MRI. Other prevalent methods include angiograms, CT scans, diffusion tensor imaging, fMRI, etc. Technological evolution coupled with accelerated demand for faster diagnosis are factors pushing R&D in the brain cancer diagnostics market.Brain Cancer Diagnostics Market: Drivers & RestraintsRevenue growth in the brain cancer diagnostics market is expected to be fuelled by factors such as technological advancements from conventional techniques. This has helped improve speed as well as the accuracy of the diagnostic machines, yielding better results, which could finally make way for earlier adoption of treatments. Significant increase in brain cancer prevalence globally is expected to underpin market growth in near future. One of the major contribution factors is the rise in a number of cigarette smokers and other various environmental toxins, which causes brain cancer. Around 78,000 new cases of primary brain tumors are expected to be diagnosed this year; 25,000 of them are primary malignant and 53,000 non-malignant brain cancers.Request to View Sample Report @Primaryrestraints include rising cost of diagnosis, low awareness levels and reduced accessibility to the same. In this regard, the rates of diagnosis are much higher in developed markets than in low-income countries.Brain Cancer Diagnostics Market: SegmentationBrain cancer diagnostics market is classified on the basis of test type, brain cancer type, and end-user.Based on test type, the brain cancer diagnostics market is segmented into the following:Magnetic Resonance SpectroscopyPET ScanSingle Photon Emission CT Scan (SPECT)Spinal TapMagnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)Based on Brain Cancer Type, the Brain cancer diagnostics Market is segmented into the following:Acoustic neuromaAstrocytomasChordomasChoroid plexus papillomaCraniopharyngiomasEpendymomasGanglioneuromasGlioblastoma multiformeGliomasMeningiomasOthers (mixed, optic nerve and brainstem gliomas, oligodendroglioma, pineal tumors, pituitary adenomas, primitive neuroectodermal tumors, schwannomas, vascular tumors)Based on End-User, the brain cancer diagnostics market is segmented into the following:HospitalsCancer Diagnostic CenterCancer Research InstitutesBased on geography, the Brain cancer diagnostics Market is segmented into following:North America (U.S., Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil)Western Europe (Germany, Italy, U.K, Spain, France,Rest of Western Europe)Eastern Europe (Russia)Asia-Pacific(China, India, ASEAN, Australia & New Zealand)JapanMiddle Eastand Africa (GCC, S. Africa)Brain cancer diagnostics Market: OverviewBrain cancer diagnostics market is expected to expand at healthy growth rates across regions.In the U.S. alone the American Brain Tumor Association has predicted that nearly 78,000 new cases of primary brain tumors are expected to be diagnosed this year. Malignant brain tumors are the most common cause of cancer-related mortality in patients aged 15-39 years. It is also one of the most common cancers affecting 15-19-year-olds. The markets in European region too are expected to witness rising number of diagnosed cases given a cross-sectional aging in population levels. The diagnosis of meningioma followed by glioma and glioblastoma are expected to witness acceleration in the U.S. and EU5 countries.Request For Table Of Content @Brain Cancer Diagnostics Market: Region-wise OutlookDepending on the geographic region, Brain cancer diagnostics market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, and Middle East & Africa.North America is expected to account for the largest market by revenue generation from diagnosis of brain cancers due to etiological trends and lifestyle oriented problems apart from genetic issues. Eastern and Western Europe are expected to reflect accelerated diagnosis rates owing to the availability of reimbursement facilities. With the rise in standards of health care services in Asia Pacific countries is expected to favor the market for brain cancer diagnostics. The increase in healthcare expenditure stemming from government budgets could raise diagnostic infrastructure standards in Asia Pacific countries. Amongst the Asian countries, China, India, Australia and New Zealand and South Korea is expected to be more promising because of rising per capita spending on healthcare as well as large developments in healthcare infrastructure.Brain Cancer Diagnostics Market: Key PlayersGE Healthcare, Hologic, Inc., NantOmics, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., are some of the participating global players in brain cancer diagnostics market.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. technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.Future Market InsightsValley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
GLOBAL OIL AND GAS CHEMICALS, BY UPSTREAM, MIDSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM MARKET TO SURPASS US$ 85 BILLION BY 2025

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The Global Oil and Gas Chemicals Market was valued at US$ 52.54 billion in 2016, according to a new report published by Coherent Market Insights. Oil and gas chemicals has major application in exploration of natural gas at various levels of oil & gas production process. These chemicals are used as corrosion inhibitors, emulsion breakers, cementing super plasticizers, paraffin dispersants, and drilling additives. Additionally, oil and gas chemicals find major application in drilling activities, owing to increasing need to improve and enhance the efficiency and productivity of drilling operations. They are regarded as essential fossil fuel elements, as they increase the feasibility of drilling reservoirs of gas or oil in various terrains along with easy extraction of abundant fossil fuels. Oil and gas chemicals find their use in upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors. However, slump in oil price has hampered the growth of oil and gas chemicals market.Request a sample copy of this report:Key Trends and Analysis of the Oil and Gas Chemicals Market:The Upstream segment dominated the oil and gas chemicals market in 2016, according to the stats provided by Coherent Market Insights. Oil and gas chemicals are widely used in an oilfield activities for extraction, exploration, and production of oil and natural gas. Increasing energy demand, rise in exploration, and production activities to discover untapped oil and gas reserves have boosted the upstream sector in the oil and gas chemicals market. According to Baker Hughes, the worldwide rig count in March 2016, was 1,551 which has increased to 1,985 in March 2017.Stimulation chemicals among the upstream chemicals are accounted to have the largest growth in the upstream oil and gas chemicals market, owing to their continuous use in an oilfield to repair and improve the productivity of well. Additionally, desalting chemicals from the midstream segment has the largest market in midstream oil and gas chemicals, owing to their significant use to remove salt from the treated oil. Similarly, petrochemicals segment from the downstream chemicals holds the largest share in the downstream oil and gas chemicals market.Access Table of Content (TOC) of the report:North-America is witnessed to be a giant market in oil and gas chemicals. Shale gas revolution has paved paths to increase in exploration and production activities in this region. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the total shale production in the U.S. in 2014 was 13.4 trillion cubic feet, which raised up to 15.2 trillion cubic feet in 2015. Increase in offshore E&P activities in shallow and deep water has contributed to the growth of oil and gas chemicals in this region.Latin America, on the other hand, has proven to have bulk of new discoveries from shale, oil sand and deep water regions. However, this region is accounted to have a stagnant growth in the oil and gas chemicals market, owing to the government regulations and civilian unrest resulting in hindrance of new investments in Latin America. However, this region is projected to have a high growth in the oil and gas chemicals market over the forecast period with the second highest CAGR of 7.07% after Asia-Pacific.Asia-Pacific is anticipated to be the fastest-growing market in the oil and gas chemicals market over the forecast period with a CAGR of 7.36%, highest among all the regions, owing to the presence of two largely emerging economies such as China and India. India is host to large gas reserves off its east coast. Also, China's exploitable shale gas reserves are estimated at 21.8 trillion cubic meters, with proven reserves at 544.1 billion cubic meters.Africa has witnessed to be one of the significant growing market in oil and gas chemicals. In 2010, an estimated 85 trillion cubic feet of gas was discovered in the Rovuma basin in Mozambique. In September 2017, PetroSA and Russia based Rosgeo signed a US$ 400 million agreement to develop oil and gas reserves off the coast of South Africa. In June 2016, in Angola, state-owned Sonangol announced a gas discovery in the Kwanza Basin, which is estimated to hold 813 million barrel of oil equivalent. BP plc holds a block in the discovered field in a joint venture with Sonangol.Middle East is projected to have a prominent growth in the oil and gas chemicals market, owing to the presence of major oilfield countries in this region such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran, and UAE. The growing E&P and long life of the oilfield has given roots for major players to invest in Middle East. Additionly, this region is regarded as the largest exporter of oil and gas in the world especially Saudi Arabia. UAE is focusing on uplifting infrastructure and industrial development, petrochemical, airline, and renewable energy to support its primary oil industry. Occidental company has a 30 years joint venture with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company on one of the largest natural gas fields in Middle East called Al Hons Gas featuring to extract sulfur from natural gas.View this full report:Key Players in Global Oil and Gas Chemicals Market for Upstream, Midstream and DownstreamMajor players operating in the global oil and gas chemicals market include Baker Hughes, Akzo Nobel NV, Elementis Plc., NALCO Champion, Newpak Resources Inc., The Lubrizol Corporation, Halliburton Company, Solvay SA, and others.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com
Market Research of Aerospace Composites Market : Market Price and Gross Margin Analysis with Forecasts to 2024

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Aerospace Composites Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024" to its huge collection of research reports.Global Aerospace Composites Market: OverviewAerospace composites are the composite material systems which find applications in the aviation industry due to their key chemical and mechanical properties. The composite materials commonly used in the aerospace industry are carbon fiber composites, glass fiber composites and aramid fiber composites. Application segments of global aerospace composites include commercial & business aircraft, helicopters, military and space. Carbon fiber composites are the commonly used composite material in the aerospace industry due to high fuel efficiency and low carbon emission. Increasing air passenger traffic, emerging economies and growing number of low cost carriers are expected to boost the market. Recent trend of spending heavily on military and space programs are expected to fuel the growth of the aerospace market in near future.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @In-depth interviews and discussions with a wide range of key opinion leaders and industry participants were conducted to compile this research report. Primary research represents the bulk of research efforts, supplemented by extensive secondary research. Key players product literature, annual reports, press releases, and relevant documents were reviewed for competitive analysis and market understanding. This helped in validating and strengthening secondary research findings. Primary research further helped in developing the analysis teams expertise and market understanding.Global Aerospace Composites Market: Scope of the ReportThe report estimates and forecasts the aerospace composites market on the global, regional, and country levels. The study provides forecast between 2016 and 2024 based on volume (Tons) and revenue (US$ Mn) with 2015 as the base year. The report comprises an exhaustive value chain analysis for each of the product segments. It provides a comprehensive view of the market. Value chain analysis also offers detailed information about value addition at each stage.The study includes drivers and restraints for the aerospace composites market along with their impact on demand during the forecast period. The study also provides key market indicators affecting the growth of the market. The report analyzes opportunities in the aerospace composites market on the global and regional level. Drivers, restraints, and opportunities mentioned in the report are justified through quantitative and qualitative data. These have been verified through primary and secondary resources. Furthermore, the report analyzes global average price trend analysis of aerospace composites.Make an Enquiry about TOC @The report includes Porters Five Forces Model to determine the degree of competition in the aerospace composites market. The report comprises a qualitative write-up on market attractiveness analysis, wherein application and countries have been analyzed based on attractiveness for each region. Growth rate, market size, raw material availability, profit margin, impact strength, technology, competition, and other factors (such as environmental and legal) have been evaluated in order to derive the general attractiveness of the market. The report comprises price trend analysis for aerospace composites between 2016 and 2024.Global Aerospace Composites Market: Key SegmentsThe study provides a comprehensive view of the aerospace composites market by dividing it into product type, application and geography. The aerospace composites market has been segmented into carbon fiber composites, glass fiber composites, aramid fiber composites and others. Application segments have been analyzed based on commercial & business aircraft, military, helicopters and space .The aerospace composites market has been estimated in terms of volume (Tons) and revenue (US$ Mn) between 2016 and 2024.Companies Mentioned in ReportThe report covers detailed competitive outlook that includes market share and profiles of key players operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include Cytec Solvay Group, Hexcel Corporation, Koninklijke TenCate, Toray Industries Inc., BASF SE, SGL-The Carbon Company. Company profiles include attributes such as company overview, number of employees, brand overview, key competitors, business overview, business strategies, recent/key developments, acquisitions, and financial overview (wherever applicable).About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.For More Information Kindly Contact :ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @
LTE and 5G Market is Expected to Generate Huge Profits by 2020

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The mobile broadband industry is evolving rapidly, with the successful global deployment of 3G in certain regions, the next iterations lined up are LTE or 4G and 5G. 4G and 5G are nothing but the acronyms for fourth and fifth generation of mobile telecommunication technology succeeding 3G. Long Term Evolution (LTE) can be deployed by mobile operators in two different ways .i.e. global system for mobile communication (GSM) and code-division multiple access (CDMA), depending on the radio frequency spectrum available. 4G can support data speeds of up to 100Mbps in the downlink and 50 Mbps in the uplink. Both 4G and 5G are based on IP packet switched network infrastructure. The next advancement to 4G networks is 5G, which can deliver speeds up to an astounding rate of 10 Gbps. LTE is governed by 3rd generation partnership project also known as 3GPP whereas 5G is governed by a new body known as 5G Infrastructure Public-Private Partnership, in short 5G PPPA sample of this report is available upon request @When it comes to benefits, LTE and 5G technologies has lot to offer to consumers as well as businesses, which includes support of higher data rates ( upload and download rates), lowered latency or response time of the network, better security with multilevel data encryption and other security enhancements, deeper coverage than its predecessor technology, higher reliability and seamless roaming. These technologies have various applications like in internet services, multimedia services, voice calls over Internet Protocol (VOIP), gaming services, video telephony and mobile TV.Increasing mobile broadband connections, high data consumption in various applications such as video streaming, video conferencing and by new mobile devices and efficient use of spectrum are some of the factor that are increasing the adoption of LTE and 5G technologies.The challenges that need to be addressed in order to deploy such advance technologies are few compatible devices, scarcity of spectrum availability and the network infrastructure required to support such high data rates which incorporates high investment.LTE and 5G market can be segmented into spectrum, releases and geography. The spectrum segment includes long term evolution frequency division duplex (FDD LTE) and long term evolution time division multiplex (TDD LTE). Apart from few countries like China, India and Hong Kong which follow TD LTE, rest of the world use FD LTE technology. The releases segment includes Rel 8, Rel 9, Rel 10, Rel 11, Rel 12 and Rel 13. On the basis of geography the LTE and 5G market can be sub-segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan Middle East and Africa.With the introduction of new advanced technologies like 4G and 5G, the mobile broadband segment aided trends such as smart cities, smart devices, mobility, cloud computing and ubiquitous computing to grow.The key players that are involved in development and deployment of these technologies are Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, Huawei Technologies, Nokia Solutions and Networks, AT&T INC, Motorola Solutions Inc., NTT DOCOMO Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., China Mobile, Verizon Communications. As for their strategy these players use innovations and expansion of their product and services geographically so as to gain a competitive advantage. For example, in 2012, Huawei, launched a new generation of network architecture for LTE-B of FusionNet, which comprises of several core technologies, including multi-stream aggregation, traffic adaption, spectrum efficiency optimization and interference coordination, at the 2013 Mobile World Congress (MWC).To view TOC of this report is available upon request @In addition, in 2013, Ericsson expanded SK Telecoms LTE-Advanced service by upgrading its software in 84 cities of south-eastern regions of Korea and thus strengthening Ericssons leadership as the main supplier to SK Telecom. Further, in 2014, Alcatel-Lucent attained a deal for providing 4G LTE network overlay solution to America Movil subsidiary Claro in Dominican Republic.About UsFuture Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centres in the U.S. and India.FMIs research and consulting services help businesses around the globe navigate the challenges in a rapidly evolving marketplace with confidence and clarity. Our customised and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. We continuously track emerging trends and events in a broad range of end industries to ensure our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.Contact 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:
Naval Vessels MRO Market to Record an Impressive Growth Rate During Forecast 2017-2025

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Naval Vessels maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) is the process of restoring a naval vessel to a state in which it can perform its optimum best. Usually the naval vessels MRO market includes overhauls, maintenance, inspections, routine checks, repairs and modifications carried out on a vessel and its components to extend the life of a ship. Naval vessels are subjected to periodic maintenance throughout their lifecycle. The infrastructure and facilities required for maintenance at any time depend upon the platform and the type of repair work to be undertaken.Request to Sample of Report-Moreover, naval vessels MRO has become even more important in recent times due to the reduction in military expenditures by numerous countries and the slowdown being witnessed in governments ability to make buying decisions. Various governments are focusing on strengthening their naval fleet structure by collaborating with private service providers whom they entrust with maintenance and repair services. However, there are only a handful of privately held companies which provide naval vessels MRO services. Fortunately, governments of numerous countries provide incentives to such players in order to sustain in the market and keep the effective services afloat.The naval vessels MRO market is driven by increasing demand for outsourcing of MRO services. Outsourcing of MRO services lowers the maintenance cost significantly alongside improving efficiency. This creates opportunities for private players to collaborate with governments and offer naval vessels MRO services. This is anticipated to promote augmentation of naval vessels MRO market in the coming years. Moreover, many countries are spending on naval vessels MRO and retrofits and upgrades as it is a more cost effective alternative to the acquisition of new naval vessel fleets.For more information about this Report visit @This is one of the prime reasons which is anticipated to promote the growth of naval vessels MRO market in the coming years. Moreover, with the aging of naval fleet, the demand for repair and maintenance services is anticipated to increase significantly. This will further give the necessary boost to the naval vessels MRO market in the coming years. Furthermore, the key market players in the market are focusing on introducing innovative technologies to enhance the life of naval vessels. This will further increase the demand for naval vessel MRO services over the assessment period.Naval vessels usually require regular maintenance services. Unfortunately, this increases the cost of maintenance. Furthermore, the initial cost of maintenance and repair of a naval vessel is usually on the higher side. Moreover, the requirement of skilled labor for performing required maintenance services is a must. This puts burden on service providers, which could derail the growth of the naval vessels MRO market in the coming years. A growing trend in the market is the use of 3D printing technologies to convert electronics directly into 3D surfaces.North America is anticipated to dominate the naval vessels MRO market in the coming years. This can be attributed to increasing collaboration between governments and private entities to reduce maintenance cost. Moreover, many countries of the Asia Pacific region are collaborating with other countries of Europe and North America to increase their naval fleet size. This would create opportunities for numerous players to grab the untapped opportunities and give a boost to their revenue stream.Request Report for TOC @Naval Vessels MRO Market: Key ParticipantsExamples of some of the market participants identified across the value chain of the Nasal Vessels MRO market are:Northrop Grumman Corporation,General Dynamics Corporation,BAE Systems Inc.,Lockheed Martin,Huntington Ingalls Industries,URS Corporation,Raytheon Company,Saab AB,Rockwell Collins,Elbit Systems Ltd.,Chidambaram Shipcare Pvt Ltd.,V Group Limited;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.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Applicant Tracking Systems Market in the US, Trends, Analysis and Outlook to 2021

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An applicant tracking system (ATS) collects and stores resumes in a database. It scans and indexes the resumes while giving recruiters an online view of the job seekers. Most organizations use some form of ATSs to handle job applications and manage their large volume of resume data. The data is either collected from internal applications via ATSs or extracted from social networking websites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.Publisher's analysts forecast the applicant tracking systems market in the US to grow at a CAGR of 8.58% during the period 2017-2021.FREE | Request Sample Copy is Available atCovered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the applicant tracking systems market in the US for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated by ATS deployment across the globe.Publisher's report, Applicant Tracking Systems Market in the US 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendors- ApplicantStack- Greenhouse Software- Hyrell- iCIMS- WorkableBuy Now @Other prominent vendors- BambooHR- Cornerstone OnDemand- ExactHire- IBM (Kenexa)- Jobvite- Lumesse- Lever- Paycor- SAP (SuccessFactors)- WorkdayMarket driver- Growing need to streamline HR functions- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge- Data security and privacy concerns- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend- Increasing use of social media- For a full, detailed list, view our reportFor more informationContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Non-Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market : Global Trends, Analysis and Forecast 2026

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Diabetes has evolved as one of the primary healthcare epidemic characterized by high sugar levels and principle cause of mortality worldwide. In 2014, World Health Organization (WHO) estimated 8.5% of adults living with diabetes. A diabetic person cannot either synthesize enough insulin (type 1 diabetes) or either does not make enough insulin or cannot effectively use the insulin produced by the body (type 2 diabetes). Another type of diabetes that occur in women during her pregnancy is gestational diabetes. However, gestational diabetes is usually resolved after delivery but can precede towards type 2 diabetes later in a womens life. Most of the continuous glucose monitoring devices are invasive and involves use of needles leading to increased chance of infection. Furthermore, the invasive glucose monitoring device is considered to be discrete glucose measurement system which cannot be practically used for continuous monitoring of blood glucose. Certain evidences of hyperglycemia between measurements are however not recorded thus resulting in false or no representation of the blood glucose pattern. Noninvasive monitoring of glucose levels eliminates the need of painful pricking with increased risk of infection, and amount of damage caused to the finger tissue.Therefore, non-invasive continuous glucose monitoring devices are being widely investigated and studied over the past few years for their ability to monitor glucose continuously under highly controlled (e.g. in-clinic) conditions. Various techniques that involves measurement of blood glucose levels non-invasively includes, Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS), Mid -Infrared Spectroscopy (Mid-IRS), Raman Spectroscopy, Photo-acoustic Spectroscopy (PA), Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and many more.Non- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring DevicesMarket: Drivers & RestraintsRising prevalence of diabetes globally is expected to result in greater use of noninvasive blood glucose monitoring devices among the prevalent population. Owing to the several disadvantages imposed by the use of invasive blood glucose monitors and growing need to develop noninvasive glucose monitoring diagnostic techniques, the market for non- invasive blood glucose monitoring devices is expected to rise at a greater pace during the forecast period. For instance, in June 2015, researchers in U.K. developed blood glucose device that utilizes low-powered lasers in order to measure the blood glucose levels on the skin surface. Also a bench-top version of the system is currently in clinical trials studies which might land in the market over the next few years. This includes, a finger-touch device similar to a computer mouse and a wearable version for continuous blood glucose monitoring. In addition, increasing efforts by several startup manufacturers, for example, Prediktor Medical- a Norway based manufacturer is developing a wearable device for estimation of blood glucose levels based on the combination of several principles determining the noninvasive glucose monitoring including, advanced multivariate analysis and dynamic models for insulin or glucose interaction.Request to View Sample Report @The device is expected to be in the form of a watch or bracelet communicating with the mobile phone or a tablet for data presentation. This would enable patients monitor their glucose levels continuously without the need for an implant. Currently available blood glucose measuring devices lacks specificity and sensitivity due to the substantial physical and chemical interference. Non-invasive glucose monitoring devices use multivariate regression analyses converting optical signal to glucose concentration. Hence the device should be designed in such a way that it leads to accurate detection of blood glucose levels imperative for optimum therapy and disease management.Non- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market: SegmentationNon- invasive blood glucose monitoring devices marketis segmented by technology, modality end user and geography:By TechnologyMIR/NIR (Mid/Near Infrared Spectroscopy)Raman SpectroscopyOcclusion SpectroscopyOptical Coherence TomographyThermal Emission SpectroscopyPhotoacoustic SpectroscopyImpedance/Dielectric SpectroscopyElectromagneticPolarimetryFluorescenceBy ModalityWearable Blood Glucose Monitoring SystemsNon-wearable /Table top Blood Glucose Monitoring SystemsBy End UserHospitalsHome Care SettingsClinicsNon- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market: OverviewRising prevalence of diabetes worldwide imposes significant economic consequences on the individuals life. Currently, there are 350 million people worldwide estimated to live with diabetes. Thus continuous monitoring of blood glucose levels is essential in order to manage the ever increasing prevalent population living with diabetes currently. For this reason manufacturers are focusing on developing diagnostic techniques that are highly reliable and monitors individuals blood glucose levels with greater accuracy with the capability to improve glycemic control and patient wellbeing. By integration of sensing elements, electronics along with a reliable power source in a single unit, noninvasive blood glucose monitors are offering immense opportunity for all the device manufacturers along with patients and various healthcare providers across the world. Accelerated regulatory approvals of blood glucose monitors is one of the another important factor leading to increased revenues of noninvasive blood glucose devices over the forecast period.Request For Table Of Content @Non- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market: Region-wise OutlookOn the basis of region presence, Non- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, Western Europe, and Asia pacific excluding japan, Japan, Middle East and Africa. Growing number of diabetic population in U.S. is the leading factor contributing towards higher adoption of noninvasive blood glucose monitoring systems. Center of Diseases Control and Prevention estimated 29.1 million of U.S. population with diabetes in the U.S. The data also estimated adult population with diabetes are at 50% higher risk of death. Furthermore, growing need of continuous non-invasive method of blood glucose diagnosis among patients is expected to create higher demand for noninvasive blood glucose monitoring systems worldwide. The incidence of diabetes is higher in regions such as Asia Pacific, North America and Western Europe. Presence of several pipeline blood glucose monitoring systems and their expected launch is expected to drive the market for noninvasive blood glucose devices over the forecast period.Non- Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market: Key PlayersSome of the key market players in the non- invasive blood glucose monitoring devices market are, Abbott, Animas Technologies, Bayer Healthcare, Cercacor, Pendragon Medical, OrSense, and Bayer Healthcare.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. technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.Future Market InsightsValley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Sandalwood Oil Market Forecast to 2023 Detailed in New Research Report

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Market Scenario:Sandalwood oil is derived from steam distillation of chips and billets cut of various species of sandalwood tree. Its color ranges from pale to golden yellow. It has gained popularity majorly due to its woody-floral scent. It is used as a cooling agent in cosmetics which provides relief from burning sensations and also helps in maintaining a healthy skin. Moreover, sandalwood oil creates calming and harmonizing effect for mind which helps in relieving tension, stress, and depression. It has been a common ingredient in Ayurveda, for the treatment of somatic and mental disorderSandalwood oil is an essential oil derived from the heartwood of sandalwood tree. The oil holds a woody and exotic smell which has made it an important ingredient in cosmetics, perfumes and personal care products. Apart from the smell, sandalwood oil has many characteristics which has made it useful and beneficial for health and wellness. Sandalwood oil has gained popularity in aromatherapy owing to its calming and harmonizing effect on the mind.Escalating growth of cosmetic industry is contributing to the growth of sandalwood oil market. Moreover, it holds various attributes such as antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and astringent which has increased its applicability in pharmaceuticals. Additionally, sandalwood oil has historic presence in Ayurveda and various traditions and customs which is driving the growth of sandalwood oil market.Get a Sample Report @Key Players:Some of the key players profiled in the global sandalwood oil market are Doterra International Llc. (U.S.), Eden Botanicals (U.S.), Plant Therapy Essential Oils (U.S.), Santanol Group (Australia), Sallamander Concepts Pty Ltd (South Africa), Healing Solutions (U.S.), Khadi Herbal (India)Intended Audience:Cosmetics industryPharmaceutical industryAromatherapy industryE-commerce industryTraders, importers and exportersKey Findings:The U.S. is the major importer of sandalwood oil and imports majorly from China, India, Mexico, and GermanyIndia, China, Canada, the U.S. and Germany are the major exporters of sandalwood oilSegments:Sandalwood oil market is segmented on the basis of type into natural and synthetic. Out of this, natural sandalwood oil is growing compared to synthetic sandalwood oil due to certain allergic effects caused among consumers with a sensitive skin, from chemicals used in synthetic sandalwood oil.On the basis of application, sandalwood oil is segmented on the basis of personal care products, pharmaceuticals, aromatherapy and others. Among all, personal care products is dominating the market. Increasing demand of fragrant personal care products among the rising population is playing a vital role in increasing application of sandalwood oil in personal care industry.Based on the distribution channel, sandalwood oil is segmented as store based and non-store based. Store based distribution channel is dominating the market based on one-stop shopping experience. However, non-store based distribution channel is witnessing a moderate growth.Access Report Details @Regional Analysis:The global sandalwood oil market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and rest of the world (RoW). Asia Pacific is dominating the market followed by North America. China and India are dominating the sandalwood oil market in Asia Pacific based on the historic presence of sandalwood oil in the customs and traditions of this region.European market is attracting sandalwood oil majorly for aromatherapy. Moreover, Middle East and Africa hold an opportunistic market for sandalwood oil. Additionally, the U.S., China, Japan, Germany and Singapore are the major importers in this market.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.ContactMarket Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Attenuator Cables Market Revenue Predicted To Go Up by 2025

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Today, the electronics industry plays an important and main role in facilitating the progress of most nations. The industry has grown substantially and strongly over the past few decades. During the early years of the electronics industry, some of the worlds top electronic companies established their plants in Asia, particularly in ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) countries where a large pool of skilled workers was available to operate at very competitive prices. With the entry of large players in ASEAN countries, such as Singapore, Thailand, Philippines and Malaysia, the region has become an export hub.For more information about this Report visit @An attenuator is an electronics device which helps in reducing power or amplitude without appreciably distorting the waveform. An optical attenuator is a passive device used to control the power of an optical signal, either within an optical fiber or in a free space. Attenuators are generally used when the signal coming at the receiver end is too strong and is thus capable of overpowering the receiving elements. Some devices, such as video camcorders and low priced analog cassette recorders, do not have line inputs. In these devices, attenuator cables are used to filter sound. Attenuator cables help in reducing the optical signal power of optical devices. Many people think that the power of optical signals is higher the better. Thus, in most cases, people use fiber amplifiers to increase the power of optical signals.Attenuator Cables Market: DynamicsIncreasing demand for attenuation from ultrasound and telecommunication sectors is spurring demand in the attenuation cables market. In these sectors, attenuators help in determining signal strength as a function of distance. However, attenuator cables cannot be used between a set of recorders and microphones, if microphones are powered by recorder's mic input (called plug-in power). This particular factor may hamper the growth of attenuator cables market.Attenuator Cables Market: Regional OutlookThe global attenuator cables market is divided into key regions (seven): Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Latin America, North America, Japan, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ) and Middle East & Africa (MEA). APEJ holds the highest share among all regional electronics production centers and is followed by USA, Europe, Japan and others. A large number of manufacturing companies located in high cost locations, such as Canada, USA, Western Europe and Japan, are setting their production plants in Asia Pacific countries owing to the low manufacturing cost in the region.Request Report for TOC @The Latin America is considered as one of the key market for attenuator cables because of increasing demand for video camcorders. The Western Europe region will also register rapid growth owing to the presence of major electronics companies in the region. MEA is also anticipated to witness a steady growth rate over the forecast period. Over the years, attenuator cables continued to have strong prospects for growth and market penetration. On the other hand, there are new opportunities to profit from increased customer services needs among major brand. APEJ increasingly become a key center for global brand developments and innovation, making an ideal place to develop new technology and enhancing products. The North America region is seeing a significant volume of new investment both from the both new entrants and traditional major player.Request to Sample of Report-Examples of some of the market participants identified in the Attenuator Cables market across the globe are:Meca Electronics Inc.,Heliax,Atlan TecRF,Fibertronics Inc.,Fairview Microwave Inc.,Shilpi Cable Technologies Limited,Smiths Group,Hasco, Inc.,Circuit Foundry LLP (Attenuator Manufacturer),Koma Electronik,StromKult;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.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Baby Diaper Machine Market Segmented by Top Manufacturers - Zuiko, Fameccanica, GDM, Joa, Peixin, JWC Machinery, HCH

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MarketStudyReport.com Add New Global Baby Diaper Machine Market by Manufacturers, Countries, Type and Application, Forecast to 2023 to its research database. The report presents a deep study of the market growth factors and drivers. The report spread across 108 pages with table and figures in it.A Baby Diaper Machine is the machine that produces baby diapers. With the widespread use of baby diapers, Baby Diaper Machine has a tendency of faster production speed and higher automation degree.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Baby Diaper Machine market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Request a sample copy of Baby Diaper Machine Market Research Report @Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers Zuiko, Fameccanica, GDM, Joa, Peixin, JWC Machinery, HCH, Xingshi, CCS, Bicma, Pine Heart,M.D. Viola, Hangzhou Loong.An inherent sub-vertical of the Manufacturing and Construction industry space, Baby Diaper Machine market stands to gain remarkable proceeds over 2018-2023, as per a recently compiled report Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers:North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Table of Contents:Global Baby Diaper Machine Market OverviewGlobal Baby Diaper Machine Market Manufacturers ProfilesGlobal Baby Diaper Machine Market Competition, by ManufacturerGlobal Baby Diaper Machine Market Analysis by RegionsGlobal Baby Diaper Machine by CountriesGlobal Baby Diaper Machine Market Segment by TypeGlobal Baby Diaper Machine Market Segment by ApplicationBaby Diaper Machine Market Forecast (2018-2023)Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and DealersResearch Findings and ConclusionAppendixMarket Segment by Type, covers Full-Automatic Baby Diaper MachineSemi-Automatic Baby Diaper MachineMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into Waist Tape TypePants TypeEnquire For Discount on Baby Diaper Machine Market Research Report @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Baby Diaper Machine market.Chapter 1, to describe Baby Diaper Machine Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Baby Diaper Machine, with sales, revenue, and price of Baby Diaper Machine, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Baby Diaper Machine, for each region, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the market by countries, by type, by application and by manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 12, Baby Diaper Machine market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2018 to 2023;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Baby Diaper Machine sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceFor More Info on Market Research @Related Reports: -Global (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) All Terrain Robot Market 2018 Forecast to 2023All Terrain Robot can handle a wider variety of terrain than ordinary robots, it provides maneuverability and stability on every point of the terrain, and widely used for inspection, surveillance, recCentralize market research purchases across your entire organization in one place.Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Market Study ReportThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News:Connect with us: Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter
Global Test Preparation Market Will Grow At A CAGR Of 16.39% During The Period 2017-2021

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Test Preparation Market in China 2017-2021" to its huge collection of research reports.About Test PreparationStudents are procuring test preparation programs and services to enhance their performance in academic and non-academic examinations. With respect to surge in the demand for test preparation products, the providers have made changes in their marketing and delivery services to increase student acquisition rates. Majority of students have begun to enroll for online tutoring services to prepare for standardized tests and school level exams.Technavios analysts forecast the test preparation market in China to grow at a CAGR of 16.39% during the period 2017-2021.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the Test Preparation Market in China for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers revenue generated by test preparation service providers.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEMEATechnavios report, Test Preparation Market in China 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendorsCDELClub Z! TutoringKaplanNew Oriental Education & Technology GroupMake an Enquiry about TOC @Other prominent vendorsATAEIC EducationGlobal Education & Technology GroupManhattan ReviewTAL EducationTutors in ChinaChuanke.comXiaozhan JiaoyuMarket driverStable demand for test preparation in ChinaFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeThreat from open sourcesFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendIncorporating virtual learning platformsFor a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.For More Information Kindly Contact :ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @
Payments Landscape in Kenya Market 2017: Key Players: Equity Bank, Co-operative Bank, National Bank of Kenya, Diamond Trust Bank and More

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WiseGuyReports published new report, titled Payments Landscape in KenyaSummary"Payments Landscape in Kenya: Opportunities and Risks to 2021", report provides detailed analysis of market trends in Kenyan cards and payments industry. It provides values and volumes for a number of key performance indicators in the industry, including cash, payment cards, and cheques during the review-period (2013-17e).The report also analyzes various payment card markets operating in the industry, and provides detailed information on the number of cards in circulation, transaction values and volumes during the review-period and over the forecast-period (2017-21f). It also offers information on the country's competitive landscape, including the market shares of issuers and schemes.The report brings together research, modeling, and analysis expertise to allow banks and card issuers to identify segment dynamics and competitive advantages. The report also covers details of regulatory policy and recent changes in the regulatory structure.This report provides top-level market analysis, information and insights into the Kenyan cards and payments industry, including - Current and forecast values for each market in the Kenyan cards and payments industry, including debit and credit cards.- Detailed insights into payment instruments including cash, cheques, and payment cards. It also, includes an overview of the country's key alternative payment instruments.- E-commerce market analysis and payment methods.- Analysis of various market drivers and regulations governing Kenyan cards and payments industry.- Detailed analysis of strategies adopted by banks and other institutions to market debit and credit cards.GET SAMPLE REPORT @Companies mentionedEquity BankCo-operative BankKCBNational Bank of KenyaDiamond Trust BankBarclaysStandard BankVisaMastercardScope- In February 2017, Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) announced the launch of PesaLink, a real-time interbank money transfer system. The service enables individuals to transfer a minimum of KES10 ($0.10) and a maximum of KES999,999 ($9,681) instantly 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. No charges are applicable for transactions up to KES500 ($4.80), after which a charge of KES11 ($0.10) is levied on every transaction. Transfers can be initiated via multiple channels, including mobile banking, internet banking, branch front offices, ATMs, banking agents, and POS terminals. The service is currently offered by all of the countrys major banks.- Alternative payments are gaining prominence in the country with the availability of a number of payment solutions. To maintain its dominance in the market, M-Pesa expanded its service in May 2017 to include NFC-based in-store payments. The new service, M-Pesa 1Tap, allows users to make payments by tapping a card, mobile phone sticker, or wristband device that is connected to their M-Pesa account onto a contactless POS terminal. To compete with M-Pesa, Visa collaborated with a number of banks to launch its mobile payment solution mVisa in Kenya in September 2016. The solution allows users to access funds and make both online and in-store payments. Consumers can also withdraw funds from their bank accounts through mVisa agents. In February 2017, Mastercard launched Masterpass QR, an enhancement of its Masterpass platform.- To curb cash transactions and money laundering, in January 2016 the Central Bank of Kenya mandated that all Kenyan individuals must fill in a special form if they deposit or withdraw more than KES1.0m ($10,000) from a bank account. Individuals must state the details of the transaction, including the source of funds, recipient/payee credentials, and the purpose of the transaction. They also have to state the reason for not using another electronic transfer option. The move is designed to enhance the traceability of bank transactions and help boost electronic payments in the country.Key points- Make strategic business decisions, using top-level historic and forecast market data, related to the Kenyan cards and payments industry and each market within it.- Understand the key market trends and growth opportunities in the Kenyan cards and payments industry.- Assess the competitive dynamics in the Kenyan cards and payments industry.- Gain insights into marketing strategies used for various card types in Kenya.- Gain insights into key regulations governing the Kenyan cards and payments industry...CONTINUEDFor accessing accurate and deep understanding and to gain latest insights and key developments in the area of your interest, we also have a list of conferences in which you will be interested in, for more information, cordially checkFor updating knowledge or for thoroughly understanding various terminologies, we also have vast list of seminars for your reference, for more information cordially checkWise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available. We also provide COTS (Commercial off the Shelf) business sector reports as custom exploration agreeing your particular needs.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Beta Pinene Market Forecasts  Arizona Chemical(Kraton), DRT, IFF, Symrise

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MarketStudyReport.com Add New Global Beta Pinene Market by Manufacturers, Countries, Type and Application, Forecast to 2023 to its research database. The report presents a deep study of the market growth factors and drivers. The report spread across 102 pages with table and figures in it.Beta-Pinene (-pinene) is a monoterpene, an organic compound found in plants. It is one of the two isomers of pinene, the other being -pinene. It is colorless liquid soluble in alcohol, but not water. It has a woody-green pine-like smell.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Beta Pinene market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Request a sample copy of Beta Pinene Market Research Report @Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers Arizona Chemical(Kraton), DRT, IFF, Symrise, Socer Brasil, Nippon Terpene Chemicals, Yasuhara Chemical, Sociedad de Resinas Naturales, Sky Dragon Fine-Chem, Sky Dragon Forest Chemical, Zhongbang Chemicals, Xinghua Natural Spice, GuangDong Pine Forest Perfume, DONGPING FLAVOR & FRAGRANCES, Yunnan Linyuan Perfume.An inherent sub-vertical of the Chemicals and Advanced Materials industry space, Beta Pinene market stands to gain remarkable proceeds over 2018-2023, as per a recently compiled report Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers:North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Table of Contents:Global Beta Pinene Market OverviewGlobal Beta Pinene Market Manufacturers ProfilesGlobal Beta Pinene Market Competition, by ManufacturerGlobal Beta Pinene Market Analysis by RegionsGlobal Beta Pinene by CountriesGlobal Beta Pinene Market Segment by TypeGlobal Beta Pinene Market Segment by ApplicationBeta Pinene Market Forecast (2018-2023)Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and DealersResearch Findings and ConclusionAppendixMarket Segment by Type, covers Purity?95%Purity?95%Market Segment by Applications, can be divided into Fragrance IngredientTerpene ResinPharmaceutical IntermediateOthersEnquire For Discount on Beta Pinene Market Research Report @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Beta Pinene market.Chapter 1, to describe Beta Pinene Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Beta Pinene, with sales, revenue, and price of Beta Pinene, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Beta Pinene, for each region, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the market by countries, by type, by application and by manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 12, Beta Pinene market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2018 to 2023;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Beta Pinene sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceFor More Info on Market Research @Related Reports: -Global (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) Aluminum Chloride Hexahydrate Market 2018 Forecast to 2023"This report studies the aluminum chloride hexahydrate market. Aluminum chloride hexahydrate is white or slightly yellow, crystalline powder or colourless crystals. It is also used in water treatmentCentralize market research purchases across your entire organization in one place.Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Market Study ReportThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News:Connect with us: Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter
Research Report Covers the Bilgewater Separator Market Share and Growth, 2017-2025

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Bilgewater Separator Market: Overview:Bilgewater separator provides effective two-stage separation of oily wastewater in land-based power plants and on board vessels at sea without the requirement of back flushing or the addition of activated carbon, chemicals, membrane, or other filters. The critical requirement to keep worlds oceans and its ecosystems productive and healthy, the Bilgewater is treated to reduce the oil contents to levels to meet international regulations for releasing in the environment.The commitment of ship industry to a zero tolerance approach to any non-compliance of the regulations and strict adherence to International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements is expected to drive the demand of Bilgewater separator during the forecast period. Furthermore, easy initial start-up and commissioning, easy installation with pre-mounted system, and complete delivery are some of the benefits served by Bilgewater separator for shipyards.Moreover, Bilgewater separator does not have any moving parts along with operating at ambient temperature, customization, and compact & flexible design availability makes it more attractive leading to gain more traction in the global market. Gravity Oil water separators, centrifugal separators, and polishing are the major treatment stages or unit operations to sufficiently polish and clean Bilgewater to comply with standards. In terms of application, global Bilgewater separator market is estimated to be majorly dominated by shipbuilding industry during the forecast period. Some of the prominent components of Bilgewater separator are pressure gauge, strainer, pump, motor, three-way valve, solenoid valve, water test cock, among others which allows the reasonable use of the separator in any limited installation space.Request Sample Report @Bilgewater Separator Market: Dynamics:Bilgewater Separator market is estimated to witness substantial growth during the forecast period owing to stringent regulations and standards to ensure safety and environmental compliance issues along with upgradation of related equipment to minimize production of waste. Furthermore, reduced waste disposal costs, compact & flexible design, easy installation and operation, and low operating costs are some of the other factors driving the Bilgewater Separator market during the forecast period.Moreover, no moving parts, low maintenance, and simple design of the system is further estimated to enhance the growth of Bilgewater Separator market. However, requirement of skilled labor to efficiently operate the system, and high installation costs are considered as the factors which are estimated to hamper the growth of Bilgewater Separator market during the forecast period. Also, consolidation in the market may impact the power of buyers which is further estimated to hinder the growth of global Bilgewater Separator market during the forecast period.Request to Browse Full Table of Content, figure and Tables @Bilgewater Separator Market: Region-wise Outlook:Europe is estimated to hold a major share in the global Bilgewater Separator Market, followed by Asia-Pacific and North America. Europe and North America are projected to be the major consumers owing to the extensive application across ship and chemical industry. Furthermore, Asia Pacific is estimated to exhibit significant growth during the forecast period owing to growth in trade in countries such as China, India, and ASEAN countries. Moreover, Middle East & Africa and Latin America is expected to account for small share in the global Bilgewater Separator Market, however, during the forecast period, both the regions are estimated to witness substantial growth.Bilgewater Separator Market: Key Market Participants:Some of the prominent market participants in the Global Bilgewater Separator Market are:Compass Water SolutionsMarine Plant Systems Pty LtdMercer International IncWartsilaChongqing Hi-Sea Marine Equipment Import and Export Co., LtdFreytech Inc.Promac B.V.Sulzer LtdPS InternationalHSN-KIKAI KOGYO CO.,LTD.Kanagawa Kiki KogyoVictor MarineSkimOIL, Inc.MAHLE GmbHPacific Marine & IndustrialOcean Clean GmbHSKFOleologyRead Report Overview @ABOUT US:Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance. To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.CONTACT:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Sodium Cyclamate Market to Partake Significant Development During 2017 - 2025

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Sodium Cyclamate is an artificial sweetener which is 30 to 50 times sweeter than sucrose also known as table sugar. Cyclamate is the sodium or calcium salt of cyclohexanesulfamic acid which is processed by the sulfonation of cyclohexylamine. Sodium Cyclamate s less expensive than most sweeteners, including sucralose, and is stable under heating.Sodium cyclamate has several key advantages like excellent stability, tooth friendly, Synergistic with other sweeteners and it is Complementary with fruit flavors. Sodium Cyclamates approval as a sweetener has been controversial in several countries around the world. Initially Sodium Cyclamate was banned in United Kingdom but was approved with limited use level after being re-evaluated by the European Union in 1996.Read Report Overview @Sodium Cyclamate market can be segmented into form, applications and end users.On the basis of form, Sodium Cyclamate is segmented into liquid, powder and granular form. Among these forms, the powder format of sodium cyclamate is being used in large scale especially in the food industry. As a result, the volume share of powder format is being anticipated to be higher as compared to other format.On the basis of application, Sodium Cyclamate is segmented into food & beverages industry, pharmaceutical industry and cosmetic industry. Food & Beverage industry is further sub segmented into seasonings and sauces, baked goods, confectionery, canned products, soft drinks. Owing to the large application of sodium cyclamate in various food products, food & beverages industry accounts to higher value sales comparatively.On the basis of end user, Sodium cyclamate is segmented into retail and industrial. Taking in account the fact that sodium cyclamate being used in large scale in the food industry, the volume sales for industrial segment is being expected to be higher as compared to the retail segment.On the basis of distribution channel, Sodium cyclamate is segmented into direct and indirect channel. The indirect channel is further sub segmented into hypermarket/supermarket, convenience store and E-Retailer. The distribution through direct channel is being anticipated to be higher with respect to volume sales due to the rising demand for sodium cyclamate by food processing industry.Request Report For TOC @The global Sodium Cyclamate market has been categorized into seven key regions including Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, and the Middle East & Africa. Sodium cyclamate has been controversial in terms of its use in several countries around the world. In the Philippines, sodium cyclamate was banned until the Philippine Food and Drug Administration lifted the ban in 2013, declaring it safe for consumption. Similarly In the late 1960s cyclamate was banned in the United Kingdom but was approved after being re-evaluated by the European Union in 1996. However in United States, the use of sodium cyclamate is currently been prohibited. Sodium cyclamate is being approved as sweetener in at least 130 countries. Post upliftment of ban in European nations, sodium cyclamate is being used in the production of various confectionery products in the region. It is also being used as a preferred tale top sweetener in Eastern Europe like Poland and Germany. Being a low cost sweetener, sodium cyclamate is being used in the production of food products in Asia-Pacific regions as well. Hence, the value share for Europe and Asia Pacific regions is being anticipated to be higher over the forecast period.Sodium Cyclamate Market: Demand Driver:There are various types of sweetener used in the production of wide range of products. However most of these sweetener are being charge higher making it difficult for food manufacturer to incur cost. As a result, manufacturer look out for economical sweetener. Sodium Cyclamate are considered to be low cost sweetener which the manufacturers look out for. Moreover it is being used extensively in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic sectors. As a result, its wide range of application helps drive the demand for sodium cyclamate in the global market.Sodium Cyclamate Market: Key Players:Some of the key players in this market are Fisher Scientific UK Ltd, Tongaat Hulett Sugar South Africa Ltd, PT. BATANG ALUM INDUSTRIE, Sigma-Aldrich, Inc, Fagron UK Limited, Fuerst Day Lawson, MCM Klosterfrau Vertriebsgesellschaft and others.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:
Blockchain Market, By Offering, Market Type, End-user Industry, and Region - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2017-2025

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Blockchain technology is a decentralized software program that establishes a digital register, which enables in protected online payment transactions. These transactions are recorded in the register from a number of computers. The register maintains a continuous set of data containing information about the transaction records without changing the transaction information. The data in the register is maintained in the form of lists, which are organized in Blocks for each time period. These Blocks consists of information about the transactions, and provides a reference to the previous Block, thus, the present Block links to the prior Block to form a Blockchain. Generally, one Block contains the information about a set of transactional records for a particular period of time or fixed memory size.Request Table of Content of This Report:Blockchain permits applicants to authenticate and review transactions. Blockchain-based transactions of value can be completed in faster way, more safely, and economically than conventional transaction systems. This is because conventional transaction systems refer to central administrator or centralized data storage system. Rising popularity of these ledger chains has led significant increase in total capital investments in cryptocurrencies. As of December 2017, according to CoinMarketCap, a cryptocoin price market capital tracker, total market capitalization of the cryptocurrencies was valued at over US$ 500 billion from around US$ 18 billion in 2016.Blockchain protocol has application in various segments such as Initial Coin Offering institutions, digital currency providers, blockchain stocks, peer-to-peer lender, banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI), and information technology to perform digital transactions, securely. Owing to this factor, blockchain-based systems are increasingly being adopted by financial sectors including digital currency providers, banking, financial institutes, and insurance.Blockchain technology can be used to build a permanent and transparent ledger system for gathering data on exchanges, real-time tracking of digital transaction and payments, and to prevent frauds and errors, are also factors expected to boost the blockchain technology market growth.Additionally some major applications of blockchain includes use in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Black coin, Dash and Nxt; and blockchain platform such as Factom as a distributed registry; Gems of decentralized messaging, Storj and Sia for distributed cloud storage; and Tezos for decentralized voting.The blockchain market is expected to be segmented on the basis of geography in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa regions. The market in North America is expected to be dominant in the global market. This is owing to rising awareness and increasing applications of this technology in various segments. For instance, U.S. Department of Energy is exploring the application of blockchain technology for the management of next-generation power grids.Rising demand for e-Commerce in emerging economies in Asia Pacific region such as China and India is another factor for growth of the markets. According to Coherent Market Insights analysis, in 2016, China accounted for over 63% of digital buyers in Asia Pacific followed by India and Japan. Hence, Asia Pacific accounted for over 10% of global retail e-Commerce sales in 2016. This is owing to increasing implementation and improving blockchain services in this region. Blockchain technology is used in e-Commerce for gathering data on exchanges, real-time tracking of digital transaction, and payments. Increased adoption and development of Bitcoin in China is expected to fuel growth rate of block chain market in Asia Pacific region. According to Coherent Market Insights, in 2017 the number of Bitcoin users in China are relatively high and over 80% of Bitcoin transactions are done in the Chinese Yuan.Competitive InsightsKey players in this market are focusing on new application areas for this technology. For instance, in April 2017, IBM partnered with ASCAP and PRS for implementing blockchain technology in music distribution to improve data accuracy.The key market players in the Blockchain industry include IBM Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Amazon.com, Inc., SAP SE, Intel Corporation, Samsung Group, NVIDIA Corporation, Xilinx, Inc., AMD, Inc., Siemens AG, Accenture Plc, and Infosys Ltd.For More Information :About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit Our New Website:
Mobile Application Testing Solution For A Completely Controlled Connectivity Experience

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Market HighlightsThe increasing adoption of applications by the consumers becomes a pressure for the manufacturers to come up with new technological solutions. Manufacturers are investing large amount because of intense competition in the market.Factors such as adoption of new technological solution by corporates, increasing consumer preference for smartphones & tablets, change in income level and technological advancements are driving the overall growth of the market. Whereas, issues related to automated testing is hampering the growth of the mobile application testing market.The software which is installed automatically or manually in a device can be explained as mobile application testing. The market has grown extensively over the years for instance, Capgemini introduced a new lab which enables continuous integration and continuous deployment for mobile application testing. Also, there are new entrants in the mobile application testing market such as Soasta and Experitest and these are the companies who are coming up with new technological solutions for the market.The increasing competition and the demand for high quality application testing are boosting the market growth of Mobile Application Testing Solution. Moreover, the companies are investing into research and development to come up with new solutions for the consumers. Emerging innovations in mobile the mobile industry are prompting the advancements in mobile applications.Request a Sample Report @Major Key PlayersThe key players in the global mobile application testing market include CA Technologies (U.S.), Cognizant Technology Solution Corp (U.S.), Symantec Corporation (U.S.), Hewlett Packard Enterprise (U.S.), Oracle Corporation (U.S.), SAP SE (Germany), SAS Institute Inc. (U.S.), IBM Corporation (U.S.), Microsoft Corporation (U.S.), Capgemini (France), Infostretch Corporation (U.S.) among others.Regional Analysis:Regionally, North-America accounted for the largest market share, because of the increasing adoption of new solutions, changing lifestyle and increasing consumer preference for smartphones.However, Asia-Pacific is expected to grow over the forecast period majorly due to rapid technological advancements and Asian countries being the manufacturing hub.Industry NewsSept 20, 2016 - CA Technologies had acquired BlazeMeter, which enableed CA Technologies to extend its DevOps portfolio. With this acquisition the company can offer a high performance testing with its simplicity, fast-deployment SaaS model, and rapid time-to-value.April 19, 2016 - Cognizant Technology Solution Corp and Kony Inc. had announced to develop an enterprise mobile applications, mobile app design, and mobile back-end services to enhance business process efficiencies and security. With this Enterprise Mobility Solutions and Digital Transformation, both the companies are strengthening their business by offering best service to various sectors such as banking, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, government, and others.March 30, 2015 HP had released multiple software to leverage the power of big data to accelerate mobile app development which will intern improve mobile app development, testing, monitoring and management. With these, the company can easily offer best analytics, security software. and Software-as-a-Service interfaces to their customers.Get a Complete Report @Competitive AnalysisThe Market of Mobile Application Testing Solution appears to be highly competitive. To maintain their market position and to drive the market growth, various dynamic and diversified international organizations, domestic organizations and as well as new entrants form a competitive landscape. Market leaders are innovating continuously and increasingly seeking market expansion through various strategic mergers and acquisitions, innovation, increasing investments in research and development and cost-effective product portfolio. Major players are investing on internal R&D and, most of all, in acquiring other firms. Prominent vendors of Mobile Application Testing Solution targeting to invest more in technology and research and development activities to innovate their already existing products. The rising government funding is also expected to motivate key companies to invent new Mobile Application Testing Solution modules that match the changing trends and needs across the globe. These players possess state of art R&D labs and strong sales and distribution network which have helped them to gain leadership position in the market. An ever-increasing emphasis has been observed among Mobile Application Testing Solution Equipment industry marketers on inbound lead generation over branding-oriented efforts.Intended Audience Manufacturers Distributors Research firms Consultancy firms Software Developers Vendors Semiconductor Manufacturers Stakeholders End-user sectors Technology InvestorsAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Automated CPR Devices Market Projected to Register 11.3% CAGR through 20172027

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Future Market Insights (FMI) announces the release of its latest outlook titled,Automated CPR Devices Market: Global Industry Analysis (20122016) and Opportunity Assessment (20172027). According to the report, the global automated CPR devices market was valued at US$ 60.0 Mn in 2016 and is anticipated to reach US$ 191.2 Mn by 2027, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.3% throughout the 10 year forecast period.Market Drivers and RestraintsThe global automated CPR devices market is largely driven by a growing demand from emergency medical services and a rising need for technologically advanced EMS. An increasing public awareness of cardiac arrest and increasing training programmes is also positively influencing revenue growth of the automated CPR devices market. Also, increasing government funding and grants encouraging the use of automated CPR devices in order to improve survival rates of cardiac arrest victims coupled with a rapidly increasing geriatric population across the globe owing to the impact of reducing mortality rates and declining fertility rates has also widened the scope for automated CPR device manufacturers.Request Report Sample@Conversely, high cost of automated CPR devices, the substantial weight of the device and high training requirements are some minor restraints in the global automated CPR devices market. Additionally, conflicting results from observational studies regarding the use of automated CPR devices is also hampering the growth of the automated CPR devices market. While some observational studies have confirmed that the application of automated CPR devices can immediately improve hemodynamic effect and perfusion, some studies show less or no impact from the use of such devices.Unmet clinical needs are expected to offer favourable growth opportunities in the near future. Increasing demand for innovative products so as to ensure cardiac arrest survival rates through cardiopulmonary resuscitation are providing favourable prospects for growth of the global automated CPR devices market. There is a strong need for the improvement of existing CPR devices with some desired features such as inbuilt pulse rate check function and automated injectable function.Global Automated CPR Devices Market: Forecast by End UserAmong the various end users of automated CPR devices, the hospitals segment is likely to dominate throughout the forecast period with a CAGR of 11.6% in terms of value.The emergency medical services segment remains the third largest market and represents a Market Share Index of 0.6 over the forecast period.Global Automated CPR Devices Market: Forecast by RegionRegion-wise, Europe dominated the global automated CPR devices market in 2016 in terms of revenue, accounting for 36.5% revenue share. However, Asia Pacific is foreseen to witness a relatively high CAGR of 11.1%. The market in Europe is expected to remain dominant throughout the forecast period.Request Report Methodology@Adoption rates for automated CPR devices vary according to region, which is resulting in disparity in market trends across regions. Factors such as differentiation in EMS and its functioning and lack of awareness amongst the populace are responsible for the varying adoption rates across different geographies. The U.S. is witnessing major investments in automated CPR devices due to the increasing number of market players with new technologies in the region.Global Automated CPR Devices Market: Competitive LandscapeKey players considered in the global automated CPR devices market include ZOLL Medical Corporation, Physio-Control Inc., Brunswick Biomedical Technologies, Michigan Instruments, and SunLife Science Inc. The global automated CPR devices market is consolidated with the top two players bagging over 50% of the total market share. Most players are engaged in various activities such as new product development, increasing investments in clinical research, expansion of geographical presence and brand building via strong marketing strategies in order to sustain in the competitive global market.About Us Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Global Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming : Deep Research on Industrial and Market studies Size, Status and Forecast 2025

Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming

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20 Feb 2018"Global Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market Size, Status and Forecast " with coming years Industries Trends, projections of Global Growth, Major key player and Case study, Review, Share, Size, Effect.. .Report Description-' 'Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market thinks about the focused scene measure of the business. Advancement designs and strategies at the preparing side are conjointly incorporated into the Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming report. The chief areas focused on Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market square measure (United States, EU, China, and Japan).Encourage in the report, observable particulars of Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market including the mechanical advancement, monetary variables, opportunities and dangers to the expansion of Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market square measure canvassed in detail amid this report. The execution of Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market for the span of 2018 to 2025 is being anticipated amid this report.. . Get Sample Report' 'The basic reason for the Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming report is to find, elucidate and gauge the worldwide market considering different perspectives, for example, application, benefit, arrangement, association size, district, and sending mode. The report deliberately investigates each portion and sub-fragment concerning the individual development patterns, commitment to the entire market, and the future conceivable outcomes.The report offers the scientific read of the business by learning different components like Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market development, utilization volume, Market patterns and Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming business value structures all through the figure sum from 2018 to 2025.We have incorporated into profundity investigation about the intensity among various market players for giving complete perspective of the Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market. The report serves point by point data about the makers of the Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market alongside entire data about organization's business, income, mechanical improvements, creation that are utilized and are made alongside their vital advancements.Taking everything into account, Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market 2018 report exhibits the unmistakable investigation of the parent Market upheld best players, present, past and creative development data which will work as a guide in making benefit for all the Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming business contenders.. . More Clear Details get Table of Contents. .The Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming report considers nitty gritty data of the key business players to get a handle on their business procedures (Keyplayer), yearly income, organization profile and their commitment in the Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Global Market Share. Different elements with respect to Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming business, for example, the offer chain situation, import/export out subtle elements, and business gauges are likewise specified in Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market 2018 report.To Total things up, the report ponder has bolstered development, limitations, openings, practicable investigation, and major country and states.-- Point of View --.........3.10.4 Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.10.5 Recent Developments3.11 Nintendo3.12 SONY3.13 Amazon Fire TV3.14 Nvidia Shield3.15 Gamepop3.16 Ouya3.17 Gamestick3.18 MadCatz Mojo3.19 Tencent Holdings Limited4 Global Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market Size by Type and Application (2013-2018)4.1 Global Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market Size by Type (2013-2018)4.2 Global Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market Size by Application (2013-2018)4.3 Potential Application of Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming in Future4.4 Top Consumer/End Users of Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming5 United States Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Development Status and Outlook5.1 United States Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market Size (2013-2018)5.2 United States Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market Size and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)5.3 United States Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market Size by Application (2013-2018)6 EU Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Development Status and Outlook6.1 EU Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market Size (2013-2018)6.2 EU Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market Size and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)6.3 EU Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market Size by Application (2013-2018)7 Japan Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Development Status and Outlook7.1 Japan Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market Size (2013-2018)7.2 Japan Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market Size and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)7.3 Japan Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market Size by Application (2013-2018)8 China Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Development Status and Outlook8.1 China Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market Size (2013-2018)8.2 China Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market Size and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)8.3 China Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market Size by Application (2013-2018)9 India Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Development Status and Outlook9.1 India Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market Size (2013-2018)9.2 India Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market Size and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)9.3 India Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market Size by Application (2013-2018)10 Southeast Asia Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Development Status and Outlook10.1 Southeast Asia Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market Size (2013-2018)10.2 Southeast Asia Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market Size and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)10.3 Southeast Asia Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market Size by Application (2013-2018)11 Market Forecast by Regions, Type and Application (2018-2025)11.1 Global Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Market Size (Value) by Regions (2018-2025)11.1.1 United States Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Revenue and Growth Rate (2018-2025)11.1.2 EU Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Revenue and Growth Rate (2018-2025)11.1.3 Japan Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Revenue and Growth Rate (2018-2025)11.1.4 China Arcade Gaming & TV Gaming Revenue and Growth Rate (2018-2025)........ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Researchmoz Global Pvt. Ltd.90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States,Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free),Tel: +1-518-621-2074
Insulated Packaging Market - Industry Shares, Market Strategies and Key Players 2017  2023

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Infinium Global Research has added a new report on Global Insulated packaging Market Trends Analysis and Forecast 2023. The report presents analysis global as well as regional markets of insulated packaging market over the period of 2017 to 2023. Moreover, the IGR-Growth Matrix given in the report provides key focus areas and investment areas the market players can focus on. The market size is presented in terms of value for the historic year 2015 and estimated for forecast period of 2017 to 2023.The global market was dominated by the Asia Pacific region followed by Europe Packaging Market. On the basis of countries, India, China, and Japan led the global market. Growing demand for insulated packaging from the health care sector has played a major role in driving the insulated packaging market across the globe. Similarly factors such as high disposable income and increasing innovations in packaging are some of the important factors responsible for the growth of the global insulated packaging market.Get Sample Copy of this Report:Furthermore, significantly increasing investment in Research & Development by leading players such as Huhtamaki OYJ, International Paper, and Sonoco Productsare expected to drive the insulated packaging market across the globe.Among the geographies, Asia Pacific is expected to be the largest market for the insulated packaging over the Forecast period from 2017 to 2023. The report covers the analysis of global as well as regional markets of the Insulated Packaging Market.Moreover the report provides deep insights on demand forecasts, market trends and micro and macro indicators. In addition, this report provides insights on the factors that are driving and restraining the demand globally as well as regionally. Moreover, Infinium Global Research- Growth Matrix (IGR- Growth Matrix) given in the report brings an insight on the investment areas that existing or new market players can consider.The report provides insights into the market using analytical tools such as Porters five forces analysis and value chain analysis of insulated packaging market. Moreover, the study highlights current market trends and provides forecast from 2017 to 2023. We also have highlighted future trends in the insulated packaging market that will impact the demand during the forecast period.Make an Enquiry:The Infinium Global Research- Growth Matrix (IGR- Growth Matrix) provided in this report highlights key investing markets in the world. Moreover, the competitive analysis given in each regional market brings an insight on the market share of the leading players. Additionally, the analysis highlights rise and fall in the market shares of the key players in the market. This report will help manufacturers, suppliers and distributors to understand the present and future trends in this market and formulate their strategies accordingly.The companies covered in the report include Huhtamaki OYJ, International Paper, Sonoco Products, Deutsche Post DHL, Du Pont De Nemours and Co, Nippon Paper Group, Cryopak, Cold Chain Technologies, Thermal Packaging Solutions, Polar Tech Industries Inc., and Suzhou Star New Material Co., Ltd.About UsInfinium Global Research and Consulting Solutions is started with a single motto of being business partner of first choice. We at Infinium work on the strengths of our clients to ensure we help them consolidate their market position. We firmly believe in the fact that if you are able to develop newer opportunities then you find there is no dearth of opportunities for you. With our strategic research approaches and deep dive in the market segments, we try to find out new opportunities that our clients can encash with their existing resources. Our experts with over 100 years of cumulative experience in research offer the best in the industry services to our clients to ensure that they achieve their business goals.Contact UsInfinium Global Research,Toll Free:U.S. + Canada: 1-800-638-0796,Website :Email: sales@infiniumglobalresearch.com
Artificial Intelligence in Telecommunication Market, By Component, Mode of Deployment, and Application - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook and Opportunity Analysis, 2017-2025

https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/1120

https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/artificial-intelligence-in-telecommunication-market-1120

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is group of methodology that focus on formation of intelligent machines with the help of human intelligence such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and translation between languages. The main application of artificial intelligence in telecommunications is for network management. The two key technologies that are widely in telecommunication industry are expert systems and machine learning. However, AI is expected to be more beneficial in telecom industry, if the operators upgrade their networks to Software Defined Networks (SDNs), which leads to network virtualization and the deployment of relatively better cloud-based services.Request Table of Content of This Report:Advent of The fifth generation of mobile networks (5G) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, to build future networks is expected to aid in integration of AI in telecom industry. Mobile networks have to deal with heterogenous data coming from all over the world and from a huge variety of systems, retailers and network types and they should have the ability to act in real-time. So, the analysis of these huge data sets from all over the world is time consuming and somewhere it is next to impossible. In this case Artificial Intelligence plays a key role because it is used to predict and analyze issues faster than human. Artificial Intelligence will make the fifth generation of mobile networks more open enabling connectivity to predictability.To solve these issues in the telecom industry, machine learning tools are used, which is used to tackle the churning prediction problem. The methods used for solving churning problem includes artificial neural networks, decision trees learning, regression analysis, logistic regression, support vector machines, naive Bayes, sequential pattern mining and market basket analysis, linear discriminant analysis, and rough set approach. Hence, the use of machine learning helps to detect fraudulent calls in mobile phones by examining the users calling behavior.However, lack of availability of cheaper hardware to develop AI-enabled products is the major factor restraining the growth of the AI in telecommunication market.Market Outlook  North America held the largest share in global artificial intelligence market in telecommunication industry in 2016On the basis of geography, global artificial intelligence market in telecom industry is classified into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa. North America held a dominant position in the global artificial intelligence market in telecom industry in 2016, and is expected to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period. This is due to increasing adoption of AI solutions and consumers in the region been early adopters of new technologies. In November 2017, according to Genpact survey of working population across the developed economies that included the U.S., the U.K., and Australia showed high inclination towards adoption of AI in industries including telecommunication. Genpact is a global professional services firm delivering digital transformation.In addition to this, the Asia Pacific market is estimated to exhibit the highest CAGR over the forecast period. This is attributed to rising adoption of machine learning and natural language processing technologies and several 5G pilot projects. This is expected to boost the AI market in telecom industry. For instance, China Telecom Corporation Ltd. established a new 5G base station in Lanzhou on December 2017 to expand 5G pilot projects in China.Key CompaniesThe key industry players include Atomwise, Inc., Lifegraph, Sense.ly, Inc., Zebra Medical Vision, Inc., Baidu, Inc., H2O ai, IBM Watson Health, NVIDIA, Enlitic, Inc., Google, Inc., Intel Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, and others.For More Information :About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit Our New Website:
Global Synthetic Sapphire (Value, Volume) Market 2017-2022 : KYOCERA Corporation, Saint-Gobain, SCHOTT AG, Monocrystal, Rayotek Scientific Inc.

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report 2017-2022 Synthetic Sapphire Report on Global and United States Market, Status and Forecast, by Players, Types and Applications to its huge collection of research reports.The major players in global and United States Synthetic Sapphire market, including Rubicon Technology Inc., KYOCERA Corporation, Saint-Gobain, SCHOTT AG, Monocrystal, Rayotek Scientific Inc., CRYSTALWISE TECHNOLOGY INC., ILJIN Display CO., Ltd, Namiki Precision Jewel Co., Ltd., Juropol Sp. z o.o. etc.Download Free exclusive Sample of this report:Most businesses think in a progressive manner, and this requires them to gauge not only just the present circumstances, but anticipate situations that may unfold in future. We have made sure that businesses get precise information of this market as desired, spread across a wide forecast period from 2017 to 2022. Making judgments that depend on predictions regarding how markets fare in the future based on their present existence requires a high level understanding of a plethora of aspects. These aspects are exhaustively covered in this report.The market for Synthetic Sapphire is affected by a few prominent hindrances, which is expected to cause a significant dampening in the sales of relevant products and services. Although, one cannot completely eradicate such negative forces, efforts can be made to reduce their effects. Such efforts are only possible by completely understanding the global market for Synthetic Sapphire, and therein taking necessary steps. In the report, the hindrances have been described in great detail, along with possible activities that need to be carried out in order to counter the restraining effects. To ensure that this process goes on continuously, the report paints a comprehensive picture of all the limitations. Such a picture can help businesses incorporate necessary strategies and avoid the facing the restraints.Table of Contents2017-2022 Synthetic Sapphire Report on Global and United States Market, Status and Forecast, by Players, Types and Applications1 Methodology and Data Source1.1 Methodology/Research Approach1.1.1 Research Programs/Design1.1.2 Market Size Estimation1.1.3 Market Breakdown and Data Triangulation1.2 Data Source2.1.1 Secondary Sources2.1.2 Primary Sources1.3 DisclaimerComplete table of content is available at:2 Synthetic Sapphire Market Overview2.1 Synthetic Sapphire Product Overview2.2 Synthetic Sapphire Market Segment by Type2.2.1 Radiation (Treatment Applied)2.2.2 Heat (Treatment Applied)2.2.3 Waxing/Oiling (Treatment Applied)2.2.4 Other2.3 Global Synthetic Sapphire Product Segment by Type2.3.1 Global Synthetic Sapphire Sales (K Units) and Growth (%) by Types (2012, 2016 and 2022)2.3.2 Global Synthetic Sapphire Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Types (2012-2017)2.3.3 Global Synthetic Sapphire Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share (%) by Types (2012-2017)2.3.4 Global Synthetic Sapphire Price (USD/Unit) by Type (2012-2017)2.4 United States Synthetic Sapphire Product Segment by Type3 Synthetic Sapphire Application/End Users3.1 Synthetic Sapphire Segment by Application/End Users3.1.1 LED Manufacturing3.1.2 Semiconductor3.1.3 Medical Devices3.1.4 Accessories (Ring, Earrings, Necklace. etc.)3.1.5 Industrial3.2 Global Synthetic Sapphire Product Segment by Application3.2.1 Global Synthetic Sapphire Sales (K Units) and CGAR (%) by Applications (2012, 2016 and 2022)3.2.2 Global Synthetic Sapphire Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Applications (2012-2017)3.3 United States Synthetic Sapphire Product Segment by Application4 Synthetic Sapphire Market Status and Outlook by Regions4.1 Global Market Status and Outlook by Regions4.2 Global Synthetic Sapphire Sales and Revenue by Regions4.2.1 Global Synthetic Sapphire Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Regions (2012-2017)4.2.2 Global Synthetic Sapphire Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share (%) by Regions (2012-2017)4.2.3 Global Synthetic Sapphire Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)4.2.4 North America Synthetic Sapphire Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)4.2.5 Europe Synthetic Sapphire Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)4.2.6 Asia-Pacific Synthetic Sapphire Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)4.2.7 South America Synthetic Sapphire Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (2012-2017)Get discount copy @QYResearchReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. 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Global Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Strategic Business Report 2018: Medtronic, St Jude Medical, Boston Scientific, Beijing Pins, SceneRay

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report 2018-2025 Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Report on Global and United States Market,Status and Forecast,by Players,Types and Applications to its huge collection of research reports.The report here gathers trade perspectives having a place with the global Deep Brain Stimulation Devices market which verbalizes the present-day data and future exposures with reference to the dynamic powers at play. The prime clarification for the examination report is to offer the endorser with a wide diagram and make open the delightful substances and records. The quantifiable and testing illustrations behind the examination other than executes data on issues, for example, drivers, shackles, and projections to gage the surrendered aftereffect of the global Deep Brain Stimulation Devices market through the cross of the said gage period in the examination report. The report in like course passes on a brief and world class record of the predefined market takes after, which joins a few occasions of the veritable fixations at work which are concentrated to trigger change in the market or may cause any negative effect.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @This report other than stations into the global Deep Brain Stimulation Devices market by in a global sense isolating the thing and industrialized chain of the market. This is required to in like course help in passing on honest to goodness information and data on compound parts of the fitting market, for example, material relating to systems for the administering body in the standard and global strata, transport and transmission structure, targets, and clarifications behind premium got for the contributed mean.The report utilizes several showed industry examination and whole contraptions. They permit the examination accumulate pass on an uncovered key evaluation of the global Deep Brain Stimulation Devices market and help endorser and market troupes to be made concerning theory and business judgments. The wide reasoning about the examination gives a market position on a conspicuous and minute scale. It accumulates tremendous and optional research structures thusly. The administrators have figured the recorded encounters and rose it from the forward and along these lines around change the condition to plot a structure for the global Deep Brain Stimulation Devices market in the years ahead.Table of Contents2018-2025 Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Report on Global and United States Market, Status and Forecast, by Players, Types and Applications1 Methodology and Data Source1.1 Methodology/Research Approach1.1.1 Research Programs/Design1.1.2 Market Size Estimation1.1.3 Market Breakdown and Data Triangulation1.2 Data Source1.2.1 Secondary Sources1.2.2 Primary Sources1.3 Disclaimer2 Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Market Overview2.1 Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Product Overview2.2 Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Market Segment by Type2.2.1 Single-channel DBS2.2.2 Dual Channel DBS2.3 Global Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Product Segment by Type2.3.1 Global Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Sales (K Units) and Growth (%) by Type (2013, 2017 and 2025)2.3.2 Global Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Type (2013-2018)2.3.3 Global Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share (%) by Type (2013-2018)2.3.4 Global Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Price (USD/Unit) by Type (2013-2018)2.4 United States Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Product Segment by TypeComplete table of content is available at:3 Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Application/End Users3.1 Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Segment by Application/End Users3.1.1 Parkinsons Disease3.1.2 Essential Tremor3.1.3 Dystonia3.1.4 Other Applications3.2 Global Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Product Segment by Application3.2.1 Global Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Sales (K Units) and CGAR (%) by Application (2013, 2017 and 2025)3.2.2 Global Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Application (2013-2018)3.3 United States Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Product Segment by Application3.3.1 United States Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Sales (K Units) and CGAR (%) by Application (2013, 2017 and 2025)3.3.2 United States Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Application (2013-2018)4 Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Market Status and Outlook by Regions4.1 Global Market Status and Outlook by Regions4.2 Global Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Sales and Revenue by Regions4.2.1 Global Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Regions (2013-2018)4.2.2 Global Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share (%) by Regions (2013-2018)4.2.3 Global Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%)(2013-2018)4.2.4 North America Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%)(2013-2018)4.2.5 Europe Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%)(2013-2018)4.2.6 Asia-Pacific Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%)(2013-2018)Get discount copy @QYResearchReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. 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Asia-Pacific Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) Sales Market 2018  Biaxis, AdvanSix, A.J. Plast, Toyobo, Hyosung, Mf-Folien, FSPG Hi-Tech, JK Materials

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report Asia-Pacific Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) Market Report 2018 to its huge collection of research reports.This report, titled Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) has been prepared to serve as a dependable decision-making business document for the stakeholders connected to the value chain of the Asia-Pacific Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) market. The report provides in-depth assessment of all the major factors that may augment or hinder the demand for Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) in the near future, and projects the scenario of the market during the forecast period of 2018-2025. The report also highlights a few trends of this market, which must be noted by the stakeholders in order to gain ground over their competitors and stay a brisk with the latest opportunities in the market.To Download Free Sample Report With TOC:The report not only evaluates the potential of each segment of the market on various basis such as type, services, application, and end-use, it also explores the potential of the Asia-Pacific Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) market in all the important regions including Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa. The report also takes a note of all the important country-wide market for Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) within those regions, providing regional trends and challenges. Government policies, if applicable, have been thoroughly studied as this factors often decides the true future of the market.Among the key features of the report on the Asia-Pacific Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) market is the chapter on company profiles, which has been carefully compiled in order to represent the true picture of existing competitive landscape among the leading players and the vie coming from other local and Asia-Pacific vendors. The report also carefully notes the recent market developments such as mergers and acquisitions and new product launches. The report provides historical data on how these prominent companies have evolved over the years and what measures are they taking to stay ahead of the curve.Table of ContentsAsia-Pacific Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) Market Report 20171 Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA)1.2 Classification of Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) by Product Category1.2.1 Asia-Pacific Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Types (2012-2022)1.2.2 Asia-Pacific Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Sequential Stretching Type1.2.4 Mechanical Simultaneous Stretching Type1.2.5 LISIM Simultaneous Stretching Type1.3 Asia-Pacific Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 Asia-Pacific Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Applications (2012-2022)1.3.2 Food Industry1.3.3 Household Products1.3.4 Pharmaceuticals1.3.5 Electronics1.3.6 OtherComplete table of content is available at:2 Asia-Pacific Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) Competition by Players/Suppliers, Region, Type and Application2.1 Asia-Pacific Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Asia-Pacific Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) Sales Volume and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Asia-Pacific Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.2 Asia-Pacific Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Asia-Pacific Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.2.2 Asia-Pacific Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.3 Asia-Pacific Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) (Volume) by Application3 China Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 China Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) Sales and Value (2012-2017)3.1.1 China Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) Sales Volume and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.2 China Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.3 China Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)3.2 China Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) Sales Volume and Market Share by Type3.3 China Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) Sales Volume and Market Share by Application4 Japan Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4.1 Japan Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) Sales and Value (2012-2017)4.1.1 Japan Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) Sales Volume and Growth Rate (2012-2017)4.1.2 Japan Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)4.1.3 Japan Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)4.2 Japan Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) Sales Volume and Market Share by Type4.3 Japan Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (nylon) Film (BOPA) Sales Volume and Market Share by ApplicationQYResearchReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. 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Europe Greaseproof Paper Market 2017  Krpa Paper, Nordic Paper, Vicat Group, Dispapali, Delfortgroup, Hydon Paper, Simpac

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report Europe Greaseproof Paper Market Report 2017 to its huge collection of research reports.The Europe Greaseproof Paper market is driven by a variety of regional and Europe factors, a critical assessment of which forms the crux of the report. The key dynamics of the market is constantly influenced by changing business models and several paradigmatic shifts in recent years, holistic insights of which is offered in the report. The study on the Europe Greaseproof Paper market tracks the vendor landscape, changes in regulatory framework, and the prevailing governmental policies in major countries. The analysis zeroes in on the prevalent risks, strategic as well as tactical, impacting the dynamics of the Europe Greaseproof Paper market. The report takes into account recent offerings of major players and key strategies adopted by them to gain a better foothold in the Europe Greaseproof Paper market. An analysis of the key strategic dynamics also includes recent investments made by them to expand their presence across new geographic regions. In addition, the analysis takes a closer look at research and development (R&D) activities being undertaken by them. Furthermore, the study evaluates the impact on emerging avenues and lucrative prospects in various regions.Download Free exclusive Sample of this report:The findings and insights offered in the study is a useful guide for investors, new entrants, emerging and established players, and any stakeholder interested to track the growth trajectory of the market. Prepared with the help of invaluable inputs from a large number of secondary and primary sources, the study offers evidence-based insights which will guide companies in effective strategy formulations. The research employs a number of prominently recognized industry methods to ascertain the attractiveness of key segments. Combing these methods with SWOT analysis and Porters five forces analysis, the report intends to present a comprehensive insight into the competitive dynamics of the Europe Greaseproof Paper market. In addition, key trends likely to bring disruptive changes in various regional markets are also analyzed at length in the study.Table of ContentsEurope Greaseproof Paper Market Report 20171 Greaseproof Paper Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Greaseproof Paper1.2 Classification of Greaseproof Paper1.2.1 Silk paper1.2.2 Professional silicone paper1.2.3 Domestic silicone paper1.2.4 Natural greaseproof parchment paper1.2.5 Special natural greaseproof parchment capsules1.2.6 Natural vegetable parchment paper1.3 Application of Greaseproof Paper1.3.1 Packaging1.3.2 OthersRead Complete Table of Content @2 Europe Greaseproof Paper by Manufacturers, Type and Application2.1 Europe Greaseproof Paper Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1.1 Europe Greaseproof Paper Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.1.2 Europe Greaseproof Paper Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 Europe Greaseproof Paper (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Europe Greaseproof Paper Sales and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)2.2.2 Europe Greaseproof Paper Revenue and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)2.3 Europe Greaseproof Paper (Volume and Value) by Countries3 Germany Greaseproof Paper (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 Germany Greaseproof Paper Sales and Value (2011-2016)3.1.1 Germany Greaseproof Paper Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)3.1.2 Germany Greaseproof Paper Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)3.1.3 Germany Greaseproof Paper Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)3.2 Germany Greaseproof Paper Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers3.3 Germany Greaseproof Paper Sales and Market Share by Type3.4 Germany Greaseproof Paper Sales and Market Share by Application4 France Greaseproof Paper (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4.1 France Greaseproof Paper Sales and Value (2011-2016)4.1.1 France Greaseproof Paper Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)4.1.2 France Greaseproof Paper Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)4.1.4 France Greaseproof Paper Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)4.2 France Greaseproof Paper Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers4.3 France Greaseproof Paper Sales and Market Share by Type4.4 France Greaseproof Paper Sales and Market Share by ApplicationEnquiry For Discount Visit @QYResearchReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYResearchReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Jeryn Alise Turner, Award Winning Author Of A Dream Come True, Named As Winner In 50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading Book Awards

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Jeryn Alise Turner, author of A Dream Come True, has been named as a winner in the 50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading Book Awards. Turner was chosen from a field of hundreds of authors through a public voting process. A Dream Come True is a fascinating book that explores the deep aspects of one of the most important relationships a woman can have; the one with her mother.I am humbled and honored to receive this award. Im overwhelmed with the support received and eternally grateful. I vow to continue to write from the heart and tell stories that connect, uplift and help.The setting of this book is Peru, a mecca of spirituality, and involves a time traveler experience. This book portrays the strong spirit of women and the sacred bond and strength that exists when they come together. On their trip to Peru, a mother and daughter take an excursion to the Sacred Valley where they have an honest conversation about their lives. By opening up emotionally, they create a deeper level of trust and commitment. Although fiction, Turner's book summarizes the true dynamics present in many relationships. Filled with timeless advice and written from the daughter's point of view, this book is a must read for all but especially for those who seek to deepen the connections with the important women in their lives.A Dream Come True has received a large number of rave reviews. A recent Amazon review stated, "Although a quick read, take your time and enjoy each and every lesson. A must read for every mother and daughter. A perfect read for any book club as well." Another said, "This is not just for mothers & daughters, but anyone wishing to strengthen a relationship, including the opportunity to look within. Candid, flowing and real. I loved it and am inspired to now visit Peru. Thank you Jeryn Turner for writing this book!Jeryn Alise Turner is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below, or by email at authorjeryn@gmail.com. A Dream Come True is available at online retail book outlets. More information is available at her website.Jeryn Alise Turner graduated with honors from Spelman College with a BA in Economics and has an MBA in Marketing from Clark Atlanta University. She is a Senior Vice President for a global financial institution and balances out the demands of work by meditating, practicing yoga, pilates and writing. To further optimize her health and energy she has been gluten free for over 5 years and attributes this lifestyle for restoring her mental, emotional and physical health. As a certified yoga instructor she loves anything homeopathic and frequently attends spiritual seminars to stay grounded.Although described as analytical and linear by her peers, she expresses her creative side through writing, a passion that developed in high school while taking a Humanities class. Her inspiration for writing comes from an innate ability to connect with anyone she meets; whether fellow travelers, coworkers, or acquaintances. She is a natural born problem solver and uses her gift to help others. As a self-proclaimed master observer and a student of life, her writing opens its readers minds to a different way of thinking that leads to greater understanding and awareness.PO Box 1613Shallotte NC 28459
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Vacuum Coating Equipment Market Rising at 8% CAGR to 2024: Analysis of Key Players, Trends, Drivers, & Challenges

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MarketStudyReport.com adds a new Vacuum Coating Equipment Market research report for the period of 2017-2024 focuses on the major drivers and restraints for the global key players providing analysis of the market share, segmentation, revenue forecasts and geographic regions of the market.The industry has recorded substantial growth in past few years with varied applications in electronics, power generation, automotive sector etc. It is commonly used in the electronics industry for integrated circuits, photovoltaic devices and microelectronics. Global consumer electronics market will record a CAGR of 4% till 2024.Industrial automation and manufacturing of high-end vehicles have increased adoption of integrated circuits in these fields. Escalating electrical & electronics industry will ramp up vacuum coating equipment market demand.Vacuum Coating Equipment Market size will cross USD 47 billion by 2024; as per new research report.Request a sample copy of Vacuum Coating Equipment Market Research Report @PVD coating is applied on engine parts such as valve train components, drive train components, piston pins, piston rings, and gears. In 2013, over 21 million units of commercial vehicles were manufactured and in 2016, manufacturing crossed 22.8 million units. Global passenger vehicles sales registered a growth of 7.2% between March 2015 to March 2016. Increasing adoption of this coating in automobile industry and other industrial applications will strengthen vacuum coating equipment market in future. It is specifically replacing chrome plating, as chromium is carcinogenic in nature and is getting ban in many regions. On the other hand, complex machinery requirements and the need for skilled operators etc. are some of the factors that will hinder growth PVD coating penetration.PVD coating accounted for significant share of around 39% in vacuum coating equipment market in 2015. It has an edge over traditional coating methods (electroplating and painting) of providing longer shelf life, bright colors, and scratch resistant surface to the product. It provides a coating to engine components that reduces friction and wear between the parts, resulting in better efficiency and performance of the engine.Enquire about this report @Magnetron sputtering has wide and diversified applications such as in gas sensors, corrosion-resistant films, magnetic films, metallizing for microelectronic circuits and chip carriers. Metallizing is an innovative technology replacing electroplating in electronics industry. Magnetron sputtering application will grow above 9% CAGR in global vacuum coating equipment market till 2024.Asia Pacific contributes significantly in the market with nearly 50% share in revenue generation. Rapid industrialization has increased energy requirements of this region and boosted power generation industry significantly. Leading players of smartphone are foraying into manufacturing of premium smartphones category which requires luxurious external body display this in turn will stimulate vacuum coating equipment market demand.Positive outlook of automobile market in Germany, makes Europe a significant region in global vacuum coating equipment market. The market revenues in Germany crossed USD 910 million 2015. Vacuum coating equipment market is consolidated with few major manufacturers mainly such as Buhler AG, PVD Products Inc, BCI Blosch group, Applied Materials Inc, Singulus Technologies AG, and Kolzer SRL.These equipment's are cost-intensive, so most of the companies have their own extensive distribution network and sales offices across different regions. For instance, Buhler AG develops vacuum coating equipment and distributes through its own shipping and transportation services.For more information on this report, please visit @Related Reports: -Global and Chinese Vacuum Coating Equipment Industry, 2017 Market Research ReportThe 'Global and Chinese Vacuum Coating Equipment Industry, 2012-2022 Market Research Report' is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the global Vacuum Coating Equipment industry w...About Us:Centralize market research purchases across your entire organization in one place. Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Market Study ReportThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 191901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2190Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News:
Microscale 3D Printing Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 20172025

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Conventional three dimensional printing and manufacturing has garnered significant traction in all major industrial applications. However, increasing requirement for precision and for processes that require precision at meso, micro, and nanometer scales has led to the development of microscale 3-D printing technology. This technology finds application primarily in manufacturing and fabrication industries as well as in research and scientific community.Microscale 3-D printing technology can be utilized for the processing of metals, alloys, glass, photosensitive resins, and others, including different forms of plasticsOver the last few years, the use of microscale 3-D printing technology was limited to the making of complex shapes with the use of thermoplastics. Manufacturers are increasingly making efforts for the utilization of these techniques for varied materials that include semiconductors, living cells, and mixing and matching inks with increased accuracy. For instance, in May 2013, Princeton University scientists created bionic ear utilizing electronic and biological materials that could track radio frequencies. In another instance, in January 2014, scientists at Cambridge successfully completed the printing of eye cells that could be helpful in potential treatment for sight loss.Request Sample Copy of this ReportTechnology expected to garner significant applications, however, is still in its nascent stage of developmentOwing to extensive application capability, the technology is expected to disrupt almost all material manufacturing application segments, however, is limited mostly to prototyping owing to significant challenges in handling expertise. Moreover, this technology is majorly deployed by science and research institutes that include ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Stanford, MIT, Cambridge; and National University, Singapore. It is estimated that microscale 3-D printing market will garner high adoption, however, will require at least over a decade to become mainstream. According to Coherent Market Insights Analysis, technology adoption should be at least 20% in order to become mainstream.Slow speeds in relation to the conventional methods of manufacturing and high initial capital are expected to hamper the overall industry growthFor instance, conventional injection molding can be used to produce thousands of objects within an hour. However, the additive manufacturing technology utilizes layer by layer integration of materials, which limits its application for mass production. Additionally, the initial cost of the technology for high precision applications, lack of skilled workforce, and additional expenses on training and expertise will hinder the adoption rate of the technology.Participants are increasingly making efforts to reduce manufacturing time and increase its application. For instance, Autodesk, a software company has integrated artificial intelligence to create complex design possibilities based on exact weight and strength, most of which can only be created using additive manufacturing.The U.S., followed by Europe, is expected to be a major region that will witness high adoption rate of the technology, primarily owing to the significant efforts and high inclination of the industry participants toward it. Moreover, advanced manufacturing facilities that include automotive, aerospace, and other industrial applications that are expected to witness significant adoption rate are also present in these regions.Some of the key players in the microscale 3-D printing market include Desktop Metal, Formlabs, HP, 3D Hubs, WASP, GE Additive, Aleph Objects (Lulzbot), Apis Cor, 3D-Fuel (3DomFuel), Doob Group, E3D, Nano Dimension, Open Bionics, Zortrax, Nanoscribe GmbH, Monoprice, Stratasys, 3D Systems, Divergent3D, and Optomec. Innovation and advanced product development are expected to be the prominent strategic plans of the players to gain strong foothold in the industry. For instance, in 2016, Nanoscribe GmbH introduced its advanced Photonic Professional GT that is featured with ultra-high resolution three dimensional printing capability.For More InformationAbout Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit our news Website:
Li-Air Battery Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 20172025

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Li-Air Battery or Li-Oxygen battery is a metalair electrochemical battery or cell chemistry that utilizes lithium oxidation at the anode and oxygen reduction at the cathode to induce potential difference and the current flow. Research for harnessing the power storage in an efficient manner had begun in 1970s, which has witnessed significant investment in the last few years. Technology is expected to be commercially utilizable by the 2020s. These are expected to find significant applications in smart electronics, proliferating electric vehicles and for power grid backup applications.Light weight, low cost, longer lasting power backup are projected to be the primary factors contributing to the industry growthDifferent packaging techniques to deliver efficient outputs are implemented to enhance the stability of the cells and usability for the commercial purposes. For instance, in April 2016, Cambridge scientists demonstrated lithium air battery that was featured with 90% efficiency and durability of up to 2000 battery cycles. Moreover, these battery are featured with relatively low weight density and charge holding capacity of around 5X the conventional Li-ion cells. These application features are among the prominent factors that have garnered huge R&D investments and are expected to drive growth of the Li-Air battery market over the forecast period.Considerable problems owing to the power backup, specifically in the energy grids and the electric vehicles (EVs) are expected to be the prominent applications driving the development of these batteriesExtensive development to harness the renewable energy sources to their maximum potential requires storage owing to the irregularity of the daily energy outputs. Owing to these factors, the utilization of these energy is limited to peak loads. Moreover, increased mileage of the EVs to garner increased adoption of environment friendly transportation means is expected to drive the demands for relatively higher charge density. Requirements to meet these demands, organizations are expected to explore the options viable to address the concerning issue. This is expected to drive the R&D and commercialization of these power storage options. For instance, Automotive and Surface Transportation, National Research Council of Canada; MIT researchers, and Cambridge scientists are few of the major participants that have witnessed considerable activities for the utilization of the technology.Significant challenges in these batteries that include fundamental limitations in terms of electrochemical stability are expected to be the major factors delaying the commercialization of the technologySeveral number of studies that were carried out over the past few years have revealed that high reactivity of the lithium peroxide, which is the after product leads to corrosion of both the carbon cathode layers and electrolyte layer. Moreover, owing to utilization of introduction air humidity, carbon dioxide and other impurities will hamper the utilization of these cells. High heat dissipation, large mechanical stress on the structure, low number of charge cycles, high chare degradation rates also add up to the existing challenges, which are expected to hamper the overall industry growth though the forecast period.Considerable number of ongoing and existing alternative approaches for power storages will hinder the Li-air battery marketLi-ion battery market is the major addressable that the ongoing research and development activities are expected to disrupt over the next few years. Some of these include gold nanowire cell, graphene cells, microsupercapacitors, sodium ion, and foam batteries are few of the alternatives that can present substantial to the ongoing development in this industry segment. Advent of the technology is expected to create significant demands in the developed economies which will eventually expand to Asia Pacific representing the largest industry share. Addressing the existing technical problems is expected to remain the primary concerns of the industry participants over the next couple of years.For More InformationAbout Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit our news Website:
Enterprise Network LAN equipment Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 20172025

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Flexibility of LAN network allows it to cater from as few as two or three users in small offices to several hundred users in larger offices. Enterprise networking forms the basis of organization functioning, owing to the requirements for connectivity between computing devices and other electronic devices across various workgroups and departments to enable easy data accessibility. Enterprise Networking LAN equipment helps in maintaining the interoperability of systems and devices to enable internal and external data management.Requirement to improve overall business productivity in organizations will fuel the global enterprise network LAN equipment market demandsUrbanization and growing multinational business operations across the major economies of Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific has led to increased requirement for high speed infrastructure. Moreover, advent of 100 GE switch ports for faster internet connectivity, and easy availability of 40 GE, 10GE for other medium and small scale applications are projected to provide considerable traction to the global enterprise network LAN equipment market.Request Sample Copy of this ReportThe concept of utilization of any critical applications through any device or pre-approved device is stimulating the need of wired and wireless connectivity for businesses. Trends that include Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), Choose Your Own Device (CYOD) and the requirement to enable the workforce connectivity within the enterprise will attract large demands for the enterprise network LAN equipment over the forecast period.Expansion of cloud offerings and 4G & LTE internet services would cement growth prospectsLocal area network servers can be used to download and store suite of application programs that are frequently used. On demand printing and ease of files sharing over multiple devices through the network are enabled through these applications. Thus, increasing number of data centers and need for efficient machine to machine communication will fuel the market demands. Moreover, increasing organizations reliance on cloud offerings such as Infrastructure as a service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Service as a platform (SaaS) along with proliferation of fast speed internet services such as 3G, 4G and 4G LTE will provide increased requirements for enterprise network LAN equipment market.WLAN equipment are expected to witness highest demandsOwing to ease of deployments, flexible work environment, low installation costs and long term cost benefits in terms of offering mobility to the workforce are the major advantages that in turn has led high inclination of the end users. However, concerns regarding internet security and loss of data privacy will provide consistent demands for wired and passive optical networks equipment in enterprises through the forecast period.Asia Pacific enterprise network LAN equipment market is expected to register highest growth over the forecast periodAccording to Coherent Market Insights, Asia Pacific (excluding Japan) Wi-Fi segment witnessed growth of close to 20% in the first quarter of 2016, with enterprise as the major end use industry. Moreover, according to our research experts, Asia Pacific IT infrastructure investments are expected to witness growth at over 4% year-on-year through the forecast period. This will help the industry participants in the region gain higher profit margins in the regionFavorable government initiatives to boost economic development in India will offer potential growth prospectsChina, India, Indonesia, Thailand are among the major economies that will positively influence the future industry growth in Asia Pacific. Government initiatives such as Digital India Programme, Bharat Net, National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN), are expected to present India as the most potential economy in the region. Similar initiatives are expected to be witnessed across other emerging economies to aid future economic growth, which will provide significant boost to the overall enterprise network LAN equipment market.Some of the chief market participants include Alcatel-Lucent, Brocade, Avaya, Cisco, Aruba-HPE, Juniper, Ruckus, Aerohive, Juniper and NEC. Industry is majorly characterized by acquisition of SMEs by major industry players to enhance their portfolio or security offered in the solutions. For instance, in March 2015, HPE acquired Aruba to enhance its switches and routers portfolio and has plans to continue its acquisition strategy. Cisco has also adopted similar strategy and has acquired ThreatGRID, OpenDNS, SourceFire, and Lancope which were acquisitions were aimed to enhance cyber security.For More InformationAbout Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit our news Website:
Telecom Cloud Billing Services Market: Global Analysis, Opportunities, Trends and Forecast 2018 - 2023

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This statistical surveying research report on the Telecom Cloud Billing Services Market is an all-inclusive study of the business sectors latest outlines, industry growth drivers, and inadequacies. It gives market forecasts for the coming years. It contains an examination of the latest progressions in technology, Porter's five force analysis and dynamic profiles of exclusive industry competitors. The report besides conveys an investigation of trivial and full-scale factors prosecuting for the new candidates in the market and the ones currently in the market. A methodical value chain analysis is also carried out in this report.Top Key Vendors:Amdocs (U.S.), Oracle Corporation (U.S.), CGI Group, Inc. (Canada), Ericsson (Sweden), Netcracker Technology (U.K.), Cerillion (U.K.), AsiaInfo (China), Computer Science Corporation (U.S.), Redknee Solutions, Inc. (U.S.), Huawei Technologies (China)Get Sample Copy of this Report:Cloud computing is the new in telecom billing that catalyzes important modifications in traditional billing architectures. Anticipated to reshape conventional billing concepts, cloud computing enables the deliverance of highly scalable IT resources directly over the web as a service. Not many years from now, cloud computing could take the lead in becoming a self-governing billing model that is affordable, agile, flexible, and effective. The possibility of cloud computing becoming a vital technology distribution platform for billing systems is predicted to be on the cards.The Global Telecom Cloud Billing Services Market offers an unmistakable comprehension of the subject matter. Continuous technological advancements and the tenacious entrance of Internet in the remote corners of the world are additionally in charge of the noteworthy growth of the market. The demand for the products in the market is increasing substantially due to the growing awareness among individuals regarding the latest technological advancements and innovations.Get more Information about this Report:The analysis of the manufacturing cost structure of the Global Telecom Cloud Billing Services Market has been performed in view of key aspects, for example, industry chain structure, manufacturing process, crude materials, and their providers. Technology is being looked after for both in the engineering procedure and in terms of product features. The market is dynamic in nature and this is rousing testing prerequisites and moreover, the advancement of superior hardware, advancing the development prospects of the market.The report Global Telecom Cloud Billing Services Market is segmented geographically into North America, Europe Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. North America accounted for the largest market share of the market and is anticipated to remain dominant over the forecast period. The market in this region is expected to grow rapidly over the forecast period due to increasing investments in the smart grid systems and demand response programs.The report has been assembled using primary and auxiliary research methodologies. The data has been gathered from reliable sources, for example, interviews with market pioneers, diaries, distributions, conferences, and white papers. The report investigates the historical data alongside the present advancements in the market to provide map a reasonable trajectory of the Global Telecom Cloud Billing Services Market for the coming few years.Table of Content:Global Telecom Cloud Billing Services Market Research Report 2018-2023Chapter 1 Telecom Cloud Billing Services 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 AppendixResearch 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.10916, Gold Point, Dr, Houston, TX - 77064
Hyperlocal Services Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 20172025

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Hyperlocal services refers to online business models that provide various products and facilities that rely on the platform of smartphones with GPS technology. The offerings include food delivery from restaurants, grocery from superstores or hypermarkets, logistic services, and home utility services such as electrical repairing, plumbing, carpentry, laundry, and personal tutors.Increased adoption of smartphones featuring internet connectivity is the prominent factor driving the industry growthAccording to GSM Association Intelligence report in October 2016, around 44% of the total smartphone users, had subscribed to internet connectivity which is projected to account for around 60% by 2020. Moreover, hyperlocal services market participants are increasingly enhancing search options and application support for better consumer experience. Proliferation of improved and secured mobile payment gateways such as, Android Pay, Apple Pay, PayPal, etc. has led to significant increase in consumer confidence for the application of mobile platform for transactions. These factors are expected to provide strong industry growth prospects through the forecast period.Request Sample Copy of this ReportLarge discounts on first purchase and competitive product offering costs are expected to present potential growth landscapeThe hyper local services market is characterized by the presence of large number of local players venturing for better business growth prospects. Moreover, some competitors have entered into significant private ventures offering capital investments to the start-ups for enhancing their presence through marketing and promotional activities for acquiring large consumer base. This has led to increased competition among the global and local players in the industry, in turn leading to frequent major discounts and competitive pricing strategies for consumer retention. Large savings on purchases and increased consumer convenience owing to easy accessibility to resources is expected to present solid growth prospects for hyperlocal services market.Grocery and food delivery segment dominated the global hyperlocal services market shareGrocery and food delivery segment participants perform the aggregation of local restaurants and superstores through smartphone applications and provide products on demand. This helps participants gain the trust of the local shops through online shopping. Moreover, owing to presence of large untapped potential consumer base and almost everyday requirements of foods and groceries will drive growth of these market segments.Expansion of product offerings to rural and remote locations is expected present consistent challenge over the forecast periodCatering to customers with best product quality with access to marginal profits is major challenge hindering the market growth. Increasing consumer base and business activity may also lead decline of the product quality that can result in loss of consumer retention. Industry is characterized with large number of global and local choices available in the industry, causing increased consumer volatility. Moreover, customer catering potential of these hyperlocal service market is limited to urban regions only. These factors are expected to consistently challenge the business growth of the players.Developed economies such as the U.S. and countries in Western Europe have witnessed major adoption of hyperlocal services and are leading the market in terms of revenue and consumer base. However, with the increasing proliferation of mobile devices in emerging economies such as China, India, Indonesia, and Brazil is expected to offer significant growth opportunities for market players over the forecast period.Industry is characterized by the presence of large number of players acquiring small hyperlocal services market shares. This is expected to continue over the forecast period, however, few industry participants have gained competitive edge over other participants. These participants include GrubHub, Just-Eat, Swiggy, Delivery Hero, Foodpanda group, BOXC, Shipster, and HelloFresh Group.For More InformationAbout Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit our news Website:
Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 20172025

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Disaster Recovery as a service (DRaaS) market refers to replication or hosting of virtual or physical servers to a third party business location, which either includes backup appliances or cloud, for enabling data and information recovery in case of any natural or manmade calamity. Significant number of advantages over the conventional disaster recovery, such as elimination of downtime, reduction in IT costs and resources is expected to present major traction to the industry growth.Requirement to fix first and run later is eliminated owing to adoption DRaaS, is expected to prominent factor propelling the market growthMitigation and preparedness in emergence of a calamity is of significant importance, as corporate data is considered as high value asset in this data driven world. According to our research findings, digital information accounts for over 50% of the companys total business value exceeding the software and IT infrastructure costs. Loss of consumer information, company and brand reputation, additional data recovery and other IT costs, and long business downtimes are among the major factors that can negatively impact the business propagation. Capacity of DRaaS to overcome these drawbacks is anticipated to be the major factor that will contribute to the disaster recovery as a service market growth. Moreover, owing to the cloud operations, these offerings provide smooth functioning of businesses through virtualization of the whole infrastructure. This enables the concept of run first and fix later capability for business functioning, which will continue to be the major growth factor over the forecast period.Request Sample Copy of this ReportAdvancements to enable full data recovery in least time requirements is expected to provide considerable boost to the industry growthAccording to Coherent Market Insights research findings, hardware failures, software or upgrade installation, power loss or interruption, and accidental data deletion are among the major reasons leading to loss of data. Ability of the solutions to provide 100% recovery in matter of hours in such circumstances is expected to boost the adoption over the forecast period. Moreover, other attributes of these DRaaS include application recovery, ability to run IT systems through cloud, high resilience and security, and adherence to Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) regulations have led to increased end use participants inclinations towards these solutions. Owing to increasing adoption, it is anticipated that these disaster recovery as a service market segment will evolve as part of the sustainable platform over the forecast years.Growing security concerns and compliance requirements are expected to present major growth challenge to the industry participantsIncreasing threats from malwares and data hacking incidences are expected to consistently challenge the overall IT infrastructure developments through the forecast period. Industry participants are increasingly required to meet the distinct regional regulatory requirements and international standards such as BCI standards, HITECH, PCI, and SOC2 among many others. Moreover, flow of data across international borders have to meet with several compliance obligations and restrictions. This is expected to present major growth challenge over the forecast period.U.S. held the largest disaster recovery as a service market share in 2016, is expected to continue its dominance over the next few years owing to high adoptions and presence of reliable and chief industry participants in the region. Owing to considerable business demands in Asia Pacific, that specifically include countries as China, India, Japan and Singapore, the region is expected to witness growth over 30% CAGR during the forecast period.Chief industry participants include Acronis International, Amazon Web Services, Cisco Systems, Microsoft Corporation, IBM Corporation, Sungard Availability Services, VMWare, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, iland Internet Solutions, and NTT Communications Corporation, among few others. Collaboration and business expansion is expected to be the part of major strategic initiatives adopted by the industry participants. For instance, in June 2017, iland introduced secure cloud services from a new location in Amsterdam to enhance its offerings for end users.For More InformationAbout Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit our news Website:
Global Compact Excavator Market Production, Trends, Price, Revenue, Share, Growth and Forecast Until 2026.

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Increasing number of digging operations being carried out individually by people across the globe has spurred the demand for compact excavators. From agricultural lands and private ranches to urban neighborhoods, compact excavators are being used by individuals, companies and governments to perform proper excavation in confined areas. With advancements in excavator attachments and growing optimization of physical spaces, companies from the construction industry are actively adopting compact excavators. In the near future, this shift is anticipated to influence several players in the global automotive sector towards partaking the global manufacturing of compact excavators. This Fact.MR report discusses key prospects for growth of global compact excavator market during the forecast period, 2017-2026, offering pragmatic insights to lead market players towards devising & implementing informed strategies.Request For Sample Report-Manufacturers of compact excavators are witnessing a considerable rise in demand from individuals as well as local construction companies. New compact excavators entering the market are being designed to meet the earth-moving requirements of the future. The comfort of operating compact excavators is further driving the working professionals in the construction industry towards them. Moreover, the function of changing the attachments on the compact excavators is enabling the process of high-level excavations. Large construction companies are replacing the conventional heavy duty excavators with compact excavators to reap high profit margins from low fuel consumption and lesser carbon emission. Better maneuverability, reduced noise emission, and operational ease are a few other factors driving the demand for compact excavators in the global construction industry.According to a recently published report by Fact.MR, the global market for compact excavators is likely to expand at a 2.7% CAGR in terms of volume during the forecast period, 2017-2026. The report further projects that by the end of 2026, over 173.6 Bn units of compact excavators will be sold across the globe. The report further reveals that the Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) region will represent the largest market for compact excavators through 2026.Competition TrackingThe report has profiled leading players in the global compact excavators market. Companies namely, Hitachi Construction Machinery, Caterpillar, Deere & Company, Volvo Construction Equip., Komatsu, Yanmar Holdings Co. Ltd., Doosan Bobcat, Inc., Kubota Corp., JCB, Inc., Nagano Industry Co., Ltd., Case Construction Equipment, KATO Works, Kobelco Construction Machinery U.S.A Inc., Cukurova Ziraat, Bharat Earth Movers, Sany Group, guangxi LiuGong Machinery, Terex, Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science and Technology, and XCMG are observed as the leading manufacturers of compact excavators in the global market. Over the forecast period, most of these players are expected to expand their businesses on the back of product development by integrating advanced excavation technologies and equipment in the vehicles.Browse Full Report With TOC-Table of ContentGlobal Economic Outlook2. Global Compact Excavators Market - Executive Summary3. Global Compact Excavators Market Overview3.1. Introduction3.1.1. Global Compact Excavators Market Taxonomy3.1.2. Global Compact Excavators Market Definition3.2. Global Compact Excavators Market Size (US$ Mn) & (Units) and Forecast, 2012-20263.2.1. Global Compact Excavators Market Y-o-Y Growth3.3. Global Compact Excavators Market Dynamics3.4. Supply Chain3.5. Cost Structure3.6. Pricing Analysis3.7. Raw Material Sourcing Strategy and Analysis3.8. Service Provider List3.9. Key Participants Market Presence (Intensity Map) By RegionGlobal Compact Excavators Market Analysis and Forecast 2012-20264.1. Global Compact Excavators Market Size and Forecast By Product Types, 2012-20264.1.1. Tail Swing Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20264.1.1.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) & Volume (Units) Comparison, By Region4.1.1.2. Market Share Comparison, By Region4.1.1.3. Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By Region4.1.2. Zero Tail Swing Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20264.1.2.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) & Volume (Units) Comparison, By Region4.1.2.2. Market Share Comparison, By Region4.1.2.3. Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By Region4.2. Global Compact Excavators Market Size and Forecast By Motor Type, 2012-20264.2.1. Electric Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20264.2.1.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) & Volume (Units) Comparison, By Region4.2.1.2. Market Share Comparison, By Region4.2.1.3. Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By Region4.2.2. Diesel Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20264.2.2.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) & Volume (Units) Comparison, By Region4.2.2.2. Market Share Comparison, By Region4.2.2.3. Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By Region4.3. Global Compact Excavators Market Size and Forecast By Operating Weight, 2012-20264.3.1. Less Than 4000 lb Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20264.3.1.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) & Volume (Units) Comparison, By Region4.3.1.2. Market Share Comparison, By Region4.3.1.3. Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By Region4.3.2. 4000-10000 lb Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20264.3.2.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) & Volume (Units) Comparison, By Region4.3.2.2. Market Share Comparison, By Region4.3.2.3. Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By Region4.3.3. More Than 10000 lb Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20264.3.3.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) & Volume (Units) Comparison, By Region4.3.3.2. Market Share Comparison, By Region4.3.3.3. Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By Region4.4. Global Compact Excavators Market Size and Forecast By End Use Vertical, 2012-20264.4.1. Construction Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20264.4.1.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) & Volume (Units) Comparison, By Region4.4.1.2. Market Share Comparison, By Region4.4.1.3. Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By Region4.4.2. Mining Market Size and Forecast, 2012-2026Continue..Request For Discount On This Report-About Fact.MRFact.MR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; thats why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports.Contact UsFact.MRSuite 988427 Upper Pembroke Street,Dublin 2, IrelandTelephone: +353-1-6111-593Email: sales@factmr.com/Web:
Professional Survey Report on Global 3D Bioprinting Equipment Market Analysis 2018

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global 3D Bioprinting Equipment Market Professional Survey Report 2018" to its huge collection of research reports.This report studies 3D Bioprinting Equipment in Global market,especially in North America,China,Europe,Southeast Asia,Japan and India,with production,revenue,consumption,import and export in these regions,from 2012 to 2016,and forecast to 2022.This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market,with production,price,revenue and market share for each manufacturer,covering3D SystemsOrganovoEnvisionTEC3D BiotekExoneStratasysRegenHUBespoke InnovationsAdvanced BioMatrixNano3D BiosciencesDigilabVoxelietTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @On the basis of product,this report displays the production,revenue,price,market share and growth rate of each type,primarily split intoHydrogelsBiological InkOrgan Class MaterialOtherBy Application,the market can be split intoMedical Apparatus And InstrumentsHuman OrgansThe Scientific ResearchOtherBy Regions,this report covers (we can add the regions/countries as you want)North AmericaChinaEuropeSoutheast AsiaJapanIndiaTable of ContentsGlobal 3D Bioprinting Equipment Market Professional Survey Report 20171 Industry Overview of 3D Bioprinting Equipment1.1 Definition and Specifications of 3D Bioprinting Equipment1.1.1 Definition of 3D Bioprinting Equipment1.1.2 Specifications of 3D Bioprinting Equipment1.2 Classification of 3D Bioprinting Equipment1.2.1 Hydrogels1.2.2 Biological Ink1.2.3 Organ Class Material1.2.4 Other1.3 Applications of 3D Bioprinting Equipment1.3.1 Medical Apparatus And Instruments1.3.2 Human Organs1.3.3 The Scientific Research1.3.4 Other1.4 Market Segment by Regions1.4.1 North America1.4.2 China1.4.3 Europe1.4.4 Southeast Asia1.4.5 Japan1.4.6 India2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of 3D Bioprinting Equipment2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of 3D Bioprinting Equipment2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of 3D Bioprinting Equipment2.4 Industry Chain Structure of 3D Bioprinting EquipmentGet Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of 3D Bioprinting Equipment3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global 3D Bioprinting Equipment Major Manufacturers in 20163.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global 3D Bioprinting Equipment Major Manufacturers in 20163.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global 3D Bioprinting Equipment Major Manufacturers in 20163.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global 3D Bioprinting Equipment Major Manufacturers in 20164 Global 3D Bioprinting Equipment Overall Market Overview4.1 2012-2017E Overall Market Analysis4.2 Capacity Analysis4.2.1 2012-2017E Global 3D Bioprinting Equipment Capacity and Growth Rate Analysis4.2.2 2016 3D Bioprinting Equipment Capacity Analysis (Company Segment)4.3 Sales Analysis4.3.1 2012-2017E Global 3D Bioprinting Equipment Sales and Growth Rate Analysis4.3.2 2016 3D Bioprinting Equipment Sales Analysis (Company Segment)4.4 Sales Price Analysis4.4.1 2012-2017E Global 3D Bioprinting Equipment Sales Price4.4.2 2016 3D Bioprinting Equipment Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment)5 3D Bioprinting Equipment Regional Market Analysis5.1 North America 3D Bioprinting Equipment Market Analysis5.1.1 North America 3D Bioprinting Equipment Market Overview5.1.2 North America 2012-2017E 3D Bioprinting Equipment Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.1.3 North America 2012-2017E 3D Bioprinting Equipment Sales Price Analysis5.1.4 North America 2016 3D Bioprinting Equipment Market Share Analysis5.2 China 3D Bioprinting Equipment Market Analysis5.2.1 China 3D Bioprinting Equipment Market Overview5.2.2 China 2012-2017E 3D Bioprinting Equipment Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.2.3 China 2012-2017E 3D Bioprinting Equipment Sales Price Analysis5.2.4 China 2016 3D Bioprinting Equipment Market Share Analysis5.3 Europe 3D Bioprinting Equipment Market Analysis5.3.1 Europe 3D Bioprinting Equipment Market Overview5.3.2 Europe 2012-2017E 3D Bioprinting Equipment Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.3.3 Europe 2012-2017E 3D Bioprinting Equipment Sales Price Analysis5.3.4 Europe 2016 3D Bioprinting Equipment Market Share Analysis5.4 Southeast Asia 3D Bioprinting Equipment Market Analysis5.4.1 Southeast Asia 3D Bioprinting Equipment Market Overview5.4.2 Southeast Asia 2012-2017E 3D Bioprinting Equipment Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.4.3 Southeast Asia 2012-2017E 3D Bioprinting Equipment Sales Price Analysis5.4.4 Southeast Asia 2016 3D Bioprinting Equipment Market Share Analysis5.5 Japan 3D Bioprinting Equipment Market Analysis5.5.1 Japan 3D Bioprinting Equipment Market Overview5.5.2 Japan 2012-2017E 3D Bioprinting Equipment Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.5.3 Japan 2012-2017E 3D Bioprinting Equipment Sales Price Analysis5.5.4 Japan 2016 3D Bioprinting Equipment Market Share Analysis5.6 India 3D Bioprinting Equipment Market Analysis5.6.1 India 3D Bioprinting Equipment Market Overview5.6.2 India 2012-2017E 3D Bioprinting Equipment Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.6.3 India 2012-2017E 3D Bioprinting Equipment Sales Price Analysis5.6.4 India 2016 3D Bioprinting Equipment Market Share Analysis6 Global 2012-2017E 3D Bioprinting Equipment Segment Market Analysis (by Type)6.1 Global 2012-2017E 3D Bioprinting Equipment Sales by Type6.2 Different Types of 3D Bioprinting Equipment Product Interview Price Analysis6.3 Different Types of 3D Bioprinting Equipment Product Driving Factors Analysis6.3.1 Hydrogels of 3D Bioprinting Equipment Growth Driving Factor Analysis6.3.2 Biological Ink of 3D Bioprinting Equipment Growth Driving Factor Analysis6.3.3 Organ Class Material of 3D Bioprinting Equipment Growth Driving Factor Analysis6.3.4 Other of 3D Bioprinting Equipment Growth Driving Factor AnalysisContinue...About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Global VoLTE Market To Grow At A CAGR Of 47.46% During The Period 2017-2021

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global VoLTE Market 2017-2021" to its huge collection of research reports.VoLTE technology enables voice calls over an LTE network, in comparison to the previously used technology supporting voice calls over 2G and 3G networks. This technology is similar to VoIP which is applied to support voice calls over a broadband connection. The difference between VoIP and VoLTE is that VoIP sends voice over the circuit-switched network, but VoLTE sends voice calls over IP-based LTE networks. VoLTE is used among enterprises as well as individual consumers for video and voice services.Technavios analysts forecast the global VoLTE market to grow at a CAGR of 47.46% during the period 2017-2021.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global VoLTE market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the total global VoLTE subscriptions as well the number of commercial networks deployed.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEMEAGlobal VoLTE Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendorsAT&TEricssonNokiaSK TelecomT-MobileOther prominent vendorsBell CanadaBharti AirtelBouygues TelecomCelcom AxiataCiscoDNADTACHuaweiKcellKTKPNLG UplusMavenir SystemsMobile TeleSystemsMobitelOrangeRogers CommunicationsSaudi Telecom CompanySFRSmart CommunicationsSwisscomTata DoCoMo (Teleservices)TDCTelekom AustriaTelenorTELUSTurkcellVodafoneMarket driverIncrease in shipments of LTE-enabled computing devicesFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeSignaling issue that hinders seamless communicationFor a full, detailed list, view our reportGet Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @Market trendEnhanced efficiency of VoLTE device batteriesFor a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Calling all vets: Spring Break 2018 River to River Veteran Adventures Backpacking Trip

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill.  Service personnel past and present can enjoy a special weeklong spring break backpacking adventure courtesy of Southern Illinois University Carbondales Veteran Adventures.

The multi-sport trip along the famed River to River Trail will take place March 10-18.

Free for all veterans and current service members welcome

The trip is open to all current military service members, all veterans, and members of the National Guard, the reserves and ROTC. There is no cost to participate as Veteran Adventures provides transportation, food and gear, courtesy of fundraising efforts.

SIUs Touch of Nature Environmental Center, located about eight miles south of Carbondale, will host the outdoor adventure.

Hike, canoe, climb and zip line through Southern Illinois

Participants will explore many of the scenic natural sites located in Southern Illinois during the trip. It all begins at Touch of Nature and theyll travel by canoe on Little Grassy Lake to reach the first trailhead on the River to River Trail. The walking portion of their backpacking excursion begins there.

Walking an average of 6-10 miles daily, participants will camp and hike through the Shawnee National Forest. Destinations include:

Panther Den Wilderness

Ferne Clyffe State Park

Lusk Creek Wilderness

One Horse Gap

Garden of the Gods Wilderness

As they go, the veterans will climb the ancient sandstone bluffs of Jackson Falls, zip line through the forest canopies of the Shawnee Hills and much more.

Register now

While there is no cost to participate, advance registration is necessary. Register for the River to River Backpacking Trip online or by calling 618/453-1121 or emailing tonec@siu.edu.

To learn more about Veteran Adventures or the numerous programs, services and facilities offered by Touch of Nature, visit www.ton.siu.edu, call 618/453-1121, or email tonec@siu.edu.
ASEAN Folding Cartons Market Is Expanding At A Very Healthy CAGR Of 7.10% Within A Forecast Period From 2016 To 2024 To Reach US$4.9

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Folding Cartons Market - ASEAN Industry Analysis Size Share Growth Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024" to its huge collection of research reports.ASEAN folding cartons market is expected to be driven by the mounting growth of packaged and takeaway food products in ASEAN countries. The takeaway food industry is growing in ASEAN as it is now considered to be a new business avenue for investors to make money. Moreover, the number of expats and tourists is increasing every year in ASEAN. This group of people prefer having their daily meals from such takeaways which in turn intensifies the sales of folding cartons during the forecast period.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Moreover, folding cartons used in bulk storing and transportation cost less compared to other packaging solutions which makes it profitable for such uses. Flexible plastic packaging and rigid boxes are still being adopted owing to their low cost nature and flexibility in comparison to folding cartons which can pose a major challenge in the ASEAN folding cartons market.ASEAN Folding Cartons Market: Scope of the StudyThis report provides forecast and analysis of the ASEAN Folding Cartons market. The study provides historic data of 2015 along with forecast from 2016 to 2024 based on volume (Thousand Tons) and revenue (US$ Mn). It includes drivers, restraints and the ongoing trend of the ASEAN Folding Cartons market along with their impact on demand during the forecast period. The report also comprises the study of opportunities available in the market for ASEAN Folding Cartons market.In order to provide the users of this report with comprehensive view of market, we have included detailed competitiveness analysis and company players. The competitive dashboard provides detailed comparison of ASEAN Folding Cartons market manufacturers on parameters such as companys revenue, unique selling propositions and key strategic developments. The study encompasses market attractiveness analysis, by end use, material type and order type.Get Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @ASEAN Folding Cartons Market: Research MethodologyMarket statistics have been estimated based on average consumption and weighted average pricing of ASEAN Folding Cartons market by product type and the revenue is derived through regional pricing trends. Market size and forecast for each segment have been provided in the context of ASEAN market. The ASEAN Folding Cartons market has been analyzed based on expected demand of the various Folding Cartons products.Prices considered for the calculation of revenue are average prices obtained through primary quotes from numerous industrial packaging manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors. All key end users have been considered and potential applications have been estimated on the basis of secondary sources and feedback from primary respondents. Market numbers for the product type and application segments have been derived using the top down approach. The market has been forecast based on constant currency rates.A number of primary and secondary sources were consulted during the course of the study. Secondary sources include Factiva, Industrial Association, Packaging Digest, Packaging world, and Hoovers, and company annual reports and publications.Companies Mentioned in this ReportThe report provides detailed competitive outlook including company profiles of key participants operating in the ASEAN market. Key players in the ASEAN Folding Cartons market include Amcor Limited, AR Packaging Group AB, HUHTAMAKI GROUP, Mayr-Melnhof Karton Gesellschaft M.b.h., International Paper, DS Smith PLC, and Rengo Co., Ltd.The ASEAN folding cartons market is segmented into:By End User- Food & Beverages- Frozen & Chilled food products- Fresh food products- Bakery & Confectionary- Ready to eat food products- Beverages- Others- Homecare Products- Personal care products- Pharma and Healthcare products- Tobacco Products- Industrial Products- OthersMake an Enquiry of this report @By Order Type- Standard- CustomizedBy Material Type- Solid Bleached Sulfate (SBS)- Coated Unbleached Kraft (CUK)- Coated Recycled Board (CRB)- Uncoated Kraft Boxboard (UKB)About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Global Ortable Power Banks Market 2018 Key Players: Mophie, Samsung, Sony, Maxell, Xtorm

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Ortable Power Banks Market Research Report 2018" to its huge collection of research reports.This report, titled Global Ortable Power Banks Market Research Report 2018 has been prepared to serve as a dependable decision-making business document for the stakeholders connected to the value chain of the global Ortable Power Banks market. The report provides in-depth assessment of all the major factors that may augment or hinder the demand for Ortable Power Banks in the near future, and projects the scenario of the market during the forecast period of 2018-2025. The report also highlights a few trends of this market, which must be noted by the stakeholders in order to gain ground over their competitors and stay a brisk with the latest opportunities in the market.For More Info Get Free Sample Report :Global Ortable Power Banks market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingMophieSamsungMipowSonyMaxellRavPowerSamyaFSP EuropeXtormThe report not only evaluates the potential of each segment of the market on various basis such as type, services, application, and end-use, it also explores the potential of the global Ortable Power Banks market in all the important regions including Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa. The report also takes a note of all the important country-wide market for Ortable Power Banks within those regions, providing regional trends and challenges. Government policies, if applicable, have been thoroughly studied as this factors often decides the true future of the market.Among the key features of the report on the global Ortable Power Banks market is the chapter on company profiles, which has been carefully compiled in order to represent the true picture of existing competitive landscape among the leading players and the vie coming from other local and global vendors. The report also carefully notes the recent market developments such as mergers and acquisitions and new product launches. The report provides historical data on how these prominent companies have evolved over the years and what measures are they taking to stay ahead of the curve.Table of Contents1 Ortable Power Banks Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Ortable Power Banks1.2 Ortable Power Banks Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Ortable Power Banks Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2013-2025)1.2.2 Global Ortable Power Banks Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.3 Global Ortable Power Banks Segment by Application1.4 Global Ortable Power Banks Market by Region (2013-2025)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Ortable Power Banks (2013-2025)1.5.1 Global Ortable Power Banks Revenue Status and Outlook (2013-2025)1.5.2 Global Ortable Power Banks Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2013-2025)2 Global Ortable Power Banks Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Ortable Power Banks Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.1 Global Ortable Power Banks Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global Ortable Power Banks Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.2 Global Ortable Power Banks Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.3 Global Ortable Power Banks Average Price by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.4 Manufacturers Ortable Power Banks Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Ortable Power Banks Market Competitive Situation and TrendsCheck Discount For This Report @3 Global Ortable Power Banks Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2018)3.1 Global Ortable Power Banks Capacity and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.2 Global Ortable Power Banks Production and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.3 Global Ortable Power Banks Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.4 Global Ortable Power Banks Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.5 North America Ortable Power Banks Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.6 Europe Ortable Power Banks Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.7 China Ortable Power Banks Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.8 Japan Ortable Power Banks Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)4 Global Ortable Power Banks Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2013-2018)4.1 Global Ortable Power Banks Consumption by Region (2013-2018)4.2 North America Ortable Power Banks Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.3 Europe Ortable Power Banks Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.4 China Ortable Power Banks Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.5 Japan Ortable Power Banks Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.6 Southeast Asia Ortable Power Banks Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.7 India Ortable Power Banks Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)List of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of Ortable Power BanksFigure Global Ortable Power Banks Production (K Units) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Types (Product Category) (2013-2025)Figure Global Ortable Power Banks Production Market Share by Types (Product Category) in 2017Figure Global Ortable Power Banks Consumption (K Units) by Applications (2013-2025)Figure Global Ortable Power Banks Consumption Market Share by Applications in 2017Figure Global Ortable Power Banks Market Size (Million USD), Comparison (K Units) and CAGR (%) by Regions (2013-2025)Figure North America Ortable Power Banks Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2013-2025)Figure Europe Ortable Power Banks Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2013-2025)Figure China Ortable Power Banks Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2013-2025)Figure Japan Ortable Power Banks Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2013-2025)Figure Southeast Asia Ortable Power Banks Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2013-2025)About Us:QYResearchReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYResearchReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Polyphthalamide Resin Market to Cross USD 1.8bn by 2024

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Polyphthalamide (PPA) Resin Market to exceed USD 1.8 billion by 2024; according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc.The polyphthalamide resin market will be primarily driven by the rise in regulations globally by respective governments to produce fuel-efficient lightweight vehicles, pressure on OEMs to reduce the engine size and weight along with the global expansion of the automotive industry. PPA is a bio-based sustainable plastic resin, which is being widely used as a metal replacement option in automotive under-the-hood applications. The application ranges from connectors, brake boosters, tubing systems, brake systems, brake booster parts, and hoses. It also finds wide applications in the electronics industry as LED packaging materials, reflectors, cell phones, plastic sockets, as connectors for computers, printers, etc. In the personal care industry, it finds applications in hair dryer bristles and styling brushes. In machinery industry, PPA is used for manufacturing small-to-medium parts.Request for a Sample Copy of this Report @Companies in the PPA business are constantly developing innovative products, which will cater to different industries other than the above-mentioned oil & gas, drinking water, medical device materials, and food contact materials industries. The backward integration strategy is expected to increase over the years to achieve cost efficiencies. Arkema has already acquired Ihsedu Agrochem, a subsidiary of Jayant Agro, which is a leading producer of castor oil, a raw material in the production of PPA. Companies are looking for long-term reliable sources of castor oil globally owing to the rise in demand for bio polyamides.Increasing R&D activities for improved composite materials, the high cost of PPA resins, and the use of traditional oil-based plastics in developing nations will show some adverse impacts on the PPA market, restraining its full growth to some extent over the projected years.Inquire Before Buying This Report@Automotive remains the largest end-user of PPA compounds as it has exceptional strength, stiffness, and heat & creep resistance. Moreover, the properties of compounds are modified by adjusting the percentage of glass fiber, carbon fiber, and minerals in it. The PPA industry is becoming highly competitive in nature and companies are constantly innovating new products. Recently, DSM introduced ForTii, a PPA product line suitable for prolonged elevated temperatures in carburetor housing units. Solvay supplies a wide range of PPA resin products for a wide range of applications, such as electric motors, in fuel cell vehicles among other applications. Evonik has a comprehensive range of PPA, which finds applications in automotive, drinking water grade pipes, and electronics.In electronics, LEDs reflectors are the single largest application of PPA, which is already being used by Philips in its product line. The use of PPA prevents reflectors from turning yellow over a period due to heat. Flame-retardant PPA also finds applications as connectors for printers and memory card bases. PPA also finds applications in the replacement of traditional brass molded components in drinking water applications.Browse Report Summery @Vital operating players in the global polyphthalamide market are DSM, Evonik, Dow-DuPont, Akro Plastics GmbH, Arkema, and Solvay.Read Our Blog:About Global Market Insights:Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone:1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:
Regional development across Asia Pacific are all together contributing for the overall growth of Asia Pacific Primary Battery Market.

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The report " Asia Pacific Primary Battery Market  Size, Outlook, Trends and Forecasts (2018  2024)", this Market is envisaged grow with a moderate CAGR throughout the forecast period.Primary Battery refers to the non-rechargeable battery which is voltaic by nature. These batteries are accounted for their lower initial cost and high life cycle. These are Majorly used in applications like smoke detectors and others. By type Primary Batteries can be distinguished as Alkaline Battery, Zinc-Carbon Battery, Mercury Battery, Lithium Battery. Among all, an alkaline battery has the highest market revenue followed by zinc-carbon, lithium Battery altogether. Asia Pacific Primary Battery Market accounts largest market throughout the world due to large increase that is seen in the sales and production of batteries in the regions of Asia Pacific like China, Japan, India, and others.Reasons To Buy This ReportThis report contains the in-depth analysis on the market and the estimations are done using volume and value data are further validated on three approaches including bottom-up, top-down and from top companies revenues to conclude the market estimations precisely and accurately considering all the parameters and market dynamics.Download Free Sample Brochure @Key pointers in the report include: Competitive landscape & market analysis is included in the report to understand the key companies position and Porter's Analysis & PESTLE analysis to perform to analyze the impact of drivers, restraints, challenges, and constraints on the market during the next five years. A team of analysts has analyzed and listed out the key drivers, constraints, challenges and emerging opportunities in all the industry verticals which will specify the emerging scope of the market in end-user industries. Industry value chain analysis is provided in the report to identify the key stakeholders and prominent players at each stage of the company along with the value addition at each stage of the value chain. Complete analysis including regional trends, technological developments, and new product innovations are included in the report specific to each and every segment of the market. A complete 360-degree analysis is provided in the report on key companies product portfolio, business portfolio, developmental strategies, and key developments from the companies in the historical period. Advanced customizations on countries, specific applications in end-user industries, product based customizations will be provided based on the request. All the collected data is further validated and verified using surveys, interviews, and interactions with industrial experts.Asia Pacific Primary Battery Market Top Players: Duracell Inc. EverwinTech Panasonic Corporation Hitachi Maxell Ltd. Gp Batteries Vitzro cell Energizer Holdings Inc. Bren-Tronics Valta Microbattery Saft BatteriesRelated Reports:South America Advanced Lead Acid Battery Market @Europe Advanced Lead Acid Battery Market @About usEnvision Inteligence is the Main Supplier of Market Analysis Reviews, Customized Consulting Companies, Information Analytics and Trade Evaluation. Our purpose is to offer the correct data required by the stakeholder on the proper level of time, in a format which assists an clever and knowledgeable resolution making course of!Contact UsEnvision InteligenceSales@envisioninteligence.comcontact@envisioninteligence.comweb:
Global Gas Detection Equipment Market Is Projected To Reach US$5.6 Bn By 2024 End, Anticipated To Garner A CAGR Of 5.6%

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Gas Detection Equipment Market - South East Asia Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024" to its huge collection of research reports.This report provides an analysis of the South East Asia gas detection equipment market for the period from 2014 to 2024, wherein the period from 2016 to 2024 comprises the forecast period and 2015 is the base year. Data for 2014 is provided as historical information. The report details the prominent trends and adoption analysis of gas detection equipment across South East Asia region over the forecast period. It also highlights various drivers, restraints, and opportunities expected to influence the markets growth during this period. The study provides a holistic perspective of the growth of the gas detection equipment market throughout the forecast period in terms of revenue estimates (in US$ Mn), across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Brunei, Philippines, and rest of South East Asia countries. The report provides analysis of the South East Asia gas detection equipment market in terms of market estimates and forecasts for all the segments across different countries.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @South East Asia Gas Detection Equipment Market: Trends and OpportunitiesSouth East Asia gas detection equipment market is primarily driven by increasing policies, acts, and regulations associated with workplace health and safety. The increasing emphasis on national occupational safety and health frameworks by South East Asian countries and international organizations such as international maritime organization (IMO) are supplementing the growth of gas detection equipment market. Similarly, increasing adoption of gas detection equipment by petro chemical, marine, and other companies across mining and electronics segment is contributing in the growth of gas detection equipment in South East Asia region.The report includes the impact analysis of such factors under the market dynamics, categorized as the drivers and the restraints. Apart from this, the report also details on presence of supplier, manufacturer, and distribution network of key players under the value chain analysis. Apart from this, report also covers the porters five forces affecting the gas detection equipment market across South East Asia region. In this report, detailed information on comparison matrix, and market attractiveness analysis for all the segments is provided at regional as well as country level.The report provides extensive information on policies and regulations implemented across the applications of gas detection equipment market, opportunities for the market across the countries. This is in consideration to the policies and regulations imposed by South East Asia countries for health and safety of work force and work environment expected to provide lucrative opportunities across the region.South East Asia Gas Detection Equipment Market: Key SegmentsBased on product type, South East Asia gas detection equipment market is categorized into fixed gas detection equipment, and portable gas detection equipment. On the basis of application, South East Asia gas detection equipment is segmented into mining, steel mill, petro chemical, construction, automobile, material, food & beverage processing & making, electronics, marine, utility services, government, security, medical, and environment detection. The study includes regional and country level key market trends of the gas detection equipment market.Get Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @The report also includes detailed information and estimates for the product type and application segment across each country for South East Asia gas detection equipment market. Moreover, the report also focuses on competitive profiling of the regional and global key players associated within the gas detection equipment market catering into South East Asia. The important business strategies adopted by them, their market positioning, and country specific revenue, and SWOT analysis have also been included in the research report. Apart from this, the report covers the market share analysis for each company across the South East Asian countries.South East Asia Gas Detection Equipment Market: Competitive LandscapeThe growing market potential for gas detection equipment in South East Asia region has led many companies to expand their presence across the South East Asian countries, and strengthen their distribution network. Among these companies, the major players in South East Asia gas detection equipment include Honeywell International, Inc., Mine Safety Appliances, Dragerwerk AG & Co. KGaA, Industrial Scientific Corporation, Riken Keiki Co., Ltd., New Cosmos Electric Co., Ltd., and Gastron Co., Ltd.Market SegmentationGas Detection Equipment Market, by Product Type- Fixed- PortableGas Detection Equipment Market, by Application- Mining- Coal- Others- Steel Mill- Petro Chemical- Crude Oil- Oil Refinery- Construction- Tunnel- Subway- Others- Automobile- Material- Food & Beverage Making & Processing- Electronics- Semiconductor- Consumer Electronics- Marine- Ship Builder- Ship Owner- Ship Chandler- Utility Service- Electricity- Water- Gas- Tele-communication- Government- Fire Fighting- Police- Military- Border Control- Security- Building- Medical- Hospital & Clinic- Others- Environment Detection- Pollution- OthersMake an Enquiry of this report @In addition, the report provides analysis of the gas detection equipment market with respect to the following country segments:- Singapore- Malaysia- Indonesia- Thailand- Vietnam- Myanmar- Brunei- Philippines- Rest of South East AsiaAbout ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Global Erythropoietin (EPO) Market with Focus on Asia: Industry Analysis & Outlook (2016-2020) | New Release

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Erythropoietin (EPO) Market with Focus on Asia: Industry Analysis & Outlook (2016-2020)" to its huge collection of research reports.Erythropoietin is a substance produced by the kidney that leads to the formation of red blood cells in the bone marrow. It is a glycoprotein hormone which regulates erythropoiesis (Red Blood Cell production). For erythrocyte precursors present in the bone marrow, EPO acts as a cytokine. Commonly referred to as hematopoietin or hemopoietin, erythropoietin is also known to have other biological functions, such as involvement in the wound healing cycle and brains response to neuronal injury. People suffering from End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), HIV or undergoing chemotherapy are not able to produce enough EPO on their own and thus, are administered with synthetic or recombinant erythropoietin which has the similar sequence of amino acids. Recombinant erythropoietin is a kind of therapeutic agent devised using DNA technology.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @On the bases of their molecular structure, EPO drugs can be divided into five categories: epoetin-alfa, epoetin-beta, epoetin-omega, epoetin-delta and darbepoetin-alfa. Among these epoetin-alfa and darbepoetin-alfa are most commonly prescribed EPO drugs.The global EPO drugs market is expected to experience negative growth rate, primarily due to expiry of patents of two most common EPO drugs, epoetin-alfa and darbepoetin-alfa, allowing the entry of biosimilars; posing a serious threat to EPO drugs market. However, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to experience boom period majorly due to improving disposable income and better government medical reimbursement policies.The report Global Erythropoietin (EPO) Market with Focus on Asia: Industry Analysis & Outlook (2016-2020) analyzes the development of this market, with focus on the US and Asia-Pacific markets. The major trends, growth drivers as well as issues being faced by the market are discussed in detail in this report. The four major players: Johnson & Johnson, Amgen, Roche and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited are being profiled along with their key financials and strategies for growth. The report contains a comprehensive analysis of the global EPO market along with the study of the regional markets.Table of Content1. Overview1.1 Erythropoietin1.2 Recombinant Human Erythropoietin (rHuEPO)1.3 Applications of EPO and Adverse Effects2. Global EPO Market2.1 Global EPO Drug Market by Value2.2 Global EPO Drug Market Forecast by Value2.3 Global EPO Biosimilar Market by Value2.4 Global EPO Biosimilar Market Forecast by Value2.5 Global EPO Market by Drug Type2.6 Global EPO Drug Market Forecast by Application2.7 Global EPO Drug Market by RegionGet Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @3. Regional Markets3.1 The US3.1.1 The US EPO Drug Market Forecast by Value3.1.2 The US EPO Drugs Market by Applications3.2 Asia-Pacific3.2.1 China EPO Drug Market by Value3.2.2 China EPO Drug Market Forecast by Value3.2.3 China EPO Drug Market by Application3.2.4 Malaysia EPO Drug Market Forecast by Value3.2.5 Korea EPO Drug Market Forecast by Value3.2.6 Thailand EPO Drug Market Forecast by Value3.2.7 Philippines EPO Drug Market Forecast by Value3.2.8 Vietnam EPO Drug Market Forecast by Value4. Market Dynamics4.1 Growth Drivers4.1.1 Rising Number of Patients Suffering from ESRD4.1.2 Increasing Global Healthcare Expenditure Per Capita4.1.3 Rising Global GDP Per Capita4.1.4 Escalating Aged Population4.1.5 Rising Cases of HIV and Cancer Induced Anemia4.1.6 Increasing Sales of Prescription Drugs4.2 Trends4.2.1 Entry of Biosimilar4.2.2 Shift from Short-Acting to Long-Acting EPO Drugs4.2.3 Underpenetrated Dialysis and Oncology Market in Asia4.3 Challenges4.3.1 Biosimilar Hampering the EPO Drug Market Growth4.3.2 Declining Price of EPO drugs4.3.3 High R&D Cost5. Competitive Landscape5.1 Global EPO Drug Market5.1.1 Global EPO Drugs Market Share by Company5.1.2 Global EPO Drugs Market by Products5.2 The US EPO Drug Market5.2.1 The US EPO Drugs Market Share by Company5.3 Asia-Pacific EPO Drug Market5.3.1 China EPO Market Share by Company5.3.2 Japan EPO Market Share by CompanyContinue...About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Overview of Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales Global Market Analysis 2018 : Jetboil, MSR, Snow Peak, Soto, Trail

Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales Market

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales Market Report 2018" to its huge collection of research reports.In this report, the global Backpacking & Camping Stoves market is valued at USD XX million in 2017 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2017 and 2025.Geographically, this report split global into several key Regions, with sales (K Units), revenue (Million USD), market share and growth rate of Backpacking & Camping Stoves for these regions, from 2013 to 2025 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesChinaEuropeJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Global Backpacking & Camping Stoves market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Backpacking & Camping Stoves sales volume, Price (USD/Unit), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingJetboilMSRSnow PeakSotoTrailZelphEtekcityColemanGasOneEsbitCamp ChefKing KookerLixadaPrimusTrangiaStansportOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoBackpacking StovesCamping StovesOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate for each application, includingAmateurProfessionalTable of ContentsGlobal Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales Market Report 20181 Backpacking & Camping Stoves Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Backpacking & Camping Stoves1.2 Classification of Backpacking & Camping Stoves by Product Category1.2.1 Global Backpacking & Camping Stoves Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Type (2013-2025)1.2.2 Global Backpacking & Camping Stoves Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 Backpacking Stoves1.2.4 Camping Stoves1.3 Global Backpacking & Camping Stoves Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 Global Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Application (2013-2025)1.3.2 Amateur1.3.3 Professional1.4 Global Backpacking & Camping Stoves Market by Region1.4.1 Global Backpacking & Camping Stoves Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2013-2025)1.4.2 United States Backpacking & Camping Stoves Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.3 China Backpacking & Camping Stoves Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.4 Europe Backpacking & Camping Stoves Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.5 Japan Backpacking & Camping Stoves Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.6 Southeast Asia Backpacking & Camping Stoves Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.7 India Backpacking & Camping Stoves Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.5 Global Market Size (Value and Volume) of Backpacking & Camping Stoves (2013-2025)1.5.1 Global Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2025)1.5.2 Global Backpacking & Camping Stoves Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2025)2 Global Backpacking & Camping Stoves Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application2.1 Global Backpacking & Camping Stoves Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Global Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global Backpacking & Camping Stoves Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.2 Global Backpacking & Camping Stoves (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.2.2 Global Backpacking & Camping Stoves Revenue and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.3 Global Backpacking & Camping Stoves (Volume and Value) by Region2.3.1 Global Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)2.3.2 Global Backpacking & Camping Stoves Revenue and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)2.4 Global Backpacking & Camping Stoves (Volume) by ApplicationGet Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @3 United States Backpacking & Camping Stoves (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales and Value (2013-2018)3.1.1 United States Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)3.1.2 United States Backpacking & Camping Stoves Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)3.1.3 United States Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)3.2 United States Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)3.3 United States Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)3.4 United States Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)4 China Backpacking & Camping Stoves (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4.1 China Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales and Value (2013-2018)4.1.1 China Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)4.1.2 China Backpacking & Camping Stoves Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)4.1.3 China Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)4.2 China Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)4.3 China Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)4.4 China Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)5 Europe Backpacking & Camping Stoves (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5.1 Europe Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales and Value (2013-2018)5.1.1 Europe Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)5.1.2 Europe Backpacking & Camping Stoves Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)5.1.3 Europe Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)5.2 Europe Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)5.3 Europe Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)5.4 Europe Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)6 Japan Backpacking & Camping Stoves (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6.1 Japan Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales and Value (2013-2018)6.1.1 Japan Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)6.1.2 Japan Backpacking & Camping Stoves Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)6.1.3 Japan Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)6.2 Japan Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)6.3 Japan Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)6.4 Japan Backpacking & Camping Stoves Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)Continue...About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
ICT Investment Trends in Medium-sized Enterprises Market 2017: Key Players: Adobe Systems, ADP LLC, Allscripts Healthcare, Cisco Systems, Google and More

ICT Investment Trends in Medium-sized Enterprises Market

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WiseGuyReports published new report, titled ICT Investment Trends in Medium-sized EnterprisesSummary"ICT Investment Trends in Medium-sized Enterprises", report presents the findings from a survey of 1,459 medium-sized enterprises regarding their Information & Communications Technology (ICT) investment trends. The survey investigates how medium-sized enterprises currently allocate their ICT budgets across the core areas of enterprise ICT expenditure: hardware, software, IT services, communications, and consulting.The report illustrates the core technologies that enterprises are investing in, including IoT, enterprise applications, business intelligence, and cloud computing. The survey also highlights the approach to purchasing technology adopted by medium-sized enterprises. Through survey, the report aims to provide a better insight to ICT vendors and service providers when pitching their solutions to medium-sized enterprises.survey shows that ICT investment by medium-sized enterprises is expected to show an upward trajectory owing to the lower total cost of ownership (TCO) and higher return on investment (ROI).ICT plays a vital role in the overall development of medium-sized enterprises as it can help them deliver business value, support innovation, and achieve differentiation. Moreover, the rapid technology advancements has allowed medium-sized enterprises to benefit from disruptive technologies and change the way goods and services are created and delivered.In particular, it provides an in-depth analysis of the following - How ICT budgets are set to change in 2017 in terms of their overall size- Allocation across the core elements of IT spend, including hardware, software, services, communications, and consulting- Distribution of ICT money in areas such as the networks, applications, service desk, and data centers- Which ICT functions medium-sized enterprises are interested in outsourcing- Medium-sized enterprises investment priorities based on their budget allocations across core technology categories such as IoT, enterprise applications, business intelligence, and cloud computing- Factors that are influencing medium-sized enterprises investments in each technology category- How medium-sized enterprises IT budgets are currently allocated across various segments within a technology category- Medium-sized enterprises distribution of their ICT budget across various segments within a technology category- Vendor satisfaction ratings for various core and advanced technology categories- Insight into medium-sized enterprises preferred buying approaches- Business and IT objectives that medium-sized enterprises are looking to achieve through their IT investment strategies- Factors that are influencing medium-sized enterprises decisions to select an ICT providerGET SAMPLE REPORT @Companies mentionedAdobe SystemsADP LLCAllscripts HealthcareAT&TCisco SystemsEMC CorporationGoogleHewlett Packard EnterpriseIBMInformaticaMicrosoftOracleScope- Approximately 39% of respondents are planning to increase their total ICT budget in 2017, as global business activity is steadily gaining strength and ongoing economic progress is projected to deliver positive results.- The survey finds that medium-sized enterprises are planning to allocate an equal (34%) proportion of their cloud computing budget to software as a service (SaaS) and infrastructure as a service (IaaS) respectively, in 2017.- For 56% of medium-sized enterprises, the decision to purchase cloud solutions is taken solely by the IT department, with the dedicated aim of achieving process transformation in their existing business operations.Key points- Understand how the medium-sized enterprises' ICT landscape is set to change in 2017 to prioritize your target market- Comprehend how ICT money are being allocated by medium-sized enterprises in specific geographies and verticals to improve your market penetration- Make effective business decisions by recognizing the opportunities within each of the core areas of ICT spend (hardware, software, IT services, telecommunications, and consulting)- Realign your sales initiatives by understanding the current strategic objectives of medium-sized enterprises- Enhance your market segmentation with the included, detailed breakdown of opportunities within selected technology categories (IoT, enterprise applications, business intelligence, and cloud computing)- Prioritize your focus areas by understanding which factors are influencing medium-sized enterprises decisions when selecting an ICT provider- Understand the changes in customers priorities and identify the business objectives that medium-sized enterprises are looking to achieve through their ICT investment strategies...CONTINUEDFor accessing accurate and deep understanding and to gain latest insights and key developments in the area of your interest, we also have a list of conferences in which you will be interested in, for more information, cordially checkFor updating knowledge or for thoroughly understanding various terminologies, we also have vast list of seminars for your reference, for more information cordially checkWise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available. We also provide COTS (Commercial off the Shelf) business sector reports as custom exploration agreeing your particular needs.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Global Avionics Sales Market Key Trends, Size, Growth, Shares And Forecast Research Report 2018

Avionics Sales Market

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Avionics Sales Market Report 2018" to its huge collection of research reports.In this report, the global Avionics market is valued at USD XX million in 2017 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2017 and 2025.Geographically, this report split global into several key Regions, with sales (K Units), revenue (Million USD), market share and growth rate of Avionics for these regions, from 2013 to 2025 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesChinaEuropeJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Global Avionics market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Avionics sales volume, Price (USD/Unit), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingHONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.ROCKWELL COLLINS, INC.UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONTHALES GROUPGE AVIATIONTELEDYNE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.L3 TECHNOLOGIES, INC.GARMIN LTD.CURTISS-WRIGHT CORPORATIONMEGGITT PLCESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONCOBHAM PLCOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoCNSFCSFMSIFEOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate for each application, includingWarplanesCivil AircraftUnmanned Aerial VehicleOtherTable of ContentsGlobal Avionics Sales Market Report 20181 Avionics Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Avionics1.2 Classification of Avionics by Product Category1.2.1 Global Avionics Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Type (2013-2025)1.2.2 Global Avionics Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 CNS1.2.4 FCS1.2.5 FMS1.2.6 IFE1.3 Global Avionics Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 Global Avionics Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Application (2013-2025)1.3.2 Warplanes1.3.3 Civil Aircraft1.3.4 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle1.3.5 Other1.4 Global Avionics Market by Region1.4.1 Global Avionics Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2013-2025)1.4.2 United States Avionics Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.3 China Avionics Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.4 Europe Avionics Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.5 Japan Avionics Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.6 Southeast Asia Avionics Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.7 India Avionics Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.5 Global Market Size (Value and Volume) of Avionics (2013-2025)1.5.1 Global Avionics Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2025)1.5.2 Global Avionics Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2025)2 Global Avionics Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application2.1 Global Avionics Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Global Avionics Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global Avionics Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.2 Global Avionics (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Avionics Sales and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.2.2 Global Avionics Revenue and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.3 Global Avionics (Volume and Value) by Region2.3.1 Global Avionics Sales and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)2.3.2 Global Avionics Revenue and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)2.4 Global Avionics (Volume) by ApplicationGet Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @3 United States Avionics (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Avionics Sales and Value (2013-2018)3.1.1 United States Avionics Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)3.1.2 United States Avionics Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)3.1.3 United States Avionics Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)3.2 United States Avionics Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)3.3 United States Avionics Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)3.4 United States Avionics Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)4 China Avionics (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4.1 China Avionics Sales and Value (2013-2018)4.1.1 China Avionics Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)4.1.2 China Avionics Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)4.1.3 China Avionics Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)4.2 China Avionics Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)4.3 China Avionics Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)4.4 China Avionics Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)5 Europe Avionics (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5.1 Europe Avionics Sales and Value (2013-2018)5.1.1 Europe Avionics Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)5.1.2 Europe Avionics Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)5.1.3 Europe Avionics Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)5.2 Europe Avionics Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)5.3 Europe Avionics Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)5.4 Europe Avionics Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)6 Japan Avionics (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6.1 Japan Avionics Sales and Value (2013-2018)6.1.1 Japan Avionics Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)6.1.2 Japan Avionics Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)6.1.3 Japan Avionics Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)6.2 Japan Avionics Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)6.3 Japan Avionics Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)6.4 Japan Avionics Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)Continue...About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Global Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales Market Key Trends, Size, Growth, Shares And Forecast Research Report 2018

Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales Market

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales Market Report 2018" to its huge collection of research reports.In this report, the global Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems market is valued at USD XX million in 2017 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2017 and 2025.Geographically, this report split global into several key Regions, with sales (K Units), revenue (Million USD), market share and growth rate of Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems for these regions, from 2013 to 2025 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesChinaEuropeJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Global Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems sales volume, Price (USD/Unit), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingMitsubishi ElectricFuji ElectricABBToshibaHoneywellIngeteamRockwell AutomationSMA-RailwayFSP GroupPolycomAdams IndustriesAPS EnergiaToyo DenkiOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into750VDC APS Systems1500VDC APS Systems3000VDC APS SystemsOtherOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate for each application, includingRailway ConstructionElectric CarTransportationOtherTable of ContentsGlobal Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales Market Report 20181 Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems1.2 Classification of Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems by Product Category1.2.1 Global Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Type (2013-2025)1.2.2 Global Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 750VDC APS Systems1.2.4 1500VDC APS Systems1.2.5 3000VDC APS Systems1.2.6 Other1.3 Global Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 Global Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Application (2013-2025)1.3.2 Railway Construction1.3.3 Electric Car1.3.4 Transportation1.3.5 Other1.4 Global Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Market by Region1.4.1 Global Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2013-2025)1.4.2 United States Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.3 China Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.4 Europe Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.5 Japan Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.6 Southeast Asia Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.7 India Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.5 Global Market Size (Value and Volume) of Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems (2013-2025)1.5.1 Global Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2025)1.5.2 Global Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2025)2 Global Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application2.1 Global Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Global Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.2 Global Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.2.2 Global Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Revenue and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.3 Global Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems (Volume and Value) by Region2.3.1 Global Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)2.3.2 Global Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Revenue and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)2.4 Global Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems (Volume) by ApplicationGet Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @3 United States Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales and Value (2013-2018)3.1.1 United States Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)3.1.2 United States Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)3.1.3 United States Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)3.2 United States Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)3.3 United States Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)3.4 United States Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)4 China Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4.1 China Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales and Value (2013-2018)4.1.1 China Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)4.1.2 China Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)4.1.3 China Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)4.2 China Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)4.3 China Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)4.4 China Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)5 Europe Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5.1 Europe Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales and Value (2013-2018)5.1.1 Europe Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)5.1.2 Europe Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)5.1.3 Europe Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)5.2 Europe Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)5.3 Europe Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)5.4 Europe Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)6 Japan Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6.1 Japan Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales and Value (2013-2018)6.1.1 Japan Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)6.1.2 Japan Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)6.1.3 Japan Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)6.2 Japan Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)6.3 Japan Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)6.4 Japan Auxiliary Power Supply (APS) Systems Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)Continue...About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
UF-built instrument provides new look at supermassive black hole's magnetic field

For the first time, astronomers have revealed a new high-resolution map of the magnetic field lines in gas and dust swirling around the supermassive black hole at the center of our Galaxy.

The team, led by Professor Pat Roche of the University of Oxford, created the map using the CanariCam infrared camera attached to the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) sited on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands, Spain. Their research will appear in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

University of Florida Professor of Astronomy Charles Telesco and his science and engineering team in UFs Department of Astronomy built the CanariCam infrared camera that enabled the team to image the magnetic field. Its polarimetry mode is the most capable anywhere in the world, said Roche. Combined with the light grasp and the quality of the images produced by the Gran Telescopio Canarias, it is revealing details of magnetic fields and cosmic dust properties in a range of astronomical objects.

The GTC is the worlds largest optical and infrared telescope. It is operated by the Spanish government as part of the international partnership among Spain, Mexico, and UF. UF enjoys a unique collaboration with the GTC as the only educational institution in the partnership. This effort was spearheaded by Telesco when he came to UF from NASA in 1995. He said, Our faculty, staff, and students have gained immensely from this international partnership, and it puts UF in the big-time class of universities with star-power observing facilities, a real mark of distinction in the astronomical world.

The center of almost every galaxy appears to host a black hole, and the galaxy we live in, the Milky Way, is no exception. Black holes are super-compact objects with gravitational fields so strong that not even light can escape their grasp. Stars move around the black hole at speeds of up to 30 million kilometres an hour, indicating that it has a mass of several million times our Sun.

Visible light from sources in the center of the Milky Way is blocked by clouds of gas and dust. Infrared light, as well as X-rays and radio waves, passes through this obscuring material, so astronomers use this to see the region more clearly. CanariCam combines infrared imaging with polarizing optics, which preferentially filter light with the particular characteristics associated with magnetic fields.

Centered on the supermassive black hole, the new infrared map covers a region about two light years on each side. The image shows the intensity of infrared light and traces the magnetic field within filaments of warm dust grains and hot gas. The magnetic field appears as thin lines reminiscent of brush strokes in a van Gogh painting.

The filaments, several light years long, seem to meet close to the black hole (at a point below the center in the image), and may indicate where orbits of streams of gas and dust converge. One prominent magnetic feature links some of the bright newborn stars in the center of the Galaxy together like pearls on a necklace. Despite strong winds flowing from these stars, the filaments remain in place, bound by the magnetic field within them. Elsewhere the magnetic field is less clearly aligned with the filaments. Depending on how the material flows, some of it may eventually be captured and engulfed by the supermassive black hole.

The new observations give astronomers more detailed information on the relationship between the bright stars and the dusty filaments. The origin of the magnetic field in this region is not understood, but it is likely that a smaller magnetic field is stretched out as the filaments are elongated by the gravitational influence of the black hole and stars in the galactic center.

Roche praised this unique technique and the result: Big telescopes like GTC, and instruments like CanariCam, deliver real results. Were now able to watch material race around a black hole 25,000 light years away, and for the first time see magnetic fields there in detail.

Telesco, who has been building infrared instruments since his graduate days in the 1970s never anticipated exploring cosmic magnetic fields. However, I understood even then how important such magnetic fields are in many of the most interesting astrophysical sources, he said. I just never thought an instrument that I would build could lead the world in this type of exploration. It still amazes me that it worked out.

His international team is using CanariCam to probe magnetic fields in dusty regions in our galaxy and other galaxies, as well as in stellar and planetary nurseries. They hope to obtain further observations of the Galactic Center to investigate the larger scale magnetic field and how it links to the clouds of gas and dust and newborn stars orbiting the black hole farther out at distances of several light years.
Acoustic Insulation Material Sales Global Market Analysis 2018 : Researchmoz

Acoustic Insulation Material Sales Market

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Acoustic Insulation Material Sales Market Report 2018" to its huge collection of research reports.In this report,the global Acoustic Insulation Material market is valued at USD XX million in 2017 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2025,growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2017 and 2025.Geographically,this report split global into several key Regions,with sales (K MT),revenue (Million USD),market share and growth rate of Acoustic Insulation Material for these regions,from 2013 to 2025 (forecast),coveringUnited StatesChinaEuropeJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Global Acoustic Insulation Material market competition by top manufacturers/players,with Acoustic Insulation Material sales volume,Price (USD/MT),revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingROCKWOOLSaint-GobainOwens CorningKnaufK-FLEXParocArmacellBASFMeiseiAUTEXSRSFletcher InsulationForgreener AcousticsSichuan ZISEN Acoustics TechnologyShenzhen Vinco Soundproofing MaterialsOn the basis of product,this report displays the production,revenue,price,market share and growth rate of each type,primarily split intoMineral Wool TypeFiberglass TypeFoamed Plastic TypeOn the basis on the end users/applications,this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users,sales volume,market share and growth rate for each application,includingResidential BuildingsCommercial BuildingsIndustrialTable of ContentsGlobal Acoustic Insulation Material Sales Market Report 20181 Acoustic Insulation Material Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Acoustic Insulation Material1.2 Classification of Acoustic Insulation Material by Product Category1.2.1 Global Acoustic Insulation Material Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Type (2013-2025)1.2.2 Global Acoustic Insulation Material Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 Mineral Wool Type1.2.4 Fiberglass Type1.2.5 Foamed Plastic Type1.3 Global Acoustic Insulation Material Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 Global Acoustic Insulation Material Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Application (2013-2025)1.3.2 Residential Buildings1.3.3 Commercial Buildings1.3.4 Industrial1.4 Global Acoustic Insulation Material Market by Region1.4.1 Global Acoustic Insulation Material Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2013-2025)1.4.2 United States Acoustic Insulation Material Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.3 China Acoustic Insulation Material Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.4 Europe Acoustic Insulation Material Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.5 Japan Acoustic Insulation Material Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.6 Southeast Asia Acoustic Insulation Material Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.7 India Acoustic Insulation Material Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.5 Global Market Size (Value and Volume) of Acoustic Insulation Material (2013-2025)1.5.1 Global Acoustic Insulation Material Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2025)1.5.2 Global Acoustic Insulation Material Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2025)2 Global Acoustic Insulation Material Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application2.1 Global Acoustic Insulation Material Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Global Acoustic Insulation Material Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global Acoustic Insulation Material Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.2 Global Acoustic Insulation Material (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Acoustic Insulation Material Sales and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.2.2 Global Acoustic Insulation Material Revenue and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.3 Global Acoustic Insulation Material (Volume and Value) by Region2.3.1 Global Acoustic Insulation Material Sales and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)2.3.2 Global Acoustic Insulation Material Revenue and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)2.4 Global Acoustic Insulation Material (Volume) by ApplicationGet Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @3 United States Acoustic Insulation Material (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Acoustic Insulation Material Sales and Value (2013-2018)3.1.1 United States Acoustic Insulation Material Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)3.1.2 United States Acoustic Insulation Material Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)3.1.3 United States Acoustic Insulation Material Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)3.2 United States Acoustic Insulation Material Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)3.3 United States Acoustic Insulation Material Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)3.4 United States Acoustic Insulation Material Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)4 China Acoustic Insulation Material (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4.1 China Acoustic Insulation Material Sales and Value (2013-2018)4.1.1 China Acoustic Insulation Material Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)4.1.2 China Acoustic Insulation Material Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)4.1.3 China Acoustic Insulation Material Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)4.2 China Acoustic Insulation Material Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)4.3 China Acoustic Insulation Material Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)4.4 China Acoustic Insulation Material Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)5 Europe Acoustic Insulation Material (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5.1 Europe Acoustic Insulation Material Sales and Value (2013-2018)5.1.1 Europe Acoustic Insulation Material Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)5.1.2 Europe Acoustic Insulation Material Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)5.1.3 Europe Acoustic Insulation Material Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)5.2 Europe Acoustic Insulation Material Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)5.3 Europe Acoustic Insulation Material Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)5.4 Europe Acoustic Insulation Material Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)6 Japan Acoustic Insulation Material (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6.1 Japan Acoustic Insulation Material Sales and Value (2013-2018)6.1.1 Japan Acoustic Insulation Material Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)6.1.2 Japan Acoustic Insulation Material Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)6.1.3 Japan Acoustic Insulation Material Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)6.2 Japan Acoustic Insulation Material Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)6.3 Japan Acoustic Insulation Material Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)6.4 Japan Acoustic Insulation Material Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)Continue...About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Frozen French Fries Market: Upcoming Demands and Growth Analysis

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SummaryFrozen potato is a kind of processed potato present in variety of product type in the market. Frozen potatoes are treated with extremely low temperatures, freezing temperature, to accomplish the preservation and protection process of the food and the existing nutrients. Frozen potato and related products are used at commercial level via quick service restaurants (QSRs) and domestic level through large scale & small scale retail stores. The main product types of frozen potato include French fries, hash brown, shapes, mashed, sweet potatoes and others.Market Scenario:The global frozen French fries market is mainly driven by the increasing business of quick service restaurants (QSRs) round the globe. The list of highest QSRs contributing to the growth of frozen potato market include McDonald's, Burger King, Dunkin' Donuts, Subway, and more. Other factors driving the market are rise in disposable income of people in the emerging countries and increase in urbanization.Request For Free Sample Of The Report @Market Segments:The global frozen French fries market can be segmented on the basis of end-use, and region. On the basis of end-use, the global frozen French fries market can be segmented into commercial and residential.Key Players:Some of the key players in the global frozen French fries market include McCain Foods Lamb-Weston J.R. Simplot Company Aviko Farm Frites.Regional Analysis : North America, Europe, Middle East Africa Asia-Pacific Latin America.Obtain Details @If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Releted Reports:Sweet And Savoury Market :Natural Alternative Sweeteners Market:Basmati Rice Market :Organic Baby Food Market :About UsXpodence Research have the most extensive collection of market research reports of many categories. Xpodence Research provides the best market research solution for every industry by publishing the best possible results of great market research firms worldwide. For every particular problem, theres a particular solution, so according to the customer needs, we provide the best possible results to them from different market research organization, whether its a Custom Research or Syndicated Research reports because the product that wins is the one that bridges customers to the future, not the one that requires a giant leap.Every organization, whether it is related to Pharmaceuticals, Technology, Eatables, Consumable Goods and many more demands a market research results so that they can take important decisions for more productivity and better output in this swift world. Xpodence Research gives the best possible outcome, perfect forecast, analysis and insights of market research in the form of report which is beneficial for various organisations and also to the manufacturing companies in taking the best decisions for quality production.Contact UsXpodence ResearchUSA Office244 , Madison AvenueNew York City, NY - 10016United StatesToll Free +1- 844-445-2861
Yoritex Inc. Offers 1000 EUR MasterCard Gift Cards to Loyal Buyers of YRX Tokens During Ongoing ICO

Yoritex Inc. Offers 1000 EUR MasterCard Gift Cards to Loyal Buyers of YRX Tokens During Ongoing ICO

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The Toronto-based Fintech company Yoritex Inc., is currently running the ICO campaign to support the development of its SimcoePay, the First European Cross-Border Multicurrency Online Bank for EU Non-Residents, has announced initiation of the first Loyalty Program for all ICO participants.Starting February 15, 2018 and till March 01, 2018 owners of YRX tokens can exchange their YRX tokens to the Limited Edition SimcoePay MasterCard Prepaid Gift Cards fully loaded with 1000 EUR, 500 EUR or 250 EUR.As announced earlier, during ICO YRX tokens can be purchased with 60% discount (ending May 10, 2018). Purchasing of YRX tokens will allow to participate in SimcoePay payment system at the very beginning of this innovative financial instrument.During this Loyalty Program campaign special exchange rate for the SimcoePay MasterCard Gift Cards are offered: 1000 EUR SimcoePay MasterCard Gift Card - for 1000 YRX (one thousand cards only) 500 EUR SimcoePay MasterCard Gift Card - for 500 YRX 250 EUR SimcoePay MasterCard Gift Card - for 250 YRXLoyalty Program participants will receive their SimcoePay MasterCard Gift Cards before June 10, 2018. Yoritex Inc. wil pay for issuing and delivery of the cards. Number of cards issued per one order is limited.Cryptocurrencies enthusiasts may worry about serious problems, e.g., unpredictability of exchange rates and difficulties in using altcoins for investment goals other than speculation purposes  said Leon Dain, CEO of Yoritex. Thats why most of the people cryprocurrencies are associated with high and uncontrolled risks. Yoritex offers the effective risk hedging approach.To participate in Loyalty Program you need to go to company sitepurchase YRX tokens, and order the selected prepaid SimcoePay MasterCard Gift Card for the YRX tokens.Company siteprovides detailed instructions for participation in Loyalty Program for all ICO applicants. Also, in the beginning of February Yoritex has offered to clients a new service cryptocurrencies exchange using other crypto- or fiat currencies via VISA and MasterCard.Yoritex Inc. was established and incorporated in Canada in 2009. The company launched several projects in mHealth, engineering and IT technologies in co-operation with Blackberry corporation and other Canadian and European companies. In 2016 Yoritex has started development of the First European Cross-Border Multicurrency Online Bank for EU Non Residents (SimcoePay project).Yoritex Inc.5 KENNETH AVE, SUITE 1108NORTH YORK ON M2N 6M7Canadainfo@yoritex.com
Global 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Sales Market Demand, Key Opportunities and Qualitative Research Report 2018-2025

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Market Research Hub (MRH) has added a new report to its wide online repository which focuses on the Global 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Sales Market Report 2018. This research analysis is a smart collection of data that offers a clear insight about precise market analysis and future projections concerned with the 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Market. The study enclosed significant data which tends to make the research a powerful source for analysts, investors and industry experts to gain necessary knowledge about the prevailing market trends, opportunities and drivers, which are influencing the Global 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Market.Request For Free Sample Report:The prime geographical regions studied through this valuation include United States, China, Europe, Japan, Southeast Asia and India. To strengthen the report specifics, various segments of 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Market are examined to help monitor future lucrativeness and to fix on critical decisions associated to growth. Readers can gain information concerning developments, materials, technologies, capacities and changing structure of the Global 1,4-Dichlorobenzene market. The prime application/end users includeDisinfectantDeodorantPesticideOther Chemicals.The study provides corporation profiling, product picture and specifications, sales, market share and exchange information of key manufacturers of Global 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Market, some of them listed here are PPG, Yangnong Jiangsu, Nanhua Sinopec, Pengyu Jiangsu, Haichen, Bayer, Dacheng Shandong, Sumitomo Chemical, Monsanto, Kureha and Fenghuangdao Yangzhou.The Global 1,4-Dichlorobenzene market is rising at a very quick pace and with rise in technological modernization, competition and M&A activities in the industry many local and regional salespersons are offering specific application products for varied end-users. The new creator entrants in the Global 1,4-Dichlorobenzene market are finding it hard to compete with the international vendors constructed on quality, reliability, and innovations in technology.Global 1,4-Dichlorobenzene (Thousands Units) and Revenue (Million USD) Market Split by Product Type such as CP and GR. Further the research study is segmented by Applications with historic and estimated market share and compounded annual CAGR.Browse Full Report with TOC:Table of Contents:1 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of 1,4-Dichlorobenzene1.2 Classification of 1,4-Dichlorobenzene by Product Category1.2.1 Global 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Type (2013-2025)1.2.2 Global 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 CP1.2.4 GR1.3 Global 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 Global 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Application (2013-2025)1.3.2 Disinfectant1.3.3 Deodorant1.3.4 Pesticide1.3.5 Other Chemicals1.4 Global 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Market by Region1.4.1 Global 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2013-2025)1.4.2 United States 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.3 China 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.4 Europe 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.5 Japan 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.6 Southeast Asia 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.7 India 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.5 Global Market Size (Value and Volume) of 1,4-Dichlorobenzene (2013-2025)1.5.1 Global 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2025)1.5.2 Global 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2025)2 Global 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application2.1 Global 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Global 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.2 Global 1,4-Dichlorobenzene (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Sales and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.2.2 Global 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Revenue and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.3 Global 1,4-Dichlorobenzene (Volume and Value) by Region2.3.1 Global 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Sales and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)2.3.2 Global 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Revenue and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)2.4 Global 1,4-Dichlorobenzene (Volume) by ApplicationContinue@......Enquire About This Report:About Market Research Hub:Market Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRHs expansive collection of chemicals Industry research reports has been carefully curated to help key personnel and decision makers across industry verticals to clearly visualize their operating environment and take strategic steps.MRH functions as an integrated platform for the following products and services: Objective and sound market forecasts, qualitative and quantitative analysis, incisive insight into defining industry trends, and market share estimates. Our reputation lies in delivering value and world-class capabilities to our clients.Contact Us90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free: 800-998-4852 (US-Canada)Email: press@marketresearchhub.comWebsite:Read Industry News at -
Global 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Sales Market Demand, Key Trends and Top Brands Research Report 2018-2025

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Market Research Hub (MRH) has added a new report to its wide online repository which focuses on the Global 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Sales Market Report 2018. This research analysis is a smart collection of data that offers a clear insight about precise market analysis and future projections concerned with the 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Market. The study enclosed significant data which tends to make the research a powerful source for analysts, investors and industry experts to gain necessary knowledge about the prevailing market trends, opportunities and drivers, which are influencing the Global 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Market.Request For Free Sample Report:The prime geographical regions studied through this valuation include United States, China, Europe, Japan, Southeast Asia and India. To strengthen the report specifics, various segments of 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Market are examined to help monitor future lucrativeness and to fix on critical decisions associated to growth. Readers can gain information concerning developments, materials, technologies, capacities and changing structure of the Global 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene market. The prime application/end users includeTrimellitic Anhydride1,3,5-TrimethylbenzeneDurene.The study provides corporation profiling, product picture and specifications, sales, market share and exchange information of key manufacturers of Global 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Market, some of them listed here are FHR, Eni, Nanjing Refinery, Xinjiang Tianli, Jinyang Chemical, Jiangsu Hualun, Jinling Petrochemical, Lanzhou Petrochemical and Jiangsu Zhengdan.The Global 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene market is rising at a very quick pace and with rise in technological modernization, competition and M&A activities in the industry many local and regional salespersons are offering specific application products for varied end-users. The new creator entrants in the Global 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene market are finding it hard to compete with the international vendors constructed on quality, reliability, and innovations in technology.Global 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene (Thousands Units) and Revenue (Million USD) Market Split by Product Type such as Type I and Type II. Further the research study is segmented by Applications with historic and estimated market share and compounded annual CAGR.Browse Full Report with TOC:Table of Contents:1 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene1.2 Classification of 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene by Product Category1.2.1 Global 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Type (2013-2025)1.2.2 Global 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.31.2.41.3 Global 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 Global 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Application (2013-2025)1.3.2 Trimellitic Anhydride1.3.3 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene1.3.4 Durene1.4 Global 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Market by Region1.4.1 Global 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2013-2025)1.4.2 United States 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.3 China 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.4 Europe 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.5 Japan 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.6 Southeast Asia 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.7 India 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.5 Global Market Size (Value and Volume) of 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene (2013-2025)1.5.1 Global 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2025)1.5.2 Global 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2025)2 Global 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application2.1 Global 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Global 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.2 Global 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Sales and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.2.2 Global 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Revenue and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.3 Global 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene (Volume and Value) by Region2.3.1 Global 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Sales and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)2.3.2 Global 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Revenue and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)2.4 Global 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene (Volume) by ApplicationContinue@......Enquire About This Report:About Market Research Hub:Market Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRHs expansive collection of chemicals Industry research reports has been carefully curated to help key personnel and decision makers across industry verticals to clearly visualize their operating environment and take strategic steps.MRH functions as an integrated platform for the following products and services: Objective and sound market forecasts, qualitative and quantitative analysis, incisive insight into defining industry trends, and market share estimates. Our reputation lies in delivering value and world-class capabilities to our clients.Contact Us90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free: 800-998-4852 (US-Canada)Email: press@marketresearchhub.comWebsite:Read Industry News at -
All Terrain Robot Market Enabling Technologies, Applications, Standardization, Key Trends Forecasts 2023

All Terrain Robot Market

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WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On  All Terrain Robot Market Enabling Technologies, Applications, Standardization, Key Trends Forecasts 2023.Description:All Terrain Robot can handle a wider variety of terrain than ordinary robots, it provides maneuverability and stability on every point of the terrain, and widely used for inspection, surveillance, reconnaissance, carrying, search and rescue etc.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the All Terrain Robot in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Get a Sample Report @For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comMarket Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversEndeavor RoboticsRoboteamStanley Innovation (Segway)TelerobSuperDroid Robots, IncEvatechDr Robot IncInspector BotsBoston DynamicsMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, coversWheel TypeTrack TypeLegs TypeMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoMilitary & DefenseMining & ConstructionAgricultureOthersReport Details @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global All Terrain Robot market.Chapter 1, to describe All Terrain Robot Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of All Terrain Robot, with sales, revenue, and price of All Terrain Robot, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of All Terrain Robot, for each region, from 2013 to 2018;Continue..Table Of Contents  Major Key Points1 Market Overview1.1 All Terrain Robot Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Wheel Type1.2.2 Track Type1.2.3 Legs Type1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Military & Defense1.3.2 Mining & Construction1.3.3 Agriculture1.3.4 Others1.4 Market Analysis by Regions1.4.1 North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)1.4.1.1 United States Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.1.2 Canada Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.1.3 Mexico Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2 Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)1.4.2.1 Germany Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.2 France Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.3 UK Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.4 Russia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.5 Italy Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3 Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)1.4.3.1 China Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.2 Japan Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.3 Korea Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.4 India Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.5 Southeast Asia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4 South America, Middle East and Africa1.4.4.1 Brazil Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.2 Egypt Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.3 Saudi Arabia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.4 South Africa Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.5 Nigeria Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.5 Market Dynamics1.5.1 Market Opportunities1.5.2 Market Risk1.5.3 Market Driving Force2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 Endeavor Robotics2.1.1 Business Overview2.1.2 All Terrain Robot Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Type 12.1.2.2 Type 22.1.3 Endeavor Robotics All Terrain Robot Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.2 Roboteam2.2.1 Business Overview2.2.2 All Terrain Robot Type and Applications2.2.2.1 Type 12.2.2.2 Type 22.2.3 Roboteam All Terrain Robot Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.3 Stanley Innovation (Segway)2.3.1 Business Overview2.3.2 All Terrain Robot Type and Applications2.3.2.1 Type 12.3.2.2 Type 22.3.3 Stanley Innovation (Segway) All Terrain Robot Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.4 Telerob2.4.1 Business Overview2.4.2 All Terrain Robot Type and Applications2.4.2.1 Type 12.4.2.2 Type 22.4.3 Telerob All Terrain Robot Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.5 SuperDroid Robots, Inc2.5.1 Business Overview2.5.2 All Terrain Robot Type and Applications2.5.2.1 Type 12.5.2.2 Type 22.5.3 SuperDroid Robots, Inc All Terrain Robot Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.6 Evatech2.6.1 Business Overview2.6.2 All Terrain Robot Type and Applications2.6.2.1 Type 12.6.2.2 Type 22.6.3 Evatech All Terrain Robot Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.7 Dr Robot Inc2.7.1 Business Overview2.7.2 All Terrain Robot Type and Applications2.7.2.1 Type 12.7.2.2 Type 22.7.3 Dr Robot Inc All Terrain Robot Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.8 Inspector Bots2.8.1 Business Overview2.8.2 All Terrain Robot Type and Applications2.8.2.1 Type 12.8.2.2 Type 22.8.3 Inspector Bots All Terrain Robot Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.9 Boston Dynamics2.9.1 Business Overview2.9.2 All Terrain Robot Type and Applications2.9.2.1 Type 12.9.2.2 Type 22.9.3 Boston Dynamics All Terrain Robot Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)ContinueFor more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Office No.528,Amanora Chambers,Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar,Pune-411028.
Bioreactors and Fermenters Market Segment by Applications, Manufacturers, Regions and Forecast to 2023

Bioreactors and Fermenters Market

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WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On  Bioreactors and Fermenters Market Segment by Applications, Manufacturers, Regions and Forecast to 2023.Description:Bioreactors are vessels or tanks in which whole cells or cell-free enzymes transform raw materials into biochemical products and/or less undesirable by-products. The microbial cell itself is a miniature bioreactor; other examples include shake flasks, Petri dishes, and industrial fermentors. Diagnostic products based on enzymatic reactions, farm silos for silage fermentations, bread pans with fermenting yeast, and the soil in a Kansas wheat field may also be viewed as bioreactors. While the bioreactor may be simple or highly instrumented, the important consideration is the ability to produce the desired product or result. The bioreactor is designed and operated to provide the environment for product formation selected by the scientist, baker, or winemaker. It is the heart of many biotechnological systems that are used for agricultural, environmental, industrial, and medical applications. Industrial bioreactors may be operated as batch reactors or continuously, aerobically or anaerobically, and with pure or mixed cultures. In many bioreactors, three phases (gas, liquid, and solid) are present and mass transfer is an important consideration. Biofilms and immobilized cells can be used to retain microbial biomass in a flow bioreactor. Sensors, instrumentation, and control systems are essential for industrial bioreactors.Get a Sample Report @For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comScope of the Report:This report focuses on the Bioreactors and Fermenters in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversSartorius AG BBIThermo FisherMerck KGaADanaher (Pall)Eppendorf AGPraj Hipurity SystemsPierre Guerin (DCI-Biolafitte)ZETAApplikon BiotechnologyBioengineering AGInfors HTSolarisMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, coversSingle-use BioreactorsMultiple-use BioreactorsMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoBiopharmaceutical CompaniesCROsAcademic and Research InstitutesOthersReport Details @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Bioreactors and Fermenters market.Chapter 1, to describe Bioreactors and Fermenters Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Bioreactors and Fermenters, with sales, revenue, and price of Bioreactors and Fermenters, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Bioreactors and Fermenters, for each region, from 2013 to 2018;Continue..Table Of Contents  Major Key Points1 Market Overview1.1 Bioreactors and Fermenters Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Single-use Bioreactors1.2.2 Multiple-use Bioreactors1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Biopharmaceutical Companies1.3.2 CROs1.3.3 Academic and Research Institutes1.3.4 Others1.4 Market Analysis by Regions1.4.1 North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)1.4.1.1 United States Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.1.2 Canada Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.1.3 Mexico Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2 Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)1.4.2.1 Germany Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.2 France Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.3 UK Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.4 Russia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.2.5 Italy Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3 Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)1.4.3.1 China Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.2 Japan Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.3 Korea Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.4 India Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.3.5 Southeast Asia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4 South America, Middle East and Africa1.4.4.1 Brazil Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.2 Egypt Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.3 Saudi Arabia Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.4 South Africa Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.4.4.5 Nigeria Market States and Outlook (2013-2023)1.5 Market Dynamics1.5.1 Market Opportunities1.5.2 Market Risk1.5.3 Market Driving Force2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 Sartorius AG BBI2.1.1 Business Overview2.1.2 Bioreactors and Fermenters Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Type 12.1.2.2 Type 22.1.3 Sartorius AG BBI Bioreactors and Fermenters Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.2 Thermo Fisher2.2.1 Business Overview2.2.2 Bioreactors and Fermenters Type and Applications2.2.2.1 Type 12.2.2.2 Type 22.2.3 Thermo Fisher Bioreactors and Fermenters Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.3 Merck KGaA2.3.1 Business Overview2.3.2 Bioreactors and Fermenters Type and Applications2.3.2.1 Type 12.3.2.2 Type 22.3.3 Merck KGaA Bioreactors and Fermenters Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.4 Danaher (Pall)2.4.1 Business Overview2.4.2 Bioreactors and Fermenters Type and Applications2.4.2.1 Type 12.4.2.2 Type 22.4.3 Danaher (Pall) Bioreactors and Fermenters Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.5 Eppendorf AG2.5.1 Business Overview2.5.2 Bioreactors and Fermenters Type and Applications2.5.2.1 Type 12.5.2.2 Type 22.5.3 Eppendorf AG Bioreactors and Fermenters Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.6 Praj Hipurity Systems2.6.1 Business Overview2.6.2 Bioreactors and Fermenters Type and Applications2.6.2.1 Type 12.6.2.2 Type 22.6.3 Praj Hipurity Systems Bioreactors and Fermenters Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.7 Pierre Guerin (DCI-Biolafitte)2.7.1 Business Overview2.7.2 Bioreactors and Fermenters Type and Applications2.7.2.1 Type 12.7.2.2 Type 22.7.3 Pierre Guerin (DCI-Biolafitte) Bioreactors and Fermenters Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)ContinueFor more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Office No.528,Amanora Chambers,Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar,Pune-411028.
Global Egg Allergy Market Analysis, Trends and Future Outlook, Size, Top Key Players Profile For USD 3.56 billion Industry Forecasts to 2025

Egg Allergy Market

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Global Egg Allergy Market accounted to USD 3.56 billion in 2017 growing at a CAGR of 6.9% during the forecast period of 2018 to 2025. The upcoming market report contains data for historic years 2015, the base year of calculation is 2017 and the forecast period is 2018 to 2025.Request Sample Copy of this Report Now @Global Egg Allergy Market Diagnosis (Blood Test, Skin-Prick Test, Atopy Patch Test, Oral Food Challenge, Others), Treatment (Oral Immunotherapy, Medication {Antihistamins, Epinephrine Shots, Others}, Others), End-Users (Hospital & Clinics, Diagnostic Centers, Research & Academic Institutes, Others), Geography  Industry Trends and Forecast to 2025This Report Consists of No of pages: 350No of Figures: 60No of Tables: 220Frequently Asked Questions? What will the market size be in 2025? What are the key factors driving the global market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the key players in the market? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key players? What will be the growth rate in 2025? Which strategies are used by top players in the Global Egg Allergy Market?Market Drivers and Restraints: Global Egg Allergy Market Developments In Technology Growing Incidences Of Asthma Increasing Environmental Pollution Levels Low Consciousness of Allergic Diseases Emerging Markets Across AsiaCompany Share Analysis: Global Egg Allergy MarketThe global egg allergy market is highly fragmented and is based on new product launches and clinical results of products. Hence the major players have used various strategies such as new product launches, clinical trials, market initiatives, high expense on research and development, agreements, joint ventures, partnerships, acquisitions, and others to increase their footprints in this market. The report includes market shares of egg-Allergy market for global, Europe, North America, Asia Pacific and South America.Get Detail TOC @Top Competitors of Market: Global Egg Allergy Market Genentech, Inc., Novartis AG., Pfizer Inc., Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Bayer AG, Abbott, Astellas, Sanofi, Merck & Co., Inc., Creative Diagnostic Medicare Pvt. Ltd., ImmuneTech among othersHave any Questions? Talk with Our Analyst @Market Segmentation: Global Egg Allergy MarketBy diagnosis the global egg allergy market is segmented into blood test, skin-prick test, atopy patch test, oral food challenge, and others.By treatment the global egg allergy market is segmented into oral immunotherapy, medication and Others. Medication is further sub-segmented into antihistamins, epinephrine shots, and others.By end-users the global egg allergy market is segmented into hospital & clinics, diagnostic centers, research & academic institutes, and others.On the basis of geography, global egg-allergy market report covers data points for 28 countries across multiple geographies such as North America & South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. Some of the major countries covered in this report are U.S., Canada, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, China, India, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Brazil among others. In 2017, North America is expected to dominate the market.Get Full insight information of this Report @About Data Bridge Market Research:Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.Contact:Vishal DixitData Bridge Market ResearchTel: +1-888-387-2818Email: Sales@databridgemarketresearch.com
A total of 213 firms and organizations in Japan were found to have mistreated technical trainees from abroad in 2017, down 10.9 percent from the previous year and falling for the second straight year, the Justice Ministry has said.

The number of cases of unfair practice totaled 299, the ministry said Monday.

The most common problem was unpaid wages with 139 cases. Document tampering and forgery cases, including falsifying withholding tax statements to conceal wage nonpayment, followed at 73. The number of labor law violations, such as illegal overtime, came to 24.

Illegal low wages and long work hours for foreign nationals working under the countryas Technical Intern Training Program have become a problem.
CVD Diamond 2018 Global Market Net Worth US$ 970 million Forecast By 2022

CVD Diamond Market 2018

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WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On  CVD Diamond 2018 Global Market Net Worth US$ 970 million Forecast By 2022.Description:The CVD Diamond industry has also suffered a certain impact, but still maintained a relatively optimistic growth, the past four years, CVD Diamond market size to maintain the average annual growth rate of 10.63% from 480 million $ in 2014 to 650 million $ in 2017, The analysts believe that in the next few years, CVD Diamond market size will be further expanded, we expect that by 2022, The market size of the CVD Diamond will reach 970 million $.Get a Sample Report @For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comThis Report covers the manufacturers data, including: shipment, price, revenue, gross profit, interview record, business distribution etc., these data help the consumer know about the competitors better. This report also covers all the regions and countries of the world, which shows a regional development status, including market size, volume and value, as well as price data.Besides, the report also covers segment data, including: type segment, industry segment, channel segment etc. cover different segment market size, both volume and value. Also cover different industries clients information, which is very important for the manufacturers.Sections:-Section 1: FreeDefinitionSection (2 3): 1200 USDManufacturer DetailElement SixSP3Morgan Advanced MaterialsDIDCODDKAdvanced DiamondUniDiamondSumitomo ElectricEDPDiamond MaterialsScio DiamondHebei Plasma DiamondBeijing WorldiaHuanghe WhirlwindSection 4: 900 USDRegion SegmentationNorth America Country (United States, Canada)South AmericaAsia Country (China, Japan, India, Korea)Europe Country (Germany, UK, France, Italy)Other Country (Middle East, Africa, GCC)Continue..Report Details @Table Of Contents  Major Key PointsSection 1 CVD Diamond Product DefinitionSection 2 Global CVD Diamond Market Manufacturer Share and Market Overview2.1 Global Manufacturer CVD Diamond Shipments2.2 Global Manufacturer CVD Diamond Business Revenue2.3 Global CVD Diamond Market OverviewSection 3 Manufacturer CVD Diamond Business Introduction3.1 Element Six CVD Diamond Business Introduction3.1.1 Element Six CVD Diamond Shipments, Price, Revenue and Gross profit 2014-20173.1.2 Element Six CVD Diamond Business Distribution by Region3.1.3 Element Six Interview Record3.1.4 Element Six CVD Diamond Business Profile3.1.5 Element Six CVD Diamond Product Specification3.2 SP3 CVD Diamond Business Introduction3.2.1 SP3 CVD Diamond Shipments, Price, Revenue and Gross profit 2014-20173.2.2 SP3 CVD Diamond Business Distribution by Region3.2.3 Interview Record3.2.4 SP3 CVD Diamond Business Overview3.2.5 SP3 CVD Diamond Product Specification3.3 Morgan Advanced Materials CVD Diamond Business Introduction3.3.1 Morgan Advanced Materials CVD Diamond Shipments, Price, Revenue and Gross profit 2014-20173.3.2 Morgan Advanced Materials CVD Diamond Business Distribution by Region3.3.3 Interview Record3.3.4 Morgan Advanced Materials CVD Diamond Business Overview3.3.5 Morgan Advanced Materials CVD Diamond Product Specification3.4 DIDCO CVD Diamond Business Introduction3.5 DDK CVD Diamond Business Introduction3.6 Advanced Diamond CVD Diamond Business IntroductionSection 4 Global CVD Diamond Market Segmentation (Region Level)4.1 North America Country4.1.1 United States CVD Diamond Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.1.2 Canada CVD Diamond Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.2 South America Country4.2.1 South America CVD Diamond Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.3 Asia Country4.3.1 China CVD Diamond Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.3.2 Japan CVD Diamond Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.3.3 India CVD Diamond Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.3.4 Korea CVD Diamond Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.4 Europe Country4.4.1 Germany CVD Diamond Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.4.2 UK CVD Diamond Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.4.3 France CVD Diamond Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.4.4 Italy CVD Diamond Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.4.5 Europe CVD Diamond Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.5 Other Country and Region4.5.1 Middle East CVD Diamond Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.5.2 Africa CVD Diamond Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.5.3 GCC CVD Diamond Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.6 Global CVD Diamond Market Segmentation (Region Level) Analysis 2014-20174.7 Global CVD Diamond Market Segmentation (Region Level) AnalysisSection 5 Global CVD Diamond Market Segmentation (Product Type Level)5.1 Global CVD Diamond Market Segmentation (Product Type Level) Market Size 2014-20175.2 Different CVD Diamond Product Type Price 2014-20175.3 Global CVD Diamond Market Segmentation (Product Type Level) AnalysisSection 6 Global CVD Diamond Market Segmentation (Industry Level)6.1 Global CVD Diamond Market Segmentation (Industry Level) Market Size 2014-20176.2 Different Industry Price 2014-20176.3 Global CVD Diamond Market Segmentation (Industry Level) AnalysisSection 7 Global CVD Diamond Market Segmentation (Channel Level)7.1 Global CVD Diamond Market Segmentation (Channel Level) Sales Volume and Share 2014-20177.2 Global CVD Diamond Market Segmentation (Channel Level) AnalysisContinueFor more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Office No.528,Amanora Chambers,Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar,Pune-411028.
Software as a Service (SaaS) Market Growth by Global Leader- Google, Fujitsu Ltd., Amazon, ADP, LLC, IBM Corporation, Salesforce, Workday, Oracle Corporation and Others

The Insight Partners

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http://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/software-as-a-service-saas-market

Paying for a software as per the usage on a subscription basis rather than fully owning can be defined as Software as a service (SaaS). SaaS applications are accessed using a web browser from a remote location and eliminates the hassles of installing, upgrading and maintaining the software for the owner. As a business delivery model for many corporate applications SaaS provides a huge variety of software to industries from various verticals and the software include database management software, messaging software, enterprise resource planning (ERP), gaming applications, service desk management, payroll software, computer designing software, customer relationship management (CRM), content management (CM), development software, virtualization software, collaboration, invoicing, talent acquisition accounting, management information systems (MIS), human resource management (HRM) and antivirus software. SaaS has been integrated by major upcoming and leading software companies with major adoptions witnessed by the SMEs. The advantage offered by SaaS is the cost reductions associated with it and the eliminations of hidden costs.The global Software as a Service market is bifurcated based on deployment model as: private cloud, public cloud, and hybrid cloud. Furthermore, the global SaaS market can be further divided by applications into ERP, HRM, CRM, supply chain management (SCM) and others (Web conferencing platforms, messaging applications and collaboration). Additionally, while considering on the basis of end-user SaaS can be further classified into small & medium enterprises (SMEs), and large enterprises. The end-user classification has been done on the basis of revenues.Request Sample Copy @Software as a Service is there to replace the traditional application service provider model on account of various benefits it caters. SaaS basically can be deployed into organizations via three different deployment models. Each model has its own advantages and disadvantages but the public cloud deployment model has been the largest adopted model for this market SaaS providers generally develop and manage their own software. The differentiating point between ASPs and SaaS vendors is that ASPs offer conventional client-server models that require installation of software at the clients premises, however SaaS requires a web browser and eliminates the need to install at the clients premise. In addition, major initial ASPs offered a separate instance of the user application for each enterprise, however, a software distribution model that allows sharing of applications and allowing access to organizations via a single tenant or multi-tenant architecture is basically SaaS.Buy Report atBusinesses are seeking paradigm shift in their operations especially in developing economies like India and China of APAC region. Awareness about the benefits of SaaS in these regions has significantly increased the adoptions of Software as a Service solutions by various organizations. Furthermore, developing economies have been the breeding grounds for a large number of SMEs that are the largest adopters of SaaS models. As a result, Software as a Service market is expected to witness a huge opportunity with its rise in the APAC region. On the organizational point of view, SMEs are adopting and implementing this technology on account of significant cost reductions.Customers are the greatest asset for any organization and employees are the backbone of any successful business. Understanding the importance of both these resources, many small and large organizations globally have adopted CRM and HRM applications to establish long-term relationships with their customers and also manage their internal human resource efficiently. Google, Inc., Fujitsu Ltd., Amazon.com, Inc., ADP, LLC, IBM Corporation, Salesforce.com, Inc., Workday, Inc., Oracle Corporation, SAP SE and Microsoft Corporation are some of the major players in the global Software as a Service market.View Complete Report atContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@theinsightpartners.comThe Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Media, and Telecommunication industries.533, 5th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Global Smart Lighting market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 17.1% during the forecast period 2016  2025 and accounts for US$ 51.05 Bn in the year 2025.

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The smart lighting is a technology that enables its users to govern the lighting of any space without being surrounded by unnecessary wires. Smart lighting is a part of upcoming IoT technology, facilitating mobile and sensor based control on the luminosity of lights in a particular space. The intelligent connected lighting offers ecofriendly environment and effectively reduces the consumption of energy. The global Smart Lighting market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 17.1% during the forecast period 2016  2025 and accounts for US$ 51.05 Bn in the year 2025.The global smart lighting market is fragmented on the basis of lighting Type into. Light Emitting Diode (LED) Lamp, Fluorescent Lamps, Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL), High Intensity Discharge Lamps and Others (Neon Lamps and Photographic Flashes). Furthermore the segmentation is based upon application of smart lighting viz. Industrial lighting, Commercial lighting, Residential lighting, Outdoor lighting, Automotive lighting and Government. According to the geographic regions, the market is segmented into Europe, Middle East & Africa (MEA), Asia Pacific (APAC), North America and South America (SAM). With many developing countries in the region of Middle East and Africa, it is expected to have the highest CAGR of 24.4% during the forecast period.Request Sample Copy @The shortcoming of a wireless system are occasional disturbance in communications among the devices. When a wireless lighting system is installed in a place, one should always make sure that the keypads, processors and dimmers are within a specific range. For example, some old residential buildings may be constructed with metal wire integrated in the walls that might create disturbance or weaken the signals of a wireless system. Though it has certain drawbacks, it is expected to capture more than half of the lighting market in next few years. Thus, maximum companies are switching their product portfolio to wireless smart lighting solutions. Major players in this segment are Philips, GE, OSRAM and Daintree.Now a days wireless connectivity is taking a leap over the wire abled connecting networks as wireless is more convenient to use. First this technology was used in the telephones now called as the mobile phones and since then the wireless technology has revolutionized the way things were viewed. Wireless technology has given its consumers freedom from the limited range of the wired devices.The wireless technology has become an integral part of day to day lifestyle. Wireless technologies like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and RF Ids are experiencing high adoption rate among users. The rising popularity of wireless technology in lighting solution is thus considered to be one of the major reasons driving the smart lighting market. The wireless lighting solutions are easy to control and help its customers to attain maximum energy saving.Buy Report atThe lighting hardware is highly integrated and dependent on the software platform being used. As there is no common standard for wireless smart lighting products, the complete idea of various smart lighting devices networked together and the entire process of networking becomes complicated. For example, Philips employs ZigBee Light Link, GreenWave uses NXP JenNet-IP and Insteon uses its own wireless technology and all these are incompatible with each other. This incompatibility would result in inconvenience for the user as the choice of products and services will get limited by the platform being used, or else the entire operation of smart lighting would get complicated.Major players in the global smart lighting market comprises of Osram Licht AG (Germany), Honeywell International Inc. (U.S.A), Koninklijke Philips N.V. (Netherland), Eaton Corporation PLC. (Ireland), Digital Lumens Inc. (U.S.A), Lutron Electronics Company Inc. (U.S.A), General Electric Company (U.S.A), Legrand SA (France), Streetlight.Vision (France) and Acuity Brands Lighting Inc. (U.S.A).among others.Browse market data tables and in-depth TOC of the Smart Lighting Market to 2025 @Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@theinsightpartners.comThe Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Media, and Telecommunication industries.533, 5th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Goose Creek, SC (29445)

Today

Cloudy this morning. A few showers developing during the afternoon. High 84F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low around 70F. Winds light and variable.
The Central Michigan University College of Medicine recently announced the accreditation of its surgical residency program and will welcome surgical residents to Saginaw this July.

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education approved the residency, which is supported by CMU Medical Education Partners -- a collaboration among CMU, St. Mary's of Michigan and Covenant HealthCare.
Local students were among the more than 360 graduates honored at Michigan Technological University's midyear commencement held on the Houghton campus in December.

James Parm, a partner in Inc. CEO Project, was the commencement speaker. He has a distinguished career leading international companies, including Inmarsat Solutions, Stratos and Shell Offshore Services. He is a 1981 Michigan Tech grad.
The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Kelly Dame.

Monday, Feb. 19

2:45 a.m.  Police made a warrant arrest in the 4000 block of Wellness Drive.

Sunday, Feb. 18

4:14 a.m.  A Saginaw man, 44, was arrested in Lee Township for driving while his license was suspended after a traffic stop for speeding. This is the mans fourth arrest for driving while license suspended. He was cited for speeding.

8:10 a.m.  Property was damaged in the 6100 block of Jefferson Avenue.

10:59 a.m.  Deputies were sent to an incident at an Ingersoll Township home. A report regarding a man in possession of a firearm while intoxicated is being sent to the prosecutors office for review.

11:16 a.m.  A Warren Township man, 43, reported his son and daughter, ages 17 and 16, ran away. The teens were contacted by phone and said they would not come back home. They were entered into the Law Enforcement Information Network as runaways and a report is being sent to the prosecutor and probate court for review.

3:26 p.m.  A deputy was sent to a report of a loud explosion in Homer Township, and found a 56-year-old man who was target shooting.

3:54 p.m.  Mailboxes at two Geneva Township homes were damaged.

4:01 p.m.  A Sanford man, 31, reported someone entered his vehicle during the night. Nothing was stolen.

7:56 p.m.  A deputy was called to a Jerome Township home by a man who said a woman he did not know walked inside. The woman was found to be the mans 88-year-old wife, and deputies learned the man suffers from dementia.

8 p.m.  Police assisted the Department of Health and Human Services in the 5100 block of Russell Street.

8:10 p.m.  Deputies were sent to an assault at a Mount Haley Township home and found the incident was a verbal argument. There was no assault.

8:20 p.m.  A deputy was sent to a Lincoln Township business after two former employees, a Midland man, 28, and Lincoln Township woman, 33, made phone calls threatening to burn down the building. The man and woman were contacted later in Midland for an unrelated incident and there was not evidence they had made any attempt to follow through on the threat.

8:39 p.m.  A deputy was called to a Jerome Township neighborhood to check a report of gunshots or fireworks. No noise was heard by the deputy.

10:39 p.m.  A deputy checked a report of a semi with no taillights heading west on U.S. 10 in Jerome Township. The semi was not found.

11p.m.  Police were sent to a loud party in the 5300 block of Dublin Avenue.

11:52 p.m.  An Ortonville man, 67, was arrested in Jerome Township for drunken driving.

Saturday, Feb. 17

1:07 a.m.  A 17-year-old male was arrested at a Greendale Township gas station for drunken driving and drug possession.

1:31 a.m.  A deputy assisted Gratiot County firefighters and MidMichigan EMS paramedics with a Porter Township man, 54, who was having a medical problem.

1:34 a.m.  Officers were sent to a loud party in the 600 block of George Street.

2 a.m.  A deputy assisted Midland Police officers by providing a perimeter while they took three suspects into custody from the roof of a local business.

3:43 a.m.  Officers were sent to an Adelaide Street address for a domestic assault and bond violation, and also made a warrant arrest at the scene.

6:22 a.m.  A deputy assisted a Midland Police officer in the apprehension of a Midland man, 48, who was staying at a home in Edenville Township. The man was wanted on two warrants and a domestic assault case.

8:36 a.m.  Deputies were contacted about a property line dispute in Mills Township.

11:04 a.m.  Officers were sent to the 1000 block of South Saginaw Road for a report of trespassing.

12:28 p.m.  An Ingersoll Township man, 53, was arrested for drunken driving after a crash in that township.

12:59 p.m.  Police were sent to a domestic assault at a South Saginaw Road address.

1:59 p.m.  Officers made an arrest for driving while license revoked at Currie Parkway and Mary Street.

6:24 p.m.  Property was stolen from the 3500 block of Isabella Street.

7:25 p.m.  Police made an arrest for drunken driving after a crash at Lambros Drive and Westbrier Terrace.

7:46 p.m.  An Alma woman, 27, reported a dog in the roadway at Coleman and Kent roads. The dog wouldnt stay out of the roadway and the woman was afraid it would get hurt, so she stayed at the scene until a deputy arrived. The dog was taken to the Midland County Humane Society.

8:01 p.m.  A motorist was arrested in the 2400 block of Swede Avenue for driving while license suspended.

10:38 p.m.  A deputy investigated a report of trespassing in Geneva Township.

10:40 p.m.  A motorist was arrested at North Saginaw Road and Eastman Avenue for drunken driving.

Friday, Feb. 16

10:14 a.m.  A deputy was sent to Jerome Township for a report of a vehicle stopped in Lincoln Township and the people inside talking to two girls in a driveway. It was found the girls know the people in the vehicle and there was no reason for concern.

1:45 p.m.  An Edenville Township woman reported someone tried to open a credit card in her name.

2:14 p.m.  A Saginaw woman, 37, was arrested at M-18 and U.S. 10 in Warren Township for driving while her license was suspended.

3:39 p.m.  A Warren Township woman, 57, reported someone tried to file for unemployment in her name.

10:32 p.m.  Police assisted deputies in the 5500 block of West Isabella Road, and a drug possession arrest was made.

10:38 p.m.  A Mount Haley Township home was entered and guns were stolen from a gun safe. The case is under investigation.

11:23 p.m.  Police made arrests for driving while license suspended and marijuana possession at South Saginaw Road and Rodd Street.
To the editor:

The gun debate will start again after the latest, horrific shooting. When will any kind of rational thought be applied, to at least try to bring down the numbers of shootings?

The liberals will just want new gun laws. That will not work, and the right will just do nothing. So the same thing will happen  nothing.

The problem is there are millions of legal guns out there, and millions more illegal guns that can be had, in many places as easy as drugs. What will another law do? And who will you take the guns from?

I remember, a number of our years ago, one of the main black groups, said that blacks will not give up their guns, because theyre afraid. I have a hard time believing that a lot of the Jewish people will give up your guns. They tried it once, and it didnt work out well.

Maybe the white suburbanite will, but I dont believe that either. We have the criminals. If we asked them nice, maybe they will. And I wont even get into the people with mental problems.

I think its time, we start looking outside the box. Lets think about other options, instead of just doing nothing. Bigger schools or districts could have police officers full-time. Thats just one possible answer to the problem. I know that means money for officers, but how much is a life worth? Thats just one possible answer to a very complex problem.

Lets try to solve the problem with some kind of rational thought. Im an Army veteran. I have seen many deaths by guns. It is insane, the amount of guns we have in this country. But I believe that cat is out of the bag.

I believe after all these years of the left just saying take them away, or lets have another law, and the right not agreeing to anything and, in the end, nothing being done is just as I said insane. Its time to do a little bit of thinking, about options, while we pray for the victims.

PHIL WALKER

Sanford
Orchestra to host Latin concert at Great Lakes Center for the Arts
Former Battle of Malta Organizers Announce Malta Poker Festival

February 20, 2018 PokerNews Staff

The former organizers of the infamous Battle of Malta tournament, event founder and director Ivonne Montealegre, and the Portomaso Casino, have announced a new tournament festival on the Mediterranean island of Malta. After a legal dispute with the owners of the BOM brand, Montealegre has now set her sights on a new event, dubbed the Malta Poker Festival.

Like its predecessor, the Malta Poker Festival Main Event will have a buy-in of 550 with a guaranteed prize pool of 500,000. The event takes place in the Portomaso Casino in Malta, running November 1-6, 2018.

Besides the 550 Main Event with the half million guarantee, the festival will have several side-events. One of them is a second chance event with a guarantee of 10,000.

2018 Malta Poker Festival

Dates: November 01-06, 2018 Place: Portomaso Casino - St. Julians, Malta Main Event Buy-In: 550 Guaranteed Prize Pool: 500,000

Montealegre comments: With an operation like the one we have at Portomaso Casino, breaking records for the past 7 years, it makes sense to take the tournament to the next level. We have been listening to our clients and have recalibrated the entire operation to focus on good quality poker in the most spectacular destination in Malta.

Montealegre: "We have recalibrated the entire operation to focus on good quality poker in the most spectacular destination in Malta."



Danilo de Bernardis, the tournament director for the event, adds: Portomaso Casino is the only venue on the island capable of hosting an event of this magnitude. We have both the manpower and the facilities to create a comfortable, ethical, and professional environment to conduct an unforgettable poker experience. Our team is as strong as it gets after working together for 7 years.

The Battle of Malta, in collaboration with poker website PokerListings.com, has been an enormous event in Malta in recent years. In 2017, the 550 buy-in event attracted a massive field of 2,074 entries. Nadav Lipszyc from Israel came out victorious, banking 200,000 ($232,585). The Battle of Malta was not only known among poker players for the tournament itself, but the parties surrounding the event gained fame in the poker playing community as well.

The new event, dubbed the Malta Poker Festival, is set to prolong that legacy with an opening cocktail party and an official party during the festival. The tournament organization also promised lots of added value to the players, but details are yet to be released. Same goes for the full schedule, which will be announced at a later stage according to the tournament organizers.

While the event is still some months away, buying-in is already an option on the official website. A package including accommodation is also available:

4 Nights Accommodation - 5 Star Hilton Hotel, Malta

Malta Poker Festival Main Event Buy-In (550)

Daily Breakfast & Buffet Lunch at the Casino

Complimentary Opening Cocktail Party and Official VIP Party
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Trump spent Presidents Day in self-pity and trying to blame the former president, Barack Obama, for his Russia scandal.

First Trump wanted America to reflect on Presidents Day:

Have a great, but very reflective, Presidents Day!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 19, 2018

Later in the day, Trump made it clear that he wants America to reflect on blaming Obama for the Russia scandal:

Obama was President up to, and beyond, the 2016 Election. So why didnt he do something about Russian meddling?  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 19, 2018

Trump is blaming Obama to keep his Republican base with him

Trump learned a very important lesson from Fox News. Republicans love conspiracies. Trump has been in overdrive for a year as he tries to turn the Russia scandal into a conspiracy against him. None of his previous efforts captured the imagination the way that he wanted, so he is pulling out Obama. Trump understands that in the Republican mind anything involving Obama is bad, so he is hoping that by dragging Obama into his scandal, he will keep the Republican Party solidly behind him no matter what Mueller finds.

Trump is also a deeply troubled man who really does believe that he is the victim in the Russia scandal and that everything is Obamas fault. Trump really does believe that he is the victim of an Obama conspiracy, and his tweet wondering why Obama didnt deal Russian election interference is an act of self-pity. Woe is Trump. Everyone loves Obama. No one loves Trump.

It is a pity party in 280 characters or less, and also a fitting way for the worst president in history to spend Presidents Day.
By Andrew Chung

WASHINGTON (Reuters)  In a blow to gun rights activists, the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday turned away a challenge to Californias 10-day waiting period for firearms purchases that is intended to guard against impulsive violence and suicides.

The courts action underscored its continued reluctance to step into the national debate over gun control roiled by a series of mass shootings including one at a Florida school last week. One of the courts most conservative justices, Clarence Thomas, dissented from the decision to reject the case and accused his colleagues of showing contempt toward constitutional protections for gun rights.

The gun rights groups and individual gun owners who challenged the law had argued that it violated their right to keep and bear arms under the U.S. Constitutions Second Amendment. The challengers did not seek to invalidate Californias waiting period for everyone, just for people who already owned guns and passed a background check.

In his dissent, Thomas scolded his colleagues. If a lower court treated another right so cavalierly, I have little doubt this court would intervene, Thomas wrote. But as evidenced by our continued inaction in this area, the Second Amendment is a disfavored right in this court.

The Supreme Court has not taken up a major firearms case since issuing important gun rulings in 2008 and 2010.

The United States has among the most lenient gun control laws in the world. With the U.S. Congress deeply divided over gun control, it has fallen to states and localities to impose firearms restrictions. Democratic-governed California has some of the broadest firearms measures of any state.

A series of mass shootings including one in which a gunman killed 17 people at a Parkland, Florida high school on Feb. 14 have added to the long-simmering U.S. debate over gun control and the availability of firearms.

In another gun case, the high court on Tuesday also declined to take up a National Rifle Association challenge to Californias refusal to lower its fees on firearms sales and instead use a surplus generated by the fees to fund efforts to track down illegal weapons.

Thomas said he suspected that the Supreme Court would readily hear cases involving potentially unconstitutional waiting periods if they involved abortion, racist publications or police traffic stops.

The right to keep and bear arms is apparently this courts constitutional orphan. And the lower courts seem to have gotten the message, Thomas added.

Lead plaintiff Jeff Silvester, the Calguns Foundation and its executive director Brandon Combs, and the Second Amendment Foundation in 2011 challenged the 10-day waiting period between the purchase of a firearm and its actual delivery to the buyer, saying it violated the Second Amendment for individuals who already lawfully own a firearm or are licensed to carry one.

The waiting period gives a gun buyer inclined to use it for an impulsive purpose a cooling off period before obtaining it, which has been shown in studies to reduce handgun suicides and homicides, the state said in a legal filing. The waiting period also gives officials time to run background checks and ensure that weapons being sold are not stolen or being purchased for someone prohibited from gun ownership, the state said.

The states of California, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Illinois, Minnesota, Florida, Iowa, Maryland and New Jersey as well as Washington, D.C., have waiting periods that vary in duration and type of firearm, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence gun control advocacy group.

The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Californias law in 2016, reversing a federal trial court that had ruled it unconstitutional.

Last year, the Supreme Court left in place a California law that bars permits to carry a concealed gun in public places unless the applicant can show good cause for having it.

(Reporting by Andrew Chung; Editing by Will Dunham)
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White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders was shut down by ABCs Jon Karl who stopped her dead in her tracks when Sanders tried to blame Obama for Russian election interference.

Video:

This press briefing is not going well for Sarah Huckabee Sanders. #Russia pic.twitter.com/2d26N2NPUY  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) February 20, 2018

Transcript:



Karl: But this investigation is about what Russia did and raises the question now that you said that the president agrees, the national security adviser says the evidence is incontrovertible what is the president going to do about it? What is he specifically doing about the fact that Russia interfered in our election and has every intention, we are told, of doing it again? What is he doing about it?

Huckabee Sanders: Look, just last week, the department of homeland security secretary Kirsten Nelsen met with a number of relevant stakeholders. Everybody wants to blame this on the trump administration. Lets not forget that this happened under the Obama administration 

Karl: It happened over a year ago. Whats he done about it?

Huckabee Sanders: We have spent a lot of time working on cybersecurity, focusing on protecting the fairness on our elections. And as I just said, the Department of Homeland Security met with state and local officials, just over the last several weeks, along with election vendors to say that our election system is secure.

The press is holding Trump accountable for his inaction on the Russia threat

The blame Obama gimmick plays well with the Fox News crowd, but the excuse isnt holding up with the press or the American people at large. Trump is the president. He is in charge. His administration doesnt get to blame Obama and walk away. There is a reason why Trump administration officials increasingly only appear on Fox News and the Sunday news shows. When Trump and his White House are forced to answer real questions, they get exposed.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders had no answer for what Trump is doing about a hostile foreign power that is actively trying to destroy US democracy. She answered that the administration held a few meetings last summer. The press is finally treating the Russian interference like a crisis, and in the process, the inaction of the Trump administration is being revealed for all to see.
2017 was a good year for moving pictures. With few clear winners to choose from in any of this year's major categories, here are some predictions for who Popdust might expect up on stage to deliver an acceptance speech come March 4th.

Best Picture:

Candidates: Get Out, The Phantom Thread, Dunkirk, Call Me By Your Name, The Post, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, The Shape of Water, Lady Bird

Winner: Lady Bird

Lady Bird is not Oscar bait, it is not historic nor complex, but it is universally adored. Since arguably every film on this list (sans The Post, and if you ask me, The Shape of Water) deserves to compete with every other, it'll come down to what little, sticky memories of films gone by will compel Oscar voters to check off one box instead of the next. The character of Lady Bird might just be that stick.

Or: Call Me By Your Name

Don't sleep on this one. Did you know that Call Me By Your Name received the longest ever standing ovation at New York Film Festival? 10 minutes, straight clapping. Call Me would be one of the smaller pictures to ever win, but I wouldn't underestimate the Academy's aversion to choosing Golden Globes winners. In a field without a clear favorite, it may well be possible for many of the strong competitors with broad appeal to split the vote, leaving room for a focused, niche film to rise to the top.



Lead Actor:

Candidates: Daniel Day-Lewis, Daniel Kaluuya, Timothee Chalamet, Gary Oldman, Denzel Washington



assets.goodhousekeeping.co.uk

Winner: Gary Oldman

You could watch The Darkest Hour full through and not realize it's Gary Oldman under all that makeup. Few would've pegged Oldman as the man for the job, yet he totally disappears into the character, and The Darkest Hour lives only by the strength of his performance.

theplaylist.net

Or: Daniel Day-Lewis

Daniel Day-Lewis is the person to have won three lead actor Oscars in his lifetime (for lead actress, Katharine Hepburn had actually won four). Every performance of his is subject to Oscar buzz, and The Phantom Thread is one of his finest. There's also the emotional element, that Day-Lewis has announced his retirement from the business following this last of his performances. One more trophy could be a nice send-off for the greatest actor of his generation.

Lead Actress:

Candidates: Sally Hawkins, Meryl Streep, Frances McDormand, Margot Robbie, Saoirse Ronan

www.indiewire.com

Winner: Sally Hawkins

A mute character (as in, she can hear but can't speak) is sort of the opposite of what should work in such a dialogue-driven medium. And yet, Sally Hawkins has an expressiveness and warmth to her that makes The Shape of Water feel just a little less stupid than it otherwise would be (yes, I'm still hating). She does a lot with a little; not in that hammy Oscar bait way, but in a genuinely evocative way.

cdn-images-1.medium.com

Or: Saoirse Ronan

Listening to Saoirse Ronan in Lady Bird and then listening to her in off-camera interviews is...woah. She's not just Irish, she's super Irish. As Lady Bird, though, she's not only the year's most memorable character, but she's able to convey all of those banal little ticks of an American, California kid. Did you know there's such thing as a Sacramento accent? Neither did I, until I saw Lady Bird.

Supporting Actor:

Candidates: Sam Rockwell, Willem Dafoe, Woody Harrelson, Christopher Plummer, Richard Jenkins

www.usmagazine.com

Winner: Christopher Plummer

How many 88 year-old men do you know that could shoot an entire film in nine days? That's what Christopher Plummer was tasked with doing, when he took over the his role in All The Money in the World from Kevin Spacey. Ridley Scott's production team started re-shoots on November 20th, and released their film less than a month later, on December 18th. I cannot begin to explain how anxious even the thought of them doing that makes me. If Christopher Plummer doesn't win an Oscar this year, he should win an Olympic medal for endurance running.

awardswatch.com

Or: Sam Rockwell

Sam Rockwell plays the most difficult, complicated, controversial character in Martin McDonagh's difficult, complicated, controversial Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Whatever you may feel about it, no other character in the Supporting Actor field this year has incited so much in audiences as Rockwell's has.

Supporting Actress:

Candidates: Laurie Metcalf, Octavia Spencer, Lesley Manville, Allison Janney, Mary J. Blige

ewedit.files.wordpress.com

Winner: Allison Janney

Allison Janney totally steals I, Tonya with her performance as Tonya Harding's sociopath mother. This is 2017's Foxcatcher Steve Carell, balancing both terror and pity with consistently winning dark humor.

peopledotcom.files.wordpress.com

Or: Mary J. Blige

Slowly but surely, Mary J. Blige has accumulated a good amount of talk for her role in Mudbound. With ears to the ground, it sounds like she's the dark horse of this category.

Director:

Candidates: Christopher Nolan, Jordan Peele, Guillermo del Toro, Greta Gerwig, Paul Thomas Anderson

cdn.collider.com

Winner: Christopher Nolan

Dunkirk is a technical marvel. That isn't to say it's not a great film (it is), or that war is somehow something to be fetishized (it isn't). What I mean is that, on the largest and smallest scales alike, Dunkirk is more polished in its nuts and bolts than you could even imagine. The sound of a rudder, mortar fire passing overhead, a beach lined miles along with young menthe film could have had no plot and it still would've worked as a motion picture.

cdn.bloody-disgusting.com

Or: Guillermo del Toro

The pretty art direction and signature del Toro fantasy tinge to The Shape of Water's look and feel might well have you forget that it's a shallow story about monster sex.

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Angie Jackson covers crime and breaking news for The Post and Courier. She previously covered the same beat for the Grand Rapids Press and MLive.com in Michigan. When shes not reporting, Angie enjoys teaching yoga and exploring the outdoors.
Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations.
Editorials represent the institutional view of the newspaper. They are written and edited by the editorial staff, which operates separately from the news department. Editorial writers are not involved in newsroom operations.
Political Reporter

Caitlin Byrd is a political reporter at The Post and Courier and author of the Palmetto Politics newsletter. Before moving to Charleston in 2016, her byline appeared in the Asheville Citizen-Times. To date, Byrd has won 17 awards for her work.
Jamie Lovegrove is a political reporter covering the South Carolina Statehouse, congressional delegation and campaigns. He previously covered Texas politics in Washington for The Dallas Morning News and in Austin for the Texas Tribune.
The Lunar New Year began last Friday, and Chinese visitors are making their way to Guam for the festivities.

PQ "Aside from the financial benefits, Guam participates in the new year celebration and benefits from this cross-cultural learning experience."  Nathan Denight, president and CEO, Guam Visitors Bureau

February bookings from China have been sold out, according to Guam Visitors Bureau President and CEO Nathan Denight. Chinese visitors are flying to Guam on United Airlines through Shanghai and Hong Kong with connecting flights in South Korea.

Additionally, two charters through United have brought 300 visitors from Dalian, China, so far. GVB is anticipating more than 1,300 visitors for the month of February.

The tourism agency prepared by decorating the A.B. Won Pat International Airport to help Chinese visitors ring in the new year, and assisted with the charters.

Chinese visitors spend more

Denight said Chinese visitors spend significantly more with the average Chinese traveler spending $1,160.22 per person on island, as outlined in GVB's fiscal year 2017 visitor profile.

Considering the celebration, Chinese visitors are expected to contribute an estimated $1.5 million to the local economy.

As the celebrations continue, GVB members will be hosting activities and promotions.

The Shop Guam e-Festival, for instance, was strategically planned to include Chinese New Year for both residents and visitors to benefit from more than 300 offers and deals on the Shop Guam e-Festival mobile app. The event will end Feb. 28.

Cross-cultural experience

"Aside from the financial benefits, Guam participates in the new year celebration and benefits from this cross-cultural learning experience," Denight added.

Guam's Chinese community and organizations will hold gatherings and traditional blessings at different establishments around the island.
PQ "We've always had one foot in the door. Now that we're completely inside, we feel really privileged and happy to be here."  Morael Escalona, 24

The island earned 44 new American citizens yesterday as part of a special Presidents' Day naturalization ceremony at the District Court of Guam in Hagatna.

While the majority of the group originated from the Philippines, others came from Canada, Chile, Palau, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.

After singing along to the national anthem and "The Guam Hymn," reciting the Oath of Allegiance and the Pledge of Allegiance, and hearing a message from President Donald Trump, the group listened to a keynote speech by Del. Madeline Bordallo.

Bordallo spoke on the privilege of being an American and the responsibility that comes with citizenship. She went on to say that, with all that is going on in the world, they are "lucky to be American," and motivated the newly naturalized to make their individual, positive contributions to America's more perfect union.

Considering the lengthy naturalization process and their adoption of a new culture, the congresswoman acknowledged the difficulty in giving up one's former home to begin anew. She encouraged the 44 to celebrate and cherish their American citizenship.

New citizens' views on Trump

The ceremony naturalized a few families, the largest being the Escalona family, who have lived on Guam for 12 years.

In light of Presidents' Day, the Escalonas expressed their faith in President Trump despite his trying decisions.

Michael Escalona, 57, said, "He's a unique person, but I think he wants to make America really great. He's putting an effort on everything that he could do. I think we need to support our president, no matter what."

Escalona has traveled to other places and explained that, when a president is disrespected, it's like disrespecting the whole nation.

Above all, he is excited to be a U.S. citizen and looks forward to what God has given himself and his family. Escalona is a religious minister and plans to plant more churches and conduct outreach.

His wife, Rosita Escalona, 52, said she feels blessed and excited to be American, and thanks God for her new citizenship. She plans to support her husband and the community more freely and looks forward to voting.

Though she sees Trump as unpopular on immigration, their daughter Morael Escalona, 24, believes opportunities are for everyone, but immigration control is important.

"These are perilous times. It's always good to be on the cautious side. If (Trump) makes it harder, easier, hopefully history will learn from his mistakes and decisions," she said.

She maintained that Trump hasn't changed her views on being American and said that America is "definitely too strong for just one president."

'Privileged and happy to be here'

"Finally, all the anxieties are definitely melted away," she said. "We've always had one foot in the door. Now that we're completely inside, we feel really privileged and happy to be here."

Her brother, Isaiah Escalona, 20, is also unaffected by Trump's statements and is proud to say he's American.

"One beautiful thing about this country is that we do get options to vote, so we do give him the chance to implement his laws," he said. "We can pick our leaders that we feel will lead our country directly."
PR-Inside.com: 2018-02-20 13:00:39

FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Alliance Mining Corp.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCWire) - Alliance Mining Corp. (TSX Venture:ALM). has issued a press release with the following headline:Alliance Mining Initial Payment to Tiberius Gold Corp.To view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Alliance Mining Corp., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Alliance Mining Corp.Source: Alliance Mining Corp. (TSX Venture: ALM, ISIN: CA01863P1080)Date: February 20, 2018Time: 7:00 AM EST--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Alliance Mining Corp. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)
Anaesthesia Machines Market: Global Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2012 to 2016 and Forecast 2017 to 2023

Anaesthesia Machines Market

PR-Inside.com: 2018-02-20 12:24:35

Press Information

Precision Business Insights

Precision Business Insights,



Kemp House,



152  160 City Road,



London EC1V 2NX



Satya

Lead-Digital Marketing

+1-866-598-1553

email

https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com





# 950 Words

Precision Business Insights,Kemp House,152  160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXLead-Digital Marketing+1-866-598-1553

Global Anaesthesia Machines Market: By technology (Continuous, Intermittent), By Product (Standalone Anaesthesia Machines, Portable Anaesthesia Machines), By End User (Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Centres and Others) By Geography: Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2012 to 2016 and Forecast 2017 to 2023Market Outline: Global Anaesthesia Machines MarketAnaesthesia refers to the practice of controlling the pain during the surgery using anaesthetics. Anesthesia also provides control in breathing, blood flow, blood pressure heart rate and heart rhythms. Anaesthesia machines support the administration of the anesthetics into the body. The basic function of the anaesthesia includes preparation of the gas mixture of precisely known, but variable composition. Other functions include providing oxygen, enabling the patient ventilation and minimising the anesthesia-related risk for patient as well as staff. The mixture of gas can be delivered to breathing system. Anaesthesia machines evolved from the simple pneumatic devices to more sophisticated, computerized machines. The development led to the need for safety and user convenience.Market Dynamics: Global Anaesthesia Machines MarketGlobal anesthesia machines market is primarily driven by technological advancements in machine owing to the patient safety and user convenience. In addition, growth in disease prevalence and surgeries that require anesthesia coupled with the adaptation of the anesthesia information management system that has changed the paper-based practices to digitalized machines expected to bolster the anesthesia machines market over the forecast period. Furthermore, continuous development in healthcare industry worldwide and rise in government funding for healthcare infrastructure. However, high cost of anesthesia machines and unfavorable reimbursement policies are expected to hamper the market growth over the forecast period.A sample of this report is available upon request @Market Scope: Global Anaesthesia Machines MarketGlobal anaesthesia machines market is segmented based on technology, product type, end user and geographyBased on technology, market is segmented into Continuous IntermittentBased on product, market is segmented into Standalone Anaesthesia Machines Portable Anaesthesia MachinesBased on end user, market is segmented into Hospitals Ambulatory Surgical Centres (ASCs) OthersBased on geography, market is segmented into North America Asia Pacific Latin America The Middle East and Africa (MEA) EuropeMarket Summary: Global Anaesthesia Machines MarketGlobal anaesthesia market is expected to grow at notable rates owing to the increase in prevalence of the diseases and accidents leading to the rise surgical treatment. The growth of surgeries is attributed to growth of global anaesthesia market. According to World Health Organization (WHO), there were about 266.2 to 359.5 Mn surgeries were performed in the year 2012, and it is 38% increase compared to previous 8 years. Companies operating in global anaesthesia market are adopting the acquisition strategies to grow it market presence and strengthen its position. For instance, in March 2011 Royal Philips Electronics has acquired a global provider of anesthesia machines, Dameca, to expand its anaesthesia portfolio. Furthermore, market is witnessing market developments and new product launches with advanced features by the companies.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Regional Analysis: Global Anaesthesia Machines MarketGeographically, anaesthesia machines market is divided into five key regions, i.e. North America, Europe, Asia- Pacific, Latin America, and The Middle East & Africa. North America anaesthesia machines market is expected to grow at significant rates owing to the developed healthcare infrastructure, technological advancements and adaptation of digital monitoring and management systems. Furthermore, growing prevalence of the diseases that require surgeries and aging population also expected to drive the North America anesthesia machines market. Middle East and Africa anesthesia machines market expected to have notable growth rate owing to the presence of a large patient pool and growing number surgeries for the treatment of various diseases. Asia Pacific anesthesia machines market is expected to have lucrative growth opportunities owing to developing healthcare infrastructure in developing countries such as India and China coupled with the technological advancements in anesthesia machines providing high patient safety and convenience for the users.Need more information about this report @Competition Assessment: Global Anaesthesia Machines MarketKey players profiles in global anaesthesia machines market include GE Healthcare (U.K.) Spacelabs Healthcare (U.S.) Aeonmed (China) Dragerwerk AG (Germany) Oricare Inc. (U.S.) Heyer Medical AG (Germany) Koninklijke Philips N.V. (Netherlands) Supera Anaesthesia Innovations (U.S.) Getinge AB (Sweden) Becton, Dickinson and Company (U.S.)Notable Market Developments: Global Anesthesia Machines Market In April 2012, Spacelabs Healthcare launched High-Performance anaesthesia delivery system, ArkonTM.Key Features of the Report: The report provides granular level information about the market size, regional market share, historic market (2012-2016) and forecast (2017-2023) The report covers in-detail insights about the competitors overview, company share analysis, key market developments, and their key strategies The report outlines drivers, restraints, unmet needs, and trends that are currently affecting the market The report tracks recent innovations, key developments and startups details that are actively working in the market The report provides plethora of information about market entry strategies, regulatory framework and reimbursement scenario The report analyses the impact of socio-political environment through PESTLE Analysis and competition through Porters Five Force Analysis in addition to recent technology advancements and innovations in the marketGet access to full summary @About Precision Business InsightsPrecision Business Insights is one of the leading market research and business consulting firm, which follow a holistic approach to solve needs of the clients. We adopt and implement proven research methodologies to achieve better results. We help our clients by providing actionable insights and strategies to make better decisions. We provide consulting, syndicated and customised market research services based on our client needs.Email: sales@ precisionbusinessinsights.com
Anatomic Pathology Market

PR-Inside.com: 2018-02-20 13:01:18

Press Information

Precision Business Insights

Precision Business Insights,



Kemp House,



152  160 City Road,



London EC1V 2NX



Satya

Lead-Digital Marketing

+1-866-598-1553

email

https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com





# 766 Words

Precision Business Insights,Kemp House,152  160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXLead-Digital Marketing+1-866-598-1553

The Anatomic Pathology Market: By Product (Services (Cytopathology, Histopathology), Instruments (Slide Strainer, Tissue Processor, Microtomes), Consumables (Antibodies, Reagents)), By Application (Drug Discovery, Diagnosis), By End User (Hospitals, Research Organization, Diagnostic Centres), By Geography (Latin America, North America, Asia Pacific, The Middle East and Africa and Europe)  Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2012 to 2016 and Forecast 2017 to 2023Market Outline: Anatomic Pathology MarketAnatomic Pathology is a branch of science which involves in molecular, biochemical and microscopic analysis of tissues and organs in order to find effectiveness of diseases. Main objective of anatomic pathology is identification of abnormalities to manage treatment and diagnosis. This can be helpful diagnosis of different types of cancers.A sample of this report is available upon request @Market Dynamics: Anatomic Pathology MarketAnatomic Pathology market is driven by growing prevalence of chronic disease, increase in geriatric population, rise in initiatives taken by the government in order to prevent the diseases. Furthermore, rise in incidence of STDs, changes in lifestyle of people, increase in awareness regarding diseases and their preventive measures are expected to propel the growth of anatomic pathology market. On the other hand, lack of awareness in developing countries, high cost of the process are dampen the anatomic pathology market.Market Scope: Anatomic Pathology MarketThe Anatomic Pathology Market is classified on the basis of product type, application, end user and regions.Based on product type, market is segmented as Serviceso Cytopathologyo Histopathology Instrumentso Slide Strainero Tissue Processoro Microtomes Consumableso Antibodieso ReagentsBased on application, market is segmented as Drug Discovery DiagnosisBased on End User, market is segmented as Hospitals Research Organization Diagnostic CentresBased on region, market is segmented as North America Latin America Europe Asia Pacific The Middle East and AfricaTo view TOC of this report is available upon request @Regional Analysis: Anatomic Pathology MarketGeographically Anatomic Pathology Market is segmented as Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, and The Middle East and Africa. North America is expected to remain the dominant market in global anatomic pathology market throughout the forecast period, followed by Europe due to more number of players are expected to enter into the former market during the forecast period. Japan is expected to be the next lucrative market for companies, and the market is estimated to register good revenue over the forecast period. Asia Pacific is expected to grow at fastest CAGR during the forecast period due to rising penetration of the digital imaging in emerging economies, growing investments in medical field, and the presence of untapped opportunities. Asia Pacific healthcare industry has highly influenced the anatomic pathology market due to increased incidence of cancer, geriatric population pool. Increasing demand for novel treatment options, better patient care facilities, and reduction in laboratory expenses are expected to drive demand in the coming years.Competition Assessment: Anatomic Pathology MarketSome of the players in anatomic pathology market are Thermo Fisher Scientific (U.S.) Hoffmann-La Roche AG (Switzerland) Danaher Corporation (U.S.) Sakura Finetechnical Co., Ltd. (Japan) Agilent Technologies (U.S.) Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (U.S.) NeoGenomics Laboratories, Inc. (U.S.) Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (U.S.)Need more information about this report @Key Features of the Report: The report provides granular level information about the market size, regional market share, historic market (2012-2016) and forecast (2017-2023) The report covers in-detail insights about the competitors overview, company share analysis, key market developments, and their key strategies The report outlines drivers, restraints, unmet needs, and trends that are currently affecting the market The report tracks recent innovations, key developments and startups details that are actively working in the market The report provides plethora of information about market entry strategies, regulatory framework and reimbursement scenario The report analyses the impact of socio-political environment through PESTLE Analysis and competition through Porters Five Force Analysis in addition to recent technology advancements and innovations in the marketGet access to full summary @About Precision Business InsightsPrecision Business Insights is one of the leading market research and business consulting firm, which follow a holistic approach to solve needs of the clients. We adopt and implement proven research methodologies to achieve better results. We help our clients by providing actionable insights and strategies to make better decisions. We provide consulting, syndicated and customised market research services based on our client needs.Email: sales@ precisionbusinessinsights.com
PR-Inside.com: 2018-02-20 16:39:01

HAMILTON, Bermuda, Feb. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Scientists and researchers from around the world are gathering in Bermuda this week for the second edition of a conference exploring the field of genetic research.

Premier the Hon David Burt will officially open "Bermuda Principles: Impact on Splicing" Wednesday evening at the Fairmont Southampton. The conference, which runs through Saturday, has registered 50 delegates, along with an impressive roster of 36 speakers and panellists from 11 countries, including Australia, Denmark, Switzerland and South Africa. Among the attendees are prominent geneticists, scientists, professors, researchers, PhD students working in international labs, biotech representatives and investors.

"I am elated to see the growth of the conference since last year's event," said Bermudian Dr. Carika Weldon, a biomedical researcher with her own lab at De Montfort University, UK, who conceived of the event and launched it last February. "My main aim has been to promote the Bermuda Principles document that was created at a conference that took place here back in 1996, and it's awesome to realise that thanks to the work we've done, more Bermudians, including our MPs, know about this now. It's an important legacy, and we should all be proud of the role Bermuda has played in genetics history."

In 1996, a scientific milestone occurred in Bermuda, after US and UK scientists met on the island to negotiate the completion of the Human Genome Project. In a landmark agreement, they decided gene sequences developed by numerous private labs would be made publicly available worldwide to advance scientific research. The agreement, called "The Bermuda Principles," contributed to the pace and reach of scientific research that followed.

This year's conference pays tribute to that history, while forging forward with a contemporary agenda of sessions dedicated to topics ranging from bioinformatics, regulation, technologies, therapeutics, gene splicing and disease, and commercialisation of university research. Speakers include keynote Adrian Krainer, Professor at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York; Jean Beggs, Fellow of the Royal Society and Professor, Edinburgh; Daniel Larson, of the Center for Cancer Research, Maryland; Franco Pagani, of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Trieste, Italy; and Robin Reed, Professor of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School.

One of the conference highlights will focus on how to commercialise scientific ideas, leveraging investment to turn them into viable businesses.

"As a researcher at a university, I had to quickly realise that what I was doing today could become a business venture tomorrow," said Weldon, who is also creating a foundation to promote science in the Bermuda community. "I have had to get my own head around commercialisation. In academia, we're taught to do experiments and publish, but sometimes that prevents you from turning an idea into a profitable venture. That's why I wanted to include this topic in the conference."

The closing session will feature the BDA's consultant for Emerging Technologies John Narraway and others discussing the island's attraction to biotech investors as a blue-chip international finance centre. It's one of numerous public-engagement events linking science to education, healthcare and business that will see conference participation by students, teachers, and medical and corporate professionals.

"Bermuda has long been the domicile for many established and well-known biotech companies," noted Narraway. "We see a conference like this as an opportunity to build a new ecosystem for early-stage biotech and life-science ventures. The BDA is participating in the event as a way to connect with these researchers and show the value the island can bring to those looking to transform their research into a commercial opportunity and licensable product."

Thursday night will feature a Bermuda Youth Parliament debate on the research use of immortal HeLa cells derived from a cancer patient. The event, to be live-streamed on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, will be opened by Dr. Daniel Ford, Professor of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Bermuda MPs have been invited to attend and winning students will receive smart phones courtesy of Digicel.

On Friday, local high-schoolers will carry out a genetic-engineering experiment using kits provided by Amino Labs in which colourful jellyfish DNA will be added to bacteria.

Saturday afternoon will see science teachers from local schools join doctors and other professionals for a panel discussion on integrating research into healthcare and education curricula.

The leading partner of the conference is Bank of Bermuda Foundation. Sponsors include: Bermuda Business Development Agency (BDA), Bermuda Technology Initiative, Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA), De Montfort University, New England BioLabs, RNA Society, Island Press and Amino Labs.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Rosemary Jones

Head of Communications & Marketing

rosemary@bda.bm

441 278-6558

441 337-4696

CONNECTING BUSINESS

The BDA encourages direct investment and helps companies start up, re-locate or expand their operations in our premier jurisdiction. An independent, public-private partnership, we connect you to industry professionals, regulatory officials, and key contacts in the Bermuda government to assist domicile decisions. Our goal? To make doing business here smooth and beneficial.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0493acf0-aeec-4be0-88a2-3e42938c6112

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: Bermuda Business Development Agency (BDA) via Globenewswire


PR-Inside.com: 2018-02-20 15:01:09

FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Bird River Resources Inc.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Winnipeg, Manitoba (FSCWire) - Bird River Resources Inc. (CSE:BDR). has issued a press release with the following headline:Bird River Resources Announces Board of Directors ChangesTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Bird River Resources Inc., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Bird River Resources Inc.Source: Bird River Resources Inc. (CSE: BDR)Date: February 20, 2018Time: 9:00 AM EST--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Bird River Resources Inc. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)
PR-Inside.com: 2018-02-20 15:00:47

FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Far Resources Ltd.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Vancouver, BC (FSCWire) - Far Resources Ltd. (CSE:FAT). has issued a press release with the following headline:Far Resources Increases and Closes Private PlacementTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Far Resources Ltd., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Far Resources Ltd.Source: Far Resources Ltd. (CSE: FAT, FWB: F0R, WKN: A2AH8W, ISIN: CA30734R1001, OTC Pink: FRRSF)Date: February 20, 2018Time: 9:00 AM EST--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Far Resources Ltd. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)
PR-Inside.com: 2018-02-20 21:37:01

TORONTO, Feb. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Inspiration Mining Corporation (the Corporation) (CSE:ISM) reports that Stockwatch, a Vancouver based news service, has published incorrect news. Inspiration intends to initiate a one (1) for two (2) FORWARD SPLIT. Inspiration fully intends to bring forth a resolution at its upcoming Annual General Meeting to initiate a FORWARD SPLIT, on a one (1) old share for two (2) new share basis.

For further information, please contact Randy Miller, Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, at tel: 416-842-9000, www.inspirationmining.com.

The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions, uncertainties and management's best estimates of future events. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements are detailed from time to time in the Corporation's periodic reports filed with the Ontario Securities Commission and other regulatory authorities. The Corporation has no intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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: Inspiration Mining Corporation via Globenewswire


PR-Inside.com: 2018-02-20 15:04:02

TORONTO, Feb. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Inspiration Mining Corporation ("Inspiration" or the "Corporation") (CSE:ISM) would like to announce that, further to its press release dated January 18, 2018, it will be seeking shareholder approval for a special resolution authorizing the directors to effect a forward split of the Corporation's common shares on a one (1) for two (2) basis.

As stated in the Corporation's press release of January 18, 2018, Inspiration has scheduled its annual and special meeting of shareholders for May 3, 2018.

For further information, please contact Randy Miller, Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, at tel: 416-842-9000, www.inspirationmining.com

The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions, uncertainties and management's best estimates of future events. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements are detailed from time to time in the Corporation's periodic reports filed with the Ontario Securities Commission and other regulatory authorities. The Corporation has no intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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: Inspiration Mining Corporation via Globenewswire


PR-Inside.com: 2018-02-20 17:53:02

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dual and Lectra enter into long-term partnership to develop Korean automotive supplier's competitive advantage

Lectra to help Korean supplier develop its fabric seating and airbag businesses alongside Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group's expanded operations

Paris, February 20, 2018 - Lectra, the technological partner for companies using fabrics and leather, is pleased to announce its partnership with Dual through the signing of a global agreement covering the Korean automotive supplier's fabric seating and airbag businesses.





Backed by world-class research and development, Dual strives to meet evolving customer needs by offering innovative new automotive interior materials and advanced safety textiles. The supplier's automotive trim and airbag divisions serve Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, the fourth largest automaker in the world. Currently undergoing rapid expansion, Hyundai-Kia is counting on Dual to increase its manufacturing capabilities in the high-growth regions where the group operates, including China, Eastern Europe, Turkey and South America.





A key feature of the global agreement is Lectra's commitment to help Dual optimize its manufacturing processes with the aim of improving its cost structure. Lectra's most advanced technologies-Vector for vehicle seating and FocusQuantum for airbags-and unique expertise in cutting room processes are crucial to helping Dual reach its operational excellence objectives.





The agreement designates Lectra as sole supplier for high-ply cutting equipment and services for Dual's seating and interiors business, and laser cutting equipment and services for the company's airbag cushion business at six plants located in Korea and China.





For its operations in Korea and China, Dual will gain access to the full array of expertise, customer support and field services that Lectra provides worldwide. Lectra's complete customer support structure enables maximum uptime through remote diagnostics and predictive maintenance.





"Dual will benefit most from this agreement by containing costs in the cutting room," remarks Ong Jae-Yeol, Fabric and Seat BU Executive Managing Director, Dual. "This is precisely where Lectra's expertise can help us gain a competitive advantage."





"We are pleased to enter into this global partnership with Dual, to support them-not only with our best-in-class cutting technology, but also with Lectra's expertise in cutting processes," states Javier Garcia, Senior VP Automotive Sales, Lectra. "Our unique know-how contributes to Dual's pursuit of operational excellence-the source of sustainable competitive advantage for car seat cover and airbag cushion suppliers."

About Dual

Founded in 1971 and based in Seoul, South Korea, Dual is a leading provider of automotive components including vehicle seating, car mats and airbags. With a workforce of 4,000 based out of 20 locations worldwide, Dual maintains operations in China, Poland, Romania and Turkey. To expand its manufacturing footprint and support its customer base at the global level, the company actively pursues a policy of product diversification by capitalizing on its ongoing R&D efforts and many years of know-how. In September 2017, the company acquired a 95% stake in leading Scandinavian automotive textile supplier Borgstena Group Sweden in the aim of diversifying overseas business and participating in management.

For more information, please visit www.idual.co.kr

About Lectra

For companies that breathe life into our wardrobes, car interiors, furniture and more, Lectra is crafting the premium technologies that facilitate the digital transformation of their industry. Lectra's offer empowers brands and manufacturers from design to production, providing them with the market respect and peace of mind they deserve. Founded in 1973, today Lectra has 32 subsidiaries across the globe, serving customers in over 100 countries. With more than 1,650 employees, Lectra reported revenues of $313 million in 2017. Lectra is listed on Euronext (LSS).

For more information, please visit www.lectra.com



Contact - Lectra Headquarters / Press Dept.: Nathalie Fournier-Christol

E-mail: n.fournier-christol@lectra.com

Tel.: +33 (0)1 53 64 42 37 - Fax: +33 (0)1 53 64 43 40





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: LECTRA via Globenewswire


Lipidomics Market: Global Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2012 to 2016 and Forecast 2017 to 2023

Lipidomics Market

PR-Inside.com: 2018-02-20 12:44:47

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The Lipidomics Market: By Sample Type (Blood Sample, Tissue Sample, Others) By lipid source (Human Source, Animal Source, Plant Source), By Application (Drug Discovery, Biomarker Discovery, Personalized Medicine, Diagnosis and Treatment, Others), By End user (Biopharmaceutical Companies, Agriculture Industries, Food and Beverage Industries, Academic Research Institutes) By Geography (Latin America, North America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa and Europe)  Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2012 to 2016 and Forecast 2017 to 2023Market Outline: Lipidomics MarketLipidomics is an emerging biomedical research discipline, which involves complex lipidome analysis. Lipidome is a quantitative and comprehensive description of a set of lipid species in an organism. Lipidomics involves system level quantitation and identification of several number of networks and pathways of cellular lipids and interaction with other proteins and moieties.Market Dynamics: Lipidomics MarketIncrease in need for accurate disease diagnosis, growth in demand for personalized medicine, technological advancements in field of lipidomics and huge investments from the public and private sectors for R&D activities are anticipated to fuel the lipidomics market growth over the forecast period. Moreover, wide range of applications of lipidomics, increase in the prevalence of target diseases such as cancers, and increase in scope of clinical trials and toxicological studies are expected to boost lipidomics market. However, stringent regulatory guidelines, unavailability of advanced instruments, lack of technology adoption, dearth professional researchers, high cost for R&D activities, and issues with data examination and processing are expected to hamper the growth of lipidomics services over the forecast period.A sample of this report is available upon request @Market Scope: Lipidomics MarketThe Lipidomics Market is classified on the basis of sample type, service type, lipid source, application, end user and regions.Based on sample type, market is segmented into the following Blood Sample Tissue Sample OthersBased on the lipid source, market is segmented into the following Human Source Animal Source Plant SourceBased on the application, market is segmented into the following Drug Discovery Biomarker Discovery Personalized Medicine Diagnosis and treatment OthersBased on end user, market is segmented into the following Biopharmaceutical Companies Agriculture Industries Food and Beverage Industry Academic Research InstitutesBased on Region, Market is segmented as North America Latin America Europe Asia Pacific The Middle East and AfricaTo view TOC of this report is available upon request @Regional Analysis: Lipidomics MarketLipidomics market is segmented as Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, and The Middle East and Africa. North America estimated to account for significant revenue share in global services market owing to huge number of bio pharmaceutical companies focused on the R&D activities of lipidomics, rise in funds from the government organizations, and availability of professional researchers and well-established infrastructure. Europe is expected to expand at significant growth rate due to high adoption of novel technologies; researchers and governments concentrated on prevention of genetic disorders, and increase in target disease conditions. Moreover, increase in population and birth rate, rise in prevalence of diabetes and other targeted diseases, increase in R&D activities in China, Japan, and India, rise in demand for personalized medicine in Asia-Pacific region expected to create significant opportunities for Lipidomics market over the forecast period.Need more information about this report @Competition Assessment: Lipidomics MarketSome of the players in Lipidomics market are Zora Biosciences Oy (Finland) OWL Metabolomics (Spain) ProSciento (U.S.) Avanti Lipids Polar, Inc. (U.S.) The Metabolomics Innovation Centre (U.S.) VCU Massey Cancer Center (U.S.) Virginia Commonwealth University (U.S.) Lipotype GmbH (Germany) School of Medicine (Wayne State University) (U.S.) Metabolon, Inc. (U.S.) Waters Corporation (U.S.) Lipotype GmbH (Germany)Notable Market Developments In September 2016, Lipotype GmbH launched its novel Lipotype shot gun skin lipidomics technology. In June 2015, SCIEX a lifescience analytical technologies company and Metabolon a lipidomics company entered into a multi-year collaboration, and they released The Lipidizer Platform, aan integrated solution for accurate next generation lipidomics.Key Features of the Report: The report provides granular level information about the market size, regional market share, historic market (2012-2016) and forecast (2017-2023) The report covers in-detail insights about the competitors overview, company share analysis, key market developments, and their key strategies The report outlines drivers, restraints, unmet needs, and trends that are currently affecting the market The report tracks recent innovations, key developments and startups details that are actively working in the market The report provides plethora of information about market entry strategies, regulatory framework and reimbursement scenario The report analyses the impact of socio-political environment through PESTLE Analysis and competition through Porters Five Force Analysis in addition to recent technology advancements and innovations in the marketGet access to full summary @About Precision Business InsightsPrecision Business Insights is one of the leading market research and business consulting firm, which follow a holistic approach to solve needs of the clients. We adopt and implement proven research methodologies to achieve better results. We help our clients by providing actionable insights and strategies to make better decisions. We provide consulting, syndicated and customised market research services based on our client needs.Email: sales@ precisionbusinessinsights.com
New findings to develop novel therapeutic approach and major investments in research and development activities by FDA are expected to stimulate the growth of the listeria monocytogenes infection treatment market

Listeria Monocytogenes Infections Treatment Market

PR-Inside.com: 2018-02-20 12:34:46

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Listeriosis is a dreadful common bacterial infection named listeria monocytogenes. Listeriosis spreads by consumption of contaminated food, such as ready-to-eat meats, raw or unpasteurized milk, cheeses, processed foods, vegetables, and smoked fish products. Infection with listeria Monocytogenes results in mild to severe gastroenteritis and can lead to meningitis and septicemia. In people with weak immune system it can lead to diabetes, HIV, cancer, chronic liver, and kidney disease. Additionally, listeriosis is a threat to life in pregnant women resulting in stillbirth, premature delivery, and meningitis in the infants leading to permanent disability.New findings to develop novel therapeutic approach and major investments in research and development activities by FDA are expected to stimulate the growth of the listeria monocytogenes infection treatment marketRequest Sample Copy of the Report: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/1014 Currently there is no specific treatment available for listeriosis. New research findings may help to develop new strategic treatment for the listeria monocytogenes. For instance, in May 2017, Prof. Birgitte Kallipolitis from the University of Southern Denmark conducted a study on listeria monocytogenes and found a potential health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, which can help to deactivate the genes in listeria monocytogenes. According to the Prof. Kallipolitis, the omega-3 fatty acids may help to possibly develop new treatments against listeria monocytogenes.In October, 2017, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suggested to develop a new therapeutic approach for the listeria monocytogenes infection considering the constant outbreak of listeriosis in the U.S. and FDA recommends to increase research and development activity on listeria monocytogenes to reduce the threat of outbreak in the U.S. Thereby, need of treatment shown by FDA generate an opportunity to develop breakthrough therapies on listeriosis and is expected to stimulate growth of the listeria monocytogenes infection treatment market over the forecast period.In May, 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) made public health announcement of avoiding restaurants food. Retailers recalled raw milk cheeses made by Vulto Creamery. Creamerys raw milk cheeses were distributed in over the U.S. in March, 2017. Afterwards outbreaks of listeria infection were observed all over in the U.S. Regulatory officials, the CDC, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigated an outbreak of listeria monocytogenes infections caused by Vulto Creamerys raw milk cheeses and strict actions was taken for food safety and prevention, which results in product recall. Thereby, constant outbreak of listeriosis demand for precise treatment, which would help to gain listeria monocytogenes infections treatment market growth.Increasing incidence of listeria monocytogenes infection and initiative action by government in prevention and treatment measurement is expected to fuel the growth of the listeria monocytogenes infections treatment marketAs listeriosis poses a potential threat to an individuals health, in October, 2017, the Ministry of Health and Welfare China with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) China is planning to officially assign listeriosis as a statutory communicable disease, a condition which requires to report local health authorities a confirmed infection within 72 hours. The Ministry of Health and Welfare China intends to trace the origin of unknown food safety accidents with the help of CDC authorities. Thereby, such plan is expected to help in development of better treatment for listeriosis. This in turn is expected to boost the growth of the listeria monocytogenes infections treatment market over the forecast period.According to the Public Health England, in 2014, around 180 cases of listeriosis were reported, among which around 87% were non-pregnancy associated and 12.4% were pregnancy associated listeriosis. Therefore, rising incidence of foodborne listeriosis infection and growing demand for reliable treatment is expected to fuel the listeria monocytogenes infections treatment market growth.Browse Global Strategic Business Report: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/listeria-monocytogenes-infections-treatment-market-1014 About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@ coherentmarketinsights.com Visit our news Website: http://www.coherentchronicle.com
PR-Inside.com: 2018-02-20 17:03:16

FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Mustang Minerals Corp.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Toronto, Ontario (FSCWire) - Mustang Minerals Corp. (TSX Venture:MUM). has issued a press release with the following headline:Mustang Acquires Lithium and Rare Metals Mineral Rights from Tantalum Mining Corporation of CanadaTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Mustang Minerals Corp., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Mustang Minerals Corp.Source: Mustang Minerals Corp. (TSX Venture: MUM, WKN: 910385, ISIN: CA6281981036)Date: February 20, 2018Time: 11:01 AM EST--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Mustang Minerals Corp. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)
The Fancy Intense Yellow Diamonds, also known as the Canary Diamonds, are the most sought-after gemstones

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PR-Inside.com: 2018-02-20 14:30:18

FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Northern Superior Resources Inc.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Sudbury, Ontario (FSCWire) - Northern Superior Resources Inc. (TSX Venture:SUP). has issued a press release with the following headline:Northern Superiors CBSZ Gold Deposit is Poised for Growth: Croteau Est Gold Property, Qu[[107]]becTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Northern Superior Resources Inc., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Northern Superior Resources Inc.Source: Northern Superior Resources Inc. (TSX Venture: SUP, OTCQB: NSUPF)Date: February 20, 2018Time: 8:30 AM EST--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Northern Superior Resources Inc. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)
North America is expected to hold a dominant position in the orthobiologics market due to rampant research activities and rapid development of innovative products by key players present in the region.

Orthobiologics Market

PR-Inside.com: 2018-02-20 08:37:58

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Orthobiologics are substances used to heal injuries such as fractures and injured muscles, ligaments, and tendons within a short period of time. Orthobiologics are made from substances that naturally occur in the body. Some examples of orthobiologics are bone grafts, autologous blood, autologous conditioned serum, platelet rich plasma, growth factors, and stem cells.Increasing prevalence of injury and facture due to falls and road accidents are expected to augment growth of the orthobiologics marketAccording to World Health Organization (WHO), 2017, fatal falls are the second-leading cause of accidental injury and factures worldwide. Every year around 646000 individuals die from falls, globally. Increasing incidence of fall is expected to increase the chances of fractures, which in turn, is expected to create a highly conductive environment for growth of the orthobiologics market over the forecast period.According to World Health Organization (WHO), in 2017, around 1.25 million deaths were recorded and 20 to 50 million people suffered from severe injuries and fractures. Increasing prevalence of factures due to road accidents is expected to boost growth of the orthobiologics market in the near future. According to National Institute of Health (NIH), in 2016, around 8.5%, accounting for around 617 million of the world population was aged 65 years and above. Growing geriatric population, which is highly susceptible to injuries and fractures due to fragile skeletal framework, is increasing the prevalence of orthopedic disorders, in turn, driving growth of the orthobiologics market. The major factor restraining market growth is the high cost associated with orthobiologics-based treatments.Global Orthobiologics Market TaxonomyThe global orthobiologics market is segmented on the basis of product type, application, and end user.By Product TypeDemineralized Bone Matrix (DBM)AllograftBone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP)Viscosupplementation ProductsSynthetic Bone SubstitutesStem Cell TherapyBy ApplicationOsteoarthritis and Degenerative ArthritisSpinal FusionFracture RecoverySoft Tissue InjuriesMaxillofacial and Dental ApplicationsAccess Table of Content (TOC) Of the Report: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/1306 By End UserHospitalsAmbulatory Care CentersDental ClinicsNorth America is expected to hold a dominant position due to rapid development of new innovative products by key players present in regionNorth America is expected to hold a dominant position in the orthobiologics market due to rampant research activities and rapid development of innovative products by key players present in the region. For instance, in 2015, NuVasive Inc.U.S.-based companylaunched its new innovative biologics technology, AttraX Putty, which is a synthetic bone graft, indicated in posterolateral spinal surgery as an autograft extender. Asia Pacific is expected to witness rapid growth, owing to growing geriatric population in the region. According to The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), 2016, the Asia Pacific region recorded around 60 percent of the geriatric population across the globe. The region recorded around 547 million people aged 65 years and above, which is projected to reach up to 1.3 billion by 2050.Major players in the market are focusing on inorganic growth strategies such as mergers and acquisitions, to enhance their foothold in the global orthobiologics market. For instance, in May 2015, Bone Biologics Corp. collaborated with the University of California for the development of Nell-1, a bone growth stimulator orthobiological product.Key players operating in the orthobiologics market include Medtronic Plc, DePuy Synthes, Inc., Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc., Bone Biologics Corp, Harvest Technologies Corporation, Globus Medical, Inc., Smith & Nephew plc. NuVasive Inc., Stryker Corporation, and Genzyme.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Visit our news Website: http://www.coherentchronicle.com/
PR-Inside.com: 2018-02-20 18:00:15

FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Patriot Gold Corp.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Las Vegas, Nevada (FSCWire) - Patriot Gold Corp. (CSE:PGOL). has issued a press release with the following headline:Patriot Gold: Permitting in Place for Nevada Drilling ProgramTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Patriot Gold Corp., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Patriot Gold Corp.Source: Patriot Gold Corp. (CSE: PGOL, OTCQB: PGOL)Date: February 20, 2018Time: 12:00 PM EST--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Patriot Gold Corp. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)
PR-Inside.com: 2018-02-20 13:00:44

FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for PTS, Inc--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Los Angeles CA (FSCWire) - PTS, Inc (OTC Pink:PTSH). has issued a press release with the following headline:PTS, Inc Updates Its Investment Strategy with EMR Technology Solutions, IncTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on PTS, Inc, or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/PTS , IncSource: PTS, Inc (OTC Pink: PTSH)Date: February 20, 2018Time: 7:00 AM EST--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of PTS, Inc and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)
Syringes are also used for isolation of various bodily fluids such as blood from various parts of the body.

Global Syringes Market

PR-Inside.com: 2018-02-20 11:02:00

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Syringes are simple reciprocating pumps that are used for incorporation or injection of a solution into the body. Syringes are also used for isolation of various bodily fluids such as blood from various parts of the body. Syringes usually consist of a plunger that fits exactly within a cylindrical barrel. The linear push mosh movement of the plunger facilitates expulsion of liquid from the open end of the tube, which is usually attached to a sterile needle. Syringes are normally made out of plastic or glass materials. Disposable syringes that are heavily incorporated in the healthcare practices are usually made up of plastics, whereas high-end syringes such as microliter syringes are made out of glass material.Exposure to various medical tests involving isolation or administration of solutions into and out of the body everyday are responsible for fueling growth of the global syringes marketNational Health Council reveals that 75% of the total healthcare costs are a result of chronic diseases reflecting an increasing demand for proper healthcare requirements in terms of quality, safety, and sterility of medical devices. The National Health Council recorded around 133 million people affected with chronic diseases in the U.S., in 2014. This accounted for around 40% of the total population of the country. . Moreover, millions of people are daily exposed to some kind of test that requires intravenous modes of injection in which the use of syringes is a prerequisite. This reflects the high demand for syringes, which is expected to rise due to the increasing population and improvement of the healthcare infrastructure worldwide.Ask For Request Sample@The plastic and disposable syringes segment accounts for highest shares in the global syringes marketOn the basis of type, the global syringes market is segmented asGeneral SyringesSpecialized SyringesThe general syringes segment holds a larger share of the market as compared to that of the specialized ones due to its ease of accessibility and cost effectiveness. However, the specialized syringes segment is expected to fuel the market growth owing to the accurate delivery of the products and better performance.On the basis of usability, the global syringes market is segmented into:Sterilizable / Reusable SyringesDisposable SyringesThe disposable syringes segment holds the largest share of market as it ensures higher safety and more effective means of infection prevention as compared to reusable syringes. These syringes are also very budget-friendly that has resulted in massive transformation of the conventional era of using reusable syringes to the use of disposable ones. These syringes moreover are easily accessible in the pharmacies as well as hospitals.Based on the material, the global syringes market is segmented into:Glass SyringesPlastic SyringesGlass syringes have lower risk of reaction with the solution filled inside the syringe, however, the use of plastic syringes reduces the risk of blood borne infections as this material is categorized under disposable syringes. The plastic syringes are also easier to use as compared to the glass ones, which facilitates self-administration to patients that are regularly advised to inject a biological or chemical solution. Thus, the significant use of plastic syringes is expected to propel growth of the global syringes market in the near future.North America is expected to dominate the global syringes market owing to well established production facility and government initiativesOn the basis of geography, the global syringes market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa. North America dominates the market, followed by Europe. The U.S. has a large number of medical facilities, high-end hospitals, and healthcare centers, which contribute to growth of the market in North America. The government is also actively involved in improving the quality of healthcare in the country. For instance, the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act in the U.S., provides regulatory guidelines to help manufacturers improve safety of syringes. However, Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest rate over the forecast period, owing to technological implementation for producing better and cheaper syringes.Rising incidence and prevalence of chronic diseases is expected to be the major cause fueling growth of the global syringes marketThe primary reason to bolster the global syringes market is the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases in the world. These diseases primarily include diabetes, cancers and other diseases that requires the use of syringes. For instance, diabetes affected 422 million people in 2014, according to the World Health Organization. Many of these patients were advised regular intravenous administration of insulin, which in turn helped fuel the demand for syringes, ultimately leading to growth of the global syringes market. Several other factors such as growing health hazards, epidemic of various infectious diseases, and rise in the global population which leads to increasing incidence of diseases every day are all creating a conducive environment for growth of the syringes market. However, the advancement in technologies such as diffusion pumps and needle- free IV connectors are expected to hamper the market growth.The key players operating in the global syringes market are Treumo Corporation, Medtronic Plc, Becton, Dickinson and Company, B. Braun Medical Inc., Smiths Medical, Hindustan Syringes and Medical Devices Limited, NIPRO Corporation, Hamilton, SCHOTT AG, Gerresheimer AG, and Codan Medizinische Gerate GmbH & Co KG.Get More Details On this Report:About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Coherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email:sales@ coherentmarketinsights.com Visit our news Website: http://www.coherentnews.com
Spinal Fusion Devices Market, report categorizes the report by Device Type, Surgery Type and Geography. It provides information about - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2017-2025

Spinal Fusion Devices Market

PR-Inside.com: 2018-02-20 11:46:54

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Spinal fusion, also referred as spondylodesis is an orthopedic surgical process used to join two vertebrae. This procedure can be performed on the cervical, thoracic or lumbar areas of the spinal cord. Spinal fusion restricts movement between the fused vertebrae after the surgery and are mainly performed for relieving pain caused due to pressure on the spinal cord. Several other pathological conditions that can be treated with the help of spinal fusion surgeries include spondylitis, scoliosis, spinal fractures, spinal stenosis, and kyphosis. Spinal fusion techniques involve bone grafting from the patient or from a donor termed as auto graft and allograft. Along with the one graft, several other hardware devices like cages, plates, and screws are required to carry out the surgical process. These devices are known as spinal fusion devices. These devices are helpful to restore the functionality and alignment correction of the spinal cord. These devices mainly comprise cervical fixation devices, interbody fusion devices, and thoracolumbar devices.Rising geriatric population to fuel the demand for spinal fusion devicesRising demand for spinal fusion devices is attributed to surge in the geriatric population developing spinal pain. According to Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine, around 11.4% of the population in Japan was recorded to be 73 years of age and above, out of which around half of the patients were suffering from lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) and cervical myopathy in 2016. Additionally, according to the World Health Organization, 2013, 250,000 to 500,000 spinal cord injuries are encountered worldwide. Rising incidence of spinal diseases is in turn, increasing the demand for spinal fusion devices.Market Taxonomy:On the basis of device type, the global spinal fusion devices market is segmented into:Thoracolumbar DevicesAnterior Lumbar PlatesLumbar PlatesPedicle ScrewRodsHooksWires and CablesCrosslinksCervical Fixation DevicesAnterior Cervical PlatesHook Fixation SystemsPlates and ScrewsClampsWiresInterbody Fusion DevicesNon- bone Interbody Fusion DevicesOne Interbody Fusion DevicesAccess Table of Content (TOC) Of the Report: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/181 On the basis of surgery type, the global spinal fusion devices market is segmented into:Open Spine SurgeryClosed Spine SurgeryInexpensive treatment facilitation to boost market growthOn the basis of geography, the global spinal fusion devices market is segmented in to North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa. North America accounts for the major market share and is expected to retain its dominance in the near future due to high-end facilities dedicated to the orthopedic healthcare sector and increasing government assistance to improve facilities for better treatments. In parallel, Asia Pacific is expected to possess high market potential due to increasing healthcare expenditure as well as rising incidence of spinal injuries. According to a research survey conducted by Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University, China, in 2012, the incidence rate of spine surgeries across various regions in Asia ranged from 12.06 to 61.1 per million. Moreover, low costs of spinal procedures in countries of Asia Pacific such as India have fueled the demand for spinal fusion devices. According to Aarex Medical Services, 2016, over 2000 hospitals in India facilitated spinal surgeries, out of which, over 30 multi-faculty hospitals conducted spinal surgeries at 30-70% lower costs than countries in developed economies such as the U.S. and Europe. This in turn, is driving the population in the U.S. towards India for spine surgeries, thereby propelling growth of the spinal fusion devices market in Asia Pacific.Increasing government funding for R&D is propelling growth of the global spinal fusion devices marketThe primary driver of the global spinal fusion devices market is the rise in number of spinal injuries and spinal cord related disorders. Others factors responsible for driving growth of the global spinal fusion devices market include increasing obese population worldwide and growing adoption of sedentary lifestyle, improper and bad posture habits while sitting, driving, and working, which in turn, causes postural defects. Additionally, increasing number of government initiatives to increase R&D revenues pertaining to innovation and development of new treatment methods are also boosting growth of the market. For instance, the North American Spine Foundation and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons funds institutions are conducting R&D activities for spine-related surgeries across the globe. In 2017, the foundation funded numerous organizations and institutes, including Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals and American Academy of Neurology.Major players operating in the global spinal fusion devices market include Stryker Corporation, Medtronic Plc., NuVasive Inc., Depuy Synthes, Inc., Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc., Orthoflix International Holding N.V, Globus Medical, and LDR Holding Corporation.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Visit our news Website: http://www.coherentnews.com
PR-Inside.com: 2018-02-20 16:39:17

FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Tasca Resources Ltd.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCWire) - Tasca Resources Ltd. (TSX Venture:TAC). has issued a press release with the following headline:Tasca Has Identified Multiple New Target Areas on Poplar Copper PropertyTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Tasca Resources Ltd., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Tasca Resources Ltd.Source: Tasca Resources Ltd. (TSX Venture: TAC, OTC Bulletin Board: ECMXF, FWB: 3TA, ISIN: CA8765031031)Date: February 20, 2018Time: 10:39 AM EST--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Tasca Resources Ltd. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)
PR-Inside.com: 2018-02-19 15:31:54

Guyana Goldstrike Inc. (TSXV: GYA, OTC: GYNAF, FSE: 1ZT) is pleased to announce that Gold Mountains Asset Management Limited (GMA), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zijin Mining Group (Zijin), has agreed to make a strategic investment in the Company. The investment will be completed by Zijin Global Fund and Zijin Midas Exploration Fund LLC, both managed by GMA.Zijin is a publicly- listed company that trades on the Shanghai and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges with a current market capitalization of C$18 billion. With extensive interests across a broad range of commodities, it is the largest gold producer in China and is a well-capitalized, experienced and successful miner.Proceeds from the investment will be used to advance the Companys flagship Marudi Gold Project in Guyana, South America. The investment will allow the Company to fund its ongoing multi-phase exploration program at Marudi, involving up to 10,000 metres of diamond drilling and 12,000 metres of trenching.Mr. Peter Berdusco President and CEO states: It is an honour and privilege to have GMA as a major shareholder and partner. Their strategic investment is a great benefit to the stakeholders of GMA, Guyana Goldstrike and to the people of Guyana. With the exploration stage of the project now funded, we can focus on developing new mineralized zones with the objective of adding additional ounces to the projects recently reported 43-101 mineral resource estimate. The Company has agreed to issue to Zijin Global Fund and Zijin Midas Exploration Fund LLC by way of private placement 12,800,000 units of the Company at a price of $0.25 per Unit for gross proceeds of $3,200,000. Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company, and one common share purchase warrant exercisable to acquire an additional common share at a price of $0.35 for a period of twenty-four months. All securities issued in connection with the investment will be subject to a four-month-and-one-day statutory hold period.Completion of the investment may result in a change of control for the Company, as defined by the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. In the event the investment does result in a change of control, it would be subject to the approval of shareholders of the Company. The Company intends to seek the requisite approval through the written consent of the majority of shareholders. The investment cannot be completed until the requisite shareholder approval, and the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, has been received.Exploration Program: Phase One  Currently UnderwayPhase One of a multi-phase exploration program is currently underway at Marudi. The objectives of this first phase are: 1) expand the exposures of mineralized hard-rock at newly discovered locations, 2) follow and expand zones that were identified in trenches by previous operators, and 3) examine areas where gold is present in saprolitic material and a bedrock source has not been identified. Exploration by trenching and sampling is an important, cost-effective method for identification of drill targets in saprolite terrane.Phase One of a multi-phase exploration program is currently underway at Marudi. The objectives of this first phase are: 1) expand the exposures of mineralized hard-rock at newly discovered locations, 2) follow and expand zones that were identified in trenches by previous operators, and 3) examine areas where gold is present in saprolitic material and a bedrock source has not been identified. Exploration by trenching and sampling is an important, cost-effective method for identification of drill targets in saprolite terrane.The area of immediate focus represents less than five percent of the property. The new locations of interest within this area are: Kimberley Ridge, Marudi North (west and east extensions), Marudi Spur Ridge, Toucan North, Pancake Creek, Mariwa and Success Creek.The work will be conducted under the supervision of Mr. Locke Goldsmith, M.Sc., P. Eng, P. Geo, Chief Geologist and Exploration Manager for the Company. The on-site geological staff will be supported by the propertys fully equipped mining camp which comes with employees and service buildings. Once Phase One is completed, the collected data will be reviewed, analyzed and used in the planning of the Companys diamond drilling program.About The Marudi Gold ProjectThe property, located in Guyana, South America, is unique in that it has a mining license in good standing, all-season road access, infrastructure in place, with an established mining camp serviced by employees, service buildings, and a full-time mining manager.The property has three known gold bearing areas, specifically the alluvial areas, the saprorlite overburden, and the underlying hard-rock. There has been 42,000 metres of historic diamond drilling (141 holes) completed on the Project by prior operators.The Company has recently completed a mineral resource estimate on the Mazoa Hill zone of 259,100 indicated gold ounces within 4,428,000 tonnes grading 1.80 grams/tonne (g/t) and 86,200 inferred gold ounces within 1,653,000 tonnes grading 1.60 grams/tonne (g/t).There exists excellent exploration upside through the development of previously identified, highly-prospective mineralized targets on the Project.The Company encourages all interested parties to visit the Company's website www.guyanagoldstrike.com
The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, OSGF, in 2017 appropriated and claimed to have spent N65 million on its website.

PREMIUM TIMES review of the 2017 budget performance of the OSGF revealed that N65 million was budgeted for the already existing website while the office claimed that N64, 855, 875, the amount released, had been fully utilised.

Quoted as OSGF WEBSITE, the budget performance record remarked that the procurement process is ongoing.

The office of the SGF is currently occupied by Boss Mustapha who was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari in October 2017. The office was formerly occupied by Babachir Lawal who was sacked after President Buhari adopted recommendations of a report of a panel headed by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, which investigated allegations against Mr. Lawal who was suspended for months.

PREMIUM TIMES could not ascertain which of the two government officials executed the project.

Appearing before the Senate committee in January 2018 to defend the 2017 budget performance, Mr. Mustapha said the office received 50 per cent of its appropriation for capital projects.

Performance for capital is N1.2 billion released as at end of December, 2017. It represents 50 per cent. We are hoping that the National Assembly will extend the lifespan of the budget so that we can handle other procurement processes.

Apparently, the fund release for the website is one of those captured in Mr. Mustaphas 50 per cent but the cost and execution of the project left more to desire.

Spokesperson to Mr. Mustapha, Mohammed Nakorji, when contacted, declined to answer PREMIUM TIMES questions on how the fund was disbursed.

Im not an accountant please, he snapped.

Meanwhile, technology experts say the claim was suspicious and impossible.

After a review of the website, communications officer of Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, PIN, Sodiq Alabi said the claim that N65 million was spent on the website looked very impossible.

We have reviewed the website, it is simply shocking that N65 million was spent on the website. Its implausible, he said. OSGF must provide more details on what they did with the money. The website has no special features to justify more than a million naira budget.

A screen shot from the website. [Photo credit: Www.osgf.gov.ng]

It doesnt look like they are even updating the website. The copyright is 2013. It looks very impossible and suspicious. At least the SGF office should tell us what they did with the money. They should tell us what they did with the money so that Nigerian tax payers mind can be at rest.

Cheta Nwanze, Head of Research, SBM Intelligence, after a review of the website, said the N65 million could never be justified.

He said, The website was built using the Joomla CMS, which is a free content management system. All of the media is hosted on YouTube, which is an external server. It uses Google Hosted Libraries for its content distribution. No way can it cost 65 million, unless I heard you wrong.

He said the maximum cost for such a website would be $105 per month.

Depending on the hosting package, $100 per month can get you a very good hosting plan. If you insist on using Google apps to host your emails and documents, thats $5 per user per month. So you can do the maths.

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Aishatu Abdullahi, one of the schoolgirls that escaped Boko Harams Monday night attack on Dapchi town of Yobe State, has said it was not all of the students that were so lucky.

According to her, some of the girls may have been taken away by the armed insurgents.

PREMIUM TIMES could not independently verify if some students were indeed kidnapped.

The Yobe State police commissioner, Sunmonu Abdulmaliki, told PREMIUM TIMES Tuesday night that the school was attacked, but no immediate confirmation that any of the schoolgirls were abducted.

Quite alright, the school was attacked, Mr. Abdulmaliki said by telephone. As at today, both the parents and the school authorities are doing a headcount.

The school has up to 900 students, some of them are on farms, some of them have not resumed, he added. I am sure by morning tomorrow, I should get the details from the ministry to know whether there are missing children or not.

Mr. Abdulmaliki had earlier said three men were kidnapped by the insurgents from a nearby community attacked after the attack on Dapchi.

Dapchi town came under heavy attack of the Boko Haram on Monday night leading to residents including students of Government Girls Secondary school, Dapchi, fleeing into the bush.

The seemingly traumatised girl who spoke with a PREMIUM TIMES reporter on phone said the attackers came with the intention of abducting students before many of us took to the bushes by scaling the perimeter fence of the school.

The girl spoke while on her way out of Daphi town following the announced one-week break declared by the school. She said she saw some of the girls being forced away by the armed gunmen.

If confirmed that some of the schoolgirls were indeed kidnapped, it would be reminiscent of the kidnap in April 2014 of over 200 girls from their secondary school in Chibok, Borno State. Dozens of the Chibok girls are still with the Boko Haram, almost four years since the abduction.

According to the Aishatu, who spoke in Hausa, the attackers were not confronted by any security operatives until the school principal placed a call for help while they were hiding in a deserted house not far away from the school.

Her words (translated):

My name is Aishatu Abdullahi. I am a Senior Secondary (SS) student of GGSS Dapchi.

I was in the school when the Boko Haram insurgents came at exactly the time we were preparing to break our usual Monday fast. They were shooting guns and everyone was confused; then we started running helter skelter but they were able to. We saw some people pushing some of the students to enter their vehicles.

There were no soldiers at the time of the invasion. It was later after the principal placed a call that some soldiers came and then we began to see helicopter hovering around the village.

We were in the mosque when the Boko Haram gunmen came into the town. According to the accounts of some of my mates, the Boko Haram told those that were caught in the mosque to sit on the floor, including our teachers. One of our teacher was injured in his leg and hand  I dont know if it was from gunshot. We dont know what later happened, the gunmen later left the people in the mosque.

They came in three trucks. But they didnt cart away food from our store as claimed.

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Some of the other schoolgirls ran with some of our teachers to a house near the school. We saw the women in the house running away, but we had to enter and hide inside the house. All of us that escaped including our school principal, the vice principal and some other teachers stayed in the deserted house till morning.

I cannot say how many of us (were involved) but I know that our game master was able to escape with about 60 students into the bush.

Many students cannot be accounted for till this moment, some classes are empty, some classes had less than 15 students; some said ten could not be accounted for; mostly all of the classes have missing students.

Many of us are traumatised; many were even fainting upon hearing any unusual sounds due to the experience.

The school has given us one week to go home for a break; but in all honesty, I am not willing to come back here because we are scared of what could happen to us in the future.
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The trial of Patrick Akpobolokemi, a former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, who is being prosecuted for alleged N754 million fraud, continued on Monday before Justice Raliat Adebiyi of State High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, with a prosecution witness, Chukwuma Orji, revealing how the former NIMASA boss allegedly failed to execute contracts budgeted for by the Agency.

Patrick Akpobolokemi is facing trial alongside Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Vincent Udoye, Adegboyega Olopoenia and a company, Gama Marine Nigeria Limited, on a 13-count charge bordering on diversion of funds to the tune of N754 million.

While under cross-examination by the defence, Mr. Orji, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, told the court that the Vimsat Committee under NIMASA did not execute the contracts that were budgeted and paid for by NIMASA.

In his further testimony, he said committee members diverted the funds to their personal use.

Mr. Orji also told the court that during investigation of the Vimsat Committee, it was revealed that there were items in the contracts and the terms of the approved budget, which included training and re-training of 6,000 seafarers, purchase of Global Maritime Distress and Safety Access, GMD, purchase of communication gadgets and other related equipment, as well as their maintenance.

The investigator, who informed the court that an audit query was issued to Mr. Akpobolokemi by NIMASA, which he acted upon, further stated that money was paid into the account of Arrow World Consulting Company from the account of Vimsat Committee and subsequently diverted to individuals accounts for personal use.

Justice Adebiyi adjourned the case to February 22, 23 and 27for continuation of trial.
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The strike by the Joint Action Committee, at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has degenerated to a total and comprehensive action, causing the blockade of the main roads and disruption of water and electricity supplies to the campus.

The JAC, consisting of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU; Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities, NASU; and the National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, had started their strike at the beginning of December last year after they disagreed with authorities over the sharing of the earned allowances between them and their teaching staff counterparts.

But with the commencement of the examinations in January, the action was reviewed to allow the school provide a limited level of service to the students studying.

With the examinations over last Saturday, the striking group said they are bringing the school to a halt.

We held congress last week Friday and it was at the congress that we reached a resolution that we must shut the university this week, said a staffer, Oyeleke Adelegan.

Mr. Oyelegan said: The university management was given two weeks to conduct exams for students and they even went ahead to breach the agreement for making the exam last for three weeks and now that the students are done with the exam. We have to go back to our total and comprehensive strike, he said.

The chairman of the NASU, OAU, Wole Odewunmi said the striking unions had earlier cooperated with the university basically, because of the students.

We agreed to reduce the force of the strike because of the students examinations because we are also parents and we know that they are lagging behind. Now that they are done with their exams, we are going back to the total and comprehensive shut-down of the university.

As you can see, the roads have been blocked and we can no longer guarantee electricity, water and others.

Our correspondent saw how the roads on the campus, including the main Adesoji Aderemi Road, also known as Road 1, were blocked on Monday and Tuesday.
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Nigerias Auditor-General of the Federation, AuGF, Anthony Ayine, has lamented that insufficient manpower has made his agency perform below par.

He explained that the office has only about 1500 workers and as such, auditing 471 ministries, department and agencies (MDAs) was a herculean task.

The AuGF stated this during his agencys 2018 budget defence before the House of Representatives committee on public accounts.

He said the federal government has 471 parastatals and agencies and the AuGF is required to comment on their audited financial statements.

Due to inadequate capacity and the complex nature of some of the accounts, the review and comment of the audited financial statements of some of the agencies have to be outsourced. It is important to note that the current workforce will significantly be depleted when 193 officers retire from service this year.

If no further recruitments are made to improve the strength of the workforce, this depleted workforce could constitute critical threats to the functioning of the office.

For the office to function and achieve results, personnel cost budget ceilings of N1,909,022,726 should be replaced by a new personnel cost budget ceilings of N3,424,510,028.55.

While responding, Kingsley Chinda (Rivers  PDP) emphasised the need for the federal government to effectively fund the office of the AuGF to help in tackling corruption.

If this government truly wants to fight corruption then it must properly fund the office of the AuGF.

In the civilised clime, strong institutions are built not persons; because here its who pays the piper that dictates the tune and that is why the audit department should be independent of the three arms of government.

We have concluded the audit bill in the House and the Senate is seriously working on it and there is need for you to double your workforce, he said.

The AuGF is not the first government agency to lament dearth of manpower and resources to function.

But while some of these agencies lack the required staff strength, others still, from investigations, have redundant staff who add little or no value to their organisations.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday departed Katsina State, for Yola, Adamawa State, after a five-day private visit to his home in Daura.

The presidential aircraft took off from Umaru Musa Yaradua Airport, Katsina, about 10.30a.m. and headed for Yola where he is expected to declare open an anti-corruption conference.

The conferences theme is Performance Based Governance: Transparency, Accountability and Social Value.

While in Daura, President Buhari received hundreds of sympathisers at his private residence to console the president over the deaths of two extended family members, Halima Dauda and Aisha Alhaji Mamman.

They also sympathised with him over the auto-crash involving his son, Yusuf.

Among the early callers were state governors from All Progressives Congress (APC), including the Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum and Zamfara Governor, Abdulaziz Yari.

Others were Rochas Okorocha (Imo); Aminu Masari (Katsina State); Abubakar Muhammed (Bauchi State); Kashim Shettima (Borno); Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo State) and Malam Nasir El-RufaI of Kaduna State.

Also Gov. Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa, Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano State); Godwin Obaseki (Edo); Yahaya Bello (Kogi); Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi); Abubakar Sani-Bello (Niger) and Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State.

The governors of Benue, Osun and Ogun were represented by their deputies at the meeting.

The governors of Yobe and Plateau were also represented at the meeting.

On Monday, Mr. Buhari met with members of Daura Emirate coalition.

The president, at the meeting, disclosed that all unclaimed looted assets, including landed property recovered by the Federal Government, would be sold and the proceeds deposited into government treasury.

The president said he would not allow a repeat of what happened in the 1980s when buildings and other ill-gotten property seized by his military administration were returned to corrupt officials following his ouster as Head of State.

The president told the groups that the APC-led government would consolidate on the gains and monumental achievements in the development of infrastructure across the country.

For most ordinary Nigerians, if you give them good roads, railway and stable electric power they will be happy to carry on with their lives.

We are doing so much for our country and we will continue to do more out of the fear of God, the president said.

The president promised that the Federal Government would sustain the provision of funds, improved seedlings and fertiliser to farmers to ensure that the sector remained the largest employer of labour to Nigerians.

He said records of achievements on security, war against corruption and the revival of the economy had remained very impressive.

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The president is expected to return to Abuja later today. (NAN)
The Kaduna State government has justified its demolition of a building belonging to a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

The building located at 11b Sambo Road used by a faction of APC was demolished by the state government Monday morning.

The party since 2015 has been enmeshed in crisis in the state which has seen it broken into three factions.

They are: The Restoration APC, led by Tijjani Ramallan and Suleiman Hunkuyi, a senator; the APC Akida, led by Shehu Sani, also a senator, and the Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Hakeem Ahmed; and the APC Government House, led by the governor and his deputy.

News of the demolition first filtered in through tweets by the senator representing Kaduna North, Mr. Hunkuyi.

Mr. Hunkuyi, a leader of one of Restoration APC, alleged that the demolition was masterminded by the state governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

In the early hours of today, the @GovKaduna Mallam @elrufai personally drove a bulldozer accompanied by armored tanks to destroy my house at 11B Sambo Road. This is a new low and fighting dirty with such low level of pettiness is indeed unprecedented in Kaduna State, the account tweeted sharing short videos of the demolition.

But the Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Agency (KAPSUDA) in a statement signed by its Director-General, Ibrahim Husseini, said the demolition was part of operations the agency was undertaking across Kaduna metropolis in compliance with its mandate.

In partnership with sister agencies, KASUPDA is clearing illegal structures, tackling street hawking and restoring order across Kaduna.

This morning, a building on 11B Sambo Close was removed for flagrant violations of land use and non-payment of ground rent since 2010. This illegal violation of use had begun to distress neighbours who were being forced to endure an influx of thugs and blockage of the road, the statement read.

The agency said it duly served the occupants of the building a notice of revocation which they did not yield to.

The Kaduna Geographic Information Service (KADGIS) issued a revocation notice of statutory right of occupancy No. KD. 16712, that covers 11b Sambo Close in the Ungwan Rimi area. The appropriate notice of revocation was delivered at 28 Inuwa Wada Road, the registered address of the company that held the title to the property. The notice was also delivered to the building in question, and sent by post to the registered address of the previous title holder.

KASUPDA said the land will be turned into a public park.

The land has now been allocated to KASUPDA for the purpose of developing and maintaining a public park that will provide a green area and a serene place for recreation in that residential neighbourhood.

The demolition is coming almost a year after a building belonging to the North West Vice Chairman of APC, Inuwa Abdulkadir, was demolished by the state government.

Mr. Abdulkadir told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the governor had sometimes back threatened to take such action against him.

I am not surprised by his action, it is a political vendetta. But I will not make further comment because the case is already in court, he said reacting to the demolition.

Meanwhile, the senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, said the demolition was masterminded by Mr. El-Rufai.

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Speaking on the floor of the senate, he said that the governor was acting on the goodwill of President Muhammadu Buhari.

I stand to formally and officially report that this morning as early as 4:30am, the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir-El-rufai, led a team of soldiers and policemen to Sambo road 11 where he personally supervised a demolition of our new APC office which happened to be the property belonging to Distinguished Sen. Suleiman Hukunyi.

This comes a year after the same governor demolished the past residence of Alhaji Inuwa Abdul-Kadir, the National Vice Chairman North-west of the APC. This is a series of arbitrariness of tyranny perpetuated by the governor against dissenting opposition voices in the state.

It is of concern that the Governor of the state is in the habit of name dropping the name of Mr. President. There are reports and claims that the Governor has been saying and has been acting with the authority and on behalf of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That his action has the official stamp and go ahead of the president to eradicate and dislodge and at the same time being an end to opposing and dissenting voices within the party.

My constituency office was attacked by violent thugs more than 11 times and it has also even been very clear that armed military police men have been consistently used by the governor to intimidate and harass people who dont agree with him.

It is of concern that after 20 years of military that a man with such a rapid ambition and arrogance of power can appropriate for himself and power to act outside of the law. How can a democratically-elected governor demolish a house without notice? Simply for the fact that we have set up office different form the one he has personalized himself as a so-called party man.

He called on President Buhari to caution Mr. El-Rufai.

It is of concern to us that these actions by the governor have been done in the name of Mr. President who he believed that he is his son that he so much loves. Governor Nasir El-Rufai is an affliction to the people of Kaduna State and a curse to us.

We will use this opportunity to call on Mr. President to caution his beloved son who has unleashed a reign of terror and has behaved in the most despicable and irresponsible way.

Read our previous story here.
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The Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, will on March 21 deliver ruling on the competence of the criminal charge brought against the Supreme Court Justice, Sylvester Ngwuta, by the federal government on charges of false assets declaration.

The tribunal fixed the date after taking arguments from counsel to the apex court justice and that of the Federal government on the propriety or otherwise of the charge.

Mr. Ngwuta through his counsel, Kanu Agabi, had in a motion on notice filed on January 9 prayed the tribunal to invoke section 158(1) of the 1999 constitution to dismiss the 10-count criminal charges against him.

His ground was that as at the time the alleged offence was committed, he was a serving justice of the Supreme Court, hence a serving judicial officer within the purview of section 318 of the constitution.

The apex court justice insisted that by the combined effects of section 158 of the constitution and paragraph 21 of the third schedule to the constitution, any complaint or allegation of misconduct against him must first be referred to the National Judicial Council (NJC) empowered by law to exercise disciplinary control over him.

He maintained that the allegations which brought about the criminal charge against him were never referred to the NJC as required by the constitution, hence, the charge not competent in law.

Mr. Ngwuta cited the decision of the Court of Appeal in Justice Nganjiwa versus Federal Republic of Nigeria where the appellate court held that no criminal investigation or prosecution can be initiated or instituted in any court of law or tribunal against a serving judicial officer for judicial misconduct without first presenting the allegation to the NJC and a determination made.

Maintaining that the allegations against him were never made available to the NJC as required by law, the defendant said that the charge was incompetent and that the tribunal lack jurisdiction to entertain it.

However, counsel to the federal government and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Abeni Mohammed, vehemently opposed the application and urged the tribunal to dismiss it in its entirety.

The senior counsel submitted that the claim of judicial officer was misconceived by the defendant adding that Mr. Ngwuta was put on trial at the CCT as a public office holder and not as a judicial officer.

Beside, Mr. Mohammed said that the finality of the Appeal Court decision relied upon by the defendant has not been tested at the Supreme Court.

The defendant is here as a public officer to face charges against him and not as a judicial officer. He is here as Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta and not as Hon. Justice Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta. It is not derogatory, that is what the law says, the counsel argued.

Mr. Mohammed insisted that the decision of the appeal court on the judicial officers in relation to section 158 of the 1999 constitution was not application to the trial of the defendant because of peculiar circumstances and asked the tribunal to assume jurisdiction.

The Chairman of the tribunal, Danladi Umar, later fixed March 21 for ruling in the motion.

The federal government had last year slammed a 10-count charge against the Supreme Court justice on false assets declaration.

The charge has, however, suffered series of adjournments at the instance of the federal government due to non-availability of witnesses to establish the case.
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Lufthansa Air on Tuesday said no passenger was injured on its Frankfurt-bound flight on Sunday.

A statement by the airlines spokesperson in Nigeria, Hakeem Jimo, said what happened was a mere moderate turbulence.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how passengers on the flight said they were thrown into despair when the plane suddenly came down from 35,000 feet to about 5,000 feet midair, an hour after take-off in Abuja.

A passenger told this newspaper that when the incident occurred suddenly, many fell down and some were injured in the process.

But Mr. Jimo said safety on the aircraft was never compromised as passengers had their seat-belts on at the time of the incident.

We can confirm that on flight LH595 last Sunday (18 FEB) from Abuja to Frankfurt, a brief weather-related turbulence was experienced, he said in a press statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES Tuesday afternoon.

The Airbus A330 aircraft took off in Abuja at 23:13 with 197 passengers on board and landed at 5:17 in Frankfurt as planned (all times local). After take-off in Abuja, there was moderate turbulence during the ascent for a few seconds due to bad weather.

At that time, since the seat-belt signs were still on, all guests and the crew members were safely seated with their seatbelts fastened. Safety on board was never compromised. No passengers or crew members were injured. The flight continued normally.

An aviation expert, John Ojikutu, told PREMIUM TIMES that the incident occurred due to the state of the weather condition, saying erratic turbulence could be the immediate cause.

Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES Tuesday evening, he said, There are many conditions that can make an aircraft descend. The aircraft can descend because of technical issue, (if) the air up there, the compressed air has dropped. So it had to descend to a level where it can get oxygen; thats about anything below 10,000 feet to have sufficient oxygen so that everyone can breathe properly.

The other one can be due to bad weather, erratic turbulent bad weather. So the pilot can descend on his own because the cabin pressure is not there and they want the passengers to breathe properly, he can descend below 10,000 feet.

Mr. Ojikutu, a member of the think-tank group. Aviation Round Table, however, noted that how the situation was handled mattered as far as safety of the passengers is concerned.

The most important thing is: was it handled properly? If everybody is alive it means the pilot handled it properly if it is weather. They should be grateful to the pilot that he was able to handle it.

Lufthansa is one of the safest airlines. When you are flying over the desert during this hot weather, you may encounter clear air turbulence, it does happen. So if the pilot did not stop, he didnt land I dont think there is any problem. The clear air turbulence is as bad as you running into thunderstorm turbulence.

People are used to flying; if they are used to flying, they will know. It is clear air turbulence.
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The office of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has released a statement wherein the vice president explains what the government is doing to resolve the herdsmen/farmers clashes in many states.

In the statement, Mr. Osinbajo responds to a question and speaks on deployment of security personnel.

Excerpts:

Q: What then is being done about security?

Vice President: The approach of the government has been to deploy mobile police forces to troubled areas and also both the army and air force. The Nigerian Army formations and units in Benue State for example, especially 72 Special Forces Battalion, have consistently maintained Forward Operating Bases at the flash areas covering Guma, Logo, Katsina-Ala and Agatu Local Government Areas.

The operation has the generic name Operation MESA, but it is nicknamed Operation ZENDA in Benue State. The Army had within the last few days scaled up the size of troops and equipment in Agatu, Guma, Katsina-Ala and Logo Local Government Areas of Benue State.

The Army also recently deployed troops at Awe and Tunga Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State, in order to monitor and block the gaps that were presumed to be used as staging points by armed herdsmen to attack communities in Benue State.

Additionally, troops of 93 Battalion, Takum in Taraba State, also occupy blocking positions as well as maintain constant liaison with troops in Benue State.

Furthermore, the command and control structure of the army formations and units in Benue and contiguous states have been reorganised.

Accordingly, more troops were deployed and the Commander 707 Special Forces Brigade was reassigned to Taraba State for effective command and control of troops operating in the entire Benue/Taraba general area. And next week, the Nigerian Army will flag-off Exercise AYEM AKPATUMA, to checkmate the activities of armed bandits and militias in Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa and environs.
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Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has appointed the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, to chair the newly inaugurated Kano Investment Advisory Committee.

The committee is saddled with the task of identifying strategies for making the state economically viable.

The governor hinted that the overall wisdom behind the committee was to take advantage of the personality of the emir, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

We need to take the advantage of his personality around the globe, he said during inauguration ceremony of the committee, held at Government House, Kano, in the presence of members of the state executive council and members and the Kano emirate council.

Some of the terms of reference of the committee are unlocking the constraints that hinder the progress of the economic potentials of the state, facilitating inflow of foreign and domestic investments, and working with the federal and state governments in addressing concerns that impede the economic progress of the state.

Mr. Ganduje assured that the state government would do everything possible to make sure the committees work was integrated with the policy direction of his administration.

He said the committee would work with private organisations and other relevant organisations to enhance the economic viability of the state.

The committees work also includes advising government on the best practices in the economic development of the state, coupled with submitting periodic report to government.

On his part, the Emir of Kano assured the governor that they would discharge their given responsibilities with all sense of responsibility and ownership. He also commended the governor for the good initiative.

Members of the committee were drawn from the business community, government agencies and the emirate council.
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Suspected Boko Haram militants have attacked a girls secondary school in Yobs state, police say.

Abdulmaliki Sumonu, the Yobe Commissioner of Police, said on Tuesday that there was no loss of live in the attack on Government Girls College in Dapchi town.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that terrorists attacked the town on Monday and carted away foodstuffs at the Government Girls College, while firing sporadically forcing staff and students to flee for safety.

Mr. Sumonu told journalists in Yobe that three males were later abducted by the insurgents in a remote community in Geidam Local Government Area after the attack on Dapchi.

He said so far, there was no report of abduction of any of the girls in the school.

We are still collecting the details on the attack, census of the girls and the general public, he said.

Dapchi residents said there was no casualty recorded and no injury sustained as the terrorists sporadically shot in the air to scare people away when they arrived in the town.

According to the residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the terrorists carted away food items from the stores of the Government Girls College, Dapchi, and petrol from hawkers, who abandoned their products to run for safety.

There were fears on Monday over the safety of students of the Government Girls Secondary School, GGSS Dapchi, in Bursari Local Government area of Yobe State, over the reported presence of insurgents in the area.(NAN)
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The Taraba State Government has agreed to review the anti-open grazing law to address the concerns of herders in the state.

The governor of the state, Darius Ishaku, and his Ebonyi State counterpart, David Umahi, disclosed this on Tuesday during a visit by a sub-committee of the National Economic Council on a fact finding mission to Taraba State.

The committee, headed by Mr. Umahi, was set up by the council to work on resolving the conflicts between farmers and herders across Nigeria, and especially in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states where the conflicts have claimed hundreds of lives.

Addressing journalists at the Executive Council Chambers in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, Mr. Umahi said the committee met for several hours with leaders of farmers and herders, as well as officials of the government and State House of Assembly of the state.

Mr. Umahi said the committee pleaded with Governor Ishaku and Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Peter Diah, to revisit the anti-open grazing law of the state to accommodate the interest of Fulani herdsmen.

Mr. Umahi further disclosed that in the cause of a closed-door meeting with the security chiefs in the state, the committee discovered that the latest crisis on the Mambila plateau in the state had nothing to do with farmers and herdsmen but was purely a land issue which he said the state government had shown commitment to address.

Mr. Umahi blamed the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association for boycotting the public hearing on the anti-open grazing law which he identified as one of the problems that culminated in the crisis. He also mentioned ignorance of the said law as another reason why the crisis persisted.

We are here as part of fact finding to ascertain the remote cause of the crisis between farmers and herdsmen across the State. In the cause of our assignment, we met with government of Taraba state led by the governor, Darius Ishaku, the leadership of Miyetti Allah, farmers, stakeholders and security agents and we had a far-reaching solution to the crisis and the parties agreed that there should be a ceasefire and that all the parties should return to dialogue.

There were so many issues raised and the committee after much deliberation with the concerned parties was able to make some recommendations, including our request for some amendment to some sections of the law which the herders considered against them.

We agreed that all cases pending in the court be withdrawn to enable the committee conclude their assignment.

Mr. Umahi said the herdsmen agreed to observe ranching but requested that state and federal governments should come to their aids to adapt to the new venture.

He added that the herdsmen should start making use of the already existing ranching facilities in Mambila while the state government should start pilot ranching programme in the three senatorial zones in the state.

Earlier, Mr. Ishaku disclosed that the crisis on the Mambila plateau was a land matter, which was manipulated by unseen hands outside the state.

He assured that his administration would do everything within its powers to ensure lasting peace among the 48 ethnic nationalities in the state, including revisiting the anti-open grazing law to address the grievances of herders.
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Fulani herders in Ekiti and South-west Nigeria have taken a traditional oath binding on them to assure the host communities in Ekiti, and by extension, the South-west Nigeria, that, they would no longer behave unruly, kill or allow their cows to stray into farms.

The traditional oath, revealed to be an effective cultural sanction on herders as its violation is believed to bring tragedy on the culprit, was administered by Ardo Mairero, the Sarkin Fulani of Kwara State.

This took place during the peace meeting of all parties involved in herdsmen challenge in

the state who include Ibrahim Shekarau, who represented the Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi; Mohammad Leewa, National President, Miyetti Allah; Mohammad Kiruwa; Governor Ayodele Fayose; Ekiti Deputy Governor, Olusola Kolapo; Secretary to State

Government, Modupe Alade; Chief of Staff, Dipo Anisulowo; Agriculture Commissioner, Kehinde Odebunmi; and Miyetti Allah national and zonal leaders.

Also, a communique was co-signed by Mr. Fayose; Mr. Shekarau who represented the Emir of Kano; Mrs. Alade; Mr. Kiruwa, National President ,Miyetti-Allah Cattle Breeders Association; and Mohammad Kabir, Zonal Chairman,South-west, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association.

The details of the oath taking which was witnessed by Nasamu Muhammad, Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Ekiti State, was released through the office of the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Fayose, Idowu Adelusi.

Of most significance of the peace meeting of February 19 by the stakeholders was the traditional oath taken with kolanuts as agreement that the herdsmen in Ekiti will not behave unruly any longer, kill or allow their cows to stray into farms.

It was administered with kola and sharing of the kola, which is a Fulani tradition that is binding on the initiators. With this oath, issues of robbery, killing, damaging of farms and kidnapping among others being allegedly perpetuated by Fulani herders are over in the state.

The meeting and signing of the memorandum by all parties lasted for two hours between 11 p.m. on Monday and 1 a.m. on Tuesday, February 20, Mr. Adelusi said.

The communique, released to journalists on Tuesday in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State capital,

reads in part:

The representatives of Emir of Kano, Ibrahim Shekarau, conveyed the concern of the emir over broken down relationship between herdsmen and host communities that has led to loss of lives in Ekiti State and other parts of the country. The emir commiserated with the families of those whose lives have been cut short due to the attacks, and reprisals of herders and associated consequences.

It went further to say: Similarly, the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association and patrons condemned in strong terms any form of killing that has taken place. The emir,through his representatives stated and it was unanimously agreed that henceforth:

All herders must obey the anti-grazing and relevant laws of the land.

The communique further gave the following resolutions: That herdsmen must stop attacks on any member of the host communities, any herder that breaches the peace should be prepared to face the wrath of the law, and Ekiti people should not provoke the herdsman or kill their cattle.

It is therefore agreed that pastoralists / farmers crisis and killings under any guise must stop immediately. The meeting supports the anti-night grazing stand of the law because it protects the interest of all parties,and the law taken its course in the violation of letters of these resolutions. Similarly, the meeting describes Governor Fayose as a peaceful leader who represents hope for all.
The Lagos State Government on Tuesday said it had arrested four officials of a Private Sector Participant (PSP) operator in waste management, Ayomide Olayinka Ventures, for dumping waste on the street along the Central Business District (CBD) of Lagos Island in the middle of the night.

In a statement signed by Kehinde Bamigbetan, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, the government said the suspects were arrested by security operatives in the early hours of Tuesday while they were using their compactor with registration number FST 908 XG to dump refuse on the street.

Those arrested include the driver of the compactor, Oloruntele Adekunle, and three others, whose company is said to have its office at No 1A, Kudirat Abiola Way, Old Oregun Road, Ikeja.

The latest arrest, according to the statement, brought the number of PSP operators arrested for similar offence in the last one week to five.

Hundreds of cart pushers and wheelbarrow operators had equally been arrested for dumping waste in public places and canals in various parts of the State.

The arrest also came days after a PREMIUM TIMES report on how the newly contracted foreign firm, Visionscape Group, is overwhelmed by the enormous waste generated by residents.

Mr. Bamigbetan, in the statement, said the arrest shows the institutional corruption that has been lingering in the sector, which the State Government intends to fight with the reforms such as the Cleaner Lagos Initiative ICLI) being put in place.

The arrest of the PSP operator is a clear example of the deliberate efforts to sabotage what the State Government is doing, Mr. Bamigbetan said.

The PSP operators are not being driven out of their businesses with the reforms as they are making the public to believe.

Under CLI, the government has made provision for the PSP operators to handle collection of commercial waste and there are over 15,000 companies in Lagos that can serve the over 200 PSP operators in the State. So far, the CLI has been able to get over 50,000 new employees out of the labour market.

The government has also stressed itself by getting N2.5 billion loan to enable the PSP operators buy equipment to be more competitive. These are the things they can key into than blackmailing government. The whole idea is to build local capacity in order to employ more of our unemployed youth, Mr. Bamigbetan said.

He said the PSP operator arrested last week in Mushin area of the State had already been charged to court with the case adjourned to February 26, while the latest suspect would be paraded during the week by the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), and subsequently charged to court.

He said it was unfortunate that some PSP operators were allowing vested interests to use them to blackmail the government into abandoning the reforms designed to revolutionise waste management.

The PSP operators are being used by those fighting against the reforms the government is putting in place. The Cleaner Lagos Initiative is part of the measures to fight institutional corruption in the system which the government is determined to eradicate.

The government will not be blackmailed into abandoning the right thing for the people. Over time, the Lagos State Government has carried out reforms in the Police Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), among others and the State Government is committed to ensuring that the corruption in the waste management system is stamped out.

Any PSP operator henceforth caught will be dealt with using the full weight of the law. No government will fold its arms and allow few vested interests whose interests are inimical to the majority of the people and aimed at sabotaging governments policies and programmes to have a field day, Mr. Bamigbetan said.

Meanwhile, the State Government has paraded four cart pushers  Yusuf Saheed, Abubakar Lawal, Bashiru Umar and Amira Abdul, who were arrested in Moshalasi Alhaja in Agege area of the State for dumping refuse in unauthorised spots.

The Commissioner for the Environment, Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, who briefed journalists at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, said the suspects would be charged to court.

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He also disclosed that commercial operations of the CLI would commence fully from March 1.
The announcement was made in advance of the LMT Lab Day and Chicago Dental Society's Midwinter Meeting, February 22 to 24 in Chicago, where DWS plans to exhibit its complete range of dental products at each event.

"The formation of a dedicated dental unit leverages the most powerful portfolio of lab and clinic digital dental solutions on the market today. This positions DWS to better serve the American dental market, and offer its latest products to labs and clinics around the world," said DWS founder and general manager Maurizio Costabeber. "We believe that our decades of experience in digital dentistry, together with our advanced materials, push button user-experience, and precise, fast printing can successfully meet the demands of this multi-billion dollar market."

Autonomous Lab and Chairside Solutions

In Chicago, DWS will demonstrate two groundbreaking autonomous 3D printers: the LFAB, designed to produce dental models, surgical guides and prosthetics for dental labs, and the DFAB, which is tailored for the dentist's office and can quickly deliver high-precision color-matched prosthetics. For use in its revolutionary FAB series printers, DWS also developed Temporis, a new class of biocompatible material for long term use that meets European Union Class IIa invasive medical device requirements. As part of its North American expansion plans, the company also plans to seek required FDA clearances.

The FAB family of printers are developed for dentists, prosthodontists and lab technicians with the purpose of increasing efficiency and reducing the number of procedures necessary to produce dental prostheses. It can produce up to five-element precision bridges ensuring an accurate fitting and a correct occlusion in less than 20 minutes. Independent studies and tests on Temporis have shown mechanical strength values that are comparable to well-established traditional restorative resin materials.

Natural colored dental prosthetics

While patients want prosthetics that feel like real teeth, they also want them to look natural and match the color of their own teeth. Both the LFAB and DFAB 3D printers deliver customizable colored restorations using light curable composites. Additionally, the new DFAB can effectively replicate patient-specific color gradient using DWS's revolutionary Photoshade technology to improve overall prosthetics' appearance. For the first time, dentists can color match and 3D print a functional patient-specific restoration in their office during a single patient visit.

Fast, Easy, Precise

In Chicago, DWS also plans to unveil the XCELL 6000PD, the first-ever fully automated dental 3D printer that delivers a full range of dental treatments with the click of a button. The high-speed 3D printer increases operational efficiency with its unique cartridge system that makes it easy for dental technicians to change printing materials. The all-in-one automation completely eliminates the post-processing labor associated with washing and curing. The XCELL 6000PD can effectively address a broad range of dental applications including dental models, temporary prosthetics, castable copings and aligner manufacturing. It can also be used for surgical guides, partial frameworks, implant models for analogs and restorations, such as crowns and bridges.

The company invites interested customers, strategic partners, and qualified resellers to visit DWS at LMT Lab Day in booth #B52, and Chicago Dental Society's Midwinter Meeting, in booth number #4434 from February 22 to 24 in Chicago to experience its entire portfolio in action.

Media Kit can be found at goo.gl/pFnSQH

About DWS Systems

DWS Systems is at the forefront of additive manufacturing technology. A respected Stereolithography pioneer and leader, DWS is making additive manufacturing 4.0 a reality by delivering the most advanced photopolymer additive manufacturing systems, materials and digital tools available. For decades, it has been enabling people to live better, engineers to optimize their designs, and companies to bring better products to market. For more information, please visit www.dwssystems.com.

SOURCE DWS Systems

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SAN BERNARDINO, Calif., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The California University of Science and Medicine, School of Medicine (CUSM School of Medicine) proudly announces its approval for preliminary accreditation by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). The University will welcome its first incoming medical school class this August.

The CUSM School of Medicine, a private, not-for-profit medical school, was created with a mission to improve healthcare by training exceptional physicians with a special dedication to serving underserved areas, especially in areas like the Inland Empire of Southern California where the school will be established.

The Prime Healthcare Foundation, a 501(c)3 public charity with a mission to improve healthcare through educational and charitable initiatives, funded the establishment of CUSM. Prem Reddy, MD, founder of Prime Healthcare and the Prime Healthcare Foundation, believed that the establishment of a medical school could provide the greatest positive impact on healthcare for generations by addressing growing health disparities, disease burden and the national physician shortage. Dr. Reddy, through the PHF and his family foundation, has committed more than $60 million towards the establishment of CUSM.

"It has been a dream come true to establish a medical school sincerely believing that education and healthcare can profoundly improve the lives of others," said Dr. Reddy, the Founder and the Chairman of the CUSM Board of Trustees. "It is a great privilege to help students shape the future of healthcare through dedication to clinical excellence and compassionate care."

Dev GnanaDev, MD, a prominent surgeon and past President of the California Medical Association and past Medical Director of Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC), a 456-bed teaching hospital operated by the County of San Bernardino, shared a similar vision of establishing a medical school in the Inland Empire. "Our new school will have a lasting impact not only on the current shortage of physicians and limited medical school slots in our state, but also on the wellness of those in our community," said Dr. GnanaDev, founding president of CUSM. "The medical school's affiliation with ARMC, where I've practiced for more than 37 years, provides an exceptional clinical training ground for future physicians. I thank Dr. Reddy, Prime Healthcare Foundation, the County of San Bernardino and our amazing faculty for making all of this possible."

"The mission of the Prime Healthcare Foundation has been to improve healthcare through education and service," said Kavitha Bhatia, MD, Chair of the Prime Healthcare Foundation and Vice Chair of the CUSM Board of Trustees. "The establishment of CUSM will create a lasting contribution to the health and wellness of communities through excellence in education, research, clinical practice and a special dedication to the care of the underserved."

In addition to its founding by the Prime Healthcare Foundation, CUSM has received support throughout the local community including the County of San Bernardino, ARMC, the City of Colton, an affiliation with Claremont Graduate University (a member of the prestigious Claremont Colleges) and prominent members of the community on the CUSM Board of Trustees.

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors and ARMC joined in the noble mission of establishing a world-class school of medicine by contributing $10 million to support CUSM. "This public-private partnership with the County of San Bernardino addresses the need for a medical school in one of the most economically challenged, underserved communities in Southern California. This partnership is another step forward for the future of our County and a great pathway to success for our children," said Robert Lovingood, the Chairman of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors.

"We expect the CUSM affiliation with ARMC to attract physicians who are seeking university-based research, teaching and clinical practice," said ARMC Director William Gilbert. "ARMC is building a culture that attracts those who are eager to practice and study. CUSM's community-oriented mission and vision of encouraging graduates to practice medicine in underserved areas will help support this culture, ultimately benefiting patients in the Inland Empire and beyond."

Dr. Reddy, Dr. GnanaDev and the CUSM Board of Trustees recruited Dr. Robert Suskind to serve as the Founding Dean of CUSM School of Medicine. Dr. Suskind, a prominent educator and founding dean of medical schools in Texas and Northern California, led the recruitment of exceptional faculty of MDs and MD/PhDs that align with the university's uniquely integrated, active-learning, student-centered curriculum.

"I am grateful to the LCME for their vote of confidence in our mission and vision for CUSM," said Dr. Suskind. "Receiving accreditation is a major milestone for both the institution and the surrounding communities and provides the opportunity to really start making a difference in the Inland Empire of California."

CUSM will be committed to teaching the importance of improving the health and healthcare needs of underrepresented and underserved communities, such as San Bernardino County. The medical school has already been recognized for its progressive curriculum. The clinically integrated, systems-based curriculum emphasizes clinical reasoning with the goal of creating a more balanced and relevant learning experience for future physicians.

For more information on the new CUSM School of Medicine, please visit www.calmedu.org

SOURCE California University of Science and Medicine, School of Medicine

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AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- SparkCognition, one of the world's fastest growing artificial intelligence (AI) companies, released its final Series B Funding numbers with an official close of $56.5 million in 2017. In June 2017, the company announced an initial Series B raise of $32.5 million, led by Verizon Ventures and key participation from The Boeing Company, through its Boeing HorizonX unit. Additional investors participating in the final Series B close were CME Ventures, Brevan Howard Investment Holdings Limited, Invenergy Future Fund, and Cisco veterans, former CEO and Executive Chairman, John Chambers, and former EVP and Chief Development Officer, Pankaj Patel. One additional investor, an American global financial services company and one of the largest asset management firms in the world, also participated in the round.

"We are grateful for the many successes to date, but SparkCognition is still in the very early phases of realizing its potential as a transformative company," said Amir Husain, Founder and CEO of SparkCognition. "We are honored to gain numerous industry leading investors and receive support as we rapidly grow to take our place at the forefront of the 'AI 3.0' revolution."

Since its launch in 2014, SparkCognition has established itself as a global AI leader. The Austin-based company is deploying advanced machine learning technology to customers in energy, oil and gas, manufacturing, finance, aerospace, defense, and security.

"SparkCognition is building leading technology that is relevant on a global scale," said John Chambers, CEO of purpose-driven VC firm JC2 Ventures and Chairman Emeritus of Cisco Systems. "I am impressed by the company's vision to lead the 'AI 3.0' revolution and believe SparkCognition's potential for future growth is astronomical. I am looking forward to working closely with them as a partner and mentor of digital innovation."

The Invenergy Future Fund seeks to invest in industry-leading technology companies that are making the energy and industrial verticals more affordable, reliable and secure. According to Amy Francetic, Managing Director of the Invenergy Future Fund, "SparkCognition brings tremendous value to power and industrial operators through the company's SparkPredict machine learning diagnostics technology. The Invenergy Future Fund is proud that Invenergy and other forward-leaning members of our network are now piloting the technology on nearly 1,100 turbines across the United States."

The Invenergy Future Fund and the undisclosed investor spearheaded the final round of the Series B raise, reconfirming SparkCognition as the most VC-funded Austin-area company in 2017. This capital raise supports SparkCognition's growth and affirms the company's leadership in the artificial intelligence field.

In 2017, SparkCognition ranked #20 on the CNBC Disruptor 50 list and was named the fastest-growing company in Central Texas by Austin Business Journal for holding the highest compounded annual growth rate since 2014. SparkCognition's funding achievement is yet one more signal the forward-thinking company continues to lead the industry in AI innovation and impact.

About SparkCognition

A highly awarded company recognized for cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology, SparkCognition offers business critical solutions for enterprise customers in energy, oil and gas, manufacturing, finance, aerospace, telecommunications, defense, and security. For more information on the company, its technology, and team, please visit www.sparkcognition.com.

For Media Inquiries:

John King

SparkCognition

[email protected]

512-956- 5491

SOURCE SparkCognition

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MONTREAL, Feb. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Alberta Blue Cross has identified innovation as a strategic enabler for its ten-year vision. The focus is to build an innovative culture in which employee ideas are truly valued. Alberta Blue Cross will use Planbox to invite its employees to share their suggestions on company-wide, departmental and team challenges.

Alberta Blue Cross Selects Planbox as its Strategic Innovation Management Solution

All 1,000+ employees of Alberta Blue Cross will use Planbox across all its branch offices around the province. Once the innovation team has some experience with the tool, Alberta Blue Cross expects to use Planbox as an open innovation solution to solicit ideas from its valued customers.



Alberta Blue Cross Executive Committee (EC) asked participants in its future leaders program to generate recommendations to help build an innovative culture. This included the corporate innovation team whose task was to recommend a digital approach to gathering ideas from Alberta Blue Cross employees. The company first contacted Planbox in March 2016 and began a long and thorough evaluation process along with several other ideation and innovation management applications. Planbox made the short list of three applications selected for a demo to the majority of Alberta Blue Cross future leaders as well as an Application Architect in the IT area. The evaluation team then recommended Planbox to the EC. Following a demo, EC also liked the look of Planbox and its potential to move Alberta Blue Cross innovation program forward. The purchase of Planbox was approved in the summer of 2017.



According to reviewer ratings, Planbox was the most complete and flexible solution available. Planbox offered a great deal of support and documentation before any contract was signed. During the demo, Planbox was able to present all of the functionality Alberta Blue Cross required, and any unique requests were greeted with a positive response in terms of getting it done.

Alberta Blue Cross metrics for the first year are focused on building an innovative culture revolving around gauging all of the initiatives Alberta Blue Cross is launching and whether they have made a difference in terms of involving Alberta Blue Cross employees in this innovation movement. With respect to Planbox, Alberta Blue Cross will be looking not only at the number of ideas that have been generated per challenge or innovation activity but also their quality.

"Planbox shows great potential for allowing us to tap into the innovative potential of our employees. The challenge-based approach lends itself very well to inviting employee input on issues that impact our ability to realize our vision and operational plans. We are also excited about the reporting capabilities Planbox has," stated Mark Razzolini, VP of People, Wellness and Innovation and Chair of the company's multi-functional and multi- level Innovation Leadership Team.

About Alberta Blue Cross

As Alberta's largest benefits carrier, Alberta Blue Cross provides health and dental benefits to meet the needs of over 1.6 million Albertans. A multitude of benefit plans are available to individuals and families, seniors, and large and small employers. The company also partners with the provincial and federal governments in the administration of major programs.

Alberta Blue Cross covers just about every type of health benefit, including prescription drugs, dental, vision care, preferred hospital accommodation, emergency medical travel, ambulance, home nursing and chiropractor, as well as life insurance and short and long term disability coverage for group plan members. The company is also well on its way to becoming the wellness leader in Alberta.

For more information please visit https://www.ab.bluecross.ca.

About Planbox

Planbox is the pioneering provider of cloud-based AI-Powered Agile Work Innovation solutions  from creative ideas to winning projects. Our mission is to help organizations thrive by transforming the culture of agile work, continuous innovation and creativity across the entire organization. Planbox is built for companies and teams of all sizes and trusted by some of the world's most recognized brands including Great-West Life, Honeywell, Panama Canal Authority, Philips, Sealed Air, Sun Life Financial, Whirlpool, Willis Towers Watson and Verizon with millions of internal and external users. To learn more, visit: www.planbox.com and unleash your innovation butterfly.

Additional Links

Planbox on Twitter (www.twitter.com/planbox)

Planbox on Facebook (www.facebook.com/planbox)

Planbox on LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/companies/planbox)

Contact information

Amanda Sarafian

[email protected]

514-788-4703, extension 1

SOURCE Planbox

Related Links

https://www.planbox.com


MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- AliveCor, the leader in FDA-cleared personal electrocardiogram (EKG) technology, today was named the number one Most Innovative Company in Artificial Intelligence by Fast Company in its annual ranking.

AliveCor also ranked 20th overall in an evaluation of thousands of companies worldwide in Fast Company's Top 50 Most Innovative Companies in the World.

As a medtech leader, AliveCor uses advanced artificial intelligence, cloud, and micro-electrode technology to advance the state of the art in cardiac care. AliveCor empowers people worldwide to proactively manage heart health and to vastly improve the quality of care in the fight against heart disease. AliveCor's KardiaMobile and KardiaBand products enable care teams and their patients to easily, quickly and inexpensively detect and manage abnormal heart rhythms.

AliveCor's deep neural network assesses heart rate data, as well as physical activity and other influencing factors, to help patients develop deeper insights into their heart rhythm. Over time, AliveCor's analysis of biometric data will work to evaluate a range of serious heart conditions and even changes in blood chemistry. The use of artificial intelligence will help add meaning to patient data, and facilitate important improvements in insights, therapies, and procedures.

"This recognition of AliveCor as the leader in artificial intelligence validates our leadership in the collection and analysis of patient generated data to help patients and providers assess and manage heart conditions more conveniently, more quickly, and less expensively than ever before," said Vic Gundotra, CEO of AliveCor.

In 2017, Fast Company's number one ranking in Artificial Intelligence went to Google. AliveCor's AI is explored in depth at www.alivecor.com/technology.

Most Innovative Companies is one of Fast Company's most significant and highly anticipated editorial efforts of the year. To produce the 2018 list, Fast Company editors, reporters, and contributors surveyed thousands of enterprises across the globe to identify the most notable innovations of the year and trace the impact of those initiatives on business, industry, and the larger culture.

About Fast Company

Fast Company is the world's leading progressive business media brand, with a unique editorial focus on innovation in technology, ethical economics, leadership, and design. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, one of the U.S.'s leading media companies.

About AliveCor

AliveCor, Inc. is pioneering the creation of FDA-cleared machine learning techniques to enable proactive heart care and is recognized around the world for transforming cardiac care. The FDA-cleared KardiaMobile is the most clinically validated mobile EKG solution on the market. It is recommended by leading cardiologists and used by people worldwide for accurate EKG recordings. KardiaMobile, and KardiaBand, when paired with the Kardia app provide instant analysis for detecting atrial fibrillation (AF) and normal sinus rhythm in an EKG. Kardia is the first A.I. enabled platform to help clinicians manage patients for the early detection of atrial fibrillation, the most common cardiac arrhythmia and one that leads to a five times greater risk of stroke. KardiaBand is the first FDA-cleared medical device accessory for Apple Watch. AliveCor is a privately-held company headquartered in Mountain View, Calif. For more information, visit alivecor.com.

SOURCE AliveCor

Related Links

http://www.alivecor.com


ROHNERT PARK, Calif., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- February is Financial Aid Awareness Month, which is a great time to think about, learn about and prepare for all types of student aid. Ameritech Financial, a private document preparation company that assists borrowers in understanding and applying for federal income-driven repayment plans, reminds students that knowledge is power when it comes to both college study and college funds.

"Student loans are in the news because borrowers owe so much these days, but they are not the only way to fund college," said Tom Knickerbocker, executive vice president of Ameritech Financial. "Students looking to fund college should do so with a plan. That takes some foresight, which can be difficult when the future is so unpredictable."

Filling out the FAFSA is the first step in getting financial aid. However, only about 3 out of 5 students fill it out, and low-income students are less likely to do so than others, missing out on valuable resources. Completing the FAFSA can allow students to access scholarships and grants, work-study funds and federal student loans. Common advice for students is to max out the "free" money (scholarships and grants) before accepting student loans.

Students also should know that it is possible to negotiate for a more favorable student aid award with their school's financial aid office. While students may find more success the earlier they attempt to do so, it may be worth trying at any point.

With the student loan default rates above 10 percent and increasing, it's especially important for students to be aware of the financial aid they accept, especially when it comes to loans. One thing students can do to borrow smart is to estimate what their payments will be before accepting loans. However, because it's so easy to keep borrowing year after year, especially for those extending their school career, it can be difficult for borrowers to plan ahead.

When, despite any level of effort to prevent it, borrowers find themselves with loans they may struggle to pay down, Ameritech Financial suggests looking into income-driven repayment plans (IDRs). Those plans base payment amounts on income and family size, intending to make any loan balance more affordable for the borrower. Plus, any balance remaining after 20 or 25 years is forgiven.

"Student loans are complicated and so easy to take out," said Knickerbocker. "No one should feel like they can't handle the loans that were supposed to set them up for a successful future. At Ameritech Financial, we help borrowers apply for IDRs so they can feel empowered by their education."

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
Addressing the Modern Issue Anthony's panel, Infrastructure Now: Understanding New York's Needs in the Modern Era, addressed how the region will tackle demanding infrastructural needs and the available opportunities for development and construction professionals.

As New York City's population continues to rise, with estimates of 9 million residents by 2040, New York's construction and development professionals are keen on creating efficient solutions to help the regions infrastructure withstand the growth. The extensive transportation and infrastructure network that New York's metropolitan region is comprised of is crucial to every day functions for the population. With the population continuing to rise, it is imperative that the transportation and infrastructure network can sustain such immense growth.

Anthony spoke alongside Moynihan Station Development President Michael Evans, MTA Chief Development Officer Janno Lieber, Empire State Development Senior Advisor for Innovative Project Delivery Karen Rae, LaGuardia Gateway Partners Chief Executive Officer Stewart Steeves, Stantec SVP and Business Leader of Transportation Susan Walter and Tarter Krinsky & Drogin Chair of Construction Practice David Pfeffer, who moderated the panel.

"Understanding and addressing the unprecedented impact of the prevalent trends transforming the construction and development industry is a necessity and cannot be ignored," said E-J Electric President & CEO Anthony E. Mann. "With new legislation being implemented as well as successful projects that are currently underway, I think that we can make these solutions into a reality." "Design Build is key to the implementation."

About E-J Electric Installation Co.

E-J Electric Installation Co., is active in all facets of electric contracting. Projects vary in size to over $200 million. Typical installations include: office buildings, hospitals, power plants, co-generation facilities, roadway and outdoor specialty, airports, industrial plants, universities, sport stadiums, transit facilities and high voltage distribution. At E-J Electric Installation Co., three family generations of practical expertise have created an organization keyed to the most modern technological advances in providing rapid and efficient solutions to today's lighting, power, energy and communication needs. E-J has a 119-year reputation for unparalleled integrity, quality and service in the electrical field. Please visit our website at www.ej1899.com to learn about the company.

SOURCE E-J Electric Installation Co.

Related Links

http://www.ej1899.com


SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Media entrepreneur Arianna Huffington, founder of The Huffington Post and Thrive Global, will join SAP Executive Board Member Jennifer Morgan to deliver a keynote on the importance of business partnerships at the 15th Annual Great Place to Work For All Summit March 79 in San Francisco. Huffington and Morgan will candidly discuss how the strength of the partnership between their companies has helped each reap greater results and achieve business success. They will also reveal how the latest innovations in creating meaningful partnerships can strengthen workplace culture across organizational boundaries, as well as maximize the human potential of all in the workplace.

"We are very excited to have Arianna Huffington and Jennifer Morgan join our conversation about the importance of Innovation in Partnerships. SAP has helped thousands of its clients develop better, long-lasting business results, ultimately leading them to become better workplaces for all, which is better for business, better for people, and better for the world," said Great Place to Work Chief Executive Officer Michael C. Bush. "As the founder of not one, but two game-changing media brands, Arianna understands how the intersection of technology and partnerships can lead to both a better bottom line and a happier work environment."

"Using our own data and research on this topic, as well as best practices from Best Workplaces such as SAP, we are committed to accelerating the maximization of all human potential that is currently underrepresented and disengaged across many workplaces, with our first milestone closing the work experience gap between women and men by 2020," said Bush.

Morgan oversees global customer operations at SAP, one of the world's leading cloud and enterprise software companies. Thrive Global, founded by Huffington in 2016, is a behavior change media and technology company offering science-based solutions to lower stress, and enhance well-being and performance. Huffington and Morgan will join the keynote series on Innovations in Partnerships on March 8, which will be led earlier that day by Summit Co-Chair Tim Ryan, the U.S. Chairman and Senior Partner of PwC. This series will focus on how organizations and people can partner in powerfully inclusive ways to solve complex business problems and help advance the movement towards creating a Great Place to Work For All. It will also reveal the best practices for workplace inclusion and how to maximize the human potential for everyone within an organization.

"I'm looking forward to joining Arianna to discuss the importance of innovation and the power of great partnerships. SAP and Thrive Global are combining health and wellness with the power of technology to envision and enable a future of the workplace  a place that informs and inspires employees to bring a healthier balance to their lives," said Jennifer Morgan, Executive Board Member, SAP.

"Creating a great place to work for every employee is the most important step you can take as a business leader  in any field, whether you're running a startup or a company that's been around for decades. That's why Thrive Global's mission is to end the stress and burnout epidemic by offering companies and individuals sustainable, science-based solutions to enhance well-being, performance, and purpose, and create a healthier relationship with technology. Your employees are your most valuable resource, and when your people thrive, your company thrives," said Arianna Huffington, founder and CEO, Thrive Global.

The three-day Summit also features a future of leadership content track including: a CEO leadership panel on March 7 during the Small and Medium Business Forum, featuring Sarah Nahm, Founder & CEO of Lever; Chris Taylor, Founder & CEO, Square Root, Inc.; and Henry Albrecht, Founder & CEO, Limeade; and tactical focus sessions that expands on these concepts on March 8 & 9.

The Summit will also unveil A Great Place to Work for All, Bush's new book that redefines great workplaces in the 21st century. The book features a chapter on Innovation in Leadership introducing a new leadership framework, showing the advantages of what he defines as "For All" leaders. In effect, the times demand executives who not only are business-savvy but also are devoted to fairness, have deep faith in people, and empower all individuals to reach their full human potential.

The Great Place to Work For All Summit is recognized by Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) to offer Professional Development Credits for the SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP. In the past, this event has been approved for Recertification Credit Hours: HR (General) recertification credit hours toward aPHR, PHR, PHRca, SPHR, GPHR, PHRi, SPHRi recertification through HR Certification Institute's (HRCI).

In addition to SAP, Co-Chairs and Executive Title Partners for this year's Great Place to Work For All Summit are PwC, which will lead "Innovations in Partnerships," Workday, which will lead "Innovations in Technology", and Accenture, which will lead "Innovations in Leadership."

Additional sponsors include Activision Blizzard, Aflac, Alston & Bird, AT&T, Baird, Bombas, Bright Horizons, Cadence, CarMax, Cisco, Comcast NBCUniversal, Custom Ink, Dynamic Signal, EY, Famous4Colors, Four Moon Productions, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Genentech, Globoforce, Hilton, HR Certification Institute, Lavit, LOMA Agency, Marriott International, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, Nationwide, O.C. Tanner, Plante Moran, SAP SuccessFactors, Salesforce, SAS and World Wide Technology.

About Great Place to Work For All Summit

The Great Place to Work For All Summit assembles executive leaders from Best Workplaces, including FORTUNE's 100 Best Companies to Work For, Great Place to Work-Certified organizations, and those newly embarking on their workplace journey. Its mission is to share best practices for creating and championing high-trust cultures that are better for business, better for people, and better for the world.

About Great Place to Work

Great Place to Work is the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. Through its certification programs, Great Place to Work recognizes outstanding workplace cultures and produces the annual FORTUNE & Best Companies to Work For; and Great Place to Work Best Workplaces lists for Millennials, women, diversity, industries and, internationally, countries and regions. Through its culture consulting services, Great Place to Work helps its clients create great workplaces that outpace peers on key business metrics like revenue growth, profitability, retention and stock performance.

SOURCE Great Place to Work

Related Links

http://www.greatplacetowork.com


ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the American Trucking Associations announced the launch of Fleet CyWatch, a new service for its motor carrier and council members to use for reporting cybercrimes affecting fleet operations.

"As the industry responsible for delivering America's food, fuel and other essentials, security is of paramount importance, particularly in an increasingly technologically connected world," said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. "Fleet CyWatch is the next logical step in our association's and our industry's commitment to working with law enforcement and national security agencies to keep our supply chain safe and secure."

Fleet CyWatch was developed by ATA's Technology and Maintenance Council and Transportation Security Council, in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to assist fleets in reporting information about trucking related internet crimes and cyber-attacks, and in providing information to fleets about threats that may impact their operations. Fleet CyWatch coordinates with private and federal efforts to provide motor carriers with information and recommendations in the areas of cybersecurity awareness, prevention, and mitigation methods. The program connects industry, federal enforcement, and associations and trade groups specialized in cybersecurity to improve U.S. road transport safety.

By subscribing to Fleet CyWatch, fleets will be easily able to report all types of internet crimes related to disrupting fleet operations, which are then communicated to the proper authorities. After protecting the identity of the reporting fleet, the information is also shared with intelligence analysis agencies and the motor carrier community subscribed to Fleet CyWatch. The program's responding alerts will address cybersecurity training and education, cyber-threat trends and patterns and best practices development.

Click here to subscribe to ATA's Fleet CyWatch Program.

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook. Trucking Moves America Forward.

SOURCE American Trucking Associations

Related Links

http://www.trucking.org


KANSAS CITY, Mo., Feb. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- AutoAlert's AlertMiner has received a "Top Rated" Owner Marketing/Equity Mining Award in the eighth-annual DrivingSales Dealer Satisfaction Awards, presented at an event in conjunction with the 2018 National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Convention & Expo. The accolade was determined by the thousands of auto dealers who are part of the DrivingSales.com community.

"Our products, such as AlertMiner, are being recognized by dealerships across North America and other parts of the globe. AutoAlert strives to find a better way to help dealership sell more cars, and make your operations increasingly efficient," AutoAlert CEO Mike Dullea said. "This award recognizes our world-class products that best serve what we care about most  our dealers."

A pioneer in equity mining and new-client engagement, AutoAlert was founded in 2002, and now leads the automotive industry in data-mining, communication platforms, and other software solutions. AutoAlert's technology bridges the communication gap between a dealership's management, employees, and customers, creating high-quality sales opportunities. This leads to an increased gross margin, and improved customer retention.

"We congratulate AutoAlert on receiving the 'Top Rated' Owner Marketing/Equity Mining Award, an accolade we consider to be one of our industry's most important because it comes directly from dealers," said DrivingSales CEO and Founder Jared Hamilton. "In our eighth year of presenting these awards, we feel especially proud that DrivingSales Vendor Ratings continues to help dealers make smart and informed decisions through thousands of peer reviews that lead them to outstanding service providers such as AutoAlert's AlertMiner. We're thrilled AutoAlert's AlertMiner has been recognized as one of the best by the people to whom their services count the most: the dealer community."

The DrivingSales Dealer Satisfaction Awards measure dealer satisfaction with vendor products and services, and are based on cumulative ratings, tallied and verified over the calendar year, from January through December, at DrivingSales.com Vendor Ratings. DrivingSales Vendor Ratings is the industry's only neutral, comprehensive vendor rating forum featuring real-time peer reviews and honest competitor comparisons, and provides dealerships with important information from actual customers who have hands-on experience using vendor products/solutions in their stores. Each rating is verified as coming from an actual dealership employee.

Full award results are available online at http://events.drivingsales.com/dealer-satisfaction-awards/. Award winners are showcased in the Q1 2018 issue of the DrivingSales Dealership Vendor Buyers Guide which, in addition to being distributed at the 2018 NADA Convention and Expo, is delivered to every new car dealership nationwide, as well as to the top 100 used car dealerships. For more information on the DrivingSales Dealership Vendor Buyers Guide, please visit: https://www.drivingsales.com/buyers-guide/.

About AutoAlert

AutoAlert is the creator of the automotive industry's leading data-mining and trade-cycle management platform and other revolutionary software solutions. Backed by patented algorithms, our technology bridges the communication gap between a dealership's management, employees, and customers, creating high-quality sales opportunities, increased gross margin, and improved customer retention.

About DrivingSales

DrivingSales is a professional network serving the auto industry with dealer-driven news and information, online training, and performance data, all to enable dealers to make critical business decisions at their dealerships. DrivingSales' mission is to connect progressive dealership professionals to the people and information they need to maximize their success. Founded by a third-generation car dealer, and opened up to the industry in 2008, today DrivingSales has registered users in over 50% of new car dealerships in the US and is active in several other countries around the globe. To learn more about the DrivingSales community, training or performance analytics visit DrivingSales.com, DrivingSales.com/HCM and DrivingSalesData .com

AutoAlert Media Relations: Jessica Gates, Marketing Operations Manager: [email protected]

DrivingSales Media Relations:

Brinley Nielsen, DrivingSales [email protected]

SOURCE AutoAlert, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.autoalert.com


NEWTON, Mass., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- BabelBark, a pet related software developer, today announced the completion of $2.8 million in Series A funding. BabelBark will use the additional funding to continue to expand its reach and services globally, invest in additional marketing resources and recruit top talent.

"We are delighted to secure this strong financial support from some very highly regarded investment groups," said Bill Rebozo, founder, product and market strategist for BabelBark. "We are currently estimating this fund expansion will help us reach more than 250,000 pets on the platform in the next six months and allow BabelBark to become the most connective and comprehensive platform across a pet care community in North America in a year."

With this infusion of capital, BabelBark will also further accelerate its expansion and growth in other countries. The company recently announced significant expansion of its revolutionary mobile app and software platform into English-speaking countries and territories including Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the U.K. in December 2017. This expansion outside of the U.S. and Canada will bring the emerging BabelBark platform worldwide to help dogs live happy, healthy lives.

BabelBark Chosen as Top 20 Up and Coming Company at VMX Conference

On the heels of the Series A completion, BabelBark was chosen as one of the top 20 up and coming companies in the veterinary space by VMX (formerly the NAVC Conference). BabelBark was featured in the VMX Startup Circle inside the VMX Innovation and Technology Center from Feb. 4 to 7. This is a dedicated area inside the VMX Expo Hall where the hottest and most innovative veterinary inventions were showcased. At the conference, BabelBark rolled out its latest BabelVet software with new veterinary focused capabilities along with the BabelBark pet parent mobile app version 2.0.

During the VMX 2018 Innovation Symposium, Kerri Marshall, D.V.M., M.B.A., chief veterinary officer for BabelBark, Inc. presented a session titled: The Digital Mobile Practice: A New Way of Connecting with Clients. Attendees got first-hand insight into how BabelBark is helping veterinary clinics use digital mobile assets.



Dr. Marshall was also honored for the Trupanion Express with VIC Innovation Award which recognizes individuals who have dedicated themselves to the betterment of the animal health industry through innovations that make a difference in the lives of animals everywhere. Dr. Marshall was lauded for pioneering the creation of Trupanion Express, the revolutionary solution that has changed the way pet owners are able to approach the costs of veterinary care by allowing Trupanion to pay hospitals directly at the time of invoice.

Redefining Pet Care Connections

Launched in 2016, BabelBark now connects 65,000 plus pets with over 450 pet care businesses (i.e. veterinary practices, trainers, shelters, groomers, walkers, pet sitters, boarding kennels, and more within the pet care community) through a digital platform with a mobile application. It offers seamless activity monitoring, connection to primary care and emergency veterinary services, medical records and medication reminders, regional/local pet service providers and tailor-matched products to prescriptively and proactively help pet parents monitor and manage their pet's unique needs.

BabelBark is a fully collaborative platform and an ingenious suite of products including:

BabelBark , a mobile app helping pet parents manage their pet's records, medications, diet, activity and more. And, adding an optional health monitor will only enhance the pet owner's ability to improve their pet's health. The app is now available for download in the App Store and Google Play for free.

, a mobile app helping pet parents manage their pet's records, medications, diet, activity and more. And, adding an optional health monitor will only enhance the pet owner's ability to improve their pet's health. The app is now available for download in the App Store and Google Play for free. BizBark , a customer relationship management (CRM) platform that helps independent pet businesses such as groomers, shelters, trainers, walkers, boarders, and other pet care businesses manage and market their products and services and keep top of mind with their customers. Pet businesses can enroll by going to Bizbark.com.

, a customer relationship management (CRM) platform that helps independent pet businesses such as groomers, shelters, trainers, walkers, boarders, and other pet care businesses manage and market their products and services and keep top of mind with their customers. Pet businesses can enroll by going to Bizbark.com. BabelVet, a powerful platform which fully integrates with a veterinarian's practice management software allowing the ability to share a pet's full profile and health care stats. Everything from exercise levels to diet data to medicine dosage to vaccination records, all in one easy-to-access place. It finally allows veterinarians to connect directly with their patient's health data to deliver a more complete level of care. Enrolling as a clinic is easy at BabelVet.com.

"With the pet world becoming increasingly crowded with apps, BabelBark stands out as the only platform that connects with full synergy between the veterinarian, the pet service providers and the pet parent  thus creating a dynamic and deeper connection," said Roy Stein, founder and CEO of BabelBark. "No other solution on the market incorporates this level of connectivity and care."

About BabelBark

BabelBark is dedicated to bringing families an easy way to connect the many facets of their dog's life through mobile applications that monitor their dog's activity and care, and connects with their favorite veterinarian, shelter, trainer, groomer, dog walker, pet sitter, and more via BabelVet and BizBark. It helps pet parents better understand their dog and provides them the happiest and healthiest life possible, while helping pet businesses and veterinarians maintain a closer relationship with their customers and clients to enhance the love connection to the pet. For more information visit BabelBark, BizBark and BabelVet or email at [email protected].

SOURCE BabelBark
VALLEY COTTAGE, New York, February 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Global Banana Flour Market: Snapshot

Banana flour is a powdered ingredient generally made from green banana or plantains. It is often used as a gluten free ingredient and added in various baked goods. Flour has a moisture content of about 4%-6%. A new research report by Future Market Insights, highlights the current scenario of the banana powder market and its demand and consumption in various applications. The report is titled 'Banana Flour Market: Global Industry Analysis (2012-2016) and Opportunity Assessment (2017-2027)', and presents a brief about every aspect of the global market. According to this comprehensive research report, the global banana flour market is expected to reach a market value of US$ 730 Mn by the end of 2027. The global banana flour market is anticipated to witness a growth at a sluggish CAGR of around 3.8% during the forecast period. The betterment in the market scenario with increasing adoption of banana flour in bakery and other end uses, will encourage the manufacturers and key businesses to be more innovative.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161020/430874LOGO )



Global Banana Flour Market: Dynamics

The global banana flour market's growth is helped by the increase in production of green bananas or cooking bananas. Banana production has grown rapidly, registering a performance of +15 percent since 2008. Though dessert bananas account for 60% of the total production, the cooking banana sector has witnessed a steady growth in terms of production, indicating a rise in the demand for green bananas. There has also been a rise in the awareness about banana flour being a gluten free product. There will be a rise in the demand for gluten-free products in countries like the U.K., Italy, U.S., Spain, Germany, Australia, Brazil, Canada, and India. In most of the countries, banana flour is being used as a gluten-free replacement for wheat flour. This rise in the consumption of gluten-free products helps drive the demand for banana flour.

Request a Sample Report with Table of Contents and Figures: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-6155

Global Banana Flour Market: Segmental Analysis

On the basis of distribution channel, direct channel is expected to reflect higher contribution to the growth of the global market. The indirect channel segment is expected to register a relatively higher CAGR of 4.2% during the forecast period

On the basis of application, food industry leads the market with high market value. Moreover, the pet food and feed industry segment is projected to grow at a significant rate throughout the period of assessment

In terms of source, conventional segment has a much higher market size and is expected to lead the global market during the forecast period. But organic source is projected to grow at a faster pace in the years to follow

Based on region, MEA is expected to dominate the market with an estimated market value of over US$ 300 Mn by the end of 2027. Whereas North America is expected to register the highest growth rate to register a value CAGR of 6.5% during the forecast period

Preview Analysis on Global Banana Flour Market Segmentation by Application - Beverages, Pet Food and Feed Industry, Household, Food Industry; Source- Organic, Conventional: Bakery & Snacks, Infant Foods, Filling and Dressings, Soups and Sauces, Others; Sales Channel- Direct Sales, Indirect Sales: Modern Trade, Convenience Store, Specialty Store, E-Retailers, Other retail format: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/banana-flour-market

Global Banana Flour Market: Competitive Landscape

The research report covers details about major players in the industry. It provides the readers with a brief profile of the key players. Some of the major companies mentioned in the report are Zuvii, NuNatural Inc., Diana Foods, NOW Health Group Inc., Paradisefrucht GmbH, Kanegrade Ltd, ADM Wild Europe GmbH & Co. KG, International Agriculture Group, Stawi Foods and Fruits Limited etc.

Our advisory services are aimed at helping you with specific, customised insights that are relevant to your specific challenges. Let us know about your challenges and our trusted advisors will connect with you: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-6155

More from FMI's Food and Beverages Market Intelligence:

Food Certification Market Taxonomy By Type - Feed and Food Supply (Animal Feed, Food Quality and Safety(BRC, SQF, FSSC 22000, IFS, ISO 22000, GLOBAL GAP, Others ), Food Packaging and Logistics), Seafood (ASC, MSC, Others), Label Claims (Halal, Organic, Kosher, Non-GMO, Others), Sustainability (RSPO, UTZ, Others); By Application - Food (Animal Nutrition, Human Nutrition (Meat and Poultry, Seafood, Dairy, Fruits and Vegetables, Processed Food, Pet Food, Others), Beverages, Oils and Fats: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/food-certification-market

Taxonomy By Type - Feed and Food Supply (Animal Feed, Food Quality and Safety(BRC, SQF, FSSC 22000, IFS, ISO 22000, GLOBAL GAP, Others ), Food Packaging and Logistics), Seafood (ASC, MSC, Others), Label Claims (Halal, Organic, Kosher, Non-GMO, Others), Sustainability (RSPO, UTZ, Others); By Application - Food (Animal Nutrition, Human Nutrition (Meat and Poultry, Seafood, Dairy, Fruits and Vegetables, Processed Food, Pet Food, Others), Beverages, Oils and Fats: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/food-certification-market Coconut Flour Market Taxonomy By End Use - Industrial, Retail (Modern Trade, Grocery/Conventional Stores, E-retailers); By Application - Baked Products (Bread, Cookies, Cakes),Snack Foods (Multi-Grain Chips, Polvoron, Kroepeck, Extruded Products), Extruded Products, Animal Feed; By Product Form - Whole Full Fat Flour, Low Fat High Fibre Flour, Medium Fat Flour; By Technology - Fresh-Dry Process, Wet Process; By Nature - Conventional, Organic:https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/coconut-flour-market

Taxonomy By End Use - Industrial, Retail (Modern Trade, Grocery/Conventional Stores, E-retailers); By Application - Baked Products (Bread, Cookies, Cakes),Snack Foods (Multi-Grain Chips, Polvoron, Kroepeck, Extruded Products), Extruded Products, Animal Feed; By Product Form - Whole Full Fat Flour, Low Fat High Fibre Flour, Medium Fat Flour; By Technology - Fresh-Dry Process, Wet Process; By Nature - Conventional, Organic:https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/coconut-flour-market Floral Flavour Market Segmentation by End Use - Food ( Dairy (Yogurt, Ice-cream, Others ), Bakery(Sponge Cakes, Cookies, Breads ), Confectionary, Snacks, Fats and Oils), Beverages (Alcoholic, Non-alcoholic ( Herbal Teas, Soft Drinks, Health Drinks, Flavoured Water)), Others (Cigars, Tobacco, Pharmaceuticals, etc.); By Raw Material - Hibiscus, Lavender, Neroli/ Orange Flower, Rose, Elderflower, Jasmine, Cherry Blossom , Chamomile, Violette; By Product Type - Natural, Organic, Artificial: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/floral-flavors-market

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NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- What began as a project to remove a single contaminant from a degraded urban creek ended as a comprehensive program to restore the creek to its native condition and improve the quality of water it carried to an environmentally sensitive coastal region  completing the expanded scope while maintaining the City of Newport Beach's budget.

Now the project has been honored as among the state's finest engineering projects.

Plants and animals thrive as clean water flows in and along Big Canyon Creek, a valued urban corridor in Newport Beach. The Big Canyon Creek Restoration and Water Quality Improvement Project, planned and delivered by Burns & McDonnell, is winner of an Honor Award from the California chapter of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC).

The Big Canyon Creek Restoration and Water Quality Improvement Project, planned and delivered by Burns & McDonnell, is a winner of an Honor Award in the Water and Storm Water category from the California chapter of the American Council of Engineering Companies. The chapter presented its 2018 Engineering Excellence Awards earlier this month.

Big Canyon Creek, which drains into Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve, first raised concerns among city officials more than a decade ago when testing found it contained elevated levels of selenium  a naturally occurring element that is toxic to wildlife at high concentrations. But when given the option to redirect the water in the creek into a treatment unit that would remove the selenium, the officials hesitated.

"The cost was high, and the solution did nothing to address the pollutant-laden stormwater runoff from nearby Jamboree Road and other issues that contributed to creek's impaired condition and poor water quality," says Steve Gruber, from Burns & McDonnell, who served as project manager of the $2.3 million project.

Later, Burns & McDonnell learned of an Orange County Transit Authority grant program that funded the removal of transportation-related pollutants that entered local waterways during storm events. Working closely with city staff, Burns & McDonnell wrote a grant proposal for  and ultimately was awarded  a $2.3 million grant to remove such pollutants from Big Canyon Creek.

While the grant funds were designated for transportation-related pollutant removal, engineers envisioned a dual-purpose solution that would treat those pollutants when it rained  and help to remove selenium from Big Canyon Creek during dry weather.

Because this green solution was implemented at a significantly lower cost than other treatment approaches, the city was able to restore six acres of degraded habitat along the creek to natural conditions, which also contributed to improved water quality. Additionally, the project connected the restored area to a larger trail system to enhance recreational opportunities and promote environmental stewardship.

Burns & McDonnell's innovative solution provided Newport Beach the affordable solution to its selenium pollution problem that had long eluded it  and much more.

Other Burns & McDonnell projects winning Engineering Excellence Awards this year from ACEC chapters: DISA Global Operations Headquarters (Special Achievement Award, Illinois), Integration of RCRA Corrective Action with Facility Demolition for Loveland Products (Nebraska), Stillwater Energy Center Reciprocating Engine Project (Honor Award, Oklahoma), Union Station Kansas City Westward Expansion (Grand Award, Missouri), and West Blue River Interceptor (Honor Award, Missouri).

For photos and support materials, visit our MEDIA KIT.

About Burns & McDonnell

Burns & McDonnell is a family of companies made up of more than 6,000 engineers, architects, construction professionals, scientists, consultants and entrepreneurs with offices across the country and throughout the world. We strive to create amazing success for our clients and amazing careers for our employee-owners. Burns & McDonnell is 100 percent employee-owned and is proud to be on Fortune's 2018 list of 100 Best Companies to Work For. For more information, visit burnsmcd.com.

Contact: Mark Fagan, Burns & McDonnell

816-822-3966

[email protected]



SOURCE Burns & McDonnell

Related Links

http://www.burnsmcd.com


Industry leaders from 35 countries and 6 continents to attend one of the largest metals and mining conferences in the world

Company presentations accessible via Webcast

BMO Research analysts available for comment

TORONTO and NEW YORK, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - BMO Capital Markets will host its 27th Global Metals & Mining Conference from February 25 to February 28, 2018 in Hollywood, Florida.

The annual conference brings together metals and mining industry leaders and institutional investors from around the world  more than 1,500 professionals representing approximately 500 organizations from 35 countries and 6 continents. The event is considered a barometer of industry sentiment for the year to come, featuring presentations from some of the world's largest metals and mining companies.

"The BMO Global Metals & Mining Conference is a testament to our unwavering commitment to the sector. Our firm has been a dominant force in metals and mining for more than a century, serving clients in achieving their strategic objectives," said Jamie Rogers, Co-Head of Global Metals and Mining, BMO Capital Markets.

"Year after year, we look forward to hosting senior executives and investors in the industry at our flagship event, reinforcing the thought leadership and deep sector knowledge associated with BMO Capital Markets," said Ilan Bahar, Co-Head of Global Metals and Mining, BMO Capital Markets. "We're expecting a record number of attendees this year, reflecting the depth and breadth of our metals and mining franchise."

Some of the companies scheduled to share insights at the conference include:

Agnico-Eagle Mines (AEM)

Alcoa (AA)

Anglo American (AAL)

(AAL) Antofagasta (ANTO)

(ANTO) Barrick Gold (ABX)

(ABX) BHP Billiton (BLT)

Cameco (CCO)

First Quantum Minerals (FM)

Franco- Nevada (FNV)

(FNV) Freeport-McMoRan (FCX)

FMC (FMC)

Fortescue (FMG)

Glencore (GLEN)

Goldcorp (GG)

Ivanhoe (IVN)

Kinross Gold (KGC)

(KGC) Lundin Mining (LUN)

Mosaic (MOS)

Newmont Mining (NEM)

Nutrien (NTR)

Randgold Resources (RRS)

Rio Tinto (RIO)

Royal Gold (RGLD)

(RGLD) Wheaton Precious Metals (WPM)

Steel Dynamics (STLD)

Teck Resources (TECK)

The event is hosted by the BMO Capital Markets' Metals & Mining Equity Research team (with analysts in Toronto, London and New York covering more than 135 publicly-listed companies, making it one of the largest metals, mining and fertilizer research groups in the world).

News media who would like a copy of the agenda, access to Webcast presentations, or to request a telephone interview about the conference and market sentiment are asked to please contact BMO Media Relations (information below).

About BMO Capital Markets

BMO Capital Markets is a leading, full-service North American-based financial services provider, with approximately 2,500 professionals in 30 locations around the world, including 16 offices in North America, offering corporate, institutional and government clients access to a complete range of investment and corporate banking products and services. BMO Capital Markets is a member of BMO Financial Group (NYSE, TSX: BMO), one of the largest diversified financial services providers in North America with US$550 billion total assets and over 45,000 employees as at October 31, 2017.

SOURCE BMO Financial Group

Related Links

http://www.bmo.com


NASHVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone) and NRGene, a genomic big data solutions company, are collaborating on research efforts to enhance the company's U.S. alternative domestic natural rubber breeding program. They will be working in tandem to sequence and assemble multiple genomes of guayule, a rubber-producing plant indigenous to the hot, dry environments of the Southwestern United States and North Central Mexico, to develop new, high-yielding varieties. The first-ever, two guayule genomes have already been sequenced and completely assembled, and a physical and genetic map are being developed that will provide a high level of accuracy and efficiency for breeding improvement.

"We are looking forward to utilizing NRGene's capabilities and experience in agricultural genome analytics to move our guayule breeding program to a new level that will ultimately benefit our customers and society," said Nizar Trigui, chief technology officer, Bridgestone Americas. "This will quickly bring the most advanced molecular breeding capabilities previously found only in advanced row crops to guayule, an undomesticated species."

NRGene's DeNovoMAGIC 3.0 will develop high-quality, comprehensive genome assemblies of multiple varieties of guayule to uncover and utilize the genetic variation in the species. The genome assemblies also will open the potential to accelerate genetic gains by reducing the time for selection cycles of important traits including overall rubber yield. The system can be used to impute sequence level information from molecular marker data to design the most efficient markers associated with rubber yield traits and traits that protect the plant from stresses and diseases.

Bridgestone is committed to developing a sustainable guayule natural rubber industry in North America for tire production. Bridgestone has a team of scientists working to improve productivity of the crop though breeding and genetics, agronomy, and working with growers.

NRGene is a genomic big data company developing cutting-edge software and algorithms to reveal the complexity and diversity of humans, crop plants, animals and aquatic organisms for supporting the most advanced and sophisticated breeding programs. NRGene tools have already been employed by some of the leading seed companies worldwide as well as the most influential research teams in academia.

"Rubber is critical to every aspect of our lives, from tires to medical devices," says Dr. Gil Ronen, CEO of NRGene. "Sustainable use of our natural resources is always a key concern, so this represents a major step forward. With more insights into guayule, Bridgestone will be able to increase rubber yields while reducing the resource requirements."

The Bridgestone Group's global corporate social responsibility commitment, "Our Way to Serve," reflects the company's longstanding philosophy of Serving Society with Superior Quality and its recognition that the best companies not only perform for their stakeholders, but also contribute to a better world. Guided by "Our Way to Serve," Bridgestone recently announced a new Global Sustainable Procurement Policy to help identify and evaluate qualified suppliers, promote best practices and serve as a communication and improvement tool for the industry. The policy applies to all suppliers and all purchased materials and services, including natural rubber, and aligns with Bridgestone's goal of using 100 percent sustainable materials by 2050.

About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.:

Nashville, Tennessee-based Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM) is the U.S. subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world's largest tire and rubber company. BSAM and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires to address the needs of a broad range of customers, including consumers, automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers, and those in the agricultural, forestry and mining industries. The companies are also engaged in retreading operations throughout the Western Hemisphere and produce air springs, roofing materials and industrial fibers and textiles. The BSAM family of companies also operates the world's largest chain of automotive tire and service centers. Guided by its One Team, One Planet message, the company is dedicated to achieving a positive environmental impact in all of the communities it calls home. For more information about Bridgestone, visit BridgestoneAmericas.com.

About NRGene:

NRGene is a genomic big data company delivering cutting-edge software and algorithms to reveal the complexity and diversity of humans, plants, and animals and support the most advanced and sophisticated breeding and research programs. NRGene tools have already been employed by some of the leading seed companies worldwide as well as the most influential research teams in academia. www.nrgene.com.

SOURCE Bridgestone Americas, Inc.

Related Links

http://BridgestoneAmericas.com


Barbour, a premium outdoor and lifestyle brand that is the essence of British style, has selected Centric Software to provide their Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solution. Centric Software provides the most innovative enterprise solutions to fashion, retail, footwear, outdoor, luxury and consumer goods companies to achieve strategic and operational digital transformation goals.

(Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/455901/Centric_Software_Logo.jpg )



(Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/643498/Barbour_Centric_Software.jpg )



The Barbour story began in 1894 in the Market Place in South Shields in the North East of England, where founder John Barbour began by producing oilskins for fishermen, mariners, rivermen and dockers to protect them from the worst of the North Sea weather. Today, the fifth-generation family-owned business produces a wardrobe of clothes including quilts, waterproof breathables, knitwear, shirts, trousers, footwear and accessories alongside its iconic waxed cotton jackets for men, women and children. The traditional waxed jackets are still manufactured in Barbour's factory in South Shields where each year over 120,000 waxed cotton jackets are produced.

Neil Thursby, Head of Technology at Barbour said, "We first started looking into a PLM solution because we were working with an older PDM system which our business had outgrown. We needed an innovative solution to help us improve visibility and collaboration during product development that also allowed for seamless remote access."

Thursby continued "We found that Centric's solutions are intuitive to use and have one hundred percent out of the box functionality that will help us to achieve our goals without costly and time-consuming customization. Centric is renowned as the PLM market leader and is clearly passionate about pushing the boundaries of PLM. We needed an innovative solution that was flexible and easy to use - Centric 8 PLM was an obvious choice."

"Most of our PLM users will be across design, product development, garment technician and sourcing roles" Thursby says. "Once we start working with the Centric team to get the system in place, we're confident that we will see great improvements in visibility, productivity and speed to market. We're looking forward to having a single version of the truth that everyone can work from within the business."

"We would like to extend a warm welcome to Barbour, one of Britain's most prestigious and historic brands," says Chris Groves, President and CEO of Centric Software. "We are proud that Barbour chose Centric PLM and look forward to supporting their business as they move into the future."

Barbour (http://www.barbour.com)

Originally established by John Barbour to provide protective outerwear to fishermen, sailors and mariners from the worst of the British weather, today Barbour offers a complete wardrobe of clothes and footwear for men, women and children. Shirts, knitwear, trousers and accessories are now just as much in demand as Barbour's iconic outerwear. Forever synonymous with the British countryside, Barbour's collections now span from the best practical country clothing to the more urban fashion. There's a choice of different ranges for all ages and lifestyles from technical sporting clothing to country heritage fashion styles, all inspired by Barbour's archives and re-interpreted into modern, country silhouettes.

The brand is a global success sold in over 40 countries worldwide including Germany, Italy, Spain, France, the US and Japan and holds three Royal Warrants from HM The Queen, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and HRH The Prince of Wales

Centric Software (http://www.centricsoftware.com)

From its headquarters in Silicon Valley and offices in trend capitals around the world, Centric Software provides a Digital Transformation Platform for the most prestigious names in fashion, retail, footwear, luxury, outdoor and consumer goods. Centric Visual Innovation Platform (VIP) is a visual, fully digital collection of boards for touch-based devices like iPad, iPhone and large-scale, touch-screen televisions. Centric VIP transforms decision making and automates execution to truly collapse time to market and distance to trend. Centric's flagship product lifecycle management (PLM) platform, Centric 8, delivers enterprise-class merchandise planning, product development, sourcing, business planning, quality, and collection management functionality tailored for fast-moving consumer industries. Centric SMB packages extended PLM including innovative technology and key industry learnings tailored for small businesses.

Centric Software has received multiple industry awards, including the Frost & Sullivan Global Product Differentiation Excellence Award in Retail, Fashion, and Apparel PLM in 2016 and Frost & Sullivan's Global Retail, Fashion, and Apparel PLM Product Differentiation Excellence Award in 2012. Red Herring named Centric to its Top 100 Global list in 2013, 2015, and 2016.

Centric is a registered trademark of Centric Software. All other brands and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE Centric Software
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, who has been designated as the agency's lead on wireless infrastructure deployment, visited C Spire's Ridgeland, Mississippi headquarters to witness the first in-state demonstration of Cohere Technologies' new 5G turboConnect TM fixed wireless access solution and tour a wireless internet trial site in Pelahatchie.

The Santa Clara-based Cohere Technologies developed the 5G turboConnectTM fixed wireless access solution, which is based on its groundbreaking Orthogonal Time Frequency and Space (OTFS) wireless modulation technology, to help broadband companies and wireless providers meet the growing demand for advanced services and the timely development of 5G standards.

"C Spire's demonstration validates how OTFS wireless modulation technology helps carriers overcome the traditional challenges deploying wireless services," said Cohere Technologies CEO Shlomo Rakib. "C Spire's dedication to deliver on the promise of true 5G is strategically aligned with Cohere's efforts, making it an ideal partnership, and a win-win for the industry and customers served by C Spire."

The test at the Ridgeland-based technology firm's corporate offices relies on sub-6GHz lower band spectrum  3.65 GHz  which provides better 5G coverage inside buildings and in rural areas. "We're working aggressively to bring consumers and businesses the benefits of 5G as part of our suite of broadband solutions," said C Spire President Stephen Bye.

Bye and Rakib said 5G is expected to pave the way for wider adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT), self-driving cars, smart cities, artificial intelligence and robotics and broader deployment of technology-enabled telehealth and telemedicine applications. Cohere Technologies' OTFS technology improves coverage, spectral efficiency and cost savings.

With a variety of 5G technologies and massive deployment of new sites needed to meet the future technology demands of consumers, business and industry, Carr will discuss with C Spire how streamlined permitting across all levels of government and efficient spectrum policy can help accelerate availability of advanced broadband.

"5G will require a 10-to-100-fold increase in small cells and millions of miles of new fiber and other high-speed connections," Carr said. "We need to drive out unnecessary regulatory costs and speed the timeline for obtaining permits so that companies can build and deploy the infrastructure that will power our digital economy."

C Spire is continuing to conduct 5G technology trials using high-band millimeter wave spectrum in the 28 GHz and 60 GHz ranges in addition to this week's mid-band testing and demonstrations. "A widely supported 5G ecosystem is critical to achieve the necessary economies of scale that will unlock the promise of this technology," Bye added.

Bye said broadband expansion is a key part of the C Spire Tech Movement initiative, an outgrowth of the firm's 2013 groundbreaking Fiber-to-the-Home program, one of the first of its type in the U.S. and the fastest to connect thousands of consumers in nine Mississippi communities to Gigabit speed internet, digital streaming TV and home phone services.

One of the company's central Tech Movement goals is massive expansion of broadband and 5G fixed wireless internet access to more than 250,000 consumers and businesses across the state, including availability of ultra-fast Gigabit internet service to one out of every five of the state's 250,000 businesses.

The high-tech firm has been on a mission to expand broadband availability and boost average mobile and fixed broadband speeds in Mississippi. The company operates over 8,000 route miles of fiber optics across the state and has deployed more wireless spectrum in the region than any other communications provider.

In recent years, C Spire's continuing technology investment has played a central role in state gains for average mobile and fixed broadband speeds. The company became the state's fastest internet service provider in 2014 and more than quadrupled speeds following its successful FTTH program.

About C Spire

C Spire is a leading technology company committed to transforming Mississippi through the C Spire Tech Movement, which includes the massive deployment of broadband internet to homes and small businesses, a state-of-the-art digital experience for its customers and team members, technology innovation leadership and the creation and retention of a 21st century technology workforce in its region. The company provides world-class, customer-inspired wireless communications, 1 Gigabit consumer Internet access as well as a full suite of dedicated Internet, wireless, IP Voice, data and cloud services for businesses. This news release and other announcements are available at www.cspire.com/news. For more information about C Spire, visit www.cspire.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cspire or Twitter at www.twitter.com/cspire.

About Cohere Technologies

Cohere Technologies is solving the most pressing challenges in wireless communications with its groundbreaking Orthogonal Time Frequency and Space (OTFS) technology. This new patented 2D modulation scheme will revolutionize the industry as it prepares to deliver on the promise of 5G with 100 percent coverage, 10x spectral efficiency and a 50 percent cost savings over existing solutions. Founded in 2009, Cohere Technologies is headquartered in Santa Clara, California. For more information visit www.Cohere-Technologies.com or find Cohere on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/cohere-technologies, Twitter at https://twitter.com/CohereOTFS, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cohereotfs/.

SOURCE C Spire
LAWRENCE, Kan., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Callahan Creek, a brand strategy and digital marketing agency, adds Cicis to its client roster after winning a highly competitive national review.

Cicis, the pizza buffet restaurant with more than 430 locations across the U.S., has implemented a brand revitalization and experienced steady sales growth over the past several years. As Cicis agency of record, Callahan Creek will lead the integrated channel strategies including front-end data intelligence, paid media, search, digital and social content and analytics.

Cicis CMO Billie Jo Waara said Callahan Creek differentiated itself from other agencies throughout the review by leveraging its propriety Intelligence Platform, which is built on front-end data analysis to uncover untapped media efficiencies and business growth opportunities.

"As we continue moving our business forward, we are investing in and implementing forward-thinking strategies that will provide measurable results for the brand and our strategic partners," Waara said. "During the pitch process, Callahan Creek proved to be the right partner by demonstrating an approach that evolves and aligns with where our business needs to go."

Callahan Creek CEO Chris Marshall says his agency is unique in that it uses data driven insights to uncover unexpected opportunities, where most organizations use analytics after a campaign is finished to evaluate effectiveness.

"We are on the forefront of data innovation and its ability to empower more focused marketing strategies," Marshall said. "This approach is already yielding results for Cicis that will only become richer, deeper and more impactful as our partnership continues. The relationship is off to a great start."

About Callahan Creek

Callahan Creek is a brand strategy and digital marketing agency. Founded in 1982, Callahan is located in Lawrence, Kansas, with satellite offices in Rancho Dominguez, California and Plano, Texas. Clients include Cicis, Elevate Pet Nutrition, Eli Lilly's Elanco Animal Health, Sprint, Toyota Motor North America, Midwest Grain Products and Westar Energy.

About Cicis

Founded in 1983, Irving, Texas-based Cicis invented the Unlimited Pizza Buffet concept, offering guests a wide variety of pizzas, including stuffed crust, traditional and flatbreads, along with pastas, salads and desserts for dine-in, carry-out and catering. With more than 430 restaurants in 32 states, Cicis has been ranked by Technomic as No. 1 in "most craveable pizza chains," and Entrepreneur recognized Cicis on its Franchise 500 list in 2015. For more information about Cicis, visit cicis.com or Facebook.com/cicis.

Media Contact:

Chris Marshall

785 838 4774

[email protected]

SOURCE Callahan Creek

Related Links

http://www.callahancreek.com


CLEVELAND, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Centris Federal Credit Union, one of Nebraska's largest credit unions, has selected OnBase by Hyland, a leading content services platform, to replace its legacy document management application. The conversion plan will run in parallel with Centris' implementation of its new core banking application, Corelation KeyStone. By integrating OnBase with Corelation KeyStone, Centris will unleash the full potential of its current content and enhance future technology investments to meet its members' expectations of superior service.

Centris will work closely with Hyland's services team on the expansive conversion project, exchanging 25 million documents, which consumes roughly three terabytes of SAN storage space, from its legacy solution. Once implemented, OnBase will seamlessly integrate with its new core system to capture, store and share information across the enterprise, granting staff quick access to the information they need to make faster decisions for it members.

"The increased visibility into information and processes will improve data quality, eliminate roadblocks and empower better decisions throughout the enterprise," said Phil Swift, VP technology services at Centris. "Additionally we'll have greater collaboration throughout all processes, both internal and external, to ensure we deliver on our vision of exceptional service to our members."

As a certified Corelation partner, Hyland helps credit unions increase communication between technology systems, improve data quality and worker efficiency, enable instant and secure access to reports and documentation and eliminate member wait times.

"Centris is in great company, joining more than 125 new financial services customers that selected OnBase in 2017 to better manage content, processes and cases. We welcome them to our credit union community and look forward to building a great relationship," said Michelle Harbinak Shapiro, financial services portfolio manager at Hyland.

To learn why more than 5,500 financial institutions leverage OnBase to increase visibility and accuracy and deliver superior member service, visit OnBase.com/FinancialServices.

About OnBase by Hyland

OnBase is a single enterprise information platform for managing content, processes and cases deployed on-premises or in the Hyland Cloud. Providing enterprise content management (ECM), case management, business process management (BPM), records management and capture all on a single platform, OnBase transforms organizations around the globe by empowering them to become more agile, efficient and effective.

OnBase enables credit unions, banks and lenders to better manage the content that surrounds their processes. It connects people to the documents, data and processes they need to make more informed decisions. And when employees spend less time searching for paper and dedicate more time to providing quality service to their customers and members, they are more empowered and productive. Enterprise cloud-based sharing capability for the OnBase platform is available with our complementary offering, ShareBase by Hyland. To learn about how more than 19,000 organizations are digitizing their workplaces to transform their business operations, visit OnBase.com .

About Centris

Founded over 80 years ago, Centris Federal Credit Union is one of Nebraska's largest community chartered credit unions. Centris serves Douglas, Sarpy, Lincoln and Pottawattamie counties and has 12 offices located in Omaha, Grand Island and North Platte, Nebraska and Council Bluffs, Iowa. Our mission is to be a trusted life-long financial partner.

Media contact:

Megan Larsen

+1 440-788-4988

[email protected]

SOURCE Hyland

Related Links

http://www.hyland.com


MORRIS PLAINS, N.J., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- CherryRoad Technologies Inc. today announced it has signed a NASPO ValuePoint Participating Addendum with the State of Oklahoma, allowing the State to simplify their entire cloud procurement process. CherryRoad markets its cloud solutions and managed services to state and local governments through NASPO ValuePoint's Master Agreement awarded by the State of Utah.

The State of Oklahoma, which is the seventh State following in the footsteps of the States of Utah, South Dakota, Hawaii, Florida, Nebraska, and the Commonwealth of Virginia to sign the Participating Addendum, can now access master agreements to work directly with CherryRoad to address their unique cloud solution needs. Cloud solutions provided by CherryRoad include Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) and Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Value-added Services  which are developed specifically for state and local governments.

"By working with CherryRoad via the NASPO ValuePoint cooperative, state procurement is simplified, which is no easy task," said Larry Hymson, CherryRoad Executive Vice President of Client Solutions. "States' cloud solutions become a reality  faster, more efficient and cost-effective. Projects start quicker, allowing states to increase efficiencies and leverage true cloud solutions. The State of Oklahoma will be better able to focus on value creation and identify technology strategies that achieve the greatest benefits for its citizens."

NASPO ValuePoint is regarded as the nation's most significant public contract cooperative due to its unparalleled value for members as well as contractors, competitive pricing, and superior terms and conditions. NASPO ValuePoint Cloud Solutions Master Agreements are only awarded through a competitive RFP to a limited number of cloud solution providers whose offerings meet stringent security and data protection requirements.

About CherryRoad Technologies Inc.

At CherryRoad, our clients entrust us with the success of their IT solutions, whether we're delivering on-premise ERP, cloud-based application management, business intelligence, process optimization, or change management consulting. Throughout our 30-year history we've successfully partnered with hundreds of public sector and commercial clients to modernize, optimize and manage their back-office functions. Headquartered in Morris Plains, N.J. with offices across the U.S., we've earned a solid reputation for combining technology, organizational, functional, and vertical market expertise into practical solutions that deliver results  on-time and on-budget. For more information, visit www.cherryroad.com

About NASPO ValuePoint

NASPO ValuePoint is a unified, nationally focused cooperative aggregating the demand of all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the organized US territories, their political subdivisions and other eligible entities spurring best value, innovation and competition in the marketplace. The NASPO ValuePoint Cooperative Purchasing Organization (formerly WSCA-NASPO) provides the highest standard of excellence in public cooperative contracting. By leveraging the leadership and expertise of all states with the purchasing power of their public entities, NASPO ValuePoint delivers best value, reliable, competitively sourced contracts. Since 1993 NASPO ValuePoint has been the cooperative purchasing arm of NASPO (the National Association of State Procurement Officials) encouraging, fostering and guiding the nation's most significant public contract cooperative.

SOURCE CherryRoad Technologies Inc.

Related Links

http://www.cherryroad.com


Through two years of research, Chico's discovered that most of its customers don't define themselves by age and care deeply about expressing themselves through fashion. Reflecting this research, the #HowBoldAreYou campaign is part of an overall refresh by the Chico's brand to refine its messaging, its experience and its products to help Chico's customers celebrate every moment of their lives with styles that encourage her to grow bolder as they grow older .

As part of the refresh, Chico's has refined its product assortment based on customer feedback, renewing its focus on original prints stemming from Chico's artisanal heritage, bold colors, silhouettes designed with a range of body shapes in mind, and amplifying practical solutions, like customer favorite no-iron shirts that can be washed and dried. The prints and colors will be a core feature across all marketing channels, including store windows and shopping bags, to further articulate the brand's bold positioning.

Ms. Ellis said, "Chico's is about celebrating women. Because of our experience, we are uniquely positioned to speak authentically on aging with positivity. Our clothes are specifically designed for women, and their changing bodies, of all ages. From our rich color palates, unique prints, and styles that are flattering for an array of body types, we thought it was high time that we loudly celebrate our customer. This campaign gives us an opportunity to change perceptions not just about who we are as a brand, but who our customer is, how she embraces her life, and that her style is ageless."

As part of the campaign, conceptualized by The&Partnership, the brand has designed t-shirts emblazoned with a number that reflects the wearer's age and will encourage her to post it on her social channels, with the goal of inspiring women everywhere to join together in growing both bolder and older. An accompanying anthem video shows women of all ages living boldly, while wearing some of the new designs, in a variety of lively settings.

"This is not a one-and-done campaign for us," Ellis continued. "We believe deeply that women should embrace their own personal style. And we proudly help them do that regardless of age."

About Chico's Brand

Chico's was founded in 1983 as a small boutique selling Mexican folk art on Sanibel Island in Florida. The rich colors, bold prints, unique artisanal details, problem-solving styles, and amazing personal service made a lasting connection with customers. Now, there are over 600 Chico's boutiques and outlets nationwide, international (franchise) partners, a monthly mailer, and round-the-clock shopping at chicos.com and chicosofftherack.com.

SOURCE Chico's

Related Links

http://chicos.com


Paper Urges U.S. Colleges/Universities to Implement Programs Designed to Help Prepare Students for Stressful Experiences and Protect Institutions From Potential Liabilities

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new Chubb Accident & Health and International SOS whitepaper, "Student Travel and Study Abroad: Mental Health Issues and Awareness," research indicates there is a rising tide in mental health issues for students and such symptoms and conditions may worsen when studying abroad. To help educational institutions understand and address these issues, the paper discusses relevant case studies, key considerations in effectively managing mental health risks for students traveling and studying abroad, and what academic institutions should look for when selecting the right insurance coverage and assistance programs.

"Colleges and universities have a 'Duty of Care' obligation to assume responsibility in protecting their students from foreseeable health and security risks when students study abroad on school-sponsored or contracted programs," said Dean Hoski, Assistant Vice President, Chubb North America Accident & Health Division. "To address health risks while students are overseas and to reduce its legal and financial exposure, many schools purchase emergency travel assistance services and accident & health insurance. Such purchases are important as many domestic health insurance policies do not respond to risks associated with foreign travel, which may result in coverage gaps."

Hoski co-authored the paper with Robert L. Quigley, MD, D.Phil., Professor of Surgery, Senior Vice President and Regional Medical Director, Americas Region at International SOS.

"Many educational institutions are not equipped or even aware of how to provide access to mental health services to their students traveling abroad," said Prof. Quigley. "Thus, it is critical for colleges and universities to partner with medical and travel security assistance providers as well as insurance companies with scholastic travel expertise to help manage the risks associated with students experiencing mental health challenges while traveling."

The paper recommends that educational institutions establish Duty of Care policies and procedures, develop incident response plans and procedures, and develop a comprehensive travel program, which includes purchasing vital insurance coverages.

To read "Student Travel and Study Abroad: Mental Health Issues and Awareness," click here.

About Chubb

Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company, and the largest commercial insurer in the United States. With operations in 54 countries, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London and other locations, and employs approximately 31,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: chubb.com.

Chubb Insurance Company of Canada has offices in Toronto, Calgary, Montreal and Vancouver and provides its products and services through licensed insurance brokers across Canada. For additional information, visit: chubb.com/ca.

About International SOS:

International SOS (internationalsos.com) is the world's leading medical and travel security risk services company. We care for clients across the globe, from more than 1,000 locations in 90 countries. Our expertise is unique: more than 11,000 employees are led by 1,400 doctors and 200 security specialists. Teams work night and day to protect our members. We pioneer a range of preventative programs strengthened by our in-country expertise. We deliver unrivalled emergency assistance during critical illness, accident or civil unrest. We are passionate about helping clients put Duty of Care into practice. With us, multinational corporate client, governments and NGOs can mitigate risk for their people working remotely or overseas.

SOURCE Chubb

Related Links

https://www2.chubb.com/us-en


ANN ARBOR, Mich., Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- After months of preparation and training leading up to the finals on Friday February 16, Clot Buster  a startup developing a medical device to safely and rapidly remove clots for stroke treatment  has been named the overall winner of the 2018 Michigan Business Challenge. As the recipient of the Pryor-Hale Award for Best Business, Clot Buster will use its $25,000 prize to finalize development of its device and complete safety and efficacy testing.

"Prior to competing in the Michigan Business Challenge, we had a solid proof of concept for our device but didn't know what it would take to bring it to market," said Yang Liu (PhD '19), founder of Clot Buster. "Through each round of the competition, the Zell Lurie team and judges provided valuable feedback, which helped us refine our business plan and pitch. We now feel confident in our product and business development roadmap and are more determined than ever to bring Clot Buster to market and save millions of lives from stroke."

The idea for Clot Buster stemmed from the earlier collaborative efforts of Luis Savastano, M.D., Professor Aditya Pandey of the Department of Neurosurgery, Yang Liu (PhD '19), Yihao Zheng (PhD '16), Jeffrey Plott (PhD '17), Joshua Cockrum (BS '16) and Professor Albert Shih of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan. Clot Buster is also supported by The University of Michigan's Coulter Translational Research Program. The team's varying backgrounds in neurosurgery, biomedical machining, engineering and medical device commercialization have led to the creation of a truly unique device for the treatment of stroke, and ultimately contributed to the team's overall success.

"Tech-enabled startups seemed to stand out to the judges this year, especially those with applications in health care," said Stewart Thornhill, executive director of the Zell Lurie Institute. "I'm continually impressed by the caliber of teams that come out to compete year after year, and with the innovative ideas and technologies they've presented. The Michigan Business Challenge has armed each new generation of University of Michigan entrepreneurs with the financial resources and feedback needed to take their ventures to the next level. It exemplifies what we hope to achieve with each course and program designed and offered by the Institute, providing students with enriching, hands-on learning experiences that have real world applications."

Clot Buster is preparing to bring its device to venture capitalists in the coming year, with the goal of securing additional funding to advance to the clinical trial stage and earn FDA approval.

Student startups win big with largest prize pool in Michigan Business Challenge history

Including the $25,000 Pryor Hale Award given to Clot Buster, more than $100,000 was awarded to student teams participating in this year's Michigan Business Challenge, hosted by the Samuel Zell & Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies.

Another medical device startup that impressed this year's judges is MedKairos Inc., which is developing a platform to test and verify the quality of tissue collected during biopsies. Cofounders Michael Moore (MD '21) and Andy Kozminski (MSE '19, MD '20) received the Pryor-Hale Runner-Up Award and its $10,000 prize, as well as one of the two Outstanding Presentation awards ($2,000) for their ability to respond to questions from the judges and overall presentation style. Like Clot Buster, MedKairos is on the quest to obtain FDA approval with aggressive plans for navigating regulatory clearance and defining the scope of its beta trial studies. The team recently competed in the Cardinal Challenge, the University of Louisville's annual business plan competition, and has plans to attend other intercollegiate competitions in the year ahead. MedKairos is currently partnering with Michigan Medicine and the Cleveland Clinic for software validation.

Joining Clot Buster and MedKairos in the final round, each earning a $2,500 finalist award, were:

Advanced LIDAR Semantics (ALISE), is developing LIDAR devices with enhanced object recognition and reduced data processing capabilities that lead to smarter and safer autonomous vehicles. The ALISE team includes Sanmeet Jasuja (MBA/MSI '18), Brian Shahbazian (MS '18), Ryan Branch (BSE '18) and Minjeong Cha (PhD).





(ALISE), is developing LIDAR devices with enhanced object recognition and reduced data processing capabilities that lead to smarter and safer autonomous vehicles. The ALISE team includes Sanmeet Jasuja (MBA/MSI '18), (MS '18), (BSE '18) and (PhD). Sonodontics is developing an intra-oral 3D ultrasound scanning device for early diagnosis of gum disease. Founders Jonathan Lundt (PhD, '18), Nikita Jambulingam (MD/MBA '18), Jonathan Macoskey (PhD, '19) and Francisco De Orue Monteverde (MBA '18) also won the Williamson Award for Cross-Functional Teams worth $5,000 .

Teams with businesses that pursue a mission-driven goal were selected in the challenge's first round to compete in the Seigle Impact Track, sponsored by the Mark and Robin Seigle Entrepreneurial Innovation Fund. This year, cofounders Adam Hokin (BBA '19) and Anna Moreira Bianchi (MBA '19) took home the first prize of $15,000 in the Impact Track for their company PedalCell, which creates novel bike-powered phone chargers for the bike share industry, creating engaging rider experiences while getting cars off the road. They also received a $2,000 Outstanding Presentation Award.

The other Impact Track winners include:

Canopy, which develops digital tools to help families talk about and make end-of-life healthcare decisions, producing legal documents to share with loved ones and medical providers. Canopy cofounders Ann Duong (MHI '18) and Brandon Keelean (MDes '18) earned the second place Seigle Impact Track award totaling $7,500 and the second place Elevator Pitch Award for $250 .





which develops digital tools to help families talk about and make end-of-life healthcare decisions, producing legal documents to share with loved ones and medical providers. Canopy cofounders (MHI '18) and (MDes '18) earned the second place Seigle Impact Track award totaling and the second place for . FoodFinder is a registered non-profit founded by Jack Griffin (BBA '19). Through the creation of its website and mobile app, FoodFinder helps users locate and learn about free food assistance programs in their communities. It placed third in the Seigle Impact Track to win $2,500 and received a first place Elevator Pitch Award for another $500 .

This year's competition debuted a new prize to honor the team that incorporates positive business practices into their business plan and the company's core values: the Small Giants Positive Organizing Award, sponsored by Small Giants Community and the Center for Positive Organizations. This prize was given to Stef Rubinstein (MBA '19), Tracy Wolfbiss (MBA '19) and Vanessa Lynskey (MBA '19) for their company Adelie, which is a digital platform that seamlessly manages parental leave for expectant mothers and fathers, reducing the stress and emotional burden placed disproportionately on women. The team also took fourth place in the Siegle Impact Track and received the MBC Showcase Award, decided by popular audience vote, taking home a total of $3,750.

Other teams recognized with special honors in the 2018 Michigan Business Challenge included:

Arbor Automation , cofounded by Alexander Mills (BSE CSE '17) and Owen Hughes (BS Math '21), is developing a cloud-based software service for the automated conversion of 3D design files to executable CNC machine code. This reduces labor costs for companies that manufacture hardware prototypes. Arbor Automation was the recipient of the Best Written Plan Award ($2,000) and one of the two $2,500 Marketing Awards sponsored by Marketing Associates.





, cofounded by Alexander Mills (BSE CSE '17) and (BS Math '21), is developing a cloud-based software service for the automated conversion of 3D design files to executable CNC machine code. This reduces labor costs for companies that manufacture hardware prototypes. Arbor Automation was the recipient of the and one of the two sponsored by Marketing Associates. Quirk , cofounded by Kiley Judge (LSA '17) and Rahul Agrawal Bejarano (COE '18), received the $5,000 Most Successful Undergraduate Team Award , which is newly named and increased by sponsor Daniel Sillman , CEO of Relevant Sports. Quirk crafts small-batch, locally made drinking vinegars from fruits that, while fresh, might be rejected by grocery stores for their irregular size, shape or color. The team also received a $2,500 Marketing Award .





, cofounded by (LSA '17) and (COE '18), received the , which is newly named and increased by sponsor , CEO of Relevant Sports. Quirk crafts small-batch, locally made drinking vinegars from fruits that, while fresh, might be rejected by grocery stores for their irregular size, shape or color. The team also received a . Rent the Sari, founded by Hira Baig (JD '19), received an Elevator Pitch Award ($100) . Her company is developing a mobile/web-based platform for women to rent high-end, designer clothes from Pakistan and India , catering to women who can't otherwise find their choice of beautiful, South Asian fashion.

For 35 years, the Pryor-Hale Award has helped advance the development of student startups

The Michigan Business Challenge guides student entrepreneurs through new venture creation in a multi-phase business development and planning process. Open to all current undergraduate and graduate students from across the University of Michigan Ann Arbor campus, proposed businesses may be for-profit or non-profit, and offer products or services to either consumer or industrial markets.

Over the last several decades, alumni startups that have placed well in the Michigan Business Challenge have gone on to:

Raise additional funds through venture capital investments, crowdfunding and pitch competitions. Ambiq Micro, a semiconductor manufacturing company, has raised more than $55 million in the years since its 2010 Michigan Business Challenge showing. Neurable was a semi-finalist in the 2016 Michigan Business Challenge and has since received more than $2 million in investments to build brain-controlled software for AR and VR. SAHI Cosmetics, overall winner of the 2017 Michigan Business Challenge, earned a $100,000 investment from AOL founder Steve Case at the Rise of the Rest pitch competition.





through venture capital investments, crowdfunding and pitch competitions. Ambiq Micro, a semiconductor manufacturing company, has raised more than in the years since its 2010 Michigan Business Challenge showing. Neurable was a semi-finalist in the 2016 Michigan Business Challenge and has since received more than in investments to build brain-controlled software for AR and VR. SAHI Cosmetics, overall winner of the 2017 Michigan Business Challenge, earned a investment from AOL founder at the Rise of the Rest pitch competition. Given life-saving technology a start. PreDxion Bio took home the Pryor-Hale Award as the overall winner of the 2016 Michigan Business Challenge before being accepted into the Y Combinator summer 2017 program. The precision medicine diagnostics company has a patent-pending device that measures proteins in the blood of critically ill patients, which helped save the life of a 9-year-old cancer patient. AIM Tech, the first place Siegle Impact Track winner in 2017, has won more than $115,000 in intercollegiate business plan competitions for its life-saving low-tech pressure ventilator that helps prevent the deaths of infants suffering from respiratory illness in low and middle-income countries.





PreDxion Bio took home the Pryor-Hale Award as the overall winner of the 2016 Michigan Business Challenge before being accepted into the Y Combinator summer 2017 program. The precision medicine diagnostics company has a patent-pending device that measures proteins in the blood of critically ill patients, which helped save the life of a 9-year-old cancer patient. AIM Tech, the first place Siegle Impact Track winner in 2017, has won more than in intercollegiate business plan competitions for its life-saving low-tech pressure ventilator that helps prevent the deaths of infants suffering from respiratory illness in low and middle-income countries. Advanced a social good or created a positive impact in their communities. Companion was a crowd favorite and overall winner of the 2015 Michigan Business Challenge, also recently featured on the first episode of Apple's reality TV series "Planet Of The Apps." Today, the team is running a pilot program for their on-call personal security app with the University of Michigan Public Safety Department. Blueprints for Pangea was the 2015 Seigle Impact Track grand prize winner. The internationally-active 501(c)(3) nonprofit creates access to health care and medical supplies in emerging and resource-scarce communities. Today, founder and chairman Ben Rathi (BBA '17/BS '17) also works as a consultant at McKinsey.

To learn more about the Michigan Business Challenge, teams that participated in this year's competition or the prizes awarded, visit www.zli.umich.edu/programs-funds/michigan-business-challenge.

About the Samuel Zell & Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies

The Institute and its Center for Venture Capital and Private Equity Finance bring together an impactful combination of deep-seated knowledge, enriching experiences and strategic opportunities from the front lines of entrepreneurship and alternative investment. Students' learning experiences are further enhanced through internships, entrepreneurial clubs, business competitions and campus-wide events that foster valuable networking and engage the business community. The School's five student-led investment funds, with over $9M under management, immerse students in the entrepreneurial business sourcing, assessment and investment process. Founding Zell Lurie advisory board members include Samuel Zell, chairman of Equity Group Investments, and Eugene Applebaum, founder of Arbor Drugs Inc. For more information, visit the Institute's website at www.zli.umich.edu.

SOURCE The Zell Lurie Institute

Related Links

http://www.zli.umich.edu


SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Cloud Native Computing Foundation, which sustains and integrates open source technologies like Kubernetes and Prometheus, today announced the keynotes and full agenda for KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe on May 2  4 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Experts from Adidas, Booking.com, Checkfront, eBay, Lyft, New York Times, Norwegian Tax Administration, Spotify and Ygrene Energy Fund will present on how their organizations are adopting Kubernetes, Prometheus and other cutting-edge cloud native technologies. For example, Sarah Wells, Technical Director for Operations and Reliability at the Financial Times will be keynoting "Switching Horses Midstream: The Challenges of Migrating 150+ Microservices to Kubernetes."

After a sold-out show in Austin last December, KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe will bring together technologists from thriving open source communities all over the globe to further the education and adoption of cloud native computing. Maintainers and end users of CNCF's hosted projects  Kubernetes, Prometheus, OpenTracing, Fluentd, Linkerd, gRPC, CoreDNS, containerd, rkt, CNI, Envoy, Jaeger, Notary, TUF, Rook and Vitess  and other cloud native technologies will gather for three days to share insights around this fast growing ecosystem. Register for KubeCon + CloudNativeCon by March 9 to save up to $300.

"By bringing all of the CNCF projects and other notable cloud native technologies under one roof, we provide a forum for showcasing a full range of technologies that support the cloud native ecosystem and enable this growing community to come together in-person for further collaboration," said Dan Kohn, Executive Director of the Cloud Native Computing Foundation. "KubeCon + CloudNativeCon North America saw record attendance levels, and we're looking forward to furthering these conversations and growing ever more in Europe."

A program committee of 55 experts led by conference co-chairs, Aqua Security's Liz Rice and Google's Kelsey Hightower, reviewed more than 1,083 submissions to help create the show's diverse content slate. The agenda features a diverse mix of topics, including technical sessions on serverless, hardware hacking, and service mesh. Other presentations will address operations, storage, observability, and machine learning and data. KubeCon's customizing and extending Kubernetes track will feature presentations on kubectl, APIs of the future, and custom resource definitions. KubeCon's security, identity and signing track will feature interactive sessions like "Kris Nova and Jessie Frazelle Hack Each Other: Valuable Lessons in Securing a Multi Tenant Kubernetes Cluster."

"Being cloud native requires an architecture that departs from traditional enterprise application design, enabled by a broad set of components and communities," said Liz Rice, Technology Evangelist at Aqua Security. "KubeCon + CloudNativeCon brings together cloud native users and leading contributors across cloud native computing, containers, microservices, orchestration, and other related projects to further cloud native education, innovation, and real-world deployment."

The community-curated schedule will feature keynotes from leading open source technologists, including:

Oliver Beattie , Head of Engineering, Monzo Bank discussing the Anatomy of a Production Kubernetes Outage

, Head of Engineering, discussing the Anatomy of a Production Kubernetes Outage Sahil Dua , Software Developer, Booking.com discussing Scaling Deep Learning Models in Production Using Kubernetes

, Software Developer, Booking.com discussing Scaling Deep Learning Models in Production Using Kubernetes Ricardo Rocha , Staff Member, CERN and Clenimar Filemon, Open-Source Developer on Container Orchestration and Information Security, Laboratorio de Sistemas Distribuidos, discussing CERN Experiences with Multi Cloud Federated Kubernetes

, Staff Member, CERN and Clenimar Filemon, Open-Source Developer on Container Orchestration and Information Security, Laboratorio de Sistemas Distribuidos, discussing CERN Experiences with Multi Cloud Federated Kubernetes Kelsey Hightower , Staff Developer Advocate, Google Cloud Platform, will discuss the serious idea underlying his humorous project No Code, one of the fasted trending projects in the history of GitHub

, Staff Developer Advocate, Google Cloud Platform, will discuss the serious idea underlying his humorous project No Code, one of the fasted trending projects in the history of GitHub Liz Rice , Technology Evangelist, Aqua Security providing a CNCF Project Update

, Technology Evangelist, Aqua Security providing a CNCF Project Update Alexis Richardson , Founder & CEO, Weaveworks discussing the CNCF 20-20 Vision

, Founder & CEO, Weaveworks discussing the CNCF 20-20 Vision Aparna Sinha , Group Project Manager, Kubernetes, Google will provide a Kubernetes Project Update

, Group Project Manager, Kubernetes, Google will provide a Kubernetes Project Update David Aronchick , Product Manager, Kubernetes and Google Container Engine, Google will discuss Kubeflow ML on Kubernetes

, Product Manager, Kubernetes and Google Container Engine, Google will discuss Kubeflow ML on Kubernetes Fabian Reinartz , Staff Software Engineer, CoreOS discussing Prometheus 2.0  The Next Scale of Cloud Native Monitoring

We are also pleased to have the following co-located events be a part of KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe. They are occurring on Tuesday, May 1, so attendees should plan their attendance when booking flights and hotel:

Containers, Kubernetes and OpenShift Hands-On Trainings along with an OpenShift Commons Machine Learning Reception presented by Red Hat

Cloud Foundry Day sponsored by Dell EMC

Kubernetes Hands-on Workshop presented by Heptio

Kubernetes the AWSome Way! presented by AWS

Mesosphere Advance: Creating the Future with Containers and Fast Data presented by Mesosphere

Your Path to Production-Ready Kubernetes presented by Weaveworks

Free Kubernetes Workshop presented by VMware

The full KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe program can be viewed here.

Thank You Sponsors

KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe is made possible with support from Diamond Sponsors Cisco, {code}, IBM and Red Hat; Platinum Sponsors AWS, Azure, DataDog, Mesosphere, Mirantis, VMware and WSO2; along with more than 37 additional Gold Sponsors, Silver Sponsors, Start-Up Sponsors and Media Sponsors. For more information on sponsorship, please visit here.

Registration and Accommodations

Register here by March 9 to save up to $300 on registration. Additionally, hotel room rate discounts are available here. Book early, as the discounted rate is based upon availability.

CNCF Diversity Scholarship

The Foundation will be offering scholarships to members of traditionally underrepresented groups in the technology and/or open source communities. Visit here to learn more about scholarship and eligibility requirements. All applications are due by March 2.

Additional Resources

About Cloud Native Computing Foundation

Cloud native computing uses an open source software stack to deploy applications as microservices, packaging each part into its own container, and dynamically orchestrating those containers to optimize resource utilization. The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) hosts critical components of cloud native software stacks, including Kubernetes and Prometheus. CNCF serves as the neutral home for collaboration and brings together the industry's top developers, end users and vendors  including the world's largest public cloud and enterprise software companies as well as dozens of innovative startups. CNCF is part of The Linux Foundation, a nonprofit organization. For more information about CNCF, please visit www.cncf.io.

The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see our trademark usage page: https://www.linuxfoundation.org/trademark-usage. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

Media Contact

Natasha Woods

The Linux Foundation

(415) 312-5289

[email protected]

SOURCE Cloud Native Computing Foundation
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Equisoft, a leading global provider of digital business solutions for the insurance and wealth industries, is pleased to announce that Columbian Financial Group (CFG) has retained its services for a major modernization project in line with the insurer's long-term vision and the unique requirements of its distribution channel.

This multi-year project includes deploying Equisoft's InsuranceElements advanced suite for quotes and illustrations, electronic application and self-service portals, implementing Oracle Insurance Policy Administration, and migrating data from CFG's legacy policy administration platforms.

CFG is a premier provider of niche insurance products including a full range of life and annuity products. The company has a proud heritage of providing affordable protection through consumer-oriented products, superior service and management's commitment to financial stability.

"We sought a vendor with an extensive track record in the life and annuity market, and a proven implementation and data migration approach," says CFG CIO Jordan Baugh. "After an extensive search, we're confident that we've selected not just a vendor or system integrator, but a true business partner."

"Combining Equisoft's InsuranceElements and the Oracle solution will allow us to efficiently add, sell and administer new products through the complete policy life cycle  from point of sale through claims processing," says Jeanne Clarke, Senior Vice President at CFG. "We look forward to taking advantage of Equisoft's insight and ability to effectively guide us through our modernization journey."

About CFG

The Columbian Financial Group of companies, which includes Columbian Mutual Life Insurance Company, Columbian Life Insurance Company, National Safety Life Insurance Company and other affiliated companies within the corporate family, is based in Binghamton, NY with administrative offices in Syracuse, NY. Columbian Mutual Life, the parent company in the group, has a 136-year heritage of growth, financial stability and strength. Columbian's mission is to make a positive difference in its policyholders' lives by enhancing financial security when needed most. Website: cfglife.com

About Equisoft

Founded in 1994, Equisoft offers advanced digital business solutions to its clients in the insurance and wealth management industries to support their growth. The firm develops and markets innovative front-end applications (InsuranceElements and WealthElements) featuring industry-leading user interfaces and state-of-the-art technology. In addition, Equisoft is an Oracle Insurance Policy Administration integration partner for some 20 carriers globally. To complete this unique offering, Equisoft brings extensive experience in data migration through its subsidiary Universal Conversion Technologies (UCT). Equisoft has a growing team of nearly 300 specialized resources based in the US, Canada, Latin America, South Africa and India. Website: equisoft.com

SOURCE EquiSoft

Related Links

http://www.equisoft.com/